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

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“Slaughter them,” growls Klarrrrchur, oblivious to the number, 'just hack them down till there is none left!' He muses to himself.

“KHAVAD'S DOOM! Ya BASS!” Screams the Dwarf.

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... Thud, crash, pummel, bang, thrust, slash, lacerate and kick the ...

Nialldubh rolls 21d6+71 = 6 +2 +1 +6 +1 +3 +6 +6 +5 +2 +2 +4 +5 +3 +1 +4 +6 +1 +2 +2 +5 + 71 = 144 (four 1s, five 6s).

Explode: 1d6 = 4.

Total: 148.

Self-Defence: Nialldubh rolls 2d6+66 = 3 +2 + 66 = 71.

[mosker]

Udhaav

"Shut up and fight," I mutter thinking about the choices--now and in the past.



Actions
So, 4d6 = 2+1+ 5+3
Then the imploding rolled a 6...[OOC: Though does imploding take effect this early? Only round 2 for me. I remember something about round 4 or is that gone now?]

Ugh. 4+3 adds = 7?

[OOC: Especially give the time difference apn, always feel free to roll for me. At this point, player autonomy is pretty much "how do I stay alive and not be a total burden on the rest?"]

Didn't shut up or fight very well, but if it goes badly, there will be one more piece of meat to absorb the damage.

[apn]

OOC Udhaav scores 8 (11 rolled with 1 implode=6 gives 5 rolled +3 adds). Explode/Implode dice was originally a house rule to break a deadlock but we liked it enough to apply it all the time.

Akki...
apn: Akkis 4d6+6
apn rolls 4d6+6 = 4 +5 +4 +5 + 6=24 Total

W Darness 53 (9 Vorpal Swordsman L5SR passed. No chance of the Ghouls touching you between the pair of you. Cracking rolls)

K Deathaxe 148 (Klarrrrchur passes his usual L11SR or whatever it works out as. 'Enough'.)

DELVERS Total 233

Ghouls... MR100 x2 (Special attacks) 21D6+100

apn rolls 21d6+100 = 3 +1 +3 +1 +2 +4 +2 +1 +1 +3 +5 +3 +2 +4 +1 +2 +6 +3 +6 +2 +5 + 100=160 less 3 Implode
apn rolls 3d6 = 2 +4 +5=11 TOTAL 149 with 5 duplicates triggering a L3SR... nullified by Will and Klarrrrchur.

Will earns 72AP Klarrrrchur earns 15AP (Will rolled DARO and has +20% hence the Whaaaaaaaat? For achieving the same thing!)

Ghouls touch attacks nullified (by a lot. L3SR passed for Ghouls, total of L11+5 passed for Delvers. No contest).

Wills Vorpal apn rolls 2d6 = 3 +3=6 apn: DARO apn rolls 2d6 = 4 +5=9 (15)

Difference 233+15 (248) - 149= 99 Damage.

Ghoul #1 takes 24 Vorpal (drops to 76MR leaves 75 damage) and a further 38 damage (drops to 38MR)

Ghoul #2 takes 37 damage (drops to 63MR)

Ghouls are now on 21D6+50 ( #1 MR38 + #2 MR62=MR101 remaining)


The violence is intense, the fury controlled and disciplined. Allowing two Ghouls into the small space inside the room with others waiting ensures the corridor becomes a funnel... of DEATH!

The ring of steel barely allows the Ghouls into the room and the fight is brutal. Smashing of bones, cutting of flesh, scything of tendons and muscle... The screams of agony are all the Ghouls as the Delvers punish them with a relentless pounding of steel into inhuman flesh!

Blood sprays, limbs flail, cries ring out! The Delvers show no mercy, for what mercy do creatures such as these deserve?

OOC End of Round.

Next round. Go!

