Megolopolis's page

What my group did was build up enough to crew 2 ships Currently they run around with about 60 on board their main vessel, which they'll be shifting off about 20-30 to their new vessel. At every port they can recruit 1d6 pirates and after every successful ship raid or village raid they can also recruit 1d6 to their pirate crew. This is the mechanics in the book for building crew, and the book completely accepts that they may have 2 ships by Tidewater, depending on your players. What I do with their other ships is random encounter chart that I built with another random chart for the outcome with modifiers depending on how dangerous the random encounter for the ship was. My guys have lost 2 ships sending them out with NPCs from the Wormwood as captains. They have recovered 1, and the rebelling crew met their fate.

One of the things that I'd like to point out is that enemy pirates should be using these abilities as well!! I love pulling out these tricks on my players. I am really looking forward to using the Vile abilities.

In my campaign, the chase rules are just awkward and none of the players care to learn them, so at first it was just me rolling and telling them the results of the roles.

Now I just narrate the chase, have them make some Sailing roles to see who has the Upper Hand, place the boats and let them navigate from there once the ships are in cannon distance.

(My players opted for the High Octane version of Pirates, so there are lots of cannons.)

So, I am also guilty again of disappearing. I apologize. I will post up some responses tonight. I would like to wrap up the days events in the next few posts so we can move onto the first night. I will bot if needed.

I hope that the treatment goes well, take care of yourself and your cat.

Yeah. I didn't think it was that high either. I've learned a lot about skills since starting this game. :P

@Janus, I gave the answer for Owlbear before I looked up the sense motive rules, which require a DC 20 Sense Motive to get a hunch. Since I'd already given the information on Owlbear before checking the rules I went ahead and repeated the result, however with Grok and Ambrose the skill check was unsuccessful. You can also try to pilfer a dagger here with a slight of hand check, getting caught would probably get you punished.

Ambrose offered him a bloody hand, but caught himself quickly and rubbed the blood off on his apron. "Janus? Nice name." He offered him a cleaner hand, "Surgeon or sailor, cooks are what we are now; our pasts, ghosts to follow us." He frowned and sought out his mug, taking a gulp of rum.

"There are a lot of ghosts on this ship..." Ambros muttered, shaking his head and turning to the stove. "Get this heated up, start cutting up carrots and potatoes. I'll clean the beast."

Man. I am still tired from this weekend. Lots of drinking. Lots of fighting. I wasn't assassinated. So pretty good over all.

@Scoundrel

There is a rap on the hatch before it lurches open. A curly brown head pops up in the opening, Rosie calls down, "You still alive?" She pauses for a brief second before catching a glimpse of Scoundrel in the dim light. "Gotta set up your hammock. Get on up here."

@Janus, About the Hog Champ, aka Owlbear, he is just really dumb.

As the pig stops fighting, Ambrose lets out a bellow of a laugh, his breath heavy with rum. "Ah, yer a good man with a blade. A butcher eh?" He asked while carrying the pig back to his table. "Capt'n wants a roast, we'll give him a roast!" He slaps the thick, leathery back of the pig and deftly starting cutting open the belly to gut it. "Name's Ambrose, and yers?"

I will be posting tonight. Also to answer your question Scoundrel, there are playable monster races from a selective list. Also you can RP as whatever race you want really. Mechanics stay the same.

I'm not sure how many Queens there are being that there are like 16 kingdoms, so that is a sad average if true. D: I like what it has done for the classes. I really dislike the new Don Avathar. (I can never remember how to spell it.) Power Ratings are confusing. The Q:M ratios were better.

Amtgard.

@Scoundrel, yes they took all your gear except for armor. Rum Rations are given with the evening meal, which is after the bloody hour. I would think though for rp when you would take a break for the privy or set up your hammock you could slip upstairs and grab the man a drink.

A lady never reveals her age! :O

LOL! Love how that roll turned out.

@Charlotte, he's trying to be sly. :P Also this scene with Rosie would be happening after she had spoken with Ignatius, but if you two would like, you can both bump into one another while setting up your hammocks.

