CrazyHedgehog's Skull & Shackles Game (Inactive)

Game Master CrazyHedgehog

Round 3 continued

Hearing sounds of battle coming from behind, Batango summons a spell and holds the charge while he moves back, angling himself so that he can keep both tunnels in view. With a sour look he marks the arrival of this newest group of grindylows.

Round 4
A'vandira aims another ray of frost ta the lone remaining grindylow from the first group. However the water diffuses the spell, and it never reaches its target. Cast ray of frost.

Singing away, Quara battles with the grindylow that tried to gut her. Her blade clangs against its spear before she scores a hit, biting deeply into its side. 3 points of damage to the grindylow.

Atajay reacts to the arrival of the new group of grindylows by slinging a daze spell at the closest grindylow. A glazed look comes over its eye. Grindylow failed its Will save.

Penta takes in the grindylows left of the first lot of guards, and starts swimming towards them with intent. She deftly dodges the drifting hooks, closing on the remaining grindylow that's still awake and driving her weapon home. The grindylow, left dazed and bloodied, is left to drift on the current. Hit the last one in the first group for 5 points of damage, disabling it. There are still four sleeping.

Arven moves forward with the grim work of taking care of the slumbering enemy. He slits open the belly of one, spilling dark blood and offal to drift with the current. 10 points of damage to one of the sleeping grindylows with a successful coup de grace.

The grindylow newcomers form up, presenting a wall of jabbing spearheads. They naturally know to avoid the hook traps drifting in the seaweed, and stab at Quara. One manages to hit against the tiefling, a piercing attack that creates a jagged tear in her side.
5 points of damage to Quara.

Updated Map

Initiative
20 - A'vandira
19 - Quara
17 - Atajay
15 - Penta
13 - Arven
13 - grindylows
2 - Batango

======

Quara and Batango pull back. Use the bottleneck, I'll take care of these. Arven, move up and kill everything stupid enough to come in. She yells, as she slits the throat of the one in front of her.

Coup de Grace

Damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 6 = 11

Fort save dc:21 or die

Seeing how the others seem to have the situation well in hand, I hang back as Penta and Arven are busy cutting up the sleeping grindylows. As I am going over the spells in my mind, I feel Shadow's thoughts manifest in my mind: "Can't help but notice that your ice-spells seem to be less effective underwater, Raven. That weakening spell worked well enough, but maybe we should wait for a better opportunity. Looks like that war-priest knows what she's doing." - "I was considering the same thing, Shadow. And as much as it stings to admit it, but I think you're right about Penta as well. I just wish she would stay the hell away from Arven."

Staying back with Quara and Batango, out of the way of our front-line fighters. Preparing to cast another Ray of Enfeeblement in case it's needed.

Atajay makes sure he is at the back, behind the rush of the new grindylows. He readies an action to Daze the first one that approaches the group. If he has targeted that one in the past rounds, he targets the next one in the processional.

Daze DC 15 Will to resist.

Quara continues to sing, her sword shooting past the guard of the grindylow that has now injured her twice -- and pierces its flesh, blood darkening the water.

The tiefling makes an odd, wriggling motion in the water which results in her floating backwards, her teeth flashing in the gloom as she grins at the aquatic warriors. One of her hands beckons to them...

Standard action: attack roll 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 for 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 damage.
Move action: aquatic acrobatics to avoid AoO's for moving back two squares 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Minor action: maintaining Bardic song.

Arven hearing Penta's words, swims easily over to the bottleneck, where Botango holding the fort now that Quara has moved away. He pushes Botango out of the way, "Let me deal with these fishfolk, Botango. Get behind me, go to Penta. You too Atajay, get to Penta. Kill the sleepers." He roughly hauls Botango back and takes a defensive position this side of the bottleneck, his cutlass still trailing blood from the execution.

Breathing underwater round 5 of 32(40)
Rage round 3 of 9; Fatigue 0 of 6 rounds

Round 4 continued
Batango moves up, treading water just behind Quara's shoulder. His hand is still wreathed in gray light as he channels his spell. With the second batch of grindylows crowding around Quara, Batango snakes a hand out past her and grabs one of the grindylows. The grindylow shrugs off the magical attack though, and responds with a jab of its spear. It's an awkward thrust, and Batango and Quara both are able to dodge the spearpoint. Expended Batango's touch of fatigue spell, but the grindylow went and made its Fort save.

