Wardove's Rumble in the Jungle

Game Master Laithoron

As the others all disappear from view, Alis turns to regard her long lost little sister, a twinkle in her eyes as she smiles. "Well, I guess you and Tut had better get going too."

With a wink, she calls out a few words and tosses the sleeping monkey on her pack up into the air whereupon it gives a cry of surprise before changing into a white albatross. "It's bad luck for a sailor to kill an albatross, so I'm sure he'll be OK even if he's not invisible."

She sighs, looking back up towards the lighthouse far overhead. "I suppose this means I need to be a good little princess and sit this one out so Mal and Frændi don't worry about me, doesn't it?"

Reaching out, the princess gives the succubus a long hug, and says, "Still, if something unexpected happens, one of your mage armor spells could come in handy..."

Though Lureene doesn't take Alis at anything other than face value, the princess looks up and silently commands King Tut to circle overhead, near the tower.

If I can get the timing just right...

Lureene pauses for a second wondering just what Alis was up to. Still her request appeared to be a reasonable one. She returns the hug and plants her own kiss on Alis' lips even while chanting her spell.

Touching Alis on her arm, she whispers gently in her ear. "Be careful, 'Lis!"

Cast Mage Armor on Alis.

Alis gives a contented sigh and returns her now shorter friend's affection. "You be careful yourself, El. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I'm sure the biggest danger I'll face will be an overly verbose lecture on potential strategies from the good professor. Never hurts to be prepared though, that's all."

As the golden-winged enchantress finally turns herself invisible and takes to the air, Alis waves and looks up and begins her ascent towards the tower, a flight spell rather than wings carrying her aloft, even as she covered her movement with a temporary invisibility spell.

I never actually said that I'd stay at the lighthouse...

Isaac leans back heavily against the iron bar, face growing red from his effort. He had already flexed the bar a bit further with each repetition, timing each attempt to the effort of the oarsmen. Unlike tempered steel which might have had a spring temper, the iron bars were rigid, but could also be more easily fatigued without returning to true. He'd make them rue not stripping him of his armor and other gear...

With a sudden whine, the bar peeled back! There wasn't even time to react as it dropped him hard to the floor. "Ho ho! So what's this we have?"

Still laying on his side, the 3-foot long bar concealed beneath him, he could hear the intake of Lilyana's breath at the captain's booming voice.

"Hnff!" The mage's snort sounded like someone had just told him a ridiculous joke, "Amusing, but pointless... I wonder what they could hope to achieve?"

Daring to look up, Isaac could see Lilyana's pressing herself against the back of her cage, teeth clenched, yet when he looked up towards the hatching in the ceiling, no faces peered down at them.

"Achieve?" the captain asked incredulously, "The boys are about to achieve some target practice, that's what! RIGHT LADS?"

Face scrunched up with confusion, Lilyana mouthed the words, What is going on? pointing upwards and raising her hands in uncertainty.

Even as a cheer went up, the voice of one sailor cut thru the rest, "Cap'n sir, you want that she should shoot the dwarf or the old woman first?"

"HA," came the booming reply, "that's the spirit lads! Five doubloons to the man that fells the flying bint, ten for her armored friend!"

Even as the ship absolutely erupted in a furor, a single word spoken evenly and without undue volume cut through them like a scythe, "No."

"Enh?" The captain grunted in surprise. "Bloody hell, why not? You've got that whole galleon to yourself!"

Once more a bone-chilling laugh made the sibling shiver even though they were on Elsemar's equator during the hottest time of the day. "Call it... curiosity!"

The moment she alights in the open to what was once the balcony overlooking the courtyard, Alis mentally summons Tut to swing around behind the tower. Starting another clandestine conversation, she commands, "In here, Tut, I want you to hide!"

Acting quickly, she spins around, a shimmer of amethyst light enveloping her when in a flash, the princess takes on the form of an albatross herself. The precise moment King Tut nears the balcony, she leaps, her magical flight spell helping to propel her along the same arc that Tut had been flying as she feels the air to catch the wind.

