Action Thread 3: Westward upon the Bay of Ghosts

[Alethan]

Need someone to roll a d6 for the party

Requested Roll: [1d6] = 1
Oh, here we go again.

No more rolling on behalf of the party for me.

Sorry, didn't see this had been rolled first. Go ahead and disregard my Party 1d6 roll.

Dave, this could have been a search roll, not initiative, so it might be good.

[dmw71]

Dave, this could have been a search roll, not initiative, so it might be good.

I suppose that is possible. Unlikely, but possible.

[Nuke66]

Lauranna continues to watch from the crows nest, not getting too dialed in on what is happening directly around the ship, maintaining a watch on the horizon.

[tkrexx]

Emm will send the girl below at the first sign of trouble.

[Alethan]

OOC
(Al: regardless of what you roll, there will be a pm coming to you!)

????

[Alethan]

Bog calls out loudly, "thar's sommit in the water! Lots of them. Deep, but not quite out o' sight. I can see the glitter of the scales."

[dmw71]

Bog calls out loudly, "thar's sommit in the water! Lots of them. Deep, but not quite out o' sight. I can see the glitter of the scales."

Caelvanna nocks an arrow. Not knowing exactly what they might be up against, she keeps a trained eye on the surface of the water and waits.

[Argennian]

Encounter at the Shipwreck: Surprise Round

Party: 1
Enemy: 5

~ The Seahawk just drifts into the debris field when Bog calls out that he sees something swimming in the water around the ship. Some look over the side, some ready weapons and all look nervous as suddenly, all hell breaks loose...

From all about, scores of what look to be human men erupt from below the surface all around the ship! Most have either strange-looking crossbows or javelins at the ready but a few here and there have grapple hooks and rope! They rise out of the water to about their waists and those with weapons let fly, momentarily catching the party and crew by surprise! A swarm of crossbow bolts and javelins streak through the previously-calm, afternoon sea air towards the Seahawk from all directions...

Up on the forecastle, Caelvanna is hit with a javelin (5d) and Griffo is struck by two crossbow bolts (9d). Hammal is also struck by two crossbow bolts and a javelin (13d) but Gramps is not hit.
On the main deck, Bog is hit by a crossbow bolt and a javelin (8d) and Thalion is hit by a crossbow bolt and two javelins (11d), dropping him instantly. Even Emm, standing over by the ramp, gets hit by a javelin (3d) but thankful not young Sam or Benny. Sorel is hit by 2 javelins (7d) and Mila is hit with a crossbow bolt (3d). Four grappling hooks also find their mark on the rails, two to the port and two on the starboard.
Up on the stern castle deck, Billings is hit with javelin (2d), Arak is hit by javelin (5d), Bradley is hit by two crossbow bolts (7d), Troc is hit with a crossbow bolt (3d), Zimba is nicked with a javelin (1d) and Farlon is hit by a crossbow bolt (4d). Only Yousef escapes being hit on the stern deck. Two grapples land up on the stern rail from behind the ship as well.
Those up in the crow's nest are not safe either, as Lauranna is nicked by a crossbow bolt (2d) and Blic is as well (4d).


********************************

Attacking Force: most of the enemy combatants that appeared in the water are located all along each side of the ship. There are also some at the rear. How many are present can't be immediately calculated and they are different distances away. Those shooting crossbows are @ 50 feet out. Those throwing javelins are @ 30 feet out. Those that threw the grappling hooks are @ 20 feet out.

Port side: at least a dozen crossbowmen, a dozen with javelins and two that threw grappling hooks on the rail.

Starboard side: at least a dozen crossbowmen, a dozen with javelins and two that threw grappling hooks on the rail.

Off the stern: at least a half dozen crossbowmen, a half dozen with javelins and two that threw grappling hooks on the rear rail.


************************************

*** Need Declared Actions for the party for Round 1 ***

*** Also need someone to roll a d6 for party initiative for Round 1 ***


Point of Order: everyone aboard the ship is considered as having 25% cover by way of the rail, so gets the bonus of -2 to their AC when standing. Anyone's PC (regardless of what deck they're on) can easily duck behind the rail to avoid incoming with 90% cover (-10 to their AC) or lower themselves down to 50% cover (-4 to their AC) and make return ranged attacks.

OOC: Wow, your guys' encounters are never small, are they? That was quite a lot of dice for me to roll and it took 3 pages of binder paper to write it all out and track it! But the DM's trusty 'ol "Green Dice of Death" were especially brutal, even with the -2 to hit for you all having 25% cover behind the rail and those in the crow's nest being at -4 to hit (+ distance penalties, of course). Good times, indeed!

