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11:46, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Posted by The Thread-WeaverFor group 0
Krogan
player, 131 posts
I'm always up
for a fight!
Thu 1 Dec 2011
at 02:53
  • msg #103

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Krogan shrugged, not really worried either way.   He started grabbing things and throwing things overboard.   Grinning, he realized that he was really enjoying throwing things off an airship, and hoped he could keep doing it for a while.
Jibril
player, 100 posts
Fashionable and stylish
leric of Azuth
Thu 1 Dec 2011
at 02:53
  • msg #104

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

For a moment, Jibril considered throwing Fareeda overboard--the Professor had said to discard anything of significant weight after all.  But his better judgment took hold of him, and he began to help the others throw anything of weight into the sea below.
Thaniel
player, 41 posts
Thu 1 Dec 2011
at 05:22
  • msg #105

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Thaniel joins in the rush to jettison anything that isn't nailed down, and some things that are. As he looks about for something to throw overboard, he ponders the bewilderment of the next civilised person to walk under their flight path some days or weeks from now, only to find a large ballista, several canisters of food, some clothing, various tools, etc, all scattered amongst the jungle litter.
Linni
player, 32 posts
Eccentric gnomeling
sorceress extraordinaire!
Thu 1 Dec 2011
at 10:20
  • msg #106

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

With anything worth throwing overboard clearly too heavy for Linni to lift she busies herself with running around deck pointing out things that can go.
The Thread-Weaver
GM, 169 posts
Look upon my works
And despair!
Tue 6 Dec 2011
at 17:29
  • msg #107

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

And so the group began jettisoning heavy equipment over the side of the gunwale. First went the ballista, Lambrac disconnecting it from its mooring and Krogan heaving it over the side. Then went the heavy ammunition and unnecessary navigation equipment, followed by heavier food supplies and water canisters from the hold. The Professor then reluctantly gestured to a collection of a heavy wooden barrels near the engines.

The fuel. The fuel was to go as well.

It seemed now that whatever happened, the Scilandar would not be their carriage back to civilization...

Meanwhile, Abbas had begun attempting to repair the loose air compartments in the balloon. He tied the cut chords as best he could back onto their holdings on the gunwale and though not fully repaired, they were much more stable than before.

The ship's rate of descent had eased noticeably but the cliffs could not be more than a hundred meters away. From here, the first scrubs and thick jungle roots were already becoming visible on the rocky lip, as well as the beginning of dense jungle beyond. It was going to be close. Really close.



The Professor moved to stand over the ship's pointed prow and looked over the oncoming wall of rock and the waves crashing against it some two hundred feet lower. Lifting his arms in the air, he began chanting.
Krogan
player, 134 posts
I'm always up
for a fight!
Wed 7 Dec 2011
at 05:16
  • msg #108

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Krogan began looking for anythung that could be used for a flotation device.
Lambrac
player, 93 posts
Lantanna Rogue, 6/8 hp
I'm not a thief!
Wed 7 Dec 2011
at 09:58
  • msg #109

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

"Gond's flaming tears." Lambrac cried, despondent at the sheer and waste destruction that was going on around him, that he was participating in, and was surely about to get a whole lot worse as the Scilander smashed into those cliffs — and took them with it.

Gond, I know I don't pray often—you say actions count louder than words. But I don't want to die out here so far from civilization, so far from home. If you can help me out of this mess, then I'd be very grateful. I'll make a magnificent machine, then sacrifice it to you, smashed and burned—

He looked down, and saw the magnificent machine of the Scilander, that great big heavy weight dragging the balloons down. It would make a fine sacrifice. Enough talk, actions were what counted after all. "Abbas, stop! Cut the ship! We grab hold of the balloons and cut the ship!" Lambrac bellowed, waving his hands for attention. "Where are Ham and Jens? Ham! Jens!"
Thaniel
player, 42 posts
Wed 7 Dec 2011
at 10:58
  • msg #110

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Thaniel moves forward to try and glimpse the same view the professor is getting over the prow. He ferrets through his memory for some tale or long forgotten anecdote that might aid him in his plunge to the ground. In the end, he satisfies himself with making sure he is within a few steps of the professor, in case he calls for aid.
Linni
player, 33 posts
Eccentric gnomeling
sorceress extraordinaire!
Wed 7 Dec 2011
at 22:45
  • msg #111

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Linni sensed a purpose in her Uncle, and was confidant that while he may not save the Scilander he would certainly have a way to save the group from harm. Swallowing her fear Linni steps to the front of the plumeting airship and stands next to the Professor, ready to aid whatever assistance she can in whatever magic he might be conjuring.

