As You Command IC

[JbeJ275]

The combination of sharpened blades and seeking magics serves as enough to shed the life's blood of the final knight, brutally ripping his torso apart into chunks of bloody viscera. This pegasus, coated with both blood and a slowly diminishing mass of resin is the final one to retreat, heading at a reduced but still significant speed away towards shore. The outriders of the fleet broken upon your might.

Nodding, with a tinge of respect covering his usual snarl Captain Zukkad answers and proceeds to bring order to his men.

"You heard him you rats! Hold the guide ropes taut! Find that gale line and lets find our way to that ship and take our damned treasure!"

With that you pull back up to the ship's full sailing speed as men put away their bows and return to the work of getting every last inch of sail out of the ship. No longer keeping on deck for fear of being lanced your men speed the ship on impressively, bringing it up to a speed of 75ft, the enemy flagship and your target reaches a pace of 60ft, unable to hold the line with the shore limiting it's movement and with less sail than your ship possesses. The lighter Caravels of each fleet can both reach higher speeds, and some of the enemy caravels begin heading for shore at their fastest pace, while others remain pulling in alongside their flagship. With each passing second you draw closer, to attack now is to strike against the entire force of the flagship's marine complement without support. But you can see the druid has had a scroll brought up from below, and will soon begin to speak unless you can close with them. Worse still, while this stretch of the journey is vulnerable it is only a short moment of opportunity. If the ship reaches too close to shore reinforcements from the land could contest your attack.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

With his arms folded behind his back Sharkan takes a stance flanking his lord, standing at attention.

"My Lorrrrrd" Again he purrs the word lord out.

"Should we have someone swift enough, or able to get there quickly, I can grant an individual or two the ability to become invisible, and remain so through battle for nearly an entire minute, with such an advantage, someone could counter the druid, or keep the ships from reaching the shore to get reinforcements. "

[MrAbdiel]

Lamorak nods in immediate concurrance. "Cypher is capable of vanishing himself, when the circumstance warrants it. You and Maiabel are likely the best recipients of such a boon. Prepare yourselves." Still in the saddle of the grumbling dragonoid, a plated hand reaches to take a trinket from his belt - a human jawbone, which he grips in the hook of his middle and ring fingers, forking the back ends of the bone forward. His shadowed gaze passes over Maiabel, and he gestures at her with the grim talisman; loosing some of the stored healing energy within it for her benefit.

"The three of you will precede me to the enemy vessel, as I will precede our ship. Once we've forced them to strike their colors, the caravels will break off, and the day will be ours. None of you have ever given me reason to doubt your power. I expect none forthcoming."

Spoiler: Actions!

Show

Standard action to cast a cure minor wounds from the wand, onto Maiabel. After that, operation Teleport Attack can wait for the enemy to come into range. In the meantime, Lamorak is going to gain altitude so that the enemy won't shoot arrows or cannons at him coming in! And while he's airborne and gettin' high, he can use the wand on himself.

I know Maiabel has some healing spells, but I liked the visual of this sort of 'anointing for purpose'.

Healing on Maiabel: (1d8+1)[9]
Healing on Lamorak: (1d8+1)[6]

48/50 charges remaining.

[Waistcoatwill]

As the enemy ship approaches dimension door range Cypher nods to the Lore Protector and looks at the others.

We'll prepare the way for you my Lord. Here is a top up to speed you on your way.

A ripple of kinetic energy spreads out once again from the librarian. Shortly after, his features twist into a lupine aspect, his teeth sharpening and his hair going wild.

Undertake your final preparations, it is time to show those oafs and bumpkin hedgemage what the Lord Protector's commanders can do.

...

Once his colleagues are in position he looks towards the other ship. Fixing his mind on the position of the druid, and running through attack patterns thr brute with the axe might employ. When he feels a ready hand on either shoulder he begins the incantation, and with a dark shearing pf space that leaves him momentarily breathless, the three commanders stabd on the enemy deck. They half surround the court druid, Cypher between the caster an the greatest concentration of marines.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Prep round
Swift action - recast Haste on everyone -7 rounds durations.

