Russiet peeked her head out again as more bolts scattered around them, but it looked like the enemy was just out of her range yet. So she put away her sword and readied her sling. When they came into range she would attack. The stone glowing faintly as she sent it whirling in the sling. Making a blur of soft light behind her hip.
The party casts more protective spells, Captain Walren included. His skin takes on a weathered appearance, barely visible to Calaithes and Nicolette as they stand adjacent to him in the faintest moonlight. Cayden smiles on Bohrs as well. Russiet peers out, waiting for the pirates to come closer, while Ewem growls and bangs his hammer once more on his shield. Nicolette's latest sling bullet splashes in the water, while it looks like the pirates load their crossbows once more.
60 ft away
North to South
Ewem 1 (AC 17), Russiet 2 (AC 23), Bohrs 3 (AC 21), Nicolette 4 (AC 18), Walren 5 (AC 18+4), Calaithes 6 (AC 14+4)
North to South
Targeting Nicolette AC 18
Ewem
Hit
Hit
Nicolette
Hit
Hit
Ewem
Miss
Miss
Hit, but Deflect Arrows
Two bolts come flying towards each towards Ewem and Nicolette. Ewem knocks the first aside with his klar, only to take a solid blow a moment later to center mass. Nicolette stands her ground, insisting on protecting the captain of the vessel. One bolt veers off thanks to Calaithes' manipulation of the odds. Then another one looks like it will be a particularly deadly hit, unable to fully swayed away by luck. But Nicolette calls on the martial training she had engaged in with Captain Wisslo, and whips her free hand up at the last moment, deflecting the bolt aside. It whizzes just past the invisible Calaithes before splashing into the water on the other side of the boat. that would have hurt.
Bohrs:
Calaithes:
Nicolette:
Russiet:
Ewem:
Walren:
Privateers:
Map
They'll be at the ship next round!
"Ewem took a good hit," she voices to the cleric, wondering if he will go heal the man or if Calaithes will do it while being so secretive. She has no idea where the half-elf is, but there is a rumbling cackle that ensures the hex upon her remains. The boat will be here in a second. Nicolette decides she is done with her sling after such a poor throw, but is thrilled to see the lights still on the pirates and the blood now dripping down the face of the one she nailed.
"You might give them a love tap with the ship, Captain. It might knock them off balance when they do try to board. I'll go get ready."
From there, she moves down to ready herself for the arrival of the pirates. As she holds her hammer in her hand, visions in her mind of the skeletons that killed her and skewered her through the heart flash before her eyes. Now she is the one waiting for the approach of enemies.
Bohrs runs up the ladder to the forecastle and reaches out to bestow Cayden's blessing on the wounded Ewem.
Russiet cursed under her breath, still whipping her sling around as she continued to wait. Just another moment and they would be in range. She hoped. She didn't like the idea of both groups continuing to trade ranged shots. If the pirates wouldn't close any more than this she would start slinging even if it wasn't a good range for her.
"Gutless cowards!" she cried out, "I bet your mothers are as unimpressed as I am. Your mistresses too, iffen you lot ever had any!"
Russiet spirals a sling bullet towards the approaching pirates, hitting one in the forehead and drawing a gush of blood. Bohrs ascends the stairs and calls on Cayden to provide aid to the skald. Ewem wrenches the bolt out of his side and watches as the wound begins to knit together. Somewhere near the aft, an invisible half-elf cackles and the lights enter the swiftly-closing gap between the pirates and the party. The skald's song thrums with furious energy and the party feels their blood pulsing in their ears, ready to unleash rage. Finally, Walren hurls his hands up to the sky, chanting in a thunderous voice. The boat stops gently, anchored in place, as a small cloud descends on the pirates, one of whom sizzles.
30 ft away
North to South
Ewem 1 (AC 17), Russiet 2 (AC 23), Bohrs 3 (AC 21), Nicolette 4 (AC 18), Walren 5 (AC 18), Calaithes 6 (AC 14+4)
North to South
Nicolette
Russiet
Nicolette
Bohrs
Two of the pirates have clearly chosen their targets based on revenge, and level their crossbow to launch a final volley of crossbow bolts as their vessel nears. Nicolette sidesteps one and feels the other divert improbably enough for her to knock it aside. Ewem shouts Bohrs name just in time for the cleric to turn around and bring up his tankard to deflect an approaching missile. But moments after Russiet had taken her shot (both physically and verbally), she takes a bolt to the belly
The pirates simultaneously drop their crossbows and draw out spiked handaxes that look like they're designed for boarding. With a yell, their boat's bow impacts the Black Mist's portside, and they start running to climb.
