Round 1
Aeronniell once again frowns as she sees herself and her party squaring off with a band of strange, twisted men. Keeping her distance, she prays to the Dreamer to protect her companions and guide their weapons.
"Now there be a welcome sight! Look to, lassie, we're coming to yer aid!" Left-Ear begins another shanty to bolster his comrades, not to mention the beautiful pirate lass before him.
It was Fireday morn when we set sail,
And we were not so far from the land,
When our captain, he spied a mermaid so fair,
With a comb and a glass in her hand.
Oh, the ocean waves do roll,
And the stormy winds do blow.
We old sailors are skipping at the top,
While the landlubbers lie down below, below, below,
Oh, the landlubbers lie down below.
Starting a performance. Inspire courage.
One of Baolo's arrows perforates the chest of the female pirate and she snarls in anger but she still stands. Xarethi watches the back with a readied action. Left-Ear's singing along with Aero and Gruug's casting catches the attention of the two savage pirates in the back waiting to attack the female pirate and they move toward you, hunger in their eyes.
The female moaning pirate (ghost figure) and her band of three pirates also approach the party carefully...
Gruug steps forward and madly slashes at the pirate in front of him.
Gruug slices his scimitar easily through the foe, like cutting butter.
Ialda 5' steps into a spot where she can attack the closest enemy. She starts her raging ability and claws away at the pirate.
Attack
Damage
Attack
Damage
, you hit once, shredding some skin off the savage pirate but he still stands!
Gruug slashes the pirate, who tries to bite him before dying but misses...
Left-Ear continues his singing, his baritone carrying over the din of battle.
Up spoke the captain of our gallant ship
And a brave old skipper was he
"This fishy mermaid has warned me of our doom
We shall sink to the bottom of the sea
As he gets to the chorus, he holds the beginning "OH" long and loud - though only for the female savage. Her unnatural love for Vanthus has drawn his ire, and he sends his song to her to strike her down.
OH the ocean waves do roll
And the stormy winds do blow
And we poor sailors are skipping at the top
While the landlubbers lie down below, below, below
While the landlubbers lie down below
Maintaining the inspire, and casting ear-piercing scream at the female savage. She takes sonic damage and is dazed for 1 round. Fort save DC 14 for half damage and no daze.
"Keep up dat singin' mon, I tink she likes it. You an' ya boyfriend ken meet up ag'in in hell!" Baolo quickly nocks another pair of arrows and sends them flying toward the female savage.
Round 2
Aeronniell moves cautiously into the room, her aim both inspired by Desna and Left-Ear's rousing song.
She attempts to follow Baolo's lead and picks the most wounded adversary to aim at.
for
The party still faces 5 savages. The female savage moans, "Vanthus, feed me!" She moves toward Ialda and with hunger in their eyes, all four savages, including the female, gang up on the barbarian and full attack! Ialda is overwhelmed by the savagery of the 7 attacks on her and she falls before their might, her blood spraying everywhere!
The last remaining savage attacks Gruug!
Stabilization check
"Bloody Hell, Em!", 'Left-Ear' shouts, recoiling in horror as Ialda is struck down by the savages' vicious assaults. He moves forward and sings to close her wounds, heedless of the savage to his left. He continues singing, praying to Wind and Wave that these creatures don't butcher him like they did to the jade giantess.
And up speaks the mate of our gallant ship,
And a well-spoken man was he,
"Oh, I have a wife in Salem by the sea,
And tonight a widow she will be."
Oh, the ocean waves do roll,
And the stormy winds do blow.
We brave tars are skipping at the top,
The landlubbers lie down below, below, below,
Oh, the landlubbers lie down below.
Moving to -D28 and casting cure light wounds on her. Take your AoO, because I don't feel good about getting that roll off in combat. (And, if you could stop rolling crits on us, that'd be great.)
A chill ripples down Baolo's spine and for once the talkative inquisitor is bereft of words as he sees the savagery dealt to Ialda. For a moment, he considers using a spell on the half-elf but seeing Left-Ear move to heal her, he keeps his sights on the female savage and puts two more magical arrows into her. Drop ya b@!@%, jus' fall. Gotta get da numbas in our favah.
"Nooooo!!!" Gruug shouts. He swings wildly at the monstrousity in front of him and then begins moving to help his comrades.
Aeronniell observes as Ialda is torn to shreds, the voices in her head varying in the advice they provide on whether she should thin the herd of hungry brutes or to rush to the green-skinned woman's aid.
Roguish voice: It's time for heroic derring-do! ... or a strategic retreat.
Calm voice: It is no time for a mistake.
With her longbow in hand, Aeronniell judges returning Ialda to consciousness while she is surrounded by a pack of savages may not be the best course of action and aims for the one directly in front of her.
for
Ialda is stable at -2 HP, and lies there helpless, but no longer bleeding out.
Round 3: Bad guys' turn:
The savages in -E28 and 29 full attack the intrusive Left-Ear who interrupted their feast of Ialda, but apparently the bard's tunes confuse them, as they miss atrociously!
