Fretting but all too well observed Ryzern waits for news of the mad halfling.
For funsies and not to hold up the action for the other crew members here are Lorn's future actions.
Keeping an eye out for Jape's recovery, Lorn chooses to finish what Syl started. Two more blasts of silent screaming, saving her last application for either Jape or Syl. Depending on chances of their recovery based on her perception that is. Jape was the only one who actually saw Mugwort so she'll make sure he is unable to recover from any magically healing.
Round3 Target Syl Scream(3:5) plus daze vs DC 15 save for half
Round4 Target Syl Scream(4:5) plus daze vs DC 15 save for half
Round5 Target Jape Scream(5:5) plus daze vs DC 15 save for half
Her story? Jape and Syl got into a lover's spat over her. Syl attacked her, Jape wanted a bit of fun first. Syl stabbed poor defenseless Jape to death, then Syl keeled over in apparent heat exhaustion. "Good thing you guys made sure I didn't have any weapons. I might've felt brave enough to defend myself and died too."
Syl suddenly falls silent an dslumps forward as Mugwort removes his hatchet from the back of his head with a sickening crunch.
Will save again
Jape continues to grip at his head while lorn continues to smash his ear drums with her spell.
I think Mugworts crit actions were against Jape while I took out Syl. Is Syl still alive? 17 pts of sonic dmg possibly 23 total if he fails all the saves (DC15). And not a mark on him, yet.
Round 6: Lorn will work her way back to the ladder to alert the others of the tragedy below. If Syl remains alive and dazed upon her approach, she'll punch him in the crotch. Attack dmg nonlethal plus imbue shock for an additional lethal.
Ah well Mugwort straight up slaughtered who ever he hit. And if you keep up what you do for another round so's the other guy.
Mumbata stood at the railing of the Wormwood. He had found it odd that Lorn had been stripped of weapons before venturing down below. In the times that he had worked the bilges alongside the halfling, this was the first that he had heard of a such an odd thing. So, when he saw mugwort spy something odd in the space below, he was quick to respond, following up behind the goblin.
Tel you what let's just kill them both.
THE HAND OF FATE!
Perception check to catch mobo.
Mobo manages to escape the bilge before anyone comes down. Covered in blood (her own and theirs) Lorn stands aloneamong her dead attackers. When the other sailors see the bodies one cries out. "THERE'S BEEN A MURDER! THE CAP'N WILL HAVE YER HIDE FOR THIS!"
Mugwort quickly licks his axe free of skull and brain and tasty blood, then returns it to its sheath. He creeps toward the back of the crowd. "Oh no! Mugwort see BIG RAT jump out of bilge! BIG RAT! Big rat am killing them!"
If Lorn survives the keel-hauling, she will take goblin gunslinger as her 3rd level. ;-)
Mugwort is pushed aside as the sailors overpower and drag a lorn covered from the waist down in blood up to the deck. Thrown to the deck the bodies of Syl and Jape are tossed to the deck before the captain.
He looks down from his typical perch on the poopdeck with a scowl. Though given how he normally looks this doesn't seem to be easily noticeable.
"Murder cap'n!" Mr. Plugg calls from below him.
The captain's scowl deepens and responds in his deep bass more than loud enough for the entire ship to hear clearly. "Then why are you bothering me. You know my order's Mr. Plugg."
Mr. Plugg smile as he turns to Lorn seals her fate but not nearly as decidedly as Master Scourge's evil grin.
"Aye cap'n! To the box!"
With orders given Lorn is picked up and shoved into an iron chest near the rear of the ship. A very sunny part of the ship.
The box is surprisingly roomy, more meant for the larger members of the crew than Lorn but the heat soon picks up.
Over the course of the day. And indeed the rest of the night something of a change occurs over the lower ranking crew members. This bloodhsed on the boat is like a declaration of open warfare. There are no more neutral sides, ignorant sides, or merely apathetic sides. They are either with Mr. Plugg and his toady of a boatswain. Or, they're with you. Indeed it seems between two priestesses of Besmara, a strange Mwangi man who constantly mutters about spirits and singlehandedly destroyed , and a one legged soft talker of a wizard who has managed to best every physical challenge brought before him without fail, and now to add to that a psychotic halfling which rumors have already swept through the ship how she managed to kill two grown men with merely the force of her kicks, all these combined have made you into some force that has started to grow beyond the sadism of the first mate. Bully's can build followers through fear but through feats and favors you've built something they can only hope to achieve; loyalty. And also hate.
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only one roll wins vs DC15.
What a wonderful weight loss program you have here!
