It all started off so nice. The sun was out, the sea was calm-ish, and the winds favorable. That all changes with a suddeness that reminds you all just why sailing is considered a hazardous career. Skies that were clear go grey and dangerous and then, almost without winding, the sail starts up with such a suddeness that the sails fill in the wrong direction. Your forward momentum comes to a halt with such severity that sailors and cargo alike go tumbling. Then the wind stops just as suddenly as it began... Theres a few moments when people start running to prevent another gust like that from doing damage. A few moments where Wash is fighting the wheel in an attempt to mitigate more of the same. But you just dont have enough time. The wind comes back even more bitterly and this time it carries ice and sleet and a force that once again fills the sails with a snap. A snap of canvas as the cloth fills to capacity and a snap of timber as fiber and timber is ripped clean away. For a few minutes the wind is so intense that you think you might be about to die but then, just as quickly as it started, the squall is past. The sky now carries all the dark colours of an impending storm but the rain and wind has died down to normal levels.

Lucita groans as she picks herself up off the pitching deck on which she had rather ungrcefully sprawled. Her color is greenish and she swallows hard murmuring to herself 'I will NOT get sick, I will NOT get sick.. have mercy... ' as she clutches for a rail, clinging to it. "Everyone else ok?"

We are two days out from Arx proper, and just barely through the straits that exeunt the Bay of Thrax. The breeze is northeasterly and far out of context for this late in the year. Wash shouts orders, ignoring the guests he invited on this impending shitshow in favor of regaining some control over the ship's heading and trim. For now, there's only one choice, run before the wind and try to outrace the storm. The loss of the mainmast means they have no way at all however, and it is like steering a bull while riding on it's horns. His orders, if the sailors listen to him, will get a stubsail rigged from the remaining structure of the mast.

It was supposed to be just what the doctor ordered, a sailing trip south, to get away from the snow that has choked off Arx. And well... look, there isn't any snow, right? So maybe it still... Oh, wait. No. Here comes the sleet. Ian managed, somehow, to stay on his feet through the first heave of the deck, but the second violent shudder sent him tumbling down, and with both hands on the deck, now, he can feel all too well the way that the ship is responding to the forces exerted on it by the sudden squall. "Shit, Wash, the spar is --" He gets about that much out before the wind rips at the timbers. Ian is perpetually behind the weather, today.

Ian checks strength and sailing at easy. Ian is successful.

Jan checks dexterity and sailing at normal. Jan is successful.

Lucita checks dexterity and sailing at easy. Lucita is successful.

Wash checks command and sailing at normal. Wash is successful.

Titania checks dexterity and sailing at easy. Titania fails.

Jan flails where she'd gotten knocked against the railing but while she's in danger of falling on her ass she's not in danger of toppling overboard when the ship is pitched forward suddenly. The second jerk sends her falling with a whump on the deck and a sharp cuss "We're a hardy lot, are you alright, Baroness?" she scoots on her rump to check on Lucita.

Titania needed away from the city for a bit, to get away from the snow and the cold. She wanted to let the sea breeze wash over her, to smell the salt in the air. Looking out ot the water lost in thought, the world suddenly coming to a violent stop. Something she was not expecting, or ready for, falling forward into the rail she coughs as she is winded. "What the...." is all she gets out before the wind hits again as she is knocked off her feet and hits the deck of the ship tumbling.

Lucita checks herself over and finally nods. 'Yes, nothing broken, worst bruise other than to my rump is to my pride. Are you alright? I'm no sailor so likely best thing I can do to help Wash is stay out of the way unless he yells at me to do something. "

"Ian! Get a crew and chop away all the lines, but do NOT chop the hawsers! If we're lucky we'll save a studspar." He gestures to a midshipman to relay the orders in case Ian didn't hear him. "If we can't get at least a ten foot beam, we'll be at the mercy of the current."

Not for Ian the elegance of the sailor's art today. The ship is dragging at least part of its mast, connected by its rigging, and for this, the remedy is of a more brutal nature. "Lucita!" He calls her over and puts a boarding axe in her hands. "That line right there, alright? Cut it. And that one. NOT that one there. We need to cut this mess free or we won't be able to run before a blasted rowboat. Jan, over here..." Hopefully the crew Wash was talking about is comprised of their guests, because that's where Ian is starting.

