Malachi flinches at Joren’s shouts and the sounds of magical energy blasting into the rigging. He quickly moves over toward the mast, looking up at the figure in the rigging as both Vilus and Samir threaten him in an attempt to get him to come down. “Let’s just help him along then”Malachi raises his hand and telekinetically pulls the man down toward him. “What in the blazes is going on here, what is all of the ruckus about?”
(Strength save DC 15 or he is pulled 5 feet toward the deck).
The man starts trying to clamber higher. He is suddenly yanked in one direction by Malachi, and blown in the other by a strong gust of magical wind. He manages to hang on just barely by one hand, the rope reddening as his the skin of his calloused hands tear. His other hand is clearly reaching for something on his belt.
Saves were nat 20 for Malachi and 16 for Samir. Joren and Ashley can take their actions
Joren moves his echo, which had already been near the mast (post 3014) up next to the cultist hanging from the rigging.
Unlike his companions, Joren makes no threats. This man may be reaching for an explosive that will slay everyone aboard this ship, yet we are scolding him like a naughty schoolboy. He is a murderous fanatic, knowing exactly what he is doing. Our fist-waving and protestations do not trouble him.
He attacks twice from his echo's position, but not with his blade. Instead, he makes two shove attacks to push the man off the rigging. Hoping to make him fall to the deck and land prone. If the first shove succeeds, the second Athletics roll becomes a grapple from Joren's position.
As the cultist manages to hang on through seemingly supernatural strength, despite Joren's (and his companions') every attempt to dislodge him, Joren realizes his crucial tactical mistake. I should just have been attacking the man all along. Let him be falling off on his own.
He flies into a flurry of motion (one use of Unleash Incarnation and Action Surge) to try to make up for his own folly. Attacking the cultist non-lethally from his echo's position with his Dunamis Blade and then grappling him from his own position once he is down.
Attack 3: (from echo's position, non-lethal using flat of Dunamis Blade) - To hit: 9 (miss)
Attack 4: (from echo's position, non-lethal using flat of Dunamis Blade) - To hit: 19 Damage: 13 non-lethal (magical) - this makes the man fall and drop prone to the deck, unconscious.
Attack 5: (grapple of prone target on deck from Joren's position and prevent hands from reaching belt: Athletics: 19
Joren's goal in all this is to get the man prone and grappled down on the deck and prevent his hands from reaching his belt.
Miraculously, the man manages to maintain his one-handed grip despite the onslaught from every angle, like any good topman used to weathering severe conditions up in the ropes. Getting fed up and running out of time, Joren switches tactics. His echo swings its greatsword at the man's head. He ducks the blow, but doesn't anticipate the backswing. The flat of the blade smashes into the back of his skull and he goes limp.
He slips boneless from his place on the rigging just as the crow's nest is likely coming into view of Marigold's ship. No sooner does he hit the ground than Joren leaps atop his unconscious body, restraining his hands. A cylinder rolls from his hands. A kind of pyrotechnic used aboard ships for signaling over long distances. He had been about to ruin any element of surprise, giving up what few moments the crew had to close the gap before they were spotted by Marigold's crew.
The ship lurches again, picking up speed as the the oarsmen below start heaving away in earnest. "What's going on! What are you doing to my men!" Captain Chemain roars from the tiller
"this one isn't yours" Vilus calls out to the captain, as he rushes up to make sure Joren has the situation under control "if you have any thanks for us at all about opening Tensmith back up, then allow us at least to deal with spies in your midsts unquestioned. Proof is a matter of patience."
Samir stoops, snatching up the pyrotechnic that the man had dropped, looking over it carefully. "See here, Captain? The man was about to signal the enemy with this. Pyrotechnic flare. You've got rats on your vessel, Captain." With a shake of his head, Samir slips the signalling device into his bag before scowling at the cultist.
Ashley hangs back as everyone notices the traitor amongst them. She was glad she didn't need to use any fire, as she was hesitant to upon a ship full of gunpowder. As questions arise after his capture, "Captain, do you know who came aboard with him? I would hate for there to be any more rats."
"I- Uh..." Chemain stammers, conflicted and also trying to concentrate on steering toward impending deadly conflict. "I can't think of a reason to doubt you with what you've done and what I'm seeing... But that man has been part of my crew for a decade and a half."
