Astein Longblade's page

All,

My family is relocating to Florida over the next few weeks, getting kids enrolled in school, and changing jobs. In short, life is chaos and my posting will be absent or sporadic for the next few weeks.

Sorry and hope to be back soon.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Int: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Need to know how many feet she is from shore for spell purposes.

How far is the ship from land?

"I wonder if they tracked us here... seems a big coincidence if not. As for risk of them leaving this area, if they are hunting us they will not and if they aren't - well the pike shouldn't be angry if a shark leaves it's hunting waters."

Astein calls to Ri'el "Quick to port and furl the sails. Get us closer to the tree-line and better hidden from the cove and come to an all-stop. We may want to cut overland to get a look at what we're facing before we sail into the cove and into the sight of a Man-o-War. Likely they can't take the shallows of the river with their deeper keel but best to be safer than sorry."

Astein nods at the idea of exploring. "Sounds like a good idea. Lets head for the river, find a good place to anchor and re-provision. We officers can explore a bit while Ambrose keeps the crew busy making repairs and checking the hull."

Astein calls together the officers.

"First, how are the new crew getting along? I'm sure they're grateful to be alive, but we really don't know much about them. Have we learned any of their story?"

He then references a chart showing the mouth of a river.

"Second, we need to fill our cisterns. There is a river just off our course that looks like it will do. Might be good to have bows up on deck to see if we can find any game as we sail upriver a day and fill the cisterns. Thoughts?"

"Let's keep the current course, I don't fancy trying to run down a ship that sails straight into the winds. Likely some powerful magics behind that, mayhap the legendary bag of winds... Double watch is smart though, and an officer on each watch."

"Aye, scuttle her. Set the Chelaxians away with some water and rations and they can pray to their devil-gods for safekeeping. Lets get the new crewmen cleaned fed and to work."

Astein nods at the sailors and says, "Get about taking those Balista down and getting them mounted on the Sea Wraith. If you look like you know your way about we might have a spot for you."

He then turns to his officers and speaks quietly.

"I'm inclined to put the Chels in a dinghy with some food and water and let Besmara decide their fate. That leaves what to do with the ship. Seems a waste to sink her..."

"None at all."

"Abandon the burning ship, get over to this vessel now! Ready axes to cut the lost ship loose before it sinks us all!"

Astein draws a blade of his own and prepares to cut the ropes holding the doomed ship to the Chelaxian vessel. If it seems too late, he orders the ropes cut immediately knowing that the others have a better chance of swimming to safety.

Astein takes several crewmen onto the Chellaxian ship and instructs them to start binding the prisoners while he oversees with his elongaged hair flairing about him. He enforces a no speaking rule until the prisoners are secured and the below decks are checked for hidden slavers.

Astein nods at Garavaen and calls to his Officers. "We will head over to the Chellaxian ship, segregate the crews and take the weapons."

To the burning ship he calls out. "Send five people down to get the fire out return to deck. You'll be getting out of this alive and as free men if you cooperate.".

Astein barks out orders, "Boarders take the ship, Archers provide support! The captain is dead and the prize is ours!"

Shouting to the other crew, "Throw down your weapons or you will burn like your captain!"

With that he concentrates to move the flaming sphere to burn whomever seems to the the next person in authority on the slaver.

All,

I am in the process of moving my family from Richmond, VA to Jacksonville, FL. My time online will be significantly limited and spotty. I will try to keep up on occasion but please feel free to bot my character to keep things moving.

Thanks!

"All, focus on the Chellish officers. Ri'el hand the wheel off to a crewman as we come into position, we'll need you on the offensive. Bill, shoot now if you please."

Orders given in a calm even tone, Astein then calls forth magic fire to dance on the deck of the slaver vessel and throws his head back to begin his eerie battle laughter.

Flaming Sphere focused on the Captain.

Unless we are doing something special, I would take 10 on all checks as your skill should allow success on most things.

"Ri'el, take the helm and make it so. The rest, to battle stations!"

Looking quizzically at Davina Astein says, "Chelaxians are devil-worshiping tyrants who keep their nation together through diabolism and slavery. They also think their s+%~ smells like roses."

To the rest he says, "I agree, we should take the Chelaxian while it is focused on the other ship. Let's move."

Prior to the smoke being spotted.

Astein gathers the officers and Bill to discuss the next steps. "It has been suggested that some of these villages may be ripe for a quick raid. Little difference between raiding the coast or a ship, but risk and reward might be higher. I'm inclined to give it a shot if you all are in agreement as we're going to have to do something to keep the ship and crew paid for while turning any profit. Thoughts?"

Upon seeing the smoke...
Astein looks out at the smoke and shouts, "Pull sail and prepare to come about!"

He then looks for the officers and Bill to discuss the smoke. "Could be a ship burning most likely. That often means battle. We should look to it in case we can take even one or two ships while they are lagging. We're short a few crew if anyone are looking to leave a less fortunate boat for better."

Looking at the blood and carnage left in the wake of the unexpected attack Astein shakes his head disgusted.

"Alright, those things could return in number. Lets get underway before any more is lost! Take wind! Move it!"

Astein steps up to the wheel continuing to shout orders to get the group underway. As Bill moves back below Astein says, "See that that necklace is appraised and counted as plunder in the morning if you would, Bill."

"Unless someone can speak to these things, I say we bleed them and leave them to the sharks. Harsh, but no less than they would do to us. I agree on watch, but lanterns at night would mark us as prey on the waves. For now, lets give the dead the respect they deserve and bury them at sea. We would do best to get back underway."

