The Last Laugh | Page 4

Ueno Mizuki · Apr 1, 2018

127/139 HP

19/120 EN

-8 HP from Black Spot
-80 EN from ship crafting

It looked like they had found a way out of this mess, giving the ghost pirates this ship so they could fulfil their prophecy and sail into the next world while the living would no longer be troubled by ships going missing. There was the question of whether the pirates could be trusted, but on the other hand Mango had actually been fairly friendly and cooperative so far. In fact he only began attacking after they'd already tried to restrain him and forced his hand. That wasn't to say he wasn't of questionable morality, but...

Mizuki blinked as first a blade appeared in Mango's chest, and then the muscular woman who had been guarding Rumbottom ended up on the floor, having underestimated the difficulty of taking down the ghost captain. Mizuki stepped forward, her eyes narrow and one clawed hand at the ready, before she realized that it wouldn't do any good. Looking at the body she tried to gauge whether Lumberface was still alive or not, but from this distance she couldn't be certain.

That was unecessary. She couldn't even hurt you, unless you're not as unkillable as you claim to be.

She gave the ghost captain a disapproving glare, but she refrained from any further hostile activities as she instead briefly conversed with Alric, then shook her head and walked to the edge of the ship.

A part of me wants to refuse you the ship for that, but that wouldn't solve anything. I'll be leaving together with anyone who's willing to go with me, although you'll have to allow me to make myself a form of transport. I'd rather not swim all the way back.

With that said she placed her hands on the wooden railing, focusing a large amount of her energy into the wood. She couldn't claim to be an expert on ships, but with enough effort maybe she could make a small ship or raft that'd at least not sink. Where the water surface touched the wood began to reach out, sprouting new branches which interwove, Mizuki biting her lower lip as she had to make sure there wouldn't be any water in it at the end, and she didn't want to create a hole in their current ship either.

WIth a lot of effort she finally managed to make a small ship, which looked more like a grown imitation than a real one. Her fingers were digging into the planks and her face was red, and she was breathing heavily as she finalized her construction with a vine which would allow people to climb down into the smaller ship from this one.

I don't... have the energy to make it any better. I think it can fit... five people. If there are some empty barrels we could tie them behind the ship for extra space... Can someone check if Lumberface is still alive?"

She looked shaky from the exertion, but the escape ship at least looked like it would do the job, even if it wasn't quite big enough for all those who weren't ghosts.

Growing a boat
32 + 25 (Expert Nature Magic)= 57
Roll / Tracker

Alric Stalwart · Apr 2, 2018

97/145 HP

75/120 EN

It took all of Alric's strength to not just destroy the ship right there and then, but after talking it over with @Ueno Mizuki they had agreed the only way to put an end to this was to surrender the ship. With clenched fists the man walked over to the edge of the boat and looked down at the raft while shaking his head.

“Someone else check on her… Please. I just can't stand to be here another minute.”

In truth he didn't have it in himself to be the one to see if Lumberface was still alive or not. Part of him didn't want to know either. It was rare that the path to winning was by running away from the problem but if this was the only outcome fate had in store for his party he'd leave without making a fuss.

Abandoning Ship
Tracker

Luna Avalbane · Apr 2, 2018

121/136 HP

126/126 EN

Luna's hands flew to her mouth, smothering the gasp that slipped from her lips as Olly slipped a dagger into Lumberface. Or maybe it was a sword. Either way, Lumberface had been stabbed after attempting to attack Olly whilst he was in the middle of actually answering her questions about what was going on and what had happened in the past. What had possessed the woman to do something like that and why had Olly been so brutal with dispatching her? Rumbottom had said that Olly had been more of a prankster than a villain in life!

Either way, she couldn't just leave Lumberface and leave with the rest of the party. She quickly scurried over, Natiri sticking close to her and acting as a guardian as she knelt beside the injured woman's body, eyes wide as she placed her fingers at the woman's neck, entering investigation mode as she searched for any sign of life. In truth, she was expecting to find nothing.

Which made finding something astonishing. She gasped, hoisting the woman into her arms as best as she could, lifting her until she was draped over Natiri's back, the white tigress helping her carry Lumberface over to the rest of the group, gathering at the side of the boat. "She's....she's alive, somehow. Barely. I don't....I don't know if she'll make it without immediate treatment."

