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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...
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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
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Notes I missed:
Marina was fully prepared to jump in to save Jakes Magpie from his keelhauling but was warned against it by Sandara Quinn, who provided some important exposition regarding the factions aboard the Wormwood. Sandara also caught up with her old friends from Devils' Arches Aubrey and Julian.
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Day 2: 14 Desnus 4713
A young boy sits on a dock, his feet dangling in the water, holding a simple string-and-stick fishing rod. The water is peaceful, he is safe, listening to his mother sing as she darns fishing nets.
"Yoho, yoho, trim the sails and roam the sea..." the song hangs in the air, expecting a response: "Yoho, yoho! Bring my rum, it's a pirate's life for me!"
The boy's mother smiles and then looks concerned
"Dwali! Watch de fish! I tink ye caught sometin'!"
A sudden tug from the fishing line and the boy was dragged underneath the water. An eerie green glow rose from the deep, outlining the draconic figurehead of the Wormwood, and the boy suddenly felt as if he was drowning...
"Yarharharharhar!" The laughter of Fipps Chumlett, and the foul stink of the bilgewater was quick to waken Marina Trench from her strange dreams, along with her other castaways and press-ganged plunderers.
Fipps Chumlett was not alone, acompanied by Aretta Bansion, Terrible Terry, Jaundiced Jape, Artful Roger and Scarry Carrie, these pirates awoke the PCs with a start.
"Suns up, and you lot are still sleeping? It'll be a wonder if you survive the week," taunted Fipps.
The press-ganged pirates were attempting to get ready, though the bullies seemed intent on keeping our heroes in the hold. The intent was clear, to make the PCs late so they'd earn lashes for tardiness.
Our heroes had no patience for childish shenanigans, and the fight was on. Fists and enchantments flew thick and fast between the press-ganged pirates and the Wormwood bullyboys. Ultimately, Fipps, Jape and Roger lost consciousness in the scuffle. They'd be late for certain, and our favorite scoundrels made it up to the deck before any floggings could be handed out to them.
Scourge noticed that some of his favorites were late for their duties, but still didn't hesitate send all the new swabbies for bilge-duty. Aubrey was given rope work, and Cephia was given upper-rigging duties. Will was given the task of preparing a special meal for the captain.
Most of the press-ganged heroes focused on their jobs in order to avoid the lash and get a lay of the ship. Though Marina allowed herself to get distracted trying to learn more about the fellow-pressganged swabbie Breaker Bones, earning her further lashing. Will unfortunately didn't have the assistance of the Cook, who was too deep in his cups to assist with slaughtering a pig.
Soon that Bloody Hour Bell Rang, and Plugg was quick to pull up his little black book of unsettled accounts.
"I let our newly press-ganged pirates off lightly yesterday, what with all the excitement around poor Jakes Magpie. But let none say that Mister Plugg does not collect upon his debts, you see there must always be an accounting." Plugg's nasal voice rang out across the deck.
He turned first to Marina.
"A gift to you Mr Scourge, a debt is owed after all for your poor nose. According to my book, this nasty fishface has earned three lashes of the whip, for insubordination and one from the cat for striking a superior officer. And according to my little birdies, another from the cat for jawing at the brute over there instead of staying on task in the bilges."
Scourge relished the opportunity striking fast with his whip, before stepping aside for Plugg to swing with the cat.
The mute seasinger took the blows with as much dignity as possible, gritting their teeth and letting out no sound. She looked her fellow crewmates in the eyes. Her meaning was clear:
There is nothing you can do to me I can not take.
Aselia was up next. She did not hesitate to take her lashing, for insubordination and lack of discipline on her first day of duty. While upon the post she stood firm and requested another. Scourge was glad to oblige. Aselia also attempted to remain firm, but the pain was too much and her boast was broken by a tremble of pain in her voice. She could endure it, but she could not deny the pain.
Will had earned a single lash for failing to provide a special supper for the Captain, he'd be given bilge duty the next day as further punishment.
Then Plugg called forward Conchobar Shortstone, for his poor work performance. The sea sick gnome dragged himself to the post for a lashing, it was clearly not his first.
Fipps, Jape and Roger were called to the mast for tardiness. Scourge offered a lighter lashing to his favorites, but Plugg was in no mood for mercy and took the lash from the Bo'sun in order to ensure a proper lashing was given to any and all punished.
Cephia watched the blood drain from the deck and absorb into the very intricately carved mast, almost climbing its way to that strange Wormwood clock...
At the end of bloody hour rum rations were passed around the crew, and time was given for entertainment and leisure.
Marina was lent a violin by the Quartermaster and began to play to entertain the crew. The joy of being able to express herself again, overcoming temporarily the pain of the lashes she had endured.
Will spent some time influencing Ratline Ratsberger, and Cephia got to know some of the crew's younger members, the boy Jack Scrimshaw and the teenager Caulky Taroon.
Aselia who managed to procure some cards from the quartermaster, spent her time gambling her meagre funds slowly growing her purse to buy back what she'd lost to the quartermaster's store. While Julian and Aubrey let themselves into the Quartermaster's store to take a few choice objects of their own, while manipulating the books to hide their pilfering.
The Captain heard the haunting and familiar tune being played by Marina, she played an invitational tune, which Captain Harrigan responded with his resonant and melodic voice: "Yoho! Yoho! Bring my rum, it's a pirate's life for mee!"
He approached Marina, and decreed that she could keep her instrument, and he offered her a night in his quarters. What happened there a gentleman don't tell, but as a pirate I might say they made some beautiful music...
Julian's Keep Watch spells allowed both him and Aubrey to stay up all night and explore the ship a little further. While everyone else headed to bed.