Jammers Summary: Chapter 3, Turn 13

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

Round 1: As the SILENT STAR gets closer to the battle, the damage to both vessels is readily apparent. Besides its missing claw, the scorpion vessel's main deck is littered with bodies and small fires. The catapults on the tail appear to be intact, but the crews are lying lifeless across them. The port "eye" of the scorpion is shattered, and a large hole has been blown on the "back" just above the center of the "head".

Seguld cries out, "'Pate! Need'Elp'Ere!!! NewGuysANo-Show! NowYa' KnowWhyWeDoDrills!" Seguld then spins the ballista towards the scorpion and takes careful aim. With a slow steady squeeze he fires the ballista at the scorpion.

The twin bolts fly true, slamming through one of the humanoids crewing the scorpion's ballista and shattering several deck plates.

Italapate aims his bow and arrow at the scorpion's tail, letting fly two arrows despite the distance. Both disappear into space. Pate says to Seguld, "Why do we do the drills? I have no idea what to do here... I practiced boarding remember?"

Standing ready at the catapult as the STAR closes in on the battle, Talus glances to where Italapate stands at the forward ballista station. The young half-elf comments idly, "In our first ship to ship battle, Italapate went under the hull and blew in the window to the helm. In our second he rolls the ship and throws off a crew member. It is now our third battle and I really wonder what he is going to do. I do know that I will keep my distance."

"Hitalapate," Deigatt calls out. "Help Robert hand Seguld with the ballista huntil Galan harrives. Aim hus down, Ferric," Deigatt yells, "so the ballista can do some good. We don't want to bare hour belly to them. Fire when ready!" Deigatt yells out orders as the SILENT STAR approaches the scorpionship and man-o-war.

Ferric shouts, "Slow us down Holland we need to board after this shot. Steady on those sails."

Leera calls out to the crew, "Let loose will all the arrows you can when you get in range! My archers will do likewise and the more arrows the rest of you fire, the more effective mine will be!"

Holland continues pushing the STAR forward, but curses to himself as the scorpion breaks off from the man-o-war and turns hard to port.

"Break for boarding" Nilaroo orders the catapult crew as he reaches for his bow and arrows. "We won't have a shot with this approach,"

"OK 'Roo. What should we aim for?" Billy asks.

Galan dashes onto deck, struggling to straighten a chainmail hauberk and buckle his swordbelt at the same time, rattling off a string of blistering curses all the while. "Damnable time to be caught in the head, "he mutters as he skids to a halt near the ballista. Avoiding the gaze of those around him, he scans the heavens, taking in the scene.

Raken continues scanning the sky, looking for ships. Seeing none, he begins chanting. "Celestral vines, protect me" he mutters, and his form is covered with vines.

Kain holds his position on the sailfin, waiting to help the STAR maintain her heading. He holds his breath as the ballistae crew takes aim, letting it out as the two bolts fly from the STAR. "Yes, got that scorpion! Good shot Seguld!" Kain shouts.

Grigree helps control the ship as per Ferric's orders.

Robert begins grabs another bolt, and begins the reloading process of winding back the machine.

Round 2:

"GeeGalan, ThanksForShowing!! NowGitYerselfInGear, Load'ErUp!!" shouts Seguld. Seguld's hands deftly pull back on the crank. The muscles within his short arms bulge forth as the first firing line is drawn back.

Talus stands ready by the catapult.

Leera stands silent. Her six warriors in black chain mail wearing helms concealing their faces stand with their bows slack and pointed down, ready to draw the arrow back and fire at a moments notice.

Ferric yells out quick orders, bring the STAR behind the scorpion once again. "Full speed Holland, we need to close!"

Holland grits his teeth, struggling to pull every once of speed possible from the helm.

Kain works on the sailfin, following Ferric's shouted instructions. He glances over his shoulder quickly at the scorpionship before bending back to his task.

Kain and Grigree's quick movements bring the STAR about in a tight turn, even as Holland provides a quick, powerful burst of speed. The STAR pulls close along the scorpionship's starboard side.

Deigatt yells loudly, "Prepare for boarding! Fire at will!"

Nilaroo runs for the side of the aft top deck. He nocks an arrow and fires twice at the handful of figures visible on the scorpion's deck. His arrows slam one after the other into one of the taller figures, a humanoid preparing to raise a crossbow. The creature is staggered by the first shot then flipped head over heels by the second, lying limply on the deck.

Shouldering his way forward, Galan takes his place at the ballista. "I've got it from here," he says to Italapate, "Sorry I'm late."

'Pate lets fly two arrows at the humanoids on the main deck, one strikes the remaining ballista gunner in the arm.

Billy picks up his crossbow and surveys the scorpionship for a likely target. he shot misses, sinking into the ballista's trunk.

Grimly eyeing the scorpion ship, Raken readies for the worst.

Robert picks up his crossbow and with a yell of "Wind guide my aim" and shoots. Robert's bolt slams into the chest of the humanoid 'Pate hit and he drops lifeless to the deck.

Round 3:

Seguld flips the arquebus over his shoulder and draws his new pistols. Mumbling to himself he says, "Can'tBeTooDifferent? Eh?" With a shrug of his shoulders he brings both of the pistols up ready to fire as the ships become intertwined.

'Pate pulls on gloves and leaps from the Star towards the catapult station on the tail of the Scorpion as the STAR comes down onto the same plane as the scorpion for boarding. He misses the tail by a good 6 feet, but manages to catch the ratlines below and thus avoids a fatal fall to the scorpion's deck.

Talus raises his shortbow to fire as the scorpion and STAR close, but the remaining living humanoid on the main deck dives down a ladder well.

"Get alongside her Holland! Get some ropes on that ship and let's board her!" Ferric shouts as he prepares his longbow with an arrow.

As Leera concentrates, the six warriors in black chain mail wearing helms concealing their faces move in unison. They draw back the arrow that waits, nocked, on their bow strings and fire. Half a dozen black arrows slice through the air, arcing high before disappearing among the stars.

Holland eases the ship up then matches speed with the scorpion. The SILENT STAR pulls alongside the heftier vessel, portside of the STAR to the scorpion's starboard side. The maindecks nestle next to each other as the scorpion's legs rub against the underside of the STAR's hull.

Nilaroo slings his bow and jumps across, his massive two-handed sword at the ready.

Galan moves down to the main deck, then draws his blade and crouches low behind the ship's railing, bracing himself against the impact. After a long look at the scorpion's deck, he leaps the railing and charges forward.

Billy reloads his crossbow and looks for a target.

Raken draws his blade and watches the scorpion ship.

Kain sees that he's needed to help with the grapples. Grabbing a rope and grappling hook, Kain gives the hook a few twirls before releasing it toward the scorpionship.

Deigatt calls "Boarders away!".

Grigree drops the ropes he's working and runs towards the enemy ship. He draws a sword as he jumps across.

Robert reloads his crossbow and watches the scorpion.

The main deck of the scorpion is quiet, no one appears to be alive though the bodies of greenish scro clad in black, studded leather armor cover the deck. Those on the scorpion can hear some talking from the two ladder wells leading below.

Date/time: 11:08 am 7th day of the 6th Month, 5049 OC