Chapter 5: Blood and Fire

[Joe]

"Enough of this Six-be-damned business! BEGONE!!"

This time, Streko widens his arms and allows his holy symbol unfettered access to the warforged standing before him. He calls upon Olladra yet again, knowing that there will be many more time his need will be as great in the near future.
____________________________________________________

Once more with Lance of Faith.

invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2181195/ [10,6] = (16)

invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2181200/ [4,4] = (8) damage

+2 power bonus to Dassek's next attack on warforged #2.

[Darren]

Kal looks over his shoulder at Tangat and smiles. "Just as we did on the Plains, my friend?" He turns back to the railing, resting one leg casually up and leaning forward with a cocky grin.

The grin is erased as the lightning from the warforged slams into Mist. In it's place is a grimace of anger and determination. Kal leans forward slightly as once again a ball of lightning hurtles through the air at the wand wielding warforged. "d'Lyrander!" he yells. "Get us the hells out of here, already!"

_________________
Lightning Orb against #8 again, please.

Dragonflame Mantle, as before.

[Ken]

After a painful gasp, Belarin glares at the warforged wizard, muttering, "Yes, yes, you 'have' that one, my lord..." He then moves about the top of the forecastle, gathering the shadows about him once more with barely a thought. Again, he points his dagger at the enemy below in combat with Amal and Charis. "Stupid and rude / Give the worms some food," he spits, lacking the patience now to come up with more intricate rhymes.

________
Move action: Move around 3 squares to maintain the concealment from the shadows.
Standard action: Attack warforged below again with eyebite. Belarin is currently invisible to that target and still has Prime Shot.
Eyebite attack (1d20+6=16)
Eyebite damage, with Empowering Shadows and Warlock's Curse (1d6+5=7, 1d6=5) = 7 psychic plus 5 more points

[Josh]

Grafth scowls at his adversary, striking out and quickly bounding around the store room, attempting to draw his quarry further from the primary field of battle.


Grafth uses Hit & Run on #6 (1d20+6=13)
Damage (1d8+3=4) Ugh.
Quarry Damage (1d8=2) Double Ugh.

[Jeff]

Round 8

20 = Warforged
19 = Grafth (hit & run)
16 = Aundairian
14 = Kal (lightning orb) / Tangat
14 = Streko (lance of faith)
13 = Allies
12 = Charis (piercing strike)
11 = Belarin (eyebite)
8 = Warforged #8
5 = red-skinned creature
________

The airship continues to tilt as Ralsor forces it away from its aggressor. It's clear that the Thunderhead is the faster ship, but the weblike strands still bind them together. Still, you hear the strands groan as they stretch and swivel toward the stern side of the ship as the Thunderhead pulls.

The furthermost strand actually snaps as the White Phoenix drifts further away, consumed in fire. Giant pieces of the dying ship drop down into the sky below, while the elemental ring of fire seems to merge with the rest of the inferno.

Ignoring all of this, the enemy warforged continue to carry out their orders. Demonstrating the combat skill for which they were made, the constructs continue to shift their positions, trying to avoid falling into strategic disadvantage. The waforged (#2) at the bow moves away from the red-skinned stranger and turns its weapon against Lord Dassek. But the Aundairian parries every stroke. Grafth's foe (#6) lands a painful scrape across the shifter's left forearm, drawing blood and tearing his coat further still.

The warforged at the other end (#7) looks distractedly up at the forecastle roof as if trying to spy an unknown enemy, but the wind-stirred shadows there continue to obscure Belarin. It returns its attack to its closest opponents, landing a cut through Charis's ragged leather armor.

Grafth slashes at his foe, the blade glancing off its armor, then retreats, daring it to follow.

Lord Dassek moves with his enemy to allow his allies to flank it again. He throws his strength into a flurry of swings, coming very close to penetrating its defenses, but the warforged parries every sword strike with its pick.

The lightning orb that Kal looses upon the wand-wielding warforged (#8) strikes it squarely in the chest again. The construct shakes its head as if trying to push through the arcane damage.

