She pointed towards the aft end of the ship, past several cages full of pigs in the hold. "Galley is that way. They give us hard tack midmorning, and a cooked meal right after dark. Quartermaster's store is there, too -- I'd hazard a guess your personal effects are there now. If you manage to find anything you can trade, you're allowed to purchase what you like from Grok, our quartermaster. Might be tricky though -- like I said, I've been here two weeks, and we've not seen a coin for our work yet. The Captain's been...recruiting. Not raiding." She smirked at the generous term for press ganging.
"You've seen the deck below us, it's where you woke up. And below that is the bilge, as unpleasant a place as you're ever like to find." She blinked and cocked her head to the side. "I...guess that's the tour. Even though we didn't really go anywhere."
The sound of chains shifting from nearby drew both your attention. "Oh -- that's Owlbear. Poor thing. He's mean, but only because they beat him so often. I've tried making nice but to no avail. I'd suggest steering clear. Word is he ripped a guy's arms off once." She led you a couple steps around the stairs, but kept an arm in front of you warning you from getting closer. Chained to the foremast was a pitiable looking man. He was huge, bigger than that shark bait guy, and clearly hadn't been born quite right. His head was misshapen, his jaw slack. He was covered in patches of tar and feathers, a job that looked to have been done some time ago with spots still lingering on him where he hadn't peeled the stuff off yet.
Katara notices the one staring at her, and walks towards him, dissimulated as if pretending she was simply going for her tasks. Yet, as she closes by, she speaks.
Ahoy, mate. 'Twas staring at me sorry arse as I climbed, huh? - she starts, briefly - Ay, don't sweat it. Just pickin' on 'ya. Name's Katara.
She doesn't extend a hand in compliment, still trying to pretend nothing was going on, and trying to avoid the attention from the officers.
Her eyes looked on sadly at the state of Owlbear. As tempting as it was, she did heed the warning and stayed behind the arm. "That's still no reason to treat him like an animal," she replied in disgust.
Once the tour was done, she made her way back towards the ropes. "Is there anyone else I need to worry about?" she asked wearily.
As they arrive at the galley, the sound of the chains in the darkness rattles Atia a tad, but her attention is grabbed by the large, disgusting man in front of her. She looks up at Tilly, her eyebrows furrowed and mouth slightly agape with disbelief. She turns her attention back to Kroop and the chicken--she maintains eye contact with the chicken more than the filthy man.
"As I said to the man above...I'm not skilled, but I'm a quick learner." She surveys the galley, taking stock of what she has to work with.
Seadreamer makes his way up, but not in a rush,
Looking to the other three that made it to the top, "Well, it looks like one of us is going to have to step down. They only need three of us. By the way, I'm Joran Bravestone," he introduces himself to the other two. "So seeing how I think you three would make a good rigging team, I'm gonna step down and work with my ol' buddy Scourge down there," he says facetiously, giving a wink. "You know how the sayin' goes: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Looking back down at the man with the whip as he leans upon the edge of the nest, "Oh yeah, this is gonna be fun. Hopefully I'll live long enough to kill him," he says, turning to the others and sporting a wry grin while shooting them another wink.
The three who follow him up into the Crow's Nest all arrive at nearly the same time. VERY close to it. Terry grins at them.
"Been a few days since I've done that. Always feels better up here. Better breeze. Fewer elbows."
As Joran comments on the poor lass, introduces himself, and then offers to throw himself back to the deck, Terry just shakes his head. "Bravestone? I don't think so, Sharkbait. Especially if you're going to throw yourself in his face, you'll need to take taunts like that and own them. BE Sharkbait. Be proud of being Sharkbait. And then keep the name by making those who oppose you into shark bait. Never let them see you sweat."
Then he stops looks at the others again and chuckles. "Oops. My bad. I'm Terry, from Quent. Hope we can have some fun at this despite those below us this morning."
The three who follow him up into the Crow's Nest all arrive at nearly the same time. VERY close to it. Terry grins at them.
"Been a few days since I've done that. Always feels better up here. Better breeze. Fewer elbows."
As Joran comments on the poor lass, introduces himself, and then offers to throw himself back to the deck, Terry just shakes his head. "Bravestone? I don't think so, Sharkbait. Especially if you're going to throw yourself in his face, you'll need to take taunts like that and own them. BE Sharkbait. Be proud of being Sharkbait. And then keep the name by making those who oppose you into shark bait. Never let them see you sweat."
Then he stops looks at the others again and chuckles. "Oops. My bad. I'm Terry, from Quent. Hope we can have some fun at this despite those below us this morning."
Looking at him with a bit of confusion, "What are you on about with this 'Shark bait', buddy? What, are you and Scourge in cahoots or something? Know what, never mind, doesn't matter. What DOES matter is I know what I'm doing, friend. And you may not think so but I KNOW so. And while I appreciate the 'pep' talk, I don't need really need it. Save it for those who do need it. I provide my OWN pep," he slaps on the arm, grinning. "Anyway, I'll be joining the others who are swabbing for Scourge. You three can have fun with the rigging. Be seeing you around!" And with that, Joran finds his way back down to the deck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Once he makes it back down, he looks straight ahead at no one and clears his throat before saying, "Welp, I'm the odd man out. What's my first order of business?"
