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High Seas Shenanigans (Updated: 12/04/05)
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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 2534305" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p><strong>A New Ship</strong></p><p></p><p>“That was fine work! Fine work!” the voice of the Baron boomed and blustered as the longboat pulled alongside. It took several moments for the ornately clad Baron to haul himself onboard, but when the three could see his face, it was beaming. </p><p></p><p>The fight had been short, and brutal. The sight of an immense metal giant boarding their ship had taken so much of the fight out of the cromster’s sailors, that their gunfire on the boarding party was mercifully inaccurate (DM’s Note: The DM threw this die away after the game. No die that rolls seven 2s in a row deserves a DMs love. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> ). After the aborted volley, the crew of the <em>Black Joke</em> had gone to work, Visiel’s warhammer crushing several ship’s officers, while Viktalia and Siran made impressively short work of the few cromster crewmen that tried to attack them. In his report only minutes earlier, Kaled had described the boarding as lasting “only thirty seconds or so.”</p><p></p><p>“Bullish work!” the Baron slapped Kaled and Siran on the shoulders, before patting Visiel. He started to slap Viktalia, till he reached for her hand, and bowed elegantly to give it a kiss. “Best damn piece of sailing I’ve seen in a while!” he laughed when he stood back up.</p><p></p><p>“Yessir, thank you sir,” Visiel said. If he had been able, the warforged would have beamed. <em>My commanding officer is pleased, and our engagement ended successfully! My marksmanship was accurate, and even improved!</em> He felt like flexing his muscles.. it had felt good to give them the exercise of ripping through some enemies, and earning compliments from a commander... that was the highest praise Visiel could hope for.</p><p></p><p>“Now, Lieutenant Kaled has informed me that he plans to hoist his flag on the new ship, and take her to Tarnpool for repairs.” Visiel looked over towards the grizzled Lieutenant, who nodded at the Baron’s words. “That means,” the Baron grinned, “that the <em>Black Joke</em> will need a new captain!” He looked at the Visiel, Siran, and Viktalia, before he suddenly turned towards Visiel.</p><p></p><p>“Sir?” the warforged asked, confused. <em>Why does he look at me? Does he assume I can be a commander?</em> Visiel felt something welling up in him, something decidedly not pleasant. Warforged did not have exact copies of human emotions, but Visiel knew the tinge of fear. <em>I am not designed for a command position! I am designed to execute orders given to me!</em></p><p></p><p>“Visiel, I would like to ask you to accept command of the <em>Black Joke</em>, as well as an official promotion to Lieutenant in the Imperial Navy,” the Baron said, snapping into a stiff pose and saluting.</p><p></p><p>“Sir... I...” <em>The commanding officer has given me an order to accept command! But I am not capable of command!</em> Conflict raged in the warforged mind for several seconds, before finally, his metallic voice churned out a rumbling reply.</p><p></p><p>“I incapable, sir.” <em>Humans do not like their orders refused. I should offer a reason, and an alternate battleplan.</em> The Baron began to open his mouth for a retort, but Visiel continued to speak. “I am...” he searched his vocabulary for a proper word, “unequipped for such a deployment, sir. I would offer an alternative battleplan, sir, that would make either Siran or Viktalia captain of this ship, sir. Such a battleplan would allow a capable officer to lead, and let me serve where I am most useful as well.”</p><p></p><p>For a moment, the Baron’s mouth hung wide open, and Visiel’s heart sank. <em>I have offended my superior. I did not mean to.</em> Then, just as suddenly, the Baron turned towards Viktalia, and to the warforged’s surprise, she vigorously shook her head no before the Baron could even say a word. </p><p></p><p>“Hmm... Mr. Rapp then,” the Baron said, by his voice still a little taken aback that two people would refuse command. “You have some experience as an officer... and I certainly hope you’ll accept command of this vessel, considering the refusal of the two previous offers...”</p><p></p><p>“Sir yes sir!” Siran cried, his grin wider than a forty-gun frigate was long. </p><p></p><p><em>He is my new commanding officer,</em> Visiel realized, immediately reshuffling the hierarchy in his mind. <em>He takes Kaled’s place under the Baron. He is competent, if obsessed with drinking and mating.