Greetings, distinguished guests of every stripe! I do not wish to alarm you, but your Captain's Clerk has caught a certain and notorious plague that may impact the next post or so. Do not be alarmed, your Captain's Clerk is under quarantine, but it is quite a miserable plague!
It is your Captain's Clerk's hope to be able to release the next posts on time, the time being tomorrow. But as these penultimate posts require much more finessing and planning due to their climactic position in the storyline, I hope that you will understand if I do end up having to delay these posts while the damnable plague works its foul way through my system!
A bulletin will be posted tomorrow morning with your Captain's Clerk's decision as to what is to be done.
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Good afternoon, distinguished guests of every stripe! Your Captain's Clerk is mostly recovered from the terrible plague, with only the slightest remnants of a cough and headache remaining.
Here is a link to the last Action Report for your perusal.
Our final public poll for this story remains open, and thank you to those who have answered with rather nice headache cures! Including the
Well, first I will need to locate some obliging rats!
The deadline for the public poll and the final Action Report submission will be Sunday the 31st of July, 1 PM GMT/11PM GMT+10, and I believe I will endeavour to write the final post for publication on Wednesday or Thursday.
I will keep you readers updated, of course, but it is my intention to try and conclude this story in what I hope is a satisfactory manner!
Perhaps I will share a sea shanty or some of the interesting responses I have received on the public polls. And, well, there will most definitely be a post or two about reflecting on this experience of both storytelling and formulating game mechanics, as well as, perhaps, a survey asking about potential future interest in future endeavours.
But until then, thank you, oh, I cannot thank you all readers and sailors and observers enough for your interest and participation!
Here is a public survey regarding feedback on the first game of Shipshape, and the ability to register future interest in potential future games.
For those who may stumble across this dispatch, this posting concerns a weekly experimental Age of Sail "tabletop" game as hosted on this very web site known as Tumblr. If you are interested, you may peruse the first story and the mechanics of Shipshape here - "In A Pickle".
I invite you all to partake in this form, whether you participated in the first tale or not, and do share or "reblog" if you would like! The answers to this poll will be most illuminating, and will aid me in formulating future plans.
To those who sailed with us on the first voyage, I offer my deepest gratitude, and I did so enjoy crafting this tale for your sailors!
To those who read along and followed our adventures, I offer my greatest appreciation, for to act before an audience is quite the privilege!
And to those who may yet join us, you have my sincere appreciation for your interest!
Welcome, one, and welcome all, to the inaugural Action Report of Shipshape! Now, I would like to ask you to bear with me as I, your humble Captain's Clerk, being quite an ambitious landlubber, may fumble and make mistakes nautical, historical and otherwise. But this is an experimental voyage, so let us all try our best to make this voyage one to remember!
This week, our weekly poll concerns the weather. It is a short poll, open to both sailors and observers, so do feel free to tell us what you think the weather might be!
In fact, it has been decided: I will respond to inquiries and questions about the current setting, the current Non Player Characters and whatever details are needed to paint a closer picture of the scene. Now, then-
We begin our tale in the port city of Porttooth, sitting at the mouth of a grand river. Here lies the might of the grand navy of the Loegrian empire, where her power is bolstered by the shipbuilders in the shipyards and where so many famed man o' wars have come and gone.
Not so famed is our HMS Pickle, at anchor. Why, she may not be so sparkling new or brimming with the latest innovations in shipbuilding, but she is beautiful in her own right!
Her new captain has read themself in recently, yes, and you have surely heard of Captain Swanmay and their unbelievable taking of the Chanticleer, and how they have been promoted to Master and Commander and given the command of the Pickle. Since then, they have barely been seen on board, which seems damned strange of them, says the boatswain who served with Swanmay on the Cyclops, considering how particular and⊠smothering they were. This has raised quite the rumour mill, which has not been quieted by frequent sightings of Swanmay at the Admiralty's office.
And as such, matters on board have been left to the lieutenants, with First Lieutenant Davies nominally in charge while Captain Swanmay appears to be taking care of⊠other matters.
NowâŠ
I do assume that you will be coming on board with your necessary supplies and equipment, but such supplies and equipment will merely be adequate⊠Unless you decide to spend some money. Easily sourced items you may buy from shops may be found here along with price costs, or you may try to persuade the famously reticent Victualling Yard to provide you with items with a Provisioning or Diplomacy roll.
