Mission 4 Interim, Night Attack!
*Night Attack! Next Action Starts* Midnight UTC, 12 November

Impossible - Two Steps From Hell

It moved in the darkness of the depths, drinking the magick, sending instructions, tasting the sweet anticipation. Its minions responded. Old restraints began to be cast off and long waiting timbers began to creak and groan. Under new instructions, magickal currents began to shift while various sea creatures followed and gathered. Winds and waves conformed to ancient forces left in a long forgotten temple while deep beneath a long dormant creature hearing the call of its master began to stir.

-----
Far off on the horizon a storm was gathering. Captain Aylar's fey blood could feel it long before it would be seen from the Crow's Nest. The sea was growing restless and the winds spoke to him of foul magick ahead. Even the renewed spectral energies of the Ship may have some rough going with this one.

Between Argy's swimming lessons, her grog calming recipe, 'girl's night out' and the stalker and personal disturbances, she hadn't really had time to check some of the supplies. At breakfast she began to notice the milk had gone sour and some of the eggs were green. Should she mention it to someone, or would it just be a bother?

The Briefing had proceeded and matters seemed to be at least somewhat settled as Crew selected from the loot and were reminded once again of the offer of Captain Baldbeard by the examples of Count Karnstein and Captain Aylar himself tearing off small pieces of clothing. Males, Clíodhna sighed, did they never be thinking that maybe if asked she could have removed a bit where it nay be needing to be patched?

There had been a disturbed undercurrent to the Ship that Aylar had been putting down to the changes, excitements, the breaking of curses, releasing of magicks, renewal and cloak and dagger tensions. Powers that be, it was enough to disturb the routine of any ship, let alone a semi-sentient magickal one. Aylar had already set the phantom crew on alert, but after the briefing (and especially if Argy tells the Captain of the sour milk and green eggs - per PM), he had the Ship gone over again. There were some broken eggshells and the cow seemed a bit seasick. This was reported to the Captain and he decided to set Aeshma and Gilius on it looking for hexes (per PM instructions from the Captain). They would start first thing in the morning with the new eggs and milk. With what Aeshma had pointed out and the previous occurrence, and what he sensed on the horizon, there was some skullduggery afoot. And he would be having none of it on his damn Ship!

Refyx opened his door to Grog'tial and motioned him to come in, saying something about those calculations and thinking about the water density to the stun wave produced quite obviously as he shut the door again. Then he turned to Grog'tial. "Show me," he said. "Show me the dirk and that you don't have the shell or I don't say another word." Seeing that Grog'tial had done as requested, Refyx nodded. "Good, now I'm going to show you just how that there dirk works. You see I'm really a troll." The dirk in Grog'tial's hand glowed slightly. Refyx smiled, "You know Grog'tial, I really think you are right and should look at taking out the Captain. I know just how to ..." The dirk glowed stronger and a slight tingling started where Grog'tial held it. "Yep, Youngster, now you begin to get a clue. The first time I only lied, the second I was trying to influence you. You got that?" Refyx paused. "So now you know when someone is trying a false influence on you as opposed to for your own damn good. Now then, let's get down to it. You have some things you want to know, and I'll have a favor from you ..."

The Lwa flitted through the night, shadow to shadow, slipping through the timbers only in the jointing spaces. The Ship was much more alert now. Some intense light the night before had killed many of its brethren, but not all. Two of them still existed and now gathered cautiously those things easily unnoticed on every ship. It felt the call, and the approach of allies. Carefully now. The Ship's magical and spectral energies fluctuated, and then were slowly and carefully drained, not in a usual magical way, but through a careful tap into another plane.

(roll dice) It was well into the night. Crew had retired to their berths, except for Grog'tial and Refyx, still 'working on those calculations and tactics' with the new explosive bolts. Cracker shifted as Mighty rolled over in the hammock below him, then looked again as he thought he saw a shadow move. There was another ... and another ... "SQUAWK, MIGHTY!! CRACK SKULLS!"

