Dewyn judges the situation to see if they give any sign of friend or foe.
" Maybe we should get the crew ready and prepare to sail... We don't know how this will go, and it seems our ship is a little out matched if it does get ugly"
Dewyn casts Mage Armor on himself..just as a precaution
Good for four hours, +4 to AC
Your ship is in no way ready to go, as it is in drydock and on blocks.
And partially chopped apart for "squibbing".
Darvan smiles and steadies his crew, trying to ease any misgivings.
He pulls some leaf from his pouch, lights his pipe, and rests his arms on his trident as he watches the visitors row in from the visiting ship.
to himself he muses "Do I need a hat with a big feather like that?"
The gig bumps up against the dock, and sailors jump ashore. The man behind them walks off, doffing his hat in a low bow.
He calls out Arrhh lads, I be Captain Pegsworthy, and my ship be lately called the Strix by the Chelish. But my lads and I took her in the dark of the night a few sunsets ago .
He looks about at the crowd. Who be you and what ship be in yonder drydock? I have need of some squibbing me-self
Captain Pegsworthy wears a formal naval coat (Wilma recognizes it as an Eagle Knight coat and epaulets, from Andora), and sports a cutlass, two pistols in his belt and a peg leg.
Plus a fine hat with a large blue feather.
Darvan takes a draw on his pipe and offers the stranger his hand.
"I be Darvan Waverider and yonder is our ship ... The Sea Hag." Darvan says.
"The Hag is up for repairs currently, but the yard here should have her ship shape, so to say, in a few days."
"As soon as she's ready we'll be off in search of plunder and a good dentist."
To illustrate that last point Darvan pokes at the gap in his teeth with his tongue.
"and this be the Hag's crew ...." says Darvan
aside ... "Not you, you damn monkey ...." tossing a half eaten mango at Willy's familiar.
"Fire Marshall Willy .... the Hag's chief engineer and purser"
"Dewyn Falassion ... ship's Wizard and navigator."
"Sandara ... blessed of the Pirate Queen and ship's surgeon"
"and Owlbear .... he mostly just breaks things ...."
Well, tis good to meet those who aren't lookin' for trouble in port. There be enough risk at sea in these parts .
The rest of your crew slowly gathers about you - besides those mentioned above there is Cog, and Atri, and Fishguts, and 15 others you have hired.
As long as you don't be slavers, I can stand you. Hell, I'll even share me rum with ye. I be late out of Andora, quite a few years now. I have found the tropics 'ere to be more to my likin' than the stiff necked fellow countrymen I 'ave left behind.
He bows again, and motions to one of the sailors, who lifts a small keg out of the gig.
This hat came from a Chelish merchant. There be a good amount of Chelish trade through here, with Cheliax being to the north and their Sargavan colonies to the south. The Rahadoumi sail these waters a fair bit too - but I tend to leave them alone.
And he squints at Darvan's tooth and I will loan you my dentist lad, if you wish as he smiles a big, gap tooth smile!
Darvan replies "There's no place for slavery in nature and Gozreh abhors it ... so they'll be no slave taking aboard the Sea Hag."
After declaring that he returns to happier topics and says "You seem a worthy man Captain Pegsworthy, we'll drink your rum!"
The general atmosphere becomes party-ish, with some folks drinking rum, and some sailors shipping empty water barrels to the dock to be filled and returned to the Stryx.
Have you any questions you wish to ask Captain Pegsworthy, or just assume you "party on"?
Keep our ears open for any intelligence on where to find merchants to raid at this time of year.
Also any mention of captain Harrigan or his ship.
Dewyn pulls a copper cup off his belt and begins to indulge in the rum. He keeps his pointed ears open for any scuttle on what's going on in the area.. And will also check on the direction of The Sea Hag for any shady characters.
You pick up quite a few useful tips on shipping lanes, or at least a lot of opinions. Captain Pegsworthy seems to genuinely like you and tells you that he considers you a friend.
There are no nefarious deeds done on the Sea Hag.
The remaining days waiting for your ship to be repaired are spent without much activity, but with pleasant conversation and etc.
The Sea Hag is christened, floated and provisioned. She rides easy on the waves.
Where to? Remember the Campaign Info tab has the stats for your ship - please check it to be sure it is accurate. Once you sail, if it is wrong, too bad!
"Willy, when we bought that big crossbow thingy you wanted, did they throw in any ammo?" Darvan asks.
"I don't want to have to shoot monkeys at the enemy." he says with a knowing glance at Crew.
"Fishguts! How are we set for provisions? Do we have any rum?"
"Captain Pegsworthy, Should we happen to pick up any trinkets we might wish to sell, where are the best ports in the southern Shackles to get good prices for loot .... err ... trinkets?"
You have ammo (say 50 rounds).
You have rum, food, water, what little plunder you have left over.
