"Thanks!"
"No worries, kid - now let's get in there and do some good!" Ella says fiercely, hefting her alchemical gnomish black-powder weapon.
Deciding to take a running start and then leap across between ships, White Fang gets ready and dashes frantically from the deck of The Seahawk across to the listing enemy vessel.
He runs beneath and around the legs of the marine and sailor (he's tiny!), and attacks the caster officer with a vicious bite to his leg,
vs Caster's CMD
He runs beneath and around the legs of the marines (he's tiny!), and attacks the caster officer with a vicious bite!
White Fang charges over to the officer and bites into his leg, tearing open a major artery and somehow causing the priest to shriek out and collapse onto the deck!
Meantime, Snaga goes nearly ballistic with what he sees at that move!
As a free action: White Fang, bloody jaws, howls in victory, his white fur blowing in the wind!
As a free action: White Fang, bloody jaws, howls in victory, his white fur blowing in the wind!
Taissa watched on, horrified, that the pup threw himself in the midst of the enemy and on a sinking ship to boot! How he managed the jump between ships was a miracle.
But when she saw White Fang bite the caster and the officer fall and not move, Taissa could not believe her eyes! The pup had downed him. And then the two attacks on the pup and she saw him bloodied and she wished she had Daya's wings to fly over and protect him.
She sent quiet, fervent prayers to the Spirits to protect White Fang, Daya and her other companions.
In Roc speak, as a free action:
Polux leaps across the deck towards the officer, trying to evade the opponents along the way by dodging left and right. When they are face to face, he grins - "Finally - it seems I have been across the world just to meet you" - stabbing forward with a single thrust, flanking his opponent with Daya.
From his current position in R13, Hack attacks the Marine that steps up to attack him.
Hack will then step back 5 feet in the direction of The Seahawk, to R14.
The Empire of Cheliax is formally Lawful Evil. It’s a good bet that the marines are Lawful Evil and will fight to the death.
However, it’s just as likely that the sailors with the muskets were probably Neutral sailors who were either Pressed Men or conscripts or something like that and required to obey the Imperial Mandate.
With the Officer dead, it’s likely that their begging for mercy is sincere and no ploy. Their officer is lost; their ship is sinking, they’re losing. They don’t want to die.
The marines will go down with the ship. Kill them off fast and you should have 5-10 minutes (depending) to try to sack the ship and get the heck away from it as it goes down.
The new lads that are on board rush over and charge the Marine that’s hovering by the hatch, cutting him down.
Others rush to the aft deck, heading to the officers quarters to ransack it fast, while another hops up to the quarterdeck and try to wrestle the wheel to urge the sinking ship forward and away from the two allied vessels flanking it.
All of the sailors have begged forgiveness and the guys from the other ship have disarmed them quickly, kicking their muskets aside and leveling their own weapons on these men.
Johnny remains on the neutral ship, but Khal, Snaga, Ren and Vale or on the enemy ship as well as five of the neutral sailors. There are seven neutral sailors on their own ship with Johnny (Uraga and Ella are on your ship).
Of the enemies that have surrendered, only the marine that stands between Polux and Hack is alive.
He turns and takes a swing at Polux –
Taissa from her position, nocks an arrow and aims at the marine at R:12.
As a free action, she calls over to Daya and White Fang to return to The Seahawk.
As a move action, she goes to the prow of the ship and tosses a rope over the edge for any of her allies to climb back up.
Daya (from R:6) flies across to where the wounded pup is standing (R:8) and gently lifting him (by the scruff of his neck) in her claws (her STR is 13 and the pup is tiny ... Daya's light load carrying capacity is 50 lbs or less ... so it should be easy for her to pick the pup up at his weight and size -- he's TINY (1-8 lbs)) and flies back to Taissa and The Seahawk.
Daya nears the deck, and, when she is close enough to it, she gently drops White Fang on his feet near Taissa's feet and then settles herself on the deck, with a screech.
Hack steps in and swings mightily at the remaining enemy between he and Polux.
Even amidst the combat, Polux's mind races through their options - Another vessel... Maybe more cash? - and he starts pondering what options they may have to prevent this one from sinking.
