Astrianan snatches it up, and tosses it on the loot pile.
Torgue's rage ends and he sways in the water, his drenched, bloody form is covered in muck and he has large amounts of stings over him. Grabbing his remaining healing potions, he swigs them down.
He then leans against a piling until he can get his breath back.
After seeing to Sorrin she pulls Astrianna aside. "Can you...can you help me get my breastplate off?" she asks nervously. "And my shirt? And help with he bandages? I can barely lift my arms right now."
"One didn't make it," is all Chell says about the screaming. She takes the wands without comment and stares at them for a long moment. If only. Magically, emotionally, and physically drained, it is a wonder she is still on her feet.
"Identify," she says handing the unknown one back to Astrianna.
Astrianna nods, sliding the wand into her bandolier for quick storage. "You should use that cure wand on yourself before we take your breastplate off. It should take the brunt of the swelling."
She starts to pry off the priestess' breasplate, noting some of the metal had warped from the intense heat. "Might want to take this to Jak, you took a serious beating during the fight. Thought we'd lost you when that Karikanti smacked you over the head. Quell must be looking out for all of us today."
The bard finally gets the breastplate off and gets some bandages on the preist's torso with her instruction. She frowns about the loss of the prisoner, but seems upbeat about it despite her physical exhaustion. "It could have been much worse. If we hadn't arrived they'd all be dead and that wight could have gained the favor of Dajobas... or Dajobas itself could have been strengthed."
She looks over at the altar on the wall. "We should destroy that altar to Dajobas before we go. It's possible the place has been desecrated... you could consecrate it, right?"
You notice when Astri mentioned Hargrove makes several on the former prisoners cringe. All that survived are grateful and tell you stories of the crazed druid priest that preached the return of the shark god - Dajobas. Things such as blood will fill the basin and docks. All the disciples are preparing for the event. Nothing real specific but a general sense that his calling is soon.
What the watch order?
I need everyone to make a perception 18 check and/or Survival/dungeon DC 20 two hours into the rest. those asleep take a minus 4 on the role.
The water seems a foot higher.
You notice the temple is sinking slowly into the muck.
Totals:
Sorrin 16
Astrianna 24
Torgue 17
Chell 28
Embrianna 29
After seeing to the prisoners, getting the cage dismantled, and siphoning all of her magical power, Chell is a dead on her feet. And still she does what she can to heal her companions using mundane and magical healing. Or at least she tried. So tired was she that all she really accomplished was light triage. Still, the wounds weren't exposed and that was something. After the last person was seen to she slumped into a corner of the boat.
Torgue takes second watch, flopping onto something dry.
*SNORRREEEEEEEE!*
Astrianna nods, sliding the wand into her bandolier for quick storage. "You should use that cure wand on yourself before we take your breastplate off. It should take the brunt of the swelling."
She starts to pry off the priestess' breasplate, noting some of the metal had warped from the intense heat. "Might want to take this to Jak, you took a serious beating during the fight. Thought we'd lost you when that Karikanti smacked you over the head. Quell must be looking out for all of us today."
The bard finally gets the breastplate off and gets some bandages on the preist's torso with her instruction. She frowns about the loss of the prisoner, but seems upbeat about it despite her physical exhaustion. "It could have been much worse. If we hadn't arrived they'd all be dead and that wight could have gained the favor of Dajobas... or Dajobas itself could have been strengthed."
She looks over at the altar on the wall. "We should destroy that altar to Dajobas before we go. It's possible the place has been desecrated... you could consecrate it, right?"
Chell is unable to comment much beyond a nod. "Consecrate...break the power...tomorrow...need spells and...silver...powdered."
The priestess is doing her best impression of a log tonight.
Astrianna takes first watch, mostly because she wants to get uninterrupted sleep. The bard voraciously tears into one of her trail rations for the day, having little opportunity to eat.
Of her four trail rations she eats one herself, keeps one for the following day, and gives the other two to the prisoners to distribute among themselves.
As everyone settles in to sleep in the damaged boat, she lulls them all to sleep with a soft, comforting lullaby that echoes in the water-filled chamber.
