”Aye, I’m... not happy... t’ see ya again... either!” Torgal grumbles as he scrapes out the bilges again - though this time without Tobias’s company. ”You’d think... they’d put ya... where yer skills lie... Best helmsman... Red Farrow e’er had... But do they care... ‘bout previous work history... Nah, it’s got... t’ be a means... t’ break... our spirits!”
After completing his tasks, Jacques takes the opportunity to sneak past an area of the ship he's never gotten a good look at before.
Her ordeals have left Rosanne too weak and the rum finishes the job, she finds a comfortable spot in the galley and sits there for the day, her head reeling in time with her guts.
Sandara again uses her magic from Besmara to restore Rosanne's strength, healing all remaining damage she took from the poison.
Kroop has taken a liking to Rosanne, thinking of her like an adopted daughter, he doesn't seem to care that she shirks at her job, he is just happy to have someone to chat to and drink with. He also would let her use or borrow anything in the galley that she wanted.
The only place on the ship that Jacques hasn't seen is the Captain's Quarters. He finds the doors to them locked however.
Perhaps the vermin keep coming aboard somehow. Every night you are anchored not too far from land. Perhaps that is the cause.
Torgal gets shouted at for his poor efforts but luckily he doesn't do a job so bad that deserves the lash. He is warned that he better try harder next time.
The ship's bell rings again. The regular nightly ritual begins, soup is dished out alongside rum rations and the Officers go into their quarters for their meal out of view of the crew. Fishguts or Grok never seem to have their meals with the other officers though.
Rosanne feels she's had enough for the day and after having a friendly conversation with the others, passing along the names of those she's made more friendly.
She does have one important question though, she asks Jacques, "Have you memorized a Silence spell?" Casting a look at a certain Dwarf as she asks.
After that she heads off to sleep.
Jacques smiles knowingly to Rosanne, appreciating the joke enough not to quibble about what spells are on the wizard spell list.
He proceeds to gamble again, risking another 10 silver.
Nightime Activity - Entertain
The dusk breeze coming off the ocean seemed to renew the young sailor. So Tobias begins the evening singing sea shanties and other songs to the crew.
Jacques bets on several of the crew who were playing the Hog Lob game, throwing a lead ingot covered in a greased piglet skin as far across the deck as they could. The one who throws it the furthest being the winner. He loses another 10 of his silver coins.
Tobias sings along with Rosie's fiddle but she is not having a very good night and switches to the background, allowing Tobias' voice to shine.
”An’ silence this beautiful voice!?” Torgal asks incredulously. ”Nay, lass - the good Hero hasn’t blessed me with enough power t’ do that.”
As if to prove his point, the ruddy dwarf hops up on the table next to Tobias and waves his tankard around enthusiastically while bellowing at the top of his lungs.
”OH, ME HERO’S THE FINEST CHAP,
HE SINGS A SONG AND TAKES A NAP.
AND WHEN HE’S DONE HE’LL SING SOME MORE!
SO RAISE A GLASS TO CAYDEN’S TAP!”
"By Besmara, never before have I wanted to cut off me own ears!" While they tolerate and enjoy Tobias' voice, the crew tries to shout down Torgal, "Shut yer yap Dwarf!"
"Next ship we attack, he can sing to them and they'll surrender just to get him to stop!" Laughs are had at Torgal's expense.
The ship's bell rings, waking the crew from blissful sleep and signaling another day aboard the Wormwood. When you get to them expecting jobs to be assigned, Scourge and Plugg instead direct you to the jolly boat. Standing by it awaiting you is Riaris Krine, the Wormwood's Master Gunner. Until now you haven't had the privilege of addressing her. Krine’s skin is darkened from countless days on deck under the sun, and her nose has the appearance of having been broken several times over. One of her legs has been replaced with a wooden peg leg, the result of a wayward catapult shot that took off her leg below the knee. She may be the most viletongued wench you have ever met, and her language makes Rosie Cusswell sound like a nun. Listen up you lilly-livered, fishgut for brains, rapscallions. The Captain wants me to make sure you know what yer doing when we catch the next treasure engorged merchant ship in these lanes."
"Welcome to Boarding School."
