She certainly wasn't prepared to accept such responsibility so quickly--this wasn't her first fight, no, but she had never lead a group of people into combat.  She had studied her Father's victories and (few) defeats to the point of exhaustion, and while several of them were naval battles, it still made her heart skip a beat when she was given the sudden news.

"..A-aye aye, sir!" She stuttered at first, but quickly regained her composure, and even gave a bit of a salute, perhaps to calm her own mind and settle the nerves a bit.  And, honestly, she was a bit shocked in awe at what the Captain had single-handedly done to that water demon!

Still, if he had to take the Bar, she would be ready.  And it wouldn't be long now before they were boarded, and before her fists and feet became just as important as her eyes and ears.  The firing of the arrows, the deafening booms of the cannon--all of it was new and exciting, like watching your favorite story come to life.  Her father would be devastated to see her in such warfare, but Kiana also knew that deep down, her Father would be proud that a captain would so blindly put her in command of his troops.

That's my girl.

Kareth's work with the nets is masterful even with a short amount of time to work, yielding two large oiled nets that could be cast on either side of the ship. [Private to Isole Kareth: +3 stunt this time, hopefully that might keep you from showing your secret!] The entire deck is suffused with the oil fumes, making breathing uncomfortable for those unused to the smell. Fortunately, both the sails and body of the Dryad are effectively fireproof, so there's no worry about the boat going up in flames before the trap can be cast.

While Jadira shouts her commands, Tageru shoots another pair of arrows at the Lintha subofficer, Juza. His first arrow is casually shredded, but the second pierces through his defenses, sinking into his arm. He bares his fangs, clearly irate, commanding the rowers to propel his ship away from the cannon's trajectory.

Unfortunately for him, the onager firepots arc toward the galley's point of escape. One explodes near the bow, actually blasting a small chunk off the hull, and the rowers instinctively swerve the vessel back the other way.

To Juza's credit, he'd managed a near-escape against the odds, but it just isn't enough. The essence beam erupts from the cannon, ripping diagonally through the galley's starboard side, right through to the stern. The entirety shreds apart in an explosion of hull fragments and Lintha flung apart by the concussive force of the blast. Many of them, Juza included, manage to dive free before getting caught in it, but a dozen rowers are caught in the blast or pierced by well-placed arrows from Jadira's archers. It's very doubtful they survived. [Private to Jadira Thornbloom: +2 stunt]

The galley wreckage is about 35 yards away now. The surviving Lintha have already plunged into the sea, taking advantage of gills and natural swimming talents to avoid any further arrow fire. No doubt they will emerge again: over three dozen still remain.

---

OOC: actions
tick 27 - Lasuri + Dryad crew, Lintha flagship (still observing, distance: 233 from Dryad), Lintha galley crew (underwater, moving)
tick 28 - Kareth, Tageru
tick 29 - Jadira + Dryad weapons
tick 30 - Kiana

The Lintha galley crew will be close enough to board by tick 29 or 30 (assuming the Dryad doesn't slow down) but Lasuri/Kareth get a chance to set their trap first. if you want to hold till the galley crew show themselves again, go ahead!

Wavecrest Navy ships are still battling and surviving, as far as you can tell. Zeru and crew, your part with the artillery ship is coming next (it'll be separated from the Dryad's battle soon)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:54, Thu 05 Feb 2009.

The crew of the Marlena respond to Zeru's speech with enthusiasm and bravery. "You've got it, cap'n!" "Ready as ever!" "Yes sir!" Sunden doesn't talk, of course, but he's smiling, with a pair of long knives in his hands. Brogan and Curran have their axes, Antov his chopping sword, and Cinna a straight sword with a point. "For the Cobalt Alliance!" they shout.

Marlena's voice manifests for the entire crew to hear. "Destroy the ones who dared hurt me!" she demands, as she brings the courier close in a risky but calculated move. It almost looks as if they'll crash right into the bigger ship, but at the last moment the spirit-manned ship pulls parallel with the artillery ship, giving the crew just enough of a window to hop on.

"Go!" Zeru swings from the rigging, landing solidly on the enemy's deck while his five crewmen follow suit with running leaps. All five make it, though Brogan and Curran are clinging precariously at the edge for a moment until they pull themselves up bodily, using their axes as an anchor!

And the Marlena wheels away, making a wide circle back toward the Dryad -- not intending to attract the flagship's attention any time soon. Lucky Coral is left at the helm, and looks quite pleased about it.

---

OOC: Zeru and artillery ship will now be handled in a different thread! [Private to Peleps Zeru: Go to Chapter 2, Phase 3 Intermission - Ill-Fated Voyage.]

Lasuri cannot help but smile at the concentrated efforts of everyone, and the high degrees of success they seem to be getting. Truly, the Alliance is starting to move out of its incredibly humble origins - a group comprised of two Dragon-Blooded and the skeleton crew of their ship - and has begun to evolve into something else. Something greater.

He sends a last salute towards the Marlena as the ship moves to face its own battles. Lasuri trusts Zeru and his crew implicitly, and knows that no matter the odds, no matter what it would take, they would ultimately emerge victorious. And with that thought in mind, he turns back towards his own ship, and to the hard work and efforts of his people. Kareth managed to do a wonderful job in a very short amount of time, something that will likely greatly aid them in the coming battle. As for Jadira and the gunners, their handling of the galley ahead is nothing short of prodigious. With a big clap of his hands that end up splashing water around him from his wet clothes, the Captain calls to order.

