Day
3 on the Boat*** The new day - 18th Kythorn ***
The new day starts without any sign of a foe on either bank of the Rauvin, although the smell of troll remains pungent in the air. Just ahead of the boat, the moor begins spreading toward the north, and the Rauvin also begins sweeping to the left in a more northerly direction.
Graasz seems satisfied. "Bymyreckoning," he says, "we'reabout90milesoutofNesméandabout120miles200kmfromSilverymoon,astheriverflows."
"Ofcourse,thatwouldbeabitshorterbyland,butyou'vestillcomeabout30milesfarthernowthanyouwouldhaveonhorseback."
"Inotherwords,you'vegainedaday'stimealready.We'llneedtwomoredaysaftertoday,andthenwe'reinSilverymoon."
" That'slessthan5fulldays.Onhorsebackyou'dneedatleasteight,andthat'swithoutanydelays!"
Everything remains relatively quiet, but as the morning fog slowly lifts, riders are again spotted crossing hill tops to the northwest - about 4-5 miles distant - apparently riding parallel to the river. On the moor side of the river, a large band of trolls is also spotted, about a mile onto the moor. It seems that they are also keeping pace with the boat - but also keeping distance too. Both the trolls and the barbarians seem to understand that you're bound to the water.
Graasz studies the riders with his glass, then says only, "Barbarians.Aboutfiftyofthem,inall." With the naked eye, it's possible to see that there are about 30 trolls in the band on the moor.
***
Nearing midday, the boat reaches a narrow spot where the Rauvin flows rapidly. The gnomes fiddle with the controls and the engine noise increases, but the boat still slows significantly as it pushes against the faster flowing water. Rounding a corner, everyone spots a huge tree trunk that has been placed across the river there and wedged in place between large rocks. It's no doubt an improvised bridge made by the trolls. Graasz calls for everyone to hold on, then tries ramming the tree trunk out of the way, but the rocks hold it firmly in place, and the waterwheel at the back of the boat thrashes helplessly in the water. "Damn!" mutters Graasz.
With the boat rocking in the faster current (OOC: sorry Cleo :-) Graasz lessens the power so that the boat is stationary, the water rushing past.
"Weneedthattreemoved!" says Graasz unnecessarily. Nardl breaks open a locker where there are ropes and grapples. A few moments later, he has thrown a grapple to try and hook it onto the log. It seems to lodge, and he ties off the other end to a large iron bolt at the front of the boat, but when Graasz puts the boat into reverse, the rope tautens, then suddenly the grapple flies loose, splashing into the water.
Nardl curses and pulls the rope in, to have another go as Graasz re-positions the boat. As the metal grapple comes out of the water, several butcherfish dart around it snapping, before disappearing in the swirling waters.
After a few attempts, Nardl shakes his head. "Someonewillhavetogoashore..." he says.
<Ceely aka Robson wrote>:
> Ceely promptly answers "I'll go. I'm better
> prepared to quickly leave the water, if I fall.
> Guys, do we still have our troll weapons? The
> greek fire and the staff? I think I would have
> a better chance on the troll side, with you all
> near the margin protecting my getaway."
Graasz starts to manoeuvre the boat so that it is close to the log, assuming that Ceely wants to climb from the front of the boat onto the log itself. The flood of water in the narrows makes the bow of the boat bounce up and down a fair bit though...
<Milo aka Steve wrote>:
> "It's wood.. perhaps we make it go boom.
> What about some oil.. and perhaps a fireball?"
> Milo muses a second or two longer.. "We wouldn't
> even have to burn all the way through it.. just
> weaken it enough so that it snaps when we ram it."
>
> Milo looks around to test the reaction to his
> suggestion.. hoping someone was listening.
Rolfr come up on deck, having been snoozing. He hears the end and takes in the situation. "Soundsgoodidea!" he says, rushing towards the forward mounted flame thrower. Blondung shakes his head though. "Look at that tree trunk. It's dripping wet from the water spray" he comments, gesturing. "Cat in hell's chance of getting that to do anything more than steam and char!"
<Yvandel aka Sebastian wrote>:
> "Do we have any strong rope on board? We could
> try to secure it to an arrow and shoot it at the
> tree trunk. If we can somehow get it to stick,
> we might be able to cross the distance between
> the boat and the tree trunk a little safe. Of
> course, the problem is getting an arrow to stick
> tight enough to hold the weight of one of us."
