Tusara slowly regains consciousness, feeling the gentle rocking of a ships deck. It was nice being here on the Jenivere...The Jenivere!
Tusara's eyes fly open as she swifty examines her surroundings, and comes face to face with the leering face of the pirate captain. Tusara whirls around, and sees all the rest of the crew there, standing in a semi circle around her on the deck of a ship that Tusara realises isn't the Jennivere. "I told you I would find you...and take our revenge" the captain remarks menacingly with a lecherous smile before stepping forward, and his club comes down and there came such a battering that Tusara retreated into herself into the welcoming darkness...
....Coming to weighed down with manacles, her body bruised all over, dimly hearing the word "SOLD" before blacking out and then...
...feeling soothing water against her skin. Tusara glances around in confusion, smelling scented candles and exotic perfume. Drapes are pulled aside, and an elegant man dressed in rich finery approaches with a look of concern, and offering her his hand "Are you alright? Come, I will keep you safe". Tusara hesitantly attempts to reach for his hand, but to her horror feels unable to move her hands. She looks down and sees her hands have turned transparent, turning glass like, the material flowing down her body, before traveling up her neck as she opens her mouth to scream before the magic takes hold and her lips stay parted, the scream frozen for eternity as the man gives a hissing laugh, his form falling away as a serpentlike feminine creature which utters a triumphant cry...
The orb explodes in light and magic, and Knives' last thought before losing conciousness is I can't believe this is twice a treacherous woman has cost me the ship I am on...
"Where are you going Julian? We still have some time yet before we are in sight... I would think you would enjoy my presence a bit longer."
The voice is familiar, strong, sultry, brazen, aluring, and yet cold. He turns and is surprised to find a very much naked woman beside him. Besmara... Somehow he knows it is his goddess, and she smiles at him at the thought, nodding approvingly. Which makes this...
"Yes, my pet, this is my ship, the Seawraith. We have a few moments more before we reach our destination." So saying, she pulls Knives down into an embrace with a kiss...
The sensation is overwhelming... fleeting, yet seeming to last for hours. When next Julian opens his eyes, he finds he is on the deck of the Seawraith, standing next to a fully clothed Besmara, bearing down on another ship. The sails and lines of which are disturbingly familiar...
"I know that ship... that was MY ship before-" Besmara holds up a hand to silence him.
"Yes, Julian, that is indeed the Besmara's Fury. Aptly named as I am furious with her current captain. Mutineers rarely earn my respect, contrary to the commoner's beliefs, especially when against one of my anointed captains." Her eyes are steely grey as she speaks, the fury of the seas seemingly within them.
"I thought, under the circumstances, that you might wish to witness my fury against her." The smile that plays upon her lips is spiteful, cruel, malicious and cold. Almost as cold as the waves that are battering the Fury relentlessly.
As Knives watches on, the waves turn even more violent, eventually turning into a vortex, sucking the Fury down slowly into the seas as waves crash and break her masts.
"Sssutch isss the fate of all who crossss me." Besmara says, but her words are strangely serpentile. Frowning, Knives turns to see his beloved Besmara morphing into something... else...
Her skin becomes scaly, her hair turns into snakes, her fingernails elongate into claws as her legs become the body of a snake. "Do not worry, migh pet... we ssshall meet again... sssssooooon...." The last thing he notices about her as everything fades to blackness is her cold, reptilian eyes, glowing orange with hatred.... glowing in the blackness... before they close and fade to nothingness.
Ivar dreamed; the deck lurched. What great fun, better than a pony. Ivar though in his dream, He was back on the cog ‘North Trader’ memories flashing in the dream, mom had let him stay on deck, the captain said it was only a minor squall. Standing on the rail with the burly captain “don’t let the name or her ugly lines fool ya, she more sea worthy than most,” the captain looked down at the young Ivar. ” I’ll have yer family in Absolam or my name ain’t …
Ivar dreamed; the deck lurched. He watched the fleet fight through the squall. White Estrid was leading her daring longship raid against the Nidalese port of Nisroch, Ivar was flying high above, like a gull watching from a disinterested distance. He forced himself to fly lower. There she was; standing on the deck of her longship ‘The White linnorm’ , her braids flowing behind her, ‘Estrid’s pet’ wrapped around the middle mast. ..
Ivar dreamed; the deck lurched. Ingvar was with him in the faering, it was to small to have a name, Ingvar had told him. But Ivar had named it ‘the sea wolf’ the name of the ship he would captain. He stood in the bow swinging the wood cutters ax, like Ingvar had showed him. Invar held a staff, gripped like a greatsword. In the dream it happened as fast as it had in real life. ”attack” Ingvar bellowed, Ivar moved forward and he felt the sting of the oak cudgel, the immersion in the cold water. Ivar splashing to the edge of the boat still gripping the axe pulling himself into the boat, laughing ”again’….
