Chult Hex Crawl - IC

[The Hellbug]

Nolwenn merely looks on with worry as Red comforts the injured elf, but only leaves the hellym's side once the artificer begins to gather the other adventurers. She gently squeezes the woman's shoulder before she gets up and tells her, unhelpfully, that if the former prisoner needs anything, she can translate for her. On the way over to Ondros and Red, she stops to ask a favor of Krieger. "She'll probably need more food than she's eaten. Whoever's on duty should help her with that when she's ready," she informs the kobold, "I don't think she eats meat."

Quickly trying to get her mind into a more analytical mood, Nolwenn listens as Red continues to explain his plan. "Armor? When you're swimming?!" she comments comments, looking skeptical. The wizard herself certainly wouldn't consider it, but she concedes that Ondros, at least, looks like he could practically carry a whole oxcart so who is she to judge. "As the only one who's been in the water, I suspect that a mere cantrip won't be a foolproof solution--don't underestimate the ocean's depths--but it couldn't hurt." She nods, though, agreeing that Red's plan is sound but for one thing: it would require an exceptionally sturdy harpoon, as the tiefling said, to pin even one of the barbsnare's enormous tentacles.

"Let's see it," she tells the kobold.

[Pyrophilios]

"Armor is only a problem in the water, if you can't control your buoyancy. Magic and some strategically placed air bladders should alleviate the weight. The cloak will take care of it for Ondros entirely.
I'll take a look at the harpoon and see if I can reinforce it."

The Red Horns got up and indicated to Krieger to show him the implement.

[agignac]

There's a brief, quiet argument ensues between a few members of the crew. Finally Archer shrugs, then brings up a crate from below. Inside are three harpoons, each with a coil of rope attached. "These are part of a delivery for another client. If you destroy them, we'll need to charge you so we can give them their money back. And hope that's enough to satisfy them."

The harpoons are about four feet long, with a strong wooden shaft and a thick, barbed hook at the end. Each one weighs ten pounds.

[The Hellbug]

Frankly, Nolwenn is disappointed by the size of the harpoons after Krieger's description, but she tries not to let it show. She probably shouldn't have expected the boat to conveniently have a monster-slaying-sized harpoon on the ship, and, to the kobold, it is quite large. In actuality, it's extremely doubtful if the wizard herself could throw one of them any great distance. And as she inspects them, the finds that they are well made and imagines that if multiple of them could be pierced through the creature's tentacle, it would have a hard time retracting it. Of course, still best to give Red every opportunity to work his magic with them.

"These look like they should be sufficient," she answers, "and, regardless of if we lose some of them, let your captain know that we need to talk about additional payment when this is done. I imagine there's one or two other favors we may need before this voyage is over."

Nolwenn produces the immovable rod from her bag and holds it out to Red. "Do you think this could be attached to one of these in some way? It may be to our benefit."

[agignac]

The night passes quietly. There is no moon, and the stars fill the sky from horizon to the mountains. Early in the morning, a shower of stars falls overhead, perhaps to splash down beyond the horizon.

Clouds roll in just before dawn, and a light rain begins to fall. The wind picks up, making the journey back to the tower a bit rougher than you're used to. The hellym retreats below and refuses to come up while the rain is falling. The halfling twins convince the captain stops to allow her to stay down there, and they join her, finding her huddled among the containers.

Declaring her too dirty for their ship, Barb and Starr make it their task to clean her up. They bring in fresh water, cloths and towels, brushes and combs. They tend to her, chattering to her in a friendly, completely unintelligible patter. When they're done with her, she looks surprisingly better. She's clean, her hair washed and brushed. She even looks less emaciated. She's still thin, but her bones don't jut out in such a painful way. "We really need a name to call her," they say to Nolwenn. "What should we use?"

The Brazen Pegasus finally returns to the tower, which appears as you left it. The water is choppy and slate grey, reflecting the clouds above. Draelin shudders, and huddles in a blanket under the shelter you've rigged on deck. Eku has been tending to him, and says that when he nearly died, his soul had a close encounter with the Soulmonger.

Azaka stands on the deck, her expression fierce. "Where do you want me? In the water with you? Or in the tower?" She shows no fear at all.