Bohrs:
Calaithes:
Nicolette:
Russiet:
Ewem:
Walren:
Privateers:
Map
If an ally has her own rage class ability (such as barbarian’s rage, bloodrager’s bloodrage, or skald’s inspired rage), she may use the Strength, Constitution, and Will saving throw bonuses, as well as AC penalties, based on her own ability and level instead of those from the skald (still suffering no fatigue afterward). However, inspired rage does not allow the ally to activate abilities dependent on other rage class abilities, such as rage powers, blood casting, or bloodrager bloodlines; the ally must activate her own rage class ability in order to use these features.
Nicolette feels the rage within her well up at the sound of the Captain's chanting. She is ready for battle. She will wait for them to come to her though. Their weapons are short and meant for hacking and slashing in close combat. She knows they are coming aboard. Her hammer is ready.
"You cannot board this boat!" she commands in a scary voice. It is seemingly authenticated all the more by the creepy chanting. "You will not run by me." she relays, dropping a subtle challenge for them to try, all the while she readies herself to decimate them if they do.
Bohrs draws his crossbow, cocks it and loads a bolt.
Russiet readies another sling shot, wincing at the bolt buried deep in her abdomen. She fires it without watching if it connected, instead using the stairs as support to stagger upright. Then she drew her sword as she joined Nicolette at the rail. "Come on then dogs!" she taunted.
Near the top of the stern stairs, you all hear Calaithes preparing some sort of spell along with the increasingly-unnerving cackling that seems to give no indication of his true position. Russiet sends a pirate-seeking stone and makes sickening impact while Nicolette taunts and Bohrs prepares. Ewem moves down past Bohrs, raising his own weapon to strike out at the boarding party, and Captain Walren also joins the vanguard.
Hit
Hit
Save
No Damage
Corsairs can't fail the DC 10 Climb check
Red moves
Calaithes Readied Action Cast Adhesive Spittle
Save, but still entangled, just not stuck
An entangled creature takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity and must make a DC 13 Reflex save or be glued to the floor, unable to move. Even on a successful save, it can move only at half speed.
Corsairs flat-footed & shieldless
Nicolette's readied attack triggers
Walren's readied attack triggers
All attack, cleaving using Deck Fighting for no AC penalty
Miss
Miss
Ewem's readied attack triggers
Miss
Hit
Miss
Miss
The clash between both sides is fast and furious as the pirates ascend with astounding alacrity. The first pirate up catches a gob of viscous liquid, an axe, and a hammer to the face, trying ineffectually to strike Nicolette with his cutlass while raising a shield to attempt to defend himself from further assault. He is quite bloodied in the exchange. The next sailor seems momentarily dazed as Ewem smacks him with his own hammer and struggles to cut Russiet down. The other two climb up on either side. Walren backs away with a quick dodge, but Ewem isn't fast enough. The final pirate cleaves through the skald , cleaving into Russiet .
Bohrs:
Calaithes:
Nicolette:
Russiet:
Ewem:
Walren:
Privateers:
Map
Bohrs aims his crossbow at the pirate engaging Ewam, and looses a bolt.
"Oooh, hit hard enough and you can swing right through someone. I like that," she thinks to herself as she sees a pirate cleaving.
Aiming at Green, she comes down with her hammer, hoping to continue the arc into the thigh of Red.
Russiet was fine evading the strike of her opponent, but the blow coming from an unpredictable angle caught her hard. Staggering her and forcing her onto her backfoot. Reflexively bringing her shield up to block the strike from her opponent. That bastard was dangerous! She cuts and whips her blade across, trying to repay the favor by striking from the blind spot of Ewan's opponent.
"Cur!" she hissed.
Far from the vanguard and relatively save, Calaithes (now visible in the dim light) tugs at the threads of fate around Russiet and cackles. Bohrs' bolt flies wide and Nicolette's acquisition of a new combat trick unfortunately fails to get through the privateers' defenses, but Russiet gets a blistering moment of revenge, striking hard! And so the swashbuckling continues!
