With a groan Brunhild got up, wondering how much she had drunk the night before. It was all a blur. There had been a man. Who was it? He had been talking to her about getting on a ship. Good pay, good treatment, the need for a shipwright. It had all sounded so good, and he had provided free rum. And ale. And grog. And...she knew then how she had ended up there. Looking around she saw that she was not alone. Which was oddly comforting.
Ellie forces herself to sit up. Pressganged? Her head throbs painfully. How had she gotten here? She remembers an alleyway, a man calling for help. She had rushed to him, and as she got closer, he had smiled. Then a blow to the back of her head, and... blackness.
She looks down. They took my clothes? Did... did anyone...? With trained hands she touches herself lightly all over. No other bruises or signs of trauma, besides the soreness of sleeping on wooden planks and her pounding headache. Thank Cayden for small favors. She pushes herself to her feet. "Where am I?"
Lily stood up shakily at first but managed to get her feet under her. The back of her head was throbbing, she was struck from behind. She was tall, almost six and a half feet. Her curly blond hair got in her eyes, they had even robbed her of her hair tie. Her dark red eyes smoldered rage but she did her best to restrain herself. Lily would almost pass for human if it wasn't for the grey pallor to her skin and the large lower canines protruding from her mouth.
She smelled brimstone, she was where she needed to be for now. But if she found out who had knocked her out, she swore to Asmodeus they would die by her hand. "We're on a ship. Lemme guess out ta sea already?"
Kasyoslu looked at whoever woke her so rudely and was about to give them a stern speaking to when her brain suddenly caught up. The taste in her mouth bothered her.
Oil of taggit, they'd drugged her. And her clothes gone, this was not a good start. The guy seemed to mean business though, so she slowly got up and walked towards him. She looked over to the tall woman, whose features were hidden by shadow. "Judging from the swaying we seem to be out in deep water already"
Wwwuuummmmmm.....
....
Wwwuuummmmmm.....
....
Wwwuuummmmmm.....
....
With every heartbeat there was pain. Throbbing pain in the darkness.
Uhhhhhhh my head. Why is my bed so hard. Everything hurts.
There were barely thoughts in the sleepy darkness and Ming wasn't really conscious, just on the brink between sleep and waking up. They grey middle world closer to the dreamworld than reality....
....when suddenly noise and light exploded in an unbearable fashion right next to her.
Shocked she jumped up, regretting the sudden movement and opening her eyes immediately.
Wggrrwwhaatt?!?
Shielding her eyes with her hands, she took in the room.
How..?Who are you? Why are you in my room?
Surpise on her face.
Wait. This isn't my room.
The surprise turned to disbelief.
These lousy clothes aren't even mine! Where's my stuff? Who dared touch me? Where am i even?
As Ellie makes to leave, her foot bumps something hard. She looks down, and a wave of relief sweeps over her. My medicine kit! She tries not to let her reaction show, lest someone discover her precious possession, and wonders how in the world her captors hadn't noticed it. Then she realizes the much more obvious explanation. Idiot, she scolds herself. Medics are better than gold at sea, that's what father said. Doubtless they left it for me on purpose. Still, there's no knowing who else might want it for themselves. As casually as she can, she slides the small box into a corner.
As she heads above deck, she notices a few other people who seem as bewildered as she. "First day, too, huh?" she mutters under her breath to a catfolk woman nearby.
Liz groans at the throbbing in her head as her eyes open slowly. Last thing she knew was slipping into the alley at the tavern because.
Her eyes shot open. I couldn't take it any more! Oatmeal and ale! They wanted the special Oat Ale from the brewery! Nooooooo!
She just couldn't take it any more and slipped into the storeroom where the booze was and rigged all of her fire bombs together. She swore that she would burn the place down and she was going to do it! She set a fuse to allow her enough time to flee and stuffed her bag before heading out the back door. She had a memory of several people out there and then they turned to her.