Round 5
A'vandira swims back towards the rest of the group and the oncoming grindylows, weeing with a bitter note that Arven and Penta together have managed to wipe out the first lot. She readies another spell to weaken the foe. Ray of enfeeblement held

Singing away, Quara lashes out with her sword, laying low the grindylow that stabbed her twice. Then, with a powerful kick she swims away from the other warriors, giving herself some space from the enemy. 6 points of damage to the grindylow, it's dying. I've moved you back two squares, hopefully to the right spot.

Atajay hurls another dazing spell at one of the nearest grindylows. it hits him hard, and he drifts aimlessly for a few moments, a stupid expression on its face. Had a terrible save, it's dazed for this round.

Penta continues to make sure the sleeping grindylows aren't going to come back to haunt the party, while Arven moves along to the second front. He shoves Batango out of the way and moves in to confront the enemy. Slashing with his cutlass, he cuts down one of the grindylows - the one dazed by Atajay - with a vicious swipe from head to tentacles. He stares defiantly at the enemy warriors. With Arven's move he could also make an attack, so I went ahead and rolled for you so as to keep things moving. Nearly a critical hit as well, but with the slashing damage being halved, total damage only 6 points. Still, enough to take out another octo-goblin.

A wave of goblins move in to swarm around Arven. Together they are a flurry of waving tentacles, prodding spearpoints, and cold blue flesh. While he puts up a spirited defense with his cutlass, two of the spearpoints manage to get past his guard, doing considerable harm. Seeing blood float in the water, the grindylows eyes gleam murderously. Two attacks hit for a total of 13 points damage. Medic!

Updated Map

Batango, back to you!

Initiative
20 - A'vandira
19 - Quara
17 - Atajay
15 - Penta
13 - Arven
13 - grindylows
2 - Batango

-------

Quara growls and darts forward, one hand reaching for Arven's back.

"Flesh we knit and bones we caulk, blood pour in to fill the tank! By song and spell do I you restore, so suffer shall you nevermore!"

Magic courses through the Undine's body, healing some of his injuries.

I'm having connection troubles again, so I can't see the map. I'm moving on the assumption that I can do so without drawing enemy stabbings. One helping of CLW for Arven: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Batango reaches past Arven and gestures with his hand towards the closest grindylow near the barbarian. "Seas surge, and be gone with you," he mutters, instilling within the creature an urge to flee.

Cast command on the grindylow, attempting to force it to flee from my position as fast and far as it can go for 1 round. Will Save DC 15 to negate. Unfortunately an individual can only benefit from hex of healing 1/day, so I cannot heal Arven again.

Penta moves as fast as she can to get to Arven. She calls upon the goddess to heal our protector's wounds

sacrifice Magic Weapon for CLW
CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Protected as he was, Atajay held his position and continued to fire off a Daze rays at any targets he has yet to have targeted so far.

Daze DC 14Will to resist

In his desperation Arven slashes once more at the enemy...

Cutlass with both hands: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Breathing underwater round 6 of 32(40)
Rage round 4 of 9; Fatigue 0 of 8 rounds

Arven add 10 more from penta heal.

Ooh OK thanks Penta, missed that....

Round 5 continued
Batango summons the dark forces of his patron to command one of the sea goblins to swim away from the fight, but it shrugs off the magic. These grindylows are impudent. Grindylow diagonal-right of Arven targeted (I thought it was the closest). The grindylow made its Will save with a 17.

Round 6
Spells are flying everywhere in the water, as A'vandira releases her own spell, a coruscating ray of energy that envelops one of the grindylows. It hits, and the grindylow becomes visibly weakened. Grindylow just to the right or Arven on the map is hit. -6 damage to grindylow's Strength score, after if failed to make its Fort save.

Quara swims forward, until she can lay a hand on Arven's back. She sings as magic courses between her and the undine, healing some of the barbarian's wounds. Arven healed 5 hit points.

