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When Jacques returns, before going to bed he visits his allies and returns their equipment to them. "Let it be known that I appreciate your efforts on my behalf, mon amies, and that as far as I am concerned, the five of us fight all for one and one for all."
Tobias smiles wide as Jacques gifts the young sailor his equipment and weapon. Tobias puts on his fancy pirate hat, greeting it like a lost lover. The young sailor grips the other man's hand strongly in a meaningful handshake. "You're damned right, Jacques Lacrimoisi. I shall remember this day and keep it sacrosanct in my heart!!"
Swab - Ratcatcher
Smiling widely at the return of his gear throughout the day, Tobias gleefully carried out his duties as ratcatcher. The young sailor took great pleasure in seeing shock and horror on the tiny faces of the vermin before they died by his blade.
Daytime Ship Actions - Influence
Throughout the day, Tobias looks in at the Shop, hoping to catch the quartermaster in a free moment. The young sailor respectfully takes off his fancy hat when addressing the half-orc woman.
"Miss Quartermaster, ma'am," Tobias began. "I wanted to discuss with you the acquisition of an item rumored to be in your store. I'm not sure if you've heard my shanties down here at the store, but I like to sing as I work, and I've been told my songs are pretty good. But one voice, even one as strong and hardy as mine, is not enough to lift the morale of the entire ship, ya see? Now, scuttlebutt has told me that you have among your inventory a violin that used to belong to Miss Rosie. My thinking was that is if could have some musical accompaniment when I sang, the crew's spirits would be lifted even higher!"
"Which is why I came to visit you today to discuss the cost of Ms. Rosie's return of her violin, ma'am?"
Jacques is so good at swabbing he no longer risks fatigue and no longer needs to roll for that job and automatically succeeds.
Tobias is very good at hunting vermin and finding where they hide that he no longer needs to roll for that job and automatically succeeds.
Rosanne figures out the nets and fishing implements enough to catch a few fish. "It'll do. Not bad for your first ever time." The friendly Cook encourages her.
"Hahahah aren't you a charmer." Grok lets herself smile, usually a reserved, serious person except when around friends. "That hat does look good on you. If you had have asked nicely I might have let you have it? If some of those goons weren't so petty you might have not had it taken in the first place. You all would have woken up naked if I hadn't have stopped some of the madness." She is being quite friendly and helpful to you. "I was going to wait until she came to me on her knees begging. I suppose her punishment has gone on long enough." She will retrieve the masterwork fiddle and give it to you. "See that you deliver on your promise to lift morale crewman." She ends with a wink, referring to your opening words.
Everyone aces their jobs and the Wormwood makes good progress. The only one not having a good day it seems is Master Scourge. Once the bell stops ringing, there are currently no punishments waiting to be meted out. So his usual phrase is not heard. Most seem to have been waiting for it and are unmoving until they see Rosanne and Fishguts appear with dinner and Grok with the Rum rations. Then they finally move into action, grabbing food and drink and talking together.
The officers stalk away to eat in the Captain's Cabin again.
Grok will retrieve the masterwork fiddle and give it to you. "See that you deliver on your promise to lift morale crewman." She ends with a wink, referring to your opening words.
Tobias takes the lovely musical instrument with reverence from the quartermaster's hands. "Thank you, dear lady", the young sailor simply states, as Tobias slyly plants a kiss on Grok's cheek and leaves.
Everyone aces their jobs and the Wormwood makes good progress. The only one not having a good day it seems is Master Scourge. Once the bell stops ringing, there are currently no punishments waiting to be meted out. So his usual phrase is not heard. Most seem to have been waiting for it and are unmoving until they see Rosanne and Fishguts appear with dinner and Grok with the Rum rations. Then they finally move into action, grabbing food and drink and talking together.
The officers stalk away to eat in the Captain's Cabin again.
Tobias takes the Grog appreciatively from half-orc, and drinks it down. The young sailor then eats his seafood meal, complementing Rosanne on the food.
After everyone eats their meal, Tobias smiles wide, cracking his knuckles in anticipation. The young sailor stands up upon a barrel on the deck and addresses the crew. "Well, I don't know about you lot, but that was the best damn soup I ever ate. Three cheers for the Fishguts and the lovely Rosanne!"