She does not go gently into the box, struggling and pulling and clinging. "I am stripped of weapons. They fight over who gets to kill me first and die trying. I am the one who gets punished?"
Growing up under Chelaxian owners, antagonistic rejoinders or all out whining merely goaded the more sadistic ones. She just remains silent awaiting final punishment as the box is merely an appetizer.
There are no comments coming from the box, although an occasional chuckle does escape as she reminisces over Syl's and Jape's death. Two for one deal. I meant to cost'em more, but overall maxed out style points.
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To Lonr's surprise tiny scrabbling claws darken the world through the keyhole before she finds her self hit several times with moisture, meat, and dried fruit. IT's little. But the moisture helps you retain some semblance of life as the hot tropical sun beat you to deaht.
Nonlethal damage. Mugwort has saved your life twice now.
As the day grows grimmer and turns to night it seems the officers are willing to wait until tomorrow before they scrape the poor halfling against the merciless wormwoods barnacle encrusted hull.
As the enxt day wears on and factions begin arming themselves for open warfare on the boat a call from the crow's nest changes everything.
"SHIP AHOY! STARBOARD SIIIIDE!!"
PErking up from his private musings the captain rushes to the starboard side of the boat with most of the crew. Pulling a spyglass from hsi belt he leans forward to take a look as a malicious grin slips his head nearly in half. Bellowing in his deep bass he calls out the unknown dot on the horizon for all to hear.
"RHAMADOUNI CARGO VESSEL LOW IN THE WATER! SHE'S A HEAVY LOAD SAILORS LET'S HELP THE FAT LADY CARRY HER BAGGAGE!"
With this announcement the crew cheers and the officers begin barking orders. Battlestations are called, the armory is opened up, and soon a bored, divided crew becomes a well armed anxious crew hungry for loot and carnage.
Full update later tomorrow. Let's just say Lorn doesn't stay in the box long!
Mugwort, keeping close to the Box, hears the refrain and perks up. After the training it will be nice to have the chance to use his skills outside of a bilge! He heads to his bunk and arms up, loading his blunderbuss with shot and getting out his lucky weasel teeth.
A chuckling Lorn soon gives way for a torpid apathetic drenched-in-her-sweat Lorn as the tropical sun bakes the box, the air stagnant hours ago. Her only distraction is the sunlight filtering through the keyhole. Watching for Scourge’s shadow, she braces for another round of headache inducing pounding on the iron sides of the box. Instead, she sees meat rations and hardtack biscuits being shoved through hastily by dirty greasy green fingers with thick yellow nails. Scrambling to pick up the mangled meal, she is surprised by the immediate dowsing of a waterskin squeezed empty through the keyhole. Drinking thirstily, with hands full of crumbs, this is a welcome respite and quite possibly the best meal she had in ages.
The cry of another vessel and prep for piracy does nothing for her. The confinement and heat have sapped the energy from Halfling. She waits, for it is all she can do.
Ryzern contemplates the cheering mob and wonders how many will see the next sunrise. He is surprised by how little he cares.
The cook's assistant slides into what cover he can find pending direct orders.
As the crew begins scrambling to prepare to engage the cargo ship, Rhialla passes by the cage, unleashing a wave of healing as the sound of wild laughter echoes in Lorn's ears, the taste of fine rum filling her mouth.
By mid morning the box opens up and Lorn is allowed to roam free. Conchabar smiles down at the halfling. "Cap'ns orders m'lady. Told me personal that because we're short handed you have to make up for it. If you don't personally kill twice as many sailors yourself as you cost him you can expect eight times the punishment. Not a bad way out eh?"
Ryzern's attempts to hide avail him not as soon he is given order to arm himself and help Kroop slaughter about 6 pigs and collect its blood and guts.
Any of you not armed is granted a short sword from the armory as well as a light crossbow with about ten bolts. As the weapons officer hands these off she makes it very clear to you and especially Lorn that she'll make note of every bolt that ends up in a fellow sailor's back.
And all the while the dot of the Rahadoumi vessel begins to grow bigger.
You have about 12 hours before the fight officially begins. You now have a chance to change out spells, make some last minute influence checks, or some other "shenanigans" to ensure one or more sailors return (or don't!).
Clambering out of the box, a wilted Lorn finally stands on a sun-drenched deck, the fresh air immediately refreshing. Conchabar’s words, an attempt at optimistic enthusiasm, filter in and a myriad of responses are considered and squashed. No few of them would put her back in the box and none would move her into anyone’s good graces. ”Indeed,” is the only croaked word that escapes her parched throat.
