You say, "Log on"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "I thought about taking him, but I don't want to get stereotyped in pirate games"

[rpg] Roger says, "Ha"

[rpg] Ghogg says, "hee hee"

Felden says, "yarr."

Roger rolls 1 5-sided die: 2| 2

Roger says, "A voodoo woman is me."

[rpg] SmokyPete asks, "is stacey playing today or tomorrow?"

[rpg] GM says, "today"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "okay, cool"

Felden says (to Roger), "yay"

[rpg] GM says, "good point, she'll probably want to type 'theah' and come to the room"

SmokyPete walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

SmokyPete arrives, looking for booty.

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "that's so much shorter than "walk the plank""

Stacey arrives, looking for booty.

[rpg] SmokyPete exclaims, "and no one ever told me!"

MotherWestWind says, "Get your hands on me, you damn dirty ape."

[rpg] GM says, "it looks like 'plank' and 'thea' work also"

FeldenBlackbone gives his axe a few test swings.

KitLeeds stows a few more knives.

GM says, "awright"

[rpg] MotherWestWind is afk for 5 min -- 'petting the monkey'.

ShanksWilson almost picks his nose with his hook, but remembers how he lost his eye.

KitLeeds says, "hee hee"

SmokyPete says (to Shanks), "Just hope ye don't get the dreaded crotch itch."

SmokyPete says, "I knew a man..., well, he sings real pretty now."

GM says, "ha"

ShanksWilson says, "Arr, for the days when I could play volleyball"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Back. Also, what's with me and simians."

SmokyPete has disconnected.

SmokyPete has connected.

GM says, "right-o"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "grr wireless"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "on regular ethernet now"

GM says, "the system is pretty simple; I'll get it to as it comes up in play"

GM says, "as our game opens, we see two ships alone in the open ocean, a small island chain just visible on the horizon"

GM says, "zooming in we see the puff of cannon smoke and hear the shouts of sailors"

GM says, "zooming in still further, we see the ships have just locked for combat -- ropes and grapples have been thrown across from one to the other, and men are starting to swarm over"

ShanksWilson says, "Yarr!"

GM says, "the five of you, along with a number of your crew, are on the ship being boarded, while charging over is a horde of mangy yellow-toothed sea-dogs, the scum of the seas"

SmokyPete exclaims (at Crew), "Arr! Fight the lubbers off, ye scum!"

FeldenBlackbone grunts and starts chopping heads.

ShanksWilson stalks through the smoke waving his cutlass and looking imposing.

GM says, "ok, so this is an example of the first kind of fight, the whole-party fight"

KitLeeds begins flinging knives and cutting throats.

SmokyPete pulls out a pair of pistols, one in each hand, and begins blasting at the first people coming onto his boat.

GM says, "to step back a sec, the general deal with this system is that anything you declare to have happen, happens, with no rolling or anything"

GM says, "unless someone else in the group wants to veto it"

GM says, "the purpose of rolling is, like in an action movie, to show what kind of effect your actions have on the overall threat"

GM says, "in a fight like this, you determine how many dice you roll by how many things you say, and you determine what number you're trying to roll at or under by your relevant skill"

GM says, "so it seems like Smoky Pete just said two things: " pulls out a pair of pistols, one in each hand / and begins blasting at the first people coming onto his boat.""

GM says, "so he'd roll two dice, trying to get at or under 5, since that's his pistol skill"

SmokyPete asks, "what dice? d6?"

GM says, "this is a slight oversimplification, actually"

GM says, "before you roll you need to divide your dice up into attack and defense"

GM says, "against mobs like this, you need to get at least one success on your defense dice, or you lose a point of karma (and if you run out of karma, you're knocked out)"

GM says, "(you all have 3 karma on your sheet to start)"

GM says, "so Smoky Pete could allocate 2 dice for offense and 0 for defense, or 1/1, or 0/2"

GM says, "the overall object is for you guys to score 10 successes as a group"

GM says, "before they take away all your karma"

GM says, "anyway, so if we were rolling, you can use the 'roll 1 vs 5' dice here"

GM says, "which'll roll 1 die and tell you how many successes you got"

[rpg] GM rolls 1 die, target 5: 5 | 1

SmokyPete says, "whew"

GM says, "so like there's a success -- since this was on offense, you only need 9 successes now"

GM says (to SmokyPete), "ok, so roll again for your defense"

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 1 die, target 5: 6 | 0

SmokyPete asks, "it was vs 5, right?"

GM says, "whoops, ok, so you're down a point of karma"

SmokyPete says, "also, boo"

GM says, "yeah"

GM says, "offense and defense use the same target"

GM says, "oh, yeah, the other thing is, it'll be easier for everyone if you put /s in between the different bits of your description, so we can see how many dice you get"

GM says, "and, just so we don't go overboard, there's a limit of 4 dice per roll in this scene (in later scenes there'll be more)"

SmokyPete gasps as a burly ruffian dodges his bullets and sticks his cutlass into Pete's shoulder.

ShanksWilson backhands a mook with the pommel of his cutlass / then slashes at him as he stumbles / while parrying an attack with his hook.

[rpg] ShanksWilson asks, "yes?"

GM exclaims, "nice!"

GM says, "ok, so you've got Cutlass 4, so divide those 3 dice into two pools and roll them"

ShanksWilson rolls 2 6-sided dice: 4 6| 10

ShanksWilson rolls 1 6-sided die: 5| 5

ShanksWilson asks, "so, one yang, one yin?"

ShanksWilson says, "er, no, I take a hit anyway"

GM says, "no, you just have to hit at or under"

GM gets dice bag.

GM says, "you're using the wrong dice, though -- just 'roll 2 vs 4' in the future"

GM says, "oh, whoops, but you're rolling vs 4, not 5"

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 2 dice, target 4: 2 5 | 1

GM says, "yeah, like that"

ShanksWilson nods and arrrghs.

GM asks (of KitLeeds), "ok, you?"

KitLeeds throws a knife at an approching pirate/ then ducks beneath a sword thrust/ and slashes the throat of her attacker.

KitLeeds asks, "Cosi?"

KitLeeds asks, "that right?"

GM says, "yeah, excellent"

[rpg] SmokyPete asks, "do the attack/defense pools have to match up with the descriptions?"

GM says, "so it looks like you've got a 3 skill with knives, so divide up your dice how you like, and 'roll 2 vs 3' or 'roll 1 vs 3' or whatever"

KitLeeds says, "and then roll 2 vs 3"

[rpg] GM says, "no"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "okay"

[rpg] MotherWestWind asks, "What's the syntax for target rolling again?"

[rpg] GM says, "roll 3 vs 2"

[rpg] MotherWestWind asks, "Defaults to d6, then?"

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 2 dice, target 3: 5 1 | 1

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 1 die, target 3: 5 | 0

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "we are all hurting"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Mama's gonna make everything all right, child."

GM says, "ok, so one success on offense, knocking the bad guys down to 7, and you take a hit, taking you down to 2 karma"

GM asks (of MotherWestWind), "you next?"

MotherWestWind looks about the deck with disapproval. "Lordy lordy, always with the children and the fighting," she says. She opens up her mojo bag, digs around, and pulls out what looks like an egg. An old, moldy, blackened egg. She crushes it in her fist, and the smell is enough to knock over a large horse or a small elephant. Then she shoves the whole thing in her mouth. As she chews, you can hear bones cracking. She swallows, and then opens her mouth, letting loose with a cry like a strangled parrot. A moment later, a swirling black mass descends from the clouds above. Dozens of crows, maybe hundreds, swirl down around her like a twister. They savagely tear out the eyes of any pirate who comes too close to her. "Thanks to you, Papa Krowe," she can barely be heard saying above the cacophany.

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "And that's a bit of overkill, but you get the idea."

GM says, "crikey"

GM says, "that looks like 4 dice to me"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "I'll break them up 2/2, against target 4 for Voodoo Magic"

GM says, "you could probably have split that across a couple actions, even"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "roll 2 vs 4"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Err"

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 2 dice, target 4: 6 4 | 1

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 2 dice, target 4: 5 1 | 1

[Crows-Nest] FeldenBlackbone writes an entire novella to paste for his next action.

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "you're limited to a max of four dice just so you don't feel like you have to"

[rpg] GM says, "good work"

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "It seems like it's easier with this style of game to throttle back a bit if you go overboard rather than trying to get everyone grooved up, if you see what I mean."

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "But yeah that was a bit excessive."

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "But it was COOL! I hope."

[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims, "it was!"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "End of my go, by the by."

[rpg] GM says, "I guess probably useful strategy here is for people to type out their action during the previous player's action, yeah"

FeldenBlackbone grunts and swirls his axe while bodily grabbing one of the smaller pirates with his left hand. He rolls the crew member down the deck like a bowling ball at an approaching mob while cleaving left and right,.

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] GM says, "please stick in /s to make it easier, but that looks like four things to me"

[rpg] GM says, "so roll whatever skill is most relevant there"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "um, two/two, might thews of pirate-lobbing"

[rpg] GM says, "sounds good"

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind asks, "'Thews' is another word for 'thighs', isn't it?"

[7thsea] FeldenBlackbone rolls 2d6 dice: 5 3

[7thsea] FeldenBlackbone rolls 2d6 dice: 8 5

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "er"

[rpg] GM says, "do 'roll 2 vs 5'"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 2 dice, target 5: 4 1 | 2

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 2 dice, target 5: 6 4 | 1

[rpg] GM says, "there we go"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Woo hoo"

SmokyPete has disconnected.

SmokyPete has connected.

SmokyPete walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

SmokyPete arrives, looking for booty.

FeldenBlackbone waves as several pirates go flying out into the drink.

GM says, "ok, so you have industriously knocked the pirates down to 3, I believe"

GM says, "A snarling voice comes from the other ship. "Kill them, you fools! Kill them all, or I'll send you into the ocean myself!""

ShanksWilson says, "(sorry, had a doggy emergency)"

GM says, "The first mate backs up his statements with a blast from his pistol that sends one of his own men flying"

GM asks (of SmokyPete), "your turn again?"

SmokyPete exclaims (at FirstMate), "You! I'll get you!"

SmokyPete throws down his empty pistols / and pulls out a new pair. / He then races towards the enemy ship, / and leaps aboard / while firing at the enemy first mate.

[rpg] GM says, "awesome"

[rpg] GM says, "so roll 4 dice"

[rpg] SmokyPete asks, "same mechanic, or is it different for attacking someone with something vaguely like a name?"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "anyway, three and 1"

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 3 dice, target 5: 6 3 1 | 2

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 1 die, target 5: 6 | 0

[Crows-Nest] FeldenBlackbone says, "doing the / thing makes it read like poetry"

[rpg] GM says, "there is a different mechanic, but we'll skip it with this guy until the next fight"

[Crows-Nest] SmokyPete says, "I shoot well, but I don't dodge well"

GM says, "Also, I should add that a sudden explosion from belowdecks shakes the entire ship (your original ship, that is)"

[Crows-Nest] SmokyPete says, "also, totally"

GM says, ""They've touched off our gunpowder!" one of your sailors cries."

GM says (to ShakesWilson), "you're up"

GM says, "er, Shanks -- Shakes is after the rum runs out"

ShanksWilson says, "Yarr!"

KitLeeds says, "hee"

[Crows-Nest] FeldenBlackbone says, "impaling his enemies three / on a sharpened stick / soft wind over the mountains"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "hee hee"

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "Shaky Pete is our bomb disposal expert."

ShanksWilson grabs onto a rope and slashes it above the knot / then launches himself from the burning ship, swinging across the gap / crashing into a thug with both feet.

ShanksWilson says, "uh, with a cutlass!"

