They still struggle to find a way past his defenses and Aretta grunts as she is hit by the tankard again.
"Aye just shut up will ya!" Aretta is starting to look a little wobbly.
You manage to strike Aretta again with your tankard but Syl was ready, timing her attack while you were momentarily distracted, stabbing deep.
We can be secretive too! I think Torgal's plotting against us. Lets shank him first.
"Does this amuse you?" Aretta seems annoyed that you are not dealt with yet.
Another hard hit with the tankard this time sends Aretta splashing into the bilge water unconscious. Syl takes a step back, her weapon ready if you get close to her. "I never said your singing was that bad. Just doing what I have to to survive. Same as you."
battle map
"Yea whatever." Seeing you don't intend to chase her she backs up to the ladder and climbs out of the bilges.
Syl comes out of the bilges and goes straight to Master Scourge. He looks furious and calls Mister Plugg to come with him. They go below deck to the Bilges. "Seize him!" Plugg commands and Scourge and several others surround Torgal. "The Captain will hear of this."
Mr. Plugg leads the way to the Captain on the poop deck just behind the wheel where he often speaks to the Sailing Master about their course, the weather, etc. "My Captain! I have been made aware of a fight that happened between this Dwarf and 2 others. Syl has been almost killed by this dwarf here. I suggest he be made an example of. Perhaps keel-hauling?" A couple gasps came from crew nearby who heard.
"Almost killed? Mister Plugg I am loathe to lose crew, if she did not die then make an example some less lethal way."
Mister Plugg thinks for a minute before grinning and turning to Torgal. "The Captain still thinks you can be useful. Instead of keel-hauling ya, it's the sweatbox."
”Almost killed?” Torgal spits. ”She seems t’ be doin’ a remarkable job o’ not bleedin’ then. I wish I could say th’ same.” Putting a few fingers into the hole in his side from her dagger, he pulls then out coated in crimson blood. ”Funny ‘ow this ‘ere ‘ole is th’ same size as ‘er knife. If’n th’ ship’s good doctor were t’ examine us both, I’d be amazed t’ learn she’s been injured at all. An’ o’ course y’all ain’t interested in hearin’ ‘ow she an’ ‘er friend tried t’ shank me after th’ good Master Plugg ‘ere took all me weapons, so I won’t waste me breath.”
"No backchat or excuses! Put him in boys. A night in the box will teach you a lesson." Several of the crew join together to grab Torgal and haul him towards the iron sweatbox under the bridge outside the doors to the Captain's Quarters.
"The bilgerats took his weapons and sent him down there with two of their toadies. He comes back wounded he's the guilty one? Syl must be the ships champion asslicker?" Rosanne mutters, out of hearing of Plugg & Scourge. But making sure the rest of the crew hears her.
She begins making plans to get Torgal out of the box before he can be keelhauled. Looking around for Toby & Jacques to plot with.
As Mr. Plugg pass by Tobias, the young sailor spits on the deck when the first mate was about to step. Sadly, that's all Tobias can do in this situation, but bends an ear to Rosanne and the others on how to help Torgal.
Jacques glares daggers at Plugg and Syl, calculating how much insult he can give in his bearing and mien before getting "hotboxed" himself. He wonders what sort of revenge they can arrange for the two offenders, determined to see that they suffer for their actions.
Some among the crew, mainly those you have befriended so far seem to quietly nod or agree with Rosanne but no one else speaks up. Others of the crew who are not so friendly give you dark looks.
Mr. Plugg opens the lock on the sweatbox with his key. "Ye'll be let out at the next bloody hour." The crew that grabbed Torgal wrestle and shove him in. Plugg locks it again and taps on the box and laughs. The iron box has holes for air but not big enough to fit a whole hand through.
Soon the day is over and dinner begins. Fishguts and Rosanne serve the turtle soup and Grok hands out rum rations.
The box is cramped and it is difficult to move or get comfortable. Sleep tonight will be hindered.
"Fine. Fu<king fine," Tobias said, gritting his teeth ad padding the closed sweatbox. "He can't throw us all into the sweatbox, can't keelhawl us all!"
Nightime Activity - Entertain
At first, Tobias entertains the crew with some classic sea shanties, but every other song is a thinly-coded derision of Mr. Plugg or Mr. Scourge.
still drinkin’ up the sea.
One-na cup two-a cup three-a cup four,
but ne’er will he be free.”
”His chains, they bind him tightly,
so far beneath the waves.
One-na cup two-a cup three-a cup four,
but ne’er will he be free.”
”The foolish captain Belsaim,
who did wrong by his crew.
One-na cup, two-a cup three-a cup four,
but ne’er will he be free.”
”They chained him up and threw him off,
he sank beneath the waves.
