Samantha pulls out her rope and tosses one end to Ourias. "Here!" she calls. Once he's on the raft she will give a brief chant in celestial, touching him and granting him some healing.
Ourias pulls himself back onto the raft, "S!%!"
"Think it'll drown?" Samantha asks. Other than healing Ourias, she hasn't made any other move to engage the croc. "Let's get out of here before it wakes up."
I agree with you, Samantha. This place is too dangerous.. see those bites on Ourias? It would have killed me! Beside, we don't know if it's the only crocodile in the swamp. Hurry up!
"Hurry up? Then you try!" Despite his complaint Lars redoubles his efforts efforts to move the raft faster while steering it safely.
Lars churns up a charcoal wake as he pulls the raft forward with urgency. Sweat pools on Lars' face and clothes. Each stroke visibly grows in weight as the pole accumulates mud and vegetation. Or maybe it's the loss of range of motion as his muscles contract and refuse to loosen up under their burning use?
Finally the raft hits a drift as Lars is unable to row no further. Blisters have painfully formed on at several spots on his hands.
Cursing as he wipes away his sweat, Lars sits on the raft with the oar on his legs. "I've got a wild and crazy idea. How about someone else take a turn at this?"
Morthak continues to watch the waterway for any indication of another raft.
"Easy," he says to Lars. "Let the current do the work."
He looks over as Lars rubs his blistered hands.
"Let me see."
Samantha takes the oars without complaint and gets to work rowing. She will work at a steady, even pace. Not slow but not as fast as she could possibly push herself, instead opting for endurance rowing.
Lars nods his thanks to Morthak as he sits back and rests.
Morthak's healing is able to remedy Lars' manual labor wear. Did you want to heal Ourias back to full or continue?
Since the swamp, you've noticed a sense of desolation or inner isolation. The comforting strength of Abadar's presence that you've grown accustom to since your childhood seems gone; like you've returned to being that child alone in the woods.
The bleakness of the Brinestump Swamp has left plenty of time for your own thoughts. Somehow under the stirring clouds and the shadows of cypress trees, you feel disconnected and alone. Isolated from your heritage, you realize for the first time that there's always been this connection, this inner desire to do good. But here, it's gone; and what a sharp contrast the world is without it.
The cold, damp ground leaves little for comfort, and its difficult to sleep for more than an hour without waking to some inconvenience of the swamp: the stinging bugs, the humidity, water seeping in from the ground to your clothes. Morning returns but only to offer the grim reminder that you remain, and with every glance the edges of the world appear to creep in. Even the stains of the river appears alive and slowly pulsing under the pristine surface of the stagnant water, like fish under an frozen lake. Solemnly the group moves on.
The raft slips through a tangle of tall reeds growing up from beneath the black, murky water. The fog has dissipated, but the surroundings are still gloomy. Overhead, branches entwine to form a dense canopy. The sounds of the swamp are louder now, and they echo through the trees. Unseen creatures slide through the reeds below the water’s surface. A chorus of croaks and ribbits begins, as if to greet you, growing so loud that every other sound is drowned out by their raucous song. Then, all at once, the chorus stops.
I miss the desert; this place is so damp. It's not fit for people to live here.
Having trouble getting to sleep, Morthak casts bones for a while. Though he sees little in the patterns of the bones, the ritual helps settle him down. Eventually he crawls into his bedroll and goes to sleep.
Does anyone know where we are? I've never been so far from the town... can someone heal Ourias's wounds? How are you feeling, Ourias?
That night, Samantha is quieter than usual and keeps her threadbare red scarf up around her neck and the lower half of her face. She seems bothered. She drinks some water and has a bite of bread before turning in for the night. "I'll take third shift." she says dully.
Before she lays down, she hums a tune and places her hand on Ourias's shoulder.
"You lot, listen or don't. If you don't want your feet to rot, take your boots and socks off when you sleep. If you don't want to wake up to creepy crawlers in your boots, pull your socks over the top of your boots so nothing can crawl in. It will help your socks dry out too, so again your feet don't rot. Now for me, I'm bedding down. Wake me for my shift."
