Even newly injured and hearing how her magical cat had retreated due to her grave wounds, Rain's ire grew and the Elf drew her wings and flew down to the top of the stairs , the space allowed to her by Variel, and using her 20 ft extended pike, stabbed down viciously at Milksop.
Seijiro moves out of the cloud toward and beyone Dhaavan, and readies to move again if the cloud moves toward him.
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Variel keeps flying above Rain to allow her the room she needed to target Milksop. He witnessed the smooth efficiency in her actions and could see the pike being driven into their target. Looking down at his fiancé Variel gave her a smile of appreciation for her true strike.
Disgusted at the inability to see or help her hatey-a' she begins to cast a spell -
Disgusted at what is going on, Horatio will attempt to break the grapple -
"By Besmara, I'm getting REAL tired of being yanked around..."
Variel keeps flying above Rain to allow her the room she needed to target Milksop. He witnessed the smooth efficiency in her actions and could see the pike being driven into their target. Looking down at his fiancé Variel gave her a smile of appreciation for her true strike.
Using both hands to fiercely thrust down with the magical pike made Rain feel her injuries anew and she bit down on her lip so she would not let any sound of pain escape. Noting Variel's appreciative gaze above her made her feel a little better. Together they had undertaken strikes at the enemy captain. She managed a tired smile back for now. They had to put down Milksop, and, the sooner the better!
Ana, hearing the scream and thud of Brightscale, screams and lets loose with a wave of power. Calling upon the spirits of the winds, she swirls her hands before throwing them skyward.
All the wind in the area begins to increase and flow towards the center of the ship before being pulled violently upward. The poisonous and deadly gas streams up 100 feet into the air before dispersing harmlessly in the sky.
Adular rushes forward... or tries to...
And he tries to move up and towards where the Captain is...pushing against the winds and finding himself close enough to use the cloak's power to extend his spell...
Come on out you bastard Dhaavan snarled as he draws a chain-of-perdition from the torture pits of Hell to [M:9]
The infernal chain lashes at Milksoap, dragging him to [M:10] where the hounds move to flank
For
For
Sorry feel asleep last night will post in an hour our so
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With the help of the hits previously put upon Milksop by his crewmates, Dhaavan conjures a chain from the fires of hell and yanks Milksop onto the top deck where his helldogs rip into Milksop, killing him. He hangs lifeless in the air, blood pooling on the deck of the ship. You immediately see that one of the rings he is wearing matches the description that you were given by Fitch and indeed radiates magical energy when examined. In addition on Milksop and in his quarters you find:
potions of cure moderate wounds (2)
potion of invisibility
scrolls of dispel magic (2)
scroll of fly
cloak of resistance +1
ring of the iron skull
ring of protection +1
spell component pouch,
spellbook (contains all 0-level spells,
5th-Cloudkill, Summon Monster V
4th—confusion, resilient sphere, solid fog, summon monster IV, ice storm, ghost wolf, wall of fire
3rd—haste, fireball, slow, stinking cloud, summon monster III, tiny hut, chain of perdition, daylight, spiked pit
2nd—acid arrow, glitterdust, scorching ray, summon monster II, bear's endurance, buoyancy, oppressive boredom, stabilize powder
1st—grease, mage armor, magic missile, shield, summon monster I, alarm, ant haul, break, theft ward)
On the ship are 2 light cannon as well as a light bombard with 39 rounds of shot and powder left altogether. The double hackbut was a part of the construct itself and disintegrated when it did. The living grapnels lose their animated life when Milksop perished and are ordinary chain grapnels now. That said they could be useful to an innovative mind I'm sure.
Dhaavan conjures a chain from the fires of hell and yanks Milksop onto the top deck where his helldogs rip into Milksop, killing him.
Horatio's blade hangs loose in his hand after Milksop's sudden destruction. He stares for a while at what had happened - as if somehow baffled at what seemed like such a unbelievably swift conclusion to such an otherwise daunting and intimidating foe.
However, whatever his personal opinions are, one thing is clear: he is clearly glad that the enemy was destroyed.
And beyond that, what else matters?
