Congratulations Rafe.

You Lived.

You followed orders, you kept the peace, you even tried to run and save your hide.

And none of it mattered.  You were still on the wrong end of a pirate sword being told serve or die.  And those gods-damned mutineers had the gall to look smug about it.

No.  They don't GET to be right about this.  One way or another, their days are numbered.

There was, however, the problem of the smug prick who beat the shit out of the Captain for an hour straight for no other reason than because he could.  He WANTED to break the man's knees and behead him while he screamed in confusion, but to attempt such a thing was suicide.  You lived, dammit.  Don't throw your life away now.

But that still left the problem of what to say to this asshole.

"I pledge..." Rafe said quietly, "my service to the Captain of the Wormwood."

As the little rowboat was battered and in the end broken to pieces before Pearl could get away, Pearl could only watch as the winds of the Eye began to batter even Sorina's Revenge.

As the fighting up on deck seemed to have stopped, Pearl wondered if the wreckage of the little rowboat would be seen.  She hoped so, for if she were rescued it would give her another chance.  Since she hadn't fought the pirates they may not treat her the same as the others.

As she was brought to her knees as a captive, Pearl wondered if being rescued was a good thing or not.  Pearl looked around at who was left and took a measure of who she would speak with when she had the chance.  Down in the hold of the ship, Pearl felt like a rat in a box that was being tossed by a bunch of orcs.  It was rough and many times she had to catch herself from toppling completely over.  Minutes turned to hours and finally, the tossing decreased and then ended.  When the hatch was opened and sunlight poured in, Pearl covered her eyes briefly to adjust to the light.

What she saw of the boat once she came to the deck had her jaw drop.  Pearl saw that there wasn't many crew left of the pirates as well and it seemed that there weren't any other ships near either.  Ushered to once more kneel and witness the brutal beating and execution of the former Captain, Pearl watched on.  She didn't even blink, as ordered, and just looked on.  Honestly, Pearl didn't care, either way, she was alive and that is what mattered to her.

When the Captain had said that he needed to replenish his crew with the prisoners and the mutineers had basically slobbered all over the chance, Pearl gave a smirk, she wasn't surprised by their actions.  Pearl watched on a more and more said they would join and she wasn't surprised for the other option was death for certain so when there was a pause, Pearl raised her head and said, "I pledge my service to you, Captain."  She wanted to say more but figured she could work her wiles later.  Now wasn't the time to kiss up and make enemies when she didn't have to.

When the rowboat had gone under, Vander had clung to the wolf. Shaka in turn had used her animal strength to swim them both to the surface. Just in time to be netted and plopped back on deck by these scum.

He had a crossbow to the back of his head, and watched the entire scence play out. However, he had to hold Shaka's muzzle closed and lean her head against his body. He would whisper sweet words in her ear to keep her from snarling and leaping to attack the pirates and thier foul master.

As a result, he said nothing to the captain. He was a passenger, not one of the crew. If he pretended to be a crewman no doubt one of the others would mention as much. Despite that, why would anyone trust him even if he did swear? It would make no sense...but then, the pirate captain was not fully sane.

More and more of the former crew began to stand up pledging themselves. Some did it eagerly, some did it reluctantly, but they did it all the same.

In the end the only ones still kneeling were Zug Zug, Vander and the other former passengers. Cascannon, an elven emissary from Spire Keep, cleared his throat to respectfully get the captain's attention.

"Dear Captain...Harrigan was it? I am honored by your offer to serve among your crew but I think you will find me to be a poor crewman at that. I am not a sailor by trade, I was only aboard this ship to book passage to the South. I am well connected though and I am sure my government will offer a hefty reward for you...<ahem> rescuing me...from the storm that nearly sunk the ship and..."

Harrigan sniffed loudly, hawking up a ball of phlegm and spitting it directly in front of Cascannon who fell silent.

"So you ain't serving? Am I hearing that right?"

Cascannon gave a weak smile and shook his head.

"I mean no disrespect but I think you'll find I'm far more valuable as..."

thunk

Whatever Cascannon was going to say was interrupted by a steel bolt piercing through the back of his head. Harrigan stepped forward, hooking a boot under Cascannon's falling form and with a powerful kick shoved the body towards the railing where two pirates didn't even break stride when they hooked their arms under it and tossed the body overboard.

Captain Harrigan stared down at the four remaining kneelers. His eye bounced from Zug Zug to Vander to Jarrod to Amithel.

"I'll say it again. You either work, or you go over the side. Choose now."

"I pledge to serve!"

Both Jarrod and Amithel leapt to their feet, nodding their heads like they were on springs. Harrigan turned his eye back to Vander and Zug Zug.