Or perhaps you would like to enjoy yourself on land before setting forth? The more well connected of you could possibly be attending a ball, maybe even the latest of Poplewell's Debutantes, for they are quite well to-do and have taken their scion's shifting gender as a glorious excuse to throw a ball every week - this week I hear Thanis Poplewell is presenting as a handsome young lady. This may be an opportunity to try a Courtesy roll and to make connections, or to see if you can pick up on any rumours of your new posting.
If that is a little too lavish for you, the taverns and pubs may be more comfortable. Perhaps you are drinking, you might wish to test your Guts to see how well you fare, or perhaps you are looking for rumours and stories of the ship and captain you are to sail with, or rumours of your shipmates - if you are gathering such through companionship and conversation, Courtesy would suit you well, or if you are eavesdropping and skulking, Shadows or Awareness will serve.
Or are you on deck, taking care of the ship as befits your role through the physical work of Maritime or the technical work of Seamanship? There is nothing much wrong with the Pickle except for the fact that some have described her as an old maid, but perhaps with the resources of the port, you can help her shine before she sets sail.
... Maybe you are attempting to find out more about Swanmay. I will not go into so much detail over something I quite disapprove of, but, well, it is your choice if you wish to test your Shadows to sneak after and tail our gallant captain. I do pray that you do not get caught.
Or⊠is there something else you would like to do at port that I have not outlined? There are a great many things you may do on land that cease to be an option when at sea.
--------
Now, as this is our first Action Report, I will run through a few points of note:
Your submission for your character should be a brief narrative, anything from a single sentence to a paragraph or so, responding to a prompt or the general setting of the Action Report, describing either a specific action that your character is taking and/or detailing your character's general course of action over a period of time.
If the prompt involves a challenge that can be failed, you should specify a specific skill that your character has, and how your character is using that skill to overcome that challenge.
We will resolve challenges through the use of dice. Specifically, two die with six sides each, or 2d6. I will roll these dice and report the results, using random.org or another such website.
The result is the addition of the results of both dice. A roll that results in 2 and 5 will be added to be 7.
A result of 6- is, well, a failure, and I will decide what consequences occur.
A result of 7 - 9 is a success with the possibility of complications.
A result of 10+ is a straightforward success. In addition to that, depending on what was rolled for, perhaps you will be rewarded with a possible +1 to a future roll, if that challenge is connected to the result of this challenge. Examples include the success on procuring a dress uniform affecting a future Courtesy roll to impress someone.
Skill and Measures contribute to your roll as so:
Stat of 0: -1
Stat of 1: 0
Stat of 2-3: +1
Stat of 4-5: +2
Stat of 6: +3
For the moment, you will be able to attempt one of these challenges per week, specifying a skill that you may or may not have (and of course you may try to roll a skill that you do not have). The result will be outlined in the next week's Action Report.
You may submit these to me via any medium, but here is a link to the submission box for ease. You may even revise your action, at least up to the deadline.
And as stated, I will answer asks about the scene, the setting, the NPCs and what the NPCs are doing.
----
One more thing-
This is completely optional, but if you would like, I heartily encourage you to write - to create a character's journal, or if another player character is willing, to interact with them through missives or conversations. I am happy to publish these on this blog if these are submitted to me.
If you would like me to contact another player for you, I am happy to do so. Please keep in mind the code of conduct and remember that players are not obliged to interact with each other.
And so we conclude our first Action Report, but oh, thank you all for the enthusiasm you have displayed, and it is my utmost pleasure to be scribing your adventures.
Good evening, or morning, or whatever time it may be! Or perhaps I should wish you a good Friday, if that may be the case?
I, myself, have caught a certain plague, and must thus quarantine in my own cabin! I will not be so maudlin as to harp on about my experience, but I am forced to admit that the timing of such illness coincides most poorly with these final Reports. Indeed, I will blame the illness for the lateness of this report! The final Action Report proper will be released on Sunday or Monday barring any change in circumstance.
