Seeing that he's not attracted the attention of the second rat, Doc decides to focus on the one attacking him, moving to put it between Malak and himself.
As Doc lines up his attack, he thinks to himself for a moment, I really need to get my dagger back from Grok, I can't believe I forgot to pick it up when I was getting my trunk
Deciding not to bother trying to punch the rat, he instead tries to jab his thumbs into the rat's eyes.
Aramis swings again at the rat, fully hoping to splatter it across the room. Unfortunately, she hasn't fought with a blunt weapon for years, and the momentum throws her off. A stream of foul curses spills from her lips as she connects with nothing more than wooden floor and a puddle of bilge water that splashes into her face.
A flurry of action erupts after the two rats feel into their dreams. Doc moves to poke red in the eyes, and he bites back.
And fails miserably, leaving itself wide open for the poke, the 'poor' creature is blinded and thus doesn't see the mace skipping off the water from Aramis's clumsy but still fortunate swing finding it's spine.
The rat yelps in pain, but is still mobile and it's hearing is just fine. Unfortunately for it, that means it hears the crushing of it's friend's spine as Malak gets used to the heft of the mace and shatters the rat in front of him.
Diabolito takes the chance to step up where the dead rat was and makes his own attempt at destroying red.
And it is only attempt, even blinded, it wasn't quite enough to find purchase in the diseased creature.
Round 3
Red attempts to attack Doc, but has no hope, even if it weren't blind as Pink snips at Nissa only to have her nimble twirl out of the line of teeth!
Nissa's urimi whips out to shave a little flesh and fur off of the rat near her.
Doc decides to give the rat a knock to the head to see if he can't knock it out.
The Urumi flicks about and tears into the rat, dealing more than Nissa expected, even if it isn't quite enough to down it.
Doc on the other hand, has much more luck despite barely hitting the creature, his fist drives right into the creature's skull, a bite coming his way is only narrowly missed, he is certain due to the damage to the creatures eyes that it hasn't shaken off yet. Thankfully, the bard's song gives him just enough of a boost to knock the creature out cold.
1 will miss, 2 will hit
One, poor rat is left awake.
Diabolito dashes up towards the remaining rat and swings the mace with a roar and a gnashing of teeth.
Clubbing the final rat's brains in with a spray of blood that seems only natural on the dwarf who seems quite feral when the blood starts to fly.
After the rats are finished off, six of you have a few minutes to regroup, breath and look around the bilges. lots of cobwebs hang above, masterworked manacles hang near the front of the ship (six sets of them, nailed to the hull). A masterworked handaxe, a buckler, a vial of holy water, a tanglefoot bag, two tindertwigs, and 21gp lay among debris in the water.
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After the final rat is finished Malak stretches out his arm. Swear this damn mace was made uneven. Need better weapon if want to kill Scourge. At that thought Malak sees the small boon among the buckler Happily he grabs the axe and buckler for himself to have a new killing tool. Then he offers up the rest to Doc unsure of how any of it can be of any use to him and pockets the gold. Afterwards he grabs the manacles, "Besmara has humor they say. Six pairs for six of a pirate crew. Tis very lucky. We can put these and the gold in the chest, save for when we want to hold some'un. But all the same, I'd rather kill them." Malak finishes strapping the buckler to his arm to see how it fits and waves the axe around to get a feel for it. "Lessgo quickly, we can store our tools in the chest and get back on deck. Let the Scourge know his pests be gone." On the way back up Malak puts the mace, masterwork axe, buckler, and six pairs of masterwork manacles and gold in the chest.
Doc helps drown the two sleeping rats to avoid adding any more filth to the bilge water. "More likely than not, one of us will be down here again pumping it out. May as well save ourselves the trouble. In fact, we should probably drag the rats on deck and throw them overboard just to make a good show of it for the rest of the crew."
When Malak finds the items, Doc grabs the tanglefoot bag and tindertwigs, saying. "I'll add these to my collection of alchemical items in my trunk."
As they get set to head up, he turns to the bard and says, "Maera, you should let me have a look at those wounds later. There's plenty of filth down here in the bilge water, and those rats were swimmin' in it. Don't want you, or any of us for that matter, catching ill!" Doc gives Maera a smile and a gentle pat on the shoulder. "In the meantime, take this, you'll feel better right away" Doc fishes out a small vial and hands it to Maera.
Nissa puts her "belt" back on before going back upstairs.