Terry shakes his head as the big man rants and runs away. "Man's going to get himself made an example of. Choosing to be too physical and obvious is not going to serve him well."
He shakes his head and turns to the others in the nest. "So, what should I call you two?"
—----------------------
On Deck (Katara)
—----------------------
The lad turned a shade pinker and stuttered a bit. "No! I wouldn't do that, I-" He had soft Ustalavian accent, his W's bordering on V's and a hint of a Z at the beginning of the word 'that'. When you told him not to sweat it he ran a hand through his hair nervously and went back to work, catching on to your attempt to be discreet. "I was just thinking that you are young, and I am not used to having peers aboard the vessel. Apologies, my name is Jack." He was amusingly formal in his speech, for a scraggly young pirate.
—----------------------
The Hold (Destinie)
—----------------------
Sandara snorted. ”Oh just most of the crew,” she chuckled. ”But let’s see. All the officers, unless you count Grok and Kroop – the quartermaster and cook. They’re odd but but I like them. And then there’s the ones I refer to as the toads – bootlickers who’d’ stab you in the back if they thought it’d get them in good with Scourge or Plugg. I’ll point ‘em out when I can. Oh, and watch out for Syl. She’s completely unhinged, even for a pirate.” She worked on putting the rope away while she chatted.
—----------------------
The Galley (Atia)
—----------------------
”Ah, humble! I like it. Don’t worry, Ol’ Fishguts, he know how to cook. He’ll make one outta you no problem.” He laughed as if he’d said something funny. You watch him wipe the sweat from his face and start picking up ingredients with the same hand to add them to a pot.
Tilly smirked. ”Good luck, kid. I should get back on duty. Don’t worry too much. You can’t do worse than him.”
”PAH!” Kroop chucked a hardtack biscuit at Tilly’s head and she caught it out of the air, and tucked it into a pouch to hoard for later. She grinned widely and waved, taking her leave.
—----------------------
On Deck (Everyone Else)
—----------------------
Mr. Plugg narrowed his eyes curiously at Joran’s voluntary demotion, but said nothing. He shouted up to the three remaining in the crow’s nest. ”The showoff can work the mainsail,” he said, referring to Terry. ”The other two work the upper rigging, since you’re up there anyway. Tam, Samms, make sure they don’t capsize the ship.”
—----------------------
In the Rigging (Terry, Ming, Rand)
—----------------------
A half dozen crew were already at work up at your altitude, or close to it. At Plugg’s orders, a pair of them climbed over. The dwarf man arrived first, perching on the head of the mainsail and looking at you all disapprovingly. ”Bobbins, lot couldna stop a pig in a ginnel, swear down,” he spat, uncaring it it hit someone below. His voice was gravel being ground underfoot, and he seemed to make very little sense. How effective a teacher he’d be was dubious indeed.
A woman with olive skin and bare feet climbed up a moment later. ”He don’t have much faith in you,” she translated. ”But he don’t have much faith in anyone. Let’s see how well you sail.”
—----------------------
Swabs (Joran, Cassandra, Katara, Seadreamer)
—----------------------
Scourge waited for those of you who failed to win Plugg’s little race to gather around. ”Break time is over. Welcome to the very bottom of the rung, where you belong. Quite literally, in Shark Bait’s case.” He looked at Joran. ”To the bilges with you.” He gestured for a halfling woman to come over. ”Show him how to pump bilgewater.” He grinned at Joran tauntingly. The halfling rolled her eyes and sighed, stomping away and expecting Joran to follow her.
Scourge looked at the rest of you appraisingly, and his eyes paused on Seadreamer. ”Don’t suppose you’ve a touch of your kin’s skill at repairs, dwarf? Or either of you two?” he added, looking at Cassandra and Katara. He noted the latter conversing with Jack, and snapped his whip threateningly to signal the boy had best get back to work and stop gabbing.
I am Katara. Nice ta' meet you, Jack. - she says, offering an awkward smile - Let's talk later, mate! Dying ta' hear how'd you end up here.
She interrupts herself when Scourge approaches, careful to avoid catching the officer's attention. As he asks about repairs, her eyes turn to him, and she replies in a shy, low tone, raising her arm slowly.
I can do some woodworking, especially if there are tools... - she says, complementing - ... Had done repairs in tha' past.
It was poor going at first. The ropes weren't that big, but it was hard work to get it all untangled. But with Sandara's help, she learned how to handle it. The coiling took longer than usual, but the two managed to get it done on time. And to Destinie's surprise, she wasn't tired at all.
"I think now would be a good time to tell you I haven't been on a boat until recently," she admitted sheepishly. "But I did read some books on them."
