IC Area - Chapter Four and a Half - "High Seas Peril!"

[apn]

OOC Welcome to High Seas Peril houndle (Will Darness, Warrior of 2nd level and with fabulous hair) and nialldubh (Klarrrrchur Deathaxe, 6th level warrior and the poster child of Dwarven violence against illkin).

Udhaav and Akki (and Meggins) saw the grey/blue skinned arm feel about.

It would find the stacked stuff on the other side of the door and be able to get in! Their weapons probably wouldn't stop it and their brains would be eaten by... oh.

The arm withdrew, they heard a hiss and thudding of footsteps.

"Oh no..." whispered Meggins. "More of them? MORE?" he cried, eyes wide with fear. "We're doomed!" he said, voice breaking.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud...

=========

The sailors had led the Delvers down the corridor passing several doors on the way.

Somewhere in the ship distant screaming could be heard. With a paralysed sailor and what amounted to four hapless/hopeless citizens carrying him between them the Delvers were at a disadvantage.

If attacked from the front Will and Klarrrrchur could probably handle two, maybe three of the Ghouls.

If attacked from the rear all would be pandemonium, and splitting the delvers one to the front, one to the rear would see them gangpiled and the whole situation turn into a gore splattered mess as they went down fighting amidst all the screaming and panicking of the sailors.

Quietly does it then. Into the hold, regroup, see what is in there and how to use it as a staging post then move from room to room in the ship clearing it out and claiming the 'Sea Fox' as their own.

Simple!

Yeah... the Captain, supposedly worse than anything they'd encountered so far, was still out there.

"Just along 'ere." whispered Trevis, pointing down the steps and the group moved to the lower, lower deck.

"Not that way. Not much down there." he said. "This way" he added pointing aft along a narrow corridor.

With the corridor narrow enough only to admit two moving past each other shuffling sideways this might not go well if any Ghouls turned up...

=========

Inside the hold there was ... what was that?

Light flickering against the wall in the corridor that the trio could see through the hole in the door.

Someone coming. Someones coming, as it sounded like quite a few...

Meggins muttered. "This is it! Always thought I'd end me days as a contented fat old bloke wi' gandkids on me knee sat in me rockin' chair an'..."

"Ayup Meggins." said Trevis, a sailor of Meggins' acquaintance who popped his face in the hole of the doorway to peer in whilst holding a weak burning lantern.

"Trevis! You! Why, how did you... wait a minute. Are you one of THEM?" asked Meggins.

Trevis scowled, rolling his eyes. "They ain't big on conversation mate. Let us in. We got injured an' there's two lads 'ere who can smash th' door in no bother but it would leave us a problem if more Ghouls turned up."

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe peered through the hole in the door. Another sailor, a REALLY tall slim elf and a tinker/traveller type were stood amidst lost of boxes, barrels, crates, piles and mounds of supplies. Wooden steps led up to a grilled trapdoor in the roof which came out on deck. It looked sturdy enough - if it way locked. Otherwise those Ghouls could drop in from above.

Will peered over Klarrrrchurs head and saw the same. A human tinker type, a tall Elf and a sailor. No ghouls thankfully. Yet.

[houndle]

Will Darness
Will gazes over his new companions. His head is still spinning from the recent combat.

"Um. Tinker, sailor, elf and... several more sailors, one of whom would make a good surfboard," he mutters. "I'm Will. Me and Klarrrrchur just arrived, never mind from where. We need to get this ship under control and the ghouls sent back to where they came from, if not someplace several degrees worse. You two look useful," indicating Udhaav and Akki, "what do you know about the state of affairs?"

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

Wondering if his youthful comrade was still suffering from delirium, “use another as a what, ah never-mind, agh, onwards!”

The Dwarf stares at wonder at the giant Elf, over seven feet tall, if not pushing eight. He presumed the Elf was a prisoner, for no true sane Elf would be on a ship bond for Khazan.

