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The two ships continue to close, now only 40 yards apart. Sierra calls for the archers to fire, and they again rain death upon the orcs. Half a score of them die in the onslaught.

"The Soulbiter clan are not ordinary orcs," Javos cautions Areilon. "Their alliance with black dragons extends beyond simple teamwork. Their captain will likely be dragon-touched. Be careful if you see any orcs with black scales, or even wings."

Areilon spots a spare grappling hook and rope and picks it up. Looking over at the enemy ship, she can easily see that despite the casualties they've taken, there are still nearly 200 orcs on it.

"Better cast that protection spell on your elf friend," Sierra says to Jocelyn. "She's getting that look like she's about to do something suicidally stupid again. Keep the holding spell ready for when we start boarding. It'll come in handy most then."

"Incoming!" comes Terra's warning again. Only a few arrows pelt the ship. One poor gnome in the rigging is hit, and screams out before tumbling down into the drink.

Ouragana hurries into Thaddeus' quarters and spots the artifact right away, sitting on a piece of paper on his desk. She grabs the paper and pulls it out from under the artifact, but not quite fast enough. The artifact tumbles to the ground, and something is knocked loose. A piece of the artifact moves, and then projects an image into the air above it. It's some kind of holographic map. There is script, but the symbols are Eonian, a language Ouragana can recognize but not actually read.

Under any other circumstance, this would be a massive find!

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Maneuvering Dice
The Bullring seeks to close (1d6+4): 5
The Nightmare seeks to flee (1d6+1): 3

Round 14!

The Bullring closes the difference by 20 yards. The ships are now 40 yards apart. The Bullring gains a +1 to next maneuverability roll and a +2 bonus to missile/artillery combat rolls this round.

Bullring's archers (x40) fire their long bows (+2) at the Nightmare's crew whom are wearing hide armor (+2)
(1d20+4): 22, 7 hits (7d10): 5, blocked; 1, blocked; 6, sailor killed; 6, sailor killed; 1, blocked; 4, blocked; 8, marine killed.
(1d20+4): 21, 7 hits (7d10): 7, sailor killed; 3, blocked; 7, sailor killed; 7, sailor killed; 4, blocked; 5, blocked; 1, blocked.
(1d20+4): 21, 7 hits (7d10): 7, sailor killed; 6, sailor killed; 1, blocked; 6, sailor killed; 4, blocked; 3, blocked; 1, blocked.
(1d20+4): 15, 5 hits (5d10): 10, first mate wounded; 4, blocked; 4, blocked; 8, marine killed; 6, sailor killed.
Areilon picks up a grappling hook.
Ouragana heads to Thaddeus' room and retrieves the scroll.

Total Nightmare causalities: 2 marines killed, 9 sailors killed, 1 officer wounded.

Nightmare's archers (x6) fire their long bows at the Bullring's crew whom are wearing leather armor (+2)
(1d20+2): 6, 2 hits (2d10): 5, blocked; 7, sailor killed.

Total Bullring causalities: 1 sailor killed.

"Yes, that sounds like her," Jocelyn states as she rushes over to Arei and casts her protection spell upon the elf. "That should help a little bit."

Val lies on her bunk. "Thank, I will." is all she lets out.

Ouragana runs on deck to the officers. She holds back the scroll for a moment to assure the attention to her messaage.
"Someone who can read Eonian should go down quickly. The artefact has tumbled, and it is sending a message into the air, written in Eonian which I can't read!" Only then she hands the scroll to Thaddeus.

(OOC: Hello, R2D2)

"Thanks.." She says quickly to Joyceln, eying a place on deck where she could land.. "Fancy flying over with me?" She asks the Half Elf with a mischievous grin. "I bet the potion could take us both, if you hold on to me closely. "

Areilon waits while Jocelyn asks Octhanus for divine protection for the elf. During this time, the Bullring finally closes in on the Nightmare and the boarding parties start throwing their grappling hooks.

