For a moment Deader thinks he is on a shore. Then he realizes he's wrong, on account of still being in the water.
"I... think I forgot what 'shore' meant for a second there."
"Time to pay our 8-legged fiends a visit?" Nachni hops in to swim over with Tindalos and the rest.
Tindalos whines a little, but complies with Cedrick's order. While not elegant, his dog paddle is at the least serviceable.
Obi shrugs: I am good at any time in the water. However, I imagine the rest of you may be less comfortable. I agree, lets let the water go down another foot or so.
With that, Obi smiles and dives back under the water swimming with strong strokes while keeping an eye on the group and the cave entrance to see whether any more octo-goblins are about.
Joneth nods at Cedrick's suggestion. "Better to be safe and wait for a while," the rogue agrees and patiently does exactly that. Still, he keeps his wits about him, his eyes turning this way and that, looking for any unwelcome guests.
"All right. I'm sure having the water a little shallower will help us more than them. I'll wait." Nachni returns to the ledge to wait things out.
|
"Strange to think we got pressed aboard a ship not all that long back, and here we are now, kicking our toes in the water ready to launch a raid on sea creatures for loot and plunder, and a touch of revenge. It's been a bit of a bloody road, and we've done pretty well for ourselves, no one here is squeamish about spilling blood and it has held us in good stead. brings up another point though, and that is, how much more blood we might be needing to spill and how soon? Reckon our ship is stuck here a short while, but there might have to be a reckoning soon, to get our daggers in before those bastards get theirs coated in our blood... any thoughts crew?" Cedrick watches the waves and the gulls as he ruminates.
"Yes, this could be the perfect opportunity to pick them off. We can either use a ruse such as needing to rescue some of us to draw them off or simply use trickery to pick a few off one by one. With planning we might be able to put them through some fear and suffering before coming to finish them." Nachni grins with her sharp teeth glinting in the sun.
"We do have some friends back there to be careful of...and we'll need some crew to get off here. But, I'm in agreement about ending things with those cretins."
Obi swims back as the conversation is continuing:
Looks like only a few more minutes until the water is low enough to get in for you all.
She looks out to the ocean for a minute.
I would prefer to not make any fish sick, but there are several on that ship who I would have no qualms feeding to the denizens of the ocean.
As the water level comes down to where you'd be wading only thigh deep in the shallow parts of the cave... you all notice an inexpertly hidden octo-goblin poke it's snout out of the cave to sniff and look around. It doesn't look like you were spotted and the goblin retreats slightly within the mouth of the cave... but you'd wager it was there as some kind of lookout.
Obi nods in agreement: Yes, and we should not use all of our magic in the first encounter. In the past, we have used much resulting in us being a little strained if we meet with a second or third enemy in a day.
If we are ready, we should make for the entrance. The goal will be to take this first one quickly and quietly without letting it alert those within.
Nachni whispers, "Want me to see if I can lure it over with the sound of an animal or even just a splash?"
If you could draw it out of the cavern, that would be most helpful. Then almost any noise we make should be covered by the sound of the waves.
Nachni murmurs an incantation and flicks her hand at the waves lapping against the cave. A moment later the sound of a pair of amorous seabirds squawking and playing in the waves comes from the water just outside the sea cave in the direction of our little group. She draws her sword while waiting for a response.
The crew makes their way around the perimeter of the cove keeping near to the rocks and trying to get as close as possible to the cave entrance without exposing themselves to detection. Eventually you find a naturally convex section of the cove where you can huddle behind without clear view of the tunnel. Thus hidden Nachni initiates the amorous seabird distraction.
Nachni Bluff:
The sounds soon draw a response from the tunnel entrance, and a couple of octo-goblins swim out to investigate...
Two octo-goblins follow the noise out into the midst of the cove, heads whipping back and forth in search of the rutting seabirds. By the way lips are being licked you suspect they may be some kind of delicacy?
Nachni watches the octo-gobs make their way out after her phantom birds and uses the distraction to attempts a quiet entry into the cave. She slips into the water and with smooth strokes, glides through the water to the entrance.
Joneth watches as the creatures move away from them courtesy of Nachni's trickery and then, wasting no more time, follows her quietly into the cave.
As she watches the octo-goblins and the imaginary bird sounds depart, she looks to the others.
Perhaps we should find a place to hide in the entrance and then attack them when they return. This will allow whose of you less comfortable in water to be able to attack them, and will not leave these two behind out backs should we have to make a hasty regreat.
Obi will follow the others into the entrance either way, but would like to set a trap for when the beasts return.
Deader just waited, occasionally watching the sky and nodding to himself, never losing his usual grin.
Joneth nods in agreement. "That way we should make short work of them," the rogue remarks before moving to choose a suitable place to wait for the creatures' return, a dagger already gripped firmly in each hand.
Nachni and Joneth have just made the entrance and the start of the tunnel within when noises are heard over the sound of the surf. Peering into the darkness of the tunnel you pick out a pair of grindylows (octo-gobs) that seem to be bickering among each other. They don't seem to have noticed you yet, and the grindylows at your backs are still on their way away from you.
Obi looks to the others.
Quietly: Rather than giving away our positions. I can call on the help of the sea. I believe I can gain the assistance of an octopus or squid, or perhaps a few dolphins to attack the strange guards.
She looks to the others for a yay or nay on this idea.
Deader kicks things off with his latest favorite trick. He listens, seeming to understand them, and waits for their argument to get a little more heated. Then he whispers something that pushes on the baser instincts.
Not sure what Deader is up to Nachni nods to Obi, draws her sword and creeps closer to the octogobby.
Obi is prepared to call some assistance if necessary.
If Deader's magic can get one to slay the other. Then we should be able to get to the remaining one before he can raise any alert.
While waiting, she takes out a thin stip of leather, drops a stone in it and prepares to fire.
Readied Action: if the octo-goblins begin to fight one another, she will fire a stone at whichever appears to be not under the madness of Deader.
Will Save:
Perception:
As Deader creeps forward and speaks in a guttural voice, one of the grindylow turns to stab at the other...
Spear:
...missing badly. However both of them did hear a voice, and turn to look seeing a strange one with a lopsided grin coming toward them.
Cedrick:
Obisyth:
Deader:
Nachni:
Joneth:
Grindylows:
Action Tracker (Round 1): Fish, Obisyth, Grindylows, Joneth, Cedrick, Nachni, Deader
As both Fish and Obisyth pause to see what the grindylows do... they don't disappoint. A quick chatter of gurgled noises happens before one flees down the tunnel. The second sets his spear and somewhat gingerly prepares for your expected assault.
Action Tracker (Round 1): Grindylows, Fish, Obisyth, Joneth, Cedrick, Nachni, Deader
Obi sighs: Well, looks like they know we are here. Might as well head in and give them a welcome.
Obi moves as far into the cavern as she can with her club drawn.