Skulls and Shackles pt 1: The Wormwood Mutiny (IC)

[PallentisLunam]

Ahh, Port Peril. Jewel of the Shackles. Not so secret hideaway of pirate Captain Kerdak Bonefist, The Hurricane King. And also, it just so happens, the location of the Formidably Maid, a pirate tavern through which seven aspiring privateers happened to pass last night.

Each of you remembers the evening a bit differently. Each of you were busy participating in whichever revelries pleased you best. However, as you awake all thoughts of wild laughter, rich food, and heady perfumes are driven away by pounding headaches. The slickly taste of vinegary wine fills your mouths. The hard, rough planks beneath your cheeks are unfamiliar. The room pitches and sways gently but the feeling makes your stomachs roll and twist.

Where you are is mostly dark, but enough light filters in through cracks in the wood to see by. Clearly you are in the belly of some ship or another. The hold appears roughly seventy-five feet long and thirty feet across. Sixteen wooden pillars, in two rows of eight, support the deck above from about midships running aft. A mast spears down directly through the center of the vessel and another one rises from near the stern. The seven of you lie between these two massive columns of wood. Even in the darkness you can make out footlockers lining one wall of the hold and bundles of cloth piled against the other. Nearby is a heavy looking trapdoor bound with bronze bands. To the fore is a set of stairs leading upward.

Almost as if on cue the sounds of several heavy booted feet can be heard stomping across the boards overhead and the flickering orange light of a lantern spills down the stairs. The lantern proceeds its bearer into the hold and its bright, unshuttered light causes everyone's eyes to ache painfully.

Six rough looking seadogs fan out to either side of their officer and tap their hands with heavy looking batons. The leader (http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/assets/119369/masterbig.jpg) steps forward and an expression which might be mistaken for pain but which clearly is an attempt at a smile deforms the man's face. He cracks his whip loudly over your heads and screams in a booming voice that causes your heads to throb all the more, "Still abed with the sun over the yardarm? On your feet, ye filthy swabs!
Get your worthless carcasses 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!"

[Ravenica]

Anika

The little red head sits up slowly. rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. For a moment she stares at the stump at the end of her arm as if not quite comprehending what she was seeing. After a brief moment the dawning of understanding is replaced with panic as she gropes the floor around her. "Dolly, Where is Dolly?" she blurts, rising quickly to a shriek, "WHO TOOK DOLLY!" She jumps to her feet, tears of fear, and maybe rage misting her eyes, hand balled into a fist.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan winces with the pain of whatever happened last night, the sudden bright lights and the sounds of shouting and the whip. His hand goes instinctively to his waist to feel the dagger stashed there. He grins, despite realizing he has been 'recruited'.

He staggers to his feet. "I must'a had much more fun than usual last night. I don't recall a thing."

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Alistair awoke to a world of pain. A throbbing head, stiff and hurting limbs, cramped fingers - that was when Alistair noticed he had been robbed. The familiar feeling of the ring on his finger was missing. The signet ring, it was gone. Clumsily, he got on his hands and knees, then struggled to get up on his feet.
As he noticed, he was clutching the locket in his hand. It seemed he had, even unconciously, made sure it wasn't taken from him. Quickly, he fumbled to put it away.

They hadn't taken his clothing, luckily. His fine riding boots, even his well-made fashionable jacket. Except for - no, right at the place where his head had lain, he found his Navy Bicorne. Alistair put it under his arm for the moment.

He had just began to take in his surroundings, noticing six other, very different people around him, when a group of rough looking sailors arrived, the crack of the whip took him by surprise, so he flinched at the sound, but not as much as the wailing of a little girl nearby, who... cried for her doll?
A little overwhelmed by the situation - were they prisoner? Hostages? Slaves? - Alistair started to walk towards the stairs, deeming it best to go with the flow at the moment.

[Nomrom]

Beniel

Beniel slowly starts to come to, a massive headache booming with pain as someone stomps around noisily nearby. "Oy, some of us are still a bed this morning. There's no need for all that noise right now," he moans loudly. By the size of his headache, last night must have been quite a good time indeed. Shame he couldn't remember any of it.

Beniel had just had time to open his eyes and begin to take in his surroundings - a ship, apparently already at sea, of all places - when the door slammed open, and the man with the stomping boots stormed in with a gang of dangerous looking pirates demanding they get up on deck and report for duty.

"Report for duty!" Beniel though to himself. "What in the hells did I sign up for last night? There has to be some way out of this; I'm not cut out for physical labor." Regardless of his thoughts, Beniel could tel these men were not ones to mess around with. "Best do as they say for now," he though as he slowly staggered to his feet. "Maybe I can find a way out of all of this once I'm out of the captain's sight."

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

His mind addled much more than normal fun when he starts up drinking, Grayson laid there for quite a while before sensation began to kick in. First the smell of brine and wood, then the screaming for a doll and before any other sense good kick in, pain from his leg shoots to him startling him awake.

He opens his eyes and takes in the surroundings, mentally forcing the old pain to the back of his mind. He had worked on enough ships in Port to know he was on one now, what he didn't expect was the sudden rocking of the sea and as he tried to stand the motion through him forward and he stumbled back to the ground with a grunt. He was at sea, he could feel the monster inside him stronger than ever it had been when he was on land. "Besmara you crafty wench" he mutters under his breath.

Grabbing one of the ropes he hauls himself to his foot and peg, thunk. He takes note of the others in his situation, noticing the Cheliaxian uniform with disgust mixed with an age old fear and he instinctively​ tilts his eyes down so as not to be noticed by the man. That's when he saw the little redhead crying for her doll.

Dark memories of being whipped just for crying or throwing a fit come to the surface and despite his desire to remain unnoticed he puts a hand on the girl's shoulder "Easy there, we will find your doll. But I'm sure she would want you to stay brave without her." He steps in front of her facing the people who had taken them. And watches the officer head forward without a word. He waits a moment to see if any one will put up a fight.

[Ravenica]

Anika


As the big man puts his hand on her shoulder she flinches a bit but quiets down a little, and follows his lead.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

It... was a little surprising Alistair was the only one who actually followed their captor's orders. They probably weren't as used to following orders as he was - alternatively they simply hadn't gotten their wits together again, yet.

He turned around facing the broadshouldered and peglegged man who had positioned himself in front of the little red-haired girl.
"Is this your daughter?" Alistair asked, very calmy, which even surprised himself. "For her sake, I suggest you comply for the moment." He inclined his head to the left, indicating the whip-wielding sailor, before turning around again and making his way towards the stairs.

[Nomrom]

Beniel

Beniel lets out a low groan as he struggles to find his footing - the heavy drinking last night did not mix well with suddenly being awoken on a moving ship. Seeing one of his fellow captives start to head upstairs, he starts to make his own way to the stairs and up to the main deck, moving as slowly as thinks the men with batons will allow him.

[thegoldenfedora]

color=darkcyan]Grayson Wilkes[/color]

Grayson nearly jumps at the Cheliaxian's remark to him, wishing he hadn't brought attention to himself so quickly. His hand instinctively reaches for the bandage that covers his brand making sure it is still there. He keeps his eyes averted from the officer, but gives a slight nod to the man.

He looks down at the little redhead and gives a half smile that tries to hide his own weariness and anger with the situation. "Let's go see what's up there" and he turns to follow the young man who had already begun heading up, pausing to let the child go first.

As he passes the man with the whip he pauses for just a moment, his arm flexing with power as he momentarily thinks about grabbing the man by the throat and hurling him into the others. But the moment passes with the knowledge that now is not the time and he let's his arm relax as much as he can with the severity of the tension in the room.

One day, I'll know the taste of your blood, and he shudders wondering if that thought was even his own.

"Watch your eyes little one" he whispers to the redhead as he himself braces himself for the incoming sun.

[PallentisLunam]

The thugs grin cruelly and grumble menacingly to each other. When Anika cries out one of the takes a step forward and raises his club to strike her but when Grayson quiets the halfling the pirate satisfies himself with a sneer and shoving the two of them hard in the back, towards the stairs.

There are a few mean cackles and crude shouts when Alistair steps forward. One of the older pirates leans forward out of the line. His skin is weather beaten and cracked.
He beard is scraggly and streaked with grey. His teeth are rotten and his breath is foul. "Them navy duds won't keep you safe here boy. 'nd that attitude'll get you stuck sooner rather than later. Mark my words," he says.

The other pirates spread out and circle around behind those who have yet to move towards the stairs. The officer with the whip grabs Thellan by the upper arm. His grip is like iron and with a sharp twist of his body the pirate flings Thellan towards the stairs. "Move, you dogs!" he roars cracking the lash high over everybody's heads. The pirates begin to push and shove in earnest and the group of new recruits is herded up from the lower hold of the ship.

Since it is a clear day the middle deck is brightly lit by a blazing sun beating down through two large wooden grilles fore and aft of the mainmast. The deck itself is about the same size as the hold below, although it obviously does not extend all the way to the rear of the ship, and is mostly empty except for more than a dozen pigs which are caged against the port side hull. Far away near the stern a narrow staircase leads upwards. Much closer to hand, almost directly beneath the bowsprit a second set of stairs leads yet further upwards. Between the two stairways the foremast runs up to the deck above and down to the hold below. Chained to this mast is a hulking brute of a man (http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/assets/119391/owlbig.jpg) who bears the marks of a recent tar and feathering. He stares menacingly at the passersby until the officer strikes across the face with the back of his hand.

"Keep going!" the pirate orders.

The next set of stairs leads to a rather cramped cabin strung with four hammocks and four footlockers are press up agaisnt the outer walls. Two narrow open doors allow unfettered sunlight to pour into the small room. The new crew members are forced roughly out onto the main deck where yet more pirates line the rails and hang from the rigging their eyes bright with anticipation. As the group emerges from the depths of the ship there are hoots, cries, and cheers. Cruel lopsided grins full of rotten or missing teeth leer at the new recruits from all sides.

As you climb your way through the innards of the ship you notice that your tongue is thick with the aftertaste of oily nutmeg.
Nutmeg is a key ingredient in Oil of Taggit. This must have been slipped into your food or drink last night.

As your mind clears you realize that you recognize the face of the pirate officer who has been hounding you out onto the main deck. He was at the Formidably Maid last night. His companions refered to him as Master Scourge.

It is quite plain that the ship has been sailing for some time as all around is clear blue sea, far from any shoreline. The jeering of the pirates suddenly falls silent and all stare up at the poop deck where two figures stand. One of them (http://www.seannittner.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Harrigan.jpg), a broad, muscular Garundi man with a shaven head, a long beard bound with gold rings, and an eye patch, clearly the captain, leans forward on the railing observing his new recruits. The other (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dw_XgQU0Gp4/VeC70KJyTNI/AAAAAAAAAW0/x-YrSKy2uBM/s1600/6e15cdbc004b23c0b5b9f12ceaf91800-d5aof0b.jpg) is a younger, balding man with a long black ponytail, wearing an officer's coat and carrying a well-used cat-o’-nine-tails. The captain speaks.

"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 the captain turns and walks away leaving behind the man with the cat-o'nine-tails who looks down at the new recruits and smiles unpleasantly. "Ur'right, you sorry salts! First things first, I need a new rigger." he says as he descends the stairs from the poop deck to the main deck. "Up ta the crow's nest with tha lot of ya!" he shouts flicking his wickedly barbed tool in a threatening fashion.

The mast is 60 ft up.
A successful climb check lets you move one quarter your speed. An accelerated climb check lets you move half.

[theasl]

Gale wordlessly follows the orders as well as she can for her condition - she's been conscripted before, so she knows the drill. As the group comes on deck, she notices the taste of Oil of Taggit in her mouth...not that it was really needed for her, she'd have been out by the third drink anyways. The last group didn't need it, and they were nice enough to let her keep her...wait.....the gun. Where's the gun? Gale spots a familiar face. Scourge. He'll pay for this. Then the crew starts herding the group over to climb up the mast - fine, that's easy. Gale starts scrambling up quickly.

[Nomrom]

Beniel

Beniel glanced around nervously at the assorted pirate crew jeering at them. As the man the captain had called Mr. Plugg snapped his cat-o'-nine-tails, Beniel slowly approached the tall mast. He warily looked up to crow's nest all the way at the top. "Alright, you can do this. You're as strong as almost anyone you know," he thought, trying to reassure himself. Without any more hesitation, he began to ascend the mast and found himself easily making his way at a steady pace to the top. He only had one scare, nearly all the way to the top, before reaching the crow's nest about a minute later.

[Ravenica]

Anika

Blinking as she steps into the light the little girl follows the crowd, she wrinkles her nose at the ucky unfamiliar taste as she pushes her way between people to the front so she can see.

She glares at Master Scourge, as if trying to make his head explode as the Captain makes his speech.

She squeaks a little as people push past her to follow the order and looks incredulously up at the heights, then back to the scoundrels in charge to see if they are serious. Hesitantly deciding that defiance could lead to bad things she moves to the rigging to try and climb it. Her stump provides little aid as she grapples with the ropes, rising to not even the height of a man three times and falling back to the deck. The last time she falls she whimpers and looks up at the men in charge. Tears stain her cheaks but she doesn't quite keep the look of annoyance out of them well enough to fool more than a casual observer.

[thegoldenfedora]

When the pirates threaten the officer, Grayson smiles an inner smile, hoping that his previous captors and current captors would tear eachother apart. He calmly meets the gaze of the brute with a mixture of pity and resolve. He couldn't tell which feeling was stronger, knowing only that he wished the man a better life while at the same time that would do his best to drop him without hesitation if the need arose.

The moment passed and they came to fresh air. Despite his trepadation of the ocean, it felt good to breath the ocean air again after staying on land for so long. He listened intently to the captain, recognizing a man who was not to be trifled with.

As the group of captives moves to the rigging Grayson looks up at the crows nest, swinging against the sun. He watches some begin to work their way up, then he looks down at his missing leg as if to say "you have got to be kidding me" but seeing a one handed child try to climb shows him just how serious their captors are.

He grabs at the ropes and hauls himself up, letting his peg leg dangle behind him, he crouches down and leaps up the line, creating a rhythm of catching himself and then throwing himself higher and higher into the air. He reaches the top flawlessly and takes a moment to survey the ship they were now stuck on.

with my rolls it takes six rounds to reach the top, more of there are any movement penalties you want to add
perception [roll0] followed by a craft woodworking [roll1] to get an idea of the shape of the ship

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

The jeers and insults weren't exactly unexpected. Alistair resolved to suffer them stoically, and try to keep his composure. He noticed a weird aftertaste in his mouth, but that was the least of his worries at the moment.

He shortly considered replying to the older sailor with whatever witty repartee his addled mind would come up with on such short notice, but decided to simply remain silent for the moment, and walking on.

When he finally set foot on deck, he recognized the bearded pirate that had woken them so rudely. He had been at the Formidably Maid last night, a man creatively called Master Scourge.

Alistair took care not to react to taunts and threats made in his direction once he stood on deck, alongside the other six, surrounded by a chaotic horde of sailors.

Intently, he listened to the Captain's speech. Wormwood. Barnabas Harrigan. Not that that meant anything to him, but it was good to know, he assumed... if he was really to... serve under him?

The realisation had only begun to set in when the man called Mr. Plugg ordered them all up the mast.

Alistair couldn't stop his eyes from widening a bit when he looked up at the rigging leading to the crow's nest.
He had been a Lieutenant in the Navy, an officer, he hadn't had to climb around riggings, he had never done that before, that was for simply sailors, and... well, he was just that on this pirate ship, it seemed.

Mr Plugg flicking his barbed tool was very convincing though, so Alistair stepped up, and as the others started climbing, tried to do so himself.

He set his foot on the rope and tried to step up, but his boot slipped and Alistair, stumbling, fell face first into the ropes without getting as much as a single foot off the ground. He tried to ignore any sounds coming from behind him, got back on his feet, tightened his grip and actually managed to get about eight feet off the ground before he fell again. Luckily, Alistair landed on his feet, not hurting himself in the progress. He tried again and again to get up the rigging, but his awkward fumbling grasps and general ignorance on where to put his feet prevented him from climbing any noteworthy distance. Finally, he overreached, slipped, and fell to the ground again. Sweat dripped from his forehead. "Asmodeus help me." he desperately mumbled, under his breath.

Twice, he tried to get back onto the ropes, and failed, before finally succeeding and climbing up, now a little further than he had gotten last time. But that probably only meant he would fall harder this time.

[PallentisLunam]

Depending on their nature the onlooking pirates do one of three things. Some of them carefully watch Gale's rapid ascent, even to the point of cheering her on or expressing concern when she nearly falls three quarters of the way up. Some of the pirates content themselves with laughing uproariously at Anika and Alistair's ineptitude, many comments are made about the Chelish dandy who can't handle a rope. And finally others appear entirely disinterested. Of course as with most things on a pirate ship there is a fair bit of betting that spontaneously breaks out.

When Anika falls down and begins to cry Mr. Plugg snarls and kicks at her viciously, however he is distracted by the cheers of the pirates when Gale reaches the crow's nest and doesn't follow through his eyes shifting skyward at the last moment. A strong hand takes advantage of the disturbance to grab Anika's collar and slide her across the deck just out of reach of Plugg's boot. There are a few harhar's and shouts of how Sandara is too soft.

A young woman (http://brennor.dyndns.org/~steve/SkullAndShackles/Images/Characters/NPC-Sandara.jpg), dressed in loose fitting pirate clothes with a beautiful mane of fiery red hair crouches next to Anika. "Tears won't win ya much sympathy from this scurvy lot, love," she whispers. "But friends can help ya out." The woman smiles and presses a small, familiar bundle into Anika's hands and standing up she leans nonchalantly against the gunwale holding a finger to her lips.

"A'right! Enough!" Mr. Plugg shouts. "Yew four! Get back down here!" he orders.

"'Ey boss! This one just hid behind the mast!" one of the pirates shouts shoving Salazar towards Plugg.

"Did he now?" the pirate officer almost purrs. "Hold him boys!" Plugg barks. On command two burly sailors each grab one of Salazar's arms. Turning his back to Mr. Plugg they pull the arcanist's shirt over his head and the pirate officer lashes out cruelly with his cat-'o-nine-tails. "Let that be a lesson to you. My word is law on this ship, and when I give an order you obey or suffer the consequences."
To hit: 25
Damage: 4 nonlethal.

When the rest of the new recruits finish descending from the rigging Mr. Plugg orders everybody into a line. "You," he says pointing the now bloody cat at Gale, "you're our new rigger, which means you're mine now." Turning to the rest of the assembled newbies he eyes everybody up. "You, half-pint," he barks at Anika, "your people love food, and you won't take up much room. You're our new cook's mate. Down ta the galley with ya!" Looking at the remaining five newcomers Mr. Plugg's face splits into an evil grin. "The rest of you are ta be swabs under Master Scourge. Now get ta work! All of ye!"

Like cockroaches under a light the pirates all rapidly disperse about the ship. Mr. Plugg climbs the stairs to the poop deck with heavy clomping steps while shouting orders to those pirates who have scurried into the rigging. Gale is promptly ordered to begin repairs on various bits of rigging.
The rigging in question is 30 ft up. Once there you must make either a DC 10 Profession (Sailor) Check or a DC 10 Dexterity Check. These checks represent a full day of work.

Master Scourge also begins handing out assignments to the sailors under his command. Alistair and Beniel are set to work repairing damaged sails. Salazar and Thellan are ordered below deck to hunt vermin. And Grayson is ordered down into the bilges. There are several mean snickers and knowing looks at this assignment.
You each must make either a DC 10 Profession (Sailor) Check or a DC 10 Dexterity Check. This check represents a full day of work.
You must each make either a DC 10 Stealth Check, a DC 10 Survival Check, or a DC 10 Dexterity Check. This check represents a full day of work.
You must make a DC 12 Strength Check. This check represents a full day of work. You must also make a DC 10 Constitution Check to avoid being fatigued after this vile and sweaty work.

[Ravenica]

Anika

Squeezing Dolly tight she stifles a squeal of joy, grinning from ear to ear at the woman and nodding at the motion for silence.

She jumps as Mr. Plugg addresses her but nods eagerly at the orders, though the moment his attention is directed elsewhere she sticks her tongue out at the back of his head. She runs for the hold clutching Dolly with her stub and all her might. With only a quick glance back slips below deck with nary another word to try and find the galley. As soon as she is out of sight she mutters, "When I find which one took you, they'll pay Dolly, I promise!" For a moment anyone nearby hears a strange voice responding, "They could never separate us for long Anika"

Perception to find it?
[roll0]

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

When Plugg kicked at the crying little girl, Alistair gritted his teeth. He was dangerously close to stepping in and making this situation a lot worse for himself, but luckily, a young woman dragged the little girl away, out of the reach of the brute's reach. He sent a subtle, approving nod in her direction, but wasn't sure whether she had noticed or not.

Standing at attention, Alistair listened to what Plugg had to say. During the whipping of the man who hid behind the mast, he remained motionless. It wasn't the first time he witnessed a whipping, it was a common measure of discipline on Chelish ships as well.

Finally - he was made a swab. The lowest of the low. Well, he couldn't exactly expect a position of command. So he was going to work for Master Scourge, wasn't that lovely?

Walking to the damaged sails as directed, Alistair cleared his throat and adressed the man who shared his assignment, a short man with a spotty beard and an obvious scar.
"Alistair." he said, calmly, and offered the man his hand while walking, making an attempt at a disarming smile. "It seems we are stuck here together, for the time being. Might as well, well, work together, wouldn't you agree?"
He surely hoped the man was of the same opinion.

[theasl]

Gale takes a moment to get her bearings atop the ship, looking around to see if she can see anything interesting or figure out where they are (and, of course, with a small forlorn hope to spot her old ship), before she descends. She follows the whip-man's instructions wordlessly and with a practiced efficiency, though she is a bit rusty; it's better to keep her head low and just do what they want her to - and it's good to be back working on a ship, despite the...unfortunate circumstances.

before she gets her instructions:
perception [roll0]
knowledge geography (untrained) [roll1]

profession (sailor), working diligently the rest of the day [roll2] (-4 if you rule that the above checks count as sneaking)

edit: wow, nat 1. I guess Gale hasn't worked on a ship for a while...:smallbiggrin:

[PallentisLunam]

At the bottom of the stairs Anika encounters the chained man again. This time he is snoring gently and does not rouse at her passing. Following her sharp halfling nose she is able to quickly find the galley, located in the stern of the middle deck. Past the penned up swine there are two doors set at right angles to each other with a staircase leading up to the captains quarters beneath the poop deck. Anika heads through the door that her nose tells her to and she is greeted by such a spectacular display of disorder that she feels compelled to pause and admire it for a moment. A pair of wooden work tables are matched by a pair of small stoves all surrounded by several wooden cupboards. Laying all around the tiny chaotic room is one of just about every kitchen implement known to man and an alarming number of meat cleavers. Also wandering freely about the chamber are nearly a dozen chicken and three goats. Two large cauldrons bubble atop the pair of stoves.