Ivar dreamed; the deck lurched, Ivar, like a mouse on the deck of ‘The White Linnorm’ looking above him, Estrid had called for the archers to fire, pointing with her sword, the ‘Estrids pet’ still wrapped around the mast looking about lazily…
Ivar dreamed: the deck lurched. 'The Linnorm's Claw' had just beached on Chelaxian soil, captain Tavar "the Lame" was bellowing at his crew ”out you lubbers, do you think the demon worshipers are gonna line up on the gangplank just handin gold to us…’
Ivar dreamed; the deck lurched. The chelaxian ships had collided with ‘The White Linnorm.’ Ivar was looking down from the Prow back toward the deck. Chelaxians were pouring over the rail, White Estrid and her crew fending them off handily….
Ivar dreamed; the deck lurched. Ivar was standing on the deck of ‘The Jenivere’ dropping sail, catching the warm tropical current moving out to sea. Ivar was free; he was away from the farm, he was on his own, ready for what a life of adventure will lead too.
Ivar dreamed; the deck lurched. From the prow he saw a second Chelaxian ship collided with ‘The Linnorm’s claw’, White Estrid turned as she saw the Chelaxian crew pouring over the opposite deck. White Estrid called out …
Ivar dreamed; the deck lurched. He stood on the deck during a squall. It was his own long boat, “The Sea Wolf” …
Ivar dreamed; the deck lurched as the great linnorm shook himself loose from the mast, he swept his great head and men died, he put his enormous claws to work sundering multiple men in a swipe, Chelaxians jumped overboard to avoid his gapping maw. As victory was assured, White Estrid turned to the beast. Then the linnorm began to change. His draconic features becoming serpent like, his breath replace with poisonous spray, his claws and legs becoming the smooth sides of a true serpent.
Ivar once again looking down from a great height calling out through the vast distance , knowing he could not be heard. The serpent swallowed White Estrid and grew. The serpent, so large it sank ‘The White Linnorm’ Ivar screamed. The serpent grew, it destroyed White Estrids fleet and then the Chelaxians. Ivar wept. The serpent grew, It destroyed the Arch of Aroden and the city of Absalom quickly turning on the Isle of Kortos where his mother and sisters lived. Ivar screamed sobbing into his hands. When he lifted his head the growing serpent had engulfed the world, then it looked up making eye contact with Ivar…
The forest is alive with wild gibbering in a foreign tongue. Low shapes slink through the shadows as light glints from overlarge eyes. A mad cackling bursts forth from somewhere far too close.
Suddenly, a horn blast splits the air. Thundering hooves crash through the brush. Terrified squeals echo through the forest as the creatures flee.
Albrecht watches with wide eyes as a contingent of humans in shining armor and bearing alot torches pass where he cowers on the ground. A black muzzle and yellow eyes peek from under the flap on his pack. Albrecht smiles, ruffles tiny black ears and turns towards the rising sun.
The sun is a burning reptilian eye. The impossibly huge head turns and all sight is obscured by a gaping maw.
...and with a shuddering gasp, Bayani awoke, his skin bathed in sweat and the stink of fear filling his nose.
You awake to feel the tropical sun and warm sand one your body.
Merelinda and Ivar: you feel the lapping of warm waves on your legs. Someone is pinching your leg, trying to wake you up. It tickles. No wait, it HURTS!
MAP UPDATED
You open your eyes. You are on a tropical sandy beach. And you are under attack from several large lobster like creatures with stinging scorpion tales...
Ivar awakens, startled, cutting off a scream, as he is looking into the eyes of a creature. Not a snake, but a lobster-like creature that appears to have a scorpion’s tail. He jumps to his feet, pulling a dagger from his boot …
a beach, we survived the snake…that was a dream…we were on ship…the captain…how many..
Ivars thoughts are a jumble as he looks around the beach attempting to separate himself from the creature.
Bayani sits up with a start, reaching for his waist to draw his daggers, finding only one in its sheath. He looks around the beach, confused.
"NOOOOOO!" With a start she jolts awake, scooting away from the pain instinctively. Merelinda glances around, disoriented, getting her bearings as she spies the scorpion-like creature next to her. The memories flood over her, then...the crashing of the ship on the reef, the colorful array emanating from the rotating egg, slipping down into the warm embrace of the sea.
