[IC] Pirate RP: Ever-Changing Seas

[OddShot]

Rain falls onto the ship’s main deck soaking crew members. A young man in his mid-twenties looks up with a frown. The clouds are dark and menacing, but with any luck the approaching storm will travel further west than south. However, the vessel isn’t anything to bet on and neither are its occupants. He journeys further down the deck away from his quarters garnishing attention from men with jagged grins. His hand snakes beneath his worn sash, placing a scroll of paper inside a guarded pouch.

“Men, we need people tending to the masts. A storm is blowing in, so we’ll need complete control over the sails!”

His eyes scan the crowd, searching for the sailing master and boatswain. They nod to him in agreement, having already started preparing for the weather before barking orders to their hands. The rain isn’t too heavy, but his concern lies with beasts resting on the ocean floor. Hopefully nothing wakes them, namely thunder. He runs toward the back of the ship up a short flight of stairs. The ground is slippery, and he curses himself for not having cut his boot soles for a better grip.

A grin curls his lips upward and he waves at Kristion, “Let us hope the gods aren’t arguing. Thunderous shouts are the last thing we need.”

Water splashes up around his boots as he circles the wheel to get a good view of the deck. “The wind isn’t too bad, so we should be fine to sail."

“Men, where’s Celeste?” His voice carries across the ship. She’s probably in the quarters taking inventory. Some cargo hadn't been taken below deck yet and suffered water damage. She would know how to handle the situation best.

[xXSINXx]

Alexi was watching the seas from the climbing ropes. The rain didn't bather her, She then climbed down on deck and she made her way to the front. of the ship. Something had caught her eye and she wanted to examine it closely. After the ship moved closer, she noticed a whirlpool. "Captain!" she shouted, running off a crate and s flinging herself off of of the mast ledges. Alexi landed on the rail infront of the captain. "Up North sir, there's a massive hole in the water." She didn't speak to the captain often but this was something she had to bring to his attention.

[OddShot]

The captain tenses, and focuses his attention on the water surface, "Crap, it looked like one was planning on forming! Relay my message to the people near the foremast."

Strands of hair whip him in the face, directed by strong wind. Crew members further away may not be able to pick up on orders. His eyes find the sailing master before he leans forward.

"There's a whirlpool north of us, we're going to continue heading south, but the ship needs to straighten out first. Adjust the sails, we don't want wind catching them and blowing us north!"

He jumps over the railing onto the main deck, and crashes against the stairs, "Stupid rain."

[Rusalka]

"Get out of the way, ya bloody sods! Move it or I'll toss ya overboard!" Rancorously, the fiery redhead forced her way with strong elbows to the faces of the unlucky, and quite smelly men, gritting her teeth as she shoved the fat one aside with another rowdy snarl, "To the side with ya, ya fat blubbering whale! Make way!" Tumbling the bastard went over a barrel of ale as Carmen stormed past them all towards the port-side of the majestic sailing vessel, staring out unto the stormy and turbulent seas with raindrops splashing against her hardened face. "There be one hell of a storm a brewin', lads." Her eyes flashed viciously, just as the bolts of the angry and embittered gods reflecting off the towering waves of the angry oceans about them. "Neptune is certainly full of piss and vinegar today!" With that, the waves crashed with such fury against the wood of the ship, but Carmen did not stumble once. Today....felt like it was going to be one hell of a day...

[xXSINXx]

Alexi ran to the rest of the crew towards the front. " Captains Orders!" she announced with a cruel voice "We're headed South, adjust she sails to straighten her up first then we need to turn to avoid the whirlpool ahead of us." As the crew moved quickly. Alexi notice that one of the ropes were loose, this would have prevented sail adjustment. Alexi then climbed the dangerous height, she then leaped and grabbed the lose rope and sung back to the mast to tie it.

[Rusalka]

And if not to make her day even a little better, here came Alexi, a girl with about as much fire as Carmen held in her own raging heart, towards the front of the ship, calling out to the shipmates to batten down the hatches and prepare for hell to come afoot, and with about as much venom to her voice as the redheaded beast herself. "Well you all heard the lass! Fuckin' move it!" She joined in growling at the crew, making her way towards the mast and manning the first sail. The girl Alexi was climbing to quite the dizzying height amidst the raging shouts and rancor of Old Neptune, but she seemed to manage herself quite well in these harrowing of situations. A bit admiring to Carmen.

[OddShot]

"Lass, you're nimble. Help the men up top the mast if you're able," he shouts at Carmen, hoping his voice carries.