"Gotta hear you say it. It's the pirate code and all. You gotta join on yer own free will."

Harrigan let out a cruel smile as he said those words and the pirates still guarding the captives let out a few chuckles themselves.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:49, Thu 18 Feb 2021.

"Zug Zug no no speakers a hooman funnier words!" Continuing to barely grasp the words that were being said to him, he switched to Orc, and again addressed the bastard half-breed who had ushered them down below.  He looked back up at the 'captain' and looked dumb behind his mismatched boots and dented, rusted, iron helmet. "Zug Zug smash? Hooman chief say Zug Zug smashes puny stuff?"

"I'll join you." She said, casually. "But I want to captain the Wormwood in your name." It was a risk, but she had to play her card's as she had them.

Then she grinned. "After all, how can you trust someone that mutinies? They do it once, they will do it again the moment you do something that they do not like. Sneeze wrong, fart sideways, they'll likely put a knife in your back before you know it."

"I however, tried to provide both sides with a better option. More tactful one, but neither listened." Then she shrugged. The young red haired elven womans golden eyes seemed to glint for a moment as she looked at the 'traitors' with a predatory grin.

In reply to Captain Harrigan (msg # 59):

Vander met Harrigans eyes, and thought about his own death. His chief... his former chief...had been cruel and savage as well. It was one of the reasons Vander had left the Wargriders and was now on this ship. He knew the other goblins in his tribe where not really evil, but had been frightened into following an evil master.

It was also one of the reasons Vander had shot several arrows into the back of his chiefs head. From reasonable distance of course. The chief had been very scary up close...and not so much now.

Death did seem like a good option rather than severing such a master once more. However, for the same reason, he would choose to live instead. Shaka.

He had raised her from a pup and had no doubt what Harrigans scum would do to her if he did not agree to serve. However, he suspected Harrigan would just kill them both anyways.

He narrowed his eyes and stared at the captain for a few more seconds.

"Such courage and skill, my new captain possesses.

I could I not agree to serve such a man and all his success?"

Of course, the hissing,  sing song-like voice of a goblin makes it very diffcult to determine  weather or not there was sarcasm in his tone. His eyes where still narrowed as he never broke from the captain's gaze. Even as he held Shaka's muzzle under his own chin, making sure she could not snap, growl, and leap to rip put the captain's throat.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:15, Fri 19 Feb 2021.

When Harrigan is done with Kalia, Xao will reveal herself. Despite the leather wraps on her hands she feels the friction heat of the halyard line as she slides down from the crows nest and drops to the deck. Xao stands and locks her attention on Harrigan. She walks directly across the deck to him and stops in front before giving a single nod. "Standard pirate shares are better than what I was being paid before." She observes. "I will serve the Captain." Her attitude is matter-of-fact and accepting there is no hint of eagerness or bitterness toward the situation in which she finds herself and her previous crew.

The half-orc just rolls her eyes at Zug Zug's response before replying simply.

[Language unknown: Ic lleien insece meevpe? Hasardred miseev ter.]

As Zug Zug plays dumb Harrigan narrows his one eye and then gives a shrug.

"Frankly I don't really care whether you're really this dumb or not. Follow orders and don't break the code. I don't care if you can understand me or not. You work or you get tossed overboard."

---

When Kalia makes her bold claim it actually leaves Harrigan speechless for a second. He doesn't take kindly to the confusion and instead responds physically with a swift punch to Kalia's chest that knocks the wind out of her and drops her to the deck.

"You will do what I tell you to do and I don't recall asking your opinion about anything. If I tell you your job is to lick my boots then your only response had better be to drop to the deck and stick your tongue out."

Having regained his composure he lets out a chuckle and some of the other pirates chuckle as well at a press ganged prisoner trying to be put in charge.

---

When Xao Fang drops to the deck Harrigan is surprised for a second time. He glances up to ensure there aren't more coming and then takes a moment to eye Xao Fang up and down. Finally he gives her a nod, accepting her pledge.

---

Once everyone had pledged (or been tossed overboard), Harrigan walks up and down the line to give proper introductions.

"For some of you this might be your first time crewing aboard a Freecaptain's ship. For some of you this might be the first time crewing a ship period. Let me be clear I am going to work you to the bone and you will either prove your value or get dumped overboard. If you serve and you show skill and guts and enough loyalty then you might find yourself getting off of swabbing the decks and getting some real work to do but until then you're all going to serve under one of mine. When I'm not around, they are in charge and their word is just as good as mine. If you don't listen to them, well..."

He nods at the bloodstain still at his feet from where he 'dealt' with the previous captain.