Action - Cast Bite of the werewolf on himself - 7 rounds duration. (+2 strength, +4 Dex, +4 Con, +4 Natural Armor)

Departure round
Free actions
Dodge vs the marine commander.
Cunning Defence vs marine commander - 1 IP, +6 Dodge bonus for 1 round.

Action - Cast dimension door to bring himself Sharkan and Maiabel onto the enemy deck so all are within 5' of the druid (unless Sharkan doesn't want to be adjacent to the druid).
Unable to take any immediate actions until next turn.

General AC 28, AC vs marine commander 35

Knowledge Devotion check vs humanoids (local) +8 from Cunning Insight for 1 IP (3/5 left).
(1d20+24)[30] That's +3 to attack and damage

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sharkan nods and turns to Maiabel, he strings magical threads together until a spectral cloak appears in his hands, bearing a hood with large cat ears. He swings the cloak around to don it upon Maiabel as she dissappears from sight.

"Stay from harm as we enter the fray"

He casts once again as spectral cats appear over his claws

He turns back to Cypher as he duplicates the spell for himself, placing a hand on cypher to let him know he is ready to go to their enemy.

"Unto the breech once more"

Spoiler: Spells cast

Show

Cast Greater Invisibility on Maiabel and Sharkan
Cast Blood Wind on Sharkan

[Dusk Raven]

Maiabel nods while she's still visible. She has little to do in terms of preparation, not compared to the magical abilities of her... companions? No, that's not quite the right word. The point remains though that she is primarily a student of the blade, not of magic. She needs only adopt the proper form before going into battle. And, perhaps, say a little prayer to whatever power is currently granting her spells. "May our battle bring us glory."

Spoiler: Prep

Show

Getting maneuvers back, plus using a swift action to shift into Island of Blades stance, essentially making it so that allies only need to be adjacent to a foe to gain a flanking bonus.

[JbeJ275]

With a single step you remove yourself from your own deck, briefly phase through some nameless space between the stars, and emerge once more onto the deck of the enemy flagship. Unseen by all those around them and now surrounding the figure in worn robes they do not hesitate before striking. Shrkan putting a powerful fist to the man's temple seems him fall to the floor, stunned and lying prone before you. This is swiftly followed by Maiabell moving forward to try and put a shortsword through the man's heart.

However, Cypher is swift of thought indeed, and though still to preoccupied with closing the rift to inform his comrades, he almost immedietly notices that the man before them is not the same man he saw through his clairvoyant viewings of the scene before the skirmish with the pegasus riders. And the sight of metal glinting rings beneath his now fallen open robes it's quickly confirmed for the others that this is no court druid like they've ever seen.

Such things are enough to let them turn in time to see a man standing by the ship's wheel turn to face them, a mote quicker in his actions than those around them, as though with further years of expierience. He shouts something in a tongue foreign to each of you and the sailors between you and him throw themselves flat on the deck as the sea spray thrown up by the prow of the ship rises swiftly into the air, in front of the druid, saltwater freezing to ice before him and taking on the forms of horses. These beasts of ice, saltwater and slush stampede towards you, breaking apart just before making contact but cutting at your skin and eyes with sudden freezing temperatures, and forcing you back step by step as the mass of their forms collides with you.

Spoiler: Rolls

Show

Everyone roll a DC 17 Fortitude Save, On a fail take (7d4)[19] cold damage and be propelled 21ft east.

It's now Maiabell's turn.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

With fortitude unexpected from such a thin build, Sharkan resists the ice and frowns, looking down at his now.... chilled attire.

[Waistcoatwill]

The druid's ruse was ovbious from the moment he brought them out of the rift. Even still, the old nag was fast enough that Cypher could only jusy shield his exposed face with a raised hand and the closing rift.

The battering of the arboreal horses still threaten to knock him off his feet, but his positioning deflects most of the blast. As the blast abates he shivers, sending sheets of ice cracking and falling off his cloak, barely saved from the chill.

You have some base cunning, I'll grant you that you old donkey, but it shan't save you from the knackers yard.

