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Story Hour
Skull & Shackles (2E Conversion), solo campaign
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<blockquote data-quote="Crys" data-source="post: 8024180" data-attributes="member: 7024831"><p>Another 2 session post. I decide how many sessions to include in the posts based on how long my blog estimates they will take to read, by the by. This is a 12 minute and 7 minute read for a total of around 20 minutes. Some of my blog posts are 30+ minute reads, so they get to be their own post.</p><p></p><p>[hr][/hr]</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 22px">Spoiler Warning: Many spoilers for the Skull & Shackles adventure path are contained within these story recap posts. If you don’t want your campaign spoiled, don’t read these!</span></strong></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[hr][/hr]</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 26px"><strong>Session 11 – Meeting a Free Captain</strong></span></p><p></p><p>As they left Ollo and the Iku-tursos behind, a storm had come upon them. The weather was abrupt and violent and greatly hampered their progress. It took them almost three days to gain the distance they would have on one less turbulent day.</p><p></p><p>When the storm quieted Dolce found herself admiring Owlbear’s new cloak. He’d claimed it from <em>The Pelican</em> for he’d been the one to sight her sails. It was certainly a fine thing, expertly crafted of <em>Shadoweave</em>. For someone who was not as sharp of mind he’d made a good enough choice, though Dolce suspected it had been based primarily on the cloak’s appearance. Thankfully, he’d sounded the whistle correctly and hadn’t required discipline. Dolce suspected this was Nasha’s doing, for the lizardfolk was quite fond of Owlbear and had taken him under her wing when it came to mastering ship tasks.</p><p></p><p>Dolce was considering retiring for a bit of rest after the days on the turbid seas – it looked like the storm might return and she didn’t want to miss her chance to sleep while she could – when the familiar signal whistle call rang in her ears. It was a halfling Mirielle had recruited at Rickety’s Squibs that sounded the alarm. “SAIL ON THE HORIZON!!! STARBOARD!” For a halfling, Finrin sure had a good set of pipes.</p><p></p><p>Dolce yawned and drew the spyglass from her pouch as she climbed up the stairs of the aftcastle to have a better look. As she caught the ship in her focus she began reporting to Mirielle, “They’re bearing right down on us Captain… And… I’m pretty sure that’s <em>The Red Mariah</em>. It’s a Free Captain’s ship! Captain Aspogar Astian, the Switch of the North. Likes to torture prisoners he takes for fun.” She handed the spyglass to Mirielle.</p><p></p><p>The sleepiness was gone from her as she wondered what her aasimar captain would order. Mirielle delayed a good minute as she watched them in the distance, then returned the spyglass to Dolce. “BRING US HARD TO STARBOARD!” The aasimar’s voice, more often soft and placating than anything else, rang with resounding authority. This quality had made it quite tricky when Dolce had impersonated her.</p><p></p><p>They were taking on a Free Captain. The very prospect of it made Dolce smile as she looked over at Mirielle. Certainly the captain had adapted well to her new life, and with a nod Dolce headed down the stairs again.</p><p></p><p>“Where are you going?” Mirielle asked, though her eyes were passing from Dolce to the crew even as she asked the question.</p><p></p><p>Dolce paused, “I’ve some spells I’d like to change a bit before we engage, at least if I can manage. See they’re more general purpose spells for the ship and we’ll be wanting my more combative-“</p><p></p><p>Mirielle cut her off, “Very well. Be quick about it and get back to the rigging. We will need all hands against an actual Free Captain.”</p><p></p><p>“Aye, Captain,” Dolce said, slipping into the officer’s quarters below the aftcastle to study her spellbook out of the chaos of the deck.</p><p></p><p>[hr][/hr]</p><p style="text-align: center"><strong>The Switch of the North</strong></p><p></p><p>The sea was calmer than it had been in days, but the hurried hustle and bustle aboard the <em>The Lady’s Purr</em> had not diminished in the least. When Dolce rejoined the deck she found sailors working in concert to bring them closer to <em>The Red Mariah</em>.</p><p></p><p>It certainly got Dolce’s adrenaline pumping. She joined in working the rigging as she’d been instructed, taking over leading shanties from Revel, who’d proven quite adept at the task. Dolce felt Revaress’ tentacles alight on her shoulder and nuzzled the octopus. Fond as she was of the sea she’d never imagined she’d grow to like such a creature. She cast a glance toward Mirielle, who carried a backpack on her person even aboard the ship to tote around her own familiar, Cupiir.</p><p></p><p>The elf shook her head and put her back into the rope work and her voice into the singing. When the distance between the two ships had grown small enough Nasha yelled at Conchobhar, “READY THE BALLISTA… FIRE!” Revel looked disappointed. It seemed she and Nasha were always competing to see who would give the order first, and the other inevitably spent their time and effort reloading for the next shot.</p><p></p><p>The ballista bolt flew true, striking the structure of <em>The Mariah</em> and tearing through part of the wood. It made Dolce smile to see flakes of wood splinter off into the ocean. Of course, they returned fire, and as their ballista struck true and flew clear through the officer’s quarters Dolce noted some of the crew losing their resolve. Not on her watch. She launched into a popular song about an encounter between the current Hurricane King and a vessel called <em>Naiegoul</em>. It was supposed to have been quite a defining point in Bonefist’s life and it was, after all, about seizing opportunity much in the way she and Mirielle had.</p><p></p><p>The song’s upbeat tempo and boisterous nature had the desired effect, rallying the crew even as Mirielle was giving a rousing speech of her own. Dolce heard the beats of it, this man thinks because he’s a free captain he can take us, this man is known for torturing people just for the pleasure of it. Keep that in your minds as we storm his ship, prepare to board….</p><p></p><p>Prepare to board? Dolce looked back toward the other boat. They were still a good ninety feet away and not faced to draw alongside… Unless she meant to… Surely not?</p><p></p><p>“FULL AHEAD!” Mirielle bellowed, and the crew leapt to life. They were heading straight for a collision!</p><p></p><p>Dole took hold of the railing and bellowed in turn, “BRACE YOURSELVES!!!” All the while thinking, <em>‘What is she doing to </em>my <em>ship?’</em> She couldn’t question her aloud though, she’d nominated her to captain, after all. And they needed their momentum going into combat.</p><p></p><p><em>The Lady’s Purr</em> slammed into the side of <em>The Red Mariah</em> and an awful splintering and groaning sound reached their ears. It had been a smart choice in a way, for the collision did far more damage to the enemy than to them and also closed the distance fast enough that Captain Astian hadn’t had the opportunity to fire off any more shots from his ballistae. Still, it pained Dolce to see the damage to their ship’s prow even as she was climbing across the ropes to board <em>The Mariah</em>.</p><p></p><p>She, Mirielle, Revel, and Nasha made their way to the wheel, dodging crossbow bolts and thrown weapons all the way. It was a feeling Dolce had grown accustomed to, and she, Nasha, and Revel had their fair share of scars from being hit in the crossing. Dolce had made certain Mirielle didn’t gain any, insisting that either the aasimar or Quinn used magical healing to knit any wounds she incurred. It was all going to be baked into her legend… The captain so skilled or gifted she’d naught a single scar upon her flesh.