(Well, she doesn't really need it anyhow. I just didn't have any other action I wanted Vireil to take.)
As Vireil hears the peculiar noises, she rises slightly to satisfy her curiosity, looking at what's being done. After seeing it, she lays back down. Whatever this man is doing, it has nothing to do with her. If he succeeds, good for him. If not, she was sleeping the entire time. No need to get involved.
Or so she planned, at least. Combining her aching stomach and the noises, she can't really sleep. After a few minutes, without rising from the hammock, an Elvishly-accented whisper sounds: "Unless you're trying to drown us all by breaking a hole in the ship - which I doubt would work - what's your goal?"
Jonah leans down, and begins carving, making sure to hide away any excess scraps of wood to cover his tracks. He looks up at Vireil as she speaks, then focuses his attention back to his work as he speaks.
"I'm adding a hidden compartment to my locker. It's too small right now to hide anything of considerable size, and I need my harpoon. The plan is to carve out the bottom, then replace it, but this time balanced on a sanded track, so I can slide it out if need be. Then I've got to actually make the extra space and properly disguise it. You're free to assist if you like, and are relatively sure you won't just make it harder."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Thank goodness, that roll was just as bad as Arloch's cooking XD)
As night creeps in, Arloch sets off to find Samms Toppen. Deket had already offered some assistance but being barefoot, Samms Toppen seems more a swimmer than any of the other random buccaneers on board. He sure knows swimming, so maybe that could be a starting point.
Upon finding her he introduces himself and offers a handshake, "I'm Arloch, cook's mate." He says firmly but with a tired smile, looks down at her barefoot then back up to her and continues, "You a swimmer, or that help you climb? Been awhile since I got time just to enjoy the ocean. Sure don't have any free time around here working under Ambrose's drunk ***. You know him well?"
"Hiding a harpoon? But what use is there for it if it's locked away?" She thinks about the bow she only recently bought. She could potentionally hide it in such a place. Then again, if it's locked away, she won't have a chance to get it shall a situation in which she needs it come. "I'll keep your secret, but that's as involved as I'll be. As far as anyone - even you - is concerned, I never discovered your work. I don't need the trouble if someone else finds out."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"What use? Ha! What use needs it? It is mine, and they took it. I will have it. Its use is of no concern. They will not take anything from me, nor will anyone — or anything — else."
Jonah continues his work, without Vireil's assistance: 13
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Grath feels terrible. That rum was foul. He decides to hit the bed and sleep it off. As he is dragging himself off the deck down to the hammocks, he notices a faint argument, but it is not clear what the argument is about.
If you let me check to see who they are (not interested about the argument). Perception: 16(with disadvantage, 17normal roll).
At this point Grath just can't care about the topic. He glance at the direction of the noise...is that Jonah and Vireil? Grath shoots a "Do I want to know?" look in that direction, and mouths the same, but doesn't wait for the answer. He nods and falls into his hammock like a brick. He might not even remember what happened.
As previously stated Sasha is hanging out with Samms and would likely be around when Arloch approaches her. She is ready to go to her hammock when you want to move the story along though.
"That I can underatand I suppose." Vireil lies back into her hammock. Trying to sleep again. She, too, wants her stuff back. Maybe more, with the extra gold she has. However, she realises she might need to find a goal - something to strive for other than escaping this ship, because she's not quite sure when such an opportunity will arise.
(OOC: Can't speak for Jonah, but Vieril was just curious - she was not arguing.)
(OOC: Can't speak for Jonah, but Vieril was just curious - she was not arguing.)
[OOC: if you meant Grath hearing an "argument", he is intoxicated and he perceived Jonah's wording when he says "What use? Ha! What use needs it? It is mine" as argument. I should have phrased it better. Should I rephrase in the original post?]
As Jonah reaches about 90 minutes into his project, he begins to hear people coming down to the hammocks from above. He hurriedly hides away the progress that he has made and snuffs his light, swinging awkwardly up into his hammock, where a casual observer might believe he went to the hanging early like Grath and Viriel did. The crew files down into their hammocks in a intermitent manner and the night comes to a close.
