FLUFF: Jammers: Turn 7 Chapter 8

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.

Where once my wit, perchance, hath shone,
In aid of others' let me shine;
And when, alas! our brains are gone,
What nobler substitute than wine?

'Lines Inscribed Upon a Cup Formed From a Skull'
4th stanza, Lord Byron

IC:

Back on the NIGHTWIND:

Dhebun, Holland, Vais, Kain, Sekeht, Lellyn, and Leera are standing 
on the deck of the NIGHTWIND.

Vais says, "Our vessels are still tightly grappled together, is that wise?"

"Do you think there might still be more of these things?" Sekeht 
says, looking over at the other ship. "Although precaution doesn't 
seem to be our style, I think it would be a good idea to do as Vais 
suggests."

Holland's brow furrows for a second and then he says, "It can't hurt 
to be a little careful."  Holland then says, "Kain, Sekeht, Dhebun, 
please untie the ropes.  We will pull back a little distance."

Nodding silently the dwarf goes to the thick ropes that bind the two 
vessels, wincing slightly from his battle wounds.  He looks over to 
the other ship, eyeing it suspiciously.  "May Mahl guide and protect 
our fellows.  There's no telling what other surprises may await 
aboard that accursed hulk."

Before Dhebun can start untying the ropes, Kain interrupts, "Should 
we not remain along side the Galleon. While we are abreast of them we 
can help our comrades and they can flee back here if need be. If we 
stand off then we will be un able to influence any battle other than 
with the heavy weapons and we would not want to destroy the galleon 
with our friends still aboard."

Holland replies, "We can still help them, abet from a distance. It 
will also prevent any other undead that are lurking about easy access 
to our ship." Holland pauses and then says, "As a matter of fact, we 
had best take a look at the hull to make sure there aren't any other 
undead hiding down there."

Holland asks, "Any volunteers?"

"I am almost completely drained of energy," Sekeht says. "But I could 
hold the rope secure should someone want to dive through the gravity 
plane and reconnoiter."

"I could take a look" Says Kain, "but I am not much shakes at 
fighting so someone would need to haul me back up quickly if there 
are a load of enemies down there."

Kain fastens a safety line around his waist and taking his borrowed 
sword in hand turns to Sakeht, "Ok I'll go down and take a look. If I 
find anything, um, nasty I'll shout and run. You'll haul me back up 
here, yes?"

"Of course," Sekeht says.

Kain climbs onto the ships rail, and checking there are no bodies 
floating below, drops off the side.

After bobbing at the gravity plane for a bit Kain flips over and 
clambers over the lower hull.

There is nothing moving below, but Kain can see ten strong lines 
binding the two vessels together, each attached to a large spike 
driven into the galley's hull.

After giving the nearest rope a quick tug Kain heads back the way he 
came over the keel. As the side gets precipitously steep he leans 
over and shouts his findings up/down to those listening at the rail. 
"Those pirates have tied us up tight with boarding lines. I'm going 
to cut us loose."

Kain heads back to where the ropes are secured and sets about hacking 
through the rope.

As Kain cuts through the last rope, a pistol shot rings out from 
ISTUS' MAIDEN...

-----------

On the galleon...

Raken continues the search with Freneth, keeping a wary eye out.

Freneth moves past the galley, and on to the next room, continuing to 
search carefully for traps.

The next door (main deck, #5) won't open.  It doesn't appear to be 
locked conventionally, it simply won't open.

Freneth bends way low, attempting to peer under the doorway.

Raken examines the door. "I suspect magic may be barring our way with 
this door. I could attempt to dispel it, but I would rather wait on 
using such a spell until we clear this tub and are certain we have no 
further use of it. The spelljamming helm is likely behind this door, 
so it may be well guarded by magic. Move on to the next door, and 
come back to this one later."

Freneth straightens quickly, and nods. "Yes Master Raken." Freneth 
quickly moves to the next door, and again examines the door, before 
opening it, and continuing the cautious explorations.

"Avoiding a magical trap?"  Nilaroo asks rhetorically, ruefully 
examining his scorched fur. "Brilliant!"

Raken smiles, "As the old saying goes, 'twice burned, once shy. Or as 
the orcs are fond of saying, sixteen times burned once shy..."

The door to the next chamber (main deck, #4) appears neither locked 
nor trapped, to Freneth's examination.  But it is closed.

Freneth says, some nervousness in his voice, "This is not very 
enjoyable. Step back, This one shall open the door." Once the others 
have cleared away from the door, Freneth pushes the door open, using 
his javelin butt to nudge it, while ducking well below the waist 
level of a human.

Raken takes a step back and to the side so that he is not in the line 
of fire from anything beyond the door.

The door opens and peering in the massive, ogre skeleton with the 
pistol at the far side of the room is immediately obvious.  The 
pistol hand is swinging down towards the halfling...

Round 1:

Freneth swirls quickly, ducking behind the doorway, and flinging himself flat.

Raken draws his sword. "A skeleton, and a big one at that!" He 
glances at Freneth and then Nilaroo. "We can take 'em, mateys! I'll 
draw his fire, you to try to flank him."

