Chapter 5: Blood and Fire

[Marcy]

Charis purses her lips and thinks for a moment.

"Perhaps you could be my and Belarin's prisoner? We could pose as inquisitives taking you back to Fairhaven to turn you in for the bounty. We could say you were involved in some sort of air battle -- perhaps with Medani inquisitives who'd commandeered an airship -- that you crashed and the others dispersed on foot before we were able to catch up with you. Salt in enough truth to make the lie believable, and give us a reason for not handing you over or letting them on the ship."

She looks at the others. "What do you think? Whatever we decide to do, we need to do it quickly."

[Ken]

Belarin stands tall and says with an oddly deeper voice that some of those present have heard before, "My lady, you shall be delighted to have the aid of Belarin Zilfarrik, esteemed sage on the staff of Prince Adal ir'Wynarn of Aundair. While traveling with you on court business, I came across these ruffians and convinced them to surrender. With you and the others to vouch for my story, I'm sure we can be successful."

"Switching" his attitude back to normal Belarin, he continues, "I can do this, Captain. Believe me. If it doesn't work, well, then I'm just one more prisoner to add to their list."

[Darren]

"Not a bad idea, Charis," Kal begins, "but what happens when they demand that Thunderhead be escorted in and seized upon reaching Fairhaven? Without having given us the chance to bring Relith to the authorities and explain our story? And when we reach Fairhaven, they will surely then search the ship, and our lie will be found out and we will look even more guilty." Kal turns to look at the approaching ship. "The truth is that we have done nothing wrong. The problem is making them understand that," he says with a vague gesture in the direction of the other ship. "Sadly, I think the truth is the only asset we have if we hope to get back into Fairhaven. Still, it's Ralsor's ship, and I think we have put him in enough danger already. I think it should be his decision."

[Jeff]

Fherina, who now hovers in the doorway to the wheelhouse, listens anxiously as you discuss a cover story. "I could offer some illusions, perhaps."

Ralsor shakes his head at Kal. "You really don't want me to decide this. I have a...reputation. I'm not sure they're going to go for this..."

Even as you debate, the sky around both ships seems to coalesce into even thicker fog—reducing visibility even more. Ralsor narrows his eyes and stares into the gray fog. "I don't like this. Not natural. There's wizardry afoot...or another heir of Lyrandar more powerful than I."

He forces a nervous smile. "But that's not likely."

"So we'd better assume there's a spellcaster on board that ship." Ralsor looks to Belarin and Kal. "Gentlemen, that's your area of speciality, eh? One hopes they can't see through a far-fetched story." He turns to Grafth and Streko. "What do you two think?"

The other airship has come considerably closer during your talk. Through a spyglass, you can even see its name: White Phoenix.

[Josh]

"I suppose we can't completely rule out the thought that this ship is coming to our aid... perhaps Taymra was able to work out some means of support... or perhaps Matheu enlisted Phorem's help in some way.

"There will be no knowing unless we confront them directly. I don't know how much good hiding will do, unless we can both hide and be prepared to fight, but I do agree that those of us who are not wanted might make the best spokesmen."

[Jeff]

Ralsor nods grimly at Grafth's words. "Until we know what their stance is," he says, "We're not going to know our best angle on this." At that moment, he gestures through the window at the closing ship.

Not only can you see the flag of Aundair flying from various parts of the White Phoenix, but now you can just make out individual crewmen on its upper deck. A man stands near the fore of the ship: uniformed and caped, with a footman's lance in hand and a sword at his side.

"Captain Ralsor!" the man shouts out, his voice magically amplified across the distance. "Strike your flag and surrender!"

In the wheelhouse, Ralsor groans, then shakes his head with a dark chuckle. "I don't even have a flag—"

Just then, on the starboard side of the Thunderhead, the gray fog roils as new shape emerges from—another airship! Where the Phoenix was approaching from the south, this one appeared from the west. Its hull is darker, its bulk much larger. Its ring of fire, purest red and churning with smoke, is almost twice as large as the Thunderhead's elemental ring.

