FLUFF: Jammers: Turn 36 Chapter 7

The Adventures of my Jammers PBEM game.

I hope folks are enjoying these, if there is a consensus that they
suck I will be happy to stop posting them. Let me know what you folks
think. (My players should feel free to comment as well:))

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...
{} = Actions and descriptions within these brackets take place within
the psionic mindscape and are OOC knowledge for all accept the
parties directly involved.

IC:

The little raft sails on down the river into the gathering gloom...

Leera frowns, "Kain, what was Oquid's state of mind, again?"

Kain answers, "Oquid is very... worried. "

Leera says, "When next you speak with her, tell her I am asking her
to keep her mind focused on her Art. And assure her that our might
and Art are drawing near."

Kain asks, "Can somebody... take my place for a... moment, I think
I... should try and... reach Oquid, and will not be able to... paddle
at the same ... time."

Kain then stops paddling and moves to a slightly more secure position
away from the edge of the raft. He watches the progress of the raft
for a few minutes before closing his eyes and entering a light trance.

With a link established Kain's thoughts reach out to Oquid. {Are you
still OK Oquid? Are you being treated well? We are making good
progress through the jungle, we will be with you the day after
tomorrow or the next day at the latest.}

Oquid replies at once, her thoughts a touch erratic. {Yes, I'm still
okay.  Now that it is dark most of them seem to have gone ashore.  I
think some remain above, but it is hard to tell. They are so quiet,
wearing no boots. You can't tell where they are.}

Kain's response is strong and clear; {Thats ok, everything you
discover is useful. Lera wants you to keep focusing on your art, she
thinks it will help. Goodnight for now, we will speak again tomorrow.}

Leera continues to sit in the center of the raft, looking around her
for signs or sounds of movement.

Date/Time: 7:20 pm, 10th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC

***********

Talus stays invisible and continues to scout out ahead of the raft,
about an hour after midnight he flies back and reports that he has
located the native camp.  It's about 400 or so yards ahead, around a
bend in the river.  The SILENT STAR is beached alongside several of
the native canoes.  A small village stands on the beach, surrounded
by a log palisade. Three watchtowers dot the wall, which has no gate.
Torches flicker on the wall and on the ship, Talus didn't get a count
of the guards, wanting to return and keep the raft from rounding the
bend and coming into view of the camp.

Holland says, "Talus, would you please carefully go scout things out.
Don't get any closer than you need to.  I'd like to know especially
about the ship itself and if there are any guards on the watchtowers
that would see the raft if it floated over to the ship."

Talus replies, "Okay."

Holland asks the others, "Well, we can spend a day here resting and
planning, or we can try to take the ship now under cover of darkness."

Holland says, "We have to assume that Oquid and the others have been
compromised.  I don't relish the idea of going toe to flipper with
these fish people.  I am more inclined to a quick raid on the ship
and getting it out of the area and then dealing with any problems on
the ship."

Kain hurriedly agrees, "Yes, a... quick raid on... the ship. But
we... have three or four hours to... plan before dawn."

"Hoom, I would attack before dawn, but do not forget, the raft is
laden and hardly an attack vessel.  What does the land route hold?"
Nilaroo asks.

"I agree," Sekeht says. "We'd be in poor position to attack from this
raft. Although it would be unexpected."

Holland replies, "Talus, would you check that out too?  Quickly please.."

Talus, who had been getting ready to leave, says, "I'll look both the
ship and the camp over."

"This one agrees with Nilaroo," puts in Freneth.  "I would not like
to attack from on board this," he thunks the logs held together with
just vines.  "Perhaps Talus, Nilaroo and I could scout the land route
in?"

Holland asks, "Leera, can your Art hide cover the raft by sight and
sound, allowing us to paddle right up to the ship itself?"

Leera ponders for a moment before answering.  "If we wait until
tomorrow, then I may have more options available. Until then the best
I could do would be to conceal our approach with a fog bank rolling
down the river. How long tll we're within range to do reconnaissance?
If I knew the terrain, I could do more."

Holland replies, "The ship is around the next bend.  I thought maybe
a spell of phantasmal force might work.  I have one memorized right
now as well.  Maybe if we both cast it we can divide the work load.
Unseen would be better than unheard."

