The sound of calling pterodons split the greying skiy. The false dawn had begun to lighten the eastern horizon and already the flying reptiles had taken to the air to begin tehir hunt for fish and birds eggs. Interspersed amongst their mournful cries, the harsh screech of turns and gulls could be picked out as they dove amongst the ships looking for scraps and fish.
On the docks of Great Azhagur, ten large ships were already being loaded for a journey of great distance. Their nationalities could easily be determined by the difference in their rigging. Great square masted vessels of Tien Province sat alongside Lateen rigged ships of the Sun Empire. A single Ulfen longboat stood alongside the last dock, it's crew readying weapons and armour as they prepared to depart for the battlelines somewhere out on the Sallanthus plains. It was here the the immortal Sun Emperor had gone to meet the invading horde of Goblinoids and these rough northmen were there to test their mettle in battle. Their blades had been paid for and their loyalty would hold till months end. Behind them the domed roofs of white buildings peeked almost timidly above the 30 foot white walls of the city. On the warves and piers, a small town of shanty dwellings and makedo tents was only just beginning to show signs of life as the desperate refugees of a dying nation stirred from their exhausted sleep, ready to face another day of begging to gather money for passage to the northlands.
Amongst this panorama of vessels and chaotic movement, a bastion of organised loading was represented by a five masted galleon of the Chelaxian nation. The great vessel stood at nearly 1000 tons and sat well in the water as snakelike collumns of people made their way up and down the three gangplanks being used to load the ship.
Vik and Algret
You paid your fare for passage aboard the Vixen to a big Mwangi calledd Mjobo. He was first mate of teh ship but he hadn't bothered to tell you passage also required you to load and unload the ship. He merely laughed at your protestations this morning when you had fronted early to beat teh refugee crowds. His statement that you coul always swim to the Northlands had left you no argument and now you both find yourselves on the end of a barrel of apples, rolling it towards a small crane lowering stores into the belly of the ship. You are almost dead centre of the ship. Two big masts stand about 10 feet on ether side of you. The hold space is a gap of about 10 square feet and stands open. The gunrails of the mid deck stand 15 feet behind you and 25 feet ahead of you. Nearest ganglplank is directly behind you.
Paera and Bo-Dan
When Mjobo took your money for passage aboard Vixen you had no idea you had to load the ship as well. Now you both stand in line at the base of the aft most gangplank. Each of you carries a sack of grain on your shoulders, now providing you both with a heavy load in addtion to your gear. The gangplank is 20 feet long and about 5 feet wide but bows alarmingly when you walk on it.
Milhar
You signed up to move cargo this morning to check out the ship Vixen. It was the ship from your dreams and now you looked to fnd the two you had seen in your vision. You are currently carrying a crate of preserved foods (heavy load) and are walking off the foredeck ganglplank. You're about 15ft from the Forecastle of teh ship, and 20 feet from the cargo hold.
Dergo
You sailed for 5 weeks on this stinking vessel, having sigend on for a one way trip as crew on the Vixen. Now the damned first mate was making you stow cargo in the second hold before he lets you off. You are at the base of the cargo crane unhitching barrels. The space is only 8 feet but it is the biggest deck of the ship. Directly above you the open hatchway of th cargo loader is 10 feet square. Two other men are helping you. The nearest exit is 5 feet to your left into another storage compartment. Through that is a set of small stairs leading up.
A single bell tolls suddenly in the morning air. It's strident tone cutting through the brightening sky like an omen from the gods. Everywhere things seem to stop as people turn their heads to look at the great tower of Sarenraes temple, from whence the sound emerged. Time seemed to stand still for the briefest of moments. Then the Bell tolled again.
Panick erupts from the crowds on the docks and in the shanty town on the warves, sccreaming starts almost immediately. Above all of this chaos and noise, a heavy drone can be heard getting louder.
Knowledge Nature 12
The drone reminds you of a swarm of bees. Only these would have to be big bees to make such a noise.
