Brood frowns as he tries to avoid the massive wasps and take shelter. He asks any of his nearby crewmates, "Where'd all these wasps come from? Anyone know if this kind of swarming is normal behavior for them?"
Nim slowly realizes they're far from done, as does Magilla, who slowly backs up from his course towards the water. He pounds his chest, unhappy with being cut off from retreat.
Should cover reveal itself plainly, to even a gorilla, both Nim and Magilla beat a hasty retreat.
Cargas moves with the group, going where they go but hoping it is towards more wasps.
"Wasp soup is good, right?"
"Never had it, but I'd assume it requires some technique to avoid tinging the broth with venom, eh?"
Nimrod, you suspect the drought probably drove the wasps from their nest. They may have just stumbled on the shipyard or been attracted by the banging...
As you find cover in the Commons, along with most of your crew, you relax, pleased to be safe. A minute later, however, you hear a scream and see outside a pair of wasps seem to be carrying one of Rickety’s Squibs workers off as she cries for help. Several members of the crew watch through the windows, though others have moved away and stand with weapons drawn well away from any openings a wasp could enter through.
Bud draws a spear as he moves forward and launches it at one of the carrier wasps.
Nim follows his captain back out, preferring not to push Magilla to do anything but wait, until he sees if he can hit the small wasp injured by Budos.
When he hits, he almost regrets the possibility that the wasps return their attention to his mates and him.
Gezza stomps and fires a spear at the wasps! for damage plus 1 bleed!
Round X, Init 25
If the wasp carrier still lives after that barrage, Cargas will give chase moving 40' to try to engage.
WarAxe attack (two handed, PA, FFocus):
[ dice]1d20+6[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+4+3[/dice] damage.
Round X
Brood, still not feeling well, loads his crossbow as the rest of you rush to the rescue, Budos, Cargas and Gezza all hitting one of the wasps, though it remains alive despite the barrage.
The wasp, stung, turns its attention to the onrushing threat, stabbing the dwarf painfully with its ovipositor.
The other wasp lifts the screaming worker into the air, though its burden is clearly slowing it.
W1: 22, 1 bleed
W2:
Round X+1, Init 25
Fort vs. Poison
Cargas roars in pain as he is struck. He swings back angrily.
to hit;
damage.
WarAxe attack (two handed, PA, FFocus):
[ dice]1d20+6[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+4+3[/dice] damage.
His spear cast, Budos turns his axe on the wasp harassing Cargas and directs the crew at the one getting away. "Save the swab, we'll take this one."
Gezza runs 30 ft closer to the swab and casts levitate on him! "I'm giving you the gift of flight! Use it to direct yourself DOWN!"
Brood takes another shaky shot, this time at the wasp bearing yet another swab off toward Nethys-knows-where. He grunts under his breath as the bolt leaps from the cradle then he leans heavily into the door frame he's standing within, letting the structure support him as he labors to load another bolt.
HP: 18/18 (includes -3 max from Con damage)
AC: 14 (13 T / 11 FF) (includes -3 from Dex damage)
CMD: 15 (includes -3 from Dex damage)
F/R/W: +3/+1/+3 (+2 vs enchantment, immune sleep) (includes -3 from Dex damage)
Arcane Pool used: 0/4
Tidewater Hydraulic Push (1/day): [ ]
Besmara's Blessing (1/week): [ ]
Spells Prepared:
Cantrips (2) - acid splash, flare, read magic
Level 1 (2+1) - magic missile [X] [X], monkeyfish [ ]
Ongoing Effects
Ghoul Fever (cured): -7 Dex, -3 Con
Round X+1
Nim points Magilla in the direction of the lower wasp, hoping the ape doesn't bawk at the command. The ape trundles over, but looks more like he's pantomiming an attack, rather than actually attack.
Meanwhile, Nim takes aim on the wasp wafting upwards with its ward, but he frets some trying to target only the wasp, and not the parcel.
