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Brady quickly rushes up the somewhat unstable gangplank, breathing a sigh of relief when it holds and he reaches the deck.
Kra'ak however, is not quite so fortunate, as he races to try to follow Brady up before the boat drifts too far away. For a moment, you think he's going to make it, until finally the lower end of the plank slides free of the pier that supported it, and it plummets to the water below!
With a startled yelp, all Kra'ak can do is lunge forward, trying to grab anything solid! He misses the ship, but his hands find purchase on the rough strands of a thick length of rope, that suddenly appears in front of him. He dangles there for a moment, his feet brushing the brackish water below, then looks up to see Shayna on the other end, as she starts to haul him up.
Up the dock, Jarrett finally realizes the boat is heading off without him. He turns in haste, and races towards the vessel. He catches the lead customs official off guard, before he can try to stop him, but the second Razmiran fires another bolt, at the fleeing kitsune, only to have Jarrett, deflect it again, at the last moment.
Using some nearby crates as a launching point, Jarret then jumps for the fordeck of the Abacus, easily covering the distance... but not the height! The front of the boat is much higher above the water line than he anticipated. He desperately tries to grab a hold of the gunwale, but with his sword in hand, he only has one hand left to try to arrest his fall... which proves not quite enough, as he slides backwards, and drops out of sight.
As the other Pathfinders rush to the rail, to see his fate, they instead see the kitsune dangling from a not overly solid blade, about ten feet above the waterline. Somehow, Jarrett managed to jab his sword into the wooden hull of the ship, just enough to provide something to hold on to. Though, the flexible nature of his temple sword looks very unstable, and you're not sure it will hold for long.
With everyone more-or-less onboard, the Abacus slowly drifts away from the dock, then more quickly, as the crew get the oars going. As the ship clears the marina, the men up in the rigging loose the sails, and the wind quickly fills them, and pulls the vessel even further.
Back towards the dock, you see half a dozen men rushing onto the scene, while the remaining inspectors point towards the quickly departing Abacus. A few fire crossbows in your direction, but you are too far away at that point, and they disappear into the water without incident.
MAP LINK redux
The next while is fairly tense, as eyes of crew and Pathfinder alike can't help but constantly glance back downriver, for signs of pursuit. Every sail evokes images of retaliation.
Eventually, Passad, Metalla, and Amauhak come up from below decks, to find out what happened. Captain Yuri quickly fills them in, and Passad's complexion seems to grow paler by the word.
"You were just supposed to pay them off, and be done with it." He moans. "Not declare war on all of Razmiran! They're sure to track down the Abacus now, and who owns it. And once they trace this vessel, they'll trace others too! Soon my assets will be on the list of every Faith Barge on the river and lake. You've just cut off my trade options with an entire country!"
Behind him, Metalla has a faint smirk on her face.
He continues to bemoan his fate for quite some time, though neither dwarf seems overly concerned.
In fact, after an hour or so, when it seems you are clear of any pursuit from Xer, Amauhak approaches you, with a thoughtful look on his face.
"Well, that plan certainly backfired a bit." He says, calmly. Though you've learned that the pahmet seems to do everything calmly.
"Do you intend to approach the Inn with such aggressive tactics as well?" Though the question seems casual in its delivery, you get the impression that it is far more probing than it appears.
"You do have a plan for when we reach the Inn, yes?" He adds, one eyebrow raising slightly. "Assuming your goal is still to try to gain access without arousing unwanted suspicion. Some sort of cover story would seem fruitful... at least until we can determine the fates of those missing."
"Me? I know little of how things work in your lands. Our humble sanctuary is deep in the Mwangi Expanse." Amauhak replies with a helpless shrug. "We don't get out much."
Amauhak looks a little confused "So you've no plan at all... other than whatever plan you do come up with, you'll all be bad at it?" He finally says, clearly surprised and a little uncomfortable with the fact. "That seems a little short-sighted."
Metella, the novelty of watching Passad bemoan his fate apparently having worn off, overhears, and stops to listen.
"You certainly don't want to go in there without a cover story." She says finally, a little incredulous that you haven't even attempted to come up with one. "We know so little of what the situation is there. The inn is still in Razmiran territory, and if we want to ensure there's any chance of finding those earlier diplomats, some tact has to be displayed."
Her piercing gaze speaks volumes of the lack of just that at the previous stop. She idly works one of the braids in her long red hair, as she ponders.
