The SSRS Kostroma lies idle in the southeastern bay of Mended Horn Island. Only the front portion, the two forward masts and the front of the superstructure that sits in the center of the freighter's hull, is illuminated by a pair of dim lights that glow orange-red, a sure sign that the boilers of the Kostroma are dying, and the lights will soon go off. The remainder of the ship's funnel, and the mast behind the superstructure are visible only in silhouette. The gibbous moon and starry night that would have provided a clear backdrop to the black hulk of the Kostroma have been smothered by the overcast skies and light rain.
A sound comes, not from the Kostroma, and indeed, not from anywhere at all. A low, vaguely tinnitus-like sound that drains out the sound of silence. It calls to you. It calls to everyone.
"Come to the Kostroma, good soldier. Join us here. Come."
1220 replies and 53 files omitted.
Soon we take the Kostroma.
All aboard.
>>193000That is a very disturbing OP. Very much congratulations, GM pone!
>>193020 →Blackheel's head recoils back, and he yells in evident displeasure
"Ага! Чёртова кобыла. Нет. Не трогай. Морду!"
>>193022Kira looks over to the Kostroma, and replies, "I don't think anyone on the ship is paying attention. And the 'gee are you' would probably just do what they did to the airship after we exploded it..."
>>193026Cavaliere looks at Posey, eyes narrowed.
"What did you do, Ms. Ring?" >>193028"A little trick my master taught me. It is no harm
on its own. I even use it on my son." Posey replies, evasively
"Now, if you will excuse me..." she fastens her blinders
"My mouth will be occupied for the time being." she says, stifling a groan, her cheeks puffing as she holds back the blood shooting up her throat
Are they loading the boats?
>>193019 →Day Chaser points a hoof at the swan boat
"Look at it! It's a kid's ride at the park."
>>193032Silver turns his head to look at the swan boat. He purses his lips in contemplation. "...yes, I will concede that to you." Looking back at Day Chaser, he continues. "But no matter how ridiculous our vehicle of battle may look, it is battle all same."
>>193032>>193033"It... I-it only needs to get us to the-
[r]hurrrrrgghk![/r] - ... Kostroma."
>>193035Posey does not respond. Her face is looking green.
>>193033"Battle?! I don't want to go into any battle, I want to go to safety!"
With the swan boat moving at 60 ft per round, how long will it take us to get to the Kostroma?
>>193037Silver: "Look around you, soldier. We are on isolated island full of monsters and hostile soldiers. We can not stay here. Even if we could call for evacuation, they would more than likely crash into island because of darkness and fog, and if they do not then they will be shot down by Spetsnaz ship. And even if they did not, then Traveler would still be out there, and would still be problem."
Kira holds her hoof in the air. "The captain did say that the Traveler is planning on feigning capture so he can be taken to the mainland. If we don't deal with him, then the 'gee are you' are going to take him to Equus, and then..." She goes quiet before finishing that statement.
>>193040"I can do that." He says
>>193039~3 and a half minutes, ish
>>193041"Actually, get me off this island!"
>>193042Alright. Posey tries to hold her salad for 35 rounds.
>>193042Silver: "Then get on that swan, mister."
Day Chaser gets on
The ponies are ready to board or have boarded already.
How are the ponies distributed and how is the boat moved?
Is everyone ready?
>>193047The boat seems to be magically self-propelled, but probably works something like the paddle boats its based on. It's a flat-bottom boat, so it should not get stuck on the sandbank the Kostroma is on.
>Swan Boat: A token that forms a swanlike boat capable of moving on water at a speed of 60 feet. It can carry eight horses and gear or thirty-two Medium characters or any equivalent combination. The boat lasts for one day.https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Feather_TokenPonies who are actually going to board the Kostroma should be in the front of the boat, do that they will be able to climb aboard when we get there.
I'm ready.
>>193047Let's put the possessed ponies in the rowboats, unconscious and injured ponies in the middle of the boat and the able-bodied ones around the outside. Is it powered by sails or something?
Is the party intending on boarding the ship up its ladders, or any plans on how to approach?
>>193050I was planning on climbing up the neck of the swan boat, or using its wings as a platform.
>>193050I don't know how much rope is left, but Cavaliere could get several lines up for safe climbing.