GM says, "ha ha -- you can probably roll Pirate Captain for that instead"

ShanksWilson says, "righto"

GM says, "given that we're on a ship and all"

ShanksWilson says, "which is also a 4"

ShanksWilson says, "so I'll do 2 and 1, here"

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 2 dice, target 4: 2 1 | 2

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 1 die, target 4: 5 | 0

[rpg] GM says, "also, I assume this is obvious, but just to make it explicit, none of the PCs are going to die in this game except possibly at some dramatic moment at the end"

ShanksWilson asks, "well, two hits and one karma damage?"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "yarr, going down with me ship"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "except you're on a different ship now"

[rpg] GM says, "if you run out of karma, you get knocked out or tied up or something until the end of the scene"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone exclaims, "launching myself out of a cannon at the end boss!"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "going down with that ship, then"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "snrk"

GM says, "And with that the heroes turn the tide -- the other pirates start to flee back to their own ship, scrambling frantically across the rope, one falling into the water in the rush"

FeldenBlackbone spits at the one that fell in.

GM says, "but this doesn't quite answer what's going to happen to your ship, which is now listing quite badly"

GM says, "your sailors run around in a panicked fashion"

SmokyPete quickly leaps back to his original ship.

KitLeeds drops through the nearest hatch with a bucket to try to quench the frire

GM says (to Smoky), "even though it's sinking? brave man"

KitLeeds says, "fire"

SmokyPete says (to GM), "I am Fearless"

SmokyPete exclaims (at Crew), "Come out, put that out. We can still save the ship!"

SmokyPete yells at the crew as he drags them back under the hatches to deal with the ergency.

ShanksWilson says, "Save that leaky piece of bilgewater? We have a prize ship here that ain't on fire!"

FeldenBlackbone cuts his left thumb very lightly with his axe and touches the deck.

KitLeeds pokes her head above the hatch."Did someone say prize?"

GM says, "and by 'we' I guess Shanks means 'me', because he's the only guy on the enemy ship, surrounded by grinning pirates"

ShanksWilson says, "Aye! Prize ship! A better ship, too!"

GM says, "although I imagine his own cutlass is out and holding them at bay for the moment"

ShanksWilson points his cutlass at the grinning pirates. "Any of ye who want to join me crew can do so! The rest of ye, into the drink!"

MotherWestWind whistles, and her flock of crows literally pick her up off the deck, and haul her into the air. Charles, the monkey, dangles precariously from her hem.

GM says, ""Cut the ropes!" calls their first mate. "Pull away from that heap! I'll deal with him!""

FeldenBlackbone picks up a barrel that's not on fire and swings over to the other ship.

SmokyPete rallies the crew to the defense of Shanks, then. "Come on, me hearties! Saftey awaits with those pirates on their own ship!"

KitLeeds scrambles out to catch a rope/ and swings to the opposite ship.

FeldenBlackbone lands rather uncermoniously as the rope snaps right when his feet make it over the opposing ship.

GM says, "ok, so I think this is a total-of-8 fight to take over their ship, while their first mate fights Shanks"

[rpg] SmokyPete asks, "did karma reset?"

[rpg] GM says, "hmm, I think it'll reset after this fight"

ShanksWilson says, "Arr, that first mate ain't a mate at all! I knewed him when I was in Port-de-Paix's prison! He preferred sheep to women!"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "okay, so I'm in danger, then :)"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "put more dice on defense!"

ShanksWilson waves his cutlass at the other pirates, trying to convince them to turn against their leader.

[rpg] ShanksWilson asks, "I have also taken two hits, yes?"

(From MotherWestWind) A sudden gust of wind catches Mama West Wind's skirt. / A few pirates, before they can stop themselves, look up. / Whatever unspeakable horror they behold drives some to madness, others to tears; some to nausea, while others fling themselves into the embrace of the briny deep.

GM says, ""Arr, ye scurvy dog!" says their mate / "I'll cut yer stomach open and use yer guts for fish-bait!""

FeldenBlackbone lobs his barrel at the pirates near Smoky Pete, Donkey Kong style / shouting "YARGH! Come here and die like men / and swirls his axe in a fancy taunting gesture.

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Man, I have no idea how to roll that."

KitLeeds sneaks around the side of the pirates' throng/ and stabs one in the back.

SmokyPete waves the crew forward, / concentrating them on the pirates' strong points / and waving them away from danger, / and towards the enemy's cannon.

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 2 dice, target 3: 4 3 | 1

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "We should probably give the DM a chance to catch up a bit here."

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 2 dice, target 3: 3 1 | 2

[rpg] SmokyPete exclaims, "but I wanted to use another skill!"

[rpg] GM says, "I think everyone's done something, so we are ok to roll some dice"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 2 dice, target 5: 4 1 | 2

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 1 die, target 5: 3 | 1

[rpg] ShanksWilson asks, "I've yet to attack the mate, though - or have I?"

[rpg] ShanksWilson asks, "or are we doing me vs him separately?"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "He's still in the foreshadows I think."

[rpg] GM says (to Shanks), "yeah, hold off on rolling for a sec"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "yarr"

[rpg] GM says (to MotherWestWind), "it seems like you did two separate things there (flying over and then flipping your skirts) which I guess totals 4 dice"

[rpg] MotherWestWind asks, "Still voodoo?"

[rpg] GM says, "sure"

[7thsea] KitLeeds rolls 2 against 5 dice: 1 1

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Okay. 2/2 again."

[7thsea] KitLeeds rolls 2 against 5 dice: 3 5

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 2 dice, target 4: 5 5 | 0

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 2 dice, target 4: 2 5 | 1

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "erm"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Apparently these scurvy dogs have seen worse than a voodoo grandmother's undergarments."

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 2 dice, target 5: 2 3 | 2

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 2 dice, target 5: 3 3 | 2

KitLeeds exclaims, "Avast ye scurvy bilgerat!"

[rpg] GM says, "right then -- the four of you bring the pirate threat down to 3"

GM says, "meanwhile, Shanks can reply to the first mate however he feels inclined"

[Crows-Nest] FeldenBlackbone says, "fear my Donkey Kong-ness"

[Crows-Nest] SmokyPete says, "IRTA "bilgerati" and was confused"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "I'm never sure how much to try to do in one round"

[rpg] SmokyPete says (to kit), "four dice worth"

[rpg] GM says, "it seems like -- yeah, basically"

FeldenBlackbone meanwhile, has had a pirate creeping up behind him with cutlass drawn, ready to slit his throat. / However, he's downwind, and with his mighty barbarian nose Felden senses the threat / and slashes behind him with his axe.

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, sure, while Shanks is idle, feel free to keep going with the pirates"

[rpg] GM says (to Felden), "so roll for that"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "I find it's almost a movie-like pacing thing. So how much would a hero do before the camera cuts away to someone else? Certainly the game rewards verbosity."

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 2 dice, target 3: 5 6 | 0

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 1 die, target 3: 4 | 0

[rpg] GM says, "oops"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "Idle? I'm just waiting for you guys to clean up the minions before the end boss kills me"

[rpg] Alex says (to ShanksWilson), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that idle is The Jewelled Idle of Foobar, which is lost in the depths of the amazon rainforest."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

FeldenBlackbone cries YARGH! as the pirate dodges his blow and cuts him in the thigh.

SmokyPete's crew takes command of the enemy cannons / and get them turned about / and let loose a volley on the enemy pirates.

[rpg] GM says (to Shanks), "well, go ahead and give some combat or sass back to the first mate"

[rpg] GM says, "and we will be accumulating the dice and roll them at the end"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "yarr"

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 2 dice, target 3: 4 4 | 0

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 1 die, target 3: 2 | 1

[rpg] GM says, "(by my count, both you and the mate are at 2 dice)"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "man, this crew sucks"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "oh, wait, that was cnnon, not crew"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "the 4's make it is I had used that skill"

[rpg] GM says, "good point"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "make it if"

[rpg] GM says (to KitLeeds), "go for it"

KitLeeds withdraws to an outlook/ and lobs knives at three of the pirates she can see best.

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "so, four"

ShanksWilson stomps through the chaos and comes before the first mate / sneering at him, he slashes and their cutlasses meet / just like the raging hatred in their eyes.

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 3 dice, target 3: 6 2 4 | 1

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 1 die, target 3: 2 | 1

KitLeeds says, "got one"

[rpg] GM says, "(and Kit polishes off the pirate threat)"

ShanksWilson sneer sneer sneer

GM says, "meanwhile, the first mate strikes out at Shanks, unable to cut through to him / and suddenly lunges forward, with one thrust to lose or win it all"

FeldenBlackbone is about to give the pirate a giant bear hug and crush him, but a knife tip suddenly appears in his chest as he falls over dead!

[rpg] GM says (to Shanks), "ok, so let's roll -- by my count, you have 5 dice, I have 4"

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "It's Huggy the Barbarian."

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 3 dice, target 4: 4 4 6 | 2

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 2 dice, target 4: 1 5 | 1

[rpg] GM rolls 3 dice, target 3: 5 2 5 | 1

[rpg] GM rolls 1 die, target 3: 3 | 1

[rpg] GM says, "ok -- so this guy effectively has 1 karma, which your 2 offense vs his 1 defense takes out"

KitLeeds cheers raucously!

[rpg] GM says, "so you should attack again -- if you get more successes than him, that'll take him to negative karma and knock him out"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "ah ha, 0 isn't the end of it"

ShanksWilson deftly hooks the first mate's coin purse with his .. uh, hook and pulls it away, muttering 'This'll almost do for the damage ye caused to me ship!' He follows it with yet another flurry of cutlass strokes, driving the first mate backwards towards the rail

ShanksWilson.

KitLeeds plucks a dagger from a dead pirate and gets th first mate in her line of sight, just in case.

GM says, "The first mate staggers dizzily from the barrage of strokes / slashing at Shanks' chest and face"

[rpg] GM says, "I guess we can probably just roll now -- it seems like you have 3 and I have 2"

FeldenBlackbone meanwhile shuts his eyes and appears to be mumbling something, like a prayer.

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 2 dice, target 4: 1 1 | 2

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 1 die, target 4: 1 | 1

ShanksWilson says, "whee"

[rpg] GM rolls 1 die, target 3: 1 | 1

[rpg] GM says, "good work -- ok, so you can narrate a coup de grace here"

ShanksWilson parries the first mate's blows and pushes him back until he's leaning over the edge of the ship. "If I be a wittier man," he says, "I'd have a .. witty thing to say, I would!" With a surge of strength, he forces the mate over the railing

ShanksWilson... who plunges into the water screaming "I regret nothing!"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "yay"

[rpg] GM says, "awesome"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "I gotta figure out why my text buffer is so wee"

KitLeeds makes her way among the defeated corpses, pocketing anything that looks valuable or useful.

GM says, "Meanwhile, the other four and the rest of your loyal crew have disarmed the other crew"

FeldenBlackbone performs the gentle act of 'persuation' by holding a screaming pirate over the waters by his neck.

GM says, "the ship sways as your old ship is sucked down beneath the ocean surface"

SmokyPete says, "If ye agree to disarm and work with us, ye'll find us kindly masters! If'n ye don't, ye can have our old ship! I think there's a yard or two above the waves yet."

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "We had /one payment left/ on that ship..."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "hee hee"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "not to mention it was Shanks's last day before retirement"

[Crows-Nest] FeldenBlackbone says, "Mendoooozzzaaaa"

GM says, ""Aye-aye SIR!" yelps the pirate"

[Crows-Nest] ShanksWilson says, "and I was getting short, too, one more day and out"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "hee"

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind laughs. No, cackles.

ShanksWilson strides up to the helm and looks into the distance, appearing all impressive and stuff.

(From MotherWestWind) The crows disperse.

GM says (to KitLeeds), "hrm, you find on one of the better-dressed corpses -- probably the first mate -- some folded notes in a pocket"

ShanksWilson says, "(I thought he plunged into the sea?)"