"Spectacular job, gunner crew! Couldn't have asked for better job! Now get ready to defend your skins while you scan ahead - there's gonna be boarders in here, and although we'll do our damndest to make sure it doesn't happen, there might be people that will manage to make it to the gun deck. Stay on your toes!"

"Again, great work, mister Kareth. Now, the crew from that galley will reach us pretty soon - and they'll try to board us, likely. Drop the trap immediately, and ignite it as soon as possible. We'll zoom past some of these swimmers I suspect, but the more damage we do, the better." He smiles at the dour artificer, and nods. "I leave to you, Mister Kareth. Do your worst, I know the Lintha will remember it for generations to come."

"Miss Kiana - the galley's down, but I don't trust that flagship to remain quiet forever. I'll need to be ready to grab the helm at the moment's notice. Which means we don't change our original plan. You'll be in charge of the ship's defense team, so I can focus on coordinating everything else." He nods grimly, then smiles encouragingly to the girl. "Give it all you've got, lady. I know you can do it." He then turns towards the rest of the crew, then bellows out.

"Allright, those assigned to ship defense, you take your cues from miss Kiana! You breathe when she tells you to breathe, you attack when she says to attack, and you pull back when she tells you to pull back. And before you try to wisecrack me mister Leeds, the answer to your question is yes - you need to ask her if you need to use the bathroom." His smile widens, betraying the camaraderie he has with the people under him, and then the smile turns almost wolfish as he raises his Wavecleaver, stepping closer to the ship's wheel.

"Allright, let's be the ones to teach the Lintha they don't own these damn waters!
This message was last edited by the player at 20:43, Sat 07 Feb 2009.

After finishing with the netting, Kareth felt refreshed.  Battle was not something that came naturally to him, but putting things together, now that was another story.  It made him feel... alive.  With the captain's orders to throw the nets and light them, Kareth turns to the archer Jadira had sent to help him and says "Go to port, ready a fire arrow and shoot the nets once they're thrown, use a fowling arrow if you have one.  If not, just make sure it gets lit."  Once Kareth reaches the starboard side of the vessel, he shouted his command as loud as he could so that he'd be heard clear on the other side of the deck:  "THROW THE NETS!"

Once again, his fiery essence condensed before his body.  Once again, Kareth sent it forward, this time into the netting just settling into the water.

[Private to GM: Elemental Bolt into the starboard netting to set it on fire.  1m. ]

Kareth and his assistant toss down the nets as the Dryad pulls past the galley wreckage. About 15 Lintha miss the first chance to board, left in the Cobalt flagship's wake, but 25 more latch onto the hull with their hooked swords... only to find themselves caught in the burning surprise as it's set ablaze!

The Dryad drags the burning net along with the Lintha clinging to the hull as the demon-spawn curse and spit and struggle to cut free of it to board. They are made of strong stuff, these demon-pirates, braving the flames with mostly minimal damage.

Meanwhile Lasuri continues on course, bringing the Dryad ever closer to the unmoving flagship, still obscured by the sorceress's icy, protective fog. Another flare of dark Essence indicates the presence of sorcery aboard the vessel, while Jadira and Tageru may choose their targets as they wish. Kareth is in range to fire down at the Lintha attempting to board, as well.

The flagship looms closer, enough that one can start to make out individual figures. [Private to Kiana Makohgn: You can see the crew preparing bows to fire at the Dryad. They seem to have no artillery weapons on board, though.] The visible crew of the flagship numbers about 20, not including the sorceress, the many-armed demon protecting her, and the imposing figure crossing his arms at the helm.

---

OOC: All the Lintha that got caught succeeded at resistance rolls. 5 took no damage, 20 took 1B damage. All of them are still stuck in the nets, losing their turn and exposing them to flame another turn before they can start climbing up.

So we're speeding up slightly. 10 ticks will pass. [Private to Cynis Tageru; Jadira Thornbloom: Both of you have the equivelant of two full actions to attack. Valid targets are: (on Lintha flagship) the helmsman, the sorceress, the crew, the many-limbed demon; (in the water) the Lintha trying to board the Dryad.][Private to Isole Kareth: You have time for one action to attack the boarding Lintha with your very small cannons.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:14, Sun 08 Feb 2009.

Kiana's group of defenders consists of 12 men and 3 women, wielding chopping swords or axes with bucklers. The majority of them are older than her, but they look ready and willing to help her out. Leeds twinkles at her from underneath a brimmed hat. "We're your honor guard now, little lady."

One of the women jabs him in the ribs. "C'mon, cut that out. Miss Kiana, we're the Alliance's frontliners. We're among the first to stand with Captain Lasuri. And we won't be the last. The name is Saari. That's Leeds..." she swats at the man next to her and points out others. "Quinn, Rowe, Madigan, Cray, Silva, Duarte..."

"Blythe," speaks up a younger man with brown hair, and another, dark haired, "Csinta." Even while the impromptu roll call goes on, the crewmen do their best to aid the archers, going so far as to toss firepots like makeshift grenades down where the Lintha are struggling.

Mister Donnegal, who has finally managed to shake off the effect of the images the eristufa sent at him, shakes his head a little groggily. "What's our heading, Captain," he finally manages to croak out, and clears his throat, gripping the wheel as his alertness returns. "Don't be leaving your old friend out of the fun, eh?"