At this time he sheathes his sword and moves up on to the main deck and looks around - studying everyone carefully and trying to assess their health and if they need any assistance.
As he does this his hands absently draw his pistols and reload them as he looks around.
When he notices what happened to Brightscale he moves toward the dinosaur to see if there is anything that can be done, or if it is already too late to aid the goodly creature.
When it becomes clear that nothing can be done for the beast he does what he can to try to comfort Ana and make sure she is alright.
As he works his eyes range over the others on the ship that had come to help. As he looks at them his face remains fairly neutral but his eyes are glinting strangely, as if something other then the health of his friends is on his mind...
As the others are generally grouped close together at this point he glances to the aft deck and calls aft to Amen-set -
"Oye, lass; are you alright?"
"Besmara kick me in the ass, I owe each and all o you an apology for not being more in the thick of it. I got a fool notion that because we had one foe try to scuttle us from below, another might... " The half elf shakes his head, "Then that damn cloud near wrecked us and cost Ana dearly."
1d4
Given that Amen-set's current health - and others - when she sees Adular restoring Jiro's first her eyes widen in shock and another more difficult expression to read and she turns to stare at Horatio.
He looks at her with his flat eyes and shakes his head slowly, then he simply glances toward the sky.
"It's alright, padre," he says with a slow but friendly voice in answer to Adular's comment.
"Everybody's got priorities, I guess. No worries at all..."
"Meantime, you do bring up a good point; after we get all this hash settled," he says with a nod at the newly captured ship "I figure that having a little chat may be a good thing for everyone," he adds with a cheerful smile.
Seeing Amen's look, Adular hopes she's not taking the order he's healing in personal. He's not really got a plan to it.
Dhaavan waves off the restoration I'll be right by morning. he says, but he sticks close enough to catch some channeling that gets thrown.
Seijiro nods to Adular "Thanks Adu', I was in need of that, but I feel much better now... You should go see to the others... but if you've got another one of those left when the others have been seen to, I could use it, as I'm still feeling weak in my bones."
"Gather around folks..." He waves for Neko to come back, "You too, please. "
A sound like waves crashing and sails unfurling fills the air with each burst of shimmering healing.
Then casts another Lesser Restoration, this time on Rain "Besmara, if you would...."
Rain was not inured to death, but seeing Milksop torn asunder on the deck gave her a profound sense of ease. Least he was wearing the ring they were sought to find.
Casting her gaze about the group on the upper deck, she sees all her allies now, except for the hidden Neko. //The enemy Captain has been despatched. Come and be healed//, she relayed via their mental link. The golden cat had sustained many injuries. She retracted her magical pike but held it in hand in case it was required, again.
Rain moved to Ana and gently laid a hand on the druid's shoulder, having heard Brightscale had perished during the fight. "Your Allosaurus fought bravely. I am sorry for his death and your heart's pain." Rain's voice was soft and low. "Thank you for your aid in the hold."
As the priest called them to him for his divine healing, Rain, now joined by Neko, moved forward with the others, and, in no time, hers and Neko's wounds and depletion were completely healed.
"You have my thanks for the healing, Adular. I am whole and hale once more. As is Neko."
The golden cat proceeded to lick her paw, having given a sigh of relief via the telepathic link with all.
Rain moved to the items they had found/gathered and picked up the cloak of resistance (+1). "Once all the other matters have been attended to, I would claim this cloak as mine. I simply state my intention now, before all." The Elven pilot's tone was resolute on the matter.
With that she moved to Variel, Flynn and Amen to check on their welfare, as all three had received and prevailed against multiple attacks. Their bravery had been noted.
//Your magic has made me hale. Thank you, Priest.// Neko sent to Adular telepathically.
Seijiro slowly approaches the fallen form of Brightscales, his eyes welling with tears... He lays a hand on his side and sighs.. "Sleep well, beautiful jiao-long... "
At the telepathic message, Adular doffs his hat to the great cat to say "You're welcome."
When all the healing is done and folks feeling better, Seijiro approaches Ana a bit hesitantly, not quite sure what to say, but finally speaks softly... "I am sorrowed for your loss... Brightscales was a magnificent jiao-long and a loyal friend. I know there is nothing I can do to make this better, but know that if there were, I would do it."
