The brute turns to look towards the red-robed figure and notes that he is standing by complacently even as the dwarf crushes a man into a gorey mess right beside him.
A roar of rage splits the air and the hulk seems to grow even huger, his thews rippling with frightening power! Turning upon the nearest man, he plows straight thru the drums, smashing them to bits and driving the massive striker he was using into the first man like a battering ram. The blow hits with such force that the hapless sailor flies back into the man beside him, bowling that man off the ship and flying a good 20-feet himself before he plunges into the water.
Stepping thru the attack, the brute spins, swinging his massive club, now glowing with an eerie red light, as hard as he possibly can at the last sailor on the foreward platform. The sailor evades the clumsy attack by a wide margin but the force of the blow splinters the foreward mast which topples forward and falls past Lureene, crashing into the prow.
When the sails hit the water, the braking force causes the entire galley to tip towards starboard as it veers in that direction. Everyone on board is thrown forward and towards the port side toppling sailors and the brute himself into the sea, and very nearly everyone else into the slave pit.
From behind them, Alis and Issac (the only two people able to retain their footing) hear a Lilyana cry out as she is hurled into the unforgiving bars of her cage. They also get to witness the spectacle of allies and dead bodies crashing down into the helpless slaves all around them, the whole ship ajumble.
Reflex DC 20
Damage:
5 for the stop
6 if you fell a level
10 if you were thrown into a hard surface.
Alis, Lureene, Lilyana, Issac, Darvesch, Priyya, Brute,
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -11d)
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Half-stunned from being slammed into the wheel, the helmsman does his best to straighten the slowing vessel's course before seeing what is happening up near the bow. "CUT THAT MAST LOSE!"
Meanwhile, in the sea, the brute glares at the man beside him who yelps and tries to swim away in fear. However he the foolish sailor is quickly crush in a spray of blood and water as the man-shaped behemoth brings all his fury to bear upon the man he sees as responsible for this calamity.
Once justice has been meted out, he effortlessly swims to the nearest oar and grabs hold with one hand. Further east, the other sailors thrown into the sea desperately try to reach the ship clinging onto oars in the hopes of pulling themselves up.
Inside the ship it is bedlam.
The slavers who fell into the ranks of rowers get savagely beaten by the iron shackles which once kept their chattel in line. The man nearest the prow escapes bloodied and bruised, yet another who fell mid-ship makes it only half-way down the center aisle before he succumbs to the gauntlet. The slaves do not desist until they have cave in his skull upon the floor. The dead captain likewise gets stomped into a bloody pulp.
Then they turn their attention to trying to knockback those attempting to climb the oars back into the ship. They have little success, but do make life difficult for those in the water.
Swim DC 15
Climb DC 20
AoOs on G31 - stand up
AoO on H31 - stand up
AoOs on G31 movement
AoOs on G39 - stand up
AoO on G38 - stand up
AoOs on G39 - movement
AoO on H26
Oar attacks on swimmers
Climb DC 20 - hold on
AoOs on Ozzy - fly up
At the prow, the man responsible for shooting Alis out of the air (or so he believes) staggers out from under the demolished tent, tearing at his greasy black hair in dismay.
Looking up at Lureene, he drops to his knees and wails, "Spirit, forgive me! If I'd only known... Please, I'm a fool, a damn fool, but if ye show mercy, I promise ta change me evil ways!"
Nearby, the man who just barely escaped the slave hold scrambles up the ladder back to the platform. He clutches his head with on hand and shouts back to him, "Ye've done cursed us, ya bastard! Now cut them lines or throw yerself in tha sea like The Beard shoulda, but QUIT YER BAWLIN'!"
Grak hisses in displeasure as the ship lists hard a starboard. As the ship rights itself, Grak cocks his head to one side for a moment, then turns to Alis and Isaac. "Misssstressss wisssshes to apologizzzze for that. She says the large Brute hassss been taken care of however."
"Phaa!" At the back of the ship, Ozyrankhus grunts with disgust as the slaves near him strike at him only to recoil when their chains and shackles bite into their hands as if they had struck a block of stone. "You shall break your very bones upon my skin but you lack the means to harm me — ingrates."
Without effort, the mage rises up into the air, borne aloft by magic until he finds himself gazing at Lureene. "So you're the one who circumvented command of my son. Well, what do you think of him, " he asks, voice deep and sepulchral, "my dear anomaly?"
