Return to Northmoor IC

[pathfinderq1]

At least partially hidden behind Llewellyn, Aiffe had a brief respite from the hail of bolts. She gave a worried glance towards the boat where MacLynn and some of the bandits were drifting, but with so many more foes to worry about, she couldn't spare any more attention than that- she had to hope their boss would be okay for at least a few moments. With some of the bandits now on the ship with them, things were a bit tougher to manage- but the warriors seemed up to the task. She turned her attention, and her magic, towards the boats still out on the river.

OOC 1 (actions):

Spoiler:

Another Scorching Burst, at one of the boats which hasn't actually reached the raft yet- Aiffe isn't quite crazy or confident enough to try hitting the bandits on the raft itself. Again assuming 4 bandits per boat; +5 vs. REF 14; 17, 14, 9, 23 for 3 hits out of 4; rolls Roll Lookup ; without a map it is getting kind of tough to keep track of foes- my count is 7 boarders (4 from 1 boat, 3 from the boat MacLynn hit), 2 more boats about 15 feet out (1 of those is Aiffe's target), and more boats coming (number unknown); can we get a rough count of bandits out-of-action, and of bandits still visibly involved in the attack?

OOC 2 (mini stat block)

Spoiler:

Aiffe Northwind, eladrin wizard 1; HP 18/22; surges used 0/7; AC 15/FORT 12/REF 15/WILL 16; Passive Perception 11 (low-light vision); Encounter powers used: none; Daily powers used: none; Second Wind used: no; Currently on front deck of raft, beside Llewellyn

[PrecociousApprentice]

Another boat explodes as a consequence of Aiffe's magic, sending bodies flying into the river. Some are dead, some are not. One bandit on the raft mutters "It ain't worth it." and jumps into the river. After seeing their companions decimated, and another abandon them, the bandits on the raft all turn to flee, droping weapons in their haste to escape this disaster of a raid. MacLynn is dumped uncerimoniously into the river, and the two bandits in the boat he left quickly take up the oars.

"That's Right, you sons o' skaggers! You ain't even good for dishonest work! Run like the cowards you are!" shouts MacLynn as he begins to swim toward the Cat.

The other boats, seeing that the preceding boats had either been incinerated or repulsed, decided that it was time to get lost in the woods. They all headed quickly for the shore.

[Atanatotatos]

Culhwych isn't distracted by the turn of events and aims at the bandits on the boat where McLynn had landed, and releases two more arrows. Both miss their target, but make a good incentive for the bandits to row faster.

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Llewellyn looks mildly surprised as the bandits begin their retreat. "That was fast," he says to no one in particular, not yet lowering his blade. "Someone should MacLynn a line."

[Sparky]

Orthanach winces at the bolt that found the meat of his thigh. He clenches his jaw and pulls the bolt free. The wound is shallow and doesn't seem to be bleeding freely so he turns his attention to the bandits and their route. A sad look flickers across his face and he murmurs a prayer to the fallen that their souls find judgement swiftly.

He ambles down off of the hut and onto the deck. "Aye, sir. Of course," he says to Llewellyn, touching his forehead. The young man retrieves a rope, anchors it to a cleat with a deft hand and calls out to MacLynn. "Master MacLynn!"

[pathfinderq1]

Aiffe had already turned towards the next closest boat, and she almost unleashed another fiery bolt before she realized that they were turning to flee. Burn them, a voice whispered in the back of her mind and for the briefest of moments the temptation was almost irresistible. With a sharp shake of her head, she brought herself back under control- she lowered her arm, and slid the wand back into its case on her belt.

Only then did she look around the raft at her companions- as if she had just wakened from some sort of daze. "Are they all gone then? Is everyone all right?," she asked.

[Lukeworm]

Cian

“Come back here and fight you mangy dogs!” Cian yells at the fleeing bandits “No one wakes me up this early just to run away with his tail between his legs.” Cian picks up one of the spears the bandits has dropped and hurls it at them, but his heart is not in it any more and the spear falls short into the river.

With the excitement of battle fading Cian is suddenly aware of pain, with surprise he realizes he is wounded. “No one is hurt just a little rattled, Aiffe. You all did great and the stinking dogs had no chance. Next time try to leave someone to me or don’t bother to wake me at all.” Cian leans against one of the cargo crates for a moment gathering his breath.

OOC: Inspiring word to Aiffe, Second wind on self.

ooc:

Everyone should include in their posts HP, Surges and surge value so we can figure who is in need of help without having to read all the previous posts again.