I thought you did not want the ballista as there are cannon available, but you cannot afford them - so I took it off the sheet. Let me know if you want it back.
The Hag puts out to sea, riding the swells easily past the point. Once you clear the shallows, you bear to the south.
How will you handle things like the watches? Which crew members handle the wheel, and who else is up top with them at night?
"Sounds like a good schedule to start. We'll have Atri stand watch with Dewyn, Owlbear with Willy, and Sandara with Darvan as second officers."
"Do we have a big alarm bell in the middle of the ship to use for sounding general quarters? If not, I'm putting that on the list along with antitoxin, decent armor, and a hat with a big feather."
The crew seems good enough at their jobs. Not stars, but not dregs either. The "minimum" crew size for the Hag is 20, and you are at 23 (counting yourselves).
You beat to the south, with good winds pushing you steady, and the weather fair.
As a note, the place for a bell would be near the ship's wheel on the afterdeck, as that is the place to have the pilot ring the thing.
On the fourth night out, things get exciting. Dewyn is on the afterdeck with a crewman. Another rigger works towards the foredeck (two crew plus officer on watch).
Dewyn hears an odd yelp, and looks forward. He sees a dark figure crouched along the gunwale, standing over the dark form of your crewman.
Dewyn lets out a groan and starts to book it towards the ships wheel and begins shouting
" ALARM! ALARM! ALL HANDS ON DECK!"
He scans the area in search of the bell to ring. When he does find it he rings it like mad man!
" Why must horrid things always happen at night..
I imagine Atri yells something like "Squaawk!!! All hands on deck !!! Squaawk!!!" and draws his shiny new cutlass.
Dewyn hears the shouts of roused sailors, and the clang as the grab a ready weapon and head up on deck.
Dewyn sees three more shadowy figures clamber over the rail. The one that was already on the ship picks up the sailor he ganked, and drops him over the side.
(we will try to run this fight without a map).
Players are up. Dewyn is on the poop deck, and 40 feet away are 4 dark figures what appear to have clambered aboard from the water.
Everyone is awake. Assume 1 round of movement to get on deck
Atri moves to interpose himself between the boarders and the wizard.
Bleary-eyed, Darvan stumbles out of his cabin in his skivies, yelling out "What's going on out here? Who's making all this racket out here?"
Dewyn groans again at the sight of Darvan
" we've been boarded captain! And it seems you've forgotten your armor! "
Dewyn will cast Mage Armor on Darvan for a +4 AC. He will also use his move action to draw his Crossbow
Are you urging the other sailors on deck or telling them to stay in cover below decks?
"Officers topside!!! Crew ... arm yerselves and protect the cargo ... we'll see off this scum!!!
The four creatures move to form a line about 1/3 of the way from the bow. The ready tridents and prepare to engage.
All players are on deck; players turn!
Darvan raises his trident to the sky and chants out a prayer to Gozreh in Aqaun casting Bull's Strength on himself. After the final gargling words of the prayer ring out, Darvan's muscles swell as Gozreh grants him enhanced strength.
Then he advances towards the enemy, keeping himself between the bad guys and his friends.
Wilma - is that a Reflex save? Assuming it is.
for save 1 for a fail
for save 2 for a success
for save 3 for a fail
Dewyn's up!
Dewyn lets a bolt fly from his crossbow at the closest creature!
"Back to the abyss with you, creature!"
The one that took the worst damage from the Shard of Chords staggers as a crossbow bolt punches deeply into it.
Then they gather their strength and charge!
Two at Darvan and two at Wilma (because you said "officers on deck..." I take that to mean only the three of you are on deck plus the crewmember on the wheel; Atri and Owlbears are not on your officer list under the campaign tab).
Trident's stabbing at Darvan!
for trident, hit for
for trident, hit for
and at Wilma!
for trident, miss
for trident, hit for
Their AC is now 14 with the charge; Darvan has one unwounded and one very wounded on him; Wilma has two lightly wounded.
Players may go!
Darvan cries out in pain and two-hand stabs the heavily wounded opponent with his trident.
The creatures look like sahuagin to you.
Not sure of the actual tribe.
Perhaps yon Wizard should blast the critters with arcane might? These are 2 HD things after all....
The ones in front of Wilma
, saves
, saves
Dewyn is up.
Dewyn feels his stomach churn at the sight of the fish like men
"What in all the realms are these things!?"
He throws his hand forward forming an acidic arrow to let fly..
Acid Arrow vs The non bloodied one of Darvan
Range vs Touch AC, lasts two rounds
Spells
Spells:
Level 0 Spells
Acid Splash
Resistance
Detect Magic
Mending
Level I Spells
Mage Armor -spent
Ray of Enfeeblement
Summon Monster I
Sleep
Level II Spells
Scorching Ray (opposing school)
Acid Arrow -spent