The party members who first sought refuge in the Gnomish Mines will remember the manticore's inhuman roar: part lion, part man, with the bellowing strength of many trumpets.

It flaps its wings faster as locks on your position and soars lower until it levels with the water. Now is the time for action.

Captain Manaku at the helm, do you sail gently towards shore (nearest beach is 3 turns), do you order the sails lowered to prepare for battle? Or last choice can run the boat aground in one turn and give everyone a chance to jump off. Note you cannot fight and navigate at the same time. The rest of you: since this is long range I will assume the first round is simultaneous.

One of you would have time to slide down the ladder and join Pock and the hoofed animals below deck each round, which would protect you from the volley of manticore spines arcing toward you. If more than one of you decides discretion is the better part of valor, then whoever posts first gets the jump. Alternatively one of you could crouch behind the mast for cover for a +1 AC bonus and still fire a bow.

Gorn: The half-barrel of the crows nest protects you up to your waist for a +1 AC bonus. You could squeeze yourself all the way in for +2 bonus, but then you can't see or respond with missile fire. Or you can take a round to scramble down to the deck.

ROUND I: LONG RANGE COMBAT - If you have a longbow or magic missile you can fire back now. Longbows are at -1 to hit for long range.

The manticore is firing six quills from its tail at the ship in supressive fire.  Announce what your defensive maneuvers are.

I'm going to borrow the Gangbusters B/X rules on supressive fire: Everyone is attacked at a penalty (-3 this round) and damage is at -1. Any quills that don't hit a PC will strike the ship for hull damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:58, Thu 30 Jan 2020.

Dwarghar, brave as any but lacking a bow looks at the mast longingly and slides down the ladder to check on Pock.

Wake up lad! Wake up! Does your magic wand shoot things at monsters? We have the Manticore back!

Alietra was a liberated, intrepid woman --  eminently self sufficient, a dedicated adventurer, as willing to take foolhardy risks as any of her male comrades aboard this fine vessel.  Which had been named for some guy's lack of wits.

When there was treasure on the table, or something else to gain.    There wasn't here, and she wasn't an idiot. She was just beginning to make for the ladder, as she saw the dwarf had beaten her to it.

Damn your beard!!  The hair that grows out your ears, too!

The mast was not far off, so she instead ran there, concealing as much of her slight frame behind it as she could.   Her short bow, she knew, was yet useless at this distance..

Realizing the folly of even trying to climb down to safety, Gorn gets himself down into the crow's nest as best he can. At least from this vantage point he will be able to keep somewhat of a lookout if the manticore decides to fly away.

In response to his comrades' exclamations and exhortations, Leohart looks to the sky to see something he's only seen in moldering tomes before. He reaches into his robe's folds clasping a gentle wand and points it in the creature's direction. Once it's in range, he releases a quick bolt of arcane force.

He then takes whatever cover he can, crouching, unable to gain relative shelter at the mast or down below with Pock.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:12, Fri 31 Jan 2020.

Amalrik moves as quickly as possible to the mast. He places his shield against the mast for support. Hopefully any others can also gather about for some additional protection from the beast's quills. First aid for quill damage will not be pleasant either.

Jarvak quickly looks to Manaku as he steers the boat.  He remembered seeing him with a bow when they had met.

Would be a world better than my sling.

All he could do was sprint to the mast.

"Want me to steer while you shoot, or can I use the bow?  I love the boat, but I think we need to get on land fast."

Holding his shield defensively, he waited to see if Manaku wanted him to steer or let him use the bow.

Following Amalrik; Durek gets behind a shield or the bulwark of the ship for cover.  He readies his battle axe for action; "What abomination is this?"

Brodd lowers himself behind the bulwark except his head so he could see.

Amalrik cuts an imposing figure with his two-handed sword, but he does not own a shield.

He does however selflessly shield Alietra behind him as he takes her place by the mast.

The mighty warrior would have bravely taken both quills in selfless sacrifice, but a passing seagull suddenly finds itself impaled from one of the missiles, and falls like a stone onto the deck.

