Were'd All The Crew Go?

Brennen & I lay down to rest a bit up the beach. Shatain & Saigarn, along with the A'aloss, watched our prisoner and interrogated him. Shatain started the interrogation. The prisoner told us there were "a lot" of people left on the ship and 4 casters. Shatain didn't think the prisoner was lying outright, but it seemed like he was overestimating the ship's complement. We also found out Captain Visk was in charge of the ship.

Note on Visk's ship: A modified warship about 100' long by 25' wide. The standard crew complement was 80, including rowers. About 150 soldiers could be crammed onboard in addition. It needs to stick mostly to coastlines, and so wasn't a true blue water ship.

Note on The Fairwinds: A modified sailing vessel. True blue water ship

The A'aloss shouted down at the longboats. They'd found another living Ku Rog; he had hidden under bodies, and tried to make a break for it. Shatain switched to the Ku Rog that was (apparently) smarter. He made a deal with the Ku Rog - if the Ku Rog told us everything we were looking for about the ship, he would be allowed a duel with Shatain (and thus a warrior's death). It would be guaranteed by Saigarn, the only person the Ku Rog respected.

Saigarn walked up to the prisoner and explained again how it was going to work - The Ku Rog would answer all our questions to our satisfaction; the Ku Rog would then be given the opportunity to die honorably in single combat against Shatain. The A'aloss gamely played along, pulling Shatain forward into a ring and setting her sword in the sand. They also took out a Ku Rog axe from the boats, ensured it was up to their standard, and set it at the ready for the Ku Rog prisoner.

The Ku Rog started to talk. He told us the rowers were undead skeletons. There was a necromancer and an apprentice on board; he couldn't give us names since the crew wasn't allowed to speak with them. There were about 40 Ku Rog left on the ship, but they weren't top line fighters. He wasn't sure the Captain Visk on the ship was the true Captain Visk. The Ku Rog thought the ship's Captain wasn't the actual Visk - just something the crew was told to keep their morale up and keep them in line. When asked, the Ku Rog told us that he had no respect for the Captain Visk on the shift, but he still followed orders. We also found out that there was a catapult on the ship.

The interrogation was done. The A'aloss seperated the Ku Rog prisoner and Shatain by about 60', and handed them their weapons. They saluted to each other, and began to advance.

The Ku Rog attacked first. He struck once for 11. Shatain bluffed, and struck the Ku Rog for 27.

The Ku Rog went again, trying to disarm Shatain. He failed twice, dropping his own axe in the process. Shatain backed off, allowing the Ku Rog to retrieve the axe, earning a cheer from the A'aloss.

Shatain bluffed the Ku Rog again, and struck for 28. The Ku Rog was still alive, but just barely. The Ku Rog tripped Shatain, spilling her to the sand. The Ku Rog laid in with his axe, but missed. Shatain offered to remove her armor if the Ku Rog stopped trying to trip & disarm.

The Ku Rog showed no interest in letting Shatain get up. She struck him for 21, killing the Ku Rog.

Shatain straightened out the body and laid the axe on the Ku Rog's chest with the axe. He called out for wood for a pyre. The A'aloss kids disarmed and took care of the other prisoner.

We decided our best course of action was to attack that night. Brennen, Shatain, Barclay & I would set out from the lighthouse, walking on water, to attack the ship from the seaward side. Our crew and the A'aloss would approach in the longboats from the shore. We would focus on the Captain and the Necromancer while the A'aloss would go for the Ku Rog crew.

Our plan went astray... at about noon, the Ku Rog ship hoisted sail. However, it looked like the druid was on our side - the wind shifted, pushing the ship towards shore. She was buying us time.

The crew & A'aloss loaded into the boats. We started moving across the water. Only Shatain was having an easy time with the waves; Brennen, Barclay & I were much slower. We decided to get in the boats instead, at least until we were past the breakers. Shatain tried to keep going on her own, stumbling once or twice. She wasn't much ahead of the boat once we got to the breaker line. Shatain made more progress after that; the rest of us stayed in the boats. Shatain got pretty far ahead, but ended up getting back into the boats since she was the only one making progress.

About 900' out from the ship, their catapult started firing. The first longboat was missed by about 10' by the ship's catapult. Shatain got out of the boats and started moving towards the ship. The catapult was sighted to each increment on 100'. At 800' out, the catapult hit the 4th longboat, full of crew from The Fairwinds. Thankfully, it didn't include our Captain.