"Khyber, where did that come from?!" Ralsor shouts, grasping the wheel and readying for evasive action.

Fherina gasps and inches over to Streko again. "Olladra protect us!"

But Ralsor's ship doesn't appear to be the first target...

The bow of the dark-hulled ship pitches south, pointed strait for the White Phoenix. You see a massive weapon much resembling an oversized whaling harpoon protruding from a hatch just below the nose of the ship.

"It is the Dissolution!" Mist exclaims from her place by the starboard rail, her metallic voice reverberating across the deck. She stares fearlessly into the fog and smoke.

[Ken]

"Bonescrape's bloody jest," Belarin spits out. "Is there any chance to block that weapon? It's the best chance we'll have to prove whose side we're on!"

OOC: For convenience's sake, here's the post that had the updated map of Ralsor's ship.



DM's Edit: Here's a direct link for the full map of the ship. Everyone's currently on the upper deck. I will, of course, at some point post a more specific map to what's going on. But both the White Phoenix and the Dissolution are too far to even be on a map. - Jeff

[Josh]

Grafth says to Belarin, "If either of those ships is destroyed, we're next. Siding with the White Phoenix might gain you and Charis some amnesty, but as far as the authorities are concerned, the rest of us are vandals, thieves, and murderers.

"If these two ships are going to do battle, I say it is a fortuitous diversion and we should away. The captain has already indicated our only defense against the Dissolution is our speed."

[Darren]

"I agree with the shifter," Kal says quickly. "We make a show of firing upon the Dissolution, but we do it while maintaining our course towards Fairhaven. This is not a fight we can win." He stares out at the White Phoenix. "Gods help those poor souls," he says quietly.

Recovering, Kal turns to Ralsor. "Can we fire off a shot or two from those large crossbows of yours and then make a break for it? Mist? Amal? Would you man the weapons? Belarin? How about joining me by the railing and perhaps we can make some fireworks for an impressive show?" Kal grins.

[Jeff]

Amal shrugs and nods,awaiting for definitive orders. Mist only maintains her position, bow in hand, and looks to Ralsor.

"Host," Ralsor only mutters, undecided.

Shouts of alarm from the white-hulled airship reveals that their crew is fully aware of the Dissolution. Even as you debate your actions and the enemy ship angles for attack, something else draws your eye.

A gleam of multicolored light along the fore of the White Phoenix and the sinewy shape of a serpent, as if it were slithering through the sky. At the same time, you hear the trill of some predatory bird coming from the same direction. The rainbow of colors and the snakelike shape vanish a moment later.

[Marcy]

"You can't be serious, Kal!" Charis says angrily, hair fanning out behind her in a dark arc as she whirls to face the Deneith heir. "If the Dissolution is attacking that ship, then it's because of us. If they are destroyed while we stand by and do nothing, or flee, then we are as guilty as ir'Turian!"

She turns back to Ralsor. "Captain, you can't do this. I don't know exactly what Aldronivus's goals are in all this, but I do know he wouldn't want us to be the reason that more people -- innocent people -- died at ir'Turian's hands."

Then Charis catches sight of the rainbow and the snake, and her eyes fill first with wonder, then with determination.

"It's a sign, Captain!" she declares. "I saw that same serpent in the dreams the fey gave me. We have to help the Phoenix!"

[Ken]

Belarin grits his teeth and says, "I'm normally the type to hide until the smoke clears, but if we're to succeed against that bastard over there, we need to act, not run away." He looks at Ralsor. "Captain, I intend to fire one of your weapons, if that's all right with you. But I don't know how, so I'd appreciate Mist's help."

[Joe]

Streko watches the scene unfold and shakes his head. "I would normally side with Kal and Grafth in a normal situation such as this...considering how me need to get to Fairhaven immediately. However, good Charis is correct. We cannot let the innocent guards of Aundair die if we have an opportunity to escape. Besides, Fherina's illusions may yet come i handy should we survive this and need a way to escape undetected. Meanwhile, Captain Ralsor, with your blessing and Olladra's, of course, I believe we have a ship to save and another one to wipe of the face of Eberron."