Miss
Miss
Save
No Damage
Corsairs raise their shields (AC 18)
All attack, cleaving using Deck Fighting for no AC penalty
Hit
Hit
Miss
Miss
Miss
n/a
Hit
Miss
Miss
Hit
Hit
Miss
Hit
Miss
Ewem and Walren likewise try to press their advantage, but their swings miss in the exchange and the pirate ensconced in the aggressive thundercloud dodges the bolt that flings towards him. The corsairs almost instantaneously raise their shields and launch a counterattack, cleaving left and right. The goo-entangled privateer cuts Nicolette, drawing blood but fails to strike the dwarven captain on his cleave through. Russiet rebuffs all further attacks, while Ewem and Walren each take solid hits. Walren seems hardly phased by the attack , but Ewem is looking far worse for the war .
"Name call all you want, you long-haired prick!" comes the response to Russiet. "If I can't hit you now, I'll just have to kill your loud friend first."
Bohrs:
Calaithes:
Nicolette:
Russiet:
Ewem:
Walren:
Privateers:
Map
Bohrs dips his fingers in his tankard and flips a few drops of ale in the direction of Ewam.
Nicolette feels the sting of the Corsair's strike. Not only is he ugly and covered in goop, but he still managed to hit her. So off balance was she from the strike, it made it easy for the man. Perhaps it was that and the effects of the captain's sounds causing her distraction. Regardless, she had to finish him.
Calaithes sees Ewam take a hard hit and decides to add the Protective Luck hex to him, then Cackles to continue the hex on those that he'd already chosen.
"It would seem you lucky drunks can't compare to ours." Russiet teases with a cocky smirk. Noting Bohrs throwing some healing to Ewam. She gave a pointed look in Bohrs' direction. Noting the holy symbol. In truth though, this was simply a feint to draw the bandit's attention away.
She was fine accepting blows, taking the attention to herself. She was a trained duelist. More than that, her arm shifted under the strap of her shield. Waiting.
Then, as her moment came she threw off the shield. Took her so fine dueling sword in both hands, and recklessly lashed out at the pirate attacking Ewam. Coming down at a horizontal angle in a two-handed power stroke.
Bohrs' healing booze rejuvenates Ewem such that he stands a chance of remaining in the fight for at least a few more seconds. The skald is further bolstered by the turning threads of fate. Nicolette clobbers one pirate, but he doesn't go down yet, and Russiet buys herself a moment of distraction that she fully intends to make good on shortly.
Miss
Miss
Save
No Damage
All attack, cleaving using Deck Fighting for no AC penalty
Miss
Hit
n/a
Miss
Miss
n/a
n/a
Miss
Miss
n/a
n/a
Hit
Hit
Hit
The swashbuckling continues. Walren and Ewem struggle to get past their chosen enemies' guards, and Walren's aggressive thundercloud dissipates to his chagrin. Whether due to altered protective luck, better defense, or poor aim, very little of the pirates' offense makes a strike. But with a devastating cleave, the southernmost pirate, still smarting from Nicolette's devastating blow, manages to strike both Walren and Nicolette . The pirates show no signs of backing down in spite of the difficulty.
Bohrs:
Calaithes:
Nicolette:
Russiet:
Ewem:
Walren:
Privateers:
Map
Nicolette's teeth hunger for blood as the fight continues. If her mouth were open, the long fangs would likely begin to descend, but she mostly keeps her mouth shut. They would know her resolve soon enough. Only grunts of force are heard as she heaves her heavy hammer into the chest of another pirate. She is starting to get the hang of cleaving people. If only she can connect with both.
With a single powerful swipe of her silver earthbreaker, the Pale Hammer sends two pirates sailing through the air, tumblewheeling backwards. One lands hard on the bow of the ship, while the one gummed up by Calaithes' adhesive spittle dangles from the goo by one leg, twisting rapidly against the hardening sinew with the force of the knockout blow.
Two down, two to go.
Both of the remaining pirates curse prodigiously in surprise as they see their companions felled in a single blow but retain their ferocious demeanors, unwilling to give up just yet.