Dang blastit! Shanghaied! Well, at least I made sure that inn would never serve oatmeal and ale ever again!
Kasyoslu smiles thinly as the elf speaks. She whispers in Elven, feeling quite confident the little whipcracking man wouldn't understand.
She then follows the girl up to the main deck, keeping an eye on the sailors in case they feel like taking advantage.
Ellie makes sure to stand beside the catfolk, who is so far the closest thing she has to a friend on this ship. "გაუმართლა, რომ ჩვენ 'ნებაყოფლობით' გადავდით ასეთ მისასალმებელ ადგილზე," she says quietly. She makes a mental note to speak to the other new abductees as well, once opportunity allows.
Brunhild breathed a sigh of relief. When she had woken up in nothing but her undergarments with other women on a pirate ship, she had feared the worst. But it seemed that they were indeed taken as crew. Which made sense, as they had taken her after learning about the skills she brought. And she could get by as part of the crew. Looking at Mister Plugg though told her that even though the worst hadn’t happened, the situation was still not good.
Slowly realizing what must have happened Ming bit her lips. She looked around. Apparently all or most others were women as well.
Pah prying on women....
She noticed the cat woman and a half-elf speaking in a language she didn't understand and exchanging smiles.
Interesting. The cat is a lot more obvious than i am. Do they know each other?
Finding herself standing next to a bigger woman she recognized.
Hey! I know you! You're from the tavern! The cook? How did you get here?
Then they all were on deck and the two male figures came into view, the one calling himself captain starting his speech.
Ming's jaw dropped during the speech and she must have looked pretty stupid, but she just couldn't believe it. Pirates!
Hot damn, my ass!
Her hart misgave her when she saw the cat-o’-nine-tails. She had met one before and the memories weren't pleasant.
Maybe i should stand behind that dwarf and the half-orc. They look sturdy. Need to make some friends, urgently! I know keelhauling, but what is a sweatbox? If worst comes to worst, i'll byte his throat out!
Ever so slowly she fell back towards the half-orc and the dwarf, giving the tavern maid an insecure nod and smiling as friendly as she could muster.
Li eyes Ming warily. Bashed me on the head when I went outside. Eh..I was leaving town anyway.
Liz eyes the whips and wishes she had her bombs. Never ending torment for me.
Kasyoslu looked on as the Captain spoke. [Spoiler=Elven]"Cheerful fellow. Must be a right hoot at parties"
She turned to the other newcomers and spoke common just loud enough for them to hear. "Don't panic. Just play along and we should be fine. We'll get a chance to get out eventually"
Pretty sure i drank something wrong. Or someone spiked one of my drinks. Don't really know how many i had though. Or any memory of that...
Ming whispers back and seems a bit thoughtful about having a blackout.
Then she answers that catwoman.
Not that we have a choice...i don't want to taste that whip nor that sweatbox.
Lily doesn't speak and stands at attention as Mister Plugg inspects the new crew. She quietly wonders about his name and who stole her archstar.
She began sizing up the other crew, to see who could possibly be her allies and her enemies. The captain and his officers, they didn't care for the rank and file. No offer of articles meant no pay and that they meant to keep discipline with fear and pain. The crew would be at each other's throats if they could hold on to that power they deserved it, but it was dangerous.
Lily looked at Brunhild. She wondered if dwarves could swim or if they sank like stones. The elf on the other hand looked strong for her kind, she made a mental note to ask if she knew how to fight later. Lily had never seen a catfolk before and pitied her, she had never known a cat to like water. Still she marveled at her coat and felt the desire to pet the woman. The fat woman, at least she probably knew how to cook, a true treasure on a boat. She considered Ming and spied the mark of Besmara, she didn't know what to think about her.
Liz mutters to Ming. Name's Liz. Worked as a cook. If i had my kit, I might be able to brew something to help us get out of here.