Atsu listens carefully, and do as Lars told, just in case.
just tell me what shift you want me to take. i think it would be better if Ouras takes one of the last shift, so he can rest, the poor lamb.
This chapter is event based, which works fine for real time gaming but for Pbp, I didn't want to leave longs spurts of uncertainty. Thus, I want to leave windows of opportunity for role-play/actions as the party sees fit, but also make it clear when the next event happens. I didn't want to waste a ton of back and forth time in the posts for survival roles or questioning which direction the party takes.
*Let me know when the party wants to wrap up the current dialogue and move onto the event above. It's not my intent to hinder this...
Ourias notices the quiet and is bothered by the cold and the damp. As he sets up his bed roll to sleep for the evening, he kneels beside it in silent prayer.
Abadar, Judge of Gods and Men, I feel so vulnerable away from your walls. Grant me and my companions the strength and endurance to see justice served.
When he finishes praying he feels the comforting healing coming from Sam. "Thank you, I feel that soothed more than just my flesh," He smiles at her. He the follows the sound advice of Lars and lays down.
"You lot, listen or don't. If you don't want your feet to rot..."
Morthak listens to Lars, and nods. Saying nothing, he takes off his boots and socks before drifting off.
Picking up then from midday day 2:
The raft slips through a tangle of tall reeds growing up from beneath the black, murky water. The fog has dissipated, but the surroundings are still gloomy. Overhead, branches entwine to form a dense canopy. The sounds of the swamp are louder now, and they echo through the trees. Unseen creatures slide through the reeds below the water’s surface. A chorus of croaks and ribbits begins, as if to greet you, growing so loud that every other sound is drowned out by their raucous song. Then, all at once, the chorus stops.
Surprise Round
Init
Note that the raft is moving at 30' per round currently in a southern direciton.
Morthak is able to make out the outline of giant amphibians hidden by the reeds.
Surprise Round
Morthak is up.
Morthak looks around, somewhat startled.
He scowls and draws a pair of daggers.
"Beware," he says. "In the water."
Before Morthak can complete his warning, the first tongue darts from within the reeds at Atsushia, which strikes her with a solid slap, spraying a viscous saliva everywhere. Reacting in time, she reflexively pulls backwards, tearing free of the tongue.
A second one comes at Ourias as a loud splash is heard in the water.
However, this one managers to wrap itself around him solidly.
Round 1
Bold may go.
Atsushia Init: 16
Morthak Init: 18
Lars Init: 22
Samantha Init: 12
Ourias Init: 23
Going straight for the tongue around Ourias, Lars slashes at it with his blade. "To arms!" he yelled, though he knew that it was obvious to do so. But as battle cries went, there were worse ones to go with.
Technically Ourias is first up... waiting for his post in case he wants to delay before resolving.
Ourias let's out a series of grumbles while trying to remove himself from his sticky situation.
Ourias attempts to unravel himself, but is wrapped up tight until Lars cuts through the tongue, freeing him.
Ourias is no longer grappled.
Round 1
Bold may go.
Atsushia Init: 16
Morthak Init: 18
Lars Init: 22
Samantha Init: 12
Ourias Init: 23
Morthak puts one of the daggers in his teeth and quietly lowers himself into the water, hanging on to the back of the boat.
Atsushia start casting a spell, hoping for the best
Yuuuck... theses tongues seems disgusting!
Morthak hops into the water from behind with a sploosh as Atsushia begins to chant arcane jargon. The raft continues to move forward, but quickly loses momentum as it decelerates trudging through the reeds.
One giant frog leaps out of the western reeds and lands on the raft in front of Morthak.
I'll give an AoO for Morthak at a -4 for being in the water at that level. Re-reading, I don't believe Morthak threatens with a dagger in his mouth, but will get the sneak attack when he shifts next round.
Eyeing the other halfling as a sizable meal, it attempts to bite Atsushia.
and catches her while distracted, its massive jaws holding onto its prey. Atsushia is now grappled.