[Dusk Raven]

Maiabel instinctively raises her arms to try and block the wave of water, but this paltry reaction isn't enough to stop the petite woman from being swept away and overboard. Of course, a decoy, she thinks, right before the horses slam into her.

Fortunately, with the fly spell still active, this is merely a minor inconvenience for her, and she didn't even fall after being pushed over the edge. Gathering her energy, she uses one of her maneuvers, rapidly moving up into the air, past the reach of any of her foes, before speeding off towards the real Druid, stabbing at him with her shortsword in the process.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Using Bounding Assault to take a double move, moving 10 feet up to avoid AoOs, then moving straight across towards the real Druid and attacking with a +2 bonus as though I were charging (but no penalty to AC).

[JbeJ275]

Maiabel's flight takes her over the thundering steeds and around to the other side of her adversary, where she takes brutal advantage of his focus on the figures on the other end of the deck to cut into him with a brutal sword strike, his eyes widen in surprise and pain as the sword is plunged deep into him but he remains standing.

On the other side of the ship the marine commander lashes out, cutting into where Cypher's legs invisibly lie, but with Cypher's focus on evading attacks from such a figure his attempts are doomed even without the added veil of invisibility. He responds to the attempted axe chop by briefly bounding above the blade in a nimble dodge, then returning to make his own strikes.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Marine Commander misses his attack, Cypher's go then Sharkan's but if Sharkan gets to it first that's fine as well.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Deciding to assist Cypher initially, He summons a pair of firey red cats, he tosses them at the marine commander as they explode in flame against his chest. [28 fire damage]

"Burn you welp"

He then moved 30 west under cover of invisibility

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Alright, so that was a Scorching Ray at the marine commander, then move 30 feet west.

[MrAbdiel]

Rushing upon the wing, Lamorak condinues to lose the distance; eyes tracking the movement of combat from the initial target to a secondary one; piecing together the disruption en route...

Spoiler: OOC Action!

Show

Continuing towards the action at top speed, ascending at 15 degrees to clear the traverse of ship weapons!

[Waistcoatwill]

Cypher smirks at the heavily armored marine captain, casually slipping just out of his reach whilst remaining within slashing distance with his bladewhip. He calls out to the crew of the ship.

Neither your druid nor captain can harm me, what can you hope to achieve against the Lord Protector?

His focus returns fully to the big man in front of him.

That armor seems a little counter productive on a moving ship, not that it'llbe of any use to you, and do watch your step on that Ice.

With a flick of his wrist the blade appears to partially fade from reality, half-shifting into the ethereal plane.

The blade lashes out, first wrapping around the big marine's foot, pulling him off his feet. Then the blade swings down hard, in strikes calculated to rend the big man down to his bones. He finishes up with a salute to the crew, flicking the dead man's blood off his blade.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

5ft step to get out of the marine's range, staying within Cypher's 10ft threat rage.

Swift action - Wraithstrike - all attacks are touch attacks for 1 round.

Full Attack with haste. Attempting to trip on the first hit (and second if the first fails). Getting a free attack on a successful trip attempt.

[JbeJ275]

Between the burns Sharkan swiftly inflicted and the brutal work Cypher does with his chain, the marine commander is thrown from his feet and collapses against the side of the ship. Some attempted rebuke to Cypher's words is lost amid the blood and bile that spills forth from what was once his lungs, his axe clattering to the floor as the man is rendered into pulp.

His death, as quick and bloody as it was causes many in the crew to take flight, scrambling over the side into the waters below and swimming for other ships in the fleet, but others look to the druid, still in the fight and still a worthy figure to rally to.

"Nature itself is not immune to being changed young fool." Shouts the druid back at Cypher. "And certainly someone will be able to put you down like a rabid dog."