, Darvesch, Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Ozyrankhus
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -10)
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Lureene breaks her contact with Grak just in time to see the old mage approaching her. She quells a rising sense of fear, instead focusing on the fact the others would not be threatened by him.
Hmmm, what is his game here? He certainly has enough magical prowess to counteract my charm of his SON Is he trying to buy some time here?
She turns a cool gaze on him. "So, that fine gentleman is your SON? How fascinating. I am curious to know who the mother is. Somehow I suspect his mother was not of Elvish stock.
"Hah!" the mage gives a laugh deep from his gut, "I see that your wit is more subtle than your... appearance. Sadly your curiosity, a trait I admire I might add, is unlikely to be satisfied. The mothers never seem to survive the birthing process."
"Oh not that they would want to mind you," he says as if it's should be reassuring, "I daresay death is something of a sweet release after that trauma."
"As far as his stock," he rubs his chin, "An elf? No, no. Elves are best corrupted into orcs or mated with more esoteric and desirable forms. I believe she was an ogress... or perhaps that young giant girl from Malatesta. Prolific as I am, it can be difficult to remember such niggling details. If it truly interests you, I keep meticulous documentation. I must say, I wonder what sort of creatures you might mother if given the opportunity. Certainly your extra-planar composition might obviate some of the structural integrity concerns..."
With a start, Ozyrankhus throws his hands up into the air even as the sun is blotted out by the still-thickening cloud cover. "How rude of me! Madam you seem familiar for some reason though I know not your name. You may call me Ozyrankhus, and my son Eleventy-Eight."
In spite of the seeming pleasantries, the mage's speech and subject-matter chill you to the bone, leaving you with the impression that this man plays with life like a child might with building blocks.
About 40 feet below, Alis and Isaac extricate themselves from the slaves upon whom then were throw by the motion of the ship. The mage's words are somehow audible even over the din of the slaves' rebellion, as is the shouting of the men in the water. Similarly Lilyana's cry, from when she got slammed into her cage, did not go unnoticed.
Suddenly Alis gives a gasp of surprise and points before realizing that she's still not visible yet. With a murmured apology in Zuckish, she reaches below the bench she is on and holds aloft the pirate captain's cutlass.
"Amazing that no one was gashed! Here," she says, holding it out to Isaac, "can you manage with this?"
No sooner has Alis asked her question than does Isaac see the princess fade into view. She stoods about five and a half feet tall, the top of her golden head not quite reaching the Major's chin. Although her swashbuckler's attire was completely soaking wet, it was not difficult to see that she was among the most beautiful women he had ever beheld. Her face had an alluring softness to it, her lips full above a chin that tapered without cleft. Thoughtful eyes with the same hue and liveliness as the hottest part of a flame, blue-violet, seemed to look deep within him without being intrusive or unwelcoming.
Although Alis was slender, she was no frail waif. The way she moved, the ease with which she proffered the heavy cutlass suggest she was fit and toned as a dancer or acrobat. From his own sister's training, he knew well that even a woman's lithe form could contain surprising strength when properly conditioned. The way her white blouse clung to her arms, it was not difficult to see that she too was possessed of such strength while not losing the gentle softness of a woman.
Indeed, judging by the other areas her white blouse cleaved to, it was becoming uncomfortably obvious to the Major that his superior's physically conditioning had not left her bereft of endowments that many gymnasts lacked. Thankfully, the red leather of her bodice provided the modesty that her wet blouse could not.
Tearing his eyes away, it finally dawned on him that just like Lilyana and himself, Princess Alissariel surely had a human ancestor in her heritage. Eyes drifting downward from her face once more, he suddenly recalled that her mother was at one time the Countess of Caen Carrinac, an important port city in one of the most ancient bastions of humanity, Estoria. It had caused enough of a stir when his own father, the general, had wed the daughter of his human friend so many years ago, he could only imagine the scandal it must have caused for the head of a ducal house, a member of royalty to take a human as his wife.
At the handsome soldier's reaction, Alis smiled, a golden eyebrow arched beneath the mithril circlet her long hair was braided around, "Thank you for ensuring that I don't have any unsightly bloodstains on my person that I might have overlooked. I wouldn't want to leave a bad impression."
Lilyana, Alis, , Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Ozyrankhus
Somehow managing to keep his balance when the ship rocked, he was still thrown with Alis. Hearing his sister's cries made him look over his shoulder once the ship stopped rocking. "Lily..." He said with a look of deep concern, but before he could turn back, Alis again caught his attention when she spoke to him.