Ming was quite surprised to see a dwarf climb nimbly like that. Her ears twitched at his annoying voice and the nonsense coming from him, but she had met some dwarves before and mused the alcohol must have eaten lots of his brain already. That or he fell down on deck before. Or a combination of that, all seemed plausible.
The woman caught her eye though. Perhaps she was a chance.
Well hello there sailor! She greeted her.
You must be knowing that dwarf for quite some time to make sense of what's coming out of him. I didn't understand a single word just now!
You're also quite something to look at, even though you must have been out on sea a while. What do you think, who's the better rigger? You or the dwarf? Gotta say, haven't seen a dwarf climbing like that. In fact, most dwarves i've seen shun the water. He must be drinking quite a lot.
You look trustworthy. Guess i could use a new sister out here, watching each others back. Think i could find that in you?
During kitchen duty, Atia spends most of her time trying to clean up whatever chaos the cook leaves in his wake on top of whatever menial tasks he sets her to.
"Mister...um...Fishguts?" Using an honorific with that name seemed to pain Atia. "Do you keep logs...accounts...anything of how much food we have and what we have?"
—----------------------
Cass had been in her own head a while, slowing her down enough that by the time she caught up to the group half of them were halfway up the rigging which she didn't mind one bit, that's not exactly where her talents lay anyways. she was mostly distracted by her sudden lack of her Harrow deck the only connection she had left to her parents and the object that had directed her every move for all of her life that she could remember.
As Cass's senses return to her she hears the question on repairs and quickly responds hoping to leverage the need to get her cards "I have some skill with repairs and if you have my Harrow deck I have a touch of magic I can use to help with them." after a moment of thought she worries she may have overstepped and follows it up with a quick "I'm sorry that wasn't the question or even a question for me."
Scourge waited for those of you who failed to win Plugg’s little race to gather around. ”Break time is over. Welcome to the very bottom of the rung, where you belong. Quite literally, in Shark Bait’s case.” He looked at Joran. ”To the bilges with you.” He gestured for a halfling woman to come over. ”Show him how to pump bilgewater.” He grinned at Joran tauntingly. The halfling rolled her eyes and sighed, stomping away and expecting Joran to follow her.
Joran, standing perfectly erect and looking straight ahead, "Aye aye, Master Scourge! To the bilges it is! Thank you, Master Scourge!" He then turns sharply and follows the halfling, the wryest of a grin can be seen if the halfling just so happens to be looking his way.
------------------
On Deck (Swabs)
--------------------
"Fine, we'll see if you can manage without nailing your hand to the deck." Scourge told Katara, then looked around. "Shivikah," he yelled at a woman who was passing by. "Take the urchin here below and set her to fixing the loose paneling."
At Cassandra’s question he smiled, but it was the smirk of a bully seeing prey.. ”Your harrow deck? You don’t have a harrow deck. Whatever it was you had is the Captain’s now. And you keep that magic to yourself. Swabs don’t need no magic, and I don’t want you starting trouble on this boat.”
He sneered at Seadreamer and Cassandra. "I think rat catching will best suit you two. And don't stop at rats. I don't want to see a single roach, beetle or other kind of vermin on this vessel when you're done. Now get to work, all of you. And welcome to the rest of your short and useless lives."
------------------
The Hold (Destinie)
--------------------
"No offense, but I can tell," Sandara said. There was no condescension in her voice, just some good natured ribbing. "There's a lot to learn. Let me think, what are some of the most important things...
"Well for starters, those books ever make mention of rum rations? Lots of ships, even legitimate ones, will ply their sailors with strong drink at the evening meal to get them good and sleepy and avoid problems at night. Drinking them is mandatory, but if you're sneaky, you can pour them out, and I suggest you try if you can get away with it. You're new, and you're pretty, and there are some that might try to take advantage of that combination, if you take my meaning.”
------------------
Up Top (Ming)
--------------------
Tam gave Ming a dirty look. ”Ah do one, then! Go give your ‘head a wobble, ya mingin’ lubber.” In case his words were unclear, the tone was not, nor were the vulgar gestures he made in Ming’s direction. He looked to Samms. ”On you, I can’t be mithered with ‘em.” With that, orders or no orders, he turned and climbed back over to what he’d been doing.
Samms just stared at Ming with an expression of bewilderment. ”So you insult my friend, hit on me, try an’ pit me against ‘im, expand your insults to all dwarves, then ask to be my sister? You’re a bleedin’ psychopath, you are. You make Syl look right in the head.” She shook her head. ”Look, let’s just cut the small talk, yeah? I show you what to do, you do it, then you piss off.”
------------------
Kitchen (Atia)
--------------------
Kroop laughed heartily, as if that were the funniest thing he ever heard, and neglected to answer. ”Here, take this biscuit to the rest of the crew. Maybe you make friends, feeding hungry bellies, eh?” He shoves a huge basket into your small arms, with the morning supply of hardtack biscuits for the crew. ”Everybody only gets one, you don’t let them tell you otherwise.”
