FLUFF: Jammers: Turns 3 & 4 Chapter 1

The Past Adventures of my Jammers PBEM game.

For me, one of the joys of PBEM gaming is the ability to revisit the
old adventures by reading the turn summaries. I think they make great
fan fiction.

This game has been going on since September, 1997. I thought folks
might enjoy reading the old turns in order, as fluff fiction. I know
I post the current turns as fluff as well, but the past turns were,
well, six years ago and new list members, as well as some old, may
still enjoy getting the old reads in their mailbox once per week. If
not, let me know and I'll stop sending them.

This was a fun battle to play out! It was a great way to kick off the
game:) I especially liked they it allowed me to demonstrate my
favorite house rule, that helms explode with wild magic when
destroyed.

To give folks an idea of how much is still to come, the game is now
in Turn 23 of Chapter 7. Chapter 1 has 30 turns...

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

IC:
Round 4

"SANDS,  BRING US ABOUT FOR A SECOND PASS, WE'LL SMASH THIS ONE AT RANGE!
ALL WEAPONS FIRE AS YOU BEAR!" Captain Wilhelmina yells,  echoing through
the ship.

The _Flowfish_ and the second eelship fly past each other,  widening the
distance to 2000 yards between them as they head directly away from each
other.  Both Eelships are astern now,  the first closing the range to 4000
yards.

Both ballistae fire at the second eelship as they come to bear,  both shots
hit, slamming into the eelships hull and carving great,  gaping holes.

On the bridge Lt Sands tosses a small bronze key to Leera and says "Open
that chest and get out the bonze capped scrollcase." as he slides onto the
helm.

Leera opens the chest and gets out the scroll case. She loosens the cap
on the case and waits for further instructions.

Radick does not even hesitate as he begins to pull the catapults arm back
into position.  With a dexterous hand he ties it off and loads another
shot. "Watch my back Billy-Boy!" speaks Radick as he works the catapult.

As Billy reloads his crossbow, he turns to Radick and says,
"Keep firing the catapult as long as possible. I'll try to keep you
covered!"

Talus waits on the forecastle, watching.

Holland scans for other ships.

Without any spell of current use, Raken draws his blade and
prepares to defend the forecastle from attack.  "Come get some," he
mutters faintly to the pirate ship.

Deigatt faces the closest approaching ship.

Grigree continues to hang in the rigging, waiting to return to range.

Fidalie remains at the base of the mainmast.

Italapate flexes and unflexes his fingers waiting for the action to
begin.  He stares intently at the Eelships, still looking for
emblems. Although he does have to admit the illusion fooled him.
"Nice trick, tricking a trickster..." he says...

Kain keeps a light grip on his shortsword as he looks between his
shipmates that have long ranged weapons and those who do not.

Round 5

Lt Sands puts the _Flowfish into a hard port turn,  bringing her around to
bear as the shot from the second Eelship's rear catapult flies past,
missing by 20 yards or so.

The distance between the _Flowfish and the second eelship remains constant
at 2000 yards as the eelfish performs its own sharp turn.  the first pirate
vessel continues to close,  dropping the range to 3000 yards.

"Sir! Shall I assist you here, help those who are manning the catapult,
or assist the helmsman?  I have no spells ready, and my combat skills
are weak." Leera says to Lt Sands on the bridge.

"Pull that scroll out and read it, be ready to cast it if I say,  or to
take my place on the helm if I go down." Sands grunts "Get the silver
capped scroll out as well,  if the helm goes down it has a spell on it to
temporarily create a new helm."

Radick looks past the starboard stern,  trying to gauge which
direction the opponent is turning towards in order to reengage.
As soon as the ship begins to turn Radick immediately swings the catapult
as far towards that direction so that he can fire as soon as the ship again
comes into the proper range and trajectory.  Then,  Radick releases another
shot hoping to prove himself a naturally gifted catapultist.

His shot catches the "face" of the second eelship broadside as it executes
its turn,  smashing through the ship's "eye".  It suddenly slows to a stop,
and then green vines,  leaves,  and branches begin to sprout from the
ships planking,  engulfing the vessel in an entangling web of new plant
growth.

"WELL DONE!" the Captain yells "BOARDERS TO THE FORECASTLE, PREPARE
GRAPPLES!  LT SANDS, BRING US ALONG SIDE THAT FIRST EELSHIP!"

