A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Reese before departing.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Reese before departing.

Giuseppe, a kindly old man, 1 Grayson Guardsmen arrive, following Luca.

Whisper the Snowy Owl have been dismissed.

6 Iron Guardsmen have been dismissed.

Giuseppe, a kindly old man, 1 Grayson Guardsmen leave, following Luca.

Sir Dalan, Longsuffering Valardin Knight, Sir Danan, Studious Valardin Scribe arrive, following Clover.

Lisette of Ashford, Whisper the Snowy Owl, 2 Iron Guardsmen arrive, following Killian.

Giuseppe, a kindly old man, 1 Grayson Guardsmen arrive, following Luca.

6 Iron Guardsmen arrives, following Reese.

A murderdog leaps at Harald!

Reese checked perception + streetwise at difficulty 50, rolling 38 lower.

Luca checked perception + streetwise at difficulty 50, rolling 23 lower.

Ian checked perception + sailing at difficulty 35, rolling 3 higher.

Harald checked perception + sailing at difficulty 35, rolling 15 higher.

Luca GM Roll checked perception(2) + streetwise(4) at difficulty 50, rolling 7 lower.

Valdemar checked perception + sailing at difficulty 35, rolling 15 lower.

Killian checked perception + streetwise at difficulty 50, rolling 26 lower.

Six hours after the tragic events at the Triumph Plaza people have been mobilized. Two groups have been formed and are starting their jobs. Our in the waters a group of Thraxian ships patrolling, and inside the city starting at the Triumph Plaza people looking to physically track the murderers...

Those tracking through the city are having a great deal of difficulty:

It isn't _quite_ that the "prodigals" disappeared without a trace but it might as well have been. What they do find, however, is that they most definitely fled out the Grayson Ward through the main gates. The guards there were overwhelmed by a group of dogs, and three men in dark robes and armor. They could not bar them from leaving.

A merchant who has a shop nearby says that she is certain that she saw them head east through the streets as she watched from the window of her shop. Trying to hide for fear of her life.

Meanwhile, out on the seas... The Thraxian ships find that that there are four ships either out on the waters or ashore on the beach someways away from the docks. One is flying colors of the Saffron Chain, another has gray sails, a third is flying Grayson colors, and a fourth has plain white sails up.

Searching all four would take a great deal of time...

Reese is is adorned in her steel armor and toting along her weapons. She heads out to the plaza, trying to track the killers. The Princess seems frustrated with their escape. "Okay, we hurry east then." She says, heading in that direction. She is likely following the lead the woman gave them, because it is the best they have.

Know what sucks? Getting woken up from a wonderfully sound nap. Know what sucks worse? Getting woken up by a frantic wife and told friends have just been killed and their killers were getting away! Luca was out as soon as he could throw on some armor on the move and grab his varied blades without stabbing himself, still half-asleep as he left the Grayson Mansion. Thankfully, Giuseppe, his ever-calm shadow and manservant, was much more organized and helped his prince with information and planning. They set out immediately into the city to try and chase down word of the killers before they could break free or at least give them a direction to start with the more physical tracking if such could be found.

Even coordinating between them and the Iron Guard and others of their friends, a constant stream of messengers keeping people informed, Luca and Giuseppe failed to find what was being sought. Hours later now, frustration is starting to set in, along with realization they're probably too late. Here's hoping others will have better luck. "Maybe another pass by the docks will yield something? The fucker's can't be _that_ far yet, even if they managed a ship or slipped one of the external gates. We know they went this way at least." He's offering out to wife and compatriots before starting that way again on horseback

Harald stands to the front of the longship, narrowed stare passing slowly between the quartet of oddly placed vessels as the Grimhall sailors work at oar and sail to bring the vessel nearer. "Begin with the ship already on the water," he orders in a stony rumble. "The Saffron ship, Marin has claimed folk in those lands, before. Keep eyes on the others, and call if they flee."

Killian had been at the Sanctum of Dignity, in prayers to the Sentinel and Gild and Limerance, when the messenger arrived. Thankfully, he is in the habit of praying in a steel habit. Armored and armed, he'd rode quickly back through the city and arrived at Triumph Plaza to meet up with the others. In truth, he wasn't much use in the tracking, he clanked too much and related with the people too little to gather much in the way of information. He seemed..distracted. As he walked behind the others he frowned at Reese's words. "I don't know Princess," he says quietly. "Southeast..southward more. Are there any ways out of the city through the Lyceum Ward? Are we certain that escape is the intent of our enemies?"

Ian, his armor still a little bit stiff from dried blood that the servants didn't have time to completely clean off of it (fortunately, blood doesn't show well against black), moves to board one of the ships sent to watch the ship Harald isn't searching.

Reese looks over to Luca. "Yeah." She says in his direction. "Maybe the docks. They were at the docks before." Reese then looks over toward Killian. "I think they want to hide from us. Escape. I don't know. They might want to get any other daughters." She says toward Killian. "I'm not sure if there is away out of Lyceum without going through the rest of compact. If you got a trail Killian, maybe we should follow that."

Upon hearing his father's orders, Valdemar nods and moves wordlessly to get ready to board the Saffron ship once they are close enough, watching the target closely for any surprises that those aboard it might have in store.