Tangat, too, moves with his enemy, snapping at its feet and trying to trip it up, but does little more this time than distract it. Streko, maintaining his stance, conjures another bolt of radiant energy and hurls it against the distracted warforged. The bolt explodes with a burst of light, blackening the upper half of the construct's body.

Lever moves up to, then behind, Grafth. He speaks a word into the air which seems to take glowing shape. The shape become a sigil of light that drifts into Grafth, suffusing the handaxe in his hand. "Aim true, friend Grafth," he says simply, and the shifter suddenly feels as if he's fresh out of a year's worth of weapon training.

Amal risks a sprint right past the warforged (#7) that he and Charis face, hoping to move into a flanking position. Although he reaches his goal, the hulking construct is faster than it looks—the sharp tip of its pick scrapes across the Blademark's back, eliciting a gasp of pain.

But Charis takes advantage of the new footing, and slides her thin blade through the construct's neck, injuring it gravely. It shrugs off the wound and keeps fighting, but it begins to sway uneasily from the punishment. And just then its crystalline eyes flare with a swirling of different colors and it reels even more, unsteady. Belarin verily feels his opponent's life trying to slip away.

Meanwhile, the wand-wielding warforged (#8) utters a series of words, shaking its body to get free (and failing), and discharges another glowing red dart from its wand. This time Kal isn't ready. The dart slams into his chest, failing to penetrate his armor but pounding him nonetheless. It feels like a hammer stroke, Kal struggles to find his breath.

The red-skinned stranger gathers himself a moment and scans the battlefield. Most of the warforged aboard the Thunderhead are frayed, splintered or leaking alchemical fluids, while the warforged out on the strand appears frozen in place. One of the Thunderhead defenders—a constructed being similar to the attackers—has fallen motionless. He sets his jaw for a moment, then steps up into place to launch a furious attack upon the wounded warforged (#2) before him.

Now saving his breath for fighting, he launches a furious attack at the warforged. Grievously unprepared, and harried by both Aundairian and wolfdog, the construct barely turns when the red-skinned stranger buries his blade to the hilt in the fibers of its lower back. When he draws it back out again, the construct crashes to the ground.

__________________

• Warforged #2's attack vs. Dassek: 15 (miss)
• Warforged #6's attack vs. Grafth: 27 (hit) / 7 damage to Grafth
• Warforged #7's attack vs. Charis: 21 (hit) / 7 damage to Charis
• Kal's attack (lightning orb) (1d20+6=16) (hit) / 1d10+5=10 lightning damage to warforged #8
• Grafth's attack: 13 (miss)
• Tangat's attack (1d20+7=10) (miss)
• Streko's attack (lance of faith): 16 (hit) / 8 radiant damage to warforged #2
• Streko's prayer grants Dassek a +2 bonus on his next attack.
• Lever's infusion grants Grafth a +1 power bonus on his next attack and a +3 power bonus on damage rolls.
• Warforged #2's opportunity attack against Amal: 26 (hit) / 8 damage to Amal
• Amal is bloodied.
• Charis's attack (piercing strike) (1d20+8=13) +2 (flanking) +1 (nimble blade) = 15 (hit) / 1d8+4=10 +1d8=5 = 15 damage to warforged #7
• Warforged #7 is bloodied.
• Warforged #8's attack vs. Kal: 25 (hit) / 11 force damage to Kal
• Warforged #8's saving throw to end immboliziation: 8 (failure)
• Belarin's attack (eyebite): 16 (hit) / 7 psychic + 5 damage = 12 to warforged #7
• Stranger's attack: 21 +2 (flanking) +1 (bloodhunt) = 24 (hit) / 9 damage to warforged #2
• Warforged #2 is slain.

[Darren]

Kal sucks in a breath between his teeth. There is no mirth on his face as he launches another ball of electricity at the warforged.

________________
Second verse, same as the first.

Lightning Orb on #8 (apparently the strongest warforged EVER).

Dragonflame Mantle as needed.

