With every passing second inside the prison, Count Karnstein felt more and more perplexed. After disposing of a guard, he took a few steps down the stairs to see what's there, but then rapidly turned around and rushed upstairs, pushing aside anyone who could block the way. When he arrived at the top, he was running fully amuck.

If he came in time and saw Grog'tial aiming at the female vampire, he will attempt to make him botch the shot by safely pushing crossbow downward to the floor. Similarly, he will try to hamper any other assault on her by standing in-between her and the attacker. Some of the lines he may use during the scene, depending on the course of action:

"Stop with the violence, idiots, we're on the same side!"
"Don't be mad, mistress, I know everything. We can help you, free you."
"Say no word, I know these swine-dogs coerced you into this and they shall pay. They approached me as well, must have had greater leverage with you though."
"I refuse to believe you could voluntarily ally with such buffoons."
"I became un-undead, but I shall gladly spend the rest of eternity at your side if you'd only trust me and let me help you."
"The moon is a mysterious mistress, who walks the night with demons of dread."
"Tell... Aeshma... I... got... a... brain... damaged."
"I was saving you, fools, ye didn't stand a chance!"

If female vampire is destroyed in any case, Count will drop to his knees and wail. Loudly (sample sound).

(Ok, I'm going to try and post some actions today because Hurricane Milton is gonna be hitting Florida by tonight and we might lose power. So let me know if my actions seem like a good idea. Otherwise, I'll try to edit them sometime before tonight.)

Captain's Log Mission 5 - Turn 2
It didn't work!

Captain BenKii thought his plan to be brilliant. The guards would be so gullible they would for sure think to question him. And then the guard at the door said, "Captain, there's someone out here saying you've mixed up our orders and we're not supposed to be here!" Uh oh.

BenKii quickly found himself in deep trouble. Crossbow man at the window, Orc coming around the corner, and the Guard Captain pointing a musket at his face. BenKii spoke in a worried voice, "Oh. You're the...*gulp* Guard Captain? Ha, well, this is awkward. You see there's this other Captain, his name's Tom. And he's kinda dyslexic so he probably mixed up the orders and told me wrong. Sorry to bother you folks, I'll be leaving now." But before anyone could say or do anything, all the guards went down one by one. 1 guard went down from a sleep dart, another from a crossbow bolt to the chest, Durik knocked out the orc guard, and his little cannon "Dakka" swallowed up the crossbow man through the window.

All guards down. The house was secure. "Excellent work everyone." said BenKii with another tug on his shirt, "My plan worked perfectly. I distracted those guards long enough for everyone to get perfect knock out blows. I wasn't worried at all." Actually he was terrified but he didn't let anyone know. BenKii thought perhaps someone may come by the house so it may be a good idea to loot the bodies and their uniforms as a disguise. It appeared Gilius was already ahead of him as he saw the Druid Dwarf drag the bodies over to the bushes. However, the guard captain may have been knocked out but he was bleeding and may not make it. BenKii looted the guard captain, took his uniform, removed the bolt from his chest, and then applied bandages to stop the bleeding. Hopefully, he won't die. He then bound and gagged him with vines from the bushes. BenKii then put on the Guard Captain's uniform and assumed a position by the front door.

"I think it best if Bellandra and Gilius go inside and deal with the carver. Me and Durik will stay outside and make everything look like nothing is wrong."

(I'm not sure if Bellandra should stay out front or me. If I go inside, I can use the tricorder to find magical traps. But who would be best to talk to the carver? I don't know. Let me me know guys and I'll edit my actions appropriately.)

BenKii loots the guard captain for everything he has including his uniform. He applies a bandage to stop the bleeding then puts on the guard captain uniform. He also tied up and gagged the guard captain from vines from the bushes. He then assumes a position by the front door acting like the guard who was standing there earlier.

*considers adding a bazillion new conditionals to his post*
*eyes glowing resist evil charm*
*throws up his hands and leaves it all up to the dice*

Actually, one conditional:
If loud wailing commences, Grog'tial swiftly tosses several blankets over the source, hoping to salvage the stealth aspect of the mission.

:P

Did you secretly annoy a Shadowy Figure, too? Be sure to look for pink ribbons among the detritus afterward - I hear they have great magical power!

(Best of luck to you, though! Stay safe! And the same to Kyp and Devin, if relevant for their respective locations!)

