The Planewalkers' Journies

[Jak Snide]

"Could they be mephits?" he asked, not moving from his spot just yet.

[Idran1701]

Wisprunner

As Shawn watches, the crew gathers near the edge of the ship below her, staring out into the mist themselves. At Zan't suggestion, the mephits of the ship obviously tense, glaring into the clouds, clenching their fists, or otherwise showing signs of displeasure. A yet-nameless one speaks up, "If they were steam, they wouldn't be...lurking like this. Mists, I bet! Hiding like the cowards they are!"

Gathenrakfast replies, "Ha! Let the green bastards hide, it shows their terror of us! What else can you expect from the sniveling imps? They know they're nothing compared to steam!"

Meanwhile, any signs of motion Shawn might have seen before...stop. But for the random drifting, things are utterly still now.

[Kai]

It was possible that speeding through the air tethered to the side of a great placid flying inflated beast could lose its novelty. Theoretically anything could. Joss wasn't predicting it, though. What a fantastic turn of events! Joss had been so curious about these creatures before, but hadn't really had a proper excuse to play with th--

Bond with them. Bonding was something that men did in the wilds of nature with the great and majestic beasts they found there. They were bonding, he and Zippy.

It was a shame to have inter-mephit faction conflicts interfering with such a splendid day. To Joss there was little difference between one kind of mephit and another. Surely they were just people, right?

He hoped so. He'd hate to develop even a well-founded prejudice against anyone. Seemed like such an upsettingly adult thing to do.

[NebulaQueen]

Anne swept through the rigging lines, tugging and tightening the lines as instructed by Zippy. She began to sink into a rhythm, and moved amongst the groans of the ship and shouts of the sailors. Pull here, tug here, release there, and do it all over again and again and again.

She wiped the sweat from her brow, and turned towards the steam mephits. "Whaddya mean by cowards?" she asked, glancing away from the ropes for a moment.

[Idran1701]

Wisprunner

One of the nameless mephits turns to Anne, speaking up with a sneer. "They sneak around in the fog, too craven to step forward! They cower, watching and waiting, giving their little pinpricks against us because they know they would have no chance if they faced us openly and equally. They don't deserve Steam, and it's our responsibility to show that until they either surrender, leave, or die. Steam for steam!"

The non-mephits begin milling around, some watching the mists, others keeping to themselves. A few slight frowns appear on the faces of some; long-since resigned expressions to this sort of talk on others, but none speak up about the matter themselves, leaving the mutters and shouts of agreements to the rest of the mephit crew.

[Kai]

Joss frowned at this rather racist display from the steam mephits. Of course on either side of such a conflict he'd expect people to be unreasonable and irrational, but this was just mean.

How did this start? Why were the steam and mist mephits fighting? What reason did they have to attack the steam mephits even if they knew they couldn't win? What with the steam mephits do to drive them beyond self-preservation like that? The idea that he might have taken up passage with the "bad guys" was deeply vexing to him, and it was clear he'd need to figure this whole thing out before he ended up needing to choose sides.

While Joss was working, he'd found himself chatting with the mephits that passed by him on their various duties, and at any rate that Gathenrakfast seemed sociable enough. Perhaps he could ask him, have a private conversation about the whole business. Joss approached him and scratched the back of his head somewhat awkwardly. "Um, can I ask a question? What's going on between you guys? Between you and the mist guys, I mean."

[Idran1701]

Wisprunner

Turning to Joss, he snorts towards where Shawn may have sighted a mephit before replying. "No big mystery there. They want this plane, and they want to get rid of us to take it. They wish us dead, and they wish the plane for their own. So we fight back, and prove our rightful claim! We embody the true nature of Steam, and their feeble attacks do nothing to change that."

[Kai]

Joss tilted his head. That's a reasonable thing to be upset about, he supposed.

Still. It was weird. Why do people do this crap? Then again...

"So why do they want to take over Steam? Don't they have somewhere else to go?"

[Idran1701]

Wisprunner

"They claim that we're the intruders, as ridiculous as that is. That they're the ones that deserve this plane. Hmph. They have no claim to this plane, they deserve nothing!" Turning to the other mephits, he rattles off something in what can only be assumed to be Aquan,

Spoiler:

"If they show themselves, we'll boil* the lot of them! Right, brothers?" (*:closest translation for the profanity used, it could also be translated as "burn" or "inflame")

[Kai]

Things were getting complicated. First the mist mephits were the invaders, and now they were claimed to be the rightful native inhabitants of the plane? Each of them claiming they deserved the space wasn't unexpected, but who was here first?

