//away we go!

The metal gangplank retracted into the giant steel door which shut completely. As the people shuffled to try and get to a window or to the top deck, the pilot got to work and raised the repaired steel beast into the sky, with it hovering in place as it turned to give the passengers a final look at the city, blasting off at high acceleration towards Aundair. The city fades into the distance as the crew makes its final on flight checks, and ensures the detection unit is working. There as it can be seen, a blip was approaching them... no it was 3 of them. An on board mage is ordered to use the message spell to tell the unidentifiable airships to redirect their corse, to which they were met with no reply. 3 Ballista are armed and the pilot begins to climb while over a large lake. The pilots assistant is left with the job of getting people inside to protect them, with absolute haste.

Oren stands on the upper deck as the ship takes off. Its exhilarating! He takes a seat on the deck and takes in all the activity going on around him with wide eyes! 

After a short while, he notices some of the crew looking worried and they begin to ready some of the armaments on deck that he hadn't noticed in his excitement. 

Oren stands, unsure sure of what to do...

Ildan has been keeping low for the majority of the wait. He is one of the last to board the ship making sure no one is after him. As he walks on board he becomes more relaxed, he puts his hood down and sits on the top deck. He is drinking from his waterskin when the crew starts to panic. "Great, trouble can't keep away from me", he says as gets of his seat.  

Together with his fellow officers, Tham rushed between groups of passenger still on the deck, asking each of them politely to move downstairs to the dinning sallon, to have some tea and cake, trying to look as least concerned as he could ((9 performance/deception roll if needed, both have same boni)), while also trying to spot his sister.

Finally, he finds her arguing with one of the ship waiters, a grey haired halfling, wearing a suit with a small house Lyrander emblem on the chest.

Leleen: Tham! What is going on? And drop that face, I could always tell when you were trying to hide something!

Tham: Alright sister,  we have "something"  approaching the ship, and by "something" I mean we have no idea what it is. Would you now follow mister Antal (noding at the halfling) downstairs please? It will be safer there.

Leleen: You know I can handle myself well, and could even help you!

Tham: NO! Do as I say, this is one of the best crews on the whole Khorvaire, we can handle it. There is no reason for you to take unnecessary risk.

...and as he says that, he starts to rush to another group of passengers, this one gathered around a huge warforged figure.

((The skyships are generaly supposed to be one of the most luxurious things on Eberron, if this one is more spartan, let me know please))

((@CodesterV8 I leave it to you, whether Leleen goes downstairs or stays on the deck, trying to be useful (our private conversation relating my character).))

//The skyship here is very lucrative, but it has limited defensive weaponry as they cannot afford an escort all the time

Mordrun made his way to the topdeck. A view like this did not come by that often so the opportunity to have a literal bird's eye view of the city was too good to pass up. It was quite something to be sure but after he took in the view, something else drew his attention.

'Oh, aren't you a beauty.' Mordrun almost giggled as he set his eyes on a ballista mounted on the deck. 'And you brought company.' He said spotting the other two ballistae. He was poised to give them a closer inspection when a commotion gripped the ship. It seemed they were about to have visitors of the unwanted variety.

'Rest and relaxation, my tail.' Mordrun sighed. He leaned against a wall, waiting to see how the situation would progress. He kept his hand within reach of his crossbow just in case.

A far skinned changeling runs to the top of the deck to see what trouble brews, clutching his tome in one hand and taking the stairs two at a time. What in the twelve moons is going on?

Preacher stood on the deck, looking at the approaching ships. They seemed hostile, headed straight for this ship. Were they thieves? It made little sense to him, though his comrades during the war tried to explain. Humans, and other like species, needed things he did not - food, clothing, shelter, entertainment. It was much easier to take, than to earn, these things. That's what they told him. He could not understand. Easier? Easier to risk their lives against an armed vessel and trained crew, and in this case passengers? Easier than offering their skills at arms for hire to those who needed them? They had flying ships. Why not offer to carry cargo or passengers in them, at a lower price than that charged by this ship?

Perhaps they hadn't quite thought this through?

Though he didn't want to fight, he knew that the crew here would resist, and he would help in the battle and as a healer in the aftermath.

Tham slowed a bit down and aproched the group gathered around the warforged figure.

T: Excuse me Ladies and gentlemen, We will be serving tea and a cake at the dinning sallon downstairs. Would you kindly follow our steward there?

Said Tham to the group, while doing his best to conceal his concerns and wondering whether Warforged like cakes at all.

((performance/deception roll if needed 20))

As the chaos settles in, 3 black flags are seen in the distance as Ballistae are shot towards the ship. Tham notices Leleen standing on the edge, getting thrown backwards with force as 2 Ballistae hit the ship from the side, each with ropes attached as they drag the ship downwards. The 2 other ships sail above with ropes being lowered onto the ship, and a noticeable war cry of “Time for the mother-load boys!”. All who can attempt to flee down below as the crew attempts to scramble a defense, firing Ballistae at the ship to the side.

(("Tham notices Leleen standing on the edge, getting thrown backwards" -> is backwords over board still on the ship?))

//She’s still on the ship, but she was close to getting thrown off

Initiative: 6

(Not manipulated, just changed it to rolling initiative with the proper modifier)

Danys on the top deck looked at the black flags flying and thought air pirates and wanted to help people move to below deck so he scanned the deck to see if there are any passengers that need help

Perception:11

Initiative 4

Initiative: 21

Ildan rolls his eyes and draws his short swords.

Intuitive:19

Initiative:11

OOC: can I take the 20 rolled in the group chat?

If not, I'll reroll: 15