As if he wasn't already distracted, Russiet's target is greeted with a powerful slash against the chest and earning Russiet a fresh round of verbal abuse.
Surprised that the pirates haven't turned to run Calaithes just Cackles to maintain the protection and disappears.
They'd need to take one alive if they wanted to question them. But did they want to question them??
Bohrs shifts slightly to get a clearer view of his target and unleashes another ray of positive healing energy. This time on Russiet.
The assault continues as Russiet did not have the option to take her shield up again. Instead trying to protect Ewan by making deathblows against the remaining pirates. Making a point to keep striking out at the man hassling him. Trying to secure the other flank.
Both attack, cleaving using Deck Fighting for no AC penalty
As the battlefield changes, Ewem and Walren step up to gain better vantage points, both striking their targets. But in the counterattack, Nicolette and Ewem both take additional hits . But with the profusely bleeding wounds that the pirates are showing, their days of piracy seem numbered in the seconds rather than in the days.
Bohrs:
Calaithes:
Nicolette:
Russiet:
Ewem:
Walren:
Privateers:
Map
Bohrs sends another blast of healing energy towards Russiet.
It hurts her significantly to be slashed by the cutlass. So much so, that she swings her hammer down in an awkward way.
She does not get lucky and hit the man, but now she is far more nimble. Will it matter against a dexterous pirate?
Calaithes Cackles to keep the hex active as he strolls down to get closer to the battle. He consider his magic but doesn't see any reasonable options for the moment. He really should have bought a CLW wand....
Miss
Miss
n/a
n/a
Hit
Hit
Miss
Miss
The pirates manage to hold their own in the next exchange, balancing against each other back-to-back and dodging every blow that comes their way. And in the riposte, Ewem is struck a deadly blow and staggers back. His song dies in his throat and he collapses bleeding to the deck. The man responsible steps further in, over the fallen body of the skald.
Unbeknownst to him, of course, he is now flanked by an invisible foe...
Bohrs:
Calaithes:
Nicolette:
Russiet:
Ewem:
Walren:
Privateers:
Map
"May the Drunken Hero save your song for another day, Friend!" Bohrs cries out, pulling Ewam's soul back from the brink.
Calaithes is worried when Ewam drops, but grins when the fool steps in between himself and Russiet. If his strike doesn't drop the fool, Russiet would gain flanking as well.... Tensing up he strikes out with his magical dagger, feeling what he hopes is good enough. He also raises his voices as he cackles again. No reason to stop that....
"Ewam!"[/b] Russiet cries as the man falls. The unexpected change in combat causing a brief bit of panic from her. Then, she see's Calaithes step out of thin air. Her delicate brow rising into her hairline a moment before she quickly reacts to the change in positioning. Blade thrusting straight out toward the breast of her enemy in the moment.
There is a crack in the air as Nicolette brings her hammer down. As Ewem's song died off, she tapped into her own strength. Nicolette was far more deadly when she could think. There is no violent rage cry that is heard from the skinny beauty. She just uses her mind and inner strength to facilitate what she needs her body to do. It is logical. It is trained. It is raw power.
All attack, cleaving using Deck Fighting for no AC penalty
Russiet = 1, Nicolette = 2, Walren = 3
Blue jumps, drawings attacks of opportunity from Russiet, Nicolette, and Walren
Yellow withdraws, drawing attacks of opportunity from Calaithes and Nicolette
From the bow of the ship, Bohrs' prayer is answered and the deadliest wounds on Ewem close. While Russiet and Walren are unable to land blows to fell either pirate, both Calaithes and Nicolette savage the one standing between them as Russiet steps out of the way. After receiving a knife to the kidney and a bone-crushing blow from Nicolette, the pirate cries out in pain, looks around, and seems to think better of his life choices. Just then--Calaithes' lights flicker out of existence, bathing the boat in darkness.
Walren cries out suddenly in pain, and everyone feels the slight breeze of two men trying to flee their certain death or capture.
Bohrs:
Calaithes:
Nicolette:
Russiet:
Ewem:
Walren:
Privateers:
Map
It would not be so easy getting away from her. In her guarded stance, Nicolette could still have the general feel of battle and where the man was at. When he leaped, making a significant sound in the darkness, she was ready.
Seeing Nicolette crush the loser that he'd missed Calithes targets the remaining with a spell.