Horatio beckons Amen-set next to Adular while he does his Channeling and they are both as good as can be at this time.
However, Amen-set has lost 3 Constitution Points and is therefore unable to reach Maximum Hit Points at this time. She lost the Con when she was swallowed by that Mouther when she aided her friends in the fight.
Although she wasn't healed of the Con damage yet, I'm hoping that will be taken care of soon.
"Once all the other matters have been attended to, I would claim this cloak as mine. I simply state my intention now, before all." The Elven pilot's tone was resolute on the matter.
Horatio turns and glances at Rain, cocking his head as he gives her an unusual look.
He seems confused about something, but for now he keeps his mouth shut.
Meanwhile, as his pistols are now fully reloaded he puts them back in their holsters and eases them forward comfortably and then turns and stares out to sea.
At this time Amen-set moves over to Horatio and speaks softly and urgently to him.
He says nothing but stares at the horizon as he listens and then considers what she says.
He grunts after a moment, then glances at their ship.
”Go back to The Lady and fetch Piper and bring her back here; as well as the two lads had been working with her. Also, bring the tool kits with you, too,” he says with a matter of fact voice.
Amen-set bows low before him then stands and bounds off to their ship.
As Horatio stands there he feels the pain of the battle heavy on him despite the healing and he pulls out a quid of tobacco and fits it into his mouth.
When all the healing is done and folks feeling better, Seijiro approaches Ana a bit hesitantly, not quite sure what to say, but finally speaks softly... "I know there is nothing I can do to make this better, but know that if there were, I would do it."
He stares for a long moment at the kitsune and his eyes are flat.
What he is thinking is irrelevant at this time, however.
”Go back to The Lady and fetch Piper and bring her back here; as well as the two lads had been working with her. Also, bring the tool kits with you, too,” he says with a matter of fact voice.
Amen-set opens her mouth, as if to offer another idea or thought, but then she stifles her words and seems to resign herself to whatever it is that Horatio has told her to do.
”To hear is to obey, hatey-a',” she says, then bows low before him.
After she stands up before Horatio she turns and bows to Rain; their clothes both stained red with the carmine of battle, yet to Amen-set this is less filth but rather a badge of courage and honor.
Then she gives Dhaavan a proud smile, recalling how he had aided them in the combat and finally gives Neko a small and relieved smile and then bounds over to their ship.
Rushing below she finds Piper and brings the Halfling as well as the other two Halfling lads who had done work with guns and were able to shoot back on to the new ship.
She speaks softly to them as they are brought aboard The Dryad and then leads the three of them below the decks…
"You did well in battle, little sister. You were brave." Rain inclined her head in acknowledgement of Amen's respectful bow and she noted the girl's smile at the sorcerer before she heeded Flynn's command. "Your collective of summoned hounds were a sure help in battle. They fought relentlessly", she called to Dhaavan, as she had yet to acknowledge his true part in the fight on the Dryad's Grave.
Her brow furrowed for a moment on some passing thought, yet she did not express it openly to the others.
Rain noted the stance and sombreness of Flynn. Quietly she asked him, "You seem a man with heavy burdens. What ails you?"
Rain noted the stance and sombreness of Flynn. Quietly she asked him, "You seem a man with heavy burdens. What ails you?"
Horatio turns a glance to Rain.
"Hmm..? Oh, I don't know..." he says slowly.
"I guess almost dying in the hold and having my ward almost butchered by those creatures - not to mention Ana getting her friend slaughtered..." he says with a sad but frustrated voice, then shakes his said.
"It was really, really stressful in general," he says after a moment.
"That fight was really challenging and very brutal. But for as hard and violent as it was, I guess I'm wrestling with a whole complicated set of emotions right now."
"For example - when we were almost butchered I felt both good and relieved when my friends and comrades - people I can trust - did their part and helped so we wouldn't be slaughtered," he says with a matter of fact voice.
"Of course..." he says slowly, then shakes his head and sighs and tries again.