Knowledge Local 14
he tolling of teh bell of Sarenrae is the signal that the town is under attack by a large force. It is used to call all troops to the walls imediately. Failure to comply is accompanied by the death penalty.
Milhar staggers on with his heavy load. He reaches the cargo hold and drops the crate of preserves with the rest. While he helps with the nets and ropes to lower away, Milhar takes a moment to two to look at the crew officers, especially the officers on the stern castle and quarterdeck.
He also watches to see if the captain appears on deck from his cabin.
Come on Algret almost finished. As he says that they finaly get teh barrel of apples to the crane. At the sound of the bells Vik looks up and towards the sound of the bells. As he scans the city, What is that noise? He looks to Algret and says Sounds like there will be a bardagi (fight) today, Ja. As he says this a wicked grin almost appears on his face, exposing his pointed teeth.
Is there a crow's nest on one of the masts. to get a better look at the city to see what the noise is coming from?
Dergo paused as the bells started to scream bloody murder, and the crowds to erupt into panicked ants. His arms ached, from the constants exertions on the ship. His back ached. His legs ached and his throat would probably be hoarse from cursing ever having signed on.
"Ok, pals. What now" He grunted, wiping another handful of sweat from his brow.
Milhar finishes up and moves over to Vik to help. In common he quietly speaks, "this ship will be swamped by the locals if we don't leave soon. Whatever that sound is that cannot be good."
"I am glad that the weather is good, this would not be so pleasant a days work, if wet."
He offers the others a waterskin hung from the rail, "drink anyone?"
"It looks that way," Algret replies as she reaches to her belt and unslings her warhammer.
She shakes her head smiling at Vik's grin. "Not that you mind. ButI'd rather have dirt under me"
Her left hand moves to her right breast over the hammer shaped birthmark that her armor is cut to expose.
"Torag grant us strength," she intones quickly as she looks at the actions of others on deck.
to Algret Minn vera sammála. I dag sjálfur, góðan daginn til dauður.
He nods, cracks his knuckles and follows the dwarf while reaching for his great axe.
*edit*
That saying will be referenced as a battle mantra and pretty much said before foreseeable action and only on the first battle of a day. to make it easier on us all
Like everyone else in the town, Bo-Dan turns towards the city at the sound of the bell. She had spent enough time amongst the local (1d20=20) populance that she knew the meaning behind the tolling. As the sound of the droning begins to catch her attention her knowledge (1d20=11) of things of the natural world causes a memory of something similiar to begin enter her recollection. But then she is jostled by one of the other passengers and the memory flees. Barely able to carry the large load as it is, the physically weak Monk focuses her strong will and manages to steady her burden before she and it both fall into the Ocean.
Finally making it aboard the great ship Bo-Dan gratefully deposits her load and turns to her friend "Paera, the town is under attack! The bell is only rung in times of great emergency. The Goblin army must somehow already be here! I do not know what that other strange sound is but it does not feel good."
Looking around to the others on the ship Bo-Dan is somewhat relieved to see at least a few capable looking passengers. The strangely grinning and savage looking Barbarian gives her slight pause however as she thinks to herself 'Can that one be trusted?
Turning back to her friend Bo-Dan speaks again "We shall fight if we have to dear one but I fear our best chance may be to depart. Stay here and keep an eye out while I look for the Captain. If we are to leave I want to make sure we get as many as possible aboard so I shall beg him to stay as long as he dares. Do not move! I'll be right back!"
Not waiting for an answer and moving gracefully on the slightly rocking ship like she was born to it, the fleet Monk runs off to find the Captain of the ship.
Paera had been staring at the flying reptiles, seeming to give them the attention she should have been giving her footing and her load of grain. Gods, we really need to take our time negotiating... Then she noticed the sounds.
Reaching out to aid Bo-Dan as much as she could while carrying her own load, she followed the monk onto the boat and dropped her cargo. Paera's face was grim as she nodded at Bo-Dan's warning. "Yeah...not good...not good at all..." She didn't want her departure to be like this.