He steps up to the edge of the deck and shouts out at the Dissolution, "May Olladra escort you to Khyber's Gates herself!"

[Darren]

Kal moves to within inches of Charis' face. "And how many more will die if we never reach Fairhaven at all?" he growls. Holding her gaze for a moment, he suddenly smiles. "Gods, you are beautiful," he says with a wink.

Kalarian whirls away from Charis. "I will fight if you choose to fight," he says to no one in particular, although his gaze lingers on Ralsor, "but the Captain has said we will not survive a fight with the Dissolution, so I hope the White Phoenix has some more firepower than we do." Kal turns to the rail to study the two ships. "If we are to fight, d'Lyrander, I would suggest that being BETWEEN these two combatants is not the best place for a damaged ship. Perhaps a flanking maneuver on the big one, while his attention is focused on our friends over there? If we can hit them from two sides, maybe we can stand a chance."

[Jeff]

"Khyber," Ralsor says after Charis's admonishment. After hearing Streko and Belarin speak, he nods. "I know, I know, we can't leave them. But we can't fight that damnable ship, either. We can only try to—"

Ralsor stops, as all of you see the metal head of the Dissolution's giant harpoon suddenly blaze with red flame, fueled somehow by the fire elemental. With a resounding crack of heavy, spring-loaded machinery, the harpoon blasts out from its niche and whistles loudly through the air, trailing a thick cable behind it.

The massive bolt—a larger missile than any ballista's you've ever seen—impales the White Phoenix. The white hull cracks open in an explosion of splinters and fire. You see the harpoon pass through clear to the other side and then swings free like a pendulum from the exit wound. Several crewman—still just small figures from this distance—fall, screaming, into the gray sky below. A wash of flames takes hold of the ship.

"Twelve bloody moons," Ralsor curses again. He looks to Belarin and Kal. "Forget the ballistae. If we stay still long enough for those to be effective, we're dead. I have to keep us in motion. We can't fight with airship weaponry, but we can outmaneuver that bastard. We go in close, save who we can, then we run. That's it!"

The Dissolution is still positioned higher in the air than the White Phoenix or the Thunderhead, so you can't yet make out any actual figures on its deck yet.

Lever finally says something, his voice sounding more alarmed than his normally even-tempered self. "That vessel is...severely crippled. Its occupants cannot survive unaided."

Ralsor sweeps his gaze across everyone, his tone growing imperious and authoritative. "You, all of you who can...move to starboard, take cover if you're able, and fling spells at them or whatever it is you maniacs do. Just keep them distracted. I'll do the rest."

_____________________________

Just a rough diagram to give you an idea. After this, the Thunderhead will move in much closer to the conflict.

[Darren]

Kal slams a fist against the railing, then whirls on Charis. "The first rule of warfare is to know when to fight and when to run. You may not have learned that in Thrane, but my brothers and I certainly learned it on the battlefields of the Talenta Plains." He turns back to the railing again and lets out a growl that sounds like it should have come from Tangat.

"Alright, let's get in there. But that harpoon is clearly meant to pull White Phoenix in, so the longer we wait, the closer she's going to be to the Dissolution. Fortunately, it will be hard for that big ship to maneuver with the other ship attached, so we may have a little time. Ralsor, get the White Phoenix between Dissolution and us. And get a little below them, if you can. Let's hope they only have the one ballista mounted on the bow. Belarin, you and I will do what we can to cover the rescue. Everyone else, find whatever ropes or anything else you can to help get survivors off the other ship. Streko, be ready to help the wounded. Okay," Kal says, gaze focused on the other ships, but a half-smile curving his lips, "I believe, d'Lyrander, the phrase is 'all hands on deck'?"