It would be perversely appropriate if they were both native to the plane, but who could say.

"So... someone's gotta ask the dumb question. Is there really not space for both of you guys to be here?" Joss gestured vaguely toward the air around the ship. "I mean, I don't really know how everything works around here, but it doesn't look like you're lacking for space. How did you guys get to be fighting over it?"

[Idran1701]

Wisprunner

"It doesn't matter how much space there is. They want it all, and they deserve none! They wouldn't be happy until our kind is wiped from the plane!"

Caught up in the moment, Gathenrakfast doesn't seem to notice, nor do the rest of the mephits, but the air about the ship seems to be thickening. Things grow less clear, as the mist drifts over the deck, just beginning to obscure vision throughout the deck.

[Jak Snide]

Zant was not pleased with this turn of events. He hadn't anticipated such discord between two varieties of what he saw as the same species. He wasn't a stranger to racism, but this was a whole different league, assuming these sort of views were held by both sides in their entirety. Joss had stepped forwards and tried to calm the brewing storm, but he could see this is wasn't something a that could be solved with so few words. The thickening of the mist confirmed this, and the chosen soul knew that things were about to take a bad turn. He hadn't given up hope of avoiding the conflict, but he knew it would be prudent to be prepared. Calming his mind he muttered a prayer to Istishia, asking for his aid in this matter, both guidance and protection

(Praying for Resistance on himself.)

He turned to the side which Shawn had spotted them from, moving towards as he spoke in Aquan, his words projected more to those lurking in the mist than those on deck.

"Must it come to this? No words exchanged, no attempt to seek calm waters? This is not the way in which Lord Istishia would wish matters to transpire."

[Seethe]

Rosalyn found it fortunate that this disturbance had chosen a moment when she wasn't strapped into the steering pouches. If the mist mephits did attack, at least she'd be able to move around. But she seriously hoped they wouldn't attack, not wanting to have what had so far been quite an exciting ride be ruined by the grim affair of racial warfare. Furthermore, Rosalyn had been growing quite fond of Zippy, working so closely with the fabere, and didn't want to see any harm brought to the creature.

Hearing Joss' conversation, she thought for a moment about the tower the group was looking for. Was it mist mephits that were supposed to be based inside the tower? ... No, it was ice mephits there. Of course, that had only been a rumor, but it seemed upsetting that the mephits seemed so inclined to go to war with each other over such a small thing as the elemental affinity of their race. It was almost as bad as humans.

She didn't like the thought of getting drawn into the present conflict, seeing that neither side seemed to truly be the "bad guys." However, though she couldn't take a side on moral grounds, self-preservation would require that she defend herself against the mist mephits if they came after her. On top of that, she would have to defend Zippy as well, as the fabere would likely be a fairly high-priority target in the coming battle. Taking up her bow and locking it into her gauntlet, she resolved to allow no harm to be inflicted on the creature.

[Justice Augustus]

Meanwhile anyone who was in the vicinity of the cargo area would have heard the following sotto muttering: "...trained to be a historian...oooh, you can put your pen to good use...go list what's in the hold...I was a researcher of Candlekeep...everyone else having all the exciting experiences...I could've been feeding our mount but noooooo...wasting my great intellect on this..." and so on. Lux was not happy.

[Idran1701]

Wisprunner

Zant makes his beseechment to the mists, but no response is issued at first. The fog continues its flow about the deck, enwrapping them, before it begins to condense. And shortly...

...mephits fill the air. At least two dozen of them, maybe more, surrounding the crew and covering the deck. They give a glare of rage to the steam mephits, just as harsh as the one they receive in return. Slimmer and smaller in stature, but their claws and teeth just as sharp. At their arrival, the captain turns to face them, with a howl of rage, the rest of the mephits on both sides quickly joining in. The mists seem to be focusing their attention on the steams, ignoring both the party and the rest of the crew, claws beared with death in their eyes.

---

First off! Lux could indeed hear that roar, but it'll take him a round to get up from the lower deck onto the surface.

