It seems a night's rest has returned everyone to working shape, all job tasks are successful, though Master Scourge still keeps his eye on everyone.
The lower hold doesn't have anything of worth except for what the crew each keep in their lockers.
"Come to bargain again?" Grok says as you enter her store.
"Always", Tobias smiled. "But this time I have some coin to spend, Madam Quartermaster."
"I'm very interested in re-acquiring my kit and all it entailed, along with my two daggers."
As Torgal passes the same gnome for the third time, he holds out his tankard. ”Thirsty work,” he grunts. ”Wet yer whistle?”
The one-eyed gnome, Giffer Tibbs, takes the tankard and downs the drink in one go. "A much nicer brew than the grog they serve here. Make sure you drink the rum ration too. It's their rules."
"I see you've been gambling. Well let's see. A torch that never goes out, interesting. A miniature anchor? What is it? A kit with whetstone, mirror and compass. If you have 100 gold pieces I'll give it all to you. Or leave the torch with me and I'll take 25 gold pieces."
Tobias frowns. He knows it was a fool-chance to get all his stuff back for 25 gp. But at least the young sailor will get most of it back.
"Deal." Tobias spits in his hand and extends it to seal the agreement, where Tobias will pay 25 gp for his gear minus the ioun torch.
As the sun makes its way closer to the horizon, the ship's bell rings, signalling another, or your first, hard day's work has come to an end.
"Gather round for the bloody hour!" Master Scourge calls. His favorite part of the day is making others suffer.
"Some of you think it's okay to while the rest of us save the ship from certain doom in a storm. Well I'll show you now that it's not ok." He has several of the crew round up Tobias and Jacques. "You'll be made an example of. You'll not make me look bad in front of the Cap'n. Slacking will not be tolerated here."
One at a time you are tied to the main mast and given 6 lashes with the whip. He stops only when they fall unconscious so as to not accidentally kill anyone, then has you untied and tossed aside to the deck.
As he is being tied up, Tobias quips, "Mr. Scourge? You are aware that 'passing out' and slacking off are two totally different things?" The young sailor was gonna say more, but that's when the lashes started.
"Looks like we're going to need your tender mercy again love." She sighs dryly to Sandara Quinn.
When the punishment starts Rosanne watches silently, adding this to the bill that will one day come due for Scourge & Plugg.
Torgal watches from the crowd, his face growing redder and redder with each lash. Once the two men fall to the deck, he pushes his way to the front and grabs Tobias's limp form. He starts to haul the unconscious man somewhere, anywhere that's not surrounded by jeering sailors and evil slavers.
After the punishments are given and both men pass out, everyone moves on and Kroop's fishgut soup is served and Grok doles out the rum ration.
"Yes you are right." Sandara says to Rosanne and helps her to move Jacques and follows Torgal. When they are both together she looks up and stretches her arms out. "Besmara's mercy, bring relief to these brave souls." Energy flows outward from her, healing all nearby.
Tobias and Jacques regain conscious, though they still have some wounds. "Greetings Dwarf, my name is Sandara, a faithful of Besmara. Why did you think first to aid Tobias then?" The red-haired woman introduces herself to Torgal.
Tobias and Jacques regain conscious, though they still have some wounds. "Greetings Dwarf, my name is Sandara, a faithful of Besmara. Why did you think first to aid Tobias then?" The red-haired woman introduces herself to Torgal.
"I am the aforementioned Tobias Wraithborn", the young sailor said with a bow. "Pleased to meet you."
Jacques shakes his head as he wakes and grinds his teeth together in rage. He looks around to get his bearings and determines that Sandara was responsible for his recovery. He clears his throat and murmurs, "I thank you again, moncherie, for your aid. We are fortunate you are here with us. I will not soon forget your kindness. When my debts are paid, yours will be also."
Rosanne is with the group, she's watching around them as well. "You might want to keep your temper Dwarf." She advises Torgal in a low voice. "Plugg and his lackey Scourge will take any chance to punish you."
Looking around carefully before adding. "Currently they have the numbers to be in charge." Her tone is clear that 'currently' isn't going to be forever.
"Greetings Dwarf, my name is Sandara, a faithful of Besmara. Why did you think first to aid Tobias then?" The red-haired woman introduces herself to Torgal.
Torgal shrugs. "He's a lightweight," he offers awkwardly by means of explanation. "Just look at him - he'd be passed out after two good drinks. Imagine if someone stepped on him." His face flushing, the dwarf quickly fumbles at his belt for his tankard to avoid meeting anyone's gaze. "Not that, like, well, it ain't right for them t' be punished like that!" Increasingly flustered, he mutters something into the pewter cup before passing it to Jacques. "Didn't mean t' say ya didn't need help yerself - here, courtesy o' the Drunkard."
