Now that the boarders have been dealt with, Gilius hurries to board the Denuvo by taking the plank, and assesses the situation on that ship.

Seeing the others fighting shadows and not knowing how to deal with them, he joins the fight to try and hit one with its cudgel.

Grog'tial's heart beat rapidly in his chest. For a moment there, he was certain his half-brother's agents had caught up with him. A dwarf above him, pointing his crossbow down. A dwarf below on the deck, for what felt like the longest time appearing to just stand there and let the vampirate carry on. Luckily the one below finally got in action and dispatched the vampirate, while the one above only shot toward the railing, and then back to the other ship (Grog'tial makes a note to wheedle the details of his ability to reload so swiftly out of this dwarf, just as soon as the mission is over). But that was entirely too close for comfort!

With the fraught moment over, these dwarfs must'n't think that he trusted them now, just because they hadn't taken this opportunity to take him out! Oh no! Oldest trick in the book! It was remotely possible that only one of 'em was an agent, and the presence of the other was what saved him, but even that was doubtful. They were clearly playing the long game! He resisted the urge to climb down and get as far as possible out of their range. Couldn't give away that he was on to them! And he had to make a good impression on the Admir'l, after all!

Grog'tial resumed firing shots at vampirates which were visible on the Denuvo, with priority on the mage if he was still a threat, but also took out time in between to scan all around himself (down to the water and the shore) for new threats. If these two boarding vampirates could suddenly appear out of nowhere, who knew what other threats could do the same?

Count looked with amusement at tied up vampirates, then, with curiosity, at Captain's medallion. Huh, was it me or the trinket's doing? Could it mayhaps also work on these weird shadows? No harm in tryin', I guess.

When he was moving up, one of the Denuvo's crew noisily and violently crashed from the other stairs. That should reassure these scallywags that they made good decision.

He moved upstairs on the deck, gracefully stepping over Kyp's trap, then outreached hand holding amulet towards the shadows and spoke loudly:

"That's enough! Begone dark specters, go back whence ye came! I relieve ye from yer task!"

Argy moves quickly around the mimic, to avoid becoming an easy target. If the mimic is trying to attack her, she will try to smash its limbs/tendrils with the pan. If it seems to be trying to attack another crewmate, she will try to hit its eyes with the pan.

Origi tries to sneakily edge her way round to the door to Navigation. Remembering her last encounter with a Cone of Cold, she tries opening it from a safe distance with the tip of her rapier, preferably timing it so any cone hits the mimic instead of her. If it opens and there is no cone, she sneaks through then shuts the door behind her,. From her new location, if she can see the vampirate mage, she launches her grenade. If the door is locked, she keeps her distance and starts pulling the rugs on which the mimic is standing, trying to make it topple and disorienting it. She starts throwing rugs on top of the mimic to block its.vision, further confuse it, and smother it. If it's completely covered in rugs, she pulls down the dangling rope and tries tying the mimic up within the rugs.

Durik was proud that his idea worked, even if temporally.
But.. he was also annoyed that he missed all the action!
He didn't manage to smash a single foe with his cudgel!

If the shadows were defeated and no one was still in danger, Durik signaled the allies nearby to move (scattered) towards the mage, since it was distracted.
If some was still alive, he passed his torch to Baldbeard or Kyp to keep them at bay and ran towards the stern castle.

He passed behind obstacles, in case the vampire decided to turn and cast its spell again.

If Durik managed to reach melee distance, he smashed the enemy's head with his cudgel (the stake would have probably been better, but he itched to bonk!)
In case the mage started to become ash, he was ready to jump away, since his weapon had a good range.

Bellandra grinned at seeing Rummyfangs' and Pugwash's successful strikes against the vampirate mage, and she hoped Rummyfangs would be able to dodge his bloody bolt. Although she felt the coldness in her limbs to some extent, she planned to exploit the oppotrunity and engage the silenced vampirate mage while he is disoriented from being spun around. She would try to cut off his arm holding the crossbow and then sever his head from his neck, or to stake him, whichever opportunity comes first, but she would be careful to dodge any of his blood. Then when the mage has been dispatched she would proceed to disable the main deck cannons.