[The Hellbug]

"Hmmm," Nolwenn considers the halflings' request, "she has a name, but it's practically unpronounceable, at least to me. Sounds a bit like a flute." It's not as easy as she'd think. On the one hand, the hellym already has a name, and the wizard doesn't want to give her a new one without her assent, but on the other, she clearly has no experience with the common language and 'the hellym' isn't going to cut it. And so, Nolwenn decides to pick something with a fair bit of artificiality to it, something descriptive that could be a personal name but could just as easily be discarded. Of all her qualities, the hellym's beautiful voice and almost-birdsong-like language seem the most appropriate choice of inspiration.

"How about 'Meadowlark' or just 'Lark'?" Nolwenn answers after a minute or two of thought. She turns to the hellym to try to ask if that will work for her. Repeating her routine from earlier, she points to herself and names herself, then points to the hellym and uses a spell to make the sound that appears to be her name. The wizard then gets as close as she can to saying the other woman's name normally before pointing to her own throat and shaking her head. She repeats this and saying the hellym's name by spell for emphasis. Finally, she points to the former prisoner and offers her the new moniker. "Lark," she says, pointing back and forth once more, "Nol-wenn, Lark. Will that work?"

___________

"That depends on if this works," Nolwenn replies to the fierce guide later, just before the team is getting ready to dive, "just give me one moment." The wizard adjusts her magical headwear and attempts a modified spell.

Spoiler: OOC

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Going with Alter Help. Let's see if this works. Spells reset for the day.

[Pyrophilios]

The Red Horns looked at the rod: "Hm, indeed, fixing it to the harpoon will be a challenge, but with enough wire, this would make a very nice combination to pin the tentacle in place. I'll get to it - just after activating the manta ray cloak and the lantern."


Taking the harpoon with him as well as the rod, The Red Horns retreated to his workplace. Having to sacrifice his bag of holding, he had to store his belongings in a bunch of barrels.
After a bit of work, he returned with the harpoon, that now was tightly bonded with the rod through coils upon coils of tightly wound wire.

Spoiler

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Smithing tool use (Expertise)DEX w/ advantage through help action from construct + Guidance + Knowledge from another life

(1d20+9)[11]/(1d20+9)[17]+(1d4)[4]+(1d6)[5]

[Dr.Samurai]

Ondros Loxodon Rune Knight Fighter AC: 18 HP: 64/64 PPer: 12 PInv: 10 PIns: 20 Second Wind: 1/1 | Action Surge: 1/1 Frost Rune: 1/1 | Stone Rune: 1/1 Giant's Might: 3/3 Traits: Darkvision 120ft Conditions: Swim Speed 60ft, Water Breathing Ondros puts on the magic cloak that Red put together for him, and takes the harpoon. He asks the shipmates to lower him down with the crane used for cargo, so as not to make a large splash entering the water and alerting anything else nearby. The group waits until the construct is in the water leading the jellyfish in before they begin their attack.

[Pyrophilios]

The Red Horns commanded the construct to move and draw attention from the jellyfish and if possible kill some of them, while he flew overhead, ready to throw his yklwa.

[The Hellbug]

Nolwenn admires her handiwork in modifying her spell to affect Azaka, a process that is sudden, clinical, and perhaps a bit too familiar. Satisfied, the wizard steps back. "Perfect. Be careful when you leap in, though," she warns the guide, "it will feel like you're drowning--you still have lungs, after all--but you'll be perfectly suited to surviving underwater as long as the spell lasts--up to an hour, by the way. Just breathe the water in, even if that feels like the last thing you should do. For most it becomes tolerable in a few seconds. Hopefully you won't need to get too used to it."

The wizard stands at the rail as the construct is ordered overboard, ready to unleash her magic on any corrupted minion that comes to investigate.

Spoiler: OOC

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See invisible and Arcane Armor already cast as well as the Alter Help.

Perception to try to see down into the water (probably worse than others' but can see invisible stuff): (1d20+1)[6]

[agignac]

The construct begins bobbing in the water not far from the ship, being tethered to it by Cyril. The dragonborn has looped the rope around a cleat, then held onto it so she could play it out and give the construct more room to maneuver.