You wake up with a pounding headache and the sickly taste of cheap wine in your mouth. You’re on the hard floor. There’s a rhythmic creaking noise, and the feeling of the room swaying, as if you were still drunk. The memories of the night before slowly wade back into your mind - the ringing laughter of a wild night, the heady joy of excess, the scents of rich stewed meat and perfume lingering in your nostrils.
However, before you have time to do much other than sit up, several pairs of heavy footsteps enter the dark room, and the harsh light of a lantern painfully spears into your eyes.
Squinting up, you see a sneering man with a braided beard and a mouth full of gold teeth. His body is tall and thin, and even his long coat and heavy boots fail to give any impression of strength or bulk. He’s flanked by six rough-looking pirates, armed with saps.
An expression that might be mistaken for pain but which is clearly an attempt at a smile bruises the man’s face as he cracks the whip in his hand and screams “Still abed with the sun over the yardarm? On your feet, ye filthy swabs! Get up on deck and report for duty before Cap’n Harrigan flays your flesh into sausage skins and has Fishguts fry ye up for breakfast!”
You quickly discover that most, if not all, of your weapons and equipment are gone!
The man cracks his whip again, this time it lands inches from someone’s pinky finger. Two of the six rough-looking pirates flex their arms, eagerly gripping their saps for a chance to discipline filthy uncooperative swabs.
With a groan Brunhild got up, wondering how much she had drunk the night before. It was all a blur. There had been a man. Who was it? He had been talking to her about getting on a ship. Good pay, good treatment, the need for a shipwright. It had all sounded so good, and he had provided free rum. And ale. And grog. And...she knew then how she had ended up there. Looking around she saw that she was not alone. Which was oddly comforting.
Ellie forces herself to sit up. Pressganged? Her head throbs painfully. How had she gotten here? She remembers an alleyway, a man calling for help. She had rushed to him, and as she got closer, he had smiled. Then a blow to the back of her head, and... blackness.
She touches the back of her head lightly, but aside from a painful bump it feels normal. No lasting damage there, it seems. She rolls over and pushes herself to her feet. "Where am I?"
Lily stood up shakily at first but managed to get her feet under her. The back of her head was throbbing, she was struck from behind. She was tall, almost six and a half feet. Her curly blond hair got in her eyes, they had even robbed her of her hair tie. Her dark red eyes smoldered rage but she did her best to restrain herself. Lily would almost pass for human if it wasn't for the grey pallor to her skin and the large lower canines protruding from her mouth.
She smelled brimstone, she was where she needed to be for now. But if she found out who had knocked her out, she swore to Asmodeus they would die by her hand.
She started to head for the deck. Injecting a bit of venom into her tone Lily says, "Aye, aye, Sir!"
The sickening rolling of the floor? continually made any sense of stability blow away, as the desert winds of Home treated the sands.
The rotten smell of dead fish, wet rope, and unwashed bodies burnt his nostrils. The throbbing pain produced by the tenderness of his head made the young Wizard realize that he step in some donkey feces.
Abel of Rahadoum slowly opens his blue eyes. The blackness was his captive; although there seems to be a bit of light peeking from under a door he views, as he raises his head a bit.
The dark haired, black bearded Rahadoumi (wearing a sand-colored explorer's outfit) begins to notice that others join him in the darkness.
Suddenly, the light from the under-door violently blasts itself entirely into the stifling jail.
Abel's blue eyes widen a bit at the menacing presence of these obvious Pirates! Before the confused, flabbergasted, frightened youth can even poop his pants; Gold-Teeth actually grants a boon.
Abel quickly darts his eyes around the now illuminated room. He sees a dwarf, a half-elf, a 1/2 orc plus a couple more forms still covered in darkness.
Hearing the rather large 1/2 orc agreeing to the orders of Gold-Teeth, Abel also decides to follow suit.
Can't find out the answer without being alive to hear the questions!
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Liz groans at the throbbing in her head as her eyes open slowly. Last thing she knew was slipping into the alley at the tavern because.