After having dragged and hidden the bodies in the bushes, Gilius quickly tries to retrieve the 2 darts he fired (in case they are not broken) and searches them for anything useful (keys, documents, money, etc.), then checks again eastward.

Seeing the bats closing in, he rushes to the others pointing at the bats : "This be what I feared when we landed, we've been spotted. We've got company ! Ready yerselves !" He begins to get a nervous grip on his feather charm in his pocket.

Gilius will try to hide behind nearby bushes, hoping to evade the bats' surveillance. When the fight breaks out and if he's not spotted, Gilius will try to sneak behind an enemy and try to whack it with his cudgel. Otherwise, he'll get out of the bushes and fight alongside his friends with his cudgel.

-----

BenKii and Devin : Good luck with the hurricane. I hope it goes well for you. Keep us informed.

Ah, well I hate to break the news, but this Aeshma may already be starting to suspect. :P She is wondering what has all the captains on the Ship all going a bit 'mental' (off in the head)? Except for Cap'n Rummyfangs, he's just spectral. Maybe she should check the grog? She had hoped Captain Aylar was over his obsession, but now there's that dartboard. *sigh*

This one looks like another bad one. :( Please stay safe and best of luck, BenKii and Kyp!
To those wondering, Devin should be fine. Last time he was stuck at an airport trying to get back home when Helene shut things down.

Prison Team: Mid-Turn
After Devin knocks out and drugs the guard, Argy goes around and bashes one sleeping/drugged guard after another with her pan to guarantee a good sleep for them all. She checks their surroundings for vampirates and reinforcements and sees Grog'tial sneaking upstairs to help Captain Aylar. (roll dice) Argy notices Grog'tial's resist evil charm has begun to glow a warning.

(roll dice) Captain Baldbeard, as you tinkle Aeshma's bell the seductive allure in the back of your mind begins to retreat and you dismiss the vague memory of having noticed a bat overhead in favor of remembering Natali's caress of your bald head. You tuck a bottle of wine in your belt and follow Grog'tial up the stairs. As you take the bell in your hand to give it a final tinkle of reassurance you notice the bell has started to glow. You arrive at the barracks door to see two very pale dark clad humans, one male and one very sultry female, radiating dark malevolent yet seductive power and baring their fangs.

(roll dice) Count Karnstein, you get a few steps down the stairs, just enough to see things stored along one side of the room when the seductive caress in your mind increases and your senses flair to life. Just then you hear Grog'tial's rather loud stage whisper.

"Karnstein, friends of yours up here!"

You rapidly turn around and rush upstairs, pushing Captain Baldbeard aside at the barracks door. At this point you are running fully amuck.
-----

Carver Team: Mid-turn
(roll dice) Durik, you tiptoe (quite agilely for a half-orc) up to look in the window while staying a bit back to avoid surprises. Through a bedroom doorway you catch sight of a frail old man as he tries crawl and hide under the bed

(roll dice) Captain BenKii, you take the guard captain's uniform and his purse. You also find a document in his pocket, along with a nice silver pocket watch. You use a bandage then bind and gag him with vines. You put on the uniform, although it doesn't quite fit as the guard captain is almost half a foot (15cm) taller then you, but it will have to do. "I think it best if Bellandra and Gilius go inside and deal with the carver. Me and Durik will stay outside and make everything look like nothing is wrong," you say.

(roll dice) Gilius, you are able to retrieve the needle-dart in the guard's neck, the other is gone. You grab two purses and a key. (Captain BenKii is looting the guard captain.) When you check eastward, the three bats are drawing nearer and definitely heading your way!

Any fight/rest of your posted actions will be rolled after Turn End.

Aylar will open up with a flask of holy water, aiming to wide splash it in the face of both vampires, if he can; if they stand too far apart, then the closest one to him.

If it works and at least one staggers, leaving themselves vulnerable, he will strike, one of his stakes in one hand, axe in the other to defend. If the stake connects successfully and pierces the heart, he will dodge to avoid any ashing, and with that dodge either slash at another vampire quickly if they are staggered from holy water or have been shot by Grog'tial, or put some distance between the remaining vampire and clear the way for a crossbow bolt and any other Crew if Grog'tial hasn't attacked at that point and/or the remaining vampire is alert and hasn't left any easy openings.

If his initial mark survives both the holy water and defends from the stake, he will strike with his axe, aiming for the neck, if there is an opening for that. If there is none, he will feint and get himself some distance, getting his cutlass into the now free stake hand and prepare to attack and defend.

