Jammers Summary: Chapter 1, Turn 10

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

"As always. The rigging is nearly done, and I was thinking about moving to the helm room next. There may be boards that were damaged in the powder blast that would need to be removed anyway. Let us see if there remain useable portions that can be put to use elsewhere." Nilaroo replies to Holland.

From the helm room Raken calls out, "Hey! Leave some for me!", after Holland mention the food.

Billy heads below decks as Holland moves to help Nilaroo.

Deigatt stands forward, his great axe gripped tightly in his hands, and watches ahead and above for danger. An old memory appears suddenly in his head, something one of his former drill sergeants told him about "the only good human," but he can't remember the rest of it. He sighs inwardly and stares at the reliable stars.

Upon opening the hatch to the galley, Billy is amazed. The entire room is immaculately clean and everything wooden in the room (bulk heads, hatches, beam, table, benches, etc.) is highly varnished and looks brand new. It looks like no one has ever been in this room. All of the dishes and utensils are spotless and arranged for ease in obtaining. The iron stove and metal pots/pan are all clean and shine pleasantly in the light of the room. The condition of this room is vastly opposed to the rest of the ship. On the stove there is a large pot that emits the wonderful aroma that permeates the room. Billy quickly digs in.

After a while, Holland says to Nilaroo, "I have some other duties now, please excuse me." He then heads over and speaks with Deigatt momentarily and then heads below deck to the Spelljammers' quarters.

Leera walks around speaking to various crew members, eventually she approaches Deigatt as he's standing on deck. He has not spoken to anyone, save a brief conversation with Holland, since the disappearance of the illusionary eelship.

The attractive illusionist maintains a safe distance from the minotaur and speaks to him briefly, then waits for a response. Receiving little more than an icy glare, she continues.

Suddenly, Deigatt's rumbling bellow is heard throughout the ship. "You would dare compare honorable combat with your deceitful illusions hand distractions? What honor lies hin them?! Yours his the battle hof the coward, hof the weak, hof the hundisciplined hand hunhonorable. No true warrior would have you hat his side."

Leera recoils in shock. She quickly straightens herself and replies in a loud voice: "Weak? I killed two of our enemies in the recent battle. How many did you dispatch while lounging in those webs!?" She then says something else too low for any but Deigatt to hear.

Grigree, who has been leaning against a nearby railing turns around at the sudden commotion. "Hold on there, honorable warrior," the hadozee says to Deigatt. "She's just a spell-slinger. Let her help however she can."

"Truly you believe, Mate Grigree, that she helps by deceiving hus with her magics? Such power his too dangerous hin the hands hof those who do not know responsibility. I'm safer fighting hagainst han honorable foe than halongside a dishonest hally," says Deigatt (whose fists are gripping his axe handle quite tightly).

"She was trying to prove a point with that little trick of hers. It was a bit extreme," Grigree says, pausing to look at Leera, "but it got the message across." He leans his back against the railing on his elbow, a low growl escaping his throat. After a small pause, Grigree continues with the hint of a smile, "Besides, she wasn't being dishonest, just 'indirect'. As long she doesn't try that again," another long look Leera's way, "I wouldn't mind calling her an ally."

Talus can't help but laugh, "Deigatt, you have a strange definition of honour. If I was to go against you in a toe to toe fight, you would probably down me in a single blow, while I would have done little more than scratch you. I think little of a code that would result in my death for no reason. While I think little of Leera's tricks, especially that one with the ship, each should fight to their abilities. I am best with spell or dagger, and I find no dishonour is using my talents where they suit best. Especially as such scum as these slavers we fought."

Deigatt does not respond but instead heads silently to the cargo hold.

Talus spends the next few hours helping Grigree and Nilaroo with the rigging. Though with his level of skill he is soon relegated to holding ropes or spars in position while the other tie the knots. The young half-elf doesn't speak to anyone with the exception of a few words to Kain, unless he is approached by someone else. He tries to avoid Leera.

Everyone notices, a few hours after the pirate battle, that Italapate has cleaned himself up (cleaned his clothes, washed the blood off his body, etc.) Oddly enough, he has also apparently decided to die his hair bright purple.

While on duty, Billy scoots around the deck tightening lines that need to tightened and performing all necessary adjustments required, though most of his time is dedicated to following Nilaroo's repair instructions.

"It'll sure be nice to be in dry dock and to have the proper tools and materials to fix this ship." Billy walks over to Post Captain Wilhelmina during his down time. "Post Cap'n? Do you know if Finagle would have repair supplies that we may obtain to fix this thing?"

"You'll be able to replace the broken sail spines, but fixing the hole in the hull on the bridge will have to wait until we get to Bral," she answers.

Radick spends most of his time inspecting the ballista and catapult, as well as continuing to work on the rigging. He is very polite and obviously still uncertain of the others after his earlier outburst. In general he remains quiet though, and when he is relieved he says a simple, "Thank you. I will be cleaning the hold if anyone should be looking for me." He then goes below.