Initiative:

Shawn: 22
Lux: 20
Mist Mephits: 16
Joss: 15
Rosalyn: 13
Steam Mephits: 13
Crew: 10
Zant: 8
Anne: 6

There's so many here that I won't bother with a combat map; if you want a target, you'll be able to find one at the appropriate distance on deck. As well, all targets will be considered flanked, due to the sheer number of members in combat.

Also, to repeat my standards for board combat: First, no worries about posting in initiative order. If you have a move, make it.

Second, feel absolutely free to post up to two rounds' worth of moves in your post. With conditionals even, if you'd like; "John'll do this if the enemy's still alive that round, otherwise he'll do this." If something comes up where the move you posted is no longer feasible or especially dangerous, I'll try to get in touch with you for an alternate move, and if I can't do that then I'll come as close to it as I can without endangering your character more than you'd have expected originally.

Third, if too long goes without a post from a character (let's say 24 hours), I'll go ahead and NPC their moves as ICly and fairly as I can, just to keep things going. I'll try to stick with this, and we'll be using this in combats even if the PC is simply indisposed, just to keep from slowing things down too much.

[Justice Augustus]

Lux drops his quill and list with a clatter, and sprints towards the stairs to the deck, readying a bolt in his crossbow as he moves. Once he reaches the entrance to the deck he fires at an easily available target, and then switches to his rapier, fighting from the doorway if possible to avoid being flanked. If he is unable to reach anyone from the doorway he reluctantly but bravely charges towards the nearest mephit that is fighting another member of his party, preferring to team up on the creatures rather than take on new targets alone.

[Jak Snide]

Zant sighed, telling himself that this was inevitable and even an appeal to his Lord's will wouldn't be able to stay actions fueled by years of hatred and fighting. His hand went to his hammer, and he looked about for any of his companions who had come under attack, intending to help them first. Failing that he would seek to aid the non-mephit members of the crew, neither side of the racial dispute earning his sympathy even remotely at the moment.

(Seeking to fight alongside party members who've engaged in melee or, failing that, crew members. If he sees any of the party take significant damage he'll break off in the second turn to tend to their injuries with a Cure Light Wounds spell)

[Seethe]

Rosalyn noted that the mist mephits seemed to only be going after the steam mephits. If they were avoiding the crew now, then there was probably no real threat to anyone but the mephits other than what they might incur by taking a side or what might happen by accident. Perhaps the fabere might even escape unharmed.

However, there were no guarantees. On top of that, whoever the aggressor was in the overall war, this particular skirmish was obviously the mists' idea. It would be one thing if the steams here had been a military unit on patrol and looking for a fight, but they weren't. All they had been doing was operating a steamship trying to get Rosalyn and her party to their destination. They may not have shirked from this battle, but that didn't mean they deserved to be killed.

So, that decided it. Though she would take no pleasure in it, she entered the battle without hesitation.

(OOC: Rosalyn's current load is 61 lbs and consists of her bow, arrows, longsword, breastplate, and locked gauntlet. Her armor, however, is medium in weight. The rest of her possessions are currently stored in her quarters.

In both rounds, if she isn't presently in a threatened space, she will fire two arrows at the most vulnerable mephit using the Rapid Shot feat. If she is in a threatened space and there is an unthreatened space within five feet, she will step into it before firing. If there are no unthreatened spaces within five feet, she will take a five-foot step towards the closest unthreatened space, draw her longsword, and attack. If she draws her sword, she will use it one-handed while holding her bow in the other hand.

Unless I decide otherwise or it becomes unreasonable, these will also be her standing orders for the rest of the battle if she gets NPCed.)

[NebulaQueen]

Anne didn't approve of the rivalry between the steam and mist mephits, as it grated against her own "live and let live" policy towards life. After all, the boy was right; certainly there was enough room for both of them, and there was no need to cause such a fuss over an old feud that made no sense. However, while it was all good and well to talk about how they should all relax an sort things out civilly, it was rather impractical at the moment Her personal feelings didn't matter as much as the current reality: as unfair as the mist mephits' lot may have been, a whole load of them were invading her ship (well not really her ship, but the ship-she-was-working-on-and-had-some-attachment-to-dammit-it's-the-principle-of-the-matter), attacking her traveling companions, and undoing all of her hard work!