>>193052>>193051>>193050It's also a good idea to have a flier just peak over the ship's railing to see if it's safe before we start hauling people up there blindly.
Blackheel:
"The thing was being hauled in the Number 2 cargo hold, the second from the bow, where the whole cargo hold was made to store it, more or less, with some testing equipment there. The Number 1 cargo hold was made into a makeshift science lab. The number 4 cargo hold had some supplies and also beds, though it was used to haul cargo on the journey to Everfrost. Cargo holds 5 and 3 are still in cargo configuration and are mostly empty, though some material has come back with us.
The midship has the bridge and captains quarters on its top most deck, officer's quarters on the fourth deck, crew quarters on the main deck, supplies on the second deck, and the engine room on the lowest deck. The stern of the ship has quarters for the marines and also the armory. The bow of the ship contains the infirmary and carpenter's shop. We got off on the life boats, and apparently so did the thing's puppets."
The port side of the ship is presented to the party from the shore. The bow is slightly closer than the stern. The ship presents with 25 foot steel walls rising above the surface, with ladders near the center.
>>193056>>193055There's something anomalous in the way the waves move against the ship's hull in the midship.
>>193058Posey nods in acknowledgement.
>>193059Let's try to get near the ladders, so we don't have to board single file.
>>193060Can we make out what it is?
>>193061Kira doesn't know much about ships but she knows... That's kind of an odd shape in the center of it. Like there's something there besides just the ship.
>>193062It's very dark outside and very difficult to see much, but more can be seen either by coming closer, shining a light on it, or just... well... squinting harder
>>193061>>193063>>193062>>193056Kira: "Uh, guys? Does the Traveler have any kind of sea monster thing?"
>>193065If it's a sea monster, it's asleep
Essentially it's a big form immediately next to the ship that does seem to move with the waves, but not by much
>>193067Blackheel
"It didn't let us get near it. Well, okay, it did, but no one who got near it escaped."
>>193067>>193068Silver: "We do not want to go at it unprepared. There is armory and infirmary for us to stock up, and it is good idea to have quick look at ship systems to make sure we can flee once Traveler is gone. Boiler, bridge, even captain's quarters to make sure nothing horribly wrong is being stored there."
>>193069"You met some of them on the island, I am sure. They were puppeted. Or at least some of them were. I don't actually know. I just know that all of us who escaped ended up holding up in Hold 4 until we made a run for it."
>>193066Posey commands monstro to charge it the sea monster makes any sudden moves.
As they move closer, another flare lights up behind them, spreading green light. The Kostroma's side is grey, but there next to the ladder on the portside midship, they are able to see what the form is. It's another boat. Almost a ship, being around a hundred feet long next to the Kostroma's ~430. It is low in the water and painted a dark grey.
>>193075Posey doesn't say anything because she is trying not to vomit, but she points ahead to the boat.
>>193075Can Silver tell what the boat is?
>>193080Silver doesn't actually know. What he does know is: it's too small to be a proper destroyer or frigate, it seems to have... torpedo tubes? Guns? No national markings are visible.
>>193081It's design is low in the water and not exactly consistent with a fishing trawler or cargo ship.
>>193083It's not a living animal, and therefore not a seamonster in the proper sense
>>193081Can we hear gunfire aboard the Kostroma?
Even if that GRU is here, they have clearly not solved that problem.
Full speed ahead either way. We already came this far.
Good to know there's another boat we could steal though.
>>193085Not right now, no, but she thinks she heard gunfire earlier.
>>193086Then it looks like they already lost.
Oh well. Posey draws her whip and prepares to board.
Cavaliere double checks to make sure his guns are loaded. He also measures up his rope to ensure there's enough to reach the deck, with length to spare.
>>193081>>193082Silver: "I think this might be midget submarine. I have heard of these. I expect some form of special forces."
CHAK CHAK CHAK CHAK
From the front of the boat, a muzzle flash and tracer fire. It moves across the deck of the boat, with many rounds hitting the "face" of the swan and spraying splinters of wood. Ponies and griffins dive for cover on the otherwise exposed deck of the swanboat.
>>193085This is the only direction that's been given to the boat and it's going to get us all killed. Can we please move evasively away from this?
>>193090Do Her Majesty's wings provide any cover from incoming fire?
