Deep Water and Shoals II

Vemuz,

As you leave the door, it bursts open with a shattering crash, sending burning embers flying everywhere.

An older, more grizzled Quillen Jones bursts in as well. You notice that his left arm is oddly bent and useless, tucked up against his chest; probably a souvenir of the Malpaire Valley campaign. He skids to a stop, watchman's club in one hand, and flings away his now smouldering overcoat and watch cap. None of his men follow him through the burning doorway.

He stares at you for a long moment, his mouth half-open.

"Vemuz Thriceborn...never thought we'd meet again," he says. You notice he begins to raise his club. But he takes another long look at you and shakes his head slightly, lowering the weapon.

"Aye, we watch each other's backs," he agrees, at last.

He turns to the doorway and shouts,

"Looks like the bastards got away, no use in searchin' here anymore. Smith, Carrington, take High Street. Is Willoughby hurt bad? I'll search Block Street with Cony."

You realize in giving his orders to his men, he has conveniently led them away from both the roads leading to the GRACE and also the roads leading away into the forest.

He turns to go, but before he does, he snaps you a smart salute.

"You owe me a drink if we ever meet again, Vemuz."

With that, he turns and strides out the door, cursing his men for their tardiness.

Malachi,

Some of the younger, more vigorous Orcs are all for rampaging now, but an older one, an Orc still strong-looking but whose hair has gone white, steps in.

"We go to pointy-ears," one of them says. "'Less you wish for dha ol' folk an' dha young'uns to die. But one day we show dis town dha wrath of Gruumsh's Chil'ren. Our day be a comin', ah can smell it!"

The Orcs accept you as their obvious leader, and by taking back alleys, you manage to lead them to the edge of the town, right on the bank of the Standish River. A few small rowboats and keg rafts are tied up to the landing stage. The ragged group, forty-odd Orcs, old men and young Orclings and a few vigorous youths, stand silently on the river, waiting for your guidance.

The younger Orcs are eager for the dark forest and murky river ahead of them. The older Orcs, however, those who have grown used to slavery, stand uncertain, suddenly unwilling to leave the dubious comforts of civilization.

The older Orc who quieted his fellows back at the Auction House steps forward to speak to you.

"When Ah was Orcling, Ah live by de River, down in de Wild-Lands - de River deys call' 'Amarzun'. Ah had canoe, could paddle canoe. You want Ah should take de boats? You needs get back t'yar ship, you want I should take de boats up de river an' let de pointy-ears fin' us?"

Nicodemus

The majority of the Orcs go with Malachi.

However, a dozen or so Orcs, healthy and muscular young males for the most part, stay with you. These are the hands that wanted to ship out on the GRACE.

"You from dha ship?" one asks. "We wan' sail wit' you, sail 'way where dha win' takes us and there no Orc-catchers to hunt us. We from the Makole-a-Utu tribe, we live by dha sea befo' we was slaves. We knows dha Blue Lady an’ her ways.”
 

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Bob Aberton said:
He turns to go, but before he does, he snaps you a smart salute.

"You owe me a drink if we ever meet again, Vemuz."

"A bottle, no less...and mind what I said about tonight Quillen, as I'd sorely like to repay you some day." A dark look crosses Vemuz' eyes. With that Vemuz also turns from the scene and runs to catch up with Nicodemus and the orcs.
 

OOC: By the way, Master & Commander is really great and inspiring for this campaign. They also almost never dumb down any of the nautical and literary references, which was a daring but excellent move on the director's/producer's part. Go see it!
 

OOC: Saw M&C the first weekend after it came out. Awesome movie, definately the best nautical movie I've ever seen; the storm footage was even better than The Perfect Storm, and I agree with you on the nautical language; excellent move on the director's part. I've got a copy of a naval officer's handbook originally printed in 1819, and the characters sometimes sounded like they were quoting it word-for-word.

By the way, have you read the books by Patrick O'Brian? They're pretty good reads, though in my opinion the first few Horatio Hornblower books were somewhat better than the majority of the Patrick O'Brian books (Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, Lieutenant Hornblower, and Hornblower and the Hotspur being my favorites).
 

Grinning and saying to the Orcs 'You lot may be wishin ya had a Slaver fer a change once ya meet Mr. Lang!' C'mon, let's git outta here an back to the Ship,lads.'
Laughing to himself at the thought of these tough orcs meeting the Sea fir the first time, hurling their lunch overboard, Nico ran as fast as his little dwarf legs could carry him, heading back to the Grace, Artimus in tow, running along and grinning at the orc lads.

OoC: Hoping to catch M&C wed night before bedding down and setting off bright and early for Gencon West on Thursday morn. BTW, I'll be gone from the 11th till the 15th.
 
