"I'll be ready next time." She instinctively scratched her injured leg before getting told the rules.
"Right. We still haven't got our cash back..."
With a sigh, she stood up and decided to chat up with one of the crew members, specifically the tall Mwangi woman.
She felt a lot more comfortable thanks to the drink and sat across the table from her before speaking.
"I know Abel can be a bit... much at times, but his heart is at the right place. He helped out a lot in getting rid of those dire rats in the bilge."
Ming watches the games intently, smiling on the outside but grumbling on the inside.
b]Yeah right. We need some coin...some coin.[/b]
For a moment, there is a dark glimmer in he eyes.
Come on Destinie, let's go to the bulk. How are you feeling? You look a bit feverish.
Ming watches the games intently, smiling on the outside but grumbling on the inside.
b]Yeah right. We need some coin...some coin.[/b]
For a moment, there is a dark glimmer in he eyes.
Come on Destinie, let's go to the bulk. How are you feeling? You look a bit feverish.
She looked back at Ming as she wiped some sweat off her forehead. "I think my wound got infected. But as bad as it tastes, I think the medicine is helping out."
You should lay down and get some rest. Would be senseless to die from an infected rat byte. I would cook you a chicken soup, but... i guess if i take the chicken it might be kind of obvious.
Sending Destinie to bed, Ming goes to Shivikah and cracks some jokes with her.
The evening went quick and soon there was nobody awake. The morning came with the normal wake up call and moving up on to the deck for a breakfast of biscuits and eggs and grits.
while the morning meal was going on their tasks were announced. Fishguts told Destinie she would be fishing for the day and what she caught would be the evening meal.
Syl was told to move into the rigging and repair what she could find.
Ratline was put into line work, helping to guide the ship by moving its sails.
Terry, Conch and Maheem were put on Upper Rigging work, repairing the upper rigging.
Lily was sent to lookout in the crows nest.
Barefoot and Narwhal were put on mainsail duty, as the winds whipped up
Aretta, Tilly and Ming were sent to the Bilge.
They called Sandara, Abel, and Seadreamer to hunt for vermin on the ship.
Called for Jape, Badger, and Rosie to swab the decks
assigned Fipps, Shivikah, Scrimshaw and Brunhild to do repairs on the ship.
Sent Aretta, Tilly and Ming to the Bilge
Giffer and Cog got Knot work and hauling rope.
Ellie was made a runner for the day.
Day--choose 1
1. Work diligently (+4 to one check)
2. Influence (normal check and attempt to influence 1 NPC)
Sneak (normal checks and make 1 perception check in the area they are working in to notice something unusual)
4. Shop (take -2 on daily checks to visit quartermaster store and talk with Cut-Throat to try and get items)
5. Shirk (take -2 on rolls to take 10 searching an area more fully. 1 perception check)
6. Steal (attempt to open a locked chest or door (must take chance on discovery)
Jobs-Swabs
Sandara-Ratcatcher
Jaundiced Jape-Swab the Decks
Fipps-Repairs
Aretta- Bilge
Shivikah-Repairs
'Badger' Swab The Decks
Tilly-Bilge
'Scrimshaw'-Repairs
Giffer-Hauling Rope and knot work
'Cog'-Hauling rope and knot work
Rosie-Swab The Decks
Ming-Bilge DC12 strength check. DC10 con check or fatigued at end of day. Can search for lost gear.
Abel-Ratcatcher DC10 Stealth, Survival or Dex
Seadreamer-Ratcatcher
Brunhild-Repairs DC 10sailor or dex.
Ellie-Runner DC10 Acrobatics or Dc10 Con. additional DC10 con to avoid fatigue. Have Run feat- auto success.
Jobs-Riggers
'Narwhal'-Mainsail work
'Slippery Syl'-Rigging Repair
Maheem- Upper Rigging Work
'Ratline'-Line Work
'Barefoot'-Mainsail work
Conchobar-Upper Rigging Work
Terry-Upper Rigging Work DC10 climb and dc10 dex or sailor.
