Fish manages to summon a shadowy lash that settles around Plugg's throat, sapping his strength.
Joneth begins to attempt the climb to the deck above and makes progress.
Fish's assault upon the captain is not unnoticed, and she draws the lion's share of attention on the top deck...
Crossbow bolt: for
Spear: for
Spear: for
...catching a spear in the side.
Even Scourge abandons his position on the side of the ship, dropping his whip and drawing a wellmade handaxe...
Axe: for
...which scythes into Fish's shoulder.
While Plugg himself pulls away from the skeletons, risking their blades to hack wildly at the witch...
Cutlass: for
...his weakened arm the only thing that saves Fish from being perfuntorially gutted. As it is, the cutlass buries itself in her hip, carving a ruinous path.
The climbing Joneth is picked at by another crossbow bolt from the ship's stern...
Crossbow: for
Round 3: Promise's Crew, Obisyth, Fish, Cedrick, Joneth, Nachni, Deader + Deaders
Nachni pouts at Plugg removing himself from range after she once again fails to catch him with her spell. Instead, she crawls across the jolly boat under Joneth and attempts to take out the crossbowman on the other side of the rowboat.
The two bleeding creatures lash out at their fleeing prey.
On the other side of the ship, the dripping ghoul tears into the body of the paralyzed sailor, flaying flesh and ripping off a bite of living meat.
The zombified octogoblin covered in hooks and nets finally made it to the railing, pulling itself to the edge and looking at the living with dead white eyes. The second one followed a few feet behind.
The two bleeding creatures follow their prey
The larger one moves in behind Plugg in a sudden flurry of claws
The smaller one steps up in front of Scourge, but remains intent on Plugg.
Deader continues whistling his eerie tune, still invisible, calling more creatures from beyond the stars.
"I come to suck your blood and steal your shoes..."
Another rent in space. Another terrible creature. Another pair of tearing claws.
As the pirate's weapons savage her, Fish attempts to escape back to the sea with her prize.
Seeing her bloodied companions go down, but numerous bloody apparitions summoned by Deader arrive, Obi renews her attacks hoping to bring down one of the sailors she is facing.
Attack-club-shillelagh: <-- +1 Alter Self, +1 Shillelagh, -2 entangled
Damage:
Drawing his daggers as he moves, Joneth quickly closes the distance to Scourge and strikes, his dagger slashing at the man's side.
Fish will take a 5-foot step back to H6, cast Cure Light Wounds on herself, and hang on to the lash.
If that isn't possible, Fish will simply cast CLW and remain in place, hoping that the sailors miss and her allies can reach her in time.
Obisyth's club creases the neck of a sailor and the pirate hits the deck hard.
Fish steps back from the fray and salves her wounds as the intangible lash continues to sap at Plugg's strength.
Joneth stabs Scourge in the back, but the blade twists in his hand and cuts only shallow.
Deader's skeletal companions follow Plugg and continue to tear with claws and teeth.
The cumulative wounds and sapping of strength by Fish's lash add up and Plugg is forced to the deck... last breath rattling from his body as he falls.
The pirates still on their feet are rattled, clearly seeing that writing is appearing upon the wall at the loss of Plugg. Considering the odds still on the field... the drop their weapons and surrender.
Scourge screams at them "WHAT! Fecking prick a$!$+$%s... ah Feck it" dropping his axe and fleeing away from the bleeding skeletons and attempting to make the railing, and the sea below...
Obisyth's club creases the neck of a sailor and the pirate hits the deck hard.
Fish steps back from the fray and salves her wounds as the intangible lash continues to sap at Plugg's strength.
Joneth stabs Scourge in the back, but the blade twists in his hand and cuts only shallow.
Deader's skeletal companions follow Plugg and continue to tear with claws and teeth.
The cumulative wounds and sapping of strength by Fish's lash add up and Plugg is forced to the deck... last breath rattling from his body as he falls.
The pirates still on their feet are rattled, clearly seeing that writing is appearing upon the wall at the loss of Plugg. Considering the odds still on the field... the drop their weapons and surrender.
Scourge screams at them "WHAT! Fecking prick a*@+&#@s... ah Feck it" dropping his axe and fleeing away from the bleeding skeletons and attempting to make the railing, and the sea below...
The creatures pay no mind to surrender. They happily gorge on Plugg's unconscious body, replenishing the blood they have been constantly excreting. The ghoul likewise continues it's feast.
