We waited until just before night, and then made our preparations. The five of us got armored up, and began making our way down to the docks. Thankfully, it was already past the time when most of the people were home, or wherever they were going to entertain themselves for the evening, so the streets were all but empty, especially once we got into the docks.

It was obvious which ship was the one we were looking for. The sails were very different from all the other caravels and trading ships in the harbor, like it needed to catch air from below the top deck instead of just on top. Sure, it was only a single-masted caravel, but it had two outriggers that could be dropped to support the ship if it needed to land on the ground, and it was the only trader to be sporting a pair of ballistae, fore and aft.

Fartooth hissed softly. “That is a different ship from the one that normally comes. The normal ship is the Silver Puffin. That ship is the Nights Damnation.”

I took a breath, and slowed my place. “Are we at the right dock?”

The kobold shook his head. “Yes, this is the warehouse where they always unload the goods. And the Silver Puffin was supposed to be here already.”

Melinda’s Spot check: 1d20+2= 6

Ebonheart’s Spot check: 1d20+15 = 23

Siora’s Spot check: 1d20+19 = 32

Vestele’s Spot check: 1d20+12 = 30

Fartooth’s Spot check: 1d20+16 = 32

Siora frowned, and pointed to a nearby dock. “Fartooth, is that the ship you were expecting?”

Fartooth squinted his eyes, and nodded. “Yes, that’s the Puffin. I can see the writing on the stern. But I don’t see anyone around over there. Even if the lord was looking to be sneaky, there should be someone around, at least on deck.”

Vestele shook her head. “I think we have a bit of a bait and switch, this time. Look, on the Damnation!”

Turning back to the ship we’d been about to visit by mistake, I saw that, yes, there was movement. A set of double doors opened out from the nearby warehouse, and four thugs dressed in the armor of the city guard stepped out, clubs and shields in hand. On the ship, two large very undead creatures that looked like they had ghosts inside them walked off the ramp and took up a guard position, flanked by a pair of incorporeal undead. And then a woman in black robes stepped into the lamplight at the top of the gangplank, with a black armored warrior standing next to her.

I chuckled. “Yeah, I think that’s where we want to be. What are we dealing with, Vestele?”

Vestele’s Knowledge (Religion) check: 1d20+16 = 24 (Success)

“Hmm. The wraith-like ones are Spectres. Like wraiths. shouldn’t be too dangerous, since they aren’t that strong, but they can sap your abilities, and even kill you if you let them go too long.

“The big guys are Devourers. Bad news, worse than the Spectres. They sap your strength with their claws, but if those souls trapped in their guts are worn away, they can try and rip out your soul to replace it. They consume the soul to power their abilities.”

I nodded. “Right. I think we’ve found a nice ship to take us across the ocean. All we have to do is relieve the current owner of it, and eliminate all witnesses. Let’s do this.”

Of course, we weren’t exactly hidden, walking down the wharf like this, so the people noticed us quickly enough. I wasn’t sure what they were saying, but the way they gripped their weapons was clear enough. They were in a mood to eliminate witnesses, as well. Just perfect.

Initiative

Fartooth

Corpsecrafted Spectres

Siora

Melinda

Elite Guards

Magister Erin Jene

Thedran Death Knight

Maere

Corpsecrafted Devourer

Lord Bertio Jene

Ebonheart

Vestele

Fartooth’s Attack Roll CD2: 1d20+25 = 31 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+10 = 14 (Piercing)

Fartooth’s Attack Roll CD2: 1d20+25 = 36 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+10 = 11 (Piercing)

Fartooth’s Attack Roll CD2: 1d20+20 = 35 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+10 = 15 (Piercing)

Fartooth’s Attack Roll CD2: 1d20+15 = 25 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+10 = 16 (Piercing)

Fartooth didn’t hesitate. Four bolts of light flew from his hands as he fired his psychic arrows at the closer of the two devourers. All four hit, digging deep in the undead creature’s flesh. “You tall people always bring me the most interesting fights.”

CS1’s Attack (Fartooth): 1d20+6 = 23 (Touch) (Miss)

CS2’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+6 = 9 (Touch) (Miss)

The spectres flew forward, their spectral hands reaching out to try and grasp Fartooth and myself. But the little kobold was too slippery for the spectre targeting him. On the other hand, the one attacking me wasn’t even in the same neighborhood of hitting me.

Maere’s Will Save (Mass Hold Person): 1d20+9 = 18 (Fail)

Bertio’s Will Save (Mass Hold Person): 1d20+12 = 17 (Fail)

EG1’s Will Save (Mass Hold Person): 1d20+7 = 8 (Fail)

EG2’s Will Save (Mass Hold Person): 1d20+7 = 10 (Fail)

EG3’s Will Save (Mass Hold Person): 1d20+7 = 22 (Fail)

EG4’s Will Save (Mass Hold Person): 1d20+7 = 16 (Fail)

Siora stepped forward, and said, “I’ll lock down some of the mortals, and Vestele can handle the spectres. Melinda, take care of those devourers!” As she spoke, a spell flared from her hands, and then the men heading out of the warehouse froze in place.

