Magnus pulls out a small bag. Judges the distance, and tosses it, hard. It sails into the hold and bursts on impact, spreading it's payload of sticky, fast drying alchemical goo around the feet of the oncoming slime monsters.
"If we can slow them down enough, maybe we can burn THEM without burning the ship down around US!" He cries as he looks to see if the tanglefoot bag has any effect.
Felicia takes a ready action to stab any that come up the stairs.
"Tanglefoot isn't going to work," Kessel warns, "Those things swam through the webs like they weren't even there, I don't think these things are going to be slowed too much by a tanglefoot either."
Magnus tosses his bag. The three remaining creatures are close enough to all get hit.
Although the goo seems to slow them, none of them seem to stick to the floor
"Tanglefoot isn't going to work," Kessel warns, "Those things swam through the webs like they weren't even there, I don't think these things are going to be slowed too much by a tanglefoot either."
"Duly noted." Magnus agrees reluctantly as he observes the bag's effect, or lack of it, on the slimers.
"But it slowed them down. Even if only a little, I'll take it. Because it makes them easier to hit! Light 'em up Kids! Spell 'em if you got 'em!" He adds with infectious elvish enthusiasm.
Once everyone else is clear, San will use his arcane bond to cast burning hands on the grease-coated steps before the slime things reach, hoping to start them on fire.
Once everyone else is clear, San will use his arcane bond to cast burning hands on the grease-coated steps before the slime things reach, hoping to start them on fire.
Kessel gestures and the stairs leading upwards are coated with grease. Sanvoros speaks a word and his hands blaze like burning brands. He places them on the greasy treads, and they flare up, a billowing black and choking smoke rolling out of the hatch as the stairway catches fire
"I'd say it's time to make our escape," Kessel says, "Although if I get a chance to sing about this exploit I'm sure I'll say that we got away by the skin of our teeth."
Egan quickly returns his bow over his shoulder and heads topside. He doesn't really like fire.
Magnus looks around.
"Wait, Wasn't there another way up, besides that hatchway,...?" He wonders aloud.
Felicia falls back with the others "Make sure to say there were at least four no six dozen of them." She yells to Kessel
The grease fire has bitten deep into the bleached, splintered wood of the derelict ship. The stairway to the hold is totally engulfed, and sparks are flying up and out of the hatch, alighting in other areas. It is pikestaff plain that this ship will be totally aflame soon, barring some intervention
Egan runs for his boat, calling Whisperwing as he goes.
Whisperwing flies down, circling Egan as he heads for his small craft
Head for the boat as well.
Same with San. Sorry, I had assumed that's what was happening. "Abandon ship!"
"NOT what I had in mind!" Magnus shouts, peering to see if the creatures were caught in the flames.
Swearing, the nimble elf grabs a nearby bucket of sand by a railing and tosses it into the stairway. Seeing that the effort to stop the flames is most likely futile (at least by himself) he throws down the bucket and hastens after the others.
"This is a 'MAGES' ship. Do you have any idea what kind of things he probably has on board?" Magnus mutters disgruntledly as he makes his way to the rail where they tied the boat.
"NOT what I had in mind!" Magnus shouts, peering to see if the creatures were caught in the flames.
1d20+1
Swearing, the nimble elf grabs a nearby bucket of sand by a railing and tosses it into the stairway. Seeing that the effort to stop the flames is most likely futile (at least by himself) he throws down the bucket and hastens after the others.
"This is a 'MAGES' ship. Do you have any idea what kind of things he probably has on board?" Magnus mutters disgruntledly as he makes his way to the rail where they tied the boat.
Magnus can see dim forms wading through the flames. A nauseating stench like moldy burning pork wafts out of the hold. Despite the flames the creatures seem to be advancing up the stairs.
"Oh, that is NOT good,..."
"Guys! I don't know that fire is going to stop them!" He calls as he catches up to them at the railing.
"They sure are moving a lot for creatures that should be burning to death!" He points back to the glowing stairwell.
Egan does not plan on sticking around long enough to see if they survive the fire. He jumps into his boat, and stands holding his bow line ready to depart if any wish to join him.
Whisperwing dives for a jumping fish.
"Yeah, I was afraid of that. Least they'll be bottom walkers once the ship sinks."