The crowd mostly responds positively; probably guessing they will soon be gifted more of Tobias's songs.
"I feel so good after such an awesome meal, how about some songs to pass the time?"
Again the crew give little cheers.
"But first, I have a special gift to give! Will Miss Rosie Cusswell please come forward?"
The female halfling unsurely is pushed toward the young lunatic, who jumps off the barrel and kneels down to greet her.
"Ms. Cusswell, on behalf of myself and Wormwood crew, I'd like to return something to you."
From under his coat, Tobias procures a masterwork violin and offers it hands up to his fellow swab.
"All I ask in return, is that when you do play it, that I may accompany you in song, from time to time."
Nighttime Ship Actions - Entertain
Jacques drinks the rum ration with disgust, reluctant to draw more negative attention by trying to hide it again.
In the evening, he goes looking for a group of gamblers to pass the time with, betting with the silver he has remaining.
Rosanne grimaces as the grog goes down her throat like fire. "It's a race to see what kills you first!" She gasps.
She tries to strike up a conversation with another unfriendly crewmember. 'Best to get a few more away from those feckers!' Is her thinking on the matter.
She singles out one she hasn't worked with. Crimson Cogward. "How was the meal? Anything you'd like us to prepare?" She offers, more to get him talking than any real desire to make her work more difficult. :)
As Tobias leans in and plants a kiss she allows it but frowns at him ending the moment on a slight downturn. "I am still your Quartermaster crewman. Don't let that happen again."
The crew are watching Tobias with interest, hoping he will sing the songs they like. Rosie, however, doesn't take well to being singled out and pushes those around here away and makes for the ladder to take her below, with some colourful curses. But when he reveals her fiddle she stops and comes back. "How did you get that off that rotten curr Grok?" When he offers it to her she takes it carefully and looks it over inch by inch inspecting for scratches. Finding it untouched she smiles and starts tuning it. "You're voice would probably ruin the music my beautiful plays." She says insultingly but not seriously. Her humor is quite flat. When she is ready to play she nods to Tobias.
"Ugh are you serious, I doubt you could do anything to improve on what that Fishguts cooks us. If I wouldn't get keelhauled or worse, I'd give him a piece of my mind!" It seems like Cogward is an angry character with some issues. But he doesn't seem to mind telling you about some of the fights he has been in.
Before too long, Mr. Plugg returns from the officer's quarters followed by Owlbear, the big man that is usually chained up below to guard the lower entrance to the officer's quarters. Some around him stop what they are doing but others don't notice and continue talking. Plugg then tosses a pouch of coins that land with a large clink in front of him. That gets people's attention.
"My friend Owlbear here," he slaps Owlbear on the shoulder and the big man doesn't even budge, "told me he is a bit lonely downstairs. So I thought I would help him make some friends. Unfortunately the worthless thing only really likes to do one thing. Hit stuff. But we can't allow pointless violence here on the Cap'n's ship. I have here a wager for anyone who thinks they can beat Owlbear hand-to-hand. No weapons, no magic, just a good old-fashioned fist fight. Anyone want to be 100 gold richer?" He waits to see if any dare step forward.
Cnut steps forward towards Mr. Plugg. "We have a taker!" He scoops up the coin pouch and hands it to Grok, who nods. She takes on managing any bets. Several of the crew make their way to her.
"Weapons away. If I see a weapon you'll get the lash!" Master Scourge lays out the rules of the fight. "No magic either or it's the same. Just a good clean fight. Last one standing wins the gold!"
Cnut lays aside his bardiche and dagger aside. "Hey! We said a fair fight. Remove the mail!" Scourge says, adding another rule. "Fine." Cnut also removes his scale mail and is unarmoured just like Owlbear. A contest of pure might. The first one to land enough blows to knock the other unconscious would decide this fight.
Owlbear squared off on one side of the deck while Cnut prepared himself near you on the other side of the deck.
Tobias checked his pockets and found some of his last coin. "One gold on Cnut!!" The young sailor yells above the din.
Rosanne watches silently, she doesn't like this situation at all. Anything Plugg is up to is sure to be trouble.
