The time drags on as the distance closes with the smaller vessel, but it's mast grows closer with each passing moment. The pigs are slaughtered and thrown overboard in pieces, to leave a trial of bloody chum for the sharks to follow.
A call comes out from Master Scourge. All hands on the main deck! If yer not in the riggin', then get ta tha' port side an' get yer hooks an' crossbows ready! Along the port side of the ship are set several crossbows with bolts and grappling hooks, like the one that Krine trained you with.
As you near the Man's Promise, small projectiles...then two larger ones fly out from the smaller ship, only to pepper the water before the Wormwood. The two larger bolts from from ballistas mounted on the ship's sterncastle. Though not accurate at this range, they're intimidating enough to quiet some of the less seasoned sailors.
Suddenly, banks of heavy mist envelop the enemy ship! Calls of confusion ring out from the Man's promise and, though some small missile fire continues, the shots are errant and ineffective. Outlines of forms can be seen on the sterncastle and the main deck as they continue to fire at you.
"Have at it lads, and may Besmara cuddle their corpses in a watery embrace!" Moon grabs a crossbow and targets a shadowy form on the main deck of the Man's Promise.
AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 10
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1
CMD 13
HP 20/20
Bombs 0/4
Effects:
Feeling a twinge of misgiving -- I'd rather be shooting some of the people on this boat! They at least deserve it -- Louly channels her emotion into a void, picturing a burning candle flame devouring any distractions, as her father taught her. She quickly sights through the fog, gently squeezing the trigger on the crossbow.
Her heart seems to skip a beat as she sees her bolt slam into one of the enemy sailors' heads. I think he fell; I wonder if he's dead. I'm not sure if I've ever actually killed anyone before.
Damage:
Crit damage:
Init: Initiative
Ravens takes, draws, locks, and tries to fire one of the heavy crossbows.
"I've never used one of these side bows before. Hmm...' Ravens fumbles with the contraption, both for the weight and awkwardness.
Ravens takes aim at one of the figures on the stern deck. He shoots the one that most looks like Ser Bregan if he were on the boat.
to hit; (less proficiency failure, less partial cover)
damage.
Kehlysch takes advantage of everyone's focus on the other ship to draw upon his power , and sheathes his body with a field of invisible force.
Initiative:
Dorin puts his Longhammer on his back, picks up a crossbow and takes aim.
XBow ATT:
XBow DAM:
Initiative:
As the ships close, cries sound out from each side, though the concealing mists hid much of what is happening on each. Frothy whitecaps shown on the now turbulent waters as the rocking Wormwood gains ground on the now slowing Man's Promise. The call comes out from Krine, though many had already taken it upon themselves to do so. Fire!
Ravens acts immediately, but his shot flies high of its mark. Louly's bolt follows immediately after, slamming into a shadowy torso and flinging it overboard and into the frothy water. In short order, bright blossom of blood shows in the churning sea.
As Kehlysch's spell takes effect, Moon fires a bolt of his own, and is rewarded with a grunt of pain from the Man's Promise.
The snap of strings precedes a flurry of bolts from the far ship, as those within the mist fire seemingly at random upon the Wormwood. Two bolts skitter along the deck, but a third hits Kehlysch and another slams into Louly.
Dorin mutters and attempts to find a target.
Nice shot, Louly!
XBow ATT:
XBow DAM:
Crit Confirm:
Crit Dam:
"Gof'nn grah'nn!" Kehlysch snarls angrily as the bolt pierces the field of power surrounding him.
He snatches up a crossbow and fires back at the misted ship.
Attack:
Damage:
Confirm critical hit:
Damage:
Round 2
AC 17, touch 17, flat-footed 14
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1
CMD 13
HP 11/20
Bombs 0/4
Effects: Cover?
"Ow!" Louly's eyes fill briefly with tears as the pain runs through her body.
Ducking behind the railing of the ship, she quickly downs her healing draught, sighing in relief as the wound begins to knit closed.
