Bolgrith unlimbers his shield and draws his ax. Moving to the starboard side he stands ready, though he keeps his ax head low, and his shield at his side. Seeing his companions, he walks by each in turn touching them on the shoulder and whispering a quiet prayer.
Stopping near the Captain, anyone watching would see the dwarves fingers glowing blue as he presses his ax to his shield.
Rolg prepares his guisarme and slings his shield across his back for easy access.
"Pikes to the rail! Crossbows to the rigging!"
The hobgoblin finds Golo and takes a stand at his side.
Balion stands with his guisarme upon the other side of Golo and awaits any foes.
After a few minutes, the ship is close enough to see crewmen working and others standing on the deck or perched amongst the rigging, aiming crossbows at the Wanderlust deck. The alarmingly hostile ship, the painted name close enough to read Lusty Lady is also near enough to clearly hear the words of the chant:
“Hey ho ho,
We terrorize the sea! We take what’s ours
And hit the bars and drink all the brandy!
We’re Gentlemen of Fortune and there’s nothing you can do,
‘cause we’re the professional pirates, and we’ve come to c’llect our due!”
A second verse begins, but is quickly cut off by a roaring “QUIET!”
The shout comes from a man who strides gallantly into view at the center of the Lusty Lady. In a black surcoat with golden buttons over a frilled crimson shirt, a scarred, swarthy face boasting a flamboyantly large brown handlebar moustache sneers as he surveys the Wanderlust. Jeweled rings adorn every finger, varying in metal and gemstone. In one hand he holds a silvery rapier, the other he raises his dark, wide-brimmed and red-feathered hat as he addresses the Wanderlust crew.
“Greetings fine sirs! You’ve have to honor to meet me, High Captain Kendrick Longwater. My Gentlemen of Fortune will happily relieve you of your burdensome valuables, and let you be on your way.”
As he addresses those aboard the Wanderlust, the Lusty Lady draws up to thirty feet away. The oars continue to slap and dig beneath the waves, keeping the pirate ship alongside its quarry. Visible from this distance, instead of matching the Wanderlusts three huge ballistae per side, each side houses six smaller models, though still large in their own right. Rope winches line the center of the deck, and the heads of the armed artillery bolts are oddly barbed. Members of the crew are seen standing ready near the loosing levers of these mighty weapons.
Simon stands tall, and steps forward on the deck. His voice is stern and commanding, and looks the very part of a young lordling.
“You will do no such thing! We travel these seas and conduct our trade on behalf of Jeremiah Wyldote. Surely, you would not want to cross the most powerful man in the Sunderlands, my father! Now continue on your way, High Captain Longwater, and I may forget seeing your ship in these waters. I would hate for my father’s armada to have to waste their time sinking scum like you!”
He rests his hand on the hilt of his sword and meets the pirate captain’s eye.
The High Captain cracks a malicious grin. “Son, you’d be wrong to call us scum, for we are equals to your father and his frilly court. We’ve got the same right as any to do as we please. But in gracious gentlemanly fashion, I’ll forgive your slight.”
He plants his high-plumed hat over his matted brown hair as his gaze wanders over the Wanderlust crew, until he meets Captain Rettley’s glare. “Ah, good to see you again, Captain –Ripley? It’s been ages, I hope you are well. I see Gobo Golo is still picking up your slack. Never understood why he got sick of sailing under a gentleman’s colors.”
His eyes gleam in mockery at Golo, a gold tooth sharpening the jest. Captain Rettley begins to say something, but Kendrick Longwater bulls over him. “It seems to me, Captain Ripley, that your most precious cargo has a thing or two to learn of respect. If you lend him and his entourage here proper, I see no point in spilling any blood over baubles. Aye, here’s a sweeter deal: I’ll pay you to let me take him off your hands, and don’t you suffer a bleeding heart –I won’t kill them. In fact, I’ll even feed them and treat them like my own sons, you have my word –from one captain to another. Your ship is damaged, and by the looks of it, you’re hand or two short. We play nice, and you can sail away a rich man.”
With his free hand, he pulls a gaudily jeweled gold necklace from under his tunic, letting it hang heavily on his neck. Simon scowls fiercely at the pirate, but his nervous shift in weight betrays his front. Captain Rettley’s gaze is fixed on the treasure offered by the pirate, the wheels in his head turning. The crew seems to hold their breath.
Bolgrith eyes the ship and it's crew. Shifting his weight from one foot to another he weighs his options in his head.
Casting a sideways glance at Captain Rettley he holds his tongue.
Looking back over the water he sizes up the other ships captain.
The ornate jewelry would probably fetch a price of about 2500 gold pieces, by Hamonreld reckoning.
