”Is this armor yours, Donomsail? I think maybe everyone else got theirs back already?”
"Oh! Thank you so much!" She reaches out and impulsively hugs him. "This alone makes me feel so much more comfortable." She starts to remove her robe then catches herself and stops with a chuckle. "Mayhaps I'll put this on a little while later. Ya know it must be awful rough fer ya. Ta only guy amongst allus wimen. I don't know how ya stands it."
”Some days are easier than others,” Azadi answers with a chuckle.
it would probably be much easier if any of them were into men...or maybe much harder...
"Two hundred thir... Must've been a big house! Oh 'n' I'll pass yer gratitude along. If'n I can git ya some honey would ya like some?"
"Note ta self, find honey git 'er outta way o' most folks 'n' mebbe inta somethin' that uses her skills better'n this." She walks away from Polli, all thoughts of her duty gone completely gone from her.
Harmony is currently in a small boat trailing behind the ship on a long rope with 'Narwhal' Tate, doing her level best to both catch turtles and not fall in the ocean.
"So, Narwahl? They're the whale-like animals with the long horns right?" She asks to try and pass the time. "I've heard people call them the knights of the sea because they use their horns to joust? Is that true? I can see you're a real sailor, not an landlubber like me. All I really know is how to tell stories!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It is! Thanks Azadi!" She replies with a smile, taking the banjo and giving it a gentle strum, before wincing at how badly out of tune it is. "So, what did you see downstairs? I saw you headed that way last night."
Marisan raises an eyebrow at Shivikah's question. "I am not sure what you mean. But if you wish to do something with them that does not involve harming or selling them into slavery, I will allow it, provided they give you their permission as well."
***
When Azadi approaches her with the suit of armor, the brawler shakes her head. "I did not have armor when I was brought aboard. That said, if nobody else has a claim to it, I will put it to good use."
Assuming that is the case, Marisan takes choice pieces of the studded leather and straps them to her arms and legs. She considers the cuirass and looks at Azadi. "Will you help me place this on my chest?"
”What about the armor, Vi,” Azadi reiterates while she tunes the banjo, “is this leather yours?”
When asked about his exploring he pauses, looks around, and then steps in very close to whisper, ”They’ve got some huge guy chained up down there... hey, do you think maybe you could get me like a meaty bone, or something, at dinner? I left him sleeping, and I want to talk to him, but I feel like I should bring a gift, or offering...”
”Sure,” Azadi answers reaching over to help with the armor, but as it goes on he begins to frown. ”Hmm, this might actually be Tessa’s...” he confesses, ”she took that leather armor earlier but I’d bet she’ll make a stink about wanting her armor back... I really need to get back to work though... why don’t you just wear it until she says something and then maybe you can trade her? Sorry.”
"Okay," Marisan says. The armor is definitely too small and tight, leaving her midriff exposed and emphasizing her chest.
"I can do that." Harmony replies. "I'd like to come too. Talking is the only thing I'm good at!" She sizes the armor up, "Oh yeah. That is mine. Thanks again Azadi. You're quite the shopper!" With a smile she hustled below and stores her armor in the valley behind the flour sack rather than in 'her' chest, which she could open in about 12 seconds woth just her hair clip.
”Alright...” Azadi answers with some concern, ”honestly, I could probably use the help—not all of my attempts to be friendly have gone real well—but please don’t tell anyone else...I don’t want to show up with too many people and risk upsetting him, and I definitely don’t want word getting out about him, much less that we’re talking to him...”
Polli decides in a calm moment of the day to breath in the winds above deck, tasting the chaotic currents to tell her how the weather might turn today.
Donomsail goes below to store her armor, as she goes topside again she catches sight of Polli, "Ah, I recognize that, she's readin' the weather so she is. I was right 'bout that one, gotta find a way to make this a bit better fer her." With that she heads down to the galley, looking for the cook.
Finding Ambrose she walks up to him, wary of all the knives and implements that could quickly be turned into weapons if he so desired. "Excuse me ser, wonderin' if'n I could ask a favor. Got a friend who could really do wit' a bit o' honey. Oh it's nothin' to do wit' yer food,that's fantastic first rate, truly is! Just likes honey misses it she does 'n' I was hopin' to surprise her a bit o' that golden treat."