Our Pickle came to the planned rendezvous, to exchange an important prisoner for the lives of multiple of our officers. Our captain entertained their captain, and it seems that our captains have had a history together. Let me speak plainly here, for perhaps you have deduced, correctly, that Captain Swanmay and Captain Maupertuis had a relationship of familiarity and intimacy.
It was not so long ago when there was a break in the hostilities between our empires. Imagine, if you will, two lieutenants, meeting as equals, and though the sin of love among a shipâs crew does not so often apply to officers- perhaps it is safer to engage in dalliances with another that you will not see often, someone who understands the pressures of command and leadership, but distant enough that it will not interfere.
For is that not what the sin of love is about? We serve dutifully for the grace of our Crown and the Way, but the sin of love threatens that. Even if officers are untouched by such sin for the grace that they hold as gentled people, there is still a hesitation, for who can remain solemn and unaffected as good sailors as flogged for the crime of love?
But that is in the past. In the now, our Gallian prisoner was led out onto the deck, in preparation for the exchange. Yet it seems they were under a false impression of the reason for their appearance on the ship.Â
It seems they thought they were to be delivered to an allied ship, to be given freedom; but they were misled, kept apart from the shipâs crew and company, left to labour under false hopes.
And so when they saw the colours of the Gallian ship and realisation scratched horror across their face, they acted. Perhaps it was irrational desperation, or perhaps it was a reasoned calculation that death would be better than to enter into the custody of the Gallian empire, but they ran, and shots were fired, felling the prisoner and one of the Gallian officers-
I believe that the Gallians were expecting something like this to occur, or perhaps they thought it would happen less out of accident and more out of malicious action on our behalf. Or perhaps they wished to betray us, though I hardly think that likely, for even in war, I do hope that our Gallian nemeses understand the value of adhering to dignity.
So they boarded us, and here we are-
In combat.
Background image generated as an âanime illustrationâ in Disco Diffusion, ships painted over and then run through Disco Diffusion in the style of early 1800s painters, more information here
Last week, we addressed our Gallians and their surreptitious activities considering our prisoner last, and well, I must admit it was all in the service of dramatics. This week, let us attend to those two first-
For a life depends on this.
Jean-Heron, the Royalist landsman, attempts to keep out of the fighting as he makes his way towards the fallen prisoner.
He manages to do so while avoiding blows and entanglement in the various clashes of the deck, and finds himself with the prisoner- to guard them, or to at least give them company in their final moments. He keeps guard, watching for any of the fighting that threatens to get too close, only his fists at hand.
Some of the fighting does threaten to come a little close.
But Jean-Heron fends them off, as best and as much as he can. The prisoner is choking, coughing up blood, gasping, but they fix an eye on Jean-Heron with a gaze of recognition. There is not so much you can read into a simple look, but I do not believe I would be amiss in saying that there is some amount of thankfulness in that recognition, that they do not have to die in the midst of absolute strangers.
And thenâŠ
-
Jack Laplace, our revolutionary cook, was disturbed by the note he had come across and the revelation of the prisonerâs identity; yet âwar makes strange bedfellowsâ and perhaps this person may aid in some way in the overthrow of the tyrant Josephine.
He makes his way through the fray, hoping to duck and weave through the fighting, using his Guts and determined to get through to the prisoner-
And suffers a mild Injury to his Health as he pushes through, perhaps a bruise or a cut or so, but he is not accosted directly, and he manages to get to the prisonerâs side. He knows some measure of first aid, and he attempts to render whatever aid he can.
(First Aid of 5 = +2, 2d6+2 = 13, Exceptional Success)
Some cloth torn from fine clothes to staunch the bleeding, perhaps, and pulling the prisoner into a more comfortable, less awkward position, and while it is not so certain in the moment if these efforts are enough-
But I will say that these efforts mattered, no matter what happens next.
The prisoner attempts to choke out a word, and I do believe that word, in Gallian, is thank you.
-
And what of the rest?
-
First Lieutenant Davies was attempting to establish order, but he has found himself caught up in the fight-
And so Bryn Morgan charges in, throwing themself into the melee to try and protect the man they care so much for. They glance around, trying to see if they may find a weapon-
[Awareness roll without consequence for failing to see if they find a weapon]
(Awareness of 2 = +1, 2d6+1 = 5, Failure)
But they do not. This does not stop them, and so they use their fists, uncaring for the danger.