That simply would not do. In a blink of an eye Anne whipped out her flintlock, and looked around for an opening. Shooting straight into the current brawl would do more harm than good, but not all of them were going after the crew - some of them were going after the ropes! Anne grit her teeth and dashed towards the glorified varmint, and aimed.

(Moving ten feet towards her target, and shooting her gun. After that, she's going to continue picking off the mephits near the ropes, taking cover and reloading as necessary.)

[Idran1701]

Wisprunner - Round 1

As the mephits make their shouts of rage, a third, barely familiar voice joins the shout, as...a creature vaguely resembling Shawn leaps from the deck, landing near Joss and Zant. Stooped over and baring sharp fangs, her head and neck move inhumanly as she looks over the mist mephits with beady yellow eyes. Drawing a short blade and giving a hungry, tooth-filled grin, she dashes forward with a shout - "I loooove mephits!" - stabbing at the closest mist; unfortunately, despite her fearsome appearance, the creature jumps back just in time.

Lux climbs the stairs up, seeing the carnage just in time to spot the first push against the steams, with slashing of claws and gnashing of teeth. Wounded but not down, they fight off the offense, continuing to stand firm. The mists stand their own ground; all but two, at least, which break off, flying to the ropes at the far side of the ship and chewing with gusto.

With his crewmates attacked, Joss gathers his power, forming a ball of pure, acidic energy in his hand, tossing it to one of those that happened to strike. The spell half-contacts its target, grazing its back and forcing it to recoil from the caustic force. Meanwhile, Rosalyn makes her own strike, sending a pair of missiles towards the rope; though one goes wide, the second impales its shoulder, bringing it to release a howl of pain.

Smirking at the scream, the captain calls out, "Reinforcements!" The steam mephits gather their energies, calling out to the plane to bring them aid; with a sizzle and a pop, two more coalesce from the mist, looking around in confusion before spotting the mist mephits and grinning. As they appear, the crew strikes, but are fairly obviously unused to combat, barely even scratching the mists with the combined force of their efforts.

Warhammer in hand, and watchful for the condition of his allies, Zant swings at one of the small imps slinking towards Joss, knocking it back and putting a noticeable dent in its skull. Any pleasure he might draw from this is short-lived, however, as he hears a familiar, skin-crawling sound as Anne makes her own attack. Firing some odd type of crossbow towards the ropes, her projectile misses by a wide margin, but the minor explosion's no less; dampened by the moisture, perhaps, but enough to make the genasi about leap out of his skin.

Shawn(?) leaps from the rope, attempts an attack, but misses.
Lux arrives on deck.
The mist mephits strike against the steam mephits, but for two heading towards the ropes. The steam mephits take some damage, and the ropes are slowly being gnawed through.
Joss casts Lesser Orb of Acid at a mist mephit, hits for 6 damage.
Rosalyn shoots two arrows at one of the two mephits on the ropes, hitting once for 10 damage.
The steam mephits attempt to conjure reinforcements, and two more join the fight.
The crew does poorly against the mist mephits, dealing hardly any damage overall.
Zant attacks the mephit nearest Joss, hits for 3 damage.
Anne aims her flintlock at the other of the two mephits on the ropes, misses and has to spend next round reloading to fire again.

I'll hold off on the second round until Kai has a chance to post.

Round 2!

Shawn: 22
Lux: 20
Mist Mephits: 16
Joss: 15
Rosalyn: 13
Steam Mephits: 13
Crew: 10
Zant: 8
Anne: 6

[Justice Augustus]

Lux looks out at the swirling melee before him, trying to figure out what exactly is going on. "What are we facing here?" he yells, trying to attract the attention of any of his party. He knows one thing for certain, those ropes are needed to prevent this ship from plummeting into whatever depths they may be soaring above. He aims his crossbow at the mephits gnawing on the ropes, and fires.

[Jak Snide]

Zant tried to keep his head about him as the world started to go mad. First there was Shawn who'd decided to reveal her nature in a disturbing fashion and now someone was using explosives. As if the din of this fight wasn't enough. Still, this was no time to get distracted. Assuming the mephit he'd clobbered didn't do the sensible thing and run he'd keep fighting.