Turning to look at Alis when she asked him if he could manage the captains blade, he opened his mouth to say something when he watched as she faded into view. She was absolutely stunning, but that was as far as it went. She was his princess, he was her soldier, and that's all it was to him because that's all it could be. Smiling a bit -for the first time since Alis had met him- his expression was confident and amused as he took the cutlass from her. "Of course I can my lady, it's not as nice as my own weapon, but it'll do till we manage to retrieve mine. Though, I do believe my lady worries too much about her appearance, you're a sight for anyone to behold, you needn't worry about bad first impressions." He offered her another smile and a playful wink as he started to pull himself out of the shackled mass of slaves.
Looking around him at the concern slaves and tried to calm some of them by speaking to them in Zuck.
The promise was light as he gripped the blade in his hands and looked around him. He needed to get above deck and figure out how to get his sister out of her cage.
"My lady, since most everyone were thrown out off the boat, come with me to figure out a way to free my sister? We have the opportunity to do so with out much conflict. I fear that she was hurt pretty badly when the ship rocked."
Darvesch flies up to the deck above, straight to the man steering the ship, "Surrender your men, your ship, and your slaves! Do these things, and we will spare your lives.. Resist, and may Kahn take pity on your souls!"
"Of course I can my lady, it's not as nice as my own weapon, but it'll do till we manage to retrieve mine."
Alis smiles even as she puts her hand on one of the slave's shoulders reassuringly. "I thought it might."
"Though, I do believe my lady worries too much about her appearance, you're a sight for anyone to behold, you needn't worry about bad first impressions."
Looking up at him, she gives an abbreviated curtsy even as he begins to address the captive rowers with much greater fluency than she was able to manage. She nods approvingly, clearly impressed as their furor is calmed and they begin to concentrate more on keeping the overboard sailors from retaking the ship.
"My lady, since most everyone were thrown out off the boat, come with me to figure out a way to free my sister? We have the opportunity to do so with out much conflict. I fear that she was hurt pretty badly when the ship rocked."
"I almost wonder if she isn't safer– " Her voice trails off as Darvesch pushes himself up and flies up to confront the helmsman. "–in there..."
When she hears Darvesch's undeniable ultimatum she just shrugs her shoulders, and points to the back wall of the slave pit. "Lead the way!"
With little difficulty, the tall soldier jumps up and grabs the edge of the catwalk with one hand, extending the other to swing the princess up ahead of him. Yet if he had any doubts about her acrobatic skill, they are dismissed when she compensates for having a reach nearly two-feet shorter by out-jumping him by the same measure.
"Thanks for the hand," she says, winking, "but I've two of my own, even if they are half as big!"
With that, the two mantle up and towards the main deck, more than one apprehensive glance cast toward the ominous skies and the red-robed man floating above.
I hope Lureene knows what she's doing.
Turning her attention back to the present, she calls out, so as not to startle the dwarf, "Frændi, meet Isaac, Isaac meet Darvesch. Now then, let's see what we've got here... Beneath Darv's big... booted... feet."
"Surrender your men, your ship, and your slaves! Do these things, and we will spare your lives.. Resist, and may Kahn take pity on your souls!"
The helmsman, who is struggling with all his might against the wheel and looking balefully at the main mast gives the dwarf a look of complete disbelief, groaning as Isaac and Alis run up behind him. "I don't know who Kahn is, but right now I'll take what I can get. Look, you killed The Beard, half the crew's in the drink, and we'll be lucky not to wash at this rate."
Noting where the two taller elves are pointing, the man says, "Look, The Beard was the one what had the keys. Fvcker flew down into the pit with everything else what wasn't battened down."
Darvesch keeps his focus on the ensuing chaos, when he responds to Alis and Isaac, "Wish we could've met under better circumstances. We'll have proper introductions later."
He tells the slaver, in a voice loud enough his allies can hear, "Good. That's a start. Have your men drop arms, and stay out of our way, and we will do no harm to them." He lowers his voice to a normal level, "We'll talk after, about how you can pay your penance." He says matter-of-factly.
Stepping back, he calls down toward 'Sarah', "If you could retrieve the key from the late Captain, and free the slaves, please?"
'Sarah' pushes herself back to her feet, frowning as she holds her back.
First things first.
Raising her hand, to the fading sun, she unleashed a burst of healing energy, ameliorating the injuries of most on-board.
