Strae gives Jayse and Fin a wry smile. "I'm prepared to get out and PUSH if that would help." In lieu of that, Straehan grabs the other oar and starts paddling like a fiend, muttering, "I'll take pirates over this lot any day of the week."
The Bone Golem/Elemental thunders down to the shoreline and stops at the water's edge... confirming Ushari's speculation. It stops as if listening to a silent command, nods, and then pulls a massive chunk of rock and coral from the beach. It must be 8' long and weigh at least 600 lbs. It looks at it speculatively, punches the stone in half with a single blow, and bounces the remaining piece in his wagon-wheel sized palm...
Watching the Bone Golem heft the boulder, Straehan is reminded of a child debating the best way to skip a stone...
"Uh, Fin... should we do some evasive maneuvers?"
Ushari takes the helm to pilot the Mako, deciding Fin's strength would be better served in handling the sails.
She recalls every sailing trick in her mind, trying to set a zigzag course, waiting for the exact moment to alter course...
Fin puts her back into rowing, hoping to put some more distance in between the Mako and the bone golem.
The Bone Golem throws the rock awkwardly but accurately. The massive chunk of sharp coral and rock arcs through the air slowly before it slams into the hull amid-ship (near Fin, Jayse, and Straehan) with a sickening crunch and an explosion of razor-sharp coral. The three compatriots duck and avoid the flying slivers of coral and stone.
While the Mako is damaged, any lesser boat would have been holed by the blow. It is a testament to the ship-building skills of Argyl and his sons that she keeps sailing, her hull intact.
Between the desperate rowing and coaxing every ounce of wind into the sails, the Mako travels another 100' before the Bone Golem can heft the other half of the rock.
Reflex v DC:10
Mako HP: 17|30
Base AC: 4
Hardness: 5
HP: 30
AC Mod: Escalating AA from Ushari (10) assisted by Fin (+3) = 13 = +2
Total AC: 4+2=6
As the beach recedes into the distance, you see one more massive chunk of rock coming arcing out of the night but it splashes down far in your wake. As you all collapse in the boat, you hear the keening wail of the Spirit across the water - a cry of impotent rage. Her voice lashes out, almost inaudible in the distance.
"Sooner or later, I'll add you all to my bonepile!"
AC Mod: Escalating AA from Ushari (15) assisted by Fin (+3) = 18 = +3
Total AC: 4+3=7
Ushari sags down at the tiller, thankful the last rock hurled was short. The final words of the undead spirit echo in her mind long after the Mako has left the Bone Beach behind. She then turns her attention to the Mako and examines the damage done to the vessel, trying to determine whether she would survive the rest of the trip.
"What course should we set here? Should we return to Forestal for repairs, or could we sail onward?"
Ushari isn't an expert at ship construction but the Mako seems sea-worthy. There are no leaks and virtually no buckling of the wood, except where the rock hit. The damage to the hull is not close to the water-line. It might become an issue in high seas but otherwise she seems fine. But she could use some repairs when you make port.
Straehan busies himself with tossing all the bits of rock overboard and packing up the hastily gathered tents. "Well, we are maybe another four or five hours from the encampment. They might have some supplies there. Fin helped build the ship; I'm sure she can do some repairs as well."
"Maybe they can shed some light on just what the Hell that was."
It's a few minutes before Jayse is comfortable enough to sit down. And when he finally does so, it is with a heavy sigh. That fight seemed to take much more out of him than any others you've seen - including the long flight through the night a few weeks back.
He quietly speaks up, "That ghost bonelady did something to me. I feel... weak... like I've been sick for weeks or something."
Ushari waves Jayse over, pointing for Straehan to take the helm and hold their present course. She looks over him clinically, examining where on his body he was touched by the malevolent spirit.
"This does not look good..."
As they sail away, Fin takes her time assessing the damage to the Mako so she can determine what all she'll need to do to effect repairs, how long it will take, and what sort of conditions they can brave before needing to stop to make said repairs.
Combining her knowledge of the Keening Spirit with her medical skill, Ushari realises that she will need to pray for specific spells to mend Jayse and (to a far lesser extent) Fin.
Fin puts Straehan on the tiller and dives over the side to begin triaging her 'patient'. By moonlight she goes over every inch of the boat and the damaged section. She pops up briefly every few minutes, like a mermaid and spouts bursts of Aquan at Straehan before dipping out of sight again to bob up on the other side of the boat with more excited bursts of Aquan.
Fin's examination is so detailed and meticulous that by the end of it Straehan is grinning and Jayse turns to Ushari and says, "Now THAT was a medical examination. By the Light, all you did was check my eyes and poke me a bit!"
