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"A daring escape and fine tale you tell." Phillip says after taking another sip of Spinnaker John's fine wine. With a smile to the captain he says, "It seems your ship is destined to pick up lost souls marooned among these isles and in danger from the native fauna be it men, spiders, or other savage beasts." Turning back to Sunny and the others, "We've a good crew, but a few more experienced sailors would be more than welcome." He says.
Seeing the other boats heading for the north shore, Phillip quickly turns his boat and crew to the south and rows hard for the shore.
Phillip flourishes his palm frond hat after helping Devon into the longboat. "Phillip Pharlan, and glad to be of service my good man. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." Gesturing toward one of the other swimmers coming to the surface he says, "Over there lads and hand me that line." He then tosses a rope to the nearest person in need of help.
Seeing the strangers leap into the water, Phillip immediately orders the crew to launch one of the boats. "It's a bit of a swim and we don't know if they can all make it." He says as he grabs a couple of solid crew members and begins rowing out to meet the swimmers.
With repairs needing to be made on the ship, Phillip decides his skills are better matched for staying aboard. He works with his mates to get as much done as quickly and soundly as possible.
Still here.
Seeing the attacks are the hydra's heads are practically futile, Phillip draws his short sword and rolls with the hydra's attack to slip away from the creatures jaws, but not before a few teeth manage to draw blood. He then tries to counter strike looking to severe one of the newly forming heads.
Seeing that his magical attacks are having little effect, Phillip pulls a flask of alchemist fire from his belt. "Let's see if you regenerate from this you cagey beast." He says tossing the flask onto the nearest head.
Phillip manages to keep his boat and its passengers from spilling into the water as the snakes erupt to the surface. In response he quickly calls on his arcane powers to send a pair of magical missiles into the nearest snake. Then orders the boat's crew to man the oars and get a little distance from the creature.
"Aye, I'll take a group over." Phillip says to Jon and then strolls over to one of the boats. With a flourish of his palm frond hat he signals to those who would wish to join his group.
Phillip starts to point out the little fetishes as he struggles to overpower its magical defense, but notices everyone quickly heading back to the ship. "I guess we'll just leave this bit o' nasty magic here for later then." He mutters while running to catch up with the others.
Phillip spends a moment to examine the magic in the trees more closely. "It looks like the magic is a wide area Emotion spell that only affects animals and lower intelligence creatures." He points out the source of the magic tucked under the tree branches. "If we remove those, it should weaken and eventually break the spell." He slaps at another swarm of flies. "And it would help get rid of these blasted bugs."
"Well, whatever or whoever it was certainly didn't want the fort intact and didn't want anyone coming closer for a look." Phillip says as he futilely slaps at yet another swarm of flies. He continues to scan the trees for signs of human bodies or possible enemies beyond the crazed wildlife and insects. "Either way, we'll not find out what happened standing here." Cautiously moving forward to the opening, Phillip scans the wall and nearby trees for any sign of human bodies, traps, or other potential enemies beyond the crazed wildlife and insects.
Phillip catches up with Ghirrak and quickly points out the areas of magic. Adjusting his palm frond hat to get the sun out of his eyes, he tries once again to actually see what is generating the aetheric auras.
"Oh for crying out loud!" Phillip exclaims as he rounds on Bryson before taking a deep breath and lowering his voice. "The Blue Nixie was supposed to meet us here. Correct." He waves a hand out toward the empty sea. "Well she's not here. Which means either she's been here and left, which makes no sense at all. Or, she's still on her way." He turns back toward the jungle examining the magic auras. "If she's still on her way and we leave, then they'll most likely come ashore looking for us or to investigate what happened at the fort. That means they'll run into whatever that magic is and whoever cast it without our help. If we stay and wait for them on the ship, we'll have what ever destroyed the fort at our back. An unknown power that destroyed a whole fortified township. I don't think that just hoping it leaves us alone while our lovely little ship sits in the bay is the best strategy." He looks back at the launch and Ghirrak. Lowering his voice further he adds, "Finally, the Nixie could have been here and sunk by whatever attacked. Her crew could have been captured or escaped into the jungle. If that's the case, it's our duty to go after them." Trying to get a better look, Phillip moves a few steps closer to the jungles edge saying, "By all means, send the Professor back with the crew. I don't really know how he got aboard in the first place. But the rest of us should stay and try to learn what happened."
