Seldom Spring

"Let's do it" Anafrey would reply as she *grabs the boat thing* and begins to help *do a boat thing* in order to help them dock.

Erric, disappointed not to see Grout in the water, suddenly brightens when he sees his friends healthy and safe, and Gramps okay. He agrees to help dock the boat using the skills he gained on the trip to Waterdeep, to the island, and back. He'll scramble up the mast into the rigging to help furl the sails tie down loose lines, etc etc.

On quieter moment, he'll ask Ebokk and the others, "do you think those gnolls are still on that island? Or do you think they went away once Pirate Flindbar's remains left? Also, Ebokk, what are we doing when we get to Waterdeep? You live there, right? Do you want us to meet your mother? Or is your business with us done?"

These are good questions and Jambiya will listen to Ebokk’s answers. 

In a free moment, she wonders aloud, “Who owns this ship now? Gramps? Ebokk?”

Erric gets a bit jittery when Jambiya asks about the ownership of the ship, and moves away from Scrub a bit. "Yes, hmm, the authorities. We might also want to think about what they will ask us about coming back without a Bosun, with two dead deckhands, and a third bound one. Gramps I hope you will tell them the story well and they understand we were just defending ourselves. Scrub might be scared enough to actually tell the truth. And we can rely on the truth this time too. But..." seeing the blood all over Anafrey and her new weapon, Erric darts over, fills a bucket with seawater, and hands it to her. "You might want to clean yourself and that thing off a bit. First impressions, and all."

With his professionalism and mild panic, you get the sense that this is not likely the first time Erric's been forced to take part in... massaging the perception of a crime scene. 

(@DDP: OK.)

"It is indeed a good thing we made ourselves useful while those sailors were still on our side," Maldorn adds while also starting to work. Then, as Jambiya, Erric and Ebokk begin to talk about next steps, Maldorn adds a few points of his own: "Well, for starters, Grub there is not tied anymore," he looks over his shoulder to make sure the traitorous sailor is indeed making himself useful. "Then, there are the dead bodies. Being the sailors they were, I'd think they'd very much ask for a burial at sea, don't you think, Grams?" the ranger adds, using the inflection of a suggestion instead of an question. "Finally, and please don't take this the wrong way, for those of you who didn't pick up a few sailing skills over the past couple of weeks, may I suggest you try to wash the blood off the deck? Xeric is right about first impressions." 

A few seconds pass before Maldorn realizes he had one more question to ask: "Oh, one last point: if we are dropping of Master Ebokk at Waterdeep, how are we supposed to get back home?"

"I agree with the burial at sea." Anafrey would say with a nod before proceeding to drag the bodies to the edge of the boat and tossing them over. (unless someone stops her.) she would then take the bucket from Erric and smile. "I do suppose I could use a little freshening up." She would say before wiping down her weapon and armor, as well as her face.

Erric looks helplessly at Jambiya, mouth opening and closing silently.

Standing at the wheel, Ebokk looks a bit flustered. He has given out a few orders, which are being carried out. Gramps has — for all intents and purposes — become the new bosun. He supplements the captain's orders with his own, which Ebokk doesn't seem to mind at all. Scrub seems to be doing his best to keep the ship moving toward land while avoiding anyone's gaze.

To Erric, Jambiya and Maldorn, the dwarf says, "I'm not sure how you're going to get home, but I would like you to accompany me to mother's. She will want to thank you for bringing me home. Perhaps she can arrange for some transportation. As for the ship, it didn't belong to the bosun or the twins; I rented it. They were just employees."

"Don't worry," Gramps says, "we can vouch for what happened. There shouldn't be any trouble with the Watch."

When Anafrey throws the bodies of the twins overboard, everyone stops and stares. After a minute or so, Gramps says, "May Valkur guide their souls to the afterlife," but it seems more like an obligation than his true feelings.

Maldorn glances at Erric before asking Ebokk: "Will that gnomish lady be there too?"

Maldorn can't fully hide his smirk even though the question was primarily asked out of concern.

Erric makes a high-pitched, strangled noise.

"Unless she's away for business," Ebokk responds.

Jambiya screams a little when Anafrey dumps the first body. "Wait! Stop. Why... what's going on with you, Anafrey? Do you feel all right?" She will sit her little green butt on the second body, refusing to let Anafrey pitch it. "If we are to explain this, we need evidence to do so. First impressions are one thing, but we can't just show up with an unscrewed ship and not have questions to answer."

"Here, let me clean you up," and Jambiya waves her hand a couple of times and cleans the blood from Anafrey's body.

"Now, let me see your flail, and I'll clean that, too," she holds out her hand for the flail.

"Hey, I am fine! Great actually!" She would reply with a smile. "We are so close to getting back to shore. Arn't you excited to get off that island and off this boat" she would add while looking towards waterdeep. "I appreciate ya cleaning me off, but my flail is fine" anafrey would say as she dies the end of the weapon in the bucket provided by Erric and swirls it around. as she does so, blood and bits of flesh and bone would wash off the weapon and mix with the the salty water. "See! flail is clean! now let's get docked." she would then turn and move away from Jambiya, looking for anywhere she might be able to assist with docking the boat.

“Oh, um, I think there are still some bits. Just let me see the flail, Miss ‘frey. You don’t think I want to keep it, do you? It’s way too heavy for me.”

"Man the oars!" Gramps calls as he descends the ladder from the quarterdeck. "Prepare to hoist the sail!" The group looks toward land and sees they have made good time. They can make out buildings and other ships in the ocean. "Steer us toward the Dock Ward, captain!" The old sailor moves to stand beside the opening to the stairs below deck and looks around, expecting everyone to hop to it.

Long story short, with everyone pitching in, and some last-minute corrections by Gramps and Scrub in the end, the ship is docked only a little roughly.

Scrub and Gramps secure the boat while everyone collects their personal items. Ebokk tells Gramps that he will speak with the owner of the ship and explain what happened with Grout and the twins. "We'll leave the body of the twin still on the ship, if that's all right with you," the dwarf says. Gramps reluctantly agrees that that's as good a plan as any.

Ebokk tells the party that he will go fetch a carriage to take them to his mother's, and he exits the ship alone.

OOC > So, what you’re saying is that Anafrey’s new flail is NOT possessed by an evil pirate ghost that is turning her into a bloodthirsty murderer, and we should just get on with Waterdeep and the rest of the story? Because that’s what Jambiya thinks is going on. ;)

Anafrey's eyes would go wide when Jambiya mentions keeping the flail before letting out a small forced laugh. "That's it isn't it... you want to STEAL my flail.." She would reply taking a step towards Jambiya.. pointing a finger towards her chest. "And here.. I thought we were friends." She would add as she hits herself in the forehead with her hand while leaving her other hand firmly on the handle of her flail. "I guess that is just what I get for trusting a goblin... you may look a little different than most... but you've got that same blood flowing through your veins." Anafrey would say as she narrows her eyes upon the her companion. With that, the platinum haired woman would spit on the ground and move towards the other end of the ship....

Maldorn follows Gramps' orders diligently. He still thinks the twins should be "buried" together, but is not willing to start an argument over it. He adds while looking at Jambiya: "I guess we should leave all the blood on the deck as well... proof and all that."

Jambiya is too shaken up by Anafrey's words to notice Maldorn's misgivings. She retreats to the bow, quiet and upset and wishing the little dragon would come to her.

Did Erric hear what Anafrey said?