Is there room in the second group for a Zen Archer? I'll try to come up with something this weekend under a different alias. Unless y'all want a PIRATE Zen Archer. Heh.
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“This isn’t over, Wanderlust! I will find you!” High Captain Longwater bellows as the pirate ship meanders away from the Wanderlust. The captain’s shouts a tirade at the crew, but the Wanderlust is drawing too far away to make out the words. The Lusty Lady sails out of sight into the fog, struggling to maintain a steady course.
“Dammit all! Up Tigg! Up! Get us going!” The High Captain rushes to the wheel, kicking the down dwarf along the way. Oars sprout from the Lusty Lady’s hull, and dig into the surface, moving the ship ahead like spindly spider legs. The sails drop, and as Tigg stands, he holds his palms out toward the sails. A great wind billows from his hands into the sails, and the ship surges forward. But the ship’s course sways port, the damaged prow narrowly missing the Wanderlust’s stern.
Golo begins swimming madly to avoid the out of control ship, but it looks doubtful that he will be out of the way in time.
Not expecting such a break in company, the four boarders see no reason to stay and fight. They bolt for the railing and make a leap for their ship.
Crunch:
One sailor lands without a problem. Another is able to grab the railing, but the impact of his body slamming the hull causes him to fall, joining the other two the did not even make it that far. Three pirates swim for the Lusty Lady, shouting for help. Other crewmen aboard the Lusty Lady file out of the topside cabin, each holding a small glass jar of orange liquid. They run to the railing of their ship and lob it toward the Wanderlust. Crunch:
Despite the widening gap between ships, three spiraling jars reach the railing. One explodes at the feet of Rolg. Another pelts the guisarme-wielding sailor in the shoulder, and he screams as flames cover his body. The third hits an empty space on the deck, but the splashing flames get on Squall and other crewmen. Four of the thrown jars are a bit short, and explode against the hull of the Wanderlust, where the fire sizzles at the wood. One jar misses completely, splashes, and sinks.
High Captain Longwater roars at the escape of his prey. “Oarsmen! To your stations! Archers! Set sails! And you rat-bastard! Pull your coward friends up!”
“Don’t let them get away! Ballistae crews, reload!”
High Captain Longwater seems thoroughly put-out at the quick slaughter of his boarders, including his best two.
Crunch:
But those on the Wanderlust anticipate the attack. One of the boarders manages to clip Squall's leg with his blade. Satisfied that the fire is dying out on its own, the pirate dwarf Tigg claps his hands above his head, and releases them with muttering and odd gestures. He grins at Balion, as though challenging him to shoot again as he steps back and retakes the helm. "Ballistae crews! Get the wildfire!" The High Captain gestures to the topdeck cabin. Crewmen rush at his order. The archers of the Lusty Lady loose another volley.
More pirates take up rope to swing across.
“Tigg!” Captain Kendrick Longwater shouts to the dwarf at the helm, gesturing with his rapier. “See to the fire!”
Crunch:
A few arrows find their mark. Tigg nods and pulls a nearby archer by the shoulder and pushes him into the wheel. He limps to the stern railing, and finds the fire. The wood around the low flame is starting to darken, but the fire is waning. Aboard the Wanderlust, a pirate swings his falchion at Golo, and his fellow boarders attack Rolg and Bolgrith. Crunch:
But Golo is too quick, and the two Hamonrelders interpose their shields to deflect the blows.
“Fire grapplers!” Captain Longwater shouts over the din. Crunch:
The archers of the Lusty Lady return a volley, and only a few manage to graze the random crewman. The five remaining ballistae launch their strangely barbed bolts. Five slam into the Wanderlust hull, though the battering seems significantly less than what the Wanderlust dealt. Three artillery remain protruding into the hull with metal heads that seemed to unfold after the impact and pull against the inside of the walls. The pirate crew is a frenzy, and soon the winches begin to pull the ships closer! "Now you meet your end, Captain Ripley!" the High Captain calls out, laughing. The black bearded dwarf points at the ranger, glaring. A shard of ice shoots from his finger. The ice shard embeds itself into Balion's chest before beginning to melt. When the decks are a mere ten feet away, a handful of pirates swing across on ropes, and the Wanderlust pikemen are ready for them... Crunch:
But these boarders are long accustomed to such tactics, and most are able to kick aside the spearheads, save one who lurches mid-air, skewered by a point kicked into his path. He slides off and falls into the water between the ships. Rolg manages to carve into the leg of one of the swinging boarders. Of the five pirates that land on the Wanderlust deck, two of them lead the charge with great ragged falchions in hand, screaming in bloodlust. They fall upon Golo, Rolg, and Bolgrith in a fury!
Crunch:
For all their ferocity, Golo grins as he deftly slaps a scimitar away with the flat of his own. But he unable to escape the monstrous blade, and a falchion digs into his side.
The High Captain cracks a malicious grin. “Son, you’d be wrong to call us scum, for we are equals to your father and his frilly court. We’ve got the same right as any to do as we please. But in gracious gentlemanly fashion, I’ll forgive your slight.” He plants his high-plumed hat over his matted brown hair as his gaze wanders over the Wanderlust crew, until he meets Captain Rettley’s glare. “Ah, good to see you again, Captain –Ripley? It’s been ages, I hope you are well. I see Gobo Golo is still picking up your slack. Never understood why he got sick of sailing under a gentleman’s colors.” His eyes gleam in mockery at Golo, a gold tooth sharpening the jest. Captain Rettley begins to say something, but Kendrick Longwater bulls over him. “It seems to me, Captain Ripley, that your most precious cargo has a thing or two to learn of respect. If you lend him and his entourage here proper, I see no point in spilling any blood over baubles. Aye, here’s a sweeter deal: I’ll pay you to let me take him off your hands, and don’t you suffer a bleeding heart –I won’t kill them. In fact, I’ll even feed them and treat them like my own sons, you have my word –from one captain to another. Your ship is damaged, and by the looks of it, you’re hand or two short. We play nice, and you can sail away a rich man.” With his free hand, he pulls a gaudily jeweled gold necklace from under his tunic, letting it hang heavily on his neck. Simon scowls fiercely at the pirate, but his nervous shift in weight betrays his front. Captain Rettley’s gaze is fixed on the treasure offered by the pirate, the wheels in his head turning. The crew seems to hold their breath.
A second verse begins, but is quickly cut off by a roaring “QUIET!” The shout comes from a man who strides gallantly into view at the center of the Lusty Lady. In a black surcoat with golden buttons over a frilled crimson shirt, a scarred, swarthy face boasting a flamboyantly large brown handlebar moustache sneers as he surveys the Wanderlust. Jeweled rings adorn every finger, varying in metal and gemstone. In one hand he holds a silvery rapier, the other he raises his dark, wide-brimmed and red-feathered hat as he addresses the Wanderlust crew.
As he addresses those aboard the Wanderlust, the Lusty Lady draws up to thirty feet away. The oars continue to slap and dig beneath the waves, keeping the pirate ship alongside its quarry. Visible from this distance, instead of matching the Wanderlusts three huge ballistae per side, each side houses six smaller models, though still large in their own right. Rope winches line the center of the deck, and the heads of the armed artillery bolts are oddly barbed. Members of the crew are seen standing ready near the loosing levers of these mighty weapons. |