He is still intent on finishing the fight though, and he thrusts his blades at the marine attacking him, making the best of the flanking chance.
"Search the caster for valuables" - he urges his companions - "I'm going down below, and see if she can stay afloat. Come on boys" - he adds to the friendly lads - "Lend me a hand down here"
The final marine is massacred in a bloody swathe between Hack and Polux.
Snaga moves over to Polux and lays his hand on his “Chief’s” arm, muttering some strange words.
As soon as the last sailor falls the neutral sailors who belonged to the house of “Westmarch” are moving fast.
They’ve searched the body of the priest and are pocketing what they can. Two of them are moving hard and fast into the “Officers Cabin” at the aft deck. One of them has shinnied up the rigging and seems to be engaged in removing the ship’s Flag.
The others have engaged in rustling up the new prisoners and ordering them back onto their own ship. One of them seems to be the chief person, probably the captain of their crew. He’s ordering a few of the troops into the hull to see what they can find at which point he turns to Ren and seems to be genuinely happy to see the Half-elf and bounds over to him, shaking hands.
He turns and waves at Johnny who is on the neutral ship, and Johnny waves back with enthusiasm.
Then he survey’s everyone else.
Melthune uses the rope to get back onto the deck of the Seahawk. She then sets about making a sling for those who are smaller or digitally challenged.
With the unatural fear gone, Stefan races back above deck to offer whatever aid is necessary. He is pleased to see that his withdrawal did not prevent the others from securing the other ship.
"Search the caster for valuables" - he urges his companions - "I'm going down below, and see if she can stay afloat. Come on boys" - he adds to the friendly lads - "Lend me a hand down here"
Amongst the high-speed and hectic combat, Polux turns an appraising look at Snaga - he hadn't lost track of him, and noticed the goblin had been nimbly following around, and seemed to handle himself well amidst the chaos that this combat was.
As he feels the touch in his arm, and the energy pouring from it, Polux simply stares at his diminute companions - "Full of surprises you are Snaga" - then bows shortly - "Thank you" - before dashing below deck - "Make sure we don't miss out on all the loot will ya?!" - he adds disappearing through the opening.
Hack, clearly fatigued after coming out of his rage, assists in looting the caster and checking the captain's quarters. He does not allow such looting to go on without him.
I'll be takin' my share boys, for the men I sent to the mud.
"Anyone who's hurt come to me!" Zayna shouts to her comrades. Meanwhile she stumbles back to a safe place and sets about healing herself.
After searching the ship quickly, Hack approaches Zayna, covered still in his own blood and that of his enemies.
Zayna, thank you for the healing, but I will need more. Where is the halfling priest?
Taissa stowed the bow on her shoulder when the last marine dropped dead and the sailors had surrendered.
Once her animal friends were back on The Seahawk, Taissa carefully checked the Roc and Worg and found Daya hale but White Fang was injured on his flank.
Embracing each in turn (careful of the pup's wound and her own), Taissa praised them for their bravery and attacks on the caster Officer, which inevitably brought him down.
"You have brought much honour to the pack."
Gathering White Fang carefully in her arms, wincing a little from her own pain, she makes her way over to Zayna, "White Fang and I would be grateful for some healing, Zayna."
*********************************************************************
"The large shark rammed us hard. I will see what damage there is and attempt to repair it as best as I am able now."
Stefan, you come up and watch the others work.
Melthune, you are free to work with ropes to make it easier for folk to get off the enemy ship with ease.
Hack, as you finish off the marine you notice that the neutral lads have moved fast and looted the spellcaster already by the time you get there. Other then his Imperial Armor, sea boots, clothes, and a leather belt, he’s been picked clean already. It seems the others who got there move very fast when pilfering the dead.
I'll be takin' my share boys, for the men I sent to the mud.
The chief of this company stops directing the others and turns to look at you up and down.
He’s got bright blue eyes under a mop of thick brown curly hair; a cleft chin and a big smile which seems odd as it's covered by the carmine of battle.
Glancing you up and down, he nods at you.
”Right and just; just and right, I’ll be bound!"
