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Post by Sugarphix on Sept 29, 2017 16:12:08 GMT -5
Tsunami knew when Mac’s hands went to his hidden daggers that he was ready to defend her. Her heart swelled with love for the man. It was adorable that he thought she couldn’t take care of herself, but she was touched by the vehemence by which he guarded her life. She’d have to reward him later.
When Embros tells about the captive matron, although already guessing the truth, Tsunami asks, “By removing the leverage, I assume ye mean rescue, and not…” she let her voice trail off, making a discrete slicing motion with the back of her thumb across her delicate neck. Glancing around the working crew, her hand moved seamlessly into her golden locks as if the movement had been for her to fix her hair the whole time. She tells him “We will lend a hand where we might.”
Then as their party breaks, she is delighted as Embros pulls out his wooden colapsable ship and lets her handle the small box before he allows it to extend to its full glory. Despite herself, Catherine lets out an appreciative gasp, and Tsunami secretly catches Mac’s eye and smirks at the girl who is so obviously impressed with the size of the vessel. Although she tags along, and Tsunami catches the woman admiring Embros behind his back, Catherine remains a lady, and never allows him to see. The wheels start turning in Tsunami’s head, and she keeps a careful eye on Embros for any recognition of the admiration, or if he should steel a glance at Ms. Legrand for his own part.
Embros’ ship is impressive indeed, a true feat of magic. She wonders if there is a limitation put upon it, the depths it could sail, the length of time it could remain open etc. Perhaps one day they should have a bit of a race, maybe even with a small wager based on it for fun.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Sept 29, 2017 19:44:26 GMT -5
Embros looks simultaneously aghast and surprised, like that thought had never even crossed his mind. He quickly recovers, "Rescue, yes." Looking to Orellow, he adds, "Only rescue." With your offer of help, he shrugs, "My employer only hired you as transport, just get us to the island and we will handle the rest." Even watching carefully, Embros remains stoic. Even when he couldn't know you're watching he rarely changes expression, revealing nothing unless you catch him by surprise as you did before with the rescue alternative. He does look at Catherine, but only so much as he looks at all the crew. The man seems to take in everything, always weighing and measuring with his eyes.
The box Embros hands you weights about 4lb. It's made of wood, similar to that of your own ships hull. The box is about a foot long, by half a foot wide, and is about half a foot deep. Being made of wood, it also floats. Much like any other box, it can be opened and you can store items inside. When the correct command word is spoken, the box can turn into a boat 10 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 2 feet deep, with a pair of oars, an anchor, a mast, and a lateen sail. The boat can hold around four people. With another command word the box can turn into the ship used to defend Ann from the Wyvern. That ship is 24 feet long, 8 feet wide; and 6 feet deep. It has a deck, rowing seats, five sets of oars, a steering oar, an anchor, a deck cabin, and a mast with a square sail. The ship can hold fifteen people. The third Command Word causes the folding boat to fold back into a box, provided that nobody is onboard. Anything in the vessel that can't fit inside the box remain outside the box as it folds. Anything in the vessel that can fit inside the box will be inside in box form. When the box becomes a vessel, its weight becomes that of a normal vessel its size, and anything that was stored in the box remains in the boat. All other ships properties are that of a normal vessel of that type.
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Post by Sugarphix on Sept 30, 2017 5:49:40 GMT -5
When Embros rejects Tsunami’s offer of help, she gives him a single curt nod. It was pretty much as she had expected, men so often seemed all business all the time. Still, she had wanted to offer. She would be sad to see them go, both knew their way around a sword even if they didn’t know their way around a ship. Had the circumstances been different, she would have offered them a place within her crew. However Embros’ manner sometimes made her hackles rise. It wasn’t that he ever did or said anything amiss, just his militaristic mannerisms reminded her a little too much of a trained officer. Surely, men had run from their service in the Somerset navy as some do in any walk of life, it just gave little comfort to a pirate, who by nature was a polar opposite in almost every way.
That night, she would find herself losing sleep over it occasionally when the ship was quiet except for the creaking of the ropes and moaning of the ever settling timber. He offered to take a turn on watch, perhaps finding it hard to sleep with worry for whoever this matron woman was. And she could identify his footfalls outside on the deck, perfectly even and monotonous. It was the sound of someone pacing, almost marching in unwavering paces. She wondered about the politics of the shore-bound. They all seemed to be crazy. Either kill a lass or die trying, that was the way it should be. She couldn’t imagine the woman, so powerful in station, and so weak in her situation. Why didn’t she fight back, or escape? She was tired of wealthy faceless men who threw money at their problems instead of facing them straight on.
