Marisan's blow leaves the officer staggered and spitting blood at the brawler. As the sole sailor continues to fumble with the ropes holding the smallboat, Tessa sinks her blade into him. He gasps and collapses on the deck in a bleeding heap.
Azadi coats the binding ropes for the smallboat in ice for any that might still attempt to release it. Harmony shouts out encouragements while Donomsail sends a barb of ice out over everyone's heads.
Round 9
With the sole visible enemy the staggering officer, Polli steps up and fells her with single blow from her club.
The sounds of combat are growing less frequent and you take the moment to catch your breath. A moment later with the slamming of the cabin door, Captain Harrigan appears on deck, holding in his hand what appears to be a bloody human heart. With an evil laugh he stalks off into the mist.
No more combatants appear to challenge your positions at the aft deck and a minute or so later the mists begin clearing. They reveal that the victory in battle goes to the crew of the Wyrmwood.
Combat Ends!
Harmony's cries of praise cut off abruptly when Harrigan appears clutching a human heart and she has to try hard not to be sick all over the ships wheel.
As the mist clears and the carnage of the boarding action is revealed she has to breathe deeply and steel herself against the sights of battle.
"A good fight, and deserved victory!" She calls, moving down the ship, clapping backs and trying not to pay too much attention to what the more zealous crew-members are up to.
Donomsail looks at the Captain holding the bloody heart in his hand. At first she's uncertain about what he is holding but soon comprehension settles across her face.
"Het hy net die man uitgeruk ... dit is nie 'n seerower se lewe vir my nie, ons moet op hierdie een of ander manier 'n einde aan hierdie maak."
As the adrenaline leaves her body Domonsail drops her club and leans against the boat she was guarding, body visibly shaking she does not trust herself to stand unsupported. Looking around to her friends she does the one thing she knows she can do well to take her mind off the horrible tableau. "Does anyone need any healing?"
Tessa sheathes her rapier and goes to check on each of her crew members that she crossed over with. "Is everyone alright? No one seriously injured?" When Donomsail offers to check everyone over, she goes around to each crew member and slaps them on the back or clasps their back. "Well done." "Good Job." "Excellent communication". "Good teamwork" "Good thinking." are some of the compliments she gives to each crew.
Looking back at the wheel she announces "Someone should hold that until we are instructed to return to the Wymwood."
As the victory is announced by the captain, who raises a bloody fist in celebration, the crew of the Wyrmwood cheer in response.
The victory was not without casualties, though. Giffer Tibbs, Shivikah, and Jaundiced Jape took fatal wounds during the battle and will never sail again. And the dwarf, Narwhal Tate, is missing and presumed lost overboard.
Teams are quickly established to loot the Man's Promise of everything of value and transfer it to the Wyrmwood's holds. Along with the loot, the surviving crew of the defeated ship are paraded in front of you and your fellow pirates to jeers and insults.
Very quickly food and drink from the other ship's holds is broken out and a party begins and continues all through the night.
[larger]24th of Gozran - Day 16[/larger]
The party continues throughout the day as well and work is neither asked for nor completed.
As the evening draws late, the captain and his officer's take the aft deck to distribute shares to everyone. For your boarding team's outstanding performance, each of your group is rewarded with 350 gp. As the leader of the group, Polli is presented with four potion vials . The captain himself presents the group with a magical amulet and a magical sword for watching his back.
Once the rewards have been distributed, the party recommences.
[larger]25th of Gozran - Day 17[/larger]
The ship's bell draws a grudging crew up the deck on the dawn and the return to normal working hours is rougher on some than on others as the party only really ended a couple of hours ago.
When the crew is assembled, a long line of captured officers and sailors from the Man’s Promise is brought on deck and paraded before the crew again. Captain Harrigan addresses the captives first, offering a place on the Wyrmwood’s crew for any who want to throw their lot in with pirates. Several of the Rahadoumi sailors step forward; Master Scourge cuts their bonds, and the sailors take their places among the Wyrmwood’s crew. Harrigan then turns to address the Wyrmwood’s 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 Wyrmwood 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 Azir. And for the rest, if the life of a pirate’s not for them, they can spend the rest of their lives at sea!”