She stands there with a look of hopeful expectation on her face.
Shivikah nods at Marisan's protective nature. "I would have no wish to harm something that belonged to someone I respected. You are strong. You protect what is yours. I respect that." She nods at the brawler and continues about her work.
~~~~~
Fishguts stumbles to his feet, the sweet smell of rum rolling off his body in waves. "Wha ...?" he manages to answer as he tries to take in the figure standing in front of him. "Honey? Ya gots honey?" His eyes look around the chaos that even Harmony's efforts haven't been able to fight back. "Where's honey? Could use some in'a biscuits. Where'd ya get it?" he asks, clearly misunderstanding the woman's question.
~~~~~
Turtle soup is the fare for the evening meal and a number of sailors praise Fishguts' cooking abilities. "Too bad he's such a drunk - he cooks pretty good!" Tilly Brackett is heard to say.
Donomsail is rewarded for her efforts at rope repair with three lashes from Master Scourges whip and he takes great delight ogling her disrobed form as he administers them. Once the 'Bloody Hour' is finished, Mister Plugg makes an announcement. "There's going to be some entertainment this evening!" he calls out. "We're going to let someone see if they can take down Owlbear." There are some cheers of excitement as well as looks of confusion from the newer crew members.
"I'M A PIRATE!" a man shouts as he's brought forth. He laughs as if looking for a reaction. This must be Owlbear. He stands at least six and a half feet tall and his toughened skin is patterned with corded muscle. He wears only simple ragged shorts and capers around on the deck as if seeking praise. An iron collar is about his neck, but his face is simple as he looks about the crowd. "I FIGHT! I'M A PIRATE!" he yells out again drawing jeering laughter from the other sailors. This seems to please him as he smiles broadly. Traces of feathers stick to his skin where patches of dried tar still cling.
Mister Plugg tosses a coin purse down on a nearby barrel and it clinks with coin. "There's a hundred gold to the one that stands up to him. No weapons. No magic." He looks over your group. "Last one standing gets the pot. So who's man enough to take him?" he asks Tessa with a sneer.
Marisan is exhausted from the past few days of hard work, but once Plugg brings out Owlbear, she knows that she is likely the only one in the group who can go toe-to-toe with him. She gets to her feet and grins despite her tired muscles protesting.
"You mean woman enough. I will take him on."
Mister Plugg nods and smiles as if this is exactly what he was looking for.
"I'M A PIRATE!" Owlbear yells out as he's pushed forward and the crowd clears back forming a circle of open space on the deck. He smiles broadly at Marisan and balls his huge, meaty hands into fists and takes a defensive stance. It looks like he's not completely new to this activity.
Combat Begins!
Round 1
Marisan nods to Owlbear as she drops low, rocking back and forth. She alternates her feet behind her like she did during her dance the other night. As soon as the match starts, the Mwangi woman darts forward, then falls back on her hands and kicks Owlbear in the stomach! She swings her legs back behind her and rolls away leaping up and waving to the crowd.
Kicking the man's stomach feels like kicking a stone wall, but the man gives a satisfying 'Uffff' sound. He responds with a huge fist that the woman easily dodges.
Round 2
Marisan ducks the punch and tries a sweeping kick that falls short.
The large man laughs as Marisan's foot falls well short of its target. "I'M A PIRATE!" he shouts out to the crowd again. He turns to raise his hands in victory as the crowd cheers and jeers in equal measure.
He turns back and swings as Marisan again, but still misses.
Round 3
With the way he moves and looks around, you can tell that Owlbear is blind in his left eye and very slow.
Marisan slides sideways to avoid the punch, then reverses her momentum and executes a cartwheel. She kicks Owlbear in the face as she spins past him.
The kick staggers Owlbear and he stumbles back a bit, shaking his head to clear it. There's a wooden clunk as a club is tossed onto the deck where the big man stands. Mister Plugg glares at Marisan.
Glancing down and seeing the weapon, Owlbear doesn't hesitate to pick it up and swings at Marisan with it. The blow is wide, though, and she easily ducks under it.
Round 4
Marisan does a backflip after ducking the club, catching Owlbear just below the chin and almost knocking his lights out!