Luca has rolled a critical success!
Luca checked perception + survival at difficulty 35, rolling 69 higher.

Reese checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Harald checked command + intimidation at difficulty 30, rolling 8 higher.

Down to the beach those tracking through the city go. It takes a little bit of time and it's a gamble... What if they have gone to the wrong place?

...well it seems the gamble paid off because as they get down to the south-eastern shore outside of Arx they start finding a trails. A large party moved through this way....

Meanwhile out on the seas, the various boats seem to be going about their business. The one with the white sails and no flag and the Grayson ship alike start getting ready to leave, it seems. The ship with its white sails having people pushing at the ship to push it deeper into the ocean so it can catch the wind and sail... not eventually but _soon_.

While the Grayson ship is much slower, already out on the water there are people rowing in a rowboat out to it now. A few sailors beginning with unhurried procedures of getting the ship sail ready.

While the ship with the gray sails seems almost deserted... No one out on the deck, no signs of life.

The ship with the Saffron colors, however, is also already out on the water. And the captain-- a woman with a Setarcan accent --is not at all pleased at being harangued by a Thraxian warlord. But she's cowed enough to answer his questions.

She _seems_ to be who she says but... She's also now in a great hurry to leave.

Harald, stern and stonefaced, lets the Saffron ship go once the captain can answer which family Duchess Belladonna's husband came from. The reaver's eye turns elsewhere, noting the grey and the Grayson, but fixing first upon the white sailed ship moving in haste. "That one, next," he rumbles. "Full oar, full sail."

About half way to the docks, Luca was siezed by a whim to instead shift to the beach further down, claiming. "Fuck, who knows. Gyre. Water. Let's check in case. If nothing else, there'll be something more to track in sand than cobblestone!" And so Luca led them to the sands, and almost instantly, he was offering up. "A large group came through in hurry." He's spurring mounts along quickly, pausing as he goes with a worried sort of look as he glances to Killian and asks. "You gettin' that thing you get? Does it work for Gyre?" He doesn't go into why he'd ask that, isntead just is loosening one of the four swords he's wearing at hip or back and slips off horse to start stalking forward towards a break in cliffs. A hidden sort of campsite is ahead, but it seems to be empty except for a tarp he's approaching warily with blades out, one an ancient steel cutlass, one of the cobalt weapons, the other his alaericite sabre. He flips the tarp back with tip of a blade and...there's bodies there. He's keeping eyes about, but giving Killian and Reese both a significant sort of glance for how the bodies seem to have been left.

...these found bodies? They look gnawed upon, but also have been stripped of their clothing.

Reese checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 0 higher.

Valdemar stands at the ready, prepared to lead a boarding party the moment Harald indicates that it is necessary. He is also watching the crew of the Saffron ship, at least until his father is satisfied that they are what they appear, and occasionally glancing off toward the longship that remained behind to watch the other vessels, keeping an eye out for any signal indicating that one of the other suspect ships is preparing to flee. Once they begin to sail toward the white-sailed ship, that is where he focuses his attention.

On another ship, Ian, hanging onto a line to keep himself from falling over on the gently rocking deck, eyes the apparently empty ship that wallows on the waves. He scans the deck, looking for any sign of life, but is hesitant to make the unilateral choice to move in closer, especially with at least one other ship to keep an eye on. He notes the departing ship, and Harald's ship pulling after it, while still keeping an eye on the unhurried departure of the Grayson ship.

Reese follows along with Luca, seeming to trust her husband's instinct on this all. "Sure, Luca." She says in her soft somber voice as he leads them to the sands. She then glances down at the tracks, giving him a nod. Reese failed to track anything herself and might have missed even the bunch of tracks without him. She looks over to Killian at Luca's question, wondering herself. She draws her own cobalt blade, following toward the camp site. Iron Guards trail behind her, but at at distance. Upon seeing the bodies, she sucks in a sharp breath and struggles to keep her composure. "Junior soldiers in the Grayson army, recently assigned to one of the ships. Maybe they took one of our ships?" She asks, looking over the bodies to see if they are possibly still alive.

Killian frowns at the bodies, continuing to follow along. He looks to Luca and nods, "Somewhat..but..just..south is all I can tell. I'm sorry." He sighs at the corpses, and then forms up with the other two.

Harald checked command + intimidation at difficulty 40, rolling 20 higher.

Ian checked perception + investigation at difficulty 40, rolling 16 lower.

Luca checked perception + survival at difficulty 45, rolling 1 lower.

Killian checked perception + survival at difficulty 45, rolling 18 lower.

Reese checked perception + survival at difficulty 45, rolling 8 higher.

By the time Harald has finished browbeating the ship with the white sails he determines that they are probably not who is looking for.... Unfortunately, that does mean that in that time the Grayson vessel has gotten out of close range. The sails being dropped down and wind blowing them in a south-easternly direction away from Harald's ship.

But as the ship is starting to head for the horizon; Reese, Luca, and Killian arrive on the beach.

Ian as he watches that abandon ship thinks he sees _something_ when the ship bobs with the currents. Was that a splash of red on the deck? The waves roll and he can't get a good vantage of it...

