Grinning at the hits they have traded, Brazazal swings hard again.
"I ain't sure what fight yer watchin, mate," Dhaavan says to Flynn, "But after they both talked at each other, the Cap'n took a good whack 'afore he countered and put up his shield to block the next. Hit, see?" pointing at the fighters.
"Maybe I got a better angle ta see?" is added with a shrug.
I take a look at Dhaavan out of the corner of my eye and give him a somewhat bemused look.
”Mister Dhaavan; in the case of initiative I was not speaking in some sort of… nuanced variable in the linear pattern of one-on-one rebuttal. Rather, I was speaking a broader metaphorical sense.”
”In this case specifically the gnome had the ability to do something intense and rather daring in his action – but he elected to attempt some sort of spell – or some vague profanity in the Celestial dialects, which I am familiar with in hearing them at temple, but I confess I cannot understand them… Yet in any case, his spell failed.”
”Had he instead merely rushed mister Nightstorm and attacked him brutally – and potentially done damage – given the nature of the damage he has done already; this second attack would have been enough to give mister Nightstorm pause – potentially felling him.”
”But he did not do that – he attempted a spell; the spell failed – mister Nightstorm made his rebuttal to intimidate him; I am not certain how that worked… the gnome seems fairly indifferent.”
”Then mister Nightstorm made his second attack; which was good – the gnome responded, but his recent attempt failed. Now we wait for mister Nightstorm’s rebuttal."
"In the end I think that the gnome's failed spell in the begining has cost him this match.”
I offer the hip flask to Dhaavan so that he may taste a drink -
"This dance is fine; but as we are not partners in the performance, perhaps other terrain will tempt your eye?" I remark casually.
"That is to say - as we are not engaged in this combat, perhaps we may take the afternoon to explore the harbor - specifically the terrain around here."
"I already asked the good Seijiro-san - but he, and doubtless Tomo-chan - were not interested in walking the land and seeking their own adventures."
"I myself am eager to find action. If this duel continues much longer, would you care to join me exploring the terrain around us?" I ask solicitously.
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he hits hard that is true, but it leaves him vulnerable to being counter attacked. I have seen enough. He has much promise and his ability to heal like Sandara does have merit.
Almost as if he heard Flynn talk Variel does go for the finishing dual strike.
Normal attack with stick
Damage nonlethal
Tapping the gnome on the cheek leaving a bit of paint visible there. Before casting another spell Variel gauges his opponents timing to prevent Barzazal from attacking during his brief lapse in concentration. Finding the split second he needed, Variel utters the incantation. A small glob of acid forms from his fingers and travels the length of the switch. Almost as if the acid pulled the switch onwards, the wooden blade flies to the chest of Barzazal.
Concentration defensively Acid splash
Attack if nonlethal possible with acid take -4 penalty to hit
Damage 2 acid and 7 nonlethal.
Swift action spell recall to get shield back
There it was, the third spot of paint clearly visible on the gnome. The fight was quick, but Variel learned enough from the brief encounter to know that Barzazal would have a place with the officers. Healing and combat melded together in one. Although not as seemless as his own abilities, Barzazal's abilities would complement those of everyone around him.
Lowering his switch, Well done, well done indeed. Your hits were the harder and more telling. In a protracted fight, where we fought till one of us dropped, I think you would be the victor. My mind is made up. Unless the other are unanimous against it, you have yourself a birth on The Dread Lady as her Master-at-Arms. Welcome aboard.
Seeing the duel is over, I take another sip from my hip flask and place it back in my pocket.
"Looks like it is over and it seems that mister Nighstorm has seen fit to graciously grant the gnome the victory," I say almost to myself.
"Good form, sir," I say louder and with a polite nod to Variel.
"Actually looks like Variel-sama won to me. I've got to collect my winnings now!"
Seijiro turns his attention to the locals he had bets with, for his massive winnings of 5cp. He collects his due with a grin and a wink at the loser and a jaunty "Thankee."
"Ah well there goes my silver," Dhaavan shrugs, "I forgot how quick yea are and never really had the chance ta watch yea fight like this."
Then with a devilish grin, he teases "But it'd be a honor ta hide behind the both o' yea in a fight" Of course Dhaavan'll be busy casting and seems to have a new trick up his sleeve based on the the malicious excitement that begins to rise in his eyes. "We ain't unanimous against it, cause he gots my vote. Welcome aboard li'l man." Dhaavan smiles, extending a congratulatory handshake to the gnome.
"How so? The good mister Nightstorm conceded the fight before it was over. Surely his concession and decision to stop the duel means he has not been victorious - but has given the gnome the honor of victory graciously, rather than continue the fight."
"After all - he did hit the good gnome a few times, but the damage was easily endured. Though you may not have marked it, I have seen such hardiness before while examining patients. This gnome endures blows which would have worn down lesser men... It may be that in time the good mister Nightstorm could have been formally victorious - but at this stage, there is no way of knowing"
"Obviously mister Nightstorm ended the fight to give both parties dignity, and I honor that decision, but we cannot speak of hard victors or the defeated on this case, especially when coin will chance hands," I say, giving Seijiro a confused look at his enthusiasm.
