"Then she is ours either way," Vraul says.

"I don't like the looks of that ship men, I'm going to get a better look at her colors." Captain Clarke calls to the men as he advances on the rail, quickly jumping over a large albatrosis soon wheeling overhead and off toward the other vessel.

"We can use this as a drill anyway....Marines get in position. Man the Balista and archers aloft." Varul yells. Then turns to the Captain,"One day we need a ship wizard to support your casting." He then moves off to see what this ship is.

Calgarvin waits for the ship to close on the potential enemy, and mans the lines until they reach a critical distance.

"A exercise in futility...she flies no colors lads...that in itself bears no good signs.  I saw we close with her, but be ready for anything." The captain begins to say almost before he has turned back into his human form, the large wings melting back into his own arms.

"All merchant and military vessels would be flying their colors. As a matter of fact, who would sail without colors....only one thing I can think of...." Vraul says letting his sentence trail off.

"My thoughts as well Varul..." Clarke says as he turns to the rest of the crew "Mak ready for comat men!  I'm taking no chances with that caraval!"

"Aye, aye Capn." Vraul says, then shouts "Marines prepare for battle and man the balista."

"Dirty pirate scum! Let's get 'em lads!" cries Calgarvin as he gets about his battle chores.

Umbril checked that his chain was wrapped neatly and ready for action around his waist as he swung a final bucket over the rail and drew it up full of sea water to dump it into one of the fire barrels.

He slung the line over his shoulder and checked the lay of the coil so that it would run free.  He rushed up the ratlines to the spar and swung the bucket into the sea.  Following the captain's orders, he doused the sails that he could reach as the others prepared for battle below.

Chulu heard the order and moved over to the railing, surveying the other ship and though he could tell everything about it with a glance.  Due to his diminuitive size and lack of physical stature when compared to the other shipmates, he had avoided most of the meanial tasks.  Soon, though, it would be time for him to harness his "special talents".

Coming up from below Gildor heard The Captain's orders. Finally, A little action! he thought to himself. checking to make sure that his weapons were securely set in their sheaths, he ran to get a bucket and started to wet down the sails in preparation for battle.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:14, Fri 15 Sept 2006.

The burly human, the biggest one in the crew, followed the motions of the rest, getting water to wet the sails. But Karal did his chore with a difference. The small giant takes five buckets and strings them on a rope like ornaments. All five go over the edge and then he pulls them all back up at once. Then taking a bucket in each of his meaty hands he tosses the water two at a time. Karal hardly makes a sound as wets the sails and then repeats the action.

Hands didn't bother to check his weapons. An oaken bat with metal bands hangs through a pair of loops on his belt and strapped against his leg to keep it from swinging free. Odds were good he wouldn't bring it out in the fight but the threat was there all the same.

Varul looks at the captain for orders, "Do we open fire with the balista as you planned and hit em wif your long distance spells?"

"No! Not yet.  Wait until they close to 100 ft and then open fire on them.  We may have the wind now, but they are a faster ship and I don't want to loose here.  All hands stand by for boarding action!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:39, Fri 29 Sept 2006.

Vraul yells at everyone "Ya herd the Capn you swabies. Be ready to attack upon closing ta 100'." He lifts a heavy cross bow and loads it.

Chulu remains on the railing, immobile as a statue as his green cloack whips and blows about him in the wind, a sharp contrast to the light tan of the ship or bright hues of blue in the sea and the sky.  His chance was coming.  Soon, very soon.

Umbril settled into place on the spar, his leg wrapped around one of the ratlines, and his shortbow ready in his hand.  He was ready to loose his first shaft as soon as the order to fire was given.

Gildor drew his weapons. He knew it would not come down to boarding for a while but he never had the knack with bows that other elves had. He did however have a knack for swords. There was a hiss as the twin blades cleared their scabards and Gildor gave them a lazy spin. The swords were a matched pair, an Elven Thinblade and an Elven Lightblade. Both were a gift from Gildor's father as a reward for his proficiency with the swords. Gildor liked the way they felt in his hands, perfectly balanced, Gildor's natural grace and agility would count as much as strength in the coming battle. He moved to a place from which he could jump unto the nearby ship when it came close enough.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:47, Sat 30 Sept 2006.

Jonash finally managed to appear from under the deck where he 'was fixing' stuff is someone would ask. Although he actualy just had slept of his hangover. Though an order to work was easily ignored a call to arms was not. Appearing on deck with in in gear he moved to a good vantage point to prepared a small fire to kindle his arrows to rain down some fire on the enemy and waited.

Upon hearing the words, Duke springs to the deck.  He quickly surveys the situation, and seeing the possibility for combat, does the smart thing, and reads off one of his Mage Armor spells from a scroll.

As soon as we are aproaching the ordered distance Vraul looks at the Captain, when he gives the nod he will fire his massive crossbow and order the firing to begin.

Hands, had never been good with a bow or crossbow and so he caries neither. Instead of preparing to attack with the rest the little giant gathers rope and hooks and hooked ladders that will be used to board the caraval. That is of course if the pirate hunters don't sink the other ship before boarding is possible.

This cloudless day the Shoalrider keeps sailing on under full sail to catch every scrap of wind it can towards the unknown ship off the starboard bow.

The crew hands make preparations for the coming boarding action as fast as they can; concealing grappling hooks, rope, boarding pikes, and other weapons from sight until the last moment.  4-5 crewmen are ordered in front of the forward ballista, frantically waving their arms to hide it from view of the enemy crew and to confuse them to focus their attention on them.

"Everyone to your stations.  You know what to do and I'll see all of you on the other side when it's over.  May Valkur protect you and keep you safe.", the captain bellows from the aft deck.

He then walks the length of the ship, from the aft deck to the forecastle, encourging and comforting the men as he oges.  When he gets to the bow the captain addresses the ballista crew.  "You will only have 1-2 shots, men, so make them count.  Try to aim for the helmsman and steering wheel or any spellcasters you happen to notice first.  Getting hit with a fireball at this close range would be a disaster.  Savy!?!"

When everything is order there the captain makes his way to the rear of the ship, stopping to talk with the officers about their assignments during the fight, and then making his way to the helmsman's station.  "Steady as she goes, helm."

OOC: The enemy ship is 200-100 ft. away at this point.  The captain will want everyone to hold action until the very end for surprise in order to grapple with the other ship.    Everyone start thinking about which part of the ship they will be attack and keep in mind that it will be close quarters combat.

Umbril kept his bow down and out of sight, waiting for the ballista crew to fire.  Once their first shaft was away, he'd pick out his own target.

21:06, Yesterday: Umbril rolled 15 using 1d20+3. Initiative.

EDIT: Sorry, pasted in the wrong thing the first time 'round.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Fri 13 Oct 2006.