As Morning starts to break, the crew wakes slowly after a night of drinking. Dain finds himself tangled in his fishing line the bobber still in the water.
"Rider approaching" comes a call from the crows nest, a bit to loud for the hung over crew. Halrex moves to the starboard side of the boat looking out towards Last Walls boarders.
Before morning, Dain tries to remember anything about the swamp
The rider is on a beautiful gray mount. It has no bit or bridle but moves as the rider would have it. "Ahoy there! I am William of Firsthold" He then recognizes your captain. "Good morning, Raag. I see your crew is in good hands. I was concerned a vessel had strayed into dangerous territory. That is my reason for approach."
Yorikata comes out of the galley to see what the ruckus is about. Standing behind Lanneth she whispers "Who's that?"
"That be an of them knights out of Last Wall. His is William of Somewall.... I forget the last bit." Ragg says so that only those on the boat can hear. "What brings you so far out alone here William?" Ragg calls back loudly. Halrex rolls her eyes, grunts then barks Orders for the Crew to get up, calling them all Nancies and old hens with how slow they are moving.
"Rumors of unusual orc activity in the area. I am to investigate and report back to Firstwall. Have you seen anything out of the ordinary lately, Raag?"
Doppleganger!
William grabs his shield as he dismounts. "Sir, ye appear quite hung over. May I recommend hair of the dog."
"I thought we only shoot orcs and their supporters?" Yorikata wonders.
William inspects the broken arrow at his feet. "It was just a blunt tip, ma'am."
More ale sounds like a good idea! Dain gets some more ale.
"Aye there was, a way station was attacked by Orcs. Only 1 survivor, we loaded her back up and she was sending fer reinforcements. Ye seem a long way out alone just looking for Orcs ta scare off." Ragg calls having the jolly boat launched if William wants to come aboard.
Lanneth calls out.
Boy, do your superiors know about that attack on Trunau? Considering how coordinated the orcs and Giants were, I would say that is also unusual activity.
"Not to my knowledge, ma'am. That is very good information." William will board to learn more from Raag's crew. "A way station AND Trunau. It sounds like we have a war brewing."
"We are going ta Ghostlight Marsh then on to Redlake Fort." Ragg says "I am just the driver here." The boat launches back into the river, no horses this time.
"Redlake Fort? Why in the world would you go there?"
Ragg looks at William. "That is for them to tell ya if they want, I just am the transportation." As William gets settled, the boat moves along at a steady pace up the river towards the Marsh lands. Around mid day a call comes out.
"Dam a head!"
Ragg and Halrex move towards the front of the boat.
River blocked? Dain goes up with them.
The half Orc moves over to make room in the Crows nest, Dain can see that it looks like there may have been a build up but someone has added significant amounts of fallen lumber to the damn.
William takes up his shield. There should be no dams here. "I hope you are as accurate with that bow on others as you are with me, dwarf. This does not feel right. Look not at the dam, but the shore."
Dain activates danger vision
William doesn't see anything amiss from the front of the boat, Dain's vantage point sees what looks like a group of Orc raiders lining up along the river bank. Large amounts of lush foilage line the river bank leading to the Damn. Dain also sees that they are probably a few hours sail from Ghost Light Marsh.
Captain, do you normally have this many issues on a voyage?
No matter. I’d suggest you keep the ship well away from the dam.. She points at the cover in the banks. That foliage is the perfect place to hide, and a stuck ship makes a tempting target.
Orcs on the banks! Ambush coming!
William moves to the most likely boarding spot to bottleneck any that try to board. "All I have for range is a few spears. They shall not board this vessel."
"No but we knew this wasn't going to be an easy voyage since of what happened in Trunau." Ragg says moving back up to the Wheel and taking over. "I will keep the boat away from the damn but it will tie the crew up to keep us from running a ground."
The boat moves into the middle of the river, as it does everyone is rocked as the boat comes to a complete stop.
The water along the side of the boat continues to run, Ragg keep his feet because of holding on to the wheel. Halrex swears from below the deck, the Shaug in the Crows nest manages to only hit the side of the Crows nest since he was kneeling as well.
The Horses start as well, becoming nervous in the stables.
Lanneth is drops to the deck as the boat rocks.
She stands up looking disgusted.
I'm done with this.... Air Fairies, to me!
Suddenly the air starts to swirl around her feet.
The omlett, Yorikata is preparing in the galley lands on the floor, as well as Yorikata.
Feather Token Anchor
3 of the Orcs Rush forward towards the now stationary boat, they reach the shore and begin to climb up the side of the low boat. Yorikata from down stairs can hear the scamper up the side. Goshnakh looks at Yorikata. "We have never been attacked by orcs like this, They know you're on here and want your crew?" The last bit is almost like a question.
"I guess I'll look what's going on then." looking a last time at the spoiled eggs, she moves out of the galley and onto the deck, drawing her daggers on the way.
The Boat Rocks as a Large Clawed Hand grips the low railing from the side of the open water, Pulling itself onto the deck This giant has pale green, scaled skin and large, webbed hands and feet. On either side of its neck are slotted gills. Eyeing the Horses then those gathered the large beast sneers.
William picks himself up off of the deck and moves to a more tactical location.
William moves and sees the Large green creature. Squeezing between the rail and the stable walls.
Dain shoots the orc to the north of him
Lanneth lifts off the deck and flies forward her robes billowing out behind her. As she hangs about 20 feet above the deck right near the crows nest, she calls down curses on the large creature that just climbed onto the deck.
You are a nasty brute who raids innocent shipping, may karma pay you in full for your actions.
Dain waits till the Orc has crested the rail to loose his Arrow and strikes the Orc, it falls back off the boat and into the water. Yorikata does the same with another splash. Another Orc this one much meaner looking than the others crests the side of the boat just out of William's reach, a burn scars his face, he wields a vicious looking golden Falchion.
The purple clothed Orc boards the boat further back closer to the stables, Moving inside to give himself some cover from the Archer in the nest.
Lanneth's innate abilities don't seem to affect the Large green creature as her magic slides right off with the water dripping down onto the deck.
This is a freshwater Marrow, 1 question every 5 you beat the DC
Yorikata waits to see how William will position himself.
This is a freshwater Merrow, a kin to Ogre kind but lives in the water. They have reach of 10'
Expected attacks/Powers? (Like spell casting, grapples, etc)
Weaknesses?
If they hit with both claws them can grab you, no weaknessess
Lanneth calls out
Be careful children! That Marrow seems to resist my curses and will try to pin you down if it can get it's claws into you!
Dain moves to the north and shoots an arrow at the orc climbing up to the north
The Merrow moves forward, the smell of the creature continues to spook the horses who begin to make more nose and pull at their bonds. Getting out to where it can draw itself up to a full height, the Merrow swings a large clawed hand at William.
William drops his shield, takes a five foot step towards the great beast and swings his greataxe with all his might.
The blue Orc makes it onto the boat, moving around behind the stables and Port side, The larger Orc moves up behind William, swinging his Falchion at the back of the Human.
Lanneth seeing the situation developing below her Lanneth calls on the Night Fairies to keep the enemy from being able to flank the new knight on the ship.
Night Faries, keep him safe!