Another burst of Aquan and Fin shoos Straehan away from the tiller.
"According to the Captain, with a bit of help and the right materials, the Mako can be repaired in a week. We'll need to pull her out of the water to do it. She's confident that we are sea-worthy in anything but high surf... in which case, we will be bailing water. And we better run from any storms we see."
Jayse turns to Ushari and says, "Now THAT was a medical examination. By the Light, all you did was check my eyes and poke me a bit!"
Ushari grins at him, and mischeviously responds, "Well, if you want me to examine you further..."
"According to the Captain, with a bit of help and the right materials, the Mako can be repaired in a week. We'll need to pull her out of the water to do it. She's confident that we are sea-worthy in anything by high surf... in which case, we will be bailing water. And we better run from any storms we see."
Ushari nods, relieved they were in no imminent danger of sinking. ”Well, we could always return to Forestal for repairs if need be. I believe we could also sail to Orfallen safely as well, as long as we hug the coastline. That may be a better course of action.”
Ushari sighs and looks at Jayse, "I am sorry but the spirit directly siphoned off a portion of your life force. I can do nothing for you, this requires magic beyond my capabilities."
After another hour of sailing, with most of your valiant crew struggling to stay awake, you decide to moor the boat and sleep. You approach the rocky shore cautiously. When you feel certain you are well beyond the Keening Spirit's haunt, and no additional dangers present themselves, you drop anchor and break out your hammocks. Fin, Jayse, and Ushari quickly collapse into deep sleep leaving the gnome to fulfill his guard duty. Straehan tries his best to stay awake but the indefatigable gnome is, in fact, quite fatigable. Shortly before dawn, his eyelids close for the duration.
Jayse, Fin, and Ushari are awakened by bright sunshine striking them. After the previous night, it is an enjoyable sensation, but they quickly realise it must be as late as 10am! They spot their pint-sized guard, sleeping on the aft deck by the tiller, a negligent leg cast over it.
Jayse's slippered feet barely make a sound as he sneaks up to the sleeping gnome and - without a word of warning - tosses him overboard.
Fall asleep on guard duty, will ya?
The ever-watchful gnome sleeps on as Jayse sneaks up to him. Even as Jayse tosses him off the boat, the gnome barely stirs, only pushing lightly at Jayse's hand muttering "No, baby... show you the Venus Butterfly in the morning... costs extra."
Only when he hits the cold water does Straehan wake fully, and then he is convinced the Mako is sinking. "All hands! Start BAILING! We're taking on water!"
"Hey, next time you get tired while on watch... wake someone up." He turns back to the women, trying unsuccessfully to work the fatigue from his body, "So, what's for breakfast." He looks at the sky, "well... or brunch, anyway."
Ushari looks at Jayse, a cool look in her eyes. "I think maybe you owe the gnome an apology, we were ALL exhausted."
She leans over the side, throwing Straehan a rope, "It's OK, Straehan. Jayse was just expressing his fondness for playing pranks."
Jayse returns an unimpressed look to Ushari, "No, I'm expressing my extreme fondness for staying alive. We know we're in Reaver territory. Getting caught asleep is a death sentence. You may be fine with that... I'm not. Fatigue or no. And if anyone owed anyone an apology, it would be the guy who put us all at risk."
His blue eyes level with Ushari's, "And don't put words in my mouth... that's a quick way to follow Straehan overboard."
Ushari does not break eye contact, "I don't recall you offering to volunteer to stay awake with Straehan. As a matter of fact, I think they could hear you snoring back in Forestal."
Straehan climbs back into the boat looking like a bedraggled rat. He looks very small with his robe clinging to him like a loose skin. His tone is remorseful. "Jayse is right. Nothing bad happened but it could have and the responsibility was mine. I apologize, sincerely. It won't happen again."
"Well, I'm not sure, Ushari, but that may have something to do with the fact that I took first watch and haven't had ANY sleep tonight. I don't know... just a guess. And let's not get into pointing out each others sleeping oddities, there, girl. Might not like where that road takes you."
More than happy with Straehan's response, Jayse tosses the gnome one of his own extra white shirts... more than enough for the small guy to use as a towel. "So seriously, what do we have to eat?"
Jayse continues helping however he can, only showing any residual frustration with Ushari's reaction to his actions.
Groaning a bit at all the noise this soon after waking up, Fin yawns, stretches, and dives overboard to see if she can catch some breakfast and get some peace and quiet.
Fin quickly returns to the surface with a prize, a spotted eel similar to the one they shared with Buli nearly 3 weeks before! Straehan pats dry his hair and puts the shirt out to dry on the mast before breaking out the small hibachi and coals designed for cooking on the boat. Jayse fires up the little god-send up as the eel is filleted.
