Stefan winces slightly at "Stef", but lets it pass.
"I am sure we are in capable hands, m'lady. I look forward to our voyage."
He the begins to ferry his gear to the sleeping quarters. Although he hesitates so as to see what the arrangements will be.
As the ship advances slowly forward the ship begins to gradually lag behind The Seahwak, despite this lagging back it becomes clear that the at the same time a heavy cloudbank is moving rapidly to advance toward your ship.
Kristin glances behind her and notices it.
”Gods damn…” she mutters.
”Alright everyone – there’s a storm coming up hard behind us and we’re lagging behind something fierce.”
”If we don’t move fast the storm will hit us and it’s likely that we’ll flounder in that mess.”
She looks to The Seahawk ahead several leagues.
”Come on then – put your backs into it – I’ll need all the help I can get on this…”
Ellian hurries to help and her efforts as well as Polux seem to improve things somewhat. However, the ship is having trouble in general as now there's snow on the decks and the chill is moving bad.
"Come on, lads - we need all the help we can get..." Kristin calls out from the bridge.
"Huh, what?"
Kristin calls out to the rest of you -
"Gods damn - the spars on this ship are cracking! Someone get below and check to see if she's not taking on water!" she calls out frantically.
At 3rd level, the invulnerable rager is inured to either hot or cold climate effects (choose one) as if using endure elements. In addition, the barbarian gains 1 point of fire or cold resistance for every three levels beyond 3rd. This ability replaces trap sense.
As all of you work, Kristin looks at you with frantic concern.
The ship moves slowly forward, but it is now apparent that it is starting to list to the side.
”Didn’t you hear me? The ship is floundering… there’s a leak somewhere… if it ain’t plugged or something, we’ll likely go under…”
You were able to direct the ship to face somewhat north to the coast even as the storm moves down hard south. The speed you’re using is not good for this type of ship, but what’s clear is that it’s enough to drive you forward past some of the chill winds and snow even as it continues to veer almost straight south as you head to the north east a bit.
Given the problems with the ship it seems that Krisitn is trying to push it closer to the coast so that – if you need to swim for it – you won’t have too far to go.
Suny moves about helping others and working at keeping the ship afloat in the gathering storm. She does her best to help every one else in the fight against the elements.
"I'll check it" - Polux pipes in amongst the hail, moving down below to look for the possible leak, and try to clog it as best as he can.
The ship continues to list even as Suny moves to offer her assistance to it.
”What the hell could be causing this?” Kristian cries out angrily.
Polux glances over at her and decides to take action.
"I'll check it"
Rushing down below Polux discovers both good news, and bad news.
The good news is that the ship hasn’t actually broken any boards internally, though there is a very modest bit of leakage coming from the boards that would normally be above the waterline. But at this point the water line has changed somewhat.
It seems that what has happened is that the crates holding the foodstuffs from Osirion have taken in the usual modest amount of water that has leaked into the bilges.
Those crates were filled with lots of dried grains. They have swollen with the bit of water in the bilges and burst their packaging, causing the grains to expand and grow much heavier. The damp grain has now slid to the port side of the ship, causing it to list heavily to its side.
Meanwhile, most of the water in the grain has begun to ice over a bit in this cold. Therefore, the grains will likely grow even heavier as they become filled with ice.
Luckily, at this point the ship isn’t sinking, it’s just that all the foodstuffs you are carrying is heavy with water-weight and causing it to tilt to the side somewhat drunkenly.
The bad news is that your grain is now soaked and there are a few cracks above the waterline that are easily fixed, but as the ship is listing, water is leaking into those cracks.
That means that the grain will become rotten in a few days and you’ll be out of foodstuffs, and if you don’t cause the ship to right itself soon, the ship can’t be repaired properly.
You’ll have to work fast to pitch the soaked grain overboard, and it won’t be easy. But if you don’t work fast, the grain will likely cause the ship to continue to list and until it starts taking on water quickly.