I then lower my voice -
"If we are changing money in gambling, we cannot take coin from another, else the citizens may think we had a hand in mister Nightstorm's choice to concede before the match was concluded. Indeed, if the folk think we are cheating them, that may erode our good fortune with them. Say no more of money or gambling though - it is not seemly at this stage..." I add cautiously.
Perhaps we do have a spot for you on the our ship. We have need of someone to carry out and enforce discipline upon the crew. Not that we have much need at the moment as the crew are mindful and carry out their tasks well. In addition to those duties, we have need of someone to train our crew in repelling attacks from other ships. If you speak true and know how to wield weapons then I believe we have found our next officer. But before we get too hasty, perhaps a demonstration of your prowess should be in order. You showed us how you can mar your body and heal the wounds, all well and good, but can you hit someone who is attacking you? Perhaps after the game of nine pins tomorrow we can draw steel against steel? Not for blood but for points. The first to three touches perhaps?
One of the workers lets out a terrified scream and a large splash occurs as he is ripped off his seat on one of the dock posts and pulled into the water. He is currently flailing and thrashing in the water trying to get away from whatever is on him.
Mystery creature
Valeros
Barzazal
Dhaavan
Variel
Horatio
Seijiro
--------------------------------------------------
The creature rears up, it's eyes blazing with rage. It has a long snakelike body and a humanoid shaped head. Multiple copies of the creature swirl around it making it difficult to track which creature is real and which is fake. There seem to be five separate images. Hissing madly, it whips off several arcane phrases as a hoard of small bolts of energy spring into existence and shoots towards Variel and Barzazal.
Variel damage
Barzazal damage
----------------------------------------------------
If such is available (and usually is on a dock), Seijiro grabs rope and throws one end into the water near the man, and yells for him to grab his end of the rope...
He does his best of course to stay out of reach of the creature himself while doing all this.
If he can grab rope and toss it in the water as a move action (?) he will start singing an inspirational shanty as well for his companions.
(+1 to hit and damage)
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Knowledge dung
Spellcraft
Dropping the switch, Variel casts a quick spell as he heads over to the creature. Drawing the cutlass as he goes, Variel dives over the side to get to j18
Mirror image spell
Swift action to imbue cutlass from arcane pool.
Before hitting the water Beware its bite. The water naga has poison.
The creature snaps it's heads forward as you go past and sinks it's fangs into you.
AoO on Variel:
Damage plus DC 17 Fort save or take Con damage.
"Finally - action..." I growl to myself.
HP: 35/35
AC: 16
Effects: Archeologist's Luck is up.
Condition: Robust and energetic, the new clothes fit very comfortably. Moving to attack the creature, I have a certain look of cool ruggedness on my well barbered face, as my blue-gray eyes narrow in a wild excitement, eager for action.
Horatio moves quickly forward and blasts the Naga with his pistol, unfortunately hitting one of the images swirling around the creature and destroying it instead of hitting the Naga.
1d5
Horatio moves quickly forward and blasts the Naga with his pistol, unfortunately hitting one of the images swirling around the creature and destroying it instead of hitting the Naga.
Dhaavan grins in malicious glee as he incants foul words, clutching at his "necklace", a small bag he always keeps around his neck. His sulfurus yellow eyes go pale as he creates a link to the lower planes, whispering across metaphysical distances to call forth his fiendish pets.
summoning Eagles who swoop in and attack!
Eagle 1: H 21
for
for
for
Eagle 2: H 19
for
for
for
Eagle 3: J 21
for
for
for
Seeing Variel get struck again, Brazazal moves to his side placing a hand on his shoulder and letting a healing wave pulsate forth.
Valeros steps forward and calls out to the creature, magic filling his voice as he tells it to Flee!
SAVE MADE
Depending on what the Naga does, I may not use the three birds, but we'll see when it's my turn again. I'll just copy-post their numbers, after the naga goes.
The workers band together and begin pulling the worker in the water away with the rope that Seijiro threw to him.
BEGIN ROUND 2
The Naga rears and screams in defiance at you all. I will enjoy the feeling of you all sliding down my gullet to be digested!
Seeing Dhaavan casting a spell She steps to the side before sending another barrage of magic missiles careening into Dhaavan, trying to disrupt his summoning.
Seijiro, not being very strong, hands off the rope to the workers to let them pull their colleague out of the water while he begins to sing to inspire those fighting the naga. As a move action he draws his blade, but isn't sure if he'll get a chance to use it against the creature in the water.
Being hit by a vicious barrage of force missiles and struggles to maintain concentration
And does
like a boss!
The eagles attack! U
u
And uses a minor cantrip to conjure an orb of acid which he hurls at the creature
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Delay till everyone has gone to keep the shooting into combat penalty away.
Variel does all he can to swim to the naga and interfer with it attacking Dhaavan again. Hopefully his presence forces it to focus on him. Anyone have anything that makes me swim faster so I can catch this thing?
