WFRP Chapter 95: Race with the River (part Deux)
Summary: Hayley takes Morgan's Men on a crazy boat ride.
Having seen the disaster Zena made of her race Hayley planned to try and get through her own race with less problems. Flendac could row and was also immensely strong which would give her an edge and Madoc could fly giving them the ability to swoop in and attack other boats.
Crews entering this preliminary trial were :-
- Dragon Club. Two guardsmen with heavy crossbows and a rower.
- Dagmar and her Dragoons, Erica and Bob.
- Adam Peaty and the disciples of Mannan Stanning and Pinsent
- Lord Maximus and his entourage.
- Cpt John Smith and companions Carling and Wentworth.
- Morgan's Men consisting of Hayley, Madoc and Flendac.
- Harry and the Serrig Rowers Club.
- Bo, Luke and Duke local farmers in an orange boat called Gen-Lee.
As the race started all the rowers put their backs into it to try and get a breakaway lead however Adam Peaty called upon the elemental powers of his god. Not only was his own boat surrounded by calm waters high winds started blowing pushing all the other boats backwards making it harder for them to row.
Flendac's high strength and initiative let him take the lead. Unfortunately this attracted the attention of magicians in other boats. First Madoc was driven mad with hatred and tried, very ineffectively, to kill Hayley. Then Flendac was tossed like a rag doll into the air and splashed down into the river.
Carling flew from Smith's boat and landed on Peaty's craft killing their rower Pinsent. Smith and Maximus exchanged shots leaving both their rowers dead. The Dragon club archers peppered the Gen-Lee and Rowing club with arrows taking them out the race and they pushed past. Somehow Dagmar was left unscathed and she was able to row past and take the lead!
Another spell from John Smith left Adam Peaty and his friend suffering from confusion. Carling flew back and started rowing. Having recovered from his hatred Madoc flew ahead attacking the Dragon Club's rower with Spiritrender his dread bone staff while also using his magical robes to appear as a banshee. This caused several rowers to cower in fear allowing the stragglers to catch up (and Dagmar to get even further ahead).
Meanwhile Flendac had pulled himself back into the boat and was rowing to catch up. They drew level with Maximus. Hayley leapt into his boat while Maximus's bodyguard jumped the other way and attacked Flendac. The master assassin soon put paid to the intruder and carried on rowing leaving Hayley to face Maximus alone! John Smith tried to stop him with a bolt of lighting but thanks to his magical helmet Flendac was immune to battle magic spells.
This looked like the end for our plucky leader when her opponent pulled a glowing warpblade from its sheath at his side. Fortunately he was not skilled as attacking on a rocking boat [zero hits out of nine] and Hayley got a couple of lucky strikes and finished him off. The Warpblade vaporised when she tried to take control of it. Picking up the oars she started to close the gap between herself and John Smith.
With Adam Peaty having recovered Carling once again took to the air. Madoc had killed the Dragon Club rower but had been injured by the guardsmen having dropped his shield and was suffering from a broken collar bone and an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia. He returned to his own craft just as Stanning sent Flendac hurting into the air for a second time! While it was a tremendous show of magical power it made her the target and both Dragon club archers.
She collapsed dead into the craft with two bolts in her chest. This forced Adam to use all his reaming power to restore her spirit. Sadly she barley had a moment to thank him before Carling landed and hacked her head off with a single strike. Then he attacked Adam who, with no magic remaining, also fell to the razor sharp blade. Flendac had only just managed to pull himself back into the boat as Carling launched himself over to attack him and Madoc. His first blow crushed Madoc's one remaining good arm, forcing him to fly off hoping to find a healing salve on Peaty's boat.
Meanwhile Hayley had caught up to John Smith and jumped abort his boat. The pair hacked at each other exchanging a few minor wounds before fate turned a fatal strike on Hayley into her being knocked overboard unconscious.
Tayy waded into the river and dragged Hayley to the shore. Feeding her one of his healing potions, having of course checked she did not have one of her own first. The two of them staggered along the bank to wards the finish line to see if their friends managed to make it.
Flendac fell under Carlings onslaught. For possibly the last time the gods intervened and he was left for dead in the bottom of the boat. Carling swooped away back to Adan's boat ready to chop down Madoc who had just drunk both the healing potions he found their. Fortunately he pulled Bronzino's sword of confusion from his back and Carling hovered in the air unable to focus enough to attack. Madoc kept swinging wildly at his hovering opponent while the Dragon club continued to shoot bolts at the pair. Eventually he landed a blow with the blades mighty strike and chopped Carling in half.
After a couple of trips back to his own boat all the loot from his former master and the flying opponent were secured. Feeding the last healing potion to Flendec the pair returned to the race. John Smith was too far behind to catch them up allowing the pair to limp into third place. Here they met up with the rest of the team and shared the spoils of battle. Neither Flenec or Madoc were able to attune to the items but everyone else manged to get some useful trinkets and swords, so many magical swords we could open our own shop.
Tayy went off and found a healer to tend to his friends injuries and continued his own adventures as an up and coming merchant. He had made another six crowns from selling pies to the crowd.
Loot gained -
- Tayy: Staff of Power [20 MP]; Rings of Toughness; Sword +3 Dam; Sword +2 Damage
- Hayley: Flying Boots; Sword +4 Damage; Medallion +2 Str; Staff of Power [15 MP]
- Zena: Sword +3 Damage; Robe +3 Toughness
Art from elbenherzart.
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