[houndle]

Will Darness
Will's mouth is stretched wide in a humourless grin. Or perhaps he does indeed feel the humour of the situation. The oddly mismatched band of heroes is also oddly effective. Will glances round to see what the other sailors are doing and casts an anxious eye at the grating. Is it still holding firm? And is the paralysed sailor getting better, worse, or worst of all beginning to metamorphose into a ghoul?

Distracted by such concerns Will 's attacks are lacking in power and focus. But his instincts to seek out vulnerable spots are unhampered.

Asuwil
WillDarness rolls 7d6 = 3 +1 +6 +2 +1 +3 +1 = 17

Vorpal Sword
WillDarness rolls 6d6 = 1 +2 +1 +3 +2 +5 = 14

Four implode!
WillDarness rolls 4d6 = 1 +6 +4 +3 = 14

Personal adds 25
TOTAL 42

Swordsman
WillDarness rolls 2d6+21 = 3 +3 + 21 = 27
WillDarness: Daro
WillDarness rolls 2d6+27 = 6 +3 + 27 = 36

[gringnr]

Akki

"Disgusting." Akki spits tthe word out, as if it were spoiled food. He spies an elven sword in the hands of a human amidst the chaos. "Interesting", he thinks to himself. "Her is either a valiant hero or a terrible rogue, to be in possession of such a blade."

ACTIONS
1. Akki again readies his primitive weapon, prepared for more fighting.

Terbutje: 4+1+1+2+6=14

[mosker]

Udaav

"Better than knitting needles...though not much. Once more:"

Actions:
1. Attack!
(Two blades): Rolls 5+4+2+4 .....+ 3 adds =18

"O.k..."

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

Giving Üdhaav a sideways looks and squinting as he raves with himself, the Dwarf continues his barrage...

Still, he had been in worst states himself in the past, so shrugs a shoulder and focuses on the enemy.

The Dwarf tries to see how many Ghouls are in the corridor, 2, 4, 6...? Noticing the Elf had at better vision and perhaps Will.

“Will, Akki, can you tell how many of these abominations are trying to get in at us?”

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf...

Nialldubh rolls 21d6+71 = 2 +2 +4 +4 +2 +1 +5 +4 +3 +3 +4 +6 +6 +3 +4 +2 +4 +1 +1 +5 +1 + 71 = 138 (four 1s, two 6s).

Implode: 2d6 = 8.

Total: 130.

Self-Defence: Nialldubh rolls 2d6+66 = 5 +6 + 66 = 77.

[apn]

The Delvers falter.

Whether because of the rocking motion of the ship, the floor slippery with black blood and entrails or the horror of what they were facing - once Pirates transformed a short while ago into an undeath state and sustained by feeding on the living - or dead - flesh of others.

Vampyres were said to have a hatred for this kind of creature, but that could extend to all living creatures, who are on the menu. Quite a few of the dead as well...

OOC Delvers Total

W Darness Total 42 (7 Vorpal) (L4SR passed with another Daro roll this time of 15)
Klarrrrchur Total 130 (L98SR passed (ok, probably about 11-12) roll of 11)
Akki 14 less 2 implode apn rolls 2d6 = 2 +2=4 Total 10
Udhaav Total 18 (punching above his weight)

Total 200 (7 Vorpal)

Ghouls 21D6+50 ( #1 MR38 + #2 MR62=MR101 remaining)

apn rolls 21d6+50 = 3 +3 +6 +3 +6 +4 +3 +2 +4 +4 +2 +4 +6 +3 +4 +6 +6 +1 +5 +5 +3 + 50=133 plus 4 explode apn rolls 4d6 = 1 +3 +3 +2=9

TOTAL 142 (7 levels of SR total with 6x3 and 5x4, countered by the Swordsmen of the group. No paralysis.)

Vorpal damage apn rolls 2d6 = 5 +3=8 (15 Vorpal)

Ghoul #1 takes 15 Vorpal (down to MR23) leaving 51 damage split 23 (Ghoul #1 dies) and 28 (dropping Ghoul #2 to MR34)

Ghoul #2 staggers back, slipping and sliding into the corridor. Its too wounded to howl in pain. Instead it turns... and is set upon by the other Ghouls which rip, rend and tear at their fellow!