[Ken]

Belarin gives the wand-wielding warforged a cocky wave as the movement of the ships brings that opponent closer to the warlock's position. "Shouldn't you be ringing a child's clock?" he yells mockingly. He then focuses his attention again on the staggering warforged below, which is clearly still capable of killing his allies.

Forsaking the shadows for the moment, he calls down to it, "If there's an afterlife, dolt of gears / May yours be full of pain and fears!" He unleashes a red-and-silver blast of energy through the dagger.

_______________________________
Attacking the warforged below again, with eldritch blast:
Eldritch blast attack (1d20+6=13)
Eldritch blast damage, plus Warlock's Curse (1d10+4=11, 1d6=6) = 17 damage total, but I think that might be a miss, unless I have combat advantage.
If the foe is already down, then Belarin will teleport back to the deck and fire the eldritch blast at warforged #8.

[Josh]

"Lever, let us end this!" The shifter feels a sense of increased sureness as he raises his axe again, striking out at the enemy warforged and stepping back once more.

If the 'forged comes at Grafth before his turn, he will attempt Unbalanced Parry, moving the warforged into (or through?) the rail. If the warforged doesn't rush Grafth for some reason, he will move to meet #6.

Grafth uses Careful Strike (1d20+6+1=16)
Damage (1d8+3+3=8)
Quarry Damage (1d8=3) Add 3 to this if Lever's boost counts on this damage roll as well.

[Joe]

Streko watches in horror as Kal get's hit by another blast of radiant magic. Instinctively, he calls out to Olladra, but it is his dragonmark that flares warmly across his chest, it's brilliant illumination mostly concealed by the halfling's clerical tunic. The only indication of healing magic is the soft hue that surrounds his holy symbol and travels down his outstrecthed arm, lancing out towards his friend and surrounding his body in a soft, pleasant glow.

"Heal," Streko whispers, allowing the word to flow with the light.
____________________________________________________

Streko casts Healing Word on Kal.

[Jeff]

Round 9

20 = Warforged
19 = Grafth (delay)
16 = Aundairian
15 = Grafth (careful strike)
14 = Kal (lightning orb) / Tangat
14 = Streko
13 = Allies
12 = Charis (piercing strike)
11 = Belarin (eldritch blast)
8 = Warforged #8
5 = red-skinned creature
________

The warforged (#7) on the starboard side throws its head over its shoulder and sees its wand-wielding ally closer now as the strands stretch alongside the retreating airship. It dodges out from between Charis and Amal and attacks the woman again. But Charis is ready this time, ducking beneath the deadly strike.

Perhaps against its soldier's judgment, the other warforged (#6) takes the bait and pursues Grafth around the forecastle, swinging while running. The pick whistles through the air, a mere inch from the back of the shifter's neck as he leads the construct away from the center of the battlefield.

When the warforged readies another swing, Grafth stops suddenly, sliding his boots across the deck then shooting one leg out with perfect precision. The warforged trips over the shifter's outstretched limb and stumbles against the railing, unbalanced, its defenses open...

And Grafth strikes. His axe sinks through the fibers of one arm, then comes away glistening with a small amount of greasy fluid. The warforged is wearing down but it's clearly got a lot of fight left in it.

"You'll pay for that one, breather," it grows.

Kal, standing with white knuckles around the shaft of his sharash, holds out his other hand yet again, loosing a orb of electricity at his enemy (#8). The ball explodes into tongues of lightning as it strikes the warforged squarely in the chest, shaking its body like a doll. Kal is fairly certain he sees the light in its crystalline eyes wink out, and its body falls limp. For a moment the ice around its feet defy the weight of its body...then they, too, crumble away in a shower of tiny shards as the warforged crumbles and falls into the sky below without another sound.

Kal hears a responding bark of victory from his canine companion. A second later, Tangat bolts down from the bow and moves to assist Amal and Charis. When Streko calls out to his goddess, Kal feels the pain in his chest wash away.

Amal engages the warforged nearest him in a vicious and seemingly reckless attack, drawing its attention away from Charis...who slides the length of her rapier through its lower back, puncturing through to the other side, protruding from its fibrous stomach. The construct seems to seize up in response...then drops noisily to the ground when the woman withdraws her blade. Dead.

