Siege of Bhornalduhr

The crew, having chosen to visit Bhornalduhr, decide to come about. They choose a route far enough south of Port Claw that their passage goes unnoticed by the harbor traffic moving to and fro the bay. By any fair calculation, they should make port at the Dwarven Salahardan Caliphate’s capital city in 2 to 3 days, depending on how favorable the wind stays.

Anything in particular the crew would like to do during travel time or upon approach? Crew positions during travel?

When Crispy is not in the galley tending to meals he will take up a ready position on the foredeck ready to take flight if needed.

Sam is at the wheel unless someone else wants that job

Kruhl will continue finding any job that needs done on deck, especially anything not attended by another. If the captain tells him to "just be a passenger" again, he will ignore the orders but do his work when Blood Hawkes isn't watching.

Kruhl will use any additional time working on his PT to get back into fighting shape. He fully expects to be dumped as soon as they make landfall and he hasn't been in a proper scrap in years, let alone been allowed any regular exercise.

Kruhl finds himself equally distracted by the beauty of the sea and sense of freedom.

Abigail will alternate sunbathing and fishing off the stern deck, unless otherwise needed.

Hawkes stands with Sam watching Kruhl fill in as Bosun’s mate. “You leave him down there long he might start barking orders at the deck hands,” he says with a wry grin. “I think he keeps a tighter sail than you do, Sam...” Another grin.

“Renda,” Hawkes hollers to the Crowe’s nest. “Keep an eye for anyone as comes in behind us.”

"everybody's a critic..."

whit10 wrote:"everybody's a critic..."

“Ha ha!”

“Look alive ladies, Kruhl is doing all the work!”

The crew of Gundren’s Grace make their final approach towards Bhornalduhr.  As the landmass starts coming into view, they can see black smoke rising from the cityscape.  From the cow’s nest, Renda is the first to spot flames licking the thatched rooftops and wooden structures that lay outside the keep.

The docks seem to be unharmed and intact from this far away.  Although the bay is empty, it would serve well as a place to anchor if the crew wishes to ferry themselves by launch craft.

Kruhl ceases his work when he catches sight of the burning city.  He has no love for the dwarves, but he respects that level of dedication to their gods.  

Kruhl tosses a handful of coins into the ocean to appease Elyss-yss and speaks aloud, "Elyss-yss, great demon of the ocean, your favor is bought in silver"

Aid

2nd-level abjuration Casting Time 1 action
Range 30 feet
Components V S M (Strip of white cloth)
Duration 8 hours

Up to three creatures you choose have their current and maximum hit points increased by 5 while the spell lasts.


Kruhl gives himself, Renda and Crispy +5 current and max HP for the next 8hrs, no concentration. "Always fortify the front lines" he thinks to himself

Chris wrote:Kruhl

saves:  Cha +12, Wis +8, all +4 from aura.  Dex +9 (shield master)
Passive Perception 14
Auras:  Protection (cha to all saves 10ft) and Hatred (+cha damage fiends\undead 10ft)
Spell\channel save DC = 16

AC =  20   (breastplate +1, shield +1, dex +2)
HP: 82/82

Paladin Spells
1st = 4\4
2nd = 2\3

Warlock 2\2

HP: 87/87

Hawkes looks for troop movement or heraldry. Any sign as to what is going on?

“What have we here?”

“Stay loose at the helm and don’t present a target for seige guns.”

"if we have a 'neutral' flag, we should run it up now"

Hawkes looks towards the docks and sees nothing alarming, other than the fact that he sees nobody at all. In the distance and beyond the docs, nestled up against the cliffs which serve to provide a view of the approaching waters and a defensive advantage, lies the keep. Between the dock and the keep looks to be a market area. It is hard to make out from this distance, even with a spyglass, any of the goings-on in the market or the town that lie between the docks and the keep.

Kruhl makes his gesture to Elys-yss and a feeling of invigoration washes over himself, Crispy, and Renda.

“Hawkes I could Umm...scout from above..?”

Abigail is ready with arrow nocked.

“Aye Sam, But Who is neutral?”

“As you said Crispy, but just low enough to see the big picture. If you’re seen you’ll draw a hail of fire.”