One-na cup, two-a cup three-a cup four,
but ne’er will he be free.”
When he’s not trying to out-sing Tobias, the dwarf’s voice isn’t that bad. Or perhaps it’s just the ballad he’s singing tonight. Or maybe the sweatbox just promotes really effective breath support - not that volume’s ever seemed like an issue for Torgal.
.
In between trying to gamble Rosanne is sits with the crew but without much talk, from her furrowed brow she's thinking hard about some way to free Torgal.
She mixes this with thoughtful glances at Slippery Syl. The kind of look a cook gives a piece of meat she's planning how best to fillet?
The acoustics of the metal box seem to make Torgal's voice sound better that it is. Fipps decides he must be thirsty and gets an extra rum ration to tip on him through the air holes. "Enjoy."
Rosanne gambles again and wins 2 gold pieces from betting on an arm wrestle.
Tobias' voice is a little off tonight, not quite hitting the best notes.
After a quiet night, another day dawns. The crew arrives on board for their jobs with Torgal still confined to the sweatbox for now. The sweatbox quickly heats up and will soon become unbearable.
Jacques: Swab the Decks:
Backbreaking work mopping the decks and scrubbing them with sandstone blocks called holystones.
Tobias: Rat Catcher:
Catching rats and other vermin belowdecks, what few there are.
Rosanne: Cooking: DC 10 Profession (cook) or Intelligence check.
Assisting Ambrose Kroop in preparing the day’s meal, interspersed with chatting and storytelling. A cook's day isn't always busy.
Swab - Rat Catcher
Singing to rude songs to himself to making up names for sections of the ship, Tobias does what he can to make his job halfway interesting today.
Daytime Activity - Influence
"Hey Tilly," Tobias greets his fellow swab once more. "I'm taking requests. Name me a song and I'll do my best to sing it."
.
It is with some surprise that Rosanne realizes she's made a very good meal? She hadn't been very attentive preparing it. More concerned with preparing for the trouble that was to come.
"Cayden's boots, it's hot as Hell in here. Help a feller lover o' ale out?"
Tilly seems unfriendly, strange since the last time you talked to her she was rather friendly. You manage to bring her around again a little bit.
Fishguts is impressed with Rosanne's cooking help. "You'd be perfect as a ship's cook of your own."
As the day wears on, Torgal feigns complaining about the heat. Master Scourge tips a half full bucket of swab water inside the sweatbox and laughs, intending the extra moisture to make things extra muggy and unpleasant inside. "Drink that."
That afternoon, several hours before the sun is to go down a cry is heard from the rigger up in the crow's nest. "Ship ahoy!"
Captain Harrigan immediately turns the Wormwood to pursue this new prey. As the evening wears on, the Wormwood gradually gains on the other ship. Fishguts and Rosanne feed everyone but work continues to coach every bit of speed out of the wormwood. All of the swabs not on assignments currently considered essential are reassigned. Master Scourge opens the sweatbox and tips Torgal out. "It's yer lucky day dwarf. Get up and work or I'll have ya serve as shark bait."
Jacques: Hauling Rope and Knot Work: DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Strength check
Tying and untying knots in the ship’s ropes and moving heavy coils of rope from one part of the ship to another.
Tobias: Repairs: DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Dexterity check
Things constantly tear or break aboard the ship and need repairs, whether sewing sails or splicing rope.
Torgal: Mainsail Duties: DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Strength check
Tough work raising and lowering the mainsail.
Rosanne: Line Work: DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Dexterity check
Hard work hoisting and lowering sails.
Rosanne's eyes widen as the call goes up. Rushing to her station she throws her back into raising and lowering the sails when ordered. Her lack of experience nearly causing her to fail sometimes.
Despite herself she can't help but feel excited at the prospect of the upcoming battle.
Jacques watches Tam "Narwhal"-- the only other dwarf on the ship-- and when he sees a moment that he is alone, he slips up behind him and says in his deep, menacing voice: "Torgal will not be happy that you did nothing when a fellow dwarf was taken and abused. Perhaps it will be your turn in the box next if you do not make amends, oui?"
Jacques approaches his fellow swab Shivikah and again makes her aware that she is being watched by him and his friends. "It would be a shame if something unpleasant were to happen to you, and I do not think the officers and their cronies would care. If you don't have a change of heart soon, you may find yourself lost at sea," he says.
Jacques ties knots and hauls line with confidence, having done this job for many moons before he was enslaved by the crew of the Wormwood.
Torgal’s snoring finally stops as Scourge opens the sweatbox. ”Just five more minutes...” he mumbles, unfazed by the heat.
—————————————
”We're all here to drink the whiskey.
We're all here for nothing less.
Raise your glass and toast your neighbor,
Turn and toast the rest.
For it's one, two, three rounds,
We're hellish glad we're here.