[Cap'n Barfdeck Rummyfangs / Denuvo Main Yard]

As Cap'n Rummyfangs scrambled up the rigging of the main mast to a position on the main yard, he kept his gaze locked on the angry vampirate mage and dared never to look away, for this foe was keen on killing him. He watched as the vampirate mage smeared blackish blood from its sliced throat onto the bolt that was now bolting straight towards Cap'n Rummyfangs. The Felinoid pirate leapt downwards again, this time rolling to the side along the Main Yard's wooden floor and bouncing back up again (hoping to have dodged the tainted bolt!).

His goal was three-fold: first and foremost, Cap'n Rummyfangs wanted to continue to take this mage's head for a wild spin, using his quick reflexes to disorient his enemy and avoid becoming a sitting duck himself (or, as Cap'n B used to say, "A sitting quack!"). Secondly, Cap'n Rummyfangs wanted to use this opportunity to consume one of his adrenaline rum concoctions: the Denuvo ship was slowly draining him of precious energy and all of this crazy leaping about like a restless feline could use some extra kick. And thirdly, Cap'n Rummyfangs was aiming to surprise this angry vampirate mage with yet another attack from behind, like he did earlier, but with a wooden stake to the heart this time. Perhaps, he secretly hoped to buy some time so that one of the other crewmates could strike while the vampirate mage was disoriented. Cap'n Rummyfangs did catch a fleeting glance at Bellandra, whose grin reassured the Felinoid pirate that she was ready to engage this furious vampirate mage too and help him defeat this enemy, once and for all!


*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Cap'n Barfdeck Rummyfangs: Felinoid pirate / +1 agility, stealth / -1 constitution / permanent +1 hit (unless stunned or incapacitated) / Rapier +1 strike chance / 2 x rum concoctions for adrenaline rush / 2 x wooden stakes / 1 x holy water / 1 x rope / 1 x "harmless" disguise / weakness: loud noises (except roar of the sea & ship's cannons)

Aylar will focus on finishing off his current mark, perhaps letting more battle-awoken viciousness to slip into his technique now that he realizes that he is facing a fellow half-blood, is not in an immediate danger of an ash explosion, and at his current position, can relatively easily bound out of the range of any other tricks vampirates still may have prepared.

If his opponent is soundly defeated and more come from that direction, he will keep fighting them off, starting with throwing a grenade their way, if they be coming from within the ship and there be more than one. If no more reinforcements arrive, he will take a moment to take stock of the current situation on the main deck.

If the Shadows be still on the ropes through the shark pack's efforts, and there be a good path to cross past them unbothered, he will take it. He will keep his distance from the mage; depending on the situation, he may either serve as a distraction for his spellfire and bank on his natural swiftness and experience to dodge, giving the fellow Crewmate an opening, or bide his time to strike last if Crew's efforts be not enough to bring the caster down.

If/once the mage is taken care of, he will set his sights on Denuvo's wheel.

Pugwash grimaces now that his luck with hitting the heart has run out. Pugwash will shoot again at the mage if safe to do so (ie no risk of hitting crewmates).

Otherwise Pugwash will spend the turn monitoring the Denuvo for new vampirate targets. If he sees one, and it is safe to do so, Pugwash will shoot at it.

Periodically, Pugwash will shift his attention to the town, using his glass eye of farsight to see if it has been roused against the crew. If so, Pugwash will be sure to warn Polly..

As to the presence of any remaining Shadows, Pugwash simply ignores them as he judges that crossbow bolts will be no use against them. Pugwash hopes he does not come to regret that decision.

Mighty The Mighty Matey

Post edited as per confirmation with GM.

Enraged by attach on Monkey, Mighty decides to jump on the bed so that it absorbs impact of his fall. He will extend his Crab Claw and will try to use element of surprise to attack and crush Mimic with powered version of his Crab Claw (special ability).

=========================
+2 Mighty Cudgel of Crushing, a permanent +1 Strength, a parrot (Cracker), and a three-headed monkey
Crab claw - shield or strong pincer to grab and hold or crush. Harbor Watch leather armor.