"Why hell, lad, I reckon that it’s a sure thing that you’ll get your share and more for your handywork with a blade, and let’s not forget how your crew managed to swoop in and save our bacon before it cooked, neither; that deserves a good piece of the pie to boot, too,” he says to you pleasantly.
He glances beyond you and his eyes light up.
”Ahoy, Eärendil,” he says with a wide smile.
”You still slumming with Johnny, then?” he says with a cheerful voice to Ren behind you.
As the ship slowly tilts forward he pulls out of his pouch a small pipe and promptly lights up.
The puff-puff-puff of tobacco rings curl into the air and he glances around at you all.
”Ah! Begging yer pardon all, then; shoulda’ introduced myself first, but I was a bit distracted; being under the gun, what with the fighting and killing and all them buckle’s to swash, as they say,” he continues with a grin that belies the death around him, as he clutches the stem of the pipe in his teeth while he talks.
”Anyhow, they call me the “Dirk” – but me family name’s Rowan; I serve the Wardens of Westmarch, but I reckon ye know that by now,” he says glancing to you all.
He moves forward with a quick bound and offers Hack his hand to shake.
A noise startles him and he turns back to see his lads moving from the officers quarters carrying a large chest with a big lock which was already opened; the lid forced aside and loose gear, journals, charts, navigational instruments, and other tidbits are crammed inside.
”Get it back on the ship – we’ll meet with Johnny and his lads in due time to split things up proper,” he calls out to his men, who nod and with a grunt haul the gear back to his own vessel.
He looks up at Hack and nods, taking another pull from his pipe.
"Sure enough, ye'll be getting yer share - fair and square! But for now, it's a treat meeting you and yer's - and thanks proper-like for helping out with them Imp basterds," he says, continuing to hold out his hand to shake in thanks.
"I'm going down below, and see if she can stay afloat. Come on boys" - he adds to the friendly lads - "Lend me a hand down here"
The other two lads glance at Polux, and then to each other, then glance back to their Chief who waves them on with a friendly gesture. They all move quickly below.
Snaga says nothing, but follows his chief below.
Right away you see that below decks is a mess.
The first explosive that Ella fired down here clearly burst open on the deck and cracked most of the beams and support spars that held the mid-deck safe. It also likely jarred the kegs of gunpowder into a crazy mess, cracking them and spilling the black powder all over the forward part of the deck.
When the second explosive was fired below it blew the entire mid-deck apart as well as the forward part of the ship. The entire spine snapped and you can see to the very keel of the ship below without even having to go down another hatch.
Even if you could somehow jury-rig a covering over the outer part of the hull, it wouldn’t matter. The ship is taking on much too much water, but there is nothing aboard that could fix the metal splinters of the keel which are stabbed through the ship’s hull like broken lances.
The cannon are in their gun ports and have swerved drunkenly from their tracks, essentially destroyed.
The two lads look at Polux, one of them letting out a low whistle at the damage done.
”Toads and turnips! Well I’ll say this - if you don’t mind me saying it - that’s one hell of a gun that little gnomey-girl was packing, mate,” he says to Polux with awe.
The other merely stares at the ruined ship, shaking his head glumly.
”Well now, the thing is...Even if we had this little lady moored at a dry dock, it wouldn't matter much. Why - the whole keel’d have to be pulled inside out and replaced, and ye can’t do it without discombobulating the whole dang set o’ bloody spines, no sir,” says the other, shaking his head with a small cluck of his tongue.
The two turn to look to Polux.
”She’s done in for sure, more’s the pity – it’s a bloody shame to hurt a lady,” the second one continues.
”Lady be blowed! She’s flying bloody Imp colors,” the other retorts somewhat hotly.
”Oh a pox on that fer answer! A ship’s a ship,” his companion answers ”but beyond a ship she’s a lady first, no matter what sodding colors they drape from her blooming yardarm, I say! But anyhow, the point is – she’s done under, and we got to move quick-smart if we want to salvage anything proper-like, savvy?” he says to the other.
”Aye-aye, then, boss,” his companions responds, rolling his eyes somewhat. Then they both turn to look over at Polux.
