Luke attempts to slip into the cargo hold, and starts poking around, looking to see what cargo the ship is carrying. he also looks for more indications of his brother in the hold.
The half orc tries to swim out of the cloud and get himself into striking range.
Archepex sees Xav doing fine so he circles to Ausk, rolls, and tucks his wings into a dive. He plummets from the sky and hits the water with a minor splash.
But he misjudges slightly and slices into the water just beside the reefclaw instead of on top of it as desired.
This time, Fortune reverses her fickle pleasures. Ausk manages to fend off the razor ponders of the monster, but Xav is nowhere near as lucky. One of the monster's pincers claps around his left arm like irons, then the other takes across his belly. Elf and monster blood mingle in the silty water as the fight turns ugly.
Luke - You invisibly explore the ship's main cargo hold. The hold is mostly empty save for the 14 pigs; normally kept caged, they periodically escape and run loose within the hold. In the forward section, a flight of wooden stairs climbs up to the officers’ quarters (area A4), while a second set of stairs descends into the lower hold (area A10). Owlbear Hartshorn is invariably chained to the foremast here to keep him from causing trouble and to keep people out of the officers’ cabin. Another flight of stairs in the aft section next to the galley leads up to the captain’s quarters (area A5), but it is common knowledge among the crew that the door is trapped. Stored near the mainmast are two light ballistas, a disassembled light catapult, and 12 barrels containing 20 gallons of oil each.
As there's nothing really there, you proceed to a tiny cabin
that contains two beds and two footlockers situated next to the galley. The Wormwood’s quartermaster, Cut-Throat Grok, and ship’s cook, Ambrose “Fishguts” Kroop, share this cabin with several of Kroop’s chickens. Grok sleeps here at night, as does Kroop, who is found here during the day as well if he is insensibly drunk. Luckily, today he is busy in the galley. Both foolockers are secured by simple locks (Disable Device DC 15)
You find no evidence of your brother here or in the main hold.
The muscle bound half orc seems to still be having trouble slicing through the water and hitting his target, as the water throws off his aim just enough to miss the nasty aquatic cross-breed.
Mikael tries to get to Xav, but flounders, his legs apparently having forgotten how to work in the water.
I don't think Luke has ever met Owlbear before.
He makes his way to him, ahh, hello? I didn't know someone else was here. he makes an awkward introduction, keeping a distance to that he cannot be reached by the chained up brute.
Break lets a pained gasp escape and tries to look back for Mikael. He struggles against his captor, trying to make it free. He shouts, "Any time Mick!" in between gasps of breath.
He should be here any second...
I don't think Luke has ever met Owlbear before.
He makes his way to him, ahh, hello? I didn't know someone else was here. he makes an awkward introduction, keeping a distance to that he cannot be reached by the chained up brute.
Owlbear looks up at you with an unguarded but very confused expression. He says nothing, but stares at you like he's not sure what to do.
Xav breaks free of the crap abomination's grip!
Sabine reaches Ausk and calls to Gozreh to heal her ally.
Ausk's luck holds and he avoids getting hit. Xav's luck improves, but the agile monster still gets a hit in even if he cam't re-establish a grip on the agile elf.
Archepex, in spite of his tendency toward the dramatic, also finds himself having trouble making any meaningful connection with the monsters.
The half breed tries again to hit his enemy.
Unfortunately, his talent in not getting hit has made him give the same quarter to his enemy.
Xav gasps again as more of his blood stains the water around him. Looking around he notes that the waters in his immediate vicinity are stained pretty heavily red. Giving up on Mikael, he slashes again but his weakened state causes his arm to tremble and he isn't able to formulate much of an attack at all.
With a kick and a heave, Mikael finally manages to propel himself through the water towards Xav.
Sabine swims around the side of the crab-beast, careful to stay outside the reach of its venomous claws, and places herself opposite Ausk. She begins to shout and splash, trying to distract the monster.
The monsters are just as fortunate as the heroes, which is saying they slice and snap, but all bite only water.
Archepex manages to take advantage of the group forming around his target and lands a good blow to some odd squishy bits.
Ausk seems to be having a ton of trouble hitting anything at all, even with the help.
Having finally caught up to Xav, Mikael aims a clumsy, waterlogged punch at the creature.
Xav jabs his blade at the creature but fails to make contact due to a splash of water that temporarily blinds him.
As Mikael arrives Xav spits out water and gasps, "Oh hey, glad you could make it!"
Sabine slaps desperately at the creature fighting Ausk. More than anything, she wishes she had brought her quarterstaff, although swimming with that would have been difficult.