Ayler slept, but lightly, a bit fitfully. Something tingled along his new enhanced senses, but it was foreign. He was still adjusting to the first Fey Charm and he had added the second Phoenix Charm almost back to back. That could be it, but he had also long lived by trusting his instincts. Clíodhna rested on her usual perch of the desk chair, dimming her natural light to barely that of a nightlight.

"AYLAR!!!" Suddenly the room flared with light. A shadow entity was caught in the light, revealed, roiling darkness and long claws it had been heading for the parrot it expected and was momentarily stunned by the bright light. Clíodhna immediately launched for it, only to be shocked that she was not only repelled, but that one wing now showed a slash of darkness. Aylar felt his Fey Charm move, but the thing which reeked of twisted necromancy was attacking her, not moving directly against him.

Below decks, hand-sized spiders scuttled toward the Warrant Cabins, following another flitting shadow while strange dark oily octopus-like creatures slithered through the gun holes onto the deck where Mighty, Durik and Kyp were asleep. Up on deck, Count Karnstein was taking his usual late night turn about the Ship when he saw the light flare from the portholes of the Captain's Cabin, heard the call of Aylar's name and the squawk of Cracker trying to alert Mighty. Cap'n Rummyfangs ran through the walls, invading cabins for the first time and knocking things over to wake Argy, Bellandra and Pugwash, while the Ship's Cook first pounded Captain Baldbeard's, Bhrigu's and Gilius' doors then went straight on to pound on the Captain's Cabin door, but it was the only cabin also warded against spirit intrusion, The others were beginning to awaken to the noise and the fact that they were under actual attack, just as Refyx's door burst open and spiders began to pour in.

[Spiders all over the Warrant Quarters area with Bellandra, Argy, Pugwash, Refyx and Grog'tial. Six oily black octopus creatures are on the Gun Deck with Mighty, Durik and Kyp. Count Karnstein is on main deck, not yet under threat. Captain Baldbeard, Bhrigu and Gilius have just been awakened and are in their cabins down the hall from the Captain's Cabin which the spectral cook is magically warded from breaking in the door to help.]

The Ship, deck plan

Argy grabs her pan and starts smashing and kicking spiders away. Not much else can be done in the current situation.

================

The next morning, if she survives, she'll check the food supplies too see if anything else has been tainted and try to find the source of all this. Maybe there's some evil charm hidden inside the ship (she'll ask for magical help if needed). She won't report anything to Aylar (but she might tell Clíodhna) because she isn't very aware of the hierarchy changes within the crew. For her, he is just *another* crewmate that addresses himself as "captain"

Mighty

Mighty was asleep when he heard Crackers squeaking.

"Someone said crack skulls!?" he jumped out of his hammock and noticed octopuses crawling on the deck. He picked up his trusty cudgel and shouted "Alarm! we are under attack!" while shielding himself with his claw he rushed on the nearest octopus aiming his attack at head.

If it is dealt with, Mighty will try to prioritize in his attacks octopuses that pose the most danger for other yet asleep members of crew.

Mighty will try not to smack any of the crew members, but Mighty is Mighty and it might be a mighty good idea not to be in his mighty cudgel’s way.

Bellandra saw the spectral felinoid's rushing form just in time to hear the scribbling sound of spider legs and hear their chittering. She realized they were under spider attack, much like the drider in the fort had commanded spiders against them. She got her cutlass ready and grabbed a three-legged chair in her other hand to use as a smashing tool, then started to fight against the intrusion.

If the spiders were in great numbers in her room already, she would try to clear the room first by smashing and slicing at them, using the chair also as a shield. If the room was clear and the spiders were not getting through the door, she would let a few through before closing the door on them and smashing and slicing the ones inside, repeating this until the onslaught of spiders slows.

If the volume of spiders attacking her room was low enough she would proceed into the hallway and tty to help the cabin or person(s) in most danger (Argy, Pugwash, Refyx or Grog'tial). If she heard a cry for help, she would try to do this as soon as feasible, punching a hole into the mass of spiders with the chair if need be.

