Guido

As your feet hit the water you feel the top half of your weight carry over the bottom half of your weight and you topple into the water. You stand up and see that the ship has started drifting even further. You think you have one last chance to grab Colters rope. Kelpos is shouting "Come on boy! Move! Now!"

You look back and see that the orcs are now about 25 yards away. 

You can roll those rolls again if you want

Guido

You slosh toward the ship as fast as you can, you dive at the rope and feel one of the knots in your palm. You latch on just in time to look back and see the orcs right behind you. The ship is pulling away as you see Umok standing above the body of Colbourn he removes the gold lion shoulder guard from the body and puts in on his own shoulder. As you distance yourself from them you hear him laughing. 

Guido

You are surprised to see Colter pulling you up. For being a fairly average looking man, he seems to have an under stated strength. You flop onto the deck and Colter helps you up to your feet and says; "I may not trust you, but no man deserves to die like that." 

Grimnir, rowing furiously, looks at Guido with an expression equal parts shock and amusement.

"It took you long, enough. I was beginning to think you were going to sing them a song as well."

He laughs boisterously as he leans in harder into each row.

Guido

Colter shoots you a smile back, in an understanding way. 

All players

You hear Kelpos say in a victorious voice; "Haha! We made it. I have been in some binds before but that was close. So ere' to? The way I see it; I got a traitor" he looks a Grimnir, "A decent racketeer" he looks at Guido "An old man in his retirement years" he glances at Pafaren,  "Two young financial backers,  and you.. " his voice trails off as he looks at Varis. "I can tell you're eager to learn. I think this Pirate has a crew again."

Varis stands around not really sure what to do; knowledge and action are two very different things. He thinks back to the days of his childhood and reading ship tales, trying to think through if he knows what he should do. "Well, Kelpos, should I swab the deck?.....Though I don't think I've seen a mop and I'm sure that's not the best use of my time. Is there something I should be or need to be doing?" 

Guido

A slow, large grin forms on Kelpos face, "And the loot my boy, don't forget the loot. I say we split, head toward Shimmerstar Cove. I have heard many tales of the treasure that lies within the cave system there. Gods know I can't take the big guy over there back to society. And Varis is as good as me first mate already."

Guido

Kelpos lowers his voice, and is much more sober now; "Come with me to Shimmerstar Cove and you will have as much loot as you can carry. Besides whats our other option? We go to Paolo, Ol' Big Boy is arrested on sight,  probably the rest of us too for not letting him die back there. Or, we go get filthy rich, and let the world tear itself apart. We will be sitting on piles of gold on our private island while the worlds armies rage wars. We can be free men."

Guido

"Details, you say? We go to Shimmerstar Cove plunder the treasures, use the money to buy, or defend our own island. We live the life of free men. No worries, no cares, we take what we want when we want it. Right now we can't trust the authorities, but pirates are family. We bleed for each other. We start our own pirate crew and we are family for life."

His tone is dead serious now. 

Guido

"Ah, my boy... Every pirate crew needs a silver tongue and a sharp mind. You have both. Only a portion of piracy is plunder and the rest... Well, the rest is cunning. And to address yer concern, on my ship, ere'one gets an equal slice. The only good pirate is a live one, that's what they sat aint it, and fellas I don't like our odds if we return to Paolo as we are currently. I say we let Umok and the rest of the world fight their battles while we get fat and happy." The sparkle returns to his eyes. The same sparkle you saw when he was reminiscing on his glory days only a night before. 

Guido and All Players

A big grin spreads across his face and he gives you an approving nod. "That's all a man can do ain't it." He says as he looks to the others. "And what of you?" Pafaren excitedly agrees to the pirates offer, but Colter and Jana seem more hesitant; "Give us the night to think, won't you Kelpos?" Jana says. Kelpos bows politely to her, to respect their wishes. Kelpos rises from his bow, and raises an eyebrow to the rest of the group, as if it ask his question again. 