The other quill whistles several feet above the two as at misses the deck entirely.

09:43, Today: DM rolled -3,-1 using d20-4,d20-4 ((1,3)).

The manticore is circling away! This may be your one chance to attack!

There is no hesitation in the elf's voice. "Take the wheel and run her ashore! That might give us a slight chance to flee!"

Without waiting reply Manaku takes his bow and nocks an arrow releasing it in one fluid motion.

"Ha! There you have it!" He shouts as the arrow hits true.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
_{Today: Manaku rolled 20 using 1d20+1*.  longbow attack.
Today: Manaku rolled 6 using 1d6.  damage.
*) Manaku has normally +2 to hit.}

---

Between the solid hit to the flank at long range and the twitching in its tail, the beast has had more than enough, and flies back towards the mountain.

"Jarvak, wait! The beast is fleeing - no need to ruin the boat!"

Jarvak had taken the wheel and began to turn to go to shore.

Upon hearing the elf had hit he steered it to stay in the water and not land on the shore.

Hearing the others and taking a look, Gorn was glad to see the creature flying away. Standing up in the crow's nest, he began to do a quick sweep along the shore and ahead of them to see if there was anything to be concerned about.

Looking up at Gorn; "It looks to be flying away...is it true?"

"So far," as he keeps glancing back towards the sky. "It appears it has been driven away for now. We should make haste as best we can as I doubt it will stay away long."

"Agreed, make all haste!" Brodd says as he rises from behind the rail.

"UP! Pull me UP you lice-infested walking hair-shedder!" The voice was that of Regdoc who was hanging from the side of the ship! It was difficult to tell what exactly had transpired whilst the captain and crew had their attention focused on the skyward foe.

"Pull me back in! It was your clumsiness that pushed me over in the first place! Pull me in or I'll change your name from Chomper to Gummer and with good reason!"

One look at the faithful hound which had the sleeve of Regdoc's faded robes in his teeth, indicated that the old man had likely tried to jump ship at the sight of the manticore and then changed his mind halfway through the execution...

Chomper pulled as Regdoc scrambled to the deck, wheezing and sputtering.

"Bumped me over..." was muttered by the cleric - very defensively.

Meanwhile...

Harald doffed his gaudy hat and wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. "Alas! The realization occurred to me that our merry band was about to be violently dispersed and sent knocking upon our respective Heavens' Doors!"

Returning his hat, and no doubt fueled by the rush of excitement, Harald stepped to the upper deck and began to play a strange tune^* upon the battered lute which had somehow managed to survive the depths of the mountain.


^*Archival notes seem to indicate the song likely to sound something like the following, though this has yet to be verified by the Council of Antiquities and the Ministry of Minstrels...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IQMhecBBnc

First Mate Jarvak realizes the new lake is extremely shallow where they were sailing and has to turn hard to port!

[Make a Save vs. Paralyzation to steer away from the shore in time, you can add your DEX modifier]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:55, Sun 02 Feb 2020.

Jarvak turned the ship hard away from shore.

He had to, they were coming in too fast, or it was too shallow.

It was a tight squeeze, he would know in a moment if he had reacted in time.

Amalrik moves to help Chomper pull the Wandering One from the water. I need to find a shield too. But that is too himself. I dare say the boat rolls a bit as Amalrik makes way to Chomper's assistance, perhaps inadvertently helping Jarvis turn the boat.

In reply to Amalrik (msg # 24):

If you really need a shield, you could just put a handle on any old plank of wood.

Jarvak spins the wheel and strains with all his might, and just barely avoids the rocks!

Durek grabs ahold of the railing as Jarvik turns the boat.

Everyone holds on tight as Jarvak steers away from the rocks, there's a loud THUMP on the aft of the ship. She might need a new coat of paint but no structural damage.

Meanwhile down in the hold, Dwarghar and Pock dive for cover as the crash sends the crate tumbling to shatter against the bulkhead, spilling a human out from where they were buried and hidden, and littering the hold with raisins!
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:36, Mon 03 Feb 2020.