Sighing, he hurries over toward the rigging, and helps the crew tie a few cords in place before scouting for people on deck, "Anyone not helping with the sails needs to take supplies inside. Bring them to Celeste!"

After seeing people inside the living quarters, he hurries to the main mast and climbs up a few meters. He shouts, telling people to move fast on deck. Water doesn't need to travel down the ship adding weight. The whirlpool is growing in size. He blinks for a moment as Alexi flies past him on a line.

He chuckles, "Nothing like a good storm to raise your energy!"

His hands are fast at work as he adjusts the cables and climbs further up. Orders surge past his lips as he works with the sailing master to ensure they don't get sucked down.

[xXSINXx]

Alexi then eyes Carmen from afar. She never met this girl but from what she knows they have similarities. Alexi stared out into the sea, she knew that this wasn't going to be pretty so she sung a shanty she was taught when she was a young lass. This was one of the few times she sung, but it was soothing to anyone who heard.

[Rusalka]

"Aye captain!" Carmen called over the shrill screams of the wind and the rattling shake of the thunder. "Lads! Up the mast!" As ordered, she helped the dingy bastards climb the mast and secure the rest of the sails, all a while noticing the whirlpool increase in severity over the time she was damn near yelling her lungs out towards these men. "Ha! Is that all you have, lords of the sea?" In defiance she laughed to the very gods who threatened them with their divine judgment upon the salty rogues and sea-dogs. She laughed to all the gods of the heavens with intention to blaspheme. Damn them all she says. The only master of fate is yourself. Securing the last cord of the sail, she hoisted it back, moving the sail a quarter inch enough to catch the prevailing winds and steer the ship away from harm....hopefully enough.

She paused a moment though, her eyes peeling away from the turbulent seas and falling upon Alexi, her shanty quite alluring to the woman's ears, as was her voice.

[OddShot]

The captain sighs as he watches people finish tying up the sails before he bursts into laughter. It looks like they're free from the whirlpool, but waves are growing in size. The day is becoming longer with each second. Jumping from one notch of wood to the next, he climbs up the mast. Too many people are up top now. Heights and dangerous waves never mix well. He pauses for a second, catching wind of Alexi's voice before raising an eyebrow. Who would have thought the lass could sing, and with such a nice voice too. It seems ironic, given her behavior.

Shaking his head, he climbs to a flat platform near the top of the mast, "Start moving down. It's dangerous to stay up here! For my more agile crew mates, choose your favorite crow's nest and tend to the sails."

[Assallya]

Celeste grimaced as she examined the ship's stores, running her fingers over the oiled wrappers that kept the water from what was contained within. In this case, hard tack and jerky. Then there was the precious barrels of fresh water. They were surrounded by water, bourn aloft upon it. Water as far as they eye could see in any direction and none of it potable. Many items in the cargo were spoiled if touched by water. Their food for instance, which would mould readily should it become damp and their powder which would become useless if damped. Most of the cargo was well bound and unlikely to move given the rough waters that were brewing.

Climbing the stairs to the aft castle Celeste emerged from the dimly lit interior into the overcast day upon deck. Rain. Droplets struck her large black hat and made the deck slick beneath her bare feet. Salt water was horrible for a pair of boots and given the recent weather she had hers locked away under her bunk.

"Master-at-arms! Check the seals on your lockers. I won't have our guns or powders fouled."

No one aboard a sailing vessel actually carried weapons during regular day to day events. It was a sailing tradition to prevent mutiny. All the crew's weapons were locked in a large chest and sealed against water. Only the captain, herself and the master-at-arms had the key. Should a suspicious vessel appear on the horizon or should they disembark to raid a port the weapons would be distributed.

"Bo'Sun!" she exclaimed, "You were supposed to have this deck cleared hours ago. What excuse have you?"

Celeste was angry, her ruby lips drawn tight into a pout. Such sloth could not be excused. If the man had needed help getting the cargo below decks he should have requisitioned crew to help. Celeste was wondering if they needed to choose a new boatswain, someone more reliable. As it was, she was hoping to avoid a flogging. Such demonstration were necessary but a crewman subjected to one was rarely useful for days.

[xXSINXx]

Alexi's singing helped the crew adjust the sails easier and she then sat upon the ledge near the sail she just fixed, she noticed they began to turn and she stooped singing as she watched the ship turn away from the whirlpool. She then climbed down quietly and she assumed her position at the front of the ship, the rough winds blew through her hair.

