From: Paul, Brett Subject: Bamf [12] A crabby start to the night [Admin stuff: Has anyone received anything from Jeff? It would seem that he did not respond to post #11. The reason I mentioned choosing a leader (again) is because I would still like to have someone to refer to for decisions, etc. I would like someone who has e-mail access during the day, which drops Brady and Dana from the running (no offense). Any volunteers or nominees? If you do not get a post from me, look for it to be posted on the web at http://www.angelfire.com/co/theicemage/ I started posting the move there due to some Internet e-mail problems from AOL (big surprise). If you're using AOL, it might be time for a change. John wrote: "I will be out of town until Sunday night, so this will be my last post to this game until then." Thanks for the heads-up, John. Next post is Tuesday, so you should be able to get a word or two in before then. If you can't it's no problem. I'll just feed you to the crab. :) ] New stuff: It would seem that the crab is only using his non-clawed legs to hold the boat in place, but is preparing to attack with its claws. You notice that the claws have a bluish hue to them. Look at the following using Courier or some non-proportional font. It will mean so much more if you do. Distances and positioning is not necessarily to scale. :) | x J2 x | c1| x x | c2 | J G B | L| |L | M |L L| D S | | |L ---------------------- x = rigging B = Brady J = John M = Marshall J2 = Jeff D = Dana C1 = Claw 1 S = Saif C2 = Claw 2 G = Greg L = crab leg (An idea borrowed from another PBeM GM) Brady slides the oar onto the deck of the boat in favor of the sword, and begins to mutter a prayer meant to protect those on the ship from the sea creature. Saif grabs the hatchet he found in the house and swings at the middle leg on the starboard side of the ship, but the blade of the hatchet only finds the side of the ship with a "thump," sending splinters into the air and water. The crab uses its claw (on the port side) to smash anything foolish enough to get close to it. Luckily, it only finds the deck of the ship, and returns to the ready, causing no damage to the boat. It quickly attacks again, blindly, and its claw finds rigging. Marshall looks at the leg that is in front of him, points to it and says, "Burn!", while Dana, towards the stern of the boat, is looking around, calling for birds, seagulls, and curiously, lemon butter? John, oar already in hand, knocks the crab's claw away from the rigging just before the crab established a hold. He seems to have caused no damage to the claw, but did succeed in knocking it away. Brady roars with the effort of his swing, and sparks fly as the blade bounces off the hard armor of the crab's leg. Marshall's attempt at forced spontaneous combustion seems to have no effect on the creature. Saif, undaunted by his first unsuccessful attempt, steadies his hand and raises the hatchet back to strike. Just before he makes his attack, the crab's claw on the starboard side finds its mark in the rigging, causing the boat to sway. Saif unleashes his attack on the leg holding the side of the ship, this time finding the mark. The hatchet bites deep into the crab's leg, nearly severing the member. The crab releases its hold on the ship with that leg, but is still holding on with his other four legs, and the claws are still dangerous to approach. Brady, seeing the claw hooked in the rigging, attempts to move toward the claw, sword in hand. The ship sways again, the other way, knocking Brady off-balance. He stops himself, one hand on the ship's rail, before falling overboard. John swings with his oar, hitting off the hard shell of the crab. The crab seems not to notice his efforts. Marshall picks up Brady's discarded oar, and swings around, preparing to hit anything crab-like that is nearby. Dana swings with her driftwood staff, but meets the same (lack of) success as John. The crab's claw moves in more quickly than John expected, and it hits his left hip, throwing him backward into Greg, who helps John keep his feet. John's return swing is far off balance, and he misses. In the distance, you hear the calling of sea birds approaching. Saif manages to move forward even with the sway of the boat, and bites the hatchet down into one of the crab's remaining leg on this side of the boat. Again, the crab lets go, though this leg is not as damaged as the other leg Saif hit. The claw on the starboard side releases its hold on the rigging, sensing perhaps that it was not much in the line of food, and moves in very quickly at Brady, but misses him completely and bounces harmlessly off the side of the boat next to where Brady is leaning. Brady stands up quickly and regains his footing on the swaying boat. The song of the sea birds gets closer to the boat as the ambient light diminishes. Greg notices that the lighthouse is becoming very difficult to see now, and as he is looking in that direction, he notices something flying towards the boat. A bird, perhaps 200 feet away and closing. Then, he sees another, and another. Their wingspan is large, perhaps eight feet across. They are approaching quickly. You don't remember seeing any birds like this when you were on the island. [ Two of the crab's legs are damaged and not holding on to the ship. The claws are still threatening, but it seems that the crab's hold on the boat is slipping. John will definitely have a bruise, but nothing is broken. It did, however, hurt. Let me know if you would like to continue hacking or if you have other plans now. Thanks!] ---------- From: Dinkeldog@aol.com[SMTP:Dinkeldog@aol.