Posey drops prone.
>>193091Where else are we supposed to go? We're sitting ducks. We avoid the most damage by boarding as quickly as possible.
>>193090Kira starts screaming and holding her hooves over her head. Silver is the first to react with aiming his rifle up towards the direction of the incoming fire and shooting.
[1d20+11 = (4+11) = 15][2d8 = 9] >>193090I may as well shoot off an arrow before going prone
[1d20+5 = (11+5) = 16][1d8+3 = (1+3) = 4] >>193090>>193092Around. Behind the Kostroma. Out of sight.
scrunchCavaliere goes prone.
CHAK CHAK CHAK"
Ist das ein weiteres Monster?"
>>193093Silver's bullet must hit near the gunner, given a static charge, but seems to deflect off of a cover
>>193092They probably could, even if eventually they'd succumb to machine gun fire. The bigger issue is that the front most portion is lower and does not provide such cover
>>193094Posey's arrow may have struck true, hard to say
>>193093Kira is actually pretty well out of the line of fire, assuming she's not on the swan boat
>>193096"No, it's a machine gun. Keep your head down!">>193097I thought everypony was aboard? We need to clear this up now.
Maybe I should have Monstro charge the gunner?
Any flyers want to shoot from an elevated position?
>>193096Posey uses the swan's neck as cover.
>>193095Maybe this could work, sure. Let's do that. Let's go around the other side to avoid gunfire.
>>193100Posey hears many "thuds" and sees green lights travel to either side at very,
very high velocity.
>>193096>>193098>>193099Silver calls out
"GET US OUT OF THIS!"He works the bolt on his rifle and fires twice.
[1d20+11 = (4+11) = 15][2d8 = 8][1d20+6 = (7+6) = 13][2d8 = 11] >>193099Cavaliere is the only flier PC and he's not in the mood.
"Es ist eine Art seltsames Boot." "Halt es fern!">>193103These shots do not quite land against a gunner with plates as cover
Two ponies lean over the side and shoot
[1d20+3 = (6+3) = 9][2d8 = 4][1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21][2d8 = 10] I forgot I was the one steering the boat, sorry.>>193103>>193104Posey groans in response, her cheeks puffing, and moves the board to turn around the back of the Kostroma evasively.
Blackheel:
"If you can't handle a few pirates who haven't even gotten to their big guns yet, you are not fit to fight a god"
Blackheel leans over the edge of the boat, and shoots at the other boat with his pistol
"Идите на меня, никчёмные бандиты! Прыгай в воду, если хочешь жить!"
BANG BANG>>193106Turning the boat brings the... port side to the boat? The wings face it
The boat is slow, so it will be in the line of gunfire for a bit of time
>>193107We have the machine gun from the airplane. Could we set it up on the gunwales so we can at least shoot back with equivalent firepower?
>>193108I think it was placed on Monstro?
>>193109That was when I still had the Dreads to operate it, yeah. Someone else could use it.
>>193107Silver keeps working his rifle to try to keep his creatures covered.
[1d20+11 = (10+11) = 21][2d8 = 10][1d20+6 = (6+6) = 12][2d8 = 9] >>193110The airponies have the knowhow and experience to use it. Cavaliere assists them however he can.
"Ist das die Hauptmacht?"
"Ich denke, es ist eine Vorhut.">>193111CHAKThe machine gun is silenced
On the back deck of the boat, two rifles start shooting
Bang[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23]Bang[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23] Silver feels a bullet hit into his neck for 11 damage
Steppe Eagle takes a bullet and slumps down
Another pony shoots back,
[1d20+3 = (9+3) = 12][2d8 = 12]Blackheel shoots
"Не прячься, выходи сражаться!"
[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23][2d6 = 10]>>193112>>193110It'll take a couple rounds, but its doable
>>193115Silver:
"ЕБАТЬ!"Blood start running rapidly out of Silver's neck. Being a combat medic, he immediately checks Steppe Eagle for a pulse.
>>193118Alive, but very much not well
>>193113Posey levitates her bow and looses another arrow
[1d20+5 = (10+5) = 15][1d8+3 = (3+3) = 6] >>193119Heal: Silver covers the downed pony's body with his own as he attempts to stabilize him.