With those words the next flumes of sea spray are once again directed into a frozen charge, still targeting Cypher and invisibly catching Sharkan with the shoulder of an icy stallion. Then with his other hand he defensively raises some token from within his sleeve and the winds seem to suddenly carry countless glowing shards with it, which wrap around the druid and catch Maiabell, suddenly revealing her invisible form with a glowing outline. This prompts the crew to advance on her as well, bottling her in and surrounding her as they chop at the form with hand axes and shortswords, yet none make the strike land as she weaves, ducks takes hits on her hardest amour or blocks two-shortsword blades with one of her own. The marines shooting at the now isolated Cypher do seem to have some more luck on their side through, as an arrow flies true for a weakly defended part of his form. Other marines fire the starboard Ballista at the incoming form of the Dark Lord himself, but some horrible grinding noise occurs within the siege weapon, with the bolt sliding out lamely and just falling into the sea.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Cypher and Sharkan to repeat the DC 17 Fortitude Save or take (7d4)[15] damage. Cypher takes an attack for 6 damage subject to any miss chance currently present on him.

Now it's all your guys turns at once.

[Dusk Raven]

Adrenaline starts to slow down Maiabel's perceptions as she deflects and dodges the attacks sent her way. Shifting into a more defensive stance, she eschews her more fancy martial techniques in order to unleash a flurry of strikes on the druid...

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Making a full attack on the druid. At the same time, I use Combat Expertise with a -2/+2. If my attacks are enough to drop the druid, I'll start attacking the marines around me in a clockwise pattern.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sharkan inhales deeply and goes over his meditations, remembering his needed teachings to allow him to empower his magical might. He magically creates two cats, 50% chunkier than the last pair and lobs them toward the druid.

Spoiler: dice rolls

Show

Empowered, 1/3 per day from meditation, scorching rat.

(1d20+12)[13] vs FF and touch. So... ac 10+ deflection
(4d6)[18] +50% haha nat 1 so nothing

(1d20+12)[31] vs FF and touch. So... ac 10+ deflection
(4d6)[13] +50% 19 fire damage

Sharkan then moves 5 ft west

[Waistcoatwill]

Cypher flies around to the other side of the mass of grunts attacking Maiabel. With some muttered phrases and sharp hand signals he reaches through the aether to switch places with her in an almost dance-like motion. Now next to the the druid, he looks him dead in the eye.

Try it then, you wind bag!

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Move as described to the X on the map.

Action - Cast benign transposition with Maiabel.

Dodge on the druid.

General AC 28, 29 vs druid.

[JbeJ275]

Maiabell missed with most of her relentless flurry, but one the one strike that struck true struck deep indeed, nearly killing off the druid who was martialling the last real resistance. Though Sharkan perhaps hoped to end him entirely with one of his seeking gouts of flame the feline fireballs came into contact with the druid only for an icy equine to emerge spectrally between them, turning the feline into a cloud of vapour as the other flew high, catching the bottom of the mainsail. With such little vigour remaining in him he lets out a hourse cry.

"Retreat! To the care of the herd! See that this vessel is scuttled from below! They must not take the crown"

Though the marines had already, struck their blows, with one being fortunate enough to pierce through Cypher's armour, and for this moment at least the charge of the boreal steeds had not diminished the general will of the marines seems to have been broken with most of them fleeing for the sides of the ship and making the plunge into the waters below. Lamorak if no other can now see a herd of Hippocampi, once riding among the mass of the fleet seemingly being trained to pick up the fleeing sailors and carry them to some refuge on other ships.

More pressingly though the druid himself made for the side, withdrawing from Cypher's blows and pitching at good speed into the waters below. At the call of his blood though, or else some tie between beast and those who speak their tongue his descent had been met with the rise of two more creatures, each but large vague outlines under the surface for the moment, they were still submerged by perhaps 10 feet and were pondorously turning towards the vessel on which the Dark lord's council stood.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Sharkan to repeat the DC 17 Fortitude Save or take (7d4)[18] damage. Cypher takes an attack for 2 damage subject to any miss chance currently present on him.

It seems like the marines and druid are all fleeing, though you're welcome to cut them down if you want to. The final pressing threat towards a fait accompli regarding the ship and it's cargo are two beasts rising from the deep seemingly attempting to scuttle the ship.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Seeing them all flee, and the call for a skuttle, Sharkan moves to the edge of the ship to look down and see the creatures underwater. With a thought a smile creeps to his face. He begins casting as a small firey kitten appears in his hands. He holds up the firey feline and looks towards the underwater creatures.

