Side One, Ep.1 "Holey Ship!"

[Noma Galway]

I jump back onto Fenella's shoulder and raise my quavering voice in song, but in my panic I am off-key.

I hold the note, hoping it will stabilize.

((dang...what's with Mariya and the ones??))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Well, the good news is that you definitely won't fail when you charge the spell.

PS- Did Mariya hop onto Fenella's shoulder again? If so, I'll draw her there when I update the map.))

 

[Noma Galway]

((sorry...I meant to. I'll edit))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

The enemy attack was relentless, leaving only the tiny muse unscathed. But our heroes strike back and strike true. Reaver runs his katana through his enemy, sending the tormented soul of his opponent to the mercy of Lady Death. Diana takes down her blood-stained enemy, while both Vincent and Fenella send their opponents tumbling to the lower deck. Both bodies crash into each other in a tangle of limbs. A crack is heard, and the two corpses hang from the stairs. Pale Jackal tears through the frog near the cannon with his cestus. As for Shan Mai, he draws his blade intent on striking his enemy twice—but the horizontal strike drops him. As Shan Mai raises his blade for the overhead strike, he turns in the direction of the enemy who struck his back, and drops the katana right between the two glowing eyes.

Mariya's voice cracks as she attempts to coax a storm with her song. She flits onto Fenella's shoulder while holding the note, focusing on her voice in a way that will make her proud.



The captain hears the little muse singing. He points his gun at the tiny creature who had the audacity to blow him through a wall and make a mess of the Captain's Quarters. But that pink hair—the Hyena remembers the scar. He recalls how the Pale Jackal would toss a coin. He imagines himself tossing a coin. Heads, he'll reduce that traitor's head to nothing but brains and pink hair. Stained red from the brains. Which are red when you shoot them. Tails, he shoots the muse in her little pixie butt.

But when he pictures the coin, all he can picture is…

((PM's sent))

…he points the gun at Pale Jackal.

((Disregard the [8] - Shan Mai killed two, so only three red-eyes survived!))

Diana ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ (enemy damage reduced) [17] HOOKED
Fenella ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♪
Mariya ♥♥♥♥ ♪
Pale Jackal ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ [11]
Reaver ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ (damage increased) [6]
Shan Mai ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ (grappling power increased)
Vincent ♥♥♥♥♥♥ (offense increased) [18] HOOKED

The Pale Jackal drops suddenly from the force of the gunshot.

There is also a barely audible his as the toadies light the cannons, which are apparently already loaded.

The toadie by the center cannon asks the one balanced on the rail, "Good idea, boss… but what if they turn the cannons on us."

The boss says, "Then toss 'em overboard, dummy. They can't aim the cannon while struggling with you."

"But what if two of them work together?"

"Then I jump the other one! We talked about this, fool! We had this whole thing worked out!"

Spoiler: the point of that whole conversation

Yes, that's a hint. You really don't want to go after muscular grapplers who didn't attack because they're waiting for someone to walk up so they can toss them into the sea.

Dragon's Egg players are familiar with the "readied action" concept, where you don't attack, but wait to be attacked, giving your attack priority over that of the first person to rush you or step into your reach.

To new players: always be suspicious if an enemy just stands there without attacking.

The one on the right shrugs and decides not to say a word.

The one on the left nervously looks around. He outstretches both arms before him, extending a webbed finger and webbed thumb at right angles, as if trying to calculate where exactly he should turn his cannon. The leader doesn't notice this.

The remaining red-eyed frogs are clearly in on this plan. When Vincent and Diana are each struck, the frogmen hook them with their warped spears. Neither nor Vincent can move!—not while these enemies remain in their strong stance.

((You need to kill them to not get blasted by the cannon! It won't miss!))

Reaver's enemy tried to push him into the cannon's path, but he misses and stumbles into Reaver. Reaver's horse stance is strong, and he remains out of the cannon's line of fire.

Spoiler: a couple notes

If Diana and/or Vincent will automatically be moved to a safe square no matter who kills the enemy holding them. Everyone has enough movement to save either one. Your characters are smart enough to change targets instead of attacking a dead target. The kill goes to the closest character, or first poster when characters are just as close.

