Laire and Oden (and Beatrice when back) can read this:
Dajarkal is able to jam the ballistae quickly and with ease (as if she had had training to do such a thing) and stands in front of it to block anyone from being able to use it going forward. As she turns to face the bow of the ship, she grips her quarterstaff tightly and whispers something under her breath whilst grinding the sprig of mistletoe and shamrock leaf she has attached to the staff into the wood. The quarterstaff seems to grow slightly and deepen in colour [spell]Shillelagh[/spell].
Oden roll a dex check, as you have proficiency in Vehicles (Water), add your proficiency bonus. This will determine how quickly you can disable the ballistae.
[...] Anything we can note about it? [...] Perception 17
When you get up to the deck (which will be shortly), you look out at the ship and see that it still a distance away but is approaching quickly and is flying the Clovis Concord colours. There is nothing else you can see yet.
[It is late here, so I'll post this and allow anyone who hasn't posted yet catch up.]
Heidi bounds to the deck and across to the port bow looking towards the approaching vessel and yells at Kijori “Hard tack Starboard you fool!”.
Three Earrings moves to the port side of the main deck, deftly pulls out her spy glass with one hand, presses something on the side and looks through the spy glass. She then hisses “It is Larth! Three Earrings does not understand how Larth could have known where Three Earrings would be?”
Heidi yells “It was the sea-elf obviously, I told you from when he signed on as crew that he couldn’t be trusted.”
Three Earrings looks around, seeing Dajarkal at the port ballistae and hisses “Three Earrings thinks you had suspicions about the wrong member of the crew, yes?” Three Earrings then yells out “Dajarkal is a traitor. Dillyu, Boerth, Kijiri prepare to bathe in her blood and to defend the ship.” Three Earrings puts away her spyglass pulls out her dagger with her off hand and starts moving towards Dajarkal at a fantastic speed (on her turn, scimitar in one hand, dagger in the other).
Boerth is looking confused about what is going on. Kijiri is focussing on sailing the ship.
Dillyu is aready following Oden’s lead. Dajarkal stands her ground and starts readying another spell.
Everyone roll initiative.
On your turn you can try to convince one member of the crew or one member of your party to join your side (whether it be Revelry Pirate or Clovis Concord) as a free action. If they are attacked/take damage at any point before they are convinced to join a side, they will join the side that didn't attack/damage them.
Anyone trying to convince one of the NPCs to join their side will need to pass a DC that I will set based on your interactions/lack of interactions you had with the NPC. If you are trying to convince a member of the crew to fight against Three Earrings and Heidi, there will also be an opposed persuasion check, with modifiers based on interaction/lack of interaction.
Laire have not felt herself more outsider than now, even when she just walked out of the mountains for the first time. With attacking sahuagines it was clear - monsters killing people and drowning the island. But now she was supposed to fight friendly and sympathetic people on a word of another friendly and sympathetic person, who suddenly declared the first one murderers. Laire quickly armed and armoured herself but stepped away - she was not going to attack anyone here.
You disable the ballista almost instantly, so now neither ballistae is useable for the moment. With a natural 20 and 27 total, you can have held an action for when the crew downstairs came to the deck (which you can use before your turn in the initiative order), as you disabled the ballista before they were even at the bottom of the stairs.
Laire:
Totally valid response, I'll assume that Laire holds her action on her initiative count unless you tell me otherwose.
Aliez:
Three Earrings says "Three Earrings plan is to gut the traitor Dajarkal and then take care of the Concord ship, friend Aliez help with plan, yes?."
Initiative:
Beatrice: 12
Dajarkal: 15
Dillyu: 16
Heidi: 14
Three Earrings: 17
Beorth and Kijori will roll initiative when they are convinced to take a side (or after 2 rounds, when they will side with Three Earrings). Remember trying to convince one of them is a free action on your turn.
Oden can take his held action even before the rest of the party rolls initiative.
When Vincent tries to intimidate Three Earrings, her expression hardens and she says "Three Earrings suggests friend Vincent remains a friend and thinks about what he does next very carefully! Does friend Vincent not know of the tyranny of the Clovis Concord? Also, Three Earrings is helping the Heroes of the Isle and has only been a friend so far. Three Earrings thinks that the Heroes of the Isle do not want Three Earrings as an enemy, yes?"