She swallowed, looking down at the deck beneath her, before turning to Olly and the rest of his damned crew. "Why'd you do that? Rumbottom said you were a prankster, not cruel hearted! Couldn't you have just knocked her out or possessed her or something!?"

Retrieving Lumberface and Abandoning Ship
No Roll / Tracker

Akeno · Apr 3, 2018

The Last Laugh

"The morals of the living arrre no longer mine to abide!" Olly snarled, a smile upon his face. In life, he had been a pirate, and though ruthless, he had been at the very least respectable. He had taken to a life that, by any rate of seaborne thieves, was lawful, and had some grasp of humanity that many others of his profession did not share. Perhaps something from his transformation between life and death stripped him of that humanity, leaving his emotions... Lacking. But joy... That was never lacking with Olly Mango-Leg. Even in piracy, and even in death. "If it be cruel hearted ye think of me, take it up with me BEET-less heart! Harr!"

Upon his first voyages at sea, he was the crew-mate of a gruff, belligerent pirate named Redgut. This pirate often captured and tied up his foes, before ending their lives. He would place fruits upon their head, slicing first the fruit, then the prisoner. It was on one fateful day, Olly built up his courage to stand up to this horrid captain. He put his leg, er, foot forward in defense of the man with a mango upon his head, and struck down the cruel captain with a upward swing of his mug, as though he were cheering. The other prisoners among the mango man had other fruits and foods, one with a lime, a peach, and a tangerine. Of the crew, three chose to stand with Olly, and they overtook the rest by force. So would be the forgotten legend of Olly Mango-Leg, and how he got his name, known only by himself and his crew.

"If she still be with the livin', apologize to Lumberface for me, when you return, mates. This be the boat I gave to her, after all." One individual did not make any movements towards the crafted lifeboat. He merely turned towards the others, with the undead pirate's arm draped over his shoulder. With a weak, somewhat frightened smile, Rumbottom peered towards the crew he had taken along. It seemed like just moments ago, he had been beginning to tell his stories to @Alric Stalwart and @Magdalyn. How the tone had changed... "Thank ye for believin' in a silly old sailor's instinct."

Taking the weight of each of the players, it seemed that by some unknown means, @Ueno Mizuki's vessel had managed to support the weight of Lumberface as well, as @Luna pulled the nearly listless body along. Even though the ship seemed only able to support the weight of five individuals, it floated along as though nothing was the matter... Strange.

It would be some time before the players managed to make it back to shore, their ship not the quickest of vessels. Perhaps they would have time to speak on what they had just experienced, or maybe they would peer into the lullaby of shifting tides beneath them, as they drifted from the haunted sea. The black mark upon @Ueno Mizuki began to fade, no longer aching as horribly as before.

---

"Age ain't been kind to ye, JJ." Aboard the Grubby Skipper, after the players exited with Lumberface, Mango-Leg took his arm from over the shoulder of Jon-Jon Rumbottom, taking a step back with his hands on his hips. Peering up and down that the aged sailor, the ghostly pirate seemed to scoff. "Yer much more plump than me."

"Says the skeleton man!" Rumbottom laughed, still frightened by being aboard the undead vessel. "So where we be sailin', Olly?"

"Waters far from here..." Olly moved towards the side of the deck, the old man hobbling with him close behind. "Say, what was that joke ye told me back in the day. The one about the ship builder?" The mist around the ship wavered slightly.

"What do you call a pirate who built his own ship?" Rumbottom answered without hesitation, as though the thought had already been in his mind. "An arrrrrchitect!"

The two laughed like old friends, as the ship sailed towards the sunset. But there was a final, unseen invader upon the Grubby Skipper.

OOC

Minimum of 100 words, maximum of 600.

1 post per character, per cycle. DM post resets cycle. A new post will be up in 24 hours, so try to get your post in before then!

No posting order because anarchy!

Roll Thread / Communication Thread

Message me here or on discord before your post to see what you will be rolling for your action! ^_^

@Corvella sustains 8 damage from Black Spot.
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Ueno Mizuki · Apr 3, 2018

127/139 HP

12/120 EN

-7 EN from healing

It was a surprise to hear that Lumberface was still alive, given how she had crumpled to the floor. However it was a welcome surprise, and it made Mizuki feel a bit less bitter about giving the ghost pirate a ship. While she was fine with sacrificing a ship (even if it wasn't really hers) for the sake of giving a ghost the opportunity to pass on (and preventing any other ships going missing, the original mission) she hadn't been planning to sacrifice any lives. A ship was just that, a ship. A person was a bit more important.