Phillip tries to get a better look at the sources of the enchantment. Unaware of Bryson's 'look', he points up into the trees his hand taking in the area of the magic. "The Professor was right. There is something in the trees about twenty feet up. There and there and there. Can you make out anything?"
After giving Skald an encouraging, gentle push back toward the boat, Phillip pauses for a few seconds to scan the jungle and tries to find the magical enchantment that caught the Professor's attention.
Drawing his sword on the run, Phillip swipes at the snake attempting to draw it away from Skald long enough for the servant to escape.
Seeing Bryson's warning, Phillip starts to turn the launch back out to sea, only to watch as the Professor jumps ashore with his typical careless abandon. Uttering a flurry of curses, he orders the rest of the men to stay alert and ready to shove off. He then dashes off after the professor.
Phillip steps over and takes the tiller to guide the launch to shore.
Phillip gathers his gear and then helps ready the launch to go ashore.
Phillip shakes his head and chuckles lightly at Bryson's parting shot about his experience. With a simple wave, he slips his palm frond hat back onto his head and gets back to his duties repairing the ship, not hearing the shape shifters final muttered words.
Phillip's eyes narrow slightly and his jaw clenches as Bryson snaps at him, but he masks his anger with a thin smile. "I believe the man asked for opinion's. I gave him mine. Nothing more, nothing less." Turning away his voice carries a light-hearted manner as he adds with a chuckle, "Besides. I have no desire to be captain. Although, I do believe my years of experience at sea would make me eminently more qualified to the job than a landlubber like yourself."
Phillip shrugs at Booker's question. "If we haven't spotted them by now, then trying to find them out here, will be like trying to find a needle in a haystack." He flicks his hand in the general direction of the rendezvous. "If it was the plan, then it's likely they are already making for Fort Greenrock. We should do the same."
Phillip spends the night helping to conduct any repairs on the ship that are needed. When the sun rises the following morning he breathes a sigh of relief as the morning light reveals the lack of any enemy ships in sight. With the threat over, Phillip spends the rest of the day resting and meditating.
A soft whistle escapes Phillip's lips as he examines the device. "Whoever, built this didn't want to make my job easy." Hearing someone coming down the hatchway, he gives a quick shout of warning. "Don't get too close! This thing is nasty and who knows what'll happen if I can't disarm it quick enough." He then turns his full attention back to the device. Reaching into his pocket his pulls out a leather pouch. With a deft hand he opens the pouch and lays out the small set of files, nippers, picks, and other implements useful to one who works with locks and small mechanisms on a regular basis. Taking a deep breath he selects what he needs and begins the delicate procedure of disabling the device.
Phillip curses softly as the smell from the bilge strikes his nostrils like a hammer blow. While trying to shrug off the stench of the lower deck, he conjures a small globe of aqua-green light and begins to rapidly search for the device Ghirrak had seen.
"What?!" Exclaims Phillip as he fends off the pirates and hears Ghirrak's warning. "What device and where is it in the ship?" Phillip lashes out at one of the closest pirates while Girrak answer, and then grabs the nearest rigging rope that could quickly help him get back across to the other ship.
With a slightly surprised but satisfied looks, Phillip watches as the pirates fall before his mighty magic. Seeing the remaining two at the helm, he selects the one actually manning the wheel and sends a pair of sea-green energy bolts streaking toward the man. As the missiles land he shouts to the two men, "Surrender yourselves now, or end up as food for the sharks! The choice is yours, but I'll not ask again."
Wincing at the second pirates blow, Phillip looks for enough cover to keep at least one of the pirates from reaching or flanking him. He then tosses another bunch of colored sand into the air accompanied with arcane phrasing and a grim look. Quickly the sand swirls toward the pirates creating a bit of a distraction at the very least.
