Part One: The Wormwood - Game Thread

Jix rushes forward and attempts to rake the pirate with the blond bun. Her swipes miss as the woman cackles, Oh, cheeky ratface, are we? You'll git yours soon enough! By the stairs, in a blur of motion, Menno's limbs strike the big half-orc who lets out a groan of pain and staggers momentarily. Ian approaches the filthy pirate and attempts to knock out her teeth with his fist, but swings wide and misses.

Tobarrus steps forward as if inspired by Ian's effort and smacks the blond-bunned sailor square in the nose. She spits a gout of blood at the new cook's mate before backing up to the fat pirate by the stairs, beady eyes keen on preventing any other blows. The half-orc pushes past Menno and trips up the stairs, eyes bulging with fear. He cries out in anguish, and you realize from the muffled sound of it that the poor wretch is mute.

The pirate with the black kerchief yelps with anger and aims to punch Flora in the kidney. The cleric dodges the blow expertly, narrowly missing what would've been a painful blow. The fat pirate kicks a foot out toward Natsumi, but doesn't connect with the agile kitsune. Flora breaks through the blond pirate's defense and scores a hit with one of her vicious claws. Staring at Flora, the pirate's eyes sparkle with hatred as bloody spittle flies from her large mouth. Mark me words, filthy whore, I'll slit yer throat in yer sleep!, she screeches.

Natsumi jabs the blond pirate in the back with a quick punch. She stands there drooling and croaks out, laughing, Aretta, I's seein' stars in th' daytime. Her laugh turns into a phlegmy cough and she hocks her bright red saliva onto the deck. She looks as if she's about to pass out.

Meanwhile, a couple of other pirates appear to be peeking down from the stairwell, eager to watch the fight.

The blond pirate's eyes go wide as Jix claws at her. Her eyelids flutter as her eyes roll back in her head, and she falls over backward, landing hard on the wooden floorboards. She rolls to her side, then gurgles, her body slumping as she passes out from her wounds. Menno attacks the fat pirate who dodges the monk's blow just in the nick of time.

Tobarrus assists Flora, punching the woman with the black kerchief in the stomach. Yarrrrrrr!, the pirate shouts as she lunges at the cook's mate, aiming to punch him in the chest, but misses. The fat man takes a swing at Menno, but the wiry rigger is too fast. He easily moves out of the way of the pirate's sluggish blow.

Flora's words catch the pirate wearing the black kerchief off guard. She stands there blinking, amazed that someone has stood up to her. Natsumi backs away from the fat pirate while he's distracted by Menno.