Her eyes shot open. I couldn't take it any more! Oatmeal and ale! They wanted the special Oat Ale from the brewery! Nooooooo!
She just couldn't take it any more and slipped into the storeroom where the booze was and rigged all of her fire bombs together. She swore that she would burn the place down and she was going to do it! She set a fuse to allow her enough time to flee and stuffed her bag before heading out the back door. She had a memory of several people out there and then they turned to her.
Dang blastit! Shanghaied! Well, at least I made sure that inn would never serve oatmeal and ale ever again!
"Ye be on the Wormwood," the leader answers, shoving Ellie towards the ladder.
The man and his six pirate cronies herd you through what appears to be a ship and up the stairs to the main deck. As you’re being led, you begin to adjust to your surroundings and may be deducing what happened to you. You remember indulging in either spicy food or spicy rum late last night.
Abel can't recall anything about the Wormwood or who its captain might be.
As you reach the main deck, either of their own volition or under duress, it’s quickly apparent that you are on a sizable ship in the middle of the ocean, far from any land. Port Peril and the mainland of the Shackles are just an ochre haze many miles astern.
Figures cluster around the ship’s mainmast, looking up at the higher deck on the stern, where two figures stand. One of them is a broad, muscular Garundi man with a shaven head, a long beard bound with gold rings, and an eye patch - clearly the captain. The other is a younger, balding man with a long black ponytail, wearing a long coat and carrying a well-used cat-o’-nine-tails.
To your side, you all notice you're not the only new recruits — four others are standing with them on the deck, set apart by their relative cleanliness and their apparent unease with their newfound situation. A dozen or so other pirates, clearly existing members of the crew, stand about on the deck or in the ship’s rigging. The four other new recuits are a human female cleric of Besmara, a halfling female with a handaxe, a handsome gnome with a fopplish purple hat, and a human male wearing a blue Varisian scarf tied tight around his shaven head.
There are a few murmurs on deck, but everyone seems to be waiting for the captain to speak.
Oil of Taggert. Seems they doses me after bonking my noggin
Brunhild held her peace. But the taste of nutmeg and the hazy recollection of the night prior told her all she needed to know. She had been drugged and press ganged. While she had wanted to go out to sea, the fact that it had taken such a form told her that the ‘recruiters’ were not confident that someone would come willingly. It was a bad sign. But at least they had taken her to be part of the crew. She reasoned that it could have gone much worse...
Ellie walks above deck with the others. The Wormwood? The oily aftertaste of nutmeg on her tongue fills in the gap, at least. A blow to the head would have gained her a few minutes of unconsciousness, nothing more. To take all her possessions and bring her from the dockside tavern onto a ship, then set sail, they would need to poison her. Which, clearly, they did.
This man, he was the one feigning that he needed help. Was he the poisoner? If so, Ellie needs to be extremely careful.
With everyone on deck, the captain addresses the crew “Glad you could join us at last! Welcome to the Wormwood! My thanks for ‘volunteering’ to join my crew. I’m Barnabas Harrigan. That’s Captain Barnabas Harrigan to you, not that you’ll ever need to address me. I have only one rule - don’t speak to me. I like talk, but I don’t like your talk. Follow that rule and we’ll all get along fine.
“Oh, and one more thing. Even with you new recruits, we’re still short-handed, and I aim to keep what crew I have. There’ll be a keelhaulin’ for anyone caught killin’ anyone. Mr. Plugg! If you’d be so kind as to make pirates out of these landlubbers, it’ll save me having to put them in the sweatbox for a year and a day before I make pies out of ’em.”
At the end of his speech, the captain walks away, leaving behind the man with the cat-o’-nine-tails. This must be Mister Plugg, the Wormwood’s first mate. He looks down at you and other impressed captives and smiles unpleasantly.