"...stringing up lollygaggers and mutineers is pretty much our only form of entertainment. Hell we like to make an evening out of a good keelhauling. Now I'm going to do these introductions once so pay attention."

As he introduces the surviving pirate crew officers they pop their heads up and give a wave
or a scowl or a simple call before going back to their work:

Melvick Plugg - First Mate

Cut-Throat Grok - Quartermaster

Peppery Longfarthing - Sailing Master

Caulky Tarroon - Captain's Steward

Riaris Krine - Gunnery Master

The Stichman - Carpenter

Fishguts Kroop - Cook

Patch Patchsalt  - Bosun's Mate

Kipper - Gunner's Mate

For those who saw the flash of light, they recognized Peppery as the wizard that cast the spell of teleportation that saved Captain Harrigan, Caulky, Fishguts, and Habbly from the other ship. While there is the bosun's mate, there doesn't appear to be a bosun anymore which is a very important position to leave unfilled long term.


"For now don't worry about who's who, just know that if one of them gives you an order you drop what you're doing and do what they tell you. This ship is barely holding together after skirting the Eye so we don't have time for the usual breakdown of duties. If you're smart you'll realize this is an opportunity to prove yourself and get promoted from scum sucking prisoner to an actual part of the crew.

I have no patience for anything that disrupts our repairs. There will be no fighting, no killing, no thieving, no insubordination of any kind or you're getting lashed or tossed. Keeping your head on your shoulders and your skin on your back is going to be very easy. You do what we say, when we say it, and we all get to become rich and fat on all the gold you can eat. Har har har."

Given the way the crew erupts in laughter, even the more stern faced ones, this is apparently some reference to an inside joke. It seemed that the laughter broke a lot of the tension in the air that had been building after the captain imposed draconian justice upon the whole ship.

"So you've heard the bad news from me. Grok here will tell you what'll happen if you do right by us."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 23:25, Fri 19 Feb 2021.

Cut-Throat walks over with a crooked grin and claps her hands together to draw everyone's attention to her. She looks to be about middle-aged for a half-orc, thin but wiry with muscle.

"Here's the rub. Serving on a pirate ship is going to be the fastest way you ever make coin. Assuming you do right by the Captain and earn an official spot on the crew when we make port we'll sell everything in the cargo hold and every one of the crew gets a full share of the profit."

Several among the captured crew let out whistles of surprise. The just went from making a few coppers or silvers a day to potentially hundreds or thousands of gold when the ship reaches port. While the mutineers are practically giddy even some of the "loyalists" can't help but smile in surprise.

"Right now you're prisoners and forced laborers because we're teetering on the edge of a watery grave and can't afford normal civility but make no mistake this isn't a slaving ship. If you've earned your keep and we make port you are free to take your money and leave. We only want you if you want to be here. Now the Stitchman estimates two weeks of repairs and two weeks to reach Port Peril. For those of you staring daggers and seething at working for pirates, if you can keep your shit together for a month you can walk away with your life and more gold most will ever see in a life time."

She pulls out a ledger from a waterpoof pouch at her hip.

"Do your job, earn the respect of the people in charge and you'll get your name added here. This is what earns you your share and your freedom. Understood?"

Finally the First Mate steps forward and addresses the captured crew, walking up and down and giving each a proper evaluation.

"You're going to divide yourself into three groups. If you know your way around the rigging you're going to report to me. Our job is to fix those sails and get this ship moving. If you've served on a ship before you'll report to the Stichman to fix all the holes in the boat to keep us afloat. If you're useless and don't fall into either of those groups you're reporting to Patch. She'll find something for you to do based on your abilities."

He pauses as he reaches Sandara standing in line with her tricorn cap on.

"You there. You did a decent job keeping the dead from dying so you're on special duty. Report to Patch and she'll set you up as our apothecary. Any of you others have any special training that deserves attention?"

"I was a Rigger before so I report to you then. There's patching material below deck. Do you want me to get it for you or show one of these fine folks where it is?" She asks politely enough, trying to show that she's not trying to be sneaking off alone.

Nenelethas saw that Sandara had been set aside from the three groups because of her magic and he stepped forward and said, “I too am capable of healing magic and am able to bend water to my will for use in battle and other things.”

He moves his hand in a circular fashion and a globe of water forms in it. He throws it back and forth for a moment before tossing it over the side of the boat.

“I would be happy to apprentice under your mage or with Sandara if that would be helpful. Whatever you need.”