"Perhaps religious pilgrims." She finally says, nodding to herself slightly. "Anyone that asks, you can just say your seeking answers to profound spiritual questions, and have wandered out here, in hopes of finding a quiet place to ponder then."
She looks at the Pathfinders, a little unsure. "Though you'd probably need to look a little less like rabble, and more like devotees of ... well... something. But at least no one would expect you to talk much, beyond a spokesperson of some sort in emergencies."
Passat, notices Metella talking to you, has wandered over by this point, and cuts her off.
"Pilgrims? This lot?" He says, with a strained laugh. "No one's going to believe that, even if they could pull it off."
Metella scowls at the interruption, and his dismissiveness... though Passat seems to ignore the dwarf's response.
"No, I've already thought about this, and it think it'd be far better if we just say we're merchants. Merchants seeking a waystation along the river for a potential trade caravan. Perhaps heading into the River Kingdoms, or further, towards Numeria." He nods, pleased with his suggestion. "Yes, that would do nicely... and a trade caravan cover would allow access to the inn and properties, to assess the amenities and such!"
Metella snorts, derisively. "Tunnel vision, that's what you have, Temel. They couldn't even pay a few tariffs back there, without it turning into a fight. Our entire mission could have been over, before we even had a chance to start it. Now you want them to ramp that up even more? If we'd just stayed on the river, like I suggested, perhaps your trade routes ... your real trade routes ... might still be a thing."
Passad bristles at the reminder, and soon the two of them are arguing back and forth.
Amauhak shakes his head slightly. "Well, either I suppose is better than nothing. Though you'd best choose now, so you have some time to work out the details. Whatever it ends up being, probably best to stay the night at the inn itself, and perhaps have the evening hours to explore." He points upwards, though there is little to see but clouds... though perhaps a little darker and more ominous than they were earlier in the day. "The moon is waning, and those clouds, even if they don't bring rain, will at least make for a fine cover of darkness... should you need it."
Passad seems pleased that you find his suggestion amenable, barely concealing a slight smirk at Metella.
The dwarven woman, for her part, merely frowns... though whether at Temel or the Pathfinders, is uncertain.
"You should all work on your parts. We will likely reach the Gray Revelation Inn later today, before nightfall." He adds.
The Abacus continues upriver for a another couple of hours, when you hear a call from the Captain, on the tiller. You see him pointing ahead, and looking that way, you notice the river appears to split, as it flows around a central island of thick trees and overgrown vegetation.
The northern fork of the river runs beneath a canopy formed by the isle's overhanging trees where they join up with similar foliage on the landward side. The southern fork has no such cover, nothing but open skies above.
"Which side?!" Yuri calls ahead, though you're not sure who he's asking. Apparently it's his first time up the Glass River as well.
Captain Yuri turns the wheel, and the ship adjusts its heading slightly, aiming for the open air on the southern side of the island. Soon your are sailing past the densely wooded island on the port side, and the less forested section to starboard.
Wisp heads for the rigging hoping for a better view. He ignores the cries of one of the crew, warning him, and deftly manages the ropes and rigging to reach the top. He sees no immediate signs of ambush to port, nor anything up ahead on the river. Looking abaft however, he finds himself staring at the sun, so can not see too much in that direction.
Of course, it is from the sunward side of the ship, that the attack first comes. Most eyes are watching the island and the waters ahead, so no one notices the silent wings approaching high in the sky from the stern.
It isn't until Akito and Captain Yuri, up on the aft deck, are suddenly struck by a massive glob of warm, ooze like substance, covering both of them, and quickly solidifying, as it gums up their legs and arms and starts to adhere them to the deck. Yuri seems to take it the worst, suddenly finding himself unable to move, or take his hands from the wheel... which itself gets covered in the strange substance. Even if he wanted to, Yuri couldn't turn the wheel now.
Their startled cries get the attention of the rest, but not quickly enough to notice a second flying creature on the port side of the ship, as a similar glob of acidic ooze hits Wisp, exposed up at the top of the mast. It quickly begins to solidify as well, starting to glue his arms and legs with the rope rigging and wooden masts and spars.
,
,
As they seem to split, one to port, one to starboard, you can finally get a good look at them. You see two sleek draconic creatures flying in to either side.
- Round 1 ----
That was a surprise round. Brady is first to react in regular rounds!