She busies herself writing in her journal during her time at watch, taking frequent glances up at the ceiling and in the water.
When Emrbianna wakes up she settles in for the night in her bedroll.
Laying in her bedroll, she takes a moment to look over at the altar near the wall. Is... it lower in the water than before? Emerald eyes scan the rest of the room, and she notices everything seems... smaller.
She turns her head to Bri and says quietly. "Embri... I think the temple is sinking."
"Oh shit. You're right Astri, the water's already a foot higher. That's a fairly fast rate of sinking for a whole damn building. We better haul our arses out of this shithole right the frick now!"
EDIT: "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"
Astrianna thinks for a moment. "I don't want to cross a deadly swamp exhausted and with a bunch of rescues in the middle of the night, honestly." She looks at the hole in the ceiling and has a thought. "We could simply position the boat in the middle of the hole in the ceiling, and as the temple sinks around us we will eventually end up outside! We may have to widen the hole though. Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself, how much time do we have..."
She takes out her journal and quill, scribbling some calculations. Based on the current rate of temple sinkage and space left, Astrianna attempts to figure out if the temple will sink before dawn and if the swan boat could fit through the hole in the ceiling where it collapsed earlier.
Torgue quickly holds up the ceiling and lets others escape!
Now that you realize the water is not raising, its the building sinking, you figure it sunk a foot in two hours. The chamber was vaulted that was 12 feet high. The water was 4 feet deep it is now 5 feet so you 7 feet at the current rate maybe 5 or 6 hours. One thing you note is the area the boat is located is not collapsed, the boat could get stuck between the collapsed rumble (from the fireball) and it's current location. There is not much clearance, for the boat's draft and height. Certainly it is not going to clear the area without quite a bit of assistance and planning.
Astrianna is out of her sleeping bag at this point, sketching and making some calculations. She sighs. I seem to be barely sleeping lately.
She rouses the group and explains the situation to them (take a look at the spoiler), and asks for possible solutions while she thinks.
If everyone helps, we just need to take some off the top... We can maneuver the craft out, as the water rises.
Yes?
It would take about an hour to get the rubble smooth, free from real jagged edges, if you were then going to move the boat to the top of the pile.
Sorrin collects his scimitars and bow before settling in.
In the retelling, Sorrin did take -2 Dex from the wasps.
Bri doesn't have any food on her, , but she does pull out a water skin and her everfull mug if they need some liquid bread. She'll let them use up the x3 uses for the day. Might help them perk up a bit to each take swallow.
Sorrin keeps a fresh week's rations on him. Chell can create water, I believe.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Sorrin suggests taking more than an hour if needed and not pushing the ex-captives to death. They can alternate in/out tag team. Have a little food, fresh water and handle the smaller debris.
Torgue can get large AND ant haul.
If we grease the debris, will it just slide of and into the water?
Torque thumps on the debris to help clear and push should expect the boat when enchanted
Astrianna hands her scrolls of Ant Haul (x2) off to Chell to cast on the boys so they can move the boat on top of the rubble.
The bard just wants to sleep, but this is much more important. They could just sleep in a bit tomorrow morning...
Sorrin pitches in and gives it his all. He can't keep up with Torgue, but he's more graceful!
Chell gives an unlady-like snort as she is awakened to handle yet another crisis. They almost died. Couldn't Quell give them one break?
She opens the scrolls, reads the words and gathers the ashes in her hand. After touching each target, gravity seems to lower by their perspective. Afterwards she sees to the prisoners with water, what food she can provide, and making sure wounds stay closed.
After quite a bit of finagling you manage to get the boat out through the hole in the roof. You sense, and see many eyes watching you but you do manage to lead the rescued prisoners through the swamp. during the trip you learn that 8 of the 13 prisoners were former tenants of Hargrove, three others worked another plantation, and the remaining two were locals. The prisoner that died worked at another plantation.
Hargrove has his butler pay you for your service. He is cloyingly sweet towards the rescued workers. He directs his staff to ensure the rescued are well feed and given ample water, along with extra ration of watered wine.
