Hearing the dwarf barreling in towards the officer, Doc tries his best provide a distraction to leave her open to Diabolito's attack.
With the step forward and a swing, the officer is left alone against the entire group.
Seeing the blood gushing from her stomach and the enemies baring down upon her, she goes to run for it, looking to dive overboard.
Diabolito tries to snap at her when she runs, but finds his mouth left empty.
And comes up a bit short.
Doc takes a swing, unexpectedly, and while acting on instinct and response, he holds his dagger differently, giving him insight on how to do this in the future.
As the blade slashes across the woman's back, she stumbles and falls, unconscious and on the ground, leaving all enemies in view either defeated or in captivity. As the officer hit the ground, her ranseur skipped off the deck and slid right to Malak's feet. An obvious magic polearm that looks very much like a trident now rests before, almost as if it is fated.
As the fog begins to fade away, it is clear that each group has managed to overwhelm the sailors, with very few major injuries. Nissa and Conchabar were the two worst off, but between Sandara and Zak, only members of The Man's Promise actually met their end.
As the fog fades away, Harrigan comes out of the aft castle carrying a heart and he holds it up. "Vudrani, THIS is your captain's heart. You are beaten and the ship is ours. Cooperate or you will feed the sharks. I hear they are quite hungry.
Aramis is reloading her gun as this is going on and she feels like after shooting near her companions so often, she has a good idea of how to avoid them in the future.
Maera calms her song and feels as if she still has quite a bit to sing, as if she did not use nearly as much of her power as she thought she might.
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Malak watches the polearm sliding across the deck, anybody watching him can see a glitter in his eyes. The barbarian shoulders his falchion, now in a fashion with his pike forming an "X" on his back. Almost like a timid and superstitious creature, Malak reaches down and slowly picks up the trident, treating it like an invaluable relic. There seems to be a peace that washes over the sea reaver as he admires his new-found weapon. When the captain comes out of the ship it snaps Malak from his dreams. He admires the way the captain carries himself, but still wants to hold the man's heart in the very same manner. Next, Wavecrasher looks at the bodies on the deck and moves over to Nissa. He softly slides his free arm under her and hoists her up over his shoulder, as gently as a huge half-orc brute can. It almost seems like he is protecting her from any further harm. There he stands looking upon his fellow companions, holding the woman warrior over his shoulder, blood dripping from his wounds, and absolutely no care about how much of it he has lost. It is obvious he is becoming fatigued from this battle, his breath has grown heavier and his shoulder droop instead of standing high and proud.
With a glance at Harrigan, she realizes that the day is theirs, and stows away her weapon, relieved for the fight to be over with and more than a little bemused with her combat performance. Maybe this sort of thing is worth practicing after all... I can't be lucky all the time.
With a worried sigh, she crosses to Malak as he tends to Nissa. Hopefully Zak or Sandara would have some divine assistance left, failing that..."C'mon, let's get her back to the ship," she says softly, a bit touched by the care and gentleness he was showing. Obviously, there was more to him than just brashness and blind anger. "Should be easier for Doc and Habbly to see to her wounds there."
As for herself, she seems alright; a small cut down her arm, but Zak's channel had stopped the bleeding - it's nothing a dip in the sea or a good night's rest couldn't fix.
Diabolito grins, as he sees the woman bleeding on the deck. Checking among those that perished in the event, he finds one of the many sailors of the Man's Promise and lifts the lifeless body into his arms, after all goods are stripped off it. Shrugging his shoulders, he walks to the railing and speaks in almost a reverent tone. "Brothers, tonight you share in victory." And with that, he tosses the body overboard to feed the hungry predator fish below. After watching the great beasts feast, he heads back over to his fellows and looks over the ones among them.
"Well, that was quite the experience, wasn't it!" He laughs heartily, his beard dripping with fresh blood, his eyes glistening with excitement. After just a moment, he grumbles and spits a shark tooth from between his lips. One that seems very similar in size to his own teeth and bright red. "Bleck. Those damn things taste worse every time I do that."
With the prisoners gathered, bound and placed in the bilges of both ships, Captain Harrigan gathers his crew, making sure that the two healers and the two doctors administer healing to all those injured and making sure they are at least on their feet. Once everyone is on the deck of The Wormwood, a broad smile on his bearded face as calls out. "That was a worthy battle. And for it, we each earn a worthy bounty. You work on my ship, you win on my ship. Now...to the victors go the spoils,"
At this point Grok begins walking through the crew handing them small bags of coins. When she comes to the group of press ganged champions of the aft castle, the bags look a good bit heavier, holding 325g in each bag for them.
