GM Fanguar's Savage Tide (Inactive)

Game Master Fanguar

"It was only once! Most if the things are already salty, from the pork to the pickles!"

-Posted with Wayfinder

Graythan simply narrows his eyes in suspicion, his lips drawing into a tight, thin frown. "Just the one time, huh? Just the one time you used a spell to do it or just the one time period?"

Figured someone might have mage hand at the ready, things get more exciting otherwise.

The journal chronicles the tale of a monk named Anhelm and his journey along the southern coast of the Amedio to visit the natives of the Isles of Axuxal. The document tells of a fierce storm that drove the Rage far out to sea, but it is the entries on the last few pages that are of the greatest interest Handout

Krils taps her chin. "So, if we are to believe the ramblings of a man who may have killed his own crew while in a fugue from hopelessness, there is a 'mother' that turns people into plant zombies. And if we want to get free, we have to do what dozens or hundreds of people before us failed to do and kill it..." She bites her lip. "Hmm, sounds bad when you say it out loud like that..."

Justified finishes reading the journal and addsStill, it sounds less bad than doing nothing. I wonder what it was that he was wanting.[/b[ he ponders out loud then asks [b]Shall we explore the rest of the ship for resources or return to our own ship?

"I say we continue searching. As long as it is still light out side."

Graythan nods, "We've found some scribblings, but not much else that seems a help in getting us out of this. Let's keep looking, see what we come across."

Graythan simply narrows his eyes in suspicion, his lips drawing into a tight, thin frown. "Just the one time, huh? Just the one time you used a spell to do it or just the one time period?"

Bron can't help giggle a bit at Graythan's frown. "Oh dear... I'm caught out aren't I? It was only a few times I swear... you're so serious, it's just always tempting to play a prank. Never meant any harm."

Graythan glances over his shoulder at Bronwenir, "Uh huh." As the group presses on to other parts of the wrecked vessel, he shakes his head again. "Back to the more pressing matter: a floating island of murderous seaweed and shambling monsters, what's that part in the journal about a mother? If these zombie-like creatures have a mother, maybe finding her and killing her is the answer."

You find nothing else of note in the remains of The Rage.

Basically, the journal is just instructions of what to do, i.e., head to the heart of the sargasso and kill what lives there.

"It seems that is always the answer. Not usually the best answer, but an answer..." Says the Life Shaman with a sigh.

And there is no time like the present. I'd rather not wait a night to see what comes. Why would we not set out immediately to do what must be done?

"Alright. Where shall we go?"

Justified points. To the heart.

Moira nods in agreement with Justified and adds, "I suggest we notify the others that we will be going out so they are not worried about us. Also, they need to fortify themselves as we will not be there to help. We should also take some of the oil. Might be useful in the Heart."

Not sure there was any actual oil. I think there was just residue.

"Moira's right. We need to alert the crew at the very least. And I didn't bring supplies with me for a days-long hike either, so I'll want to fetch all of that from the ship as well." He grunts as he drops off the side of the Rage and back down to the sargasso, continuing to talk as they walk. "And who can say how far it even is to the heart? This mess looks nearly endless from here."

Not sure there was any actual oil. I think there was just residue.

You are right. Looks like my mind dropped the 'residue' part of the post.

The whole mess is several hundred square miles. If we were sitting around a table, I would make you wander around until you found it (there are multiple 'arms' of the sargasso to explore), but as the is PbP, for the sake of speed, I won't have you spend more than one night on the 'mess' (unless you choose otherwise). Let me know if you have any questions or specific preparations you want to make before heading out.

Krila makes a connection to a Water spirit in the morning.

What time of day is it currently, Fanguar? If it's still early, Graythan would push to set out now but if it's nearing nighttime, he'd want to hold fast at the ship to help defend it against the shambling tide.