She took in the sight. A lot of strange customers all around. Some of them looked ready for a scrap. That one in particular... she thought as she spotted the barbarian. Tapping her finger axiously on the hilt of her rapier, she kept her eyes on the docks. There was no way they could take everyone onboard, but if they could take as many as they could... Her stomach twisted at the thought of what was to come.
She forced some cheer into her voice as she called out after Bo-Dan. "Yeah! Break his jaw for me if he refuses, okay?" she joked. Gallows humor never quite tasted right to her though.
There ain't no way they'll let people on board if they just rush in though... She yelled out to the crowd. "Everybody! Please stay calm! Don't push forward, Send your children up first!" She wondered how long it would be before one of the ships crew tried to stop her.
The bell continued to toll in the morning air, filling the sky with a measured counterpoint to the growing noise of chaos and panic. Deep inside the city walls, a keening noise was beginning to sound, as of some great metal grinding and squeeling against another metal. The screams began in earnest.
On the docks a crowd of refugees began to stream from the shanty town towards the berthed ships. The crowd was large, but not yet completely panicked. People jostled and pushed as the walkway narrowed approaching the docks themselves. A makeshift barricade of wagons and crates had been placed across the dock entrance nearest to Vixen and the crowd ploughed into this like a wave smahing into rocks. Two Ghaurndi guards stood there, their spears held across their chests trying to slow the crowd and keep things calm. As the bell tolled once more they looked to each other in indecision, knowing that they should report to the walls but obviously worried about what was going to happen here if they left.
A call from the ship gave them some direction, the words of Paera bringing a point of control to the two men. The biggest one stepped onto a barrel and called loudly into the crowded area "Calm yourselves people. Let's do this in an orderly way, as befits the pople of the Empire! Those with children to the front! some of the jostling slows and a line of sorts begins to form.
On the rear deck of the ship a deep voice suddenly bellows "Don't stop loading you laggards! The bell means nothing. This city could hold for days and we have supplies to load before we take people on board". The man standing now in the doorway from the Captains quarters was broad shouldered. He had a full beard of blond hair, only starting to go grey as he approached middle age. Dark eyes peered from beneathed a tricorne hat and a beautifully crafted cutless hung at his hip. A small jungle monkey ran back and forth across his shoulders, occasionally hiding in the mans long blond hair. The animal was obviously caught up in the excitement as well.
"Mjobo, get those people working again!. At this command the big Mwangi first mate moves towards the four of you standing at the loading bay. His face has a good natured smile, causing the raised lines of his tribal tattoos to twist awkwardly. "Hey Mon, ye heard the captain. Get to your work!
Down in the loading bay, Dergo's companion turns to him and offers a small hip flask of spirits. "Well, until someone up there lowers another crate, I guess we relax again". Looking up, Dergo can see a group of people looking around nervously. Two of them looked to be readying weapons.
A cry from one of the sailors in the rigging brings a stop to all conversation.
"GREAT BESMARDA! WHAT"S THAT TO THE SOUTH!
For those on the deck or the dock
Perception DC 10
Through the gloomy morning grey, a dark mass of objects seems to be pouring over the wall in the southern docks region. Whatever they are they are large and seem to be able to fly. This mass will probably take a good minute or so to reach here
Perception DC 15
The mass of objects actually appear to be giant flying insects. A mixture of fast flying wasps and slow flying bees. The wasps seem to have small riders on them while the bees appear to carrying big baskets strapped between the pollen combs on their back legs. The wasp riders could get here more rapidly if needed.
If you make the DC 15 perception check above and meet the follwoig criteria - Vik and Algret plus anyone who makes a knowledge local DC 10
These are the dreaded wasp riders of the Horde. Used to make aerial strikes against targets and reap chaos in the battle lines of enemies. They can strike ahead of a main force and were used alot in the early days of the war to capture essential targets early.
perception1d20+5=15
Ahh, Wasp Riders. Anyone with a bow get it ready. This is going to get....uh...rough he says as he struggles to remember a word close enough to hætta (danger) in the limited common tounge
Spotting the captain right away as he comes out, Bo-Dan heads straight for him as he begins bellowing his orders. Just as she reaches him and is about to speak the cry is heard from the sailor on the rigging.
