Marlinspike Flail (Patreon)

Weapon (flail), uncommon

The head of this flail is a heavy iron ball, and is held onto a bosun's marlinspike with a series of clever, sturdy knots. You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this magic weapon. If you're proficient with water vehicles, you have advantage on any ability check you make to untie a knot using the marlinspike, and whenever you hit an object or structure with it, you can roll the weapon's damage die twice, instead of once; you choose which result to use for the weapon's damage.

"Oy! What's that you're holding?"

"This is latest piece of seaman genius, sir, according to the boot."

"Is that a... cannonball?"

"Apparently second class told the boot his lanyard was too loose and that he could get a tighter knot if he lashed something heavy to the end."

"But why a cannonball?"

"I don't know sir. I took it off the boot after he knocked a hole in the bulkhead with it while trying to secure the rigging...."

"He put a hole in the bulkh—"

"...And the topside deck, after he stumbled pulling it free from the bulkhead."

"The deck?! I want him in my stateroom. Now."

"That won't be possible, sir."

"And why is that?"

"Well, the boot didn't learn his lesson from the bulkhead. When he pulled the shot free from the deck, it shot loose and knocked the capstan. The crew caught the anchor in time, but one of the arms caught the boot upside the head as it spun 'round. He's been out cold since."

"...."

"The lanyard and rigging are no longer loose, though, sir."