It took several minutes in the choppy seas to see the jellyfish. First one came bobbing along, definitely moving with a will towards the construct. When it was about 7 feet away, many tentacles darted out with un-jellyfish-like speed, attacking the construct.

At the same time, Barb cried out, "There's the second one! I see it, off the stern, hanging back!" The other jellyfish is about twenty-five feet back, bobbing a few feet below the surface, keeping its distance.

No need to roll for initiative, everybody can go before the jellys get another turn. Barb, Starr and Krieger will happily throw magic stones, so TRH can roll for them.

[Pyrophilios]

The Red Horns gave the signal, and had his group attack the second jellyfish that tried to hang back.

Spoiler

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(1d20+9)[25] damage (1d8+6)[10], if crit (1d8)[4]
(1d20+9)[20] damage (1d8+6)[12], if crit (1d8)[4]

Magic stone

(1d20+7)[26] damage (1d6+5)[8], if crit (1d6)[6]
(1d20+7)[23] damage (1d6+5)[6], if crit (1d6)[5]
(1d20+7)[23] damage (1d6+5)[7], if crit (1d6)[3]

[The Hellbug]

Nolwenn is beginning to doubt that the jellyfish are with the barbsnare--they hadn't bothered her when she initially dove in the water, after all. Maybe they were just a coincidence, a jellyfish-like creature that no one on the boat could identify. But the one attacking Red's new construct immediately puts any doubts to rest. Seeing how effective Red's directed fusillade of stones is at tearing up one of the jellies (alongside his own spear) but not wanting to accidentally harm his grappled construct, Nolwenn's only choice is to conjure her basic magical projectiles which she directs to slam into the remaining foe.

Spoiler: OOC

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Nolwenn casts Magic Missile.

(3d4+3)[13]

[Dr.Samurai]

Ondros Loxodon Rune Knight Fighter AC: 18 HP: 64/64 PPer: 12 PInv: 10 PIns: 20 Second Wind: 1/1 | Action Surge: 1/1 Frost Rune: 1/1 | Stone Rune: 1/1 Giant's Might: 3/3 Traits: Darkvision 120ft Conditions: Swim Speed 60ft, Water Breathing Ondros has two javelins in hand, and throws both at the jellyfish attacking the construct. Spoiler: Turn 1 Show Action - Attack Jellyfish grappling Construct Attack - (1d20+8)[18] Piercing - (1d6+5)[11] Extra Attack - (1d20+8)[19] Piercing - (1d6+5)[8] Object Interaction - Draw another javelin

[agignac]

The jellyfish never stood a chance. They yklwa and three magic stones tear through it, shredding its delicate body. It immediately stops its undulating movement, and breaking into pieces, begins to drift away.

Two javelins and some magic missiles are enough to finish the other jellyfish. Its lifeless body begins to sink, though the tentacles stay stuck to the construct. It hangs from the construct, tentacles drifting about like seaweed, barely visible below the choppy surface of the water.

From the deck, Azaka has tied back her long matted locks, ensuring her hair won't get in her face. She has a dagger strapped to each forearm, and is holding her spear. "Good! Let us go and fight your monster."

Eku holds up a hand. "Wait a moment! I would bless you before you enter this fight. Will you accept my blessing?" She closes her eyes for a moment, and a ripple of rainbow colour seems to run up her body, from toes to nose. You feel a warmth wrap around you, a feeling of love and grace.

Bless: Whenever you makes an attack roll or a saving throw before the spell ends, you can roll a d4 and add it to the original roll.

Azaka inclines her head respectfully to Eku, then dives cleanly into the water. She doesn't resurface to acclimate to the gills. She seems to have mastered it through sheer force of will.

[Dr.Samurai]

Ondros Loxodon Rune Knight Fighter AC: 18 HP: 64/64 PPer: 12 PInv: 10 PIns: 20 Second Wind: 1/1 | Action Surge: 1/1 Frost Rune: 0/1 | Stone Rune: 1/1 Giant's Might: 3/3 Traits: Darkvision 120ft Conditions: Swim Speed 60ft/Water Breathing (Cloak of Manta Ray), +2 to Str/Con Saves/Checks (Frost Rune), Bless Ondros nods in thanks to Eku for the blessing, then says his own brief prayer to Ubtao to protect him from the cold depths of this part of The Maze, before diving in after Azaka. Spoiler: Frost Giant Rune Show Activate Frost Giant Rune - For 10 minutes, you gain a +2 bonus to all ability checks and saving throws that use Strength or Constitution.

