Done with rope and chain climbing, Minsc ambles to the right. "Ships are always teeming with evil and decay," he muttered. "Let's give it a kick and see what comes out!" His plan was to climb the ladder and fight evil, not necessarily in that order.
@ LadyRhian - How far away are they and how dark is it? How far behind are Alora and/or Imoen. They'd be able to approach and listen, while full plate, packing steel and huge = noisy approach
Minsc pointed toward the shadows on the railing, knowing that thiefly types are better able to move close to them. He wanted to race forward, sword swinging, but was a bit out of sorts in this maritime environment. Besides, he had to be cautious, sometimes, didn't he? Boo certainly thought so.
Alora's plan - which she came up with all by herself - is to wait for everyone else who is planning to climb aboard. Then she is going to sneak up behind the two people on the taffrail and when she is really close she will say "Have you see my cat? I let him out after his tea and now I don't know where he is?"
If they look like they are going to draw their weapons she will run away so that the others can attack them.
I still don't think I can backstab them. Once everyone is aboard who is coming aboard I will walk over moving as silently as possible and staying in the shadows. Then I will lean on the rail a couple of yards away from them and bid them a good evening. When they ask who I am I will tell them I am Roger the Cabin Boy.
Hopefully this will confuse and distract them so the others can sneak up on them. If they go for their cutlasses I will run away (heading away from the party so I am not in the line of fire)
Minsc grows impatient, waiting for the others to climb aboard the ship. Patience and wisdom were always lacking, and always made up for by immensity. Since he wasn't sure what Alora was doing, he strode forward, Sword of Boo +1 in hand, and said, "Stand and deliver. So that my Hamster might have a better look at you."
Imoen headed up behind Minsc and Alora as quietly as possible. Once on deck, she taps Alora on the shoulder and points at Alora's sling. She points at her own bow and signals that she'll work her way around the two men on the left; she points at Alora and then to the right. To Minsc, she puts a finger over her lips in a "Shhh" gesture and then points at the rope where the others are still climbing.
Champing at the bit, Minsc delayed his charge only because Imoen was withdrawing weapons. Evil needed to be met with sword and boot, although arrows were like flying mini-swords, so he was somewhat all right with that approach. As for why the men didn't notice Minsc's words, he must have spoken during a period of laughter.
For his part, Boo peeked out and glared at the men on the rails.
Oh, and before I go trotting off into the dark, I'll rub on some of that face-blacking stuff if it doesn't smell too bad. I'll offer some to Alora, as well.
Minsc did not appreciate this later delay. While he understood why the ladies would want to pretty up for him, this hardly seemed the best time for such nonsense.
Kimble whispers "Hey, I could scout out the ship for you guys if you like. I'm super good at staying unseen and I have ways of getting out of a scrape if they catch me." "If only you could find it in you to stop chattering for more than a minute at a time you would be the perfect scout" replies Xan.
The ladies were definitely looking prettier by the minute, but Minsc had no time for such things. Evil was afoot, and was soon to be under foot. Or, more appropriately, under boot.
"Quietly," Imoen breathes once everyone is aboard and the rogues are "prettied up" for their date night of hiding, shooting, slinging, stabbing, and looting. "We don't know how many are aboard, and we want to take these two without alerting the others and rousing the whole ship. Xan, if you're willing, I think Kimble would make an excellent scout for the lower decks and possibly the rigging. Alora and I can move around to the sides so we can attack from a distance. Minsc, Mazzy, and Branwen, you could go up the middle as quietly as you can." Imoen shakes her head slightly. "We don't want them to be able to scream," she whispers soberly.
I could cast Sleep, but the question is whether I want to do it now or later...is the possible element of surprise worth one-third of my spells for the day?
Kimble: "Sure, I'll go there, Immy! You seem really experienced at this sort of thing so I'll do what you say. With you guiding us we can't fail!"
(At work- my presence will be spotty at best) Imoen and Alora sneak closer to the men. Even though this is a pirate ship, it's prettyship-shape, with no ropes to trip over... unless you count the coil of rope between the two men. Imoen unlooses an arrow while Alora slings a stone. Alora misses wildly and her sling stone sails over the rail without even alerting the other man, while Imoen's man coughs and starts to slump. Imoen's second shot (2 shots per round for the bow) hits the man in the back of the neck, killing him instantly. The two men slump over the taffrail as if sick or sleeping.
To the left, Imoen and Alora see stairs leading up to the forecastle, where the winch that raises the anchor is located. Kimble returns to Xan to report. "Master," he whispers. "Five men on the Poop Deck, flashing a lantern at the shore. One of them is in robes."
Branwen followed the mage up the rope, prying to Tempus that the rope would hold fast. She glanced over at the pair, and nodded, slowly, and trying to quietly to get her hammer out of it's typical location. She glanced around, nodding. "What is up there." She whispered glancing up at the forecastle.
"Robes? Robes? These are not the clothes of heroes," Minsc remarked. He'd felt left out in the last fighting and wanted to lay some hurt onto some evil.
OOC: I think good tactics are sneakthieves go up and ready ranged weapons. Minsc and Mazzy charge while Rogues use ranged to disrupt mage. Or even Sanctuary on Branwen to let her get close and smite when the smiting is good
OOC: That would be a great plan, but Branwen doesn't have Sanctuary. I plan to try to command the mage or who might get a little to close for comforted.
Okay... you ascend the stairs more or less quietly... except for Minsc, whose armor makes a sound like rattling stones in a can when he goes up the stairs. The Poop Deck is 25' by 25', and thanks to the shock of hearing the noise, you can go first. This time, Imoen misses both shots, and Alora hits the magic user in the arm. Xan and Branwen hold back and Minsc charges at the figures. Three of the men draw swords and one of them steps forward to meet Minsc, whose attack misses. The man hits him back stoutly for 8 damage. Moments later, the man in robes gestures and two magic missiles slam into Minsc for another 7 damage. The two other swordsmen step around Minsc and head for Alora and Imoen.
What do you want to do next round? Minsc is at one hit point.
Comments
If they look like they are going to draw their weapons she will run away so that the others can attack them.
Hopefully this will confuse and distract them so the others can sneak up on them. If they go for their cutlasses I will run away (heading away from the party so I am not in the line of fire)
For his part, Boo peeked out and glared at the men on the rails.
"If only you could find it in you to stop chattering for more than a minute at a time you would be the perfect scout" replies Xan.
Kimble: "Sure, I'll go there, Immy! You seem really experienced at this sort of thing so I'll do what you say. With you guiding us we can't fail!"
To the left, Imoen and Alora see stairs leading up to the forecastle, where the winch that raises the anchor is located. Kimble returns to Xan to report. "Master," he whispers. "Five men on the Poop Deck, flashing a lantern at the shore. One of them is in robes."
OOC: I think good tactics are sneakthieves go up and ready ranged weapons. Minsc and Mazzy charge while Rogues use ranged to disrupt mage. Or even Sanctuary on Branwen to let her get close and smite when the smiting is good
What do you want to do next round? Minsc is at one hit point.