Wounded and weakened, Braelex withdraws, retreating past Fulmen and the others.
Eyeing the black skeleton nervously, vuloo takes a 5' step back and then casts burst of radiance over the captain.
Relan swings out and smashes another skeleton to smithereens as Vuloo apprehensively casts a spell at the Captain, who is slowly and menacingly turning towards the halfling.
A flash of light bursts from the skeleton and the light sears its evil-infused bones
Braelex retreats back behind the others and the Captain turns to Vuloo, a closer threat. He strikes one, his undeath sapping strength from the small halfling's body.
The remaining crew members move in to attack.
; success; rounds dazzled
; HIT!; + Strength Damage
; miss
Captain: 13 dazzled
Relan attacks as a skeleton comes closer but in his weakened state is unable to connect.
Vuloo grits his teeth as the skeleton's blade draws blood. "I must be brave. May Sarenrae grant me the strength to persevere."
He takes another 5'step backwards and casts burst of radiance again, centered on the Captain.
; miss.
Dolphin AoOs?
Have Aidon's Round 3 action as summoning another archon (mark where it should go) and then both will attack.
Braelex's action too, please.
D1
To Hit -
Damage -
D2
To Hit -
Damage -
D3
To Hit -
Damage -
D4
To Hit -
Damage -
D5
To Hit -
Damage -
D6
To Hit -
Damage -
Archon will appear near me but able to attack the Captain
Relan continues to attack.
Braelex gulps down a healing concoction.
Aidon's dolphins bash the two running crew members to bits and his archons move in to blast the captain several times, blowing small metallic bits of bone off the strange undead.
Relan destroys the final normal skeleton and Vuloo backs up firing another burst of radiance, and this time catching the skeleton in the head. It stumbles, turning its head left and right and cocking as if listening.
Braelex drinks and extract and the Captain stumbles in to engage Vuloo once more, but striking blindly with poor aim. The halfling steps in to one blow, however and gets more of his limited strength sucked.
; ; HIT!; + Str damage
; ; miss
Captain: 38 dazzled/blinded
Aidon frowns at the Captain that is still attacking his friend and commands the 2 Archons to destroy him.
Not sure if the Dolphins can attack or not as I am not sure if the white is water or land.
D1
To Hit -
Damage -
D2
To Hit -
Damage -
D3
To Hit -
Damage -
D4
To Hit -
Damage -
D5
To Hit -
Damage -
D6
To Hit -
Damage -
To Hit Touch AC -
Damage -
To Hit Touch AC -
Damage -
Archons get 2 attacks each.
With flagging strength, Vuloo staggers back 5' and hits the captain a third time with burst of radiance.
To Hit Touch AC -
Damage -
To Hit Touch AC -
Damage -
The 2 archons and finally Vuloo's spell turn the Captain into a faint afterimage, leaving nothing behind but his scimitars.
Vuloo drops to one knee, "That was close. Remind me to stay out of combat next time."
He pulls out his wand of restoration and uses three charges on himself.
He applies two more charge on Braelex.
Relan breathing hard, works to carry each skeleton with its gear to the beach. Then he quickly sorts through it and asks for a Detect Magic. Eventually his strength, drained by that foul necromancy, comes back to him. Once everyone is recovered he notes We have removed an obstacle but still must search the ship and gather the plants.
Vuloo stands back up and nods to the fighter, "Lead on Relan. Let's be done with this."
He follows the lore warden into the water.
Most of the skeletons' weapons are rusted and broken, but the Captain's scimitars are immaculate.
Relan has no problem getting to the boat and gathering the kelpie's hair.
After the kelpie's hair is gathered Relan will use much of the remaining water breathing duration to search the ship, hoping to find a sea chest or at least a captain's silver service or the like. He recommends the group save enough time on the spell to recross the channel so that no one is again fatigued.
After he leads the group back wearing one of the scimitars. He cautions This witch is an unknown. Simply because we have lived up to our end of the bargain does not mean she will. I hope for the best, but let us be prepared for the worst.