As Anika is taking the whole scene in there is a lazy exclamation from within the room and several chickens flap frantically away from one corner. "Eh, whoo'zat fannin' my door?" A large man (http://orig04.deviantart.net/ed36/f/2012/223/6/2/620a6fa20f4528e9423913701d0be2c4-d5aoevw.jpg), gone to seed and clearly inebriated hauls himself to his feet. Straightening his disheveled hat and brushing at his stained apron he blinks and rubs his eyes before looking at Anika. "Ahh, you'll be my new mate then," he says sizing the small girl up. "Well, the job's shimple. We fish. We cook. We try to stay on everybody's good side." The man lets out a massive belch and scratches himself. "The name's Fishguts. What's yours?"

[Ravenica]

Anika

seeing the sleeping man the little girl hides a mischievous grin behind Dolly's head, she bends over and whispers to him as she creeps by, "Hello Mr Feathers, we should be friends."

She quickly descends deeper into the ship, follow the pungent smell of pigs and poultry. The messy room and odours make her crinkle her nose a bit as she observes the chaos. As the large man towers over her she jumps back a bit, but as she sizes him up she shrugs off the initial fear. The mans state makes her feel more confident. She squeaks out, "'M Anika Mr. Fishguts Sir. My old cook taught me a bit, "Don't put the rat poison in the soup" he used to say and I learned good not to do that." She clutches Dolly at her side, hoping to make a good impression. She was less likely to get a beating from that horrid Mr Plugg down here.

[PallentisLunam]

Fishguts, who had started to take a drink as Anika answered his questions chokes and sputters. Blanching whiter than his apron was when it was new he wipes the back of his hand across his mouth. "Don't even joke, kid!" he says in a loud hoarse whisper. "You know what would happen if any of my food turned up poisoned? Why they'd keelhaul us both!"

Taking a moment to regain what little composure he has Fishguts takes a seat heavily and motions Anika further into the room. Glancing around the halfling can see that the entire kitchen is absolutely filthy and empty bottles of rum lie scattered about. A short while later, standing up Fishguts takes a deep breath, and a hearty swig of rum, and says, "Well, come on then. Soup's not gonna cook itself."

As the day passes Anika and Fishguts get to talking, and Fishguts grows slowly more inebriated. Finally towards the evening, the soup is ready and the cook is completely loaded. "Listen girl," he says suddenly from his corner, growing deadly serious. "It’s poison, this ship, but don’t let anyone hear you say it aloud. The hull listens, see, and the cap’n hears it all. Poison the Wormwood is, though, rotten to the core. You’ll not meet a more nasty, sour piece of work than Cap’n Harrigan in all your days at sea, and his crew’s the same, ’specially the first mate, Mr. Plugg. Vicious little sod, he is. He’d take his own mother’s liver to the butcher to make pies with, he would. But they leave me alone, mostly. They know I can’t ’arm ’em." And then as quickly as it came the moment passes. "You... you're gonna have to get the meal up on deck. Me, I'm too drunk." He laughs far too loudly for the situation as his eye lids begin to droop.

I would ask that you refrain from posting anything that advances the plot just yet until I have brought the goings on above deck to the same point in time. I was concerned that this would take longer that theirs did. Feel free to narrate your interactions with Fishguts throughout the day and if you still want to use your action to influence the sleeping man you enchanted.

[Ravenica]

Anika

Paying close attention to where everything is, the little girl pays heed to every word Mr Fishguts says. She mulled over his exclamation about her words getting her in trouble and decided to take extra care with what she said from now on.

Doing her best to tidy up she attempts to stack the empty bottles near the door in neat little rows.

[Kvard51]

As if waking to the bellowing of a bunch of thugs hadn't been enough, they forced him up into the sunlight. And while he didn't know what that concoction was they had used to drug him, he certainly recognized the hangover it caused as an old friend. And the sun plus the hangover is why he stepped behind the mast. He wasn't trying to get out of anything, he simply needed shade.

All of those things worked together to keep his resentment over the flogging on full alert. Plugg is his name. I'll need to kill him.

And now the fool had him killing vermin? Salazar Black, who had the blood of pirates running through his veins? Killing VERMIN?! No doubt about it. Plugg needs killing...

Dex Check [roll0]

[Nomrom]

Beniel

As Beniel climbs down from the crow's nest on Mr. Plugg's orders, he can't help but feel a small amount of pride for making it to the top. He might not have been the fastest, but at least he made it smoothly. Maybe this pirate life wouldn't be so bad. Then, Mr. Plugg had nearly beaten the little girl when she failed to make it up and whipped the man who didn't even try, and Beniel knew again he would have to work to stay our of trouble. At least, for a while, he would. He was confident he'd win over the crew, just like he did any other audience. But for know, he'd have to suck it up and do his job until he was more confident he could shirk off.

As he headed over to the sails to start repairs, his newly assigned workmate greeted him with an outstretched hand. Beniel hesitated a second before returning the gesture. The name's Beniel," he replied. Any aye, if we're goin' to be workin' together, no reason not to do it right. Though mind you, I ain't done a day's worth of honest work in a long while, so I'm not too good with my hands. But I'll do what it takes to avoid a flogging, if you will."

As much as it pains him, Beniel will work diligently for his daily action. He hates work, but his fear of a flogging is winning out for the moment at least. We'll see how long that lasts. Dexterity check (DC 10) [roll0] EDIT: And that's a successful first day in the books for Beniel.

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson's first clenches at Plugg's violence, an urge to throw him overboard and let the monster have him suddenly seems much more pleasant. For such a paltry crew, the violence seems a bit... overboard. With the girl safe in the arms of a rather attractive woman Grayson almost grins at his own joke, but then his thought becomes exemplified as a man is suddenly whipped for not climbing.

Besmara curse these whelps, are they trying to show cruelty every chance they can? his own whip scars flared with imaginary pain as he recalls his time being flogged as a child, which was infuriating combined with the very real pain of his leg. Grayson always felt that when his leg was acting up, trouble was in the air, and it never proved him wrong, but it was a little obvious at this point so he could have done without it.

He felt relief at the prospect of the little one going to the kitchen, a place that was ideally out of the way of Plugg and his gruesome whip. But the way Plugg worded the new riggers position set him on edge immediately. That didn't matter though because Grayson had to go to the bilges. He was no stranger to the place, having worked one plenty on his time on the slave ship. Already, he was rolling up the pants leg of his good leg to try and keep it somewhat clean. He finds his way down and locates the bilge pump, stripping off his shirt he works out his pent up aggression on the inanimate enemy.

Assuming that it is a pump, happy to change if it's not

Working diligently
Strength check [roll0]
Con check [roll1]

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Alistair gave a short laugh after Beniel's comment. "Do I look like I have?" he asked, with a skewed grin. "But I'll do my best, as well."

As they sat down at the sails, there was another, more experienced sailor present.

On the "Mephistopheles' Pride", while on watch, he had often observed some sailors fixing sails. While tiring work, it hadn't seemed too complicated, and after watching the other sailor for some time, he started doing some work as well.

Seeing Sandara running around on deck carrying rope, Alistair considered having a chat with her, but he wasn't too sure if Master Scourge would approve of him not working and also preventing Sandara from working. That conversation would have to wait, but he resolved to keep her in mind. She seemed the most benevolent of the pirates so far, and would make an excellent friend. And Alistair's survival on the "Wormwood", he was sure of it, very much depended on making friends fast.

While working, he turned to the sailor working with them, trying to strike up a friendly conversation.
"Don't worry, I'm better with sails than with ropes." he claimed, with a self-mocking undertone. "Although I bet the sight was fairly entertaining at least."


I'm doing the Influence action. :smallsmile:

Taking 10 on the Profession (Sailor) Check, which puts me at 15.

Also influencing Cog (?) with diplomatic charme: [roll0]

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

For the first day Thellan does his best to do a good job and does his best to friendly up to an attractive female crew member.

At night he will do his best to gain entry to a gambling game of some sort. He will focus on watching others and getting a feel for how good they are and if they are cheating. If he can't get in a game due to no coin he will watch others.

Takes 10 on his job.
Diplomacy [roll0] to befriend.

Gambling [roll1]
Perception [roll2]

[PallentisLunam]

The day passes slowly for those above deck. The beating sun creeps its way skyward as orders are barked and bells rung all day long. Master Scourge in particular seems to have it out for his new underlings constantly berating them and ridiculing their work, regardless of its quality. "Worthless sluggards!"

Gale scurries about high above the deck all day checking ropes for signs of wear, splicing anything in need of it, and generally trying to make herself useful. Her fingers feel clumsy and her feet unsure but at least once she has shaken off the rust she can't possibly get any worse.

Down on the main deck, the other pirate working at the sails, Crimson "Cog" Cogsward, initially sneers at Alistair. "Yeah, it was just side-splitting to see all of the slack I'll have to be picking up for you." But gradually throughout the day, with nothing better to do Cog grudgingly parses out a story or sailor's joke here and there. Common to his tales and mannerisms are mentions of the Lady of Graves and a dark humor. Cog seems to be a violent man who enjoys violent things. Also upon closer interaction it becomes clear that the blue silk scarf tied around his head not only protects him from the sun but hides his missing left ear. Both Alistair and Beniel get the feeling that it would be unwise to ask the brooding sailor about this injury.

You have failed to influence Cog. But oh so close :smallwink:

As the final bell sounds Cog glances over at Alistair and Beniel's work and grumbles to himself. Master Scourge swaggers over and inspects it too. "Pah! In my day I could have mended twice the sail that the three of you put together managed to fix, but I s'pose I can't expect you to be as good as I was. Get down to the main before I change my mind and have ye flayed."

Below decks, hidden away from the scorching rays of the sun the day passes faster for some and slower for others. Thellan sulks and slinks about the hold masterfully collecting quite a haul of vermin which are quickly slain and thrown overboard. He fills the dirty, bloodstained burlap several times throughout the day and tromps up to the main to empty it over the side. During his forays above he runs into a beautiful halfling woman (https://db4sgowjqfwig.cloudfront.net/images/920420/Rosie_Cusswell.jpg) who is easily keeping up with the grown men in their labors and lending every credence to the phrase cursing like a sailor while doing it. Her vocabulary is varied and colorful in ways Thellan would never even have considered. Tucked into the loop of her belt is a marvelously carved little hand axe which she has an alarming tendency to threaten people with.

Throughout the day Thellan is able to chat her up and learn that her name is Rosie Cusswell. "Pirates sure are an inventive lot." she says. He also learns that she too was impressed at Port Peril, a few days before Thellan. She has spent the days since her capture clashing with Master Scourge, deflecting "his" advances (here Rosie points to one of the riggers with her axe, a rather foppish looking gnome in a wide brimmed purple hat and a white silk shirt who manages to climb with a swagger stick tucked into the back of his belt), and pining for her fiddle which is in the possession of the quartermaster, one Cut-throat Grok.

Despite Rosie being friendlier than most of the other crew members you have failed to change her attitude. But once again so close. :smallsmile:

Unfortunately Salazar is not quite so well coordinated as Thellan. Almost every time he manages to spot a rat or a roach or some other type of vermin it manages to elude him in the belly of the ship. The frustrated young magician can only manage to catch those old or sick vermin that he happens to run across. Master Scourge makes his way below decks at one point and mercilessly berates Salazar. "It's the mast for you tonight boy!" he exclaims after Salazar loses the third rat in a row and storms off. While Salazar can hear Scourge's boots on the stairs a soft whistle and a pst come from overhead through the wooden grille nearer to the stern. "Hey, mage! Catch!" the woman who protected Anika earlier, Sandara, calls and tosses something down.

Salazar's beloved book flaps and flutters through the air and with a dive he is just able to grab hold of it before it hits the deck.

In addition to having your spellbook returned you have an opportunity to acquire a familiar. Options available are a: dwarf caiman, giant isopod,
marine iguana(all found here (http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5ldc5?Pirate-Familiars)), chicken (escaped from the galley), crab, goat (escaped from the galley), lizard, rat, or spider(all found here (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/familiar)) You can also opt to wait and see if you can find a different familiar than those available above.

Finally, deep in the bowels of the ship, Grayson takes hold of the pull ring on the trapdoor in the hold where this whole ordeal began, and hauls open the hatch leading to the bilges. A foul stench seeps out of the black pit. "Come to gloat one last time before ya finish me off?!" shouts an aggressive voice. "You'll never hear Jake Magpie beg!"

A ladder leads down into the bilges where no light reaches. As he descends Grayson feels thick cobwebs grab at his clothing and his limbs. Despite having rolled up his pant leg when Grayson steps down into the water he feels it come up past his knee rising to mid-thigh, filling his one remaining boot and soaking his clothes with the foul reek. "Hah! Yew ain't Scourge or Plugg," the voice says from the darkness. Chains rattle as somebody shifts in them. "Neither o' them'd get their feet wet just to taunt me, an' I ain't dyin' til tonight." the man in the dark, Jake, clears his throat and spits. Grayson feels it hit him in the face. "Nah, your just the sorry bilge rat they sent down here to work the pump... Well, get to it bilge rat!" he says with a nasty chuckle.

All through the day Grayson works as Jake taunts him, spitting, cursing, splashing him with the foul frigid water. The torment is only interrupted by the sounding of the bells.

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson tsks at the state of the water in the bilge and quietly listens to the man's insults as he wipeds the spittle from his face.

"If you truly are going to die tonight, wouldn't you like your last conversation to be a little more pleasant?" he hangs his shirt up and gets to work on the pump, "It must be hard knowing that the only thing you can do to rebel against your fate is to yell and curse especially when you know it won't do you a lick of good, I'd bet you were insulting the chains and spitting on the ladder before I came down here." He pauses his work for just a moment, his eyes adjusting to the point that he could see his captured antagonizer.

"Really though the only chance you have of doing something with what remains of your life and revenge against this miserable lot is through me." He looks the chained man dead in the eye, "I've been pressganged here and I'll tell you, I have a monstrous urge to send some of those officers to Besmara's pets. So maybe you can help me do that and laugh your way to the bottom of the ocean knowing that your blazing the trail for several others." He turns back to his work,
"Or I could hit you so hard you don't wake up until the moment you die.

[PallentisLunam]

The chained pirate continues unconcerned by Grayson's threat. The abuse only ends when the frustrated pump worker feels a length of rope float past him in the foul water. Taking a momentary break from his duties Grayson collects the rope and with a swift fist to the gut stuns the foul Magpie for long enough to gag him with the slimy piece of cord.

Shortly before the last bell a cabin girl appears in the kitchen with Anika and the drunken Fishguts. "The captain's dinner," she demands addressing the cook in an impertinent tone.

"Aye, lass," Fishguts responds filling a fine bowl with soup in front of her. The girl tastes it, nods, and departs with the bowl on a silver serving tray. Fishguts then sinks back into his corner cradling his bottle of rum.

Ankia just finishes hauling the second cauldron of soup to the top of the forward stairs as the day's final bell sounds out across the ship and the open water Harrigan's voice rings out from the poop deck, "Bring her in!"

Instantly Mr. Plugg and Master Scourge begin shouting orders, "Furl all sails!"

"Drop anchor!"

The pirates comply and shortly the ship is brought to a halt. The hands all grumble softly to each other as Harrigan moves towards the forward rail of the poop deck. "All hands before tha mast!" he barks. Gale and her fellow riggers drop to the deck. The swabs all wander over from their various duties. Grayson comes up from the hold smelling of sewage. As the sailors begin to congregate they mumble to each other. Whispered bets are placed. The words "Bloody Hour" pass from several lips. The captain silences all with an imperious wave of his hand. "Master Scourge, retrieve the condemned. Mr. Plugg, you may begin." Scourge motions to two hands and heads below decks.

The sun's orange disc touches the surface of the glassy sea as Mr. Plugg grins sadistically. A pair of ropes hanging from the mast with slipknots on the ends of them are used to secure sailors who in some manner failed in their duties or earned the ire of their officers during the day. The backs of most of the sailors are a patchwork of old scars. Punishments range from being struck once with the heavy, sealed end of a mooring rope, an act seen as more humiliating than painful, to lashes with a whip, to strokes of the cat. Plugg seems to get a perverse pleasure out of all but the first.

Salazar is brought to the mast for his "transgressions" and his hands are put through the knots. "Three lashes to learn you how to better chase rats!" he cackles.
To hit rolls only matter if they come up 1 in which case they miss
To hit: [roll0] Damage: [roll1] Nonlethal
To hit: [roll2] Damage: [roll3] Nonlethal
To hit: [roll4] Damage: [roll5] Nonlethal

After all such punishments are meted out, most of the crew are ordered to the forecastle as Master Scourge and his two assistants emerge from below. Mr. Plugg hands a rope to a sailor that he kept on the main deck with him and the man takes a running start before diving off the side of the boat into the water. A second assistant drops a rope ladder off the opposite side of the ship. Captain Harrigan speaks again, "Jake Magpie, you stand accused of stealing from your captain and his officers! You have already pled guilty to your crimes and now I pronounce your sentence: you are to be keelhauled! Should you survive your sins will be counted as forgiven and you will be restored to the crew. Should you perish your sins will be counted as forgiven and your body will be fed to the sharks. Do you have any last words?"

This last remark by Harrigan is especially cruel as none of the pirates have bothered to remove the gag Grayson put on Jake earlier in the day. As the captain finishes his speech the man to whom Mr. Plugg handed the rope reemerges on the opposite side of the ship from where he jumped off and climbs the ladder. The rope which has now been looped underneath the ship is handed to the first mate. Plugg ties the rope around Magpie's waist. The accused pirate's wrists and ankles are bound. Mr. Plugg, Master Scourge, and two of their assistants grab the rope and take up the slack as the other two assistants carry Jake to the gunwale. "Begin!"

Jake is thrown overboard and the four sailors begin to haul on the rope. Mr. Plugg's glee is sickening to watch, even for the seasoned hands. About a minute later what is brought up on the other side of the ship is entirely unrecognizable as the sailor sentenced to death. "Feed the sharks it is!" The body is thrown overboard.

Harrigan descends the stairs from the poop deck and heads into his cabin calling for his officers to join him. Anika is stuck serving out ladles of soup to the crew in a collection of wooden bowls brought up from the kitchen. As dinner begins to finish up and bowls are pushed back in the halfling's direction the officers reemerge from the captain's cabin. A lithe, sinewy half orc woman with an old scar across her throat heads below deck and comes back up shortly with a barrel of rum and a box of wooden cups. The officers mingle amongst the crew as rations of rum are passed out to each and every sailor.

Clumps of people begin to form both above and below decks, even up in the rigging, as the pirates take up various entertainments from arm wresting on a barrel topped with broken glass as crew members place bets, to off key singing and drunken storytelling. Master Scourge and Mr. Plugg sit talking with several pirates who seem to enjoy their company. The occasional sour glance is thrown at one of the new recruits.

Players may now take their nighttime ship actions and/or interact with the crew in whatever manner they please. All characters except for Salazar gain 100 XP for successfully completing their day's task. All characters also have the choice of either drinking their rum ration or trying to quietly dispose of it. It is clear that not drinking one's rum is cause for severe punishment. Characters who drink their rum take 1d3 CON damage and are Fatigued for 1d8 hours. They also gain a 1d4 alchemical bonus to CHA. In addition anyone who drinks their rum must make a DC 5 Fort Save or become addicted suffering a -2 penalty to CON.

Salazar falls unconscious from the pain of the three lashes. He is dragged away from the mast to the hoots and jeers of the crew. Moments later he awakes with Sandara leaning over him. "Besmara bless you, but you're not going to last very long at this if you keep up like that," she says hauling the wizard to his feet and motioning for him to rejoin the crowd. "Gather your allies and we can talk after the meal."

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

As the bell rings, Grayson takes one last look at the domed man, "Besmara take you, even if you see are a prick" he ascends the ladder, hopping from rung to rung while leaving missing leg dangling. As he reaches top side takes a giant breath of the fresh air.

He watches stoicly as the swabs get ready for the bloody hour. He had seen enough whippings to know what was going to happen next. Plugg's desire for blood did not go unnoticed by Grayson and he spit over the rail in disgust. One of the men who had been pressganged at the same time was brought up to the mast. Someone's in for a rude awakening.

He becomes distracted from the show off violence by the setting sun, finding the view enrapturing, certainly better than people getting whipped. His reverie is broken as the swabs prepare for the keel hauling. For one moment he meets Jake's eyes as he is dragged by, what a waste.. When the body is pulled up he gives it no mind. "A poor offering to the pirate queen." he mutters under his breath.

As the little girl from before comes by with the food he stops get for just a moment. "How was the kitchen little one? My name is Grayson, if ever you need anything you come find me."

[Nomrom]

Beniel

When the final bell finally rang out and all hands were called to the mast, Beniel gratefully threw down the sail he was repairing and made his way with the others. The work had decidedly not been enjoyable, but at least he'd done a decent job at it - enough to avoid the whip at least, he hoped. One of his fellow press-mates didn't seem to have been so lucky. It was the same man from before who had tried to hide instead of climbing the mast. "Poor fool ain't cut out for this life, it seems," he remarked.

Then some other man, a thief apparently, was brought on deck to be "keelhauled." Beniel only knew the concept from some stories he told, but it didn't seem that anyone ever survived the ordeal. Beniel just shrugged his shoulders at the execution. Beniel wasn't above common theft, but there were usually safer ways to get what you needed in his mind. He voiced aloud his opinion again, "If'n you're dumb enough to steal from them that can hurt you, I say you deserve whatever comes to you."

With that, the punishments ended and the crew set out to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. Strange as it seemed, it appeared that he and the others were free to do whatever they wanted. Apparently, as long as they did their jobs, they were just like everybody else. Confused by their strange situation, Beniel sought out the little girl who'd been sent to work in the kitchen and accepted a bowl of soup. No fine feast by any means, but Beniel didn't eat much better in the taverns he frequented anyways. More eagerly, he accepted his daily ration of rum from the half-orc serving it out. Beniel preferred wine, but any alcohol would do right now. He quickly downed both only to discover the rum was stronger than anything he'd had before and it hit him hard.

Doing his best to fend off the drowsiness that poured over him, he moved to find Cog and joined the group he was standing with. Now was to time to make himself a part of the crew, and if he was going to make friends with some of the pirates, it might as well include the man he had to work with. Waiting for just the right moment, he jumped in to begin telling one of his favorite stories. "Alright mates, who here has heard The Tale of Captain Webfoot the Frog Pirate! Now that's a fine comedy if there ever was one..." He could them from the start that he had their attention. The drunken pirate crew seemed to love every word that came out of his mouth. This might have been his best performance ever!