Blood sprays, arteries pump and the Ghoul is disembowelled, torn apart whilst the delvers look on!

There are half a dozen in the corridor, all staring with hungry eyes into the hold. They see the 'food' but they also see the steel. Looking at the mess of the floor in the doorway they grab a severed limb or a handful of oily stomach contents, black and slippery and stinking they are, then melt back into the darkness of the corridor.

They can wait... They know their food isn't going anywhere...

Will turns, checking on the sailors. Four of them are pulling on the rope and Will looks up, seeing why. Three Ghouls are pulling on the grill of the hatch in the roof, seeing their 'food' moving about below. The weight of the sailors and the rope coiled around heavy barrels keeps the hatch closed though.

For now.

Bort Meggins looks over. He like all the sailors are pale faced having witnessed the brutality and horror of the creatures that had been black hearted pirates having been transformed by foul sorcery and evil into a creature befitting their nature. There is something else though.

A glimmer of hope.

These four, these... Delvers are their one and only chance of making it through this nightmare alive.

"Ye gods." he mutters seeing the absolute black/grey/oily mess all over the floor, walls, doors and the Delvers themselves.

OOC Fight over.

Four Ghouls destroyed at 150AP apiece.

Humans gets +20% experience. (new current total in brackets)

K Deathaxe earns 600AP +77AP for Swordsman (811AP)
Akki earns 600AP (649AP)
Udhaav earns 720AP (758AP)
W Darness earns 720AP (1009AP)

Spend, spend, spend!

You new guys (Akki and Udhaav) will soon shoot up in levels hanging around with D&D (Darness and Deathaxe) so long as you keep pitching in

[houndle]

Will Darness
Will looks up at the hatch thoughtfully.

 "Time to leave, perhaps," he says diffidently. "Unless... do you think we might poke something thin and pointy between the slats to discourage them?"

OOC Will's advances:
Strength to 22: 210
Strength to 23: 220
Strength to 24: 230
Luck to 19: 180
Speed to 17: 160

TOTAL 1000 leaving 9 in hand

I make Will 's personal adds now 29 in armour or 32 in his socks, excluding the extra +1 for his not-currently-very lucky feather.

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“Where are we to go Will,” states Klarrrrchur, “and do not forget that box, it must be destroyed!”

I will guard the door,” growls the Dwarf, “Will, Üdhaav and Akki assist those at the hatch. That is a good idea Will. ye can thrust through the mesh bars at the Ghouls with yer Elven sword. Hack off a few fingers?”

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... Guard door. Enforce a barricade. Enough for a way out, but only in ones. Barrels of salted meat, crates of spare sail, or cloth, nothing that will go 'Kaboom!'

[gringnr]

Akki

Action:
1. Akki will assist Klarrrrchur in any way possible.

[houndle]

Will Darness
 "Yes, the evil box." Will's brow wrinkles. He's thinking again.

 "If we take it with us we could throw it in the sea. Suitably weighted it should sink. But we should avoid handling it. Perhaps wrap it in an old sail freighted with heavy objects."

 " Or... more risky in some ways but if we can clear a path to where our little boat awaits us and rescue any other deserving sailors we might leave the box in situ and destroy the ship around it. That would have the same effect perhaps. If we set the ship afire, with luck it might also serve as a beacon to summon other vessels to our aid. "

[apn]

Eyes turned to the small box sat on a step near the top of the steps leading up to the main hatch in the ceiling.

Gummed up with tar, it looked innocuous enough but the description of its contents and the theory of what it was doing to the already evil Pirates on board the ship - as well as giving the food a funny taste - seemed plausible.

Destruction or disposal might well be the best option going forward.

