Quoted By:
Rolled 5, 8, 20, 15, 12, 10 = 70 (6d20)
Tearing at the water with your oars, you sweep your oars in reverse at Ajax’s command, even as the uncrewed pirate vessel, sails lowered, drifts apart from the galley. It takes you a moment to understand Ajax’s plan – you’ve been caught at a relative standstill, and the wind is still absent. Under these conditions, to maneuver your galley out of the way of an approaching ramming attack would be difficult at best. Instead, Ajax guides the ship rearwards – he is using the uncrewed pirate vessel as a barrier!
The final hostile merchant’s vessel approaches quickly – you sense that these pirates are the best sailors of the lot, their oarwork coordinated and clean, but the enemy captain is no doubt frustrated by Ajax’s tactics – the enemy vessel veers left and right as it rushes towards you, perhaps hoping that Ajax will take the bait. You risk a glance behind you – Ajax’s open palm is displayed clearly, <span class="mu-i">rest oars, hold position</span>, and Andocides is quick to echo the command.
You’re close enough to see that the final pirate vessel has a figurehead of its own – a nymph or nereid of some kind carefully laid upon the prow, painted brightly. The vessel is drawing near to the uncrewed vessel, but Ajax’s tactics have rendered the ramming impotent – your galley is squarely behind the barrier, with its dead crew floating in the sea as a reminder of your victory only minutes earlier.
On the stern deck of the approaching enemy vessel, you see a lithe figure in gleaming bronze, and to your surprise, you hear the figure calling out to your galley.
<span class="mu-i">“I am Kyrtios of Phylakopi, Achaeans – this pack was under my command! Offer up a yearling to Ελεος, daimon of compassion, as she brings tranquility to my heart and mind, and has spared you this day! We will meet again – pray that this day does not come soon!”</span> You shake your head – the pirate captain is a blowhard, an idiot or both, having masterminded the destruction or desertion of three-quarters of his force. It’s Κοαλεμος* that has his hand on Kyrtios’ shoulder.
Ajax makes no shouted response, as the pirates pass by – you look behind your shoulder to see that his fist is now closed, his arm raised straight – <span class="mu-i">approach for grappling irons!</span>. Beneath his gleaming helm, his face is granite - it seems that Ελεος has not visited with Lord Ajax. Andocides, taking the hint, sprints back and forth along the central axis of the deck on his bowed legs to ensure that all Salaminians are heeding Ajax’s silent command.
You’re only too eager to lend your strength to the maneuver – Ares Manslaughterer stirs your heart and puts the taste of copper on your tongue. The day is not over yet!
>okay players, give me three rolls of dice+2d20+10 to determine the success of the last grappling effort.
>I'm rolling for Kyrtios' crew - first three rolls are for ship dodging at a +3 bonus, second three rolls are ship blocking for a +6 bonus