Beniel drinks the rum and uses his night action to try to entertain the crew. Rolls are in the OOC thread.
2 Con damage.
Fatigued for 8 hours.
1 Cha bonus.
Fort save (DC 5) to avoid addiction [7]
Perform (Oratory) [27]

[PallentisLunam]

Cog is off by himself at the prow of the boat drinking, staring out over the water as the moon begins to rise, and above all brooding to himself. He tells Beniel, in no uncertain terms, to shove off. "We ain't chums, and I don't want ta have to see yer ugly face anymore than I already has today."

Beniel takes the hint and goes to find a more welcoming group of sailors to share his story with. Soon he has them all but rolling on the deck as he acts out his humorous sketch for their amusement. His performance is so talented that he draws the attention of all those on deck who stop what they are doing to listen and participate, ooh'ing and ahh'ing and laughing at all the right moments. Mr. Plugg and Master Scourge, who are sitting together near the doors to the officers quarters below the forecastle scowl unamused as their posse of sycophants and toadies are distracted by Beniel's performance. Even Cogsworth wanders over to the forecastle railing to listen and laugh.

Beniel's performance grants him a +2 on all charisma based checks to interact with any of his listeners for the next 24 hours.

[Ravenica]

Anika

The pots were heavy but she did her best to not spill any. Spilling would be bad. "Hungry pirates are angry pirates", Dolly reminds her, her old cooks words.

She jumps at the captain's voice but as he calls for hands before the mast she grins, she is familiar with how discipline is aboard a ship. She jostles and dodges legs for a good position, finally settling atop one of the auxiliaries. Her eyes go wide when it comes to the keel hauling. Watching people get beaten is one thing but this is something else. As the captain pronounces him Besmara's Breakfast she slides down the side of the boat and quickly gets back to her duties with the ladle. Clutching Dolly all the tighter and promising herself that won't be her. She dishes the food wordlessly and gives in to every rude demand and brusque dismissal with an only partly feigned meekness. Each face of each aggressor is seared into her mind and each one she gets a name to put to the face to is whispered in Dolly's ear for proper retribution later.

As the big grey haired man stops her and introduces himself she smiles and says, "I'm Anika Mr Grayson Sir, cook was nice didn't even beat me a little, like my last cook. Born and sailed on the Fell Tide until she floated into the mist and the crew was taken, Sailed on the Raging Ripper from when they found the Tide until we docked in Port Peril. First time I'd ever been ashore. " She grins but then looks at the Dolly and it "speaks", "Didn't last long, the sea wanted her back and the sea takes what it wants.". She nods emphatically, agreeing to it. Then she continues on with her task, trying to draw as little attention to herself as possible. As the silly juice was dolled out she wrinkled her nose at it,Looking up at the half-orc with pleading eyes she says, "Not 'apposed to have the silly juice. Makes me sleep all day and leaves the cook might cross with me." Bluff [roll0]

After clearing away the dishes and securing her freedom for the night she slips off to find the redheaded woman. She wanted to secure this ally as quickly as possible. But she couldn't help but take the opportunity to sneak around the ship and see what she could find. She slips down to the first deck and heads aft to see what is about.

ooc stuff, I'm going to attempt a single midwatch action, to try and influence someone from the existing crew in their sleep. The other halfling, though she knows nothing about her, seems the biggest threat, most likely to expose her ploy if not brought to heel. First a dream leech then the oneironmancy.
con: [roll1]
DC 13 for dream leech
Oneironmancy (diplomacy) [roll2] (+4 additional if leech save failed)
She will also take the opportunity (assuming they are all asleep at this point) to use her sow thoughts on Benial, Gale, Thellen, and Salazar, to try implanting the "Protect the little one" idea.
If any one of them isn't asleep she will use the spare casting on the halfling DC 14

[theasl]

Gale is a bit reluctant to drink, but she knows the rules, and downs her rum slowly. When she's done, she climbs back up as high as she can into the rigging to watch the crew and try to chat a little with some of the sailors up there, relaxing from the day's work with the cool evening wind blowing in her hair. As the frivolities wind down, she descends and follows the others to sleep.

con damage [roll0]
fatigued time [roll1]
cha bonus [roll2]
fort save [roll3] (-2 if the con damage is in effect for this)

Anyone I can try to influence? Preferably another rigger. If I need checks to get up and/or down, any penalties for being drunk?

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

The first shift on the ship had not gone as badly as he had anticipated. The work had been doable, and while Cog wasn't the most personable of people, Alistair had the feeling he had managed to get him to open up a bit over the course of the day. Still, a tough nut to crack.

Finally, Captain Harrigan gathered the crew to administer discipline. It seemed quite a few of the sailors had failed in their duties today, among them the man who had been whipped before, for not even trying to climb the rigging.

Alistair watched stoically, he was no stranger to public punishments of sailors. Even the keelhauling was nothing new, sadly - although he wisely avoided looking at the bloody carcass the pirates brought up on the other side.

And then, it was over. When the little girl gave him his ration of soup, he gave her an encouraging smile and a nod. At least she had gotten a fairly decent job, he thought, she could manage.

It only took a little sip from the cup to notice - that stuff was absolutely vile. He simply couldn't do it, but he felt the pirates would take offence to him refusing to drink, so he had to find a way to get out of this particular predicament.


If needed, bluff check to pretend to drink if someone closely watches him:
[roll0]
Later, try to subtly dispose of the rum back into the barrel or somewhere else where it won't be noticed via sleight of hand:
[roll1]


Alistair was amongst those listening to "The Tale of Captain Webfoot the Frog Pirate", as narrated by Beniel. At first, he was determined to tell a little tale of his own afterwards, but as the story progressed, and the Chelish Lieutenant found himself laughing along, it dawned on him that it was hard and unwise to try to follow up a story so well told, a fact he begrudgingly accepted.

When Beniel ended, he applauded and took a bow. "Truly, an excellent story, masterfully told. My compliments." he said, genuinely impressed.

All that was left to do now was to mingle. Alistair noticed the beautiful halfling woman who had been on deck as well. Her very colourful speech had been hard to overhear, but she had seemed quite open to conversation; Alistair had seen her talking to the tall, grinning man who had been with them in the hold. She seemed like one with some influence aboard the ship; a good place to start. After another fairly impressive neologism, Alistair approached her.
"You seem to be quite the wordsmith. May I ask, do you come up with your words spontaneously, or are you keeping a notebook?" he asked, a winning smile on his face.

Trying to influence the halfling woman:
[roll2]

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Grayson watches the little girl skip away trying to figure out how such a small thing could undergo such hardships and what in the world was going on with her doll. He looks at the crew and remembers just how much he would rather be alone right now.

He takes his grog with a thanks and greedily chugs it down, deciding that he must at least try to make small talk and remarking to the half orc, "That's quite the scar you got there" he gestures to his own scar of a shark bite spanning across the right side of his face and down to his shoulder "I wish our bodies didn't have to be such wonderful canvases to paint the pictures of our past."

con loss [roll0]
Cha boost [roll1]
Addiction [roll2]
I'm generally going to try and avoid having to use diplomacy since Grayson will probable just make things worse each time:smallbiggrin: but if you need it for this interaction here it is!
Diplomacy [roll3] edit: with how cool Grayson becomes when he drinks grog that becomes an 11 on the diplomacy roll

[PallentisLunam]

Anika explores the aft portion of the middle deck. Most of the crew is either up top or down below, not wanting to share their free time with the pigs. She sneaks her way through the galley, taking a peek into the quartermaster's store and finally poking around Fishgut's quarters as he snores uproariously in his bed. More empty rum bottles roll back and forth with the motion of the ship.

Wandering over to a less crowded part of the ship Alistair times his movement with the gentle rocking of the sea and turns a simple drinking motion into a maneuver that sends the contents of his cup sail over his shoulder and into the briny depths off the stern. A quick subtle glance around shows that nobody is any the wiser, so he heads off to chat up the halfling woman with the foul mouth.

Rosie scoffs at Alistair, "I've a natural talent for wordsmithin' as you put it and no talent fer writin'." She wrinkles her nose and downs the rest of her rum ration. "And no taste for this foul brew. Ahh, I grow tried of grog and fish chowder. Bring me a fine wine or, even better, a bottle o' brandy any day over this poison." Once again Rosie is friendly enough and spends the evening talking mostly of better food and drink, often mixing in truly startling and inventive language. She also appears particularly taken with Beniel's story, "Never heard that one before, and it's rare for someone to tell a story I haven't heard."

You have failed to influence Rosie Cusswell.

As Grayson approaches it's clear that the half-orc (http://www.lby3.com/dnd/images/a/a7/Grok.jpg) has a head start on everybody else. The green skin across the bridge of her nose as a bit of a rosy tinge to it. Her voice is raspy, probably due to the scar, "Ya, it'd be nice but tha world ain't nice, 'nd flowery words won't change that," she says with a drunken smile "But that's a'right cause the gods in their great wisdom gave us DRINK!" she says the last word with a shout and raises her cup in the air. Most of the pirates nearby roar their approval and do the same, even if they didn't hear why they are drinking. The quartermaster sighs and makes a face, "Though sometimes I do wish for something other than rum and chanteys every night."

You have failed to influence Cut-throat Grok.

[theasl]

As she's hanging up in the rigging, Gale spots a few friendly faces - well, relatively friendly, compared to some of the others. One of these is a halfling who's missing a few fingers; Gale knows from experience that behind every missing digit is a great story...even if she's not quite clear on what hers is. Approaching the halfling, she greets him cordially, waving her left hand (which is missing a pinky).

If he responds favorably to greeting, attempt to ask about the fingers. Diplomacy: [roll0]

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Grayson lifts his cup to the half orcs cheer. He goes to drink from his cup, noticing that it is already empty with a look of surprise. He grunts and sets the cup down. "My name is Grayson Wilkes, and while I only know one chantey, I've certainly had my share of rum, and I'm curious what could beat drinking and song on such a night?"

[Kvard51]

The mast... I guess a few more scars won't kill me. But I'm going to have to adjust to life on this ship quickly, or I'll be too weak to survive.

Salazar grimaces, does his best to salute the Captain, and returns to his vermin hunting. I'll need to find a place to hide my spellbook,
so that I can be ready, when the time comes.

Perception to find a good hiding spot for the spellbook [roll0]

Sleight of hand to actually hide it, in case he is being watched [roll1]

...

As his hands are shoved through the knots, Salazar steels himself for the stroke of the lash, but the force of it still comes as a shock.

**CRACK**

He grits his teeth in an effort to not cry out. As the scourge pulls away from his back it leaves behind a line of pure fire...

**CRACK**

A low cry escapes his lips before he can clamp back down. The fire from seconds before is now in inferno on his back.

**CRACK**

As the last lash lands, white light explodes in his head and he knows no more...



Salazar falls unconscious from the pain of the three lashes. He is dragged away from the mast to the hoots and jeers of the crew. Moments later he awakes with Sandara leaning over him. "Besmara bless you, but you're not going to last very long at this if you keep up like that," she says hauling the wizard to his feet and motioning for him to rejoin the crowd. "Gather your allies and we can talk after the meal."

...

Salazar staggers off into the crowd, barely able to keep his feet under him. His back burned with a living flame. Allies? I don't have any allies. Perhaps she means those who were pressed aboard with me. Using that thought to stay conscious, Salazar slips next to each of them, one by one, and uses a spell, Message, to pass along the request, "Gather on the foredeck after the meal.
Sandara wishes to speak to us all.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

after the whipping

Alistair only flinched a bit when he heard an unfamiliar voice in his head, then nodded. Luckily for Salazar, Alistair had been with a sorceress before, and this method of communicating had gotten much use in those days.

presently

"I thought as much. If anything that makes it more impressive." he replied, a bit awkwardly, to Rosie's indignant reply. Still, she was easy to talk to, and the dominating topic was to Alistair's taste, as well.
"Have you ever tried Brandy from Macini? Best one I ever had."
He kept on talking with her for a while, making jokes and bantering, but left for the foredeck in time to meet up with Sandara; Alistair took care not to leave with someone else as to not raise suspicion, instead, he waited until he could go there alone.

Once there, he leaned against the rail, waiting for Sandara and the others to appear.

[PallentisLunam]

The halfling responds to Gale's wave with a squinty grin that serves to accentuate just how rodent-like his face is. The two very quickly develop a rapport as the halfling, who goes by the moniker Ratline, and Gale exchange the stories of how they lost their respective digits.

As it turns out Ratline lost the two fingers on his right hand on his very first voyage in his very first storm. His fear at the madness of the storm drove him to loop a couple of ropes around his hands. When a particularly large wave hit he was knocked off his feet and the bones in his hand were crushed because he couldn't let go of the ropes. The only thing the ship's surgeon could do was remove the first and second fingers of his right hand to prevent rot. His third finger he lost in a fishing accident when he made the mistake of trying to unsnarl a line while he had a hook in the water. Long story short he got the ring finger on his left hand into the knot just as a great big shark took hold of the line and snapped it taut and ripping his finger right off. But at least he caught and roasted the shark.

Ratline is now friendly towards Gale.

Cut-throat Grok laughs at Grayson's question, "Nothing ever beats drinking and singing!" she explains, "but I can think o' plenty that beats this rotgut and their tunes." Grok gestures towards the drunken sailors singing loudly and off key about rusty razors and captains daughters. "Gimme elven wine or Chelish brandy! Sing me sagas and ballads!" she winks at Grayson. "This crew could do with a touch o' culture most nights."

[theasl]

Gale listens with interest as Ratline regales her with the tales of his lost fingers - she's a bit ashamed that hers isn't quite as great. She'd been training with a gun as a little kid on the Tide - one day it must have misfired, the blast wave knocking her unconscious. Next thing she knew, she was in the cabin with a massive headache and a bandaged hand, minus a finger. Nobody ever told her what exactly happened and it led to her pinky coming off, but she's gotten quite used to it by now.

== flashback ==

Gale whips her head around as a strange voice enters her head, but she quickly realizes it's being transmitted wordlessly. Dutifully, she goes to the foredeck after eating.

[Nomrom]

Beniel

Beniel had meant to get good rest tonight so that he'd be sure to perform his assigned tasks acceptably tomorrow, but the atmosphere on the pirate ship just didn't seem to allow it. The rum coupled with the rousing reaction to his performance led him to seek out the company of his new crew mates instead of his bed as would have been more appropriate. Hopefully, it wouldn't come back to bit him in the morning.

While working, Beniel had noticed one of the pirate women running messages around the ship, and was pleased to see her among his crowd. After he finished his tale and the group around him moved to new entertainment, Beniel took the opportunity to introduce himself. "The name's Beniel. Pleased you enjoyed the tale. Nothing like a good laugh and good drinks to get the spirits flowing, I say. Now if'n you'd like to hear something more, just come on round and ask Beniel. I've always got a story for any mood."

Diplomacy: [roll0]
Con [roll1]

[thegoldenfedora]

"Gimme elven wine or Chelish brandy! Sing me sagas and ballads!" she winks at Grayson. "This crew could do with a touch o' culture most nights."

Grayson, feels an odd pull on his face and realized that he is genuinely smiling, something he didn't really expect to do until he had some certain officers neck in his hands.

"Ha, you mean to tell me the pirate ship that abducts its crew from drunks at dive bars and routinely whips them like slaves is lacking in culture? he goes to drink from his grog, again realizing once more that he really needed to learn how to sip. "Well, good song I can't quite do." he pauses for just a moment for his icing pun, "I Be Flat, but if a glass of elven wine turns up, I'd be happy to share that with you and pretend that culture isn't entirely lost."

[PallentisLunam]

Tilly introduces herself and flirts shamelessly with Beniel. She is obviously quite intoxicated and Beniel is fairly certain that she won't remember much of the evening come first bell.

You have failed to influence Tilly and Beniel is Fatigued.

Grok punches Grayson in the arm, maybe a little harder than she intended, "Come on now. Look at this crew. Do you really think lessh discipline is what they need?" she asks the faintest hint of a drunken slur entering her words, despite all of the rum she has consumed. She snatches Grayson's cup and refills both his and hers, "To better drinks and better jokes!" she says thrusting it back at him for a toast.

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

"Ha! I'll drink to one of those things!" he happily drinks his new cup and cheers to the half orc's toast. He banters a little while longer before heading to meet with Sandara.

Con loss[roll0]
Addiction save [roll1]

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan does his best to avoid trouble and looks for a game to get involved with. In the mean time he will use sleight of hand to dispose of his drink without anyone noticing.

Takes 10 on Sleight of hand for 20.

[PallentisLunam]

A lantern swings gently from the foremast as Sandara and the Wormwood's latest recruits gather on the deck beneath it. The raucous crew on the main deck provides suitable background noise for what almost instantly seems like a meeting of conspirators. A gentle sea breeze blows across the deck plucking at Sandara's fiery locks, "I'd say some of you already know at least part of what I'm about to say but I'll say it anyways, here on the Wormwood, who you know matters even more than what you know. We're all in tight quarters and I'd say you've already made a couple of very powerful enemies, through no fault of your own. I would say this makes us natural allies." She smiles sincerely and bows deeply "Sandara Quinn, humble servant of the Pirate Queen, at your service. If I might be so bold I would suggest that you make yourselves amenable to Grok first. She's got your kit, but she's also got the authority to give it back, though I wouldn't go tromping across the deck with a boarding pike if I was you. As members of the crew you get births and lockers. Best to keep your stuff in there. 'Cept you should change the locks as soon as you can, and keep a weathered eye on your gear even at that."

Posting this now, partially complete before I become a victim of severe weather and lose internet access. Feel free to participate and I will be back in the morning.

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Grayson was on edge the with the Chelaxian officer standing right next to him. Memories keep flooding forth of his treatment at the hands of similar authority, and it made his own hands ache for something to do, or at the very least to hurt. He breathes deep to quell such thoughts, reminding himself that he is not the monster and that they were all in the same boat.

He nods at Sandra before he begins to speak. He speaks slowly and deliberately, forcing each word to come out hoping that he can properly ingratiate himself to this new group. "My name is Grayson, also a follower of Besmara," he says with a thumb towards the symbol carved into his leg with a hint of pride, "and the first man I had a conversation with on this boat ended with him being gagged on a soiled piece of rope." He figured telling then about Magpie, was the only way he could explain to others how little skill he had in the ways of social graces.

"I try to keep to myself most of the time, however I've talked with Grok and I think that if there was a particularly fine wine or brandy, I could use that to get on her good side." he pauses thinking for a moment, wishing that circumstances didn't force him to be so present in this conversation.
"I have some skill at whittling, if there was a piece of wood and a knife or my tools, I could probably fashion a small weapon, one that would be easily concealable."

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

That man beside him did seem quite nervous, Alistair noticed, with a sidelong glance. It was probably no wonder, considering him and specifically his little daughter were stuck on the Wormwood with a horde of pirates who obiously had no qualms mistreating a little girl. He had given him a friendly nod as he arrived; he could certainly do with a little reassurance.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance. Alistair Notelgamore, though Alistair will suffice under these circumstances." Alistair introduced himself the Sandara and the others who didn't already know his name; he took a measured bow himself.
Getting his belongings back sounded great, especially the rapier.

"Grok is... that half-orc woman, correct?" Alistair paused, waiting for a nod as confirmation. "She was asking for a ballad. If she was serious, I can definitely provide that."

[PallentisLunam]

Sandara nods and smiles, "Ya, all pirates have their quirks. Grok is also quite superstitious. I warned her that my kit was blessed by Besmara and that my lady would not be gentle with any who kept such things from her servant. All a load of bilge water of course." The pirate winks in a flirtatious and conspiratorial manner at Beniel. "The trick to surviving is learning these quirks. Well that using 'em to make friends, or at least cow enemies. Scourge and Plugg are strong but even they aren't much if their cronies like you better than they like those two, or if they're more afraid of you than them"

At Grayson's words Sandara reaches into her boot and with a flick of her wrist a dagger seems almost appear out of thin air floating lazily in front of her face. She catches it by the blade and extends the handle towards him, "Will this do for now?" she asks with a teasing smile. "Just make sure I get it back. Things would have gone differently for me with Scourge if I hadn't been able to threaten to prick his prick." The humor drains out of her face and what it leaves behind can only be called cold steel made flesh. Sandara is just as dangerous as she is friendly it would seem. Then an instant later the moment has passed and the playful twinkle returns to her eyes. "There's also plenty laying around that nobody'd miss. You could snag a hammer for crackin skulls rather than driving nails, a rope can be looped around a throat just as easily as a cleat, a sack fits nicely over someone's head. Just remember, don't kill none of 'em, or if you have to, at least don't get caught. Magpie was a rotten sonuvabitch, but even he didn't deserve to die like that. Harrigan should have just done him with his pistol, quick and clean." The pirate woman trails off glancing up at the moon.

[Ravenica]

Anika

Quiet until now, Anika perks up, "I can get knifeses from the kitchen, and maybe other things. Mr Fishguts is slovenly and a sot so he probably won't notice. The quartermasters store is unlocked right now...", she shivers, "But I'm not going in there after what happened to Mr Sharkfood."

Cheering up a little her demeanor shifts as she hugs Dolly, "I'm Anika and I don't like those nasty men one bit, and I bet it was one of them that took Dolly so they deserve what's commen to 'em. I'm not so good in the fight but I can do other things, I can get places tight and people like me." She dimples, doing her best to look innocent. Taking ten on the bluff to look innocent Total 19

[Kvard51]

Salazar Black

"Once I've got my pouch with the makin's in it, I'll put that book you gave me today to work. The lot of them won't be able to stand up to the magic I can weave." Salazar's face takes on a look of rage for a second, then it is gone. "As for Scourge and Plugg, they'll end up feeding the sharks. I'll vow that by Besmara's tits, I will. I'll do it, or I'm not Salazar Black, grandson of Barnabas Black!"

Sal looks around the gathering, as if expecting you all to have heard of Barnabas Black. When no one responds, he says, "Well, I'm Salazar Black. I'll get us free from these buggers soon enough."

[PallentisLunam]

Sandara looks a touch unnerved by Anika and her doll, as though maybe she's wondering just what she got herself into when Salazar speaks up. "Whoa there, boy. Take it easy with that kind of talk. Even with a skeleton crew, no officer in their right mind is going to sit by fer a mutiny. Ye might be strong but I doubt you can take on the whole crew and the Cap'n. Makes no difference who's blood is in your veins when it's pourin' out on the deck. Let's just focus on still being around next week. Revenge'll come later."

