Episode 1: A Helping Hand

Jandral sits up. Does anybody else hear that?

"Ships usually make odd noises during storms like these. You eventually get used to it."

"What...?" Haesh calls out from his discomfort. "That sound!?" he says as he lifts up his head to look around. "It's happened! This storm has caught this boat!" He begins crawling for the door. "This ship is going down!" he moans as he tries to get to his feet while reaching for the door.

"No, this isn't the storm, it's...something else." Jandral drops down from the top hammock and puts a palm and an ear to the hull. "It's as if something out there's attaching itself to the hull." He peers intently out of the nearest porthole.

"Grappling hooks! Starboard side! We're about to be boarded! Look alive!" Jandral rushes for the door and flings it open, intending to head out and warn the captain and the crew.

Haesh tries his best to make his way out after Jandral, but his condition has made him a little slow moving. Though he does have his weapon and shield, he instead pulls out his knife. He keeps his other hand free in order to help balance himself. Haesh clings to the opening that leads out onto the deck as he looks out to see if there are any grappling hooks nearby that he can cut.

Riding out the storm in the galley, Parallel cocks his head at the first thump, "Did we hit something?"

Then hears subsequent thumps, leaps up and and shouts, "Or is something hitting us!?"

He sprints from the galley and meets Jandral as they head above decks. "I heard thumping sounds, irregular! Did you hear it? Doesn't sound natural to me!"

Trying not to lose his footing on the rolling and pitching main deck Jandral rushes to look over the starboard rail and deal with any grappling hooks he finds there.

Seeing Jandral running to the starboard railing, Golwen realizes something is seriously wrong. The flash from his firebolt alarms the elf. All of a sudden contemplating his misfortune due to the pelting rain takes a back seat to his martial training.

He slows his breathing and controls himself against the sudden surge of adrenalin that always rushes through him at times like these. Mentally running through his spells, he makes his way quickly to the starboard railing (but at a distance from Jandral so as not to make a convenient group target for potential enemies).

He leans over the railing and sees the ropes disappearing into the surf and immediately begins a ritual to help him determine if magic is being used against them.

Tordek seems more excited than anyone should at their ship being boarded as he grabs his shield and warhammer. "Finally! I was wondering when something exciting would happen!" He quickly rushes up to the deck, looking frantically for the presumed boarders.

"Danger off starboard bow!" Rhodrick roars over the gale towards the captain, pointing towards the commotion and flares of light. He moves to the rail on his end of the ship to get a better look at the threat.

Rhod feels a cold anger surge as he finally draws his twin rapiers, their whisper lost in the raging of the storm.

Haesh decides he will go out for the hook that is 30 feet away on the main deck. He takes a moment to prepare himself. His adrenaline has started to take over, but some of his queasiness still remains. Looking for a safe way across the deck and trying to time his journey with the waves of the ocean, Haesh moves at half speed towards the hook on the main deck.