Bhrigu picks up the chair by the Captain's writing table with the intention of using it as a shield, and moves to a distance from the mimic similar to his mates with the expectation that it would compel the mimic to focus on any one crew member, thus reducing its defence allowing others to attack.
If Queen Origi succeeds in opening the door towards navigation room Bhrigu will try to follow so that the fight can be taken out of such a closed off space.
If she succeeds in putting a rug on the mimic thus smothering it, Bhrigu will help on either tying it up or attacking it, whichever turns out to be more practical.
If Argy manages to hit it with the pan and that stuns the mimic, Bhrigu will use that opportunity to stab the mimic's eyes and cut its tongues and any other tendrils.
If none of these happen he will pick up any pots or vases present and throw them at the mimics mouth hoping it might choke on it.
If all fails he will take his sabre and "stab it in the chest".*


* The joke is not my own.

Foggy sheathes the trident on his back t' carry a cannon ball wit' that arm 'n moves towards the Navigation. His intention be simple, wreck the Denuvo's wheel by brute force. In case o' enemies in the middle o' his way, he'll drop the cannon ball t' crush or behead wit' his cutlass 'n trident. Then, resume his personal sabotage mission. "Foggy demands t' execute his new stylized combat combos" He grunted t' the narrator. Any Foggy's scavengin' action will happen aft crushin' the Denuvo's wheel. His priority be t' make sure the Denuvo can nah chase his cursed galeon. "Foggy loves everythin' related t' crushin' 'n destruction. Scavengin' comes second" Foggy interjected. Whirlpool Machine mode on.

Mission 1, Denuvo - Mission End (All Crew) = short End Turn Midnight UTC, 8 October
*This will be a quick End Turn, as there isn't much to be done but get back aboard Ship (considering Argy's 'gift'). As I will be having eye work done Monday and may not see too well, the End Turn results will be posted Midnight UTC, 8 October at which time loot will be given and a new Mission Briefing will be posted for planning. You may role play and post reactions and exits thru the next turn.*

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(roll dice) The mist had thickened, almost becoming a fog now. The Crew could hear a horn closer to the main harbor entrance, but it was obviously for the fog, not an alarm. The sounds from the town seemed muted a bit now also. So far their luck had held, but they were not free of possible discovery yet.

Mighty the Mighty Matey saw Argy and the others were in trouble. Enraged by the attack on Monkey, Mighty jumped down onto the captain's bed, (roll dice) crushing it but avoiding being in reach of the Mimic himself. After seeing how it had grabbed Monkey, he used the Crab Claw to shield himself while jumping down. "Crack skull!" said Cracker. (roll dice) Mighty grew his Crab Claw and brought it down on the Mimic with all his strength, (roll dice) caving it in just as the Mimic was trying to work its way free of the sacks. (roll dice) The Mimic was still trying to undent itself when Mighty's Crab Claw grabbed the Mimic and snapped shut, crushing it in two while tossing it sideways into the captain's desk. Beneath where the Mimic had been lay a space in the floor with a small hidden and unremarkable wooden chest.

(roll dice) With the fraught moment over, and having scanned quickly to make sure no more boarders were appearing, Grog'tial brought his crossbow to bear on the mage. Pugwash's bolt had spun the mage around and his back was now exposed to Grog'tial's shot. (roll dice) There would be no better chance. With exquisite finesse Grog'tial squeezed the trigger and heard the satisfying sound as the stake-bolt penetrated the heart from behind. The vampirate mage exploded into ash, but no Crew were nearby as it settled silently to the deck.

With the death of the mage, the energy drain on the Crew aboard Denuvo lightened greatly.

(roll dice) Realizing he was facing a fellow half-blood and need not fear an ash explosion, Aylar pressed his advantage viciously, granting no quarter as he took the half-vamp's head from his shoulders and kicked the body to the bottom of the stairs. (roll dice) Looking over and seeing the Shadows more than occupied with Captain Baldbeard's sharks, Aylar circled the other side of the main deck, skirting around the mage ash and heading up the port side quarter deck stairs to (#12) the wheel, which he proceeded to jam and disable.

(roll dice) Queen Origi sneakily edged her way around to the the door to Navigation and tested the lock. Having worn off now, but still remembering her last encounter with a Cone of Cold, she carefully turned the latch, then opened it from a safe distance with the tip of her rapier. Encountering no Cone, Origi slipped through, closing the door behind her. She prepared a garlic grenade while sneaking cautiously to the open doorway on the right side of the Navagation Room (#2). Origi crept out onto the main deck, but saw no mage, only ash settling to the deck in front of the other closed door.

