The Sword's Edge had left Baldur's Gate just over a month ago. It had been a heady experience, the first few days had felt like a holiday with the way children eagerly ran about the decks, quickly forming packs as children are liable to do. The adults were much the same, many of the passengers had never been aboard a ship, let alone a grand one like the Edge. They flocked to the railings and excitedly murmured about every little detail: sheer coast lines in the distance, a flock of seagulls that followed the ships wake, a pod of whales that breached one late afternoon was particularly exciting, and alarming, it took some doing from the crew to reassure them a sea monster was not about to attack.

But all novelty fades and by the second week the crew and passengers settled into routines. For their part the crew gave their cargo, for that's really what the passengers were, a wide berth. Dressed in crisp black uniforms, they were professionals, not mangy sea hands, and they conducted themselves as such. That left the passengers to mingle amongst themselves. There were over three hundred people on this grand ship everyone soon learned. It was a hodgepodge of peoples, the largest representation were humans from Amn and Baldur's Gate, but also folk from more exotic locales. A month is a long time to be at sea and over the course of the voyage everyone soon knew everyone else's name, whether or not they interacted with one another. It was a strangely egalitarian existence for those few weeks as most of the factors that separated peoples fell away.

But now the Edge was only a few short hours away from Neverwinter. The announcement had gone out that morning to a fully packed deck. "We'll arrive in Neverwinter by the sixth bell tonight. Disembarkment will wait till dawn, so see that you're fully packed. There will be double rations tonight and a serving of ale for everyone." A rare luxury and it had been greeted with cheers. The rest of the day the day had flown by and when evening came a great many more passengers were above deck than usual, either due to excitement or eagerness to spy those fights light that marked the approach to Neverwinter.

But it seemed the end of the trip was also punctuated by unsteady seas. Dark black clouds had sat on the horizon and as night fell they had slowly closed in and made the eastern horizon look like some great hungry maw coming down to swallow up the world. Captain Fairwind offered reassuring words, "The Sword's Edge can ride out any wave so long as capable hands are at the wheel. No need to fret," he said to the worried souls who came to him.

Sure enough, night fell and the storm had arrived. Rains lashed at the upper deck and the ship rose and fell underfoot as great waves rose up. It was violent storm. There were mutters of Umberlee and a few wary glances thrown to the cleric who openly revered the fickle Bitch Queen. Captain Fairwind has spoken true though, he personally manned the wheel and skillfully guided the Edge, riding those waves rather and letting them batter the ship and keeping the Edge upright. It seemed all would be well.

It was a half hour after one particularly violent wave had made the Edge violently lurch to one side. Neverwinter was three hours away. Were it not for the sheets of rain you might be able to see the first lights on the horizon. You and the others are on the upper deck. Whether driven there by seasickness, eagerness to see Neverwinter, restlessness, or some other ambition, you're currently above deck. There is some shelter from the wind and rain near the back of the ship beneath an awning.

Something strange as afoot though, you notice several sailors have come up from below deck.

At first you think it's the violent swaying of the ship deck making them stumble, but no... it's not that. Next you think it's too much alcohol giving their bodies that limp stance and shuffling gait. But no... their heads loll on their shoulders and there is no song on their lips. It's something else.

"What are you lot doing above deck?" Captain Fairwind calls above the howling winds. "You're supposed to be securing the cargo in the hold!" There is no response from the incapacitated crew. Straining at the wheel, Fairwind didn't have the luxury of being able to leave his post. Luckily, one of the staggering crew members came to him. Gendrin, you recognize, a think waifish fellow often seen in the rigging. He staggers to the captain, nearly losing his feet when the ship banks hard to one side, the staggering forward and into the captain. It takes you a moment to realize Gendrin didn't just lose his footing, he's tearing at the captain's chest with his bare teeth. The captain's cry is drowned out by the wind, but you can feel his pain as his iron grip on the wheel momentarily slips and the ships bucks violently to one side. It throws Gendrin off him along with the other staggering crew members, they strike the deck and railings hard. One slides over the side. But they climb back to their feet as though they didn't just bounce their skulls off hard iron wood. It wasn't just the captain they were after it seemed, they were turning towards anyone who was close and staggering towards them with outstretched fingers and slack jaws, grasping and biting at anyone not quick enough to dart away.

Something was very wrong.

The captain was leaned heavily over the wheel, he was clearly injured. Only three hours from Neverwinter and now a storm was threatening to to swallow up the Sword's Edge and the crew had mutinied, or gone mad, and were attacking indiscriminately. And to think, they were only three hours from a safe port they now might never reach.

Roll Initiative and post up your first action!

OOC: We're starting off with a bang, post your opening actions here! To expedite things I'll let you know in advance that social skills aren't going to work on these violent crew members! Include a full combat round of posting, I'll rearrange them into the proper order when I update.

Edit: Forgot the important info.

Violent Crew 1 - AC 9, HP 21/21
Violent Crew 2 - AC 9, HP 21/21
Violent Crew 3 - AC 9, HP 21/21
Violent Crew 4 - AC 9, HP 21/21
Violent Crew 5 - AC 9, HP 21/21
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:21, Tue 23 Mar 2021.

Iclos had secured his passage through old crewmates, not that he couldn't afford the silver. He had worked alongside several of the crewmen and some of the officers before. While he was recognized as something of a doom speaker, many of them knew one could never be too respectful of the sea and storms. Like the druid they had gotten to know over the past month, Iclos was also a bit of a healer; although he was clear on the point that every beneficiary of her gifts had to swallow a gulp of seawater. It was not too harsh a condition and term. At least that was he thought himself.

Three hours from port, even Iclos was beginning to think they would reach safe harbor without incident. At first sight of the clouds, however, he started nodding knowingly. Of course. The Dark Mistress of the seas had been lulling them into arrogance and a false sense of safety. No, they were going to have to weather one of her tantrums. At this point, he started walking the deck, talking loudly to the sky. "Oh Beautiful Lady of the Storms and Seas, spare the lives of these pitiful souls! You most Powerful and Mighty Queen of Wind and Wave..."

"What the hells?!" Iclos was surprised by the outbreak. This was certainly not what he had expected. Undead? Or some other madness?

Initiative: 3.
Move: 25 feet closer to the Captain.
Action: Sacred Flame on one violent crewperson (the one attacking the Captain, if in range). Dex save DC 13 or take 2 hp radiant damage.

Naim had been laughing in the violence of the storm as others had been retching their guts below decks. "Man it's been too long since I had a good storm like this to enjoy!" he shouted into the storm. They were only three hours from Neverwinter, so he wanted to enjoy as much of this storm as he possibly could while he could. He wasn't sure when he'd get to sea again in such enjoyable circumstances so he intended to enjoy every second of it. Some of the other passengers were up on deck with him and it impressed him, though he wasn't too surprised to see the priest of the Bitch Queen enjoying the rollicking storm with him. He'd have been disappointed if the priest WASN'T up here in fact.

It was then that he noticed the oddly stumbling crewmen. He didn't know, couldn't that quickly exactly what what happening or what they were, but he responded like the lightning strikes of the storm. "Ship to arms!" he shouted into the roar of the wind. "To arms! There's an attack!" Naim had a flash back to a time before, a time of horror and pain.

He leapt into action, flame in the shape of a scimitar sprouted from his hand as it illuminated the deck around him and he grabbed his shield all in one smooth, practiced motion. The fire sputtered in the rain, but it held firm as he charged into action.

He dashed towards the figures that were clambering and biting at the Captain. His blade of fire bit down on the closest one in a searing strike.

Initiative: 19
Free: equip shield
BA: cast Flame Blade
Move: 30 to the captain
Action: Attack, hi AC 13, 13 fire dmg
This message was last edited by the player at 21:33, Mon 22 Mar 2021.

Saulucian was above deck, claiming a section off to one side for practice sword forms. Others gave him a respectable amount of space due in part to the fact that it was a rather impressive dance to watch, but primarily due to the fact that it was real, sharpened steel that he was swinging about while doing so. Actually, it probably had more to do with the fact that he was doing it out in the wide open with a storm raging all around him that gave him the space to himself.

As the zombies came onto the deck, Saul was too caught up in his own business to pay attention to them beyond taking note of their presence to begin with. It wasn't until they started biting people and the shouts rose up that he stopped what he was doing to actually pay attention.

His slow dance then accelerated notably as he flew over nearby railings and nailed-down furniture to make his way toward the captain. Catching a clear view of one of the aggressive crewmen, he began tracing symbols with his free, right hand, fingers changing formations as he did so, until thrusting the hand toward one of them. Three spinning stars of flame spun out from his hand and exploded against the creature's back, burning uniform and flesh alike as they did so.

Initiative: 18
Bonus: activate Bladedance (+3 AC, +10 speed, +3 Concentration)
Action: cast Fire Bolt (any target will do, or pick crappy number 4)
Result: Hit AC 18 for 10 Fire damage
Move: 40 ft nearer to the captain
Reaction: if he gets hit, cast Shield to increase AC to 21

20:30, Today: Saulucian Bensvelk rolled 18,10 using d20+5,d10.  Fire Bolt.
20:08, Today: Saulucian Bensvelk rolled 18 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.

