IC Area - Chapter Four and a Half - "High Seas Peril!"

[houndle]

Will Darness
Will bows to Klarrrrchur.

 "It is your ship," he says courteously. " Personally I would call it The Crimson Avenger or something of that sort, in homage to our new friends. Paint the name in Gothic script and play loud music to instil fear into the hearts of our enemies. "

 "Beore proceeding I suggest we explore the ship thoroughly to understand its layout and capabilities. If the - bilge? - is truly underwater we should perhaps take steps to pump it out and check for leaks."

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“Aye that be a ferocious name indeed. Let it be the 'Crimson Avenger,' though personally I cannie write a thing. Perhaps the good Wizard will know how to print it for us, so we can copy it to the side of the ship.”

“As me and Will of like minds, we shall patrol the ship once I put a good man at the helm. Plus we shall accompany Master Üdhaav to the Captain's cabin in case there is still some vermin to cull within!”

[apn]

The Vampire grins but is self conscious of her teeth and bows her head slightly. "My thanks!" she breathes, somewhat relieved.

"In answer to your question, I am 'new made' and sunlight is a problem for me. Night time is not and if you need someone to ... steer the boat or keep watch, I am happy to do so."

With that she stands aside as Klarrrrchur officially takes the role of Captain and the ship is renamed Crimson Avenger.

Patrolling the ship the Delvers find another half a dozen sailors who were hiding where they could. Meggins and Tintagel help to convince them they are safe and the other sailors set to with mopping the decks and making rough repairs to broken rails and the like.

There is an air of optimism about the Crimson Avenger though there are also hushed whispers about the new crew mate on board.

"A woman!"

"She might clean up alright."

"What? Haven't you heard?"

"What?"

"She's a blood-sucker! A Vampyre! Nosferatu!"

That somewhat calmed any thoughts of courting the young woman...

With the sails filled and the ship steering out to sea Klarrrrchur, Will, Akki and Udhaav make their way down a deck and towards the Captains cabin. The door is locked but that proves no obstacle to a spell (OOC either Akki or Udhaav). Holding a lantern up reveals a large (ish, the ship is big but not massive) comfortable looking room with a bunk on one side, table in the middle and window across the back with a bench along the length. A cabinet with various bottles of drinks looks well stocked, another walled is shelved and various scrolls, books and maps are stocked there.

The table has a large map of the continent sprawled on it with various instruments used in the plotting of courses.

OOC See C6 for that in the DT&T rulebook. It looks a bit (lot) like this:



And the estimated current location:



Searching about in the cabin reveals a small chest, heavy enough to elicit a grunt from Udhaav who turns to Will or Klarrrrchur to drag it out.

Another 'click' of a spell on the lock and careful opening reveals a reasonable sum of gold, coins, gems and jewellery. The bulk of a Captains fortune would be stashed somewhere away of course. No sense in seeing it sink with the ship if at all possible.

Must be several thousand in gold pieces here, at least, assuming they could get a decent price for the gems and jewels which are brooches, a necklace, rings and a gold bracelet.

Udhaav finds what he wants. A spellbook revealing listings for spells from 1st to Second 'Circle' (level). To learn the Second level spells would normally require instruction and some time to study but with enough time to read the spellbook and practise chances were that Udhaav would learn a spell or two over the course of the voyage.

OOC I'll have to look up the spells in DT&T. As far as I recall you pay a pile of cash and learn the new spell. Our magic shoppes charge a fee to teach spells instantly. Without a magic shoppe to hand Udhaav will have a chance to pick up a spell through self study and practice, and of course save a pile of cash in the meantime.

Books like this shouldn't exist. It's clearly been taken from someone who was a member of the Wizards Guild and used it to instruct.

There was also the matter of the staff which had been picked up with tongs and put to one side with a couple of Sailors standing guard and keeping people away.

Udhaav, being a Wizard, suspects that it may be a powerful, sentient staff and could be a real handful to control, but the proof is in taking up the staff and clinging on for dear life!

Further searching reveals several Zombies stumbling about in corridors and it proves easy enough to coax them onto the deck. They are slow, stumbling and docile despite having chattering teeth and lusting for flesh. It seems that Black Jack was required to direct and control his 'minions' and without him present they were pretty much brainless and not even that hostile.

Overall the ship appeared to be in decent shape, with a half dozen guns to roll out on each side and two on the main upper deck along with various shot - chain for the mast, buck to take out opposition and round to put holes in things. The former Sea Fox now Crimson Avenger was ship shape, a reasonable vessel in terms of speed and manoeuvrability and firepower was pretty good too. She was currently somewhat under complement for full fighting strength but sailed just fine.

The bunks of the officers (Captain and First Mate) looked inviting and the rest of the crew would make do with hammocks strung up between beams and stacked on top of each other, or bunched straw on the floor.

After so much fighting and drama, the call was strong for a rest - who knew what challenge the next few days would bring?

OOC Feel free to post any questions or queries in character - Udhaav doing anything with the Staff? Once the questions are done we'll move onto Chapter Five...

[gringnr]

Jan 5, 2023 13:16:37 GMT -5 mosker said:

Jan 4, 2023 23:41:50 GMT -5 gringnr said:

Akki

Akki is exhausted, confused. The events of this last battle unfolded as if he watched himself acting under the power of another. Such was the extent of his weariness. Or perhaps he distanced himself from what was happening all around him, out of horror, out of fear. "Perhaps it is so," Akki thinks to himself, "but I'll not allow myself to feel any shame over it. Such things, no Kindred should ever see. The most depraved expressions of inhumanity, cruelty and wantonness. Not to mention disrespecting the dead so. I am eager to leave this ship. It stinks of death."