“Landlubbers”. She huffed aloud. Mac stirred in the bed beside her, but remained asleep. The sheet that had been barely covering him slid off, revealing his naked leg in the light of a moon beam that shone in through the cabin’s back windows. The sight made her frisky. She took a nice long look before fixing the sheet over him once again. Mac had great legs, lean and muscular like the rest of him. She was a lucky woman. She considered waking him—she suspected that he wouldn’t object to being awakened for sex—but she knew that there was no point in both of them feeling unbearably fatigued the next day. Her still whirring mind turned to thoughts of her own impending rescue strategies. At least she knew that if she found any of her family members on the island, they would help her fight her way out if necessary. She had no idea how Embros was planning to rescue a woman so fragile that Orellow would likely have to carry her.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Sept 30, 2017 15:48:04 GMT -5
The warmth and brightness of the suns rays creeping through your cabin window wakes you. You open your eyes to a bright sunny day, cloudless from what you can see from your bed. You see Mac standing naked in the middle of the room with his feet a shoulder width apart, his arms are outstretched with hands clasped above his head. His back is to you, so he doesn't yet know you're awake. While you watch he leans as far as he can to the left and holds that position for twenty seconds. He repeats the process on the right side. You can't help but giggle as he bends at the waist and touches the floor between his feet. He smiles back at you with is face between his knees, "Good morning Mrs Cutter." He spends another ten minutes stretching every muscle he has while you watch mesmerized. You know he spent more time stretching than he normally does, and you suspect that it's entirely for your benefit, not that you're complaining.
When the show finally ends he comes over and kisses you, at first a simple touching of the lips, but as he pulls back from that he says, "Nope, not good enough." and kisses you again, this time passionately. His left hand grabs the back of your neck, and slides upward, his fingers making a fist in your hair. He pulls your head back and kisses your neck, nibbling gently. His right hand slowly makes it's way up your thigh, your slip pooling at his wrist as his hand climbs. Tap. Tap. Tap. Mac groans when he hears someone knocking at the door, "This better be good!" He shouts at the offending knocker. Pete Moxey's reluctant voice calls back, "I thought you might want to see Embros and Orellow having a friendly duel." Mac sighs, the mood having passed, "We will be right out." He calls back. He kisses you again, pressing his lips and his forehead to yours and holding there for a few seconds. When he breaks contact he gets dressed quickly, helping you if you need it.
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 1, 2017 4:56:46 GMT -5
Tsunami groans when there is a knock that interrupts Mac’s attempt to shiver her timbers. She’s intrigued however, at the thought of seeing the two capable fighters clash swords. She goes to one of the cupboards and pulls out a soft package wrapped in fine paper, secured with a ribbon. She pulls the end of the ribbon to loosen the bow that keeps it bound. Mac looks on with interest, as he dresses. Tsunami’s slender fingers pull back the paper to reveal a boy’s suit. She grabs the hem of her shift with crossed arms and in one fluid motion, pulls it up over her head. She throws it on the bed. Then she holds up the pieces from the package to admire them as she dresses. The shirt goes over her head, and although until now, Mac’s face has been a mixture of confusion and curiosity, understanding dons on him as the shirt comes to rest perfectly just above her knees. The fit is perfect. She tucks he shirt between her legs as she has seen Mac do, and steps into the black britches. They fit rather snugly, and she rushes to put on the waistcoat to cover her rear end as Mac lets out an appreciative whistle. As she does up the buttons along the purple trim, the first sounds of the clashing of metal on metal ring out. She hastily grabs the frock coat and throws it on, not bothering to button it. She reaches for the handle and Mac calls from behind her, “Tsunami”. She turns in time to see her hat spinning through the air toward her. She catches it deftly and pops it on her head on their way out the door.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 1, 2017 18:23:06 GMT -5
You arrive outside to see the two men circling, taking quick probing shots at one another. Trying a few strategies, thrust, parry, reposte. Basic stuff to feel out their opponent. Before long however, they are hacking and slashing across the entire deck. Dodging and weaving between their opponents blows. One thing becomes clear while watching these men fight, they both move gracefully like they're dancing, deflecting blows and spinning into attacks fluidly with little wasted effort. Nether man really trying to overpower the other. Gregor whistles, and in the end, both men stagger back, panting for breath. Orellow laughing while sucking in lung fulls of air between his teeth and Embros standing stock still with his hands on his knees chest heaving with the exertion of the duel. Gregor steps forward, "Four hits each. No victor, tie match!"
