Shadows of the Past IC 9

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: You take in some air and scream as loud as you can…

But no sound comes out.

No sound except for a low humming bubble that gently floats towards Alex and his algae friends.

Then, the bubble pops.

@Alex: Whatever Lysa did…why did she do it?

The sound is brutal. It is offensive to your ears as they bleed from the chaotic screeches and thumping and howling.

As if Limbo itself had decided to sit on your head and sing a tune.

The Kelp Anglers aren't enjoying this much either, as their bodies twitch and shake.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79822)

Archaidous
Kelp Angler x2
Lysa
Irraly
Ke'era
Alex

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era shakes her head after the effects of Archadious's conjuration magic. As if being teleported wasn't disorienting enough, swimming straight at enemies was not intuitive for her either. Still it seemed to work. She kicked her fin, creating a whirl of water behind her and raced off towards the plant monsters again.

"Same thing as before Arch!" She shouts, looking up at the looming plants, hoping she had timed herself when they were too distracted with Alex to attack her.

Double move to K6. Readied action to anklet over 5 feet if I'm attacked.

[Niwrad]

(After Alex is done rebuking)

Archadious, seeing that the mermaid was once again in position, repeats the same combo as before, but this time, switches the mermaid and the drow. Placing Irraly within swordswing distance of the strange salad creature.

Irraly and Ke'era

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: Sluggish in your movements, you manage to strike the Kelp Angler twice, but the hits aren't as strong as they normally would be.

Reliance on spells to fight underwater and their vulnerability to have them removed… that and drowning.

@Alex: You shine golden light around both plants, but these seem to squeeze even tighter in their grip as the gods have no say down here in Procan's Garden.

Round 3

@Alex: Held tight by the Kelp Angler, this one unleashes a barrage of extarordinarily tough slaps at your body, applying monstrous force.

The first slap nearly removes your head clean off.

17 damage

The second one threatens to sever your left leg, as the kelp strikes like a rzor sharp blade.

18 damage

The third one is just as brutal as it crushes your entire chest, breaking the ribcage in the process.

17 damage

These attacks have been brutal, but in doing so, the creature's grasp on you has lessened somewhat, as it strikes you with its fineal kelp arm, attempting to keep you held all the same.

15 damage plus imp. grab DC 15 or take an extra 18 damage

@Irraly: The Kelp Angler you struck heals a few of its injuries heal and, despite Lysa's aura of absolute chaos and sound, is able to spin in place until it appears to be moving at the speed of light, creating a very confusing visual spectacle.

Displacement

And then, it swims past you towards Ke'era.

AoO, 50% miss chance

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79827)

Archaidous
Irraly
Kelp Angler x2
Lysa
Ke'era
Alex

[Chimaera]

Lysa look at the creature taking hold on Alex and close her right hand and whsiper something inside the clenched fist.

That's when her fist open with a vibrant white sphere on her hand, "New trick guys, hope you like it" and then the siren hurl the orb at the creature, making it explode with loud noise.


RTA [roll0] sonic damage [roll1] x1,5 since they become vulnerable in my Creaking Cacophony.

[Niwrad]

Activating the belt Archadious had lent to her, Ke'era attempts to dispel the displacement effect upon the Kelp monster before her.

dispel - [roll0]

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: As you begin casting one of your most familiar and powerful spells at the Kelp Angler, this one lashes out and strikes you hard, attempting to hold you, however, using your trusty anklet around your fin, you move back ten paces and call forth a school of green ghostly fish that devour the Kelp Angler as his illusory cape is washed away.



@Alex: This thing just won't let go, no matter how much punishment it has taken from Lysa and yourself.

But its grip has been loosened. Perhaps, if you try one more time…

Grapple DC 12 or take 18 extra damage



Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79829)

Archaidous
Irraly
Kelp Angler x2
Lysa
Ke'era
Alex

[dantiesilva]

Knowing this was his last chance to break free, without being upon deaths door, Alex uses all of his natural muscles to push himself back and away from the creature.

[roll0]


Round 3 Irraly turn

As Irraly watches her enemy retrat towards the others she uses a charge of her anklets to teleport 10ft. closer before taking a 5ft. step and FA it once more.

[roll1] Miss chance [roll2] Damage [roll3] 1/2

Attack 2 [roll4] Miss chance [roll5] Damage [roll6] 1/2

MAp (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79831)

[Niwrad]

Archadious takes note of Alex's heavily injured condition, and swims forward.

Then, he prepares to cast a familiar conjuration spell on both Alex and Irraly, preparing to move them should the thing decide to attack Alex.

moving full distance

moving Alex out of FA range, and Irraly close enough to thing so she can full attack next turn

MAP (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79831)

[AlanBruce]

Round 4

@Archaidous: You swim as far as you can next to Ke';era as Irraly finishes off one of the Kelp Anglers, whose remains begin floating towards the surface and quickly reassembling themselves.

In a few minutes, these things will be back to prey for you and the others.

Hopefully by then, you'll be gone.

@Alex: Released from the Kelp's grasp, the angler looks at you and then at the far end of the deck as it springs past you and floats way too close to Ke'era and Archaidous.

AoO

@Lysa: The creature begins to glow in green radiant colors as a mass of barbed kelp engulfs you as every single enchantment on your body is bled away.

Buffs Removed: alter self, conviction and heroism

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79833)

Archaidous
Irraly
Kelp Angler
Lysa
Ke'era
Alex

[Chimaera]

Becoming back a small pixie, Lysa create another orb of sound in her hands as a bubble goes up to the surface carrying her arcane words.

"I can do that thing you do too Archadious, will show you", Lysa says telepathically to him before launching the orb in the kelp who was most damaged hoping to finish it off much like Archadious did several times in the past.

RTA [roll0] sonic damage [roll1] plus half again due to sonic vulnerability

But as she hurl it she make an utter fiasco and miss it.

"Ok... Maybe next time", she adds.

[dantiesilva]

While Alex had a moment to breath from all the attacks he had been on the recieveing end of he converts one of his less useful spells at this moment into something that could save him.

Obscuring mist in cure light wounds [roll0]

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: You watch the orb fly awfully close, but the damn kelp dodges at the last second.

Thankfully, you have a lot of those left…

@The Party: A latch opens on the old barnacle encrusted deck and a white bloated humanoid hand helps itself out a few feet away from the main group.

This creature looks like a human, who has had its body swollen with water for years. Its hair is black and carries sea detritus as its eyes, grey and sunken look at everyone and focus on Irraly.

@Irraly: There is a terrible feeling of suffocation that has taken ahold of you. Your lungs are no longer burning, they are at the point of explosion as water fills them and you fall on your knees as this malignant aura attempts to kill you outright.

Know. Religion

Make a Con Check or drop unconcious at 0 hp

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79834)

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: You turn around and look at this new enemy as your nearly drop on the Triton's deck.

Your body has been able to suppress this monster's effect, but for how long?

This is a Drwoned One. Brave men and women who met their ends at sea and were never given proper burial. Now, their bodies roam their watery graves with unquenchable hatred for the living.

The drowned are so feared because they can, just by their mere presence, induce immediate drowning upon the unwary and unprepared. Sea creatures have little to fear of a Drowned One, however, even they give such creatures a wide berth, since these undead retain the skills they had in life and many keep training in undeath.

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: You watch Irraly nearly fall over and look at this new foe that has climbed upon deck and then turn your gaze on the Kelp Angler as your call forth a mighty orb of electricity that strikes the plant and causes it to fizzle and fritz as it floats upward, twitching all the way.

The drowned looks at all of you and smiles as it jumps back in the latch where it came from as this one is closed and shut tight.

And then, you are left alone, on the S.S. Triton's deck, as the shadows of the entangling kelp lazily drift above you, casting odd shadows on the once mighty ship.

[Chimaera]

Lysa look at everyone and with her index finger points up.
"Me and Irraly will need to resurface. Maybe we could better prepare ourselves and raid the ship tomorrow", she says telepathically and wait for the others to agree or not with her idea.

[Chimaera]

After a quick consult with the others, Lysa agree with keep going, but not before granting them back some defensive wards.

Conviction on Lysa, Irraly and Alex.

Being unable to keep singing, Lysa summon forth a metallic bell to be able to perform underwater and take off the badge of valor from her neck as she takes the periapt of sullen sea.

"Let's move", she relies telepathically;

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: You once again take out your wand and recats the lost spells on yourself, Alex, and Irraly.

Even as Ke'era and Archaidous brew a quick potion spell on the deck of this ship, you cannot shake the feeling that you are being perpetually watched. This may be of course,m given your earlier sepal, which caused sound to travel all over the underwater kelp garden and, no doubt, to the ship's interior.

That one creature alone had almost felled Irraly, who was a giant, and then it simply vanished.

Who knows what the S.S. Triton, now poised to submerged deeper into the depths were it not for the kelp, holds in store for you and your friends.

That Locathah Gleeboo said that his goods were here…but are they worth it?

@The Party: Be it swimming or holding on to the kelp to navigate the horizontal deck, you reach the two rusted doors that lead into the vessel proper.

The Kelp anglers above have finished reforming and, rather than attack, swim uo towards the tangled underwater roots and disappear from sight.

But which door to take? each is capable of fitting a medium sized man.

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: You cast a divination to perceive magic on the other side, but there is no response.

It woukld seem the room or rooms immediately beyond are devoid of it.

That's when the ship creak and cracks, as one of the huge knotted kelps that holds it snaps off.

This ship will not be suspended here for long, it would seem.

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: It takes Alex a little over three minutes to bring the damn door down as it clanks on the floor and slides down the deck, taking the figure head with it and falling into the darkness below.

Then, you enter the S.S. Triton.

This room is covered in kelp- as bad as outside. The first area looks like it used to be a mess hall of sorts, with an old barnacle encrusted pot that may have served the crew's dinner. Now, fish swim freely inside, as the remains of rusted furniture and chairs is all that remains in this place.

You can observe, ten feet above you, air ducts, as big as a man and from which flow a cold current.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79839)

[Niwrad]

Archadious looks at the mess hall before them and the air ducts ahead of them.

Well, it appears the way ahead is up.

Then, he proceeds to cross the mess hall and makes his way towards the air ducts, hoping that the others were following him.

spot - [roll0]
listen - [roll1]

[Business Scrub]

Back on the shore of the ship, Ke'era uses a old trick she had learned to quickly craft a potion with Archadious. It may not be pretty, but it would get around the hitch of some spells that could be cast only on the caster.

Besides, land creatures don't mind drinking sea water... right? She thinks, using water from the sea around them to fill the bottle.

Back on the ship, Ke'era is antsy with anticipation to solve this business. She winces as Alex bashes down the door, but says nothing as the group swims softly in. She looks around in the eerieness of the ship and murmurs, "Didn't anyone ever tell you it's bad luck to break a shipwreck?"

She follows Archadious, looking curiously at things as she goes, but being sure to touch nothing.

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: You swim up to the duct and your hair is blown back by a cold current.

Something is moving, about fifty feet further down the duct. You could follow, but it would require you swim with your belly against the metal tunnel and your head scraping against the top of it, that is how tight this duct is.

@Ke'era: You swim through the tangled mess that used to be the hallway and a lone crab spider floats on your shoulder as you shoo it away and this one lands on the ground and scuttles towards a flight of stairs, squeezing its body through a crack less than an inch wide.

That's when the moans of the restless dead can be heard a few feet below you.

[Niwrad]

Not wanting to to risk exploring the tiny duct, Archadius follows Ke'era down the remaining path.

Well then, up it is?

Then, assuming the others agree, the elf heads up the stairs

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: Following Archaidous' lead, you swim up to the second floor, askewed as the angles are, due to the ship being in a nose dive position and check the areas around.

A long hallway. There seems to be a door to your right. This metal door has the emblem of a trident and a rusted plaque.


CARGO

Then, the hallways extends to your left and bends around the corner.

[Niwrad]

Archadious notices the large door with the Cargo sign.

He examines it briefly, then turns to the others.

Perhaps this is where gleebo's goods were stored. Alex? Irraly? Do either of you think you might have the strength to open this? Assuming of course it isn't locked.

Then, upon second glance, the elf realizes that both warriors were unlikely to be able to budge open the door. So, Archadious, glad he had a scroll for such an occasion, withdraws a scroll of knock, and casts it upon the door.

should open the door

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: The scroll fizzles in your hand as you send a ghostly purple hand to knock on the door and pry it open.

However, as soon as the transmutation hits the door, a power alights and dissipates the knock spell.

That's when you hear sounds from above, in the ducts, scurrying around down to the left hallway.

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: With this door not opening, chances are that it needs some special key.

And chances are such key is held by the owner of the S.S. Triton…Urukimuu.

You walk down the hallway as the hurried hustle of knees and hands scurry above your heads inside the ducts and down the hallway.

Clearly you are being expected.

At last, you reach a door marked with the emblem of the ship- the Triton. This one has been savagely clawed and the wood lies rotten as Alex props the door gently aside and this one unhinges itself as you see a long corridor filled with debris and kelp as a voice comes in from the darkness.

You come in to my ship… dispose of my men… and now you would seek to take my treasures. The gall. The impertinence! I shall tolerate this no further! But come in! Let me see the faces of those that would dare set foot on the Triton...

You follow suit as magical torches alight with green fire and never extinguish, allowing you to see the room.

A grand vault, filled with treasure chests pushed to the far end. A short flight of stairs leads to a bloated pale Locathah with black bulbous sunken eyes and light armor.

A wicked reatsword rests on his lap as he sits on a golden throne and you can see a pendant hanging around his over inflated white neck.

Its fin lies broken and out of use, but by the strength of this creature, you can tell that a single swipe may be able to take down anyone of you if you were unfortunate enough to get caught in his swings.

Then, there are those with him in the room.

Gangly ghoulish creatures. Probably human at some point. But now they were clothing akin to rogues or hunters.

Four of these can be observed floating in the water.

Amnd to add insult to injury, two more of those Kelp Anglers. You know what those can do already.

And then tehre's the incessant scurrying above inside the ducts.

This could turn ugly.

Know. Religion for Urukimuu and the four others.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79843)

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: You tighten thegrip on your bastard sword and look around.

The room is big, big enough to give you maneuverability, but they probbaly had same idea in mind.

Urukimuu is a Drowned One. Fighting him will be a challenge in and of itself. One slight mistake, and its curtains for you. Thankfully, he is alone when it comes to those undead.

The Kelp Anglers are here to do exactly what they did on deck- debuff. Top priority should be placed on these plants.

Then there is Urukimuu's crew…

Lacedons. The aquatic cousin to the ghoul, which, for all respects, is identical to a ghoul, except that these are expert swimmers, something that a ghoul would not really need because undead do not breathe. Whatever, they seem trained in the art of precision striking. Nimble. Quick.

Let their death be quick as well.

[Chimaera]

"Those plants will be a problem... But I guess our main target is in front of us", Lysa tell the others waiting to see what will happen...

If wasnt by the underwater issue, Lysa would even try to speak to the creature, but as she is right now there will be only fight left.

[Niwrad]

Archadious stares with slight horror at the numerous enemies awaiting them in this room. Together, the five of them had barely been able to defeat the two kelp anglers up on the main deck of the ship. And now this Urukimuu had two more of them, in addition to a small horde of ghouls.

This was not going to be an easy fight.

At least there was always the option of escape...

He quickly scans the room with his eyes and takes note of the dimensions of the place, the position of their opponents, and their own position within the room.

Then, he turns his gaze to the bloated undead monstrosity sitting before them.

This vessel does not belong to you. It belongs to those Locathah who you drove out, ate or turned. We are here to help reclaim this ship for those who originally dwelled here.

Now we can avoid any further... disposing of your "men" if you agree to leave this ship and never bother those of your former kind again.

Archadious says, doing his best to form recognizable words and sounds through the water.

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: Urukimuu leans forward to look at you through his blank bloated eyes as his pyurple grey lips draw a smile and black water drools upward from them.

"I have at least a hundred here who would say otherwise, elf. You barely made it through my deck. What makes you believe you can survive against me? You are all swimming on a little prayer. All it takes is one single spell and your friends will be drowning and added to my crew."

Urukimuu sits back on his golden throne and looks at all of you as he exhales a snout of bubbles.

"The ship is mine. All that lies herein is mine. You walked in here and dared cast me out… you are mine as well."

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Kelp Anglers x2
Ke'era
Alex

[Niwrad]

Archadious is quick to realize that the biggest initial problem were the two kelp anglers. As demonstrated upon the deck of the ship, their ability to dispel had to be stopped.

So, the elf quickly pulls out one of his metamagic rods, and with a gesture, casts a powerful conjuration spell to bring the two kelp anglers and all the lacedons closer together.

Will dc 24 to resist

Moving everybody to positions indicated: MAP (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79969)

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: You call forth one of your most powerful dimensional spells and attempt to move the the enemies closer together, so as to get them all nice and bundled to make it easier for Alex and Irraly to cut them down.

Only two Lacedons are moved by the spell as Urukimuu raises an eyebrow and watches from his throne.

"That was it?"

However, not only were your enemies the taget of this spell, but you and your comrades as well. With all of them huddled together in the corridor, this would force them to come to you. And that should make them easier to cut down, one by one.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79971)

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Kelp Anglers x2
Ke'era
Alex

[Niwrad]

Annoyed and disappointed by both the resiliency of the kelp anglers, and the consequential failure of his spell, Archadious shakes his head, and with the rod in his hands, casts a quickened transmutation to reduce to combat effectiveness of all their foes.

targeting enemies: everyone except lacedon 1

will DC 21 or be slowed

-1 attack, reflex save, ac; can't take full round action, move reduced by half.

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: Luck only goes so far as the Lacedons laugh at your spells and Urukimuu sits on his throne and watches the arcane displays go on.

That's when the nigh existing currents inside the S.S. Triton become even slower as the two shuffled lacedons's joints become stiff and one of the anglers begins moving as fast as a sleeping shellfish.

Urukimmu raises an eyebrow again as he doesn't even flinch.

"Is this supposed to inconvenience me?"

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79972)

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Kelp Anglers x2
Ke'era
Alex

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: You wait as you float in the water and watch Archaidous bombard Urukimmu's lackeys with spell, after spell, after spell.

Yet you keep your mouth shut. The timing has to be perfect.

Urukimuu stays seated on his throne and watches the battle, but does nothing.


The Lacedons do not engage. Instead, they swim around, all four of them, staying ten feet above the ground.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79974)

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Kelp Anglers x2
Ke'era
Alex

[AlanBruce]

********

Meanwhile, on the S.S. Dauphin.

Mausiel sits on the massive kelp bed as he buries his machete on a root and looks around at his crew, exhausted under the unrelenting tropical sun.

"Doc! How much have we moved?"

…. fifity feet by my count, skip!

The half elf stands up and cracks his back.

"Everyone back on the ship! We take a thirty minute break. Shen! Is lunch ready?"

Fish stew with urchin for extra strength, foo!

The crew climbs aboard as Shen and Tonel prepare the table.

"My apologies for not being down with you in the hacking, captain Mausiel. I have a spell or two that will help us hack those things faster, or I can call on Lord Phaulkon to blow a strong gale that could move us a few yards if needed."

Mausiel sits down and pours himself a blass of water.

"Anything to make this trip faster, Father Carth. I just wonder how the others are faring beow. Why would they leave the ship? I do not know. I trust they'll be fine."

Tonel smiles as he calls forth some fresh water on a pitcher.

"I trust they will be fine, captain. I have known them less than you, but I can give testatment that they are very strong individuals. We'll see them soon…."

That's when Tonel begins to rise from his chair as Hashikki, Mausiel, Akilu and the rest of the crew raise an eyebrow and the captain gets up as Tonel looks around as his body is lifted by an unseen force and the skies darken above the ship.

So this is the Dauphin? Seen better ships dragged beneath the kelp here. Who is in charge?

The crew turns around as a green haired hag with a wide grin flies over the main mast and looks at everyone below.

Mausiel looks up at the creature and curses in elven under his breath.

"I AM! WHAT BUSINESS DO YOU HAVE HERE, WITCH?"

The hag laughs.

"Wrong answer! Andralphus?"

Tonel's body is lifted in the air as a shadowy form appears behind him and a wispy horned creature stretches his arms wide, making it unable for him to cast.

"You have one of the strongest readings of power on this ship, cleric. Tell us… where is it?"

Tonel smiles as the creature squeezes his arms tighetr mid air.

"That you are right, shade. I am the strongest here…and you made a big mistake by picking on me. Now, feel the grace of the Sky Lord!!!"

Tonel's body gives of a brilliant light as the hag above smiles and the shadowy creature shuts one eye and smiles as well.

"Awww… you were planning on turning me away? To scare me like those pitiful undead? Let me show you who ought to be scared here!"

The shadow engulfs Tonel in a vortex of utter darkness and brings him down with the force of a hammer on deck as the cleric's body bounces off the deck and lands on the table, breaking it as the shade stays in place and a pair of hideous aquatic ogres, stitched with various body parts from different creatures, climb aboard the Dauphin and engage the crew.

Mausiel, not to be discouraged, leads the attack as Akilu readies his javelin, Hashikki begins to chant and the tired sailors rush towards the beasts, who send a few flying back several feet, breaking several bones as the five sailors drop on deck, bathed in blood as the hag watches above and laughs.

"We need one thing… Seshala Sidhe's legacy. I know you have it. I want it! Andralphus!"

The shade calls forth a huge globe of darkness that envelops most of the deck as Tonel calls forth light that competes with the creature's powers and hurls a lance of pure light at him, which the creature dodges effortlessly.