Jaryn found it amazing to be able to meet so many new people, even if he occasionally found the sheer number of people to be much to handle, and the weight of them all to be a bit stifling and crushing. It was fascinating to talk to people from so many different walks of life, so many different homelands, all going to the same place for so many different reasons.

Whenever he started to feel like he couldn't breathe or like the walls were closing in on him, he would go up on the deck of the ship. There he would find a spot out of the way of the crew and take in deep breaths. He found the ocean a bit calming, the never-ending watery blue meeting the blue of the sky. Infinity and harmony.

And when there was a storm? Even better! He didn't know what it was about rain that he liked, but he did. And being on the ship as it rolled this way and that was a wonderful test of his balance and reflexes. And so it was he came to find myself up on the upper deck during the storm-tossed final stretch to Neverwinter.

After one particularly rough wave, he saw some motion out of the corner of his eye. He turned to look, seeing some of the crew came up from below decks. Something was...off...about them. He couldn't put his finger on it for a moment...and then things started to go badly very quickly.

He sprang forward towards the nearest pair of the...what used to sailors, his longsword clearing its scabbard and slicing out towards the first one in a flash. His booted foot flashed out at the other one, hoping to grab and hold the attention of two of them at once - that would be two that wouldn't be harming someone else at least for a moment. He called out to them, "Please, stop this! I do not wish to harm you!"


21:40, Today: Jaryn rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.
21:56, Today: Jaryn rolled 16,7 using d20+6,d10+4.  Longsword vs violent crewman.
21:57, Today: Jaryn rolled 14,8 using d20+6,d4+4.  Martial Arts unarmed strike vs 2nd one (if he can get 2 in melee).

Faith had gone up on deck because she had felt the walls starting to press in on her a bit while she was below deck. Plus she wanted to see Neverwinter as they were coming into it. She'd been to Neverwinter before, on business for her faction, the Emerald Enclave. But those times she'd traveled over land, not by ship. Plus this was such a unique ship, being what it was, that the view of Neverwinter had to be incredible and she didn't want to miss it.

Once the storm started, Faith had a bit of trouble staying on her feet and her stomach was starting to roll as bad as the ship was rocking. She was leaning on the railing, trying not to be sick over the side of the ship when the commotion started. She didn't know what was wrong with the crew, at that moment anyway, but seeing one attack the captain was all it took to have her rushing over and trying to intervene somehow. Her magic might serve her well here, but so would her crossbow. Putting a bolt in one of the crew might make the others think twice about attacking the captain or the passengers as well. But first, she had to make sure to protect herself. Grabbing the ankh around her neck with her left hand, she muttered a spell and did a few little gestures with her right hand, a faint glow coming up around herself for a brief instant.


05:56, Today: Faith rolled 12 using 1d20.  Initiative.

Action: Cast Mage Armor
Move: 30 feet toward the crew.
the ankh is Faith's arcane focus which replaces her need for materials in her spells

The upper deck of the Edge had already been in chaos with the pounding rains and the occasionally wave of water that washed across the top, but now it became utter madness as violence broke out. Passengers were running and screaming, some running for the stairs below deck, others were aware enough to realize that's where the crew came from and it might be even worse. But amongst those passengers were a handful who were not strangers to unexpected danger. They sprang into action.

A tall human male, Jaryn the others recalled his name, in loose flowing clothes was only armed with a longsword, he had no protective armor as far anyone could see, but that didn't stop him. He rushed forward towards the cluster of crewmen who had begun to indiscriminately attack those around them. Gracefully he drew his blade, running its edge across one of the crew in the same smooth motion (-7 HP from Crew 3) and at the same time kicked out a boot at the other. (-8 HP from Crew 5)

More dramatically still, flames ignited with a burst and illuminated the half-elf Naim in a guttering glow. It seemed that the half-elf knew how to do more than just the healing and sea sickness treatments he'd been administering during the voyage. He rushed across the deck, his steps accounting for the rolling ship in a way that spoke of years at sea. He hurried towards the captain, luckily they had been huddled not far from him, and his burning blade raked across Gendrin's back and left a smoldering wound. (-13 HP to Crew 2)

Then there was the enigmatic Saulucian. It was little surprise he leapt to action, what with the way he often went through practice motions with that blade each evening on top of the deck. Surprisingly though, it was not the blade he brought to bear, instead his free hand traced the air and with those motions fire erupted from his hand and traced a path of steam through the air. It struck the nearest crewmen, who seemed as unfazed by bodily harm as the rest of them had. (-10 HP from Crew 4)

The crew hadn't responded to the barrage of violence rained down upon them. Other than a few grunts and groans that were drowned out by the wind and rain, their only response to these cuts and burns was to vaguely turn and swipe at these new targets which weren't running away like the others. One clumsily swung at Jaryn, but he dodged beneath the hand with a practiced grace. The crew member Naim had scorched enough to expose bone and sinew turned and Gendrin's fingers raked across Naim's hide armor, but didn't find soft flesh. While Jaryn was ducking though another of the crew who had in the crowd swung down, its fingers found purchase and raked downward opening up deep stinging cuts along the man's back which quickly started to stain his clothes red. (-7 HP Jaryn) The crewmember scorched by Saulucian's firebolt had become fixated on the lithe elf, whether due to the blaze of fire or his rapid movements. It shuffled towards him closing the remaining gap between the two of them. Shuffling forward with outstretched hands, Saul would have easily dodged those clumsy hands, but a sudden jump of the deck made his footing slipped and they slammed his arm, only just barely catching him. (-3 HP Saul)

Further back the quiet tiefling, Faith they thought it was, who had kept largely to herself also seemed to have tricks. She did something, her movements obscured by the chaos, and a shimmering second skin engulfed her, the translucent barrier easily visible as droplets of rain ran along its surface.

The last crewman abandoned the overweight human he'd been beating to death, drawn by Jaryn's much more enticing movements. Stumbling forward, the glassy eyed crew member swung at the injured man, but Jaryn dropped low to the deck with shocking ease and sprung up just as easily once the blow had passed.

Lastly, the cleric of Wavemother had charged towards the captain as well. His short dwarven legs stomping across the wooden deck. He called out prayers to his profane god and was rewarded by a glowing flame. It was only luck that saved the crew member, they made no movement to dodge the fire, but were knocked out of the way by the motion of the deck (Successful Dex save!)

And then another wave struck the ship making the entire Edge quake and lurch to one side. (Everyone roll an Athletics Check DC 12, or Acrobatics DC 9 to keep your footing, otherwise be knocked down. You can regain your footing using half your movement.) Those shuffling crew members were not graceful by any stretch, but perhaps in their stupor they still recalled their years at sea for they managed to retain their footing despite their shuffling manner.

Initiative


24 - Jaryn - AC 18, HP 20/27
19 - Naim - AC 16, HP 27/27
18 - Saulucian - AC 16, HP 11/14
15 - Violent Crew 1 - AC 9, HP 21/21 (Attacking Jaryn)
15 - Violent Crew 2 - AC 9, HP 08/21 (Attacking Naim)
14 - Violent Crew 3 - AC 9, HP 14/21 (Attacking Jaryn)
13 - Violent Crew 4 - AC 9, HP 11/21 (Attacking Saul)
12 - Faith - AC 13, HP 15/15
07 - Violent Crew 5 - AC 9, HP 13/21 (Attacking Jaryn)
03 - Iclos - AC 16, HP 33/33
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:28, Tue 23 Mar 2021.

Faith turned to the only crewman that wasn't currently engaged with someone and letting go of her ankh, she waved her hands around a bit and muttered some words before thrusting her right hand out towards the crewman. A bolt of fire shot out at the crewman hitting him square in the chest. After the spell was cast, a wave struck the ship and Faith's feet went out from under her, landing on her backside on the wet deck. "Oof, that hurt," Faith muttered to herself.


10:53, Today: Faith rolled 7 using 1d10.  Fire Bolt Damage.

10:52, Today: Faith rolled 13 using 1d20+5.  Fire Bolt check.

10:49, Today: Faith rolled 9 using 1d20.  Athletics Check.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Tue 23 Mar 2021.

Naim saw the unnaturalness for what it more clearly was now and struck down on the crewman in front of him in wrath. His fiery blade seared flesh and bone of the stumbling undead crewman.

"Damnit Gendrin! Th' hells happened to you?!" the sailor and healer screamed at the undead in accusation. For a heartbeat he seemed as if he were going to just stare at the sailor turned creature, then he seemed to start as he remembered the captain.

He spoke a word of power into the storm, and despite the word being nearly drowned out by the winds and crashing waves, healing washed over the captain from the swipes and bites he'd taken from the crew before Naim and the others had gotten there or reacted. "Captain! You ok there?" he screamed at him to try and get a response.