As far as you can tell, Kendrick Longwater is willing to treat you fairly at this moment, but the life of a buccaneer is notorious for attracting the chaotic and unpredictable.
"Logwater was it!?" Rolg calls across the gap. "The good captain Rettley won't be intimidated by you, so you try to buy him with cheap baubles? It'll take a treasure twice that much to sway the cap'n. I commend you effort though and can't despise it whatsoever. However, I'd advise you to move along before I have to test that gilded steel of yours."
Aladdin looked back at Captain Rettley. "Well friend, this decision here will make or break your career. Will you be forever known as the Captain who turned his back on his job, or the Captain who took down the Lusty Lady?"
"Careful all. I'm sensing a lot of magical auras on that ship. The captain, the dwarf, and that top cabin seem to contain a lot of magic." Aladdin whispered to his companions
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Balions very exquisite hat may have the potential to sway the opinion of the Captain. Knowing full well the diplomatic power of a perfectly worn hat, Balion placed his hat this morning in such a way to win the captains favor. Having decided to address the crew as well, "I gave you fish..."
Simon studies the jewelry as he chews his lip, and then looks to Captain Rettley with a resolute face. “Accept his offer, Captain. They wouldn’t dare kill me, and to refuse would surely cost you more than what you’ve already lost. Take these Hamonrelders to Fivestone, my advance payment should take them at least that far.”
Looking the pirate captain in the eye sword in hand,"I'm not leaving Simon, to have to come and fetch him at a later date."
Simon flashes a relieved smile at Balion.
"Shut your trap, passenger. Your captain's got a profitable decision to make." Kendrick Longwater shouts to the ranger.
The Lusty Lady is now close enough to see the crew is an assorted collection of hobgoblins, humans, halfings, and one dark-haired dwarf that mans the helm. It is obvious now that those aboard the Lusty Lady outnumber the Wanderlust crew three to one. The pirate ship is nearly close enough to swing aboard by rope, with the oar tips almost touching the Wanderlust underbelly.
The Wanderlust begins to slow as more sailors arm themselves, and the Lusty Lady oarmen pull the oars inside, and the sails keep pace. A handful of the Wanderlust crew stand at the railing between the ballistae, bracing longspears, while others stand ready at the armed ballistae. Other shipmates hold longbows throughout the deck, some on the rigging, tensely waiting on their captain’s answer.
Golo stands among the adventurers, brandishing two scimitars and a nasty grin.
The captain breaks his gaze from the gaudy jewelry, glancing at the ranger’s fine hat before landing a smirk on Simon.
“Nay son, that won’t be necessary,” he raises his voice to the Lusty Lady. “Your offer is tempting, Captain Longwater, but I will not trade lives for coin. It is your turn to taste bitter steel. BALLISTAE, FIRE!”
Closing his eyes Bolgrith mutters a quick prayer, pressing his ax to the Holy Symbol on his shield his fingers tap out a curious rhythm on the wooden haft. An unearthly mist envelopes the blade, the steel now shining a bright blue color.
Keeping his eyes closed he continues to quietly pray.
Aladdin runs to the rear of the ship and ducks down behind the railing. He pokes his head over the water and aims a wand.
I'll just grease up the rear end of their ship, where the rudder is about 20 ft above the waterline. I'll just light that end on fire where they can't see or reach it.
"Come Golo, let's see if if youth and strength can beat old age and treachery. The gobo with the most kills gets the other's rum tonight."
Balion pulls out his longbow and steps behind the foremast for cover before loosing an arrow at the dwarf behind the helm.
The dwarf helmsman falters momentarily under the well-placed arrow, but he retakes the wheel.
The archers positioned on the Wanderlust loose their volley, and a great many find their mark. Pirates cry out in pain, though none fall.
The Wanderlust spits three massive bolts from starboard, and two smash against the Lusty Lady's hull in an explosion of splinters and tar, leaving high gaping holes near the railing. The third bolt chances through a firing slot and plows into one the six ballistae tended by the pirate crew. Shouts of surprise are heard as the tension of their siege weapon is snapped and wreaks havoc on their deck.
"You're on, rumvsud'." Golo mutters before roaring to his fellow crewmen. "Fire at will!"
The swarthy firstmate waves his blades impatiently as pirates ready boarding lines. Those on the Wanderlust with longspears brace them against the railing, between the ballista crews.
Captain Rettley brings his longbow to bear, a steady eye on High Captain Kendrick Longwater.
But the pirate captain was watching for the attack, and sidesteps it just in time.
Simon joins in raining arrows, aiming at the captain.
His shot arcs high.
“Fire grapplers!” Captain Longwater shouts over the din.
The archers of the Lusty Lady return a volley, and only a few manage to graze the random crewman.
