Cap'n Dudemeister's page

*round of applause and an extra rum ration for your crew!*

Skull and Shackles Players have survived their first week on the Wormwood, as well as their first storm, they're absolutely smashing their way through influence checks but the action is about to ramp up and Plugg and Scourge have taken notice.

Wormwood Mutiny: Pressganged!
Day 1: 13 Desnus 4713

“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!” The bark of the Bo'sun Master Scourge was punctuated with a whipcrack.
The pressganged members, rolled off the floor and stood, woozily at best. Though they were full of questions, Scourge was hardly forthcoming with answers, except to bark orders and with the group of well armed heavies he brought down with him "encouraged" the pressganged pirates up the stairs. Only briefly taken by surprise as young Cephia fell out of the rafters onto the ground.

Once abovedecks the pressganged pirates found themselves stood before the Quarterdeck, Captain Harrigan stood behind the wheel.
“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.”
With that Captain Harrigan and his cabingirl/bodyguard Caulky Taroon headed for his quarters.
"Welcome to the Wormwood," Mister Plugg taunted.

With their first opportunity to actually get their bearings the pressganged pirates realised that they recognised some faces around them, old friends and acquaintances from times past. Along with Breaker Bones ('How had he survived the wreck of the prison ship?' Wondered the clever half-orc Julian) and an unknown dwarf in a heavy cloak puffing on a pipe.
"Hard to know what manner of catch our nets have dragged in. So let's start with a little game. A race to the Crow's Nest," He pointed up to the nest at the top of the mast, "Your prize for gold and silver? Avoiding a lashing at the next bloody hour. Begin!"
Still groggy from the heatstroke Julian found himself quickly tangled in the ropes, while Flynn found his calloused hand slipping off the ropes but his natural aerial nature helped compensate. Aubrey, a nimble climber since childhood took an early lead. While Cephalia and Breaker Bones taking his climb slowly and steadily. Meanwhile both undines Aselia and Marina refused to continue the climb, enduring Master Scourge's frustrated shouting and the accompanying lashing. As well as tally marks in Mr Plugg's notepad.
Julian and the Dwarf continued to struggle in the ropes. Cephalia whispered in Druidic, her hands growing subtle webbing and her big toes elongated and changed to an opposable formation. With that she shot up the rigging faster than any of her competition could hope, the crew on deck shouting and whooping their approval at her speed. Without a chance to stop the little halfling Aubrey pushed higher, forced to settle for the silver.
With that test complete, Mr Plugg looked over ath the pressganged pirates.
"At least a couple of you have shown some basic proficiency. Nothing I would call impressive. Now for my next test. Any of you lot know how to cook?"
The party looked at each other nervously.
"I'm willing to learn?" Offered Flynn.
"Good enough for me. Head to the Galley and report to the Cook Fishguts Kroop," Plugg ordered, then turned to the rest.
"As for the rest of you," He looked them over as if taking their measure, "Your blood is staining my deck, grab a prayer stone and a mop and clean that up," he said to Aselia.
"You there quit flapping your hands about and head to the bilge," he ordered Marina.
Looking at the sleight frame of Julian he put him on Rope Hauling and Knot Work.
The pressganged pirates took some time to get their bearings a little, and get to know their fellow pirates.

