[Game Thread] --> Chapter 1: Into the Storm <--

[Fil kearney]

Brunner snaps the orb free from the sacrifice -- releasing the lightning pulse stored within.
The storm around flares to life, channeling its fury into a ripping streak of power surging to connect and pulse with the released brilliance from the orb's unraveling spell!

Mindfire surged as the Captain cracked his whip-- snapping between the conduit of storm and sacrifice in an explosion of plasma just as the bubble drops from Aribel's spell.
The rider could feel the pulse of the spell surge out through the storm, lifting Princess up and away from the tsunami of rippling energy
intercepting Marius on the ascent, the two look back at the silent bubble of tranquility that prevented their companions from being destroyed and Marius gave a sagely nod.

Above, The Breeze tilted as the starboard Scorpion began ascending away from the storm, The ship's spirit not able to overcome the strength of the marguul warships, despite Meera's best coaxing. the port vessel lagged under and behind, still gripping the hull of The Breeze but not attaining similar altitude--
Inside the engineering room, the two grappling aperators stepped back away from the tiny gnome for a moment before drawing swords and flailing clumsily at the nimble warrior, unable to connect.
The door from head of the vessel opens as the Commander steps out, dropping a smoking concoction on the floor of the veseel as he draws his sword, noxious vapors begin to fill the small chamber, thratening to engulf both the gnome and three hobgoblins inside the small space.

above deck the remaining crew spills on deck in a second rush as the hobgoblins climb and spill onto the deck from the lingering and towing scorpions-- below Marius and Aribel see the ships pulling away from them slowly as it tugs at it's prey.
Rhoma's spell slows the shman down for a moment as he focuses his attention, batting at the air like he's shooing a bird from his meal as he observes the storm's reaction below.

 

OOC
Nice, folks. no damage due to the silence cancelling the disrupted ritual explosion at point blank range.
The Breeze has risen 80' during the tow
elevations:
rhoma: on deck
Draegel: interior of port scorpion but tilt has hm 30 feet below deck
marius and aribel both 230 feet below deck
sacrifice, ward, brunner: 430 feet below deck

[spikehed]

”I offered you the chance to leave. Your blood is on your own hands.” Daegrel spoke calmly, only briefly glancing at the reappearance of the captain and his smoke grenade. As a gnome, Daegrel realized that any sort of toxin could be present in the canister, but he also knew that it would take some time to contaminate all of the air in the compartment. That just means I can no longer afford to give them options.

The tiny gnome shifted his stance once more to a more aggressive tactic. He moved with a burst of speed, leaping head-long toward the engineers, tucking and rolling between them to leave him within striking distance of the mechanical grappling device.

With an open palm and his eyes closed, Daegrel drew in a crisp and controlled breath. Holding it in, he channeled his focus to the open palm which began to vibrate with his destructive intent. Releasing the breath in a violent exhale, he pushed his palm forward to connect with the forged steel of the hobgoblin machine.

 

Actions Swift Action: Activate Giant Killing Style (stance) Move Action: Move to grapple machine Dice Tumble: 1d20+14 (20)+14 Total = 34 Standard Action: Dice Mountain Hammer Strike (Target: Grapple Machine): 1d20+17 (2)+17 Total = 19 Dice Damage: 3d6+13 (3, 6, 5)+13 Total = 27 Automatically overcomes Damage Reduction and Hardness.

 

Daegrel HP:84/84 AC:33, Touch:27, Flat:23 Fort:7, Ref:8, Will:11 Str:10 - Dex:14 - Con:14 - Int:14 - Wis:19 - Cha:10 Active Enhancements: - Giant Killing Style (Stance), +4 damage and +2 to hit against larger opponents - Bless, +1 morale to hit and saves vs. fear, 6 mins remaining Active Penalties: - None. Used Abilities/Items: - Mountain Hammer Strike

[Sir Alex]

"Let's book it, Princess," the paladin shouted. She whooped as they rode the exploding nucleus straight upwards, then cuffed her mount with a joyful fist. Her hat whistled in the onrush of air. In times like these, so close to death, Aribel always felt the most alive. Her heart was full of love for her old companion. "My bird, you're a hawk outta legend. You're a goddam dragon-stomping hero! Now, let's finish what we started. Ay!"