"A wise choice, cleric- but those tricks don't work on me… now, where were we? Ah yes. You were about to tell me where the Legacy is…"

Once more, Tonel is lifted by the creature's claw up in the air beyond the globe as the crew fights in utter darkness against the ogres and is taken to see the hag herself, who smiles a wide grin filled with razor sharp teeth.

"Your friends on the Dauphin will not survive, cleric. They cannot do anything against the Sunken Sisterhood- especially against me. But unlike Bavmorda, I am not unreasonable. Tell me where the egg is. Just an egg. It will do you no harm to part with an egg, right? You can spare so many lives for a simple egg…"

Below, Mausiel's cryies of pain burst forth from the darkness. No doubt he's been hit something fierce by the ogres.

"So you are a member of the Sunken Sisterhood. I have heard from you back in Suel. The egg is not here. We gave it to some tritons a few days back. A trade for goods."

The hag looks at the young cleric and then at Andralphus who looks at him with a grim expression.

"He lies."

The hag shakes her head as she looks at the darkness below.

"Wrong answer, cleric. Do it."

Andralphus wraps his shadowy body around Tonel and plummets into the darkness, breaking the globe in the process and slamming Tonel carth against the deck as Mausiel barely stands and Akilu has suffered grievous wounds while Hashikki tends to the wounded as the two ogres prepare to finish off the Dauphin's crew.

The hag looks below and raises her hand.

"Halt! Listen well, mortals! You have something that belongs to me. I will grant you a few days to come up with it. It may be tomorrow. The day after. In a week, but I will return, Alfhyld, of the Sunken Sisterhood. Remember my name. And since you are already stuck in Procan's Garden, it;s not like you can leave anyway, so be good litle sailors and have it ready when I return."

Andralphus rises from the deck as Tonel's body, cracked and broken, can barely get up as he coughs some blood.

"You got off lucky today, cleric. Next time, don't count on it."

Alfhyld looks at her ogres and these jump off the Dauphin and dive into the water amidst the slow floating kelp.

"Have a nice day…"

The skies clear as hag and shade disappear as the sun shines over the battered deck as Doc and Hashikki begin healing the wounded and Akilu helps Tonel up on his feet.

Mausiel limps up and looks around.

"What the f*** just happened!? What was that crazy bitch talking about?"

Tonel uses one of his most powerful spells to heal his wounds as he looks at the captain.

"She was after an egg, captain. I know nothing about it, but I tried to send them away…it didn't work."

Mausiel looks at the massive kelp field.

"An egg, huh? Tonel, let Mister Mithmironel and the others that I wish to speak to them as soon as they get back."

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: Having been pulled far behind by Archaidous in order to make a choke point for the enemies to come to you, you call on one of your more trusty transmutations and begin to phase in and out of the Ethereal Plane, while standing your ground.

Blink

@Lysa: You watch the Kelp Anglers begin to glow, just like they did on deck and know that they are about to unleash their powerful abjurations.

That's when you open your mouth, inhale air and blow a single humming bubble towards the area, in order to distract the creatures enough to disrupt their casting.

That's when Urukimuu, who had been seated doing nothing, raises his eyebrow and smiles.

"No…"

That's when a giant green ghostly skull appears between the Kelp Anglers and your spell and opens its jaws wide as it swallows the bubble, negating the spell entirely.

Counter Dispel Magic vs. Creaking Cacophony

@Archaidous: One of the Kelp Anglers, unimpeded by Lysa's spell, causes a mass of ghostly green barbed kelp to wrap around you as it attempts to remove all your protections.

Contingency - Celerity
extended disobedience
elemental body
heart of water
telepathic bond
conviction


@Alex: As with Archaidous, a mass of green ghostly barbed kelp envelops you as many of your protections are removed.

Heart of Water
Linked Perception - check if it cancels everyone else's
Conviction

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Kelp Anglers x2
Ke'era
Alex

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era watches the events as if in slow motion. Those kelp anglers could not be allowed to get their spell off, whatever the cost. She wills the time around her to slow to a stop, if only for a moment, to plan. As Urukimuu summons a ghostly skull to absorb Lysa's spell, Ke'era's hands glow green, and shape the outline of a massive hammerhead shark, which propels foreward to smash his counterspell.

Dispel magic: [roll0] (+2 from unanswerable strike)

If Someone in turn tries to dispel this remember that the DC is increased by 2 to dispel one of my abjuration spells. Never mind

She smiles with satisfaction. "Not on my watch."

Shortly after, the effects of manipulating time come down unexpectedly on her, as she closes her eyes and kicks back a bit in pain.

celerity + dispel magic. Whoopee!

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: It's a magical display of epic proportions as Urukimuu's ghostly green skull swallows Lysa's arcane bubble of chaos and just then, Ke'era grunts in pain as a maelstrom surrounds her and the Cosmis c Powers of the Multiverse reach out to her, showing nigh endless possibilities.

The Celerity Spell…. a power deemed only for the gods themselves.

From the maelstrom, a gigantic hammerhead shark rushes forward and smashes itself against Urukimuu's skull as Lysa's little bubble contniues its course until it explodes in a cacophonic chaos of donkey brails, drum solos, dischordant violas, and a whole ensemble of off tune roosetr caws.

Urukimuu watches the display and sits back in his chair. Not very impressed, but slightly annoyed.

The Kelp Anglers twitch as the sound echoes through the room and the Lacedons look at all of you and smile wickedly.

One of the anglers, the slowed one, is unable to muster the power to concentrate on its spell as her innate power fizzles.

The one that attacked Archaidous, however, fights it off, and does manage to send off his dispel.

This leaves Ke'era in agonizing pain as blood trickles upward from her nose as she holds on to her head.

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Kelp Anglers x2
Ke'era
Alex

[Niwrad]

Adding his own arcane power to the mixed maelstrom of arcane energy in the room, Archadoius watches as Lysa's spell fails to stop the kelp angler from targeting him with the dispel, so he decides to take matters into his own hands.

Muttering the phrase he had reserved as the trigger for his contingency, the elf activates his spell, and similar to the mermaid, a few seconds of time are pulled from the future.

Then the elf mutters a few words and gestures with his hands.

Suddenly a large globe of glimmering green acid appears above the kelp angler and the lacedon nearby, then with a loud pop, the globe bursts with tremendous force, blasting both the angler and the nearby ghoul with burning acid.

Take [roll0] acid damage

Reflex save DC 24 or take an additional [roll1] and [roll2] acid damage on successive turns

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: It has been a magnificent opening as one of the Kelp Angelrs is surrounded by a acid, arther than water and it squirms and spews sap around it.

Alex, not one to be left behind, shuts his eyes and casts a protective spell.

Divine Favor

Urukimuu watches the latest arcane display and raises an eyebrow, somewhat interested.

"It would seem that, even after most of your protections have been taken away, you still have some bite left in you. I like that. I hope it remains sharp…."

Round 2

Having used one of his most powerful spells, Archaidous holds his head as the effects throb in his mind, leaving him somewhat vulnerable.

The same can be said for Ke'era.

Lysa begins to chant a song of bravery and victory in the grim depths of Procan's Garden.

+4 to attack and damage

Urukimmu watches the blasting sound sphere and the acid and, once more, calls forth a gigantic green skull that devours the sound and makes the Kelp Nagler nimbler once more, as well as the Lacedon.

Area Dispel Magic on Creaking Cacophony and Slow on Angler 1 and Lacedon 3

One of the lacedons takes out a wand as his companions swim relatively close and, running his fingers through the runes on it, bathes the entire group of scouts in a very familiar transmutation, speeding three of them, and making one swim normally again, unimpeded.

Haste on all Lacedons except 4, who counters Slow

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80059)

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Kelp Anglers x2
Ke'era
Alex

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: Irraly doubles in size and remains in place as the hasted lacedons looks at each of you and smile, deciding which to pick off first.

Lysa, while singing silentkly and bleeding from her eyes and wrists, passes Ke'era the arcane wand of magic missile.

@Archaidous: One of the Kelp Anglers keeps getting hit with your acid sphere as it moves further back.

The other Kelp Angler begins to glow again as once more, green ghostly barbs wrap around you, attempting to take out all your protections.

extended disobedience
elemental body
heart of water
telepathic bond
conviction


Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80064)

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Kelp Anglers x2
Ke'era
Alex

[Business Scrub]

Once more bending time to her will, Ke'era grabs the wand and fires at the one trying to dispel Archadious without pausing to consider.

Damage: [roll0]

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: You tilt your head back once more as the power of the Cosmos gives you that one chance to alter fate and fire a salvo of force at the arcane kelp.

And it is hit… but the damage is not enough to deter its innate power as the spell envelops Archaidous.

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: Alex is a man of action. Always has been.

Enough with this counterspelling bull. It's time to get arrange the terrain to his favor.

Thankfully, Procan's Garden gives the druid a tremendous edge as the kelp idly floating swarms around the lacedons as these manage to avoid the biggers strands, nimbly swimming about, but their movement is now reduced, although they can still swim away with a few well placed hand strokes.

Urukimuu watches the scenario from his throne and laughs.

"You never use a spell like that against nimble creatures, druid. You will soon learn why…"

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80070)

Round 3

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Kelp Anglers x2
Ke'era
Alex

[dantiesilva]

Alex turns his head towards Urukimuu as he makes a comment about nimble creatures. Only a fool would expect it to actually catch them. That was not my intentions. If you are going to stay on your thrown and simply watch then do so. If you plan on acting then I am right here. Alex says, at perfect peace in this situation, having faith in his friends knowing what to do next.

[Niwrad]

As he sees and feels his water-breathing spell dispelled Archadious suddenly feels the lack of air and quickly covers his mouth and nose to prevent any excess oxygen from escaping. He had time thankfully before he ran out of air completely. And when his powerful elemental transmutation is also dispelled, he suddenly feels much weaker.

At least he could still jaunt. And at least he was still naturally resistant to the paralyzing touch of the ghouls.

Noticing that Alex had swum forward, the elf presumes that very shortly they and their foes would come into close range. So, he gestures with his hands and lets out a small amount of air to voice an incantation, then, with a burst of arcane energy, golden flames surround him and all of his companions.

1d6+14 damage every time we are attacked

half is cold, half is sacred energy

[AlanBruce]

@Alex: You look up at Urukimuu as his Lacedons struggle to rip the kelp apart and swim away from the nest of live plants.

"I can see one of your friends is suffocating. His lungs must be on fire. What can you possibly do? Stay in that cramped little space and watch him drown? Elves are known for being frail- how long can he hold his breath? As for me? You are not even worthy of being my opponent, druid. My lacedons have been merely inconvenienced, but they'll rip out of your entangle spell very soon and then you'll see what I mean."

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: You douse all of your companions with holy icy flames, granted by Arrallae herself as Urukimuu watches from his throne.

"You would immolate your body in ice? So that my men would suffer with each strike? A crude, yet effective tactic, I must admit."

Lysa opens up a scroll and allows everyone to move faster and nimbler through the water. This may very well be the last stand, so might as well make it worth it.

Haste Scroll

And yet he does nothing as he remains seated.

The Lacedons swim out of the mass of tangled kelp with little difficulty, but do not engage yet.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80071)

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Kelp Anglers x2
Ke'era
Alex

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: One of the Kelp Anglers, covered in acid, finally dissolves in water as nothing remains of it.

Urukimuu watches this and smiles as he looks at the remaining plant, who begins to glow once more and creates a large area of green ghostly kelp that encompasses the entire group and the entangle field created by Alex.

Entangle
Mass Fire Shield (Alex)
Mirror Image (Irraly)
Mass Fire Shield (Archaidous)
Conviction (Ke'era)
Mass Fire Shield (Lysa)

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80076)

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Kelp Angler
Ke'era
Alex

[Niwrad]

Once again, as the persistent kelp angler begins to cast the dispelling abjuration, the mermaid slows down the flow of time once more and casts another of her new spells, this time with a flash, she casts a moderate conjuration, one that the elf mage had cast many times before.

With a flash, Alex suddenly finds himself adjacent to the angler.

moving Alex to 8K

moving Irraly to 15M and 15N, 16M and 16N

Finding himself next to the kelp angler as it was about to cast it's spell, Alex brings his scythe down upon the plant with all of his might.

Attack: [roll0]
Damage:[roll1] and [roll2] magebane

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: You get ready to move Irraly and Alex around when Urukimuu raises his eyebrow and a large green skull attempts to swallow you whole and disrupt your spell.

That's when Archaidous himself calles forth a giant green hammer that shatters the skull as both elf and mermaid are dazed as Alex and Irral;y are moved around the room and the druid cuts the Kelp Angler with such force that its spell is completely disrupted, leaving all of you with your scant protections.

Urukimuu watches this from his golden throne and starts to get up.

"I hope you had your fun…"

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80082)

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Kelp Angler
Ke'era
Alex

[Niwrad]

Judging from the drowned warrior's last ominous words, Alex concludes that the thing was about to join the fray. One less kelp angler would help tremendously.

free action rage

attack(haste) - [roll0]
damage(haste) - [roll1] and [roll2] magebane

attack1 - [roll3]
damage1 - [roll4] and [roll5] magebane

attack2 - [roll6]
damage - [roll7] and [roll8] magebane

[Niwrad]

Lysa, seeing that the elf mage who had lost his breathing spell was in more need of the periapt, removes it. Then, she readies one of her wands to target the undead Locathah should he decide to charge Alex.

ranged touch attack - [roll0]
penalty - [roll1] str

[AlanBruce]

Round 4

@Alex: With the Kelp Angler floating belly up towards the ceiling, Urukimuu looks at you as his eyes blink twice and when they reopen, you can see a reddish tint to them.

"Now it's my turn…"

@The Party: Urukimuu takes a single step and vanishes from sight as he leaves a trace of bubbles in his wake.

That's when he reappears right between Archaidous, Lysa, and Ke'era. This was no magic. No effort was used whatsoever. This was some effect. As of yet unknown.

"How unfortunate- One, two… and three creatures so close to me. And one of them cannot even breathe. Lacedons, finish the other two warriors. These three are mine."

@Irraly: One of the creatures takes out a shortsword crackling with electricity and rushes at you as it sticks right in your ribs.

21 damage plus 12 skirmish + 5 electricity

The other draws a wand and figures how to use it as the tangle area is lifted.

@Alex: The two Lacedons rush at you and, because they have the range to gather speed, stick their blades in you.

9 damage plus 9 skirmish + 5 electricity

The second one swims towards you and knifes you with a similar blade, but gaining the advantage of flanking, is able to dig a deeper wound.

10 damage plus 9 skirmish + 7 SA + 5 electricity

@Archaidous: Immediately, you feel a horrendous aura come over you as your lungs fill with water and your body begins to shut down.

Con check or fall unconcious at 0 hp

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80085)

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x4
Irraly
Ke'era
Alex

[Niwrad]

Irraly turns to the lacedon before her that had stabbed her and unleashes her silver courtblade.

attack(haste) - [roll0]
damage - [roll1] and [roll2] electricity

attack1 - [roll3]
damage - [roll4] and [roll5] electricity

attack2 - [roll6]
damage - [roll7] and [roll8] electricity

Then, the dark maiden moves 10 feet to the left.

('five-foot' step)

[Niwrad]

attack (haste) [roll0]
attack 1 [roll1]
attack 2 [roll2]

Also, AoO

attack - [roll3]
damage - [roll4] and [roll5] electricity
blink - [roll6]

[Niwrad]

Alex also launches a full attack upon the hasted ghoul.

This is after Ke'era acts

attack(haste) - [roll0]
damage - [roll1] and holy? [roll2]

attack1 - [roll3]
damage - [roll4] and holy? [roll5]

attack2 - [roll6]
damage - [roll7] and holy? [roll8]

[Business Scrub]

"Archadious!"

Why was he just lying there? Nervously, she looked around at the close quarters she was in. She had to get them all away from this abomination. But how..? There had to be a way to make the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Suddenly the answer came to her. With a push of her fin, she swam around the Drowned one, watching his blade closely and ready to jump if need be.

If he attacks, she jumps to Archadious, and if not, well, she simply swims there anyway. Either way, she makes it to the mage, grabs him gently by the shoulders, and stuffs him in her bag. Silk, who had been taking shelter in his home, looks curiously at the elf. Food time? How big do you think I am?
No! Not for you!

She quickly bends time yet again, this time warping space as well, letting her allies shift around the ship.

Herself, she moves far away from the undead, and deeper into the ship. Dazed, she let's Archadious out of the bag, and prays for Lysa to come over. Lysa swims as fast as her legs can carry her, and swiftly uses the wand to restore Archadious' consciousness.

Ke'era moves to R10, with Archadious beside her. Lysa moves to p15, then takes her move action to go to q10, where she casts lesser vigor on Archadious.

Move action, then move action to put Arch in bag. Celerity + Dimension Step to get people where they need to be. Alex can move as well.

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: The lacedon hits you, but his toothpick of a weapon isn't enough to cause any reason to alarm as you evicerate the undead and its chunks float in the brine.

@Alex: As fast and as sharp as your blade is, you cannot finish off the lacedons in melee with you as one of them is severely injured, but not destroyed.

@Ke'era: Pulling the impossible, you manage to bag the elf as Urukimuu laughs as he watches you swim by him and doesn't even flinch.

"That's it! Get nervous! Get sloppy! No matter where you go… I will catch up with you. The sea drowns all…"

Round 5

@Archaidous: Your lungs are on fire as you open your eyes and find yourself still in the bottom of the ocean without means to breathe.

Lysa and Ke'era are here, but the mermaid can barely hold herself- she must've used a lot of arcane power to get you out. And off in the distance, you can see Irraly and Alex battling Urukimuu's forces.

But what can you do?

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80097)

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x3
Irraly
Ke'era
Alex

[Niwrad]

With a slight bit of life flowing back into him thanks to Lysa, Archadious groggily opens his eyes and looks around. But the first feeling that hits him is the burning sensation in his lungs. He begins to gasp for air when he realizes that he is still underwater.

Then he notices the periapt in Lysa's hand. Mentally thanking the pixie, he takes the periapt, dons it, and takes a deep breath.

Renewed with vigor, the elf looks at the undead warrior and targets him with a minor transmutation to reduce his agility.

ranged touch attack - [roll0]
penalty - [roll1] * 1.5 = 10
so -5 ac/ref saves

spell resistance - [roll2]

[Chimaera]

Lysa move a step closer to Archadious and give him the periapt and then she feels her breath being endangered now that she wasnt wearing it anymore.

Lysa let a bubble go up as she tap herself with the wand of lesser vigor, should the monster try to drown her.

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: You put on the brooch and exhale some bubbles as your lungs are filled with precious air once more.

Then, you look at Urukimuu and blast the undead abomination with one of your lesser used transmutations as this one strikes the Drowned Warrior, causing him to laugh.

"Is that it? He made me a lot more resilient than what you believe, elf…"

Again, the monstrous Urukimuu vanishes from sight and reappears right in the middle of the three of you.

@Lysa: Even invisible, the Drowned One is able to pinpoint where you are as his blade pierces your body, crackling it with black energy.

76 damage plus 10 profane + 1 negative level

Immediately, Urukimuu's aura takes effect.

Con check or fall unconcious to 0 hp, unless the damage would take you down further. DR, not applied

@Ke'era: Urukimuu is a beast of the Depths, alright. No wonder that Locathah said he was the best of his kind.

The blade goes through your soft flesh as crackling energy surges through your body.

46 damage plus 6 profane

"You will not use your magic to save them!"

The second blade goes in just as easily as the first.

46 damage plus 12 profane

@Archaidous: In a flash, Urukimuu has been able to cut down your two friends with horrible ease as he looks at you.

"Die."

The final cut goes right through you.

43 damage plus 4 profane

@Alex: One of the Lacedons far away from you points his wand at you as a green mist envelops not your body, but your scythe.

GMW
Spikes
Holy supressed for 4 rounds
Magebane supressed for 3 rounds

That's when one of the lacedons swims up to you and stabs you with his shortsword, causing major pain to flow through your body.

6 damage + 5 skirmish + 9 SA + 5 electric

The other Lacedon misses by a small margin.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80101)

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x3
Irraly
Ke'era
Alex

[Niwrad]

Alex continues his assault on the ghoul he had struck prior. Only turning to focus on the second once the first was down.

attack(haste) - [roll0]
damage -[roll1]

attack1 - [roll2]
damage -[roll3]

attack2 - [roll4]
damage -[roll5]



Irraly steps forward and unleashes her fury on the evil Locathah.

attack(haste) - [roll6]
damage -[roll7] and [roll8] electricity

attack1 - [roll9]
damage -[roll10] and [roll11] electricity

attack2 - [roll12]
damage -[roll13] and [roll14] electricity


Then, using her special training, she targets the abomination's sword with abjurations.

dispel - [roll15]
dispel - [roll16]
dispel - [roll17]
dispel - [roll18]
dispel - [roll19]

[Niwrad]

Archadious watches with horror as the horrific monster that once was a noble Locathah teleports once more and this time proceeds to slaughter his allies with ease.
First Lysa.
Then Ke'era.

And finally, when the massive greatsword begins to arc towards him, the elf shuts his eyes and jaunts away from the blade, ten feet away.

Despite his horror and sense of guilt, he attempts to maintain a level head and think through his next action.

Well... nothing that magic can't remedy...

He says grimly to himself.

Then he turns to speak to the warrior.

He...? Who turned you into this...?

As he speaks, he gestures with his hands and casts another conjuration. This time, bands of steel appear and attempt to wrap around the brute.

Reflex dc 22 or be immobilized.

The victim must succeed on a Reflex save or be immobilized (helpless). If the saving throw succeeds, the victim is only partially trapped by the bands (treat as entangled).