[1d20+5 = (20+5) = 25] >>193119How far are we from the Kostroma now? I need to measure range increments on my attacks.
>>193122I was assuming between 60 and 120 feet from the Boat? Or are they moving away?
>>193123He's got it. Putting in the bands of bullets. It will be ready in another two rounds.
>>193121A firm press with the gauze, and Silver believes he's stopped the bleeding
>>193124Okay, then we should reach the Kostroma in one round.
>>193124>>193123Continuing to stand over Steppe Eagle, Silver resumes shooting at their attackers.
[1d20+11 = (16+11) = 27][2d8 = 10][1d20+6 = (18+6) = 24][2d8 = 15] >>193125What?
Where are you going? Away from the boat? Towards the boat? Around the boat? "We're going to the Kostroma" Nigger you're in combat with a boat that is in between you and the Kostroma. It is physically in the way. You can go around it
but you have to tell me that. Phrase your answer in relation to the boat.
>>193126BANG BANGSilver thinks he's downed one, but a new one flies up, then another. There is chatter amongst themselves
[1d20+3 = (17+3) = 20][2d8 = 9][1d20+3 = (1+3) = 4][2d8 = 9] Silver is hit for 9 damage
Rustling Pine shoots back,
[1d20 = 10]
[2d8 = 6]
Followed by Blackheel
[1d20+3 = (11+3) = 14]
[2d6 = 8]
Then the White Pegasus
[1d20+3 = (8+3) = 11]
[2d8 = 9]
The machinegun is placed on the deck of the boat, and a belt begins to be loaded in
>>193129Silver is fairly certain there is more blood outside of him then there is inside. Still, he keeps fighting on in defense of his brothers and sisters.
[1d20+11 = (12+11) = 23][2d8 = 15][1d20+6 = (5+6) = 11][2d8 = 14] >>193127Pardon, I was confused.
Alright, let's go around the boat and past it, towards the Kostroma.
Since we're going on that direction and we are in range, Posey is going to have Monstro charge the machine gunner.
[1d20+16 = (18+16) = 34][2d6+15 = (6+15) = 21] + paralysis
Grapple
[1d20+22 = (13+22) = 35]Construct
[2d6+15 = (8+15) = 23]Posey shoots an arrow
[1d20+5 = (5+5) = 10][1d8+3 = (4+3) = 7] >>193131Silver is most definitely doing at least as much damage as he's taking
>>193131The machinegunner
seems to already be downed and the new danger is from the rear of the boat,
but if Posey wishes to go full Hegseth, that's understandable
"We don't have much chance of escape if Silver goes down. Patch him up!" he commands to the huddling survivors.
>>193133>if Posey wishes to go full HegsethPosey's first reflex in any situation is to maximize casualties, but if that's not necessary then I guess we can just sail past it.
I could do that same damage to the boat itself. Maybe Monstro should sink it?
>>193135Question for the party, btw
>>193135>sink the boatNo. There could be valuables aboard, and it may well be faster and more durable than what we have now.
>>193135The boat is pretty big, being basically a full-sized, plausibly ocean going torpedo boat. But with enough force and damage, surely it can be sunk. It's definitely not going to be sunk as easily as everything on its deck can be destroyed
>>193134"Uh..."
Primed Well comes up to Silver, and inspects his wounds
>>193137Okay, then let's just sail towards the Kostroma. Everypony drop prone and take the Total Defense action for +8 AC vs range attacks.
>>193135>>193136>>193137Whichever lets us end this fight the fastest, Silver's not doing so hot.
>>193138A normal pony would have died of these wounds well before now. How Silver's able to see, shoot, or even stand straight with the amount of holes he's got in him is unusual.
>>193140Cavaliere remains with any volunteers to finish loading the machine gun and start spraying the enemy deck in bursts.
Posey concentrates on moving the boat towards the Kostroma asap
>>193140More fighting will begin when we board the Kostroma.
Though the swan boat starts to sail away, more shots are traded
Enemies
[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]
[2d8 = 5]
[1d4 = 4]
[1d20+3 = (4+3) = 7]
[2d8 = 13]
[1d4 = 3]
[1d20+3 = (13+3) = 16]
[2d8 = 2]
[1d4 = 1]
Shooting back is Rustling Pine
[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23]
[2d8 = 5]
The White Pegasus
[1d20+3 = (6+3) = 9]
[2d8 = 7]
And Blackheel
"Why are we retreating? Advance! We've nearly got them!"
