Annie quickly does as Phillip suggests.
Quickly Annie dumps the signal flags out on the deck, snatches up a white flag, hooks it to a lanyard and runs it up to where Phillip is waiting.
Phillip uses Prestidigitation to turn it yellow, and the plague flag is flying!
Off in the distance, you can see the ship come about. It looks like it's going to approach you to check you out.
Wait. It's showing some signal flags you don't recognize. And the Scarlet Brotherhood ships on the horizon have all shifted course towards you.
You've been made.
Below decks:
Running up the passageway, Brock and Bryson emerge into one of the passenger accomodations that took the place of the cargo space normally here.
The settlers screamed at your sudden appearance and crowded away from you.
Charge after him!
Sorry, meant Ghirrak and Bryson.
Perception
Ghirrak races towards the forward hatch, bursting through it.
Bryson's base Perception is +18. He automatically makes that Perception roll.
Phillip shouts down to those still on deck. "Get ready. It looks like one o' the ships is comin' to check us out."
Belowdecks:
Ghirrak busts through the hatchway into the passageway forward of the passenger accomodations. From here, forward it the passageway to the sail lockers, portside is the ladderway down to the cargo deck, starboard is the ladderway up to the galley and forecastle.
Directly ahead of you, you see Bryson tied to a railing! He spits out a gag.
"Ghirrak! That's the impostor behind you! Grab him!
Make a save vs Willpower DC16 (This is vs an Enchantment spell.)
On deck:
Spinnaker Jon suddenly frowns as he looks at the ship approaching, then the fleet out on the horizon. He whips out his brass spyglass and peers back and forth. Then he swears in a language that hurts your ears.
He motions Phillip and Dgrim down and huddles up with you and the ships officers.
"Bad news lads and lassie. We've been made. Yon half-orc must be smarter than I hoped.
"Right then. Like we planned, it's less than an hour to sunset; as long as we're quick about it the Scarlet Brotherhood fleet ain't going t' catch us before we lose them in the dark. Straight south is open ocean and we'll find the coast again come mornin'.
"The bad news is before we can do that we gotta deal with one pirate ship. Good news is they're gonna come stupid and just try to grapple and board. Bad news is they aint' gonna stay stupid. All they need to do is wreck our sails and rigging and we're too slow to escape.
"So our number one priority is slow them down. Wreck their rigging. Job two is both stop them from wrecking our rigging, and fending off any boarding attempt. Ship like that 's got mebbe 15-30 pirates, but down here not gonna be high quality. We got ten crew plus you guys.
"Any questions?"
"Ah'm gonna kill 'em." growls Bryson in a way more sweet than menacing.
Will
With a series of curses, Phillip hurries back down to the deck to grab his equipment and remove the more restrictive elements of his disguise.
"Whoever, that bloody traitor was, I hope Ghirrak feeds him to the sharks piece by piece."
Armed and ready, he heads back up into the rigging and takes position in a spot with solid footing and a good vantage point to use his bow.
Spinnaker Jon quickly passes the word and the crew spills out on deck. Some join Phillip in the rigging while others quickly uncover the ballistae and prep them for firing. The rest grab heavy crossbows and pikes and make ready for action. With both ships closing rapidly it won't be long now.
Ghirrak whirls on Bryson, doubts clearly on his face before he catches himself and shakes off the Suggestion. Turning back to fake Bryson, he leaps forward and punches... the bulkhead behind the illusion, which splinters under the force as the image *pop*s silently.
A woman's laughter whirls all around you both then, seemingly coming from everywhere at once.
"Poor, poor Lavinia! Having to depend on a worthless. Ugly. STUPID half-orc! Perhaps you are more Orc than you were told. What will happen to you when her crush finally wears off? Too late for the expedition which she sunk her whole family's wealth! Because of you..."
Louder now.
"LOOK OUT! THAT BRYSON IS A PIRATE IN DISGUISE! GET HIM!"
The passengers back through the door start shouting and gathering in a mob, coming towards you.
Spellcraft
Perception auto success
Bryson follows his prey.
Below and aft of you is the Cargo deck, filled to the ceiling with supplies and consumables. Below and foreward is the anchorchain room and the cordage lockers where the ships ropes and lines are stored.
Below the Cargo deck is the Bilge, half filled with gravel ballast, but leaving a space you can crawl the length of the ship if you don't mind getting mucky with filth and dangerous vermin (a favorite of rot grubs, or so you've heard).
Annie draws her crossbow and stands by the mast.