To make his point, Harrigan grabs one of the Rahadoumi sailors and throws her overboard to the accompaniment of cheers and laughter from the Wyrmwood’s crew. As the unfortunate woman sinks beneath the waves, many of the remaining sailors scramble to swear their loyalty to Harrigan. The officers are led below decks and the crew begins to disperse to their daily tasks.
As they do, Mr. Plugg and Master Scourge pick out several of the Wyrmwood’s original crew, telling them to be aboard the Man’s Promise within 10 minutes to set sail for Port Peril. Scourge smiles evilly at you all as he points at you as well. "You've got ten minutes and then you'd better be aboard," he says.
Harmony, once she possesses some funds, heads to see Cut-Throat Grok to find out whether the quartermaster has anything she might be willing to trade.
During the day she also attempts to locate Scourge's stash once again but finds it hard to get away unnoticed. People keep wanting songs to accompany the party and sneaking into the officers quarters is never easy at the best of times.
When selected for the other ship Harmony just ducks her head in a picture of submission, but shoots winks at her colleagues when she has a chance. This is definitely the moment they've been waiting for.
She doesn't have the easiest time of it, but Harmony finally manages to slip into the officers quarters when no one is there and no one is going down belowdecks or coming up.
She manages to open the lock on his personal chest and rummage carefully through the contents. It doesn't look like he keeps much of personal value in the locker, but she does find three ceramic vials of an oily liquid that smells of nutmeg.
Harmony pockets the vials and makes her get-away, not willing to be caught at the scene of the crime.
Once on deck again she looks for Tessa and ushers her friends away from any ears at all. "I've got the oil of taggit." She says, very quietly. "Where can we hide it?"
Making sure they are out of earshot, she asks "Oh, well done. Well done indeed! With us splitting up and joining the other ship, doesn't this mean we need a new plan? Harrigan is gone and we're stuck with Scourge and Plugg. You have enough for them?"
"Adult male, moderate exercise..." she mutters cataloging the traits of the heart instead of dealing with the fact they contributed to his and most of these men's deaths.
"We should wait and plan once we can see all the options, Ms. Steela." she hands a potion of invisibility to Harmony, "I believe what I can see of your talents, this would be most useful to you." a potion of cure light wounds to Tessa, Marisan, and Azadi, since she already has one and Donomsail can heal herself.
When told that she will be part of the crew on the new boat Donomsail smiles widely, the happiness on her face quite evident. "By Gozreh this should make things easier." She says seemingly without any care of who hears her. Going to her bunk she takes the few belongings she has on the ship and carries it topside to take with her. The only one that she feels as if she might miss is Giffer who had recently asked her for help.
"Gozreh, sy was miskien nie 'n toegewyde aanbidder van yers nie, maar sy het 'n goeie een gelyk. Haar tyd wat volg, is nou verby, maar op hierdie tydstip begin haar reis langs die golwe en die getye. haar laaste rus, soos jy haar na Pharasma sien, herinner haar daaraan dat dit nie 'n skande is oor hoe sy gesterf het nie, dat sy, ongeag hoe sy beoordeel sal word, 'n wonderlike rusplek onder yer golwe sal vind."
Tessa takes the potion, thanking Polli. She pulls her aside and leans in close. "Thank you, Polli. I do appreciate you doing as I instructed on the ship. We both know that you only got appointed team leader because you cheated with your magic and that I should have been team leader. You took it well though, thanks for letting me take control. Next time let's just all be on the same page so there are no disagreements and no one gets hurt. Hmmm?"
Polli's eyes narrow upward to the berry "I will follow my own mind as I always do, as each and every person should be allowed to without the prattling of another telling them the obvious." she waits a moment and then sighs "That means I don't recognize you as my leader but I don't give a donkey ass if others want to."
"Now excuse me. Someone decides on this sword. I need neither." Polli gives out the last of their 'gifts' and then hustles down to the quartermaster, eagerly handing over gold for scrolls. Rolling them up and puts them in her satchel, then grabs her stuff and scampers over to the ship, tripping once or twice in her hurry. She does not want to be left.
As Grok is handing over the scrolls, Polli can tell that the half-orc is getting emotional.
"I'm gonna miss you guys so much," she says, wiping at her eyes and sniffling. In the meantime, a small goat butts at Polli's leg.
"Oh... um..." Polli gives the woman an awkward pat. "We could try and stow you aboard the other ship. Though the goat might give us away." the wizard is only partially kidding.