Casting an unenthusiastic look at the blood mess she's going to have to sift thru, she replies dryly, "You don't happen to have a sieve or a strainer handy, do you? No? No, I suppose you wouldn't."
"While old women are busy raking thru crushed entrails and splintered bones, won't you be a dear and go do something about either that hulk or something to set the ship aright? Call me a crazy old bat, but I'm really not sure it's supposed to be leaning to one side like this..."
With that, she motions for some of the blood-spattered slaves to make way, pointing to their shackles and then gesturing to the mutilated corpse on the floor. With excitement, they scoot as far to the side as their leg shackles will allow, eagerly looking to their elderly savior.
Bloody, yet polite. Fascinating.
Perception Checks
Lureene, Lilyana, Alis, Issac, Darvesch, Priyya, , Pirates, Ozyrankhus
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -08)
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Captain Namrath struck the rail of the poop deck even as he peered thru his own spyglass. "Nim, this is no natural storm. I'll butter my hat if it's not the doing of the one in red."
"Tyralor," the older man called out, watching the brute climb back onto the Falcata only to pulverize yet another slaver, "are you seeing this?"
With a nod to her captain, Nimniel hurried down do where the prince was busy seeing to his soldiers, inspiring them for the coming battle with the approaching warships as only he could. While the gathering storm above seemed to have most of the men ill-at-ease, the prince was like a miniature sun shining hope upon those around him. He seemed almost invigorated by the growing charge in the air.
"Namrath, lovely and capable Nimniel," he said more quietly, eyes aglow like twin topazes at her approach, "is there a change in the situation that requires my attention? It was my understanding that the Lady Alis' dwarf had the situation well-in-hand."
There weren't many men with whom Nimniel had to significantly tilt head in order to make eye-contact. Prince Tyralor was one of them. In a matter of fact tone, she offered her cherished spyglass. "All signs point to 'No,' my Lord."
Even as it registers to the prince that Nimniel is implying as much about him as about the situation aboard the slave galley, she too can sense that he has been trying to lose himself in his preparations, trying to put what happened earlier out of mind, apprehensive of what it might portend. Above all however, he could tell that she was concerned about him.
Sense Motive Checks:
With a disarming smile and a playful twitch of his eyebrow, Tyralor took the delicate instrument with both hands, one lingering a moment to pat his retainer's in appreciation and to allay her misgivings. "Indeed, dear Nim, if ever you were assigned to some dismal detail as a yes-man, or woman, I fear that you should find yourself decommissioned within the fortnight."
He raised the scope to his eye and concluded, "Good thing too, best not to have the talents of such a rare and honest advisor fall into the wrong hands..."
As the prince took in the listing state of the galley, the sailors in the water, the broken mast and the rampaging hulk, something caught his eye. Lifting the lens ever so slightly, he froze in place, his heart clenched within his breast even as his very soul struggled to break free of its obdurate shackles.
No... it can't be... The Ruby Coil, here?
"By Miralnas' holy breath," he murmured, unaware that the words he now spoke were voiced in the tongue of angels and not men, "if he discovers Alis, he'll..."
"My Lord!" Nimniel's voice was insistent, answering in the same tongue, snapping the prince out of his trance. In his hands, the fragile wood of the spyglass creaked in protest, threatening to splinter and crack from the white-knuckled force the prince was applying.
Around them, the men looked at one another and murmuring to themselves, but the prince could no more understand them than could a deaf man. Giving a short sigh, lips pressed tight and eyes dark with the weight of restrained emotion she reached out, presumably to reclaim her prized possession, but instead laid her hand upon his, steadying it.
Continuing to speak in a tongue that no one else aboard save the prince and perhaps the chaplain could understand, she said, "Your men and your ship are in good hands, do what you must."
Theme: Rhapsody of Fire
Tyralor's next response could not be understood even by Nimniel, at least not by words. Stepping back, the spyglass remaining with her, the prince struck a fist to his heart. Like a thousand mirrored feathers, he called to his person, from the throne of Heaven, a suit of resplendent and glorious plate armor, golden and translucent. The edge of each articulated plate, and the feathery motif apparent on the surface flickered as if the whole cuirass were aflame.
With arms outstretched towards the skies high above, the prince ran and leapt from the side of the Zephrys nearly blinding all who gazed at him as a fair of great wings, like those of a firebird erupted from his back, spiriting him away trailing embers behind him like some meteor.