MAP Link Redux
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Brady, from the bow, calls out "Drakes; behind us!" Damn, he thinks, if we'd taken the other side we'd be under cover, and they couldn't have attacked like this!
He moves back just a bit, reaching behind to grab a javelin. He decides to keep the elevation above the cabins, and stands ready to hurl his javelin if a drake approaches.
,
The drake to stern, suddenly brings its wings in closer to its body, and dives towards the aft deck, its powerful jaws snapping at Akito. The kitsune, despite the viscous substance trying to stick him to everything, manages to move just enough to avoid the teeth, as the drake continues to swoop past. But he is too focused on the front, and doesn't notice the creature's tail whipping around as it passes, and the sharp fins at the back, cut a long trail along his left cheek!
The drake continues past, diving down low until it is skimming along the surface of the river, its tail trailing behind leaving a small wake. It shifts its wings again, and suddenly gains altitude again appearing again midship, about feet off the main deck, fifteen feet up.
Brady sees it come within range and races across the fore deck, readying a javelin as he goes. He lobs the missile at it as hard as he can. The drake senses the attack, and its wings pull in and it does a defensive barrel roll along the side of the ship, turning its more armored side to the attack... but it is not quite enough, as the javelin strikes anyway... doing its damage, before falling free and disappearing into the river below.
- Round 1 ----
Bold can go!
MAP Link Redux
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Pulling his sling from his belt, the kobold barks slightly as he loads it with a bullet. Slowly twirling it around, with continuous movements, the sling begins to spin faster and faster over his head. The weapon whistling, he unleashes a projectile from the sling towards the red creature while shouting at it in his native tounge!
,
,
Seeing the flying enemies, Jarrett quickly pulls out his longbow, attempting a single shot towards the drake just off the starboard bow. Despite his haste, he fires true, and the shaft hits the drake just over its right shoulder.
Kra'ak tries something similar, but with a sling... but loading it proves a little more time consuming then grabbing an arrow, and by the time he's ready, the drake has pivoted to protect its more vulnerable spots. The kobold's missile bounces off the drake's tough hide, and plunks into the water below, barely noticed.
At the top of the main mast, things are a little more tense, as Wisp just barely manages to avoid getting stuck to the rigging, as the second drake lazily banks and starts honing in on his location.
Even as he perches there, the wind seems to kick up around him, the sail suddenly billowing the wrong direction for a moment, then back again, as the wind appears to be confused on which direction to blow! The small wayang ignores the strangeness, as he draws on those very gusts, pulling them upwards then with one thrust of his free hand, sending them lancing across the open space towards in the incoming predator!
Living much of its life on air currents, the drake seems to sense something is wrong, and at the last moment attempts to roll away from incoming blast... but can not do so quickly enough, and it suddenly lists hard to the side, as the full force strikes it!
It gives out a screech of fury, at the assault, quickly recovering, to race up towards its prey on the mast. Wisp tries to duck out of the way, but the viscous fluid that struck the top of the mast, appears to be far more caustic then he was aware off, as suddenly some of the ropes holding the sail in place start to unravel, snapping from the pressure of the wind and the wayang.
It is all he can do to hang on for the brief moment it takes for the drake to reach him. The his entire shoulder feels nothing but pain, as the drake sinks its sharp teeth into the shoulder of the arm clutching the rigging, almost tearing him off the mast entirely . He manages to hold, only to have more ropes suddenly snap from the force of it, and he drops almost five feet, desperately clinging to the sail, as the entire port side suddenly collapses inwards. Luckily, the enexpected shift drops him out of the sights of the drake's sinewy tail, which instead slices through the space he was only moments before!
Up on the aft deck, both Captain Yuri, and Akito, seem to be mired in the acidic goo, as it continues to burn their exposed skin, and clothing. With a bellow, Yuri manages to tear his hands free of the goo before it can burn him further, but quickly realizes he can no longer turn the wheel... and the ship seems to be slowly listing to port, towards the island in the middle of the river.
- Round 1 ----
- Round 2 ----
Long time coming, but Shayna can go, then back to Brady!
MAP Link Redux
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As the goo begins to harden around him, Akito quickly summons his magic and mutters a single word: ”Freedom!”
Despite the magic, the goo has too good a hold on him and he is unable to escape. He continues to struggle against the acidic substance but pauses long enough to heal himself with an expanding pulse of green light.
Akito tries to use a spell to aid his escape, but with his hands hindered, and the acidic goo slowly burning the skin, he is not able to get himself free quite so easily.