Charlotte finds Rosie on the lower Deck stitching some sails, as Charlotte makes her way down the stairs, Rosie looks up and waves Charlotte over. "Yer belongings." Rosie jumps off the barrel she was sitting on and gathers up a bundle of sails and some rope. "Lash yourself up off of one of these posts." She turned and motioned to the rows of hammocks behind them. All were made from scraps of sails sewn together, and lashed to one of the many posts and nails. "Got a bucket and hammer here when you find your spot."

@Scoundrel, there are a few lockers in the crew area on the lower deck, there are some empty ones, but no spare locks. You would know that you have to provide your own lock if you wanted to lock the locker. To your other question, yes, if you were caught then you would be keelhauled.

Jakes sighed, "Can't blame a man fer tryin'." He looked stark, and sat quietly for a bit. After a bit he sang old sea songs, his gruff and raspy voice breaking at times as he shed a tear.

@Iggy, see my ooc convo with Charlotte if you want to create a potential RP here. Also Scoundrel in the bilges.

"Aye, we shall!" She added with a wink, and picked back up her stitch-work. "Ah, before I forget. Grab that bundle there." Rosie pointed to a bundle of sail and rope at her feet. "You'll need to lash up your hammock."

@Janus

Scourge's brow furrows, and he quietly slips back upstairs wearing the worried look on his face.

In the galley, an overweight man is wrestling with a pig. From the man's belt hangs several knives, a mallet, and a spoon. "Grok, give an ol'man a hand with this hog?" He cried out. The man's apron was covered in sweat stains and blood stains, and smelled strongly of rum.

Standing in a doorway nestled in the back left of the galley was a half-ork female; gangly and thin, missing her right tusk. Around her waist hung a row of finely crafted throwing axes. She simply shook her head at the cook, "Ambrose, why don't you wait till that new mate shows up? I've got to clean up the mess your pigs made in my shop!"

@Everyone, Also a heads up, Fri-Sun I will be camping. So there will be no posting from me next weekend. I LARP and every 3mo or so there is a big event that I go to. I will always let you know at the beginning of that week if I will be out of town. It's a big weekend for me overall. Its my birthday and I'll be crowned Queen (which is our local executive officer basically since we are a NPO). Yay! Excitement!

I moved into my new place this weekend, but we couldn't get the internet until Monday, but we have internet again. So I will be posting today. Sorry for the delay.

@Charlotte, from Mr. Pluggs posture and tone you can easily determine that he enjoys causing pain and suffering in others, and intends to do so to you.

@Scoundrel, the store closes in the evening, so shopping can only take place during the day and is a Daily Action. Since you worked diligently today, the soonest you can sell the goods is tomorrow during the day. You'll have to take a Shop Daytime Ship Action.

"Soon as the day is done, I reckon." Jakes tried squinting again, but in the damned darkness he couldn't make out a shadow. "Ye could do me a mercy, an' kill me now." He offered, barely a whisper.

D: My face when I got tied up at work after typing in the entire Crew list with pictures/jobs/attitude, come back and hit preview, and it's all gone and redirects me because I was away too long.

@Iggy

Rosie takes Iggy's in a firm grip and gives a single, solid shake. "Rosie Cusswell. You got damn good ears." She grinned. Her nut-brown eyes widened as an idea hit her, "Mayhap, you could help me with a little problem I have? When they grabbed me in Port Peril a few days ago, they took my bloody fiddle. That scrawny-bucktooth wench, Grok, won't give it back. I bet you could convince her to give it back. Spook her a bit."

@Scoundrel Random Encounter: 1d100 ⇒ 40

"Stash? I got caught red-handed in the Quartermaster's store. Quite a few nice things there..." His words trailed off in thought. Old Magpie sighed, "It is a s$%# bucket down 'ere ain't it?" His boots sloshed around in the water a little. "Tiefling eh? Ain't seen't many a'fore. Had one in Quent, nice lil whore house thar." Jakes hummed, "Got any poison? Good stuff. None o' that spider piss."

@Janus, I left it open in case there were any parting remarks, if not I'll continue and describe the galley.

Master Scourge scowled at first; but as he continued to listen to Janus it drooped into a frown. "What black hell did ye come from?" Scourge muttered under his breath, visibly paling as he watched Janus cut himself. "You're a few cards short of a full deck eh?" He asked, shaking his head. Scourge kept his eye on Janus until he had left, before continuing on to the upper deck.

