[IC] New Crobuzon & the World Beyond

[Betimi]

"We have but two options. flrr ny diving or surrender and negotiate.  If we try to engage, I am afraid the toll will be too costly. I will do as you command. Once you give the order I will summon and bond with the most appropriate vestige for our needs."

[OoC note that as you said this was early, she is still bound to Leraje from the day befre, it has not yet been 24 hours.  She will have to expel Leraje if another vestige is needed]

[Selina Parcellus]

Selina is deep in thought, delicate brows knitted in concentration as she weighs her options.

She had no interest in parleying with a group of undead, regardless of how highly they may view themselves.  She wanted to cleanse the cosmos of Undeath, in keeping with the will of her goddess.

But this circumstance had many variable which were forcing her hand towards Betimi's third option.  She had a number of non-combatants which she was honor-bound to protect, a group of men-at-arms who deserved to see their true commander home for a proper burial, and needed a way to get them all back home.  If she ordered an attack, they would follow her command and, most likely, perish in great numbers with a large amount of damage done to the ship itself.  She could not countenance such a choice.

"Very well, I have made my decision.  We will retreat, following discretion as the better part of valour, by whatever means necessary."

[GM Marvel]

[OoC: Sorry for the delay in posting.  I've been popping on once in a while to post for my characters so I don't lag other games.]

When Selina gives the Captain the word, Simon says, "We better get our backpacks on.  We don't want to be scrambling at the last moments for parachutes."  He waves to some guards and asks them to bring the chutes.  "How many will we need?  Do the guards stay with the ship?  Are they coming with us?  Are some staying and some going?"

[Betimi]

Betimi accepts her chute and slips it on before looking at the kobolds. 

"Are you jumping individually or did you want to each be strapped onto another person?

[Ningalu Baal'urki]

Ningalu is still deathly afraid of jumping and it shows.    He does not break concentration on his illusion.

"I can go wirth Tomreal or Betimi?"  he deliberately is trying to team up with one of the two that aced the test/practice.

[GM Marvel]

[OoC: The last I heard everyone was still interested in playing but there hasn't been any posts.  So I'm going to push on and maybe it might encourage a response... ]

While the group begins donning their chutes, the captain pushes the wheel forward and the airship's nose pitches steeply causing everyone to to stumble backward.  Desperately grabbing for rails, ropes or whatever else is close at hand to steady yourselves, your vision is suddenly obscured by the thick clouds you were just moments before sailing above.  

The captain yells, "Using the cloud for concealment.  Hopefully they have a tougher time of it locating us!"

The cloud was blocking most vision.  Even those standing beside you were hazy at best.  Some minutes later a crackling flash of lightning flashes across the bow.  Likely a warning from your pursuers.  The captain yells, "Dammit!  If we stay in these clouds much longer we're sure to be toast!  We'll have to dip out of the cloud bank before we're blasted apart!"

The airship pitches forward once again and seconds later the cloud lifts around you like a great thick curtain, allowing you to see once again.   Another flash erupts from the clouds behind you as a jagged stroke of lightning blasts into the back tail of the ship.  A wave of heat and splinters of wood washes briefly over everyone but is quickly whisked away by the ship's speed and the altitudes high, chilly, winds.  While trailing flames, the ship weaves through the mountain peaks trying to stay out of sight of the pursuing ship which has descended out of the cloud bank, right on your heels.  

"Get ready to jump!"  The captain yells.  

Most of your group had their chutes on except Nacesh, Forge and Kee who were unable to get back on their feet to retrieve their packs.  Forge yells at everyone, "Just jump!  We will stay with the ship.  If we have a chance we'll parachute in and catch up!  Don't argue!  Just go!!!"

Simon doesn't need to be told twice.  He makes his way to the closest side of the ship and peers over the railing.  The wind batters his face making it difficult to open his eyes.  But through slits he can make out what looks like a mountain peek that appears to have been sheered off, revealing an opening to parachute into.  "The strange energy reading are likely coming from that hole,"  Simon yells over the roaring of the wind.  "Aim for the hole and try not to get yourselves killed!!" Simon then throws one leg over the side and prepares to jump.

[Betimi]

Betimi walks over to Namg and buckles his harness into hers

"Ready little one?" As she waddles with Nang over to the rail she addresses Tonreal. "Can you get the fearful one?"

[Selina Parcellus]

Selina cautiously returns to the site of her utter failure.  She had no idea if she would survive this time, especially given the lack of tether to the ship.  But she was not about to turn coward after showing the little kobold such encouragement earlier.  To the Inferno with this plane anyway!

As the captain navigates while running from bolts of lightning, she nods to his explanations and good the guardrail to make sure his evasive action does not send her flying off.

She nods silently to Simon, then yells "Aim for the hole!  Got it!"

Looking around to make sure everyone else is ready, she cinches the straps a bit tighter...annnnd jumps!

[GM Marvel]

[OoC: Sorry.  All work and a newly broken foot makes GM Marvel a slow poster.     ]

The captain sees you all readying to jump so he gives the signal and one of his sailors at the back of the ship opens a strange flask.  A trickle of black smoke drifts from the opening then suddenly the space around him is engulfed in inky blackness.  

"JUMP!" Yells the Captain.  "The smoke will cover you!!"

One by one each of you jump out of the boat.  As the last of you leap the Airship suddenly lurches upward and disappears into the smoke that was covering your escape.  You all drift toward the dark crevas in the mountain top...

[OoC2:  I need 1 dexterity check and 3 balance checks.  Anyone who was successful in practice gains a +2 on the roll.]

[Selina Parcellus]

Despite having a jump under her belt, Selina is still imbalanced and uncertain.  It shows as she barely pulls the mechanism in time.

Dexterity: [1d20+1] = 13+1 = 14, Balance: [1d20+1] = 10+1 = 11, Balance: [1d20+1] = 10+1 = 11, Balance: [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6