Since the group returns to the main deck without much time having passed, Scourge actually gives them a mild reprieve, seeing as they brought the dead dire rats up with them, sending them to assist others, but not putting them on specific tasks.
I'll give this a couple hours, then I'll hit rations and such.
Now is the time to gather warriors to our side.
Flushed with victory (to which she contributed in the most minor of fashions), Nissa approaches Crimson Cogward. As she aids him in his daily tasks, Nissa tells him of fighting the rats below. "It was a mighty row. They are the largest rats that I have ever seen. Do you think they devoured Ossok?"
Finding that he's free to move around, Doc will try to find Habbly and give him a hand with whatever he's up to. On his way to find him, Doc will grab a couple healing potions from his trunk in order to give one to Habbly and to have one on him for emergencies.
Doc will take a drink from his flask on the way over, finding that a little bit of magical luck can't hurt.
"Habbly, how's it going? Did Jack drop by after his encounter with our stowaways?"
Doc pauses for a moment and then says "Oh, before I forget, I managed to talk to Grok and grabbed a potion for ya to keep on hand in case of emergency!"
Doc offers the potion to Habbly.
Just as it looks like Doc is going to be completely shutout, Jack sits up, "Thanks for checking on me, Doc, but Habbly took great care of me, thanks for sending me his way!"
Sandara chuckles as she happens by, "Do you think you could take Doc as your protege, Habbly? I think he would make an excellent student and I know he has spoken of the desire to learn from you..."
Habbly looks at the two and then over to Doc, and shrugs. "I will talk to Scourge and see if you can be spared. It will do me well to have help when next we attack."
As her allies clean up the rats she slept and the bilges of items, Maera gingerly inspects the bites she received, sorely missing her boots... and her gear, in general. Enough's enough. They want me to be useful to them? I need my things. With Doc's generous offer, she smiles brightly, with a grateful nod. "Thank you."
With the freedom to do whatever she wishes, within reason, Maera takes the opportunity to visit Grok. "Well... I would like the return of my things," she gets down to business, after her initial small talk, regaling of their battle with the rats, and entertaining Grok with a dark tale about nereids. She shows off one of her healing bite wounds. "All of it, preferably. Most of it is just trinkets, anyway, of poor value to the crew just sitting away in there but they are things that in my hands can be more - my sewing thread can repair Nissa's dress. My fishing kit could aid Kroop in meals, and with the return of my spare clothing I will be far more comfortable with my ship chores." She shows the webbing between her fingers with a shy smile. "I want to prove to this lot I can do more than just singing. But that means I need my equipment. Yes, there is value to my weapons and armor, but what happens the next time rats decide to overrun us? And my shawl... well, it is not a thing one should have outside of my bloodline. It tends to bring them bad luck."
With a brilliant smile to Grok, Maera quickly reacquires her starting personal possessions, the armor... the weapons... all of it, and feels a slightly more competent member of this crew for having gotten them back. Her adoptive mother's comb and brush, and her shawl, are particularly soothing items.
"Gozeh and Besmara bless you. Whatcha fancy more: tuna or shark? For the first catch I get be yours."
Doc is completely caught off guard by his offer rubbing Habbly the wrong way. He sits there speechless for a moment before Jack and Sandra intercede on his behalf.
Doc rubs the back of his head and grins sheepishly at Sandra, Jack and Habbly. "I.. umm... Well I mean.. You'll find me a fast learner Habbly, thanks for the opportunity, I appreciate it."
As the bell rings demanding the start to Bloody Hour, the group can see a pair of familiar forms. One is familiar from several days before...a ragged form sits at the edge of the ship, red hair matted to her head from sweat, clothes practically glued to her skin for the same reason, but this woman was definitely in the bar with them the night of their abduction. It looks like she has been in a box for several days, though. A very hot box.
The other form is on his knees, his arms bounds with chains that look unpleasantly familiar and both Scourge and Plugg have big smiles on their faces, they eyes flickering to each one of their newest recruits, having one of their own bound. Ossok looks like he has had a bad time of it as Harrigan steps out to address the crew again.
"Today ye'll see the consequences of doing this crew harm. The woman," he waves to the familiar face, "Stabbed a member o' our crew. She has been in the sweatbox for the last few days and proven to be salty to survive that long."