Nilaroo meets Raken's gaze. "Yes, you go in to the right, I will take 
him straight on. Go!"

Raken waits a beat, than he rushes through the doorway, cutting to 
the left and tries to draw its fire.

The ogre skeleton's pistol follows the druid and fires, the ball 
slamming into the wall just behind Raken's head.

Nilaroo charges the skeleton headlong, swinging his two handed sword 
at the monstrosity.  But he quickly finds the small cabin too 
confining for the massive weapon, which cuts deep into the ceiling 
with his swing, forcing him to pause to yank it back out.

Round 2:

Nilaroo drops his sword and wrestles for the skeleton's weapon, 
yanking it's pistol from its bony grasp.  The ogre responds by 
punching Nilaroo in the side of the head with bone-jarring force.

With unusual skill Raken attacks the Ogre skeleton viciously, trying 
to connect steel to bone. He lands a deep cut on one of the ogre 
skeleton's massive thigh bones.

Freneth, slips his javelin into its quiver, and with the quiet of a 
hunter, yanks his axe from its loops, and rushes into the room. 

Round 3:

Nilaroo and the ogre skeleton grapple powerfully with each other, 
frozen as each tries to gain advantage over the other.

Raken continues his assault, slashing the ogre skeleton's back with 
his scimiter, but the cold strength of the undead monstrosity seems 
unaffected.

Freneth closes with the Ogre Skeleton, hacking at the thing's legs 
with his axe and leaving a deep gash in the shin bone.

On the main deck...

Ives and Grigree are standing on the main deck of the galleon. 
They've thrown all the wight corpses over board, and gathered 20 
rusty cutlasses and 3 old wheellock pistols. (near main deck,#9).

Then, they hear the sound of the pistol shot come from the aft-castle.

Meanwhile, below decks...

Allagan, Talus, and Ferric stand among the rotting, dead zombies 
they've now hacked to pieces.  (cargo deck, #2)

Talus cleans the Cutlass off and sheathes it. Talus then searches the 
room for anything of value or any further traps.

Once finished Talus says, "The aft now?"

Allagan says, "Sounds good."

Ferric nods.

Talus leads the three down to the aft, looking through anything on 
their way (#3) and being wary of traps until they reach the opposing 
doors. (#5/#6)

Allagan holds his spear at the ready.

Talus checks each of the doors for traps and whether they are locked. 
Once disarming any traps and unlocking any locks Talus carefully 
opens portside door (#5).

Allagan stands to the aft of Talus, his spear in hand, on guard while 
Talus is working.

Ferric takes up a position on the other side of Talus and waits.

Inside this room is dusty, and filled with several score brass-bound chests.
Each chest is about 1 foot high, 2 feet wide, and a foot and a half deep.

Talus sees the chests and asks, "I've heard of creatures that can 
simulate treasure chests to lure in their victims. Anyone know if 
those creatures are undead?"

"If they are they shall find the same fate as the rest of those we've 
encountered on this ship." Ferric smiles

Talus draws Cutlass and looks carefully at the dust on the deck to 
ensure there are no footprints or scuffing. Then Talus looks up at 
the ceiling of the room to see if there is anything lurking up there.

The dust and ceiling are both undisturbed.

Finally, Talus extends Cutlass's tip into the room so he can see what 
is above and to the sides of the doors. "Is it clear? Do you detect 
any illusions?" Talus asks Cutlass.

Allagan gives a hard look at the room.

Cutlass says, "No, laddy, the decks be clear in here."

Talus asks the others, "Should we go in and check these chests now, 
or leave them for later?"

"No time like the present. Wait here until I spring any ambush that 
may be laid." Ferric studies the room including the ceiling and 
checks to the either side of the door then advances slowly into the 
room blades at the ready.

Allagan splits his attention between Ferric and the aft hallway.

 From the inside the room looks the same to Ferric as it did from the outside.

As the two enter the room, Allagan steps inside the doorway with his 
back to the room. Allagan shifts his attention from the left to the 
right but mostly focused on the aft of the ship.

Talus enters and starts with the chest on the left-most side. He 
first checks for traps, then if it is locked. It appears neither 
trapped nor locked, so Talus opens the chest and moves to the next 
chest, allowing the others to do the actual inventory of the chest's 
contents.

In fact, each chest holds two wheel-lock pistols and a bag of about 
100 lead bullets.

The grey skinned warrior, Ferric, checks the room thoroughly for 
hidden enemies.  He then shifts his attentions toward the finding of 
any remaining treasure, searching under and behind furniture 
then checking the floors and walls for hidden compartments.  But he 
finds nothing.

Then, they all hear a pistol shot go off on one of the decks above and aft.

Date/Time: 5:30 pm, 7th day of the 1st Month, 5050 OC





-- 
"War is the father of all and king of all, who manifested some as 
gods and some as men, who made some slaves and some freemen."
Heraclitus, Late 6th century, BC (DK22B53)
westermeyer@????????.net