WFRP Chapter 96: A Kind of Magic
Summary: Can Morgan's Men win the boat race?
On the following morning the crews lined up for the last race. Prince Imrik turned up with a pair of sailors with bows rather than the additional wizard he had the day before. Perhaps he had a cunning plan? Hayley was not sure.
Crews entering this final race were :-
- Dragon Club. Two guardsmen with repeating crossbows and a rower.
- Dagmar and her Dragoons, Erica and Bob.
- Morgan's Men consisting of Hayley, Madoc and Zena.
- Prince Imrik, High Elf Noble and entourage.
- Evelyn, or was that Evil Lyn, Sorceress and her new crew.
- Astrellion and the Woodland War Dancers of Athel Loren, To'dek and Saryn
As the race started all the rowers put their backs into it to try and get a breakaway lead. Prince Imrik waves his hands and glowing lights danced over all the boats and rushed toward him where he absorbed the energy. Hayley and Modoc fell back into the boat their flying boots having stopped working!
His plan to turn this race into an archery contest, something Elves are good at, was quickly foiled. Astrellion's first arrow killed his rower and then a lucky shot from Hayley landed a poison arrow in the princes side. He barley had time to see the green goo on the end of the arrow as he pulled it out before the snake venom causing through his system stopped his heart. With a splash he fell out of the boat leaving a lone elf to keep rowing forward. The Dragon club archers made quick work of him eliminating the first of the six craft from the race. Zena also proved to be lucky (without the skill) as To'dek missed two shots that would have killed her. Having no magical power Evelyn was forced to use a bow and shot Zena. She shrugged off the injury thinking her ring would quickly heal her only to realised a few seconds later that it too had stopped functioning under the High Elf spell.
The Dragon club were not done as there next volley rained down in to Evelyn's boat killing both her crew thanks to their own poison arrows! Listening to the shouts of the crowd Astrellion aimed his next shot at Dagmar's boat rather than Hayley's and killed Bob with a single shot. Hayley however continued to prove she had phenomenal luck as her second shot managed to scratch Astrellion allowing the snake venom into his system. His dead body also fell into the water. Between them Erica and Madoc killed Saryn leaving just To'dek to try and row forward to win the race for the Woodland War Dancers. Madoc starting shooting at Dagmar meaning Erika turned her attention to shooting at him.
To'dek could not get far enough away from the Dragon Club and was also taking out by a crossbow bolt. The second guardsman shot Dagmar the scorpion venom paralysing her. Needing to reduce the weigh in the boat Madoc jumped over into Dagmar's boat as they drew level while Hayley shot the Clubs rower slowing them down. Madoc tried to convince Erica to help him but she grabbed Dagmar and jumped into the river swimming for the shore. Madoc aimed his bow at her thinking he could get the reward on the outlaw chief but changed his mind at the last moment and shot at the guardsmen. Alone in her boat Evelyn slowly rowed forward hopping the others would all get killed and she could still win.
Zena managed to steer their craft into the lead. However a crossbow bolt bounced off her helmet leaving her stunned in the bottom of the boat. She got up a couple of minutes later only to have a second bolt bounce off the other side of the helmet stunning her again.
Evelyn tried to make a break past the two boats literally rowing for her life. The guardsman made a split second decision and launched his bolts at her. The first went through her throat the second into her eye. The most powerful dark sorcerer this side of the Empire had been killed by a lowly grunt (no poison needed). How the mighty have fallen.
With Zena out of action Hayley had to row with the lone guardsman, the other was rowing, taking pot shots at her. She got wounded in the chest, leg and arm each time feeling the scorpion venom entering her system. She managed to resist all of it [a 3/20 chance, possibly a little higher if she was still lucky]. Rowing over the line a few seconds in front of the Dragon Club. Madoc had been paddling along behind them in Dagmar's boat taking pot shots at the guardsman but his poor skill with a bow prevented him from have any useful effect.
Hayley was awarded the deeds and title of Countess of Ryazan along with her estate in the north. She had risen from a minor Nobel to one of great power, and possible influence. It turned out the Prince Imrik's spell was permanent. He had absorbed all the magic from the area. The cost of winning the race had been all the enchanted items the three had been carrying. Fortunately they had given a few trinkets to Tayy that would not have been of use during the battle.
We all slowly headed back to Krutshofen. The ladies spending a week resting up to recover from the serious wounds they had received during the battle. The rest of us went to the magic item shop to see what we may be able to find. Tayy swapped his staff of power for some funky arm bracers that provided a shield of force freeing up his hand so he could best make use of his ambidexterity and fight with two weapons.
Art from elbenherzart.
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