If the holy water trick didn't work, he will fight the closest vampire to him with his cutlass in one hand and stake in the other, and do his best to trick them into opening up for a staking or leaving their neck open for a strong slash, then dodge, feint and defend as necessary.

If at any point during all this slashing and dodging around Count actually manages to get in-between him and the remaining vampire(s), Aylar will postpone remaining combat actions in favor of grabbing the Count, be it by the collar, or by the shoulder, and pushing as much magic as he deems reasonable to at the moment into his feather charm, that be including his personal necrotic repel magics from the drow charm as well, aiming to clear his head from all that mind-muddling business, and hopefully throw the vampires off balance with the increased repelling magics, and use that opening to drag the Count away from the clear danger and getting into the line of friendly fire.

Durik saw the scared old man and decided to quietly open the window and then try to talk to him.
The orc thought that he must have been a prisoner forced to help the vampires, so he could be convinced to cooperate.

If no one else was in the room, Durik whispered to him:
"Sir, we mean no harm. We want to rescue ye, so vampires won't control the poor shipgirls."
"I'm orc, but other humans here can reassure ye. But me can carry you to boat, if ye can't walk."

If the old man's response was positive, Durik cleared the window from the glasses to let the prisoner climb out.
If it wasn't, he informed the others, so they could maybe hande the situation better.
If something alarming happened, instead, the orc was ready to react accordingly (evading strikes or bonking possible hidden enemies).

(btw, if possible, Durik also checked the fallen guards for some loot or weapon)

Oh don't worry... I am only like 10-20 miles south of where the storm will be hitting... so I most likely am fine...

My house is likely to be cooked tho.

Kyp welcomes his new friend mr shark (Kyp makes sure to respectfully ask for his actual name)


Kyp being at the other chain and seeing a skeleton decides to take care the of the threat first...
Kyp gets his rapier out and hopes that it's enchantments don't freeze the water around it, it they do then use the sword as a club I guess. Kyp also asks the shark if he is willing to bite and crush/grind the skeleton with his teeth after he disorients it with after I attack.

Kyp riding the seahorse charges at the skeleton and attacks it with the rapier.

If the fight is over after this turn Kyp will grab the thing that is glimmering, and if nothing happens that would disturbs Kyp, Kyp will also put the acid on the chain if too many things have not happened this turn.

(Thanks for all the well wishes, worst of it should be coming in a few hours or so.)

BenKii will also take the guard captain's weapon. He reads the document and inspects the silver pocket watch for anything remarkable. Seeing the bats approach, BenKii assumes the position where the human guard had been by the front door hoping the bats will fly on by. If they land and become hostile, BenKii will shoot his potato musket at the closest one. If by chance the 3 are grouped together then BenKii will throw his holy water into the air and shoot the bottle to shower the vampirates with holy goodness while saying "Hallelujah soul suckas!"

Devin sees Grog'tial go upstairs.
- If nobody else has gone to back up Captain Aylar and Grog'tial when Devin can react to the undead presence, then he moves quickly upstairs to assist.
- If Captain Baldbeard is upstairs, but Argy is still below and Count Karnstein is descending, Devin will urge Argy to be on guard and again move upstairs to assist.
- If Count Karnstein has dashed upstairs before Devin, then Devin will stay with Argy to guard against possible reinforcements coming from the lower levels as well as covering their exit.
- If everyone else goes upstairs, Devin will stay below to guard against possible reinforcements coming from the lower levels as well as covering their exit.

If Devin goes upstairs, he will stay out of Grog'tial's line of fire while drawing the silvered dagger and attempt to shadowstep behind:
1- whichever vampire has engaged Crew, or
2- whichever vampire is still active, or
3 - whichever vampire is not being targeted by Grog'tial's crossbow if both are active and not too close together.

If Captain Aylar is actively engaged with a vampire, Devin will assess if his assistance would benefit. If not, he will stay clear to give Captain Aylar room to maneuver and engage the other vampire or move to defend Grog'tial as he shoots.

If Count Karnstein is "running amuck," he will make a judgement call where he is most needed and either:
1 - use the distraction to shadowstep and finish a vampire with the silvered dagger to throat or heart, or
2 - bring rapier and dagger into play to help defend as Captain Aylar is pulling Count Karnstein away.