“Lerotra’hh's smooth arse... this is a motley crew indeed!”

“As my trusted comrade states, I am Klarrrrchur Deathaxe and he is Will Darness. We have business with the Sonan Ie delegation, but that is for later!”

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf...Wait to be let into hold, guard the rear. Get the crewmen inside 'old.

Edit: Slight whisper to Will, "when you need to see if another is what they truly are, you could use the Pendant of Truesight!"

[mosker]

Udhaav--

"Bort here says everyone's infected with something, the food water, cursing them. Makes sense to me. And then there's that--" I point to the small box covered with tar. "Whatever's inside is evil, real evil. It had air holes like something was trying to breathe. Or maybe it was a censer. Regardless, hopefully it can stew in its own poison.

"I'm a match for--very little--but I still got a few spells and some[OOC: See note below] wits, if not much nerve left..."

OOC: The GM's text, our conversation made everything obvious, but I fumbled the IQ roll, so I refrained from making the connection between box and sailors' affliction in the dialogue.

[houndle]

Will Darness
Will begins the difficult job of fishing the Pendant of Truesight out of his armour. It feels cold and dead in his hand.

 "I think it's broken," he whispers to Klarrrrchur leaving the others to speculate what he's been groping for.

OOC nialldubh it's powered by WIZ and Will is temporarily tapped out.

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“Didnae concern yerself Will, it will grow back, ah that's only spiders and stuff. Naw tough luck, yer oot of Luck, Will the Unlucky!”

The Dwarf look at the partly burned man, with his awkward gait, “can you think of any way to destroy it, perhaps it needs the airholes to radiate it necropolic magic. Now if we sink it in a barrel of tar. Do you think that would help?!”

“The more power the better Wizard,” grunts Klarrrrchur.

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... Guards the broken door.

[gringnr]

Akki the Jagged

"We're glad of the help. Allow me. I am Akki, called Akki the Jagged by some", he says, motioning with his terbutje. "This is Udhaav, a wizard with whom I've recently become acquainted. The famer-turned-sailor is one of the crew of this seemingly cursed vessel. Come, let's do what we can to give ourselves some advantage."

ACTIONS

1. Let the newcomers in and aid them in securing the hold/making it defensible.

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

Once without a doubt, secured in the 'old, Klarrrrchur prepares himself.

“Greetings Akki the Jagged,” grunts the Dwarf with a slight bow, “I of the Deathaxe clan of Khavad and once in the serves of Lerotra’hh of Khazan, before I was washed ashore only a few weeks ago in the Jungles of the Dragon Claw!”

He nods to Üdhaav in acknowledgement of the introduction.

“If we can remove this infestation, we can take control of the ship and attempt to join with the fleet. But if I right, two if the other ships assign to guard the Sonan Ie vessels are also cursed!”

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... He starts search he magical sack and pulls out his shield and offers it to Akki if he wants it?

He also offers his other dagger (steel) to Üdhaav.

[apn]

OOC Before I drop you in the deep end and see how you fight as a group can we just track who has been given what weapon/equipment? I have:

EDIT: Adding weapons

Citizens/Sailors (not much good in a fight basically):
Trevis using a rolling pin (3D6)
Jullick using a Cleaver (3D6)
Kraine using a hatchet (3D6)
Ferrick using a hatchet (3D6)
Jalps (paralysed)
Bort Meggins

DELVERS:
Klarrrrchur 6th level Warrior 21D6 +71 (dual wield) wearing Sea Leather (6 hits)
Will 2nd Level Warrior 13D6 +28 (dual wield incl magic feather) wearing banded mail (22 hits and using Wiz can absorb more)
Akki 1st level Rogue 4d6+6 (terbutje) and Shield (was buckler) (4 points)
Udhaav 1st level Wizard 2D6+3 (dagger) and spells

Anything I missed or needs to be changed/updated? I will update Will to his new talent shortly.

