Magnus examines the situation and his eyes flit about the sea and ship as he searches for the solution. Finally, he jumps with excitement and approaches the captain. "I believe I have a solution to your pirate problem. I need an axe. Auric, you'll want to take off your armor for this."
Magnus explains that he will give Auric the ability to swim using his own magic. Auric will then be responsible for chopping off the rudder of the approaching ships. Unable to steer, they will inevitably veer off course and need to stop for repairs. We will be able to escape in the meantime.
Auric blinks.
"I'm... hesitant. How cold is that water? And how am I supposed to stay concealed while I wreck their ship?"
"I would think that the ships are made of sturdier stuff than an axe could handle," Stilgar objects, shaking his head. "It would also necessitate stopping the ship, lest we leave Auric behind. We are better off putting our faith into the captain and his crew."
Jon laughs, explaining that the image of the warrior chopping tills while swimming is too much to take. "If it comes to deck fighting, I may be able to become something more fearsome than a mule."
Mister Thorne snorts.
"Wouldn't last a minute in that water. Too cold. If it were high summer, he might last two. Besides, they're too far out. It will take an hour or two at least before we can even make out men on the decks without a spyglass."
The time during the chase is strange, as the tension of pursuit is hard to maintain given the long period of time where nothing actually happens. The ship sails, Captain Wilde checks on your pursuit occasionally, and once or twice calls for course changes to steer clear of one of the great floating mountains of ice. The crew goes about it duties, though there is obvious tension.
In the meantime, the great dark blot on the southern horizon grows. It resolves itself into towering black clouds, occasionally shot through with flashes of lightning. There are distant rumblings that reach you on the wind. Some of it sounds like thunder; some of it sounds like...something else, definitely not thunder. It reminds Jon of the sounds you hear before an avalanche. The wind picks up and the crew gets a lot more active, constantly adjusting sails as the helmsman, rather than standing idle and holding course at the wheel, sends the ship turning this way, then back again. The mood intensifies as the sails in pursuit grow larger over time.
Captain Wilde paces the deck, looking like he's about to start chewing on the rigging.
"Winds are too unpredictable here. We have to keep tacking into it to hold our course. Too slow...they'll get close enough that they won't give up and go away, then they'll dog us all the way round the Shards."
Auric braces himself against the pitching waves. Even if he wasn't as green in the gills as Stilgar, he wasn't so nimble as to have his sea legs just yet.
"I'm guessing they're still too far off to set their sails alight, Jon? Magnus? Maybe there's some sort of illusion you can spin to get us some distance?"
Jon shrugs. "The Green mostly gifts me with closer prayers."
Magnus considers the situation and pulls at his coat as the Wind chills him. "I can't come up with anything that can turn them back from this distance, but if they're close enough to see my illusions in detail, we may be able to deter them. Bring up some barrels and line them up next to the edge of the boat. Put on a show of how heavy they are too."
Captain Wilde puts on a crooked grin.
"Sounds like someone has a plan. Care to let me in on it? Making the barrels look heavy won't be a problem, as we're fully stocked and nary an empty in the lot. Don't care to lose cargo if we don't have to. That's the whole point of outrunning pirates."
"The point is that you won't need to. I will provide some illusory gains to fill the barrels. We will dump out the air into the sea and hopefully that will make the pirates less interested in pursuing us."
"Ah, I see. I thought you had a different tack in mind, to fake pyrotechnics when they get closer, like the kind we had in Three Oaks at high summer sometimes. But dumping out the treasure sounds even better."
"It is worth a try, at least. I would rather not have to meet our pursuers in person... nor does a trip to the Shards sound very favorable."
"Not to, just around. I told you, only a madman would attempt to sail the Shards. This plan has merit, but let's see if we can't lose our pursuers first. If they gain on us, we can try the discarded cargo trick and see if they take the bait. Besides, the further south we sail, the less ice to avoid. Might even have time to harvest some gannets from the islands down there. Ever had gannet? If not, you're in for a treat!"
Some of the crew audibly groan and mutter at the last comment, but Captain Wilde seems not to notice, as he smacks his lips in appreciation for this apparent delicacy.
"Is there anything in the mean time that we might do to assist, Captain? Without getting in the crew's way?"
"Keep your weapons at the ready. If you've any special tricks you use in combat, inform Mister Thorne so she can advise the crew. Wouldn't want anyone getting in the way of one another. Meantime, we'll do our best to get away and hope they decide the trip isn't worth it and turn about."
Stilgar pats his ever-handy warhammer, nodding at the captain's words. He stares in the direction of their pursuers with a thoughtful frown.
"I could pray for more spells, but I know not of any that would be of apparent use."
Magnus goes up to Mr. Thorne and states simply and confidently. "Sir, I do magic. Ask and I shall deliver to the best of my ability. I am truly out of my element here though. Most magic has a range and size limit that makes a boat race outside of my scope."