Acrobatics: 11 vs. dc 9
Action: Hit AC 12, 10 fire damage
Bonus: cast healing word on Captain, heal 8 hp

08:14, Today: Naim rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Acrobatics DC 9.
08:32, Today: Naim rolled 12 using 1d20+6.  Flame blade attack.
08:32, Today: Naim rolled 10 using 3d6.  Flame Blade dmg.
08:33, Today: Naim rolled 8 using 1d4+4.  Healing Word - Captain.

Jaryn, for a moment at least, was doing alright and handling his own against the two strangely-acting crewmen that he'd engaged. He struck them both to garner their attention and dodged their attempts to strike back at him - but then another one came up and attacked him from behind, scoring a gash on his back with their fingers. Jaryn let out a pained cry, "Aah!"

He quickly lashed out with his sword in both hands, followed by a roundhouse kick, to drop one of the crewmen so he could turn to fully face the other two. He didn't want to get ambushed from behind again.

09:05, Today: Jaryn rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  Acrobatics.
09:06, Today: Jaryn rolled 16,7 using d20+6,d10+4.  Longsword vs VC3.
09:07, Today: Jaryn rolled 15,8 using d20+6,d4+4.  Martial Arts unarmed strike vs VC3.

The dwarf had a back-up of more powerful magic, but he was going to keep it in reserve for now. This madness could be only the tip of the iceberg in a series of calamities. His eyes scanned along the deck and noted a few capable individuals helping out with the situation. A few of them had impressed him already.

As he continued moving, the next big wave hit the ship. His sturdy dwarven sea legs did not fail him, and he could continue towards the Captain at the wheel on the quarterdeck. If Captain Fairwind should fall, they might need someone who knew how to steer a vessel such as this. Not that there weren't other sailors aboard, it was just that several of them were currently busy eating each other.

His shield still strapped to his back, Iclos used both hands on his warhammer to bludgeon the nearest of the violent crew members.

Athletics: 19.
Move: 25 foot closer to the captain.
Action: Hit AC 15 for 9 hp damage.

Adrenaline numbing most of the pain, Jaryn focused on drawing this fight to a speedy conclusion. His sword slashed across the crewman, he thought their name was Sam, but it was best not to dwell on that. It was a deep slash, but surprisingly little blood oozed from the wound. Followed up by twisting on one heel and delivering a powerful kick to the mans face there was the sound of something vital snapping, audible even over the wind, and the man dropped to the ground. (Crewman 3 slain)

Over by the captain Naim screamed against the whipping winds, most of his words carried off by the storm. Gendrin did not seem inclined to answer. He never would now. Thrusting the blazing sword of fire straight there was a smell of burning meat, when it was pulled back a gaping hole was left in Gendrin's chest. The man looked down dumbly, only seemed to realize he was slain moments after the fact. Then he collapsed into a heap. (Crewman 2 slain) At the same time another word from the fire wielding half-elf raised a soft glow of light, so faint it almost seemed a trick of the flashing lighting, it enveloped the captain. At the wheel the grizzled sailor stood up straighter. (+8 HP to Captain Fairwind) He said something, but the words were lost to the gale.

OOC: Saul advised he could only post in the mornings/evenings for the rest of the week but said to post for him to keep the flow going. I said there was no rush, but seeing as everyone has posted I'm going to take up his offer.

Saulucian arm was aching from the blow, but it did not impede him as his fingers traced the air a second time and another handful of fire flew from his hand. It struck the crewman in the face and melted flesh to leave one side of the mans face as exposed bone and scorched sinew. (-10 HP to crewman 4) Thankfully he did not seem to suffer. Less fortunately, the man was still standing, his remaining eye starred dully at Saulucian

But these maddened crewmates were not all disabled yet. One that had been attacking Jaryn was distracted by the waving flames of Naim's blazing sword and shuffled the short distance over and was swinging his arms like clubs at the half-elf. Luckily they did not connected. The crewman with the ruined face was still toe to toe with Saulucian and brought down another blown on the elf. (Reaction: Shield) Just a fraction of a second before the blow landed though a translucent barrier materialized. Those swinging arms would have struck across one shoulder and the way the crewman used his forearms combined with the force of the blow probably left them fractured, but this didn't seem to bother the man. It was closer than Saul would have liked.  The last standing crew member swung another clumsy blow at Jaryn, but he easily knocked aside the club like swing.

The rolling deck had taken Faith's feet right out from under her. Thankfully there weren't any of those deranged crew members there to take advantage of the moment and she regained her footing without incident. It seemed the others were not the only ones who had magic at their disposal. Throwing out a hand, Faith flung fire through the air and left a dark burn across the crew member who had just swung at Jaryn. (-7 HP to crewman 5)

The cleric of Umberlee did not have to move to find another target. Still focusing on protecting the captain, the holy man brought his warhammer across in a sweeping blow and caved in the chest of the crewman who had approached to attack Naim. (-9 HP to crewman 1)

Initiative


24 - Jaryn - AC 18, HP 20/27
19 - Naim - AC 16, HP 27/27
18 - Saulucian - AC 16, HP 11/14
15 - Violent Crew 1 - AC 9, HP 12/21 (Attacking Naim)
15 - Violent Crew 2 - Slain
14 - Violent Crew 3 - Slain
13 - Violent Crew 4 - AC 9, HP 01/21 (Attacking Saul)
12 - Faith - AC 13, HP 15/15
07 - Violent Crew 5 - AC 9, HP 14/21 (Attacking Jaryn)
03 - Iclos - AC 16, HP 33/33
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:58, Wed 24 Mar 2021.

Naim scrambled to turn and meet this new threat, but his surprise and a surge or the sea at just the wrong moment.

His blow went well wide of the crewman and he struggled to keep the fire from connecting with someone innocent as his knees buckled and arm slipped. He cursed a string of wild sailor curses at the missed chance. He did see the blow against the dancing fighter he'd come to know as Saul.

He was about to speak another word again but realized that the captain and Saul looked ok after everything and just focused on getting the next creature.

Action: Flame blade, miss AC 7

14:40, Today: Naim rolled 7 using 1d20+6.  Round 3 Flame Blade attack.

This message was last edited by the player at 21:10, Wed 24 Mar 2021.

Jaryn lashed out as one of the violent crewmen let their guard down and turned away. His longsword slashed deeply in to their back, letting out a "Hayaahh!" as he did so.

He turned back to the one currently facing him but the sway of the boat as he swinging the longsword threw off his aim a bit. He tried to re-balance and re-center by continuing his spin and planting a knee into the one still facing off with him. "Please stand down!"

20:43, Today: Jaryn rolled 17,13 using d20+6,d10+4.  Longsword Opportunity Attack.
20:43, Today: Jaryn rolled 7,11 using d20+6,d10+4.  Longsword vs VC5.
20:44, Today: Jaryn rolled 18,7 using d20+6,d4+4.  Martial Arts unarmed strike vs VC5.

Iclos continued his efforts to keep any of the mad crewmen from reaching Captain Fairwind. If any threatened him again, Iclos would make sure to intervene by positioning himself in the way. A ship of this size, however, could not be manned by a single person. Iclos looked around to judge the condition of the Sword's Edge itself and the rest of the crew, although it was difficult to see much through the storm and the chaos. How were the sails holding up? Were there enough crewmen? Had the hatches been closed? Did the cargo (other than folk) seem secure or were things tumbling about?

Action: Perception 9.

Afraid of hitting one of the other passengers with a fire bolt, crossbow bolt, or hurled knife, Faith decided to wait and see what the VC's that were still alive did. Most of them were going down and it looked like the other passengers had the upper hand on the remaining ones.


Readying action, as long as the VC's go down Faith will do nothing. IF one survives she will throw a fire bolt at it, if she can hit it without hitting the other players.

Continuing to be a twisting turning whirlwind of blade and blows, Jaryn took advantage of the crewman that had so unwisely turned and shuffled to attack Naim. His longsword neatly skewered the man. It killed him. Jaryn's extensive training made him confident in this fact but... the man wouldn't die. He stumbled forward, the wound gaping in his back, but he was on his feet. (-13 HP to Crew 1) Turning in the same motion Jaryn delivered another blow to the crew member that still threatened him. (-7 HP Crew) The mans head snapped back, he wobbled, then collapsed into a heap.

At the wheel of the ship Naim's blazing sword continued to leave a trail of mist in its wake. Focused on defending the captain, his next swing went wild. The captain looked healthy enough after the first bout of healing. It was hard to be entirely certain, what with the rain washing away blood and the captain straining to keep the wheel steady, but yes, he seemed healthy. (OOC: Holding off your heal spell for now as the captain looks healthy to Naim's trained eye)

Changing up his tactics, Saulucian brought up the shortsword in his other hand and expertly lay a clean slice across the crewman's throat who currently threatened him. The mans head lolled back and a few dark drops of blood oozed out... but the man remained standing. He should have been down! (-4 HP Crew 4)

Naim was still assessing the captain when the crewman threatening him staggered forward. The erratic movement caught him off guard and the arm that slammed into his stomach drove the wind out of him. (-7 HP Naim) While the crews numbers were thinned and the two still standing were both grievously injured, it was not over yet!