**********
Almost to a man, most everyone wakes up before dawn the next morning as a sticky humidity uncomfortably festoons the lower deck's still air. You do your morning obligations and head up on deck for duty call to find that even with the sun barely cresting the horizon the day is already going to be more unpleasant than yesterday as temperatures begin to rise and the dampness in the air refuses to allow your sweat to do anything but drip down your brow.
Duty assignments!:
Riggers:
Ringer - 1
Sasha - 1
Vireil - 2
Swabs: Deket - 2
Grath - 3
Jonah -- 2
Arloch - 2 [roll]1d6[/roll[
- Arloch: - 5
ETA: Messed up Cook's Mates assigned roll and don't want to get the manipulated rolls, so adding another d6 here at the end...let's say that dice was cocked...6
Ringer & Sasha, you are both assigned to Rigging Repair for the day while Vireil does Line Work.
Deket, you are assigned to swab the decks for the day while Grath works on Repairs. Jonah is assigned as a runner, but when Scourge gives him an appraising eye, he decides to assign Arloch as a secondary runner along with his assigned cook's mate task of Fishing for the day.
Arloch, you report to Ambrose to find him in better form than he has been for the past two days. He apologizes for leaving you in the lurch and swears it won't happen again, but you aren't willing to wager anything on that promise. He assigns you the task of fishing today because he wants to make something more for the crew than just a vegetable stew again, as a way to make up for last night's "meal". Just as you are grabbing the tackle and heading out the door though Scourge comes to find you and Ambrose. "Remember Ambrose, soon as yer done with this rat today he's mine. Send him up on deck...he'll be a secondary runner for us, I am not sure how well old iv'ry leg will hold up."
(Arloch, while Ambrose is not irreconcilably drunk today, you are under similar time constraints as if he were. You will need to make checks for Fishing and Runner today, all checks are made at disadvantage, and you will be too busy to perform any daytime actions.)
*** As the day wears into the midday duldrums the wind dies for a period, causing the sails to go distressingly slack. The ship sits adrift between two islands both more than 5 miles away. The sun high over head beats down. The temperature rises and Scourge's temper flairs and more and more crew members take longer and longer breaks at the water barrel or down below decks out of the blazing sun. In the officer's cabin the Captain can be heard haranguing one of his officers. Apparently somehow it is their responsibility to ensure the wind blows.
It is during this still period you hear a shout, and young Jack Scrimshaw rushes out onto deck.
Perception DC 10:
Jack's face is ashen white and you notice blood running down in rivulets from a nasty looking bite mark in his calf. You manage to get close enough for him to report to Mr. Plugg.
"There's somethin down there sir. I was working on catchin vermin like Master Scourge ordered, when something swam up out of the bilge water and bit me!"
Plugg looks at the man in disgust. "Well, if you were assigned to be a rat catcher then get back down there and do yer job ye scab."But Jack refuses, insisting what ever it was was larger than a normal rat, which the bit mark on his leg bears testimony to. "Fine. We'll send someone else down instead...let me look for a few volunteers."
He casts his eyes up and around and locks them on your gaze before you manage to look away. A wicked smile sprouts across his face. "Looks like we have a volunteer here. You and your little friends have been causing so much trouble...time to earn your worth. Go get kitted and find out what's down in the bilges. And don't bother coming back up until it's dead or you are."
OOC: Read after you decide whether or not to roll the perception and you read the above spoiler if you pass.
If no one manages to eavesdrop on that conversation we will retcon in Mr Plugg coming to find you and send you down in there instead...but I figure someone will have been curious enough to make that roll and end up getting volun-told.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sasha swiftly climbs the rigging, doing repairs today, having a good teamwork going with Samms and Conchobhar and having good progress with the work in spite of the heat. Acrobatics: 5 (Adv helped by Samms) Sleight of hand: 11 (Adv helped by Conch) On her way down for some water Sasha finds the time to stop by Rosie Cusswell, giving her some compliments on her hog lobbing. "You've certainly earned your respect with the crew already Rosie, was there anything I could do for a fellow crew member." Persuasion: 15
Perception: 20 to hear what Jack Scrimshaw is shouting about.