The Nightmare's archers fire again, but the ship's protection keeps everyone safe. Emboldened by their victory so far, the crew of the Nightmare quickly begin setting up boarding planks and crossing over. Soon nearly the entire crew have crossed over and a bloody, brutal battle breaks out on the deck of the Nightmare.

Thus, by the time Ouragana gets back up on deck, there is considerably more elbow room than when she first descended with Val. When Thaddeus hears her remarks, he seems flabbergasted. "Eonian, you say? That's fascinating! I have some Eonian reference books I could use...it might take a few days, but..."

"Thaddeus!" Terra calls. "Focus!"

"Oh...! Yes, of course," the mage says, clearly disappointed.

Thaddeus unfurls the scroll and begins reading. When he finishes, the scroll disintegrates and transforms into five large globs of energy, similar to magic missiles, but larger. The missiles fly out to the ship and each strike an orc with incredible concussive force. Upon impact, each missile bursts, doing even further damage to the targets.

"Alright, now use the Sleep spells," Sierra commands. "Jocelyn, that holding spell could come in handy now; and Areilon, don't be a hero. If you get seriously hurt, you should fly back immediately."

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Maneuvering Dice
The Bullring seeks to board (1d6+4): 9
The Nightmare seeks to evade (1d6+1): 5

Round 15!

The Bullring closes the difference by 40 yards. The ships are now 0 yards apart. The Bullring gains a +2 bonus on all boarding rolls this round.

Nightmare's archers (x6) fire their long bows at the Bullring's crew whom are wearing leather armor (+2)
(1d20+2): 9, 3 hits (3d10): 1, blocked; 5, blocked; 2, blocked.

Jocelyn casts Protection from Evil on Areilon.
Ouragana hands over the scroll to Thaddeus.
Thaddeus casts the spell on the scroll, instantly killing 5 orcs.

Bullring's boarding members: 199
Nightmare's repelling members: 153
Difference between factors: +11

The crew of the Bullring attempts to grapple and board the Nightmare (2d10+13): 23, Nightmare is grappled and all 199 sailors board!

The crew of the Bullring attack the crew of the Nightmare (19d20): 84 orcs are killed.

The crew of the Nightmare defend against the crew of the Bullring (15d20): 75 sailors killed.

Total Nightmare causalities: 89 sailors killed this round.
Total Bullring casualties: 75 sailors killed this round.

Jocelyn begins praying to Octhanus as she uses her hold spell upon the crew members of the Nightmare trying to board.

Ouragana mutters to herself "I hope that artifact doesn't disintigrate like the scroll", but sees that it is now not possible to do anything about it. She watches the battle in the area that would be within range of her feather fall spell, ready to use it to save the Bullring and/or its crew from airborne material threats.

Blade in one hand and grappling hook in the other, Arei aims herself towards the sterncastle of the Nightmare, grappling hook letting loose as she flies, aimed for the railing.

~let's hope no one recognizes this sword...~ she thinks grimly to herself.

Jocelyn completes her prayer, and two of the orcs over on the Nightmare freeze up before being quickly cut down by the Bullring raiders. Thaddeus uses a Sleep spell to take out two more orcs.

Ouragana peers around for enemy arrows, but as the two ships are right next to each other and all of the orcs are busy fighting off the boarders, there is nobody left to shoot at the handful of people left on the Bullring.

Areilon flies over to the Nightmare and attaches her grappling hook to the sterncastle. The entire ship is a bloodbath. Both sides are taking heavy casualties. The entire deck is slick with blood. While the crew of the Bullring outnumbers the orcs, the orcs are clearly superior warriors.

Standing on the sterncastle is a massive orc shouting in his own language. Areilon, being fluent in the Orc tongue, realizes he is giving orders. This orc looks different, aside from size. He has black scales running down his neck, the back of his arms, and down his back. He carries an over-sized battle axe over his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Sierra and Terra watch the battle play out from the forecastle of the Bullring. "This is bad," Terra says. "We're winning, but at tremendous cost. At this rate, we'll barely have enough people for a skeleton crew of either ship."

