[thelastorphan] Skulls and Shackles IC [Archive] - Giant in the Playground Forums

thelastorphan

2017-12-07, 01:24 PM

Whatever you were doing last night in The Formidably Maid may not have been worth it.

You have aches and pains. You feel exhausted. There is a strange dry taste in your mouth. Whatever happened it resulted in the worst hangover of your life.

You blink in the dim light. It's wet and cold. The air smells salty with hints of rotted wood. The floor is hard and rocking back and forth. You realize you must be on a boat. There are a few beds and foot lockers scattered around and stairs leading up.

Your things are missing, other than the clothes on your back. The most you might have is a dagger or small coin purse hidden in your boot. Looking around you see a few others who seem to share whatever fate has befallen you.

Fell free to interact for a bit.

Zhentarim

2017-12-07, 01:35 PM

Ax, chained to the wall, tried to stand, but his head, knees and wings were hurting. He wasn't able to get far off the ground, either, due to the tightness of the chains. Ax moaned, "where am I...?"

Draconi Redfir

2017-12-08, 03:02 PM

Kawa hissed to herself as rocking of the ship coaxed her awake, her eyes sealed shut as she forced herself to sit up, one hand against her head as the other felt around for a wall or something to lean up against. It wasn't until she had found a more comfortable position that the Hobgoblin dared to open her eyes, fortunate that at least the light was low and wouldn't burn her eyes. Through sheer force of Will Kawa forced her headache to the back of her mind and blinked herself fully awake. She oculd see others in the darkness, some familiar forms, but nothing she could make out in full detail, or remember exactly with this headache. Whatever had happened last night, this wasn't what she was expecting when she woke up.

At some point or another Kawa heard someone mutter something about where they were. "A Ship... a mile off shore at least, if not more... that's about all i can tell ya." she answered to no one in particular, her head too disorientated to fully figure out where the first voice had come from.

Frosty

2017-12-08, 10:18 PM

Meri Tidecaller

The unconscious mermaid's tail twitches once. Then twice. Then it starts moving in earnest...or tries to, as much as it can, restricted by the ball-and-chain it is tied to. Slowly, Meri's eyes flutter open. She moans as she tries to push herself up by her palms, and there is a *thud* as she fails on her first attempt and her chest thumps against the wooden floor. Holding her head, she moans, "OW. What...what is in the drinks you call 'rum'? I'm not sure I ever want to try it again..."

The auburn-haired beauty finally succeeds in propping herself up, resting her head on a chair. "Why are we here? Who are you?"

PiccadillyPi

2017-12-09, 01:37 AM

Uzo

Chains rattled along scaffolding surrounding a grand vessel--a galleon one thousand leagues long, and a thousand more in depth. Uzo hung at the very top of its hull, hammering away at a loose nail, but no matter how hard he hit it the nail would not budge. Every swing led to a silent smack. Perhaps he could not strike it, or perhaps he had gone deaf. Smoke rose from below his feet. Fire? No, something else. It was black and thick. Like a liquid it swallowed him up, bubbling as he drowned in it. Slowly he sank down until he reached earth. The sky turned to gold with clouds of silver. The rain clattered against the bronze floor. Uzo attempted to capture it with a barrel, but the only thing he could catch were the bananas. So many bananas. Throwing the barrel away, he turned to face the incoming fog, followed by a far away plot of land. In the distance are voices--questions. Who are you? Impact was imminent.

Uzo opened his eyes and rose to sit. Must'a fell off da bed again.

'Blunderin' blue blazes!' Cried the tailed Goblin as he regained his senses, jumping to his feet.

Just a dream. Uzo searched himself for an answer to the dream. Amidst this introspection, he scanned his situation. Stuck in a cell with others, likely on a ship, and tied to iron. Thankfully better off than the winged fellow on the wall, but otherwise back to bananas and bad bowels.

Scratching his arse, Uzo asked an easy icebreaker. 'I amn't wrong in thinkin' we be patrons of da same busy tavern-o?'