Braelex nods, concurring with Relan.
Vuloo also nods at Relan's wisdom, "No matter what she says, we should not allow ourselves to be drawn into combat with her. Shall we be on our way?"
Relan's search comes up disappointingly empty. Either the boat was looted previously, wasn't carrying anything or it was lost somewhere before it crashed.
The waterbreathing spell aids the weaker swimmers and while they are carried by the current a bit, everyone is able to cross with a bit of patience.
As you trek back across the island toward the witch's hut, you spy movement on the far side of the bridge. Back where you originally came.
Braelex glances back.
What was that?
.
Or who.
Vuloo whispers, "These swamps are full of predators. Let us proceed with caution."
The party spies a figure moving out of the swamp on the far side of the bridge. Now visible as a travel-stained and somewhat bloodied elf, she approaches the bridge and pauses at the signs and skulls.
You follow the party's spoor and make your way to a rickety-looking bridge crossing the water to a small island. The bridge leading to the isle is decorated with bleached humanoid skulls with weird sigils painted on them in crusty, reddish-brown dried blood. A hut sits at the center of the small island, a mossy wooden shack with a sagging roof sitting in the shade of a few moss-draped willows. A plume of smoke wafts from a chimney, and cooking smells pervade the area, though the odor is not altogether pleasant.
You spy a group of humanoids from across the bridge on the other side of the hut. Two humans, a tielfing, a half-elf, a halfling, and an aasimar ... they are soaked in seawater and appear to be exhausted. They spy you.
Vuloo peers through clouded eyes at the approaching figure, "She look's familiar. I don't believe it! Levelle, is that you? What are you doing here? My friends, this is Levelle Mahe, a fellow pathfinder. Levelle, Are you hurt?"
Levelle circles a finger and whistles low, telling Talaay to come to her. As the bird descends the hunter examines the skulls and thinks on their origins and next steps until a voice yells out at her.
As the halfling bellows her name across the fen the hunter raises an arm in salutation and starts to walk across the bridge to close the distance.
As she approaches the group the elf can't help but cock an eyebrow, Not exactly a good swimming spot... Levelle reaches out a hand to scratch under Talaay's chin, Vuloo, right?
Aidon continues to swim and splash around with his dolphins until they disappear and then reluctantly heads to shore to see who the new person is.
Dripping wet and shivering slightly Aidon waves at the new elf and immediately reaches out to pet the bird giving no real thought to the danger. "Ohh bird bird!"
Levelle unconsciously steps back to keep the wet newcomer from getting his hand close to the bird while she frowns at the man, Talaay is bound to me, trained to accept the approach of none other. That is a good way to lose fingers...
Vuloo smiles, "Oh, I wouldn't worry about Aidon, he is part were-gazelle."
Vuloo looks more pointedly at Levelle, "Now, what brings you to the Mushfens Levelle? Have you been following us?"
Aidon blushes at the rebuke and slowly pulls his hand back, you can tell he is clearly devastated that he can not pet your bird
He then smiles at Vuloo "Well not yet, but someday..." he smiles as he gazes off into the distance
Levelle offers an easy smile and waves her hand at Aidon as though to say "not a problem" as she turns her gaze back to Vuloo, Apparently my skills as a hunter are secondary to my skills as a messenger... The elf reaches into the folds of her overcoat and produces a sealed envelope, This is for Fulmen.
The hunter waggles the letter and continues her smile, Maybe I should wait to hand it over until you are dry? Beyond that I've been told that you could use some help and I'm here to do some spice trade haggling. Levelle offers a shrug that jostles Talaay (though the brid doesn't seem to mind)
Fulmen, the half-elf, approaches saying nothing and holds out his hand.
Levelle turns the letter over.
Braelex arches a brow. "Are you in trouble?" she asks Fulmen.
Fulmen reads the letter stone faced and then looks at Braelex, "Maybe."
He looks at it again, "I need to go ... I'll send a note if I can return to you all."
