Bill continues to lay about him with his fists, trying to clear the undead from the ship, finally connecting with one.
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Bill makes another ineffectual swing at one of the undead horrors, hesitating going after Pilk just yet as Ri'el continues to be swarmed by the mindless zombies.
"That's Whalebone Pilk alright. Stop that bell from ringing or its going to get worse." Bill takes a 5' step, trying to work his way through the zombies to get closer to Pilk, taking a swipe at one of the undead in the process.
Bill lunges at one of the passing zombies as it lumbers towards Ri'el.
Bill waits patiently for the horde of zombies to come towards him, but the rolling of the ship throws his balance as a he takes a swing.
With the winds turning stormy Bill stows his bow. Not going to be much use in this weather. As the sea begins to surge he takes the precaution of tying himself to a life line. With the reappearance of the Deathknell Bill is quick to follow Ri'el's command, rushing to where the grappling lines have hooked onto the ship and waiting for the two ships to come side to side for boarding.
As night falls Bill strings his bow, keeping it in hand while keeping watch.
I think Astein may be in one of the hurricane hit areas, so may be to busy or not have internet access for a time.
Bill clenches his teeth, refusing to give into the shivers crawling up and down his spine. "Three nights we have before they assault us, if the legends are true. Mayhap we find Tidewater rock before then and extend our stay."
With the escape well under way Bill turns to Astein and Ri'el. "Well rather than stick around this area to raid one of the local villages, I say we best just be on our way to Tidewater Rock. Put some distance between us at that man-o-war while we can for now."
Still feeling a little tired from the swimming and climbing Bill reports in, "They should be disabled for a few hours at least, maybe a bit more. Let's get out of here while we can though."
The main task done Bill climbs out the window and drops into the sea with a loud splash. He holds though, not yet swimming away, Time to leave Garavaen and Ri'el.
Bill works his way back over to Garavean and Ri'el. "Locked." he whispers. His arms are beginning to ache a little from clinging to the side. "Garavaen, I'm going to need to borrow your dagger. Give me a little time to get back over to the sterncastle, then the two of you climb up into the darkness and cause however big a distraction you can come up with. Give me twenty seconds if you can, then get out of here." Bill bites the dagger between his teeth, then works his way back to the sterncastle, taking a quick look through the window.
He then positions himself so he can quickly kick in the window as soon as the others start making a ruckus.
"If you can do so without there being obvious magical interference with the light, please do."
"I don't normally carry a knife or blade, anyone willing to lend me one for this little expedition? Something to cut the ropes with."
"Okay, so with Davina's aid then Ri'el and I both swim out at dusk, while the rest of you draw as much attention as you can get, get them to chase you on foot back to our own ship." "Once we've done our sabotage Ri'el flys back to join you, and I make a swim back with the aid of this trinket." Bill taps his pirate's eye patch. "I'll meet up with you downriver somewhere and we make our getaway."
Davina using touch of the sea would also allow several of us to get out there easily. Garavaen with his climb skill could shimmy up the anchor rope/chain with me. Astein could levitate to get up easily. Though neither of them have the stealth skill to reliably sneak about once on deck (and even my stealth isn't stellar, but should be good enough against typical NPCs).
"Ri'el, could you get both in and out with your magic? I could swim across, climb the anchor, and possibly even slip inside the lower cabin undetected come nightfall, then escape the same way - if there is sufficient distraction out here to keep the majority of them busy. But a little extra back up would be appreciated." "Everyone else stay out here, cause a big ruckus and distraction, then flee to our own ship without getting caught. Meet us downriver to pick us up."
"Well I could reach her by swimming, but I'd never get aboard her without a major distraction occurring somewhere along the beach to draw most or all of their attention."
"Another option might be get most of them ashore and away from the longboats, then steal or sink the boats. That might take them enough time to get the crew back aboard ship that it is to late to give us chase."
"Well now that is a serious problem." Bill says as he looks over the ship.