[Saarebas]

A large figure stood at the wheel of the ship, the wailing winds and harsh waves surrounding him seemed to have no effect on his stance. His matted hair blew one way then the other as the wind changed direction yet he kept focused through it all. Kristion had long come use to sailing a ship and the harsh conditions that came with it. His eyes stayed locked on the sea as he stirred through the ruff waters, that was seemingly coming alive around them. He only broke his gaze to check if the crew were doing there damn job, it wouldn't be the first time the bastards tried to slack off. Kristion gritted his teeth slightly as he stirred the ship against the waves.

[Rusalka]

With ease the mighty ship avoided a long and hellish journey to the watery grave, but the storm was picking up, lightning crackling across the sky with ominous flashes of doom upon the nightmarish, gargantuan waves battering the ship and sending it swaying to and fro. Nearly did Carmen go to her own ultimate fate at the fury of Neptune, losing her footing momentarily as she descended the mast, a bit of a jolt to her heart it was, but quickly she grabbed hold of the wooden pegs and made her way down, glaring towards the seas with equal anger in her eyes as the oceans who dared to drag them under. "Damn the gods...." She muttered under her breath, a blast of thunder exploding over the ship. That sure got their attention.

[xXSINXx]

Alexi turned and stared at the motionless crew. "Well don't slack the fuck off, get down on your dirty knees and repair any damages to the deck. And no back talk or I'll stomp your rotten teeth into the wood." She yelled reassuring her coldness.

[OddShot]

Lester jumped down onto the deck after an interesting session of climbing, full of wet ropes and slippery surfaces. He takes a moment to brace himself, feeling a bit off after climbing down, and turns toward a familiar voice, Celeste. Indeed, he nods his head in agreement with her, gunpowder isn't cheap and can be hard to come by when you're sailing. Hopefully, there aren't any leaks in the store room. That would be a disaster worthy of some tragic play. His eyes widen as a clap of thunder roars through the air. Damn, he'll have to speak with Celeste about inventory later. This weather is bound to wake a cranky sea beast! The ship floor is too unsteady to use exploding shells, he'd rather his men not blow each other up.

"Get ready to man cannons in case of an attack! Celeste, we might need bundle shots for the cannons!"

[Rusalka]

"Oi! We don't need no stinkin' wench tellin' us what to do!" The fat one just had to flap open his putrid swollen lips towards Alexi, and unfortunately for him, Carmen was right behind him with a sharp blow to the back of his bald head, courtesy of the fiery woman's fist, followed by her own vicious snarl. "You heard the lass! Fuckin' hop to it or I'll cut ya goddamn bollocks off! Move!!"

[Assallya]

Celeste climbed the aft castle, holding onto the handrail the entire way. She then followed the castle railing and peered down over the deck. From here she could see everything. The crew scrabbling around on the deck, drawing out belaying pins, loosening the ropes and reinserting them.

"Man the cannons!" Celeste bellowed as she echoed the captain's command, "Gun ports closed. Canister and chain shot rounds at yer discretion arms master!"

At her command, several of the sailors went below through the hatch in the aft and fore castles. It normally took two men to operate a cannon efficiently.

"You there. Loosen that there line! We be needin' to give those reefed sails room to breath in case thar wind snaps rightly."

[OddShot]

"Shut up you picaroon! Thunder is howling across the sky. Rearrange your priorities," he yells at the man harassing Alexi and Carmen. He balls his hands into fists out of frustration, watching men slide and fall on deck.

"Lasses, I want the two of you to control the swivels should a beast get near," he pauses for a moment before frowning, "I trust the two of you won't kill yourselves, take some explosives shells if need be as well. I'll overlook the cannons!"

The women are competent, so he doesn't waste any further time with them, knowing his orders will be carried out. His feet pound against the wooden planks and he allows his boots to slide forward before veering to the right. Kristion can handle this; they've sailed through worse together, with him being his longest standing crew member.

He watches Celeste order the crew members around and nods his head at her out of appreciation, "I'm going below deck, can you make sure the lines don't go taut?"

[xXSINXx]

Alexi watched as Carmen reinforced her authority, she smirked and approached Carmen. "It's a pleasure Carmen." She stated, giving a proper first impression. "I've heard a lot about you and I feel we could relate in many ways." She then walked to to the side of the ship and leaned over to see in the water. As the storm cleared so did the water, allowing Alexi to see the under clearer, she knew it had been days since a good meal and it would of been another day before they were ashore. But with ths ship moving, she would not have enough time to catch anything for the crew.