Turning to look (1d20+10=24) like everyone else, the half-elf's keen eyes can hardly believe what she sees. Having been very interested in the stories of the local (1d20=20) populance she had just heard in great detail not two nights past of the dreaded Wasp Riders of the Horde.
Fear for the safety of the innocent giving even more passion to her words the wise Monk says urgently to the big blond man before her "Captain! These are the wasp riders of the Horde! The gates mean nothing to them! We Must get as many of the defenseless on board and below decks as fast as possible! Forget the supplies, they will mean nothing to the dead! This is your ship sir and I will follow your orders but I beg you, you must save as many as you can!"
Algret lookss out in the same direction.
Vik
"There needs to be an archer in the crow's nest"
Algret
Then we best not be here at nightfall
We need an archer in the crow's nest now!! he yells at the top of his lungs, which almost sounds like a big cat roar.
Paera's eyes widened in horror. "Sweet Desna...." Hearing the strange, almost animalistic man screaming for an archer in the crow's nest, she looked at her meager shortbow and scanned the crowd. Oh gods please don't tell me I've got the best bow on the ship...
She shouted at the two guards, "Keep 'em coming up!" and bolted towards the crow's nest, grabbing the ropes and climbing upwards as quickly as she could. I wasn't expecting to be doing this again so soon..., she thought as she made her way up.
Ugh, if we had flyers we could be meeting them on even ground instead of getting picked off! Paera thought, irritated at what she saw as unfair odds. Still, she continued her ascent.
Climbing into the crow's nest, she pulled her shortbow from her back and readied an arrow, keeping her eye on the approaching horde. There's so many...Gods, be careful down there Bo...
Seeing her heartfriend climbing up alone into the crow's nest caused a lurch in Bo-dan's chest. A mixture of pride at Paera's bravery and fear for her safety made the breath catch in Bo-dan's throat for a moment.
The pretty monk looked back and forth for a moment in something almost approaching panicked indecision between the passengers waiting to board and her friend oh-so-alone up there in the crow's nest as various emotions and priorities warred in her chest. Eventually loyalty won out however as the half-elf made her decision. "Captain, again I beg you! Please heed my words and save the defenseless! We will hold them off you as long as we can!" And, making a very quick search for anything nearby she might use as extra ammo for her sling, the monk ran for the rigging.
Still feeling the need to justify her decision, at least to herself if one else, Bo-dan thought as she climbed (1d20+5=15, 1d20+5=7) ' besides, if Paera has me to protect her back she should be able to take down that many more riders'
Eventually joining her friend in the rigging Bo-dan at first looks sternly at her companion "That was foolish of you, brave, but foolish to come up here all by yourself!" immediately after though it seems she can't help herself as she breaks into a grin "Besides, you didn't think I'd let you have all the fun for yourself did you? As always Mely o' (Dear one), I have your back."
Taking out her sling with loaded bullet in one hand and her Kama in the other Bo-dan stares with grim purpose into the approaching horde...
Eventually joining her friend in the rigging Bo-dan at first looks sternly at her companion "That was foolish of you, brave, but foolish to come up here all by yourself!" immediately after though it seems she can't help herself as she breaks into a grin "Besides, you didn't think I'd let you have all the fun for yourself did you? As always Mely o' (Dear one), I have your back."
"Now and forever, ves'tacha." she replied with a wry but fond grin, using the matching word from her native tongue. As much as she wanted to be angry with Bo for placing herself in what she thought was greater danger, she felt better with the monk by her side rather than out of sight. "And you know me! Always doing something stupid!"
She glanced downwards onto the deck and docks for just a moment, to see what preparations were being made.