</p><p></p><p>At the wheel the four engaged Captain Astian as well as his lover and three marines. The battle was quite intense, but thankfully they had clustered up very well and Dolce rewarded them for this with <em>Chilling Spray</em>. Mirielle was targeted, but also safe behind Reven and Nasha, making it a hard shot for the opponents to hit her.</p><p></p><p>Early on Captain Astian was bold, asking whose idea it had been to ram his ship. Dolce had said naturally it was the captain’s and Astian had promised Mirielle he’d keep her alive… But of course, as his companions fell to their swords, claws, and fangs, his tune started changing. When he himself was killed, his lover jumped overboard. In the water she cast a spell that let her stand atop it.</p><p></p><p>Before anyone could say otherwise, Revel chased her into the sea. Dolce could have tried to snap Revel out of her bloodlust, she heard the woman surrender, but she didn’t particularly want the dead captain’s loyal, spell-casting lover alive to betray them.. So instead she moved to the edge of the boat and reported to Mirielle, “Two in the water, Captain.”</p><p></p><p>Mirielle did try to make Revel stand down, telling her to cease her attacks, but the hobgoblin was too far gone with bloodlust and ripped into the woman’s shoulder and arm, taking it clear off her body. Her attention then turned to another man who’d jumped overboard. One of the officers… She tore him apart too, ending their lives in quick succession.</p><p></p><p>Mirielle was quite displeased. “You will have to discipline her for that,” Mirielle said to Dolce.</p><p></p><p>Dolce knew Mirielle was right. The whole crew had heard her order Revel to stop her assault and the hobgoblin hadn’t listened. Quietly the elf responded, “It will be best if… <em>you</em> handle that, Captain.” She put emphasis on ‘you’ and met Mirielle’s gaze purposefully. The aasimar nodded.</p><p></p><p>They dropped the bodies of the dead into the sea. Easily Revel’s favorite part of any ship encounter because it never took long for the sharks to arrive. Of course the hobgoblin was aboard by then. While she took on their aspects, she had no special affinity with sharks and they would as soon eat her as the drifting dead.</p><p></p><p>[hr][/hr]</p><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Discipline</strong></p><p></p><p>They split the crew between the two ships, as usual, but before Revel and Dolce went aboard <em>The Red Mariah</em> the crew was gathered on <em>The Lady’s Purr</em>. Dolce slipped into the captain’s cabin with Mirielle for no more than ten minutes, and when they emerged the elf, now disguised as Captain Mirielle gave the order, “Dolce, bind the Master-at-Arms to the mast.” Mirielle, who now looked like Dolce, nodded and did as she’d been bidden before standing among the crew. The false Captain Mirielle continued, “You all heard the order given, and all saw the order disobeyed. Not only did our Master-at-Arms directly disobey me, she killed a woman who had surrendered. <strong>Good Quarters to be given when Craved.</strong>” She said the last as deeply and heavily as she could, trying to mimic the real Mirielle’s voice. The crew was quiet and murmuring agreement even before she continued, “We <em>ALL</em> signed the articles. We <em>ALL</em> agreed to these rules, and that means <em><strong>always</strong></em>. Whether we be in the heat of combat or on an idle day, these are the rules we live by. For Revel’s transgressions, thirty stripes lacking one.”</p><p></p><p>Dolce saw her own face registering surprise at that particular sentence. It was strange to see herself react, but kind of exhilarating, for no one in the crew seemed to realize the switch had taken place. Not even Ambrose or Quinn, who both knew Dolce had this ability. As far as the discipline went, she knew Revel.. Nothing else would sting enough to remind the hobgoblin to obey the articles in the heat of combat.</p><p></p><p>Mirielle, appearing as Dolce, nodded and moved forward. They had planned on this. Naturally, if the person responsible for issuing out discipline on the ship was being disciplined it fell to the Bosun or First Mate to mete out their punishment. Just as her disguised friend prepared the first strike, Dolce as the captain said, “Stand down, Dolce. I will see to this personally.”</p><p></p><p>The lash was handed to her then and she moved close to Revel, saying over her shoulder, “Remember this the next time you think to kill someone who has surrendered. Remember it when you think to act against my orders. Orders are given for a reason, and we all agreed to the articles.”</p><p></p><p>Revel murmured her understanding, and Dolce earnestly believed the hobgoblin hadn’t <em>intended</em> to murder the two survivors who had fled… She just got <em>so</em> caught up in the taste and scent of blood all reason left her. The elf felt a little guilty to be punishing her for something she’d allowed to happen. After all, the death of the woman had suited Dolce and she suspected her voice could have cut through the cloud of Revel’s bloodlust if she’d directed it like she had just now… But… This way she didn’t have to deal with containing a spell caster that would certainly hold a grudge.</p><p></p><p>She moved back, and one by one the lashes fell. With her expert precision, she made sure none were too harsh and none too gentle. To her surprise, Revel remained conscious throughout the vast majority of the discipline. Only in the final lashes of the twenty-nine she’d been prescribed did she fall unconscious. When the deed was done, Dolce also noticed that Mirielle was still watching. She’d not expected that. So extreme had been the aasimar’s reactions on <em>The Wormwood</em> to witnessing such disciplines that Dolce hadn’t thought she’d had the stomach for it.</p><p></p><p>The crew likewise seemed surprised that Mirielle had meted out this punishment herself. This was as Dolce expected and why she had switched places with Mirielle to begin with. The crew needed to believe their captain capable of meting out the punishments they’d all agreed to. As well as to believe she could give a proper dressing down. Sure, they would have likely followed her anyway, but the air of respect they would show her would change after today.</p><p></p><p>“Master Surgeon, you may tend the Master-at-Arms’ wounds, but not with magic. Am I clear?” She was addressing Quinn, who nodded his understanding and took Revel to care for her.</p><p></p><p>She went about her business as Mirielle for a time, not wanting Quinn, Ambrose, or anyone else to be suspicious if they disappeared back into the captain’s cabin again after the discipline as well as they had before. To her surprise, Quinn caught up with her after treating Revel, finding her alone near the kitchen to say, “I didn’t think you had it in you, Mirielle.”</p><p></p><p>She feigned Mirielle’s discomfort with violence and said, “I only hope it’s not necessary again.”</p><p></p><p>Quinn smiled and leaned in, kissing her on the lips. Dolce’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but luckily his eyes were closed. She had suspicions the two were growing close from watching them aboard the ship, but hadn’t thought they were actually … courting? This gesture seemed relaxed and expected and as though it would be strange if Mirielle rebuffed him, and so she did not.. She returned the kiss and was thankful it was but a brief peck on the lips and nothing more intimate. “You did well,” Quinn assured her as his eyes opened again. Dolce supposed she’d managed to mask her surprise well enough when he didn’t look confused.