Deep Water and Shoals II

[Bob Aberton]

Malthas,

The characteristically sharp voice of Mr. Lang cuts through your pleasant dreams of ale and small women; you can catch the words "Mr. Arfaliunium" and "escapees." The Ship's Mage is apparently getting a dressing-down for something or other.

 

[Uriel]

OoC:Ack, need to go to sleep, off to Gencn West tomorrow, until Monday.

IC: Nico listens to Mr. Lang quietly, and (when there is a chance to speak, he will). 'I see and agree with everything that you be'a'sayin, mr Lang, but hear me out. Those orcs there aren't escapees, as you have said, but kidnapped members of a free-tribe from the islands. They wasn't indentured, or debters, er any o'the rest of acceptable ways that folks acquire other folks as propeerty...' Nico spite out a porthole to show his disgust at this'They was kidnapped when they wuz just pups, fer the most part. They has families and Kin on the Islands. Hell, some o'em might be Malachi's Folk. Now I know that this don't sit well wit Law as you unnerstand it, an' I understand yer point of view. However, these Folk had Laws o'there own thet wuz violated when the Slavers kidnapped em. I fer one won't sit an'let Good Folk, of any Creed, rot away in an undeserved Prison, when their only crime wuz ta be livin' on the wrong island when the cowardly Slavers came-a-callin.'alming, Nico says (after a blown out breath) Now I know thet what wuz done this night wuz wrong in the laws of Standishtown, but by Calypso's Foamy Bosom, Damn Their Laws! If'n ye ever worked a Ship with an Orc, ya nows that there ain't any who kin haul an anchor, or a big marlin, fer thet matter affer he's been harpooned, or bail water as strongly as a an Orc.I'll go without pay if'n thet's the problem, as will Malachi, I'm sure, to make sure that the larder an the Paybox isn't overtaxed to make room fer these Orcs.Now, things is a bit late fer changin naow, an the Standishtowners'll be up'n arms quick, so I suggest we get's the Hell outta this clamdigger's hole and set sail fer ports new and less like the bilge of a rat-infested derelict, fer thet's what i think of when I think Standishtown. I am ready fer whatever punishments come my way, an I will take them like an officer and a Gentlman, with nothin but respect fer you Mr. lang and fer the Captain, fer I know you do need to keep Law and all.'

Nicodemus stands awaiting his punishment, cap in hands Arti sheepishly doffing his cap in a like manner while crouching on the back of a chair.

 

[dead_radish]

Malthas remembers what Malachai was about tonight, and grins, dressing quickly. He speaks his thoughts aloud in amusement. 'Unless I miss my guess, poor Mr. Mage will be needing a bit of help straightening things with Mr. Lang." He grins again, and runs out of the cabin, looking for the altercation.

 

[Bob Aberton]

Vemuz & Nicodemus,

If you can look closely you can observe a small vein pulsing in Mr. Lang's throat. His jaw is set so tight that had he not strong teeth, they would have shattered from the pressure several minutes ago.

"You gentlemen & Mr. Legba seem to delight in putting me in impossible situations; even in the Navy we never had so many 'loose cannons' in one vessel. Very well; we shall keep the crew, but only because we are desparately short of hands - I suppose it is too much to hope that these Orcs know anything of the working of a square-rigged merchantman?

As for your punishments; Mr. Arfaliunium, confined to quarters until myself or Captain McCrenshaw informs you otherwise. Mr. Thriceborn; docked a month's pay, and you lose your fast passage bonus - the second half of your punishment will be making those Orcs into anything like proper able-seamen. I expect them to perform to the highest standards of the merchant service before we make port in Port Andorra, and they will be drilled in great-gun and small arms drills by Mr. Marper and Mr. Swifthand, respectively. Good evening to you, gentlemen."

He replaces his hat on his head and marches away with those rigidly precise strides that a huricano, as the Espirantish call it, couldn't jar him from.

The Captain lingers for a few moments.