Meanwhile, the White Ship and the Saffron Ship speed off in other directions as well...

Harald turns his eye to the Grayson vessel next. "So be it, then. Full oar and sail, bring us near enough to hail." Aside, he looks to Valdemar, "We may take a Crown ship, today."

The ship with the gray flags isn't moving, and the Grayson ship is. Splash of red or no, Ian makes the decision to keep the Grayson ship in sight, even if that involves pulling away from and losing track of the apparently deserted (possibly bloody) one. His reasoning is that even if that ship tries to pull out to sea once it's no longer being watched, it will take time for it to get underweigh. Also, he's still suspicious of the Grayson ship, and will be interested to see how she responds once it's clear she's being followed.

Reese arrives on the beach along with Luca, Killian and their guards. She points off in the direction of the abandoned ship. "Okay, lets get this to the water, board it and chase down the Grayson ship." She says.

Grinning at Harald's remark, Valdemar responds after a brief laugh, "It would be nice to find these cowards already. Maybe they think that because it is a Crown ship that they won't be challenged?" Hefting the greataxe in his hands, he then turns his gaze to the Grayson ship.

Harald checked command + sailing at difficulty 40, rolling 31 higher.

At the revelation from his wife of the identity of the men, Luca's calling to Killian. "Send the bird with warning to look to Grayson ships. Let's see if we can find direction to go with this." With that, he's following Reese's direction and grumbling. "Guh. GOing to make me work for it, eh love?" He's rushing ahead with the joke though to do as she directs, putting his strength behind the effort. He's surprisingly capable for such a lithe man actually.

Killian turns and looks out towards the water, shaking his head to Luca. "No point," he says, levelling one hand and pointing directly towards the Grayson vessel. "They are there." He looks towards the beached ship and then looks at Reese like she's lost her mind, lifting a brow. He nods though to his guards and sets them to work helping as he moves to lend what help he can to the task.

One of the sailors, who Ian has watching Harald's flags for orders, comes to him with the orders to pick up the people on the beach. "Ready the launch," he orders, while at the same time eyeing the departing ship and noting its heading. "I want our strongest oarsmen pulling. Let's get the reinforcements and get moving." Since he's going to have time waiting for the people on the beach to get aboard the ship, he'll pull alongside the empty ship while he waits and get a closer look. (Though he won't let anyone board it.) He doesn't want to delay his departure, of course, but there's no sense wasting the time he's going to have to spend waiting around.

The Grimhall longship, with its black hull and heraldic sail, every oar striking the water in time with a rowing cadence, draws within earshot of the Grayson ship swiftly; say what you will of them, but Mourning Islanders know their craft. Valdemar is instructed, "Prepare your bow. They can't outrun us." Stepping toward the prow, the Grim Duke raises his stony voice to call, "Men of Grayson! Draw in your sail, and answer Grimhall!"

Reese looks over to Luca. "Always." She says in his direction at the comment about working for it. She then turns to Killian, giving him a nod. "Well, its the best hope we have!" She says, sounding rather focused. Then Ian is pulling up in his boat. "Oh, with Lord Ian, instead!" She says, switching tactics. She tries to hurt onto this boat, urging the others to follow.

The rowers row out to shore to pick up those on the beach. Meanwhile Ian finally gets a better look at the abandoned ship... it's deck is coated in what appears to be blood, and there's at least one sailor sprawled across the deck, dead. In Grayson colors....

And meanwhile the "Grayson" vessel does not stop. In fact sailors-- not noticeably not all of them are in grayson uniform --run across the deck, and start opening the sails to pick up speed to flee...

Killian boards the launch with Reese and the rest, and whistles shrilly, calling Whisper down to him. A quick bit of scribbling and the owl is aflight with a message, winging back into the city rapidly.

Valdemar gets Hunting bow from Belt.

Valdemar wields Hunting bow.

Luca really was trying to move the beached ship by strength alone, possible or not. But when the call for Ian's came, he was as relieved as any of the men, and quick to rush forward to board with the rest. "Go go go!" He urges on as they're trying to get back to main ship so they can catch up. In meantime, he adds aside to Reese with usual wry lopsided grin. "If I end up jumping across another thirty foot span between boats to fight alone like the last time, I get sex tonight!" Well as long as he's got priorities.

Harald grunts once as the command is ignored. "Good. Take us upwind of them, to give our arrows more weight and give them a volley. Archers. Aim for the sails and the men who work them." A mute gesture to Orre summons his shield, and Harald takes hold of it, narrowed eyes intent on the stalking of their prey.

Ian isn't on the launch sent to get people off the beach, but he IS waiting for them when they get back to the larger ship, studying the bloody deck of the wallowing, abandoned vessel. "I need you to fly three signaling flags," he tells one of the sailors. "The flag to signal Duke Grimhall's ship, the watchword flag from the Kennex operation, flown upsidown, and a flag with the Grayson colors. Do it now." As soon as the people from the beach are aboard, he orders that the ship get underweigh, full oars, full sail. He's not the sailor Harald is, but hopefully it will be enough.

Whisper the Snowy Owl have been dismissed.