Cnut roars and charges first, letting out his rage. Just as he is about to attack the ship lurches and throws off his aim, swinging and hitting only air. Owlbear strikes back while he is off balance, landing a solid blow to Cnut's shoulder. Cnut dodges a few of Owlbear's punches before finding another opening and hitting him solidly, right on his kidneys.
Seeing his pet hurt, Plugg tosses a club to Owlbear who picks it up and swings it right into Cnut's head. Murmurs in the crowd go around as the weapon joins the fight.
Cnut looks even angrier than before at being hit over the head and lands his own solid hit to Owlbear's head. Owlbear starts to cry and back away from Cnut, but Plugg pushes him back into the fight, "Finish him!
Cnut doesn't give him the opportunity, landing a knockout blow under his chin. Owlbear crumples to the deck unconscious. "You cheated!" Cnut yells at Plugg.
Plugg is outraged, "You worthless dog, I'll have you keelhauled for this!" He draws and points his cutlass at Cnut's face.
"How did the unarmed man cheat against the man [u]with a club[/u]?" Tobias questioned flatly, for all the hear on deck.
Jacques angrily backs Tobias up, drawing himself up to his full height and glaring at Plugg. "And with money on the line, too! For shame, sir, shame! Shame! Everyone here, they saw what happened."
"If I see a weapon you'll get the lash!" Rosanne calls out mockingly. Repeating Scourges own words back at him. "Going to change the paying out as well?"
Some of the crew, those friendly to you, voice their concerns as well, most seem to not care or try to quiet you.
"It was an unfair fight, Plugg was only trying even the odds!"
"Questioning an officer? I guess you like that lash."
"This is a pirate ship. It's not supposed to be fair."
"The club fell out of his hands. It was an accident!"
In the end Grok shouts for quiet and slowly everyone calms down. It has been overcast all afternoon and it starts to rain softly, helping to dampen tempers. "The fight is over. Master Scourge, did Cnut break any of the rules as you set them out?" He responded slowly that Cnut had not. "Then I declare the winner of this fight to be Cnut. Will you honour your bet Mr. Plugg?"
Plugg's temper had not been dampened by the misty rain. His face was red but he controlled his voice. "How dare you question my honour!" He turns to Cnut again, "You'll be sorry for this." He walks off back to the officer's quarters leaving Owlbear unconscious on the deck. Master Scourge follows behind him.
"Habbly?" The ship's surgeon was nearby, especially when there was a fight as he would sometimes be needed. "Best see Owlbear back to his station. It won't do him good to sleep in this rain like that." Habbly Quarne rustles a couple of the crew to help him with Owlbear. They manage to wake him and he hobbles away with them, holding his head and crying.
The rain starts to fall in proper droplets as Grok looks at you. There is no smile on her face. Nobody won here.
Cnut thanks you for backing him up and shares the gold between you. 25gold pieces each. Toby also turned the 1 gold piece that he bet on Cnut into 10. Most of the crew had bet on Owlbear and lost. Sandara also received some winnings for betting on Cnut.
"I don't know why he hates you so much. But I would be careful." Sandara says. "He has many more friends among the crew than you. And he is the Captain's First Mate."
"I don't know why he hates you so much. But I would be careful." Sandara says. "He has many more friends among the crew than you. And he is the Captain's First Mate."
Tobias pockets his 35 gold pieces and speaking in a low voice. "Nevertheless, Mr. Plugg has shown his colors, and they are bleached and filthy. I'll interact with the sod only when I have to."
Tobias raises his voice back up to normal volume. "Anyway, Ms. Quinn. Do you now have some time to discuss matters of Besmaran faith with me?"
"Perhaps out of this rain. We'll be soaked within 10 minutes." She doesn't mind explaining some of the ways of Besmara, how she rewards those that dare, those who are desperate, those who take what they want, as she does. "I first decided to become a priestess years ago when after fervent prayer, my father was returned after everyone had assumed he was lost in a storm aboard his small fishing boat. I knew she had saved him." Soon after, Sandara began devoting her time to the worship of Besmara, eventually setting up a small chapel on the Hell Harbor docks dedicated to her. "He died 3 weeks ago so I took to the sea instead of rot in some forgotten port." She only made it as far as Port Peril, however, before she fell afoul of Captain Harrigan’s press gang and ended up aboard the Wormwood.