"Well, here it begins for real" Tageru says grimly as the Lintha attach themselves to the hull of the Dryad and he looks over the side of the ship to see the demon-pirates approaching. The Wood Immaculate frowns even deeper than he usually does, and his green eyes are ablaze with emerald lights and the power of Sextes Jylis himself.
He starts to rain the arrows down onto the invaders, each shot another scream and another splash as the Lintha's body hits the water. 'I have to take out as many as I can before they can reach us and defend themselves' he thinks, and fights on with grim determination.

[Private to Storyteller: Ok, splitting my action into two shots at two different hangers-on. Also, I forgot to mention, but if I hit any Essence-users (and I did, the Demons, at least), I regain 1 mote per hit. So that leaves me with only the Essence for the form spent, and everything else full. :)
Also, could I use my anima power since I'm technically toxic to use that poison on my arrows? :)]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Sun 08 Feb 2009.

Kareth stood with one foot propped on a box as he looked over the railing.  A small smile spread across the engineer's pale lips as he saw the demon-blooded boarding party burn in the nets.  It was always nice when things went according to plan and the nets were holding up to expectations.  However, as they began to break free from the netting, Kareth drew his piece again and leveled it down the side the Dryad at one of the climbing aggressors.  He chose his target carefully and taking his time to aim square at his chest.  Even if the blast didn't kill him, he wanted the impact to knock him off the ship.  After aiming, he released the safety and opened fire.

The Lintha for the most part had been more concerned with escaping the netting than paying attention to what was above him... that is to say, until he heard a very small "click".  On looking up the demon-blood found himself staring into the barrel of a Kareth's essence cannon.  Then he found himself looking at the incoming blast of concussive essence.

[Private to GM: 14:21, Today: Isole Kareth rolled 4 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,1,7,5,6,2,3,9. dex + arch attack w/ essence cannon.

Stunt? ]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:27, Sun 08 Feb 2009.

Jadira takes up the strongbow again, and rallies her crewmen:

"Archers, form up, we'll shoot as many of them down as we can." Realizing that her catapult crews won't be able to aim at the boarders from here, she reassigns them. "You men on the ballistas, take up bows and join them as well. Onager crew, do like the other men are doing, grab the firepots and throw 'em by hand! Whether the thing goes off or not doesn't matter as much as you actually hitting 'em enough to hurt!"

She fires off her first volley of shots with six assembled archers, shooting three of them for every one shot the crewmen manage to fire. The onager crew adds to the group hurling firepots down at the Lintha, with greater success due to their experience judging artillery trajectories.

With the second volley the ballista group joins the archers, doubling the number to a full dozen. "Archers, FIRE!" The rain of arrows falls upon the demon boarders, joining the second thrown firepot barrage!

"Captain, the flagship." Jadira calls over to Lasuri. "She's in cannon range -- and it looks like they're about to retaliate on us. Sorcery--and archers, too, I think. What'll we do?"

Kiana bowed to the Captain as he lavished praise and expectations onto her.  She wasn't tempered by battle--not yet, at any rate, but she had been tempered by different flames.  Flames that burned all the brighter, with or without blood as flux.  The bow was rather quick, though, as she turned her attention to the men (and women) suddenly under her charge.  She nodded at their introductions, doing her best to commit name to face as her memory would allow.  Though the Earth Dragons were known for their love of tradition and unchanging ways, Kiana had learned long ago that she had to think on her feet, or possibly die trying to determine what to do.  She was of the earth, but there was different sorts of earth, wasn't there?  Now she was quicksand, quickly shifting to the weight of the Lintha as the threat approached.

"It's a pleasure to serve with you all."  She said quickly.  She pointed toward the edge of the deck, where the Lintha were trying to work their way up, though the nets and flames were certainly slowing them down.  "We need to do everything we can to stop them from reaching the deck.  If they can't board us, they can't fight us."  It was simple sea warfare, really.  Though the Lintha wouldn't drown if thrust back into the waves, it would still be one less demon to worry about.

Then, as they approached closer to the ship, her sharp eyes accosted a detail the Captain need know.  "Mine eyes only see archers aboard the flagship, Captain!  Some magic worker may be hiding among their ranks, but I can see no artillery at all.  They are either confident in their arrows, or they have something else up their sleeve!"  She shouted, and then turned her attention back to 'her' crew.

"Listen carefully.  If we fail in suppressing their boarding us, we must face them.  The Sea Drake prides himself on his crew, and I've no doubt each one of you are strong and brave unlike any other--but the Lintha are not human.  They are no bound by flesh and blood, and have strength that no living creature should.  Pair yourselves to fight them, and make sure you work as a whole.  These creatures think themselves better than you, and that is their weakness.  Strong as they are, we are more cunning.  But hopefully it won't come to that--if we can stop them from boarding, all their strength and all our cunning will not matter--we'll be dry, and they'll be wet."  She said, a small smile crossing her lips as she finished what was a fairly calm and heartening speech.  She sounded calm and sure, a veritable mountain to lean against and find shelter.  Surely not as courageous or as inspiring as the Sea Drake, and certainly not as dashing, but Kiana seemed...solid.  Unmoving.

Eternal?  Perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration, but the crew would know this--Kiana would endure.  She always had, and she always would.  Her ways had kept her alive up until now, and that path had been fraught with peril.  Surely if they followed her, their hearts might well tell them, then they too would weather the storm they now found themselves in.

The Captain listens to the reports around him before pausing for a moment, lowering his head in thought. It lasts only for a second however, and he quickly lifts his gaze once more to look at the men and women around him.