Then his intense eyes fall on Ossok, "This bilge rat was caught snooping around me stores. Stealin' from me ain't the safest o' ideas. Two in a week...," he gives a nod and Scourge begins to pull his chain with glee, as Ossok is pulled off the side of the boat, his stoic look never fades. He did what he did and would pay the price for it and not give them the pleasure of seeing fear on his face.
As Ossok is keelhauled, Harrigan continues, "We were to have a rat stew tonight...cause some o' ye blighters managed to kill a bunch of bigguns...but instead, we are pourin' over the side and feedin' the sharks. If anyone is brave enough, they can try'n fish up a shark or two for tomorrow, otherwise...the crew has bled enough this day." He nearly snarls out the last bit as he turns and strides off. After several minutes, much longer than the previous event, Scourge drags the shattered body of Ossok back onto the deck.
Rum Rations and nighttime actions...
Poor Ossok, stolen away and keel-hauled in the span of a few days. Thief or not, it's no way to run a ship.
Doc gets in line for his ration, and after picking it up, finds a corner in which to transfer the rum to one of his used vials.
I really need to figure out how to dispose of this stuff. I'd give them to Diabolito to put back in the stores, but given his new-found love of the stuff he'd probably drink it all.
Afterwards he excuses himself to go clean and dress the bite he recieved, as well as to replace the mutagen he used that morning.
The Bloody Hour is one of the most gods-awful things Aramis can recall seeing. With clenched fists and white knuckles, she stares Harrigan down the whole time, her gaze hard and unwavering. If her companion wouldn't make a sound, then neither would she. Y'know, when I get me pappy's gun back, Ah'm not gonna bother loadin' it. Ah'll bash 'is brains out wit' tha stock afore I waste a bullet on 'im, that scum-suckin', barnacle-brained, bottom-feedin' sonofawhore. She forces her hands open as she collects her rum ration, and sees four small cuts on each palm, already welling blood.
She's barely held onto her mug for ten seconds before she's smashing it into the nearest hard surface, hitting the mug with the heel of her hand a few times to break it. "Ye want me ta drink this piss, ye can force it down me dead throat!" she mutters angrily, before spitting on the shattered mug with disgust. She takes a few seconds to calm herself, steeling her nerves, trying not to let her hatred show. Calm down, lass. Yer in this fer tha long haul, so ye may's well keep yer 'ead down, eh? Ah, what I'd do ta hold me gun again...
She rolls her neck, cracks her knuckles, and when she faces her shipmates again, she's grinning. The face of ne'er-do-well bravado is back, for now.
As Ossok is dropped over the side, Nissa begins to chant softly in Vundrani.
"वरुण, मैं आप का आह्वान किया. मैं महाराजा के रक्त, तुम्हें बुलाने. अपने मोती महल में इस आदमी ले लो. वरुण, मैं आप का आह्वान किया. मैं महाराजा के रक्त, तुम्हें बुलाने. अपने मोती महल में इस आदमी ले लो. वरुण, मैं आप का आह्वान किया. मैं महाराजा के रक्त, तुम्हें बुलाने. अपने मोती महल में इस आदमी ले लो."
Nissa approaches Barefoot Samm Toppin. I have lost a soldier today. I must recruit another, or we might all perish out here.
"You have no shoes. I have no shirt. But I imagine that these were choices -- victories -- not losses. I lost a friend to the sea today. What has the sea taken from you?"
After safety stowing away her belongings, Maera had approached Bloody Hour with considerable dread - obviously fearing that Diabolito's loud words the other night that revealed her deception. It is, however, so much worse. Initially, she's amazed and impressed by this woman whose managed to survive for so long; if Maera had to suffer the sweat-box she imagine it'd be like her own personal hell, but her wonder quickly shifts to fear when Ossok is brought up in chains. "No - no, you can't," she sputters angrily. She steps forward automatically, foolishly, as if to challenge the Captain but finds that Jack Scrimshaw has taken hold of her shoulder to hold her back, his face sad, and Tilly Brackett grabs her other arm, with a gruff shake of her head. These two hold her steady through the whole awful affair, Maera shaking with helpless fury, a kind of wrath she's never really felt before, and her mind plagues her over and over some of her last words to the strange scarred man: Drowning's an awful way to die. Since the beginning he had been kind to her, and now he was dead.
"Thank you," she whispers quietly to Tilly and Jack when the grim affair is done. "You can let me go now - I swear, I will do nothing rash." She raises her chin, a cool and bloody calm washing over her as she wipes away her tears.