[theasl]

Gale is a bit suspicious of Sandara's sympathy, though if she's an...honest...follower of Besmara, she can't be too bad. Gale knows as well as anyone that she'll need friends to survive, and if this Sandara can be trusted, she might be the difference between life and death. And if her story is true...well, Sandara is much more attractive than Gale is, but she'd better watch out nonetheless.

sense motive [roll0] to determine if she is trustworthy

[PallentisLunam]

Your gut tells you that Sandara is being straight with the group. She appears to honestly despise Plugg and Scourge and she appears to honestly want to make friends. Of course she gets something out of that arrangement as well but she's also clearly bringing something to the table.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

"I agree. Building a powerbase, so to speak, should be our main priority right now." Alistair agreed.
Even as he said it, it felt weird how fast it had come to an 'us'. However, it was only natural - they were, after all, quite literally all in the same boat. Also, Alistair, by his nature, felt better within a group.
Even though it was unlikely someone would listen in, he lowered his voice a bit further.
"Although, if I may be so bold, Sandara - what is your endgame, here? Mutiny? Escape?"

[PallentisLunam]

Sandara smirks, "I'm a pirate through and through, navy man. I may not want to be sailing under these men but my whole life has been lived before the mast and under the proper colors. Can't go changing now." Sandara pulls out a pipe and begins packing leaf into it. "I'm not sure just what I'm gonna do, but like I said, for now I just want to see the next full moon."

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

He wasn't sure he believed her, but he still returned her smirk with one of his own after that. "I see. Well, black and red or black and white, when beating Andorans black and blue we're all the same, I suppose. Surviving to the next full moon sounds great, for a start."

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

His piece said, Grayson let's the conversion go on without him. Trying to take in all aspects of characters around him without presenting too much of himself. At the mention of feeding Plugg and Scourge to the sharks, his teeth ground together with anger? Hunger? He couldn't tell.

He worried that Anika was going in over her head and resolved to double check with her that the kitchen was truly safe before doing anything dangerous. The blustering from Black didn't impress him, he had seen it done before, and done better. Alistair seemed to have a good handle on the situation. And the other three, Grayson still didn't know their names, kept their mouths shut, something that kept Grayson on edge even more than planning a mutiny.

[PallentisLunam]

Sandara glances around and shrugs taking a pull on her pipe. "Well, guess we've got an accord. I'll see you lot around the ship, and I'll be watching your backs." The dim orange light from the pipe casts her face in sharp shadows.

The night ends with nearly a score of drunken sailors staggering down to the lower hold and fumbling with their hammocks in threes and fours. Most of the sailors are much friendlier in this state and throw arms around their new crew mates showing them where spare hammocks are kept and how to string them between the pillars and the hull. A pair of surly drunks sneer at the rest of the hands, especially the rookies, and take their hammocks towards the forward section of the hold behind the stairwell. The others make obscene hand gestures and noises at them.

For some the night passes restfully, others stay up until the wee hours and get little sleep. The rocking of the waves is familiar and soothing to some, but others are not so comfortable with the ocean and awake to a slight queasiness that passes quickly. As the lip of the sun breaks over the water the loud constant clamoring of a bell rouses everybody from their racks. As pirates rush to don boots and hats and get up on deck the two mean drunks from the night before gather another pair of their friends and position themselves between the stairs and the new recruits.

The group looks tough and like they mean business. Punching fists into open palms they let all but the new recruits past. "Got somewhere to be pretties?" one of them cackles.

"We gunna knock youse down a peg. Gotta learn you dat newbies go to da bottom, unda our boots."

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Grayson groggily gets up from bed, pulling the knife Sandara had given him from underneath him and tucking it into the small of his back under his pants. As he rises he stumbles slightly from the pain of his peg leg hitting the floor. He waited for it to die down like normal, only the pain wouldn't stop, what is it this time? He finds his footing and goes to head upstairs when a group of thugs stop him and his coconspirators.

He sizes the foes blocking his way. The thought of pummeling them to the point no one could recognise them seemed very pleasant, and he could feel the monster urging him to do so. His hand was stayed though by the idea that it would probably get him in trouble with the officers, so he decides to see just how brave their antagonizers actually were.

Grayson steps in front of the child in a protective stance, a cold look on his face. As he moves he passes the dagger Sandara had given him to Alistair.

"I've had a trying day being followed by a sleepless night, I'm in no mood for your childish games. So I'm going to cut to the chase, get out of our way, or I will beat you so hard Besmara will mistake you for one of her monsters and flay you for leaving the ocean."

sleight of hand to pass the dagger [roll0]

intimidate [roll1] depending how long the charisma bonus from the grog lasts, add 2 to that roll

[PallentisLunam]

The pair of thugs that are flanking the two leaders glance between their supposed victims and their allies. "Maybe this ain't such a good idea," the one on the left mumbles.

"Ya, there's more o' them den us," the one on the right jumps in.

"Shuddap youse morons! We're bigger'n um. Plus we gots our orders." One of the pirates walks up to Grayson, "I'll give you da first shot," he says smugly throwing out his chin and slapping his cheek. "Lay one on me."

The effects of the grog have worn off by now, fatigue and bonuses.

Two of your opponents are shaken, but they are still blocking your path.

No one seemed to notice your hand off.

[Ravenica]

Anika

Scrambling to her feet to attend her duties she stops up short when the thugs block the path. Her fatigue making her cranky she decides she wants none of this, and when Mr. Grayson steps up and growls at them she decides to play too. Clutching Dolly firmly she waves her hand a little and invokes some of her power. Invoking Haunted Fey Aspect, designating the fellow who's leading them as her target for the DR, Then attempting intimidate as well by seeming to be a mad creature. [roll0]

She starts shrieking in her most terrifying scream, "GET OUT OF THE WAY, WE'RE NOT TO BE TRIFLED WITH MORTALS" While Dolly adds, "Flense the Flesh from their bones!" Her form wavers and dances like some sort of nightmarish creature as she advances slowly, hand clenched into a fist and Dolly shaking as its held against her with the stump.

[theasl]

Gale stares back unflinchingly at the bully band, not intimidated in the least. The folks on this boat are quite rude - it's no way to run a ship, pirates or not; in her opinion, reward is usually a better motivator than punishment in these parts. She's ready to crack some skulls, but the others seem to have it well in hand, so she sits back and just watches for now.

heh, Gale still hasn't used her speech yet. "What's up with that, puppetmaster?" There we go. :smallsmile:

[Nomrom]

Beniel

Beniel shook his head as his new friends tried to talk down the pirate thugs. He's all for talking, but sometimes you just gotta leave the words behind and deck a man who won't get out of your way. He stepped up next to Grayson to face the pirate barring their path. "Oho, it's a brawl you want? It's been too long since I got my fists bloodied. If'n were goin' to do this, then let's get on with it already." With those remarks, he threw a punch at the pirate who challenged Grayson.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] nonlethal

Of course - max damage with nearly a natural one on the attack to waste it.

[PallentisLunam]

Beniel's swing passes right through the air where the man's face was moments before. Unfortunately, for Beniel's pride more than anything else, the man was so horrified by Anika's display that he had fallen clean over. Amid terrified, and rather girlish, shrieks of "Demon!" "Monster!" and "Run for your lives!" the four pirates turn and flee, tripping over each other and the stairs in the process. The heavy thuds of their boots can be heard all the way to the main deck.

Conflict averted but the party can never attempt to influence those pirates.

Heading up the stairs all but Anika see the four sailors blubbering before Master Scourge who cracks his whip and orders them into line with the rest. Glaring daggers at the recruits he sentences the four sailors to three lashes each for lies and cowardice, not realizing the contradictory nature of those "crimes." Really, there is little else he can do, he's not about to entertain the idea that the new cook's mate is possessed.

"A'right ye dogs! Listen up for the day's assignments!" Scourge begins barking order as the anchor is weighed and the sails are unfurled. "Navy boy, move those coils up to the fore! Scarface, go tell Grok we need nails and timber. Ratcatcher, these decks are filthy. Stumpy, tie off those lines. Frogman, go see if your tongue is as good for catching rats as it is at spinning yarns."

Profession Sailor DC 10 or Strength DC 10
Acrobatics DC 10 and Constitution DC 10. Also running around the ship you have the opportunity to pick up an avian familiar (Dodo, Parrot, Thrush)
Strength DC 10 or Constitution DC 10
Profession Sailor DC 10 or Strength DC 10
Stealth DC 10 or Survival DC 10 or Dexterity DC 10

Mr. Plugg similarly begins barking orders to his riggers. "Pinkie, you're on lookout, get your ass up there."

60 ft. climb followed by Perception DC 10

In the galley Anika finds a bleary eyed Fishguts chopping vegetables for the night's stew. "Run those biscuits up to the crew," he says pointing with a knife at a basket of hardtack. "And when you're done come get this rod and go catch us the fish for this soup."

Profession Fisherman DC 10 or Survival DC 10

[Ravenica]

Anika

Grinning as they flee she dismisses the glamour then turns to the others and dimples, "Ok, not everyone likes me, but the people that don't learn to leave me alone." Dolly whispers, "They should not be mean to little girls."

As she delivers the biscuits she makes sure to give the sailors who tried to torment them each a innocent little grin.

As she carries the pole on deck she frowns, not accustomed to these tasks she vows to pay extra careful attention to her tasks today. Being cranky was spoiling her mood and she didn't want to get sneaking around anyway.
[roll0] untrained survival with +4 for diligence

As the day goes on and she finds herself losing fish after fish she starts getting worried.

[theasl]

"Aye, sir!" Gale takes her time getting up to the top, at least compared to the race. Once on top, she spends about as much time looking out over the horizon as studying the ship's sails and layout, and also looking for any useful unattended objects that she could possibly pilfer on her way back at the end of the day.

climb checks (7.5 ft each):
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]
[roll6]
[roll7]
[roll8]
[roll9]

perception (lookout): [roll10]
perception (sneak): [roll11]

[Kvard51]

Trying to avoid further floggings, Salazar jumps to find Grok and deliver the message. "Scourge says we need nails and timber, Grok. And I'm needing my gear, if you please. There's potent magic in there that could curse the whole ship,
if handled incorrectly." Sal looks concerned, but continues, "I need it to craft a charm to protect us from storms, and it won't work without the things in my pack." He grins up at her, trying to appear earnest.


Acrobatics Take 10 (16)

Constitution (7 was the previous roll)

Finally, Sal will attempt to influence Grok.

[Kvard51]

As the sun passes it's apex, Sal realizes he is behind on today's assignment. Fearful of what another evening at the mast might do to him, he redoubles his efforts to clean the deck.

Working Diligently in the afternoon.

Acrobatics Take 10 = (16)

Constitution 1d20+2+4

As Sal works through the afternoon, he notices a little thrush flitting around.
Whistling to it, he holds out his hand, and is amazed when the tiny brown bird lands on his palm.


Taking the thrush familiar.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Alistair had shown no outward reaction when Grayson had subtly given him the dagger. He appreciated the gesture, though, and he would not hesitate to use it, if it came to the worst.
He wouldn't let it come that far, though, if he could at all prevent it.
"We do, don-" Alistair had just begun to try to talk the thugs down, when a rather peculiar transformation happened to the little girl.
Instinctively, he backed away, staring wide-eyed at her, only half-heartedly nodding when she adressed the group after the thugs had fled. A sorceress? The child sorcerers in Chelish society had always seemed fairly creepy to him as well, and who knew how they were if they weren't educated the right way? Like this, apparently.

Back on deck, they were given their daily tasks, just as yesterday - this time, Alistair was supposed to move coils of rope around on deck, a work that didn't seem too difficult.
The former-Lieutenant-now-swab immediately got to work, giving a friendly nod to whomever was assigned to this duty alongside him.

As he worked, he came across Tilly Brackett, who he had seen yesterday running messages - she had seemed quite the joker, so he thought he might get on her good side with a little joke of his own.

"Hey Brackett, do you know this one?" He asked, stopping next to her, eyebrows raised and twirling his mustache.
"A great and very rich pirate captain wants to reward the three men who had fought best in the last few boarding actions. So he calls them before him, every last one of them tall and broad-shouldered, and, impressed by their stature, he tells them he will measure them in whatever way they choose, and he will give them the inches in gold coins.

The first steps forward, asking to be measured from the tips of his toes to the parrot on his hat, the captain does so and the man gets his gold. The second asks to be measured from his boots to his outstreched arm, the captain does so, and the man gets his gold.

When the captain comes to the third, he asks to be measured from the tip of his sword to the pommel of his sword. The captain is astonished, but agrees, and orders him to drop his breeches.

The pirate does so, and seeing the situation, the captain, flabbergasted, asks him: 'By Besmara, man, where is your pommel?!' To which the pirate replies 'On deck of the Andoran frigate below the fever sea, Captain!'"


Going to take ten again on my Profession (Sailor).

Also trying to influence Tilly Brackett via diplomacy:
[roll0]

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

A low growl escapes Grayson's lips as the thugs run away, realizing he was angry at the missed opportunity to let the monster out. He looks down at little Anika, and does his best to smile at the child. He places a hand on her shoulder and says "Well done" before heading up.

The pain in his leg didn't leave though, and when Scourge started calling assignments, his body tightened with anticipation and the monster was pressing right up against him.

"That's cute Scourge, you came up with nicknames for all of us." he speaks with a low growl, whether it was him or the monster talking he had no idea. "We are not friends though so you can keep calling me by my name, Grayson Wilkes."

https://i.giphy.com/GDnomdqpSHlIs.webp

[PallentisLunam]

Anika sits amidships all morning casting her line over the side only to have it snap or go slack or anyone of a dozen other catastrophes that end with her having a tiny basket of undersized fish at high noon. She takes the meager haul down to Fishguts who runs a hand over the loose sagging flesh of his face. "Uh-oh, girl, we're in for it now. Why didn't you tell me you couldn't fish?" He begins to bustle around the room muttering to himself while collecting up the utensils he will need to clean the half dozen or so fish. "Can't add a chicken, folks'll notice. Maybe if thar's just more vegetables." Fishguts begins to sweat in a way that has nothing to do with the heat of the kitchen. Plunking a cutting board on the floor and passing Anika a knife and some turnips he says, "Chop, lass. We may get out of this pinch yet."

From her position in the crow's nest and with nothing much to do Gale has a unique perspective on the poop deck. While keeping an eye open for sails or reefs she can also spy on Harrigan, Plugg, and a female officer. The captain mans the helm while the woman appears to be showing the first mate how to operate a pistol and several gunshots make the whole crew jump over the course of the day as the officer trains with the exotic weapon. It would appear that Harrigan has over a dozen of them and intends for his officers to wield them in boarding actions.

Salazar is kept busy the whole day running back and forth trying to keep up with the needs of all of the officers. He learns of an arcane laboratory in one of the small private cabins attached to the officer's quarters and he gets alittle more acquainted with the "stitchman" than he really wanted to. As he tries to persuade Grok to return his stuff he sees that his lie gives her pause for a moment but in the end she shakes her head "What was yours is now da capt'n's booty, and you wouldn't want ta be stealin' from tha capt'n now would ya?"

Alistair's joke causes Tilly to double over with laughter. After being shouted at by Scourge for slacking off she gets back to work but when Alistair is next within earshot she whispers, "You're alright, Navy."

Tilly is now friendly towards Alistair.

A twinge of fear flickers across Scourge's face as Grayson menaces him. "You can't talk to me like that! I'll call you what I please, St-stumpy!" the boatswain attempts a show of pirate-ly bravado but his voice cracks as he tries to muster up the courage to insult Grayson a second time. He lashes at his challenger with his whip in frustration.

To Hit: [roll0]; Crit Confirmation: [roll1]
Damage: [roll2] Nonlethal; Crit Damage: [roll3]

The whip strikes Grayson in the face and Scourge's courage seems to be bolstered. "To work, maggot!" he shouts

Thellan and Beniel both keep their heads down and go straight to work. Thellan labors all day with a bucket and a holystone as Scourge does his best to walk through his working area and berate him for the marks left by the officer's rather poorly kept boots. Beniel spends the day chasing rats and cockroaches of rather alarming size through the holds. The little bastards seem nigh endless.

Thellan Strength: [roll4]
Beniel Dexterity: [roll5]

The two are able to complete their chores without incident, despite the fact that Scourge generally belittles their efforts at every turn.

[PallentisLunam]

As the day drags on the seemingly endless seas pass away around the ship. Finally the sun touches the water and the call to drop anchor goes out. As on the previous day, punishments are meted out before the evening meal. It would appear that more sailors took their duties seriously this time and far fewer punishments are necessary. However there is an uproar on deck shortly after the soup is served by a hammered Fishguts and his mate.

"Never been fed like a sea rabbit before!" one angry sailor shouts. "'ow we 'sposed ta live on broth 'nd turnips!" another demands.

Mr. Plugg gets in Fishgut's face. "I saw that worthless girl o' yours up here losing fish after bloody fish. Maybe if she's no good in the kitchen she can practice her fishin' in the bilges tomorrow!" he says with a snarl giving the cook a hard shove in the chest.

Fishguts has a stupid drunken look on his face. "But, she's my mate. I give her orders," he mumbles, unable to look Plugg in the eye.

"Not if you can't make her work. Then she's mine!" The first mate stomps off shouting at the pirates to eat the food and be happy they have anything in their bellies at all. There is a general grumbling, but food is food and the crew is hungry.

After the meal, Grok brings up the rum again and begins passing it out.

Commence Nighttime Activities

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson brings his hand to where the whip struck him, a fierce grin spreading across his face. He takes a menacing step forward, the monster yelling inside, but he stops, calming the monster within with the knowledge that one day their mutiny would be fulfilled and Scourge would grovel under his peg leg.

"That's better Scourge, you just forget this maggot, and this maggot will scuttle away without sending someone to Besmara's arms."

He strides away, offering his back wide to another attack, knowing that none would come. He goes off to his work and focuses on the task at hand, figuring he had caused enough trouble as it was.

strength check [roll0]

At the sound of Plugg's displeasure with Anika's fishing, Grayson begins to rise, but at Fishguts words he takes a seat glad to see the man was trying to take care of her. He eats quietly and thanks Grok warmly for the grog, "One day Grok, that wine will be a good chaser to the uncultured life we have here."

Having little interest in the conversations of the crew, he instead finds Salazar, who he had heard was working with wood and such during the day. If there was some left over he could get to work on those stakes, if this morning was any indication, a weapon was going to be very important in the coming times. When he gets a chance he pulls Black aside and inquires about any remaining bits of lumber.

[theasl]

As she watches the officers messing around with the pistol, Gale alternates between envy and comfort. The occasional whiff of powder and bang put her at ease, though she's reminded of her poor, lonely musket - thankfully it's still on board and not dumped anywhere, if Sandara's right. Gale has never used a pistol before, so she probably wouldn't be of much use if she got her hands on one in a fight, though. She does have to wonder, though - the Crimson Tide's guns cost them a small fortune; where did these hacks get theirs if they couldn't even afford to hire some proper sailors? They're so shorthanded that they had to abduct a little girl! Well, they are pirates after all, maybe they seized them from someone else who didn't know how to use them properly.

Feeling a bit more chatty tonight after the daily drink, Gale once again takes to the rigging - she chats briefly with Ratline again, then spots another rigger - a woman who doesn't seem to be wearing any shoes. Why could that be - the crew didn't have any the right size? they make her uncomfortable? Gale curiously approaches and, quite out of character from the rum, asks brazenly about her bare feet.

if we're doing the same checks:
con damage [roll0]
fatigued time [roll1]
cha bonus [roll2]
fort save [roll3] - 1 for con damage = 5 :smalleek:

diplo roll (22/nat 20) in ooc (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=22035667&postcount=134) (assuming the same people are up there; this could probably be used later in the convo if it wouldn't make sense here)

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Alistair was impressed by Grayson standing up to Mr Scourge. That took guts, and the Lieutenant respected that - especially since the pirate was cowed by his words, which was almost funny. Even though he wisely didn't comment directly, he made sure to give the man an approving nod once he was sure Scourge wouldn't notice.

___________________________

After the work of the day was done, Alistair, put in a good mood by his success with Tilly, didn't complain at all when he noticed the food was more vegetable than fish. He was a bit concerned when Mr. Plugg got involved, fearing the little girl would get whipped, but luckily, even Plugg wasn't that monstrous.

He took his time in repeating the manoeuvre of yesterday, still being not too keen on drinking pirate poison.


Taking 10 on disposing of the rum today, for a total of 17.

As the evening entertainment began, Alistair, after making sure he was in a good position so Grok could see and hear him, rose from the bench, put one foot on it, put his left arm behind his back and, accentuating the story with sweeping gestures by his right arm, began reciting a ballad, of which Chelish culture had no shortage.

"Due to popular demand, I will now recite 'Guarding the broken gate'." he began, omitting that "popular demand" was Grok, and even that only indirectly. He made sure to exaggerate his gestures and speech a bit, as to seem comical, as he was more likely to get the pirate's attention that way.

"The gate had been broken
and they left as a token
a warrior guarding the gate.
He knew he was lost,
but the war it was just
so he slowly accepted his fate.
Just a spear in his hand
he took to his stand
guarding the broken gate."
His recitation grew more serious in time, once he had their attention, he could keep it with the fight scenes that followed. He executed some fencing tricks with his hand while narrating about the different and increasingly dangerous foes storming against the broken gate.

"The angels they came
and called out his name
promising and pleasing his eye.
His soul they did want
but he only did taunt
heartbreakingly they would cry.
Never! he cried, you will only do wrong.
and he remained standing, steadfast and strong,
guarding the broken gate."

Alistair grew increasingly grave during the recital, his gestures growing more subtle and measured.

"The scales made of gold,
though his grip had grown cold,
were broken by a thrust of his spear.
The dragon did fall,
still lost was it all
with his life there escaped a small tear
A last time, in stubbornness, his body did rise,
then the warrior met his final demise,
guarding the broken gate."

Alistair abruptly fell silent.

He took a bow, regardless of the pirates approved of this form of entertainment or not, and afterwards sat down next to Grok.
"As you can see, I am a man of culture." he declared, smiling.
"Where there is no culture, it can always be created." Alistair hoped she had been serious the last night, and he had not alienated her and half the crew by reciting an actual ballad.
"Tell me, do you have any special tastes in poets and composers?"


Entertaining the crew: [roll0]

Influencing Grok: [roll1]

Con check to avoid being fatigued: [roll2]

[Ravenica]

Anika

Bone tired, Anika looks pleadingly up at Grok as she hands out the rum ration, waving it off.

The day had been tiring, emotionally and physically and her already fatigued body was ready to drop. Slipping below deck she crawls into her hammock and is asleep before Dolly can even tuck her in.

[PallentisLunam]

Grayson gathers up several bits of scrap wood that might serve his needs but halfway through his first attempt to whittle out a serviceable he hits a knot which gives way sharply and splits the wood. His next attempt isn't much better as he ends up with a steak that is too delicate for his purposes which snaps when he gives it a practice thrust into the rail.