The crewman with the new smile cut along his throat stared dumbly at the short sword that had just opened the wound. Swinging an arm, the crewman seemed to be trying to hit Saul's hand. It would have probably been giving too much credit to think he was trying to disarm Saul. No, that remaining dull eye did not seem capable of such tactics. It was more the motion of cat pawing at a passing butterfly, mere reflexive instinct at the sight of motion. Saul gracefully side stepped the swing.

Faith had just that, faith that her fellow passengers were proving quite adept at handling this mutiny, or whatever it was. Thus it came almost as a surprise when she realized these crew members just were not dying properly. The extent of their wounds was enough they should have. So Faith lent a hand. Firing off a bolt of fire, she precisely struck the crew man toe to toe with Saul. (-4 HP) This time the man has the good grace to crumple into a heap. Another tilting of the ship sent the body sliding to the edge of the deck and then down into the dark waters below.

Iclos' Perception


Initiative

24 - Jaryn - AC 18, HP 20/27
19 - Naim - AC 16, HP 20/27
18 - Saulucian - AC 16, HP 11/14
15 - Violent Crew 1 - AC 9, HP 01/21 (Attacking Naim)
15 - Violent Crew 2 - Slain
14 - Violent Crew 3 - Slain
13 - Violent Crew 4 - Slain
12 - Faith - AC 13, HP 15/15
07 - Violent Crew 5 - Slain
03 - Iclos - AC 16, HP 33/33

OOC: Combat is likely close to wrapping up, feel free to include any actions you want to take in your next post that your character will engage in after fighting has ended.

Naim reeled from the attack that connected with him.

His concentration on his blade of flame as the pain dug deeply and the fire guttered and died in his hand.

With a grimace, he drew out his blade of metal instead of flame and slashed upward across the crewman with it. The crewman dropped and he moved to the captain.

"Captain! Are you hurt? I can heal you more so you can hold the line!"

Concentration: 8 vs DC 10, failed.
Free: draw scimitar
Action: attack, hit ac 16, 6 slashing damage

15:00, Today: Naim rolled 8 using 1d20+3.  Concentration vs attack.
15:02, Today: Naim rolled 16,6 using 1d20+4,1d6+2.  scimitar attack.

The devoted servant of the Sea Bitch nodded to himself in the storm. His hair and beard and clothes were dripping wet with salty sea. It served as both a taste of death and a reminder that he was still alive. He quickly wiped his face with one hand while mentally dismissing the notion of asking the crewmen for help. They had already proven too weak for this sort of work.

"Hear me, brave defenders of the Sword's Edge!" Iclos cried out. "Something putrid inside the guts of our ship have turned these sailors mad. Our mission is twofold: To make sure our cargo is secure, and will not tear its way through the hull like some hatchling hacking out of its shell. Secondly, to find what drove these poor souls to this insanity, and make sure it cannot affect anyone else. Who will join me?!"

Faith looked around to make sure these crewman were all slain. She didn't want to admit what she thought was going on here. It was too horrible to contemplate at this moment. She was curious about what was going on and so when the Dwarf asked for people to accompany him below deck, Faith volunteered. "Aye, master Dwarf, I shall accompany you to investigate this matter further. I would like to know what is causing this. Do you think the hold would be a good place to start?"

Naim's fiery blade guttered and went out and plunged his part of the deck back into darkness as the light from the magical spell snuffed out. It left the crewman facing down Naim blinking in surprise as the sudden darkness, Naim expertly took advantage of this momentary confusion by drawing his scimitar and in one clean motion taking the head off the crew member who collapsed to the ground. Then he returned his attention to Captain Fairwind.

OOC: For anyone besides Naim and Iclos, who are currently next to the Captain, roll a Perception check, DC 12, to hear what the Captain replies back to Naim over the storm.

"Aye, I think I'm alright, thanks to that bit of magic of yours," the Captain yelled over the wind, "What kind of madness is this? Those were good men. The way they acted, they caught some sort of sickness. I can't take the Edge into port if we've become a plague ship. We have to find out what's happened." The wind tore at the words as the violence of the storm continued to rage.

Iclos had already determined that the hold needed attention, if nothing else to make sure the cargo had been secured otherwise those rolling crates were as good as cannon balls and might punch a hole into the vessel. That was the last thing any of them needed. Faith voiced her support and the two of them were already disappearing below deck.

Jaryn was still eyeing the crew, they had shown a disturbing resistance to staying properly dead, though after the rain of fire and steel they seemed to have met their proper ends. Saul was also taking a few moments to taking off the black leather armor from one of the crew members, it seemed he would need to be ready for a fight and they certainly weren't using the armor anymore.

Below deck Iclos and Faith descended into a scene very unlike the one they had left hours ago. The once pristine decks were now covered in loose debris, things that could roll or slide were the most common, boxes, bags, trunks, but even more unlikely items like loose articles of clothes or papers had managed to be shaken loose from the private rooms which lined the long corridor. Also there was the unpleasant odor of sick which now hung thick in the air. Evidently a number of passengers were not doing well with the violent motion of the ocean. This was also punctuated by blood and several bodies. Evidently the crew had encountered several other passengers before reaching the upper deck.

Iclos and Faith had just reached the bottom of the stairs when another wave tipped the ship, the nose of the Sword's Edge dipped sharply down and the hallway before them before a steep slope. Steep enough that it shook loose a large crate that had been jogged loose into the hallway. It came tumbling and crashing down the hall towards them. (Iclos and Faith roll a Dexterity Save DC 12! On success you manage to avoid the crate, on failure roll 1d6+3 damage.)

The crate finished its journey by shattering on the stairs and revealing a mass of kitchenware someone had thought to bring.

Leveling out, the slope returned to a corridor and Faith and Iclos were able to move down the hall. Before they reached the stairs to the cargo hold though, they came across another drama unfolding. In the doorway to a private bedroom the elven noble Lecandrin est Goldenbough was beset by ruffians. Of his five bodyguards three lay slain and the remaining two were gravely wounded. You also recognized those robbing him. Revos, Issen and Glenn. A pair of dwarves and a human, their fourth compatriot lay in a pool of blood on the floor. They were said to be members of the Yellow Sashes, a local gang in Baldur's Gate. Till now they hadn't caused any trouble, but it seemed they saw the prospect of the storm and chaos as an opportunity.

"We'll be taking those five chests of yours, Lord Goldenbough," Revos drawled with a wide smile.

The elven noble was pale and desperate, spotting Iclos and Faith he shouted out, "You two, there's a chest of coin in it for you to dispatch these ruffians!"

Revos' eyes narrowed, Issen bristled and clutched the club in his hands tighter while Glenn raised a short sword. "Just move along, this is no concern of yours," Revos drawled through his bushy black beard.

Getting to the cargo hold meant passing this unfolding robbery one way or another. Though one of those ways was decidedly dangerous. It looked like the Yellow Sashes were comfortable with the weapons they held and judging by the blood on Glenn's shortsword, they were willing to use them.

Confident the other passengers had things in hand now on the deck, Faith followed the Dwarf below deck to go and check on the hold. She thought she might have heard the Captains voice, but decided it was a trick of the wind and carried on below deck. What a mess it was down here, stuff was everywhere and it stank! Blood and bile mixed together from the passengers the crew had killed down here as well. Picking their way through the mess was slow going and she didn't mind that fact one bit. Coming to a corridor, they were about to head down it when the ship tilted and a crate came falling at them. Faith was able to press herself against the side of the corridor and avoid the crate, she was unsure if the Dwarf managed to do so or not.

Hearing the commotion and coming upon the scene of the Yellow Sashes and the rich elf, Faith sighed heavily and tried to muscle her way in-between them, "This isn't happening. Go on back to your cabin and forget Goldenbough exists, okay?"

12:45, Today: Faith rolled 17 using 1d20.  Dexterity Save.

Iclos was not famous for being fast. He was short and stocky with heavy armor. Fortunately, the sliding crate made enough noise to give him a heads-up. He managed to throw himself aside and avoid being hit. "Monk-buggering-turds---that thing was definitely not secured. We better check on the rest of the cargo!"

Dex save 17.

The ongoing robbery stopped them in their tracks, however. Iclos shook his head. He was not afraid of the thugs, but he wasn't an imposing-looking dwarf either. He didn't think he could talk sense into them by dealing them harsh words and a grim look. This was bloody murder, and he just couldn't let them get away with this, potentially killing more passengers. They would have to do this quickly, however, so they could get on with the real job.

"Stand back for a moment." Iclos motioned to the Elven noble and the one called Faith. He approached the criminals, holding his warhammer down in one hand, while the other traced a quick incantation. As he came closer, a thunderous boom shot from the cleric's hands, rivaling the storm up above!