</p><p></p><p>“Th-thank you. I need to speak with Dolce about something now though. Perhaps we can catch up later, over dinner?” Dolce was tempted to intimate that more may happen over dinner, just to mess with Mirielle, but if the two were getting along she didn’t want to complicate things. She liked the idea of them together.</p><p></p><p>Quinn nodded and she darted off to find ‘Dolce’ and took her to her cabin before swapping appearances again. “Quinn kissed me!” She said when the door was closed.</p><p></p><p>“He did?” Mirielle asked.</p><p></p><p>Thankfully it was but a moment to drop the spell and the two looked like who they really were again. “Yes. Thinking I was you. Are you sleeping with him?” She didn’t suspect they were, but if they were it would mean trouble… When Mirielle’s cheeks grew dark red, Dolce knew she was right. “Well, if that changes you let me know. Being pregnant on a pirate ship as its captain would certainly complicate things.. And growing up on one is no place for a baby.”</p><p></p><p>Mirielle agreed and they separated. Now Dolce and Revel went to <em>The Red Mariah</em> with a few other members of their crew. They had seen Finrin take the captain’s hat and knew he’d be dining with the other officers on <em>The Lady’s Purr</em> tonight while they ate in the captain’s cabin here.</p><p></p><p>Except, the storm picked back up and Revel and Dolce didn’t have enough crew aboard <em>The Red Mariah</em> to break for dining at any length. They each snatched a bite and continued working. The rest of the trip to Slipcove proved wretched and slow.</p><p></p><p>[hr][/hr]</p><p></p><p><strong>OOC Notes for Session 11</strong></p><p></p><p>The terrible storm that slowed their progress was actually a result of me miss-measuring the travel time between Ollo and Slipcove and my husband deciding rather than altering how long it took to arrive we’d just make their travel slower.</p><p></p><p>When Dolce and Mirielle switch places describing who is doing what becomes <em>quite</em> fun and convoluted.</p><p></p><p>Dolce can take ten minutes to replace a single spell she has prepared in a day for another spell of the same level thanks to her <a href="https://2e.aonprd.com/ArcaneThesis.aspx?ID=4" target="_blank">Arcane Thesis of Spell Substitution</a>. She frequently does this when they approach enemy ships because the spells she prepares for ship emergencies (things like <em>Feather Fall</em> and <em>Air Bubble</em>) aren’t as useful in combat.</p><p></p><p>[hr][/hr]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 26px"><strong>Session 12 – Slipcove</strong></span></p><p></p><p>By the time they reached Slipcove, Calden, the lone surviving marine from <em>The Kurstav</em>, had proven himself a capable member of their crew. Mirielle had recruited him shortly after revealing her plan to transport <em>The Kurstav</em>‘s crew to Slipcove rather than stranding them in Ollo. It seemed the battle-hardened marine was fine working with pirates so long as there was no slavery involved. He’d taken to instructing the crew of <em>The Purr</em> in combat, trying to shore up the shortcomings of those with little battle experience. Honestly something Dolce and Revel probably should have taken the time to do…</p><p></p><p>Dolce suspected part of his willingness to convert was how fairly the crew of <em>The Kurstav</em> had been treated… Even their captain left alive and all of them fed from the same food <em>The Purr</em>‘s crew ate. Perhaps there was some merit to Mirielle’s mercy, even if it would bring the Aspice Consortium down on their heads.</p><p></p><p>The aasimar was right about their reputation… Without a reputation Mirielle would never be named a Free Captain. While technically being named one wouldn’t do <em>much</em> for the crew of <em>The Lady’s Purr</em>, it would mean that other Free Captains should leave them be… <em>Should</em>… But they were all pirates, so Dolce made no hard assumptions about that particular point.</p><p></p><p>Conchobar had really taken to his post as Master Gunner. Cog and Rosie were another matter. Their Quartermaster was quite capable of keeping inventory and securing the quartermaster’s cabin, but he was miserable doing it. Aside from frolicking with Revel, his duties gave him little in the way of distraction and he missed working the rigging. Strange creature, that. Rosie, on the other hand, didn’t like the weight of her responsibilities as Bosun. She did the job well enough, but Dolce honestly wanted to free her of it so she could be a full-time entertainer.</p><p></p><p>Songs did much to break up the monotony of long days at sea, and Dolce suspected Rosie’s passion for music would make her a natural at that particular task. Even Mirielle had suggested as much in private conversation. As a result whenever they made port Dolce kept an eye out and an ear open for good candidates for Quartermaster and Bosun. Perhaps in Slipcove.</p><p></p><p>As they approached the port a vessel of respectable size came alongside them. A longboat came out, and much like in Senghor, a detachment of personnel requested to come aboard. Mirielle allowed them and openly told them they meant to sell <em>The Red Mariah</em> here in Slipcove as well as to release the crews of both <em>The Red Mariah</em> and that of <em>The Kurstav</em> here in Slipcove, where they were likely to find a softer landing than they might have in our last port of call, Ollo.</p><p></p><p>The fee, as a “fleet” with neither a reputation for freeing slaves nor a reputation for taking them, to enter Slipcove was a single payment of a thousand gold coins. Luckily, Mirielle, Dolce, Revel, and Nasha had eight thousand gold coins they were eager to be free of. They didn’t particularly want the ancient currency of the Iku-Tursos lingering with them. It would give them an all too easy thing to scry upon since it was rather distinctive due to its age.</p><p></p><p>The payment for their two vessel fleet was made to the halfling who had inspected their ships. When they reached land, Mirielle loitered long enough to see that the halflings who had met them on the ocean were setting up the two crews <em>The Purr</em> was leaving here with work and a place to stay. Senghor had made sure they’d been true to their word and freed the people they’d taken there, but Slipcove went a step farther. It made sense to Mirielle, after all, Captain Raffles had had his start as a slave aboard a Chelaxian vessel.</p><p></p><p><em>The Chains of Freedom</em> was at port, meaning Captain Raffles was at home. Dolce was sure he wouldn’t claim their ship, even though it was in his right to do so. Raffles had a reputation of singling out slavers and Dolce felt certain the money they were about to spend upgrading <em>The Purr</em> in his settlement would put them in his favor.</p><p></p><p>Mirielle and Dolce set about selling <em>The Red Mariah</em>. The buyer was employed by none other than Captain Raffles. Dolce asked him who he recommended to improve their hull, sell them silk sails, enchant their catapults, and sell them light ballistae. The people suggested to them also worked for Raffles. Mirielle and Dolce spent thousands of gold, easily more than the remaining seven thousand from the Iku-Tursos’ payment on these improvements, plus buying the supplies to carve a figurehead.</p><p></p><p>The last was a surprise project Mirielle assigned to Dolce. Dolce then set about acquiring better tools for all of their needs.. Healer’s supplies, higher quality thieves’ tools, better-suited climbing kits, carpentry tools, jeweler’s tools, tailor’s tools, and on and on. Soon she felt like she had a tool for everything short of smithing in her <em>Bag of Holding</em>.