The captains eyes widen at the site of the approaching vermin riders. "ALL HANDS TO STATIONS. SKELNAR, GET THE GNOME AND HIS DAMN CRYSTAL WORKING!. He moves then, seemingly ignoring the half elf monk and rushing to the steerage area of the aft deck.
Mjobo however reacts differently. The big man rushes down the aft gangplank, nearly knocking a man carrying a sack of flour into the water as he goes. He screams at the two guards holding back the crowd, but his words are lost in the sudden uproar as the refugees also see the oncoming attack. With a sudden surge the the crowd presses against the barricade, the families at the front slowly being crushed by the panicked swell of those behind.
On the ship, all crew suddenly drop what they're doing and begin scaling rigging. Some are trying to unfurl sails, others are moving to unlash mooring lines. The ship is readying to depart.
Milhar moves to the rail next to the gangplank, watching all hell break loose.
Then he looks down at the baying crowd and opens his mouth, it shuts again like a mantrap. He looks around.
DM
Milhar
The ganglplanks are lashed at both ends. They're pretty heavy to move, usually taking two people to draw them onto the ship (str check 20 but you can take few rounds to do this on your own with the strength check. You'll need to cut the lines first. You could also try slashing and pushing it forwards onto the dock, but you'll need a long pole, and will need to search for one. Perception check DC 10 to find a really long gaff I guess. Slashing lines, finding gaff and pushing the gangplank off will take about half a minute. Slashing both ends and bringing it onto the ship will take a full minute. You're not sure how long it will take the crowd to get to the ship. Note there are three gangplanks at moment. I'll assume you're on the aft one unless you tell me otherwise as it was closest.
Seeing the crush of the families by the crowd, Algret moves to the edge of the gangplank. "Let them up"
As the enemy come closer she takes a small rolled piece of parchment from her component pouch, and looks again to the sky, waiting for the wasp riders to get within bow range.
Moves to the closest gangplank to help usher the people aboard. [b]Get those people up here now[b] as he reaches for one of his throwing axes and keeping a hand on his great axe, eagerly antipating battle
DM
Dergo had grasped the flask when he relaized something was coming over the walls, rather than just being in front of them. The Bell probably was some kind of alarm. He froze, his fingers still around the object. "I think we better wrap this up - got a feeling we might run off in a hurry"
Crows Nest
The view from the top of the mast is almost dizzying. From this vantage point the people on the deck seem so far away and their voices barely carry to you over th whistle of the mornign wind. The sway of the ship is far more proounced from this angle and it may play havock with your aim until you get your sea legs. . Below, Paera can see the crew begin to scrample from their posts and start to unfurl sails and change rigging. They work as a well oiled machine and seem to snap to the captains commands almost immediately.
The two of you watch as the battle on the southern piers begins to unfurl. The group of hardy Ulfen hurl javelins at the flying riders, bringing some down. The wasps buzz angrily and you can see a flight of arrows unleashed into the group. Warriors drop, but worse some start to twitch horribly as the effects of poison seem to hit their bodies. The first of the big ships suffers a similar fusilade of arrows and then the big bees arrive. Something puffs up from the deck of the ship, like a spore cloud when you accidentally kick a fungus. A group of the bees swarm the spot and the baskets they carry split, allowing a small group of goblins to jump out from each. Before long the ships crew are fully engaged in a running battle with goblins on the deck and aerial strafes from the wasp riders. The pattern contiues with three other ships until you clearly make out a group of the swarm heading your way.
Those on Deck
The corwd on the docks begins to swarm over the makeshift barricade, trampling some people below them as their panic grows. Mjobo and teh two guards grab the wheel of one of teh wagons and begin to push it aside, wdening the gap and allowing many more people to flood through. On the aft steering deck, the captain screams "NO YOU IDIOT, WE HAVN'T THE ROOM OR THE SUPPLIES FOR THAT MANY, THEY'LL KILL US ALL! but his voice doesn't carry much further than the three of you.