Mini Stats

HP 26/26 [13]
Surges 8/9 SV 8
Action Point 1
AC 18, FORT 16, REF 13, WILL 15
Dragon Breath1
Guarding Attack1
Second Wind1
Inspiring Word 1/2
Bastion of Defense1

[PrecociousApprentice]

MacLynn shouts "Aye, lad, send it here." He grabs the rope tossed to him by Orthanach. When he is pulled onto the raft he mutters, "I am gettin' too old for this." He quickly inspects everyone, and finding no real injuries to speak of, he turns his attention to his raft. "Gettin' braver these days, they are. Surprised that they were as persistent as they were. You blasted or spitted over a dozen of them, and they didn't give up until it became apparent that they would only get a one-on-one fight after starting at greater than six-to-one. My cargo ain't that valuable!" He cackles, which leads to a fit of coughing from the riverwater he inhaled when he was dumped into the river. "I guess you have all earned your paychecks now. I think that it is also only fair that I let you know I am considering selling the Cat. Just considering, mind you, but I though that you have the right to think on your places in the world before I turned you out in it. Haven't decided for sure, but if I keep her, the Cat needs a crew that is willing to face death without regret. You should see that now." He grabs a barge pole from against a stack of crates and begins to work it steadily. "Now if you pansies aren't too shook up from our little party, then get your hide's to work! I pay you to fight, but I also pay you to get my goods to the Lost Village. Let's put some distance between ourselves and the rest of the riff-raff that might have been hiding in the bushes waiting to take advantage of us!"

[pathfinderq1]

At Cian's encouragement, Aiffe managed a wry smile. "Thank you," she said quietly, almost distractedly, with a quick nod of her head. Then she turned back to the business of getting MacLynn back on board, and getting the raft moving...

She listened carefully as the raftmaster said his piece- his words gave her a momentary pang of dismay, but things were not set in stone just yet. She began to bustle about the deck, recoiling some of the ropes and restacking some of the cargo parcels that had been knocked about during the brief conflict. As she worked, her eyes seemed to take on the faraway look that the other folk about the raft ought to recognize by now- Aiffe was deep within her own thoughts...

OOC (mini stats):

Spoiler:

Aiffe Northwind, eladrin wizard 1; HP 22/22; surges used 1/7

[PrecociousApprentice]

As a little distance is put between the Blackwater Cat and the ambush site, MacLynn begins to relax. Within a few miles, he bagins to laugh and joke with the crew. As the sun creeps higher into the sky and the mornings events retreat from it's prominence in the center of his mind, MacLynn becomes obviously cheerful. He even begins to sing. His voice is deep, and it is obvious that he has spent many days passing his time on the river by singing to the trees and birds. His song is an old balad that had once been popular in the Northmoor, but has been replaced with newer, more up-beat and sometimes bawdier songs. It is about a love lost to the mysteries of the moors. "...'cause the mists of the moors have taken you." his song ends. The last line of the song seems to echo across the water off of a bluff.

As the cat rounds a bend in the river, the river widens and shallows significantly. The trees become smaller, consisting mostly of scrub oaks that are about 15-20' high. The river is straight for about half a mile, and at a point just before the river rounds another bend there is another raft. It seems to be stuck on a sandbar. MacLynn doesn't seem to notice. He has begun another song, this one is just as mournful. "The pale moon was rising above the green mountains, The sun was declining beneath the blue sea; When I strayed with my love by the pure crystal fountain,....." You recognise it immediately as The Rose of Tralee.

[Atanatotatos]

Culhwych, as always, is on watch. Seeing the raft further down the river, he turns around, looking for MacLynn, approaches him, and without speaking, he grabs his arm to get his attention, and points the raft to him.

[pathfinderq1]

After the initial rush of activity had faded, and the last traces of the bandit raid had been left far behind, Aiffe found a few moments to sit at the back of the raft, watching the swirling currents trail off in the Cat's wake. Her thoughts then were on what MacLynn had said, and what it might mean for the future.

If he sold the Cat, what would she do? What would the others do, both those she considered her friends, and those she did not know as well? Would they wake up tomorrow destined to go their separate ways in the world? Maybe she ought to take a day or two to go back to the Outpost, to see "Father"...

As the raftmaster began to sing, Aiffe joined in on many of the tunes- she didn't help with the bawdier songs, but on many of the others her high clear voice gave a melodious accompaniment. As he began the most recent song, though, she fell silent and merely listened, remembering the first time she had heard that particular tune, so many years ago...


