Seltyn casts mage armor on himself, then shield, if there's time. (AC 21)
We can't let them board, or we'll be overwhelmed. Take out their archers and casters, if you can spot any.
Trying to spot anyone who stands out, like a captain or someone readying a scroll, spell, etc.
Lastly, he takes out his grease scroll.
Thalas readies a spell for himself if it appears they will be closing for combat.
It occurs to the wizard that this could be another illusion, too. He hopes it's not, oddly enough. He tries to note any irregularity.
Azlain's jaw twitched.
Damned boats. Damned water. Time to stop fighting fair. I tried doing things the way the stories said good people should. It hasn't worked. Time to do things my way.
As the other ship came into view and the possibility of hostile intent became clearer, Azlain had sat down and pulled a number of flasks out of his pack, then quickly tied a rope through their carry-straps, cutting off a three foot length as he finished and setting them aside before moving onto the next one.
By the time Wil had nodded to him Azlain had a good number of them looped through his belt...
As the boat draws closer, it is obvious there are two huge advantages the war galley has in its favor. It has a mass of 10x the small cargo ship. As a two story rower, it has a deck that is significantly higher than the cargo ship and it is protected with some animal hides sealed with pitch up front.
An observer in chain mail sits at the very prow less than half exposed from his height advantage. Unfortunately his armor and position are not sufficient to keep Talon's two arrows from taking him down.
Windfavor informs you that the front is reinforced and meant to ram any opposition. The rowers are at a very slow speed now, and the beat of a drum to keep rhythm carries over the water.
The drum beats faster and a flag flying a black castle on a red background is raised. A replacement observer is seen taking the place of the original observer in the prow, he is trying to be more careful and is shouting directions to the rear.
Talon's answer is the current range.
"That Standard is from the Black Citadel. Fire at will and chose your targets wisely we need to find a way to slow them down!"
Suny leaps into the water and streaks towards the enemy boat.
Seltyn whispers via message spell: Be careful, Suny.
He knew she'd go swimming at the drop of a hat, no sense arguing with her.
Wil, I can enlarge you, and you could fire that ballista twice as fast, but you'd be an easier target for them, too. It's up to you.
Every other round, rather than every 3 rounds, and no size penalty to fire it. Maybe not, given their height advantage and cover.
He casts dancing lights, shaped like a humanoid, moving underwater from the rear of our boat towards the rear of theirs at 40'/round, far enough from Suny that it won't illuminate her, and maybe draw their attention for awhile.
Don't forget the +1 from Flambeaux. It's like bless, and stacks with it, too.
Captain, we can't let them ram us. Let us know how we can help.
Windfavor perception
The captain points to a cache of flammable ammunition standing covered by catapult. "Hopefully, someone can hit that with something burning."
Windfavor also points out there is witch up on deck watching the action, but very well hidden.
"Get out our water barrel from down below, if we get rammed, we're going to need it."
As the ships bear closer, Windfavor unfurls extra sail and snaps the ship into the wind. His desperate maneuvre tries to avoid the rapidly closing boat , the enemy crew is quite good.
The galley is closing fast (100' per round), everyone gets an action at 100' and at point blank range.
The galley fires a ball that ignites upon launch, luckily it misses far right.
Seltyn goes below to get the barrel. Another thought occurs to him.
Via message: Suny, if the rowers on that boat are in chains, they're slaves. If you can manage to free some of them, a little mutiny would slow them down nicely.
Maybe we should do init. Me=6, Talon=4, Wil=2. We're rockin' that initiative!
At 100 feet, Thalas casts Bless. Immediately after and just before the galley rams home, he casts Divine Favor.
HP 27
AC 19 Touch 11 Flat 18
Spells 2nd - 1/3, 1st - 2/4
In Hands Nothing yet!
Conditions Bless, Divine Favor, Elven Banner
Don't forget the +1 from Flambeaux. It's like bless, and stacks with it, too.
This page.
message: There's a witch on that ship. Spot her and take her out!
As the ship approaches a hundred feet away Azlain ties off the last of his ropes and stares grimly at the advancing vessel.
Then he scurries up the rigging to their ship's main cross beam, waiting for the inevitable.
Suny has to make a DC 10 climb check to grab on at 100 feet and a DC15 climb check to scramble up the side.
The enemy boat is roughly 140 feet by fifty feet and its deck is about thirty feet up. The first thirty feet is covered prow, ram.
Let's do initiative and stick to it before we get crossed up again. Seltyn's bringing the water up.
You do know, the water barrel with the fresh water, it is heavy, over 100#, water ways about 9 pounds a gallon.
Seltyn may have trouble by himself.
You do know it is heavy, over 100#, water ways about 9 pounds a gallon.
Strength 12, max weight 130, carrying about 13 lbs., 14 if you add scroll cases (just scrolls and weapons). He can move 20' carrying it, so he should get to the deck this round, presuming there's a stair or ladder of some kind.
At 100' Talon puts two arrows into the witch. Some protective abilities shelter her from the full impact, but she drops below the railing.
Azlain scurries up the rigging easily reaching a better vantage point. He confirms that he can see about fifteen figures on deck. Half of them are heavily armored, the other half are slight figures with black or grey cloaks.
Suny makes the rear of the ship and climbs up a line, slipping and falling back down.
Seltyn will get the water to the deck, however he can.
So... Str Damage? Suny might not be getting on that boat.
Seltyn
Azlain
Suny
Elorin
Bannermaiden
Talon
Wil
Thalas
Enemy type 1
Enemy type 2
Initiative Order
Suny on rope near stern
Talon
Bannermaiden
Seltyn
Wil
Azlain on main mast
All Enemies
Thalas
And goes no where. "Hey there lady!" Suny calls to the other woman.
Wil holds his position at the head of the Ballista, swiveling it into position as the enemy come closer into range, upon seeing the crone he gave the foul witch a glare and began swiveling in on his target. I FEAR NO DARKNESS!
Talon goes after Suny. The bannermaiden will stand firm. If Seltyn gets the water on deck on his turn, he'll select his Protection from Evil scroll, intending to cast it on Windfavor next round. We don't want anybody trying to mess with our pilot!
Holding the banner high, the bannermaiden grabs the water barrel in an amazingly strong hand.
Splendid! Seltyn will scramble up and get next to the captain.
message: How are we holding up?
As the boat closes to ramming distance, it becomes obvious that Windfavor's maneuvre will easily miss the ram prow by a nice safety margin. It is also clear that the less maneuvrable galley will not be able to maintain an effective pursuit after the pass at the high speed. "They cannot row like that for extended periods of time.", Windfavor informs you. "Our main threat is the catapult now. They will probably get another shot at us."
Talon sees a group of four archers with flaming arrows preparing to fire and takes one out with a well-placed arrow. The remaining arrow misses and flies wide. There are three archers left. They appear to be waiting for something to unleash their volley.
Seltyn <---
Wil <---
Azlain on main mast
All Enemies
Thalas