Upwards. Ever upwards. She gave no thought now to her friends below, having seen they were safe against the storm. In a span of heartbeats the rider and mount had closed nearly half the gap to the ships that loomed overhead, and Aribel winced as Princess favored her left wing. This next part could get rough. Might as well get patched up for it. She asked the good gods for Casting cure serious wounds on herself, and it also affects Prince via the Share Spells mount feature.healing...and they answered.

 

Princess: Quadruple move up, toward the gap between the Shaman's ship and the Breeze. Upward movement is at 1/2 normal speed, so that's 160ft straight up.

Aribel: Casts Cure Serious Wounds to heal herself and mount for...

Dice Cure Serious:

3d8+6

(5, 4, 6)+6

Total = 21

 

Aribel HP:78/78 AC:23+6, Touch:11+6, Flat:22+6 (effective AC is 29 this round) Fort:12, Ref:14, Will:11 Str:16 - Dex:12 - Con:13 - Int:12 - Wis:16 - Cha:22 Active Enhancements: - Shield of Faith, +3 deflection to AC, 6 mins remaining - Entropic shield, 20% miss chance for incoming missiles, 6 mins remaining - Bless, +1 morale to hit and saves vs. fear, 6 mins remaining - Protection Devotion, +3 sacred to AC, 2 rounds remaining - Knowledge Devotion, +3 insight to hit/damage vs. hobgoblins, until end of encounter Active Penalties: None. Used Abilities/Items: - LOH, 21/36 remaining - Protection Devotion used x1 - Spells Remaining: 0:4/4 1:2/4 2:2/4 3:3/3

Princess HP:83/117 AC:23+4, Touch:11+4, Flat:21+4 (effective AC is 27 this round, with buffs minus running(?) penalty) Fort:9, Ref:8, Will:8 Str:19 - Dex:15 - Con:16 - Int:6 - Wis:13 - Cha:8 Active Enhancements: - Shield of Faith, +3 deflection to AC, 6 mins remaining - Entropic shield, 20% miss chance for incoming missiles, 6 mins remaining - Bless, +1 morale to hit and saves vs. fear, 6 mins remaining - Protection Devotion, +3 sacred to AC, 2 rounds remaining Active Penalties: - Deafened - Running (no dex bonus? not sure...) Flight Speed: 80(good), with [298]lbs currently carried. (Max Light Load: 350lbs)

[Admin Dirk]

"Damnation", Rhoma cursed under her breath. "May seven devils take his codpiece," she whispered, frustrated at the other captain's luck. Everything she had tried against him had failed, and she was at the end of her patience. Angered, she turned her focus back to the fore of the ship, and saw the boarders pouring across the deck.

"Ugh. I hate uninvited guests." She moved up the starboard rail, behind the marine on the right side of the mass combat.towards the mass of men on the starboard side, moving up behind one of the Breeze's marines. With a thought, the witch focused her hex powers on the closest thug, and willed him to instant slumber. She used her withered hand to point at him, the gnarled and skeletal fingers of her hand crooked and curled, merely for effect. She knew that sometimes the appearance of the deformity did as much to sap their will as her powers, and at this juncture of the attack, Rhoma wanted something to be successful.

"Go under," she muttered forcefully, and dc 15 will save or sleep, instantly.sent her will to slam into the hobgoblin's, attempting to overpower him and send him to the deck.

[Battlechaser]

"Nice one, cap!" Brunner extended his hand, grabbed the slave and pulled her towards Ward. "Let's get back to the Breeze." Laying a hand on Ward's shoulder, the monk merely willed them on the deck.

 

swift: grab girl
Move: towards Ward
Standard! Dimension door us three to the deck of the ship ( back portion, away from the invaders)

[Grenadier]

They had weathered both the spell storm and the dark magic without incident, although Ward was not sure whether it was by the grace of the gods or with the devil's own luck that they had done so. The captain did not have time to think about the matter before Brunner offered to carry him back to the ship. Ward was gracious for the offer, as it would have taken him a great deal of time to travel back himself.