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or need further clarifications!


HPs/Status: Bog 8/16 ; Caelvanna 10/15 ; Emm 4/7 ; Griffo** 8/17 ; Ulrich 13/13 ; Lauranna 4/6 ; Thalion* -2/9
WIH (primary/secondary): Bog – grappling hook/rope ; Caelvanna – short bow ; Emm – scimitar/SC ; Griffo – shortbow ; Ulrich – mace/SC; Lauranna – short sword/SC ; Thalion – longsword/dagger (SC = spell component/spell to cast)
M.O./Location On deck: Bog , Thalion* , Emm (with Sam & Benny) ; Up in the crow's nest: Lauranna (and Blic the halfling) ; Up on the foredeck: Caelvanna , Griffo ; In the stern castle: Ulrich (with Jovak)

[Alethan]

Bog drops down behind the rail and crawls over to Thalion to see if he can stop the bleeding. He calls out, "Man down! Get us out of here!"

Obviously sea creatures aren't going to be able to fight with fire, so there's no chance of them firing the ship. Might be best to just try and get out of danger as fast as possible.

Was thinking about throwing oil out onto the water and lighting it up, but I don't know how effective that would be or if it would cover enough of an area to be worth it.

Bog's thought is to remain low, take care of Thalion, and shoot at any sea creature that tries to board the ship when they get up to the rail.

[dmw71]

Caelvanna is hit with a javelin

or lower themselves down to 50% cover (-4 to their AC) and make return ranged attacks

Caelvanna fights off the sting of the javelin that nicked her, and hears a cry about a man being down. Knowing she will be unable to assist in that regard, she surveys the scene, observing the large number of attackers. Make every shot count, she reminds herself as she lowers herself into a more covered position.

As if guided by second nature, Caelvanna quickly and fluidly brings arrows to bow and fires off a series of shots, ideally targeting those attackers armed with ranged weapons if she's able to make that determination.

ooc: I don't know if Caelvanna would get two or three shots this round? I rolled all three, but feel free to disregard the third if it wasn't available.
Short Bow (S: 0-50') [1d20+4] = 6+4 = 10 [1d6+2] = 3+2 = 5
Short Bow (S: 0-50') [1d20+4] = 11+4 = 15 [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8
Short Bow (S: 0-50') [1d20+4] = 13+4 = 17 [1d6+2] = 2+2 = 4

[tkrexx]

It was so quiet. Everyone was on edge, waiting to see about the wreckage, and perhaps survivors, but everyone was at ready. Then the whistling began. Dozens of missles filled the sky of a sudden and we all acted as if we just awoke. AAhghh! Emm cries out at a hard pinch at her side, but instead looks at the child. Downstairs, now! Hide! She crouches, and sees grappling hooks gaining hold. Javelins and crossbows. Time to reload!

She finally dares a glimpse of her wound to see it is serious, but not life-threatening. At least the javelin gashed her instead of impaling her. One more like this may well do her in, tho... She needs a plan. A plan to help thwart these attackers, a teamwork effort. She scans quickly for rope! If no rope is near, she will concede to cast her first spell on her spear itself.

Trip

HP, spell list & mistletoe status updated.

[Argennian]

... ooc: I don't know if Caelvanna would get two or three shots this round? I rolled all three, but feel free to disregard the third if it wasn't available....

OOC: Caelvanna would absolutely be able to get all 3 arrows off in the first round, and be able to do so from 50% cover!

~ Just as a point of order, I should have asked you guys to let me know from what side of the ship your characters would be firing from if making a ranged attack, and which specific enemy combatant(s) you'd be targeting in addition. Please let me know if making an attack from here on out.

Dave: I had written down (assumed, really) that Caelvanna was on the right side of Gramps (at the bow near the ship's forward ballista) and that Griffo was on the left, so that would have her firing off the starboard side. Not sure if she was targeting the crossbowmen or the ones with the javelins, so I can either make a random roll for that or you can choose!



Edit: *** Okay folks, we still need a d6 roll for party initiative. I know that Nuke is AFK so just waiting for a Declared Action from SocraticLawyer for Ulrich for Round 1 ***

[dmw71]

OOC: Caelvanna would absolutely be able to get all 3 arrows off in the first round, and be able to do so from 50% cover!

Thank goodness, because her first shot was a dud and her third shot was an almost certain hit.