Whats left of the mainmast lags behind you in the water, threatening to get tossed back into the ships hull and making her handle even worse than Wash could have dreamed, and yet the combined efforts of the crew, under Wash's lead, gradually get the ship mostly under control. The wreckage of the sail is cut away, the vessel turns properly into the waves, and what was starting to feel like a moment between life and death quickly turns into the relief of a near miss. You even manage to save that studspar.

For several minutes the storm almost seems to be following you but gradually you ease ahead of it, the waters calm, and the sun comes out again to reveal what is now a rather shaken and soggy passengers and crew. Unfortunately, as the ship is now, you're not likely to get anywhere quickly. You need to find a place to do some repairs and you need to find a suitable tree.

Jan pushes to her feet and with a murmured apology she simply grabs Lucita under her armpits and bodily lifts the Baroness back onto her feet and then swiftly about faces and draws her serrated knife "Titania! Are you ok?" even as she as she launches herself across deck to follow orders to cut the lines but anything that's thicker than her wrist is ignored.

Titania lifts herself off the deck grumbling, "Why is it always happened when I am on a blasted boat!" she looks around, her eyes wide perhaps scared, perhaps a flash back who knows but she is frozen for a moment then blinks as Jan's voice hits her ear, she looks over. "Yes! just a few bruises." she looks over.."Ian! Are you okay?"

Lucita follows Ian's instructions. Having something to do, hopefully useful, frees her up from the queasy stomach. A nod of thanks is given Jan. The hand axe is applied to the ropes Ian pointed out and once done she awaits further instructions, trying to keep herself out of the way and in a relatively safe location. She glances toward Titania to make sure she is alright.

As the weight of the ruptured masts, and the drag of the fallen sails is cut away from the ship, steering becomes easier but the only control Wash has is within a narrow scope. If he tries to move even one point away from the direction of the current the whole ship will be sent into a spin without a mast and sail to correct.

"Be better once we've got this mast sorted," Ian says to Titania in a distracted tone. When, a moment later, enough of the rigging has been cut that it really starts to be dragged off the ship, he draws his cousin back to avoid her getting tangled up in the cut lines as they snake wildly after.

It seems that misfortune is to be followed by fortune as the current Wash is trapped within takes you within sight range of three tiny islands.

Ian checks perception at normal. Ian is successful.

Titania checks perception at normal. Titania fails.

Lucita checks perception at normal. Lucita is successful.

Titania nods her head smiling at Lucita, "I am okay Baroness and yourself?" she says, when Ian draws her back she moves watching as the rigging gets dragged off the ship. Her fingers moving to run through her blond hair. "I'm starting to wonder if I was meant to be on boats."

Wash checks perception at normal. Wash is successful.

The first island seems pretty worthless. Just rocks and seagulls. The second island seems to have a small stand of woodland up on it but it also has some pretty horrible cliffs and rocks all around it. The third island is little more than a rocky sandbar but it should be possible to pull the ship up on if you want.

Jan checks perception at normal. Jan marginally fails.

Wash says, "Here I am without my maps, either." Wash grumbles. "I might be able to miss all three, but this current will take us out to the Mourning Sea. Best we make landfall while we are still in the trade routes." He announces. "We'll be making landfall ladies and gentlemen, and it won't be gentle. All hands to the prow. Be ready to haul her out." Safety is most important at the moment, so he'll aim for the sandbar. Rocky cliffs would be too much risk for Wash."

Jan reaches out an arm for Titania or Lucita, whichever is closest or both if they are both near, gently ushering them both to the prow hoping three of them to knock down is harder than one of them even if such logic is nonsense.

Wash checks command and sailing at hard. Wash is marginally successful.

Lucita must trust Wash and Ian since she moves quickly to follow their instructions. She still has the hand axe with her and shoves it into her belt, carefully. That frees her hands up to link with Ian and Titania. "If we get the ship beached, we'll need to try to get some supplies off it, won't we?"

"We've got a few days of supplies," Ian comments, while finding something to hold onto for the rough landfall. "Hopefully we're not going to be out here long enough to need to start eating seagulls."

Titania wrinkles her nose as Ian mentions eating seagulls, "Flying chickens." she holds onto the two woman next to her as they beach the boat, she winches hearing that sound.."Mangata keep us safe." she whispers softly.