The little hook covered horror Deader had named Greedy looked for the nearest breathing target and dragged itself forward by it's arms, trailing dripping leathery tentacles behind it.
Deader continues whistling invisibly as he climbs up onto the boat.
Deader's disembodied voice speaks near the railing. "Are we done already?"
Not caring that Scourge is now attempting to flee, Obi swings with her club just as she knows Scourge would do in the same situation.
You will be happier as fish food that what the ghoulish whores on that island will do to you. Consider this me being charitable.
She also calls to Fish: Does he have any magic on him?
AoO:
Damage:
Obi's poor aim unfortunately is wide because of the net she is tangled in.
Scourge evades Obisyth's swipe and makes it to the comparative safety of the sea unhindered.
Deader looks at the fleeing Scourge and shakes his head. "No, I don't think I want him to get away..."
Deader doesn't even look at his unliving crewmates. Somehow they just know. As one they turn and dive into the water.
Deader absentmindedly picks up Scourge's dropped whip.
"...he hasn't had his turn on the mast yet."
Obi steps to the side of the ship and casts Detect Magic to determine whether Scourge has any magic worth chasing.
"Funny, I don't remember any of us telling you to leave Scourge."
Heal:
To Obisyth's question, Not enough time to tell, but seems likely. I can give you water breathing if you want to chase him.
Realizing that Plugg is truly dead and gone, Fish kicks the corpse in frustration. Bastard son of a whore! I'll put a bounty on your soul so high that not even the Boneyard will protect you!
Turning to the sailors, I have just lost something very precious, so unless you would like to give your own souls as replacements, gather the crew and be quick about it. Leave your weapons on the deck.
Sandra, can you help Obi with Cedrick? Once the sailors have gone below decks, Fish addresses the group. I know little about ships and crews, but it seems we ought to have command sorted out before everyone else arrives. So, who will be our captain? Not I.
"Although," he adds as he looks at the unconscious and bleeding form of the other tiefling, "he seems a little indisposed at the moment."
Did the minions luck out and drag him face up:
Deader's minions disappear over the side of the Promise in pursuit of Scourge and are gone for a few minutes.
Sandara joins you on the top deck shortly after and immediately goes to Cedrick, channeling the Drowner's cruel mercy to bring him back around.
She then volunteers to berate the crew into order, pointedly she makes sure the mutineers are stripped of arms and goes below with them into the hold.
Looking over Plugg's body you find: potion of cure moderate wounds, 3 screaming bolts, tidewater cutlass, masterwork cat-o’-nine-tails, light crossbow with 10 bolts, amulet of natural armor +1, bracers of armor +1, shackles of compliance, leather drinking cup, betting stash of 100 sp and 200 gp.
Then Deader's minions arrive back and pull Scourge's bedraggled corpse back up on deck. Seems he resisted, though surprisingly he isn't too bloodied... unfortunately it seemed that the zombie and ghoul didn't think to make sure his face was above water for the drag back... and his lungs filled with water.
Scourge's possessions tally up as: potion of blur, potion of cure light wounds, black adder venom (on punching dagger); leather armor, punching dagger, masterwork handaxe carved with notches for kills, shortbow with 12 arrows in leather quiver with a buttoned shutter to protect them from the elements, whip, boatswain’s call, corked dark green bottle containing 8 doses of oil of taggit, six gold teeth worth 5 gp each, hefty waxed coat with many hidden pockets, leather snuff box with a diamond stud worth 100 gp containing 1 dose of dark reaver powder, silver wedding ring worth 25 gp, 14 pp, 29 gp.
The weapons relinquished by the pirates are mundane and serviceable, but hardly exceptional.
Slot none; Price 2,810 gp; Weight 2 lbs.
DESCRIPTION
These battered iron manacles magically adjust themselves to fit around the wrists or ankles of any creature from Small to Huge size and automatically lock. A creature wearing shackles of compliance becomes more susceptible to intimidation.
Any creature attempting to intimidate or demoralize a target wearing shackles of compliance gains a +4 bonus on Intimidate checks. In addition, the holder of the manacles’ key can cast command (DC 25) on the wearer of the shackles three times per day.
Shackles of compliance have hardness 10 and 10 hit points, and a DC 30 Disable Device check is required to pick the shackles’ lock. A manacled creature can break free with a DC 28 Strength check or DC 35 Escape Artist check, or the lock can be opened with a DC 30 Disable Device check.
Slot none; Price 3,395 gp; Weight 4 lbs.