We're here to drink the whiskey
And then we'll drink the beer!”
Torgal seems in fine spirits as he works, though he puts more effort into his song than he does into the work of raising the sail.
Nighttime Activity - Repairs
Despite the extra work, Tobias is happy it's not ratslaying. The young sailor works diligently throughout the night, occasionally giving Sandara a quick nod.
Jacques has been leaning on people and it seems to be working.
Hostilities between the crew seem to have been forgotten in the face of the coming piracy. The Wormwood is faster than the merchant ship and slowly gains on her through the night. An air of excitement fills the ship.
By the first light of the sun at dawn, less than half a mile separates the two ships. The other is a Rahadoumi merchant vessel, the Man's Promise.
With less than an hour before the Wormwood will come alongside her, final preparations begin. Captain Harrigan instructs Kroop and Rosanne to slaughter half a dozen pigs, slit their throats, and throw them overboard to attract sharks to the scene of the battle.
Peppery Longfarthing, the Sailing Master, casts a spell to take the wind out of the sails of the other ship, forcing her to slow down. The merchant vessel's sails sag, barely any air filling them now.
Mister Plugg keeps the crew working, ensuring no mistakes let the enemy gain any distance. Master Scourge sees that everyone has a weapon for boarding and laying out a dozen or more grappling hooks on the side that will come alongside the enemy. Habbly, Kipper, Patch and “Caulky” Tarroon help them each out where ordered.
Riaris Krine goes around to each of the crew, giving orders for the attack. She forms Rosanne, Torgal, Tobias and Jacques into one group and lays out your part of the attack plan in her usual unpleasant tone. "The ship’s wheel is on the aft deck, just below the sterncastle. You’re going to grapple over, kill the guards on the sterncastle, take the wheel, and guard the ship’s boats. Kill anyone who tries to get away on one of the boats. Don’t move from the wheel until the fighting’s done, or you’ll have to answer to me. Oh yeah, as we get close, it’s going to get foggy. Just stick to what I told you to do. Any questions?"
"Get over to the wheel. Kill the guards. Take the wheel. Kill anyone trying to use the boats. Don't leave the wheel unguarded. Got it!"
Rosanne feels herself being caught up in the excitement of the chase, flexing her clawed and bloody fingers as the Wormwood closes on it's prey.
Jacques nods solemnly. Fog is good, he thinks. Lots of accidents can happen in fog. Pistols and rapiers abound, and this might be a good time to make good on some of our threats.
"No, ma'am." Tobias nods sternly.
”Aye - do ya expect me t’ board an enemy ship without weapons?” Torgal motions to the empty place on his hip where a rapier would usually rest.
Scourge dropped Torgal's weapons at his feet, making him pick them up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riaris nods, satisfied. "Good. This one's in charge o' yer assault team." She said indicating Jacques. "Stick to the plan." She leaves to continue giving orders to the others.
It's not much longer before the Wormwood is in firing range. Less than 200 feet and closing. The crew of the Man’s Promise begins to bombard the Wormwood with missiles, mainly crossbow bolts, but also with two ballistas on the sterncastle of the Man's Promise fire at the Wormwood's rigging in a futile attempt to slow the pirate ship down.
Tobias continues to dodge stray missiles, and does some practice tosses of the grappling hook.
Jacques raises an eyebrow at Riaris’s field promotion, and shakes his head once she leaves. ”I don’t intend to give orders while we act, do not worry. It is likely I am singled out to receive the blame, not the glory, non?”
While they wait, Jacques draws and casts his scroll of mage armor, and checks that his other possessions are secure in waterproof bags. He hides his spellbook with his secluded grimoire spell.
Mage armor for Rosanne, she then makes sure her crossbow is loaded and her bolt quiver is easily accessible at her hip. "Go get'em boys!" She smirks encouragingly.
Jacques also loads his pistol before putting it and its holster in the bag.
Torgal draws his rapier and starts to bellow a song before his companions all shush him. "Whadaya mean it'll attract attention?" he sputters in protest. "Listen t' all that yellin' out there. Caelian's Bootstraps, give me strength t' endure such wicked barbs from my friends!"
As the Wormwood draws up to the Man's Promise you crouch behind the rails to avoid stray crossbow bolts. As the Wormwood glides the last few feet before bumping the other ship, the Captain shouts, "Forward!" Grapples are thrown to lock the 2 ship together then the crew begins to board, crossing on planks or climbing across their ropes.
The sterncastle and boats that you have been told to secure are defended by 6 sailors.
Rosanne isn't going to get not melee if she can help it. Taking aim at the enemy sailor closest to the railings she shot.
The ships crashing together throw her aim off badly.
"Tally ho!" Torgal yells, whirling his grappling hook like a lasso.