</em> The warforged paused for a moment, before turning to Siran and giving a salute. <em>He will make a good commanding officer.</em></p><p></p><p>“Good,” the Baron replied, by his face relieved. “Now, as you know, it is considered bad luck for a non-warship to have her captain change vessels, but retain her name. So,” the Baron motioned to the damaged cromster, “Kaled has decided that the cromster will take the name <em>Black Joke.</em> So now, <em>Captain</em> Rapp,” Siran grinned even wider as the Baron mentioned his new title, “What will be the name of the vessel you’re inheriting?”</p><p></p><p>“Um...” Siran stopped, then turned to the assembled crew, minus three of their comrades killed during the action with the cromster. Even now, the Baron was sending over enough sailors from his galleon so the two vessels could have skeleton crews, but they’d have to recruit new sailors. For a second, Visiel could have sworn he could see his comrade swell with pride, before Siran finally said, “I think the crew should decide!”</p><p></p><p>“The <em>Bloody Siabrey!</em>” one crewman shouted obscenely, while others called for their own preferences, some serious, some whimsical, some vicious, some inspired. </p><p></p><p><em>Why do the humans care so much for the names of their boats?</em> Visiel wanted to grumble. <em>Regardless of its name, it is the same vessel as before... except that we now have four more guns we commandeered from the cromster. What name it is given makes no difference...</em></p><p></p><p>Finally, Siran raised his hands, and pointed at Viktalia. </p><p></p><p>“I suggest the <em>Spotted Pinnace</em>,” the young woman said... and immediately the entire crew exploded into laughter. Once the bedlam had ended, Siran turned towards the surprised Baron, and with a flourish, announced that was his choice.</p><p></p><p>“Very well,” the Baron said a few moments later, after he was able to remove the surprise, and childish look of hidden giggles from his face, “from now on, this vessel shall be known as the <em>Spotted Pinnace,</em> under the command of Lieutenant Siran Rapp, His Majesty’s Imperial Navy! Attendant!" he turned, and barked, "fetch me the proper papers!"</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">=====================</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px">Let it be known, <em>Throughout</em> the Realm, that</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-size: 15px"><u>Siran Rapp</u></span> of the good vessel <span style="font-size: 15px"><em>HIMS Spotted Pinnace</em></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px">and all those of the said’s crew, as well as the said’s men-at-arms, servants and retainers, hath been authorized by his Imperial Majesty’s Government to carry this</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-size: 26px">LETTER OF MARQUE</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px">Charging them to <em>act against</em> and <em>attack</em> the </span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-size: 22px">KINGDOM OF KANDOR</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px">and the</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-size: 22px">KINGDOM OF LEES</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px">and all <em>vessels, possessions, and settlements thereof.</em> His Imperial Majesty’s Government shall be entitled to <em>fully one-half share</em> of the profits thereof, in return for lending <em>support</em> and <em>aid</em> unto <span style="font-size: 15px"><u>Sir Siran Rapp</u></span> and all retainers, servants and men-at-arms of said, in return for their aid in destroying the <em>vessels</em> and <em>possessions</em> of the enemies of His Imperial Majesty.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px">As commanded in the Six Hundreth and Fifteenth Year after the Triumph over Darkness: </span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: right"><span style="font-size: 22px">BARON RAFALE DICE</span></p> <p style="text-align: right">Commanding Officer, <em>HIMS Silver Hart</em></p> <p style="text-align: right">WITNESSED BY:</p> <p style="text-align: right"><em>Podris Kaled, Lt.</em></p> <p style="text-align: right">Commanding Officer,</p> <p style="text-align: right"><em>HIMS Black Joke</em></p><p></p><p>===========================================</p><p></p><p>Yeah, the boarding combat wasn't really worth posting. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> Besides... it moves us all closer to the far more interesting second session.. