Deader notes that there is rope and a horseshoe lifebuoy on the main deck, so he needs not seek it from the quartermaster. Similarly the foot bindings within his shoes should prevent any coral derived damage.
Nachni is able to snatch a belaying pin for use as a club, before all get wet through climbing down a rope ladder on the side of the ship and starting to swim out to the reef.
Once there you see that the multicolored coral ranges in depths from 5 to thirty feet below the surface and there is some mutability to it's density. Looking down you can see fish and other creatures skittering about within the confines of the jagged trees.
Perception:
Swim - Take 10:
Despite not really paying attention, Obisyth spots a crab and then dives down and catches it.
Crabs? I've always preferred to chase after the fish and there are a whole bunch of colorful, new ones to look at here. Oh, was that a crab? I guess not. Better keep looking.
Deader takes a moment to attach his rope and floating ring, just in case they're needed and then quickly spots a crab. Grinning, he slips below the water and stuffs it into a pot.
As the initial batch of sweet crab meat is brought to surface, you notice that your activity has elicited a response from some of the other denizens of the reef. Emerging from twin bolt-holes at either side of where you're bobbing away with your catch come creatures that look a cross between a moray eel and a giant lobster... only these ones are about five foot long. They pause a moment before surging towards where you are roughly grouped on the sea surface leading with oversize lobster claws.
Apart from that... they make damned good eating, and the claws look like they might make for a smooth surface for etching...
Cedrick:
Obisyth:
Nachni:
Joneth:
Deader:
Action Tracker (Round 1): Lobster-Eels, Nachni, Joneth, Obisyth, Deader, Cedrick
Seeing the strange creatures appear, Obisyth simply shrugs and feel the power of her forefathers within her. You see her form suddenly change and morph into a slightly larger and more powerful form, even bluer than before with webbing between her fingers and toes.
Use Alter Self to become an Undine - Swim speed 30', +8 on swim checks.
Circle up friends, we have visitors.
Taking note of the creatures, as well as Cedrick's warning about the poison they carry, Joneth flicks his wrist slightly and once again a dagger appears in his right hand as the rogue gets ready for a fight.
"Nasty, I guess the oceans near my home aren't the only ones with deadly creatures looking to eat you." Nachni takes a few strong strokes to get near the rest of the group. Once there, she begins speaking in a foreign singsong voice, watching the approaching creatures warily.
Deader let's himself sink for a moment so the surface of the water doesn't distort his aim, and points. A snapping purplish bolt lances through the water towards the closest of the creatures.
As Joneth struggles in the water and Nachni prepares a spell. A wan light shoots forth from Deader's finger to strike one of the chitinous horrors...
Fort Save: for
...and the lobster seems to weaken for a moment.
Obisyth's form twists and breaks into a new more liquidly nimble figure and she turns to face the surging beast.
Timing his strike Cedrick almost catches the reefclaw with his well made (though non-magical) hand axe, but the water fouls the blow and the reefclaw lunges with it's pincers...
Claw: for and Grab: and poison DC 13 Fort or Str damage
Obisyth faces a similar assault on the other side of the group...
Claw: for and Grab: and poison DC 13 Fort or Str damage
...both intrepid crabbing pirates ending up in the pincer grip of their respective reefclaw foes as they feel poison begin to seep into their blood.
Action Tracker (Round 2): Reefclaws, Nachni, Joneth, Obisyth, Deader, Cedrick
Round 2
AC: 10 due to grappled condition reducing Dex.
HP: 9/9
Fort Save:
Unsure of how to break the grip, Obisyth smashes the reefclaw's shell with her club.
Attack:
Damage:
Obisyth shrugs off the poison creeping into her veins, but is unable to land a solid blow on the reefclaw's thick shell.
I also mentally call out to Shadow to come help if he is close enough. (Not sure how many rounds it will take to reach us.)
Nachni reaches out and brushes her hand against the hard shell of the reefclaw struggling with Obi.
Nachni reaches out and brushes her hand against the hard shell of the reefclaw struggling with Obi.
1d20+5
1d20+4
I assume you cast Touch of Gracelessness.
Deader kicks, pulling with his hands to sweep in behind the creature grabbing Bootlick and draws the short club he'd received to smash rats with.
Putting his hand on the creature's back for a moment, Deader leans his head to the side. For a moment he seems unsure of what to do, but he follows his instinct and waves of unnatural malevolence seem to pour out of him.
Obisyth just managed to evade the reefclaw's lunging pincers.
Obisyth twists in the water to slam down with her club - but the water robs the strike of it's accuracy. Nachni sweeps forward to attempt to dull the beast's sense - but her hand swipes through clean water as the reefclaw proves swifter than she thought.
As Deader positions himself, Cedrick proves luckier and wedges the axe solidly in between two segments of carapace and dealing his foe a grave - though not immediately mortal - blow. The reefclaw's pincer presses tighter in pain as it thrashes.
Action Tracker (Round 2): Reefclaws, Nachni, Joneth, Obisyth, Deader, Cedrick
Damage Tracker:
Cedrick's Dinner: 8
Obisyth's Entree: 0
Despite his previous failure, Joneth perseveres and manages to do better this time, swimming towards Obisyth and the creature attacking her.
Cedrick's tormentor holds his grip and attempt to use the leverage to give it's free pincer free reign...
Grapple Maintain:
...though Cedrick twists in it's grip and escapes from it's clutches!
Obisyth's foe sinuously lunges at her after dodging the thrashing club...
Claw:
...though she is too lithe to make into it's lunch.