Blondung laughs. "An arrow would snap!" he says, ridiculing Yvandel's suggestion. Some of the old caustic Blondung comes out for a moment. Perhaps it is the stress of the situation...
<Lucretia aka Joe wrote>:
> OOC: Is it feasible to get the boat up against
> the log and then lean over the side and chop this
> thing in half?
The log would take ages to chop in half if it were on dry land (it it thick and sodden). Leaning over the bow whilst the boat is moving all over the place in the current - nigh on impossible.... certainly take an age!
<Ceely aka Robson wrote>:
> If she deems it impossible(check?), she will
> wait to get to the shore before jumping.
OOC: As I mentioned before - not impossible, just difficult - and thus, I will deem that you make the attempt. Others have however suggested that you tie a rope to you, and although you have not responded to this, I will deem that you accept this safety measure... Now to roll a dice... Oooo a 15! (lucky you were used to boats eh?)
Ceely, with the rope tied around her middle, leaps across the narrow gap as Graasz manoeuvres the boat as close as he can. She lands squarely on the log, though it is slippery, and for a moment, she half slips, one of her feet getting dunked in the water. She manages to scramble back on board the log though, her heart pounding as she leans over the log, her face inches from the fast flowing water. Beneath her several butcher fish with their characteristic stripes swim against the current, eyeing her hungrily.
Back on board, Nardl gestures to the north. "Look, the barbarians are coming!" he says. The others look across to see that the riders have started riding closer. Although still miles away, they are definitely heading in this direction. Glancing towards the trolls, it appears that they too have gained courage by the boat's lack of forward movement, and are starting to lope in this direction. They are moving slowly at the moment, and have about a mile to cover.
(OOC: In other words, you still have at least 10-15 minutes before anything could get there)
<Yvandel aka Sebastian wrote>:
> 'Hm, we should've had a plan in place
> for a situation just like this,' Yvandel
> confessed to himself. "Okay, we need an
> emergency plan, just in case Ceely doesn't
> make it back in time, or something else
> happens. How do we deal with the barbarians?"
OOC: As a reminder - Cleo and Serena are the only characters with bows...
Nardl goes to one of the deck mounted flame throwers, Rolfr goes to the other.
"I'msurewecanscarethemoffwiththese...andwe'vegotplentyofcoveriftheystarttofirearrowsorhurlspears"
he says, slapping the metal cabin structure. Larz clutches the side of the boat - like Cleo, he hasn't fared well on the boat, and he looks a little green with the pitching movement of the boat in these rougher waters.
<Lucretia aka Joe wrote>:
> "I'm placing these fire bombs here." <He points
to
> where he will place the remaining fire bombs on the
> troll side of the boat>. <He then breaks out his
> spears and moves to the side that the Barbarians
> will approach...judging the distance and finding
> it all to close. "Speed would be what we are looking
> for Miss Ceely!" <He calls to the ranger. <To know
one
> in particular.> "I'll fight the Barbarians...at least
> the bastards don't eat you." <If Luc sees a butcher
> fish by his side he will spear it and feed it to
> it's friends in a hopes of keeping them occupied
> and away from the ranger.>
OOC: Funny - I thought Lucretia was holding a safety rope for Ceely - I guess if he is doing things like getting out supplies (spears & fire bombs) and trying to spear fish.... Then he wouldn't be doing a very good job...
<Lucretia aka Joe then wrote>:
> <Luc will insure he is tending to the rope around
> Ceely's waist...>
OOC: Oh yes, I was right, he was tending the rope. OK. DM ruling - Lucretia suggested that his spears and fire bombs were "fetched" from his belongings, which I think realistically will be in his cabin. Quick reaction roll for an NPC - OK you're in luck. Blondung nips back to the cabins and fetches the stuff. But Luc doesn't get to spear a fish!
<Balnor aka Mike wrote>:
> Once Balnor sees that Ceely is planning to jump he runs
> over to the bow of the boat, and waits for her to jump,
> hoping she can get close enough to grab onto him, Milo or
> at least the boat. Once he has jumped he will do everything
> possible to catch her and pull her onboard. "Some one help
> Luc with that safety rope, if Ceely falls she will just pull
> Luc overboard from the momentum! Milo! Help me pull her onboard!"