Kain suggests, "Perhaps a... diversion could accomplish more than...
magics. If one of the... huts were to catch fire; I think the...
occupants would make more noise than the... raft,  and maybe the
guards would... not worry about some unusual... fog."

Leera nods. "That is the best spell I have memorized for the
occassion, too." She ponders a bit, then "Perhaps we could do
something like this...... You create a slowly thickening fog bank
that will extend in front of us around the bend and which should hide
our approach. Talus and I will move on land and air till we can see
the ship, then I'll create a similar fog bank on the other side of
the ship as well. That should confuse our enemies as to the direction
from which an attack is coming. If you bring your bank with you as
you approach, I'll do likewise with the far branch." She pauses again
and reconsiders, "Or you could go on land and I on the raft.... I can
create a magical steed that should keep one of us safe...."

Talus asks, "Leera, do you have any invisibility spells?"

Leera replies, "I do have one memorized."

Holland admits, "I had thought of just moving alongside the ship in
stealth and climbing aboard.  But if we send a small team in to sieze
the helm, they could pilot it back here to the rest of the group and
we could load up then."

Holland says, "I can make one person invisible.  With Talus, that
would make two.  How about the rest of you?  Any invisiblity spells
currently memorized?"

Talus hovers in the air, "I can turn one person, other than me,
invisible.  That would make a boarding party of four."

Allagan adds, "If I were one of the four, I could man the helm.  A
strong swordarm would be a welcome addition as the third to protect
me while I was on the helm.  Talus could fly to the ship, and I can
swim to it."

Talus replies, "I have some color spray and sleep spells to help
subdue any defenders for a quick strike and seizure. We can sort out
who our allies and who
our foes are after getting the rest of the party on board."

Talus says, "You guys keep figuring things out. I'm going to go scout
out the boat and the camp." With that Talus winks out of visiblity
and departs.

Holland says, "So, Talus, Allagan and two others board the ship
unseen.  Any volunteers?"

Freneth raise his hand, "This one is quiet, and good at climbing.
Also, I am capable of firing the large bows on the ship, if that is
to become necessary."

Ears twitching Ives leans forward and proclaims "I'll gladly lend a
hand what!  Anything waiting aboard will feel the sharp edge of my
sword, and I can quite handly run the rigging if needs be."

Ferric drops his gaze from the sky above and looks at his comrades.
"I say we go now.  Talus, Allagan, and Freneth can go invisibly and
board the vessel from the landward side.  They make a quiet but hardy
trio with enough muscle and magic to hold their own at least if an
alarm is somehow raised before they are in position.  The rest of us
go in on the raft under cover of an illusionary fog bank.  When ready
a pair of ropes are dropped for those on the raft to climb.  We give
those on board a hundred count (2 ronds) to position themselves to
take out any sentries then climb up the side.  Nilaroo and myself at
the very least should make it up with ease bringing our boarding
party to five.  With luck the
invisibles will silence any sentries before an alarm is raised but
regardless our goal will be the helm after we get most of out party
on deck."

"Ives though I would wish you on deck with your glaive we may be
better served by looping a length of rope over the railing and back
down then having you haul up those of our party who are less adept at
climbing. When all are aboard you can tie yourself off and if the
combat can spare Nilaroo or myself we shall assist your own assent."

"One last thing."  Ferric says.  "Since there is the risk of mind
control I would counsel that two of our number lock themselves in the
helm room with the helmsman until we are well away.  They should both
stay several paces away from the other and watch for treachery.  Once
the ship is cleared they will need to wait until at least four of us
inform them that the danger is past."

Ferric sits back and waits for any objections to the proposal.

Allagan says, "I would like another swordarm with Freneth, Talus and
I.  There is another invisibility spell available."

Allagan asks, "If we can get to the helm and move the ship, why
bother with the fog bank?  This is a tropical planet, who knows if
fog is even common here, it may alarm people and do more harm than
good.  We can bring the ship here and let everyone else board instead
of trying to bring the raft to the ship."

Date/Time: 1:10 am, 11th day of the 11th Month, 5049 OC
--
"...How shall a man judge what to do in such times?!"
"As he has ever judged," said Aragorn "Good and evil have not changed
since yesteryear..."
J.R.R. Tolkien, _The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers_

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