Ralom groaned as he plodded up the plank to the deck of the Sunset Empires. He was sure that sailing on a ship, even of this size, was not a good idea. Grunyar tailed along behind him trying to bolster Ralom spirits as they tried to escape the harassment of the local Abadar priests.
Meanwhile standing on the deck of the Sunset Empires, Varrid was still wondering how she had fallen into a "little" women's group with Arvien the Halfling and Seglun the Gnome. If one stood on the shoulders of the other they could still not look into her eyes, even if the hawk Summergale joined them. How sad.
All over the deck they saw sailors going about the business of loading supplies and readying the ship for sail. The sailors were of all ages and sizes with varying skills, or lack there of in some cases. Does the ship really have a chance to sail thought Baru as he stood, straight as an arrow, beside the main mast. He friend Drovic wore a long dark brown and green robe with the enormous grey/black hood and gloves. Eyeing the half-orc, dwarf, halfling, gnome and Aasimar climbing aboard Baru wondered how to enroll them into his cause to rid the world of evil.
From the Quarterdeck a graying, slightly stooped man and a half-elf with a patch over one eye made their way toward the passengers. The stooped man introduced himself as Captain Stewart who has captained the ship for 10 years without a major incident. The half-elf is Mr. Monterey who is the first mate. The Captain "welcomes" the passengers aboard but makes certain that they know to stay out of the way since adventurers are just plain bad luck, especially any spell caster. "No use of spells of any kind are allowed on my ship" he states as he asks Mr. Monterey to give them a tour of the ship. As Mr. Monterey explains the itinerary, 5 days to the island then 5 days to Nisroch, Ralom heads to the side of the ship hangs his head over and Ralphs. He stays in that there in that position throughout the tour.
Mr. Monterey leads the group on a tour pointing out all the decks, masts and cargo in the hold. He alerts them to a cage on deck which holds a Black Leopard, headed for a collector with a private hunting park. The cage is unlocked, secured by a simple latch and bolt. The ship's boat is a fifteen foot launch stored hull up on the deck with oars and sweeps nearby.
Near the firebox they find Old Singe, an obese, smiling man of middling years who is the cook. He greets the passengers warmly and asks about their food likes, which he simply laughs at. The quarterdeck is off limits to the passengers as are the Captain's and First Mate's quarters. In the hold bags of rice, water in casks, crew provisions and sea chests stacked along the hull. There a hammocks for sleeping, even for passengers.
Soon Arvien is bouncing around the deck introducing herself to everyone, asking where Baru bought his horns, trying to peek inside the hood of the mysterious character and joining the Dwarf and Gnome in looking at the Leopard. The Leopard seems foul tempered as both Grunyar and Seglun use talents to calm the animal. Soon the cat lays down in the center of the cage and purrs. Seglun asks the cat his name, which is Leo.
Captain Stewart announces that they are ready to set sail and the crew sets to unfurling the sails and untying the ship from the dock. The wind catches in the Sunset Empires' sails, and the ship makes for the open sea. The sky is a crystal blue, and the ocean a swirling mass of dark greens topped by white foam -- as dark as the starry evening, and just as deep.
Captain Stewart hoists a silver flask to the sky and bellows "Here's to good wind and a strong current!" He then takes a large swig and head to his desk on the quarterdeck. The sea is calm but there is a good wind as the ship turns north for the open sea. Soon any sight of land disappears. Jeb, who has many tattoos, climbs up to the crows nest, looks to all four corners of the globe and then returns with information for the Captain and mate. Varrid asks Jeb if she could join him on his next trip to the nest.
Pintsize, a Halfling sailor, approaches Arvien and offers to take her on his own special tour of the ship. He knows some secret hiding places. Strangely Arvien pointedly ignores him and soon he leaves her alone, leaving in a huff. Agarn (striped knit cap) and Bill (sword scar on cheek) work the pumps on the main deck while Homer (bald with pealing head skin) politely welcomes the passengers onto the ship.
Varrid asks Jeb how coordinates are kept. He explains that he sights land until it is no longer visible, about 2 days in, while Luke (missing right ear) keeps track of the course at the binnacle. Together Varrid and Jeb head up to the nest again where they are met by Summergale. Disgusted Varrid shoos the hawk away while she basks in the view. The climb was unsteady this first time but she thinks she has it down now.
As the sun starts to wester, Old Singe, tends the firebox, building up the low fire. After fetching some vegetables and bit of jerky, he begins to cook. After about a half-hour, he bellows "Supper!" at the top of his lungs. The sailors start to line up immediately for the evening meal. Ralom stays at the side rail while Arvien watches Pintsize take bowls of stew to the Captain and Mate. As he returns she asks to be served a plate and glass of wine. What! he roars, "get your ass in line, we ain't got no wine here and serve yourself!" Arvien is stunned and sits waiting for polite service. Ralom meanwhile goes below decks to see if that helps his "disposition." There he meets Gondal who wears a holy symbol of Gozreh and quotes scripture. Ralom determines he is not raving merely a true believer trying to convert the damned.
