Adventure:Land Ho! FWBTHW (DM:H.M.Gimlord,Judge:Ozymandias79)

[Phoenix8008]

Talon feels his heart beat faster as his shapeshifters blood tries valiantly to mend his wounds before they cause him to fall. Levering himself up to his feet with the aid of his weapon, Talon readies his attack. Dayna throws back her head and howls a mournful note, startling the nearby dwarves. Talon blinks away the sweat from his eyes and snarls as he surges forward to stab at the dwarf with his longspear. The dwarf pushes with his shield again, throwing the strike wide... just as Talon planned. He adds his own strength to the new momentum on the polearm, neatly reversing it to clobber the dwarf right in the head with the butt end of the weapon! Ironhand stands still for a moment as if trying to remember something important. He even opens his mouth as if to speak, but his next blink turns into a slow closing of his eyes as he finally slumps to the ground unconscious.

Talon raises Stormshard above his head in victory before slumping down to the deck of the ship himself just in time to catch Dayna bounding into his arms. She barks happily at him and sniffs at his wounds while he pets her in return.
[sblock=Actions/Stat block]Start= 1/31 hps

Minor= Activate Longtooth Shifting, gaining +2 damage till end of encounter and Regeneration 2 while bloodied till end of encounter.

Move= Stand up from prone.

Standard= Basic melee atk vs Dwarf AC20 w/1d6 HQ dmg and +2 LS dmg. (1d20+7=24, 1d10+4+1d6+2=12) Hits AC 24 for exactly 12 damage!

End= 1/31 hps
[sblock=Talon Stat block]Talon- Male Longtooth Shifter Beastmaster Ranger 2
Passive Perception: +14, Passive Insight: +19, Initiative: +4
AC: 17, Fort: 15, Reflex: 15, Will: 14 -- Speed: 6
HP: 1/31, Bloodied: 15, Surge Value: 7, Surges left: 8/8
Action Points: 1, Second Wind: not used
Basic Attack: +7 vs AC - +1 Longspear 1d10+4
Basic Attack: +7 vs AC (with reach 3) - +1 Longspear 1d10+4 lightning
Basic Attack: +4 vs Reflex - Savage Rend 1d8+3 and slide target 1 square
Ranged Basic Attack: +6 vs AC - Longbow 1d10+3
Powers-
At-Will: Circling Strike, Predator Strike, Wild Shape, Reach 3 basic attack
Encounter: Longtooth Shifting, Enclose the Prey, Savage Rend, Yield Ground
Daily: Partnered Savaging, Longspear Push[/sblock][sblock=Wolf Companion stat block] Dayna - Wolf Companion 2
Passive Perception: +17, Passive Insight: +12
AC: 16, Fort: 14, Reflex: 14, Will: 15 -- Speed: 7
HP: 30/30, Bloodied: 15, Surge Value: 7, Surges left: 2/2
Basic Attack: Bite, +6 vs. AC; 1d8+2 (Dex)
Racial Abilities: Combat Advantage- When a wolf has CA, it gets +2(Wis mod) to damage rolls.[/sblock][/sblock]
[sblock=OOC]Was ready to use AP to activate SW if I didn't bring him down, but it worked out just fine luckily. Good fight, HMG! Thanks. Is that fight the IC reason for Talon advancing up to level 3 during the voyage? By the way, I've completed his level up and submitted him for approval to the judges.[/sblock]

 

[Tenchuu]

Jin pumps his fist in the air as talon strikes the finishing blow. It had been a close fight, but his ally had shown a true warrior spirit this day. The ronin clapped his hands together and bellowed with cheer, "A good fight by both!"

Turning to Riardon, he smiled and said, "We two should take on two of them."
[sblock=OOC]I don't want to derail here. If we're ready to move on with the main plot, by all means. But it would be a fun diversion.[/sblock]

 

[H.M.Gimlord]

The onlookers are stunned by Talon's achievement. There's a gasping pause, and suddenly a deafening roar of cheers erupts from within the crowd. Though the shouts of praise are loud, Talon can't help but notice a few glaring looks of disapproval coming from the ranks of those attending to Ironhand. The focus of their contempt seems to be Stormshard.

Fargo emerges from the quarterdeck biting a smoldering pipe between his teeth, "Alright! Ye've 'ad yer fon. Bahck tah wark!" He walks over to Ironhand and looks down at the beaten dwarf, "I 'spected mahr o' ye Ir'n'an'. 'E's jus' a wee laddie! Ye need tah larn no' tah go 'cceptin' challenges frahm an'yole Tom, Dick, are 'Arry."

Fargo walks over to where six dwarves have hoisted Talon up on their shoulders carrying him around like a star football player. He looks up at the shifter, "Good wark laddie, bu' le's keep the bruisin tah th'enemy.... 'elps morale!"

