Deep Water and Shoals - A Swashbuckling Campaign
- Thread starter Bob Aberton
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Bob Aberton
First Post
Vemuz,
The carpenter spits out bitter seawater, then surveys the gushing crack.
"Get those planks over there and start nailing," he says crisply, seizing a hammer and his sack of nails.
Malachi,
The carpenter fishes around in the knee deep water for a bit, then hands you a caulking iron, mallet, and a reel of oakum.
"Start caulking this hole," he says, and with the help of Vemuz, the Twice-born boatswain, starts nailing a plank over the worst section of the leak.
All,
The CALYPSO'S GRACE, with the reefs shaken out of her topsails and her foretopgallant set, begins to move on northwards, towards Standishtown harbor.
However, she feels far more sluggish and deeply laden than you have ever known her to be. With every roll, you can hear gallons upon gallons of water sloshing about in the bilge.
The men pump for their lives, but even so, they can barely keep up with the incoming flow, and every so often a few more gallons stays in the hold.
Captain McCrenshaw hurriedly orders the maintopgallant sail set, in order to get the CALYPSO'S GRACE to a (relatively) safe mooring.
The carpenter spits out bitter seawater, then surveys the gushing crack.
"Get those planks over there and start nailing," he says crisply, seizing a hammer and his sack of nails.
Malachi,
The carpenter fishes around in the knee deep water for a bit, then hands you a caulking iron, mallet, and a reel of oakum.
"Start caulking this hole," he says, and with the help of Vemuz, the Twice-born boatswain, starts nailing a plank over the worst section of the leak.
All,
The CALYPSO'S GRACE, with the reefs shaken out of her topsails and her foretopgallant set, begins to move on northwards, towards Standishtown harbor.
However, she feels far more sluggish and deeply laden than you have ever known her to be. With every roll, you can hear gallons upon gallons of water sloshing about in the bilge.
The men pump for their lives, but even so, they can barely keep up with the incoming flow, and every so often a few more gallons stays in the hold.
Captain McCrenshaw hurriedly orders the maintopgallant sail set, in order to get the CALYPSO'S GRACE to a (relatively) safe mooring.
Bob Aberton
First Post
All,
It takes another 12 hours to work the damaged CALYPSO'S GRACE in through the Standishtown Shoals.
It is early morning, and the fog has finally lifted. The men, worn to the bone, pry their stiff hands from the pump handles and man the capstan to warp the ship in.
As towns go, Standishtown is fairly unimpressive. Built in a great clearing in the scrub forest that covers the sand dunes as far as the eye can see, the town consists of a number of rough shacks, a wooden church, a rather grandiose town hall, and an rather more grog-shops and taverns than there are dwelling places.
Nearer to the shore, huge hogsheads of Standishtown tobacco wait on the piers, under crude timber-and-canvas shelters, awaiting transport.
Four ships lie at moorings beside the CALYPSO'S GRACE; the Port Andorran FAIR WINDS, the Espirantish SANTA CALYPSO and LA ALCURAN and the Hullish CHRISTOPHER C. WILLS.
(ooc: more later...have to go now...)
It takes another 12 hours to work the damaged CALYPSO'S GRACE in through the Standishtown Shoals.
It is early morning, and the fog has finally lifted. The men, worn to the bone, pry their stiff hands from the pump handles and man the capstan to warp the ship in.
As towns go, Standishtown is fairly unimpressive. Built in a great clearing in the scrub forest that covers the sand dunes as far as the eye can see, the town consists of a number of rough shacks, a wooden church, a rather grandiose town hall, and an rather more grog-shops and taverns than there are dwelling places.
Nearer to the shore, huge hogsheads of Standishtown tobacco wait on the piers, under crude timber-and-canvas shelters, awaiting transport.
Four ships lie at moorings beside the CALYPSO'S GRACE; the Port Andorran FAIR WINDS, the Espirantish SANTA CALYPSO and LA ALCURAN and the Hullish CHRISTOPHER C. WILLS.
(ooc: more later...have to go now...)
Bob Aberton
First Post
(OOC: Ehh...guys? Feel free to post at any time, you know
I'm unbelieveably busy with work right now, so I'm having a tough time keeping up with the DM posts. Sorry about that, but things'll return to normal by next Monday. In the meantime, perhaps some, or preferably all of you could post a little something to get the ball rolling? )
I'm unbelieveably busy with work right now, so I'm having a tough time keeping up with the DM posts. Sorry about that, but things'll return to normal by next Monday. In the meantime, perhaps some, or preferably all of you could post a little something to get the ball rolling? )
dead_radish
Explorer
As the ship docks, Malthas calls out to the crew nearby. "Well, lads, we're all here, thanks to your work. What say I buy everyone that had a pull on the pump a round, and we work the weariness out with a good stiff drink , eh?"
He then (assuming that we can head off for a bit o' shore time) heads off to the nearest tavern to make good his offer.