[nialldubh]

OOC: Well, I gave Kraine and Ferrick a hatchet each.

Not sure what a rolling pin does, but I can give Trevis another spare hatchet.

Akki now with shield and gave Üdhaav another dagger. So, he should have two for dual-fighting if he has no WIZ left.

Would have given Akki dual capacity, but his strength is not high enough.

Edit: Best keep to leathers, if I reduce Dwarf's DEX, he cannot use sword and mace.

[apn]

Nov 22, 2022 9:12:53 GMT -5 nialldubh said:

OOC: Well, I gave Kraine and Ferrick a hatchet each.

Not sure what a rolling pin does, but I can give Trevis another spare hatchet.

Akki now with shield and gave Üdhaav another dagger. So, he should have two for dual-fighting if he has no WIZ left.

Would have given Akki dual capacity, but his strength is not high enough.

Edit: Best keep to leathers, if I reduce Dwarf's DEX, he cannot use sword and mace.

OOC Thanks, I'll edit the list and move us on then

[apn]

Meggins breathes a sigh of relief. "There's a few on us now. I'm startin' ta think that..."

He looked up.

Peering through the grid in the roof (where the wooden steps lead up and where Akki used his Knock Knock to open) is a Ghoul!

The once pirate/monstrous creature snarls, looking through the gaps into the hold where the food is!

The creature vanishes from sight!

"Oh. Maybe I was speakin' too soon." muttered Meggins.

"Soon. Yes." said Jullick. All of the sailors looked up in fear at the hatch in the roof expecting it to lift and for Ghouls to come spilling in!

"Ayup!" hissed a sailor - Ferrick - at the door. "We got somethin' movin' down end of corridor. Somethings!" he gasped. "We need ta bar this door, stop 'em gettin' in!"

"We need to lock that 'atch!" said Meggins.

"No! We can run round all we like but these things will pick us off one be one until we are no more! If there are others like us, we need ta find 'em! Help 'em! These lads..." said Kraine as he waved a hand at the various Delvers "Are 'ard as nails an' they can 'elp us! We need ta kill th' Cap'n, take th' ship, strike out on us own 'afore them other Pirates come fer us!"

Meggins was incredulous. "Eh? I mean, some of that is alright but ... what?"

"They're comin!" hissed Ferrick! "A few of 'em! Lookin' fer a snack! 'Elp me block this door up!" he cried, looking about for the heaviest bundles and barrels...

[houndle]

OOC unless lost in the jungle, Will should have a spare shortsword and dagger which could help our comrades dual wield.

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“You lot (to crewmen) secure that roof-grid with rope and any other thing you can find.” Growls the Dwarf, "Will, Akki with me and we will draw them in one at a time through the small space and destroy them!”

“Üdhaav do your worst!”

“Warn us if they try breaking through grid!”

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf...

Nialldubh rolls 21d6+69 = 2 +4 +6 +6 +6 +3 +4 +4 +2 +1 +6 +6 +6 +2 +5 +1 +1 +6 +3 +6 +4 + 69 = 153 (three 1s, eight 6s).

Exploding: 5d6 = 16.

Total: = 169.

Self-Defence: Nialldubh rolls 2d6+66 = 4 +3 + 66 = 73.

OCC: To tell the truth, Akki only has a STR of 13, with sword STR 12 and dagger STR 3, he still needs a total of 15 just to swing!

[houndle]

Will Darness
 "Now just a second," says Will . "We need to exercise our grey matter. And by that I don't mean go jogging with a ghoul!"

 "There are two exits, right? Who's going to guard each one? By staying the right side of the door we should have an advantage."

 " However, we can't stay here long. We won't take over the ship from here, and apart from being a ghoul magnet we are sharing the space with something... wrong. " 

"I vote we break out and make our way to the evil heart of the ship. Any preference on direction? "
OOC crossed in the post...