One of the more intriguing members of the crew is Owlbear Hartshorn. He doesn't really do anyhting and is usually kept below decks chained near the entrance to the officers' quarters. Owlbear Hartshorn is a large man with meaty fists. He’s a bit simple, and the rest of the crew enjoys having a laugh at the poor fellow’s expense. To try to make friends, Hartshorn has taken to clowning, laughing, and crying out random phrases at the top of his voice, as this seems to make people laugh. Owlbear likes to eat live crabs, breaking the shells with his teeth and fingers, and his shaved skin still shows signs of the tarring and feathering the crew gave him as a cruel joke not so long ago.
You have been told that occasionally Plug brings him above decks in the evening when there is someone he wants killed or made an example of. This evening, Plugg and his cronies lead Owlbear onto deck just after the evening meal “for a bit of sport” and dare one of you to take him on—bare-knuckle fists or wrestling only, no magic tricks, and the last one conscious wins. To make it interesting, Plugg tosses down a purse of 100 gp as a wager on Owlbear.
"You want some exercise?" - Helgash elbowed Onnello, and nodded at the Owlbear character - "Otherwise I may take up the challenge - one hundred gold sails is worth it" - he chuckled - "And it is best being punched around, than the boredom that has fallen over this place lately..." - he added.
"He looks like he hits hard, so I guess the key is to not get hit."
Sebastion says with a laugh.
"He might be slow though."
Nivian finds a place near some of the old crew she managed to befriend:"He looks brutish. Stupid but strong. Not the first time they do this, I'd wager? Anything worth knowing or keeping an eye out for? If Onello does go up against him, I'd prefer he knows what he's getting into..."
Both Onnello and Sebastion notice that Owlbear is blind in his left eye. If you are able to keep to that side, you will gain a significant defensive advantage (essentially, every round you can make an Acrobatics check, if you succeed, you automatically make Owlbear miss).
"I'll wager 10 gold on the big half-elf" - Helgash said to no one in particular.
Plugg looks at your group with barely concealed glee. At Onnello's comment, he laughs.
"Rules? I already said no weapons or magic tricks. And to make sure you aren't hiding anything, you fight just like Owlbear, shirtless. That way we can see the welts as he pounds you."
Plugg's cronies, “Narwhal” Tate among them, laugh at your group.
Ioney raises an eyebrow. "A fight? Against that brute? If one of you wants to give that a go, all I can say is Bless You. Even if you do have to give it a go stripped to the waist."
Helgash chuckled at Onnello, getting up - "And why the hell not? I could do with some sparring" - he added.
When he took off his shirt everyone could see the extensive tattoos all over his upper torso, whirling and entwined patterns of black, as if tentacles or billowing smoke. Across his back other thing is also evident - old scars in a crisscross pattern.
"It seems I am your man" - he stepped forward, flexing his hands, shaking his arms and cracking his neck to relax some.
"Well met. I am Helgash" - he nodded at Owlbear.
As Helgash steps forward and strips off his shirt, the crew gets very boisterous. There is a flurry of bets going on. Plugg, Scourge, and their cronies start making comments about how Helgash will be fish bait soon.
Helgash, you can make a Sense Motive check about Owlbear if you want.
"I'll take that bet!" Yells Slippery Syl Lonegan to Onnello.
"Yer friend is goin' to get crushed! That outa teach the lot o' ya to keep in your place."
Ioney steps out and starts doing his thing, modified for the situation. "And so we have it! Plugg has brought out his pet to demonstrate his might to the newcomers. The cook's mate, Helgash, scourge of the bilge, accepts the challenge and moves forward to join Owlbear in combat! Will he fold as easily as expected, or will he demonstrate he's made of stronger stuff than expected? Is Helgash the same kind of weakling I am, or is he a warrior ready and capable to go take some booty?"
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Helgash grunted as his opponent did not even answer - "Ok then..."
Chuckling at Ioney's words, the half-orc moved around Owlbear, measuring him for a few seconds, keeping in mind what Onnello has just told him.
Then he simply stroke forward with a quick jab.
------
Helgash, you think that the big man doesn't really understand what a fight is, he thinks it's a game.
Helgash successfully evades Owlbear's swing and lands a solid punch. You're up again.
Lonegan gives Onnello a look of disgust and contempt.
"Ye ain't got nothin' I want, scrub, just yer gold."
Helgash, you think that the big man doesn't really understand what a fight is, he thinks it's a game.
Helgash successfully evades Owlbear's swing and lands a solid punch. You're up again.
The half-orc continues moving around Owlbear, trying to stay on the side where the big man has poor vision.
And he throws another jab.
------
Nivian watches the fight, disapprovingly. Not because it was cruel entertainment, but because it was clearly intended to drive a wedge between the "newcomers" and the existing crew.
When Nivian had tried so hard to build some bridges, to find common ground. There were few reasons she could think of why officers would want their crew divided, and most were not pleasant.