</p><p></p><p>She bought an extra set of the healer’s tools for Quinn, plus two nice spyglasses for herself and Mirielle. Her old spyglass, claimed on the island of the grindylow, would go to the crow’s nest for whoever was on duty up there.</p><p></p><p>Dolce sang for three nights of their recent deeds – of course, not mentioning a thing about the shark egg that hadn’t left her <em>Bag of Holding</em> since the night they’d claimed it. She emphasized their most recent conquest, for <em>The Switch of the North</em> was known to participate in slavery and this port was overflowing with freed slaves. She was right, a swelling of appreciation could be felt when she sang the tale of their combat with Captain Astian...</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><em>Head to Head</em></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">The storm had cleared but an hour before-</p> <p style="text-align: center">The waves lilted and they lulled-</p> <p style="text-align: center">She’d followed us from the nearest shore</p> <p style="text-align: center">And all our senses dulled.</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">Her thunder, that mighty anger voiced,</p> <p style="text-align: center">Receded with the clouds.</p> <p style="text-align: center">And for the reprieve we rejoiced</p> <p style="text-align: center">So tired of her shrouds.</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">Then came a cry from overhead;</p> <p style="text-align: center">Sail on our starboard side.</p> <p style="text-align: center">The ship showed not a sign of dread</p> <p style="text-align: center">And toward us did she glide.</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">Her ruby silk above the waves,</p> <p style="text-align: center">Like fire over water,</p> <p style="text-align: center">A captain known for making graves,</p> <p style="text-align: center">‘Twould spare as soon as slaughter.</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>The Red Mariah</em>, she was called,</p> <p style="text-align: center">Switch of the North, was he,</p> <p style="text-align: center">And toward us now his crew was hauled</p> <p style="text-align: center">To meet us on the sea.</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">Our Captain let the spyglass down,</p> <p style="text-align: center">And ordered us to starboard.</p> <p style="text-align: center">We would defeat him or we’d drown,</p> <p style="text-align: center">Beneath the hate he harbored.</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">Head to head our course is set,</p> <p style="text-align: center">And not a soul dismays,</p> <p style="text-align: center">We’ve no time to feel regret,</p> <p style="text-align: center">Our colors do we raise.</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">The catapults exchanging fire</p> <p style="text-align: center">Above the ocean blue,</p> <p style="text-align: center">Wood splinters and sailors tire</p> <p style="text-align: center">And yet our course stays true.</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">They hit us good and turn to port,</p> <p style="text-align: center">More weapons, now, they bare.</p> <p style="text-align: center">Their plan, our captain means to thwart</p> <p style="text-align: center">For her, their threat can’t scare.</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">“Full ahead” she yells aloud,</p> <p style="text-align: center">“Prepare to board!” soon follows,</p> <p style="text-align: center">Into her hull, <em>The Lady</em> plowed,</p> <p style="text-align: center">Some of the crew, she swallows.</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">The groan of wood rings in our ears</p> <p style="text-align: center">As we board the other vessel.</p> <p style="text-align: center">Our enemy shrugs off their fears</p> <p style="text-align: center">And soon our crews will wrestle.</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">Captain to captain came the fight</p> <p style="text-align: center">At <em>The Mariah</em>‘s wheel,</p> <p style="text-align: center">And the Switch, too prideful for respite</p> <p style="text-align: center">Took death before he’d kneel.</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p><p>Of course, the song would be met in other harbors with at least some respect for the captain who wouldn't surrender. Here it was simply met with cheering at the fact that he was dead.</p><p></p><p>The fourth night, as she was sitting to dinner with Mirielle and Quinn, they were approached by a group of halflings who informed them they had been invited to dine with none other than Captain Raffles. Mirielle sent Dolce to hunt down Revel, and accepted graciously. The inside of Captain Raffles’ estate was covered in broken chains. It seemed there was a constant clinking sound. Dolce approved of the atmosphere it created.</p><p></p><p>[hr][/hr]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Broken Chains</strong></p><p></p><p>They dined on the overturned and warped hull of the ship’s boat which his previous slaver had tried to escape on. During the course of dinner Captain Raffles informed them that the bones were still inside the overturned hull. A bit morbid, but understandable to Dolce. He also told them the sounds of the chains clinking had driven some servants mad. She wondered at the truth of that.</p><p></p><p>Raffles commented on their presence being bold when he could simply take their ship from them, but Mirielle calmly replied, “My first mate here seems to think quite highly of you, Captain. She assures me it would be very out of character for you to do something like that considering we’ve no history of, nor intent to engage in, slavery… And, I trust my first mate’s instincts.” Mirelle offered a smile to Dolce.</p><p></p><p>Raffles leaned back in his chair, considering first Mirielle and then Dolce. Dolce smiled at him when his eye was upon her, but she felt convinced he didn’t trust them. And why should he? Everyone at the table was a pirate. By the end of the meal he had warmed up considerably thanks to both Dolce and Mirielle’s efforts. They’d exchanged stories and Dolce had recounted going head-to-head with <em>The Red Mariah</em> yet again.</p><p></p><p>Here Captain Raffles laughed and said, “Ah, <em>The Red Mariah</em>. Was Captain Astian still wearing that ridiculous green hat?”</p><p></p><p>A test, Dolce sensed, to see if they’d really slain who they claimed when they themselves were pirates he’d never heard of before. “Ah, no Captain. 'Twas a red hat with varied colored plumage. One of our own claimed it for himself, his prize for sighting her sails. It was quite comical though, taking it in for him. He’s a halfling, like yourself, and Astian was a big man.” Captain Raffles laughed about this, and conversation moved on to his conquests again.</p><p></p><p>When they left Captain Raffles they were well-fed and Dolce felt they’d passed his tests. Of course, any alliance or friendliness was as likely to change as the winds. They’d leave here when the modifications were completed to <em>The Purr</em> and head back out to the trade lanes. Senghor was still a better port, and for now they were not selling their plunder because even with the gross influx of their coin the halflings wouldn’t be paying as well as Senghor would.</p><p></p><p>Dolce shopped some more, buying a number of blank books as well as a book full of designs for basic things one needed on a ship. Sails, ropes, anchors, wheels, etc. etc. And of course, a figurehead. She’d have to consult this to be sure the figurehead she designed for Mirielle’s vessel would stay affixed to it properly. They were having it mounted, but of course, right now it was just a large hunk of wood she could carve out of.