The now tongueless frog in front continues to focus on Ourias.
But can't maintain a grip on his armor, but the crushing power is definitely felt through it.
The 3rd frog surfaces just enough to make a tongue attack at Sam:
Sam now has the grappled condition.
Round 1
Sam is up!
Morthak puts one of the daggers in his teeth and quietly lowers himself into the water, hanging on to the back of the boat.
[dice=Stealth]1d20+12
Morthak cannot feel the bottom of the river, but can feel the tops of vegetation.
Sam grasps the tongue with her gauntlet and pulls as hard as she can, trying to break the creature's grip on her.
Round 2
Bold may go.
Atsushia Init: 16
Morthak Init: 18
Lars Init: 22
Samantha Init: 12
Ourias Init: 23
Stepping over towards Sams, Lars brings his sword down with a heavy blow, seeking to cut her free.
Lars successfully cuts Sam free from the submerged threat!
Having had little luck with removing the tongue Ourias draws his sword and hack away at it.
Morthak hops into the water from behind with a sploosh...
I'll give an AoO for Morthak at a -4 for being in the water at that level.Re-reading, I don't believe Morthak threatens with a dagger in his mouth, but will get the sneak attack when he shifts next round.
Morthak blinks in surprise as the frog lands on the boat right in front of him. He pulls himself out of the water and thrusts with his dagger.
After striking Morthak falls down into the water again. Only the top of his head sticks out of the water.
Morthak shifts over to his right, pushing against the boat with his left hand.
By now, figuring he has got the frog's attention, Morthak lunges out of the water again, his dagger flashing at the frog's face, trying to distract it.
"Lars! Over here!" he shouts.
Being bitten and chewed on by a batracian wasn't on top of Atsu's life priorities. She desperatly tries to complete her spell
Ourias impales the over-sized amphibian in front of him, his sword making a clean exit on the frog's backside, but the rotund thing keeps pressing forward.
Morthak makes a horizontal swipe just above the raft's plane and it slices deep against the frog's belly. Muscle and sinew pulse behind the leathery flap of skin. But before Morthak can bask in his hit, he feels his legs get tangled up in the depths beneath him and pulling his head under as he's forced to taste the mud-tinged colloidal suspension of filth.
Intent on seizing its meal, the frog extends its enormous jaw into the water and manages to return the favor.
[dice=Concentration vs Grappled/Bite, DC 18/16, Trait]1d20+4+2
Being bitten and chewed on by a batracian wasn't on top of Atsu's life priorities. She desperatly tries to complete her spell
However, that would mean that Atsushia can still take a round 2 action.
Atsushia tries to get out of the powerful grip of the sticky tongue, but to no avail
Frantically she calls for help
...But before Morthak can bask in his hit, he feels his legs get tangled up in the depths beneath him and pulling his head under as he's forced to taste the mud-tinged colloidal suspension of filth.
Sam will gather herself and start her angelic battle-hymn, drawing her war flute and twirling it in tune to the song.
...But before Morthak can bask in his hit, he feels his legs get tangled up in the depths beneath him and pulling his head under as he's forced to taste the mud-tinged colloidal suspension of filth.
Just flavor text. Ever go swimming in a lake or river in the midwest?
Just before Sam's post:
The frog on Atsushia attempts to maintain the grapple:
But Atsushia breaks free with the surge of adrenalin and the fear of being swallowed whole.
The frog in front of Ourias:
Continues to have difficulty.
The last of the three swims forward and attempts to bite Sam:
But the constant rocking of the raft prevents it from honing in.
However I should also have improved cover from the frog on the boat for being partly submerged, which is a +8 to AC
Is this referring to a keyworded submerged? Which book is this in?
Sam's song begins; please announce if you plan on accepting the song on your turn.
Round 3
Bold may go.
Atsushia Init: 16
Morthak Init: 18
Lars Init: 22
Samantha Init: 12
Ourias Init: 23
Ourias continues to hack away at this foe.
With a muffled curse Lars swings down at the beast, trying to hit it at an awkward angle.