[Pyrophilios]

The Red Horns took another critical look at the water below, trying to make out if there were any more creatures lurking there.

When he was reasonably sure, that this was as good as it was going to be, he cast his spells and followed Ondros into the depts.

Spoiler

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Perception

(1d20+6)[10]+(1d4)[2]

after that concentration on Alter Self (Aquatic Adaption)

And Longstrider

[The Hellbug]

While Nolwenn is watching the others unhesitatingly dive into the depths, a thought strikes her. Even if the jellyfish weren't invisible, more of the barbsnare's minions could be, and Red's magic lantern won't work underwater: she herself is the only one who could be able to see invisible foes coming. And so, her plan of staying on the surface to Azaka's safety is immediately discarded.
"Quick! A rope! A long one!" the wizard orders the rest of the crew as her robe comes off, "tie me in. If there's a problem and I need to be hauled back up, Desdemona will let you know. You can do that, right Des?"

While the crew is scrambling to take care of that, Nolwenn makes sure she has a couple waterproof necessities firmly fastened, a knife, the potion of invulnerability, and her escaping elixir, and prepares to cast her swimming spell. She puzzles at the ziggurat-shaped mark on her palm but after only a moment finds that merely willing for the charm's magic activates it. Her consciousness splits uncannily; it's almost like a waking dream, except that Dream-Nolwenn is entirely in her, fully and simultaneously. She can will the spell she had previously cast to fall away to this other her, and the burden of concentrating on the magic slips away from her, freeing the wizard to cast the spell again as though it weren't there at all.

With her habitual changes complete, Nolwenn steps up on the rail and tests the rope with her hand. "Wish me luck," she requests, and jumps into the water after her companions.

Spoiler: OOC

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Casting Alter Self and putting the Azaka-affecting one on the split mind. Also adding the Prestidigitation-warming that Red suggested but I didn't fit it in the narrative.

[agignac]

You dive into a cold, frothing ocean. At first the waves bounce you around a bit as you kick down towards the tower, sinking below the surface. However, by the time you get to the laboratory window, you don't feel the action of the waves as much. As you descend, the water gets appreciably colder. With every few feet you descend, it seems that that water gets another degree colder. The warmed armour helps keep your core warm, but you feel the cold in your extremities already.

You swim down, looking into the kitchen level as you go. It seems to be deserted. Its dark now, and getting darker. Below, the water is inky black, impenetrable to the naked eye. Unless, of course, your eyes are magically enhanced.

Movement below, and for a moment, you see the top of a tentacle waving around in the darkness. Then it vanishes again to all except Ondros, whose darkvision penetrated deeper.

Spoiler: Ondros only

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You can see an opening below, either a window or door, with the tentacle coming out of it. The opening is about 80 feet below your current position (near the kitchen window). The tentacle's girth is completely blocking the opening, and the tentacle is at least 30 feet long, though with its undulations, its hard to tell. You can roll perception to get a better idea of its length.

Spoiler: Nolwenn only

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With your see invisibility, you see two of these approaching the party. One is coming up from straight underneath, and the other is swimming towards you from straight ahead. They're almost ten feet long, they're sixty feet away and closing fast.

[The Hellbug]

Nolwenn catches up with the rest of the swimmers when they stop to look into the tower. "Couldn't let you go without me; nobody else can see invisible monsters," she gurgles in explanation, and she also has a warning specifically for Azaka. "Be mindful, though. I'm keeping both of us down here," she cautions, pointing to her gills. At least, that's what she tries to say. What actually emerges from her mouth isn't much more than a pitched gurgle, the specifics of her words entirely lost to the water.

