Is it a drider like in mission #2? :P

In addition to the previous post:

If it's a drider (boss?), Count will use Cat o' Nine Tails' power to entangle it and try make it fall to the ground, making easier for him and others to hit and kill it. He won't try to mount it.

If it's vampirates riding spiders, Count will prioritize fencing rider and trying to throw him off while avoiding getting bitten or rammed by a spider. He would fight vampirate in a regular manner, attempting to decapitate when the opportunity presents itself. If after combat any mount is left in a good shape, Count would try to subdue it and use as his own mount.

Upon hearing of the running sounds coming from the east, Gilius shivers a bit and says quietly "Spiders comin' ! Get ready !" while his off-hand gets into his clothes to grasp hold of his feather charm for protection.

Gilius swallows his Resist Cold Potion and prepares a Fire Weapon Oil on his Cudgel and lights it.

When the creature(s) come from the east, Gilius will try to notice if they have a controlling device similar to the band on the spider in the tower's basement, paying attention to also check the ceiling and not get surprised by their spiderclimb. If there is such a device, he will try once again to communicate with the animal to convince it to let us help it to free it from the vampirates. But in the more likely case that there is no such device and that it does not respond, Gilius will simply fight it (them) with his flamed cudgel.

He will run and fight toward any incoming enemy if he has room for it, taking advantage of his readings of The Mighty Monkeys Cricket Manual ™ to inspire him and try to strike a powerful hit that good ol' Mighty would be proud of.
Whenever he is not in immediate danger, he will get close to his weapon to try to warm himself up with the heat.

Captain Baldbeard will pass the immobilised vampirate against the wall, and it if looks like it could return to active form in any way, he will gesture to someone to crossbow bolt it or something to permanently get rid of it, since he doesn't want to deal with any potential ash issues, even with all his clothing.

- Since the vault is in the direction of the plaza, he will follow the trail of wreckage wrought by Icy, still wary of any potential unsprung traps.
- If he sees any lone vampirates, he will engage them with his cudgel, holy water and stake, as the situation demands, and if he sees a group or feels he might be outmatched, he will call his shark pack, and get in range and use his howl if possible.
- If the odds seem too stark or there is a one in a million chance for some suitable attack, he will use his fate coin.
- If he senses the familiar draw of the vampirate on his soul, and any pretence of stealth is lost, he will attach his bell in such a way that it will ring constantly with his natural movement, without impeding it.
- All the while, he will be careful to stay out of the way of any collateral damage from insane-seeming attacks his team might launch.

Bellandra marveled at the elemental's success. "Good work Icy", she whispered and nodded at Ggog'tial approvingly. "Be ye wary of those frozen two vampirates", Bellandra commented, "they be frozen now but they may yet turn to necrotic ash." She pondered, "are vampirates vulnerable to the ash of their kin? Mayhap we could use these two ourselves as a necrotic trap against them, set off by a flame arrow or suchlike. Or if not against the vampirates, then against any non-vampirate creature."

For tactics, she commented "Neither fork be safe now. Easiest might be to hide at the tunnel entrance a moment longer, until the skittering thing and vampirates both pass by. But the danger be, if their forces defeat Icy then we face them all combined."

"If we go to the left fork, we be in for a fight, and may draw the beach vampirates to us from thee sound. But I be ready if need be. But if it be too much for us, let us retreat to the right fork, or to the tunnel. We could try to set off a frozen vampirate's ash along the way, if it be likely to work against whatever foe we face."

If others decided to go to the left fork she would move there too. She was ready to fight whatever emerged from the direction of the skittering sounds, using her hand crossbow and cutlass. If there are multiple creatures she would shoot at least one with the crossbow (using a blessed bolt if the creature seemed undead, a hardened bolt otherwise), and then continue with her cutlass if the creatures had closed in.

Kyp seeing the havoc caused by IcyFace decides to pull out his trident and attack any nearby vamp and follows grog'tial's plans.

Kyp shouts to Grog'tial asking
"How long will IcyFace follow your commands? And is it worth it for me to try to use my ice rapier to attack the elemental with the hopes of making it stronger?"

