Lolito nods trying to dismiss the woman as fast as possible "Thanks for the advise, we will make sure our people is protected. And thanks for your hospitality. Perhaps we will stop here on our way back"
Once the group is back to the road, Lolito will explain his impressions "Mmm... I do not know you, but I found his insistence to know about numbers and plans to be more than idle curiosity... there is something amiss with that woman"
Alyn will wait to inform the group until we are away from potential eavesdropping.
After sipping on the tea for a while after Kragg had started to do so, the wizard gazed at the woman suspiciously as she kept pointedly asking about the settlement. The illusionist found himself glancing towards the door often, wondering what horror might come through while they were otherwise distracted. When nothing terrible came, he relaxed, smiling as the others started to get up to leave.
"Your hospitality is a blessing in these trying times, ma'am. Would that all the inhabitants of this island show your kindness." He gave the woman a wave of farewell,then left to join the others away from the home.
Lara still doesn't drink the tea (or spill the tea, for that matter) even after it becomes apparent that it's relatively safe. She remains quiet even after the party leaves, pondering and turning over in her mind what seemed so off about that woman...
the group continues on from the odd encounter with the woman, mulling over what they saw.
A river winds down from the foothills through the dense forest. While the river's source isn't immediately visible, the roar of a nearby waterfall indicates its direction. the river flows at a fast pace, and is broken into rapids by large rocks
"There was some hidden intent behind that woman questions. If we are in the area again we should take the time to see that she does not turn on the settlers. She does not want more people on this island it seems."
Lolito nods while he places his ear towards the waterfall roaring "Do you hear that?" the man smiles broadly showing his crooked teeth to everyone "That must be Durvin Gest's waterfall that Carver told us about. We shall find a cave behind it. Let's see what we do discover!"
Increasingly excited Lolito follows the river upstream towards the waterfall, trying to avoid the most difficult paths and jumping from rock to rock to approach the falling water.
If no danger is found, Lolito tries to look behind the waterfall.
Lolito scouts ahead of the group, jumping from rock to rock and making it across the stream. the water is moving very quickly and the rocks are slippery. falling could mean being swept away...
on the other side of the stream, there is a slim path of earth that leads around the pool basin to the waterfall itself. Lolito can just barely make out that there is an opening behind the waterfall, just as you expected from Carver's journal.
there are large depressions in the soft dirt that Lolito can't quite identify. they look like circular depressions in regular intervals around the pool
these are tracks left by a chuul: a large crustacean predator, similar to a reefclaw but much larger and more dangerous!
I had the same feelings as the rest of you about that woman. Yet nothing I did could detect a falsehood nor did she emanate an aura of evil. It is curious that she is so comfortable out here when all we have met with us hostility. Just something else to keep an eye on I guess.
———————————
At the water as they go to inspect the waterfall Kragg cautions them all to not spread out so far in and around the water. I can not get to you that quickly should something happen. As he sees Lolito skipping among the rocks he sighs. No way these dwarven legs are doing that. Might have to do this the long way. I might need to go downstream a bit to find a safer crossing point. Have you found anything Lolito?
Survival
As Lolito seems the most capable tracker Alyn goes into assistant mode and pulls out a survival kit.
"Here is a book of flora and fauna."
Lara looks around as they arrive at the waterfall's edge. Shouldering her bow, she hops across the rocks to the other side along with Lolito. Noticing the depressions, she says, "Hm. Looks like a chuul lives here."
Unshouldering her bow again and taking another step away from the water, she continues, "Like bigger reefclaws- watch yourselves."
With Lara’s caution about a chuul Kragg quickly casts shield upon himself knowing that they are going to investigate the water and behind the waterfall. If something was to attack them it would be now as the party is split on either side of the stream.
"Wow! The site is really beautiful" the old man observes with marvel at the astonishing waterfall in the middle of the jungle.
Lolito kneels by Lara while they both examines the marks "A chuul? Mmm... well, I guess we will have to deal with the animal if we want to explore Durvin Gest's cave... What do you know about them? Do you know at what time of the day they do sleep? We can come back when we know him to be sleeping"
Suddenly realizing the rest of the group is not going to easily make it to the other side Lolito stands up and approaches the edge of the river "I spot something behind the waterfall. I think it is here. Perhaps you can hand me your most sensitive stuff and then cross swimming? I can throw a rope to you to make sure the current does not take you"
Thame looked at the old man as he would a crazy person as he suggested swimming after Lara said that a chuul was in the area. He wasn't quite sure what that was, but her description made it apparent that it was something he wouldn't want to get in the water with. He had a spell that would hurry his efforts at swimming to the other side, but he waited to see if anyone knew more about these creatures and their habits, as Lolito had wisely suggested. Perhaps timing could make this all safer.
"Trick fly the end of the rope over to Lolito."
Chuuls are armored, crustacean-like predators that lurk beneath the surfaces of shallow ponds and mires, bursting from concealment to snatch up prey in their chitinous pincers and then paralyzing them with their mouth tentacles before eating them alive.