OOC: Somewhere along the way, she will manage to take a short rest

[Sparky]

Orthanach takes the news of MacLynn selling the 'Cat in bitter stride. Soon the others would have their own fates to decide. Soon, the difference between them and him would be clear again. On the raft, on the river, they were all... equal, in a way. Those he hadn't gotten to know in the relative openness of the Outpost, he'd been forced to get to know by the close quarters of time on the raft.

Culhywch laughs only rarely, and then only with his eyes. The darkness in his soul weighs heavily on him.

Aiffe, when the magic isn't on her, is a spot of cheer and softness amidst the rough characters of the raft. She isn't anything like Fionuir, though.

Breccan does not revel in the powers he has made pact with, but neither does he refrain from using them at need. Before need.

Llewellyn is a decent enough sort. Smarter than Orthanach. Though not smart enough by half to tangle with the fell powers he courts.

Cian cheers or ignores the Dire Works of the demon-touched crew. It would be much easier for Orthanach if he could accept the others as Cian does. Much easier...

Sometimes it seemed to Orthanach that he had fallen in with an accursed lot. Most times he felt apart from them and their fell powers. Safe in his faith. Most times...

Orthanach looks off into the distance toward Lindinis. Or, at least, in the direction he thinks Lindinis is in. Give me strength to meet the tests.

stats

HP 26/26 [13]
Surges 9/10 SV 6
Action Point 0
AC 18, FORT 15, REF 12, WILL 15
All Daily Powers unused

[PrecociousApprentice]

MacLynn looks up at Culhwych's prompting. He squints down the river at the stranded raft.

"Looks to be Captain Maeger's boat. I've been stuck at that very spot before. The way the current moves through there, it is almost impossible to know what lies beneath the water until you are run aground on a sandbar. We won't be able to get past them. We can either wait until they set themselves free, or we can try to help them. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am in no mood to wait around this stretch of the river as they flounder about down there." He sets his pole down and heads for one of the canoes at the prow.

"Breccan, set a watch and put the Cat ashore in a defensible position a short distance upriver from the other raft. I don't want the Cat ambushed because we are messing around in the mud down there. Cian, come with me to find out the state of things down there. We don't want to get too close to the other raft until I know that it truely is Maeger down there. They could have been ambushed as well. Lets get to this. We're burnin' daylight. We have no hope of making The Lost Village by nightfal now, but I would rather not spend more than one more night on the river than I have to, at least until we can call in the Kingsguard to root out those bandits." MacLynn's mood is all business. He begins to push the canoe into the water.

[Lukeworm]

Cian

“Alright, alright I’m coming, but we better go armed just incase we run into foul play.”
As Cian ready his gear and climb down into canoe his thoughts are still on Maclynn’s last remark “The kingsguard, It’s been awhile since we seen them around here. Do you think they will be looking for help? I mean if you’re thinking of selling the Cat I need to start looking for opportunities, and it’s not like the pay here is that great either.”

[Redclaw]

Aye. That sounds like the best plan. Breccan sets about rounding up a watch for the Cat. The first order of business, of course, is to figure out who is going with MacLynn and who is staying.

Watch the shores, too, Cian. There might be more of those bandits waiting to take us when we split up.

[Sparky]

Orthanach shakes himself from a reverie at the change in tone on the deck. He looks at the stranded boat and then scans the shore. Then he looks back at the boat. The gears in his head turn only slowly. "They need help," He says quietly, almost to himself. Meanwhile, the others are already getting a canoe into the water.

The words that were spoken finally trickle through his consciousness. The palms of his hands begin to tingle with what the young man has come to call the Spirit.

He looks at Breccan, "I, I think someone is hurt on the boat, sir."

[Redclaw]

Don't tell me, lad, Breccan barks at Orthanach. MacLynn's the man who needs to hear that. He drags the other man to the edge of the raft, calling after their departing employer. MacLynn, there might be some danger on the raft!

[pathfinderq1]

Shaken out of her reverie by the sudden burst of activity, Aiffe made her way up towards the front of the Cat- while she had no wish to join the scouting, she knew there would likely be other work to do.

OOC: Checking in- Aiffe will be staying on the Cat for now.

[PrecociousApprentice]

MacLynn turns at hearing from Breccan. He looks impatient, but it is obvious that he doesn't want to overlook anything. He also obviously trusts his crew.

"That is what I am going to see about. Unless you know something I don't... Is there something else? What makes you think of danger? I mean beyond our encounter upriver and the possibility of an ambush here as well. Quick lad, I'd ike to get this taken care of before something bad happens. If we wait long enough, it surely will. Tell me what you know."