A creature immobilized by the bands can attempt escape as a fullround action, either by bursting free (Strength DC 18) or wriggling out (Escape Artist DC 18). An entangled creature can use a full-round action to break or disentangle itself with a DC 13 Strength check or a DC 13 Escape Artist check.

[AlanBruce]

@Alex: Your scythe may have lost much of its luster, but you can still swing it against these creatures.

One of the Lacedons falls to your sharp blade as it is cut in two, having its upper body float upwards.

The second monster is not as lucky either, but that damn Lacedon further back has reduced your ability to inflict true damage on them.

@Irraly: You move forward and allow your blade to do the talking as Urukimuu is cut down gravely as black blood spurts from his pale bloated body and the beast smiles.

"That's the best you got?"

That's when you call forth the power of the Fey Woods and hundreds of lithe fey in green ghostly garb envelop Urukimuu's weapon and strip if not all, most of his most terrible properties.

Round 6

@Archaidous: With Ke'era dead and Lysa quite possibly so, you avoid the beast's blade as you jaunt back ten feet and exhale a gout of bubbles.

This creature was lethal. perhaps one of the most dangerous enemies you had faced so far.

Of course, the fact that most of your protections had been subdued may have had something to do with it.

Then, you envelop Urukimuu in solid bands of steel that revereberate in the old sunken ship with a loud clang as they trap the locathah warrior, who struggles to get free, but with your earlier transmutation, a brief miracles has taken place.

"Who? He of the ruined tower. Far from this Garden. In a place where horrors unspeakable swim through dim lit corridors. He who plots and schemes from misshapen shadows… but that is another tale. One you shall never get to hear the end of…"

Urukimmu's eyes glow red as the steel bands attempt to restrain him, but with a feral growl, these fly past you in shrapnel as the mighty locathah abomination wrests free of your spell and holds his blade in hand as he looks at Irraly.

"So we someone who wishes to pit herself against me? Very well. Let's see how you fare…"

@Irraly: The Lacedon up high swims past you, away from your blade and once more activates the wand as he directs it at you, suppressing most of your abilities.

Enlarge Person
Alter Self
Fire Shield


If you had an aquatic form that was dispelled…


Immediately, Urukimuu's horrible aura takes effect as you feel your lungs filling up with water as the Drowned one attempts to make you one with the S.S. Triton.

Con check or fall unconcious at 0 hp

If you have other ways to breathe water…


Urukimuu watches you reduce in size and smiles.

"For your sake, I hope that you weren't relying on size alone to best me…"

@Alex: With one of the lacedons gone, the scout has nobody to flank with and so, retreats ten feet above Urukimuu.

Withdraw

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80102)

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x2
Irraly
Ke'era
Alex

[dantiesilva]

As the undead creature tries to stop her by removing her spells and then trying to use his aura to drown her, Irraly only smiles. After all she had faced greater odds then this and came out on top. And so with that thought in mind she activated her anklets teleporting her in between him and Archadious. I believe you were expecting someone else, sorry though. She says as her blade glows with a ghostly indigo color. Now come once more into the maidens dance.



Attack 1 [roll0] (-9 to attack +18 to damage and touch attack) Damage [roll1] + [roll2] Electricity

Haste [roll3] (-9 to attack +18 to damage and touch attack) Damage [roll4] + [roll5] Electricity

Attack 2 [roll6] (-9 to attack +18 to damage and touch attack) Damage [roll7] + [roll8] Electricity


As Alex watches his enemy withdraw he follows after, not allowing it to escape as his scythe came down.

[roll9] Damage [roll10]

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80117)

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: You strike Urukimuu with your best shots, but the Drowned One seems to avoid the nastier cuts, leaving him with a few scraping wounds.

"That kind of combat will not help you at all against me."

@Alex: You charge the wand wielding lacedon and this one is cut, but not as severely.

"Is your wish to die that big, human?"

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80129)

Round 7

Archaidous
Lysa
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scouts x2
Irraly
Ke'era
Alex

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: You swim towards Lysa's drowning body and bag her as Urukimuu looks on and smiles.

"A valiant effort, but you cannot save her all day, you know?"

@Irraly: Urukimuu begins his assault on your body as you prepare your cloak to jaunt out of the way…


That's when a green shround covers your cloak.

@Alex: The Lacedon with you points his wand at Irraly's cloak as the properties of the Underdark are suppressed.

"Your friend is not going anywhere…"

Cloak of the Underdark supressed for 3 rounds

@Irraly: You watch the ray attampt to target you cloak and instictively jaunt away ten feet back, avoiding the abjuration.

Keep track of cloak uses

Urukimuu smiles as he readies his blade, having broken from the bands earlier.

"You are mine now…."

Urukimuu charges at you as his blade comes down with horrendous might, going through your last few seconds of blink and illusions.

76 damage

@Archaidous: One of the Lacedons watches you bag the fey and swims down to attack you.

This would be a sure hit and chances are he would hurt himself, but you cannot afford to lose more blood in this fight as you jaunt away ten feet.



Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80166)

Archaidous
Lysa
Lacedon Scout with wand
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scout
Irraly
Ke'era
Alex

[Niwrad]

Irraly takes advantage if her long reach to swing at the Locathah as he charged in.

Then she grimaces at the pain of his devastating strike.
Shaking off the pain, the dark maiden her sword glows indigo once more and she launches another flurry if attacks.

attack(AoO) - [roll0]
damage(AoO) - [roll1]

Smite Full Attack

attack(haste) - [roll2]
damage(haste) - [roll3] and [roll4] electricity

attack(1) - [roll5]
damage(1) - [roll6] and [roll7] electricity

attack(2) - [roll8]
damage(2) - [roll9] and [roll10] electricity

Then, having finished her attack, the elf steps back 10 feet. (5foot step)

[Business Scrub]

"I'm coming for you Urukimuu." Alex growls while hacking through the Lacedon in front of him. "Agents of undeath can only escape their fate for so long. So better start running."

He swings at the Lacedon three times, leaving a trail of blood swirling through the water.

Attack 1: [roll0] Damage: [roll1]

Attack 2: [roll2] Damage: [roll3]

Attack 3: [roll4] Damage: [roll5]

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: You bring down the Maiden's Might on Urukimuu as some of your strikes hit the underwater horror, but the beast still stands as you move away from him.

"That can't possibly be it, can it?"

@Alex: The scythe swerves around the lacedon, but only two hits connect, leaving the undead still pretty much swimming in place.

"Last attempts of a dying man?"

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80204)

Round 8

@Archaidous: You squeeze some pork rind as Urukimuu's blade gets covered in a slick sheen, but the Drowned One holds to the blade tightly.

"Even with your earlier spell, elf, you cannot change your fate…"

[Niwrad]

Having suddenly lost the majority of spells, Archadious does what he can to aid the two warriors left standing and he reaches into the bag with Lysa, grabs one of her wands then turns to look at the three remaining foes.

Noticing the lacedon with the wand of dispel who had caused both Alex and Irraly so much headache, the elf readies Lysa's wand of dispel magic to counter the other wand should the lacedon decide to use it.

readying to counter-dispel the wand

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: A rumble in the ship signals that whatever holds it in place is going to give in soon.

The lengthy fight must;ve shaken the roots themselves as Urukimuu looks around and smiles.

"All shall go down with this ship…"

@Alex: The Lacedon looks at Irraly and points his annoying wnad at her..

That's when a clash of a green ghostly skull and a ghostly green sea elf clash together as Archaidous winces in pain and counters the spell, much to the Lacedon's annoyance.

Urukimuu looks at Irraly and smiles as he signals one of the lacedons to engage Archaidous.

The strike would've proven true, but you call forth your training back in the Ironwood Tower and jaunt back ten feet, bringing the bag with Lysa along for the ride.

@Irraly: Urukimuu watches his two Lacedon's fail to Archaidous and looks at you.

"I'll be back in a moment…"

Urukimuu takes a single step and vanishes from sight as he appears right next to Archaidous.

"I did say i would deal with the casters, did I not?"

The blade comes cracklinmg down on your body as it cleaves you nearly in two.

48 damage plus 9 profane

@Irraly & Alex: Urukimuu stands amidst elven, fey, and mermaid blood as he laughs.

"Well, then… no more magic tricks…. COME AT ME!!!"

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80216)

Archaidous
Lysa
Lacedon Scout with wand
Urukimuu
Lacedon Scout
Irraly
Ke'era
Alex

[dantiesilva]

Irraly charges the enemy before her, the obstcule in her way from completing her objective.

[roll0] Damage [roll1] + [roll2] electricity

To explain how damage is so high

Str modifier 10 + 6 (arcane boost losings last blink spell) + 5 (collision) + 4 Bardic music + 2 Enchatment

With the creature before Acheron no longer being worthy of life, the water begins to bubble around Alex as coral horns appear on his head, and his skin begins to change. Acheron had seen to much death of those he considered friends to let this continue any longer.



[roll3] Damage [roll4]

Haste [roll5] Damage [roll6]

Attack 2 [roll7] Damage [roll8]

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80217)

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly & Alex: You slash your opponents with vengeance and uncontrolled rage as both lacedons are cut down in messy chunks as their black blood fills the already blood stained water.

Urukimuu smiles and hefts his greatsword as he looks at both.

"So… it comes down to me to finish the job. Very well."

Round 9

The ship shakes again as the bodies of the fallen roll to the side of the ship as Urukimuu paces a bit away from Irraly's imminent charge.

"Your size has been convenient…up until now."

Urukimuu points his hand at you as a large green skull chomps down on you, attempting to remove all your protections.

Alter Self
Haste
Conviction
Enlarge Person
Fire Shield

Yet, as the skull comes chomping down, you move ten feet away, cloaked in shadow as the magic that powers its threads is completely gone now.

Urukimuu laughs as he watches you dodge his spell.

"I really hope you have more tricks up your sleeve. I'm just getting started…"

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80218)



Urukimuu
Irraly
Alex

[dantiesilva]

Being out of options, and no way to escape, not like either two warriors would, espically in these circumstances. Irraly charges her foe hoping to leave him completly helpless against her attack.

[roll0] Damage [roll1] + [roll2] Damage

Not one to let Irraly steal all the glory, Alex swims foward, blocking her from his attack as a human shield as his scythe comes down on his opponent. No more would die.



Attack [roll3] Damage [roll4] + [roll5] Magebane? + [roll6] Holy?

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80219)

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly & Alex: This was it.

This monster had killed your companions and this ship was soon sink even further into the abyss.

But it would not take you.

Both scythe and blade clash against Urukimuu as the metal sticks through his body and the creature smiles.

"Admirable….but futile."

Round 10

@Alex: Urukimuu unleashes on you with hideous ferocity.

32 damage plus 10 profane

33 damage plus 8 profane

"And I'm just getting started… now, for you."

@Irraly: A single brutal cut goes through your body as a surge of black energy envelops you and Urukimuu smiles.

"That's it.. give in!"

63 damage plus 7 profane plus 1 negative level

And then, as Irraly kneels on the stairs, Urukimuu disappears once more and reappears on the other side of teh room.

"I'll give you a few seconds to grieve…."

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80220)

Urukimuu
Irraly
Alex

[dantiesilva]

Fire erupts throughout the entire ship as Acheron watches Irraly falls. Acvheron would have not have any more of this as his full power is unleashed in a matter of an instant Acheron is before him.

[roll0] Damage [roll1] + [roll2] Holy stretch weapon so he has to come to me. Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80221)

[AlanBruce]

@Alex: You watch Irraly fall on the stairs as the ship keeps shaking and swim tiwards Urukimuu as your scythe extendsa few extra feet, causing the Drowned Warrior to move his head slightky to the left as the scythe misses him by a wide margin.

"I see you still have many spells left in you. I wish to prolong your feeling of utter hopelessness, so I will toy with you for a few seconds…. not that you can do anything against me after all."

Round 11

@Alex: Urukimuu swims well away from your scythe as he swims in place and stretches his hand at you.

"How well can you move underwater?"

That's when another green ghostly skull chomps on you.

Heart of Water
Haste

With two more ransmutations taken out, Urukimuu smiles.

"I'm right here, warrior. Come and get me…"

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80222)

Urukimuu
Alex

[dantiesilva]

Refusing to go down Alex Unleashes a primal roar from the beastlands themselves letting his foe know death itself would have to take him to the grave.

AoO [roll0] Damage [roll1]

Beastland feroicty

[AlanBruce]

Round 12

@Alex: Urukimuu watches you attempt to strike him and lands on the ground far away from you.

"I even gave you a freebie… now, let's see what else I can strip away from you."

Urukimuu raises his hand once more and yet another green ghostly skull comes chomping from beneath you as it flies towards the ceiling, taking the remains of an angel in its jaws.

Lesser Holy Transformation

The ship shakes again as a piece of the ceiling drops between both, allowing you to see the kelp garden above.

Urukimuu takes a single step forward and looks up.

"Last ray of light you'll ever see…"

In with that single step forward, that's when you feel your lungs swelling with stagnant water.

Con Check or fall unconcious at 0 hp

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80230)

[dantiesilva]

As Alex feels the drowning aura taking over he tries to fight it with all his strength as he pushes himself forward. trying to get his scythe within reach even though he has no spells left to help him swim.



Drwoning aura [roll0]
Swim check [roll1] If he passes he will move 10ft foward which is 1/4 his movement speed
Dispel magic on his necklace [roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

[AlanBruce]

@Alex: You try to swim closer to Urukimuu, but your body is built for land, not the sea.

And you don't have gills, you have lungs. Lungs that give way to a cascade of water from within as the horrendous Urukimuu smiles and you drop on your face on the ground.

Wake up!

Come on… wake up!

You open your eyes and see one of the Sirines from the very first night as she slaps your face and downs a potion on you.

14 hp and Bear's Endurance

Your rage is gone, but you can see your comrades are still dead where you left them as the other Sirine bombards Urukimuu with glitter spells as this one fights against her.

"This isn't your ship, fey! Go away!"

"Neither is it yours! Alsira, is he awake?"

The sirine helps you up on your feet and looks around.

"We'll explain later…finish that fool!"

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80232)

[dantiesilva]

As Alex's body fills with a burning sensation he fights on, even as blackness seems to surround him he keeps fighting, until his eyes shut of their own accord.

And just as Alex opens his eyes he smiles thinking he is in whatever heaven he had been given due to Acheron and kisses the Siren before him, before getting smacked and a potion shoved down his mouth. That hurt, if I was dead....Oh ****. Alex says as he holds his hands out in appology before turning back to look at her sister fending of the foe who had taken him down. Listening to her words he nods, but not before pointing back to the bag near archadious body which held Lysa inside it still.

Alex will hold his action until she moves him towards the enemy. while she hopefuly has her sister go to the bag.

[AlanBruce]

@Alex: It would seem heaven is not yet ready to greet you as one of the Sirines wakes you up and you point to Archaidous' bag.

"What? The elf? Oh! The bag! Alsira! Open the bag! You- I'm taking you in. Are you ready?"

Before you can nod, the Sirine places her hand on your shoulder and both disappear in bubbles and reappear adjacent to Urukimuu, as his aura immediately takes effect.

@Lysa: Air's going thin... who knows what has happened outside, but a female's arm drags you out and you see a beautiful Sirine who points at Alex with another sea fey engaged in battle with Urukimuu....

Everyone else is dead, though.

[dantiesilva]

As Alex appears infront of the creature he gets ready to lift his scythe, but something tells him to trust in the gods, and so he slams his fist into the undead creature hoping to make it explode.

touch attack [roll0] [roll1]

[Chimaera]

Seeing the gruesome results of her unconsciousness in the battle, Lysa's tears cant be seen since she's underwater.

She looks at the undead abomination and open her purse, taking the scroll of teleport out of it and teleporting away to some paradise island where she live the rest of her live without regrets, but missing a little her friends with all effort she can she grab the scroll from archadious bag.

"Well, excuse me for taking your stuff, but I guess you wont mind", Lysa think as she grab the the pwoerful scroll of limited wish.

"I'm these people guardian, their last hope, their last standing friend in this underwater hell... I WONT leave them die here, not for some stinky undead fish that's", she then read teh scroll and her body begin crackling with eletricity.

With her both hands, the entire energy run through her body and begin to converge in her fists till it grow in a great orb of lightning large enough to cover Lysa's entire small body.

Then with a frial punch the entire orb goes right straight at the the Urukimuu, illuminating the whole chamber as it goes through.

RTA [roll0] dmg [roll1]
Crit confirmation [roll2] dmg [roll3]
Fort save or be entangled

[AlanBruce]

@Alex: As you punch Urukimuu in the face, you release some of your golden power on him, but the creature's innate resistances make it so he gets only a minor bruise.

"You would come back from the dead to do that? Pitiful…"

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: This is getting nowhere.

With Irraly dead at the stairs.

Ke'era horribly butchered a few feet away.

Archaidous- said to be nigh untouchable, ran through and very much dead….

You watch Alex attempt to punch Urukimuu to no effect as this one raises his blade towards him.

Enough is enough.

You take one of Archaidous' most powerful scrolls and the entire room begins to crackle with blue lightning as Urukimuu turns around and looks at you.

"The fairy? I thought you were already dead. No matter, as soon as I finish off your friend and these two, you shall be their herald to the underworld."

Alsira pulls Alex out of the way as Severna crosses her arms and smiles smugly.

"About time someone put you to rest, you freak! Go get him!"

The comet of electricity clashes against Urukimuu as this one uses his blade and free arm to try and resist it as the sphere, as large as Lysa and growing larger and larger, oushes him across the room as his body begins to unravel as black blood drifts in the water.

"Impossible! What manner of power is this? I had them all killed! He said I was perfect…AHHHH!"

And with a loud bam, Urukimuu is thrust against the metal wall across the room as the electricity eats up at his body as the Drowned One tries to release his self from the wall, but the metal and electriucity has melted his body into it as his eyes pop out even more before exploding and his black entrails drop to the floor below as the crackling continues to fry him.

@Alex & Lysa: The Sirines watch the creature known as Urukimuu dissolve and turn their heads away in disgust as the entire ship begins to shake and does not stop.

"It's done. But this ship is done for as well! What do we do?"

[Chimaera]

Lysa almost pue in disgust, but she had no time to any of that.
A few more seconds and her and Alex would drown for nothing.

She then reaches Archadious last scroll of limited wish as her lungs keep burning.

"Airy water!", she shouts as the room is filled in breathable water, preventing both Alex and herself to drown.

Scroll of Limited Wish
She reaches for one more scroll from Archadious, "I'm sorry my friend", she whisper to him as she make several fairies appear just outside the ship and hold it in place, "This ship is not going down? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5f3-jB0-do) No. Not today", she says to herself thinking in the shant she watsnt allowred to sing on board of the dauphin.

Scroll of Raise from the Depths
She then look at Alex and swim way easier now toward him and check is pulse.
"Still alive. But drowning", she then kiss him and begin trying to revivify him with breath to breath reanimation together with cure spells.

Heal check if needed: [roll0]
Cure Serious Wounds: [roll1]
As Alex open his eyes and blink, Lysa smile and him "You finally got it, huh? The kiss of this fairy".
She then rush to the others and hold on their trusted wand of revivify, "Please, whatever gods are listening to me. Please forbid me to use this wand anymore. It's way too pain for this little fairy to bear. I dont want to see my friends die anymore", the wand begins glowing with golden light similar Arralae's sun crown as Lysa bring back Ke'era, Archadious and irraly back to life and back to conscious with her own powers, depleted and weak as they are.

Six charges of the wand of revivify.
Cure Light Wounds.
2 Irrally [roll2]
2 Archadious [roll3]
2 Ke'era [roll4]
Once everyone is back to consciousness, Lysa fall on her knees and begging sobbing and crying, hidding her face with her hands.

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: Urukimuu was a terrible opponent. You have faced many horrible foes since you left Steiner's side, but never one that was able to put your friends through such trial by fire.

May you never find an enemy like him again.

Alsira and Severna raise their hand as you take out a bunch of scrolls.

"Wait, Lysa. If you are going to do what we think you are, let us swim outside first- we have our horses parked right outside."

As the Sirines swim through the roof, you begin casting a series of scrolls and disappearing the water in the room, bringing Alex back to the world of the living. Grantng Arrallae's blessing to Irraly, Ke'era, and Archaidous.

And finally, as they lie down, weak and wet and bleeding, you call forth the power of the Cosmos itself as the ship begins to rise and break through miles of kelp as it ascends and breaks with a loud splash above Procan's Garden, allowing the sun to shine in this damned vessel after who knows how many years, as you can see the Dauphin a few miles away, still trapped in the kelp, just as you left it.

@The Party: With the sun of the Ossian way shining above you and the gulls landing on the wreckage of the S.S. Triton, you begin searching the fallen.

The four lacedons carried each a shocking shortsword.

Two of them had wands. One used many times to dispel and another of haste.

Their armor is non magical, being light chain armor, of masterwork quality.

Urukimuu wore leather armor and his greatsword is harmful to the touch, as it crackles with black energy..

He does have, however, an adamantine key that hung around his neck.

[Chimaera]

Lysa take a look at the wands and treasure them in her purse and ask Alex to do the same with the rest of the loot.
Looting for the twice dead? Probably will end up in curses, hexes and bad luck. But they deserve it.

After getting the stuff, Lysa ask the rest to go check the adamantine key and the door to the safe.