Gale spends her evening with Samms "Barefoot" Toppin, a salty old sea hag out of the Sodden Lands. Samms is old enough to have given birth to most of the crew and even to some of their parents. As for why she forgoes the usual pirate boots, Samms says that she prefers to feel the deck and the rigging beneath her toes, and that she never liked the way her feet smelled after being confined for hours of sweaty work. She also boasts that she can hang by her toes from the ropes but declines to demonstrate. The old crone takes an immediate liking to Gale, saying that she sees a lot of her self in the young pirate.

Samms is now Helpful towards Gale. Gale receives 200 XP

When Alistair gets up to give his performance most of the pirates are instantly dismissive. Snorts and jeers and shouts of "Navy boy" ring out all over but as the former Lieutenant goes on with his performance these quickly fade away. Soon everybody is listening closely and those who know the story quickly snatch up instruments and begin a musical accompaniment.

As the performance ends and the final mournful strains of the accordion die away there are more than a few, admittedly drunk, misty-eyed pirates. It takes a few moments for the crew to go back to their usual rowdy selves.

Alistair's performance grants him a +2 on all charisma based checks to interact with any of his listeners for the next 24 hours.

Also I missed this the first time so Beniel should record this as well but the successful performance grants 100 XP to the performer.

Grok wipes a single tear from her face and downs another cup of grog. "Aye, that it can Navy." she says throatily. The two spend the next several hours, as Grok gets progressively more drunk debating the finer points of art, music, and performance.

Grok is now Helpful towards Alistair. Alistair receives 300 XP and Grayson receives 100 XP

Salazar tries to take advantage of the goings on topside to explore the ship, specifically with an eye towards the laboratory he discovered in his assigned task. However he is thwarted by the fact that the door to the lab, which was open during the day is now closed. His curiosity very nearly gets the better of him but a fraction before he touches the latch to check if the portal is locked he notices faint arcane sigils etched to match the grain of the wood. Upon careful inspection he notes that the door is magically sealed and that it is trapped. There are a few stanzas that the young mage doesn't fully comprehend but what he goes glean is that most individuals touching the door would be in for quite a shock.

Thellan and Beniel join Anika in retiring early. Soon enough the whole crew is snoring loudly in the hold.


The next morning the bell rouses the crew of the Wormwood from their beds. The procedure is much the same as the second day except nobody messes with the new recruits this time around. Scourge is just as gruff and unsavory in handing out assignments as he was the day before to all but Grayson. One would think "Wilkes!" was the foulest of oaths the way the boatswain spits it out when giving orders. Alistair is assigned to check and double check nearly every knot on the ship. Thellan is hung over the side of the ship in a makeshift sling and ordered to scrape barnacles from the hull. And Grayson is assigned to ferry messages.

Mr. Plugg has Gale rerunning pulleys and working with the ship's smaller sails all day. When Anika appears on deck to serve the biscuits, left overs from yesterday seeing as Fishguts was still in his bunk and too inebriated for the girl to rouse, the sadistic first mate zeroes in on her and grabs her by the arm. "You sorry little wench," he says with an evil sneer, "It's the bilges for you today!"

"You two, with me!" he says pointing a Salazar and Beniel. The officer practically drags the little girl down the stairs into the hold of the ship. Pulling open the hatch he pushes her towards the ladder and barks at the two men, "Go with her. Make sure she learns to pull her weight on this ship!"

Profession Sailor DC 10 or Strength DC 10 and Constitution Check DC 10
Sailor DC 10 or Dexterity DC 10
Acrobatics DC 10 and Constitution DC 10
Profession Sailor DC 10 or Dexterity DC 10
Strength Check DC 12 and Constitution Check DC 10

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson grins wickedly to himself as Scourge calls his name. He sighs though as he becomes tasked with running. Step thunk, step thunk, step thunk. He runs around the ship back and forth, pain shooting up his leg as his weight lands on his wooden prosthetic.

He takes time to figure out how he can be helpful on the ship. Knowing full well that he had little skill with people he needed to figure out what else he could do to gain their trust. As he runs back and forth across the ship, he keeps his eyes on the other swabs, trying to glean whatever information he can about them.

Shirking duty taking 10 on the acrobatics for a 14
Con [roll0]
Taking 10 on Perception for a 12
If there is a swab who is struggling with their tasks he will try and aid them so they can avoid the whipping
Sneak [roll1]

[theasl]

Gale is tired out from the previous night again, so she focuses on her work to avoid slipping up.

prof sailor [roll0] (auto success)

[Ravenica]

Seeing how hard the work is going to be Anika steels herself for another day diligent labor.
see ooc for str check XD total 15
[roll0] Con, assuming the +4 for diligence doesn't help here, its four higher if it does XD

She works the pumps vigorously but feels her energy flagging rapidly by the end of the day. She tries to keep her cheer up by telling the others tales of her last ship.
"And the boatswain was nick'n things from the first mate, just cause he didn't like the color of his hat. They found it all stuffed in the pig pen, smellin to high heaven."

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

When Alistair arose that morning, he was already feeling tired. It seemed he had spent too much time with Grok last night - time well spent, that half-orc was full of surprises - but it remained to be seen if it had been prudent as far as today's duties were concerned.

Checking nearly every knot on the ship didn't sound like a lot of work, but... there was a lot of them. Which was an understatement. While running around on the ship, Alistair noticed a half-orc who had been assigned to provide a counterweight to Thellan.

"Heavy load on the other end?" he asked, trying for some humourous small-talk.



Taking 10 on the profession: sailor roll again.
Constitution roll: [roll0] (+2 Con -2 fatigue)
Influencing the half-orc: [roll1] (assuming he was part of the crowd listening to the ballad. If not, it's probably wiser to find somebody else and influence them.

[PallentisLunam]

Salazar and Beniel do their best to help Anika stay dry in the bilges, carrying her from the ladder, and pulling a rotted box over to the pump so that she can take a turn when they both tire out. The slimy dank hole is cold and dark, filled with scummy water and various piles of refuse. The manacles bolted to the hull clank softly with the rocking of the ship. Every so often there is the eerie feeling that something hungry and malevolent is watching and waiting. Sometimes the thick cobwebs quiver with motion not caused by the sea.

Salazar Strength: [roll0] ; Constitution: [roll1]
Beniel Strength: [roll2] ; Constitution: [roll3]
Nomrom: If we don't hear from you by Friday Beniel will become an NPC

Up on deck a gnome with a rather obvious glass eye is struggling to fight the wind that is picking at the sail he is trying to mend. He grunts his thanks and stitches like mad when Grayson's peg leg stabs down onto the canvas, holding it in place. Nearby the half-orc that Alistair addresses turns out to be a surly mute. He is grey skinned instead of green, a malady that has earned him the name Jaundiced Jape. He hauls on the rope in a hard and unnecessary manner attempting to make it look like an accident when he swings an elbow at the Chelish sailor. Alistair manages to sidestep the clumsy maneuver and Thellan gives a cry of triumph and appears over the side of the ship holding a nearly record sized barnacle. The orc seems surprised by Alistair's reflexes but his response is merely to snort deep in his throat and spit on the deck near the ex-navy sailor's boot. The action reveals that the end of the orc's tongue has been cut off.

Jape is now unfriendly towards Alistair.

As the sun begins to set the tell-tale grey splotch of land appears on the horizon to the west.

Fishguts serves the meal after bloody hour, the whole time barely able to stand with a heartbroken expression on his face and an inability to look Anika in the eyes.

Nighttime.

Merecat If we don't hear from you by Friday Thellan will become an NPC

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Grayson smiles inwardly, glad that one disabled was able to help another. "Us cripples need to keep an-" he stops himself realizing he was about to break his own rule. "We need to be there for each other." and he goes off to finish his work.

After the beatings he takes his meal and quickly goes below decks to take another crack at his woodworking project. "The stakes just get higher and higher." he mumbles to himself as he gets to work.


Con loss [roll0]
Fatigue duration [roll1] hours
Charisma gain [roll2]
Craft woodworking [roll3]
DC=12

[Ravenica]

Anika

Sighing wearily, Anika heads to her bunk, boned tired yet again.

[theasl]

Gale is unusually tired out after the day's work. After the daily drink, she takes a little time to chat with her new friends, then heads down early to sleep.

CON damage [roll0]
fatigued [roll1]
CHA bonus [roll2]
fort save [roll3] - 1 = 8

[Kvard51]

Knowing he is still far too weak to handle the rotgut Cap'm Harrigan forces them to drink, Salazar waits for a moment when he thinks no one is looking to dump his grog overboard. Slipping away, he goes to look for Grok. I need those pouches, if I'm going to do anything useful towards getting us free from this idiot of a Captain...

Seeing Grok drinking and laughing with the Navy man, Salazar sits down beside her also. Leaning in, he waits until she finishes with a bout of laughter and whispers in her ear, "Grok, I wasn't laughing when I told you I needed my things. There is dangerous magic in those bags. More than that, there is dangerous magic dogging this ship. And I can do something about it. But I need my things. Get them for me, and I'll include you in any protection I magic up." He sits back and waits for her reply, trying to look grave and concerned.

Take 10 Sleight of Hand to dump the grog: 12

Bluff [roll0]

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Checking the knots had been about as exhausting as he had imagined, but Alistair handled it fairly well.
His tired state had more to do with the long last night than with today's work.

The bloody hour came and went, and Alistair dutifully took his mug of rum for the night, only to dispose if it the same way he had done the evenings before.

Using take 10 to get rid of the rum again.

He had planned on going to bed early that night, but then he ended up sitting together with Grok again, sharing stories and jokes and verses by their favourite poets. It was a wonder to have found such a gentle soul on a ship of pirates, especially in the form of the half-orc woman. A very welcome development.

When the wizard who had arranged the meeting with Sandara joined them, Alistair took care to look uneasy when the man talked about dangerous magic. Having the wizard's equipment back on him would very likely be beneficial to all of them.

rolling bluff [roll0] (assuming the bonus from the entertainment is still active, if not, -2) to look suitably impressed by the wizard's words as to support his bluff. If that would count as a night action, ignore this :smallwink:

When that was done, and he and Grok had spend some more time together,
"So, you're the quartermaster, Grok, correct? Do you... think I could get some of my things back? I know, I know, captain's loot, but honestly, that rapier is worth more in my hands than on a rack." He gave her a winning smile and a furled eyebrow. "To be honest, I'm rubbish with about any other weapon. And I bet most of the others are rubbish with the rapier. Also, I'm more or less captain's loot as well, so it'd be loot on loot, which wouldn't be so bad, would it?"

Trying to get Alistair's things back, most of all the rapier; I highly doubt he'd get back the ring, but that's fairly far down on the list of priorities:
[roll1](assuming the bonus from the entertainment is still active, if not, -2)

[PallentisLunam]

Once again quality materials elude Grayson among the refuse from the day's repairs and so his desire for a weapon goes on.

Grok, more than a little drunk and at Alistair's urging, nods blearily and waves for the two men to follow her. She heads down through the hold, past the sleeping man chained below the foremast and the swine, and into the galley. She pulls out a key ring as Salazar and Alistair glance around the filthy kitchen. Fishguts can be heard snoring uproariously between little outbursts of feeble noises. It would seem as though he were having a drunken nightmare. After a few attempts Grok manages to get the key in the lock and turn it. There is no click of the bolt sliding back out of the way, but Grok doesn't seem to notice, or if she does she pays it no mind.

"All'a stuff what came of yew lot's in 'ere!" the quartermaster says with a big grin opening up a large locker. "less see now." Grok begins digging and shortly comes up with Salazar's component pouch. "There ye are!" she says tossing it rather carelessly to the young mage. "Say now,
where'd ye get tha bird?" she asks squinting and blinking. While Grok starts talking to Salazar she waves Alistair over to the locker and steps away making it clear that he can take what he want.

Afterwards, when the two are leaving and Grok is getting ready to turn in for the night she grabs Alistair's arm and holds him back letting Salazar go ahead. "I knows you was lookin' fer this." she says placing his family ring in his hand. She laughs drunkenly. "I knows chelish coats when I sees em, though there's sumthin funny bout this one.
Either way, don't go flashin none o' this around. Or you'll get us both hanged." She gives Alistair a drunken pat on the cheek and pushes him out of the store, pulling the door closed behind her and staggering off towards her shared cabin and Fishguts' snores.

Alistair has recovered all of his gear and earned 200 XP


The night passes uneventfully, and the now familiar bells sound all to early the next morning. The sea is grey and fierce looking this day and especially at anchor the ship rocks and lurches more than usual. However the weather has put the officers in a fine mood and they seem eager to test their new crew under less favorable conditions.

"Pinkie, Maheem, Syl, on the mainsail! Keep her full!" Two of the other riggers, two of the less friendly ones, grab up the outside cords leaving it to Gale to handle the midtie. On the left is a burly Rahadoumi with a permanent scowl and on the right is a wiry, slightly crazed woman.

Profession Sailor Check DC 10 and Constitution Check DC 10 to avoid fatigue.

"Stone the deck the lot of ya!" Scourge orders Alistair, Salazar, Thellan, Grayson, and Beniel. "Wit any luck either the sea or the sky'll help wash her clean once you're done"

Strength Check DC 10 or Constitution Check DC 10; Failure results in fatigue.

The situation below deck is rather different. Fishguts has apparently started drinking even earlier and more heavily than usual and has fallen into a deep stupor. Anika is on her own to prepare food for the crew. Luckily the chickens have produced several eggs overnight, the goats have provided plenty of milk, and Fishguts apparently did some late night fishing. Still, it's going to be a very busy day for Anika.

Profession Cook Check DC 10 or Intelligence Check DC 10

[theasl]

Gale grabs the rope quickly, maneuvering under the rough weather with practiced ease. As the riggers deal with the sails, she tries to strike up a conversation with the Rahadoumi - simple stuff, like how he ended up with the ship - to pass the time, though it leaves her less focused on her tasks.

profession sailor [roll0]
constitution check [roll1]
diplomacy to influence Maheem [roll2]

It's only been a few days since she was unceremoniously tossed aboard the Wormwood, but Gale is already starting to feel at home on the ship, though she isn't too impressed by the way it's run. She's gotten familiar with a few of the crew, and though she's been separated somewhat from the others who came in with her, hopefully they won't hold it against her if they ever need each other's help.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

at night

It felt great to have his rapier in his hands once more. Alistair tried some fencing lunges, and, satisfied, put the weapon at his side. He also took his breastplate and his other equipment.

When Grok held him back and gave him his ring, he was seriously touched. He took it and inspected it affectionately. Of course, it was undamaged.
When the half-orc lady mentioned there being something funny about his ring, he gave a short laugh. "You're right in that, Grok. Maybe I'll tell you the story some time." He gave her a little wink and let himself be escorted out of the store.

"By the way, I heard the officers handling firearms earlier. You know, I was taught how to handle and take care for those in the officer's corps, so if you ever need help with repairs, I'm your man."
It was an honest offer; he was fairly sure he wouldn't get his hands on a gun any time soon, even when he was friends with the quartermaster.
"Sleep well, Grok."
He smiled, and with that, he vanished.

_________________________________

daytime

The day didn't start very pleasant, and proceeded to get worse. Stoning the deck, it was, not the kind of work to just breeze through or to have an easy time due to knowing what you were doing.

Alistair did his best to work harder, not smarter, and to conserve his strength.

Using Constitution to get the work done... I'm fairly certain Alistair will get his first lashing today...
[roll0]


When he came into earshot to Thellan, Grayson and Beniel during an unobserved moment, he took the time to talk to them: "I've made friends with Grok. She's a remarkable lady. If any of you have pieces of equipment you really need, I think I can help with that."

Later on, when he came across Tilly Brackett, Alistair decided to keep on going from when they had stopped last time.
"Hey Brackett, do you know this one?" He asked, stopping next to her, eyebrows raised and twirling his mustache.
"Four nuns of Sarenrae have worked hard at the convent, so the abbess allows them to get into the inner sanctum to say their prayers there as a reward. Before the gate to the inner sanctum, there's a small fountain, no bigger than an average washbowl.
The abbess tells them: 'The inner sanctum is a most holy place, so you must wash your sin away before you enter, if you have done something sinful.'

The first nun comes forward, approaches the fountain, and washes her eyes. The second nun comes forward, approaches the fountain, and washes her hands. Before the third nun can do a single step, the fourth pushes to the front, pleading: 'Please, let me gargle before she sits in it!'
"

Trying to get Tilly to helpful:
[roll1]

[Ravenica]

Anika

Anika works at putting together something edible as best she can. Her brow furrows but she finds herself easily distracted in the mess and spends nearly as much time cleaning it up as she does cooking.
[roll0]INT check
going to see if I can find anything else of use and swipe a few knives and some of the empty rum bottles for her and her new friends
[roll1]

Despite her lack of attentiveness she is quite satisfied with the meal as she begins to haul it up on deck as evening approaches. She piles 5 rum bottles near her hammock as she goes by and grins at the little stash of weapons hidden under Dolly's dress.

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Still uneasy around the Navy officer, Grayson made an effort to appear at ease around the amiable man. He nods at the man's words.
"I would appreciate getting my tools back, it wood be great to work lumber like I used to. The only other things I had was an axe and a leather cuirass. And I don't particularly need my axe to hurt someone."

He continues with his work grimacing with the pain in his leg as he is forced to his hands and knees scrubbing away at the deck. The action is not unlike sanding a bit of wood and he tries focus on that instead of the unsavory weather.

Feeling that today's tasks were too much for him to pull the same stunt he had the previous day, he focuses on his work, silent. His mind occasionally drifting from thoughts of far off places to tossing Scourge and Plugg overboard in the front of the ship on a windy day.

working diligently strength [roll0]

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Again Thellan seeks a game to play in and disposes of his drink clandestinely.

Take 10 for 20 on sleight of hand to dispose of his drink.

[PallentisLunam]

At approximately midday, while Gale is irritating her workmate; Alistair is cracking Tilly up; Anika is frantically cooking, cleaning and plundering; Grayson is trying to keep up while the incessant pangs from his leg distract him; Thellan tries to drum up interest in a game of dice later tonight; and Salazar and Beniel keep their heads down, an ashen faced Jack Scrimshaw, one of the younger sailors limps out onto the pitching deck. He collapses before taking more than a handful of steps. Several sailors shout and the officers on deck rush towards him, all but Harrigan who watches quietly from the poop deck. Blood begins to pool around the boy.

Sandara elbows her way through the growing crowd. "Move you daft lugs!" she shouts getting more aggressive. Finally she reaches the boy and mumbles a quick mantra. Her words are hard to make out but the gist is something about Besmara's grace. Jack's face regains a bit of color when she finishes. With a gasp he comes around and clutches at her arm.

Scourge pushes her roughly aside and grabs the boy's shirt. "What happened!" he demands shaking Jack violently.

"Ah wuz down in tha bilges doin' mah job like youse told me ta be," the boy begins with fear in his eyes. "Whole room was sloshin about sumthin awful, so I guess I didn't hear em."

"Hear what?!"

"Thare wuz a family o' dirty great rats swimmin about. Musta been a dozen or more! One near tore my leg off wit teeth the size o' daggers!" Now it's Jack's turn to clutch at Scourge. "Please dun't send me back down thare, sir!"

Scourge backhands the boy across the face and stands up straightening his jacket as the wind and rain intensify. He looks to Mr. Plugg. The first mate glances around and spots Gale.
"Pinkie, you're disposable. Get down to the bilges. Either your rat food or you're the exterminator. I don't really care which."

Scourge catches on and turns to the rest of the newcomers. "Yew too!" he orders. "And if you ain't et or finished in an hour it's the mast for the lot of ya!"

Gale's influence check is unsuccessful. Furthermore, she suffers a -2 on the next check to attempt to influence Maheem.
Alistair's influence check is successful. Tilly is now Helpful. Alistair gains 200 XP
Anika finds in her cleaning attempts, which hardly scratch the surface of the mess, a finely wrought prosthetic leg with intricate carvings and a slightly tarnished silver inlay.

[theasl]

As Gale begrudgingly groups up with the others, she says, "Don't think I'd survive long try'na punch a buncha rats to death. Anyone got a blade to spare? Or maybe the quartermaster can help?"

She also looks around for anything she can grab as an improvised weapon.

Let me know if I need to roll anything for that.

[Kvard51]

Salazar had been working all morning. Stoning the deck was no joke! He was already tired. When the sailor collapsed to the deck, bloodied, Sal took it as an opportunity to stand up and stretch, trying to get the kinks out of his back.

He scowls at the interplay between Scourge and Plugg, and touches the pouch hidden against his skin when he realizes he is one of "Yew too". But he begins rolling up his pants and pulls his boots off, handing them to Grok with a grin, "You can have those if I don't make it back in an hour. Maybe later I can tell you about where I got the bird.", and begins walking toward the hatch.

Constitution Check for stoning the deck: [roll0]


Diplomacy Check to influence Grok: [roll1]

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

"Yes, Sir!" Alistair responded automatically, in finest Chelish Navy tradition.
If young Scrimshaw hadn't been so bloodied, he wouldn't take the rat hunt seriously, but considering the state the young man was in when he emerged from the bilges, those rats had to be monstrous... he sure was glad he had gotten his trusty rapier back when he did.

"Here you go." Alistair said, offering Gale his dagger, a sleek blade with the Chelish coat of arms on the handle.

He looked from one to the other. "Is everybody armed and ready? Let's go."

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson grunts as he heads down, a part of him deep down incredibly excited to get some action. Another much more rational part wishing he could just go to bed. As their group heads down he speaks up.

"First day we were here I worked in the bilges and the only attacks I got was from Magpie. Some of you worked there as well. Did you ever hear anything?"

Remembering how high the bilge water was down there, he removes his boot and attempts to roll his pants legs up high enough so as not to get wet, fully expecting it to be a futile gesture.

[theasl]

Gale gladly accepts the dagger from the Chelaxian with a wry grin. "Thanks - now let's go hunt some rats. I'll make sure to get it back to you when we're done."

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan aka the Rat Catcher

Thellan nods. "A blade would help a lot. I've one in the gear I had if you've none to spare."

If he is not successful in gaining a blade he will steal one from the lowest crewman on the totem pole he can.

Diplomacy[roll0] to influence them to give him a blade.
Sleight of hand [roll1] to steal a blade

[PallentisLunam]

Scourge and Plugg look and each other and both burst into cruel laughter at Thellan's request for a weapon. "Only time I'd give you a blade 's if I'm stickin et in your gut." the boatswain snarls. As Thellan heads below decks he spots on of the sailors that tried to pick a fight with the newcomers on their second day at sea. Sticking out of the back of his waistband is a bronze work knife, better than nothing. He snags it and no one is the wiser.

