Crews of the Open Breeze RP

[Fatch of Southsward]

Ross realized that the lone crewbeast was not freely roaming the deck - he was tied to the last mast.

"Ahoy mates, we can't knock down the last mast without slaying some prisoner - beast. Prepare to lose anchor and move, before the ship rams us! Splint mate, keep that ballista trained on that pirate! This could be a trap! Steersman, pull us alongside the ship! Crew, be prepared for anything, there could be more of them below decks!"

[Gonff the Mousethief]

OOC: Okay, here is the explanation of the map. There are multiple maps obviously. Since there are many, they can't all be the same, so many different people made many different kids. SaLT said it perfectly by saying how Marshall's is more cryptic while the others have a more direct path. The reason cross references wouldn't work is because no one really knows exactly where all of these things are, how close they all are, or if the map is even right. That seems to be Marshall's problem, along with the crazy riddle given to him by the otter.

BIC: Marshall raised his flagon at the call for more grog, and thought on what Little Seadog had pointed out.
"Aye, there it be! Seems t'be pretty far from the rest o' the islands. Might have t'go through some o' that stuff y'mentioned Alf." He took a swig then looked back at the riddle. Glancing back and forth, the fox mashed together a quick idea regrading both ways of help.
"Say, it seems this 'ere island would b'close t'the North f'them tides t'b'high in the morn. But why so close t'the maelstrom?" Marshall asked in deep thought once more. It seemed like a good hiding place to put treasure close to something so dangerous with a path as dangerous, but what about leaving? What a pain that crew had to endure.

[LT Sandpaw]

"Shall I set a course towards the great maelstrom then Cap'n?" Alfonso asked standing up and striding towards the door. He stood in a relaxed posture, waiting for Marshall's decision. One paw rested on his sword hilt, the other on the door handle.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Yes master," Splint grunted curling his claw around the ballista's firing mechanism; lining the bolt up with the pine marten chained to the mast. To his eyes the ship looked doomed, and the dead that lay scattered across its decks were beyond help. But perhaps there was some other reason for taking the ship. Looking up from the ballista he waited patiently for further orders.

[Fatch of Southsward]

The Stallion's Mane drew level with the former pirate ship.

The tension was high, as the whole crew half expected some sort of surprise attack, but nothing immediately happened.

Ross surveyed the vessel suspiciously. Some sort of battle had occurred on this ship.

"Splint, you're a tree jumper! Board the vessel and see if you can't get that pine marten back on board this ship with ya'! Be careful while you're over there. It could still be some sort of trap!"

[Groddil]

Filthface shook his head so hard it may have fallen off.
"There's no traps other'n dat pass, cap'n whats-yer-face! Dere were ratty fings, lots of 'em. Dey jumped onta da water tree fing an' killed everybeast. I 'ad ta play dead! Ahh, please cap'n whats-yer-face! Get us off dis fing 'fore it sinks!"

[Gonff the Mousethief]

Marshall looked at his First Mate then glanced at the two left helping him. Going straight for the maelstrom would not only be dangerous, but would take at least two weeks if they have no interruptions. The blue fox looked back down at the map, looking for an alternate route. A small smile grew on his face. Down, only a two day sail from where they sat now was a small three island cluster, labeled on the map as "Fire's Agony." On the islands each were a volcano, with only one of them being large enough to deal much damage. If they could cut through that and lead on to one other small island with a port town, then it would cut the journey to the maelstrom in half. Marshall's happiness arose once more. Fire, rest, an endless swirl of water, what more could he ask for in a treasure hunt! He turned his single sea blue eye to Alfonso and called out, "Y'know mate, turn it t'the right o' it. We b'headin' t' Fire's Agony."

[LT Sandpaw]

Frowning Alfonso nodded letting ring a loud, "Aye Cap'n." Before leaving the cabin. They'd be sailing against the wind if they changed direction towards Fire's Agony, they'd have to tack, but if he knew Longclaw it wouldn't be much of a challenge.

"Ahoy deckpaws, get up into the sails, prepare for orders to furl an' unfurl." He roared as he passed a few of the on duty crew. They jumped up, scaling the rigging while Alfonso climbed up to the wheel deck. Standing behind Longclaw the ferret did a quick check of the sky and his compass, judging their current trajectory. "Change course mister Longclaw, two notches southwest, and full ahead. You'll need to tack against the wind I believe."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Being a creature of few words Splint nodded and pulled back from the railing to get a running start. Surging forward he practically flew across the small gap that separated them from the Drowned Falcon landing lightly onboard. A quick check of some of the fallen confirmed that they were dead. Unsheathing his hook, Splint walked nimbly across the planks to where the pine marten was chained. After a moment of investigation he shook his head sliding the blade into his belt.
"Key?"

[Hickory]

"Aye mate," responded Longclaw. He changed the course according to Alfonso's directions. Fire's Agony wasn't the best place, but Marshall knew what he was doing.

[Aimless Gallivanter]

Coop, still sulking on the deck, heard Alfonso's directions. Curious to see what the captain and others had figured out, he headed back to the cabin. "Cap'n, what's this about headin' t' Fire's Agony?" He said as he entered, heading straight for the grog.

[Groddil]

Filthface attempted to wriggle free, but at no avail.
"Wot's a key? Never 'eard of a key afore. Is dat a fing? Da big one over dere wid da weird hat had lots o' fings! Mebbe 'ee 'as it."