Astrianna wonders how much of the butler's show is to rebuff the rumors of poor treatment of the Tulita under Hargrove's servitude. Who knows? Who cares? We were quite lucky the one that was killed worked at another plantation. They didn't deserve to die, but it was fortunate none of Hargrove's workers perished.
The bard collects their payment of 300 gold pieces, and it is poured unceremoniously into her haversack. "My companions and I would like to thank you for this business opportunity, Elder Hargrove. As the grandfather of Port Shaw we are flattered you turned to our troupe to handle your problem, and we hope our services met your expectations. Consider us in the future if you have any problems that need our expertise." She gives Hargrove her best curtsy.
It didn't help the half-elf smelled like swamp. Prestidigitation could only clean so much.... Miss Molly's... I cannot wait.
-------------
As they leave the plantation and walk along the well-worn dirt road back towards the city, the the half-elf speaks her mind, addressing the entire group. She speaks clearly, her voice strong and firm. "As far as I'm concerned it was the will of the gods that allowed us to make it out of that temple alive. Calistria, The Dwanflower, and most certainly Quell were watching over us. We were wholly unprepared for what we faced, and if not for our bravery, tenacity, and skill we would all be slowly drowning in a wicker cage with twelve other mewling captives." She sniffs. "Not the way I want to die."
The bard continues, walking and gesturing. "It is clear we all need to learn to work together better. I have never been with such a group of strong individuals, and I feel it's time for a change in tactics so we are never in such a harrowing position again. We cannot rely on the machinations of the gods to save us from our actions or..." Her emerald eyes turn to Sorrin. "The actions of others."
She stops walking, and places her hands on her hips. "Sorrin, this is the second time you have put us all in danger through your reckless and selfish actions. I believe we should all decide if we are to trust our lives to your sword any longer, right here and now. In the interest of fairness... what do you have to say for yourself?"
Crossing her arms beneath her bosom, Astrianna waits, and listens to what the warrior has to say.
Chell remains quite for the duration of the journey back to Hargrove and throughout the dealings. Even though they prevailed and managed to rescue all but one, the victory was soured by the loss and the fact that the these people were trading one owner for another. Sure this one wasn't actively trying to kill them but they were still slaves.
And now comes the talk. Chell was tired. The burns were mostly gone but the skin was still tender and everything ached. Thankfully, Astrianna didn't bother mincing words, and jumped straight to the point. They did a lot of stupid things and only by the grace of whatever gods were watching did they survive. She knew her own faults. She would take this as learning experience and try to improve upon them. She hoped the others were of the same mindset because they likely wouldn't survive next time. Gods rarely gave third chances.
Torgue blows out a breath. Well this is good a place as any since now we are not in the middle of some water-logged castle.
You are right Embri, things have been bad with us and kept being bad, even when we are flailing around when things are trying to kill us. Been at each other's throats for a few days.
So, When we get back to the city I'll be saying my goodbyes, with no jabs or comments. I'll be taking a rest, paying off debts and mebee start some serious brewing for sale to taverns. Something I've been thinking of doing and now that I got some good coin in my pack I can start doing it.
So I wish all of ya the best of luck and maybe we can hook-up again someday.
Introspection isn't your strong suit, Astrianna. Blame it on me and thank the gods. Spin the tale however you wish. Nothing guaranteed the boat would hold and if you were a child, in that cage... It doesn't matter. You wouldn't understand because it wasn't about you.
I saw a us overcoming powerful enemies in a most unforgiving environment. I saw triumph physically and of the soul. Did you see Embrianna stand against that undead druid? It was inspiring. Chell was clever, valiant and kept me standing in my darkest moment.
That creature concentrated on Torgue because he was anthema to it, doing it best to keep the powerful enemy away. And when you helped Torgue free... We saw the result.
The will of the gods was done, for true. Giving them all the credit doesn't seem right.
Sorrin marches on, listening.