He then (assuming that we can head off for a bit o' shore time) heads off to the nearest tavern to make good his offer.
Tonguez
A suffusion of yellow
Seems we're all a bit busy with work DM Bob but good to know your still cruisin
Malachi examined the patchwork of boards and caulking they had used to seal the breach and then wet, sore and tired he went to his cabin, dried off and slept. It was not till they were three hours from Port that he awoke and once more thanked Calypso for their safe arrival.
"So dhes is dha West" he grinned as he scanned the land mass, noting the cloud formations, any prominent landmarks and of course the deflected swells. He raised his right arm and pointed at the sun as he ran a finger along a few of the rich black symbols tattooed into his skin.
"Ah" he nodded before turning to look for the halfling "so Malthas" he grinned "wot troble ya gonna cause in Standi'town?"
Malachi examined the patchwork of boards and caulking they had used to seal the breach and then wet, sore and tired he went to his cabin, dried off and slept. It was not till they were three hours from Port that he awoke and once more thanked Calypso for their safe arrival.
"So dhes is dha West" he grinned as he scanned the land mass, noting the cloud formations, any prominent landmarks and of course the deflected swells. He raised his right arm and pointed at the sun as he ran a finger along a few of the rich black symbols tattooed into his skin.
"Ah" he nodded before turning to look for the halfling "so Malthas" he grinned "wot troble ya gonna cause in Standi'town?"
Bob Aberton
First Post
All,
When the CALYPSO'S GRACE is docked safely, and the local shipwrights have come aboard to effect more permanent repairs to the ship's bottom, Captain McCrenshaw calls the crew aft and addresses them briefly.
"Alright, men," he says. "Y've got a week o' shore leave while we load the cargo an' fix her bottom. Now, y'r gonna get paid off," here he gestures to Jonah to bring the ship's money chest up from his cabin. "But watch how y' spend yer money. If I hear about any of you gettin' yerselfs in trouble with the law - such as it is - around here, you won't get jail time - no, you'll come back here an' Mr. Lang'll haze you all the way 'round Cape Tempestuoso. An' y'll be back here in a week's time, or I'll hear the reason why. Understand?"
Then he calls the men forward to recieve their pay.
"No fast passage bonuses this time, lads," he says, "as we're in ballast an' with a cargo o' specie. Next time, though..."
"Vemuz Thriceborn."
You come forward and Mr. Lang drops 43 gold pieces into your hand.
"Bimzoole Marper."
You come forward and Mr. Lang holds out your 43 gold pieces.
"Malthas Swifthand."
You come forward and Mr. Lang drops 78 gold pieces.
"Malachi Legba."
You come forward and Mr. Lang hands you your 78 gold pieces.
"Nicodemus Arfaliunium."
You come forward and Mr. Lang hands you 78 gold pieces.
Jonah,
Captain McCrenshaw pulls you aside before you recieve your pay.
"Alright, Mr. Jonah, time fer y'r real work to begin. See, here on Cape Standish, they grow this tobacco on plantations miles away from each other. We've got to visit every plantation around here until we have a full cargo, see? You may have noticed th' tobacco on the docks only filled our hold halfway. You come with me and note down every hogshead thet th' plantations ship down t' these here docks. You'll get yer pay once our hold's filled."
You turn to go, but he stops you.
"Oh, Mr. Jonah," he says. "I'd advise y' t' bring a weapon - the forest around here is supposed t' be filled with savage elves an' sich thet'll soon scalp you as look at you. Y' can borrow one o' my pistols if you haven't one o' yer own."
You realize that while this will involve much slogging clerk-work, it will also afford an excellent opportunity to see the land around and perhaps add some new territory to your maps.
Malthas,
The crew heartily agrees with you, and "rolls" (as the sailors say) to the nearest grog-shop to take advantage of your offer.
The nearest grog-shop is a ramshackle construction of rough planks and fieldstone, seemingly thrown together hastily in time for the arrival of the crew of the CALYPSO'S GRACE.
A small knot of Espirantes from the LA ALCURAN and SANTA CALYPSA are lounging around the bar, and Lupe Sanchez immediately heads over to chat it up with his fellow countrymen.
As for the crew of the CALYPSO'S GRACE, you all claim a corner of the bar for yourselves, and soon the rum is flowing freely.
Most of tavern population soon gathers around, as is the custom in every "sailortown," to spin a yarn with you, the new arrivals, and many a glass is hoisted in honor of -
"Th' shore, th' rum, an' th' gals - "
of whom there are not a few, hurrying to share a glass with the young and the handsome sailors among the crew of the CALYPSO'S GRACE.
Within a very few minutes, the trials of the past few days have been forgotten, and the newly paid-off crew hurries to enjoy a shore-leave's worth of high living.
(OOC: btw, rum is 2 coppers a glass.)
When the CALYPSO'S GRACE is docked safely, and the local shipwrights have come aboard to effect more permanent repairs to the ship's bottom, Captain McCrenshaw calls the crew aft and addresses them briefly.
