A2.1 Fair Winds and Following Seas
JOURNEY (to Grey
Haven)
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Under
sail: Thran stayed topside to help. Ivory was
skeptical, “Ya nimble enough to climb the rigging and free that rope hung up
on the spar?” The elf did as ordered…easily. On his way down, he had to
grab with both hands as the rigging buffeted from the ship’s wake. Or so he
thought: it was Quinten shaking the rigging, “Careful mate, calm waters here
on the river. Wait till we get to open ocean and the 15ft waves that’ll knock
ya overboard. Or crashing to the deck with a broken back.”
It
took 2 days on the river Anduin before they exited the mouth of the river where
Earl ordered full sails as they entered the Bay of Belfalas. Wind,
waves, and constant cold-water sprays from high seas threatened seasickness. 20ft
off the deck, Hugo stood on the mail-sail spar and crowed with joy at his new
adventure. At least he was out of range of Kyan [CONsave 2] who hurled over the
railing as his face turned green. Maybe Theo (6ft 9 in) didn’t get sick because
he had to pay more attention to the ropes strung everywhere topside than the
ocean itself. Thran continued to work alongside the crew as he learned most of
their names and demeanor. A few times he caught a select few gathered near
Quinten and overheard their grumbling, “You said it would be quick work.
Where’s the gold you promised?”
3
days [3 more CONsave versus seasickness] of rough sailing and overcast sky made
sleep nearly impossible. Kyan suffered the worst from exhaustion (level 2)
while Theo struggled with the wet and rolling deck (level 1). Kyan pleaded with
the elf to brew something to treat nausea, but the healer didn’t have the
necessary herbs. At least the crew didn’t have problems as they actually seemed
cheered by good meals, “That hairy-footed kid seems to have taught Cook how
to make tasty food.”
6th
day: It was a welcome experience to awaken to calm seas.
They rushed topside to witness a clear sky with full sunshine and just enough
wind to keep the sails full, with the coastline still in sight. Porpoises leapt
beside the ship in a playful dance. Some even twisted and twirled before
gliding back into the water before sprinting in front of the ship as if leading
the way. It was an inspiring sight [remove 1 level of exhaustion]. Come
noontime, they finally saw Captain Tansden come topside with his
spyglass and sextant in hand. He made careful navigational measurements and
notes before he noticed, “Mr. Earl! Look at those slack ropes. What kind of
crew are you running?! Get things squared away now! And get me a reading on the
current.” As the captain left the deck, Earl barked orders, “Ya heard
the capt’n ya scurvy dogs.” At least with calm seas, that meant a peaceful
night of actual sleep. Finally! [remove 1 level of exhaustion]
Morning
of 7th day: [CONsave- fumbles by both Thran and Kyan]
Theo’s morning dream was a replay of his battle to free the captive boys. Blade
against blade clashed and rang as men yelled in a battle rage. Except, his eyes
were open, and the muted sounds were coming from outside their sleeping
quarters, somewhere above. He stood to wake the others, but it was like the elf
was in a trance [another fumbled CONsave]. At least Kyan woke and also heard
the sounds and realized he had no time to put on his armor as he dumped Thran
out of his hammock, “Wakee, wakee elf. There’s fighting topside!”
Theo
was at the door but found it locked. Kyan tried to peek through the cracks to
see if fighting raged below deck. Hugo pulled out his lockpicks and jimmied the
door open. Thran was first outside and thus first to spot the 4 sailors slumped
at the dinner table. He moved to climb the stairs as Kyan signaled quiet and
caution. Thus, it was Theo who checked out the sailors and spotted the
tale-tell bubbles around their lips, “I think they’ve been poisoned!”
Poisoned: As
Thran rushed to give first-aid, Theo moved past the cook’s galley as he rushed
towards the rear stairs near the captain’s quarters. Kyan climbed the mid-deck cargo
stairs with his spear in one hand as Hugo followed.
[Hands of a Healer] Thran jammed his fingers down the poisoned men’s throats trying to get them to vomit up the poison. Only Jaws and Tuna responded… the others let out their last gasp.
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Peg  |
Belaying Pin  |
Kyan reached the top of the stairs and came face-to-face with a wide-eyed frightened Peg holding a belaying pin. Kyan’s “What’s going on” was answered by Peg swinging his pin wildly. Kyan thrust his spear as he climbed on deck; Peg staggered backwards from the wound with a warning, “Earl, the passengers are part of the mutiny!”
The
Coward: Thran switched his attention to the fight
topside. Hugo was still on the cargo stairs; so, Thran rushed toward the
captain’s stairs. He stopped when he saw movement inside the galley. With bow
raised, he cautiously entered to find Rian cowering in the corner with a
bloody dagger in his hand, “I, I heard the fighting topside and tried to
hide. The blood? I must have cut myself in my panic.” [No attempt for an
Insight check] Thran moved forward to heal the patient and was caught off-guard
when Rian thrust his dagger!
All
Hands on Deck: Theo stepped on deck to the scene of
individual fights between sailors yielding cutlass or belaying pins. No pirate
ship in sight, and the combatants were all dressed alike: all crewmates of the Arc
Royal. Theo’s announcement of “Friendly” had no impact as an arrow twanged
from over his head towards Salt who inched his way forward while he used
barrels for cover. Theo grabbed the railing and climbed the stairs leading up
to the aft-deck. He came face-to-face with the archer Imari. Another
archer [2] guarded the other stairs. He also saw Brew prone and
bleeding at Merraf’s feet as Merraf advanced (with cutlass in hand) towards
Touman at the wheel. Theo used the flat of his axes to knock Imari
unconscious.
Kyan
stepped on deck to see fighting near the portside stairs leading up to the aft-deck.
