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.