Perfect!

Alright Tut, if you're a good boy I promise we'll go fetch an entire bunch of bananas when I get back!

Even as she could sense the monkey-bird's excitement, the feathered princess managed what smile she could from her hooked beak.

Time to catch up to Lureene. It IS the obligation of a princess to ensure the safety of her retainers after all...

Theme: Pompeii

It takes a few minutes of flying before Priyya and Darvesch draw near enough to the galley to make out its name. "The Falcata hmm? It's a good name. Well, let's do this, shall we?"

As the unlikely duo swoop down to land on the galley's raise forecastle, the priestess clucks, "Since this was your idea, I'm sure you have some convincing words for our hosts. I'll stand back and cast disapproving looks for now. I must say, given that you actually changed Alis' mind one it was made up, I'd rate your chances as better-than-most."

Without flash or ceremony, the two land solidly on the catwalk running along the ship's centerline. Unlike the vessels they had both sailed upon previously, the rocking of the sea is compounded by the constant surging of the rowers below them — several dozen black-skinned oarsmen chained to their benches. It doesn't take the priestess long to note the lash marks common to all of their backs, some recently inflicted.

So much for my team of ghoulish rowers...

Beside Priyya, the heaving of the deck, and the surge of the oars, quickly recollects for Darvesch the heaving of his own guts scarcely a half hour earlier. The dwarf is quickly reminded that seagoing vessels are a poor match for his kind. However, Alis' words of encouragement, her faith in him and the influence of her goddess toughen his resolve. With grit and determination, he forces down the sensation of rising bile and bears it out.

Next to him, Priyya remains unaware of the struggle her companion just narrowly surmounted. A quick glance around the Falcata reveals at least 10 sailors, their features a mongrel's mix of Setenbori, Mestaran, and Loxphari heritage among others.

Mutts one and all, but what is that?

The disguised priestess' dark eyes narrow as she notes the hulking man tirelessly pounding away at three giant drums with a striker the size of a maul even as he intermittently blows a horn with the other. Yet if it was a man or minotaur, she could not say, a gigantic iron helm, black within sat atop the hulk's shoulders, great horns curving forth from it.

Yet she had the feeling that was not the greatest of their concerns. Standing atop the sterncastle, leering at them with a smug grin was a husky man with a veritable mane of grey hair flowing down over heavy red robes. He looked to me in perhaps his 50s, with either an excess of kohl or perhaps tattoos darkening the entire region between his cheek bones and eye brows over to his temples. Heavy black eyebrows loomed over eyes with irises so pale in color that they looked nearly white.

Standing near him and to the side, broad-shouldered man, tall as Tyralor but with an impressive, coal-black beard, and a face like a sun-beaten leather sack glared at them with blue eyes sharp as daggers. Over a blood-red bandana, he wore a black leather tricorn, its sides pinned by skulls-head cabochons. From his hip, a brass-hilted cutlass hung within easy reach of his ring bedecked fingers. Judging by the sheer amount of gold he wore, the size of his down-turned boots, and his dauntless demeanor, he could only be the captain of the vessel...

I wonder how quickly Mal can swim...

MAP: The Falcata, (Round -25)

MAP: The Battle of Reaver's Shiv, (Round -25)

"Well sure, come right aboard The Falcata, make yourselves at home," the captain jeers, "got some seats down below if standin' on the deck ain't your thing."

Thrusting his hands forward, he scoffs, "So, you come to talk, fight, or row?"

Darvesch shakes the mans hand. "We've come to talk." He glances at Priyya, "Well, I have. It took a great deal for me to convince my allies to give me the opportunity to talk with you." He looks at the men around him, assessing the situation*. "Please, may we conduct our business in private?"

