Plague of the Marked (Eberron, Gestalt)

[King Tius]

It is a bleak day in the City of Towers as you board the airship. The great ring of fire that encircles the vessel hisses in the early morning rain which is blown nearly horizontal by the wind through the spires. You stand on a small loading dock, a large stone and wood disk that juts out from one of the myriad towers that makes up this great city. The loading dock, as well as the three adjacent floors of the tower, is owned by the Dungeon Delvers (your current employer), a guild that specializes in exploration and extermination in subterranean facilities.

This morning you awoke to find a new posting on the Guild bulletin board, listing your names and a brief job description (Mror Holds, Escort). You packed your delving gear and made your way to the loading dock, finding that the supply crates had already been laid out by the quartermaster’s crew. Now, you help to load the airskiff, seeing your fellow crewmembers for the first time. Though you have all been in the Dungeon Delvers for a variety of different periods, none of you have worked together before. The ship captain, a Lyrandar woman you know as Hestina, stands proudly on the dock, watching you load.

“Hurry it up!” she shouts, “we’re due to take off in half an hour!” She turns and heads back inside, giving you all a short reprieve in your loading duties and a chance to make introductions…..

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik yawned languidly, looking up at the Airship, and the oddly assorted group assembled. 10 people said that their bosses knew something more about what they were doing then they were telling. Of course, that was always the case, but in this particular one, Perik believed he would find what they weren't saying of particular interest.

Oh well.

"So I'm guessing you all are the other's who were listed on the notice. I'm Perik."

Perik yawned again, looking around to see who would pick up the introductions. They didn't need to know each other's life stories, but a little bit of information about one another would make this business easier. Names were always a good start.

[Godskook]

Second to the docks, after Hestina, Rupert ignores Hestina's chiding, confident in the knowledge that he'd loaded a decent bulk of the cargo. He sits down, pulls off a boot, examining the interior for pebbles, satisfying himself before putting it back on. As the others take seats and catch their breath, Rupert is the first to break the silence. "It is strange to see so many unfamiliar faces among the Dungeon Delvers. I've been here, what, 6 years, and I'd say this is the largest crew of people I've never met before, wouldn't you, Hestina?"

Dibs on the first die roll of the game! Who is Mror Holds?
[roll0]

[squirr31y]

Projecting a cautious air about her, Menardi gave the other people assembling a critical eye, gauging them curiously. She hesitates a moment or two, uncertainty clear in her posture, before finally speaking up.

"Menardi" she states simply, deciding that was all she needed to give up for now.

[DragoonWraith]

Faernacha
A tall Warforged stands, unmoving, among the ten. Oddly designed, for a Warforged, it gives the distinct impression of almost feline wildness. The metallic mouth is filled sharp fangs, the hands and feet end in large, savage claws, and all over it is covered in overlapping metal flaps, appearing very much like the scales of some beast. On its arms and chest, translucent blue fur extends from its pectorals to its claws, and a second set of ethereal claws can be seen there. The hands also seem to be wearing a pair of gloves, with yet more fur, this time a dark, brownish red.

As Rupert questions the group, the Warforged beast's eyes flicker into a brighter green, and he says "This one is Faernacha."

[appending_doom]

Illori

A wiry, short-haired elf dressed in brown and green explorer's clothes stands near the railings of the ship. He nods to the others, shifting the stout longbow strung across his back. Two pendants hang prominently from his neck -- a wooden, skull-like mask, and a silver arrowhead engraved with a flame.

His expression is impassive, though not unfriendly.

"I'm Illori," he announces. "I've been with the Delvers since just after the war." He carefully lifts a small rat from one of his many pockets and adds, "Kindly be careful when it comes to vermin; I've been known to use Rhylle to send messages."

[Demons_eye]

The other warforged stands tall opposite of the first. Unlike most he had a red paint job making it easy to notice him but it was his favorite color. Unlike his counter part over there he did move. He had nervous ticks just like a bio and he hated it most of the time when he noticed it. He caught himself taping his fingers on his arm when he spoke up "Magnon is the name. If it exist I can build it" he says scanning the bot across from him. "Custom model too eh? Nice to meet another bot out here." He says as he extends his hand for the other to shake.

[The DM]

Gronaks

Boarding the airship, a big orc looks around warily at his new companions. Gleaming steel links armor his chest, covered by a flowing white tabard emblazoned with a black dragon rampant. Strapped across his back is a massive sword, accompanied by a large, sturdy club. Seeing no immediate threat, he bows low in greeting. "Hail and well met. I am Gronaks Fellblade, newly hired by the Dungeon Delvers. You may call me Gron."

[Godskook]

Satisfied with his own comfort, Rupert assesses his new teammates. He then begins his typical 'welcome the new guys' speech. "Well, we're in for quite an adventure, friends. My name", he flourishes, in an attempt to look suave, "is Rupert von Trapp. You'll find my contribution to far exceed my most immediately apparent efforts, but for now, you'll pardon my forwardness as I set everyone's thermostats to 'nice'."

As he progresses through the group, he chats quietly with each, making small talk. When he approaches Illori, he reassures the elf, "You need not worry for your familiar with me, Illori."

With Menardi, he takes considerable time, behaving more as a suitor than as a coworker. "Milady, I hope our time together will be very pleasant."

"Gronak...", Rupert says pausing not just in word, but in action, thinking on the new man. He begins anew, this time in draconic and very quietly. "I sense a closeness with you, my friend. We should talk more later, and in private."

Each one in turn, discovers what Rupert is going on about, as the uncomfortable chilling wind and roasting gusts from the engines all meld, turning into a pleasant temperature, the elements turning from barely bearable to as comfortable as each could have asked for in their private suites.

[CockroachTeaParty]

Keeping to the outside of the group, an athletically built, oddly clad drow silently and sullenly goes about his tasks. He seems to be keeping a particular distance from the elves and half-elves in the vicinity, and he avoids eye contact with just about everyone. His black skin is tattooed with white designs, his wild white hair stuck to his soaked brow, his blood-red eyes shifty and brooding. The armor he wears seems to be made from some kind of chitinous plating of an organic nature. A black chain clinks as he moves, wrapped around his torso, each end of the chain terminating in a vicious blade.
Rupert's yammering only seems to irritate the dark elf. He does not say his name, but merely grunts.

[whoiam]

Mamellek was one of the last onboard. For all the time she'd been with the Dungeon Delvers (a couple of years by this point) and all the... well, fun... in the adventuring life, she still missed the chance to perform her devotions in an actual temple.

No matter. She'd yet to receive anything other than a cross word or two over her flirtation with poor timekeeping. Besides, when she was actually out on assignment, her record was pretty much spotless.

So... here were her new comrades. All new ones, worse luck. Time to get the paladin thing dealt with. "Hello, one and all. My name is Mamellek, and I'm a whiny, prissy antisocial bitch who's going to do her utmost to drain your lives of joy and purpose."

Beat pause. It was about as long as she could hold a straight face after saying that.

"But, hey! Things could be worse. I could have been serious about that lot." A broad grin flashed around the room in general - yea, even towards the two warforged, the orc, and the drow. "Anyway, as you would probably have guessed, I'm a paladin." Another beat pause. "Yeah, I know. Vows of moral behaviour are such a waste of a pretty girl, right? But I tend to operate like this: You refrain from murdering innocents, and I'll resist the paladinny tendancy to make your lives hell anytime you glance at a girl, a boy, a deck of cards or a drink. Deal?"

[appending_doom]

Illori

For his part, when he notices the drow, Illori's lip visibly curls. He glances towards Hestina, but, in light of the captain's current state of occupation, resigns himself and approaches the drow carefully.

"Are you a member of this expedition, or some sort of badly-hidden spy?" he asks, in elven. "If the latter, I'd like to point out that few organizations go out of their way to travel to Xen'drik just to hire traitorous barbarians. Just so your next attempt at blending in goes better," he adds generously.