Nay again.

The Shadowmind

2017-12-09, 02:37 AM

Firvi

Firvi groaned at the painful throbbing at the back of her head. Her brief attempt to move forward was thwarted by the the sudden realization of the heavy metal ball attached to her legs. She breathing spiked for a moment before she forced it back down. Looking around, she sees others in a similar circumstances.

'Panic leads to shock, shock leads to failure, failure leads to death' she focused on the blood cycling thought her. Breathing in and out, she waits for more information.

Frosty

2017-12-10, 01:17 AM

Meri Tidecaller

After a minute, Meri's head finally clears, and she looks around with a suspicious eye. "Tavern...yes...that's what that building was called. A tavern. The men there all bought me this delicious drink called Rum, and then everything went black. Umm...are we all prisoners?"

thelastorphan

2017-12-10, 02:33 AM

A few moments after Meri finishes her question there is the crack of a whip and you all hear a bit of boastful laughter.

A door opens from the deck above and several men come down. Smelling of salt and alcohol. A fifth man walks down the stairs behind them slowly. Cracking a whip between his calloused hands.

"Ye been sleepin' too long lads and lassies. Yeh've slept well past the risin' o the sun. Time to meet yer new Cap't." He smiles around the room. A few teeth missing. Suddenly he cracks his short whip. "On yer feet. Now!" Scowling at the Strix. Speaking to another pirate. "Make sure our new songbird don' fly away. Be perfect up in the nest I hope."

One of the men moves towards Ax with a key and a set of manacles.

The man with the whip
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/23/08/d0/2308d0fd069a680df856774216710c6d--character-concept-character-ideas.jpg

Frosty

2017-12-10, 03:58 AM

Meri Tidecaller

The mermaid turns her head when the rum-smelling salt beards make their way into this room. Being unaware of press-Ganging, she tries to reason with them. “Umm excuse me, but I think there may be a mistake. We did not sign up to work for your captain.”

She points to her tail. “Also, I cannot get onto my feet. I have tails and a fin. Which is tied to a heavy ball with a chain.”

So earnest. So naive.

PiccadillyPi

2017-12-10, 06:27 AM

Uzo

Glad to see the sky, Uzo kept mum. He had heard stories of folks forced into crews and did not wish to discover what happened to those who cast dissidence into the crowd. Better to wait for the opportune moment than attempt a disadvantaged ambush.

Expecting a show with the footless fool, he kept an eye on how his captors would react to her words.

Draconi Redfir

2017-12-10, 01:56 PM

Kawa had reeled back at the sudden bright light coming from the door, her arm quickly moving to shade her eyes from the assault as the stranger spoke.

"Gods... someone turn down the sun already..." she muttered to herself, forcing her body into a standing position, stumbling briefly as the boat rocked, causing her to instinctively grab for the wall. She'd been on the ocean plenty of times before, but larger boats like this one were a lot different then her little dingy.

Fortunately Kawa's head had begun to clear by now, leaving her sneering at the men who entered the room. Experimentally the hobgoblin tugged her bound leg through the air in front of her, finding the ball and chain tightening, but still dragging behind her. "There's no mistake about it kid, it's called a kidnapping, looks like someone decided they needed a bit more manpower... and didn't quite look where some of the drugs were going from the looks of things."

More in favor of getting things over with and maybe getting something to eat out of it all, the Hobgoblin dragged her chain over to the opposite side of the room, a hand reaching down to assist the apparently struggling... fish... person?

The Shadowmind

2017-12-10, 10:46 PM

Firvi

Firvi waves her left hand in the air widely like a child trying to get the attention of a teacher, "Are we being sold into slavery, or we being shang-ra-laded?

While playing a fool, she starts looking over the others to check their conditions. While she is doing that, she telepathically asks her psicrystal where is it.

thelastorphan

2017-12-11, 06:08 PM

Aside from minor scrapes and bruises everyone seems to be fine. You do know for sure that you have been drugged by some poison. Something that put you unconscious but otherwise left your body unharmed.

