Vemuz,
"Not at th' moment, Mr. Thriceborn," the Captain says, squinting at the men in the fore-rigging, where some of the Orcs, directed by a stream of cheerful profanity from Ben Stern and Luc d'Erville, have set up tackle to the deadeye lanyards and are hauling the shrouds taut once more. "Glad t'hear thet y' think so highly o' the new hands. Strong backs, at th' very least, eh?"
He peers over the side of the rail at the water, a deep blue color for the moment, but soon to be the green-tinted water of the tropics.
From up on the foredeck, you can hear a commotion. A small knot of sailors from the starboard watch are gesturing over the bows, and you can see one of them flourishing (in what seems to you a very clumsy manner) a harpoon.
"Fore-deck, there," the Captain roars. "What's all this commotion about? Seen our lucky shark yet?"
The Orcs in the fore-rigging are distracted momentarily from their task, but Ben Stern is an experienced sailor who knows his duties flawlessly, and gently directs their attention back to the deadeye lanyards with a cheerful shout of "Ahoy, there, y' infernal sons o' fishmongers! What did th' bo'sun tell y'? Clap on t' thet tackle, an' don't stop haulin' till y' can bend an oak plank 'round them shrouds!"
(OOC: Sailors believed it was good luck to cut the tail off the first shark caught on a voyage and nail the tail to the end of the bowsprit.)
Malthas,
"Yas, sar, dat be a fine idea, sar. Ev'ry third day, at dhe changin' o' dha watch," Anansai says agreeably, knuckling his forehead in a fair approximation of a salute. Stowing his cutlass, he trots off to the fore-rigging, where under the beady eye of Mr. Thriceborn, the Orcs and Ben Stern are tightening the foremast shrouds.
"SE by E 1/2 S, Mr. Swifthand," the Captain calls, as you take the wheel from John Stout, who stretches his sore arms with relief. At the same time, you hear a commotion upon the foredeck, where a small knot of sailors from the Starboard watch are gesturing excitedly over the bow, and one is flourishing a harpoon.
"Fore-deck, there!" roars the Captain. "What's all this commotion about? Seen our lucky shark yet?"
(OOC: Sailors believed it was good luck to cut off the tail of the first shark caught on a voyage, and nail it to the end of the bowsprit.)
Malachi,
The Orcs are at work upon the fore-rigging, tightening the foremast shrouds by heaving on the deadeye lanyards under the direction of Mr. Thriceborn the bo'sun.
Over on the foredeck, a small group of sailors from the starboard watch are gesturing excitedly over the bows and one is flourishing a harpoon.
"Fore-deck, there!" roars the Captain. "What's all this commotion about? Seen our lucky shark yet?"
(OOC: Sailors believed it was good luck to cut off the tail of the first shark caught on a voyage, and nail it to the end of the bowsprit.)