Sense Motive 1d20 + 18 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 18 - 2 = 21 *Assess the situation (how eff'd are they if a fight were to break out), alcohol poisoning

Chuckling grimly, the red-robed man holds a hand out towards the captain as Darvesch reaches for him, "No, do not gut this one, he shows spirit."

Licking his teeth, lips curled, the captain hesitantly takes Darvesch's and gives it one shake before snarling and balling his fist. "Quite the grip you have there, dwarf. And no, we talk here, ain't to place private on the Falcata anyway."

Jason: You get the feeling that the sailors are all hard-bitten toughs, maybe not the caliber of dwarven, or elvish warriors, but quick to stick a blade where it's wanted least and all to eager to do so. The captain certainly doesn't like you, and judging by the multitude of scars, and the subtle guarded movements in his otherwise brash bearing, you can tell that he's the sort who has gathered his crew thru sheer brutality and reputation. The hulk on the forward deck... even the sailors seem afraid to get too near him, though whether or not he is even paying you any attention at all is uncertain. The most troubling person present, however, is the red-robed man. He seems to view your intrusion less as an appreciable threat and more as a source of amusement, like a cat toying with a pair of mice.

MAP: The Falcata, (Round -21)

With the ship cloaked in dread silence but for the exertions of the slaves and the beating of the pace drum, every word spoken above is plain to Isaac and Lilyana. Above their heads, they can hear the deck creak, and see shadows conceal the seams around the trap doors above their heads.

Shifting and squinting from within her cage, Lily points right at the trapdoor above her head, whispering to her brother, "The captain and a man in red robes are right above us! Should be shout out? It sounds like a dwarf with allies, but who knows how many..."

From about 60 feet up, Lureene watches intently as Priyya and Darvesch land. She had very nearly caught up to them, when they slowed to take in the scene. Now, she was positioned such that the galley would pass directly below her in another few moments, all she had to do was glide down if she wished to land or grab hold.

As she waited, on the foredeck, she could see a huge man, bigger than Mal, beating a trio of drums with a huge striker even as he sounded a great horn every few moments. Further back, past the dozens of toiling slaves, Darvesch just shook hands with a man built like Tyralor (only nowhere near as handsome) who could only be the captain. Not far from him stood an older man dressed in heavy red robes in spite of the oppressive heat. Whether a priest or a mage, she had little doubt that he had to be a spellcaster of some sort.

As to how Darvesch's negotiations where going, she couldn't tell. He and the captain had just shaken hands and the caster seemed to be friendly enough. Was there actually some chance this would work?

The rush of wind over wings caused the succubus to look to her side just as a large, white albatross flew past her — King Tut. His broad wingspan had covered the distance with much less effort than she had to muster and he had caught up in spite of starting so far behind her. Yet before Lureene could smile in relief or the invisible Grak could make comment, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye.

On the deck of the ship, one sailor pointed out the majestic bird to another. Without hesitation, the second sailor man trained his bow and fired! With a piteous cry of pain, the bird's wing's folded and it plunged toward the sea alongside the ship even as the two laughed and clapped each other about the shoulders in cruel joy.

Missstressss, didn't Alisss sssay that sssailorsss didn't ssslay thossse birdsss?

Gods, well that was a lack-luster performance, I hope they didn't notice they missed. Figures that slavers wouldn't care one whit about the traditions of honest sailors. Time to make this dive look convincing at least. Sorry Lureene...

With more effort given to her act than needed for a mere 60-foot dive, the princess-petrel dove into the water disappearing well beneath the surface of the water before dismissing her spell.

Time for a different tactic.

My ass that was a monkey! Dammit woman...

Glaring at the two sailors jeering at the prow of the ship, the elderly cleric shook a long, wrinkled brown finger and called out sternly, "You boys there, don't you know it's bad luck to kill an albatross? You'll bring a curse down on ALL your crew! You had best make an offering to appease Syrene before it's too late..."