[1d20+3 = (19+3) = 22]
[2d6 = 6]
>>193144Silver nods through the pain, choking out through the blood gushing out of the hole in his neck, "Kill these bastards."
He fires off another shot before his rifle runs empty and he has to reload.
[1d20+11 = (19+11) = 30][2d8 = 8] click clackPinup Locker
"I've got the .50!"
>>193144>>193145Silver is
almost shot again, but the bullet hits a steel plate in his jacket. Blackheel is hit.
>>193148The impact does cause a slight bit more blood to stain his armor, though. He looks over at Pinup and gives the order as he loads two new clips in his rifle.
"LIGHT THEM UP!" TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK TAKThe bullets streak through the night with a red glare towards the exposed back the boat, as the machinegun kicks back, loud and shooting at a pace almost twice that of the light machine guns the party has encountered so far. This is a gun designed to kill small planes and boats, not infantry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS2AsSWv_yE >>193150Posey would be delighted if she were not busy trying to propel the ship without vomiting.
With the enemy now suppressed and distracted, the griffon ranger takes a leap off the boat and ascends to the level of the deck of the Kostroma, looking to make sure it is clear before touching down.
>>193152I'm guessing he's going for the rear portion of the ship, just past midship?
>>193150>>193151Silver has her covered, laughing manically in a fashion that seems unusual for him. Kira meanwhile covers her ears with how loud the heavy machine gun roars out.
Pinup Locker doesn't hold down on the trigger for long, either because the recoil threatens to dislodge the gun or because he fears using up his ammunition.
The night is silent.
>>193156Okay, so a couple questions:
Is he coming in on the port side?
The middle of the ship is the deckhouse, but at the stern is the aft deckhouse. Between the two is the rearmost mast. Where does he land in relation to these three landmarks?
>>193155Silver: "Prepare for boarding. See if they had anything we can use." He holds a hoof up to the hole in his neck. "...like bandages."
There is a ladder, but the boat occupies the space right underneath it. There is a ladder on the opposite side
The boat could be boarded easily, given how comparatively low it is
>>193157No, on the starboard side, and he aims between the rearmost mast and the aft deckhouse.
>>193159>>193160If Posey is too focused on holding back her nausea, Silver takes the reins of the boat and (unskillfully) pilots it next to the offending raider boat for easier boarding. He'd be the first to jump on, once the two no doubt collide.
>>193162So, we're boarding the smaller boat before the Kostroma now?
>>193163Eeyup. We need to know who these guys are, and if they have any more of a presence on the Kostroma. They could be a problem.
Besides, it's hard to turn down a chance for some loot.
>>193161It's dark in the back. In order for Cavaliere to go to this position he'd essentially have to do a wide circle, plying around the back of the ship. Then again this maneuver is far from the most inconvenient cavaliere has done. The winds are somewhat cold and the rain is unpleasant, but he's flown in faster winds, harder rain, and
much colder weather. As he flies by the aft deckhouse he sees the platform holding the five inch gun. It probably was big enough to take down the KS-19 if they had tried and the former come close enough. Behind it are a pair of Anti-aircraft guns that themselves are no joke. There are no lights on the rear of the ship
Cavaliere lands on the deck. It is wet with rain and a hatch on the cargo hold is open, but there is nothing remarkable. A boon has been lowered from the mast, but it isn't consistent with any clear intent, it seems like an accident.
>>193163Posey can do anything but fly
>>193165Cavaliere keeps scanning his surroundings, knowing he is in hostile territory now. He looks down over the railing at the moored boat to see if any enemies remain on it surface.
>>193164You realize that this may mean losing more hit points ahead of the toughest fight of this adventure, right?
>>193165Posey is frozen with rigor mortis as her insides liquify. She tightens her blinders and shudders in place trying to ride out her motion sickness, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth.
>>193166Is he going to walk 150 feet across the length and width of the ship to get to the boat?
>>193167Seems like floof is in charge now
>>193164Silver takes the boat up to the side of the other boat. Blackheel says, "I got shot." But seems ready to board. Mala is coming up with his shotgun.
