FLUFF: Jammers: Turn 47 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.

I am the Rider of the wind,
   The Stirrer of the storm;
The hurricane I left behind
   Is yet with lightning warm;
To speed to thee, o'er shore and sea
   I swept upon the blast:
The fleet I met sail'd well, and yet
   'T will sink ere night be past.

Lord Byron 'Manfred' (1817), lines 100-107.

IC:

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...

Round 1:

Fore DecK:

Ives spots the DRAGAZHAR and grins. "Well it seems we don't have to
worry about attacking Cartan after all."

Italapate stands by the catapult.

Raken curses.  "Can't say I didn't see that one coming..." he mutters
as he rushes to the fore ballista to help load it for firing.  "Was
hoping to avoid this fight, but very well, have at thee, Cartan!"

"Rakhasthak!"  Dhebun curses under his beard as he too runs to the
forward ballista, scanning the shrikeship for a clear shot (aims
carefully).

Nilaroo curses as he pulls on the stay on the catapult. "Ives, pull
it around! We'll get it a close as we can to Cartan!"

Throwing himself at the turret Ives with a grunt moves the turret
into the requested position.

Grigree works the sails on the foremast.

Midships:

Freneth shouts out as he starts to crank back the ballista to load,
"Ferric!, One could use Lellyn, if he is not necessary elsewhere!"

Freneth twists the ballista around, trying to draw a bead on the
DRAGAZHAR.  He begins cursing as the ballista reaches its limits,
unable to hit it.

Lellyn makes his way quickly to Freneth and the ballista, drawing on
his gloves as he does so. Raising his voice to carry as far as
possible Lellyn calls out "Take out the 2 Giff mates and that ship
will be handled less well! Beware as well a black haired human
female, she is a powerful spellbinder and takes no helm watch.... she
will have all of her spells available! Do this and we will have an
easier time of it!"

Kain rises swiftly and hurries to his place on the lines. Hauling on
the sails as instructed. "Argonui's mind is strange to me, there was
not time." he shouts.

Aft Deck:

Ferric shouts down the tube, "Vais give us as much speed as you can
without tearing apart the sails."  Then to those on deck he belows,
"Lellyn, help Freneth on that ballista. Fire as you bear everyone."

Holding the tiller and continuing to yell orders Ferric puts the ship
into a tight ascending turn presenting the port side of the NIGHTWIND
toward the oncoming vessel.

Talus says, "I have an idea.  Keep on this heading but be prepared to
circle back."  Talus then disappears.

At the aft ballista, Sekeht calls out, "Leera, take Billy's place on
the midship ballista. And where is Oquid?" Sekeht aims carefully at
the approaching shrikeship.

Leera calls to Sekeht, "Coming!" and runs to the aft Ballista.

Allagan adjusts the lines as ordered by Ferric and yells, "When they
are in range, Fire!"

Below Decks:

Holland curses, "Bloody hell," and leaves the bridge heading back on deck.

Vais says to Oquid, "I suspect that was a prophecy..." as he follows
Ferric's instructions on the helm.

Oquid looks frightened but follows Holland on deck.

The NIGHTWIND begins to turn to port as the shrikeship plunges toward
her.  The shrikeship alters her course slightly so that she stays
pointed towards the galley yet still slightly above.  The vessels are
now about 750 or so yards apart.

-----------

Round 2:

Fore Deck:

Ives and Nilaroo turn the catapult so she is pointed at the
shrikeship now that Ferric has begun turning the NIGHTWIND allowing a
port broadside.

Dhebun's eyes blaze, his finger on the trigger mechanism.  "I'm glad
you didn't leave Cartan.  We owe you something and its more than
happy I am to repay you in full!"

Raken keeps his post at the ballista.

Italapate stands by the catapult.

Grigree works the lines on the foremast.

Midships:

Freneth holds fire until the Shrike is in range.

Lellyn, following Frenneth's lead, assists him in aiming the ballista.

Taking advantage of a lull in the action Kain quickly loops a length
of rope around his waist, fastening it securely, before resuming his
work on the sails adjusting their trim as needed.

Aft Deck:

Holland climbs up the ladder and secures up a rope to help him keep
his balance.

Sekeht aims the ballista.

"Prepare yourselves for the winds as we rise."  Ferric yells out as a reminder.

