Deep Water and Shoals - A Swashbuckling Campaign

[garyh]

When the Captain has a moment, Bimzoole approaches him.

"These are fine guns you've got on this ship, Cap'n. T'will be an honor to man them," said the gnome. "Tell me, do any of the crew have experience with artillery? Mr. Lang seems like a fellow who's been around a bit."

 

[Uriel]

Nicodemus smiled under his beard as the lad, Jonah got his feet back. Approaching the lad, Nico speaks,
'So, I see ye have a fondness for Maps...I myself have a fairly nice collection, though far less extensive than yers, I'm sure. My passions lie in the discovery of Places of great Mystery and Power, as well as in finding the Root of Legends and Tales. Perhaps we can discuss some of the places I've studied and those you've got a lead on .'
Nico has a walk about the Ship, lending a hand here and there as is his usual course.

Artimus scampers up to the Crow's Nest, as this seems his favorite place on any Ship he sails upon. Astounding the Sailors (and probably startling a few as well), the little Howler jumps and climbs the Masts like they were merely misplaced trees too far from their forest.
Occasioally letting out a howl, the Monkey seems to have taken to the Ship. After a few hours of this, he scrambles down to find the Weasel who is most likely doing a bit of 'Ratting' below decks.

 

[Tonguez]

Malachi does not go below straight away, instead he goes and nestles himself against the bow of the ship, seemingly pressing his groin against the wood. He spends some time noting the rise and declination of stars, as well as feeling for the swell beneath the ship.

He seems almost in a trance as he works communing with his god

"Winds achangin'" he finally declares "call me' wen et daes"

and with that he goes below to check his charts and gear and sleep in the arms of Calypso/s Grace...

 

[Xael]

*Perhaps...*

Jonah goes below the deck to either do any work he has or to "sleep". He usually trances the first half of the night, getting up few hours after midnight.

 

[kenjib]

After Jonah goes below deck, Vemuz quietly makes the sign of Calypso at his passing, a worried look on his face.

 

[Bob Aberton]

Malthas,

Captain McCrenshaw turns and looks at you.

"Ah, y've got the spirit of a tar...I was a tar once meself, y'know...eddicated meself in navigatin' an' ascended th' ladder o' command, so t' speak. Now I'm captain, an' I don't feel me shore worries slip away no longer. These men trust me, Mr. Swifthand. They trust me t' get 'em home alive...and, Calypso help me, I already lost six. Them poor lads as got canchinged in thet town, they was my responsibility...an' now where are they? Prolly being worked t' death on a slow boat t' th' East. Either thet or chained up in some runner's nest somewheres. They had wives, some o' them, wives an' kids. Some hed parents, some hed ladyfriends, they all hed family. I failed them, an' its me as'll hafter tell their families. I can' help but think...six men down and th' voyage hain't barely begun yet - how many more'll go afore this little trip's over?" he says, now talking more to the rail and the fathomless sea beyond than to you.

"It's a terrible hard job, bein' captain, Mr. Swifthand," he says, after a long period of silence. "Don' let no one say thet jus' cause I don' have weevils in my hardtack, thet its an easy life, bein' captain. 'S enuff thet I wisht sometimes - aye, an' I wish I were jus' a Jack Tar again sometimes...Yes, Mr. Marper?" he turns suddenly to the diminuitive Master Gunner.

"These are fine guns you've got on this ship, Cap'n. T'will be an honor to man them," said the gnome. "Tell me, do any of the crew have experience with artillery? Mr. Lang seems like a fellow who's been around a bit."

"Aye, Mr. Lang, he were in the Navy fer nine - "

"Ten, sir ," Mr. Lang's slightly indignant voice wafts backwards from the fo'c'sle.

"- ten, then. Ten year, he were in th' Navy. Aye, he knows a bit about guns - not as much as you, Mr. Marper...a Navy officer wouldn' condescend t' get 'is own 'ands dirty on gunpowder. They tells others t' do it. An' John Stout were in th' Navy fer a year, until 'e jumped ship, on account of them givin' him three dozen [lashes] fer takin' an extree share o' grog."

On the foredeck, Mr. Lang rings the ship's bell - twenty-one rings.

(OOC All: great RP going on here, too...awesome characters all around keep it up, all.)

 

[dead_radish]

Malthas waits for the captain to finish speaking with the Gunner and Mr. Lang. He focuses on the water, thinking quietly for a bit.

When they are again alone, he turns to the captain again. "Aye, sir. Captain tis not a job I'd wish on anyone. But someone must lead a ship. How many would die if the crew were left to their own devices, without a man to lead and coordinate them? A ship is only as good as her captain, and you seem to be better than most."

"And for those six men - they were your responsibility, aye, but not your children. T'were grown men all, and their actions when off your watch are their own. If they'd asked you, you'd likely have told them better, but they did not - they acted as they would, as all men ought be free to do. Ya took revenge on the runners that were responsible. T'ers naught else you could do, and more than most would have. Many a captain I've sailed with would have marked off their wages, seized their goods, and hired new without a second thought."

With that, he turns back to the wheel, and speaks quietly to himself. "The sea swallow my troubles, and give me back only waves and safe sailing."

 

[Bob Aberton]

Malthas:

"Yer right, Mr. Swifthand," Capt. McCrenshaw says slowly. "A ship's h'Officer ain't got no right t' worry about bygones when 'e's still got a ship t'see safely home."

All:

At about half an hour past 23 bells, you all feel a change in the air. Seamen lounging on coils of rope, or sitting and smoking and talking in little knots suddenly look up.

There is a subtle difference in the sea as well. The swells come from a slightly different direction, and the rhythm of waves on the sides of the ship plays a different tune.

The cry goes up from John Stout, at the fo'c'sle, on lookout duty;

"The wind is changing! Broad on the port bow!"

On the quarterdeck, the captain holds up a single finger to the wind.

"Well, now, so 'tis," he says. He turns and looks at Ben Stern, standing nearby.

"Ben, fetch Mr. Legba. Tell 'im the wind changed."

 

[Bob Aberton]

OOC: Err...where did everyone go?

The 24th bell rings, and the tired sailors of the Starboard watch go below to their bunks, leaving the sailors of the Port Watch to deal with the shifting wind.

(OOC Vemuz and Bimzoole: You can go below know if you like & your characters can get some sleep.)

Vemuz,

You signal the changing of the watch on your boatswain's pipe, and the men of the Port Watch turn out and come on deck, rubbing sleep out of their eyes.

Bimzoole, you hear Mr. Thrice-born signal the changing of the watch, and realize that your watch for the night is ended.

Captain McCrenshaw, pacing on the quarterdeck, draws you aside for a minute and speaks to you.

"Mr. Marper, as our Master Gunner, would y' mind startin' trainin' th' men tomorrer mornin'?"

Nicodemus,

You are down below in your laboratory when you hear the sound of boatswain's pipe and then the voice of Mr. Ames, the second mate, as the prepares to go on deck;

"Port Watch ahoy! Twenty-four bells, d'you hear the news?"

You realize that it is time for you to go on deck and stand your watch.

 

[kenjib]

As the men assemble to begin watch, Vemuz reminds them, "Keep a sharp eye out, boys, and mind you don't drift off..."

*First night and things are running smoothly so far. Good.*

With that he retires to his bunk belowdecks, takes off his shoes, and falls asleep -- quickly in the manner of one who is used to catching small scraps of sleep in strange places as opportunity presents.