Seeing the pirates take aim at Annie, Phillip lets out a whoop to draw their attention and then steps a bit closer before sending a thin ray of wintery frost flying toward the springs and strings on the big ballistae itself in an attempt to either disable the weapon or at least disrupt the pirates aim.
Phillip uses the temporary lull to kick the nearby gangplank crossing to the Kraken into the ocean. He then runs toward the main mast to severe the ropes to the main sail and rigging.
Seeing the pirates closing in, Phillip dips a hand into his pouch and grabs a handful of colorful sand. With a bit of dramatic flair he says a few words of power and tosses the sand toward several of his attackers while side stepping to keep as many swords from reaching him as possible.
With a surprised smile on his face after his fortunate recovery, Phillip takes the vial of alchemist fire he managed to hold onto and tosses it at the feet of the pirates in an attempt to block access to one of the gangplanks. He then steps back and draws his short sword, focusing all of his energy on defense.
Phillip decides to attempt to take the offensive. Grabbing one of the many ropes in the rigging he swings across the expanse between the two ships and leaps into the rigging of the enemy craft. As soon as his feet are secured again, he draws an alchemist fire from his belt and simply drops it to the deck below. Hoping that a quick blow to their leader might force a quick surrender, Phillip tries to spot the enemy captain as he crosses to the other ship.
Phillip sees the two men attack Annie and immediately begins to gesture and chant from his perch in the rigging. With a final bit of flare he points at a spot between the two pirates and a few moments later a small portal opens bringing a dire rate into the fray. He directs the rat to attack the pirates and then looks to see where the first boarders may try to cross.
With a series of curses, Phillip hurries back down to the deck to grab his equipment and remove the more restrictive elements of his disguise.
Armed and ready, he heads back up into the rigging and takes position in a spot with solid footing and a good vantage point to use his bow.
Phillip shouts down to those still on deck. "Get ready. It looks like one o' the ships is comin' to check us out."
Hearing Annie's shout from the masthead, Phillip finishes dealing with the traitorous flag and then shouts back down. "I can do that! He grabs another rope from the rigging to replace the sabotaged line. "Keep it bundled up and goahead and run it up on this line. I'll make the change up here."
Watching the flag go up, Phillip's expression of satisfaction turns to disgust and anger as he realizes what has happened. He dashes over and grabs the rope, hauling the treacherous flag down as quickly as he can in hopes that any nearby ships don't have a chance to spot it. Only after the flag is down, and the proper yellow flag has been hoisted does he look around to try and find the one who may have been responsible.
Phillip does the best he can to get the ship in shape and make it as unappealing as possible to any potential enemies. Focused on the task at hand he fails to keep at eye out for the actual threats they are trying to avoid. That, and perhaps the patch over his eye was making it more difficult to see than he originally anticipated.
Phillip laughs lightly when Lavinia mentions his own luck. "I dare say if I've much luck it's mostly been hard my lady." He reaches over a fills his mug for the second, third, or possibly, the fourth time. With a smile for Lavinia and Ghirrak he says, "I've spent the several years sailing these seas. Served under kind hearted captains with good crews. Also sailed with some real no good scoundrels and cutthroats. But such is the life of a sailor, sometimes you have to go where the wind takes you no matter what." For a second his eyes drift away in memory, but then he quickly recovers, takes another drink and continues. "I was last aboard the Dancing Walrus an ill-fated treasure hunting ship, but commissioned by a man who had a better mind for books and academics than dealing with the Lady Sea and a bunch o' rowdy sailors." He shakes his head with a bit of sadness. "A man who hires a crew to go treasure hunting needs to be prepared for a bit of sneakin' about and treachery if he isn't careful with who he hires. Good ole Edwin Chavensham wasn't." He flicks his gaze over to the Professor while unconsciously running his hand through his hair a couple of times. "I tried to warn him that trouble was brewing, but he'd have none of it. Couldn't believe some o' the boys would try and find his great treasure himself." "It all came to a head during a big blow we had a few weeks ago. Bunch o' the crew took advantage of the storm to go after Edwin's maps and journal. I stepped in to stop them, but then the storm intervened and Mistress Fate reached out and thumped us all." "Lightning took the mast and set the sails and rigging aflame. Next thing you know she was broached and all of us were going for a swim. A few of us made it to that bloody, bug-ridden island only to end up a morsel for those blasted spiders." "But Mistress Fate must have other plans for me, on accounts she brought you folk along to pull me off of that island and here I am." He finishes by polishing off what's left in his mug and standing to offer an unsteady bow to Lavinia. "So there's my story. Now if you'll excuse me, I think a bit of fresh air on deck is what this body needs now."
