The pirates burst into action at the calls of their officers. The pirate to the southeast swings at the creature before it with his cutlass. The creature swipes across with its spear, knocking the strike aside.
When Kerruk reaches the deck, he moves over to help said pirate against his foe. Belliott reaches the deck, roars, and moves over to help the pirate near rush.
That pirate, bolstered by his captain's song, swings at the spear-wielding fish-man before him. He slips a lunge in, driving his cutlass deep into the creature's torso - but far enough off to once side that it doesn't seem to puncture anything vital. The creature gurgles out a shriek of pain.
The other pirates move into place, and Tilly begins to get herself under control. She looks to Jack's weapon and then her own; realizing that she had no where near the powerful attack of her first mate, she drops her weapon and begins tugging at the grappling hook. With an unexpected show of strength, she yanks it out, and sends the hook sliding across the deck. You hear a great splash as whatever had been climbing it falls back into the sea.
Malvessa flinches as the giant bug zips past her head as it flees from Miss Brindle.
"Uhhh! What was that? Looked like a big . . ."
She turns towards the door
"That scream can't be good. Kaloh, back in your bag please.
As the tiny dinosaur jumps into the familiar satchel, she utters some arcane words under her breath and there's a brief shimmer around her whole body as the magic force settles around her.
Walking towards the sound of the scream, she reaches over her shoulder into her bag, and pulls the carved darkwood walking stick from the side pouch.
Malvessa looks out upon the dock and her jaw drops.
"Are you f@#%&*g kidding me?"
Malvessa steps a bit closer to the wasp to the west, and calls upon her innate magics to cause the giant bug misfortune.
The westernmost wasp dives down at its prey, attempting to skewer it with its massive stinger. It seems confused by Malvessa's odd ability, and misses its target as the shipbuilder dives to the side.
The other, to the south, charges down at its prey. It stabs the man, a fisherman by trade, cleanly through, and begins to pump poison into his body. The man falls limp, held in the wasp's clutches.
The villagers, to their credit, smartly run away from the beasts, towards the shelter of the common house, one yelling into your face as he charges past. Run!
Watching the scene unfold, and the man fall to the giant wasp's attacks Malvessa considers her options:
I'm not prepared to face these thing today. I've only got one spell that can really hurt them prepared, and they aren't in a good position for it to be very effective. That guy has the right idea, I should fall back. . . But maybe I can minimize some damage before I do. she glances again at the man in the clutches of the wasp on the dock.
He's too far away. I won't be able to help him at all.
She sighs:
"Sorry friend. I wish I could be more help."
Letting out a hideous laugh, she refocuses her attention to the wasp that she has granted misfortune, and taps into her power to allow herself to fly.
The other wasp moves from the west to chase its prey, and instead is greeted by a suddenly flying humanoid. It dives in, stinger leading, and moves through your defenses to plunge it's stinger deeply into your abdomen.
Below, the retreating men are greeted by Miss Brindle, who comes out of the common room with an armful of crossbows. She begins handing them out.
As the wasp closes and stabs at her, Malvessa chants a single word in Aquan, causing a shield shaped disc of water to appear between her and the stinger. While not enough to stop the attack, it blunts the impact slightly.
Grunting in pain as the stinger pierces her, Malvessa feels the poison starting but steels herself and continues to act.
Gotta slow it down and get away. This thing will kill me.
Pushing back away from the giant bug to get some distance, she utters two quick arcane phrases, and then spits a glob of foul looking goo from her mouth directly at the wasp.
rounds.
With her mouth now clear, she lets loose another hideous laugh.
Your spittle flies out and coats the giant insect from eyes to stinger, and it immediately plummets to the ground.
It struggles against its bonds, attempting to break free. It fails, and remains entangled in its bonds.
Meanwhile, the brave common folk fire with their crossbows at the felled insect. One hits true, doing damage to the beast.
Watching the Wasp fall to the ground and land hard, Malvessa releases another horrendous cackle; then flies herself back towards the common room, and the now crossbow equipped workers.
Stopping to hover about 10 feet above ground she turns to face the wasp, and reaches into her spell component pouch with a malicious grin on her face.
From his carrier, Kaloh chitters excitedly
*"You're going to let that thing have it aren't you?"*
Malvessa replies with the same incomprehensible chittering noises.