“Kruhl, ready the Balista, unless you’re choosing this port as your destination...”

navyik wrote:

“Kruhl, ready the Balista, unless you’re choosing this port as your destination...”

Kruhl raps a knuckle to his forehead in reply, "Ballista, aye." He winks with his one remaining eye, "My aim at distance is not as good as it once was, Captain. When the time comes, I am better suited for the boarding party."

Kruhl will load the ballista (3 turns) and then scan for threats

Crispy jogs to the end of the foredeck and leaps over the rail, casting FLY as he does so:

Fly

You touch a willing creature. The target gains a flying speed of 60 feet for the Duration. When the spell ends, the target falls if it is still aloft, unless it can stop the fall.

He will head in towards the docks at sea level +5, pausing at 150’ out to survey the scene. If there’s no apparent danger he will climb to +15’ and cruise past the docks to the market...

Cripsy takes wing, staying just above the surface of the calm waters.  He pauses as he scans the docks.  Empty, he concludes.  Nobody.  

Feeling that the area is safe, he continues past the docks towards the market.  He makes his approach slowly and quietly to survey the scene.  The market is also nearly deserted and in ruin.  Through the slight haze, Crispy notices two forms rooting around among the overturned carts, ruined market stalls, and other smoldering debris.  They are large creatures, with a bodies the size of a hippo.  Unlike a hippo, however, they each have a foul maw with rows of giant teeth and two tentacles that end in flat pads covered in spikes.



The creatures have not noticed Crispy.

Crispy will glide silently past the big nasties and move in for a closer look at the keep. How high are the walls?
Stealth:
Roll(1d20)+7:
8,+7
Total:15

Pyriannix "Crispy"

HP: 59/59 (64/64)
AC: 17
Hit Dice 4d8/7d6
Ki: (3/3)
Sorcery Points: (7/7)
Spells:
1st: (4/4)
2nd: (3/3)
3rd: (3/3)
4th:(1/1)
Spell DC: 15

Buffs:
Fly 10 minutes

The creatures seem content to push the debris around into piles with their tentacles. Crispy skirts the perimeter of the market towards the keep, which is still quite a ways away...perhaps a mile or two. Crispy estimates the top of the keep at least 120' up the cliffside it is pressed into.

Something like this, but way more Fantasy Dwarven Capital Keep-ey



He can't see down to the base of the keep, as the smoke around the city is causing a fog of war, per se. Terrain might be lightly or heavily obscured between the market and the keep. As he assays the landscape in front of him, he presumes the area past the market is mixed residential and commercial, as one would expect. He can also see what appears to be the top of a temple closer to the keep.

Crispy will head back to the ship and relay what he’s seen to Hawkes and the crew.

“It’s umm safe to uhh...make landfall at the docks...couple of meanies in the uhh... market...”.

“Not what we bargained for when we voted. What says the crew? Is there business for us here?”

Does the Caliphate have a known enemy who likely did this is this a surprise?

The zealots find themselves at odds with many of the world's inhabitants, sometimes even among themselves. This is far out of the ordinary, however.

Hawkes senses the indecision of the crew. “Drop anchor, then. We’ll take a launch.”

“Pretty bird. Stay with Sjon and alert him if there’s trouble.”

Instinct takes over and Kruhl starts moving towards the launch. He only gets a few steps before pausing, realizing that he is abandoning his assigned post. He is used to leading landing parties, not following orders. He takes mental inventory of his gear and what might be needed if this is his final destination. He chuckles to himself, as he has no possessions or gear stowed beyond what he is wearing. It is a surprisingly liberating feeling.

Kruhl takes a deliberate step back to the ballista. After years of imprisonment and torture, there isn't much pride left to swallow at this point. He calls out to Hawkes, "Permission to launch, Sir?"

Sam will get in the launch without comment

Crispy will use his remaining flight time to cruise back to the docks and set up an OP while the rest of the crew makes landfall.

Stealth:
Roll(1d20)+7:
9,+7
Total:16

“Aye Mr. Polaris.”

navyik wrote:“Aye Mr. Polaris.”

Kruhl stops to lay a hand on the main mast, eyes cast to the sky, old rituals die hard....