Grok opens the door separating the quartermasters store from the galley and, after coming out into the larger room, closes it behind her. She pushes the goat away where it wanders off and begins chewing on the edge of a bag of flour.
She wraps her arms around Polli and gives her a teary hug. "I can't go. The cap'n wants me to stay here. But you guys and Fishguts are like my only friends and I'm gonna miss you."
Polli lets out a squeak as she is engulfed in the titanic woman's arms, squishing all her bits into the muscles, even creeking the poor woman's glasses "thEreTHere" she pats someplace, where ever her hands are trapped. "See eaCh othhhher..." she tries to draw in a breath "oooAgaIN"
please don't let me die like this
Tessa comes down to see Grok before she departs. She sees Grok embracing Polli and says "Awww... Group hug?"
She moves in to Polli from the rear and places her arms around her and squeezes, resting her head on her back, holding her in tight.
Grok breaks the group hug to move around Polli and put her long and slender arms around Tessa now. Her sobs are unrestrained.
"teSSSsSAAaaaaaaaaaa!!" she gaks out, sputters, and suffers. Unable to do anything things else really. She does consider murder.
Azadi grows quiet after the battle. While everyone else is partying and celebrating, he spends most of his time alone staring out to sea, sometimes standing at the ship’s rail but just as often sitting in one of the crows nests.
When the plans are made to split the crew and sail the Man’s Promise into port he conjures a weak smile and adds to the whispers, ”Our patience has been rewarded.”
Upon being told they have only ten minutes to prepare to switch vessels, he heads directly to Grok’s with his sack of gold coins. He freezes for a moment when he spots the women hugging and Grok weeping. ”Uh... I just need a couple things...” he announces awkwardly. He skirts around the outside of the room, staying out of arm’s reach of the women, and begins to gather things in Grok’s stand. He takes one of the really nice bucklers, a bag of climbing supplies, and half a dozen vials. ”I’m just gonna leave this here,” he mutters taking a few coins out of his sack and then leaving the bag of gold for the half-orc. Making his way back around the outer edges of the room, he concludes, ”Well, uh, thanks, Grok... and, uh, I’ll see you other two in less than five minutes...”
"help" a tiny Polli voice can be heard buried between half orc and strawberry.
"Oh Grok! Polli was just telling me how she can't survive without you!"
Tessa moves her head to Polli's shoulder, resting her mouth by her ear. She sobs with Grok, except, her sobs are actually laughter. She whispers "I will follow my own mind as I always do, as each and every person should be allowed to without the prattling of another telling them the obvious."
She lifts her head and sobs loudly for Grok to hear.
it doesn’t seem like Tessa to be this broken up about... well, anything... and definitely not about Grok... she must somehow be teasing Polli again...
Azadi shakes his head and sighs. ”Um, actually, I could use a hand with all these vials... Polli, I hate to drag you away, but could you please help me so I’m not late?”
Tessa boohoos some more when Azadi enters the room, holding on tight and says "We'll miss you so much Grok! One more hug! Squeeze tight so we remember it!
She lets go when Azadi comes in to ruin her fun. She rubs her eyes and wipes away the watering eyes that came from laughter, not tears. She sniffs and wipes her eyes again as she walks out past Azadi and says "Grok's all broken up about us leaving. Could use a hug."
You all vacate the galley as Cut-Throat Grok stands there waving feebly with tears streaming down her rough face.
Marisan is stoically silent for much of the celebrations following the victory over the sailors of the Man's Promise. Even though she helped save Captain Harrigan, his horrific actions still leave a sour taste in her mouth. She is not sad to hear of most of the crew's losses, though she does feel a pang of emotion for Giffer Tibbs.
During the festivities, she finds a moment to take Tessa aside for a private celebration of their own...
Later, she is ready and packed to move onto the Man's Promise.
Tessa is thrilled that they pulled of their capture of the other ship without injury to one of her five others that she's come to think of as her friends. Well, Harmony was already her friend, the others. Even Polli and Azadi who can be trying at times.
It's tough for Tessa to get too broken up about how the other crew is treated after she had knocked a half dozen of them down with her rapier. There's one thing to be said about falling in battle and another to be tortured or killed outside of that conflict. Still, this was a means for them to get away from Harrigan and their lives were at stake.