The moment the light in its stony eyes fades, Belarin feels the shadows collect him and transport him elsewhere, dissolving his body and reforming it back upon the main deck just in front of the forecastle. Observing that both of his targets have fallen, he turns and hurls a blast of fey fire at the warforged fighting Grafth almost as an afterthought. But his aim is imperfect, and the magic fire flies just over its head. Grafth, however, sees that Belarin has turned his attention his way.

The horned stranger watches with satisfaction that two more of the warforged have fallen, then gives a grunt of satisfaction. He spins around, jumps down from the raised deck, skirting the strange blue fire—which at last seems to be diminishing on its own—and closes the distance to Grafth's opponent (#6). He feints low with his sword, hoping to draw the creature's attention toward him now, then executes a sweeping cut aimed high at the warforged's neck. The blade shears through wood and slams into metal, a nasty wound for a construct.

As if on cue, you hear a horrid snapping sound—and those on the starboard side of the ship see that the web strands have broken and now trail uselessly in the sky. Free from its anchor, the Thunderhead surges away from the Dissolution . The blue-white color of the Thunderhead's air elemental ring glows brighter as it struggles to power the ship even faster. Yet those on the starboard side can also see that the Dissolution's harpoon seems to have been armed again...

Refresh the page!

__________________

• Warforged #6's attack vs. Grafth: 18* (miss)
• Grafth uses unbalanced parry, sliding warforged #6 1 square and gaining combat advantage against it.
• Warforged #7's attack vs. Charis: 13 (miss)
• Grafth's attack (careful strike): 16 +1 (Lever's infusion) +2 (careful strike bonus) +2 (combat advantage) = 21 (hit) / 11 damage to warforged #6
• Kal's attack (lightning orb) (1d20+6=23) (hit) / 1d10+5=12 lightning damage to warforged #8
• Warforged #8 falls!
• Streko uses healing word, Kal spends a healing surge. 8 (healing surge) + 1d6=2 (healing word) +4 (healer's lore) = Kal heals 14 hit points
• Amal's attack to aid another: 25 (success, granting Charis +2 on her attack)
• Charis's attack (piercing strike) (1d20+8=13) +2 (Amal's aid another) = 15 (hit) / 1d8+4=9 damage to warforged #7
• Warforged #7 is slain.
• Belarin's attack: 13 (miss)
• Stranger's attack: 25 (hit) / 7 damage to warforged #6
• Warforged #6 is bloodied.

* It's worth noting that several attacks against some of you, like this one, almost succeeded, but for that extra +1 on all defenses from the red-skinned stranger's power in round 4. Still in effect.

** Good thing about powers like Unbalanced Parry, which is an immediate reaction, means you can do it when it's not even your turn yet.

[Josh]

"You'll pay for that one, breather," it growls.

"Perhaps," the shifter replies, "but not today." Grafth lifts his axe once more, striking down against the 'forged. His body carries him through the strike and backwards, sliding past Lever to open up the field of battle to his allies.


Grafth Hit & Run (1d20+6=22)
Damage (1d8+3=9)
Quarry Damage (1d8=2)

[Darren]

Feeling refreshed, Kal turns to Streko and gives him a short bow and a grin. He looks around, quickly surveying the battlefield. For the first time, he notices that Mist has fallen. "See if you can help her," he calls out to Lever even as he moves foward, loosing another ball of lighting from the tip of Skyfang towards the remaining warforged.

_______________
Kal will move to wherever he needs to to get a clear shot at the warforged and use Lightning Orb with Skyfang as an implement.

[Joe]

Streko looks around the battlefield. "What we need is an illusion that makes this SHIP appear elsewhere, so that when the enemy attacks again, we will not be in the same shape as the other vessel."

This time, he calls out louder, "Where is Fherina? We are in need of your assistance, m'lady!"

He then turns and sees the warforged fighting Grafth. It is completely ignoring him.

"Olladra, blessed fortune-giver, I beg you help in ridding us of these foes!"