Round XI
Cargas and Budos swing ineffectively at the badly hurt wasp, which weaves and bobs out of the way of their blows, easily avoiding Magilla too. It stings Cargas again, the stinger emerging from the back of the dwarf's shoulder as he feels his arm start to stiffen.
The worker descends briefly, but the wasp then pulls it back up, easily hauling it higher as it begins to fly away from the buildings as Nim and Brood's shots miss badly.
W1: 23, 1 bleed
W2:
Cargas: 21, poisoned?
Gezza swears and moves as far as 30 ft to keep the wasp in range. He stomps and sends a spear at the wasp! for damage and 1 bleed!
Round XII
Nim turns to look at Magilla, making sure the ape hasn't moved anywhere closer to trouble, before pulling another arrow, and loosing it at the wasp disappearing, after moving forward to keep it within firing distance.
Nim begins a low chant, calling upon nature to lend them some help.
Round X+2, Init 25
Fort
Cargas fights back with his waraxe (two handed, PA, FFocus):
to hit;
damage.
WarAxe attack (two handed, PA, FFocus):
[ dice]1d20+6[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+4+3[/dice] damage.
Brood curses as his bolt flies wide and he hurries to take another shot, but his anger and haste spoil his followup shot even worse. He curses again.
HP: 18/18 (includes -3 max from Con damage)
AC: 14 (13 T / 11 FF) (includes -3 from Dex damage)
CMD: 15 (includes -3 from Dex damage)
F/R/W: +3/+1/+3 (+2 vs enchantment, immune sleep) (includes -3 from Dex damage)
Arcane Pool used: 0/4
Tidewater Hydraulic Push (1/day): [ ]
Besmara's Blessing (1/week): [ ]
Spells Prepared:
Cantrips (2) - acid splash, flare, read magic
Level 1 (2+1) - magic missile [X] [X], monkeyfish [ ]
Ongoing Effects
Ghoul Fever (cured): -7 Dex, -3 Con
"Defend yerself Cargas, that thing is putting more holes in you than maggoty bread" urges Budos as he continues hacking at the wasp.
Round XII
Budos cuts the creature in half as Cargas feels its poison take effect.
Nim wings the retreating wasp, but not enough to bring it down as Gezza and Brood's attacks go awry, with the wasp being pulled down again before pulling up and away with its prey, almost into the surrounding and out of range.
The worker screams out in horror as the buildings pass beneath him and he realizes his last hope of salvation is almost gone.
Brood tries another shot, but his trembling arms and sweat-blurred vision spoil the shot once again.
HP: 18/18 (includes -3 max from Con damage)
AC: 14 (13 T / 11 FF) (includes -3 from Dex damage)
CMD: 15 (includes -3 from Dex damage)
F/R/W: +3/+1/+3 (+2 vs enchantment, immune sleep) (includes -3 from Dex damage)
Arcane Pool used: 0/4
Tidewater Hydraulic Push (1/day): [ ]
Besmara's Blessing (1/week): [ ]
Spells Prepared:
Cantrips (2) - acid splash, flare, read magic
Level 1 (2+1) - magic missile [X] [X], monkeyfish [ ]
Ongoing Effects
Ghoul Fever (cured): -7 Dex, -3 Con
Round XIII
AC = 17
HP = 20/20
Weapon Equipped = Longbow
Condition(s) = Animal Aspect(Tiger)
Nim squares his shoulders, a low growl emanating from his throat. He pulls one last arrow, hoping for the best, knowing that the worker's lost to his sight, leaving little chance now for summoning an ally to the skies to fight off the wasp.
He yells at the worker out of pure frustration.
Round X+3, Init 25
Cargas, cussing, tries to pull the stinger(s) out of his skin.
"This hurts. Ah, piddlespot! This is like taking one in the jimmies!" Cargas moans and gripes.
Gezza lets out a long string of curses. He runs another 30 ft and stomps one last time, sending another spear at the wasp. for damage plus 1 bleed.