Phillips spends the banquet eating, drinking, and generally enjoying himself. After finishing his first mug of ale, he approaches Lavinia and offers the noblewoman a quick bow. With a smile and flash of his eyes he says warmly, "I've not had a chance to offer you proper thanks for pulling me off of that island, my lady. You could have simply ordered your ships to move on, so I am grateful for the rescue." He glances toward the Professor as he continues to speak, "I understand the professors interest in ancient ruins and wild places, but if you do not mind my asking, what brings you to these distant waters?" After the banquet he will help prepare the ship and crew's disguise. He'll pull a few willing crewmen aside to play the role of those infected but not dead yet. For those men, he creates a greenish-yellow paste that can be applied on the face and hands to look like boils and pustules from a distance.
Phillip sits back and listens thoughtfully as Lavinia outlines her strategy. As he shuffles through the reports and documents she hands him he continues to listen and then speaks up when she asks for thoughts. "Not a bad idea. But if what you say is true, that these crews are desperate and poor. Then even a ratty old cargo ship with little value will likely still draw attention. Sometimes it is not the thought of gold a pirate captain needs, but just a way for his crew to blow off steam and focus on killin' something besides himself." He adds that last with a grim smile. "More pirate captains die at the hands of their own, unhappy crews than the law." He glances around the room and then looks at Lavinia, "But there is one thing everyone avoids no matter what sea you are on. A plague ship." He pauses and looks to Spinnaker Jon and the others in the room. "We need to simply fly a plain yellow flag, and be ready to disguise a few crew as dead or dying of some grim pestilence and it'll likely keep the scoundrels from coming within a hundred ship lengths. Add Lavinia's decoy of old and useless cargo ships, and we should be able to slip through with ease."
Feeling a bit more refreshed and reinvigorated after Annie's healing energy flows through his wounds and sore, tired body. Phillip pauses to sip some water as the Bryson opens the way out. Responding to Ghirrak's readiness to depart, Phillip sighs wearily and wrinkles his nose and the growing stench coming from the bat's monstrous remains. "I think a change of venue would be most appreciated." The half-elf says with a thin smile. He then moves over to hustle the professor along. "Come along Professor Forol. There will be plenty of time for study once we've cleared the place of dangers. We need to be moving on. These things have been here for thousands of years, I doubt they will disappear in the next few days."
"Well...that was effective." Phillips says with a grimace as he notices his blood soaked clothes, much of which is his own not just the creatures. "A bit showy, but then there's nothing wrong with a bit of panache." He adds with a smile that quickly turns into a grimace of pain as his numerous wounds start to signal their need for attention. Carefully he starts to clean and bind as much as he can to prevent any further blood loss or infection.
Phillip staggers under the creatures assault as its claws rake deeply across his chest and side. Fortunately he recovers just enough to avoid the jaws streaking in toward his neck and a killing strike, but even still the half-elf is quickly covered in his own blood as he stumbles back from the furious demon. Knowing that another assault like that could send his soul to the gods, he concentrates all of his energy on trying to avoid another hit from those teeth and talons.
With the creature focused on Annie and the sarcophagus, Phillip quietly slips through the shadows to flank the creature opposite of Ghirrak. Once in position the half-elf quickly lashes out a second time with his cold iron blade.
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