Although it looked like they would still be sacrificing someone. Mizuki wasn't sure why Rumbottom wouldn't get on the escape boat, although after staring at him with some puzzlement she thought she could hazard enough of a guess not to argue. It wasn't optimal, but it was the man's own choice. Besides, the boat would already have trouble carrying all of them and Lumberface: adding Rumbottom and it'd be tricky to say whether they could back to the coast.

Once everyone was on the escape boat Mizuki formed some oars to help them row back to land. The boat had been a big project, but the oars were pretty easy to make. Although she did hope someone else would do the actual rowing....

"I would be grateful if someone else could take care of the rowing. Making this thing took a lot out of me, and I need to make sure Lumberface survives the trip."

Handing the oars to whoever was willing to row Mizuki turned towards Lumberface, checking the woman's condition. The good news was that since there was only a single wound it should be pretty simple to treat. Given how it hadn't managed to kill Lumberface she just had to close the wound and things should more or less work out.

Which would be easier if she hadn't already used most of her energy. Mizuki was still breathing heavily as she placed a hand on the musclewoman's wound, gathering her energy as best she could and slowly pouring it into the wound to mend it. She really wasn't used to acting as the healer, but she figured that she was as good a choice as any right now. She had the Nature Magic to become more attuned with the world and to enhance her own abilities, but right now healing was the best thing she could do.

If nobody else was willing to take the oars Mizuki would first finish taking care of Lumberface before grabbing them, the wolfwoman looking tired and worn out but still pushing herself to keep moving with a stubborn expression, shooting @Alric Stalwart a somewhat worried look.

"I don't suppose I could convince you to leave that ship alone, knowing that Lumberface is still alive and that Rumbottom is still on there."

While in theory blowing up the ship after already giving it to Mango shouldn't be a problem Mizuki would rather not tempt fate, but it all depended on what her companion decided to do. If he still wanted to try and destroy the ship to punish the ghost pirate she didn't have the energy to stop him.

Healing Lumberface
89 + 25 (Expert Nature Magic)= 114
Roll / Tracker

Alric Stalwart · Apr 4, 2018

97/145 HP

75/120 EN

“It'll be okay… Sometimes to win you shouldn't fight at all I suppose.”

With a wistful look in his eyes Alric had averted his gaze away from the party and toward the Grubby Skipper as the ship began to shrink in the distance. Though it wasn't the outcome he was expecting it seemed things were wrapping up quite nicely on this particular adventure. Everyone had survived and the problem seemed to have been dealt with, so there wasn't much more he could have asked for.

With the oars now in his hands he took charge of the rowing and propelled their little vessel back toward land using what strength he had left. Oddly enough the sense of relaxation he felt when they first set out had returned too. Just drifting like this… It made up for the pain he had to endure.

“What're we gonna say when she wakes up?”

The question wasn't directed at anyone in particular but he nodded toward Lumberface to make the subject clear. After her stunt on the ship he dreaded to think about what she'd do when informed both her boat and her friend were taken away to who knows where.

Tracker

Corvella · Apr 4, 2018

89/148 HP

???/100 EN

-8hp from Black Spot

Corvella and five others left the ship the makeshift boat, despite only be able to hold five people. They stared at the ship, taking the last view of Grubby Skipper and Jon-Jon Rumbottom, whom had chose to stay in the ship along the rest of the undead pirates and one more figure. At first, she thought that he was pressured to stay. But no, that was a smile of a man that was reunited with his long lost friend. She would not react to anything spoken from any of those on the boat, and just kept staring into the direction of the ship.

The illusory dark knight quickly opened her glowing eyes like she just woke up from a dream, still in her meditative position. She raised her right arm, which is still being cursed, slowly blackening up to the upper half. Corvella stood up from where she left herself the last time and walked around the deck of Grubby Skipper as if nobody could see and notice her.

