Scene: Abandon Ship!

[DinbinFanfoom]

Skill Challenge: Heave Away! (Erik, Sigurd, Togar, KT)
(I assumed Sigurd because he did an Ath roll)

The skiff is being tossed around violently by the waves. Two crewman are rowing as hard as they can, but headway is slow.

Distance to Shore: 10
Water in Skiff: 1 of 5

Option 1: Bail! (raw Dexterity roll) - Any number of successes / round will lower the water level in the skiff by one. At level 5, the skiff will swamp.

Option 2: Row! (Athletics roll) - Two members succeeding will move the skiff one closer to land in addition to the one the crewmen will provide. One succcess/round will not help the crewmen, but progress will still be made. Two failures will result in no progress that round at all.

Waving to the ones remaining on the ship, the skiffers push off and do their best to row straight for land.


Skill Challenge: Swim For It! (Damelon, Crashing)

Damelon and Crashing share a look that is a bit more Thelma-and-Louise than Butch-Cassidy-and-The-Sundance-Kid, hold their breaths and leap as far off the wreck as they can towards shore.

Option: Endurance roll. Must get four successes before three failures.

Not a lot of options that can be given to swimmers in a thundering gale, it's pretty straightforward.


Behind you, a sickening crack can be heard from the Wayfarer as the stern seems to be breaking off. You catch a brief glimpse of the captain and remaining crew tying themselves to the foremast before you lose sight of the ship altogether.

[Zyzzyx]

Round 1:

KT looks at Togar and Sigurd; holding lutes and drums hasn't built his strength nearly as much as hefting steel blades around. He figures they'll do best to help row the ship so he gets to working on keeping the water level low.

[Quervo]

row row row da boat....

Ath 24

[Shiz]

One thing to do...

Damelon is overcome by the froth and violence, initially. Who wouldn't be?

[Asharad]

Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!

Do Shiz and I roll separately? Should we go ahead and roll until we make it or drown? Do we get any bonuses for having the floating barrels with us?

[EricStratton]

"Looks like you men have the rowing down. I'll work on the water!"

Bail! (Dex 3+2)

[DinbinFanfoom]

The casks provide +5 to your endurance rolls, yes. Revise those totals. Since you are trying to aid each other, I'll let one do an athletics check vs DC 15 once per round to give a +2 to the other's next endurance roll (retroactive, if you wish to help that spluttering rogue).

[DinbinFanfoom]

Round 1:

In the skiff:

No-nonsense Sigurd gets right down to business, hauling hard. (Athletics: 21 = Success: 1 of 2 for round)

KT uses his cap as a crude bailing utensil. (Dexterity: 15+0 = Success: KT bails one level of water out of the skiff)

Togar's summers of pushing a raft around the family pond have paid off. (Athletics: 24 = Success 2 of 2 for round)

Erik also bails frantically... with his dagger. He finds it doesn't work so well for that. (Dexterity: 3+2 = Failure: No help here)

The skiff makes good progress, and even though more water spills into the boat (level +1), there isn't as much in here as there would be if KT weren't flinging it out so well (level -1).

Distance to land: 8
Water level: 1/5

In the surf:

Damelon turns to yell something to Crashing... and takes a wave right in the mouth. (Endurance: 1+0+5=6) He splutters and nearly goes under. (Successes: 0/4, Failures: 1/3) He bobs back up after a second or two.

Crashing is doing a lot better. All those long afternoons at the billabong with his croc-friend seem to be paying off (Endurance: 6+7+5=18). (Successes: 1/4, Failures: 0/3)

Since you guys are trying to help each other out, I'll let one try to alter the other's final roll (if the latter fails) in a given round by +2 on a successful athletics roll vs DC 15. Though in this case, it's not gonna help with Damelon's 1... Maybe next round.

End of Round 1

[Zyzzyx]

Round 2:

KT grabs the larger cap off one of the boat crew.

"'Scuse me, gonna need this for a bit..."

[Quervo]

Round 2

Row Row Row your boat.... row dc 14

Shouting encouragement to the swimmers...

Just keep swimming swimming swimming,
Just keep swimming swimming swimming....

[Shiz]

Damelon struggles to stay afloat and...manages.

Endurance: 11+1+5=17

He uses the opportunity to tug on Crashing's barrel a bit but doesn't think he helped much.

Athletics 5+8=13

I am going to assume if my swim check fails, I won't be in a position to aid Crashing. Same goes for him?

[Lycos]

Round 2:

Sigurd rows more. +8 Athletics (26)

Grrrr....

"Ve vill make it. Keep rowink."

[Asharad]

Crashing wonders about sharks. That makes him struggle a bit, but the cask and Damelon manage to keep him afloat (I think, maybe not).

1+7+5+2?

I'll do an athletics check too (as per instructed) to try and help Damelon and maybe to help me.

