[SD:OA] Gem Having A Bad Fishing Day - Chapter 5

In goes the oversized hook and thick line. Gem stands there, braced against a thick pole they didn’t know the use of. They were ready for whatever might happen and it didn’t take long.

The pole seemed to almost try and jump out of their hands. Gem shouted, “Got something!” Not that they needed to ask, it is quite evident.

Even after using all of the strength they could wring out of their level 8 (the fight with the sharks had netted a level up!) rank B Body, the pole dipped down. The tip is pulled straight towards the ocean, pole going from curved to straight. The line taught as it rubbed against the deck.

Gem, “Going to need help with this!”

Samuel steps up next to them and tries to help pull the pole up. This proves futile, instead the tugging seemed to just get stronger.

Gem smiles, “How dare you play with us! I give up rights to this catch if one of you sailors wants to make sure we manage to land them!”

There are three sailors nearby and they all glance at once another. It isn’t a secret that Gem was pulling up some odd catches. This though? It was getting a bit out of hand.

Still, one of them finally shrugs and steps over to assist. This doesn’t instantly win the day. Whatever is on the other side of the line has quite the pull. Maybe if the sailor could have taken the pole for themselves, it would have gone easier, but the line and pole are likely only holding together because of their fishing skill at this point. It is a close thing and maybe they could have pulled the fish in without snapping the line, but why risk it?

At least once the sailor took over, Gem isn’t straining to hold on. Instead, they are focused on maintaining control. The sailor could provide the strength, but they are the one with the fishing skill, they are the one fishing! If they didn’t guide things, that wouldn’t be true and the sailor might as well have just taken the rod from them.

Besides, they were good at fishing. The play between pulling in the line, letting it out, and generally just allowing the fish to play itself out until you could land it. This took about half an hour before, with a shout of triumph, they managed to haul a truly impressive tune-like specimen. Seemed it was called a “Fat Tuna”, no joke!

The dang thing is at least six meters long and yeah, it looked pudgy. Gem frowned about one detail, “Only level 3? For something that big and strong?”

The sailor that helped haul it in laughs, “Ah, this beasty only seems strong in the water. Much of that was mass holding us back! What, did you think something big enough to take that book, but also not take the rod from you would be anything much?

“Though it’s an excellent fish for the ship! As the name says, they’ve got a bunch of fat on them, which is a wonderful thing! Tons of energy and an overall great addition to our rations.”

Gem isn’t exactly satisfied with this as they stomp, “I wanted to catch something big and odd! That’s just an oversized tuna!”

The sailor shrugs, “And I would have hoped you’d catch a gold angler! Who wouldn’t want a deep sea nasty with a giant ball of gold attuned to light? In the end, you catch what the sea has for you. Can’t force it.”

Gem huffs, “Fine. I was probably getting ahead of myself after all the other nonsense. Meh, back to a regular rod for me.”

Though it seemed whatever luck had been at their fingertips till now had fled them. While able to catch three fish for every two anyone else hauled in, none of the oddities are showing up anymore.

Not that the sailors seemed all that surprised. It did take them a couple days to let Gem in on why, seemingly finding their frustration quite amusing.

The sailor that helped them pull in the fat tuna is the one to finally spill the beans. “Well, it’s simple enough. The sharkfolk came in from below us and stirred up a bunch of stuff. Then the dolphins came along and caused even more chaos. That sort of mess will stir up some nonsense.”

Which Gem had to admit, made some sense. Besides, it isn’t like they had only been fishing to catch strange fish. Oh sure, that tended to be what the various fishing games they had played in the past focused on. But sometimes? It was nice to just sit around with a pole and relax.

And like that, more time passed. It wasn’t all peaceful. Various wild beasts attacked, whether fish of the sea or birds of the sky. Though only the birds tended to actually make it to where The four of them are fishing. The big exception being that one time Emrys managed to actually catch something strange, a dual swordfish.

Which was very much like what it sounded. A swordfish with two swords, and it was part of a school of swordfish variants that made a few runs at the Salty Baron. It was honestly kind of shocking as even Gem didn’t manage to catch one, though that is more because the one they hooked managed to use their sword to cut the line.

The ship is a little past halfway by the time the next major event happened. Though saying halfway is a little deceptive. They had been out at sea for about 25 days, which in theory meant they should actually be most of the way. Except the wind is not only against them, but weak.

Gem is fishing as always, though the other three are taking a break. In particular, Samuel had taken quite the distaste for the activity. It went as far as him refusing to even touch a pole. Though thankfully Gem is pulling in enough fish to cover everyone eating a decent meal.

This day, though, even Gem is having a hard time fishing anything up. Which in turn had all the sailors worried. You didn’t ignore it when someone with the fishing skill is having a hard time. There was something coming.

So, it is of no surprise when something did attack. Though seeing the giant tentacles rise up out of the water, decked out in suckers? That was quite the surprise.

Up in the crows nest, a scout turns their scope down and their eyes glow a bright gold. “NO FANGS!”