"You see them kitten? dive underwater and boil them alive."

With a jump the creature leaps towards the underwater creatures moving to attempt to skuttle the ship.

Spoiler: Dice Rolls

Show

Fireball underwater. 3rd level spell requires DC 23 spellcraft to cast it successfully underwater. The spell turns into boiling steam to deal the same amount of damage as per underwater combat rules.

(8d6)[30] Damage
DC 18 Reflex for half

[Waistcoatwill]

Another thrum of kinetic energy extends out from cypher, renewing the acceleration affecting the commanders. He rolls his eyes at the fleeing druid, preparing to follow and strike him down, pulling up short at the sight of the dark shapes.

Rot and ruin! If we can't hold them off then search the ship, we want that damned crown!

He makes a slicing motion with his hand and three glowing porpoises appear from the planar breach. He calls to them in celestial.

Danger below you, slay it!

He sheaths his blade and leaps into the water on the opposite side, heedless of the marines still around him. He swims down to the great shape, bearing his lupine fangs.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Swift action haste again (last one) in case it helps us search the ship whilst it sinks. 3 rounds letf for Lamorak (after this one), back up to 7 rounds for the commanders.

Action- use last IP to caste Summon monster II. 3 celestial porpoises appear above the shape on Lamorak's side of the ship and charge the thing. Hopefully they'll stall it long enough for a mighty charge from the boss.

Move - jump over the opposite side of the deck and Swim down next to the other beast. Sheathing his sword to switch to his teeth from Bite of the werewolf (3 rounds left after this).

Dodge on water beast, AC vs beast 29,general AC 28, AC vs AoO from moving 32.

Will try to ID the beast and roll for knowledge devotion next turn when I see what it is.

[Dusk Raven]

Maiabel thinks for a moment over whether to search the ship as Cypher commands, or to simply help deal with the beasts. Moving up to the port edge of the ship and peering into the waters, she makes her decision. She gathers shadows in her hand and around her blade, before flicking them out like a whip towards the unknown target in the depths, seeking out its throat in order to choke and render it vulnerable so the summoned porpoises can better attack it.

[JbeJ275]

As the last few straggling marines make their way off of the ship your collective attention turns onto the drifting shapes below. Sharkan's first blast of fire rends the hide of one with an eruption of boiling water scalding it while Maiabel's shadowy whip cuts into the creature's hide but does not impede it's movement.

Cypher take's a long moment to conjure three glowing porpoises, eyes brimming with angelic fire. They plunge down into the waters to surround one of these dark forms, getting ready to strike at the large forms.

Then from below, you begin to hear the sounds of heavy impacts and straining wood as the beasts smash into a point underneath the vessel. Though the ship holds for now it begins to toss and shake more than before as the beasts smash charge into that section of the hull. Partially it seems to deny any of you an easy angle from which to rain down further punishment upon them and partially to hole the ship from beneath, likely in an attempt to deny you the treasures on board.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

OK so Boreal Winds technically is still going but the effect will likely be minimal.
(7d4-5)[11]/4=3

[Darius Vibrtrar]

sharkan sighs seeing the mess they are in

"I will tend to our main mission, if you two will.... defend the underside of the ship, I dont.... like getting wet."

Sharkan turns to head below deck to find the treasures beneath, as he walks he casts and a 3 foot tall translucent bipedal cat in coat and tails with a bow tie stands before him.

"Go beneath the decks of this ship and bring unto me anything of value."

With that the two of them descend beneath.

Spoiler: ooc

Show

Cast unseen servant with task to seek out andbring valuables to sharkan, doubling our search speed, with intent to cast unseen servant two more times so there will be four of us searching

[Waistcoatwill]

Glowing porpoises summoned, Cypher stows his sword and dashes across the now empty deck. He leaps into the water with fangs bared. After digging them into the hide of the first beast he uses his momentum to propel himself further under the ship. He braces himself against the ship's Hull, almost directly between the two creatures.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Porpoises appear and charge the North beast.