At the arrival of the paladin, he pauses, and giving the drow an insincere smile, and the paladin a more genuine one.

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik gave each member of the group a look as they spoke up. Looked to be a well armed group, Perik immensely prefered it that way. Perik sighed, and sat back on a crate as the Paladin introduced herself.

"Glad to hear you feel that way Miss."

Perik shook his head, and gave out another yawn.

"Did the bosses give any of you lot any more information then Mror Holds? Cause I'd really like to know what kind of mission takes all of us."

[Godskook]

Briskly stepping between the two elves, Rupert interupts the stare down. "This is uncalled for, Illori, and I for one, will not stand for it. We're a team, and you'll do well to remember that." As Rupert speaks, fire flares from his nose and mouth.

[whoiam]

Whippin' out the detect evil, aimed at the elf, the drow, and the human between them

Elven: "Well said, Rupert."

Common: "Still, he raises a good point. What sort of team are we? Are we going to pick a leader and or representative for when such things are necessary, or operate on more democratic principles?"

From the sound of her voice, Mamellek did not mind either way. Having someone to bark orders could make a group operate more efficiently, and gave the rest of them someone to bitch about behind the leader's back, whearas more democratic approaches were... well, more fun. They were grown, and sort-of-mature people, they should be able to make either approach work.

[appending_doom]

Illori

Illori doesn't acknowledge Mamellek's interruption, instead raising an eyebrow at Rupert, a careful, assessing glare. "I have been fighting for longer than you have been alive, boy," he replies, still in elven. "Anything you wish to say to me, you remember you have no authority over me that I recognize, even if the rest of our companions decide you make an adequate commander."

He steps around the man with the flaming mouth, but stops before departing to another point of the boat entirely, and turns back to him, glaring.

"And if you want to enforce your commands with threats, you'll have to do better than that display. I saw horrors in Angmar you cannot match."

[CockroachTeaParty]

The drow scowls at the elf, Illori. Typical, from a baboon-brained Aereni coward. For the first time he speaks, his Common heavily accented. His red eyes meet Rupert's, and he briefly glances at the self-professed paladin. The drow's voice is barely more than a hissing whisper, yet it can be clearly heard over the rain.
"You Northerners are so quick to put your noses where they don't belong. I suppose the adventuring trade suits you... Rupert, was it? Well, you should know, where I come from, asking someone's name is a grave insult. A name is shared only when it is earned by its owner. But to step between a drow Scorpion Wraith and its prey... I suppose such bravery deserves a reward. You may call me Ex'Jat, human, as may the rest of you. You'll need some way to call me when you need something dead."
He lifts another box, and loads it onto the airship.

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik ignored the fight between the two Elves. He didn't care about it. Elves whining about Elvish things. He could understand what they were saying, but didn't care to comment on it. Elves could argue about Elvish things, and that was that. But his team mates looked like they didn't share his feeling on the subject.

While a brawl might be fun, not the best way to start off a mission.

When Perik spoke up, it was in lightly accented Elvish, quickly before Illori walks away.

"We've all walked dangerous paths. Remember that. I have better things to do then teach you how undeserving of your overconfidence you are."

With that, Perik turned back to the Paladin.

"Leader's, all that kind of nonsense? You serious? We are professionals. Just do what needs to be done."

[Godskook]

"You'll find me to be a man who doesn't bother with threats, Illori." says Rupert, noting the elf's arrogance for a moment, musing on his words, before adding. "It is amusing that you would bring your age into this, as I'd imagine that it would be a source of embarrassment for you to be equaled by those who are a mere quarter your age."

He the turns to the Paladin. This group is apparently quite charged. It is unlikely that we'll see much cooperation if personal politics are allowed to interfere with company work. A leader would be appropriate. Although he avoids nominating himself(fearing the elf's retort), it is clear from Rupert's posture that he'd welcome the chance.

[whoiam]

Elven: "I sense the two of you are going to be a peculiar and persistant nuisance on this trip."

Turning around to address the one who'd been so dismissive of the idea of introducing some level of organisation.

Common: "Yes, you're right, Perik. All those professional armies with ranks and hierarchies are *completely* out of their minds! What were they thinking? All they needed was to dump a bunch of soldiers on the same field of battle and trust them all to work together like a well-oiled machine without so much as training together, experience together, or any sort of reliable - or even known - command structure! Obviously running around as we feel best is the most efficient way of approaching any problem." A pause, and a sigh. "When groups get larger, it helps to have some sort of coordination between the members of the group. At least until you get used to working together. After all, we aren't used to working with each other, so we're hardly likely to just *click* the instant we end up in danger... or combat."

I may be getting quite close to my sarcasm quota for the day already...

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik listened to the Paladin's little homily on the value of authority, and waited a second before responding.

"You finished? Good. There's a lot of reasons why your speech there was full of the high minded bull you Paladin's constantly push, and completely irrelevant to the situation at hand, but let's leave that aside."

Perik didn't raise his voice, looking more bored then anything. As he was. He'd had this argument far to many times.

"Let's focus on the practical dimensions. Illori isn't going to listen to you, or anyone you appoint, I'm guessing, unless it happens to be him, because he is a self impressed idiot. I won't listen to someone who starts giving orders, because I don't like being ordered, and I'm not going to be leader. I'm betting at least some of the rest is the same. We all are good at what we do, and just because you and your friend need some kind of title to swell your ego, I'm not going to toe the line."

[CockroachTeaParty]

The drow grins at Perik's comments. Good, at least not all these humans are blithering idiots...
Sharing a similar sentiment to the ranger's, Ex'Jat does not respond to the talk of leadership, or even bats an eye, for that matter. The Northerners loved their organization, their governments, their wars... But in the jungle, one could only trust the sword that covered your back. Talk was cheap; he would see soon enough who was worthy of fighting alongside.

[The DM]

Gron

Gron had been watching the growing dispute with little concern for the others' squabbling. As the disagreement turned toward anger and harsh words, his mild irritation turned in true annoyance. Setting down a large box, the big orc unslung his massive blade from a shoulder strap. Thumping the sheathed tip into the deck, he looked around with an irritated eye.

"I do not agree with Mamellak about individuals being unable to work together without being subservient to one person's will. But your dispute is giving evidence to that claim. Now cease this stupidity. We are going to work together, and no one will be high and mighty about it. If you can't deal with that, the door is there." He points one gauntleted hand toward the platform. "I am ready to trust my life to your abilities, but if you can't make peace, I will not be comfortable doing so. So shut up and make nice."

[DragoonWraith]

Faernacha
"The tiger is not told how to hunt. The wolves hunt in packs, but they are no match for a tiger.

"And I am more than a tiger."

[appending_doom]

Illori

Illori snorts and, finally returning to Common, says, directed at Perik, "You are a poor judge of character, and one I would be unlikely to follow, as well. I am neither a commander nor a strategist, and would not relish the burden of trying to coordinate the work of a band such as ours.

"And what do you mean by 'equaled', Rupert? We are colleagues, surely, but nothing can change the fact that I have survived 40 years of war of which you've only heard stories. The survival, and the deeds accomplished, are worth more than whether you could kill me if you chose.

"And if you were not making threats, your little display was a needless waste of power, or a boast. Learning to avoid such things is the sort of wisdom that will come if you ever reach my age."

[whoiam]

Glancing around at Gron And aiming 'detect evil' his way Mamellek's grin comes out again. "Being familiar with each other's skills and preferred tactics is a fine substitute to having an actual leader. The important thing is that we can act together, not that one of us enforces this."

Of course, the larger and/or more fractious the group, the more a hierarchy becomes necessary for there to be any coordination. But who knows, we might manage it without.
...probably not. We're about as unified as a backstabbers' guild right now.
Yeah, I know. I'll have to work on that. Just a shame that literally beating sense into people isn't actually possible.