"Now, gentlemen, much as I might agree with y'r views, an' much as I'm grateful to y' for procurin' a crew, I must agree with Mr. Lang's opinion on your actions. Your punishments stand, except that I'm reinstatin' y'r fast passage bonuses - got t' give y' some sort o' incentive, after all. I won't be countermandin' Mr. Lang's judgements this time - want to leave th' poor fellow some sort o' authority after all - but I wouldn't expect t' stay long in y'r quarters, Mr. Arfaliunium, an' if we make a fast passage, Mr. Thriceborn, y'r bonus should pay for th' loss of the next month's wages. Evenin' gentlemen, we sail with the mornin' tide, or as soon as Mr. Legba returns."

Malthas,

You hear all of the above goings-on.

Malachi,

"Ah lead our Peopol, Malachi Greatchief, Ah lead our Peopol well. Dis forest not so diff'runt from Wild Lands; we make dis place home, we grow strong. We pass on de wisdom of dha Great Fathers, an' Stan'shtown's day gon' come, an' a bloody day it'll be," Oshente replies proudly; he wears his white hairs in an under-chieftain's braids already.

Heart-of-Ten-Thousand-Oaks looks cautiously hopeful.

"You bring allies, shaman? Allies of Brethren? You come ashore, and your under-chief with you, no weapons. Then, we talk."

 

[dead_radish]

Malthas' grin threatens to split his face open as he listens. "Well, Mr. Thriceborn. You've secured a crew, driven Mr. Lang to distraction, and almost gotten that scurvy monkey contained to quarters." He winks at Artimus. He then looks around. "And where's that giant lug of a navigator? Did he find himself a fine fetter of a female friend for flirtation?"

 

[kenjib]

Vemuz replies to the captain before he leaves. "Thank you captain. Mr. Lang and yourself will not regret your decision to allow the new hands on board. I shall make sure of it."

Vemuz grins at Malthas after hearing his comments. "Malachi is seeing the others out to meet Heart-of-Ten-Thousand-Oaks and then he'll be right back. He found himself a right couple score of friends...but none too pretty if you ask me. As for the monkey, well, there's a fair stretch of a journey ahead of us yet!" He chuckles, then turns to head toward the new hands.

Vemuz paces the deck before the orcs as he stares them, one after another, directly in the eye, standing to his full height and girth, equally imposing as that of the large half-orcs. "Alright you, I've risked my neck for you and expect you to work hard in return. I did it because I'll be damned before I let a clamdigger on board my ship, not as an act of charity, so don't expect an easy break on this ship. You're to pull your regular shift every day, and then pull a second shift training with me or one of the others. You'll have to catch what sleep you can, and trust me there won't be much of it. There'll be time enough for sleeping when you've pearls for eyes at the bottom of the briny deep, so for now I need you to watch carefully, learn quickly, and show the captain that you can, each of you, do the work of two men at least.

"You could have headed up river with the others, so you've chosen to do this work and I'm going to hold you to it. Just remember that at the end of the day, all of this work you do, all of your sweat, tears, and blood, is yours. It does not belong to the captain. It does not belong to me. It does not belong to the ship, and when you get paid your wages the profit of your endeavors will fall squarely in your own hands to do with as you please.

"You are free men now, and I expect each one of you to prove to me that you deserve it. You owe me at least this much for what I've done for you. You are to call me 'sir.' You are to call all of the officers 'sir,' and you are to show all of us respect and obedience. This you do by your choice, not by laws of ownership. However, if you choose not to do these things, then you have chosen to suffer the punishments as per the articles of this ship, which will be explained to you in due time. I truly hope, however, that we will not need to resort to such."

Noting once again the sorry state that the orcs are in, filthy, dishevelled, and dressed in rags, Vemuz continues. "Now all of you, come with me and we shall see about securing bunks and provisions. You can't bloody well sail a ship dressed like that."

Vemuz turns sharply, without allowing any of them a chance to reply, and leads the new crewmates below decks where he will attempt to procure what clothing he can and bunks for them to sleep in.