Thankful to Tilly, Maera pours her ration into the woman's mug when no one is watching, then approaches Conchobhar with determination.
"I have no bloody ballads, nor much voice for song this eve, but hoped your strong melody might give me strength in mourning my friend. I cannot dress his body - they will not let me sew it up in sailcloth, and place stones at the base, and he deserves dignity before he is thrown to the sharks..." Her voice wavers slightly, but she powers through it, with a hopeful glance to Rosie. "Please, join me. Let him go away to music."
The bedraggled woman sat quite still at the edge of the ship; only occasionally would she shift her limbs, her mouth tightening with pain. The stiffness in her body was evident, but so too was the hate carved into her face: her eyes were locked onto Plugg with an expression of silent, desperate fury. Her gaze never wavered, not even when half-orc was dropped over the side, nor when his broken body was drawn back up from the cruel water. Zaketta's eyes remained fixed on the cruel first mate until he moved belowdecks... and even then, she stared off in that direction, still gingerly stretching her limbs until, finally, she could force herself onto her feet.
Zaketta slowly proceeded to mess, grunting a bit with each step. She enthusiastically attacked her meal, sparing little attention for anyone else until her plate was clean. When the grog was passed around, she took a sniff of the foul concoction, then muttered something to herself about "Besmaran purity laws." Hoisting her mug to her lips, she titled it back at an alarmingly rapid rate, heedless of how it was spilling down her chest and shoulders. She brought the mug back down to the table with a firm thud, breathing heavily.
Glancing around at the other crew, it was clear that several were particularly upset about the fate of the keel-hauled half-breed. The Chelaxian girl was visibly furious, if only for a moment, and the Vudrani looked strangely contemplative. When another woman began a mournful song, Zaketta cocked a curious eyebrow.
A lotta women on this ship - more than I've ever heard tell of. They must have been hard up for crew for sure.
Getting up to dispose of her mug and dish, Zaketta casually passed by Aramis, and, pitching her voice low, whispered briefly to her while looking at the horizon.
"If you and your friends mean to balance the ledger on Plugg's account, come tug on my hammock tonight. I mean to take a debt out of his hide myself."
Zaketta then moved on, as if nothing had transpired between them at all. Exhausted from her ordeal in the sweat box, she went below to get some needed rest.
Going to try and use bluff to conceal the fact that Zaketta is letting the vast majority of the rum spill all over her instead of actually drinking it.
Everyone on deck can hear the gnome and halfling perform a sad song before Maera, it seems as if it is at her request.
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Malak scowls as he watches Ossok get dragged overboard.Stupid piece of... He meets Scourge's eyes without any hesitation to let the pirate know that he would not be threatened or conquered. As everyone begins to disperse Malak makes his way down to find Grok and take his rations begrudgingly.
Malak finds Syl among the crew and whispers into her ear. "I wanna do some fishing. Go see if ye can't get Jape or some other of the boys to meet me on the deck for a little fun." As soon as Malak finished talking he tries to find and catch Tam before he departs to join Scourge. Intent on getting the dwarf's respect and allegiance Malak barks at him. "Hey you salty B@$%@#&! You denied me challenge last night! So howabouts we do something about that? Since we no longer getting stew, let's get some real food. Let us be real pirates and slay some sharks. The biggest catch is the winner?"
Malak starts hollering loudly about sharks, food, and betting money to everybody. The half-orc goes to his parties' chest and grabs his bandanna. Then makes his way up to the deck of the ship to meet Grok with his supplies. Along the way he ties a neat knot in the bandanna around his head. The bright blue fabric contrasting greatly with his burning eyes. As he passes Cog and Maheem he tells them to meet him on the deck. He pats Doc and Diabolito on the backs telling them to come watch and asks Doc for some quick healing before he goes to make a fool of himself. Also, he notices the others from the pressganged, winking at the females waving for them to follow.
