open Loose The Topsails!

[Norman 177]

@

"Damn it doctor stop drinking all that *cough* whiskey" Swift sputtered.

 

"I don't want a *sputter* drunken lug opening me up. I'm the one *cough* who is getting *cough* opened up. Give me some of *cough* the bloody poison." Swift ordered.

 

Bloody drunken doctor and a bloody thirsty patient thought Swift.

Edited September 18, 2013 by Norman

[Lume WMj 228]

He set the supplies down next to Lume and smilied. "Here you are. Anything else you require ma'am?" he said tipping his hat.

 

"No, that's about everything I'll need." Lume smirked at his oddly unexpected politeness, but didn't say anything else. She organized everything around the room and prepared to begin the procedure.

 

"Damn it doctor stop drinking all that *cough* whiskey" Swift sputtered.

 

"I don't want a *sputter* drunken lug opening me up. I'm the one *cough* who is getting *cough* opened up. Give me some of *cough* the bloody poison." Swift ordered.

 

She looked at the nearly dry bottle of the alcoholic beverage, then back at Captain Swift. She was, indeed, gradually getting drunk. But that's what she usually did before performing most of the surgeries, as she believed it enhanced her awareness and general skills. If those surgeries were successful or not, that was a mystery.

 

"Relax, sweetie. I'm the doctor here. You'll be fine in my hooves." She shrugged. "But suit yourself, I guess..." She placed what was left of the whiskey back on his chest. "You shouldn't even worry about it, though. I'll make sure to knock you out to ease the pain, anyway."

 

@ "Also, buddy, I don't think he quite heard you..." She whispered to the purple unicorn in the room.

 

"Alright now, everypony! Shoo! Lume needs to get to work! Your Captain will have his surgery and may live. I'll tell you guys news within no more than a few hours."

Edited September 18, 2013 by Lume~WMJ

[Norman 177]

OOC: 

Ok. This needs to seriously be straightened out. Our equivalent Earth year is about 1795-1812. I'd like to keep technology relative to that period. That means muskets not assault rifles. Muzzle-loading cannons not guided missiles. Morphine at this time was still experimental. It wasn't released to the public until 1817 and it wasn't widely used until the American revolution and the age of Steamships. Some of Morphine's predecessors like Laudanum were around but they were likely too expensive to be used by the Military. Alcohol would've been the primary painkiller. A surgeon's kit at this time would've been a crude scalpel, a saw, various picks and knives, a tourniquet and many various mixtures and disinfectants of simple complexity.

 

Sorry if that was a bit of a rant but some things I felt should be clarified.

 

OC:

@

Lume set down the alcohol and had he not been incapacitated he might have shoved her into the table.

 

By Celestia she must be the daftest surgeon to ever set foot on a navy ship Swift thought.

 

@@Frosty V

"I want the Whiskey *cough* in my belly *cough* you damn fool. Jaeger, bring me *sputter* some more Whiskey. Extra *cough* strong, in great *cough* quantity" Swift sputtered, annoyed.

Edited September 18, 2013 by Norman

[Frosty V 309]

Jaeger nodded. "Aye." he said rolling his eyes as he trotted out to find more whiskey. "Damn, how did that whiskey not knock him out? It had enough power to knock out the whole crew." he muttered as he began to look through the cabinets for some strong whiskey. "Ahhh, here you are, the good stuff." he muttered pulling out a bottle from the top shelf and brought it back to the room. "Here Swift, don't down it so fast, I don't want you dead." he said pouring the whiskey into a bottle and laying the cup next to Swift.

Edited September 18, 2013 by Frosty V

[Norman 177]

OOC Notice: We are switching to the morning (approx. 6:00AM) a week after the surgery (making us about 9 days into the voyage). The story is sort of at a halt so we need to do it to keep things up.

 

IC:

Swift laid in bed staring at the wall. Today he was finally cleared to walk again. His horn glowed and he levitated a small flask. He took a long gulp from the flask. The taste of whiskey was nice. The bloody surgeon didn't bother to ever listen to him during his days of sickness.

 

Swift slung the crutches under his arms and took a quick step. It hurt, but Swift was well accustomed to pain. The crew stared at him as he slid through the corridors into his cabin. Inside a colt was pouring him tea. Swift levitated a small bottle and set on the table in front of the colt.