She departs the presence of the crew and officers, faces filled with pity, sympathy, mockery and scorn, to head to the galley. Not asking for permission, she helps herself to any rations or prepped food, sucking down lots of water and a rum chaser. Re-fortified, she returns to the deck to pulled several buckets of sea, flushing the internment stink of the box off. Sure she has a stoic poker face on, but no one is fooled. Her spirit is unbroken and she is irked. There is a backbone in this pint-sized halfling and two armed sailors died trying to kill her.
As the weapons officer hands these off she makes it very clear to you and especially Lorn that she'll make note of every bolt that ends up in a fellow sailor's back.
”Aye-Aye” delivered with a steady snake-eye stare as she accepts the weapons offered.
Actions TBD.
Swapping Enlarge Person for Mage Armor. Getting Spell Book from gear and make sure it is in it's waterproof bag in my pack. Same goes for the backup spell book in my leg.
Tark do I have the time and supplies to scribe a scroll before the attack? I have Ink and parchment and the cash for a 1st level spell Scribing will only take 2 hours...... If it is possible then Ryzern scribes a sleep scroll, rests for 8 hours. And re-memorizes sleep.
When offered the weapons. "Ah yes, I suppose this is necessary."
Siera smiles satisfied as the halfling is taken off the sweatbox and approaches her during dinner.
Here, halfpint, have my rum. You sure can guzzle it down huh? Pretty impressive that you can hold so much in such a tiny package. - it's fairly clear she isn't speaking solely about the beverage.
We need ta talk 'bout the attack tomorrow. Chances are, they'll throw us first as fodder, so we'll be needin' to put our heads together and try to figure out a way to survive this.
Purposely misconstruing Siera's compliment,"Aye. Much prefer a better vintage of rum tho'. And yes, I know I'll take a crossbow in the back if I don't get killed in the first wave. Love to talk but first, I've a question for two sailors. Walk with me."
Lorn Butterrum, miffed Halfling, approaches both of the sailors who frisked her weapon free. "Syl and Jape were set up for failure. Jape stabbed me in the back, and Syl attacked Jape. You made sure I was defenseless. I don't blame you, knew you were under orders but what did Jape or I do to be killed? Besides me, which one of you is next? Cause you were supposed to ensure that I die." She'll pause to let that sink in, wait for a comment or denial but leave if questioned.
"Gonna die tomorrow anyway, Scourge will make sure of that. Probably you too. I'll not be losing sleep over it. Stifling a yawn, she'll head back to her hammock.
Siera accompanies the halfling on her walk and watches with curiosity as she approaches the bootlickers.
Fat chance that'll work. I can smell the brown up their noses from kissing Scourge's ass all day long.
After escorting the halfing to the bunks to make sure nobody tries any funny business, she decides this could be her last night alive and searches fraternization in the bottom of a rum mug and the comforts of somebody's arms. Approaching the tight-lipped sailor Cog she gently suggests:
Hey pretty boy. Wanna f&%*?
Mugwort keeps an eye on the halfling, more out of curosity as to what she does than any thought that she might need help. He lurks in the shadows, watching the way each of the other crewmembers he trusts deal with the night before the battle. Hearing the sounds of various rutting and drinking and fighting he eventually heads back to his hammock and curls up asleep under it, his head resting on his blunderbuss.
Mugwort keeps an eye on the halfling, more out of curiosity as to what she does than any thought that she might need help. He lurks in the shadows, watching the way each of the other crewmembers he trusts deal with the night before the battle. Hearing the sounds of various rutting and drinking and fighting he eventually heads back to his hammock and curls up asleep under it, his head resting on his blunderbuss.
Lorn's laughed off by the sailors who searched her. It seems it wouldn't matter to them if she were keelhauled tonight, gutted by an angry merchant sailor, or shot a few times in the back during the fight.
Cog looks Siera briefly up and down and answers a simple "aye" before the both of you find an out of the way corner and make with dirty, sweaty, cursing pirate sex.
As dawn nears the ship is much closer. Close enough that you can see the panicking forms of sailors tossing non-essentials overboard in an attempt to lighten the load. The distinct form of ballistas are rolled out onto the aft deck.
At the same time various crew members are given the distasteful task of chumming the waters with blood and pig guts. Any sailor will tell you that throwing this much blood in the water will attract every bloodthirsty man eating shark for miles around. It becomes apparent after only a few minutes that landing in the water amongst the fins breaking the surface would be suicide.