ALSO: I am unrestrained. In a box. Do not like this. Your other things are in this box. Only one person nearby.

Turning to face the young lady "Ye have a bit of a sharp mind lass. All of you. Welcome t' the Wormwood. Yer new home. Like it or not the fates put ye in our charge. Ye lost little lambs now have us t' call yer kin and kith." He smiles menacingly. Anyone can tell he is being sarcastic, faking sweetness and mocking Firvi. He keeps squeezing the handle of his whip almost hoping someone will try something. "N' like I said. On yer feet. I'm sure ye can manage fishgirl. You two give her hand if she can't get up the stairs on her own two fins." Two of the other men seem more than happy to do this and share a not so innocent look.

Frosty

2017-12-12, 01:43 AM

Meri Tidecaller

The mermaid frowns at the tone the man is taking, and doesn't take her eyes off of the two men who are now eyeing her not-so-innocently. She attempts to climb up the stairs, with the ball and chain still around her tail. With her below-average musculature, she likely fails.

PiccadillyPi

2017-12-12, 03:30 AM

Uzo

A small knot formed in the goblin's stomach. An unfortunate measure of ethics that he wished he could be without. There were always creatures undeserving of his consideration, but the finned female did not appear to be one of them. Against his better judgement, Uzo went to lift Meri's weights while dragging his own.

Finding a voice to give reason, he looked toward the whipping wonder. 'Bedda we amn't banjaxed 'fore we be meet'n the Cap't, ah?'

Following behind Meri, he looked back at his conned companions and used his nose to motion them toward the chained Strix--which may have come off as a sneer. Constraint for hours is hard on the body. Uzo felt that weakness before, though perhaps not as severe.

Zhentarim

2017-12-12, 01:09 PM

"Wings are oddly sore, but I can fly, you know."
Ax braced himself for a whiplash as he stood up. Whatever he drank in the tavern was killing his head, as well, but his wings were what concerned him. It felt like they'd been cut and it hurt to move them.

Draconi Redfir

2017-12-13, 10:50 AM

Kawa arched an eyebrow at the refusal of assistance by the merfolk, but ultimately stood and shrugged. "Suit yerself..." Kawa dragged her chained foot towards the stairs the pirates had descended from while the merfolk struggled to stand. The hobgoblin stood for a moment at the base of the stairs, looking first at the exit, then to the weighted ball chained to her ankle, then to the man with the whip, sneering lightly as she mentally worked how to get up those things without breaking the steps behind her.

The chain was too short to pick up the weight and still be able to stand properly, but with a little bit of shifting Kawa found she could reasonably hold it in her right arm with her right foot permanently bent up, and her body tilted forward to be supported by her left arm few stairs higher up. She looked ridiculous, but gradually she was able to "crawl" her way to the top of the stairs, dropping the weight onto the flat deck as she stood up straight once more, eyes squinting in the harsh sunlight as she took a few steps forward to clear the stairs behind her. Looked like she was the first of the new recruits to make it onto the deck... fun. At least her sea-legs were growing in now...

The Shadowmind

2017-12-13, 12:30 PM

"Stay dormant, and give me updates as people who pass you by."

Firvi grabs the chain with both hands, and begins slowly dragging it, "Do ya have one of these in a child size, I don't have much is upper body strength, or lower body strength for that matter.

As she managed to get to the stairs, she places the weight on the first step, and steps up. The process slowly repeats.

Frosty

2017-12-13, 02:06 PM

Meri Tidecaller

Meri has refused all offers of help right now, half because she's worried that if she asks for help, the two men leering at her would quickly 'help' her in unwanted ways. She continues struggling up the stairs.

She does secretly flash Kawa a smile of thanks.

thelastorphan

2017-12-14, 12:48 PM

With a bit of effort everyone is able to make it to the deck. Some of you have a bit more trouble than others. Meri arrives last. The two men give sour expressions as you are able to climb the stairwell. Disappointed.