*"Oh yes. Yes I am."*
Sunyata attacks the nearest creature with her flail.
Sunyata moves to the south and swings at the creature there. Her strike proves true and she slams into the figure, putting it down for good. Directly thereafter, the pirates move into position and Tilly removes the hook.
Jack moves to the nearest clattering sound. He sees the boarder, and strikes.
attack-the-hook: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
damage: 1d6 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 8 + (3) = 15
Jack moves to the south, sliding across the deck as if his feet didn't need to even touch it. When he gets to the creature, he plunges his blade deep into the slick, rubbery flesh. The creature falls back and away to splash back into the water far below.
Rush begins his spell just as the Captain sets to laying out his damage. Two arrows fly and, even in spite of the rough and tumble of melee, they fly true and take the northeastern most creature in its chest. The figure tumbles back, and over the side to fall back into the water below.
There is quiet on the deck...for a moment. Then, creatures come up the rope and crest the railing...and these are far different from the last ones. These are large, muscular humanoids with the heads of a shark. These creatures slam down onto the deck and boards creak under their bulk. They roar in a very un-sharklike manner, and look for the first victims to fall to their tridents.
And, another hook clangs back up on the deck, near Tilly again.
Rush
Taptap
Fishy fishies
Sunyata
Pirates
Tilly
It fails, and the nearby men reload their crossbows, and loose again. The same man hits yet again, and he looks to his companions and merely shakes his head in reproach.
Hovering above the ground, Malvesa produces a small patch of furred animal skin, and a small glass rod. Rubbing the two together, she chitters to Kaloh.
*"Cover your ears little one. it's about to get loud."*
With that same malicious grin, she chants a few arcane words that start out at normal speaking tone, but rises as she lets her enthusiasm overcome her. With a final shout; a crackling bolt of lightning flies from he fingertips directly at the wasp.
Not waiting to see the effect she then flies backwards as far as she can so the entangled creature can't easily reach her.
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The light becomes a little brighter as a small being made entirely of lightning appears next to Tap. Rush yells at the creature in a language that sounds like a tempest.
It is difficult to tell if a face made of clouds and lightning is angry, but this one may be as the small figure turns its attention from Rush to the shark man next to it, bringing his fists down to try and smash into it.
Rush begins limping across the deck, the sound of his peg leg thumping against the wood lost in the sounds of battle. He cries out to the crew, Protect the Captain! If you're not fighting, get those hooks off!
Tap let's off two rapid shots at the humanoid north of him, and keeps up his song of courage.
Your spell lashes out, and the wasp tries to squire out of its bonds to avoid it. To it's dismay, it fails, and the lightning bolt sears through its body to leave a smoking hole. It crackles once with electricity before the wasp...dies.
One of the men with the crossbows lets fly another bolt into the body, taking satisfaction in the verification of the insect's demise.
He then shouts over his shoulder at you. See any more of them?
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Sunyatta looks down at her flail with disdain, and hurls it down to the deck. Seeing the creature before her, she slips in with a swift combination, following a feint to its face with a swift kick to its knee. She then knifes her body sideways, spinning quickly to let fly a knife hand chop at its neck.
As the giant wasp sizzles and dies like a bit of fat in a hot fry pan, Malvessa says; "Take that you damned bastard!
Looking carefully in all directions, including above and below and seeing no immediate threats, she calls back to the man:
"No, it's clear!" and starts descending back to the ground near the common room.
As the imminent threat has passed, she takes the time to assess herself, and realizes she's actually hurting worse than she realized.
"Oww. I think that stinger went all the way through me." and feels along her back for an exit wound.
Kaloh, climbs out of his pouch, and up onto her shoulder, then chirps in agreement.
*No, not that far, but you are still bleeding. You should probably wrap that up so you don't."
*"Aye. That and another drink."* she chitters back.
Landing, she walks up to Mrs. Brindle, and the men.
"I couldn't help the man who was carried off. He was just too far away, and then the other one was on me. I'm sorry."
Suddenly feeling a bit dizzy, she steadies herself against the nearest wall.
"Also, do you have any bandages?"
Sunyata slams into the creature with hard blows, and the creature seems fairly confused by this display. After she attacks, her shipmates do as well.
The pirate at Jack's side attacks the enemy closest to it
The pirate in the northeast attacks the creature in the rear corner of the ship. His two companions behind him, not having a way up the stairs past their friend, head back to the deck and start digging for their crossbows in the storage compartments near the mast.