"Listen up, folks. This here's more than just a simple naval battle. It's a battle of ideas, and a clash of beliefs.We've taken much from them already, and perhaps some of you are wary to continue the fight - but listen carefully. We can't let their flagship go unscathed. They've seen us in action, and there's a good chance they'll get reinforcements and try to flank us when we least expect it. They've got power and a level of respect to maintain, after all. So what I'm asking you is to stand with me... And we'll deny them that."

"We'll cripple their flagship as well, and in doing so deal them a blow they won't soon forget. Not for fame. Not for glory. Not even for ourselves, in the end. But rather to teach a lesson to anyone who'd try to encroach on freedoms and rights. We'll hit 'em hard and fast, so next time they'll think twice before just robbing and plundering and killing who they want. To teach them that no man's deed goes unpunished."

He nods once, and turns back to Donnegal with a smile on his lips. "Wouldn't dream of leaving you out of this one, Mister Donnegal. Glad to see you back with us, old friend." He claps the older man on the shoulder, then points onwards. "Set sail for the Lintha Flagship, and be ready to give me the bar when I ask for it. In the meantime, approach so that we're as face-to-face as possible with them. Miss Kiana thinks there's only archers on board, so we'll approach them directly onwards - that way, we'll limit how many of their troops can shoot us at once. We won't be able to dodge them all, but if we force them to bunch up together we can set them up for a big surprise once miss Thornbloom fires. We'll give these yellow-livered dogs a reception they won't soon forget."

"Miss Thornbloom." He calls out, his voice resounding to Jadira's gun deck. "We'll be heading for the flagship, so prepare to fire the Essence cannon at it once you've got a nice clean shot. Make it a good one - we'll use it as our greeting card."

"Boarding crew... do your worst. We'll be assaulted while making an approach, so your work is crucial. Let no one near the gun deck, and keep these freaks off your crewmates' backs. Once the boarding's dealt with, stay sharp and on your toes... We might be getting a bit of boarding action of our own." He smiles, nodding towards Kiana. "Ball's in your camp now."

"Mister Kareth, we'll help with the defense team, but I want you to stay close to me. If there's a surprise among their ranks like miss Kiana suggests, I want to have a fast response time, and that'll be your job." He nods sharply, then turns towards the Lintha Flagship. "Okay, enough chatter, and on to action. And as we go... A little gift for our team leaders."

He lifts the axe in his left hand, and for a moment Kareth, Jadira, Kiana, and Tageru as well as Lasuri himself are caught in mini-tornadoes, black mist swirling around them and taking the shape of twirling sea serpents. "Let the Sea Drake help you with these arrows." He adds cryptically, before focusing entirely on their approach.

[Private to Cynis Tageru; Isole Kareth; Jadira Thornbloom; Kiana Makohgn; Storyteller: Activating Whirlwind Shield Form, which means that until the end of the scene, all those affected automatically subtract 3 dice from any ranged attack pools rolled against them.]
[Private to Storyteller: This costs 3 motes +1 per ally, so comitting 7 motes on this.]

The mood on the Dryad is tense as a taut bowstring, but the crewmen are bolstered by the confidence of their leaders. Particularly Kiana, who surprises them by emerging out of her shy, quiet shell with courageous words and sound advice. The fifteen assigned to her arrange themselves in small groups of two or three, facing either edge of the deck. "We'll triumph together," Leeds calls out, "just as the lady of Earth commands!"

"For miss Kiana!" proclaims Saari proudly.
"For our fair Dryad!" shouts Duarte, fist in the air.
"For the Sea Drake!" yells an enthusiastic Blythe.
"For Cobalt!" the crewmen thunder as one.

The cohesion of the Lintha boarders begins to falter as they are bombarded from above by a hail of arrows, firepot grenades and essence cannon blasts. Three are slain while still caught in the nets, four more as they just get free, lethally arrow-stung or burned to a crisp by the flaming oil clinging to their clothing and skin. Thirteen of the Lintha manage to get free unscathed to nimbly scale the ship's hull; another six flounder, cut clear of the netting but ducking under the water to extinguish the flames.

Donnegal shouts orders to a remaining skeleton crew of four, turning the Dryad's wheel on a direct course toward the enemy flagship. "You heard the Captain, we're heading right for 'em! Dryad winds, blow fair and strong today!" The frayed, but still burning nets are dragged along as the half-dozen Lintha underwater remain unseen.

Meanwhile, on the Lintha flagship...

The build-up of dark essence on deck reaches a crescendo, as an eagle of pure flame coalesces at the sorceress's fingertips and streaks towards the Dryad. It strikes in the midst of the archers, crossing the distance with such speed it almost seems not to physically move, but simply appear there, trailing a blazing line of fire.

The unfortunate crewman struck lets out a scream of agony as he is consumed by the supernatural flame. Several of his mates start for him, to drag him away and try to extinguish the fire, and are caught as the fireball spreads incandescent wings and explodes outward. They fortunately suffer only minor burns; Jadira would have been much less lucky, had she been too preoccupied to leap away from her station to dodge the blast.

The sorcerous flame lingers in an area 3 yards in diameter, burning into the near-impenetrable material of the deck. The armswoman would have to step back into the flames to operate it, now.

As the deck of the Dryad erupts into chaos, the first volley of arrows from the flagship comes flying toward the crew. One arrow perhaps mercifully ends the burning man's life. Four archers are pierced through the breastplate but still remain standing. Donnegal takes an arrow on the shoulder and another on the arm, while Kiana's crewmen get away with a few light cuts. The last few arrows come straight for Jadira -- clearly the Lintha do not want to give her a chance to fire the cannon that shredded their galley again.