Rolls: Init: Embros 12, Orellow 17
Orellow: 13 Miss, Embros: 20, 10 damage Orellow: 9 Miss, Embros: 7 Miss Orellow: 11 Miss, Embros: 6 Nat 1 Miss Orellow: 26 Nat 20, 10 damage, Embros: 22, 10 damage Orellow: 9 Miss, Embros: 19, 11 damage (Orellow would have dropped from damage here) Orellow: 14 Miss, Embros: 16 Miss Orellow: 25, 10 damage, Embros: 16 Miss (Embros would have dropped from damage here) Orellow: 12 Miss, Embros: 15 Miss Orellow: 20, 5 damage, Embros: 23, 11 damage Orellow: 16, 6 damage, Embros: 12 Miss
4 hits each, the duel is a tie.
Note: We were playing for number of hits in 11 rounds, damage was rolled just for fun.
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 1, 2017 19:32:41 GMT -5
If Tsunami had spent any length of time on land, she might have thought that the men were stalking each other like clever cats. As it was, the comparison that came to her was that of two bull sharks circling before they attacked their prey. Their movements were lithe and purposeful, their transitions from one fighting stance to the next smooth. The clunking of their boot heels on the deck’s wooden planks was almost rhythmic as they each gained and lost ground with each attack and parry. Tsunami was familiar with some of the styles they were employing, and most times she was able to see where each blow would land before the thrust or slash had been completed. However, watching them did reveal to her some maneuvers that she was unfamiliar with too, and that elicited some Oohs and Ahs of approval from her. At one point, Embros came at Orellow with a flourishing, twirling multi-stepped attack when the fellow was backed against the side rail. Surprisingly, Orellow didn’t move a muscle, nor did he flinch as his opponent drew nearer in spin after spin, his blade twirling nearer. As Embros got within range, his blade came down on an angle fit to separate Orellow’s head clean from his shoulders. A collective gasp rang out in anticipation of the fatal blow, but in a blur, Orellow spun and dropped, sticking his leg out. The connection of limbs swept Embros’ feet out from under him, and Orellow was able to duck safely under the oncoming blade and came away on Embros’ other side. Unfortunately for Embros, his forward momentum didn’t halt with the loss of his footing, and the man came down hard upon the deck. His descending sword made a hollow Clank as it hit the railing and sending a chip of blue stained wood cartwheeling through the air.
“My ship!” exclaimed Tsunami and Mac together in protest. “I’ll pay to have it fixed,” Embros assured them as he tried to wrench his sword free from the inch deep cut in the railing where it was stuck fast. “No rest for the wicked,” Gregor sighed, having just finished fixing the railing after the wyvern attack.
It was at that moment, with Embros’ weapon for the moment useless, and the man distracted in his sheepish apology to the captain, that Orellow saw his advantage and attacked. He charged at his employer with a gleam of victory in his eye and his teeth glinting in the sunlight from within his menacing smile. A screamed warning rang out from where Catherine had been perched in the riggings for a better view.
Embros looked up and gave one final pull on his sword. It came free in a large arcing motion just as Orellow sliced the other man across his now exposed belly. It had been a clean hit, which solicited much applause and cheers from the on-looking swashbucklers.
[this is Embros’ nat 1, followed by Orellow’s Nat 20]
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 2, 2017 12:23:42 GMT -5
With the duel completed, the crew breaks into small groups and you see coins exchanged. Must be to return wagers because there was no winner. The exception is Mac, he is handed a fair number of coins from several of the crew. He looks at you and smiles, “I knew they were evenly matched. At least as long as Orellow is fighting with sword and board.” With a flick of his wrist almost too quick to see the coins vanish into hidden pockets.
The rest of the trip goes uneventfully, good weather and excellent seas make for an easy voyage once you get clear of the Wyvern Straight. Now that you know the tricks to sailing their territories, you think you could use the Wyvern’s to evade pursuit. Your maps tell you that you will reach the prison island under cover of darkness tonight. You see that Orellow and Embros have gathered all their gear, and piled it neatly by the base of the mast. Embros must have informed Orellow of their proximity to their goal. In a few short hours those two will break off and scale the cliffs on one side of the island, while your party circles around to either the beach, or the prison docks. The beach will be lightly guarded, but you will have to travel farther to reach the prison. The docks will be heavily guarded, but if you take them you will have access to your old ship, and those of the navy docked there. Time to choose Captain.
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 2, 2017 17:41:34 GMT -5
Tsunami regarded the men, the tension in their forms blatant with the anticipation of the impending rescue. They were anxious to be off, as was she. They had their plan of action, and it was time for her to formulate her own. She nodded to the men and hoped that their paths might cross again one day, though hopefully not within the walls of a cell.