@Charlotte, sense motive!

Plugg leaned in so that only Charlotte could hear, "Day's nearly over, I'll only ask once more." He waved her off, "Report ta the Lower Deck, a swab by the name o' Rosie. Finish up down there an' report back 'ere in an hour." He emphasized his request by turning over an hourglass, the sand quickly spilling into the empty glass. "Don't dally." He added with a sinister grin.

@Everyone, I did some digging on the Take 10 and as long as you are not in combat or in a stressful situation. A stressful situation would be like during a tropical storm, you couldn't take 10 on climbing the rigging.

@Janus, I know about Nidal. >:)

@Scoundrel, I wasn't trying to make assumptions. Through our discussions I didn't feel like I was getting through to you very well about the setting and the campaign, so I wanted to reach out to all the players to open up discussion if other players were as frustrated as you. I didn't directly point you out or our conversations. What I wanted to do after our discussion is try to make sure all the players were aware of the certain setting of the path because it is unlike majority of Pathfinder's adventure paths.

I will state again, I'm not saying you can't be heroic. What I am trying to express to you is that pirate punishment is a part of the setting and is widely accepted across the Shackles as pirate law. I am as a DM trying to state that on your own ship if you dispense of pirate punishment it can lead to mutiny and I strongly warn you against such actions.

@Everyone, I just want to make sure that everyone understands that this is not your typical adventure path. The first book constantly stresses to be sure your players know the expectations and assumptions of the adventure.

1. You came to port peril to be pirates or continue your already piratical life.

2. You are prisoners at the moment of Captain Harrigan and the officer's of the wormwood; you start with very little gear and it will take awhile to get it all back and acquire new gear.

3. The ship is filled with many dangers and perils. It will test your patience. Your limits. Your body. Your life. Majority of the first book will be on the Wormwood being bossed around and threatened daily. And you won't really be in the best position to get your revenge until the final chapter.

If you have an issue with the fact that you may feel powerless and trapped, you may have a very difficult time with the first book. It is important to try to keep an open mind and keep it loose. The adventure path is not designed to kill you or stifle your rise to power.

The first book is mainly about teaching. The writers want to introduce the PCs to the life in the Shackles. Its hard. Its not fair. And you have to be ready to kill and steal to get ahead, and be good enough to not get dead.

Not for jokes at other's expenses, just for jokes at their own expense. After all, if you're a bad ass pirate, you cant let the new kid talk smack without laying down the smack.

@Scoundrel, the +4 can only be applied to one check. You will be exhausted in the evening, but as long as you rest during the Middle Watch you will lose the status.

Jakes stirred, grumbling a bit. "Now tha'd be a fine thing, eh? Sorry, son, my stash was found, hence the chains." He jangled the manacles. "Now, how is it ye can work in all this darkness?"

@Iggy, nvm. I just forgot how to read the rolls for a moment. Sorry. I'm silly. For influencing an NPC it allows the use of all 3 but as per the rules via Diplomacy for shifting the NPCs disposition. You do get a +2 because Rosie likes tall tales.

Rosie listened intently, putting aside her stitch-work for a moment. "Have ye ever seen 'er?" She scoots to the edge of her barrel top, "Do ye have any...powers?" She asked, wringing her hands anxiously.

lol

I just stated that they are mostly Neutral. That can be Neutral Good. And that they lean Chaotic or evil, meaning also Chaotic Good. It is unlikely that any pirate is lawful good, and paladins are not allowed in Skull and Shackles.

Just some splash from the book just to explain things that may not make sense. The life of a pirate is tough. Most pirates are not good guys. They are mostly neutral and lean chaotic or evil. I am going to be posting up typical pirate rules and ship rules on the campaign info tonight.

"To maintain the obedience and effectiveness of their crews, most captains enforce strict schedules and shipboard laws upon their vessels, all maintained by the swift dispensation of brutal punishments. The following presents (in order of severity) the game effects of a variety of typical nautical punishments, which the PCs have the potential to face or inflict during their piratical careers. Most of these sentences are meted out just before the evening meal, at an event typically referred to as the bloody hour. Victims are tied to the whipping post on the main deck and their backs stripped for punishment - with penalties doubled for those who resist. Although the victim is bound, the punishers simply lash their victims, and are not allowed a full-round action to make a doup-de-grace. A roll of 1 on such an attack is treated as a non-damaging fumble that still counts as a strike, much to the amusement of the crew."