Azadi frowns as Marisan steps up to fight ‘Owlbear’.
I suppose a show of force isn’t a terrible idea, remind the people who don’t like us that we shouldn’t be trifled with... still, he seems like he’s a half-wit, and a slave, he definitely wouldn’t be my choice for making a lesson of... too late, nothing to do but hope Marisan wins...
hmm... not just slow, he’s blind in one eye too... knowing that may come in handy, for fighting with him or against him...
Owlbear stumbles back from Marisan's blow, dropping the club in the process. His expression has changed from excitement to pain and fear. He tries to push back through the onlooking crowd, but Plugg and others push him back into the space.
He shakes his head. "Not a pirate," he mutters.
"Finish the fight!" Mister Plugg snarls out.
Round 5
"I dislike that man more and more" Polli mutters to Donomsail as she tends to her wounds. Insisting that they must be taken care of if infection wants to be avoid... ... She is referring to Master Scuggs of course and the whipping. But the fight just adds to it, "He looks nothing like an owlbear, not one bit." she shakes her head at the display near the end "These people are cruel..."
Donomsail is disappointed and frustrated with the drunken cook. She moves to look around to see if maybe she can spot some honey.
@ Marisol
"Oi I agree with ya 'bout these folks lack o' civility. Love ta take down Captain Sh!+ferbrains and his 'mazingly smelly Zoo Crew but I donna think we have the manpower. I wanna thank ya fer the patch up. I donna have a lot o' spells 'n' I woulda let this heal on its own. What about the fella yer were talkin' to earlier? Think he might be of some use ta us? Ya know I'm pretty sure that Tessa's made a few frien's 'n' she's puttin'up a whole lotta fight, she nods towards Marisan, 'specially since she ain't got no weapons. Who knows maybe we could even get the big fella that claims ta be a pirate on our side. Now that I think of it a little bit, we might be able to do somethin' after all 'specially wit a day or so of plannin' that way I could get Gozreh's help wit' it. I'm pretty sure that He'd call it maintainin' balance when we can send these moederlose pokke deep into her depths."
Marisan somersaults forward and scoops up the club. She glares at Owlbear, then shifts her gaze to Mister Plugg. The burly woman suddenly breaks the weapon over her knee and tosses the splinters aside. "It is finished. I have won."
When they called for a volunteer to fight the owlbear, Tessa stood up. She was about to volunteer herself, but Marisan speaks before she does. She considers stepping out in front of the muscular woman, but she respects her choice and sits back down. "Kick it's ass." she remarks, patting the brawler's shoulder twice.
She cheers long during the combat, thoroughly enjoying the ass beating that Marisann delivers, even when they try to cheat. When it's over, she leaps to a nearby crate and starts to lead a chant "MAR-I-SAN! MAR-I-SAN! MAR-I-SAN!"
Think he might be of some use ta us? Ya know I'm pretty sure that Tessa's made a few frien's
Polli continues dabbing on a salve that will take the puffiness right down. "The conversation was all about the gnome's desire to bed a virtuous halfling. In truth it was rather lewd, not something I'd enjoy getting an ear full, but it allowed me the opportunity to use a language I haven't spoken in ages. Whether he'd help when if it comes to us fighting or dying... I don't know." she listens to the rest, and finished with her treatment, "Hmm... if I can be of any help coaxing the not-owlbear to our side, let me know."
"That was quite a fight wasn't it?" Harmony asks. "A big cheer for our winner, and for Owlbear. He gave a mighty good show didn't he? A true pirate!"
Tessa looks over at Harmony, confused. She still continues her MAR-SAN chant as she tries to figure out what the bard is talking about.
She mouths What?! in between
mercy... well done, Marisan... let’s hope Scourge doesn’t reward her too harshly...
Azadi joins those cheering when the muscular woman declares herself the winner, hoping that the noise will drown out any further command to hurt the simpleton.
Mister Plugg looks like he's just about to protest Marisan's assumption of victory when Tessa begins her victory chant which is taken up by a number of the crew.
He looks over the crowd appraisingly and seems just about to say something when the sound of slow clapping echos out from the rear of the audience. The crew steps back to reveal Captain Harrigan standing tall at the back of the crowd.
