Ruins of Azlant: The Lost Outpost, GM Battle Book [GMOOB]

[lostsole31]

This is the GM-only Battle Book for the Ruins of Azlant campaign.

If you are a player in this game, looking at the contents therein is cheating. I have twice removed players from my server and from several games it was obvious that they did a simple search for this channel and used the information found here.

[lostsole31]

Eirina finds out that she was dead wrong about what the roll would be. There are gentle rolls, true .... but it is a calm day. Also, Mr. Arvodair - though a fine boatman to give him some credit - doesn't move a rowboat as fast as a ship under full sail, which significantly cuts down on motion sickness. The ship is some 250' behind you now, and the pier around 50-60' away.

Surprise Round ...

S19/5: At the same time, there is water splashing upwards and everywhere as a figure shows from each side of the rowboat. One appears right by Arsenne, and the water complete waterlogs and destroys Arsenne's initial notes and sketches, colored ink running everywhere. A small spear catches Roran along the side of the ear and temple for 4, while Arsenne gets speared in the right hand for 6.

End Surprise Round, Begin Round One ...

R1T19: Roran's attacker strikes again, but the creature's own movements pitches the boat side-to-side and it misses.

R1T20: Eirina, you are seated at the port-bow of the rowboat, with Ambyr sort of cramped at the very bow section. You look into the water and see a small-sized creature with an unusually large head with numerous teeth on a too-wide mouth, something along the lines of an aquatic goblin. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Secured in lamp.
Red Grindylow: 19. (9:9).
Eirina: 20. Seated.
Luren: 17. Seated. Oars in hand.
Kaen: 13. Seated.
Zeferin: 10. Seated.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Seated.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (9:9).
Ambyr: 4. Seated.
Roran: 3. Seated.

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R1T20: Eirina spots the creature and the words to one of the spells she has prepared comes to mind. She defensively casts web bolt at the creature whom attacked Roran. "I'll trap it! Someone attack this thing!" she shouts to the others as the sticky glob is sent forth but the monster ducks its head quickly underwater, and the glob dissolves almost instantly in contact with the seawater.

R1T17: Instead of rowing faster, Luren locks the oars and then rubs the lamp at his side as if a truly treasured item. He begins speaking in a strange language as if to someone in another room, but looking down at the lamp ... not at the other PCs or even the enemy. The language seems to use a lot of vowels that flow into each other, some voiced fricatives, but then including glottal stops and gutterul consonants and even the occasional creak, squeak, or pop. <*"Aissah, armastatud, ärka üles! Lahing on ette nähtud!"*>

Spoiler: Roran, Thickness

Show

Aquan: "Aissah, beloved, awaken! Battle is enjoined!"

R1T13: Kaen, you are seated. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Secured.
Red Grindylow: 19. (9:9).
Eirina: 20. Seated.
Luren: 17. Seated. Oars locked.
Kaen: 13. Seated.
Zeferin: 10. Seated.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Seated.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (9:9).
Ambyr: 4. Seated.
Roran: 3. Seated.

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R1T13: Kaen 'unsheathes' his curveblade as he unsuppresses the veil, as well as summoning his armor in its astral skin form, covering from head-to-toe in a lambent green glow. Bringing the sword across the closest foe's throat for 11 + (1d4 bleed), he shouts to the coxswain, "I don't care what that chant is, get us out of here!"

Meanwhile, the enemy gurgles noiselessly and slumps below the water, filling up the area with blood.

R1T10: Zeferin, what do you do? You are seated on the rowboat bench. Nothing is in hand.

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Secured.
Red Grindylow: 19. (9:9).
Eirina: 20. Seated.
Luren: 17. Seated. Oars locked.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (blade).
Zeferin: 10. Seated.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Seated.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (2:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Ambyr: 4. Seated.
Roran: 3. Seated.

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R1T10: Zef pulls his mighty warhammer off of his back. He charges it with the power in his blood before unleashing a strike on the closest enemy's shoulder(?) for 7. "Get away from our boat, you slimy creature!"

R1T8: Arsenne, your ruined journal is in your lap and you look over the side next to you ... not even having had a chance to really see an enemy, but just a growing pool of blood. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Secured.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9).
Eirina: 20. Seated.
Luren: 17. Seated. Oars locked.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (blade).
Zeferin: 10. Seated.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Seated.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (2:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Ambyr: 4. Seated.
Roran: 3. Seated.