Punishments:

Rope Bash: an admonishment or sign of endearment if the punishment typically warranted more.

The Lash: being whipped # of times whipped varies on the punishment; 3, 6, or a dozen is not uncommon.

Cat-o-nine Tails: a more leathal punishment than the lash

Confined in the sweatbox: can spend 8, 12, or even 24 hrs, used as an attitude adjustment for repeat offenders.

Keelhauling: most frightful and deadly, and saved for the most vile crimes. (Theft, Murder, Mutiny)

@Iggy, Cut-Throat Grok seems a bit spooked by your mark and says a prayer when she sees you. Rosie Cusswell asks you about how you got the mark. And Sandara Quinn. I'll make a list of people you met while running messages as well. Also it looks like you accidently added your bonus twice?

Cut-Throat Grok has you deliver an invoice to Mr. Plugg. Mr. Plugg sends you to check on Rosie Cusswell about some hammocks. Master Scourge has you run down to the galley to inform Fishguts that there will be seven more mouths to feed today. Fishguts informs you to tell Mr. Plugg that dinner will be ready on time. Mr. Plugg has you inform all the new recruits to collect their bedding from Rosie and set up in the crews quarters.

Apart from the 4 PCs there were 4 NPCs that were press-ganged at the same time. A female half-drow named "Black-Hearted" Yve, a Garundi male human named Koffe Masamba, a male gnome named Torgue Sparkwell, and a Chelaxian female human named Sabina Tullouse.

@Scoundrel, You'll also need to make a Constitution Check.

"Or ye could always break me out, let me swim fer it."Magpie let out a slow, defeated laugh. He sat silently for awhile, Scoundrel could see he's eye's were closed as he slouched where he stood.

@Charlotte, typically on a pirate ship the crew all sleep in the same area. Officers would have more private areas, but still share space with other officers. Only the captain would have their own quarters, and possibly the first mate depending on the vessel.

In general, there are usually clicks, kinda like in a prison, where your protection is mainly dependent upon your friends. If you have dangerous friends, others are less likely to mess with you.

@ Charlotte, I think I was just rushing it along too fast. Sorry.

Mr. Plugg's lips drew up into a cold smile as Charlotte approached, "Yer name fer the Captain's Log?" His brow rose slightly as he gave her a once over again, "Have ye decided where ye'll be sleeping this eve?" He grinned.

@Everyone, Happy Belated St. Patty's day. Too much partying! I will be looking into the take 10 question today and probably get back to you guys on it tomorrow. I had planned to do it yesterday, but there was suddenly a party at my house.

Also I will be trying to post at least once a day this weekend, but I am also moving to a new house, so if I do miss a day, it's probably because I'm exhausted and I'll get to it the next day. The move shouldn't affect my access to the internet, but I'll keep you updated.

@Charlotte, you can make a Survival or Knowledge (geography) check. Also daily tasks are to show a full 8 hours of work, most of the day is spent in the crow's nest, but there are breaks so one can stretch their legs, use the privy, ect.

The ocean is calm as far as you can see. In the distance, thin shadowy strips lay across the horizon. In a few days, keeping this heading, the land should come into view, perhaps cluing into to just where Captain Harrigan is taking the Wormwood.

The hours pass quietly in the crows nest; as below Charlotte can hear Plugg and Scourge barking orders every once in awhile. Below on the main deck Charlotte can see the crew move about like ants. One gruesome site does catch her eye, hanging from the Mizzenmast on the Poop Deck is a ghastly cage containing the decaying body of some sailor. Perched a top the iron cage is a small colorful parrot that frequently flies in and out of the cage.

About midday, Charlotte is given a brief reprieve from her duties by a muscular, tanned woman with long, straight black hair, most notable for her bare feet, she introduced herself as "Barefoot Samms Toppin. Mr. Plugg wants to see you." She said little else before settling into the crow's nest.