"I guess what I'm saying is that - all things considered - I'm very thankful for the backup in that fight. And - given how brutal and deadly it was as a whole... Well, I guess I'm trying to decide how to properly express my gratitude for what specifically everyone did to pitch in," he says with a friendly tone; yet his eyes are still flat s he stares hard at something behind Rain.
"You did well in battle, little sister. You were brave."
Amen-set stands tall at the praise and bows again, her cheeks flushing at the comment.
"A mere nothing, senet," she says, her voice filled with pride.
"We fought, we killed - and we were victorious," she says with true elation on her face, the slime from the insides of the Mouther still fresh on her clothes as she beams at Rain.
"But as for thee? I saw thee clearly from the aft deck - thou flew in to the vessel like a Holy Avatar from the heavens above; and thy victory all the more glorious when the strength of the gods shone through thy limbs when thy spilled the blood of those foul creatures!" she says with genuine enthusiasm, despite having almost died.
She pauses to listen to Horatio's speech to Rain, then gives Horatio a tense look, as if she is nervous about his comments for some reason, then turns to Rain.
"There is much to see below, I deem. Will thy remain aloft with thy mate, or would thy prefer to come below with me and seek to find the answers to what riddles may be discovered below?" she asks, clearly eager to discourage anyone from encouraging Horatio's current line of thoughts.
Rain's eyes sought Variel's for a moment - hoping to hear if he was alright and had any instruction. In the lull, Rain returned her attention to the pensive Flynn.
She could sense he was masking his true feelings and meaning, but as to the reasons why, she was uncertain.
"Aye, it was taxing, and that whoreson Milksop and his damned summoning. If you would unburden yourself further, find me later and we may talk. You fought hard and well against the enemy this day." Rain patted his scaled forearm reassuringly before giving her attention over to Amen.
To Amen's praise, Rain countered, "I did what I could. The caster was determined to end us. I could not permit that."
At Amen's bidding, Rain sought confirmation, "Do you mean to go now to search the lower deck of the Dryad's Grave? If you require aid, I shall attend."
"Aye, it was taxing, and that whoreson Milksop and his damned summoning. If you would unburden yourself further, find me later and we may talk. You fought hard and well against the enemy this day." Rain patted his scaled forearm reassuringly before giving her attention over to Amen.
He smiles at her comments.
"Thanks you kindly, Pilot-Major... I just did what I could, you know?" he says with a somewhat embarrassed tone at her praise.
"That being the case, I got no problem with chatting later, if you'd like."
To Amen's praise, Rain countered, "I did what I could. The caster was determined to end us. I could not permit that."
Amen-set's blood-covered face splits into a wide grin.
"Ha! I like that, senet! They meant to slaughter us to the last man and take all we had for their own and - You could not permit it...," she says with eager enthusiasm.
"Thy speak with true conviction and I am indeed moved by thy words," she adds.
At Amen's bidding, Rain sought confirmation, "Do you mean to go now to search the lower deck of the Dryad's Grave? If you require aid, I shall attend."
She grins mischievously as this point; clearly the talk of victorious battle coupled with Rain's phrasing on the fight has apparently dismissed the concerns Amen-set has for Horatio at this time...
"We may have found things of note; aye - but during the killing I looked into the mind of one of our assailants and when I saw into his thoughts I perceived that there were hidden things that we may yet discover below."
"Come, then, and we shall seek them together while the others wait aloft," she adds.
Horatio watches Rain and Amen-set and sees them head below.
He turns to Ana -
"I'm truly sorry for the loss of your friend," he says to her with a sincere voice.
"I want you to know that I grieve for you," he adds, then places his hand gently on her arm, studying her expression and hoping she's doing alright.
After he hears her response, he turns to the others -
"Right! So this basterd's an independent pirate, right? That mean's he's got no letters of marquee from the Pirate King... but if he's operating around here with so few supplies and gear on board, that tells me that he likely has a base of operations somewhere close, right? I mean, where else would his supplies be kept if hey're not on the ship - he'd need to have a safe port he can run to - somewhere close."
"I'm going to go have a look at his logbook and see what I can find in it; ports of call, who he's been pirating, which captains and settlements he's attacked and who he's selling stuff to."
"I got a hunch that if he's pirating one captain and selling that gear to another that the first captain might want to know who ended up with their gear."