He points at the warfroged and feels his Goddess's Divine energy fill his soul, erupt suddenly in a blazing beam of purest white and streak toward the final warforged.
____________________________________________________

Lance of Faith

invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2186626/ [20,6] = (26)
invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2186627/ [5,4] = (9)

Not sure what a critical hit does in this regard, so if you know something I don't, Jeff, by all means go for it.

[Ken]

Jul 28, 2009 22:33:46 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Yet those on the starboard side can also see that the Dissolution's harpoon seems to have been armed again...

"Move us out of line, Ralsor!" Belarin yells, staring with alarm at the Dissolution. "It's about to fire again! And as for you," he says to the remaining enemy warforged, "My rhyme's awry / So please just die!" Brilliant colors coruscate across his eyes.

__________________________
After Grafth's and Streko's hits, I don't think this'll be necessary, but ....
Attack with eyebite.
Eyebite attack (1d20+5=24)
Eyebite damage, plus Warlock's Curse (1d6+4=5, 1d6=4) = 5 psychic, plus 4 more.
If that foe is already down, Belarin will join Streko in calling for Fherina.

[Jeff]

Round 10

20 = Warforged
15 = Grafth (careful strike)
16 = Aundairian
14 = Kal (lightning orb) / Tangat
14 = Streko

________

Seeing that its enemies are closing in, the warforged looks back and forth, realizing its companions are down. It fixes its eye back to Grafth, and tilts its head slightly upward, toward the wheelhouse. "This ship will burn," it promises then renews its attack, clearly intending to push through Grafth and make for the pilot. Grafth ducks just in time as the military pick buries itself in the forecastle wall. The shifter doesn't miss, however, severing numerous woody sinews along the construct's arm with his axeblade...then ducks away, behind Lever.

But before the warforged can attack the much-thinner artificer, Kal turns from the rail, shouts to Lever, and looses another orb of electricity from his enchanted dagger. The orb narrowly misses the warforged.

Tangat sprints over to where Mist lies on the deck, barking and pawing at her.

Streko hurls another bolt of radiant magic, slamming the warforged in the back. The construct stumbles, clutching at the rail for support, reaching up at Lever with its pick for one final attack—

Then drops to the deck with a crash.

"No survivors, indeed," the red-skinned stranger says as he drags his blade across his already ruined cloak in an attempt to clean of it alchemical fluid.

With all the attackers destroyed, a hush falls over the battlefield. Only the howling of the Thunderhead's air elemental can be heard, and the high winds. The gray clouds that surround you seem to be dispersing slowly.

The red-skinned stranger moves to the starboard side, passing by many of you. He gazes at the enemy ship and its harpoon, both of which continue give pursuit but seem to be falling behind. Looking toward the wheelhouse, he shouts, "Do not forget your altitude controls, my lord! They may not be able to shoot up!"

Lever moves quickly across the deck and kneels beside Mist. The warforged artificer seems to be assessing her condition, drawing lines of magic in the air above her inert body like mathematical equations.

When Kal, Belarin, and Streko go to seek out Fherina, they find the gnome standing at the base of the steps leading up into the wheelhouse. "Just wait," she says. "The Captain needs to concentrate."

A split second later, the Thunderhead pitches violently to port, forcing everyone to grab hold or and otherwise struggle to keep their feet. At first you wonder if the Dissolution's harpoon has struck the ship, but you feel no accompanying vibrations. Captain Ralsor dips downward, not up, and moves back in the direction of the Dissolution. Within seconds, the Thunderhead is almost directly below its enemy, but going the opposite direction. It's clear that this ship is more agile, and Ralsor's evasive maneuvers are making the Dissolution little more than an implied threat.

__________________

• Warforged #6's attack vs. Grafth: 18 (miss)
• Grafth's attack: 22 (hit) / 11 damage to warforged #6
• Kal's attack (lightning orb) (1d20+6=14) (miss)
• Streko's attack (lance of faith): 26 (critical hit) / 8 +4 (Wisdom) +1 (holy symbol) +1 (extra critical damage for holy symbol) = 14 damage to warforged #6
• Warforged #6 is slain.