When she reaches Malak, she hands him four potions, three that look just like the one that he drank earlier and one Potion of Invisibility. She whispers with a grin, "Captain says keep the weapon."
She comes to Diabolito and holds out a small pouch in addition to his gold pouch. Within the pouch is an amulet, the shape of a shark's opened mouth with a single shark tooth in the mouth, though it looks like there are spots for other teeth. When Diabolito touches the amulet, it seems slick to his touch. Harrigan calls out, "Not everyone would bother to warn me or even protect me when someone is sneaking up on me, but this shark knows where to feed. For that, he gets rewarded handsomely."
Oddly, Peppery appears, and walks over to Nissa, "I saw you on the deck...you were mixing magics with movement," she pauses and then pulls out a scroll. "We found this on a ship a while back. It's not useful to me, but I thought you might be able to use it..." She hands Nissa the scroll.
"Now...Relax. Enjoy. Celebrate"
Grinning broadly, Aramis shakes her fingers loose, tucking the gold pouch into a pocket and strapping her musket across her back. "This was 'ardly a challenge," she laughs later as she relaxes with her fellow champions. "Malak, ye're a damn wild beast an' a 'alf, eh? An' Stormbeard! Ye've got a good bite on ye! An' tha way Doc took down tha' b&&%% as she tried ta run!" As she chats, she shakes her bullet and blackpowder loose, tapping and rubbing the barrel. "Now, sometimes a bit a' good powder gets stuck in 'ere," she mutters, peering down the barrel before upending the firearm. "'parently not this time," she shrugs, seeing nothing come out. "Ah well. Say, ah wonder if they foun' any good booze aboard tha' ship? I could sure use a drink. Not tha' watery grog they was givin' us." She grimaces at the thought.
Nissa will be studying the scroll she was given, and giving thanks to her gods that everyone has survived.
Doc revels in the group's victory. "You had quite a few good shots there yourself Aramis. We all gave them quite a stern beating! We've definitely earned a rest and celebration..." He follows up in a quiet tone "And judging by the captain's mood, a reprieve for Malak as well. I bet that'll irritate Plugg and Scourge no small amount."
With spirits high and the spirits flowing freely, Maera puts in an energetic performance before making her evening rounds of sociability. She takes pains to pay special attention to Conchabar, and see that he is in good cheer after taking injuries of his own.
Eventually, she wanders to Grok's stores, with business on her mind. "Seeing as we're aflush with plunder, I was hopin' I might be able to trade up in weapons. If I'm to turn pirate as a permenant profession, I should fight as well as I look the part," she smirks, with slight self-deprecation, and deposits her spear. "I don't suppose you've got somethin' with more finesse than this thing? Can't always get a lucky shot with a bow."
Grok smiles as she pulls out a masterwork rapier and places it on the counter top, "It's on me, this time. You've been good to me the last few weeks with yer wine."
The party continues through the night and then all of the following day. The crew is delighted by each of Maera's performances and they seem to drive the party on even harder.
Nissa gets her spell scribed while everyone else is busy.
After all the party calms, the Captain returns, seemingly quite well rested.
As the service bell rings, all the crew comes to the deck to find all of the Vudrani prisoners on their knees, gathered in the center of the ship's deck.
"I'm a reasonable sort. You lot know you have been beaten. If ye wish to join me crew, step forward and you will be allowed onto our crew, no questions. Your own necks are worth more than loyalty to a defeated vessel." Several of the sailors step forward, eager to be removed from bondage and fearing what happens if they don't join.
Scourge cuts their bonds and they each go to join the rest of the crew.
“All right, you scurvy tars! You’ve done a right good job by me—we’ve got a second ship now, and she’s quite a prize from the looks of her. But I still have only one crew. So here’s the plan—the Wormwood will sail on to our planned destination with our new shipmates here, while Mr. Plugg will pick a skeleton crew to sail the Man’s Promise to Port Peril, where she’ll be worth a pretty penny as salvage."
"As for these fine fellows here”—Harrigan gestures at the
remainder of the captured ship’s crew—“some of them will no
doubt be worth a hefty ransom from their families back in Vudra.
And for the rest, if the life of a pirate’s not for them, they can
spend the rest of their lives at sea!” With that, he grabs one of the sailors and throws them overboard. Several of the other sailors pipe up that they are willing to join up now, as well. After this is done, all the officers are lead beneath, with the idea being they would be auctioned.
