Later that morning, Hoga turns around after finishing a task, looks down and finds Kerra staring up at him from waist height. Looking rather shy, she asks, If you don't mind and if you're not too busy, will you go with me to talk to Captain Ragnar? Assuming Hoga agrees, she walks over to where Ragnar is, manning the wheel. Voice breaking a bit as she recounts her parents death, Kerra explains that she would rather not burden an aunt and uncle that she barely knows and would like to stay on as part of his crew. Kerra looks quite relieved when Ragnar accepts her offer.
Later than morning, Tessara approaches Ragnar with Signe. Explaining that she first talked this over with Signe, Tessara asks that she be allowed to remain on as crew under Signe's supervision so that she might continue learning how to become a navigator. At Signe's approving nod, Ragnar agrees.
Lyssanna approaches Ragnar after noon. Explaining that it was her elven father that died and that her mother's human kin had never quite accepted her, she would prefer to stay on the ship. Ragnar agrees to this as well.
Valeria, Luciana and both sisters approach the captain together and all agree that they wish to be returned home. Captain Ragnar assures them that he will arrange for that to happen.
Hoga's a bit worried about exposing such youngsters to the potential dangers of life at sea, but then remembers something. Most of us are here because we had nowhere to go.
Daniel scratches his head a bit from the prow of the ship where he is observing the chain of girls asking Ragnar for permission to join the crew.
Well that worked out better than I expected. That should make shirking work easier at any rate.
Signe wastes little time in assigning the girls duties aboard the ship. Tessara will spend the rest of the day studying over Signe's charts and maps. Kerra informs Hoga that she is supposed to shadow him for the day, helping where she can as he goes about his daily activities.
Signe will take Lyssanna to Patch and inform him that he will be instructing the girls in her duties aboard the ship. Signe tells Patch that Lyssanna has an ability that she has only just recently shared with her. Giving Lyssanna a pointed look, the girl then conjures up several little glowing purple lights. Lyssanna mumbles that she can only do a few little cantrips and didn't think her ability would be welcome at her mother's home.
Later that evening, Signe gathers all the girls that are staying and instructs them in the basic care and use of a light crossbow.
There's much to know aboard a ship, girls, but the most important thing is looking the part. Now, get those bandanas on right, with plenty of tail to blow in the wind, and repeat after me: ARRRRRRR!
C'mon! From the belly. ARRRRR!
Patch smiled encouragingly at Lyssanna. "That there's a right fine trick, I don't mind sayin'," he said, watching her with interest. "I always had a knack for magic myself, which is why Signe done brung you to me. Tell you what: you teach this old seadog to do what you do, an' I'll teach you what I know, too. Magic's a fine toy to have at sea, or anywhere else I reckon. But first, the most important lesson of bein' at sea - swabbin' the deck. Here's your mop, and when you're done we'll see about gettin' you into the rigging and dealing with the ropes." At her expression, he relented a little and whispered, "Magic's good for this kind of thing too. Here, I'll show you how it's done." With a gesture, he sent the mop squelching around the deck on its own.
Race: Halfling
Height: 2'10"
weight: 32lbs.
Hair: shoulder length, wavy, golden blond hair
Eyes: Dark Amber
Personality: A bit shy around new people, she is typically open, friendly and quite energetic, usually bouncing even when standing still.
Race: Half-Elf
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 125lbs.
Hair: Hangs straight to small of her back, chestnut brown
Eyes: Left eye is sea-foam green, Right eye is pale blue
Personality: Quiet, graceful with her movements. Slow to open up to people.
Race: Human
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 115lbs.
Hair: Curly, reaches to mid-back, Strawberry blond
Personality: Friendly and talkative, eager to learn how to navigate, quick with her movements.
The rest of the voyage back to Corentyn passes by without incident. The most exciting thing to occur was Kerra falling out of the rigging. Luckily for her though, Hoga had been watching her progress as she was climbing and was right below her and managed to catch her before she could hit the deck.