Lily- Lookout
Job-Cooks Mate
Destinie-Fishing DC10 Survival
As usual, Brunhild put in less than her best. Even though she was performing the only task that she wanted to do, she was stubborn in her hatred of the ship. As she worked she kept an eye out…to determine if there was anything useful in the area…and to get an idea of how she could sabotage the ship if living on it became unbearable. The idea of sinking it to the bottom of the ocean was a warm thought that took the edge off of her feeling powerless.
Ming's eyes went wide as she heard she had to work the bilge.
Clearly that was a job for others...but not her.
Mumbling and grumbling to herself she accepted the humiliation though, especially with the draconic punishments in mind.
Seadreamer works not hard, but steady. However, he still takes the time nursing his injured leg, to give him the chance to look around as he works.
Runner-- this she can do. She ducks into a corner and casts a quick spell on herself. Able to move faster at a run than perhaps anyone else on board, she accomplishes the day's task with little fanfare but much self-satisfaction.
It also provides her with a good opportunity to visit the quartermaster's store. "I'd like to trade." She presents Cut-Throat with the two tindertwigs she had found in the bilges. "These two for my dagger."
Between shaking off a sickness and getting into trouble the previous two times she actually had to work, Destinie decided it would be best if she focused on learning how to do her job.
And even then it was a struggle just getting the number of fish that she did get.
"Aye aye." Terry climbs up and gets to work, looking a tthis companions or the day and wondering to himself. "Maheem and Conch? Which presents less risk to try to talk to?" After some consideration, he decides to see if he can continue the luck he had with Maheem so recently. "H e opens with It feels great to be up here in the wind instead of down there baking in the heat reflecting off the deck, don't it?"
Biscuits and eggs and grits!
Abel (having studied his spellbook for an hour and cleaned up) rushes upstairs...errr...above deck for his place in line for breakfast. The Wizard was elated to be alive this wonderful sunny morning!
His days of dangerous bilge rat fighting and biting was over! His future being tutored by a real Ship's Wizard was beginning to transform his previously dour outlook (being kidnapped was not cool).
Abel finishes breakfast; waiting a bit longer than was expected, hoping for a bit of seconds....
Leaving the main deck for his a look at his day's assignment, the smiling Wizard nods and smiles to those he passes by. Walking with a bit of a spring to his usually unsteady steps, Abel approaches the Duty List. His smiling blues eyes follow the names....
What the f&#~! Rats! Really! Who the f&#+ thinks this is funny! Asshats!
Abel (frowning and pretending to kick dirt) trudges down to the galley. He takes all the garbaged scrapps of food stuff; rottened and spoiled. He places the food items into a sack. He grunts, lifting it over his shoulder to trudge his way down into the bilge.
Arriving down into the putrid smell of water filled with s!@* and vermin, the pouty Wizard wades to a far corner of the chamber. He unloads the sack of foul smelling and rotten food into a corner piled high.
He then wades away from the pile of rotten food, takes a seat down on a high dry area, and watches and waits.....
Mid day the crew is called up on deck. Lily is called up to the stern where The Captain is. Mister Plugg is standing there with Owlbear.
The Captain announces it has come to his attention that Someone in the crew (namely Lily) has been stealing food from the crew. Taking things from the Ships Supplies. Patch saw her. Lily calls him a liar to his face, and demands trial by combat to Shortly it becomes apparent that Lily is to face Owlbear in a fight and the crew is to watch.
Bets start going around...and it seems Owlbear is easily favored.
It looked like her failure won't be the focus this time around. But her face slowly became one of fear once she found out about the Captain's plans. With that, she turned towards her friends.
"I trust Plugg as much as I can throw him. Something's off and we need to make sure she lives another day whether it's helping her win or figuring out what really happened."