[Ken]

Jul 8, 2009 22:44:55 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal moves to within inches of Charis' face. "And how many more will die if we never reach Fairhaven at all?" he growls. Holding her gaze for a moment, he suddenly smiles. "Gods, you are beautiful," he says with a wink.

"...and people think I'm crazy," mutters Belarin.

Jul 9, 2009 0:47:38 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Ralsor sweeps his gaze across everyone, his tone growing imperious and authoritative. "You, all of you who can...move to starboard, take cover if you're able, and fling spells at them or whatever it is you maniacs do. Just keep them distracted. I'll do the rest."

"Happily," says Belarin, although there is no mirth in his tone after watching the carnage. "I'm eager to deal some pain." He departs with Kalarian to the starboard side.

[Josh]

Grafth shrugs, a normally casual maneuver that seems particularly awkward for the shifter, and moves toward the starboard bow of the boat, keeping an eye out for any hostility directed at them from the Dissolution.

[Marcy]

Charis narrows her eyes at Kal's tone, but doesn't respond to him. Instead, she moves to the starboard and begins looking for rope she can secure to the deck to allow for the party to swing over to the crippled vessel.

[Jeff]

Ignoring all else for the moment, Ralsor spins the wheel and focuses on his dragonmarked connection to the air elemental of his ship. The shards in the wheel itself glow brightly in response. Fherina remains in the wheelhouse with him, and Lever stops at the bottom of the stairs, while the rest of you fan out onto the deck.

Charis moves immediately toward the storage room in the forecastle, where she knows Ralsor keeps most ship supplies. She throws open the door and begins searching, finding coils of hemp rope but nothing immediate which could be used to anchor them or weigh them down for throwing. It might take a little while. What she does find are three heavy crossbows and a barrel of bolts. Through the windows in the forecastle, she can see what's going on outside...

The others move to starboard along the rail, even as the Thunderhead pitches sideways and surges through toward the conflict.

The Dissolution remains higher than the others, so you still can't see anyone on its deck. You do, however, see light glowing from within several portholes, and shadows moving in front of them.

The White Phoenix, meanwhile, continues to burn. The fire is increasing dramatically, swallowing the back half of the ship. So imperiled is the Aundairian vessel that it's clear there's no counter-attack in progress. As you draw in closer, you can see one man—the caped figure near the fore—struggling to pull a handful of injured people forward toward the front, trying to get them away from the flames. He's thrown his spear down and is trying to save his crew with both hands.

Somewhere near the back of the Phoenix, beyond the flames, someone is hurling strokes of lightning at the thick cable that binds attack and prey together. The magic is ineffectual. And it's at this time that you see the cable begin to retract. The cruel hook at the end of the bolt is slowly drawn upward from where it swings in the sky. Seeing how big the fire has grown, it would seem ludicrous that the White Phoenix would be pulled in too close—unless the Dissolution is entirely impervious to fire.

"There's no getting between them, anyway!" Ralsor calls out. "Help the survivors first! I'll try and go under ..."

Tangat runs alongside Kal, barking his anxiety in the direction of the White Phoenix.

______________________________________

Here is a map. As always, refresh the page often to see any changes.

[Josh]

"You there," Grafth shouts across the void, trying to get the attention of the caped man, "If you value your life and those of your crew, join us!"

[Darren]

Kal moves up besides Grafth, and seems to focus all of his attention on the railing of the other ship. As he begins to speak, a loud clanging noise emanates from the railing nearest the Thunderhead. "We are here to help!" he yells as the noise subsides. "If you have ropes, throw them down to us and get on board! You haven't much time!"

____________
Okay, I've edited. Kal is still using Ghost Sound to make noise to get the attention of those on the other ship.

[Joe]

Streko races to Belarin's side. "My friend, the Dissolution is a big ship, but the man flying her is still just a man. Perhaps something can be sent towards the Bridge that will offer up a distraction?"

