Side One, Ep.1 "Holey Ship!"

[Reaver]

Just as I was about to climb back up the rope ladder to see what was taking Pale Jackal and Shan Mai so long to join us, the skiff jerked suddenly and I barely caught myself before falling into the calm inky water.

I turned and saw Vincent rowing away vigorously: the skiff's mooring lines pulled taut, the wood where the transoms are attached creaking loudly in protest.

I tried not to sound facetious when I said to the young magic user: " I appreciate your enthusiasm but I seriously doubt that the hemp ropes securing our skiff to the Oyster are going to break anytime soon; so you might want to conserve your strength before we set out for the accursed pirate ship. Besides, we're still waiting for Pale Jackal and Shan Mai to join us."

((I like the sea shanty though ))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Reaver's actually co-GM'ing the game, so there are three oars as he said. Regarding who should row, I'll leave that up to you guys.

I have to agree with Ireth's rolling—it is fun to roll for any feat of strength, so I just updated the class acts post on feats and movement.

With Ireth's rolls, the boat will move 5 squares per turn. Reaver and PJ just rolled 20s, so I'll keep their adrenaline surge going for one more turn. The boat will move extra fast with one of those guys at the third oar even with a weak roll.))

 

[Ireth]

((Sorry for the confusion. I read Reaver's post and thought he was moving the plot along, so I figured everyone was already in the boat. My bad!))

 

[Philip Overby]

I jump in the skiff. "Let's go. I'm all aboard. I think."

 

[Reaver]

"Glad you're here, Jackal. Let's wait a bit longer for Shan Mai before we set off for the pirate ship."

((Let's give SeverinR one more day to post and then we'll move forward.))

 

[Ireth]

((So do my last two rolls still count for when the boat is actually moving? I don't want to waste Diana's 18 if that isn't the case.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Yeah, they count. I'll post the boat on Monday. It's already drawn and colored, along with the Hyena and his minions.))

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Cap'n sees Reaver take up an oar, and others soon follow. He stops Mr. Ender, than calls out to Reaver,

"There's room for a couple more in that skiff, Reaver. I'm gonna have Ender come with me—I'll need his muscle to hoist sails so we can get the passengers to safety. I'm assuming that's what you have in mind. Well, I'll keep the enemy distracted with a little more cannon fire even if I'm out of range. It's a full moon, so I can't promise you won't be spotted."

He looks around at the destruction.

"Maybe I should worry more, but you all seem to know what you're doing."

Cap'n Bob salutes those in the skiff, then turns to see who's coming.

Beatrice says to Diana while signing, "The Mother and The Father are watching over you. You and me both. I do not want you to get hurt, but I know you will come back alive."



((Waiting for other players to board…))

 

[Reaver]

I take hold of the oar and start rowing but something doesn't seem right. Either my surge of adrenaline has faded or I'm using an improper technique.

Suddenly I wish we'd brought along that unintelligible fellow who liked to say that he was his gods' oar.

 

[Philip Overby]

"Ramming speed!" I say, yawning as I kick my feet up. "Oh, we're waiting for others? OK, wake me up when this little-ship-that-could gets moving."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Despite Reaver's concern that he could row better, with his adrenaline surge, he's doing his part to move the boat. Vincent sings as he rows, and it seems that both men need to work at keeping up with Diana's mighty rowing.

The three develop a rhythm, and soon the skiff is moving nearly as fast as a little boat can possibly move.

As they draw closer to the ship, it seems to be one big, black shadow. Rising smoke serves to make the ship look bigger than it is, and ominous. Flames are being put out, but flames are also added to the silhouette.

BOOM.

The boat keeps rowing. As the first cannon ball takes flight, Pale Jackal sees another fuse is being lit.

As for the first shot…

((Miss: B-7))

…the distance was right for hitting Diana directly, but the shot was off to the side.


Beatrice shouts from afar. Though her voice can barely be heard, the rowers receive her words: Stay the course!



((The skiff moves 7 squares at a time out of a possible 8, so you're pretty much at "ramming speed" now. More cannon-fire will happen while the skiff continues forward at that rate. The grid marked "ABCD" marks the start of the "relatively safe zone."

All you're expected to do is RP. Wednesday will present you with a different challenge. What that challenge is depends whether you're still rowing or swimming.))

 

[Philip Overby]

I paddle my hands in the water. "Hey, hey, let's get this thing moving faster! Come on now!"

 

[Ireth]

Diana

Cold seawater splashes me from the left. I shiver, thinking how near of a miss that was. A little to the right, and I would have ended up looking like the man who had sought to have his way with Beatrice!

I set my jaw and keep paddling. If we can reach the ship without getting hit...

Vincent

At the Jackal's words, I nod, still making use of the oar. "Right you are. Pull, boys! Row, boys! And, ah, girl." I shrug; Diana can't see my words from here anyway, and she's the strongest rower here right now.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Miss: D-9))

The Pale Jackal leans over to paddle with his hands. Reaver sees a shadow quicker than the wind brush past his pink hair. The hair is wet from the splash of a cannon ball that flew directly over the boat!

BOOM.

Another shot is fired, but it seems that at this rate, the skiff will soon be too close for the upward arced shots to sink her.

The loud cackling suggests that the Laughing Hyena is amused by this.

 

[Reaver]

The last piece of artillery to hit the glassy sea was too close. The urge to paddle faster is overwhelming. No...The urge to stay alive is overwhelming, the urge to paddle faster is simply a reaction to my survival instinct.

I say out loud to my companions: "I trust everyone here is a good swimmer?"

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

"I can swim," I answer with a nod. Then I look over my shoulder at Diana. I know she can swim as well, probably better than I can, but with her armor and weapons weighing her down... Well, I just hope we don't wind up in the water.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Miss: D-4))


Another shot passes over the skiff. Close again, but not as close as the last one.

Not far ahead, a large frog bellows, "You waste ammo, toadies! Wait'll dey're too close fer you ta miss! Ain't it obvious dey come ta board Da Prince?"

 

[Reaver]

I set the oar down in the boat and grab the triple-pronged grappling hook. As I stand and face the pirate ship called "The Frog Prince of Darkness" I say: "Ready yourselves for a less than warm welcome my friends. Vincent, do you think you can gain us the element of surprise by opening our attack with a grand display of your power?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((Vincent's too far to release his spell and hit anything. However, if he happens to roll a 1, he can charge with no risk. If he rolls too low to cast but too high that charging is dangerous—say, a 9—he can let the magic fade so he doesn't risk lighting the party on fire. If he rolls a 10+, he needs to release the magic. He won't be able to row while casting, but that's no longer an issue since the enemy is clearly waiting for you to draw close.

Next turn, you'll see the enemy and be close enough to hit ANYTHING on the map.))

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

I nod and set my oar down. It's easier to aim my fireworks if my hands are free. "I don't see why not..."

"...er... might want to give me a moment more." I let the magic charge as an aura surrounds me, and pray I'm not blasted into chum before I can cast properly.

((EDIT to add in light of LS' post -- I hope a 2 is a safe roll to charge from.))