Terry looks at Destinie with an obvious sadness. "I understand, but unless we find something unquestionable fast, how they've dealt with interference before has been to give the punishment to the one interfering.
Remember?" He looks around quickly. "More likely to get permission for someone to stand in as her champion, as Owlbear is doing. But who's gonna take Owlbear?"
"To be honest I'm not sure I even care if it's true. I just want to see Plugg humiliated. I certainly can't take Owlbear in a one-on-one, but perhaps there's some other way we can help her." I can't give her my dagger, it'd be too obvious. A spell?
Brunhild shrugged noncommittedly. She didn't know Lily, and the woman was a half-orc. Which meant that while she wasn't half bad, she wasn't half good either. With no magical tools at her disposal, there was little she could do. And to take action meant, at best, being in there as well. So the dwarf stood by, her arms crossed, waiting to see what would come of the two fighters.
She hesitated to respond to Terry, but at this point she decided it wasn't time to hold a grudge right now. "I don't think any of us can do that, unless anyone else wants to golunteer... "
Brunhild hadn't budged... so she'll take that as a no. To Ellie, she put a hand on her chin.
",I think we need to know the rules first, but I don't think magic would be allowed. At least obviously. And I don't think we can pur anything past her." she briefly gazed at Peppery.
I agree, the only way that we can help her, is by something that is not obtrusive. If you can cast on the sly
Lily walked up to steps and saw a circle drawn in chalk on the stern. Owlbear was grinning stupidly from the other side of the circle, no weapons in his hand. Mister Plugg took The Bardiche from Lily and said simply. Hand to Hand, until one falls.
Brunhild kept her eyes on the event and said, quietly so as to not be overheard ”Lock it up. It’s a fist fight. Get involved and yer punishment will be much worse. And I doubt that the tusker would be giving much in thanks anyways. It’s her fight.”
Abel watches the 1/2 orc walk confidently toward her fate. The Rahadoumi was both proud and angry at this atrocity. He clenches his fists. His bearded face reddens. His mind begins to produce the formulas, the arcane sigils, the phrases of magic all run through his disturbed mind; allowing the Wizard to return his focus to the matter at hand.
Abel watches the trial by combat. The young Wizard prepares for the worse....
Again, the dwarf is right.
She grimaced at the advice given to her. Yet it didn't stop her from going up front to watch. At the very least she could give the half-orc some support with her words.
"Maybe you're right..." Ellie decides to leave her to it, at least for the time being. She touches the tankard at her hip. Cayden, give her strength!
The two stood in the circle staring at each other. The strange Owlbear with the feathers stuck out of his body all over standing in a loincloth with meaty hands swathed in rags chewing on a crableg, his dull eyes looking straight at Lily with no fear, and less intelligence.
Lily walked in and raised her head and roared into the dimming sun. her eyes turning red and fire flickered along her hands and tusks....
Bets were exchanged. It seemd a few were placing money on Lily now. Though Owlbear just tossed the crableg to the side and smacked his fists together.
The bell sounded and Lily rushed forward first, smacking a flaming fist into Owlbears stomach. He grimaced as the flames left a slight scorchmark, but the rest wasnt lethal damage Just a severe bruise. Owlbear was careful to avoid those snapping tusks though.
Owlbear punched once, and Lily ducked it, though his second punch caught her her in the chin and opened a cut on her.
Lily backed away and swung a haymaker at his head, it clocked him on the side of his head, cutting him above the ear, then she grabbed his head and pulled him in biting his shoulder. The fangs going in deep.
He punched her in the stomach and backed her off him then barely connected with a second punch to her midriff which left her howling in pain
Lily came back in catching him in the chest with a quick punch and then all but jumped at him ripping along his arm with her fangs, all the while the flames flickered and burnt...and then suddenly went out.
Owlbear punched twice like a boxer going for jabs. the first missing the second smacking her in the face, splitting a lip and backing her off.