The sailors now shaken free by the vigorous thrashing of the oars, begin to shout in dismay at the prospect of being stranded over a mile from the shore of the most feared graveyard of ships this side of Light's End.
Their wails of however pale before that of the man looking up at Lureene, pleading for his life as Ozyrankhus' 'son' glares down at him, swearing oaths too blasphemous for mortal ears to comprehend.
At the after end of the ship, as she and Isaac kneel beside the trap door sealing Lilyana below, she comments to the helmsman, "You should thank the stars that dwarf got to you before I did, I would not have been so gracious."
The man simply swallows hard, doing his best to remain inconspicuous, praying to whatever gods might listen that the dwarf and his allies would at least protect him from The Brute that was massacring his comrades.
Lureene, Lilyana, Alis, Issac, Darvesch, Priyya, Brute, Pirates,
Ozyrankhus' brow furrows, his expression growing darker as he gazes off at something far in the distance. "I see, so this is where she sent him."
Risking a glance behind her, Lureene could see a pinpoint of light flying straight at the Falcata, moving at least twice as fast as she could manage. Had the Zephrys begun firing it's cannons already? As she squinted against the bright light, the succubus suddenly realized it was not a projectile but a being with wings of living flame streaking towards them, shining like the sun.
With a sardonic laugh, more of a snort really, he commented cryptically, "For all your talent, Karayan, your machinations cannot change the course of fated."
In annoyance, the mage gazed down at the figure bemoaning his fate below. "Eleventy-Eight," he said firmly, "there is a sniveling fool down there. Put it out of my misery."
, Lilyana, Alis, Issac, Darvesch, Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Ozyrankhus
By the Nine Hells, who is THAT?!
Lureene turns her attention back to the mage. While his words made little sense to her, it seems clear he and whoever was approaching were known to one another.
Could he be a member of the Coil?
When Ozyrankhus issues his command for his SON to slaughter the last remaining sailor onboard, she mentally grits her teeth. I HATE calling on my Mother's influence here, but I MUST know if I still have influence over him!
She looks down at the hulking brute and her voice takes on a chillingly secuctive tone. Pointing a finger at hin, she speaks to him, her vioce laced with hints of reward for obedience, along with indescribable pain for failure to obey her wishes.
Below them, the Brute looks up, his form still seething with the power of his fury. He looks from Master to Mistress twice before nodding his helmed head once.
"Alright, let's see what we have here..." With Isaac by her side, the princess knelt to examine the lock recessed within the blood-slick deck. She was nearly about to begin picking the lock when the Major pointed out the ring of concealed needles surrounding it.
"Oh well that would have hurt, good catch!"
Now to see if I can...
Lips pursed in concentration, Alis called out to Isaac, Darvesch, and the helmsman, "It won't take me long, but that broken mast is doing us no favors, particularly with the mail sail catching these winds. Think one of you can handle it?"
Lureene, Alis, Lilyana, , Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Ozyrankhus
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -07)
Darvesch flies up behind the mage, "This fight is over. The crew and the ship is now mine, and you've placed yourself under my protection. Come down to the ship, and you can discuss your plans to continue your travel elsewhere."
Trusting that either Alis can look after herself or perhaps that Isaac can, Darvesch puts Alis' fly spell to good use and closes the distance to the mage, hovering just behind him as he delivers his brief orders.
"Oh?" The mage looks down at the ship before laughing at the irony of the situation. "Yes, any fighting seems to have been decided, but what protection can you offer if 'your ship' is on the verge of foundering?"
While the truth of the mage's assessment of the ship's state is accurate, Darvesch notes that Ozyrankhus' eyes linger on something or someone below and behind him, near the aft of the ship. "Hmm..."
Turning back towards Lureene, he continues, "And you, my dear, show great skill to have countermanded my son's orders. Clearly you have talent, although it surprises me you did not have Eleventy-Eight tend to the mast with his great strength while ordering that sniveling puke to sever the ropes that bind it to the ship."
Shaking his head as he watches the fiery point of light drawing steadily closer, he comments, "What curious priorities children have..."
Sense Motive Checks:
Lureene, Alis, Lilyana, Darvesch, , Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Ozyrankhus
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -07b)
Isaac stood next to her, looking at the mast that was twisted and still hanging on by a thread. Seeing as how the Dwarf was busy going after the mage, Isaac took it upon himself to deal with the broken thing that was really a hindrance than anything else. A small frown on his face, he looked towards Alis. "Will you be alright on your own for now?" He asked, needing to make sure she would be before he took off to cut the ropes still holding the mast in place.
