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dstickman-blog · 7 years

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Chapter 1 - pt. 2

Selia: I run and leap onto Sarah, trying to knock her to the ground "EVERYONE GET DOWN!"

DM: Sarah, Selia slams into you and you both hit the deck. The wind is knocked out of you as you see Linsa grab Taylor and dive down as well. A moment later you hear Yero scream from the crow's nest and then the thunkthuthuthunk of bolts peppering the side of the ship.

Skolldin slides against the deck rail and Rashoun presses himself behind the mast for cover, a bolt missing him by inches. Griswald yelps as a shaft passes clean through his calf, and his legs buckle. From behind the mast, Rashoun yells "I am dropping the mainsail! Someone get to helm and push us away from the coast!"

Selia: I cast mage hand on the wheel and turn it while moving as fast as possible to get up there.

DM: Rashoun dives up the mast and grabs a rope, pulling himself up arm over arm. Taylor pushes himself and follows.

Sarah Blackpowder: I aid in getting the main sail down.

DM: Sarah, you pull a rope near the bottom crossbeam of the mast and unravel it, preparing to lash the sails in place when they drop. Skolldin lunges forward to grab Griswald and drag him to the rail for cover. Across from you, Sarah, Linsa's face tightens with fear. "Oh hell."

All along the coast you see small fires light, spreading like a rash across the sand. Five, ten, twenty, forty. The crossbows pivot up and then release, sending a torrent of burning bolts straight toward you.

Selia: I move to the wheel, and drop my mage hand, turning it manually now. I cast magic missile on some of the arrows in an attempt to knock them out of the sky.

I feel strange, like my whole body has centered itself, my mind has gone blank, only focusing on a single goal. I move as if on instinct and force my hand outwards. It feels like I've drawn something from within myself, this pulsing feeling surges out, starting from my gut following through to my arm. For a second, it feels serene--that this is natural. In the next second blue arrows of light fire from my fingertips and just like that, the feeling is gone.

DM: The arrows of light shoot through the air towards the incoming bolts. As they approach the magical arrows seem to stretch and bend to your will, flattening themselves to crash through the flaming crossbow bolts like a bowling ball through pins. Ten of the bolts shatter into splinters and plummet into the sea as your arrows plow through them. About half of the remaining arrows are short or wide. They splash into the sea with a sizzle as the saltwater douses the flames.

But the rest pepper into the ship, slamming into the mast, into the deck, and into the mainsail. The sail catches, and two of the bolts wedged into the deck seem in danger of igniting the pitch that seals the boards together. Linsa cries out and launches herself at one of these spots, stomping at the embers. Skolldin puts his full weight on Griswald's calf, eliciting a howl of pain from him. The dwarf looks up towards you, Sarah. "Need a bandage! Or a tourniquet!"

Sarah Blackpowder: I pull out my rope and tie it tight above the wound, not cutting it now though.

DM: You cinch the leg, and Griswald winces. "I'll keep it tight!" Skolldin hollers. Take it from here to that fire.

Sarah Blackpowder: I run over to the fire, and it resembles the usual stray fire in Papa's shop. i stomp it out with ease like i would any other fire and try to perceive anyone near the fire. on the shore

DM: The sail is catching quickly. Selia , the smell of smoke finally hits your nostrils and for a second you snap back to the horrors of Barelby, a ghost town melting and crumbling before your eyes. Of unbearable heat squeezing you from all sides and choking on ash as you call out for help.

Sarah, you do not see any activity on the coast, and the ship is reeling away towards open water. But you do catch Selia as she locks up. Her eyes seem a million miles away. Somehow, instinctively, you know she is on the edge of something.

Sarah Blackpowder: "SELIA FOCUS STAY WITH US!!"

DM: Selia, you feel the pulse of uncontrollable forces ripple through your body, like a jolt of electricity in your bones. You grow two inches taller in a matter of seconds. You can feel your bones and joints groan as they lengthen and stretch. The constant pain in your hip dulls to an ache, as if you've been on bed rest for a couple of days. The growth spurt seems to have sped the healing process somewhat.