(Combat: Brawl = 2d6 - 1, 2d6-1= 4, Failure)
It was a valiant attempt, but⊠hmmm, perhaps it is fitting here to give Bryn something of a devilâs bargain, as they rush into the fray and Davies is driven back by the stabbing desperate motions of a pike.
A choice between being Injured in Health and failing to aid or protect Lawrence Davies, or being Maimed in Health as Bryn steps in the way and takes the blow, yet managing to protect the Lieutenant.
The choice is yours, Bryn.
-
Elsewhere, Carpenterâs Mate Gwilym Parry is feeling quite keenly aware that he is not a fighter, that this is not exactly a setting that he is equipped for; but more so, he is aware that all of this could have been avoided, that all of this was so very unnecessary. But he wishes to protect the ship and her people.
He looks to Carpenter Minna Peggram for guidance, âas he so often does, who has a look in their eye like they, too, would rather look to the ship's safety than risk their ownâ.Â
Gwilym will try to keep the ship from tossing in the wind while Minna will call out, making sure, in their words-
âthat those who need to get somewhere get there swiftly; those who shouldnât follow will need to make their way past me. (If I know where the crowds are, Iâll also know where potential damage to the wood might pop up)
Nonetheless, a patched ship is nothing if the crew needs patching first, so I want to make sure no more harm than necessary befalls our crew mates.â
Gwilym: (Discipline of 4 = +2, 2d6+2= 10, Exceptional Success)
Gwilym: (Seamanship of 5 = +2, 2d6+2 = 5, Failure)
Minna: (Guts of 6, spend 1 for automatic pass)
Minna: (Command of 3 = +1, I guess Strong as an Ox does apply to the physical side of things so = +2, Gun Deck Reputation of +2, and ah. This is a rather ridiculous +5 modifier. 2d6+1+2+2=11, Exceptional Success, and because of this one roll I will cap additional modifiers in the next iteration of Shipshape.)
Both of our carpenters manage to hold fast in the fracas, with Minna almost as a lighthouse in the storm, standing still and strong and both a great Presence in terms of voice and physical exertion. Certainly, this helps maintain the Shipâs Morale in this trying and tested time.
However, Gwilym, though well versed in the Seamanship from experience, is interrupted in his actions by a wave that crashes over the side of the Pickle, dealing a slight Injury to Health - that would have been worse if he had been accosted by the Gallians earlier, but is still quite unfortunate.
-
But he is not the only one seeking to steady the ship.
Second Lieutenant David Price had carefully loaded his pistols in his cabin, those new pistols that he had bought quite some time ago, preparing for the worst. They are holstered at his sides now, and not just for bravado.
Maintaining his composure with Guts, he barks orders at sailors to steady the ship and to confront the threat upon the deck, but primarily focusing on the Seamanship of the shipâs movement. Yet even as he does so, he tries to keep an eye out for the midshipmen, inexperienced and vulnerable.
(Guts of 6 = +3, 2d6+3 = 13, Exceptional Success)
(Seamanship of 5 = +2, 2d6+2 = 7, Partial Success)
Holding fast, holding firm, Price does not fall to the chaos occurring around him. But⊠how about a hard choice?
Midshipman George Crawford is attempting to be the example of an officer charging into battle, wielding cutlass and encouraging the sailors he has been placed in charge of, but he is not so steady and perhaps it was a momentâs hesitation, but one of his sailors knocks into him, quite by accident, and he falls, and a pistol is levelled at him.
Either the orders to steady the ship are heard and obeyed, or Price is interrupted and must rush to Mr Crawfordâs aid.Â
Choose one, if you will.
-
The Reverend James Tillbury wishes to stay out of direct combat- but that does not mean that he will shirk his duty. He leaps into action to aid the surgeon however he can, struggling through the melee with his Guts and seeking the wounded with Awareness, helping to get them to the lower deck.
(Guts of 6 = +3, 2d6+3 =13, Exceptional Success)
(Awareness of 5 = +2, 2d6+2=11, Exceptional Success)
It does not matter so much if the wounded are Gallian or Loegrian. All that matters is that blood is spilled upon the deck and there are those who are in need to aid, and so Tillbury manages to step through the mess to help in the only holy duty possible in this time.