Taking the few paces necessary to come up face to face with the orc, Mamellek offers him her left (shield) hand, as though to shake. "Nice to meet someone practical."

Listening to Faernacha's little sermon, Mamellek cannot help but think to herself Aren't tigers the ones who attack each other if they hunt in the same range?. But having agreed with Gron's point that they should be at least trying to get along, she decides not to actually state her little objection...

...besides, I'm not exactly an expert on animal behaviour. I could be wrong.

[Demons_eye]

"And thats it. We are dead all ready thanks your petty feud. We must work together but that does not mean we must like each other so every one drop it and play nice?" The bot says while scanning everyone.

[The DM]

Gron

Gron snorts at the high elf's continued self-importance. "A chieftain is only as good as the respect his...or her...warriors afford them. Deeds are merely stories to those who have not witnessed them. Prove your skills are more than boasts, and I may follow you. Until then, I will not take part in choosing a chief, nor obey one I have not come to trust. Unknown comrades begin as equals, or they are not worthy comrades."

Taking one hand off the hilt of his sword, Gron grips the offered wrist of the woman paladin, meeting her gaze with a level one of his own.

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik nodded at Gron's words. At Mamellek's agreement, he nodded. That was all he wanted.

"I'm in agreement. Let's just leave it at that for now."

Perik looked over at Mamellek, and did his best to give her a concillatory smile.

"Alright? They have a point. It looks like this mission already has one feud. Let's not add another."

[whoiam]

"I don't hold grudges." One short, simple sentence, and as far as Mamellek was concerned, the budding feud (well, her one at least) was over.

Anyway, her attention switched back to Gron. "From your demeanor - and armament - I would speculate that if we find ourselves in combat, you and I are liable to be the front line. I am thinking that we should probably try sparring during the journey - if we are to stand shoulder to shoulder, it would help to each have some idea how the other moves."

[The DM]

Gron

Releasing the paladin's forearm, Gron gives her a toothy grin. His tusks, though clean and evenly-spaced, underline his heritage and the contradiction of his civility and ferality. "I look forward to proving my worth to you!" Glancing over to Rupert, he adds (in Draconic,) "And to you, cousin." He shoulders the blade again and returns to the task of loading gear and supplies.

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik nodded at her words. He wasn't about to hold a grudge. He'd won, at least for now, after all. However at her next comment, he took the Greataxe off his back and shrugged.

"I'll be up there as well, I'm afraid. The Bow is a precaution against things that are able to fly, and the like."

Perik smiled.

"I wouldn't mind a chance to match myself against either you, as well. After all, I'd like to know what exactly I can trust you to do."

[appending_doom]

"I cannot imagine what makes you people continue to insist I have any interest in leadership. Oh, I will agree there is no need for anyone to suggest a leader to us, anyway, as we don't even have a proper goal to work towards yet.

"And I had no intention to impress you with tales of my past, Gron. I had no intention to boast until that man insisted my age made him better than me. I have respect enough for my Valenar cousins to understand your viewpoint, and will endeavor to demonstrate my prowess."

To the talk of sparring, he smiles gently. "I hope you will not object to my observing. I will have little to contribute, unfortunately, but I will discuss some of my own tactics, if you wish."

[CockroachTeaParty]

Ex'Jat leans against a barrel, and wipes the sweat from his already damp brow. He surveys the squabbling, chattering group with growing disdain. At least they were willing to spar... only through violence would a pecking order be established.
He squinted upwards at the hissing ring of elementally-bound fire around the docked airship. The Khyber dragonshards imprisoning the fire elemental glowed and pulsed, and the drow's mood only darkened further.
Thieves... they're all thieves.
He hoists one of the last barrels, and shoves it into the hold. The drow was growing impatient, but he refused to ask the half-elf for an update. The Lyrandar mongrel was beneath him. He would have to weather the storm, as he always did.
Ex'Jat unsheathes his long knife, and begins picking under his fingernails with the tip.

[whoiam]

Her own loading completed, Mamellek slips the pack from her back and rummages around in it a moment. What comes out is a stone, a little larger than her fist, and looking like a peculiar diamond - it is a translucent grey, very similar to a diamond in shade. Holding it up, she slowly turns a circle on the spot, before smiling at Gron. "A bit like having a pet, really, except it does not eat." Going to slip it back into her pack, she pauses for a moment. "I wonder if any of our companions are would-be diamond thieves? Just between you and me, it's not worth anything. But it's been stolen before."

[Godskook]

Sigh. It seems that things will sit as they are now. "Gron, once we're done with the loading, please meet me at my cabin, we'll catch up on some things. As for you, milady," Rupert says as he turns his attention to the paladin for the first time, "You are welcome to join us, I should think. We'll need at least a fourth for a good card game, but we'll make do without for now." He invokes his protection on her, the last to so receive it, and dismisses himself towards the work at hand.

[Demons_eye]

Magnon walks over to the other warforged and quickly waves in front of him to gain his attention. "So Faernacha was it? Makes you wish bios were not so complicated eh?" the bot says waiting for an answer. "So like I said custom model or you have some weird power? Come on you can tell a fellow bot." Magnon finishes nudging him in a playful manor.

[King Tius]

OOC: Oh man, that was quite a little squabble!
OOC2: As for Detect Evil, just look at their sheets, ok?
OOC3: The Mror Holds are the region to the far east where all the Dwarves live. It is basically a huge mountain range.

Introductions are...errr...sort of made and the group manages to not kill each other right out. Hestina reappears from inside after about ten minutes and finds you have finished loading the supplies. She whistles and the four deckhands (all half-elves) of the ship begin to make departure preparations. For the most part these men keep to themselves, though they stare at Ex'Jat, some even scowling. You have twenty minutes to walk the ship before it sets off. Rupert heads below deck, expecting to find his "cabin" and is sorely disappointed. Rather than individual cabins, your group has been assigned a section of the limited hold of the ship. hammocks have been hung, three high, along one side of the ship's hull which is not piled high with crates. There is a mess area for cooking and the small captains quarters and the deck hands have their hammocks at the opposite end of the ship. It looks like you are in for a cramped two-week journey. Just as the realization of your living situation really sinks in, you feel the ship lurch as it takes off into the rainy sky.

OOC: I am not going to have the game die off because of a slow start spent traveling. Things will get interesting in my next post. Use this as a chance to finish your conversations and play out the first week of travel.

Also, there are a lot of you so if I miss something, please just PM me or drop me a (polite!) nudge in the OOC forum.

[squirr31y]

Menardi has little problem accepting her new living quarters, having dealt with subpar conditions in the monastery at times. She frowns slightly to herself over her company, however. She dearly prayed that they had gotten it out of their systems now, as she knew that some of the worst things could happen when a group splintered amidst the fray of combat. And the man, Rupert, made her somewhat nervous. It was certainly not the first time a man had approached her in such a manner, but it was still something that she felt best left to a time when they were not on the job.

"I'll take this one." she stated firmly, setting some of her extra gear down on one of the lower hammocks in the corner. If things went well, then hopefully this trip would be a quiet, if cramped, trip. Menardi's current comrade's, however, did not instill that confidence in her.

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik dumped his stuff in the same corner of the room as Menardi, laying claim to the top Hammock in the corner. She didn't seem to be the type to bother a person. He looked about, seeing that the next couple of days were going to be fairly close. That wasn't going to help the groups frictions any. Perik just sighed, and pulled free the Greataxe he bore, pulling out his Sharpening Stone and inspecting the weapon.

A good craftsman always keeps their weapons in good shape.

He keeps an eye on his 'team mates' however, curious if the Orc and the Paladin were actually going to spar.