Milo and Balnor stand at the bow of the boat as Graasz manoeuvres the boat closer, his arms outstretched ready to help Ceely aboard when she leaps. Lucretia braces himself with the rope, Larz behind him grabs the very end of the rope and starts to tie it to part of the boat.
<Herod aka Scott wrote>:
> (OOC: Casting magic stone spell.)
OOC: Consider it cast.
<Serena aka Archon wrote>:
> She looks around the river narrows, trying to judge distances.
The river is about 40 feet across here. The boat itself is about 18 feet across, 40 foot long... The boat couldn't be turned around here.
<Serena aka Archon continued>:
> Serena will try to find a position of cover,
> behind which she will place herself.
<Yvandel aka Sebastian wrote>:
> He immediately started to look around
> himself, trying to find the perfect
> place to seek protection, while still
> allowing him to possibly unleash some
> spells on their approaching foes.
At the edge of the deck, the rail is actually made of solid metal, offering about 3 foot high of cover. The doorways into the main deck house also offer cover. Yvandel waits by the rail, watching the approaching barbarians. They are still a good 2-3 miles away, but riding their horses hard. Serena and Cleo fetch their bows (OOC: assumption for Cleo)
<Serena aka Archon wrote>:
> As Ceely fiddles around with the rope, Serena gets another
> thought. "Tie it around the narrowest end of the log!"
Serena
> shouts. "Close to the riverbank! Then we'll only need to
> dislodge one set of boulders!"
Serena's advice comes too late, as Ceely leaps back towards the boat, the grapple firmly affixed around the centre of the log. Ceely lands on the edge of the bow, her hands gripping the rail, her feet on the edge, and then hops over into Milo's waiting hands, her smile confident. Balnor, feeling suddenly redundant, steps back. (OOC: VERY good dex roll by Ceely!)
Once Ceely is firmly back on board, Graasz slams the controls into reverse, and the boat, with the momentum of the water helping it, starts moving rapidly backwards. The rope snakes out as the slack is taken up, then suddenly leaps taut. The boat jerks violently for a moment as with a loud <CRACK!> the rope snaps, and everyone on board stumbles. The log seems to have shifted a little as the boat surges back down the river for a moment before Graasz gets the boat back under control.
On the moor side of the boat, the trolls continue to creep forward, now about half a mile away.
Blondung raises himself to his feet, rubbing his backside and grimacing. "I think perhaps Serena's idea about the rope at one end would have been better!" he says grimly.
Lucretia's two flasks of greek fire are currently rolling around the deck... (OOC: As I recall, you bought four in Longsaddle - 2 were used by Yvandel on the goblins...).
Lucretia and Balnor scramble to pick up the flasks of greek fire before they break, and everyone breaths a big sigh of relief once they do. Lucretia places them more securely, but still close to hand.
Meanwhile, Serena is making suggestions...
> "Meanwhile, can you manoeuvre up against the
> left-hand bank -- I know, Ceely, port side -
> - so me and Luc and Larz and Ceely can get
> out onto the shore?
Graasz moves the boat closer to the left bank, but the boat starts to grind on rocks when still beyond leaping distance. He allows the boat to drift a little further down stream, before eventually finding a spot where he can get close enough to the side. (It is however about 70 yards from the log....)
> "Larz, once we're on shore, can you hide us
> from the barbarians with that magic mist of yours?"
Larz looks rather apprehensively at the idea of leaping to the shore, but nods... "Dunno if the mist is a good idea," he says... "I wouldn't want to fall into the river by mistake" he adds, glancing at the Butcherfish.
> "I know you must have some more rope, Graasz,
> but do you have any crowbars or stout lengths
> of wood we could use to pry out the boulders?"
Graasz is manning the wheel, which takes his full concentration, but Nardl answers, and rushes off to dig out a couple of lengths of metal which could be used as levers. He comes staggering back a few moments later, a new length of rope looped over his shoulder and trailing on the deck behind him, a second grapple attached.
> She glances at Merrell and Blondung. "I suggest
> you target their leader with your spells, too.
> The more spectacular, the better."
Blondung and Merrell nod in agreement.