The feeling of dread that had permeated the ship faded a little with that announcement. Though it took June explaining for the other three to get why. See, “Giant squid can sometimes have fangs in their suckers, but Krakens always have them.”

Of course, while the sailors are happy to Only be fighting a giant squid, Gem and their friends aren’t exactly up for such rough housing. Emrys is the first to realize this, “Quick! We need to get below deck! The closer to the center the better!” And he grabbed June and Gem, while giving Samuel a swift kick.

The hatch into the ship isn’t far away, but the squid isn’t giving anyone a chance to mount a proper response. The tentacles barely raise up over the side of the Salty Baron, before they grab on and try to capsize the ship.

Gem and the gang are lucky as this means their route to the hatch isn’t blocked, though they’ll be going closer to the nearest tentacle than comfortable.

As they all get moving, Emrys lets go of the two and begins to really dash for it. Which is fortunate for him as the others all have a higher body rank and so them just running would have outpaced him.

Though as they rush past the giant squid’s tentacle, it flexes and the deck wobbles, throwing them off balance. June stops for a moment and tosses out a cast of Cat’s Paw on Emrys. The buff stabilized his run.

Samuel is the first to reach the hatch and fumbles to open it for a moment. The hatch hadn’t actually been closed to start with, but had swung shut as the ship was tossed about. Once opened, though, it is easy enough for him to keep open for the others to rush through. Then he carefully closes it behind them. No need to make it difficult for anyone else that might need to get below deck.

With the hatch closed, the four retreat even further into the ship towards the mess hall.

Emrys, “What level do you think it is?”

Gem, “More like, are we sure it is just a giant squid? Seemed a little too ‘giant’ for a normal one. At least, if you’re going by irl giant squid.”

June shakes her head, “No, that is likely a regular specimen of the species. It’s just old and high level. SoulDive enjoys the trope of giant monsters only growing more so with age and power.”

The ship lets out a distressing loud creak. Not that it hadn’t been making all sorts of disturbing noises. This one was just particularly noisy.

Gem frowns, “Maybe I should have stayed on deck? I don’t mind dying, but if I’m going to? I want to go down swinging. Trapped in a sinking ship isn’t my idea of a good death.”

June shakes her head, “The Salty Baron should be rated to handle this. Besides that, Sssally should be more than capable of driving the giant squid away before that. They wouldn’t be regularly crossing the ocean otherwise.”

Everyone stumbles as the ship lists heavily to one side. Samuel grabs a table that was conveniently nailed to the floor. “We should take a seat and wait this out. There’s nothing more we can do.”

Gem frowns, but can’t help but agree.

And with that, the four of them huddle around a table, holding on for dear life as the ship rumbles around them. Though eventually the fight has to end and it does so with the sound of wood shattering. Which is not a comforting sound on a wooden boat.

Still, the noises of battle stopped soon after, and the Salty Baron stopped shaking.

With the fight over, the four look around only to realize most of the other passengers had made their way here. Not that any of them were leaving. No one said a thing, but there was an unspoken agreement to stay here, out of the way, until someone on the crew showed up to tell them otherwise.

This meant they were there for another hour before Sssally herself showed up. “Well, I’m glad you all managed to make it here sssafely.

“Anyway, good newsss, we aren’t sesinking! However, we aren’t exactly ssstaying afloat either. Got a bit of hull damage and we’ll have to make way towardsss the nearest island.”

Someone among the passengers yells out, “How would we even know where that is?!”

Sssally raises an eyebrow and with a glare communicates how much of an idiot she thinks they are. “Well for once, we have mapsss. We aren’t sssailing blind. Besidesss that, there are any number of navigational skillsss at play.

“Our biggest problem isss we don’t exactly have the most control over where we’re sssailing at the moment. Ssstill, we will make it. Our biggest problem will be food. Magic can get usss drinking water, but I don’t sssee any pastry summonersss here to provide profiteroles for our enjoyment.”

Gem raises their hand.

Sssally, “Ssso, until then, I hope that all of you consider picking up a pole. We’ll want to be using azzz much fresssh fisssh for our meals as possible. The longer we can ssstretch the preserved stuff, the better.”

Gem beings to wave their hand back and forth.

Sssally sighs, “Yesss?”

Gem, “Does that mean the excess fish we catch will be worth more at trade in?”

Sssally, “Ah yesss, you’re the one to get Fishing, weren’t you? Well, I won’t pay more for what you catch, but I presume othersss would be more willing to trade for it.

“As long as we get our ssshare, you’re free to redistribute your catch how you want. Though I’d advissse you keep getting some of it pressserved. If only because you’ll have more if we need to ssstart rationing.”

From the crowd a guy speaks up, “Rationing? What about the free meals?! I didn’t pay to ration.”

Sssally, “And I didn’t come here to get attacked by a giant sssquid. Besidesss, I didn’t assay you’d go without food. I sssaid rationing. You’ll be hungry, not ssstarving.

Feeeshing - Chapter 4

Of Course We Found It, We're Players! - Chapter 6