Billy waits in the cover of the catapult,  crossbow ready for a shot.

Talus waits on the forecastle.

Holland scans again for other ships.

Raken waits on the forecastle.

Deigatt rushes to the forecastle, grabing a massive rope and grapple from
its storage hook.

Grigree continues to hang in the rigging, waiting to get in crossbow range
again.

Fidalie rushes to the forecastle grabbing the other grapple and rope.

Italapate rushes to the forecastle..

Kain rushes to the forecastle.

Round 6

As the second eelship drifts away helplessly, the first makes a hard port
turn,  hoping to dodge into the asteroids and loose the no longer out
numbered _Flowfish_.  Lt Sands takes an intercept course and cuts the range
to 1000 yards.  "Cast that scroll on me now" to Leera.

Leera intones the liquid syllables of the spell on the scroll watching the
words on the page disappear as she does so.  When finished she directs the
spells action at Lt Sands,  and feels a sudden surge beneath her feet as
the ship jumps to greater speeds (from SR2 to SR4).

Radick quickly reloads the catapult.

Billy waits, crossbow at the ready.

"WE'LL TAKE THEM FROM THE STERN LADS! 'PON MY SOUL, I WANT THAT CAPTAIN
ALIVE TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS! CROSSBOWS AND CATAPULTS FIRE AS WE CLOSE,
BALLISTAE WATCH THAT DISABLED VESSEL FOR TREACHERY!" the captain orders in
her great booming voice.

Deigatt prepares the grapple for use next round.
Talus moves to help the minotaur secure the grappling line to a hitch on
the forecastle.

Holland continues to scan for other ships,

Raken moves to help Fidalie,  who also prepares to hurl a grapple across
when in range.

Grigree continues to hang in the rigging, ready to follow the captains
orders as the ship's close..

Italapate watches on the forecastle.

Kain waits on the forecastle.

It looks like the ship's will close,  the fore of the _Flowfish_ against
the stern of the eelship,  next round.

Round 7:
"BRACE FOR IMPACT!" the Captain yells as the ships close at an alarming rate.

Radick doesn't even smile as he hears the compliment from the captain.
Quickly he begins to aim after having reloaded the catapult.  Knowing that
he has limited time to get his shot off he lets it go.  This shot isn't as
lucky as the last,  it sails over the eelship harmlessly as the vessels
close.

Billy takes aim and fires at the enemy crew,  his shot sinks harmlessly
into the frame of the eelship's catapult.

As the ships start closing, Grigree puts down his crossbow and quickly
starts moving up the rigging.  He jumps off the mainmast,  gliding over to
the eelship as soon as the air envelopes mesh.  Seeing him,  several of the
pirate fire their crossbows at him, to no avail.

Sands brings the FLOWFISH hard up against the rear of the other ship,
ramming into her.  The vessels shudder at the impact as the eelship's
sternfin crumbles.

Leera braces herself as the FLOWFISH comes up behind the fleeing
eelship.  She does not interrupt Sands as he rams the two ships together,
but once the eelship has been grappled she asks Sands: "Lieutenant, what
shall I do?"
"Watch the door incase they counterboard us invisibly." Lt sands says,
wincing from the brief pain that came with the ramming.

Prepared for the shock,  the FLOWFISH's crew quickly reacts after the ram.

Holland stands watching,  preparing to cast a spell once within range.

Kain, with steady grip of his shortsword, watches as the two ships close,
bracing against possible impact. Scanning the ranks of the pirates, trying
to gauge their
strengths and possible workers of magic, he sees the two grappling hooks
fly from the _Flowfish_ out of the corner of his eye.

Deigatt casts his grappling hook,  snaring the eelship's ruined sternfin.
He then begins pulling the eelship closer to the FLOWFISH so the it can be
boarded.  Talus helps him,  tying the rope off to its cleat on the
forecastle.

Fidalie hurls his grapple as well,  also succeeding in snaring the eelship.

Raken slides his blade back into its place and helps secure the Fidalie's
grapple line.  "Time to get bloody," he comments as he finishes the knot.

Italapate watches.

Round 8:

"Shut and lock that door." Sands says to Leera, "Now's when they'll be
coming."  Leera does so,  then moves to watch events through the FLOWFISH's
"eyes".

"BOARDERS AWAY!"  the captain roars as she fires off her arquebus again,
dropping one of the eelship's catapult crew in his tracks.