Tessa clamors for some real rum or ale, growing tired of this poisoned concoction that Ambrose serves here. When she has her own ship, it's going to be stocked full of rum.
During the celebrations, Tessa pulls Marisan aside prior to their private time. She asks somberly "I'm happy we won, but what if we were the other ship? What do we even know about them? Were they good people? I don't regret our actions, it was them or us and I'm glad we survived. I just feel, I don't know, a little guilty? Is that wrong?"
Marisan smiles and shakes her head. "No. It is not wrong to feel this way. It means you are a good person at heart. I feel the same way. When you have command of your own ship one day, you will get the decide what happens to the crew of the other ships we will capture. We can take their plunder while preserving their lives. Not all pirates need to be black-hearted scoundrels like Harrigan. Let your conscience guide you like Cynosure in the night sky, and it will not steer you wrong."
She pulls Tessa close to her for a long embrace.
Tessa rests her head on the side of Marisan's during the embrace, letting the security that Marisan brings her envelope her completely. She whispers "Thank you for watching my back today down on the deck. I feel more comfortable knowing you are all around me." She traces her fingers up and down Marisan's back and says softly [smaller]"Thank you for keeping me safe and not questioning me, you are a good friend. And good friends have the benefits of..."
She breathes in deeply and whispers in her ear "...being truthful. You so need a bath right now."
Marisan lets out a hearty chuckle. "Speak for yourself! Have you been spending your free time down in the bilges again?" She playfully shoves Tessa against the wall of the hold, then in an instant she is upon her, pinning her arms above her head as she kisses her fiercely.
"I do not mind the smell so much. Do you?" she whispers.
Tessa bursts out in laughter too "Hey. I just like to think of it as being kept below deck so my precious skin doesn't burn in the sun. I *always* smell of roses, didn't you know?"
When her back presses against the wall with her hands above her head, she tests Marisan's strength by resisting and pushing back only to have the strong Mwangi woman doubly return the pressure. After several moments of rough kissing, Tessa smirks, "Myohmy, someone is feisty tonight!"
Staring straight across into her dark eyes, she lowers her voice and says softly "I do not mind at all, I enjoy all of you." She gives a lackluster showing at wiggling her hands free before snapping her teeth shut loudly at Marisan's mouth.
Marisan pushes Tessa harder against the wall. "No biting! Only I may bite tonight."
So saying, the brawler gently tugs at Tessa's neck with her teeth. She keeps her hands pinned with one of her own hands while the other starts to remove the swashbuckler's clothes...
As the Man’s Promise sets sail, acting captain Mr. Plugg and his first mate Master Scourge gather the crew together to inform them that although this is a new ship, the rules are the same, though discipline on the Man’s Promise will be a good deal harsher than on the lackadaisical Wyrmwood — all crimes are now punishable with the cat instead of the whip. All of the crew keep the same jobs they had before on the Wyrmwood, but they will have to work a good deal harder, as the crew is smaller.
As night falls, the sails of the Wyrmwood disappear over the horizon. Mr. Plugg does not believe in crew entertainment or rum rations, and anyone caught above decks after dusk without leave will get six lashes with the cat.
It's a different bell, but the grind is the same as you're called up on deck for your daily tasks. It seems that Master Scourge is taking great pleasure in assigning each of you the tasks you hate the most. "Have fun down in the bilges," he says to Tessa.
Later in the day as they move about in the rigging, Samms approaches Azadi. "So," she says, occupying herself with a particularly tough knot. "What d'ya think's gonna happen to us when we reach port?"
Tessa snaps loudly again, but then frowns at being told she can't bite, showing an exaggerated pouty lip and muttering "What?! Alright, alright."
When she starts with Tessa's neck, she doesn't hide the fact that she enjoys it and moans in a very not-soft manner. Closing her eyes she instantly stops fighting and lets her body go somewhat slack as she relaxes and tunes everything else out. The sounds of the revelry above fade away and all that is left are the tow women. In her mind they are somewhere else, somewhere alone and safe far, far away from here.
Since Marisan is holding her arms tightly above her head, she lets the strong brawler suspend her body so that she can squirm around as she undresses her. She murmurs again, rocking her head back and forth slowly. A persistent smile isn't the only way to tell that she's enjoying this immensely as other parts of her body also begin to exhibit the signs of extreme excitement and arousal.
But just when Tessa can't stand it any more, Marisan begins to indulge her.