KitLeeds says, "excellent."

GM says, "they give a description of your ship, notes about its likely course, and directions to lay in wait behind those islands over there"

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "I should probably resist the temptation to raise a zombi army."

GM says, "er, lie in wait"

[Crows-Nest] FeldenBlackbone says, "this could be like order of the stick"

GM says, "even pirates must write properly"

KitLeeds asks, "and nothing about who may have written them?"

[Crows-Nest] FeldenBlackbone says, "we've had 5 pirates try to mutiny. fortunately, our zombi army has increased by 3"

ShanksWilson says, "Harrr, we should lie in wait behind those islands and wait for this prey to ... er, nevermind."

MotherWestWind finds one of the live pirates. "Who was you working for, sonny?" she asks him. She gives him THE EVIL EYE.

[rpg] KitLeeds falls over.

GM says, "it's stamped with a mysterious sigil that looks like a snake biting its tail wrapped around a star"

FeldenBlackbone makes his axe all blood-drippy to help Mother West Wind out.

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

GM says, ""I -- eep! -- don't know, miss -- ma'am -- uh, your ladyship!""

MotherWestWind says, "Well... alright then."

GM says, ""Bernie -- that's, uh, the mate -- said you'd be easy pickin's and we'd be paid well once your ship was sunk""

MotherWestWind says, "Oh, Bernie got his just reward."

GM says, ""He said we'd take you out and then meet up with the captain in a few days""

FeldenBlackbone says, "Good thing he's already dead. 'Easy pickin's.' Worse than attacking in the first place."

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Oh yeah -- this ship probably has a captain."

KitLeeds asks, "Who was your captain?"

GM says, ""Cap'n Redtooth!" The man shivers. "He's a mean 'un!""

[Crows-Nest] (from MotherWestWind) Pirate says, "Cap'n Stubbing!"

FeldenBlackbone asks, "Do I get to hold 'im by the neck over the edge of the ship too?"

ShanksWilson mutter something about captains you can't trust.

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind asks (of Shanks), "They'll only break your heart?"

GM says, ""He was gonna attend to this ambush himself, but after that night on the island he took half the crew and went sailing off in his ship, and left the mate in command on this one""

[rpg] MotherWestWind -- afk (5).

KitLeeds asks, "oh really? What happened on the island?"

FeldenBlackbone pouts. "No neck danglin' then..."

ShanksWilson says, "Ah, there, there, Felden, we'll get some neck danglin' for you soon."

KitLeeds says (to Felden), "You may yet have your chance."

FeldenBlackbone cheers slightly.

SmokyPete says, "We'll find the swabber."

GM says, ""I -- I don't rightly know. Johnson and James over there went lookin' for some fresh water the day after we landed, and they didn't come back for hours, and the captain was right upset, he said he'd tear their throats out, but then they did come back late, and they were all shaken up, and the captain brought them into his cabin and talked to them for a while""

GM says, ""Then the next morning he announced that he was sailing off and the first mate would be in charge of the rest o' us, and we'd be meeting up in a few days""

KitLeeds raises her eyebrows at the captain.

ShanksWilson furrows his brows.

SmokyPete asks (of Felden), "Why not convine Johnson and James to tell us what they saw?"

ShanksWilson says, "This may be your chance to dangle, me boy."

dfan arrives, looking for booty.

GM says, "Johnson and James look at each other nervously"

FeldenBlackbone gives a toothy grin at them. He appears to be missing teeth.

ShanksWilson winks.

[rpg] MotherWestWind asks, "Who was the one that cut down Bernie? Shanks?"

GM says, "Johnson stands up hastily and salutes badly and says "Permission to report everything I know, SIR!""

[rpg] GM says, "yeah"

SmokyPete says, "Granted! Speak, man."

KitLeeds walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

KitLeeds arrives, looking for booty.

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Okay. I'll wait a minute to see how this plays out."

GM says, "James and I went into the jungle on the island, er, and there was this weird rock, and I said "that looks like a weird rock" but James said "don't be silly, man" and I said "but it's square!" and he said "well, only square-ish""

[Crows-Nest] * KitLeeds has joined the channel.

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "Goddamnit, we were attacked by Mason pirates."

GM says, "So I said, "I say it's square!" and he said "well, ok, so it's square, what about it!" but then I said "look, there's another one!""

SmokyPete exclaims, "Hurry it up, man!"

GM says, "And, er, we went more into the jungle, and we saw what looked like a pile o' stones and James thought it was a wall, and then he saw something shiny in the ground and said "Cor!" and picked it up but it hurt his hand and then he picked it up by its chain with his sword"

GM says, "And it was some kind o' amulet that looked like gold to me"

MotherWestWind makes some generic warding sign.

GM says, ""I bet the captain will want to see this," said James, "He's always interested in that old-time stuff""

ShanksWilson mutters something about 'The Eye of the Sea'.

GM says, ""So then we looked around some more but we didn't see anything except some kind of old paintin' on some rocks and then it was getting too late so we went back home""

MotherWestWind says (to Shanks), "Your cutlass, a moment, please sonny."

GM says, ""Er, back to the camp. And the captain's eyes lit up when he saw that amulet and he said "where'd ye get that?" and we told him and he took the amulet and --""

ShanksWilson hands his cutlass point-first to Mother West Wind.

GM says, "Johnson looks nervously at this operation"

FeldenBlackbone says, "Right. Island. Square rocks. Evil cult thing. Let's go squish 'em."

SmokyPete says (to Johnson), "And what? Speak up, man."

GM says, ""Er, and he said, "Hroth'll want to see this," and James said "Who's Hroth, sir?" and he said "Shut your mouth" and we said "Aye-aye sir!", and then he sent us out and called the first mate in and talked with him for a few hours and then the next morning he went sailing off""

MotherWestWind takes the sword and wipes its still-warm blood on to her palm. She opens her other hand and it's full of chicken bones -- at least, you hope that's what they are. She rubs the bones and the blood together. "Departed Bernie, we sent you to the maker, but we done you right. Show us the way to your captain who done you wrong." She then whispers into her closed hands, something you're glad not to hear. She tosses the bloody bones to the deck, and they form an arrow.

FeldenBlackbone squints.

FeldenBlackbone asks, "Hroth?"

GM says, "The arrow points off past the island"

FeldenBlackbone imagines the captain *very* squishily.

ShanksWilson asks, "Hroth.. wasn't that who left a cigar burning back in your old village?"

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "Eww"

GM says (to ShanksWilson), "One of your sailors steps up. "Shall we, er, set a course, cap'n?""

ShanksWilson says (to sailor), "Second star from the right, and straight on 'til morning."

[Crows-Nest] ShanksWilson says, "always wanted to say that...."

FeldenBlackbone says (to ShanksWilson), "Yes. I made a oath that I will be bathed in the blood of those responsible."

FeldenBlackbone pause.

ShanksWilson says, "Nah, nah. It's the sun, it is. To that island with the squarish rocks! And the old paintin'. And where that captain will be."

FeldenBlackbone says, "Well, it doesn't have to be an _actual_ bath. Just a cannonball to the head, say, would be enough."

GM says, ""Right-o, cap'n," says the sailor, and shouts directions to his men."

GM asks, "What are you guys doing with the captured pirates? Keeping them tied up, or bringing them into the crew, or what?"

SmokyPete says, "I say make them earn their keep."

MotherWestWind says, "I reckon they won't be no more trouble."

SmokyPete says, "Or, just drop them off on that island."

FeldenBlackbone says, "A little bit of 'persuation' should be sufficient to overcome any reluctance."

KitLeeds sidles from the group and takes up position in the crow's nest.

ShanksWilson says (to Felden), "Any time you want to do some danglin' to make a point, be my guest."

GM says, "The ship sails on, and you reach the island about evening."

GM asks, "The chicken bones keep on pointing ahead -- do you want to keep sailing, or stop here?"

ShanksWilson says, "Evening? Haunted island? Perfect time to explore some spooky territory."

KitLeeds says, "I say we should sail on. The island'll keep, but the captain and that amulent mayn't. besides, he's expecting this ship"

KitLeeds says, "We'll catch him off guard"

GM asks, "any other votes?"

MotherWestWind just looks tired.

SmokyPete says, "I want to see this painted wall."

FeldenBlackbone grunts noncomittally.

GM says, "mkay, I guess the island it is"

GM says, "You pull the ship into a safe harbor on the island and some of the sailors row you ashore"

GM says, "Some other ones get off to stretch their legs and gather supplies"

SmokyPete says (to Johnson), "Show us where you found that amulet."

SmokyPete asks, "Who else is coming with us?"

KitLeeds says, "I am"

ShanksWilson says, "We could use some sailors - put your red vests on, me hearties!"

KitLeeds says, "may be a fair bit of treasure hereabouts."

MotherWestWind says, "Oh alright, I'm a comin'."

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "yay red vests"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] KitLeeds sniffs the captain's rum suspiciously.

ShanksWilson staggers a bit from side to side.

GM says, "The group of you set out into the jungle, Johnson in the lead, and a half-dozen sailors along in natty crimson vests"

FeldenBlackbone grunts and tags along.

KitLeeds smirks.

GM says, "It'll be dark soon, but there's still an hour or two of daylight left, and the sailors have lanterns"

KitLeeds keeps on the lookout for booby traps and treasure.

GM says, "Johnson says "Let's see-- I think I went this way, and then hereabouts, and then over this stream, and then up this hill""

ShanksWilson makes sure to stay in the middle of the group.

GM says, "You trudge uphill for a bit, before Johnson says "aha!" and points out a block of stone, which is indeed pretty squarish, and atop the hill there's a pile more"

KitLeeds examines the stones.

SmokyPete says, "Hmm, interesting."

SmokyPete says, "Too bad the Professor left us at the last port"

SmokyPete says, "I'm sure he'd be able to tell us something about these."

GM says (to KitLeeds), "it looks like there was some kind of building here, maybe a tower or something"

SmokyPete says, "And then he'd drink all the rum again."

GM says, "but it must have fallen down a long time ago, since most of the stones are missing"

ShanksWilson says, "That rum was mine, it was."

KitLeeds says, "The captain does like his rum."

GM says, "Painted on what must have been the interior wall of the lower floor, and shielded by a convenient rockfall, you see a few scraps of paint just visible"

ShanksWilson asks, "Voodoo lady?"

GM says, "In shades of blue and green, looking like it's a painting of something circular"

SmokyPete exclaims, "Men! Bring the lanterns!"

GM says, "They come and shine the lanterns, but you'll have to move the rocks before you can make out the whole thin"

GM says, "g"

GM says, "Johnson looks vaguely nervous around the painting"

MotherWestWind says (to Shanks), "I'm an old lady -- I ain't lugging those big stones around."

KitLeeds says, "Oi, Felden"

ShanksWilson says, "You two! Get to moving those rocks."

ShanksWilson points at two sailors in crimson vests.

SmokyPete says (to Finn), "Brought the crowbars? Good, let's get working."

GM says, "The sailors get to work, and more and more bits of the painting are exposed"

MotherWestWind smokes a stinky old pipe while she waits.

GM says, "A white patch at the top turns out to be the moon in a night sky"

KitLeeds asks (of Johnson), "this look familiar?"

GM says, "The blue at the bottom is the sea, with the reflection of the moon shining on it"

GM says, "Johnson nods. "I didn't remember all those rocks being in front o' it, but I guess the amulet was takin' up our minds.""

GM says, "The waters in the painting are drawn swirling, as if they're draining down through some giant hole"

GM says, "A ship is being sucked down with them"

SmokyPete says, "Poor sods."

GM says, "and at the bottom of the painting, it reads "THE EYE OF THE SEA OPENS BUT ONCE A TEN-YEAR""

ShanksWilson staggers around a bit at the sight of the painting.