Aselia took some time to chat with a fatalistic swabbie named Crimson Cogward. Aubrey tried to get to know her nest-mate Ratline Ratsberger, but failed to make an impression. Julian got to know a halfling by the name of Giffer Tibbs, to the detriment of his work. Marina meanwhile managed to get to know a slightly tipsy pirate called Tilly Bracket, asking about the barely conscious pirate chained to the wall. The chained pirate was named Jakes Magpie, and apparently he had been caught stealing from his fellow pirates, and was due for a major punishment at Bloody Hour. Cephalia decided to keep her head down and work diligently at her task.
Meanwhile in the Galley, Flynn was greeted by a half-orc woman by the name of Cut-Throat Grok, the Wormwood's quartermaster. He was quick to turn on the charm, figuring having the Quartermaster on-side would
Before they knew it there was the ringing of the Wormwood Clock, an ominous tune, marking the Bloody Hour.
The crew was brought to the deck along with the officers to watch Jakes Magpie get dragged in chains aboard the deck.
"Any last words?" growled Master Scourge. Magpie spat blood through dry, cracked lips.
"I'd do it again, and go f*** yourself."
Mr Plugg began to sing:
"My friends, I stand before you
To tell a truth most dire
There lurks a traitor in our midsts
Who hath invoked the captain's ire
He don't deserve no mercy
We ought to shoot him with a gun
But I am not an evil man
So first let's have a little fun
We'll tie that scoundrel to a rope
And throw him overboard
Drag him underneath the ship
A terrifying, deadly trip"
At which point the whole crew (minus the pressganged pirates) joined in chorus:
"Keelhaul that filthy landlubber
Send him down to the depths below
Make that bastard walk the plank
With a bottle of rum and a yo ho ho
Keelhaul that filthy landlubber
Send him down to the depths below
Make that bastard walk the plank
With a bottle of rum and a yo ho ho
I will not say what he has done
His sins are far too grave to tell
It's not my place to judge a man
But for them he will burn in hell
The sharks will dine upon his flesh
And Davy Jones will have his soul
Take his money and his hat
He won't need them where he's gonna go
But first let's tie him to a rope
And throw him overboard
Drag him underneath the ship
A terrifying, deadly trip
Keelhaul that filthy landlubber
Send him down to the depths below
Make that bastard walk the plank
With a bottle of rum and a yo ho ho
Keelhaul that filthy landlubber
Send him down to the depths below
Make that bastard walk the plank
With a bottle of rum and a yo ho ho
We'll tie that scoundrel to a rope
And throw him overboard
Drag him underneath the ship
A terrifying deadly trip
Keelhaul that filthy landlubber
Send him down to the depths below
Make that bastard walk the plank
With a bottle of rum and a yo ho ho
Keelhaul that filthy landlubber
Send him down to the depths below
Make that bastard walk the plank
With a bottle of rum and a yo ho ho!"
What was left of Jakes Magpie when pulled up the other side of the ship was barely recognizable as human, a lacerated mess of briny, bloody, flesh. Aubrey and Marina approached the corpse.
"Volunteers to toss this mess to the sharks I see? Let it be a lesson to you all, discipline aboard this ship is strictly enforced."
Marina tore a chunk of the bloody flesh from Jakes Magpie, and bit into it maintaining eye contact with Plugg. A silent promise, that Plugg's days were numbered. The horrifying moment was observed by all aboard the deck. A perfect moment for Aubrey to surrepticiously slip some flesh off the corpse to sate her own endless hunger. Fine young cannibals indeed.
Rum, rations and entertainment followed, as some watered down their rum into grog, and others snuck their ration over the side. Julian unfortunately was caught spilling his rum ration, ratted out by Fipps Chumlett, and given a straight shot, but orcs are able to deal with the strong stuff.
Aselia immediately took the opportunity to Gamble on an armwrestling competition between Fipps and Rosie Cusswell, her keen gambler's eye assessed the halfling as a profitable dark horse. Despite having no cash on her she gambled an additional alotment of work for 5 gp. Aselia was quick to congratulate Rosie on her victory, he learned she was a foul-mouthed braggart of a winner, but also desired the return of her Fiddle from the Quartermaster's store.
Aubrey sought out a little information about Ratline, and learned he was in-line for the Bo'sun position, but lost the vote for the position and has been keeping his head down since. As a long-term member of the ship he would be useful contact. So she once again tried to make an impression on him, and was politely rebuffed. Ratline preferred to keep his relationships aboard the ship professional. Aubrey was bored now, she added him to a mental list of enemies.
Julian placed a bet on a game of hock the Loogie between Barefoot Sams and Narwhal Tate with a pirate called Terrible Terry. He won handily by betting on Tate, but Terry didn't have the full amount he wagered, so Julian accepted the 4 gp.
Marina spent some time talking to Cut-Throat Grok, asking if she could have her violin back of an evening to entertain the crew. Grok agreed knowing it would annoy Rosie.
Flynn decided to keep up the charm offensive on Grok, and she had enough to drink that she brought him back to the Quartermaster's store for a bit of sexy fun. Once it was complete, Grok offered Flynn his gear back to get dressed into.
Cephalia meanwhile called an early night.
During last watch, Aubrey, Aselia and Marina decided then to turn in for the evening, while Flynn and Julian decided to go sneaking about. Julian snuck into the Quartermaster's store (finding it unlocked), and studied his spell-book for some spells that would be useful for survival aboard the wormwood, and to study the Quartermaster's ledger. He also swiped a set of thieve's tools not properly accounted for on the ledger. Flynn headed to the deck to find the Thrush that was in his pocket when he was captured, but in the dark he was unable to find it. He headed back to his bunk in order to grab a precious few moments of sleep before another dawn awakening, he noticed Cephalia slipped into her bunk around the same time with a look of recognition.
Next Time: Laying Down the Law