Her general plan is, as the ship approaches, she'll cast bless (50' radius, +1 to attack, +1 will vs fear) on the men. She'll next cast entropic shield on herself (20% miss chance on ranged attacks), and fly, and she'll fly into the air, focusing on keeping the sails mended with the mend cantrip as necessary, using her channel positive energy to keep her shipmates going (2 enemies can be excluded when she does this via Selective Channel), and shooting at likely targets when mend and healing isn't needed.
All three spells above have a duration of 5 minutes.
Prof: Sailor
Also, how many means of access are there to each area? The bilge, for instance, may run the length of the ship, but how many ways are there to access it?
Ignoring the crowd Ghirrak follows the sound of laughter, dashing after the fleeing spell caster.
Below decks...
Bryson pulls the hatchway shut against the passengers, who pile up in front of it preventing it from being opened for the moment. Then he follows Ghirrak down the ladderway to the Cargo Deck and through the open hatchway into the forward cargo space. They could hear the retreating laughter down the narrow spaces through the stacked cargo.
Then behind them, Bryson and Ghirrak hear the hatch shut.
Whirling around, they see Annie shoot a bar across the hatch, while covering them with a hand crossbow.
"Bryson! It's him, the saboteur; it's Ghirrak! Get him!" She speaks urgently, and Bryson feels the overwhelming urgency to turn and tackle Ghirrak!
At the same time, a large body crashes into Ghirrak and muscular arms wrap him up!
Above decks...
The ships are closing rapidly now, and the crossbow bolts are flying now. Tavy Nask sprays water from a hose while a couple of crewmen frantically work the pump.
Spinnaker Jon feints at steering on one track then shifts to the other, then back again! The pirates on the other ship run from one railing to the other, almost throwing the ship off course before their captain whips them back into discipline.
Then their ballistae fire, and you see they are throwing grappling hooks. Then land and tighten, drawing the ships closer together.
"Stand by to repel boarders!" Shouts Spinnaker Jon.
Two of the pirates notice Annie and aim at her. "Its a witch! Bring her down!"
for a possible piercing damage. No.
for a possible extra piercing damage.
for a possible piercing damage. No.
Will includes bonus from Birthmark and Elven Immunities.
Bryson's action is dependent on if there is more than one way out. If there is only one, he'll try to keep her from going through it, either physically shutting and locking it or using Wood Shape to jam it shut. If there are more than one way out, he'll instead cast Call Lightning and try to blast her to kingdom come.
Call Lightning Ref dc 16 for half
Round 1
Bryson is briefly tempted to turn against Ghirrak, but he throws off the enchantment. With a word and a gesture, he Calls Lightning, which explodes in a blinding flash and crack of thunder.
She throws herself to one side just in time, but still take half the damage.
Phillip sees the two men attack Annie and immediately begins to gesture and chant from his perch in the rigging. With a final bit of flare he points at a spot between the two pirates and a few moments later a small portal opens bringing a dire rate into the fray. He directs the rat to attack the pirates and then looks to see where the first boarders may try to cross.
Annie: It's no problem.
Fail.
The pirate's face melts into a gap toothed expression of adoration and he cannot bring himself to shoot at Annie. This round.
Annie throws a smile at the pirate calling her a witch, managing to make him hesitate when considering taking a shot at her, but the other bolt hits her squarely. "Oof! Of all the cheek! Witch indeed!" Annie cries out angrily, and shoots up to take cover amidst the sails and masts above. "Cayden Cailean! Protect me from harm!"
Quickly holding his breath, Ghirrak twists, his muscles bulging as he turns to reverse the grapple.
Grapple
Rowyn Kellani! (Kingpin of the Lotus Dragon gang, which you killed, right?)
She doesn't look good. Her hair is stringy, her face and body gaunt, her clothing devoid of the rich jewelry you remember.
Bryson cuts into the false Annie. "You are not my beloved! Die! Die! Die!"
Scimitar +1:
to hit damage
Round 1 recap.
>Bryson Calls Lightning, which “Annie” half dodges.
>Phillip summons a dire rat to attack the pirates shooting at Annie, but they fend it off.
>Annie ducks behind the mainsail after using her Adoration to foil a crossbow attack on her, and casts Shield of Faith on herself.
>Ghirrak gets his bearings and reverses grapple (becomes the Grappler).
>‘Annie’ reveals herself to Bryson as Rowyn Kellani (ex Lotus Dragon kingpin, thought deceased) who has been sabotaging the expedition for revenge since it started in Port Sasserine. Fires hand crossbow at Bryson: Hit! for damage plus Fort save vs poison.