------------------
Bilges (Joran)
--------------------
The halfling doesn’t notice, and as soon as you’re out of earshot of Scourge she starts grumbling, mostly to herself but you can hear her words. ”F%@$ing had to open your f%#+ing mouth, didn’t you, c@$!!$@+@!? Now i’m f!@~ing stuck in the godsdamned bilges all f@@*ing day up to my knees in s#@% water.” Never in your life had you heard a more vulgar stream of words issue forth from such an adorable source.
She led you down to the crew quarters, then pried up a trap door in the floor and descended a ladder into the bowels of the ship. The beams across the ceiling sported thick mats of cobwebs, and a foot of black, brackish, smelly water sloshed around on the floor, which was angled like the bottom of the ship. Six pairs of manacles are bolted to the walls here, and one is currently occupied.
A man is sitting in the water dejectedly, his wrists up over his head in a rusty pair of the manacles.
Atia pulls a bewildered face at his lack of reply, then realizes that he probably can't even read or write and just...sighs. She would have to make a project of inventory, see what more creative things can be done with what they had.
She takes the basket of hardtack from Kroop, anxiety gripping her stomach. "I'll be on my way then, sir." She backs out of the kitchen and heads out to the nearest space with people, counting the hardtack.
Raising an eyebrow, Joran gives a slight smirk but hides it quickly. Following her down the stairs, he catches sight of the manacled man. Turning to the halfling, "Look here, darlin', I know how to pump bilgewater. How about you go back upstairs and I'll take care of this down here, hm? How's that sound?"
As Terry goes about keeping the mainsail filled and taught, he starts trying to take in the other riggers, to see if there are any patterns he can identify, any relationships that might become important later. He quickly decides to try to befriend the fop, though, as the small man (Halfling? Gnome?) seems out of place in the group, and could probably use a friend himself.
"'Hoy, there, friend! I'm Terry. Looks like we're going to have some time together up here. Got any good stories? Women who should have run but didn't know better, maybe?"
As Katara hammers down some loose planks, she speaks again with the nearby Jack. She isn't the best at making friends, but she'd at very least try.
Well, as we get ta' work... Tell me your story! How did you end up here? Ya' don't look the sailing type, you know. - she says - I like the way ya' speak! It makes me feel like a lady. Ya' know, not any lady, but one of those fancy madams from the courts!
"Sorry Master Scourge, Right too it" Cass murmurs hoping to avoid sharing the ire that Joran so graciously took. She then gets to work moving in towards the brown haired halfling (I think) with the red cape pictured after Sandara trying to converse and get a semblance of connection to understand more of what Cass can do to keep out of trouble.
"Hey, hope you don't mind me asking for a bit of guidance here? I'm Cass, just trying to figure out how to avoid getting killed here before I learn what's happening. How long have you been on board here?" she starts as she also starts her work rat-catching
She shook her head when talking about rum rations.
"I'll take that into account, but I'm used to people trying to pull a fast one on me. Sometimes it can work to your advantage if the other person isn't aware," she replied in contemplation. "Worked for most men... and some women."
------------------
Up Top
--------------------
Ming blushed heavily, not only because of the dwarves gestures.
What?
No, i didn't mean it like that! That must be whatever they put in our drinks last night talking out of me! Look, i'm sorry. Just tell me what to do, i'll be quiet.
—---------------
Bilges (Joran)
—----------------
The foul-mouthed halfling woman looks at Joran with narrowed eyes. ”If you f#$@ing try anything you’re not supposed to, Scourge will have it out of my f$!@ing hide. This place is enough of a godsdamned s%*+hole without a f+@@ing target on my back.” She looked down at the water, which was up to her knees, and grimaced. ”But I really don’t want to f@$@ing stay here. So do your job, and don’t talk to Jake, or it won’t just be Scourge who f&$%ing has it out for you.” She started climbing up the ladder and paused, meeting Joran’s gaze. ”Thanks,” she added quietly. Then Joran was alone with the prisoner and a whole lot of nasty water in need of pumping.
—---------------
Rigging (Terry and Ming)
—----------------
The gnome glances up as Terry approaches, a frown on his face at first, but it turns to a begrudging grin. ”A, a fellow with a discerning eye, I see, and an excellent judge of character,” he replied. His voice was on the nasally side. ”The name is Conchobar Turloch Shortstone. Let me tell you a tale of the time I met the Countess Priscilla Von Hildengrad, and relieved her of more than her fortune…” As the day wore on, you learned the gnome’s truest love is himself, and that he is a disturbingly prolific womanizer if even half his stories are true.
Ming had less luck at making friends. Her nervous faux pas led to a long, uncomfortable day of trying to learn a new trade with a woman who didn’t want anything to do with her. She was alone, basically a slave, and she could see no end in sight.