Casting Thunderwave for 16 thunder damage. Con save DC 13 for half. Using Channel Divinity: Destructive Wrath for full damage.

Naim nodded to the captain's words. He quickly sheathed his sword and headed below decks as he'd seen some others do. He scrambled down the ladder into the hull to see what had become of the rest of the passengers and crew.

"What the hells his happening here!?" he screamed into the winds as he saw the chaos below. Then... a clap of thunder louder than the storm and much much closer.

He ran to get to the noise... and prayed to Deep Sasheles that the hull hadn't been breached that that clap of thunder.

In his free hand, he spoke a word and flame kindled in it once more. This time though it took little shape and just lit the area around as a ball of fire in his hands.

Cast Produce Flame

OOC: Jaryn must be busy, so we'll keep going!

No one seemed prepared when the storm was suddenly inside the ship. Or more precise, a great crack of thunder was. In front of Iclos a wave of pressure ripped through the air sending papers and debris flying every which direction. It also Issen and Glenn violently into the walls, they slid down and into heaps on the floor. It took several long seconds before their limbs allowed them to regain their feet. Blood was running out of Glenn's ear and Issen's left arm was dangling in a not entirely natural way. Revos had weathered the blast better than his two compatriots, but it seemed he was rethinking the value of those chests. (-16 HP Issen, -16 HP Glenn, -8 HP Revos) When Naim also came running down his eyes narrowed and he jerked his head, "Come on boys, live to fight another day and all that."

"Well done!" Goldenbough cheered from within his private chamber. "That will show those guttersnipes to respect their betters." Stepping over one of his still bleeding guards, Goldenbough went to a nearby chest, opening it you caught a glimpse of dozens of neatly tied off leather pouches. He fished out a handful and then returned, tossing a bag to the feet of each his saviors. "A reward of course." The bag clinked appealingly. But it was a far cry from the promised chest.

-All players may add 25 gold to their character (Regardless of you made it to the brief scuffle or not.)

Naim watched the thieves run off with a shake of his head and no offer to set the break of the one or address the bleeding ears of the other. "Why couldn't the mad crew have gotten to them first?" he muttered under his breath.

He let the flames in hand gutter out as he quickly grabbed the offered coins and stowed them away. He didn't hear the initial offer, so a bag of coin sounded good to him regardless of its weight or count.

A quick look around was accompanied by his voice shouting over the sounds of the storm, "thanks! Did your guards get dropped by those thieves' or by the mad crew?" At the same time he summoned another burst of flame into his hand in case it was needed quickly.

"Iclos, Faith, did you see anything? We should look in the crew bunks..." Naim shuddered to think what they'd find there.

Free: grab coin and stow it.
Action: re-cast produce flame
Move: Toward crew sections of the ship/hold

Faith lets the would be robbers leave, making sure Goldenbough is alright. Shaking her head slightly, she bends down and picks up the bag of coins that land at her feet. It wasn't the chest they'd been promised, but it was better than nothing. Nodding her thanks to the lord, she's about to turn back to what she was doing when she's addressed by one of the other passengers on the ship. Only she doesn't remember ever telling the man her name, so how he knows it she has no clue about. "We were about to search the hold and see what could've possibly caused this before we came upon this man getting robbed. I think the hold and other parts of the ship will be our best bet still."

Iclos was not going to waste critical time chasing the thugs, but called after them. "I will find you before we get to port! Feel free to jump over board first. Swim to the bottom of the ocean! Seek forgiveness from the Queen of the Depths. Hah!" He shook his head and turned to the nobleman, accepting his reward with a simple nod. Iclos wouldn't be haggling over the reward.

He echoed what Faith said. "From what I heard, the mad crewmembers were securing the cargo when madness struck them. We should go to the cargo hull first. If you want to go together we can check on the other sections of the ship after that." He braced himself against a wooden column for another wave, then resumed walking.

Naim listened to the other two speak and nodded, flame in his hand flickering and lighting the area around him and his features in light and moving shadow.

He simply said "good," with a nod and went with Iclos and Faith toward the cargo hold area of the below decks.

Leaving Goldenbough and his two surviving guards, the three passengers discussed where best to search to try and find the source of the madness spreading amongst the crew. There was agreement between Faith and Iclos that the hold would be the best place, with some convincing Naim agreed.

Here inside the ship the sounds of the storm were muted, but it was far from quiet. The whole ship groaned and creaked and its integrity was tested to the brink by the slapping waves and lashing winds. Best not to think about the fact that a couple inches of wood was all that separated them from the dark hungry waters outside.

Hurrying down the remainder of the corridor, they reached the stairs to the lowest level of the Sword's Edge. The lowest level, normally reserved strictly for cargo, had been half converted into living quarters to better pack in new immigrants. Makeshift walls had been erected, flimsy things that mainly designated living spaces and had done little to stop noise. Now most of those slapdash living quarters were dismantled by the violent storm. Heaps of debris covered the floor and would make traversing the hold a difficult affair.

Towards the back of the ship the last half of the deck remained dedicated to cargo. A rope wall separated those large crates, jars, steamer trunks and other large items. Almost all of which were sliding freely with the movement of the ship and slamming hard into the walls when the waves tipped particularly steeply. This also seemed to be the source of the mad crew, even if the cause remained a mystery.

Three more shambling and glassy eyed crew members were shuffling about the cargo hold. They were picking at the wreckage at their feet, judging by their bloody hands, they had dug out a few buried passengers already. Within the netted off cargo area was another figure, the red robed wizard, but he didn't look himself either. During the weeks long voyage you'd seen the figure a number of times, distracted, slightly aloof, he hadn't been as aggressively rude as Red Wizards were famous for, but he kept his distance. Now though he wasn't moving right, he was not as stiff as the crew members, but his limbs jerked and twitched and his face was twisted into a snarl. Faint green vapors were rising off the floor around him.

Roll Initiative!

Faith followed along, glad for the company of the others. She wasn't sure she'd be doing this on her own, but with Iclos and Naim, she felt better about it. She wouldn't say she felt safe, because she didn't, but she felt better about it. As they made their way even lower into the ship, that better feeling started to fade a bit. She had no problem with tight spaces or being underground, but she was uneasy about what they were going to find down here.

Coming upon the scene of the crewmen and red mage, Faith's uneasy feeling increased quite a bit. This was bad is what her instincts were telling her. Very bad in fact. But the mess on the floor and all around the room seemed to distract the Tiefling. She could feel something on her feet, kind of holding her in place.

12:50, Today: Faith rolled 7 using 1d20.  Initiative Roll.

Naim went with Iclos and Faith to see what they could see about the cargo.

When they reached the hold with more crewmen that showed the glass-eyed appearance, his gaze immediately went to the wizard with green vapors flowing around him and he froze for a second before he reacted, terror rising with the green smoke.

10:44, Today: Naim rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

The stink of people having shared close quarters over weeks was rather nauseating. That might not be the only reason Iclos was slow to react. His thoughts were often on different matters than the here and now. Maybe that would the death of him some day. Perhaps even this day. More affected crewmen and a passenger. A wizard even. Would stopping him be harder?

Initiative 3.

Jaryn followed down after the others had been a little bit. He wanted to make sure the strangely-acting crew stayed down. But since he moved fairly fast, he caught up to them pretty quickly after they finished the 'altercation' with the would-be robbers. He just missed the conversation about the hold, but he would have agreed anyway.

He moved up to join the others as they headed towards the hold. He kept his longsword out and his senses alert for danger....or more shifting ship movement, debris or sliding cargo. He took note of the crewman and the red robed individual...and the green vapors. That didn't look good.

21:03, Today: Jaryn rolled 5 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.

OOC: My mistake, I meant to ask for your opening actions along with your initiative! Going forward, always feel free to include your first rolls/actions when we boot up combat! In this case, post your round 1 actions, then also include your round 2 actions, that way we'll be back in sync.

Near the back of the cargo hold, the sickly Red Wizard turned his pale drawn face to the group and his lips pulled back into a half snarl. He spoke several words and raised an arm, from him emerged a pale ghostly hand, it flew forward leaving a trail of frost in the air and clutched at Naim's wrist that held the magical fire. Where it grasp him, it left a burning black mark. Naim shook it off quickly, it only managed to brush him, but it still left his arm numb. (-1 HP, Healing disabled for one turn.) It seemed the wizard still had enough sense in him to put his magical training to use!

At some point the elf Saul had joined them, he had padded along so quietly behind them they hadn't heard his arrival till a burning bolt of fire shot over their heads. It managed to fire through the rope mesh, but it only singed the bottom of the red wizards robes. (-1 HP Red Wizard) At the touch of the fire the green vapors in the air ignited. It was not a powerful blast, more a brief flash of light, but it cleared the air.

The first crewman was close enough that it shuffled to the assembled group. Its clumsy swings were directed towards Iclos, but the dwarf weathered them, his armor glancing off the shambling swings.

The other two crew members were shuffling and stumbling through the debris. Their clumsy feet having trouble finding solid footing amongst the fallen wooden walls and personal effects of the passengers who had been living down there. They would be upon the group in another moment though.