OOC: Familiars can scout, fetch, carry messages, distract and if high enough level be able to acquire some skills and magics worked through them. They can't attack but can be "killed." Devin's had the cat a long time so it's well leveled and trained. He wouldn't risk sending it into what will soon be a battle zone in a constricted area where explosive cupcakes, bolts, fiery clubs and tentacle whips might soon be flying.

Nay, please no talk of mutiny, sweet Argy! My most humble apologies, Fair One and Mateys, if this misunderstanding be due to my not being able to post from my phone. Beyond being locked and trapped, there was a magical alarm ward set enough distance behind the door which Devin failed his check to be able to disable in time. Devin used the chessboard to check things he suspected tactical wise once Grog'tial suggested his idea. Once I got those answers I told the GM Devin's reasons to back Grog'tial's idea as the best tactically for Crew and those were passed to Captain Aylar. I understood that this is Captain Aylar's duty given him by the GM as the most experienced tactical player, when Crew has several suggested plans and cannot fully agree then he is to be given all the suggestions and current tactical information and decide a unified plan of action to best benefit and protect Crew just as a crew's true captain would.
_

Devin will hold the cat back until the battle in the east passage be over, then send it cautiously through to scout, keeping to shadows. [Do I assume since vampirates see in darkness that those passages are not well lit, but there is light coming through the cave entrance to the outside?]

"It be doubtful any but ice spiders could survive here, likely it be vampirates spiderclimbing," Devin whispers softly to the others, checking his moonstone. He cocks his head to listen then quietly cautions Grog'tial and Captain Baldbeard if they be heading south to the open ledge. "Take care, Grog'tial and Captain Baldbeard that the mage not see ye for it be sounding like he be out there. Vampirate mages usually stay close to their ship," he informs Captain Aylar, gesturing to the eastern passage which leads to where the map said the ship should be. [Successful Lore Check per GM]

"The ash affects living flesh. As they already be undead I not be thinking the ash affects vampirates," Devin says quietly to Bellandra. He would nod that they could back into the tunnel, but it appears others are already moving in both directions and he agrees they do not know how long Icy will keep those enemies occupied.

Though Devin wishes to go after the mage as priority, as most Crew be preparing for what comes from the east, he be not wanting Grog'tial and Captain Baldbeard to possibly face the mage alone or be overwhelmed from the beach or west turning tunnel. Should just the two of them or possibly Kyp also go that direction then Devin will accompany them prepared to summon Moonbow should the mage or captain be in range on the beach or ship. He removes his sash to wrap his face against exploding ash and will be ready to pull the others back into the passage if needed. He will keep aware of his moonstone, feather and inner senses. Priorities be kill mage quickly if possible, Captain next, defend Crew, and stay out of the line of crossbow shots while maintaining room to dodge and move. Moonbow reserved against mage, Captain, major shadow or dire circumstance.

[Devin holds the cat back until safe to send it scouting, makes observations, answers Bellandra and goes with Grog'tial and Baldbeard and Kyp if they split off on their own. Priorities listed.]

Welcome back! No worries. It's likely my fault as I was busy at the time and didn't do a post for you explaining our conversation and what you wheedled out of me ... um, discovered. :P

You are correct, that is the extra duty Captain Aylar agreed to take on per my request. As GM I could not have GM's character do more than suggest or hint as I know too much behind the scenes. Crew was getting stuck in multiple conflicting suggestions and no organized plan at times, so after several missions I selected an experienced tactically minded player who showed sound decision making and repeatedly did his best to protect Crew to be the final vote on those occasions. He does not take that responsibility lightly.

Correct. The passages are unlit or very dark. There will be mage lights on the ship and any larger caves for convenience and dimming daylight from the outside as night comes early there. It is a dark of the moon night.

Grog'tial's intent is to take care of the vampirates coming over the bridge and beach, so we won't be attacked in the back by them (I thought about letting them head to the plaza undisturbed, but it didn't look like we'd all be in the eastern tunnel in time, so rather than have them spot us once up on the ledge, I'd rather use the beach as a killing field). Assuming Icy is still holding its own after that, I'm all in favor of first moving east to the mage, and mopping up after Icy afterward.

However, with Baldbeard's stated action, that's going to be iffy. I might have to follow him for support, too. I hope he'll reconsider, though I guess rushing for his treasure is very in-character.

