The town folk are a bit apprehensive about Targus but when they see that he played a visible part in their liberation, they immediately embrace him. There were some apologies and even more thanks given to him for his assistance.
The villagers are naturally tight-lipped about the secrets of Chimera Cove, but they begin to fill in the blanks. All of them know as much as Targas, and the three elders know the full story of the Terraken and the ritual to expose the entrance to the concealed port:
"When a holy symbol of Iomedae is dropped into the center of the cove on 5 fathoms of silver line, seawalls rise up to connect the islands with the shore and with each other, and the water level in the enclosed cove gradually drops by 30 feet. The receding waters reveal a cave mouth in the Lion, normally hidden below the low-tide mark, which stands tall enough to allow the entry of a medium-sized ship."
The tell you that "this cave mouth is the entrance to a network extending through all three islands. Of course, this is secondhand information, for none of us has actually been within the concealed
port, as it is extensively trapped and very dangerous."
If shown Poltur’s letter to Baron Vendikon, they surmise that Poltur must have uncovered the ritual once inside the concealed port. Like Targas, they have never known Poltur to go by the sobriquet “the Accursed.”
Well we don't have a symbol of the inheritor but I can ask for a spell that will give us all about 3 hours of WATER BREATHING but I still don't like the idea. How long does the water stay down?
The little gnome nods and looks sombre as he says, "Can't say I like it either, but remember the General's motto, 'Who dares wins.'"
The elders see the concern about the the lack of silver lining and symbol of Iomedae and they consult with one another. The village elders can provide them, pulling them out of a well-disguised cranny in one of the
village’s stone chimneys.
Of the three boats suspended in the boathouse, one catboat and the dory are in serviceable condition. The other catboat was damaged during Poltur’s journey to the islands and requires significant repairs to be made seaworthy. Two oars propel the dory. The catboat’s mast has been taken down and must be raised to use the sails, although it also has a pair of oars.
Dory: Hardness 5, AC 4, hp 30. With two rowers, the dory moves at 10 feet per round. It can hold no more than four Medium occupants, with each Small occupant counting as half a Medium occupant.
Catboat: Hardness 5, AC 3, hp 45. The catboat can be rowed at 5 feet per round or sailed at 15 feet per round in the strong winds of the cove. It can hold no more than eight Medium occupants, with each Small occupant counting as half a Medium occupant.
Rena tosses him his spellbook. You go and do what you like, anything except make yourself a problem for this village or anyone else. The penalty will be death.
But, I could see paying you for your services. Brew potions, get paid. Might be useful ones for Targas or the villagers, too.
Rena considers the boats... Meow... let's go for speed. I should be able to pilot it as long as things don't get crazy. And, we might need the room.
The boat is lowered into the water and the group gets in.
Is Targas joining?
And perhaps these fine folks know where such a holy symbol may be found. An old shrine, left behind by a passer-through. Sunken wreck or ruins.. She gulps at the last suggestion.
Makin certain all is in order... Rena pilots the craft out and into open water.
The elders can supply you with the silver line and the holy symbol. Tagus looks a bit uncomfortable at the water. "I can come if you like...I don't swim well." He is obviously back in human form.
"Relax Tagus, I don't swim either. Something tells me that drowning is going to be the least of our worries, Poultur will be up to no good, and who knows what tricks and traps the place will have..."
If all the villagers are accounted for, there is less reason. Stay here then, warrior. See to the security of your people.
"So am I coming or staying?" The werebear asks?
Once you are underway, they experience just how violent this small body of water can be. The hard and frequent chop of the cove sets the boat heaving, and swirling winds marshal salt spray to send it slashing at
exposed skin. Through ribbons of fog careening across the waves, the three islands just off the coast appear, now looming over the cove.
"Bit of chop out here. "
Quiz looks a little queasy and splutters, "Uhhh its confirmed, I'm a landlubber, I feel sick."
Ragathiel only just granted me a prayer to let me breathe water. Wearing all this armor I am going to need it
Hold on, lads... This is going to suck!. Rena urges above the squall.
"You just need some fermented herring to settle your stomach. Let me see if I have any here in my pack. I acquired a taste for it when traveling with some Ulfen raiders. Don't mind the smell. " and he begins to rummage in his pack.
The thought of fermented herring makes Quiznab look greener than ever. He eyes whatever Bug finds wairly and croaks, "Uhhh, I dunno about that!"
Bug finally digs a glazed clay jar out of his pack. It's sealed with a tight lid and a seal of wax to keep whatever it is from any exposure to the outside. Or maybe it's to protect the outside from it?