Plugg and Scourge let several members know that they will be joining the ship's crew pretty much immediately, but when Plugg reaches the group, he has a wicked grin on his face, "You have ten minutes to be on The Man's Promise or you will be dealt as having committing treason." With that said, he storms off to gather more crew mates.
Our chance will becoming soon. No sorceress to protect them. No captan to enforce his reign of terror. Just Plugg.
Nissa did not have much to gather. Her jewels and silks were still missing. All she had left was her spell book and her urumi, which had strangely turned black after the battle. Now that it had tasted human blood, it felt strangely . . . alive.
Maera had taken the rapier with a wide smile, already a bit familiar with such a weapon after charming out swordplay lessons from sailors on shore-leave. "Aye, this will do nicely."
Collecting her affects the following morning does not take long, and as it seems most of the people she's formed attachment with are getting tossed from the frying pan into the fire as well, Maera really only has to say good-bye to Grok. "Shame you're not to come with us..." she says quite sincerely to the quartermaster, having admired the other woman's fortitude in such a harsh environment. "One more parting glass for the road then, aye?" she smiles, conjuring her water to wine trick for the last time.
At the question, Grok's eyes well up and she grabs Maera in a big, bearlike hug. "You be bloody careful. Plugg and Scourge are hard me and they don't like good things...and you," she sobs, "Are among the best..." She trails off and then reaches beneath the counter and tosses Maera a backpack. Within are any last morsels from their original gear that were missing.
Doc immediately ran downstairs to gather his things, knowing that he had quite a bit more gear than the others to lug around.
Ten minutes? That's barely time to get my gear up there! Need to get in some goodbyes too. If we play our cards right, the next time we see this ship we may be the ones plundering it.
The thought of that was so appealing that he stopped and allowed himself a moment to savor it.
Revenge on the Cap'n and releasing the crew from his control. One day it'll happen.
Stopping by Habbly's office, Doc strode up to the man and grasped his hand firmly to shake it. "Habbly, thanks again for taking me under your wing. When next we meet you'll have to let me buy you a drink, and we can trade stories!" Doc said, wearing his characteristic grin.
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Malak makes his way down below the decks to grab his last few things, in reality all he needs is his armor and these weapons. With his bag on his back and things in possession he searches for only three people of value at this current time. Pirates he knows he could trust. He goes looking for Owlbear, Syl, and Grok.
When Malak comes back to the deck he walks with strong and heavy strides. A proud beast among the pirates. He is ready to leave with a sure mind that those going with him are capable of holding his trust, for now. The half-orc has a backpack in hand with his new trident and falchion across his back, crossbow at the hip. He looks at Plugg and then to the rest of his companions. "Well, it'll be nice gettin' to take orders from that ugly piece of a mug. Ammiright? Ha! It'll be nice indeed."
Slipping the shark mouthed necklace around his neck, he grins, showing teeth that are beginning to take more of a permanent shark-like appearance. The slickness around his neck reminds him to stow the bloodied axe at his side, as he heads back on the ship.
When the order of switching ships comes, the dwarf heads below deck to the ol' cook. "Ya hear about our vic'try? Took those bloody Vudrani to task, we did." He clasps the cook on the shoulder, shaking his head. "They sending ya with us?" His excitement is tempered by the thought that the cook might end up stuck with Harrigan, which is sobering indeed.
Once he has an answer or two on that matter, he heads over to the Quartermaster, his gear stowed on his back. "Hey, lass. Just wanted to tell ya to stay safe. Gozreh bless ya and all that. Don't supposin ya have anything down here that'd be useful for meh?" He shakes his scruffy head.
Malak finds Grok with redness around her eyes, as she has already cried from Maera, she simply nods to him, trying to avoid another outburst.
When he goes to speak with Syl, he can see that she has Owlbear's chains and is dragging him to the other ship along with a few of the less savory folks that will be joining the crew of The Man's Promise .
Diabolito finds Fishguts packing up, "Looks like the Cap'n wants ta get rid of me, so ol Fishguts will be going with ya!"
When Diabolito arrives at Grok's, he sees Malak is saying his goodbyes and that the poor half-orc is about to start sobbing. She shakes her head to the dwarf's question and then darts into the backroom.
Ten minutes later, a skeleton crew is left on each ship, but Mr. Plugg and Master Scourge are acting Captain and First Mate of The Man's Promise and begin barking orders to the crew to get the ship sailing.
A half an hour or so later, the bell is ringing and everyone is called to the deck, since the waters are nice and smooth, Plugg feels he can get everyone's attention without any dangers.