---

OOC: actions - to make this simpler we'll just assume everyone reconvenes on tick 40. make your action and we'll restart the count from there. At tick 40 the flagship is pretty close -- within 50 yards. The 13 Lintha have JUST made it aboard. [Private to Isole Kareth: Technically you actually could do two whole actions, I skipped ahead a bit so you can have some leeway with that.]

boarders status
killed: 7
boarding: 13 [1 3hl, 7 1hl, 5 0hl]
underwater: 6 [2 5hl, 3 4hl, 1 3hl]
unaccounted for: 15

dryad crew status
killed: 1 / out of commission: 2
injured: 9 [4 archers 3hl, 5 fighters 1hl], Donnegal [2hl]
healthy: 26 [6 archers, 10 fighters, 6 artillerists, 4 misc. crew]
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:20, Thu 12 Feb 2009.

Seeing the boarding party climbing on deck, Kareth makes a quick assessment of the situation.  Seeing that there happens to be a healthier looking Lintha only a couple of yards from the still burning remains of the magical, flaming bird the sorcerer had sent them moments before he decides to turn their own attack against them.  Kareth crosses his arms, using his sword hand to steady his shooting hand.  He takes aim directly at the Lintha's head and fires his essence cannon with the hope that the concussive force carries him into the magical flames ignited by his own crew.

[Private to GM:
Turn 1:Firing a single shot at a lintha (hopefully not the weak one.)  Hoping knockback effect of essence cannon knocks him into the fire. Stunt?

Isole Kareth rolled 8 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,7,3,10,7,10,6,5. Attack (Essence Cannon).
]

After firing his shot, Kareth calmly comments to his repair team "Do stay close.  When the flames die down, we'll see if emergency repairs are crucial." It was evident that he would give no lofty words of inspiration.  Kareth was as he had been the whole trip: cold.

After commenting to his crew, Kareth decided to deal with another demon-blood.  Figuring that the crew could more easily deal with wounded opponents than fully healthy ones, he choose yet another healthy looking target and once again took aim.  However this time he didn't expect to be able to catch the enemy so easily, but he was ready.  Firing a shot as a distraction Kareth once again charged up another bolt of flame.  As the invader defended the concussive blast, Kareth's elemental bolt followed swiftly in its wake making it more difficult to defend.

[Private to GM:
Turn 2:

1 Attack w/ Essence Cannon followed by an Elm Bolt.  Stunt?

The elm bold is charged w/ 1 m so damage should be 6L dice if it hits.  Buying one sux for the elm bolt with my excellency.

Essence Cannon:  2 sux
Elm Bolt: 4 sux
DV: -2

Isole Kareth rolled 3 successes using 5d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,8,2,5,8. Attack (Elm Bolt) (2nd turn).

Isole Kareth rolled 2 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 3,1,8,4,8,1. (oops)Attack (Essence Cannon) (2nd turn).
Isole Kareth rolled 2 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 6,10,6,6,6,2,5,1. Attack (Essence Cannon) (2nd turn).  (Wrong number of dice, sorry).
]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:50, Thu 12 Feb 2009.

The golden rule for any authority figure, on the battlefield or off was simple.  The Sea Drake lived by it, her father had lived by it, and Kiana had every intention of upholding it as well:  Lead by example.  These Lintha were demons of the sea, devil-pirates who defied every good thought and noble intention that the world held dear.  Creatures of the most despicable evil, tyrants sailing on what should have been the sweet waves of freedom.  She would gladly fight the first wave of boards, the second, and even the third and the fourth if it came to such numbers.  Their numbers would fall well before she would.

Of the coming numbers, two came at her, no doubt thinking the girl an easy target.  Her frame was slender and meek at first appearance, after all, and few would pay serious attention to Smashfirst on her hands, and the boots on her feet until it was too late.  One Lintha, brandishing two wicked curved blades jumped from yards away with a hideous battle cry, while another with a larger single blade came at the Earth Aspect, wanting to cleave her from shoulder to thigh.

Kiana didn't move as they approached, her lungs filling slowly and with purpose despite the eruption of chaos around her.  Some might think she was simply frozen with fear at the coming onslaught, but then those thoughts would be sundered away as she moved.  From her low stance, suddenly she unleashed a deadly outer crescent kick with her right leg, just as the airborne Lintha was upon her.  Her well timed kick would not only catch the pirate precisely in the Solar Plexus, but the kick continued onward, and downward.  She brought the kick wide, eventually slamming the demonic villain under her White-Jade covered boot and into the deck of the Dryad, which gave no quarter or comfort to him.  Her other leg swung out behind her, putting her in a low bow stance once again, facing the other directly.  The other was still charging, too stupid to realize that he was approaching a master of the Earth Dragon Style--and one who was not finished.  Not by a long shot.

Her stance low once again, She turned and delivered a devastating side-thrust kick into the other fiend, spinning a complete rotation and grinding the other poor bastard under her boot and further into the Dryad's deck.  The kick had eons of power behind it, slowly planned and quickly executed fury and majesty that flowed in her veins, both physically and spiritually, no doubt bending the running man in half and sending him careening off of the boat.  She flowed with the kick, despite its tremendous stopping power, until she faced the boarders and planted her feet firmly once more.  The lone reminder of the flying monster was his tattered bandanna, which fell like a damp rat to the deck of the Dryad, not dare moving for fear that Kiana might see such a thing as a threat.

She stood defiantly, seeming as tall and impassable as the mountains of the Crimson Isle.