Jan assures "Getting back aboard to haul supplies off it shouldn't be a worry." She latches onto the rail with her hip braced against it, "Bend your knees ladies, think like a crab and get squat."

Wash focuses on the shore, watching where the waves crash prematurely, looking for the best place to run his keel up on the shore. The Rosy Keg is borrowed, but still he has professional pride, and fixing the mast will be easier than fixing the mast and the hull. Despite his best efforts, the ship does grind against rocks hidden beneath the surf, and it's abrupt halt will once again throw people forward. Hopefully the crew is prepared enough with lines and leaping to make sure the ship maintains enough forward momentum to beach itself. "Ready all! She's heaving to port!" This is no flatbottomed galley, but a fully rounded cog's hull, which will roll over once she is out of the water.

Ian checks dexterity and athletics at normal. Ian is successful.

Wash checks dexterity and sailing at normal. Wash is successful.

Jan checks dexterity and athletics at normal. Jan fails.

Lucita checks dexterity and athletics at normal. Lucita fails.

"Flying rats," Ian comments to Titania, right before Wash's warning. He's under no illusions about being able to keep his footing, so goes with trying to hold his grip, instead. As the ship rolls, his grip on a railing keeps him from tumbling to the beach, although he does wind up hanging from it when all is said and done. His slide down the deck, once the ship has come to rest, is not a thing of grace, but he doesn't eat sand, and for Ian, today, it's the small victories.

Titania checks dexterity and athletics at normal. Titania is successful.

Wash has done this a number of times, and it is always painful to take a ship out of her native environment with such impunity. He organizes the crew to start bracing the ship immediately, as the tide rolls out, she'll roll further without the proper bracing. He'll have the most inexperienced do this part with him, while he sends the more experienced back on board to get out supplies for shelter and make sure that the cargo is secure.

Just as the crew predicted the landing is rough on the passengers, forcing them to cling to nearby fixtures in order to avoid being thrown off their feet. Worse of all the sudden stop in forward momentum is soon replaced by the strange sensation of falling as the ship starts to roll over onto her side. Ian is fine. Wash is fine. Titania is fine.. But Jan and Lucita both fall.

"OHHHH, EEEEE" Lucita yelps as she loses her grip on the others slides down and flips over the rail. Such grace, such balance, such composure is far from laudable. Sand coats her arms and the front of her armor as she faceplants on the beach. Wasting no time with the ship rolling toward her, she scrambles to her feet and tries to run out of the danger area to avoid being squished. "Oh no, no no..."

Jan doesn't even have the chance to cuss, the abruptness and force with which she is flung forward and slammed face first into the deck. "Fu-!!!"

"You don't have enough legs to be a crab," Ian comments to Jan, with a hint of dry humor in his tone, once he's made it down to the beach. He takes a moment to check on Lucita, as well. "You alright?"

Lucita stands there looking up at the a-tilt grounded ship and dusts sand off her bosom, arms, knees and scowls up at Ian. "Yes. I think." She reaches into the small backpack that landed atop instead of under her and extracts a bottle of whiskey. Only after several goodsized gulps of it does she add. "Am better now."

Wash checks command and leadership at normal. Wash marginally fails.

Titania tries to grab onto Lucita when they hit the shore thinking they were okay, nit then the ship rolls and there goes Jan and Lucita. "Shit...Jan your crab crouch did not work!" she moves with the boat and slides down the deck to the beach. She moves quickly to check on her cousin since Ian is checking on Lucita.

Jan pushes herself up and turns to spit some blood from a split lip or maybe she bit it "It didn't, Sorry about that. Made sense in the moment but I suppose crash landing is an acquired skill."

Wash lets the old man rest, and gives commands to the ship's boy. For reasons he doesn't clarify, he makes sure the shelter being established is quite a distance from the ship and shore. And because the crew weren't trained by him, he does a little more micromanaging than is strictly good for morale.

Unfortunately the carpenter was injured during the beaching and whilst he nurses a bruised skull his apprentice is all that Wash can rely upon to get the camp up and running. This is unfortunate because the carpenters apprentice is so young he can't even have a whole years experience under his belt - and it shows. Wash needed to micromanage and yet the lad still resents the fact. By the time the camp is capable of keeping the rain off the crew and passengers the apprentice is sulking.

