"Sonofab!&~+!" Bormann exclaims as the railing cracks and gives way. But he quickly throws himself back to safety. His footing securely under him, Bormann moves back to the broken rail and surveys the damage.
|
"Whoa! What was that? Bormann's gotta keep his manners up. We're guests!"
BB runs to the deck to help Bormann up. "Good thing your reactions were so quick, huh?"
BB can't help but stare at the broken railing.
"Whataminute... Sabotage." BB glares at the cut on the rail. "We should tell the captain immediately."
Kurag is mindful about his business in the stables and thus doesn't pay much attention to what is going on around him on the boat. Yet even in his diligent state of work it is easy to hear the snap of wood breaking and the shout from Bormann. Rushing over Kurag sees if Bormann is alright. Bormann, you ok? What happened?
Over hearing BB Kurag can't help but nod his head at the words, If what you say is true then yes we must go tell him. You and Bormann stay here and keep the area cleared till I come back with Bloodtusk.
Kurag hurries to wherever the captain is and bangs on the door or shouts to get his attention till Bloodtusk arrives and is able to be led to BB and Bormann.
Greta leaves the oars to rush over to Bormann. "Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" She begins checking him over like a mother hen until she's satisfied he's alright.
As Kurag and Greta fuss over Bormann, he brushes them off. "I am fine. Nobody has been hurt by the rail breaking. I will live to see another day and fight another fight. It will take a lot more than a bit of splintered wood to hurt me."
He hunkers down to look at what BB has found. "But I am interested in knowing who wants me to go for a swim. I may have to have a serious conversation with this villain," he adds with a dark expression.
Sergei, stoic and silent, has been doing his best to assist with the rowing, and helping to keep an eye out for any potential problems on the river.
However, when Bormann has his near-miss, he comes running, letting out a relieved sigh when he sees that Bormann is fine.
"If it is indeed sabotage, that is worrying... firstly, that someone on board is a traitor, and secondly, that they appear to know about our business enough to want to stymie us. First, though, we should get that railing fixed!"
Kurag, running to get the captain, already finds Bloodtusk handling over piloting duties to a crew member.
What in tarnation was that! he roars at Kurag. When Kurag tells him about the railing, Bloodtusk storms over and inspects the railing for himself. Running his finger over the smoothness of where the rail broke, the Captain's face turns a deep crimson.
Can't be the crew! I've known these tars for years! If this happened, it must have happened before we set sail. He turns and looks at Bormann. Yer lucky! If ya would have fallen, ya would have been those two's lunch! He then points to two large crocodiles trailing the boat.
Clearing his throat he yells, I don't believe any of ya had anything to do with this, But if I find out one of ya did, I will skin the scalawag and fly his hide from the mast whiles I keelhaul ya! This is ya only warning! He then stoms off back to the pilot house. Somebody fix that rail!
Everyone goes about their business silently until dinner time. The crew feasts on BB's meal. No one is sure if the silence is due to the broken rail or BB's culinary skills. At night the boat anchors and Bloodtusk doubles the guards.
Kurag wondered how Bloodtusk was going to react to the threat and found himself liking the half-orc captain after his outburst. Hopefully your right Bloodtusk. We may have still had our share of spies back in Trunau that would like to see us fail.
When Kurag hears of the double watch he volunteers himself for one of the shifts (not the whole night) knowing he will still get enough sleep to muck the stalls the next day.
perception on watch +2 more if orc related
The next day Kurag has to take a few more minutes of stretching to work the kinks out of his back from the long night. Still if it would help keep them safe it would be worthwhile. Moving a little slower than usual Kurag still keeps up the solid work with typical dwarven stubborness.
Take 10 on handle animal...
Lucky seems to sense Kurags doldrums as the horse playfully tries to knock him off balance a few times when Kurag turns his back. Eventually Kurag responds to the horse and gives him a good rub with the curry brush and then looks for BB to find a treat for the horse.
Sergei keeps a weather-eye out for any trouble...
Before he digs into the net hauling on the morrow, Bormann takes a close look at the repairs.
Assuming everything looks solid, he proceeds with his fishing work as before. Periodically, takes a look aft for the crocodiles to see if they're still following the boat.
@Kurag & Bormann:
perception
Kurag hauls a load of old straw out of the stables and pauses at the railing to catch his breath. Stretching a bit and rolling the neck to work the kinks out Kurag happens to look up just as a strange shape passes far over head. Squinting in the sunlight Kurag recognizes an immediate problem and calls out to the others as he notches an arrow. We got company! Drakes flying overhead and 1 of them looks like a large one. Weapons!
Bormann initially takes no notice of the draconic creatures flying overhead. But at Kurag's shouted warning, he scans the skies and picks out the flying creatures. He secures the net he was dragging and prepares himself for a fight by taking up his greataxe.
With Kurag's warning, the whole boat prepares for action.
The Alpha River Drake swoops down and attempts to carry off Lucky!
As the drake grabs the horse with its talons, The old horse tries to kick the drake, but can't get in agood position.
One of the other drakes figures Bormann might make a good mean and tries to grapple him, but fails.
The other drake tries to carry of Kurag
I spend my round getting out!
"What the devil is going on up there?!"
Sergei grabs his gear, and heads topside.