She retired to her quarters where she locked the door behind her. She went to one of the cupboards and pulled out a wooden box. Lifting the lid, she exposed a set of beautifully crafted writing utensils—an ink pot, writing quill, parchment, sealing wax, and blotting sand. But this wasn’t what she was interested in. By pressing her thumbs against the opposite inside walls of the box, she was able to lift out the top layer of wood, to reveal a file of papers under the false bottom. She lifted these out reverently. The file had come from the desk of the Master of the temple of Arun. Aaron Miller, a true hero on the battlefield, and a man who had proved to be resourceful and crafty, had gifted her with them as a reward for attempting to retrieve the Arunian Seal of Light for him.
She turned the pages; a report of the fate of the Sea’s Song, the ship she had been raised on, and whose crew she now sought to rescue. Aaron Miller had had a network of spies, one of which had compiled this sheaf of pages. She read the slanted writing as she had done twice before, with a churning stomach and the taste of bile rising in her throat.
“The Sea's Song has been captured and brought to the nearest Somerset port. While the crew awaited the noose, there was an uprising, and all but three of the Sea's Song's crew have escaped. Two died in the attempt—I have not been able to ascertain their names as of yet—but a third was set to be hanged as soon as a new judge could be brought in. I have included a sketch of this survivor. The judge has been slain during the uprising. I have it under good authority that that will take at least a week to ferry in a new one, so the man will remain in the cell he was returned to after his attempted escape. The Sea's Song and all its cargo are still being held, but a Somerset cruiser has been taken by those that successfully fled the island.”
She knew that their job would be made more difficult, not knowing where their man was being held. If she only had some clue. She pounded the table with her fist in frustration. She moved the pages aside until she came to the rough sketch of the man that had been held captive. In the picture, his eye was swollen and he was missing a new tooth, but it was still the boy she had grown up with. He had been press-ganged onto the ship and had elected to stay. He had been filthy-covered with mud so that all that had shown was his bright blue eyes. That’s how he had come by his name. Despite the damage done to his face, she’d know Blue-Eyed Pete anywhere. She lamented the fact that some of her fathers lay among the dead, but the fact that Pete lived gave her some relief. He was such a gentle soul at heart.
She knew that the docks would be more heavily guarded, but she desperately wanted the Sea’s Song back in her fathers’ and mother’s rightful hands. She could spare some of her crew to man it; it was a smaller boat, so it didn’t require as many hands.
The doorknob rattled as someone tried to enter. A hasty knock followed. “One minute!” Tsunami called as she hastily scooped the papers back together and shoved them back into the box, replacing the false bottom. “Tsunami, it’s me,” called Mac from the other side of the door. “Don’t feel the need to redress on my account.” She could hear his oily grin saturating his words. She rose and unlocked the door, ushering him inside. “I think I have a plan to be able to pull in right to the docks.” She told him. “I was thinking of telling Embros and Orellow to take the Sea’s Song and a couple of our crew to make their escape. They can use the ride, and it will need the extra pairs of hands to man it. Then we can meet up with them and take my old ship back to its rightful crew, and deliver them wherever they need to go.”
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 3, 2017 17:54:19 GMT -5
The crew watch you head into you cabin, knowing that you will be potentially deciding their fate. As you enter the room and close the door, you can hear Mac calling out orders and making final preparations. With that settled, Mac follows you into the cabin to help you plan the approach. Mac is confused when the door is locked, that is normally only reserved for when the pair of you are naked. Once inside, he locks the door once more and leans against it. "Alright, so you want to take us into the most heavily guarded area. Sounds interesting. Tell me the details." He pulls out his dagger and begins trimming his nails, careful to keep the trimmings from falling on the floor. You really appreciate how tidy he keeps those nails.
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 3, 2017 20:48:15 GMT -5
“Thar be only one man that requires rescue at this juncture. Me matey Blue-Eyed Pete did get re-captured during their escape attempt. The rest managed to borrow one of the navel ships and set sail as free men. We could pull into port and I could pretend that I’m there for a conjugal visit. They’ve never seen me face, I should be able to walk right in. O’ course, the Sapphire Rover do be an honest ship thus far, so if ye be wantin’ to maintain its blemish-free reputation a while longer, we should maybe dock on the less guarded side of the island. It shouldn’t be too hard to get in and out with one man.”
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 4, 2017 5:04:03 GMT -5
(You've changed another aspect of my plot. I had said that your fathers escaped the prison, but were still on the island. No worries, apparently they commandeered a ship after that report.)