"Get to Sandara, she'll patch you up."Sasha says to Jack and turns to Mr. Plugg. "I'll take care of it Sir." She says confidently, ready to take care of some larger than normal rats in the bilges.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The sweat pours down Jonah's wooden face, as he accepts the embarrassment of having another runner assigned to pick up the pace where he lags behind. Again, it doesn't matter. He has more important things to do, and he can bear whatever punishments they have for him. Acrobatics: 12 Constitution: 5 (disadvantage for both from shirking) Regardless of how well he does at his job, Jonah makes sure to take some time to retreat belowdecks, blaming a malfunction in his leg. Once there, he continues his work, sanding down the tracks along which the hidden panel will move, as well as the panel itself. Stealth(if needed): 4 Tools: 15
Perception as well: 6
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ringer heads up into the rigging along with Sasha, and sets to work making repairs.
Acrobatics: 18 (11) Sleight of Hand: 19 (23)
All in all it goes well, he tends to do well with the more intricate work rather than that relying on physical strength.
He'll keep a kerchief or some other item that Sasha and Samms have on them cool and comfortable, along with the back of his own shirt. He considers chilling out Conch's hat, but the gnome seems a bit touchy.
"Oi, how's that feel, my lovely?"
Persuasion: 21 (rolled with ADV in case the help with the heat gets him anything more, if not, ignore the second die)
"Repairs. Let's see what's blown to oblivion this time." Grath starts walking to start his morning check up as usual (that is, usual whenever he is on repair duty)
Dexterity: 10 for repairs Perception: 19 to hear the loud conversation
All of the sudden he overheard a conversation between Jack Scrimshaw and Plugg, then Sasha tells Jack to visit Sandara, then she starts rushing off. Grath tries to catch her before she speeds past him and say "if you find something nasty down there, other than a rat, could you get me one of them? I'm a scholar, I'd be delighted to see what makes it tick and study it. Purely academic purposes of course. If you can't/don't want to, no worries, I'm sure it eventually make its way up to the hammocks. I'll catch it then. Oh, and if it is REALLY big, and you need a hand, tell Plugg there is a need for repairs down there, I'm on repair duty today."
(For clarity, Plugg has ordered you all down into the Bilges...not just Sasha and Ringer.)
Grath, Plugg comes up behind you as you are wishing Sasha good luck. "She won't need to come and get you lanky, cause you'll be down there with her. When I said she and her little friends you and the Peg Leg and that fishboy thing were in that number. Go get what you need and get down there before I soften you up for the beasties with my cat."
***
As each of you report to Grok she outfits you with whatever basic gear you require. You may request one piece of armor worth no more than 100gp, one melee weapon or one ranged weapon and 20 pieces of ammunition, and a shield if you are proficient with them. Persuasion or other appropriate skill checks can be made to attempt to get more gear from her if you would like. You don't have time to attempt to improve her attitude right now though, so the DC for those will be based on what her attitude is towards you currently.
Anyone that does not have Grok's attitude as helpful will be visited by her prior to the end of the day to retrieve these items. If you are her friend (attitude helpful) she might "forget" to come get it from you unless you actively return it. Persuasion or other appropriate skill checks can be made to attempt to get more gear from her if you would like.
She also slips potions of healing to Jonah, Ringer, and Sasha as you are collecting what you will need. "You probably won't be needin this, but who knows what could be hiding in that bilge water eh?"
***
After you have outfitted yourselves you, you gather in the lower deck at the hatch down into the bilges. The hatch sits open where Jack left it during his hurried retreat. A single lantern hanging down in the bilges reflects darkly off of the murky water below.