Swim to I-20
Forgot to account for shooting into melee and bardic performance, so the attack was a 21 vs touch ac
vs touch ac
And here's damage for the acid and crit:
Valeros has his spell . Can Variel deliberately take a touch spell with mirror image up? That way there's no waste of the casting?
Dhaavan's eagles begin popping images off of the Naga before Dhaavan, his face a mask of rage sends a globule of acid streaking into it's face. His anger is so great that a bit of excess magical energy manifests in the form of a spark of lightning along with the acid.
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”Mister Dhaavan, I agree that the township is lacking the resources that we require to make the ship better; as well as ourselves.”
”We will need to find a better port, as well as a place to purchase better goods and gear. Of course, we have the advantage of discovering these ports with some ease after we examine the late mister Plugg’s charts and logbooks,” I say comfortably as we chat over breakfast.
”It should be easy to find the logbooks, but I would not be surprised if he kept his logbook encoded; that is the usual way of things.
"After all, a wise captain knows that his logbook is often more valuable than a ship. Without it, the ship is lost, and the crew is lost – with it a captain will know anything he needs to do while sailing a ship. From things such as relative tides to more insidious dangers in the water. For example – that last island we visited?”
”No doubt our own records will indicate the latitude, longitude, degrees and minutes that an away team may approach the island safely to avoid the reefs – as well as the approximate times for when the tidal rising will effect the ease of travel.”
”Further notes will indicate what was on the island – the type of disease, possible resources, safe points, danger points, threats and uses; as well as more mundane issues such as potential exportable goods, and – if the occasion arose, potential importable goods.”
”For if, in time, we purged the island of disease and cultivated it better – we could, theoretically, transship colonists, employees or perhaps vassals, onto the island so that they could make it a home. I saw at least one potential fishing village – easily repaired with a good crew; evidence of fields to the south east; a good place for a keep or stronghold on the summit of the large hill – and with some decent construction and stonemasonry – we could transform the southwestern approach into a haven for smaller ships which would move into that tidal basin and hide beneath the arch of the cliffs we dove into when we met the Grindylows.”
”All of this is – of course – academic. But remember; it is already likely noted in the logbooks – or it should be – as that is valuable information. I feel that mister Plugg and others will have to have such charts and rudders in their keeping – and those notes and maps will help us a great deal on plotting our next course.”
I grin a little…
”After all, what is our next thought, to simply look at a map that demarks various landmasses on the water? Faugh! What nonsense is that? Each island we see will no doubt have been marked and noted with at least a cursory information on how close the ship was able to get when the initial map was made.”
”Each island we see – if they have a port or a town; that will undoubtedly be in the logbooks. After all – what is the use of noting an island if you keep no records on it? If we saw it on the map and thought – ”We were struck by a storm – which island should we sail to? The one with the friendly port of fellows eager to help us; or the island that has nothing but solid rock on? The map shows two islands – if only we had bothered to note which island was which!” – nay, I do not think that shall happen.”
My face turns to a bit of a trouble frown.
”Despite the fact that I have whished to examine these books more thoroughly, I have not yet had the chance… But I shall, I believe, soon.”
”The true difficulty is if the logbooks are coded… I can break many codes – but a complex one? It may be difficult.”
”For example, there is an old nautical shanty which goes –Fifteen men on a dead man’s chest."
"Despite the verses, this is not referring to a specific man, or men, per se... or even potential loot in a “Chest”. Rather the “Dead Man’s Chest” referred specifically to massive set of reefs… which were called "Dead Man's Chest"."
"The full shanty refers to a ship that was gutted open on those reefs itself… Of course, this is a coded reference used to identify the reefs; but even the most expert code-breaker would be hard pressed to decipher that hidden meaning, even if they were privy to the origins of the shanty,” I add with a somewhat helpless shrug.
I pause to take a sip of tea.
"Of course, I shall need to see the logbooks before I can attempt to know more about the islands that should be marked on our charts, but I would think that is a simple thing as soon as we have the time,” I add easily.
”In any case, what do you think of the idea of examining the charts and logbooks to plan our next course?” I ask politely.
So Sejiro started his performance, Variel accepted Valeros's touch spell, Flynn's reloading, and Dhaavan threw an acid orb. So after Barzazal, that's the round!
"Yeah, but right now we ain't got too much cash on hand, so as i see it, If we sail through the lanes on the way to a bigger port, we may be able ta russel up some more capitol and invest more, Pick up a respectable quantity o' reagents, an' such so as i can get down ta some craftin'. Here, i doubt they have enough ta make even a simple item, honestly." Dhaavan says with a shrug.
"But if we can do another ship, or rustle up some coin ta throw around we c'n make ourselves knows wherever we land and have the funds ta show it off. Keep buildin' our reputations as not to seem like Prey as the lady Sandara pointed out and get a few more crewmen and guns."
Considering locations for a moment, "May be wise ta avoid Port Peril for a streach tho, as I'd hate ta run across Harrigan or them what knows him well while he's in those waters. Just ta be safe."