Tigger_MK4

The next morning, over breakfast, they discuss how they will approach the harbour master with the incriminating photographs. They spot Bert Pacquare sporting a black eye.
"What happened ?"
"Adam and I ran into some marines in a bar, and we had a ...discussion...over the benefits of the merchant navy against the marines. If you think I look bad, you should see Adam..."

Dibden and Fitzwilliam go to check up on the clearly hungover Adam Henning.
"MORNING HENNING !" bellows Fitzwilliam good-naturedly. Henning winces.
They confirm that Henning has no serious injuries, albeit a generous buffet of bruises.

Ford goes to see the harbour master, and after navigating his way past the secretary, discusses the paperwork. It appears that the paperwork belonging to people with incriminating photos has a habit of being processed quickly, and Ford is soon on his way back with the signed permits.

The supplies are quickly arranged, and soon the S.S.Gabrielle is ready to leave. Lola and Maria come to wave goodbye, and just as the ship pulls away from the pier, Fitzwilliam hurls them a small cannister containing the negatives of the blackmail photos, much to the amusement of the team.

The Gabrielle sails into the pacific, and the weather begins to turn. Strong winds and steep waves buffet the ship, and as they deck rises and falls rapidly, mal-de-mere is the order of the day for many of the expedition. Mrs Chippy is a most unhappy cat too, having been soaked by a particularly large wave, and she hides in Romfords cabin for the duration of the storm.

Below decks, the classes continue. Fitzwilliam joins in with the barbershop quartet, and Romford resumes teaching the aerial navigation class with Halperin, the two having become quite a double act.
"In American, zey have a habit of flying through barns..." observes Halperin, to chuckles from the class "...but if they could navigate in the first place, they might actually be able to fly OVER it once in a while..."

Over the next couple of days, some of the sailors begin to act a little odd. There are secretive huddles, and conversations cease when the party come close. Henning is questioned about it and while being mildly evasive, he admits that Starkweather is getting a reputation as an unlucky man to have around.

The storm continues until the 24th, when the weather clears a little, but the suspicious activity by the sailors continues. Group of crewmen are spotted carrying mysterious packages around, and even the first officer Paul Turlow begins acting secretive.

That evening , about an hour after sunset, the ships engines stop, and the ships horn sounds three times. There is sounds of movement all over the ship.

Up on deck, they are met by a bizarre sight. Marching across the deck, dressed in an elaborate frock coat - and a long green wig - is a man they barely recognise at Bert Pacquare. He turns to a nearby crewman.
"Ho ! Shellback ! Permission to come aboard in the name of his Majesty, King Neptune, monarch of the sea !"
The sailor says in theatrical tones "Why, 'tis Davy Jones himself. Welcome aboard, sir..."

The 'Crossing the Line' ceremony has begun.

The following morning, the 25th, several crewmembers dressed up as old fashioned policemen round up the "landlubbers" amougst the expedition. The crew look on amusedly as the players are brought before the auspices of "King Neptune" and his court (including "Princess Amphrodite", a burly bearded crewman wearing a wig and the dress they saw Pacquare looking at in Panama).

Davy Jones steps forward, and begins to read from a scroll in his hand. *
"Mr James Ford, " (boos from the crowd) "...you are here to answer for your henious crimes against his Majesty." he proclaims. "For I intend to prove that not only did you...
".....willingly wear an OFFENSIVELY loud shirt in a built up area, " (pantomime hisses and boos)
"....and did knowingly AND WITH AFORETHOUGHT, wear shorts, thus showing knobbly knees after dark..." (laughter)
"... and even worse, was seen to be DRUNK while under the influence of alcahol !" (cheers)

Similar charges are read out to the other landlubbers. The sentence of the court, it seems, is a mild hazing at the hands of the crew, followed by a dunking in a specially prepared tank.

Their crimes thus expiated, they are then presented with a certificate to confirm them as "shellbacks" and no longer lowly landlubbers, and members of King Neptunes court.

A party follows , lubricated by copious amount of beer. The party continues late into the night, and eventually the somewhat merry expedition members crawl into bed having had an eventful, but tiring day.

-------------
* To any GM's reading this : I definitely recommend getting the players who are not currently the "accused" to roleplay the cheering and booing from the crowd. Its alot of fun.