Orym clears the way, and Ro rushes past him. He takes a quick look around, as much as he can, in an attempt to take stock of what's happening. Gods, he hates this. They need to get away from that ship.
He casts a spell to spare the dying as he passes the downed crewmember and instead races to the side of the ship, trying to find a place where he can see the water. He looks up toward the quarter deck and manages to catch their druid's gaze. They both turn their eyes to the water and cast at the same time. Two whirlpools open on the other side of the pirate ship, each fifty feet or more in diameter: one toward the bow and one near the middle. The pirate ship lurches, and all of a sudden there is a lot more yelling on their deck. Ro grips the rail tightly, trying to maintain his concentration. It's a gamble - it takes both he and the druid out of the fight - but if the pirates can't get off their own ship, if they can separate the ships, they stand a chance.
Anything to make this end faster. He just hopes he's small enough that people won't notice him. If the druid has to break concentration, Ro will try to hold onto his.
There are about ten different things Orym could do, but as wood starts to groan and shouts go up from the other ship in response to Ro and their druid's casting, he quickly decides that this is where he can make the best use of his own skills. What Ro is doing is more important than anything else happening right now, and this is what Orym is trained for--standing between important people and anyone who tries to harm them.
As a few of the pirates nearest to them figure out what's happening, Orym pushes down his conflicted feelings and focuses on doing his job. He positions himself to cover Ro, parrying blows from two different attackers. His armor takes the brunt of a blow across his side, but the impact is hard enough that he knows it'll be a nasty bruise. He strikes out and cuts deep enough for them to stumble back, giving him space to square off with the second one.
Pain sears the left side of his body. A moment later, something thuds against his shield and clatters to the deck. The impact reverberates down his arm, and he cries out. It takes him a moment to realize that it's a crossbow bolt, and another is sunk deep into the muscle between his shoulder and collarbone, right above his armor. His focus on covering Ro left him wide open to an attack he didn't expect.
Orym grits back another cry as he refuses to drop his shield despite the agonizing bite of sharp steel lodged in the muscle holding it up. He still has a job to do.
Ro flinches, but a blow never comes. Instead, there's Orym, taking a hit meant for him. Sweat beads on his brow and he grips the rail tighter when he hears Orym cry out. He looks past the other halfling, seeing who is there. He can see the crossbow bolt and as badly as he wants to lash out at the person who hit Orym in the first place, Ro instead presses his free hand against the other halfling's back. He whispers a prayer and gives Orym as much healing as he can. He can't help the way he wants to, he can't lose his concentration on the whirlpool currently dragging the pirate ship away from theirs.
He looks past Orym again, trying to get sight of anyone who might come for them - for him. Ro doesn't take his hand away from Orym's back until he has to, and then it's to grip the rail with both hands to keep from losing his balance as their ship moves as if pushed. He wonders if that's the druid's doing. He doesn't let go of his whirlpool, though, as it's doing its work to drag the pirate ship into it. Whatever planks and ropes they used for boarding fall away; whatever pirates are left on the merchant ship are trapped with three options: keep fighting, surrender, or take their chances in the sea.
Ro knows that doesn't mean the fight is over. Just that the tide has hopefully turned.
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He casts a spell to spare the dying as he passes the downed crewmember and instead races to the side of the ship, trying to find a place where he can see the water. He looks up toward the quarter deck and manages to catch their druid's gaze. They both turn their eyes to the water and cast at the same time. Two whirlpools open on the other side of the pirate ship, each fifty feet or more in diameter: one toward the bow and one near the middle. The pirate ship lurches, and all of a sudden there is a lot more yelling on their deck. Ro grips the rail tightly, trying to maintain his concentration. It's a gamble - it takes both he and the druid out of the fight - but if the pirates can't get off their own ship, if they can separate the ships, they stand a chance.
Anything to make this end faster. He just hopes he's small enough that people won't notice him. If the druid has to break concentration, Ro will try to hold onto his.
no subject
As a few of the pirates nearest to them figure out what's happening, Orym pushes down his conflicted feelings and focuses on doing his job. He positions himself to cover Ro, parrying blows from two different attackers. His armor takes the brunt of a blow across his side, but the impact is hard enough that he knows it'll be a nasty bruise. He strikes out and cuts deep enough for them to stumble back, giving him space to square off with the second one.
Pain sears the left side of his body. A moment later, something thuds against his shield and clatters to the deck. The impact reverberates down his arm, and he cries out. It takes him a moment to realize that it's a crossbow bolt, and another is sunk deep into the muscle between his shoulder and collarbone, right above his armor. His focus on covering Ro left him wide open to an attack he didn't expect.
Orym grits back another cry as he refuses to drop his shield despite the agonizing bite of sharp steel lodged in the muscle holding it up. He still has a job to do.
no subject
He looks past Orym again, trying to get sight of anyone who might come for them - for him. Ro doesn't take his hand away from Orym's back until he has to, and then it's to grip the rail with both hands to keep from losing his balance as their ship moves as if pushed. He wonders if that's the druid's doing. He doesn't let go of his whirlpool, though, as it's doing its work to drag the pirate ship into it. Whatever planks and ropes they used for boarding fall away; whatever pirates are left on the merchant ship are trapped with three options: keep fighting, surrender, or take their chances in the sea.
Ro knows that doesn't mean the fight is over. Just that the tide has hopefully turned.