As the six sailors head below the storm really begins to pick up prompting a call for crew to secure lifelines. The ship creaks and groans and what little cargo there is shifts against the netting that holds it in place. Normally the hold would have enough gaps in the planks to let in enough light by which to see, but with the steel grey sky and the pitching of the ship, neither sun nor lantern illuminates the cavernous space. The hold itself, even when the hatch is opened, is pitch black.

The lower hold is an area of dim light today. The bilges are in total darkness. The movement of the ship is so violent that characters must succeed on a DC 15 balance check to move their normal speed. Failure means that a character's speed is reduced by half. Failure by 5 or more means that the character is knocked prone.

http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah184/Pallentis/Day%204%20Edit_zpsjcd3lw46.png

[thegoldenfedora]

As Grayson looks down the hole, he realizes just how tired he really is. The thought of asking Alistair of Grok had some form of illumination, but he couldn't bring himself to address the Navy man.

He takes the lead down the ladder, pausing as he nears the water to stick out his peg leg, swinging it about invitingly. Hoping that if he gets a nibble he might be able to grab the rodent.

"Come on little scabbers, the only rats allowed on this ship are 'row'dents."

HP=17
Fatigued, blinded, and difficult terrain, level 1 is hard

Readying an action to grapple the first thing that attacks his proffered leg.

Concealment [roll0]
Grapple[roll1]

If nothing attacks after a little bit of swinging he will hop down and advance towards the mast, continuing to hold his action.
Acrobatics [roll2]

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan


Knife hidden on him, Thellan carefully heads into the darkness.


Thellan takes 10 on acrobatics to get 18 to maintain balance.
Perception to detect rodents [roll0]
Stealth to move quietly [roll1]

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Alistair already had taken a little detour to get his equipment. He... didn't exactly look like he was going to hunt for rats, with an ornate brass breastplate over his shirt and a slender rapier whose basket was formed like a stag's head and antlers, but he really wasn't willing to take any chances after he had seen young Jack.

Which also meant he would rather not go down into the bilges in total darkness. "Grayson, wait, I'll see if I can't get us some sunrods from Grok." With that, Alistair headed towards Grok's store, adressing her as soon as he found her. "Grok, Plugg ordered us to get into the bilges, there are some fairly aggressive rats there... don't laugh, they almost bit Scrimshaw to death. You don't happen to have some Sunrods I could take? It's pitch black down there, and I'd rather not stab one of the others accidentally..."


[roll0] if a roll is needed... if I fail, Alistair could pay for them, he got his gold back, after all :smallwink:

[PallentisLunam]

Descending into the darkness Grayson must rely wholly on his ears for information about his surroundings. The water splashes violently and the manacles clank against each other or thud into the hull loudly. There is the creaking of rope as what little is stored down here tries to break free of its moorings. The splashing of Grayson's pegleg can hardly be heard above the cacophony, and nothing goes for it.

Grayson is startled when another hand brushes against his in the dark. He didn't even notice Thellan's descent down the reverse side of the ladder. And then the towering pirate slips into the water without a sound. A brief moment passes as Thellan steadies himself against the ebb and flow of the ship and closes his eyes listening intently for any sounds that aren't caused by the chaos going on above. He is unable to distinguish anything.

Alistair's call comes down from above and both men hold their positions waiting for light.


Anika's focus is torn away from her work when Alistair hurries into the galley to see Grok in her store. He bangs on the sliding cover over the counter and the Quartermaster opens up. Shaking her head Grok begins rummaging around in a cabinet. "Harrigan would be furious if he knew I had given out a sunrod. We've only got a few and they're for emergencies." Grok plunks a small pile of sunrods down on the counter. "See, its my job to keep these safe, and record how many we have." She carefully counts all but one of the sunrods which she "accidentally" pushes off the counter on Alistair's side. She shoots Anika a meaningful and slightly threatening look. "See we've only got eight of the things. I can't just go giving them out. They're the captain's after all." Grok puts the sunrods away again. "Anybody looking to use a sunrod without the captain's permission better make sure they aren't caught. It's really easy to lose things in the bilges though."


Grayson feels Thellan's hand settle on his shoulder in the dark, maybe the famous rat catcher detected something he was missing. And then "Thellan's hand" skitters down Grayson's arm to the exposed flesh at his wrist! Something large, hairy and eight-legged sinks its fangs into Grayson. Immediately fire shoots through his blood.

First things first. In combat there will be no taking 10.
Secondly just to make sure the creature didn't crit fail [roll0] Damage = 1 And I need a Fort Save vs poison from Grayson
Alistair is two rounds away from the top of the ladder leading into the bilges when things kick off. aberratio roll for initiative with everybody else. Ravenica too if you're going to join the bilge team.
Otherwise just keep stirring :smallwink:
And without further ado:
ROLL FOR INITIATIVE!!!!!

[Ravenica]

Anika

As Mr. Alistair goes to leave Anika tugs on his sleeve, and with a mischievous grin hands him all but 1 of her purloined knives. "Just'n case you need to make pincushions" she dimples.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

"Understood. Well, that's too bad." Alistair said, while shooting Grok his best 'I-owe-you-one"-look.

Just when he was about to leave, he felt someone tugging at his arm.
"Errr... thank you." he said, taking the knives. Those could certainly come in handy. The little girl also didn't get any less scary... still, he felt oddly responsible for her. "Thank you." he repeated, this time with a smile, and then he hurried back to the bilges to rejoin the others.

[PallentisLunam]

The Battle (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=22066100&postcount=196)

With a spring that pushes Grayson's arm into his ribs whatever attacked him leaps away, not that it is any more concealed when it does. A loud chorus of frantic squeaking fills the bilges from all sides as the rats Jack mentioned sense movement and food. Beniel shouts "What's going on down there?"

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Grayson puts a hand on the ladder, hauling himself up as he tries to regain his footing. He spits out bilge water, the monster tearing to get out.

"Someone better beat that skrimshaw till he knows the difference between a rat and a spider." he yells up to Benial. His eyes prowl the hold looking for the other arachnids.

HP=16 AC=8
Move action=stand from prone
Acrobatics [roll0]
Standard action=holding action to grapple first thing that attacks

Concealment [roll1]
Grapple [roll2]

[theasl]

Gale tries to step down the ladder carefully after the others, but ends up falling flat on her face in the bilge water. She spits it out as she tries to stand up in the darkness, still clutching the dagger.

balance (acrobatics) [roll0] -4 more if blinded during the check

move action to go down; fail balance check and end prone

AC 4

[Kvard51]

Sal climbs down the ladder like a squirrel. As he descends, a shimmering aura of force surrounds him as he mutters words of magic to himself.

Acrobatics check 24 (from OOC thread)

Casts Mage Armor.

[PallentisLunam]

The Battle (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=22066100&postcount=196)

Grayson struggles to stand only to have his peg leg come down on something hard and round in the filthy water. Whatever it is rolls away suddenly and he is thrown to the deck once more. Something small and mangy is thrashing its way furiously through the water towards him. Grayson snatches at it and grabs something, a bald tail, but it quickly slips through his hand as the creature attacks his face.

A feminine shriek pierces the darkness followed by a loud splash. The rabid squeaking intensifies and two creatures churn their way through the water to where Gale is trying and failing to find her footing.

Salazar feels his pirate blood surge with him. The pitching and rolling of the ship seems to ease as his instincts kick in and his legs effortlessly absorb the violent motions. His spell causes a faint red glow to surround him for a brief moment, hardly long enough for anyone to even be sure that they saw it. But then as it takes effect on of the creatures in the water zeroes in on the young arcanist, hungry for blood.

Even Thellan's presence does not go unnoticed. These creatures must not be hindered by the darkness the same way the sailors are.

Vs Grayson: [roll0] Confirm: [roll1] Damage: [roll2] And a Fortitude Save is necessary if struck
Vs Gale: [roll3] Confirm: [roll4] Damage: [roll5] And a Fortitude Save is necessary if struck ; to hit: [roll6] Confirm: [roll7] Damage: [roll8] And a Fortitude Save is necessary if struck
Vs Salazar: [roll9] Confirm: [roll10] Damage: [roll11] And a Fortitude Save is necessary if struck
Also just a reminder that in the future you will need to make DC 10+Spell Level Concentration Checks to cast spells in the bilges. Link for reference (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic#TOC-Concentration)
Vs Thellan: [roll12] Confirm: [roll13] Damage: [roll14] And a Fortitude Save is necessary if struck

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Feeling the sting of the bite he lashes out at the creature.

Attack [roll0]
Damage [roll1]
Percent [roll2]
Fort Save [roll3]

[PallentisLunam]

The Battle (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=22066100&postcount=196)

Thellan's blade plunges into empty water. He feels something land on his back and crawl its way up to his shoulder, right beside his neck, and attempt to bite him.


Alistair reaches the top of the stairs to the lower hold and hears the commotion below.

Vs Thellan - To hit: [roll0] Damage: 1 point and a Fortitude Save DC 10 or take 1 point Strength Damage.
tgf: I forgot you need to make another Fort save on each of your next 2 turns unless you succeed at which point you may stop. You need to make one for last turn as well.

[theasl]

Gale panics as the ominous squeaks approach and she feels several bites land on her body. Standing up quickly, she retreats back up the stairs in a hurry.

move action to stand up, move action to go up the stairs to starting position (or really anywhere else if blocked)
acrobatics check [roll0]
and a couple fort checks for getting hit last round [roll1] +4 on each for [17] and [18]

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Grayson rises from the water, sputtering bilgewater. He can feel the monster pushing him, wishing to rip someone in half.

"I'm about to rip off my other leg for how useful it's been!"

A realization that it wasnt just his leg that hadn't been helping suddenly quiets the monster.

"This is pointless, let's get back upstairs!"

He grabs into the rungs and pulls himself up, practically forgoing his legs. Painfully aware of his brand and the monster calling him coward.

move action to stand, standard action to climb away
acrobatics [roll0] adding in the penalty for mark of slavery
Climb[roll1]

[PallentisLunam]

Beniel rather frantically helps to haul Grayson and Gale out of the bilges glancing back down into the dark and asking, "Where are the others?"

Salazar climbs halfway up the ladder before looping his legs through and over one of the rungs to hang upside down. He mumbles a few hurried arcane phrases to himself and reaches a hand down towards the briny water where a few of the rats have gathered at the base of the ladder. "Thellan, you better get out of the water!" he calls holding the spell. "I'm not sure what this will do!" Unfortunately the effort of holding the spell and calling to his ally, plus getting bitten by a rat, causes the young mage to lose his focus and the arcane energy fades away uselessly, taking with it a portion of his mental reserves.

The rats all churn their way through the water in the dark. Another arrives to attack Thellan and several gather at the base of the ladder. Piling atop each other one manages to snap at Salazar

Salazar Concentration check [roll0]
Attacks:
Vs Thellan - to hit [roll1] Confirm [roll]1d20+1[roll] Damage [roll2]

to hit [roll3] Confirm [roll]1d20+1[roll] Damage [roll4]
Vs Salazar - to hit [roll5] Confirm [roll]1d20+1[roll] Damage [roll6]

Nope the DM didn't mess up the coding! Nothing to see here. Move along. :smallbiggrin:

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Alistair cursed under his breath when hearing the sounds of battle from below.

After making sure noone was around who shouldn't see, he activated the sunrod, trying to shine the light down into the bilges. He was also tryiing to climb down, but noticed someone was trying to climb up.

“I'm here! Here is the light!“

[PallentisLunam]

The Battle (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=22066100&postcount=196)

Dim light trickles through the planks separating the bilges from the lower deck, enough to see by. The dark water churns and foams, but at last Thellan can pick out the shapes of his opponents well enough to defend himself. The cobwebs overhead are plucked and tugged in a way wholly divorced from the violent motions of the sea. Salazar and Thellan, being the only two remaining in the bilges, see four or five enormous rats thrashing their ways through the knee deep water.

Thellan takes the Total Defense action and makes an acrobatics check [roll0]

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wills

The hold suddenly filled with light, Grayson can see their foes for the first time. He sighs, his exhaustion getting the better of him and forcing the monster silent. He slaps his cheeks to bring himself back to action and gets back on the ladder. He slides down the ladder back into the fray. Running over to Thellan he reaches forward and grabs a rat by the tail.

move action to move into flanking with Thellan if that's not possible I'll go to the nearest rat
If necessary I'll do a climb check to go down the ladder faster [roll0]
Grapple [roll1] an extra+2 if I can get into flanking
Acrobatics [roll2]

[theasl]

Gale positions herself to attempt to help anyone trying to slide down the ladder.

Aid Another on the next person to try a climb check to go down the ladder quickly: [roll0] + 5? beat DC10 for a +2 bonus

edit: lol never mind.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Once he was able to do so, Alistair would climb down to join in the fight. He knew he would fall and doom everybody by letting go of the sunrod if he tried to do so fast, so he moved at a quick, but careful rate.

[PallentisLunam]

Beniel plunges down the ladder with Gale's, admittedly rather inept, help. He spears his hand through the water trying to break one one of the rodent's neck with a single blow.

Climb roll: [roll0]
Attack Roll: [roll1] Confirm: [roll2] Damage: [roll3]

The rodent lets out a high-pitched, keening squeak and goes limp in the foul water.

[PallentisLunam]

The Battle (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=22066100&postcount=196)

Salazar leans over the hatch looking for a clean shot at one of the rats. A thin arc of blue lightning leaps from his fingers and strikes the water making it glow and, if possible, increasing the foulness of the stench in the bilges. However the vigorous rocking of the ship shifts the young mage's target at the last moment and it escapes untazed.

Two rats spring at Beniel who just killed their nest mate, and one each springs at the three other occupants of the hold. Beniel's attackers seem intent on vengeance while Grayson, Alistair, and Thellan's seem more interested in a meal.

Vs Beniel 1: [roll0] Confirm: [roll1] Damage: [roll2] Crit Damage: [roll3]; 2: [roll4] Confirm: [roll5] Damage: [roll6] Crit Damage: [roll7]
Beniel Fort Saves: 1: [roll8]; 2: [roll9]
VS Thellan [roll10] Confirm: [roll11] Damage: [roll12] Crit Damage: [roll13]
Vs Alistair [roll14] Confirm: [roll15] Damage: [roll16] Crit Damage: [roll17]
Vs Grayson [roll18] Confirm: [roll19] Damage: [roll20] Crit Damage: [roll21]

Fortitude saves are required of those struck.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Finally in the bilges with the others, Alistair nimbly dodged the attack of a particular large rat, then drew his trusty rapier and lunged at his attacker in a fluid, elegant motion.


attack: [roll0]
damage: [roll1]

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Grayson looks down at the rat that tried to attack him, it had hit, but it was gnawing on his peg leg. "That is not for you, I worked hard on that!" and his hand sweeps down to pull the rat off of him.

Grapple [roll0]
Acrobatics [roll1]

[theasl]

Gale plunges back into the fray, climbing down the ladder and striking at the nearest rat with the Chelaxian dagger.

back in we go!
move action (not fast climbing) to get down to...I believe space D20 should still be open.
standard action stab a rat if possible, fighting defensively:
attack [roll0]
damage [roll1]
+2 to AC until start of next turn (most likely dodge bonus) -> 15 total

if no rats in range, total defense for +4 dodge to AC -> 17 total

end of turn acrobatics [roll2]

edit: prone again /sigh
AC is 11 if fighting defensively or 13 if total defense.

and some spare fort rolls in case she's hit:
[roll3]
[roll4]

So the spider ran away? :smallannoyed:

[PallentisLunam]

Beniel cries out in pain as both rats sink their teeth and claws into him. One grabs hold of his leg the other climbs up on the ladder and leaps at his face. Beniel sheugs off the the leaping rat and takes a swing at the one biting his leg.

Thellan takes a stab at the rat which just missed him.

Beniel vs Rat: [roll0] Confirm [roll1] Damage [roll2] Crit Damage [roll3]
Thellan Vs Rat: [roll4] Confirm [roll5] Damage [roll6] Crit Damage [roll7]

[PallentisLunam]

The sound of rats shrieking in pain fills the bilges. Thellan's target floats limply adding a red tinge to the foaming waters around it. Beniel clearly broke several ribs with a powerful strike and one of the rats attacking him tries feebly to swim away. The others attack once again just a ferociously. A thin crackle of electricity shoots down from above.

Beniel AoO: [roll0] Confirm [roll1] Damage [roll2] Crit Damage [roll3]
Salazar Jolt: [roll4] Confirm [roll5] Damage [roll6]x2
Rats:
Vs Beniel [roll7] Confirm [roll8] Damage [roll9] Crit Damage [roll10]
Vs Gale [roll11] Confirm [roll12] Damage [roll13] Crit Damage [roll14]
Vs Alistair [roll15] Confirm [roll16] Damage [roll17] Crit Damage [roll18]

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Grayson rises from the water and leaps at a rat, knowing that if he could just grab hold of one, he could easily crush it within his grip.


Grapple or ready action to grapple first for who comes close if one is not adjacent [roll]1d20+5[/grapple]

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Gritting his teeth, Alistair stabbed at a rat again. This was shaping up to be a very unpleasant fight.


att:[roll0]
dmg:[roll1]

[theasl]

After getting up (again), Gale focuses in on the rat that tried to bite her, stabbing away again with the dagger.

attack [roll0]
damage [roll1]

acrobatics [roll2]

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan slashes again at the nearest rat.

Attack [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

[PallentisLunam]

All at once the impressed sailors finally spring into action proper. Grayson's hands wrap around the rat and its mangy body squirms in his grip before he wrings it's neck. Alistair's rapier plunges through his target puncturing at least one lung. Thellan hacks into a second rat. The bilges go quiet except for the clanking of chains and the splashing of water

Victory!

135 XP each!

[theasl]

As the bilges go silent and her adrenaline fades, Gale slumps, bleeding from multiple wounds. Even so, she looks around just in case there's more danger.

perception [roll0]

[PallentisLunam]

With Alistair's light and the threat of the rats dealt with everybody gets a better look around the bilges than ever. Six pairs of manacles are bolted to the walls, about a foot and a half of foul water sloshes around, and there are a few small piles of junk, empty and half full crates of things necessary enough to avoid being thrown overboard but unimportant enough to warrant being kept well out of the way. A few crates are still sealed and stacked high enough to have stayed out of the water. In the corner opposite the rusty old bilge pump Gale spots a particularly disgusting pile of what might have once been sacks of grain in bags that appear to have been torn out from the inside.

Gale also spots something through the dark water. Reaching down she grabs onto a handle and out of the water rises an exceptionally well made handaxe. The wood of the haft was expertly sealed against the punishments that life on a ship might inflict and the head is protected with a water tight covering to miraculously the weapon has survived its stay in the bilges undamaged.

Gale has found a masterwork handaxe.

[theasl]

As Gale kneels down to rest, she feels something hard below the water. To her surprise, she pulls up a well-made axe. Standing up, she heads over to Alistair, returning the dagger to him: "Here, your dagger back. Thanks for letting me use it...even if I wasn't much of a help..." she trails off.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

A little perplexed at the masterfully grafted handaxe Gale had found in the bilges of all places, Alistair took his dagger and put it back at his belt.

"Thanks, so... " he looked at Gale with a skewed smile - "I don't think you have introduced yourself yet?" Alistair did his best to ignore they were standing in the bilges. "I mean, now that we have spilt blood, I mean, some of us have, I think that much trust should be given, wouldn't you agree?"

[theasl]

"Ah, no, we've been separated since we got on board. I'm Gale, been a sailor most of my life. Work up with the riggers on this blasted ship." Gale spits in the bilge water..which honestly might actually make it a bit cleaner.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

He was not that used to women spitting like that, but he managed to flinch only... barely. "Alistair, but you knew that already." She was at the gathering with Sandara, after all. "Pleased to meet you."

Alistair raised his rapier, with the dead rat still sticking at its point. "So... do we have to gather these? I suppose we should have something to show Plugg and Scourge once we get back up."

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Grayson grunts at the introductions. He had introduced himself earlier and quite simply he was tired. But he forces himself to make the efforts as he takes a seat, he had been so thoroughly soaked from the ships rocking that the water didn't bother him and he enjoyed the rest.

"Grayson Wilkes, carpenter." he looks to Gale. "And don't blame yourself, you weren't the only one who had a poor showing down here. We all will have to do better if we are to make it in this ship." after a few moments of rest he rises from his seat, water rushing off of him. "I don't know about you, but I seem to remember Skrimshaw talking about a lot more of these pests. I would rather not have to deal with more while I'm trying to sleep."

He searches the corners of the room, grabbing whatever stick he can find and carefully prodding at the remaining cobwebs.

"You ever hear that saying about the number of spiders that crawl into your mouth every year?"

perception [roll0]

[PallentisLunam]

As Grayson pokes his way through the canopy of webs, destroying what could be the work of countless spiders he sees neither hairy leg nor bulbous thorax. A few times he thinks he spots movement but when he jabs at the offending bit of web he uncovers nothing.

[theasl]

Gale spots Alistair's slight reaction and is a bit amused, but says nothing. She goes over carefully to inspect the torn up sacks, prepared for any more rats showing up with her new handaxe.

assuming we can take 10 on any acrobalance checks out of combat...and I guess roll perception again? [roll0]

[PallentisLunam]

The pile of rotted, shredded barley sacks is moving. Something is in there, at least twice as large as the biggest of the rats you just faced.

[theasl]

Gale backs away, calling out to the others, "Hey, there's something in there, look out!"

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson turns at Gale's warning. "Well 'rats'" he sighs, he really was too tired for this. He drops his bit of wood as he moves up next to Gale.

"What is it? Where?" he holds up his fists trying to be ready for whatever was coming.

"I can't wait to be off this vile ship."

initiative [roll0] if we need it

Ready an action to try to grapple the first non friendly
[roll1]

[theasl]

"In those sacks over there. It's big!"

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan moves along the wall as quietly as he can towards the sacks, examining the area as he goes.

Perception [roll0]
Stealth [roll1]

[PallentisLunam]

Now that Gale has pointed it out, it is quite clear that something big is moving around inside the bags. It would appear that this was the rats' nest and that one very large rat is still inside of it. Thellan slips quietly through the sloshing hold and peers into a gash that wasn't visible from Gale's angle. Inside the nest it is clear that the large rat is a female that just recently gave birth. The beasts that the impressed sailors faced must have been her litter. The monstrous creature is unaware of Thellan.

[theasl]

Gale lowers her voice trying to not alert whatever's in the sack and asks Thellan, "Do you see anything? Is it more rats?"

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan nods in response to Gales question. He then raises the Brass knife as if ready to attack and with his other hand begins to count down from five.
When all fingers are down he will attack the big rat.