"Today is a new day and it won't be like all those you have had aboard a ship before. Harrigan is soft. Starting today, there will be no rum, no games, and no one on deck after The Bloody Hour. If you break the rules...you taste the cat. Or the salt of the sea. Now get back to work."
Each of you is assigned your least favorite job, Doc and Maera are back on harder details, and Diabolito is fishing...as the ship sails. There are not enough people to handle all the work easily, so it is far more exhausting.
After gathering her belongings and saying her brief goodbyes, Aramis heads to the Man's Promise. Upon reaching the deck, she pauses long enough to borrow a dagger from someone, scratching a small notch into the stock of the firearm. As she blows the dust and splinters from it, she makes sure to catch Plugg's eye, and grins.
"A farewell gift from Grok," she whispers, handing it over. "But I would be careful to keep it hidden, at least 'til we are no longer under Plugg and Scourge's eyes, lest they take it back."
Nissa hugs the woman. "Thank you. We should take care of them. This ship, it could be ours."
Doc toils away the day on the captured ship, pondering the situation in the few free moments he can steal.
That Plugg thinks Harrigan was soft is truly a tell. Harrigan was cunning, he didn't need to beat the crew senseless every day, just enough to let them know who decided whether they had good days or bad ones. A captain who abuses his crew constantly to keep order will eventually be missing his crew, his ship, or his life.
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Malak grumbled at the thought of Plugg and Scourge being the masters of this ship. Ha, I'll make yer skull soft Plugg, ye schemin' b@$#@rd. Takin' charge of the ship me 'n me mates took for ye and then givin' us the lousy jobs. Ye'll regret bringin' me wit' ye. The half-orc went about his work without a word to a soul. He worked hard, but with a scowl of anger upon his face. The barbarian's eyes wondered about the ship, whether he was plotting, looking for a potential threat, or just distracted...not even he knows.
The little dwarf seems to enjoy the work above deck as he drags in a fair amount of fish each day. But even better is the chance he has to keep an eye on the ship and its workings.
How are you gonna get out of this, ya old sea wretch? Somehow we need to take out those two damned officers...or else we'll end up permanently below the waves.."
The day passes uneventfully, other than lots of hard work.
When Bloody Hour arrives, a pair of the Vudrani crew are beaten with the cat before it was all said and done.
That night, everyone was sent to the crew quarters, save for a select few: Scourge, Plugg, Aretta, Fipps, Syl, and the one Vudrani officer who defected quickly enough to appease Harrigan. Clearly, Plugg and Scourge were not aware of where Syl's true loyalty has turned.
When this secret meeting was over, the crew was asleep, leaving Syl to have to stew on the information.
The following day, each was given the horrible task, just as the day before.
Sandara takes a moment to whisper to Rosie, who is being forced to run everything, everywhere with her short legs. When she comes near any of the pressganged members that she has access to, she whispers to them...
The day exhausts each of you, but before Plugg and Scourge can stop her, Maera is able to sing away the exhaustion that each of them feel from working so hard.
The group is close together as lights out nears, people talking quietly to themselves, but very few actually paying attention to what others are saying. Sandara comes and sits next to the group. "What have ye heard?"
Diabolito just grins, chuckling very, very quietly. "Lass, a few little fish have been talkin' that we're headed to some fellow named Rickity's. I'm a bettin' man, so I'd say the rats in charge of this vessel be 'bout ta turn rogue on Harrigan."
Without someone to tell them what Rickety's is, the group is left at a loss, only knowing that Plugg and Scourge are doing something very against what the Captain had instructed.
"Well, that would seem...very much like them. We will need to start making plans..."Sandara says quietly.
The dwarf slowly shakes his head, grimacing. "And more bad news to top that, lass...Wherever or whoever we're headed towards, it ain't at Port Peril. Ship's goin' the wrong way for that. Maybe our other cookin' friend will know who this Rickity is, since he be the one telling meh about it."
"Now is the time to strike. We shall put Plugg and his allies to the sword and claim the ship for ourselves. We can then go on adventures and claim our share of treasures on the high seas!"
Her opinion of Scourge and Plugg seems to ring true by the end of the day. She might loathe Harrigan, and owe him a debt of pain for Ossok, but at least she could understand him and respect his mind, murderous it may be. These two were cruel for cruelty's sake.
That night as the group confers below, Maera thoughtfully considers what is known and what options they have. "Should we get to this location before we deal with them, they will likely have plans in place, and enough support from our new arrivals, to deal with us... Whatever we do must be soon." She looks at Diabolito. "How well stocked is the galley here? We should ensure that those that would fight with us would have access to weapons... Perhaps there's also the option of the reefclaw poison now, with Harrigan's wench out of our hair."