Initiative

All terrain is rough terrain this combat.

Reaching the Red Wizard will require passing by the three crew members.

20 - Red Wizard, AC 10, HP 33/34 (Soft cover with rope netting, 12 AC to ranged attacks)
14 - Saulucian - AC 13, HP 11/14
11 - Violent Crewman 1 AC 9, HP 22/22
10 - Violent Crewman 2 AC 9, HP 22/22
07 - Faith - AC 13, HP 15/15
06 - Violent Crewman 3 AC 9, HP 22/22
05 - Jaryn  - AC 18, HP 20/27
03 - Iclos - AC 16, HP 33/33
03 - Naim  - AC 16, HP 19/27 (Healing effects on Naim disabled for 1 round.)

Jaryn, after his initial moment of shock, stated the obvious, "He may be moving stiffly, but he is still a wizard apparently!" He nodded. "If you have a way to stay back and target him, that might be best."

He moved forward as quickly as he could, picking his way through the debris, until he reached the first crewperson. His sword slashed in a horizontal arc across the person's chest. He followed the motion in to a spin and kicked at one of the person's legs right after.

Then he straightened back up to his full height once more, bringing the longsword up in an almost vertical strike when he did so. He kicked the crewperson away from him, not with contempt, but just not wanting to be infected with...whatever they were.

OOC: If someone finishes off (or if they go before him and he finishes off) the first crewperson, he then move to the next one for his second round of attacks (or his last attack if it takes his first three attacks to down them).

08:47, Today: Jaryn rolled 15,6,12,7 using d20+6,d10+4,d20+6,d4+4.  Longsword & Martial Arts vs 1st Crewmen he can get to (Round 1).

08:48, Today: Jaryn rolled 16,13,16,8 using d20+6,d10+4,d20+6,d4+4.  Longsword & Martial Arts (Round 2).

Faith stays put and starts to cast another spell. Yet again she grabs hold of the wooden ankh around her neck and mutters a few words as she waves her free hand in a small series of gestures. After she finishes an arc of blue lightning extends between her and the robed figure. It writhes and pulses between the two figures, connecting them to each other.

11:39, Today: Faith rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Witch Bolt Cast.

11:39, Today: Faith rolled 8 using 1d12.  Witch Bolt Damage.

11:42, Today: Faith rolled 10 using 1d12.  Witch Bolt Damage.

Those are both her first and second round actions. The spell lasts one minute and as long as she uses her action for just inflicting damage, she can keep doing 1d12 damage every round.

Iclos' little theory (which he had kept to himself), that the Red Wizard had been zombiefying crewmen, was pretty much kaput. With him being all glassy-eyed too, it seemed the Thayan had been affected by this curse as well. It was only too bad he could still cast spells. It would have been better if his brain had gone all glassy too.

The dwarf closed in on the enemy (which they now were). He was looking for an opening to either cast his radiant magic or thump someone with his warhammer. The Sacred Flame had further range, but he wasn't sure how slow or fast these things were to duck away. He tried the warhammer first, but only managed to make a loud whoosh as he hit a big portion of air. He would try the spell next.

Action 1st round: Melee attack on nearest baddie misses with a nat 1.
Action 2nd round: Sacred Flame on nearest baddie for 4 hp radiant. Dex save DC 13 to negate.
Move: Will move into the thick of things where I can attract some attacks away from the others.

Horror washed over Naim as he felt his life force drained out, even if just a little, by the hand of the Red Wizard.

A quick reaction he hurled his fire at the man and clipped him with his fires. Another word summoned more fire and this was tossed across the space to connect more fully with the Red Wizard again.

"I never heard good things 'bout Red Wizards, seems this ones been mucking about with stuff that was too much for him. Don't let that hand get you, it's sucking out my soul! END HIM!" Naim screamed into the hold.

Action 1st round: Produce Flame attack, hit AC 20, 3 fire damage
Action 2nd round: Produce Flame attack, hit AC 16, 7 fire damage

More reactive to the wounds inflicted on him, the red wizard hissed in pain at the flames that Naim and Saul had conjured. Black lightning danced along the mans robes arms, then launched fire blazed at his fingertips. Erupting from his fingers, three lines of fire lanced through the air. The ray struck Iclos square in the chest, he felt his armor grow uncomfortably hot, but the protective gear did its job and other than breaking into a sweat, he was none the worse for wear. Another ray lanced off towards Naim, but the half-elf's luck held up. Other than a light burn across one arm, he was mainly unscathed. (-2 HP Naim) The last sliced toward Faith, but the licking flames only felt like a gentle caress to her fel touched hide. (Faith's fire resist negates 4 damage)

Saul fired off another bolt of fire towards the wizard, but the rigging ate the intended blow. Several thick strands of rope burned away and separated, but the wizard remained unscathed.

The shambling crew had finally started to reach the stairs. Jaryn had continued to put his years of training to use and he opened up a slice across the shipman, another bloodless wound, and delivered a blow to follow it. (-13 HP Crewman 1) The wreckage underfoot betrayed the nimble warrior though and he slipped at just the wrong moment. The crew member staggered forward and bit into his shoulder and tore away a sizable chunk of flesh. (-10 HP Jaryn) Recovering, Jaryn neatly ran through the man's face with his blade. There was no getting back up from that. The other two crew members were out of reach, both having been distracted by Iclos who was presenting himself as a target.

The two crew members who remained standing had set upon the cleric of the violent seas. One smashed an arm down on his shoulder and sent a jolt through him. (-4 HP Iclos) The other scratched at his exposed side. (-2 HP Iclos) The wounds were superficial, but they were still wounds nonetheless.

Edging out from the safety that Jaryn and Iclos offered, Faith moved closed to the Red Wizard in order to unleash the dark power she was conjuring. Blue lightning leapt from her and engulfed the wizard making his robes crackles and his crooked spectacles crack. Blackened marks were left across his face and hands, but he was still standing. (-18 HP from Red Wizard)

Between the two taller human sailors, Iclos called up more of Umberlee's fire. It leapt to the nearest one and ate away at his uniform and the soft flesh underneath. (-4 HP Crew 2)

Fire continued to be traded back and forth across the hold of the ship when Naim threw his only flames back at the Red Wizard. His robes were signed, his flesh blackened and bone exposed in places, but he was still standing. Green vapors had begun to rise up around him again, they seemed to be coming up off the floor from somewhere. It was hard to say precisely where due to the shifting sea of debris.

Initiative

All terrain is rough terrain this combat.

Reaching the Red Wizard will require passing by the three crew members.

20 - Red Wizard, AC 10, HP 05/34 (Soft cover with rope netting, 12 AC to ranged attacks)
14 - Saulucian - AC 13, HP 11/14
11 - Violent Crewman 1 Slain
10 - Violent Crewman 2 AC 9, HP 18/22
07 - Faith - AC 13, HP 15/15
06 - Violent Crewman 3 AC 9, HP 22/22
05 - Jaryn  - AC 18, HP 10/27
03 - Iclos - AC 16, HP 27/33
03 - Naim  - AC 16, HP 17/27

OOC: Okay, I think we're all caught up. I lumped a couple rounds of the combat in with some of the updates. Hopefully it doesn't cause much confusion! You guys are tearing up these encounters with your big rolls! Until one of the enemies rolled a crit I thought you were going to walk out of this with just a few bumps and bruises!
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:08, Sun 28 Mar 2021.

Faith was beginning to worry about this as the red wizard and his companions didn't seem to want to go down. Maintaining her connection with the red wizard and sent more power down that connection. Things needed to really step up and get these...whatever they are dealt with so they can go on with what they were doing in the first place.

If I'm right I don't have to roll to hit again, just the damage so here is that roll. 16:43, Today: Faith rolled 2 using 1d12.  Witch Bolt Damage.

Naim saw the brutal strike against Jaryn and spoke a word of healing into the air that coalesced around Jaryn in a seagreen light, closing some wounds and healing some of the fast bruising.

With another word and gesture, fire flew from Naim's hand to strike the Wizard again. This burst crashed into him and looked like it burned the life out of him.

Bonus: healing word on Jaryn, heal 5 hp
Action: produce flame, hit AC 13, 6 fire damage

14:30, Today: Naim rolled 5 using 1d4+4.  healing word Jaryn.
14:29, Today: Naim rolled 13,6 using 1d20+6,1d8.  Produce Flame, Round 3.

That Jaryn moved fast, but not fast enough. Iclos could see Faith healing him with a spell, although it wasn't quite enough to bring him back to full health. He was going to have to keep an eye on that situation. Iclos did not want to lose allies in this nasty situation. He had suffered a few minor wounds and bruises himself. He could hardly feel it now, but he was pretty sure it'd hurt in the morning. Unless they were all dead by then. They were on their feet for now, though. So Iclos cast another divine spell; radiant energy washing over and searing another of the violent crewmen.