"Hold on a sec here. Captain, you see the wheel on the quarterdeck? Got a few ropes running below it into the deck? Squibs had a ship in like that once while I was wasting away there. I talked with one of the crew, and there will be a pulley mechanism in the cabin below it. We cut those ropes and it will take them a while to repair it. But maybe even better if we can find a way to sabotage them so they snap while out at sea giving us chase... leave them adrift."
"This could get ugly, but I agree with Garavaen. Question then becomes, do we wait till nightfall, and risk them leaving the area, or work out a plan to strike before dark?" Bill then begins counting off Chelaxian soldiers, trying to get a good estimate of how many there are.
Bill adds, "I'm no woodsman, but I have a little skill in tracking and foraging."
Bill returns to the conversation having dumped the former captain into the sea, "Well, looks like we either scuttle it then, or keep enough of the Chelaxian devils around to help man it, and risk a revolt in a middle of the night. I think I'd prefer the former captain."
Unconcerned if he might have to take a little swim, Bill assists those that had been trapped in the hold over to the other ship, waiting till all the others are safe before leaping across himself. He then inspects the downed captain for loot or other items of interest before turning to Astein, "Any objections if I throw this waste of flesh to the fish?"
Bill scoops up several blades from among the discarded weapons as he rushes towards the hold. "Garavaen shoot anyone who so much as twitches for one of their weapons." he shouts as he runs.
"A pity, I'd have liked to bust a few Chelaxian heads." Bill stows his bow and begins collecting weapons off the deck of the burning ship, eventually tossing them into a pile on the Chelaxian frigate.
With the enemy captain down Bill turns his focus back to those trying to lock prisoners in the hold of the burning ship. Bill moves towards the boarding planks while drawing another arrow, then releasing it.
Bill corrects his target, instead pointing at the captain of the opposing ship, then letting the arrow fly.
Bill nocks an arrow, pulling it back in his bow and sighting on any man near the entrance to the galley. He then holds, "On your orders captain."
Bill moves to the fore of the ship, stringing his bow once he gets there, then waiting for the Ri'el to bring the ship in close.
"Well, I wouldn't mind busting a few Chelaxian teeth in captain. The devils have it coming to them." Bill says with a straight face, leaving it unclear if he means devils in the literal sense, or is using it as a metaphorical one.
"Let's go see what we can pick from the sea, and if that ain't enough excitement we can find a nice quiet village afterwords."
Bill simply heads back to his bunk to go back to sleep.
Bill twists the neck of the unconscious creature he is holding, a loud crack sounding across the deck, then unceremoniously dumps it over the side of the ship.
Bill lifts the creature up near the railing and looks to Astein, "Toss it over or keep it for a pet?"
Bill assists Ri'el in restraining the fishman.
"No you don't." Bill says as he moves in to assist Ri'el in keeping the creature held.
No worries Ri'el.
Bills grip on the fishman loosens as his head goes fuzzy.
Bill ducks around the first fishman in attempt to get to the second carrying the wounded crewman.
He then grabs at the second fishman, "No you don't."
So we could either just plunder for loot - which leaves potential future enemies in growing numbers. Plunder and kill, which turns us all evil, and means once word gets out, every ship we come across becomes a fight to the death. Become honest merchants. Become pirate hunters instead, and track down known pirates and loot/kill them. In any of those, I'm not sure taking over additional ships has any value, we don't have the crew to man them.
"Aye captain." Turning to the marines, "Toss your weapons in a pile here for now. And you two, feel free to throw your friend a rope before a shark gets him. An if you resist, I'll bust some teeth out." Bill then motions to some of the crew of the Seawraith. "Once they toss down their weapons, bind 'em up."
"Cya", Bill calls out as he turns back to the remaining marines. "Who's next?"
Bill shoves the man hard towards the railing of the ship, trying to tip him overboard.
Bill moves across the boarding planks towards the captains group, but stops short of actually reaching them. "So who's gonna be first?" he grins.
Seeing the ships are going to get close enough to board, Bill takes another shot, this time at an enemy crossbowman.
Then puts his bow away and readies himself to move on to the opposing ship.
"Well that kind of welcome is worthy of a few arrows I'd say." Bill pulls his bow from off his shoulder, then takes aim at the opposing ships pilot.
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