Her job today is to teach you how to board an enemy ship and not become a shark's next meal. With you are also Cnut, Sandara, Rosie, Cogward and Conchobar, all of the most recent 'additions' to the Wormwood's crew.
First she orders the jolly boat launched (which has several lengths of rope attached to grappling hooks inside it) and then, tossing a secured rope over the side, climbs down the rope to the jolly boat. Ordering Tobias, Conchobar and Torgal into the boat, she rows out to a distance of about 40ft. away from the Wormwood.
Once there she instructs them to throw the grappling hook, tie off the rope and climb across it to get back to the Wormwood. Adding a twist, she tells those of you still waiting your turn aboard the deck of the wormwood to throw things at the ones climbing along the rope from the pile of trash (a variety of rotting food, garbage, empty bottles, and buckets of bilgewater) nearby. "And put in effort to actually hit them. The enemy won't play nice for you when it's real." she says to discourage anyone purposefully missing their friends to make their climb easier.
Conchobar grabs hold of a grappling hook first. The over-the-top dressed gnome is undaunted. "How hard can it be? I'm so small that they'll surely miss me."
His first attempt falls short and Riaris Krine yells at him to pull it in and try again until he gets it. Conchobar sighs and does as instructed.
He gets it on his second try, the grappling hook is locked on to the railing of the Wormwood. "Yes!" He ties off his end of the rope to the jolly boat and waits to see how many tries it takes Tobias and Torgal.
”Haha! Like finding a good ale in my favorite port!”
The young sailor is able to lock the grappling hook to the railing on his first try with a resounded 'clang'. Looking to his other boarders, Tobias shrugs and comments, "Must be beginner's luck." Turning away, Tobias secretly looks to the sky and smirks.
"Now tie off yer rope and get to climbing!"
"Ah what the hell. The rope is too wet to climb!" He finally gets started climbing across the rope.
Shrugging Rosanne picks up something soft and rotten, taking aim at Conchobar. She has nothing personal against him but prefers not to hit those she feels closest to.
Pluggs' lickspittles will be throwing at Toby and Torgal she is sure.
A side arm shot with a ships biscuit crawling with weevils does the trick. Flying straight and true to break on his face.
Tobias's bravado left him. "Oh yes. The climbing. I almost forgot", the young sailor said to himself.
After a few rocky attempt, Tobias does scamper up the rope to the ship.
Jacques throws a piece of refuse at the three, picking his targets at random since he thinks himself unlikely to hit anyone. He tries to hit the rope around his targets, to simulate the danger without actually causing it.
"Hey, over here!" Torgal waves at the shipbound crew from atop the railing. "Quit pickin' on them 'n' send some love this way!"
Rosanne and Jacques throw at Conchobar, Sandara and Cnut throw at Tobias, Rosie and Cogward throw at Jacques.
Conchobar is hit and wobbles a bit but manages to stay on the rope and climb the rest of the way to the Wormwood.
Torgal is hit and wobbles a bit but manages to keep his grip on the rope steady and climb the rest of the way to the Wormwood.
Toby is hit and slips a little but keep his grip and climbs the rest of the way to the Wormwood.
"Good. It seems you maggots are passingly competent after all." She rows the boat in and calls the next three to join her in the boat with the grappling hooks returned.
"Show those pathetic hunks of meat what women can do." Rosie grins and grabs a grappling hook first. She lines up her aim and throws, missing the first throw and reeling in the hook. Her second throw connects.
Sandara grabs a grappling hook next and throws it to connect with the railing on the first throw.
After Rosanne gets her grappling hook to stick, Riaris tells them to tie off the ropes and climb.
"Feck! Feck! Feck!" Is Rosannes mantra as she at first just clings to the rope, then finally begins to scramble towards the Wormwood.
Nobody (not even Torgal) could tell you who he was actually aiming at as he throws a rotting orange into the ship’s railing where it splatters gloriously.
Three scraps are thrown Rosies way, one at Sandara and one at Rosanne, with Torgal failing to really aim at anyone. The women easily avoid the trash and continue climbing back to the Wormwood successfully.
Then Riaris Krin rows back in and orders the final 3, Cnut, Jacques and Torgal into the jolly boat with the 3 retrieved grappling hooks and rows back out.
Your turn ya worm-ridden corpses!"