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era had been having a pleasant dream. Was it a dream? She wondered as she swam though multihued waters. She felt like she had been hear before. Then quite suddenly, she is ripped back into reality, and finds herself coughing up purple blood on the deck of the ship. It takes her a moment to remember where she is and what happened, but as she looks at a dead Archadious and Irraly come back to life, she can't help but break down as well. So much so that she doesn't even question how or what had happened. Not yet anyway. Instead she swims wordlessly over to the weeping Lysa and pulls her close like a child, comforting her without quite knowing what to say herself.

After a moment she just says weakly, "We're safe... We're safe now."

She looks around the room, not moving much, and making sure the others are getting up as well. Everyone was upset, on the edge of losing their faith.
These people may not be my own, but never have I seen a group more in need of comfort.
Almost at a loss, Ke'era begins the song her mother sang to her for comfort, many years ago when she was a small guppy. And a song that has hardly ever touched the ears of surface dwellers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnKIgccY09Q).

"Heyr, himna smiður,
hvers skáldið biður.
Komi mjúk til mín
miskunnin þín.
Því heit eg á þig,
þú hefur skaptan mig.
Eg er þrællinn þinn,
þú ert drottinn minn.

Guð, heit eg á þig,
að þú græðir mig.
Minnst þú, mildingur, mín,
mest þurfum þín.
Ryð þú, röðla gramur,
ríklyndur og framur,
hölds hverri sorg
úr hjartaborg.

Gæt þú, mildingur, mín,
mest þurfum þín,
helzt hverja stund
á hölda grund.
Send þú, meyjar mögur,
málsefnin fögur,
öll er hjálp af þér,
í hjarta mér."

Perform Singing: [roll0]

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: The gulls perch around the wrecked ship as Ke'era cradles a weeping Lysa in her arms and looks around.

Yes, this battle had almost claimed your lives…if not more. But as the mermaid sings, you look up at the sun and remmeber that there is always a way. No matter how cold the depth…

Or how dark the enemy.

And now, with the key. This adamantine key that cost so many lives and spilled so much blood…. what secretes does iot hide? What boons or curses await behind that vault? For when it comes to vaults, those few among you know that rarely does a good thing come out of them, but fell disaster.

[Chimaera]

With the aprty back to their feet, Lysa and the rest march toward the adamantine door, hoping not to find any enemy in the way.

Straight to the vault! No waiting on loot!

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: Lead by Lysa, you leave the room with the dead monstrosities as you explore the rest of the Triton and stop at the ornate adamantine door.

The key fits in perfectly as several locks can be heard unwinding from within and contraption after contraption is released as the vault opens to the side, allowing you to peek in…

Bonanza!

Gleeboo's stash…and more!

You find three desks made of mahogany wood filigreed with real gold and and a metal box on each with inks and materials for scribing- at least for twenty different spells.

Then you find portraits of the crew and captain, in perfect condition, as well as gold grails, tea cup sets, triton statuettes made of onyx and gems...

This alone should fetch about thirty thousand gold.

A dozen sets of ornamental armor, of sea elven design studded with gems line the vault, six on each side.

These should fetch the price of a full set of full plate plus an extra thousand with the gems alone.

Then you notice a black wooden crate that has been sealed with chains. This crate is as tall as a man and by the weight alone, it must be the Locathah's stash.

Your attention also goes to a stack of papers on one of the desks.

This one has a portrait of a Locathah, as well as a sort of medical journal beneath it, written in Draconic.

Patient Number: 0000123-B

Race: Locathah

Name: Urukimuu

Characteristics: Amphibious. Lack of natural weaponry. Adequate swim speed. Inability to stay on land for extended periods of time.

Observations: Urukimuu does not show a violent streak. He would rather help his community through peaceful trading. Potential as a weapon is existent, but conditioning will be required.

Day 1: Patient was restrained and sent to the lower chambers for conditioning. Subjected to Pacification methods in small bursts to bring out his more violent side.

Had to raise voltage by fifty percent in order to get results.

Day 3: Patient has developed increased strength and agility, but still refuses to obey simple commands. Lost two of my men when they tried to feed him. Will have to resolve the increased hunger issue.

Day 14: Patient has been exposed for seven days to the Portal. Had to use silence spells to isolate his screams as I continued my research. Results have been satisfactory- he now responds to orders to the letter, as well as having developed a unique mode of movement akin to the Plane he was subjected to. Much more data must be extracted from this Reality.

Day 34: Patient has turned extremely violent and has acquired the ability to induce suffocation on those unprepared around him. Use as a weapon is no longer an option. Possible chance to pass on his abilities via infection.

Termination is mandatory at this point.

[Niwrad]

The last thing Archadious had seen after he jaunted away from the lacedon's attack was the mighty great sword of the drowned horror, then excruciating pain, and finally everything becomes black and he drifts off into the sweet sleep of death.
Suddenly, a bright flash of golden light shatters the darkness and the elf groggily opens his eyes.

Arrallae....?

He mumbles.

Eventually, his vision clears and he looks around. First, he realizes that the water in the room was draining out. And what water was there seemed strangely breathable, like air.

The second thing he notices are the corpses of their foes lying around the room. All the ghouls, and the drowned abomination at the top of the stairs.

Finally, he looks around and sees several of his companions also waking and in the same groggy state. And above them all flew Lysa, wand in hand.

The elf also reaches into his own bag and feels around, realizes that several of his more powerful scrolls are missing. He grimaces as he looks around once more.
They had triumphed in the end, but only at great cost.
Once more he had failed. That had been twice today that he had been bested by an opponent, one of whom had not even been a mage.

He is distracted from his glum thoughts when Ke'era begins to sing. Turning to listen, he soon becomes mesmerized by the mermaid's beautiful voice.

That was beautiful singing...

Archadious whispers rather quietly after she finishes.

Many minutes later, after significant healing has been applied, and Lysa insists on continuing to venture through the ship, the elf sluggishly gets up and follows her, constantly on the lookout for any other signs of attack.
Finally, when the reach the vault, Archadious recalls to earlier when he had attempted his transmutation upon the door.

It seemed that the amulet recovered from Urukimuu was the key. And when the mighty doors open, his eyes go wide with amazement at the wealth within.

Following the others inside, the elf strolls around, examining the various objects and trinkets. In particular he notices the desks with the assortment of scribing materials.

This is certainly an impressive stash, question is, can we in good conscious take this for ourselves? Perhaps the only one who might have any recent claim to these items might be Gleeboo. If not though...
Anyways, help me put everything into a pile so that I may shrink it into a more manageable size.

He says to others.

While strolling around the room, he also happens to notice the strange journal in the corner.

Walking over, he picks up and opens the thing.

He recalled how Urukimuu had referred to some individual in a faraway tower. At the time, his mind had been preoccupied with the fight. But only now does Archadious realize that he must have been referring to the abandoned wizards tower that the Dauphin had passed many days earlier.
Sadly this did little to answer his questions. Rather, this merely created even more questions.

Who had done this to the Locathah? How had Urukimuu been transformed into such a monstrosity? What was this portal that the journal referred to?

Archadious closes the journal and stares at the cover in thought.

arcane - [roll0]
planes - [roll1]

to see if he has any idea what kind of portal to where might have done this to Uru

[Chimaera]

After putting the treasure together, Lysa look at Archadious "Should I use the Sending Scroll to call Gleeboo?".

[Niwrad]

Archadious shakes his head before replying.

No. I'd rather you save the scroll unless absolutely necessary. They are not easy to scribe.

Perhaps I can give you this periapt. Then you and Ke'era can swim back to him and inform him about the defeat of Urukimuu while the three of us walk back to the Dauphin.

[Chimaera]

"Ok then, but let's take the treasure to the Dauphin. No use letting it here for someone to get it in the meanwhile", Lysa say and look at Ke'era, "Shall we go?".

She was almost leaving, then she look at Archadious, "Can you shrink the door too? It is made of adamantine and must weight a lot. Can be useful later".

[Niwrad]

As Archadious walks back to the Dauphin with Alex and Irraly, he is on the constant lookout for danger.

[roll0]

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: You leave the group above and donning the peraipt, leap into the water with Ke'era to go tell Gleeboo the good news.

The Triton has left an ample space in the kelp when it surfaced, allowing you to swim further down mostly unimpeded, except for slow moving shellfish and flashy colored schools of fish, as the sun's light gets dimmer and dimmer.

That's when Ke'era, who is a natural swimmer and can move faster than you in water, speeds down and takes a sharp turn left into a mass of kelp, disappearing from view.

[Chimaera]

Seeing the same thing happening again, Lysa sighs.
"It would only need a scroll to send to him, but no...", she thinks and begin to swim as fast as she can trying to reach Ke'era.

[Business Scrub]

Back on the ship...

Seeing Archadious back in the world of the living, she smiles. Though judging from the look on his face, he seemed to be taking it hard. She swims behind him and puts a hand on his shoulder.

"We did good today, Archadious; you did good. It cost a lot, but we just made the world a little happier. Don't forget that." She says with a smile, as goes off to investigate the room beyond.

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: You shrink every possible item in the vault- door included.

And then you stash them.

The notes on Urukimuu are quite intriguing and disturbing at the same time. Someone is making weapons out at sea and if your hunch is correct, it may be connected to that tower the Dauphin left long ago off course.

But none of that matters now. Now , it's time to get back to the Dauphin and report your findings. Check on the crew. Check on Tonel. Hopefully, they have moved far deeper in the Garden and are that much closer to leaving this place.

You call Irraly and Alex to your side and prepare to activate your belt of wie earth.

That's when the pain comes in.

How did it happen? Who knows. Your senses are as good as ever, being an elf. And in this far open space, nothing should be able to approach you unseen.

Yet the pain is felt. And it is terrible pain. Pain that corrodes the soul and body.

36 vile damage

@Irraly & Alex: You watch a formless shadow behind Archaidous as a wispy claw juts forth from his stomach as a pair of red eyes look at you the figure descends into the kelp, like a ghost.

Know. The Planes to Irraly and Alex, if he has any ranks

@Ke'era: You have seen many marvels back in Vinessia, but this collection is one even the nobles back home would gladly pay for.

Many cultures are reflected in the furniture. ou recognize elven, mostly. And aventi, as well as merfolk and human.

It's not so bad, then, if the cost of this battle was to retrieve such beautiful things.

Later, as you swim down to meet your Locathah contact, you feel a sweet song in your mind as a maw of kelp opens to you and, instinctively, you dart through it at top speed, leaving Lysa behind and all and every care in the world.

A few minutes pass and you find yourself in a grand kelp nest, similar to one you saw earlier in the day when chasing Archaidous.

And there he is. Pierced with trinkets on his scales. Bracelets on his tentacles…

And your runestaff held tight in one of them as his bulging eyes look at you and a large smile filled with needle sharp teeth greet you.

"Twice in one day! I knew someone with great power had been able to raise the sunken S.S. Triton, so, I made it my business to come and investigate. What were the odds it would be you? And now you are all alone. No elf to come spell slinging. Come here, mermaid. You may have taken my land food. But seafood will do just fine…"

You swim gently towards Iku-Turso as this one caresses your face with one of his tentacles and his eyes blink indepenetly of each other as his tongue laps against your royal cheek.

"Yummm…."

8 damage plus Will save

@Lysa: You follow Ke;'era as fast as your fey arms and legs can carry you, but you aren't in a swim form. This isn't your natural element and, minjtes later, when you reach the kelp wall, you can't seem to find any way in.

It's like Ke'era simply vanished.

[Chimaera]

"Oh, come on!", Lysa thinks as she lose Ke'era, "What to do now? Cant this small fairy have a single moment of respite?".

Stubborn as she is, Lysa keep looking for Ke'era, but this time with the aid of magic.

Casting heroism on herself to add +2 on skills and other stuff.
Search check? Survival?
Search [roll0]
Survival [roll1]

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era's mind rages against her body as she swims down and directly into Iku-Turso's grasp.

No, no, no! Go up! Swim up!

Alas, her body has apparently decided to listen to the monster instead of her. And of course, she feels the pain as he bites into her.

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: You realize that the kelp wall is not a wall at all- but a tunnel entrance.

You know who hides tunnels this way in the Garden, being here only one day.

Swimming through the narrow kelp passages, you cast as many spells as possible to try and find your way around the maze.

That's when you hear Iku- Turso's voice a few feet away. It will take you a while to pinpoint his location, since there seems to be another thick wall of kelp between you and his voice.

@Ke'era: Try as you might, your mind is no match for the morkoth's allure as Iku looks at you and his eyes blink once more independent of each other.

"Hehehehehehheee… yes. Scream all you want, mermaid. Nobody can save you now. I like my food chewy anyways, and screaming makes your muscles toughen, which is good excersie for my jaws."

The chomp comes in again as Iku-Turso takes a bite off your shoulder.

8 damage + Will save

[Chimaera]

Hearing Iku-Turso's voices Lysa keen ears try to find where the sound is coming from and once she's done pinpoint the morkoth, she swims to it, always invisibile.

[roll0]

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: Iku Turso is about to bite you again when he pauses and his eyes dart in different directions.

My alarm spell went off...

The morkoth surrounds himself and you in a twenty foot globe of light green energy.

@Lysa: You punch through yet another illusion and there you see Ke'era, floating in the water, blood flowing from her neck and shoulder as Iku Turso looks around as he and her are covered in a shimmering globe of energy.

[Chimaera]

As Lysa see the morkoth and her friend, Lysa try to identify which spells are in effect in the enemy as well as begin to sing a subsonic song to reach Ke'era's ears alone.


Spellcraft: [roll0]
Spellcraft: [roll1]
Spellcraft: [roll2]
Spellcraft: [roll3]
Spellcraft: [roll4]

Countersong: Perform [roll5]

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: Your Countersong is not effective against whatever effect has Ke'era trapped as the morkoth's eyes roll around their sockets and focus on you.

"I remember you! Don't you people ever travel alone? Aren't you a little big for the buddy system? Bah. At least it isn't the elf. What can you possibly do? Sing me to death?"

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80331)

Lysa

Iku Turso

Ke'era

[Chimaera]

Lysa ignore Iku-Turso's comments and try again singing to break whatever is holding Ke'era.

Perform [roll0]

With her right hand she withdraw her wand of dispel magic (the one she bought in Bludhaven, not the one from previous loot)

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: Ignoring the freakish fish's comments, you sing a new song. One to break free the bonds of any and all enchantments.

@Ke'era: Like a bad dream, you blink and look directly at Iku-Turso as he looks back at you.

"How in the hell did you break off my enchantment? No matter… you aren't leaving this place, mermaid."

Iku- Turso's tentacles spread out as his body glows with a violet light and a a perfect translucent violet cube surrounds you.

"Off to another maze you go…hahhahahahahahaa!"

And just like that, you find yourself in a very different place. One made of twisting tunnels and odd shaped stairs, with no ceiling or floor, but endless tunnels, passages, and stairs.

Each round on its turn, you may attempt a DC 20 Intelligence check to escape the labyrinth as a full-round action.

@Lysa: You watch Ke'era disappear in a violet cube as the morkoth laughs.

"She will never escape my spell! As for you… you cam here for naught!"

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era's heart sinks to find herself trapped in yet another maze. This one gods only know where.

Ok, think Ke'era. It's a maze... There has to be a way out. What did Zonya say? 'Sometimes the hardest answers are right under your nose.' Hmmm...

Looking curiously at the wall in front of her, she swims towards it, finding it only an illusion. She swims faster, going through the portal and reappearing behind the Morkoth.

"Hey Iku! What's the deal? You're the one who wanted me here in the first place."

Swimming next to Lysa, ideally. Then Reciprocal Gyre. If I should roll more d6's, feel free to let me know. :smallbiggrin:

[roll0] damage, will save DC 24 for half

In the unlikely event that he fails, Fort save DC 24 or be stunned for [roll1] rounds.

[Chimaera]

Seeing Ke'era come back almost instantly, Lysa's face is filled with a big mocking smile.
She then wave her wand and give the Globe of Invulnerability a try.

[roll0]

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: You watch Ke'era come back as you use your wand to call forth thw Sirine sisters from earlier as they try to punch through the globe.

However, Iku Turso grins as he looks at both ghostly figures and these swim upwards in fright and disappear on the kelp ceiling.

"Stupid little fey… I will have to deal with you first!"

Iku Turso spreads his tentacles far and wide as his little shrimp legs click anc clack together as a horrid phantasm of Arabella and a myriad of assassins flies towards you and you alone, attempting to kill you from sheer fright.

Quickened Phantasmal Killer + Deadly Nightmare, Will to recognize the phantasm as unreal. If unsucessful, Fortitude Save or Die. Even if Successful, take 14 damage plus an Extra Will save after that or Die

[Chimaera]

After a a week trancafied in her cabin with only Arabella's image as company, Lysa almost laugh when she see the monster tried to use her own sister to kill her.

"Go back to the bloody hole you came from, sister!", she says sending Arabella running in fear.
It seems her intimidating techniques really saved her this time.

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era catches her breath as the deadly spells fly at Lysa, knowing what they were from sight alone, and sighing deeply when Lysa recognizes them as fake.

"Lysa? Please tell me you have some means of getting out of here."

She swims next to the fey, throwing her faith in the fact that she could get them out, and ready to cover their exit.

Swimming out of the globe next to Lysa, readied action to "dispel anything Iku casts that targets either Lysa or Ke'era, or includes one or both of them in the area or conditions of the spell."

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: Iku-Turso's eyes widen as he watches one of his deadliest spell combos nullified.

"Begginer's luck! You can't keep watch on your friends all day, pixie… you'll see."

And then, the morkoth's eyes roll back as he pulls time forward and shakes the runestaff as he teleports away, leaving both alone in the kelp maze.

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era sees the top of the staff glow, knowing what it means.

"Oh no you don't! Not with my staff."

Celerity + Recip. Gyre: [roll0] damage, Will DC 24 for half. If fail, Fort DC 24 or be stunned for [roll1] rounds

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: You watch Iku-Turso begin to cast a spell to get him out, using the Vinessian Royal Staff.

You immediately target him with a surge of blue arcane energy as the morkoth, mid teleport, looks at you and grins.

"My staff now, mermaid! And your spells won't work on me!"

That's when the arcane surge of the Reciprocal Gyre envelops the morkoth, pauses and then surrounds you, effectively turning the spell against you.

[Chimaera]

Seeing Iku-Turso departs, Lysa hold on Ke'era, knowing the pain she would feel after the spell she cast.
"Dont worry, we'll get that back. I promise".

Lysa then give the abandoned lair a quick search looking for anything Iku-Turso might left behind and then ask Ke'era to help her swim to the sunken ship to find Gleeboo.

[Business Scrub]

"NO! No, no!"

Ke'era fumes as the Morkoth vanishes, the pain suddenly wracking her. She floats there, fuming at the creature and saying nothing and seemingly ignoring Lysa's words of encouragement.

... Six... seven... eight... nine... ten.

She turns to Lysa, smiling and chipper as ever, but eyes betray far more anger than she's not showing.

"Well that was... exhilarating. Shall we continue to Gleeboo?"

She puts lysa at the base of her tail and begins swimming towards the Locathah.

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa & Ke'era: He got away, but this time, he didn't take anything else with him, other than a few bote marks on ke'era and some arcane damage on Lysa.

It takes a few minutes to navigate the tunnels as you find the grand opening left by the Triton's ascension and swim further down as you reach Gleeboo's ship.

The Locathah sits on his barnacle encrusted desk and smiles as he watches both swim in.

"Lysa! And a daughter of Suminare… I am Gleeboo, humnle Locathah and merchant. Lysa, did you happen to speak to Urukimuu? Did he part with the goods?"

[Niwrad]

Archadious cries out in pain as something strikes at him from behind, something evil and vile, leaving a deep wound in his guts.

Weakened, the elf clutches his wound in pain and turns around to look at Alex and Irraly.

What... did either of you two see what hit me?

knowledge check - [roll0]

[Chimaera]

"We dealt with him. Urukimuu is dead now and the ship is now afloat", Lysa tell Gleeboo, "I would like to ask you what you got there in the ship. In details, as the rest we'll be taking", Lysa says.

She then sigh, "Who made him that way? And why? Do you anything about it?He was turned into a monster...", she then look at him the eyes, trying to decide if he could be holding back anything.

"Also, we have to hurry back to our ship and we're taking you with us. The treasures were all taken there to avoid some pirates or worses to take them. Of course, if you're ok with that".

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: Irraly helps you up as the creature vanishes.

"It was a shadow, but its claws looked very physical the moment it went through your body."

"You don't look to well, Archaidous. You need some healing?"

A shadowy body and a very physical pain…

Shadow Demons… you have read about them, but yiour studies have focused a lot more on devils than demons, so this one might require some more research.

[Niwrad]

Yes, that hurt. But whatever it did, this injury feels... beyond normal. A vile injury I believe. Need to get back to the ship. Let me cast the teleport spell now and I shall return us to the Dauphin.

Give me a moment.

The elf reaches down to the belt again and casts the teleport spell to return the three of them to the Dauphin

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era raises an eyebrow when she hears the Dauphin crew will be taking the extra, however she knew better than to create dissent during a deal; she would have to ask about it later.

"Well met Gleeboo. As Lysa said, Urukimuu parted with the items, though he was none to pleased about it."

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa & Ke'era: Gleeboo listens to your tale and lower his head as he sits back down.

"I imagined Urukimuu would have to be put down. He was our tribe leader. When our kind was being hunted by a horrible creature called Nahusha, Urukimuu decided that we would be safe here in Procan's Garden, miles below the surface. In a way, he was right- the thick tangles of kelp and the many drowned vessels provided us with plenty of secure places for shelter. What we did not know is that there were other nasty creatures living here. Many which preyed on our kind, like the vile Iku-Turso."

Gleeboo sighs some bubbles as he continues his tale.