With several sailors having rustled up mops and water to swill and wash the remains of the Ghouls out of the room (they stank) and another bravely peering out of the door with a lantern swinging in hand to keep an eye out, the rest swung on the rope looped through several slats in the roof above. Their strength, combined weight plus typing to several heavy barrels and crates meant the trio of Ghouls pulling were thwarted. They could hiss, snarl, jump about and thrash in frustration but that way into the hold was blocked.

For now.

The doorway where the slaughter had taken place had given the creatures - for such they were - pause.

Even such as the Ghouls retained some sense of self preservation. Unless they could overcome the Delvers even momentarily they were funnelled into a small area and hacked down.

"Aiiiieeeeee!"

Everyone turned.

The scream had come from somewhere on the ship, not too far away. Maybe on the next deck up.

Meggins shook his head. "What can we do? We're safe in 'ere but them out there ain't safe. Longer we stay in 'ere th' less chance they's got. They're good lads an' I don't fink we got enough ta work a ship like this. We'd be ragged in hours, exhausted."

Another, Kraine, leaning back with the rope in hands like the others, called out "I see where ya goin' but th' 'old is where we make our stand. We've got 'ere an' these lads" referring to the Delvers "Can fight like furies but out there? We can't funnel 'em. We can't block the entrances. They can come at us from all directions."

Ferrick sighed. "We can't just leave 'em. They... some, most are good lads. Like us. They don't wanna be 'ere. It's th' Captain. Ee is th' key. Th' leader. I saw some o th' Pirates go inta his cabin an... I think they came out changed. It's 'im. Ee was bad before. Now?"

There was silence interrupted by the hissing of the Ghouls on the deck above.

"That box did sommat. That's done." said Meggins. "Th' Captain. Cut 'is black 'eart out an' throw 'im ta th' sharks."

"What if it... it changes th' sharks?" muttered Trevis, leaning with the rope and looking nervously at the trellis hatch above.

"Pffft. They was gonna eat us before. Nowt will change." said Meggins. "So, we need ta rescue others, get 'em back 'ere. We'll fight but... we ain't like you fellas. I ain't seen no one like you boys that ain't in th' army but I 'eard o Delvers, sell swords, murder 'obos. We just seen what you can do. I say... finish th' Captain, clear th' Ghouls away an' we'll be YOUR crew, the Sea Fox yours."

Another pause then "Aye." "Aye!" "Aye." "Yep." from the other sailors...

[nialldubh]

Klarrrrchur Deathaxe:

“Aroshnavaraparta hairy arse Will, ya want to burn mi ship into the sea?” splutters Klarrrrchur, “that worse than..., agh, I cannie think what it is worse than!”

“We need this ship to chase after the others. They got their own problems, the Sonan Ie vessels will probably want to put as much distance between the Ghoul infested ships, and I presume by the actions of the other two supporting ships that they are amok with undead!”

“We must purge this ship of undead, save what crew we can and if the winds are on our side make for G'eon or some closer small port and hire more sailors to take this vessel north after the Sonan Ie!”

“If we cannot think of some idea to destroy or nullify that box.” Grunts the Dwarf, “I will just smash the thing with my mace and be damned!”

Actions:

Actions of Dwarf... Keep working at barricade. Makes a sign to Aroshnavaraparta and ask pardon for insulting his hairy arse...

[houndle]

Will Darness
 "I know you are smarter than I am,"  Will addresses Klarrrrchur with just a hint of sarcasm, "but if you smash the box you might let the contents out. That may not be sound tactics."

 "If we are going to search for the Captain, I suggest rather sooner than later. At present the ghouls are still occupied with other victims and also wary of us, but later?"

 " If you lead I will bring up the rear. In the confined space belowdecks that may suffice to limit the number of enemies we must face at once. Any other volunteers can go in the middle and help as they may. Further, I vote that they carry the box and heave it out of the first porthole we find, provided that is not directly above our rowing boat of course. "

 "Alternatively we might go in search of other shipmates but on the whole I feel that defeating the main foe may be the best way to succour them."