</p><p></p><p>With all of those mundane needs handled she went back to her luxurious inn to relax. The atmosphere was amazing, but she expected no less from a high-end inn run by halflings. They were renowned for their love of homely comforts.</p><p></p><p>A week in total was spent in Slipcove by the time they got to survey their ship’s upgrades. The sturdier hull would cost them in room for plunder, but not much. The silk sails would make the vessel swifter. Dolce had gotten the craftsmen to work in imagery of mist and ice crystals in their silken sails. Chosen primarily because Mirielle had Greed and Gluttony – the two catapults they mounted on the forecastle and aftcastle – enchanted with Frost. When Dolce had inquired why, Mirielle had said she was taking a page out of Dolce’s book.. Frost was safer than fire or electricity or even thunder on the sea.</p><p></p><p>True, it would be more likely to slow enemy vessels than inflict additional damage or burning to them… That was why <em>Chilling Spray</em> was Dolce’s go-to spell rather than <em>Burning Hands</em>. She hadn’t even invested the energy or coin to learn the latter.</p><p></p><p>Now though, it gave Dolce ideas for the figurehead and she wanted the sails to blend with what she was going for. An angel with wings of ice crystals and a glowing halo not unlike Mirielle’s. That was how Dolce would repay her captain for the surprise task of making their figurehead… By featuring her prominently in it.</p><p></p><p>Dolce was smiling as they took to the sea again, leaving Slipcove in their wake. She had rigged a rope harness for her work carving the figurehead. If it was all she did for the next several days.. she figured she could manage it in four… But more time would have been convenient.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Crys, post: 8024180, member: 7024831"] Another 2 session post. I decide how many sessions to include in the posts based on how long my blog estimates they will take to read, by the by. This is a 12 minute and 7 minute read for a total of around 20 minutes. Some of my blog posts are 30+ minute reads, so they get to be their own post. [hr][/hr] [B][SIZE=6]Spoiler Warning: Many spoilers for the Skull & Shackles adventure path are contained within these story recap posts. If you don’t want your campaign spoiled, don’t read these![/SIZE][/B] [CENTER][hr][/hr] [SIZE=7][B]Session 11 – Meeting a Free Captain[/B][/SIZE][/CENTER] As they left Ollo and the Iku-tursos behind, a storm had come upon them. The weather was abrupt and violent and greatly hampered their progress. It took them almost three days to gain the distance they would have on one less turbulent day. When the storm quieted Dolce found herself admiring Owlbear’s new cloak. He’d claimed it from [I]The Pelican[/I] for he’d been the one to sight her sails. It was certainly a fine thing, expertly crafted of [I]Shadoweave[/I]. For someone who was not as sharp of mind he’d made a good enough choice, though Dolce suspected it had been based primarily on the cloak’s appearance. Thankfully, he’d sounded the whistle correctly and hadn’t required discipline. Dolce suspected this was Nasha’s doing, for the lizardfolk was quite fond of Owlbear and had taken him under her wing when it came to mastering ship tasks. Dolce was considering retiring for a bit of rest after the days on the turbid seas – it looked like the storm might return and she didn’t want to miss her chance to sleep while she could – when the familiar signal whistle call rang in her ears. It was a halfling Mirielle had recruited at Rickety’s Squibs that sounded the alarm. “SAIL ON THE HORIZON!!! STARBOARD!” For a halfling, Finrin sure had a good set of pipes. Dolce yawned and drew the spyglass from her pouch as she climbed up the stairs of the aftcastle to have a better look. As she caught the ship in her focus she began reporting to Mirielle, “They’re bearing right down on us Captain… And… I’m pretty sure that’s [I]The Red Mariah[/I]. It’s a Free Captain’s ship! Captain Aspogar Astian, the Switch of the North. Likes to torture prisoners he takes for fun.” She handed the spyglass to Mirielle. The sleepiness was gone from her as she wondered what her aasimar captain would order. Mirielle delayed a good minute as she watched them in the distance, then returned the spyglass to Dolce. “BRING US HARD TO STARBOARD!” The aasimar’s voice, more often soft and placating than anything else, rang with resounding authority. This quality had made it quite tricky when Dolce had impersonated her. They were taking on a Free Captain. The very prospect of it made Dolce smile as she looked over at Mirielle. Certainly the captain had adapted well to her new life, and with a nod Dolce headed down the stairs again. “Where are you going?” Mirielle asked, though her eyes were passing from Dolce to the crew even as she asked the question. Dolce paused, “I’ve some spells I’d like to change a bit before we engage, at least if I can manage. See they’re more general purpose spells for the ship and we’ll be wanting my more combative-“ Mirielle cut her off, “Very well. Be quick about it and get back to the rigging. We will need all hands against an actual Free Captain.” “Aye, Captain,” Dolce said, slipping into the officer’s quarters below the aftcastle to study her spellbook out of the chaos of the deck. [hr][/hr] [CENTER][B]The Switch of the North[/B][/CENTER] The sea was calmer than it had been in days, but the hurried hustle and bustle aboard the [I]The Lady’s Purr[/I] had not diminished in the least. When Dolce rejoined the deck she found sailors working in concert to bring them closer to [I]The Red Mariah[/I]. It certainly got Dolce’s adrenaline pumping. She joined in working the rigging as she’d been instructed, taking over leading shanties from Revel, who’d proven quite adept at the task. Dolce felt Revaress’ tentacles alight on her shoulder and nuzzled the octopus. Fond as she was of the sea she’d never imagined she’d grow to like such a creature. She cast a glance toward Mirielle, who carried a backpack on her person even aboard the ship to tote around her own familiar, Cupiir. The elf shook her head and put her back into the rope work and her voice into the singing. When the distance between the two ships had grown small enough Nasha yelled at Conchobhar, “READY THE BALLISTA… FIRE!” Revel looked disappointed. It seemed she and Nasha were always competing to see who would give the order first, and the other inevitably spent their time and effort reloading for the next shot. The ballista bolt flew true, striking the structure of [I]The Mariah[/I] and tearing through part of the wood. It made Dolce smile to see flakes of wood splinter off into the ocean. Of course, they returned fire, and as their ballista struck true and flew clear through the officer’s quarters Dolce noted some of the crew losing their resolve. Not on her watch. She launched into a popular song about an encounter between the current Hurricane King and a vessel called [I]Naiegoul[/I]. It was supposed to have been quite a defining point in Bonefist’s life and it was, after all, about seizing opportunity much in the way she and Mirielle had. The song’s upbeat tempo and boisterous nature had the desired effect, rallying the crew even as Mirielle was giving a rousing speech of her own. Dolce heard the beats of it, this man thinks because he’s a free captain he can take us, this man is known for torturing people just for the pleasure of it. Keep that in your minds as we storm his ship, prepare to board…. Prepare to board? Dolce looked back toward the other boat. They were still a good ninety feet away and not faced to draw alongside… Unless she meant to… Surely not? “FULL AHEAD!” Mirielle bellowed, and the crew leapt to life. They were heading straight for a collision! Dole took hold of the railing and bellowed in turn, “BRACE YOURSELVES!!!” All the while thinking, [I]‘What is she doing to [/I]my [I]ship?’