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Curses! Oh well, I'll do what I can to adapt, but I'm generally either crashed out at 6:00 AM here or I'm out the door on the way to work. When I got home today I tried tying everything up in terms of posting in one "Crunch" so I could respond to everyone in turn. It was longer than some people's normal posts, but I wanted to cover all my bases with one post if I could to round things out. Does that kind of post work for you all? I want to do what I can to merge well with the group; if you guys have gamed before together, just give me the tip on what you need me to do and I'll do my best :)
Good times - what about cut-offs or "curfews"? I mean, I tend to be up posting lots; if I know the rest of you guys are going to crash out, I'll likely crash out, too. If you're going to be on later in the evening, I'll be up, too. I tend to be up to about 1:00 AM on average on the east cost. Anyway, I'm curious to see what happens next :)
Game's already on, Skipper, I'm just waiting to see what happens next! To all: I would have had the post up sooner, but all the coding took me a bit, as I tried to tie all the posting I missed during the day back together plus spoilers and a link to help explain a concept I had with some images. By the way, where I live it's Eastern Standard time - that effects a lot of when I can post (it's about 10:15 PM now for me). I understand that you're all a pretty tight crew in Real Life for the most part, I'm guessing you have a similar time zone in general? If so, is it possible if I could find out so I know when to look for responses? Also, I work two jobs now, so my postings can sometimes be pretty fast and furious and sometimes they can drop off during certain times as my jobs don't offer me the chance to post while I'm working.
Regarding the post to Ghiv:
To be honest, Jim’s a bit of a romantic. He sees a ship as more than a tool to get thing done; he sees it as something special; like a samurai would see a sword, to him a ship is almost a magical thing that transcends the parts to be better than the whole. Beyond that idea about a ship is a more pragmatic line of thinking the came from what his uncle once told him when he was younger and learning his ropes as a boy. His uncle told him once - ”The first duty of a captain is to protect his ship; the second duty is to protect his crew. You must put the ship first, because a captain might still stay afloat if some of his crew perish; but he and every man aboard will die if he fails his ship and she sinks beneath the waves on the high seas.” That’s been with him for a while, and he believes that ship’s need to be taken care of. If a captain takes good care of his ship, he believes that in a tight spot the ship may manage to perform seemingly impossible tasks and save the crew. As for his comment about “fire” – he was merely suggesting that a person who behaves without passion; logical, calculating, and focused – even if they are good-intentioned they may end up alienating their own men and people may turn their back on them. He’s merely suggesting that a love for the ship and the brotherhood that exists with the crew is a good thing; but to him he feels a harmony in life and a love for his surroundings. All of this is layered with his personal passions for life in general; of course he holds Ghiv in high respect as they've bled together already, but he wants to inspire people, to excite people, to inflame them with enthusiasm for life all around them.
James turns to Sandara a bit as he feels the weapon pressed against his manhood. His eyes widen a bit at the action. Thanks for fending for me a few minutes ago, but let's just stay in the friends zone, 'k? He presses himself a bit harder against the weapon and looks at her. ”Wouldn’t have it any other way, lass,” he says with a grin, than pulls back from her easily and wanders off. As he moves through the tavern, he hears Ghiv speak. A ship is a thing made of wood and iron. The sea, now that is truely worth traveling. The sea is a lady, fickle and deserving of respect. He nods appreciatively at the words. ”The sea’s damn fine, I’ll grant you that. But she’s not the same as a ship. As for the sea? Well, as for the sea... love her or hate her, she’s keeps rolling on. She’s bigger than our hates and fears and loves and dreams, though,” he says, his words drifting off as he thinks a moment, then shrugs with a grin. ”Anyhow, I reckon that you and I got different thinking on ships, though,” he says carelessly but without rancor and wanders off. As he moves through the tavern, he overhears Calin talking. "I'm sure Capt Harrigan has trimmed the Wormwood as fast as it can be. I've more ideas about how to make the other ship slower..." He stops short and listens a bit to the wily half-elf. ”You know, I’ve learned a few things about patching up ships and working wood before; comes with the territory when you learn to saw,” he adds the last with a bit of a grimace. ”Anyhow, thing is – as we’re thinking on modifications and all… I’ve been on the Wormwood enough; but there’s something on it I missed and an easy fix; but never mind the race,” he says thoughtfully. ”You ever seen a Fighting Top? They’re like a raised deck about twenty feet off the main deck that holds about four or five lads elevated from the rest of the crew below.” ”You put a spellslinger or a sniper up there they can do some serious damage on an enemy boarding party while enjoying some really good cover,” he says a bit eagerly, the chance to talk about something he enjoyed on him. ”Anyhow, it’s just a thought,” he says with a grin. He glances around at the lasses that are mingling and nudges Calin in the side. "Looks like there's plenty for both of us, eh? And damn right easy on the eyes to boot," he says with a grin to the half-elf.
James suddenly turns from Calin and glances over at The Black with a wide grin. ”Don’t worry on that ‘count, mate,” he says.
Jim rubs his chin thoughtfully and glances from The Black to the retreating form of Captain Aurora. ”I reckon that you may have a point there,” he says slowly, his eyes searching through the smoky room for the retreating captain, than his eyes tack back to The Black and he shrugs with a dry grin. As the night progresses Jim will dance with a few lasses and pinch a few behinds, but doesn’t seem very interested in dallying with one, even before he heads out. But as the night draws to a close he sacks out comfortably but alone...