With the cliffs rising at a rapid rate Linni glanced towards her Uncle, a sliver of doubt entering her mind.
Jibril
player, 101 posts
Fashionable and stylish
leric of Azuth
Thu 8 Dec 2011
at 13:55
  • msg #112

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Jibril clutches onto the nearest sturdy object (having considered Lambrac) and braces for impact. He is feverishly muttering prayers to Azuth to save them all.
Abbas
player, 120 posts
Thu 8 Dec 2011
at 15:32
  • msg #113

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Abbas considered the competing requests... but when it came down to the client, and the client's knowledge of his ship, where Abbas' decision came down to on the cut-the-ropes or not was rather clear.

...

That being said, however, Abbas did find himself relatively unattached to tasks at the moment, and pre-pared was pre-success.  Reaching down to gather up a section of netting that had previously secured to the deck a number of cast-overboard barrels, the elven warrior took the loose rope ends and tied them to the balloon ropes.  If the ship could not be elevated to safety by what the Professor was attempting, the party could cut the ropes binding the balloons to the ship and float to safety in the durable hammock, popping balloons as needed to ensure a slowed descent.

Waterbarrels and a few of the dried foodstuffs could go there, perhaps some of the lighter other items over there...

It never hurt to have a plan B.
Lambrac
player, 95 posts
Lantanna Rogue, 6/8 hp
I'm not a thief!
Sat 10 Dec 2011
at 11:10
  • msg #114

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Lambrac stared in horror as the others seemed to freeze and give up. The Professor, singing at the bow like his heart would go on. Linni and Thaniel waiting behind him, and Jibril hanging to the mast for dear life. They'd given up. "Come on, we have to get off this thing!" he cried, his pleas seeming to fall on deaf ears.

Damn them all. He drew his sword and savagely slashed one of the ropes, snapping it apart, then he cut another. It was rather satisfying against this rather inevitable doom. He'd grab hold of the last rope himself if he had to.

Finally someone seemed to be reacting, he realised as his eyes alighted on Abbas, tying a net to the balloon ropes. "Brilliant!" Lambrac cheered, and raced over to join the elf. "You must be a Lantanna." he congratulated Lambrac pitched in, tying the rope ends together, but the rocking ship and whipping winds made it a difficult task.
Krogan
player, 137 posts
I'm always up
for a fight!
Sat 10 Dec 2011
at 13:35
  • msg #115

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Any kind of watertight bags and containers were gathered together.   If there were time, he'd lash them in a bunch, to let someone float on them.   He knew that there were draconic powers that let one breath underwater, but he didn't know how to do that.
It seemed like a much more important oversight than the draconic "treasure sense" he was trying to master.

He looked around at what the others were doing, and looked to see who might need help, as soon as he was done.   He regretted all the things he'd thrown overboard.  It had been really, really fun to throw lots of things overboard, but surviving their crash wouldn't really help if they starved to death in the jungle.   Of course, Krogan was prepared to do whatever it took to survive, including eating whatever animals were native to this place, but it would have been better to keep their own supplies.

The big orc decided to apologize to their employer when he got a chance.
The Thread-Weaver
GM, 172 posts
Look upon my works
And despair!
Sat 10 Dec 2011
at 20:16
  • msg #116

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

The airship Scilandar floated agonisingly closer to the looming wall of jagged limestone cliff. Her descent had slowed significantly with the shedding of weight but it was not going to be enough. Now only fifty feet from the cliff, it was obvious she was never going to make it - the tip of the ship's prow was already almost level with the highest point and dropping more with every second...

Cursing their luck, the group began to think of other ideas. Lambrac suggested cutting the balloon free from the ship and hacked through one of the connecting cables in an attempt to spur the others to act. However just as Abbas turned his attention to the other cables, something strange began to happen.

The Professor's chanting increased in volume, the language harsh and eerily strange coming from the old gnome. Florescent energy began to swirl across the deck, surging over the sides and up across the balloon compartments. From below decks came more faint chanting - two voices in unison with the Professor's.

Suddenly there was a blinding flash and everyone was knocked hard to the deck. A cacophony of noise filled the air but all were blind to what was going on. Had the ship hit the cliff? Were they under attack again?

