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Cedrick quietly outlines the strategy and points out the mans weakpoints... "For the throat, the rich lifeblood pumps along the veins just to sides of the neck underneath the chin... go for the throatonce the first has the fangs inm, the other should strike to the rear, perhaps to the thighs where the arteries equally flow crimson. - Cedrick finishes his brief strategic overview for the benefit of the summoners as their rats arrive.
Tactic: Precise Strike.
Obi finishes her incantation and a moment later a small green rip appears in space from which scurries a huge Dire Rat.
A moment later, the Rat feels empowered by Cedrick's hand signals and leaps toward the sleeping man's neck.
CDG:
Dire Rat 1 - Stealth:
Surprisingly, something else oozed out of the green rip just behind the one answering Obisyth's call. It wasn't supposed to be there, but it was. It half rolled, half lurched forward, turning itself inside out, or perhaps shedding it's skin, sucking the unnatural things it was made of back inside, unrolling fur from within to suddenly appear exactly identical to the rat that had come before it. Something tenticular writhed beneath it's skin for a moment, and then it was just a rat. It looked up at Obi with far-too-understanding eyes and began mimicking the rat she controlled.
Deader seemed kind of surprised. "I didn't know it could do that." he whispered.
Fish quickly translates Cedrick's plan to the rats. To Obi's Bite the throat. Make sure it's dead. To Deader's The legs or belly, then anything you want.
Perception (Friends):
Perception (Other Rahadoumi):
Perception (Das Cronies):
As the rat and the other thing that is both more and less than a rat slink through the dark most of the hold snores ever on. However when the furred invaders reach the Rahadoumi that is their prey, the other godless heathens begin to rouse and stir.
However the pitch black that covers the hold makes their reaction slow. Yawning "Who the fecks walking through... wait that's not... what's that smell... strike tinder"
The rat guided by Obisyth rears above the Rahadoumi that sleeps deep with bared fangs ready to strike, while the other stands ready beside. Judging by the fumblings in the dark... you'd wager that light is likely to be struck just as the hammer blow falls...
Fort Save:
The tinder is struck and light floods the room just as the rat summoned by Obisyth covers it's maw in Rahadoumi blood. The man barely twitches before passing into Pharasma's realm, and it takes another couple of beats before yells and screams sound out from the other Rahadoumi.
"Feck me... What in the hells is... Bloody things as big as a dog..." as they struggle within their hammocks to both stand and find something nearby to defend themselves. The rest of the hold begins to stir also at the yelling, and soon all will be awake.
Free of the reason it had been called, the "rat" ran towards a pile of crates and tried to slip into the shadows.
Obi's rat will take off down into the lower hold, and pop out of existence there.
Obi grabs her club and takes off down the steps toward the lower level where her rat just went.
Fish stands up and begins to gesticulate violently towards the rats. Speaking to the rats, in Rat or Infernal Get out! Run or die!
Once the rats scatter, Fish quickly moves towards the dead pirate Is he alive? I might be able to save him!
Nachni rolls out of her hammock, "What's happened?"
"Are we being attacked? What is all this noise?" Joneth follows Nachni's example, slowly getting to his feet and looking around.
The bunk rouses quickly at the commotion, though the Rahadoumi stare more at the dead man in the midst than at any threat of the rats. Those pirates friendly to you remain wary, but look to you for guidance - while those who are cronies of Scourge and Plugg look to you with a degree of unfounded suspicion. While the wheels turn in their head, they move first to secure themselves before even thinking of mounting a chase into the black after rats.
Nachni grabs her weapons, "Where'd they go?" She sets off to follow Cedrick.
Examining the body, Nothing we can do. Someone better get Scourge.
Turning to one of the Rahadoumi, He's one of yours, go tell the officers.
Obi begins to search for rats on the lower level - out of sight of questioning eyes.
With your encouragement a couple of your friends and even one of Scourge's cronies follow you below, where a frustrating couple of minutes is spent searching for rats that no longer exist. Above Scourge is sent for and he looks upon the corpse and around the room to interrogate those there. Without any evidence to the contrary and the very visceral fact that the damage was caused by rodent teeth - the death is considered a misadventure and the body given an unceremonious burial at sea... by being hoisted over the side in the dead of night.
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Come morning when you are asked to assemble, there is general discontent among the crew with respect to the death and mutterings on the risk of giant rats that may come again tonight to claim more lives. Plugg and Scourge address the crew... Scourge in particular with a sh1t eating grin on his face.
Plugg lectures "Seems last night there were a killing... and looks to be vermin that done it. However have no fear... Bootlick and his mates are going to make things right. Until further notice Bootlick, Deader, Obisyth, Joneth, Fish and Nachni - you're all on ratting duty. I expect to see results by the end of the day... if you want to see daylight on this voyage again."
I like this plan.
Fish keeps an ear out for the chittering voices of rats, just in case.
Nachni scowls at Plugg's direction, still frustrated at not getting a chance to get back into the rigging since joining the crew of the Man's Promise. Still, she resolves to do everything she can to see about catching a rat. They have to be here somewhere given how many were on the Wormwood. A long day later, she seems to be having even less luck than Fish.
Over the course of the day she shares with her fellow tieflings that the only spell she can think of that might help with a deception is one she can cast to make the sounds of rats, but unfortunately, there's a pretty good chance that it would be noticeable that she is casting it unless we come up with a good plan.
Obi heads down and begins to search for rats hoping to find a reasonably large one.
Survival:
Perception:
Quietly to the others: If none are on the upper floor, I could summon another rat and chase it over the side of the ship, the problem is that the rats only remain for about 12 seconds before returning home.
Luckily for the intrepid crew, their day below decks results in a great number of rats being caught... for they are hardly lacking on a ship this size. However none of those obtained share the same physical dimensions at the ones that ended the life of the Rahadoumi in the middle of the night. However the lack of light seen means that you miss some of the subtlety that passes.
Luckily, Quinn sneaks below towards evening and passes on some interesting news "Heads up, but doesn't look like Plugg's sailing fer Port Peril. Kroop's thinking they're headed fer a knock shop to try and claim the prize fer themselves." before a noise from above sends the red-haired cleric scurrying.
At the end of the day your catch is brought before Scourge and he mocks you derisively "Where's the bigguns swabs? Were ye too scared runnin from em an had to snatch up the little babies? I think ye didn't try hard enough... maybe if you had an evening in the bilges ye might have some luck"
Soon. Very soon. Fish will abide by whatever orders Scourge gives them.
Obi looks to her more charismatic companions to respond to Scourge.
She also carefully watches Scourge and his cronies trying to determine whether they have anything planned.
Sense Motive:
Cedrick puts on a false face of deference and replies "Of course sir... perhaps if you would spend the night there with us and show us how it's done? I'm sure we would do better with your attention." a glint in his eye perhaps showing that alternative instruction... perhaps with the point of a blade.
Scourge sneers and snorts "Not a feckin chance... but I'm sure Hungry can do with the company."
Nachni bites back a few choice comments comparing the rats caught so far to the size of Scourge's organ. Things will come to a head soon. This gives us a chance to make sure Hungry is ready to help.
Obi simply stares at the poor excuse for a human. I bet if we throw him overboard, the sharks will not even eat his rotten soul.