Krynt’s Logbook – Part 4

Krynt’s Logbook – Part 4 (October 30, 2014)

Day 16 cont. (Gozran 20, 4712)

Through the galley we make our way into the cargo hold of the Emperor of the Sea. The water stands hip-deep in there, and dozens of crates are bobbing around. Man-sized spiders are waiting for us. Tan and I crush the beasts between fists and daggers. VanZan senses arcane radiation coming from one of the crates. Just as I pry it open with my daggers, the ship gets rammed by a giant octopus. The monster starts tearing at the ship and drives its massive tentacles through the planks of the hull. In a panic, every last bit of vermin gathers on and below deck and makes our escape that much harder. VanZan manages to burn away one spider swarm, but most of us have to wade through two more. We’re covered in spider bites and weakened by the creepy-crawlies’ venom. Gush and Mael are so disgusted by it that they spread the contents of their stomachs all over the Emperor of the Sea. Gush in particular was already pretty wobbly on his feet and takes his sweet time getting off the deck. Thanks to Tan, who makes a bold leap and readies the longboat, we pull off a spectacular escape in the nick of time. My friend Tam Tate and the other boat are already rowing back—backing down in every sense—instead of coming to our aid. I’d hoped a tentacle had dragged that tunnel rat down into the depths. Back aboard the Wormwood, which weighs anchor at once, Sandara Quinn isn’t the only one impressed by our heroics. Folks thank us for the show. Besmara, the salt in the air, and not least Mr. Stitch tend to our wounds and give us fresh strength. After a brief word in private with Mr. Plugg, we decide to hand over the whole haul. It’s what Besmara would want! But we’ll get it back! I swear it! By my balls! In the evening, countless eager listeners force me to tell the heroic tale of how we took the Emperor of the Sea. Caught off guard by such a big audience, I’m not exactly the best storyteller, but I still can’t resist a few digs at Tam, his gang, and their cowardly performance. I come off looking good, but sadly Tan’s and VanZan’s loyalty to Dungrim doesn’t seem to go over too well, judging by Ratline Rattsburger’s sharp comment.

Days 17-19 (Gozran 21-22, 4712)

In the morning the loot—our loot—gets divvied up. At least we risked our necks for it. Captain Harrigan acknowledges as much and grants us every item from the prize. Only the roughly 1,000 gold sails from the Aspis Consortium’s chests go to the Wormwood. He praises us in front of the crew for our bravery. Only the savages’ shrunken-head necklace got pocketed by Peppery Longfarthing.

Gush’s new pistol from the prize catches the eye of the scruffy gnome woman Giffer Tipps, who gets wet between her stinking thighs just from looking at the pricey lead-spitter. For the following days we sail a zigzag course south of the Slithering Coast. Looks to me like the captain is out hunting for victims.

Day 20 (Gozran 23, 4712)

“SAIL HO!” The captain’s wish—the wish of us all—comes true! A long chase breaks out. By evening we can make out that the ship is flying the colors of Senghor as a courtesy flag. It’s a Rahadoumi sailing ship out of the city of Azir—the Man’s Promise. The chase goes on all night.

Day 21 (Gozran 24, 4712)

Early in the morning, Master Gunner Krine’s shout cuts us to the bone: “ALL HANDS ON DECK!” We’re still half a mile off the Man’s Promise, and Quartermaster Grok is handing out weapons to the crew. Krine names me leader of the boarding party for the enemy’s quarterdeck. We’re to take the quarterdeck and secure both longboats and the helm. The responsibility fills me with pride and a hunger for battle. A few crossbow bolts and arrows fly back and forth. By the time I realize how horribly green and clueless I am, it’s already too late: Mael is standing alone, teetering on the enemy’s rail, facing 4 Rahadoumi sailors, because Tantakatan took a dive into the Fever Sea during his boarding attempt. Luckily, I manage to put a crossbow bolt in one of their arms. After that, VanZan, Gush, and I manage to gain a foothold aboard the Man’s Promise. Peppery Longfarthing has blanketed the enemy ship in fog. Mael has held his own bravely. As a reward, a few of his opponents get my daggers in their backs and end up bleeding on the deck. Despite plenty of foes fighting back out of sheer desperation and fear, we take the quarterdeck and secure the boats and the helm. Sure enough, a few Rahadoumi try to escape by longboat. Those who don’t surrender pay with their lives. Among them is the officer too; we take her prisoner.

