Jammers Summary: Chapter 2, Turn 19
----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere... *********** = Later...
Round 4:
On the Flow Ghost:
Seeing that his mates are busy with their own problems, Grigree becomes more offensive in his fighting. He attacks with both swords going after the big bald man with the two-handed sword (#5). Unfortunately he slips in the captain's blood, and one of his swords flies from his grip. The second sword misses as Grigree stumbles and catches his balance. The bald man misses with his two-handed sword, gouging a big chunk of wood from the railing, but the other's morning star connects to Grigree's ribs with bruising force.
"Where's that Hammership the Royal Bralian Navy promised us!" Kain calls out as he lunges towards the pirate closing on Grigree's back.(E) The man hears Kain's outburst and spins about, neatly sidestepping Kain's lunge. He responds with a slash from his own broadsword, leaving an ugly gash on Kain's left thigh.
On the Silent Star:
Holland yells, "Fire the Ballista! Boarders Away!!" as he defiantly stands upright against the ire of the pirates. Holland ignores the bolts and arrows that fly towards him, turns and moves to the starboard side and gazes upon the pirate ship PROWLER as his quickly chants. Pointing his finger at the ballista amidships, a ball of fire appears on the ballista. Holland then gasps in pain as a blue bolt of energy strikes him in the midsection. Looking quickly for the source of the bolt Holland instead sees the familiar face of a short, dark haired man staring at him across a drawn arrow. The arrow shoots straight through the air, slashing across Holland's left shoulder. As he stumbles back in shock, the man quickly draws and fires a second arrow, this one enters the shoulder and stays.
The small ball of fire sits on the ballista and burns.
Having put the fires out, Deigatt glances quickly and sees that Billy and Raken are rushing to help Jamila and Seguld. Grabbing a last pinch of sand from the bucket he rushes to the port side, scattering the sand in a spraying motion and chanting an arcane phrase as he does so. Three pirates which were rushing to the port railing of the Flow Ghost drop to the deck like sacks of potatoes.
Leera calls out, "TAKE OUT THE PRIEST FIRST!!!" then she calls "I'LL GET THE SCUM ON THE DOCK!!!" Then Glowing Skeleton Leera briefly pops her head up over the Star's railing and points at the pirates assembled on the dock. A intensely bright mote of energy streaks from her outstretched finger and erupts into a fireball as it reaches the center of the pirates.
The pirates on the docks all dive for cover, several jumping into the water as Leera's spell goes off around them.
Leera senses something out of the corner of her eye and dives to the ground as an emerald green sphere of light about a hand's width in diameter flies towards her from the galley behind. The sphere slams into the Star's railing and dissipates harmlessly.
After the initial volley of arrows fly past, Raken starts belly-crawling over to the fallen crewmen. He turns the ballista on the galley and fires it off. the ill-aimed bolt goes careening across the cavern, flying high above the galley and shattering against the opposite cavern wall. Once the large weapon has been fired, Raken drops behind it, using it as cover.
Billy slides between Ferric and Nilaroo's legs, crawling up to Jamila he lays his hands on her head and closes his eyes in concentration.
Crouching behind the railing, Talus picks his moment and casts a spell. With a muttered phrase he gestures and sends a vivid spray of color scything through the warriors on the deck of the Flow Ghost. The large man with the morning star fighting Grigree goes down under the technicolor onslaught.
The archers on the forecastle open fire on Deigatt, an arrow scratches his biceps. the archer in the crow's nest has more luck, his arrows leave two deep gashes on Talus' forehead, though he's still up and conscious.
From the forecastle stairs Ferric bellows "Belay that order! It's a trap. 'Pate Get us out of here! Fire that ballista."
Leera immediately calls out "NO! We can't run! BOARDERS AWAY!!!! TAKE OUT THAT PRIEST!!! Holland, GET THAT GALLEY!"
"I HOPE I'M THE PRIEST!" a man in brown robes calls from the forecastle of the Ghost in response to Leera's cry. He screams, "IN ARES' NAME!" and hurls three small stones at Glowing Skeleton Leera with powerful force. Two of the stones hit, and Leera drops to the deck.
Ferric grabs his bow and keeps behind the railing while he knocks an arrow and fires off two at the galley's crew. Neither hits.
Nilaroo gets to his feet and recovers his bow. Howling primitive, he looses arrows at the priest. The first misses but the second strikes true in the man's gut, he doubles over in pain.