Holland sends a ball of fire hurling along the length of the eelship,
starting with the catapult.  Pirates dodge and jump,  several are unable to
fire the crossbow's due to his swift moving flame sphere and others,  less
aware,  are burned as it shoots past their legs.

"Billy-boy, watch them defenders, I don't want  to get picked off as I
reload." comments Radick.  His hands quickly reloading the catapult again,
as his eyes scan the opposing to ship to determine if another shot is even
feasible.

Billy fires a final shot,  wounding another of the catapult crew and then
draws his  shortsword.

Grigree lands on the forward ballista,  one of his two longswords strikes
deep into a pirate's abdomen,  dropping him in his tracks. The other swing
is too big,  however,  and Grigree falls flat on his back.

Kain advances with his shortsword still in his right    hand.  Looking at
the motley crew of pirates, he sighs  and grabs ahold of the railing.
Pulling himself up so  that he stands upon the rail, Kain leaps the short
distance between the ships, short sword clutched  before him.  A pirate
swings his cutlass at Kain's head,  misses,  and takes a wicked cut to his
forearm from Kain's shortsword in reply.

Deigatt boards the eelship with axe in hand intent on mowing down any and
all crew members.  Two rush him at once,  one with a cutlass the other
holding a boarding pike.  The pirate with the cutlass  takes Deigatt's axe
in his ribs,  he collapses in a spurt of blood to the deck.  The other
manages to sink the boarding pike into Deigatt's left leg,  a painful wound
which Deigatt quickly finds has not yet affected his mobility.

Once the line is secure, Raken crouches low and takes advantage of any
nearby cover.  "Captain, Deigatt, you both would make excellent targets for
archers.  I kindly advise you both taking as much cover as possible." He
pulls his scimiter.

Round 9:

Leera continues watching the battle through the FLOWFISH's eyes.

Holland continues to send the Fflaming sphere down the length of the
eelship,  concentrating on the maindeck since none of the FLOWFISH's men
are there.  Three pirates are too slow,  their clothes catch and the
collapse to the ground trying to roll out the flames.  This makes them an
easy target for the sphere and they soon stop moving,  unconcious they lie
on the deck and burn.

Radick draws his battle axe and guards the forecastle of the ship. He scans
both ships quickly, Radick then moves to board the eelship behind Kain and
Deigatt by the eelship's catapult.

Billy fires again,  sinking his bolt into the shoulder of the crewman
standing over Grigee.

Grigree takes the opportunity to slash his opponent from the deck,  a
vicious cut to the groin.  The pirate,  bolt in his shoulder and bleeding
profusely from the groin wound collapse backwards,  a stunned look on his
face.  grigree leaps to his feet as two more pirates climb up to the
ballista,  cutlasses out and ready.

By the eelship's catapult Deigatt and Kain advance slowly forward,  even as
more pirates rush aft to stop the FLOWFISHES boarders.

Hazarding a glance over his shoulder, Kain looks to Talus as he tries to
keep close to the band of boarders. After that quick motion, he focuses
again on the
pirate before him, making a slow feinting thrust high on the man before
slashing downward with his short sword.  the pirate is already wounded and
unable to keep up with Kain's fencing,  he is disembowled by Kain's
slashing cut and collaspes to the deck as the stench of his bowels rises
around the fight on the catapult deck.  Another pirate takes his place.

Deigatt slashes at the pirate with the boarding pike,  but can't get close
enough for a blow to land.  The pirate's return thrust is equally
ineffective.

Raken continues to watch for archers and spellcasters, scimiter in hand.

At the end of this turn here is where everyone is located:
On the Eelship: Grigree is on the forward ballista deck,  Deigatt,  Kain,
and Radick are on the aft catapult deck (Radick behind the other 2).
On the FLOWFISH: Leera is on the bridge,  every other PC is on the forecastle.

Date/Time: First half of the 4th Month, 5049 OC
I had not yet started keeping careful count of time.
--
"...And nobody is to be killed at all, if it can be helped. Keep your
tempers and hold your hands until the last possible moment!"
"But if there are many of these ruffians," said Merry, "it will
certainly mean fighting. You won't rescue Lotho, or the Shire, just
by being shocked and sad, my dear Frodo."

Paul Westermeyer,  pwestermeyer@????????.??.com