Mac pulls a face, looking doubtful, "Does the Navy even allow conjugal visits? Wouldn't you have to fill out paperwork or something? Seems to risky. Besides, you would have to go in there unarmed." He stands, shaking his head, "I don't like that plan, too much chance I would then have to rescue you along side Blue Eyed Pete." Walking to your navigation table, he unfurls the rough map of the island, "The prison is a fortress, but it's designed to keep people in rather than keep them out." He points at the docks, "The docks are where the Navy keeps their ships, where the prisoners are transferred to and from, and where the island gets resupplied." He runs his finger across a beach on the other side of the island, "This is the only other place that doesn't have steep cliffs. It has a standing guard, but it's a skeletal force. Mostly they're just there to alert the main prison with a signal fire in the event of an attack." He points at some cliffs about midway between the prison and the beach, "I say we drop Embros and Orellow here, with a small party of our crew. We all climb up, then Orellow and Embros move to the prison while our crew take out the guards at the signal fire and hold that location until our main force can attack at the beach." He taps the beach for emphasis. Pointing to the sketch of the interior of the prison, "Embros says he knows a way into the prison, so he and Orellow will sneak in and free the prisoners. If all goes well, we meet up at the beach and leave before the Navy even realized that we've attacked."
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 7, 2017 6:51:36 GMT -5
Tsunami raises an eyebrow at his suggestion that he’d have to rescue her, but she likes his plan. They return to the deck to inform the crew and choose the few who will be joining them on their climb with Orellow and Embros. Catherine immediately volunteers, almost too eagerly, but on the tails of that, Gregor’s deep voice intones that he will go too. The rest of the crew gets their instructions and sets to work preparing to maneuver close enough to the sheer rock cliffs without striking them or damaging the ship. Tsunami gives them some pointers, master sailor that she is. The ones that are coming take up arms and sheath them, ready for whatever might be waiting at the top of the cliffs.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 7, 2017 10:24:07 GMT -5
Mac nods to Catherine, “Take only what you need. We travel light.” He gestures to one side by the Captain, stepping up to Gregor he places his handbag on the man’s chest. “You are brave without doubt, but stealth is beyond you my friend. Besides, I want you here to deter the Navy from boarding my ship.” Mac gestures to Toby Hawkins, “Get in line me boy, this mission is right up your alley.”
The landing party climbs aboard a ships boat, and heads toward the steep cliffs. Using long poles to keep the ship from being dashed apart on the sharp rocks, Toby scurries of the rock face as if it were flat ground, a rope trailing behind him for the rest. He crests the top of the cliff, and after a few seconds waves down to the rest of you.
Mac and the rest scale the rocks easily enough with a rope to brace against. Once the lot of you reach the top, you see that the majority of the island is scrub land, with plenty of bushes and small trees. The prison is silhouetted against the skyline. The crew look to you for instruction.
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 8, 2017 5:42:04 GMT -5
Tsunami surveyed their surroundings. The scrub brush and lack of larger trees would make it difficult, but not impossible to travel close to the prison. There were some large rocks that sot up toward the sky here and there. Most were round, like boulders, but they were still small in comparison to the size of a man. One of them might give one or two crouched man cover, but there were more of them there. She knew that most of the journey would have to be made down on their bellies in among the scrub brush.
“Mac, stealth is yer specialty, ye take Embros and Orellow with ye, and maybe one other. Scout ahead and report back to let us know the best angle to approach from in terms o’ blind spots o’ the guards. We’ll start making the trek inland, and we’ll meet by that thar sharp rock in the distance that almost seems to point at the prison. It looks big enough all of us should still have cover thar.”
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 8, 2017 8:14:31 GMT -5
Mac gestures Orellow and Embros toward the prison, and Toby toward the beach. All four men dart off in a crouch moving from cover to cover until they're out of sight. Time passes as you watch your ships boat row back to the ship, and get hulled back on board. Catherine whispers, "Someone's coming back." She hesitates a moment, before adding, "It's Mac." Mac returns, still crouch running. "The area is clear between here and the beach, but there is a patrol route along the way that could have guards at any time." He waves everyone toward the beach, and begins moving himself talking while he moves, "The beach itself has a small building with three guards, two patrolling and one standing guard beside an unlit signal fire. We can't let that one light that fire." You arrive after a while, and see exactly what Mac described. The unlit signal fire and a guard standing between two lit braziers stands about 50ft from the small building. As you watch you see the other two guards patrolling around the area. Mac points to a bush, but you're not sure why. Mac squints, then shifts his finger three bushes to the right, "Toby is..." He hesitates, "Toby is over there somewhere." He points to the opposite side, "I'll be over there somewhere." He points at the signal fire guard, "When the patrols reach us, can you two take out that one? When you attack, we will attack the patrols."