Before long the crew is divided up into boarding groups. The group (Siera, Rhialla, Sylvestra, Ryzern, Mugwort, and Lorn) is given the responsibility of the Aft deck.
Riaris explains.
"The ship’s wheel is on the aft deck, just below the sterncastle.
You’re going to grapple over, kill the guards on the sterncastle,
take the wheel, and guard the ship’s boats. Kill anyone who tries to
get away on one of the boats. Don’t move from the wheel until the
fighting’s done, or you’ll have to answer to me. Oh yeah, as we get
close, it’s going to get foggy. Just stick to what I told you to do."
As you get within 120ft of the boat ballistas fire and crossbow bolts fly between the ships without accomplishing much, soon however the ships sorceress (Peppery Longfarthing) is already working her own power over the sea and soon the prey is covered in a dense fog. Making it difficult to target them, and impossible for them to target you. It's obvious the captain wants this prize mostly intact. Or perhaps he simply prefers to feel his man hacking blade personally enter there flesh.
Round 1:
Lorn takes inventory of her weaponry. One sling with 10 bullets, one light crossbow with 10 bolts, one short sword, one dagger. She loads up the crossbow, scanning for the officers to see what prep they are taking and if they are watching her closely. She brazenly takes aim at the merchant vessel. She wants to be seen firing the crossbow as much as possible. She'll save all other forms of attack for her cutthroat shipmates.
perception
Attack Minus distance and cover of course.
Dmg
Autocrit Disregard if not applicable.
Crit dmg Disregard if not applicable.
1:10 bolts used.
As the ships draw closer, Rhialla takes in her group, friends and allies made surviving against the pressgang, about to be blooded together in battle. She could feel Besmara watching and called upon the wild lady’s presence to give her friends and edge.
The first burst building the group’s confidence in their abilities, the second bringing a sense of battle readiness that bordered on arousal. Moments before the group rushed forward to engage she calls upon her goddess again, this time for protection, calling a shimmering field of energy to protect her which soon faded to invisibility.
Round 2
perception
Attack (Bless)Minus distance and cover of course.
Dmg
2:10 bolts used.
Round 3
perception
Attack (Bless and greatness)Minus cover of course.
Dmg
3:10 bolts used.
Round 4
perception
Attack (Bless and greatness)Minus cover of course.
Dmg
4:10 bolts used.
Settled down behind a railing, Mumbata steels himself for the moment to come. He feels the blessing from Rhialla flood into him. He is anxious and nervous. He is about to do to others what was done to him. It sickened him and he hates himself for it. Moments before the combat begins, Mumbata drinks one of his alchemical concoctions and swells with strength and muscle. He had been experimenting as of late with his concoctions and as he drank it he called upon the power of Shimye-Magalla. Suddenly in place of the man, was something that looked more like an ogre. His forehead became sloped and his eyes disappeared behind brooding eyebrows that hung low over his eyes like cliffs. His hands elongated and where there were fingers now there were claws. His jaw shifted forward and jutted outward, revealing sharpened teeth. He looked like something out of a nightmare.
Rounds 1-4
HP 10/10
AC 16 FF14 T16 CMD 13
F/R/W 0/2/4
Spells
0th - Detect Magic, Light, Daze, Mending
1st - Cure Light Wounds, Mage Armor (cast), Enlarge Person
Effects
Bless
Mage Armor
Sylvestra starts off summoning invisible armor to help ward off attacks. She follows this up by peeking around the cover, seeming to aim as she attempts to sure a crossbowmen before firing a shot from her weapon. Taking time to reload, she attempts to curse another as they close.
Between her shots at the crossbowmen on the merchant vessel,
"I've no plans on dying yet. Just creating a safe place for us on the stern castle, for we are shanghaied pirates but still pirates. "
Reload and shoot
"Once there, I'll do what I can to, um, support Capt's favorites who take a personal interest in me. "
Reload and shoot
"Heavy fog, thick of battle, target on my back; yes, I have plenty of incentive. Just gonna use their bolts instead of ours as per the weapons officer."
Reload and shoot
"Sierra, you throwing that grapple?"
Rounds 1-4
** spoiler omitted **Sylvestra starts off summoning invisible armor to help ward off attacks. She follows this up by peeking around the cover, seeming to aim as she attempts to sure a crossbowmen before firing a shot from her weapon. Taking time to reload, she attempts to curse another as they close.
Finding the odds of hitting an enemy unlikely, Siera picks up the grappling hook and awaits for the moment.
Why, ya wanna a ride, halfpint? If so I'll tell ya the same I told pretty boy there last night: Hang on tight, it's gunna be a rough ride!