A ship is safe in harbor,
The idea of testing their instinct and overall resolve was a good one. Thal nodded her head in agreeance with Astaroth and Catalina, considering the options. She wasn't willing to risk the ship for a mere test that most of them probably wouldn't pass. Yet, the stakes had to be high enough to elicit a real response from the candidates. There was a fine line of danger and controlled chaos that she had to implement.
An idea came to mind and Thal didn't try to disguise the conniving grin that spread across her face. "I have just the thing." Waving her hand, she had the others follow her back down to the three 'sailors.' She didn't have to say a word to grab their attention, her previous actions having done that enough to keep their eyes glued to her.
Thal paced before them, scrutinizing their figures before she finally spoke. Her voice was soft but deathly serious. "The cook has been lying to me, telling me he doesn't have a secret map stashed in a box he keeps in the pantry. I want that map. Get it for me." What she didn't say was that the cook was an Attuned with a ursur shift, always diligent, and always carrying the key to his valuable pantry. She'd let them figure that out. Meanwhile, she'd be able to test their intelligence, fighting capabilities, and willingness to follow orders despite intimidating tasks. It may also help them gain the respect of the other crewmates.
Obviously finished with them, they glanced at each other before approaching the door that would bring them to the quarters and mess hall. The first candidate made his way inside with totally ignorant confidence. He sauntered up as if the position was already hit, rambling on about some impossible treasure hunt he'd completed on his own. The woman (candidate three) followed next, her armor clinking loudly like a dinner bell. Last came candidate four as a ghostly apparition.
Content to wait, Thal sat on a barrel, flicking her igneous dagger in the air, the red glinting in the sunlight. The next hour passed in a strange mixture of cries and thumps from inside. The occasional roar shook the wood of the ship, but the captain didn't move from her place, patiently waiting for their return. A few of the sailors observing began making bets, wondering who would make it out alive.
When the door finally opened, it was the cook who stepped out, his dense body stomping onto the deck. "Cap'n! These scallywags were try'nna get inna my pantry! Were'n they told that dinner is'n till sundown?!" He dragged a body behind him, the face barely recognizable as the first candidate. A few snickers were heard as he dropped the man face down. She couldn't tell if he was breathing, but she didn't care, nodding her head for one of the crew to throw him over. While they did that, the other two candidates made their way out. Each looked a little worse for wear, the woman's armor offset and covered in grime while the man actually had some color in his cheeks, a bruise on his forehead and a twinkle in his eyes.
Ignoring the complaints of the cook, Thal asked the candidates, "What are your names?" Unsurprisingly, the woman stepped forward first, "Brianne." Although she looked shaken, she remained composed, standing at attention before them. The crew looked on with respect for her bravery. Then she looked to the man, waiting for him to speak up. "Spook." His voice was whisper soft, but the crew didn't laugh, regarding him warily.
Thal looked at the two of them closer, curious about if they'd succeeded in their task. If the cook was out here, she doubted it, but she asked regardless, "So? Do you have it?" Surprisiingly, both appeared to have something to show for their efforts. Brianne nodded, stepping forward confidently to present a small ornamental box. However, Spook also drifted forward, his hands full of what had once been the box's contents. Not a map, but a bag of artesian chocolates. Thal nodded and took the bag, popping one in her mouth before she turned to the Astaroth and Catalina. "What do you think?"
Round 4: Final round! Pick between the final two candidates however you deem appropriate. No posting order.
An idea came to mind and Thal didn't try to disguise the conniving grin that spread across her face. "I have just the thing." Waving her hand, she had the others follow her back down to the three 'sailors.' She didn't have to say a word to grab their attention, her previous actions having done that enough to keep their eyes glued to her.
Thal paced before them, scrutinizing their figures before she finally spoke. Her voice was soft but deathly serious. "The cook has been lying to me, telling me he doesn't have a secret map stashed in a box he keeps in the pantry. I want that map. Get it for me." What she didn't say was that the cook was an Attuned with a ursur shift, always diligent, and always carrying the key to his valuable pantry. She'd let them figure that out. Meanwhile, she'd be able to test their intelligence, fighting capabilities, and willingness to follow orders despite intimidating tasks. It may also help them gain the respect of the other crewmates.
Obviously finished with them, they glanced at each other before approaching the door that would bring them to the quarters and mess hall. The first candidate made his way inside with totally ignorant confidence. He sauntered up as if the position was already hit, rambling on about some impossible treasure hunt he'd completed on his own. The woman (candidate three) followed next, her armor clinking loudly like a dinner bell. Last came candidate four as a ghostly apparition.
Content to wait, Thal sat on a barrel, flicking her igneous dagger in the air, the red glinting in the sunlight. The next hour passed in a strange mixture of cries and thumps from inside. The occasional roar shook the wood of the ship, but the captain didn't move from her place, patiently waiting for their return. A few of the sailors observing began making bets, wondering who would make it out alive.
When the door finally opened, it was the cook who stepped out, his dense body stomping onto the deck. "Cap'n! These scallywags were try'nna get inna my pantry! Were'n they told that dinner is'n till sundown?!" He dragged a body behind him, the face barely recognizable as the first candidate. A few snickers were heard as he dropped the man face down. She couldn't tell if he was breathing, but she didn't care, nodding her head for one of the crew to throw him over. While they did that, the other two candidates made their way out. Each looked a little worse for wear, the woman's armor offset and covered in grime while the man actually had some color in his cheeks, a bruise on his forehead and a twinkle in his eyes.
Ignoring the complaints of the cook, Thal asked the candidates, "What are your names?" Unsurprisingly, the woman stepped forward first, "Brianne." Although she looked shaken, she remained composed, standing at attention before them. The crew looked on with respect for her bravery. Then she looked to the man, waiting for him to speak up. "Spook." His voice was whisper soft, but the crew didn't laugh, regarding him warily.
Thal looked at the two of them closer, curious about if they'd succeeded in their task. If the cook was out here, she doubted it, but she asked regardless, "So? Do you have it?" Surprisiingly, both appeared to have something to show for their efforts. Brianne nodded, stepping forward confidently to present a small ornamental box. However, Spook also drifted forward, his hands full of what had once been the box's contents. Not a map, but a bag of artesian chocolates. Thal nodded and took the bag, popping one in her mouth before she turned to the Astaroth and Catalina. "What do you think?"
Round 4: Final round! Pick between the final two candidates however you deem appropriate. No posting order.
Thalassa
but that's not what ships are built for.