The more senior one continues to speak, addressing Polux again -
”If this bloody ship follows Imp standards they’ll keep the foodstuff’s below, but they maybe got the good-stuff aft; you know, small-arms and coin and all – seeing as how they can’t put them much higher then this deck, as there ain’t much of a higher place to put it; but that’s a certainty ye’d know if ye looked! Course, ye don’t have to look, seeing as how I’m telling ye,” he adds with a smile. Then he pulls out a wad of tobacco and cuts himself a piece and fits it to his inner lip, handing Polux the wad.
”You chew?” he says solicitously.
”Nah, he probably don’t chew much; he’s too busy being grim to chew,” the other says with a chuckle as he dashes back and quickly overturns seachests which rest by hammocks and begins to dump anything of note in the center of the tilted deck.
The first one grins.
”Ah, he’ll learn soon enough! Hell, being grim gets all the other lads to be grim, too; but where’s the bloody fun in that, I’d like to know? Now, as for me, I’d prefer adventure; action; the high seas; a good drink; a smoke; a good meal…”
”Gods’ blood! Talk, talk, talk – all ye do is blather on! With all that blather how’s a lad like ye even sleep at night? the other asks.
”Why – same as any great lad in our situation would; on a pile of money surrounded by plenty of beautiful lasses!” he tosses back to his mate as he quickly dashes to a large locker and without missing a beat picks the lock and swings it open, revealing rows of stacked muskets; which quickly follow-suit on the middle of the deck with the rest of the loot they’re gathering.
The chief of the two looks at Polux and Snaga who stand there.
”Well – come on, then – make yerself useful. If ye want to help us on this deck, we’d be obliged, if ye want to make a dash below – can’t say I’d mind much… either way ye slice it, stop with the lollygagging and hop to it,” he says.
Then, to pick up the time, he begins to sing a little ditty.
”Ohhh…. Platinum blondes – with their legs so long;”
”That you just want to suck ‘em…”
”And bum’s just right – that you squeeze ‘em tight;”
”’Cause you just want to… – come on, lads, you know the rest of the song,” he says with a grin and continues his work as his mate joins in and the two gather gear in time to the sound of their singing.
Zayna, thank you for the healing, but I will need more. Where is the halfling priest?
Vale moves to you and glances from the others, eyeing White Fang with an intense but somewhat pleased gaze. Hearing your words, he nods.
”Gather round, den, dem dat need da healing power… I be giving ye da touch of Fate to unbleed yer wounds,” he says with a nod.
He stands so that all his allies who are wounded are close, then he raises his hands.
"You have brought much honour to the pack."
”Yes, that is very true, I am very great and amazing,” White Fang responds, his little tail wagging humbly.
”But you were also a good boy, too,” he says, reaching over to lick Taissa on the nose several times with grave dignity.
Then he twists on his back and sticks his little paws in the air – the sign of an immanent tummy-rub clearly a matter of course for this bold campaigner now that the combat has ended.
”We must order a big feast so that I can have many treats – and also so that you can have many treats, too – and also Daya, because she is very good at fighting; she did lots of very good fighting and needs lots of good treats, too,” he says, his wide eyes staring at Taissa as he nods. Then, being a pup of great courtesy, he schooches his little rump around a bit so she can rub his tummy easier, not wanting to make his Alpha’s task any harder than it might be.
"The large shark rammed us hard. I will see what damage there is and attempt to repair it as best as I am able now."
As Taissa makes her way below, White Fang seems a bit put-out that he has to walk down the hatch, confused that he is not being carried down properly.
Kristin comes with Taissa and the two stab down to see the damage.
There is indeed a small amount of water on the inside of the ship – roughly one to two inches deep.
”Oh gods – will you look at this bloody mess,” she says with disgust.
Moving to the side of the ship you both see that the beams have been damaged in small spot; one of them seemed to have buckled a bit, but thankfully it was not broken.
Kristin glances at Taissa –
”Once we get this fixed we’ll grab the pump from aft and try to sluice this water out of here as quick as can be,” she says.