The beach they are on is a rocky beach full of algae coated pebbles and small rock pools. It means they can probably grab some fresh seafood if they want to but its not great for footing nor morale. Worse the tide seems to be about as low as it gets. There is a definite risk that when the tide comes in your shelter will be partially under water - and the tipped over ship will be too. You have supplies, although the beaching did damage some of the barrels, but fresh water and fresh food might be a good idea, and whilst you didn't lose any crew, some of them are injured enough that a bit of tlc by a medic could be helpful.

The next order of business is to inspect the hull and determine whether it is still seaworthy. Wash sets to that, and having identified that the algae tops the entire island he is already planning his next move, this isn't a safe place for them. He pulls Ian aside to have a conversation in private. Which isn't a good sign.

Titania check on her cousins lip, "Your okay." she looks over, "Alright." she goes into medic mode, her cloak is taken off. She has on her umbra corset with a shirt under it to keep warm. She moves to pull her hair up off her neck and face. She starts to get those who are injured into the shelter and starts to care for them, she kind of sounds like Eirene when she is in the feild, cause she learned under the woman.

Jan confirms "Yup, I'm fine." she will help to haul some provisions off the ship for short term use, for the wounded or for something for those repairing the ship to make use of.

Ian's flat expression was made for moments like these. It's impossible to tell, by looking at him, what Wash is saying, beyond that he's probably being given some kind of orders. He nods a couple of times, and then, stepping away (and almost slipping on the stony beach), he catches Jan's attention. "You're pretty good on an oar, right Jan? Track me down a couple more people, clear it with Titania that they're up for it."

Jan nods to Ian "I am confused by how someone could be b-..." she pauses and then amends "Nevermind. Yeah, I'll do that."

Wash next goes over to Lucita, again, having a private word. Whatever he wants to talk about, he doesn't want to have the word spread too fast too soon.

Titania checks perception and medicine at normal. Botch! Titania fails completely.

Jan checks intellect and medicine at normal. Jan is successful.

Lucita is no medic but she has whiskey to share with others. If not a cure-all, it at least helps take the edge off some of the pain and helps settle nerves of some of the others. She looks toward Wash and back at the island, concern showing in her expression as she listens to his whisper. She nods and replies in a low pitched voice not intended to carry to the others. "Think we need to move to that island over there with the trees on it? Might help find wood for a signal fire and help rig some better shelter there? We have the dingy. I'm no sailor but surely some of those who just have bruises can row us over there and what is needful for us to have.

Titania is trying to do her best, her hands are shaking slightly as she is trying to take care of the crews wounds. Perhaps being on the boat was not a good idea not this soon after everything. She was trying to get something from the med kit and slips dropping it to the ground. "Fuck." she looks at the stuff in the water floating there.

Wash says, "That should be our goal, Ian is going to go over and scout it. You should go with if you don't mind pulling an oar. And you can swim. The weather could easily swamp a dinghy."

Ian looks a little bit startled to realize that he's scouting the wooded island, but he's always been game to follow orders.

Wash turns and nods to Ian. "Be back in three hours or less if you can."

Jan trots over to Titania "Here, have mine, If it's got a green cork with a yellow dot-it's a brew for pain, if it's a blue cork with green dot it's to wake someone up, if it's a red cork it's salve for open wounds to stop bleeding. An there's some cloth for slings and such. I got to go help Ian."

Ian gives Wash a long look. "Uh... sure. Jan, you got that crew together yet? We're on a clock."

Wash is managing panic at the moment. This island will be fully underwater in 12 hours, the longer it takes the crew to realize this is just an atoll the easier it will be to break the news to them because they will already have a way off the island.

Jan issues a sharp whistle and points to six sailors on their feet and who don't seem to be bleeding, "You lot, go assist Lord Ian!"

Wash checks charm and leadership at normal. Wash is successful.

Jan checks dexterity and sailing at normal. Jan is successful.

Ian is defaulting to 'do a thing with a lot of confidence and maybe nobody will ask too many questions' when he has the dinghy lowered into the water, and then the cog's stern anchor very, very carefully lowered into the dinghy, still connected to the ship by a line. "Right. I know you guys know what kedging is." This, to the six sailors Jan chose, not to Jan and Lucita, who have no way of knowing that. "Wash wants to do that. There'll be time to hunt some small game after, once we've done our bit."