Prologue: Tides of Fate
Wherein the Fates of Six Pirates Intwine across the seas of Golarion.
On the island of Devil's Arches, four children sought fortune in the forbidden ruins of this island. Aubrey Wynn, a half-elven girl, Julian Skrith a half-orc boy, and two other girls Sandara Quinn and Natalia Devlin snuck out of the town of Hell Harbour, avoiding Admiral Endymion's Gendarme. Once in the jungles, the children followed goat paths and animal trails to one of the forbidden ruined arches. Luckily Julian cleverly packed rope for the expedition so the children could climb down safely. Following unseen by the children a terrible reptilian predator stalking the vulnerable prey.
Julian noted a strange rune at the top of one of the arches, unsure of the translation he was near certain the rune represented "Treasure". That's all young Aubrey needed to hear, she began clambering up ruins to reach the rune, unfortunately the ancient stone crumbled under her hand. Aubrey fell, crashing hard into the ground below, which crumbled underneath her sending her into some dark subterranean cave.
"Aubrey!" Called out Sandara, "We have to help her!"
She turned and saw why Julian and Natalia hadn't reacted to Aubrey's fall.
Rearing up on a serpentine lower half a vaguely draconic creature with a vibrating ring of feathers around its head full of cobra-like fangs, unusually this serpentine creature also possessed a pair of small yet powerful serpentine arms.
Hissing agressively as its feathers lit hypnotically Natalia was frozen either by some primal magic the beast possessed or fear. Without hesitation Julian stepped forward in front of the girl, prompting the creature to strike. Biting hard and wrapping around the slight frame of the half-orc boy. Pumped full of poison, and unable to wriggle free Julian passed out...

Beneath their feet, Aubrey rolled out of the way of the earth and stone that followed her into the hole. Unable to see her hand in front of her own face. Aubrey stood up, and shut her eyes. Relying on her hearing and smell to navigate the space. Overwhelmingly the room smelled of iron and copper... blood. Then that red glow beyond her eyelids, she looked up.
A mural, a shapely woman with 6 arms, each holding a piercing weapon, serpentine lower-half, a mouth full of needle-sharp teeth and in the center of her head a single glowing, red eye. A shard of a blood red jewel set in its pupil.
Looking up at this impressive relief, Aubrey could only look into the eye and desired it. Once again scrambling up the wall as quickly as she could she cut herself on one of the stone weapons depicted there. Reaching out with a bloody hand she grabbed ahold of the jewel. There was a pulse of power, and a thrum of energy through the island...