The captain looks up from Darvesch for a moment at the old woman's nagging tone and locks gazes with the two men responsible for the crime. In words filled with the promise of punishment, teeth clenched with ire, he said, "You two just forfeited half the wages for this job. Go and do as the old woman said or the sacrifice to the sea witch will be your scurvy hides!"

Round: -18

Even as the captain growled at his men, Alis effortlessly raced beneath the hull and back to the prow. Although she was an excellent swimmer, the magical flight spell she had cast made such skills obsolete, at least for the time being.

There was a small, covered landing on the prow just ahead of the foredeck. I only saw two sailors there. OK, this should be far enough...

Eyes squinted against the glare of the sun silhouetting the hull, the princess silently slipped thru the surface of the water, flying just ahead of the ram on the leading edge of the prow, the ship's bulk blocking any line of sight to her. Looking up, the spell she had cast earlier allowed her to see the invisible succubus and her pet without any trouble whatsoever. With a finger held to her lips, she gave a clandestine wave and a thumbs-up to indicate she was OK.

Now to get onboard without being seen. I really wish I had prepared an invisibility spell with a longer duration this morning...

MAP: The Falcata, (Round -18)

No Grak, good sailors do not violate the traditions of the sea. She could imagine Captain Traker's outrage at this blasphemy. Lureene watches helplessly as the sailors take their shots at poor King Tut. Watching him plummet to the water's surface caused her blood to nearly boil over.

Those men will PAY for that! Still, a single arrow should not have killed Tut. Familiars have a much stronger life for--'Lis???

Lureene resists the urge to yell out at her sister knowing silence was their ally here. She silently commands Grak to fly over and accompany her.

I hope no one else figured out 'Lis' little deception here...

As Grak swoops toward her, Alis grits her teeth and holds a finger to her lips indicating to be quiet. Invisible though he was, the beating of his leathery wings was far from silent. Still out-of-view, he held up her hands to catch him, hoping that Lureene and he understood her intentions...

Grak catches the movement of the Princess and correctly guesses her intention. Beings such as himself were built for stealth and it was only natural for him to continue to exercise those instincts.

He flies next to the Princees before landing on the side of the hull, his sharp claws digging a foothold in the sea soaked wood.

Fly next to the Princess and land next to her on the underside of the ram. He has a climb speed so he can hang on here for now.
Stealth 1d20 + 19 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 19 + 20 = 47 invisible

"Captain. You seem like a man that appreciates bluntness. Allow me to be blunt, then." Darvesch looks to Priyya, a look of uneasy anticipation in his eyes, the look he gets before he does something bold, then looks back to the captain. "What will it take from me for you to free all your slaves?" He says unhesitantly.

The black-bearded captain cocks his head to one side and digs in his ear with his pinky finger before looking at it and flicking it. "Come again there, shorty? Sure I didn't hear ya right, something about them Zucks what are rowing my bloody ship?"

Gaze never leaving the dwarf, the captain paces before the Falcata's helm, one hand on the hilt of his cutlass while the other strokes his beard.

"Normally I'd be more'n happy to sell these dogs and get me a fresh batch, but this here deck ain't a slave market, and I can't spare rowers anyhow. Near as I figure it then," he draws his blade with such swiftness that Darvesch never sees it, "it'll have to be o'er my dead body. That blunt enough for ya, dwarf?"

"Come now. I thought you were smarter than that." Darvesch readies to defend himself against an oncoming attack, weapon drawn.

Isaac lay on the ground as the people above him made his blood run cold. Thinking he had been caught and panicking that he was going to get himself or his sister killed for being so loud, but hearing that they weren’t talking to them, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Still breathing hard for the thought of being caught, he looked at his sister. ”I’m not sure Lily, but we have to get out” He said, determined to use his new tool to get them both free.

Deciding that it might be too difficult to crack open his cage from the inside, and the hole that he made looked like it could be just big enough for him to squeeze through. ”Hey, Lily… got anything that can help me get through this… I think I can almost manage it, and then I’ll get you out of your cage.” His words were soft and quiet, and he seemed to recover from his scare rather quickly for the most part. He was still a little nervous, but not shaken.