Attack
Damage [roll1] + sneak attack [1d6

Conformation if needed
Crit Damage [roll3] + sneak attack [1d6

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Alistair nodded at Thellan's sign and went into position as well. As soon as the countdown reached zero, he attacked the big rat as well.


attack: [roll0]
dmg: [roll1]

[theasl]

Gale follows suit and readies to swipe at the rat with the axe.

initiative, if it's needed again [roll0]

attack [roll1]
damage [roll2]

[PallentisLunam]

Thellan leaps forward and plunges his knife through the split. The rat twists out of the way with unnatural speed. As the rat bursts from the other side of the mound Alistair lunges and misses. Gale lands a glancing blow with her new axe. Grayson dives at the beast attempting to grab it and wring its neck, but despite its size he is unable to get a firm hold. The frenzied rodent kicks off the waterlogged floor boards and leaps full bodied at Gale

Attacks of opportunity from Grayson and Alistair.
Rat vs Gale: [roll0] Confirm [roll1] Damage [roll2] Crit Damage [roll3]

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.


Seeing an opening, Alistair quickly stabs at the gigantic rat - more a panicked motion than any deliberate fencing move, but sometimes, even those striked true.


attack: [roll0]
dmg: [roll1]

[theasl]

The giant rat slamming into Gale stuns her, and she staggers away and slumps down next to the ladder.

down to 0 hp, so staggered - use standard action to withdraw to the ladder, which drops her to -1.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Seeing Gale go down, Thellan realized they need to take the creature down fast. He does his best to flank the creature then attacks again.


Attack [roll0] +2 if flanking is achieved.
Damage [roll1] + [roll2] if flanking is achieved.

[thegoldenfedora]

As Gale slumps against the ladder, the monster roars at Grayson insisting that he push harder, chiding him for falling so short against the other rats. He takes all that the monster has to say and leaps at the rat his tired hands looking for whatever hold her can get on it.

move to flanking then grapple for all he is worth!

[roll0] an extra+2 if I can move to flanking
Acrobatics [roll1]

[PallentisLunam]

Alistair's blade spears through the bilge water and bites deep into the wood below as Gale manages to extricate herself from the rat with the last bit of her strength. Thellan jabs his knife into the beast's belly and slits it open wide, a wound that is assuredly fatal, but not immediately so. Grayson tackles the rat finally securing a decent hold. The beasts struggles feebly but is caught fast.

Rat attempting to break free [roll0]

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

The monster laughs now that Grayson has finally gotten hold of the rat. Grayson lets it's glee seep into him and he swings the rat at as hard as he can into the mast. He pulls it back holding it high for Thellan and Alistair to get a clear shot at the rodent.

maintain grapple [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

[PallentisLunam]

When Grayson bashes the massive rodent against the mast he feels something, probably several somethings, snap. The creature goes limp and blood begins to run from its mouth and nose.

There is a splash from the base of the ladder that causes everybody to whip around but it is only Sandara. She holds her hands up in a nonthreatening manner at all of the weapons pointed in her direction. "I thought you might need some help. You'd been gone a while."

Leaning down she places a hand on Gale's forehead and whispers a sailor's prayer about the comfort of a home on the waves. Her hand glows softly and Gale's eyes flicker open

The bilges have been cleared of rats! 200 XP for a full clear (each) and another 200 for the momma rat (50 each)

Cure Light Wounds: [roll0]

[theasl]

Gale awakens to see a familiar redhead standing over her. "...Mother?" she mutters, before the pain returns and she looks around in a panic, getting a bearing on her surroundings, her eyes finally falling on the dead mother rat. "...oh. I'm not dead. Well thanks, I guess. Ready to get out of here?"

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wills

Grayson extends a weary hand to Gale,
"Are you alright? Do you need help getting up to the hold? he looks around at the bilges and the dead rats and spiders. "Thank you Sandara... I hope you don't rat us out for how much we struggled with these creatures" Grayson grimaces at his own joke, he really was tired.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan carefully hides the borrowed blade on him and heads up.

Sleight of hand takes 10 for 20.

[theasl]

Gale takes Grayson's hand with a word of thanks and a groan as he helps her up, clearly still in a lot of pain - but she'll live to fight another day, for better or worse. She grabs the axe, looping it onto her belt, and heads up after Thellan.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

"Well, I guess, that's... all of them?" Alistair said, looking around the bilges.
"I have to take the rapier and the breastplate back to their place before we head back up. They probably wouldn't appreciate me walking aroung armoured and armed any longer than necessary."
Alistair starts heading up with the others, then remembers what Grok said and hides the sunstick somewhere in the bilges where it won't be found, before climbing up.

[PallentisLunam]

Once everybody is back up in the lower hold Sandara goes to Thellan. "You're hurt. Hold still." Thellan's wounds glow softly and the deep punctures left by the rat become a collection of small red marks. "The officers have their hands full topside. I'm going to head back up. Give me a few minutes to slip back in."

CLW on Thellan: [roll0]

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Remembering Alistair's idea of bringing proof, Grayson grabs the tail of the mother rat and slings it over his shoulder before climbing up. He watches Sandara leave, his eyes traveling just a bit, before turning to his companions.

"Scourge gave us an hour, if any of us go up he will know that we are done, so before we do, is there anything we should take care of?"

[PallentisLunam]

Sandara pauses as she goes to leave, noticing that several of her allies are hurt. "The goddess only grants me so much strength but I will make sacrifices tonight and be better able to tend to your ills tomorrow."

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thelan bows slightly and awkwardly to Sandara. "Thanks."

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Alistair had simply greeted Sandara with a firm nod, and watched as she healed Thellan and Gale. She was a very useful ally to have, that much was certain.
When she was finished, he turned to the others. "Since we have some time left... does anybody need anything from Grok? I was thinking about getting a lock, since now that I got my belongings back... I would be loath to lose them again to some thief."

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan's eye brows go up. "How did you get your belongings back? Hell, when I asked to borrow a knife the only offer was pointy end first between my ribs."

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Alistair shrugged and grinned. "I'm friends with Grok, and she's got the authority to hand out equipment." he explained. "I... might be able to talk her into giving your equipment back, too, given enough time. I shouldn't strain her goodwill, though. We have to be smart about that."

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

"I have some gear that was taken, but without a lock, I'd rather Grok hold onto them where I know they will be safer. If I can get a lock I'll gladly take whatever I can get, particularly my carpentry tools. It would be nice to have something to do besides beating rodents."

After they have seen Grok and his companions are finished. Grayson hoists the carcass up to the deck and plops it down in front of Scourge.

"Took care of your pest problem, funny thing about scrawny rats, they tend to end up like this." With that he grabs the rats leg and heaves it over the boat in one motion. "If you'll excuse me I'll get back to work." and with those parting words he seeks out the crew member who seems to be struggling the most and lends his weight to the task, forcing his body to work even though he was being threatened by exhaustion.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellon tags along not wanting to impinge on Alistair's friendship which could be valuable.

"I could use my gear as well. I think if I hadn't had borroweda weapon killing those freak rats someone would have died and I am the one they call the Rat Catcher. The less rats the better."

Diplomacy to convince Grok. [roll0]
Perception [roll1] to get an idea of the kind of stuff they have there

[theasl]

Gale immediately thinks of her musket, but no - that would be far too impractical to have around, and the half-orc seemed trustworthy enough to not mess with it, if she'd given Alistair's gear back untouched. Maybe her axe...it's not quite as well-built as this one, but it's better designed for use on a ship, she thinks. She asks the group still collected belowdecks: "Anyone want this axe? It's not quite built how I'm used to, and clearly I wasn't of much use with it down there", blushing a little in embarrassment. "I'd prefer to get my own, but Grok might not agree if she sees I already have one."

Grayson gets first dibs if multiple people want it, from OOC thread.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

With the others in tow, Alistair visited Grok's store once more.

"Thanks." he simply said when he saw her first, with a wink. She would know what he meant, and that it all went according to plan. "You know, I shouldn't just leave that rapier and armour lying around. How much for a good lock?" After all, he did have some money now, and he couldn't just keep on asking favours.

[theasl]

Gale leaves the axe with the rest of the group as she follows Alistair to the quartermaster's store. Leaning against the side, she waits for Alistair to finish before speaking up, looking quite pitiful with all her wounds: "I had an axe with my gear...the pack with the musket. Could I get it back? I could use it up there in the rigging in an emergency, and if they decide to send us down to kill some more rats or spiders maybe I won't be so useless..."

ok, no response means you can fight it out Grayson gets it.

diplomacy? [roll0] lol

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Grayson lets the others inquire with Grok and get their answers first, using her reaction to gauge his chances at success before stepping up.

"Is there any chance I could get a lock? I hate to overstep here but it would be helpful in my endeavors to raise money for other purchases. If it is too much to ask, you also have my carpentry tools and I would be happy to do a little work to help you out. Surprisingly, I'm more than just a 'lumber'ing brute."

[roll0]

[PallentisLunam]

Grok lays out several crude padlocks and their matching keys. "Everybody gets a lock when they sign on. Guess you lot missed that part of joining up," she says rather sheepishly with a hint of apology in her voice. The locks are nothing to write home about but they seem fairly sturdy and the keys fit and turn well. "There should be empty lockers in the hold that you can claim for yer kit. As fer better locks, well, tha'd just be tippin the rest o' them off that yew got something worth takin'."

She takes Alistair's gear promising to keep it safe for him. Grok rolls her eyes at Grayson's joke but it's obvious that she find his humor endearing and she hands him his tool belt. Gale is able to recover her boarding axe as well, but Grok seems to sour a bit at the way Thellan is eyeing up her store and tells him off, offering an excuse that if all the new sailors come bursting up from below armed to the teeth there'll be talk of mutiny.


Back above deck there are more than a few sets of wide eyes as Grayson presents the kill to Scourge. "There'r no rewards fer doing yer job on this ship!" he shouts impotently at Grayson's back. Over the course of the day the storm comes and goes in bands and the Wormwood seems to be tracking along in its. Barnabas and Plugg are on the poop all day and seem to be in great spirits. The crew performs admirably in their duties and all are bone tired when the call for dropping anchor comes. Anika is forced to bring up and serve the meal all by herself as Fishguts either never came out of his drunken stupor all day or if he did immediately started drinking again and never got out of bed.

Nighttime activities my commence. My apologies if I missed anyone's actions, just let me know and I'll try to get them into the story.

Also on an unrelated note I am on vacation for the next few days and might not be able to post quite as regularly. I will be back in the action proper next week (around the 17th give or take a day or two).

[theasl]

Exhausted from the day's events, Gale doesn't even try to socialize, heading to sleep immediately after the usual drink.

con damage [roll0]
fatigued time [roll1]
cha bonus [roll2]
fort save [roll3] - 1 for con damage = 8

heal 1 hp for a good night's rest ><

[Ravenica]

Anika
Humming to herself in satisfaction over her daily chores she heads back below deck to find Mr. Fishguts. When she does she tried her best to leverage the insensible man into bed. Without even a second thought she does not hesitate to use her power to push him to sleep, taking advantage of his state to sow thoughts of protecting her and poking around in his dreams to improve his opinion of her.

OOC stuff.

If necessary to get him asleep shes casting Sleep DC 16, Sow thoughts to protect her DC 16, Dream Leach DC 13 to improve her diplomacy check with him in his dreams, and lastly Oneimancy to perform the diplomacy check in his dreams [roll0] (+4 if he fails the dream leach check)

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Although he would have loved to socialize with Grok and the others again, the exertions of the last days were beginning to take their toll on Alistair, so he headed for an early sleep.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan laughs off Grok telling him off in a friendly way. He knows he will get his gear at some point ... or some gear. For now he has a knife.

Thellan mostly observes what others do in the evening to get a feel if any games of 'chance' are commonly played.

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

The day had been too much excitement for Grayson, he couldn't even bring himself to drink and took a moment where others were getting rowdy to toss his grog overboard.

He tosses his returned tools to his locker and promptly climbs into his hammock.

[roll0]

[PallentisLunam]

As his companions turn in for the night, Thellan combs the deck for some entertainment. He spots a few tests of skill, as befitting pirates the challenges are brutal and failure is painful. Fore and aft pirates race up the masts with one hand tied behind their backs and given their inebriation more than one falls hard to the deck. On the main deck pirates arm wrestle on an overturned barrel covered with broken glass and rusty nails.

There is of course also gambling. Some sailor bet on the outcomes of the skill challenges, but there are also games of pure chance. It would appear that there is only one deck of cards and one set of dice among the entire crew. As such each has a rather dense crowd packed around the players.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Cautious about joining such lethal games and reluctant to join a more traditional game in such a place with no popularity, Thellan mostly watches, then he gets an idea and searches for three cups and something to use as a pea to start up a shell game. If an opportunity presents itself, especially with a drunk individual he will try to steal a few cons.

Sleight of hand [roll0] if the opportunity presents itself

[PallentisLunam]

The savvy pirates know a classic con when they see one but several are drunk enough and confident enough in their own abilities to throw down a few coins at Thellan's crate. However it quickly becomes clear that their confidence is misplaced and that Thellan's hands really are quicker than their eyes. Without a hard and fast cheat to point to the few sailors willing to challenge Thellan grumble and wander away after a few tries at spotting the pea.

Thellan makes 24 silvers off of the crew.

The next morning the storm has continued on its way while the ship lay at anchor through the night. Assignments are passed out as usual and the ship begins to settle into what is becoming its daily routine. Thellan is back on rat catching duty while Alistair and Grayson are put to work fixing storm damage. Gale is assigned to scurrying about the rigging, tending the wormwood's myriad smaller sails. And Anika finds herself in quite a bind. Fishguts is still completely insensible with drink, awaking only to top up, and the stores of fish are low.

Daytime actions may commence. Tasks as follows:
A DC 10 Stealth, Survival, or Dexterity check.
A DC 10 Profession (Sailor) or Dexterity Check. Grayson may substitute his woodworking skill if he desires. The DC is the same.
A DC 10 Profession (Sailor) or Dexterity Check and a DC 10 Constitution Check
A DC 10 Profession (Fisherman) or Survival Check and a DC 10 Profession (Cook) or Intelligence Check, both made at -4

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Back hunting rats, Thellan does his best to sneak up on the little creatures.

Stealth [roll0]

[Ravenica]

Anika

Feeling like the world is against her Anika is in a foul mood all day. She snaps at anyone who dares to even look at her funny as a petulant child.

She focuses on catching the fish, remembering her previous failure.

working dilligently, survival +1, +4 for dilligence, - 4 for the penalty)
[roll0]

She then makes her way down to try her hand at soup again, staring daggers at pot, as if daring it to foul things up for her.

int check +3 - 4 for penalty [roll1]

She hopes she caught enough fish, worrying about it all day, only to find that the distraction has lead for her to dump the wash water into the soup. She stares appalled and considers jumping ship, to take her chances with the fish...

[theasl]

Still hurting from the day before, Gale keeps her head down and does the best she can in her sorry state.

work diligently prof (sailor) [roll0] auto success :smalltongue:
con check [roll1] not sure if the +4 from working diligently applies here

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson Wilkes

Still a little sore from the previous day, Grayson is happy to have a task that he is so used to. He grabs his tools and goes to work. Despite having worked so much with Alistair, Grayson still feels uneasy around the Chellish officer and he keeps his head down to work.

working diligently [roll0]

Also, if it looks like Anika is going to be whipped, Grayson is going to step in and try to take the beatings in her stead so that a child does not get whipped

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

Feeling a lot better the next day, Alistair went to work. Grayson didn`t seem to be in a good mood, so he mostly left him alone despite being assigned to the same task - repairing the damages the storm caused around the ship.

Whenever he found the time, he strolled by Rosie, trying to cheer her up with a quick joke or funny word.


Rolling profession (sailor): [roll0]
trying to influence Rosie: [roll1]

[PallentisLunam]

The day passes rather uneventfully. Thellan rounds up more than enough vermin to avoid the ire of the officers. Gale manages to scamper skillfully through the rigging, doing the same. Grayson earns an envious sneer from Plugg as he goes about making himself useful to the ship's carpenter/surgeon, one Habbly "the Stitchman" Quarne. Alistair builds on his previous conversations with Rosie. The halfling seems to take a liking to the Chelish navy man's sense of humor. Even Anika does fairly well for herself in the early part of the day, catching enough fish to serve for dinner.

Throughout the day Sandara steals brief moments with each of the new sailors and passes on the blessings of the Pirate Queen. Wounds and ailments are cured in moments as the divine gifts work their wonders upon the sailors' bodies. By the end of the day Sandara is utterly spent but her allies are as fresh as they were that night in the Formidably Maid that seems so long ago. Anika's luck seems to have run out after her success at fishing and she manages to utterly ruin the meal. However it is still edible, barely, and, perhaps due to her night time dream meddlings or the fact that cooking is actually Fishguts' job, the crew's outrage is directed at Fishguts rather than her. The drunken cook is hauled up to the mast and soundly flogged by several crew members with the heavy mooring ropes that lay coiled about the deck.

@theasl Working diligently can only be applied to a single roll, therefore if multiple rolls are called for in a day you must decide which roll to apply the bonus to.
Sandara has healed all HP and ability damage for the party.
Alistair has made Rosie Helpful. Alistair gains 400 XP

Night time actions may commence. There will be an event tonight so anyone wishing to go to bed early (not sure why, but just in case) please hold off for the moment.

[theasl]

Feeling much better, Gale returns to the rigging for the night after the customary drink, hanging (literally) with her rigger friends. She spends a lot of the evening with Ratline, chatting about her exploits over the past few days...and conveniently omitting her failures...though all bets are off as the drink kicks in.

con damage [roll0]
fatigued time [roll1]
cha bonus [roll2]
fort save [roll3] - 1 for con damage = 22

cha check to influence ratline (or diplo or whatever, they're all the same): [roll4] + 1 for cha bonus = 17

[thegoldenfedora]

Feeling a bit more himself, and a little more at ease after the drink, Grayson decides to try his hand at gaining allies. He goes and finds the one eyed gnome he had met before.

"I suppose we haven't been properly introduced, I'm Grayson, how long have been on this boat?"

diplomacy [roll0] including the+4 from helping him out earlier

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

In the evening, Alistair continued with his daily ritual to subtly get rid of the rum Grok served him, then, as usual, he sat with her, trading jokes with Rosie and Tilly Bracket as well from time to time.


Taking a 10 on the sleight of hand check again to get rid of the vile brew

But really, he had his eyes set on Jaundice Jape. The half-orc was probably a good ally to have, and Alistair had seen the short look of respect on his face when he had sidestepped his attack. Maybe... it would be worth it.

After a nod towards Grok, Alistair took out his Chelish navy dagger, flipped it around dexterously, then flipped it back. It seemed Jape respected when someone was skilled in what they did, so maybe he could use that to impress him.

The former navyman leisurely walked over to the grey-skinned half-orc, simply gave him a curt nod once he took note of him - he supposed since Jape was a mute himself, talk wasn't going to win him over - then threw his dagger a short distance into the air, only to catch it nimbly and let it wander around his fingers, turning it around and throwing it again, performing some tricks with sleight of hand. If he failed - well, maybe it was at least funny to Jape.
That would be worth it. Wouldn't it?


Performing some knife tricks to impress Jape:[roll0]
Influence Jape: [roll1]

[Ravenica]

Anika

Relieved that the pressure was taken off her but feeling guilty about Mr. Fishguts treatment, Anika looks around for Grok to help her haul him below deck. After she finds her she asks politely, "Mrs. Grok, madam, can you help me take poor Mr. Fishguts below to his bunk?". Without waiting for an answer she hoists one of his arms over her shoulder and begins dragging him to the hatch.

Going to try and convince her to give back my stuff. Diplomacy[roll0] will edit for the roleplay the interaction, if no I'll figure something else out XD

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

With money in hand Thellan looks to join a card game where he will only cheat a little.

Profession(Gambling) [roll0]
And take 10 on sleight of hand for 20.

[PallentisLunam]

The evening begins as many others have and the normal sorts of diversions breakout on deck.

Ratline, Tilly, and Gale all hang from the rigging, enjoying each other's company and talking of the past.

The gnome Grayson approaches shakes his hand warmly enough and introduces himself as Conchobhar Turlach Shortstone and replies that he hasn't been around much longer than the newest lot of "recruits". However it becomes quickly apparent that Conchobhar's personality is as loud and garish as his outfit and the conversation quickly turns sour for the both of them.

Jaundice Jape watches Alistair's performance with a look of mild boredom. When the navy man is done Jape produces a knife of his own and performs some equally handsome tricks before flicking the knife towards Alistar like lightning. The bronze blade embeds itself, quivering, in the wood of the boat just a hair from Alistair's hand. Jape then performs a remarkably rude hand gesture towards Alistair and not even bothering to retrieve his knife walks off.

Grok helps Anika drag Fishguts back to his berth. The quartermaster takes pity on the little girl and unlocks the store to allow her to retrieve her things. As the two head back towards the deck they notice Plugg and several of his boys leading the big, feathered man up the stairs by a chain attached to an iron collar around his neck.

Thellan's rather successful scam is unceremoniously interrupted when Plugg and his entourage emerge from below decks. There are whistles and cheers and chants of "OWLBEAR! OWLBEAR!" as the main deck is rapidly cleared. Pirates hang from the rigging and line the rails all around as Plugg shouts over the din. "Thought we all might be in tha mood fer a bit o' sport!" The crew roars its approval.

The big collared man, obviously the "owlbear" rears back his head and screams, "Fishing's a spurt!" He looks around with a stupid eager expression as the ship rings with cruel laughter. Clearly it is lost on him that he is the joke rather than having told a joke.

"Well then..." Plug says clearly playing for the crowd and encouraging them to mock his pet. "How bout a match, boys?" he calls. "Maybe one of our new comers versus the owlbear!" It's at this point that the new sailors realize that Beniel and Salazar have both made themselves scarce this evening, only associating with Plugg and Scourges boys. They don't seem to be on Plugg's list for getting pummeled. Pluggs eyes lock with Grayson's, "How 'bout you, Stumpy."

Ratline is now Helpful. Gale gains 200 XP.
Grayson has negatively influenced Conchobhar.
Alistair has failed to influence Jaundice Jape. If not for Alistair's knife tricks Jape would have been negatively influenced.
Grok agrees to return Anika's gear.
Thellan fleeces the crew for 1 gp and 14 sp.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan looks the the owlbear curiously. "What do we get out of it? And what are the rules?"

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson leaves the gnome to himself, feeling a slight relief that he did not have to consider such a tasteless person as an ally. He thought about how he may even one day be able to punt the gnome overboard and that thought brought a smile to him.

That smile quickly turned to a scowl though as Owlbear was brought up. The sight of a man trying so hard to be included and being treated so poorly for his efforts set his teeth on edge.

His pity disappears as Plugg calls out to him. His shoulders tense and he rises slowly to the challenge.