GM says, "A branch cracks out in the jungle"

KitLeeds whirls, a knife at the ready, and peers in the direction of the noise.

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "Kit is sorta like Clamps, the Futurama robot, except with knives."

[Crows-Nest] HairBrain says, "Stand back, I gotta practice my stabbin'"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "okay, I'm about to have to disappear"

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "Oh yeah, there was that stabby robot too."

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "and this seems a good spot"

[Crows-Nest] KitLeeds says, "we likes the shiny pointy things, we does"

GM says (to KitLeeds), "most people couldn't see a thing in this, but you can make out a series of blue gleams, like fireflies, drifting out of the jungle"

[rpg] GM asks, "for good? should I kill you off dramatically?"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "I'll jump back in when visitors leave"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, sounds good"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "I'll be back in an hour"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "We'll be done in an hour"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Maybe."

[rpg] GM says, "I believe we're scheduled for two hours more"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "we can say SmokyPete stays with the ship"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Oh; okay then."

[rpg] GM says, "I will think of something entertaining"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "An hour later, he returns to find ZombiSmokyPete"

KitLeeds asks, "Mother, any inklin' what those sparky things might be?"

[rpg] GM says, "that would be entertaining"

ShanksWilson continues to stagger and mumble about the Eye of the Sea.

MotherWestWind says, "Eh what's that now? Oh I can't barely see in this light. Charles, you go on and take a look for momma."

(From MotherWestWind) Charles the monkey runs off into the jungle.

GM exclaims, "Suddenly a pair of great hairy things leap into the ruins!"

(From MotherWestWind) Charles the monkey runs back from the jungle.

GM says, "One picks up Smoky Pete, slings him over its shoulder, and leaps out into the jungle again"

GM exclaims, "The other grabs two sailors and smashes their heads together!"

KitLeeds aims a knife at the other and throws.

ShanksWilson draws his cutlass and roars at the great hairy things.

[rpg] GM says (to KitLeeds), "want to add more detail to that? or just roll"

[rpg] KitLeeds asks, "want defense as well?"

MotherWestWind eyes' widen. She takes an enormous inhalation from her pipe / and then exhales a thick black cloud of sweet, sickly smoke towards the creatures. / Their eyes begin to water and they start to sneeze uncontrollably.

FeldenBlackbone grabs two great hairy things and smashes *their* heads together, while giving off a barbarian yell.

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "Strike down that zombie apostrophe there."

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 2 dice, target 5: 6 2 | 1

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 1 die, target 3: 3 | 1

[rpg] GM says, "sure, however you like -- you don't actually have to describe yourself as defending to allocate the dice for defense"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 1 die, target 5: 5 | 1

GM says, "(There was only two hairy things originally, but clearly more have shown up to get beaten up)"

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 1 die, target 3: 2 | 1

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "2 off, 1 def, here:"

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 2 dice, target 4: 5 2 | 1

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 1 die, target 4: 4 | 1

GM says, "The sasquatch-things howl and screech, sounding kind of like men and kind of like apes"

ShanksWilson charges forward, ducking beneath a swing from the creature / then my town main lines are rope and hay

[rpg] GM asks (of Shanks), "let's see, are you doing anything?"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "stupid connect"

[rpg] GM says, "aha"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "He's going to rap them to death."

ShanksWilson.. ducking beneath a swing from the creature / then slashes at its belly while quipping wittily about rap.

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 2 dice, target 4: 4 3 | 2

[rpg] MotherWestWind asks, "No defense?"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "nope, I'm fierce"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "He's MC Fierce"

GM says, "The hairy creatures snarl and growl -- meanwhile, the blue firefly things drift into the center of the ruins, floating by the eye of the sea painting"

GM says, "The sailors yelp, and one hapless red-vest is picked up by a hairy creature and whirled around and sent crashing into the jungle"

[rpg] GM says, "this is 10 again, so you guys have 5 to go"

[rpg] GM asks (of Felden), "I dunno, you next?"

KitLeeds climbs up a tree/and jumps on one of the creatures, gouging its eyes out.

[rpg] GM says, "excellent"

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 1 die, target 5: 1 | 1

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 1 die, target 5: 4 | 1

FeldenBlackbone snarls and goes into a rampage, chopping fiercely at one creature after another, swinging so indiscriminately that he chops several trees the process.

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 3 dice, target 3: 3 4 4 | 1

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "ooh, a rampage"

ShanksWilson throws a handful of dust in a creature's eyes / then hacks at its arm, slashing wildly in the air / connecting once or twice with the tough hide of the thing.

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 2 dice, target 4: 1 3 | 2

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 1 die, target 4: 4 | 1

[rpg] GM says, "cool"

SmokyPete has disconnected.

SmokyPete goes home.

[rpg] GM asks (of MotherWestWind), "you?"

MotherWestWind pulls out a small clear bottle from the folds of her skirts. She removes the cork and chugs the contents, apparently with some relish. / "Mama Wind of the West, give me strength," she intones. / She begins to inhale, and then keeps inhaling, impossibly strong, generating a small gale. / She sucks all the blue fireflies into her mouth. / She then spits them into the bottle, corking it.

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Oh, let's go 3 and 1 with this. All the fierceness in the air."

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 3 dice, target 4: 3 4 3 | 3

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 1 die, target 4: 3 | 1

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Thank you, voodoo spirits."

GM says, "With the blue fireflies sealed away, the sasquatch creatures suddenly start to shrink"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Woo hoo awesome."

KitLeeds says, "nicely done, Mother."

GM says, "They get smaller and less hairy until suddenly they aren't sasquatches but men, lying unconscious on the ground"

KitLeeds examines the men

ShanksWilson asks, "Oi! You! Johnson! Do you recognize them?"

GM says, ""No sir!" Johnson says. "I think they're dressed all funny-like""

GM says, "and indeed their clothing style is not that of the modern day, and the coins Kit finds in their pockets are silver and stamped with a logo you've only seen once before -- a snake in a circle around a star"

MotherWestWind says, "Let's drag their sorry bones back to the ship and deal with them there."

ShanksWilson says, "Drag away, Mother."

KitLeeds says, "Before we do, I'd like to climb the hill and spy the lay of the land."

GM says, "It's getting dark, but with the last rays of sundown you scramble atop a pile of rubble and take a look"

MotherWestWind addresses the redshirts. "You heard the man! There's no rest for your wickedness."

GM says, "The island is shaped something like an anchor, with a long bit and then two curving outcrops"

GM says, "the hill sits midway along the long bit"

ShanksWilson sneaks a sip from a flask of rum hidden inside his coat.

KitLeeds scans for signs of any other structures.

GM says, "From up here you can get a better view of the curving outcrops, and see that there looks to be some current or former construction on one of the outcrops"

MotherWestWind looks a bit woozy. "Oh, I shouldtna drank all that at once..."

GM asks, "Meanwhile, it's getting pretty dark now -- are you going to head back to the ship?"

KitLeeds says, "yes."

GM says, "The next morning dawns bright and sunny"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "I like our total disregard for the fate of Pete."

KitLeeds says, "Or maybe not."

KitLeeds says, "heh"

GM says, "The sailors report that the ex-sasquatch men have awoken and don't seem to speak any language anyone recognizes"

ShanksWilson afks briefly.

GM says, "but they seemed to be hungry"

MotherWestWind examines the bottle.

KitLeeds asks, "are their clothes old-fashioned? Ir unplaceable?"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Time for that old-time voodoo mind meld."

KitLeeds says, "or, sorry."

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "that's good enough for me"

GM says, "they're not anything you recognize, yeah -- so clearly if they're old, they're pretty old"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "I'm feeling a bit too superheroic -- I don't want to get all spotlight hoggy with my Elite Magick Skillz."

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "gah, sorry, back"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "go ahead and be Leet just this once"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised the one non-combat monster does most of the non-combat stuff."

MotherWestWind gives the two a good look-over.

GM says, "They make sad faces and point to their mouths"

MotherWestWind takes a good look in there.

GM says, "They've got yellow teeth, but they're probably just hungry"

[rpg] MotherWestWind asks, "Meaning, what, are their tongues cut out?"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Ah okay."

GM says, "one of the sailors comes over with some jerky for them"

ShanksWilson returns and flails his cutlass around.

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, if someone has a plan for talking to them we can roll dice, otherwise we should pick something else to do"

ShanksWilson says, "Yar. I be no scholar, but these men were clearly cursed by ancient voodoo gods to defend this isle."

MotherWestWind pulls out a bag of dried parrot tongues, some eye of newt, and other, less identifiable ingredients. She sends one of the hands off to get a black rooster, and commences with preparing an utterly disgusting concoction.

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "I'll take a stab at it."

KitLeeds hauls out some paper and draws the symbol, then shows it to the men, and hands then the quill.

[rpg] GM says, "sounds good"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "me too."

[rpg] MotherWestWind asks, "So what am I rolling here?"

[rpg] GM says (to Mother), "hmm, let's just roll 4 vs 4, and ignore the number of successes, and look at what the highest die is"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Ok"

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 4 dice, target 4: 1 3 6 1 | 3

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Something for everyone."

[rpg] GM says, "ok, 6, so that's pretty good"

MotherWestWind is soon chatting away with them in some alien tongue.

GM says, "as they see Kit's symbol, their eyes get wide and they draw back"

GM says, ""The Master!" one says [this is close-captioned for the non-voodoo-magical]. "They must be servants of his!""

GM says, ""But why did they turn us back into men then?""

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "I'm afk for about then next 15 minutes for lunch. But I translate, etc, as long as required."

KitLeeds asks, "We're not. Who's the Master?"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "I admit, even though I'm back, being at a complete loss what to say."

GM says, ""The Master is the one who opens the Eye of the Sea -- all those who oppose him are sucked down and destroyed.""

KitLeeds asks, "Why did he transform you? Where are you from?"

GM says, ""We tried to steal his power, and came to this island to find the source of his magic -- he caught us and turned us into beasts, and cursed us to guard the tower forever""

GM says, ""We are both from Zenkaria," the man says."

GM says, "A country which you recognize as having not existed for two hundred years"

KitLeeds asks, "did you find the source of his magic?"

ShanksWilson asks, "Tower? What tower?"

KitLeeds says, "The ruined tower"

GM says, ""Ruined?" says the man. "But -- how long were we beasts?""

KitLeeds says, "Over two hundred years, looks like."

GM says, "The man's eyes widen. "But that means --""

KitLeeds asks, "what?"

GM says, "Before your eyes, his hair starts to turn white"

KitLeeds says, "Bugger."

GM says, "His companion gasps and looks at his hands, which are wrinkling"

KitLeeds says, "I was just kidding."

GM says, ""Horn of conch to summon .." the man gasps, "I stole the amulet to control""

ShanksWilson says, "Damnit, Kit!"

GM says, "The two of them collapse on the ground and their clothes and flesh falls away like dust"

GM says, "leaving gleaming-white bones behind"

KitLeeds says, "Sorry Cap'n."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] GM says, "I am now imagining this as a regular problem Kit gets into"

[rpg] KitLeeds asks, "is this Bugs Bunny-off-the-cliff logic or what?"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "hee hee"

FeldenBlackbone does three turns and mutters a protective blessing.

[rpg] KitLeeds exclaims, "Another man reduced to a pile of dust? KIIIIIT!"

GM says, "The sailors mutter and look at each other"

ShanksWilson says, "Right. We could have some more rum, or we could ... hell with it, I'm having more rum."

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "hee hee"

GM says, ""Are we going to be sailing on soon, Cap'n?" one says"

KitLeeds asks, "The Amulet controls...what?"

KitLeeds asks, "The conch horn summons...what?"