[CockroachTeaParty]

Ex'Jat takes the middle hammock between Perik and Menardi. He puts most of his belongings in the hammock, keeping his dagger at his belt and remaining in his armor.
"Don't worry," he says to the humans nearest his hammock, "I don't sleep."
With that he heads to the upper deck, despite the rain. Anything was better than sitting in the stuffy, cramped holds, and the drow preferred open sky above his head unless he was getting ready for some spelunking.

[squirr31y]

Menardi raised one eyebrow at the drow's brevity. He's either going to be a great asset, or one of the first to fall.. She gave a slight nod to Perik and stood next to him with a single scythe held loosely in her hand, more or less as a walking stick and overlooked those who had expressed interest in sparring. It would be best if she knew what they were capable of now, rather than later.

[appending_doom]

Illori

Illori locates the most out-of-the way and cramped hammock, and stores his backpack in it, before trailing hopefully after Mamellek and Gron.

[Godskook]

At the first opportunity along the flight, Rupert pulls Gron to aside to talk privately. Speaking in Draconic, "You seem to have a draconic air about you my friend. Tell me, how is it you come by this presence. As a man recovering his ancestry among the ancient race, it intrigues me."

--------------------------------

To Menardi, he tones down his charm, sensing her hesitation. While he seeks to include her in several games of cards with whomever else would play, he never attempts anything further as a pairing.

[The DM]

Gron

The entirety of Gron's reaction to their living quarters, complete with ramifications, expert opinions, and color commentary, could be summed up completely with the only outward sign that he acknowledged the hammocks' existence: a nondescript grunt, and slinging his overstuffed pack into one of the upper ones.

Giving in to his curiosity about Rupert's obvious draconic empowerment, Gron speaks at length with him about his tribe's affinity for the great reptiles, and what it meant to be a Dragon Shaman. Over the course of the next week, the orc developed a strong respect for the adept's power, as well as a personal liking for the man.

He also spends time sparring with the other martially-inclined members of the band, proving himself a formidable adversary in personal combat. In particular, the orc is enthusiastic about sparring Mamellek and Perik, whom he anticipates relying on the most when blades are drawn for real.

Provided Illori is genuine in his interest in the spars and constructive with advice, Gron will be gracious in accepting the elf. He's not one to hold a grudge.

Spars:
Gron will avoid raging in a friendly spar. It is not his custom to use replica weapons, preferring to lightly pad them at best. Here's some pertinent combat statistics, though I think it likely that Gron would usually win against either Mamellek or Perik. They have higher AC, but his attack power is proportionally higher. On top of that, he far outpaces both in HP (almost double Perik's) and damage (about double of both).

Attack +10, Damage 2d6+7, AC 16, Speed 40, Saves +6/+3/+2, Init +3, Draconic Auras: Power (+1 Damage) when pressing offense, Energy Shield (2 acid damage to attacker when struck in melee) if forced onto the defensive, Vigor (Regeneration 1 when below half health, will share with partners if genuinely injured), Senses (to get an initiative boost).

[appending_doom]

Illori

Illori observes the sparring with little comment, but does demonstrate some of his own capabilities. An archery specialist, he doesn't directly engage anyone in combat, but reveals one spell he said had saved his company a number of times in the war: by striking an opponent with an ethereal silver blade, the foe becomes distracted and easier to hit.

He also demonstrates (if given permission) his ability to strike combatants engaged in close combat, and expounds on another piece of wartime magic: protection versus the touch and influence of evil creatures.

He does become noticeably more excited, if not actually friendlier, observing combat and demonstrating his own skills. He does, however, as might be expected, remain cool towards Rupert and Ex'Jat.

He also takes time to ask Mamellek about her order; his exposure to paladins came mostly in Thrane, and he couldn't immediately tell if she was of the Flame.


Illori knows protection from evil and curse of impending blades, which lowers the AC of targeted foes. Due to his Precise Shot feat, he has no qualms about firing on enemies in melee with his allies.

[Godskook]

One morning, as Rupert is going through his morning buffing routine, he approaches Illori on the deck privately. "You've been avoiding me. Tell me, what's killing things between us?"

[CockroachTeaParty]

Ex'Jat spends the first week in transit much like he behaved during the initial meeting at the airship docks. He keeps to himself, and the number of complete sentences he utters could be counted on one hand.
He trances below deck during the day, and remains inside whenever the sun is bright, due to his sensitive vision. He is most active during the night, mostly spending his time practicing his fighting forms on the upper deck, the cool wind caressing his ink-black skin. Oddly, thanks to his nocturnal schedule, he spends a certain amount of time with the warforged, who never sleep. He cannot relate to the strange constructs, however, and so keeps his distance.
The only time he spends with the entirety of the group is during mealtime, which tragically occurs during the day, when he is at his least pleasant. Ex'Jat stares perhaps a little more than is normal at Illori, usually from across the airship, his red eyes glancing at the elf for a few seconds before returning to his food.

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik spends his time aboard the ship taking care of his equipment, and watching the others spar. If asked, he demonstrates his various abilities with the Blade, and explains their effect, but doesn't answer any questions about how they function.

He spars with any of the group who asks, showing signs of enjoying the exercise. Those whose efforts he finds interesting he warms up to a little, though he still isn't incredibly demonstrative.

He watches the Elves especially, seeing that at the moment they are the members of the group to be the most worried about (particuraly onboard an Airship, where the disposal of a body is a quick push away), but as long as they keep their distance from each other, doesn't mention anything more.

[appending_doom]

Illori

"You really don't know anything about elves, do you? I have spent 40 years destroying the enemies of our ancestors, and you tell me that is nothing compared to being born and growing to adulthood in that same time, and you are bewildered that I dislike you?"

Illori dangles his skull pendant before the human, glowering. "This represents the hope I may one day serve my people enough to live on to advise my descendants. I am sure you can understand why I am not charmed by the words of a man who says what I have done is worthless."

[Godskook]

Calmly, Rupert takes the elf's retort patiently, before replying in kind, hoping that his willingness to listen would ease the tension between them. Despite the obvious arrogance in the elf's voice, Rupert attempts to keep things polite. "I know much of the elves, even appearing before the undying court once with my uncle. You are not the first Aereni to cross my path. I know of the wars that drove your people from Xen'Drik and of the wars between your people and the dragons of Argonnessen. I could tell you much of your own people." Rupert pauses, mostly for effect. "For the record, I never said your deeds were worhtless. However, it seems that like the drow, I'm to be considered your enemy by heritage alone, despite my personal worth. A pity it could not be different."

[DragoonWraith]

Faernacha
Since I missed the opportunity earlier, response to Magnon.
On "bios":
"The squabbling of others is not important. I would not choose to be ordered and do not seek to lead, but would not ruin the proper functioning of the group by defying a leader if one were chosen. They must find their own solution to the problem, and I strongly doubt I would find that solution objectionable."

On "custom model":
"That information is not available. The particulars of my construction and the purpose behind my design is unknown."
That's as far as I could see him going of his own accord; feel free to continue the conversation if you want.

Having no gear besides the cloak draped over his frame and the boots he wears, Faernacha doesn't even bother with the hold. He spends the first day dormant, standing in a particular spot on the deck, moving when asked to move by crew or passengers. He speaks when spoken to, succinctly and matter-of-fact-ly.

If questioned on his habits, he says, "This is not my habitat; I cannot be here." The emphasis on "be" makes it clear that he means that he cannot "exist" here, or similar, rather than any particular objection to his physical location.

Eight hours into the trip, however, he loses the ephemeral cobalt fur, and in a flash of pale blue, gains enormous, pristine white wings. If anyone comments on this, he responds with "Now this is my environment." While the wings cannot allow him to fly, he is able to leap high in the air and float gently down on them, which he does so continuously unless interacted with.

If, at any point, he sees Gron available for conversation, he would ask if Gron had fought in the Demon Wastes at all. If so, he would comment that he had as well.
I'd expect to RP that bit out.

If invited to spar, he comments, "I am a hunter, not a warrior. I fight to kill, not for practice or exercise; I need neither. You are not my prey. My place is to remove the unnatural; these are my prey."