[Kai]

Joss had tried to be understanding. He'd tried his best to make peace between these two sides in his own small way and if the mist mephits had just not attacked them for no damn reason then everything would have been fine. He and Gathenrakfast would perhaps have come to some understanding about the proper honorable treatment of other inhabitants of the same plane or at the very least the proper mindset to carry into war.

But no. No, now there were mist mephits. To their credit they didn't attack the travellers on board the ship immediately, focusing their attention on the steam mephits. At least it meant they weren't willing to blindly kill people associated by chance with their enemies. Unfortunately for them... they weren't just associated by chance with the Wisprunner's mephits. These were Joss's crew and there was no way he was going to allow them to be attacked without doing something about it.

So, much as he'd rather there not be a fight at all, Joss began bringing out the destructive magic that was his main combat strength. Momentarily he wished he'd gotten a chance to let the crew know that he was willing to defend them to that extent, but at the time it would have seemed like just so much bragging about his abilities.

He noted with surprise that he wasn't the only one holding something back, and watched Shawn throw herself into battle with an enthusiasm that he had to approve of. Even if he wasn't particularly affectionate toward the girl personally, she undeniably had the right idea. Find a place to make a difference and, hell, might as well enjoy it.

The answer was acid. He wished the answer could have been fire, but a man couldn't have his way all the time. Acid would do.

That done, he glanced quickly over to Lux and wondered how secure he was in situations like this. He had a crossbow, but then... lots of non-combat sort of folk had crossbows. It didn't seem right to leave the inquisitive scholar all to himself in a battle where Joss could more than afford to try and look out for him. Just didn't sit right.

Joss made his way over to the rather confused-looking gentleman and answered, "Mist mephits attacking the steam mephits for no reason." It was the most succinct explanation Joss could give as he prepared to spend the majority of the fight ensuring that no mephits came to strike out at Lux for trying to keep the rigging clear.

((Did you add Joss' warmage edge to the damage of his acid orb spell? If not, that was 6 damage and not 3. This round he's preparing to cast the same spell again--for 1d8+3--on whichever mist mephits are closest to him and Lux.))

[Idran1701]

Wisprunner - Round 2
Moving into the rhythm of combat, the party has greater success at first against the attackers; Shawn impales her target with gusto, smiling broadly and licking her lips, while Lux shoots, transforming his victim back into the vapor from which it came.

Rallying against the damage, they ravage their racial foes, spreading more wounds across their number and bringing 2 down for good, while the remaining mephit on the ropes snaps one, leaping to the next as he glares to its defenders. Enraged by the slaying of his crewmates, Joss slings another spell, the orb skirting his target's head and going wide off into the air. Rosalyn's own arrows fare similarly, both missing by a wide margin, as the steam mephits slash and bite, the remaining ten bringing down three of their attackers with the minimal aid of the rest of the crew.

With the power of their attacks starting to register, some of the mist mephits turn, focusing their glares on the party as their claws glisten in the fog. The party might've had an easy time so far, but it's looking like that's soon to change. Zant wields his warhammer, staving off the oncoming onslaught with a swing, but his victim jumps back at the last second. Meanwhile, Anne pulls her powderhorn from its spot on her belt, reloading for another shot as quickly as she can manage.

Shawn(?) stabs at the nearest mephit, hits with a sneak attack for 4 damage and kills it.
Lux shoots at a mephit on the ropes, rolls a 20 but fails to confirm, hits for 3 and kills it.
The mist mephits strike at the steam mephits, killing 2 and wounding others.
Joss casts Lesser Orb of Acid, misses.
Rosalyn fires at the ropes twice, misses twice.
The steam mephits strike back at the mist mephits, killing 3 and wounding others.
The crew attacks, but again has hardly any success.
Zant attacks, misses.
Anne reloads.

Round 3!

Shawn: 22
Lux: 20
Mist Mephits: 16
Joss: 15
Rosalyn: 13
Steam Mephits: 13
Crew: 10
Zant: 8
Anne: 6

[Seethe]

So the mist mephits were going for the ropes. That was dangerous. And on top of that, they seemed to have noticed Rosalyn's party as well. Now fighting them was definitely justified.