"For Father..."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:15, Sat 14 Feb 2009.

As the blast of the fire spreads across the Dryad's deck, Tageru leaps into the air, suddenly high above it as he pulls out two more arrows from his quiver. Two green-skinned Lintha with horrible scaring on their faces and sharp, wicked fangs appear on the edge of the ship as they climb and suddenly, there are two arrows sticking out of their chests and the impact and the pain send them hurtling back into the sea. Tageru lands on his feet and turns to face another of the demon-pirates as he tries to slash his sword at his chest. Tageru steps toward him and grabs the pirate's wrist and pulls him off balance, causing him to miss both his target and his step as he stumbles to remain upright.


[Private to Storyteller: OOC: two attacks, and the last bit was an unarmed parry stunt against a sword attack. :)]

NO! Jadira feels a thrill of shock through her as the magical flames consume her crewman -- a cold jolt that quickly turns hot with rage. That spell had likely been meant for her, and Nikanor would die for it now. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.

Barely avoiding the expanding fireball, the armswoman invokes her anima in defiance of the rain of arrows that follows. Coils of thorned flower vines surround her in serpentine spirals, blossoming bright red flowers as her warm emerald aura builds in strength. The arrows simply cannot find a path toward her, dragged off course by Lasuri's wind shield, bending crazily when they come within inches of her skin. Wooden shafts snap into fragments and disintegrate around her feet, leaving only the arrowheads.

"Archers, spread out into a loose formation and take cover. We don't want to be caught by any more fireballs," Jadira commands grimly. "Onager crew, do the same. Keep up with the firepots -- don't let any more get aboard! But if the demon-spawn get close don't hesitate to draw your weapon!"

She continues to direct the archers, "Return volley on the flagship crew. Focus on the spell-thrower if you can. We'll make them pay!"

Boldly, Jadira leaps back onto the flaming turret deck, heedless of the harm it will cause her. She flicks the safety switch to arm the cannon, the hearthstone once again gathering essence from the ambient air, channeling it through the barrel. The heat builds around her feet, tongues of flame licking at her boots, at the hems of her leggings. It does nothing to disturb her focus. Her senses are narrowed toward a single purpose: timing and placing the trajectory of the cannon to unleash the most damage she can.

"Archers, FIRE!" As the Dryad arrows dive for the enemy crew, Jadira sends a solid beam of crackling blue energy streaking across the waves toward their flagship!

[Private to GM: Reflexively activating anima, changing formation of my crew, and +6 excellency to cannon fire.]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:49, Thu 30 Apr 2009.

The first essence cannon blast from Kareth catches the unfortunate Lintha in the head, hammering his skull open. He is already dead by the time his body flies not only clear across the deck, but right PAST the deck, splashing into the tangle of half-shredded net below. (7L) [Private to Isole Kareth: Oh, geez, I just realized belatedly that I rolled your damage 2 dice over -- forgot it's bashing, not lethal -- but I just subtracted 1 sux. Still enough to off the guy.]

Kareth's second shot misses the demon-spawn -- intentionally -- allowing him to surprise more than harm the boarder with the flames that burst from his fingertips. (1L) [Private to Isole Kareth: No stunt love here, got 0 extra successes this time. I gave you +2 stunt twice though, so you can help your motes more.]

Kiana grinds one Lintha right into the deck. He stays down, his chest all but caved in by the heel of Kiana's boot as he struggles and gasps for breath, an inch away from death. (6L) The other demon-spawn caught by her side-swipe kick has his torso all but demolished by the impact, the bones cracked and the insides pulped. (8L) The dead body clears the Dryad as it continues on its path toward the enemy ship, landing with a nasty squelch on their foredeck: a rather grisly reminder of what a bad idea underestimating Kiana can be. [Private to Kiana Makohgn: I didn't have the body do any significant damage to the enemy flagship but it kinda was a "holy crud she kicked this guy to death and sent him back as a proof!" sort of effect :D]

Tageru's arrows send one more Lintha to a watery grave. The other manages to barely remain steady, clutching the arrow stuck deep in his chest before he sinks to the deck, bleeding into death's arms. (6L and 4L -- I'll assume Tageru hits the 3L wounded one)

At this point the crewmen under Kiana are definitely getting the picture of what sort of devastation the recent additions to the Cobalt Alliance are capable of. It takes them a split second to stop gawking and start chopping! A few of the Lintha are nicked by their collaborative effort, but one pair cuts down a demon-spawn between them with their precise, well-timed attacks.

The Lintha quickly realize they have severely underestimated the Dryad crew, but the first wave doesn't have all that much choice but to survive or die. "We are Lintha Dara-Said!" cry the seven still standing, impudently pushing aside the mortal crew as mostly insignificant and sprinting to surround and subdue the Dragon-blooded combatants.

A pair moves to intercept Kareth, brandishing auhzian blades crackling with dark essence. [Private to Isole Kareth: 5 sux and 12 sux, not onslaught so apply to DV separately. You have 4 DV.]

Another pair stab at Tageru, similarly invoking the power of their infernal blood. [Private to Cynis Tageru: 14 sux and 4 sux. Since you already stunted, I already rolled for the first hit, you took 2L damage. For your records, you got +1 stunt for your attack, +2 for your defense.]