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The older Orc who quieted his fellows back at the Auction House steps forward to speak to you.

"When Ah was Orcling, Ah live by de River, down in de Wild-Lands - de River deys call' 'Amarzun'. Ah had canoe, could paddle canoe. You want Ah should take de boats? You needs get back t'yar ship, you want I should take de boats up de river an' let de pointy-ears fin' us?"

"Who be y'name oldone?" Malachi grins at the orc elder "y'real name?"

"we be takin' dhe boats n goin' up de rivar. Go fin' pointyears, 'Heet-Of-Ten-T'ousand-Oks' big mon belong dhem. Ah com wit'yu, til yu'all saf outta 'ere. Ah Com bak wen yu'all be saf

Le's go"
 
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Nicodemus,

When you and the Orcs reach the GRACE, you find Mr. Lang on anchor-watch.

"You're out rather late, Mr. Arfaliunium," he says by way of greeting. "I hope you weren't carous...." his voice trails off as he sees the Orcs.

"Mr. Arfaliunium," he begins again, his voice even more frosty than ordinary. "Have you turned slave-trader, or have you just...purchased a crew?"

One of the Orcs, a tall well-built fellow by the name of Olaudah, chooses this moment to speak up.

"We no purchased - we's free Orcs. We gon' work f'r wages, work 'board dis ship."

Mr. Lang's expression turns from frosty to reminiscent of a Cape Tempest gale.

"Mr. Arfaliunium, a word? In private, if you please."

In the shadow of a companionway, he opens his mouth to give you one of his typical dressing-downs.

"Mr. Arfaliunium, just how did you come by these Orcs? I have not thought there were above a handful of free Orcs in the Dim West and you turn up a dozen in this one small town? A town, might I remind you, not known for its consideration of those of Orcish blood? By Davy Jones, Mr. Arfaliunium, I cannot, cannot take refugees or escaped slaves on this vessel. Not only is it highly illegal, but the Standishtown courts have been known to confiscate the cargoes of vessels carrying such 'free Orcs,' even to the extent of jailing those involved - which, might I remind you, would include all the officers and most of the crew of this vessel.

No, sir, you know damned well what you must do. Go out there and tell those Orcs - I don't know, tell them whatever you damned well wish, but get them away from this ship! We cannot afford to be found harboring escapees at this time, or ever, for that matter, and I do not care if you think the law is unjust. A law is a law, and I will not risk the success of this voyage for a handful of ex-slaves."

As Mr. Lang continues in this vein for some time, you hear movement in the companionway, and the Captain appears in a dressing gown, blinking sleep out of his eyes and squinting at you in the light of a candle.

"Thought someone was gettin' a tongue-lashin'. What's goin' on, eh? An' why's there a crowd of Orcs sittin' on the docks out there?"

Malachi,

"De humans, dey calls me "Joseph," but when Ah was Orcling, my real name was Oshente, from dha Banti-Nyamba tribe."

The Orcs set to casting loose warps and docklines, and within a few moments Standishtown is stricken with a strange lack of watercraft.

You lead your makeshift flotilla, with "Joseph" Oshente as second-in-command, upriver, but you do not get far before warning arrows begin whistling over your heads. The Orcs cower down on the bottom boards of rowboats and keg rafts and cover their heads for the most part, although Oshente and some of the more spirited Orcs stand up and wave their fists and oars in defiance.

Soon, the banks of the river are swarming with elves, suddenly appearing from behind bush, tree, and rock, all armed, and looking very tense. You recognize Heart-of-Ten-Thousand-Oaks among them. He calls out to you.

"Have you come, then, with an army to destroy us? I thought better of you, shaman of She who the Standishtowners call Calypso."
 

"Dhen Oshente, a Banti-Nyamba be yu name. Our Peopol be free naw, yu be de won kep dhem t'gether, mak dhem strong. Dhe old ones kep dem wit' co'rage. Dhem younguns kep dhem wise. Yu Savy?"

Soon, the banks of the river are swarming with elves, suddenly appearing from behind bush, tree, and rock, all armed, and looking very tense. You recognize Heart-of-Ten-Thousand-Oaks among them. He calls out to you.

"Have you come, then, with an army to destroy us? I thought better of you, shaman of She who the Standishtowners call Calypso."

"We no frien' a clamdiggars!" Malachi stands up and calls back to the Grugach chieftain, a fierce look in his eyes but his hands held wide making himself an easy target and showing that he carries no weapons.

"Clamdiggers be en'mies a my peopol, mak dem slaves. Naw dey be free, we com n' join yu an' kill de clamdiggars. Orc be freind t' grugach!

We com ashore - no wep-ons?"

He stands still waiting the elfs reply and silently praying that Calypso still stands with him
 
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