Eron:

It is miserable, desperate work.  Tom and Will's house is set a little higher than some of its neighbors, which at least gives a chance.  Another marine, one who's face you vaguely recognize, a member of one of the other platoons, arrives and joins in the effort.  The rising storm surge threatens to undermine your work even as you accomplish it.  

Eventually, though, the waters crest, and the HQ is mostly secure with only minimal water damage.  The same can't be said for some of the other structures nearby, which have been inundated with seawater.  And not to mention, the wind damage as well.  Everywhere, rooftops are stripped of shingles and shutters are torn loose from windows.  Overhead, the sky is black - though it should still be late afternoon - punctuated only by great arcing lightning flashes.  The rain falls in curtains, obscuring your vision, only for gusts of powerful wind to clear it momentarily, before the curtain falls again.   

Back at the Wicker Goat:

Leaks have sprung upstairs as the roof has taken damage (not in Fane's room), causing the barkeep to enlist the aid of some of the dwarves to help him triage the worst of the problem. 

Another group of dwarves enter, looking waterlogged and tired.  One of them spots Tilliman, Regdus and Therris at the bar and you recognize him - the better dressed dwarf from the crane project.  He approaches the bar, unlaces a pouch, and pulls forth 15 gold coins... then hesitates.  "The other two... perhaps best they come see us to collect for themselves on the morrow.  It would be a shame if I were to trust you with their pay, and somehow it never finds its way to them."  He sets 9 gp down on the bar between you.  Then he moves to a booth with the other dwarves who came in with him and they order a round of tall mugs.

Eron:  

The worst threat to their base dealt with, Tom and Will give thanks to Eron and the other marine for their aid.  

Looking around, the entire dock area of Saltmarsh seems to have absorbed a beating from this tropical storm.  Some folks are attempting the same sort of emergency stop-measures as the marines, while other are either hunkered down, or have abandoned their homes to retreat inland.  

As Will and Tom invite you inside and out of the wind and rain, Tom pauses, looking out toward the beach.  Following his gaze, Eron can just make out three figures in the surf, waves crashing up over their waists.  "What fools would..." Tom trails off as he squints to get a better look.  

Back at the Wicker Goat:

The door crashes open, the roar of the storm growing louder inside the bar.  

A lone guard enters, walking slowly as eyes turn in his direction, distracted from beer and conversation.  The guard raises a hand, reaching out toward the two guards seated at a nearby table.  It is then that the three holes pieced in his breastplate become visible, blood running down his leggings and pooling at his feet.  His eyes roll back, and he collapses to the ground, hand still outstretched.

While the rest of the bar is shocked, the two guard push away from the table, their chairs legs screeching on the wooden floor.  "Shite..." one mutters in surprise as he goes to the fallen comrade, checking for signs of life.  The other runs to the door, drawing a shortsword and looking outside into the wind and rain.  He ducks his head back inside and calls out to his partner, "Oh man... sea devils!"

As the crowd gathers around the guard, Tilliman will run to the open door, scanning outside, trying to see if he notices anything/anyone unusual before shutting it tight again.

Eron has a bad feeling after his run in with the Ixitxachitl earlier and the complete loss of the Belle Meade, as well as this incredible storm.

”Sorry fellas but I’ve gotta know who those 3 are.”

Eron first gets his chain mail on and draws out his swords before heading to investigate… readied to dodge at the first sign of attack.

Leo is watching the door, window and the storm. She has dark vision of 120 ft and adv on perception sight/hearing. I think by now Leo will know to wake Fane if she see signs of trouble, but I’ll let you rule on that. If not, Fane will be happy to sleep off that liquor.

Leo's Perception: 15

Wicker Goat:

While the rest of the bar either comes to the aid of the fallen guard, or gawks helplessly at news of the hated sea devils, Tilliman runs to the door and peeks outside.  

He sees to his surprise that the river has crested the road.  With the storm surge coming in from the sea, the river seems to be flowing backwards and it is now up and spilling over its banks.  The moving water is now just yards from the front door of the Wicker Goat.  There, splashing in the knee-deep water, are three figures out of nightmare.  The are a head taller than a human - so quite a bit taller than Tilliman - and they have bluish scales, frills and find, and overall their features look like a mashup of a human and a predatory shark.  They wear no armor but are adorned with bits of clamshell and rope, and wield long spears.  At their feet, in the shallow water, you can make out the form of another fallen figure, possibly another guard - no, wait.  Definitely another guard.  Then Tilliman closes the door.