The final trio converge to slash at Kiana -- targeting the young, seemingly fragile girl as one of the most potent threats. [Private to Kiana Makohgn: 8 sux, 7 sux and 6 sux. You have a DV of 5, so right now you'll need +3 DV to make sure they all miss. You can stunt a defense, an exceptional stunt (enough for +3) would be enough. Or you could write a minor stunt, then channel a virtue (adds maybe 1 or 2 DV depending on the virtue) or use a willpower (adds 1 DV) to supplement. PM if you need more help. :)]

While the battle on board the Dryad rages, the Lintha still following underwater manage to cut away a large portion of the netting. They do not surface yet, but it appears they are attempting to pull the burning net into the sea to leave the next wave the freedom to ascend -- assuming the next wave makes it.

---

OOC: Note the Lintha do have excellencies/virtues/wp, so they're powering up somewhat now that they know what you're capable of. Fortunately their ess pools are relatively limited and you guys hit freaking hard. ;)
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:42, Sat 14 Feb 2009.

Arrows from Jadira's archers pepper the crew of the flagship. The enemy archers, wisely (or unfortunately, for Cobalt) taking cover, manage to avoid harm. The sorceress is still covered by her ice fog spell, which coats the incoming arrows with ice and pulls them down harmlessly at her feet. The many-limbed cloud hovering in protective stance behind the Lintha spellcaster bristles with its arsenal of axes, bows, mauls, spears and blades.

Jadira's cannon poses the greater threat. It belches pure, undistilled destruction, hurtling on a direct path to shatter the stationary flagship's hull and raze its deck of soldiers. No ordinary ship could possibly take a direct hit against it.

Except the Kri Kiamo, flagship of Lintha Dara-Said Father Hazhain Sul, is no ordinary ship.

At the very moment the beam would have struck and splintered the ship's surface, something completely unexpected happens. The ship -- and the entirety of its demonic crew -- simply disappears. The beam strikes the spot where the flagship once floated, apparently blazing right through thin air. Or is it?

The Dryad may very well sail right through the point of disappearance, if Lasuri or Donnegal do not change its course.

---

OOC: Lasuri+Donnegal haven't acted yet so can step in at any tick more or less. If anyone has spirit or essence sight and is activating it, let me know.

actions
tick 44 - Kiana+Dryad fighters, Kareth
tick 46 - Jadira+Dryad archers/artillerists, Tageru
tick 47 - Lintha boarders on Dryad

boarders status
killed: 12
on the Dryad: 9 [1 6hl (and under Kiana's boot :P), 2 3hl, 5 1hl]
underwater, pulling at nets: 6 [2 5hl, 3 4hl, 1 3hl]
underwater, unaccounted for: 15
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:06, Sat 14 Feb 2009.

Kareth sees his incoming attackers and maintains his out word calm.  Inward he becomes very worried.  As the first attack comes crashing down towards him, Kareth steps towards a nearby barrel and drops his weight.  While the barrel does little to stop the blade, it does wonders for slowing it down, giving him just enough time to spring forward and roll out of the way.  [Private to GM: stunting defense of the 5 sux attack.]

Unfortunately, as Kareth comes out of this roll he sees the second opponent coming at him.  While he could hardly be called combat hardened, he had been in Lookshy's military and knew when he was and was not going to be able to avoid getting hit.  And in this case, he knows he was definitely going to get hit no matter what he did.  He had worked himself into a situation where the railing and ocean covered the left, the enemy he just evaded on the right, and several men and Lintha behind him.  He was pinned, but he didn't have to allow the demon-blood's strike it's full force.  He reached inside himself and focused.  He pushed all of his fear out side his body and his outward calm became inward to.  His incoming attacker could see a change in the Fire-aspects eyes.  Suddenly, he sprung forward, pushing his weight from side to side in exaggerated, but unpredictable steps.  As he drew nearer his incoming attacker, Kareth put more force behind his unpredictable movements and launched himself onto the railing, the next step placed his right on the back of the first assailant.  The last step came down in the only place it could, right in front of the incoming Lintha.  Fortunately, this placed Kareth closer to the pommel of the sword and further away from the tip where the majority of the power resides.  While he did try to place his blade inbetween his body and the incoming blade, he knew his only hope to avoid injury now rest in the natural resistance of his breastplate as pommel came crashing down into it.

[Private to GM: Stunting second defense and channelling Temperance.  Using parry instead of dodge DV.  Raising DV to 5 using excellency.

Today: Isole Kareth rolled 1 success using 3d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,4,2. Dodge DV: channel temperance. (should be parry DV)

DV: 6
Soak: 5]

As the blade cut into him, Kareth uttered a curse in Old Relm, but he used the momentum of the attack to pivot on his feet to move slightly to one side.  He then lunged past his attacker.  As he moved by, Kareth gave one last push forward and twisted his body in the air.  He then took his essence cannon and leveled it at the demon-blood who just cut him very badly.  Where some would have said a witty phrase, Kareth opted to skip straight to the revenge.  As his body flew through the air backwards, Kareth fired his small cannon at the Lintha.

[Private to GM: Decided to go ahead and make the post but I can't make the roll cause I don't know what sort of wound penalty I have.  +1 sux from excellency.   Stunt?]
This message was last edited by the player at 21:58, Sat 14 Feb 2009.

Chaos erupted on the deck, but Lasuri nonetheless smiled a grim smile. His instincts had proven right, and the members of the Cobalt Alliance performed admirably in their assigned roles. As a captain, he could ask for nothing more.

As the battle rages, the Sea Drake already sets his sights on the hunter that might try to claim their hides - the Lintha Flagship, most likely getting ready to peer them with arrows once more. A sinking feeling already settled in his stomach at the sight of the fate that befell Jadira's man, and he would cut on those losses if he could. Fighting for ideals is good and noble, but he would also fight his hardest to keep his people alive. "Keep it up, crew! Give these dogs the fate they deserve, and show them what it means to trespass on a Cobalt ship!"