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R1T8: Arsenne shouts in pain, anger and surprise: "Arghhh! You vicious little Beast!" and slams his journal shut to protect the pages from further damage. When he sees his attacker sinking back into the water, He says: "Oh no you do don't!" and he braces his right elbow, forearm and injured hand against the gunwale of the boat and plunges his other hand into the water to grab the creature. His hand slaps against it - on the front and back of his hand - but it is very slippery and he fails to grab it.

R1T6: Thickness, you are seated on the bench. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Secured.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9).
Eirina: 20. Seated.
Luren: 17. Seated. Oars locked.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (blade).
Zeferin: 10. Seated.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Seated.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (2:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Ambyr: 4. Seated.
Roran: 3. Seated.

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R1T6: "Strike to Subdue or Keep Rowing! I got them!"Thickness lets his shield clatter against the bottom of the boat, pushing through to the other side which includes trying to stand first - and he doesn't do well at that. He charges his weapon as he falls snout over tail into the water. While he lashes out, it's no to kill but to disorient, head snapping forward but jaws not biting, while he grips his lance loosely underwater. He misses wildly, but he is off-balance in the water now, submerged.

Spoiler: Thickness

Show

Off-balance is the underwater version of being prone. You will maintain penalties and unable to move from spot until you spend a MA to right yourself (provokes AOOs).

R1T5: Blood in the water continues to flow from the spot of the fallen bogey.

R1T4: Ambyr yowls unhappily in the now pitching lifeboat, claws sunk into the wood and keeping as low a profile as possible. It then kitty vomits all over the front bench - on Eirina and Arsenne.

R1T3: Roran, what do you do? You are currently seated.

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Secured.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9).
Eirina: 20. Seated.
Luren: 17. Seated. Oars locked.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (blade).
Zeferin: 10. Seated.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Prone in water. Lance in hand, shield on boat.
* If/Thens: If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin.
* If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat manuever with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (-5:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Ambyr: 4. Seated.
Roran: 3. Seated.

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R1T3: "Ow!" Roran cries out, reflexively raising a hand to the bloody wound along the side of his head. "Not the welcome I'd hoped for!" Twisting in his seat to get a look at his attacker, he draws a machete from a sheath on his hip and chops downward at the blue skinned creature. It ducks underwater before his stroke glunks underwater. He thinks he contacted something, but there is no blood that pools when he withdraws his arm from the water.

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T22: A thick steaming mist comes out of the lamp and then there is a kersplash in the water on the opposite side of the little monster from Thickness. Nothing of whatever made that splash is above water right now, but the area where it came into the water is hissing with steam.

R2T19: Despite the newcomer, the little creature stabs at the off-balance croc-man, but his tail slaps away the attack.

R2T20: Eirina, the enemy is just under the water but visible; Thickness and whatever came out of Mr. Arvodair's lamp likewise is not above water. What do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Kaen in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Submerged, dagger in hand.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9).
Eirina: 20. Seated.
Luren: 17. Seated. Oars locked.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (blade).
Zeferin: 10. Seated.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Prone in water. Lance in hand, shield on boat.
* If/Thens: If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin.
* If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat manuever with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (-5:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Ambyr: 4. Seated.
Roran: 3. Seated. Machete.

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R2T20: "Ick! And here I was worried that Uncle Kaen would barf," Eirina states as she unsheathes her elven thornblade. "I Cannot fight like this, I'm going in!"

After channeling an animal focus upon herself, she stands up before losing her footing and falling overboard. She is now submerged and off-balance, though she did get a good gulp of air before going underwater. Now underwater, she rights herself, which includes putting her feet on the ground as it appears the boat is over a sandbar right now. Where she fell, though, she can't get to the enemy, and she now appears to be behind ... a woman made of steam or something?

R2T17: Mr. Arvodair tries to stand, but falls in the pitching boat, then manages to get to his feet.

R2T13: Kaen, what do you do?

Zeferin on deck, Arsenne in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Submerged, dagger in hand.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9).
Eirina: 20. Submerged, off-balance. Breath (24).
* Frog Focus til R12T20.
Luren: 17. Oars locked. Standing.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (blade).
Zeferin: 10. Seated.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Prone in water. Lance in hand, shield on boat.
* If/Thens: If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin.
* If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat manuever with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (-5:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Ambyr: 4. Seated.
Roran: 3. Seated. Machete.