Instead, he found himself on the deck of The Dancing Breeze in an instant. It was not a pretty sight, the ship being overrun with hobgoblins as it was. ”What this now? Do ye intend to let them have the ship?!” he shouted, ”I thought you fellows would have routed these mongrel by now.”

”Let me show you how it's done!” the captain yelled cast his gaze across the throng of hobgoblins rushing onto his deck. Without further word or gesture, he willed a bolt of fire into existence, and it reached for one hapless soul amongst the hobgoblin mob.

 

30/43 PP
Free: End Fire Walk
Move: Focus
Standard: Fire Bolt. Targeting outside combat, but I'm not sure where we will wind up on the ship so no particular target.

Dice Concentration to Focus:

1d20+9

(11)+9

Total = 20

Dice Fire Bolt Attack:

1d20+8

(16)+8

Total = 24

Dice Fire Bolt Damage:

6d6

4, 4, 4, 1, 1, 1

Total = 15

[Eviltedzies]

With the slave rescured and the ritual undone, Marius felt a tinge of confidence that perhaps events might work out well in the end after all. Casting his gaze skyward, Marius was reminded that their troubles were far from over. "I need to return quickly, my comrades will have need of my enhancements." Willing himself higher and higher, Marius soared upwards as he made his way back to the deck of the Breeze.

 

Actions Moving upwards to get back on the ship. I believe I can move triple speed if I go in a straight line. So at 30ft fly speed (Half of 60 for ascending) times three, Marius should be able to cover 90ft on his first round of ascent. Off the top of my head I forgot how far down Marius was. It will probably take him two rounds to get back to the Breeze.

[Fil kearney]

As Brunner winks away with Ward and the bound girl, Aribel and Marius can feel ripples of the spent spell burst pushing against them. The thunder has already subsided, as though the captain had dispelled the entire thunderhead. Turning their attention upward, the two begin the steep climb back to The Breeze.
Inside the port scorpion, the sound of peeling steel caused hair to stand on end as the grappling mechanism begins to fault.
The noxious fumes of the shatterd decander fill the chamber with off-red mist that sting Draegel's eyes and pulls at the gnome's guts, attempting to coax him into wretching.
The commander bugbear seems to not mind at all, although the two engineers begin coughing and back off, heading up the porthole behind the commander into clear air.
Brandishing his longsword, he steps between Daergel and the retreating soldiers as he loosely brandishes the blade in a skillful flare, "Yer breakin' me boat, little man"
the blade slashes down at an angle in an effort to back the assassin off the shredding machinery, but instead sends sparks along the jagged edge of torn gears-- the thickening smoke billowing in the chamber was fogging up any clear vision of combat, and the massive warrior's aim trails off-target
Topside, the remaining hobgoblins have stormed across the brink onto the tradesman ship, pushing against the repelling sailors aboard. Rhoma's spell ensnares one of the invaders, causing him to drop mid-swing to the deck unconscious.
Ballista fires across the crowd, chewing into the rigging and sails.
The shaman on the other ship barks arcane syllables, whipping a small gale along the gunner crew on The Breeze-- knocking their targeting off-site while his scorpion continues to drag The Breeze topside while the port scorpion lingers behind, pulling down on the ship's hull at an unnatural angle-- one of the claws dangling between ships ineffectively.
Meera let out a surprised curse when Brunner, Ward and the girl materialized next to her on the aft castle, "Dammit, man! we're having a hard enough time fighting these dogs off our boat without you givin' me a heart attack!" with a snarl, she reports to the captain, "I can't shake em off. their claws are too deep into our flanks and their ballista are shredding our steering...."

 

OOC:
--The Breeze is down to 31 out of 65 damage, and has been dragged another 80' upward during the grapple
--Draegel needs a fort save vs DC17 or be nauseated, and there is a 25% miss chance assigned to any attack rolls inside the room.
--sleep spell successfully dropped on hobgoblin
--blood and pain as the deadpool grows.

[Sir Alex]

Aribel and Princess kept climbing. The Breeze was receding under the combined tow of its two attackers, but the paladin was gaining on them. To Aribel, it still felt too slow. Antlike forms swarmed at the edges of every boat and the tinny, desperate screams of combat reached her ears even now. Growling, she closed her eyes. A prayer formed on her lips.