Italapate concentrates and raises the Star out of the water, even (or roughly so) with the forecastle of the Ghost. Then he yells "Someone throw that damn traitor overboard!"
Periander cowers near the rigging, trying to form a small a target as possible.
Round 5:
On the Flow Ghost:
Grigree and the bald human continue to clang steel against steel, neither managing to land a hit.
Trying to keep from being flanked Kain slashes at the pirate he was fighting. He leaves a small gash on the pirates arm, and manages to dodge the return slash from the broadsword. Despite his success, Kain can tell from the man's stance and confidence he's facing an experienced bladesman.
On the Silent Star:
Holland gestures and chants at his attacker. Two bursts of black missile-like energy fly forth, striking the man in the gut. He grunts, sucking in the pain, and quickly fires two arrows back. While the bolts of the crossbowmen continue to shatter just before they reach Holland, these two arrows fly true, leaving a gash on his hand and another on his side.
Then another blue bolt strikes into Holland's gut, and the mage crouches below the Star's railing in pain.
On the galley, the amidships ballista crew dumps a bucket of sand on the small ball of fire, putting it out.
Deigatt moves to leap across onto the Ghost, but falls back onto the Star as a fusillade of arrows rain down around the massive minotaur. Several leave cuts and scrapes across his body.
Jumping over the gap between the two vessels, Talus lands lightly on the deck. Dodging the arrows from the archer in the crow's nest, the half-elf heads towards the sterncastle intent on getting on the helm.
Raken, with as small of profile as possible, drags Seguld behind the ballista. "Celestian heal thee so that you may fight again" he says, his hands glowing with healing magic. Seguld's burns start to slough off, though his left leg remains especially bad and he remains unconscious.
Billy continues to concentrate over Jamila, several of her burns begin to heal slowly and her breathing strengthens but she remains unconscious.
Ferric uses the side of the ship for cover and fires his bow at the archers on the galley. This times he takes down two with quick, careful shots.
The priest roars in agony and hurls a small burst of flame at Nilaroo. The flame bursts on his chest and Nilaroo goes down burning.
Italapate waits, sitting on the helm, for boarders to take advantage of his positioning of the Star up in the air next to the Ghost.
Round 6:
On the Flow Ghost:
Grigree slashes up with his sword beneath the bald man's guard and sends the blade deep into the mans chest. As he falls Grigree shoves him off the sword with his foot.
Kain fights defensively as he tries to make it to the port railing of the Flow Ghost. He manages to catch a vicious slash with his blade just inches from his head and deflect it.
Seeing four doors to the sterncastle, Talus tries the center starboard door and discovers that it is locked. With a quick glance around to make sure he is not about to be attacked, the young half-elf pulls some small tools from his belt and starts fiddling with the lock. He ignores the two arrows from the crow's nest which shoot down and miss him.
On the Silent Star:
Holland quickly ducks above the railing and sends two more black bolts shooting at the archer whose been shooting at him. The man dives for cover but the bolts slam into his back.
As arrows continue to fly at him from the two archers on the forecastle, Deigatt takes cover behind the railing.
Again Raken starts chanting over Seguld. "Celestian heal thee so that you may fight again" he chants. Seeing Seguld awaken, Raken says "We're in trouble. Still feeling up to taking a ship today?" His face cracks in a weak, helpless smile. He looks at them both and says "guys, we need to take out that damned galley. Let's reload the ballista and do some damage."
Billy suddenly collapses wearily as Jamila opens her eyes, feeling still very weak but able to act.
Ferric uses the railing for cover and fires his bow at the archers on the galley. Another one drops lifeless to the deck.
Periander rushes over to Nilaroo and puts the flames out on the great ape's chest.
Italapate sees the ballistae on the Ghost and the galley are preparing to fire. Unable to do anything he yells "Brace for impact!!!!"
The Flow Ghost's port ballista fires, as does the stern ballista on the galley. Both slam into the bow of the Star, the heavier bolt from the galley ripping its way all the way into the helmroom before it stops. the entire ship shakes and rattles, through everyone aboard the Star to the deck except Italapate who stays firmly on the helm and grimaces through the brief flashes of pain which accompany the Star's wounding.
Recovering from Leera's illusion on the docks, the pirate archers have reformed, and about half a dozen new pirates have joined them from inside the door. Most of these leap into the rowboat and prepare to cast off.
Date/time: 11:06 pm 2nd day of the 5th Month, 5049 OC
