The Seas of Blood - The Price of Fame (Chapter One)

[IcyCool]

He looks expecantly at his most trusted crewmembers "Well, what did you find?"

"Cap'n," Bart steps up, "I heard tell a few choice bits o' information 'bout our first prize." With a gleam in his eye, Bart relates to the captain what he found out.

[sblock]1. How fast is the Waverunner? Certainly no match for the Moon Goddess in any circumstance.
2. How many crew does she carry? Thirty sailors, at least a dozen marines, and a wizard.
3. How is she armed? She has a mighty ram able to split through lesser ship's hulls and four ballista attached capable of moving their lines of fire mid-battle.
4. What routes does she usually travel? This time of year she usually runs the ore route from Girlide to Loridunne.
5. What sort of cargo does she usually carry? This time of year, iron ore, maybe some precious metals for particular artists' needs.
6. Anything unusual about her? She has openly mobile ballistas and a wizard capable of enchanting their shot. Also the Captain has changed recently, now it's a woman from the Albir Gulf, they're all a bit strange down that way.[/sblock]

 

[Ferrix]

a'Shelys does his best to keep himself busy, although the elf's commonly happy aerial manuevers are replaced by long uninteresting glides at higher altitudes. Giving himself time to think or be away from the others. The information of his daughter is bothering him for sure, but he does his job nonetheless.

 

[Bront]

"All right, where's she heading? Let's see if we can head her off before she realizes we're after her." Orders Swoops.

 

[Phoenix]

"All right, where's she heading? Let's see if we can head her off before she realizes we're after her." Orders Swoops.

Through various hand gestures, the order is given to Rameses to wave a purple flag at a'Shelys. A common part of communication with the aerial elf, the purple flag signifies to him that Swoops wants him to check the heading of the Waverunner. With two seperate sets of eyes on the ship, it is easy to plot a swift course to intercept...

 

[Hypersmurf]

"Taking their mage out of commission is a priority, right?" Lukda asks Swoops. "Did Bart get a good description of him?"

 

[IcyCool]

"Taking their mage out of commission is a priority, right?" Lukda asks Swoops. "Did Bart get a good description of him?"

"I didn' get a good description, nae, but 'e's likely to be near their ballistas. I did get a good description o' the cap'n though. She sounds like a right strange sort."

Bart sticks his index finger into his mouth and then holds it to the wind. He cocks his head to the left and says, "A ripe, unsuspecting merchant vessel, and a woman captain. Sounds like the Ballad O' the Cyan Princess will be a right good fit fer this fight." At that, Bart pulls out his fiddle, does a little fine tuning, and gives a friendly wink to Lukda. He turns to Swoops and states the question he always states when he's ready to strike up a tune aboard ship, "By your leave, Cap'n?"

 

[Ferrix]

a'Shelys flies higher to get a better bearing on the Waverunner, drawing his bow he guides Rysha with his knees and waits for the signal from the Moon Goddess.

 

[Hypersmurf]

As the ship prepares to give chase, Lukda casts a few spells...

1. Water Breathing, on herself, Captain Swoops, Bart, Doc, Captain Smith, and Elmo. (a'Shelys is too far away... is Ramses still with us? I'll include him too, if so.) Duration - a little over two hours.

2. Barkskin, on herself. Duration: 1 hr 20 mins.

3. Poison, Fort DC 20: 1d10 Con primary, 1d10 Con secondary.

"Follow me," she tells Elmo, giving him the signal for 'silent running'.

Holding the charge on the last spell, she once more shifts into the shape of a big seabird and takes to the air.

 

[Bront]

"Yes, taking the mage out is a top priority. And if we can demoralize them quickly, this can be a lot less bloody than it could be. Bart, go for it."

 

[IcyCool]

"Aye Cap'n," Bart says with a grin. He lifts his fiddle to his chin and begins to play a merry melody. After a moment he begins to dance down to the main deck and weave through the crew.

His voice casts over the ship in song, "Once upon a fair midsummers eve, a merchant ship from port took leave ..."

[sblock]OOC: Inspiring Competence (+2 to Profession[Sailor]) in the crew so that we can approach the Waverunner swiftly and skillfully. The inspiration will last up to 2 minutes as long as Bart keeps playing. He will continue to Inspire Competence (using multiple uses if he has to) until the time comes for combat, where he will switch to Inspire Courage. If it looks like the Moon Goddess is going to take heavy fire from the Waverunner, Bart will drop the Inspire Courage (which will last for 10 rounds after he stops) and use the Fiddle of Building's defensive power.[/sblock]