Grizzle gets up, "Shikyo, de ye want ta take this, ar shoul' ah?"
Shikyo downs the rum, and avoids Plugg's gaze.
Dieredon also avoids attention by taking his ration quietly, as he awaits someone worthy enough to challenge to Owlbear in fisticuffs.
"Well, ah'll do thois." Grizzle says, getting up and pounding his chest, "Where os tha Oolbeer?"
Mister Plugg grins. "Ah, we have our champion then. Very good. Will the rest of you back your fellow crewman here? And thus share in his inevitable loss?"
[dice=Insight]1d20+2
"We want me in debt ta ye." Grizzle says, grinning. "Ye think ah'll lose."
Jack takes his ration of rum with ill disguised distaste, the abominable stuff burns his throat like acid and he scarcely holds it down and is consumed by a titanic coughing fit. By the time he's recovered, the fight is almost started.
"Ah, we have our champion then. Very good. Will the rest of you back your fellow crewman here? And thus share in his inevitable loss?"
The idea that Plugg is trying to drive a wedge between them doesn't occur, however Jack still gets angry, "We're nae losers nor cowards, pretty boy. I'll back 'im!" Jack says the phrase 'pretty boy' softly but with venom.
Dieredon steps forward.
Aye, I shall back him as well.
"I, uh... I'll cheer you on from here."
Alfonso pats his allies on the shoulder as they go in. "End it quick, if you can."
"Put me down for a share of those winnings!"
Shikyo isn't getting involved.
Treggor drinks his rum and weighs the situation at hand. He stays cool, but is very conflicted in his mind.
"Hmm, I hate ta leave tha dwarf on 'is own, but he be makin a devil's wager... still, allies be worth more 'n their weight in gold, when ye can trust 'em."
Treggor slaps the dwarf on the back. "I'll put my good name on ye, sir. Ne'er have I seen a braver man." He says with a wink.
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"Thanks lads." Grizzle grins. He turns to Plugg, "Bring oot tha bear. Ah'll foit em."
Mister Plugg smirks. "Very well then. Let's have some fun. BRING OUT THE OWLBEAR!"
The way clears as a giant of a man walks in from the lower decks. His footsteps are clearly audible thuds followed by the rattling of chains.
He stands at nearly seven feet tall, and is bulging with muscles. He has a closely shaven head and a trimmed goatee surrounded by the scruff of a few days of not shaving. He looks absolutely feral as he snorts at Grizzle. You can see evidence of the tar and feathering he had been given before.
He then removes a live crab from his pouch and eats the squirming beast. Bits of viscera stream out of his mouth as he chews the shell. He then lets out a scream.
"HOODY-HOOOOO!"
The pirates watching cheer, and soon many of them start taking bets. But they aren't betting on whether or not Grizzle can win. They're betting on how long he can last.
All except one.
"Two gold on Grizzle to win," shouts out Sandara Quinn. She gives the dwarf a smile and a wink as she puts her money down. Her bet is happily taken up.
Grizzle and Owlbear are put inside a ring made of pirates. Captain Harrigan himself mediates the fight.
"Alright, lads and lasses. This here be a brawl. Punching, kicking, wrestling. All fine. But I see any magic tricks, and I'm liable to throw you in the sweat box. Now let's have some fun, eh!? Ready? BEGIN!"
Initiative
Grizzle is a veteran of a hundred bar brawls -- well that he can remember anyway. There may have been more. And so he easily spots that the Owlbear is blind in one eye. He can make that work for him.
Grizzle looks up at his opponent, and grins. "GRAHHHHGG!!!" Grizzle roars, a red haze coming to his eyes, and froth appearing from his mouth. He charges the beast of a man, his eyes just as wild. He takes a swing at the Owlbear, attempting to crush the man who is half again his size.
Owlbear AC 9, HP 15/21
Owlbear takes the heavy punch from Grizzle. His head turns violently and the big man glares down at the dwarf. He brings about his own fist, but the attack is a wild one, and Grizzle has no problem dodging it.
Grizzle lunges up, attempting to smash his head into Owlbear's nose.
Owlbear AC 9, HP 19/21
Owlbear's nose bursts open like an overripe tomato. Blood spewing for a foot from the impact. He looks crestfallen and defeated, but then Mister Plugg's voice carries over the din.
"You worthless, Curr. Do you want to go back in the box!? Eh!? Get back in there and fight!"
Fear and then rage settle on Owlbear's features. And he yells out, "HOOODY-HOOOOOO!"
Owlbear moves to stomp on Grizzle but the cleaver dwarf is hiding in his blind spot, and so the big man swings at empty air.
Grizzle notices his advantage, and tries to drive his elbow into the large man's leg. "YER A CRUEL MAN, PLOOG!" he yells as he attacks. He almost misses, but remembers Alfonso's words, and draws strength from his friend's encouragement.
Shikyo grimaces at the fight.
Dieredon smiles at the tenacity of Grizzle.
I am beginning to like my odds...
Owlbear howls in pain, when Grizzle drives his elbow into his leg. He tries to target the dwarf, but once again, Grizzle perfectly keeps himself in the giant man's blindspot.
He grunts in panic and frustration.
Owlbear AC 9, HP 13/21
"Good shot, man! A couple more of those, and he's sure to be bruised in the morning!"
Grizzle tries to kick the Owlbear in the shin, his feet tough as wood.
Jack cheers Grizzle on, "Aye! Sock 'im one! Ooof, dat's gonna hurt."
Grizzle seed to be getting the better of the fight, and Jack wondered what would happen if Grizzle won. Would Plugg take it badly?