But there's not much time to be frustrated. Just then there's motion on the edge of the wizard's vision. She looks down into the inky depths but can't quite see what it was. She thinks it may have been the tentacle, but even with her magically enhanced eyesight, the darkness is like a wall, and her heart is clutched by a sudden anxiety. Down here isn't like on land, they can be attacked from any direction at any time.

As this worrying realization is sinking in, Nolwenn sees another flurry of movement, though this one isn't so hidden by the dark: a pair of massive, unnaturally-fearsome sharks. It's only a moment before the wizard realizes that none of her allies can see the beasts, which confirms that they must be more corrupted minions of the barbsnare. "Dmmmmon mmks!" she shouts in warning, pointing frantically at the invisible creatures, "mmhmm mhm mmd mhm mmmm.." In this moment, Nolwenn realizes that not a single one of her spells is especially suited to underwater fighting, especially with the barbsnare waiting for them as well. And so she merely casts a bolt of flame at it, despite the deadening effect of the water.

"Ehmmm!"

Spoiler: OOC

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Firebolt!
[roll]1d20+1d4+8[/roll] (got a crit in the discord after failing to roll here)
damage: (2d10)[7] halved (crit damaged rolled: total is 18 halved to 9)

[Dr.Samurai]

Ondros Loxodon Rune Knight Fighter AC: 18 HP: 64/64 PPer: 12 PInv: 10 PIns: 20 Second Wind: 1/1 | Action Surge: 1/1 Frost Rune: 0/1 | Stone Rune: 1/1 Giant's Might: 3/3 Traits: Darkvision 120ft Conditions: Swim Speed 60ft/Water Breathing (Cloak of Manta Ray), +2 to Str/Con Saves/Checks (Frost Rune), Bless Ondros points to his eye, then down to the dark water below and makes an undulating motion with his arm, indicating he can see the tentacle down below. He hears a muffled sound and turns to see Nolwenn in the water with them, a giant stream of bubbles escaping her mouth as she tries to speak. Suddenly she looks alarmed and releases a bolt of fire. Ondros turns in the direction, ready for an attack. Spoiler: Initiative Show Initiative - (1d20+2)[17]

[Pyrophilios]

Hearing Nolwenn talk under water sounded funny and The Red Horns had to smile for a moment - before the warning came.

At once he pulled out a shining pebble - one of eight trinkets he had on him, and fired it with a flick of his hand at the position, Nolwenn pointed at.

Spoiler

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Catapult on a stone I changed with Magical Tinkering - not that it's 10ft light radius matters

Dex DC 16
[roll0]+mods for demon shark #1


[roll1]

Edit: rolled in discord

Result: 3d8 (2, 5, 4)
Total: 11

Result: 1d20 (5)
Total: 5


looks like a hit

[agignac]

The sharks close in, even as Nolwenn points out her bubbly warning. Seeming to be aware that they were noticed, they approach at slightly less than top speed, circling around their prey. Nolwenn notices that their tales were covered with familiar-looking spines and thorns.

Nolwenn and Red react fast, fire flashing in the dark, and a small catapault stone finding its target.

Azaka, swimming as if she were born to it, sees the blood coming from the injured shark and swim to it. Thrusting with her spear, she aims for the blood trailing into the water, but fails to pierce the shark's invisible hide.

Her second thrust, however, hits true, and more blood spills into the water.

[Dr.Samurai]

Ondros Loxodon Rune Knight Fighter AC: 18 HP: 64/64 PPer: 12 PInv: 10 PIns: 20 Second Wind: 1/1 | Action Surge: 1/1 Frost Rune: 0/1 | Stone Rune: 1/1 Giant's Might: 2/3 Traits: Darkvision 120ft, Large Conditions: Swim Speed 60ft/Water Breathing (Cloak of Manta Ray), +2 to Str/Con Saves/Checks (Frost Rune), Bless Ondros is suddenly aware of the invisible creature Nolwenn was warning them about, at the periphery of his senses. He calls on the power of Ubtao and suddenly grows in size. Compelled by the cloak that Red crafted for him, he moves adjacent to the creature and attempts to grab it with his trunk, bringing his maul to bear against it. Spoiler: Turn 1 Show Bonus Action - Giant's Might to turn Large Movement - Move adjacent to Shark Action - Attack Shark Attack 1 Grapple - (1d20+10)[19], Advantage - (1d20+10)[12] (includes Frost Giant Rune bonus) Attack 2 Attack - (1d20+8)[22], Advantage - (1d20+8)[10] + Bless - (1d4)[2] Bludgeoning - (2d6+5)[13] + Giant Might - (1d8)[2]

[Pyrophilios]

The Red Horns saw that Ondros had his foe well in hand and swam towards Azaka to assist her against her quarry.

