Rolling on the Rivers - Team Alpha (Inactive)

Game Master Jacob Trier

From behind his iron mask, the voice of the priest who called himself Holy Ehezera is shrill with zealous outrage as he shrieks

"Blasphemy! You will praise the power of Razmir before I cut out your heathen tongue with my own knife! Ready the grappling hooks! Let their blood wash away the insult to our glorious lord!"

All four of the ruffians responds immediately, pulling in the oars. Two of them grab rope and grappling hooks, the other two raise loaded light crossbows.

I'll get a combat post up in a jiffy. If you have time before I do, feel free to roll up your own initiative and post your response to the latest developments.

- Faith Comes Barging In -

Round 1

Holy Ehezera stretches out a hand and points at captain Kale. He speaks a jumble of words, and a coruscating ray springs from his hand and hits Kale square in the chest.

The captain crumbles to the deck as his strength suddenly seems to melt away. He can barely hold on to the rudder to keep the course. Tish is about to rush to his side, but he waves her off and anyone else who tries to aid him.

Through clenched teeth, he calls out "Well, here's your chance to earn you hire. Keep my deck clean, ya hear!"

Initiative
Ehezera - 24
Genevieva - 23
Thug #4 - 22
Thug #3 - 19+
Cadoc - 19
Thug #1 - 18
Morven - 10
Thug #2 - 7++
Brenn - 7+
Coeran - 7

Genevieva is up.

Map link

Gen grins wickedly drops her oar and brings her hands up to cast her own spell - Color Spray.

I target the center of the cone on the caster hoping to catch his minions as well.

Your well out of range on that, see the map in the post above :).

When my turn comes up I'll draw my shield and my rapier. If given the chance I'll call out to the thugs. "Neighbors! You are out numbered. Ignore the sputtering fool or toss him overboard I don't care. But leave us to pass...Or Swim."

intimidate: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 (I don't want to slow anything down if I miss my turn.)

Gen grins wickedly drops her oar and brings her hands up to cast her own spell - Color Spray.

I target the center of the cone on the caster hoping to catch his minions as well.

Morven is correct, color spray only affects a 15 ft cone.

Sorry about that, was running around this weekend and posting from phone did not catch the map. Retconned action below.

Gen grins wickedly drops her oar and brings her hands up to cast her own spell - Ray of Enfeeblement.

I target the lead bully boy with the spell.

Ranged Attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Strength Drain 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Unused to casting while on the deck of a moving boat, Genevieva misjudges the angle of her spell and the ray goes wide.

miss

Two of the thugs stand by with raised crossbows while the two other ready their grappling hooks and rope.

Delay. Cadoc's action happens, although he uses two actions to get his gear ready, so no intimidate, then another delay. Morven is up.

Morven bade his time, covered by the stack of barrels upon the deck. Peering round the corner, he patiently waited for the melee to begin.

Delay until adversaries are on our ship or there is an easy way to theirs.

Am I up? Or is the last thug to act?

Acting in disciplined unison, two of the thugs hurl tethered grappling hooks at the Tatzlwyrm. Both hooks catch easily on the gunwale and the men immediately begin to pull the two vessels close together.

While they work, the other two thugs keep their raised crossbows pointed at the Tatzlwyrm.

At this rate, the two boats will be completely adjacent at the beginning of the thugs next turn. The two crossbowmen have readied actions. Brenn and Coeran are up.

Round 1 Init 7+

Brenn watches as the grappling hooks land and grab a hold of the Tatzlwyrm. Shrugging his shoulders and keeping low, he draws one of his axes and chops at one of the connecting ropes.

attack w/axe: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Status and effects:
AC 17 HP 12/12

Coeran quietly repositions himself, preparing for when the boats finish closing distance. Once at his destination next to the captain, he murmurs "Have faith, captain. They will be dealt with in short order. Do any need to be spared for any reason? Or will we hide all signs that we ever made contact with them?"

Move to J7, which I assume is a double move due to difficult terrain of climbing past/through cargo on the deck.

As Brenn moves to cut the rope, both crossbowmen fire at him. His low crouch serves him well, though. One bolt flies over him and the other slams into the side of the Tatzlwyrm with a thunk.