Deprived of sight, the only thing to do was to hang on to something and hope for the best...

~

The intense noise and movement stopped. Replacing it was the sound of the wind rustling through leaves, strange birds calling out in alarm and the distant sound of the ocean breaking on stone.

Slowly, very slowly, the world began to return to view. Green everywhere, blurry leaves swaying gently in the breeze - almost close enough to touch. What had happened?

The group began to get to their feet, rubbing eyes as they coaxed their eyesight back.

Fareeda was the first to speak; "We made it!"

It seemed she was right, a quick look around revealed that the Scilandar was somehow lodged in a large jungle malabar tree, its twisted branches creaking beneath the airship's weight. A glance back over the stern revealed the deep blue expanse of ocean from where they had arrived.

The Professor was slumped, unmoving, on his knees at the ship's bow. It seemed whatever he had done had saved them all. but at what cost?
Krogan
player, 138 posts
I'm always up
for a fight!
Sun 11 Dec 2011
at 06:31
  • msg #117

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Krogan shook his large shaggy head, trying to clear it.  He'd known instinctively that the strange onslaught of light and sound had been the gnomish professor, doing something weird and bizzare.  He'd been around enough overly dranatic orcish shamans to know the signs.    But it still didn't prepare him for what had happened.   He wasn't angry at the little man, of course, since the gnome was certainly alowed to be weird and bizarre on his own boat.

Plus, he owed the small man much.    Not just the chance for adventure, but because Krogan had FLOWN.    It had been glorious!   He was easily the first orc he knew who'd flown in the air, unless you counted stray ones grabbed by passing dragons or griffons.   And Krogan figured he probably shouldn't, as those orcs didn't exactly enjoy rhe ride.

His vision, already taxed by sunlight, focused on the little guy, who seemed hurt, or even dead.
Professor!!!!
He ran to their employer, a little unsteadily.  If he were able reach the fallen man's side, he would check him for injuries, while focusing his draconic magic on healing as well.
OOC:setting dragon aura to Fast Healing 1.
Lambrac
player, 96 posts
Lantanna Rogue, 6/8 hp
I'm not a thief!
Sun 11 Dec 2011
at 07:47
  • msg #118

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Lambrac worked feverishly with Abbas on disconnecting the balloons and fashioning a suspended net to carry them all, rubbing his fingers raw against the ropes. He was frantic, desperate, but could do no less if he wanted to stay alive.

He looked up and saw the great wall of the cliff-face extending in all directions. Too late. Even if the balloon were freed, it would still collide and be torn apart against the jagged rocks. Too little, too late.

Already he could see Gond's fires blooming around the ship, and he was slammed to the deck by an unseen force accompanied by a bright flash. Blinded, he crawled towards the centre of the ship, grabbed hold of something, anything, that seemed fixed down, and held on for dear life.

*

Lambrac groaned, as much from the bone-rattling beating he'd taken riding the deck down to a crash-landing as from the creeping realisation that they were, in fact, in Chult. Maybe he'd have been better off dead, or at least taking his chances with the balloons or the deep blue sea.

He peeled himself off the deck and rubbed his aching head and blinked his eyes to restore vision to the starry darkness. He looked around, and saw trees; he could look over the side later. Everyone else seemed to be well, except the Professor. Why was it that everything he did to save the day only seemed to plunge them into a much worse situation?
Linni
player, 34 posts
Eccentric gnomeling
sorceress extraordinaire!
Mon 12 Dec 2011
at 00:12
  • msg #119

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Linni couldn't help her Uncle in whatever magic he was conjuring, but as his voice rose and his assistants joined in below deck Linni could feel the power in the chant. As the energies conjured swirled around the deck Linni breathed deep, sating herself on the tangible magic enveloping her. She looked to the Professor, his manic, focused expression the last thing she saw before the light hit her and threw her to the deck. Scrambling to find a handhold on the flat wooden deck Linni shrieked as she slid blindly towards the edge of the ship and went over.

Her fall was broken by a tangle of branches. As she rubbed her eyes she saw the Scilandar was caught by the same tree. Hopping down from her nest of branches back onto the ship Linni looked around, "Is everyone..." her eyes were only just focusing but she saw the Professor slumped at the prow of the airship, Krogan stumbling over to help him.