Atajay keeps using his spells to daze his opponents, hitting one of the grindylows ringed around Arven. If floats, stupefied. The one just above Arven on the map failed its Will save and is dazed.

Penta calls upon Calistra's aid to help Arven, healing some more of his wounds so that the barbarian can continue to battle his enemies and protect the party. Another 10 hit points healed for Arven.

Arven responds by laying into his foes. Wielding his cutlass double-handed, he knocks away the spear of the grindylow ahead of him and strikes at what he hopes is a weak spot. This grindylow, that had been harassing him and must have been one of the great warriors of its shoal, is struck off guard by Arven's attack and his blade bites deep, dark blood oozing from a gash that rips it from sternum to belly. It is dying quickly. Attacking the grindylow diagonal-right of you, dealing 7 points damage enough to put it into minuses.

Within reach, that leaves one grindylow staring, dazed, and another which has been hit by A'vandira's enfeebling spell. That one takes a stab at Arven but can hardly grasp its spear, so it backs off five feet. This gives an opportunity for those warriors hanging back to move in. Two of them size up the situation but one of them jets in close enough to stab at Arven. However, invigored Arven is able to beat away the attack.

Initiative
20 - A'vandira
19 - Quara
17 - Atajay
15 - Penta
13 - Arven
13 - grindylows
2 - Batango

Ok, back to Batango and rest of party at top of round. Only 5 sea-goblins left!! You've taken on an army of 'em! Sandara and Kenya must be rescued!

Updated Map

--------

Quara floats a little backwards and resumes her song, the magic twining around the members of the party.
"Sushi is cheap today
Grindylow-rolls are made
Eat them sitting by the bay
Scatter their bones in the glade!"
The song may be a bit of nonsense, but the power everyone derives from it is very real indeed...!

Quara goes one square backwards and restarts her Inspire Courage +1. Perform (sing) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Penta readies a healing spell to place on Arven, should the situation arise.

Arven shakes his head, his eyes piercing into the warrior in front of him, his cutlass sweeps though aiming to find a line of death.

Cutlass with both hands: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Breathing underwater round 7 of 32(40)
Rage round 5 of 9; Fatigue 0 of 8 rounds

As his Daze magick was all he was having success with, Atajay continues to ready actions to Daze different grindylows as they approach the bottleneck the party had set up.

Daze the next one up. DC 14 Will to resist.

Batango sports a sour look, disgruntled that his spells and abilities keep failing against these monstrosities. "Beh, dese are tings of de sea, resistant to my deep magics..." Rather than attempt another arcane tactic, the witch tries to distract the grindylow catty-corner to himself and Arven.

Aid another to give Arven +2 AC (Attack roll vs 10): 1d20 ⇒ 18

Round 6 continued
Eschewing his patron's dark arts for now, Batango tries to help Arven by keeping the nearest grindylow distracted.

Round 7
A'vandira does the same by trying to hit the same grindylow with a frost ray. It ducks at the last moment, and the freezing spike of water misses the grindylow.

Quara kicks her feet to shift back a bit from the front line, treading water as she begins another ditty, inspiring you to fight harder and strike more accurately. You are inspired!

Penta drifts closer to Arven, ready to bestow another healing spell if necessary.

Arven keeps swiping at the grindylows near him, trying to get past their spears. It's a struggle to hit them though, as they dart about and try to disrupt attacks with their waving tentacles.

One of the grindylow's at the front barks an order in a trill, burbly voice. The three at the rear immediately begin to move with a flick of their tentacles, heading for one of the narrow gouges in the rock. They quickly take off.

The warrior then stabs at Arven with all its might, and its wickedly barbed spear bites deep into Arven's chest. It's fellow, the one dazed by Atajay, suddenly snaps into focus and tries to attack as well, but it's lunge is off and misses the barbarian. The grindylow hit with nearly a critical but it failed to confirm the hit. It still inflicted full damage of 7 hit points to Arven.

Updated Map

Initiative
20 - A'vandira
19 - Quara
17 - Atajay
15 - Penta
13 - Arven
13 - grindylows
2 - Batango

------

"Catch them! They are running to tell the rest of the tribe about us! Bring them down," Atajay warns, as he clearly understood the words of the undersea language.