>>193167>>193168Oh right, in the excitement of the battle Silver forgot about that. He welcomes Mala and motions for Black Heel to come closer so he can take care of him.
Kira stays behind to watch over the ponies who aren't boarding. She is definitely terrifying and her ears are ringing, but she stays behind.
Just fyi, it's 11:30 for me right now, and I DM another game tomorrow.
>>193168Good question. In more ordinary conditions I would say "yes." However there is probably nothing on top of the boat against which he could provide fire support, and the party is not ready to board the Kostroma yet. He will instead inspect the aft deckhouse, looking for a point of entry and any signs of life.
>>193170I got the impression we won't be able to continue this quest for a few days. We've made good progress so we can call it if you really want to, but I don't mind continuing for now.
>>193170We'll be done in a few hours
>>193171There's a door
>>193169Blackheel scrunches
>>193172>few hoursNow that might be inconvenient for me....
Cavaliere sidles up to the edge of the door, turns its mechanism and pushes it open.
>>193172Heal: Well, assuming that he does, Silver gets a better look at the bullet wound and does his best to patch Black Heel up. He may end up getting some blood on him in the process.
[1d20+5 = (1+5) = 6] >>193175Blackheel is shot in the edge of the barrel.
Silver manages, somehow, to agitate the wound and increase the bleeding
"Oww!"
>>193174He shines his flashlight into the entryway and cautiously makes his way inside.
>>193176"Дерьмо! Sorry, it is hard for me to focus right now...let me just..."
Heal: Perhaps if Silver instead does a little bit of this, maybe a little bit of that...
[1d20+5 = (8+5) = 13] >>193178Better. Not quite enough
>>193177Looking inside, he sees...
A small hallway with indistinct green painted walls to either side that stretches only 15 or so feet, and leads to a perpendicular hallway
>>193179Heal: Silver can be heard muttering to himself under his breath about how "he can do this" and "field medical work is difficult" as he tries on last time to get Black Heel patched up.
[1d20+5 = (20+5) = 25] >>193180It's backBlackheel is bandaged
"Thank you" Blackheel says
He opens the cylinder on his revolver, and starts reloading it
>>193180>>193181Silver: "There! Heh, maybe getting shot actually improves my focus..."
With Black Heel now patched up and with a reloaded firearm, Silver picks up his rifle and leads himself, Mala, and the commissar into the belly of this new raider ship.
>>193179Cavaliere creeps down the hallway and peers around both corners to see what lies beyond.
>>193183He sees...
A relatively small area with three little dorm rooms, another room marked as an infirmary, and stairs going downstairs
Doors are open on the left most bedroom, but there isn't a sign of violence
>>193182Mala follows closely. Blackheel and the Green Unicorn wish to come along
>>193184Black Heel, the green unicorn, and Mala are all welcome additions, and Silver leads all three of them into the ship.
>>193184He looks each room over to make sure they are clear, before entering the infirmary and searching for medical supplies.
>>193186Each room is clear, and is in varying states of disorder, from completely made-up beds to sheets on the floor.
Though the door to the infirmary is closed, cavaliere can see that cabinet doors are open and someone has gone through bandages
>>193185At the very end of the ship are a couple large tanks. They bleed a yellow-tinted translucent liquid that smells a bit uncomfortably like diesel fuel. Or one of them does. The other is also aerated, but empty.
Beyond this, and closer to where Silver is more likely to have actually landed, is a large gun on a swivel. Light artillery. It appears to have not been used.
>>193187Any useable first aid supplies remaining?
>>193188It looks like it. Some drugs are missing, but there are bandages, some plasma, and possibly potions
>>193187The .50 cal must have punctures the tanks. That definitely poses a hazard should something ignite the fumes. Silver turns to the others and cautions them, "No firearms." Putting his rifle away, looks for some sort of repair kit that might have material to patch up the leaking tanks.
>>193190Nothing immediately comes to mind, save maybe medical bandages or clothing. Silver probably doesn't have tape on him
>>193189He grabs bandages, plasma, and those odd vials and stashes them in his pack. He investigates the bedrooms, starting with the messy one.
>>193190If it's diesel fuel it's not an immediate threat, or at least shouldn't be.