Silence settles over the assembled men and women as he continues to offer slow applause to the mwangi woman.
"Well fought. We shall attempt to put yer fists and feet to good use in the coming days," Harrigan says, giving the woman a cold smile. "Pay the woman, Mister Plugg, and get yer pet back down below decks 'afore he fouls the floor." The large man turns and walks away torward the stern of the ship and his cabin.
The first mate gives Marisan a strained smile. For the victor," he says, holding up the coin purse. As she begins reaching for it, he drops it on the deck and walks away as well.
~~~~~
Fipps nods with a frown at Harmony's words. "She is," he says, before turning to her with a leer. "And I'll give her a turn after I finish with yer four-eyed friend."
~~~~~
Tessa dives off the create in a tumble that brings up just as Marisan's feet. She scoops up the bag of coin and grabs Marisan's left wrist with her right hand. She starts the chant back up that had fallen silent once the Captain had made his appearance. Thrusting Marisan's wrist into the air she starts her MAR-I-SAN chant back up as she gets the crew back into loving their badass mwangi brawler again.
Later, after the chanting is finished and the crew have all given Marisan their slaps on the back and approvals, she hands the bag of coin over to her. "Well fought, my friend. I'm glad you spoke before I did, that thing would have beat me to a pulp."
Pointing to her armor she adds "And uhm, those leathers are mine, wherever did you find them? I mean, they are barely able to be strapped on you! This thing I'm wearing is slowing me down, I think it'd be better suited to you. If you don't mind, I'd like to switch back with you at some point. I'm glad you had them on tonight though."
When the brawler heads off to bed, Tessa seeks out Jack again. Following up on their previous conversation, she checks in on him to make sure the rats haven't gotten to him. "How you holding up, Jack? Anything I can help you with?"
The young man grins at Tessa's words. "Uh, actually, I ... uh ... was wondering if ... uh ... you could give this," he holds out a carving of a stylized air spirit in ivory, "to Polli?" Jack looks around to make sure no one else is listening. "I think she's kinda cute."
~~~~~~
Tessa grins as she reaches out and takes the carving. She spins it around in her hands, admiring it. "You made this? This is fantastic, you are quite gifted, Jack. Color me impressed! I might just keep it for myself." she teases with a wink.
She slides the carving into her left palm and nods. "Gladly. I bet she'll love it."
"How did you find yourself on this ship, Jack? You don't seem like this is normally your speed?"
"Me da was a sailor and I traveled around with him 'til a couple a months ago. He got sick an' ..." Jack shrugs and looks away. "I don't know any other life, really. So I was lookin' for work on a ship and found m'self here."
He looks back at Tessa with a furtive appraisal of her form and blushes. "I could carve somethin' fer you If'n you'd like?"
At dinner, Azadi does his usual purifying then seeks out Sandara.
”Uh, hi, Sandara,” he says somewhat awkwardly. Sitting down, he looks around quickly then pulls the buckler he got earlier out from under his shirt. ”I got this earlier but I don’t have much use for it... would you like it?”
Once people begin to scatter Azadi quietly takes the meat from Harmony and slinks off for where ‘Owlbear’ is hidden away. When he arrives there he approaches from the side of the oaf’s good eye and raises his hands to show that he’s not armed. ”Hi... are you alright?” he asks calmly and quietly, ”you took a couple good hits out there... are you thirsty?”
Without really waiting for an answer, the Undine fills the man’s empty food dish with fresh water and then offers him the meat. ”My name is Azadi, do you like being called Owlbear or is there another name you like better?”
Tessa lets her smile fade away and nods to Jack's statement. "Lost both of my parents on the sea as well and have spent my days floating about by Bersmara's blessing since. She brought us together, yeah? I understand what you say and as long as I'm on this ship with you I'll be around if you need it. Alright?"
When he blushes, Tessa smirks "Oh Jack, I'm touched. I'm not sure what I'd ask for, but whatever it is you come up with I'm sure it will be amazing. Consider that a request then. Yes. I'd like that very much."
She scoops up Polli's carving and trots off to find the elf sylph.