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R2T13: Kaen shifts his weapon into its shortbow form, firing an arrow at the aquatic foe, but the angle from his side of the boat is too severe and he overshoots. He then concentrates, and the formless green "skin" shifts to a much more significant form, as if wearing very fine chainmail.

R2T10: Zeferin, what do you do? The head of the monster is below the surface of the water, but you do see it just under the surface.

Arsenne on deck, Thickness in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Submerged, dagger in hand.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9).
Eirina: 20. Submerged, off-balance. Breath (24).
* Frog Focus til R12T20.
Luren: 17. Oars locked. Standing.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (bow).
Zeferin: 10. Seated. Warhammer.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Prone in water. Lance in hand, shield on boat.
* If/Thens: If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin.
* If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat maneuver with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (-5:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Ambyr: 4. Seated.
Roran: 3. Seated. Machete.

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R2T10: "Back to back everyone! Watch for where the nasty thing will pop out!" Zef shifts in his seat awaiting the sea beast to show its ugly fish mug again.

R2T8: Arsenne shouts, "Better yet, if you are not fighting, lower your bodies and try to stabilize the boat!"

With that he slides down off of his bench, twists around so he is facing the rest of the boat and the team, and with his knees against the bottom of the boat and his hips down as low as his flexibility will permit, he holds the bench that he was sitting on with his right hand spread wide toward the center and his left hand against the gunwale.

R2T6: Thickness, you are prone/ off-balance in water with lance in hand, next to one of these critters which is now also submerged. The depth here is only 5' as there is a sandbar at this point. What do you do?

Roran on deck, Unknown water-steamer in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Submerged, dagger in hand.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9).
Eirina: 20. Submerged, off-balance. Breath (24).
* Frog Focus til R12T20.
Luren: 17. Oars locked. Standing.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (bow).
Zeferin: 10. Seated. Warhammer and shield. Arcane Strike (+1).
* Ready Action - "If the sea monster currently peeking it's head out comes within striking distance, I will swing my Warhammer at it"(1d20+6)[7] dealing (1d8+3)[6] magical bludgeoning damage, adding +1 to that damage if Arcane Strike is still in effect.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Prone in water. Lance in hand, shield on boat.
* If/Thens: If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin.
* If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat maneuver with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (-5:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Roran: 3. Seated. Machete.

Ambyr: 4. Seated. DELAYING...

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R2T6: Thickness takes a moment to right himself in the water, but not before trying to get into a fighting stance. That is when he learns that he can't really get into a proper fighting stance while off-balance, so he doubles down on righting himself. As he is flailing around like that, the bogey stabs its spear into Thickness' lower left calf for 3. He tries to glance at the mass of steam on the other side of the bogey before he focuses on his offense, his legs and tail taking their proper place as he strikes again with his jaw, attempting to use more of the back molars on fatty parts of the enemy - seeking to incapacitate, not kill - but the enemy is very squirrely and the sobek fails to find any purchase.

R2T5: The pool of blood off the starboard side continues to get thicker.

R2T3: Roran, you are seated with your machete in hand. You could attack the enemy, but it is fully submerged at this time. What do you do?

Steamy Sue on deck, Enemy in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Submerged, dagger in hand.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9).
Eirina: 20. Submerged, off-balance. Breath (24).
* Frog Focus til R12T20.
Luren: 17. Oars locked. Standing.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (bow).
Zeferin: 10. Seated. Warhammer and shield. Arcane Strike (+1).
* Ready Action - "If the sea monster currently peeking it's head out comes within striking distance, I will swing my Warhammer at it"(1d20+6)[7] dealing (1d8+3)[6] magical bludgeoning damage, adding +1 to that damage if Arcane Strike is still in effect.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Prone in water. Lance in hand, shield on boat.
* If/Thens: If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin.
* If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat maneuver with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (-8:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Roran: 3. Seated. Machete.

Ambyr: 4. Seated. DELAYING...

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R2T3: Roran frowns as he peers over the edge of the boat. "These look to be grindylows, aquatic aberrations not unlike goblins in temperament and appearance. Nasty little creatures. Not sure I see the wisdom in engaging them in their native environment." His blood begins to quicken as he waits with his machete raised, preparing himself to strike at the tentacled creature in the event that it emerges from the water.

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T22: The water-lady misses with a red-hot, steaming dagger.