[Gonff the Mousethief]

"It'll shed a whole week off our journey, Coop. Plus, we'll hit that ol' island ina week, while in two we would just b'reachin' that maelstrom. See, we go through it, then get re-supplied at this 'ere port town, then curve up and ride that maelstorm t'the north o' the island, we shall be doin' good 'n time 'n temper!" He winked as his old friend and gulped down the rest of his grog.

[Eulaliaaa!]

Little Seadog pulled a face, her claws tapping against the table. She had come close to a maelstorm before and, being a one-man crew with a small ship, she had almost lost her life. "Sounds fun," she said, even though she had a lot of doubt. "Lotsa seascum've lost their lives bein' stupid near those, I trust that ye've got a crew good 'nough t' handle it?"

[Gonff the Mousethief]

"Oh no Lil' Seadog, we won't go right t'it. Nah, we will simply ride that big ol' current it makes 'round the north bend, 'till it swoop us down t'the top o' that island. All 'bout navigatin'!"
With this, Marshall rose from his long used leather chair and nodded to Little Seadog.
"Now, if you 'scuse m'miss, I'm sue f'a jolly 'lil nap up in the Crow's Nest. D'y'mind Barrack duty? Simple really, just picking up all o' that rubbish seepin' in and makin' sure everyone down there needs t'be."
The blue fox started for the door, but just before closing it, he looked back at his newest crew member.
"Y'know, just d'that last part. We haven't been out long 'nough to have any ol' water creppin' in. And hey, there b'an extra hammock at the barrack ends, next t'the supplies. Use it ol' gel!" Giving her a final wink, Marshall closed the creaking door and started on his way to the Crow's Nest.

It was not hard to make it to the top. Of course there was the obvious crew member bumping into the colorful captain, and then those saluting when it really wasn't necessary. But nevertheless, he made it to the main mast. Two choices lay before him. The old battered ladder which was from the original making of the ship, or an misplaced rope hanging down from the rigging of the mighty blue sails. And what did he chose? Well, he was a fox of course, and a Highland one at that.
Carefully and quickly he grabbed the coil and started to pull himself up. Because of his basic agility and speed, along with doing this many times a week, Marshall sped up like a blue blue, almost repelling off of the mast quicker than most beasts could run. It only took a good fifteen seconds before the captain of The Blu Tail entered the Crow's Nest. Oh, how lovely it was. The wind always smelled crisper and saltier, while the water, no matter the day, glistened and glowed as if itself was made of silver. Sometimes Marshall wished he could have his Quarters up there, but that would not work. It would be pretty great though.

He patted the knotted shoulder of the lookout, the mouse Timblish. The poor soul had wanted anything to be aboard a ship the few years back when Marshall first started his pirate career. The crew he had assembled all rejected the tiny grey woodlander, but Marshall had compassion. That rarity got the mouse a spot on The Blu Tail, with it being the only one where he could not get hurt by the other crewbeasts. Timblish was stellar at his job, seeing better than the eye-patched salty slackers which mumbled with boxes and buckets all day. He actually bedded up in the Nest, instead of the barracks below, because the one time he did he was tied to the mast until Marshall found him the next morning. But now, he was very fond of Marshall, and let him nap whenever he liked on his makeshift bed which simply consisted of a few blankets and a pillow. Even if he was not liked by his fellow workbeasts, he had found favor with the Captain, which was more than enough for his gentle and timid soul.
"'Ey there Timble! 'Ows it lookin', eh?" Marshall asked while gazing over the shimmering sea.
"All is looking good Cap'n sir! Say, is it true that we are heading to Fire's Agony? I've only heard of that place in legends! With the Volcanoes, mysterious happenings, sea creatures,"
"Yes we b'laddie! And w'may b'even stoppin' 'round there!"
The cheeky face of the mouse lit up with excitement. This is why he had joined the crew; the adventure! Marshall gave him a good pat on the back and started to make his into the assortment of blankets. The fox's face lit up in the same way as the Lookout's, but not for the same reason. Not only did he have compassion of the mouse, but he cared for him because he saw himself in him. The sense to seek out adventure and explore all that the waves and woods had to offer. But he knew that is all he wanted to see in him. He didn't want to see the same fear, the same hopelessness, the same alone feeling he had felt when he was in the Northlands, or when turning to a pirate. No, he wanted to see young Timblish grow and learn from what his captain had done wrong. But Marshall quickly rushed those thoughts out of his head and lay his head on the old stained pillow.
"Say Timble, wake me up at noon, can y?"
"Sure thing Cap'n!" He squeaked happily.

[Eulaliaaa!]

Little Seadog's claws tightened around the handle of her mug, and she bit her tongue. Who did this ridiculous fox think she was? An ordinary, bumbling fool he had the stupidity to call a crew member? She was a captain - a real captain without her own ship, she deserved better treatment. Not to be told 'go do this and go do that' or 'you can have the extra hammock, you know, the one next to the supplies that no one else wants because it's the worst one on the ship'. The second they got to that treasure, him and his crew were all deadbeasts, she needed the gold and the riches more than any of them. Seadog continued to drink her grog, not in any hurry to leave the cabin.

[Aimless Gallivanter]

Coop watched Marshall leave the cabin. He knew trying to argue with the captain would be useless; once that fox set his mind on a crazy scheme he was bound to stick to it. He took a drink of his grog. Seadog made no move to do as the captain had suggested. He could see her contempt for the captain written in her body language. She would be one to watch.