Once the grain is dumped you’ll be able to patch the damaged beams with a bit of quick work, but you’ll be low on foodstuffs and you have barely gotten to Cheliax, much less left Varisian waters.
You’ll have to work hard to pitch the grain, then likely move to the coast and do what you can to patch things up. Further, you’ll have to try to alert your allies so they know you’re lagging behind.
Taissa, send the bird with a note to warn the other ship! Come, let's get this grain overboard so we don't sink.
Hack will start to chuck the grain overboard until the ship lists to the proper angle to make repairs.
As the situation is yelled out over the winds of the storm, Suny moves to help shift/throw cargo.
"If tha' leakin' in't too bad," Suny calls over the weather, "We can bolster tha' hull by runnin' a sail over the splits ta' act as a brace an' plug from tha' outside!"
"Save tha' ship first an' worry about vittles an' stuff when we's still afloat!"
Stefan will rush down to aid with the removal and/or movement of the grain.
"I may not be much use topside, but I can at least move some stuff."
Taissa nods her head at Hack’s suggestion and quickly writes out a brief letter to the other ship and gives it to Daya who instantly flies off.
The Seahawk is barely a speck on the horizon at this point – they’re likely several hours off, so it will take time for Daya to get there and for the ship to turn and come back to aid you.
Seeing that some of the company are already throwing the grain over seems to relieve Kristin when she finds out what’s actually going on.
In about a half hour of dumping the majority of the cargo the ship eases in to about fifty yards from the shore. Most of the land here is either dense trees or tall cliffs, but you see a decent place where the beach is fairly wide and there are some breaks in the cliffs which lead up into the mainland.
Kristin urges the ship in that direction.
”I’m going to drop anchor about twenty fathoms off the mainland there,” she says.
”I’d like a few of you lads to move in to the shore – see if you can scout the area and make sure there’s no hostiles about. If there are any around while we’re fixing the cracks in the hull, they may try something. But I’m hoping that’s not the case…” she adds.
”Who’s wiling to go ashore to make sure there’s nothing there while we work? Remember, normally I wouldn’t ask – I’d have us all stay aboard while we’re working on this. But if she flounders or goes under then there’s not much of a safe place for us to swim to.”
”Also, there may be a village or something up those hills – maybe we can pick up a few days supplies to get us to the nearest port in Chelaxian waters…”
”Any volunteers?” she asks the crew.
Once the ship is settled/secure at anchor Suny will bounce forwards,
"Aye, happy ta' go ashore an' see whut there is ta' be seen." She responds brightly.
I have no problem goin' ashore to scout and get some supplies. Who will join me and Suny?
"I am hoping that we have some sort of small rowboat to go ashore?" - Polux questions to Hack and the others - "Swimming is not my specialty" - he shrugs.
"Aye - of course! We have a longboat that'll get you lads ashore. Don't you remember - it was on the ship when you pinched it from those scum? They used it to row to shore and sail up with their chief," Kristin says, clearly well-informed by Johnny.
"You heading ashore, too, then?" she asks Polux curiously.
"Yep, I'll go to shore also - look for hostiles, secure the area and the possibility of supplies - deal" - Polux retorts at Kristin - "Let us move out then"
Kristin looks at you all.
"Alright - so it's Polux, Hack and Suny who're going ashore, then?"
"Good times!" she says somewhat briskly.
"The rest of us will be stuck on the ship trying to bail out the bilges and do what we can to re-caulk some of the boards inside."
"When ya'll hit dirt keep your eyes peeled..."
She frowns.
"I don't got nothing on the charts about any villages near here, so it's doubtful if you find anything like fisherfolk to help out... but just do what you can..." she adds.
Quickly you all move to the boat and ease it over the side and get it set for the coast. In moments you push forward and slowly advance toward to land.
As the boat moves closer to the beach you ease up and nearer to the sands you find a place that you are able to reach the shoer with relative safety from the craggy rocks that flank the sands.