[/I] She couldn’t question her aloud though, she’d nominated her to captain, after all. And they needed their momentum going into combat. [I]The Lady’s Purr[/I] slammed into the side of [I]The Red Mariah[/I] and an awful splintering and groaning sound reached their ears. It had been a smart choice in a way, for the collision did far more damage to the enemy than to them and also closed the distance fast enough that Captain Astian hadn’t had the opportunity to fire off any more shots from his ballistae. Still, it pained Dolce to see the damage to their ship’s prow even as she was climbing across the ropes to board [I]The Mariah[/I]. She, Mirielle, Revel, and Nasha made their way to the wheel, dodging crossbow bolts and thrown weapons all the way. It was a feeling Dolce had grown accustomed to, and she, Nasha, and Revel had their fair share of scars from being hit in the crossing. Dolce had made certain Mirielle didn’t gain any, insisting that either the aasimar or Quinn used magical healing to knit any wounds she incurred. It was all going to be baked into her legend… The captain so skilled or gifted she’d naught a single scar upon her flesh. At the wheel the four engaged Captain Astian as well as his lover and three marines. The battle was quite intense, but thankfully they had clustered up very well and Dolce rewarded them for this with [I]Chilling Spray[/I]. Mirielle was targeted, but also safe behind Reven and Nasha, making it a hard shot for the opponents to hit her. Early on Captain Astian was bold, asking whose idea it had been to ram his ship. Dolce had said naturally it was the captain’s and Astian had promised Mirielle he’d keep her alive… But of course, as his companions fell to their swords, claws, and fangs, his tune started changing. When he himself was killed, his lover jumped overboard. In the water she cast a spell that let her stand atop it. Before anyone could say otherwise, Revel chased her into the sea. Dolce could have tried to snap Revel out of her bloodlust, she heard the woman surrender, but she didn’t particularly want the dead captain’s loyal, spell-casting lover alive to betray them.. So instead she moved to the edge of the boat and reported to Mirielle, “Two in the water, Captain.” Mirielle did try to make Revel stand down, telling her to cease her attacks, but the hobgoblin was too far gone with bloodlust and ripped into the woman’s shoulder and arm, taking it clear off her body. Her attention then turned to another man who’d jumped overboard. One of the officers… She tore him apart too, ending their lives in quick succession. Mirielle was quite displeased. “You will have to discipline her for that,” Mirielle said to Dolce. Dolce knew Mirielle was right. The whole crew had heard her order Revel to stop her assault and the hobgoblin hadn’t listened. Quietly the elf responded, “It will be best if… [I]you[/I] handle that, Captain.” She put emphasis on ‘you’ and met Mirielle’s gaze purposefully. The aasimar nodded. They dropped the bodies of the dead into the sea. Easily Revel’s favorite part of any ship encounter because it never took long for the sharks to arrive. Of course the hobgoblin was aboard by then. While she took on their aspects, she had no special affinity with sharks and they would as soon eat her as the drifting dead. [hr][/hr] [CENTER][B]Discipline[/B][/CENTER] They split the crew between the two ships, as usual, but before Revel and Dolce went aboard [I]The Red Mariah[/I] the crew was gathered on [I]The Lady’s Purr[/I]. Dolce slipped into the captain’s cabin with Mirielle for no more than ten minutes, and when they emerged the elf, now disguised as Captain Mirielle gave the order, “Dolce, bind the Master-at-Arms to the mast.” Mirielle, who now looked like Dolce, nodded and did as she’d been bidden before standing among the crew. The false Captain Mirielle continued, “You all heard the order given, and all saw the order disobeyed. Not only did our Master-at-Arms directly disobey me, she killed a woman who had surrendered. [B]Good Quarters to be given when Craved.[/B]” She said the last as deeply and heavily as she could, trying to mimic the real Mirielle’s voice. The crew was quiet and murmuring agreement even before she continued, “We [I]ALL[/I] signed the articles. We [I]ALL[/I] agreed to these rules, and that means [I][B]always[/B][/I]. Whether we be in the heat of combat or on an idle day, these are the rules we live by. For Revel’s transgressions, thirty stripes lacking one.” Dolce saw her own face registering surprise at that particular sentence. It was strange to see herself react, but kind of exhilarating, for no one in the crew seemed to realize the switch had taken place. Not even Ambrose or Quinn, who both knew Dolce had this ability. As far as the discipline went, she knew Revel.. Nothing else would sting enough to remind the hobgoblin to obey the articles in the heat of combat. Mirielle, appearing as Dolce, nodded and moved forward. They had planned on this. Naturally, if the person responsible for issuing out discipline on the ship was being disciplined it fell to the Bosun or First Mate to mete out their punishment. Just as her disguised friend prepared the first strike, Dolce as the captain said, “Stand down, Dolce. I will see to this personally.” The lash was handed to her then and she moved close to Revel, saying over her shoulder, “Remember this the next time you think to kill someone who has surrendered. Remember it when you think to act against my orders. Orders are given for a reason, and we all agreed to the articles.” Revel murmured her understanding, and Dolce earnestly believed the hobgoblin hadn’t [I]intended[/I] to murder the two survivors who had fled… She just got [I]so[/I] caught up in the taste and scent of blood all reason left her. The elf felt a little guilty to be punishing her for something she’d allowed to happen. After all, the death of the woman had suited Dolce and she suspected her voice could have cut through the cloud of Revel’s bloodlust if she’d directed it like she had just now… But… This way she didn’t have to deal with containing a spell caster that would certainly hold a grudge. She moved back, and one by one the lashes fell. With her expert precision, she made sure none were too harsh and none too gentle. To her surprise, Revel remained conscious throughout the vast majority of the discipline. Only in the final lashes of the twenty-nine she’d been prescribed did she fall unconscious. When the deed was done, Dolce also noticed that Mirielle was still watching. She’d not expected that. So extreme had been the aasimar’s reactions on [I]The Wormwood[/I] to witnessing such disciplines that Dolce hadn’t thought she’d had the stomach for it. The crew likewise seemed surprised that Mirielle had meted out this punishment herself. This was as Dolce expected and why she had switched places with Mirielle to begin with. The crew needed to believe their captain capable of meting out the punishments they’d all agreed to. As well as to believe she could give a proper dressing down. Sure, they would have likely followed her anyway, but the air of respect they would show her would change after today. “Master Surgeon, you may tend the Master-at-Arms’ wounds, but not with magic. Am I clear?” She was addressing Quinn, who nodded his understanding and took Revel to care for her. She went about her business as Mirielle for a time, not wanting Quinn, Ambrose, or anyone else to be suspicious if they disappeared back into the captain’s cabin again after the discipline as well as they had before. To her surprise, Quinn caught up with her after treating Revel, finding her alone near the kitchen