Boarding Action (Patreon)

Princess Luna felt the deck of her sky frigate Cloudburst sway as the craft banked hard and brought its port side cannons to bear on the main deck and helm of the enemy brigantine. 

   Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! 6 of 24pdr cannons rang out as they raked the enemy ships wards and deck with canister shot. Luna was deliberately avoiding using solid shot or shells for fear of damaging the enemy's flight keel and its control mechanisms. It was her hope to capture the vessel. Not strike it from the sky.

   Swirling around both ships were numerous pegasus ponies, griffins, and even a couple of young drakes. They were attacking each other and each other's ship. Air was full of the sounds of cracking muskets, the roar of blunderbusses, the ringing of swords, and the barking of pistols. Punctuating these aerial battles was numerous yells, swearing, and piercing screams.    

  Surrounding both ships hulls and rigging were assorted wards and shield spells as unicorns on both side frantically threw them up trying to protect their own ship and their crews. Crews on both sides struggled to jockey their ships into a better firing position, reload and fire their ship's various weapons, and repair battle damage. Over the sounds of battle officers barked orders and trumpets blared.

   Amongst the crews on both ships there were groups of select sailors tasked with the duty of delivering deliberate, accurate fire via magical or mechanical/chemical means. They were attempting to snipe and neutralize key targets on each other's ships. 

    Gilda took aim with her musketoon. She waited for the Cloudburst to level out from its latest turn. Her concentration was focused on her target. A sharpshooter on the enemy ship who was in the process of reloading their long barrel fowling piece. They were looking around for their next target. 

   The griffin instinctively compensated for the movement of the 2 ships and the swirling winds. Squeezing the trigger, her miquelet musketoon roared and for a moment she lost sight of her target as it vanished in a cloud of fire, sparks, and smoke. However the wind quickly blew away, and Gilda was rewarded with the sight of her target now leaning against the side of its ship's gunwales clutching her right arm with her left. Her fowling piece was now lying useless on the deck. 

   "Good shooting brave Gilda! Your aim is as always exceptional!" The griffin looked over her shoulder and found the Prussian Blue alicorn standing behind her. The mare's malachite green eyes were gleaming with battle lust.

    The griffin grunted and started the process of reloading the musketoon. As she did she addressed the captain. "Thanks Captain! But how much longer are we going to keep dancing with these dweebs?! I'm growing bored with this!"

    Luna's laughter thundered above the sound of another salvo of cannon fire. "Fear not my ferocious griffin this ball is coming to now!" The alicorn's horn flared and the griffin felt her feather stand up on end as Luna's magic crushed the now weakened magical defenses of the enemy ship. Then the alicorn launched herself into the sky. She roared at her crowd. 

    "Boarding party advance with me now!" Then she drew her saber and dove for the deck of the brigantine. "Forward!"

    A patron reward for McClaw. He wanted a piece set in the same setting as a piece I did a year ago. Link 

    Tomorrow 10/29/22 starting at 5:30pm Pacific I'll be streaming on Picarto!