The five remaining ballistae launch their strangely barbed bolts. Five slam into the Wanderlust hull, though the battering seems significantly less than what the Wanderlust dealt. Three artillery remain protruding into the hull with metal heads that seemed to unfold after the impact and pull against the inside of the walls. The pirate crew is a frenzy, and soon the winches begin to pull the ships closer!
"Now you meet your end, Captain Ripley!" the High Captain calls out, laughing. The black bearded dwarf points at the ranger, glaring. A shard of ice shoots from his finger.
The ice shard embeds itself into Balion's chest before beginning to melt.
When the decks are a mere ten feet away, a handful of pirates swing across on ropes, and the Wanderlust pikemen are ready for them...
But these boarders are long accustomed to such tactics, and most are able to kick aside the spearheads, save one who lurches mid-air, skewered by a point kicked into his path. He slides off and falls into the water between the ships. Rolg manages to carve into the leg of one of the swinging boarders. Of the five pirates that land on the Wanderlust deck, two of them lead the charge with great ragged falchions in hand, screaming in bloodlust. They fall upon Golo, Rolg, and Bolgrith in a fury!
For all their ferocity, Golo grins as he deftly slaps a scimitar away with the flat of his own. But he unable to escape the monstrous blade, and a falchion digs into his side.
Hungry for revenge, the big pirate carved by Rolg makes savage slice into the sellsword.
Bolgrith is able to bring his shield up in time to block the pirate's swing.
Rolg spits as he drops his guisarme, and pulls out his shield and flail as he steps away.
Pushing his shield arm up and away after deflecting the blow, Bolgrith brings his ax around and swings at his opponent.
Hard.
Squall roars and rushes toward the nearest pirate and claws at him.
Aladdin points with his other hand and lights the grease on fire.
Squall joins the fray, and shreds into one of the pirates.
An orange, low-burning flame spreads over the sheet of grease that coats part of the Lusty Lady's stern hull.
Balion takes aim at the dwarf behind the helm, knowing full well he must either take cover or steer the ship. Wanting to press the dwarf into action, Balion looses an arrow towards him.
Seeing his dismal shot, he yells over to Aladdin "Set the ropes ablaze!"
The Wanderlust sailors directly behind the boarders drop their longspears and draw scimitars. Those not as close pivot their stance.
Only two of the sailors land a blow. A scimitar cuts into the back of Squall's target and drops him, and one of the spears jabs Golo's remaining assailant.
Golo shrugs off the blow and scissors his scimitars at the gut of the falchion wielder.
The frenzied pirate is able to dodge one swing by stepping into the other, and blood runs freely from the red line across his chest.
“Archers! Ignore boarders, keep firing!” Captain Rettley’s bow arcs back, aimed at the pirate captain.
Kendrick Longwater wasn’t even watching Captain Rettley, and the shot soars high overhead.
The archers follow orders, and arrows rain onto the Lusty Lady.
Simon picks up a dropped longspear, and moves behind Rolg, preparing to attack the beefy, vengeful pirate.
More pirates take up rope to swing across.
“Fire! Fire on the stern!” A crewman of the Lusty Lady shouts.
“Tigg!” Captain Kendrick Longwater shouts to the dwarf at the helm, gesturing with his rapier. “See to the fire!”
The archers of the Lusty Lady return a volley.
A few arrows find their mark. Tigg nods and pulls a nearby archer by the shoulder and pushes him into the wheel. He limps to the stern railing, and finds the fire. The wood around the low flame is starting to darken, but the fire is waning.
Aboard the Wanderlust, a pirate swings his falchion at Golo, and his fellow boarders attack Rolg and Bolgrith.
But Golo is too quick, and the two Hamonrelders interpose their shields to deflect the blows.
Rolg's flail slugs the burly pirate in the jaw. He spits blood and gnashed teeth, but remains standing.
"Pikemen! Cut those ropes, burn them, remove them from our ship! Ballistae crews, aim for their mast!"
Bolgrith ducks low and bring his ax head up in a sweeping underhand slash, aiming for his opponents jaw.
The pirate screams in pain through a cloven jaw as Bolgrith pulls away his axe.
"Tah sheps are too close, we can't fire tah t'ings! answers one of ballistae crewmen. Others seem to be searching for a way to disconnect the ships.
The grease fire near the Lusty Lady's rudder burns, if only barely.
Aladdin focuses his energy and sends out magics toward his Eidolon.
Squall roars as he grows and tears into the pirates in front of him.
The unearthly Squall doubles in size, and with both claws, thrashes Golo's attacker to strings of flesh.
"Vug umm!" Golo shouts, searching for another boarder.
Balion pulls another arrow from his quiver and takes aim at the helmsmen.