FLUFF: Jammers: Turn 46 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:))

Website: http://lost.spelljammer.org/Jammers/

----------- = 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.



Then to Phoebus' hearth I saw an eagle fleeing:
Dumb in dread I stood: a falcon swooped
upon him, its wings in flight, its claws plucked

Aeschylus _The Persians_, lines 205-6


IC:

The NIGHTWIND rises further into the cloudy sky above the smoking camp.

Allagan asks, "What about food?  I am not sure if we have enough for
the journey back to Bral."

Raken muses "We could hunt some overgrown lizards before we leave."

Ives adds in "Load some of the tastier root vegetables, grains and
greens as well. Some of us prefer hardier fare and roughage in our
diets."

Holland frowns, "Neither am I, let me check."

Holland goes below decks and quickly takes stock.

Holland then heads to the bridge and speaks up through the voice
tube, "Ferric, we are going to need more food.  Let's hit one of the
island villages, they probably aren't in league with Masawa's people
since the zombies are building war canoes."

Holland pauses and then says up the voice tube, "Wait a second, I
think I mixed up my numbers.  Just continue ascending for the
moment."

Holland pulls out the Bralspace chart and measures the distance twice
to be sure and then returns to the voice tube, "We have just enough
food for everyone aboard, and Argonui in human form, to make it to
Bral.  We would arrive at Bral with 1 day of food left, so we _can_
depart now but we could not afford any delays on the way to Bral."

Holland continues, "The longer we are here the greater chance of an
attack, either by Cartan or by the Fish creatures.  I say we divest
ourselves of Masawa and attempt to contact Argonui one more time as
we head out of this sphere with all haste."  Holland says, "Ferric,
please relay this to the others and see if they agree."

Ferric relays Holland's comments to the rest on deck.

Allagan says, "Yes, let's leave now while we can."

Dhebun takes a puff on his pipe and nods.  "Aye, the sooner we are
gone from this accursed place the better will I be pleased.  We have
done what we set out to do, and crew mates have paid the price.  I
will not be sorry to bid this sphere farewell.  There is nothing more
for us here, I deem."

Allagan stays at his post, alternating watching the sky and Masawa.

Nilaroo stands by the catapult, watching the skies.

Kain stands ready by the sails, but comments, "One days margin of
error does not sound very safe to me to me. I would feel better if we
could take on more rations before leaving. But perhaps we could make
what we have last longer by rationing ourselves, that way we could
leave straight away."

"That or stop by a Wayport once we hit Bralspace to paid out our
margins for survival." Ives booms out.

Holland says up the voice tube, "Ferric, let's stop around 200 yards up.
Keep everyone at battle positions.  We'll give Kain one more chance at
contact Argonui, if he can't reach him then...take care of Masawa, and we
will leave this sphere."

Ferric complies with the altitude request.

Freneth scans the horizon, and up, as the boat moves up.

Talus keeps watch from the midship ballista.

Ives booms out "Lets either take the natives limbs and be done with
it, or fire him from the catapult.  No sense in leaving a man unsure
of his fate while we hammer him with questions.  Be done with it and
lets be off."

Leera and Oquid confer before Oquid goes down to the helm room.
Leera stands near Ferric, with him between her and the railing.

Cutlass says, "Ye linger too long, mateys!  Ye never want to be
caught betwixt space and earth, eh?  I'd put more air below me keel
were I you!"

Leera grimaces and then nods at the weapon at her waist. "Much as I
hate to admit it, this blade is correct. I feel exposed here. Let's
get up higher....."

Allagan steps away from where he is watching the skies and starts
working the lines, still sparing glances at Masawa.

Meanwhile, the NIGHTWIND continues to hover about 200 yards above the
smoking zombie work area.

"If we keep Masawa close to the railing, he might do us the favor of
jumping," Sekeht suggests.

Talus says, "Hey Kain, try to contact Argonui so we can get out of here."

"Ok, but should we not get out of sight of the village first, just in
case. There's no need to remain stationary while I try and reach
him." With that Kain checks that his ropes are secured and settles
down at the base of the foremast, a look of concentration on his face.

Talus asks, "Freneth, do you have this?  I need to help out with the catapult."

Freneth nods affirmatively.

Talus moves to the catapult and helps Nilaroo ready the weapon.

Just then several crew members shout and point skyward.  below in the
helm room Holland and Oquid are startled as Vais curses, "By the
book! It's Cartan!" and quickly fills them in on what his
helm-enhanced senses show him is happening above.

The Cartan shrikeship DRAGAZHAR is diving down on the NIGHTWIND from
the cloud cover above!  Coming from above and behind like a
sparrowhawk striking at prey mid-flight, the DRAGAZHAR  is perhaps
1000 yards behind and 300 yards above the NIGHTWIND when spotted.

The black vessel's wing sails stretch out ominously as she swoops downward...

Date/Time: 2:30 pm, 12th 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,  westermeyer@????????.net