Justified has the gear he needs with him but supports going back to the ship to update the captain about what they have found and their plans. Unless its very late already he wants to get started. I do not like leaving you over night captain, but I suspect we will be gone a few nights so you and your crew will have to do the best you can. Keep lights burning as best you can and for gods sake have backup lights ready. We have some evidence that light seems to keep some of the threat at bay. He reaches out and grabs a stone orbiting his head and offers Unless you already have such an item borrow this for your personal safety. It is an Ion Torch.

What time of day is it currently, Fanguar? If it's still early, Graythan would push to set out now but if it's nearing nighttime, he'd want to hold fast at the ship to help defend it against the shambling tide.

Mid-morningish. Due to the difficult terrain and the distances needed to be travelled, You will be stuck out on the seaweed and the ship will have to fend for itself for at least one night. It might be informative to wait out one night to see what you are up against, but that's really up to you.

I was thinking the same thing... but I am not sure we can do anything differently once we know more about what we face. I mean we do not have a large selection of weapons and alchemicals to pick from. Is there any real advantage to waiting? Perhaps the ship will need us in the initial attack we expect tonight? I guess I am good saying with the ship the first night and helping ready it as best we can against whatever will come in the darkness.

That makes sense.

Graythan shakes his head as the sun passes its peak by the time he and the others manage to trudge back to their ship. "We'll never make any appreciable ground with what's left of the light. Let's hold fast with the crew tonight and set out at first light."

Agreed. And let us be about fortifying the ship as we can in preparation for what comes. Then some of us should try to get some sleep. It may be a long night.

"Yes, I wonder what is most effective against these things. If they are undead, then healing magic is most effective. If they are plants, then fire would be. If they are more water, then electricity."

Maybe... Shambling Mounds get more con when hit with electricity. They are wet plants that resists fire. Likely any plant thing we face is going to be quite wet.

Graythan shrugs at Krila's thoughts, "If they are vulnerable to one of the elements, that'll be helpful to know. And I hope they aren't impervious to crossbow bolts and the like. If normal weapons don't work, we'll be overwhelmed in short order."

Deciding to witness whether the tale written in the journal held true, the party fortifies itself on the ship and settles in to wait. As evening approaches, wisps of fog begin to rise from the seaweed, becoming thicker and thicker as dusk settles in. By the time night arrives, the Sea Wyvern is socked in. Torches on deck provide feeble illumination. (Visibility drops to 30 feet and everyone has concealment {20% miss chance}

With the darkness, comes a low moaning. It is just at the edge of hearing and sounds like the Sargasso itself is groaning in pain. The thick fog deaden sound, but occasionally a single word reaches your ear, rising again and again from the darkness. "Outssssiderssss..."

Quick call for any specific preparations you are making before the battle.

Justified will try to make sure the crew all have weapons to repel boarders and cut ropes and grapples. He hopes the climb up to the ship will be difficult for anything on the surface. He has a potion of Enlarge Person ready to use should he need it. If there are buff spells prepare to cast them. he advises.

Perfect time for spells with area effects like bless that can buff the entire crew.

Sadly, Graythan's spells are all mostly self-buffs with crappy durations.

As the sussurating words get louder and nearer, Graythan readies his crossbow and begins to prepare by calling up what blessings of Tyr he's able.

In case there isn't enough time before initiative is rolled, here are the spells Graythan will cast and the order he casts them in.
First spell: shield of faith
Second spell: divine favor
Third spell: flames of the faithful

Can Bron prepare different spells in preparation for this?

Can Bron prepare different spells in preparation for this?

There would have been time to rest between exploring the ship wreck and night/fog. I imagine that everyone would have taken time to rest during the day knowing what would be coming at night.

Moira stands beside Justified with a lit torch in hand. "Outsiders? Maybe IT should let us go so we can leave."

Bron uses his wand of Mage armor as soon as he hears the voices, and draws out his wand of shield to be ready as soon as the attack comes.

Out from the fog, shamble vaguely humanoid figures.