Finding her feet Linni ran back across the deck to his side and fell to her knees beside him, "UNCLE!" She looked up at Krogan with sad, wet eyes, "Help him!"

Still light-blinded Linni cast her gaze across the deck of the ship, unable to see much, "Jibril!Jibril! HELP!"

She grabbed her Uncles shoulders and tried to make sure he wasn't going to fall, "You'll be OK Uncle. You saved us. We need you."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:13, Mon 12 Dec 2011.
Abbas
player, 122 posts
Tue 13 Dec 2011
at 14:19
  • msg #120

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Abbas remained still as consciousness returned in dribs and drabs.  "Mmmmm.

Normally the elven warrior would have been moving immediately, but he could feel pressures in different locations, and his disorientation and loss of sight could as easily stumble himself into trouble as out.  The feel of silk rope and solid planking, soreness but no blinding pain - a good start.  With the introduction of magic, however, the party could as easily be in the water or on the cliff or... he blinked away more of the blur of  swirling patterns in the ship decking and veined veridian all about... or in a tree.

Thankfully, a large tree.

The netting and sailcloth had secured Abbas from flying from the ship and cushioned what collision remained after the Professor's mighty teleportation.  Deft movements loosened the ropes - thankfully the high-quality ropes had not rubbed him raw - and Abbas was soon free and moving about to check on the others, giving a supportive shoulder touch to Linni, a helping hand to Fareeda...

Thanks to his natural grace, the elf barely had to adjust to the ship movements in the tree, but his mind threw up several scenarios where non-action would prove foolish.

"Fareeda, would you please check on our fellows below - I thought I heard them casting with the professor?  Jibril, are you able to help the Professor?  Jibril!  Thaniel, are you okay?  Are you able to check on what food and water supplies we have left on the ship?  If you could do a look around to see what we have left, that would be helpful.  We may be able to recover some of the items thrown overboard if the ocean tides are helpful, but that is certainly not something upon which to bank.

"Krogan, Lambrac"
Abbas singled out the more active and free party members, tapped Lambrac twice on the shoulder, then gave the latter assistance in regaining his feet.  "Let's see if we can help tie this ship tighter to the tree.  Not falling is a good start - this tree seems sturdy enough to hold us - and having a camping spot well above ground keeps a number of dangers away.

"Lini - you're tending to the Professor, right?  That is good, good.  Let us know if there is anything we can do to help him.  Perhaps some shade and water would help?"

Fareeda
NPC, 54 posts
Female Calishite Human
Bard 2
Tue 13 Dec 2011
at 17:53
  • msg #121

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Fareeda nodded shakily at Abbas' request. She seemed visibly traumatised by the ordeal they had just gone through and seemed ready to burst into tears. This was a far cry different than the harems of Calimport. Doubts were beginning to creep into her mind about leaving. Sure she had tired of life being an escort to those riding the wave of greed in the city, but was this really the new start she wanted?

Turning, she headed over to the smouldering crater and peered down into the bowels of the crippled airship.
Ham
NPC, 2 posts
Scilandar Engineer
The slightly taller one
Tue 13 Dec 2011
at 18:13
  • msg #122

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Ham appeared suddenly at the top of the hold ladder, almost knocking Fareeda over with fright. His pale features were smeared with soot and he was bleeding from a small wound above his ear. He peered around cautiously like a small animal emerging from hibernation, eyes hidden, as ever, by his thick dust goggles.

"We made it?" he barked a laugh and turned to shout back down into the hold, "Jens! Yth zurwal coi!"

He heaved himself onto the deck, brushing down his filthy overalls. "Suicidal birds huh!" his accent was unlike anything you had ever heard and the language he spoke to his compatriot was unrecognisable. "Damned thing took out the main engine, s'gunna be a real job getting her back in the air."

He noticed the slumped form of the Professor and frowned. "That spell was a big one. Wasn't there a priest with us?"
Thaniel
player, 43 posts
Tue 13 Dec 2011
at 22:59
  • msg #123

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Thaniel gets up and dusts himself off, glancing to Abbas giving orders. "Food and water. Yes, of course," he says absently as he surveys the mess about him, trying to piece together what has happened. He leaves the injured to those who are capable of tending to them and follows Abbas' directive of making an inventory of food and supplies.
Jibril
player, 103 posts
Fashionable and stylish
leric of Azuth
Wed 14 Dec 2011
at 01:59
  • msg #124

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

"Fuck that!," Jibril shouts as he looks up into the limbs of the tree to see one of his expensive, colorful Calampani outfits tattered and fluttering in the wind. He barely acknowledges the bruises and burns on his body as he stares at his lost wardrobe.