No one who moves to save Diana/Vincent will stupidly walk into cannon range. If both of the frogs stopping Diana and Vincent are killed, no players get shot. By cannons.

The Hyena is too far to be hit by a melee attack on this turn.

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

No sooner do I attack my foe than I am hooked by a spear and left immobile, except for my head. Looking across the deck, I see Diana in a similar plight. The Hyena barks orders at his toadies, while my mind races. If I can get to my wife without getting killed...

"Wait!" I shout, trying to draw the Hyena's attention. "If you're going to kill us, Captain, do we at least have the right to a last request?" Please, Voice, let this work!

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Vincent and Diana can still attack. They just can't run out of the cannon's way unless the enemy hooking them dies on this turn.))



"You can pray," the captain replies. "I hear the gods like hearing their followers beg in their final moments."

 

[Ireth]

((Wasn't sure. ^^; You did say "immobile", and attacking does imply a certain amount of movement.))

Vincent

Damn. Okay, plan B -- kill the beast holding me in the way of the cannon! I swing Shan Mai's borrowed cleaver.

Diana

An enemy spear hooks me, giving me just enough room to move and fight back. I pray to the Father and mother alike that my sword will strike true.

((Eeep! Well, at least they're both equally sucking now. XD Also, I'm not sure how much of the situation Diana is able to pick up on, given her limited mobility impeding her ability to read lips and such. I can imagine frog lips are hard to read anyway!))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Diana and Vincent free themselves. Both are free to step away from their captors who lay dying at their feet.

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

Diana and I both fell our opponents, and I spring toward her as she too ducks out of harm's way. Her thoughts blaze with the same idea I had been aiming for. We end up toe-to-toe between the cannons, near Fenella and Mariya. Our eyes meet, and a moment later, so do our lips.

 

[Noma Galway]

((YES!!!))
I raise my voice loudly and clearly. ((pm sent to LS))

 

[Ruby]

Fenella: I am very suspicious of these enemies. Why are they standing there without attacking? I consult Mariya to see if she has any advice.

 

[Reaver]

One of the foul hypnotoads tried to throw me into the path of a cannon's trajectory but failed. My katana natana will strike true. I intend to remove my foe's head.

My wounds make my attack weak. All I can do now is take a defensive stance and wait for my enemy to retaliate.

 

[SeverinR]

Shan Mai, no imminent attack, searches for either of his cleavers, or a small blade capable of being thrown.
He holds his Katana ready to attack if one of the immobile frogs attack.
Shan Mai glances at the captain and searches as he slowly moves towards the captain.
Ready to dodge if the captain points a gun at him.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Just as Reaver braces himself for the inevitable counterattack, Mariya releases her most powerful lighting spell: Thundering Voice of Goddess!

There is a blinding flash, and the thunder BOOMS as the world goes white. The Laughing Hyena, the remaining red-eyed frog, the toadie boss and a minion all feel the wrath of the goddess of the open sea! The frogman collapses at Reaver's feet, his weapon still lit from static lightning dancing around the metal spear tip. A black cloud bursts from the toadie boss' head, but he still stands, as if defying Lady Death Herself.

As for Diana and Vincent, they rush to each other and kiss, relieved to have escaped cannon fire. Whatever passion Vincent and Diana feel, in their hearts they both knew of the enemy they had to deal with. Vincent thinks back to his vision, and knows the cruelty the Laughing Hyena is capable of. He focuses on his wife, and it seems he has stifled his rage.

But for a split second, he loses focus of his magic. The floating cleaver clatters to the deck with a meaty thunk. As the cannons go off…

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

…those once aimed at Vincent and Diana have carve paths through the frog corpses. The stunned toadies are unable to handle the recoil of the cannons, which roll back toward the rail, knocking them overboard.

As for the cannon to the stern side of the ship, the stunned toadie is unable to aim it at someone other than his boss. He can't shake off the effect of the thunderclap to get himself out of the way either. The cannon fires, severing his arm and that of his still-standing dead boss.