Inside, the two guards look at one another, than one looks to the crowd.  "We've got trouble.  By the power of the city watch, I hereby deputize all of you to assist in the defense of the town.  If you're armed, come with us.  If you're unarmed, prepare to barricade and hold this building, and all those inside it."

"Lyle, I don't think we're allowed to deputize..." starts the other guard.

"Shut up, Franchik.  If you don't like it, tell Eliander all about it when this is over.  Now..." he takes a deep breath, "... any who are coming, come with me now."  And he draws a shortsword and moves toward the door.

[Fane:  Since you can trance for 4 hours, I am OK saying that much time has passed, and Fane is alerted to the sound of commotion downstairs.  Go ahead and take a long rest, and clear the poisoned/drunk condition.]

Who, if anyone, is going out to help the guards against the sea devils?

Eron:

You move toward the three figures in the surf, trying to get a closer look.  When you get halfway there, the wind and rain clear enough for you to see them clearly - and for them to see you.  

Three Sahuagin, sea devils, are slowly advancing toward the shore, carrying long spears over their shoulders.  Despite the storm, they move at a relaxed, almost haughty pace.  It looks as if they are out for an afternoon stroll, rather than raiding a coastal village.  Yet when they spot you, they point and grab their spears.

How does Eron react?  He is currently 75' away from the sea devils and 75' away from Tom, Will and the other marine.

Tilliman draws his two daggers and says, "Indeed. I think we'd all be a bit better off if those things weren't living. Count me in." Looking around he asks, "Is there another way out? Perhaps if I sneak out the side I can flank them, catch them by surprise... at least split their focus."

Eron stands ready to dodge any assault while waving to Tom Will and the familiar marine.  “Sea devils!!”

His guts twist at the thought of Saltmarsh being swarmed by a sizable force of these vicious predators.

Time to defend his friends…

Fane comes out of her rest, having finally purged her body of the alcohol. The first thing she notices is Leo is agitated, and then she hears shouting coming from downstairs. Assuming whatever the commotion is stems from the raging storm, she goes to the window, opens it and looks out.

If Fane/Leo can see Eron, Tilliman, Regdus, or Therris outside the Inn:

She will break into a spell, and is enveloped in darkness, disappearing and reappearing on the ground outside of the inn, thirty feet away. She would then proceed towards whomever she saw, asking what’s going on?

If Fane/Leo cannot see Eron, Tilliman, Regdus, or Therris outside the Inn:

Leo will fly out to scout, and Fane will make haste downstairs to see what is going on.

Marine HQ:

Eron sees the Sahuagin snap to attention and lock in on his position.  Behind him, he hears Tom and Will shouting the alarm.

Initiative:

1. Eron
2. Marines
3. Sahuagin

[The water is difficult terrain for Eron and the Marines (but not for the Sahuagin).  Also, Eron saw a longsword on Will's hip but doesn't know if Tom or the other unnamed Marine are armed.]

Wicker Goat:

[There is indeed a backdoor, and Tilliman can join the fray along the west side of the inn, hidden behind some flower pots.  Fane, you can't see anyone outside with the storm, but rushing downstairs you are quickly brought up to speed on what is happening.  Leo can fly, but the wind will cause they skies to be difficult terrain for him.

For now I will presume Regdus and Therris are holding the interior of the bar with the other commoners.]

The two guards lead a ragtag band of dwarves and humans (and Fane) outside into the storm, while Tilliman sneaks out the backdoor and creeps up alongside the building.  Out in the flooded road, three sea devils are taking turns stabbing a fallen guard with their long spears.  One of them catches sight of the militia emerging from the inn, and all three of them ready their weapons...

Both of the guards rush forward, their battle cries drowned out by the roaring winds.  They stop just short of the Sahuagin raiders, readying their weapons to attack against any advance.

Initiative:

1. Guards
2. Fane
3. Sahuagin
4. Tilliman
5. Commoners

Eron moves into the surf maintaining his defenses.  “All right let’s see what you’ve got sea devils!”

movement 30’/15’ into the water.  
action dodge

Fane will stay where she is at, raises and shoots her crossbow at the Sahuagin on the right.