As the flames flickered and went out, a flicker of doubt shown in Lily's eyes, and her punch and following bite were avoided by the brutish Owlbear. He caught her once in the back of the neck, As her head turned he caughter in the eye with another fist that sent her to the deck bleeding.
As she fell to the deck and Owlbear stood looking down at her with those dim eyes.
The majority of the crew went wild. though you couldnt help but notice the looks that crossed between Plugg and Scourge.
She lay there bleeding out her breathing getting shallower and shallower. Owlbear went and picked up the crab he ahd tossed won and began crunching on it again as he watched.
The Stichman moved to go in, and Mister plugg put his hand on his chest and said No
The Mistress of sails was watching Destinie and Ellie and shook her head no that they couldnt help. She said low so the Capt couldnt hear her Its up to Besmara now
then as if fate stepped in. he breathing normalized and she lay there no longer bleeding. clinging to deaths door. Scourge motioned Patch to check...and he felt her pulse and said She still lives
The Captain said Put her in her hammock and let noone help her through the night. If she reaches tomorrow we will decide what to do then.
A couple crew members, Scrimshaw and Cog moved to help and take her downstairs. Hands were exchanging money as you stood watching as The Stichman moved to treat Owlbears wounds.
Initiative Tracker
12-Lily -11/-14
12-Owlbear
Lily Tuvol! AC:13(T:13/FF:10)CMD:17(18 vs grapple) HP: (-14 death)-11/12 NL:0/12 Saves-FO:+3 RE:+3 WL:-3(-1 vs fear)
Bloodrager 1 (Crossblooded:Infernal/Destined) F Half-Orc (Half-Chelaxian) Defenses:
vs
'Owlbear' Hartshorn (First Mates Guard) AC:9(T:9/FF:9) CMD:14 HP:16/25 NL 2/25 Saves-FO:+5 RE:-1 WL: -2
2nd Fighter M Human (Mwangi) Defenses:+1 vs Fear
-1 Init -2 Perception Indifferent
With what was at stake, the Oracle didn't have the stomach to get to cheering. Instead, she gripped her hands together in the hope that her inner support would be enough. And in the beginning it looked to be the case.
But then the look of desperation hit her and her anxiety increases. And it looked all the more likely she was witnessing a murder. When Lily hit the ground, she put her head down and drew her hands towards them as she whispered prayers to Desna, Besmara, Cayden Calien. Basically any god that might hear her prayers.
And it seems that they were answered.
She took deep breaths to calm herself down as she coldly walked away from the scene. The woman was far to scared and angry at Scourge and Plugg to even think about her own possible punishment.
Brunhild shook her head and turned to leave. It was a brutal life on the ship, and she now knew what crossing the officers would lead to. With no way of helping, she decided to focus on just staying alive herself. Until an opportunity arose, what else was there?
Terry did what any good rigger would do with a display on the deck. He climbed up above it. The appearance was to get a better view. The point was to make it harder to hear the whimpers that escaped as he empathized with the damage being felt.
When it was over, he came down away from the site of the fight. He's got no plans to try to schmooze anyone tonight.
Abel watches the fight between Lily and Owlbear. The Wizard wondered for just a mere moment if the 1/2 orc were to win; but, then the appearance for the Name come to the forefront, punishing the recruit viscously to the deck!
Abel feels a slight tug at his feeling, as he makes his way below decks to listlessly find his bunk....
This experience is making me numb...
As the party heads downstairs to the hammocks, the full weight of the life of a pirate aboard this ship crashes down on them. Fipps and Sly are put on watch by Lily's hammock to insure noone does anything to her or for her.
during the night the weather turned.
Brunhild tried to sleep, but it did not come easy. This wasn’t due to the sway of the ship, but rather due to the day’s events. At length she got up and went to join the crew. Coming across 'Badger' Medlar, she tried to strike up a conversation, asking as towards what other violent punishments were commonly employed on the ship.