—---------------
Main Hold (Katara)
—----------------
The woman called Shivikah led Katara below deck and showed her where some floorboards had come loose. She was terse and unfriendly, and once she saw Katara knew what she was doing she departed, barely a word spoken. Eventually, Jack made his way down to clean, and the two had a bit more freedom to speak without Scourge looming nearby.
Jack blushed a bit at Katara’s questions, noit used to talking about himself. ”I was born in Ustalav, but as you perhaps know, it is not a very nice place to live. My parents were able to arrange an apprenticeship for me with a merchant who brought a caravan through our village each year, when I was still quite young. I have not seen them since.” He paused his tale for a moment, wringing out the mop. ”The merchant, it turns out, sold more than simple household goods. He sold meto a Chelaxian lord who served in the nation’s naval fleet and needed a cabin boy. Fortunately, he was not a harsh master. He taught me courtly manners, so I would not embarrass him. He was stern, but a bit like a father to me.” He stopped mopping and sighed. ”Captain Harrigan killed him.”
—---------------
Main Hold (Atia and Destinie)
—----------------
Atia leaves the kitchen counting roughly 30 of the hard tack biscuits. She wasn’t looking forward to having to talk to every crew member. Glancing around, she saw Destinie and Sandara working nearby. She knew Destinie was brand new, like her, and both women were chatting amicably. Maybe she should start with someone nice, like them?
—---------------
Below Deck (Cassandra)
—----------------
Cassandra isn’t exactly the sort used to catching rats. Feeling out of her element, she makes her way to the lower parts of the ship, figuring vermin might be more plentiful there. She sees the halfling who’d beent sent down to the bilges with Joran emerging from the floor of the crew quarters, her pants wet and stained from the knees down, and Cassandra poses her question.
”Gods I f*!@ing hate it here,” the woman said, mostly to herself. She sighed and calmed herself down a bit. ”Look, lady, I’ve only been here a week myself. One minute I’m performing in a bar, the next I’m waking up here. I’m not a f+##ing pirate, I’m Rosie godsdamned Cusswell and this wasn’t supposed to happen to me. These c!#@s will find any and every excuse to f*&* you over, they’re bullies and I hope every last f#%*ing one of them dies painfully. My advice? Don’t get noticed. Easier said than done, though, since I go out of my damn way to and here I am being noticed by everyone.”
With a soft smile as he watches her leave, Note to self: When I finally escape this boat, take the halfling with me. Well, unless she tries to kill me.
Joran then gets to work cleaning the bilge. As he does, he looks over at the manacled man from time to time. At one point he looks to the top of the stairwell before looking back over at the prisoner. "I'm curious, Jake, why is no one suppose to talk to you, buddy? And how long have you been down here?"
"Ha, yeah last night I was doing a few Harrowings in one and then." Cass trails off for a moment before continuing "Well, you know the rest from there, might be better served watching out for each other though don't you think?" she adds hopefully. "though that may be the selfish side of me talking seeing as I can't seem to find any rats to save my life"
Atia hugs the basket to her side carefully, unwilling to allow an opening for anyone to steal an extra ration. She approaches Destinie and Sandara, offering a small smile to the two other women. "I've got...breakfast, I guess." She says, holding out two pieces of hardtack, one for each of the women. "How are you two holding up?"
----------------
Bilges (Joran)
-----------------
Jake doesn't say anything for a long moment. "Nobody gonna talk to me 'cause I'm a dead man." He finally said, quietly. He did not elaborate.
----------------
Below Deck(Cassandra)
-----------------
The halfling looks Cassandra over. "You're one of those fortune telling types, then? What's our future looking like? Actually, nevermind, don't f@~*ing tell me. I doubt it's anything good." She sighed. "And you're right about wanting eyes in the back of your damn skull here. So what the hells. I'm Rosie Cusswell." She looked around. "The trick is sneaking up on them before they sense you coming."
While she wasn't in the least tired from coiling ropes, it did make her hungry. Destinie took her portion readily... and put i5 down in embarrassment. "Thanks," she replied quietly before gesturing towards the redhead. "You can call me Des and this is Sandara Quinn whose friendlier than a pirate has any right to be."
She then took the time to examine the girl. "I can only guess that you made a good impression with the cook or else he wouldn't have given you extra food."
"Atia. Lovely to meet you both." She says, glancing between the two women. The courtesy was habitual, but her tone made it sincere.
"I made no such impression. Sir Fishguts ordered me to pass one out to everyone." She shudders a little bit, remembering a few of the faces she had seen on the deck earlier that day. She was not looking forward to having to speak to everyone and put her foot down when the inevitable begging for another ration ensued.
"I have no idea how they expect anyone to efficiently keep things going when we're eating crackers," she brandishes a piece of hardtack to punctuate her point, "and whatever horror Fishguts threw together today."
Cassandra and Seadreamer:DC 10 Stealth, Survival, or Dex checks to catch enough vermin to avoid Scourge's wrath.
Seadreamer heads down to the hold and starts to Hunt Vermin.