@Scoundrel, you can only take one daytime action. You can work diligently, and still talk with Magpie, but you can't influence his attitude because that is another daytime action. Though small chit chat is acceptable.

Magpie shrugged, "I may...you got a light, Scoundrel? So dark in here I can't see me own nose." The old sailor let out a long sigh, "Do ye smoke, son?"

@Janus, your sense motive confirms your suspicions. He is just simple minded and was trying to be friendly, and make you laugh. Also all those 17s! Nice rolling. :)

He smiled a big goofy grin, "Owlbear strongest." He rose up to his full height and beat his chest loudly, "STONGEST!", he called out as loud as he could. Just as Master Scourge topped the stairs from the lower decks.

"Stupid oaf." Scourge muttered, stalking over to Owlbear and striking him with the whip across the legs. Owlbear huddled back against the mast. Scourge turned to face Janus, "Best ye get ta catchin' the Capt'n's swine, an' not meddle. If'n the crew not happy with the grub, ye and that fat-ass Fishguts will get a beatin'."

@Charlotte, I don't want you to waste your action on Sandara. You'll be able to get the info on the crew from her during the evening when you have your leisure time, but Sandara already starts out as Helpful, which is the highest their attitude can be. I would suggest Influencing another crew member.

@Charlotte, what Daytime Action are you taking today? You can find a list of them on the Campaign Info tab. Additional Rules: Ship Actions

@Janus

The brute made one last lunge, grasping the pig around the waste and tucking it against his chest. He looked up at Janus with a wide grin, "HOG LOB!", the man cried, tossing the pig past Janus into some crates across the way then laughing loudly as the pig squealed violently and fled back through the open door. "Me, Owlbear. Hog Champ."

@ Scoundrel & Iggy, We'll go with taking 10 for now. But I'll look into RAW and RAI. I know you can't take 10 with certain skills and in certain situations, but it wasn't stressful or combat, so by RAW it seems like you can. I can see where it wouldn't necessarily make sense. I made a quick judgment call, but I will return tomorrow with a definitive answer for the rest of the campaign.

@ Scoundrel

Old Magpie chuckled which turned into a hacking cough. Once the coughing subsided he responded with a bit of morbid levity, "Ain't no one save the Capt'n an 'is mates can tell ye. Most everybody's been press-ganged. If'n ye don't want ta end up 'ere wit' me, I'd keep yer head down." He motioned around the room with his nose, "All dis be the Capt'n's." He coughed again, it was a deep wracking cough. "Besmara's eyes. She done curse dis ship."

@Scoundrel, I already listed what you found in the above post. I'll repost it. "Searching around the room you find leather armor, 3 heavy maces, a buckler and 12 sp."

The man grunted, shifting around the grind of metal against metal rings throughout the small area. "Jakes Magpie." He paused for a moment, barely able to see in the darkness, Jakes was a little cautious. "Got me finger's caught in the cookie jar....what's yer name?"

@Iggy, what was the intent of the Intimidate check? Demoralize? Influence? Attitude Shift?

@Iggy

Master Scourge seemed a bit rattled by Ignatius' latest reveal. It certainly spelt trouble for him and Mr. Plugg in the days to come. Bastard children of pirate lords were the worst though, as if they didn't know the life. A wife in every port and a woman in every bed, harlots never put on such airs.

Still, it all unsettled him. "Ignatious?. I'll mark ye down in the Captain's log. If ye can get any sense out of that scab in the bilges, report to Mr. Plugg for the book."

Scourge looked around nervously, spotting Rosie and the others near by. "Yer no scab, I trust ye ta know yer way about." He muttered low and hurried away, back up the stairs to the middle deck.

Once Master Scourge was out of earshot, Rosie spoke with a slow draw, "You've made him all jumpy, that can't be good for your health."

@Scoundrel, yes and yes.

The old salt slowly lifted his head, squinting in the dark to see who was there. "It ain't time yet..." His voice was coarse and cracked, "Who's there?" He sat up a little, yawning a big wide yawn, and smacked his lips. "Ain't got anythin' ta wet the whistle, do ya?"

@Charlotte

Sandara shrugged and slipped the dagger back into the bucket. "Dagger must belong to one of the boys then." She added absently, looking contemplative. "The red one seems to love trouble," she added with a lopsided grin.