Zug Zug pretended to be happy and ignorant, though in actuality he was sizing up the crew, looking at who he could take and who he couldn't. "Zug Zug smash. Zug Zug net fishes!" Zug Zug's brow furrowed and he squinted at the quartermaster. [Language unknown: "Ic e I urate ev M tanc pe trari fi thfifi pelawi Le not anil di ic pe? O towapo nenipe pl ndprsi eveev k moto llee ill allai st tolar latoerhis."]

"Right, Stichman it is." Rafe said aloud, "Where do you want me, boss?"

And didn't that just rankle?  All that work to be midshipman undone by one ill wind.

Stichman better not be one of those whip-and-spittle types, or he'd find his tenure cut horribly short.

Vander was surprised when he did not get a crossbow bolt through the back of his head. In fact, the captain had not really addressed him at all. Nor had any of the pirate thugs, save for in general to the rest of the crew.

It could be that they assumed a small goblin and his wolf where not worth spending any time on. Which was just fine by him. Unlike the treacherous fools who cheered promises of gold and shares, Vander knew such leaders never delivered anything but to thier chosen few.

He needed to bide his time until Shaka and him could escape. If course, leaving Pearl and the others did not sit well with him. He knew that the Wormwood would have to go to shore at some point. Then he could make his move, and try to bring others with him.

That being said, he did want a job that would keep Shaka and him alive to make it to shore.

He moved over to the first mate. "I trained in healing, for both greenskins and not greenskin. Ask former ship's doctor, she vouch for me." Vander said, not sure if the former ship's doctor was alive...

Since Pearl had grown up on a ship, she had been shown the many different jobs that were required of a sailor.  So, when it was asked for them to decide which job they would choose, Pearl decided that rigger would be the best.  She would be outside most of the time and not below the deck or doing the extra physical labor that swabbing required.

Pearl made note of what the others were choosing and when it came time for her to speak up Pearl said, "I believe I would best be used in the rigging."

"I'm a summoner. I also know a few other magics. I am also skilled in the knowledge of merchants, pirates, and sailing." She said, flatly. "It's why I was the former First Mate's Steward, sir."

Oivind joins the others who can be riggers. He's been on ships most of his life and has done his fair share of sail repairs. This is the best job for him outside of battle.

Plugg takes some of what was said into consideration and ignores others.

Nenelethas is assigned as Apothecary's mate, Zug Zug is assigned to assist the cook, and everyone else (Xao, Pearl, Oivind, Vander, Kalia Rafe) are assigned to work the rigging, whether they volunteered to work the ropes or not. It seems Plugg was more concerned about just getting bodies into positions rather than spending any real consideration on who would be best where.

In the end the rest of the captured crew are assigned to the crew. Plugg had barely finished dividing up the prisoners when he cracked his whip loudly.

"What are you scurvy dogs standing around for? There's work to be done!"

What followed was mad chaos as the officers grabbed groups of crew and pirates and began assigning them tasks. There was such urgency and authority that even when there was conflicting orders nobody stopped to question things, especially not with the Captain looming over everyone, hand resting carefully on his massive cutlass. He looked like he could split a man in two with a single chop and was eager for the chance to showcase it.

The next week passes in a blur. The crew doesn't even bother getting permanent hammocks assigned as the crew is worked to the bone trying to fix the ship and keep it afloat. As the prisoners-turned-crew are allowed to roam the ship on assignment they witness first hand how close the ship came to not just sinking but splitting clean in half. This explains why the Captain and his officers were so quick to press gang the crew as half the crew was needed to just bucket water out of the hold before the ship sank too low in the water. The other half was split with the riggers trying to get the sails manned while the crew was put to work transforming whatever they could find into glue and tar to patch the holes and cracks in the hull.

Work begins at dawn and only ends when the hold becomes too dark to work safely in. Many among the crew just pass out where they can find a proper corner, too exhausted to even bother stringing up a hammock.

Of note is that with a few notable exceptions, the pirates aren't that horrible to work alongside. (Almost) everyone has a clear understanding that they are hanging on by a thread and with survival on the line working alongside one another doesn't prove to be terrible.

The two major exceptions, however, are Plugg and Scourge. Scatoria Scourge, the former second mate, instantly becomes Plugg's bootlicking lackey and positions himself as the "liaison" between the captured crew and the pirates. He forms a strong posse among the other mutineers and are quick to call out even the hint of rule breaking or slacking. It is painfully transparent but technically he is the highest ranking officer among the surviving crew as Second Mate and his ploy is very effective as he and his clique typically end up with easier and cushier jobs while the most brutal ones get handed out to those who upset him.

The other obstacle is Plugg himself as he quickly shows a malicious side when it comes to doling out punishment for infractions, real or imagined. When poor young Jack Scrimshaw passed out from heatstroke, Plugg wasted little time in getting the poor boy tied to the mast and given five lashes for shirking his duty.