"Whoaaa, who are you?" Brodd says to the newcomer when she spills out.

In reply to Leohart (msg # 5):

Leohart starts to aim his wand, but his aim and his activation words are interrupted as he holds onto the rail during the hard turn to port. When he raises the wand again he doesn't feel the tingle in his palm that tells him the wand is locked on a target. The manticore is now barely a dot in the sky and too far away to hit. No charge is expended.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:00, Mon 03 Feb 2020.

Jarvak doesn't even notice the newcomer spill forth from the raisinous grave.

His eyes on the water, he maintains his focus and steers the ship to keep it in the middle of the river they are in.

His eyes were darting like they did as a kid, watching the shell game that was played in the back streets of a seedy gambling den.

Watch where you are steering, look ahead at how the river turned to prepare, and look to see if the manticore was still flying away or decided to come back.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:05, Mon 03 Feb 2020.

"Steer in the middle, it should be deepest there. This seems to be more a flooding than actual river, though..." Manaku offers perhaps a useless advice to their new helmsman Jarvak. "Let me go to bow and scan for tree trunks and stones..." His voice dies out when a human form is forced out from its hiding place among raisins.

The elf tilts his head to side in curiosity when the new human appears, studying the newcomer keenly. "And who are you, stranger? Why were you hiding there?"

"My...my hero,"  Alietra had gasped, after being spared the doom of impalement.

"I - I will never forget you."    She was gazing down upon the slain seagull, wringing her hands aggrievedly over its carcass.

"Haha, just kidding!  Hells, that was close."   She flipped the departing manticore the bird.    Then called out to Amalrik:

"I owe you one, big man!   Thanks for that."    She then turned her attention toward this matter of raisins, and a stowaway.    Maybe it was a fellow guild member?    The average adventuring shmoe didn't come up with a plan such as hiding in raisins...

The five-and-a-half foot woman rises smoothly, trying to brush as many raisins as she can from her otherwise smooth, dusky face. Of course, she misses a few.

"I have been waylaid, it seems."

Her hand clutches at her back, seeming to find something missing.

"First mugged, robbed and now humiliated." She sighs a moment then grins. "And now I get thrown off a ship."

She raised one slender hand above he brow. "At least not too far."

"Name's Kalandra," she offers. "Sometimes clever, sometimes a fool, but always following where the road takes me."

Leohart steadies himself after the jolting turn, then eases his wand back into the folds of his robes. He pledges to learn more about such creatures, then returns to the task that had been interrupted.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:55, Tue 04 Feb 2020.

Dwarghar who has been refilling his raisin bag and snacking non -stop sputters to see a person has been living in them ew  .
Uh ... now hold on a minute ... are you a raisin spirit? Like one of those tree women but for raisins? I’ll have you know I can’t be charmed or trifled with. He shakes his beard making a fist.

"Well, Abradoc did say something about keeping me safe from certain... dissatisfied patrons of the arts."

 She shook the last raisins free from her hair. "Where is he, anyway?  I might have a word with him."

Kalandra bows theatrically to the dwarf. "Apologies for ruining your meal. Might I get your name?"

"Abradoc is not with us, I'm afraid." The pale-skinned and red-eyed Moon Elf smiles politely at Kalandra and gracefully flings the longbow on his shoulder.

"...and having said that, we may have stolen his ship. Well, stolen is a strong expression, I'll say we have merely borrowed it and will return it to him as soon as possible. We are Exemplar Endeavors, a party of... " He pauses in search of a good  phrasing and looks at various individuals on the deck in turn while trying decide how to say it.

"... various adventurers of many useful skill sets and abilities, united for a common quest."

Kalandra smiles widely. "Adventurers, you say? I do have some small talents for use when things get perilous."

Her dark eyes settle on a nearby boating hook. ""And curiosity has gotten the better of me. Or simple restlessness. Adventure to what end?"