"We need to put them to the sword. Most of the crew prefer us to them. Let us tell them to be ready, and then destroy them and any who would help them."
Sandara smiles, "Besmara bless my soul, I think we can start making our preparations tomorrow. If I'm a runner again, I'll start smuggling knives to the bilges to gear some of the crew. Though, some of us still have our toys," she says as she touches a blade at her hip.
Diabolito grins and laughs, holding his sides for a moment. "Well, lass, Besmara may bless your soul, but I think Gozreh blessed this dwarf with some nasty toys between the gums." And with that, he grins to show off the nasty shark-like teeth he's been sporting so often.
"Sharks know when to attack, and I do believe that it will be time for us to drag our fearless leaders to a watery death."
"We'll soon see if they're half as hard as they think they are."
Grinning at the thought of finally being free again, Doc says "I can't wait to see the look on the face of those two. I reckon it'll be a memory that'll make me smile for years to come."
"We can discuss the merits after we succeed, but for now, let's just keep an eye on our chances and we can make our move when the time is right. In the meantime, we should all get some sleep."
"Two bullets 's all I need," Aramis mutters darkly, polishing her musket. The lone notch on the stock gleams raw; the barrel of the firearm shining dully, numerous nocks and scratches marring the cold steel. "Two bullets, a steady 'and, 'an tha chance ta do it. We could 'ave 'em overboard afore anyone reaches tha deck." Her face is grim, her tone serious.
The dwarf puts a hand on Aramis's shoulder and shakes his head, seeming steady now that he's passed the rum stage. "We need a solid plan, lass, or else...well, in the confusion, we might end up the ones under the water."
A grin then crosses his lips again. "But we'll get 'em soon enough."
"Aye, Stormbeard. Ah know," Aramis sighs, turning the musket over in her hands and sighting down the barrel. "Damn thing's still crooked," she mutters. "Ah jus' want so badly ta put a bullet in someone's 'ead. Guess Ah'll jus' 'ave ta wait."
Nissa smiles at Aramis. "We will take them on the morrow. We are stronger now than we ever have been before. I will dance between them and they will not touch me."
The rani caresses the pommel of her sword, which is now pitch black.
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Malak sits silently. Thinking if this is what happened when his last captain was betrayed and the crew marooned the barbarian. "Little birdie tell me they be movin' 'gainst Harr'gan. Meself don' mind runnin' 'em 'n anyone with them with my new weapon. I'll take ye all as my new crew. 'N Doc, it be a look a terror when they see me comin'." Something inside has sparked a fire in the sea reaver's eyes as he now seems jittery and anxious. A eery grin spreads upon his face.
Throughout the following day, each of you spots the Vudrani officer speaking with the original ship's crew and handing them weapons. It seems like they have something in the works, as well, but judging by the fact that this is always done in sight of Plugg or Scourge, there can be little doubt which side they are currently on.
Bloody hour comes and Conchabar is the only one punished, but he is left in a heap. Diabolito and Kroop hand out the evening meals and then everyone is being sent below deck.
You notice multiple small tentacles wrapping around the rails on both sides of the ship.
Diabolito grimaces at the roughness with which his fellow crew are treated that day. Such a damn shame. A tasty shame, but a shame none the less. Even as he licks his lips, his thoughts drift to how it would be to have his current leaders in the same position.
The dwarf's mind continues to drift and is filled with thoughts of who Rickity is, and when they're gonna strike. As the day drags on, he finds his mind a bit less sharp than he'd hope it to be, shaking his head and trying to clear the cobwebs of sleep. While in the galley, he tries to get Kroop to explain who this Rickity fellow is, in between cleaver cuts of the meat.
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The sea reaver's eyes follow the Vudrani suspiciously, he practically snarls at her any time she comes within his vicinity. There is a slight sigh from Malak after Conchabar is punished, knowing well enough that he probably didn't deserve it. The barbarian practically starts prowling the deck while eating his meal hastily. His hands tighten into fists as he thinks about the blood to be spilled soon, Plugg and Scourge's blood.
Nissa starts casting as Conchabar is being whipped. Nissa casts Mage Armor and then Shield, and then moves close to Scourge. She hopes the spectacle distracts everyone because she is going to attack Scourge the moment the gnome is dragged away.
Will she get a surprise round?
Plugg is watching Nissa as he expected all eyes on the spectacle.