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 9, 2017 5:53:18 GMT -5
She smiles a slow wide smile and grabs Mac’s shirtfront near the collar. She pulls him in for one deep kiss before they go. Whenever they were going to put themselves in danger, she figured that they should always have a good one to go on. Just in case something were to happen that might end up separating them for a while, like death, or incarceration. “I like the way ye think, Mr. Cutter.” she tells him when they pull out of the long kiss. “Off with ye, then.”
She circles around and approaches the beach from behind the building so the guard will have to walk toward it and away from the braziers in order to see what all the impending commotion is about. She silently counts to thirty to give Mac enough time to get into position. Then standing, she starts descending the sloping hill toward the back of the building in order to walk by the wall under the eve to the front of it. She closes her eyes for a few brief moments as she descends the hill, asking Merric to bless her with a bit of water. As she begins to walk alongside the building, she feels his power fill her and flow through her. She can almost feel the moisture in the air condensing before her. She opens her eyes as she peaks around the front of the building. A guard stands by the brazier with his back to her and Catherine is sneaking up to subdue him. The water vapour in the air comes together, and she begins to see a shimmering puddle form in mid-air, right over the guard’s brazier.
Tsunami knows that she will have to act quickly before it becomes noticable to the man. She takes a deep breath and steps out, calling to the guard and affecting the cadence and accent of the landlubber females she had heard fawning over luxurious materials in the fine clothing shops in Clifton. “You-who, is anyone there? Please, sir, I am in need of some assistance!” She feels ridiculous, but he has heard her. As the soldier by the brazier’s head turns toward her, he begins to pull a torch from the brazier and his hand goes to his sword. Tsunami wills the water to fall on the fire, dousing it with a sizzling hiss.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 9, 2017 7:14:39 GMT -5
When you pull Mac in for a kiss, he makes it count. He kisses you back with such reckless abandon that you're left breathless. When he pulls back from the kiss, he presses his forehead to yours for a long moment. Then he pulls his head back and finds your eyes with his, and presses his hand to your chest between your breasts, "You have my heart, keep it safe." He smiles, more warm than oily for a change before stepping back.
You circle around the scrub plain dodging from short hedge to bush to shrub, and begin your approach to the rear of the guard's house. From your vantage point you see Mac slip into place between two larger shrubs about 100ft down from you. 200ft from him you see one of the guards walking, his head turning from side to side. You're actually kind of impressed that he is being so diligent, most men would be walking with eyes down or straight ahead. You reach the back wall, and call out to the guard by the signal fire. The man at the fire draws his sword with one hand, as he leaps away from the hissing brazier. As he moves he pulls a now steaming touch torch, that should have been on fire. He looks at it confused for a moment before trying to light it in the other brazier. A voice calls out from inside the building, "Did one of you sneak a bloody woman onto the island?" The last three words are barely understood, masked slightly by a yawn.
As you round the corner, you can see all your pieces in play. Across the field Toby is lowering a guard silently to the ground. To your left Mac makes ready to spring on the guard that is charging toward you with weapon in hand. To your right, Catherine is behind the signal fire guard weapon raised high. The door to your right opens and a guard in just his breeches pokes his head out. When he sees you his eyes go wide...
Roll init.
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 9, 2017 14:20:03 GMT -5
As the breeches-clad man poked his head out, and his eyes grew wide at the sight of her, Tsunami answered his question. “Aye, that’s right, just fer ye, General. Happy birthday!” Then she attempts to cold-cock him with a strike of the hilt of her cutlass to his temple.
[init roll: 18+1 (dex) = 19.] [att roll: 10+ 3 (str) = 13. if it hits, 2+3=5dam)
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 9, 2017 18:31:40 GMT -5
You smash the man in the temple, and he curses with a word you hadn't heard before. You're impressed since you grew up around pirates and sailors. He staggers backward into the room, slamming the door as he stumbles backward, a line of blood running down the side of his head, "Up, up you fools! We're under attack!" He shouts inside. You hear the scrambling motion of people gathering equipment inside, but you can't be sure how many. Toby draws a short bow, and takes aim at the signal fire guard. Catherine misses her first strike as the man dances to one side to avoid the hissing brazier. Mac steps out and punches the running guard in the throat with the guard of his blade, the man drops to the ground clutching his windpipe and gasping for breath. The signal fire guard drops the soaked torch, and pulls another from the other brazier, he takes a halfhearted swipe at Catherine, but she blocks it easily. (Since I don't know if I have shared the Pirate Crew Pictures before...)