If Devin does not go upstairs, he will stay alert and check in again with the cat. If he hears someone coming, he will wait in ambush and first try to knock out any normal enemy or set them up for Argy's pan. If the normal enemies are too many, he will use rapier and dagger to defend or distract from Argy, and again try to set them up for her. If the enemy(ies) are undead or similar, he will use rapier and dagger swiftly and silently as possible, striking to kill.

If at any time Devin is fighting vampirates, he will be ready to dodge the ash. Full vampires do not usually have necrotic ash (confirmed with GM).

Argy will still remain in the rearguard, gathering the guards' loot and watching for incoming enemies that may flank or ambush the crew. She will, however, ready her slingshot and have the holy water and one of the cupcakes at hand (in her jacket pockets), so that she can help fighting any incoming vampirates or reinforcements. (Once the party starts, if a crewmember seems to be in risk of being attacked by a vampirate, she'll hurl the holy water at the enemy with her sling. And if a group of enemies comes from any side door or passage, she'll hurl the cupcake at them in a similar way)

Carefully stabilising himself, Captain Baldbeard hides a grimace of annoyance at the number of times is crewmates have gotten him into sticky situations when rushing ahead.

If the two pale "humans" haven't noticed him, or are distracted by the Count, Captain Baldbeard quickly gestures "vampire" with his fingers to his crewmates downstairs, rubs the lamp for good luck (and potential genies), readies a stake in his off hand and cudgel in his dominant hand, and gets into the fray, concentrating on the pale female, while keeping mind not to get into a mess with his crewmates upstairs or any who may be coming up from downstairs, as well as avoiding any potential bites.

If the pales HAVE noticed him and are making moves to attack, he grabs his cudgel and stake, and with the same awareness as before for his crewmates and enemies, engages with them as they come.

It hasn't come to it yet, but if the situation proves dire, he will use his harmonica.

Bellandra took stock of the situation. The guards had been dealt with for the moment, and apparently none had died although the guard captain and the one swallowed by Dakka were not having the best day of their lives. Perhaps it was for the best, she was unsure whether the guards here were fully in league with Beckett's lot and their plans, or simply duped or forced by his authority.

But they had not been quiet - shouts, crossbow bolts, breaking glass, the noise may have been heard afar. Best to move quickly before new foes arrived. For now, there was only a whimper from the house, the carver she presumed.

She listened to BenKii's self-appraisal. "Perfection be judged by the end result, Cap'n, and we be not at the end yet" she whispered, then shrugged, "But we be still in shape." She saw him stabilize and bind the guard captain, and approved the notion - who knows, maybe the carver knew some of these people, or maybe they had information they needed.

She whispers quickly in response:

"I agree, cap'n BenKii, I shall go inside. Methinks I may be among the first of my kind to gain freedom - mayhap the carver will know me, or the other way around, either way, if there be a way to make the carver cooperate I may have the best chance. I will judge his loyalty."

She planned to enter the house keeping to a shadow and with her face hidden by her clothes. She would hail the carver and ask where the carver's loyalty lies. Then, if it seemed the carver was in league with the aboleth, she would show herself and playact as a servant of that foul creature - the carver's creation brought to foul perfection by the aboleth, here to transfer the carver to a new safehouse. But if the carver seemed an unwilling prisoner, Bellandra would reveal herself and explain she was a free being, no thrall nor slave, and would ask the carver's help.

"If the house be safe I can signal ye to come help move the carver and the carvings." But let us be cautious - the carver may have power of magic, or there may still be some elaborate trick set up inside." She saw Durik sneaking towards a window and grinned "But we be ready, and if it comes to it, mayhap Dakka can even eat the carver too for easier storage."

"In the meantime, I see master Gilius glancing about upward - foes about to arrive from the air methinks? Stand ye ready to help BenKii and Durik to stave off whoever comes to interfere. If I need aid I will signal ye, or if something foul be unleashed there, of if a great foe appears, I have me sextant to stop time and a fateful coin to retry what went wrong."

Bellandra then carefully entered the house. She planned to keep her weapons and the fate coin and sextant ready, but would primarily aim to convince whoever is inside by talking. She would also try to use her sense in case she senses any of her kin inside, or in case the sense turned out to work with the carver too. "Be ye there, carver?" She called. "Be ye safe? We be here for ye. Tell me carver, what think ye of yer keepers, what think ye of the work ye do for them?"

[Out of character: Stay safe BenKii! Best of luck to you, hopefully the worst passes soon.]