The rain from last night has continued and keep on all day so that everyone is soaked through before long. There is a storm behind the Wormwood that Captain Harrigan wants to outrun. There will be no taking shelter and waiting for it to catch up or move on.
Jobs
Runner: DC 10 Acrobatics check and DC 10 Constitution check to avoid fatigue.
Jacques is assigned to passing messages to the crew and officers of the Wormwood in all parts of the ship except officers’ cabins.
Swab the Decks: 10 Strength or Constitution check to avoid fatigue.
Tobias is assigned to backbreaking work mopping the decks and scrubbing them with sandstone blocks called holystones.
Bull Session: The cook’s mate must drink an additional rum ration, but is able to take an additional ship action during the day.
Fishguts regales Rosanne with some culinary tales, forgetting to give her any task at all, but calling her to come have a drink with him.
Swab - Swab The Deck
During the day, the clouds got pretty dark. During those times, Tobias would take out his ioun torch to make sure he did an thorough job swabbing the deck.
Daytime Ship Actions - Influence
Working out in the storm was Tobias's first chance to work next to Crimson "Cog" Cogward, a man never found without his blue bandana. The young sailor made some small talk, and hopefully traded some jokes between them.
Jacques decides to take a look around an unfamiliar part of the ship while he is running messages.
Cogward is not one for jokes it seems, not having as good a sense of humour as Tobias.
Jacques sneaks past a sleeping-on-duty Owlbear in the main hold and creeps up the stairs to the Officer's Quarters. There are 4 hammocks and several sleeping mats in this cramped cabin. The two narrow doors leading to the main deck are trapped. A harpoon launcher is affixed to the roof and pointed towards anyone entering without knowing how to disable the trap. There are also a number of footlockers similar to those provided to the crew for personal possession storage. Besides the doors to the main deck there are also two separate doors, one on each side of the room that lead to smaller compartments, the ship's armoury. You notice the room is not empty. Kipper, the Gunner's Mate, currently occupies the room. Making you unable to enter further without being discovered, and subsequently punished for being in an off-limits (to the crew) area.
Exploring the Officer's Quarters
Rosanne makes sure that she gets the cooking out of the way first given what a lightweight she is with drinking.
She downs the offered rum and joins in the bull session cheerfully, only slurring her words once or twice.
Once she's had her fill of talk Rosanne tells Fishguts she nned to use the jakes and slips away to the crews quarters. She's decided to stir up trouble among Scourges lackeys.
Once alone in the crews quarters she will take something valuable and identifiable from Fipps Chumlett's locker and and hide it poorly in Jaundiced Japes.
After fumbling her first attempts she makes a note not to drink before disabling in future.
With that done she rejoins Fishguts in the galley with a relieved expression.
While attempting to break into the other lockers, the swab, Aretta Bansion comes below deck, her job today is hunting rats. Though she mostly just sits and relaxes, thinking herself unseen.
When she finally goes back to hunting you can try to open the lockers. Their poor locks are quite simple but will take some time to open without a set of lockpicks or thieve's tools.
Fipps' locker holds a few coins, mostly silver, worth about 11 gold, as well as a thunderstone.
Japes' locker holds a few coins, mostly silver, worth about 10 gold, as well as a book on sea monsters.
You place the thunderstone in Japes' locker next to the book and lock them up and return to the galley with a relieved expression.
The rain cleared a little in the afternoon, there were still many clouds and the misty rain returned that night.
After the day was over and the ship bell rung, Master Scourge called out again. "Gather round for the bloody hour!" As the crew gathers round he calls out a punishment. For doing a poor job of rat catching on the ship Aretta Bansion was to receive 6 lashes. Mr. Plugg hauled her before the main mast and lashed her himself. Master Scourge didn't let her off easy, and six new red welts lined the bad tempered ex-harlot's back. When it was done, as soon as they turned their back to walk away she glared at them angrily.
Fishguts and Rosanne serve the regular soup, and Grok hands out rum rations.
Fipps is one of the crew that heads down below decks earlier than most but is not gone for long. He comes back within 10 minutes and talks to Grok.