Polli is not a perceptive woman, no not at all, so how did she discover that the Undine knew about the location of the large not-owlbear's bedroom, well she bumped into him, literally as he was looking back the other way, checking to see if he was being followed, and not seeing a near sighted sylph in his path.
"Where are you skulking about to?" she snapped, cause that is what she does, and surprisingly he answered. So she offered to bring her kit and tend the man's wounds.
"Stay still, please" her voice stern but not harsh. She had Azadi wet a cloth for her, cooled it with prestidigitation, and then pressed it to the swollen parts of the man's face. "I am Polli. And I agree with your friend here, a name other than owlbear would be preferable, since you are lacking the necessary protrusion on your face and the overwhelming body hair of those beasts." she pushes her glasses up, and pinches her nose, now that she is done "You do have the smell down though."
Harmony contributes a hunk of badly butchered pig to the expedition. "This was my effort." She admits. "Ambrose did all the real work. Still, lets not waste it."
She doesn't come down with Azadi and Polli, preferring to stay on deck and perform again, hoping that the distraction will make her friend's trip belowdecks less obvious.
"I shall talk ta the ones I feel I have some small rapport with though in truth 'tis not many. If'n I had to try and create balance with those stukke lewende ekskrement I'd have to become damn near a saint 'n' that I ain't no nor never will be."
Late that night Domonsail will try to sneak into the galley to give it a better look over to see if she can find any honey.
When he blushes, Tessa smirks "Oh Jack, I'm touched. I'm not sure what I'd ask for, but whatever it is you come up with I'm sure it will be amazing. Consider that a request then. Yes. I'd like that very much."
~~~~~
Neither Azadi nor Polli have much success getting to the Middle Hold without being seen, but no one protests or prevents them from visiting Owlbear.
The large man is sitting in the dark hold holding his bloody nose and muttering to himself, "Not a pirate," over and over again. He flinches back when Polli attempts to treat his injuries, but Azadi eventually persuades him to submit to her examination.
"Ow! OW! Not a pirate!" he moans and groans as she tends to his nose.
~~~~~
As Donomsail is moving around in the galley, the goats that have escaped even Harmony's attempt to restrain them begin bleating in an attempt to get the tiefling to feed them. A few minutes later a lantern bearing Fishguts appears in the doorway.
"Here, you! What is you doing in here? Go on, git! A'fore I 'as to tell the cap'n. Go on!"
Marisan stares evenly at the captain, stoic in the face of his praise. She nods ever so slightly in acknowledgement, then she lets Tessa raise her fist in the air and basks in the adulation of the crew.
Later, after the chanting is finished and the crew have all given Marisan their slaps on the back and approvals, she hands the bag of coin over to her. "Well fought, my friend. I'm glad you spoke before I did, that thing would have beat me to a pulp."
Pointing to her armor she adds "And uhm, those leathers are mine, wherever did you find them? I mean, they are barely able to be strapped on you! This thing I'm wearing is slowing me down, I think it'd be better suited to you. If you don't mind, I'd like to switch back with you at some point. I'm glad you had them on tonight though."
"I would not have enjoyed having to swab your blood from the deck," Marisan says, giving Tessa a tired grin.
When she mentions the armor, the brawler shrugs. "Azadi gave it to me. He said you would want it back. I am happy to trade. Perhaps I can buy something even better with my prize money. For now, though, I am very tired. Goodnight, friend."
Marisan soon retires to her bunk to recover from her exhaustion.
”Uh, hi, Sandara,” he says somewhat awkwardly. Sitting down, he looks around quickly then pulls the buckler he got earlier out from under his shirt. ”I got this earlier but I don’t have much use for it... would you like it?”
"I hope that you didn't go through the trouble of getting that just for me," the woman says, lowering her voice and looking around. "It could use it, yes, thanks." She straps the small shield to her left arm and then leans in and gives the undine a quick peck on the cheek. "That was risky, but thoughtful."
Azadi’s cheeks darken to a pale blue at the woman’s gesture of gratitude. ”Don’t worry, I didn’t do anything foolish. Stay safe, alright... hopefully that shield’ll help protect you when trouble does come.”
