[Game Thread] The Tale of the Seabear

[Doderic]

"Heavily armed? Is that some kind of joke? Really now, elf, that poor fellow's arm is in trouble and you're cracking jokes about it? Tsk tsk tsk. Now what exactly is your plan? If we don't have any light, we'll just be fumbling around in the dark uselessly. Chances are we'll just grope around blindly and the assas-" Ahem. "Whatever it is down there will do to our arms what it did to that sod's. Now I don't know about you lot, but I like my arms just how they are and screaming like that would be sure to make my throat sore, so why don't we just stay here until the eclipse ends?"

[Colatine]

"Tap, Tap, tap," the noise continues from the mast. The sudden sting of a whip lash into many above deck. The screams of pain endured on below deck. A soft chanting in a a gutteral tongue could be heard near the forecastle.

[AlwaysCivilMike]

"Well, I am NOT going down no matter what anyone says. Not until there is some light anyways. I would only get in the way of you all. I will wait here and watch the deck to make sure it is safe." Nobody could see him smile but smile he did none the less. "Now go see if you .......TAP....can figure.....TAP TAP..... what the DEVIL is that sound?" He turned his head in the direction of the sound but could not see a thing. With one finger he touched his palm as he drew upon his gift to create a small light to see by. "Blast it! Not even light from a spell will work thru this darkness. This is indeed some sort of trickery and I don't like it!" It was then that he heard the chanting in a guttural voice. That....made goosebumps run down his back. "Oh....oh....that is not good. Can any of you tell which direction the chanting is coming from? I don't speak whatever language it is but that sounds a lot like a ritual or a spell. Ohhhhhhhhh...I have a bad feeling about this. El...do something about it! Go check and see what that tap tap tap is first before you go gallivanting off down below."

[Embrodak]

"If I could fraking see." the normally patient elf curses.

El releases a large sigh and calmly says "Forecastle it is then." after Arti suggesting taking care of the chanting first. The elf calms himself down, remembering the late night hunts he would go on, and the patience he would need to succeed in the hunt. The elf breaths again and recalls the layout of the ship. Recalls what direction he faced and what steps he would need to go to the forecastle. He sticks his head out feeling the salty breeze flow through his hair.

The ranger then steps forward using the breeze to himself steady and moving in a straight line towards the forecastle. Being so attuned with nature he could sense the wind itself and concentrated on keeping it blowing in the same direction on his skin so he would maintain a straight line. His keen elvish sense of hearing could hear when one of the lumbering seamen would walk in his path and he would wait patiently for them to pass or give a low warning call for them to step back.

As he get's closer to his destination he slowly draws his blade, slow enough so the metallic ching of it exiting the sheath would not come due to his care.

 

Knowledge Nature

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+10:	(11) + 10	Total = 21

Perception

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+8:	(7) + 8	Total = 15

[Colatine]

Hama made his way down the steps, the continuous screams of agony being his guide. The stench of feces assailed the druid as he entered the hold; the scream now accompanied by a chorus of chittering as small forms bumped into his leg. He followed the scream towards one of the cannons.

"My arm, I blew off my arm.."

-------------------
Sleeshi, after whipping a few of his shipmates for good measure, also proceeded to the stairs. As he started to go down, he felt numerous bodies rush over him, some nibbling on his feet, others on his thigh and one even on his neck. [2 pts damage, initiative and action please]
-------------------
"What the..."

"Oww.."

Somethin bit me arse..."

Numerous curses and yelps of pain broke out among the crew.

Jim felt something climb up his pant leg. The chanting continued.
-----------------
Among all the screaming and chaos, Arti tried to listen to the chanting. Could it be? The chanting was coming from both the stern and the forecastle?
-----------------
El slowly made his way towards the forecastle. He trusted his "other" senses and this held him in good sense. He was only slightly surprised when he stepped on something slick and squishy as he noticed the tangy odor of fresh blood in the air. Something sharp whistled past his ear. [Initiative and action please]

[Doderic]

"Oh gods! Get it off me, get it off me!" Clap! Thud!

[milkshake]

Sleeshi, not a large elf, can't afford to let himself be damaged by the inexplicably bloodthirsty creatures in the dark. But he also won't let whoever is trapped down in the cannonholds be killed.

Following the voice, and noting from the sound that someone else is coming too, Sleeshi moves with great speed toward the injured man as best he can. He intends to help the man make it above deck, to where he won't be devoured.

Sleeshi spins his whip around him as he moves, trying desperately to prevent any more creatures from latching on to him.

[Embrodak]

The lanky elf ducks down low, making himself a smaller target for whomever was shooting... Arrows? With his blade drawn he moves forward trying to sense whom could be firing upon him.

[GrimDarkOtter]

Stumbling down the ladder into the darkness, Elder Hama calls out "It's alright! I am coming over!" as he tries to follow the cries of pain to their source. Reaching to his belt, he grabs his sickle and tries to will it into luminescence against the encroaching darkness. "Where are you?" he says, trying again to locate the injured man.