You can see that the sands are covered with snow and there is snow on the trees and ground, making it difficult terrain to traverse.
With the prow of the skiff grinding against sand, Suny leaps out of the boat and begins to help drag it further u0p the beach.
[b]"Here, we get it above tha' tide line an' then flip her over. No chance of tha' ocean takin' it back then."/[b] Sny explains.
Once their transport back to thsip has been secured Suny moves a little way forwards and carefully looks around.
Once their transport back to thsip has been secured Suny moves a little way forwards and carefully looks around.
Suny does indeed encourage the others to get up and drag the boat forward onto the land.
She currently stands at U:24 and looks around.
It's not easy to tell, but the path that leads up the hills does not look like it is some animal track, you suspect that folk have walked that trail before as the branches of some of the surrounding trees have been cut back to let people pass without much difficulty.
Hack jumps out of the boat, and he pulls the craft further onto the sand before drawing his Axe as he stands at T:21.
Polux follows Hack, but his eyes are more interested in the beach itself, paying close attention to all the movements.
The party has hauled the boat up onto the shore and slowly advances onto the coast.
As they move up, they spread out to see what they are able to find.
With the icy cold in the air the party examines the cliffs above them and sees that they are fairly sheer and would be extremely difficult to climb, even if they were not covered with ice and snow.
Stefan attempts to look around and aid his allies.
Sadly, Stefan can not see much of anything at this point.
However, Geser notices a noise echoing over the sound of the surf.
A voice says –
”Hellooo…”
”Please help…”
While you are unable to see who is calling, Geser, you can tell the sound is coming from under the treeline at G:48.
Suny creeps slowly closer to the sound...
"Someone's calling for help over by those rocks..." Geser says to the group and indicates where he heard the noise.
"I'll go with Suny and take a look, you boys stand at the ready for ay other sights or sounds, and move fast if we call you" - Polux urges his companions, then turns to Suny - "Lets go"
The area around the bay is covered with about six inches of snow. It impedes your movement somewhat, but you see nothing you can hide behind until you eventually reach the beginning of the treeline which is 30 feet north of you. For now it's just wet snow over damp earth, with the occasional reed or blade of tall grass poking through.
Polux - you and Suny will move forward with as much stealth as you can, but given the snow and the lack of cover, you can only do your best.
Suny, as you approach it is clear that a bit of the path you can see a human leaning against a tree. He seems to be heavily wounded and in some distress, leaning against a tall tree.
Suny is now at O:39 and Polux is now at Q:37.
Since it takes 8 round to make this movement, what do you the rest of you do with this time?
Hack will move forward to P:25 and watch the advance of the others.
Suny continues to creep towards the sounds, slowly. Using as many tress, hillocks etc for cover.
[ooc]At this point everyone is now at:
Geser: R:43
Hack: P:25
Polux: Q:37
Suny: O:39
Stefan: M:40
As they consider options, Stefan glances at the trees and studies the treeline intently.
Sadly his eyes are not accustomed to studying details and he sees nothing.
But before he can consider what that means, even he can suddenly hear a wail that makes all of your blood run cold.
From the trees a sudden charge of creatures that have remained hidden charges out.
It seems that they have used the body of the man in the trees as bait to encourage you to come closer...
A force of goblins have moved forth from the trees. They are – for the most part – armed with small daggers in each hand. You see no other weapon, but there is something very disturbing about this cadre of creatures…
There is a strange symbol painted upon them; you cannot make it out, but they are all wearing a similar war paint on their faces and shouting something in a foul tongue as if it was a chant.
Hack moves to P31 and awaits the approaching goblins!
As the goblins rush from the trees one of them at N:37 points his blades at Polux and licks his long pale tongue over craggy, broken teeth and uses a free action to shout out -
"We shall feast on your flesh, man-cub!"
Others point their weapons and heap insult and abuse on all of you in turn.
You all realize that no matter how careful you were - you were spotted...