Count is taken aback by sudden noise. Could something attack them without him noticing? He frantically looks around and overboard but sees nothing out of ordinary. Screaming of the Cracker he would normally ignore, but what was going on in captain's cabin seemed concerning. Did a fire break out? Imagine it happenin' right after I said how safe we're on this ship! Count rushes to the officers quarters and tries to open captain's door (is it protected only from spirits?), banging on them if locked and shouting to Aylar.

If the door opens, he will enter, checking what's going on and attacking any intruder(s).

If the door won't open and situation inside seems pressing, he will first try to break down the door, shouting to Baldbeard and Gilius for help. If unsuccessful and there is any axe on the deck (which he would surely notice during his night watch), he will bring it to break down the door.

=====

Hey, I specifically said it was the shirt damaged by spear. I don't plan wearing this one anymore:)

It takes going to the galley, boiling water and steeping the tea. You don't have time! Keep the tea for the actual mission and count on Aeshma and Gilius to heal everyone after you get through this.
The book reading I will grant you, so you have a +1 to Cudgel for this. :)
-----

(roll dice) "Someone said crack skulls!?" Mighty jumps out of his hammock and picks up his trusty cudgel. "Alarm! we are under attack!" Shielding himself with his claw he rushes on the nearest octopus aiming his attack at head. (roll dice) The head is squishy and has no skull, unfortunately nothing to really crack. The tentacles wrap around the cudgel and cling to it even as Mighty turns the head to goo. (roll dice) Meanwhile another strange oily black octopus stretches out a tentacle to wrap around Mighty's ankle. It is surprisingly strong as it tries to pull him toward the gun port where it can pull him overboard.

Durik was reading Mighty Monkeys™ Cricket Manual in his hammock when the alarm came. He attacks the octopi on the Gun Deck. (roll dice) Durik smashes back one octopus onto the inner hull of the ship, where it simply slides down the wall bonelessly and heads for him again.

Argy grabs her pan, opens her door and starts smashing and kicking spiders away. (roll dice) The pan is soon a mess. It's really too bad she doesn't have a proper recipe for spider stew, there would be plenty of the main ingredient. She tells herself to check the food supplies to see if anything else has been tainted and try to find the source of all this. Maybe there's some evil charm hidden inside the ship? She'll talk to the admiral if she survives. Probably after she washes the mess off her pan.

Bellandra saw the spectral felinoid's rushing form just in time to hear the scribbling sound of spider legs and hear their chittering. Spider attack! Remembering the fight at the fortress, she gets her cutlass ready and grabs a three-legged chair in her other hand to use as a smashing tool, (roll dice) She opens the door to let a few through before closing it on them and smashes and slices the ones inside, (roll dice) She notices they are not really after her though, most are proceeding down the hallway, following a strange shadowy something.

On deck, Count Karnstein is taken aback by sudden noise. Could something attack them without him noticing? He frantically looks around and overboard but sees nothing out of ordinary. What was going on in captain's cabin? Did a fire break out? The Count rushes to the officers quarters and tries to open the captain's door (roll dice) it seems a bit stuck, but he applies sufficient force to make his way in with the Ship's Cook right behind him. (roll dice) The Count has never seen such a creature before, a constantly changing ultimately black shadow full of appendages with long claws. It appears to suck in all light while constantly roiling like an uneasy sea.

Having failed her first attack, Clíodhna switches tactics. She can feel the shadow is hungry for magic and light and sends this feeling to Aylar through their new link. Currently she is the most magical thing on this Ship. Her purpose now is to keep it concentrated on her and away from Aylar and the Crew, trying to expose any weakness it may have while they figure it out. "Get Aeshma!" Then she becomes a dancing flame, swift and unpredictable, here then there, using her natural speed to leap, flicker and flare. Keep the attention on her, dodge and swoop, feint and bait, confuse and expose any weakness for them to take advantage of.

Durik stared perplexed at his Cudgel.
"Did book teach bad? Oh.. maybe octopi need cut not smash!"