From the top of the mast you hear Rashoun's voice. "HARD APORT!"

The main sail finally unfurls, and puffs outward as it catches the wind. The ship accelerates sharply and the timbers creak to compensate. The next round of bolts, like the first, is unlit and almost invisible as it rips through the dark sky. All of them splash into the water as The Hummingbird lurches out of range. Rashoun slides down the rigging and slices away the smoldering section of the sail, letting it flap over the deck and into the water.

Selia: I run to the nearest side of the ship, hopefully out of view, crouch down and cast minor illusion forming a box around me.

My instincts kick in and the only thing I can think of is to hide, or to run, and I've got nowhere to run nor anywhere to hide. My head aches as I curl into a ball, holding my hands out for an impending shot from the gun and suddenly all around me are wooden walls.

DM: Sarah, you see Selia duck away and out of sight and stay there. Taylor and Rashoun climb the rigging to the crow's nest while Linsa runs over to help pull Griswald to his feet so they can get him downstairs.

Sarah Blackpowder: I run to help Linsa get Griswald downstairs.

DM: You shoulder as much of Griswald's weight as you can. Every step sends a small trickle of blood oozing from Griswald's leg. Dern sees you coming down the stairs and sweeps the table clear, then helps lift Griswald to lay him on top of it.

Sarah Blackpowder: "I wrapped it tight, I gotta get back up top"

DM: Griswald nods, gritting his teeth, but Dern pulls you aside. "I know it looks clean, but depending on who that was those bolts may be poisoned. Or worse. The safest thing to do might be to take the leg at the knee." Dern looks towards the table. "I've seen mere scratches from different lurker weapons turn into the worst of wasting diseases."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Do what needs to be done to keep him alive. He's no stranger to losing appendages."

DM: Dern nods grimly. "I need your help."

Sarah Blackpowder: "W-What?"

DM: "We don't have numbing tincture or ether aboard. Whatever we do here got to be done as quickl. Every second of surgery is another your grandfather could bleed out, or go into shock."

Sarah Blackpowder: I have an appalled look. "Okay.... What do I have to do?"

DM: "Skolldin will have to hold him down, and I'll saw through the joint in half a minute--or hopefully less. But we have to seal that once it's done. I got a pan on the stove, flat iron. I need you to get it hot and seal the stump when I'm done. Ever worked with Smith's gloves before?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Yeah, a lot. I can do it."

DM: You both glance back at Griswald on the table. It hits you suddenly that tonight could easily be the last of his life.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Come on we gotta hurry."

DM: As you turn towards the kitchen you can still see your grandfather in your mind's eye. You are pulled back into a memory, one that shaped helped shape your relationship with him.

**Sarah Blackpowder:s* It's the time that he first showed me black powder. He piled up a small amount of it and with a poof it was gone. The smell was oddly satisfying, and I giggled every time he lit some up for me.

DM: He smiled for you when you did--the first time you ever saw him do it.

You hear the rumble of thunder as you put the pan on the heat. Rashoun's weather has come after all. Selia you are sitting on the deck, knees pressed to your chest, when you see the flash of lightning across the sky. A few seconds later, the deep roll of thunder.

Selia: I poke my head out of the illusion, trying to see what's happening

DM: The illusory wood around you winks out as you put your head up. You can see Linsa's back at the helm, juggling the wheel and some kind of nautical instrument.

Rashoun and Taylor are lowering Nero's body from the Crow's nest down to the deck. Around you, you hear the first few plops of fat raindrops as they hit the deck.

Selia: At first I jump as the illusion dissipates, then I take a deep breath move over to Linsa and grab her shoulder "Is there anywhere I could help?"

DM: She flinches hard, and yelps. "Gods! Running up on someone like that!"

Selia: "I'm sorry, just please, I want to help"

DM: She points towards the deckrail with the instrument still in hand. "Can you see the shore? I have no idea where I'm steering us and if the storm turns us around or pushes us into shallow water we're as good as drowned."