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 9, 2017 18:44:19 GMT -5
Tsunami once again prays to Merric for the miracle of water. As the sound of rushing waves fills her ears, another floating puddle of water appears above the remaining brazier. She allows it to fall, dousing the second flame. Now all that she needs to worry about is the burning torch in the guard's hand. If Catherine can't take him down engaged as they are in combat, Tsunami might have to step in and remove the guard's hand.
As Mac takes down the charging guard, she touches the front brim of her hat in thanks to him.
The guard inside the hut starts yelling for more to arise. How many, she couldn't guess. What she did know is that she didn't want the guard outside to be able to flank them when the new lot came out. She turned toward the guard with the torch to flank the man opposite Catherine.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 9, 2017 19:07:31 GMT -5
The second brazier goes out much like the first, with a loud hiss and a column of steam. You charge up behind the guard with the torch, and he pivots to face both women at once. He uses the torch to keep you back, while exchanging sword blows with Catherine. Toby sinks an arrow into the door as one of the guards tries to step out, sword in hand. The man hops back inside, and the door slams shut again. Mac hops on top of the man clutching his throat and smashes him in the face with his blade guard. The man stops struggling and lays still, with at best a broken nose.
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 9, 2017 20:49:02 GMT -5
Tsunami brandishes her cutlass at the guard, feigning attacks to keep his attention on her rather than Catherine. “Ye could just give up and surrender to a couple o’ bonnie lasses,” Tsunami offered. “We wouldn’t have to kill ye then, we could just tie ye up in a comfortable position and ye can live out the rest o’ yer days to a ripe old age. If ye prefer, ye can even tell yer maties that ‘tweren’t us laides at all, but perhaps a couple o’ big brawny men that did subdue ye.” As the torch swings dangerously close to her however, Tsunami reflexively slashes downward as if to parry.
[att roll: 7+2+3= 12] [dam roll: 1+3=4]
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 10, 2017 11:31:07 GMT -5
Your cutlass slashes across the man's wrist, but the metal plate of his gauntlet prevents the blade from causing any real harm. The man thrusts the torch at you, jabbing you with the stick itself, and holding it against you until the heat of the torch begins to blister your flesh. (1 Bludgeoning + 4 fire damage) The man narrowly deflects Catherine's latest attack. She meets your eyes, and signals what she intends to do next so you can plan your attack effectively. (You gain advantage) Both the guard house door and window open with a thud, and a pair of bolts dart from the window across the field at Toby. One of which streaks past his ear so close that he actually grabs at his ear before the other buries itself deep into the meat of his thigh. With your knowledge of the Human body, that bolt is awfully close to his femoral artery. For his part Toby dives into a shrub and vanishes from view almost immediately. (Bonus action hide DC 23 to spot him) Mac runs toward the building, and is blocked from view by the building itself.
The guard in front of you takes stalk of the situation, and you suspect that he is going to do is best to light that signal fire soon. Your action.
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 10, 2017 13:48:22 GMT -5
Tsunami bares her teeth as her flesh bubbles, trying desperately to hold back the scream. She doesn’t want to distract Mac at the wrong moment and get him killed. She pushes the torch away roughly with the back of her blade, sparks of flaming embers decorating the night sky in a fan as she does. Knowing that Catherine is going to take another swing at him, Tsunami tries to bullrush the man to knock him off balance and give Catherine the element of surprise. She runs at him and throws her shoulder low, so that Catherine might strike high. If she’s lucky, the move will surprise him into dropping that blooming torch!
[att: 6+5=11 to unbalance him]
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 10, 2017 17:19:20 GMT -5
The guard tries to stick the torch into your hair as you hunch your shoulder and charge at him, but you move too quickly and manage to slam your body into his stomach. Not only do you knock the wind out of him, but he drops the flaming torch on the ground behind you as you drive him backward into Catherine's attack. Unfortunately you pushed him backward so hard, he got inside Catherine's swing, and she had to act fast just to avoid hitting you with her arcing blade.