Sailor Emma Adar is one of those who Tillbury aids, staggering across the deck with a leg bent uncomfortably wrong, any possible words winded out of her lungs, but she is grateful, oh, and so is another sailor who it is far too late to help but who smiles and closes their eyes.
We will not know how the accounting of human life adds up until later, but as I have said before and will likely say again, I believe that this has helped.
-
I do apologise again for the lateness of this Report Response! I believe the Action Report proper will be released on Sunday or Monday, bearing any worsening of your Captainâs Clerkâs condition. It is then that we will hear of the result of the overall battle, and what actions the Pickle shall take next.
For the two choices that I have offered here, I will default to the first option if I do not hear back by two days time. Apologies for the short deadline, but I felt that offering such choices were the most authentic and interesting option.
And so I remain your most quarantined and obedient servant-
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Greetings, ladies, gentlemen, jewels and honoured guests! Your Captain's Clerk has returned from a land most frigid and frosted, ready to resume the duties of their station, which do include bringing you the latest happenings in this shipshape world!
First, I would like to remind you of our public poll, open to any and all observers, though it may not make so much sense without the context of our previous Action Report.
The deadline for this report is tomorrow, Tuesday the 19th of July at 1PM GMT/11PM GMT+10, while the Sixth and final Action Report shall be posted this Friday, the 22nd of July. Then, there shall be room for one more submission, before a conclusion and epilogue.
But it would be remiss of me to neglect mentioning the stellar artworks of our characters! I will most likely refer to these again in the Action Report proper, but:
Here is Lieutenant David Price and Carpenter's Mate Gwilym Parry, and Chaplain James Tillbury and Carpenter Minna Peggram as drawn by a most inimitable and wonderful observer @chiropteracupola - who has even offered to draw more sailors from our story if given description!
And here is Carpenter Minna Peggram as drawn by the fantastic @sailorpants, who plays young Parry!
I am heartened and honoured that such craftsmanship has eventuated from this experimental venture of ours! But this story could only thrive with the participation of sailors and observers alike, and again, at the risk of repeating myself, I cannot express enough gratitude to all of you for coming with us on this voyage.
Singing is not allowed on the deck of a Loegrian Navy man oâ war, for orders must be heard, both from the bellowing lungs of a lieutenant to the shrill piping of the bosunâs whistle. Yet, this does not mean that a warship is bereft of song, and in between the work and the ropes, in between the decks and the ladders and the hatches, over drink and food and conversation, a song or so slips out-
(To the tune of The Dark Eyed Sailor)
Before I felt again the decks beneath my feet
I must bid farewell to my lover in the harbour streetÂ
This day Iâll sail far from fair Loegresâ shore
âOh my dearest lover Oh my dearest lover, itâs never youâll see me moreâ
And do they not say that a song will stir the winds into motion? If every single person puts their all into singing and comes together as one, the saints will weep and the sky will wake and we will be sped along home; but this is merely a fable, and perhaps it has been tested on other ships, but there are too many who cannot sing, or will not sing.
He asked me why I always sail awayÂ
âMy sailor dear, why is it you do not stayâÂ
âHere Iâll not remain, though your heart does bleedÂ
For the love of my shipÂ
For the love of my ship is all that I shall needâ.
But there are some who sing, and perhaps that is why our journey home is swift and somewhat peaceful.
Welcome, dear sailors and singers and shadows, to the final chapter of this voyage! I do hope that this experimental tale has brought you some entertainment, whether you sailed with us or watched from beyond. The previous week's Action Report may be found here, for your perusal.
The ship is bound for the city of Porttooth, where we began our tale some time ago- or should I say ships? For we bring with us a prize - though the question of how honourable the prize-taking was does remain, but that is a deliberation for later.
Let us see how the journey home fairs.
Image generated via the neural network AI software Midjourney, and then run through the neural network AI software Disco Diffusion, more information here
As this is the final report, I will say that partial successes will not be so treated so harshly, and failures will not sting so much - for even if these characters reappear, time will have healed both wounds and reputations, perhaps.Â
And I do not think I truly communicated whether passage between the two ships was possible, so some of these responses may assume that there was some passage; I believe in future stories, it will be made more clear when the choice to board separate ships is offered.