Reguh, Vincent and Oden are all up in the initiative order. Oden also has a held action he can use.
Kijori's warning shout meant that there was no time to alert the others to what was about to happen and who Three Earrings really is. Instead, Oden announces that he has chosen a side, hoping his new friends will pick the same. "Stand down, Three Earrings. Your crimes have caught up with you. You will not make fugitives of us, just to save your skin. Surrender and we will speak kindly of the good you did these past two days. No blood has to be spilled this night."
(Held action used to say all that)
Oden moves to the top of the stairs between Dajarkal and Three Earrings, readying his shield and weapon. (Holding an attack in case an enemy tries to come up the steps)
“Wait Three earrings! Do not harm Dajarkal! Instead answer me this... Why don’t pirates shower before they walk the plank?... They’ll just wash up on shore later!”
Cast Hideous laughter on three earrings DC14 wisdom save
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Vincent moves right up next to Three Earrings and calls out to Boerth, who will be closer to where Vincent is moving (he is at the top of steps to the left).
Boerth looks conflicted and confused (maybe in part because I keep misspelling his name as Beorth) and after hearing yells of "crimes", "fugitives" and "pirates" calls out "What do you mean? I am no pirate, I have not committed any crimes, at least not in Wildemount. We are a cargo ship aren't we?" and he looks to Three Earrings and Heidi.
Vincent:
I don't think Vincent had any interactions with Boerth so he doesn't get any modifiers (let me know if I'm wrong and I'll update this). Fortunately Boerth's base DC is 18 because of his backstory (as told to Laire and Beatrice), so even without modifiers you pass this. If you beat any opposed roll Three Earrings or Heidi makes, Boerth will see reason in your words and join you (at least until convinced to act differently).
FYI: Kijori is DC20 base, as he is more aligned with the Revelry, even if not necessarily a proper pirate himself.
Three Earrings hisses to Oden"Crimes? Surrender? Oden thinks he knows Three Earings, but Oden is wrong."
She then calls to Boerth "Come now friend Boerth, you must have wondered why you have been reimbursed so well for transporting spice powder and alcohol. Whilst Three Earrings is Revelry, her greatest crimes are failing to pay unjust taxes and transporting restricted intoxicants, nothing worse. You must understand that if you do not help Three Earrings with getting rid of this Concord threat, you will surely be hung by the neck anyway. The Concord do not believe that ignorance is a defence."
For anyone that tries to convince Boerth to side with them (including Vincent):
Persuasion: 21
Three Earrings gets a +6 modifier for significant interactions with Boerth, but -2 as he does not want to be on the wrong side of the law.
Three Earrings then attempts to run up the steps and push past Oden to get to Dajarkal.
Vincent can take an opportunity attack if he wants.
Oden, this triggers your held attack which will occur before Three Earrings' attack and free action.
[Assuming Oden does not take Three Earrings down (she is pretty tough)] Three Earrings then attacks Oden, twice with her scimitar and once with her dagger:
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
I rolled the wrong damage dice on the dagger attack (it should have been a d4, so rolling an 8 (5+3) was impossible). New damage for dagger attack against Oden - instead of the 8 damage it should be: 6 damage
Three Earrings modified persuasion in her interaction with Boerth is 23, so he seems to be more convinced by Three Earrings at the moment than by Vincent, and seems convinced that the Concord will kill him even though he didn't know he was working under a pirate captain. If nobody can convince him to join them or at least stand down by the time it reaches Three Earrings next turn, Boerth will join the battle as another foe.
Three Earrings snarls as she takes 15 damage from Vincent, though it barely slows her down.
Three Earrings takes another 11 damage from Oden, and yet still does not look that hurt.
Dillyu pulls out a light crossbow and fires it at Three Earrings, Attack: 10 Damage: 13 if he hits, it will have sneak attack damage of 6 because Oden is within 5 ft of Three Earrings.
Dillyu then runs past Laire and down the stairs to the right, stopping at the bottom step and calls out to Boerth "I know you are a good man, I saw how you helped those refugees. Do not listen to Three Earrings. I am in the same situation as you, we can figure a way out of this together."