This is all evident when the smoke clears, as is a smoldering crater near the Laughing Hyena's feet. Whatever spell Vincent released in that one moment that he lost control, no one could see it among the flashes of lighting and cannons.



Rain pours onto the ship, extinguishing small fires and gradually washing away spilled blood.

As two of the cannons begin their tumble overboard, it seems highly unlikely that the only surviving minions will get between our heroes and the pirate captain. He somehow manages to keep both weapons gripped in his charred hands. What he'll do with them when he gets up remains to be seen.

…if he gets up.

Diana ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ (enemy damage reduced)
Fenella ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♪
Mariya ♥♥♥♥ ♪
Pale Jackal ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Reaver ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ (damage increased)
Shan Mai ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ (grappling power increased)
Vincent ♥♥♥♥♥♥ (offense increased)

 

[Ireth]

Diana

I move toward the unmoving form of the Hyena, my sword at the ready in case he wakes. He looks no less cruel even when he's helpless. My eyes narrow as I look him over. Should we tie him up, take him back to the Oyster and let justice be served there? Or would it be more just to simply finish him now?

Vincent

I follow Diana, and catch her thoughts as she looks at the Hyena. "Certainly he deserves to die... the question is how, and who should have the honor and the pleasure."

 

[Philip Overby]

I stand up, shake off the cobwebs and look around. I pat the blood spot on my body. "Oh. I've been shot. I feel as if four hearts have been ripped out of my chest. Damn it to hail."

I look over at the silenced Hyena, the calmest I've ever seen him. "I know this cackling jerk. He'll be useful. Just let me give him something to laugh about first." I scratch my head. "I mean, cry about. I think."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

SPLAT.

The head of Diana's decapitated opponent finally lands, illustrating the Hyena's hopeless situation.

He struggles to get to his feet and takes a step back into his quarters. As the party rushes to him, it's apparent he'll get a shot off first. But Vincent senses the Hyena seriously considering the Pale Jackal's words.

"Is that a challenge, then, Jackal? You and me, and our blades do the talking?"

He lets the gun drop.

"I got fight left in me for one. Not six." He looks at the muse, then adds, "and a quarter." The silly grin has left his face, perhaps never to return. "Me and the Jackal by the window. The rest of you out here."

He keeps his blade readied, not sure what those who defeated his entire crew mean to do.

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

My eyes narrow as I listen to the Hyena's words, both spoken and unspoken. Four words leave my lips -- he'll know what they mean. "What of the Maiden?"

 

[Reaver]

I wipe the blade of my katana and sheathe it. "Let them fight. There will be time for questions after Jackal defeats him."

I turn to Pale Jackal. "Please try to keep him alive enough to answer our questions."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

The Hyena kicks his Hand Cannon into a corner of his dark room. He seems confident that the challenge will happen.

"What of her, mind reader?" The pirate looks puzzled. "You're joking. You really don't know."

A small grin crosses his lips, though it straightens when he turns to PJ, clearly sizing up the brawler's wounds. Though the Jackal isn't exactly in tip-top condition, the pirate has taken quite a beating from the spells that struck him. Even a master healer would have difficulty assessing who is in better shape.

He takes a step toward the window, and says to Vincent, "You're the one who spoke of last requests. Mine is simply to give PJ what he wants. Settle an old score. I'll talk if I lose."

He removes his hat and bows to Reaver, not like a samurai, but the way a pirate would bow. It is still intended to be a sign of respect. "I appreciate your intent to spare me. It won't work, but your mind reader should know I'll talk only if I lose to PJ, and lose fair."

To Vincent he adds, "That son of a bitch. You really don't know! That son of a bitch taught me to block that one thought, but I never believed I could fool a mind reader. To think of the money I'd've made had I known how to hide all of my thoughts from a brainiac like yourself."


The ship is starting to rock quite a bit from the storm. At first, this is given little thought… until the dead frogs begin to slide in the direction the bow. Or what's left of it.

The Hyena laughs. Not a loud cackle like before. Just a snicker. "My ship's going down. Looks like the joke is on me. That son of bitch! He knew!"