Melinda’s Concentration Check: 1d20+35 = 38 (Success)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (CD2): 1d20+27 = 39 (Touch) (Hit)

Vitriolic Chain Damage: 10d6 = 35 (Acid)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (CD1): 1d20+27 = 45 (Touch) (Hit)

Vitriolic Chain Damage: 17 (Acid)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (Erin): 1d20+27 = 38 (Touch) (Hit)

Vitriolic Chain Damage: 17 (Acid)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (TDK): 1d20+27 = 38 (Touch) (Hit)

Vitriolic Chain Damage: 17 (Acid)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (EG4): 1d20+27 = 31 (Touch) (Hit)

Vitriolic Chain Damage: 17 (Acid)

Keeping my movements tight and not offering any openings as I unleashed my powers was old hat to me by now. The Spectre next to me might as well have not even been there, as I unleashed an acidic green bolt at the wounded devourer. It hit easily, and then chained to the second devourer, the two people up on the deck of the ship, and then back across the dock, smacking one of the frozen guards in the chest.

EG1’s Will Save: 1d20+7 = 20 (Fail)

EG2’s Will Save: 1d20+7 = 9 (Fail)

EG3’s Will Save: 1d20+7 = 12 (Fail)

EG4’s Will Save: 1d20+7 = 26 (Fail)

The guards tried to fight the spell that held them locked in place. Unfortunately, not one of them was capable of shrugging off the spell. Siora’s enchantments had certainly gotten stronger since the last time we fought together.

Melinda’s Fort Save (Wrack): 1d20+26 = 36 (Success)

The woman on the ship snarled at me, and began stomping towards us. “You insolent, dirty-blooded, talentless peasant! How dare you strike me! SUFFER!” As she shrieked that last word, magic flared, and the spell crashed over me, but did nothing. Seeing this, she spat, “Damn you!”

The armored knight decided to take his frustrations with my magic out on me in a more direct way. A black-bladed longsword was in his hand, making it a match for his black plate armor. As he walked towards us, the glamour he was under faded, and revealed a skeletal being underneath. When he spoke, his tone was cold, passionless. “You are all going to die.”

Maere’s Will Save: 1d20+9 = 21 (Fail)

The armored man in the warehouse’s doorway struggled, but wasn’t able to shake off the spell. Too bad, so sad. Siora’s spell wouldn’t do anything to the undead, but keeping half the enemies out of the fight was still good.

Melinda’s Will Save (Confusion): 1d20+31 = 49 (Success)

Ebonheart’s Will Save (Confusion): 1d20+16 = 18 (Success)

Siora’s Will Save (Confusion): 1d20+17 = 23 (Success)

Vestele’s Will Save (Confusion): 1d20+25 = 28 (Success)

Fartooth’s Will Save (Confusion): 1d20+25 = 29 (Success)

The devourers were not content to just wait for us to come to them. They followed the knight, advancing on us. The most wounded of the two unleashed a wave of magic to the accompanying moan of pain from the trapped soul in its chest, but it had no more effect on us than the mage’s spell had on me.

Bertio’s Will Save: 1d20+12 = 13 (Fail)

The other figure in the doorway to the warehouse tried to move, but to no avail. The black hooded cloak he wore suggested a mage of some kind, but he clearly was not used to shrugging off spells. Probably the kind of guy who preferred picking on those weaker than he was, and never taking risks.

Ebonheart’s Attack Roll (CD2): 1d20+29 = 32 (Hit)

Incorporeal Miss Chance: 1d100 = 80 (Hit)

Damage: 1d8+11 = 17 (Piercing)

Vile: 1 Vile Damage

Ebonheart trotted out over the water, his enchanted shoes keeping him in the air as he angled for the attack. With a thrust of his horn, the wounded devourer was struck down, becoming a pile of rotting flesh on the stones of the wharf. “Don’t think you can leave me out of the killing, now!”

Vestele’s Rebuking Check: 1d20+7 = 24 (21 HD max)

Rebuking Damage: 2d6+22 = 26 (Total HD)

Vestele took a breath, and then held out her shield, emblazoned with the thorn-pierced lips of Malcanthet. A wave of black light rolled off of it as she cried, “Get back from your betters, wretches!” As the light rolled over them, the spectre and Devourer in front of her froze in place momentarily, before cowering in awe at her presence.

