Thy Soul To Keep - part 11

Capture the Sky Dock

A skyvessel passed over Wortbad but the captain was too fearful to land. He dumped the cargo bound for the village overboard onto the dock without slowing but it tumbled off the wooden platform in all directions. Now there is a free-for-all to claim the best stuff.

3 players, Skirmish Battleplan: Treasure Hunt, with Triumph & Treachery turn order.

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The crew of The Raidho Othala, 70 Renown, The Bloodied Skull

Arkanaut Admiral Grungi Gunnerson

Endrinmaster Fimirdul

The Fisherman - Arkanaut Company with skyhook

2 Grundstok Thunderers

2 Endrinriggers

The Gilded Hand, 63 Renown, The Writhing Serpent

(Order)

Kalyustar of the Gilded Hand, Soulchemist - Collegiate Arcane Battle Wizard

Fernando amd 3 Fancy Fencers - Freeguild Guard

Lucius Scopos and 4 Venithyan Marksmen - Freeguild Crossbowmen

Karol and 4 Cuirassiers - Freeguild Pistoliers

The Rotmoons, 64 Renown, The Balemoon

(Destruction)

Kapitán Alunzo da Leeva - Orruk Warboss

Hammerhead - Ogor Crusher

Rockeye Fuerte - Ogor Leadbelcher Thunderfist

Bortagno and 7 Orruk Boyz

Don Snotto - Grot

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Captain Bodrin Bok of Harrowmark skyvessel The Selachii leaned on the gunwales and looked down on the forests. The wind ruffled his already wild hair and long forked beard and he grunted with annoyance. They had been contracted to bring a load of cargo from Leechminster to Wortbad and they were already a week late. Now they found the village was occupied by orruk pirates. There were even a couple of greenskins on the dock itself - there was no chance they were going to land there.

He turned to the nearest crewman, that happened to be his nephew Anthor, and told him as much.

"Get ready to dump the Wortbad cargo overboard. We ain't picking anything up this run. We can come back over on the return leg if the winds are in our favour." he said. Anthor looked worried but didn't argue with his uncle. He knew better than that after the year he'd had aboard the Selachii.

As Anthor was about to head aft Bodrin said "Tell Darvon to come forward will you?" the boy nodded.

Anthor found Marcyn, Rohar and Josian and told them what was happening and together they started loosening the cargo nets. As they were about to pass over the skydock for a second time and let the cargo nets fall open, Darvon came on deck. Anthor waved the Warrior Priest over.

"The Captain wants a word with you and I don't think you'll like it. But please don't fight with him!" the boy pleaded. Darvon scowled but said he would do his best.

Brother Darvon walked forward along the deck, clinging to the rigging as he was still unsure of how safe the sky ship actually was, even after the long voyage, just as he approached the captain the crew let go the nets and barrels, sacks and crates tumbed out onto the deck of the skydock. Most of it bounced and rolled straight off again, carried by the momentum of the ship.

Darvon stopped and stared in horror as the cargo crashed to the ground 20 or 30 feet below.

"Ah, good Brother. I'm afraid we won't be setting you down today...."

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The Rotmoons, and others, saw the skyvessel approaching the small village long before it passed overhead - they had seen its running light in the darkness a few weeks before and watched it keenly as it made its slow and ponderous way across the thickest parts of the forest, struggling against the wind and the magical currents that swept across the trees. By the time it reach Wortbad there was no chance of keeping its arrival secret and a number of warbands had gathered to watch it dock. When it passed overhead without stopping there was a great outcry from all of them, but they realised quickly the ship was circling to make a second approach. When it didn't slow the second time but just emptied its hold onto the skydock landing stage (and the ground around it) they prepared themselves for a fight to get the best of the crop!



Rockeye sprinted ahead and took the skydock first (which surprised everyone since he was carrying a cannon!) and he searched through the pile of goods that had fallen right at the foot of the tower, but he found nothing of worth there.



The rest of the Rotmoons followed, not far behind. hammerhead and Don Snotto continued their argument about which was better: pork or beef. Bortagno growled at them to "Stow it!" with a sideways glance at the Kapitán.



Karol and the Cuirassiers trotted through the woods ahead of the Gilded Hand. The fencers and the Marksmen ran to keep up but slowed as they passed through the uneven ground around the trees.



The Raidho Othalas hung back around Fallow's End House to watch what unfolded.



The Cuirassiers sped up to a gallop as they broke the tree line. One of them held back and searched the crates dumped outside the walls of the dock - he found it was worth holding on to it!



And in a clatter or pistol reports and a cloud of powder smoke they charged into the skydock's grounds and crashed into Rockeye.



The Rotmoons approached and got ready to make their move.



While the Marksmen peppered them with crossbow bolts.







A Thunderer with an Aether Rifle took out a Cuirassiers then the Endrinrigger with a Drill Cannon wounded Hammerhead.



Buoyed by their successes the rest of the Raidho Othalas advanced cautiously.





Rockeye and the Cuirassiers battled furiously, in the cramped courtyard neither side was able to use their normal tactics and they held each other at a stalemate.



The other Endrinrigger was exploded by an Arcane Bolt from Kalyustar. The Raidho Orthalas were shaken by the Sum of All Fears then and three of them ran.





The Gilded Hand were then assailed by foul spirits, portained by both the Rotmoons and the Raidho Othalas, the Sum of All Fears shook then and four of the Freeguild fighters fled in terror.

The orruk privateers charged, with the Kapitán in the lead.



Geedo Forks and Dudoso found their cache of loot had some very useful supplies within!



Rockeye blasted Karol at point-blank range. Kapitán da Leeva's kutlass lashed out and two Cuirassiers fell, then the other orruks joined the fight, leaping over the ruined walls, and another Cuirassier fell.

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The Rotmoons held two of the more tasty piles of loot. They claimed a Major Victory as a result! The Raidho Orthalas fell back toward the centre of the village and the Gilded Hand withdrew into the forest.

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Viktor's side of this tale is here.