Goodluck, do you see anything? Meycho asks nervously, drawing his bow and fitting an arrow to the string just in case.
That mist seems ominous.
"Nothing, save fish. For all it seems frightening, I can see nothing threatening."
"The mist does seem to come from dat second waterfall. Might be the one we want to check out."
"Agreed. Any suggestions on how to get over there?"
Caelin eyed the water nervously.
Hold on a bit, Meycho said, stepping forward and closing his eyes for a second. When they opened again, they shone with an inner light that allowed him to detect evil nearby.
"Well, dere's dis." Goodluck smiles and steps off into the water, walking on it as if it were sold land. "I suppose I could carry you across, if you don't mind the ride."
Goodluck knowledge nature
Goodluck Sense motive
Dead Man's Drop - round 1
While Meycho focuses his innate ability to sense evil on the area, Goodluck steps past him and out onto the surface of the pool. Just then, another puff of mist completely obscures vision for everyone but Goodluck.
Your initial sweep out over the pool reveals no signs of evil. The mist is too thick for you to determine if you cover the entire area, however.
As you step out onto the pool, you are surprised to see one of the fish suddenly transform into a small slender green-skinned female, with webbed hands and hair the color of seaweed. She surfaces by one of the rocks, about 60 ft. from you, pulls out a small vial and gulps down the content. She then listens intently and glances towards the waterfalls. You realize that she is unable to see you and presumably thinks she is concealed by the mist. You guess that she is probably familiar with the rhythm of the mist puffs and is waiting for the mist to clear enough for her to spot you. You don't know what kind of creature she is.
MAP - Note, I adjusted the grid size a bit in relation to the previous map. I realized I had made the pool a little too big.
Vision
Thick mist: Obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature 5 feet away has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker cannot use sight to locate the target).
Goodluck slowly steps back onto land and in a low voice says: "One of de fish is not a fish; she is a woman, with webbed hands and seaweed hair. I don't t'ink she can see us, but she can hear us, so keep your voices low, eh?"
Where? I cannot see her. At least it doesn't appear there's evil in the mist, unless it is somehow masked or my powers are blocked by something.
Meycho concentrates again, this time trying to detect good.
No good either.
Jervaise frowns, but maintains his position at the waterline.
"Well, be careful, at least until we ascertain whether she is friend or foe..."
Caelin looked sideways at Taecuss and smiled. "If you can't climb, swim, eh?" he whispered.
After this, he took out a scroll from his pouch, gave an apologetic look to Goodluck, and read it softly as possible. Instantly, his skin hardened into the texture and consistency of tree bark.
You don't plan on jumping into the water, do you? The current seems mighty fierce.
Dead Man's Drop - round 2
While you huddle at the edge of the pool, conversing in hushed voices, the mist clears enough to reveal most of the area. Sure enough, you spot a slender female in the water by one of the stones.
She spots you, and regards you warily, keeping a good distance from the shore. The current rushes past her and drops of sharply to the lower pool 50 feet below, but she seems to be able to maintain her position without much effort. You have no doubt that if any of you, except Tae in his current form or Goodluck with his water-walking ability, were to enter the water, you would be hard-pressed to keep from being swept away by the current.
"Oh...who...who are you? You don't have the look of the Fellnight realm. Tell me, do you serve the Fellnight Queen or oppose her?" she calls out, her voice clear and fluid like a forest brook.
She sounds insincere, as if she already knows full well which side you are on and is only stalling for time.
She is most likely a Nixie. Nixies are guardians of ponds, rivers, lakes, and springs. They prefer dwelling in idyllic places, which they protect from the depredations of predators and careless humanoids. While this often involves confusing enemies and driving foes away, nixies are not afraid of spilling blood to protect their homes—though they prefer not to resort to such means unless completely necessary. Most nixies are Neutral.
Nixies avoid combat if possible, using charm person to lead humanoids away from their lairs. They sometimes use this ability to enslave people to act as protectors or help with a task that is simply too big for them to deal with. They cast water breathing on charmed creatures helping with tasks below the surface. Nixies are reclusive and prefer to keep their presence hidden. They make lairs underwater, forming small communities if their numbers are great enough.
Vision
Fellnight mist: Normal vision out to 20 feet. Creatures from 20 to 40 feet away has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker cannot use sight to locate the target).
"Come now, nixie, we have no time for your coy games. You know well (or have guessed) that we seek to end the Fellnight Queen's menace, so you face a hard choice: aid us, flee or fall prey. Choose quickly!"