As the drake swoops in to try to snatch him, Bormann lashes out with his axe as he side-steps the drake's claws.
,
Then, as the drake readjusts following the attack, he steps in with a savage chop.
Then, as the drake readjusts following the attack, he steps in with a savage chop.
[greataxe]1d20+9
[damage]1d1+7
Sergei, BB, & Greta grab their gear and head to the top of the deck. After the drake tried to carry off Bormann, Bormann causes the creature to re=think that strategy with a savage cut from his axe.
In the grip of claws Kurag can only think to try and escape from the grasp of the drake. Twisting forcibly he tries to dislodge the claws and roll into a safer position.
CMB
Unable to shake himself free Kurag clutches his bow tightly hoping that where ever they land he will get some decent shots off. At least he will have Lucky with him.
Kurag and Lucky are soaring away. The third drake seeing that it's companions have secured dinner, decides a horse and a dwarf make a good enough meal and flies away.
Three of Bloodtusk's crew manage to throw javelins at the retreating drakes.
Two of the javelins find their mark and the drake screams in pain. Bloodtusk sees Kurag and the old warhorse recede from view. Pity! I don't know how I am going to explain to my sister how her old horse died.
"You're not getting away that easily!" Bormann shouts as he takes a parting shot at the drake.
Kurag finds himself in. A real predicament as he and his future horse seem to be in the clutches of the river drakes. With out much left to do Kurag uses his left hand to hold his bow as he draws his dagger and plunges it at the drake holding him.
Dagger attack for
Kurag grinned in grim satisfaction as his blade sunk deep into the beast. Kurag would keep this up till the beast died or they reached their nest. He was not about to give in without a fight and he might even take 2 of the creatures down with him before he goes.
Sergei watches, helplessly, as Kurag is carried off.
Greta fires! for damage!
Sergei feels helpless as Kurag and Lucky get further out of view. BB hurls a javelin but it lands harmlessly in the river. As the drake near Bormann tries to fly off, it gets a wicked axe cut for its troubles. As it lifts off the ground, Greta plugs it with a bolt. Kurag, grappled decides not to make the trip enjoyable for his captor and stabs it.
Two more members of the crew join in throwing javelins. One brings down Bormann's foe, two others damage the drake grappling Kurag.
Bloodtusk shouts, Alright! Everyone back to their posts! Let's get this boat going again. Who will be the new stable mucker?
Bormann grabs up his bow and though he's not a great marksman, he's not going to let a drake just up and fly away with Kurag without trying to do something about it. His shot, however, falls short.
In frustration, he drops the bow, and retorts to Bloodtusk, "No one! Because we are going to rescue Kurag." To his companions, he calls, "Mark the direction they are heading well. Keep them in view as long as you can and prepare to give chase!"
Kurag rejoices at the sight of 1 of the drakes falling to never rise again. That meant that when they reached their destination he would only have 2 of them to deal with. Not a problem thought Kurag as he tried to plunge his dagger deep into the soft underbelly of the drake once again.
dagger attack for
Greta reloads and fires! for damage!
No one else is able to hit a drake.
Bloodtusk glares at Bormann. No need to keep track of 'em as I know where their nest is! We'll help you get there but if ya want to save the stablemucker and my niece's horse - it's all on you! We'll give ya 15 minutes before we set sail again.
"Right then! Let's get to work!"
Sergei grabs an oar, and struggles to help direct the vessel to the shore.
Greta nods and grabs an oar!
Bormann returns a glare at the captain and then heads to the bank of oars to bend his back. "Kurag's scrappy. He'll hold on until we get there, he mutters darkly, more to himself than to anyone else.
Kurag took a small tumble as he was deposited in the nest with Lucky. Popping up dehind the larger drake Kurag drops his dagger and shoots 2 quick shots.
rapid shot for
second shot for
Hopefully the attacks by Kurag encourage the smaller of the 2 drakes to attack. If they could get into a fight amongst themselves then Kurag could pick off the winner after it was weakened. Unfortunately his aim was poor from the flight and both arrows missed.
second round shots...
rapid shot for
second shot for
third round shots...
rapid shot for
second shot for
His last 4 arrows were more accurate though and while not as damaging as he would have liked there was still a chance he could whittle them down and survive this.
Kurag plugs the Alpha with some arrows while the rest of the party clambors to shore and to the entrance of the nest. Fifteen minutes! Bloodtusk calls after them.
The Alpha drake is not about to back down to his lesser, but neither is he going to let his dinner keep sticking him with arrows. He turns to Kurag and a stream of caustic mucus pours from its mouth.
Reflex save
Kurag glee at plugging the large drake is short lived as the drake spits a gob of mucus at him. The usually nimble dwarf was not expecting the attack and could not dodge out of the way in time. To make matters worse the mucus caused him to be stuck to the ground. Not bout to give up he continues to fire at the drake as he encourages Lucky to move to engage the drake as well.
Rapid shot for
Second shot for
Threat for
Bring it you foul mouth beast. We are not going down so easily. I will stick in your throat and choke you to death if I have to.
Inspired by Kurag perhaps Lucky rushes forward and tries to chomp down on the drake as well.
Bite attack for
Bormann rages and charges in at the closest, living drake (currently Drake 1, I believe, but given my slot in the order, that could change).
Greta moves 20' closer and plugs the lesser drake! for damage!