Malachi takes a closer look at the cultist and nods sadly “No, not this one. This man hasn’t been part of your crew, he just wears the face of one who has.” He looks up at the Captain “We don’t know exactly how they do it, but they can take the appearance and mannerisms of others as their own. Was your man away from the crew, late to return any time recently? Did he sail West on an earlier expedition? Hard to tell when it happened, hard to tell who we can trust, but there are ways to tell who is touched by this Razmus.” He nods to Joren.
Joren has been brooding on his own poor tactics, all while tying the unconscious cultist up tightly with rope (hopefully from the ship, not his own).
Fool! Why was I not attacking him from the start as Vilus did, trying instead to shove a man experienced climbing the rigging off it. Wasting energy...
He brightens considerably as the others speak up, especially at Ashley's compliment, grinning at her again like when she shared the goat's milk she had bought back in Tibben before the Shield Pass. But game-face returns moments later.
"Right, Mal. Ash," he begins. "You two wanting to take Samir'sTalisman, perhaps, and continue the rounds I was making further? Watching for tinges of yellow as I just saw with the topman in the rigging? Of course knowing there will be blue from the two of you and others, and red from me. I think all the crew could be using some encouragement anyway after witnessing what just happened. Steadying their nerves, making them smile."
He holds the talisman up for one of them to take, then, leaving the bound captive in Vilus' charge, attempts to get in a comfortable position to watch while resting. (There is almost certainly no time for a short rest, but Joren is going to start one just in case).
With Vilus left in charge of the unconscious man he begins going throught the fellow's pockets seeing what he can turn out, taking time to thoroughly unbutton the mans clothing to see if there are any runes upon the mans skin, then Vilus begins the grizzly task of finding out whether this man is wearing another person's face.
Happy to see she lifted Joren's spirits, even if a little, she gladly takes the talisman from him. Focusing on a task to do, it helps take over the worry and threat of the incoming battle with the ship Marigold is on and she starts walking around the ship, holding the small contraption in front of her, waiting for the color to change.
For any that approach her, she smiles and offers a kind word to try and help lift their spirits.
Vilus flips the man over and searches along his jawline. He applies just a bit of pressure and a smidge of magic. Sure enough, within a moment he is holding up a runed staple, and the seam between real face and false is revealed. One of the guards nearby blanches at the sight, and the captain mutters, "Is that what 'Andra' was like too?"
Then a yell comes down from the crow's nest. "MOVEMENT ON DECK SIR! WE'VE BEEN SPOTTED."
"The chase begins," Captain Chemain shouts. The drums start beating louder and faster now that surprise is no longer a factor. Though taking out the mole only bought a few moments, it becomes clear those seconds were invaluable. The crew aboard Marigold's ship can just barely be seen scurrying about on deck as the anchor is slowly winched up, and oars are slid out of their oar locks. The oarsmen aboard Chemain's ship haul away furiously, closing the gap steadily. Ashley hurries through the ship, double checking Joren's work, and then thoroughly sweeps the area around the captive until she is confident he is the only source of yellow.
Vilus continues to check the man, and finds runes tattooed onto his chest, much like the destructive ones found on Jon Shep's chest.
The distance continues to close, but the other ship sluggishly manages to turn around to face the entrance of the bay. The oars start rowing, and the boat starts to pick up speed.
Finally, both ships are at their maximum speeds, though it is clear that Chemain's is a bit faster. But will it be enough? A crack rings out from the far ship, and a puff of smoke rises from the distant deck. "Incoming fire!!" someone shouts. There is a whistling sound, followed by a splash wide off the prow of the ship. A gout of water rises up, misting everyone on the deck. Then the guards on the cannon at the front position it carefully, light the fuse, and then wait. A second later, a loud bang goes off, a cannon ball hurtles through the air towards Marigold's vessel, and the sound of splintering wood goes up in the distance.
The cannon rocks back, and the guards immediately begin rolling it back into place to start reloading it, but it is a struggle, as the heavy weapon is a last minute addition to the ship, and isn't secured as a regular ship's cannon would be. The seconds go by, with the anxiety of anticipating the next incoming shot hanging over everyone's head. But it doesn't come. From the looks of it, one of the cultists was injured in the firing of their cannon. His body is hauled away, and others take his place, scrambling to make up for lost time.