He moves out of Belarin's way and goes to Fherina. "Consider what illusions you might be able to employ that will help us escape this trap. If we get close to the enemy ship, for whatever reason, do whatever you can to destroy the pilot's concentration. That may be the only hope we have to escape this. I shall aid you as best I can."

[Marcy]

Charis grabs up three coils of rope, the crossbows, and as many bolts as she can carry, then runs out of the forecastle to the railing.

"I need anyone who can use a crossbow!" she yells as she runs. At the railing, she dumps her load, secures the end of one rope coil to a crossbow bolt, and fits the bolt into place in the crossbow. Then she takes aim towards the Phoenix and lets the quarrel fly, muttering a prayer to the Flame for the bolt to fly true.

OOC: I'm hoping proficiency with a hand crossbow might give her some ability to use a regular one?

[Ken]

Jul 9, 2009 20:14:27 GMT -4 Joe said:

Streko races to Belarin's side. "My friend, the Dissolution is a big ship, but the man flying her is still just a man. Perhaps something can be sent towards the Bridge that will offer up a distraction?"

"Sound thinking," says Belarin nodding, although he doesn't take his eyes off the bulk of the Dissolution. "The talents I've learned from the fey are powerful, but I need that ship to get just a bit closer..."

OOC: Jeff, in the unlikely event that we get close enough to spot anyone in the control room/wheelhouse of the Dissolution, Belarin will place his Warlock's Curse on that person and (if in range) use curse of the dark dream. Just let me know.

[Jeff]

For a moment, the man on the Phoenix turns his head in Grafth's direction, and he hesitates, still struggling to help his crewmen. When Kal's cacophany sounds along the railing of his ship, he turns again. The man's face is a grim mask of anger and fear, but he seems to latch onto what Grafth and Kal are offering. He nods, and begins to haul two crewman (both grown men, unconscious) toward the rail closest to the bow.

Fherina remains in the wheelhouse with Ralsor, but she nods her head mutely at Streko, still seeming a bit panicked.

Charis brings out as much as she can carry and starts to the task of attaching rope to the crossbow bolts. But she quickly realizes the ropes are much too thick to attach to the lightweight bolts, even for a heavy crossbow. Even if she could attach it, the weight of the robe would make an accurate shot, or even a strong one, impossible.

Lever steps out from the stairwell and approaches Charis. His warforged face is impassive, but his eyes flicker with light. He seems to be considering the puzzle presented by the gear Charis has at hand.

"If I go under!" Ralsor shouts, "Can you get them to jump down on board?"

At the moment Belarin can't see anyone on board the Dissolution besides flitting shadows in its windows.

_____________________________

Marcy, unfortunately rogues aren't proficient in regular light or heavy crossbows. However, that just means she has no bonus with them, but also no penalty.

Also, I keep forgetting Amal. Poor guy. He'll be alongside Kal.

Updated map.

[Darren]

Kal turns to look at the wheelhouse for a moment. "That's what I suggested in the first place, you empty headed son of Lyrander!" He waves the Captain on, motioning for him to make his move. Then he focuses his attention back on the other ship. "We're going to move under you," he shouts. "Get anyone out of there you can!"

Kalarian looks grim as he sees the unconscious men. "What are we going to do about them?" he says quietly to Grafth and Charis, standing next to them.

[Josh]

"If this gives us a chance to find out what the authorities think they know, all the better," Grafth says to Kalarian, still looking toward the White Phoenix. "Maybe we can even convince them to grant us some amnesty."

"And if not, Charis did procure some rope." the shifter says with an uncharacteristic grin.

[Darren]

Kal grins back. "True," he says, "but I meant how are we going to get the unconscious men from their ship to ours?"

[Marcy]

Charis looks at the rope and the (unfired) bolt with a sigh. "Damn," she mutters. She looks at Lever as the warforged approaches. "Any ideas?"

"True," he says, "but I meant how are we going to get the unconscious men from their ship to ours?"

"Well, I guess he could just toss them over the railing," Charis offers. "The fall probably wouldn't kill them."