<Serena aka Archon wrote>:
> (OOC: How much vegetation is there along the
> riverbanks anyway? I was assuming forest, or
> at least some trees (hence the downed tree trunk)
> and brush. But then, we've been getting updates
> on the positions of the trolls and horsemen, so
> I guess the vegetation isn't very thick, right?)
OOC: The banks are mostly grass/bull rushes - in places muddy areas, in others, steep rocky bank. Beyond the first few yards though, it is open grassland to the north side, and moorland with the occasional gnarled trees to the south. (i.e. marshy patches, prickily looking bushes and heathers.)
Serena is the first to leap for the shore. Taking a run up, she leaps onto the rail, catches her leading foot on the top, and trips. Instead of landing on the bank, she lands heavily in the shallows (OOC: 2 hp damage). As she struggles to her feet, spitting cold muddy, she feels a sensation like someone jabbing her, and as she scrambles to her feet and up the bank, she turns to see the distinctive orange of the butcherfish swirling in the muddy water behind her. (OOC: Serena failed her dex throw big time)
Glancing down at her body, she is relieved to see that her armour had served her well. With a couple of thumps, Lucretia and Ceely land on the bank next to her, Luc for once keeping his quips to himself. (OOC: Successful dex throws). Larz, a little more hesitantly, climbs slowly onto the rail, and then leaps. He lands awkwardly, but without harm (OOC: only just made it - which is lucky really, as he only has a dex of 8!)
The group start running up the river bank, heading for the tree trunk bridge. There is a change in note from the boat's engine as Graasz kicks it into gear, and it starts to surge back up the river, pacing the runners. On the moor side of the river (OOC south-east side to be precise at this particular point of the river :-), the trolls continue their advance, accelerating somewhat when they see the figures running to the log.
To the north-west, the barbarians continue to ride closer, but are still several minutes away.
The shore party reach the log and quickly start work. Ceely starts to re-affix the rope, this time fastening it as best she can to the nearest end. Lucretia and Serena start levering some of the largest boulders away, with Larz helping by clearing some of the smaller rubble. If trolls truly built this bridge, it attests to their strength that they managed to drag the tree trunk to this spot, position it across the river, and move the considerably heavy stones into position.
After only a few minutes work, the rope is attached and the largest of the boulders has been cleared to one side.
The trolls however have become braver, and are literally racing now towards the bridge. Nardl, manning the forward flame thrower, grins as they get to only 30 yards from the makeshift bridge. A sudden gout of flame leaps from the nozzle, expanding into a ball of fire that entirely engulfs the front 10 trolls. Those on the boat as well as the shore party feel the heat wash over them, and there is some strange shrieking which quickly stops from the obscured trolls. The trolls further back skid to a halt and quickly back off. As the fireball changes into a large black mushroom shaped cloud that rises into the sky, 10 twisted blackened shapes are all that left, still burning in places. There is a large scorched area, where all vegetation has now been burnt to a cinder. A few remaining flames lick at the odd stump from a bush that is still burning.
Glancing towards the barbarians, they have slowed their approach, suddenly a lot more wary.
The remaining boulders are moved, as the shore party work well together to lever them aside. Ceely throws the grapple back to the boat, where it is caught and quickly affixed to a stanchion. Graasz puts on the pressure a little more slowly this time, and the water starts to churn at the stern as the boat tries to pull the trunk free. With a little bit of help with a lever from the shore party, it suddenly moves, dragging free into the river. As soon as it hits the water, Rolfr cuts free the rope and Graasz steers around the tree trunk, which quickly disappears down stream.
A few minutes later, the shore party are waiting on the bank as the boat chugs up to them. The barbarians have stopped advancing at about a distance of half a mile, the trolls are watching from about a hundred yards away, impotent to do anything.
A gang plank is laid down, and the shore party hurry aboard, Serena still dripping muddy water and rubbing her bruises.
After the gang plank has been pulled up, Graasz moves the boat forward again. Ahead, the river widens considerably, the water slowing. Graasz manoeuvres the boat into the stiller water, and grins. " Okay,let'steachtheseSkyPoniesalesson." he says. He fiddles with the controls, making the boat lurch backwards in the water a bit, then forward a bit, then suddenly go virtually still, with just enough power being applied to keep it stationary in relation to the bank.