Allagan adjusts the lines as ordered by Ferric.

Leera stands at the Ballista.

Oquid approaches Leera, "Shall I take over loading, Mistress?

Below Decks:

Vais follows Ferric's commands.

Off Ship:

Invisible, Talus flies an intercept course with the DRAGAZHAR.

The DRAGAZHAR is now pointed almost directly at the port broadside of
the NIGHTWIND.  The two ships are almost 550 yards or so apart.
Talus, flying invisibly, is between the two vessels and about 350
yards from the shrikeship.

-----------

Round 3:

Fore Deck:

"Wait for it! They are still out of range!" Nilaroo yells above the
rushing winds.

Ives and Italapate stand by the catapult.

Watching impatiently, the Dhebun holds his fire, waiting for a clear
shot as he watches the DRAGHAZAR maneuver.  "Come on, " he mutters
under his breath.  "Just one good shot is all I need, you
blackguards!"

Raken holds his at the ballista.

Grigree works the rigging on the fore mast.

Midships:

Kain scrabbles about adjusting the sails on the main mast.

Freneth continues tracking the Shrike ship with the ballista.

Lellyn continues to assist Freneth with the Ballista.

Aft Deck:

Holland watches the distance between the two ships close.

Sekeht keeps the ballista aimed at the pursuing ship, ready to fire
when a clear shot becomes available.

Oquid moves to the midship Ballista.

Leera stays at the aft ballista alongside Sekeht, but uses a loose
rope to tie herself to the ship's railing.

Ferric yells down the speaking tube to Vais, "Keep us rising!".  Then
he yells commands to the sail crew and adjusts the two large rudders
he holds.

Allagan adjusts the lines on the aft mast.

Masawa, seemingly forgotten but still bound, lies upon the deck and
watches the crew intently.

Below Decks:

Vais continues to power the ship as Ferric directs.

Off Ship:

Still invisible, Talus flies on an intercept course with the DRAGAZHAR.

The NIGHTWIND rises in a spiralling climb under Ferric's directions,
a large curve with the DRAGAZHAR at the center spinning to keep her
prow turned towards the NIGHTWIND.  She is no longer diving, but
endeavoring to rise as well, staying about 100 yards higher then the
NIGHTWIND.

Talus and the DRAGAZHAR are thus no longer flying straight at each
other, but still essentially towards each other, so that they close
to within fifty yards.  The DRAGAZHAR closes at the same time to
within 350 yards of the NIGHTWIND.

-----------

Round 4:

Fore Deck:

As the DRAGAZHAR closes within range, Nilaroo shouts "Ready, FIRE!"
Without tracking the shot, Nilaroo begins immediately rewinding the
catapult for reloading.  Ives and Italapate both start helping him.

Dhebun snaps back the lever as well, launches a ballista bolt at the enemy.

Raken chants and waves his holy symbol over the fore deck crew in blessing.

Grigree works the fore mast sails.

Midships:

Kain continues busy himself keeping the sails finely tuned.

Freneth fires the midship ballista with a heavy thump. He smiles
viciously, then snaps, "You load the bolts!" as he starts cranking
back the ballistas firing mechanism.

Lellyn immediately begins winding back the ballista for a second shot also.

Oquid ties herself to the railing with a safety line.

Aft Deck:

Holland continues to judge the closing distance.

Sekeht fires, watching briefly as the ballista bolt arcs toward the
enemy ship. Then he calls to Leera, "Reload!"

Leera follows Sekeht's orders at the Ballista

Allagan adjusts the lines as directed by Ferric.

Ferric continues working the rudders and giving sail commands to keep
the ship's curving climb going.

Below Decks:

Vais continues jamming the ship forward and upward as ordered.

Off Ship:

The DRAGAZHAR closes to within 150 yards of the NIGHTWIND, and her
bow has just started to dip...

The broadside of ballista bolts and catapult stone streaks from the
NIGHTWIND towards the DRAGAZHAR...

Still invisible but now easily within 30 yards of her bow, Talus
holds his fist out towards the DRAGAZHAR...

The catapult and ballista shot shatters against one side of the wall.
The DRAGAZHAR slams into the other.  Her bow crumbles and she skids
sideways with a sickening shriek of torn metal and wood...

Date/Time: 2:32 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