Ian checks command and sailing at normal. Ian is successful.

Jan manages to get the launch boat off the larger ship and down into the water without breaking it or braining herself, and quickly tugs it into shallow water and holds it fast for everyone to board. Once everyone is aboard she will gracelessly haul her frame into the water like a walrus pulling itself up onto a dock.

Lucita checks perception and survival at normal. Botch! Lucita fails completely.

Titania checks command and leadership at normal. Titania fails.

The crew of the Rosy Keg are skilled enough that the dinghy comes away from her dock without too much trouble. The small vessel struggles to make headway against the current but after a while you bump up against the very narrow shore available here on the wooded island. Theres no way up to the trees that doesn't require climbing but you do find a spot where you can tie up the dinghy and leave it for a time without coming back to a pile of kindling.

Back on the spit of beach the crew is kept busy organising cargo, the camp, the triage and all those other small tasks of routine and survival that stop a soul from thinking to much about the fact they are currently beached on a tiny bit of rock in the middle of the mourning sea. There is a fair bit of confusion in Titania's wake and in the end it seems that the efforts of Wash and Titania roughly cancel each other out. The crew know what you are up to, they aren't particularly soothed, but they are grateful you are trying.

Lucita almost immediately disembarks from the vessel and starts looking around the island for something useful to their situation but she can't find a good way up the cliffside and actually slips and nearly twists her ankle in the process. She does carve a nasty gash into a shin.

Most importantly of all, Ian manages to get that anchor into position.

At least the shelter keeps the rain off, and since they are on dry land, they can all gather around the fire our Explorer made for us. Wash explains in great detail how kedging will work, and how it's a terribly common thing to do and the water around here is so shallow it will be easy, and they'll start mid-tide so that the current is as easy as possible to manage.

Lucita shakes her head. "Jhond would put me back to climbing ropes and scaling whatever steep land he can find. Did not realize was so badly out of shape! " She rubs her ankle and checks her shin gash, capping a hand over it till it quits bleeding. When done she takes a breath and says. "I can try again maybe. There has got to be some handholds somewhere, or maybe the stone is soft enough the hand ax can chip places away to get at least one of us up there and secure and throw a rope ladder down to others?"

"Shit." Ian makes a vague motion in Lucita's direction when she falls, but he's too restrained about his movements on the smallish dinghy to actually lurch towards her. "You alright?" He wrinkles his nose slightly when he sees the gash on her leg, and adds: "Probably best to go back and have Titania take a look at that. I'm going to try and set up an easier climb. I'm not sure about a ladder, but a rope secured from the cliff should go a long way."

Jan frowns "Fuck. I left my satchel with the bandages with Titania. Let me know if it doesn't stop bleeding." She looks up and her cheeks puff out "be careful."

Ian climbs out of the dinghy and shoulders a loop of rope. "The way things are going, bury me at sea if I fall off the rocks and crack my head open."

Ian checks stamina and athletics at hard. Ian is successful.

Titania shakes her head, her nerves are getting to her. She is trying but she is failing so bad at things, she looks to Wash then away as she tries to help in what ways she can.

Jan checks wits and medicine at easy. Jan marginally fails.

Wash speaks with authority and confidence. "All ships carry two anchors, for when you want a ships orientation to stay the same regardless of the tide. The stern anchor is smaller, but just as sturdy, just needs a little more work to wedge in. Whether the island is half a mile or three miles away, it is just a matter of time to get the ship kedged across to a larger island. Hopefully one with a tree suitable for making a temporary mast."

Ian takes off his gloves and tucks them into his belt. "Back to the other island, guys," he says to Jan and Lucita, before he begins the climb of the cliff face, pulling himself up by his arms for the most part, sometimes with his fingertips just barely wedged into the rock. It's not a fast process; he does seem to really be trying not to crack his head open.

Lucita checks perception and survival at normal. Lucita marginally fails.

Jan eyes Ian "If you fall and make me break that news to Wash I am bearing you with your ass sticking up out of the sand." She warns him and tears off a sleeve and does the best she can to bind Lucita's wound without cutting off circulation. Which means it's covered but not tight enough to slow the bleeding. She eyes Ian with a frown "You want us to go back?"

"He can see me from where he is," Ian shouts down.