”Just because you lost a fight doesn’t mean you can’t be a pirate,” Azadi consoles his new friend.”I know Marisan, the girl you fought, maybe she could teach you some things? And, next time maybe you can fight on the same team together, and we’ll ask her to stay next to you so nobody can hit you from where you can’t see... would you like that?”
"Actually it's you I'm looking for Fi- Ambrose. I know of one o' the crew, really misses honey, hopin' that you might have some. I could pay ya fer it?"
When he comes at her(most likely with a Butcher's knife or a fry pan).
"All right! All right! I'm goin' not tryin' ta steal from ya or nothin'. If'n ya donna have it ya donna have it. Welp ya made a right mess o' didn't ya. Maybe I'd be better off if'n I just mind me own business. No! I promised Veh tha I wouldn't be a agterwater maan kalf. If'n I canna do this fer her, welp I still have one more idea in ma drapes." Having determined her next course of action Donomsail will head to her bunk in order to get up early enough to prepare spells in the morning.
Before retiring for the night, Polli spends a moment feeling the air around her. She can feel the moisture level rising and change in pressure. It's going to rain tomorrow.
14th of Gozran - Day 6
Polli's estimation of the weather proves correct as you're all greeted with pouring rain as the sun rises into the dark clouds. The drops are big and soak through your clothing in an instant.
The next morning Tessa is assigned to knot work with Polli again, much to the sylph's dismay. Polli is still terrible at knots, so Tessa works diligently to assure that both of them complete the job. She ends up spending the majority of the time talking while Polli grumbles under her breath. Throughout the day they work work without much interruption, other than being wet, and even though Tessa keeps an eye out of Sandara she doesn't manage to get any time with her during the day.
Tessa shows Polli about hitch knots and they are used to bind the ropes to objects. She considers a demonstration on Polli herself, but decides against it.
The only thing that makes the knot work terrible is the fact that it is raining all day, though she remarks it is better then being stuck with bilge duty again. Towards the end of her shift, she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a carving of a stylized air spirit in ivory. She hands it to Polli and points to Jack. "That's Jack. He made this for you and wanted me to pass it along to you. It's quite remarkable, is it not? Not only is it excellent craftsmanship, but the fact that he went out of his way to do something nice for you. I think that means something, don't you?. I think you should go tell him how nice it was and how much you appreciate the gesture. Maybe peck him on the cheek as a reward? Like this."
Tessa leans in and pecks Polli on her right cheek. "Nothing extravagant, but it will go a long way in building goodwill with the crew."
After the knot work they take their meal and Tessa sits next to Marisan, complimenting her on her fine performance with Owlbear yesterday. She asks Azadi to neutralize her rum and begins to complain loudly about any normal alcohol on this ship. She begs Harmony to find her something she can drunk with that isn't going to kill her. After the meal is over, she asks Marisan if they can swap out armor now, you know, just in case she needs to put a smack down on Aretta again or Owlbear breaks free or something.
Tessa confers with her small after changing armor and asks who on the crew they still need to get into good graces with. It appears that Tilly bracket still hasn't swayed to their side yet, so Tessa straightens her hat and finds the woman woman still below deck, enjoying her rum. Tessa starts to talk about how she misses the "good stuff" and she overheard that Tilly might be able to get her hands on something other than what the Harmony has been dishing out each day.
The only good thing about running messages is that Domonsail doesn't have to spend all day in the rain, unlike poor Tessa and Polli. Of course with the rain as heavy as it is it still didn't take long for her to get wet. "Those poor gals, hopefully Polli has something for a cold. No citrus on the ship means there's a good chance that they'll catch a nasty cold." While running around inside the ship she takes a few moments to look for the ship's surgeon. Once found she will go in to talk to him. "Excuse me Mr. Dr. Quarne, from everything I've seen and heard you are a most excellent surgeon. One o' the new crew folk has a fair bit o' trainin' herself. Would ya be willin' ta take on an apprentice?"
Marisan takes a break from her work swabbing the deck to avoid the rain and head down to the quartermaster's shop. She holds up the purse she won last night and offers it to Grok. "What can I get for this?"
Later that night, she exchanges armor with Tessa, then chats with "Ratline" Rattsberger, trying to impress the halfling with stories of other fights she's been involved in.