"@#$%," Sierra mutters. "They were sailing away. We had barely any casualties. We could have just let them go." She shakes her head. "This was a mistake..."

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

Round 16!

Jocelyn casts Hold Person on four of the Nightmare's crew
----Crewman 01's saving throw (1d20): 19, pass. Not held.
----Crewman 02's saving throw (1d20): 9, fail. Held.
----Crewman 03's saving throw (1d20): 2, fail. Held.
----Crewman 04's saving throw (1d20): 19, pass. Not held.
Ouragana readies an action to cast Featherfall against enemy artillery/archers.
Areilon flies toward the Nightmare's sterncastle and fastens her grappling hook there.
Thaddeus casts Sleep at the crew of the Nightmare (2d4): 2 HD are effected.

Bullring's boarding members: 124
Nightmare's repelling members: 69

The crew of the Bullring attack the crew of the Nightmare (13d20): 56 orcs are killed.

The crew of the Nightmare defend against the crew of the Bullring (7d20): 58 sailors killed.

Total Nightmare causalities: 56 orcs killed this round.
Total Bullring casualties: 58 sailors killed this round.

Thaddeus's example makes Ouragana remember she now knows how to cast that spell, too. She singles out an orc that seems do be at least a sub-commander and is within range, and centers the spell on him.

2d4=6

"You'll be the Captain." She mutters in Orcish, blade drawn she approaches the closest orc, aiming for his sword arm, trying to back up the Bullrings crew.

Init: 1d10=10, Hit Roll: 1d20=17 (Hit AC 2), 1d6+1=6
Called shot on his weapon arm.

Jocelyn glances over to Sierra and Terra. "Then, what do you suggest we do?" she asks. "My people, or rather one of my people, are all ready over there fighting."

Sierra shakes her head. "Nothing that can be done now. To retreat now means those who have died did so in vain."

Thaddeus and Ouragana both drop Sleep spells on the deck of the Nightmare, taking down nine orcs altogether.

Areilon approaches the orc captain and strikes with her sabre at his right arm, cutting into it. Snarling like a wild beast, the orc steps back and cradles his wounded arm. He stares daggers at the elf. "You dare strike me, elf-bitch?" he asks in Orcish. "If death is your wish, I will grant it to you!"

Sucking in his breath, he then fires a stream of acid right at her. It's more instinct than anything else that causes Areilon to fly upward, only being splashed by the acid spray instead of taking the full blast. The liquid sizzles and burns against her clothes and skin, but it could have been much worse had she not moved so quickly.

The battle rages around the two, as the crew of the Bullring surround the remnants of the orc crew and begin the final assault.

===========

Round 17!

Ouragana casts Sleep at the crew of the Nightmare (2d4): 6 HD are effected.
Thaddeus casts Sleep at the crew of the Nightmare (2d4): 3 HD are effected.
Areilon attacks the Orc Captain with her sabre (+3) with a called shot to the right arm (-4) (1d20-1): 16, hit for (1d6+1): 6 damage.
Orc Captain uses his acid breath on Areilon (2d8): 8 damage.
----Areilon saves vs. breath weapon (1d20): 18, pass. She takes half damage (4).

Bullring's boarding members: 66
Nightmare's repelling members: 9

The crew of the Bullring attack the crew of the Nightmare (7d20): 9 orc crewman killed, orc navigator killed, orc first mate killed, orc warmaster killed, orc chaplain killed, orc second mate killed.

The crew of the Nightmare defend against the crew of the Bullring (1d20): 5 crewmen killed.

(OOC: Really surprised Areilon didn't go for a backstab there; especially as since she can fly, a MS roll is unnecessary.

By the way, for future reference, a called shot must be rolled with the -4 attack penalty or it won't count. Just a heads up.)

Having run out of combat-use spells, Ouragana now concentrates on Areilon, ready to cast Feather Fall once the potion wears off.