"Urukimuu had heard of a lone wizard far away from this place. One that was said to have tremendous power. If we could trade with him. Pay him. Maybe, just maybe, he would be willing to come and aid us fighting off or at least defending our homes with his magic. However, days went by and Urukimuu did not return. When he did, he secluded himself in the Triton and many fled to him, thinking it was safe. I was delayed in my moving and fortunate as i was, because when I swam to the old ship, my people were dead… or worse. Urukimuu had been changed completely and so, I swam back here. That is my story."

On the subject of the ship being afloat, Gleeboo's eyes widen.

"Really? That huge ship? But all the ones Urukimuu killed or were turned…oh no. I guess I can handle that later, if you have the goods secured, I will go with you to your ship, but on the promise that you can bring me back here."

@Archaidous, Irraly, and Alex: With a fierce wound, the elven mage activates the belt and you appear on the Dauphin's deck.

It's a mess up here. The deck is partially destroyed. Crewmen lie on bed being tended by Tonel and Doc. Mausiel lies on one as well as he tries to get up, only to be rsrained by Akilu.

"Where in the hells have you three been? The ship was attacked! My men are alive only because whatever bitch decided to come over and lay waste to us threatened to return! And do you know why? Do you? Because of an EGG!"

Mausiel coughs some blood and passes out from stress as Tonel limps towards you and nods.

"It is true. I was the first to be attacked by some shadowy…thing. Called itself Andralphus. He worked for a hag creature named Alfhyld, who wanted an egg. I have no idea what the deal with the egg is, so I tried to send them away with a lie… it didn't work. And now, no matter how many spells I use on my body, I cannot heal whatever damage that shadow did to me."

[Chimaera]

"Sure, we'll bring you safe here after", Lysa says getting ready to depart, "Let's move before something else attack us shall we?".

[Niwrad]

Archadious had teleported back to the ship hoping to finally get some rest, but when he returns to see the partially ruined state of the deck, he becomes concerned.
Then when he is approached by Mausiel, and the captain mentions the egg, the elf realizes that whatever had happened must have been the result of their decision to keep the egg. He also listens to Tonel's side of the story, and he looks back at the deck and thinks.

Alfhyld, a hag? I wonder if perhaps she is related at all to Bavmorda. I do hope this is not her domain... And as for the shadow? I think I know whom you are referring to. I was just attacked by the same creature. And it is not a shadow at all, it is actually some sort of demon.

As for the injuries caused by it, regular healing won't work. I have had experience with this sort of injury before, you need to use more than healing magic. This form of injury can only be cured in a consecrated area. Something I was hoping either you or Alex could cast upon the ship

He then turns back and prepares to address Mausiel regarding the egg, but when notices the captain passed out, the elf sighs and shakes his head.

It seems that the more powerful denizens of this ocean are indeed interested in the egg. It was only a matter of time before they showed up.

Question is, should we just give the egg to them? Or should we avoid allowing such a powerful creature fall into their hands?

Archadious mumbles, both to Alex and Irraly, and partly to himself.

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: In a flash: Lysa, Ke'era and a Locathah appear on deck as the fishman looks around and Hashikki lights his pipe.

"Welcome to the Dauphin, mister…"

"Uhhh… Gleeboo. I'm Gleeboo. What happened here? It wasn't Urukimuu, I hope?"

"Uru…who? No. It was some other monsters that boarded the ship. How did you guys fare? Did the Sirines reach you?"

Tonel scratches his hair, slightly embarrassed.

"I spotted both Alsira and Severna after the attack on the Dauphin and asked them to go find you. I hope they did."

[dantiesilva]

It is because of those two beautiful women we are still alive. Alex says warmly, after all it seemed he had left quite the impression on them that they would do such a favor. If only they were here now he would ask them what it was they liked so that the next time he saw them he would have a wooden carving of it for them as a token of his thanks. However as the subject of the egg is brought up once more Alex goes into deep thought. We could always give it to my house. Sure it may be mildly tainted, but it will be safe. Acheron if your family is like you I would rather not risk calling a single one of them, even an infant onto this ship. Then what about the captains wife? She said they were fighting pirates and all, perhaps they could use it to help them fend off when it grows up. Its a possibility, hold on. Everyone Acheron has thrown out two ideas, one better then the other. The second I will say first. We call upon the captains wife with a sending spell, her people are patrolling the waters and keeping them safe, a dragon turtle could greatly help with such a task. The other option is I call a faimly member, and I don't mean my father. This option I don't recommend though. Alex says carefully letting the others know how dangerous the idea was.

[Business Scrub]

Upon arrival, Ke'era sits on the deck and promptly casts her reddish colored transmutation, separating her feet into fins again. She couldn't speak for the others, but she had had enough of Procean's Garden for one day.

Extended Fins to Feet

Standing up, she explains the situation to Tonel and the rest. "They found us. They saved us, actually. Urukimuu killed us. Everyone but Alex and Lysa, and they would have drowned if the Sirens had not come, so we owe them our lives. But all in all, it has been a trying day, and it looks like it has been one here as well. So I do hope whatever was in that ship was worth dying over."

Lysa flutters up to Gleeboo, ready to pepper him with questions.
"Alright Gleeboo! We have your stuff, and paid dearly for it. Now time to pay your end of the bargain. We want info, ya' dig? The scoop, intel, data. What do you know about Nahausha, the Sunken Sisterhood, the Shark of the Depths, Iku Turso and Urukimuu.
And the tower, and Procan's Garden: it's legends and stories, and who lives in it. If you know Cervantes, and the two sirens that helped us today.

Also, I want to know what's in the black box we found on the ship. And who else was on the ship with Urukimuu. And anything hidden in Procan's Garden. Artifacts, sunken ships, the like. And I wanna know what you favorite color is."
She said the last part with a good natured smirk.

[Niwrad]

Archadious turns to meet this Gleeboo, the Locathah who had apparently sent them to fight Urukimuu. So this was the individual whom the box of cargo belonged to.

Gleeboo is it? Well met, I am Archadious Mithmironel. I believe this belongs to you.

He says, reaching into his bag and pulling out the shrunken cargo box that was now a tiny cube resting in the palm of his hands.
Handing it over to the Locathah, Archadious continues.

I used a transmutation to shrink the cargo box and make it easier to transport. All you need do is take the cube and throw it onto a hard surface and it should revert to its original form.
Alex and Lysa mentioned you are a merchant. If that is true, I wouldn't mind looking through your wares. There is a ring that I have been meaning to purchase. Especially after a recent fight...

Then, once he is interrupted by Lysa and her bombardment of questions, he decides to let her do most of the talking, occasionally adding a little bit of his own.

Yes, the Sunken Sisters. We have met Bavmorda, but what can you tell us about the others? Is Alfhyld one of them? And who is the shadow demon that accompanies her?

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: Tonel looks at the injured as he raises his eyes to the sun.

"Phaulkon be praised. I wish I had been able to be down there with all of you. Maybe one more would've made the difference…. but enough about that. I have a crew to help, and spells to convert. If you'll excuse me."

@Lysa: You fly up to Gleeboo's face. This has not been a good day. Not at all.

The Locathah gulps as you bombard him with questions, but does his best to answer them.

"Nahusha is called the Naga Queen. She is said to serve a greater power in the seas of Oerth. For decades, Nahusha has taken a liking for my people- as in, food. Unchecked, Nahusha began a world wide hunt for my kind, enslaving a mated pair to ensure she can get her favorite meal- Locathah eggs. As far as what she can do? well, I have never seen her, but iof the stories are to be believed, she can produce arcane effects the likes none here in the Oceans of Oerth have ever seen."

Regarding the Sunken Sisterhood, Gleeboo looks at the vast kelp sea of Procan's Garden and gulps.

"Sea Hags. Mighty and terrible. Each a master of some form of magic. Their leader is a green hag by the name of Bavmorda, who is said to be the only one to command the weather here. Cruel and utterly evil, Bavmorda enjoys destroying anyone who dares cross her path with the power of a Storm."

"Then there is Ferula, the most bestial of the three sisters. said to have communed in both the natural and the arcane to such a degree that it is nearly impossible to tell what she looked like before her transformation. Woe befall any who crosses her path, for she has been known to lift an entire vessel by herself…. with the crew inside."

"Then there is Alfhyld, the youngest of a very bad family. This hag is said to be able to crack skulls with the shrieking of her voice. A creature as talented in the arcane arts as her sisters, however, rumors speka of her making deals with even more sinister creatures from other worlds."

Gleeboo takes a deep breath.

"And then there are those that serve them. Merrows, slain by the hags and brought back in a mockery of life. Unlike other undead, these are crafty and intelligent. They are trained to fight and can resort to tactics."

On the subject of Urukimuu, the locathah shows great grief.

"He was like a father to my tribe. Strong and brave. Bravest Locathah I ever met. And then, like I told you, he swam away from the Garden to get help from some wizard and he returned like the monster you fought. I do not know what exactly happened to him while he was away. I am sorry."

Then the subject drifts to Iku-Turso, and the Locathah shows the slightest bit of anger in his fish face.

"Sneaky demon! He haunts the underwater tunnels all around Procan's garden. Luring and killing. Legend says he ate a powerful sea elven wizard and that's how he attained such spellcasting powers. To date, none of my people have dared track him down or survived a fight with him."

Then, the question drifts to the Tower, and Cervantes.

"Sadly, Lysa, I do not know of either of those."

Then you ask him about the legends of Procan's Garden, something the Locathah seems to know, as he walks towards the railing and looks at the vast kelp strands.

"This place has existed for years. As you probably know, there are many ships that floundered here. Many of those sailors escaped and walked away towards the edge of the garden and I suppose they swam on. Those that did not, were killed by the creatures that inhabit this place. Those that come out at night from beneathn the kelp- the sons of Lachtendril. As a result, the bodies remain on the kelp and then rise as undead monstrosities that hunt both above and below water. As for those who would claim power here, there is the Sunken Sisterhood, fearsome in their own might, but they aren't the only ones…"

"There is a pirate ship, sunk years ago. The men in that ship, the S.S. Concordia are not undead. Instead, they have been changed to something else. Something completely unnatural. My people, say they revere a hidden power in the Garden called Sochsna. But who or what Sochsna is, I have no idea. What I do know is that this being has been around before the Garden itself…or so the legends say."

"Then, there is Cit Bolon Tum, the Bat of the Deeps. An Ixitxachitl lord that commands great divine power and who uses the many dead in the Garden to do his bidding…"

"And yet, for all those I have mentioned, Lachtendril is perhaps the most dangerous of them all. Lore says that the one who came here three hundred years ago planted Lachtendril, whose roots form the Garden. This tree is found at the very bottom of the sea and maintains this place by decree of her mother."

[Niwrad]

Archadious listens as the Locathah describes danger after danger found in the Garden, but when Gleeboo finally describes what he claimed was the most dangerous of them all, the elf is slightly confused.

I am sorry, but can you say that last bit again? Did you say that the most dangerous inhabitant of this Garden is a tree?

Lachtendril?

What else can you tell us about that thing?

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: Gleeboo turns to look at you and then at Procan's Garden.

"We are basically on top of Lachtendril. Every single piece of kelp here is connected to the Lachtendril tree at the bottom of the Ocean. It was planted by the most fearsome power on Oerth- The Shark of the Depths. If ever such devil had had a child, this would be the closest it would come to."

[dantiesilva]

As all begin talking to Gleeboo Alex smiles at their friend. It is good to see you Gleeboo. There is the matter of your promise that we need to go over, and what belonged to you on the ship. As it seemed your leader gathered a lot of things, and whatever did not belong to you we would like to have so that we can restock our supplies. After all many of us almost died for good in the battle with him and I believe he still has a few stragglers still aboard the ship that need to be cleared out. Alex explains kindly, letting the man know that Alex would not ask for anything that belonged rightfully to the merchant. Alex then listens quietly as Lysa asks the many questions while he and Irraly try to go over all the knowledge they had gained from this encounter.


Religion [roll0]
Nature [roll1]



Arcane [roll2]
Architecture and engineering [roll3]
(Dungeoneering [roll4]
Geography [roll5]
History [roll6]
Local [roll7]
Nature [roll8]
Nobility and royalty [roll9]
Religion [roll10]
The planes [roll11]

[Chimaera]

"You failed to answer your favorite color :smalltongue:", Lysa say and then go thinking on two mysterious things the locathah told them: the Lachtendril and the mysterious force called Sochsna.


Lchtendril and the birth of Procan's Garden [roll0]
The mysterious Sochsna and S.S. Concordia [roll1]

"Anyway, here what we found in the ship's vault. What are yours and what isnt? We may also want to trade with you... Oh! Yes, there was another question tou failed too: is there any village or civilization here in the Procan's Garden that we may be able to trade or negotiate?"

[Niwrad]

Archadious also attempts to recall what he knows about the S.s.Concordia from reading ancient tomes in the Ironwood library.

the roll - [roll0]

[AlanBruce]

@Alex: You try and recall what you may know of the various figures mentioned by Gleeboo.

Although his descriptions are vague, one about Ferula is enough to reach a healthy conclusion.

Ferula of the Sunken Sisterhood must be a Geomancer. These casters mix the arcane and the divine- sometimes choosing the more natural aspect of divine magic- and merge it together, while doing so, adopting more and more bestial forms. It is said that many geomancers are shunned from their communities and chased away, believing them to be monsters.

Most of the time, the geomancer does take flight, or burrow, or swim away, not wanting to hurt his ignorant peers.

Other times, reports say that entire towns have been ravaged by wrathful geomancers who wished to make a point.

@Irraly: You listen to Gleeboo on Cit Bolon Tum and recall what you read about these reatures in the Underdark.

Ixitxachitls, an alien race that lives deep beneath the waves and that, to the untrained eye, resemble manta rays. As individuals, Ixitxachitls pose little threat to a prepared warrior, but these creatures seldom travel alone, and they are cunning enough to never fight on land, staying in the water where their mobility can be used to great advantage.

Ixitxachitls are very religious, paying homage to dark and alien entities from other realms of existence. It is not unknown for leaders of these communities to rise to exceptional levels of power as clerics, usig their divine granted powers for evil.

@Lysa: You listen to the name Sochsna and attempt to recall anything you may have heard on your travels.

Whatever Soschsna is, the lore is muddy about it. Some say it is an ancient source of knowledge. Others say it is a god. Given the various creatures that have been found in your travels so far, it could very well be both.

@Archaidous & Lysa: The S.S. Concordia…


Not a pirate ship. Gleeboo was wrong about that. The Concordia was a royal vessel belonging to the Halmathan fleet that sailed these waters almost a century ago. This ship was said to finish off what the S.S. Triton started. And, like the Triton, it was never seen or heard of again.

A captain Desmond Legett was in charge of that ship and he was said to be one of the finest sailors of his time. An admirable captain. Savvy and strong. yet even he, with all his tactical resources, was unable to brave the perils of Procan's garden… and apparently this being called Sochsna.

@The Party: Gleeboo kneels and watches the toy sized object given by Archaidous in his hand.

"You shrunk it? I guess I could toss it, but the crate is very heavy, and this deck is ruined as it is. Perhaps if I roll it…"

The Locathah has the shrunk items roll on the Dauphin's deck like a set of marbles as they expand in size and within seconds, the vault's contents- door included, scatter all over the deck as the sailors get off their makeshift beds and look at all the expensive furniture as Hashikki walks up to the door and taps it.

"Adamantine… very expensive."

Gleeboo scratches his bald finned head.

"Well, neither the door or the furniture or paintings are mine. Neither are the ornaments, but the crate is. Hold on."

The locathah takes out a key and unlocks the chains wrapping around the crate as these fall on deck with a loud clanking sound and then the fishfolk trader opens the crate like a walk in closet.

"Good to see they weren't ruined…"

The contents are various. Cloaks, scrolls, and even wands and some weapons, among other wondrous items of power.

Amulet of Health (+2) (4000 gp)

Cloak of Resistance (+1) (1000 gp)

Oil of Magic Weapon (50 gp)

Portable Hole (20000 gp) (design provides clue to function)

Rod of Quicken Metamagic (lesser) (35000 gp)

Wand of Bull's Strength (15 of 50 charges) (1350 gp)

Arcane Scroll (Acid Arrow (150 gp)) (total 150 gp)

Bastard Sword (Small) (+1 weapon) (2335 gp)

Crystal Ball with See Invisibility (50000 gp)

Divine Scroll (Comprehend Languages (25 gp), Summon Monster I (25 gp), Speak with Plants (150 gp)) (total 200 gp)

Divine Scroll (Protection from Chaos/Evil/Good/Law (25 gp), Cure Moderate Wounds (150 gp), Bestow Curse (375 gp)) (total 550 gp)

Divine Scroll (Speak with Plants (375 gp)) (total 375 gp)

Heavy Mace (Small) (+1 weapon) (2312 gp)

Potion of Blur (300 gp)

Rod of Silent Metamagic (lesser) (3000 gp)


Staff of Defense (5 of 50 charges) (5825 gp)

Wand of Cat's Grace (3 of 50 charges) (270 gp)


@Lysa: The Locathah looks at you and smiles.

"Turquoise, Lady Silentwhisper. That's my favorite color."

[Chimaera]

As Lysa takes a look at the stash from Gleeboo she take interest in a few things.

"Hey Gleeboo, would like to trade some of this stuff? The srolls, the wands and the rod would be a good acquisition for me :smallsmile:"

Arcane Scroll (Acid Arrow (150 gp)) (total 150 gp)
Divine Scroll (Comprehend Languages (25 gp), Summon Monster I (25 gp), Speak with Plants (150 gp)) (total 200 gp)
Divine Scroll (Protection from Chaos/Evil/Good/Law (25 gp), Cure Moderate Wounds (150 gp), Bestow Curse (375 gp)) (total 550 gp)
Divine Scroll (Speak with Plants (375 gp)) (total 375 gp)
Rod of Silent Metamagic (lesser) (3000 gp)
Wand of Cat's Grace (3 of 50 charges) (270 gp)


"Also, I like turquoise too, but I like pink and silver the most :smalltongue:".

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: Gleeboo looks at the ietms on deck and walks around them.

"I like the armor sets. They will make a nice addition to my home, but the furniture is not something I really need."

Gleeboo looks at the items you have interest in and he looks at the armor.

"If you can take me back to my ship, I can have the money for the armor sets and finish the sale."

[Niwrad]

Archadious looks at the variety of items currently in Gleeboo's possession. None of it immediately stood out to him, but he supposed some of them could come in handy from time to time.

After some thinking, he finally settles upon a few of the scrolls and potions, but before he can speak, Lysa beats him to it.

He watches in silence as Lysa purchases most of the scrolls and he shrugs. At least one of them had the scrolls.

Well, when we are done looking through your wares do you intend to return to your shelter? I think we would welcome you aboard the ship. It might be somewhat safer than wherever you were before.

On the other hand, you might not want to as we seem to attract a great deal of attention...

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: Gleeboo looks around at the ship.

"No offense, but the sunken ship I live in currently is quite inconspicuous- nobody bothers to check it, so if you don't mind giving me a ride back there, I would appreciate it greatly. I am fortunate that I do not garber enough attention for the monsters around here, but be careful- they clearly know you are here. Its new ships- they all crave new vessels to add to their collection, or at least that's what I'd like to believe. At any rate, thank you…and good luck."

[Chimaera]

"Wont it be safer if we teleport you home tomorrow? Thisway we can take the armors there too. Iku-Turso is somewhere around waiting for us again...", Lysa says trying to make the locathah stay this night with them, after all they were all exhaust and almost helpless if something happened underwater now.

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era takes a cursory look over the wares. Most of them didn't interest her, but the crystal ball did, immediately bringing back memories of home, where her parents always prevented her from using the court diviner's crystal ball.

Almost surrelly, she realizes she doesn't have the money Gleeboo is asking. Instead, she proposes the idea to the group. "Does your crew have need of divining? That crystal ball is a powerful oddity. Perhaps one we shouldn't pass up. It might be good to see what these terrors of the Procan Garden are up to."

[Niwrad]

Archadious hears Ke'era's inquiry, and out of ear-shot of Gleeboo he shakes his head and replies to her.

I am under the opinion that ball is not entirely worth the cost. I have the spell necessary to scry. I merely require the right component to do so. Sadly a large mirror is not the easiest thing to find or carry.

[Chimaera]

Lysa begin to fly and look at the injured crew, "You know what this night is demanding? A song!"

And then she begins to sing a omnous shanty, one Alex sure didnt want her to sing.
A gargantuan hole in the bow, will the ocean to enter allow.
Oh but more a sin than letting it in it's letting our good fortune out.
The nest to the storm did succumb, while the crow hid his fear in the rum.
And the mast, it broke and threw out the bloke and well now he's surely my chum.

Love letters from under his bed, holds the cabin boy over his head
A futile try to keep it dry what tears have already wet.
They were penned by a girl in Merak, and the Javanese value their tact.
She'll conclude he's horribly rude 'cause he's sure as hell not writing back.

(Chorus)
'Cause the ship's going down
All on account of the weather
Though we'll drown
There's no need to frown
'Cause we're all going together
And I won't say "Woe is me"
As I disappear into the sea
'Cause I'm in good company
As we're all going together

I've had women of every kind, but the only one truly was mine
Is the one at home who'll be alone when I am full-up with brine.
For my son I had always a plan, for to raise him as best as I can.
Oh well you can bet, my only regret is to not see him grow to a man.

(Chorus)
'Cause the ship's going down
All on account of the weather
Though we'll drown
There's no need to frown
'Cause we're all going together
And I won't say "Woe is me"
As I disappear into the sea
'Cause I'm in good company
As we're all going together

I was sinking down into the brine, when a curious sight caught my eye.
Seaman Shaft had found him a raft and was makin' a speedy goodbye.
At the risk of sounding absurd, I have always been good as my word.
So a fish gig I lanced into his eye and I knocked his ass overboard.