"Can any of us talk to it?"

@GM do you need knowledge rolls?

Seeing the beast trying to escape, Astein casts a spell and hurls a Harrow card at the creature.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Shocking Grasp Damage: 4d6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 6, 1, 3) + 1 = 16

@GM do you want knowledge rolls to see what it is?

Astein holds a card in his hand, preparing to throw an shocking surprise if any fishman makes an offensive move.

Readied action to cast shocking grasp and throw a card if a fishman attacks someone. If not he is ok letting the conscious ones escape figuring we can interrogate one of the unconscious ones.

Astein quickly draws a card from his Harrow deck and casts a spell to imbue it with crackling energy. He hurls the card at the third Fishman hoping he can force it to drop the crewman.

Shocking Grasp Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 2) = 11

@GM is it our initiative?

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Astein instructs the crew to take a few sails from the Truewind, enough to slow her without crippling her to make certain the Sea Wraith is far away before she makes her destination. The extra sails might proove useful if something happened to the Sea Wraith as well.

"Full sails, set course into the sunset! Double portion of grog with dinner tonight!"

To the officers he says, "I figure we sail this way a bit to make it hard to figure our true destination. Wouldn't do to have pursuit as we try to make Tiderock. Once the sun sets we can take our bearings from the stars and set a true course and they'll be none the wiser."

Cool. It is still probably best if we show some compassion.

Seeing that Davina is more occupied with the injured than with with aiding the other crew and begging forgivness Astein clears his throat.

"Davina, see that no one bleeds out needlessly here with Bill. The rest of us will see to the hold." He nods to the rest of the officers to proceed with him below.

I say loot and release... We're trying to get our reputation out there and survivors help with that.

Eventually perhaps we can start to over-crew in hopes of landing prize ships... but we aren't there yet.

Any recomendations as to how we proceed? Should we be taking the ship as prize, looting, what? I'm embarrassed to admit that I really don't know what we're supposed to be doing as pirates.

Astein dismisses his spell before fire gets out of hand on the ship.

"Bill, get some crewmen with you to keep this lot bound and under watch. The rest of the officers with me as our dear captain here shows us what we have below."

He turns to the crew of the other ship.

"We are neither slavers nor cutthroats. Cause no trouble, and this all won't be so bad."

"Come on out and fight..." Astein mutters as he calls forth a spell. Suddenly a sphere of fire appears right where the enemy captain is cowering.

Flaming sphere - DC 16 or 3d6 damage

"Besmara is laughing at you all, Surrender!" Astein glares at the captain of the enemy ship, willing unluck upon her and begins cackling in his trademark battle laugh.

Misfotune (DC 16), cackle

Do we have a map?

Standing at the pilot post with Ri'el, Astein says, "Yes, lets close before they do any real damage to the ship."

Aid Another Sailor: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Aid Another Sailor: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Aid Another Sailor: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

I beleive Ri'el was going to take 10 so we start with a 21 and try to improve towards a 25 with aid another checks.

Squinting towards the ship, Astein says, She doesn't see us yet and looks to make a pretty prize... Let us see if the Seawraith can be worthy of her name.

Profession Sailor Aid Another: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Profession Sailor Aid Another: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Profession Sailor Aid Another: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Astein will be on both the Forenoon and Afternoon watches.

With assignments in place among the officers, Astein asks Ri'el have the crew ready to cast off and set sail.

Addressing the ship as they leave port he says, "Fortune has favored us, and now we have a ship worthy of our crew. To seek the blessings of Besmara and keep fortune on our side, we are sailing towards the rocks of Tidewater to see if we can found our reputation on such a notable venture. Along the way, we will seek out targets worthy of plunder and make sure that profits are plenty for all aboard. You know your jobs, lets do them well and we'll be back to shore to enjoy our plunder soon enough!"

Setting course for Tidewater and keeping any eye out for what can be found along the way...

My suggestion would be we make Ri'el Helmsman/First Mate, Garavan Bosun, and Astein Captain and all typically work together in piloting the ship. Davina helps organize the crew and keep the right people on the right tasks.

The standard practice on sailing checks is Ri'el will take 10 for a 21 and the other three will all aid another. That usually should have us at 23, 25, or 27 for our checks. That doesn't include bonuses like Guidance and such we may eventually be able to apply.

Sound like a plan?

If Bill can pick up some sailing skill down the road, he can help aid another as well.

I have profession sailor at +8. Wisdom, not so much. How are others with profession sailor and wisdom checks? We should be able to work together to have our highest roll take 10 as pilot and have aid-anothers to push it up into the mid to high 20's if possible.

"I've heard of it, but I don't know the location. Perhaps we should ask around before we go. It is as good of a first voyage as I can think of to get the Seawraith off to a lucky start. Fortune should favor us."

"Seawraith sounds better to me than the Independence."

"The Independence has too much of an Andoran Grey Corsair sound to it. I'm for either Besmara's Bounty or Besmara's Blessing."

Astein nods to Bill saying, "Glad we could help... wish the results were better. You'll need to re-man the lookout, and you might want to send more than one with all that has been going on of late."

To Davina he adds, "Those birds bond with people, and that one seems to have bonded with you."

"Well, the initial question is answered. We know the lookout is dead. Should we search around the area a bit before returning with the bad news?"

"Any of you know healing well enough to determine what might cause that wound? Wondering if the wasps that attacked us got him... We should check the surrounding area as well."