OOC: The drop down into the bilges is about 10'. There is a rope ladder that goes down or you could just jump. There appears to be something wrong with the bilges, or perhaps a crew member has been particularly lazy...there is currently about 3' of water covering the floor of the bilges. You cannot actually see the deck down there beneath the surface of the water. What do you want to do? Also, please let us know what if any gear you borrow from Grok.
Jonah specifically requests both his harpoon and his armor, both of them crafted by him, as well as a crossbow with bolts. The harpoon is long and slightly uneven, the shaft being made of old, rather splintered wood, as if it had been haphazardly furnished out of something larger. The spearhead is slightly yellowed whalebone, as is common in Jonah's equipment. Spiraling down from the tip is a beautiful work of scrimshaw, depicting a splintering ship, trailing behind bits of wood and tiny drowning sailors. At the very tip, where the grooves of the scrimshaw are stained a deep reddish-brown, where time and tide has not washed away the blood that once stained it, a great whale drags the ship along, affixed to it by dozens of harpoons. The waves, stained that dark color, seem almost to be stained with the blood of the whale, which is covered in bleeding cuts. Both ship and whale, locked together in battle, both sharing each other's fates, both losing all that they have to the hungry sea.
Jonah runs his finger along its tip, still sharp despite its recent disuse, and smiles grimly when a small cut opens on his finger, staining the scrimshaw anew with a richer, redder color than that which coated it before. He notes with no small amount of sadness that the sealskin line running through a hole in the end of the harpoon has snapped, and is now useless. He will have to mend it later. Jonah's armor perhaps tells less of a story than his harpoon, but its craftsmanship is still equally unique. Interspersed with the metal scales typical of scale mail armor are what look to be shark teeth, appearing here and there in seemingly random fashion, most commonly around the neck. Upon closer inspection, however, it is revealed that they are in fact laid out in a pattern, depicting the gnashing jaws of some great antediluvian beast of the seas, its jaws looking as if they are wrapping around the wearer's (this being Jonah's) neck, an inch from snapping off his head.
When Grok offers him the potion, he briefly considers refusing it. He doesn't need her help. He needs no one's help. And yet... he pockets it anyways, offering her a solemn look as way of thanks. He then ventures belowdecks with the rest of the party.
"So. What's the plan? We can go in blind, and just kill whatever lurks down there. Alternatively, I believe that I can lure it into the light, so that we can get a better look at it. I have no strong opinions one way or another."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Grath turns around and says "Aye, I missed the part where I volunteered. Goodie, looking forward to it!"
He heads to Grok, and asks for a quarterstaff. Preferably his. He describes the staff, how it looks, the weight of it and the runic signs along it, that are only visible when the light hits them from a certain angle. Admittedly, they don't have "powers", nor do they carry a meaning. They are just there for aesthetics.
Let's hope they didn't throw Grath's stuff in the water, otherwise a generic staff will have to do.
"I'd go with the light approach first. If nothing else, we get a feel about the space down there. If the thing is attracted to the light, it's an additional benefit."
"Thanks Ringer, appreciate it." Sasha says to the Kenku with a smile and a nod as he cools her down. "Well, look like we're going down there together big guy." She says to Grath as Plugg orders him with her. Sasha discreetly and gratefully accepts the potion from Grok. "Thanks, I have a feeling these will be needed eventually." She tries to put a good word for the others as she's there. (Granting help action on persuasion checks if permitted.)
As they all gather above the bilges Sasha turns to the others. "So it seems we're dealing with large rats, dire rats perhaps. The pirate Queen has granted me storm magic that I can use against them, and if that doesn't do the trick you could perhaps follow up with some of that slumbering magic Ringer? What do you all say?" She says confidently, looking to her crewmates.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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(Well, she doesn't really need it anyhow. I just didn't have any other action I wanted Vireil to take.)
As Vireil hears the peculiar noises, she rises slightly to satisfy her curiosity, looking at what's being done. After seeing it, she lays back down. Whatever this man is doing, it has nothing to do with her. If he succeeds, good for him. If not, she was sleeping the entire time. No need to get involved.