"Alright, men," he says. "Y've got a week o' shore leave while we load the cargo an' fix her bottom. Now, y'r gonna get paid off," here he gestures to Jonah to bring the ship's money chest up from his cabin. "But watch how y' spend yer money. If I hear about any of you gettin' yerselfs in trouble with the law - such as it is - around here, you won't get jail time - no, you'll come back here an' Mr. Lang'll haze you all the way 'round Cape Tempestuoso. An' y'll be back here in a week's time, or I'll hear the reason why. Understand?"
Then he calls the men forward to recieve their pay.
"No fast passage bonuses this time, lads," he says, "as we're in ballast an' with a cargo o' specie. Next time, though..."
"Vemuz Thriceborn."
You come forward and Mr. Lang drops 43 gold pieces into your hand.
"Bimzoole Marper."
You come forward and Mr. Lang holds out your 43 gold pieces.
"Malthas Swifthand."
You come forward and Mr. Lang drops 78 gold pieces.
"Malachi Legba."
You come forward and Mr. Lang hands you your 78 gold pieces.
"Nicodemus Arfaliunium."
You come forward and Mr. Lang hands you 78 gold pieces.
Jonah,
Captain McCrenshaw pulls you aside before you recieve your pay.
"Alright, Mr. Jonah, time fer y'r real work to begin. See, here on Cape Standish, they grow this tobacco on plantations miles away from each other. We've got to visit every plantation around here until we have a full cargo, see? You may have noticed th' tobacco on the docks only filled our hold halfway. You come with me and note down every hogshead thet th' plantations ship down t' these here docks. You'll get yer pay once our hold's filled."
You turn to go, but he stops you.
"Oh, Mr. Jonah," he says. "I'd advise y' t' bring a weapon - the forest around here is supposed t' be filled with savage elves an' sich thet'll soon scalp you as look at you. Y' can borrow one o' my pistols if you haven't one o' yer own."
You realize that while this will involve much slogging clerk-work, it will also afford an excellent opportunity to see the land around and perhaps add some new territory to your maps.
Malthas,
The crew heartily agrees with you, and "rolls" (as the sailors say) to the nearest grog-shop to take advantage of your offer.
The nearest grog-shop is a ramshackle construction of rough planks and fieldstone, seemingly thrown together hastily in time for the arrival of the crew of the CALYPSO'S GRACE.
A small knot of Espirantes from the LA ALCURAN and SANTA CALYPSA are lounging around the bar, and Lupe Sanchez immediately heads over to chat it up with his fellow countrymen.
As for the crew of the CALYPSO'S GRACE, you all claim a corner of the bar for yourselves, and soon the rum is flowing freely.
Most of tavern population soon gathers around, as is the custom in every "sailortown," to spin a yarn with you, the new arrivals, and many a glass is hoisted in honor of -
"Th' shore, th' rum, an' th' gals - "
of whom there are not a few, hurrying to share a glass with the young and the handsome sailors among the crew of the CALYPSO'S GRACE.
Within a very few minutes, the trials of the past few days have been forgotten, and the newly paid-off crew hurries to enjoy a shore-leave's worth of high living.
(OOC: btw, rum is 2 coppers a glass.)
Last edited:
Vemuz sits in a corner alone at a table, running his thick index finger around the rim of a mug that looks scarcely drunk from in a preoccupied manner. His eyes have a far off look and his imposing figure and stoic expression are enough to keep him without company. He catches Malachi's eye after some time, nods for him to come over, and pulls out a chair from the table in a welcoming manner.
Xael
First Post
Jonah nods to the captain. "I've got a pistol of my own, even though I'm not very good at using it." He then glances somewhere at the direction of the town, shielding his eyes with his hands again. "When are we leaving Mr. McCrenshaw?", he asks, not used to being called "Mr.".
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dead_radish
Explorer
OOC: I'll buy 2 full rounds for the men, then let people start buying their own. Malthas will drink, but not excessively - enough to enjoy himself, and and then a bit, but not enough to be seriously sloshed.
Malthas grins, and toasts happily with the rest of the crew, glad to see that they don't seem to blame him for the damage to the ship. He spins yarns with the rest, though his tales seem to get more and more outlandish as the rum flows. He peers about, seeking lasses that are either part of the short folk (though no dwarves), or at least ones that seem not to mind his stature. He will also try to make sure Malachai enjoys himself as well.
After his stories are all told, he'll begin to attempt to weasel current events and rumors out of the Esparantish sailors.
Malthas grins, and toasts happily with the rest of the crew, glad to see that they don't seem to blame him for the damage to the ship. He spins yarns with the rest, though his tales seem to get more and more outlandish as the rum flows. He peers about, seeking lasses that are either part of the short folk (though no dwarves), or at least ones that seem not to mind his stature. He will also try to make sure Malachai enjoys himself as well.
After his stories are all told, he'll begin to attempt to weasel current events and rumors out of the Esparantish sailors.
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