The battle has ended!

[Darren]

Kal looks concernedly at Mist, but seeing Lever at work, he knows there is little else he can do. Instead, he steps over to the red-skinned stranger, recognizing in him a kindred spirit of leadership on the battlefield, despite his odd appearance. "Your assistance is welcome, my friend," he says with a nod, a show of respect from one warrior to another. "Might I inquire your name, and your purpose in the skies here?"

[Josh]

"Streko, let us see if we can't do something for the wounded," Grafth says, moving toward bodies from the White Phoenix. "If you can look after the child, I will bring the others... perhaps we should move them below deck?"

[Jeff]

The Aundairian, Lord Dassek, looks to the three other survivors of the Phoenix. He shakes his head, overwhelmed, then looks to Streko, honing in on the halfling's obvious priestly affiliations. "Can you tend to them?" More softly, he adds, "Lord Streko." He glances at Grafth as the shifter moves to the survivors as well.

The devilish stranger stands tall, aware of the scrutiny of everyone around him. His red skin is slick with sweat and blood, and his cloak hangs in burned tatters. His armor and shield look well-weathered, quality armaments that have lasted many battles and will last many more. The oddly-shaped shield is adorned with reliefs of curling flames.

In turn, he looks back to regard the rest of you. What he sees seems strange, even to one as strange as he. A racially diverse crew indeed:

Three humans. One wears silvery chainmail and the colors of House Deneith. Another a cloak of green, with swirling shadows gradually bleeding away from him, back to where they came from. The last is a woman in a fine gray cloak, a rapier in her hand.

The rest are not human: A halfling in a suit of chainmail and priestly vestments, a rectangular black symbol around his neck. A shifter, gleaming handaxe in his grip and wearing a longcoat over a hidelike armor.

A tall and slender warforged, little resembling the hulking constructs who attacked, now kneeling over the fallen one. Until today the stranger had seen only one or two warforged, and always from afar. Today he's seen them up close. Something about them is remarkable. They are clearly artificial constructs, composes entirely of wood, stone, and metal, but they move like living things.

The stranger can tell that the three humans, the shifter, and the halfling are part of the same team, apart from the two warforged and the gnome. Although they are highly skilled combatants—in a disorganized sort of way—they share some sort of bond, more like the weight of shared experience than old friendship.

"Fherina Hartsvale," the gnome says, identifying herself as she approaches the strange with fascination gleaming in her dark, fey eyes. "Investigative chronicler, with the Korranberg Chronicle, out of the city of Passage. Indeed, who are you?"

[Jeff's backup]

The stranger's gaze wanders briefly among the crew, eventually settling on the Dragonmarked human.

"My name--" he starts to say and then stops abruptly. His gold eyes shine like twin suns in the red landscape of his visage. "You may call me Condign." Turning to the halfling, he says: "The boy I carried out is called Wirren. He was trying to help me when the White Phoenix was attacked. He can neither speak nor hear. Please, help him."

Condign turns back to the human. "Do you command here?"

--------------------------------
OOC: Hi everyone! Glad to be part of the group.

[Darren]

Kal grins. "When they are smart enough to listen," he responds, just loud enough to be heard by all on deck. He turns his attention fully to Condign. "I am Kalarian d'Deneith, and though I cannot speak for the captain, you are welcome on this ship for as far as my authority extends." Kalarian eyes the Aundairian. "Now, as to what you're doing here....?"

[Jeff]

Of all of you, only Belarin, Charis, and Kal have heard stories of creatures, of people, like this Condign. A branch of humanity "polluted" by the blood of devils. The old stories suggest that this was long ago, even before humans migrated from the continent of Sarlona. But like any folklore, very little is known for certain.

'Tiefling' is the word they've heard before, though they don't know what that means. Charis was actually taught in her studies that some tieflings were believed to dwell within the Five Nations, but they're presence is generally kept under wraps. Most of the time the very notion of something walking about with horns and a tail is dismissed as another ruse of the changeling race.

Grafth and Streko have only vaguely heard of such human/devil hybrids, but then they've also heard of human/fish hybrids, and human/bird hybrids, and... Who knew what could be believed?