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>The first session was a test mostly of the rules, as well as how powerful the party was... and by the time Visiel got done with his sniping work, as well as Siran with his directing the guns, there wasn't much left on the cromster to fight. I rolled a morale check for the crew (Visiel's player pointed out that they'd probably be terrified of a big metal giant boarding the boat after the battering they'd recieved, and that was the first "2" the infamous die rolled. For the crew that didn't panic, it rolled another slew of "2s" on their attacks... while Visiel critted and quadrupled the hitpoints of hte poor ship's quartermaster... so yes, they are now sailing on the seas on their own ship, named the <em>Spotted Pinnace</em>, free to wreak havoc (which they promptly set about doing...)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 2534305, member: 15043"] [b]A New Ship[/b] “That was fine work! Fine work!” the voice of the Baron boomed and blustered as the longboat pulled alongside. It took several moments for the ornately clad Baron to haul himself onboard, but when the three could see his face, it was beaming. The fight had been short, and brutal. The sight of an immense metal giant boarding their ship had taken so much of the fight out of the cromster’s sailors, that their gunfire on the boarding party was mercifully inaccurate (DM’s Note: The DM threw this die away after the game. No die that rolls seven 2s in a row deserves a DMs love. :) ). After the aborted volley, the crew of the [i]Black Joke[/i] had gone to work, Visiel’s warhammer crushing several ship’s officers, while Viktalia and Siran made impressively short work of the few cromster crewmen that tried to attack them. In his report only minutes earlier, Kaled had described the boarding as lasting “only thirty seconds or so.” “Bullish work!” the Baron slapped Kaled and Siran on the shoulders, before patting Visiel. He started to slap Viktalia, till he reached for her hand, and bowed elegantly to give it a kiss. “Best damn piece of sailing I’ve seen in a while!” he laughed when he stood back up. “Yessir, thank you sir,” Visiel said. If he had been able, the warforged would have beamed. [i]My commanding officer is pleased, and our engagement ended successfully! My marksmanship was accurate, and even improved![/i] He felt like flexing his muscles.. it had felt good to give them the exercise of ripping through some enemies, and earning compliments from a commander... that was the highest praise Visiel could hope for. “Now, Lieutenant Kaled has informed me that he plans to hoist his flag on the new ship, and take her to Tarnpool for repairs.” Visiel looked over towards the grizzled Lieutenant, who nodded at the Baron’s words. “That means,” the Baron grinned, “that the [i]Black Joke[/i] will need a new captain!” He looked at the Visiel, Siran, and Viktalia, before he suddenly turned towards Visiel. “Sir?” the warforged asked, confused. [i]Why does he look at me? Does he assume I can be a commander?[/i] Visiel felt something welling up in him, something decidedly not pleasant. Warforged did not have exact copies of human emotions, but Visiel knew the tinge of fear. [i]I am not designed for a command position! I am designed to execute orders given to me![/i] “Visiel, I would like to ask you to accept command of the [i]Black Joke[/i], as well as an official promotion to Lieutenant in the Imperial Navy,” the Baron said, snapping into a stiff pose and saluting. “Sir... I...” [i]The commanding officer has given me an order to accept command! But I am not capable of command![/i] Conflict raged in the warforged mind for several seconds, before finally, his metallic voice churned out a rumbling reply. “I incapable, sir.” [i]Humans do not like their orders refused. I should offer a reason, and an alternate battleplan.[/i] The Baron began to open his mouth for a retort, but Visiel continued to speak. “I am...” he searched his vocabulary for a proper word, “unequipped for such a deployment, sir. I would offer an alternative battleplan, sir, that would make either Siran or Viktalia captain of this ship, sir. Such a battleplan would allow a capable officer to lead, and let me serve where I am most useful as well.” For a moment, the Baron’s mouth hung wide open, and Visiel’s heart sank. [i]I have offended my superior. I did not mean to.[/i] Then, just as suddenly, the Baron turned towards Viktalia, and to the warforged’s surprise, she vigorously shook her head no before the Baron could even say a word. “Hmm... Mr. Rapp then,” the Baron said, by his voice still a little taken aback that two people would refuse command. “You have some experience as an officer... and I certainly hope you’ll accept command of this vessel, considering the refusal of the two previous offers...” “Sir yes sir!” Siran cried, his grin wider than a forty-gun frigate was long. [i]He is my new commanding officer,[/i] Visiel realized, immediately reshuffling the hierarchy in his mind. [i]He takes Kaled’s place under the Baron. He is competent, if obsessed with drinking and mating.