Very soon the smell of grilling eel and woodsmoke has everyone considering things far more pleasant than last night's brush with death.
"Well, I'm not sure, Ushari, but that may have something to do with the fact that I took first watch and haven't had ANY sleep tonight. I don't know... just a guess. And let's not get into pointing out each others sleeping oddities, there, girl. Might not like where that road takes you."
Ushari is about to repond with some heated words, but pauses and let's them pass unspoken. She lowers her gaze in apology, and quietly says, "I am sorry, Jayse. I know that spirit-thing wounded you badly, and you did need your rest."
She pauses, and an idea comes to her, "I wonder if Skitter would be useful in watching over us?"
Strae blinks at the suggestion. "He can certainly make noise to alert us... yeah, he might make the ideal watchman... or second watchman."
After the impromptu brunch, the valiant comrades weigh anchor and set their course. The day is again bright, the winds northerly if a bit less strong than they were for the past two days. No more than an hour after the sun crests the sky and begins his downward journey, do they catch sight of the small tent encampment tucked among the trees in a small rocky grotto at the turn of the land from North to West.
The Mako winds an open course into the grotto to give the locals a chance to assess their intent before landfall. As the boat scrapes up on the small, stony shore, Fin and Jayse jump off the bow to greet the locals and survey the scene. A small wooden sign announces the name of the encampment: Badger Lope.
Tucked amid the trees winding up the steep rocky hills are about a dozen small tents that comprise the camp, as well as two weather-beaten fishing boats. The two dozen people watching you from various spots around the camp are poorly dressed, dirt-stained, and armed. Every hand holds a weapon of some sort - save for the very young, who are few. A group of five men begin to walk cautiously towards the beach where stand our heroes.
A brown haired, brown eyed, half-elf greets you with a nod from several feet away. He seems to size you up and look over the Mako. "Afternoon, strangers. Nice boat - where did you come by her?"
Ushari hops down from the Mako after securing the lines, in case the heroes need to make a quick getaway. She notes the approach of the half-elf, who appeared to be the spokesman for the welcoming party.
She steps in front of the group and nods in response, "Good afternoon, my name is Ushari, and this is Fin, Jayse, and Straehan. and who am I addressing?"
Jayse hops off the boat after Ushari, making sure to stay a step behind her, letting the disarming young woman take the lead. His senses sweep across the strangers, searching for tell-tale signs of danger as he watches their body language and faces for anything troubling.
The half-elf raises an eyebrow at Ushari's words. "Addressing? The name is Nelton. I sorta run thing 'round here."
Not quite sure that she likes the implication of where they came by the boat or the fact that Ushari pointedly ignored the man's question, she pats the Mako and says proudly, pointing south, "Argyl build. Fin helped!"
Something in Nelton's words cause Straehan to perk up his ears. He puts his friendliest face on, hands clasped in front of himself. "To answer your question, Master Nelton, we've come from Forestal and bought the Mako from the folks there."
Nelton's eyes snap between Fin and Straehan, and his posture seems to relax somewhat. "You know Argyl? How is the old fox? Are his daughters as pretty as ever?"
Ushari reflects to herself, I really did not put my best face on here, and I must be more trusting. It is so hard for me to do so, I have little practice...
She responds to Nelton, her voice inflected to show a hint of contrition, "Master Nelton, I can assure you I wish I was as pretty as his daughters." She gives him a friendly smile, "I am glad to see you are doing all right. We sailed up from Forestal because we have heard reports of increased Reaver activity and wanted to check for any signs of them along the coast. It seems they are active now in the Amedio Sea."
Ushari reflects to herself, I really did not put my best face on here, and I must be more trusting. It is so hard for me to do so, I have little practice...especially when he lies to me like that.
She responds to Nelton, her voice inflected to show a hint of contrition, "Master Nelton, I can assure you I wish I was as pretty as his daughters...IF he HAD any daughters, that is!"
Nelton raises an eyebrow but seems to relax incrementally, as do a couple of the other men in the welcoming group. "My mistake. I could have sworn he had daughters. But I guess it is just him and his three sons."
Fin scowls a bit, although whether it's because of Ushari or the stranger you can't quite tell. She spent the better part of a week working with Argyl and his boys on the Mako, and she's pretty sure she knows his family better than anyone else here.
Hand planted firmly on her hips, she clears her throat, and she shakes her head. "No. Two!" And proceeds to call them by the same names she overheard Argyl use. She even points to the spot on the keel where all four of them used an engraving iron to burn their names when they 'signed' their work.