Owlbear falls down to the deck. He grabs his leg, and gives out a long wail, followed by a sob. He is crying.
The Captain brings his arm down to call the match. He looks down disgusted at Owlbear's blubbering and then raises Grizzle's arm. "Looks like we got a winner!"
Most of the crowd is dumbfounded. None of them can believe that someone took down the Owlbear. Mister Plugg in particular is incensed. Still he walks over and hands Grizzle the bag of gold.
"Congratulations," he says stiffly.
Plugg then walks over to Owlbear and kicks him in the face. Much of the older crew turns away. They are used to seeing Plugg treat Owlbear in such a way.
"Captain, if it's all the same to you, I'm going to leave Owlbear in the sweatbox tomorrow."
The Captain nods. "He's your property, Mister Plugg. Do with him what you will." The Captain claps Grizzle on the shoulder and then retires to his cabin.
Plugg gets Owlbear to his feet and roughly leads him down to the hold.
Treggor smiles at Grizzle. "Aye, yer even fiercer than I'd known."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Before Plugg gets the Owlbear down to the hold, Alfonso calls out. "Say, I'm newly flush with cash. What would you say to recouping some of your loss by selling that man to me?"
Mister Plugg laughs at Alfonso. "Even if I were interested in selling, I highly doubt you have the couple thousand I would need to even consider it."
Jack joins in and claps Grizzle on the back and cheers, "Aye, ya did us proud!"
A little later with 20 coins jingling in his pockets, Jack visits Grok to pay off his debt. He hands over the coins saying, "Much obliged Ma'am. I'll need ta earn a few more but nae doubt I'll be knocking on yer door ta buy sommat pointy. Once things settle down an all tha' is."
Well done, Grizzle. You have fattened all our purses.
"Yer welcome." Grizzle says, but it is obvious his eyes are on the beaten man, and a troubled look is in his eye.
At night, he eats only half his food, and goes to try and find where Owlbear is kept.
Jack whispers to Grizzle, "It's nae right tha way Plugg treats tha man." Not having the inkling of a plan to save the 'Owlbear' Jack doesn't say any more.
Before turning in, Jack goes for a walk on deck to stretch his legs and accidentally on purpose bumps into “Badger” Medlar a half elved swab. Jack doffs his non-existent (nae stolen!) tricorn-hat and grins at his foolishness and "Evening ma'am. One day I'll 'ave ta get another 'at so as I can do that fer real. Did ye like tha show?" Conspiratorially he adds, "Truth be told, it seemed a trifle unfair. Poor fella got beat black 'n' blue and shoved in tha sweatter fer his pleasure. Grizzle took nae pleasure in tha win." After this he sticks to innocuous small talk, although he does hope to tease out how she got her nickname.
Mad Jack approaches a middle-aged half-elf woman. She has silver grey hair that she she leaves completely shaven on one side, while the other is well brushed, and touches her shoulder. Jack also notices a symbol of Calistria peaking out of her blouse.
Despite her years at sea, she is still a lovely sight.
Badger smiles knowingly at Mad Jack. She looks over her shoulder assuring that no one else is listening to them, before she says in a silken voice, "Trying to butter me up to see where my loyalties lie, eh, boy? Heh. You and your lot are playing a dangerous long game, methinks. I'd rather stay out of it, frankly. But I go where the wind blows. You certainly can't be worse than Scourge."
She gives Jack a playful wink. And then looks pensive. She gets close to him, and plays her fingers along his forearm.
"O' course, you are a pretty one. What say you and I find a private corner and -- have ourselves some worship," she says slyly.
***
Grizzle discovers that Owlbear has been left in the crew quarters, but locked up along the wall. There is a heavy chain across his neck, while his feet and arms are bound with manacles. He is awkwardly holding his smashed in nose to stem the bleeding, while making pathetic, nasally, mewling sounds of pain.
***
"Sarry aboot tha foit friend." Grizzle says sadly, attempting to give him some food and drink, "S thar anything ye need?"
Jack replies softly and with sadness,"Aye tis a dangerous game, vengeance always is. Our lady tha Savored Sting expects it ta be nae other way. Still I respect yer position, I'll nae ask ya ta choose."
When conversation lead to other lighter matters Jack simply smiles and allows himself to be lead, he whispers to her "Tis a holy duty, one I 'ave been neglectin' consumed as I have been by thoughts o' vengeance 'n survival."
Shikyo feeds his bird a bit of hard biscuit before going to bed.
Dieredon goes to bed earky and sleeps through the night.
"Watching people fight is hard work. I think I'm out for the night."
Alfonso, Dieredon and Shikyo turn in early. It's been a long day and they need their rest. After all, a porate's work is never done.
***
Mad Jack and Badger find a private corner of the ship for some "rigorous contemplation" of the precepts of the Sacred Sting.
***
Owlbear stares up at Grizzle, not quite contemplating why the dwarf was being so nice to him. He accepts the food with an almost reverent look in his eyes.
He lowers his head, and says, "S'okay -- thank you."
He doesn't say anything else as he slowly eats.
Treggor takes another shot at the middle hold, hoping to find something he can ply to his advantage.
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"Ah proomis ah'll be back. Ye won tell noone?" Grizzle asks.
Owlbear nods to Grizzle.
***
Treggor enters the middle hold. It's mostly empty save for about 13 pigs in a pen. Next to the pigs he finds the chains were Owlbear is normally kept. Stored near the mainmasr are two light ballistas, a disassembled catapault, and 12 barrels containing 20 gallons of oil each.
He also finds discarded in a corner a small vial of basic poison.