Squaring Sail
The rope trick hung in the air...strangely. But we all climbed up and crawled into the space regardless. Braeden stayed outside "keeping watch". I swear, if she goes through my things...
Martin started things off. "So everyone one board (save us) is a pirate. We are expected to then captain it while the pirates 'definitely don't do pirate stuff."'Is anyone else worried?" He and Adrienne filled me in on what they party had already shared amongst themselves: everyone crewing The Crying Jewel was a pirate now. Those that hadn't chosen to work for the Royal Fleet had been executed.
Adrienne pulled out maps and a compass, and we all looked on. The sail would be at least a month east -- maybe two -- and the most direct route would take us next to the shores of Umiel. Umiel, of course, is currently at war with Alnia. We would not be received as honored guests, to say the least.
Plove, the Umielian island west of the continent, remains neutral in the ongoing politics. We could stop there on our way east.
Working onward
The discussion turned towards settomg pir course -- by vote -- first northeast to Plove, then southeast to Syr'naa, then east until we reached our destination of Otaru.
It's fine. As long as I'm done with the Knights, I can deal with anything.
Since we had decided, we needed to decide the rest of the ship's roles. I swallowed my pride and spoke up as we debated:
It was Martin, actually, that spoke up for me. He had some knowledge out of books, and had heard of captains and first mates and the need to cover each other's weaknesses. "The first mate will deal more with the crew --" and at Adrienne's distaste for the crew it was settled.
I am first mate of The Crying Jewel to acting captain Adrienne.
There was ironic talk of a counter-mutineer, the one who would act in the best interest of the group if things went south (for whatever reason). I have no idea what they mean by this, but this title of "Zebra" went to Braeden.
As we talked belowdecks, Braeden hung with the Gedrimmauk. The bugbear revealed he couldn't swim, but was otherwise a good mate.
Now is as good of a time as any to list the crew of The Crying Jewel:
"What is a zebra?"
Khalida brought Braeden up to speed on the new rank and file of the ship. Braeden was uncomfortable with Adrienne as captain, finding her in the alchemist's new captain's quarters. She had little interest in being a bosun, or working in any capacity. Showing interest in Gedrimmauk though, it was decided that Kavas would continue to function as bosun, where Braeden would work with Gedrimmauk and Kavas on handling the ship's helm (and relieve each other at the watch changes).
To Plove
Eventually, finally, we squared away on The Crying Jewel:
Adrienne made sure she met everyone in the crew, "for letters of recommendation". There was little trust, and the crew remained tight-lipped. She did get to speak with Ivu and Rick (together) -- so the two could be mates already -- as well as Clirec (the cleric).
Braeden got her sea legs, eventually even trying the belowdecks.
Khalida's surgeon quarters were next to the captain's quarters, so she made sure to listen in on the captain's conversations. Unfortunately for her Adrienne caught on the ruse.
Lenna introduced herself to the kenku Lasher (the bird she would be working with), who spoke only with the words Lenna used herself. "It was all very unsettling. And it -- he -- has a weird neck-and-back injury."
Martin met Locarai, the reclusive tiefling quartermaster. Voted "most likely to pirate" Locarai got her to talk: she doesn't like our group or Detaia, her hometown.
Nell took it upon herself to follow up on Adrienne's interviews, asking the crew what was going on with the captain. Finding it harmless -- conversation about the future of the crewmembers' lives -- she returned to working with Advyre and the crew as a whole.
Skhug found the ship's cannons "delightful". Globmaw shares his passion -- a gunner as well -- and the two had a proper time.
A pirate's hymn
It took us three days to reach Plove, dogged the entire time by our Royal Navy escorts. They left on the afternoon of the second day at sea. While underway we all took time to get to know the crew, and all was quiet until the third day.
Around lunchtime Yum and I heard a woman singing, up on the deck. But it wasn't anyone's voice we recognized -- and the sea chanty this lady was crooning seemed pretty ghostly: "Beware the ship of blood and tide".
The the ship lurched to port.
There was panic.
Braeden and I raced to the main deck, the rest of the group on our heels. Adrienne yelled behind us: "Beat to quarters!"
The crew on the main deck stood lifeless and staring sternward. Braeden saw Gedrimmauk on the helm, his slack arms turning the ship hard to port.
I couldn't feel any of the creatures who scorn the divine -- celestials, fiends, shapeshifters, or undead -- but it didn't matter: the singer revealed herself to be a woman, feathered and corpse-like, with wicked teeth and glaring eyes.
Ampheria, the Harpy of the Biting Shoal.
Nell's Journal Ordered oldest to newest
-
Prologue: Getting the Story Straight
06.13.20
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A Tenuous Alliance
06.14.20
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Assault on the Camp
07.01.20
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Sacrifice
07.11.20
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Getting Underway
08.12.20
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Squaring Sail
08.26.20
06.13.20
06.14.20
07.01.20
07.11.20
08.12.20
08.26.20
The major events and journals in Nell's history, from the beginning to today.
Prologue: Getting the Story Straight
As of a few nights ago, I got my latest assignment from the order. The Knights Iron want me to fetch a helm of some sort, called the [i]Crown of Pain[/i] from some old guy's tomb. A mad king? Pain crown? Either way, I'm supposed to return it for a cache f...
03:34 am - 14.06.2020A Tenuous Alliance
[i]Braeden (Dayna) accepted a contract to "facilitate" a trip by Adrienne (Drew) and Skhug (Melissa) from the artificing wing at the Wizards' College in Ferrabula.[/i] I had a hard time finding the cave, if I'm honest. The horse made the journey easy, ...
02:12 am - 15.06.2020Assault on the Camp
I was bound and dragged out of the cave. They took the horse -- damn deposit. Before I had a chance to assess the situation, I heard another group approaching. Then my "group" noticed them, and the strangers all talked to one another while I listened on q...
01:56 am - 02.07.2020Sacrifice
We remained in the camp through the afternoon and night, to leave the next morning. It was still tense. You could feel it in the air. I overheard Adrienne explaining that gnolls worship a demon lord, which probably explains where the crown came from. ...
01:00 am - 12.07.2020Getting Underway
Skhug and Braeden each returned to their respective homes to pack up their things. I went to the Iron Hall to gather what else I needed. Normally I carried enough to disappear at a whim, but I could gather a few more things with the extra time. It wasn...
02:03 am - 13.08.2020Squaring Sail
The [i]rope trick[/i] hung in the air...strangely. But we all climbed up and crawled into the space regardless. Braeden stayed outside "keeping watch". I swear, if she goes through my things... Martin started things off. "So everyone one board (save us...
02:28 am - 27.08.2020The list of amazing people following the adventures of Nell.
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