A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship is for.. Jim’s eyebrow quirks a bit at Ghiv’s comments. ”Lad, with that kind of dull talk you may as well be paying for your drink with a fat purse of gold like a bloody merchant,” he says, his smile a bit crooked. Watching the tactiturn individual before him, he attempts to explain it another way. ”A ship’s a lady, mate – you love her, and she’ll love you back no matter what way you plan on riding her, so long as you ride her well. She’ll love you like a lady would if you’re smuggling loot fast out of Orisioni ports or dodging Cheliaxian blockades to ferry guns or gear to Halfling freedom fighters; aye – she’ll even love you if you pirate another ship,” he adds blandly. ”But you’ll never get anywhere with her who you love best if you don’t have the fire inside you to ride her well; and if you plan on taking a prize – be it a ship or even a bloody capital of a mighty nation, I reckon that both your ship – and your men – will probably fail you in a pinch if they don’t see a heart they can love and follow, savvy?” He takes another draw on his smoke and blows a quick stream of it away from him, then turns back to inhale the sweet scent of Sandara’s perfume, his eyes still on Ghiv for a moment. ”A piece of advice, mate – you may have a heart of iron; but the thing is – without real fire inside you you’ll never be able to forge that iron into steel; and steel's a hell of a lot more potent than iron ever was,” he adds with friendly nod, than turns to devote his attentions to Sandara.
"I wouldn't say no to a drink!" Calin rubs his hands together eagerly. Jim turns back to Sandara as he continues to talk to Calin. "Aye, I thought you'd say that," he adds to the half-elf with a grin and he hoists another mug from an errant table to hand over to his comrade. He taps a flick of ash from the smoldering rolled cigarette and leans back, his arm resting gently on Sandara's hip as he smiles at his friends.
"what did I miss? Jim turns his gaze from the curvaceous Sandara and glances over at Callin. "Nothing we couldn't handle, lad," he says a superbly confident voice that belies the tension in the room. "Fancy a drink?" he adds easily.
@ Jim. Why yes, kind sir she says fanning her self. "Good... good," he says his eyes intent on hers as his lip curls in a somewhat roguish smile. "I'd hate to think that your evening might be, unsavory..." he adds softly as he bows his head a bit before her, his eyes raising suddenly to catch her gaze. He winks once at her, than he grins.
help me, get this foul faced beast off me! Jim glances a minute at his mates, his eyes flicking past them suddenly to the young woman who called for his help earlier. He sidles over to Sandara, and fetches a cup of rum from a table and offers it to her. "Oye, Sandy... you alright there, lass?" he says to her with a mellow smile as he looks into her eyes, searching them carefully to see if she's really alright or just a bit shaken...
"Indeed. I'm sure they're in for all sorts of fun. Something just crazy must be going on." "Aye, you're gods damn right something's crazy," he says thoughtfully to the half-orc as he examines the scene before them. Pulling out a small piece of paper from his breast pocket he taps a dash or two of shredded tobacco on it, then rolls it tightly and leans forward to light it on a candle. Taking a long draw he blows twin streams of smoke from his nostrils as his eyes dart around the room. Seeing a mug of ale on the nearest table he grabs it up and hands it over to Ausk with a casual though friendly gesture. "What's the plan now, lads," he says glancing at the others, wondering what will happen next, as he takes another draw from his make-shift cigarette.
The sea must claim her souls, if not today, then tomorrow. It is inevitable. James swaggers over to Ghiv and claps him on his shoulder. "No worries, mate - we'll get 'em next time," he says with a grin. "Now let's go see what all the fuss's about," he adds with a nod to the cadre of officers crowding around the doorway.
Jim quickly holds his move, his muscles uncoiling like a cat. He tosses a glance aft toward Harrigan - . His gaze turns back and his eyes gleam at the cutthroats in front of him. "Maybe you don't know who're you're screwing with you piss-poor sod," he says in a quiet but fierce voice, his eyes on the man in front of him. "That said, I'll tell you now: I'm the type of guy who kick's ass and takes names - but, you can just call me Jim," he adds with a dark smile. Than he turns and tears his dagger from the arm of the man he stabbed, cleans it off on the scoundrels' shirt and sheathes it carefully with a wink.
"Uh oh - now you woke up hellfire, mate," Jim says to the pirate he just attacked with a devilish grin as he nods his head toward Ausk who strides forward with his heavy ax...
Jim's eyes flick to the other pirate who drew a dagger and his eyes narrow. "Now you went and got nasty..." he says with a growl.
Lounging in the corner is the dapper scoundrel who was happy to sail with his companions. Seeing the toothless pirate is manhandling the lovely lass, he swings himself up from his chair and decides to teach the scum a lesson in manners. While the pistol in his belt and rapier at his side are intimidating enough, for this riff-raff he elects to wade in with his bare hands alone... "Hey pal, mind if I cut in?" he says with a grin and a punch to the pirate's head.
The swing goes wide, and it clearly misses his target, but at least he's woken up the bum that someone else has taken an interest in his work... |