Once people have gathered on the deck of the ship Malak grabs a lantern hanging next to the door and makes his way towards the side of the ship. Peering over the edge he looks closely to see the sharp cutting of the fins in the water. The half-orc motions for the quartermaster to hand him the harpoon and rope he asked her to acquire. Looking towards the gathering crew, "Well, me mates, if we can't have stew like the good offsa says. Then let us get shark like he says. The man, or lass, to stick the biggest one will be the winner! And good ole Fishguts and his assistant Diabolito will be getting new food to cook! If ye be a real pirate sailor, then now the time to show it. Show who the dominant one is! Us or the sharks??" Malak finishes knotting the rope to the harpoon and his waist. He moves up next to a lifeline rail and pulls the harpoon back. Steadying his body, slowing his breathing, he tracks the shark moving around. He can tell by the movement and dorsal it could be pretty big. The thrill of the sea! Besmara how I have missed this! It has been far too long since I caught a shark, and the last one was a tiger threatening to take me with it! This time, this time I will when. He lets the harpoon fly all of his beastial rage powering behind it.
The song the watersinger has chosen is normally meant to be more upbeat, but at this tempo is more poignant and raw, and uses Rosie's fiddle melody to great effect.
"As I roved by the dockside one evening so fair, to view the salt waters and take in the salt air, I heard an old fisherman singing a song: 'Oh, take me away boys me time is not long.'
'Wrap me up in me oilskin and blankets. No more on the docks I'll be seen. Just tell me old shipmates, I'm taking a trip mates, and I'll see you someday in Fiddler's Green.'
Now Fiddler's Green is a place I've heard tell where the fishermen go if they don't go to Hell, where the weather is fair and the dolphins do play, and the cold coast of Cheliax is far, far away.
Chorus
Now when you're in dock and the long trip is through there's pubs and there's clubs and there's lassies there too, and the girls are all pretty and the beer is all free, and there's bottles of rum growing on every tree.
Chorus
Where the skies are all clear and there's never a gale, and the fish jump on board with one swish on their tail, where you lie at your leisure, there's no work to do, and the skipper's below making tea for the crew.
Chorus
Now I don't want a harp nor a halo, not me. Just give me a breeze and a good rolling sea, I'll play me old fiddle as we sail along, with the wind in the rigging to sing me a song."
By the end, her voice has taken an almost siren-like quality, never breaking or wavering though she blinks her eyes free of tears frequently. She turns to Conchobar and Rosie, and slightly bows her head in gratitude. "Thank you. 'Twas an honor to perform with you both - I wish it had been under happier circumstances. Good night to you." Maera walks briefly to the railing to look out at the sea, her face very still, and she mutters something in Aquan... and from the tone it sounds like an oath, or a curse.
Satisfied, she goes below deck to begin at once.
Nissa will add whatever help she can
Doc takes a break from his mutagen preparation to watch the competition. "I bet Malak here can pull up a shark that'll feed us for a week!"
Doc cheers Malak on as he watches him line up the shot.
Seeing Malak trying to get Tam involved in the competition Doc says. "I don't know why you're bothering, Malak, it's a foregone conclusion at this point! I doubt pulling a shark aboard is going to be any more difficult than arm wrestling that Kuru at the Formidably Maid."
He chuckles for a moment, thinking about the incident."Poor guy was on the floor before he even knew what happened."
Doc looks at Tam and continues, "Anyway, you could be the saltiest bloke on this vessel, but I'll be prancing about the crow's nest before I believe a dwarf can catch anything from the ocean but a cold."
Many members of the crew jump at the chance to do something to take their minds off of another death on board. Those who are not in tight with Scourge and Plugg all at least watch, however, Malak easily dominates the competition, reeling in a large mako shark, nearly ten feet in length. There is a great deal of hooping as he does so, and then as Cog is drug off deck by whatever he was attempting to pull in. Malak, having easily hefted his shark in, also is easily able to reach over and grab the ropes that Cog was attached to and pull him and a small blackfin onto the deck. Shiv, Badger, Tilly, Maheem and Giffer all manage to pull in small sharks, with Giffer pulling in a very nice sized mako, as well.
Fishguts simply shakes his head, "I think you all know it was no contest. Malak pulled in a mako, a blackfin, and a crew member."
The crew will be well fed for a while with all of this shark they pulled in and at least the groups efforts with the rats and Ossok's sacrifice brought something good.
Day 5
Malak: Mainsail Duties – Profession Sailor/STR check (DC 10) + CON DC 10 to avoid fatigue
Diabolito: Special Occasion – Profession Cook/Survival DC 10; Sober = done(there is a lot of Shark and the Captain wants to celebrate it)
Zak: Man the Bilges – STR DC 10 + CON DC 10 to avoid fatigue (Guess the punishment isn't completely over)
Nissa: Swab the Decks – STR/CON DC 10 to avoid fatigue
Aramis: Repairs – Profession Sailor/DEX DC 10
Maera: Repairs – Profession Sailor/DEX DC 10
Doc: Apprenticeship begins. INT DC 10/Bluff DC 13 - Either you have to pay attention and see if you pick anything up OR you have to convince him that is what is happening.