Elsewhere deep below the Shackles, an undine mercenary dedicated to Gozreh, named Aselia patted the clamshell of coin she received from the ancient sea hag. A downpayment for services rendered: "Get the Girl to the surface, where sharks can't track her scent." In the cosmopolitan subaquatic village of Coral, a pack of weresharks hunted. Aselia bided her time to set an ambush, her spot chosen she watched as the young undine princess Marina swam past chased by the weresharks.
Aselia struck! Stabbing the wereshark in the tail, and pinning him to a nearby coral structure. The other wereshark bit hard into the vulnerable flesh of Marina. She screamed silently and passed out. Blood exploding into the water from the bite. Marina began convulsing, and the blood in the water began to coalesce into the shape of a dread shark. Taking on form and substance the hemoshark tore Marina's assailant in half. Aselia dived out of the way as it torpedoed towards the other wereshark. Scooping up the young Aselia the pair swam towards the surface...
A small halfling girl sits in the dark hold of a slaver ship, along with a number of other halflings stand terrified. An older halfling puts a comforting arm on the shoulder of the girl: "Don't worry, this weather will pass."
She looked up at him wide-eyed and smiled a mischievious smile.
"Don't worry Besmara has it all in hand."
Suddenly the ship capsized as a massive tentacle raised up out of the sea, dragging the slaver ship beneath the waves. Water began geysering up the grate into the hold. The halflings began to panic, all except one. A great cephalapoidal eye looked up into the hold. Young Cephia Lopodia found her faith. When a drowning sailor pressed against the great the eye moved, and was replaced with a vicious toothy beak tearing through the corpse and planks alike. Seeing her opportunity Cephia dove into the water, swimming as hard as her tiny body would take her. Her body and lungs burning, she inhaled a reflexive breath under water, and found herself drowning, the dark water fading to perfect black.
She awoke, sitting on the surface of a black sea, an endless starscape above reflected on its surface and upon the surface of that water a massive ship built from the bones of some incredible draconic leviathan looked down upon the girl.
"Such a small catch Captain, I doubt she'll make a capable sailor."
The voice of Besmara's ship the Kelpie's Wrath echoed in the girl's head. A beautiful woman stepped up on the forecastle rail, looking down at the girl.
"Very well then, let's toss her back in so this minnow can grow into a marlin. Back to the living sea with ye girl!"
Suddenly the solid surface of the sea was liquid again. Cephia felt sand beneath her fingers and began coughing sea-water. Somewhere on the coast of Bag Isle a halfling voice called out: "Look! Over there! A girl, a survivor!"

***
Years later, far from the Shackles at the edge of the Inner Sea in some tiny Taldane port town a grizzled old sea Captain by the name of Morgan was interviewing a prospective young pirate to assist on his smuggling ship. A windswept young man sat across from the Pirate, spinning lies and half-truths saying anything he could to get aboard this ship and away from his pursuers.
"Quite an impressive resume," Morgan laughed, "Truth be told, ye've got a quick mind and that's all I need to teach ye the rest. Welcome aboard the Misty Mourner. Yer in like Flynn matey, though I suppose I should ask you what's your name boyo?"
The windswept man flashed a charming smile... "Why Flynn of course! Flynn Montair."
***
Years later still, at the edge of the Shackles, an older, more handsome Julian Skrith sits chained on a prison ship headed for Deepmar. Next to him a massive Mwangi Man called Breaker Bones sits alongside him. Exhausted from long days rowing, Julian drops the oar. The Chelish sailor guarding the prisoners stepped forward with a club. Ready to beat Julian.
"Hold sailor, I wish to talk to this deserter," a finely dressed noblewoman interrupted the expected beating.
Julian and his fellow prisoner were led to the Captain's cabin, well appointed, but vacated for this noblewoman.
"Let me tell you about Angels. See you were rightfully convicted of the Sin of Dersertion. You made a solemn vow, and signed a contract with Admiralty of Her Majestrix's Navy. In Cheliax we take vows and contracts very seriously, the great nation invested their funds and faith in you. Yet you fled your duties, and your obligations."
Julian listened in silence, this woman liked to talk, and listening hurt less than rowing.
"In any case, I am a reformist, I don't believe every sin must result in an eternity of punishment. I believe in the possibility of absolution and redemption. And so I come as an angel to deliver you from the hell that awaits you at Deepmar with a simple deal. I let you free in the Shackles, to live your life as you see fit. On occasion you will be contacted to provide reports. Simply answer questions honestly when asked and you will avoid a painful death of black lung, forgotten in the depths of Deepmar. What say you?"
Julian considered the question for a long time.
"I'm going to need more precise terms than that before I agree to anything."
"I'm afraid this is the deal at the moment. So choose wisely prisoner Skrith, because there's one thing you should know about angels. Everybody only gets one."
Julian again took a moment to pull together his thoughts, before finally responding.
"Your deal sounds very good. But I must politely decline. I am not inclined to trade these chains for the invisible ones you offer."
"An interesting decision from a man facing life in a hole, but one I suspect will change with a little more perspective. Sailor?" She calls for the guard just outside the door.
"Put him in the box."
For a long week Julian was confined to a steel box on the deck of the prison ship, nothing but his sweat and waste for company. Once per day he was given a moment of freedom and air only long enough to answer the lady's question.
"Do you agree to my terms?"
The response, spoken through chapped lips and with exhaustion always was the same.
"No."
Julian was in the box when the leviathan struck, tearing the ship to shreds. Some kind of divine provenance kept that box afloat upon a piece of the deck. Locked in a steel box with no food or water, Julian had traded one death for another.