The wind picks up and the ship crests a tall wave, crashing down. For a split second you get the pit in your stomach from the feeling of free fall.

Selia: "Okay, just tell you how to keep the boat straight? I can do that" I move to the head of the ship, facing the shoreline and begin calling out port or starboard depending on if we're too close or too far.

DM: You can just barely make out the waves as they crash against what looks like a cliff face.

Selia: I continue to try to give directions as best I can.

DM: You shout over the wind. The clouds burst, sending a waves of rain down between cracks of lightning.

The ship is pitching back and forth over the waves. You manage to fight off a brief twinge of seasickness. Sarah, the iron pan is red hot. Skolldin is holding Griswald down and clearly feeling queasy while doing it.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Let's start."

DM: Dern nods and his knuckles whiten around the saw he is holding. He pulls the tourniquet around Griswald's leg tighter. Skolldin pushes a wad of cloth into Griswald's mouth. He nods at Dern, who places the saw against the underside of Dern's knee. Griswald starts to hyperventilate, his nostrils flaring.

Sarah Blackpowder: "It's gonna be okay papa, you'll survive I promise."

DM: He grunts. And Dern nods. He begins to saw through the back of Griswald's knee, working fast. Griswald writhes violently, his howls muffled by the cloth.

"Hold him down!" Dern shouts.

Sarah Blackpowder: "You got this! I'm here, just stay with us!"

DM: Skolldin presses down hard to pin Griswald and minimize the trashing. Dern doubles down and you soon hear the sickening squelch of the saw tearing through the ligaments of Griswald's knee. Another five seconds and Griswald's lower leg comes free. Blood oozes freely from the stump as Dern grabs a knife and quickly slices through the tendons holding the kneecap, removing that as well.

He stands aside and holds the thigh in place. "Now, Sarah!"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Sorry Papa." I press the hot pan against the wound hard.

DM: The flesh sears and pops as you press the iron into the stump of Griswald's leg. He screams through the cloth and thunder echoes him. The wound is sealed.

The gruesome task finally completed, Skolldin can't seem to hold back any more. He lets Griswald pass out on the table and runs up the stairs to the deck.

Selia you see him climb the last of the wooden steps as the ship rocks back and forth. He leans over the side and vomits through curses.

Sarah Blackpowder: I'm close behind.

DM: The fresh air up here is better than the smell of sweat and blood in the claustrophobic hold below, but up here you can see the fury of the storm and instantly understand why Rashoun wanted to wait it out.

Selia: I move over to Sarah and Skolldin still giving directions and speaking in between "Is Griswald okay?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "He will be when he wakes up..."

Selia: "Shit, I'm sorry Sarah... this wouldn't have happened if I wasn't on board."

Sarah Blackpowder: "No none of this would have happened if we never left Everton. Don't blame yourself over our bad choices."

Selia: "What brought their wrath upon you? You already know why they'd be trying to kill me"

Sarah Blackpowder: "The pistols. Black powder was edging on their wrath, pistols are crossing it. We left so our village wouldn't be subjected to the trials."

Selia: "Oof, you poor things" I wince at the sight of both of them

Sarah Blackpowder: I walk back downstairs, wiping my mouth. I call out to Dern: "Is he okay?"

DM: As Sarah leaves, Skolldin turns to you, Selia. "I'm no poor thing!"

The ship dips wildly between the waves, and the wood groans as a wall of water slams into the starboard side. Sarah, you stumble down the last few steps into the hold. Dern has extinguished the torch down here and it is pitch black Selia, you grip the rail in total reflex, preventing yourself from going overboard. Skolldin is less fortunate, hitting the rail full force and then tumbling to the deck.

Selia: I grab him and help him stand "I suggest you hold onto something."

DM: He nods and winds a coil of dangling rope around his arm.