KitLeeds says, "Damn me"

KitLeeds says, "Damn me"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Back. Also, man, I'm gone for TEN MINUTES and people are turning into skeletons."

[rpg] KitLeeds exclaims, "How many TIMES do I have to say I'm SORRY?!"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Okay I guess that's enough."

FeldenBlackbone asks, "Nobody ever mentioned a conch horn? That captain just had an amulet?"

MotherWestWind says, "I reckon we should get to this captain feller right soon now."

GM says, ""I didn't see any horn," Johnson says. "We just found the amulet.""

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "bark bark bark bark ok something about an amulet bark bark bark skeletons bark bark bark"

KitLeeds says, "Well, if we find a conch, we'd better not blow it unless we want to summon something."

ShanksWilson says, "Right. We're going to find this captain feller and we're going to make him pay for what he did to my ship."

FeldenBlackbone asks, "Would the horn be on this island?"

KitLeeds says, "why, Felden, you talk as if you'd WANT to summon something."

FeldenBlackbone says, "Look, I know how these mystical talisman things work."

FeldenBlackbone spit.

GM asks, "So setting sail? Or exploring more?"

FeldenBlackbone says, "If there's a set o' things..."

MotherWestWind absconds a few bones for future use.

FeldenBlackbone says, "You gotta collect 'em all."

FeldenBlackbone says, "And then toss 'em in a volcano or somethin'."

KitLeeds says, "I personally am for exploring the building on the outcrop of the island"

MotherWestWind says, "That sounds good to me, but we might as well sail there."

ShanksWilson says, "Right."

GM says, "Ok, so you move the boat around to that side of the island, and disembark again"

GM says, "Kit leading the way, you head to the thing she saw, which turns out to be a ruined cottage"

KitLeeds says (to Mother), "but whatever you do, don't you break the glass holding those blue things"

GM says, "This is only barely ruined, though -- it's probably been abandoned for a mere 50 years or so"

ShanksWilson asks, "Kit! How old is that cottage, there?"

MotherWestWind asks (of GM), "Are they still in there and still glowy?"

KitLeeds peers around the outside of the cottage, looking for signs of current habitation or dangers.

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, ""why, two hundred years, cap'n" "DAMNIT, KIT""

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Heh"

[rpg] KitLeeds falls over.

GM says (to MMW), "yeah -- the glow's faded a bit, but if you jostle it, they light up more"

GM says (to KitLeeds), "it looks pretty deserted -- the front door's even unlocked"

KitLeeds opens the door and cautiously advances inside, keeping an eye out for interesting articles.

FeldenBlackbone taps the floorboards testingly

GM says, "it all looks -- well, what it looks like is the sort of cottage you might build for yourself if you were shipwrecked or marooned on this island with a few tools"

GM says, "and had a lot of spare time"

FeldenBlackbone sniffs around for tingly artifacts.

dfan disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "Hey look -- a telephone made out of coconuts."

GM says, "There's a crude bed/cot thing stuffed with leaves, a table, a chair"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "hee hee"

KitLeeds looks under the bed. Like you do.

ShanksWilson asks (of GM), "how ruined is it? ruined 5 years, ruined 50 years?"

GM says (to ShanksWilson), "the latter"

GM says, "(or, like, abandoned 50 years -- just ruined by time)"

GM says, "Kit is about to pull out from under the bed, when she spots something all the way underneath in the corner"

GM says, "reaching in and pulling it out, it looks to be a diary"

KitLeeds asks, "Shall we have a read then, boys?"

GM says, "meanwhile, through alert floorboard-tapping, Felden finds a hollow, which he lifts to pull out a locked metal box"

KitLeeds says, "Here Felden, let me pick that."

GM says, "The diary appears to be by a second mate, marooned here by his shipmates for being too brutal a disciplinarian"

GM says, "Most of the entries are about how he'll take revenge on all of them"

GM says, "Eventually there are some records of him stumbling on the ruins in the jungle, and being driven off by the sasquatch things"

FeldenBlackbone squints at the letters and gives up, letting the literate types take charge.

GM says, "He appears to have found an old ring near there, and tried to get more but couldn't ever get close"

GM says, "The last entry relates how he sees a ship, finally, and makes a fire and they're turning this way"

GM says, "and concludes with "and to hell with this diary!""

KitLeeds says, "Aha, I suspect that tower be where any treasure may lie."

KitLeeds says, "Let's see this box then."

ShanksWilson peers over Felden's shoulder.

KitLeeds digs out her lockpicks.

[rpg] GM says, "ok, let's see how good this is"

[rpg] GM says (to Kit), "roll 5 vs 5, and we'll look at your highest die"

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 5 dice, target 5: 5 5 3 1 4 | 5

[rpg] GM says, "not bad"

GM says, "Kit jimmies the locks for a bit until the lock clicks open, then pauses for a sec and puts on a thick glove before popping the box open"

KitLeeds says, "oho"

GM says, "and a good thing, too, as a needle jabs into the leather when the box is opened"

GM says, "(but not penetrating deep enough to break skin)"

KitLeeds says, "That were a nasty bit of work"

GM says, "inside is a note reading "HROTH" and stamped with the circular-snake-and-star symbol"

KitLeeds asks, "'HROTH' is all it says?"

GM says, "in addition, there's a vial full of what looks to be blood"

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "1.wav"

GM says, "yeah"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "hee hee"

KitLeeds says, "Mother? Blood."

MotherWestWind says, "I reckon it is."

KitLeeds gingerly puts down the box and edges away.

MotherWestWind says, "Say... this diary and that note we have. Let's compare them a bit."

ShanksWilson subtly walks around, feigning looking at things, until he ends up behind Kit.

GM says, "oho, wily"

KitLeeds looks at the captain suspiciously.

ShanksWilson asks, "What? What?"

GM says, "it looks like the handwriting note the first mate had doesn't match the diary, but it does match this other note (although given that it only says HROTH, that's a little hard to tell)"

FeldenBlackbone twirls his axe in place thoughtfully.

MotherWestWind says, "Huh."

KitLeeds says, "I don't know what you have in mind captain, but generally when a man walks behind me he's after one of two things, neither of which I am prepared to give you."

GM says, "but in addition, there's a scrawled addendum at the top of the first mate's note saying "Meet at the Rusty Maiden in a week" that *does* match the diary"

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha"

[rpg] Limax asks, "This is used as the peanut butter channel?"

[rpg] Limax says, "Er. gallery"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "mmm, peanut butter"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "ha ha"

ShanksWilson says, "Ah, Kit, you're too suspicious."

KitLeeds says, "It's what's kept me alive thus far. So, looks as if our second mate got promoted."

ShanksWilson hiccups.

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "if the captain asks why the rum is gone I shall have to smack him."

GM asks, "ok, so back to the ship and follow the chicken bones again?"

GM asks, "or do something else?"

KitLeeds says, "hm, chicken bones or treasure..."

KitLeeds says, "I vote for treasure."

KitLeeds says (to GM), "I'm not sure how well I searched the stones last time."

ShanksWilson says, "Treasure."

KitLeeds asks (of gm), "is it likely I missed something?"

GM says, "ok, let's go and check that one out then"

GM says, "yeah, you can give it a once-over"

GM says, "now that it's daylight and all"

KitLeeds says, "all righty then."

MotherWestWind says, "We wouldn't want anyone else to profit from our demonstering."

[rpg] GM says, "I guess you should roll 5 vs 5 and we'll look for the high die again"

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 5 dice, target 5: 5 1 1 5 6 | 4

[rpg] GM says, "cool"

GM says, "Ok, this time you and some other sailors spend half the day moving rocks and stuff"

GM says, "Not much has survived -- there's a very rusty cutlass, some coins of various metals stamped with the circular snake and star, and a few random bits of metal and scrimshaw and stuff"

FeldenBlackbone uses his Barbarian Instinct (tm) to sniff around for anything out of the ordinary.

MotherWestWind asks, "That ship that's depicted getting sucked down -- is it rigged like a modern ship, or something older?"

GM says, "but you do eventually find a metal box which you pry open to reveal a book"

ShanksWilson continues drinking his rum and not looking at the eye of the sea.

GM says, "older -- it's probably from the couple-hundred years ago when this tower was built"

GM says, "this other book has similar pictures in it -- the painting actually matches the last page"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "Oh, is this tower a couple hundred years old? *CRASH*"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM exclaims, "it's already done that!"

GM says, "earlier pages show the full moon, the open ocean, a ship sailing out, a guy with a horn, the guy wearing an amulet, and then a whirlpool appearing and a second ship being sucked down"

KitLeeds walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

KitLeeds arrives, looking for booty.

GM says, "earlier pages show the full moon, the open ocean, a ship sailing out, a guy with a horn, the guy wearing an amulet, and then a whirlpool appearing and a second ship being sucked down"

GM says, "(recapping for Kit)"

KitLeeds says, "Sorry, I blacked out for a second"

ShanksWilson asks, "Ok. This rum is getting to my head. What do we know?"

MotherWestWind says, "Well, sounds like we could follow the bones to the captain, or try to meet him (or them) at this Rusty Maiden place."

KitLeeds says, "Wearing the amulet and blowing the horn will open the eye"

KitLeeds says, "I mean, the E-Y-E"

KitLeeds looks askance at the captain.

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

FeldenBlackbone asks, "Lemme guess. Evil Cap'n wants both of them?"

KitLeeds says, "Evil cap'n wanted US. dead."

FeldenBlackbone asks, "And he wants to open the eye 'cause he's presuming it'll give 'im enormous power, but what will really happen is some critter comes out and chomps him in an enormous gulp?"

FeldenBlackbone asks, "to KitLeeds "Do we have a horn?"

KitLeeds says, "Not to my knowledge."

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "Sargeant Recap to the rescue."

MotherWestWind asks, "Have you salty sea-dog types been to this Rusty Maiden before?"

ShanksWilson says, "Never hoid of it."

KitLeeds casts her mind back.

GM says (to Kit), "yeah, it's a inn with a bad reputation in one of the more pirate-prone port cities"

FeldenBlackbone says, "Let's check the bones. They might be matching with the Rusty Maiden."

KitLeeds says, "I believe I know where it is."

FeldenBlackbone says, "In the meantime, we gotta think up why the Captain went for us in particular."

MotherWestWind says, "We can just beat that answer out of him when we get to him."

ShanksWilson says, "Neck danglin'."

KitLeeds says, "Sounds good to me."

FeldenBlackbone says, "Well, it might be important when we get there, see."

FeldenBlackbone says, "Let's say, the Cap'n came for one of us in particular."

[rpg] KitLeeds asks (of GM), "did my statuette sink with the ship, or was I carrying it?"

FeldenBlackbone says, "And so he tries to get what he wants and run away. 'd be easier if we played defense."

[rpg] GM says, "I'm happy for you to be carrying it"

FeldenBlackbone asks, "Like, any of us have a keen artifact that'd go with the other two?"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "swell"

KitLeeds asks, "you mean, like a strange sort of sea creature with sapphire eyes?"

FeldenBlackbone says, "Lemme take a leap here: you get the amulet and the horn, blow it, and a big real-life version of th'sea creature comes on out, and you use the statue to control it."

MotherWestWind says, "Fortunately, we're not going to let any of that happen."

KitLeeds says, "the crumbly guys distinctly said the AMULET controls...whatever"

FeldenBlackbone says, "Yeah. But we better keep an eye on that statue, eh? Let's get goin'."

FeldenBlackbone says (to KitLeeds), "Hm. Must be something else with it then."

ShanksWilson says, "Picky, picky!"

ShanksWilson says, "I'm sure we'll just wave some items around and control that beastie."

KitLeeds says (to Shanks), "That's what got me the statue in the first place"

ShanksWilson says, "Sea critters ain't all that tough."