Stifling a yawn, Kain takes to his bunk. Emerging from the crew quarters a few minutes later with his heavy cloak in one hand, his well worn in bedroll in the other, and a sour look upon his face, Kain goes topside, muttering, "I should've cleaned up there instead o' the helm." Still on the steps which join the two decks when he first hears, then sees, Deigatt, Leera, and Grigree, Kain hesitantly waits. Turning around, he makes his way to the lower deck. Kain finds a spot in the cargo hold, lays out his bedroll, curls up beneath his cloak, and is asleep almost immediately. When he wakes, Kain finds that he still has some time before his shift begins. He excitedly opens the door to the crew quarters, and quietly, so he doesn't wake those sleeping within, retrieves his rucksack. With a smiled "yes" Kain finds that the charts of Bralspace and the Inner Flow are still in place in the helm room. Spreading out a large piece of paper on the table, he mumbles, "Chalk? no, no, pencil, perhaps, no, I'll use ink," as he searches through the pack. Opening the oaken case within, he sets up his inkstand and a vial of ink, pulling a fresh quill from another case in the rucksack. Looking back between his paper and the charts, Kain spends the remainder of his free time trying to make a copy of each of the two charts.

Meanwhile, above:

"Deigatt!" Italapate calls to the large minotaur as he works on repairing the Eelship. "Lo, my friend. I was wondering if you would like to hear a story?"

Deigatt acknowledges Italapate's presence only be glancing at him briefly.

"That's all right, big guy, you can keep working while I speak. I am reminded of the story of Rabbit's garden. One time, long ago, Rabbit decided to work on his garden. Foolish Rabbit did not like most vegetables, but was extremely fond of carrots. So he worked day and night, clearing his field of grass and trees, of weeds and corn and berry bushes. Coyote sat on a hill and watched, at last unable to help himself, he started to laugh. You know," Italapate interjects, "If you need some help, let me know... I can hand you stuff while I speak.. Anyway," he continues, "Rabbit looks at Coyote on the hill and asks, 'Why do you laugh at me, Coyote?' "Coyote answers, 'Because you only grow carrots.' 'I only like carrots', Rabbit answers." Italapate hands a wooden mallet to Nilaroo, while continuing. "'It just seems like a lot of work,' Coyote responds. Rabbit looked at Coyote's 'garden'. A patch of land covered in trees and weeds and grass and some corn, beans, lettuce, and yes, some carrots. He never worked on it, but let grow whatever wanted to. Then Rabbit looked at his own, hard-earned, neat rows of carrot-tops. 'You laugh at my hard work and dedication,' Rabbit grumped, 'While you are lazy and dishonorable, I work night and day. You just let things grow where they may and call it a garden.' Coyote merely shrugged and returned to his home. Several days later, a disease came along that only affected carrots. Coyote lost his carrots, but Rabbit lost his whole garden. Then, shortly after that, Thunderbird brought the rains. Coyote stayed in his shack as the water pounded the ground. When the sun came out again, Coyote came out of his shack and went to see how Rabbit fared in the flood. Alas, Rabbits lands and shack were washed away with the waters. Coyote shook his head, 'Silly Rabbit, your hard work and 'honor' could not save you, where my supposed 'dishonor' and diversity has kept me alive.' Then he returned home and ate a fine meal from his 'garden'." Italapate looks Deigatt in the eye to see if the minotaur has caught the meaning of the legend, or if there would need to be more explanation.

Deigatt snorts. "You have most hamusing hanimals hon your home world, Mate Hitalapate. Hit his hunfortunate that they do not know how cooperation could benefit them hall, hinstead hof each seeing honly to his own well-being."

Italapate laughs. "I think that it is funny hearing that analysis coming from you, Deigatt. Everyone onboard heard you mooing about Leera, and how dishonorable she is. I think that you understand that the point was not about funny animals and their gardens. We are stronger for our diversity than we would be if we were all the same." Italapate turns to leave. Then he turns back. "And the animals on my world are the same as on yours. This is a story about the spirits..."

Leera speaks to Italapate, but others around (including Deigatt) hear her, too: "Well spoken Italapate! I told Deigatt much the same thing earlier. I freely admit that his skill with that awful axe is of great use to us. Still, I sense that our horribly dishonorable tactics will prove their usefulness as well." She claps him on the back: "Now tell us that story of the Giants and the Fire."

"Perhaps," Captain Wilhelmina booms from the railing, where she had been silently watching the repairs, "The moral of the story is rather that the Rabbit was foolish to build on low ground that was easily flooded, and equally foolish to trust the rabbit-eating coyote." She stands and glances at Leera, "Those who live by luck eventually die of it, just as those who are foolish eventually become fools...." She heads below for some sleep.

