Kung delights to see a wide expanse of open deck in front of him. He rushes forward, directly towards the captain in white, his greatsword swinging a mighty overhand strike.
Actions
Actions
HP 86+3/86
AC 20, touch 11, flat-footed 17 (+6 armor, +2 dex, +3 natural/barkskin, +1 deflection, -1 size, +1 dodge/haste, -2 rage)
Speed: 70 ft (+30 ft haste)
Fort: +13, Ref: +12 (+1 dodge/haste), Will: +8 (+2 rage)
All saves: +4 vs. fear (battle cry), +5 vs. spells/-like (superstition)
Conditions: barkskin, enlarge person, haste, battle cry, rage, war blessing (inspiring word: attacks)
Melee (+3 furious greatsword): +21/+19/+14 (+7 BAB, +7 str, +3 enhancement, -0/-2/-2 power attack, -1 size/enlarge person, +2 morale/inspiring word, +1 haste, +2 rage)
Melee Damage (+3 furious greatsword): 3d6+21 (+10 str, +3 enhancement, +6 power attack, +2 rage)
14/17 rds Rage remaining
The magus continued his assault with blade and magic even as he ducked and weaved between his assailants.
--------------
spellstrike
haste
critical on haste?
HP 67/67
AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 19
Conditions: shield so AC=25, shocking burst on falcata, haste
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +10/+5 = +1(magical) +6(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
+2 dam if arcane strike, -2/+4 if 1H power attack
6/8 arcane pool
Spell used: shield, fireball, fireball, shocking grasp
Jane loads up a red feathered bolt and fires at the restrained magic user.
A cheer goes up as the crew of the Unbound drake see their Captain kill an Aspis mercenary with one blow. "The Drake! The Drake!" They yell as they charge in with even more determination.
Markizio slices another thug down with casual ease, turning his blade to gravely wound the other attacking him.
Jane's bolt finishes the trapped spell caster as she struggles on the deck.
Niobe makes Kung even worse to face.
Kung looms over the enemy captain, dealing her a heavy wound.
She curses and attacks back with her paired blades.
Her dazzling display completely useless!
Orange goes white as his comrade is slaughtered by Marnir but steps up and attracks him.
Dealing Marnir a light wound.
The other two rush to the aid of their captain.
One missing, the other hitting Kung.
The party may all go again.
The body of the sailor slumps to the deck, nearly cleft in two by the force of Marnir's blow. His comrade, spattered in blood, steps up and slices at Marnir with his cutlass which finds only an illusory double.
Marnir grins at the Aspis man's misfortune, and he brings his axe around again, his warchant carrying loudly across the deck.
HP 75+16/75
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 22 (+7 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural armour, +1 dodge from haste, -1 inspired rage)
Speed: 60 ft
Fort: +14, Ref: +9, Will: +16 (+6 vs fear) (+2 to all from heroism, +1 Ref from haste,+2 Fort and +3 Will from inspired rage)
Conditions: 4 mirror images, heroism, haste, Battle Cry, inspired rage
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +18/+13 (+6 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 heroism, +1 haste, +2 inspired rage, +2 furious)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+14 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 Arcane Strike, +3 inspired rage, +2 furious)
19/20 rds raging song remaining
The body of the spell caster catches fire. Burning up the webs.
She loads another red feathered arrow into her crossbow and fires at the captain.
Surrounded by enemies, all with their focus entire on him. His blood boiling with fury and rage. His mighty greatsword dripping with the blood of foes. Enlarged to unbelievable size. The sound of soul-bound shipmates ringing their weapons and slinging their spells. Standing on an unfamiliar ship's deck with the smell and taste of salt sea in the air....
Kung is in his element.
While his face is twisted with anger at those who dare to--eh, is it even important why Kung's short fuse has been lit?--though his face be mean and furious, his eyes tell the truth. The enormous half-orc's eyes are grinning ear to ear as he swings his sword from one opponent to the other.