[EricStratton]

"Looks like all the throwing up made me a bit loopy. (I'm going to need some water!) Let's see if my hands work any better."

Bail! 1+2

[Lycos]

"Looks like all the throwing up made me a bit loopy. (I'm going to need some water!) Let's see if my hands work any better."

Bail! 1+2


"Stop being a girly maaann. BAIL!" :D :lowlol:

[Lycos]

Round 3:

Sigurd rows more. +8 Athletics (13)

[DinbinFanfoom]

Round 2:

In the skiff:

KT grabs another cap and cheerfully keeps bailing (Dex: 14+0=Success: 1 level of water bailed out this round). He seems to actually be ENJOYING himself. "Ohhhhhh... I'm just here bailin' but I wish I were just sailin..." he sings.

Togar wrestles with the oars (Ath: 5+9=14=Failure) but due to a violent dip, it strikes only air instead. He curses but tries to shout encouragement to swimmers, but realizes he can't see them anyway. Are they even still alive? He has no idea.

Where Togar's side of the boat went up, Sigur's went down, and his oar gets good purchase on the surface. (Ath: 18+8=Success)

Erik moves on to phase two of his experiment: what items bail water well? Dagger performed poorly. He tries his hands instead. (Dex: 1+2=Failure) "Must try keeping fingers together next time..." he thinks.

The skiff makes decent progress again, and even though more water spills into the boat (level +1), KT's cheeful effort are resulting in no net change in the level, at least. (level -1).

Distance to land: 6
Water level: 1/5

In the water:

Gasping after that last wave, Damelon struggles onward in the waves (End: 11+1+5=Success) and manages to make some headway this time. He attempts to boost the floundering Crashing up a bit (Ath: 5+8=Fail) but isn't able to do much, being too busy spitting water. (Successes: 1/4, Failures: 1/3)

Crashing's mind turns briefly to what finned and pointy-toothed predators might be lurking underfoot and takes a moment to stick his head under to take a look. (End: 1+7+5=Fail) (Successes: 1/4, Failures 1/3). Even with all of this, he attempts to help Damelon out, but, being under water, this doesn't work too well (Ath: 14+0=Fail).

End of Round 2

[EricStratton]

Round 3:

"Ok, I think I've got it this time. Or at least I hope I do...."

Bail! 13+2 Dex

[Shiz]

Round 3 Damelon:

Swim check = 5+1+5 = 11
Aid Crashing check = 5+8 = 13

I should have taken Endurance over Athletics!

[Quervo]

row row row... row 17

[Zyzzyx]

Round 3:

"Hey, lookie there."

KT reaches out and grabs a small bucket that had been blown from the deck of the ship. Once again he gets to scooping water while rambling along on a tune.

[Asharad]

Round Three Crashing

****. This is going to be a quick adventure.

SWim= 2+7+5=14

Assist Dam=11

[DinbinFanfoom]

Round 3:

In the skiff:

Sigurd puts everything he has into moving his oar through the choppy water. He might be tiring though... as his strokes is quite choppy. (Ath: 5+8=Failure)

Erik stuns everyone by actually managing to transfer a few handfuls of water from inside the boat to outside the boat. "Eureka!" he exclaims. (Dex: 13+2=Success)

His oar finally finding purchase, Togar manages to propel the boat forward somewhat. (Ath: 8+9=Success)

KT, proving that the universe loves a bard, skillfully tosses another container of water overboard. (Dex: 15+0=Success)

Once more, the skiff surges forward, and with both the rowers and the bailers meeting with success, things are looking rosy.

Distance to land: 4
Water level: 1/5


In the water:

Damelon is foundering. This is turning out to be harder than he expected. He looks around for the skiff, but doesn't see it. (End: 5+1+5=Failure) He even loses track of Crashing in the tumultuous waves, as well (Ath: 5+7=Failure) (Successes: 1/4, Failures 2/3)

Crashing is also in trouble. For the first time in his colourful life, he is beginning to doubt his abilities. This may even turn out worse than that time he goaded that 'roo into a brief round of fisticuffs. (End: 2+7=Failure) He completely forgets about Damelon for a moment. (Ath: 11+0=Failure) (Successes: 1/4, Failures 2/3)

End of Round 3

[Quervo]

round 4 rowing

[Zyzzyx]

Round 4:

KT cheerfully looks to the crewmen and folks in skiff, exclaiming, "Isn't this grand! I'm keeping us from sinking!"

At that moment one of the larger swells rocks the skiff and sends KT falling backwards on his ass.

[Shiz]

Round 4 Damelon:

Swimming: 20+1+5 = 26

Help Crashing: 4+8 = 12

[Asharad]

Crashing decides it's time for a bit of spiritual help and calls on ancient ghosts to give him a bit of insight (+4 to a skill check).

so 1+7+5+4=17


un****ingbelievable

[Lycos]

Row, row, row zee boat.