Sandara looked behind her to see where Plugg and the other officers were, and turned back to Charlotte, "I don't want to get you in trouble by keeping you long, so we can talk more tonight. Just do your best to stay out of the Scourge's sights." She added quickly, talking in a low whisper, "Plugg's got an ear for him."

@ Everyone, Your daily tasks have been assigned. You can now choose your Daytime Action. And go ahead and make the required rolls for the Daily Tasks assigned. We will still RP out the various scenes and introductions of various NPCs. Once the has been some RP, I'll let you know when to draw the day to a close and when the evening starts.

@ Ignatious, as a swab, you have been assigned to Runner. You'll need to make an acrobatics check and a constitution check.

@ Charlotte, as the rigger, you have been assigned to Lookout. You'll need to climb up to the crow's nest DC 10 Climb check. And make a Perception check.

@Scoundrel, as a swab, you have been assigned to Man the Bilges. You'll need to make a Strength check and a Constitution check.

@Janus, as the Cook's Mate, the captain is celebrating a special occasion today, Kroop will need help with the pig. You'll need to make a Profession (cook) or Survival check. Kroop seems to be sober enough to do the cooking today.

@Scoundrel, Searching around the room you find leather armor, 3 heavy maces, a buckler and 12 sp.

The air is damp and moldy, the floor lies beneath a foot of brackish, dark water. A simple ladder lowers down into the bilges; to the stern lies a single pump. Along the forward section are six sets of manacles, five sets are empty, and one set imprisons an older sailor.

Cobwebs encompass the entire ceiling, and shiver slightly as if something was moving about them. It is dark in the bilges, the only light that shines in is from the trap door in the ceiling.

There are a few crates, and storage lockers here. Most of it is moldy or soaked, but there are some treasures here to be found.

@Iggy, yes you can.

@Charlotte

Mr. Plugg settles back, looking quite smug. "Ye can think it over in the crow's nest. Ye'll be taking the lookout ta'day." He looks upwards, towards the crow's nest resting 60ft above the deck. Her duties assigned, Mr. Plugg goes back to his regular duties watching over the whole of the crew.

The red-headed lass with the mop moseys her way over to Charlotte, "You won't want to take him up on his offer. I hear he's a mean one." She offered Charlotte a sympathetic smile, "Sandara. Sandara Quinn. I got picked up in Port Peril same as you, not three days before."

Sandara reached down into her bucket and slipped a dagger in Charlotte's boot. "You'll want that for protection. I picked it up from Grok, the Quartermaster. She's got all your stuff. Captain's now she claims. I got what I could, but it'll take more work to get the rest. A bit superstitious that one, if you can fancy up a good tale about curses or something."

@Iggy, for improving a NPC's attitude, this campaign allows the use of bluff, diplomacy, and intimidation. Each can be used to affect the NPC's disposition, some NPCs may reaction strongly in regards to each depending on their own personality. (like if they don't like bullies, Intimidate wouldn't work, or if they don't like liars and sense your motive. Not all NPCs have specific traits like that, but some do.)

@Charlotte, also the Captain gave 2 rules directly. 1. Don't Kill and 2. Don't talk to me. So it would probably be very dangerous and difficult for Charlotte to get close to Captain Harrigan.

@Scoundrel, yes your duties will change each day. Scourge just wanted to give you the worst job because of all your back-talk. :P

Also, I can probably work in a rumors/info section about the NPCs as the adventure goes along. For PC descriptions, you can just click on their character name, and for keeping track of PC rumors/information, that is for you to keep track of. ;) Usually I just keep some notes on the back of my character sheet. You can keep notes on your character sheet, or keep some notes on your computer via notepad/word, or PM yourself an updated rumors/information on the PCs as you learn new things so that it would always be on hand.

@Scoundrel, the bilges is not inherently a 2 man job, although sometimes 2 PCs may be assigned to the bilges at the same time. Currently there is one other sailor in the bilges, and there are a few sailors on the lower deck that he could frequently talk to while working, (one being Rosie) or other swabs that may come by in the area throughout the day.

@Everyone, Updates to rule sets on the Campaign Info Page. Normally the DM rolls the daily tasks, I did at first with my IRL party but eventually I started having them roll it themselves. I like the idea of you deciding your fate every morning. I think they did too.