Within a brief few seconds the crowd has reached the nearest gangplank and begin to swarm up, people pushing others out of their way as they go. On the dock at the base of the plank, a halfling woman shielding three children gets knocked roughly from her feet and half falls from the dock. She hangs there precariously as the children begin to cry. The eldest boy reaches a hand to grab her but you doubt he has the strength to lift her.
In the storage compartment
Dergo's workmate suddenly paes as he hears the screaming from above. "Shove this, I better go check me wife and teh kids. They was playin up near the rear deck when I started" he says and quickly shimmies up the rope of the crane. As he reaches the top he is almost knocked backwards by a man carrying a bag in one hand and his child in the other. Soon there are many people running aimlessly around in your view through the loading doors.
Algret sees the woman go down and is driven to act. She closes her eyes for a brief moment and takes a deep breath. The tattoo on her breast begins to glow, enveloping her in a warm earthy haze as she thrusts her left palm towards the ground.
All within 20 feet of the dwarf maiden feel the slight tremor beneath them, hear the clanging of hammer on anvil in their ears, and as the sudden rush of well-being rises from the soles of their feet to the crown of their heads, they flicker on a primal image of the safety of a cave, enveloped in the womb of the earth. Wounds begin to heal as if they were dents pounded out on the forge, leaving the skin warm and vaguely sore.
She shouts to the guards and the first mate, "Help her damn you!!"
Crow's Nest
Bo-Dan watches (1d20+10=19) with growing horror the brutally efficent and ruthless attack by the Goblin riders. Her keen eyes manage to pick out the small yellow mushroom balls the wasp riders seem to use to direct the deployment of the bee troop carriers. Calling out to her friend "Paera! Aim for those three wasps there! If we can take them out we might be able to stop the bees from landing on our ship!" and, following her own advice, she takes aim on the closest of the three aim releases a bullet with all her skill. Initiative (1d20+4=24)
Dergo realized there was a real danger of a panic as he glanced on the deck, and saw the sheer amount of people trying to board the ship. He abandoned his loading post, and quickly clamored up towards the deck. If the situation got out of control, he'd like the chance of being able to do something about it.
Paera stared at the crush of panicked townspeople with horror. "Gods! Someone down there, help them!" she screamed before Paera's words brought her attention to the other ships.
"Right, Bo!" She took aim on the incoming wasps, preparing to follow up on Bo-Dan's attack even as she mouthed a silent prayer to Desna for those below.
Seeing how close the wasps are he puts away the throwing axe and grudginly decides to help the ship get free of the docks, in the best manner he can, he starts to help with removing of the moring lines.
Initaive 9
Perception 8
Bo-Dan sights along her arm as she winds the sling into its full momentum. With a hissing twang, the stone is unleashed and flies the full 50 feet to the nearest wasp rider, striking it fully in the chest. The creature is rocked back slightly, and then knocked again as the arrow from Paera grazes its cheek. The near fatal attacks cause the creature to panick and it jerks on the reins of the wasp, causing it pitch up and away from the great ship.
The remaining five riders sweep to either side of the ship, the strings of their bows drawn tight to their cheeks and they let fly. One of the pollen carriers launches his load at the aft of the ship, right near the steerage area. The yellow glob sails ponderously through the air before exploding in a puff of yellow. The other holds his special load, his eyes staring intently ahead. The three who fired their bows have mixed success, with only a single sailor climbing the rigging being struck. The man whinces but maages to hold on before again trying to reach his location at the top of the main mast so he can unhitch the mainsail.
Dergo reaches the upper deck just in time to see the yellow stuff hit. Some of it splashes across him. Around him all is chaos as the refugees dash towards cover or try to press through doorways in the releative safety of the companionways beyond. Alarmingly he sees the wasp riders move past him moveing furhter down the length of the ship.
The healing magic of Algret washes over the crowd and many of those pushing forwards pause briefly at the noise and the feeling. The dwarven woman watches about five or six people use the break in the mad rush to push themselves to their feet. Sadly, there are at least three who don't move.