Lureene looks down at the Falcata finally noticing the dire straits the ship was in. She shakes her head ruefully. I am not much of a sailor to be sure, but Ozyrankhus is right; that mast HAS to be cut loose!
She flies down closer to the ship and commands in a strong voice, "Eleventy-Eight, cut that mast loose from the ship NOW!!" Shifting her gaze to the sailor, her gaze brooks no disobedience. "And you...help him."
Alis pauses, casting a glance up at the mage, whom she catches looking at her from over the level of the main sail.
I don't trust that mage. Lureene has been keeping him occupied but Darvesch is better at upsetting delicate situations than anything else...
Sighing inwardly, the princess begins speaking a few words that Isaac recognizes as a flight spell. She touches him on the arm, and says, "Fly and be quick about it, that mage is up to..."
Alis' voice trails off as she sees Lureene fly down into view, pointing to the mast and tangled lines as if giving the hulking brute orders. "Well that's interesting."
Sense Motive Checks:
Spellcraft Checks
Grak had been watching the helmsman closely, making sure he did not do anything hostile. When Isaac raises his question, he hisses in response to Isaac "Yessss, I will watch over Alissss handsssome one, go then."
"Whaaa?" The helmsman looks about clearly wondering if he's going mad. "Who said that?!"
Lureene, Alis, Lilyana, Darvesch, , Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Ozyrankhus
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -07b)
Feeling her spell take effect, he looks towards the mage once more before turning his attention to Grak, smiling at it, he uses his new ability to fly and quickly as possible towards to mast. He wasn't sure what the mage's intentions were, but the mast still being down was a problem that could lead to a bigger one if not dealt with quickly. "Be careful!" He calls back to Alis and Grak as he heads towards the broken sail with his weapon drawn.
Isaac streaked forward, blade poised for a slash. In one move, he easily severed all five of the lines still binding the mast to the starboard rail. From the opposite side of the foreward deck, the ropes groaned ominously, the strain upon them increased even further.
Further back, still crouching in the slave pit, Priyya continued to search for the key to the slaves' shackles.
"FOUND IT!"
With a wrenching motion, she tore a ring of keys from the captain's belt. When the first key she tried gave a satisfying click inside the cuffs of the slave next to her, she smiled. Quickly, she made a sweeping motion to indicate the other slaves and pressed it into the palm of the man she had just freed. No words were needed to convey her meaning. The man called out to his brethren, who began singing some sort of tribal song. Though she could not understand the hymn, the sense or hope was unmistakable.
Now then, why is this damnable ship tilting about, and what are that mage and his giant guard up to?
Calling upon Alis' magic, the priestess extricated herself from the press of excited slaves and flew further forward using the catwalk for cover from above. There were still injured souls in need of healing.
Aren't they close yet?
Lureene, Alis, Lilyana, Darvesch, Issac, Priyya,
"Oh?" The mage looks down at the ship before laughing at the irony of the situation. "Yes, any fighting seems to have been decided, but what protection can you offer if 'your ship' is on the verge of foundering?"
"Just what sort of protection does a flying mage need from a sinking ship?" Darvesch gives pause, "Just what are you playing at? Are you finished with this test of yours? Instead of flying up here flapping our gums, why don't we help the ship get back on track." That last statement sounding more like an imperative than a question.
"Eleventy-Eight, cut that mast loose from the ship NOW!!"
The raging hulk, observed the tiny elven man they had captures streak past to sever some ropes even as his mistress spoke those words to him. She also spoke to the man she demanded he silence. Though he could not understand what she said to him, he at least appeared to be heeding her will.
Although Eleventy-Eight possessed no implement on his person capable of cutting, the base of the mast was already bent at and extreme angle, only twisted fibers holding it in place. A strong enough blow might be all that was needed. That was, after all, what had put it in this state.
With a fearsome roar, Elventy-Eight swung his massive cudgel up and counter-clockwise around his head in a tilted arc that caught it in the crook of the break. Splinters flew everywhere, the blow tearing it free. Immediately the broken end flipped up into the air, the force of the onrushing water propelling it like a rake having its tines stepped upon.
Suddenly Isaac realized he was hovering in the wrong place, the massive timber swung up at him like a giant club. Were he a lesser man, the blow would have likely crushed him, yet at the last moment, he just barely twisted to send it glancing across his back, the force knocking the wind from him.