Surprisingly, one of her awkward attacks lands, crunching into a softer part of the shell.
The party has landed a couple blows now, but the monsters are looking fine. In fact, one may have just licked it's lips, though you can't be sure.
Xav and Mikael manage to avoid the counter attacks from their monster with some desperate paddling. The other monster lands a scratch on Archepex, but is unable to hold onto the bird man.
Archepex attacks the monster again, but misses by a hair.
Ausk finally seems to get a good swing off, connecting fully with the abomination of the sea. Even with the slowing of sea water, his axe bites deep through shell into soft flesh.
The monster twitches a few times before going limp around Ausk's weapon. Purpleish ichor seeps from the deadly wound into the sea.
Once again Xav swings and produce much of an attack whatsoever. He shouts out to Mikael, "Get behind the beast, man!"
Perhaps he has water in his ears, or perhaps he's just ignoring the suggestion that will surely leave him open to a claw in the side. Either way, Mikael doesn't move from his spot, instead throwing another swing at the creature. His knuckles split open on the shell, but he thinks he sees a crack.
Sabine tries to swim over to where Mikael and Xavdeyr were struggling, but she was exhausted from the fight with the first creature. She slips beneath the waves.
Mikael lands a good blow, but the monster is still fighting.
The monster slashes and snaps at Mikael for wounding it so. Though it can't seem to maintain a hold, the pincers still wound terribly and the unfortunate fighter is knocked clean out by the second strike.
The last blow finally proves to be too much for Mikael, and with a choked cry, he goes limp in the water. His blood slowly spreading into the ocean, his last thought is that he should have carried a damn knife...
Xav, who is about to join Mickey in the blood float if he takes another hit weighs his options.
If I attempt to rescue him, this beast is going to kill the both of us. I need to finish this or we are both done!
"Hold on Mik!"
Out of desperation Xav lashes out with everything he has as he aims for the head of whatever this thing is, intent on putting it down. Now.
Sabine sees Mikael sink under the waves, unconscious. She tried to swim over to him, but her body failed her and she continued to flounder underwater.
The fates finally decide Xav needs a break. Everything he has ends up being just enough and he cracks the crab thing over the head with enough force to kill it!
Owlbear looks up at you with an unguarded but very confused expression. He says nothing, but stares at you like he's not sure what to do.I don't think Luke has ever met Owlbear before.
He makes his way to him, ahh, hello? I didn't know someone else was here. he makes an awkward introduction, keeping a distance to that he cannot be reached by the chained up brute.
Luke approaches the person, My name is Luke. do you mind if I have a seat with you?, can you talk? Luke tries to approach Owlbear cautiously. non-threatening.
Luke - Owlbear looks at you like an abused dog. He is wary and flinches at each of your movements, but he also looks like he craves attention, leading him to lean in even as he retreats from you.
Aarchepex swims smoothly over to Mikael and brings him up to the surface. The mass of his wings and the relative lightness of his body make diving a little difficult (thus the dive before), but he manages and easily treads water with the unconscious man.
He needs healing. I can't fly him back, but I may be able to swim with him, if required.
Sabine sank, the water pushing in from all sides. The more she thrashed about, trying to gain some purchase, the more disoriented she became. For all she knew, she had been swimming down. Her lungs burned for air and her limbs felt numb and cold, weak from the effort of swimming and fighting. The druid opened her mouth to cry out, but sucked in gulp of cold, briney water. The blood pounding behind her eyes, she gave into Gozreh's deep embrace.
No. This was not how a predator died. This inky abyss belonged to her. Sabine would die with her enemy's blood on her teeth, not sinking into the abyss to never be seen again. Energy flooded her body, and suddenly, the water seemed not to pull her down, but buoy her up and away. Sabine knew what had happened. Gozreh, the Wind and the Waves, had saved her. She would not die today.
Sabine breaks through the surface of the water and swims quickly to Archepex. "I can take him," she declares.
Aechepex willingly hands Mikael over.
We should finish filling these pots. It would not do to disappoint the captain. He says as everyone comes near.
The spell of silt fades, leaving Crystal waters, save for the blood. The party had no problem gathering the ready of the crabs.
When you haul your wounded selves aboard (Archepex offers to fly Mikael up to the deck), Plugg is waiting. Upon inspecting your pots, a scowl cruisers his narrow face. So, you managed not to fail... mostly. He smirks at Mikael. The captain will be pleased. He turns to leave, but looks back and tosses something to no one in particular. It's a vial of pink fluid before actually doing so.
Luke smiles at Owlbear, no need to fear me. I'm not like the others.
He holds out his hand, my name is Luke, I'm new here.