Varis, too, is a bit hesitant. "I, too, would like to think about this over night, Captain. I had thoughts of returning to my studies. Though, being away from my books is starting to have a childish, giddy effect upon me. Whatever we do decide and wherever fate may take us, may the Divine and the Creator bless us."

Varis

"Think all ye want boy. But youre already calling me Captain." He shoots you a wink. "There's more learnin to do than just what you can find in someone else's pages."

All Players

You deliberate into the evening, and for the first time in a while, find a sense of true relaxation. The sunset begins to hit the horizon and illuminate the ocean with an orange glow. Even if it's fleeting, you feel its restorative energy. The sun continues to pass the horizon as you see the deep indigo evening rising in front of you. 

Watching the sun set, Varis finds a place to sit. He pulls out the leather journal he found and a quill. He begins to writing the adventure that began with his kidnapping. He writes of his companions and of Umok and Colbourn. He writes of his own ability to truly protect himself and how inspired he is just by being forced out of his books. He chuckles to himself, "If I do turn this into a book telling of the Umokian Wars, I'll have to edit out my own musings." After some time, he puts away his items and approaches Kelpos, "Captain, is there anything you need to be done before I take a rest? I can be back in a few hours to keep watch, unless you'd like me to start the night out watching."

Varis

"I knew I could count on you me boy." He says "come ere' let me show ya the ropes." He spends am hour or so teaching you the basics of keeping a boat on course. He volunteers to take first shift, but once you come up to relieve him the boat will be totally under your control. 

"I haven't voluntarily been on the sea since my days fighting for Vaseci," Grimnir says wryly as he firmly ties a taught line hitch around the cleeting to ensure the tack is perfect on the sail.

"Of course, these accommodations seem to be much better...no one's being sick over the railing...yet."

He nods bemused at Kelpos and asks, "Where are we off to, 'Captain?'"

"This is wonderful, Captain. This is much better than the stories I read as a child about ship adventures. I will go rest now, but it does not take a full night of rest to rejuvenate me like you other folk." 

Varis goes below deck to find a bed, hammock, anywhere to lay down and meditate for the next four hours. He spends his trance meditating upon if he should come along--though he already knows that he will--and upon Yalasna, looking for guidance and peace in the approach of war among all of Kosmedes.

When he returns four hours later to relieve Kelpos and take watch, Varis assures him, "Captain, I will come along, at least for now. I believe you are correct that it is unwise to go straight to Paolo. I am invigorated by what is happening. I find that as I'm--already--becoming more comfortable within these social situations that I may be able to approach my research in a more sociological and anthropological respect. Go and get some rest, if you please. May the Creator bless you."

All players

Kelpos grins at all of your enthusiasm. "Well men, and lady, we've got a couple choices I reckon. There are a few pirate tales I can recall. Hordes of treasure, powerful artifacts, hidden oasis', you name it we can find it. So whatta ya want? Power? Profit? Prowess?  Sleep on it, make up yer mind, and we will set course. First though... We need provisions. I think our love birds can help us with that, aye?" He shifts his entire body weight to look at Colter and Jana. Colter looks like he is deep in thought for a moment and says, "I suppose we could help...  We can't really withdrawal funds from the banks or they will know that we are abroad. Perhaps of you know a fence we could pawn our jewelry for resources. If we pawn everything but our wedding bands, there's got to be a couple hundred gold in there, even to a slum lord of a fence. I assure you,  this jewelry is exquisite." Kelpos looks pleased "Welcome aboard,  love birds." He says with a chuckle. "So, let me know what ye after, til then, I know a good fence few miles north, he's got a little island just off Vocoran by Gosire. Near Flash water Cove. A favorite of mine... Until then rest well. These seas can be rough." He pats Varis on the shoulder and laughs. 

Varis

Later that night when you take over the ship for Kelpos,  he gives you another brief tutorial. You feel confident that you are able to keep the ship on course. 

**roll a perception.