Mjobo and the two guards are too far from the halfling woman to really assist her. The big Mwangi first mate is now carrying two human children in his arms and is using his brute strength to try and fight his way to the ship. The Guards have dropped their spears and have readied the hunting bows of the army, though how they'll fair with the jostling crowd is anyones business. The young lad desperately clings to his mothers dress, a garment made from tough Three Prong hide. His little face is red with the strain and tears stream from his eyes even as he grits his teeth with the effort. Algret is sure they are both about to topple into the water when one of the people she healed earlier reaches out to help. It is a one armed man, the flap of his shirt only recently sewed shut, indicating that he only lost the arm a brief time ago. All this flashes before the priests eyes in a few short seconds.
With a great straining of his arms, Vik pushes up on one of the mooring ropes, looped around the bollard on the main deck. The pull of the ship as it rocks on the waters makes this a difficult task but he manages to get the rope off and slides hissingly from the deck before splashing heavily into the water below. Only 5 more to go.
Seeing Vik's progress and knowing how little time is left Algret stands at the top of the gangplank a rock of calm in the ocean of chaos.
As she finishes her speech she reads the script on the parchment in her hand. The parchment crumbles to dust being taken by a breeze to swirl around her as a flickering crystalline shimmer appears around her.
After removing the first rope, Vik realizes that his axe would do the job faster. He moves to the next rope and with a mighty swing nearly embeding his axe in the post holding the rope in place as it falls into the water.
"Damn!" Paera swore as she desperately tried to keep her attention on the skies. It was painful enough to hear the screams from below. Concentrate on those flyers! Put them out of the sky and the people below will be safe! she tried to convince herself. "Bo! We need to take out those bees before they drop those goblins off!"
She took aim, picking out the closest of the bees as they arrived, and let her arrow fly with a curse and a prayer.
Bo-Dan heeds the cry of her beloved and lets fly another stone from the rapidly whirring sling. The stone moves with great force but flies horribly wide of the oncoming bees.
The wasp riders cotinue speeding along the length of the ship, reaching the bow, where the last globadier launches his load. The throw is a poor one and the yellow substance smashes as much against the side of the ship as it does the deck, but you have a feeling it may not make much difference. Three of the other riders take aim at people running around on the deck, trying to hit targets that are preparing rigging. One man, busily running some sail up the line is struck firmly in the base of the neck and slumps over the winch he was working. His leg kicks briefly against the deck then he lays very still. The last rider pulls the wasp sharply up and across the boat, expertly directing it through the rigging to take a shot at Bo-Dan as she stands whirling the sling. The arrow flies true, even getting past the extra protection of the wooden crows nest and strikes the young monk in the arm, and she can instantly feel the burn of poison flowing through her blood. . The goblin cackles delightedly.
Behind the boat, the drone of the slow moving bees continues as they move closer to the ship. The loads they are carrying are obviously heavy, as they are barely keeping in the air. However, they are moving relentlessly closer. Paera estimates they'll arrive at the ship in under 20 seconds or so.
Dergo stands stunned at the sudden chaos around him. He catches sight of the man who was helping him below decks. He is standing huddled over two small children trying to keep them protected from the mad rush of people running onto the ship. Beside him, his wife lies motionless on the deck, but from this distance the warlock cannot tell what is wrong with her. From the aft deck the captain starts shouting for people to get below decks unless they're working the ship.
Algret's voice cuts through the crowd, again causing people to pause where they are. Although she doesn't get exactly what she asked, the dwarf does notice with some relief that the pushing and shoving lessens somewhat and a few more people are able to make it on board.
Paera takes careful aim at the aproaching bees and her arrow flies true. The weapon strikes a glancing blow to the bee though, barely causing it to respond.
Vik cuts through the rope easily and then looks to the next one along. Two men are fighting terribly at this rope. One looks to be trying to lift it free of its restraint while the other pulls visciously at his hair screaming about his sister still on the docks.
Barely noticing the arrow in the heat of battle, the stoic Monk battles on while her system tries to reject the poison (1d20+3=21). Taking aim on the Goblin Bee Carrier Paera had managed to hit she lets loose (1d20+3=17, 1d4+4=5) with another bullet.