Or so she planned, at least. Combining her aching stomach and the noises, she can't really sleep. After a few minutes, without rising from the hammock, an Elvishly-accented whisper sounds: "Unless you're trying to drown us all by breaking a hole in the ship - which I doubt would work - what's your goal?"
Varielky
Jonah leans down, and begins carving, making sure to hide away any excess scraps of wood to cover his tracks. He looks up at Vireil as she speaks, then focuses his attention back to his work as he speaks.
"I'm adding a hidden compartment to my locker. It's too small right now to hide anything of considerable size, and I need my harpoon. The plan is to carve out the bottom, then replace it, but this time balanced on a sanded track, so I can slide it out if need be. Then I've got to actually make the extra space and properly disguise it. You're free to assist if you like, and are relatively sure you won't just make it harder."
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
(Thank goodness, that roll was just as bad as Arloch's cooking XD)
As night creeps in, Arloch sets off to find Samms Toppen. Deket had already offered some assistance but being barefoot, Samms Toppen seems more a swimmer than any of the other random buccaneers on board. He sure knows swimming, so maybe that could be a starting point.
Upon finding her he introduces himself and offers a handshake, "I'm Arloch, cook's mate." He says firmly but with a tired smile, looks down at her barefoot then back up to her and continues, "You a swimmer, or that help you climb? Been awhile since I got time just to enjoy the ocean. Sure don't have any free time around here working under Ambrose's drunk ***. You know him well?"
Persuasion: 2
"Hiding a harpoon? But what use is there for it if it's locked away?" She thinks about the bow she only recently bought. She could potentionally hide it in such a place. Then again, if it's locked away, she won't have a chance to get it shall a situation in which she needs it come. "I'll keep your secret, but that's as involved as I'll be. As far as anyone - even you - is concerned, I never discovered your work. I don't need the trouble if someone else finds out."
Varielky
"What use? Ha! What use needs it? It is mine, and they took it. I will have it. Its use is of no concern. They will not take anything from me, nor will anyone — or anything — else."
Jonah continues his work, without Vireil's assistance: 13
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Grath feels terrible. That rum was foul. He decides to hit the bed and sleep it off. As he is dragging himself off the deck down to the hammocks, he notices a faint argument, but it is not clear what the argument is about.
If you let me check to see who they are (not interested about the argument). Perception: 16 (with disadvantage, 17 normal roll).
At this point Grath just can't care about the topic. He glance at the direction of the noise...is that Jonah and Vireil? Grath shoots a "Do I want to know?" look in that direction, and mouths the same, but doesn't wait for the answer. He nods and falls into his hammock like a brick. He might not even remember what happened.
If not, Grath just hits the bed as a rock.
As previously stated Sasha is hanging out with Samms and would likely be around when Arloch approaches her.
She is ready to go to her hammock when you want to move the story along though.
"That I can underatand I suppose." Vireil lies back into her hammock. Trying to sleep again. She, too, wants her stuff back. Maybe more, with the extra gold she has. However, she realises she might need to find a goal - something to strive for other than escaping this ship, because she's not quite sure when such an opportunity will arise.
(OOC: Can't speak for Jonah, but Vieril was just curious - she was not arguing.)
Varielky
[OOC: if you meant Grath hearing an "argument", he is intoxicated and he perceived Jonah's wording when he says "What use? Ha! What use needs it? It is mine" as argument. I should have phrased it better. Should I rephrase in the original post?]
As Jonah reaches about 90 minutes into his project, he begins to hear people coming down to the hammocks from above. He hurriedly hides away the progress that he has made and snuffs his light, swinging awkwardly up into his hammock, where a casual observer might believe he went to the hanging early like Grath and Viriel did. The crew files down into their hammocks in a intermitent manner and the night comes to a close.