[/i] The warforged paused for a moment, before turning to Siran and giving a salute. [i]He will make a good commanding officer.[/i] “Good,” the Baron replied, by his face relieved. “Now, as you know, it is considered bad luck for a non-warship to have her captain change vessels, but retain her name. So,” the Baron motioned to the damaged cromster, “Kaled has decided that the cromster will take the name [i]Black Joke.[/i] So now, [i]Captain[/i] Rapp,” Siran grinned even wider as the Baron mentioned his new title, “What will be the name of the vessel you’re inheriting?” “Um...” Siran stopped, then turned to the assembled crew, minus three of their comrades killed during the action with the cromster. Even now, the Baron was sending over enough sailors from his galleon so the two vessels could have skeleton crews, but they’d have to recruit new sailors. For a second, Visiel could have sworn he could see his comrade swell with pride, before Siran finally said, “I think the crew should decide!” “The [i]Bloody Siabrey![/i]” one crewman shouted obscenely, while others called for their own preferences, some serious, some whimsical, some vicious, some inspired. [i]Why do the humans care so much for the names of their boats?[/i] Visiel wanted to grumble. [i]Regardless of its name, it is the same vessel as before... except that we now have four more guns we commandeered from the cromster. What name it is given makes no difference...[/i] Finally, Siran raised his hands, and pointed at Viktalia. “I suggest the [i]Spotted Pinnace[/i],” the young woman said... and immediately the entire crew exploded into laughter. Once the bedlam had ended, Siran turned towards the surprised Baron, and with a flourish, announced that was his choice. “Very well,” the Baron said a few moments later, after he was able to remove the surprise, and childish look of hidden giggles from his face, “from now on, this vessel shall be known as the [i]Spotted Pinnace,[/i] under the command of Lieutenant Siran Rapp, His Majesty’s Imperial Navy! Attendant!" he turned, and barked, "fetch me the proper papers!" [CENTER]=====================[/CENTER] [CENTER] [SIZE=3]Let it be known, [i]Throughout[/i] the Realm, that [SIZE=4][u]Siran Rapp[/u][/SIZE] of the good vessel [SIZE=4][i]HIMS Spotted Pinnace[/i][/SIZE] and all those of the said’s crew, as well as the said’s men-at-arms, servants and retainers, hath been authorized by his Imperial Majesty’s Government to carry this [SIZE=7]LETTER OF MARQUE[/SIZE] Charging them to [i]act against[/i] and [i]attack[/i] the [SIZE=6]KINGDOM OF KANDOR[/size] and the [size=6]KINGDOM OF LEES[/size] and all [i]vessels, possessions, and settlements thereof.[/i] His Imperial Majesty’s Government shall be entitled to [i]fully one-half share[/i] of the profits thereof, in return for lending [i]support[/i] and [i]aid[/i] unto [size=4][u]Sir Siran Rapp[/u][/size] and all retainers, servants and men-at-arms of said, in return for their aid in destroying the [i]vessels[/i] and [i]possessions[/i] of the enemies of His Imperial Majesty. As commanded in the Six Hundreth and Fifteenth Year after the Triumph over Darkness: [/SIZE] [/CENTER] [RIGHT][size=6]BARON RAFALE DICE[/size] Commanding Officer, [i]HIMS Silver Hart[/i] WITNESSED BY: [i]Podris Kaled, Lt.[/i] Commanding Officer, [i]HIMS Black Joke[/i][/RIGHT] =========================================== Yeah, the boarding combat wasn't really worth posting. :) Besides... it moves us all closer to the far more interesting second session.. :) The first session was a test mostly of the rules, as well as how powerful the party was... and by the time Visiel got done with his sniping work, as well as Siran with his directing the guns, there wasn't much left on the cromster to fight. I rolled a morale check for the crew (Visiel's player pointed out that they'd probably be terrified of a big metal giant boarding the boat after the battering they'd recieved, and that was the first "2" the infamous die rolled. For the crew that didn't panic, it rolled another slew of "2s" on their attacks... while Visiel critted and quadrupled the hitpoints of hte poor ship's quartermaster... so yes, they are now sailing on the seas on their own ship, named the [i]Spotted Pinnace[/i], free to wreak havoc (which they promptly set about doing...) [/QUOTE]
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