Persuasion: 4
Dillyu gets a +5 modifier for significant interactions with Boerth.
Dajarkal points her staff at Three Earrings and issues a Command "GROVEL" to her, (Wisdom save DC14, or Three Earrings falls prone).
Three Earrings save: 14
Heidi's face turns red with anger, she points at Vincent and yells "Ye will pay dearly fer yer cowardly attack on the Cap'n. Let us see 'ow good ye be at fightin' when ye cant move" and she casts Hold Person (Wisdom save DC13) on Vincent.
She then yells to Kijori "Tie the wheel off an' deal with the traitors who 'ave 'armed yer Cap'n, startin' with that there one!" and she points to Vincent.
Persuasion: 15
Heidi gets a +6 modifier for significant interactions with Kijori.
Beatrice, Aliez and Laire are up in whatever order they post.
[Considering Three Earrings started with between two and six times your character's hitpoints and she has a number of cool abilities, I thought she would be in better shape at the moment. Unfortunately she is now prone and has taken enough damage to kill the strongest of you two times over. Boo!!!]
Boerth does not seem convinced by Dillyu's argument. Kijori seems to want to remain neutral for the moment and holds onto the wheel.
Vincent narrows his eyes at Three Rings, and starts looking at the intercepting ship. Anything we can note about it?
Perception 11
Paladin - warforged - orange
Laire and Oden (and Beatrice when back) can read this:
Dajarkal is able to jam the ballistae quickly and with ease (as if she had had training to do such a thing) and stands in front of it to block anyone from being able to use it going forward. As she turns to face the bow of the ship, she grips her quarterstaff tightly and whispers something under her breath whilst grinding the sprig of mistletoe and shamrock leaf she has attached to the staff into the wood. The quarterstaff seems to grow slightly and deepen in colour [spell]Shillelagh[/spell].
Oden roll a dex check, as you have proficiency in Vehicles (Water), add your proficiency bonus. This will determine how quickly you can disable the ballistae.
When you get up to the deck (which will be shortly), you look out at the ship and see that it still a distance away but is approaching quickly and is flying the Clovis Concord colours. There is nothing else you can see yet.
[It is late here, so I'll post this and allow anyone who hasn't posted yet catch up.]
Heidi bounds to the deck and across to the port bow looking towards the approaching vessel and yells at Kijori “Hard tack Starboard you fool!”.
Three Earrings moves to the port side of the main deck, deftly pulls out her spy glass with one hand, presses something on the side and looks through the spy glass. She then hisses “It is Larth! Three Earrings does not understand how Larth could have known where Three Earrings would be?”
Heidi yells “It was the sea-elf obviously, I told you from when he signed on as crew that he couldn’t be trusted.”
Three Earrings looks around, seeing Dajarkal at the port ballistae and hisses “Three Earrings thinks you had suspicions about the wrong member of the crew, yes?” Three Earrings then yells out “Dajarkal is a traitor. Dillyu, Boerth, Kijiri prepare to bathe in her blood and to defend the ship.” Three Earrings puts away her spyglass pulls out her dagger with her off hand and starts moving towards Dajarkal at a fantastic speed (on her turn, scimitar in one hand, dagger in the other).
Boerth is looking confused about what is going on. Kijiri is focussing on sailing the ship.
Dillyu is aready following Oden’s lead. Dajarkal stands her ground and starts readying another spell.
Everyone roll initiative.
On your turn you can try to convince one member of the crew or one member of your party to join your side (whether it be Revelry Pirate or Clovis Concord) as a free action. If they are attacked/take damage at any point before they are convinced to join a side, they will join the side that didn't attack/damage them.
Anyone trying to convince one of the NPCs to join their side will need to pass a DC that I will set based on your interactions/lack of interactions you had with the NPC. If you are trying to convince a member of the crew to fight against Three Earrings and Heidi, there will also be an opposed persuasion check, with modifiers based on interaction/lack of interaction.