Valdemar does as instructed by his father, stowing the cobalt axe he has had in hand and taking out his bow. Nocking an arrow, he takes aim for the sails, and when ready, he calls out to the other archers, "Loose!" At the same time he gives the order, he fires and begins to reach for another arrow.

Reese gets into the long boat and she looks over to Luca. "Only if you live, Luca." She says in his direction in this softly somber voice, but she does give him a smile a moment later. She then looks over to Ian. "I can help you sail, if you want. Duke Harald showed me a few things." She also starts to trying to remove some steel items, cause steel on a boat!

Harald's ship slides past the "Grayson" one, and the archers let loose their arrows. The sails are torn easily a part and the ship looses sped _quickly_. Allowing Harald to get in range that the ship can be boarded...

The sailors are on the deck readying for an attack... Archers coming up from below...

"I've got this," Ian tells Reese. He stumbles a little bit when the deck pitches in a swell and grabs a railing to keep on his feet. He's not actually sailing the ship himself -- there are sailors and oarsmen here, under his command. "Get yourself and your people ready. Do you have any archers under your command?"

Reese looks over to Ian, giving him a nod. "Alright. Not many archers. I know a tiny bit of archery. I think Killian might have a bow." She says in his direction. She looks over her guards and those on the boat. "Okay, lets get ready to give them hell!" She says starting to pull a few pieces of leather armor from her bag. "You got a bow Lord Killian?" Reese asks.

Reese gets pink leather boots from a backpack adorned with delicate roses.

Killian gets on deck on the ship and calls out, "Lord Ian, have you any leather armor spare aboard I can borrow?" even as he is starting to pop buckles and clasps on his armor, quickly stripping pieces. He'll keep his breastplate and helm, as easiest things to get off while sinking to the bottom. At the question about bows he gives a slight sigh, "Just because I'm an Ashford doesn't mean I can shoot," he points out with a laugh, "I'm terrible with archery."

Luca checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 50 higher.

Reese checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 34 higher.

Valdemar checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 40, rolling 16 lower.

Killian checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 26 higher.

Reese gets a white and rose hued leather jerkin from a backpack adorned with delicate roses.

Reese gets rose hued leather arm guards from a backpack adorned with delicate roses.

Reese gets rose hued leather leggings from a backpack adorned with delicate roses.

Harald has rolled a critical success!
Harald checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 40, rolling 14 higher.

Ian checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Harald grunts once. "Fair shooting," he commends Valdemar plainly. "They sit like a wounded whale. Bring us around again, and sound the warhorn to call the others to battle."

"Anyone with a bow needs to be ready to fire," Ian tells Reese. He's unhurried about the way that he speaks, his voice level and calm -- even soft. "Have your men choose what targets they can, but if it's possible to hit a dog, they should be the priority. They were by far the most dangerous opponents I saw." He watches Harald's ship once they get close, to try and get an idea of what Harald is doing, and what he's going to be expected to do to back the Grim Duke up. If there's leather armor on the ship, someone will take Killian to it, but I'm not sure if there is.

Reese wields Ribbon's Flight, a high quality bow.

Reese looks over to Ian, nodding in response to his words. The Princess is now in lots of pink leather. So much pink! She draws her bow and gets ready to shoot. "Alright, Lord Ian." The guards don't seem to have bows.

As Harald's ship holds a steady distance from the enemy vessel, archers rush up and take their places. They're in a desperate situation, but they seem not to care. Or perhaps they're just desperate to take as many with them as they can. Arrows find their marks, eight of the sailors on Harald's ship falling to the deck with arrows in their throats, or eyes, or stomachs, bleeding out their last. A few desultory arrows arc toward Ian's ship, but those are easily avoided, mostly falling into the water between them.

Killian manages to find a sailor who looks like he'd rather stay at the oars than board an enemy vessel, and is about the right size, and does a bit of fast horse trading. Half in leather and half in plate, the Paladin moves to await the joining of the vessels, drawing the blade that was pressed into his hands as the pursuit began. "Are you sure about this thing?" he asks of those nearby, eyeing the cutlass.

Nodding at the compliment, Valdemar takes up the warhorn and blows a long, clear blast on it to urge the other ship to join in their assault. He then picks up the ancient greataxe once more in preparation to charge onto the enemy ship, briefly side-eyeing the men who are taken down by the arrows of their prey. When his attention returns to their targets, there is fury building in his gaze.

Luca's just staying well out of the way of sailors and keeping ready for when the ships near enough for him to make a jump. He's got the old cobalt cutlass in hand and when arrows fall, he's not even wasting energy to swat at the one coming down to him. He just kind of sways aside, the arrowhead missing him by millimeters as he keeps eyes out on the ship ahead. At Killian's question, he glances down to the ancient cutlass and snorts. "_Now_ you ask this? Well, this is why I brought a half-dozen blades, eh? Just in case."

"Now I understand the Grayson statue," Ian mutters to himself under his breath.

Harald raises his shield against the arrow storm. "They shoot well against the wind," he rumbles idly, raising his spear toward the enemy ship, "Take them. A thousand silvers to the man who brings me their banner," the old reaver states to rouse the crew. As the oars drive them back toward the foe, the warriors prepare to board, striking weapon hafts and sword pommels against shield rims, with the rhythmic chant of, "Grim! Grim! Grim!"