During the second shift of the second day since the pirate battle the Flowfish and the Whirlwind reach the small asteroid cluster where Finagle is located. Talus is on the helm, with Raken watching the navigation charts and offering the occasional comment to the novice helmsman. The bridge is now clean, though it's been impossible to fix Italapate's hole in the side. Those not on watch are below decks, either sleeping or studying in one of the cabins (now, thankfully, somewhat clean). Captain Wilhelmina's thunderous snores can be heard echoing from the cargo hold. Billy, Deigatt, and Nilaroo are topside, continuing to work on the finspines, trying to get as much maneuverability returned as possible before the delicate operation of docking. The Whirlwind slows to spelljamming speed, and Talus guides her between the asteroids, thankful the fields aren't very dense. Topside, Billy is saying to Nilaroo "The captain told Holland Finagle is just 4 hours in from the field's edge..." when Nilaroo suddenly gives a bellowing shout "SCAVVER!" Deigatt turns quickly at Nilaroo's shout, just in time to dodge a 15' long, coal-black nightmare. As he rolls to his feet the creature begins to bank around for another bite at its prey. It's body is long and slender, tapering towards its tail. Two fins grace its sides, and a dorsal fin juts from its topside. It's mouth is huge, covering over three quarters of its face, large enough to swallow Billy or Leera whole. All in all, it resembles a terrestrial shark, except for its single, human-like, baleful, eye.

Round 1: Deigatt raises his hands and sends a mystical bolt slamming into the creature as it heads towards the deck.

Billy dives flat on his belly when Nilaroo yelled 'scavver'. He quickly flips over onto his back and looks around, trying to spot the monster. Seeing that it is nowhere near him he gets up and mutters, "I should try to keep my weapons close by next time..." Seeing that the scavver is now behind the Whirlwind and turning for another pass, Billy heads for the ballista. "Someone help me man the ballista! Maybe we can hit it on its next pass!"

Nilaroo rolls towards his two handed sword and unsheathes it, standing ready for its attack and swinging at it as it charges. His massive sword misses by inches as the creature's maw grazes his side, leaving a slight trail of blood as it rises and starts to bank again.

With the tranquil scene broken by the cry to battle, Raken draws his blade. "If that girl is playing her illusions again, she'll be lucky to spend the rest of the trip in chains," he growls, knowing the growing frustration on the ship towards her. "Talus, keep us moving. Scavver usually move in packs; we could be flying into a school of the bastards. I'm going to let the Flowfish know we're in some trouble. If you can, see if you can tell me what it looks like." He then grabs one the lamps with his free hand.

Caught by surprise by the attack, Talus uses the awareness granted by the helm to track the scavver and look for others. The young half-elf calls out the scavver's description to Raken.

Round 2: Deigatt bellows out, "HALL HANDS TOPSIDE!" then attacks with his axe against the creatures flank as it again heads for Nilaroo. His ax cuts a large chunk from the creature's side as it flies past.

Billy starts loading the ballista. Billy yells to those still down below, "Someone get my crossbow for me! Don't forget the bolt case!"

Nilaroo tries to attract the scavver's attention, waving his sword and yelling a challenge the scavver responds and rushes towards him. Dancing to the side his huge sword disembowels the creature, slashing along its side as it continues past to crash into the deck behind him. It lies there still, an unmoving, bleeding hulk.

Moving close to the shattered window, Raken opens and closes the shutters of the lamp in rapid succession, his sword tucked under his arm. He quickly pounds out a crude SOS, hoping that someone on the Flowfish is awake. Once he has pounded out the message twice, he sets the lamp aside and returns his blade to his hand. He guards the broken window, making sure that nothing gets through to attack the helmsman.

Talus keeps the ship moving through the asteroid cluster. He realises that he can do little on the helm - the damaged eelship is not up to sudden maneuvering, and a steady platform would be the most help in fighting off the attack.

Deigatt and Nilaroo prod the creature with their blades, trying to see if it's still alive. The quickly realize its dead.

Billy continues loading the ballista.

Listening to the battle end above, Raken begins pacing but doesn't let his guard down. "Hope those bums don't shred the hide too badly or throw the body overboard; there's too many useful body parts on a good scavver to waste like that!"

Talus stays on the helm, thinking nervously about the great hole in the side of the helm room, and vowing to somehow get it covered when they reach Finagle, even if all he can do is cover it with a tarp.

Holland wakes up abruptly in response to the yelling topside. He quickly grabs his dagger and heads to the helm.

"Scavver....scavver... burning bright," Italapate thinks. Then he sits bolt upright in bed. "Scavver!" he shouts. He grabs his bow and quiver and starts out of the room. Responding to Billy's plea, he snags the woge's crossbow and bolts before leaping up the stairs.

Kain wakes to Deigatt's shout, looking uncomprehendingly around the cabin. Seeing everyone making preparations for battle, Kain rolls out from his bunk, grabs his sword belt and buckles it on as he leaves the room.

Radick sits up quickly and throws on his leather armor, then he charges out of the room.

Grigree was almost asleep -- finally -- when he heard the cry of 'scavver' from above. "Here we go again," he sighs as he grabs the two swords hanging near his feet. Grigree hears Deigatt's booming voice yelling for everybody to get on deck and rolls his eyes. To himself he mumbles, "It's just a scavver. Why does he want everybody up top?" Grigree follows the others onto the deck.

Everyone rushing up from below sees Deigatt and Nilaroo standing over the now gutted (by Nilaroo's sword) beast.