(Chorus)
'Cause the ship's going down
All on account of the weather
Though we'll drown
There's no need to frown
'Cause we're all going together
And I won't say "Woe is me"
As I disappear into the sea
Oh hell!
'Cause you've all been so good to me
So we're all going together. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5f3-jB0-do)

If anyone question her she just laughs and retorts, "My song wont bring you bad luck: coming sailing this way did :smalltongue:"

[dantiesilva]

Alex was not a superstitious person most of the time, nor did he believe having women on a ship would bring bad luck. However as Lysa began singing about the ship sinking he looks at her like he is going to kill her. There was one thing with all their luck to simply have women aboard the ship, it was completely different to sing shanties of a ship going down beneath the sea. Especially after all the tales they had heard about his place. However as much as he tried to hush Lysa up she would not hear it, and so instead he looked to Gleeboo. I can escort you home if you wish, though I wont be able to talk as I wont be in a humanoid form. Alex explains to him, after all he had been very kind and fair to them all, and they still may find him a very useful resource in this jungle.

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era looks aghast when Alex mentions returning Gleeboo to his ship.
"Absolutely not! Not alone, anyway. Have you any idea what's down there? And we're all tired, and almost depleted of spells for the day. Well, some of us, anyway."

[AlanBruce]

@Alex: As Lysa completes her purchases, Gleeboo shuts his crate and rubs his scaly chin on how best to transport it.

"I suppose I can drag it below the water and if you will escort me back to my ship, so much the better. Thank you, Alex."

You then jump back down to the kelp as the sun begins to set above and the sky turns azure and call on the powers of nature to transmute your body into that of a shark as you jump into a hole in the kelp and Gleeboo swims beside you, dragging the crate.

It would take a few hours as you reach the old sunken ship and Gleeboo signals for you to hide among the kelp as you watch a pair of gigantic serpents with red rusty color and draconis vestigial wings swim through the kelp as their shadows cover both of you, but the creatures ignore you as they roar and swim deeper into the depths.

Gleeboo watches horrified as the creatures swim down to the depths of Procan's Garden.

"So it is true what they said- Lachtendril's dogs. Styx Dragons, Alex. Who knows how those got here. My ship isn't too far. Follow me."

Once on the deck of the old ship, Gleeboo bows to you as he drags the crate back inside.

"You know where to find me, Alex. Thank you for the escort! And be safe, ok? Don't keep your men sleeping out at night on deck."

And so, after a few hours of swimming cautiously through the kelp, you emerge right beside the Dauphin as the stars twinkle overhead and the slow moving kelp seems to undulate as if alive as you climb back on the Dauphin.

@The Party: Mausiel wakes up as the sun comes down and checks his injuries.

"Ok… what the hell happened? Who has that egg? I almost lost my entire crew because of it!"

[Chimaera]

Lysa look at Mausiel and sighs.

"My dear good captain", she begins, "This egg is our treasure and once we received it we also became its protector. The same way I feel like dying to protect my friends here. And by 'my friends here' it also include you, Hasshiki, Akilu, Lucca, Shen, Lucky and everyone else. We all knew this path would be dangerous and you sure knew taking the sailing these waters would bring risk of death to everyone in the crew, you included", she pauses.

"Stop trying to decide what we do with this egg, please? Cause you know... Whoever is after it will probably kill everyone here anyway for whatever reason they think is fit. Or do you think Bavmorda or her sisters are happy for the beating of her life down at the Attol? Do you think if we give the egg, get rid of it or even make a delicious ommelete with it she will change her heart and give you and your crew free pass? The egg stay where it is and if you dont like it we can teleport away from here and leave you Procan Garden. I dont tell you what you do with whatever treasures you have, right? Because of you the Aventi Navi almost stopped our travel and yet we said nothing", he continues as gently as she can, even talking some rude stuff.

"So, Mausiel. My good captain. Can you stop meddling with this egg's matter? Whatever come to get it will be put down for us...", she says to him, "Even the Shark of the Deeps", this last part she dont speak, but think to herself.

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: Hashikki and Akilu step back as Mausiel walks up to you, now his wounds healed and looks down at you after your lengthy explanation.

"My good Lysa. I am aware you were given an egg back in the Atoll by the crab elder. I am also aware that you, me, Hashikki, and the entire crew nearly died in that Atoll. I hope you are also aware that it was Mister Mithmironel- or Archaidous, as you call him- that chartered my ship- Aventi Navy not withstanding."

Mausiel paces around the deck and looks at everyone before looking out at the tangled mass of kelp as the crew sets up bull's eye lanterns to illuminate the area, in case of an attack.

"I am aware that this voyage has been anything but safe. I am also aware that this voyage will be a lot less deadlier without that egg on board. If you have the means to... teleport, by all means. Be my guest. I am not deep enough in this sargasso sea to turn the ship around and sail back to Bludhaven. As captain of the S.S. Dauphin, I demand to see the egg. Now. No delays."

[Business Scrub]

Hearing the confusion, Ke'era moves over to the gathering group. Quietly, she casts a simple spell, turning her eyes blue and focusing on the captain. She hoped she was wrong but... well, better to be safe than sorry.

Detect magic, focus on Mausiel.

Spellcrafts, if necessary: [roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]
[roll6]

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: You cautiously walk towards the arguing duo and attempt to discern what Mausiel may have on.

Other than an increasing bad temper, there seems to be no malady of a magical nature affecting him. Of course, his gear shines, but Mausiel does carry items of power on him, as evidenced back in St. Rochim's Isle.

[Niwrad]

Archadious listens to Lysa as she announces her firm stance regarding the keeping of the egg. Then he turns to Mausiel as the captain acknowledges the pixie's claims.

And when the captain asks to see the egg, the elf nods.

Look Captain, I understand your concern.

Yes, we received the egg back at the Atoll. It is a valuable gift and was entrusted to our protection. And it appears that certain entities in this Garden have expressed an interest in the egg.

Now, I disagree slightly with Lysa's firm and uncompromising stance. Frankly I do not believe the egg is worth the lives of everyone on this ship. Perhaps it may be possible to exchange the egg for safe passage for the rest of the voyage. At least, that is what I would suggest if those who wanted the egg were at all trustworthy.

I suspect Lysa is right when she said that those who want the egg would likely kill us anyways. If they are to kill us anyways regardless of whether we have the egg or not, we might as well defend ourselves.

Perhaps for the remainder of the time in this place, the six of us will take care to remain near the Dauphin and be prepared to defend it. No more excursions underwater.
Besides, I have had enough of fighting underwater for a while.

Anyways, Alex, can you take out the egg?

[Chimaera]

"No I wont let you put your hands on the egg", Lysa say loking at his eyes, "The creatures behind it want it for some evil purpose. Murder or worse. Allowing it to be taken or leave it to die would also be murder, and I wont let it happen. As much as I like you and the crew, I wont be sailing with evil men", she tell him.

She then look at Akilu, "If it was a darfellan' egg... or baby, not sure, would you accept it to be given? To the minions of the Shark?"

She look at Hasshiki and then Mausiel, "Or if it was your bride's baby? Would you give it away to save your skin?"

She look around to the crew, pausing her gaze at Lucky, "Do you really think we would put your guys in danger if we weren't prepared to being killed to protect you?"

She then look at Mausiel, "The egg is not your issue. Whatever come to get it will deal with us, not your crew. Any men who die will be raised and all repairs on the Dauphin will be paid".

She look at him again, "We charted the Dauphin to go to Hamalthan and it will be on this ship that we'll reach. And again: I wont be sailing with evil men".

[Business Scrub]

Momentarily relieved that the captain is not under some compulsion, Ke'era ends her spell. It was a long shot, but she would not underestimate Nahusha or her other enemies. However, the continued arguing was not good for the group.

"Err, perhaps I may not be the best to speak on this matter, considering the past. However, I may have an alternative. Vinnessia, the home of my people is not terribly far away from here if you consider teleporting. I know a place there where no one would find it. No one that wasn't looking for it, anyway. It's far enough away that it wouldn't endanger my people, either."

[Niwrad]

Archadious grimaces. Angering the captain was the last thing he wanted happening.

And that seemed to be what Lysa was trying to do...

Lysa. The Captain merely asked to see the egg. There is no need to overreact and start accusing him of being evil.

The elf hears Ke'era's suggestion, and he turns to look at her.

That is not a bad idea. It will however, require some powerful conjuration magic to teleport that far. But I am certain that could be done if that is something we all agree upon.

What do the rest of you think?

[dantiesilva]

ENOUGH! Acheron belows out before raising his fist to his mouth and coughing. Mausiel I understand your dilema, but as the others have said, it is unlikly getting rid of the egg will stop things. Alo keep in mind everything we gain while on this voyage is a percentage yours once sold at market. Now if you truly want the egg gone we need to leave it in someones custody that is trustworthy and can protect it. So I give you three options, all are reasonable really and can make everyone happy. The first as LAdy Ke'era stated she can bring it to her home, though you will have to find someone trustworthy to hold onto it. Two we can call your wife and ask her to send someone she trusts or herself to come collect it, allowing it to serve her people and thus keep the seas safe. The third option is we keep it here until we find someone. I am not unwilling to bend Captain on this matter, however you must be as well. After all you are getting quite a pay, and we were the ones that got your ship off of being docked.

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: Mausiel turns to look at you and nods.

"Everyone can be negotiated worth. If they want the egg, they can have it. It's good to see that some people still have some degree of common sense. Father Carth said the hag mentioned the eggg. We give them the egg and we save all our lives- yours included."

Then, he listens to the rest of your response and sighs.

"It is true that together, you and the others are a force to be reckoned with. Perhaps had you been here, that hag and her ogres would be no more. Ok, no more deep sea exploration while we're here. We stick to the ship and we hack the kelp. Hopefully tomorrow, if everyone joins in, we can double our movement. Let me see the egg, then."

@Lysa: As Archaidous is about to go fetch Seshala Sidhe's legacy, you address every single member of the Dauphin.

Akilu stands tall and proud and looks at you and then at the captain.

"Captain, you know I will stand by your side always, but Pinkbeard's words ring true- I have endured the loss of my people by the sahuagin.. do we allow an unborn to face the same fate? Do we have the right?"

Lucky is about to say something, but is reminded that he is a sailor, and prefers to remain quiet.

Hashikki lights his pipe and puffs from it.

"Henrique, we have survived this voyage so far- we can do this. Believe in the fairy, they say."

Mausiel looks at both quartermaster and boatswain.

"The only reason why you aren't walking the plank is because you'd fall a few feet on kelp. This is ridiculous…"

@Ke'era: Mausiel's face shines and a smile draws on his face at your suggestion.

"Vinessia? Yeah… of course! I have no clue where your kingdom is or this place, so chances are, neither do them. I like that plan. I like that plan very much. Ok, Mister Mithmironel- do you think you can do that? use your magic and go deposit the egg wherever Lady Ke'era says?"

[Business Scrub]

"Perhaps I should clarify: my intent is not to bring the egg to Vinessia. If these people are indeed after it, I would never willingly endanger the city so. Rather, I refer to a place a ways outside of the city, a place I have good reason to believe only I know exists. As such, it wouldn't be looked after. It would only be a temporary stowaway until we can decide what to do with it that isn't endangering to Mausiel's ship. We can give it some protections and hide it well, but technically speaking it would just be left there."
She shrugs.
"I didn't claim it was a flawless option, but it is an option."

[Chimaera]

"I guess it's pretty much clear that they can spy on us. Leaving the egg alone is like leaving it to the sharks. Literraly", Lysa says, "We can protect it".

[AlanBruce]

@Alex: Mausiel turns to look at you as Acheron bursts forth and you put a few more options on the table.

"Hmmm… you do have a point. Jaquie could safeguard the egg and who knows if the Aventi have trainers that can rear the creature when it hatches. But who knows where her fleet is now…"

You then bring up the money issue.

"Quick to the point, huh? At least let me see the damn egg. I want to know what my men have been going through. I barely even remember that thing from back in the Atoll."

@Ke'era: Mausiel leans against the railing as you explain the situation.

"Protected. Not protected. As long as it doesn't endanger the ship and everyone here, I'm fine with it. You mages know how to hide things arther well, after all."

@The Party: Mausiel walks over to his cabin.

"I've had enough action for one day. Everyone! Get some rest! We start hacking through the kelp come sunrise. Hashikki, you have some sending scrolls?"

"Always keep one handy, henrique."

"Good. We send for Jaqueline tomorrow morning. I suggest you all get some good night's rest- you look like you need some."

[dantiesilva]

I am happy we can all agree to at least see what options we have. Though again we can not leave it unprotected. So if your kingdom can not keep it safe Ke'era I am sorry but it can not go there. MAgic has ways of finding anything it wants.

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: With the matter almost settled, you all retire to your cabins as the sounds of eerie creatures off in the distance keep most of you awake at night.

Lachtendril's Children, if Gleeboo's stories are true.

Day 151

Everyone wake up! Time to hack!

Mausiel's voice rings through the Dauphin's deck as the crew grabs their machetes and quickly finish their bowl of porridge cooked hours earlier before dawn by Shen, who frans his machete and clibs down as well.

@Lysa: You wake up and find a letter with the quickening rod and the wand of revivify.

Miss Silentwhisper,

I must apologize for not telling you and the rest in person, but I must leave for Choralis Island, past Procan's Garden. Severna and Alsira have procured my transportation.

I trust you and the others will be safe. I have consecrated the deck, so if that thing shows up again, you should be able to heal normally.

I have also refilled the wand four more times. I wish I had more spells for that, but it;s as far as I could go.

I will be praying that Phaulkon watches over all of you.

I will see you in Choralis Island, best of luck… to all of you.

Tonel

[Chimaera]

Lysa read the letter and treasure the items.
She look at the wall in her cabin and at illusory Arabella, "I miss you sister".

She takes her time before going to the deck.

"Tonel left us. He also consecrated the deck, so we can heal from the attacks of the creature who attacked the other day", she tell the first one she met.

She then watches the crew descending to hack the kelp and think how to help...
"If only Hacking Kelp was a skill I would be able to Inspire Comeptence to them... Or maybe profession: Gardener?", she thinks as she watches them hacking.

[dantiesilva]

As the morning sun rises, Alex stretches out before climbing aboard the ship as he looks off in the distance at the ship from the other day they had raised to see if there were any changes to it.

[roll0]

Morning everyone, I hope you all slept well. Captain, I will be taking the egg with me over to the ship over there to finish clearing it out before our own ship gets to close today, after all don't want to risk being attacked right. If you don't mind sending to your wife to see if her people are willing to take it. Alex says kindly getting ready to leave for the other ship.

[AlanBruce]

@Alex: You stretch and look over the railing towards the S.S. Triton, but can see nothing as this one sinks back into the kelp as the weeds submerge the haunted ship.

Mausiel wraps a bandanna around his head and gets ready to climb down as the heat this morning is worse than usual.

"I'll have Hashikki send for Jaquie in a few minutes…Hashikki! Don't slouch! We have hacking to do!"

The Hadozee boatswain yawns as he gets ready to light his pipe.

"I'm up…geez! More hacking, I suppose? But why is it so warm this morning?"

"It's the tropics, Hashikki. It's always warm here."

Hashikki squints his eyes and looks up.


"Uhh…Mausiel?"

"What?"


"Are there two suns in the sky?"


"What are you… no! Of course not! There's only one sun! Why do you, whaaaaaa."


And indeed, you watch a much bigger sun shining above…


But this is no sun… it's a giant ball of fire that flies a few hundred feet above the Dauphin and crashes on Procan's Garden, creating a gigantic splash of kelp, water and steam as a hundred foot radius of kelp is cleared and as the smoke dissipates, you see someone lying on his back on the water, covered in smoke.

Owww...

@Ke'era: You watch from the railing as a halfling floats sluggishly from the water as he dusts his cloak. This halfling sports a white mohawk and from the looks of it, he dresses like a rogue.

"Now…where on Oerth am I?"

[dantiesilva]

As Alex sees the ball of flame coming there way he immediately gets ready to counter the spell when it plummets into the water. Oh ****. Archadious do you think that..... Alex says not even daring to finish his statement as he looka down at the opening and sees, Brandobras? Brandobras what in the name of the Jade empire are you doing all the way on this end of the world? Alex asks as he jumps down to the halfling and goes to help him up. Your in the middle of the ocean Brandobras, though how you became so hot, that you shined like the sun I would like to know, new powers? Alex asks as he tries to soothe the burns. I think you better come aboard the ship before things get a bit dicy, lets just say you may have just pissed off a giant plant that can destroy this entire ship. Alex says watching the kelp below.

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era watches the halfling come soaring in, trying to determine what earthly power could have done that.

Spellcraft: [roll0]

She looks at the halfling with suspicion. He seemed injured, yes. But he also shouldn't have survived that landing, which means there is more to him than meets the eyes. She swims up to him warily, arms folded.

"You seem to have picked a strange place to land. You're in Procean's Guarden: not a particularly welcoming place. Now who are you? We've had a great many unasked for visitors in the past few days."

[Niwrad]

After preparing his spells for the day and casting the required abjuration on Irraly, Archadious reemerges onto the deck and prepares for what he thought would be a day of standing on the deck on the lookout for danger.

When he is altered by Mausiel to the sudden disturbance above, he quickly looks up to see a large ball of flames hurtling towards the ship.
The elf leaps into action and prepares to counter whatever it was, whether it be magic or something else.

When the flaming sphere instead lands in the middle of the kelp, Archadious quickly flies over.

But when the smoke clears and he sees a familiar blue mohawk, Archadious raises his brow in surprise.

This was definitely one person he had not expected to meet here.

Bandobras... I must say its good to see you here. But that cannot have been a pleasant way to travel. Trouble in Al'Akbarr?

[Chimaera]

"It's Bandobras!", Lysa says as she flies closer, "Are you hurt?", then she look at Keera, "He's a friend. A powerful one... As powerful as the Shark, by all means".

[Business Scrub]

"What..?" She looks puzzled, then shakes her head.
"No, not the Shark. She's a goddess. Not a particularly delightful one but..."
She watches the others pass her to approach Bandobras.
"Maybe we should be careful..?"

She lets them run forward, waiting to see if he really is who Lysa said he is, and how she should approach.

[AlanBruce]

@Alex: You fly down towards Bandobras as the halfling wades around the water and sighs.

"Alex? Ha! Alex! You have changed since last I saw you! What's with the new armor and scythe? Jafar will love to know this! As to the ocean… yeah. I didn't expect his punch to be that strong. That bastard must've sent me across Oerth. I was in the Sea of Sands but a few seconds ago. So a giant plant? There's plants all over this place. Oh! I remember this place when I flew over here what was it? A decadde or two ago. Procan's Garden, but never did bother to come down and check it out. Where are the others?"

@Ke'era: There is no spell you are aware of that can do what did to this halfling. And if such a spell exists, none that would be able to survive it.

The halfling rises from the water as his mohawk flops to the side and the little fellow tries blowing his hair back upo, only to flop down.

"Well, a mermaid! I haven't seen one in years! And they are as beautiful as when I first laid eyes on a few… how long ago was that? Oh, nevermind. Bandobras, at your service. What's with this place, anyway? I can't feel any wind?"

The Dauphin's crew stnds motionless as they watch this odd little halfling fall from the sky as Mausiel speaks up.

"Enemy?"

"Maybe. Mind if I take a breather on your ship?"

Bandobras flies slowly to the Dauphin's deck and lays against the railing as his burn marks and bruises heal at a very fast rate.

"What are you guys doing all the way here?"

[Christine Daae]

Waking in the morning had become harder and harder for Irraly, between being to afraid of Valatis trying to take control of her when her disobedience spell wore off, and the information they had gleamed from Gleeboo she knew that this next step on their path would not be safe at all. As if she were back home again where everything wanted her dead or worst. And though she danced to the maidens song each night, the blood on her hands still haunted her as all those faces kept on flashing into her mind. All killed in cold blood. The horror they felt when not a single spell they seemed to use seemed to harm her.

However that was the past, all she could do now is move forward as she closed her spellbook as she was ready for the perils of the day ahead. Up earlier then all the others, Irraly ate as the porridge was still warm before moving down to the kelp hacking away before it became to crowded with people who were uncomfortable around her, and for good reasons. At least while she hacked away at the kelp he may be to bored to pay her any heed as she waited for Archadious to awaken and cast the disobedience spell on her once more so she could feel safe and secure. Her thoughts being her own.

About an hour latter the sounds of the ship awoke, as the crew got ready for their chores. Wanting to get a bit more done before they all came down to join her, Irraly kept hacking away, perhaps she would go below deck and row when they came above. However as it seemed to get hotter and hotter Irraly began thinking of removing her armor. After all one could not work in such temptures, surly there had to be something wrong with this. It was bad enough the sun was shining down so brightly on them, but the heat as well. Then she heard people talking about two suns, looking up she to noticed a second sun, however she also knew from battles what else could look like a sun as it seemed to get closer. Not wanting to be caught in its blast Irraly quickly ran to the side of the ship and took cover as the ball collided with the sargose sea.

Once the explosin hit, Irraly had her silver blade out, and her hand covered in acid, as she prepared to face their oncoming foe, however none came. Not from the sky, nor from below, nothing. Curious Irraly walked over to where the others were and was shocked to see the small halfling in the water. By the goddess what happened? Ke'era it is okay, he is a friend. Irraly says as she uses her natural abilities to heal him of some of his damage.