Arvormeigh s :
E1 s:
Perception:
Taecuss:
Caelin:
Jervaise:
Goodluck:
Meycho:
Arvormeigh i :
E1 i:
E2 i:
Dead Mans Drop - round 3
Upon hearing Caelin's words, the nixie drops all pretense and sneers at you.
"On the contrary, elf. The choice is easy. I slay you all, and my Queen rewards me. You will never lay hands on the wardstones. But first, we play some of my "coy games". Come to me, elven warrior. Come take a swim in my lovely pool. She calls out to you. Her last words are directed especially at Caelin, and carry the unmistakable ring of magic command. Once she has spoken, she dives into the water and disappears from view. You all peer intensely into the mist to see if you can spot where she emerges.
You are unable to spot the nixie anywhere.
The nixie's word fill you with an overpowering urge to jump into the pool and swim to her.
You are unable to see where the nixie went. You do, however, spot a large dark patch of water close to the nearest waterfall, which seems unnaturally dense.
While she is very good at blending in to the water and mist, you are easily able to follow her with your magic sight and spot where she emerges much closer to the two waterfalls. She is now holding a shortbow with an arrow ready.
You also spot a large dark patch of water close to the nearest waterfall, which seems unnaturally dense.
Vision
Fellnight mist: Normal vision out to 20 feet. Creatures from 20 to 40 feet away has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker cannot use sight to locate the target).
Will Save 1: (Includes Iron Will)
Will Save 2: (Includes Iron Will)
Initiative:
So, not sure what my status is when failing one and passing the other. Stupid fey!! :-)
Despite your experience dealing with the fey and their charm magic, you fall victim to the lure of the nixie.
You step forward, desperate to be near the slender fey and her hauntingly beautiful voice.
As you are about to plunge into the water, your subconscious mind screams a warning about the peril of entering the rushing stream. The mental image of being swept over the edge and dropping over 50 ft towards jagged rocks is enough to jerk you free of the enchantment. At the last possible moment, you regain control of your mind, and step back from the waters edge.
"Keep alert. She's drawn a bow and readied an arrow, and there is something, possibly a water elemental near the near waterfall!"
Caelin stumbled a few steps towards the water, his arm outstretched in supplication. "I'm sorry fair water spirit! I was rude! I shouldn't have ye..." He stopped short as his boot splashed into the pool.
His mind cleared, focusing very intently on the waterfall and perilous drop. His outstretched arm became a fist shaking in anger. "Cursed fey!!"
"Bet you're glad I rule that jumping into the pool counts as a perilous action that grant a second save, huh?"
Yes. Yes I am. Being charmed and sent over a waterfall woulda been a bad memory for poor Caelin. :-)
Initiative:
Taecuss:
Jervaise:
Goodluck:
Meycho:
Dead Mans Drop - round 4
Action:
As Caelin curses the nixie for almost luring him to his death, Taecuss song, which has a distinct croaking tone to it thanks to his current form, fills the air and effectively distracts you all from further attempts to lure you into the water.
Initiative:
Meycho/Falling Star: 25
Jervaise: 23
?: 20
Goodluck: 14
Nixie: 11
Caelin/Aumgwe: 11
Taecuss: 8
Vision
Fellnight mist: Normal vision out to 20 feet. Creatures from 20 to 40 feet away has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker cannot use sight to locate the target).
Meycho readies his bow, hoping to catch a glimpse of the fell creature, while invoking a prayer to enhance his attacks.
Jervaise continues to peer into the mist, looking in vain for any sign of the Fey...
Goodluck is going to delay until the Nixie goes.
A Stealth
Taecuss:
Caelin:
Jervaise:
Goodluck:
Meycho:
A att , d
Concealment (miss 1-20)
A Snipe
Meycho attack , d
Concealment (miss 1-20)
E1: VS CMD 24
Dead Mans Drop - round 4
Action:
Goodluck and Caelin able to follow the nixie as she dives and moves closer to the shore. Then suddenly, she surfaces and launches an arrow at the singing Taecuss, who is too preoccupied with his singing to spot her. The arrow slams into the transformed bard with deadly accuracy, and a steady flow of blood seeps from the wound.
The nixie attempts to fade back into the mist once she has fired, but her slender shape can be clearly seen by all. Meycho sends an arrow into her arm, but the fey creature barely notices it, her natural defense preventing much of the damage.
The nixie shrieks in frustration.
"You think you are clever, do you - well, if you won't come into my pool when I ask nicely, I have other methods." She then shouts a command in a language that sounds like a series of gurgles and splashes.
From out of the waterfall, a 10 ft tall mass of dense water separates and moves forward. It reaches out with massive arms and attempts to envelop Caelin, obviously intent on pulling him into the water. Only the elven ranger's battle-honed reflexes saves him from going in.