Titania listens to Wash as she moves to take her cloak and wrap around herself, she is shivering as she stands near the fire. Her eyes lost in the flames but she is listening.

On the beachy island the crew gather about the campfire and crack open a barrel meant for cargo whilst some of them go along the beach and start picking urchins and crabs and interesting little octopii out of the tide pools. Before too long theres crab roasting on the fire and some watered down wine to drink. They seem to appreciate the story telling and before too long people are starting to take it in turns telling outlandish stories.

Ian manages to find a precarious route up the cliff and push pins into the gaps so that he can secure a rope down it. It means anyone can follow him up now but this climb makes it unlikely that it will make a good campsite. Whilst none of the sailors are seriously hurt some of them do have limps. It doesn't bode well for their climbing ability. Lucita follows Ian up the rope though and starts looking around for somewhere they can set up far up out of the water. She doesn't find anywhere but she does find a nice straight tree that could, maybe, be useful to the repairs. IF they can get it from here to the Rosy Keg.

Jan's attempts to fix the wound on Lucita's legs result in a torn sleeve wrapped about Lucita's leg that falls off part way through the climb.

The tide starts to come in.

Ian apparently is of the opinion that people can all function without sleeping, getting rained on, and who knows what else. Because he's a lot more interested in Lucita's find of the tree than anything potentially to do with a camp. Which the other sailors will surely appreciate. Surely.

Lucita says, "Push come to shove, can set some hammocks up amid the trees maybe, not a great campsite but at least softer than trying to sleep on the ground and a tarp over would help keep someone dry, at least for those who could climb." She casts a glance down at the rising water level on the smaller island. She pulls the loose bandage up and holds it firmly against the gash till it quits bleeding. " Times like this I feel so useless. How many crew are there who can manage to get up here? Would the dingy hold the rest safely?""

With the tide coming it, it's time to add tension to the anchor line. This tricky endeavor works better if the ship is level. So step one is to haul the ship upright again and brace it that way, then step two is to man the capstan and add some tension to the line. This process, if it takes less than three hours, will mean that there is time to lade the ship again, but if the worst comes, he's prepared to abandon the supplies they set up on the atoll.

Jan puffs out her cheeks " It'll take several trips but we can make it. We'd better start shuttling crew that aren't repairing the ship over here. just to be safe. C'mon, we'll get you a proper bandage from Titania. Want me to carry you to the dingy?"

Ian looks out across the water at the other island. "As the tide comes in, the Keg'll right herself," he comments to Lucita. "The anchor we dropped is going to be how they move her over to this one. They'll winch the line in and drag the ship towards the anchor. The sailors shouldn't have any more trouble getting up than you did."

The carpenter, feeling much better after that bit of wine and half a crab, comes to Wash with a problem: He doesn't have enough lumber to brace the ship upright AND do all the necessary repairs.

That is a problem. But not an insurmountable one. Wash orders that lines be lashed to the port side and then anchored across the ship to the starboard side. They'll stabilize the ship long enough get tension on the anchor line and then be cut when the ship is afloat. "Under no circumstances are you to skimp on those repairs. We will need every arm to kedge the ship can't spare a man for emptying the bilge."

Titania looks to Wash, "Wash, what do you need me to do?" she spots the water coming in and she looks nervous but she is trying to not let it show. Her eyes look in the directions that Ian, Jan and Lucita went for a long moment then back to Wash.

Wash directs Titania to conduct the supplies back onto the ship using whichever crew are smallest, ship's boys and that. "When you are done with that, I need you to bring the wheel of the ship to center and don't let that tiller turn til I send someone to relieve you."

Lucita rambles amid the grove of trees seeking some way to make herself useful. To Jan she says. "Please let her tend to the crew first. This has quit bleeding and is really not that bad right now. She seeks some deadfall limbs that look sturdy enough to survive being tossed off the cliff and used for .. something. "Lord Ian, these are pretty sturdy looking and dried out. Think they might make rafts if needed? They look a little large for firewood and are pretty sturdy."

Ian turns towards Lucita with a twitch of a smile playing around his mouth after watching flags go up on the other island. "I think they're going to need some sturdy branches to brace the Keg. Let's see what you found."

Lucita checks dexterity and athletics at normal. Lucita marginally fails.

Titania checks intellect and sailing at normal. Titania fails.