Light Crossbow attack: 17 dmg: 6

OOC: Generally, I’ll have Leo do the help action and flyby trait to fly away in combat. Let me know how you want to handle it, does she go when I go, her own initiative, should I specify who she attacks. Etc.

For this round she will help on the Sahuagin I just shot at.

[Fane, your use of Leo is fine.  Just keep in mind the wind is causing his flight to be through difficult terrain so his speed is halved.

Also, I should add that Regdus and Therris are more than welcome to join the fray.  I just left them inside since they did not respond to the call to battle.]

Wicker Goat Battle:

Fane sticks a bolt deep into the gills of one of the sea devils, and then the three of them charge through the surf toward the two guards.  Ready with their spears, both of the town's defenders land piercing strikes against the first Sahuagin to reach them - the same one Fane had just bolted.

• Spear Attack:  18  Piercing Damage:  9

• Spear Attack:  22  Piercing Damage:  2

The sahuagin is badly hurt, clearly, but cheers from the drunk commoners is short-lived.  The three sea devils close on the guards, delivering vicious, trained strikes with their spear and savage bites with their shark-like teeth.  Once the blood of the first guard is spilled on the muddy road, the ferocity of the sea devils doubles as they enter a frenzy. 

• Bite Attack:  22  Piercing Damage:  3
• Spear Attack:  17  Piercing Damage:  3

• Spear Attack:  15  (Miss)
• Bite Attack:  15   (Miss)

• Spear Attack:  22  Piercing Damage:  9
• Bite Attack:  23  Piercing Damage:  8

One of the guards falls in a heap, while the other is able to shove off a biting sea devil, but he is left covered in his own blood, pouring from a deep bite wound on his shoulder.  "For Saltmarsh!  For Keoland!" the guard cries, weakly.

1. Guards
2. Fane
3. Sahuagin
4. Tilliman
5. Commoners

Marine HQ Battle:

Eron wades into the ankle-deep surf, challenging the oncoming Sahuagin.  The sea devils do not shy away from the fight.  They dash forward, moving as quickly through the shallow waves as a man would run through an open field.  They surround Eron, with two moving behind to cut off his retreat, though they haven't time to attack this round.

Back nearer the building, Eron hears a shout from Tom.  "They'll cut him to ribbons!"  He dashes forward, wielding only the shovel he had been digging with moments before.  

"Tom!" cries Will, drawing his own longsword.  Then he looks back to the other Marine, who also had only a shovel.  "The armory!  Fetch more blades!  Hurry!"  Then Will rushes toward the beach as well.  The other Marine, following orders, ducks inside the HQ.

1. Eron
2. Marines
3. Sahuagin

Tilliman, in a stealthy crouch closes the distance and launches a pair of daggers at the closest sahuagin... the anxiety causing him to bite the bottom of his lip until it bleeds.

Eron turns swiftly to the northwest sahuagin, attacking savagely grunting with the strain of simply swinging his weapons.  Once he lands a blow however his stance gets tighter his blades a little more controlled and a mask of determination settles on his face, “One at a time friends we must, uhn take them down!”

Tilliman takes advantage of the nearest sea devil's focus on the guard to plant two daggers in its back.  [Offhand weapon doesn't get the DEX bonus to damage, but still an impressive 17 dmg overall.]

The commoners, waffling back and forth between eagerness to fight and retreat, surge forward once they see that two of the Sahuagin have been bled. The human commoners advance toward the unwounded sea devil, not closing within melee range, waving wooden sailors batons at it and trying to distract it from its assault on the guardsmen.

The dwarven commoners attack the same one just hit by Tilliman, brandishing heavy ale mugs as clubs, though they fail to damage the scaly hide of the raider.

• Club Attack:  8  (Miss)

• Club Attack:  7 (Miss)

The remaining guard takes advantage, however, plunging his spear into the side of the sea devil when the dwarves pull its attention away for a moment. 

• Spear Attack:  17  Damage:  9

With a gurgle, the sea devil collapses into the muddy road, leaving just two more in the fight.

A cheer goes up from the commoners.

1. Guards
2. Fane
3. Sahuagin
4. Tilliman
5. Commoners