And with that, he shoulders his quarterstaff and sets off at a trot back into the swamp.
Levelle watches the man go and after a moment offers, Well uh...there he goes...so...uhm. What now?
Braelex moves to follow Fulmen, but, after a moment, hesitates and lets him go. She turns to Levelle, "We're off to see the witch..."
Vuloo bids farewell to Fullmen and then turns to the group.
"Yes, we have business with the Witch. Let us be on our way at once. I would like to make it to the Lady's Light before sun down. Levelle, I don't know how much Sheila told you, but there's a couple things we should discuss. I dare say that it appears that we've stumbled onto something truly momentous ..."
Vuloo will help the others recount their story and will provide the salient points of their current expedition.
Levelle nods at the story, Quite the tale. Obviously I am here to help. Talaay too. As I said the only other thing I need to do is meet with the locals about spice, if you can help me with that part I am at your disposal.
As the party banters, you hear a snort and a hacking spit, "Think you're gonna make it with the locals, fey girl? Good luck, why d'ya think I mount their heads on my bridge?"
Dismissing the elf, the half-orc witch, standing in the doorway of her cottage turns to the sodden party, stone-faced "You get what I need or are we going to have problems?"
Vuloo gestures for Relan to provide the kelpie's hair to the crone.
"Wise one, we have brought you the kelpie's hair, as you instructed. What wisdom may you share with us concerning the Mushfens and the Lady's Light?"
Relan steps forward to deliver the nixie hair. You could have chosen to mention that it was guarded by undead sailors. We had to dispatch them so if you need more you can more easily gather it yourself. Relan says in a neutral tone.
The witch throws her head back and barks a laugh out loudly, "Eh, did I forget to mention it might be haunted? Looks like you're none the worse for wear, although you might've avoided taking a brine bath, given I'm inviting you in for dinner."
She waves to you all, beckoning forward, "Bring the hair and find a seat for lunch."
She heads in to her hut, her bird chasing her in and taking roost up in the rafters. She swipes the kelpie's hair from Relan and heads to a small wood burning stove. Her place is cramped and small but there are enough stools for everyone to sit should they wish.
She talks as you enter (or stand outside as the case may be) and throws the seaweed along with various roots and herbs into a pot, starting a stew.
“The xulgaths (who you city folk know better as troglodytes) and boggards have bickered over control of the Lady’s Cape for years. They’re pretty evenly matched if you ask me. I’ve bloodied their noses when they’ve stuck them in my business, so for the most part they’ve let me be—that’s what the skulls and artwork on my bridge are for.
Levelle follows the others but offers a click and a gesture to tell Talaay to stay outside and watch for intruders.
At the mention of the "locals" the elf blanches slightly, Are those truly the only locals to speak of?
Are those truly the only locals to speak of?
"Other than me? For the past couple decades, yes. But then, a few months back, we had some new visitors. A troop of women knights or something, clad in plate and wearing red-plumed helms. Their leader was a woman named Oriana—pretty enough, at least till she took her helmet off and showed off her scars. She sat down to dinner with me just like you did, only she gave me a fine magic wand as a bribe, so I didn’t feel the need to send her off to gather seaweed."
She stirs the pot, tasting her spoon for a moment and then frowns, continuing to stir.
"Anyway. She told me she and her sisters were from Korvosa, soldiers of the rightful queen who’d been tumbled off the throne a few years back. They’d had to flee the city once their queen wasn’t in charge, and fell into mercenary work until Oriana got the idea to plunder the Lady’s Light for the treasure they think’s hidden inside of it. Made me chuckle a bit, since I’ve heard there’s secret rooms in the Lady filled with treasure too. I’ve tried to find a way into the place before—there’s caves under the area that are supposed to connect to the chambers below the Light, but those caves belong to the trogs and frogs and bigger critters. I didn’t get far, and since then I’ve steered clear of the Light—the b&#~! gives me the willies, anyway. Some powerful magic going on in there."