Lucita starts trimming smaller limbs off the one she found using the hand ax she still has tucked in her belt from the rope cutting on the ship earlier. And she is horrible at it, leaving nubs and splintered areas as she sighs. "I never was good at this."

Jan checks strength and athletics at normal. Jan is successful.

Titania grumbles, "Go on a boat they said, it be relaxing they said, it be a vacation they said." she grumbles as she is wet, cold sore and the carpenter starting to tick her off now as she tries to bring him wood but he tells her its wrong every time she hands him some.

Jan follows Ian up the cliff but she's lucky enough to climb the rope. Once up she will get the axe from him and go find a suitable tree or suitably sized branch

Jan then begins chopping away at a brisk pace to fell the tree and then trim it's branches from it's trunk.

Ian checks dexterity and athletics at normal. Ian is successful.

Jan checks dexterity and sailing at hard. Jan fails.

Ian checks dexterity and sailing at normal. Ian marginally fails.

Wash delegates Titania to the important task of holding the tiller at rest, he stays on the shore to preempt any accidents that may occur on the difficult terrain.

Wash checks command and sailing at hard. Wash is successful.

Jan checks dexterity and sailing at normal. Jan is successful.

Lucita checks dexterity and sailing at normal. Lucita is successful.

Once Jan gets the tree cut down, Ian helps Lucita to wrestle the thing down to the dinghy, where the hands of their oarsmen will help to settle it into place. It's pretty clear that the effort of the free climb, combined with the subsequent tree wrangling has taken a lot out of him though, and the best that can be said of him on the way back is that he doesn't get in anyone's way.

The team on the island cut down one of the smaller trees and take their time lowering it down from the cliff so that it can be tied to the dinghy. With such a burden the trip back to the beached ship requires quite a bit of muscle power and boating knowhow but eventually they haul the tree up onto the beach. The carpenter comes over with praise on his lips and immediately sets crewment to work cutting it up - and the trio to work moving large pieces of wood into place for the ships bracing system.

Meanwhile Wash controls the crews efforts to brace and straighten the ship with genuine skill. The crew is starting to get used to his leadership and the process is smooth and almost without issue.

Now, with everything in place, they just have to wait for the tide. Theres enough time for a quick meal and a drink and then it will be go time.

Jan manages to straddle the log using her legs to hold it fast, leaned forward to brace so she can row. It works but it does mean that Ian is staring at the backside of someone who's only had ship cooking for weeks.

"Fart, and I am putting you in that fucking water," Ian warns Jan, in the tone of someone who will absolutely do it.

Wash checks command and sailing at normal. Wash is successful.

Titania moves up to the wheel like Wash told her to and holds it in the middle to keep the tiller at rest.

By the time the ship is floating, Wash is wading around in knee deep water. He's the last man aboard the ship and his usually infectious enthusiasm seems to be heightened by being mostly wet. "Alright, hard to starboard Lady Kennex and hold her there. We'll swing around nice and easy. No sudden surges there on the capstan. An easy pace so we don't lose our grip. Ease her in. Keep that dinghy in the water and heave her to the stern. Drop the stern anchor. Gently now, that dinghy has more way in her than in our entire hull!" He has a lot to say and keeps moving to place eyes on everything that he has ordered.

Lucita winces as salt water stings the gash but says not a word, makes not a sound as she assists with the effort. A little grin upturns the corners of her lips on hearing Ian's comment to Jan. Only when the the tree is back and people are working on bracing the ship does she approach Titania and show the injury as she murmurs how insignificant it is.

Jan guffaws breathlessly while she rows "Gods Ian, I hear your voice but it's my mother's words. It's creepy as fuck." her muscles flex and stretch rhythmically as she helps steer the dingy towards Wash and the rest. She rolls off the log into the water, Ian blessedly un fumigated, while she hauls the ship towards the shore.

The crew move to follow Wash's instructions. The plan to refloat the Rosy Keg and move her into the lee of the wooded island so far going to plan. They even had time to reload most of the supplies.

Ian eyes Jan as they draw up alongside the Keg. "I might not have brought you into this world, but I can blasted well take you out of it."

Jan grins at him cheekily "You can try but it'll cost you your dignity." She waggles eyebrows mirthfully "A victory at what cost?!"