Combat
19 Graythan
16 Justified
9 Krila
9 Moira
7 Bronwenir
3 Enemies

Map updated. Everyone is up. Remember, you have a 30 foot range of visibility and everyone has a 20% miss chance

Krila cracks her knuckles. "Right, you lads and ladies deal with the riff-raff, I'll make sure everyone stays up and on their feet." She raises one hand up in the air, and a golden glow swirls around her fingers. The swirl turns itself into multiple fairies which then in turn fly out, giving everyone a gentle kiss on the temple, resulting a rush of good feeling and positive energy through their bodies.

Cast Bless, everyone +1 Attack and +1 Saves vs Fear

Justified tries to peer through the fog and moving to the railing finally sees the enemy. Here they come . What are those things? He pulls and throws chakram at one.

Knowledge Religion?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

chakram: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 1 = 201d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Miss Chance, High is good for us: 1d100 ⇒ 19 Miss!

How high up are we?

Knowledge(nature): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Why does one of them look like Graythan?

Bron uses his wand of shield, and draws his crossbow.

Are the creatures onboard or are they approaching the ship from the outside?

Graythan holds his position up on the vessel, waiting for a target to shamble into view. When it does, he looses a pair of thundering shots that streak through the fog as gleaming, crimson lines.
+1 hvy repeating xbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29for: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6and fire: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Crit?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11for an additional: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6and fire: 1d10 ⇒ 8
Concealment (1-20 = miss): 1d100 ⇒ 86

+1 hvy repeating xbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14for: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8and fire: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Concealment (1-20 = miss): 1d100 ⇒ 91

@Justified: Not undead. Let's say 10 feet.
@Moira: Not onboard. ~30 feet away.
@Bron: Extra graythan token removed. The creatures are unlike anything you've heard of (unique), but appear to be vegetative in nature, similar to shambling mounds.

One of Graythan's bolts strikes true, slamming into the creature.

Moira is still up.

Moira take a blind shot and hopes that it hits its mark.
Concealment (1-20) = Miss: 1d100 ⇒ 92
Attack, Bow, BAB, Dex: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 4 = 13
Moira misses her mark even though she can see it through the fog.

The moaning of the shambling horrors rises in volume, ringing out like a summons. Strands of kelp begin to rise from the sargasso, writhing and lashing out in search of prey.

Everyone is up.

I'm hoping the vines count as flat-footed since they were just animated.

Bron enhances his crossbow to make its bolts burn with fire, and moves to get a clear shot at the same one Moira hit.

+1 flaming crossbow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 1 + (6) = 14

Pretty sure that's a miss. Too bad, that was good damage.

Justified wonders about these strange plant things, before taking attacks of opportunity at 2 of the closing animated vines. He then takes a 5' step back and attacks the vine in front of Krilla.

Know (Nature): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

AOO 1: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 171d10 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 54

AOO 2: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 331d10 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Confirm: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 282d10 + 18 ⇒ (1, 6) + 18 = 25
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 83

+1 glaive-guisarme: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 261d10 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 6 = 21
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 89

Would it be possible to assign one of the crew to hand me lighted/flaming arrows?

Graythan curses darkly under his breath as the sargasso begins to twist and churn just in front of him. Hoping it won't be able to scale the ship too quickly, he tries to maintain his focus on his earlier target.
Concealment (1-20=Miss): 1d100 ⇒ 37
+1 hvy repeating xbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26for: 1d10 + 5 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 5 + (3, 4) = 17and fire: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Concealment (1-20=Miss): 1d100 ⇒ 72
+1 hvy repeating xbow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30for: 1d10 + 5 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + (1, 5) = 13and fire: 1d6 ⇒ 5
crit?: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29for an additional: 1d10 + 5 + 2d6 ⇒ (9) + 5 + (1, 2) = 17and fire: 1d10 ⇒ 4

Swift: activate bane (plants)
Full: Rapid shot