Sacred Flame on nearest baddie for 3 hp radiant. Dex save DC 13 to negate.

Jaryn let out a sharp cry of pain as one of the affected crewmen BIT him! Hard! "AAAHHHH!" He quickly turned and sliced them with his sword. "Get off of me please!" The crewmen crumbled.

He breathed heavily for a moment, wincing in pain. Then he shook his head and hurried over to the next crewmen and swung his longsword awkwardly, compensating for the bite wound, in a shorter diagonal arc, which meant it was accurate but had less power behind it. He quickly sent an knee up in to their stomach as well.

09:28, Today: Jaryn rolled 22,5,20,8 using d20+6,d10+4,d20+6,d4+4.  Longsword & Martial Arts.

Saul took his shortsword between his thumb and middle finger and slapped the side of the blade against the metal brace of its scabbard, causing the metal to ring out with vibration. He then carefully moved the vibrating blade in front of him and pointed the tip toward the wizard. "It calls you," as he spoke the words, the vibration stopped.

Bonus: Bladedance (increases AC 16)
Action: cast Toll the Dead on the wizard
Result: Wis DC 13 vs 3 Necrotic damage

22:06, Today: Saulucian Bensvelk rolled 4,3 using d8,d12 ((4,3)).

On the fire side of the rigging, the Red Wizard swayed with the shifting cargo. His body was in tatters, but those white eyes only seemed to partially register what was going on. But that did not stop his years of arcane training from coming through. Waving his arms and flourishing those singed robes, he growled "Ekez razaj" and three translucent red orbs materialized in front of him, each as large as a fist. Then they launched towards Faith. The first struck her shoulder, then next square in the stomach, the last hit her leg and drove her to a knee (-4, -2, -4 HP Faith)

Then the sound of chiming bells resounded through the cargo hold of the Sword's Edge. The Red Wizard stiffened and trembled, Saul felt the brief struggle of wills and triumphed, just barely. (-3 HP Red Wizard)

But it wasn't only the wizard threatening them. Iclos continued to fend off the crew that was attacking. More blows glanced off his armor. (OOC: Lumping in Crew 2 and 3 both attacking Iclos and missing)

Meanwhile Faith maintained the connection between her and the wizard. The black lightening she had tethered to him continued to dance between her outstretched hand and his body. A crackled ran between them, just a faint spark really, but it was enough. (-2 HP Red Wizard) The badly abused form of the wizard crumbled into a heap amongst the thickening green vapors on the ground.

Jaryn, bleeding heavily, was no less potent as he unleashed two more blows on one of the crew members. The man swayed and grunted from the hits, but remained standing. (-13 HP Crew 2, picked one at random since it wasn't specified.)

More divine fire rose at Iclos' beck, it blazed across the wounded crewman and it made the cuts Jaryn's blade had left crackled and smolder. These divine flames elicited a greater response from the being and it moaned loudly. But it remained standing. (-3 HP Crew 2)

The Red Wizard already slain, Naim turned and unleashed his fires upon the nearest crew member threatening them. The flames melted flesh and exposed bone, it should have slain the sailor, but these crew were proving quite resilient to proper death. (-6 HP to Crew 2... yet he remains at 1 HP) With his other hand Naim motioned towards Jaryn and a soft glow enveloped him, the bleeding from his shoulder slowed. (+5 HP Jaryn)

Initiative

All terrain is rough terrain this combat.

Reaching the Red Wizard will require passing by the three crew members.

20 - Red Wizard, AC 10, Slain
14 - Saulucian - AC 13, HP 11/14
11 - Violent Crewman 1 Slain
10 - Violent Crewman 2 AC 9, HP 01/22
07 - Faith - AC 13, HP 05/15
06 - Violent Crewman 3 AC 9, HP 22/22
05 - Jaryn  - AC 18, HP 15/27
03 - Iclos - AC 16, HP 27/33
03 - Naim  - AC 16, HP 17/27
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:26, Tue 30 Mar 2021.

Naim was thrown off by having to redirect his attack at the last second as the wizard dropped from lightning of Faith. He managed to connect with one of the sailors but his next attempt to gather and hurl lightning came just as a surge of the seas beneath hit the ship at an awkward time and this burst splashed fire at the feet of the crewman rather than hurting anyone.

Action: hit AC 7 (nat 1)
09:19, Today: Naim rolled 7,2 using 1d20+6,1d8.  Produce Flame Crew 3.

"Hah!" Iclos exclaimed triumphantly when one of his allies put the Red Wizard down. Through the chaos, the dwarf could still see two more crewmen that looked affected. One was in a good shape, the other was knocking hard on death's door.

Iclos approached the uninjured one and lay his warhammer into it, missing. Annoyed, he summoned a spiritual version of his physical weapon, which hovered beside him. It hit well!

Move: Engage Violent Crewman 3.
Action: Melee attack misses.
Bonus: Cast Spiritual Weapon. Hits Violent Crewman 3 at AC 21 for 8 damage.

Saulucian made his way to the nearest of the crewmen, raising his blade up before his face then flicking it out to the side, a visible roiling energy sliding along the blade, before he lunged toward his target.

Move: to a crewman, preferably #2 but #3 is fine
Action: cast Booming Blade
Result: Hit AC 16 for 4 Piercing damage
Special: Target takes 4 Thunder damage if it willingly moves on its turn

13:09, Today: Saulucian Bensvelk rolled 16,4,4 using d20+5,d6+3,d8.  Booming Blade (Shortsword).

Waving both hands this time, Faith muttered some words under her breath and three darts of glowing energy formed in front of her. Directing them with her mind, she sent them at the violent crewman that looked the least hurt. She knew they wouldn't do a lot, but at least it would be something. And with the red wizard down, all that were left were these crazed members of the crew, so maybe this would be over soon.

Action: Cast Magic Missile at Violent Crewman #3. All three darts go to him for a total of 12 damage.

14:13, Today: Faith rolled 5,2,5 using 1d4+1,1d4+1,1d4+1.  Magic Missile Damage.

Jaryn gave a nod and said, "Thank you, much appreciated!" to Naim after the healing the other one gave him.

He narrowed his eyes at the two still-standing-stiffly crewmen and slashed at the first one to try and make sure it went down. Then he moved towards the second and lashed out with a quick snap kick if he could get close enough.

OOC: Man, I hope he can reach the 2nd crewman as his bonus action attack is a natural 20 (though for some reason instead of just doubling what I already rolled, I thought I needed to roll again since I'm fighting off sickness lol).

17:45, Today: Jaryn rolled 22,9,26,6 using d20+6,d10+4,d20+6,d4+4.  Longsword & Martial Arts.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:47, Tue 30 Mar 2021.

Saul plunged his short sword into the badly wounded crew members chest. When the blade was pulled loose the man fell to the floor. The rest of the passengers had set their sights on the final crew member. It was hardly a fight. He managed to get one swing at Iclos, but the hardy dwarf continued to prove a tough target. Before he could raise his arms again he was brought down, a mixture of blasting orbs of energy from Faith and blows from Jaryn, the last one being particularly power and splitting the mans skull.

The fight was over, but the danger has not yet passed.

Ahead of them the cargo hold was still rolling violently and the strange green vapors were rising up from the floor of the hold. With the turbulent state of the seas the shifting crates and barrels couldn't be left in that state, but heading back there would be dangerous. Those crashing and banging boxes and barrels threatened to crush an unlucky soul and it was anyone's guess what those vapors would do.

This danger was distinctly different. But no less life threatening, especially with how battered some of the group already was.

Skill Challenge

Securing the cargo will require 3 successful Athletics checks, DC 14.

Entering the cargo hold to secure the cargo will require a Dex Check DC 12, or you'll take 1d6+3 damage from being battered and bludgeoned.

A constitution check, DC 10, is also required to avoid breathing in those green fumes.

Required Skills:

Athletics DC 14 (3 required)
Dex Save  DC 12
Con Save DC 10

OOC: Feel free to have fun with creative writing here, describing what your characters are doing and also feel free to converse with one another, reflect of the events that occurred, or make any skill checks you feel are relevant. During this challenge you can make your checks once a day, but may post freely in-between those checks. So this will take somewhere between 0 real life day to 3 real life days to play out depending on how the dice treat you.

Moving cargo was certainly not Saul's style. Dancing around it? Sure. Jumping or climbing over it? You bet. Moving and stacking, tying off, and all? No, certainly not Saul's strength.

Nonetheless he worked his way back to give it a shot. Moving through the shifting boxes and things was as nothing to him, and would have been even without the effects of the bladesong. (dirty 20, no damage)

Next, he had to deal with securing those boxes. He lifted one that was within a range of weight that he was capable of, and stood on one leg while using another to prop up a tumbled barrel so that he could stack them together. Saul was prepared for the wave to hit, he'd developed sea legs almost immediately and his training helped him to excel in this setting. Unfortunately, his training was in moving blades and himself, not these stupid barrels with their rounded bottoms.