The Man’s Promise is ours! The dead are tossed overboard, the living taken prisoner, and the ship plundered. We get 250 gold sails in blood money. And Mael, oddly enough, gets an extra reward in gemstones from the captain himself. Surely not for stabbing him in the back with his rapier. The victory is celebrated with a wild drinking binge. I seize the chance to work my charm on Sandara Quinn.

Day 1 on the Man’s Promise (Gozran 25, 4712)

Hungover, we listen to Captain Harrigan’s words. Mr. Plugg takes over the Man’s Promise to sail her to Port Peril and turn her into coin. He picks his new crew, which is pretty much the old one. Only a few officers, Crimson Cogward, and most of the new Rahadoumi crew stay on the Wormwood. We’re sailing on the Man’s Promise now too. As a parting gift, Captain Harrigan has Dungrim brought up on deck and slits his throat. The POOR bastard’s done suffering now. CAPTAIN Plugg, on the other hand, is one HARD bastard. He drives his style of command home and makes our crow buddy mop up Dungrim’s blood. Things run differently on the Man’s Promise. Mr. Scourge is promoted to first mate, Maheem to quartermaster, but the biggest disaster is the new boatswain, Tam “Assnose” Tate. There’s no rum, no games, and no Bloody Hour either, because Captain Plugg carries out punishments on the spot and exclusively with the cat.

Day 2 on the Man’s Promise (Gozran 26, 4712)

The work on the Man’s Promise is hard. I never would have thought it, but I wish I were back on the Wormwood under Captain Harrigan. I make friends with our two new pirates from Rahadoum, which isn’t all that easy, given their poor grasp of the language. VanZan remembers the witch Sennabar telling us: “A promise will be kept…”

Day 3 on the Man’s Promise (Gozran 27, 4712)

Another day of hard work on the Promise. I chat with Ratline Rattsburger about the new captain. He isn’t exactly enjoying the situation either. Plugg is even more on edge in his new position. Thanks to Mael, mouthy Aretta sleeps a bit restlessly and frets over her miserable existence. Not even the new boatswain can help her with that. A fierce tropical storm blows in and keeps us hopping all night long. Gozreh’s wind is so strong that it tragically blows Aretta right out of the rigging. She hits the deck hard. Without VanZan’s selfless help, she probably wouldn’t have made it. Finally we hole up below deck and pray to Besmara to rein in her wrath.

Day 4 on the Man’s Promise – Bonewrack Isle (Gozran 28, 4712)

Early in the morning we finally run aground on a reef off a small island. Captain Plugg doesn’t quite know how to handle the situation and, on Gush’s advice, sends us to the island in the cutter as an expedition party. Barefoot Samms lets me know she overheard Plugg and Scourge. The new captain has no intention whatsoever of sailing to Port Peril. Instead he wants to head for Bloodcove, so he can grab the Promise for himself and stay captain.

Sandara Quinn and Conchobar are missing. Did they go overboard in the storm? Could this be Bonewrack Isle, just like the old woman prophesied? VanZan and Mael leap into the water for joy and swim the last half mile to the beach. The spirit of the waves lets them swim like dolphins.

With the incoming tide we sail the cutter up onto the beach. The swimmers get a warm welcome from a skeleton with crossed arms between the rocks. Abandoned straw huts stand on the beach. Between them, a Chelish flag and the ominous remains of a journal: octopus creatures attacking, Shapards handed out in Urgathoa’s honor at Varthana’s behest. An old path leads us through the swamp. Mosquitoes eat us alive. At a crumbling bridge, two giant toads with long tongues take us by surprise. There we also find another journal page. The third is hanging from a tree half an hour farther on. There a tent has been built around a tree. Everything reeks of rot, and there are flies everywhere. Three feral ghoul brides in once-fine, decaying dresses fall upon us, but are delivered to their eternal rest.