“Alright you lily-livered landlubbers, climb to the crow’s nest on the mainmast above the main deck as fast as you can. Do it quick or I’ll let you take a swim in the briney deep. Saavy?” He touches his well-used cat-o’-nine-tails and continues to smile unpleasantly as if daring someone to hesitate or refuse him.
Looking up, you can see that the crow’s nest is about 60 feet above deck. It will take four successful climb checks to make it to the top.
With a gulp Brunhild looked up. Climb? She had never climbed anything in her life. She was a shripwright! Climbing ropes was for...pirates. With a shake of her head she started, but quickly found that the dwarven form was better suited for being on the ground.
With a grim expression the stout Dwarven lass continued to try! Using brute strength she pulled herself up, lacking anything even resembling grace. It was clear that she was completely untrained.
Abel absently places a hand over his light sensitive eyes as they are lead above deck.
Discerning the aftertaste of oily nutmeg on the tongue, Abel recognizes is a clear sign of oil of taggit poisoning.
Better steer clear of that one! Not really interested in a repeat performance!
The Wizard groans a bit when the Captain pronounces their fate. He watches warily the way the others react to the news. Most seemed indifferent, resigned, even one or two excited.
I suppose that this is one avenue to exploration of ancient Cyclopes civilizations.
Abel really sighs once the First Mate orders the new crew to climb up a pole to a height of 60'!
Crap!
Abel takes a good long look at the construction of the Mast. He studies the angles, any easy foot and handholds, any ropes that could be used (or repositioned) for an easy climb up.
He absently asks the person next to him for a pen and paper...
Square root of 71 by 120 should equal...hey anybody got a pen and paper? I need to figure this out.
Lily's senses and mind are clouded by her anger at the officers. She holds it though knowing full well that it would mean death. When she's asked by Abel for a piece of paper she cocks her head and sees him looking up at the crow's nest. She grins at the man, "Don't got papers. Ye want me ta give ye a toss?"
Lily was used to climbing ship rigging. It was one of the few places where she felt calm with the salty sea air caressing her face. She almost paused halfway through to take in the beautiful blue of the Shackles.
"Okay... I can do this..." Ellie rubs her hands together and grabs a rope.
After a bit of a rough start, she makes it to the top fairly quickly. She isn't the first, but she's relieved to at least avoid making a fool of herself. That one trying to make figures instead of a climb, he's not going to last long.
Abel takes a good long look at the construction of the Mast. He studies the angles, any easy foot and handholds, any ropes that could be used (or repositioned) for an easy climb up.
[dice=Knowledge Engineering]1d20+8He absently asks the person next to him for a pen and paper...
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+6"Square root of 71 by 120 should equal...hey anybody got a pen and paper? I need to figure this out."
Instead of following orders, Abel is insubordinate and dallies to do math. He even has the audacity to ask for parchment and an ink pen in front of the officer. Mister Plugg's face twists into an ugly smile. "I see we got shark bait. Grab 'im boys." Two of the burly pirates who herded you to deck attempt to grab Abel under the armpits. Mister Plugg cracks his well-used cat-o’-nine-tails, watching as the two restrain the armorless and weaponless Abel.
Liz moaned as she saw the ropes. Climb? Oh gods, I only climbed a footstool to get books. She looks annoyed as the man asks for paper.If'en he wants to distract that Plugg, then I have a better chance.. SHe heaves herself over to try climbing.
Urf..Urf..Grnt..Ugh
Abel just sighs; bracing for what comes next....
Question #1 answer is incoming!
Having woken up disoriented and with a terrible headache, Ming realized quickly what must have happened...
She trotted along to the deck and listened with horror at the speech given, but complied, seeing no other way.
Brunhild is the first to grab the ropes, but struggles to find an initial foothold. Lily and Ellie follow suit, but they have a bit more trouble. Liz, however, struggles the most, panting and sweating during her entire attempt. Mister Plugg laughs at Liz's struggle. Finally, Madame Ming grabs hold of the ropes, passing the other four to the top. However, what normally amounts to Mister Plugg's entertainment, is interrupted by Abel.