Astrianna sighs, rubbing a hands across her face. "I'm not blaming it on you, we all had our faults. I'm simply calling attention to your actions. Have you ever watched dock workers? Of course a wicker cage could be held up by a 25 foot long boat, and as far as I'm concerned Chell's actions saved those prisoners. Chell also nearly died because you were trying to break open the cage with a metal stick, when you could have easily jumped down and slew the karikanti that whacked her on the head. You should be looking out for your teammates first, so we know you have our backs."
Her tone is certainly accusing now. "You're a bunch of sour grapes because we don't do exactly what you say, and you need to accept we're all autonomous individuals and not some group of soldiers you can order about."
She spreads her hands wide in front of her. "Is an apology so difficult to muster, Sorrin? You could take some responsibility for your actions and admit your mistakes, improve on them? That's all I'm looking for, some reason to give you one more chance before I decide you can't be trusted to work as part of a team."
The half-elf frowns at Torgue. "I implore you to stay, Torgue, you're a force of destruction on par with a mudslide. If your heart is set on leaving the adventuring life however, I suppose it's best to do it while you're ahead. If you truly wish to leave I will give you your share as soon as I have it ready."
Torgue just nods at Astri's question.Indeed I am, thank you.
Sorrin's answer is calm. He expected this drivel.
You mean the gatorman I asked the team eliminate first, because I couldn't reach him in time? You mean exactly that one that you decided not to help bring down and was allowed to cut ropes with impunity?
You articulately argue for teamwork, but... your normally clarion voice falls flat, at least upon these ears. What you're really twisting... Is embracing chaos for yourself, autonomy perhaps as you bend others to your will via revisionist history.
He pauses for a bit.
When I see you practice what you "preach", I'll afford your words more truth.
As to trust, you'll either trust me or you won't. Same as I'll trust you or I won't. We all fought, we all bled. I don't see apologies needed, except to the family of the one villager who didn't make it.
"Sorrin? Do you truly see nothing wrong with any of your actions today?" Chell asks quietly. So this was it? The moment they fell apart or stayed together.
I missed more than I should have when I swung at the enemy, that was very wrong. And, it took me a while to realize I could use the ropes to get around.
I tried a handstand instead of a somersault when than thing thought to call lightning against me, but I corrected that the second time around. Lots of mistakes and wrong, in a situation where economy of motion was critical.
Astrianna brings her hand to her mouth, forming a loose fist to rest her lips against. She sighs and shakes her head slowly. "I tried to kill the Karikanti cutting the ropes, but I was not able to due to the rats, wasps, and other horrible things. Weakness on my part that I intend to remedy with some new spells. As for practicing what I preach, I already have. I can safely say I had Chell's back the entire time during that engagement, regardless of what she got herself into. Just as Embrianna and Torgue had yours. Whose back did you have during that fight?"
She drops her hands to her sides. "I think that's the point you're missing. We must trust one another to keep each other's hides safe in a fight. When you endanger us all, we cannot trust you. When I requested you stop wasting your time on the cage and take care of the wight, you followed your own agenda instead and left us to get battered by its spells. Do you truly see nothing wrong with that?"
I climbed through a wasp swarm, their poison continues to course through my veins and still affects my agility, I'll thank you very much. I was nearly roasted in my armor and was struck my the damn thing's unholy lightning. My flesh felt the undead's touch and refused its corruption.
This goblin-brained child was shredded by gatormen and slammed by their putrid master. What exactly are you mewling about, Astrianna?
Sorrin seems genuinely curious.
I've not accused anyone of anything, there is recrimination enough to go around. I gave everyone the benefit of the doubt, we did the best we could, we got through it. Stubbornness and all.
I'll remind you, because I'm not from here and nearly forget at times, myself... This is The Razor! If you're looking for some childhood never-land of unicorns and faeries, you've chosen the wrong port. That wight druid back there was nothing. He was just the beginning. This is going to get a whole lot worse, from what I can see.
So, if any of us soiled our big girl panties back there... We can can always buy fresh ones.
Now, let's get our heads back in the game and figure out who KC is. He's owed that much.