27
Initiative: 21
Laire Initiative: 5
Laire have not felt herself more outsider than now, even when she just walked out of the mountains for the first time. With attacking sahuagines it was clear - monsters killing people and drowning the island. But now she was supposed to fight friendly and sympathetic people on a word of another friendly and sympathetic person, who suddenly declared the first one murderers. Laire quickly armed and armoured herself but stepped away - she was not going to attack anyone here.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Init 8
As Aliez scrambles up, and rushes up towards the captain, "So whats the plan?"
Oden:
You disable the ballista almost instantly, so now neither ballistae is useable for the moment. With a natural 20 and 27 total, you can have held an action for when the crew downstairs came to the deck (which you can use before your turn in the initiative order), as you disabled the ballista before they were even at the bottom of the stairs.
Laire:
Totally valid response, I'll assume that Laire holds her action on her initiative count unless you tell me otherwose.
Aliez:
Three Earrings says "Three Earrings plan is to gut the traitor Dajarkal and then take care of the Concord ship, friend Aliez help with plan, yes?."
Initiative:
Beatrice: 12
Dajarkal: 15
Dillyu: 16
Heidi: 14
Three Earrings: 17
Beorth and Kijori will roll initiative when they are convinced to take a side (or after 2 rounds, when they will side with Three Earrings). Remember trying to convince one of them is a free action on your turn.
Oden can take his held action even before the rest of the party rolls initiative.
Vincent initiative 21
“Three Rings, don’t do this. Your mistakes are yours to pay for.”
Vincent draws his war pick, and gestures at Three Rings.
intimidation before we get started? 10
Paladin - warforged - orange
14 initiative
(Need a minute to get caught up but here is this for now)
When Vincent tries to intimidate Three Earrings, her expression hardens and she says "Three Earrings suggests friend Vincent remains a friend and thinks about what he does next very carefully! Does friend Vincent not know of the tyranny of the Clovis Concord? Also, Three Earrings is helping the Heroes of the Isle and has only been a friend so far. Three Earrings thinks that the Heroes of the Isle do not want Three Earrings as an enemy, yes?"
Reguh, Vincent and Oden are all up in the initiative order. Oden also has a held action he can use.
Kijori's warning shout meant that there was no time to alert the others to what was about to happen and who Three Earrings really is. Instead, Oden announces that he has chosen a side, hoping his new friends will pick the same. "Stand down, Three Earrings. Your crimes have caught up with you. You will not make fugitives of us, just to save your skin. Surrender and we will speak kindly of the good you did these past two days. No blood has to be spilled this night."
(Held action used to say all that)
Oden moves to the top of the stairs between Dajarkal and Three Earrings, readying his shield and weapon. (Holding an attack in case an enemy tries to come up the steps)
Correct, holding actions. She might interfere with healing hear and there, but not going to fight.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
“Wait Three earrings! Do not harm Dajarkal! Instead answer me this... Why don’t pirates shower before they walk the plank?... They’ll just wash up on shore later!”
Cast Hideous laughter on three earrings DC14 wisdom save
Three Earrings wisdom save: 20. [She passes, mainly because she doesn't get the joke. I on the other hand love a good dad joke, so keep them coming.]
She looks at Reguh "What does friend Reguh mean? Three Earrings does not know why friend Reguh brings up pirates and walking planks?"
Vincent is going to take the dodge action and move in closer towards Three Rings.
“Last chance - all of you- before this comes to blows. You can still find peace in this life.”
Persuasion towards either Beorth or Kiniri, I can’t tell which is which to see which one is closest.
19
Paladin - warforged - orange
Vincent moves right up next to Three Earrings and calls out to Boerth, who will be closer to where Vincent is moving (he is at the top of steps to the left).
Boerth looks conflicted and confused (maybe in part because I keep misspelling his name as Beorth) and after hearing yells of "crimes", "fugitives" and "pirates" calls out "What do you mean? I am no pirate, I have not committed any crimes, at least not in Wildemount. We are a cargo ship aren't we?" and he looks to Three Earrings and Heidi.
Vincent:
I don't think Vincent had any interactions with Boerth so he doesn't get any modifiers (let me know if I'm wrong and I'll update this). Fortunately Boerth's base DC is 18 because of his backstory (as told to Laire and Beatrice), so even without modifiers you pass this. If you beat any opposed roll Three Earrings or Heidi makes, Boerth will see reason in your words and join you (at least until convinced to act differently).