"Officer Grok! Someone got into my locker and stole my thunderstone! I want everyone searched. I say start with her!" He looks at Rosanne suspiciously who was nearby helping Fishguts.
"Watch your tone crewman. We will find out if it has been stolen. Wait here."
Grok goes into the officer's quarters. Soon out come Master Scourge and Mr. Plugg who sends someone with a message to the Captain. "Drop what yer doing. One of the crew has had something stolen and we're going to find out by who. You will all be searched. Refusing to let us search you will be 3 lashes." Slowly they make their way around the crew on deck, and then going below to search the crew in the holds. Scourge enjoys searching Sandara and Rosanne as much as they hate his rough hands patting them down. The stolen item is not found. [b]"Annoyed at not having found anything yet, they head below to search the holds and crew quarters.
Fishguts and Rosanne serve the regular soup, and Grok hands out rum rations.
Smiling, Tobias cheers his friends with grog as they all eat their ration of soup.
Tobias leans in and whispers to the group. "Don't look now, but I think somebody stole something from Mr. Fipps!"
Like the entire crew, the young sailor is searched without the stolen item on his person. "Well!" An exasperated Tobias says as the crew search is completed and the officers head below deck. "Morale's gonna be low after that! I better do my part to raise it!" Tobias stands at his now-familiar place on deck and begins to entertain the crew with song.
Nighttime Ship Action - Entertain
Jacques gives Tobias a piercing look as he whispers to them over the meal, and then returns a large, toothy grin. "That one, he is not likely to be happy with whoever has his item, non?"
He goes to bed early after the events surrounding the stolen items are settled, vowing to be careful about what he leaves unguarded in his cabin.
There are some shouts and complaints from below but they are silenced quickly. In short order the entire crew's lockers have been searched and Scourge and Plugg return to the main deck. "Take him." Plugg tells Scourge who walks over to the half-orc, Jape. "You're coming to have a talk with us." Plugg, Scourge, Jape and Fipps disappear into the Officer's quarters for a while.
Toby decides to sing for the crew and Rosie joins in too after making sure that the search had not damaged her fiddle.
The rain is becoming even heavier, anyone on deck is soaked within seconds and 2 of the crew are sent to man the bilges instead of the usual 1.
Jobs
Man the Bilges: DC 12 Strength check.
Jacques is assigned to the vile and sweaty work cleaning out the bilges along with Jack Scrimshaw.
Swab the Decks: 10 Strength or Constitution check to avoid fatigue.
Tobias is assigned to backbreaking work mopping the decks and scrubbing them with sandstone blocks called holystones.
Fishing: DC 10 Profession (fisherman) or Survival check.
Fishguts tells Rosanne they are still low on fish, she didn't exactly bring in a big haul last time. He gives her the nets again.
Swab - Swab The Deck
Still a little tired from yesterday, Tobias works hard to do a good job swabbing the deck, despite the downpour. I've gotta do some shopping with my gold, lest someone take it from me! Hopefully, I'll have an opportunity sooner than later. The young sailor thought, as he worked.
Jacques watches Jack Scrimshaw suspiciously, since this is the first time he's been assigned a partner when tasked with this job. However, Jack seems amiable, and Jacques soon lets down his guard. He works diligently, his stubbornness making up somewhat for his weak physique.
The increased rain makes the rigger's jobs harder but everyone seems to manage to keep the Wormwood moving in the right direction. Even Plugg seems to have been dampened by the rain, shouting only when he must give orders. The Captain has stayed in his cabin giving orders from shelter form the rain.
When the ship bell rings again, everyone hustles below deck to get out of the rain and canvas is used to cover the wooden grates. Shirts are wrung out and hung on their hammocks. Dinner is served by Rosanne and Fishguts in the middle hold, though some soon go to bed, tired.
You overhear some of the officer's talking amongst themselves. "If the storm catches us there will be no rest till its gone. How long can the crew last? If only we had twice as many, then we wouldn't have to stop every night like this."
Jacques will take the opportunity of finally not being tired for once to socialize with the others on the ship, joining in a gambling game (I think he has some silver still to bet?). He shares what he overheard the officers saying (the spoiler above) with his friends.