Aspis, Chelaxian, Sahaugin, Shackles pirate... it matters not. That they stand in the face if his fury is all the incentive he needs.
HP 77/86
AC 20, touch 11, flat-footed 17 (+6 armor, +2 dex, +3 natural/barkskin, +1 deflection, -1 size, +1 dodge/haste, -2 rage)
Speed: 70 ft (+30 ft haste)
Fort: +13, Ref: +12 (+1 dodge/haste), Will: +8 (+2 rage)
All saves: +4 vs. fear (battle cry), +5 vs. spells/-like (superstition)
Conditions: barkskin, enlarge person, haste, battle cry, rage, war blessing (inspiring word: attacks), grudge fighter
Melee (+3 furious greatsword): +21/+19/+14 (+7 BAB, +7 str, +3 enhancement, -0/-2/-2 power attack, -1 size/enlarge person, +2 morale/inspiring word, +1 haste, +2 rage)
Melee Damage (+3 furious greatsword): 3d6+22 (+10 str, +3 enhancement, +6 power attack, +2 rage, +1 morale/grudge fighter)
13/17 rds Rage remaining
Unscathed from his ordeal, the pirates kept falling to his blade and magic.
Markizio finished off his latest opponent and then neared his companions on the aft.
"How many more do we have to kill before you give up?"
--------------
haste
HP 67/67
AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 19
Conditions: shield so AC=25, shocking burst on falcata, haste
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +10/+5 = +1(magical) +6(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
+2 dam if arcane strike, -2/+4 if 1H power attack
6/8 arcane pool
Spell used: shield, fireball, fireball, shocking grasp
With the spellcaster fallen, Niobe redirects her ball lightning so that the sizzling orbs both strike one of the Aspis near Kung (yellow).
(Ref DC 19 to negate each)
Markizio, Marnir & Kung kill their opponents easily.
With the fall of their captain, and the brute squad being slaughtered like cattle the crew groans in despair and throws up their hands in surrender.
The two remaining brutes grimace, but look at awaits them and drop their weapons, raising their hands with some reluctance.
Loot
Mercs
Studded leather +1 - 10
Heavy crossbow - 10
Cutlass MW - 10
Cloak of resistance + 1 - 10
Caster
Dagger + 1
Cloak of resistance + 1
Amulet of natural armor + 1
Ring of protection + 1
Spellbook - Witches.
Captain
Breastplate + 2
Shortsword + 1 - 2
Cloak of resistance + 1
You have another ship, with 3 points of plunder. 1 for the weapons and armory. 2 for several pay chests destined for the company employees at Bloodcove.
From what you get out of the captured crew and Brutes the bulk of the pay chests are on the other two ships. Aspis has tried heavy convoys to get through the Shackles and been overwhelmed by pirates, this time they tried a fast convoy and had the poor luck to meet you.
What are you doing now?
Jane smirks at the carnage of the other ship. "I think they didn't know who they were messing with."
Niobe sighs and dismisses her ball lightning. "We're lucky so far. I would've expected the witch to cast all kinds of blessing and things on those troops before we crashed together. Things could get nasty if we run into a ship with a priestess of Besmara on it," she says.
"Cap'n, this is a fair haul. What's next for us? And what do we do with these surrendered Aspis hirelings?"
Marnir wipes the blood from his axe on the shirt of the dead sailor at his feet before hanging it from his belt.
"They didn't expect the Drake, and they paid for it," Marnir says, agreeing with Jane's sentiment.
"Standard offer to these gentlemen," Marnir replies to Niobe. "They can sign on with us, or they can be put out on a ship's boat and left to fend for themselves. In any case we'll strip their ship of any valuables and put a prize crew aboard. I don't think we're in a position to add to our fleet out here."
Markizio was astounded, "Guys, captain! This is good but the real prize is now those two defenseless fat merchants that are sailing away. These were just the watch dogs; the loot is there."
Markizio took momentary control and yelled at his crew, "We're not going to let those two fat merchants get away, are we? The Drake can outrun any fat merchant, can't we?"
