Deep Water and Shoals - A Swashbuckling Campaign

[Bob Aberton]

Malthas,

After finishing your weapons drills with the men, you look over the horizon and the see a high, thin bank of copper-colored clouds fast approaching.

Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning....

You realize that a squall, or worse, a full fledged gale, is sweeping towards the CALYPSO'S GRACE.

Vemuz,

As you watch the small-arms drills, the captain comes up from below with a worried look on his face.

"Pipe out the hands,* Mr. Thriceborn," he says. "The glass** is falling like a rock, an' it looks like it'll be a while afore it hits bottom."

(OOC:
* On your bosun's pipe, of course
**the barometer)

All,

Everyone is now aware of the ominous cloudbank and the stiff wind that is sweeping toward the CALYPSO'S GRACE.

As the crew listens for the captain's orders, the first foaming swells that herald the oncoming gale begin battering against the ship's sides.

The wind picks up, and an eery moan echoes across the sea as the breeze swirls through masts, shrouds, and braces.

 

[Tonguez]

ooc sorry I missed that - been away at cousins funeral...

Malachi grimaces at the prospect of a storm. He is not suprised at how quickly the first winds hit them but estimates that the eye of the storm is still far enough away that they might be able to ride its edge.

He looks down at the water noting the colour and shape of the waves, checking for dark patches in order to assess just what the wind might do

(ooc Check Navigator 9+9 = 18 (also have 4 ranks in Know:Nature if it helps -
and
from what I recall high clouds generally mean more rain than wind and tend to be a few hours away) - they get lower and denser as they approach and if winds are strong

Also dark patches moving across the water tend to indicate exactly what is happening with the wind gusts, and the wave shapes

Dark, "bumpy" water (i.e., water full of ripples and small waves, which create shadows) is a sign of a strong local gust of wind- Nainoa Thompson

 

[Uriel]

Nico looks on at the clouds (Prof-Sailor check=14), not knowing what is coming exactly, but knowing it isn't good. The alarm and general activity of the crew confirms what he suspected, bad inds coming their way.

'Artimus! Go below and get my satchel, make sure the grey scroll-case is within, and Hurry!'
Nico turns back to the clouds, glad that his choice of Castings was better suited to the Sea's fickle nature than to prparedness for Pirates.

(OoC:I went back to my last 'Spells picked post' so that you woudln't have to Bob, though I'm sure you have them marked somewhere. Animate Rope and Mending will be useful, I hope. Alter Self as well...in case I have to jump overboard to rescue any drowning Sailors. Also, I picked Tenser's Disc at creation, thinking it might be useful as a makeshift 'lifeboat', since I can swim near it in the water, what do you think of that?)

Nico takes up a position out of the Winds, yet near at hand so as to maximize his success in casting.(Concentration +9)

When Artimus returns, Nico will pull out the 10 Sunrods from the Grey Bag that Artimus retrieved.
'Good Work, Artimus, now give these to the men on deck, so that we can find em if things get bad.'
Artimus passes the Sunrods out to the Sailors most likely to need them, as things might get dark and confusing in the Storm. Nico pipes up, yelling over the coming wind.'Lads, these are as bright as torches on a calm eve. Break this here gold tip If'n you get in trouble and I'll find ye, and 'Wizard' ye back on board afore the sharks get at ye!'

OoC:The Alter Self spell specifies that I can add gills, but it does not say anything about Webbing on hands etc adding to Swimming. Care to make a DM call? My base Swim is +1 Wow!!)
New Spells:
Cantrips-Mending X2, Mage Hand,Detect Magic
First-Animate Rope, Color Spray, Magic Missile,
Mage Armor
Second-ALter Self, Detect Thoughts, Cat's Grace

 

[garyh]

Bimzoole, his artillerist skills of no use in this situation, worked the deck with the rest of the seaman.

"Aye," said the gnome, "this does not look good."

 

[dead_radish]

Malthas shudders at the sign of the approaching storm. He quickly secures his equipment below decks, and lashes Tuanna tightly to his sword belt. Then he speaks to the relief pilots. "Lads, I'll be taking the helm. If I get dragged away, one of you must grab the wheel as fast as ya can - we can't be flailing about lose in these winds." He then does a quick check of the wheel itself, to check for any stress points he might need to watch, and buckles down to prepare for a long storm, lashing himself to the helmsman's post with silken rope to keep his small frame from being dragged over the side of the boat (but keeping a dagger handy to cut the rope if needed).

 

[kenjib]

"Aye Captain." Vemuz blows loudly on the pipe -- a call more loud than any before -- a call with an implied urgency. He stands ready to assist in any way as he waits for the crew to assemble and the captain to address them.

 

[Xael]

Jonah stops his mapcopying attempt, and goes to continue inside the ship.

 

[Uriel]

Artimus hands Sunrodes to Bimzoole, Malthus, Vemuz, Malachi and 6 other Sailors (including the Captain).
OoC:Bob, you figure out who would be there/need them, as I don't know who is out there/might need light.

 

[Bob Aberton]

Vemuz & Bimzoole,

You hear the captain begin to shout over the noise of the rising wind as CALYPSO'S GRACE heels over more and more:

"This is no little breeze coming! We'll shorten sail, or we'll lose our masts! Every able-bodied sailor, officer, I don't care what you are, if you know your ropes, lay aloft and furl!"

Mr. Lang and Mr. Ames come out on deck, fastening oilskins, and take command of the reefing and furling*.

"Mr. Marper, Mr. Thriceborn, can either of you reef a sail? We need all hands aloft that we can get," says Mr. Lang, as a silvery sheet of rain begins pelting the deck.

Nicodemus,

After handing out your sunrods, you take shelter in the lee side of the mainmast, wedge yourself down comfortably, and prepare to ride out the gale, flexing your fingers in case you need to use your spells to help the ship.

(OOC: I would say that Alter Self could add webs on hands or feet. Thus modified, you would have a swim speed of 10, or 5 in very rough water. Note, however, that Alter Self does not grant protection from very cold water [not a concern right now, but it might be at some point later]. Sound fair?)

Malthas,

You take the worn, varnished spokes of the ship's wheel in your hands and lash yourself securely to the helm. Even as you reach the helm, you can feel the wheel beginning to fight you as the gale-driven swell washes the ship's rudder back and forth, and the force of the ever-rising wind tries to turn the ship in at right angles to the way she is travelling.

Gently twirling the wheel this way and that, you begin to guide CALYPSO'S GRACE through the now foam-topped swell that is growing stronger and higher by the minute.

(OOC: Profession Piloting check, please...)

Malachi,

You observe the direction of the swell and the wind, suspecting that you might be able to skirt around the edges of the storm.

You suspect that if the CALYPSO'S GRACE can ride the edge of the storm downwind, she can avoid the worst of the storm.

(OOC: I'm sorry about your cousin My condolences...
I sent you an email with the safest course to steer, etc. Just to let you know.)

 

[garyh]

Bimzoole replied, "Aye, I can reef a sail. If that's what's needed, that's what I'll do!"

OOC: I assume that's a Prof (Sailor) thing, and not a Use Rope thing. If it's Use Rope, I can't do... whatever it is.