"Keep shooting, there's no right or wrong today, just survivors or corpses feeding the sharks!" Moon fires another shot.
Ravens takes aim at one of the figures on the stern deck. He shoots the one that most looks like Ser Bregan if he were on the boat.
to hit; (nonproficient, cover)
damage;
I suck at this.
Kyson hits the deck, going prone. (+4 AC)
The Wormwood is gaining quickly on the Man's Promise now, and the waters around churn with red blood. More than one body has fallen from the deck of the merchant ship, to a presumably quick death in the shark ridden waters below.
The captain's voice bellows from the poop deck, where he stands still and quite apparently unconcerned about the crossbow fire pelting the Wormwood's deck. Keep firing!
And...you do just that. Bolts fly out from Kehlysch, Moon, and Dorin, and each slams home into a target on the far ship. Two forms fall, one tumbling off of the deck and into the frothy sea. A third seems to stumble, but remains upright.
Two bolts whistle out of the fog, both seeming to target Dorin, though the nature of the fog undoubtedly makes the shots mostly random. Each flies wide of its mark, though, leaving Dorin unscathed.
Ravens' bolt is lost in the fog as Louly takes advantage of the railings small measure of protection.
AC 17, touch 17, flat-footed 14
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1
CMD 13
HP 17/20
Bombs 0/4
Effects: Cover?
Louly pops back up for a second as she reloads, sending a bolt flying across the water between the two shops before ducking back behind the railing.
Crossbow:
Damage:
Kehlysch reloads his crossbow and fires again, this time from a kneeling position behind the rail.
Attack:
Damage:
Keep firing!? They are firing back!
Ravens reloads his crossbow, hopeful for a better result next round.
"Hey Moon! Did we win yet?"
Dorin fires again at his old boat.
Time t'be meetin' yer maker!
XBow ATT:
XBow DAM:
"We're still alive, so that's a win! Keep shooting!" Moon fires another shot.
As the boats draw closer, shapes can be seen on the far deck of the Man's Promise, gathering on the side closest to the approaching Wormwood. Another volley of bolts rips through them, and several stagger under the onslaught. Bolts from Dorin, Moon, and Louly skitter across the far deck ineffectually, though Kehlysch's bolt finds a home int he gathering crowd.
Oddly, there is no return fire as the group of sailors gather on the deck across the open sea.
As the boats draw closer, some pirates set down their crossbows and take up arms, many holding grappling hooks in their hands. Riaris Krine roars over the din. One more volley! Then, prepare to board!
Ravens stands, shouts an invective of questionable worth, shoots and prepares to board.
to hit;
damage.
"Take that! You boob-loving golly tuggers!"
Kehlysch loads and fires one last shot from his light crossbow.
Attack:
Damage:
Moon takes a last shot before dropping the crossbow and drawing his boarding axe.
AC 17, touch 17, flat-footed 14
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1
CMD 13
HP 17/20
Bombs 1/4
Effects: Cover?
The lack of return fire worries Louly, though the group all standing together is too tempting a target for her to resist -- she feels bad about possibly killing these folks, but if it's kill or be killed, she knows which she'll choose.
Mixing together a few chemicals from her pouch, she tosses a steaming beaker at one of the other men, knowing the explosion could leave the people around him with bad burns of their own.
Bomb, -2 for range: ; Damage:
(4 splash damage / Reflex save DC 14 for half)
Dorin fires, drops the crossbow and takes up his Hammer.
XBow ATT:
XBow DAM:
Someone just post a recruitment for Skull and Shackles...I would not be opposed to someone taking over. Do you want to ask them, Louly?
This gets through the weekend, and I am hiding the PbP. I am out after Sunday night.
Outta here - enjoyed it..GM Rap: please be so kind as to remove this dead game from the boards.
For what's it's worth, I had a great time with this campaign while it lasted, all the best to you GM Rapscallion and my crewmates, perhaps we'll adventure again somewhere on these boards.