"C'mon, we have some fast sailing to do!"
Kung nods at Markizio's words. "Drake can catch any ship, under Captain Marnir. Kung say we go, fast as we can."
"No sense in letting all that treasure get away, now we've fought for it. Get a prize crew on the Aspis ship, and we'll get after that plunder," Marnir says, a grin on his face. He climbs up to the quarterdeck to take his place at the wheel.
He calls down to Markizio. "All hands to the rigging for full sail please first mate."
Marnir looks up for clues as to the wind’s strength and direction, and listens out for Jane’s calls as she plots their course.
Jane looks at the sea and decides which way would be best. "Over the horizon is where we will be sailing. she points to the direction we need to go.
Jane eyes the course the two sails are on and makes her calculations as to where they are heading. While Marnir gets the ship moving as best it can. Despite the recent battle and the losses you've taken in crew they are all eager for more battle. News of what the ships carry has their eyes alight with gold hunger.
The chase takes hours and you come upon one of the merchantmen as night is falling, of the other there is no sign. The fleeing ship clearly intends to take it's chances and continue to run, even as it grows too dark to sail safely.
What are you doing?
"We're not going to let this prize get away," Marnir growls, at no-one in particular.
He turns to Markizio, hoping that his first mate still has a thirst for this chase. "I want extra lookouts posted along the rails. Pick out anyone who can see in the dark and get them watching out for any hazards."
"Niobe, can you light our way at all? It's going to be black as Gorum's bumhole in a few minutes, and I don't want to lose track of our prey."
Niobe starts casting a multitude of light spells to help illuminate the area, but they are of limited range.
"Captain, if I can swim fast enough to overtake them, I might have a strategy that will slow them down. But it's risky. I'm willing to try though," says Niobe, straightening her shoulders and looking resolute.
Jane is down in her dungeon, making new arrows of the ones she used when she is called up onto the deck. Hearing Niobe advice the swimming trip. "Do you have webs between your fingers too? she asks and smiles somewhat evilly. "Because i might have a spell that will give you a speed boost.
Markizio nodded and quickly went to comply with his captain's orders, "Kung, you're on lookout duty tonight!"
He then went to find other pirates whose keen sight allowed them to see during the night.
He turned to Niobe, "We already took out the watchdogs but I would think that they have some sort of defenses left so you best be careful. What are you thinking about?"
Kung nods, and begins climbing up the rigging towards the crow's nest. He pauses after just getting started. "You Master of Arms now, until Kung come back down. Push hard, they good trained, they can take it!" The half-orc takes position at the highest peak of the tallest mast, ready to call out if he sees anything important.
Niobe says to Marnir, "You know those stories about mermaids singing to sailors so they jump out of their ship and the ship crashes and the sailors drown? I was going to try that."
"Sounds like it might work, so long as you're not going to get yourself in trouble with another aboleth," Marnir replies with a wicked grin.
"If I can outswim their ship, I'll give it a try," says Niobe, attempting to judge the distance that she'll have to close.
You've closed on some small islands while the chase has been going, little more than rocks poking out of the water, the largest barely 40' wide. The islands however are circled by the flashes of foam that mark a reef close to the surface.
As the light begins to fail and darkness grows the fleeing ship veers away, in desperation choosing the suicidal course of reef running. Hoping to slip through the dangerous rocks and back to safer waters while leaving you to navigate the same perils in darkness.
The gamble fails and ahead you can hear the awful sounds of a ship driving onto rocks, screams of the crew being thrown around and the groan of a mast coming down.
As the Unbound Drake draws closer you can see the ship hit the reef almost head on and it's wedged in it's final berth. Oddly as you draw near it begins signalling to you, both surrendering and calling for aid?
"Reef the sails! Heave to" Marnir roars into the darkness at his deckhands, desperate to avoid the same fate as the luckless merchantman.
He calls up to Kung on lookout in the rigging. "Kung, what's going on out there?"