Penta's ready action goes of...Last CLW
CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Penta responds after the harpoon is withdrawn. She calls upon Calistra once more and Healing energy knits Arven's flesh.

Arven Cure 10 HP

"I can't get past!" Quara calls back to Atajay, then curses. "Cut these two down so we can go after the escapees!"

Arven calls out through the water, "Those others are going off to warn their queen!" as he continues to slash at the fish folk in front of him.

Cutlass with both hands: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 1 = 26 Damage 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6
Confirm: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 25 Damage 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6

Breathing underwater round 8 of 32(40)
Rage round 6 of 9; Fatigue 0 of 12 rounds

Also unable to move past to give chase to the enemies, Batango simply attempts to drive his dagger into any remaining grindylows in front of him, feeling exhausted of other options.

Dagger: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Round 7 continued
Batango stabs at one of the grindylows still fighting; it leans out of reach and pulls a horrid face at the witch.

Round 8
A'vandira waits, urging those on the frontline to cut down the enemy and catch those grindylows that are getting away.

Quara and Atajay are anxious to keep the three retreating grindylows from getting away, but unable to catch the quickly swimming blighters.

Penta puts the last of her magical energies into a last healing spell for Arven. The spell helps knit some of his wounds, so he is ready for another attack. 10 points back to Arven.

Arven sweeps at one of the grindylows two-handed. His cutlass slices through flesh, parting the grindylow's upper body from its tentacles completely in a mass of red blood. Confirmed critical, 12 points damage to the grindylow.

The remaining grindylow moves back a bit to reconsider his position. It attempts to flee.

Initiative
20 - A'vandira
19 - Quara
17 - Atajay
15 - Penta
13 - Arven
13 - grindylows
2 - Batango

[

In case Arven gets an AoO on the creature running away.
Cutlass with both hands: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 = 15 Damage 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5

Seeing the creatures run, Arven smiles in celebration of the victory and suddenly feels very tired after his exhortions. Despite his tiredness, he starts to swim after the creatures. Swim Speed: 20ft.

Arven condition: Fatigued.
Breathing underwater round 9 of 32
Rage round 6 of 9; Fatigue 1 of 12 rounds

"Careful now!" Quara warns as she follows after Arven. "If they're warning others, we might be facing an ambush. Keep using the natural choke-points, they're our greatest strength here, where the enemy knows the terrain better than we do!"

Hope no one is waiting on me, Since I Readied action that triggered after grindylows, I should be going after them.

Penta Follows closely after Arven. She will try and strike with her knife if she can.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Atajay follows the rest of the group, being too far away to do much good to the fleeing creatures.

Post was lost last night I see, so I'll try to resurrect it here. I think I must have pressed Preview instead of Submit Post just before logging out.

Round 8 continued
Seeing his grindylow foe turn to flee, Arven lunges forward with his cutlass, skewering it on his blade. He then kicks his feet to swim after the retreating forms of its comrades. Arven does indeed get an attack of opportunity, 5 points damage enough to finish it off. Since on your turn you just had the standard action, I've also noted your move action.

Batango follows after the barbarian, giving chase to the enemy.

Round 9
The rest of you follow trying not to let the grindylows and Arven get too far ahead of you. After all, they are in their native environment.
Penta I did get your action in last post, granting Arven back some sorely needed hit points. I noted your move before that of the grindylows, but I think the effect would have been the same.

If you all are intent on chasing the fleeing grindylows, they lead you on a merry chase, through tight, winding tunnels, past more kelp forests trapped with hooks that try to snare your flesh, and past dark grottoes. I'll skip ahead if you don't mind, but the chase takes 2 frenzied minutes to allow for the slowest swimmers to catch up.

Finally, you come to a tunnel that has room for a breathing space filled with stale air, leading to a larger chamber with a great deal more room. The water here churns with hundreds of remains floating in this large bowl of water - bones, scraps of flesh, and the carcasses of strange, almost alien fish. Just visible through the roiling stew are humanoid bodies floating in the water, wan corpses drifting near the bottom of this cauldron like sleeping guardians.