Brenn's axe severs the rope with ease, but the man holding it rushes to pull on the other one, and the two boats keep closing.

Captain Kale gives Coeran a look of approval, and says "Just keep them off my boat."

Hey now, what is with the thug getting to act out of turn?! :)

Hey, my shurikens don't have the range their crossbows do! I would be tempted to grab one of their grappling lines and pull them closer faster if they weren't doing such a good job of it! :)

Hey now, what is with the thug getting to act out of turn?! :)

Remember this little tid-bit?

At this rate, the two boats will be completely adjacent at the beginning of the thugs next turn. The two crossbowmen have readied actions. Brenn and Coeran are up.

Edit: nevermind - I just realized which thug you're referring to. That's just fluff.

Morven growled in frustration at Brenn's attempt to delay the glorious melee that was to come.

Remaining Divine Favor Rounds: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

As soon as the boat's close, Morven will come off delay, move in and attack.

- Faith Comes Barging In -

Round 2

Brenn's axe-work does not only attract attention from the crossbowmen, but also from the masked priest. Holy Ehezera fires another ray, this time aimed at the young gladiator. But like the bolts, the ray also fails to hit the mark.

Initiative
Ehezera - 24
Genevieva - 23
Cadoc - 19
Thugs 1-4 - 7++
Brenn - 7+
Coeran - 7

Morven - delay

Genevieva and Cadoc are up.

Gen leaps over the cargo in her way to move into position next to Cadoc.

Gen will go on full defense for the rest of the round, looking to cast her spell next round.

Cadoc holds his action until the first enemy comes in reach of his rapier then he attacks

Rapier: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 41d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

or misses completely *curses*

Still delaying.

Brenn braces for the likely second volley...

Just before the two boats slam together, both crossbowmen fire, one at Brenn and one at Morven. Both miss.

Then the final pull brings the vessels side by side. The men pulling on the rope tie it off and pull clubs. The other two drop their crossbows and also draw clubs. All four stand ready to board the Tatzlwyrm.

"For the glory of Holy Razmir!!", the masked priest shrieks, and the four men reply in a hoarse roar!

MAP LINK

Brenn, Coeran, Morven - have at it.

I should be next to Corean no?

Round 2 Init 7+

Brenn flings his ax into the nearest thug before drawing his sword...

attack w/axe: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Status and effects:
AC 16 HP 12/12

I should be next to Corean no?

Correct, I just forgot to move you.

Brenn's axe slices through the padded armor of the thug, leaving a nasty gaping wound. The man pales, but still stands.

Morven strode slowly towards the closest potential boarder, clearly giving time for the enemy to see his formidable physique headed towards them. He made a show of struggling to raise his heavy sword Gorumskaag over his head- but the facade was rapidly dropped as he effortlessly hewed through the man with a vicious downward sweep that he immediately brought up into a parrying stance.

Attack (Defensive Fighting): 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 20
Damage: 2d4 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4, 2) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 14

GORUUUUUUUUUUUUUM! the young Half-Orc roared, zealous light flaring in his eyes as he spilled blood in the name of the Lord in Iron.

AC18

The god of war and destruction hears the battle cry from his chosen servant, and rewards it. The blow cleaves the thug almost in two, and he falls backwards on to the deck of the faith barge.

Coeran smiles at the priest and flicks his wrist at him. Two slivers of sharpened steel cross the short distance between them.

Flurry of blows w/shurikens, deadly aim.

To hit 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19
Damage 1d2 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
To hit 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19
Damage 1d2 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Both shurikens strike the masked priest, one shattering his collarbone and the other tearing a nasty gash in his throat just below his mask. A large crimson splotch spreads rapidly on his robe, but he still stands.

I'll post round 3 in a bit, we just have some mechanical issues with one of the PC's to sort out first.

Reeling from his injuries, Holy Ehezera reaches into his robes and draws out a wand.

"Almighty Razmir! Heal you faithful servant that I may punish these heathens as they deserve." he shouts and waves the wand. His expression of disbelief is almost visible through his mask as the wand remains completely dormant.