The sun is climbing. It is late morning. A clear bright sky greets you. As does a rowdy crew laughing and leering at the new recruits. It seems that there are a few up here already.

Above all stands a dark-skinned man. Scarred and hard looking with a patch over his left eye and malice painted on his face. It is clear by his posture and position near the helm that this man is the Captain.

There is some silence as you are all positioned in line with the other new recruits.
The Captain paces back and forth for a few moments. Stroking his long braided beard.

'I be Barnabas Harrigan. Captain to you lot. I expect loyalty an respect. No less. This here fine vessel be The Wormwood. Me pride an joy. Yours to til the deep take you. New crew means bottom o the crew. Yer gonna be tested today to see where you belong. We find a use for all our scraps don' we boys?' The crew cheers and Harrigan raises a hand to silence them. 'My first mate will whip you new lot into ship shape. Mister Plugg the floor be yours.'

With that a new face appears. A bare chested angry looking man steps forward. Aside from a ponytail his head is bare. He wears a fine coat with pearl buttons, a bit out of place among the other clothes you see. The man with the whip joins him. 'Any bellyachin fore we see what yer made of?' He produces his own weapon, a cat-o'-nine-tails and waits for a moment licking his lips.

PiccadillyPi

2017-12-14, 04:09 PM

Uzo

'Aye Capt, Aye Mista Plugg.' He said, forming a fist against his chest.

No way off now, and swimming was never on the table. Uzo tugged on his chain and looked at his captors. He spoke again.

'Bein' that we few be set fer duty aboard da Wormwood, dese irons would only serve ta damage yer vessel, ah?'

The Shadowmind

2017-12-15, 11:03 PM

Firvi

With one hand in held slight in the air, Firvi starts to ask a question," Is this where the ole whip boye fall downs, we have a big laugh and a pint of rum, then contemplate that we have no way off the ship alive?"

During her question Firvi manifests Collapse as on the man with the at-o'-nine-tails as a bass-hum sounds for a brief second around him before fading into the nothingness of it came from.

Frosty

2017-12-16, 04:20 AM

Meri just stays quiet for now. She is more than a bit intimidated by all the people around here, unsure if they mean her harm. She knows she can't possible best them all in combat.

Draconi Redfir

2017-12-17, 03:15 AM

Kawa stood as tall as she was able given the unwarranted circumstances, her eyes glaring daggers first towards the captain, then towards this "Plugg" character. The hobgoblin stayed quiet though, her arms crossed over her chest and her mouth pulling back in sneer to show off her vicious tusks. She'd likely encountered some pirates in the bar or at the docks every so often, they weren't terrible on their own, but in groups they could be dangerous, best to stick things out for now, try and find a way back to her fishing boat later. She held her breath as Plugg's eyes looked her over, only breathing again when she was sure he had moved on to someone else. She would not give that man the satisfaction of breaking her.

thelastorphan

2017-12-31, 07:09 PM

Plugg seems to stumble forward and catch himself before falling. Shaking his head and looking around angrier. It passes after a quick moment, he cracks his whip in the air.

"Aye, git these irons off our new recruits." He smiles wide and gestures to a member of the crew. She also looks a bit new but takes the order and sours her face a bit. She produces a key and frees each of you from your ball and chain.

She whispers to you all. "After we're done on deck we should talk. Don't make a scene." She wears a stylized skull and crossbones pendant. "Just play along for now."

Roll Knowledge Religion: Anyone who gets a 15 recognizes it as a holy symbol to Besmara, the Pirate Queen.

After you are all unlocked Plugg address you again. "Each of ye to the main mast, time to see if any of ya are cut out for this life. Move along now." He seems eager for someone to disobey.

Frosty

2018-01-02, 02:21 AM

Meri Tidecaller

The mermaid is happy to be freed, and rubs her sore tail. She doesn't answer the woman who freed her, but anyone who gets her out of chains is alright in her book. For now, she follows orders as best she can, slithering over to the main mast.