â
Jean-Heron the Gallian landsman is eager to help, but after having had a rather bad run of luck at times, he seems rather adamant about, ahem, âonly using the skills he's good atâ. He offers to try his hand at sewing up some of the unfortunates in the sick bay, or maybe cutting up some bandages, something that the harried surgeon Ms Ibbot does not refuse.
His help is not unwelcomed- and I daresay that some of the Gallian prisoners here might even have appreciated his presence.
And while he is here, he speaks to a certain prisoner, and let me dispense with secrets for the time of shadows has passed-
The Marquis Isengrim, the exiled Gallian noble that was tricked into a scheme, is uncomfortable without their veil- perhaps it is a fashion quirk, or perhaps they have obfuscated their identity for long enough that to exist so openly is strange to them. But they are willing to speak to Jean-Heron, as they recover from their wounds, their words animated, and they speak of their hopes.
They say that perhaps if they had known the true purpose of this journey⊠they might have gone willingly to their death in this farcical prisoner exchange, if it would mean striking a blow against the Empire.
They speak to Jean-Heron as they would a friend, at least.
And afterwards, when the rum ration is passed around, Jean-Heron would like to start up a round of drinking- in celebration of the capture of the prize! This is welcomed by the other sailors, and perhaps a bit of the trepidation and worry has lifted now that something has occurred. I suppose we did start this voyage with a test of this Gallianâs Iron Stomach, so it does seem quite fitting to test it again-
(Guts of 6 = +3, Iron Stomach = +1, 2d6+3+1 = 12, Exceptional Success)
He succeeds mightily! It is, by all accounts, a wonderful time.
He is interested in speaking to the other Gallian aboard, the shipâs cook Jack, perhaps making a joke âabout finding a rat to put under his hat to help Jack out in the kitchen, referencing the famous Gallian children's story, of course. The rats on this ship seem smart enough to know how to cook, and maybe they want a break from racing sometime.â
Speaking of whichâŠ
-
The cook, Jack Laplace, also finds himself in the sick bay. He has some skill with first aid, and so he offers this aid to the surgeon of the Pickle.
(First Aid of 5 = +2, 2d6+2 = 8, Normal Success)
He spends some time on the TempĂȘte, ostensibly to ensure her galley is in working order and that her prize crew is fed, but his primary goal- perhaps in both the sick bay and the TempĂȘte, is to see if there are any âtrue Republicansâ among the Gallian prisoners. Perhaps, he thinks, they could be persuaded to defect, or perhaps they could serve the cause in other ways.
Those who do not seem amenable to such firebrand causes show their colours early, and so Jack manages to sound out the Gallians without being overtly shut down by either the Loegrians or the Gallians. There is one who seems to have joined the navy in the thoughts of internal sabotage, but who found little opportunity to do so- or that is what they claim. There are a few who enlisted for the pay, for survival, to feed their families, and bearing mere embers of revolution in their hearts- almost quenched by the Empire, yes, but having seen the Marquis face death rather than to be taken again, and listening to Jackâs words, those sparks stir.
They will be taken as prisoners of war, but perhaps something will become of this.Â
And later, Jack sets about preparing âa truly glorious puddingâ in celebration of the Pickleâs victory.
-
Attending to the funerals of the fallen is the chaplain James Tillbury. He keeps the sermons short and earnest, to the appreciation of those whose hearts hang heavy. The saints sing them to their rest, their bodies consigned to the deep, to be turned into corruption until that day the sea shall give up her deadâŠ
Many of the sailors have seen so many of these funerals, but they remain solemn for the duration. Later, some could accuse them of acting as if nothing has happened- but is that not life here in this tempestuous fragile world? The work must carry on, the work is not yet done.
That is what one sailor says to Tillbury, almost defensively, in a confession taken in the sick bay.Â
(Courtesy of 5 = +2, 2d6+2 = 8, Normal Success)
Not so many seem soothed by his words for the injured and dying, but a few do seem grateful. The captain is not among them, barely even willing to speak of what pains their heart, and their heart is wounded indeed.
But the work goes on, and later, Tillbury suggests another night of playing music, as both entertainment and a way of saying goodbye to the sailors he has come to know and care for.
