Black Tom's Serpent Skull

Game Master Black Tom

As you return with the feather Nkechi makes some kind of smacking noise, then shrugs and turns his attention to the next test, the test of water.

“The challenge of water is hardly difficult. Mostly, it is a test of patience and fortitude. Gozreh requires that you retrieve for him a single black pearl. Head north a bit, out by the crags of the cape. Those shores are filled with oyster beds, and such pearls are not uncommon to those who know where to look."

He gives you a sceptical look, tilting his head sideways. "You may want to ask the locals for advice", is his parting shot as he leaves for his hut again.

Howsabout YOU give us some advice, oh wise and powerful Tempest? You're a local, aren't you? We got you the feather you wanted. One good turn deserves another. So what's the secret of finding these black pearls?

diplomacy 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Gelik, stop antagonising the man." Aerys whispers in the gnome's ear. "North it is then, time for a swim, eh?" says the fighter as she readies herself for another trip, making sure her ring with the wavy lines is securely on her finger.

A crafty look comes over Ralf's face as an idea starts to dawn on him. "You know, I'm starting to think that our side trip wasn't about birdwatching at all. Maybe it was some kind of test!"

Gelik pouts in response to Aerys' comment. I'm not antagonizing him, I'm using my significant charm to pump him for information. I can't always be on the top of my game, you know. When you were wrestling that guy, I didn't advise you to stop getting your arse kicked, did I? Do you think it would have helped the situation if I had?

He then gives Ralf a half-hearted thumbs up and points to the tip of his nose.

Gelik will go along with the rest of the gang, but he's not sure how he'll be able to contribute to a pearl diving expedition.

Aerys watches Gelik as his comment plunges deep as a knife, "Well, perhaps you could have helped, done something to help me keep my footing or something. That grass was so wet and slippery, when he got hold, I couldn't get out the way without falling on my arse. When we've finished here, I'll teach you about using your body as a weapon, using your fists as deadly instruments of death, if you think you want to learn and it won't hurt me a bit." she smiles at the magic man. "As for going for a swim, you can keep watch, look out for dangers swimming towards our swimmers. You can hold a rope, to pull back in anything we find, don't put yourself down, we can all help with these things. Just smile and enjoy the trip." Aerys starts to giggle at the thought of a happy adventuring Gelik in the wilds.

Traveling up the coast, you come upon a smallvillage of indigenous pearl divers. They seem friendly enough, and even offer a few pointers, giving
directions to the rocky reefs where the pearls are most common. The divers advise you to be careful about what you touch, as the sharp coral can leave painful wounds. They also warn that although slow, the deceptively strong currents can still disorient divers, and can drag a swimmer out to sea to his death.

In order to get the black pearl, you need to take a boat out and then dive down to the oyster beds. Mechanically this is done with Swim checks and Perception checks. Finding the black pearl is a Survival check and you get a bonus for each successful dive.

The idea of being able to breathe water sounds like too much fun to pass up, despite the fact that Gelik is mediocre in all the requisite pearl diving skills.

The little gnome strips completely naked, but decides to take his mold-man spear along for protection. Lung me, Kamal!

Assuming he gets the spell, he flails into the water with an awkward splash, and starts looking for fish to talk to.

Gelik casts Mage Armor on himself, and anyone else who wants it. He will try to Speak with Animals before he hunts for pearls, asking any undersea life he can find. "Where are the black pearls at?"

Aerys is up for a bit of skinny dipping ... well at least without the armour, so Gelik's magic armour would be just the ticket.

Afraid I'm going to have to say no to Aboleth's Lung, unless you want to research it. It's not a commonly known spell.

Any more preparations? Who's going to be diving other than Aerys?

Thats fine, but as a Druid it's something I would pray for, not research unless you want me to pray for something like that over multiple days. My back up plan would be Touch of the Sea and Airbubble I could give two PC's a swim speed and the ability to breath underwater for 3 mins each.