He saw Theo climb the starboard stairs and attack the archer who just fired an
errant arrow in his direction. But he also caught movement out of the corner of
his eyes: Salt inched forward until he heard Peg’s warning and saw the
dwarf come forth. [fumbled Insight] And once again Kyan thrust his spear at the
threat.
Merraf
sliced at Touman who let go of the wheel. The ship floundered in the waves and
was suddenly knocked sideways as the wheel spun freely. [DEXsave] Thran and
Theo were knocked prone along with a few others.
Thran
sliced Rian with his broadsword. Severely wounded, Rian threw down his dagger,
“Parley, I surrender. It was Merraf’s idea to get your gold. That dwarf
flashing the king’s medallion: Merraf said you have king’s treasury in your
saddlebags.” Thran heard enough and used his sword pommel to knock Rian
unconscious as he could still hear fighting topside. And that’s when he spotted
blood droplets in front of the cook’s pantry door. He stepped in to find Cook
prone and unconscious with his hands clutching his bleeding chest.
Theo
stood and charged Merraf, knocking him prone as they fought breath-to-breath.
Two-Weapon-Fighting handaxes versus a cutlass yet it was an even match as Theo
wore his better armor. Theo stood to gain advantage but was cut
(Attack-Of-Opportunity). At least with advantage, Theo hit twice. But the
Beorning was still pissed that Merraf withstood his deadly assault. He was one
tough son-of-a…Merraf stood to continue his attack. [fumble] But the mutiny
leader slipped on the loose belaying pin and fell, exposed at Theo’s feet.
Kyan
finally convinced Peg and Salt of his intentions, “You swung first. Is the
captain safe? Follow me to end this mutiny.” And that’s when an arrow
zinged past his head from the bowman [2] on the aft-deck. He watched Quinten
(cutlass in hand) advance on Peg, cutting him down. Kyan heard another arrow:
this one from atop the cargo hut as it hummed toward the aft-deck bowman [2],
who fell dead. He saw Hugo crouch down behind the dingy to notch another arrow
as he looked for another target. And the sound of fighting continued out of
sight (to the port side of the hut and somewhere near the ship’s bow).
Thran
healed the cook who woke, “I caught Rian poisoning the food.” Leaving
bandages behind, Thran re-entered the galley to deal with Rian… but the man was
gone! [I rolled his CONsave with Disadvantage yet he still passed and thus woke
up.] Thran continued towards the captain’s stairs to join the others. [He too
failed to notice the captain’s door bashed in nor hear fighting inside the
captain’s quarters.] Thran stood on deck for his first gaze at the ongoing
mutiny, but was mostly interested in Kyan fighting his nemesis, Quinten.
Kyan
advanced on Quinten and struck with his dagger (he’d given up on his unwieldy
long spear with all the dangling ropes as hindrance). Without his armor, Kyan
had to rely on his Second Wind for healing. And took an Action Surge
to strike Quinten again. Which is why Quinten dropped his blade in surrender, “I’m
the least of your troubles. Just ask Merraf.” Except Theo stood over a
lifeless Merraf he’d just slain.
And
that’s when Capt Tansden came on deck with another mutineer (Relch) bounded
and gagged, “What’s this all about?!” Ivory came into view from his
fight on the portside of the hut leading a captured Sheet. Earl appeared
from his fighting at the bow with his own prisoner, Chunks. Earl took
stock of the scene: 4 mutineers lay dead (Merraf, 5, 9, 2) while another 4 were
bound (Quinten, Relch, Sheet, and the burly Chunks). 3 loyal sailors were dead
(H, L, Brew), leaving 11 alive but wounded (Jaws, Tuna, Cook, Touman, Peg,
Salt, Protter, Fetch, the captain, Earl, Ivory). Thran reported, “Rian is
another mutineer on the loose, hiding somewhere.”
Decisions: Capt Tansden had enough, “Run out the plank boys, it’s time to feed the fishies. Get these pirates off my ship.” Quinten fought his restraints when Sheets pleaded, “Merraf said we were just taking the passenger’s gold. How their saddlebags held king’s treasure. He said we were to just capture the crew.” And that’s when Protter in the crowsnest called out, “Sail on the starboard horizon, 2 o’clock, about an hour out and closing.” Quinten bellowed with laughter, “Like I said, we’re the least of your problems. Surrender the gold now before Feyrun and the real pirates arrive.” Sheets puzzled, “Pirates? Were we supposed to share the gold with them?”
As Thran doled out bandages and Goblin’s Gold poultice for the wounded, Kyan made plans with the captain, “Only half a crew and those are wounded. Perhaps we could lay a trap.” Kyan convinced Theo to intimidate the prisoners, “Find out what their signal was to be for the closing pirates.” Theo [wrongly] thought he could squeeze the information out of Quinten. Kyan separated the prisoners in hopes of breaking an underling.
With a loyal sailor fake-screaming in pain in the background, the
tough-looking Chunks quickly gave in, “Merraf has a Jolly-Roger flag in his
ditty bag. That was the signal to the Umbar corsairs that the ship was
captured. Gold? All I heard was that Feyrun put a price on your heads.”
And that’s when Protter in the nest
announced, “Squall line to port about 7 miles.” The captain thought
about making a run for it, but with only half a crew and those injured, even
with the passengers’ help, it was a risky move. He stuck with the surprise
plan, “Lock up the prisoners below. Bind and gag them tight! Bring up
buckets of water in case they try to torch our sails. And get oil from the cook
to make our own fire-arrows. What else can we do? We have less than 30 minutes
before they pull alongside.”
NEXT SESSION: https://lotrwjr.blogspot.com/2024/12/a22-pirates-and-morning-red-sky.html
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