Gah! 14. I like my rolls from yesterday better. :D

[EricStratton]

"Ok, I think I have the hang of this now. The water actually has to *leave* the boat. Very clever, eh?!"

But then he goes and gets cocky....

Bail! 5+2 DEX

[Greebo]

This would be a great time for you to try walking on water. You're probably better at that...

[Shiz]

If the boat people get bad rolls, maybe us swimmers will start getting good ones.

[DinbinFanfoom]

Round 4:

In the skiff:

Togar is really hitting his stride. For a moment he fantasizes that he's in an M4 coxed shell blasting along the Thames. He then suddenly realizes that he has no idea what an "M4 coxed shell" or "the Thames" are. Back to work! (ath: 12+9=Success)

KT's mind wanders a bit as he tries to put together verse two of his new rowing song. When he snaps out of it, he looks down to see that he's been throwing the bailed water over his shoulder onto Sigurd's back. (dex: 3+0=Failure)

Sigurd is about to perform another masterful stroke when suddenly someone dumps a capful of cold sea-water down the back of his neck and throws off his focus. (ath: 6+8=Failure) As if he wasn't already wet enough! He looks back to see KT, grinning sheepishly.

Erik, eager to repeat his earlier success with the newfound bailing technique, stops and takes a moment to mentally blueprint a theoretical bailing machine. This, of course, isn't the time and place for that... (dex: 5+2=Failure)

The skiff continues to make progress, but the poor bailing means additional water makes it into the boat. One of the crewman pauses briefly peers ahead into the gloom. He mutters something to the other crewman.

Distance to land: 2
Water level: 3/5


In the water:

With a flurry of wild flailing born of panic, Damelon manages to string together a set of textbook freestyle strokes that propel him forward (end: 20+1+5=Success). In doing so, he's outpaced Crashing a bit. (ath: 4+8=Failure) (Successes: 2/4, Failures 2/3)

Crashing is starting to despair. He is tossed hither and yon in the waves and can't seem to get his bearings. Is he even swimming towards shore? It's hard to tell, in the dark... Desperate times call for desperate measures... so he takes a moment to recenter himself. Time seems to stand still, and suddenly he sees a fuzzy, brown creature crawling towards him over the now static waves. As it draws near, it suddenly sits back on it's haunches and briefly gnaws what appears to be a green stem, possibly eucalyptus. It's fuzzy, round ears twitch and it's dark, bead-like eyes contemplate Crashing for a moment.

"G'day." it says, in a wise old voice, quite incongruous to it's appearance. "You look to be in a spot of trouble, mate."

Crashing swallows hard and nods.

"Holy dooley... Swimmin' like yer aimin' to cark it, there, aincha?"

"Aye. Lookin' that way." Crashing replies.

"Tell ya what..." the creature says, chewing the greenery loudly. "Yer a fine bloke... And I don't think yer done yer walkabout yet. How's 'bout an offsider?"

"I'm not sure I know what you mean..." Crashing says.

The critter winks, yawns, gets back up on all fours and waddles away and out of sight into the night.

Crashing barely has time to take in what happened before the world "un-sticks" and the waves are raving again and the wind is blowing again. Suddenly, Crashing feels something jam him hard in the ribs and lift him up a bit. Like quicksilver, the dolphin disappears nearly as fast as it appeared. (end: 1+7+5+4=Success) (Successes: 2/4, Failures 2/3)

End of Round 4

[Asharad]

Thanks, spirit animals!

Let's see if my luck changes.

Just barely enough
7+5+6=18

But no help for Dam.

[EricStratton]

Round 5:

"Concentrate, Erik! You can do this!"

"Yes, I can!"

Bail!!!!! 19+2 Dex

[Lycos]

Round 5:

Sigurd is not amused at the water down his back, but quickly gets back into the job at hand (I hope)

Not! LOL Looks like I got too cocky. :D

[Zyzzyx]

Turning a bit to adjust his throw, KT gently goes for another few scoops.

Realizing again that they're not likely near a known town, KT's mind wanders to some of the ladies he left behind in the last town and doesn't even bother bailing water for a moment.

[Shiz]

Round 5 (cue the drums....)

Swimming: 17+5+1 = head above the water for another round!

Glad Zyzz rolled first!

[DinbinFanfoom]

Waiting on Togar...