With as much force as he could, he threw his Yklwa twice at the invisible creature.

Spoiler

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(1d20+4)[19]/(1d20+4)[18] damage (1d8+16)[17]
(1d20+4)[24]/(1d20+4)[22] damage (1d8+16)[22]

[agignac]

The shark wrapped in Ondros's large trunk thrashes wildly, but despite its un-shark-like slippery skin, the loxodon holds tight. The corrupted fish opens its mouth wide for a bite, hoping for a taste of elephant-fish. It took a large chunk of flesh from Ondros's chest and shoulder, and blood swirled through the water.

The injured shark swam at Azaka, pushing her backwards even as it tried to eat her. It managed a good bite as it overswam her, then continued away until it was about 40 feet past her.

Spoiler: rolls

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Shark 1 vs Ondros
(1d20+9)[24]
damage
(3d010+6)[26]

Shark 2 vs Azaka
(1d20+9)[14]
damage
(3d010+6)[22]

[Dr.Samurai]

Ondros Loxodon Rune Knight Fighter AC: 18 HP: 38/64 PPer: 12 PInv: 10 PIns: 20 Second Wind: 1/1 | Action Surge: 1/1 Frost Rune: 0/1 | Stone Rune: 1/1 Giant's Might: 2/3 Traits: Darkvision 120ft, Large Conditions: Swim Speed 60ft/Water Breathing (Cloak of Manta Ray), +2 to Str/Con Saves/Checks (Frost Rune), Bless Ondros' garbled grunt can be felt through the water as the shark takes a bite out of him. He tries to keep the shark positioned to make it harder to bite him, while keeping it from slipping away. Spoiler: Turn 2 Show Movement - Drag shark closer to teammates (swimming at half speed, so 30ft). Action - Attack Shark Attack 1 Shove - (1d20+10)[16], Advantage - (1d20+10)[15] (includes Frost Giant Rune bonus) Attack 2 Power Attack - (1d20+3)[11], [roll=Advantage]1d20+3 + Bless - (1d4)[4] Bludgeoning - (2d6+16)[26] + Giant's Might - (1d8)[1]

[The Hellbug]

Nolwenn, seeing the way the sharks are attacking, positions herself as close to the center of the group of adventurers as possible for safety and unleashes a second burst of flame (more a blast of boiling water, really), this one at the one Ondros is grappling.

Spoiler: OOC

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Firebolt again!
Attack: (1d20+8)[11]
Damage: (2d10)[16]

[agignac]

Red swims to Azaka's aid, and the yklwa pierces the shark twice, putting another red swirl into the water.

Ondros uses his strong trunk to flip his grappled foe upside down, temporarily disorienting it. He then whacks it with his maul, breaking cartilaginous bones and infuriating the toothy predator. From its prone position, it thrashes wildly, attempting to break the loxodon's grip. Ondros tries his best to hold on, but the shark is just too slippery, and it manages to break free. It swims down, away from the loxodon; Ondros takes advantage of his distraction to swing again, striking the shark just behind the gills.

The second shark, injured by Red's yklwa, turns its attention to the tiefling. It swims up a little, opens its maw wide, and rushes straight at The Red Horns. The artificer reacts with a quick shield spell, saving him from a nasty bite. The shark swims past, deeper into the darkness.

Azaka stays close to Red, spear ready to stab at the shark if it returns to attack either her or Red.

Everybody up.

[Pyrophilios]

The Red Horns waited until the last second before he deployed his personal shield, deflecting the hungry maw.

"Payback" he thought, before following the creature up with another pair of throws.

Spoiler

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(1d20+4)[18] damage (1d8+16)[21]
(1d20+4)[6] damage (1d8+16)[23]