**Sarah lackpowder: "Dern?"

DM: Dern replies from the dark about 10 feet ahead of you but from below. "We have a problem," he says. You can hear the slosh of water as he takes a few steps.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Oh no. Is Papa Gris gonna be safe down here?"

DM: "I hope so. Can you give me a hand?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Yeah what are we getting?"

DM: A lantern comes to life and you can see Dern standing in an open hatch. The floor you're standing on comes up to about his shoulder. Even from here you can see that the space below is slowly filling up with seawater. Currently the level is about at Dern's shins. "We need to stop this up or start bailing water. Fast."

Sarah Blackpowder: "How big is the breach?"

DM: The ship rocks to one side,and the water sloshes towards it. Dern steadies himself and then lowers his lantern so you can see into the space below. The boards along the starboard side are cracked, and water is seeping through. You may not know ships, but you know pressure, and you know structural integrity. What's happening here? What's going to happen here?

Sarah Blackpowder: The ship is going to capsize if we don't fix the breach. I run and find the boards and tar I found earlier. I grab two boards and slather a large area of both of them with tar. I run to the breach and slam them over the breach, sealing it. Then, I grab a hammer and nails and hammer the boards in place so they add support to the wall.

As I do that I yell to dern "Start getting water out of here!"

DM: You splash down into the small space with your tools. The water is numbingly cold. Dern nods and hoists himself out of the hole to find a bucket.

Selia, up top it seems like the storm is finally breaking. The rain and wind have slowed to a normal feeling rainfall, and the flashes of lightning are fewer and further between.

Selia: I move over to Linsa and call out "Can you navigate solo from here while I check elsewhere?"

**DM: Linsa nods. "I think we'll probably be good to drop anc r soon. Look."

She points, and you can see Rashoun and Taylor calling down to Skolldin. The three of them are working to furl the sails.

Selia: I move over to them and help with the sails.

DM: You do your best to assist Skoll with the rigging. It takes a while, and makes your hip ache. While you're working, Sarah appears from below. She is drenched somehow, and it looks like her hands are covered in oil.

Sarah Blackpowder: "We may have a... sticky situation..."

Selia: "What the hell is going on?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Nothing now, wanna help clear water from underneath?"

DM: Rashoun's feet hit the deck behind you, Selia. He looks stern. "How bad is the breach?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "About the size of our heads together. It's patched now."

DM: He jerks his head towards the hold. "Water?"

Sarah Blackpowder: "Shin high."

DM: Rashoun grabs a bucket from the deck and heads downstairs. "Skolldin!"

Skolldin follows, supporting himself along the deckrail.

Sarah Blackpowder: I find a bucket and follow.

Selia: I do the same.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Just form a line it'll be faster!"

DM: Describe the bailout process. It's a tight space, and Sarah's bucket brigade idea is a good one.

Selia: Rashoun, Sarah, and I all form a line equidistant from each other from the currently flooded area to one side of the boat, back and forth passing the bucket until we get most of the water out of the ship.

DM: When it's all clear, Dern gives a thumbs up from the small space and climbs up. He shuts the hatch behind him and Rashoun sits hard on the steps. He sighs in equal parts of exhaustion and relief.

"Well," he says. "I guess it's time for second shift dinner."

Sarah Blackpowder: "Go and eat, we will hold the fort down"

Selia: "Nothing like soup after a near death experience"

DM: "Just the four of us, I suppose," says Dern. "Now that Yero's gone." He mops his brow and heads to the kitchen. Rashoun follows, but Taylor stays behind.

Sarah Blackpowder: "Shall we hold a funeral after the supper?"

DM: Taylor nods. "We will return his body to the sea." With that, Taylor turns and walks up the stairs to the main deck. Rashoun returns with a bowl of stew. "You know, Selia, I should consider your travel paid after all you've done tonight."

He puts a second bowl in front of you.

Selia: "Don't mention it" I push the second bowl back to him.

DM: "But I must mention it. I've never had a magician on my ship before."

#Chapterone #Pointsoflight #Castinfire #D&D #dungeons and dragons #SarahBlackpowder #Selia

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