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Visitor :  Dice Roller| Game Info| The Cast |
| 1: A (Cross) Bone to Pick. Posted by The GM. | Group: 0 |
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| Author | Message | Page: 3 2 1 [all][bottom] |
For the better part of the journey, the crew celebrated Magistrate Fenkle and their mission. The sky was clear, the sailing easy, the food well varied and well spiced. Morale was never higher than when the sea creature's head rose out of the waters. | |||
The ruby-haired woman in the stern of the boat looked up and let her eyes range along the waist of the ship. Not one of all those in sight on board Minerva's Joy escaped her scrutiny, which was quick and sure. She sniffed at the air and studied the winds as they veered and rose in brisk flourishes and fell to the merest whisper of a breeze. It couldn't have been a more perfect day had she asked for it! Sure enough, Dol Dorn smiled down upon them. Captain Jack. Her lips twitched at that, allowing herself a moment to share in the celebration of the crew and their good fortune. Five thousand gold and command of her own ship was more than Jack could have dreamed of; but her lips soon pressed into a thin line, which was her way when thoughts crowded upon her. All the gold in the continent would mean nothing if she didn’t first find Layla. Then, and only then, would she deliver proof to the magistrate by way of Bonegnaw's severed head. But first, the gnoll would suffer. All thoughts of vengeance shift abruptly as Jack caught sight of the sea creature's head bobbing out of the waters. She cast her scrutiny outward and gave the course a quick scan, searching for the dark patches away from the creature that indicated more wind. Sail in more wind, sail to the mark! "Ready about," she called to the helmsman in her quiet, quick voice; eyeing the distinction between puffs and lulls. "Ready about and seize the wind! Let's see how fast she flies!" Jack waited for the helmsman to repeat the order to the crew, whereupon they would call out their 'Ready' reply, while she braced herself for the helmsman to turn into the wind, and tack the bow through the eye. This message was last edited by the player at 02:00, Sun 24 June 2018. | |||
There was arrogance in every sea journey. The conceit that cunning craftsmen could wall out the ocean and all its denizens so that foolhardy sailors could cross with impunity. Arrogance that was matched in the motion of the sea serpents sinuous rise from the depths. Water from its rising length blew off in a fine spray and drifted down like a mist. The cries of the sailors acknowledging her orders were drowned but the roar that burst from the benthic serpent's throat. Low and loud, the sound thrummed through the ship's timbers. Perhaps this voyage was more arrogant than others; Jack's captaincy was a new one, and that because she had the most experience sailing. It was a venture hastily assembled, and now there was a real chance that it would be as hastily ended. The crew were capable, though, and the rudder bit; the ship heeled and the wind filled the sails. Senior among the crew was first mate Halleck, a son of Northern Questor, who'd made his name sailing the Kaarn and Eldeen waters to the Bitter Sea, knew little of these southern waters, but he knew enough of sea monsters. In a brief lull in the creature's bellows he said quietly "I fear we won't outrun this one Captain. If she can, she'll capsize us to get what she wants." | |||
"Ha! Did you feel that, Halleck?" Jack's brow held a high arch as she pulled her wild-eyed awe away from the bellowing beast to pass a grin along to her First Mate. "I do believe that's the first I've had 'me timbers shivered'." A soft laugh escaped her, though she settled it down quick. Jack could see Minerva's Joy held her course, with her great sails spread and her nose thrust into the swells rolling up from the serpents undulations, the ship nodding and curtsying to the sea. The ship wasn't about to outrun a sea serpent, but she was a thing of beauty in Jacks eyes and she wanted to keep it that way. "I can see we're no match for bellowing Bessie in the watery downs," she relented with a sigh. "But I am of no mind to invite her to dinner. Don't speak to me of fear, Halleck! How 'bout you tell me how you've gotten around such things in the Eldeen waters? Do they have a blindspot? Are they easily distracted? ...Do they like rum, perchance? By Dol Dorn's teeth," She hissed low. "We're not getting capsized today!" Was it possible to draw the serpent's attention away from them? | |||
"Not rum, but she might not say no to a choice bit of mutton. We can spare a sheep or two. I won't mind tightening my belt as long as my legs're below it!" The creature closed with the ship underscoring the need for a swift decision. The bellowing cry made it hard to think, and Jack could see at least one of her sailors start to panic. | |||
Fear set the wild beat of her heart and shivered like ice through her veins. Even so, Jack flashed a wide smile. "Brilliant, Halleck!" A sound slap on the first mate’s shoulder was his reward before Jack turned to give a mighty shout across the deck. "Release the mutton! You there! And you!" She pointed to the sailor who'd gone a bit weak in the knees, and then another mate nearby. Her order came thinly through the roar of the creature, but she pushed more air and power to her lungs. "Look alive, brave hearts! Below there! Fetch the ewe! Two will do! Haul 'em up, then heave those bleating chops over the rails! And pray Almighty Dol Dorn to give us sight of another day!" | |||
It was a marvel to watch the sheep struggling to swim as the waves tumbled. Then there was a triumphant roar as the head of the serpent arrowed down onto the first sheep. The rest of the long sinious body arced after and plunged into the deep. Halleck opened his mouth to say something, but he was interrupted by an even louder howl as the creature rose up under the second sheep. It vanished as the titanic serpent rose out of the water. It crashed back down close enough to lift spray over the top decks. Then all was silent; and not one crew member was willing to break that silence for a long while after. |
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