When Abbas and Linni ask him to help the unconscious professor, he turns an angry eye on them.  "I should strangle him instead for this disaster! He'll be getting a bill from me."

With a loud exasperated sigh, he throws up his arms and marches over to the gnome.  "Let me take a look at the crazy fart."  He begins to poke and prod at the Professor, assessing his medical condition.

OOC: Jibril rolled 20 using 1d20+4. Heal skill.
Lambrac
player, 99 posts
Lantanna Rogue, 6/8 hp
I'm not a thief!
Wed 14 Dec 2011
at 02:45
  • msg #125

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Lambrac was still getting his bearings, looked dazedly about and still processing the "what in the hells?" As consciousness and awareness seeped into his mind, so did the sensation of aches and bruises.

He was stirred from his daze by Abbas, who seemed to be doing a good job of taking charge and sorting this out. "Uh, sure... Wait, falling? Tree?!" he exclaimed, not liking the sound of that. He dashed across the deck, then regretted it in case sudden movements set something off.

Then he peered over the side, at the ground far below, and felt a rush of vertigo. "Oh, Gond..." He had no fear of heights, not when the great Lantanna homes were built on rocky peaks and connects by thin bridges. But it was the instability and impending doom of this situation that paling in fear.

"Uh, tie it, right..." he remembered, then moved to pick up the longest free balloon rope. Focus on the problem, focus on the solution. The attached balloons could stay where they were, the buoyancy would give them enough to lift to prevent them falling too fast. Looking for the sturdiest-looking tree branch, he threw the rope over a few times and set about lashing it as tight as he could.


OOC: Use Rope 22, Knowledge (Architecture & Engineering) 9
Krogan
player, 142 posts
I'm always up
for a fight!
Wed 14 Dec 2011
at 05:56
  • msg #126

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

Trying to stay near the professor, so that his healing aura could provide Fast Healing to the old man, Krogan backed away so that the flashy cleric could attend to the professor.   He was very fond of the gnome, for many reasons.    Not the least of which being that he was probably their ride home, and their paycheck.

He quickly rushed to tie ropes, starting with the ships own, and using his own only as a last resort, to secure various parts of the ship to the massive tree.   He wanted to keep them stable, thinking that their new "treehouse" would make a lovely base of operations.   Being above the jungle floor would probably be for the best, anyway.
Professor Hingleswip
NPC, 16 posts
Gnome Explorer
Ingenious Insanity
Wed 14 Dec 2011
at 20:00
  • msg #127

Re: 2 Mirtul DR1368 - 'On the Horse you rode in on'

The Professor groaned as he was administered aid by jibril and Krogan's aura. "Don't forget the turnip sauce Mazzy... What's the point of adding rhubarb if you forget the turnip sauce..."

His eyes flickered open and widened at the sight of Jibril's olive-skinned features filling his field of vision. "My sincerest apologies Amlakkar - I must have fallen asleep! No need to arrest an old gn..." His brow furrowed in apparent recognition. "Oh. Damned flying reptiles again. Well at least we're alive I suppose. We are alive aren't we?"

He sat up with a long groan and rubbed the side of his head. "Mass teleportation. Didn't think we'd have to use that one again eh Jens?" He looked around at the ship's resting place, then at the rest of the group to make sure everyone was present - abandoning that course of action after realising he had no idea which or how many adventurers should be present, this was the third expedition after all. He did smile with relief at the sight of Linni by his side, bouncy and bubbly as ever.

"Well, better than the bottom of the sea wouldn't you think!" he nodded grimly, evaluating the situation, "Yes, a good base of operations certainly. We're a long way from where we need to be and getting to Iscarion from here is going to be something of a challenge", his voice took on a more serious tone, "A quite exceptional challenge.

Still, we are here and that is something. Our priority must be getting back in the air - though with all our fuel bobbing around somewhere back in the Shining Sea, that will be easier said then done"
, he glanced up at Abbas who seemed to be taking charge of the situation, "Perhaps you could lead a patrol into the local area and see if you can find anything useful. I will stay here with my engineers to see what can be salvaged..." he looked over at the crater where the Pterodactyl had crashed and winced.
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