He does manage to reach deep inside, sending a burst of positive energy pulsing out from the aft deck. It heals most of his wounds, but not all of them... though the acid-burned Captain, beside him, seems thankful as he tries to help him get free. After a bit more tugging, on both their parts, Akito is finally free of the solidified mass.
Shayna draws her own bow, firing it at nearer drake off the starboard bow, though her arrow barely scratches the thing's hide.
Brady tries another javelin, from his very limited supply. Unfortunately, the drake rolls at the last moment, and the shaft hits the tougher skin across its back, bouncing off to disappear into the river below. The drake gives an annoyed screech, then suddenly dives, straight into the river like it were following the javelin. You can vaguely make out the outline of its huge form beneath the surface, as it races towards the stern. It doesn't stay below water long, erupting once again from the river just shy of the aft deck. It rises quickly, attacking Akito once more, where he has only just freed himself from the goo!
Not expecting the drake to come up from below, the kitsune is caught totally off guard, as the drake's long sinewy neck snakes over the rail, and clamps down on his left leg, trying to drag him across the deck and into the water . As he struggles, the tail once again whips around trying to subdue him further, but he manages to struggle to one side just enough to avoid it.
- Round 2 ----
Bold can go!
MAP Link Redux
Jarrett fires a second arrow, but has a hard time drawing a bead on the swiftly moving drake off the port bow.
Kra'ak decides to go for the second drake, to starboard, as he again loads his sling, and whirls it over his head, letting loose the missile with a small grunt of effort. The bullet strikes the drake cleanly across the side of its head, and it loses its toothy grip on Akito's leg, from the force!
Above them, the main sail starts to collapse, the last ropes holding it upright, finally eaten through by the acidic goo.
Wisp, hanging momentarily from the first section that tore free, simply legs go. But instead of falling to the deck below, the air all around suddenly seems to flow his way, buoying him up, and slowing his fall, until he lands softly on the deck.
His eyes still on the drake that attacked him, he quickly gathers that wind, before it can disperse, forming it into a blustering mass that he hurls towards it.
Unfortunately, he doesn't get to see the results, for just as it leaves his hand, the sails from above collapse on his head, burying him beneath yards of canvas. But those clear of the rigging, see the blast hit the drake square on, sending it careening sideways. With another aggrieved shriek, drake responds by furling its wings, and diving downwards, disappearing beneath the river's surface. The second drake gives a angry cry in response.
- Round 2 ----
- Round 3 ----
Bold can go!
MAP Link Redux
As the main sail collapses, you see it completely cover Wisp, as the small wayang disappears under the folds of canvas that sprawl across the deck.
The drake that caused the damage appears to remain underwater, out of sight, leaving only the second to harry the ship... and it seems singularly focused on making a snack out of Akito.
Shayna tries to distract it with her bow, but her aim remains poor, clearly not her weapon of choice. The arrow disappearing into the distance, coming nowhere near the creature itself.
Akito doesn't wait to see how it responds, as he quickly backpedals, and jumps down to the middeck, avoiding the stairs entirely. Captain Yuri, who was still trying to free the helm, looks up and realizes he's suddenly all alone, with a hostile not ten feet away, and quickly follows, abandoning his attempts to free the wheel. Unfortunately, in his haste, he doesn't manage the leap down quite as well as Akito before him, and ends up on his face on the deck.
With no friendlies in the area, Brady quickly leaps down from the foredeck and races across the main, only to get slowed by the collapsed sail cluttering the middle of it. Still, knowing he's not going to get as clear a shot, he hurls his final javelin... once again, piercing the drakes hide!
The drake screeches in rage, as it pushes off the gunwhale, away from the ship, its wings spread wide. Its toothy maw opens wide, and it seems to lurch for a moment, before coughing up a huge glob of viscous material that hits Kra'ak square across the chest, where he stands by the rail. The pile of mucous is so large, that it splashes over both Shayna and Akito as well, all three of them suddenly subjected by its acidic nature, as it quickly begins to harden again.
The drake gives another loud cry, then suddenly dives, sinking into the water with barely a splash, like one of Brady's javelins. Those who can, quickly glance over the rail, in time to see its large silhouette moving under the boat, and out of immediate sight to port.
You still see no sign of the second drake... though you do note the central river island getting a little closer.
- Round 3 ----
- Round 4 ----
The Party is up!
MAP Link Redux