DESCRIPTION
The blade of this +1 cutlass is spotted with rust, and its basket hilt is cast in the likeness of a grinning skull. Once per day, a tidewater cutlass can be used to cast hydraulic push.
When the undead crewmen drag Scourge's body back up on deck, Deader shakes his head. "I did say alive, didn't I?"
"Oh well. He'll just get to rest in the bilge With Plugg for a while before he joins the crew again."
The Promise itself looks to be in a barely seaworthy shape... the hole that the reef broke into it's side has been patched roughly but it really needs a drydock in order to do a better job of it. That being said, the vessel is also clearly identifiable as The Man's Promise... leaving you to wonder what might be the result if word slipped through and back to Captain Harrigan that his newly won prize had been liberated by a few young upstarts.
As the assessment is made, Sandara returns with some friendly faces from below decks "The bastards had bloodied and tied up those that spoke against what they were planning today... I've got the others down in the bilge awhile till you figure out whats best for them."
Looking down at the faces of the ex-crew of PLugg and Scourge, you see some worry on their faces... while is hardly helped by the bloodstained undead that are tolerated to stand beside your group... they're clearly unsure of what their part in the world is right now... and are in need of some guidance on the what now.
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"So it's like this. Things are different now, and the way I see it some of you lot had the good sense to make the most of a bad lot and did what you could to work well with the rest of us, offering help and solace, to offer the hand of at least some friendship when they could. Others, like the recent arrivals aboard, the Rahadoumi, they rejected overtures of peace, elected not to work together, only looked after themselves and their own whilst they checked which way the wind was blowing. I wonder come the next breeze whether they'd flip that way too? Were I a man given to simply be vindictive, the lot of the Rahadoumi would be keelhauled and strung behind the ship as shark bait to make a point, but I am a reasonable man and I can find some forgiveness in my heart, I am not a stupid opportunist like Scourge and Plugg, and whilst there must always be discipline, there must also be some sense, a view to the bigger picture... petty men struggle on how to steal a loaf of bread, men with vision work out how to steal the baker."
"We sail for the nearest harbour we can limp to, and there we can decide our lot. I ask only that you consider your positions carefully, and join in working together in earnest, all the more for better pay and conditions. When we arrive in port there will be an accounting, and each hand will be paid a sum for his labours, as is fair"
"I speak only for myself and those who pledge their loyalty to me, my friends may have their own minds, and if they do, may Pharasma be kind in her judgment"
Dimplomacy
Cedrick's voice rings out across the assembled faces and he can see some nods of content and agreeance... but also some worried glances at Deader and his menagerie...
"...my friends may have their own minds, and if they do, may Pharasma be kind in her judgment"
Deader's eyes go wide for a moment and then narrow angrily at the mention of the Lady of Graves. "That b%~!+ ain't never kind. Never."
The bloody creatures finish their ghastly meal and vanish back into the folds of space and time.
The two things that were once grindylows and the Ghoulish Sailor move back to the smallboat and gut and bleed the heavy corpse of Son. Once they've lightened the massive mutant corpse they drag his body, and and two other grindylow bodies from the smallboat and down into the bilge.
Aside from an occasionally hungry glance, they completely ignore the living crew.
Deader watches the massive form of Son get manhandled down below decks. He giggles to himself and grins at his friends.
"When I wake him up, do you think he'd be better as a ramming prow or a tow boat? "
When Cedrick stands up, Obi simply stands behind him with her arms crossed watching the others for any sign that they might be considering something other than being helpful. Always in her grasp is her trusty club.
Sense Motive:
She also helps Cedrick with his assessment of the state of the ship and offers to help with any repairs.
When the cutlass is taken from Plugg.
I have skill with weapons such as this. While the scimitar that I used did not have the intricate basket, I do believe that I could use this weapon most effectively.
Can I use Warp Wood or Wood Shape to fix the hole in the ship and make it more serviceable? Also, could I make enough changes with the spell so that the ship would not be easily recognizable as the Man's Promise. For instance by changing the figurehead on the front, changing the side rails, changing the shape of doors and portholes? I can cast Wood Shape 3 times per day, so if we were to stay here in port, I could make substantial repairs or fixes. I do not want to turn it into a super-ship, just repair it so that it is mostly seaworthy, and also alter its appearance enough.
If this is going to require certain skills, please let me know so that I can put some ranks into it. Profession(sailor), or whichever else would let me fix the ship.
|
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Cedrick makes no overtures towards any of the loot, only casting an appraising eye over it whilst bearing a look of concern upon his face.
