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.