Initiative:
Nixie: 11-1 (acted)
Meycho/Falling Star: 11-2 (acted - readied action triggered)
Water elemental: 11-3 (acted)
Jervaise: 11-4 (delay)
Goodluck: 11-5 (delay)
Caelin/Aumgwe: 11-6
Taecuss: 8
Vision
Fellnight mist: Normal vision out to 20 feet. Creatures from 20 to 40 feet away has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker cannot use sight to locate the target).
Drawing his trident as he charges, Goodluck attacks the Nixie. "You must cease this! Your death serves no one!"
Attack:
Damage: plus cold
Round 4:
Finally spotting something, Jervaise pullls out his lucerne hammer, and takes a swing at the creature in front of him!
(hit!) - (applies)
As Goodluck rushes forward, a snake-like appendage lashes out from the water elemental and slams into the Mwangi oracle. Undaunted by the bone-cracking hit, Goodluck continues on, violently thrusting his trident into the abdomen of the nixie. Although her injuries seem less severe than they should have been, dark blood still seeps from the fresh puncture wounds, black at the edges from the chilling cold of the magic weapon.
Then Jervaise swings his hammer at the wall of water before him. The weapon meets resistance as it connects, and the form wavers a bit, even though the elemental doesn't acknowledge the blow at all.
Tae CL check vs 12
A will save
Taceuss marshals all his magical talent and manages to overcome the fey's natural resistance to magic. The nixie, however, does not take her eyes off Goodluck. It seems her willpower is strong enough to resist the attempt to enchant her.
Caelin whistled to send Aumgwe after the Nixie, hoping to help Goodluck. He then stepped to the southeast, pulling out his bow. He launched an arrow at the elemental.
Round 4 Barkskin +3 AC, Iron Will, HP 50/53
command Aumgwe SW to I19 to provide flanking with Goodluck, 50' and then attacks with beak:
Bite:
Damage:
Caelin 5-ft steps SE to F26, draws bow and shoots once.
Arrow shot: (can't remember if there is the -4 penalty for shooting into melee when both are using reach...subtract 4 if so).
Damage if hit:
Dead Mans Drop - round 5
Action:
Caelin's arrow passes harmlessly through the water elemental, striking only vapor. Aumgwe swoops in and strikes at the nixie, but the sharp beak only manages to draw a thin line of blood across the fey's resistant skin.
Caught in melee with the water-walking oracle and the hawk, the nixie lets her bow drop to the bottom of the pool and pulls out a shortsword. A swift stroke of her webbed feet allows her to move out of Aumgwe's reach. There, she again calls a command in auran and waits, poised to strike, for the water elemental to react.
Initiative:
Nixie: 11-1 (acted - readied action)
Meycho/Falling Star: 11-2
Water elemental: 11-3
Jervaise: 11-4
Goodluck: 11-5
Caelin/Aumgwe: 11-6
Taecuss: 8
Vision
Fellnight mist: Normal vision out to 20 feet. Creatures from 20 to 40 feet away has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker cannot use sight to locate the target).
Meycho moves to get a better shot and draws upon the power of Ketephys to enhance his arrow against the evil fey, letting a cold iron arrow fly.
Goodluck scowls at the woman. He holds aloft his trident and uses punitive transformation on the woman.
E1:
Slam 1 (hit)
dmg (applies)
Slam 2 (hit)
dmg (applies)
A:
short sword (crit threat)
dmg + 3 bleed
Crit confirm (crit confirmed)
dmg (applies)
E2:
Slam 1 (hit)
dmg (applies)
The water elemental by the waterfall responds to the nixie's command by shifting back towards Goodluck, forcing him to divide his attention between it and the nixie. Two massive coils of dense water slam into the barnacle-covered oracle from different directions.
The nixie giggles with malicious glee and lashes out with her shortsword faster than a water viper. The point of the blade slips up into Goodlucks thigh and severs the main artery. At once, bright red blood starts to gush from the wound.
Then, from out of the mists covering the far side of the pool, another water elemental surges forward like a tsunami, battering Goodluck once again.
Seemingly by pure force of will alone, Goodluck remains standing. But he is swaying heavily from the brutal assault, and his blood flows freely into the water below.
Jervaise 5' steps back, drops his weapon, draws a sling, and loads it.
Within seconds, Goodluck has lost too much blood to remain conscious. His trident slips from his grasp and drops to the bottom as he sags and collapses. His magic water-walking ability seems to function even though he is unconscious, and he lies on the surface of the pool, his blood flowing steadily out under him as an ever expanding red carpet.