Even as he tried to shake it off, the remaining ropes dragged across the deck threatening to take the Brute off his feet. Amazingly, the huge man was more stable than an oak — more than could be said for the port railing. Finally at its limits, the very rail itself tore free and crashed into the man. With a bit of a grunt, he staggered, before turning and brushing at it as if he had just gotten stung by a bee.
The moment the mast was free, the Falcata finally snapped back, tossing from side to side a few times. While several of the slaves were toppled over, balance restricted by their shackles, this time no one was throw to the deck or from the ship. Pulling the wheel hard, with everything he had, the helmsman began to get the ship swung back around, leaving those flying in plain view.
In a deep voice, the Brute called out:
Reflex DC 15 - Mast
Reflex DC 10
Lureene, Alis, Lilyana, Darvesch, Issac, Priyya, Brute, Pirates,
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -07d)
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"Just what sort of protection does a flying mage need from a sinking ship?"
A slight grin cracked Ozyrankhus's broad face, "None whatsoever. Although the same might not be true for those precious slaves you have one."
"Just what are you playing at? Are you finished with this test of yours? Instead of flying up here flapping our gums, why don't we help the ship get back on track."
"HA!" The mage slaps his thigh in delight, "Good, good, I had been asking myself that same question, your attractive companion, for it seems safe to assume she is, shows promise. What she lacks in creativity, and situational awareness, she makes up for with talent and the ability to heed good advice — a rare trait, I assure you."
The big mage grins and asks, "Wouldn't you agree?"
Suddenly Darvesch plummets toward the sea below, the magic of Alis' spell undone without any discernible effort on the part of the mage! Before he knows it, he plunges beneath the surface of the channel, the hull of the Falcata a dark, blurry shape passing above and beside him!
"Now then, my dear," the mage turns to regard Lureene, a pleased grin on his face as lighting flashes from clouds to shore, thunder booming, "what say you to accepting a position as my dutiful... apprentice?"
Theme: Skies of Despair
, Alis, Lilyana, Darvesch, Issac, Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Ozyrankhus
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -06)
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Lureene watches Darvesch plummet into the seawater and her first instinct was to swoop down after him. Then she remembered something which Darvesch's uncle Morgaard had mentioned to her a few months ago before the party in Caen Carriac.
"While dwarfs are not known fer swimming 'neath th' waves...they kin hold thar breaths fer several minutes at least. Plenny o' time ta walk up the shore afer drownin'."
Plus isn't he wearing that Ring of Swimming?
She reluctantly decides the mage needed to be dealt with first. She notes Isaac flying near her, Wow, he is just as handsome in person... and flies over next to him.
"While I an truly flattered by your gracious offer, I must respectfully decline. I already am gainfully employed and I do enjoy my current position." After she finishes speaking, she weaves her own spell at him, trying to cancel his flight spell.
"I see," he seemingly ignores her failed attempt to cancel his own spell, "and who might this current employer of yours be? Perhaps we might negotiate a deal..."
Lureene glances up at the darkening sky, then turns a smoky gaze to the mage, hints of pleasure in her eyes. "Perhaps...but I do not find these weather conditions conducive to negotiations here. Perhaps if the weather was less ...threatening..."
"Understandable," he says, "where is your employer located, I shall open a passage for us to reach them."
Alis had very nearly set off the trap she was attempting to disarm when the Falcatta righted itself. When Darvesch plummeted from the sky and began to sink like a stone in the channel she gritted her teeth. He had the ring of swimming Lureene had found, true, but in these rough seas and in the wake of a passing ship no less?
If Mal and Sasha were here they could get him, but with our course shifted like this... Dammit!
"Lilyana, I'll be back shortly, the ship is ours, but we are having mage trouble. I'll be back soon!"
Looking up to glance towards the mage, Alis would swear that she saw a meteor streaking towards the Falcata. What in the world?
Shaking her head, Alis surveyed the seas for a moment. Where are you, Frændi?
A split second later, she could see him, nearly 15-feet down the ship nearly leaving him behind as the sail began to pick up wind again.
"Run up a white flag, as you draw near the galleon ahead and you'll not be attacked. My men should be arriving shortly."
With that she dove over the rail, plunging into the rough sea not far from where she spotted her cousin, her knotted silk rope trailing from the grapnel she left hooked around the last banister on the rail.