Pugwash grimaced that his shot had only grazed the vampirate mage's heart, but before he could shoot again, Grog'tial's bolt had found the mark. Pugwash turned his attention to the other enemies, but Aylar had taken out his opponent and he didn't think his bolts would do any good on the Shadows. Besides, it appeared Captain Baldbeard's sharks were literally eating them. Pugwash monitored the situation while occasionally shifting his attention to the town, using his glass eye of farsight as best he could in the thickening mist to see if it has been roused against the crew. If so, Pugwash would be sure to warn Polly.

Count Karnstein looked with amusement at the tied up half-vampirates, then, with curiosity, at the Captain's medallion. Huh, was it me or the trinket's doing? Could it mayhaps also work on these weird shadows? No harm in tryin', I guess. He moved up the main stairs onto the main deck, (roll dice) gracefully avoiding Kyp's trap, then reached out his hand holding the amulet towards the Shadows he spoke in the voice of command, "That's enough! Begone dark specters, go back whence ye came! I relieve ye from yer task!" (roll dice) The effect was almost immediate, as the Shadows faded with a faint sigh.

(roll dice) As the mage had been efficiently dispatched, Bellandra quickly set about disabling the deck guns. The cold slowness had worn off and the energy drain she had been under had lightened greatly with the deaths of almost all of the vampirates aboard.

As Cap'n Rummyfangs scrambled up the rigging of the main mast to a position on the main yard, he kept his gaze locked on the angry vampirate mage and dared never to look away, for this foe was keen on killing him. He saw the vampirate mage smear blackish blood from its sliced throat onto the bolt that was streaking straight towards him just before Pugwash's bolt spun the mage around. (roll dice) Cap'n Rummyfangs swiftly dived and rolled to the side along the Main Yard's arm, bouncing back up again to see the bolt sticking from the Main Mast right where he had been but a moment before. (roll dice) He had just grasped his rum concoction to bring it to his lips when Grog'tial's stake-bolt thudded home and the vampirate mage burst into ash, greatly relieving the energy drain Cap'n Rummyfangs and the others aboard had been suffering.

(roll dice) Argy was ready to smash away any of the Mimic's grasping limbs as she scurried quickly back out of the way. (roll dice) She noticed Queen Origi leaving and shutting the door, but Argy's main concentration at the moment was to avoid herself or any crewmate becoming Mimic lunch! She breathed a sigh of relief as Mighty finished off the Mimic, then she spotted the chest. That must be what Polly was after! Queen Origi had not said or given any indication about the chests being trapped, so things must be safe enough now she thought. (roll dice) Grabbing the hidden chest quickly, Argy spun and headed for the navigation room door. "Mighty, ye bring the blue chest! Bhrigu, ye get the green chest! We be leavin'!" (roll dice) Argy opened the captain's quarters door to the Navagation Room (#2) and then paused. Pulling out a cupcake she looked at the captain's table with a grin, then her eyes settled on the mast pole in the Navagation Room instead. (roll dice) Argy triggered the cupcake and placed it by the mast with glee. Running out the Navagation Room door, carrying the small chest and heading for the boarding plank back onto the Ship as fast as her short legs could carry her, Argy called out to the rest of the Crew, "Time to go! Three minutes! Abandon ship!"

(to be continued below ...)

(... continued from above)

Gilius was hurrying to board the Denuvo by taking the plank when he heard Argy's words and saw the halfling running for the plank to come back aboard. (roll dice) He quickly reassessed the situation aboard the Denuvo. The vampirate mage was gone to ash and the Shadows were banished. Three minutes? (roll dice) Gilius realized that must mean Argy had set off a cupcake and decided to stay right where he was and help the others back aboard Ship.

Bhrigu had picked up the chair by the Captain's writing table with the intention of using it as a shield and was going to move to a distance similar to his mates when he noticed Queen Origi open the door to the Navagation Room (#2), sneak out and then shut it behind her, leaving them to deal with the Mimic. Luckily it didn't take long for Mighty to do so. He saw Argy grab the small chest that had been hidden underneath where the Mimic had rested, then she called for Bhrigu to bring the green chest and Mighty to grab the blue. (roll dice) Bhrigu found he could pile the sack of books on top of the green chest and still manage it. Looking out the captain's cabin door he saw the map on the Navagation table, he also saw Argy place a cupcake by the mizzen mast pole. Three minutes, he remembered. He might have just enough time to grab the map on his way out.