She opened her eyes again and they were sparkling. An energy was pent up inside, waiting for release.

Pointing her massive sword, Aribel called out to her personal storm. A bolt cracked through the air from over her shoulder, licking toward the ships overhead. It struck an enemy that had come into view at the edge of a rail. Flesh sizzled and Aribel laughed like a wolf.

 

Quick post today. Need to go to work in a few mins.

 

Princess: Up 160ft

Aribel: Casting Call Lightning, and targeting whatever enemy she can see. It looks like a few are standing at the edge rail of ships, but she'll target one who is on the Breeze if possible. Also, I'm not sure if the Spellstorm nearby counts as "stormy weather" but I'll roll damage for both. Too busy to put in Status and Effects spoiler but will get it up later.

Dice Damage if not stormy:

3d6

3, 5, 4

Total = 12

Dice Damage if stormy:

3d10

3, 5, 4

Total = 12

Edit: Well...lol. Ok then.

[spikehed]

 

Dice Fortitude:

1d20+11

(15)+11

Total = 26

"You were given the chance to leave with your life and ship intact. Now you will lose both." The gnome didn't seem affected by the toxic smoke that billowed from the broken flask. He is desperate, losing the advantage of numbers and closing before he knew if the smoke had affected me. A mistake he will pay for.

Daegrel called up the flame that seethed inside his chest, feeling the burning sensation in his fists. With blinding fury, he leveled a barrage of attacks against the captain. They seemed to come from every angle as his feet and hands were a blur.

Actions   Dice Attack 1: 1d20+11 (9)+11 Total = 20 1d100 51 2d6+5 (3, 5)+5 Total = 13 Dice Attack 2: 1d20+11 (17)+11 Total = 28 1d100 66 2d6+5 (2, 4)+5 Total = 11 Dice Flurry of Blows: 1d20+11 (9)+11 Total = 20 1d100 1 2d6+5 (3, 2)+5 Total = 10 Dice Snap Kick: 1d20+11 (13)+11 Total = 24 1d100 58 2d6+5 (5, 3)+5 Total = 13 --Each Attack should be +3 and Damage +4 from buffs--   If Evil, each attack does +1d6 Dice Possible Extra Dice: 4d6 6, 3, 6, 3 Total = 18 Any successful strike requires Fort 16 vs Touch of Golden Ice (1d6 / 2d6 dex) Dice Possible Dex Damage: 4d6 5, 2, 2, 2 Total = 11

 

Daegrel HP:98/98 AC:29, Touch:23, Flat:27 Fort:7, Ref:8, Will:11 Str:10 - Dex:14 - Con:14 - Int:14 - Wis:19 - Cha:10 Active Enhancements: - Giant Killing Style (Stance), +4 damage and +2 to hit against larger opponents - Bless, +1 morale to hit and saves vs. fear, 5 mins remaining Active Penalties: - None. Used Abilities/Items: - Mountain Hammer Strike

[Battlechaser]

"Keep 'em busy." Having recovered from the interdimensional travel Brunner's gaze locked upon the bloody annoying bastard of a shaman. Gathering power his right hand glowed bright yellow and a ray sped forward towards the enemy spellcaster.

 

eldritch spear, spirit blast at shaman

Dice Ranged touch attack:

1d20+10

(17)+10

Total = 27

Dice Damage:

4d6

4, 5, 2, 4

Total = 15

[Eviltedzies]

Marius felt almost powerless as he watched the breeze move ever further away. "Please be ok. I'm coming as fast as I can." Marius knew his comrades could hold their own, but some of the other members of the crew were not as versed in combat as them. "I need to get back so I can treat the wounded." Willing himself upwards, Marius continued his ascent.

 

Marius' Actions Continuing the long treck to try and catch up with the Breeze.

[Grenadier]

”Aye,” Ward replied dryly to his distant granddaughter, ”It's a hell of a mess.” He looked over at the woman and could not help considering that she would make a fine captain herself. She should, considering the his blood flowed somewhere deep in her veins. ”And I'll see to it that these miserable wretches pay with their lives.”

