Having slept late, I am cursing the heat of the midday sun when I hear a lot of commotion. Making my way towards the ruckus, I discover some old friends and new crew members engaged in a fight with something in the water. Without thinking I rush forward and dive into the water, swimming towards the battle. Looking around I see a thing from a nightmare apparently trying to draw someone down into the deep, but being hindered by my friends.
Quara grabs Pete and strikes out for the surface; once the target is safely on shore, she'll return to do combat!
Quara grabs Pete and strikes out for the surface; once the target is safely on shore, she'll return to do combat!
The golden squid moves five feet back up right after the snake lady and all of her friends and tries to bite and lash at her once again.
"Ow, that hurts!". The sorcerer bides his time, waiting for all his friends to try and pop as many duplicates of the snake woman as possible before taking his action.
Once as many as possible were gone, he casts Ear Piercing Scream again.
Damage
Reaching the surface and handing over Pete, Chavakala releases a burst of healing energy, then quickly dives back under the water, ready to lend her spear to the fight against the snake lady.
Floating on the surface, Quara nods to the people taking over Pete - and then starts to sing. Her voice dopplers oddly, bouncing off what looks like empty air and reaching into distances unseen...
This is a strange creature! Glad that Pete has been helped, Amaric turns his attentions to the snake lady figures. He swims down and towards them, trying to stab with his rapier.
Chavakala kicks forward, continuing to be supported by Desna's divine aid. Coming in quickly, she aims her boarding pike and tries to spear the snake lady on the fly.
Meanwhile the golden squid continues to bite and try to entangle the dazed creature.
Coming within range, Amaric thrusts with his rapier, trying to pierce the snake woman's hide.
Around Quara, the water suddenly boils without heat, darkens, then brightens.
Grinning, Quara swims down again, longsword leading the way. At her side swims a single, golden dolphin, which barrels ahead and attacks one of the serpent women while Quara lashes out at one of the others.
The sorcerer again uses his vocal weapon, hoping his aim would strike true yet again.
EPS Damage
Having used precious moments to analyze the situation, I look at the snake lady and pointing a finger towards her, an arrow speeds towards her.
Chavakala clambers out of the water and goes over to Pete, making sure that her channeling took care of most of his injuries. "I don't know what that creature was, but it is gone for now. Hopefully it will find new prey away from the town." She describes it to the townspeople in case any of them recognize it from earlier encounters or know what it might have been.
"Has that creature ever attached here before? Was it random, or was it looking for someone, I wonder?"
Quara pulls herself up on shore and vigorously shakes her body, dislodging water from her striped fur before she carefully wipes down her sword and sheathes it.
"A bracing start to the day!" she says, grinning. "I'm sure we'll have a chance to find out more about who- or whatever she was. She's fled for now, but I wager she'll be hacked off and spoiling for a rematch soon enough."
"Just let her try. Next time we'll be ready. I will be ready." Looking around I smile at a little kid, beckoning him to come closer. "Wanna earn a few coppers? If yes, please go fetch me a towel and come back." Watching the kid rush off quickly, and returning almost as quickly, I dip my hand into my beltpouch. "Thanks. And here's the money I promised you. And a little something extra."
Aid another Heal
The pirate punches the kid in the shoulder. "You'll go blind staring like that, young'un. Run along, now before you embarrass yourself!"
"Not make it? Not make it?" Quara sputters. "After we did all we could to save his life? Not bloody likely! Here, Petey, let's have a look at those scratches of yours."
The captain gives Pete a thorough examination and does her best to counteract the effects of the poison.
Even though Atajay and Quara seem to be doing everything possible to help Pete recover, Chavakala kneels and tries to do what she can to help. "A water naga? Further down the river? I wonder if we should go speak with them once we make sure this boy will survive."
Amaric emerges from the river, dripping wet and his fine clothes a mess. He feels somewhat cheated of a good fight, but on one level he feels relieved the creature is gone. During his time wandering lost in the jungles, he'd had his fill of the monsters there. The sooner he set sail and go away from this place, the better.
Momentarily distracted by the sight of A'vandira, Amaric looks down in concern at the others trying to draw out the poison from Pete's bite.
"How's the boy doing, Cap'n? He gonna make it?"
"Might be we shouldn't waste time eating and getting drunk, but looking upstream. More Nagas might come... Maybe we can do something about that."
"To be fair, Captain, it took all we had to scare that one off. If it would have blasted me even once more, I think I'd have been done for," Atajay whispers to his boos, out of earshot of the others.
"It might be wise to recruit right now. They saw us in action, so some of them might be willing to serve under us," he suggests to the Boss.
"Recruit for sure, but let's not miss a chance to secure our reputation too Captain! Let them know that this crew is dangerous to our enemies, but looks out for our allies."
Assist to Diplomacy
The sorcerer keeps a high profile the next day, talking up the crew and its mission, supporting Captain Quara during her recruiting efforts.
Quara tries to talk a good game during the days of refitting and preparation, but it is clear her mind is on other things: the awaiting horizon and the nearby Nagas.
When the group is private, she muses aloud: "You know, my lads and lasses, that Naga was a powerful creature. Imagine having one on our side... When we head out onto the brine, we're going to need to add some nice surprises to our arsenal. Obviously the one we fought won't be amenable, but if ever we meet another one...?"
Amaric agrees with the captain that a naga would make for a powerful ally. But, it's plain he is not keen on returning to the jungle to track one down. Rather, he spends his time trying to help where he can with provisioning the ship, eager to get back to sea. In between, he practices his swordplay and heads up to the bluffs to look out at the ocean horizon, longing for open water.
He also spends time trying to get to know the folks here at this station, including the crew of the Rabbit Prince. "So A'vandira, those are interesting tattoos. Varisian, are they? And Atajay, you look like you have some stories to tell. What was your last voyage? I've met a few ship's mages, officers in the Andoran navy, but I confess I don't know much about magic. And Chavakala, where have you sailed from?"
"From the north Amaric. I was born in Riddleport. A colder and slightly more settled Port Peril far north of here. The weather here certainly appeals to me and there have been all manner of different sights to see. I'm happy with the path that Desna has set for me."
"Outr last adventure involved overthrowing the terrors of the sea, Masters Scourge and Plugg! We had to put them over the side, and feed some damned sea sharks a big meal. Goes to show that being a Captain is more than being strong...you have to have some tact in your manners. They gave us the worst jobs, tried to maroon us on an island, and then finally tried to do us in. Just the usual pirate lifestyle it seems," Atajay says with a cackle.
"Sounds like a few of the captains I have had the misfortune of meeting between Riddleport and here. I'm glad to hear that Captain Quara is an improvement."
"And the two bastards I told you about were nothing compared to their chief. A bloke named Harrigan. Evil to the core. We were lucky he was off ship at the time. He might have been too much for us, honestly. Part of the reason we are having the ship scrubbed is to keep him from finding us again. Nasty temper on that one."
"Ah, it sounds like you all just escaped with your lives. I too seem plagued with bad luck. I'm hoping this next voyage will signal a change in fortunes. Glad to have met you Atajay, Chavakala."