Again, Helgash successfully evades Owlbear's clumsy swings. Helgash lands another punch. With that, Plugg kicks a club onto the deck behind Owlbear. Owlbear steps back and picks it up.
"Are you sure you want to play it like that?" - Helgash spat - "Let's do it then..." - he added, continuing to circle Owlbear.
------
At Onnello's comment, Plugg's cronies laugh uproarously. When Onnello starts looking for a weapon for Helgash, Plugg's face darkens and he wags his finger at you.
"You toss him a weapon and you'll both be up for lashing."
Helgash continues to dodge Owlbear's swings, ducking under his club, Helgash delivers another jab, landing another solid blow. After this hit, Owlbera begins to cry and tries to back away, but Plugg and his cronies push him back into the circle. Owlbear drops the club and covers his face, mewling like a hurt kitten.
Helgash flexes his fists a couple of times while he stares at Owlbear, pondering...
"Yeah... Not so funny when playing lapdog for others, is it?" - he spoke to the big man - "Wipe those damned tears, don't give them the satisfaction" - he added with a snarl, looking at Plugg.
You notice that Captain Harrigan is on the poop deck watching, having apprently come up while everyone was watching the fight. He gives Helgash an almost respectful nod. Plugg, is furious, but noticing the captain, throws the bag of gold at Helgash's feet and stalks away. All other bets are settled as well (apparently, such things are sacrosanct on a pirate ship, and with the captain watching no one dares to welsh on a bet).
Owlbear suppresses some sniffles and looks at Helgash with what appears to be genuine appreciation before being shackled and roughly dragged away by Plugg.
"Helgash ducks under Owlbear's left arm, landing a solid jab in the bigger man's ribs! Owlbear turns, trying to get the quicker man to stay in front of him, but he ducks to his right again, reaching up to connect with another jab to the bigger man's jaw! As the two circle for position, Owlbear stumbles on a club laying on the deck! Where did that come from? He turns and brings it to bear on the cook's mate, who easily dodges the club, popping up almost behind the big man and landing ANOTHER hit, this time near the kidneys! And that's the fight, folks! The big man is submitting, asking for the beating to stop! Helgash has shown he's mighty enough to deserve a spot on the crew!"
Sebastion watches the fight, mainly to judge Helgash's style. Owlbear looked scary, but he was too clumsy to be a real threat, although even the clumsy get lucky sometimes and Owlbear looked like he only needed to get lucky once. Sebastion notices the dark look that Lonegan gives Onnello.
That one will be a problem, we better watch our backs.
Helgash grabbed the money - "This will come in handy" - he grunted, retrieving his shirt.
"Deal" - Helgash nodded at Onnello - "But do you think being able to carry blades around is only a matter of paying for it?" - he added in private - "For some reason I was under the impression they did not take it lightly for us scrubs to be walking around armed. That is why I only carry this" - he nodded at the dagger in his boot.
Sebastion comes up on Helgash and Onnello.
"I see you've made a frined."
He says as he nods toward Lonegan.
Responding to Helgash's comment.
"I don't think we could get away with carrying our swords, I most defintely will not allow them to see I have my family sword back, but everyone is wearing knives of some sort or another. I think we can get away with those."
"You are probably right" - Helgash nodded at Sebastian - "But we really should ask around. I am ok with a dagger, but I feel naked without my blade" - he added to both of them - "If you boys have made any connections, ask them what is the rule for weapon carrying around here, for new grunts like us? I will do the same"
Asking around, you find that no one carries a sword while working (except officers), but every one is expected to have some sort of knife as it is practically required for work. Some of the crew actually carry several small blades. Swords and such are stored in lockers or the armory to be handed out for boarding actions.
The next morning, both Ioney and Nivian awake with a severe fever.
They are still expected to work. The next three days pass in the usual tasks, but the end of the 3rd day sees a worsening of the weather.
Onnello has some productuve nights. The first night he successfully opens the metal trunk. The second night you successfully open the wooden trunk (which had no trap). The third night, you set off an arrow trap, but successfully get into the chest.
Metal Trunk:
A very nice dagger, shortsword, and warhammer. several scrolls and a wand.
Wooden Trunk (this is more like a large wardrobe cabinet):
Contains a suit of banded mail, a breastplate, two chain shirts, masterwork leather armor, three suits of studded leather armor, 12 bucklers, two masterwork bucklers, and a small cash box containing 231 cp, 99 sp, and 103 gp.
Wooden Chest:
Contains a nice light crossbow, three cutlasses (see Pirates of the Inner Sea), 31 daggers, three nice daggers, 43 nice darts, four saps, a nice sap, 120 arrows, 20 nice arrows, six nice arrows, and 200 crossbow bolts.
Enjoying the good moment after the fight against Owlbear, Helgash comes a little more out of his shell.
Most of his time is still spent in the kitchen - he enjoys the peace and quiet down there, but now every once in a while he roams around the ship, engaging others in conversation.
Heal can be made untrained.