So it had been a dream! She'd have time to analyze it later. For now, her brow furrows in irritation and fear as she realizes her armor and weapons are on board the dilapidated hulk of the ship still caught on the reef. Her yellow dress clings to her curves, pitiful protection against the prodding pincers and wavering stingers of the creature before her.
With a fit Knives awakens, the brightness and heat of the air and the sound of the surf jarring him from the spell induced dream.
"... and people wonder why I dislike female casters on my ships. Where in the name of the real Besmara am I?"
Opening his eyes and pulling some seaweed from his armor, Julian looks around.
Albrecht bolts upright with a gasp. He quickly looks to the sun to be sure it is not a great eye. He takes a breath and gets to his feet, shaking his head.
By Gorum's burnink eyes vat happened? Did zee ship- upon seeing the sea-scorpions zat's odd.
Nearby, yellow eyes blink open and the panther lazily stretches.
You do have on only what you were wearing when the ship sunk. But as you look around the beach you see the rest of your weapons and armor scattered about.
*snip snip* the lobster-iod creatures say nothing, only try to get LUNCH...aaagh, feeet! they think to themselves!
Julian
Merelinda
Ivar
Tusara
Mobutu
Bayani
Albrecht
Monsters
Merelinda instinctively calls upon her divine power, and suddenly there are two priestesses laying in the sand. At this point, the auburn-haired woman stands, water pouring off her in abundance. She looks the picture of seduction, curves barely concealed in the wet, clinging garment she wears. That picture is quite ruined by the monstrosity snapping at her.
Tusara ignores the gear lying in a pile and immediately fires off a ray of icy energy at the closest target
Ivar throws the dagger at the lobster-thingy that was nibbling on him
as Ivar stumbles to the pile behind him, where he saw his ax and shield, he bellow
Ack! As Ivar reaches for the bag he realizes it isn't his! It belongs to someone else...
Bartimaeus, sic'em! Albrecht points a the lobsters, moves a bit closer to Ivar, and begins casting a spell towards him.
Bartimaeus leaps at the nearest lobster-thing.
Seeing the human priestess being menaced by the monstrosity, Bayani runs forward and strikes out with his dagger. "If anyone sees my bow, or my chakrams, or even my rapier, please let me know!"
After creating her double, Merelinda sighs in relief as the elf rushes to her rescue. She backs up a step, reaching out to lightly graze her finger across his shoulder.
"May Calistria guide your blade, Bayani!"
Julian
Merelinda - activates copycat, gives Bayani a blessing
Ivar - throws a dagger but misses horribly:(
Tusara -casts RAY OF FROST for 1 freezing cold point of damage...
Mobutu
Bayani - throws a dagger at Lobster
Albrecht - casts ENLARGE PERSON on Ivar. Kittey attacks a lobster but misses.
Monsters
MAP UPDATED.
*snip snip, hiss hiss*
Not exactly sure what is going on, other than his fellow shipwreck survivors seem to be under attack by lobster/scorpion hybrids. I wonder if their tails would taste good cooked and dipped in butter... Knives shakes away the thought and draws the dagger from his other wrist sleeve. Hope that I can find that other one I threw earlier... not to mention the rest of my belongings.
Taking aim at the one between Ivar and Motubu, he throws it at it.
Lobster attacks zee Panzer...
for
for
for + Poison! Give me fortitude save please, DC13 or take constituiton damage.
Lobster moves to and attacks Tusara...
for
for
for + Poison! Give me fortitude save please, DC13 or take constituiton damage.
Lobster attacks Bayani...
for
for
for + Poison! Give me fortitude save please, DC13 or take constituiton damage.
Lobster moves to and attacks Vidar...
for
for
for + Poison! Give me fortitude save please, DC13 or take constituiton damage.
Monsters
Julian
Merelinda
Ivar
Tusara
Mobutu, 2 actions available
Bayani
Albrecht
MAP UPDATED.
The NPCs begin to wake up. They are confused and don't look like they will be much help. But might make good lobster food...
Bayani doesn't seem to notice the poison, if he was actually hit with it at all.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Tusara retreats backwards, firing off her ray of frost repeatedly as she does so, trying to whittle down the creatures health.
Merelinda sees the elf has things well in hand with their Scorpster, and moves up the beach, ending behind Tusara. She then calls upon the power of her deity, the Savored Sting using her as a conduit for Her healing energy, flowing out into her allies as Merelinda withholds it from the two Scorpsters in range that have taken damage. Her body trembles in ecstasy as the divine power radiates from her.
Ivar snarls at the crustation that snipped him, then he pulls his second dagger and stabs at the beast.