Markizio peered through the darkness to no avail.
He quipped at his companion, "C'mon, Kung. We didn't put you up there for your good looks. What do you see?"
He conjured up four floating lights and sent them out as far as possible to see if they would help.
Kung peers out into the darkness, trying to see if there's anything going on that's not obvious to the eye.
As the Unbound drake slows to a more cautious speed and approaches the other ship Kung can see it somehow hit a reef head on and is now solidly stuck, the only way it's could get off it berth is by being towed.
One of it's masts has collapsed and hangs over the bow, the sail now sagging in the water. The real problem is the four huge creatures that have climbed onto the deck and are now attacking the crew.
Niobe easily identifies them as one of her peoples natural enemies, the Merrow.
"What in the hells are those?" Marnir says as the large creatures come into view. He carefully steers the Drake through the reefs, barely making headway at their slow speed.
He prepares himself for the upcoming scrap, conjuring illusory duplicates and fortifying himself with his inborn magic.
HP 75/75
AC 23, touch 14, flat-footed 23 (+7 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural armour, +1 dodge from haste)
Speed: 60 ft
Fort: +12, Ref: +9, Will: +13 (+6 vs fear) (+2 to all from heroism, +1 Ref from haste)
Conditions: 6 mirror images, heroism, haste, Battle Cry
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +15/+10 (+6 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 heroism, +1 haste)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+9 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 Arcane Strike)
20/20 rds raging song remaining
Markizio followed suit and got himself ready for battle. he conjured u his invisible shield and energized his blade.
-----------------
HP 67/67
AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 19
Conditions: shield so AC=25, shocking burst on falcata, haste
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +10/+5 = +1(magical) +6(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
+2 dam if arcane strike, -2/+4 if 1H power attack
6/8 arcane pool
Spell used: shield
Knowing that a dark place was coming upon them. Jane decided to brew herself a one-time use potion that helps her see in darkness. Luckily she can see some darkness, but not all without it.
Jane make sure that she has a red feathered arrow in her crossbow. "Anyone want to grow larger?" she asks.
"Merrow!" says Niobe with a gasp. Her mouth turns to a frown and she looks decidedly angry. "Awful, vicious, flesh-eating monsters. The Aspis ship is now wishing we had caught them - if the merrow get them first, they'll all be eaten."
"They're aquatic - who's going to need help swimming if you need to dive after them?"
"Kung like be bigger. Kung like be biggest!" He holds his hand out to Jane, hoping to get an extract in return. He looks at Niobe when she asks her question, and points to his helm. "Kung very good at swim now. Happy helm make easy."
HP 77/86
AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17 (+6 armor, +2 dex, +1 natural, +1 deflection, -1 size, +1 dodge/haste)
Speed: 70 ft (+30 ft haste)
Fort: +13, Ref: +12 (+1 dodge/haste), Will: +6
All saves: +4 vs. fear (battle cry)
Conditions: enlarge person, haste, battle cry
Melee (+1 furious greatsword): +16/+14/+9 (+7 BAB, +7 str, +1 enhancement, -0/-2/-2 power attack, +1 haste)
Melee Damage (+1 furious greatsword): 3d6+17 (+10 str, +1 enhancement, +6 power attack)
13/17 rds Rage remaining
The Unbound Drake eases slowly alongside the wrecked ship, the crew is obviously as tough as those you met on the last Apsis vessel you took and are fighting hard against the huge Merrow.
Even so trails of blood on the deck lead to the sides where corpses have been dragged overboard by the invaders. The surviving crew are desperately attacking in an attempt to drive the Merrow off.
The Party may all take their surprise round actions. Then take the 1st round actions following that.
"Drakes, bring me their heads!" Marnir roars as he charges across the deck. He plants his foot on the gunwale and leaps over to the beleaguered Aspis vessel. He picks his target - a foul looking specimen on the quarterdeck - and charges up the stairs two at a time, his axe raised high.
Ducking into the merrow's reach, he brings his axe down hard at it's grotesque fleshy gut.