The barbarians are doing nothing, just watching. Rolfr and Gilkjr are hiding down behind their flame throwers. Graasz stays huddled in the cover by the wheel. Rolfr tells the party to hide and take cover, huddling himself in the cover of the metal rail. "Everyonebequietandwait!" hisses Graasz.
Minutes go by as . Graasz does nothing, and the Sky Ponies keep watching the boat. But then suddenly one of the barbarians raises a hand and shouts something. About 40 of the 50 barbarians spur the horses and ride in a full speed charge toward the boat and the river. The other 10 hang back.
Then, when they're about 30 yards from the boat, they begin riding parallel to it, back and forth. shooting arrows from horseback. The arrows bounce off the metal armour of the boat, the occasional one sticking in when it hits something a little softer. The party remain behind their cover, unsure as to what Graasz has planned.
Graasz shouts, "I'mgoingtohavealittlefunwiththeseboys!"
He begins turning metal valves in pipes inside the boat. After he's adjusted whatever it is he's adjusting, he pulls a thin chain. A weak scream comes from the roof of the boat. At the same time, Graasz makes the boat lurch a meter or two back and forth in the water and come to a stop.
The barbarians stop shooting and retreat to about 50 yards or so. They watch for a minute and then let out a victory whoop, spur their horses and charge closer again, slowing when the reach the river bank, only about 10-15 yards away. They are spread out on the river bank - about 20 directly opposite the boat, 10 further up the bank and 10 further down.
Some still have bows drawn, with arrows nocked and others get out torches. As one of the barbarians starts to light a torch, another shouts out, "You who fight from the belly of the river dragon, come out! Your wyrm is wounded and has no fight left. Come out, and we will fight man to man with you and let you die deaths of honour. We have a mind to burn your wyrm. If you do not come out, you will burn too, like cowards!"
Before anyone else has a chance to respond to the barbarian's challenge, Graasz shouts, "Nowfire!"
Nardl and Gilkjr let loose with their flame throwers, and another two huge balls of fire explode into the central flank of barbarians, 18 of the 20 riders explode in oily flames, together with their horses, and are roasted to death on the spot. Only two of the riders in the rear of the central group survive, their clothing partly in flames. They are thrown from their horses, which themselves are maddened by the pain, and the two of them stagger away. Another huge ball of black smoke billows into the air, leaving blackened earth behind.
Seconds after the fire, a horrible shriek sounds from the roof of the boat, one that no doubt echoes across the Evermoor and on into the mountains to the North. It brings fear into everyone's soul, although it doesn't seem to bother the gnomes. Lucretia has flashbacks of the banshee's wail it is so loud. The surviving horses of the barbarians flee in all directions, riding away in terror. The 10 barbarians who had stayed behind farther north of the river also flee wildly to the north.
"Hee hee hee!" Graasz laughs nastily. "Hee hee hee! Didyouhearthat?Thisthinghasawhistletoo! Hee hee hee! Fullsteamahead!"
With that Graasz adjusts and pulls among the various valves and levers before him. The boat jerks back to life and begins chugging upstream again, toward Silverymoon. Soon, the scene of carnage is left behind, but some time goes by before the smell of burning human and horse flesh fades.
Rolfr says, "Goodworkfellows! GoodworkGraasz. GilkjrandIaregoingtoreturntobednow. Whoknows?Maybewe'llgettohavesomefunofourownduringthenight!"
The day wears on without further encounters. After about an hour or so, a small group of riders is spotted, following the boat on land, three or four miles/5 or 6km distant to the north, and now and then bands of trolls can be seen deeper within the moor, but the party's enemies are keeping a healthy distance between them and the boat - only to aware of what happens if they get too close to the fire spitting boat...
The evening draws near, the sun making an appearance in the western sky for a beautiful sunset. To the south, the usual evening moor fog is gathering, and shortly after the sun has completely disappeared, the boat is engulfed in the damp fog with the sickly sweet smell of troll.
The boat speed decreases in the poor visibility, and the gnomes change shift
again. Their obvious enjoyment of the carnage they inflicted on the
barbarians has waned somewhat - mainly due to the mainly negative
reaction from the Unknowns. The afternoon was definitely a quiet one,
with little conversation, and the gnomes picked up on this.