Abel doesn't resist as two burly pirates (a male half-orc and a big Rahadoumi with a permanent scowl) restrain him on either side, facing him towards the mainmast. The only extent to their kindness is to remove Abel's jacket. Mister Plugg approaches to tear off Abel's shirt from behind. The ruined fabric falls limply forward, exposing Abel's back and shoulders. "Two lashes I think," Mister Plugg sneers. He lifts his well-used weapon and brings it down hard on Abel's back. Just from one lash, the knotted throngs leave angry red welts on Abel's skin.
Mister Plugg and Abel have a small audience. The four other new recruits (a human female cleric of Besmara, a halfling female with a handaxe, a handsome gnome with a fopplish purple hat, and a human male wearing a blue Varisian scarf tied tight around his shaven head) all stare and watch with the rest of the party, helpless to do anything. There are also several other onlookers on deck - a young lad looks up from scrubbing the deck and a human female on the rigs stops her work to watch. You recognize a human male leaning on the railing as one of the pirates who herded you to deck, watching calmly.
Mister Plugg raises his weapon and strikes down on Abel's back again. You hear a muffled sob, then the cleric of Besmara steps forward. "Please, Mister Plugg, hasn't-"
Mister Plugg backhands her, sending the woman sprawling to the deck. "Avast you wench. Or this is the punishment you'll all be receiving." The two pirates holding Abel laugh. The woman holds her red cheek and glares up at the tyrant. The pirate leaning on the railing smirks. Mister Plugg turns back to Abel and strikes him again.
Then, just when the majority of onlookers think the punishment is over, Mister Plugg leans in close to Abel's ear. "And I'll be giving you an extra one for your girlfriend, shark bait." He brings down the cat-o’-nine-tails a third time.
The two burly pirates release their grip on Abel. The show is over. Mister Plugg looks at Madame Ming. "Congratulations. You work for me now." Mister Plugg smiles cruelly.
Everyone regroups on the deck and Mister Plugg has you line up. “Any of you cook?” Mister Plugg eyes Liz, the fattest of the group, as if he's already made up his mind. "You’re a cook’s mate now. Go report to Ambrose Kroop in the galley.”
"The rest of you are swabs. Go report to Master Scourge. You too, shark bait." You grimly realize injury doesn't excuse anyone from their job. The party can assume Master Scourge is the first pirate you all encountered upon waking up.
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Abel calmly takes the manhandling in stride. The Wizard actually figured that his dalliance's may provoke some negative response. He just needed the answer to that particular question; although he regrets the experiment after the initial lash strikes his bare back; tearing fresh red bleeding angry configurations across it!
This is definitely not Class anymore!
The blessed short respite between the first and the second lash seemed like that moment of religion some folk--not from Rahadoum--must feel during some ceremonies.
Abel gasped quite audibly at the brutal second performance from Mister Plugg. Tears fell uncaringly down his sun bronzed cheeks.
I may need to reevaluate my approach...
The third lash was not even calculated because the wizard almost passed out from the searing pain; transmuting his senses to a numbness that any Medusa would be jealous of.
The blurry vision of the Wizard does allow some respite from the faces of the onlookers at the least. He slumps heavily down to the deck, as the pirates release him. The Sun showing everybody aboard the reflections of Hell's Mural painted across the young Rahadoumi's bare back.
Abel grits his teeth. He places a shaky hand on the MAst to help him regain his feet. The Wizard looks at Mister Plugg in the eyes, before submitting to the order.
Aye, sir!
From high up above Brunhild watched the poor lad get flogged. She kept her mouth shut and her eyes open, watching as the nine tails lashed out. At least the boy was smart enough to fall in line. He had that going for him. She carefully climbed down being in no rush to be injured to killed by something as careless as a fall. The fact that every step was a stretch didn't make it any easier. Once her feet were back where they belonged, she made her way to 'Master Scourge', an ill-sounding name if there ever was one. She spared one last glance back at Abel and decided that there was nothing she could do for him, she continued on her way.