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

FeldenBlackbone asks, "Just don't let 'im get that statue, all right?"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "afk for fooding"

GM asks, "ok, so are you sailing for the Rusty Maiden?"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Before we all forget, let's just say I'm the one carrying around that vial of blood from the box."

KitLeeds says, "As if I'd ever let a treasure go"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "Mother Wast Wind is our designated Carrier Of Bodily Fluids."

[Crows-Nest] (from MotherWestWind) Kit says, "I keep them in a display case."

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ew"

[Crows-Nest] KitLeeds says, "hee hee"

[Crows-Nest] KitLeeds is out of adventures.

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "It'd be funny in every time the amulet was mentioned in an rpg, it was the *amulet*."

[Crows-Nest] ShanksWilson says, "Hey, why does this amulet say 'YENDOR' on the back"

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "Heh"

[Crows-Nest] ShanksWilson says, "and I just realized that Yendor backwards is Rodney"

[Crows-Nest] KitLeeds falls over.

GM says, "ok, you sail for a couple days, and eventually arrive in port"

KitLeeds asks, "Is this where the bones were pointing?"

GM says, "this is your basic rough-and-tumble trading port"

KitLeeds gets dressed in something inconspicuous.

GM says, "yeah, the bones were pointing here"

MotherWestWind gathers up them bones.

GM says, "You disembark and head to the inn, where there's a brawl in progress"

ShanksWilson makes sure his cutlass is free of dried blood, as it's going to get messy again soon.

GM says, "The bartender doesn't seem too worried or surprised by this"

KitLeeds edges around the brawl's outskirts and asks the bartender is he's seen Redtooth.

KitLeeds says, "if"

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, "What a wretched hive of scum and villainy."

GM says, ""Arr," says the bartender, "He's been up in his room fer three days now. Probably still dead drunk.""

[Crows-Nest] ShanksWilson says, "we'd best be cautious."

Miseri arrives, looking for booty.

[Crows-Nest] ShanksWilson goes to take care of a doggy's bathroom trip again.

KitLeeds says, "I could go up to his room, play the "girl" card, see what I can lift."

GM says (to MotherWestWind), "the bones in your pocket sudden shake"

MotherWestWind says, "Time is short, children."

MotherWestWind moves her old bones up them stairs.

KitLeeds follows.

GM says, "There's a snap as they break in half"

GM says, "(the chicken bones, not Mother West Wind's skeleton)"

KitLeeds says, "whew"

GM says, "(or the stairs)"

MotherWestWind throws open the door to Redtooth's room.

GM says, "You get to the room the bartender said was his, the big room at the end of the hall"

GM says, "The door's locked"

KitLeeds peers through the keyhole first.

GM says, "You can hear a whistling wind-type noise on the other side"

MotherWestWind says, "Time to exercise some fierceness."

MotherWestWind stands aside.

GM says (to Kit), "gah, there's blood oozing out of the keyhole"

GM says, "and, now that you look, under the door too"

KitLeeds presses her lips together and backs away from the door.

MotherWestWind elbows Feldon.

GM says, "Feldon [who is afk] roars and charges at the door with his axe"

GM says, "It smashes inwards, flying to pieces"

GM says, "The whistling rises to a shriek, and something crashes through the window on the far side of the room and is gone"

GM says, "but you're almost too distracted by the sight of the rest of the room to notice"

GM says, "Almost every surface is splattered with blood"

GM says, "in the center of the room is the dead body of a man, with most of the flesh torn from his body"

KitLeeds feels ill.

MotherWestWind says, "That ain't right."

GM says, "he is somehow attached to the floor by what looks like loops of coral"

GM says, "although where they come from you can't tell"

[Crows-Nest] ShanksWilson says, "four doggy breaks later..."

ShanksWilson says, "the sea, I wager"

KitLeeds asks, "because of the blood?"

ShanksWilson runs to the window and looks out.

MotherWestWind shooes everyone into the room and closes the door.

KitLeeds grits her teeth and makes her way to the window.

GM says, "er, I mean, where they came from, since large loops of coral are not usually found in inns"

GM says (to Kit), "you can just barely make out something like a hawk flying away"

ShanksWilson makes sure to step in the blood so he can leave some footprints, then walks backwards to the window. 'This'll blow someone's mind.'

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "We had to get the goofy captain. :)"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "How much rum has this guy had, already? :)"

[rpg] GM says, "all of it, I think"

[rpg] GM says, "luckily you're in port to refuel"

MotherWestWind asks (of Kit), "Care to look around for that valuable amulet or the invaluable shell?"

KitLeeds surveys the room for stuff, and takes a look at the coral as well.

MotherWestWind examines the body and the means of death.

[rpg] GM says (to Kit,MWW), "ok, roll some relevant skill, and we'll look at the high die"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "also, I'm back"

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 4 dice, target 4: 5 3 3 3 | 3

[rpg] GM says, "just in time"

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 4 dice, target 3: 2 4 3 2 | 3

FeldenBlackbone runs outside and checks out the 'flying out the window' thing

GM says, "You tear downstairs and get a glimpse of it -- it's heading out across the ocean"

GM says, "meanwhile, inside Mother West Wind has little trouble determining the guy was ripped to pieces while still (at some point) alive"

KitLeeds says, "gah."

FeldenBlackbone tries to get the direction as sure as he can

MotherWestWind says, "This was done by a beast, or someone beastlike. Not a ritual, none that I know, anyway."

GM says, "she also sees that he managed to get a hand free from the coral, well enough to write "ANCHOR FLOOR BOTTLE HROTH" on the floor"

ShanksWilson says, "Why did we have to chase a guy who was barely literate? Bah. The guy should use a conjunction or a preposition or something."

ShanksWilson says, "Me hearties."

GM says, "meanwhile, Kit picks over the stuff in the room, and identifies the deceased as Captain Redtooth"

[rpg] GM says (to Shanks), "ha ha ha"

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind | ANCHOR FLOOR BOTTLE HROTH BURMASHAVE

KitLeeds says, "That'll be the vial of blood he was referring to"

[Crows-Nest] KitLeeds says, "hee hee"

GM says, "she also locates another diary"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "these pirates certainly kept excellent records"

[Crows-Nest] FeldenBlackbone says, "looks like something from a Scott Adams game"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "YOHO"

MotherWestWind takes out two coins -- the old ones, with the snake and star -- and puts them on the eyes (what's left of them) of the deceased.

ShanksWilson says, "Hey, we could use that money!"

GM says, "he kept it for the last year or so, with occasional notes about merchants captured or killed and plunder taken"

GM says, "at some point he met up with somebody identified only as "H""

MotherWestWind raps Shank's knuckles. "You leave that be."

ShanksWilson mutters.

KitLeeds asks, "'H'. Hm. Who could that be?"

ShanksWilson says, "Hrothgar!"

GM says, "who appears to be searching for an amulet and conch horn that belonged to some long-ago pirate king"

GM says, "the diary makes a careful record of their description, with the note that H would pay well for them"

FeldenBlackbone heads back in. "I managed to track the flying critter. Went over the ocean. Got a direction before it went out of sight."

ShanksWilson says, "Damnit. If we hadn't stopped at the island so long, we could have gotten here in time."

GM says, "and the latest entries relate the amulet being found and recognized, and plans made to meet H at this inn and get payment for it"

KitLeeds says, "So, H hasn't found the conch yet"

MotherWestWind says, "Perhaps."

KitLeeds asks, "Do the entries mentione us?"

GM says, "yeah, prior to the amulet entry there's a note about a captain "knowing too much" and H asking Redtooth to eliminate him"

ShanksWilson looks innocent.

GM says, "This entry also describes a certain statuette H is on the trail of, which he would also pay for"

MotherWestWind says, "That sure don't sounds like our captain."

KitLeeds says, "*cough*musthavehadthewrongcaptain*cough*"

FeldenBlackbone says, "'course. Our captain is entirely innocent. Never done 'nything wrong."

MotherWestWind says, "He's certainly innocent of Knowing Too Much."

ShanksWilson mutters something about insubordination and has a little more rum.

MotherWestWind says, "Well, reckon we should get underway towards whether that beastie was flying to."

FeldenBlackbone says, "Let's check on a map that direction."

KitLeeds says (to Mother), "There's also Hroth's blood you're carrying there"

MotherWestWind says, "Perhaps. If it comes to that. Blood can be more treacherous than you can imagine."

GM says, "The map shows a couple islands in that direction -- it doesn't actually mention anchor island, but it's in that direction too"

KitLeeds says, "I don't know. I have a very good imagination."

FeldenBlackbone asks, "#videogames what was the problem?"

SmokyPete arrives, looking for booty.

FeldenBlackbone says, "Let's try that then."

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "I am back."

[rpg] GM says, "good work"

GM says, "ok, so you set sail again"

KitLeeds says, "All right, let's go"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "you got carried off by beasties for a bit and then I think was so traumatized by the incident you stayed on the ship"

[rpg] SmokyPete says (to fb), "I hate when that happens"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "I thought we let the beasties keep him."

[rpg] GM says, "well, they probably turned back into people"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Oh."

[rpg] GM says, "and/or bones"

[rpg] GM says, "so I guess Pete managed to find his way back"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "I dunno -- Kit didn't talk to those ones."

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Welcome back, Pete."

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "hee hee"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "Bugs Bunny effect only works if the audience is watching"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "I never trusted that Pete guy, anyway"

MotherWestWind whistles up a freshening breeze to carry us towards our destination.

KitLeeds asks (of gm), "wait...the coral?"

GM says, "oh yeah"

GM says, "the coral seems to have sprouted from the ground itself like vines"

KitLeeds says, "yeeeeargh"

GM says, "with the whistled-up breeze, the ship goes off with all speed"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "whooooo speed"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "choo chho"

GM says, "You sail for a few days before spotting a ship on the horizon"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "...eh, you get the idea"

KitLeeds spies for signs of the hawk.

GM says, "It doesn't have sails up and seems to be drifting"

FeldenBlackbone says, "Yar."

ShanksWilson says, "Helmsman! Another prize ship."

FeldenBlackbone says, "I smell a trap."

KitLeeds scrutinizes the ship.

ShanksWilson says, "You always smell a trap! That's why you can swing aboard first, matey."

FeldenBlackbone says (to ShanksWilson), "It always is, too."

FeldenBlackbone says, "Real creative, them bad guys are."

GM says (to KitLeeds), "the top deck of the ship is bare"

GM says, "it looks like a merchant ship, not a pirate ship"

KitLeeds says, "No one aboveboards."

GM says, "But, perched on the crow's nest, you spot the hawk"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "is that a word? It is now."

KitLeeds says, "hawk ahoy"

[rpg] GM says, "it seems aboveboard to me"

KitLeeds says, "Proceed with caution, mates."

GM asks, "Going to close with the ship? Or avoid it?"

FeldenBlackbone says, "Cap'n's the Cap'n."

FeldenBlackbone waits for Shanks.

KitLeeds asks, "Captain?"

KitLeeds asks, "Oh god, we took on a fresh store of rum, didn't we?"

FeldenBlackbone asks, "Shall I get the bucket ... again?"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "hee"

GM says, "we will say that the sailors continue to close with the ship as Shanks stares out at the horizon"

FeldenBlackbone shrugs. "Ah well."

GM says, "the other ship continues motionless, and does nothing as your ship gets closer and closer until finally it's close enough that your sailors put out ladders to connect the two"

KitLeeds eyes the hawk.

SmokyPete says, "Let's inspect her, laddies."

FeldenBlackbone crosses first.

SmokyPete crosses to the other ship behind Felden.

MotherWestWind says (to Kit), "I reckon you could take it down with one shot."

FeldenBlackbone smells for anything unusual, like decaying bodies.