The water churns and seethes, and combined with all the detritus it's difficult to see more than five feet in the water, just catching occasional glimpses. What you can see though is enough to cause fear in the heart of even the most hardened freebooter. The three grindylows you followed are here, circling around the bowl with the current. Swimming in the middle is another grindylow, but not like any of the others you've seen. This one is huge, well more than twice the size of its brethren and yourselves, a bloated monstrosity with a toothy, gaping maw. It must have been smaller when it came into this cavern, because now it looks like it would be too big to fit in the tunnel.

Above the water is another horrible sight. Hanging from the ceiling above the churning water are two figures, bound hand and foot with thick strands of seaweed and sinew and weighted with heavy ingots of silver. You recognize them both, of course, Sandara Quinn and Kenya Bloodblade. Both crewmates look terribly wounded, especially Kenya who looks as if she has been partially eaten and just hanging on to life by a thread. A particularly malevolent grindylow matron slithers along a ledge beside them on her black tentacles.

The instant the grindylow matron sees you, she takes a flint knife and slices at the seaweed suspending both of the sailors above the water. Cut, the two fall into the water with a terrific splash, weighted down with silver. The matron cries out in rasping cry.

The Cauldron

The Caulrdon - side view

The Brinebrood Queen

The Whale

The ratio on the map is 10 feet to a square, the sideview shows the tunnel you are coming through and the depth and height of the cavern. The Brinebrood Queen has just gone, so you all can take your turns. You also have two minutes of swimming leading up to this encounter, so let me know any preparations you want to make before entering the chamber, following the grindylows I think you'll be aware of the enemy so there is no chance of surprise either side.

Initiative
18 - The Brinebrood Queen (readied action)
18 - Penta
17 - A'vandira
13 - Arven
13 - Batango & Tabook
13 - The Whale and grindylows
12 - Quara
3 - Atajay

======

We only have a short time before your friends drown. Play it safe, and they die, we need to get in there. Penta moves up, and frees her bow. She launches an arrow at the bloated queen.

Move: 30' Pull bow

SA:
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Composite longbow (Attack +5 / Damage 1d8+1 / Crit x3 / P)

"Priestess!" Quara snaps. "Your duty is healing support! Keep to the back of the group or we are all dead!

With that said, Quara fills her lungs with the fetid air and starts to sing. It is a powerful, invigorating tune, strengthening the group.

Inspire courage +1 for attacks, damage and saves vs. fear.

I assume I am not up until the whale and grindylows go.

As they swim after their quarry, Arven speaks to the group, especially those who can wield magic. "Can any of you make my weapon more potent? To give it magic to slash more deeply, or find the enemies weakness in armour?" asks the undine. "Such would enhance our abilities to live. Though any help to keep my body from injury would also help too.

Upon reaching the pocket of air, Arven fills his lungs once more with the stale air. He smiles, and as if by magic, his breathing becomes regular once more, making him ready to start once more his fight against these water folk.

He gets ready to charge into battle, and try and strike deadly blows.

Batango shakes his head at Arven while they swim. "Nay, aside from de cleansing of de healing hex, de deep patron gives me more to harm...my spells remaining, however, are of little use...I could weaken an enemy, but besides dat, de evil eye must needs suffice."

Upon reaching the cauldron and witnessing the horrific sights ahead, Batango's noted sour visage makes a grim appearance. "Monstrosities of de deep...if I were stronger, I might bend dem to my will, but for now..." He looks to Penta and Arven, counting them the frontline fighters. "Looking at de girth of such a beast, it would likely resist my attempts to weaken it, but perhaps its mind is weak. Cover me to get closer, and I might be able to soften its accuracy or defenses...closer still to de priestess and de pirate, and I might save dese unconscious forms from drowning, and give dem de lungs of de sea."

When Penta moves up, Batango follows. If he is within 30 ft., he uses evil eye on the Whale, giving it a -2 penalty to AC for 7 rounds. Will save DC 15 reduces this to 1 round.

0 - Mending, Resistance, Touch of Fatigue, Guidance. 1st - Ray of Sickening, Obscuring Mist.