There's a lot of room for additional questioning here, obviously, if anyone wants to RP something like that out - for instance, it might be worth pointing out that he, himself, is unnatural. Illori, in particular, might have some objections if he figures out that Faernacha is referring to the Undead.

If asked for a demonstration of his abilities, he does so - he leaps and climbs and stalks and pounces at the air. If there is interest, he may reshape his soulmelds to show that they can be changed and other forms are possible, but otherwise sticks to his wings. He explains that he usually shapes himself as many claws as he can manage, and fights by jumping and pouncing and clawing his foes.

Unfortunately, his terseness makes it pretty hard to get into too much detail on what he does and says; if no one interacts with him, he just does his soaring. I've tried to give some pretty generic examples, but I'd need specific things for him to respond to otherwise.

[The DM]

Gron

Replying in the negative to Faernacha's question about the Demon Wastes, Gron ends the conversation there and moves away. Further prodding about the Wastes reveals that the Wastes are taboo among Gron's kin. On later occasions, however, the orc expresses great admiration for Faernacha's prowess and obvious lethality.

[whoiam]

Mamellek, as befits someone belonging to two very disciplined classes, establishes something of a routine. She exercises each morning. If possible, this would include a spar against one of the others - she'd actually prefer sparring against Gron, recognising him as her superior in physical combat (well, after the first spar, at any rate), as opposed to the others she considered more equal. But she would take on a challenge from anyone else who invited her to fight them.

Once she was finished exercising for a given day, Mamellek would remove her armor and weapons once again, pack them away by her bunk, and settle down for some serious meditation.... just a paladin and her psicrystal. If anyone cared to ask her about the psicrystal would she reveal the other half of her talents: But whilst the ability to do as much damage with a bit of concentration as Gron can do with his axe *is* cool, you cannot exactly use it in a sparring match. It is, after all, hard to do non-lethal damage with a bunch of psionic fire. The powers she would demonstrate, if pressed, were her 'Control Light' and 'Create Sound', and her Psicrystal's 'self-propulsion'. Usually by making it climb whoever asked about it, and ride around on the top of their head for an hour (or until forceably removed).

As for Illori, Mamellek would confirm that she was a paladin of the Silver Flame. Mamellek was starting to have her suspicions about Illori - Paladins do tend to be trained to ferret out things like necromancers - but he passed the 'detect evil', and despite a tendancy to act like something of an ass, he appears not to be overtly evil, merely unpleasant. So she avoids prying too deeply.

[squirr31y]

Menardi spends of much of her time keeping to herself, watching the others spar and sparring with those who request it. She regularly spends time in the early morning practicing with her scythe, looking almost like she is trying to dance with it. During these times she has an almost serene look on her face, and it is when she looks most relaxed.

[appending_doom]

Illori's reply is swift and harsh.

"You may know much about my people, Rupert, but you understand almost nothing. You may have visited ruins, but our leaders lived in those ruins. You have seen scraps and remains, and claim to lecture me how this makes you an expert.

"I will not make trouble for you, Rupert, but I will suggest you not bother speaking to me unless it is important. You seem to have little talent speaking to elves of any sort."

Unless forcibly halted, Illori leaves Rupert alone at this point.

Although he does not obviously seek her out, Illori spends a lot of his free time watching Mamellek. Unlike Rupert, who seems to have found a way to annoy Rupert every time he opens his mouth, he doesn't visibly dislike the woman. Beyond that, it's hard to say exactly what Illori is doing.

[Demons_eye]

"Yep grade a warfordgemanship right there" Magnon says as he leaves for his room leaving Faernacha to do his thing. Magnon knew that it would be a long trip so he pulls out a deck of cards and begins to play a few games for one. He shuts down to save power every once in awhile but most of his time spent is un his room play cards unless soem one comes to get him.

[King Tius]

Later in the day you hear a cry from the stern of the boat. One of the deckhands is standing by the guardrail, pointing and shouting.

"Three ships coming in fast off the starboard stern! Looks like raiders, Cap....gurgle!"

An arrow comes hurtling towards the ship and hits the man in the neck with cinematic accuracy. He grabs his throat, shooting blood everywhere as he falls overboard. Several other arrows lodge into the side of the ship, none of them finding marks. You have mere moments to scramble into action! Roll initiatives and post your set-up actions.

[Godskook]

Rupert dives for the nearest cover, and tries his best to identify the raiders. As he does so, an aura grows around him. He draws his bow, and readies himself for battle.

Vigor aura activated.

If I can see what we're fighting, I'll need to know for the knowledge devotion check. Also, whatever other knowledge checks I'll need to roll to identify who they are(any markings?).

[roll0]
[roll1]

If its possible to take a snipe at something this round, I'll do it.

[Demons_eye]

After hearing the scream Magnon runs outside to the foray and loads his crossbow aiming for the first foe. He looks around for his new allies and trys to form a plan.


[roll0] Init

[appending_doom]

Illori


Initiative
[roll0]


Illori sketches a rough design along his chest, calling into being a translucent chain shirt around his clothing.


Casts mage armor on self.


He unhitches his bow from off of his back and turns to the approaching ships, looking for information -- or targets.


Spot check
[roll1]

[The DM]

Gron

Damnation. Cowardly bastards...why don't they close for an honest fight. And in daylight, no less. Gron had been on deck when the crewman shouted his warning, watching the land roll away beneath the ship. Rushing towards the pilotbox, he delivers the rest of the dead half-elf's message. "Three pirate vessels closing fast, Captain. I'm no good with a bow, where can my strength be of use?" While waiting for orders, he refocuses his will to spread healing energy among the crew, hoping to stave off the reaper if any more arrows made it through.

Unless otherwise noted, assume Senses is active when not in combat. +1 to Spot, Listen, and Initative to allies within 30'. Here it's important to just improve anyone on deck's Initiative by 1.
Initiative-[roll0]
First round-Swift action to change to Vigor aura (Fast Healing 1 to allies within 30' that have less than half health.) Move actions to get to the pilotbox.

Assuming this counts as bright light? Or twilight?

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik sighed, and took up his bow, nocking an arrow carefully. His Axe was across his back, just in case. If they got boarded, it was best to have it with him.

And there is always the option of giving these Pirates a Suprise. But thats a decision to be made later.

"Can we outrun them, Captain?"

Perik called to the officer, not looking away from the ship.


[roll0] (Plus anything else from party effects and such)
Perik's also waiting for them to come within 300 ft, at which point he'll begin firing at them.

Edit: Btw, Perik is in Hunter's Stance as well. He'll flip over to Island of Blades once we get in Melee.

[CockroachTeaParty]

Ex'Jat

Ex'Jat has been sitting cross-legged near the port side of the hull when the commotion begins. He sighs, noting the unpleasant brightness shining in through the portholes. The drow stands, and unwraps the chain around his shoulders. With a wave of his hand, he is suddenly engulfed in shadow. The supernatural darkness follows him up the stairs to the upper deck.
Everyone on deck blinks a few times before realizing that the light of the sun, and even the burning elemental ring, has lessened. The drow knew that the darkness would provide a certain amount of cover from missile fire, and help himself and the orc see a little easier. Of course, if the enemy closed to melee, everyone would be benefiting from the darkness, but the effect was dismissible... He would cross that bridge when he came to it.
With a few seconds to spare, Ex'Jat removes a tiny vial from one of his belt pouches. Carefully, he coats the edge of his scorpion chain with a thin, foul-smelling liquid. Finally, he assumes the Hunter's Stance: his legs spread wide, his nose keen to the crisp air, the burning smell of the bound fire elemental, the rich woody musk of soarwood, and the sweat of his allies.