Cnut finally gets the grappling hook to stick on his 4th try. "Blasted slippery now."
”Haha! See, easy as drinkin’ grog!”
”Hah! Almost there!”
”Almost there...”
”Almost...”
”...”
”Haha! Sometimes yer luck just takes a little time t’ arrive, eh?”
Jacques tosses the grappling hook and is pleased to see it attach on the first try.
He somehow makes climbing the rope look effortless.
Shrugging Rosanne decides to hurl a blackish egg at Cnut for no particular reason.
Cogward takes a few tries to get the grappling hook attached and tied off. Then he climbs with ease.
The climbers dodge all of the trash that is thrown at them and make their way to the Wormwood. Riaris rows back in and has you all put the jolly boat securely back in position. "You weren't amazing but you all get the idea and know what to do now. I'm surprised no one fell in."
She sends you back to Scourge and Plugg for the afternoon, they assign you some tasks for a few hours but you aren't working nearly as hard as usual thanks to spending a good part of the day with Riaris Krine. Soon enough the bell rings and work stops, bringing on the souop and rum rations that you're all familiar with.
Nighttime Activity - Entertain
Tobias sang once again for the crew, but the young sailor may be coming down with a cold.
...or perhaps it’s the fact that Torgal is singing over the top of Tobias.
Rosanne will take an early night, even recovered from her poisoning she still feels a need to just lay back and rest.
Besides from the sounds of it the singing tonight is an attack all on its on.
Jacques gambles with 10 silver again. It's been a while since he had a big win, and he's starting to get a bit surly about it.
Tobias' singing is not his usual standard and some of the crew make jokes. When Torgal joins in they quickly protest and beg for Tobias. They prefer his worst to anything Torgal can sing.
Jacques gambles on some arm wrestling. The champion Maheem is undefeated since Cnut defeated him many days ago. Backing the champion, Jacques wins back some of the coin he had lost.
The ship's bell ring, waking you all and the familiar rush on deck ensues.
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 all day.
Man the Bilges: DC 12 Strength check and a DC 10 Constitution check to avoid being fatigued.
Toby is given the vile and sweaty work of cleaning out the bilges.
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 all day.
Bull Session: Must drink an additional rum ration, but can take an additional ship action during the day.
Kroop is in another mood for drink and talk, forgetting to give you anything to do.
Rosanne decides to explore the ship a little more, blinking as she realizes she's as obvious as Scourges bootlicking and blushes a little as she returns to the galley.
"Can't be easy working with that lot?" She stops to chat a little with Shivikah, hoping to remove a some of Scourge's support. But fails to be anything more than harmless.
Jacques completes his task while attempting to explore the ship some more. He checks to see if the captain's quarters is open under the pretense of fixing the door.
"Now this is something worth doing!" Torgal sits with a length of sail on his lap, an oversized needle in one hand, and his trusty tankard in the other. "In 'n' out 'n' take a sip, in 'n' out 'n' 'nother sip..."
When he's done, the dwarf bundles up the canvas and looks for a friendly face. "Hey, Conchobhar! Got yer sail ready - and some drink t' share if'n yer wantin' some proper ale." He holds out the tankard in the other hand and swishes the liquid in it around temptingly.
Swab - Manning the Bliges
"How fortunate that Mr, Scourge always gives me the 'cushy' jobs", Tobias sighed to himself.
Jacques finds the doors to the Captain's Quarters locked again. Whenever the Captain is on deck or in his quarters he always keeps it locked. Do you dare try other means of entry? You've also heard rumours on the ship that the Captain traps the doors in some way too.
"Get ya filthy dwarven piss away from me!" The gnome shrieks with an over-dramatic flourish of his cloak. He is dressed just like a pirate from stories told to children. You're pretty sure his eye patch is fake too. Conchobhar Shortstone is a handsome, honey-tongued gnome who wears a foppish purple hat, an eye patch, and a white silk shirt, and carries a dandyish cane. His appearance is that of someone pretending to be a pirate, rather than a true buccaneer.
Rosanne is easily spotted and told to mind her business and get back to the Galley where she belongs. Shivikah, the Mwangi ex-slaver, doesn't care for talk with Rosanne. "Ain't none o' your business love."
