"Sure, we sail the open waters...following shipping lanes and kill pirates. What else is der to know." He says with a laugh as he finsihes off the drink he has and holds the mug up for another.

"I was curious to know if we have any specific targets. Or is it more of a sail-and-see voyage? I don't wish to pry. I'm simply curious as to whether or not I should prepare for a specific type of possible encounter."

"what is der special, unlrss da have wizard. We find ship board it..kill dem and bring it back for da purse." vraul says drinking.

Tagen just sits quietly drinking and watching the goings on, figuring it might be best to only speak when spoken to until he gets a feel for things.  That idea lasts all of ten seconds when he decides to hit Varul with a question.

"So how long have you been with the Captain?" he asks of the giant first mate.

"Da Capn and I has known each udder a long time. We got dis ship together. And have saved each udder many a time." Vraul says, "Der is no better Capn dem 'em dat sails any sea."

The time flows like the drinks that you have been downing most of the evening as afternoon turns to dusk and dusk to night.  The tide will be coming in with the morning and with luck the ship will be sailing out as the sun comes up.

OOC: enjoy getting to know each other, as soon as one of you posts that your heading back to the boat we'll advance to the next day.

I'm happy to head back now if everyone else is.

OOC: I'm ready to return as well

Vraul answers Tagen, "Dat is all you need you land lubber. Dat and to know how to swim if ye get unlucky. Just do what your told and no slackin' ...Do dat and uz be ok."

It is several hours later before the small band of marines pack it in for the evening and head back to the ship that will soon become thier whole world.  The Captain is still up checking and double checking the lashings before taking her out with the morning tide, he nods to each of you as you return as he bids you a good night.  "We sail at dawn if all goes well, sleep it off men, tomorrow we head back to the blue" he says with a cheerful grin, glad to be away from land and back to the sea that he has spent most of his life sailing on.

~~~

The gentle rocking of the ship soon has all of you drifting off to sleep as the nightman calls watch from the deck.  The sounds of morning seem to come all to early however as the captain and his crew make ready to head out, with a call to set the sail and remove the lashings from where she is docked the Swyft Wynd is soon turning her nose toward the open sea as the sails catch the wind and push her out into the unknown once again.

Brald is nearly broke when he returns to the ship, but his weapons are in top condition, and he himself, freshly laid and freshly sober, is in better than fair condition.

[Private to DM Foxpaws: Trading both weapons, and all my bold, for the same set of enchantments on my elven blades.
and... what is the total XP earned so far?  I've lost track.

I know the last award was 600... I'm not entirely sure, I know I had granted enough to put you to 4th lvl, but I can't remember beyond that.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:16, Tue 28 Mar 2006.

Before the sun rises, Vraul makes sure the crew is up and getting the ship on the way. Once the sun breaks the horizon, if anyone is in the hamock, Vraul will throw them out of it to the floor and yell that they get aloft....

Hearing the heavy footfalls of the First Mate, Tagen slides slowly out of his hammock while holding his aching head. Rising slowly he rubs sleep from his eyes and tries to focus on the surrounding lower deck. He shakes his head in an attempt to clear the fog but that only causes him to hold his head again. Staggering to the head he bends over the hole and relieves himself of what is left of the previous night's drink, then makes his way to the steps and heads up on deck.

Oh yea, going to sea was a brilliant idea, just brilliant.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Tue 28 Mar 2006.

Calgarvin spends some time early on in the morning, before the sun rises, away from the ship. [Private to DM Foxpaws: Playing with My porpoise. Trying to let him know we're going on a big trip and he's coming along.]
When the ship's duties begin Calgarvin goes to work tying up the lines and other assorted duties assigned to him.

Once Vraul sees that they have nothing but  open sea in front of them, he orders"Get aloft and drop the mainsail."

The regular sailors go about their duty with a zest for the sea that makes some of the marines a bit sick.  Shooting up the lines the men soon have the ship fairly singing as it skips over the waves, leaving the shore far behind.  Once at sea the captain informs the crew that it is a hunting expidetion.  "Pirates have been increasing activity in the area, we're here to see if we can't put a stop to it and at the same time take a little prize for ourselves, 'eh boys?" he informs the crew and the marines to a cheer and a chuckle from the men at the thought of the pirate prize money.

Vraul roars in pleasure at the thought of killing Pirates and his share of the Prize. He smiles as the crew shows the same enthusiasm. "We be showing em dat scum can only float fer a little while befer it sinks."

With a smile at the hearty response given by his men the captain calls for the ship to make a heading toward Athkatla, toward the heart of activity.

The small ship flies accross the waters, a strong wind and the captains own abilies keeping it always in a favorable draft.  Other sails can be seen on the waters, all of them flying known colors of friendly ports.  It is several days later when the burned out hulk can first be seen ahead of you, the large ship now almost nothing but beaten and battered pile of wood and tar on the water.  As the Captain orders the crew to bring you along side it is soon evident that this was no accidental fire in a ships galley.

"Bring us along side her, I want to know what caused this!  Varul, you and your men check her out, but be careful...I sense no disease about her so she wasn't burned for that reason. Clarke orders after a brief moment of withdrawal in which he casts out his senses toward the ship slowly dieing next to you.

"Lets go marines. Time ta work." Varul says climbing down into the burnt hull...

Hearing the Captain's orders, followed by Varul's command, Tagen springs to action and is quickly over the side and standing next to the first mate. Tagen quickly scans what is left of the burnt out hulk for any signs of trouble.

[Private to DM Foxpaws:

20:41, Today: Tagen Vrinn rolled 16 using 1d20+4. Listen.
20:41, Today: Tagen Vrinn rolled 20 using 1d20+4. Spot.]

Relieved that this order isn't one to go diving into the ocean, Calgarvin follows quickly behind his First Mate and stands with Tagen as he surveys his surroundings. "They must have put up a fight. I would have thought pirates would have taken the ship intact, if they could," and he follows Varul further on board.

OOC: Not that it really matters to me, but shouldn't this be in the "at sea" forum?

As Vraul steps onto the burned out hull, he looks around.
[Private to DM Foxpaws: Spot: 16]

Looks like the Pirates are posting a lot....

DM FP - I was just waiting for the rest of the team to post combat....after I post its you three, then me, then you three....
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:42, Sun 11 June 2006.

"This calls fer a drink," Vraul calls out as he looks toward the dock.