Nemesis, here my prayer,
send your wrath,
to guard well, we sailors,
serving in your fleet.
protect us from defeat,
give us strength and courage,
to pursue revenge, instead of diplomacy,
justice, instead of peace,
death over.....


Then he stops, remembering his broken bond with the Lord of Vengeance.  He looks at the new ship, the new crew and decides to start a new ritual.

He leaves the mast and instead simply looks over the sea to the far horizon, any reverence gone from his voice:  


Elyss-yss, when I die,
permit me appear first at your gate,
5 fathoms below the waves' break.  
allow Death to think I am late,
and before she realizes her mistake,
grant me entrance, that we may laugh
together at cheating that old rake



He boards the launch

That's close enough to everyone that we can keep it moving.

The crew boards the launch as Crispy flies point to the dock, securing a forward position for their landing. All is quiet, still, and it remains that way until the rest of the GG crew arrive and tie off.

Josef909 wrote: All is quiet, still, and it remains that way until the rest of the GG crew arrive and tie off.

that doesn't sound good


passive perception 14



Kruhl disembarks with his shield at the ready

Passive Perception for Sam:

Roll(1d20)+9:
16,+9
Total:25

Sorry for the absence, back on board.


Passive Perception 12.

Crispy’s Active Perception Roll, since he is at the OP:

Roll(1d20)+3:
8,+3
Total:11

Captain Hawkes

AC 18
Hp 74/74

Spell save 15
Passive perception 14
Passive insight 17
Spell Resistance
Cannot be surprised

"How much does a pirate pay for an ear piercing? … A buccaneer!"

Sam pauses to scan the docks. He looks, listens, and even smells the air, looking for danger. There appears to be none and he us satisfied that their landing has gone unnoticed.

Until he sees a signal lamp flashing from the upper portion of the keep. The common signal used for distress.

Fyi Josh, passive perception is for use when you are not actively perceiving. Either way, that's what Sam sees

"they know we're here lads.... and lass"

Chris wrote:Kruhl

saves:  Cha +12, Wis +8, all +4 from aura.  Dex +9 (shield master)
Passive Perception 14
Auras:  Protection (cha +4 to all saves 10ft) and Hatred (+cha damage fiends\undead 10ft)
Spell\channel save DC = 16

AC =  20   (breastplate +1, shield +1, dex +2)
HP: 82/82

Paladin Spells
1st = 4\4
2nd = 2\3

Warlock 2\2

HP: 87/87

"I will take point on the road.  Either stay back or keep very close (within 10ft for aura).  Hopefully, anything waiting to ambush us will see me first."

Sam will go with Kruhl for now

From Crispy's Intel, the group knows there are some sort of critters rooting around in the market area just beyond the docks. Does the party wish to cut through the market, or try to skirt around the edge and try to avoid attention?

"If we need to return to the ship quickly, it would be best to have a clear path." Kruhl offers.

avoiding the market would be best until we know what we're dealing with...

Crispy thinks he could pretty easily BBQ the tentaclehippos, but he knows worse likely lies ahead and will demure. He’ll tuck in off of Kruhl’s right shoulder as the crew advances past the market.

“Giving orders Mr. Polaris? I will have about as much of that as Abbie will have talk of her being a ‘Lass.’” Hawkes’ intent is to gently reinforce with a humorous tone. He isn’t being harsh.

“The beasts may have a part to play. If we’re in a hurry, they may also provide a necessary distraction. Sam, lead us around them if you can. Kruhl, you can go with Sam if you can keep up with him quietly. You became a pirate over night. Sam has been at it a long time.”

"Not at all, Captain.  I just prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around."  

Kruhl is reminded that Blood Hawk did defeat One-Eyed Rogan, probably through stealth, whereas he failed in a direct assault.  Perhaps he has something to learn of piracy....


Kruhl gestures for Sam to lead the way, "I am neither swift nor stealthy."

“Umm...Hawkes? When I unm..went by them earlier..they...were uhh...pretty busy scavenging in the uhh...wreckage. We could probably ummm...surprise them?”

Renda is both swift AND stealthy, awaiting command...

"easy big guy... you're stealthy, but not like me..."

Sam will scout ahead... just let me know what rolls you want