The guards finish cleaning out the barrel, load the next charge and cannonball in, and then pierce it and light the fuse. The second shot rings out, sending up a shock of water just off the starboard side of the cultist ship. The guards curse and start working on the next shot, but not before the cultists retort. Everyone on board braces, but this shot too goes wide. The ships continue to draw closer.
Ashley ignores everything that is going on around her. The ship, Marigold's ship was now in range. Stepping up to the bow of the ship, she points... and a bright streak flashes from her finger to the center of the other ship. Depending on what she can see, she focuses it towards the mast, but wants to hit as many oar rowers as possible to slow the boat down.
DEX save of 15 for all that are within a 20' radius of the fireball - 19 fire damage if failed, halved if saved.
Knowing what is coming with Ashley's fiery inferno at a distance, Joren keeps his echo 30' ahead of him, in the direction the ship is moving but just out of the line of fire, glad to to have the enemy combatants softened up a bit before any boarding maneuver commences.
Instead he makes eye contact with Vilus, nodding to the goliath for help to steady the cannon for the (more conventional) artillerists.
JorenAthletics to steady to the cannon and prevent the recoil on discharge: 27 (Natural 20, with or without advantage due to help from Vilus!).
Vilus follows Joren and assists in the cannon wrangling, the Goliath is not strong in the same way that Joren is, not trained for swinging longswords or great axes, no, Vilus' strength is more of a natural gift of simply being a larger person, giving him the ability to endure the lifting and carrying that might weigh down other humanoid creatures. Seeing that Joren has the cannon back in place before Vilus can really assist in any effective way, Vilus instead grabs the nearest cannonball offering it up to the loader as if handing off a baseball.
Seeing the enemy coming within range, Samir ducks his head against the thunder of the cannons and moves forward. Clutching his satchel against his side, he steps up beside Ashley. He glances at her briefly, feeling the heat of her casting begin to gather, and raises his own hand towards the enemy ship. A flaming rune blossoms across his hand, but his own aim is somewhat narrower than his companion's. A single burst of fire erupts from his open palm, streaking across the intervening space towards the area of the enemy cannon. A difficult endeavor, he knows, but if he can somehow ignite the powder nearby before it can be loaded into the cannon...
Ashley's ball of fire streaks across the distance, slamming into the mast where it blossoms into flame. Cries of panic and pain rise up from on deck as the boat rocks to one side before righting itself. Its hard to see the main deck from the back this far away, but Ashley can feel that her flame touched people. Many of them. The mast itself is visibly singed, and small pockets of flame cling to a few spots on the ship.
The lurch causes Samir's target to stumble as he carries a powder charge, and the bolt of fire zips over his shoulder.
Joren seemingly effortlessly halts the cannon's recoil and pushes it back into place with three quick steps. The guards hop to get out of his way, hanging jaws giving away how impressed they are. But Vilus offer of a cannonball snaps them back to before anytime is lost. The one who normally would have retrieved the cannonball instead works on double-checking the positioning of the barrel to line up the next shot.
Malachi stands at the rail and focuses his mind as one of the cannoneers on the far ship starts to flinch and panic. A skeletal hand crawls up from within his tunic, wrapping its decrepit fingers around the man's neck. The other two start working on shifting the cannon forward, and one of them runs for a powder charge.
Then more figures appear on the deck. Four of them emerging from below, each with a strung longbow. They take up position on the deck and take aim. AR4 quickly finds his target and fires off two shots in quick succession. The first one to gauge the distance and wind... the second finding its mark. One of the guards on the front cannon howls out in pain as the arrow, with all the momentum gained from a high arc, punches through the leather guard on his shins and pokes out the other side red and dripping. One of his allies turns to him in concern, but he waves them off and limps back over beside the cannon, teeth clenched.
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Malachi flinches at Joren’s shouts and the sounds of magical energy blasting into the rigging. He quickly moves over toward the mast, looking up at the figure in the rigging as both Vilus and Samir threaten him in an attempt to get him to come down. “Let’s just help him along then” Malachi raises his hand and telekinetically pulls the man down toward him. “What in the blazes is going on here, what is all of the ruckus about?”