Coming out with a large bag of vermin which he unceremoniously dumps overboard.
While he is Vermin hunting, Seadreamer will gain the lay of the Ship, and try to figure out what is where.
Ustalav... - she says - ... Well, I honestly haven't heard much. I me'self could say I'm Garundi, like mah' parents, but was born onboard of a ship, and barely ever lived in something not constantly bobblin'around.
She pauses to process all the information Jack had just told her. Despite his openness - and apparent hatred towards the Captain - Katara is way too paranoid to let her own feelings out, limiting what she shares.
Sorry for your loss, mate. - the kineticist finally follows - 'Ya know, pirates will be pirates. But those people that sell, or buy, other people... They should probably share tha' blame for your pain.
She stops hammering for a moment and approaches him, daring to touch him on the shoulder and offer a smile.
'Ya know, maybe you feel lonely now. But look around... You're not. I'm here, and like me, many others too. - brief pause - Another orphan of the oceans, but Besmara took me in. Look beyond tha' swabbing, and you'll see the seas and all they offer to 'ya future. Hang on and it'll pay off big. 'Til then, enjoy the ride and tha' small pleasures!
"I got word on one way they keep us in line... and I hope you can hold your liquor or finesse your way out of drinking it," Destinie quipped. "Hey, if you manage to be a good cook, that would put you in the good graces of a lot of people."
----------------
Main Hold (Atia and Destinie)
-----------------
"My advice on distributing the food -- unless you think the person you're about to talk to might be friendly, and the pickings are slim on this ship, just shove the hardtack towards them and leave," Samsara suggested, with a gentle bit of criticism. "Don't try talking. You sound much too fancy and it'll put a big old target on your back."
---------------
Main Hold (Katara)
----------------
As you're conversing with Jack, you see the petite woman who ended up cook's assistant coming around with food, and you realize you're famished.
---------------
Quartermaster's Store (Seadreamer)
-----------------
You encounter a couple of locked doors as you search the ship for vermin, namely the private cabins of the captain and officers. You know better than to ask to enter those without being expressly ordered to. You do slip into the gallery, disturbingly finding a fair number of roaches where the food is, and then into the small room that serves as the quartermaster's store.
A half orc woman is inventorying her new stock, and you recognize your battle axe among the items. "Ahh, one of the new kids," she quipped. "Don't even ask. I know you can't afford anything, because Cap' already gave me all your gold.". She had a good chuckle at that, but tossed him a flask, after taking a drink from it herself. "But here's to new beginnings, eh?"
Katara sees the cook's assistant coming by, and taps gently on Jack's arm to let him know the food is coming.
My sincerest thanks, mate. - she tells the petite woman as she approaches - 'Aye honestly hope things at tha' kitchen are looking better for 'ya, huh?
The last part is practically whispered towards the woman for her ears only; the kineticist remembers she was just shanghaied together with her, and how she was thumping around and feeling daze when they were first awoken.
I'm starving! - she finally concludes, this time involving both Jack and the newcomer - ... Hope ya' had sum' spices for the chew!
DC 5
To new beginnings Seadreamer takes a quaff of the offered drink.
As for my gold, I guess I will have to earn it back, along with new things like that Battleaxe there.
He points at his axe, but makes no effort to get it. He then returns the flask.
Well, I guess it is back to vermin hunting. I thank you for the drink
He then carries on looking for vermin.
Atia wrinkles her nose at the information about the drink and nods. "It may be the only way I can tolerate sleeping on this..." Atia gestures widely at the ship, her noble politeness warring with her desire to insult the craft. "...this...bucket of bilge."
She shudders a little, then inclines her head to Sandara. "Your advice is much appreciated." She offers a small smile to the two women before setting her face to what she believes is a stony seriousness and moving along with her job.
---
Atia digs out a couple of bits of hardtack and hands them stoically to Katara and the small boy? man? Atia wasn't sure, but she didn't know either of them and decided to take Sandara's advice: don't talk too much. "Daily ration. No spices. I didn't make it." she says, short and quick, handing one to each of them and tucking the basket securely under her arm.
Cass takes a moment thinking before responding "Ah, Honestly I'd love to try and read your fortune if I could right now but without my cards I'd be doing little more than the charlatans on street corners" She stops a moment before trying to bring things up a bit "But you know, when you can't see the future its best to just make the best of what you can, and getting a few extra sets of eyes'll never hurt. anyone else worth making friends with who isn't going to try to slit my throat tonight for an extra share of food tomorrow?" she finishes
As she looks down she notices that there seem to be a fair few more rats and roaches in her bag than she remembers. "Well, it seems there's at least a few folks on our side" she says to Rosie before heading up to the main deck
Jake doesn't say anything for a long moment. "Nobody gonna talk to me 'cause I'm a dead man." He finally said, quietly. He did not elaborate.