Durik was proud that his idea worked, even if temporally. But.. he was also annoyed that he missed all the action! He didn't manage to smash a single foe with his cudgel! The Shadows had vanished, the mage was gone. However Dakka felt lighter now, so that was good. Then he saw the tiny Argy running from the stern area carrying a small chest, and calling out to them to abandon ship in three minutes.

The sharks had done their work well and had returned to Captain Baldbeard, awaiting their next instruction. Captain Baldbeard and Kyp turned as they heard Argy's warning to abandon ship. Then they heard Admiral Polly echo that with her own command.

Foggy sheathed the trident on his back, intending on crossing the boarding plank picking up a cannon ball and crushing the Denuvo's wheel by brute force. However Aylar had already disabled the wheel and Argy was running for the plank calling out to leave now, a command that was echoed by Admiral Polly. He could either stay aboard the Ship and help stabilize the plank for the others, or risk being left behind and interfering with his crewmates getting back aboard themselves.

Hearing Argy's call and seeing her running for the boarding plank, Polly realized what Argy must have done. "Back aboard, now!" she called as lowly as possible while still reaching their ears. "Bellandra, please be bringin' Larissa's potions with ye, we'll wash them off. Count Karnstein, if either ye or Captain Baldbeard's shark pack can please to be bringin' Larissa's body alongside, but not onto the Ship, it will be taken care of. Hurry now, time to be leavin'." With that Polly raised her wings, gathering the spectral energies of the Ship and preparing to leave in a hurry.

Denuvo Deck Plans
The Ship, deck plan
Harbor Plans

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Pugwash; Crow's Nest = 1 inked fliers he intends to wrap around bolts.
Grog'tial; Fighting Top = 2 stakes, 3 stake-bolts, twine.
Aylar; Denuvo Wheel = small sharp belt ax, 3 stakes, 1 Garlic Grenade; impaired off hand
Argy; Abandoning ship! = two knives, a spoon, a garlic pepper grinder, Cure Disease broth (small chest, potion & scroll).
Bellandra; disabling cannons on Denuvo Main Deck = 4 stakes
Bhrigu; Denuvo Captain's Quarters = 2 stakes, Saber of Repel Undead, magnifying glass of deciphering (papers, sack w/a few books, 2 scrolls, small mirror & parchment, green chest?)
Captain Baldbeard; Denuvo Main Deck near back of main mast stairs = 2 stakes, 1 holy water; commands shark pack.
Cap'n Rummyfangs; Denuvo Main Yard arm Ship side = 2 stakes, 1 holy water, 1 rope, 2 berserker rums.
Count Karnstein; Denuvo Main Deck near top of main stairs; Denuvo Amulet of Command.
Durik; Denuvo Main Deck near back of main mast stairs = lockpicks, matches, knife, 4 bandages, 2 large stakes, 1 Garlic Grenade, Harbor Watch leather armor
Foggy; Ship Main Deck = Crow, 2 Bottles of 'Pirate Pete's Pain-Killin' Rum'
Gilius; Ship Main Deck = 1 stake, 1 holy water
Kyp; Denuvo Main Deck near back of main mast stairs
Larissa Deceased, diseased to all but Bellandra and Count Karnstein = 3 Healing Potions, 2 Sleep Potions
Mighty; Denuvo Captain's Quarters = Cracker, Monkey, set of 3 different sized lockpicks, Harbor Watch leather armor (blue chest?).
Origi; Main Deck near door to Navagation room = 2 fliers, 1 Garlic Grenade, VO Amulet; fingertips necrotic diseased and blackened from touching Larissa's body

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GM Note - Argy and Cap'n Rummyfangs have notified the GM of their being away and unable to check in for the next few days, but Argy left instructions for the GM as to her intentions and 'gift'. ;)
Sorry Foggy, initiative is determined by the dice, and yours came last this time. Don't worry though, next mission should have some fun for you boyz. :)