She purses her lips. "And I don't mean to sound rude, but by what names should I call you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:06, Tue 04 Feb 2020.

"I am Brother Brodd." Brodd announces.

Slowly recovering his footing from the near miss; the sea sick dwarf carefully finds his way back to an oar- trying to focus on work vs getting sick again.  "Another newcomer.  This group attracts adventures like fly's to a cow" he muttered to himself.  "I'm Durek, a recent addition myself.  Plucked from the waters you an say.  Welcome aboard."

Leohart looks up from his work, assessing the newcomer. He places his hand on his chest and straightens somewhat. "I am Leohart Pridehand."

I am Amalrik ... as he gently pulls the Wandering One from the watery clutches. And this is our Wandering One and his wonderful sidekick Chomper. Amalrik invites Chomper to start licking the older one dry before a cold, flu, or something even worse sets in. Lifeguard duties done, he returns to a vacant oar in need of use. Are you another Wandering One ?? to the lady.

"Might I ask who or what is a wandering one?" she asks with the ghost of a sigh.

She points at the chomper. "And do I want to know what that is? I was never very much into animals."

Kalandra then picks an oar on the opposite side and sets into rowing with a strength surprising for her lithe figure.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:05, Wed 05 Feb 2020.

Leohart makes his way over toward Kalandra. "I'm curious, milady," he says. "I remember hearing about Abradoc studying with my master but know that much about him. What was he like?"

Dwarghar Stonebl....ah shut it you filthy animals get back up on the deck an Ahl send ‘Er up! Ya can’t all fit down thah little wee hole without crowding Go! Now and save her names for a moment you wretched dogs!

Dwarghar starts to answer but all the people trying to stuff belowdecks makes him exceedingly uncomfortable and so he swings his sword at them, still in  it’s sheath. Then he waivers them back up and makes room For more. He offers the woman a chance to go up and meet everyone.

The bottleneck at the entrance to the hold is opened as Kalandra goes topside, having quickly gone from stowaway to crew member. As Dwarghar shoos everyone away, the horses nibble on the dwarf's clothing and tug on his beard, cleaning up the raisins lodged everywhere. The mule stays in the corner and lovingly licks raisins off the curled-up gnome, who giggles in his sleep.

After a  few dozen strokes to test the pull, Kalandra looks over and asks--with a smile--"So who's the captain and where are we headed?"

In reply to Leohart, she responds, "All I know of him is that he found me peculiar or dangerous or something enough to hide me away. What, is he dead now?" Kalandra knits her brows. "How long was I stuck there?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:41, Wed 05 Feb 2020.

In reply to Kalandra (msg # 45):

The old man stood and tried to regain his dignity. The faded traveling robes of his order were tattered and frayed insomuch that beneath them, through the holes worn by decades upon decades of journeying, could be seen the dull sheen of armor. His eyes were deeply set, the wrinkles of his face each a tale of their own.

"A Wandering One you ask? A follower of the Wandering God of course. I am Regdoc Y'narc, Seeker and devout of He Whose Boots Have Trodden The Roads Of Everywhere, the God of Travel, Journeys, Excursions, Embarkments, Trips, Sidetreks, Shortcuts, Backways, and Bad-mutton, though I confess that in all my years of worship I've yet to discover what exactly the latter is... some fashion of roadside sport to my understanding though I've never seen nor participated."

"Oh, and this flea-infested mongrel is my serv- OUCH!" Chomper seemed to have taken exception to this introduction by gently biting down on the oldster's wrist. "Let me go I say!"

The pack-dog was enormous and well-muscled with huge paws and a massive head. The teeth just barely seen beneath the bounteous lips were long and very sharp... but there was also a deep intelligence and gentleness and endless patience in the soft brown eyes...

Kalandra nodded at the old man and smiled. "Well met, Regdoc Y'narc, Seeker. You seem like a good companion to have on the way. Whatever the way we're going is"

"I serve the gods of Law I serve the Unified Faith of the Solar Temple."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Wed 05 Feb 2020.

