Aboard the Star of Nostro

KCC, Eggo's strengths returns as the adrenaline pumps through him and he easily snaps the rusted chains binding him. Meanwhile Gryff the Elder and Bryson try to turn their shackles into weapons, swinging the chains at the creatures. Gryff lands a direct hit opening up a flap of skin on the creature's back. Bryson whips his chain too wide and it tangles around his ankle. He doesn't realize it when he flicks the chain, tripping himself. Merilda discovers two short swords (1d6 damage) on the bodies of the two dead pirates. She grabs one short sword and calls out the existence of the other for anyone to grab.

Len, Baldwin finally finds a weak link in his chains, focuses his efforts there, and is rewarded with a sharp metallic snap as his chain snaps. He grins in triumph. Brother Longfoot, Sandra and Joseph rush to the ladder and begin climbing.

Harrigan, Dengus and Eugene find a discarded hammer and adze used for repair work in the hold (1d4 damage). Crox's chains are newer and less rusty than most and he, unfortunately, continues to struggle against his bonds. Belamina makes for the ladder. Eugene becomes enthralled by the box and inspects it. The box is filled with soil, manure, and strange mushrooms growing out of it. The mushrooms seem to have a haze hanging about them with a distinct and unusual odor. Just smelling them seems to make Eugene start to feel sleepy again...

Ogion, Elix and Cerdan slip their bonds. Elix looks for a fight but Cerdan tries to get him to escape. Gerdich and ChristNar still struggle with their chains.1 damage to creature 1.

The creature struck by Gryff hisses in anger and pain and leaps at him with mouth open wide. It catches the man in the thigh and rips a large chunk of leg muscle. The other stony-skinned sees everyone heading toward the ladder and circles around, leaping at the person closest to the ladder within reach. Sandra leaps aside, putting the ladder between her and the creature just as it lunges, blocking its attack.

3 damage to Gryff.

Gryff the Elder doesn’t even try to hold back the scream that erupts as the creature attacks. His breathing immediately becomes shallow, and ragged. He turns, and sees Bryons wrapped around himself. He looks back at the creature, and grits his teeth.

"Get up, lad." he says to the baker boy.

"Get up, lad. And away up them stairs. Go on, now!"

And he whips the chain out. Pain runs through his body as he leans on his leg to line up the whip!

Eggo, newly free, and seeing that theres a clambering for the stairs, instead crosses to lift up the second short sword. He looks up into the noble’s face, the one that had thought about saving him, and nods.

"Together?" comes a hoarse croaking from the runty lizard.

Merilda looks down at the thing, hiding her pity and disgust for the creature. When it offers an alliance, she stops for a moment, and then nods back. If nothing else, she’d kick the thing in front of the first set of jaws to come Merilda’s way. She beckons to the ladder and begins to cross the room, sword raised and ready to defend!

Bryson, pitiful fool that he is, tries to untangle himself from his own failure.

"L… ladder?" he asks, wasting precious seconds of the old man’s time, as blood pours from his thigh.

"R… right. Come on then! Let’s get to it."

But the old man pushes him away…

And Bryson doesn’t need to be told twice. He makes for the ladder himself. Taking extra care not to get caught up in another set of chains.

KCC, Eggo the lizardman snatches up the last short sword. He and Merilda take up defensive positions around the ladder. Bryson makes his way directly for the ladder but two women are currently on the ladder and there's no space for him yet.

Len, Brother Longfoot pushes on the cargo hatch and heaves it up and to the side without much issue. Joseph is right behind him. Sandra gets on the ladder and begins climbing. Harrigan, Belamina gets on the ladder right behind Sandra. Red light pours down from the open cargo hatch above. Dengus scores a massive hit against the creature, crushing its skull beneath the solid hammer.
Now that he's looking at it up close, it looks like a large stone-colored iguana or chameleon-type lizard rather than any kind of baby dragon or wyrmling. Crox once again unsuccessfully tries to escape his bonds. When he fails, he wonders if fate itself wants him dead. Eugene (if that even is his real name) has much better luck. Digging through the mushroom box, he finds 10 gold coins at the bottom. His hands smell of shit and musky mushrooms, however.

Ogion, waiting for post.

1 dead creature!

The cargo hold is emptying rapidly, reducing the prey available to the lizard-like creatures. Two go for Gerdich and Christnar as they are still bound by their chains. A third goes for the half-demon Elix as he trails behind Cerdan. Another sees the injured and elderly Gryff and takes a chance at some easy prey. The last goes for the bound Avarian who fate has decided will never escape his bonds.

Gryff, the spryest man of his age to ever live, pirouettes out of the way and the creature's jaws snap on air. Still shackled, Christnar uses his chains as a chomping bit, blocking the creature's mouth from its target. Gerdich isn't so lucky and gets a chunk of his abdomen torn away. Elix likewise proves less fortunate as he was so focused on following Cerdan he doesn't see the creature blindside him from behind a support pole. It takes a snap out of his calf. Crox dies as he lived, completely unlucky. A stony iguana-thing leaps at him and snaps off his arm at the shoulder. Blood fountains out and he dies soon from blood loss.

1 damage each to Elix and Gerdich, poor Crox never stood a chance. RIP our first PC casualty.

Eugene sees the two dead sailors have the bird-shaped cloth masks over their heads and realizes it must be some kind of protection against the mushroom spores. Wearing it could protect him from their effects. Replacing the lid of the mushroom box would also stop the soporific effects of the 'shrooms.

Gerdich and Christnar both finally break from their chains, the rusty links snapping, leaving them with trails of chainlinks that could be used as improvised chain whips.

Belamina and Sandra make it up the ladder and out of the hold. Dengus reaches the ladder first with Cerdan right behind. There's not enough space for Elix yet so he waits at the foot of the ladder.

Gryff's chain clangs into a support pole. Bryson however shows up at his side and his aim is true. The rusty, jagged end of his chain scores open a wide gash in one of the lizard-like creatures.

2 damage to creature 2.