She grins at Magnus. "Don't worry. It may take a while, but with the winds the way they are now, there's a chance they could catch us within a day, perhaps two on the outside. If the captain can put us close enough to the outer edge of the Shards, they can't cut us off and will have to follow us around it. That should put them off. There must be better prey out here for those jackals. If not, then they'll get close, and you can use your magics."
Auric finds himself a spot out of the way and starts sharpening his sword.
Day fades into night and eventually worry over your pursuers gives way to exhaustion and the group retires for the night. You awake the next day to the rocking of the ship, the creaking of ropes, and the snap of sails. Venturing on deck, you note that your pursuers have closed much of the distance, their sails clearly visible now, and with sharp eyes you can almost make out movement on their decks.
When Captain Wilde arrives on deck he pulls his spyglass and takes stock of the situation. After a bit of muttering to himself, he confers with his officers, takes reports, and issues a few orders while looking at his own sails, then back at the pursuing ships.
"Right then," he says crisply, his booted feet thumping across the deck, "lets show them who this sea loves more then."
He moves to the small stack of ingots the party has given him for payment, still sitting in a small box next to the port rail. He snaps an order at one of the crew, who rushes up with a rope and bucket. The sailor ties a quick knot on the bucket's handle, then sends it over the side, bringing up some seawater. Captain Wilde removes his hat, handing it to another crew member, as those not directly handling the sails have begun to gather around. He dips his hands into the icy water, splashing water over his bushy hair, and annointing his face as well.
"Mighty Tindal," he intones, "our mother and protector, we beseech thee. Show your favor to this servant and his followers, who invoke your name and now offer sacrifice."
"Hear us, oh Tindal," says the crew in response.
"All that lies below, all that lies above, from shore to shore, is yours, mighty Tindal. Give us your blessing so that our foes cannot shed our blood in your holy waters."
"Hear us, oh Tindal," responds the crew once more.
Still dripping water, Wilde takes up the box of starmilk ingots, turning it over and sending the metal tumbling over the side of the ship into the water below, where it splashes and is gone.
All is quiet for a minute, the crew waiting anxiously. The captain stands with his head cocked to one side, as if listening, and shivering slightly.
Then there is a change in the wind, as it changes direction and strengthens, blowing in from the aft. The crew cheers, as the captain shouts orders to the riggers and the helmsman. "That's it then! Let's outrun these bloody buggers!"
Stilgar watches the ritual with great interest, taking great care not to interrupt. Within the Iron Marches he knew, it would be considered utterly blasphemous. Perhaps the Inquisition would burn the ship to cinders, along with its crew. And then they could boil away the sea, if they were so inclined, he thinks bitterly. Still, even as Captain Wilde's prayer appears to be answered, Stilgar can just barely believe it. Amidst the crew's cheering, he finds his way to the captain, the question already burning in his mind.
"Tindal is a god?" he asks, his tone betraying both his curiosity and amazement.
Toweling himself off with a blanket, Captain Wilde nods. "She's the goddess of this sea, ultimate power of all that lies above and below within the boundaries of her shores." He gives a bit of a shrug and bites his lip. "Well, excepting perhaps the Shards. Things are a bit, erm, dicey in there...too many elements, all at once, you know. Not to worry though. Only a madman would purposely sail in there, and Tindal's sent us a fair wind and a current to boot. We'll lose our pursuers in no time, and if the blessing holds, I might even get you to Fardusk early. Might be worth a bit of a bonus, eh?" He jabs Stilgar in the shoulder with his elbow and gives a wink.
Magnus smacks his forehead as Captaine Wilde explains what he has done. "Of course, a boon for ourselves. Here I was so focused on deterring the pirates, I didn't think of bolstering our own ship." Magnus goes back to his spellbook and fingers through some pages, planning what to do the next day.
Kalaya smiles as the ritual is completed, looking pleased at Stilgar's questioning. "Many are the great powers beyond those allowed worship in the Marches. Many are they who reap the works of the old gods, and powers older still."
Auric is amazed to see the winds pick up, seemingly from nowhere.
"Incredible! And I should think a bonus would be in order, seeing as your payment has been given over to the Sea, captain."
Another day passes and the dawn light reveals your pursuers sails have dwindled to where they cannot be seen except with a spyglass. "We can't stop them from using our wind," says Captain Wilde with a smile, "but the current is our own, and it makes all the difference."
While the pursuit has receded, the Shards are closer. The storm rumbles and lightning flashes. Beneath the black storm clouds are clouds of white, as if the sea were throwing up a fog to block the storm above. Those ominous rumblings that are not thunder are louder, and the waters have become choppy and rough. The air is also noticeably warmer.
A cry of "Rocks! Dead ahead!" from the crow's nest gets the attention of those on deck. The course of the ship is changed to avoid the dark form beneath the waters, but then the "rock" changes course as well. A splash of chilling spray blasts the deck as a great form breaks the surface, a massive, craggy body festooned with weeds and barnacles, from which rises not one, but two draconic heads on long necks, sticking out of the great shell. They are the color of dead fish and the eyes of the two heads are milked over.