"I am the aforementioned Tobias Wraithborn," the young sailor said with a bow. "Pleased to meet you."
"Torgal." The dwarf bows back before putting a hand on the wall to steady himself. "Torgal Cailean. It's, uh, well, it's a pleasure t' meet someone who's not so disgusting even th' fish wouldn't eat 'em if'n they fell overboard."
Rosanne is with the group, she's watching around them as well. "You might want to keep your temper Dwarf." She advises Torgal in a low voice. "Plugg and his lackey Scourge will take any chance to punish you."
"Aye, I see th' wisdom in what yer sayin'." Torgal nods, then shakes his head. "But if'n we ain't gonna what's right... So, the Drunken Hero says we should drink t' be merry, but not drink t' excess 'n' start feedin' th' fish o'er th' railing, yeah? It's like that." He nods again as if to convince himself that this was a convincing argument.
"You lot know each other?" he asks before squinting at Tobias. "'N' ain't there supposed to be more o' you? Like twins or triplets or somethin'?"
"Oh no." Tobias smiled awkwardly, trying to understand this caydenite. "I assure you. I'm unique."
"But yes, with the exception of Ms. Quinn, The three of us got our invite onboard at the same time, and have become fast friends and crewmates ever since."
"I thought as much. I think this is yours." Sandara produces Torgal's holy symbol and gives it to him. "Quartermaster Grok doesn't want any gods with cause to bring ill-fortune on us so she allowed me to return this to you."
"You are still hurt. Hold still." Her hands hold Tobias' shoulders and more positive energy flows through him.
When you return to the deck Grok gives you each your rum ration and Fishguts gives you some soup. The crew are in different groups. Some talking, some playing various games and gambling.
Tobias checks his pockets real quick, certain the young sailor HAD Torgal's holy symbol. As Sandara gives the dwarf Cayden's holy symbol, Tobias says, "Besmara and the entire crew of The Sea Wraith sends their best regards to Cayden Cailean", with a spoiled look on his face.
After Grog and grub, Tobias entertains the crew with song.
Nightime Activity - Entertain.
Jacques gives Tobias and Torgal a piercing look when the dwarf mentions triplets, certain there is some secret message passing between them, but he lets it pass. He gives Torgal a thankful bow with a flourish in acknowledgement of his magic. "As a follower of Cayden Cailean, may it be thought that you have a grand tolerance for strong drink? If yes, oui, I will bet on you during the drinking competition tonight, and together we will earn a, what is the word, a nest egg? Money for you, to buy back the equipment they stole from you."
Rosanne will chat with Torgal a little more. Tipping him off as to who are Plugg & Scourges lackeys. The ones likely to make trouble for him.
After that she's tired as usual and heads to bed early.
”Hoho! Now yer talking my style!” Torgal cheers as Jacques mentions a drinking contest, tucking the small iron flask on a chain into his pocket. ”Just point me at ‘em - and make sure they’re serving’ th’ good stuff, hah!”
There are several of the crew drinking together. The halfling, Ratline, is already passed out. Fipps and Shivikah are not. "Yer think yer can out drink us?" Fipps states unbelieving, then laughs. "Well dwarf, sit down here!" He grabs a crate for you to sit with them next to the rum barrel. "How interesting do you want to make this?"
This game can sometimes be deadly. Some tales tell of entire crews drinking themselves to death through this game, leaving ships of drunk ghosts wandering the shipping routes.
Not having any money to waste Rosanne wasn't placing any bets on the drinking. Despite suspecting the new arrival might be well equipped to handle it.
"This is to help you to buy back all of your things," he murmurs to Torgal. "Let us hope that your god is watching over you tonight, oui?"
Torgal laughs and slaps Jacques heartily across the back. ”Well, I’m ‘ere, aren’t I?” he guffaws. ”Now who wants t’ try their luck against that of th’ Lucky Drunk hisself?”
The pirate's eyes widen at the amount of gold put down but also put down their own. "All right then, that's more like it. Winner takes all!"
Shivikah laughs at Torgal, "It ain't about luck dwarf. Only matters how well you can drink. And I've been drinking my whole life!" He laughs again.
Every one has their mugs filled with the ship's rum. Torgal goes first and easily finishes a mug.
The pirates easily put away their first mug also.
Torgal pauses to belch. ”You were sayin’?” He pauses to look judgementally at his cup. ”You ain’t been foolin’ with the new guy, have you - you sure this ain’t water?”
The next mug Fipps drinks proves to be too much for him and his face falls onto the barrel.
Shivikah lasts a few more rounds but on his 4th mug he sways and topples over backwards leaving Torgal the unchallenged winner and gold and silver coins worth 56gp sitting on top of the barrel.
Another day aboard the Wormwood dawns, the crew scramble to be on deck before the bell stops ringing. Master Scourge and Mr. Plugg assign jobs to the crew for the day as usual.