(Expertise: Music of 5, 2d6+2= 13, Exceptional Success)
There once was a youthful sailor man
Who fell in love with a fair merman.
The sailor man, his heart so brave
Would meet his end in a watery grave.
The chorus is rousing and the tunes are lively! If not the lyrics, but perhaps these lyrics are fittingÂ
Oh the heart of a sailor beats so true
For countryfolk, for me and you!
When led astray, that heart shall be
A source of woe for you and me!
The verses of this particular song do go on to tell the story of the sailor being captivated by the beauty of the beguiling merman and forsaking his duty for the sake of their love. He has his comeuppance when it becomes clear that humans cannot live underwater, and he tragically drowns.
Perhaps this is the same night of drinking and revelry as mentioned before, and perhaps a glorious pudding was served.Â
In any case, the hearts of the crew are lightened and lively, and of note, I will say, is that there is no more talk of ill fortune, brought by any passenger or so.
-
Carpenter Minna Peggram has much on her mind as she thinks of whether her efforts have eased tensions, or whether she could have done more considering the two Marines. âPerhaps it is no oneâs fault,â she thinks, âperhaps it is the captainâs, for they act in our interest first and foremost⊠one would hope.â
But wood is wood, and wood is dependable, and so she sets about to aid in fixing up the TempĂȘte - and her help is quite welcomed, because the Gallian carpenter seems to have been one of their casualties.
The TempĂȘte is fixed up enough to sail evenly. She will be attended to with more care at port, but at least here she is given enough attention to not seem so battered, to at least seem as a worthy prize to sail back home.
But more importantly, Minna wonders-
âPerhaps I can find some trinkets and decor aboard the TempĂȘte that would further elevate the rat course I promised Hanover. Fixing up the TempĂȘte is the priority I have set myself, but, oh, I so would love to see our gun deck breathe a sigh of relief to return to joviality after this entire ordeal.â
(You know what, I will graciously let this happen, for this is the last post of this game - and any future games will be tweaked to ensure this does not, ah, occur again. Expertise: Carpentry of 6 = +3, Rat Check = +1, Gun Deck Reputation = +2 (for making the best possible rat course the gun deck will adore), 2d6+3+1+2 = 13, Exceptional Success)Â
From the TempĂȘte, extravagant Gallian furniture is ~~looted~~ claimed as a spoil of war, perhaps as what they call booty. When it comes time to install the course upon the Pickle, after the ships have docked and such things can be transferred, why, at the sight of such an agile course, Rem Hanover starts to weep.
The future of rat racing is certainly bright in the world of the Pickle!
â
Back in the sick bay, Lieutenant David Price stands by the side of Midshipman George Crawford. The young, reckless, brave midshipman reminds him of his own siblings, and now the boy he helped with his sextant and navigation work lies injured.
Perhaps regret and the memories of what had passed runs through his mind-
âIn the heat of the moment, Lieutenant Price is guided more by instinct than rational choice⊠When Price sees him fall he rushes to his aid without a second thought. With his own pistols in hand, Price takes aim at the Gallian who has taken aim at the midshipman, shouting a challenge.â
Let us see if the lieutenant managed to take that vengeance, shall we?
(Combat roll, close range pistol = 2d6+1, Combat Skilled = +1, 2d6+1+1 = 10, Exceptional Success)
The enemy combatant stumbles back, but already the lieutenant is at Crawfordâs side.
That was before. Price did take a moment to recognise and greet the old gunnery instructor from HMS Superb, one of the prisoners from the Tempete, but when he can, when he is not on watch or such, he tries to make himself useful in the sickbay.
His concern is not so much for the captain, who has no shortage of worried visitors. He does feel a sense of personal responsibility for Crawfordâs fate, after all.
(First Aid of 2 = +1, 2d6+1 = 7, Normal Success)
Despite not being so skilled with the medicinal arts, he manages to make himself useful. And when Crawford is lucid, the midshipman is glad to see a friendly face. He is not so confident as to laugh off the injury and incident that landed him here, but he tries.
Whether he will be well enough to continue his duties is to be seen, but he is likely to survive.
And in the moments between, Price pens a letter for his family to be dispatched when the ship returns to port.