In the darkness Russiet still sensed movement, and was not nearly so soft-hearted as to let this scum have any leniency. Lest they try and stab her in the back at a later date. She swing her blade out in a horizontal swing, pivoting to bring it around at the fleeing pirate.
Stabilize Rolls
Round 15
Stable
Round 16
Stable
Nicolette can't see exactly where she swings her hammer, but she knows the sensation of breaking bones. She feels the reverberation cascading down her arm and knows between the initial crack and the wet smack that the pirate is dead before he hits the deck.
Calaithes and Russiet likewise lash out, though their blades meet nothing. Then Calaithes conjures a ball of ice and snow from the frigid air and sends it cascading down where he heard the impact of the remaining pirate falling. The man curses down below and groans.
"I surrender!" he yells in the darkness.
Calaithes casts Dancing Lights again.
With light returning, she will quickly find the pirate who is surrendering and hold him as a prisoner for the captain. Her heart beats steadily and strongly at this moment as the bloodied man stands before her. Whether it is his blood or the blood of his companions, she is not sure. The scent is intoxicating. This causes Nicolette's breathing to intensify a little bit. She closes her eyes for a moment and tries to recover herself from the sensation of biting the villain.
"Bohrs, is Ewem still with us?" she asks in a concerned tone, trying desperately to redirect her mind.
Whispering to Calaithes, she hints, "Do you want to secure their boat to this one so it doesn't drift away? I've got him."
Then looking at the captain, she wonders what his verdict will be on the prisoner.
"What are your orders concerning this one captain?"
On the lake, he held jurisdiction, and piracy was a killable offense. Even if they made it back to shore, he'd probably likely spend the rest of his days in a metal cage for the birds to pick clean she figures. Or would he be granted freedom despite his crimes of mass murder? At these thoughts, suddenly similar thoughts of the shop owner comes flooding into her mind. She felt the same with him. Her eyes look at the man's neck and then away.
As the light returns, Nicolette sees the pirate crouched on his knees in the boat with his hands raised but a glass vial in his hands. As long as Nicolette doesn't attack him, he allows the vial to be confiscated.
Walren also walks over to Ewem, putting his hand on the man's neck to feel for a pulse. "He's alive," he says, nodding. He looks up to Bohrs, who he heard cast the stabilizing spell, and whispers his thanks. Then he stands as Nicolette brings the conscious pirate up. "Get the other two up here, whether they're alive or dead. Then search their boat for any haul they may have. Finally put some holes in the bottom of her and let's get a move on."
With Nicolette securing the prisoner Calaithes feels safe. He does tie the boats together, then moves in to examine the vial casting Detect Magic.
"No value in the boat itself? Or would that link us to pirates and get us in trouble?"
He will do as told and sink the boat after they gather all valuables.
Bohrs stands next to the unconscious Ewam. "Gather 'round me if you're wounded," he says, then calls upon Cayden Cailean's favor.
Nicolette won't attack the remaining Corsair. Not until the captain ordered it. She would search them and then tie them to something secure and unmoveable. Those dead, she would leave folded respectfully in front of their companion(s). The Pale Hammer still bleeds from her lip that was cut, and from her upper chest which was slashed. Her armor took most of the brunt of the hit, but somehow the blade found enough skin to give her a nice slash there. The other wounds on her have healed.
Nicolette will then help search the boat. She looks carefully, as it would make sense these pirates keep smuggling holds.
Once everyone is done searching the boat and bodies, she will wait for the captain's word on the boat's destruction.
"I am with Calaithes. Selling a boat might be worth a thing or two to a local fisherman. Perhaps it can be used for good once more? I'll follow your orders, captain."
As Bohrs channels, Ewem and two of the pirates gasp to life (though for one of them it takes until the second channel to come to). The three living pirates are all bound and begin to whisper quietly amongst themselves, noting their dead companion lying on the deck with his head caved in.
The vial does not detect as magical, but Calaithes does detect a little bit of magic on each pirate's person. Potions of cure light wounds. The pirates are--perhaps surprisingly--well-equipped.
On the boat itself, it's easy to see that it is in poor condition, especially compared to the rest of their equipment. It could be repaired, but would probably be more trouble than it's worth.