Jobs
Rat Catcher: DC 10 Stealth check, Survival check, or Dexterity check.
Jacques is assigned to catching rats and other vermin belowdecks.
Swab the Decks: DC 10 Strength or Constitution check.
Toby is assigned to backbreaking work mopping the decks and scrubbing them with sandstone blocks called holystones.
Swab the Decks: DC 10 Strength or Constitution check.
Torgal is assigned to backbreaking work mopping the decks and scrubbing them with sandstone blocks called holystones.
Cook: DC 10 Profession (cook) or Intelligence check.
Rosanne is assigned to Assist Ambrose Kroop in preparing the day’s meal.
Swab - Swab The Decks
Tobias slept pretty good, giving him the vim and vigor to tackle the decks with gusto.
Daytime Ship Activity - Influence
Tobias worked near Tilly Brackett, a fellow swab. "Morning, Tilly!" The young sailor greeted the fellow sailor. Tobias would banter about as he worked, telling some jokes, asking her opinion on things, and generally flirt.
Jacques nods to Torgal with satisfaction, and gestures to him to keep the winnings. "Tomorrow you can go to see the quartermaster and buy back your weapon," he says in his characteristically deep voice.
The next day he faces the vermin with deeper resolve.
Torgal hoists his tankard in the general direction of Jacques. "I gotcher weapon right... right 'ere," he declares loudly, pausing momentarily to catch his balance. "Now you... both of you, go to shleep."
The following morning, Jacques is accompanied by a half-asleep dwarf who mutters and scowls at seemingly-random patches of deck before either walking away or scrubbing them furiously.
Tobias' time interacting with Tilly wins her over. She is a joker and appreciates a good one, likes her rum too. She has several tattoos and wears a red bandana .
The ship has been moving through shallower waters near the coast here and in the afternoon the Captain calls for a pause. The ship anchors in the deeper part of a reef, safe. Mr. Plugg comes back on deck with 4 crab pots and drops them at his feet. He picks you out from the crew and calls you over . "Our Cap'n wants fresh crab for supper. And yer gonna get it for him." He points to a coral reef 200ft. away from the ship. "Swim over there and fill these before you come back. All of them. Off you go!"
The water is calm and visibility is high
Tobias smiled at the cruel taskmaster. "Ah. Impressed with my swimming in rough seas, I see, Mr. Scourge. Well, who am I to disappoint my fans."
The young sailor picks up his crab pot, and peers over the edge. Looking to his fellow divers, Tobias says reassuring, "Don't worry, mates. I'll make sure we all make it back." With a quick bow to Mr. Scourge, Tobias falls backward off The Wormwood and into the sea.
Jacques accepts his crab pot with a suspicious eye, certain that Mr. Plugg has some surprise waiting for them. He looks quickly left and right to see if the others are going to resist, and when Tobias gives in, he grimaces and makes his way to the side and dives in.
Jacques hits the water at an awkward angle, but he flips his body like a weapon and tries to right himself.
His smooth head emerges from the water and he follows Tobias with smooth, confident strokes.
Rosanne's mind isn't on her job and she prepares the days meals automatically.
When she get a moment she continues her efforts to get Crimson Cogward on her side. "They ever hold proper fights on this ship? Not like when Plugg pulls out his pet goon I mean."
Rosanne casts Mage armor on herself before she gets into the water. "Lets just hope the bastards don't think it's funny to sail away and leave us here." She mutters sarcastically.
Slipping into the clear waters with the crab pot in tow like it was her bath.
Torgal hits the water like a rock.
Tobias swim over to Torgal, clearly having problems, and tries to help the leaden caydenite.
Cnut follows you, diving into the water and swimming for the reef.
That water is cool and calm, a refreshing break from working on the ship if you don't mind wet clothes. As you get to the barrier reef you see fish, crabs and others swimming among the rocks and coral. The reef is between 5 and 30ft. below the water.
It wouldn't do well to keep the Captain and the ship waiting, you should fill those crab as quickly as you can.
Round 1
1 crab
Round 3
1 crab
Round 5
1 crab
Round 7
1 crab
Torgal’s drunken grace does not translate well to water, it seems.
”Tired o’ getting this nasty water in me mouth!”
Round 1
1/4
Round 3
1/4
Round 4
2/4
Round 6
3/4
Round 8
4/4
"You could hold your breath and walk along the bottom." Rosanne advises Torgal, not very seriously.
She finds it almost natural out here in the waters of the ocean, spotting the movement and slipping under to scoop up another tasty crab for the captains dinner.
"A Shame it's pointless spitting on these before Harrigan gets them." She mourns.
While you are all hunting for crabs some other creatures take issue with you being in their territory and swim out to attack you. Blood-red spines run the length of these frightening creature, which resembles a lobster in the front and an eel in the back.