The catapult fired again. It narrowly missed the 2nd boat. Brennen started planning bowshots. He couldn't quite see the loaders for the catapult yet. The catapult fired at the 3rd longboat when we were at about 600'; it just missed. (The 4 of us were in the third longboat.) At about 550', Brennen fired at the catapult loaders; both his arrows missed. 500'; the catapult fired at the first longboat, but failed. Brennen fired at the catapult loaders again, and hit with 1 arrow for 9. I fired a couple arrows, but missed. We closed to 400' and the catapult fired at boat 1 again; still missed. Brennen & I kept firing our bows, but continued to miss. The catapult fired at boat 2, but missed. Brennen & I returned fire with arrows; Brennen hit 1 for 8. We hit the minimum range of the catapult; the Ku Rog's last shot missed boat 2. Shatain fired a few arrows at the 200' mark, but also failed.

Arrows were raining down around us. At about 180', I put a burst of Holy energy into the area of the rowers. I couldn't tell how much damage I did, but some of the oars stopped moving.

I blessed my companions. Brennen made himself more dextrous. We heard commands from the Ku Rog bringing all bows to the side we were on. Shatain was hit with 1 arrow for 7.

Brennen made Shatain more dextrous. I fired 2 arrows at the archers on the ship, but missed. Shatain cast the sound of men clambering up the side of the boat at the bow of the ship. I took an arrow for 4. The necromancer entered the fray, dropping a burst of unholy energy on us. Most of the people on our boat did not make their saves, and were sickened.

Brennen fired a flurry of arrows at the archers. He hit with all 3 arrows, for 12, then 9, making one of the archers duck. The 3rd arrow hit for 9. 5 of the archers fired at Brennen; 1 hit for 7. 4 fired at me; 1 hit critically for 16. I healed all our people for 12 with a burst of holy energy. Shatain stabled herself at the stern of the ship & got a grappling hook in place.

Brennen hit a Ku Rog for 9 again, causing him to at least duck. He missed with the other 2 arrows. I healed our boat for 20. Shatain clambered up the stern of the ship, and gained the deck. The crew was still unaware of her presence. She could see a couple of people at the bow, investigating the sounds. There was a command - "SHOOT THE DWARF!" 10 archers fired at Brennen. Only 1 hit, for 6.

We were at the ship. Brennen stayed at the back of the longboat firing at the Ku Rog trying to cut lines. Shatain could see a figure at the wheel that looked like Visk; she attacked with poison on her blade. The Captain didn't see it coming. She hit for 22. The Captain was surprised and missed his save.

Brennen fired 3 arrows into one of the Ku Rog trying to cut lines; he hit for 11, 13 & 11. The Ku Rog dropped out of sight. I imbued myself with the fury of my deity. One grappling hook got up.

Brennen loosed another round of arrows at the line cutters. He hit a Ku Rog for 19, the 2nd shot hit for 12. The Ku Rog died. The 3rd arrow hit another Ku Rog for 14. The Captain turned to Shatain. She bluffed him and struck for 24. The Ku Rog at the wheel dropped. I dropped an arrow into a Ku Rog for 13. The 2nd shot hit for 9. That Ku Rog died. The archers on the ship fired back. 2 archers missed Brennen; 1 missed me but the other hit for 5. 3 crew on the deck dropped their crossbows and turned to Shatain.All 3 hit Shatain for a total of 21. Boat 1 got a grappling hook onto the side of the ship. Boat 3 (ours) got a 2nd hook up. The Ku Rog were unable to cut any of the lines.

I fired at another Ku Rog, and hit with 1 arrow for 10. Shatain fought defensively. She still bluffed 1 of the Ku Rog successfully, and hit critically for 32. The Ku Rog dropped, dead right out. She only faced 2 opponents now. They attacked back, but both missed. Ku Rog at the side made to cut our lines. Only 2 were able to try to cut the lines, but they failed. 3 archers fired at Brennen; 2 hit for 11. 2 archers fired at me, but both missed. our boats kept throwing up hooks, but they didn't catch. Brennen fired at the Ku Rog on the rails again; he hit the first critically for 26 and killed him outright. The 2nd shot hit another Ku Rog for 12, killing another Ku Rog. The last shot hit another for 16.

Shatain continued to fight defensively. She bluffed successfully and struck one of her attackers for 24. That Ku Rog also dropped outright. She told the last Ku Rog to jump. He believed her, and backed off. (He didn't jump off the ship though.) Brennen picked out the line cutters, and hit with the first arrow for 19, killing that Ku Rog. The 2nd shot hit another line cutter for 19, killing that one as well. He couldn't make out a line cutter for a 3rd shot, but picked out an archer, hitting for 16; that one died as well. I tried to fire, but couldn't get a good target. Another burst of unholy energy struck our boat, along with a fireball. I took full damage on both, taking 20 and 19. Brennen made his save. Our boats were not doing well; there was only 1 survivor on our boat, along with Brennen & I. Barclay failed both his saves, and died. Our Captain died as well. The A'aloss fared a bit better; there were 3 survivors and Saigarn.