"Good shot, lad, that's a handy talent you got." Budos claps Gezza on the shoulder and moves after the bleeding wasp to retrieve the stolen worker and hopefully recruit them for the ship.
Round XIII
Gezza and Nim hit the wasp, but it's not enough as it makes off with its prey, who's unable to escape its grasp.
You retreat again and after some indeterminable amount of time, the wasps depart and people begin to emerge again from cover.
Several workers lie on the ground where they fell to the wasps, and a few were carried off by the giant vermin as they headed back into the jungle, but it seems that casualties were lighter than they could have been.
Suddenly, someone shouts an alarm and people once more scatter for cover. Looking around in expectation of more wasps, you instead see a Chelish galleon anchored in the cove and an armed party clambering onto the docks from their launch!
Despite the ship's appearance, the Chelish navy would likely not know the location of Rickety’s Squibs.
And, while the semircircle of 8 sailors in front of their captain have their weapons drawn, the members of the landing party are not garbed as Chelish marines.
The party seems more wary of attack, not preparing an offensive of
its own.
"Can this day get any worse?!?"
"Wait, they look like they're ready for someone to attack them, not for them to attack anyone. What's going on here?"
"Can this day get any worse?!?"
Cargas looks at Gezza as if sorry for suffering in front of the man. Only one of the two had taken very painful wasp stings and was complaining about the day, after all.
"There, there, Gezza," Cargas pats the deeply traumatized man on the back. "I'm sorry that me getting wounded so badly has cut you so deeply. I'll try to keep my crying to minimum over the stinging venom still coursing through me."
Cargas laughs at his own joke (because he's very funny, you see?) and looks for healing.
CLW - from wand or Nim?
CLW - from wand or Nim?
"Well, if they want more trouble, I'm ready to give it to them. You just say the word, Captain."
Nim finishes healing Cargas, making sure the wasps are well and truly gone before doing so.
When the new threat comes to pass, the half-orc's shoulders droop a little, unhappy that he no longer has healing energy, should it come to pass.
"Bud, they're not wearing Chel garb, the rags marines would wear. Lookin' more like we're dealing with more pirates, and the Chelish navy is down a ship, eh?"
Nim pats Magilla, who also seems to be feeding off the group's anxiety.
Brood stows his crossbow and rips his cutlass free as he begins to storm toward the Chelish marines, but his step stalls as Nim points out the absence of Chelish uniforms. His violent response to the threat tempered for a moment, he turns to the newly arrived group and shouts, "Identify yourselves!"
The cutlass bounces easily in his grip as he watches, ready to be put to work if Sicarius doesn't like their answer.
"Free Captain Merrill Pegsworthy," the captain replies. "And be so kind as to do the same. You're not Hake!"
"Aye, we're not Hake, yer correct about that. Cap'n Budos Kaloz, well met Captain Pegsworthy." Bud favors the new captain with a friendly grin.
"Aye, we're not Hake, yer correct about that. Cap'n Budos Kaloz, well met Captain Pegsworthy." Bud favors the new captain with a friendly grin.
"YEAH," Cargas says from Budos' side, adding his agreement to whatever sentiment Budos intended. "What the Capt'n said."
Brood's shoulders sag as the introductions are made, the tension easing and weariness from his fever settling back in. He looks back at Budos and the others and asks with a shrug, "Who's Hake?"
"And that must be the Man's Promise," Pegsworthy says, looking over the ship in drydock. "Heard stories it had been taken, and Harrigan complaining it hadn't come into port after he made such effort to get his hands on it."
Gezza grins. "Oh that's not the Man's Promise. That's the Lusty Dwarf, a prize we took from a Taldan. Unfortunately the Man's Promise sank with its Captain and first mate onboard. Dreadful tragedy."
Nim listens to Gezza throw down a little dust, hoping to confuse a trail. He bites his tongue, and pushes Magilla off, so he can get a better read on Pegsworthy.