Scourge and Plugg seem to be chatting a lot today, looking in each of your directions and chuckling.
Morning displays a rather different side of the bard to her allies; since the reacquisition of her gear she's made quite a number of changes, and the overall effect is not unlike water turned to ice. She's exchanged her long skirts for slim black leggings, equally as fetching on her, but far more practical for the path her life is taking her, and while she's kept the corset she's altered and tailored it for comfort, fitting in nicely with her leather armor. A beautiful, white silken shawl threaded with tiny seed pearls serves as her belt, and her dark hair is braided and pinned up, with only a few messy locks to frame her face. Complete with her black gloves and boots, and weapons carried easily in a quiver on her back, she looks much more confidant than the woman that first woke in the hold, if slightly more remote in demeanor, and infinitely more dangerous.
Before they separate for their morning tasks, she offers to Nissa, "If you wish, I can repair your kurta this evening with needle and thread... my mother always said I had a good hand, though if you do not mind waiting longer, I'm quite close to figuring out how to mend it magically."
Nissa is showing more of her lithe, muscled flesh than she would prefer, but she is grateful for Rosies gift.
"That would be a gift and a blessing, Maera. You have my thanks."
Leaning closer she whispers, "We will survive this. Even if I have to tear out these unclean ones hearts.""
She manages a small smile, a glimmer of her old self behind the pain of Ossok's departure. "Oh, I do not doubt our survival. It's merely a question of how long we must suffer theirs. But water is patient, and revenge is best served cold."
Whilst working on repairs, Maera thanks Tilly once again for her actions in holding her back last night, adding, "I also hope you did not mind the sudden windfall of rum in your mug... 'Twould physically pain me to drink my share, and I cannot continue my earlier deception. If you wish, I can make that arrangement permanent."
Knowing she would undoubtably be beaten tonight anyways, Nissa doesn't bother being diligent.
She will continue befriend Cogsward.
"I'm glad you did not fall in last night. You would have made terrible bait!"
Zaketta threw herself into her work at the bilges with a single-minded determination. She had never liked such work, nor had she shown any aptitude for it, but it was, if nothing else, a simple, honest chore that left one's mind free to think. As she pumped the foul water, she idly imagined the revenge she had in mind for Plugg.
It will take some doing to get this ship away from the Captain's lead, though. I'll need help. I bet that lot who had thrown in with the witch doctor would be game - they certainly have a score to settle with the officers.
While Doc is a little bit skeptical that he'll learn something from Habbly, he is sincere in his hope that he can befriend him, and grateful for the chance provided to him by Sandra's quick thinking.
Well, might as well see what tricks Habbly's got up his sleeves, maybe there'll be something to learn. And I imagine he can benefit from my alchemical knowledge too, if I can manage to get him to loosen up enough so he isn't offended by the offer.
Doc settles in for the day and earnestly pays attention to what Habbly's saying and doing, and tries to keep from putting his foot in his mouth again.
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After the celebration of the catches Malak pats the other competitors on the back. He looks around at the crew, pleased by the respect he has earned and the food he has brought in. Let them say I am the real predator of the seas... With his head held high the large half-orc nods to Fishguts looking at the charks. "Jus' do me a favor mate, don't go wastin' it all. I mighty would like to get some good grub out of this." With that Malak retires to his hammock after shifting around things in the chest to find his dagger, untying the bandanna from his head he wraps it around his wrist and slides the dagger underneath it. After he feels secure about his protection he drifts into sleep.
The Next Morn
Malak makes his way to the main deck, walking tall with pride from last nights' activities. He gets his assignment and starts working away.
Malak keeps an eye on Tam while he works, certain that there must be some way to get the dwarf's respect. He tries to catch Maheem's eye and nods toward Tam. While Tam is working Malak tries to find an opportunity to confront him. The hulking figure bumps hard into the dwarf while he is working. "Ay! Best watch it you stumpy bilge trash! You not know what you doing? Need somebody like me o' Maheem here ta teach ya how to be a real sailor? Pull your head out ye arse, before I gotta do it for ye."