>>193192Some clothes are on the floor, and a mattress is moved. Someone left in a hurry or perhaps went through the room, but there is no blood.
In another room, it is not so. Clothes are folded up.
Cavaliere can see that the rooms have lockers.
>>193191Hmm...Silver sees what else there is on the top deck before he goes below. Perhaps the diesel tanks won't be as much of an issue as he fears and can wait for the moment.
>>193193Are the lockers locked or can they be searched?
>>193195Some are locked, some are not.
>>193194On the deck is a tan colored griffin with a rifle next to him, then a grey griffin with a rifle next to... her? Him? Then a yellow earth pony, also has a rifle. These are walkways next to hatches on the deck, and a section carrying multiple rafts, between the deckhouse and the gun.
Then next to the deck house, which has an open door, there is the body of another griffin. Reddish color.
>>193196Anything of note within the open lockers?
>>193196"This is quite diverse cast of characters." Silver checks the bodies for any possessions, as well as checking the rifles and ammunition, and that machine gun that fired upon them if it's still around. He motions for Black Heel, the green unicorn, and Mala to do the same.
>>193197There cigarettes and a lighter (it's a bright enough yellow to be of note), a few pictures, some glasses...
The ones that are open tend to not have much in them.
>>193198They nod. Silver hears a "thud" as one of the ponies slams the butt of a rifle into the head of a griffin. Mala goes off to examine the machine gun
The riffles are of a griffonian model he's seen before... at Blackbriar Pier. Except for one, which is of an Aquilian model. The pony uses a rifle that has the hoofguard removed.
The creatures have on them small amounts of imperial currency. One has a ring. the first griffin has a pipe, tobacco, and a flask for alcohol. The grey griffin has... some kind of prayer beads? Also some medicine of an unknown variety. The yellow pony has a gold coin from Nova Griffonia, several condoms, a switch blade knife, and a deck of cards. The reddish griffin may be alive, and has Imperial guilders, a very oily rag (not a handkerchief. An actual rag), and a knife with an ivory handle.
>>193199Cavaliere takes the lighter. Anything of note in the pictures?
>>193199Usually Silver likes to keep sober on missions, but with the pain he's in he opens up the flask and empties it into his mouth without much of a second thought. Unfortunate that whatever alcohol it is thus tastes at least a little bit like his own blood. The condoms he has no need for (why would a creature, especially one like Silver, ever have need for such things?), and ever since eating that fruit he hasn't felt any urge at all to smoke, but he does take the cards, the two knives, and the currency, and he checks the ring for an inscription that might give a clue as to its owner's identity.
The reddish griffon may be alive, but is he conscious enough to be interrogated?
>>193200There's a couple sets
One is of a little filly who must be posing for the picture, and is in a very thick and relatively fancy coat. She has a little flower in her mane.
Then there is a set of pictures that is quite a bit thicker. There is a line of bodies together in a ditch. Some kind of... giant black tadpole? The image itself is distorted and hasn't come out right. Smoke above a set of huts.
He takes the pictures and moves on. If there's nothing else easily accessible, he will shine the light down the stairwell and see what's at the bottom.
>>193201It seems to say "Helga"
The reddish one might soon, but not now.
>>193203The set of stairs goes down to a lower level.
In fact, Silver so violently rejects the condoms that he actually goes out of his way to throw them into the ocean. This elicits a sharp "SILVER!" from Kira as she berates the stallion. "You should know better than to throw trash into the ocean! Pollution is a serious problem and if creatures would stop throwing..." She fishes out the roll of condoms using the tip of her tail. She halts her berating of Silver as she stares at them in utter confusion and innocence. "...what are these, anyways?"
>>193204Heal: Silver sees if he can keep the griffon from dying long enough to interrogate him about their motives.
[1d20+5 = (13+5) = 18]In the meantime, he shows one of the Griffonian rifles to Black Heel. "There was group of anarchists in Baltimare preparing uprising not too long ago. They were halted, but they were armed with weapons just like these."
>>193205Well, it was a decent foray. Cavaliere leaves the way he came and makes his way to above the moored boat. He had started with fifty feet of rope, and used some of it to bind prisoners and possessed sailors as well as link up the rowboats to the swanboat. Hopefully there's enough to toss a line onto the deck.