Dave: I had written down (assumed, really) that Caelvanna was on the right side of Gramps (at the bow near the ship's forward ballista) and that Griffo was on the left, so that would have her firing off the starboard side. Not sure if she was targeting the crossbowmen or the ones with the javelins, so I can either make a random roll for that or you can choose!

This is totally fine. If she has her choice, she will probably target an opponent wielding a crossbow.

[Alethan]

Party Initiative:

Initiative [1d6] = 6

[dmw71]

Dave, this could have been a search roll, not initiative, so it might be good.

Then again, it could also be worse! Sorry for the surprise, all!

[SocraticLawyer]

pm sent

[Argennian]

Encounter at the Shipwreck: End of Round 1

Party: 6
Enemy: 2

~ The surprising and deadly barrage of crossbow bolts and javelins rain down upon the Seahawk, hitting nearly everyone that was out on deck. Already prepared for danger and still wary from their harrowing encounter with the giant sea creature, the crew responds quickly and springs into action...

Up on the forecastle, Gramps seems to already know what's happened and cries out from his position at the forward ballista. "It's a merman ambush!" he cries out as he throws back the lid to one of the adjacent weapons lockers and begins fumbling around inside.
Caelvanna instinctively engages her specialized archer training, getting low and firing 3 flight arrows off the starboard side at the bow in the direction of the three closest mermen with crossbows. Her first shot misses but her second and third both hit their mark. Although he was struck twice, Griffo springs to similar action and fires his 3 flight arrows off the port side of the bow, also targeting three of the closest crossbow-wielding enemies...

Griffo: To Hit short bow [1d20+7] = 19+7 = 26, Damage [1d6+2] = 2+2 = 4

Griffo: To Hit short bow [1d20+7] = 6+7 = 13, Damage [1d6+2] = 1+2 = 3

Griffo: To Hit short bow [1d20+7] = 17+7 = 24, Damage [1d6+2] = 4+2 = 6

… and hits all 3 of his mermen targets! Hammal dives down on the deck and assesses his wounds before moving over next to Gramps at the forward weapons locker.

On the main deck, Bog drops down below the port rail and immediately moves over to stabilize the unlucky Wood elf Thalion. He calls out, “Man down! Get us out of here!”
Emm winces from her sudden and unexpected wound, and without hesitation, cries out to Sam, “Downstairs, now! Hide!” Although the young girl’s eyes are wide with fear, she snaps to and with Benny in a chokehold, runs down the ramp into the hold. The druidess then turns around and casts a prepared spell on her spear.
Sorel curses in eastern as both he and Mila duck down and scramble to their already-loaded crossbows. Just as they do, the door to the stern castle bursts open and out comes Ulrich with Lord Jovak right on his heels. The young dwarven adept looks over and sees Bogdan stabilizing Thalion the Grey’s deep wounds and turns to the dwarven general behind him. “Follow me to the left and stay low!”
The dwarven lord nods, crouches down and follows on Ulrich’s heels. He’s wearing naught but his breeches and a light shirt but has a wand in one hand and battle axe in the other. He no longer sports his head bandages and for the first time you can see his glossy, all-white eyes and burned greenish-tinged skin on his face. It is obvious to any that look upon him that he still can’t see. They make their way over to crouch down by the half-orc and his unconscious Wood elf companion. While Ulrich assesses Thalion and prepares to casts a cure light wounds spell on him, Jovak queries anyone nearby. “How many of them are out there? How far away from the ship are they?”
Over at the starboard rail, Sorel and Mila have recovered their weapons and both pop over the rail at nearly the same time, firing their heavy crossbows at the first targets they see. Both of their shots hit with deadly results, Sorel’s finding a crossbowman and Mila’s hitting one that just threw a javelin.

Over on the stern castle deck, the wounded captain and his men duck down below the rail line and quickly spring into action. Billings grabs up a crossbow and quiver and calls out to the others, “Unfurl the main and cut those grapples!” he bellows as he moves over to get into a position to fire on the mermen off the stern. Arak and Troc move with a purpose and set to untying the lines that are holding the main sail down. Although grimacing from his wounds, Bradley also grabs up a crossbow and quiver and makes his way over to the stern rail opposite Billings and prepares to fire. Following his captain’s command, Zimba draws his battle axe, steps over to the stern rail, and swings it vehemently, cutting the rope attached to one of the grapples. Farlon follows his southerner sergeant’s leader, drawing his sword and chopping at the rope attached to the other grapple. His strike is too hurried, however, and he hits the grapple instead of the rope with a kerrang and a shower of sparks. Yousef moves to the stern rail and fires his crossbow at the first merman he sees but misses. Billings and his third officer pop over the stern rail and fire their heavy crossbows, the captain’s shot hitting one of the mermen that threw a grapple and Bradley’s sailing wide.