________________________________

Guys, do me a favor: when you next respond, give some more detail on what your character looks like, to help give our newcomer a good visual.

Belarin's History check (1d20+3=10) / Alternate Arcana check (1d20+16=32)
Charis's History check (1d20+8=23)
Grafth's History check (1d20+3=16)
Kal's History check (1d20+7=27)
Streko's History check (1d20+4=5)

[Ken]

Smiling broadly, Belarin approaches the newcomer with undisguised delight and fascination. Condign sees a handsome human with loose, black hair, wearing a finely made suit of black, grey, and green clothing. An odd sparkle seems to dance occasionally across his green eyes. He sheathes an ornate dagger now that the combat is over.

"Belarin Malizia," he says, bowing his head slightly. "Despite the gravity of our situation -- does an airborne situation HAVE gravity? -- I'm delighted by your presence. Not only are you a skilled warrior, but well..." He pauses, looking almost like a shy boy trying to ask a girl out on a date. "...I've never met a tiefling before. I'm bursting with questions! But obviously, there are greater priorities -- namely, what brought you out here?"

He also looks over to Kal. "Well done, my lord! You caused TWO of them to plummet, while Condign and I each made one fall down. Normally, I don't keep track of such things, but falling hundreds of feet is such a rare form of death that I couldn't help myself."

[Jeff]

The Aundairian looks incredulous at Belarin's exuberance, then turns his attention to Condign. "Thank...you..." He seems uncomfortable with speaking the tiefling's name. "For your assistance. Wirren owes you his life. The boy's father will be duly informed, and will, no doubt, speak on your behalf. As will I." He nods grimly, all the affection he seems able to muster.

Seeming to remember Kal's question. "I am Lord Dassek, colonel of the Aundairian Navy and a dragonhawk rider of Her Majesty, Queen Aurala. I came...." He surveys the battlefield, then looks back at Kal with a gleam in his eye. "To arrest you."

He shakes his head, then stares off into the sky and down below, as it trying to see where the wreckage of the Phoenix fell and all those who died within. "I...do not wish to be doing that right now."

[Darren]

Kal chuckles slightly, his cheeks brushing the high collar of his coat as he shakes his head. He relaxes and leans against sharrash, the large Halfling war-scythe now acting more like a walking staff. He bends his right leg a bit, as though it were stiff, the numerous leather straps and buckles around the leg creaking with the motion. His green eyes hold no anger as he fixes them on the Aundarian man. "No, I suppose we have you at a bit of a disadvantage now, don't we?" he says lightly. "My question, Lord Dassek, is what you intend to do once we reach our destination. We are bound for Fairhaven. What will you say once we get there?" For now, Kal decides, mentioning the captive Emerald Claw captain in the ship's brig can wait.

[Jeff's backup]

"Fairhaven?" Condign looks at Lord Dassek with a flat, unfriendly gaze. "Is that not where I was to be taken? So that I may address the reasons for my arrest?" He gestures broadly at the crew gathered upon the deck of the Thunderhead. "And it was your intent to arrest these others also?" Condign then looks pointedly at the dead warforged. "You stand among an unusual band of enemies, my lord."

[Joe]

Streko looks up at the tall, red-skinned beast and slowly returns the sickle to his haversack, which hungrily accepts it.

It is a conflicted look that Streko gives the newcomer, a frown at the thought of something that might be from the very plains they are fighting against and yet, a positive consideration that he fought with Streko's friends and allies and, more importantly, talks affectionately for the child brought over from the burning Aundarian ship.

Streko's long, dark hair is matted across his forehead as he, perhaps rudely, simply stares for another few moments as Kalarian and Belarin speak with the stranger. The Aundairian Captain, too, seems uncomfortable around the newcomer, for which Streko feels a sense of relief.

Finally, Streko makes up his mind.

"Olladra's fortune to you and my thanks for your assistance against the warforged. I fear we are not safe yet, nor do I suspect we will be safe for any time to come in the near future. Introductions shall have to wait, however. Tell me what afflicts the child and I shall beg for Olladra's wisdom in assisting him to better health."