The thrill of battle courses through Marnir's veins as he goes toe-to-toe with the enormous sea giant. He recalls the saga of Eisvith the Sodden, an Ulfen warrior-queen who cleansed her island home of the evil water giants that plagued it, and he begins to tell her story, his voice booming across the deck. His axe flashes towards the merrow again, attempting to hamstring the beast.
HP 75+16/75
AC 22, touch 13, flat-footed 22 (+7 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 natural armour, +1 dodge from haste, -1 inspired rage)
Speed: 60 ft
Fort: +14, Ref: +9, Will: +16 (+6 vs fear) (+2 to all from heroism, +1 Ref from haste, +2 Fort and +3 Will from inspired rage)
Conditions: 6 mirror images, heroism, haste, Battle Cry, inspired rage
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +18/+14 (+6 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 heroism, +1 haste, +2 furious, +2 inspired rage)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+14 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +2 Arcane Strike, +2 furious, +3 inspired rage)
20/20 rds raging song remaining
Markizio moved after his captain, "Wait, let's tackle them one at a time..."
With falcata in hand and magical speed in his feet, he dashed over the Aspis ship and struck out, giving the merrow the shock of his life...
------------
critical?
HP 67/67
AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 19
Conditions: shield so AC=25, shocking burst on falcata, haste
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +10/+5 = +1(magical) +6(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
+2 dam if arcane strike, -2/+4 if 1H power attack
6/8 arcane pool
Spell used: shield, shocking grasp
Marnir & Markizio combine to slaughter the Merrow holding the quarterdeck. It's howls as it dies alerting it's kin to your presence.
Since nobody requested aid in swimming, Niobe instead moves up behind Kung and touches his weapon with the grace of frost.
Kung barrels across the gap between the ships, larger than life and angry with blood fury when he arrives, his pegleg tapping to match his rage. "Niobe say you bad, bad. Kung think you even worse. Please die today!"
He swings his greatsword around in a mighty display!
HP 86+7/86
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+6 armor, +2 dex, +1 natural, +1 deflection, -1 size, +1 dodge/haste, -2 rage)
Speed: 70 ft (+30 ft haste)
Fort: +13, Ref: +12 (+1 dodge/haste), Will: +8 (+2 rage)
All saves: +4 vs. fear (battle cry), +5 vs. spells & -like (rage/competence)
Conditions: enlarge person, haste, battle cry, rage, grace of frost
Melee (+3 furious greatsword): +20/+18/+13 (+7 BAB, +7 str, +3 enhancement, -1 size, -0/-2/-2 power attack, +1 battle cry/morale, +1 haste, +2 rage)
Melee Damage (+3 furious greatsword): 3d6+21+1d4 (+10 str, +3 enhancement, +6 power attack, +2 rage, +1d4 grace of frost/cold)
12/17 rds Rage remaining
Kung charges across and cuts Yellow down with two strikes of his lethal weapon. His last blow makes Red howl in pain.
Jane fires a red feathered arrow at the red beast.
Moving on her turn, reloading her crossbow, she fires another red arrow.
Jane puts a bolt into the already wounded Red
Red takes a 5' step closer to Kung and lashes out with both clawed hands.
Digging his claws in deep he tries to grapple Kung
Kung you take 25 damage and are grappled.
Green hurries up to aid his fellow Merrow and tries to rip out Kung's throat.
Another 9 damage to Kung
The party may now go again.
Niobe races up behind the grappled mega-Kung and gently touches him as he struggles in the merrow's grip.
With one merrow down, Markizio yelled, "To Kung! I think the big guy's in trouble."
He then went and attacked the closest merrow battling withe the half-orc.
------------
HP 67/67
AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 19
Conditions: shield so AC=25, shocking burst on falcata, haste
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +10/+5 = +1(magical) +6(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
+2 dam if arcane strike, -2/+4 if 1H power attack
5/8 arcane pool
Spell used: shield, shocking grasp