Jacques catches Toby before bed and relays what he heard. The young sailor tried to fain interest, but was trying not to yawn in his friend's face. Tobias secured his gold, armor and rapier, and went to bed.
Jacques whispers a cunning plan to Cnut . "You have great reputation from fight today with Owlbear, monami. What if you were to challenge him again to arm wrestle, and lose on purpose? That might make him less angry with you, and we might make more money by betting against you." He grins. "What do you say?"
"Hmm, they could be suspicious. They know we're not strangers. And you profited from me winning the fight. Perhaps they won't take the bet? Let me bet first then you bet bigger against me. If I lose the game and lose money, perhaps they won't think anything amiss." Cnut agrees to try Jacques' plan and will challenge Maheem, the big Rahadoumi sailor with a permanent scowl. Maheem laughs, "This isn't a game. Sit down then if you think you can best me." Cnut sits down, ready. There are caltrops scattered on top of the barrel they are using to play. The loser suffers not only hurt pride. "50 silver pieces if I win." Cnut says.
Jacques saunters over to watch. "That man, he is much bigger than you, monami," he says. "Maybe your luck has run out since you fight Owlbear." He holds up ten gold pieces. "I say this, Maheem win."
He looks around to see if there are any other takers, hoping his carrying voice garners some interest among the other sailors.
Maheem eyes the pair of you suspiciously, "If you're intending to swindle me, I weren't born last night. You can take those tricks elsewhere." Cnut tries to convince him to play, "I barely know this skinny man. We're all strangers here." It wasn't enough, Maheem didn't buy it. "Play to win or don't play at all."
Jacques sighs, and steps back from the table. He looks to Cnut and shrugs, indicating that he should do as he thinks best.
"Fine, let's see what you got." Only Maheem takes Cnut's bet. Winner is 5 gold richer.
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The men place their elbows on the barrel, careful not to start with a caltrop jabbing them. They lock hands and stare at each other determinedly. The dwarf, Tam “Narwhal”, starts them off. "All right you salty dogs, Go!" Maheem seems to get off to a good start, pushing Cnut's arm lower. Cnut manages to bring things back to even, but Maheem renews his push and forces Cnut's arm lower again. Cnut grits his teeth and digs deep, forcing his arm upright again and then Maheem's arm lower, with a desperate shout Maheem tries to even things out again but Cnut has the upper hand and forces Maheem's arm onto the barrel and the caltrops pierce his arm.
"Don't ever accuse me of tricks Maheem." Cnut says as Maheem jumps up and growls, pulling embedded caltrops out of his arm. Cnut wins to pot, becoming 50 silver richer.
Out of sight of them, Cnut shares the winnings, 25 silver to Jacques. "Unfortunate we didn't win more."
Things quickly quieten down and the crew sleeps as the sea heaves the ship a little more than usual and the rain leaks through, sometimes dripping on you and interrupting your sleep.
The rain has not let up as the crew rushes on deck to start their day with a drenching. It looks like the storm is going to catch the Wormwood. Even the Captain is on deck to make sure his ship doesn't go down. Fishguts and Rosanne are also required to work the ship. All hands are on deck. There is no catching rats or swabbing the deck today. With the exception of 2 in the bilges to pump water that gets in, almost everyone is in the rigging. "Yer wanna swim with the sharks today worms? I thought not! Get into it!"
Rigging Jobs
Mainsail Duties: DC 12 Profession (sailor) or Strength check. DC 10 Constitution check to avoid fatigue.
Jacques is assigned to tough work raising and lowering the mainsail.
Lookout: DC 12 Climb checks followed by a DC 12 Perception check.
Tobias is assigned to climb to the crow's nest and keep an eye out for reefs, land, rocks and other dangers.
Rigging Repair: DC 12 Climb checks to reach the rigging 30 feet up, followed by a DC 12 Profession (sailor) or Dexterity check.
Rosanne is assigned to repair the ship's rigging.
Jacques smiles. Finally, mondieux, a task for which I have been trained, he thinks. He seizes the ropes that control the mainsail and with ferocious tenacity he begins to raise and lower them as commanded.
If the storm leaves him any time to himself, he will go to see the quartermaster again. He hopes to recover more of his allies' equipment for them.