Upon the deck of the Misty Mourner one foggy morning Flynn called from the crow's nest: "Ship aftward Captain! Looks like a Chelish Galleon." Flynn grabbed a line to swing down to the deck. Morgan whispered some rapid orders to his crewmen. As a smuggling ship the Mourner had been through this routine a dozen times. He turned to his newest recruit "Miss Aselia, remind me do you have any outstanding warrants, bounties or debts in Cheliax?"
"No sir," Aselia answered promptly.
"Good, we've got contraband aboard, Ms Aselia and Mr Montair, you'll be lowered down the jollyboat on the port-side of the ship with a lockbox full of contraband. We'll play it cool, and be back to sailing with this patrol ship in our wake soon enough mateys."
The jollyboat was lowered to the water, Flynn and Aselia hidden under a tarp and the boat pulled close to the Misty Mourner. The Chelish boarded the ship.
"Good morning Captain?"
"Smith, we're a simple merchant ship, trading under an Isgeri flag, good to see an ally out in these waters."
"Indeed Captain, I'm sure our diviners will see to it that everything is in order."
Long tense minutes passed, with only the muffled sound of the Chelish mariners searching the ship.
Eventually voices from the deck: "All goods appear to match your manifests captain, we merely need to cross-reference your papers with our logs and we'll have you on your way Captain Smith."
Flynn released a long held breath: "Glad that's over."
Aselia's long history of ill-fated encounters caused a moment of dread to sink into her stomach.
After some minutes a voice, magically projected from the Chelish ship.
"Captain Morgan! It is my pleasure as a Captain in service to her Majestrix to pronounce you a smuggler and a pirate, guilty of multiple crimes against Cheliax. You and your crew have been sentenced to death, by cannonfire, until your ship burns to the waterline."
Flynn prepared himself to return to the ship to defend it, but Aselia already was prepared by capsizing the jollyboat. Their only chance of survival, hiding amongst the wreckage...
After the thunder and clamour of the canonfire was over eventually all was quiet again on the seas. Aselia and Flynn righted the Jollyboat, and began the long arduous process of rowing...