The rest of the group piles into the longboat as Elgan and his small craft head out ahead of them. The fire races along the ripped and rotted rigging
The group piles into the longboat and shove off onto the glassy ocean. Selene rides high, her blue face shining bright and casting everything in a cerulean tint. The Green Lady is really starting to burn, flames shooting from the windows in the stern castle. The dark shape of the Laugh lies ahead a few hundred yards off their port side
Kessel says a prayer for the two crewmen that they left tied up on board.
Magnus watches the burning ship for a moment, and makes a gesture of blessing from an elvish deity with one hand. Then he turns and intently scans the small dingy they are in. He seems very intent.
San watches the burning ship, and suddenly slams his hand down on the dingy. As hard as he does it, it's surprising he doesn't break it. "Damn! I swear to the gods any group I'm a part of are cursed."
"Cursed?" Kessel asks, "All things considered I think we're lucky to escape with our lives. Three of the four crewmen that were sent over didn't return. An entire boat's crew were killed off before that, and yet, as it stands now, everyone of us that made the trip over to that cursed vessel is returning alive. Should that stand I'd think our group is quite blessed."
Magnus watches the burning ship for a moment, and makes a gesture of blessing from an elvish deity with one hand. Then he turns and intently scans the small dingy they are in. He seems very intent.
1d20+1
Magnus:
"I must say, I far prefer master Kessel's interpretation of events. I'm more of a 'wine-glass half-full' kind of fellow." Magnus offers cheerfully.
"Not to change the subject. However. I see at least one rodent has joined us. Not too terribly alarming in and of itself. But in the journal we found the mage mentioned his suspicions that the ooze creature may have snuck aboard his ship using a rat. Does anyone have a wand of Magical Missiles I could borrow?" He asks with a smile, his eyes never leaving the rat.
The rat ducks below the folded rope and canvas, but whether from Magnus' words or simple rat survival instinct is unclear.
"I think," Kessel says, "We'd best not take any chances. The rat needs to die."
Magnus grins.
"Well, I guess I'll just have to add 'exterminator' to my resume!"
"Alright, I'll pull back the canvas and rope, you both prepare to take care of it. If need be, I've got a few spells I can still use."
initiative
Magnus nods and rolls his shoulders. In an eyeblink his rapier appears in his hand. He narrows his brow in concentration and a slight glimmer runs down the length of the blade. He raises his left hand casually, prepared to cast.
San pulls the stiff oiled canvas back, revealing a large black Fimbulian Rat. The common ship pest rears, revealing a long line of green slime along its belly
After Magnus' attack, if the rat still lives, San attacks the thing with his morning star (assuming the greatsword may be difficult to swing in the small boat).
morning star
damage (w/ arcane strike)
Magnus lunges with the speed of a serpent, his left hand flashing through a simple charm as he jabs at the rat with his rapier twice in an eyeblink,...
The infected rat shrieks and dies.
After flipping the repellent carcass overboard, they pull at the oars with a will. They gainsay the Laugh shortly. Egan has pulled up and a voice calls to the two ships:
"we already heard about what happened. Prepared to be searched when you come aboard!"
Egan slips the oars, and watches as the others deal with the rat, prepared to jump up if needed. He is pleased as the others deal with the threat, and continues to row.
"Toss me a line". "I'm ready to board, and get cleaned up".
"On our trip over we dealt with a rodent," Kessel says, "The journal we discovered suggests that it was a similar stowaway that caused the infection that claimed every member of that ship. I trust you checked the previous dingy for rats yes?"
Magnus impales the rat with the tip of his rapier, and flings it over the side. He snaps the rapier like a whip over the side to fling any fluids from it. Then pauses to inspect it closer, to ensure there is no tell-tale blood or slime on it. Then snaps it into it's sheath with a flourish.
He sits back down with his usual c0cky smirk in place.
"'Magnus the rat-killer!' Not the most flamboyant title I've ever used. Perhaps 'Magnus the rat-slayer'?" He grins.
Magnus nod sin agreement with Egan's priorities.
"And check the other boat for rats! Quickly! We had one trying to sneak aboard, but we dealt with it!" Magnus calls up cheerfully.
EDIT- Ninja'd by Kessel! :)
Guy said it all,
Prayers and condolences Pat.
The crew of the Laugh bring them aboard, then set their longboat off and light it up with flame arrows. The returning members are told to strip. The crew is holding naked steel in hand and look scared and mean. Vilya and her crewmate friend that left earlier are just redressing in another area.