GM says, "Mother West Wind wrinkles her nose at the traces of dark magic that still hang around the ship"

GM says, "as, in fact, does Felden"

GM says, "The hawk sits up on the crow's nest, watching you all"

KitLeeds says (to Mother), "Pete's better with pistols."

SmokyPete asks (of Mother), "You want it down?"

FeldenBlackbone listens to the deck for noises belowground.

MotherWestWind says, "Aye; there's something unnatural in it."

SmokyPete takes out a pistol / crouches down for stability / takes careful aim / and lets out a single shot.

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "tell me if I should actually roll"

[rpg] GM says (to SmokyPete), "for this one, just roll your skill in dice (I guess that's 5) vs some target number, and we'll look at the high die instead"

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 5 dice, target 6: 4 3 5 3 2 | 5

GM says, "Pete aims and fires, and the hawk comes tumbling down to the deck, almost right on top of him"

MotherWestWind says, "Fine work, young Peter."

GM says, "Its claws rake a thin bloody line down his arm, and then it falls to the ground"

SmokyPete says, "There y'are."

SmokyPete says, "Ow, that smarts."

FeldenBlackbone keeps circling the deck quietly and listening.

GM says, "Meanwhile, Felden hears no noises from below decks"

MotherWestWind pulls out two pins -- iron, it would seem, not steel -- and inserts them into the hawk's eyes.

GM says, "Investigating, the ship is totally empty of people -- meals are abandoned half-eaten, card games have the cards laid down"

MotherWestWind says, "Life's easier without spies about."

MotherWestWind throws the hawk's body into the ocean where it sinks like a stone.

SmokyPete asks, "Hmm, three people at this table have three aces. Not the most honest folk, were they?"

FeldenBlackbone prods around with his axe for secret compartments and the like.

MotherWestWind asks, "Anything on the navigation charts or the captain's log?"

KitLeeds creeps aboard the ship and searches for any items of interest.

GM says, "The supplies of grain and silk are untouched, but all the meat is gone"

GM says, "including the live animals"

GM says, "Otherwise, the ship seems pretty normal, albeit deserted, with no hint as to why it's empty"

KitLeeds checks in with her statuette.

GM says, "except for one scrap of paper with a compass reading and a drawing of an anchor"

GM says (to Kit), "it feels noticeably warm"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "grargh four dogs are worse than kids sometimes"

KitLeeds says, "Right. It looks like island ho."

MotherWestWind says, "Let's leave this accursed spot."

FeldenBlackbone says, "Nothin' here -- let's no waste time chasing these scoundrels."

KitLeeds pokes the captain.

ShanksWilson jumps in place.

FeldenBlackbone gets the bucket ... again.

ShanksWilson says, "What? I was strategizin'!"

KitLeeds says, "Just checking, cap'n."

FeldenBlackbone is about to toss the water on Shanks when he wakes up.

ShanksWilson says, "Asleep? Awake! STRATEGIZIN'!"

ShanksWilson says, "Nothin' here. Set sail!"

GM asks, "sail where? same line as you were taking before?"

FeldenBlackbone sets the bucket down disappointedly and does sail-rigging stuff.

MotherWestWind asks, "How closely does that course match that course we found on the note?"

ShanksWilson asks, "Aw, Felden, I hates to see ye disappointed. Hows about I turn me back and you splash me but good?"

FeldenBlackbone says, "'s ok Cap'n. This'll 'appen again soon 'nough."

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "hee hee"

GM says (to MotherWestWind), "I believe the original note had the course your ship was taking"

MotherWestWind says, "I mean that new note we just found"

GM says, "oh, I see"

GM says, "yes, pretty close"

MotherWestWind says, "Onwards, then."

FeldenBlackbone exclaims, "Roight then, let's go rub 'em into fine dust!"

[rpg] GM says, "actually, we're at about the half-hour-to-go mark"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone asks, "how much do we need, an hour?"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "never trust a piratey GM!"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM says (to Felden), "no, but I'm going to start pushing things to a conclusion"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "I thought we were close to that anyway"

[rpg] GM says, "now I'm going to push *harder*"

KitLeeds senses the forces of Story looming.

[rpg] (from MotherWestWind) GM says, "Suddenly, HROTH appears."

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "GM says, 'You win! Game over.'"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "hee hee"

FeldenBlackbone practices inspirational mime comedy with his axe.

ShanksWilson says, "Onwards! Sail, ho! Or I'll use your guts for garters!"

KitLeeds practices her blindfolded knife-juggling.

GM says, "You sail onwards for another day or so, when you spot another ship on the horizon -- in fact, you spot at least a half-dozen ships, all floating near by each other, none with sails rigged"

FeldenBlackbone says, "Looks like sea monster territory to me."

SmokyPete yells at the crew to set the rigging, sheet the mainsail, and get Cookie to stop throwin' out the good bits and servin' the bad bits.

GM says, "from the crow's nest, Kit can see they're mired in a cloud of seaweed"

KitLeeds examines her statuette.

GM says, "quite hot now, like a knife left out in the open on a sunny day"

(From FeldenBlackbone) (Cue tense background music, followed by 1.wav)

GM says, "your course takes you directly to it"

KitLeeds says, "Not to panic. I can always tell it its age."

GM asks, "sail around or keep going?"

KitLeeds asks, "Captain?"

ShanksWilson says, "Keep going!"

FeldenBlackbone uses the bucket.

MotherWestWind says, "I would recommend we skirt around it, if anyone bothers to want to opinion of an old lady."

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "yay bucket"

ShanksWilson says, "Bucket, bah. If this ship founders, there's a half dozen better ones out there!"

FeldenBlackbone also sharpens his axe. "All work and no play make Felden a dull boy. All work and no play make Felden a dull boy. All work and no play make Felden a dull boy...

ShanksWilson mutters some more about insubordination.

GM says, "as you get closer, Kit sees the ships are linked together by walkways made of what looks to be coral"

KitLeeds says, "oh no."

GM says, "and on the deck of one, coral cages hold a few dozen people"

ShanksWilson says, "Right, then, perhaps we'd best be skirting this."

KitLeeds says, "Thank god."

FeldenBlackbone asks, "Ain't this our objective, like?"

MotherWestWind says, "I'd expect the ritual itself to be performed on dry land."

KitLeeds asks, "Is it?"

FeldenBlackbone says, "to Kit "I guess the statue will tell us."

KitLeeds says, "The statue's hot. That's all it's telling us."

FeldenBlackbone asks, "Yeah, and if we sail past, will it get hotter or colder?"

KitLeeds says, "I have no idea."

FeldenBlackbone asks, "Let's find out, eh?"

ShanksWilson says, "Kit! Hold onto that with both hands, and let's burn those nimble fingers of yours."

GM says, "The faint sound of a horn drifts across the water"

KitLeeds gives the captain an old-fashioned look.

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

FeldenBlackbone gives Kit the bucket.

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "hee he"

KitLeeds says, "Um, horn."

KitLeeds says, "Horn followed by massive hole in water."

GM says, "Kit can see somebody on deck being pulled out of one of the cages"

FeldenBlackbone says, "I guess this _is_ objective then."

GM says, "(by a pirate that came up from belowdecks)"

GM says, "well, no hole as yet"

MotherWestWind asks, "The sound of the horn is coming from the ship w/ the cage?"

KitLeeds puts the statuette in the bucket.

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone asks, "How close are we?"

[rpg] GM says, "not close enough to board, but close enough for Kit to see stuff"

GM says (to MotherWestWind), "yeah, your ship's moved enough to see somebody else on deck holding a horn"

GM says, "(he's actually on the coral bit in the middle of the ships, but)"

FeldenBlackbone asks (of SmokyPete), "Can you blast the bloke with the horn?"

MotherWestWind whistles up one heck of a wind to carry our vessel right to our destination.

SmokyPete says (to Felden), "Will do."

ShanksWilson paces the deck of the ship looking impressive and awake.

SmokyPete takes out a spare pistol, takes aim, and fires.

GM says, "Your ship turns and moves towards the group of ships as Pete fires"

GM says, "the bullet skips, striking off chunks of coral near the man's feet"

GM says, "He gestures towards your ship and shouts something as he hastily retreats down off the coral"

KitLeeds says, "Curses."

GM asks, "are you trying to board the ship here?"

FeldenBlackbone kisses his blade for good luck. As soon as the ship gets close enough he leaps on board and starts slashing his way towards the horn-blower.

MotherWestWind says, "I reckon so"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "Well, I don't know what _they're_ planning on doing, but he's boarding it anyway"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

GM says, "as you get closer, it soon becomes evident that these are no ordinary pirates coming up from under the deck"

GM says, "they're covered in seaweed and dripping wet, with the faces of drowned men"

GM says, "in short, zombie pirates"

ShanksWilson vaults over the railing and follows Felden, after a sip of rum for courage.

FeldenBlackbone says, "Excellent. I've always wanted to see what my axe did against zombies."

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 2 dice, target 3: 2 5 | 1

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 2 dice, target 3: 4 4 | 0

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "zombie ninja robot pirates, to be precise"

SmokyPete follows Felden, pistol in each hand.

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 1 die, target 5: 5 | 1

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 1 die, target 5: 1 | 1

GM says, "The people in the cages on deck shout to you for help as they see your ship approaching"

FeldenBlackbone spins as he lands, right on his right shoulder, giving a yelp of pain. He hops to his feet and manages to thwack one zombie in the process.

ShanksWilson cleaves his way through the crowd, following Felden towards the horn-blower - ducking one zombie, slashing at another zombie, pirouetting around a third zombie.

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 2 dice, target 4: 5 4 | 1

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 2 dice, target 4: 5 4 | 1

KitLeeds vaults on to the ship and examines the cages for an opening.

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone asks, "where is the horn-blower standing now?"

GM says (to KitLeeds), "you can go ahead and do some action to get these people freed, and that'll count towards the fight of the people as a whole"

MotherWestWind pulls out a short chunk of wood and a short length of rope. "Wood of the victim's coffin, / rope of the murderer's nose, bring those boys back into their watery graves." She snapes the wood in two and wraps it with the rope / and then tosses the bundle into the ocean.

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "3/1 Let's say."

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 3 dice, target 4: 3 6 1 | 2

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 1 die, target 4: 4 | 1

[rpg] GM says (to FeldenBlackbone), "behind a wall of zombies, at the moment"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone asks, "Is he in *front* of a wall of zombies?"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

FeldenBlackbone asks (of Shanks), "Mind if I toss you?"

[rpg] GM says, "no, he's back on a third ship which isn't the one with the cage"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "aw, ok"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "I was going to get all Lord of the Rings there"

KitLeeds works at the lock of one cage, forcing it open, then opens another.

GM says, "You guys hew down zombies left and right, while Kit opens the locks"

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 2 dice, target 5: 1 5 | 2

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 2 dice, target 5: 2 6 | 1

[rpg] GM says, "col"

[rpg] GM says, "er, cool"

FeldenBlackbone exclaims, "Kit! Don't forget to arm those lads! They can hamstring for us!"

KitLeeds just so happens to have an assortment of knives, theleast favorite of which she hands out to the prisoners.

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

GM says, "meanwhile, the guy with the horn is pointing and gesturing upwards"

ShanksWilson says (to Felden), "Toss away, m'lad, toss away!"

[Crows-Nest] FeldenBlackbone says, "Kit is that guy from Lost"

GM says, "impossibly the sky turns from noon to night"

SmokyPete says, "Uh oh."

FeldenBlackbone says (to Shanks), "As soon as we're close enough...."

KitLeeds runs back to her ship and grabs the statuette.

GM says, "This time when he blows the horn, the ocean roars"

GM says, ""I AM HROTH!" he shouts. "I WILL DESTROY YOU ALL!""

FeldenBlackbone shouts. "Pete! Are those cannons loaded?

SmokyPete exclaims (at Felden), "They will be!"