From the top of the rigging, fear wells up inside Ellie as she watches the horrifying spectacle. He's going to beat that man to death. Blessedly, the fellow new recruit survives the lashes, though it's clear he's barely clinging to consciousness. And they still expect him to work?
As she climbs down, she feels a hard object dig painfully into her hip. Her hand goes instinctively toward it, and she feels a dagger hidden in her waistline. In the shock of her new circumstances, she'd forgotten to check for any belongings that might have been left to her. The presence of the weapon instantly dispels much of her fear, because it tells her two things: that the pirates who took her are not all-capable, and that if worse comes to worst, she has at least some small means of defending herself.
"Don't worry," she says under her breath to the beaten man when she joins the person she assumes is Master Scourge. "I'm a healer, I can help you when we get a chance."
Liz mops her face as she sweats from the exertion and winces as the foolish man is whipped. Right sadistic bastich that Plugg is. When she is ordered to work as a cook, she gives a clumsy salute. Aye, Aye. and then staggers down to where the kitchen is.
Watching the flogging and the show, Ming does not feel comfortable.
She's just glad it's not her hide.
When Mr. Plugg concratulates her and states she would be working for him she replies with a fake smile:
My pleasure, i guess.
And a bit more silent Whatever that means around here...
His grin gives her shivers though.
Can't wait to byte your face off!
At this point of the day, the party splits up to complete their various jobs. Liz heads downstairs to the Galley. Brunhild, Ellie, and Abel report to Master Scourge. Ming and Lily stay with Mister Plugg awaiting instructions.
☸☸☸
Liz makes her way to the Galley and initially finds Ambrose Kroop in a sorry state. His eyes are bloodshot and he reeks of rum. His chef’s apron is stained with a mixture of blood and vomit, some dry, some still wet.
A female half-orc appears from the doorway of the quartermaster’s store . She’s wearing dark clothes, the sides of her head are shaved, and she has a huge scar across her neck. She grins toothily at you, “ayy matey, ye look like ye a bin swimmin in the sewers. Ye the new galley slave?” She doesn’t seem to concerned about Fishguts’ condition.
“Fishguts, me heartie, ye new assistant is here,” the half-orc prods the cook. “Ye can call me Cut-Throat Grok,” she raises her head and motions to the huge scar across her neck. “I’m the ship’s quartermaster and this ‘ere’s Fishguts, the ship’s cook.”
All the talking causes Fishguts to stir. He wipes the back of his mouth with a filthy hand and staggers to his feet. “Ahoy.” Fishguts begins moving around the galley, prepping the meals.
You quickly learn Ambrose Kroop is the ship’s cook, nicknamed “Fishguts” by the crew, though whether this refers to the contents of his soups or the stains on his apron is unclear. His job is to bring the ship’s biscuit on deck at dawn for the crew, and prepare and serve the evening meal. Kroop is a drunkard, but not constantly inebriated.
Like his friend Cut-Throat Grok, you get the feeling Kroop is from the school of hard knocks, but where Grok has become tough, Kroop has capitulated in the face of endless discipline and violence.
“Oh. Need you to go turtle hunting. Fishin’ equipment should be on the top deck.” You imagine days working alongside Fishguts might be pleasant. At least, more pleasant than working under Mister Plugg or Master Scourge.
☸☸☸
Master Scourge immediately gets Brunhild, Ellie, and Abel working once they report to him. “Ye be doin’ repairs. She needs love in her sails.” Master Scourge walks the three to a messy pile of tangled ropes. It seems like the three of you will be splicing rope. Some of the rope is still good, so it will need to be untwisted and then interwoven with equally strong stands. Master Scourge will pickup a rope and form an eye. He only does it once but he calls over another pirate. “Tilly, ye be on repairs today. Show these landlubbers the hempen halter.” A tough looking woman joins you around the pile of ropes. “Aye aye.”
