Your time at the Formidably Maid was a rather jolly one. The girls were pretty (for the most part) and the drink was passable. The company rowdy but no fights seemed to break out. One man, seeing your failed attempt at trying to woo the serving girls laughs at you catching your attention. "You aren't from around here are ye. Here let me buy ye a drink and I'll show ye how to score with the wenches." He buys you a drink. Then a second. His advice seems dubious but hey, what the hell could it hurt to try. You spot another that takes your fancy and he pushes you towards her. Another slap on the cheek sends you back to your seat with both you and the man roaring with laughter. "Luck's not on yer side today mate. Have another drink." He hands you a fresh drink, this one seems stronger than the others and after only a few mouthfuls you are slumped over the table. You remember the vague feeling of being lifted and after a while dragged before being able to enjoy this new comfortable warmth for several hours...
Strange man that he was it still never enters your mind that maybe something wasn't right. The words came too easily for him and with the drink loosening your mind you never thought twice when he suggested getting out of there and taking you to see his fine vessel. Several alleys towards the docks you somehow see two shadows behind you but before you turn around to look someone turns out the lights and your head hurts for a split second, then you are out of this world.
Telling the tales of the seas came as natural to you as swimming and the patrons of the Formidably Maid were cheering and shouting along with you when they remembered a story. Several times that night you were bought drinks before being encouraged to tell this story or that legend. Pretty merfolk were a rare thing around here and you managed to always be a hit here. After one particularly long tale you were forced to take a break and a rather muscular and dirty man broke past the others and offered you a drink. "Say, do you know the one about Lucky Larry?" You nodded, "Go ahead and tell us that one." He smiled and when you were ready you began the story of Larry, who was certainly NOT lucky. Being press-ganged was only the start of his problems. Part way through the story, just when the evil captain was about to have Larry keelhauled the room started to spin. The man rushed up to you and yelled out to everyone, "Ok shows over, this one needs her rest. Get out of my way." Before you knew what was happening you were in his arms and then everything went black.
After dinner and several drinks at the Formidably Maid you decide to take a look at the docks. You had heard several rumours of opportunities for a life on the water and thought that maybe this could be your lucky break after so much misfortune. Little did you know that several thugs had followed you and as you watches the waves roll in and splash around the ships docked there a blow to the back of the head set you off balance and into the waves. The last you remember before blacking out is several hands reaching down to try and pull you back out.
The Formidably Maid is loud and dirty, full of customers of all sorts. As you wait at your table alone for the contact to show you order a few drinks. You notice one rather pretty specimen not too far away telling legends of pirates and monsters. The only reason you paid any attention was that you overheard her say something about a cyclops lost treasure but once you got a look at her and her rather dazzling beauty the story slipped out of your mind. A hand pats you on the shoulder bringing you back to reality, "You'd never have a chance with one such as her. Not a fair chance anyway." the scrawny human says as he sits across the table from you with a smirk on his face. "But there are always other ways. Less honest ways. To gain the company of such as her. Nevermind. To business. You are interested in my map." The next hour is spent discussing various aspects of such an expedition to the ruins and what would be necessary to accomplish it. Once he is satisfied that you would be an appropriate addition to a party that would explore the ruins and bring back any treasure found he smiles and orders another drink. "To fortune and ancient treasure!" he shouts before tipping back his drink. You do the same but it seems someone must have drugged your drink as it is only moments before you start to lose your senses. He reaches forward to shake your hand and as he does so he whispers, "Yes they will find a good use for you."
You enter the Formidably Maid with a singular mind. To find a ship, a ship that will take you on and give you a chance to gain the experience necessary to start a life on the seas. You feel confidant that someone here will be helpful enough and after a short while asking around a tall man comes over to you, having heard that you are looking to join a crew. "Wanting to find your destiny huh. Well I have just the chance for you. I've had a few sailors retire recently and am looking for a few new hands if your interested." The terms seem quite fair. Better than fair even. This seems almost too good to be true but you shake hands with him nevertheless. His sideways looks at you seem a little strange but he offers to seal the deal with one last drink. As he orders and you finish off the one still sitting in front of you it suddenly becomes too much and you have reached your limit. The room swirls and you decide to rest on the table. "Well that will save me a few copper at least. Harrigan should have no problem with this one certainly. Haha.' You are unable to resist as he carries you from the establishment. You are headed to the docks but do not get to see your final destination as you fall asleep.
Each of you gradually awake after the previous nights events, trying to remember how you came to be here and where exactly this place is that you find yourselves is. The smell of salt water is easily distinguishable. It is dark and you can see very little around you but you do notice there are several others on the ground around you. This ground seems to move and sway gently and after a few painful moments of thinking you realize you must be below decks on a boat of some kind. Your head hurts to move. Several of you can feel lumps that have formed on the back of your head, several merely feel a strong hangover like feeling persisting from your time last night in the Formidably Maid. The boards creak a little if you try to sit up and the dizziness makes it hard to coordinate your senses to do so. Footsteps seem to be getting louder above.
Before you can even think to get up and see if there is a way out a hatch opens and a light pierces your eyes, seemingly blinding compared to the darkness which you have become accustomed to. Behind the lantern is a tall thin man, braided hair covered with a red bandana. With a sneer that reveals several gold teeth that glint in the light of the lantern. He smiles revealing more of the gold teeth as he cracks the whip he holds in his other hand through the air just above you.
"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!"
Six men rush into the room behind him carrying buckets and before you can think to move out of the way they tip them out over you waking you all up proper. You discover that they have taken all of your possessions some time last night while you lay unconscious.
The man with the lantern moves aside as if granting you a path out of the hold up towards the deck...