As the chant rolls over to the water towards Ian's ship, he draws his own sword and raps the pommel against the mast, beating out an identical rhythm. The other sailors follow suit and begin to take up the chant, swords against shields, feet stomping on the deck.

Luca checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 14 higher.

Reese checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 22 higher.

Killian checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 31 higher.

Valdemar checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 2 higher.

Ian checked command + sailing at difficulty 40, rolling 6 higher.

Harald checked command + sailing at difficulty 40, rolling 22 higher.

Killian looks around as the chanting begins and smirks, looking vaguely amused. "How strange the world has become.. A Grayson Princess and Prince, along with an Ashford vassal, upon a Thrax vessel that is about to attack and board a Grayson vessel.." His voice is wry, but as the vessels near and the arrows fly he begins to pray, "Silent Watcher, strengthen our arms with righteousness, and let us be swift to bring your justice upon those who have done evil upon this day.."

Valdemar stomps his foot on the deck of the ship, since he does not have a shield to beat his weapon against. He takes up the chant as well, his voice loud and deep as he repeats that word, "Grim! Grim! Grim!" As their ship grows closer to the enemy, the anger in his eyes gives way to glee, the younger Grimhall more than ready to get up close and personal with these murderers.

Another barrage of arrows but this time everyone's ready, and no further casualties occur. Whew! Now they've carefully hemmed in what is either a Grayson ship - creating a diplomatic incident - or a ship crewed by agents of Marin, who have already slaughtered one good Compact citizen, and almost killed two more. Plus some guards, on their way out and who knows how many others.

The two Mourning longships dart in upon their quarry with speed and precision, Grappling irons thrown across to commence the battle in earnest. From the Grimhall side, battle cries roar forth from dozens of throats as the Grimhall nobility lead the boarding, with battle hungry warriors close behind.

Reese continues to have her pink bow drawn. She is able to dodge any incoming fire. The Princess looks over to Killian. "Oh, wow, yeah." She says in respond to his words. She gets ready to fire toward the enemy ship when they get close enough.

Ian reads Harald's strategy with a look, and proves that he can shout with the best of them when he starts barking out quick, sharp commands that brings his ship around to finish hemming in the hapless vessel. "Marin has a debt to pay," he rallies, without Harald's enthusiasm, but with a cold certainty that somewhat makes up for it. "Let's take it from his hide." The Kennex Lord leads Grimhall and Grayson's charge. Not gracefully, but we have Luca for graceful.

Valdemar wields Intricately forged ancient steel great axe.

Ian wields Intricately forged ancient steel cutlass.

Reese wields Intricately forged ancient steel cutlass.

"Any other gods out there listening can toss in their favors too. We won't mind." Luca quips irreverantly after Killian's prayer, then he's drawing free alaericite blade in off hand and preparing himself, just waiting for that call to arms indicating the rest are coming. No thirty foot leaps this time apparently. If these things took down Z, then he's not eager to go against them by his lonesome. When the call goes though, he'll be there leading the way, rushing across and roaring out. "FOR Z!!!!"

Reese looks toward Luca and then joins in. "For Zhayla! For Compact! and Gloria!" She says charging after. She does look behind her to make sure the guards follow. Reese has a moment where she looks a bit concerned for the guards, but she pushes that back and continues on board.

Charging forward alongside his father, Valdemar wades into the fray with that ancient axe in both hands, raised high and ready to swing at the first enemy to present himself. "For Grimhall!" he roars at the whomever is in his path.

Killian straightens, similarly drawing his alaricite blade in his off hand, a strange situation for the young Knight. He moves though, without any further commentary, to follow after Reese and Luca in the rush of the assault.

The ships crash together, as ships are wont to do when unfriendly boarding of enemy vessels occur. It's clear almost immediately that this is no true Grayson vessel. Only the most visible crew are in Grayson uniforms and colors, the rest are in an indeterminate set of clothing that is probably familiar to Ian most of all, who saw something similar in the Grayson Ward earlier. There's little time to discuss fashion on the open sea though, as they are met with opposition - and swords. Lots and lots of swords. The crews crash together, the fighting instant and brutal. Those who clutch Cobalt weapons in their hands are strong and calm, clear-headed - but most of the crews of the Thrax vessels don't have their own personal Cobalt weapons, and so they fight with maddened eyes and flailing, panicked mien.

A murderdog leaps at Harald!

A murderdog leaps at Ian!

A murderdog leaps at Reese!

A murderdog leaps at Luca!

A murderdog leaps at Killian!

A murderdog leaps at Valdemar!

A murderdog follows its pack into the fight, snarling!

A cultist leaps at Harald!

A cultist leaps at Killian!

A cultist leaps at Ian!

A cultist leaps at Luca!

A cultist leaps at Valdemar!

A cultist leaps at Reese!

A cultist wades into the fray!

Giuseppe, a kindly old man have been dismissed.