Up in the crow's nest, Lauranna leans over the edge and casts her sleep spell down upon the mermen that threw the grapples onto the starboard side. The halfling lookout Blic fires his crossbow at one of the mermen on the port side but unfortunately the weapon misfires and the bolt flies long.


~ It’s the mermen’s chance to respond and while those that fired their heavy crossbows struggle to reload them, the others with javelins let fly with their second volley. There are not as many targets available as there were in the previous round and most of them sail over the ship or stick into the decks and rails. Two of the shots do find their mark, hitting Zimba and Farlon. The southerner man-at-arms is struck with another deep wound (6d) but is not felled while his older human counterpart is unfortunately hit with a perfectly-placed shot that strikes him square in the chest (10d) and drops him like a rag doll on the stern deck.
The mermen holding the ropes attached to the grapples on the port side and remaining one at the stern pull them taunt while the ones on the starboard side are put into a magical slumber from the High elf’s sleep spell! Even though half of their number are defeated, the Seahawk still lurches to a near stop from the restraining lines.

********************************

Party members/crew down:
- Thalion (wounded and unconscious)
- Farlon (wounded/KIAed??)

Mermen Ambush Force: Those shooting crossbows are @ 50 feet out. Those throwing javelins are @ 30 feet out. Those that threw the grappling hooks are @ 20 feet out.
- Crossbowmen: 5 KIAed, 2 wounded
- Javelin wielders: 1 KIAed
- Grapplers: 1 KIAed, 1 wounded, 3 slept

Port side: 13 (of 15) crossbowmen, 12 with javelins and 2 that threw grappling hooks on the rail.

Starboard side: 12 (of 15) crossbowmen and 11 (of 12) with javelins. The 2 visible that threw the grapples are slept from Lauranna’s sleep spell.

Off the stern: 15 crossbowmen, 12 with javelins and 1 that threw grapple hook onto the rear rail.


************************************

*** Need Declared Actions for the party for Round 2 ***

*** Also need someone to roll a d6 for party initiative for Round 2 ***


SocraticLawyer: we'll consider that Ulrich got to Thalion with enough time to cast that Cure Light Wounds spell at the end of Round 1, if that's still his intention. Go ahead and roll a d8 for that and then make your Declared Action for Round 2

Cover: Those aboard the ship are all now considered as having 50% cover minimum if making attacks (except those that were trying to cut the ropes on the stern deck), so get the bonus of -4 to their AC. Anyone's PC (regardless of what deck they're on) can easily remain behind and below the rail to avoid incoming with 90% cover (-10 to their AC).

OOC: the mermen reloading their heavy crossbows will be able to fire again in Round 2 and the ones with javelins can either continue to fire or close on the ship.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or need further clarifications!


HPs/Status: Bog 8/16 ; Caelvanna 10/15 ; Emm 4/7 ; Griffo** 8/17 ; Ulrich 13/13 ; Lauranna 4/6 ; Thalion* -2/9
WIH (primary/secondary): Bog – grappling hook/rope ; Caelvanna – short bow (fired 3 arrows) ; Emm – scimitar/SC ; Griffo – short bow (fired 3 arrows) ; Ulrich – mace/SC; Lauranna – short sword/SC ; Thalion – longsword/dagger (SC = spell component/spell to cast)
M.O./Location On deck: Bog , Thalion* , Emm , Ulrich (and Jovak) ; Up in the crow's nest: Lauranna (and Blic the halfling) ; Up on the foredeck: Caelvanna , Griffo

[Alethan]

Initiative [1d6] = 5

Argennian, are there any spears handy on deck? I didn't really indicate one way or the other if Bog had his with him... I'll go with whatever you say on that.

[dmw71]

Caelvanna continues to keep low to preserve her cover and fires off another two arrows, targeting opponents with ranged weapons.

Short Bow (S: 0-50') [1d20+4] = 16+4 = 20 [1d6+2] = 4+2 = 6
Short Bow (S: 0-50') [1d20+4] = 9+4 = 13 [1d6+2] = 5+2 = 7

[Alethan]

OOC: If I might suggest... target the mermen holding onto the grappling hooks so we can get act like a tree and leave. So we can act like a bird and get the flock out of here. So we can be out like the fat kid in dodge ball. So we can... you get my point.