As soon as you dock, Jens takes off with a message for Lord Edvar Wintrish and a few hours later a large coach stops right down the dock from your ship. Jens, Lord Wintrish and his chamberlain Petros exit the coach and two guards that were riding on top climb down and escort them to your ship. As soon as Wintrish steps on deck, Valeria happily runs to him and gives him a hug, obviously happy to be reunited with her father. Petros gives each of you a pouch of gold (including Daniel who Petros just assumes to be Nimwi without his mask on). He will also hand out official pardons to those that were released from jail to go on this mission. Those are handed out to Deron, Patch and Signe.
Valaria hugs all the girls and says her farewells, as do the sisters whom Lord Wintrish has agreed to escort to their family's home. After they leave, Ragnar tells the lot of you that the ship will be setting sail again in the morning to head for Luciana's home village. He tells you all to enjoy some shore leave and to try to avoid getting yourselves thrown in jail again.
Deron takes his payment and pardon with but a nod in thanks.
C'mon, guys. The city awaits!
Patch slapped Hoga and Deron on the back and whooped. "Let's live it up!" Stuffing his money and pardon into his vest, he put on his sandals and prepared to venture into the town.
Daniel carefully weighs the pouch of money in his hands. Looking at the others speculatively, he nods.
"I will accompany you into town, I have been too long at sea."
Signe shakes her head as you lot prepare to leave. All right boys, try to make it back to the ship sometime tonight. We'll be leaving with the morning tide and I'd rather not have to leave any of you behind. Signe turns to Ragnar and informs him that: I'll be taking our newest crew additions on a trip into town. Poor things are still wearing the things that they were rescued in and those ragged dresses are not suited to working aboard a ship. When it looks like Ragnar might argue she adds: That last time wasn't my fault. We'll be fine and back in time for dinner. At his nod of approval, Signe turns and goes to round up the girls for their trip into town.
After hearing that, Hoga reconsiders. If you want, Signe, I can help you keep an eye on the girls. All I really want is a better weapon, and that shouldn't take us too far out of our way. I'm sure you can keep them safe, but an extra bodyguard wouldn't hurt, either.
If she's amenable, Hoga will look for an armory along the way and try to get a masterwork falchion.
At first Signe looks as if she'll refuse the offer, but then appears to reconsider before she speaks. Thank you Hoga, that might be a good idea. Normally I don't care to walk anywhere by myself, but I don't want the girls hurt or scared by an unfortunate encounter with some of the less desirable individuals that like to spend their time around the docks. I'd just as soon not get myself thrown in jail defending them and your presence alone would likely give some pause.
Lunthawg will wander to find Patch at some point.
You finished selling all of the stuff nobody needs yet? I like money. Money is good.
Patch grinned at the little goblin. "Just about. You didn't set anything on fire yet, did you?"
Deron wanders around with Patch until he sells all the gear, making sure he doesn't lose any along the way.
The girl's shopping trip goes by without incident, though Hoga gets the feeling that it is in part due to the glares he gave a number of young men who appeared to be leering at the girls.
Likewise, your all's shopping trip also goes by without incident. You are able to everything you wish for the above listed amounts. You can list any other actions you wish to take before the ship sets sail again in the morning.
Daniel will limp through the market stalls of the town, looking for the simple items he needs to give thanks to Gozreh for his rescue and continued survival. After purchasing several sticks of cooked meat, a bottle of cheap rum, and a bottle of expensive whiskey. Some cooked corn or potatoes and a smoked fish will round out the list.
After his shopping is complete Daniel makes his way back to the ship. Everything but the cheap rum he will prepare into a sacrificial bundle which he will cast off the side when they are back in deep ocean. The cheap rum he will quietly drink in his hammock.
Hoga takes none of the party loot, since the ring is so expensive. He buys a MW weapon with a trade and his own funds.
After a hard day of haggling, Patch reluctantly returned the money he got to the ship, then went back out to carouse with the ladies of the night and anyone who cared to join him.