Witness reader, as we leave the sun boiled ocean for the city of Port Peril, crown jewel of the Shackles. A seedy dive bar by the name of the Formidably Maid. A beautiful Undine plays a soulful violin, and is accompanied by a beautiful half-elven singer. Marina and Aubrey enchanted the whole bar, every piratical patron stopped their brawling and chaos to watch and listen intently. After the song, a handsome young pirate, bald except for a single braid, shirtless but wearing a fancy coat, approached.
"Captain Harrigan was impressed by your music, and would like to invite you for a drink."
Excited to meet such an incredible pirate legend, Aubrey and Marina agreed. Marina signed an order for Rum, and Aubrey asked for "anything interesting"
"I haven't heard such beautiful music since my dear sweet mother, on the island where I was born. I had to buy ye each a drink."
The women were excited to meet the Captain and his officers, and soon the handsome pirate Plugg arrived with rum and a strange drink in a grail with smoke or steam rising out if it, a lot of umbrellas and a crazy straw.
The girls toasted their fortuitous meeting and drank, hoping to sign on with Captain Harrigan, until the room started spinning.
"You could have just asked," slurred Aubrey as she passed out.

Days later, somewhere in that water the Mourner's survivors discovered a metal hotbox, with a barely conscious half-orc inside, they pulled him aboard, but days from food and exhausted from the heat these survivors fell unconscious one-by-one, until only Aselia witnessed a ship with a great draconic figurehead.
"What have we here Master Scourge?"
"Looks like the fishing nets have caught some little fishies Mr Plugg."
"Ahoy there! Prepare to be boarded!" Called Plugg.
"No thank you!" Said Aselia rowing as quickly as she could away.
"Fire the cannon."
The jaw of the dragon opened and breathed cannonshot and flame, the explosion that followed sent the members of the jollyboat and its contents sprawling across the ocean.
The laughter of the Crew of the Wormwood was the last thing that Aselia remembered before falling unconscious...

To be Continued...

Aye, t'is a fine tale! The crew shall sing a mighty sea shanty to honor the tale. An extra rum ration for the author!

"Yarr! I'm Fly Or Die With Besmara!"

"'Ello poppet."

My favorite spirit is Rum!

I respect any spirit who is the source of my favourite spirits.

I HAVE A BURNING NEED! IN MY LOINS FOR MORE DETAILS! OR I NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR!

Is there any other kind?

*hic*

Nope!

Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum.

I can see what's frustrating about this, and I have some issues with it as well.

That said here's my simple solution:

Reverse the two plot pieces.

The Chelish Navy is coming; Kerdak Bonefist refuses to organize a defense of the Shackles. Tessa Fairwind and other allies of the PCs call B**S*** on The Hurricane King. The PCs need to topple the Hurricane King (installing either themselves or Tessa Fairwind as the new Hurricane King/Queen) and they need to do it fast because Cheliax is on its way.

Basically as days pass Cheliax gets closer and closer to Port Peril, and if the PCs don't unite the Pirate Lords there's not going to be much of the Shackles left.

"But Cap'n Dudemeister Kerdak Bonefist and his fortress is built for APL 14 characters!"

I understand your concern, but the difference between APL 13 and 14 really isn't that much, plus if you want to reduce the challenge a little there are simple templates or you can retcon Kerdak's Sun Orchid Elixir out so he does take penalties for aging.

"But Cap'n Dudemeister, why didn't Paizo get it all perfect the first time?"

Look, run as written this is still a pretty great AP, and I'll duel any landlubber who says otherwise. It's a Sandbox, and while it doesn't have the convenience of a Hex Map like Kingmaker had it does require more work from a GM. That's the ship you signed on for.

"So what are we going to do now?"

Now never fear me hearties, because Ol' Cap'n Dudemeister is here to guide you through the storm! I'll take the hard work of Paizo and bring it up to a shiny polish, and give this treasure out for free.

So sign on with Ol' Cap'n Dudemeister, I don't know the first thing about ships, but I think I know a thing or two about crafting an old pirate legend that you'll remember for a while.

DM_aka_Dudemeister

Ahoy there!

Avast ye Scurvy landlubbers and harken to yon Cap'n Dudemeister (or face the edge o' me blade!).

I'll be runnin' Skull & Shackles in a couple of weeks time for some o' me crew here in the Pirate Port of Sydney. So I thought I'd share what changes I'll be makin' to the Adventure for me own edification and to give all those other Captains out there a map so they won't be sailin' blind!