Sorry I took forever, um, Elf you want me to make an escape artist check or will you get it? I’ll make it the next post. I'm also sorry if I'm missing some other things, I have too much A.D.D and not enough time to read it all XD

"Lyria's grace, I hope that dwarf knows what he's doing," Lilyana murmurs to herself.

Upon hearing Isaac's request, she answers, "Yes, I saved one spell just-in-case. With that she says in a quiet, yet firm voice. Isaac Hlokenar, I command you, be free!"

Immediately, the young major feels the power of Lyria, goddess of luck flow thru him as he attempts to break free. Liberating command, an apt choice...

Cam: Give me an Escape Artist check please. Lily's spell will give you an additional +6 bonus. For future reference, in this game we make the rolls at the same time we declare the action.

"Come now. I thought you were smarter than that."

"Says the cur what's about to lose his head! STAND BACK BOYS, I'll gut this one meself!" With a low growl in which Darvesch detects just the slightest hint of self-doubt, the captain bares his gold and yellow teeth and vows, No one threatens me on my ship and lives..."

Next Up: Darvesch, Alis, Captain, Lureene, Priyya, Brute, (Isaac), Pirates, Lilyana, Ozyrankhus
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -15)

Note 1: I have a couple rounds of actions for Alis, Grak, and Lureene to resolve, so those will have taken place just before the fight started.
Note 2: In case it wasn't already obvious, Aerys, Gelik, Mal, and Sasha will reach the ship Round 0.

Well I don't hear Darvesch getting stabbed yet, Alis thought with a smile, he must be in rare form.

Turning her attention to Grak, she whispered, "Grak, I want to find out why these men are fleeing from my ships. I saw a grate in the floor of the aft deck just in front of the wheel. If Darv has the Captain distracted, you might be able to take a peek inside. Can you fly around back and let Lureene know what you see? Let her know that I'll try to check up here, but I might need some help distracting these men."

Even as Alis awaited the eidolon's reply, from within the small, tent-covered deck ahead of the foreward cabin, she could hear a sudden, "Hunh?" from one of the two sailors there. Gritting her teeth, she pressed herself up against the front of the ship as best she could, holding up a finger to her lips for Grak's benefit.

Up above, Lureene could see one of the two men turn to look in Alis' direction and then tap his comrade on the arm before pointing back towards the ram with his thumb.

Eric: Would Lureene have been trying to hover in front of the ship, grab onto one of the masts, cast any spells...? You've got 2 rounds of actions occurring in the past before you act in the initiative order this round.

Lureene is keeping pace with the Falcata for now.

Grak nods in acquiescence to the Princess' request and timing the movement of the ship so as not to get splashed by the sea swell launches himself back into the air, circling around to the aft of the ship, looking for a place to land unobserved.

Fly to square G49. That should take Grak 2 rounds.
Stealth 1d20 + 19 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 19 + 20 = 53 invisible

Darvesch mentally prepares himself for the captain's onslaught, and prays "Kahn, grant me the power to deliver your righteous fury!" Cast flames of the faithful and activate Bane (human).

"Let's see how well you fair, Captain."

With a bob of his head, Grak launches himself into the air. The air resistance from the galley's swift pace immediately catches his wings and quickly whisks the flying serpent along. Indeed it takes more effort to land than to cover the distance, but banks at the last moment and coils himself around one of the shuddering flag pole mounted in the aft railing. With all attention focused on the pacing captain and the intruder challenging him, no one seems to notice.

Cautiously, Grak keeps his wings tucked close to his body and slithers past the helmsman. He uses the column holding the wheel for cover against getting stepped upon, and hesitantly pokes his head down into the darkened interior below.

Within he finds a large cabin, perhaps 15-feet deep and 25-feet wide. There are no windows or portholes, although he does spy a closed door without handle, latch, or keyhole in the forward bulkhead.