 

"Pour some of that in there. There's nothing like a bit of Brandy to spice up morning tea. Oh yes, and colt, bring me the Chief Surgeon. Lume." ordered swift. The colt rushed to obey.

[Frosty V 309]

Jaeger had kept up with his duties in a well and timely fashion, trying to prove he was good at his job. He had finished his chores for the morning and was going to take a quick nap, when he saw Swift from across the deck, he waved. "Captain! Good morrow to yah!" he said

[Minath Khalsi 195]

Caly awakened earlier than she usually did. And she wasn't all that happy about it,

 

That stallion I talked to a while back... Gladius I think his name was... Maybe I should seek him out... She thought to herself as she set out to where she assumed Gladius was. He always seemed to be practicing him fighting, so she started there. She walked into where the shipmen practice.

 

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

 

Caly trotted in the practice room and began yelling around for Gladius.

 

"Hellooooooo? Gladius? You in here?"

 

((I hope you don't mind I kinda but him there. I assumed he would be there anyway.))

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

((Not a problem. I said he was going to go practice anyway.))

 

Gladius looked up when he heard someone calling his name, his focus returning to his practice just barely fast enough to block the incoming blow from his sparring partner. With a dismissive nod, he sheathed his sword and left the sparring ring, looking for whoever had called out to him. He called out in response to the the yelling. "Is someone looking for me? I'm right here."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

((Well if you recall from the previous page we did a time skip.))

 

Caly saw Gladius and trotted up to him.

 

"Um, yeah. I wanted to know if you wanted to..." Caly said, then scrambled her mind looking for something to say. "Give me some swordplay tips!"

 

Caly had been meaning to ask Gladius about swordplay, and it seemed like a good way to spend time with him on the side.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Gladius looked at her strangely for a minute. To be honest, he wouldn't have pegged her for a fighter, but he didn't mind teaching. And he had to admit, there was a certain something strangely... alluring about her. "I guess I could do that. Do you want to get started now, then?" 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

Caly shrugged and pulled out her cutlass, getting into the standard fighting position, her wings flared. She knew Gladius must be good for as often as he spent time practicing, but she had rage on her side. She had to get better so she could get revenge on those stallions.

 

((Do I hear use of d20s to determine this fight?))

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

((If that's how you want to do it. I always have dice with me for occasions like this. I'll roll if and when you give the word. Whether I roll for both of us or only myself is up to you.))

 

Gladius took out his rapier, his years of experience allowing him to analyze her stance and form at a glance. Surprisingly, it seemed pretty solid. Either she had more fighting experience than he gave her credit for, or she had great natural ability. "Alright, here's your first lesson: always be ready." Without another word, he lunged at her with his blade out and ready strike.

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

((OHMYGOSH I ROLLED A 19!!!))

 

Caly parried Gladius' attack easily, and cut him across the cheek as she threw him back. He didn't seem to be going easy on her, maybe she had gotten better?

 

No time to be cocky Caly. Picture their faces instead of Gladius. She thought to herself as she readied for Gladius' next attack. She would let him attack her and when he was worn out, finish the fight.

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

((Well... crap. I got a five.))

 

Gladius face only showed the briefest flash of pain as he was cut before returning to its normal, serious expression. As he had thought from his brief analysis, she was definitely good. She might not be as strong as he was, but she was fast, and clearly focused on the fight.

 

As he lunged towards her again, he was suddenly hesitant to strike. It would be such a shame to cut her, and mar her beautiful features. Before he could make up his mind, he had already waited too long, leaving himself off-balance and open to a counterattack.

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

((My new d20, like, loves me. Another 19.))

 

Caly saw Gladius go off balance, and took advantage of that. She cut him along the collarbone and shoved him backwards, and because he was already off balance making him fall.

 

((Your d20 hates you. If your luck gets any worse Caly will win.))

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

((9. I rolled all the luck out of that thing a while ago.))

 

As he fell, Gladius felt his sword slipping out of his hand. He didn't know what was wrong, but for some reason he just couldn't focus on their fight. He knew when he was beaten, and for whatever reason, this was a fight he just couldn't win.

 

He looked up, embarrassed. "Well, I guess you win. I have to admit, this is pretty embarrassing. I just... I felt distracted, somehow. I'm sorry I wasn't able to give you a better practice session."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

((Well then maybe you should get a new one, silly goose.))