Head clearing somewhat , Akki looks around, taking stock of the carnage around him, as if for the first time. The presence of... what seem, unbelievably, to be "good", or at least less "evil" than the bloodthirsty crew, Vampires, is the straw that breaks the camel's back. He sinks to the deck, sits cross-legged, and hangs his head. He feels as though he might weep.

Udhaav

Recovers from extended bout of solipsism, approaches Akki.

"Friend: we're alive and at least physically mostly unharmed. Think of where we were just a few hours ago...and frankly hazy memories might not be such a bad thing."

Actions:
1. Seeing the dwarf is beginning to organize ship, has a crewmember retrieve death stone tongs and a sack to put the staff in (which he takes with), asks for directions to the captain's library/offices/quarters--where ever there may be books, maps, ledgers, scrolls...

OOC: Time for a deep think, some more Q&A on chaos magic, a deeper read into others' posts, an AP spend...and less announcing and more doing.

Akki

"Aye", Akki says to Udhaav, rising to his feet. "We have survived, and others have as well. It will be a while before I can put the events of this day behind me, but it could have been worse." He places a hand on Udhaav's shoulder. Thank you.

ACTIONS:

1. Akki will throw himself headlong into efforts to straighten up the ship - and what remains of the crew, hoping work can take his mind off of the horrors he has experirnced.

2. Akki will ask Klarrrrchur if the dead should be cast into the sea, and, if so, what type of memorial, if any, should be observed.

[houndle]

Will Darness
Will has many questions. But only one that is pressing.

 "These zombies, or whatever they are," he addresses his more knowledgeable comrades. "Can they be salvaged, do you think? Or is it kinder to grant them a quick end?"

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

Klarrrrchur (if he can find a telescope or something) searches for a bearing on the other ships before them. Giving orders for the Crimson Avenger to be steered in that direction.

“Yes, a burial at sea for our dead comrades, perhaps the ex-priest will organize that and call us together when the time is right Akki?!”

“Another quick question to the tall Elf, “how you find that black sword, I might be presumption, but it looks like it draining you, you look a bit pale?!”

In reply to Will, “guess Tintagel  will know something of that!?"

Action:

Action of Dwarf: Once the crew are organise and the wind is blowing in their favour, he will order more sail to be dropped and hopefully generate greater speed to get close the other ships.

Concept to rescue other sailors for two other pirate ships, if they have deathstones, they best not sink cert ships (with canons) but that would not stop them trying to sink us. Approach fast from rear and assault their vulnerable parts!

[houndle]

Will Darness
Will ponders Klarrrrchur's plan.

 "They may not realise the ship has changed hands," he remarks. " Under a false flag we might approach close enough to take them by storm. Provided our appearance does not give us away. " He scans the crew considering which is best suited to impersonating a mutant ogre.

[mosker]

Jan 5, 2023 16:09:38 GMT -5 apn said:

Udhaav finds what he wants. A spellbook revealing listings for spells from 1st to Second 'Circle' (level). To learn the Second level spells would normally require instruction and some time to study but with enough time to read the spellbook and practise chances were that Udhaav would learn a spell or two over the course of the voyage.

Udhaav

"Many questions indeed. But, I would like your input--I will continue my duties on the ship continue reading through the captain's library, see what we can learn. But I should learn as well."

To his companions: "You know battle, you know the seas. Here are my options..."

He then briefly summarizes the DT&T second level spells.

And to Tintangel and the vampire. "Do you know any spells? Can you cast any if taught even temporarily?"

OOC: Thinking Teacher--because we have a rogue--or Hidey Hole to start, or it may even be worth getting Omnipotent Eye solely to evaluate the risk of the staff, but I'm hoping research, maybe with Tintangel's help weill reveal something. #Overthinking #Prudence

Actions:
1. Awaits discussion, continues with shipboard chores--especially inventory--zombie removal. Keeps staff close, in a sack.

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“This is true Will and hopefully we can attack out of sight of the third ship!” The Dwarf continues pondering, “grape shot, but the fear is we hit some of the untainted crew. If we could lure the Ghoul onto the top deck, we could give them a broadside, but this could alert third ship, unless we use cert idea on third ship when there is no need for any more surprises!”

“I wonder if these zombies will fight for us. I not want them feasting on our own crew, we short of a few study sailors in this voyage!”

“Good, Master Wizard, perhaps you can teach Akki, the TTYF spell, he would appreciate that!”

[apn]

The Zombies are so slow and docile - snapping with glacial paced jaws at any hands that pass directly in front of their milky white eyes - that they present no threat.

Well, unless to morale. Some of the sailors weep when they see their comrades shambling about with the odd chunk taken from them.

It is a simple process to push them - even up the steps - to the top deck and there to encircle them with rope, helpless, hopeless and brainless.

Whilst that is going on Klarrrrchur has the crew unfurl the sail and set course to follow the coast. Without being able to see any ships (it's the dead of night) it's a fair guess that keeping the land to the right and following it all the way to the city of Khazan would (hopefully) provide sight of the Sonan Ie delegation and her 'escorts'.

Whilst repairs took place by lantern light on the Crimson Avenger the crew mopped, cleaned and crept about looking for anything else that was considered hostile.

The night wore on, and as the sky started to lighten, it began to darken...

"Ho!" cried Felix from the crows nest, the sleepy youngster suddenly awake as the ship rose then plunged into increasingly rough waves.

"Storm brewin'!" called the youngster...

END OF CHAPTER