There isss a door into the ssslave'sss ssseatsss missstressss.

Yet for the actual size of the cabin, there is precious little space. The ceiling is only 6-feet high and two large, metal cages take up most of the chamber, only a few feet separating them. A few thin shafts of light in other areas of the ceiling, directly over each cage, clues him in to the presence of the trap doors in the ceiling.

Yet what most interests him is the tall, attractive, and muscular half-elf currently trying to squeeze himself thru the bars of the cage on the port side. In the opposite cage, a young woman with light brown hair, crouches in a tattered nightgown. Her eyes are closed as she speaks the words of a spell.

Missstressss, I sssee a handsssome man and a pretty woman ssstuck in cagesss. They ssseem like Alisss, his armor, her bedclothesss, they look expensssive. The woman cassstsss Liberating Command.

Suddenly, Grak hears the sound of Darvesch casting a spell and pulls his head back up just in time to see his axe burst into flames.

The dwarf'sss axe jussst ssstarted to burn, Missstressss.

Isaac looked above them as the shouting match continued; it was a good thing everything was being so loud, he could get away with a little bit more. ”As do I my sister…”He muttered quietly, and nodded his head in thanks when his sister casted a spell on him.
Feeling as though he could now make it out of his cell, he set his bar just outside of the cell and started to slip out form his cage.

On the foredeck, the two men there peer over the side of the ship looking to see whatever it was that the one had heard. "I tells ya, sounded like it was some lass' voice a-whisperin' all quiet-like!"

"Psh– yer daft," the other answers from the other rail, "the only gils, within 50 leagues are the old bint who came with the dwarf an that soft lil' priestess we nabbed!"

Frowning, the man who heard something retorts, "Keep it quiet, would you? She'll hear!"

The skeptic retorts with a belch and makes a rude hand gesture towards his crewmate just before the two men who shot the albatross make their way down from above, rummaging around. "Aah, if it ain't the heroes o' the day what slew the mighty albatross!"

"Oh fawk off, an get top-side ya lazy git! Me ol' lady don't gossip half s' much as you!" Grumbling he adds, "Tha Beard's about to lay inta that short prick and we've gotta make a bloody offerin' to Syrene!"

With more than a hint of annoyance, Lureene sees the man looking for Alis shake his head and follow the skeptic over to a ladder leading back to the raised platform where the horned brute is beating his drum. The other two men are out-of-sight somewhere beneath the wind-blown canvas of the tent.

Lilyana silently nods in agreement as her brother tries to squeeze thru the bars, but her shoulders soon slump as his deep chest, particularly armored as it is, proves too thick to permit his escape. She falls back on her tush and smack the heel of her palm into her forehead for not considering that sooner.

Sighing, she offers, "Maybe without your breastplate you'll fit?"

Cam: The escape DC was 30 per the PRD.

Lureene will cast Shield and Blur on herself as her prepatory spells.

Lureene casts a couple of defensive spells on herself readying for the inevitable conflict. When Grak informs her of his discovery of prisoners, she waits for the sailors to move out of earshot and immediately casts a spell.

Cast Message at Alis..."The ship is carrying two noble prisoners, male and female, blood related from House Ilmarond! The male is trying to escape, but he failed!"

Isaac pulled back, he normally didn't have issues with getting out of tight spaces and quirked an eyebrow at his sister as she face palmed. "Okay, So I haven't had to do this in a while..." He grumbled and grabbed the bar he had broken off from his cell. Maybe if he could bend the bars just a bit more, he could get out of there easier.

"Let's see how well you fair, Captain."

"Better than a dwarf at s–"

Mid-sentence, the captain grabs hold of a guy line and launches himself at Darvesch. His deceptive footwork throws the inquisitor off-guard and the keen edge of his cutlass passes his guard emerging with fresh blood on.