He turns back to Kalarian. "In the meantime, Kal, might I suggest we ask Ferhina and Belarin to assist with losing those who would shoot us from the skies? I doubt that they will give up the chase so easily. Further, we might consider a lookout ahead...in case either Aundair or our quarry was able to request assistance."

His all-business attitude seems odd to even Streko himself. He smiles at Kal and shrugs before turning back to the red-skinned newcomer. "The boy..."

[Jeff]

Lord Dassek ignores Kals's question and Condign's statement for a moment. He walks over to one of the fallen warforged, then viciously kicks it in the face. "Who in Khyber are they?" He turns to look at the distant black shape of the Dissolution, hatred in his eyes. "Whose ship is that?"

As he stands listening, Belarin just then feels a...stirring, presence of some kind. An unseen malice. He turns, looking for the source, then realizes it's coming from the pact dagger at his belt. There is a whisper in his mind that he can't be certain his own imagination isn't supplying. 'Who dares?" it seems to say. Belarin can't help but feel like it is another mind, far away, and now it is aware of him.

Lever stands up from studying Mist, pausing for a short while, then straightens and turns to face both newcomers. "My name is Leverage—or 'Lever,' if that is easier for you. I am a Field Unit Repair Specialist employed by House Cannith, though I am currently retained by Captain Ralsor d'Lyrandar for maintenance and repair." Finished with that formality, the warforged faces Kal, Belarin, and Charis.

"Mist is not..." He pauses, as if hoping to rephrase. "Her body is entirely bereft of life. Dead, for all intents and purposes. But I've applied an infusion that will determined the rate of degeneration. Yet there there is no indication her body will degenerate. I've not seen anything like it. You see, when a warforged is killed, its body will deteriorate, like any living body; it is what sets us apart from the mindless constructs that preceded our kind. A few days after death, we will rust, pit, or otherwise decline. But according to my assessment, Mist's body will not. There is something more to her than...I have ever seen. I need to study her in a proper workshop. Perhaps in Fairhaven?"

[Darren]

Kal first addresses Streko. "I believe I may have something to aid in that, if you'll give me a moment."

Kal's face falls as he listens to Lever. He opens his mouth to speak, but then sighs heavily and shakes his head sadly. "Olladra willing," he says with a half-hearted smile at Streko, "we will have time to do something for Mist."

He next turns to the Aundairian. "That ship, we believe, belongs to Malov ir'Turien and his associates. They have plans within plans, and it is more than I can or will explain right now." Kal grins and adds, "Especially to someone who plans to arrest me. Now, if you please, what do you intend to do when we get to Fairhaven? Because if we are to throw you over the side, I'd like to do that now, before we get closer to our destination." Kal smiles innocently.

[Josh]

Grafth crouches over the wounded Aundarians that were pulled from the fire by Lever, doing what he can to help. The nature of their wounds seems to elude his attempts at aid, however.

He stands, running a frustrated hand through the shock of reddish-orange hair that sprouts from the top of his head. He works silently to compose himself, straightening his earthy long coat and adjusting the seemingly cumbersome hunk of black iron that hangs around his neck. It is clear that his interests do not currently lie in explaining the situation, but rather in drawing all emergencies to a close.

Nonetheless, when he hears Kalarians remark to Lord Dassek, he can't help but interject. "I am confident that you will understand what has brought us all to this position without threat of bodily harm," he says to the Aundarian, "and hopefully when we arrive in Fairhaven you can do more to help our reputation and cause than to frustrate our endeavors further.

"In the meantime, Lever, let us get Mist (if we can manage her!) and the other wounded below deck, then perhaps we should consult with our Captain about exactly what we may do when we approach the city."


Grafth Heal Check (1d20+9=10)
Grafth will work to move those he can below deck, into available rooms.

[Darren]

Kal's eyes move to Grafth as he speaks, but the smile stays on his face and he does not speak, returning his attention to Lord Dassek.

_________
I wasn't REALLY going to throw him overboard.