Jammers Summary: Chapter 2, Turn 20
----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere... *********** = Later...
Round 7
On the Flow Ghost:
As Grigree's opponent falls to the ground, the hadozee grabs his second sword from the ground and runs over to help Kain fight.
Talus picks feverishly at the lock. Judging that it will take at least a few minutes he abandons the attempt. Drawing his dagger he surveys the melee on the deck.
"Bugtit!" Kain curses. "Get back to the ship!" he calls to Grigree and Talus. Kain feints quickly, throwing his opponent off balance, then turns and scrambles over the Flow Ghost's railing. Jumping across to the Star, Kain's injured leg buckles as he lands, and he falls hard on his backside.
On the Silent Star
Seguld lifts his head and looks into the eyes of his healer, Raken. "Thanks." he says between clenched teeth as he grabs his leg. Seguld spits on the ground. "Now. I'm angry!" he says as he drags his arquebus from his back. His hands deftly begin loading the ammunition and the powder while his eyes scan the battle scene before him.
Seeing the archer in the crow's nest, Deigatt murmurs an arcane phrase and sends his hands in the practiced motions of a somatic component. A blue bolt of energy shoots from his hands up and over the edge of the crow's nest, the archer falls back with a strangled cry as the bolt strikes.
Holland weakly yells, "Everyone, concentrate on the Ghost!" Holland then chants softly as a wand appears in his hand. His brow furled in concentration, Holland points the wand at the priest and two black missiles of magical energy shoot forth towards the priest striking him down.
One of the bowmen on the Ghost's forecastle returns fire, both arrows fly true but shatter against an invisible shield surrounding Holland.
Ferric continues to fire his long bow at the galley's crew while using the Star's railing for cover. His second shot strikes true, downing a sailor rushing to follow the short, dark-haired man's commands to "Cut those damnable webs from the bloody forward ballista and blast that ship!" Realizing the dark-haired man is the captain, Ferric grins and prepares to draw a bead on the man when his eyes suddenly rule back in his skull and his arms drop uselessly to his side.
Raken pauses a moment to look at the increasingly deteriorating situation. "Damn, we're in it bad. We've got to get our arses out of here!" He makes a mad dash to Leera's position and drags her near the railing while muttering a curse towards the pirates.
Jamila cautiously gets up from where she collapsed after the fireball, makes a quick look at what's going on around her and starts reloading the ballista.
Next to her, Billy recovers from his momentary wooziness after healing Seguld and says to her, "You should fire this thing, I'm not much good with this!" as he helps her pull the crank back.
Periander looks in horror at the burns on Nilaroo's chest and arms as he puts the last of the flames out, "He needs help! Help!" he screams. An arrow from the Flow Ghost slams into his back, and the young sailor collapses on Nilaroo's body.
Italapate waits on the helm for his crew to return.
On the dock, the rowboat casts off, seven men aboard rowing quickly for the Flow Ghost and keeping her bulk between them and the Silent Star. The remaining pirates on the dock fire at the aft decks of the Star, obviously hoping to keep crew's heads down.
Round 8
On the Flow Ghost:
Grigree says to Talus, "Go with Kain. I handle ballista." Grigree then leaps up and flips himself over the railing and lands solidly on the Ghost's sterncastle. The two pirates, staring stupidly at the stringless ballista before them, turn and raise their weapons at Grigree's arrival.
Dodging the pirates Talus darts to the railing. In a smooth jump he leaps back to the Silent Star.
Behind him the pirate swordsman curses and looks about to orient himself in the battle. The man with the morning star, whom Grigree had been fighting with before Talus' spell took him down, gets shakily to his feet.
On the Silent Star:
Kain sits up and sees Nilaroo and Periander on the deck nearby. Alarmed, he reaches out and touches Nilaroo's forehead with both of his hands, closing his eyes in concentration. The great ape's breathing becomes easier but he doesn't awaken.
Seguld works to pack the rifle. He needs to stand to pack it properly and at first sets his left leg to support himself, but as he exerts pressure on his leg his face becomes enwrapped in rage and anger. He quickly shifts his weight and again continues with the packing of the ammunition as he keeps his body behind the railing as much as possible.
Deigatt readies his axe to repel boarders from the Ghost.
Holland yells, "Italapate, prepare to move!" He then points his wand one of the pirate archers on the forecastle two black missiles of magical energy shoot forth towards the man, striking him down.
Ferric keeps below the railing as his face undergoes a remarkable series of expressions, and a steady stream of obscenities pours from his mouth, "Ptah'sarseI'mthegreatestgoodasanywormI'llshowpopthatreptilianbastardwhosewo rthwhatIshouldbeinchargegods'bedamnedtoninehellswhereallgreatwomenarewithgoo dwineandohgodswe'llalldie...."
Raken chants "Celestian heal thee so that you may fight again." The wounds close somewhat and hear breathing becomes regular but she remains unconscious.
Jamila and Billy finish loading the ballista and spin it about towards the Flow Ghost. Jamila aims quickly and yanks the cord, the bolt slams forwardinto the sterncastle of the Ghost. Both of the pirates crewing the ballista go down with multiple, massive wooden splinters in their backs.
Italapate waits on the helm for his crew to return.
The rowboat from the dock reaches the starboard side of the Ghost and it's rowers quickly tie off. Seeing no targets, nor any incoming fire the pirates on the docks hold their fire.
Round 9
On the Flow Ghost:
Seeing the ballista crew removed, and amazed he escaped damage from the splinters, Grigree leaps off the sterncastle railing and glides onto the Star.
The swordsman pirate yells, "Get that ladder over the side for them!" and motions towards the starboard side then starts kicking at the pirates sleeping from Deigatt's spell, waking them up.
On the Silent Star:
Talus crouches next to Deigatt, watching for boarders, ruby-hilted dagger in hand.
Kain turns his attention to Periander, checking to make sure she still breathes and trying to stop, without much success, the blood pouring from the lad's wound.
Seguld leans on the railing ignoring the arrows as they strike the ship around him. He locates the opposing stern ballista and takes aim at one of the men. Using all of his strength and willpower Seguld focuses his attention on the target and softly his finger caresses the trigger. As the shot goes off his body is sent tumbling backwards until he ends up with his back to the railing behind him, unfortunately his feet are up in the air and he is resting on his head.
Deigatt continues waiting with axe ready.
Holland yells, "Italapate, get us out of here!"
Ferric continues acting odd, growling and snarling now in fits.
"Celestian heal thee so that you may fight again" Raken chants again, healing more of Leera's wounds. She awakes with a start as her wounds close. Though still a little weak she leans forward, glad to be back among the conscious.
Jamila and Billy continue working hard at loading the ballista, but a sudden gust of wind blows forcefully across the Star's bow, knocking them both to the ground in a heap with the previously upended Seguld.
Italapate concentrates and backs the Star out of the cave as quickly as he can.... full acceleration. Arrows fly from the dock, sinking harmlessly into the Star's side or splashing into the water as the ship literally zooms backwards. The crew breathes a sigh of relief as the ship pulls itself backwards out of the cavern and into the bay beneath the star-studded night sky.
Date/time: 11:09 pm 2nd day of the 5th Month, 5049 OC