Focusing on the approaching bees Algret waits for the first to come within 30 ft and guestures quickly, a concentrated dart of acid streaking toward the creature.
"Bo!!" Paera screamed as the arrow struck her friend. She regained most of her composure when the monk seemed to simply shrug it off, though.
"Desna's eyes, girl! Be careful!" There was real fear in her voice as she turned her head back towards the gigantic bees, aiming and releasing another arrow at the closest of them.
She could feel her teeth vibrating from the things buzzing so close...
Vik decides to ignore the next line with the two squabbling people and help the lone sailor on line beyond those two. When he reaches that line he decides to again chop at it since time is of the essence.
Dergo grunted, and shook his whole body when the sticky mess hit him. He quickly began to scrub it of himself, tried to get out of it. He didn't know, what exactly it was, what the enemy exactly intended... but there was a pretty safe bet here. That bet being if they went to the trouble of dropping this onto their victims, it wasn't good for you.
Once most of the slime was brushed off, he was sufficiently angry to not care anymore about the possible repercussions. He felt the thundering anger inside his veins, focused on the closest enemy. Drew back one hand, clawed into a painful pose. Black-green fire filled his palm, and tossed it towards the goblin.
Bo-Dan's toughened body easily fights off the initial effects of the poison in her boodstream but she can still feel the cramping pain slowly moving its way up her arm. Whirling the sling for a third time, the half elf lets fly at the approaching bees again and strikes the insect with great force. The creature buzzes quite angrily and a single drop of viscous liquid suddenly gelams on the end of its large sting.
Despite the damage the bees drone onwards, their approach dogged and inevitable. By this time everyones hearing is affected by the sheer volume of the wings beating their distinctive figure eight pattern through the air. The noise grates on your nerves as it vibrates up through your jawline and sets your teeth to rattling. The effect on the crowd is startling. Rather than panicking, people suddenly begin to move in a confused daze as they clamp their hands over their ears to dull the noise.
The wasp riders, having finally finished their job of getting the yellow markers dropped on to the ship begin to cirlce in earnest, the wasps completing very tight circuits of the ship, cutting across the deck between rigging and masts as the riders begin looking for targets. One rider takes aim but before he can release his wasp strikes a tight line and tumbles crazily into the deck. The creature quickly recovers and buzzes angrily into the air but the rider remains on the deck, groggily trying to rise. An arrow streaks towards Vik and the sailor trying to undo the ropes, but flies wide. Another is unleashed at Algret, standing high on the rail to better direct the crowds and get a view of the battle. but the glowing shield around the priest defelcts the shot. Again the crows nest is targetted by the high flying rider, but the shot flies very wide.
Two more missiles streak out from the ship, one dripping and sizzling with acidic energy, the other a gleaming arrow from Paera's bow. As the two missiles hit the wounded bee it's wings finally buckle and the creature tummbles ponderously into the waters some 20 feet from the ship. You can hear screaming from the goblins trapped in the basket as the weight of the downed bee slowly drags them underwater. Their hands desperately reach through the wicker basket they're in as if seeking some divine help before the waters close over them. A ragged cheer goes up from the crowd nearby and also, you realise from the walls above. The militia have started to gather here and you can see arrows occasionally flying outwards from the wall. The problem faced by the guards up there is their shots will fall into the crowds and ships if they miss their targets, so very few people are firing in support of those on the ground.
Dergo dusts himself off and unleashes a bolt of malice and anger at one of the flying riders . It is struck heavily in the chest and staggers in the saddle, panic gripping it completely.
Ignoring the arrow that thuds into the rail beside him, Vik swings his big axe vicioulsy and sweeps through the rope. Looking up and around he realises it is now only the gangplanks and the rope he ran past that is holding the ship to the docks. The two men fighting over the rope have fallen to the dock, the sailor on the ground is slowly being strangled by the man above him as he insanely screams about his sister. The rope is unteneded.