Before Darvesch can react, he then lets the tension on the rope pull him back a few feet. "Talk is cheap, come at me ya wee bastard!"

If there was any self-doubt in the captain before crossing steel, Darvesch senses that it might have just vanished.

Note: To avoid misplacing people *cough*Lureene*cough* from the initiative order, I'm going to try a different format. I'll be moving the bolding for who is up rather than moving people.
Next Up: Darvesch, Captain, Lureene, Alis, Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Lilyana, Issac, Ozyrankhus

• Good Hope: +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls. r59
  
• Invisibility: The swimmers should have just enough time to reach the ship before it expires.

• A hp: 41 = 41/41
  .. Mage Armor 3et, See Invis 3:15md
  
• k: 20 = 20/20
  
• D hp: 78 - 19 = 59/78
  .. Fly r44, Protection from Evil r21
  .. Wis 14 = 14/18 (-2 penalty)
  
• I hp: 66 = 66/66
  
• L hp: 55 = 55/55
  .. Mage Armor 3et, Shield r 54, Blur 20% r55
  
• g: 41 = 41/41
  
• M hp: 66 = 66/66
  .. Ride the Waves 2:30et, Barkskin +3 2:45md
  
•      t: 49 = 49/49
  
• P hp: 46 = 46/46
  .. Fly r43, Protection from Evil r20
  
• T hp: 65 = 65/65

• A hp: 58 = 58/58
  .. Barkskin +3 2:35md, Air Bubble r40
  
• G hp: 30 = 30/30
  .. Air Bubble r42
  
• L hp: 29 = 29/29
  
• N hp: 48 = 48/48
  .. Phantom Driver 3et, Water Walk 2:45md
  
• S hp: 62 = 62/62
  .. Air Bubble r41

"The ship is carrying two noble prisoners, male and female, blood related from House Ilmarond! The male is trying to escape, but he failed!""

"They're kidnappers?!"

Oh that does it...

Even as Lureene watches, her own spellcasting completed, Alis quickly casts a spell and disappears from sight.

Taking flight once more, Alis slips back into the air and ducks in behind the two men flying silently down the row of straining slaves, the smell of sweat and filth nearly overpowering. Flies buzz everywhere and more than a few of the slaves have infections festering on their back from where the insects have taken advantage of the lashmarks on their backs.

Gods, and Darv wants to let these villains live?

In short order, she arrives at the front of the slave pit where she finds, as expected, a closed door leading into the aft cabin. It is reinforced in its frame with a stout iron bar padlocked in place on one side.

Someone's not taking any chances, are they?

With a silent prayer to Súmalya, she reaches for her kit of thieves' tools...

Next Up: Darvesch, Captain, Lureene, Alis, Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Lilyana, Issac, Ozyrankhus

THAT was his plan?! Not prevaricate, or give the others a chance to rendezvous, but straight to a– Lovely, and he's bleeding already. The only thing holding the damn crew back is the fact that it is a duel, if I intervene, it will bring the whole lot down on me.

With a sigh clearly audible over the sound of rowers and fighting, 'Sarah' clucks, "You young men and your rough ways... Is that the only way you know how to solve problems? Honestly, I should separate you both until you learn to act like adults!"

Turning to see if anyone is sneaking up on her she points to the brute who still pounds away at his drum, "See how well-behaved he is?"

"LADS!" The captain shouts, "If the old nun makes a move, nail 'er to the mast by 'er t1ts an' tongue!"

At his word, from the crow's nest and the sides of the aft deck, three sailors heft crossbows and train them on Priyya. The man still on the catwalk behind her coils his whip, waiting for the chance to use it.

Pirates: 4 readied actions to attack Priyya if she takes any visible actions.

Below deck, Lilyana frows at her own lack of foresight. "Sorry, brother, I should have thought of that sooner before I cast my spell."

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to focus herself, she begins to sing a song of hope, and another idea comes into Isaac's mind as he spots the iron bar he'd laid on the floor...

