Hi all.
I felt like telling you all how my PbP party managed to handle the situation on the Blue Nixie. I would also like some feedback on if they were just lucky with dice rolls, good tactically, or if I played the battle out wrong. Anyway, on which the show:
First up, the party. They are as follows (all level 1):
- Christopher Van Edefelt, Human Fighter
- Bo'Ndaga Yutu, Wild Dwarf Wilderness Rogue
- Vhalen, Wild Elf Cleric of Sheverash
- Nova Furas, Human Sorceress
- Kilmer Geraldi, Human Swashbuckler
So, here's how it went:
As the party approached the harbour of the pier, Bo'Ndaga had decided he did not wish to kill the pirates, and went for some late-night shopping at the Harbour Market (established as an almost late-night bazaar in my version), buying himself some rope, a camoflauge kit and a sap. Then, he returned to the party. They all got a good look at the ship from behind some crates, seeing them loading a spider-like beast into the hold (the Rhagodessa), and then three pirates setting up for watch. They also noticed the ropes. Originally, they had two plans, either Nova would walk over and try to destract the pirates, so that they could all board the boat and take it by surprise, or Bo'Ndaga would schase Nova down the pier, hoping to destract the pirates, so the rest could, again, board with surprise. However, both of these plans were soon deemed too risky to Nova, especially if the pirates did not take the bait, and instead they would all board the ship from the water, then ambush the pirates from all angles. Dropping into the cold water below Pier Five, they made their way to their positions.
Kilmer, Nova and Bo'Ndaga swam around the ship to the Forecastle Deck, on the side opposite to the pier (believe it's Port-side, but can't be sure, but I disgress...), while Christopher stays next to the pier and the Quarterdeck, and Vhalen planned to ship to the opposite side of the Quarterdeck to Christopher. However, as the elf was doing so, the pirate on the Quarterdeck spotted him and quickly took aim with his crossbow, freezing the elf in his tracks. Threatening the Elf with a bolt through the head, he told Vhalen to return to the pier. Christopher readied an Alchemist's Fire, which he planned to throw onto the pier when if things turned nasty, and, unaware of the situation, the other three continued to climb up towards the Forecastle.
Vhalen, however, remained calm and collected. As the other two pirates came up to the Quarterdeck, he complained that he had a bet with a dwarf for free drinks that he could swim up and touch the boat without being spotted. He returned to the pier, and Christopher began to climb again, planning to wait until the pirates had moves way before he boarded.
As the pirates turned away, Bo'Ndaga, ova and Kilmer were already aboard, the dwarf and sorceress hiding behind the mast, and Kilmer trying his best to move quietly down to the deck. However, he was easily spotted, but gave the dwarf and sorceress enough time to act. Nova fired off a magical missile, striking the closest pirate, and Bo'Ndaga fires an arrow from his shortbow, deciding he had little choice but to now fight to the death - their's, or his. The arrow, however, had too much distance to cover, and it was too dark to take a good aim, and it consequently missed. The battle kicked in, two of the pirates swiftly falling to the magical missiles of Nova and Vhalen, who was not shooting arrows from the pier, in an attempt to either destract or kill the pirates (he wasn't fussed!). When it was down to the final pirate's turn to act, he swiftly yelled for backup. Kilmer took his position by the staircase leading down into the depths below the Forecastle, and waited for anyone to appear through it. Bo'Ndaga also readied himself to shoot at anyone that emerged. As the swarm of pirates came to the deck, one emerged from the staircase guarded by Kilmer, and was swiftly both cut and shot down. Another emerged from the hold, almost animalistic, snarling and prandishing a blood-stained rapier. Then, Vark, Ketrana and another came from the gallery and captain's quarters. As the pirate on the Quarterdeck moved into a better position for his crossbow, Christopher lept over the side of the ship and striked out at him. He hit, but not with enough force to kill him.