Tobias is fatigued at the end of the day, in addition to smelling like rotten bilge water. Scourge yells at him for a job terribly done. "A monkey could have done better than you! Worthless landlubber." He marks you down for 3 lashes.
Eventually the sun goes down and the bell rings to signal the day's work over. "Gather round for the bloody hour!" Master Scourge shouts gleefully. Tobias is hauled by Plugg and one of their toadies and lashed to the main mast. "3 lashes for lying around and not getting any work done. If anyone thinks we can't see you in the bilges, we can. There is no where to hide." He takes his time getting his whip ready, taunting Tobias with the coming punishment. Eventually he gives 1, then 2, then 3 lashes to the new pirate.
The final lash puts him on the brink of passing out from the pain but he holds on and does not fall when they untie him.
After the punishment has been given and Scourge gives a warning to the rest of the crew about working hard, the officer's leave and the crew is free to eat, drink and so on.
Rosanne will put his arm over her shoulders and support Toby, getting him over to Sandara as soon as possible. "I think we're reaching the end of those we can turn to our side." She whispers quietly.
”Here lad - it’ll help with the pain.” Torgal passes Tobias his tankard. The vapors coming off it suggest a very strong liquor of some indeterminate type.
”Now what’s this about turning’ people ‘n’ ‘our side’?” The dwarf’s eyes narrow as he watches Rosanne carefully.
Thinking that Torgals' gift of healing marked him as somewhat trustable Rosanne Leant closer, "It can't have escaped your notice that more'n a few of us didn't join this ship willingly? And that Plugg and his bootlicker Scourge have their own pets among the crew?"
She glances around carefully, "This ain't a happy ship! Sooner or later blood's going to be spilled. The more of the crew that are with us when it does the better. So a few friendly words here'n there. Make a few friends to watch you back. Get what I'm saying?"
"Truly blessed by the Lucky Drunk." Sandara says regarding Torgal when he heals Toby. "You are too right Rosanne. How long will the Captain's severe treatment for killing any of the crew keep them from acting. I know Rosie and Cogward would join us if it came to it. Samms, Jack, Giffer and Badger too. Perhaps Tilly and 1 or 2 more might be swayed with well-placed words but the rest are set against us. And the officers would never support us, they enjoy their privilege here. Except perhaps Grok. She and Fishguts are excluded from the meetings with the officers and captain." She says, quietly. "We are still quite outnumbered right now though," she adds sadly.
"Perhaps a-- how do we say-- an accident might befall one or more of those who oppose us," Jacques says ominously. "No one would lose sleep if Fipps or Jape happened to fall overboard, no?" He casually cracks his knuckles.
"I think we're reaching the end of those we can turn to our side." She whispers quietly.
Toby perked up when Cayden's healing energies were applied, giving the young sailor an ale aftertaste. "..Or it could be that some among you are truly terrible at making friends."
Tobias drinks his grog and starts eating his turtle soup. "Listen, it seems my ability to entertain the crew is keeping a foothold on endearing ourselves to the crew. So as much as I would love the sleep, I'll lead us all again in some song. Maybe with a kiss on the cheek of a pretty girl, I could sing so beautifully Sherlyn herself would weep?" Tobias looks to either Rosanne or Sandara.Nighttime Activity - Entertain
"..Or it could be that some among you are truly terrible at making friends."
”It ain’t my fault the gnome has terrible taste!” Torgal protests. ”You’d think he’d want somethin’ better ‘n’ that swill they call rum. Or at least somethin’ diff’rent,” he concedes.
”But now why didn’t ya say yer planning t’ mutiny?” he continues with a wide grin. ”Don’t ya dare try t’ keep me outta it, ya hear.”
Rosanne just gives Toby a deadpan look. If he thought he was good at making friends she wasn't going to deflate his dream.
Turning back to Torgal she sighed, "For a start don't go yelling mutiny at the top of your tuneless lungs."
With a more serious look on her face she adds,"You think Harrigan or Plugg don't know they're not the most popular aboard this ship? They'll be watching for any knives lining up on their backs! So we need to be quiet little mice until it's the right time for them to get their well deserved fate!"
"Live bait for sharks is my favorite right now." She mutters in closing.
Toby performs quite averagely garnering less interest from the crew than he would like.