Inspire Competence: +2 morale bonus on any skill checks Isaac makes.

Next Up: Darvesch, Captain, Lureene, Alis, Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Lilyana, Issac, Ozyrankhus
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -15b)

"It's alright, I could have also thought about it sooner as well... guess I got hit harder than I thought." He said, trying to offer some words of encouragement, not wanting her to blame herself.

Getting things settle, he put the bar where he could get the most leverage from it and started to pull, the duel up top offering a distraction to make this that much easier. "Come on you blasted thing..." He grumbled as he pulled.

With a grim laugh, the wild-haired old man claps the sailor by him on the shoulder very nearly causing his arrow to loose at Priyya. "Yes, yes, do keep an eye on that one. Tongue sharp as the scimitar she favors. Well, I suppose I should play my part in all this..."

The husky spellcaster stretches his hands towards the sky and high above you hear the low rumble of thunder. With a smirk he says, "Oh, worry not my good woman, a duel is a sacrosanct rite in which dare not intervene. However, your allies on yonder galleon are a fly I should like to skim from the ointment..."

Although it escapes Davesch's notice, his focus elsewhere, Priyya realizes that the man must have cast a control weather spell long before you reached the ship!

"I wonder if I can land a tornado in their path," he muses, "that would be a sight to behold..."

Even as the mage chuckles in anticipation, Isaac continues to apply pressure to the next bar in his cage hoping to break free, however it doesn't yield — at least not yet.

Next Up: Darvesch, Captain, Lureene, Alis, Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Lilyana, Issac, Ozyrankhus
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -14)

Darvesch prepares his weapon for judgement, "Swinging around on a rope like a monkey, really? You're going to have to do better than that. It was a mighty scratch you've left, though!" Activate Judgement:Destruction He steps close to the captain, and strikes out at him. G.47

Darvesch lands a pair of blows that would have brought a lesser man to his knees! The captain reels from the attack, a pair of burning scars now criss-crossing his chest. However the towering man didn't gain his crew by being a pushover.

"Difference is," he quickly jukes to the right, ",I'm the monkey what's got a blade!"

In a feat of swordplay and dirty fighting, he catches Darvesch's axe with the back edge of his cutlass even as he strikes the inside of his elbow with the palm of his free hand. Instantly, the heavy weapon falls from the dwarf's hands, flames scorching the deck. Not wasting any time, he tries to give the dwarf a matching wound, in his other shoulder, but he hurriedly blocks it with his shield.

With a gold-toothed grin he taunts, "See?"

Next Up: Darvesch, Captain, Lureene, Alis, Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Lilyana, Issac, Ozyrankhus
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -14b)

• Good Hope: +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls. r59
  
• Invisibility: The swimmers should have just enough time to reach the ship before it expires.

• A hp: 41 = 41/41
  .. Mage Armor 3et, See Invis 3:15md
  
• k: 20 = 20/20
  
• D hp: 59 = 59/78 axe disarmed
  .. Fly r44, Protection from Evil r21, Bane + Flames r-8
  .. Wis 14 = 14/18 (-2 penalty)
  
• I hp: 66 = 66/66
  
• L hp: 55 = 55/55
  .. Mage Armor 3et, Shield r 54, Blur 20% r55
  
• g: 41 = 41/41
  
• M hp: 66 = 66/66
  .. Ride the Waves 2:30et, Barkskin +3 2:45md
  
•      t: 49 = 49/49
  
• P hp: 46 = 46/46
  .. Fly r43, Protection from Evil r20
  
• T hp: 65 = 65/65

• A hp: 58 = 58/58
  .. Barkskin +3 2:35md, Air Bubble r40
  
• G hp: 30 = 30/30
  .. Air Bubble r42
  
• L hp: 29 = 29/29
  
• N hp: 48 = 48/48
  .. Phantom Driver 3et, Water Walk 2:45md
  
• S hp: 62 = 62/62
  .. Air Bubble r41