Time for some bonding!

[seadevil]

Who: The crew of the Katabami
Where: At sea -> Port Chance
When: After leaving the fortress and covering the month of February
What: Catch-all log
Warnings: The usual grumpy, dumb, awkward and maybe some spooooooooky ghost stories
Style: Any
Status: Closed to crew and anyone that may be in the Port Chance area

Itinerary
- Welcoming our poor, formerly-possessed pals back on board
- Visiting Port Chance, finding all their booze, and drinking it
- The subsequent drunken crew bonding time
- Traumatizing Ragna forever

Comments

[harbouredheart]

Magoichi it is.

[Xun Yu prefers formality, but the Katabami doesn't as a whole; with a handful of exceptions, she tries to ease off the ceremony. She knows the importance of adaptability.]

His Majesty expects of us only the very best. I won't disappoint.

[There is fierce devotion to Cao Cao in her quietly confident words. It may not be humble to say such, but nor is she boasting. There is a reason that she is Cao Cao's right-hand (wo)man.]

[blackbirdgunsmoke]

Such confidence. Good.

[She has no use for anyone who cannot recognize their own talents, after all. The dedication doesn't go unnoticed either. She only hopes Cao Cao is worth it.]

I have had... something resembling a briefing from Motochika, but he has never been the source of information. Since you seem to have a good head on your shoulders, Xun Yu, I would like to hear what you make of this ship and its crew.

[harbouredheart]

This ship is new, and larger than our last one. [Really, what was there for her to say about the Katabami?] My naval experience is limited. Since the Captain is satisfied with this vessel I defer to his judgement.

[As for the matter of the crew, if Magoichi wants a focus on individuals then she's going to have to ask directly.]

This crew as a whole is martially strong and endures hardship well. As whole it also lacks planning, discipline and unity. For all of the bravery and initiative abound there is an unfortunate tendency to slip into impulsive and reckless behaviour. Everyone on board makes worthwhile contributions, however we are still in the process of learning how to work together effectively. There is potential for greatness, but large improvements are necessary first.

[It's not a particularly glowing assessment, but Xun Yu is a pragmatic woman who prizes order and structure. Still, she's relatively positive in her outlook.]

Under our circumstances every crew requires an investment.

[blackbirdgunsmoke]

... Dare I ask what happened to the old one?

[Knowing Motochika, it was probably some engineering experiment gone awry.]

I see. I take it you've already seen combat, lest you'd have little idea of how they'd handle the stress. Impulsive and reckless behavior... That sounds like Motochika, sure enough. He rarely thinks, much less thinks ahead. Just my luck it would apply to the rest of them, so that will have to be compensated for. Perhaps putting in some basic organizational structure would help with that, as well as learning to work together, as you mentioned earlier.

Overall, it's better than I was expecting.

[Her standards are very low when it comes to Motochika.]

[harbouredheart]

It is one thing to unite countrymen, but another entirely to unite a number of diversely foreign strangers. While yourself and Ieyasu provide the Captain with strong allies, one shared background dominating the crew can negatively impact wider crew bonding if the balance is mismanaged. Please use your influence wisely.

[Given how sensible Magoichi seems, Xun Yu hopes that she will use it.

The matter of the prior Katabami is a topic of some reluctance fot Xun Yu, but after a momentary hesitation she explains. It will come to light eventually, and better that she tells it first.]

...The fate of the old ship and the combat this crew has seen are linked. Last month a Pirate Witch native to this world emerged. She was widely feared by the entire local populace: from civilian to pirate to navy, all cowered at rumour of her return and barricaded themselves in their homes, as if aversion could ward off her evil. Why, we foreigners soon learned for ourselves. Using her terrible sorcery she possessed a portion of our number and bade them to kill all "interlopers" present in this land, starting with their own crews.