>Black Breath Bob tries to reverse Ghirraks grapple success! Bob becomes Grappler.
>[npc]A number of other crossbow attacks against the crew and the pirates abovedecks, fail due to cover.
Round 2_____
Bryson makes an attack vs. Rowyn which barely misses.
Phillip decides to attempt to take the offensive. Grabbing one of the many ropes in the rigging he swings across the expanse between the two ships and leaps into the rigging of the enemy craft. As soon as his feet are secured again, he draws an alchemist fire from his belt and simply drops it to the deck below.
Hoping that a quick blow to their leader might force a quick surrender, Phillip tries to spot the enemy captain as he crosses to the other ship.
Shifting his tactics Ghirrak takes advantage of his proximity striking twice, the first, a knee driving into the vile drunk's stomach, the second a brutal headbutt aimed between the man's eyes, designed to stun his foul opponent.
Greatly daring, Phillip grabs a line and swings across to the other main yardarm.
On the way over, he spots what is probably the pirate Captain, a swarthy half-orc with brutal features. He's standing next to the mizzenmast on the poopdeck.
When he lands on the pirate yardarm, he comes nose to nose with five pirates standing ready to invade your ships upper rigging.
Any more for round 2?
Round 2_______________
Below decks....
Bryson Deepwinter____________
Bryson makes an attack vs. Rowyn which barely misses.
Ghirrak Ironfist______________
Shifting his tactics Ghirrak takes advantage of his proximity striking twice;
The first, a knee driving into the vile drunk's stomach, But he misses as Bob twists aside with a grin.
The second is a brutal headbutt aimed between the man's eyes, designed to stun his foul opponent. His head lands hard, dealing 9 points, stunning and fatiguing Bob. He also sags to one knee.
Rowyn_________________
Rowyn's features shift into a perfect duplicate of Bryson.
"This is what lovely Annie will see," she hissed in Bryson's voice, "as I carve your name into her guts!"
With a 'snick' a bayonet appears on the hand crossbow as she thrusts at Bryson.
She smiles cruelly as she twists the stabbing wound for piercing damage.
Miss.
Bob_____________________
Stunned this round.
Above decks...
[npc]Spinnaker Jon, Dgrim and Annie duck behind something solid as the missile fire abates.
Phillip Pharlan______________
Greatly daring, Phillip grabs a line and swings across to the other main yardarm. (This will be a full round action.)
When he lands on the pirate mainyardarm (thirty feet up amidships), he comes nose to nose with five pirates standing ready to invade your ships upper rigging.
With a shout, the pirate captain kicks the windlass which spins free. The grapples abruptly draw tight and swing the two ships together with a mighty crash of snapping timbers. The jolt threatens to knock you all prone.
There are three clawed cables holding the two ships together, fore, midships and aft.
Then the boarding planks come down and two files of pirates come howling into the amidships! There are four pirates aboard your ship at the base of each plank, more on the planks behind them. A couple of them are swinging across in the rigging. The crew of the Savage Kracken is giving a good account, but the numbers are pressing them back.
Up in the rigging, the one nearest Phillip attacks (assuming he hasn't fallen).
Miss.
Round 3______________
Bryson savagely strikes out at his mirror image.
Scimitar +1:
to hit damage
Round 3______________________
Bryson misses.
[npc]Ghirrak changes his grip on the stunned Bob and slams him into a stack of cargo crates.
hard enough to knock Bob out. But surprisingly, they both also crash through the false front concealing a cozy hideaway make of hollowed out cargo crates. You see a hammock, a rack of books, and alchemical apparatus happily bubbling away.
[npc]Dgrim wades into the melee at the waist, attacking the four at the aft gangway.
Hit! for slashing damage. Pirate gets hacked down.
[npc]Annie waits.
Phillip is jolted off the mainyard and falls.
bounces off the mainsail, some ratlines and hits the deck in a roll, bouncing to his feet with no damage! He then finds himself surrounded by surprised pirates stacked up in front of the gangplanks.
Rowyn sneers with Bryson's face and attacks again with the crossbow bayonet.
Hit! for piercing damage.
Miss.
In the melee at the waist, three attack Dgrim.
Miss.
Miss.
Miss.
Bryson gives up on his scimitar and calls forth a bolt of lightning from the ceiling.
Call Lightning dc 16
Round 4______________
Rowyn ducks aside again, but again takes some damage.
Rising and kicking the unconscious pirate aside, Ghirrak inspects the book rack first, while glancing over at the apparatus.