Operation Pincer

The Myste-Hass Calender

Youtube Recording

In the aftermath of their fight with the five wyverns, Crassus Hlaalu, Dagur, Ehecatl Skljef, Kahlil and Cpt Percival Wainwright; 30 Helvettians and the 4 remaining lizard folk, divide themselves between the two remaining rowboats. 20 of the Helvettians decide to swim towards the lighthouse so as not to overburden the boats and meet them at the docks if they are able. Looking up to the sky before they continue on to the Western Docks, they see the Southern Docks ablaze. The moon looms above the city still, despite the sun having risen. Three large rings materialise between the moon and Myste-Hass, the first of green, the second dark in colour, and the third of something more intangible. Something unseen blasts down through the rings in to the town below. The weather deteriorates from the previous calm and it begins to rain.

Gunter and Stavris independently make their way from the Southern Docks to the Western Docks by heading through Myste-Hass as they perceive this to be the shortest route. Cloaked by the general chaos ensuing in the streets, they make their way towards the western gate.

As the assault team round the lighthouse peninsula and gain sight of the Western Docks, a ship, the Dead Man's Raft, and a number of smaller watercraft can be seen at rest along the jetties. Cpt Percival Wainwright spots a number of humanoid figures patrolling the dockside and standing on the Dead Man's Raft. A trireme dispatched from the Southern Docks pursues them but is kept at bay by Ehecatl Skljef's previously summoned celestial. The celestial flies by, shattering the starboard bank of oars. The trireme is seen coming to a stop to deal with the celestial as the assault team round the peninsula and row out of sight.

Stavris decides to hide in sight of the western gate and the three hobgoblin guards posted there, hoping to wait here for Gunter in the hope that he too decided to travel via the town. As he crosses the town, Gunter spots Stavris in his hiding place. He approaches Stavris stealthily from behind, startling him and causing him to cry out in surprise. With the hobgoblin guards searching for the source of the noise, Gunter casts a device creating a decoy noise out in to an adjacent street, luring the guards away from the gate, deeper in to the town. During a brief argument Stavris raises his voice, one of the guards hears this and returns to seek the source of this new noise. Gunter deploys a second decoy device, and the two dash for the western gate. As they move across the street Stavris casts a gust to fan the flames in the street, dazzling the guard and allowing them to slip through the gate unnoticed.

The assault team approach the Dead Man's Raft silently, coming alongside her port bow. They attempt to board silently, Kahlil once more attempting to drag the guard overboard with an eldritch blast. The guard cries out however, alerting the others to the team's presence. Found out, the assault team climb on board, some having difficulty scaling the side of the ship. One of the guards calls out frantically for "Dorris" a number of times. Dorris the minotaur bursts out of the captain's cabin to confront the boarders. Dagur calls out Dorris for single combat, with Ehecatl Skljef, Khalil and the lizardfolk taking on the other guards on the upper deck. Crassus Hlaalu vaults on to the lower deck, taking the form of a giant crab, shortly followed by Cpt Percival Wainwright, holding other guards at bay there. Khalil attempted to climb the rigging to gain an advantageous position in the fighting top, but was shot down by some unseen archers in an adjacent tower on the dockside.

Meanwhile Gunter and Stavris approach the Western Docks, hiding behind a building and waiting for an opportune time to move forwards and reunite with the assault team. Gunter takes up position overlooking the main gangway to the Dead Man's Raft, waiting for the advancing guards to attempt to cross, but Stavris prematurely reveals their position by sending a firebolt forth to blast open a barrel by the guards' position. Unfortunately the barrel only contained apples, rather than having flammable contents as Stavris might have hoped. With their position revealed, three of the guards head back towards Gunter and Stavris.

As the fight aboard the Dead Man's Raft rages on, the red dragon swoops overhead, heading south, paying no heed yet to the melee below. Ehecatl Skljef healed Khalil, bringing him back to his feet. Khalil re-joined the fight hiding in the doorway of the captain's cabin while casting spells at the remaining guards. Dorris is forced overboard on to the dockside, Dagur leaping through the air to bring his blade crashing down upon the minotaur. Continuing their single combat, the minotaur gores Dagur bringing him down and kicking his body off the dock and in to the sea below. Concurrently, the guards dispatch Kenrick who climbed aboard to help, and also manage to bring down Cpt Percival Wainwright. Ehecatl Skljef once more steps forwards to save members of the group, casting channel divinity to restore Dagur and Cpt Percival Wainwright. Dagur climbs back on to the dockside to avenge himself, preparing for the minotaur's charge, he cleaves of Dorris' remaining horn. The rain begins to worsen.

As Gunter and Stavris deal with the guards looming down upon them, and the others aboard the Dead Man's Raft fight on, the red dragon returns, crashing down upon a building at the dockside. Bravely Gunter tries to persuade the dragon to lend its aid, but abiding by the letter of his words rather than the spirit, the red dragon moves towards the ship. Hearing the dragon's arrival, Crassus Hlaalu (still as a crab) throws himself and the ork he is grappling with overboard and in to the sea. Moments later, the red dragon breathes fire, incinerating all who remained on the open deck of the Dead Man's Raft. Dagur, Cpt Percival Wainwright, Ehecatl Skljef, the remaining lizardfolk as well as all of the remaining guards were caught in the inferno. The blackscale Ru'tock was thrown clear, and Ehecatl Skljef was barely left standing due to the deathward that had previously been cast on him. Seeing this, Stavris attempted to run and hide amongst the dockside buildings, but was spotted by the dragon who swatted him down with its tail.

Wasting no time, the red dragon takes to the skies once more, heading south and out over the Southern Docks. Taking no chances Khalil dives overboard and swims for the lighthouse, not risking the potential for the dragon to return. With what energy he has remaining Ehecatl Skljef heals Dagur and casts revivify on Cpt Percival Wainwright, bringing him back from the dead for the second time. As Ehecatl Skljef casts revivify, he hears his goddess, Imogen, closer than he ever has before, she begins to speak to him, but the connection is abruptly lost. Having drowned his orkish quarry, Crassus Hlaalu returns to the surface. Stavris awakes from unconsciousness where he was thrown by the dragon.

Gunter and Stavris from their position are the first to see a large crowd of people approaching from the town. As they draw closer, they can be identified as the Helvettians that they had previously parted with, the captives that they were expecting to evacuate, and a small, thin man in black robes, Meclan. The rings in the sky above Myste-Hass disappear briefly, but then return. Crassus Hlaalu marshals the Helvettian soldiers to prepare the Dead Man's Raft to sail and inspect the ship for any other damage and materials with which to make repairs. While the sailcloth and rigging on the mainmast are damaged from the dragon's breath, the fore and aft masts are still in full working condition, so the decision is made to put to sea with the newly arrived captives. Seeing the movement aboard the Dead Man's Raft, Khalil swims back to re-join the crew. A decision is yet to be made however on whether to remain close to the Western Docks for longer in case more arrive, particularly as B-Team is nowhere in sight, or whether to set sail and leave.