[AlwaysCivilMike]

With his back hunkered up against the side of the ship he sat and waited. He crossed his arm to show his disapproval with the whole affair. "Why did I have to pick THIS ship to jump on? I must be going mad." Though his temper was running hot, he could not help but think that the sounds he was hearing was some sort of chanting or singing. He called outloud "What the devil is that sound? Who in blazes is singing at a time like this. You do realize that whoever you are.....you can't sing worth a lick."

[Colatine]

The Flayed Man

El moved in the dark toward the mast, crouching. The sweet smell of fresh blood assailed him as he crouched down; he was kneeling in a large puddle of blood. He heard a crackling sound this time, like that of a whip, and instinctively dodged the attack, and felt something whistle past his cheek, missing by a hairs breadth. He could tell that the attack came from the direction of the mast itself.

The chant became louder to Artimis, echoing even in the corners of his mind, threatening to drive him insane. He covered his ears, yet it did not help. And just as suddenly, utter silence reigned.

The crew continued to scream and curse, as the rats seemed to run amok, biting and nibbling. Jim grabs a furry little beast by its head as it bites down, and starts chewing on his finger. [2 pts damage]

And then just, as suddenly, the screams stop.

Jim feels the rat go limp.
------------------------------
Below deck, Hama, followed by Sleeshi, made their way toward the noise. The screams and sobbing was loud enough that he was able to reach the injured man. He reached out in the darkness, groping, and grabbed a bloody stump.

Sleeshi adjusted well to the blindness of the utter dark, maneuvering deftly through the hold. His senses were keen, and he felt the presence of something dark, malevolent; old and elemental.


As if a curtain had been with drawn, the darkness disappears. Those onboard the Seabear are greeted by ominous cloud covered skies and calm waters. However, few if any, pay attention to the weather, or even the more revolting situation of being surrounded by hundreds of dead rats; they stand mouths agape, staring at the main mast:

El can finally see what he is standing in; he is half crouched in the viscera of a flayed half orc, lying prostate, face down, in front of the mast. Whip lashes crisscross the back of the dead humanoid, though no other wounds are apparent on first glance.

Captain Cray stares at the Mast then at the body of the half orc and back, horrified. He frantically scans the deck, looking for someone. ”Find that whip wielding elf and Maneau; now he orders.

Jim felt a hand on his shoulder, turning, he realized that it was the red headed woman.
“What in Desna’s name…

Artimis see the Gnome, who is standing between them, smile for a second. The smile vanishes just as quickly, as he glances at the two of them and scowls.

Below deck, light flits in through the side scuttle, revealing what has already been conjectured by Hama; Sergeant James Riggs has most of his right arm blown off. Splattered across the room are remainders of what must have happened; finger bits, blood, gore, and iron filings.

Sleeshi is horrified as well, as he takes in the wounded man. He also notices dozens of rat carcasses scattered about, as if a wave. The elf’s keen sight notices an oddity; it looks as if the rats had cascaded out in a circular wave, centered within the hold.

Just then, Emil, the man from the Guild of Chains, and his body guards emerged from the cabin. Emil looked at Sleeshi and then he caught sight of the wounded man and Hama. ”How can I help? he asked.

[Colatine]

EXP 200 Each. Please provide me with nominations and feedback.

[AlwaysCivilMike]

With the light returning Art quickly covered his eyes and said to nobody in particular "Ouch, now I know how a deep tunnel dwarf feels when stepping out into daylight." He squinted for a few moments and let his eyes adjust. He blinked his eyes...and then did it a few more times. Surely he was seeing things. There on the deck...was an item straight out of a story told to children to make them behave. For a moment the appearance of the damn gnome drew his attention but he dismissed that as a problem to deal with letter. For now he wanted to get a look at this new mast. Standing up he quickly moved over to where El was never taking his eyes off the sort of totem pole thingy. "Just so you know, you are standing in blood. Don't get it on your clothes as it is impossible to get out." He said this as if telling someone how to peel a potato. Glancing around at the others there he said questioningly "I may be getting older but I am not too old to forget something like this. Where in the devil did it come from and who put it there?"

 

Knowledge arcana just in case that will work. I have no ranks in history or religion so that is out of the question.

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+7:	(5) + 7	Total = 12

[Doderic]

For once in his life, Jim is speechless. Of course that doesn't last long, but what does, really? Putting an arm around the redhead's petite shoulders, Jim says in his calm, soothing voice, "Come on, let's get below deck and away from all of this, Desna knows this is know place for a lady." Stepping carefully, Jim brushes rats out of the way with his foot, ignoring the throbbing pain in his hand for the moment as he helps Mina towards the nearest stairwell.

 

Diplomacy check on Mina: 21.

[GrimDarkOtter]

Hama yells with fright as he realizes what he grabbed hold of in the darkness. Falling back on his rear he gulps in air in horror at the scene. Frantically calming himself, he yelps again when Emil and his comrades barge in. Carefully keeping his hands in front of him, he hesitantly says "Ummm bandages, cloth, anything to soak this up. I'll need a bunk. Somewhere to move him. Um...hold on..." His face screwed up in effort and disgust, Hama once again takes hold of Sergeant Riggs' stump, chanting a prayer in the Old Tongue as he tries to breathe easier.

OOC Hama is casting Stabilize on Sergeant Riggs.