So he switched to his knife, or to something better if any sword was laying around.
"Me wud also use stake as octo skewer, but dees creatures look foul"

Accessing the situation, Aylar reasons that his cutlass would be nae much use against this creature. Keeping his distance, he quickly checks on the Ship, issuing a directive to [ensure any Crew still in their cabins has a clear path to disengage (open doors, etc), and attempt to seal or / and hinder any attackers in rooms if any Crew disengages and escapes].

That done and having received additional warning from Clíodhna, he will concentrate and attempt to channel protections of his charm magicks through their link, acting as a defensive support for her. If any attacks happen to come his way, he will dodge.

Argy will also take the magical lantern and go again to the hallway, to see if some matey needs her help, ready to smash more spiders.

Kyp

Being woken up suddenly Kyp gets his bearings, feeling a bit thirsty he decides to quickly drink his Potion of Clairvoyence (info on hidden aspect of mission) and Kyp being hydrated and ready to go sees if he can use his marine life influencing abilities to befriend the octopuses or at least make them natural and not a threat.

whispers to self "If possible lets try to not hurt the octopuses since they might not want to attack and are being influenced by another source."

Kyp also keeps hand on the hilt of his blade in case things get ugly and the octopuses start attacking.

After his initial visit to Refyx, Grog'tial spent the rest of the day in his cabin, brushing up on Plots, Intrigue, and Politics from the book. He'd always assumed he was just a natural at it, but from what he was reading here, some of his techniques were decidedly unconventional, and it was only through the copious footnotes that he eventually discovered that Dwarves were one of the few races who'd be susceptible to some of his favorite ploys.

After the evening meal, he played his flute once more for his shell, wondering out loud why Circeana wasn't giving him any attention. He thought she liked him for his manipulative ways, but even when he went so far as to get the ship itself acting against him, she remained completely aloof. Well, he could take a hint. Mixing business with pleasure was a bad idea anyway. Business-only it'd be from here on out! Saying so, he placed the shell in his trunk, and went to see Refyx.

As Refyx explained the abilities of his dirk to him, he was impressed as always at just how much could be done with magic. He didn't understand why it always needed to be so ... opaque, though, so counter-intuitive in its signs and signifiers, and never working the same as other types of magic. Solid Dwarven stonework and crafted metal mechanisms he understood, and subtly twisting the motivations of Goblins or Dwarves - having them show up at times and in places which just so happened to be beneficial to himself - was in his mind a clearly defined vocation, with a very logical structure. But this... He sighed inwardly, and tried to convey some of his frustration with this to Refyx, alluding to the frustration with his intentions and private thoughts being somehow plain as day to magic users like that Aeshma. All he was trying to do was to safeguard his autonomy, to keep his family from being used against him, yet somehow...

Suddenly the door opened, and spiders came swarming in. An involuntary squeal once more passed Grog'tial's lips as he jumped backways. Was Durik once again...? But no, these spiders luckily weren't quite as large as the ones in the Great Cabin before. Grog'tial frantically looks around for something to keep them off him, to crush them, to stop them from climbing all over himself. He'll jump and stomp and stab wildly with his dirk if he has nothing better at hand, swatting frantically at any which manage to crawl onto him.

"What the blazes is that?!" - Count asks semi-rhetorically, not expecting to hear actual answer at this very moment. At first he instinctively reaches for his saber but quickly realizes it might be futile attempt to fight this thing in conventional way. Then hears Clíodhna's command and races out to bring the witch.

Gilius was asleep when he heard some poundings on his door, then he hears the Count yelling for him and others to help. He got on his feet immediately and opened the door to check what was happening with all this noise.
Spotting the Count who just opened the Captain's door, Gilius joins him just to see through the door a shadowy creature like no other.

If Gilius has an opportunity, he will try to throw his remaining holy water on the shadowy creature to see if it produces some result.
If spiders are approaching him, he will cudgel them.
If he can enter the room without difficulty, he will do so in order to check for Clìodhna's status.

Bellandra followed the spiders and the shadowy something down the hallway but did not directly engage them until she saw what they were aiming to do - instead she tried to observe and puzzle out what the weakness of the shadowy thing could be. Along the way, she dispatched remaining spiders and tried to help anyone in need.