Action Tracker (Round 3): Reefclaws, Nachni, Joneth, Obisyth, Deader, Cedrick
Damage Tracker:
Cedrick's Dinner: 8
Obisyth's Entree: 0
Obisyth again swings her club with both hands at the reefclaw, attempting to strike the deadly creature.
Attack: <-- Add +2 if there is a flanking bonus from Joneth.
Damage:
Obisyth face lights up with an evil grin as the club connects, which you guess is from whatever outsider is her sire.
Obisyth aims her strike a little better this time, bludgeoning the eel tail of the reefclaw and blood spills into the water from where she struck.
Deader extends his unsettling presence allowing it to suffuse the reefclaw and he gets a sense that the beast is left worse off for the experience.
Cedrick only just manages to keep his head above water... but his arms are free for a well aimed blow unto the reefclaw's skull. The axe cracks open the chitin and the creature goes limp.
Action Tracker (Round 3): Reefclaws, Nachni, Joneth, Obisyth, Deader, Cedrick
Damage Tracker:
Cedrick's Dinner: Dead
Obisyth's Entree: 8
Nachni curses softly as her hand misses the reefclaw, but continues to tread water and seek a good position to surround the creature. She grabs her belaying pin and tries to give the reefclaw a whack.
Closing the distance between himself and the remaining creature as fast as he can, Joneth brings his dagger to bear in a slashing strike against the reefclaw.
Joneth splashes around to the creature's back and sinks his dagger deep into flesh at the weak point where carapace meets tail. The reefclaw thrashes for a few moments before it goes still in death.
Feeling safe from harm now that the reefclaws have been slain and potted, Nachni enjoys a bit of freedom to explore a very different ocean. Distracted from her task by the wide variety of new fish and other aquatic life in the topical seas of the Shackles, it seems like she takes forever to fill her pot full of crabs. Finally surfacing, she asks, "Did someone grab the urchin? That could come in handy?"
With a swim speed of 30', I quickly grab the reefclaws and the sea urchin as carefully as possible and also help get crabs. Once the Alter Self wears off I continue to get the crabs.
Take10 Perception:
Take10 Swim:
Once my fast swimming wears off, I surface and realize that Bootlick seems to bleeding from where the reefclaw got him. I swim over, put my finger to my lips. Whisper: Just don't let the goons in charge know that I can do this.
Cast CLW:
Seeming to remember that he needed to breathe, Deader surfaced. "Should be good eating tonight."
|
"Thats a handy trick." He gives Obi a conspiratorial smile.
Cedrick bags his reefclaw, and dives down for his urchin.
Swim Take 10 = 17
Crabbing...
Perception
Swim Take 10 = 17
Pot 2 filled.
Perception
Swim Take 10 = 17
Nil
Perception
Swim Take 10 = 17
Nil
Perception
Swim Take 10 = 17
Pot 3 filled
Perception
Swim Take 10 = 17
Pot 4 filled
With the hostile creatures dealt with, Joneth focuses on gathering crabs and filling the pots given to them.
With the threat of the reefclaws removed, the remainder of the crabbing expedition becomes almost peaceful. Out here among the open water you are actually free from the jaundiced oversight of Plugg and Scourge and those that would harm you... however the relief is shortlived. Still too distant from land to swim for it, the impending evening drives you back to the Wormwood with heavy arms turning over in the water and dragging your catch.
A few of the swabs bring you back aboard and nod appreciatively at the sign of the reefclaws - open lip licking in anticipation on some faces. Delivering the bounty to Kroop he claps his hands and booms "Bugger me lads, it's going to be an effort to cook this up..." pulling a bottle from behind one of the cupboards in the crowded kitchen where Deader knows he keeps his own booze stash. Handing a bottle of Andoran port to Nachni he taps his nose meaningfully "Keep that to yerself though"
Dinner comes later that evening as the day dies into night and Deader and Kroop bring a huge platter of vivid red crab pieces onto the top deck. Having to go back below for a second cargo, a smaller platter of seared reefclaw pieces is also brought and laid for all to have at. Plugg, Scourge and the other officers take their pick before the crew is let at it... but there is still more than enough crab claw and reef claw meat to go around. The general mood on deck is relatively festive and Rosie sits with her fiddle beside her ready for a tune... once she's finished with her food that is.
Later in the evening you notice the cabin girl Caulky making her way across deck with a couple of cloth wrapped packages. She's a pretty little thing... though all on deck give her wide berth knowing that Harrigan favors her. She wordlessly hands one each of the packages to Joneth and Bootlick, not tarrying to talk before heading back into the Captain's cabins.
Upon each of the twine wrapped packages is a short note written in a firm hand Deeds do not go unpunished or rewarded on my ship. My ears have heard it is due to your hands that reefclaw is on my table. A token then, of appreciation. Captain Harrigan
Joneth unwraps his small parcel to find a single edged dagger with a slight curve to the blade and a bone handle. It is well balanced and the edge sharp.
Cedrick's parcel is a well made darkwood box inlaid with blackened silver filigree. Within the inside of the box is a small vial of viscous brown liquid.
Those big reefclaw pinchers were of particular interest to Deader. After ripping all the meat out and helping Kroop cook them up, he carefully scrubbed them out with sand and water, scraping the excess bits of flesh out. Some fire and some lacquer to harden them and they would be ready for carving.
What to make?
Taking one of the claws with him to dinner, Deader happily chomped down his portion and eyeballed it from every angle.
"What do you think, fellas?" he asked his compatriots with a cataract grin. "Something decorative? Something practical? I have a good idea for two of them, but not sure about the others."
Obisyth looks at the Reefclaws. Bet they would make some good armor. Would probably take a lot of work though.