Jammers Summary: Chapter 2, Turn 24

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

Round 19:

Holland yells, "Italapate, bring us to the Ghost. Everyone off the lines, let's board her!" Holland leaves his post on the useless catapult and moves over to the side of the STAR facing the GHOST securing himself so he won't go falling off of the STAR.

Billy swears in frustration as the catapult is now useless. He swings his crossbow from his back and into firing position as he deftly, almost with an unusually graceful flick, loads a bolt into it. Billy carefully aims at the bowman in the crow's nest and fires his crossbow. His shot flies wide and sails into the black sky.

Italapate frowns as he grips the arms of the helm tightly in whitening knuckles. He takes a deep breath and shouts out to those on the deck. "All right, all right! Listen up! Everyone grab onto something and hold on tight! And you know I'm crazy, so I would do it if I were you!"

"'Pate! Periander's unconscious and Raken's praying to heal him! Don't do anything crazy!" Kain cries.

"If we don't do something, it won't matter! Grab him, then grab on!" 'Pate yells back from below decks.

Kain hesitates, looking between the GHOST and the huddled form of Raken over Periander. He groans then runs to Raken's side, grabbing a coil of rope as he does so. Looping the end of the rope around the railing of the STAR, Kain ties a solid knot around it, also making small loops further down the line. "This'll have to do," he mumbles. "Raken, Italapate might be doing something odd. If so, grab a hold of this rope I just tied to the railing. I'll see to Periander," Kain says quietly. He carefully wraps an arm around the wounded man's chest, holding onto one of the hand loops with the other.

Ferric shouts "Hold fast Mr. Pate! We're boarding the Flow an if you do something stupid gods help me but I shall cut out your liver myself."

At Italapate's shout Talus curses the shaman, fearing what he will do now. The young half-elf grabs hold of the rope he was hauling on and quickly ties it off, keeping a firm hold at all times.

At Holland's order, Grigree stops chopping at the lines. His lips pull back, showing his fangs in anticipation, as he hops up on the railing and prepares to jump to the 'Ghost. The smile quickly disappears as Italapate tells everyone to prepare for something rough.

Seguld curses as the STAR suddenly jolts upward and hangs suspended for a moment, his ballista shot is thrown off by the movement and flies high above the GHOST and the is out of sight in the gloom.

Heeding Italapate's warning, Nilaroo wraps one of the omnipresent ropes around his waist, and ties the end to Periander's legs.

Deigatt grabs his axe and prepares to board the GHOST.

Jamila stays at the ballistae with Seguld and starts loading the weapon.

Raken continues to pray.

The STAR suddenly begins a sickening plunge as the deck drops from beneath everyone's feet and the ship falls back towards the planet below.

Round 20:

As the STAR falls towards the planet two of the remaining grappling lines snap, the third, however, holds firm and the star suddenly tilts steeply as the starboard side is caught by the remaining rope. The GHOST tilts as well, as she continues to attempt her climb towards the stars.

Tethered to the GHOST the STAR swings out of control and the two vessels smash together with a sickening thud and screech as several planks on the STAR and GHOST shatter.

On board the GHOST chaos reigns as the crew, remaining orcs and dead bodies slide down the deck and slam into the port railing.

On the STAR:

Billy grabs desperately for the railing and manages to hold on as the ship tilts.

Feeling the flashes of pain as the hull shatters, Italapate curses, "Great spirits, we're all gonna get killed...." as he exerts his will and tries to right the STAR.

Talus curses the shaman and grabs hold of the rope he was hauling on, barely avoiding the slide across the STAR's deck and out into the night sky.

Holland's hands are ripped from the railing by the vicious jolt, and he slides across the deck. His head slams into the port railing and he lies there motionless.

Standing on the railing, Grigree fails to keep his grip and falls off into the black Shipwrecker sky.

Ferric clutches at the railing and holds on tightly.

Seguld topples from his perch and slams his head into the ballista, the falls towards the deck and starts to slide until he's caught by the rope around his waist Jamila tied earlier. Woozy he grasps it and holds on for dear life.

Nilaroo's ropes hold him tight as his huge hands cling to the deck.

Kain feels his shirt suddenly become sodden as Periander's wounds reopen under the shock of the pair being tossed about on the deck. He grits his teeth and clutches the rope fiercely.

Deigatt sinks his axe into the STAR's decking and holds tightly to the haft, arresting his slide across the deck.

Jamila loses her grip on the ballista and falls backward off the forecastle as the STAR tilts; for a moment she slides across the port "eye" of the ship, frantically clawing for a firm hold. Then she falls from the ship and disappears into the darkness below....

His prayer ruined, Raken makes a wild dive for the railing. Holding firmly he shouts out "Italapate you idiot! Are you trying to get us all killed!?!"

Several pirates and orcs bounce off the STAR as they fall towards the planet below, screaming.

Round 21:

Italapate rights the STAR and brings her back level with the GHOST, which has leveled off as well. The dragonfly hovers nearby, a little bit back from the two damaged vessel.

As the crew of the STAR pick themselves up (at least, those who are able), they glance across at the GHOST and see only two pirates remaining on her deck. Both throw there weapons down and call out "We Surrender!" as they wave their arms above their heads.

Date/time: 11:21 pm 2nd day of the 5th Month, 5049 OC