Attack on the Cove

We have decided to attack overland rather than splitting the party up in rowboats. I'm in favor of this plan as there's lest chance of death through hypothermia should a boat get capsized. Kua and Grace are going to stay on the peninsula to shoot alchemist fire arrows at the sails and pirate ships.

Part of this plan involved me sneaking down a steep slope. I maintained that this was not my area of specialty, but I managed to do so moderately well nonetheless. Grace was less subtle in her approach. I think I'll suggest to her that next time she bring large dancing fans if she wants to be a one woman show for a group of lonely pirates. Already the plan starts to deteriorate.

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred

Kua began the arrow volley while the sailors crept over the ridge. Grace tried to appear innocuous while I tried to keep a covering illusion on our sailors.

Their's not to make reply,
Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred

The sails of two ships are on fire from the arrows of Grace and Kua. The gnome team took out one pirate who was running to investigate. The other pirates are getting out crossbows. Our sailors are nearing the docks. Kua and Grace continue to fire on the sails of the ships.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air,

The two groups collide on the docks. The pirates were taken completely by surprise by the 'sudden' appearance of our force.

Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army

The naval vessel rounded the tip of the peninsula and opened up with its two ballista upon the western most ships. I shall try to pull my illusion back to provide some cover for Kua and Grace. On the docks, the battle rages on. I am trying to make my way to the docks where my influence can aid our sailors in combat.

Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reel'd from the sabre stroke
Shatter'd and sunder'd.

The pirates abandon their efforts to extinguish their sails and more of them are taking up scores. The pirates are unable to assemble their ballista because the navy vessel has concentrated its fire upon the ballista crew. Grace and Kua also begin firing upon the pirate ballista crew. The sails on our four vessels are aflame. Our sailors fight their way along the length of the docks, relentlessly gaining ground. I sing for them as I follow behind.

We are they who sail early or late:
We storm in to seal your fate:
We right all that you desecrate:
Stalkers of the seaways, beware!
We sleep by the ropes of the ship,
And we rise with a shout like a whip,
With the sun or moon for a lamp,
And a spray of wind in our hair.

A mart of destruction we made
In the north cove where men were afraid,
For death was a difficult trade,
And the sword was a broker of doom;
And our charge was a stern physician
who cured not a few of ambition,
And drave not a few to perdition
With medicine bitter and strong:
And the shield was a grief to the fool
And as bright as a desolate pool,
And justice was dealt to the cruel,
When their rabble clambered along:
For the coward was drowned by the brave
When our battle sheered up like a wave,
And the dead to the waters we gave,
and the glory to God in our song.