Kerruk looks about the deck, then begins an odd dance that his companions recognize as his method for a summoning.
Belliott is the only one to make contact, his greataxe slamming into the creature that Sunyata had just wounded. The creature still stands, but looks to be significantly hurt.
Tilly moves forward and begins to tug on yet another hook. The other pirate near her lends a hand, but this one is pretty firmly stuck in the wooden planking, and she can't get slack as something quite heavy seems to be climbing up.
Tap fires two arrows to the rear of the ship and, even though he has to account for his pirate allies, both still hit, scorching the leathery hide of this shark-headed humanoid.
Even as he does that, Rush's summoned creature arrives and lashes out. Alas, it seems confused by the whizzing arrows, and misses its mark.
Rush
Taptap
Fishy fishies
Sunyata
Pirates
Tilly
Jack's body acts, but his mind is all What the hell
Jack readies himself to parry and riposte.
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Jack slashes away at the creature near the railing, and scores a hit! The shark-man responds with a swipe of its trident. He slips his blade in, oriented vertically with the hilt held high, and moves his body just enough that the trident slips past harmlessly. Then, Jack responds by stepping back with his off-let and slashing up with the tip of his blade, parting the skin of the shark snout of the creature. It lets out a very human howl with an odd gurgling background. Jack gets the feeling, though...that this creature resisted some of the damage, for the strikes should have done more damage.
The shark-man then leans in to attempt to bite at Jack.
Near Sunyata, the shark man goes into a frenzy, attacking wildly with trident and bite at Sunyata. His weapon comes out in a sweeping blow, seeming to strike out at his opponents in a line. Sunyata has none of it though, and steps in to stop the swing at the creature's elbow with her own forearm, completely stalling the swing.
The sharkman to the rear of the ship lashes out at the pirate before it with a wicked combination of trident and bite. His trident impales the poor man and the creature uses it to lift him up and into a bite that takes off half of the man's face. The pirate...one of your crew...drops lifelessly to the deck.
To Tilly's dismay, a truly frightening creature tops the railing to climb onto the deck. Looking much like the fish-eyed creatures from the first wave, this one has four arms ending in claws, and is thickly muscled. It gurgles out an odd war cry, spitting salt water all over the deck before it pulls itself over and onto the Oncoming Storm.
Rush
Taptap
Fishy fishies
Sunyata
Pirates
Tilly
A few minutes later, after she has patched you up and you've cast your healing, you hear a knock at your door. Miss, miss are you in? I'm Tenvor, Tenvor Ritchen...I'm in charge of the...well, what we have for a militia here in town. I...I'd like to thank you, if you have a moment.
Despite her protests about the extent of her injuries, Malvessa finds herself forced to admit that not only was she hurt worse than she'd ever be willing to let on, but Miss Brindle actually did know a thing or two about patching up wounds.
After communing with Kaloh to memorize, then casting her spell she felt much better over all.
It doesn't even hurt when I bend this way anymore. A good night's rest and I'll be nearly good as new.
When there's a knock on the door, she responds immediately:
"Come in Mr. Ritchen. I'm dressed and reasonably decent. The door is unlocked."
As the man enters, she's standing next to the bed leaning slightly on the carved darkwood walking stick and looks him over to be sure he's just what he says he is.
"What can I do for you Mr. Ritchen?"
These are weresharks, and Jack remembers two things about them, from tales he's heard in various ports - they're really tough to harm unless you use silver or magic, and their bite can spread their curse.
I'm...sorry ma'am...I can just wait in the common room if you'd rather. It's just....well, Mr...um, well Rickety, he asked me to come by and see if you need anything. Miss Brindle said you took down one of those bugs yourself! Rickety would like to thank you in person, if you have a moment.
Taking in the young man's demeanor, Malvessa stifles a chuckle.
Picking up Kaloh, and putting him up on her shoulders, she chitters at him in their shared language;
*"He seems nice, but I think if my blouse was unlaced a tiny bit his head would explode."*
The small dinosaur shakes its head in what a human terms would seem to be amusement.
*"Be nice. Unless you're looking to mate with him. If that's what you want I suggest you pounce him and bite his neck until he submits."*
She considers for a moment, then shakes her head at her familiar, chittering *"Maybe later though . . ."*
Turning to Mr. Ritchen;
"As much as Rickety has done for me, I am happy to see him at any time he wishes. Please show me the way sir."