1 Grayson Guardsmen have been dismissed.

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

Killian makes it aboard and growls out "This is just the first wave! There's worse incoming! Put the cultists down quickly, and try to catch the other things when they come at us, don't let them get the open of the deck!"

Reese has her cobalt weapon drawn. She is not far from Luca. She looks over to the guards with their wild eyes, seemingly worried for them. The Princess joins the fight, attacking at the cultist near her or at least trying to. "Murders of Dame Zhayla, surrender in the name of Compact! Throw down your weapon and submit yourself to justice!" She doesn't seem to expect them to surrender, but she offers the chance.

A cultist leaps at Harald!

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

A cultist leaps at Killian!

A cultist leaps at Ian!

A cultist leaps at Luca!

A cultist leaps at Valdemar!

A cultist leaps at Reese!

A cultist wades into the fray!

cultistl takes minor damage.

cultisti takes moderate damage.

cultistv takes serious damage.

cultistk takes minor damage.

cultistl takes serious damage.

guard takes moderate damage.

cultistk takes minor damage.

Ian takes minor damage.

guard takes very serious damage.

cultistl takes minor damage.

cultistk takes minor damage.

cultistr takes minor damage.

cultisth takes minor damage.

As the battle starts to rage, a door opens - the door to the deck below. There's the smell of old death that wafts up, making the sailors from the Thrax ship veer away. They nearly break, they do - but the command group is there - fortunate really, since more cultists come up from below.

Reese charges at the cultish nearest to her, the Grayson princess failing to do any damage to the man. She seems to have taken a protective stance for Luca and her guards seem to be protecting her. The princess is no longer speaking, but is quite focused on the fight.

Ian is uncertain on his feet, but the stark and uncompromising skill with which he fights and the seemingly innate knowledge that he has of the space around him and the location and movement of people and objects within that space make up for this shortcoming. The way that he handles his cutlass, with full understanding of its balance and cut, isn't beautiful, except in the way that stripped down efficiency is beautiful. He comes face to face with a cultist, and the recognition is there in his eyes. "I made you a promise," he tells the man in a level voice as he brings his sword around to strike. "Do you remember?" He doesn't even seem to notice the bruise he takes in return for the much deeper slash that he inflicts.

Harald wades into the fight without further shouts or challenges, his breath now reserved for the melee.

Battle is always chaos, but battle aboardship is always worse, the cramped space, the tangling potential of rigging, the jostling of fellows. It's made worse with men nearly breaking in terror that doesn't affect Luca as he bears forward with that ancient cutlass in lead hand. As his guard steps before him to take a blow, the Lazy Prince gracefully swings past to flank the cultist, striking a vicious arching blow against its back while it's blade's tangled with his man. Honor can be left for duels. In real battle, he'll take all advantage he can, even attacking from behind while a friend is harmed.

Killian checked command + leadership at difficulty 60, rolling 23 lower.

Reese checked command + leadership at difficulty 60, rolling 9 lower.

Luca checked command + leadership at difficulty 60, rolling 53 lower.

Valdemar checked command + leadership at difficulty 60, rolling 31 lower.

Harald checked command + leadership at difficulty 60, rolling 17 lower.

Killian wades into the fight with the two Iron Guardsmen flanking him, one of whom takes a deep cut. "Be careful man, we're all going to have to get through this together!" he urges the guards, moving with the pair into the battle. His words don't seem to be enough though..

guard takes serious damage.

cultistk takes moderate damage.

guard takes serious damage.

cultistr takes serious damage.

cultistl takes serious damage.

guard takes serious damage.

guard takes serious damage.

guard is incapacitated.

guard falls unconscious.

guard has died.

Iron Guardsmen have been dismissed.

guard takes serious damage.

Valdemar's expression is somewhat crazed as he focuses on the enemies in front of him, somewhere between rage and joy as he crashes into the cultists. Swinging that greataxe, he growls any time it clashes with another weapon or sinks into flesh, but has no further words for any of them, either.

Their guards try to keep the pace. But the brutal onslaught around them is horrifying, and the very /stench/ of the charnel house slaughter that wafts up from below is terrifying. But the barking - it's when the barking begins that everyone gets nervous. The guards break first, rushing to easier, kinder battles perhaps, crazed and maddened by the awfulness of it all, and not even Duke Harald's grim visage is enough to keep them in the battle. And still, the fight rages on.

"Sorry Paiter! FIght well!" Luca calls past the cultist he's hacking at to the guardsmen somehow keeping the thing's attention despite the second vicious wound the Champion lays out across the thing's neck. "Die you ugly bastard! And take your puppies to the abyss with you for that matter!"

cultistk takes moderate damage.

cultistl is incapacitated.

guard falls unconscious.

guard has died.

cultisti takes minor damage.

cultistr takes minor damage.

cultisth takes minor damage.

guard takes serious damage.

guard takes serious damage.

guard is incapacitated.

guard falls unconscious.

guard has died.

Grayson Guardsmen have been dismissed.

Reese seems pretty nervous when her guards get so frightened. She tries to rally them back to the fight, but the men are beyond her command. "For Zhayla!" She says to them, but they are moved as a dread takes them over. Reese presses on herself, fighting against the cultist on her and inflicting a minor wound.