[Quervo]

round 5 and round 6 if needed... double baby duty might have me away a bit

R5 - 26
R6 - 11

[DinbinFanfoom]

Round 5:

In the water:

Encouraged by the fuzzy whatzit and the squeaky thingamamob, Crashing paddles forward with renewed vigour. (end: 6+7+5=Success). His efforts to help Damelon are for naught, however. (ath: 6+0=Failure) (Successes: 3/4, Failures: 2/3)

Happy to see Crashing not entirely under water again, Damelon puts his all into what amounts to a sort of side-crawl. (end: 17+1+5=Success) (Successes: 3/4, Failures: 2/3)


In the skiff:

Erik, refocused, takes a big-boy handful of water and manages to get it mostly out of the boat. (dex: 19+2=Success)

Sigurd grumbles at KT and tries to return to his rowing, but mis-times his first stroke, hitting the oar of the crewman in front of him instead. He curses. (ath: 3+8=Failure)

KT, eyeing the darkness around him, gives one last thought to the ladies in the port town they left what seems an eternity ago. There was that one ruggedly built country lass... with the big hands... what did she say her name was again? Todd? As KT pondered the oddity of that name, he is nearly knocked off his seat in the skiff (dex: 1+0=Failure)

Beside Sigur, ol' reliable Togar slaves away at the oars. (ath: 19+9=Success)

The crewman that spoke previously now grunts and half-stands, twisting around to peer ahead again. He squints hard into the darkness ahead, and wipes water from his eyes. "REEF!" he yells for all to hear, and attempts to sit back down. A split second later, the skiff comes to an abrupt and violent halt, pivoting wildly sideways and nearly spilling over. The standing crewman is airborne, and disappears into the depths. The other crewman manages to crook his arm around his oarlock and stay in. Togar (acro: 12+1) manages to do the same. Erik's departure from the skiff is arrested by his clothing (acro: 19+2), which manages to snare itself on Togar's hilt.

KT (acro: 6+0) and Sigurd (acro: 7-1) are not so lucky. With respective falsetto and baritone yelps, they are catapaulted over the side and into the surf and out of view. (Note to KT and Sigurd: Do not post a Round 6 action)

"Angus!" the remaining crewman cries towards his missing companion. Then, regaining his composure, he turns to his two remaining passengers. "QUICK! Get her straightened out, or the next wave will be our doom!"

Distance to land: 1 (would have been better if not for that whole "reef" impediment)
Water level: 4/5 (almost tipped there!)


End of Round 5:

[Shiz]

Round 6 - sink or swim!

Swim: 11+5+1 = 17
Athletics: 9+8= 17

Damelon, shore is sight, reaches out to Crashing and tries to pull him along. "Don't give up now you tattoo'd reptile lover!"

[EricStratton]

Round 6:

"Oh hell!" Erik looks at the water level in the boat and at the precarious situation the skiff is in. "If I try to straighten the boat out and not bail, we'll sink! If I try to bail and we don't straighten the boat out...we'll sink! This is one of those...can't win things!

"Get yourself together, man! Just stick w/ what you know!"

Bail! 19+2 Dex

[Asharad]

Crashing thinks that more time swimming in the swamps of his homeland might have paid off. Still, his fear of drowning and Damelon's encouragement propels him forward.

Endurance= 32

[DinbinFanfoom]

Round 6:

In the surf:

Damelon gives swimming his last bit of energy (end: 11+1+5=Success) and finally feels his knees drag on what seems to be sand. At the same time, he hauls at Crashing's barrel-rope. (ath: 9+7=Success)

Crashing also exhausted, exerts himself vigourously (end: 20+7+2=Success) and feels terra-firma beneath his toes once more. "I think I lost a boot..." he thinks.

Sputtering and coughing, both crawl, wobbling, out of the waves, to above the wash-line and collapse, insensate. (END OF SKILL CHALLENGE: Success)

KT and Sigurd are nowhere to be seen or heard. (END OF SKILL CHALLENGE: ?)


In the skiff:

A frightened Erik, mumbling arcane things to keep himself from thinking about what just happened, frantically throws water out of the boat as fast as he can, meeting with some success (dex: 19+2=Success)

Togar, re-seated, tries to bring the skiff around towards the shore again. The small boat seems half-fetched on the reef, however (ath: 2+9=Failure).

The crewman is able to propel it free, thankfully, and within a few moments, they are behind the coral and the waves are not as strong. The skiff hits the sand, slides sideways, and tips the exhausted occupants out.

"We have to get it above the waterline, or we'll lose it!" the crewman yells to Erik and Togar. Between the three of them, they manage to drag the heavy skiff just high enough to keep it out of the waves. All three stumble to the top of the bluff, near a tree-line, and collapse from fatigue. (END OF SKILL CHALLENGE: Success)

End of Round 6 and both Skill Challenges

Loading, please wait...

[Asharad]

Crashing lays on his back and stares up at the sky. He turns his head to the right and see Damelon laying in the surf next to him.

"Seriously, mon," he says. "Next time we throw tha little ****ers in da water and we take da boat."

[EricStratton]

"Praise the gods!" /kisses the sand multiple times.