+25hp

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: Bandobras smiles as he gives you a hug.

"You're looking as good as when last I saw you, Lysa. Keeping an eye on them, I hope? And my darling mermaid, a goddess in these waters? Hardly. And definitely not the Shark of the Depths, but you are lucky you haven't met her… you haven't met her, right? She has quite the temper. I remmeber when I first met mermaids and they asked me to help them get some of their friends from some huge moving island and even then, it was impossible for me to get close. Like a drowning effect…even when I used a bunch of scrolls. But enough about me. Tell me- what have you guys been up to?"

@Archaidous: After casting the green helm on Irraly, you fly towards Bandobras who shakes your hand.

"The Sea of Sands is quite accurate, Archaidous, but not Al'Akkbar… that place is impenetrable right now. I squared off against someone, well… someone who likes to sue fire a lot and he seems to have gotten tired of me meddling with his troops. Got his dragon, though. That thing will be hurting for awhile."

Mausiel climbs back on deck and looks at the halfling as this one takes out a waterskin from his bag of holding and takes several gulps.

"And you are???"

The halfling smiles and stands at attention, mocking a soldier's salute.

"Bandobras, reporting for duty, SIR!"

Mausiel looks down at the halfling as this one disappears and reappears behind him, floating at eye level.

"Sorry about that. Just don't like being stared down at. Kind of rude. Thank you for letting me catch my breath on your ship…"

"Captain Mausiel. And I was worried because we have been attacked a lot since we started this voyage through the Ossian Way."

Bandobras flies up to the main mast and winks at Irraly, who waves back at him and descends.

"You're traveling with a bunch of trouble makers…what did you expect? No, seriously, what kind of trouble. And please be quick. I need to punch someone in the face in about…hmmm… six seconds."

[Business Scrub]

"Ke'era Tiwele, at yours." She says carefully. This man, whoever he was, certainly didn't carry himself like the Shark. Or how folk speak of her anyway. In fact, had he not just survived that fall, she would think of him as just a halfling.

"As I said, this place is called Procean's Garden. A rather unpleasant land, filled with more unpleasant hosts. As you can see, they --er, we, are trying to get to the other side.
You all know eachother? Howso?"

[dantiesilva]

Has it really been that long? Alex says as he looks at his scythe and wooden armor. I have taken on the next step into becoming one with all the gods one could say. Alex explains to Brandobras. And who hit you so hard that well they did this? I have seen you fight, and no one has ever landed a blow on you. Alex points out. And yes this is the same place, from what stories say a tree is the cause of this, one planted by the goddess of the sea, the shark of the depths, any relation? Alex asks, knowing that the halfling was looking for people with power.

No he is a friend, and he is a very powerful one at that. Alex calls up to the top of the ship. Well we are trying to get to Hamalthan at the moment Brandobras. We have buisness there because of certain people infecting one of us. Speaking of which, Archadious the spell now please. Alex says looking to Irraly before things got intresting.

[Niwrad]

Archadious looks with concern when he hears that Bandobras's sudden vacation was thanks to the power of the Fire Lord.

When they all get back onto the ship, and the halfling asks what they have been up to, the elf decides to elaborate a bit more.

As Alex says, we have been on our way to Hamalthan for a multitude of reasons. Irraly is only one of them. This is well into at least the second week of the voyage by now... if not more.

He says, having lost track of time already on the open ocean.

But of course we heard that the Shark's island had been spotted in the original safe route. So we had to either choose the Ossian Way or another dangerous route. We already had quite a few interesting stories to tell from our time in the ocean. But now, we are trying to cross the Garden.

Archadious continues, gesturing to the the wide expanse of Sargasso around them.

From what I understand, this place lies in the Doldrums, a place with no wind. And the kelp makes it near-impossible for ships to get through. It would have been a difficult enough task by itself. But the Garden seems to be teeming with powerful creatures and individuals who see us a little more than prey.
I suspect sailing a ship may have been more or less analogous to a gazelle wandering into a den of lions...

[Chimaera]

"He was friend of another one like the Shark, one we helped", she whisper to Ke'era, "I'll let you into a big secret: there are six of them :smalltongue:", she says with her favorite cantrip.

She then look at Bandobras, "You keep being the charming one, huh? We are stuck here, need to go hacking all day for several days to reach the other side and the lack of wind also dont help..."

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era balks. "There's six of these people?? How have I never heard of them."
The mermaid bows her head and with her hand makes the honorable gesture of merfolk, almost immediatly switching into a perfectly formal attitude.
"Forgive me, Bandobras. Had I known... Well, I am honored."

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: Bandobras takes your hand and kisses it.

"As beautiful as the night I met you. No need to heal me, darling. I have some tricks that can help with that. Just give me a spell or two."

@Ke'era: Bandobras bows as you introduce yourself.

"The pleasure is all mine. As to how we met? That was a long time ago, back in a small dutchy called Justcrown. These fine people saved my life. And you are lucky to travel with them, Lady Tiwele- I have yet to find a foe that can stand up to them."

@Alex: Bandobras chuckles as you explain your mission.

"The gods? Never saw one. I believe they do exist- your father prays to one every morning, but I rather trust on my own abilities when dealing with the day to day concerns. As to who did this to me? Well, that would be the one they call the Lord of Fire. Nasty guy. Remember Kazym? He bows to that guy. The one who punched me all the way here. If you ever have a chance, we sure could use your help in the Sea of Sands. Aradia is well on her way, according to Gregory, so it would be a nice chance for everyone to get back together."

@Archaidous: Bandobras floats beside you and listens to your tale as he looks at Irraly.

"What's wrong with her that you need to get to Halmathan? That city is far away from here. And these…doldrums. Of course, no wonder I can feel my power lessened somewhat. That woman, I swear. If only she would allow me to speak to her, but even I fear she might just try to bite my head off…"

Bandobras flies to the top mast and sits on the crow's nest as he squints his eyes and surveys the enormous expanse of kelp and descends to the deck.

"Archaidous, if what you say is true, and if it is urgent, I can probably try to get you and this ship to Halmathan. Or at the very least, across the sargasso bed. If there are enemies here that you'd like to avoid, I'll give you a little push."

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: bandobras looks at the crew hacking below and the great sargasso expanse.

"Hmmm… that doesn't look like fun, no does it? This place will not allow you to cross safely. And I would know because it is said that she was awakened here. Her… birth place, if you will."

@Ke'era: Lysa informs you that there are six such beings on Oerth that have powers like the halfling. The Shark being one of them, and another which the group apparently helped awhile back.

You then bow to Bandobras in the royal fashion taught since childhood and the halfling blushes as he returns the bow.

"Oh, no… the honor is all mine, Lady Tiwele. Heh, haven't been around so much formalities since, well… I forget!"

@The Party: Bandobras rises to the highest mast and then flies back as he begins charging a blue aura around his body and a small gale forms around him.

"Well? I have a few seconds before I go back to getting the crap beat out of me, or I beat the crap out of him, so what will it be?"

[Niwrad]

Archadious looks around at the others upon hearing Bandobras's offer. With his help, they could certainly shave off a significant amount of the time requires to cross the Garden.

He looks back up at the halfling and calls out.

I for one would certainly appreciate any aid you can grant us in crossing this dismal place. If it isn't too much trouble for you of course. We don't want to weaken you in your fight against The Lord of Fire.

What do the rest of you think?

The elf asks, turning to the others.

[Chimaera]

"I'm ok with it", she says looking at the ones who were hacking, "The crew deserve a break"

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: Bandobras listens to all of you and looks at the crew hacking and grunting under the tropical sun of the Ossian Way.

"Captain Mausiel, would you please ask your crew to climb aboard the ship?"

Mausiel swipes sweat from his brow as he raises an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"It will be safer, trust me. Everyone, please climb aboard."

The crew climbs up as Hashikki begins lighting his pipe.

"What a most unusual fellow. Is he a sorcerer or wizard, Henrique?"

Mausiel shrugs.

"Just met him..as he fell from the sky in a fireball, so who knows."

Bandobras rises higher than the Dauphin, hundreds of feet above and black clouds begin to form around the halfling as a light gale blows through the ship and Bandobras above seems tremendously weakened.

You sure don't make this any easier, sister...

With a tremendous howl, Bandobras expels hurricane force winds that part the kelp up to a few hundred feet as the Dauphin's sails take the wind in and navigate through the new stretch of water as the winds die down and the kelp surrounds the entire vessel.

Bandobras descends and you can see he is fatigued as his blue and white mohawk flops to the side.

"Well, sorry, guys. I thought I could…I could push you all the way through. I am afraid I must take my leave now. Alex, archaidous, Lysa, Irraly, Lady Tiwele. It's been good seeing you. Captain! Safe travels…"

And just like that, the Elusive Zephyr looks up at the parting black clouds as the sun shines again on your heads and disappears in a flash, leaving behind a mere scent of the desert where he has been for who knows how long.

Mausiel looks around as the kelp now completely surrounds the ship.

"Ok, then… time to do some more hacking! Let's go down to the kelp, people!"

Groans can be heard from the crew as the fresh air theu had courtesy of Bandobras is now gone.

[Christine Daae]

As Bandobras takes her hand and kisses it Irraly looks down at the small halfling, not because of his size, but to show him the proper respect he deserved as a friend. And your tongue still gives our friends a challenge. Irraly says in response. How powerful are the spells you need? I have very few, but for a friend like you, I can spare them. Irraly says, getting ready to loan him some of her powers. Save your energy my friend, if the fireball you arrived in is any suggestion you will need your powers more then we will. Just try not to get to hurt, can you do that for me? Irraly says, kissing him on the forehead before he rises above them all.

Why did you use your powers, I hope you have enough. Irraly says silently to herself as she watches the halfling leave back for the sea of sands where he would be fighting the one who sent him all the way here, with what he said was one punch.

[Chimaera]

Lysa look Bandobras weakened and almost fly to reach him, but the ship is given a push and she have to hold on Lucca to avoid falling overboard.

"Poor Bandobras", she whisper but then something more terrorizing come to her head, "The Shark is close!".

Seeing them all surrounded in kelp she wonders if it was a good idea, "Now we're stuck... Will have to keep hacking".

She then decide to help them the best way she could: singing!

Singing to help their hacking

[dantiesilva]

With their friend gone to save his father and his home, something Alex so wished he could go and help, he joins the others below hacking away. A sad bit annoyed they were not able to finish exploring the ship, then again he was sure there would be others. Now however he had to keep an eye out for other foes, and so with the crew all close together hacking away Alex casts a familiar spell to give them all better sense for a short period of time.

Everyone in a 20ft radius of Alex gains a +2 bonus to spot and listen equal to the number of people who are in the 20ft radius.

Spot check [roll0]
Listen [roll1]

Alan add whatever modifier you feel is appropriate. Spell last 11 minutes

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: Bandobras blushes as you kiss him in the forehead.

"You are too kind, Irraly. That kiss alone has given me all the strength I need. As for spells, don't worry- I have a feeling your friends will need them here a lot more than I in the Sea of Sands. I have a lot of mage friends over there that would love to have a chance to meet you and the rest of the group…"

As the halfling rises to take his leave, he looks at you and smiles and gives you a wink.

Even in his battered state, he would go fight an opponent the likes you have never seen…and hopefully never will.

And if he is putting up such a fight, then you should too.

@Lysa: As the ship is pushed by Bandobras, you watch Procan's Garden immediately cover the areas of water the halfling's wind pushed through and now the reality has hit home-

You are stuck in Procan's Garden. You could hack your way back, but who knows how many days it would take to move the vessel a few hundred feet and, as you look in the distance, you notice that there is no sign of the sargasso field ending any time soon.

You then fly and land on the ship's figurehead and begin chanting a song to inspire the crew and friends below to hack and hack and hack with all their might.

That's when a few of the oars get entangled by the kelp and the force by the sailors inside break a few of the paddles, casuing Mausiel to curse.

"Get them fixed! Everyone, we keep hacking! Doc, stay at the wheel…Doc?"

That's when you look up at the wheel and find that Doc isn't there.

Lucca points off in the distance.

"Captain!"

And walking alone on the kelp under the burning morning sun is Doc, who ambles without direction.

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era watches in amazement as the ship rips through the kelp and soars down the Procean Garden a good distance. What kind of person could so casually wield this power? Yet she couldn't help but be thankful. Every day they didn't spend here was another day Alecto wasn't eating. And he might have just saved them weeks of travel. As he leaves, she once again bows to the halfling.

"Thank you, kind soul. You just saved us so much time here. Best of luck in whatever foe you face, and may you come out of it alive."

As he leaves, she hears the people on the crew start to shout and spy the Doc.

Oh gods... Who knows what the ships' landing stirred up. We have to go get him...

Looking to the others, she says, "Someone! Come with me to get the Doc. No one should be out there alone."

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: You watch Doc amble through the kelp strands under the sun a good hundred feet away from you as Mausiel, Akilu, Hashikki and the rest of the crew cry out to their trusted carpenter.

DOC!!!!

DOC…COME BACK!!!

COME BACK, FOO!

That's when a pair of creatures crawl from out of the kelp beside Doc and one of them holds him.

From your distance, it is difficult to make out what they are, but they look dark green and fish like. Not Locathah, however.

That's when the kelp rises as a wall, a hundred feet high right behind Doc and the creatures, blocking sight of them and you.

[Niwrad]

It takes some time for Archadious, who was looking in the opposite direction, to notice the shouting from the other crew members directed at a slowly shrinking Doc in the distance. Immediately realizing that something was not right here, the elf prepares to target Doc with one of his many lower level conjurations to bring him back.

But then to his consternation, two creatures emerge from the kelp to grab ahold of Doc and a large wall of kelp emerges blocking them from view.

He was not about to allow the kind carpenter to be taken away from them like this.

Turning to those around him, he informs them to come close.

Alright, Alex, Irraly, Ke'era, anyone else who wishes to come, we are getting across that wall. Come here.

Whoever remains, if they appear over here too, give us a call.

He says, ready to cast dimension door and teleport to the location where he had last seen Doc and the two creatures.

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: Not on your watch.

This Garden was turning out to be more and more annoying by the hour.

Perhaps Bandobras' offer to go straight to Halmathan wasn't so bad after all…

Akilu leaves the machetes on the ground and prepares his spear.

"I'll go, Archaidous. Nobody gets Doc. NOBODY!!!!"

Mausiel watches the darfellan get mad and pats him on the shoulder.

"Relax, Akilu. You'll bring Doc back. Maybe he had too much to drink? Who knows… but those things with him don't look friendly. Questions later, ok? Just do… do what you do best."

Archaidous
Skum Raiders x2
Ke'era
Akilu
Doc
Alex


Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80447)

[Niwrad]

Once everybody is ready, Archadious quickly teleports them to the spot where he had seen the two strange creatures and Doc before the wall rose.

to the following location:

http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80448

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: You gather Alex, Ke'era, and Akilu by your side and under the hot tropical sun of the Ossian way, you call forth the powers of the Cosmos and appear right next to Doc and his captors.

What the hell are these creatures…

You have seen all manner of fish men during your sea voyage, but this is something completely new. They have dark green scales for skin and flat heads with a wicked frill running down their backs.

They wear no garments or armor, except for ragsthat used tio be pants at some point and their dark green eyes ooze mucous like tears that coat their faces and drip down their chest.

Doc looks at you with his one good eye and snarls at you.

"Go away! You have no business here!"

One of the fish creatures holds on to Doc, who does not resist and tentacles envelop both as they begin to drag them below the kelp.

These tentacles are black, not unlike those used by you many, many times before, but these seem animate in some other fashion as they begin to drag Doc and the fish man below the kelp.

The other one tumbles back and sinks into a hole in the kelp, disappearing.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80450)

Archaidous
Skum Raider
Ke'era
Akilu
Doc
Alex

[Business Scrub]

"Oh Doc, why? You must not be yourself. Let us help you."

With a small shout, she throws a green sphere to tempt the tentacles to grab onto instead of Doc.

Dispel Magic: [roll0]

They're probably not, but if they are abjuration, add 2.

[Business Scrub]

Yet Ke'era would not let the good doctor be dragged down to easily. Bending time, she tried the same trick again.

Celerity + Dispel: [roll0]

[Niwrad]

Close up to these strange creatures who had tried to take his friend, Akilu first glances at them with a cold glare and tries to see if he recognized these strange creatures.

the roll - [roll0]

Then, with a roar of anger, the Darfellan raises his spear high and charges towards the remaining creature above the water.

Attack - [roll1]
Damage - [roll2] and [roll3] electricity damage

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: You send forth a green sphere to dissolve the tentacles, but one of them swats the sphere away.

That's when the kelp goes dark and the skies turn purple as an intense cold washes over you and a gigantic shadow swims beneath you as your friends and enemies seem frozen in time and an unnatural voice speaks directly to your mind as you sweat cold despite where you are.

Young one… you who have swam these oceans but for just a simple millenia would attempt to take what belongs to me? No, little mortal. You don't get to do that….

Make a Will save

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: An intrusion most vile as your brain is assaulted with nightmarish visions of a vast ocean, devoid of any light and life, except for a gigantic figure swimming around, older than Time itself as it turns to look at you with four glowing red eyes and then you lower your head.

Young one… you are mine now.

@Akilu: This is a Skum….

These creatures are not natural creations, no. A skum is the horrible result of an unspeakable transformation process that ancient creatures known as Aboleths do to any humanoid creature unlucky enough to be caught by these alien lords.

A skum retains no memory of who it was in life, but many Aboleth masters allow them to continue their training if the prey was powerful enough to begin with.

A skum is loyal to a fault to its Ableth master and will never betray it.

However, this one will not survive to obey his alien master's designs, as the spear impales the Skum right in the chest and with a guttural yelp, the beast falls on the kelp bed.

That's when Ke'era is engulfed in black energy and disappears.

[AlanBruce]

@The Party: With Ke'era gone in dark energy, Doc does not think twice and jumps into the hole as well, hoping to meet his new family.

[Niwrad]

Archadious sighs with relief as Akilu fells the creature that had attempted to grab Doc. But when he turns around, he is mystified by the sudden disappearance of Ke'era as she is engulfed in black energy.

That is strange. Where did she go to.

spellcraft - [roll0] on the spell effect

spot - [roll1]
search - [roll2]

Meanwhile, Akilu and Alex both attempt to restrain Doc and prevent him from jumping down into the waters.

Akilu grapple - [roll3]

Does Alex get a chance to grapple? His sheet isn't updated with persisted spells and such

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: You watch Akilu drop his javelin as he grabs Doc in a bear hug and lifts him as the old carpenter kicks his skinny legs towards the sky as an old worn sandal flies off his wrinkled wet foot and the man frothes and foams at the mouth as his one eye looks around with madness.

"Unhand me, you beast! You miserable survivor of a pathetic race! Let me go…ukkkk!"

Akilu shuts his eyes and applies pressure to the old man as his kicking and screaming stop and he drops his head, unconscious.

The Darfellan puts Doc over his shoulder and turns around to look at the kelp wall, which fades- an illusion. And a powerful one too.

You then watch Ke'era disappear in black energy.

A remote form of a Dimension Door. Either that or whoever took her was invisible here all the time.

You begin to look around, trying to find where Ke'era may have gone to…

That;s when you step on something metallic. A plate, covered in the kelp.

Kneeling down, you remove a few loose kelp strands and are able to discern a name on the plate, which seems to be connected to a very large surface.


S.S. Concordia


@Ke'era: You find youself swimming in darkness as multiple figures swim past you and then your entire world is reduced to a large stone hollow filled with ancient eldritch runes as four large red eyes peer through the darkness and you feel the cold caress of a tentacle against your face.

A mermaid? Yes… I know who you are. You have attracted quite the attention in just a single day. I had seen your ship dragged by the Elusive Zephyr. He demonstrates great powers, even after all these years. And his meddling has brought your ship to my domain. No doubt those that travel with you will attempt to come and rescue you. Nahusha would want you dead, but I have a better idea….

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era blinked twice in the darkness. It was hard to think straight... She tries to brush the tentacle away from her face and cannot.

"What do you want with me? All I want is to help my friends. That's all I've ever wanted..."

Ke'era says, a bit defeated, with none of her usual gusto. The past few days had been rough, and they didn't seem to be getting better. She couldn't tell which idea she hated more, if the Dauphin's crew would charge right into this trap, or if they would not.

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: The stone tunnel begins to glow as the eldritch symbols, carved eons ago, bask the darkness in purple light as the red eyes watch from within the darkness of the immense tunnel- big enough for a whale- and a shadowy tentacle caresses your face and hair.

The creaturs that were about to take Doc swim around the tunnel, like angels depicted in the books you have read on human churches and their murals.

However, if this is indeed a god, there is no sign of divinity or holiness coming from this darkness and this cold.

Fear emantes from within. All around. Those symbols. Those symbols are charged with at least ten different spells- Transmutations, Abjurations, Necromancy, Evocation, Conjuration and Divination…

The voice speaks directly into your mind, for to hear its true voice would probably cause your body to give in and your soul to abandon it in an instant.

What do I want with you, little mermaid? I, who have watched the dawn of your kind and so many others, as they crept from the cold waters of Birth and reached out to touch the first trees planted by their gods to shelter them. I was already watching. I know what it is you and your friends are after… even before they had an inkling of an idea. You swim around blind, unaware of the Truth that lies beyond the veil you perceive as Reality. For now, I shall wait, until these waters are no longer calm. When Turmoil returns. When at last there is Vindication and all those on this wide green Oerth tremble in fear and anguish…hehehehhheee. For when the Truth is finally revealed, if there is anyone left alive, Fear and Anguish and Despair is all that shall remain.

