Stitch will continue looking for people to help on either side, saving the most in danger of dying first--and also try to find where Alitia went to. The chaos and noise of combat and screams of those imperil are starting to visibly wear on Stitch, head jerking from one sound to another, eyes blinking, shoulders hunched as the warforged runs around helping.
ABOVE DECK
Tharivol makes an excellent show of fighting and gets shouts of approval from the Professor who is inspired and presses on. Meanwhile, a perfectly aimed ice attack from Blacklock tear through the defenders, forcing them back long enough for you to finally set foot on their ship.
"Now, that's a proper boarding! Press on lads!" shouts the Professor as he fights his way forward.
All the while, Stitch is moving from one imperilled sailor to the next, doing his best to keep them from falling down.
BELOW DECK
Taoni and Wolgang make their way back up the stairs and towards the captain's cabin. All around them, chaos reigns, except for the pilot, who is concentrating on the elemental engine.
ABOVE AND BELOW DECK
With a painful ripping sound, the Purple Peril, also know as the Lofty Scholar when not out and about doing piracy-related entrepreneurship, opens up like a jagged mouth. The stern, supported by the elemental engine, keeps floating, but the shift in weight makes it kick upward.
The bow, however, having no support, dips forward and plunges towards the sea. The Cannith ship tips as a result, first down, then up, as the Purple Peril plummets.
The crash of the ship throws the purple-suited elf overboard! At the last second, Tharivol grabs a rail with his free hand and pulls himself up trying not to look at the water and falling ship below.
The silvery warforged medic tumbles and falls to the deck again. After standing, Stitch starts running around focused on finding Alitia again, briefly peering over the edge at the falling half of the ship in worry before resuming the search.
As the ships rock up and down, most sailors plummet to the waters below, some slowly, some lethally fast.
Blacklock manages to avoid falling down. Moonsong has better luck and stays on his feet. He gives Blacklock a glance as he fights his way forward: "Come on! Show some mettle sailor!" he says, but otherwise keeps on fighting the leader of the Cannith defenders.
Wolfgang watches Taoni lose her footing and, flailing madly, missing the railing. She is about to fall downward, but Wolfgang, having remained on his feet, may attempt to save her or go about his other pressing matters.
Tharivol ends up not far from Blacklock, in a similar upended and precarious position.
Stitch manages to keep his footing. Looking everywhere for Alitia, he cannot see her, until he spies her jumping on the Cannith ship, in a spot where the recent motion has left a hole in the line of defence.
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As Wolfgang sees the annoying she-dwarf take a tumble, and then misses her safety, Wolfgang takes a moment of contemplation. First he starts to go back for her. Then he stops, puts on both of the talismen that he found, and starts to move away. Finally he grits his teeth. mumbles, Bleeding hearts of the world unite,' and then makes a deft danger-defying dodge for the short woman.
Barely holding on to gravity, he hauls her up. "Am I going to have to make a habit of saving your life?" he quips, smiling.
Seeing so many sailors dying, the ship falling--then finally spotting Alitia, Stitch decides to make a running leap for the enemy ship, feet clanking on wooden planks and not looking down...
...and landing with inspired grace on the enemy ship. Glancing back, Stitch notices it wasn't even that far of a jump and the pride dwindles slightly.
[dice=Athletics]1d20+1
The half-ship roars madly, its elemental engine somewhat unhinged by the removal of what may be key components now sinking in the sea below. The Lyrandar pilot, completely taken by the task of maintaining the ship, pulls out a hefty golden crystal from a pouch on his hip and sets it in the center of the command wheel, where the gem sinks in place like a lodestone.
On the half-ship, Wolfgang manages to keep Taoni from falling and he is rewarded by her loving eyes: "I owe you Wolfie! Let's linger no longer, yes?"
Stitch finds a font of energy as he makes it on the ship. Around him, he can see the battle is reaching a climax. But in truth, there are but a few people left on the deck. Between the battle and the shocks, sailors from both sides have died or are now drowning below...
Tharivol tries to get back on the deck, but slips. Below his dangling feet, a deathly fall and an unforgiving sea await.
Beside Tharivol, Blacklock fares better and manages to pull himself on deck, just in time to watch the professor slay the Cannith sergeant and pull an insignia from his lapel and throw it overboard.
Back on the Purple Peril, the dragonshard glows golden and the controls seem to hum with desperation, but a loud hiss and a deafening vibration spreads through what remains of the ship, while the ring of elemental energy flares a bright red. The Lyrandar pilot yells at the top of his lungs: "SAVE YOURSELVES!!!"
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With another ally manipulated secured, Wolfgang sighs sadly. "Aye. Alas, though there's half a ship all but empty to pillage and loot, methinks that the time has come to be gone. Let us alight to the only ship up here that still is in one piece and see what IT has to our liking."
