Skull and Shackles: Red Sky at Morning (Inactive)

Game Master DBH

Ashlei nods, a grim look at the narrow opening.

"Roger Cap'n."

"Sure, happy to take up the rear!" chirps Neela in relief.

Once past the narrow opening the cavern widens out a bit to about 8 to 10 feet wide in some spots, with the ceiling about 8 feet overhead. With the conga line formed, you move deeper into the cave which slopes up and into the cliff face at a very steep slope.
Moving cautiously you soon reach the end of the cave, just below the island's surface. Sunlight filters through an opening in the cavern's ceiling revealing the root system of what must be the massive tree, just visible through the crevice, overhead.
The cracks and fissures in the tree's trunk resemble that of a wizened human face, it's branches spreading out to resemble a crown upon it's head, while the root system below seems like the growth of an ancient beard.

Randall looks around, not seeing any chests of gold "Okay, now what?" he asks "Anyone bring a shovel?"

"Gimme a second" - Herzag grumbles.

Taking 20 to search the area thoroughly -> Total is 32

Herzag searches the passageway and cave to find that the only tracks are the recent ones you've made in the tunnel's muddy dirt. However searching the root system he finds a human skull tangled among them, it's eye sockets fixated on a spot on the cavern floor.

"Careful, if there's a skull, could mean there's a trap right here that already did some damage!"

Neela searches for magical auras that might offer clues. Detect magic.

Pulling a dagger, Ashlei starts digging in the dirt approximately where the skull is looking.

"High ho! Here we go! Treasure digging and and monsters tickling! High ho! Here we go!"

Neela, her eyes glowing bright blue, begins scanning the area around the tree roots but does not detect nay magic.

Ashlei begins to dig with her dagger but after several minutes of work has nothing to show for it but a hole about one foot deep and a sore, cramped hand.

Anyone remembered to bring a shovel? :D

Looking at the progress, Rhialla calls a halt. "Give me a second and I'll have this dug."

Intoning a spell she gestures towards the ground, as a small vaguely humanoid form rises out of the dirt, solidifying into a small eart elemental that moves to the area indicated by the skull's eyesockets.

Cast Summon Monster II (Earth Elemental) commanded to retrieve anything buried that contains wood, metal or gems

The elemental glides into the earth and soon begins to bring up wooden plank after wooden plank until it returns to it's home plane. Soon after it disappears the ground begins to shake violently as it gives way to reveal a 10' wide hole. The shaft descends 30' to a water filled cavern below. The rotted remains of a wooden platform and stairs, much of which has fallen into the water below, cling to the side of the shaft.

"Not exactly what I expected but I'll take it." Rhialla says with a laugh.

How water filled are we talking?

Do the words "Completely Submerged" mean anything to you?

"Wow, nice going, Rhialla! So, anyone have a trick for breathing underwater?"

Neela sends down some Dancing Lights so the party can see into the water and observe any threats.

Smiling, Ashlei pulls some potions out of her magical pack and waves them non-nonchalantly.

"Never leave port without them. Although, I'm personally not the most effective while under the water."

I have one potion of Wter Breathing, one of Air Bubble, and one Touched by the Sea. NOTE: They are all of minimum duration of course...

"Nice one Burnout! I can handle my own." Rhialla answers, turning to Percy, "Or cast it on someone else and stay here."

Neela's lights dance down the shaft and into the water, illuminating the cavern below,a roughly oval cavern about 15 feet across and about 20 feet high. From your vantage point you can clearly see that, except for the debris from the ruined stairs and platform, the chamber is empty. You can also make out a passageway sloping away to the southeast exiting the cave.

New map is up.

"Lets get a rope secured that can lower us down, and ill shimmy down it to see if I can spot where that passage sort of goes. No sense in drinking those potions of yours Burnout if we dont need to just yet."

He began securing his weaponry while peering down the hole.

looking back I see that you found a cache of six Water Breathing potions aboard the Thresher (nice foreshadowing there). Assuming you divvied those up amongst yourselves, everyone should have at least one potion each. Water Breathing is a 3rd level spell (CL:5) that last for two hours per caster level. So everyone should have at least 10 hours of available water breathing.

Neela suddenly remembers the cache of Water Breathing potions they found. She hands out the potions. "Hey, we have these potions of Water Breathing! That'll let us breathe water for 10 hours!"

"Perfect" - Herzag smiles at Neela, and waits for Percival's report back.

I think the one I have is one of those that got divvied up. =)

Punching Herzag in the arm lightly, Ashlei smiles at him sweetly.

"You first big guy! I can swim pretty well, but you're a bigger target!"

She then looks down at the water below and shudders almost imperceptibly.

Do Neela's lights reveal anything?

Percival dives down only to find the water logged remains of the stairs and platform, no sign of Captain Wolfe's famed treasure remains. The passageway to the southeast slopes deeply into the darkness, further into the bedrock of the island.

"C'mon boys and girls, adventure awaits!" Downing the potion like a shot of top shelf whiskey, Rhialla dives into the water following her lover.

Swim: 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 - 2 + 2 = 14

Frowning, Ashlei downs her potion of waterbreathing and jumps in simply, raising little splash.

Neela gulps down most of the potion, giving a sip to her dodo familiar, Mr. Wiggles, who hides in her bag. She then heads on down with the others, keeping some light in front of the party so they can see ahead.

Hoping I can bring my familiar along without issue!

Doesn't a spell effect that you target yourself with also affect your familiar? It wouldn't be much of a stretch to allow that with potions too if the GM allows. However, you could leave it up here and it could give us a warning if something approaches us from above too...

Punching Herzag in the arm lightly, Ashlei smiles at him sweetly.

"You first big guy! I can swim pretty well, but you're a bigger target!"

"Why of course honey - gimme just a sec" - Herzag chuckles, downing two pots in quick succession, the second having quite a visible effect, as webs grow between his fingers and its feet to transform into flippers.

Downing the shared pot of Water Breathing (leaving me with one) and the one for Touch of the Sea (leaving me with none).

Then he simply dives in with a smile.

You do realize the Touch of the Sea potion only has about a 1 minute duration or so, right?

Watching his steadfast and... well aggresive officer crew leap down he directed them torwards the southwest passage....

"Neela, Rhialla Luv, any chance you have some magics about you that can shed light on the surroundings?"

He asked preparing himself to the water by drinking one of those helpful potions as well.

You do realize the Touch of the Sea potion only has about a 1 minute duration or so, right?

Well... You're right but... If I want to drink it later? Can I drink it underwater?

Fair enough: I believe there are special 'bladders' made for drinking potion underwater, but I think you can successfully do so with a swim skill check, or something similar. Doing it during combat WOULD be difficult I think unless you are a native underwater combatant.

Witches can "share spells" with their familiars which would allow them to cast any spell with a range of "you" on your familiar instead of on yourself. There is a teamwork feat, Improved Spell Sharing, which would allow you to split the duration of spells between the two of you. In 3.5 you could do this without the feat.
Regarding potions, there is an item in the Advanced Race Guide called a potion sponge which contains the line "Unlike a potion that is drunk from a vial, a potion sponge can be used underwater." which would lead me to believe that you cannot drink a potion underwater.

Uttering a brief incantation, Rhialla touches the amulet around her neck, a glow emanating from it to light up the area.

Cast Light

Already in the water, Neela gurgles and dancing lights now light the way ahead. Casting Dancing Lights and maintaining as needed in our travels!

"well then let's go, keep your eyes sharp, both for treasure and posssible danger."

He began leading the way further in.

perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Bump

Wrong thread Ashlei