Alyssa hears the boat moments before she sees it: a rumbling, buzzing noise preceding the torpedo-black hull that cuts through the mist. The boat's insignia draws her attention first, and confirms her suspicions: it's definitely the mark of a raiding party!<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>“EVERYONE! GET BELOW DECK! NOW!”</div></blockquote><br/>"Please, try not remain calm!" Alyssa adds. Whether her voice reaches anyone, she's not sure; the crowd as a whole, however, seems determined to ignore her well-intended advice. She grabs onto the closest railing to brace herself against the living tide, a maneuver that proves doubly important as the entire ferry shakes from impact with a second boat only moments later. Years of ruin-delving experience keep the young tiefling on her feet, but others nearby are not so lucky...<br/><br/>This is no good, she thinks to herself. At this rate, the passengers will still be fighting to reach the hold when the raiders reach deck, and any one left above will be an easy target. Someone has to delay the raiders until the passengers reach safety, and since the ship's security is busy controlling the crowds, it looks as if that someone will be her.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Theron wrote:</cite>"No, I plan on showing these bastards that you do not fuck with the ferry, thank you very much,"</div></blockquote><br/>"I'll follow your lead," Alyssa says, flashing Theron a determined grin. The Shepherd's declaration heartens her, for his determination as much as his demonstration of prowess thus far. With his tactical mind applied to the situation, they may yet save the ferry without casualty.<br/><br/>But first, some preparations are in order.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Alyssa casts <span style="font-style: italic">mage armor,</span> sharing spells with Grim.<br/><br/>Alyssa's AC: 19<br/>Grim's AC: 20 (plus total cover from backpack)</div></div></div><br/>"Mageías panoplía," Alyssa intones, accompanied by a crossing gesture from her free hand. The air around her glitters with silver as strands of force weave across her body, covering the young tiefling in an argent mesh before fading to invisibility.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Knowledge (local) for Knowledge Devotion: 1d20 (8) + 15 + 5 (Collector of Stories) = 28<br/>Knowledge Devotion bonus: +3 insight bonus to attack and damage rolls versus humanoids this encounter.</div></div></div><br/>Alyssa takes the brief moment of her spell's resolution to consider her upcoming strategy. If the insignia is to be trusted, the raiders are most likely some form of canine demihumanoid- capable fighters to be sure, but pack thinkers, particularly on a hunting expedition. Her academy self-defense classes covered the most effective counterstrategies in detail, along with the most effective strikes to deter or disable. Now, it seems, is the time to prove the worth of her lessons.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Move action: move towards the raider vessel.</div></div></div><br/>With her preparations complete, Alyssa follows Theron across the deck, dodging whatever fleeing passengers remain topside. "I take it you have a plan in mind?"