Jordy shakes his head. "The ankhegs? You're right, the north farm plot looks like it's home to a pair of ankhegs, but the plots south of the main compound looked safe enough. As for the chapel, I would just tell folks to avoid it until we can exorcise that ghost."
He gestures at the ship. "Those people need to get off the ship, Deranthil. They've been on it for weeks, just waiting to get back onto dry land. Sitting at anchor is only going to make everyone more restless and scared. They'll be safe enough if they stay away from the chapel and the big farm plot. There are empty houses just sitting there, waiting to be homes."
"Let's see what's wrong with the ship. We'll worry about the settlement as soon as this is taken care of. One problem at a time." Diomedes hopes he sounds encouraging to the others.
I am at home in the water and will be glad to take a look. the rogue offers.
Personally, I'm not sure what happened, but, captain, make sure to let none enter the church, it is home to a spirit, and not the the friendly type. However, from all that we have discovered, it was clear that there were at least to separate groups that did not agree with each other on the proper course of actions. Enough so that one group had planned to leave and start their own settlement. Also, make sure to take care while traversing, goblin monkeys had taken up residence in one of the buildings. We cleared them out, but there may be more. Honestly, All this effort and work with little to show for it is rather troublesome. I came to find artifacts, not play caretaker to a bunch of children. He turns to the group he was with.
ah, not you, I meant the colony folk.
"Yes that would be much appreciated. If we can get the Peregrine up and running again it will go a long way to relieve some tension and so would getting everyone settled on land. I will get everyone ready to leave. Go take a look at the ship and see if you figure out what is slowing her down either way in another hour or two I mean to raise anchor and start heading down to the primary site." says the captain.
"Yes and I will go talk to the colonist perhaps I can calm them down." says Ramona.
Perhaps I could get some healing before I swim? the rogue asks. I would rather be at full strength before going for that swim.
Diomedes pats Deranthil on the shoulder. "Bah, scratches!" he says jokingly.
"Is there a dinghy about or shall we simply swim out?"
"You can use the landing boat over there" says the captain.
Jordy nods at Deranthil. "Let's go. You take port, I'll take starboard, then we can cross under the keel and do a double-check." He gestures at Diomedes as he starts shedding his pack and nonessential gear. "Watch out for us from topside, alright?"
Agreed. If there is trouble it will be difficult to signal anyone. We should stay in visual contact.
"No problem." Diomedes gets the boat ready to go, along with whoever else would care to join.
As you check the underside of the ship Jordy notices two fish-like creatures attached to the underside of the ship. They are flat and blend into their surrounded so you can see how they could easily have been missed.
knowledge arcane to identify them.
Jordy swims over to Deranthil and speaks in the language that most easily travels through water- Aquan. "Over here. Some kind of camouflaged fish attached to the hull."
Erantil recognises the two fish once they are pointed out.
The echeneis is a magical fish known to sailors in many parts of the world as a major pest due to its theft of speed from boats and large, swimming creatures alike. It ranges across large stretches of water, stopping every few hours to feed and sap velocity from large boats, sharks, whales, and other hosts that might overlook it. Although native to warm waters, echeneises sometimes follow trade vessels elsewhere. Because echeneises prefer murky shallows, sailors rarely notice one before it begins to slow a vessel. The sharp and sturdy spines atop the creatures' backs scrape the hulls of ships to which they are attached, so sailors lament both the short-term inconvenience and the long-term damage caused by these pests. Old boats with hundreds of scrape marks on their bottoms garner reputations as cursed, and their captains face a serious stigma when trying to recruit crews. It is true that some ships draw echeneises more than others, but apart from the ship's size there is no indication as to what else might attract the creatures.
"Let's let Diomedes know what's going on, then come back down and shoot them off the hull."
The elf nods and heads up to the surface to inform the party.
Diomedes looks incredulous. "I know the answer is magic... but how in the hell does something steal velocity?!" He seems to be having a hard time wrapping his mind around this. He slips his pack off his back and checks that he has the things he might need. Pulling out a dagger and slipping off his boots, he readies himself. "I'm already a pretty good swimmer, but I can't breathe underwater. When we're ready to go, I'd like to grant us a blessing." With that he silently slides into the water and nods to the others.
"Well no need for violence then. But one never knows."
Bastien strokes his beard and continues.
"I think it is more important to find the reason for the disappearances!"
Diomedes touches Bastien's shoulder. His feet quickly turn into flippers and his hands gain webs between the fingers. "Don't worry. There's no damage to your boots," he grins.
He also casts a spell of blessing on the group. "Let's do this."
Underwater crossbow in hand Deranthin swims towards the closer of the two creatures. He stops at about ,25 feet away and points.
Dagger in hand, Diomedes follows Deranthil toward the ship.
Bastien dives into the water and slowly swims towards the shapes.
Jordy swims to one side to shoot past Bastien and Diomedes and readies his crossbow.
The creatures don't move until you attack as far as they know you can't see them.
When everyone is in position Deranthil readies his underwater crossbow. He lifts his arm and then rapidly brings it down and fires the first shot at the creature.
Derantil shoots one of the fish and they detach themselves and move to attack the group they move whitin 40 feet of the group.
Roll init and if your init is higher than them (it probably is) then do your action now.
As the fish swim closer, Diomedes is able to swim up to meet one and attack.
Swimming closer Bastien stabs at the closest fish being, using his polearm with booth hands.
Deranthil reloads and fires again at the still flat footed enemy.
Jordy aims and fires before the fish can react to Deranthil's attack.
The two fish creature attack bastien and diomedes.
Since they are "fed" they are hasted.
Your go.
Diomedes stabs back at the crazy fast fish. He could have sworn they looked slower when they were attached to the ship. "Damn magic fish."
Bastien shrugs at the attacking beast and repostes.
Jordy takes aim and fires at the fish attacking Bastien.
Deranthil moves a little closer, reloads, and fires on the fish he had already hit twice.
@Derantil you're right actually I forgot he was flat-footed for your first two shoots. So lets asusming all hits on the same one.
Both are still alive but one is badly injured and near death.
The badly injured one takes one more bite and disengages moving 60 feet away.
The other attacks Dio twice.
Your go again.
Diomedes stabs again at the creature.