Pirate Borg Solo! Session 2

First meeting with Captain Davies and the 'Allamanda' rumor.

Crain rubs his conch shell as he makes his way to the Green Kraken to find Captain Davies. Let’s read the description of this place in the book:

The Green Kraken: If Coral Town had a heart, this would be it. A seedy tavern. Jonesy, the barkeep, is gruff and large enough to prevent a fight. Several important-looking pirates recruit here, including Captain Davies, who has a booth permanently reserved in the back. Gambling, drinking, and plotting are all encouraged.

Crain asks Jonesy which one is Captain Davies and he points toward the back to a booth. Let’s read the description of Captain Davies:

Captain Davies, the pirate boss: Captain of the Eye of Chaos. A sardonic, sea-worn pirate who runs a small but well oiled smuggling operation out of the caves on the west side of the island near Carcass Beach. He and his men can be recruited, or they might try to rob and/or kill the PCs. Probably both. HP: 9, Morale: 9, Leather armor, cutlass & 2 flintlock pistols.

It’s pretty late and if he’s recruiting for a job at dawn, I decided that there wouldn’t be too many pirates lined up waiting for him. He would have most of his crew set at this point. So, I think just a simple Oracle roll will suffice to see if there’s someone with him or not.

Is Davies alone?

Oracle, d8 = 4
NO, BUT… the pirate that’s with him is talking very loudly and Crain picks up bits and pieces of the conversation before Davies dismisses the pirate.

I thought this called for a Sparks table roll to get some hints about what they were talking about, so I rolled on the d66 Sparks table in C&C.

The Pirate’s Code d66 Sparks Table:
d66 = 52: Rescue, Flora, Uncertain

I kind of had an idea right away for these words. So a ‘rescue’ is in order, but Davies is a rotten pirate, so this isn’t a rescue in the traditional sense. Maybe it’s a kidnapping from another crew that has the prize already, or maybe he wants to be first to the ‘rescue’ for nothing more the reward? Let’s take ‘flora’ and make this someone. A noblewoman, faction leader, VIP, etc. and maybe the name or person (or even ‘thing’ I guess!) is coded. I Googled up some tropical flowers and selected “Allamanda.” It sounded more mysterious than the other flowers I saw. Now, ‘uncertainty' is pretty easy here. The uncertainty is the coded name, Allamanda. Does Davies even know who or what Allamanda is? Maybe, maybe not. I think that’s enough to go on. Let’s write up the fiction for the scene:

Melville Crain rolled the conch shell between his fingers as he made his way toward the Green Kraken. He pressed it absently to his ear, listening for an answer, then slipped it back into place and pushed through the tavern doors.

The noise hit him immediately.

At this late hour, the place was still roaring with life: laughter, shouting, tankards clashing in rough toasts before slamming them back down a second later. The Green Kraken had a pulse to it, wild but steady. Crain found it… comforting. Given time, he could see himself becoming a regular here.

Behind the bar stood a man as wide as he was tall, arms like dock pilings and a face carved from petrified wood. He watched the room with the confident authority of someone who didn’t need to raise his voice to end a fight.

Crain approached, offering a polite nod. “I’m looking for Captain Davies.”

The barkeep didn’t ask why. He simply pointed a massive finger toward the back. “That booth.”

Crain followed the gesture. There, half-shadowed and set apart from the chaos, sat Captain Davies.

He was lean. And weathered. Motionless in a way that suggested every movement was a choice. The kind of man who didn’t waste energy because he didn’t have to.

A single prospective crewman lingered nearby. Closer than was wise, if the captain’s expression was any indication. The wiry pirate leaned in further, voice rising above the din as he tried desperately to sell himself.

“I’m tellin’ ya, Cap’n, I can do it. Noble blood, or near enough, you said… I’m your man. I need the work, and if this ‘Allamanda’ needs killin’, I’ll see it done. What d’ya say, Cap’n? Huh?”

Davies didn’t move at first.

Then he did.

A sharp shove sent the man stumbling back into a table, drinks sloshing, nearby voices flaring in irritation.

“I don’t need a scallywag like you,” Davies said, his tone low but cutting clean through the noise. “And I don’t hire men who talk more than they think.”

The lackey opened his mouth, thought better of it and backed off, muttering as he disappeared toward the front of the bar.

For a moment, the space around Davies’ booth went still.

Crain had heard enough. He adjusted his hat and stepped forward, crossing from the noise into the edge of Davies’ shadow.