**********
Almost to a man, most everyone wakes up before dawn the next morning as a sticky humidity uncomfortably festoons the lower deck's still air. You do your morning obligations and head up on deck for duty call to find that even with the sun barely cresting the horizon the day is already going to be more unpleasant than yesterday as temperatures begin to rise and the dampness in the air refuses to allow your sweat to do anything but drip down your brow.
Duty assignments!:
Riggers:
Ringer - 1
Sasha - 1
Vireil - 2
Swabs:
Deket - 2
Grath - 3
Jonah -- 2
Arloch - 2 [roll]1d6[/roll[
- Arloch: - 5
ETA: Messed up Cook's Mates assigned roll and don't want to get the manipulated rolls, so adding another d6 here at the end...let's say that dice was cocked...6
Ringer & Sasha, you are both assigned to Rigging Repair for the day while Vireil does Line Work.
Deket, you are assigned to swab the decks for the day while Grath works on Repairs. Jonah is assigned as a runner, but when Scourge gives him an appraising eye, he decides to assign Arloch as a secondary runner along with his assigned cook's mate task of Fishing for the day.
Arloch, you report to Ambrose to find him in better form than he has been for the past two days. He apologizes for leaving you in the lurch and swears it won't happen again, but you aren't willing to wager anything on that promise. He assigns you the task of fishing today because he wants to make something more for the crew than just a vegetable stew again, as a way to make up for last night's "meal". Just as you are grabbing the tackle and heading out the door though Scourge comes to find you and Ambrose. "Remember Ambrose, soon as yer done with this rat today he's mine. Send him up on deck...he'll be a secondary runner for us, I am not sure how well old iv'ry leg will hold up."
(Arloch, while Ambrose is not irreconcilably drunk today, you are under similar time constraints as if he were. You will need to make checks for Fishing and Runner today, all checks are made at disadvantage, and you will be too busy to perform any daytime actions.)
***
As the day wears into the midday duldrums the wind dies for a period, causing the sails to go distressingly slack. The ship sits adrift between two islands both more than 5 miles away. The sun high over head beats down. The temperature rises and Scourge's temper flairs and more and more crew members take longer and longer breaks at the water barrel or down below decks out of the blazing sun. In the officer's cabin the Captain can be heard haranguing one of his officers. Apparently somehow it is their responsibility to ensure the wind blows.
It is during this still period you hear a shout, and young Jack Scrimshaw rushes out onto deck.
Perception DC 10:
Jack's face is ashen white and you notice blood running down in rivulets from a nasty looking bite mark in his calf. You manage to get close enough for him to report to Mr. Plugg.
"There's somethin down there sir. I was working on catchin vermin like Master Scourge ordered, when something swam up out of the bilge water and bit me!"
Plugg looks at the man in disgust. "Well, if you were assigned to be a rat catcher then get back down there and do yer job ye scab." But Jack refuses, insisting what ever it was was larger than a normal rat, which the bit mark on his leg bears testimony to. "Fine. We'll send someone else down instead...let me look for a few volunteers."
He casts his eyes up and around and locks them on your gaze before you manage to look away. A wicked smile sprouts across his face. "Looks like we have a volunteer here. You and your little friends have been causing so much trouble...time to earn your worth. Go get kitted and find out what's down in the bilges. And don't bother coming back up until it's dead or you are."
OOC: Read after you decide whether or not to roll the perception and you read the above spoiler if you pass.
If no one manages to eavesdrop on that conversation we will retcon in Mr Plugg coming to find you and send you down in there instead...but I figure someone will have been curious enough to make that roll and end up getting volun-told.
Founding Member of the High Roller Society. (Currently trying to roll max on 4d6)
Sasha swiftly climbs the rigging, doing repairs today, having a good teamwork going with Samms and Conchobhar and having good progress with the work in spite of the heat.
Acrobatics: 5 (Adv helped by Samms) Sleight of hand: 11 (Adv helped by Conch)
On her way down for some water Sasha finds the time to stop by Rosie Cusswell, giving her some compliments on her hog lobbing. "You've certainly earned your respect with the crew already Rosie, was there anything I could do for a fellow crew member."