Shatain looked for the mage, but couldn't spot him. Brennen & I spotted him though; there was an oarlock towards the stern where the mage seemed to be. Shatain attacked the Ku Rog that had backed off; she feinted successfully and struck for 30, dropping him in place. Brennen shot the mage, hitting critically for 20. The mage certainly got out of the window. His next shot pegged a line cutter for 12. I healed myself for 39. An archer almost hit Brennen, but it bounced off his armor. Another bounced off of mine. A Ku Rog turned to Shatain but missed.

Brennen waited for the mage. I healed everyone in the area (Ku Rog excepted) for 6. Shatain feinted the Ku Rog in front of her, and struck for 22. The Ku Rog died. The mage stayed under cover. Brennen fired at a line cutter, hitting for 13. That Ku Rog dropped as well. An A'aloss got up one of the ropes from boat 1; it would take a little longer to get to the deck. Boat 2 got a grapple up. Archers fired at us again; 1 missed Brennen, the other hit for 11. 2 fired at me; both missed.

Shatain moved to the main deck, and attacked a Ku Rog that was trying to hit an A'aloss scaling the ropes. She hit for 10. Brennen readied an action for the mage. I healed our crew for another 17. 1 of the crew got up. The other dead were beyond my ability to help. The mage stuck his head out from another port. Brennen let fly and shot the mage for 13. The mage dropped back out of sight. An A'aloss had gained the deck, and attacked the same Ku Rog Shatain was working on. He hit for 4. Another A'aloss gained the deck and would attack soon. 2 archers fired at Brennen; both missed. 2 more archers fired at me; 1 hit for 3. The line cutters didn't cut any of our ropes. The Ku Rog on Shatain attacked, but missed critically. The A'aloss missed his attack of opportunity. Shatain hit with hers for 11, killing the Ku Rog.

Shatain stepped to the next nearest Ku Rog, and dropped him with a hit for 20. I picked out a line cutter, hitting for 10 & 15. That Ku Rog died. Brennen was still looking for the mage, but he didn't poke out. Brennen instead shot a line cutter for 13. Shatain felt a spell wash over her, but she shrugged it off without effect.

I shot a line cutter for 9, killing it. I shot another Ku Rog for 9. Shatain moved to the next Ku Rog; she bluffed him and killed him with a hit for 21. The mage still didn't poke his head out. There were 3 A'aloss on the ship; the remaining archers were occupied. Brennen got onto a line, but didn't make a lot of progress. One of the Ku Rog attacked Shatain and hit for 10.

Shatain bluffed the Ku Rog that had attacked her, and hit for 26. The Ku Rog died. Brennen kept climbing, but still didn't make much progress. I tried to get up another line, but couldn't quite make it up. The 4 archers that had been on Brennen & I moved to the edge of the upper deck to shoot on the A'aloss & 2 more Ku Rog joined them. The archers missed Shatain & all the A'aloss. Saigarn & all the survivors were on deck, except for Brennen & I.

Shatain rushed the archers. She attacked the closest Ku Rog on the stairs up to the upper deck, & hit for 11. Brennen successfully ascended to the deck. The Ku Rog attacked Shatain; 1 hit for 7. All 4 archers fired at Brennen; 1 hit for 1. I climbed slowly but surely up the rope. The A'aloss moved around to the other side of the upper deck, trying to get behind the archers.

Another fireball came out - Shatain avoided it completly; Brennen took 11. The fireball was well placed & didn't hurt any of the Ku Rog. It caught the back end of the A'aloss, hitting 2 of them. The Ku Rog attacked Shatain, who was fighting defensively. The Ku Rog missed. The archers went for Brennen again, but missed. I didn't get any further on the rope. Shatain bluffed one of the Ku Rog and struck him for 25, killing him. Brennen looked for the mage, and spotted him. Brennen fired quickly, hitting for 10, the 2nd for 12, but missed with the 3rd.

I tried to climb again, but slid all the way back down into the boat. Shatain bluffed the other Ku Rog in melee and struck him for 21. He died. Shatain & the A'aloss now had the archers pinned at the bow. They jumped off the side. Shatain & a couple A'aloss ran to my rope to pull me up.

Another burst of unholy magic washed across the deck. I was out of its range, still hanging off the side of the boat. Shatain made her save, but Brennen did not. About half the A'aloss made theirs. They hauled me up and I healed everyone for 11.