The next few days go by uneventfully, but Ironhand seems to avoid Talon. When the questioned about Ironhand's behavior, the other dwarves admit that it is odd, saying things like, "I's no' like 'e's nevah been beat a'fa," or, "'E's usual a good spart, tha' Ir'n'and. Dunno wats'a got 'im."

On the dawn of the fourth day after the sparring match, the lookout from the crow's nest calls out, "LAND HO!"

A beautiful, forested coastline appears as a thin strip along the horizon. The northernmost tip ending abruptly in large, sand-brown bluffs that plummet sharply to the ocean's surface. Atop these cliffs, a structure is visible, even at this distance. It's a man-made obelisk standing a few hundred feet tall, shining a brilliant, focused, yellow beam of light that still appears stronger than the rising sun, just behind it.

Seagulls hover in the air like sirens beckoning ships to shore, and sailors rush to the rail to see the spectacle of the coastline with the early morning light at its back.

Rujah, already wishes he were there, and his impatience swells to a crescendo within him.

Fargo starts barking orders, "Alright 'earties! Make tah raund th' narthern edge. Keep wide o' th' lighthas an' put in a' th' sevanth pier! Ye've seen this 'afar!"

He turns to Fenwick and Riardon, pointing to the tall structure atop the northern cliffs, "Tha' thar's th' lighthas o' Rioc Alair!"
[sblock=OOC]I'll let you post reactions and questions for a while, and some time tomorrow, I'll post the 1st encounter.

Tenchuu, WD:

Sorry. P8 beat you to the punch (no pun intended), and I'd like to keep things moving. I'll give you each a chance to solo with something as we go.[/sblock]

 

[Phoenix8008]

Talon nods to those praising his victory, while not being big-headed about it. He enjoys the rest of the voyage, having finally gotten used to the new feel of this area. Once land is sighted and he realizes the voyage is almost over, Talon goes looking for Ironhand. He is difficult to locate, but there are only so many places to hide on a ship, even one as big as the Gail.

Finally finding the Ironhand, Talon approaches and confronts the dwarf. "Ironhand. I need to speak with you. You did good in fight and I'm sorry I used lightning from Stormshard on you. Without Dayna fighting by me, I was not as good and needed all advantages I could get to have chance against you. I just wanted to say that."

 

[H.M.Gimlord]

Ironhand balks Talon's apparent weakness of character. "Well it be tant'mount tah cheatin' tah me! Lightnin' on a dwarf's the stuff o' starm giants! I'll not be taken bye it! Nah beyoff withye!" Ironhand storms down the mid-deck knocking empty (and one or two times, not so empty) hammocks out of his way as he goes.

Later, Talon brings the story of this confrontation up to Fargo, who sighs resignedly, "I'll no 'xcuse wha' 'e did, bu' jus' so ye know. No' ever'one's 'eard th' legen's o' Rioc Parvel, an' those 'a'don' won' undarstan' where ye go' tha' spear. They'll thin' it giant's magick they will." Fargo looks Talon in the eyes (albeit at an upward angle) and says, "Aye wouldn' warry 'bou' ole Ir'nhan'. Ye're 'is bettar a million over!" the chuckle that follows seems mirthful enough, but belies a hint of nervousness.

 

[Tenchuu]

Jin caught up with Talon after they had spotted land. "Talon, what will be our move as we make land? Since you translated the document, I think you'll be giving the orders for a while."

 

[Phoenix8008]

"I understand, Fargo. If I fight him again ever, I have Dayna fight with me, but not use Stormshard." Talon says to the Captain as they make their preperations to go ashore.

"I not leader, Jin." Talon says to the human. "Fargo already say where we need to go in Rioc Alair. Crystal Mug Inn has same smokeless candles like we saw in the basement that wasn't Wayne's. Might be same place we were. And is good place to search for dwarf Hankel who chest belongs to."

 

[BenBrown]

Fenwick clambers partway up the mast for a better look. "Sea voyages nice," he says to whoever's listening, "but fighting on boats not so enjoyable. Good to see land."

 

[Tenchuu]

"Hmph," Jin said curtly, accepting the information. He pondered for a moment, absently thumbing the tsuba guard of his father's blade, snapping the blade in and out of the sheath lock.

"Do you think we might also catch up with the human who eluded us in that basement?"

[sblock=OOC]I'm not sure of the right onomatopoeia to use here. When I used Hpmh, it was not like a rebuff or reflecting any hurt/disappointment/disagreement. Rather, I was going for a sound my father makes when I talk to him. Just a monotone almost grunt of acceptance; his form of "uh-huh". A way of saying, "I heard you, and I don't feel like saying anything in response. But, just so you know, I heard you."

Any ideas on a better word to use? Hmm carries to much "I'm thinking about it", but I think the Hmph I used also carried a connotation not intended. [/sblock]

 

[Tenchuu]

"Yes, very good to see land," Jin agreed. The ronin smiled prematurely, unable to keep a straight face as he delivered the following line. "Shall I drink you under the table once we reach the tavern?"