Getting Underway

Skhug and Braeden each returned to their respective homes to pack up their things.
 
I went to the Iron Hall to gather what else I needed. Normally I carried enough to disappear at a whim, but I could gather a few more things with the extra time. It wasn't the best time to be in the Hall; there was news buzzing as I arrived. The Knights have appointed a new member and also (finally) chosen a new leader. It isn't Kyginal (the shapeshifter I've been intimate with) but Syemund of the Wind. A dick and ruthless to boot. He have a short and vile speech about killing deserters and gilding those loyal to the Knights Iron in silver and gold. I got out as quickly as I could. Time to desert.
 
Quelenna and Khalida too went back to their respective temples (Tephis and the Equinox). While there Khalida prayed for guidance -- to mixed results.
 
That left Adrienne, Martin, and Yum at the college:
 

Yum went back to his usual haunt: a tavern named "the" Dog and Goat and Dog and Other Goat II.

Adrienne checked in one last time with her mentor.

And Martin did whatever it is Martin does.

 

The Crying Jewel

The group early on the docks. Neither I nor Braedon showed -- I was on the long ride back from the Iron Hall -- so Prof. Longshoe met the six members of the group that were on the docks in the morning.
 
The ship was docked across from one marked with the crests of the Royal Armada. I was told later that the crew onboard watched Prof. Longshoe with trepidation. Maybe they mistrust him? He hasted the party (that was present) to board and get squared away.
 
Our ship is a sloop called The Crying Jewel. There was some confusion about its leadership: the one who introduced us around, whom the crew referred to as Captain York, insisted he was not captain. "You all will be taught the ropes, so to speak," he explained.
 
Martin was seasick before the sloop had even left the docks. Adrienne offered a morning tonic of alter self to grant him water-breathing qualities. Quelanna insisted, of course, that self-discipline could help Martin overcome his nausea.
 
There wasn't any other drama as the party met the crew and toured the ship.
 
Braedon arrived at the same time as I did to the ship. Finally. She has some issue with ships, something about her last journey aboard a ship... as a small thing. She just stood there looking at the boat, blocking the gangway. I pushed her aside, too tired to deal with anyone right now. I stomped on deck and went below, finding a hammock, removing my armor, and passing out in it. "Wake me up if there's danger."
 
I roused from my nap first by a piercing whistle. A running deckhand explained quickly that "Captain" York had called (whistled) to man the sails, and for the ships in our convoy to ready up as well. As I went back to sleep, I wondered if we were sailing alone or with other boats.
 
It turned out we were ushered to the edge of Alnian waters by ships from the Royal Armada.
 

Dour, indeed

As I slept my party members asked around the ship. There was a dark mood hanging in the air none could place. Captain York explained in hushed detail: everyone on the ship is still coming to grips with the ramifications of their previous trip: the previous captain was killed, and the rest of the (now-living) crew was given a choice. Die, or give up their freedom to the Armada. So they begrudgingly did, and now they're ferrying us to an unknown land that may or may not exist -- and they all might die in the process.
 
It was piracy, definitely piracy.
 
Martin took this information in a bad way, deciding to keep his eyes on the crew as a whole and to trust none of them.
 
 

Knowledge aboard

I was woken up by one of the crew, a small goblin. He told me there was a meeting abovedecks about to begin.
 
But when I asked, he wasn't going. So I went back to sleep. I was later filled in one the gist of what I had slept through:
 
"Captain" Jacobus York gathered our group to corroborate information. He reiterated to the rest of our party that yes, the crew used to be pirates. By the name of the "One-Eyed" pirates, no less. A few of... us had heard of the group before, but Skug and Adrienne had heard more: the now-dead Captain Vorkal was feared as a ruthless yet fair pirate. He robbed wealthy merchant ships where few died. Before the One-Eyed were press-ganged by the Royal Armada there were dead-or-alive bounties on their heads (ranging 1,000-2,250 gp in vale).
 
It was a competing crew of pirates that wiped out the One-Eyed. The triton Kavas managed to save The Crying Jewel just before the survivors were all captured by armada forces.
 
Interestingly, four of the twelve ex-pirates chose death over serving the Royal Armada. The One-Eyed pirates stayed together as a whole crew, but those four are still on board.
 
Hearing all of this, Adrienne decreed she would give the crew any commendation they might need, as long as our mission was a success.


 
After the meeting abovedecks, "our" group reasoned for another meeting, this time with me and Yum (who had also been absent). Since Yum had been cooking, this meant he brought snacks. Adrienne woke me up with her ten-foot pole, so I took it from her grasp and attended their meeting.
 
"Why are we doing this in my room?" Adrienne wanted to meet in a safe place, via a strange spell called rope trick. This, of course, had to be done above my hammock.
 
"Well, this is my bunk." She pointed at the other hammock in the five-by-five foot room. My eyes went wide.
 
"I guess we're roommates."
Well, it'll be worse for her than me.