FYI: Kijori is DC20 base, as he is more aligned with the Revelry, even if not necessarily a proper pirate himself.
Three Earrings hisses to Oden "Crimes? Surrender? Oden thinks he knows Three Earings, but Oden is wrong."
She then calls to Boerth "Come now friend Boerth, you must have wondered why you have been reimbursed so well for transporting spice powder and alcohol. Whilst Three Earrings is Revelry, her greatest crimes are failing to pay unjust taxes and transporting restricted intoxicants, nothing worse. You must understand that if you do not help Three Earrings with getting rid of this Concord threat, you will surely be hung by the neck anyway. The Concord do not believe that ignorance is a defence."
For anyone that tries to convince Boerth to side with them (including Vincent):
Persuasion: 21
Three Earrings gets a +6 modifier for significant interactions with Boerth, but -2 as he does not want to be on the wrong side of the law.
Three Earrings then attempts to run up the steps and push past Oden to get to Dajarkal.
Vincent can take an opportunity attack if he wants.
Oden, this triggers your held attack which will occur before Three Earrings' attack and free action.
[Assuming Oden does not take Three Earrings down (she is pretty tough)] Three Earrings then attacks Oden, twice with her scimitar and once with her dagger:
Scimitar Attack 1: 18 Damage: 7
Scimitar Attack 2: 15 Damage: 4
Dagger Attack: 23 Damage: 7
Vincent will take the opportunity attack
Attack: 17 Damage: 6
if that hits, Vincent will use his Touch of Death channel divinity option to deal an extra 9 necrotic damage.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Oden's held attack:
Attack: 22 Damage: 8
Oden slashes at the rushing Tabaxi, then dodges two scimitar attacks, only to be caught off guard by the dagger sinking into his leg.
I rolled the wrong damage dice on the dagger attack (it should have been a d4, so rolling an 8 (5+3) was impossible). New damage for dagger attack against Oden - instead of the 8 damage it should be: 6 damage
Three Earrings modified persuasion in her interaction with Boerth is 23, so he seems to be more convinced by Three Earrings at the moment than by Vincent, and seems convinced that the Concord will kill him even though he didn't know he was working under a pirate captain. If nobody can convince him to join them or at least stand down by the time it reaches Three Earrings next turn, Boerth will join the battle as another foe.
Three Earrings snarls as she takes 15 damage from Vincent, though it barely slows her down.
Three Earrings takes another 11 damage from Oden, and yet still does not look that hurt.
Dillyu pulls out a light crossbow and fires it at Three Earrings, Attack: 10 Damage: 13 if he hits, it will have sneak attack damage of 6 because Oden is within 5 ft of Three Earrings.
Dillyu then runs past Laire and down the stairs to the right, stopping at the bottom step and calls out to Boerth "I know you are a good man, I saw how you helped those refugees. Do not listen to Three Earrings. I am in the same situation as you, we can figure a way out of this together."
Persuasion: 4
Dillyu gets a +5 modifier for significant interactions with Boerth.
Dajarkal points her staff at Three Earrings and issues a Command "GROVEL" to her, (Wisdom save DC14, or Three Earrings falls prone).
Three Earrings save: 14
Heidi's face turns red with anger, she points at Vincent and yells "Ye will pay dearly fer yer cowardly attack on the Cap'n. Let us see 'ow good ye be at fightin' when ye cant move" and she casts Hold Person (Wisdom save DC13) on Vincent.
She then yells to Kijori "Tie the wheel off an' deal with the traitors who 'ave 'armed yer Cap'n, startin' with that there one!" and she points to Vincent.
Persuasion: 15
Heidi gets a +6 modifier for significant interactions with Kijori.
Beatrice, Aliez and Laire are up in whatever order they post.
[Considering Three Earrings started with between two and six times your character's hitpoints and she has a number of cool abilities, I thought she would be in better shape at the moment. Unfortunately she is now prone and has taken enough damage to kill the strongest of you two times over. Boo!!!]
Boerth does not seem convinced by Dillyu's argument. Kijori seems to want to remain neutral for the moment and holds onto the wheel.