 

[Tonguez]

"We com talk" Malachi replies to the elf in a direct matter of fact tone "no wep-on"

"Naw w' gonna see" Malachi grins back at Oshente, the role of chieftain is not one he desires though it is not too diffrent to being a ships officer, silently he wishes that Malthas was with him to do the talking.
"Yu good fer talkin'?" he asks Oshente "Me-yu go shore, talk dhem Grugach.
Dhe peopol stop n'boat, we be fren' t'Grugach. Dhey strong, dhey be fren' to dhe Peopol 'ganst clamdiggar. Mebbe giv yu land call hom.

Yu tell dhe peopol"

The Half-orc navigator stands still in the boat then listening to Oshente give instructions to the others and hopefully get the boat to shore so that the pair can land and talk with Heart-of-Ten-Thousand-Oaks.

"Calypso halp ye mon ah pray" he whispers under his breath and wonders at what is happening back on the Calypso's Grace and when and if he will get back to it...

 

[dead_radish]

Malthas nods approvingly to himself as Vemuz speaks, then follows along with the new crew - if he's going to be training them as well, he'd best take their measure. He scampers a bit ahead, catching up to Vemuz as he heads down.

"A right touching speech that was. If were not already on board, I'da swum the seas myself to ride on this boat, Mr. Thriceborn. If I'm ta be training them in small arms, we'd best work out a schedule of some sort - I'd prefer smaller groups - perhaps 6 at a time, but I'll need to meet them all first, to judge their skill. Whenever you feel ready to begin, I'm your man. I'd imagine you can find me easily enough." He then leans back to watch the orcs get settled in, helping where he can.

 

[Uriel]

Bowing to his punishment (and agreeing that he deserved it as well), Nicodemus heads for his cabin, content to begin his next batch of scrolls,ungeants and the other various alchemical devices that the ship required to keep it's edge over the competition. before, he moves abovedecks to recover the smokesticks,alchemical fire and other items given to his two 'conspirators' during the freeing of the orcs, stowing them away in their cabnet.

OoC:Bob could you let me know what remains of the things that i gave them just before we entered the Slave-House? Thanks.

 

[Bob Aberton]

Malachi,

The boat nudges into the bank and you and Oshente go ashore. The rest of the Orcs pole or row their craft closer to shore, out of the strongest current, and hold them there, slowly plying quants or oars.

Heart---- looks Oshente and the others over appraisingly.

"You are shaman, holy man, so I trust your word," the elven chieftain says to you. "You are their chief, and this is your mikko? Your people will aid us greatly. We will give you land by the river, to each family, we will give land for the planting of maize and squash. We will teach your people the ways of the forest..."

At this, Oshente breaks in:

"Our Peopol knows dha way of dha forest - "

" - The way of your forest, mikko. We will teach you the ways of our forest. Your people in their turn will aid us against the Men of Standishtown. Give your word on behalf of your people that this friendship will not cause them grief, and we will accept them with open arms. If you or your people betray our trust, we are far greater in number than they, and our vengeance will be such that their grandchildren's grandchildren will weep to hear of it."

Nicodemus,

(OOC: All of the alchemical items you gave Vemuz, you recover, except for the two Alchemist's Fires you gave to Artimus to raise hell. Malachi still has his, so you won't get them back until his return to the GRACE.)

Vemuz,

As you go below to find the slop-chest to fit the new hands with proper gear, you hear them raise a hearty cheer behind you.

"T'ree cheers for dha CALYPSO'S GRACE, an' t'ree more for dha Bo'sun!" One of them shouts, and he is heartily answered.

In a quarter of an hour, the Orcs are fitted with new slop-trousers, striped jerseys, neckerchiefs, and sea-boots, already looking something like proper seamen.

Malthas,

The new hands are all fairly young, and exceedingly strong-looking. To an Orc, they look like they could de-ballast the GRACE single-handedly. You have a feeling they will be holy terrors with good steel in hand.


(OOC Anyone: Does anyone know how it to find the old thread, if it's even possible? I just realized I don't have a copy of the Ship's Articles for the CALYPSO'S GRACE on my computer... )