"That alone could be worth something," he adds with a friendly smile as he nods to the others.
Then he turns and studies Variel for a moment.
"Hey, uh - and for what it's worth? Thanks for coming to help me out down there; I know your Number One and the Pilot Major already know how I feel, and I already thanked the padre, but I wanted you to know that I'm grateful, personally," he says with sincerity, then he tips his forelock to the Elf.
After that he turns to head to the captain's cabin to examine the logbook.
Adular seeks out Amun-set, "If you've a moment? Your wounds a healed but some sickness remains, I can see it. You took the brunt of much to keep the crew alive, and I thank you for it. For now though, I'll not let a dedicated defender such as yourself go around feeling frail."
Adular seeks out Amun-set, "If you've a moment? Your wounds a healed but some sickness remains, I can see it. You took the brunt of much to keep the crew alive, and I thank you for it. For now though, I'll not let a dedicated defender such as yourself go around feeling frail."
Amen-set's eyes widen at Adular's action and efforts, and she turns a surprised look at Rain, then glances toward where Horatio had wandered only to see her hatey-a' pause and turn at the cabin door and give her a small wink and a grin; then he turns and heads in to the cabin.
She turns from Horatio and looks back at Adular and then stands up straighter before him and then bows with respect.
"I thank thee for thy healing and thy support," she says with sincerity.
She studies his gear for a moment, then looks into his eyes.
"Thou art a great servant to thy goddess," she says after she had examined Adular's holy symbol.
She thinks a moment, then says haltingly -
"It is said in the lands to the north: Never judge a sword until it is tried; liquor until it is tasted nor a friend until he stands with thee in battle."
"I am pleased to know thee as a companion and to have thee stand at my back in battle," she adds, then bows again with great courtesy.
"You've a fine way with words," Adular says, "and I'm glad you're pleased but I fear I wasn't as much support as I should have been this round, and poor Brightscales paid for it."
"You've a fine way with words," Adular says, "and I'm glad you're pleased but I fear I wasn't as much support as I should have been this round, and poor Brightscales paid for it."
Amen-set cocks her head as she studies Adular.
"Aye... it is true; the assumption that thy made about the enemy's tactics was not good; yet even the gods may error from time to time," she says, trying to be comforting.
"Even so; do not blame thyself for what transpired in the end. It was the enemy who slew the goodly beast who journeyed with us and therefore they paid that debt with blood," she says to him, watching his face with a genuine compassion.
She thinks for a moment, then continues.
"When thy observed the gravity of the danger then it was a truth that thy rushed boldly in to aid us."
"Further, in such desperate ventures as that battle it is true that even the best stratagems may go astray."
"Even so; a wise man will consider the efforts of his friends and the strength of the bond between them before he judges them only on the success or failure of a single plan."
She frowns, clearly having trouble expressing what she is trying to say and tries again.
"Priest; thy stood with us ere the end and that was a goodly deed that shall not be forgotten."
"Finally, remember only this: thy did thy best to aid us when few stood against many and that is the important part," she says with sincerity.
"Aye, you have a good point. Besmara will be the final judge of me, and no amount of kicking meself will change that. I'll know better next time and at least let others know what I plan. If it were not loss of Ana's companion, this would be a grand victory indeed with a fine prize."
Seijiro sighs, separating himself from the others, and leans against a bulwark, pulls in on himself, and while not hiding, or making any attempt to, his natural camouflage makes him hard to spot... he lowers his head and stares at the deck at his feet.
Adular hears the sigh, and looks around, "All well, Jiro? Well, well as can be?"
"Not really.. nothing wrong healthwise that a few nights rest won't settle, but I feel like I .. well, I just didn't pull my weight in this fight... and I'm kinda tired of getting the stinkeye from Flynn whether I do or don't... this time maybe I deserve it a little but it happens every time. I did inspire for a while when I stayed to protect the Lady, then I got kinda confused, but overall, I just didn't do as much as I probably could have. I feel bad about it, but I can't change it... I'm sorry, but well... i have no excuses I guess." He sighs again, glances at Adular while he talks, but when he finishes, he stares down at the deck again.