"Mister Donnegal, the wheel." He states, walking towards the bar to take a hold of it, and pilot the Dryad himself. Before he can try to maneuver to cut the enemy ship's ranged advantage, however, he loses all track of it, and starts to scan the horizon to try to spot the disappearing vessel.

"The Lintha Flagship!" He calls out loudly, above the cacophonous sound of battle. "I've lost sight of the Lintha ship! Anyone who can figure out where it went, state so now - I'd rather not move in blind, but I will if I have to!"

With that last statement, he turns the wheel sharply towards where he last saw the flagship, and gazes ahead grimly. "Dryad, old friend... I might need your help in this one. If no one can see it, I'll need your eyes. Help me get a feel for the waves and the sea. Help me find the disturbance, the anomaly. Together, we can scan the waves and find where the waves are broken."

Kiana didn't have long to be satisfied with her blows.  She had done well just now, sure enough, but those were just two arrows broken in an entire volley sent to sink the Dryad.  She would not cheer or signify victory for her own sake, but after witnessing two of her charges bring down a Lintha on their own, she couldn't help but to glance at them and give a quick smile of approval.  "Good work!"  She would have said more, but there was yet more work to do as more Lintha scaled the hull, and others came to kill them.  "Stand fast!  More rush to their death!"  She said, warning and encouraging all at the same time.  The words were almost wasted, however, as the Lintha gave the crew little regard and instead focused on the Dragon-Infused crew aboard.  From her display of power just moments before if nothing else betrayed Kiana for what she was, and so three Lintha converged on her, in attempt to quickly nullify her as a threat.

Rightly so.

They came all at once, forgoing the pack mentality of letting the 'leader' or 'strongest' have the first crack at her.  They had seen what she could do, and knew that numbers were their only hope of taking her one--obviously one-on-one was paramount to suicide.  Unlike moments ago, however, Kiana was not on the offensive, but the defensive as the three stormed towards her.  She would not let them pass onward to the crew behind her, oh no--they would not pass.

With her stance low and stable, Kiana brought her arms up into an X in front of her chest as two of the pirate came at her from either side.  Like the mountains for which her kind were known, she moved little until the last possible moment, and then like a dormant volcano given life, she erupted.  Her arms spread out wide as the blades descended, catching the wicked blades on the smash-fist just so, sending the the weapons gliding along the smooth wide jade, causing sparks to fly around her like a vengeful aura.  Their blows were strong, as they were not mortal men, and the sudden deflection of their attack caused both of them to stumble to the side as she brought her arms back to her side in a snapping chamber, adding even more force to their already imbalanced paths.  Then, mysteriously, she closed her eyes. The last saw a window of opportunity, and he came down on the girl, his blade coming from on high to split her in half, one for each man she just tossed aside.

She was ready.

Her hands came up almost instantly, clasping the blade between jade-covered palms, a mere inch from her face.  Her eyes opened, the slate-blue orbs gone, replaced now by an impossibly deep oynx.  The Lintha leaned in close as he dared to her own, his own fingers clenching the sword tightly as he tried to force the blade further, but to no avail.  "The Wind blows, The Sea churns.  The Tree grows, The Flame burns.  Earth endures."  Her words were strong and imposing--these were the words of her Father.

The Lintha quickly stumbled back, visibly shaken by her words.  Given a moment's respite, she hears the captain shout in need, and her now-glowing red eyes quickly scanned the horizon as she quickly calls fourth the spiritual side of her training. They quickly fell back upon where the flagship had vanished, however  It hadn't vanished at all!  Or, it had from this world, but not from existence entirely.  "They've left this world and gone into the next Captain!  They're frozen in time!"  She yelled at him, quickly turning to face the Lintha that had attacked her, as they were beginning to gather themselves up and regroup.

Inspiration struck.

"Captain!  Send us toward where they last stood!  We'll pass harmlessly through them, but they are helpless in this state!  If we stay the course, I could lay their sorcerer to ruin and save us all a lot of trouble!"

Jadira, meanwhile, lets out a very unladylike curse, pounding a fist at the base of the turret. "What... I can't believe it! I had a perfect shot!" It isn't long at all before her more cerebral side sets in, though, and draws her attention away from the missed opportunity and toward how it was missed.

"Left this world and gone to the next... wait, what are you saying?" The first mate frowns, not in disapproval but in deep consideration of Kiana's words. "You can see them? Then they're not gone, just immaterial... damn, if they've got the power to do that with an entire ship and crew..." Her eyes widen with the implications, but she shakes her head vehemently, willing herself to focus.

If I can't help with the flagship now I'd better help with clearing these damned boarders!

"Archers, fire at will! Get rid of our nasty trespassers once and for all! Help the crew on deck if you can, but if you see any, and I mean any Lintha heads pop out of that water you're to make sure they stay down! Firepot throwers, make sure you do the same!"

Jadira doesn't slouch in supporting her fellow crewmen, either, this time drawing the plasma-tongue repeater from her belt. She considers helping Kiana, but if the girl could crush two Lintha into pulp and block three others without breaking much of a sweat, she probably doesn't need help. So she opts to help Kareth instead, deftly snapping off two shots of her rare, precious alchemical round toward the second attacker his cannon didn't aim for. [Private to GM: Using 2m on first excellency for each shot.]