As the next round of combat began, Christopher managed to stick through the pirate, and advance on Vark. Vhalen, seeing he had no more targets, and had to get aboard quickly, lept towards the ropes Christopher had climbs, jumping off the pier and hitting the side of the boat with a thud, gripping the ropes, and began to climb. The animalistic pirate moved with speed towards Kilmer, the target Vark had indicated as he came from his quarters, leaping the corner of the rowboat and striking Kilmer successfully. It was then a scream went up from the Forecastle Deck. With a look up, the battle seemed to freeze as Nova lept, arms flailing from the Forcastle, calling for her daddy. Kilmer was just able to turn himself to avoid the running sorceress, and the pirate who'd jump moved stuck his rapier in her side, causing her to wince in pain, but continue none the less. She ran straight for Vark and his two pirate companions, stopping directly ahead of them. In the confusion, Vark ordered the woman to deal with the girl, while he and the male took out Christopher. Bo'Ndaga, seeing Nova leap off the Forecastle, moved to do the same, rolling as he hit the floor. However, seeing he would never reach her in time, and that she had Christopher to help her, he turned himself to fire an arrow at the animalistic pirate, hitting it and making a deeop wound, but not enough to kill it.
As the battle between the three pirates, the fighter and the sorceress continued, Christopher hit Vark with his weapon, though not leaving as deep a would as he would like. The male pirate struck out at him, dropping the crossbow he was wielding and switching to his rapier, drawing and striking the fighter in one move. Ketrana did the same, yet Nova was too quick, dodging the attack. Before Vark could act, Nova stepped around the corner of the staircase, Ketrana missing with her attack of opportunity. The girl threw some multi-coloured sand into the air, uttering some mystic arcane wording, and a green aura glowed around her. The last thing the pirates remembered was colour spraying from the girls fingertips as they slipped into unconciousness. Seeing the battle was lost, the animalistic pirate gave the call to burn the animals, and then attempted to jump ship. However, Kilmer was to quick, and the pirate was sent screaming to his death.
As Vhalen boarding the ship just in time to see this, it seemed that the fight was won. Then, a woman's scream erupted from the hold, followed by a sucking, stabbing sound and a clicking, alongside hollering of exotic beasts. Without a seconds thought, Kilmer was off below the Forecastle. Bo'Ndaga began to bind the unconcious pirates, and Christopher, after Vhalen had healed Nova's wound, accompanied the cleric in persuit of Kilmer.
As the dwarf and sorceress searched the bodies of the tied captives, they began to awaken, at which point the dwarf easily forced them into uncnociousness one more with his sap. Then, sounds of battle erupted from the hold, included hollowering and that incecent clicking. However, once Vark woke, Bo'Ndaga was unable to force him back into unconciousnes before he broke free of his bonds and prepared to attack.
Nova was quick. With no weapon drawn, Vark could only watch as yet more colour sprays from her hands and forced him into unconciousness once more, with a trailed off curse.
Christopher, Vhalen and Kilmer had already come face to face with a spider-like creature with a large, vicious jaw. This was the Rhagodessa, and it had broken free of its cage, killing a female pirate holding a box of matches, and begun to devour the exotic apes, cats and birds, some of which still cowarded in their cages, pressed against the wall. The three had found the beast eating a small monkey, but not it turned its attention to the PCs. Vhalen acted first, firing a pair of arrows towards the Rhagodessa. Clicking in pain as one suck into its leg, the beast stomped the wounded leg, shaking the arrow free. Kilmer readied himself to strike out at the beast one if came in range, and the Rhagodessa made its move. Scuttling sideways, like a crab, its back legs climbed the wall, and, as it get nearer the group, it used its legs to push from the wall, springing into the middle of the group, which were stood in an L-shape. Kilmer struck hard, cutting deep into another leg. Wincing in pain, the beast struck out with a pedipalp towards the Elf. Vhalen was just able to roll free of the strike, which would otherwise have surely been difficult to escape from. Christopher, who had his crossbow drawn,pulled the trigger. The Rhagodessa tried for another pedipalp attack, yet the fighter was ready, and the slowed attack parents of the Rhagodessa worked against it, letting Christopher duck free with ease. Then, the bolt fired deep into the skull of the vermin, causing it to click in pain as bone crunched. Hitting the hold floor with a thud, the beast lay still, dead.
almost as soon as Nova and Bo'Ndaga had dealt with Vark, the battle below was won, and so was the Nixie.