to say, “I didn’t think you had it in you, Mirielle.” She feigned Mirielle’s discomfort with violence and said, “I only hope it’s not necessary again.” Quinn smiled and leaned in, kissing her on the lips. Dolce’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but luckily his eyes were closed. She had suspicions the two were growing close from watching them aboard the ship, but hadn’t thought they were actually … courting? This gesture seemed relaxed and expected and as though it would be strange if Mirielle rebuffed him, and so she did not.. She returned the kiss and was thankful it was but a brief peck on the lips and nothing more intimate. “You did well,” Quinn assured her as his eyes opened again. Dolce supposed she’d managed to mask her surprise well enough when he didn’t look confused. “Th-thank you. I need to speak with Dolce about something now though. Perhaps we can catch up later, over dinner?” Dolce was tempted to intimate that more may happen over dinner, just to mess with Mirielle, but if the two were getting along she didn’t want to complicate things. She liked the idea of them together. Quinn nodded and she darted off to find ‘Dolce’ and took her to her cabin before swapping appearances again. “Quinn kissed me!” She said when the door was closed. “He did?” Mirielle asked. Thankfully it was but a moment to drop the spell and the two looked like who they really were again. “Yes. Thinking I was you. Are you sleeping with him?” She didn’t suspect they were, but if they were it would mean trouble… When Mirielle’s cheeks grew dark red, Dolce knew she was right. “Well, if that changes you let me know. Being pregnant on a pirate ship as its captain would certainly complicate things.. And growing up on one is no place for a baby.” Mirielle agreed and they separated. Now Dolce and Revel went to [I]The Red Mariah[/I] with a few other members of their crew. They had seen Finrin take the captain’s hat and knew he’d be dining with the other officers on [I]The Lady’s Purr[/I] tonight while they ate in the captain’s cabin here. Except, the storm picked back up and Revel and Dolce didn’t have enough crew aboard [I]The Red Mariah[/I] to break for dining at any length. They each snatched a bite and continued working. The rest of the trip to Slipcove proved wretched and slow. [hr][/hr] [B]OOC Notes for Session 11[/B] The terrible storm that slowed their progress was actually a result of me miss-measuring the travel time between Ollo and Slipcove and my husband deciding rather than altering how long it took to arrive we’d just make their travel slower. When Dolce and Mirielle switch places describing who is doing what becomes [I]quite[/I] fun and convoluted. Dolce can take ten minutes to replace a single spell she has prepared in a day for another spell of the same level thanks to her [URL='https://2e.aonprd.com/ArcaneThesis.aspx?ID=4']Arcane Thesis of Spell Substitution[/URL]. She frequently does this when they approach enemy ships because the spells she prepares for ship emergencies (things like [I]Feather Fall[/I] and [I]Air Bubble[/I]) aren’t as useful in combat. [hr][/hr] [CENTER][SIZE=7][B]Session 12 – Slipcove[/B][/SIZE][/CENTER] By the time they reached Slipcove, Calden, the lone surviving marine from [I]The Kurstav[/I], had proven himself a capable member of their crew. Mirielle had recruited him shortly after revealing her plan to transport [I]The Kurstav[/I]‘s crew to Slipcove rather than stranding them in Ollo. It seemed the battle-hardened marine was fine working with pirates so long as there was no slavery involved. He’d taken to instructing the crew of [I]The Purr[/I] in combat, trying to shore up the shortcomings of those with little battle experience. Honestly something Dolce and Revel probably should have taken the time to do… Dolce suspected part of his willingness to convert was how fairly the crew of [I]The Kurstav[/I] had been treated… Even their captain left alive and all of them fed from the same food [I]The Purr[/I]‘s crew ate. Perhaps there was some merit to Mirielle’s mercy, even if it would bring the Aspice Consortium down on their heads. The aasimar was right about their reputation… Without a reputation Mirielle would never be named a Free Captain. While technically being named one wouldn’t do [I]much[/I] for the crew of [I]The Lady’s Purr[/I], it would mean that other Free Captains should leave them be… [I]Should[/I]… But they were all pirates, so Dolce made no hard assumptions about that particular point. Conchobar had really taken to his post as Master Gunner. Cog and Rosie were another matter. Their Quartermaster was quite capable of keeping inventory and securing the quartermaster’s cabin, but he was miserable doing it. Aside from frolicking with Revel, his duties gave him little in the way of distraction and he missed working the rigging. Strange creature, that. Rosie, on the other hand, didn’t like the weight of her responsibilities as Bosun. She did the job well enough, but Dolce honestly wanted to free her of it so she could be a full-time entertainer. Songs did much to break up the monotony of long days at sea, and Dolce suspected Rosie’s passion for music would make her a natural at that particular task. Even Mirielle had suggested as much in private conversation. As a result whenever they made port Dolce kept an eye out and an ear open for good candidates for Quartermaster and Bosun. Perhaps in Slipcove. As they approached the port a vessel of respectable size came alongside them. A longboat came out, and much like in Senghor, a detachment of personnel requested to come aboard. Mirielle allowed them and openly told them they meant to sell [I]The Red Mariah[/I] here in Slipcove as well as to release the crews of both [I]The Red Mariah[/I] and that of [I]The Kurstav[/I] here in Slipcove, where they were likely to find a softer landing than they might have in our last port of call, Ollo. The fee, as a “fleet” with neither a reputation for freeing slaves nor a reputation for taking them, to enter Slipcove was a single payment of a thousand gold coins. Luckily, Mirielle, Dolce, Revel, and Nasha had eight thousand gold coins they were eager to be free of. They didn’t particularly want the ancient currency of the Iku-Tursos lingering with them. It would give them an all too easy thing to scry upon since it was rather distinctive due to its age. The payment for their two vessel fleet was made to the halfling who had inspected their ships. When they reached land, Mirielle loitered long enough to see that the halflings who had met them on the ocean were setting up the two crews [I]The Purr[/I] was leaving here with work and a place to stay. Senghor had made sure they’d been true to their word and freed the people they’d taken there, but Slipcove went a step farther. It made sense to Mirielle, after all, Captain Raffles had had his start as a slave aboard a Chelaxian vessel. [I]The Chains of Freedom[/I] was at port, meaning Captain Raffles was at home. Dolce was sure he wouldn’t claim their ship, even though it was in his right to do so. Raffles had a reputation of singling out slavers and Dolce felt certain the money they were about to spend upgrading [I]The Purr[/I] in his settlement would put them in his favor. Mirielle and Dolce set about selling [I]The Red Mariah[/I]. The buyer was employed by none other than Captain Raffles. Dolce asked him who he recommended to improve their hull, sell them silk sails, enchant their catapults, and sell them light ballistae. The people suggested to them also worked for Raffles. Mirielle and Dolce spent thousands of gold, easily more than the remaining seven thousand from the Iku-Tursos’ payment on these improvements, plus buying the supplies to carve a figurehead. The last was a surprise project Mirielle assigned to