Also I have updated the crew with images of some of the new faces you've seen! While not all the character's have been introduced you did at least see a lot of the officers that were on deck with Harrigan at the time, so I've included them with the rest of the crew. And I'll be adding more as we go. As their disposition changes, I'll update that on the list as well.

@Scoundrel, according to the diplomacy rules the NPC must at least be indifferent to the PC to be able to make a request. Since the NPC is Hostile towards you, you cannot make a request. If you were to temporarily try to increase his attitude with Diplomacy, you can only do this once in a 24 hr period and fail with the first Diplomacy check. Most actions that allow you to Influence NPCs do not allow for you to try again if you failed the first. Diplomacy Rules

@Janus

The Middle Deck is mostly empty of cargo, save for a few pigs that seemed to have gotten out of their pins. In the forward section lies two flights of stairs; one set climbs upwards into an unknown area of the ship; a second set of stairs descend into the Lower Deck.

Chained to the Foremast, and trying to grab one of the pigs is a hulking brute of a man, with a shadow of stubble on his head, marred only by a single jagged scar along his the side of his scalp and covered in tar and feathers. He seems to have little interest in Janus for the time being.

On the aft side of the Middle Deck lies another set of stairs that climb upwards to some uncertain area, a small cabin, and an open door along the aft wall; from which panicked squeals beckon and boisterous laughter bellows. "Aye, I've got 'em now, Grok! Come're lil' piggy, hic!"

A horse, gravelly voice answers, "Ambrose, I've told you to keep your stock out of my store!"

@Scoundrel and Iggy

Master Scourge rolled his eyes at Scoundrel's yammering, "Ye sure 'ave a lot of energy ta go with that mouth o' yers. I got just the job fer all that energy." He guided Iggy and Scoundrel deeper into the ship, down onto the Lower Deck. "Scared now scab? Ye better be, don't look like ye made a good impression on Mr. Plugg." He chuckled, quite pleased with himself.

Rows of hammocks fill most of this area, a few pirates milled about and make quick to look busy with Scourge there. One of the pirates, a short but fierce looking woman with long, curly brown hair, and a large golden earring decorating each pointed ear. She had more muscles than most of the other men moving ropes and sails about, and her angry gaze closely followed Scourge as he moved about the Middle Deck. She sat atop a barrel, sail and stitch in hand. A fellow sailor called out to her, "Rosie, almost done with that sail?"

Rosie snorted, "I'm done when I'm done. Not before."

Scourge paid her little mind, and guided them to a small hatch nestled between two rows. "Ah, thar it be." He looked up at Scoundrel with apparent glee. "Down thar be the bilges, they need ta be pumped and cleaned." Master Scourge opened the hatch and stepped back as heat and a pungent stench wafted up from the hole in the floor. "Welcome ta the Wormwood." He beamed, gold teeth flashing.

@Scoundrel

What are you attempting to do with your first diplomacy check? When making a skill check, please state what the skill check is for, if you have any modifiers, and then roll the skill check. We'll determine your first skill check before discussing the 2nd. Also for the 2nd skill check you didn't specify what it was for. I can assume diplomacy again?

@Iggy

Master Scourge smiled at Iggy's respectful nature, "Once ye give me yer name, scab, I'll show ye the lay of the ship, then yer gonna be running messages back an' forth. This here be the Middle Deck," Scourge points to a single door along the back wall.

"That there be the Galley and the Quartermaster's, after ye see the Lower Deck, yer ta report ta the Quatermaster, Cut-Throat Grok, ta see if she's got any work fer ya. Ye'll also be in charge of reporting to the Poop Deck when supper is ready. Check in with Mr. Plugg and myself when if ye are done runnin' messages fer them. I better not 'ave ta come lookin' fer ye."

Scourge eyed Iggy's mark for a moment, "Blessed by the Sea Wench, eh? Ye know what they say, she shows 'er love in trials. See that ye don't get yerself killed. Captain an' the officer's cabins are off limits."

@Everyone, which would you prefer; to receive XP as denoted in the book, or for me to just let you know when you should level up as according to the Advancement Track at the beginning of each book?