Yeah, I know that Druids pray for spells but I'll still use the same rules for creating new spells, probably involving something like burning costly incense and so on. Those other spells will work just fine, though and you have ample time to prepare new spells.

Ralf is willing to give it a try (with the help of magic), assuming he can get someone to tie a rope around him and hold on to the other end. Is that possible?

Gelik has to concede that he's a poor choice to go diving, if Kamal can only spell up two people. He pouts, and chooses to stay naked.

He'll stay in the boat and hold a rope, if that's helpful.

Hoping Torch might make an appearance for this soon.

Sorry, yeah, work's been busy. Been following, but haven't had time to post.

Torch steps forward. "I'm up for it, especially if you've got some magic to make it easier," he says, shrugging. "Pearl diving sounds fun." He flexes his shoulders under his new chain shirt, but sighs and takes it off. "If you've got a replacement spell handy," he nods to Gelik, "probably best to leave this up here, even if it is waterproof."

Aerys, with no inhibitions removes her armor and lays down her shield, "Weird not wearing armor, but nice for a change, freedom to move. Right then Gelik, magic me protection." She puts a belt on and a bag tied to her waist to hold the pearls. Her greased and clean longsword and dagger are attached to the belt as usual, at least I'm prepared she thinks.

Stats for BOTing

Mage Armor +4, Dex +2, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, Dodge +1 = AC=18.

Also wears a ring of swimming, if she gets a spell which gives her a swim speed, she offer to loan the ring to another.

Survival+5
Swim 1d20+11 with ring.

I'm away Thursday to a music festival, back posting Tuesday, maybe Monday as time permits.

The friendly pearl divers lend you a boat, but who is going to dive in? Torch and Aerys are ready and Gelik will stay in the boat, but how about Ralf and Kamal?

How deep is the water? How clear is it? Ralf would still recommend having some sort of safety line or communication system in case of trouble.

I think that Kamal would stay in the boat and tend a rope. We should tie each of the divers to a rope that way if any undercurrents threaten to pull them away we can tug them back to the surface.

Gelik casts Mage Armor on those requesting it. (2 1st level spells so far) He insists that in order for the spell to work properly, he must cast it with his index finger poked into the belly button of the subject. The lint inspection is a service Gelik provides as a bonus.

The water is 60 feet deep or more, and though it's pretty clear, a rope is probably the most reliable mode of communication (barring magic).

Aerys ties the rope around her waist, then dives into the clear blue water. Her skins tingles with both the magic from Gelik and Kamal's airbubble magic and the crisp cold water. She takes no weapon with her, relying on her ability to defend herself with her bare hands. Her head bobs up close by the boat, "If I come up, have the longsword ready so that I may take it to fight." she says, "This is my sort of water, come let's start this." a look of determination on her brow.

Torch ties the rope around himself and jumps in after her. He is bare to the waist, save for the cestus he still wears on his left hand. "Time's wasting on these spells," he says, and dives.

How will the mechanics work, here? How many checks can we make before the spells expire?

Gelik's Mage Armor lasts 4 hours. Since no one else seems to need it, he'll cast Mage Armor on himself as well. So he can fight off the tentacles that are about to slither into the boat. (3 1st lvl spells used.)

Ralf is in the boat with the non-divers.

Well Torch, you and Aerys will both have three mins of a swim speed of 30 and a +8 on all swim checks. You can also breath air or water during that time thanks to air bubble. We tied ropes around you, so even in the event of something crazy we should be able to pull you to the surface.

The search goes pretty well. Aided with your magic you have ample time to rummage through the oysters. More troubling is the fact that the seabed is littered with bones, and since you are spending more time down there than the average diver, soon enough trouble looms.

Roll for initiative (Aerys and Torch only in the first round).

Initiative 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Relevant knowledge check, if possible: 1d20 ⇒ 3 plus appropriate modifier?