"I suppose I can't blame you Plugg," he speaks painfully slow, the monster aching to rip Plugg apart, "You weren't there for when I told Scourge. I will repeat it for your benefit." his murderous eyes lock with Plugg's. "You will not call me that."
Through his own rising fury he can barely hear Thellan's words, he tries to make it out, but his own blood pumping drowns out whatever he was saying. Grayson was sure it was important, he just couldn't get himself to care. He slowly walks forward,

Some part of his anger came from the realization that if he didn't take this chance, they will pit his other allies against the man. Another part came from how inhumane this Owlbear we being treated. He supposed he was even a bit angry that he hadn't been able to contribute to his allies due to his own failure at communication. But the true source of his anger came from that one word that Plugg had called him.

"If it means pummeling your pet to explain that to you, so be it." he takes his shirt off and tosses it to the side, the scars of shark bites and whip marks covering his body.

Ooh snap he's done it now!
How much time has passed since Grayson had his grog? I'm assuming it's less than five hours and that Grayson is still fatigued from it. If so, oh well.

[PallentisLunam]

"Tha rules er: no magicks, no tricks, no holds barred. As fer what's in it for you." Plugg flicks a pouch from his belt out onto the deck. It hits with a heavy crash and spills over scattering a few gold coins. "One hundred crowns ta tha winner, plus bets!"

The crowd cheers wildly when Grayson accepts the challenge. Plugg chuckles and puts a hand over his mouth. "Oh my, something I cannae do? We'll see bout that." Plugg reaches over and removes the chain from the Owlbear's neck. "Tear 'im up."

The big feathered lug lumbers forward with his fists raised in a sloppy guard.

It has been about an hour since the meal and the grog.
I'm not really going to bother with a map for this one however if you want to try something tactical you are on the main deck of the ship so feel free to apply some imagination. Without further ado... ROLL FOR INITIATIVE (Just Grayson really)
Owlbear: [roll0]
Welp, :smallbiggrin: by definition Grayson goes first.

[thegoldenfedora]

The moment the shackles hit the ground Grayson dashes forward. He leaps forward and comes crashing down his fist aimed right for Owlbears jaw.

"Aaaargh!"

HP=17 AC=11

Improved unnamed strike power attack for non lethal damage [roll0]
Damage [roll1]
Please please please let me rolls be better than last time:smallbiggrin:

[Ravenica]

Anika

Below Deck

As Grok helps her haul Mr. Fishguts below deck, Anika lets here eyes tear up. "It's all my fault. If I was doin my job right they wouldn't have been so mean. You think poor Mr. Fishguts will forgive me?" After putting him to bed she looks up at the quartermaster and wipes away the tears, "Is there any way I could get my things back, My hand would be ever so much help."

As Grok returns here belongings she squeals with glee and gives the woman a great big hug around the waist. "Oh thank you missus Grok so much!"

She is almost skipping as they head up on deck she follows curiously (and a safe distance behind the mean Mr. Plugg) to see where they are taking Mr. Feathers.
Before Grayson begins his bought she tugs on the pant leg of his stump, "Please don't hurt Mr. Feathers, he's my friend."

[PallentisLunam]

The spectators roar as Grayson lands a solid blow on Owlbear's jaw, which feels as though it is made of wrought iron. The big man lets out a grunt and takes half a step backwards before clasping his hands together to take a mighty swing at Grayson's head. However the blow is clumsy, off balance, and poorly aimed. Owlbear is obviously not as used to fighting with his hands as Grayson is and there might be something else to it as well.

Unarmed Strike provoking an AoO
To hit: [roll0] Crit Confirm: [roll1] Damage: [roll2] Crit Damage: [roll3] All damage is nonlethal

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.


"Harsh audience." Alistair remarked humourously when Jape walked away. Well, it was back to Grok's table, then.

___________________________________

When the fighting started, Alistair gathered at the front of the spectators. He couldn't help but pity the man they called owlbear, and he knew some people who deserved a beating far more than the cretin did. But still... a challenge was a challenge...

He blinked in surprise when Grayson removed his shirt and multipe marks of a whip and.. shark bites?! became visible. That man had seen things, and it only strengthened his decision.
"Three gold say Grayson wins!" Alistair roared, holding up three golden coins.

[thegoldenfedora]

Graysons large arm bats aside Owlbear's weaker attack, his other fist following with a powerful attack into the man's chest.

Some part of him recognized that something was off about his opponent, and he tries to quiet the monster long enough to find out what.

He couldn't see it though, he know there was something wrong, he just couldn't place it. Grayson became painfully aware of his slave brand underneath the wrap under his arm, knowing that he was missing something important.

Knowing that his reflection could get him hurt, he tries to regain his momentum and throws another attack into his foes side.

power attack [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

[PallentisLunam]

A crewmember takes Alistair's bet shouting "No way he beats the Owlbear!"

Owlbear is obviously a large, powerful, and dangerous opponent, but he is also slow. Grayson dances around him throwing hooks and jabs around his guard. The lumbering oaf cries out shrilly in frustration as his vast reserves of stamina are worn down by Grayson's blows. "Worthless scum!" Plugg shouts from the side lines. "Pulp him!" Plugg throws a cudgel to Owlbear.

Owlbear manages to catch the club in a rather deft, for him at any rate, manner. But he then promptly proceeds to lose his grip on it with a wild swing at Grayson's head. The weapon goes skittering towards the side of the boat only to be stopped inches away from falling overboard by a pirate's boot.

Dex Check for Owlbear to catch the weapon: [roll0]
Attack with the club: to hit [roll1] crit [roll2] damage [roll3] crit damage [roll4]

Two crit fails in a row. :smalleek: Not much of a fight.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

"So weapons are fair game?" He looks around for a weapon he can safely toss to Grayson.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Looking around Thellan spots a riggers kit and grabs a fid (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/US_Navy_060614-N-2659P-025_Seaman_Jamie_Lewis_uses_a_fid_to_repair_a_snag _on_a_mooring_line_aboard_Nimitz-class_aircraft_carrier_USS_John_C._Stennis_%28CVN_ 74%29.jpg) and tosses it towards Grayson.

It should be a club, which is kinda like a improvised weapon with no improvised penalty.

[thegoldenfedora]

Two crit fails in a row. Not much of a fight. well let's see if we can pick it up a bit:smallbiggrin:

Grayson easily dodges the incoming cudgel, and with a deft kick pushes Owlbear away. He catches the fid and nods to Thellan as appreciatively as he can with the amount inner anger built up inside him.

"Looks like he lost your club Plugg, let's see if this is a better 'fid' for him." and he tosses the weapon to his opponent, the monster laughs within gleeful to be able to stick it to Plugg whatever chance he got.

giving the fid to Owlbear, continuing unnamed. Screw plugg!

[PallentisLunam]

"Grab him!" Plugg barks pointing the cat at Thellan. "Filthy cheat!" Several crew members nearby seize Thellan by the arms and the clothes but for the moment everybody is more concerned with watching the fight than really obeying Plugg's orders.

The First Mate seethes with rage and glares daggers at Grayson. "Break him you useless bottom feeder!"

Owlbear catches the fid with both hands and looks stunned and confused for a moment. Shooting a hurt glance over his shoulder at Plugg, Owlbear gives an almost comical shrug and swings it at Grayson, not holding back in the least.

To Hit: [roll0] Crit: [roll1] Damage: [roll2] Crit Damage: [roll3]

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

"Wait ... I'm confused. Giving a weapon to a combatant is cheating? So Plugg cheated?"

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson spits a bit of blood out of his mouth, an evil grin spreading across his face.

"That's more like it!"

He balls up his fist and sends it straight up for a wild uppercut.

HP=8 (please don't hit like that again:smalleek:)
Power attack [roll0]
Damage [roll1]

[PallentisLunam]

"Rules don't apply to officers," one of the sailors says with a halfhearted shrug. The crowd roars as Owlbear finally connects solidly with Grayson. The crack of the fid against his arm is sickening, but the monstrous counter-blow brings tears to Owlbear's eyes. With a cry like a young child Owlbear drops the fid and backs away cowering towards Plugg. The first mate kicks cruelly at the simple monstrosity, "GET! BACK! OUT! THERE!"

Owlbear crawls forward arms over his head, clearly expecting Grayson to rain a world of hurt down on him. The crew roars for blood, calling for Grayson to do just that.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan crosses his arms. "Well that should have been made clear ...."

[thegoldenfedora]

As the crowd jeers and cheers Grayson takes a step back, his adrenaline draining now that the fight had wound to a close. Breathing heavily he looks from his grovelling foe to Anika, finally remembering her plea. He walks over to the misplaced cudgel, slowly picking it up before returning to Owlbear. He ignores the crowd and walks right past Owlbear,

"He's lost already, besides any more and I risk killing him, Barnabas' orders"

He continues menacingly up to Plugg, entertaining the thought of decking the first mate with the cudgel. Instead though, he holds out the weapon to the first mate.

"I believe this is yours" he growls letting the man tug on it once before letting go and walking back. He grabs his shirt before helping Owlbear up and taking him to seek out Sandara.

[PallentisLunam]

The crowd boos and jeers, some even going so far as to throw bowls and cups at Grayson instead of insults, furious at having been denied their sport. Owlbear looks up through his fingers with wide uncomprehending eyes.

When presented with the fid, Plugg smiles, looking around at the crew. "Careful, stumpy, yer headed fer dangerous waters." He snatches the fid out of Grayson's hand and shoves the victorious fighter away from Owlbear. Flanked by a few cronies Plugg proceeds to use the fid to beat Owlbear savagely until he lies limply on the deck. Plugg then looks up to the foredeck where Thellan is being held and motions for him to be brought down.

Casting away the bloody fid, Plugg flicks his wrist causing the cat to rattle ominously. "Rat Catcher," Plugg says, obviously playing for the crowd "Was there something bout the fight that didn't suit you?" The crew looks on silently. The raucous atmosphere of the fight has been replaced with the fearful silence before a predator's attack.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Without hesitation, Thellan gives a have nod. "Yes. You presented the match as against an unarmed 'owlbear' then you armed him. That would seem to be a trick and not really a sport."

[PallentisLunam]

Plugg steps around Thellan, his boots echoing on the deck. The first mate stops with his back to the stairs and Thellan between him and the mast. "So you think I was unfair, is that it?" Plugg's voice is soft and almost kind, but it carries clearly across the crowded deck.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan blinks and raises his palms in a manner that expresses he is unsure how to explain this. "I was very clear in what I said."
"I don't think anyone here thinks you are fair, in fact they said rules don't apply to officers." He gestures in the direction of the sailor would said it.
"It has been made quite clear since we were kidnapped that there was no equality or fairness. " He shrugs. "I just didn't expect you to feel the need to cheat to keep control even in sport."

[PallentisLunam]

Plugg nods sagely as a light breeze plucks at his stringy hair. "Ahh, I see. Yer ungrateful at the opportunity ta serve aboard this vessel. You are insubordinate to her officers. AND yer trying ta inspire mutiny among tha crew!" Plugg snaps his fingers and his lackeys grab Thellan and force him into the ropes hanging from the mast before ripping the back of his shirt open. "Maybe the cat'll learn ya, and all the rest o ya who might think tha same!"

Plugg strikes three times at Thellan's exposed back. The barbs on the cat shred Thellan's flesh and by the end his back is covered in a sheet of blood. After the deed is done Plugg spits on the deck and casts about daring anyone to meet his eyes before storming off to the officer's quarters below the forecastle. Thellan is released and Owlbear is dragged down below and rechained.

The crew is noticeably subdued for the rest of the evening.

Plugg's Attacks on Thellan:
1 Critical Failure Check [roll0] Damage [roll1] nonlethal
2 Critical Failure Check [roll2] Damage [roll3] nonlethal
3 Critical Failure Check [roll4] Damage [roll5] nonlethal

Grayson gains 400 XP and has made Owlbear Helpful.

Everybody has an opportunity for RP or additional ship actions before we advance to the next day.

[thegoldenfedora]

As the objects begin to fly at Grayson, he could feel the monster roaring within. Images of sinking his teeth into each and every person on this ship permeate his thoughts. Despite the inner turmoil, he walks on stoically.

He nearly decked Plugg when the first mate called him stumpy. The monster seethed within trying to get him to do anything violent, a punch to Plugg's face, headbutt him, throw him overboard. All the ideas came to him in an instant, but he remains quiet, knowing that at the heart of it, Plugg was right and that he had been pushing his luck trying to scare the man.

He watches with a stone face as Plugg beats down Owlbear, wanting to stop it, but at the same time knowing he would have to wade through an entire crew to do so.

His emotionless expression doesn't change when Thellan is dragged up, he wanted to tell his ally that they had pushed too far and that he was only making things worse for himself. His worries were heightened by Plugg's suggestion of mutiny, if he figured out what they were trying to do before they had the power to do so, then Grayson and his allies would become lunch for Besmara's pets.

But there was no way for him to get such a message to Thellan. Grayson simply waits for the events to be over before helping Thellan to his feet and bringing him to Sandara.

"Thanks for your help back there. Let's get you fixed up.

[Ravenica]

Anika

The abuse her shipmates have suffered at mean Mr. Pluggs hands will not go unpunished. She seethes as three of her friends are taunted and tormented and grinds her teeth. Slipping off she decides to go below deck and look around for any way to cause some small payback.

Going to search an area of the ship we haven't seen yet. 28 for the perception and [roll0] for the stealth.

[PallentisLunam]

Grayson finds Sandara below decks already having turned in for the night. Roused from her slumber she examines Thellans wounds while demanding the full story from Grayson. At length she shakes her head and sits back with a sigh. "I ain't much of a healer in my own right, but all these'll do is leave some nasty scars. I wish I could mend them but I've no strength left a-tall." She looks up at Grayson with a grim expression "Plugg's a right bastard," she says in a low whisper, "But he's no fool, and Harrigan is far worse. We need to play out cards close to the vest."

Anika sets out to explore the ship under cover of night. Having been pretty much everywhere on the lower decks her search for new territory takes her higher up. She is just about to start creeping up the aft stairs towards Harrigan's cabin when a last group of sailors comes stomping down the stairs headed for their hammocks. They spot her and quietly call out beckoning her over, "Pst! Little cookie, don' go tha way! You'll get 'urt." The sailors are obviously quite drunk. "Captain's got a trap on those stairs!" They once again wave frantically for Anika to come join them.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

"Well done." Alistair said, clapping Grayson on the shoulder. He approved of Grayson's decision not to go after owlbear after the fight was already over.

He watched in silence as Thellan was whipped. There was nothing he could do, speaking up would just make matters worse.

When that was done, well, Alistair still went to collect his winnings. There was no reason to let them go to waste....

[theasl]

Gale watches on from above with distaste, but doesn't say anything for her own safety. As the evening winds down, she goes down to bed with the others, but she can't shake a feeling of dread.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan does not resist being restrained and remains as stoic as he can while being whipped. He slumps into the ropes after the third lash and collapses to the deck upon being released from the bonds.

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson sighs in agreement, feeling emotionally drained, and really beginning to feel the effects of fatigue. "Aye, I think we will all be coming out of this with some extra scars before we are done." he says quietly.

"Thank you for continuing to look after us, Besmara keep you afloat." A small sense of hopelessness creeps up on him as he hoists Thellan up and brings him to a hammock. Plugg was more vicious than he had imagined, and it was obvious that his grandiose gesture of sparing Owlbear had not impressed the crew. In fact it may very well have alienated him, now that he had the ire of Plugg, he imagined it would be tougher for others to want to be seen with him.

A small thought crosses his mind before leaving, an old standby to perk him up a little, and he stops to share it with Sandara.

"At least if we keep our cards close to our hands like you said, I'll have a 'club' to 'deck' Plugg with. Heh," he chuckles somberly, "maybe even a 'spade' to bury him."

[PallentisLunam]

Bets are settled after the fight, and, despite his display of savagery, Plugg does not reclaim his purse. It would seem there are lines even the blackest hearts won't cross. That or he knows that even an officer can't get away with welshing on such a public wager.

Sandara rolls her eyes and claps her hands together touching them to her cheek. "A man after my own 'heart'." she replies, her sour mood lifting for a moment.

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson chuckles, and without turning or even missing a beat, he calls back.

"You're our 'Ace' Sandara" and he promptly goes to bed.

[Ravenica]

Anika

Deciding against the risk of a trap she follows the sailors. Warily.

When she feels it's safe she slips away to bed.

[PallentisLunam]

The sailors wander down to the crew's hold guiding Anika with them. They all promptly fall into their hammocks upon arrival.


The next morning it's business as usual aboard the Wormwood. Scourge seems especially nasty. Plugg seems especially demanding. And Harrigan seems especially disinterested in the goings on of the ship. He allows Plugg to man the helm and spends the day in his cabin with his other officers.

Alistair is ordered to continue mending various odds and ends about the ship. Thellan is sent once again to reprise his roll as rat catcher. He seems to be getting a reputation for collecting vermin, at least in Scourge's mind. Grayson is assigned to hauling coils of rope. This order seems to come directly from Plugg, with a derisive comment about putting Grayson's strength to proper use. Gale is put on watch in the crow's nest.

Finally, Fishguts comes out of his drunken coma. Glancing at Anika as he pushes past her to get some fresh air on the main deck. As he is laying on the gunwale of the ship he gives a shout and begins to chuckle. "Girl! Bring up tha harpoons! We've got tur'els!" Fishguts then proceeds to rapidly turn a sickly shade of green and puke over the side of the boat.

A DC 10 Profession (Sailor) or Dexterity Check.
A DC 10 Stealth, Survival, or Dexterity check.
A DC 10 Profession (sailor) or Strength check and a DC 10 Constitution check to avoid being fatigued
A 60 ft climb with base DC 10 Climb checks followed by a DC 10 Perception check.
A DC 10 Profession (Fisherman) or Survival Check

[theasl]

Gale takes her time climbing up to the top of the ship, then keeps half an eye out for anything out on the horizon while keeping a close watch over the crew below.

I was going to take 10 but let's roll, why the heck not.
[roll0] 0
[roll1] 0
[roll2] 7.5
[roll3] 15
[roll4] 22.5
[roll5] 30
[roll6] 37.5
[roll7] 37.5
[roll8] 45
[roll9] 52.5
[roll10] 52.5
[roll11] 60
[roll12]
[roll13]
[roll14]
[roll15]

edit: made it up in 12...and I just realized that I literally can't fail that climb check, so that was really pointless.
task perception [roll16]
sneak perception [roll17]

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan does his very best to not react to the pain in his back, not wanting to give anyone the satisfaction. He expects this day to be quiet and that few will speak to him wanting to avoid a connection with the new pariah.

Stealth [roll0]

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson decides to try and keep a lower profile for the day and keeps his head down. Lifting was not as horrible to him and he was able to imagine tossing certain pirates around as he went about it.

working diligently [roll0]
Fatigue [roll1]

[PallentisLunam]

Anika does as she is told and together she and Fishguts haul up several soft-shell sea turtles. The cook cackles in a vaguely manic fashion at the size of their haul. The two take the cleaned and gutted turtles down to the galley and Fishguts teaches Anika the secrets of a good turtle soup.

Alistair tries to engage Jack in some small talk, and while the teen is happy enough to gab he doesn't seem to be listening in the least to anything Alistair has to say. He rattles on and on about the ship boat gossip that he has scrounged up and seems to be of the mind that Alistair's interjections are mild inconveniences. However Alistair is listening and learns that there is a rumor going about the ship that the inner circle of officers are sequestered in Harrigan's cabin trying to come up with a strategy for taking the pirate vessel's first prize. Longfarthing, the ship's wizard, wants to call up a storm and ground an enemy, but Krine, the gunner, wants to take the foe with powder, grapnel, and steel.

Gale notices that Scourge is playing very close attention to Plugg's mood, and the first mate's demeanor seems to be worsening as the day goes along. Anytime Harrigan's cabin girl appears from below decks with a message for Plugg he lashes out at a random sailor within a few short minutes. He is being very free with the punishments today, even for actions that would normally be undeserving of a spoken reprimand. Also from her perch, Gale is able to get an idea of where the Wormwood is. Small island chains have been common sights over the days but now the Gunslinger notes that they are passing between Motaku and the mainland. She hazards a guess that Harrigan is aiming for the shipping lanes of the South Fever Sea, still more than a week away.

Throughout the day there are a few grudging acknowledgements of Grayson's strength and skill at brawling. But most of the crew, having bet against him is also grumbling about losing money in a fight that didn't really have an end, since it was Plugg who finished off Owlbear, not Grayson. Nobody is stupid enough to say this to Grayson's face though.

Thellan's wounds ache at his awaking and the large scabs itch like mad. None of the crew seems to regard their Rat Catcher with any more or less warmth than they did the day before. There are even some sympathies offered by the more kindhearted salts, a relative term on the Wormwood. They all seem to hold the opinion that his woes will be less if he keeps his mouth in check, but they are friendly none the less. Grok pops out of her shop long enough to offer Thellan a healing salve to put on his wounds.

The sky is a rather ominous purple when the Wormwood drops anchor for the night and the seas do not seem near as calm as they have on previous nights. Fishguts, Anika, and Grok must all take care to keep their various charges, the soup and the grog, from splashing out of their various containers.

Everybody has succeeded at their daily tasks. Night actions may commence

The salve given to Thellan allows him to heal as if he has received full bed-rest

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson could tell that he was losing favor quickly. After the work was done he decided to try and do something about it and looked for one of the games being played. His eyes passed over the gambling having little patience for such games, but the climbing caught his eye.

He decided to get rid of his grog for the night, wanting to be more clearheaded for the game. He strides up and asks one of the contestants what the rules were.

grog removal [Roll]1d20+2[roll]

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

After dealing with Grok's grog in the usual fashion, he joined her and the others at their table. Alistair was in high spirits, so he entertained the others with little anecdotes and jokes, and tried to lift their spirits as well.

Finally, he looked for a spot so both Cog and Jape would be his audience, before he announced another of his stories, "The story of how I shared a hellknight's wife's bed and lived."
It was a humourous tale, but still quite bloody, and full of feats of dexterity, which had barely saved his neck a number of times, until he finally made his escape. When Alistair finally ended, he took a bow and returned to their table, but not without subtly checking whether Cog and Jape had enjoyed the story or not.


[roll0]

When he returned to the table, he turned to the others.
"Have you heard? The captain and his officers are talking about taking our first prize soon."

[Ravenica]

Anika

Disappointed in her last attempt at sneaking around being so quickly derailed she slips below deck to try again. Taking pains to avoid any traps.

[roll0]

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan thanks Grok for the salve.

Diplomacy [roll0]

After that he seeks those who might seem encouraged by his show of courage.

[theasl]

Gale for the first time doesn't feel like drinking - she follows Alistair's lead and dumps the mug. She then takes to the rigging as usual, though far more silently than before.

[roll0]

no action (so I guess default sleep) yeah I know I'm boring she's boring everyone's boring :smallbiggrin:

edit: ohcrap