With the encouragement to move quickly, Nicolette retrieves a key from the dead pirate's belt and pokes around the smaller boat, where she finds a lockbox. The box opens easily with the key and reveals additional treasures.
Inside is a bag containing 13 pp, 28 gp, and 16 sp (159.6 gp total), an anchor feather token, and a writ of marque and reprisal signed by Imperial Governor, High Commander of the Molthuni Imperial Army, and Territorial Governor of Canorate Markwin Teldas. The letter is a Molthuni government license authorizing the four men on this vessel (now three) to attack and capture vessels of Nirmathas with the promise of a transfer of ownership to the privateer after return to Molthune. The charter also includes explicit permission to cross into Nirmathi territory to conduct such reprisals.
"[The Church of Razmir in Tamran] would make good donations to the military as well, enough to feed and arm our soldiers and even hire some mercenaries to help fight Molthune." OP
"I don' expect too much trouble in the week between here and Tamran, but those Molthuni bastards--" Walren makes a disgusting hocking noise and spits on the deck, as does Ewem, "--have been prowlin' the waters lookin' for victims." OP
"What do ye want to know of Molthune? That they've occupied Tamran five times in the last 63 years and burned it to the ground once? That their ambition outstrips their ability? That they're classist prigs and slavers? That they've killed countless of my brethren for exercisin' our right to exist as free people? Never even min' they took my eye or gave Ewem his scars." He spits again, as does Ewem. "I can tell ye plenty, lass." OP
Walren's eyes darken as this information is revealed, and he spits at one of the men. "Don' tell Ewem. He'll kill 'em outright 'fore ye get 'em to Tamran." He sighs, looking over as the scarred Kellid man, and nods his head. "Let's hurry. Other 'privateers'--" another spit "--might lurk nearby. We're nearly there."
As the party seems reticent to sink the junker, Walren grumbles, but leaves the final decision to the group.
Seeing how bad the shape of the ship is Calaithes changes his mind. He does loudly suggest leaving the pirates tied to their ship while they sink it, but maybe he's not serious. He finds the Alchemist Fire and glares at the pirates. He moves up to one and pauses (wait for new round actions) He hexes the pirate with protective luck and disappears stepping to the side. Then slaps the next pirate (hard), and laughs appearing. He Cackles again disappearing again and slapping the next pirate. He doesn't slap the protected pirate just in case he'd miss and be embarrassed. He varies it, sometimes slapping one pirate two or three times, always invisible just to scare them more....
He adds in a grim voice, drawing his dagger and cleaning ant blood off of in on his robe "I hate peo[;e whispering. Especially prisoners when we haven't decided what to do with you. Are you worth keeping alive?"
Nicolette will tie up the junker vessel to the back of the boat. If it starts to sink on the way in for whatever reason, they can always cut it off. She watches Calaithes torture the pirates. In her mind, it's nothing they don't deserve, and she was wanting them to shut up anyway.
"I could use some more healing," she looks to Bohrs, but doesn't say his name in the presence of the pirates. "That is, if your god wishes to aid me more. I am still quite injured." If he is capable, she will be healed, and if not, they do have the potions and can rest.
After this, she will approach Calaithes, since she had drank from Bohrs last.
"Before you knock them down a peg more, I need your help briefly, do you mind?" she hints to Calaithes. Part of it is to get him to stop torturing the pirates and join her in the cabin. The other is that every strike he takes on them makes her animalistic side want their blood more and more; each hit, doubling the intensity she's feeling. Now that she looks in his eyes, he can see the hunger there hidden beneath a veneer of control. The beads of sweat down her forehead betray her. She is losing her mind and she is doing her best to fight it. All she's had to eat and drink today was some water and Ewem's useless meal. The smell of iron from the blood on the ship would be fragrant even to him.
To seal the deal, she looks to the prisoners:
"Look down. Shut up. Stand there obediently and don't even twitch. Then maybe I won't bring my hammer to finish the job. Maybe your Imperial Governor will pay for your head? Maybe the government here will spare you for information...but with my hammer, there is no end that you don't die." She points to the one with his head crushed. They can tell she is livid at them. Passionate, and not in the right mind to restrain herself at least in this regard (as they don't know why exactly she's struggling). If they are compliant now, Nicolette will move into the cabin.