From below decks, Curtis, who looks very strong, Jonny (missing front teeth), Marson (numerous earrings in his left ear) shove their way in front of Baru, Seglun and Grunyar. The heroes move out of the way but there is some commotion which attracts the Captain. Unsteadily he move to the front of the Quarterdeck, he is red-faced and angry looking as he yells, "I've seen open sores with more brains that you lot of sun-baked layabouts! Working members of the crew get fed first, the non productive passengers will get the rest." He stumble back to his desk as Old Singe assures the party that "There's enough for everyone." Each passenger receives a single ladle of stew, mostly gravy, and a half biscuit of hardtack. Arvien eventually gets in line, pouting, and can't believe there is no wine.
After the evening meal, Slim, the tallest crewman gathers a few of the party together and relates a tale. "In a bar at Corentyn I met a well-dressed, wealthy, and mostly scared patron with a haggard look in his eyes, he jumped at every shadow. He said that once long ago he and a group of fellow adventurers liberated -- well, really robbed -- a wizard of his trove. We made the mistake of leaving him alive. He places a curse on on us who stole from him. Now that I am the last of my party, and my health is failing, I want to make amends, for fear the wizards curse will follow me in death." Slim pulled out a small casque which he related contained the wizard's most prized treasure. "He told me as long as it remains shut, and does not see the daylight, all should be fine. I want you to return this to its rightful owner."
Slim then explains that the island the ship was headed for has a tower overlooking the coast. "I cannot leave during the exchange for the leopard so I ask that you return the casque to the wizard." The party hesitated to agree immediately, asking for time to mull it over. Slim agreed but seemed disappointed.
As night fell the passengers found berth on hammocks, under the ship's boat or anywhere they liked. As morning light appeared Old Singe shouted "Breakfast!" and again the crew lined up for a hard tack biscuit. All the group, except Drovic who stays below decks all day, everyday, enjoy the bright sun and calm seas, even Ralom as the ship continues its journey. Early in the afternoon the group sees a sailor in a striped knit cap teasing the leopard, poking it with a piece of driftwood. The cat snarls and bites at the wood, trying to claw the sailor. A few other crew members are pointing and laughing at the sight. Seglun suggests he stop pestering the cat. Agarn responds that he can do as he likes and the group can go to Hades for all he cares. The attracts Captain Stewart, who makes his way to the cage with the help of Mr. Monterey. "Don't interfere with crew, I get paid to haul the animal, same as I get paid to haul you lot. Were it up to me, I'd dump both you and it, cage and all. Get the hades off my deck, you pus-bleeding, blood-tainted sons of baatezu." He then stomps back to his station ordering the crew back to work. As for Agarn, he's back in a few hours at the cage teasing the leopard and gets a nasty scratch on his arm for the trouble. Old Singe binds the wound up messily.
After supper Shanty pulls out a squeeze box and starts singing various sea songs. He is joined by a lively Little Thor (long blonde hair), Snake (snake tattoo on wrist), Lucky (two fingers on left hand), Jake (shark bite scar on arm) and Dirk (pockmarked face) in a rousing set of ?music? One song tells of a young sailor and his girlfriend. They pledge to never part, and the boy sails off. His ship flounders on the shoals, and he is lost overboard. The girl is heartbroken but in time finds another and plans to marry. The night before the wedding, she is visited in her room by the dead form of her lost love, his flesh chewed by the fishes and his ragged clothes draped with seaweed. He embraces hers and drags her back into the sea, so they are united in death. Pintsize runs to bring the Captain a new flask, each time the group sees the Captain he is hoisting the flask.
Another night gives light to another beautiful day. Dolphins appear alongside the ship, jumping in the surf of the ship's wake. The crewmen point and laugh. Arvien is enamored by the sight of the sleek creatures. Mr. Monterey, however, unlimbers the ballista on the quarterdeck and calmly, emotionlessly fires a bolt at one of the dolphins. He misses and starts to reload, Arvien screams "What are you doing? They are beautiful creatures." The Mate ignores her and fires another bolt, which again misses. Seglun tells the dolphins to dive for their lives as a third bolt flies past and also misses. The dolphins take the hint and disappear.
At supper on the third evening Old Singe comes around with the pot of stew and regales the party with a tale of Sparky. "Now Sparky, he was a fine cut of a man, until he jumped overboard to get rid of the fleas, against Captain's orders, mind you. He heard us shout the warning as we saw the fins break the water, and he reached the ship and had one hand around the rope when the sharks finally reached him. But we were too slow hoisting him aboard, and the hand was all that we could salvage. But he was a fine cut of a man indeed. More stew?"
DMs Note: No experience points were awarded for tonight. We will meet again on Sunday at Leo's. Dave will miss and Roger will be coming from the airport.
No comments:
Post a Comment