☸☸☸
Mister Plugg has a cruel smile on his face when he explains Lily and Ming will be hauling and knotting rope. The coils of rope and heave and have to be carried from one part of the ship to another.
A handsome, honey-tongued gnome wearing a foppish purple hat, an eye patch, and a white silk shirt is on the rigging with you. He has a dandyish cane on his belt loop. His appearance is that of someone pretending to be a pirate, rather than a true buccaneer.
He curls his mustache between his thumb and forefinger while looking down at a halfling woman scrubbing the deck. He looks over to you when you two approach. “Hello, doves. I suppose you were assigned to the rigging too?” The gnome introduces himself as Conchobhar Turlach Shortstone.
Lily raises an eyebrow at Conchobhar, "S'pose so. Ain't doves s'posed to mean peace or something? Not really my kind of bird, but thanks. That's a nice shirt you got there and I like the color of that hat." Lily starts to knot the ropes with her new crew mates easily keeping pace with the work. Lily looks over to Ming, "Where you from?"
She offers to the pair when she thinks no one is listening, "I'm not so good at seeing people that got it out for me. If you two can do that seeing fer me I'll be sure to knock their heads."
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Liz eyes the kitchen and the 'cook' with disgust. How is this a proper kitchen or lab? Ugh! Look at his shirt and rum! I better clean this place up!.
Liz nods to Grok. Name is Liz, I guess I'll be maken biscuits? Far better than oatmeal, or at least a change. Liz lumbers up to deck and realizes that catching turtle's is something she hasn't done. Oh my aching back. Liz tries to make an effort of it.
Well it looks like a turtle. Kinda skinny. She tries showing it to Kroop.
Dis look ok?
Foredeck
Master Scourge immediately gets Brunhild, Ellie, and Abel working once they report to him. “Ye be doin’ repairs. She needs love in her sails.” Master Scourge walks the three to a messy pile of tangled ropes. It seems like the three of you will be splicing rope. Some of the rope is still good, so it will need to be untwisted and then interwoven with equally strong stands. Master Scourge will pickup a rope and form an eye. He only does it once but he calls over another pirate. “Tilly, ye be on repairs today. Show these landlubbers the hempen halter.” A tough looking woman joins you around the pile of ropes. “Aye aye.”
A DC 10 Profession Sailor or Dexterity check is needed to successfully complete your job for the day.
For a moment Brunhild's hopes were raised when she heard that she was to be working on repairs. This was quickly dashed when the repairs were splicing work. That was child's work. The type of work that she had been doing before her father trusted her to work with a hammer. Still, at least it wasn't going to be hard.
The dwarf went about the work, not so much diligently, but efficiently. With practiced hands the rope she spliced the rope, easily untwisting and interweaving the strands. As she walked, she talked to Tilly, under the assumption that some talk was allowed so long as the work got done.
"So, yer a Besmarian, aye?" She asked, and followed up with some pretty general questions. How did she join the crew, how much action had she seen, and were jobs always rotated or could a permanent duty be earned? But for the most part she just wanted to listen, to learn as much about her new home as she could.
Splicing ropes. I can do that. I've done it a hundred times. Ellie sets to work with practiced fingers.
Ellie injects herself into Brunhild's and Tilly's conversation, knowing the best way to survive in a new crew is to make friends. "I'm a Caydenite myself. My father always said he's the god of sailors-- drinking and mischief, you know. All my things were taken from me, but I do know a few spells if you ever need magic. Nothing fancy or anything, I'm having to learn it myself."
She makes an excuse now and again to leave the top deck, searching for where her things might be hidden. Her polearm, Courage, should be easy to spot at least.
Unfortunately, the time she spends below deck is time notspent doing her assigned job, and she makes noticeably less progress by the end of the day than her companions.