Chuuls are most active in the twilight times of early morning and late evening, and are more likely to be dormant during the hottest parts of the day.
Chuuls are excellent swimmers but prefer to attack land-bound creatures or those wallowing in shallow water. Once they seize their victims, chuuls often drag grappled foes back into deep water to drown them. Lizardfolk are by far the chuul’s favorite prey, though those pale chuul breeds that live underground prefer morlocks, duergar, unwary drow, and other unfortunates who get too close to their subterranean waterways—with the exception of troglodytes, whose flavor chuuls find particularly offensive.
Chuuls are surprisingly intelligent, leading many to speculate fruitlessly on their origins and motivations. They speak a chittering, burbling dialect of Common, but few are inclined to speak to those outside their race, and if chuul society exists beyond their frenzied mating season, humanoids have yet to record it. Instead, chuul intellects seem entirely devoted to seeking out the perfect ambush sites to attack other intelligent creatures and decorating their elaborate lairs with trophies from their kills. Though the chuuls themselves seem uninterested in using tools of any kind, they have an almost compulsive need to collect keepsakes from their victims.
A typical chuul is 8 feet tall and weighs 650 pounds.
the pool under the waterfall is not very deep, maybe 10 feet at the deepest part. the water in the pool is a giant eddy, with the water not moving very quickly until it reaches the edge of the pool and picks up speed. crossing near the rocks carries a risk of being swept away by the current, while crossing in the pool itself does not carry the same risks.
Lara makes it over to Lolito easily, while the other three members of the group contemplate ways to get across.
Know nature chuuls
Perception water
Know nature water
It would seem the water current is not as strong in the pool as it is near the stream. That would make it much easier to cross there. However chuuls have a cruel intelligence and pick ambush spots to waylay land dwellers. We cross in the middle of the shallow pool and I bet it is there waiting for us.
If you 2 can get back over here I will call upon Abadar’s blessings to let us breath water. Then we proceed all together into the water to take out the chuul now.
"Mmmyeah, I don't really want to cross back over--or to fight the thing underwater. My bow'd be useless," Lara calls back. "But you're right, it's probably waiting in that shallow pool anyway."
"I do not need the spell" Lolito takes his tunic and removes it throwing it away at the shore, showing his naked body full of wrinkles but well worked out. The man breaths deeply and you can see a remarkable golden dragon tattooed all along his back.
"We probably do not need to fight the chuul. We can pass you a rope. The jump is very easy and if you fall, we can pull you up with the rope. We do not need to cross the pool, but I am prepared to jump into the water and dive into the fight" Lolito picks up a couple of shurikens he fixes to hi underware.
"Trick and I can fight underwater. Well...I think we can. I read about it in a book and I think I can execute the maneuvers."
Thame sighed as the conversation turned to taking on the chuul offensively to gain whatever upper hand they could. While the wizard understood the reasoning, he wasn't exactly thrilled with it. "If we're determined on this course of action, I have a spell that will greatly increase our speed for about half a minute. Maybe we should just try to cross with it and avoid the fight?"
Lolito shrugs "It sounds good to me Thame. I will keep a watchful eye while you proceed"
The old naked man stands over the rocks and looks at the basin attentively, expecting the chuul to jump out of the water at any moment.
Lolito can see a large dark shape under the water's surface. it must be the chuul!
bold may act:
thame, lara, Alyn, chuul, Kragg, Lolito
"There!" Lolito points to a shadow under the water, so surprised himself that he forgets to react further.
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Thame's eyes widened as the monk pointed excitedly at the water. His training kicking in, the wizard murmured the words of his spell reflexively, ending the casting with a flourish of his hands as energy infused those around him, greatly enhancing their speed.
With the boost of speed Alyn is more confident in his jumping and runs and leaps to the center rock and readies an attack as the slaps the water.
Lara pulls back her bowstring, awaiting a target.
The large shadow approaches as more splashes sound in the water as Alyn crosses the rocks. you can all see the beast now, the top of its head sticking out above the water. it moves towards you slowly but steadily. Lara snaps off a shot as she first spots it, but the arrow bounces off of the chitin of the massive shelled creature.
the whole party may act!
Global Condition: None |
Global Condition:
Thame HP: 27/27 - AC: 12/12/10 Status:
Lara: HP: 28/28 - AC: 17/12/15 Status:
Kragg HP: 31/31 - AC: 19/10/19 Status:
Lolito HP: 44/44 - AC: 19/18/16 Status:
Alyn HP 38/40 - AC: 20/11/19 Status:
Trick HP 28/28 - AC 17/11/15 Status:NPCS:
Chuul HP: ??? | AC ???
Reaching for the shurikens in his underwear Lolito throws the metallic stars at the now visible enemy "Take that there!"
Then the man tenses his arms close to his body entering a Dragon Stance while the golden dragon tattoo in his back shines with mystic glittering.
Kragg sees Thame by him and asks for the ability to swim in the water. If granted he jumps in and swims closer to use his long spear against the
Longspear attack for
Should he not wait for the spell then Kurag will cast fly on himself and move above the aquatic creature.