As the ship rose, the barrel spun to the side. Saul adjusted to get in front of it, stopping the barrel, but only until the box began pulling his weight the other direction. He changed his stance to counter the shifting weight, and it would have worked perfectly if not for another box hitting the barrel and knocking it over to a side Saul could not stop. The barrel tumbled, rolled, took out his supporting knee, and the weight of the box he held pulled him once more. There was nothing he could do to stop that chain of events. He dropped the box (failed Athletics) and reflexively let out a frustrated breath and breathed in a new one without giving a thought to the green gas, which was then sucked into his lungs. (nat 1 on the Con save)

20:32, Today: Saulucian Bensvelk rolled 1 using 1d20.  Con Save.
20:32, Today: Saulucian Bensvelk rolled 20 using 1d20+3.  Dex Save.
20:32, Today: Saulucian Bensvelk rolled 7 using 1d20-1.  Athletics.

Jaryn let out a sigh as the last affected crew "died", or at collapsed. "A shame." He shook his head. "This is all very strange." He cleaned his blade off and started to sheathe it, but then hesitated in case there was more danger yet to come.

He then immediately began coughing pretty hard, eyes tearing up a bit. He tried to step away from the area with the vapors but tripped and fell backwards over a box and fell over a barrel which twisted him around. He let out a grunt of pain and shook his head as he stepped back towards the exit of the room once more. "Ughh...I shall...keep watch on the hall...for any more of them."

23:32, Today: Jaryn rolled 5,11,8 using d20+3,d20+6,d20+2 with rolls of 2,5,6.  Constitution Save, Dexterity Save, Athletics check.

23:34, Today: Jaryn rolled 6 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 3.  Damage.

Securing cargo was what Iclos had come down here for. He had spent years securing cargo. Securing cargo was his middle name! The green miasma was a problem, however. Iclos could hold his breath for minutes and minutes, but he wasn't the only one here. "Stand back, people! The Bitch Queen is about to release some wind!"

Casting Gust of Wind. The gust disperses gas or vapor, etc. Duration 1 minute.

Iclos blasted the hells out of the noxious vapor, giving the others an easier time securing the cargo without having to be careful breathing. He barked at any other passengers or crew nearby to come and help. The dwarf tried to lift a few crates himself, while maintaining focus on the wind, but his attention was drawn to the mystery. Trying to keep the shifting air from knocking people down, Iclos moved to see if he could see the source of the vapor.

Con save (if necessary): 14 (success).
Dex save: 16 (success).
Athletics: 6 (fail).

His face relaxed when he realized the last of the "eat your face" kind of danger had seemingly passed, and Naim chanted a quick spell as he stowed his shield away. As he did so, it seemed like his muscles... well they didn't grow per se, but they seemed to tighten up and grow every slightly more pronounced. He knew now the danger was loose cargo, so he didn't hesitate to act.

Grown muscles didn't hinder his steps as he moved in like a seasoned sailing pro that he was to help secure the loose cargo that was sloshing about the decks. "No you've got to..." he started to call out to Jaryn even as the man got slammed by a flying carton. He winced in sympathy with the hit and tried to help direct people's actions as he moved around and through the mists and cargo with seeming ease, pushing back and lashing things down with whatever cargo rope he could find.

"Come on! Work with the storms movements to push things against the sides, or other cargo while you hold a rope, then LASH!" he called out as he showed the others how he managed it. He knew it wasn't easy without practice, but he looked side eyed at Iclos and thought, figured at least the sea-bitch's priest could handle this though.

Cast: Enhance ability (1 hour concentration) Strength, adv on Str checks and double carrying capacity
Athletics: 22 (nat 20!)
Dex Save: 15 vs. DC 12
Con Save: 12 vs. DC 10

17:49, Today: Naim rolled 22 using 2d20+2, keeping the highest dice only with rolls of 20,9.  Athletics check (Enhanced Ability Str).
17:48, Today: Naim rolled 12 using 1d20+3.  Con Save.
17:48, Today: Naim rolled 15 using 1d20+2.  Dex save.

OOC: Thanks for the reminder Naim, I forgot to account for those of you with sailor backgrounds! You and Iclos both had advantage. I didn't bother rolling a second time for you, Iclos passed though with advantage! I couldn't Naim's natural 20 as two successes, so that wrapped things up!

The group set to work on their final danger facing the Sword's Edge. The loose cargo. Faith held back, her wounds from the red wizard giving her pause, the rest hurried past the makeshift rigging and worked to tackle the loose boxes and crates. For several of the passengers this was outside their element, Saulucian managed to dance through the mess, avoiding being battered, but Jaryn was caught off guard as the ground underfoot refused to be stable as it should. Both of them though were not used to doing all these things while holding their breath. They both caught a lungful of that green gas.


Iclos uttered a brief prayer and an unnatural wind blew through the hold and dispersed the green gases. They still rose up from the floor, but now they were harmlessly blow off towards the back of the ship and it allowed the group to work with one less danger.

The two sailors in the group though were in their element. Iclos and Naim nimbly moved with each steep pitch of the decks, they leapt on barrels and boxes as they came to brief rests and expertly tied them down to the hooks and fixtures in place for just that purpose. Between the two of them the task was done in short order.

Taking the time to examine the hold now they saw several dents in the wooden walls of the ship, a few of them had slow trickling leaks of water coming in, but the worst of the damage had been mitigated due to their quick response. As for the hold itself, the place was a mess, it would take a week to clean out all the refuse. There was also bright green fluid spilled on the floor of the deck, it seemed to be the source of the gas which was coming off the fluid.

Examining the red wizard, the group found a few interesting baubles, but nothing that explained what had happened down here.

Loot

+450xp all players
+17g (Gold found on the red wizard)
Eyes of Minute Seeing
       It seemed the wizard's spectacles were more than just common glasses. Putting them on your nose, when you examine things in your hands they leap into startling detail. (Grants advantage on Intelligence (Investigation) checks that rely on sight  while searching an area or studying an object within 1 foot)

Potion of Water Breathing x2
       It seemed the wizard wanted to leave nothing to chance when it came to the sea.

Potion of Healing x1
Scroll of Unseen Servant (Lvl 1)

OOC: Discuss how you'd like to distribute loot! It's definitely not first come first serve!
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:27, Thu 01 Apr 2021.

With the cargo secured, Naim helped the others strip the Red Wizard of his wealth with little remorse.

"Those glasses are nice, anyone could use them really, but... hear me out. Maybe we can give them to the captain and they can be sold at a nice profit which we could have some of and the rest can go for the families of the sailors that got caught by that mist? Regardless I'm gonna take some of the gold I get from the wizard's pouch for the sailors too."

"I would like one of those potions that let you breath the water though."

"Plus... it looks like those vapors are still coming, Iclos' wind didn't stop it, just paused it."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Thu 01 Apr 2021.

"It seems like it's that green liquid." Iclos shrugged, as it was just a notion. "It could be some magical alchemical substance. Maybe we can wash it out with water?"

The dwarf found a bucket, and tried washing the green fluid away with seawater.

Saul moved out of the gas before saying anything, "My magic will not help with removing the liquid. I could set it on fire, I suppose, but if that small explosion is any indication, it may not be our best option."

"I can make use of that scroll. Another ritual is always nice to have."

Saul cannot heal, and has low HP, so I wouldn't turn down the healing potion

Jaryn actually looked worse for wear after a moment. He looked almost...thinner? Like some of the health and meat on his bones had shriveled up a bit. He staggered back and leaned against the wall, wearied.

He watched as some of the others searched the mage, but he stepped just outside the room to make sure he was nowhere near those vapors ever again. He then had a horrified thought, wondering if that was what happened to the sailors, that their lifeforce had been sucked out and tainted by...whatever was exuding those green vapors. He grimaced.

OOC: I'm going to open a loot thread where this discussion can continue until folks are satisfied, in the mean time! Time to wrap things up.

Somewhere during the process of lashing down the last barrel the ship had steadied. During all the chaos the group almost hadn't noticed. Bleeding and battered, they made their way back up through the bowels of the Sword's Edge. Other passengers were peeking out of doorways, news of the violence had spread quickly, but as they saw it was clear others started to emerge. Soon a flood of people were making their way up. It seemed no one wanted to remain indoors after the harrowing ordeal of the storm.

Climbing back up to the main deck the crisp sea air felt cleansing after the fetid confines of the ship. The scent of bile and blood was replaced by ocean spray, salt and the faintest scent of soil. A few dogged drops of rain still fell, but they were thinning with each passing moment. Umberlee's wrath had passed and the seas were calm now. Banks of swirling fog remained. Not minutes later those too parted.

Before them lay Neverwinter.

Outside the cities walls were the hard cold lands of the north, but along the river it was a warm oasis. Lights twinkled along that shore and seemed to beckon the ship in. Beckon it home. After many long weeks at sea and a devastating storm that threatened to end the voyage  in the final hours, the Sword's Edge had made it. Its cargo of several hundred immigrants were arriving at their new home.

Now the real work would begin.