 

Caly shook her head.

 

"I wonder why that is." Caly said, and offered a hoof to help him up. "You seem to be a stallion who focuses wholeheartedly, so I'll let it slide this time." Caly said, then winked.

 

I bet I know what caught him off balance. Mom's tips are coming in handy for when I finally find them. 

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

((That costs money. And takes time. Besides, I have several already, and my dice bag doesn't really have room for more.))

 

Gladius took her hoof and pulled himself up, blushing. "I... I didn't mean... well, you certainly are very attractive, but... at least, I certainly didn't mean to... I'm sorry, okay?" 

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

((Each d20 costs .50 at the Fantasy Shop here.))

 

Caly was cracking up inside at Gladius' fumbling. You would think a stallion like him would've been hit on before.

 

"If it makes you feel any better, I accept your apology." Caly said with a sultry smile.

 

If you act any more flirty you're going to give this poor stallion a heart attack. 

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

((That's like 47 cents more than I have.))

 

Gladius was struggling to control himself and retain at least a shred of composure at this point. He honestly wasn't really used to spending much time around mares in general, and certainly not any like her. "I... um, thanks, I guess."

[Minath Khalsi 195]

@@Alex Kennedy,

 

((Eh. Se la vie.))

 

Gladius seemed so assertive all the time, but get him around a mare like herself and he was actually kinda shy. It was pretty adorable.

 

"Maybe we could give you another chance against me sometime." Caly said, then casually trotted out of the sparring room, and looked for somepony else to talk to. Gladius was fun and all, but she wanted to give him time to recuperate. 

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@,

 

Gladius just stood there and stared for a minute. He really had no idea how to deal with someone like her. "I... yeah, yeah I think I'd like that." As she walked away, he couldn't stop himself from staring perhaps just a little longer than he should have at her flank. He got the feeling this voyage was going to be... different, and not necessarily in a bad way.

[Norman 177]

Where's the bloody surgeon!" Swift said, staring at the clock. It had been nearly fifteen minutes.

 

Swift took a quick whisk of brandy and headed out the door of the cabin. He leaned heavily on his crutch for support but he did his best to look dignified. Swift stared off the larboard aftercastle. He saw a small sail fluttering off in the distance.

 

He pulled out his looking glass and stared. As he looked closer he saw a second ship... and smoke. Definitely smoke, and flashing. It was a battle.

 

"Ships sighted! Larbord bow, 110 degrees" Swift yelled.

 

Swift hobbled over to the wheel and relieved the helmsman. He pulled the wheel hard to the left. He nodded to the marine drummer to his right.

 

"Beat to quarters." Swift ordered him.

 

The drummer began to roll. A seaman began ringing the bell in the forecastle.

 

"Possible enemy ship sighted. All hands to quarters! To stations! Clear us for action!' Swift yelled.

[Frosty V 309]

 

Where's the bloody surgeon!" Swift said, staring at the clock. It had been nearly fifteen minutes.

 

Swift took a quick whisk of brandy and headed out the door of the cabin. He leaned heavily on his crutch for support but he did his best to look dignified. Swift stared off the larboard aftercastle. He saw a small sail fluttering off in the distance.

 

He pulled out his looking glass and stared. As he looked closer he saw a second ship... and smoke. Definitely smoke, and flashing. It was a battle.

 

"Ships sighted! Larbord bow, 110 degrees" Swift yelled.

 

Swift hobbled over to the wheel and relieved the helmsman. He pulled the wheel hard to the left. He nodded to the marine drummer to his right.

 

"Beat to quarters." Swift ordered him.

 

The drummer began to roll. A seaman began ringing the bell in the forecastle.

 

"Possible enemy ship sighted. All hands to quarters! To stations! Clear us for action!' Swift yelled.

Jaeger heard the captain yell from across the deck. He turned and ran up the stairs to the captains side. "Sir! What would you have me do?" he asked, not really knowing his positions since he had just receantly been assigned as Midshipman. He waited for the captains reply. Edited September 23, 2013 by Frosty V

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Norman,

 

As Gladius heard the drum and bell, all other thoughts cleared from his mind save for what needed to be done. Fortunately, he was already geared up, having been training, and he quickly headed onto the deck and approached the captain. "Sir! Shall I assemble the marines, sir? Do you anticipate the need to board the enemy ship?"