Cursing at her spoiled shot, Lara quickly nocks and fires a another arrow at the chuul.
More than happy to grant Kragg the status of likely first target, the wizard quickly rattled off the words of a spell, the spidery language slipping through his lips in a well-practiced manner. Just to be sure, the wizard took a long step away from the dwarf after he had given him his request.
Lolito throws several weapons at the chuul as it comes to the surface, hitting once and doing some damage.
Lara corrects her aim from the first attempt and places an arrow in a soft spot between overlapping shell plates, hitting something important!
Thame gives Kragg the ability to move in the water, and Kragg swims out to meet the Chuul in the water, striking it with a spear.
Alyn is not close enough to hit the creature and holds for now
the Chuul lunges closer to Kragg, snapping at him with massive claws.
the two claws find purchase on Kragg, and one of them clamps down on his leg, slowly crushing him and keeping him in place!
the party may act!
Global Condition: None |
Global Condition:
Thame HP: 27/27 - AC: 12/12/10 Status:
Lara: HP: 28/28 - AC: 17/12/15 Status:
Kragg HP: 8/41 - AC: 19/10/19 Status: grappled
Lolito HP: 44/44 - AC: 19/18/16 Status:
Alyn HP 38/40 - AC: 20/11/19 Status:
Trick HP 28/28 - AC 17/11/15 Status:NPCS:
Chuul HP: -39 | AC 23
More pleased with that shot, Lara nocks a third arrow and drives it home into the chuul as well.
Kragg manages to withstand the first cake as it tries to get past his shield spell. He wasn’t as fortunate though with the second claw. It clipped him and held him in the water. Thankfully he was able to breathe underwater and could still function normally. Pulling free his Morningstar he smacks the chuul with it.
for +2 to hit if Alyn jumps in for flank
Ac 24 33/51hp
Alyn will tell Trick to go flank for Krag and himself. Alyn will remember Aquatic Combatant (Combat) so the water does not interfere with his fight take a small step to the side and attack from with reach.
Next round.
Trick:
Next round.
"You did not wanted me to play alone with the chuul but you decided to hug him now Kragg?!" Without any more shuriken in his hands, Lolito takes a long breath and runs to the edge of the rock performing a long jump towards the chuul.
"Wahoooo!" Lolito spins in the air to strike with a powerful dragon flying kick before falling into the water with a big splash!
Thanks Kragg.
Seond round hasted attack.
Trick:
no full round 1
Next round hasted attack.
The Chuul takes a beating from a number of attacks, finally dropping unconscious after Lolito's flying kick hits it right in the head. it is alive but out of commission.
End of Combat!
Kragg breathes a sigh of relief as the chuul is dropped and releases him. He had wanted to provide some pressure on the creature to keep it from attacking Alyn but was a bit too aggressive this time. Thankfully his friends and companions were there to help take it out. Healing himself quickly of the damage the claw did Kragg then looks at the others as he swims lazily in the water.
life pact convert into cure mod full health
Thanks for saving me there guys. while I am here though, shall I explore down here to see where its lair might be while you search behind the waterfall?
If the group is agreeable then he will take 20 underwater to search for a 23. 25 if stone related.
"There could be more of them in there, couldn't there?" Lara calls. "If you do go, be careful!"
"Yes I will come with you."
Alyn will stand as close as he can safely get and keep an eye on Kragg.
Thame graciously allows the dwarf to search the pool for the collective good, taking upon himself the important task of keeping watch in case any other creatures came upon them. While Kragg had thanked the group, the wizard knew just how potent the spell he had used was and how much it had increased everyone's efficacy. No one liked a braggart, though, he had come to realize with these folks.
"Ok, Kragg. I will advance myself and have a glimpse behind the waterfall. If the cave is there, I will not go further in, just wait you in the entrance" profiting he is already in the water, Lolito will swim below the falling water and climb to see if there is a cave behind.
Kragg moves forward in the pool, looking for the Chuul's lair. it is quickly apparent that the Chuul (or Chuuls?) has been going in and out of the waterfall many times. the stone at the bottom of the waterfall has been rubbed smooth by the passing of the hard shelled creatures and no further burrow is seen under the pool.
Lolito peeks in the waterfall and sees a long cave stretching out past the opening. the path leading in from the waterfall is only partially flooded, full to 2 feet deep. the walls and ceiling are partially covered with small glowing blue worms that cling to more than half of the available surfaces in the cave and emit a soft light at about the same brightness as candlelight.
Lolito examines the worms and the area thoroughly while he waits for the others to join him.
Finding nothing besides the presence of the chuul(s) Kragg heads behind the waterfall as well to help Lolito with whatever he may find back there. Since there was evidence of perhaps multiple chuuls he casts barkskin upon himself and calls for the others to join them. It seems like there might be more than one with all of the marking around here. Let’s regroup and check out the cave behind.
Alyn quickly falls in line following the group behind that waterfall.