Wolfgang never considered himself either a thief of a marauder, but having been press-ganged into service still sits sourly on his tongue. Had the man simply been _straightforward_ in his request, and given him a modicum of respect, Wolfgang could very easily see himself fighting next to Captain Professor.
Well, time to see what the future held.
The sine-wave of tumult and confusion plateaus briefly and Wolfgang lightly steps onto the other ship.
Standing frozen, eyes wide and bright, Stitch takes in the death and battle all around.
"Host...Host grant me strength..." The warforged murmurs before running to try and save more people from death, either by their wounds or by falling. Trying to keep it together for their sakes.
Wolfgang jumps on the Cannith ship with Taoni right behind him.
Blacklock looks for an easy target to backstab, but they are not that many left, he notices, nor there are many of them either. Moonsong bends over the sergeant and picks him up by the armpits, saying to Blacklock: "Help me throw him overboard!"
Meanwhile, Tharivol is still hanging from the gunwale, and his palms are getting a little damp...
Finally, Stitch moves up to one of the combatants , a woman, and tries to heal her wounds.
The vibration increases considerably, then it stops suddenly, leaving a hole of silence behind, as a burst of golden light, followed by a ripple of air, emanates from the Purple Peril and punches through you and the Cannith ship, as the Purple Peril's elemental unfurls from its moorings and flies straight upwards to freedom, while the half-ship accelerates downward.
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Wolfgang establishes a mental net with his friends.
'I like not being shanghaied, it reeks too much of slavery. And as there is no honor lost in killing a thief, are we all in favor of slaying the pirate captain and seizing this Ship of Destiny for ourselves?
In the long run we will be doing the world a favor. We will eliminate this two-faced LYING PIRATE that uses his position of influence to gather would-be criminals under FALSE promises, and then ATTACKS innocent ships.
No matter what purpose we employ this ship for, I PROMISE we will use it to better benefit.
I have a dwarven fighter over whom I have...much influence. She will turn the fight GREATLY in our favor. None can stand before us united!
Are we agreed?'
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Tharivol finally pulls himself up to the deck rolling onto the deck on his back. Looking into the sky, he wonders if the money was worth this trip. He like life too much.
Then, he hears Wolfgang and replies, ::I like your thinking, Wolfgang. He has to pay for my near death.::
The dragonmarked elf stands up and removes the purple hue of his outfit as if he was dusting himself off. He looks around for a purple pirate.
Tharivol, the Purple Pirate is just a move away, busy with a corpse, with Blacklock nearby.
Stitch is stopped, frozen with indecision on which life to save--when Wolfgang's telepathic message comes through. The warforged looks startled at first, but recognizes Wolfgang's voice and sees him nearby.
"I...I don't want any more innocent people hurt," Stitch's high melodic voice echos through the link, uncertain. "Maybe you're right."
With that, Stitch runs over and tries to save the life of the Cannith woman.
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'Alright, guys.
Blacklock, Tharivol, try to see if Moonsong has an Amulet of FeatherFall. If so, then get it off him. Tharivol, I trust your instincts on this. I don't want him jumping ship and hunting us down later.
Well, but if you can't, then so be it.
On my signal, cry out STEEL WOLVES. You will know my signal. =)'
Wolfgang reaches down and holds the hand of the she-dwarf. His exact reason isn't known, even by him, but he does know that he is risking all to win all.
He takes a deep breath.
He establishing a mind-link with both the pirates and the Cannithmen.
'HOLD! Cease this fighting!
I am Gang-Of-Wolves, an agent of the The Government. I was undercover until now and I choose to reveal myself as the time is now ripe.
Those people with me, and myself, are part of a special team put together to hunt down the infamous Purple Pirate. We have had our suspicions about professor Moonsong, but we could not move until he revealed himself in an act of piracy. Now that he had done so, his life...
is forfeit.
You that were his confederates, I beseech your aid. For all those assisting me there is a Full Pardon, and a SUBSTANTIAL reward. You can go back to your lives as pirates, for all I care. My warrant is only about Moonsong, and it only desires his head.
You men of Cannith, you have fought bravely. I am sorry for the loss this has inflicted. I can only say that your sacrifices will prevent further loss. Alas that I must ask you to continue the fight so that the lives lost this day will not be in vain!
Men of Cannith, I can only assume you are with me. My fellow pirates, if you do not join me then you will find yourselves VASTLY outnumbered, and you will be ground to dust between my team and the hardy Cannith fighters, your bodies unceremoniously tossed overboard upon our victory.
For those who agree to aid me, shout out STEEL WOLVES!
For those who don't, look at me and think again. I carry no great weapons, but I am on a fighting man's ship.
I kill people with demons.
STEEL WOLVES!'
Tharivol finally shakes up his near death experience and heads over to the Purple Pirate and Backlock. With his rapier in hand, he approaches and says to the two of them, "These guys fight like steel wolves. What's the plan, captain?"