R3T19: Red remains submerged, adjusting away from the rowboat. Its tentacles try to pull on Thickness to throw him off balance, but braced against the bottom that doesn't work. It attacks with its spear, but the sobek does something akin to a crocodile's death roll - but without an enemy in its mouth, and the confusion and thrashing and cavitating water throw off what looks like it would have been a successful strike. It finally snaps wildly at Thickness with its mouth of razor sharp teeth.

R3T20: Eirina, you are under the water, standing on your feet on the sandbar. You don't have anything in hand. What do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Kaen in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Submerged, dagger in hand.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9).
Eirina: 20. Submerged, off-balance. Breath (24).
* Frog Focus til R12T20.
Luren: 17. Oars locked. Standing.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (bow).
Zeferin: 10. Seated. Warhammer and shield. Arcane Strike (+1).
* Ready Action - "If the sea monster currently peeking it's head out comes within striking distance, I will swing my Warhammer at it"(1d20+6)[7] dealing (1d8+3)[6] magical bludgeoning damage, adding +1 to that damage if Arcane Strike is still in effect.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Lance in hand, shield on boat.
* If/Thens: If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin.
* If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat maneuver with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (-8:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Roran: 3. Seated. Machete. READIED to strike if Red emerges from water w/in 5' of him.

Ambyr: 4. Seated. DELAYING...

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R3T20: Eirina surfaces before she attempts to defensively cast a spell while assessing the situation, studying the Steam Lady to try and figure out whether she is friend or foe, but that distracts her casting and she loses her spell. She saw the woman throw a dagger but she isn't sure who the target was since she missed. Thinking about it, though, it seems that the woman is more focused on the grindylow than Eirina.

R3T17: As he picks up his trident, Mr. Arvodair shouts all manner of nautical imprecations best left out of print. Funny for a man of his height, he's actually not that scary as he does so, but something about the various things he says makes you not want to disappoint him for lagging in combat. He then bodily throws himself at the grindylow in the water with a mighty yell. He lands with an amazing splash next to Thickness, but the grindylow is sent hurtling 20' to the northeast, the water doing little to slow the beast down and rattling its cage. Though in the water next to the boat, Mr. Arovdair stands on the bottom with his head above water.

R3T13: Kaen, what do you do? You saw the Bernoulli hump (underwater wake) of the creature being rocketed, but at this distance you don't see the grindylow, as a function of both distance and reflection on the water.

Zeferin on deck, Arsenne in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Submerged, dagger in hand.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9). -3 penalty on all d20 rolls til R4T19.
Eirina: 20. Submerged, off-balance. Breath (24).
* Frog Focus til R12T20.
Luren: 17. Oars locked. Standing.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (bow).
Zeferin: 10. Seated. Warhammer and shield. Arcane Strike (+1).
* Ready Action - "If the sea monster currently peeking it's head out comes within striking distance, I will swing my Warhammer at it"(1d20+6)[7] dealing (1d8+3)[6] magical bludgeoning damage, adding +1 to that damage if Arcane Strike is still in effect.
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Lance in hand, shield on boat.
* If/Thens: If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin.
* If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat maneuver with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (-8:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Roran: 3. Seated. Machete. READIED to strike if Red emerges from water w/in 5' of him.

Ambyr: 4. Seated. DELAYING...

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R3T13: Kaen smiled at Mr. Adovair as he went overboard at the beast. "His strength is as uncanny as his manner is uncouth, it seems", he says wryly, moving to the edge of the boat. Once in position, he lines up a shot, ready to fire once the grindylow was again in view.

Mr. Ardovair rumbles, and that rumbling is heard underwater only a few feet around him, but still intelligibly, and Thickness thinks it might be to him as Mr. Ardovair looks down from above the waterline to him, "She's got this."

R3T10: Zeferin, your readied action didn't go off. What do you do?

Arsenne on deck, Thickness in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Submerged, dagger in hand.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9). -3 penalty on all d20 rolls til R4T19.
Eirina: 20. Submerged, off-balance. Breath (24).
* Frog Focus til R12T20.
Luren: 17. Oars locked. Standing.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (bow). READIED to attack if grindylow shows.
Zeferin: 10. Seated. Warhammer and shield. Arcane Strike (+1).
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Lance in hand, shield on boat.
* If/Thens: If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin.
* If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat maneuver with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (-8:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Roran: 3. Seated. Machete. READIED to strike if Red emerges from water w/in 5' of him.