Around them, the battle still rages. Their numbers are being offset by the madness that infests the crew as they seek to cross swords with these minions of Marin. The barking from below is more frantic now, frantic - and ominous.

Killian hears the barking, and looks around at the people breaking. "HARALD! Do you have pitch and torches on your ships!? This is madness, burn them to the waterline and let Lagoma's purifying flames take them to the Sentinel's judgment!"

Ian uses a railing to pull himself away from a wild swing from his opponant, but the movement leaves him too unstable on his feet for his blow to land true. He becomes a little more aggressive when he hears the dogs barking below; he knows all too well what that means, and starts to land hits.

Upon seeing the way that Grimhall men are breaking, Valdemar lifts his voice, urging them back to the fight, "For Grimhall! Kill these bastards!" The entire time, he does not stop swinging at the cultist in front of him, his axe battering against the man without landing any serious blows so far.

As the badly injured cultist starts to turn from Luca's fleeing guardsman, the Lazy prince suits his call of death with a double-sweeping slice of either blade, gleaming alaericite and ancient cobalt blade both cutting into the twisted Gyrespawn's neck, sending its head flying away and leaving Luca to turn to flank the one fighting his wife and her fleeing guards. "Dogs are coming. Kill these bastards quickly, love. I didn't enjoy the last mauling and don't want a repeat."

guard is incapacitated.

guard falls unconscious.

guard has died.

Grimhall House Guards have been dismissed.

cultistv takes moderate damage.

guard is incapacitated.

guard falls unconscious.

guard has died.

cultisti takes serious damage.

guard takes serious damage.

A murderdog leaps at Harald!

A murderdog leaps at Ian!

A murderdog leaps at Reese!

A murderdog leaps at Luca!

A murderdog leaps at Killian!

A murderdog leaps at Valdemar!

A murderdog follows its pack into the fight, snarling!

Alas, Luca's warning comes to late, and the sound of the dogs that tore into Zhayla and left her a dead carcass on the Grayson Ward is enough to cause any heart to quake. And yet hopefully, they're prepared for the battle they're about to face, for it seems the dogs are hungry.

Harald turns toward Killian when the mainlander calls to him. "Aye- Thraxian fire," the Grim Duke returns. "It will burn us along with them -" he adds, before his eye is pulled back to the redoubled fight.

Killian calls back to Harald, "Not if we get off this ship, I wasn't suggesting we DANCE in the FIRE! Keep them on board and let them roast!" And then they're being overwhelmed by the dogs as well.

cultistr takes moderate damage.

cultistk takes moderate damage.

Killian checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 28, rolling 4 higher.

Killian remains capable of fighting.

cultistv takes serious damage.

cultisti takes serious damage.

Killian checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 127, rolling 73 lower.

Killian checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 81, rolling 32 lower.

Killian is incapacitated.

Killian falls unconscious.

Killian has died.

cultisth takes moderate damage.

guard is incapacitated.

guard falls unconscious.

guard has died.

Valdemar takes minor damage.

Valdemar checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 22, rolling 19 higher.

Valdemar remains capable of fighting.

guard is incapacitated.

guard falls unconscious.

guard has died.

Luca checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 3 lower.

Harald checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 5 lower.

Reese checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Valdemar checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 3 lower.

Killian checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 10 lower.

Ian checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 15 higher.

Harald sees the onslaught of the hellhounds and snarls. Killian's advice ringing suddenly more true, the Grim Duke roars, "Throw the fire upon them! Arvani, back to your ships, hold them at the rails!" A spear thrust follows.

Killian. Killian, who stood against the Silence, empowered as the Paladin of Ideals. Killian, whose unwillingness to back down in the face of threats to the Compact was what he was known for. Killian, who lived to deliver the Sentinel's justice to all stands strong as the dogs come up from below, his eyes widening with the ferocity of the beasts' attack. He disappears under an onslaught of the animals, going down in a flurry of blows. He is fast - so fast. But not that fast. As he falls, several of the dogs turn on their own, maddened by blood and now killing each other. Some of them are still attacking the sailors, the crew, their own as well as the boarding parties, unable to tell the difference between friend and foe, and no one to bring them to heel.

Valdemar grunts at the refusal of the cultist in front of him to die, and is perhaps too focused on him. The hound that comes up to join its human "ally" remedies that for him, sinking its teeth into him and making a bloody mess of him. It is then that his father's commands reach his ears, and he begins to fall back to the ship that he and Harald came in on, still swinging guardedly at any enemies who try to pursue him.

Hearing Harald's orders, Ian lets himself give ground. He drives back the dog that was attacking him with a smack of the flat of his blade to its nose, and seems ready to turn his attention to it, but when it gets distracted, he instead gives his human opponant a last parting shot.

Reese has her blade drawn. She looks toward Harald at his words, giving him a nod. When Killian goes done a scream escapes from her lips the color drains from her cheeks and she looks to be upset beyond words. She looks over to Luca and Harald, gaging the situation and trying to draw back while grouping up with the others. She still fights, but seems to trying to retreat as well.

Reese makes and attempt to get Killian's body, while trying to defensively defend herself and others near her.