Harmony is becoming something of a sailor, not in the climbing and swimming sense, but her ability to recognise the wind and a course change is improving so she notices swiftly when a new course is laid in.
"We're headed away from Port Peril." She confirms to her companions. "Someone must be up to something."
During her, thankfully goat-free, stint in the galley she makes a note of what Plugg and Scourge do about food - trying to figure out whether she could safely 'spice' their meals.
"Wait, what? Aren't we supposed to be heading towards Port Peril? Do you think they are taking us away under false pretenses to catch us off guard and kill us? she asks.
Tessa glares at Scourge and raises her hand to point at him as she opens her mouth to say something when she feels Marisan's hand on her shoulder. She closes her mouth and forces a smile. she says loudly before turning away from him. Back toward him, she squeezes her face and grimaces, clenching her fists as she walks towards the bilge.
Donomsail gets the sense that something is amiss but her lack of knowledge regarding the coastline and the fact that Master Scourge has her scrubbing blood off the deck does not allow her figure out what it is. Instead she works hard and looks for an opportunity to talk to Marisan. "Do we still have the same game plan fer gettin' rid of 'His Lordship' or what?"
Polli notes the course change as well, "Maybe you could charm an answer why out of the helmsman, Vi." then nods to Donomsail "The plan would be better sooner rather than later. Or he will find a way to start weeding us out of the mix. He's ugly, mean, vindictive, with short feet and probably a small member, but he isn't a complete idiot."
”If he does try something stupid, we will make sure that he does not get the chance to try again,” Marisan says, cracking her knuckles for emphasis.
"Tonight then." Harmony agrees. "I have something special for the officers dinner. If it works we can act, if not then, well... I think we have numbers at least."
-------
That evening she makes sure to dose the officer's food with a dose of Taggit oil each.
Later in the day, Contessa emerges from the bilges with her work complete. She seeks out Azadi with a tired, worn expression on her face. It's clear she's had a rough go of it and is not currently up for playful banter.
Tessa nods in agreement, seated with her back against something solid. Her tricorne is tipped down and partially covers her face. Pushing up on the deck, she slowly climbs to her feet "There is definitely something amiss. I do not think we will have much time to dally. I agree we have the numbers, thanks to all of your hard work over these last days. It's through your successes and commitment to expanding our relationships with the crew that has positioned us for success. Well done."
He takes the vial from her hand and places it on a shelf behind some jars of spices while a goat butts against her leg.
"Besides," the round man continues, "Harrigan's only a day's sail away. If he forgot something or comes back for some reason then we'd all be done fer."
He returns to where he was chopping more carrots.
"We needs to wait 'till the times right and not before."
Polli spends the day mending, and rope work, and passing messages, all with a scowl and an air of storm-like annoyance. Which in truth isn't that odd for the wizard.
Azadi smiles at Samms question and quietly answers,"Well... my guess is when we reach port we'll probably sell Scourge and Plugg into slavery and take on some new crew... maybe invest in some new paint to rename the ship before we set out?"
At the end of the work day, Azadi nods to Tessa and drops a few gallons of fresh water over her to wash away the filth.
When everyone gathers before dinner he agrees, "Yeah, we're definitely not headed for Port Peril. I don't know if Plugg is trying to pull a mutiny of his own, or if his helmsman doesn't know what he's doing... Who did he name as officers anyway?"
As people spread out after dinner, Azadi seeks out a private place for a conversation with Vi...
Samms moves a little closer and her voice grows quieter. "You don't really think we're bound for Port Peril, do you?" she asks. "Look at the sun and tell me what direction we're heading. The question is where are we really going?"
~~~~
At dinner Tessa watches Azadi disappear and decides seeks Sandara out and asks "When your done, I'd like to talk. I'll be over there." she says, heading off to the far end of the room and taking a seat on a barrel, pressing her back against the wall.
She sings quietly to herself, bouncing her leg on the barrel until Sandara arrives.
She smiles when the redhead arrives and she taps the space on the large barrel, scooting her small frame over so she can sit next to her.
"Good evening Sandara. How have things been? You holding up okay? Can we chat for a bit if you don't mind?"
”I said port,” Azadi answers, ”I never said which one... we’re headed east instead of west, somewhere on the Mwangi coast, I’d guess? Sounds like a good place to sell a few slaves.”