On the flipside, a few of the pirates prove to be quite pleasant, even friendly. The cook, Fishguts Kroop, is a horrible lush but is quite friendly and the group quickly learns that if they need an alibi, Fishguts is willing to offer it. It helps out that he is usually blackout drunk so he doesn't even realize he is lying half the time. The other bright spot is Cut-throat Grok, the quartermaster. While she isn't friendly by any stretch of the imagination she treats the captured crew as equals to the pirates and just that act of respect both helps take some of the sting out of the days and does wonder for integrating the captured crew with the pirates.

OOC: I'll do a full write up on the new crew composition when I get the chance this week.

On the evening of the sixth day, the Captain calls all hands to the deck. Pirates and captured crew alike are barely able to stay standing after another hard day of long labor and harsh punishments but this time the Captain is smiling, grinning from ear to ear. It is somehow creepier and more menacing than his normal scowling visage.

"Do you know what today marks? Today is the end of this hell. The Stitchman has declared that he has done all he can and Plugg reports that the remaining sails have been successfully repositioned to give us half speed.

It's not much but it's enough we can finally pull anchor tomorrow morning. This hell is almost done and we can all get back to what's important in life. THE BOOTY!"

The captain lets out a loud chuckle and the pirates and mutineers give out loud cheers of agreement.

"By my calculations we're about 400 miles from Port Peril. The plan is to sail close to shore, maybe raid a fishing village or two along the way, and then when we reach Port you'll get your cut and be sent on your way. I know many of you want to run me through but frankly I don't care. Another two weeks and you'll be on your way with your pockets stuffed with gold. Just keep yourself together and working hard and this will all be behind us. Tomorrow we see if we can even make it to Port but for tonight, we celebrate. Drink heartily!"

The captain turns and pulls the lid off the crate next to him revealing Sorina's private store of liquor. High quality brandy is pulled out, bottle by bottle, cracked open and swigged. Nobody is bothering to even pour it into cups, just passing the whole bottles around. It is interesting to see such expensive bottles treated so casually but alcohol is alcohol and the brandy is particularly potent so slurred speech, unearned confidence and unexpected words of comraderie are quickly heard."</red></b>

OOC: You'll each have the chance to get to know one more NPC as part of this last party. Feel free to save your pick until I've gotten the pirate survivors listed out but if you're keen on a known NPC feel free to let me know now.

Overall the crew gets set in their roles and after a week there isn't much difference between the pirate crew and those captured and pressed into service. Still there were a few tragedies. Ommar was tossed overboard when a boom line came loose and knocked him off the ship. The crew looked for him, spending a whole five minutes but his head never came above water and the winds were still blowing fierce.

A few fistfights broke out at night, here or there, but they were quickly repressed by the quick crack of the whip by Plugg.

The ship was under sail, although it was slow going. The ship was still leaking water heavily and it only had half the sails it should but the morale of both crew and prisoners raised noticeably now that they were underway.

After the second day, the Captain announced that he was elevating Scourge to be the new bosun under the recommendation of First Mate Plugg. Plugg and Scourge had become fast friends and partners in crime, terorrizing the rest of the crew and ruling with brutal efficiency. Scourge worked the crews assigned to him twice as hard as anyone else and anyone caught lagging behind from exhaustion or injury was sent to Plugg for punishment. This resulted in a steady stream of crew getting lashed and by the end of the first week there had always been at least one person receiving Plugg's whip.

Peppery announced at the end of the week that they were making progress but sailing was going slow so they would still need another two weeks to get to Port Peril.

OOC: Full NPC list is listed, select an NPC to get inside details.

Everyone needs to make the following decisions:

1. The captured crew are divided among four factions: Pirates, Mutineers, Loyalists (to dead Captain Sorina), and "Neutrals". Assuming it makes sense, pick a clique to join. Each clique has a natural enemy: Loyalists and Mutineers dislike one another. Pirates and Neutrals dislike one another mainly because the "neutrals" are isolated and are easy to bully and abuse without friends.
   
   
   
2. Within that clique, select one NPC to try and become friends with. There is no guarantee so try to pick wisely based on the information you have learned so far. Some NPCs will automatically become friendly (marked as Green or Blue in the listing). Some might require some kind of social roll.
   
   
3. Make your "NPC information" selection as described before.
   
   
4. Decide if you want to just keep your head down and focus on your work, or work towards a specific objective during your time on board. Some objectives might be: Murdering a specific NPC, planning a mutiny, stealing from other crew members. Like #2 above, somethings might be automatic, some might require rolls.

This message was last edited by the GM at 17:00, Mon 01 Mar 2021.