"Bluntskulls?" The Halfling jumps to his feet and peers north, What's a Bluntskull? It doesn't take long for his keen eyes to note the dark shapes speeding toward the sloop fast. Quickly he unwinds his sling and pinches a lead bullet from his pouch, and waits until whatever the beasts may be are withing 20' of the Twisted Fate. Not knowing how (Or IF) his shot will affect his waterborne target, he nervously twirls his primitive weapon rapidly and lets fly.
Lacking a weapon capable of shooting to such a range, Wes decides to use magic to assist those who do. He steps up to the port side, chanting in the strange language of the druids and casts Faerie Fire.
Whoops loudly and rushes to the rail... oh wait... that rail... okay. He leans over and takes a look in the direction he saw the captain looking. He squints and then whistles seeing the beast that are coming. "Well... I have a spear.... I guess I could try that! All else fails, I could always toss a dwarf at them!" He grins apparently still not directly talking to or about anyone as he wait for one of the beasts to come into range and he hurls his spear!
And misses with a groan of disappointment as he watches his spear slip into the waves. "Dang it!" Looking up as the creatures near he draws his sword but otherwise steps back and tries to stay out of the way of those firing their missiles.
Wes shakes Brufrig's proffered hand. "Good to meet you. Reckon I'm similar to you: did some hunting and fishing round the Dreadwood, decided to see a bit of the world when my dad passed. Heard how they were looking for explorers down south and ended up here"
He pauses to consider a moment. "Y'know, exploring and fortune seeking sound pretty similar. Maybe you and I could work together on this island? I know my way around in the forest well enough, even know a little magic that might come in handy. Got to be more interesting than guarding tree-cutters, right?"
That sounds much better than cutting down trees or guarding the people cutting down trees. Maybe we can get some of these other folks to join us.
Rythan
As the conversation turns he begins to comment. "It is rather apparent that this is a civilization building exercise. We have folks that will do what they do, and us poor souls to protect them and slay local monsters. Is that not what we signed up for?"
Well, sir, it might be at that. I admit I don't read real good, so I might not have read it right. The flyer mentioned fun. That doesn't sound like much fun to me, but I guess we'll see what they have planned for us when we finally get back to solid ground. Might you be interested in joining up with my new friend, Wes, and I? My name is Brufrig. Pleased to meet you.
When the commotion breaks out, Brufrig rushes to the side of the ship to see just what was coming. With the large creatures fast approaching, the dwarf loads his crossbow and fires off a shot when they get within range.
On November 2nd I will be participating in another 24 hour game of Dungeons & Dragons as part of Extra Life. This organization uses gaming to help raise money to donate to children's hospitals. I'm raising money for Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, and all money I raise will go to that hospital. All donations are tax-deductible. Please take a moment to check out my donation page below. Thank you.
Jack bursts above deck with a mischievous grin and shouts, "Aye! Aye! Captain!" as he scrambles like a monkey right back up into the rigging. He finds a stable vantage, nocks an arrow and pulls until its feathers graze a blond eyelash. Then he looses two unerring shots at the ominous black marauders of the deep.
Rope in hand, Krystal threads a line through her back pack and then around the mast, securing it with a few loops. She makes another loop around her waist, one that can be adjusted as a sliding knot and throws the attached grapnel over the starboard side.
figuring 'blunt heads' are sharks which ram boats tipping folk out the other side to then feast on. So if tipped, she may slip from mast to rail but not in the sea, though she can adjust the loop to swim out to rescue close by folk if needed.
Death From the Depths
Round 1
Azure Sea, mid-afternoon
One day before arrival
Most of the hardier adventurers move to the rail as the captain commanded. Arrows, bolts and spells (and one spear) begin to fly from the port side of the ship. Lightfinger finds a box to stand on while Jack jumps right back up into the rigging with a wide grin, sure that the mean old captain won’t mind this time. Their shots, along with one of Saracen’s arrows, all hit the oncoming creatures, though it is hard to tell if the shots were totally effective. Krystal rushes to the mast of the ship and begins tying rope around herself, leaving enough slack to still be able to maneuver around.
Monocar, Luther, and Brufrig all miss their marks, with Monocar actually tossing his spear into the deep. The bear shouts for the others to lie down to prevent being tossed out, though scared out of their minds, not many oblige. Wes and Raythan cast spells, hoping that their magic will help turn the tides. Raythan sprinkles holy water in a wide area, giving everyone at the rail a better chance of hitting and also giving them a bit more courage to stay in the fight. (+1 to hit) He then retreats towards the center of the deck. Wes uses some crushed mistletoe and magic phrases to cause a roughly 5 foot target to appear on one of the creatures, outlining it in a bright violet color and making it easier to hit. (+2 to hit)
Most of the other adventuring types on board also huddle at the rail, firing off weapons and spells. One of the advancing monsters seems to have had enough even before it gets to the boat. It veers off from the others with quite a few arrows and bolts sticking out of it, eventually sinking back down deeper into the sea. The other two creatures in the front ranks continue to track the fast moving vessel, now nearly close enough to ram themselves into the hull.