Titania nods to Wash as she listens to his words and does exactly what he tells her to do, she breaths deeply. "I will be right with you Baroness, I can not let the wheel go." her voice is shaky as she is talking to Lucita.

Wash checks command and sailing at hard. Wash fails.

Ian checks command and sailing at normal. Ian is successful.

Titania checks command and sailing at normal. Titania is successful.

Wash checks command and sailing at normal. Wash is successful.

Jan checks command and sailing at normal. Jan is successful.

Jan is overheard praising Wash.

Lucita is busy trying to stay out of the way of those who know what they are doing, observing and listening for instructions on what she can do to help.

The switchover is going fine at first. Then the bow swings into the current while it is at the very shortest length. With a sudden lurch, the prow anchor starts dragging, and the ship, caught in the waxing current begins floating away. To those inexperienced with sailing, the sudden clamor and action doesn't seem warranted, but with one anchor breaking free, the second will have to hold, or the entire action will be lost as the headway they have gained toward the larger island disappears with the current taking hold of the ship. Wash is shouting at the crew on the dinghy. The capstan is suddenly winding the other direction. Everything is a sudden hubbub and it doesn't help that the crew has rarely worked together before on such a delicate maneuver.

Returning to the deck of the Keg, Ian assumes the role of first officer, relaying Wash's orders to the people who need to hear them. He starts out pretty level, crisp in his demeanor, but unhurried, but as things begin to unravel, his demeanor becomes more to the point, leaving less room for someone to overthink the situation or argue with him. He's at the point, once, of physically moving someone, in a not very gentle manner, from the place where they are at to where he wants them to be.

Titania eyes widen as thing go from good to well not good, she looks to Wash as she holds the wheel still not letting it go. She looks like she wants to yell but she will continue to do as she was told, "Baroness, just incase hold onto something please!"

Jan is following the orders she's given, helping everyone back onto the ship and helping to haul anything that needs to be brought onto the ship before taking her place and promptly following orders-trying to seize the stern anchor rope if needed unless the orders coming form Ian point her another direction.

Whilst Wash made some errors, his friends actions compensated for them, until in the end the Keg ends up right where she's supposed to be - Just in time for the hardest part where the anchors are transferred. If this works they will have brought the Keg into a position from which they can rest and take their time repairing the mast before heading on home under their own power. If it fails.. best not let that happen.

Wash checks command and sailing at hard. Wash is successful.

Ian checks command and sailing at normal. Ian marginally fails.

Titania checks command and sailing at normal. Titania is successful.

Jan checks command and sailing at normal. Jan is successful.

Lucita moves over to a spot between Wash and Ian. There she lends a hand where it seems to be most useful, not initiating anything but helping within her abilities.

The final switch over means planting the primary anchor close enough to the large island that they can lower a suitable tree down to be their new mast. It will help them limp back to port at least. A truly successful sailing adventure always requires something to go wrong, the victory over nature isn't complete if nothing goes awry.

The, uh, direct approach that Ian wound up taking right around when everything was starting to fall apart has not won him friends among the crew, something that he probably should have more patience for than he does. Fortunately, there's no slack that needs taking up, because he's not in a position where he could easily get the crew to do much. The guy who physically got moved is especially indignant.

Jan whips around and levels a finger at the indignant sailor in wordless warning! She is watching him! Both hands swiftly return to following the orders being slung her way.

Titania talks herself into relaxing at the wheel to not be so nervous, she continues to man the wheel licking her lips. She has never done this before!

Lucita checks command and sailing at normal. Lucita fails.

Lucita catches her lower lip in her teeth as she gives Wash, Ian, Titania and Jan an apologetic glancewhen the rope breaks. She is good at tying knots, just not making strong roe out of the lines with which she is working. "I'm a singer, and an explorer, not a sailor. Sorry am not able to do more. Everyone ok, not hurt by the line breaking?

There are moments when it seems close but eventually, through the leadership and seamanship of Wash, and the support of both the crew and his family and friends, the Rosy Keg finally comes to a rest in the shadow of the island. Wounded but hopeful. Another day or two, if all goes well, and they will be able to return to the seas. Limping home, but getting there safely, and with stories to tell of the brilliance of Wash, the bravery of Lucita as she attempted to scale the cliff, the care of Titania, the potence of Jan's farts, and of course the tyranny of first officer Ian.