Ambyr: 4. Seated. DELAYING...

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R3T10: Zeferin readies his shield and readies it to the north and advises, "Hold your ground, everyone. It could come back at any moment!"

Mr. Ardovair continues to rumble to Thickness, "Don't get in..."

R3T8: Arsenne, do you maintain your low position to help steady the boat as needed, or do you do something else?

Thickness on deck, Roran in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Submerged, dagger in hand.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9). -3 penalty on all d20 rolls til R4T19.
Eirina: 20. Submerged, off-balance. Breath (24).
* Frog Focus til R12T20.
Luren: 17. Oars locked. Standing.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (bow). READIED to attack if grindylow shows.
Zeferin: 10. Seated. Warhammer and shield. Arcane Strike (+1).
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Lance in hand, shield on boat.
* If/Thens: If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin.
* If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat maneuver with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (-8:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Roran: 3. Seated. Machete. READIED to strike if Red emerges from water w/in 5' of him.

Ambyr: 4. Seated. DELAYING...

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R3T8: Arsenne continues to keep his center of gravity as low in the boat as possible and he continues to hold on to the the bench and the gunwale so as to actively counterbalance the boat if necessary. He calls out: "Uhh, folks.... There's a lot of blood in the water. Aren't sharks attracted to that? But please, don't all try to climb back on board from the same side at the same time. Capsizing would be bad!" And he looks over his right shoulder and nods to Ambyr.

Ambyr responds, "Aohw."

Mr. Arvodair continues to Thickness, "... front of her."

R3T6: Thickness, what do you do? Do you heed Mr. Arvodair's warning at all?

Roran on deck, Babs Bubbles in the hole ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Aissah: 22. Submerged, dagger in hand.
Red Grindylow: 19. (2:9). -3 penalty on all d20 rolls til R4T19.
Eirina: 20. Submerged, off-balance. Breath (24).
* Frog Focus til R12T20.
Luren: 17. Oars locked. Standing.
Kaen: 13. Seated. Slashing volley (bow). READIED to attack if grindylow shows.
Zeferin: 10. Seated. Warhammer and shield. Arcane Strike (+1).
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Lance in hand, shield on boat.
* If/Thens: If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin.
* If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat maneuver with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage.
Blue Grindylow: 5. (-8:9). DYING! 1D4 BLEED!!!
Roran: 3. Seated. Machete. READIED to strike if Red emerges from water w/in 5' of him.

Ambyr: 4. Seated. DELAYING...

DEAD/OOC
x.

[lostsole31]

R3T6-5.5: Thickness pauses at the words before his jaws open slightly with a small bubble of air, whatever he might have uttered in the syllable swallowed by the water before he sets, and his body lines with his spear for a charge at the remaining Beast, water guiding for a picture perfect strike, aimed to inflict pain instead of death.

The unconscious grindylow floats to the surface. Kaen, seeing the grindylow, shoots at it but way overshoots the mark, nearly pinching his fingers in the akashic bowstring's path.

Combat Ends!

As combat ends, the woman underwater flashes completely to steam, and returns back inside the lantern at Mr. Arovdair's side.

Eirina, do you end frog focus after 1 minute?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Eirina: 20. Submerged, off-balance. Breath (24).
* Frog Focus til R12T20.
Luren: 17. Oars locked. Standing.
Zeferin: 10. Seated. Warhammer and shield. Arcane Strike (+1).
Arsenne: 8. Seated. Journal and ink in hand.
Thickness: 6. Lance in hand, shield on boat. Silver Crane Waltz (+2 insight AC/ Ref saves). CHARGED!
Kaen: 5.5. Seated. Slashing volley (bow).
Roran: 3. Seated. Machete. READIED to strike if Red emerges from water w/in 5' of him.

Ambyr: 4. Seated. DELAYING...

DEAD/OOC
Grindylow (2).

[lostsole31]

Admin Tracking ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Eirina: 20. Owl Focus for 1 minute.
Luren: 17. Oars locked.
Zeferin: 10.
Arsenne: 8.
Thickness: 6.
Kaen: 5.5. Astral skin.
Roran: 3.

Ambyr: 4. Seated. DELAYING...

DEAD/OOC
x

[lostsole31]

Surprise Round ...