(Strength save DC 15 or he is pulled 5 feet toward the deck).
The man starts trying to clamber higher. He is suddenly yanked in one direction by Malachi, and blown in the other by a strong gust of magical wind. He manages to hang on just barely by one hand, the rope reddening as his the skin of his calloused hands tear. His other hand is clearly reaching for something on his belt.
Saves were nat 20 for Malachi and 16 for Samir. Joren and Ashley can take their actions
Joren moves his echo, which had already been near the mast (post 3014) up next to the cultist hanging from the rigging.
Unlike his companions, Joren makes no threats. This man may be reaching for an explosive that will slay everyone aboard this ship, yet we are scolding him like a naughty schoolboy. He is a murderous fanatic, knowing exactly what he is doing. Our fist-waving and protestations do not trouble him.
He attacks twice from his echo's position, but not with his blade. Instead, he makes two shove attacks to push the man off the rigging. Hoping to make him fall to the deck and land prone. If the first shove succeeds, the second Athletics roll becomes a grapple from Joren's position.
Joren Attack 1: shove Athletics: 16
Joren Attack 2: shove (or grapple if first shove succeeds) Athletics: 16 (again)
(Continued)
As the cultist manages to hang on through seemingly supernatural strength, despite Joren's (and his companions') every attempt to dislodge him, Joren realizes his crucial tactical mistake. I should just have been attacking the man all along. Let him be falling off on his own.
He flies into a flurry of motion (one use of Unleash Incarnation and Action Surge) to try to make up for his own folly. Attacking the cultist non-lethally from his echo's position with his Dunamis Blade and then grappling him from his own position once he is down.
Attack 3: (from echo's position, non-lethal using flat of Dunamis Blade) - To hit: 9 (miss)
Attack 4: (from echo's position, non-lethal using flat of Dunamis Blade) - To hit: 19
Damage: 13 non-lethal (magical) - this makes the man fall and drop prone to the deck, unconscious.
Attack 5: (grapple of prone target on deck from Joren's position and prevent hands from reaching belt: Athletics: 19
Joren's goal in all this is to get the man prone and grappled down on the deck and prevent his hands from reaching his belt.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Miraculously, the man manages to maintain his one-handed grip despite the onslaught from every angle, like any good topman used to weathering severe conditions up in the ropes. Getting fed up and running out of time, Joren switches tactics. His echo swings its greatsword at the man's head. He ducks the blow, but doesn't anticipate the backswing. The flat of the blade smashes into the back of his skull and he goes limp.
He slips boneless from his place on the rigging just as the crow's nest is likely coming into view of Marigold's ship. No sooner does he hit the ground than Joren leaps atop his unconscious body, restraining his hands. A cylinder rolls from his hands. A kind of pyrotechnic used aboard ships for signaling over long distances. He had been about to ruin any element of surprise, giving up what few moments the crew had to close the gap before they were spotted by Marigold's crew.
The ship lurches again, picking up speed as the the oarsmen below start heaving away in earnest. "What's going on! What are you doing to my men!" Captain Chemain roars from the tiller
"this one isn't yours" Vilus calls out to the captain, as he rushes up to make sure Joren has the situation under control "if you have any thanks for us at all about opening Tensmith back up, then allow us at least to deal with spies in your midsts unquestioned. Proof is a matter of patience."
Samir stoops, snatching up the pyrotechnic that the man had dropped, looking over it carefully. "See here, Captain? The man was about to signal the enemy with this. Pyrotechnic flare. You've got rats on your vessel, Captain." With a shake of his head, Samir slips the signalling device into his bag before scowling at the cultist.
Ashley hangs back as everyone notices the traitor amongst them. She was glad she didn't need to use any fire, as she was hesitant to upon a ship full of gunpowder. As questions arise after his capture, "Captain, do you know who came aboard with him? I would hate for there to be any more rats."
And to Joren, "That was quick work, impressive."
"I- Uh..." Chemain stammers, conflicted and also trying to concentrate on steering toward impending deadly conflict. "I can't think of a reason to doubt you with what you've done and what I'm seeing... But that man has been part of my crew for a decade and a half."