Guard Attack of Opportunity: 1d20+3=4 (Nat 1) Your Opposed Strength: 1d20+3=13 Guard Opposed Strength: 1d20+1=6
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 11, 2017 5:03:18 GMT -5
As Tsunami drives the guard backward, she hears the blunt sound of the torch hitting the sand behind her: sciff. Tsunami sees a close flash of light, the bright moonlight briefly reflecting off the blade of Catherine’s sword, and realized that she has pushed too far. She pulls back, but Catherine’s stroke is already in motion, flowing with the speed of water flowing through a section of rapids. Though slowing her momentum, Tsunami stays her course, trusting Catherine’s abilities as a swordswoman though she had only witnessed the woman fighting once. The sword comes close, so close that Tsunami can hear an audible sound of the gleaming metal slicing its path through the air. Her heart races, partially from the adrenaline of the fight, and also in response to the close call that had nearly taken her head. She disengages from the guard, leaving him to Catherine for the moment, and tends to the torch. grabbing the end of it, she buries it in the sand to extinguish it, kicking more on top to boot. Now there is no fire with which to light the beacon, but they aren’t out of the cataracts yet. One of the officers inside the cabin might try for the hulking pile of fuel-covered wood with a flint and steel. Her party had to subdue them. She crouched low to make herself a smaller target for those firing from within as she moved closer to the guard shack. She concentrated her efforts on the space inside the hut that she could see through the opened door over the crossbow-wielding man’s shoulder. She would only have seconds before they had time to reload, and she wanted them to be distracted before they completed the task. She began a new prayer, asking Merric for his aid once again; this time in the form of some kind of distraction. She feels the tug of wind in her hair and is conscious of the sound that always fills her ears before Merric answers her prayers. She is filled with a current of something bright before three bone-chilling squeaks fill the air. Inside the cabin there is a commotion and a scurrying movement on the floor. Tsunami can’t see what is happening inside, except for the flash of a long, thick pink tail as something runs past the door behind the man’s ankles. She wills the three Fiendish Dire Rats to attack the officers. A shiver runs through her. She has dealt with bilge rats before, nasty creatures. She is glad that she is in the open air, and that they are on her side. Fiendish Dire Rat
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 11, 2017 5:25:48 GMT -5
The torch goes out without issue, a thin trail of smoke trailing up from the charred end as you discard it. Dodging away from the signal fire guard, he spins his blade at your face, but you duck hunching your shoulders and escape his reach. You hear a metal tink noise and the guard screams in pain. Glancing back you see Catherine's blade sticking through the man's side. As she pulls her blade back, he finishes his swing against you and drives the point of his sword into her stomach. With your attention no longer focused on the battle with the signal fire guard, you see that Mac has skulked below the window. As one of the guards sticks his crossbow out to take another shot at Toby, Mac reaches up and cuts his bowstring. Another guard steps out of the room, sword in hand as your rats appear in a swirl of black smoke and a flash of fire. The rats leap into the man's chest, scratching and biting, and the guard stumbles backward into the room screaming.
Guard Attack of Opportunity: 16 (Miss) Fiendish Rat Attack: 1d20+4=16 (Hit) Fiendish Rat Damage: 1d4+disease=4 Fiendish Rat 2 Attack: 20+4 = 24, Confirm: 1+4=5 (hit, no crit) Fiendish Rat 2 Damage: 4 Fiendish Rat 3 Attack: 10+4 = 14 Fiendish Rat 3 Damage: 2 Guard Fort Save: 1d20+3=20 (pass) Guard Fort Save: 1d20+3=20 (pass) Guard Fort Save: 1d20+3=15 (pass) (Rat Guard has 1hp left, Delfon Super Power Activate!)
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Post by Sugarphix on Oct 11, 2017 8:17:54 GMT -5
Seeing Catherine skewered by the guard only angers Tsunami and makes her redouble her efforts. She rises, bringing her sword up toward the officer’s back, and slices into him on an upward angle, aiming for his kidneys. If he falls, she rushes to Catherine to try to tend to her wounds. She wants the woman whole again and on her feet so they can take care of the scallywags still screaming from within the cabin.
[att: 19+5=24 and 17+5=22 to confirm crit Dam: 3+3 = 6 x 2 = 12 damage]
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 11, 2017 10:14:28 GMT -5
Putting the guard house out of your head for a moment, you spin and charge back to aid Catherine, slashing your blade up the man’s back from tailbone to collar bone. His Navy tabard splits, and you see the cloven rings of the man’s chain shirt. He staggered forward into Catherine’s arms, and she lowers him gently to the ground. “I’ll tend to him Captain, Mac told us to try not to kill anyone.”
With that problem resolved, you turn your attention back to the guard house just as Mac leaps into the open window. Toby calls out, “Call off your rats, the battle is done.” When you arrive at the house (assuming you hold the rat attacks) you find Mac holding three men, two in breeches, and one naked at sword point. One of the dressed ones is blessing from dozens of scratches and bites that cover his chest and stomach. “Thanks for that me Heart.” Mac says as you approach.
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