S: Fuath surprises Luren and tries to put him to sleep, but he resists.

Begin Round One ...

R1T19: Mr. Arvodair comes up to the surface in a hurry and calls out, "Critter under the canoe! Tried to magic me. I pulled my back tryin' to stab it!"

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T21: Kaen, you heard Mr. Arvodair calling frantically, so you got a "tone" but you didn't understand quite what he said from this distance. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Kaen: 21. Astral skin.
Eirina: 20. Owl Focus for 1 minute.
Mr. Arvodair: 19. Pulled a muscle (1 STR).
Aissah: 14.
Thickness: 14.
Arsenne: 13.
Zeferin: 10.
Fuath: 7. (13:13).
Roran: 5.
Ambyr: 4.

DEAD/OOC
x

[lostsole31]

R2T21: Kaen un-suppreses his bow, summoning it to his hand as he rushes towards the sound of the disturbance.

R2T20: Eirina, you heard about every other word in Mr. Arvodair's shout, but it sounds like trouble, and your uncle just passed you. What do you do, and what do you direct Ambyr to do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Kaen: 21. Astral skin.
Eirina: 20. Owl Focus for 1 minute.
Mr. Arvodair: 19. Pulled a muscle (1 STR).
Aissah: 14.
Thickness: 14.
Arsenne: 13.
Zeferin: 10.
Fuath: 7. (13:13).
Roran: 5.
Ambyr: 4.

DEAD/OOC
x

[lostsole31]

R2T20: Eirina hears the shout from Mr. Arvodair and watches as Kaen springs into action and she decides to follow suit. Longbow back in hand, she runs towards the action and calls to Ambyr. "Ambyr, come! The battle is this way!"

R2T19: Mr. Arvodair hustles to move back onto the splashing surf, trident in hand. He looks around at the others. "You kept her from blowing off steam once. She won't bottle it up a second time. Just let her let off a good blast. Stand clear."

R2T14: Again, a gaseous cloud comes out of Mr. Arvodair's lantern and moves several feet to the west before taking on a more semi-solid appearance ... still seemingly made of packed steam, but not as wispy as before. She - for it seems to be female - floats an inch or two off of the water. She stands 5' 7" tall. If she were more solid and made of traditional muscle and not gas an steam, she would way well past 160 lbs. of broad muscle, but guessing her actual weight in this form is impossible. She wears a simple kimono with coral and pink and peach trim. Her hair starts as blue at the roots, quickly brightening out to yellow and then red at the tips. In her hands she wields a flaming jambiya.

She takes in a big breath, which seems to act like a bellows for an internal fire, for as she breathes in, within her semi-opaque form all manner of red-hot tracery forms as if a great fire were within, and she faces downwards at the water and end of pier. You don't know exactly what to expect, but something tells you that you don't want to be in the path of wherever she is about to breathe out.

R2T13: Thickness, what do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Kaen: 21. Astral skin.
Eirina: 20. Longbow. Owl Focus for 1 minute.
Mr. Arvodair: 19. Pulled a muscle (1 STR). Trident in hand.
Aissah: 14.
Thickness: 13.
Arsenne: 12.
Zeferin: 10.
Fuath: 7. (13:13).
Roran: 5.
Ambyr: 4.

DEAD/OOC
x

[lostsole31]

R2T13: Unsure where exactly the threat is exactly, Thickness hurries to Arvodair's position, stopping to take stock of the situation and change his footing.

R2T12: Arsenne, what do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Kaen: 21. Astral skin.
Eirina: 20. Longbow. Owl Focus for 1 minute.
Mr. Arvodair: 19. Pulled a muscle (1 STR). Trident in hand.
Aissah: 14.
Thickness: 13. Silver Crane Waltz (+2 insight AC/ Ref saves).
Arsenne: 12.
Zeferin: 10.
Fuath: 7. (13:13).
Roran: 5.
Ambyr: 4.

DEAD/OOC
x

[lostsole31]

R2T12: Arsenne draws his siangham as he runs along the pier searching for a foe in the water along the dock. He stops once he reaches the conjured steamy-lady and continues scanning the depths. He sees ... something ... well below the water, though refraction makes depth perception difficult.

He calls out to Mr. Arvodair: "What was it? Was it another one of those Grin..., those Grindy..., those Squid-Goblins that attacked us on the boat?"

"Creepy lobster-man!" he answers.