...miss
The female savage steps 5' closer and attacks Baolo with her rapier, but in her weakened state, cannot full-attack.
The other savage moves around his fellow pirates and attacks Gruug but the it bounces off the half-orc harmlessly.
The savage just wounded by Gruug tries to slice him with his scimitar
The party hears shouts from the woman in the corner, "Beautiful singing voice, you have there, my friend...Ughh..Jebediah, is that you?? Trying to eat me, huh? Well, you will have not me this day! Have at thee!" A series of thrusts later, you hear, "Aaargh! Gods damned acid! Why can't you things just die in peace?!"
Enough with th' spells an' hangin' back, ye old salt, time to get a-cuttin'.
'Left-Ear' pulls his blade in a single fluid motion, and stabs at one of the two savage pirates lunging at him. "Thank ye, lassie, feel free ta join in on th' chorus! And do yer best to not get et!"
Up spoke the bosun of our gallant ship
And a brave young man was he
"Well I've got a sweetheart at Eleder by the sea
And tonight she be weepin' for me"
Oh the ocean waves do roll
And the stormy winds do blow
And we poor sailors are skipping at the top
While the landlubbers lie down below, below, below
While the landlubbers lie down below
Attacking -E29, and continuing bard song.
Round 3
Aeronniell frowns as she watches yet another of her arrows do far less than it should against the savage monsters.
I really must get a magic bow next time we're in town...
Nonetheless, she tries to hit the beat threatening Gruug in just the right spot that magic may not matter.
for
Gruug attacks the female savage.
Baolo draws a deep breath as Left-Ear heals Ialda and he hears the confident voice of the woman fighting the horde in the corner. "Mebbe she'll fall now mon!" He takes a step toward Aero and fires off another pair of arrows.
The female savage tries to bite Gruug before she expires:
Baolo's arrow finishes the other savage, who tries to bite Gruug before dying but misses!
Bad guys' Turn:
Only three savages remain, 2 slightly wounded and one fresh!
The savage in -E28 full attacks Left-Ear!
The savage in -E29 takes a 5' step, leaving Ialda's prone body, and also attacks Left-Ear, but misses both times!
The fresh savage moves south 5' and full attacks Gruug, but cannot penetrate the half-orc's defenses!
The party hears more shouts from the woman, "Don't worry, I'll not be gettin' bit and turned into a mindless carnivore! Someone as pretty as me...it would be a disgrace if such a fate befell me! Ha!" More thrusts of rapier and dagger and another savage falls! "Two more to go and I see you have three! Let's see who finishes first!... Damn acid!"
"Five gold says we finish first, lassie!", 'Left-Ear' quips, not paying attention when the pirate slashes at him with his blade, opening a thin line of red across his sword arm. "Argh! Ye'll pay fer that, ye demon-addled bilgerat! What I do to ye be a kindness!" He parries the second blow, and returns to the first, beating his blade and striking at the man's chest with the opening created.
Up spoke the cook of our gallant ship
And a greasy old butcher was he
"I care much more for my pots and my pans
Than I do for the bottom of the sea"
Oh the ocean waves do roll
And the stormy winds do blow
And we poor sailors are skipping at the top
While the landlubbers lie down below, below, below
While the landlubbers lie down below
Focusing on the same guy as before. Just realized I hadn't been adding my own bard song to my rolls. Oh well, too late for those previous rolls, but that's fixed from hereon.
Gruug attacks the flanked foe.
Baolo takes another step deeper into the room, "Ya mon, I'll put 5 gol' on dat bet too." He takes aim at the closest one still attacking Gruug and let's another pair of arrows fly at the savage.
Round 5: Bad guys' turn
The savage in -E28 continues its personal vendetta with Left-Ear, but again the bard's singing confuses the pirate and his swings miss by a mile.
The savage in -D29, barely holding on, attacks Gruug with its scimitar, but the blow deflects off the half-orc's armor.
The previously fresh savage takes a 5' step, placing Gruug in a flank but he ignores the half-orc and full-attacks Baolo, who just wounded him, but the Mwangi fends off the attacks with his bow, as he was taught, the snarling pirate's saliva staining his tunic.
The human female yells, "I be takin' take that bet and your gold, mates! I have but two left! Easiest coin I ever made!" A series of strikes and thrusts expertly placed and another savage drops! "Damn acid...my boots!! Aaarrgh!! I've got one left to your 3! Hahaha! You'd best pay up when this is over! I hate welchers!"
'Left-Ear' ducks out of the way as the savage pirate's clumsy blow misses him. "The same go fer ye, lassie, as we'll be the ones walking out of here ten gold the richer!" The pirate slashes at the savage again, though this slice isn't as elegant as his other attacks.