With quick work the two ladies manage to pound the beam back into place before any real damage persists. As Taissa makes sure nothing is in the water that might spoil or perish, Kristin heads back and gets a small bucket and puts it on the little stove, heating up some pitch which she is prepared to lather over the beams and try to seal it better.
Naturally, White Fang is doing his best to assist the women by running between their legs and barking loudly at the water; trying to scare it from leaking into the ship.
It seems he’s succeeded as the water does indeed stop entering the ship.
While that is going on Johnny hops back to The Seahawk and quickly orders her about a league or so from the enemy ship and drops anchor; the other vessel doing the same – once the gear from the enemy ship has been moved over to the neutral ship.
Then Johnny explains he’s going over there to meet with their captain and pick up what’s yours by right, after a little chat.
He invites anyone to come with him, if they’d like.
Hack nods to the priest, then turns to Johnny.
I'll be goin' along.
Taissa quietly thanked Priest Vale for the healing, and is relieved when she and White Fang are magically healed completely.
To her pup and Daya she added, "I will prepare something tasty for you both, tonight. You deserve a treat. Now we must work." She happily scratched the pup's exposed belly and cooed to Daya. The animals had done very well in the fight. She set to work with Kat on sealing The Seahawk's hull tight.
After making sure everyone is healed who needs it, Zayna heads below decks on the Seahawk to her cabin to get some rest.
*Bows to Miss Amjad*
Thank you, Zayna.
”Toads and turnips! Well I’ll say this - if you don’t mind me saying it - that’s one hell of a gun that little gnomey-girl was packing, mate,” he says to Polux with awe.
"Yep" - Polux nods - "That one'll blow a hole in your chest bigger than one's head before you can even draw steel on her"
The other merely stares at the ruined ship, shaking his head glumly.
”Well now, the thing is...Even if we had this little lady moored at a dry dock, it wouldn't matter much. Why - the whole keel’d have to be pulled inside out and replaced, and ye can’t do it without discombobulating the whole dang set o’ bloody spines, no sir,” says the other, shaking his head with a small cluck of his tongue.
The two turn to look to Polux.
"You boys are right - no way to salvage this one. Its like looking at a pile of gold sinking to the bottom of the ocean" - he shrugs.
”She’s done in for sure, more’s the pity – it’s a bloody shame to hurt a lady,” the second one continues.
”Lady be blowed! She’s flying bloody Imp colors,” the other retorts somewhat hotly.
”Oh a pox on that fer answer! A ship’s a ship,” his companion answers ”but beyond a ship she’s a lady first, no matter what sodding colors they drape from her blooming yardarm, I say! But anyhow, the point is – she’s done under, and we got to move quick-smart if we want to salvage anything proper-like, savvy?” he says to the other.
”Aye-aye, then, boss,” his companions responds, rolling his eyes somewhat. Then they both turn to look over at Polux.
The more senior one continues to speak, addressing Polux again -
”If this bloody ship follows Imp standards they’ll keep the foodstuff’s below, but they maybe got the good-stuff aft; you know, small-arms and coin and all – seeing as how they can’t put them much higher then this deck, as there ain’t much of a higher place to put it; but that’s a certainty ye’d know if ye looked! Course, ye don’t have to look, seeing as how I’m telling ye,” he adds with a smile. Then he pulls out a wad of tobacco and cuts himself a piece and fits it to his inner lip, handing Polux the wad.
”You chew?” he says solicitously.
"Never tried it..." - Polux was answering, when he was cut short by the second sailor.
”Nah, he probably don’t chew much; he’s too busy being grim to chew,” the other says with a chuckle as he dashes back and quickly overturns seachests which rest by hammocks and begins to dump anything of note in the center of the tilted deck.
The first one grins.
”Ah, he’ll learn soon enough! Hell, being grim gets all the other lads to be grim, too; but where’s the bloody fun in that, I’d like to know? Now, as for me, I’d prefer adventure; action; the high seas; a good drink; a smoke; a good meal…”
The man frowns - "You sure seem to have a lot of opinions on me. Do we know each other? I don't think so, so I guess you can save them for yourself" - he answers matter of fact.
”Gods’ blood! Talk, talk, talk – all ye do is blather on! With all that blather how’s a lad like ye even sleep at night? the other asks.