Malachi takes a closer look at the cultist and nods sadly “No, not this one. This man hasn’t been part of your crew, he just wears the face of one who has.” He looks up at the Captain “We don’t know exactly how they do it, but they can take the appearance and mannerisms of others as their own. Was your man away from the crew, late to return any time recently? Did he sail West on an earlier expedition? Hard to tell when it happened, hard to tell who we can trust, but there are ways to tell who is touched by this Razmus.” He nods to Joren.
Joren has been brooding on his own poor tactics, all while tying the unconscious cultist up tightly with rope (hopefully from the ship, not his own).
Fool! Why was I not attacking him from the start as Vilus did, trying instead to shove a man experienced climbing the rigging off it. Wasting energy...
He brightens considerably as the others speak up, especially at Ashley's compliment, grinning at her again like when she shared the goat's milk she had bought back in Tibben before the Shield Pass. But game-face returns moments later.
"Right, Mal. Ash," he begins. "You two wanting to take Samir's Talisman, perhaps, and continue the rounds I was making further? Watching for tinges of yellow as I just saw with the topman in the rigging? Of course knowing there will be blue from the two of you and others, and red from me. I think all the crew could be using some encouragement anyway after witnessing what just happened. Steadying their nerves, making them smile."
He holds the talisman up for one of them to take, then, leaving the bound captive in Vilus' charge, attempts to get in a comfortable position to watch while resting. (There is almost certainly no time for a short rest, but Joren is going to start one just in case).
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
With Vilus left in charge of the unconscious man he begins going throught the fellow's pockets seeing what he can turn out, taking time to thoroughly unbutton the mans clothing to see if there are any runes upon the mans skin, then Vilus begins the grizzly task of finding out whether this man is wearing another person's face.
(nat 20 investigation, 4 arcana)
Happy to see she lifted Joren's spirits, even if a little, she gladly takes the talisman from him. Focusing on a task to do, it helps take over the worry and threat of the incoming battle with the ship Marigold is on and she starts walking around the ship, holding the small contraption in front of her, waiting for the color to change.
For any that approach her, she smiles and offers a kind word to try and help lift their spirits.
Vilus flips the man over and searches along his jawline. He applies just a bit of pressure and a smidge of magic. Sure enough, within a moment he is holding up a runed staple, and the seam between real face and false is revealed. One of the guards nearby blanches at the sight, and the captain mutters, "Is that what 'Andra' was like too?"
Then a yell comes down from the crow's nest. "MOVEMENT ON DECK SIR! WE'VE BEEN SPOTTED."
"The chase begins," Captain Chemain shouts. The drums start beating louder and faster now that surprise is no longer a factor. Though taking out the mole only bought a few moments, it becomes clear those seconds were invaluable. The crew aboard Marigold's ship can just barely be seen scurrying about on deck as the anchor is slowly winched up, and oars are slid out of their oar locks. The oarsmen aboard Chemain's ship haul away furiously, closing the gap steadily. Ashley hurries through the ship, double checking Joren's work, and then thoroughly sweeps the area around the captive until she is confident he is the only source of yellow.
Vilus continues to check the man, and finds runes tattooed onto his chest, much like the destructive ones found on Jon Shep's chest.
The distance continues to close, but the other ship sluggishly manages to turn around to face the entrance of the bay. The oars start rowing, and the boat starts to pick up speed.
Finally, both ships are at their maximum speeds, though it is clear that Chemain's is a bit faster. But will it be enough? A crack rings out from the far ship, and a puff of smoke rises from the distant deck. "Incoming fire!!" someone shouts. There is a whistling sound, followed by a splash wide off the prow of the ship. A gout of water rises up, misting everyone on the deck. Then the guards on the cannon at the front position it carefully, light the fuse, and then wait. A second later, a loud bang goes off, a cannon ball hurtles through the air towards Marigold's vessel, and the sound of splintering wood goes up in the distance.
