A Push of the Fates.... Zakhara... You Jewel!

Game Master Insnare

lol, took me a while to realize zaruqs meant ships and not a monster from the monster manual

Chip had seen the ships too but was just about to reach out for a crewman's purse when Nabila shouted, startling everyone. He looked for a shadowy corner of the deck to hide...

Hide: 1d100 ⇒ 26

I googled it because I suspected that's what they were, lol. By the way, there is a fantastic monster compendium site that I have yet to stump.

The ships racing toward your ship at top speed. Several people armed with bows are on each ship’s deck.

As you watch, you see some of these lean down toward a big iron pot and straighten up with flaming arrows.

The lookout on duty on your ship, one of the hired guards, has fallen asleep.

Nabila turns about and raises her voice while keeping it firm. "Crew! Prepare for an attack! Mighty Najm, he or she who brings us wonder, please give us your blessing so that we might live to see yet more of the world tomorrow!" She sprinkles a few drops of blessed water on the deck of the ship before grabbing her bow and one of the new arrows.

I would prefer to time the exact casting of my bless spell until the attackers are close to being in range of our own bows. It is a 50' cube so should actually affect everyone on board. It lasts for 6 rounds and grants a +1 to attacks and fear saves.

Maudril hears the alarm and draws his bow as well and take aimat those readying the fire arrows and will fire at one of them as soon as they are in practical range but before they fire their own burning arrows at us to attempt to reduce those from happening.

Nura also readies her bow for action.

"I see them too!" says Fadilah. "Pirates? How unlucky to encounter pirates!"

She whispers to her gen and the water spirit vanishes...

Sending my gen to try to find affect normal fires. Success chance = 55% (base 50 + 5 sha'ir level 1 - 10 spell level one + 10 common knowledge spell). This will take 1d6+1 rounds. My plan is, once the archers fire arrows and light fires on the decks, I will try to use the spell to dampen the flames and make them easier to extinguish.

GM Rolls

Your gen says, "Mistress, I will try my best."
He poofs away.

For the first two of those rounds, the zaruqs will be maneuvering into
position. On the third round, they will be in range to
fire arrows. Word is starting to spread to the rest of the ship.

Initiative PCs 1d10 ⇒ 1, Pirate Bowmen ship 1 1d10 ⇒ 6, ship 2 1d10 ⇒ 1, Ship 3 1d10 ⇒ 7

The bowmen first dip their arrows in the pots to set them ablaze and then loose their arrows at the ship. 30d20 ⇒ (11, 11, 9, 6, 15, 20, 17, 4, 9, 3, 15, 11, 5, 2, 5, 18, 15, 2, 11, 1, 10, 6, 18, 12, 19, 13, 10, 9, 1, 1) = 289 30 arrows fly towards the ship and 8 arrows hit the ship and actually stick into the hull. The rest either bounce off or just fly harmlessly into the sea.

Fadi's gen shows up and says, "I was successful Mistress!"

Party

Returning fire, Nura aims for one of the bowmen.

Shortbow attack vs. enemy: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (14) = 4 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Maudril takes aim with his bow at a separate pirate

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Don't forget the +1 to hit from Bless!

Nabila shouts out, "Return fire! Keep an eye on ships moving to surround us!" She then fires an Imperial arrow at one of the pirate archers as her own vessel bucks and heaves under her, throwing the shot off. "Blast! Worse than trying to fire from horseback!"

Shortbow w/bless: 20 - 1d20 - 3 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (4) - 3 - 1 = 12
Damage if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Sad, that's a waste of a max damage AND one of those +1 damage arrows, lol.

Maudril, please use the correct formula... Thac0-1d20.. saves me a crap load of time thanks.

yes sorry for that

Does our ship have any large ballista or anything? Or even some spare bows/arrows available? I just have a few daggers and will remain in hiding if not.

You can go ask or steal some.

Fadilah hides behind a mast and quickly unleashes the spell that her gen found. The flames from the arrows suddenly gutter and dip, declining as her spell takes hold and forces them to die out and spare the ship.

She says to her gen, "I fear we must find something else to help - a sleep spell, I think!"

Another 55% chance, taking 1d6+1 rounds. Fadilah is mostly trying to stay out of the line of fire in the meantime!

When you say 'hull' you mean the side of the ship, or are the flame arrows on deck where we could try to snuff them out?

Let's see 1d8 ⇒ 7 is in the hull and one is on the deck.

Not sensing any urgency from the single arrow, Chip stays in his ambush spot waiting for the inevitable boarding...