He opens a musty book from teh Captains quarters and opens to a fresh page. "How many crew aboard at present? State your names, and make your mark. Each man shall be given fair compensation, two months wages, that should pay you for what might be outstanding and settle you until we arrive at port. Should we be longer you will be paid at the daily rate for a sailing man. These terms are set until we reach port where any balance will be resolved and all hands released to do what they may." He inks the quill and stares expectantly "Well?"
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An account of the treasure taken upon the unnamed Isle and the subsequent struggles upon the ‘Wormwood’ with the traitorous crew led by the mutineers Messrs Scourge and Plugg, a summary of the bounty and spoils accumulated follows hereunder.Treasures:
Eight four-pound silver ingots (20 gp ea) – 160gp
Six gold teeth (5 gp ea) – 30gp
Silver wedding ring - 25gp,
leather snuff box with a diamond stud worth - 100gp
Scrimshaw - 250gp
Six pearls worth (75 gp ea) – 450gp
Silver spearhead -
Scrimshawed shark skull - 250gp
Ivory tusk map of the Shackles - 400gp,
Orca jaw harp - 500gp.Total 2165
Assorted Coin:
Total 656 .1
Magic of note (and sale prices)
Lesser bracer of archery - 2500
Tidewater cutlass - 1697.5
Besmaras Tricorne - 1300
Amulet of natural armor +1 - 1000
Bracers of armor +1 - 500
Anchor feather token - 25
Shackles of compliance - 1405Total 8427.5
Magic of consumable nature:
Wand of mirror image (23 charges)
3 screaming bolts
4 +1 heavy crossbow bolts
Potion of cure light wounds
Potion of cure moderate wounds
Potion of blur
Whale skull weighing 25 scrimshaw scrolls of alter self, black tentacles, blur, color spray, daylight, enlarge person, hypnotism, slow, touch of idiocy, and vampiric touch.Valuables of Mundane nature (and sale prices)
Masterwork cat-o’-nine-tails – 150.5
Masterwork handaxe - 153
Shortbow - 15
Whip – 0.5
Light crossbow – 17.5
Punching dagger - 1
(black adder venom on punching dagger)
Leather armor - 5Total 342.5
Grand total sum of bounty: 11,591gp
Miscellaneous Items and sundries
10 bolts,
12 arrows
Leather drinking cup,
Hefty waxed coat with many hidden pockets,
Boatswain’s call
8 doses of Oil of Taggit
1 dose of Dark Reaver PowderOn note of rare items – tricorne, swords and shackles:
Besmara’s Tricorne:Aura faint transmutation; CL 5th
Slot head; Price 2,600 gp; Weight 1 lb.
DESCRIPTION
This black leather tricorne hat is weather-beaten and saltstained. It grants its wearer a +2 competence bonus on Profession (sailor) and Swim checks.
If Besmara is your patron, once per day you can speak a command word to transform the hat into a small ship’s boat such as a cutter, jolly boat, or longboat. The boat is 20 feet long, has two pairs of oars and a single mast with a square sail, and can carry up to 12 passengers and crew. Upon command, or after 8 hours, the boat returns to hat form, dumping out any occupants.Shackles of Compliance:
Aura faint enchantment; CL 3rd
Slot none; Price 2,810 gp; Weight 2 lbs.
DESCRIPTION
These battered iron manacles magically adjust themselves to fit around the wrists or ankles of any creature from Small to Huge size and automatically lock. A creature wearing shackles of compliance becomes more susceptible to intimidation.
Any creature attempting to intimidate or demoralize a target wearing shackles of compliance gains a +4 bonus on Intimidate checks. In addition, the holder of the manacles’ key can cast command (DC 25) on the wearer of the shackles three times per day.
Shackles of compliance have hardness 10 and 10 hit points, and a DC 30 Disable Device check is required to pick the shackles’ lock. A manacled creature can break free with a DC 28 Strength check or DC 35 Escape Artist check, or the lock can be opened with a DC 30 Disable Device check.Tidewater Cutlass:
Aura faint evocation; CL 3rd
Slot none; Price 3,395 gp; Weight 4 lbs.
DESCRIPTION
The blade of this +1 cutlass is spotted with rust, and its basket hilt is cast in the likeness of a grinning skull. Once per day, a tidewater cutlass can be used to cast hydraulic push.