With a gasp of horror I see the grindylow matron cut the vines holding up Sandara and Kenya. Rage starts to boil inside of me, echoed by angry thoughts from Shadow. Treading water, I take aim at the huge monstrosity in the center of the cave, and a ray leaps from my outstretched hand towards its bulbous head. My rage increases even more when I see the ray miss its target, due to water dripping from my brow into my eye, causing me to blink at the wrong moment.

Attack: Ray of Enfeeblement 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Damage: Ray of Enfeeblement 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Status: AC 12 - Current HP: 13/13

Round 1
Acting quickly to try to save the two captive women, Penta grabs up her bow and takes aim at the grindylow queen. The arrow misses but she manages to momentarily distract the sea goblin queen.

A'vandira tries to slow up the huge grindylow giant by casting a spell to sap its strength. She's horrified though to see the spell fail to hit the behemoth. Only just missed with ranged touch attack.

Arven readies for the fight by swelling his lungs with air, looking for any edge against his large opponent.

Batango swims up and focuses his evil eye on the giant grindylow. Under his withering gaze, it suddenly looks less imposing, almost appearing to shrink before your eyes. It failed its save so suffers AC penalty for 7 rounds.

The great behemoth bellows, a flood of bubbles rising from its mouth. At its call, two of the grindylow warriors you faced earlier move forward. They swim towards you quickly and quick as a flash their tentacles wrap around Arven, entangling him. They struggle against the muscular undine, trying to pull him towards the cauldron of roiling water and the big grindylow. Both grindylows succeeded in "trippint" Arven, effectively trying to entangle him in tentacles and move him towards their big brother.

Treading water, Quara begins singing a powerful, invigorating tune to strengthen the group. Before doing so, she shouts to Penta to move back amidst the rest of the group.

Atajay up next, with mother grindylow after.

Initiative
18 - The Brinebrood Queen (readied action)
18 - Penta
17 - A'vandira
13 - Arven
13 - Batango & Tabook
13 - The Whale and grindylows
12 - Quara
3 - Atajay

=======

"We have to get in there! They are going to drown Sandara and Kenya!"

Atajay uses his dazing magic on one of the the grindylows that are grappling Arven.

Cast Daze DC 14 Will save to resist.

Still singing, Quara swims up to Arven and stabs her blade at the other Grindylow holding him fast.

"Free our warrior
Free his bones
Free his muscles
We'll crush the enemy's home!"

Continuing inspire courage +1. Attack roll: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 for damage 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Arven struggles to free himself....

Try to escape grapple 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Penta stays focused on the big bertha. She fires again hoping to hit the side of a barn

SA:
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Add another damage point for inspire for a total of 9 damage
Composite longbow (Attack +5 / Damage 1d8+1 / Crit x3 / P)

Round 1 continued
The two grindylows do their best to haul Arven away towards their hungry brother. Atajay tries to slow them down by casting a spell to daze one of them. Its alien mind shrugs off the magic though and it continues to pull at the undine, despite the fact Arven is so much larger than either of the two sea-goblins. The concern on his face to help Sandara and Kenya shows keenly. Grindylow just made the Will save; they're good at that it seems.

Round 2
The queen-mother of the grindylows clings to the ledge above, and you hear her raspy voice as she begins a long incantation.

Penta inspires the group to the attack with an attack of her own, planting an arrow in the chest of the giant grindylow. It thrashes in the water, not used to being attacked. A hit for 9 points to the Whale.

A'vandira swims forward and tries to help Arven fight off the two grindylows. She stabs at one with her knife, but her blow is blunted by the grindylow's rubbery skin. Attack with dagger, just missed on to-hit roll.

Straining at the tentacles, Arven breaks free from his bonds. The grindylows were doing their best, but their tentacles weren't really strong enough to hold the barbarian for long. I'd neglected to post a DC for breaking the grapple, but a result like that is enough to easily escape their clutches.

Batango up next, with grindylow minions, Quara and Atajay following after. BTW, the scale on the map is one square = 10 feet. Technically that means the big grindylow is too far away to be detected by Batango's evil eye (see last post), but I'll keep it for now. Perhaps some strange property of the water acted to increase the effect of the hex to reach the grindylow so far away.