Nura's arrow strikes home killing one of the bowmen on the first boat.

The other arrows miss their mark.

Fadi puts out the fire pot of the first enemy boat.

The gen says, "Be back quickly madam!"
GM ROlls

Boat 3 archers 15d20 ⇒ (5, 20, 17, 4, 3, 11, 10, 19, 1, 4, 6, 7, 2, 13, 5) = 127 3 arrows 1d3 ⇒ 3 hit the deck.

Iniative Party 1d10 ⇒ 1, Boat 1 1d10 ⇒ 10, Boat 2 1d10 ⇒ 3, Boat 3 1d10 ⇒ 1

The pursuing boats seem to be gaining on your vessel but your captain is maneuvering.

Round 2

Bowmen from boat 1 try to restart their fire.

Bowmen from boat 2 attack 15d20 ⇒ (9, 5, 14, 14, 4, 5, 13, 15, 15, 20, 3, 13, 1, 17, 8) = 156 1d6 ⇒ 3 3 hit the deck and 3 hit the outside hull.

Party

attack 1: 20 - 1d20 - 4 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (3) - 4 - 1 = 12

damage 1: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

attack 2: 20 - 1d20 - 4 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (1) - 4 - 1 = 14

damage 2: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Maudril takes another two shots at the archers who still have the fire pot

As best she can from behind the mast, Fadilah keeps gesturing to suppress whatever fires erupt on the deck or the upper hull.

Nura puts two more arrows downrange.

Nura vs. enemy archer: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (11) = 7 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Nura vs. enemy archer: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (5) = 13 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Chip looks around for a bow to steal and fires a few shots back if able...

Attack: 20 - 1d20 - 1 + 3 ⇒ 20 - (20) - 1 + 3 = 2 elf bonus, non-proficient penalty
Dmg: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5
Attack: 20 - 1d20 - 1 + 3 ⇒ 20 - (6) - 1 + 3 = 16
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Nabila grits her teeth and lets loose with her bow, focusing fire on the archers firing the flaming arrows.

Shortbow w/bless: 20 - 1d20 - 3 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (9) - 3 - 1 = 7
Damage if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Shortbow w/bless: 20 - 1d20 - 3 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (12) - 3 - 1 = 4
Damage if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Maudril misses both of his arrows.

Nura hits with one of her arrows.

Chip hits with one of his arrows and it pierces deep but the bowman is still in the fight.

Nabila looses two quick arrows and hits the same bowman and brings him down.

Ship 3 bowmen catch their arrows ablaze and then loose 15d20 ⇒ (4, 11, 12, 15, 5, 8, 15, 8, 19, 18, 2, 4, 16, 7, 8) = 152 5 arrows hit 1d5 ⇒ 1 1 hits the hull and 4 hit the deck.

Round 3
The Mamluks emerge armed.
Initiative Party 1d10 ⇒ 4, Ship 11d10 ⇒ 7, Ship 21d10 ⇒ 4, Ship 31d10 ⇒ 4, Mamluks 1d10 ⇒ 6

Ship 1 realizing they cannot reignite their oil, loose 2 arrows each 28d20 ⇒ (19, 20, 16, 10, 4, 3, 3, 3, 10, 15, 4, 14, 10, 18, 20, 16, 2, 8, 16, 11, 12, 9, 15, 6, 3, 6, 2, 14) = 289 9 regular arrows hit the ship not doing any damage.

Akila the Mamluk commander gets her the three platoons in line and your platoon leader Nudar lines her ten Mamluks next to you. She screams "Loose"

10d20 ⇒ (18, 11, 20, 7, 4, 4, 5, 17, 7, 5) = 98 aiming at individual pirates on ship 2, 3 hitting doing 4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 1, 3) = 10 damage

Platoon 1 looses against ship 1 10d20 ⇒ (15, 18, 1, 4, 20, 17, 2, 17, 11, 16) = 121 hitting six pirates on that ship doing 7d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 4, 5, 4, 5, 5) = 32 and killing one.

Platoon 2 looses against ship 2 10d20 ⇒ (4, 6, 2, 15, 18, 1, 16, 18, 15, 16) = 111 hitting six pirates doing 6d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 6, 2, 2) = 18 damage injuring them.

Party

Nura fires again, hoping to bring down another bowman.

Nura vs. bowman: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (6) = 12 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Nura vs. bowman: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (11) = 7 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

The gen poofs onto the deck and says, "Successful madam! Can I play in the sea?"