Alright, let's see... Ex'Jat is using his Darkness spell-like ability, casting it on his breastplate, which will now shed supernatural shadow for the next 30 minutes in a 20 ft. radius circle. Everyone in the darkness benefits from 20% concealment, regardless of darkvision or low-light vision.
He's also entering the Hunter's Stance as a swift action, giving him the Scent ability (ability to sniff out things within 30 ft., pinpoint odors within 5 ft., etc.)
He's also applying a dose of Drow poison to his scorpion chain. There's a 5% chance he beefs it, though, and accidentally poisons himself.
Poison mishap: [roll0]

Initiative: [roll1] He probably missed the Init. boost, starting below deck.

Current Status: AC 16, HP: 30/30, 20% concealment, scent.

[squirr31y]

Menardi immediately tensed up at the warnings being yelled across the ship. She was not very well trained in ranged combat, but if they boarded she knew she could handle her enemies with ease. She hoped, however that it wouldn't come to that as she assumed a ready position on deck and glancing around to see if there was anything she could do.

[roll0]

[whoiam]

Mamellek, caught in the middle of her daily meditations, is not in armor. Worse still, her half-plate takes so long to put on - even with help - that she has no choice but to grab her sword and shield and run for the hatchway up onto the deck. The hatchway is as far as she goes, however. Not much point in wasting her magic at ranges too long for her to shoot accurately, and she cannot see anyone injured on the deck (the one man who was hit having already fallen over the side).

Initiative Roll: [roll0]

[DragoonWraith]

Faernacha
Faernacha's eyes lock on the nearest pirate ship, and he watches them carefully, beginning to coil his body, crouching for the burst of speed he'll need.

Ready an action to engage Rage, run, and jump onto the nearest boat once it gets to be within 30'.

[King Tius]

With your spot checks you see that the three ships contain all humans and they don't have any markings or particular garb on that immediately qualify them as some faction (though you may still make Knowledge(local/history/whatever) checks to try and pick out more subtle details. They pull within 300 feet and you are able to begin opening fire (I will have a map up with the next post, for now just roll ranged attacks.)

Captain Helena pushes her deckhand off the steering wheel of the ship and brings the ship around, attempting to gain altitude on them. She calls out the following:

"No way we can outrun them! They're going to try and board us after they soften us up with their bows! There are extra crossbows down in the hold, get to it! If we can take out enough of the boarding party, they'll withdraw!"

[Godskook]

[roll0] - Any weak points on their ship?
[roll1] - Any useful terrain I can direct us toward?
[roll2] - Not sure, but it seemed related.
[roll3] - Fuels my knowledge devotion, plus should tell me something about these guys.
[roll4] - Anything useful in the weather? Such as a cloud our ship could sail through that their ship couldn't(The engineering check should help here)?

Generally speaking, I'm trying to come up with useful maneuvers to advise the captain with, useful targets on the other ship, and anything useful about the other ship in terms of who the heck they are.

My actions are contingent on the results(even if I just attacked, I'd need to wait on the Know(Local) check for my bonus).

[appending_doom]

Illori

Illori moves to the edge of the railings and tries to pick off a sailor on the closest ship.



Attack: [roll0] (300 feet is more than 2 range increments away, so -4 from what I'd normally have.)

Damage: [roll1]

Illori:

HP: 30
AC: 16

Spells active: mage armor (CL 3)

[whoiam]

"I take it that going on the offensive against one of the raiding craft is not an option?" Pausing only long enough to hear whatever explanation was offered (which, due to her ignorance of airship-on-airship combat, she'd have to accept), Mamellek would then turn to head back below. She'd have to discard her shield to actually shoot a crossbow, and she wasn't too happy about fighting without shield *or* armor... but she'd (hopefully) live. And the others were keeping too far away to really be in psionics range...

[King Tius]

Knowledge Results:

Weak points: The bound Air Elementals that keep the ship afloat
Useful Terrain: Nothing but clouds
History: This kind of thing has been happening more and more now that airships are really taking off
ID the Bad-Guys: Plain old Sky-Bandits
Weather: There's nothing around that they couldn't also handle. You could suggest dipping through cloud cover to try and provide some obscuring effects, but it would also hamper your ability to hit them, too.



To Mamellek:"They're too small and fast for us to try and attack them. Our best bet is to let them come to us. They probably think we're just a supply ship, not a boat full of Delvers!"

[Godskook]

[roll0]
1.I need to fuel the Devotion.
2.I didn't realize I could hit those things? Apparently I can?!?
3.How big are those bound elementals?
4.How many per ship?

This could prove fun.

[The DM]

Gron

Gron is about to head into the hold, but pauses at the exchange between Rupert, Mamellek, and the Captain. He instead rushes to the rail, finding a place where he can climb up on top of it and hold on to a study cable. Drawing out his greatsword, he brandishes it and points the razor-sharp tip at the advancing raiders. Letting loose a loud roar, the big orc shouts across intervening space: "Yes, come to me! Come to Gronaks, called the Black Fellblade! My warriors and I shall feast on your bones tonight!"


Worth a shot! Hoping for some nice circumstance modifiers. :smalleek: Aid another actions might help too (growl and look fierce?)
[roll0]
[roll1]

Edit: Well crap

[King Tius]

Additional Knowledge Results

There are four crackling rings of lightning on the underside of each ship, two in the bow, two in the stern. Each is slightly larger than a trash can and resembles the same make up as the larger bound fire elemental, though they are mounted with the ring flush against the ship (think the Nebuchadnezzar in the Matrix). If you hit one sufficiently (just like the Fire Elemental ring) they become unbound and go crazy.

[Godskook]

"Aim for the elementals. If we hit them, we can better our odds." With that, Rupert aims and fires 2 arrows at the nearest bound elemental.

[roll0]
[roll1] (I've got a +4 against elementals from the feat, -4 for range, and -2 for rapid shot)

[roll2]
[roll3] (Same +4 on the damage side too)

[CockroachTeaParty]

Ex'Jat
Peering through the shadows to the enemy boats below, Ex'Jat knows that they are beyond boomerang range. With little else to do, he maintains the concealing darkness emanating from his scorpion breastplate.
"Stick to the shadows! Let them come to us!"


Ex'Jat will take a full defensive action every round that the sky pirates remain out of range, boosting his AC by 4.

Current Status:
AC 20, HP 30/30, radiating darkness in 20 ft. radius, 20% concealment, Scent

[Demons_eye]

Seeing Rupert shoot gave Magnon an idea, he moves over to him and touches his weapon and speaks a few words as his hand glows. "Try it now. Might be a little bit better."


Wasting an action point to infuse the bane property on his bow Bane:outsider (Fire/air what ever he shot at) as a standered action

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik nodded at Rupert's Advice. He'd have to trust the man. He knew Airships worked, and not much more.

Here goes nothing...


How did Rupert get the Extra Attack in the round? Just wondering if I should take another shot.

[roll0]
Stance- Blood in the Water

[squirr31y]

Menardi steels herself, as she lacks in the proficiency required to much use any type of ranged weaponry, she readies herself in the center of the deck, doing her best to avoid being shot at as she awaits any enemy that happens to board the boat.

Taking a total defense action, boosting AC to 20

[whoiam]

Newly armed with a crossbow and quarrel of bolts, Mamellek emerges once again onto the deck. "This feels wrong." she mutters, mainly to herself - it just didn't make sense that... she went over to Menardi first, and whispered to her "Pretend you're injured by one of their arrows and go back below. If they're trying to soften us up, it's better not to remain on deck where they can out-shoot us - and where they *know* what strength we've still got"

She'd be going around the deck, trying to spread the message to a few people each volley. Pretend they're scoring more hits than they are, go back below deck where they cannot shoot you, prepare to assault the boarding party...

...It had to be better than a shooting match against people who were, doubtless, much better archers than the majority of their prey...