R2T10: Zeferin, what do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Kaen: 21. Astral skin.
Eirina: 20. Longbow. Owl Focus for 1 minute.
Mr. Arvodair: 19. Pulled a muscle (1 STR). Trident in hand.
Aissah: 14.
Thickness: 13. Silver Crane Waltz (+2 insight AC/ Ref saves).
Arsenne: 12. Siangham.
Zeferin: 10.
Fuath: 7. (13:13).
Roran: 5.
Ambyr: 4.

DEAD/OOC
x

[lostsole31]

R2T10: Zef calls out towards the shore, "Everything alright?" before holding his shield tight and moving towards the commotion.

R2T7: The little something Arsenne saw zips to the west at a moderate clip for something that swims naturally, and is out of sight.

Initiative Ends!

While the rest congregates, Mr. Arvodair calls out for the strong boiz to continue pulling out the boat (he tosses them the bitter end of the rope that is tied to the canoe).

The steam lady has already moved back into his lantern. Meanwhile, it is clear after a minute or so that what he found is not a persistent aggressor.

Mr. Arvodair looks to Arsenne. "Doc. Pulled my back trying to stab the bugger. You got anything for that?"

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Kaen: 21. Astral skin.
Eirina: 20. Longbow. Owl Focus for 1 minute.
Mr. Arvodair: 19. Pulled a muscle (1 STR). Trident in hand.
Aissah: 14.
Thickness: 13. Silver Crane Waltz (+2 insight AC/ Ref saves).
Arsenne: 12. Siangham.
Zeferin: 10. Shield & warhammer.
Fuath: 7. (13:13).
Roran: 5.
Ambyr: 4.

DEAD/OOC
x

[lostsole31]

Kaen, the door lacks a means to bar it from within. Inside, the ground has been dug out to a depth of 3 feet so that the floor is lower than the ground outside. A short flight of steps set with flat stones leads into this darkened area, lit only by any ambient light coming through the door. The building lacks interior walls except for a few short partitions, and four stout posts support the roof. The temperature is cool and the smell of rotted vegetables and meat is strong. Strings of garlic hang suspended from ceiling crossbeams alongside chunks of salted meat and bone. Debris and refuse is strewn across the floor between stacks of crates, boxes, and barrels against the walls.

This building is where the first colonists stored those provisions brought over on the Liberty’s Herald, intended to supplement their diet until their crops matured. Much of it was salted meats, fish, and hardy root vegetables. Kaen's keen senses notice that some of the barrels and containers have remained sealed. One thing that Kaen's keen senses fail to detect in the gloom, however ...

Surprise Round!

S16: With the interruption of light into this dank place, there is a sudden thrumming, humming, and chittering as thousands of little particulates seem to come to life and surround and practically engulf Kaen. All the nibbling and chewing from the swarm of insects can't seem to get through the protection of his astral skin.

Begin Round One ...

R1T16: The angry swarm of whatever continues their chewing. This time, however, Kaen takes 4 mod past the protection of his astral skin.

R1T15: Kaen, roll a Fort save. Your veil is in bow form in hand right now. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Cockroach Swarm: 16.
Kaen: 15. Astral skin. Bow.

Eirina: xx. Longbow.
Mr. Arvodair: xx. Pulled a muscle (1 STR). Trident in hand.
Thickness: xx. Running Hunter's Stance.
Arsenne: xx. Siangham.
Zeferin: xx. Shield & warhammer.
Roran: x.
Ambyr: x.

DEAD/OOC
x

[lostsole31]

R1T15: Kaen completely freaks out and immediately flees, but only at half-speed as he is distracted by what seems to be a swarm of insects all over him. He isn't currently equipped to handle this, as conventional attacks are sub-optimal ways of dealing with them.

As he stumbles out, he sees that a few of the bugs give chase, but not enough to really be of any issue. As they get into the rays of the sun they angrily disperse and go back into the house, likely to find even darker corners since Kaen left the door open.

Initiative Ends!

He catches his breath and makes his way back to the party at best speed and calmly asks, "Do any of you have any good destructive magicks? I seem to have riled up an insect swarm."

"No," replies Thickness flatfly, devolving from thence into foreign swearing. Dropping into a crouch on the spo while divesting himself of spear and shield, he starts rifling through his pack for one of his torches, pulling one out.

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Cockroach Swarm: 16.
Kaen: 15. Astral skin. Bow.