Reese checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 16 higher.

Ian checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 1 higher.

Valdemar checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 0 higher.

Luca checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 35 higher.

Luca checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 34 higher.

Harald checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 20 lower.

murderdogh checked strength + brawl at difficulty 16, rolling 41 higher.

"NO!" Luca roars out when he sees his friend just before he goes down to the beasts, his own blade skittering off cultist armor in horror as he almost lets his hand slip from blade. "GO, RIBBONS! Back to ship! All of you!" The Prince calls even as he's putting himself in line between the beasts and his wife, apparently intent on standing his ground to let the others get back. He's got eyes on Killian as well, perhaps some vain hope of getting his friend, some small chance he might have survived, but seeing the others, especially Reese, safe is the focus.

Reese is trying to grab Killian's body. Her face is streaked with tears. She seems concerned when Luca tries to guard her, but she doesn't even try to stop him.

Harald checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 27, rolling 24 higher.

Harald remains capable of fighting.

Reese grabs Killian's body, her face streaked with tears as Harald calls the retreat. Luca struggles to get her moving, desperate to keep her safe but she's not listening, so Luca stands his ground, battling sailors maddened beyond reason. Ian cuts down the cultist in his way and starts towards the safety of the ships, with Valdemar close behind him, but Harald turns at the worst possible moment. With Killian's body on the move thanks to Reese, the murderdog needs another target and he leaps at Harald, teeth sinking in through his armor, puncturing the metal and tearing through flesh. Another claw and the Grim Duke is savaged, but still he holds on, making his way to the ships as well.

The retreat takes an eternity. Forever, and no time at all. It is an insant, it is a lifetime. The ships pull away, with skeleton crews. Many were lost on the deck of that hell-ship. Others were left behind, unable to stay calm long enough to follow orders and retreat. There are no cheers when fire is lobbed from Harald's ship to the derelict vessel. Not at first. There is a moment when the sailors watch and wonder: will it even burn? Is this cursed ship proof against everything they can do?

And yet it lights. And it burns, even as the sound of snarling dogs is changed to the screams of the burning and the dying. Slowly the ship burns and they stand on ceremony, waiting while the ship sinks into the water. Waiting while Zhayla and now Killian are avenged. Watching as they send a message to the Herald of Marin. Honoring the dead they've left behind. Those fallen at their sides. They have prevailed, but their victory tastes like ashes in their mouths.

Unmolested by injury, by cultists or dogs, even by the death of a friend, Ian is both aware of what happens to Harald and, barely injured himself, in a position to step in. He covers the Grim Duke's retreat before stumbling over the railing back onto friendly territory, himself. Once again, it's not graceful (he narrowly avoids falling on his ass after switching from one deck to the other), but it's enough. He'll be there to assist in the deploying of the Thraxxian fire, in the command of one of the ships back to Arx. He, and possibly he alone, seems totally unmoved by what has happened. That serenity of his takes on an inhuman quality when it persists, unimpeded, in the face of incredible tragedy.

It's hard fought retreat, but in the end they manage, and Luca's slumping exausted as soon as the flames go up and finally it's clear they aren't facing further attack. Only then does he look to the body they dragged back with them, his arms slipping around his wife, holding her in their grief. But so quietly only she (and the gods) could hear, the prince is biting out in bitter voice barely above whisper. "This is what you gods make of your chosen? Where's the justice in this, Sentinel? Where's your fucking justice now?" Tears are streaming from him now though he's keeping himself somehow from sobbing as he holds Reese and glares uselessly to the heavens, seeking answer that will never come.

Reese continues to hold Killian's body and well that makes fighting pretty difficult. Her face is still streaked with tears and cheeks are still pale. Luca is guarding her retreat and it is likely only such that allowed her to escape with him. She seems to be absolute mess. When they make it back onto the ship, she is still a mess, not simply frightened, but overcome by a deep agony. "If we get him to the mercies, to Lady Eirene..." She says, sounding far from reasonable right now. She lays him gently and tries to treat his wounds herself. The fact that he isn't breathing, seems to be something Reese has yet to accept.

Harald glances aside to Valdemar, eyeing the state of his eldest son's injuries, even while teeth are ground against the hellhound's ravages. His narrowed blue eye turns back to the burning ship. "Hold here until none could rise. Kill any that gain the surface." The dead and lost go unremarked, fixation upon their enemies holding him fast.

In no shape to help with the lobbing of fire, Valdemar moves to lean against the edge of the longship nearest Harald, watching the elder Grimhall for a time to make sure he is still breathing. Once the enemy ship begins to burn, he watches it with hateful eyes until it disappears beneath the water. "Gods, there has to be a way to stop those things," he mutters between labored breaths, speaking to no one in particular. There is blood seeping from under his armor as he remains there, using the rail to stay on his feet.

Reese keeps trying to patch up Killian, the Princess pulling out the bandages she normally carries. Maybe she should trying to patch up Harald and Valdemar, but the Grayson princess seems to be beyond logic at the moment. She keeps trying to fix him up, stop the bleeding, do what whatever she can. "Sentinel please, have mercy on him, he always served you so well, please." She sort of prayers and sort of begs.