He nods to the captain. "Saying it was the Man's Promise, sitting there, getting squibbed. How would you feel about that? You sound like you're chummy with Harrigan." The voice in the back of Nim's head growls low, sensing a threat.
"And that must be the Man's Promise," Pegsworthy says, looking over the ship in drydock. "Heard stories it had been taken, and Harrigan complaining it hadn't come into port after he made such effort to get his hands on it."
"Word travels fast, donnit?" Cargas tries to hide his shock, but largely fails. "We just done missed our window by a bit and Harrigan already has the word out, does he? Maybe he shoulda watched whom he put in charge of it then."
Cargas looks at Budos, wondering what to do, if anything.
"Maybe the Man was Promised a Lusty Dwarf, either way that be our ship now and we have no quarrel with you. Harrigan should think about changing his hiring practices, a captain who steals people from their homes has to expect they'll steal something back." Sensing an opportunity, Bud takes a chance. "You're a Free Captain, same as Harrigan, how's about a nudge to help us achieve the same? You'd have a new friend on the seas."
"The Lusty Dwarf, is she? Fair enough," the captain replies. "Harrigan's a right bastard, who doesn't get half of what he deserves, so any secrets you may have are certainly safe with me."
He thinks over Budos' comments for a moment and gives a grin.
"Can never have too many friends on the sea. I'll tell you what, when your vessel's ready, it'd be my honor to rechristen it. How's that do you for?"
It's considered good luck in the Shackles to have a Free Captain or a noble lady of good family christen a ship. Since the latter option's scarcer than hen’s teeth in the Shackles, Merrill Pegsworthy's probably your best option.
Happy to avoid any conflict and potentially make a new friend, Budos gladly accepts. "That would be great, Captain Pegsworthy, a real honor. Let me buy a round for you and yer officers. Bud dips into his own coins to pay for the drinks, a small price for a Free Captain to christen the ship.
Gezza grins at the Captain. "That is awfully kind of you, Captain. Let's get you drunk."
Seeing as how things seem to have turned from tense introductions to talk of getting folk hospitably drunk, Brood sheathes his cutlass at last. Nodding in satisfaction to Pegsworthy and the rest of his crew, Sicarius goes quiet and takes his place behind Budos once more as his weariness from fever darkens his typical scowl more than usual.
"That's a mighty fine offer," the captain agrees, his men putting up their blades. "Let me take some time to confer with my crew and get things situated and I'll meet you shortly."
He returns to the Strix, his Chelish ship, as you make your way back to the Commons. Around you, you can see Rickety’s crew getting back to their work, several hauling the few bodies away while others descend back on the Man's Promise.
You're just settling in when old Hake approaches you.
"Sorry for that disturbance there. I'ma bit worried. The Strix shouldn'ta gotten in unannounced, and I'm afraid something musta happened to my lookout. I'm shorthanded now, on accounta you poaching a few of my men and the bugs taking a few more. If you'n't mind going to take a gander at the situation, it'll let me keep my men at workin' instead of sendin' them off t'do it. I can knock a hunnert gold off the squibbin' if'n yer willin' t'do the deed."
"A hundred gold UNLESS we run into trouble. Then it's 200 knocked off."
Nim ambles up alongside Gezza. "Shouldn't be too much trouble, and it'll keep us busy for the day, I'd think."
When the rest are ready, Nim and Magilla take point, and begin the march out to the Lookout. Magilla prefers to use the trees whenever possible, lopping off the trail every once and awhile to get a better look when one presents itself.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Brood nods as Hake approaches, remaining silent and letting the others do the talking. As the errand is agreed to, the elf rises with the others and rolls his neck and shoulders with a pained but muted grunt.
When Offal begins to yammer about building a big, beautiful wall around the cove and how the pirates would be the ones to pay for it, Sicarius considers ending the dwarf with a quick flash of one of his daggers but, in the end, reins the murderous instinct in and instead contents himself to simply scowl and shake his head.