Magnus gasps at the sight of the monstrosity before him. "Baal's breath!" he exclaims.
Magnus runs up to one of the leads running ropes on the ship and casts a spell to help them run the ship. " Come to me if you want to climb well."
Magnus takes the expression straight from Stilgar's mouth, leaving the dwarf staring up at the immense creature with his mouth open, dumbstruck.
"This... thing is undead," he finally manages to say, drawing his warhammer.
Unable to take his eyes of the ferocious creature, he mumbles a prayer to Baal, beseeching him for protection.
Initiative:
Knowledge- Religion:
Auric draws his longsword and swings at the beast's heads- his first attack seemingly at super human speed.
Mwk longsword:
Mythic power- champion's strike w/sudden attack to make a second swing at full attack bonus:
He loads his crossbow and prepares to fire at the incoming threat.
Seeing the monstrous creature, Kalaya quickly calls upon her magic, a field of protective energy shimmering into existence around her.
"Abomination!" Jon mutters as he stares at the clearly dead thing rising before them!
Jon murmurs a prayer to the Green, then slaps Auric, causing him to sprout green bark over his body!
Stilgar, Kalaya, and Auric put up their defensive magics as the helmsman takes a hard turn, avoiding the massive beast. As the ship passes, Auric steps to the rail, his sword swinging across one of the beast's noses, then back again, the steel ringing but doing no damage to it. The creature rears back one head, snapping at Auric, while the other stretches forward and looses a blast of steam across the front of the ship, parboiling a large part of the crew, who fall to the deck, some screaming in pain, others deathly silent.
Auric is nearly bitten in half as the creature snaps down, the fangs tearing into his exposed flesh and crushing his body beneath the mail, but he throws himself to the side at the last second before the jaws can meet and impale him. The boat cruises on, slowed by the sudden turn, but still pulling a good 40 feet past the monster.
Captain Wilde rushes up and replaces the helmsman, telling him to gather up a team to load the ballista on the aft deck, then yelling a general call to arms and all hands on deck.
Jon hefts his scythe, feeling the weight of it in his hand. He rushes forward and attacks! for damage!
Magnus creates an illusory crew running about the ship to distract the creature.
Balking at Auric's horrific injury, Stilgar hurries to his side and uses his bead of healing's power on him.
"How are we supposed fight something that size?" he asks, glancing back at the monster.
Auric lays hands upon his own awful wound and channels the power of Baal to close it.
Lay on Hands:
"All we have to do is buy time for the ballista- and try to keep it from the crew.", Auric coughs.
The paladin remains on the aft deck, hoping to keep the creature's attention should it close the distance.
The creature surges forward, taking a straight line to catch up to the ship as it slows during its turn. The front of its body comes up in a rush, striking the ship with its body as its two heads rear up out of the water with a roar. The sound of creaking and cracking timbers accompanies the roar, the jolt of impact sending sailors careening into rigging or grasping for the rails. The ship's listing is only momentary, however, as Captain Wilde clings to the wheel and holds the Flounder steady. Wilde straightens her out and the ship again pulls away from its pursuer. It makes no attempt to attack the crew this round, illusory or otherwise.
Nodding grimly, Stilgar points his warhammer at the monster, his other hand clutching the starmilk holy symbol hanging around his neck.
A spectral warhammer manifests out of thin air and hurtles toward the creature.
Magnus maintains focus on his illusion as he draws out his crossbow and begins to load it. "Stilgar!" Magnus shouts "Help the burned crew. Use one of your fancy healing bursts. "
"I can do it! Somehow I doubt this crossbow is going to do much to that thing!", Auric shouts, running over to the steamed crew and unleashing Baal's holy benediction.
Channel positive, using 2 lay on hands:
Jon hefts his scythe, feeling the weight of it in his hand. He rushes forward and attacks! [dice=Charging Scythe!]1d20+6+2 for 2d4+4 damage!
But I did!
Ah, yes. There it is. My mistake.
Jon's scythe scrapes along the creatures jaw. sloughing off some dangling hide, but doing no real harm to the undead beast.
Also, it appears that your captain has pointed the ship directly at the Shards, and the vessel is making good time towards the dark, forbidding place.
Kalaya chants incoherently, her eyes going solid black as she twists the strands of fate.
Kalaya draws upon her eldritch powers to limit the beast's effectiveness, as the ship angles away. The ballista team fires, but the missile simply gouges the monster's barnacled shell before deflecting into the water.
The double-headed creature makes a second run on the ship and again it rocks violently, but without the cracking of timbers from the last attempt, as Kalaya sees the beast run afoul of the snarls she's put into the weave. Captain Wilde yells for crew to man the bilge pumps, a great rictus grin on his face as the Flounder cuts through the water towards the Shards.
The hammer of force continues to wail away at the massive creature's ineffectually, not even leaving a mark.
Realizing the direction the ship is heading, Stilgar looks over his shoulder and bellows at the captain as he makes his way to the bilge pumps.
"I thought you said only a madman would sail to the Shards willingly!"