The captain continues shouting words of encouragement, hoping that another volley will case more of them to flee. He chucks a hand axe from his belt at one of the things with the purple target on it for good measure, hitting it squarely as it continues its advance on his ship.
Actions!
Urson……you get 2 shots per round with a bow in 1E.
Pardon me, excuse me, pardon me, The nimble Hobbit slithers his way to the center of terrified passengers and squats low. Normally in a crowd like this he'd note how easy it would be to practice pilfering, but for now he's content to stay in the safest place he can find, and content also with the thought that tho he may be stepped on a time or 2, he shouldn't be in any real danger of being tossed overboard. The fools milling around him stand a better chance of that.
The dwarf quickly reloads his crossbow. Taking a split second longer to aim at one of the targets with a purple haze around it, he smoothly squeezes the trigger, watching his bolt fly true, hitting the giant sea creature.
On November 2nd I will be participating in another 24 hour game of Dungeons & Dragons as part of Extra Life. This organization uses gaming to help raise money to donate to children's hospitals. I'm raising money for Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, and all money I raise will go to that hospital. All donations are tax-deductible. Please take a moment to check out my donation page below. Thank you.
Exultant, the wind in his face, Jack laughs with a fierce, bright joy. "Ahoy! Avast, ye swabs! Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!"
He weaves his legs around and through the rigging ropes to secure himself and he fires more arrows at the fearsome sea monsters of the briny waves!
Krystal almost stepped upon by the pushing and shoving little fellow (and big fellows and passengers milling around), taps him on the shoulder. "I see you have a keen eye and keen sense for 'sensibilities'. Let the muscle men alone to flex and flail at the shark brutes. Though the way the Captain was with the boy, you wonder if another shark brute mans' the helm? Still with the men occupied and the cabin doors open, would it be a trouble to find some fresh water or 'extra nibbles' from the galley below?
Still with the men occupied and the cabin doors open, would it be a trouble to find some fresh water or 'extra nibbles' from the galley below?
Lightfinger
Or something more! The wily Hobbit grins up at Miss Tal,I knew there was something I liked about you! In a second he is darting once again thru the legs of the tallfolk passengers, headed toward the lower deck. Excuse me, pardon me, coming thru.
Lightfinger decides it’s best to get his tiny self away from the railing so he positions himself a little closer to the bio-mass in the center of the ship instead. Besides, this way he gets a little closer to the cute elf again. Krystal sees this move and decides to chat him up a bit more, suggesting that someone go below decks to see what they can steal. She doesn’t seem concerned in the least as to what is about to happen to the ship just below the waterline. The lovestruck halfling doesn't give the imminent danger a second thought either as he begins to make his way through the mass of lonshank bodies towards the door that leads below decks.
Brufrig doesn’t concern himself about the oncoming collision. He reloads his crossbow and takes careful aim at the druids purple target, hitting the massive beast just inside the mark. Wes does decide to brace himself though, just before creating another of the bright circles on the second fish’s back with his magic.
Saracen continues firing his bow, plunking one of his arrows deep into the beasts black flesh. Little Jack and big Luther do the same, each hitting with one arrow. Monocar spots a long pole with a gaff hook secured to the inside of the ships railing. He smiles mischievously as he braces himself for the oncoming impact. The crew and the other adventurers on board continue firing as well, this time with much better results. One rather wiry wizard chuckles evilly as his bolt of energy zips towards one of the beasts in the second ranks.
Just then, the front rank of creatures smashes their blunt heads into the hull of the ship at full force, splintering wood and sending a shocking jolt throughout the vessel. Adventurers and commoners alike go flying across the deck amidst screams of fear and pain. The first pair of monsters veer off after contact, slipping beneath the ship and appearing again briefly on the starboard side. They swim off away from the boat, leaving a crimson trail in the bright blue sea. They appear to be making a wide figure 8 pattern in the water, turning around to come in again as the next three monsters are just about to ram themselves into the ships hull.
Actions!
Wes, Krystal, Jack, and Monocar have all mentioned that they braced themselves in one way or another. They will roll a normal Dex check to see if they can remain upright and functioning.
LF, Bru, Sar, Bear, and Ray will need to make a hard Dex check to see if the remain standing or take a tumble with most of the others.
A failed check will result in one lost round as you try to right yourselves, retrieve your bows, etc.
Barely seems to notice the impact. He was surprisingly well balanced for a brute of his size, some may say graceful...
for a human. He grins and makes a run for the gaffe hook!