Persuasion: 15
Perception: 20 to hear what Jack Scrimshaw is shouting about.
"Get to Sandara, she'll patch you up." Sasha says to Jack and turns to Mr. Plugg. "I'll take care of it Sir." She says confidently, ready to take care of some larger than normal rats in the bilges.
The sweat pours down Jonah's wooden face, as he accepts the embarrassment of having another runner assigned to pick up the pace where he lags behind. Again, it doesn't matter. He has more important things to do, and he can bear whatever punishments they have for him.
Acrobatics: 12 Constitution: 5 (disadvantage for both from shirking)
Regardless of how well he does at his job, Jonah makes sure to take some time to retreat belowdecks, blaming a malfunction in his leg. Once there, he continues his work, sanding down the tracks along which the hidden panel will move, as well as the panel itself.
Stealth(if needed): 4 Tools: 15
Perception as well: 6
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Ringer heads up into the rigging along with Sasha, and sets to work making repairs.
Acrobatics: 18 (11)
Sleight of Hand: 19 (23)
All in all it goes well, he tends to do well with the more intricate work rather than that relying on physical strength.
He'll keep a kerchief or some other item that Sasha and Samms have on them cool and comfortable, along with the back of his own shirt. He considers chilling out Conch's hat, but the gnome seems a bit touchy.
"Oi, how's that feel, my lovely?"
Persuasion: 21 (rolled with ADV in case the help with the heat gets him anything more, if not, ignore the second die)
There is some sort of commotion below...
Perception: 15
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Ringer catches Sasha's eye as they're both singled out, and shrugs, before making his way down to the deck.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
"Repairs. Let's see what's blown to oblivion this time." Grath starts walking to start his morning check up as usual (that is, usual whenever he is on repair duty)
Dexterity: 10 for repairs
Perception: 19 to hear the loud conversation
All of the sudden he overheard a conversation between Jack Scrimshaw and Plugg, then Sasha tells Jack to visit Sandara, then she starts rushing off. Grath tries to catch her before she speeds past him and say "if you find something nasty down there, other than a rat, could you get me one of them? I'm a scholar, I'd be delighted to see what makes it tick and study it. Purely academic purposes of course. If you can't/don't want to, no worries, I'm sure it eventually make its way up to the hammocks. I'll catch it then. Oh, and if it is REALLY big, and you need a hand, tell Plugg there is a need for repairs down there, I'm on repair duty today."
Daytime activity: Shirk
Perception: 17
(For clarity, Plugg has ordered you all down into the Bilges...not just Sasha and Ringer.)
Grath, Plugg comes up behind you as you are wishing Sasha good luck. "She won't need to come and get you lanky, cause you'll be down there with her. When I said she and her little friends you and the Peg Leg and that fishboy thing were in that number. Go get what you need and get down there before I soften you up for the beasties with my cat."
***
As each of you report to Grok she outfits you with whatever basic gear you require. You may request one piece of armor worth no more than 100gp, one melee weapon or one ranged weapon and 20 pieces of ammunition, and a shield if you are proficient with them. Persuasion or other appropriate skill checks can be made to attempt to get more gear from her if you would like. You don't have time to attempt to improve her attitude right now though, so the DC for those will be based on what her attitude is towards you currently.
Anyone that does not have Grok's attitude as helpful will be visited by her prior to the end of the day to retrieve these items. If you are her friend (attitude helpful) she might "forget" to come get it from you unless you actively return it. Persuasion or other appropriate skill checks can be made to attempt to get more gear from her if you would like.
She also slips potions of healing to Jonah, Ringer, and Sasha as you are collecting what you will need. "You probably won't be needin this, but who knows what could be hiding in that bilge water eh?"
***
After you have outfitted yourselves you, you gather in the lower deck at the hatch down into the bilges. The hatch sits open where Jack left it during his hurried retreat. A single lantern hanging down in the bilges reflects darkly off of the murky water below.