Signe stops the girls before they can ask to go with you. Before she herds them all back below deck, you hear her explaining that you guys will most likely be doing things inappropriate for young ladies to partake of. You get the feeling the girls are going to get the sailors version of the "birds and the bees" talk and that Signe is not happy that she has to do it.
Hoga's blown most of his cash, so he'll stay and watch the boat. He won't be anywhere near Signe for a while...
Assuming that no one gets themselves thrown in jail overnight, you are woken up by Kerra who comes in and announces (far to cheerfully and loudly for this hour of the morning) that the Captain would like everyone to get on deck and prepare the ship to set sail. She then turns and bounces on out and up the stairs.
Once you get on deck you see that all the girls are already up and about, dressed in their new "sailor clothes" and ready to get to work. They'll attempt to follow any instruction given to them as they try to assist with getting the ship underway. Somehow, even with all that "help" it seems to take a little bit longer than usual to get every done and get out to the open sea again.
The day started out with clear skies and a good northwesterly wind which keeps up for the majority of your trip up the coast. As you sail closer to where Luciana claims her town is, you see dark clouds on the horizon. Getting closer still, you figure out that they are not clouds, but rising plumes of smoke.
As you sail closer and their harbor comes into view, you see the cause of all the smoke. Several ships in port and the piers are ablaze, as well as a handful of building near the waterfront.
Captain Ragnar orders that the ship go no closer until they try to figure out what is going on.
Well the bouncing was almost worth the waking. On with the life of a sailor and pirate I suppose.
Daniel attempts to make himself useful about the ship, doing his best to avoid any truly difficult task while still appearing useful. You get the sense that he is less interested in avoiding work and more concerned about messing up something important.
Midway through the voyage, once the ship is in deeper water, Daniel limps to the prow of the ship and begins a ritual. There is not much chanting but he says some brief words before taking items out of a cloth, taking a bite of the food or a swig of the whiskey, then dumping said item into the sea.
"Thanks for my new life" he will half-whisper to any who are close enough to hear.
Once the ship arrives at the burning port he casts about for anything moving in the flames or some sign of it's reason.
Hoga will go up to the crows nest and have a look.
Hoga manages to spot something rather interesting. There is one ship anchored out in the harbor not burning and the symbol on its flag looks quite similar to the brands burned onto the girls you rescued. As you watch, you notice a longboat rowing back to the ship.
Get the Cap'n! Looks to be the same slavers as got our girls! That boat there; there's a longboat rowing up to it looking pretty guilty!
"What does a guilty longboat look like Hoga?"
Daniel belies the humor in his question by pulling out his personal arbalest and loading it.
It's the little things, like rowing away from a town recently set on fire to a ship that isn't burning, and flying the colors of slavers known to do such things. Other than that, I'll need a closer look to be sure!
Hoga ges his bow ready.
"Hah, you have me there. Well let's sneak over there and let them know what we think of that."
Patch groaned at being woken, but was up and about quickly anyway, habit of a life at sea.
When they saw the burning ships and harbor, Patch frowned at Luciana. "You'd best get below, lass. No sense in tempting them."
He brightened at Daniel's suggestion, and called up to Hoga, "Can we catch that longboat before it makes it back to the ship?"
Deron hefts his shield and scimitar as he watches the other ships and waits.
"Can we catch that longboat before it makes it back to the ship?"
No!
As you watch the ship and longboat, deciding what to do, the longboat reaches the ship and several figures climb up the rope ladder that was lowered to them. At least two of the figure are most likely female since they are wearing long dresses.
"Hey Lunthawg, can you set fire to that ship's sails from here?"
Not really serious, Patch turned away to consider the ship. "If they're slavers, they probably don't have much in the way of loot we can use - but the people might be happy to reward us if we free them. What do you say? Do we attack?"
"Anyone willing to burn down a town to capture slaves needs to be stopped, loot or no. And Lunthawg can finally set something on fire."