First things first:

Skull and Shackles: Advanced Player's Guide

This is the guide I put together for my players. It operates under the assumption the scurvy sea dogs own a copy of Pirates of the Inner Sea, and the GM has access to yon Bestiary 3, and Ultimate Combat.

Second things next!

The new opening vignette, note I'll be doing this before we've even created characters completely.

The players need to discuss only the following with each other: What is their character's name? What is their race? What is their class?

Day 1: Sunk

The rain patters on the deck of the Misty Mourner, the crew and other passengers and yourselves stand upon the deck watching Captain Jonas Morgan talk to the Captain of the Chelish Warship The Thrune's Fang II. The Fang II's captain, an unctuous man with a fussy mustache inspects Captain Jonas Morgan's papers. Then, looks up and squints at the man from behind his monocle.

"Everything seems to be in order, and I hope you find yourself sailing with fairer winds than these. Captain..."
"Ackles," says Captain Morgan, "Captain Shamus Ackles."
"Indeed."
With that the Chelish Captain walks up the gangplank back onto his boat.
Just as the Captain Morgan is about to give the order to release the grapnels from his ship words can be heard over the rain.
"Fire all cannons men! Burn that ship to the waterline! If that man isn't a pirate, he once was and I'll be damned to the deepest of hells if I'll let him free to commit another act of devil-blasted piracy!"
The Thrune's Fang opens up her cannon ports:
BOOOOOM! CRASH!
"Blast it all!" Yells Captain Morgan, "The Misty Mourner won't last a minute under this assault! ALL HANDS TO THE BOATS! ABANDON SHIP YOU SCABROUS DOGS, AND THAT'S AN ORDER!

If any of the PCs refuse to abandon ship Captain Morgan shakes his head and yells:

At which point the PCs should run, or be dragged away by other members of Captain Morgan's crew. The PCs have their packs thrown to them as they land on the life-boat by the cabin boy.
Other crewmembers each jump on to other boats and begin rowing away as fast as they can.

As the PCs make their getaway the Misty Mourner explodes, and wooden shards are flung in every direction, including through the sails of the Thrune's Fang II.

It'll take take time for the Fang II to repair it's sails, perhaps enough time for the PCs to get away and perhaps find land....

Day 2: A Wake For Captain Morgan

The long night of rowing has taken its toll, you're exhausted and with no shade on the little dinghy the sun beats heavily upon ye. You might have enough food to eat for a few days, but water will be scarce, and of course boredom might drive ye mad first. Then it hits you, Captain Morgan is dead. He was a man of honor, or at least, a certain kind of honor. Still, there's a bottle of rum in the boat, and you can't go wrong with a wake for a Captain who sacrificed his life to save yours...

Each player should tell the story of how they met Captain Morgan (as determined by which Trait they choose). Particularly good stories earn the player a Swashbuckler point.

Day 3: Rolling the Bones

The rum is gone... the water, well that's mostly gone too. There might be one swig left in the little canteen. There's only one fair way to determine who gets the last of it. Rolling the bones. Ye'll use your possessions as the ante, and whoever has the least at the end gets one last swig...

At this point players will play the Rolling the Bones game as outlined in the Skull & Shackle's Advanced Player's Guide, and then complete their character sheets.

Day 4: Become a sailor they said... see the world they said...

Another day... passes

Have the PCs make Fortitude Saves. Describe each PC passing out from thirst and exposure in order from lowest roll to highest.

Then read the following:

As your fellow crewmen of the lifeboat fall into unconsciousness you consider the predicament that Cheliax put you in by sinking The Misty Mourner. You swear that if you ever get a chance to avenge yourself on those bastards that left you to die, just one chance, you'll buy Besmara and Calistria some very fancy rum indeed.

Your eyes begin to close, as the sun begins to set... You suspect that this may be the last sunset you ever see... Is that a sea dragon rising up from out of the waves?

Day 5: Welcome to the Sweet Trade

Begin the rest of the AP as detailed in Skull & Shackles #1: The Wormwood Mutiny.