Ellie wishes she were able to help Lily, but with two midships assigned to guard the half-orc she's too afraid to risk the consequences. She hunkers down and tries to get some uneasy sleep...
...until she notices the rocking of the ship grow more violent. Her sailor's instincts tell her that can only mean one thing. Storm!
After the bout, Destinie wasn't in the mood in going out to meet potentially hostile company. So instead she reluctantly downed her medicine before going towards more more familiar people, specifically Sandara Quinn.
She made her way over to the cleric of Besmara, sitting across from her before speaking.
"The fishing... could have gone better. It's been taking a while for me to find my sea legs," she said sheepishly. "Lily may have been... Lily. But what they did to her was cruel beyond measure. Thank the gods she survived."
She gazed back at the two keeping watch on the half-orc with scorn before turning back towards Sandara.
"Hey, Sandara. Would you mind if I join you in prayer tomorrow? I don't need to do so to get my spells. But between Lily, the storm and me... not pulling my part so far, I think a blessing may be able to help out."
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....Abel screams shrilly as he is bounced, battered, bruised, baffooned off every post, wall, floor (deck?), person, and box, crate, barrel, coiled rope pile on the way down to his bunk.
It takes the poor wizard 17 attempts of flailing and falling to actually make it in his hammock.
He doesn't sleep well that night!
Still feeling a bit under the weather from the bites, and nauseous at the cavalier attitude towards life onboard ship. Seadreamer shakes his head as he goes to turn in for the night.
When the storm moves in, and Abel screams, Seadreamer tosses something soft at him.
Quiet lad, some of us are needing our sleep
He then drops off back to sleep as the ship starts to toss and turn.
Sandara looked at her and said Please do. ...Destinie. Do not hold Owlbear responsible. He is little more than an animal in intelligence. Hes tough as nails, but just does what hes told without though, and he has learned its the whip if he doesnt.
Brunhild talked briefly with Badger ho was morose, having lost a good amount on the bet shed placed on Lily....
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next day arrives and the seas are choppy. wind is blowing SW hard as the vessel continues to make its way through the straights along the coast between it and Motaku Island.
Its not a cloudy day, just windy. As you arrive the first thing you note is Lily is missing from her cot.
Once aboard deck you can see they are preparing her body for dropping in the ocean. The Captain announces Lily put up a good fight. Unfortunately she did not live through the night. None The less she did acquit herself well, befitting a pirate so I will will brook noone insulting her further. Let her rest with Besmara now.
They drop her body overboard now.
The they turn to breakfast of gruel and banana's
Abel is very nauseous from the choppy sea and arrives on deck feeling the wind in his face.
new assignments are posted. as the new day begins.
Day--choose 1
1. Work diligently (+4 to one check)
2. Influence (normal check and attempt to influence 1 NPC)
Sneak (normal checks and make 1 perception check in the area they are working in to notice something unusual)
4. Shop (take -2 on daily checks to visit quartermaster store and talk with Cut-Throat to try and get items)
5. Shirk (take -2 on rolls to take 10 searching an area more fully. 1 perception check)
6. Steal (attempt to open a locked chest or door (must take chance on discovery)
Jobs-Swabs
Sandara-Man The bilges
Jaundiced Jape-Repairs
Fipps-Runner
Aretta-Runner
Shivikah-Swab The Decks
'Badger' -Man The Bilges
Tilly-Repairs
'Scrimshaw'-Runner
Giffer-Runner
'Cog'-Ratcatcher
Rosie-Repairs
Ming-Ratcatcher DC10 Stealth,Survival or dex for success.
Abel-Repairs DC1o- sailor or dex for success.
Seadreamer-Runner DC10 Acrobatics and Con for success. con check fail = fatigue. Run feat auto success.