Round 3

Initiative
Ehezera - 24 (done)
Genevieva - 23
Cadoc - 19
Thugs 1-4 - 7++
Brenn - 7++
Coeran - 7+
Morven - 7

MAP LINK

Having put herself in better position, Gen is now ready to unleash her arcane might.

Color Spray at the 3 remaining combatants on the other boat making sure Morven is not caught in the cone.

Genevieva unleashes a overwhelming display of color at the three ruffians, who all three crumble onto the deck, leaving only the wounded priest still standing on the faith barge.

Round 3

Coeran smiles at the effectiveness of the beautiful woman's spell. Not wanting to be outdone, Coeran bounds across to the other boat and seeks to restrain the priest.

Move (I7, I8, I9, J10). I believe the thugs are down and the priest has no weapon out, so that shouldn't be any AoOs on him.

Grapple the priest 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5.

In his haste, Coeran catches a toe on a rope behind the priest and not only fails to grab him, but nearly lurches off the boat in the process.

Cadoc steps up and attempt to stab the thug in front of him.

Rapier: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 101d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

*Are you kidding me? lol.*

Round 2 Init 7+

Brenn hops onto the faith barge (MA to G 9) and retrieves his ax.

Status and effects:
AC 16 HP 12/12

back tomorrow but feel free to bot.

Cadoc steps up and attempt to stab the thug in front of him.

[dice=Rapier] 1d20 +2; 1d6 +1

*Are you kidding me? lol.*

Cadoc, are you aware that the thugs are all unconscious from the color spray? Did you mean the priest, or do you want to take a stab at one of the prone men? Since they are helpless, you get a +4 to hit.

Not to be outdone by the Sorceress, Morven ignored the unconscious chattel before him and headed straight for Holy Ehezera. In a second display of brutal and yet skillful swordplay, Morven hacked Gorumskaag straight into the man's mask...

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
4d4 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 4) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 28

posting from iPad in an airport so forgive the clumsy formatting.

Somehow I missed that. I'll go for the priest.

Somehow I missed that. I'll go for the priest.

Morven's hit has made that rather a moot point. With the other three enemies out cold, the fight is effectively over.

The Holy Ehezera crumbles to the deck, slain instantly by Morven's mighty blow. The three surviving thugs are all disabled by the color spray.

"Well fought, all of you. You all have the right stuff for the task, that's for sure. Now, quickly, before they wake up - hack a hole in the bottom of the barge. It should sink them slowly enough for the survivors to come too and get close to shore, but leave the stranded out here. By the time they get back to Xer, we will be long gone."

Gen hops into the boat and searches Morven's kill for anything of value. "He won't be needing any of this where he is going but we may!"

Before sheathing Gorumskaag, Morven hacked a sizeable hole into the barge as instructed. When he put his sword back into his shoulder sheath, the zealous light in his eyes dimmed.

As promised, Captain Kale, I make a better warrior than an oarsman.

Coeran opens his mouth to make a verbal jab at Morven, but then nods. Can't argue with that.

While Gen starts searching for anything of value, Coeran stands guard over the knocked out thugs. If one of them awakens before Gen (and any others) are done taking valuables from the boat, he'll barrage them with non-lethal damage to put them back under.

He comments as they gather stuff "Don't forget the crossbows; those are good gold! And the priest had a wand. He pulled it out after I drew blood on him."

Brenn looks at his unwetted blade and sighs before sliding it back into his scabbard. He hops back aboard the Tatzlwyrm and makes ready with his ax to sever the remaining boarding line once everyone else is back onboard.

You had best hurry my friends, Morven has put you on the the clock! he says nodding at the water rushing in through the hole in the bottom of the faith barge.

Searching the thugs and the dead priest reveal the following items:
- 4 light crossbows with a total of 45 bolts
- 4 clubs
- 4 potions of cure light wounds
- a potion of endure elements
- a potion of touch of the sea
- an unidentified wand
- a mwk dagger
- a silver unholy symbol of Razmir
- a total of 93 gp

Brenn whistles at the pile of coins. The shake down game seems quite lucrative indeed! They couldn't have had time to intercept too many others this early in the morning huh?