Fartooth’s Attack Roll CD1: 1d20+25 = 34 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+10 = 15 (Piercing)

Fartooth’s Attack Roll CD1: 1d20+27 = 38 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+10 = 16 (Piercing)

Fartooth’s Attack Roll CD1: 1d20+22 = 24 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+10 = 12 (Piercing)

Fartooth’s Attack Roll CD1: 1d20+17 = 37 (Hit)

Damage: 1d6+10 = 14 (Piercing)

Fartooth unleashed another flurry of attacks. Since his previous target was down, he turned his attention to the other devourer. All four of his psychic arrows struck the foul creature, wounding it greatly. “That caster is the next big threat. We should take care of her next.”

Siora’s CL Check: 1d20+18 = 30 (Success)

Lightning Bolt Damage: 10d6 = 34 (Electric)

CS1’s Will Save (Shadow Evocation): 1d20+7 = 17 (Fail)

CS1’s Ref Save (Lightning Bolt): 1d20+5 = 14 (Fail)

Incorporeal Miss Chance: 1d100 = 68 (Hit)

CD1’s Will Save (Shadow Evocation): 1d20+11 = 21 (Fail)

CD1’s Ref Save (Lightning Bolt): 1d20+4 = 13 (Fail) (Dead)

Erin’s Will Save (Shadow Evocation): 1d20+14 = 30 (Success, 1/5 damage)

Erin’s Ref Save (Lightning Bolt): 1d20+6 = 11 (Fail)

“I’m on it.” Siora grinned, as she checked that her shot was still lined up. Shadows played in her hand, before shadow became lightning, striking out across the wharf. The spectre and the caster were both looking much the worse for wear, but the devourer was a charred corpse, crumbling to ash where it stood.

Lingering Acid Damage (Erin): 2d6 = 9 (Acid)

Lingering Acid Damage (TDK): 2d6 = 9 (Acid)

Lingering Acid Damage (EG4): 2d6 = 6 (Acid)

Melinda’s Concentration Check: 1d20+35 = 49 (Success)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (CS2): 1d20+27 = 45 (Touch) (Hit)

Incorporeal Miss Chance: 1d100 = 94 (Hit)

Vitriolic Chain Damage: 10d6 = 46 (Acid) (Dead)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (CS1): 1d20+29 = 47 (Touch) (Hit)

Incorporeal Miss Chance: 1d100 = 51 (Hit)

Vitriolic Chain Damage: 23 (Acid) (Dead)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (TDK): 1d20+27 = 38 (Touch) (Hit)

Vitriolic Chain Damage: 23 (Acid)

Melinda’s Attack Roll (Erin): 1d20+27 = 31 (Touch) (Hit)

Vitriolic Chain Damage: 23 (Acid) (Dead)

Seeing as how Siora had cleared out one of the big threats, I decided that it was only right that I continued doing what I did best. Acid struck the two spectres, wiping them from existence, chained to the death knight, who was still standing, and then just MELTED the caster’s face! As in, literally melted. I could see her skull and everything.

EG1’s Will Save: 1d20+7 = 15 (Fail)

EG2’s Will Save: 1d20+7 = 8 (Fail)

EG3’s Will Save: 1d20+7 = 19 (Fail)

EG4’s Will Save: 1d20+7 = 25 (Fail)

The guards continued their fruitless struggles, trying to get free. Not that it would do them any good. Siora’s magic was even more effective than my own against those types.

TDK’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+25 = 36 (Miss)

TDK’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+20 = 37 (Miss)

TDK’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+15 = 22 (Miss)

TDK’s Attack (Melinda): 1d20+10 = 12 (Miss)

The death knight stepped forward, and began slashing at me with his blade. This was no wild swinging, now, but cold, passionless attacks, clinical in their precision. Unfortunately for the knight, I was far too slippery, nimbly dodging out of the way of every stroke. The death knight snarled. “Even if you kill us, the Magisters will send their true forces to hunt you down!”

Maere’s Will Save: 1d20+9 = 21 (Fail)

Bertio’s Will Save: 1d20+12 = 32 (Success)

The two men in the warehouse door struggled, but the mage-looking one succeeded where the others failed. Suddenly he was able to move, breaking the surprised pose he had been stuck in. “Damn you all! That was my cousin you just killed! I am the Lord Mayor of Breledo! I’ll see you all hanged for this outrage! Both Thedra and Trulye will be hunting you, I swear it!”

Ebonheart’s Attack Roll (TDK): 1d20+29 = 30 (Miss)

Ebonheart charged forward with his horn, but the poor unicorn was more eager for the slaughter than he was thinking about his footing. He tripped on one of the stones used to tie up ships, and stumbled, missing his mark entirely. But his heart was in the right place, at least.

Bertio’s Fort Save (Heartclutch): 1d20+6 = 12 (Fail)

Heartclutch: 1d3 = 2 Rounds until death

Vestele walked purposefully until she got a better angle on the Lord Mayor. “You know, the problem with this little plan of yours is that it is very reliant on you being alive to tell the tale.” And then she uttered a spell, and a human heart appeared in her outstretched hand, still beating. “All we have to do is eliminate the witnesses.”