Zhentarim

2018-01-03, 11:04 AM

Ax attempts to fly away, but his sore wings provide no lift. He shouts "What did y'all do to my wings?"

Draconi Redfir

2018-01-07, 06:54 AM

Again Kawa gave Plugg the displeasure of obeying his orders, not without spite of course, as every move the hobgoblin made was laced with the stuff. She all but pulled her leg free of it's position the moment the chain was removed, her eyes glaring down the crew-member who had been whispering to them. As instructed, Kawa turned and headed towards the main deck of the ship, though not before shooting a glare up towards the watching captain, her posture tall and wide, openly announcing it's readiness to strike down anyone who attempted to grab her as she moved.

Assuming there were no interruptions, Kawa would turn on her heel upon reaching the primary mast that held up the ship's sails, her eyes glaring first back at Plugg, then at those watching the new recruits.

The Shadowmind

2018-01-08, 10:16 PM

Firvi rubbed her leg were the heavy metal chained was previously rubbing agaisnt her leg. She turns to look at the lady with the pedant, that thinks it look interesting, but has no no recognition of what is means. Which few resources to spare at the moment, she simply follows the orders given.

thelastorphan

2018-01-09, 03:11 PM

Mister Plugg continues to give orders.

"Time to see what yer made of. Everyone should try to climb the main mast. 'Cept you fishgirl. Have a different plan for you if nothin else seems fit." He gives a grin and then a sour expression at the Strix. "You be climbin too. For now we don't want ya flyin about. Its a bit unfair." He looks at the crew waiting for a laugh. It comes after a brief pause and Plugg seems satisfied enough.

"Now climb to the nest and back down. Whoever does so fastest gets to be in the nest. A very prestigious position worth an extra ration of ale." He cracks his whip. A signal to start.

Everyone roll climb three times. Climb DC 15. Two fails means you couldn't reach the nest.

PiccadillyPi

2018-01-09, 05:48 PM

Uzo

Massaging his wrists and ankles, the monkey goblin looked up at the mast. 'Aye Mista Plugg.' He muttered.

Back in the shipyard he was usually the one to hammer in the last few wedges, nails, or whatever his master deemed fit. It's trickier when your fellow wrights decide to litter the netting with needles. In the case of the Wormwood: Uzo thought it very unlikely such antics would arise.

Putting his trust in the cantankerous crewman, Uzo waved some luck to his cellmates and scurried to and up the ratlines.

Climbing speed of 30 ft.
+14
Take 10
Total: 24 for each result.

Draconi Redfir

2018-01-09, 07:06 PM

Kawa balked at the order, looking both at Plugg, then at the enormous mast. "You're kidding me right? We had better be getting breakfast after this bull... can't even remember the last time i ate..."

Without so much as waiting for a reply, or giving Plugg a chance to lash out, Kawa stepped towards the mast,fidgiting her arms around and thighs around the mast, carefully attempting to pull herself up...

((Since she doesn't have her gear, the -4 ACP does not apply. so +3 climb.))

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

... And doing pretty well! She was never able to quite catch up to the goblin, which made sense given his size and extra limb, but she held well on her own, Climbing up and reaching the nest with relative ease and quickness, her strong legs proving able in keeping her body stable as she inched her way up. Going back down however proved significantly more difficult, as the Hobgoblin's thigh slipped almost half way back down the mast. Kawa's body tensed up and a shriek escaped her throat, as gravity finally grabbed hold of her, causing the hobgoblin to violently tumble down to the deck, landing with a sickening "THUD" onto the planks of the ship.

Frosty

2018-01-14, 09:40 PM

The mermaid remains where she is, looking up at her agile and strong fellow abductees. She is impressed by them so far, and while everyone is looking at the climbing, she briefly considers trying to leap overboard to escape. However, she dismisses the idea as she doubts she can make it past everyone, as slow as she is on land. And secondly, she still doesn't seem to want to abandon these other poor souls with her.