There was this idea, where she would stay to get this ship back to Captain Rumbottom's hands, but it seems that she won't be doing that anymore. The joke and the laughs they shared were all the assurance she needed. By taking the Grubby Skipper, she thought that Olly would steal what's left of the old captain, but apparently the blonde was wrong. The pirate took his old friend with him, knowing that he couldn't probably live without the ship. Although there's only one place a dead men might be sailing to; the sea of the dead, but looking at their faces as they exchange jokes was enough to tell that they would face everything together as the crew of Grubby Skipper.

Corvella took steps, which noise are certainly unheard, and stopped just few feet in front of Jon-Jon Rumbottom. Snapping her fingers, she removed the illusion only on the captain temporarily to give him the farewell he deserved. Smiling, she raised her hand to give him a sailor's salute, "Captain," wishing him luck for the sail before snapping her fingers once more, removing her once again from Captain Rumbottom's sight.

The sea was clear, and everyone aboard is happy. There's no need to look back anymore, that everyone finally got their happy ending. She hoped that Umber Cucumber would survive her wounds, to tell the others about the legend that is the return of Mango-Leg and how Jon-Jon Rumbottom defeated him aboard the Grubby Skipper. Finally reaching the side of the ship, Corvella unequipped all her armor pieces from her palm menu to enable her to swim to the shore unburdened.

After making sure the boat exited the view safely and no one tried to blow the ship up, She took the last passing glance on the crews before leaping backwards off the Grubby Skipper, diving straight into the ocean.

Leave
Tracker

Akeno · Apr 5, 2018

The Last Laugh

Rumbottom was surprised to see another player still aboard the boat. He figured that they had all exited upon the raft, having watched @Corvella leap down upon the smaller vessel, unaware that it had been an illusion. Still, he gave a polite nod and smile to her in passing, knowing that this was almost certainly the last time a living soul would witness his aged mug. There was a sense of modesty and freedom within him. No doubt, it was the lack of urgency that came with a man prepared to finish his own tale. In years to come, legends would tell of how Jon-Jon Rumbottom met his end. Perhaps not completely true, but stories would be told.

Many pirate tales do not end with happy endings. No. A pirate's tale is packed with the loss of limbs, the loss of crew mates, and many times, the loss of good friends. A lonely life, many pirates lead, with the sea as their lover. There is a place in all people for love and affection, and many pirates replace this cavity with cruelty and greed. But not Olly Mango-Leg. As his ship, the Grubby Skipper, faded from view, similarly to how the crows nest had vanished previously, he was not alone. He had next to him a friend, and around him a loyal crew. A ship that he could truly call his own was beneath him, and an ocean that was waiting for his weary bones to rest beneath it.

Some say that when the fruity pirate captain would find his end, it would be upon his unstollen vessel. Jon-Jon believed that, instead, the curse was that the fruity pirate captain was not given his final chuckle. Regardless, finally, the tale of the jolly pirate could come to a fitting end. He sailed into the depths with a smile on his face, giving one... Last... Laugh...

---

Meanwhile, the four other players made their way back towards shore, the opposite direction of the Grubby Skipper, finally becoming free of the unclean air that previously swept around them. While the salty air that hung above the sea was not nearly as clean as one could hope, it was certainly a nice change from the atmosphere they had previously been dwelling in.

It would be a little over an hour before the four made it back to shore, @Corvella joining soon after. Finally together on the beach, Umber Cucumber Lumberface came to, leaping up with a start, as though she thought she were still in conflict, defending her captain. "Rumbottom! Where--" Staring out at the shore, the ghost ship long since faded away, she could only imagine what cruel fate had befallen her old captain. With a sigh, she fell to her knees, not shedding a tear, but swearing some sort of silent oath. In one night, she had lost her ship, and her mentor. But she would have to go on.

Later, she would bring the players to a cache her and Jon-Jon had stashed on the beach. Their own buried treasure, so to speak. She offered the valiants gold, as well as her own blade. With the handle resting in her open palm, she placed it out towards them. "I don't think the adventuring life is for me. Perhaps I'll settle somewhere quiet."

OOC

Feel free to make one last parting post. 100-600 words!

Decide among yourselves who will get the loots!

Rewards

Magdalyn, Luna Avalbane, Alric Stalwart, Ueno Mizuki, and Corvella get:

Loot

75g
Money that Rumbottom had set aside for those who believed in his theory. All you lovely folks get this.

Magdalyn gets:

Loot

Mango's Hat (Medium Head)
An artifact from the great Olly Mango-Leg! His captain's hat might be smelly, and a bit behind the times in fashion, but it sure makes you feel cool wearing it!