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And while many have been offering aid to the sickbay, our gunner, Bryn Morgan, is actually making use of these facilities for the intended purposes; that is, recovering from injury.
(Bryn Morgan is now merely Injured in Health as opposed to being Maimed)
After they emerge, perhaps merely scarred as opposed to being on deathâs door, they have decided to take a moment to try and catch a certain busy First Lieutenant- or Acting Captain, to snatch a conversation that may be well looked down on by those who know their mutual histories.
Despite so many years apart, Bryn knows Lieutenant Davies well, and they seek a conversation under the guise of speaking about the guns of the ship, or perhaps under the bustle of the sickbay, in the Shadows.
(Shadows of 3 = +1, Personal Reputation with Davies = +4, 2d6+4+1 = 9, Normal Success)
There is not so much time to have a full conversation, not so much opportunity on a ship, but there is enough to speak of some things that sound like idle small talk on the surface, but to two who know each other and who have longed for each other, carry much more resonant meaning.Â
The two speak of memories of Cambria, allude to a few moments in those years spent apart- and oh, if only there was more time, or more opportunity to speak more openly, the two could reunite more fully, but this is all they can do. Certainly, there is no room to speak plainly of feelings or tenderness, but the conversation ends in what could be described as âan emotional hug that would say everything they wanted toâ.
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The two Marines, Ezra Lester and Joan Deacon, are punished by the lash. The maximum punishment is 12 lashes per crime, but Davies, after deliberation, cites disobedience of orders, wasting munitions, a lack of discipline, and settles on two dozen lashes each.
Kind, perhaps, for some might have been tempted to put them to death or to order a flogging around the fleet.
Captain Swanmay, though their wounds are severe, they remain alive. Some life comes back into their eyes as time goes by, though it will take more time to mend their heart. They do not speak to the captured Gallian captain, for there are no words left to say.
And as for their reputation, well, let us speak of what occurs after the Pickle returns to port;
The Marquis Isengrim is taken by soldiers who seem gentle and apologetic, accompanied by a naval officer who does not answer questions. The official word is that this was all a miscommunication, this dreadful plan to secretly exchange an exiled Gallian noble for very valuable prisoners of war.
Swanmay was a rogue captain acting on their own accord. Injured in battle, their career prospects are now quite ruined by this scandalous act. Enough in society have spoken positively about Swanmay that they are not completely brought low, but their likelihood of making Admiral is poor, to say the least. And their past dalliance with the Gallian captain seems to have come into the open, adding wood to the fire of the rumour mill.
The Pickle has docked, and so ends the first tale of Shipshape.
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Thank you all so very much for coming with us! I cannot express my gratitude enough, for I have quite enjoyed the telling of this story, and this experiment of ours has proven to be quite educational!Â
To all of our sailors, thank you, oh, thank you for starring in this tale, for you are the sails of this game who have made our Pickle fly!
And to our readers, to our participants in our polls, thank you so for your support! The two shanties in this post were penned by poll participants, and indeed in another post I believe I shall share some of the amusing submissions that have been shared.
Any additional journals or art or work done by sailors or audience, perhaps to conclude their stories or to reflect on this tale, will continued be shared and publicised in this web log.
And do keep an eye on this space, for I will release a poll concerning both feedback on this game and possible future prospects.
Greetings! This is a reminder that Monday 27th of July GMT 12am / GMT+10 10am is the deadline for the public poll as well as the submission for this week's Action Report!
I would like to ask if people feel that the timings of these deadlines are acceptable, or if, mayhaps, the weekly deadlines should be shifted one day so that deadlines are on the Clerk's Tuesdays (which I may remind you, for the Clerk is physically located in Australia, are equivalent to many of your Mondays)?
The Clerk would also like to send out these reminders perhaps during the middle of the submission period, on Thursdays or Fridays, but the previous week has been rather full of unexpected and worrying news both personal and otherwise; but I shall endeavour to rally and adhere to such a schedule!
It is my hope that while the world may be challenging and worrisome, that this game allows for some very slight respite. This game is designed to be entirely optional for those playing, for the story will still carry on through these six weeks. Please, take care of yourselves, and if I may be so bold to ask-
Please, live and love freely for the sake of those who cannot.