Then up spoke the cabinboy, of our gallant ship
And a nasty little lad was he
"I'm not quite sure I can spell mermaid
But I'm going to the bottom of the sea"
Oh the ocean waves do roll
And the stormy winds do blow
And we poor sailors are skipping at the top
While the landlubbers lie down below, below, below
While the landlubbers lie down below
Attack my guy, once more with feeling!
Gruug tries to finally fell his target... and misses.
"Aero didja haf one jump on ya? Ya gonna cost us dis bet! An' not a nice trick ya baad boy! Get bak!" Ignoring the fact that the savage right next to him will probably manage to claw him when we shoots, Baolo stands his ground and takes a pair of point blank shots, bringing the tips nearly up to the creature before releasing the bowstring.
Round 6: Savages' Turn
Savage vs. Left-Ear misses twice!
Savage vs. Gruug: His weapon is deflected!
Savage vs. Baolo: All misses!
The female pirate yells out, "Looks like this gold is mine! Die fiend!" Another round of multiple thrusts with rapier and dagger and the savage lays dead in a pile of goo at her feet. "I win! That'll teach you to ever wager against me, Harliss Javell!! I never lose!" The woman's laughter rings through the cave.
"Don't be resting too heavily upon ye're laurels yet, cutter! There be more savages hungerin' fer flesh!" 'Left-Ear' sees his opening and thrusts his blade into the savage's throat! Sure, it was a round too late, but five gold is a pittance compared to his continued life - not to mention this beguiling mistress of the sea.
Out of bard song after this round!
Left-Ear pierces the savage's throat and easily dodges the last-ditch attempt at a bite, before it dissolves in a pile of goo. Unfortunately, neither he nor the unconscious Ialda can avoid the acid spray!
Stabilization check
Ialda sizzles a bit as acid lands upon her skin, but she appears to be barely holding onto life.
Aeronniell winces as she bears witness to the acid splashing onto Ialda's battered body and cries out in a half-panic to the others.
"No! Draw them away from Ialda before we bring them down... or else we might not be bringing her back up!"
The elf looks worriedly at the two savage brutes still between her and Ialda and sighs, knowing one of her few options is to continue to hope her arrows can penetrate their wretched skin.
for
Hearing Aeronniell, Gruug switches to the target behind him and makes a mighty swing.
Baolo concentrates his fire on the final remaining savage, knowing he might need to move again quickly to save Ialda.
'Left-Ear' howls again as the caustic sludge burns him, but he grows concerned as he notices Ialda catching a chestful of the stuff. "Hang on, Em. Ye're in a tight squeeze right now, but ol' 'Left-Ear' will guide ye back ta shore." He grabs the woman by her ankles and drags her back away from the combat.
Then three times around spun our gallant ship,
And three times around spun she.
And three times around spun our gallant ship,
And she went to the bottom of the sea.
Oh, the ocean waves do roll,
And the stormy winds do blow.
We brave tars are skipping at the top,
The landlubbers lie down below, below, below,
Oh, the landlubbers lie down below.
Dragging Ialda back as far as I can get her in a round. That'll probably provoke, but there's not much I can do for it. And this is the last round of bard song.
Baolo's arrow drops the last savage, who reaches out to bite Left-Ear before expiring but misses!
Harliss makes her way over to the party. "My, my, you have to be careful with that acid! Oh, that poor woman, her poor skin. Is it really green? How odd and yet exciting! Hope she's alive. And thanks for the help, mates!"
Gruug Channels the divine healing powers of Sarenrae into Ialda and all companions gathered around.
Ialda begins to stir, still beaten to within an inch of her life, her eyes open, as she continues to lie on her back. "Did I ever tell you how much I hate those feral monsters? I feel like I've been bashed in the head with a big ole hammer."
She moves very deliberately as she reaches into her bag and pulls one of her potions of Cure Moderate Wounds. She drinks it down.
"Ya mon, dey are baad trouble fa sure." Baolo smiles to see Ialda returning to her usual green with a little less blood showing through. "I hope dat was da last o' dem. Do ya know more o' wat happened?"
Aeronniell appraises this new woman, a pirate or privateer from her looks, and quickly smiles, trust coming easily to her.
Roguish voice: I like the looks of this one...
Of course you do, she's a woman.
The elf bows and provides a proper introduction.
"Greetings, I am Aeronniell Ithilwen. And this is Baolo... Ialda... Gruug... and that's Louis."
As each person nods, she continues, quite directly, with the question at the top of her mind.
"What are you doing in here?"
After quickly healing himself, Baolo turns his attention back to Aero's queries of the woman.
Gruug pats Ialda on the shoulder and declares, "Glad you not leave us boss. You one tough half-orc." Gruug really has no idea.
"Thanks Gruug. I wish I were a little tougher. That acid about did me in! Thank you all for saving me. And Gruug, I'm your friend...not your boss," she smiles as she returns his kind pat.
Ialda turns to the stranger. "What's your business here, lady? Did I hear you were a pirate? Forgive me, but I was a little out of it after those things tried to eat me."
CLW charges
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