Brunhild-Runner as above
Ellie-Hauling Rope and Knotwork DC10 Sailor or Strength for success. DC10 con or fatigue
Jobs-Riggers
'Narwhal'-Upper Rigging Work
'Slippery Syl'-Upper Rigging Work
Maheem- Upper Rigging Work
'Ratline'-Rigging Repair
'Barefoot'-Upper Rigging Work
Conchobar-Linework
Terry-Lookout DC10 Climb DC 10 Perception
Job-Cooks Mate
Destinie-Pig Butcher for special Dinner DC15 (Koop drunk) cook or or survival
With Lily dead, the danger of the ship became all the more real. Brunhild quietly went about her work, doing her best to keep her head down. It seemed that the best way to survive was to get in the good graces of the officers, and failing that to do one’s job without standing out.
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Assigned to the task he considers as good as a day off, Terry chooses to continue trying to chat up Maheem when his work brings him close enough.
At first it seemed that the gods saw them favor. The wound no longer itched and she felt that the worst of her fever was behind her.
The prayer went well as well. The two exchanged vows and she learned more about the pirate goddess. Though when the two closed their eyes, she took a peek at the woman's tattoos... then promptly closed them again.
Then came the news of Lily's death.
So that was that.
The oracle merely tilted her head sadly as the body was dumped in the water. The most she could hope for is that the same doesn't happen to her. She looked at Owlbear and sighed before heading inside. She can at least do her part and learn how to skin a pig. Kroop sitting drunk like that didn't help.
Perhaps her patron was smiling at her that day, because for whatever reason she had everything Kroop taught to her memorized. Every cut delivered was done perfectly. All undesirable material was put away neatly. Her arms may have been covered in blood, but it was clear that everything had come to place. She can only marvel proudly at her handiwork.
"It's like I remembered everything," she said to Grok with glee.
Seadreamer comments to Brunhild as they report for runner duty.
That was a disgraceful showing last night. Proving once again they have no regard to lives.
DC 10
DC 10
Seadreamer continues to figure out the layout of the ship, as he continues to do his runner tasks.
Abel wakes up the next morning refreshed, relieved, and rewarded for an easy day of repair work.
He decides to work diligently.
Abel actually enjoys his day of repairing ship things. The Wizard even learns a few of the proper names for them.
Although she never knew her well, part of Ellie can't help but grieve for Lily. As much as anything else, though, the half-orc's death fills her with dread. So casually they let her die. Who of us is next? She determines to make more allies on board the Wormwood. Lily had few enough. Hopefully that will save me the same fate.
She still has not won over the halfling, Rosie Cusswell. She finds a pause in her work to visit the quartermaster. "You've got some kind of instrument here, right? Like a violin or something? How much is it worth?"
Ming held herself very well during the storm, steady on her legs as always. Well, as steady as drunk sailors are....
Poor Lilly, she did not deserve that, but she also should have hit a bit better.
Ming doesn't talk much about Lillys death and tries to keep her poker face. It's clear she's not overly pleased though by what's going on on the ship.
Ah rat catching again?
Seadreamer keeps a stony face while on duty, but is incensed inside.
During the time on runner duties, Seadreamer stops by Ming, Ellie, Abel, Destinie, Terry, Brunhild and Sandara.
We need a sign or something that indicates that we need to meet up, any ideas?
"That's good across the ship? Would have to be a whistle or verbal, and either will attract attention. What you're doing now might be best."
”Aye…this fookin’ floatin’ grave! It’s bloody getting to me. Feels like we can die any day for any reason. How the Fook do they expect to have a crew like this?” Brunhild said, bitterly.
"I think hand signals are the best for us," the oracle suggests. "That said, can try more than one method to get people's attention."
Abel answers by reciting an ancient poem that he learned just for this quest.
And the twain were casting dice;
'The game is done! I've won! I've won!'
Quoth she, and whistles thrice.
The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush out;
At one stride comes the dark;
With far-heard whisper, o'er the sea,
Off shot the spectre-bark.
I be thinking that we need to have a quiet sit down near the rope locker where the officers aren't likely to go
With a quick wave, Seadreamer continues on his route.