Dolce. Dolce then set about acquiring better tools for all of their needs.. Healer’s supplies, higher quality thieves’ tools, better-suited climbing kits, carpentry tools, jeweler’s tools, tailor’s tools, and on and on. Soon she felt like she had a tool for everything short of smithing in her [I]Bag of Holding[/I]. She bought an extra set of the healer’s tools for Quinn, plus two nice spyglasses for herself and Mirielle. Her old spyglass, claimed on the island of the grindylow, would go to the crow’s nest for whoever was on duty up there. Dolce sang for three nights of their recent deeds – of course, not mentioning a thing about the shark egg that hadn’t left her [I]Bag of Holding[/I] since the night they’d claimed it. She emphasized their most recent conquest, for [I]The Switch of the North[/I] was known to participate in slavery and this port was overflowing with freed slaves. She was right, a swelling of appreciation could be felt when she sang the tale of their combat with Captain Astian... [CENTER][I]Head to Head[/I] The storm had cleared but an hour before- The waves lilted and they lulled- She’d followed us from the nearest shore And all our senses dulled. Her thunder, that mighty anger voiced, Receded with the clouds. And for the reprieve we rejoiced So tired of her shrouds. Then came a cry from overhead; Sail on our starboard side. The ship showed not a sign of dread And toward us did she glide. Her ruby silk above the waves, Like fire over water, A captain known for making graves, ‘Twould spare as soon as slaughter. [I]The Red Mariah[/I], she was called, Switch of the North, was he, And toward us now his crew was hauled To meet us on the sea. Our Captain let the spyglass down, And ordered us to starboard. We would defeat him or we’d drown, Beneath the hate he harbored. Head to head our course is set, And not a soul dismays, We’ve no time to feel regret, Our colors do we raise. The catapults exchanging fire Above the ocean blue, Wood splinters and sailors tire And yet our course stays true. They hit us good and turn to port, More weapons, now, they bare. Their plan, our captain means to thwart For her, their threat can’t scare. “Full ahead” she yells aloud, “Prepare to board!” soon follows, Into her hull, [I]The Lady[/I] plowed, Some of the crew, she swallows. The groan of wood rings in our ears As we board the other vessel. Our enemy shrugs off their fears And soon our crews will wrestle. Captain to captain came the fight At [I]The Mariah[/I]‘s wheel, And the Switch, too prideful for respite Took death before he’d kneel. [/CENTER] Of course, the song would be met in other harbors with at least some respect for the captain who wouldn't surrender. Here it was simply met with cheering at the fact that he was dead. The fourth night, as she was sitting to dinner with Mirielle and Quinn, they were approached by a group of halflings who informed them they had been invited to dine with none other than Captain Raffles. Mirielle sent Dolce to hunt down Revel, and accepted graciously. The inside of Captain Raffles’ estate was covered in broken chains. It seemed there was a constant clinking sound. Dolce approved of the atmosphere it created. [hr][/hr] [CENTER][B]Broken Chains[/B][/CENTER] They dined on the overturned and warped hull of the ship’s boat which his previous slaver had tried to escape on. During the course of dinner Captain Raffles informed them that the bones were still inside the overturned hull. A bit morbid, but understandable to Dolce. He also told them the sounds of the chains clinking had driven some servants mad. She wondered at the truth of that. Raffles commented on their presence being bold when he could simply take their ship from them, but Mirielle calmly replied, “My first mate here seems to think quite highly of you, Captain. She assures me it would be very out of character for you to do something like that considering we’ve no history of, nor intent to engage in, slavery… And, I trust my first mate’s instincts.” Mirelle offered a smile to Dolce. Raffles leaned back in his chair, considering first Mirielle and then Dolce. Dolce smiled at him when his eye was upon her, but she felt convinced he didn’t trust them. And why should he? Everyone at the table was a pirate. By the end of the meal he had warmed up considerably thanks to both Dolce and Mirielle’s efforts. They’d exchanged stories and Dolce had recounted going head-to-head with [I]The Red Mariah[/I] yet again. Here Captain Raffles laughed and said, “Ah, [I]The Red Mariah[/I]. Was Captain Astian still wearing that ridiculous green hat?” A test, Dolce sensed, to see if they’d really slain who they claimed when they themselves were pirates he’d never heard of before. “Ah, no Captain. 'Twas a red hat with varied colored plumage. One of our own claimed it for himself, his prize for sighting her sails. It was quite comical though, taking it in for him. He’s a halfling, like yourself, and Astian was a big man.” Captain Raffles laughed about this, and conversation moved on to his conquests again. When they left Captain Raffles they were well-fed and Dolce felt they’d passed his tests. Of course, any alliance or friendliness was as likely to change as the winds. They’d leave here when the modifications were completed to [I]The Purr[/I] and head back out to the trade lanes. Senghor was still a better port, and for now they were not selling their plunder because even with the gross influx of their coin the halflings wouldn’t be paying as well as Senghor would. Dolce shopped some more, buying a number of blank books as well as a book full of designs for basic things one needed on a ship. Sails, ropes, anchors, wheels, etc. etc. And of course, a figurehead. She’d have to consult this to be sure the figurehead she designed for Mirielle’s vessel would stay affixed to it properly. They were having it mounted, but of course, right now it was just a large hunk of wood she could carve out of. With all of those mundane needs handled she went back to her luxurious inn to relax. The atmosphere was amazing, but she expected no less from a high-end inn run by halflings. They were renowned for their love of homely comforts. A week in total was spent in Slipcove by the time they got to survey their ship’s upgrades. The sturdier hull would cost them in room for plunder, but not much. The silk sails would make the vessel swifter. Dolce had gotten the craftsmen to work in imagery of mist and ice crystals in their silken sails. Chosen primarily because Mirielle had Greed and Gluttony – the two catapults they mounted on the forecastle and aftcastle – enchanted with Frost. When Dolce had inquired why, Mirielle had said she was taking a page out of Dolce’s book.. Frost was safer than fire or electricity or even thunder on the sea. True, it would be more likely to slow enemy vessels than inflict additional damage or burning to them… That was why [I]Chilling Spray[/I] was Dolce’s go-to spell rather than [I]Burning Hands[/I]. She hadn’t even invested the energy or coin to learn the latter. Now though, it gave Dolce ideas for the figurehead and she wanted the sails to blend with what she was going for. An angel with wings of ice crystals and a glowing halo not unlike Mirielle’s. That was how Dolce would repay her captain for the surprise task of making their figurehead… By featuring her prominently in it. Dolce was smiling as they took to the sea again, leaving Slipcove in their wake. She had rigged a rope harness for her work carving the figurehead. If it was all she did for the next several days.. she figured she could manage it in four… But more time would have been convenient. [/QUOTE]
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Skull & Shackles (2E Conversion), solo campaign
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