[DragoonWraith]

Faernacha
Faernacha growls at Mamellek's advice but is nonetheless pleased with the plan. After all, the hunter knows all about lures. Waiting for a near enough arrow, he pretends to take the hit, and limp off to the stairs below deck. From the shadows, he watches the boats, waiting for one to get close enough.

Bluff check (Perform check? Whatever, same bonus):
1d20-2

[Godskook]

Hearing Mamellek's plan, Rupert adds "Ex'Jat, you're the only one who can provide cover for the Captain. They'll believe you're staying above deck to protect her."

If Ex'Jat stays by the captain, that should give them both some protection from incoming fire, and should also help with the 'we're getting desperate' ruse a little.

[CockroachTeaParty]

Ex'Jat
The drow merely laughs at Rupert's words.
"Ha! I've weathered light rains in Sharn more bothersome than this shower!" He gestures to the arrows falling and lodging themselves in the deck of the airship. "Go set the trap below. I'll give these cowards a Xen'Drik welcome!"

[appending_doom]

Illori

An odd, intense look comes across Illori's face, and he retreats from the rails to the boat's center, equidistant from the two sides. He glances briefly towards Ex'Jat.

"You may provide cover, but I hope I can provide a more...direct discouragement when they attempt to board," he says. He holds his bow loosely in one hand, but leaves the other empty and nowhere near his quiver.

[The DM]

Gron

After stuttering through his boastful shouts, Gron picks up on his allies' intentions. Allowing himself to fall backward onto the deck, he crawls to the nearest hatch and climbs in.

[King Tius]

OK, finally got the map together. Everyone please place yourselves on it. The darker brown is the cabin area located on the upper deck. The big red bar is the fire elemental. Nobody managed to hit anything this last round. All other actions completed successfully. Everyone also manages to avoid being hit by any flying arrows.

The three enemy ships all pull up along the ship, swinging around to the port bow. The men in the ships move to the side, preparing to board/fire arrows.

Battle Map

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/1665/airpirates1.jpg

[CockroachTeaParty]

Ex'Jat

The drow begins spinning his bladed chain in a complex twirling motion. His red eyes shine with violence from within the swirling shadows.


Put me at T-19. Ex'Jat's going to keep up the darkness until they board, to maximize the amount of time we have cover.
Ex'Jat's still got +4 to his AC and Darkness up. He's going to delay until any of them board. As soon as any of the sky pirates board the ship, he will on his turn dismiss Darkness as a standard action, and move to within 15 ft. or so (Tumbling if necessary to avoid AoO's) of the nearest pirate. Don't forget after his turn that Ex'Jat will gladly take any attacks of opportunity he might be able to make. He's got 10 ft. reach and Combat Reflexes, and ideally he'll try to make trip attacks with his Improved Trip feat, getting a free attack if he successfully pulls somebody prone. He'll be taking a -1 penalty to attacks once Darkness is gone, but he'll get +1 to damage after he's moved at least 10 ft.
Also, don't forget that the first successful attack he makes is poisoned. That's a DC 13 Fortitude save or the enemy falls unconscious, with another DC 13 Fortitude save a minute later or the enemy remains unconscious for 2d4 hours.

[Godskook]

Rupert (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=158255)

Rupert keeps shooting, now giving up on the plan of downing a ship, he instead turns his attention on the farthest boat. He lets two more arrows fly.

Targeting guy B3. I'm standing at S11
[roll0]
[roll1]

I'm thinking to spend an Action point, if I don't like the results.

[Godskook]

Critical!

[roll0]

I'm waiting for this roll to decide where I spend my Action Point.

[Godskook]

Apologies for the triple post(Cockroach, I'm winning!).

I'm dropping this guy, so I'm spending an Action Point to make sure that second shot hits.

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

[Demons_eye]

"Well I will be damned." Magnon says as he fires at the ship "What happened to dropping the elemental?"


Attacking A1 guy and running for the door. Spending an Inspiration point: 4 left for bonus to attack and damage rolls

[roll0] Attack
[roll1] Damage

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik sighed as the shot went astray, pulling out another and lining up this time for one of the men on the Airships.


At T16, firing at B6.

[roll0] To hit
[roll1] Crit confirmation Roll

[roll2] Damage

[Godskook]

"They're too close, I can't down the ships fast enough. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I can make the crew drop like flies."

[DragoonWraith]

Faernacha
While waiting, Faernacha mentions to those alongside him that he will not die from a fall and if he should be knocked overboard, they should go get him down below.

As soon as the boat pulls up, Faernacha roars, his eyes flashing to red and midnight-blue incarnum flashing around his body. He runs out of the cabin, and leaps across into a foolish pirate that had separated himself from the group.

Leaping into B6 (square N17, unless I can clear B6 entirely to land at L17), Landshark Boots slashing:
Attack 1:
[roll0]
[roll1]

Attack 2:
[roll2]
[roll3]

Attack 3:
[roll4]
[roll5]

Attack 4:
[roll6]
[roll7]

[appending_doom]

Illori

When the pirates pull close, Illori sighs and returns to his bow, firing a pair of arrows, each at adjacent pirates on the nearest ship.

"Come on," he mutters as he shoots. "Who's the most dangerous?"


I'm around W20, I think.

Rapid Shot: first arrow at B7:

[roll0]

second at B8.

[roll1]

[appending_doom]

Using an action point on the second attack.

[roll0]

EDIT: So 8 to B7, 16 to B8. Damn. I should roll damage in case.

[appending_doom]

Sorry. Will endeavor to remember everything in future posts. Damage in case I hit:

B7 (attack=8): [roll0]
B8: (attack=16): [roll1]

[squirr31y]

Menardi frowned to herself, cautiously moving back as if to take cover. She wasn't sure she was ready to go below decks immediately, and was fairly certain that she also would not be a very convincing in attempting to act out being shot. So she crept back towards the cabin area, away from the enemy ships as if she was retreating to take cover.

Place Menardi at Y18

[whoiam]

Mamellek hadn't finished the rounds of defenders, suggesting they take cover to lure the ships in, by the time that the pursuing ships had closed in anyway. Not quite as close in as she'd hoped to have them, but it would have to do now that her colleagues had already started jumping the gap to the closest one. Mamellek wouldn't be joining him. Leaping into melee without her armor on did not appeal. No, she'd be blasting something. So, she dropped her crossbow, and began manifesting...

Location: S9
Energy Ray (Fire), augmented to 3PP:
Ranged Touch Attack roll (vs the pirate A1): [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]

[whoiam]

(I shouldn't have previewed it:()

Ranged Touch Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]

[The DM]

Gron

Lurking under a hatch on the top rungs of the ladder, Gron growls softly to himself and waits patiently for his prey to come to him. Caressing the hilt of his greatsword, the battle rage slowly wells up in his orcish blood, begging to be released with destructive force.

Swift action to change auras to Power Aura, which will give all allies within 30 feet a +1 bonus to melee damage. Readying actions to pop out from concealment, rage, and charge as soon as the raiders show their ugly faces on deck.

[King Tius]

(23) Illori
Illori lets off 2 shots, the second managing to hit B8.

(22) Magnon
Magnon fires at A1 and misses. He gets to the door (the green box).

(22) Menardi
Menardi backs up safely near the cabins, just beyond Ex’Jat’s darkness.

(17) Perik
Perik takes aim and drops B6, sending the man screaming and falling to his death.

(13) Ex’Jat
Ex’jat….waits

(11) Gron
Gron waits in hiding under a hatch in the deck

(10) Faernacha
Taking a running start, Faernacha leaps into the nearest boat, raking B7 to death with his boots.

(6) Mamellek
Mamellek’s ray of fire sets A1 ablaze and sends him, too, falling over the edge.

(5) Rupert
Letting two arrows fly, Rupert’s first arrow drops his intended target, B3. The second arrow scores a hit on B2.