(Marigold Attack: Nat 1)
(Chemain Attack: 20 -- Target: Helm -- Damage 44)
The cannon rocks back, and the guards immediately begin rolling it back into place to start reloading it, but it is a struggle, as the heavy weapon is a last minute addition to the ship, and isn't secured as a regular ship's cannon would be. The seconds go by, with the anxiety of anticipating the next incoming shot hanging over everyone's head. But it doesn't come. From the looks of it, one of the cultists was injured in the firing of their cannon. His body is hauled away, and others take his place, scrambling to make up for lost time.
The guards finish cleaning out the barrel, load the next charge and cannonball in, and then pierce it and light the fuse. The second shot rings out, sending up a shock of water just off the starboard side of the cultist ship. The guards curse and start working on the next shot, but not before the cultists retort. Everyone on board braces, but this shot too goes wide. The ships continue to draw closer.
(Both ships miss)
Ashley ignores everything that is going on around her. The ship, Marigold's ship was now in range. Stepping up to the bow of the ship, she points... and a bright streak flashes from her finger to the center of the other ship. Depending on what she can see, she focuses it towards the mast, but wants to hit as many oar rowers as possible to slow the boat down.
DEX save of 15 for all that are within a 20' radius of the fireball - 19 fire damage if failed, halved if saved.
Knowing what is coming with Ashley's fiery inferno at a distance, Joren keeps his echo 30' ahead of him, in the direction the ship is moving but just out of the line of fire, glad to to have the enemy combatants softened up a bit before any boarding maneuver commences.
Instead he makes eye contact with Vilus, nodding to the goliath for help to steady the cannon for the (more conventional) artillerists.
Joren Athletics to steady to the cannon and prevent the recoil on discharge: 27 (Natural 20, with or without advantage due to help from Vilus!).
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Vilus follows Joren and assists in the cannon wrangling, the Goliath is not strong in the same way that Joren is, not trained for swinging longswords or great axes, no, Vilus' strength is more of a natural gift of simply being a larger person, giving him the ability to endure the lifting and carrying that might weigh down other humanoid creatures. Seeing that Joren has the cannon back in place before Vilus can really assist in any effective way, Vilus instead grabs the nearest cannonball offering it up to the loader as if handing off a baseball.
(Action general cannon assistance)
Seeing the enemy coming within range, Samir ducks his head against the thunder of the cannons and moves forward. Clutching his satchel against his side, he steps up beside Ashley. He glances at her briefly, feeling the heat of her casting begin to gather, and raises his own hand towards the enemy ship. A flaming rune blossoms across his hand, but his own aim is somewhat narrower than his companion's. A single burst of fire erupts from his open palm, streaking across the intervening space towards the area of the enemy cannon. A difficult endeavor, he knows, but if he can somehow ignite the powder nearby before it can be loaded into the cannon...
Casting Fire Bolt, 11 to hit and 8 fire damage.
Ashley's ball of fire streaks across the distance, slamming into the mast where it blossoms into flame. Cries of panic and pain rise up from on deck as the boat rocks to one side before righting itself. Its hard to see the main deck from the back this far away, but Ashley can feel that her flame touched people. Many of them. The mast itself is visibly singed, and small pockets of flame cling to a few spots on the ship.
The lurch causes Samir's target to stumble as he carries a powder charge, and the bolt of fire zips over his shoulder.
Joren seemingly effortlessly halts the cannon's recoil and pushes it back into place with three quick steps. The guards hop to get out of his way, hanging jaws giving away how impressed they are. But Vilus offer of a cannonball snaps them back to before anytime is lost. The one who normally would have retrieved the cannonball instead works on double-checking the positioning of the barrel to line up the next shot.
Malachi stands at the rail and focuses his mind as one of the cannoneers on the far ship starts to flinch and panic. A skeletal hand crawls up from within his tunic, wrapping its decrepit fingers around the man's neck. The other two start working on shifting the cannon forward, and one of them runs for a powder charge.
Then more figures appear on the deck. Four of them emerging from below, each with a strung longbow. They take up position on the deck and take aim. AR4 quickly finds his target and fires off two shots in quick succession. The first one to gauge the distance and wind... the second finding its mark. One of the guards on the front cannon howls out in pain as the arrow, with all the momentum gained from a high arc, punches through the leather guard on his shins and pokes out the other side red and dripping. One of his allies turns to him in concern, but he waves them off and limps back over beside the cannon, teeth clenched.