As the man's words overtake him mentally while he works, Joran fails miserably. [i]You gotta get your head in the game, Joran. Stupid mistakes are made when you're not concentrating."Welp, Scourge is gonna have my hide for this one. Ah well, add it to my collection," he says, pointing to some older lash scars and shrugging.
He then runs a hand through his hair as his mind works to figure some way out for Jake. "Okay, so, if you don't mind me asking, why are you a dead man, Jake? And how long do you have?"
As soon as the noble woman left, Destinie sighed in response. "I really hope she doesn't get addicted to the alcohol."
With the task done, she stood back. "I can check on the newcomers to see which ones may be friends... or at least hate Scourge enough," she shrugged, but then smiled a bit.
"Thanks for fixing me up. Out of the two times I've been kidnapped by pirates today, this one was a lot better.
I saw some people rolling CON, not sure if I need to roll it together with my daily tasks.
I saw something about a +4 or something? Would that apply here? I know it still fails but for future reference.
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Bilges (Joran)
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Pumping effectively required a sort of rhythm, and as Joran tried to find it...the handle broke. Knowing the taskmaster was looking for reasons to abuse folk, and that he'd zeroed in on Joran already, he momentarily accepted the inevitable and decided to chat with Jake before facing the music.
"Stole from Grok's store. Caught red-handed. 'Spect I'll be the main event tonight." The man was shaking a bit talking about it, though he hid it fairly well.
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All Over the Ship (Atia)
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Atia spends the next half hour tracking down the members of the crew and getting them their food -- a more difficult task than she anticipated, with folks moving all over the place. Tilly takes a bit of pity on her and clues her in that the officers have their own rations of a higher quality, and spares her from having to approach the Captain or Mr. Scourge.
A few of the sailors give her a hard time, verbally, at least. Nicknames like "Princess" and "Little Girl" and even a "Strumpet" follow her, but keeping her mouth shut seems to prevent any worse antagonism.
She saves the riggers for last, and lets one of them haul the whole container up to divvy the spoils, sparing her from having to climb.
She sees Mr. Plugg watching her and does her best to ignore it, and returns to the relative safety of the galley as soon as possible. A half-orc woman was sitting backwards on a chair, one leg to either side, chatting with Kroop.
"Ah, she's back! Anybody give you any guff?" Kroop asked, brandishing his meat cleaver as if to threaten those who had, before chopping off a fish's head.
"Ah, so this is your little helper, eh?" the half orc asked. She was very lean and lanky, and her voice was feminine but a bit raspy. "Cut-Throat Grok. Pleased to meet you, if you can actually cook."
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Main Deck (Cassandra)
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Rosie nodded to Cassandra. "Handful aren't so bad. The redhead's Sandara. She's so f@$@ing nice you'd think it'd get her into trouble, but she follows Besmara and nobody wants to cross her for fear of her goddess's wrath. The kid Jack is a damn sweetheart. That new f%*~er in the bilges who came in with you lot might be okay. The gnome with the stupid ass hat is an annoying prick, but he's harmless." She gave a shrug. "I'm pretty new myself, Sandara's the only one I've really gotten to know at all."
Atia returns, feeling a bit harried by all of the verbal harassment. She knows this is ship life, but being faced with it head on is a whole different thing. Just something else she'll need to get used to if she's going to be any good at the whole...pirating thing.
She shakes her head in reply to Kroop, setting the basket down. "Just people calling me rude things. Nothing I cannot handle." She smiles at Cut-Throat Grok and inclines her head politely. "Atia. Nice to meet you. I dabbled in alchemy at home and spent many punishments in the kitchens. I'm no chef, but I think I can manage."
She glances around the kitchen, taking in what she has to work with in detail for the first time. "Might not hurt if we had like...a cookbook or something," she says, looking hopefully between Kroop and Grok. "I had some books in my possessions..."
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Bilges (Joran)
-------------------Pumping effectively required a sort of rhythm, and as Joran tried to find it...the handle broke. Knowing the taskmaster was looking for reasons to abuse folk, and that he'd zeroed in on Joran already, he momentarily accepted the inevitable and decided to chat with Jake before facing the music.
"Stole from Grok's store. Caught red-handed. 'Spect I'll be the main event tonight." The man was shaking a bit talking about it, though he hid it fairly well.
Crossing his arms as he thinks a moment, "Okay, Jake, can you tell me if there's any way to lessen the punishment? Any way to avoid them killing you? If you know of any way possible, tell me and I'll do everything in my power to get you at the worst lashes instead of keelhauled. I know that's not saying much seeing how I'm new here and Scourge hates me something special but you gotta admit, it's better than nothing," he says, shrugging.
Grok and Kroop pointedly look around the galley. The cramped and chaotic kitchen holds two wooden worktables, several wooden cupboards, and two small stoves against the port wall, as well as virtually every cooking utensil imaginable and a frightening array of meat cleavers.
A score of chickens and three goats wander freely throughout the chamber; the goats are meant to be caged, but seem to have a distressing tendency to escape their bonds. The kitchen is a madness of dirt, food, and knives, and finding anything specific will be a chore for certain.