Corvella gets:

Loot

The Grubby Ripper (1H Mace)
The head of a broken paddle from the ship called the Grubby Skipper. It could be used as a weapon, maybe.

Alric Stalwart gets:

Loot

The Levia-fin (1H Slash Dagger)
A trusty, rusty sailor's knife that stretches back generations.

Luna Avalbane gets:

Loot

Mango's Mug (Drink)
Somehow, Mango-Leg's mug didn't fade away with him... Could it be a glitch? Don't question it! It's full of endless rum!

Ueno Mizuki · Apr 4, 2018

127/139 HP

12/120 EN

Mizuki was pleased to hear that Alric had decided against blowing up the ship. Maybe knowing that Lumberface was still alive and that Rumbottom voluntarily joined Mango on his journey to the next world had convinced the man. Looking back towards where the ship was disappear Mizuki nodded.

It feels a bit strange to grant a pirate his last wish but it's probably for the best. Lumberface should recover fully and captain Rumbottom... well, honestly I wouldn't be surprised if he was happy with this outcome.

The man had been afraid, everyone had been able to see that, but nevertheless he had decided to stick with Mango. Maybe he just didn't have anything left in this life now that he'd also lose his ship (which made her feel a bit guilty for trying to force the issue without his consent), or he knew that he didn't have very long left to live anyway and this was as good a way to depart as any, together with a ghost pirate who, despite everything else that happened, had never been anything but friendly and jovial towards him.

Although she think frowned, thinking of something else as her ears twitched and the tip of her tail quickly moved from side to side in annoyance.

Although with this outcome we're never getting those disappeared ships back... or the people that were on them.

In hindsight that might not have been the best plan. Mizuki sighed as she wrapped her arms around her knees, grateful that Alric was taking care of rowing them to the shore.

I'd argue that they were probably a lost cause anyway, but it still stings that I actually forgot about trying to save those lost people. As for what to tell her...

Mizuki looked towards the unconscious musclewoman.

Might as well tell her the truth. She'll be happier knowing captain Rumbottom went with them of his own volition and that at least our original mission was accomplished.

Once they arrived at the shore Mizuki dragged Lumberface off of the escape boat and onto the sand, then blinked and stared with clear surprise as suddenly Corvella showed up. She really thought that the woman had been with them, looking very confused before Lumberface distracted her, after which the wolfwoman looked back at the musclewoman.

Captain Rumbottom decided to join the ghost pirates. Either he felt like a captain couldn't abandon his ship, or he decided this was as good a way to leave this world as any. However he made that decision himself, and Mango-Leg looked genuinely happy to have him.

A small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless. Or so Mizuki hoped. She shook her head when Lumberface offered the knife, leaving that kind of thing to the others as she stared back out to the sea.

This was definitely one of the stranger adventures she'd had so far.

Pondering the imponderables
Tracker

Corvella · Apr 5, 2018

89/148 HP

???/120 EN

Swimming into the shore felt like forever, but along the way she enjoyed the underwater view, lightly diving below and up. What was surprising her is that her teammates is still waiting on the shore. Corvella quickly opened her equipment menu to summon back her armor pieces before stepping into the land, still freshly wet from all that swimming. "Oh, hey guys!" She tried to sound like nothing was wrong. "Lumberface's awake?"

They went straight to the beach where Rumbottom stashed his gold, maybe in case if he couldn't go back with them, like what happened earlier. "Losing things is hard, I know." Corvella explained what she witnessed on her last minute aboard the Grubby Skipper. "The same way Captain Rumbottom wouldn't leave his ship and Mango-Leg won't die without it. But I can assure you, that they all smiled and laughed together even before their last sail into the unknown." She continued muttering about what could have been. "I couldn't bring myself to strike down the ghost when they are genuinely happy in each other's company."

She grabbed her share of gold. It's not that many, considering it was all that an old sailor has left. Before parting with Lumberface and the others, she uttered her last thoughts. "We all lived to tell the tale, and should be grateful for it. In time, people will hear and recite the story of Captain Rumbottom, that banished the ghost pirates of Falderen waters." And the knight left the group with a smile. This wasn't exactly the outcome she expected, but still a welcome surprise regardless.

Asch · Apr 13, 2018

Congratulations!

Challenge Completed