(3) Bad Guys
The second craft swings upwards, preparing to drop its bandits onto the deck. A4 moves to steer the first boat while A2 and A3 fire at Mamellek.

attack1: [roll0]
attack2: [roll1]
Damage1: [roll2]
Damage2: [roll3]


B8 drops his bow and draws a scimitar, attacking Faernacha

attack: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]


The Map

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5525/ap2a.jpg

[appending_doom]

Illori

Illori grimaces and, moving 25 feet forward to R20, sets off another pair of arrows, one at B8, and the second at B9. Now that he's closer, he aims more accurately. The presence of an ally near his targets seems to have no noticeable effect on his accuracry.


Thanks to Precise Shot, no penalty due to shooting the guy attacking Faernacha.

Close enough for Point Blank Shot, as well.

B8: [roll0]
B9: [roll1]

[appending_doom]

Damage:


B8: [roll0]
B9: [roll1]

[whoiam]

Taking a pair of shots in her torso - right where her armor would have saved her!- Mamellek dismisses her next blast of fire even before she started manifesting it. With the raider ship climbing above her there was no getting out of their field of fire: So she switched tactics, and manifested 'Control Light' instead - using it to drop the light at deck level down to 0% temporarily, using the darkness as a shield against her foes above. Under this darkness, she quickly started moving back towards her allies.

Instant action: Grant herself fast healing 1 by using up one of her turn undeads.

Standard Action: Cast 'control light'. At level 3, this affects 18 10-foot squares. Specifically, she affects the squares from columns R, S, T, U, V, and W, rows 8-19.

And remember folks, that's total concealment for us, and you can see out of darkness and into light *just fine*...

Move Action: Mamellek moves to square T12, just so that pirates shooting at where she was will hit empty deck

[DragoonWraith]

Faernacha
Faernacha growls as the pirate's scimitar glances off his metallic hide. Glaring red at him, he roars and leaps into the air at the man, slashing with the claws on his hands and feet.

Using a move action to jump in the air enough to use the Landshark Boots, using that attack as my Standard Action.

Attack 1:
[roll0]
[roll1]

Attack 2:
[roll2]
[roll3]

Attack 3:
[roll4]
[roll5]

Attack 4:
[roll6]
[roll7]

Rounds of Rage left: 8

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik sighed. He has been considering jumping over to help the Warforged Monk, but he didn't seem to need it. Thusly he, turned to the other boat, running over and getting a shot off at them.

Perik moves up 8 squares to T9, and fires his Longbow at A2.

[roll0] Hit
[roll1] Crit Confirmation

[roll2] damage.

[CockroachTeaParty]

Ex'Jat

The drow smiles as he watches the air pirates fall to their deaths. As one of the skiffs hovers overhead, his pulse begins to quicken; he anticipates the boarders with a grim enthusiasm: his chain thirsted for blood.

[squirr31y]

Menardi creeps forward casually, her scythe at the ready, as she clings as closely to the edge of the darkness as she can, waiting for the sounds of boarding.


Move 25 feet forward to W23

[Godskook]

Rupert, holding his ground, thankful for the darkness, keeps the pressure on the ship that had just lost its pilot. As Mamellek passes him, he says "The battle is going our way. Let's turn the tide and take their ships! Find someone who can jump and pilot a skiff to help Faernacha! Tell them to pull over and pick me up as soon as they can."

Let's drop A4 now, shall we?

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Demons_eye]

"Make up your damn mind" Magnon says as he heads out of the doorway and rushes to the side of the boat.


Moving to L11

[Godskook]

"I assumed they were dangerous! I was wrong, they're just annoying."

[King Tius]

(23) Illori
Again Illori fires two shots off, this time dropping B8.

(22) Magnon
Uh L11 is in the middle of the air. I don’t think you’re trying to off yourself, so you run to Q12 instead.

(22) Menardi
Menardi moves to the base of the elemental ring support.

(17) Perik
Perik heads towards the bow and lets off a shot at A2, though it fails to hit.

(13) Ex’Jat
Ex’jat readies for the pirates to drop. (I’ll give you a readied action attack, just like Gron. Post it with your next round combat action.

(11) Gron
Gron contines to wait.

(10) Faernacha
With is insane boots, Faernacha downs the last pirate on the boat, who also happened to be steering the thing. Without a pilot, the ship begins to slow and descend, though Faernacha still has time to jump back.

(6) Mamellek
Mamellek shrouds even more of the deck in darkness and moves.

(5) Rupert
Rupert sinks two arrows into A4, dropping him over the edge, too.

(3) Bad Guys
A2 drops back and grabs hold of the steering wheel and moves the ship backwards towards Faernacha’s new boat.

B1, B3, and B4 drop into the darkness. If you want to hit them, you have to explain how/if you find them, given that the whole deck is now super dark.

The Map

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4979/ap3.jpg

[CockroachTeaParty]

Ex'Jat

As darkness falls over most of the deck, Ex'Jat dismisses the magical darkness radiating from his breastplate. He smiles, for he can see his foolish enemies perfectly, as well as smell their fear. Quickly, he darts to the edge of the shadows, keeping some distance between himself and his target. He swings his scorpion chain low, the edge of the keen blade catching fire as it streaks towards the sky bandit's legs...


Moving to W21, using a swift action to initiate Burning Blade, then initiating a trip attempt against bandit B4. If the bandit doesn't have darkvision or some other method of seeing Ex'Jat, he'll have a +2 to all attacks against him, and ignore his DEX modifier to AC. :smallamused:
Trip touch attack: [roll0]
If successful, STR check to trip: [roll1]
If successful, free attack against him, prone: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3] plus [roll4] fire damage.

As always, he will gladly take any Attacks of Opportunity that come his way, including if his main target attempts to stand up from prone. He'll try to trip anyone who does, and try to use the reach with his chain to maximum advantage.

[appending_doom]

Illori

Illori doesn't move, but snaps out with two more shots from his bow, catching the two bandits standing between him and the rest of the party. His face shows little emotion, unmoved by the threat, even though the bandits are only a few feet from him.

His earlier complaints regarding the drow seem forgotten, as well, as he makes no move away from the darker elf.


Rapid Shot, Point Blank bonuses apply.
Arrow at B3: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Arrow at B1: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

[DragoonWraith]

Faernacha
Hearing Rupert's call, Faernacha snaps out of his Rage. He looks down at the helm now vacated by the pirate he just slaughtered. Not having the first clue how to pilot an airship, he tries a likely looking lever, hoping to keep the ship in the sky.

Generic d20 roll to see if this works:
[roll0]

[Godskook]

Noting the panicked look on the bandits' faces, Rupert ignores the new pilot, hoping to take out the other.

I fire 2 arrows at A3, and even if I could, I wouldn't hit A2 this round. Immediately upon hitting, I'm going to yell at him, though.

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Godskook]

Assuming I kill that guy(it was a good damage roll), I immediately yell:

"You're dead on the next volley. I'll trade your life for that boat."

(I was hoping the rolls would be such that I'd know if he was dead or not without Tius letting me know.)

[Tackyhillbillu]

Perik laughed as the men jumped down.

"It appears it is time to become serious."

Her ran over to one of the Bandits, gave the man a smiled before attempting to pick him up and throw him over the edge of the boat.


Maneuvers Readied
Mighty Throw, Fire Riposte, Claw at the Moon, Sudden Leap, Burning Blade

Perik moves to Q14, and expends Mighty Throw.

Mighty Throw Attempt

[roll0] Melee Touch Attack
[roll1] Opposed Strength Check

If successful, Perik throws him to O14 (off the Airship.)

[Demons_eye]

Magnon loads his bow again and fires.


Attacking A2

[roll0]
[roll1]

[squirr31y]

Menardi grumbles slightly to herself, silently wishing she had spent more time honing her senses as some of her fellow monks had done. Then she wouldn't be so useless in this damnable darkness. She held her ground, ready to attack anyone that came close that she didn't recognize.


Ready to attack any enemies that come within reach and sight.