"Alietra Le'Arbanveil," Ali introduced herself, inventing a wholly fictitious surname.   Her real surname was Brotz, but no one needed to know that.

"I think we're all Wandering Ones. After a fashion.  If there's a captain...it would be Sir Einhard, I believe.    But, truly, I think this troupe is a bit too...democratic for a captain."   

Alietra had fairly typical strength for her slender frame - which packed a bit extra on the hips and rear, at times, due to her inability to resist chocolate and other sweets.    And drinking too much.   But, no needed to know that, either.

She found something other to busy herself with, than rowing, if at all  possible.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Wed 05 Feb 2020.

"And I am Manaku." The elf places his fist on his heart and bows slightly.

"We...have no captain, I think."

"Lord Einhard is our leader."

Jarvak had let everyone else do their intros and purposely not interrupted.

As he kept an eye on the boat and had the wheel he maintained his focus, looking where they were going and occasionally looking where the manticore had gone.

Finally he spoke.

"Hello Kalandra, I'm Jarvak.  A bounty hunter and treasure seeker myself.  Looks like my driving of the boat found a treasure in you!"

He looked down to her and the others and chuckled, but kept his focus on the water.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:50, Wed 05 Feb 2020.

Manaku's red eyes turn to Brodd and Alietra and the elf smiles.

"I apologize. Sir Einhard is our leader, yes. On land. Shiphandling is different matter and usually requires a captain-- But perhaps he is skilled in that area, too. I really don't know. I certainly am not."

He glances at the direction they are heading.

"Well, we hardly are on sea, but I still fully expect us to run aground any moment in these shallows... Speaking of which; I should go to bow and try to help Jarvak avoid just that...

Scanning the horizon ahead, he takes a second look before alerting those on the deck, "Hey, I'm seeing a column of smoke to our north." as he looks back and forth between where he sees the smoke and the group below.

"Not sure if that is where you desire to head but either something's burning or we have some kind of habitation up there."

"I vote to head that way. Some people could be drowning or dying,"Kalandra said levelly.

She kept her face serious through a space of seconds, before her lips curled into a lopsided smile.

"Sure--it's a trap---but, I want to go anyway. Alright, you got me."

To Amalrik, smoke could only mean one thing = Well Roasted Meat. And spices to go with it. Food and drink ahead. he mutters while pondering the menu ... The thought of pillaging barbarians would never cross his mind. Trouble causing Riff-Raff, now that was an entirely different matter. Especially if they were eating everything in sight.

"I do hate to point out the following at a time such as this, but - hello m'lady, it's a pleasure - we're running low on rations... perhaps we might replenish our stock at yonder catastrophe, provided we save them and so forth..."

Harald, having reported the obvious, then took his time to resume his introduction to the stowaway. "Hark! At least one pleasant fruit came forth without wrinkle! Forgive my jest Kalandra, but I shan't deny that you've taken us quite by surprise coming forth as you have from that crate of dried fruit. I was quite expecting a vampire, but you certainly don't seem to fit that classification. Allow my to introduce myself, most know me by my stage name, Harald the Herald, but everyone shortens it to just Harald... or perhaps Hey-you when pressed by the moment."

He bowed deeply doffing his hat and presenting a grin full of teeth that might rival the mythical cheshire...

Kalandra clears are throat and says, Hey, you. A pleasure.

Then she bends into the oars in the proper way to the smoke.

Rowing hard to keep his mind off being sea sick at Amalrik's mention of food and drink; Durek lifted his head.  "Food and drink would be good....and perhaps placing my feet on dry land for a bit as well."

Jarvak would love to be on the ground with the others, but maintains his watch.

Standing still would be boring.   He walks a circuit around the ship checking that the lines are tied and everything seems safe.

In reply to Jarvak Amendola (msg # 64):

The bottle is currently lodged on the tip of the pole jutting from he bow (bowsprit). You remove it and examine it but find no markings.

Try placing a twig or such inside that bottle ... Amalirik notices Jarvak examining a bottle.

[move it to the next scene please]