Now it was his turn.

Crain introduces himself and mentions that Tortuga sent him. He explains that he had a look at the man’s wounds on the docks and, from what he gathered, their crew was already full… and also set on chasing “Allamanda.” Crain suggests that Captain Davies might have use for a skilled doctor and another man in a fight.

Is Davies receptive of that?

Oracle, d8 = 8
YES, AND… he is very accommodating since it sounds like Crain might know something about the Gilded Raven’s plans.

I think since I don’t have any loot, maybe Davies could accommodate with an advance. Does Davies offer money to Crain?

Oracle, d8 = 7
YES.

How many silver pieces?
d8 = 6
6 silver pieces

Rocking with the d8! Let’s smooth the scene out to get a feel for the good Captain and Crain.

Crain didn’t rush in.

He let the commotion settle after the outburst, giving it just enough time before stepping forward, measured and calm.

“Melville Crain,” he said, with a doff of his hat. “Tortuga suggested I might find you here.”

I almost forgot to mention that I’ve decided to add a small mechanic: anytime Crain removes his hat and puts it back on, I’ll roll to see if he experiences a vision. It keeps things unpredictable and adds a nice layer of tension. So now, as he doffs his hat and puts it back on his head… it’s time to roll. Let’s just use the Oracle roll for now.

Does Crain experience a vision?
d8 = 3
NO.

Davies’ eyes flicked up at that. A small shift but Crain caught it.

“He’s still standing, then,” Davies muttered.

“For now,” Crain replied lightly. “He asked me to examine his wounds on the docks. In my professional opinion, he’ll keep the arm… provided he doesn’t do anything foolish with it.”

That earned him a fraction more attention. Crain let the moment breathe before continuing.

“I understand their crew is full,” he said, almost offhand. “And from what I gathered from Tortuga, they’ve set their sights on Allamanda.”

The name hung there.

Davies didn’t react immediately, but his eyes sharpened. Crain pressed on, as if unaware of the weight of what he’d said.

“So, if you’re in need of another blade…” he continued, almost casually, “and a man with a surgeon’s hand, one who can keep your crew alive long enough to see the job through…” He offered a thin, knowing smile. “That’s a value I’d be honored to provide.”

Davies leaned back slightly, studying him now.

Interested.

“Did he…” Davies said slowly, “mention what direction they were headed?”

Crain gave a small, apologetic shrug. “He did not. But their supplies suggest a long journey… due north, I would think.”

Not a lie. Not the truth.

Davies’ expression shifted. The edge softened, replaced by something else. Greed, perhaps. Opportunity, maybe.

“Well now,” he said, his voice easing into something almost welcoming, “sounds like you might know a thing or two about who else is sniffin’ around my business.”

Crain gave the faintest nod as a polite smile crossed his lips. Then he shifted slightly, as though the conversation had run its course.

“Of course,” he added, “I’ll need somewhere to stay if I’m to be of use come morning.”

Davies barked a short laugh; sharp and amused.

“Of course you will.”

He reached into his coat, produced a small handful of pieces of eight, gave them a quick glance, then tossed them onto the table.

“Six silver,” he said. “Consider it an advance.”

Crain gathered them without looking.

Davies rose, clapping him on the shoulder with sudden familiarity. “Be at the docks before sunrise, Crain,” he said, his tone bright now, almost eager.

As he stepped past, he let out a low, cackling laugh.

“If what you’re sayin’ is true,” Davies added, “we’ve just found ourselves the upper hand.”

Crain watched him go, the weight of the silver settling in his palm.

Upper hand. He smiled. Yes, upper hand indeed.

Crain watches Davies leave and decides he would do the same… but not before a pint of grog to celebrate!

Pint of Grog: 1s
5 silver pieces left

Crain decides one drink was enough, especially with morning fast approaching. After the kind of day he’d had and, what was likely waiting for him at dawn, he needs proper rest. He pushes himself up from the bar, surrendering his seat to the next soul in need of it.

Time to head to the inn. Let’s see if the night has anything else in store for him on the way.

Roll 1d6 for Night Encounter (Ultimate Solo RPG Toolkit):
1d6 = 5
5 = Nothing happens

Crain spends 4 silver pieces on a night at the inn. Time for some much-deserved shut-eye!

Night at the inn: 4s
1 silver piece left

Next up: Session 3! Until then, fair winds and following seas, matey!

Character Creation
Session 1
Session 2

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