”Why – same as any great lad in our situation would; on a pile of money surrounded by plenty of beautiful lasses!” he tosses back to his mate as he quickly dashes to a large locker and without missing a beat picks the lock and swings it open, revealing rows of stacked muskets; which quickly follow-suit on the middle of the deck with the rest of the loot they’re gathering.
So much talk, and so little action... - Polux ponders, going about lighting his lantern.
The chief of the two looks at Polux and Snaga who stand there.
”Well – come on, then – make yerself useful. If ye want to help us on this deck, we’d be obliged, if ye want to make a dash below – can’t say I’d mind much… either way ye slice it, stop with the lollygagging and hop to it,” he says.
With his lit lantern in hand, Polux stands and looks at their chief - "Standing there..? Look man, I am busy. If you've got nothing better than standing around yourself, why don't you start lugging some stuff up top?" - he adds with a serious look - "We came here to give you a hand, not really to hear opinions about myself" - he looks at the other two, then back at the chief - "Nor to be given suggestions by a guy walking around smoking a pipe - me and Snaga are doing fine, but thanks for the really valid contribution" - he then moves down below, leaving the sound of singing behind him.
"Yep" - Polux nods - "That one'll blow a hole in your chest bigger than one's head before you can even draw steel on her"
Melthune is happy enough being on a ship which isn't sinking. She'll go about doing chores/work to help get things ship-shape again, then maybe think about talking to the other crew.
With combat over, Melthune relaxes a little and removes her helmet while she works aboard the Seahawk.
Polux will be heading to the other ship, joining Hack for the spoils division, as soon as he comes back from down below, and assuming he doesn't drown or something. And he will urge the rest of the team to come with also.[/ooc]
"You sure seem to have a lot of opinions on me.”
The other two lads look up from their work. By now they’ve pried open all the lockers and have tossed all the weapons and miscellaneous gear that they can find in a big heap and glance over at Polux.
”Huh? Is he still here? Gods he just can’t stop talking,” the more senior of the two remarks as he stuffs the gear into the sea chest with a chuckle, letting Polux know that he’s just joking around and trying to have some fun.
Do we know each other? I don't think so, so I guess you can save them for yourself"
The younger of the two glances forward to Polux as he stuffs a bunch of Imperial marked armor into a chest, his eyes wide at Polux's tone.
The senior one pauses from his work and looks at Polux directly for a moment.
”We got no beef with sharing our smokes or kidding around with ye and just having a good time; ye’re the one that’s making this a big deal – lighten up a little, lad,” he says with a friendly wink, hoping that his efforts mellow the knifeman out a little as he closes the lid to the chest and begins to load another.
"We came here to give you a hand, not really to hear opinions about myself; nor to be given suggestions by a guy walking around smoking a pipe - me and Snaga are doing fine, but thanks for the really valid contribution"
The two look at each other in surprise.
The senior of the two takes a puff from his smoke as he looks at Polux.
”Look, mate – ye want to be grim and glower and brood and look all dark; go ahead… But that ain’t gonna stop me and my mate from living life happy and free, savvy? Meantime, if ye got a problem with us joking around and having some fun, well – all I got to say is ‘Relax’,” he says.
He nods his head to the younger lad, and that lad grabs the chest and hauls it up the stairs above.
Meanwhile, the senior one – noticing that Polux is attempting to light his lantern without even a flask of oil, shakes his head and rolls his eyes and tosses Polux a flask of lantern oil which Polux is able to use to light his lantern.
”For what it’s worth, lad, ye could be having a much better time of it if ye were willing to be more friendly with folk. Ye know; joking, singing, maybe a little rhyme or poetry – hell, even chatting with folk, just to get to know ‘em… “
He shrugs.
”Live and be happy, you know? There’s time enough for dour faces in the grave.”
Then he grabs another chest and promptly heads aloft leaving Polux alone with Snaga, who quickly looks away.
When Taissa is done repairing the hull with Kat, she cleans up and joins Hack and Polux to head over to talk with the Captain of the sailors they had fought beside against the Imperials.