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [12] A crabby start to the night In a message dated 97-07-12 07:47:55 EDT, Brett_Paul@kne.com (Paul, Brett) writes: << Greg notices that the lighthouse is becoming very difficult to see now, and as he is looking in that direction, he notices something flying towards the boat. A bird, perhaps 200 feet away and closing. Then, he sees another, and another. Their wingspan is large, perhaps eight feet across. They are approaching quickly. You don't remember seeing any birds like this when you were on the island. >> "Dana! It's working! I see at least three large birds coming. Now how do we make sure they eat the crab and don't eat us!" "Okay, John? That's going to hurt in the morning. "People! The staves aren't working! Stick with the hatchet and sword! Who's got the sword anyway?" Meanwhile, Greg stands back and keeps an eye out on who gets knocked down or over the side. Greg ---------- From: Marshall T. Vandegrift[SMTP:marsh@intrlink.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [12] A crabby start to the night >[ Two of the crab's legs are damaged and not holding on to the ship. > The claws are still threatening, but it seems that the crab's hold on >the boat is slipping. John will definitely have a bruise, but nothing >is broken. It did, however, hurt. Let me know if you would like to >continue hacking or if you have other plans now. Thanks!] Since nobody with staves and the like seems to be having much luck, Marshall decides to try getting the wind to come when needed again. "Hey wind, would you mind blowing those birds here faster? And, what the heck, waves, why don't you hit this stupid crab a little harder?" Marshall T. Vandegrift (mailto:marsh@intrlink.com) ---------- From: Jeff Willis[SMTP:thor@bji.net] Subject: Re: Bamf [12] A crabby start to the night >Since nobody with staves and the like seems to be having much luck, >Marshall decides to try getting the wind to come when needed again. Well, since the birds are coming... and my little stick probably won't do any good in this battle, I'll try the only thing I can think of... : If both claws are above the boat, and I can see the head I'll jump for it and go for the eyes. Visualising the tiger, I will use my martial arts skill trying to strike and get back to the boat before it redirects it's claws at me. : If I can not see the head/eyes, I will do my best to avoid the claws. ---------- From: John D. Proulx[SMTP:dewelar@ix.netcom.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [12] A crabby start to the night Surveying the damage to my leg and seeing that it is minor, I turn to my benefactor: "Thanks, Greg, I think I'll be all right. Looks like I'm not going to be of much use against this crab, and it seems to be occupied with Brady and Saif. While it's distracted, maybe we should check the hull damage before this thing sinks." With that, I do whatever I can to patch the boat and bail it while still defending myself with the oar. (Asking for trouble, I know...) John Proulx ---------- From: Animalz@aol.com[SMTP:Animalz@aol.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [12] A crabby start to the night My staff is doing no good so I won't waste my efforts whacking at crab legs. (BTW - I hope the parts that were hacked off fell into the boat. If we live through this and get back to land in one piece, they may make a decent dinner. :) "Hey! It's working" I shout, surprised and pleased to hear the sound of seagulls over the waves. "Look out, everyone. These gulls look big! I'll try to direct them to go for the crab's body and eyes but... Watch your heads!! And don't hit them!" I'll continue trying to hold onto the side of the boat in an effort not to fall into the drink. "Hmmm..." pondering aloud to myself "wonder if this birds are big enough to ride on.... Or if they would be inclined to give someone a ride. Guess I'll have to wait and see." Dana ---------- From: Adequis@aol.com[SMTP:Adequis@aol.com] Subject: Re: Bamf [12] A crabby start to the night Okay since there is still danger from the claws, I will attack a claw again with the sword, hoping for a better shot and getting through the armor on this thing. Otherwise, I will keep muttering a prayer of protection. Brady