It had been almost a century since Chip had even touched a bow, but somehow the muscle memory was still serving him...he quickly acquired targets in the dancing ship light...

Attack1: 20 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (11) - 1 = 8
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Attack2: 20 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (9) - 1 = 10
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5

"Keep up the pressure!" Nabila shouts before firing on the pirates again.

Shortbow w/bless: 20 - 1d20 - 3 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (15) - 3 - 1 = 1
Damage if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Shortbow w/bless: 20 - 1d20 - 3 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (3) - 3 - 1 = 13
Damage if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"Of course my dear!" says Fadilah just before she unleashes the sleep spell at the enemy sailors. "Don't attract the attention of the archers!"

Hit dice slept: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

Do you mean the men manning the sails and such?

Enemy archers - fewer of them = fewer chances that they'll shoot the troops on our side!

Maudril attacks attack 1: 20 - 1d20 - 4 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (9) - 4 - 1 = 6
damage 1: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

attack 2: 20 - 1d20 - 4 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (18) - 4 - 1 = -3
damage 2: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Nabila, Chipluck and Maudril bring down an archer each from ship 1.

Fadilah's sleep spell knocks out 7 bowmen on ship 1.

Ship 2's bowmen 15d20 ⇒ (13, 7, 13, 10, 15, 14, 16, 18, 1, 8, 17, 9, 16, 9, 19) = 185 6 hit 1d6 ⇒ 1 hit the deck and the rest hit the hull

Ship 3 bowmen catch their arrows ablaze and then loose 15d20 ⇒ (5, 11, 9, 8, 3, 13, 15, 5, 16, 19, 5, 11, 2, 18, 7) = 147 4 hit and 1d4 ⇒ 1 hit deck.

Round 4

Initiative Party 1d10 ⇒ 1, Ship 1 1d10 ⇒ 8, Ship 2 1d10 ⇒ 8, Ship 3 1d10 ⇒ 2, Mamluks 1d10 ⇒ 7

The three remaining archers on ship 1 attack twice the mamluks of platoon 1 6d20 ⇒ (14, 11, 9, 16, 13, 8) = 71 one hitting a Mamluk 1d6 ⇒ 1 damage.

Ship 2 bowmen catch their arrows ablaze and then loose 15d20 ⇒ (16, 14, 1, 17, 9, 10, 15, 9, 8, 8, 13, 20, 18, 1, 1) = 160 hitting 4 mamluks of platoon 2 5d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3, 3, 4, 3) + 4 = 20

Ship 3 bowmen catch their arrows ablaze and then loose 15d20 ⇒ (20, 10, 7, 11, 8, 5, 11, 20, 2, 16, 7, 16, 5, 20, 6) = 164 hitting 5 mamluks of platoon 3 doing 8d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 1, 4, 1, 4, 3, 5, 3) + 5 = 27 killing 1 mamluk.

Platoon 1 looses against ship 1 twice 20d20 ⇒ (8, 3, 2, 15, 4, 4, 9, 6, 17, 18, 5, 2, 19, 14, 18, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19) = 227 hitting seven pirates on that ship doing 7d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 1, 4, 1, 6, 1) = 19 and finishing off the remainder on ship 1.

Platoon 2 looses twice against ship 2 20d20 ⇒ (12, 12, 12, 2, 8, 18, 10, 4, 9, 15, 6, 14, 2, 14, 9, 19, 20, 13, 9, 5) = 213 hitting three pirates doing 4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 2) = 13 injuring them.

Platoon 3 led by your leader, looses two arrows a piece at ship 3 18d20 ⇒ (15, 9, 13, 15, 14, 9, 7, 6, 18, 16, 5, 20, 16, 19, 5, 14, 1, 9) = 211 hitting 5 pirates doing 6d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2) = 16 damage

Party

"Beggar, Nura, Maudril! Let's concenctrate our fire on that boat!" Nabila shouts, pointing to the vessel with only three archers remaining.

Shortbow w/bless: 20 - 1d20 - 3 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (15) - 3 - 1 = 1
Damage if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Shortbow w/bless: 20 - 1d20 - 3 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (1) - 3 - 1 = 15
Damage if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Nura does as Nabila recommends, firing on the boat with the least number of archers.

Nura vs. enemy archer: 18 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 18 - (11) - 1 = 6 Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Nura vs. enemy archer: 18 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 18 - (19) - 1 = -2 Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Maudril does the same aiming at the ship with the least archers

attack: 1d20 - 20 - 4 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 20 - 4 - 1 = -8

damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Since there's nothing left that she can do, Fadilah hides behind the mast for the rest of the battle.