Eirina: xx. Longbow.
Mr. Arvodair: xx. Pulled a muscle (1 STR). Trident in hand.
Thickness: xx. Running Hunter's Stance.
Arsenne: xx. Siangham.
Zeferin: xx. Shield & warhammer.
Roran: x.
Ambyr: x.

DEAD/OOC
x

[lostsole31]

Spoiler: Kaen

Show

Surprise Round ...

Once Kaen steps into the smithy, he is surprised!

S15-13: Kaen gets struck along the side of the head from something above and in front of him for 4 mod, and then again from something next to him stabs him in the crook of his left elbow for 2 mod. There is all manner of screeching now.

Surprise Round Over, Begin Round One ..

R1T22: Arsenne, you have your glaive in hand and do not know the layout of what's inside, but you hear all manner of inhuman whooping and screeching that surely isn't Kaen. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Arsenne: 22.
Ambyr: 21.
Eirina: 17. Longbow.
Blue Ghost-Hater: 15.
Red Ghost-Hater: 13. (14:14).
Kaen: 11. Astral skin. Sword.
Thickness: 9. Running Hunter's Stance. Torch in hand.
Roran: 8.
Mr. Arvodair: 7. Pulled a muscle (1 STR). Trident in hand.
Zeferin: 5. Shield & warhammer.

DEAD/OOC
x

[lostsole31]

R1T22: Arsenne moves to the entrance and peers inside. Seeing two creatures hanging from the rafters by their tails and wielding spears, he strikes out at the one farther from himself, calling out, "Hunting hornet, SLASH" while striking it (Red) in the left knee with his glaive for 14 + disabled!

R1T21: Ambyr yowls, smelling blood, but waiting for a command from Eirina.

R1T17: Eirina, longbow is in hand and Ambyr is already alert. However, you see the back of Arsenne's shins telling you that there might not be any room inside. What do you do? What do you command Ambyr to do?

Ambyr delaying ...

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Arsenne: 22. RS.
Ambyr: 21. DELAYING!!!
Eirina: 17. Longbow.
Blue Ghost-Hater: 15.(14:14).
Red Ghost-Hater: 13. (0:14). DISABLED!!!
Kaen: 11. Astral skin. Sword.
Thickness: 9. Running Hunter's Stance. Torch in hand.
Roran: 8.
Mr. Arvodair: 7. Pulled a muscle (1 STR). Trident in hand.
Zeferin: 5. Shield & warhammer.

DEAD/OOC
x

[lostsole31]

R1T17: Eirina readies her longbow to make a shot at the enemy. Whatever the enemy is, she moves up 10' to get a clear shot, but can't because of the difference of sunlight and dark interior, bodies in the way, and the party screen at the door. She shouts to Arsenne .... right in his ear: "Move out of the way, Doc!"

Without a clear target, she says to Ambyr ... more to keep Ambry focused than any command, as Ambyr can't understand any more than one word of what is said, "Attack when our Doc is out of the way; go for the smell of blood."

R1T16: Yet another one of these things were hiding behind the corner and jumps out to stab at Green, but Arsenne deflects the spear for his new elven friend. This one (Green) is on the ground right below Blue (who, like Red, is hanging from the rafters).

R1T15: Blue also stabs at Kaen, and again Arsenne is there with his polearm to block it.

R1T13: Red withdraws around the west, and Arsenne misses as it goes by. It jumps out the window to the south and tries to scramble along the side of the corner of the building, but Ambyr is there to bite at it for 4, dropping the creature on the ground where it doesn't move.

R1T11: Kaen, you finally have your wits about you, and though dimly lit inside (he sun is not angled to come in through the southern window, though there is ambient light there). You see the little things. What do you do?

Spoiler: Battle Tracker

Show

Arsenne: 22. RS.
Ambyr: 21. DELAYING!!!
Eirina: 17. Longbow.
Green Ghost-Hater: 16. (14:14).
Blue Ghost-Hater: 15. (14:14).
Red Ghost-Hater: 13. (-4:14). DYING!!!
Kaen: 11. Astral skin. Sword.
Thickness: 9. Running Hunter's Stance. Torch in hand.
Roran: 8.
Mr. Arvodair: 7. Pulled a muscle (1 STR). Trident in hand.
Zeferin: 5. Shield & warhammer.

DEAD/OOC
x