Spring attack to leap onto the first beast, bite it, then scuttle along the underside of the ship to get within 5ft reach of both beasts.

Declaring Dodge against the South beast.

South AC 29 (33 if movement related AoO), North AC 28. 2 more turns of Bite of the werewolf left. 6 more turns of haste.

[Dusk Raven]

Maiabel nods in Sharkan's direction, before stepping off the ship and into the water. Finding herself within range of one of the creatures attacking the ship, she flips her shortswords around in her hands into reverse grips, then starts gouging away at the creature, hoping to kill it or at least get it to stop attacking the ship, and attack her instead.

[MrAbdiel]

Finally closing the distance, Typho’s claws slam into the main mast, and his rider leans up with the bladed tip of his lance to slice free the enemy colors. Hopefully, the enemy ships would see the struck colors, interpret surrender and failure, and turn off - or atleast hesitate in their reinforcement. Beast and master dropped to the empty deck with a powerful thump, surveying the carnage and fleeing for with disdain. They give up too quickly - why?

Spoiler

Show

Call that a charge attack to destroy the enemy flag, then fly-by to land on the port side. I’m still hesitant to commit to water combat before knowing what we’re dealing with in there - it’s be a shame to get got in the intro mission!

[JbeJ275]

Maiabel and Cypher both descended to the hull to fight the creatures there, bracing themselves against barnacle encrusted wood and violently kicking their way through the water as they stabbed and bit. at the creatures. Both of them drawing blood and collectively leaving one of the creates spewing bouts of blood but bringing neither creature down. They also get the best look so far at such creatures, two massive fish each easily nine-feet long, their bodies covered with thick silver scales but bearing no marking as impressive as their massive horns, which had been smashing brutally into and around the hull of the ship as you arrived. They now turn to regard you, with bull black eyes regarding you from under their massive horns, not intelligent enough for true malice but filled with a will to break you apart still.

Sharkan and his conjured companion descend below decks to begin the search, quickly flipping over one of the ten storerooms below decks but finding nothing more than large barrels of freshwater and a few cowering sailors who were too slow to initially evacuate.

Lamorak cuts the flag down, robbing the flagship of that illustrious title and sending a message to the rest of the fleet. This message is perhaps unfortunately answered by a storm of ballista shot from three smaller ships firing upon the ship you so recently took, thundering into the already weakened stretches of hull by the waterline. Fortunately some combination of Lamorak's sent message and the steady approach of your own flagship seems to be scattering the enemy fleet. The fast scout ships now giving their flagship up for lost and attempting to ensure the ponderous merchant vessels that carry a smaller amount of the supplies needed for the capital can at least make it to shore.

Underwater, the Ramfish turn from the fight, withdrawing perhaps 80ft into the Ocean depths below and being followed by the druid and his companion in short order, until you can no longer easily make them out amidst the depths. However some fighting instinct in Cypher and Maiabell alike keeps you on your toes. Sure that they're not giving this fight up quite yet.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Sharkan looks over the sailors who have been now trapped below deck.

"I am a reasonable Man. Any of you who assist me in finding the cargo I seek, will live to see tomorrows sunrise. All others, will perish. Choose now."

He gives them a moment to decide, the first to hesitate gets a pair of Flamming Cats [Scorching Ray] to the chest.

"Choose now."

Sharkan would repeat the process until he recieved assistance in finding the cargo he sought, with his conjured companion assisting.

[Waistcoatwill]

Cypher calls out to the porpoises once more in Celestial, pointing at each as he gives his orders. His irritated tone is audible even in that mellifluous tongue.

Don't let them escape. You, get the left one. You, get the right. You, get the human.

I don't much fancy getting rammed by one of those fish, but these planks aren't in great shape.

He edges slightly closer to Maiabel, scanning the surrounding depths. His muscles tense, ready to strike any overgrown fish that emerge.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Move slightly closer to Maiabel so hopefully he can help her flank next round.

Send the porpoises after the Ramfish and druid.

Readied action to strike the first enemy that comes into range.

AC 29 vs prev South fish, 28 otherwise.
1 round of werewolf left.