Updated Map

Initiative
18 - The Brinebrood Queen
18 - Penta
17 - A'vandira
13 - Arven
13 - Batango & Tabook
13 - The Whale and grindylows
12 - Quara
3 - Atajay

======

Sorry about the distance, in the first round when Penta said she'd move 30' forward, my aim was to move up 30' as well behind her, so I thought we'd be in range. Looks like the grindylows blocked us, though.

Unable to do much more to combat the grindylow brood at the moment, Batango pushes his gaze onto one of the closest squid-goblins, aiming to weaken its blows.

Evil Eye on the right of the two grindylows for a -2 to attack rolls. DC 15 Will save reduces the effect from 7 rounds to 1.

Round 2 continued
Batango turns his attentions to the two grindylow barring the way, fixing his baleful gaze on the rightmost warrior. Its eyes have a glazed look about them as it floats adrift on the current. Grindylow failed its Will save and is dazed for 7 rounds.

The giant, unnatural beast of a grindylow emits a tremendous bellow that thunders off the grotto's walls, a challenge to the invaders or possibly welcoming a feast. It kicks forward towards you as far as it can, reaching an enormous arm into the tunnel in hopes of reaching you. Despite his size, his reach still falls short. Dodging his grasping fingers, the grindylow warrior that was not dazed moves forward to attack Arven. It's spear jab is wild, coming nowhere close to the undine.

Ok, Quara and Atajay up next, then the queen.

Updated Map

Batango: No worries about the distance, the map kept throwing me for a loop as well, nowadays I just expect every map to work out at 5 feet to a square. Those two grindylows are just being pests, but bear in mind it's a three-dimensional space and you can always try to swim over or under them. Or, at least you can swim over them - the entrance tunnel has been laid with more of the fishhooks tied to seaweed fronds to snag the unwary (the dark blue squares on the map.

Initiative
18 - The Brinebrood Queen
18 - Penta
17 - A'vandira
13 - Arven
13 - Batango & Tabook
13 - The Whale and grindylows
12 - Quara
3 - Atajay

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Atajay couldn't stand by and let Sandara drown, so he first casts Ear Piercing Scream at one of the grindylows harassing Arven. He then starts swimming as hard as he can, heading for the pretty red haired priestess.

Damage 1d6 ⇒ 5

DC 16 Fort save for half damage and to avoid one round daze..

What happened to my attack?

Round 2 continued
Atajay casts another of his signature scream spells at one of the grindylows trying to hinder their progress. It rocks back as if hit by a concussive blast and is left floating limply. The other grindylow seems to be made of sterner stuff, despite being afflicted by Batango's evil eye. As Atajay tries to twist above it to swim to Sandara's aid, it looks prepared to take advantage of the opportunity to stab its spear deep into Atajay's chest. Just as it does so, Quara blocks the attack with her blade, leaving the grindylow wide open. She turns her blade to stab at the grindylow, ending it. Singing all the while, Quara follows after Atajay. Only the grindylow hulk is in your way.

Failed save and 5 points sonic damage is enough to disable the first grindylow. Also, apologies to Quara I did indeed miss your last action. I thought I'd gotten it, and I had to go back and read the last few posts several times to see the error. Hope the dramatic finish balances it out a bit, both grindylow warriors in front of you now disabled. A good save too, as otherwise grindylow would have made an attack of opportunity against Atajay that turned out to be a critical hit with a spear. I'm going to post the queen's action so everyone can post accordingly, but you should get an extra action for this turn, seeing as you were missed out.

Round 3
The grindylow queen-mother finishes her dark incantation and summons an octopus. It appears in the water between Sandara's and Kenya's writhing forms and the grindylow giant, its dark red tentacles twisting and turning. The grindylow queen starts climbing from the ledge down to the water.

Adversary-wise, you have left the big grindylow, one grindylow warrior circling Sandara and Kenya, the brood mother and her summoned octopus. No problem!

Updated Map

Initiative
18 - The Brinebrood Queen
18 - Penta
17 - A'vandira
13 - Arven
13 - Batango & Tabook
13 - The Whale and grindylows
12 - Quara
3 - Atajay

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Penta continues to try and bring down the Whale.

SA:
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

+1 for inspire