Three of her arrows had gone wide, but one had struck and seemed to have scored a fairly good hit. Meanwhile, a new creature had jumped into the fray. It looked like... Shawn? She still seemed to be on the right side, though. Leaving any questions about that for later, Rosalyn continued her efforts to help protect the ropes.

(OOC: For Round 3, two more shots at the other mephit on the ropes. If that target is dropped before both shots are fired, Rosalyn will target any other mephit attacking the ropes. If no more mephits are attacking the ropes, she will just choose the most appropriate target. As before, if she winds up in a threatened square before she can fire, she will five-foot step into an unthreatened one if she can, or draw and use her longsword on an appropriate target if she can't.

For Round 4, same strategy.

Essentially, not much changing for these two rounds either.)

[Jak Snide]

"What good does your death serve?" Zant asked sharply as he swung again at the mephit, hoping to dissuade the thing from further combat. He wouldn't sit idly by and refuse to defend him and his fellows if attacked, but that didn't mean he was keen to cave in the skull of the creature.

(An intimidate check, I guess, and still fighting in melee till his talents are required elsewhere.)

[Justice Augustus]

Lux seems almost in a trance, his vision tunnelling in on his target on the ropes. As he sees the first bolt connect, he already has the second one loaded and swings the crossbow up again, firing at the remaining rope-attacker.

And off ventures another soul, on the greatest journey of all, a small part of him muses, refusing to let his entire brain become devoted to killing for even a second.

(OOC: Reload and fire.)

[Kai]

Joss cursed under his breath, a particularly crude word he'd learned from his dwarven uncle. Still, no use getting all bent out of shape over one missed shot. Lux was still working to keep the rigging clear, and that meant it was still Joss' job to make sure he had room to do it without any mephits coming after him.

He readied another attack of the same sort, even though he was aware being doused with acid was hardly a humane way to be killed. Perhaps it'd be a deterrant for the others. Sort of a 'hey this isn't worth it that little boy is spewing corrosive awful stuff let's go home and rethink our lives.'

A man could hope.

[Idran1701]

Wisprunner - Round 3
Licking her chops now, the Shawn-thing presses into the mephits, chanting all the while: "hungry hungry hungry hungry". It stabs into one of the impish beings, just as Lux lets loose a bolt against the one doing its best to chew through Zippy's rope. And with these two strikes, the mist mephits change their focus, sending most of their number to take care of these obstacles to their victory. At least one mephit faces up to each party member, with Shawn, Joss, and Rosalyn each facing down two. The mephits strike, as the three backup mephits unleash their breath weapons. Lux takes a minor injury, as does Rosalyn, but that which may be Shawn has the least luck of all, with a slashing of claws on one side and a blinding, caustic mist breath on the other.

The remainder do their best, but can barely dent the steams, and the party's newfound success heartens Joss as his orb finds its target, striking one mephit in the chest and dispersing it to nothing, hissing at the tendrals of vapor as they drift off. Rosalyn does her best to defend herself, drawing her sword in response to the attackers, but her own strike is unable to find purchase in either target.

The rest of the crew's more successful, downing two additional mephits as Zant asks his question of the mephit. He gets no answer, but due to not violence, but utter fear, as the elemental being cowers and scampers off from Zant. Though likely pleased with his success, he recieves his own spooking as Anne's weapon fires again, this time finding its mark, and ending the life of another mephit.

Shawn(?) stabs at a mephits, hits it for 5 damage.
Lux reloads and shoots at the rope mephit, hits for 7 damage.
9 of the 15 remaining mist mephits move against the party, striking Shawn for 3, Lux for 2, and Rosalyn for 5, and breathing on Shawn, Joss, and Rosalyn. Joss and Rosalyn make their saves, Shawn fails hers and is blinded temporarily.
Of the remaining 6 mist mephits, one chews on the rope further, while the others strike against the steam mephits, making only a single hit amongst the five swings.
Joss casts Lesser Orb of Acid, hits a mephit for 6 damage, killing it.
Rosalyn draws her longsword, swings and misses her target.
The steam mephits and other crew make another strong set of strikes against the mist mephits, killing 2.
Zant successfully intimidates a mephit, causing it to become shaken.
Anne fires at the rope mephit, hits for 6 damage and kills it.

Round 4!