>>193206SplashA pair of airponies throw a griffin body into the water. It's the yellow one, by the way.
Silver can stop the bleeding, but the griffin is obviously dazed and scared
Blackheel
"Anarchists failed? Well there's a surprise. But the rifles are not surprising at all. Half of the Griffonian continent uses that, or some variation. The empire made millions of them. It's actually a good rifle for workers uprisings. It's not the best weapon, but it's adequate."
>>193207Cavaliere could have gone further. Of course, he'd be separated if he actually did find danger
Cavaliere walks onto the deck of the ship, wet with rainwater and blood, but thankfully not seawater.
What he has remaining will be a bit tight (not necessarily inadequate, but not leaving much). Of course there's also a ladder.
>>193209The lack of gunfire implies the rest of the party was successful in capturing the boat. Also, this is a team effort. The ladder would be preferable. The rope could always come in handy elsewhere. He looks down at what's going on.
The boat has black stripes on it, almost like zebra striping
>>193210At least four bodies on the back of the boat. Actually three now, one has been tossed in the water. Blackheel and a couple airponies, as well as Silver, are in the back. Mala is in the front overtop of what seems to be the body of a pony at the forward machinegun. Cavaliere can see that there is a large gun at the end of the boat that was thankfully never manned.
>>193208Kira scrunches at the further polluting of the oceans.
Silver stops the bleeding, and deters the airponies from throwing this one into the ocean. He checks the rifle a bit further to see if it's a Karabiner 'Kralle' Model 06 or a Hinterladerbusche Model 98. After that, he levitates the rifles to the rest of the group in their boats. The griffons from the whaling station might find them especially useful.
Once that's done, he returns his attention to the reddish griffon. He gives him a prod in the chest with his rifle. "Hey, wake up. Who are you, what are you doing here?"
>>193211It looking clear, he glides down to the other party members.
"Griffons?" he asks.
"This wasn't a patrol from Nova Griffonia, was it? And did you make sure to account for all their crew?" >>193213Silver looks over at Cavalier, and points at the grey griffon. "That one had some medicine. Can you tell what it is?"
>>193214"I'll have a look. Speaking of, I found some medical supplies. They should be useful." He pulls out and provides the first aid equipment from the Kostroma, then looks at the grey griffon's inventory.
>>193212The griffin simply looks back and does not speak. His eyes are wide
Blackheel:
"Did you clear the inside?"
It's the Kralle, or possibly a permutation of the same made by another country.
>>193213Blackheel:
"No. You'd know if it was from Nova Griffonia. They'd show off their flag everywhere. Nova Griffonia would send a bigger group, and they may still."
The Green Unicorn speaks
"This is from Haukland. Probably the frolic of a single crew. Then again you never know."
Blackheel:
"There are five bodies here. These boats usually have crews of just under twenty. Maybe more because they expect to board."
>>193215It looks like its for some idiosyncratic ailment of this griffin, or maybe sea sickness. It's in Imperial.
>>193216Is the grey griffon expired?
"You are right about that. One would have thought the military activity would have scared away the pirates, but they are likely desperate. More could be hiding below. Be careful." >>193215Silver desperately makes use of them to patch himself up.
>>193216Silver narrows his eyes at the reddish griffon. "Do you speak Ponish?"
>>193217Yes
"We couldn't even see them until they lit us up. They must have thought they could take advantage of the distractions."
>>193218No response. He stares back.
>>193219>>193217Silver once again looks to Cavaliere. "Do you speak Imperial?"
>>193220>>193217Blackheel says,
"I'm going to get that ghoul of yours and clear out the interior. Otherwise who knows what havoc they could wreak. Best to keep that ghoul away from the bodies of ponies, anyways."
>>193221He looks over to Cavaliere, then stares at Silver
>>193222Silver nods, and stands up. He looks to Cavaliere and the airponies who aren't going with him. "Keep eye on this one. If he decides to start answering, ask him who these creatures are."
Getting his rifle ready, he gathers with his boarding party to go below deck. "Let us clear this place."
And before I forget, Silver takes one of the potions.
[2d8+3 = (7+3) = 10]
>>193223Multiple potions of Cure Moderate Wounds
Mala, Blackheel, and the Green unicorn are available.
>>193224No response, but he starts to stare at Cavaliere