See you guys when it's over.

Lol, Grab a bow, you could roll a 20!

Not before the fight ends.

You can try to get another spell.

Chip didn't find any thrills in killing, but nonetheless obeyed Nabila's commands, letting loose another rain of arrows...

Attack: 20 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (20) - 1 = -1
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Attack: 20 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (1) - 1 = 18
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Crit: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Fadilah, the great part about being a Shair is that there is not limit to how many times you can send your gen to grab you a spell. It is possible to get at least one more spell before the end of combat. I will let you retcon if you wish.

Through the arrows from the team, you are able to kill off the rest of the bowmen from ship number 1.

Round 5

Initiative: Party 1d10 ⇒ 9, Ship 2 1d10 ⇒ 3, Ship 3 1d10 ⇒ 5, Mamluks 1d10 ⇒ 2

Party

Attack 1: 20 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (8) - 1 = 11
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Attack 2: 20 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (4) - 1 = 15
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Chip tries to keep up the harrying fire, but smoke is pouring into his sensitive elven nostrils and he chokes up, sending the flight arrows wide.

Nura doesn't let up, firing more arrows towards the next group of archers threatening the ship.

THACO 18: 18 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 18 - (6) - 1 = 11 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
THACO 18: 18 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 18 - (14) - 1 = 3 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Nabila

Sorry, busy week!

Seeing one deck clear Nabila risks a breath. Before she allows herself to relax she follows Nura's lead and let's more shots fly.

Shortbow w/bless: 20 - 1d20 - 3 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (19) - 3 - 1 = -3
Damage if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Shortbow w/bless: 20 - 1d20 - 3 - 1 ⇒ 20 - (6) - 3 - 1 = 10
Damage if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Chipluck misses but Nabila and Nura hit with one of their arrows each.

Ship 3 bowmen catch their arrows ablaze and then loose 15d20 ⇒ (17, 14, 4, 20, 20, 4, 10, 10, 7, 4, 10, 12, 8, 18, 15) = 173 ⇒ hitting 5 mamluks of platoon 3 7d6 + 5 ⇒ (5, 2, 2, 1, 5, 2, 3) + 5 = 25
Ship 2 bowmen catch their arrows ablaze and then loose 15d20 ⇒ (15, 1, 15, 8, 20, 7, 5, 20, 15, 14, 11, 3, 10, 4, 9) = 157 hitting 5 mamluks from platoon 2 7d6 + 5 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 1, 3, 5, 2) + 5 = 25

Platoon 1 looses against ship 1 twice 20d20 ⇒ (11, 2, 6, 14, 8, 16, 18, 8, 8, 9, 19, 7, 7, 3, 20, 11, 6, 17, 9, 18) = 217 hitting six bowmen on ship 2 7d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 1, 5, 1, 1, 6) = 20

Platoon 2 looses twice against ship 2 20d20 ⇒ (7, 7, 20, 20, 1, 7, 3, 17, 10, 13, 13, 6, 8, 1, 12, 10, 16, 2, 19, 4) = 196 hitting 5 pirates doing 7d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 5, 1, 2, 6, 6) = 25 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 2) bringing down 2.

Platoon 3 led by your leader, looses two arrows a piece at ship 3 18d20 ⇒ (6, 7, 6, 9, 1, 3, 15, 20, 14, 19, 19, 19, 5, 7, 10, 5, 20, 9) = 194 hitting 5 7d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 6, 6, 2, 5, 1) = 28 killing 2.

Round 6

Initiative Party 1d10 ⇒ 1, Ship 2 1d10 ⇒ 6, Ship 3 1d10 ⇒ 6, Mamluks 1d10 ⇒ 1

Ship 3 bowmen catch their arrows ablaze and then loose 13d20 ⇒ (15, 5, 10, 17, 8, 14, 7, 2, 15, 9, 17, 16, 11) = 146 ⇒ hitting 3 mamluks of platoon 3 3d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2, 3) + 3 = 9
Ship 2 bowmen catch their arrows ablaze and then loose 13d20 ⇒ (4, 19, 13, 14, 17, 14, 1, 19, 15, 10, 13, 7, 17) = 163 hitting 4 mamluks from platoon 2 4d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4, 4, 5) + 4 = 21 taking down 1 mamluk.

Party

Am I imagining this right its like 15 of them vs 30 of us in ranged combat? Could I try an int check to think of something clever to resolve the combat faster?

Int 15: 1d20 ⇒ 2