It's Knowledge (nature) and that won't be enough.

Will save 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16

Aerys feels the presence, a warm and wonderful feeling. She starts to swim towards it, but them her mind brings her back to the present dangers they face. The feeling passes and is replaced by a cold chill icy feeling. She continues to swim towards its source, her fists her weapons.
"Leave or one of us will die." she mouths as she strikes out.

Aerys has the feat: Improved Unarmed Strike
Unarmed Strike 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Unarmed damage 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Not sure if this is supposed to be spoilered or not...

Black Tom, would we notice the line rapidly pulling away?

Yes, you would, so feel free to act in the next round.

Up in the boat, both ropes start to uncoil at an alarming rate.

Down below, the weed woman looks annoyed that Aerys resisted her lure and tries to grasp her in her wet salty arms, but Aerys easily avoids her clumsy attentions.

You are all up.

Something is wrong! Kamal barks as the rope starts to uncoil rapidly. Closing his eyes and breathing out a mantra to the song of sea, Kamal begins to summon forth an splinter of the great oceans consciousness to aid his companions.

Forgetting Soften Earth and Stone and replacing it with Summon Monster II: Small Water Elemental

Gelik frowns and looks down into the water, hoping to make out what's going on. perception 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

He monitors the ropes, giving them plenty of slack so the divers have room to maneuver, but he won't let the rope run out entirely. He'll start to pull back as the rope reaches its end. He can probably handle only one rope, so hopefully Ralf has the other.

Round 2
Aerys swims 5ft in an attempt to flank, or set up a flanking position with Torch, before she continues to try and strike the weed woman.

Aerys has the feat: Improved Unarmed Strike
Unarmed Strike 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 flanking NOT included
Unarmed damage 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Torch mirrors Aerys' movement, swimming the other direction so that the weed-woman is surrounded before he tries another stab with his cestus.

5 ft move to get into flank before attacking: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19, damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7. Sneak attack damage, if she's not immune: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Torch stabs the lady where it counts and an expression of anger crosses her face and she turns and punches him with surprising strength for 7 points of damage.

You are all up again.

Can we see what's going on in the boat? Have they reached the limit of the rope yet (e.g. 50' or whatever)?

With Torch now distracting the sea woman, Aerys tries to punch her once more, but this time using all her strength to knock the creature unconscious.

Round 3
Aerys has the feat: Improved Unarmed Strike, Power Attack
Unarmed Strike 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 2 - 2 = 23 flanking, power attack
Unarmed non-lethal damage 1d3 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 4 = 8 power attack

You who are in the boat can see a commotion and that Aerys and Torch seem to be tangled up in something green.

Ralf will dive into the water to get a better look. If he says anyone wounded, he'll send out some healing. (Note that all of his spells have no verbal component, so he can hold his breath and cast at the same time.)

Boosted Lesser Cure: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Round 3
As a small watery figure bursts out of the ocean in a spray of water, Kamal points to whirling seaweed creature below in the water and directs the elemental to attack.

WE: MA: Move to Water Creature (90ft swim speed)
WE: SA:Water Elemental Attack w/PA vs Water Creature 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 - 1 + 2 = 29
SA Potential crit w/PA vs. Water Creature 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 1 + 2 = 22
Water Elemental Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 10
Water Elemental Crit Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 = 14

Small Water Elemental AC 17, HP 17, Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +0

Gelik leans over the side of the boat, inadvertently shooting the moon at Kamal with his bright white buns. Hey! Stop messing around! You've gotten Ralf all agitated!

I need a Swim check for Ralf, but that may well be moot by now.

The green lady takes a hard pummeling from the elemental and has had enough. She's trying to withdraw, so Aerys and the elemental can take an AoO. Also Torch still has his turn to take.

She's been the untimely demise of several pearlfishers, so you shouldn't feel too sorry for her.

Swim: 1d20 ⇒ 10