The stoves are perpetually lit, and large cauldrons bubble away atop them all times. A huge array of spices mingle with barrels of rainwater, two tuns of rum, cupboards full of ship’s biscuit and salted beef, barrels of sauerkraut, and a small supply of fresh vegetables picked up in Port Peril.
Atia realizes that she might really have her work cut out for her, if she wants to turn this place into a respectable and hygienic place for food.
Grok ignores the thinly veiled inquiry about Atia's spellbook, and excuses herself. "I'll leave you to it!". Kroop shrugs and gets to cooking, occasionally asking Atia to hand him something or mix something, drinking heavily while he works. Atia has a bit of time to tidy part of the kitchen.
Hours pass. Despite the appearance, Kroop's stew starts to smell like food. A woman enters, apparently to fetch the good food for the Captain. Atia notices she tastes all of it before taking it away. "Testing for poison," Kroop explains. "Don't even think about trying it, girlie, or you'll get us both triple keelhauled. Captain is not a forgiving man.". A loud bell rang on deck, audible even here. He sighed. "Speaking of which, let's go. Is time for the bloody hour."
Jake snorts and shakes his head. "Don't know who you are, friends, but you're a right lunatic putting your neck out for someone you just met. So I'll do you a favor in return. Forget we talked. Don't say a f!&#ing thing to anyone about even laying eyes on me. You try and defend me up there, you're a goner, mate. You think Scourge is bad? Sure he is. But Plugg's worse. A sadistic freak who gets off on causing pain. And the Captain makes both of them look like sheltered acolytes of Shelyn. He'd gut his own mother if it served his ends."
Jake was quiet a long moment. "You wanna help me? Talk to me about better times. Least for a while, to keep my mind from thinking about what's to come." .
Hours passed. Jake told you a bit about his life. He'd once sailed under Captain "Iron Bert" Smythee, who'd been a goodly sort, commanding with respect instead of fear. He'd been in a bloody feud with another Captain, Carola Antiochus, and he'd been lured to the edges of the Eye of Abendego hunting her down. She tricked him, though -- she'd made an ally of Captain Harrigan. They ambushed Smythee, and decimated his ship. Jake had been given the option of joining Harrigan's crew or going down with Smythee. "I should have stayed with him. Would have been a better way to go. But he gave me this look. I knew him well enough to know he wanted me to save my own skin, and get back to my boy one day. Never managed that though, did I?".
He frowned. "Joran. Thank you. There is something more I'd ask of you, though. There's a letter in my breast pocket, wrapped in oilskin. Wrote it for my son. He's only about ten now. Should you ever find yourself near Tidewater Rock... I'd consider it a kindness if it found is way into his hands. His name is Mardus Siggs.". He smiled at saying the name aloud. "Now you should go. They'll be coming for me soon. The bloody hour is almost upon us."
The day was long, hot, and tiring. When the bell rang at dusk, there was a collective slumping as the crew put down their work, stretching sore muscles and drinking water from the barrels.
Everyone moved to the main deck by habit. Those of you with new allies were told this was known as the bloody hour-- the time right before supper when punishments were publicly meted out. All of you were ushered to the deck alongside the rest of the crew. You heard solid bootfalls heralding the arrival of the Captain on the deck above. He stood at the rail, looking down over you all. Plugg and Scourge stood to either side.
"Before we deal with our thief, it seems we have another small matter to attend to," Harrigan announced calmly. "A new recruit who has failed to pull his weight."
Scourge looked right at Joran, grinning with cruel delight, twirling the broken handle of the bilge pump.
"Gentlemen. Let us show the young man what happens when you shirk your tasks on my vessel."
Plugg strode down the stairs, Scourge at his heels like an excited puppy. The crew parted for them until Plugg stood directly in front of Joran, staring at him impassively. "The penalty for a first offense is three lashes," he said calmly, as if discussing the weather. He paused for a dramatic moment. "Take her."
Scourge and a pair of his flunkies grabbed Rosie, who yelped in surprise as they began carrying her to the mainmast.
Katara observes, silently, as Rosie is carried to the mainmast. What a sadistic, brute bunch, are her thoughts. Yet, she can't deny it's effective: she knows she is powerless against what's happening, and knows to keep her tongue well locked in her mouth. There would be a time and a place for payback later.
The young woman eyes try to avert the sight for a moment. Blood will splatter, she knows, maybe even on her. The kineticist lets her thoughts go take her around the faces on the ship: all the newcomers, like her, the other very few that showed any sympathy, and of course those forsaken.
Sadistic and Rude, and not very effective.
Great way to drive the crew to revolt.
My da always said, use the CAT only when it endangers the ship.
He quickly looks around to see who else might be revolted from the spectacle of the whipping.
He locks his face into a stony grimace and slowly shakes his head.
For now, do the job, and try to figure out whom else might be interested in getting off this hell ship