The captain said nothing more took in a deep breath. He began to withdraw from the world around him, from the calamity occurring all around the ship. In a single breath, the wild-eyed captain had completely withdrawn into his mind, releasing his physical form. The coat and the hat remained, but all other aspects of man had faded. Ghostly faint skeletal hands extended from beyond the sleeves of the coat, one of them grasping at Ward's fiery lash.

Ward flew into the air as silent as a wraith except for the flapping of his coat in the wind, and he threw back his head to reveal the skeleton grin and the hollow eyes of a skull. He cackled with delight as he cracked his lash. ”Petulant fools,” he proclaimed, ”You shall rue the day that you crossed Thornton Ward!” His voice was ragged like an unsteady road of flame, but somewhere in its twisted and ethereal tone there was a semblance of the man's voice.

 

30/43 PP
Standard: Uncarnate
Move: Fly 30 forward. One diagonal move 5 ft up on forward, plus the height of the staircase off the main deck. Presumably about 10 feet up.

[Admin Dirk]

Rhoma bumped the marine to her front, and indicated the hobgoblin that had fallen to the deck, asleep. "Kill him," she said, and then stepped forward another step, and focused again on the next hobgoblin threatening her ship. "Quickly."

She didn't watch to see if the marine did her bidding, simply assumed he would. He'd better, she thought, or he'll be off the sides at the end of the battle himself.

Once more, she raised her withered arm, and let her hand slip out from under the heavy, dark robe, and pointed a finger at the next goblin.

"You are next," she muttered loud enough to be heard, and at the same time, she began a low, throaty sound, like a humming or trilling noise, that rose and fell slightly. Somewhere in the back of her throat, the cackle formed, and she sent it forth to reinforce her earlier hex, and keep the gobbo on the ground deep in slumber. The witch slammed her will into the hob, overtaking his first shields with ease, and then pounding against him as he struggled to fight back against her own will.

 

Okay, Rhoma's going to do this until something else comes along.

Move action: Cackle. Not sure if it technically keeps the guy asleep, or keeps a save vs will to wake up, or perhaps it does nothing with slumber. However, it can't hurt to cackle, so... she cackles.

Std action: Cast Slumber hex on next goblin in line. DC 15 will save or slumber.

Free action: 5 foot step forward, if safe enough to do so.

[Fil kearney]

As ward ghosts across the void towards the shaman, Brunner's divine blast peals across the shaman, disrupting his concentration against the ballista's of The Breeze.
Howling in pain, the caster drops from view inside the grappling scorpion as the foreward ballista crew fire a bolt straight through Thornton's phantom form-- the unmistakable miss drains the courage from the crew's whitening face as the back away from his advance.

Simultaneously, Rhoma and her impromptu-assigned henchman work their way forward. sliding his cutlass into the throat of the sleeping hob resolves the risk of him rising again as Rhoma weaves another enchantment on the next boarder. His eyes droop wearily as his heavy brow lifts fearfully, slumping down alongside his slaughtered comrade
The starboard scorpion's ship continues to drag the tradesmen as the remaining marines clamor across the hulls to join the fray leaving the metal beasts behind when Aribel's summoned lightning bolt sizzles forth from the receding storm below, jolting one of them free from the precarious perch, flopping uncontrollably as he falls towards Marius below, a trail of blackened smoke linger along his arc of descent.

the port ship's ballista tears into the rigging of The Breeze again unfettered as the grappling engineers take to the deck, barking at their companions.

below, Daergel lays a flurry of blows into the large commander -- solid strikes that rocks him on his heels as he bleats in surprise, sidestepping through the aft bulk head into the belly of the ship while the smoke thickens in density, sticking to the nibmel gnome like a dense fog, weighing on him as he considers his options

 

OOC
--map updated
--Daergel fort save vs DC 17 or be slowed. miss chance increases to 50%, and unless you pursue the commander through the closing door, you will not be granted AoO against his movement, though you will likely trigger your own exposure by walkng blindly through the ship.
--The Breeze takes another 4 damage: 27 of 65 remain
--rhoma is doing good work. her guy is keeping pace with her efforts, though she can tell he's green to this sort of thing and his hands are shaking
--Marius can just avoid the falling hob if he wants, or go out of his way to intercept him... they can intercept next round if desired.
--ward can tell he's freaking these guys out. you can make some skill checks if you want to exploit it.