"You sure? It always worked for me. Great hangover cure at that. Gets the puking out of the way in a hurry. Don't mind it when your eyes water. "
Quiz stares at the bottle for a long moment, with his brain on overdrive imagining just what fermented herring would taste like. Suddenly its too much and he lurches to the gunwale and he offers up his lunch to the sea.
"Oh, well if you already did that, then I guess you don't need it after all. " and he puts it back in his pack.
Xavier maintains a vice like grip on the boat.
I better cast this now, reach your arms in one at a time so we don't flip this thing
Xavier is very unsteady in the boat. As he lays prone on the floor of the small boat.
The villagers would have instructed you all to lower the holy symbol of Iomedae on 5 fathoms of silver line in near the “center” of the cove. Quiz and Bug do as the instructed since Rena is at the tiller and Xavier is face planted in the boat.
Almost immediately, the winds and waters calm. The spray gradually ceases and waves that were crashing against rocks now lap placidly against them. Although the fog remains, where gaps between the shore and the islands were once visible leading out to the open sea, now stone seawalls are visible, slowly rising. It quickly becomes clear that the seawalls only rise a short distance and thereafter it is the water level in the cove that starts to fall. More and more of the steep, rocky sides of the islands become visible, until the three islands appear as a single connected mass. The retreating water leaves the dock below the village’s boathouse lying in muck. The southwestern face of the largest island reveals a large cave mouth below the low-tide mark.
The water level in the cove falls evenly—unlike the typical application of control water, this rapid and repeated use across the cove creates no noticeable depressions. The water in the entire cove radiates an aura of moderate transmutation magic for the duration of this effect.
Quiz is taken aback by the abrupt change,"Woah look at that, the waves have gone! I suspect magic, but what kind?"
Quiznab casts a simple spell and attunes his perception to all things arcane.
"Well its magic all right, but of a kind I've never even heard of, which worries me..."
Quiz... it's amazing. It's as if it's changing... Transmutation. How do we make sure while we're in there it doesn't change back? It's unclear if the question is rhetorical.
Those with perceptions over 20 notice there a massive black ooze with tentacles slip from the rocky cliff and back into the cool cove water once it starts to recede.
But, what the Hells was that black thing?! Did you see it slip into the cove water as the water level dropped?!
Didn't see much of anything from here. Xavier sits up a little, no longer scared of anybody drowning.
What did it look like?
Quiznab goes white as a sheet, and whispers, "What, was that?"
Large black gelatinous blob... Just sorta slipped into the water.. A chill runs down her spine.
"Oh that sure sounds like fun. We better get out of here.
Rena pilots to the dock.
You've heard stories from sailors written in history about giant tentacle creatures that live in the water that can be deadly to seafarers, but you don't know much more than that.
The black tentacle creature obviously lives in the water.
Those bothering to look over the sides of the boat can see a large dark form roughly 20 feet below the ship, it appears to shadowing you.
Quiz still feling queazy, peers over the side and in a quiet voice he tells everyone, "I uh, don't want to alarm you but we're being followed by that thing, whatever it is... A water fight is going to suck if it turns hostile, I can't swim."
Quiz considers the creature and casts detect magic on it. Who knows maybe its summoned, maybe its an illusion, maybe its carrying an item.
I think I remember...
It's a Hand of the Deep, a hybrid giant octopus with 8 tentacles. the good news it lacks the ink cloud special quality of the
typical giant octopus. The bad news is it gets 8 attacks with it's tentacles, plus a nasty bite. The tentacles have a poison that paralyzes it's foes, which it then likes to take below water and eat.
You won't drown, but eaten is another matter, we have 2 hours worth of water breathing, but lets get to the dock and head where we need. It hasn't attacked yet and obviously doesn't like being out of the water.
Xavier activates his destruction blessing jjust in case.
Damned eight-fingered Hand of the Deep that is... and it lashes out with each of its eight tentacles. Did I mention there were eight tentacles coated with a paralytic toxin, trying to drag you to its monstrous maw?
I'm guessing we're a novel treat. Variety is always good in a diet.
Quickly reaching for a signature small vial and shaking it, the liquid contents start to glow... Rena downs it.
"I can try and hide us from it or provide a distraction," Quiz sounds uncertain, "but I don't know if I can fool all of its senses."
We have to get out of here, too... So we'd fight it twice. We should kill it if we can. You have that Orog wand?
Xavier uses his quickdraw sheath and casts DIVINE FAVOR on himself off his wand. He replaces it. Any buffs you want then, cast them now. Rena, get us to land.