OOC: The drop down into the bilges is about 10'. There is a rope ladder that goes down or you could just jump. There appears to be something wrong with the bilges, or perhaps a crew member has been particularly lazy...there is currently about 3' of water covering the floor of the bilges. You cannot actually see the deck down there beneath the surface of the water. What do you want to do? Also, please let us know what if any gear you borrow from Grok.
Battle Map Link
Founding Member of the High Roller Society. (Currently trying to roll max on 4d6)
Ringer gets kitted out with studded leather armor and a hand crossbow and bolts, if Grok has them available.
He pats her hand and whistles the chorus of "Eliza Lee" in thanks as she slips him a potion.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Jonah specifically requests both his harpoon and his armor, both of them crafted by him, as well as a crossbow with bolts. The harpoon is long and slightly uneven, the shaft being made of old, rather splintered wood, as if it had been haphazardly furnished out of something larger. The spearhead is slightly yellowed whalebone, as is common in Jonah's equipment. Spiraling down from the tip is a beautiful work of scrimshaw, depicting a splintering ship, trailing behind bits of wood and tiny drowning sailors. At the very tip, where the grooves of the scrimshaw are stained a deep reddish-brown, where time and tide has not washed away the blood that once stained it, a great whale drags the ship along, affixed to it by dozens of harpoons. The waves, stained that dark color, seem almost to be stained with the blood of the whale, which is covered in bleeding cuts. Both ship and whale, locked together in battle, both sharing each other's fates, both losing all that they have to the hungry sea.
Jonah runs his finger along its tip, still sharp despite its recent disuse, and smiles grimly when a small cut opens on his finger, staining the scrimshaw anew with a richer, redder color than that which coated it before. He notes with no small amount of sadness that the sealskin line running through a hole in the end of the harpoon has snapped, and is now useless. He will have to mend it later. Jonah's armor perhaps tells less of a story than his harpoon, but its craftsmanship is still equally unique. Interspersed with the metal scales typical of scale mail armor are what look to be shark teeth, appearing here and there in seemingly random fashion, most commonly around the neck. Upon closer inspection, however, it is revealed that they are in fact laid out in a pattern, depicting the gnashing jaws of some great antediluvian beast of the seas, its jaws looking as if they are wrapping around the wearer's (this being Jonah's) neck, an inch from snapping off his head.
When Grok offers him the potion, he briefly considers refusing it. He doesn't need her help. He needs no one's help. And yet... he pockets it anyways, offering her a solemn look as way of thanks. He then ventures belowdecks with the rest of the party.
"So. What's the plan? We can go in blind, and just kill whatever lurks down there. Alternatively, I believe that I can lure it into the light, so that we can get a better look at it. I have no strong opinions one way or another."
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Grath turns around and says "Aye, I missed the part where I volunteered. Goodie, looking forward to it!"
He heads to Grok, and asks for a quarterstaff. Preferably his. He describes the staff, how it looks, the weight of it and the runic signs along it, that are only visible when the light hits them from a certain angle. Admittedly, they don't have "powers", nor do they carry a meaning. They are just there for aesthetics.
Let's hope they didn't throw Grath's stuff in the water, otherwise a generic staff will have to do.
"I'd go with the light approach first. If nothing else, we get a feel about the space down there. If the thing is attracted to the light, it's an additional benefit."
"Thanks Ringer, appreciate it." Sasha says to the Kenku with a smile and a nod as he cools her down.
"Well, look like we're going down there together big guy." She says to Grath as Plugg orders him with her.
Sasha discreetly and gratefully accepts the potion from Grok. "Thanks, I have a feeling these will be needed eventually."
She tries to put a good word for the others as she's there. (Granting help action on persuasion checks if permitted.)
As they all gather above the bilges Sasha turns to the others. "So it seems we're dealing with large rats, dire rats perhaps. The pirate Queen has granted me storm magic that I can use against them, and if that doesn't do the trick you could perhaps follow up with some of that slumbering magic Ringer? What do you all say?" She says confidently, looking to her crewmates.