Lureene, Alis, Lilyana, Darvesch, , Priyya, Brute, Pirates, Ozyrankhus
MAP: The Falcata, (Round -06b)
As Darvesch plumets deeper into the watery abyss, holding his breath, he focuses his energy on putting his shield and axe away. "What a way to go. No battles. No steel. No blood. Just a long fall into a lot of water.. If I survive this, that mage is dead.."
As Darvesch continues to sink, he loops his shield over his shoulder and is just about to holster his axe when he suddenly spots movement above him. The dwarf looks up to see Alis swimming, or rather flying down to intercept him. She reaches out a hand for him to grab hold, her other hand holding a rope that trails back toward the ship behind her.
Darvesch, rather than put his axe away, reaches for Alis with his freed up shield hand. "I got real lucky. That was too close."
With a grip sure-as-stone, Darvesch grabs onto Alis' forearm
Now just to hold on myself...
Thankfully the ship is not moving so fast as to dislocate the tiny woman's shoulder or to tear the rope free from her hand. Even so, it is no easy effort holding on. The princess' grip very nearly slips, but with a bit of luck she manages to loop her wrist around the line before all of the slack is taken up and holds on, gritting her teeth against the strain.
Climb quickly, Darv, climb quickly!
ow that hurt a bit he thought as he regained his balance in the air, off the ship. Now floating next to the blond enchantress, he wondered if this was Lady Lureene. It was likely. She was also very beautiful, much like Alis but in a different way.
Turning to look as the mage Ozyrankhus who seemed far more interested in getting her to be on his side then attacking them at the moment. Which was good for them, at least for now, as long as she held her ground.
Taking in his current situation, he noted that Alis jumped over board to save the dwarf, which was great, but they were going to have a time getting back on the ship with out some help, and this fly spell wasn't going to last forever. Turning his attention to Lady Lureene once more, he nodded his head towards the ship, hoping she understood that she should at least hover over it so that they wouldn't get separated, and if she needed, he would have a better time protecting her from the insane man in front of them.
Flying back to the ship, he hoped that Lureene would follow, and landed where he could help pull Alis and Darvesch out of the sea.
Isaac quickly zips to the aft deck where he finds Alis' skulduggery tools still laying atop the trap door where she left them. Secured to the back corner of the rail, he finds a knotted silk rope trailing taut from a compact mithril grappling hook — no doubt the princess'.
Upon seeing his recent abductee again, the helmsman swallows hard and asks, "Sooo your ships... they'll pick up the boys in water if the sharks don't get them first right? But uh," he nods towards Ozyrankhus, "what exactly are you going to do about him? I'd kinda thought the wizard came along to help, but that damn sure don't seem to be the case, does it?"
"While we're at it," he points to the approaching point of light 'fired' from the Zephrys, "what in the hell is THAT?"
Isaac looked at the knotted silk rope that was hooked to the railing, even though she had that hooked up, he could still help get the dwarf over the railing or something if he needed to be there. Being on deck was a much better idea then being in the sky over the ocean when the spell wore off.
Hearing a nervous voice from the helmsman, Isaac stood up straight and stared at him with a cold glare on his face. "Yeah, they'll fish them out of the sea. Though, if I were them, I'd rather a shark get me, you understand the kind of punishment you'll be in for, for kidnapping a government official and the major of the Ilmarond Royal Army?" He said, using a stern voice with the man, letting him know how screwed he and his friends were when they got back to Port Eldarion.
Taking his eyes away from the helmsman, he looked up at Ozyrankhus, "Not at all, looks like he's out for his own gain, surprise, surprise." his attention now being pointed in the direction of the helmsman was talking about.
"Gods of mercy!" Priyya exclaimed as the ship changed course while she was mid-air.
It feels like I'm the ball in that game Alis and Lureene were playing back in Valehaven!"
Straightening her headdress, she unleashed yet another burst of healing power, noting with some disappointment that she was too late to save at least one of the slaves.
Now then, what's that mage up to with Lureene?
Taking advantage of Alis' magic once again, yet not particularly apt to rely upon it, the Surya-ka-Caravaah flew straight up to alight in the crow's nest which was now sticky with the blood of her earlier handiwork.
"You there, mage," she shouts out, unmoved by the threatening skies, "to what end did this vessel seek to lure two of Dafar's frigates into a a surprise attack? What is your involvement in all of this, and where are the dwarf and the elf girl?"