Albrecht finishes the spell, and pulls out his dagger. Fighting these weaponless creatures causes difficulties He runs towards the ocean to prepare for devious action.
Panther mauling continues amid snarls.
edit:
He heard a buzz in his ear, and Mobutu instinctively swatted it away. But it came back, only this time it was louder. With a quick flurry he swatted at it again, but it didn’t go away. He then felt a tingle on his nose, and he stirred awake. Perched there, quite innocently mind you, was a wasp. It did not take long for him to realize that it was not alone. Through his peripheral vision, Mobutu could tell the wasp wasn’t alone. Many wasps were swarming around him. He thought about getting up, but he couldn’t. He then realized he didn’t want to. He felt something in him that was slightly warm and, he noted with surprise, deeply arousing. He sighed deeply and focused his attention back to the wasp. This was a sign from Calistria, he knew it, and that’s when he saw her. No not his goddess, but something close. She was beauty that would charm anyone, she was pride that bowed to no one, she was fear that could dominate everyone, and as her insectile wings spread from her back she opened her black compound eyes and told him without a word that she had chosen him.
The rest of it was a blur. He felt her warmth, tasted honey on her breath, heard her buzzing gently in his ear. She could say I love you in five languages, he knew, but she only told him with her teeth. As he neared his release her buzzing became hisses, her wings folded into her skin and became scales, and her canines became fangs. As venom began to drip from her teeth Mobutu, lost in fear and ecstasy, suddenly found himself staring into the hot tropical sun.
He woke with his scarf in his teeth, breathing heavily and sweating, despite the climate. His pants were soiled, and he hoped to Unquenchable Fire that it was water that soiled them. As he came to he realized there were crabs… Everywhere. Equal parts disgusted and confused, he takes a roundabout way to the Lobster the panther is attacking and strikes at it with his scarf.
"Pesky creatures! So long since I have seen them!" he says, he almost sounds excited to be fighting them.
Attacking the lobster near Tusara.
Monsters
Julian
Merelinda - selective channel, healing allies within range for 5.
Ivar - missed. And misses his axe:(
Tusara - that ray of frost misses. But she makes her save and resists poison!
Mobutu - lays waste to the scorpioid near Tusara
Bayani - hit! for 5…(poison is only in stinger, not claws. No save needed.)
Albrecht - PANZER SHREADS THE SCORPION TO DEATH!
Lobster attacks Bayani...
for
for
for + Poison! Give me fortitude save please, DC13 or take constituiton damage.
Lobster moves to and attacks Ivar...
for
for
for + Poison! Give me fortitude save please, DC13 or take constituiton damage.
Monsters
Julian, 2 actions available
Merelinda
Ivar
Tusara
Mobutu
Bayani
Albrecht
Julian pulls a knife from his bandolier and moves closer to the scorpid attacking Ivar ... then the next turn closes the remaining distance and attacks from behind.
Frustration at her inability to hit someone last attempt sharpens her focus, as she nails the closest lobster with a Ray of Frost.
The priestess nods in satisfaction at the surprising skill of her comrades. She winces a bit as the large, brash man is hit with both claws and catches a stinger from the lobster-thing facing him. She moves forward, placing her hand on his shoulder. "The Savored Sting will wash away your pain. Now take your vengeance!"
Albrecht steps up next to the lobster and kicks at its feet to knock it off balance.
Good, Bartimaeus next!
The panther moves to attack the next lobster.
no confirm:)
The panther mauls the poor scorpio thingy. It dies, shreiking and snipping it's pinchers...which leaves only the big one attacking Bayani...
Monsters
Julian - hits scorpio for 5, including shneakum-attacks.
Merelinda - moves behind Ivar and gives him heal-ioz.
Ivar
Tusara - ray of frost...through mobutu!
Mobutu
Bayani
Albrecht - Panther kills one...
Seeing the three creatures drop, and the couple of wounds the elf has inflicted on the fourth, Merelinda checks the pile of stuff at her feet, hoping it belongs to her.
Frustrated, Merelinda moves to the next closest likely looking stack of items.
Ah, okay! Then MAP UPDATED. It's at -13.
The lobster creature careens and rocks on it's many legs. It's very close to death now, but very hungry and continues to pinch and Bayani. (AC14, next hit kills it).
Ivar smile and begins to grow
Thank you Priestess and you Captain
Ivar attacks the lobster thing again
The scorpion freezes solid from Tusara's ray, then explodes into shards of tiny Scorpio-fragments as Ivar strikes deep with his weapon!
END COMBAT.