[dantiesilva]

As Ke'era vanishes in a puff of black energy, having seen such spells like this before Alex had an idea of what it was and without a moment of thought he shifts forms into a grizzle bear and begins ripping and tearing, claws and fangs, at the kelp beneath his feet. Knowing that this form would be stronger, and able to cut threw the kelp much faster. He did not know what exactly had happened to her, but if it was anything like he had seen happen to Doc, he knew it could not be good.

Into black bear (it is medium size) and because of heart of water I can breath and move underwater

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era can't help but look at the creature in amazement. Fear, yes, but it was also a curious thing. It seemed to know more about her then she did, if what it said was true.

"Teach me then, Old One. What are we after? What is the Truth you see?"

She gazes at the creature, trying to remember if she had heard descriptions of it anywhere.

Know Arcana: [roll0]
Know Nature: [roll1]
Nobility & Royalty: [roll2]

[Niwrad]

Archadious listens as Akilu tells him about the Skum and their masters and wonders if perhaps this was an aboleth they were dealing with. Clearly according to Akilu's description, the Skum didn't have nearly this sort of arcane power over illusions or mind-controlling abilities.
Thinking back to his history tomes, Arch attempts to recall what he might have read regarding Aboleth civilizations.

because I said I'd try to find more uses for this - [roll0]

Then he turns to the bear besides him that was Alex.

I suspect we may be standing over the ruins of the S.S.Concordia. And whatever took Ke'era must have been a powerful arcane caster. Do you think we should get backup before heading in after her?

He asks, expecting a nod yes or no rather than actual speech from a bear.

[dantiesilva]

A Loud roar is all that escapes the bears mouth as it lifts its head only for a second before returning to ripping at the kelp.

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: The fish creatures swim around the dark tunnel as the glyphs keep shedding violet light in the darkness and you can sense even bigger creatures swimming in the darkness.

What I want? Oh, young one… what I want is something your mind cannot possibly comprehend. It is too young to wrap itself around my collective designs. All I can say is that the one who deposed me shall not be he to reap the rewards. You and your friends would seek to revive the Heroes of Hommlet- irony favors me now….

Just by looking at the many glyphs, it is evident that this creature is an archaist. And a very powerful one. One who masters many schools of magic. Whether learned in its ways or a natural like yourself, is yet to be seen.

@Archaidous: You listen to Akilu and look at the dead Skum on the kelp.

What did you read on Aboleths back in Ironwood Tower?

These are an acient race. Scholars still debate whether aboleths were the very first creatures to swim in the primordial seas of Oerth, even before the mighty dragons. It is said they once ruled vast empires beneath the ocean, spreading well into the Underdark. Today, their empire has thankfully crumbled and these beings, ancient and unfathomably powerful, live out a secluded existence. However, their minds are perpetually scheming. Some say the aboleths know the true origins of everything on oerth and beyond and that, given the right circumstances and conditions, they would use that knowledge to regain their empire and enslave every single race on Oerth.

@Alex: You change your body into that of a black bear and savagely rip at the kelp with claw and fang until you hit a metal surface.

It would seem the Concordia is far bigger than orifinally thought and it would take something stronger than claws to get in.

@The Party: Akilu walks back to the Dauphin with Doc still unconscious and climbs up the ship as Mausiel and Hashikki stand around their old crew mate, who seems to be under the effect of a fevered dream.

The hadozee places his hand on Doc's forehead.

"Not good. He's burning with a fever, et sweating cold. I have no idea what to do."

Akilu brings some rope.

"We restrain him. He was acting violent. He could turn on any of us."

Mausiel goes deep in thought as he looks at a coil of rope and sighs.

"Do it. Keep him in the Kitchen. Mister Shen! Watch over him. Akilu, go with them. Hashikki and I will watch over the ship… it never ends, does it?"

[Niwrad]

Archadious listens to Alex roar and isn't quite sure what to make of it. He shrugs and says.

I shall take that roar as a yes...

Very well. Give me a moment, I shall return with Akilu to the ship and return with Lysa and Irraly. See if you can find a way below.

Then the elf turns around and flies back to the deck of the Dauphin.

Doc is not himself. Some sort of mind control I suspect. Those two creatures that tried to drag him down were Skum. Akilu can fill you in I think.
But they are only the grunts. There was more powerful arcane magic at work. I suspect an Aboleth may be behind all this.

We were able to grab Doc, but whatever it was got to Ke'era and she was teleported away.

Irraly, Hashikki, what do either of you two know about Aboleths?

[Chimaera]

Lysa look at Doc and ask Akilu, "What happened to him? Who did this to him?"


bardic lore to get more conclusions: [roll0]
If she get any relevant info on how to heal Doc she may try it

She then cast a enchantment spell on herself and try to sing and see if she can beat whatever power enslaved him.

Best try it now and see if it can do any good, right?
Perform Sing and harp (get a better bonus that way) [roll1]

She then look at Mausiel, "Do you mind if we leave and go get Ke'era back?", if he say it's ok she then fly away toward the party.

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era shakes her head, certain the phase was unfamiliar to her.

"Heroes of Hommlet..? Forgive me... err, what shall I call you? The irony is lost on a mortal mind like myself. Perhaps you might share a scrap of your knowledge, so that I might share in the humor."

Focusing was hard down here, but she got the feeling that whatever this creature said was important. If she ever made it out, it would be good to remember what he said.

Diplomacy, if needed: [roll0]

[AlanBruce]

@Lysa: Akilu looks at you with his light blue eyes and then at the unconscious Doc.

"An Aboleth. I'm going down there and killing it."

Aboleths, ancient creatures that lurk the deep seas and lakes of Oerth. These creatures are said to be one of the few to actually make the mighty drow afraid, even in their own domain deep below the earth.

Aboleths are gigantic fish like creatures that can break anybody;s mind at will, dominating them like the regular spell. Some of the more powerful and older aboleths can dominate a creature permanently, with only powerful divine or arcane magic to break such control.

If that weren't bad enough, these creatures can curse those they touch with a disgusting mucuous that prevents breathing in anything otehr than fresh water. This oozing aura always surrounds an aboleth, making it very difficult for anyone- even sea faring races- to engage directly in battle.

And if that weren't bad enough, these creatures have some of the most powerful illusions ever scribed by the highest scholars in Oeridian History… and they can use them at will.

You then begin to sing a song of freedom against whatever malevolent power has taken over Doc as this one opens his eyes and you can see they have gone utterly black as he smiles and drools.

That's when a voice comes in through your mind as the entire ship seems frozen in time and everyone stands like statues as a shadow swims over the ship, enveloping you in unnatural cold.

He is mine….

And then, everything returns to normal, as Doc once more falls unconscious and is taken down to the kitchen with Shen.

Mausiel watches Doc being carried down and looks at you.

"Yes, Lysa…go get Ke'era back. Whatever did this to Doc cannot be allowed to continue living."

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: The voice in the depths lkstens to your queries as he an unseen tentacle wraps around you and brings you closer to the tunnel as his four red eyes glow.

Be careful, slave! Do not bite more than you can chew! You are here because you can serve me in more ways than you can imagine. As for my name, you may address me as Sochsna, your ruler and lord. Yet once, I held the title of The Third.

[Chimaera]

Lysa freeze when she hear the voice in her mind.

"I agreee, captain", Lysa says seriously to Mausiel, "Tottaly agreed. Be on your watch, I'm going down... And not in a good way", she says the joke but never smile of it.

"Let's go Archadious", she tell him and beginflying to Alex, casting Conviction on all of them as she gets to him.

5 charges: Alex, Archadious, Akilu, Lysa, Irraly

[Niwrad]

Once everybody was gathered on the deck, Archadious first casts a familiar divination spell to link their minds.

Arch, Lysa, Irraly, Alex, Mausiel, Akilu, Hashikki, and nine others

Then, he activates his circlet, pulls out the rod of chaining, and casts the abjuration he often used on Irraly upon the same 16 people.

using mage's circlet to regain disobedience

casting it on same people sans Irraly

This should protect us from whatever mind-effecting powers it may have.

Akilu, I appreciate your zeal, but from what I understand, these things are as ancient as time itself. Perhaps even one of the most powerful creatures in the oceans. If it has survived for so long, killing it will not be easy, if not nearly impossible.

I recommend we try talking to it first before resorting to violence.

I believe we are near the wreck of the Concordia. This aboleth must be the thing Gleeboo mentioned. What was the name..? Sochsna?

Also, Captain, it seems we are leaving the ship with few of us to defend it again. If any of those hags show up again, let us know through the mental link and I'll try to get us back as soon as I can.

Then, he turns, flies off the deck, and returns to the spot where he saw the ship plaque.

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era bites her tongue, but only for a moment. Her curiosity was going to get her killed... She had to get on this Sochsna's good side.

"Us young folk have a saying: the third time's the charm..." She says, hoping to get more information on what he is the third of.

"May I ask what you have planned for me, Sochsna?"

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: You cast several protective abjurations on everyone you can and address Akilu on the matter of killing this creature.

"We may not be able to kill it, but you will need my help. Those things are said to be ancient leviathans. I hunt leviathans for sport. If I can get enough jabs at it, he might leave."

Mausiel nods as he looks at his crew.

"We'll contact you if any more of those freaks show up, Archaidous. Now go. Go get Ke'era back…and good luck."

@The Party except Ke'era: You land on the kelp and watch Alex clawing at the metal, but to no good result, although the plaque has been nearly disfigured.

But how to get in?

@Ke'era: Sochsna's tentacles release you as a the fish men begin swimming past you, as well as a few giant ovoid shapes in the dark.

Young races… and their inquisitive nature. Always curious. I recall there was one such man who delved too much into curiosity. Alas, it was unexpected that his would reap rewards I should have rightfully gained. As for you? You will be the catalyst for my new form, Ke'era. Too long have I been trapped in here and with a body such as yours and a mind like my own, I will be able to combine both powers and finally reclaim what belongs to me...

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era has to think a few times over before realizing what he was saying. He wanted to merge with her? Would that even be possible? She couldn't help but be reminded of Alex: a host to something horrible. She couldn't let that happen, could she?

"Rewards such as..? Uhh.. I-I believe it might be more beneficial i-if we work together in separate bodies. Two minds better than one... right?"

[Niwrad]

Archadious watches Alex's futile attempt to claw through the metal of the ship.

Hmm, Alex, perhaps attempting to claw through that is not the answer.

The other Skum disappeared and jumped into the water somewhere around her. Perhaps there is another way into the ship underwater. I Can't say I am too eager to jump back into those depths again, but what choice is there.

Come on.

He looks for a way into the waters below, then once more dives into the waters of Procan's Garden.

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: You feel the cold tentacle bore through the back of your head as Sochsna's eyes widen.

Mortals… they have such a curious sense of humor. Now, you are mine..hmmm?

You feel an intense cold creeping down into your body, as if a dagger preserved for eons under ice had been slowly sunk into the nape of your neck as a vision opens before you and the unfathomable Sochsna.

It's Archaidous, Alex, Lysa, Irraly, and Akilu… and they seem to be navigating some metal and stone tunnels riddled with the usual kelp.

So… they have arrived, but they will not be able to reach you, slave.

@The Party: You look down the natural hole of kelp and the still waters below.

Just the day prior you fought a terrible Drowned One. Now, you are off to face an ancient horror best left in the depths of insanity.. and who knows what else.

But Ke'era is down there with it… and nobody gets left behind.

Splash after splash erupts in the hole as each of you take the plunge into the remains of the S.S. Concordia.

The tunnel goes from natural to worked stone and metal. Someone has changed this place. It doesn't look as much as a ship, but more like a temple.

As you dive through the underwtaer tunnels, rioddled with kelp, you can barely make out friezes on the wall.

Ancient carvings made by who knows what, but depicting three silhouettes- two that look humanoid and a larger one that looks like a fish with tentacles. The three are arranged like a triangle and in the center you can see a blurred out spiral.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80484)

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era gasps as the tentacle goes into her neck, riddled with pain as she she looks at the vision.

No! They're all going to get themselves killed. Turn back!

Desperately, she tries calling out to them. Maybe if she can see them, she can speak to them too.

"Turn back! Leave me! Archadious, take the others and get out of here!"

She might be trapped, but no way was she letting the same happen to the others.

[Niwrad]

Archadious stops momentarily as he swims by the carvings along the wall and he glances at them.

Interesting.... I wonder if the fish creature is the Aboleth. But who might those other two be...?

It appears Soschna has transformed this place into a temple of sorts...

Be on your guard.

Then the elf casts a simple divination to look out for magical auras and continues to swim further into the tunnel.

yep

[dantiesilva]

As Archadious pointed out the hole with Irraly and Lysa in tow with him, Alex shifts back into his human form and dives in, his body easily accustomed to life above and below the sea now, he casts a simple light spell on his scythes blade so that all could see as they made their decent. Soon Alex recognized a very common theme that all churches shared, which was odd considering the fact they should be in a ship at this time and he quickly begins studying what he sees to see if he knew anything about the pictures.



[roll0]

Irraly was very on edge as tales from her childhood came flooding back to her, this was very bad. If the stories were true they may all be swimming down to there deaths at this very moment. However leaving Ke'era behind was not an option either as they made there way down the dark tunnels, Irraly tries, like Alex to learn anything from what she sees.



Arcane The pictures [roll1]
Architecture and engineering, the ship [roll2]
Dungeoneering, what they could find down here [roll3]
History, the pictures [roll4]
Nobility and royalty, the pictures [roll5]
Religion, everything [roll6]
The planes everything [roll7]


Quickswim to have a swim speed of 40ft.
Light for obvious reasons


Alex

Spot [roll8]
Listen [roll9]

Irraly

Hide [roll10] using the wall as cover
Move silently [roll11]
Listen [roll12]
Spot [roll13]

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80489)

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: As the cold tentacle bores into your neck, you watch your friends swim into Sochsna's domain and with tears in your eyes you cry out to them, hoping it will alert them of what lies ahead.

Hehehehehehe….. little mermaid, your warnings are for naught. They cannot hear you. They cannot see you. Not unless I desire it to be so. For now, I will delay my fusion with you, just so you are conscious enough to watch their suffering. Suffering wrought by you. For were you powerful enough to resist my call, this would not have happened. Blame yourself for the punishment they are about to endure, slave...

@Archaidous: You watch the old murals on the wall and wonder what could it possibly mean as you cast one of your more simple divinations to see if this tunnel at least is warded by magic…

Akilu holds you down as you are stunned by the immense power tha radiates from these walls. Sochsna has enveloped the entire place with all manner of warnings. So many different types of magic that a single wrong move or a thought by he who inscribed the glyph could have disastrous consequences.

The Darfellan releases his grip on you.

Are you alright? We can continue without you, if you wish.

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era looks away, blinking back tears. Part of him knew he was wrong... And still, they wouldn't be here right now if she had been a bit stronger to resist. Struggling as much as she can, she tries bartering with it.

"Please... don't do this. We can figure something out. Just let them leave, you don't need them for anything."

[Niwrad]

Archadious is stunned and awestruck by the immense amount of magic radiating from the various glyphs and symbols inscribed into the walls. Once his senses return and realizes what Akilu besides him was saying, he turns to the Darfellan and the others besides them.

Don't move any further until I give the clear. This place has been warded with an immense amount of magical wards and symbols. I have never seen such a heavy concentration of these spells before.

Give me a moment to identify some of them.

Then, without moving, the elf focuses his divination on as many of the runes as he can and attempts to identify some of them.

Spellcraft rolls

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]
[roll6]
[roll7]
[roll8]
[roll9]
[roll10]

for conjuration spells add 2
for necromancy and enchantment, subtract 2

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: You look at this place and realize it was not always like this.

This place has been altered by very powerful magic over the years.

As for the symbol on the wall… you think you might have an idea. An old tale. Something even your mother once mentioned in hushed whispers and only once, when you were too young to even raise a blade.

What it is, though, you have no idea, but it is very disquieting to look at.

@Alex: You move forward and hide as best as you can using the kelp, but your light source cannot be hidden as you look down the hallway and this one opens to a large expanse, where several creatures swim about.

Nightmarish ones, to say the least.

A few you have already seen before- the Skums, humanoids turned by Aboleths into loyal servants.

There is another, though- bigger, and far more ferocious.

This looks like a scrag troll, those fought in Litheum Isle. Unlike the troll, this creature sports tentacles and rows of human eyes all over its heavily knotted arms, without any in the face, having instead an unusually large maw filled with fangs.

Know. The Planes

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80492)

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: With your divination still on, you scan the walls and indeed see sinous markings. Fluidlike, that glow with a variety of different colors, mostly violet.

The Symbol of Pain can be seen inscribed all along the walls, as is the dreaded Symbol of Spell Loss. Theie may be others, but it is impossible to tell right now what they might be…

Or even if they can be dispelled. and if by doing so, whether they could be triggered.

@Ke'era: Sochsna and you watch the group moving further down the tunnel and you look at the four red eyes in its tunnel as the tentacle holds you fast.

Oh, mermaid…but I DO need to to do this. You and the others have shown remarkable skill in the Ossian Way. I shall recreate the heroes of old in my own image and, like their deeds past, I shall march forward and reclaim what is mine and take it from him. Only I am worthy of the Truth, nobody else. And with your powers added to mine, not even He will be able to oppose me now.

[Business Scrub]

Ke'era wracked her brain for something she could do to get away, or at least help the others. Finding nothing and thouroughly defeated despite her struggling, Ke'era watches in silence. After a while, she says,

"You can at least humor my curiosity, since I'm clearly stuck here. Who was he? Or rather, is he?"

[Niwrad]

Horrified by the powerful and potentially devastating runes covering the wall, Archadious continues to swim down the tunnel on high alert. Ready to act upon any sign of rune-triggering.

If Alex had already swam through some of these and they hadn't activated, whoever was behind all this was clearly not interested in killing them outright it seemed.

Archadious warily continues down the hallway until he catches up to Alex.

if he sees the trolls - [roll0]

[AlanBruce]

@Ke'era: Sochsna's eyes widen at your question.

He was a member of a Triad, one of which I belonged to. He, however, was chosen to lead us. A terrible mistake, as it should have been I who commandeered the forces so long ago. His weakness lead him to escape and I… I had to seclude myself… although I am aware that he has been weakened in the last milennia by a most unusual of creatures. So now, it is the time for me to strike. To break free from these bonds and take over his place.- and you will be the vessel to accomplish just that.

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: These glyphs and runes do not seem ready to activate.

Perhaps all these years, they have become malfunctional?

You warily swim up to Alex and take a look at the troll… or what could've been a troll once.

This is a half far spawn. A most bizarre amalgalm of a creature from the Prime fused with stuff from the Far Realm, a reality beyond that of the Great Wheel. These creatures are completely alien and can induce such fear in those they prey upon, that anyone fighting them can become weakened by their mere presence.

To top it off, they retain any abilities they had as a troll. you have seen trolls fight before and how resistant they are. A half farspawn gains even more elemental resistances, as well as a slew of innate arcane abilities and improved vision, allowing them to detect even invisible foes.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=80501)

[Niwrad]

Once he sees more skum and the strange far spawn troll ahead, Archadious hides behind the corner once more and turns to look at the others.

It appears our host has several servants ahead. Lysa, can you hand me that wand we found yesterday? I suppose we can try the diplomatic approach, but I suspect that won't work.

using a charge from the wand on everyone

But I suppose it is only polite that we attempt to be diplomatic first...

Soschna is it? Or whoever you are. I suspect being the powerful mage you are, you are probably watching and listening to us right now.

So if you indeed are, I believe you have a friend of ours, but we are not interested in violence. We merely wish to seek an audience with you and speak face to face. I am certain a mage of your caliber has nothing to worry from us.

He calls out in a low voice, not sure whether to expect a response or not.

[dantiesilva]

Alex and Irraly both Flank Archadious as he calls out to the creature, making sure nothing could get to him, without first getting by them that wished him harm, as they both waited for a response.

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: You take out the wand and grant everyone the ability to be faster and nimbler and deadlier in battle.

Then, you address Sochsna, asking it to return Ke'era.

The roar from the aberrant troll echoes through the tunnels as Alex and Irraly flank you.

That's when a voice is heard through the water as this one turns cold.

"I do have one of yours, but I am not parting with her. In fact, I like her right where she is now. You and the others will also be staying- I have many designs in mind and it so happens you and your friends complete my tapestry.."

[Niwrad]

I am sure this shipwreck might be a pleasant place to stay, but even if we do fit these plans of yours, my companions and I have other things to do in other parts of the World.
I am certain that we can come to some sort of compromise.

Why do you want that mermaid anyways? You already have plenty of servants it seems, and if it's a mage you want, there seem to be plenty of other inhabitants in this Garden with an affinity towards magic.

Archadious says in response to the cold voice.

[dantiesilva]

I say we just cut a clean swath straight through and make him give her back just like we made Bavmuda run in fear and pain. Alex says as he hefts his scythe, already the heat from the abyss was starting to leak through.

[AlanBruce]

@Archaidous: The mutants in the water look in your direction as the troll roars and the tunnels tremble.

"They are tainted! They do not serve my designs, but you and your companions do. The mermaid has already been turned. So shall you, by blood and force."

[dantiesilva]

Then it shall be your blood that paints this ship red. Acheron roars as he uses the staff in his hand to cast a spell as acidic slime covers his body, before flames as hot as the sun come forth.



Swift quicken rod to cast babau slime
Standard action Fire shield (cold)
Immediate action Hesitate on the troll if it comes after us (Will DC 19) or take no actions this round, if troll dose not do anything a different enemy
Free action drop rod for Lysa