Stitch is stopped, frozen with indecision on which life to save--when Wolfgang's telepathic message comes through. The warforged looks startled at first, but recognizes Wolfgang's voice and sees him nearby.
"I...I don't want any more innocent people hurt," Stitch's high melodic voice echos through the link, uncertain. "Maybe you're right."
With that, Stitch runs over and tries to save the life of the Cannith woman.
Blacklock startles at the psychic intrusion, but remembers the pact maker's particular niche and focuses on the content of his argument ::With you when the time is right.::
"Better snap his charm first, eh? Wouldn't want him flying away..." Blacklock offers, plucking the featherfall necklace from the sergeant before assisting the Professor in chucking him overboard.
The Professor snaps at Blacklock: "Don't waste time! I already threw his token. That's just some rubbish souvenir his wife probably gave him... Grab his legs and heave him overboard. I have the shoulders. On 3!"
Tharivol finally shakes up his near death experience and heads over to the Purple Pirate and Backlock. With his rapier in hand, he approaches and says to the two of them, "These guys fight like steel wolves. What's the plan, captain?"
[dice=Deception to pass his innuendo]1d20+5
The Professor looks back at Tharivol and says: "I've had worse, but they're not bad. Now, help Blacklock with those legs!"
'Alright, guys.
Blacklock, Tharivol, try to see if Moonsong has an Amulet of FeatherFall. If so, then get it off him. Tharivol, I trust your instincts on this. I don't want him jumping ship and hunting us down later.
Well, but if you can't, then so be it.On my signal, cry out STEEL WOLVES. You will know my signal. =)'
Wolfgang reaches down and holds the hand of the she-dwarf. His exact reason isn't known, even by him, but he does know that he is risking all to win all.
He takes a deep breath.
He establishing a mind-link with both the pirates and the Cannithmen.
'HOLD! Cease this fighting!
I am Gang-Of-Wolves, an agent of the The Government. I was undercover until now and I choose to reveal myself as the time is now ripe.
Those people with me, and myself, are part of a special team put together to hunt down the infamous Purple Pirate. We have had our suspicions about professor Moonsong, but we could not move until he revealed himself in an act of piracy. Now that he had done so, his life...
is forfeit.
You that were his confederates, I beseech your aid. For all those assisting me there is a Full Pardon, and a SUBSTANTIAL reward. You can go back to your lives as pirates, for all I care. My warrant is only about Moonsong, and it only desires his head.
You men of Cannith, you have fought bravely. I am sorry for the loss this has inflicted. I can only say that your sacrifices will prevent further loss. Alas that I must ask you to continue the fight so that the lives lost this day will not be in vain!
Men of Cannith, I can only assume you are with me. My fellow pirates, if you do not join me then you will find yourselves VASTLY outnumbered, and you will be ground to dust between my team and the hardy Cannith fighters, your bodies unceremoniously tossed overboard upon our victory.
For those who agree to aid me, shout out STEEL WOLVES!
For those who...
There is a pause in what is left of the fight, meaning three four Cannith and three pirates. The Cannith smile and shouts: "Steel Wolves! God Damn Steel. Wolves!"
The three pirates, on the other hand, seem to weigh their options differently. With a nod to one another, they jump off and float slowly downward to the sea below.
The Professor looks at his men and says: "Mockery Me!? What's going on..." and he turns to Tharivol and stabs at the maestro, "Traitor! Drag and Drop! On me!"
As he shouts, the hefty Warforged you saw earlier on the Purple Peril climbs up from the gunwale.
After quickly assessing the Cannith woman's wounds, Stitch spots a sword gash on her arm that is bleeding badly, badly enough that she'll die in moments. The warforged quickly takes the sailor's belt and ties it above the wound tightly, then bandages the wound itself. Maybe after the fight the arm can still be saved...
The warforged stares in shock for a moment with bright glowing eyes, silvered hands covered in blood...
...Then will run towards the dying Cannith sergeant and attempt to stabilize him, muttering shakily, "N-no...no more deaths. Y-you'll be okay, everyone will be okay. It's almost over, almost, almost, almost."
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Wolfgang smiles and nods as the three pirates remove themselves from the board. 'Probably weren't trustworthy anyway.'
Because she deserves it, Wolfgang turns toward Taoni and says, "I'm sorry. But we always knew it would come to this. After we had served our purpose, the Purple pirate was going to kill all of us. Less bodies to share the loot with. I mean to turn the tables on him and kill him and take his ship and seize the world by the throat and give it what I...what we...desire.
I hope I can count on you."
He now communicates with all of his allies.
'If anyone has any way of neutralizing the warforged before he comes on board, now would be a good time. For the rest of us.
Attack!'
Professor
D&D
Blacklock puts some distance between himself, the Professor and Drag and Drop.
Drag and Drop moves up to Tharivol and punches him for good measure. The metal knuckles hit with a crunching, sickening sound and Tharivol feels his knees buckle.