ShanksWilson starts thinking about getting back on his ship and sailing away.

[Crows-Nest] MotherWestWind says, ""PERHAPS YOU KNOW MY BROTHER, ACERARAK"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "totally"

[rpg] GM says, "ok, this is the last bit here"

[Crows-Nest] FeldenBlackbone says, "I thought of this as more of a Lovecraft critter"

[rpg] GM says, "unsurprisingly"

SmokyPete gets his crew re-aiming the cannon on the zombie ship / aiming them at Hroth's ship / and setting grapeshot instead of solid shot / as he yells "FIRE!"

[rpg] GM says, "the target is 20 and you have 4 rounds to hit it"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone asks, "Are Shanks and Felden close enough for the horn-guy?"

[rpg] MotherWestWind asks, "Limit on dice is upped?"

[rpg] GM says, "*but* you need to get 2 defense successes each round"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "gracious, we're in trouble"

[rpg] GM says, "and yeah, you can get up to 6 dice for defense"

[rpg] GM says, "er, up to 6 dice total"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "oh"

[rpg] SmokyPete asks, "can I retroactively add two more?"

[rpg] GM says, "sure"

[rpg] GM says (to Felden), "sure, at this point anything goes"

SmokyPete's men fire the cannon / and the shot skips across the waves toward Hroth.

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 4 dice, target 5: 6 4 1 1 | 3

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 2 dice, target 5: 5 4 | 2

[rpg] GM says, "good work"

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "(I keep cheering when I roll a 6, then I realize, and then I am extra-sad)"

[rpg] GM asks, "who's next?"

[rpg] GM says, "aww"

FeldenBlackbone turns back to Shanks and says, "Piece o' cake. This'll be like the old days." and picks up Shanks and tosses him bodily through the air, aiming for the hook to impale horn blower in the chest while shouting "If he's got the amulet, grab it off him!"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "this'll be fun"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone says, "so, let me roll first for the throw"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 3 dice, target 5: 6 5 4 | 2

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 3 dice, target 5: 5 4 4 | 3

[rpg] GM asks, "ok, Shanks?"

ShanksWilson soars through the air with a deft somersault / and lands solidly on the horn blower / hook impacting him in the chest. / Shanks stands, kicks the blower in the face / then slashes once / and twice to finish the job.

[rpg] KitLeeds asks, "I am unclear. Hroth is the ocean, right? Doesn't have a ship?"

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 4 dice, target 4: 1 2 5 6 | 2

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 2 dice, target 4: 3 4 | 2

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, "well, got my defense, at least"

[rpg] GM says, "he's on one of the ships, just not the one you were docked with, or the one with the cages"

GM says, "Hroth gurgles as your cutlass slices him open, and the horn drops to the deck of the ship."

KitLeeds examines the statuette.

GM says (to KitLeeds), "it's actually writhing now, slowly but surely"

KitLeeds says, "yee"

KitLeeds asks, "and the eyes?"

GM says, "are glowing brightly"

GM says, "The ocean, meanwhile, is still roaring -- next to the ship that Hroth is on, the waters have begun to swirl"

ShanksWilson looks at the swirling. "That's not good.

MotherWestWind brings out a small thing -- a doll, it would seem, with a smattering of hair and clothes. / She opens that vial of blood and pours it over the doll. / She then brings out some sort of sacrificial dagger, vicious iron. / "Papa Legba, Lord of the Dead, listen now to my plea." / "Strike down this man who has taken yours from you." / She then abruptly stabs the dagger into the doll, twisting the blade where its heart would be.

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Hmmm. I think I'm going to blow all 6 dice into offence and just suck up the damage with karma."

[rpg] MotherWestWind rolls 6 dice, target 4: 2 5 3 1 1 6 | 4

[rpg] GM asks (of Kit), "doing anything more?"

KitLeeds looks nonplussed at the statuette, and attempts to pry its eyes out with one of her daggers.

FeldenBlackbone notices Mother with the doll. "Try that on the statue!"

[rpg] GM asks (of Kit), "I dunno, dice?"

Miseri disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

[rpg] GM says, "if you aren't using any particular skill, you can roll it versus 2, although maybe this qualifies as being a Rogue"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "or daggers"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Prying out gem eyes? Ohyeah"

[rpg] GM says, "true dat"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "Rogue it is"

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 5 dice, target 5: 6 5 1 6 5 | 3

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 1 die, target 5: 2 | 1

GM says, "The water continues to spin, opening up into a larger vortex"

GM says, "Hroth staggers to his feet, blood still dripping from the gaping wound in his chest, and eyes glowing blue"

GM asks (of SmokyPete), "what next?"

SmokyPete leaps towards Hroth / emptying a first pair of pistols as he runs. / He throws them aside / and pulls out another set / and keeps blasting / and finally throws the empty pistols at Hroth / hitting him in the head.

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 4 dice, target 5: 2 3 3 3 | 4

[rpg] SmokyPete rolls 2 dice, target 5: 4 1 | 2

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Heh"

KitLeeds says (to Mother), "I'm out of ifeas with this statue thing."

[rpg] SmokyPete says, "it was the extra pistol/head damage that made it work"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

MotherWestWind says, "That's alright, child. Not every key can open a door."

GM says, "The collection of coral-linked ships are now starting to spin around as the vortex in the ocean widens"

[rpg] ShanksWilson asks, "how dead is hroth so far?"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "I have the count at 14/20"

[rpg] GM says, "he's pretty smashed again"

ShanksWilson screams, "Aieee! The Eye of the Sea!" and drinks more rum to steady himself.

KitLeeds kicks the statuette.

[rpg] GM says, "ha ha ha"

[rpg] ShanksWilson asks, "who's up?"

[rpg] GM asks, "you?"

KitLeeds glares at the ever-widening whirlpool and yells "STOP THAT!"

[rpg] GM says, "hee hee"

[rpg] GM says (to Kit), "well, feel free to roll dice for that"

[rpg] GM says, "I don't see why it shouldn't work"

[rpg] KitLeeds asks, "what, 2?"

FeldenBlackbone grabs another barrel from the deck / muttering an ancient curse / while rushing and yelling like a banshee / barrelling through zombies like a battering ram / blood drooling from his mouth / as he pummels hroth with a throw to the head.

[rpg] GM says, "yeah, I guess so"

ShanksWilson charges at Hroth and flails his cutlass around, hoping to land a blow. / He ducks under one of Hroth's swings / then hacks at his legs / until his sword gets stuck in Hroth's side. / Following Smoky's lead, he drinks his rum / and throws the flask @ Hroth

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 5 dice, target 2: 6 2 5 5 6 | 1

[rpg] ShanksWilson rolls 6 dice, target 4: 3 5 3 6 6 2 | 3

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "I'm disappointed you're not crushing his head between your mighty thews."

[rpg] KitLeeds rolls 1 die, target 2: 1 | 1

[rpg] GM asks (of Felden), "roll?"

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 5 dice, target 5: 2 6 5 4 1 | 4

[rpg] FeldenBlackbone rolls 1 die, target 5: 1 | 1

[rpg] GM says, "I guess that makes it over twenty"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "woo hoo"

FeldenBlackbone ignores the zombie who decided to cling to his arm and gnaw a little

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "go mighty thews"

[rpg] MotherWestWind says, "Heroes: 1, Zombie Pirates: 0"

GM says, "As Felden smashes into Hroth, the zombie collapses, with a final "Hroooooth""

GM says, "meanwhile, Kit shouts at the whirlpool, and whether by coincidence or real effect, it chooses that moment to stop rushing"

[rpg] ShanksWilson says, ""you're two hundred years old, whirlpool!""

KitLeeds says, "That's more like it."

GM says, "The ships sway back and forth crazily as the ocean rushes to fill the depression the whirlpool left behind"

KitLeeds straightens her hair and hangs on.

GM says, "But when the rocking slows, you're all still there"

[rpg] KitLeeds says, "bahahaha"

GM says, "meanwhile, the zombies have dropped to or off the deck"

GM says, "and the people freed from cages are all looking seasick"

FeldenBlackbone exclaims, "Yaaaaargh!"

GM says, "so really there's nothing left to do except loot Hroth's ancient treasures from belowdecks on these ships, move them into your ship along with the ex-prisoners, and sail off into the sunset"

KitLeeds exclaims, "hooray!"

ShanksWilson says, "Second island to the right, straight on until morning!"

KitLeeds exclaims, "Arrr!"

FeldenBlackbone says, "Yar, ancient treasure."

ShanksWilson looks to see if his wife is one of the zombie pirates.

FeldenBlackbone says (to Shanks), "Good slashin', cap'n."

ShanksWilson says, "Isabel .. Isabel!""

MotherWestWind exclaims, "Yarrrr, the zombi pirate army is now mine!"

SmokyPete exclaims, "Yay us!"

ShanksWilson falls to his knees sobbing. "Oh, Isabel!"

ShanksWilson says, "Oh, wait, no. This one was my mistress."

GM says, "ha ha aie"

ShanksWilson puts his boot on the corpse's hip and shoves the body overboard.

MotherWestWind says, "If the turn had gotten around back to me, I was going to sic the blue fireflies of doom on him."

FeldenBlackbone says, "Just Kit's voice is enough, apparently."

GM says, "anyway, I hope everyone had fun -- this system is taking me a while to get used to"

MotherWestWind says, "I had fun."

MotherWestWind says, "It's too bad there's no real mechanism for teamwork or co-operation. That, coupled with the way the system works, kinda made me feel a tendency towards one-ups-manship rather than feeling like a team."

KitLeeds walks the plank to adventure. Arr!

KitLeeds arrives, looking for booty.

SmokyPete says (to mww), "interesting point"

SmokyPete says, "anyway, gotta go, it's bathtime"

SmokyPete has disconnected.

SmokyPete goes home.

KitLeeds asks, "What interesting point?"

lno sneezes.

GM says, "yeah, I think that may be intentional in that action movies are kind of about the heroes showing off individually rather than working together"

GM says, "but it gives kind of a weird feel to combat"

Ghogg says, "I admit I was not terribly fond of the system"

GM says, "anyway, the other weird stylistic thing about this is there aren't supposed to be any tricks or mysteries"

GM says, "so you aren't supposed to puzzle out how the statuette works or anything"

GM says, "you're just supposed to assert it works a certain way and then roll some dice"

MotherWestWind says, "Well, that's true of pretty much any No Myth approach."

Stacey says, "oho"

GM says (to Stacey), "which I didn't really realize until the very end of the game when you were trying to do that stuff with it"

MotherWestWind says (to GM), "Yeah, I think you might have needed to iterate the "There is no try" idea a bit more strongly. At least, that's how the system-as-written strikes me."

GM says, "and I realized I didn't really have a mechanism as GM for making your action do anything"

GM says, "I'm not even sure I am supposed to be narrating anything in between rounds, but I guess if I didn't things wouldn't go at all"

Ghogg says, "I'm trying to articulate what felt wrong..."

GM says, "given how today's went I think I'll try to emphasize a few things tomorrow before play starts"

Ghogg says, "I guess the 'game' part of it seemed, er, a little too basic for me"

MotherWestWind says, "I think inky was pulling his punches here as the bad guys, either intentionally or not."

GM says, "mostly unintentionally, I think"

GM says, "I didn't have a good feel for what numbers to put you up against"

MotherWestWind says, "Yeah. Also you didn't really use any of our negative traits."

GM says, "like probably the last fight should have been 30 or 40 as a limit, not 20, if you had 4 rounds to do it in"

GM says, "man, good point"

Ghogg says, "Like, hm, it'd have been better if we just narrated and let the GM have the bad guys die when he felt it was dramatically appropriate."

GM says, "that was something I meant to do but totally spaced on"

MotherWestWind says, "Hey, no worries -- a new system takes some time to get i