Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 222 (Patreon)

This is a short chapter. It finishes off the writathon, and has a lot of tables with skills following the text. I'm not putting the tables in here, as they just don't work in Patreon.

I have a little work left on Tunnel Rat to get Milo finished in the writathon. When that is done, I'll be coming back to the Smoke and replenish the chapters here on Patreon so we get ahead on each story again. 

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Ozzy was on the deck near the open hold making chain while Woodrat snored in his cabin. The two of the worked continuously trying to get the ship ready to sail. Or at least float away from the Sargasso. They had worked to weave the stays and main chain that would hold the mast steady and carry heat from the hull. When that had been done and their one sail made, Woodrat had been able to claim the ship.

With a ship under their feet again, and a much larger ship at that, Ozzy could pick a specialty as a Mate, and both of them gained some points for the accomplishment. Ozzy had 40 CSP saved up, and it was time to do a bit of thinking. Some skills he could buy might be only usable in the smoke, or on a ship, and he didn't intend to stay here any longer than he had too.

His other thing to consider was eventually getting to Tier 3. Going to Tier had gained them all some nice benefits. He had to balance getting some upgrades or new benefits for high skills and spending the points on stats instead of buying hull or other skills. He wanted to get COR and CHR to 20, plus STR and CON to 30. It was tricky, because he didn't know what sort of classes he might be offered, and what bonuses. Pitmaster had given him +2 CHR and three other points to put where he wanted. If that was true again, then he could probably get that far.

STR and CON were both at 25 and couldn't go higher from experience, but he could add +3 to each by spending some points. That would put him to 28 each. The three points from Pitmaster wouldn't get him there, but another class might.

COR was at 18 and CHR 17 with room to spend points. Did his +1 CHR from his earring count? Probably not, so that was another point of CHR he needed. And he needed to spend some points to upgrade the soft cap on his stats. Some of them were lagging behind because he hadn't done that.

He had two other options to think over: The dried whale heart and the shark core. Woodrat said a core would give some better understanding of a creature and some type of bonus associated with the creature. A whales heart was known to give strength skills, or maybe just an increase to STR. Points he could gain that way would save CSP that he could put to Hull or other skills. He'd start with those, and see where they led.

And he needed to get some advice on what to chose as his Mate's specialty. Woodrat should know something about that, even if he skipped straight from crew to captain. Hopefully he stopped snoring soon so Ozzy could ask a few questions, and then have a snack of salad and whale heart.

Captain Woodrat has laid claim to the newly repaired ship: Splinter.

Splinter is a Level 3 ship and requires a minimum of 2 crew, 1 of which must be a captain. For maximum speed and sailing efficiency, a crew of 6 is required, two of which must be a captain and mate.

Captain Woodrat has gained 10 Core Skill points for claiming the Splinter.
The Crew of the Splinter split 10 Core Skill points among themselves, minimum 1 point each.

Congratulations on your promotion to Mate on a Level 3 or higher ship.

With a larger ship comes more crew, and you won't be doing all the work by yourself. You may pick a specialty.

Quartermaster: A knack for stowing things properly lets you get the most stuff into limited space with the least damage to crew, ship, and cargo. Food stays fresh longer when a proper quartermaster sees to the cargo.
Perk: Quartermaster 50% less loss of goods to damage and spoiling. Foodstuffs last twice as long before going bad.

Chainwork: You know the tricks for making the most of chains and nets. Your chains take less smoke to make but are still tighter and stronger than even the old hands can make, and you can weave them faster while drinking or telling a story to the young ones about the time you rode a whale.
Perk: Tight Chains

Boarding Actions: When its time to repel boarders, or to dive headfirst into a fight on an enemy ship, you'll be the one leading your bloody cut throats to victory. Increased damage and mitigation in all fights on ships, or with a crew from a ship.
Perk: Bloody Handed Gain +20% damage, and gain +20 mitigation in fights on ships or when leading crew.

Boatswain: You handle the small boatwork, getting things and people to and from your ship. You set the pace for the rowers on a galley in the role of Coxswain.
Perk: Your skill in Boatwork gains a bonus of +3 ranks.

Bullyboy: Keeping order on a ship can be difficult. Sometimes the captain needs someone to 'unofficially' deal out a bit of hurt to make someone change their attitude, or to threaten a group to get the most work out of them. You lead any press gangs sent out to 'recruit' new crew.
Skill: Bully Any intimidation skill gains a bonus of +3 ranks while on your ship or with your crew. You gain a reputation for violence. 'Non-Lethal' damage is increased by 50% when dealing with your crew.

Gunner: If your ship has artillery you drill the crew in their use and make sure they can hit the broadside of a barn. Any crew you are part of gains increased accuracy and damage.
Perk: Ship's Gunner Increased accuracy damge of all artillery by 10% and double that if you are on the crew of a weapon