The mage on the ship complicates things, particularly if me or Baldbeard are spotted. :/ (I suspect he won't be interrupting that incantation to attack immediately, and hope it'll take a bit still to complete.) Do we have any idea what he's capable of? I probably won't have to fear fireballs, but other ranged attacks from the ship? Hmm... I wonder if I'm a good enough shot to take out vampirates on the ship from the ledge... *moseys over to the GM to see if he can find out* :P => oh good, I am. Or at least, my crossbow has the range.

*also speculatively eyes that moonbow, which he's seen in action (for the others: offscreen, back-story to my return), speculating that the mage could just be taken out with a single well-placed shot from that thing from the ledge...*

Grog'tial winces at the way Kyp's loud voice echoes through the cave, and hopes the echoes will be distorted enough to just sound like part of Icy's chaos. If he's not yet at the ledge, he grumbly and pointedly ;) stage-whispers back that it'll last for 5 turns, but Icy itself probably won't last that long. If we follow him, then some healing might be welcome depending on the tactical situation we find (good thought!), but for now he's still hoping that we won't head to the plaza quite yet, and just let Icy fend for itself.

Only one is frozen (immobilized) - the other is beheaded, so fully dead. The frozen one won't be a danger for a bit yet, except for a slight lifedrain, but yes, does need to be beheaded / heart-stabbed with a chance of ashing at that point. Not a priority right now, at least not for me.

A quick post of likely intent to add to the events before I get too dragged down by work (I will be back to add to it closer to the turn's end though, no worries);

Aylar would want to charge up Crew's charms before the group splits up in directions, and then join the group moving in the direction of the -mage-. He is too much of a boon for the vampirates to have, and he might manage to take control of Icy early and lose us the advantage of the ribbon, so if we were to break his concentration on the incantation or kill him in one-two turns, that would be really beneficial.

I might be able to do something about sneaking up on the mage or forcing him in the line of ranged shots, but I'll have to consult GM on specifics of such, as this isn't something Aylar ever tried yet. Plus there is likely a sizable risk to it.

Seeing that some crewmates are already rushing to the left tunnel, Argy will forget about the cupcake and ready her pan in case an enemy reaches her from there. She will apply the fire oil to it if she has to fight supernatural entities like vampirates, ghosts, wraiths or whatever. For more mundane foes, her pan should be enough.
She will anyway try to focus on sending the bat to scout and inform the group ahead about the enemy positions at the beach.

[Now I'm confused about the plan.. are we rushing west or maintaining the position? Why rushing would be better?]

Well, not rushing exactly, but some people stated that were going to fight the creature(s) coming from the tunnel...
Basically we are holding position or advancing slowly towards the beach or the other corridor, I think :)

The way I read stated actions. Obviously with a lot of uncertainty depending on initiative, how the GM interprets things, etc:

Staying in place: Argy?, Kyp?

Engaging the source of the skittering sound east (=left, since we're at the top) tunnel (from the sound of it, it'll be at the group before the group can move much, since it's "just around the bend"): Karnstein, BenKii, Durik?, Gilius, Bellandra, Aylar, Argy?

Moving southwest (=right) to the ledge overlooking the beach (a bit to the right of the dead/frozen vampires), engaging the vampirates coming over the beach: Grog'tial, Devin?

Moving beyond that to the plaza (7): Baldbeard, Devin?, Kyp?


The mage is probably on the ship (12), so the east tunnel leads to the mage. However, from the ship, the mage probably has a good view of the ledge and the start of the tunnel leading to 7 - and vice versa?

The captain's initial location is unknown, but could be 16/17?

Correct. GM's read of current moves:
Moving/prepping to face what is coming from the eastern passage: BenKii, Count, Gilius with intent of Bellandra, Durik and Argy (after she sends the bat south to scout over the beach) ready to back them up. Aylar is pending but intent is going east to the ship (probable location of mage) as well.
Moving southwest: Grog'tial (to ledge edge to shoot whatever comes across the bridge/beach and possibly on ship deck); Baldbeard (toward 7 and treasure); Devin stating he goes to protect so they don't get overwhelmed. Kyp indicating he is following Grog'tial's plans.
Depends on where on the ship the mage could be ... deck, belowdeck, cabin, crow's nest?

Not telling, you haven't seen/heard the captain yet. :P