As they exit her room she offers her arm to him to escort her properly.
"I was able to drop the thing, but that was due to some luck on my part, and bad luck on its side. It honestly could have gone the other way just as easily. Also, your men certainly helped by peppering it with bolts."
Moving up beside Jack, Rush laments as he stabs towards the creature. Did I ever tell you how I lost my foot? It got taken off by a shark. I'd appreciate not losing the rest of me to these bastards. Rush then tries to push the creature's weapon off balance so Jack can stab it.
Without receiving further orders, the lightning elemental continues its assault on the one if front of it. It's tiny fists make contact, sending jolts of lightning coursing through the shark man.
and
Weresharks, by the sea! use silver weapons, if you have them. or magic!
Tap fires two shots again while keeping up his song. No sweat boys.
You continue out of the Commons and walk over to the dry dock. Heading upstairs, you come into Rickety's business office, which is empty. Tenvor offers you a seat, and you only have to wait a few moments before Rickety, the salty old pirate himself, comes in, wringing his hands in frustration. He sighs deeply as he flops down into his seat. Ah, young Miss Aroll...what would we have done without you? Sorry I'm late, but I had ta' tell a young miss that her man got taken away by... He gulps down something unsavory - guilt, maybe? [/b]...by those things. We seen em before of course, but never more than one and they never dared ta' come close ta' this many people.[/b]
He settles his gaze upon you, and you see wetness in the corners of his eyes. Thank you, miss...and I mean that. He sniffs. Now, I know yer jus' here till tha' next ship comes in, but I think some sort of reward is in order...ya' could have jus' ran back inside. Instead, ya' ran out and saved my men. So, what can 'ol Rickety do fer you...what does a Miss Malvessa Aroll need for her future adventures?
Sunyata, frustrated by the stubborn wereshark, screams in anger, and seems to gain in stature as she tightens her hands into fists. She moves in to slip under a strike, then hammers down a chop on the lycanthrope's wrist and follows with a leaping elbow to its face.
She slams her strikes into the beast's tough hide, but it doesn't seem to affect it at all!
The pirates attack! One man, with Belliott, swings at the wereshark near Sunyatta.
Belliott hears jack's call and roars out to the pirates. Ya' heard the first mate! You - get any silver we got. You, get some nets up here! He points to the fellow near him, who rushes away and another man that was just about to come onto the deck. Then, Belliott shrugs to himself, and takes a mighty swing.
Tilly and the pirate to her side slash at this new, four-armed monstrosity!
The pirate near Jack, right next to him, instead tries to feint at the creature to help Jack with his next attack.
The pirate to the rear of the ship doesn't hear the call over the clamor, and attacks the wereshark again!
The pirates all prove to be mostly useless, finding this foe too great for them. One man is able to slightly distract a wereshark, but no one else can seem to make contact.
Jack lashes out, scoring what should be a cut on the beast but it barely registers, though the wereshark jerks back at the shock from the weapon.
Tap's arrows fly out and once again immolate the creature. Coupled with the piercing of the arrows through the thick hide, the flying weapons seem to be wearing the creature down.
Rush distracts the creature, and his summoned servant, if nothing else, is annoying the wereshark by arcing electricity off of its slick skin.
The enemies attack! The wereshark to the rear of the ship unleashes a full attack on the elemental, stabbing and biting ferociously.
The one near Sunyata does this same, this time at Sunyata, who has closed inside its guard.
The last wereshark looses its assault on Jack.
The four armed monstrosity turns towards Tilly and bites and swings in a furious assault.
Rush
Taptap
Fishy fishies
Sunyata
Pirates
Tilly
Tap grimaces as he sees his sailor gutted. Aim Fire. Aim Fire. He needs to get better at this.
Hearing her cry out in pain, Rush jabs his spear at the wereshark and then beats a hasty retreat when it goes to block the stab.
Again, with no new orders, the elemental continues attacking.
Half assed pirates. That's what we are.
Grimacing from the pain of the wereshark's attack, blood oozing, Jack presses his attack. Jack sees little he can do except to dispatch this wereshark as soon as possible. Perhaps I can scare it a little
We know you, wereshark, and beware, we will not be kind.
Jack readies himself to parry another attack