Shawn: 22
Lux: 20
Mist Mephits: 16
Joss: 15
Rosalyn: 13
Steam Mephits: 13
Crew: 10
Zant: 8
Anne: 6

[Idran1701]

Wisprunner - Round 4

The Shawn-creature, though blinded, is no less eager to strike, as it slashes its sword around wildly, but to no avail. Lux's own strikes are no more successful, but these two failures do nothing to hearten the mist mephits. Their numbers cut nearly in half and their morale broken, they gather themselves away from the party, as the fog begins to grow in strength once more. This time, though, the vision of the entire party is soon obscured.

Soon, the vaporous curtain falls as quickly as it rose, but the mist mephits are nowhere to be seen, either on deck or in the sky about them. Though they may have suffered some injuries, and some losses were felt among the mephits, they look to have won this battle.

Shawn misses.
Lux misses.
The surviving mist mephits escape.

Combat is over!

XP:
200 apiece for slaying 4 mist mephits
450 apiece for keeping 9 of the 10 mephits alive.
500 apiece for defending the ropes.

Total: 1150

Level for: Shawn, Zant

[Justice Augustus]

Lux returns his weapons to their proper places, and finally takes a look at the entire scene. "What...is that...Shawn?"

[Jak Snide]

Zant offered a quick prayer for the end of hostilities, being especially thankful that Anne's weapon wouldn't make that bloody racket any more, and went about tending to the injured.

(Zant will be using his Cure Minor Wounds to stem the bleeding of Lux and Rosalyn, with any injured mephits and crew members getting the other two uses of it and, if anyone's particularly injured, one of his Cure Light Wounds. He'll save one of the latter for...)

Eventually he came to Shawn, or the thing that was probably Shawn, and hesitated a moment. He could see she was hurt, yes, but she was also a vicious looking thing who'd seemed awfully intent on feasting on mephits a few moments ago.

"How are you faring?" he asked, taking in the exact appearance of her current form for the first time.

[NebulaQueen]

Anne put the firearm back her holster, and looked around the crew. A few injuries here and there, but Zant was taking care of that, and everybody seemed to be doing fine...for the most part, at least. Damn shame about what happened to that one steam sailor, but it could have been a lot worse.

Quickly, Anne moved towards her comrades. Her eyes widened when she got a better look at Shawn, and she paused for a moment before continuing her stride. "What th' hell?" Anne placed her hands on her hips, and continued to gawk at the girl...creature...thing. "Seriously, what the hell is this?" She didn't sound frightened, so much as genuinely puzzled.

[Shinigori V2]

Shawn(?)'s head darted around a bit, still with the crazed look in her eyes. "...Are they gone?" She asked in..Her normal tone of voice.

[Jak Snide]

"Yes, yes they are." he responded, now more curious than afraid.

[Shinigori V2]

"Oh." She replied.

"..I can't see a damn thing."

She fumbled around a bit, reaching for her candy pack, before managing to get a hard candy into her mouth.

[Jak Snide]

"You have recieved injuries. Do you require any healing?"

And here I was thinking I had her mostly puzzled out.

[Shinigori V2]

"Oh." Shawn said, flatly. "I'm hurt? ...Well, go ahead and patch me up then, I guess."

[Jak Snide]

Zant approached the Shawn-thing, praying both for a blessing of healing and also for his own safety, Zant laid a hand over her wounds.

(Cure Light Wounds)

[Kai]

Joss watched with some interest as Shawn's friends--he still rather thought of them as a discrete group, instead of his own--and at least learned a bit about some of the girl's abilities and limitations. That was fine.

Anne puzzled him. What was behind all this? She seemed genuinely weirded out, but why? Everyone everywhere was different, and the fact that Shawn was a little further from human than she seemed at first shouldn't be a problem. No one was human. Half the people on this ship could be anything from anywhere.

Joss nodded in satisfaction that Shawn seemed all right. If she didn't want his concern, he wouldn't give it. Maybe it was a pride thing, but that was certainly understandable. However Lux was informally his charge, and Joss felt a bit guilty that the scholar had gotten hurt anyway. Zant shouldn't have had to heal Lux, but it was good that the gent had been here. With a resigned sigh, Joss scratched the top of his head and told Lux, "Sorry I couldn't be more help. There... were kind of a lot of them. But don't worry. I'll do better next time," he finished with a decisive nod.