Derym nods, "Last thing we need is a lungful of spores."
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Kragg takes the time to meditate in this seemingly wholesome room. While there was the presence of the mold the rest of the place seemed clean and somehow pure. During his meditation his thoughts turned to the settlers that were captured. His normally peaceful demeanor was replaced with a burning anger. The anger built and took the shape of a key…Abadar’s symbol. And that key turned releasing the lock on part of Kragg that was always there but buried deep. It was now free thanks to Abadar’s guidance.
Opening his eyes Kragg could see his hands gripping the short sword. With the grip came full understanding of how to use more martial weapons to protect Abadar’s followers and to bring his light and justice to the untamed wild.
Lolito agrees to rest for as long as it is needed for everyone to recover the full of the group's magic.
During the meal on the next day, he opens discussion about how to proceed "This mucus, it is not nice, but I think we should use those tricks to get into the water, unless you have some magics you want to use."
"I do not need though, for it was part of my training to survive long periods of time without physical needs like food and air" the bald man smiles with a huge open mouth.
Deciding how to go along, Lolito will choose to advance through the western stairs, down into the waters.
"I'm very effective at underwater combat however breathing under water is not something I practiced."
I have many blessing from Abadar. One of which is the miracle of breathing in water. We will not need the mucus unless at last resort. As for combat though i
Lolito moves to scout ahead a bit while everyone finished preparing
It is very dark in the water. it does not look like there are any light sources down there. the stairs at the end of the hall go down into the water, and it looks like it goes far enough in that you could not touch the bottom with your head above water.
"Kragg of you will share the blessing we can start exploring the waterway."
One Alyn can breath he will follow the old monk under water.
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Kragg nods his head to Alyn’s humble request. I will gladly do so on behalf of mighty Abadar. In his name are these miracles performed so we may hunt the Aboleth and return our people to our settlement!
Spells cast: Water breathing on party, barkskin on Kragg, extended shield, extended enlarge person, circle of protection against evil
I am now prepared to meet this vile for who is an affront to everything that I hold dear. Abadar guide and protect us this day.
He will have the mw longspear out ready to enter the water.
Lolito opens his mouth in a large smile while Kragg blesses the party "Praise Abadar for his wisdom on sending you as our companion Kragg!"
With the party prepared for an underwater foray, Lolito places spinning around his head the ioun torch that Alyn gave him to illuminate the way forward.
Further on, he steels his body with his ki, giving himself a powerful armor of mystic power.
"Let's hunt the Aboleth and save Talmandor's Bounty!" with that, Lolito dives into the waters trying to find the way forward.
Lolito moves forward, illuminating the way ahead with a stone floating around his head. the passage he enteres is not long, he quickly finds an ornate double door made of stone blocking his way.
Kragg casts some spells to prepare, including giving his allies the ability to breathe under water.
Alyn follows Lolito once he is able to breathe.
Lara sighs and shoulders her bow. Drawing her sword, she follows after the others into the water. “Brrr! That’s cold!” she exclaims quietly.
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Enlarged as he was it was easy for Kragg to wade into the water after Lolito. Thankfully he could walk and not need to swim at this point. He picked up a few pointers but was never comfortable in the water even with the ring of swimming that he had. Reaching the double doors Kragg used his extra reach and enhanced strength to open the doors. Ready everyone? We don't know what is behind these doors. If there are captive colonists they may be under the control of the aboleth. Take it out first and then we can worry about the colonists. If there are a bunch under its control it may take a few days for me to break the enchantments around them and restore them to normalcy.
Kragg moves into the water, barely keeping his head above the water as he goes down the stairs. the door is completely submerged, and Kragg is able to swing it open. The room beyond is fully submerged, and pitch black. Luckily Lolito's floating stone lights up a small area around him.
A row of caryatid columns divides this long, flooded corridor. The sculpted figures are covered in spiny yellow coral and tentacled pink polyps, partially hiding their facial features and intricately detailed hairstyles, and gives them an eerily inhuman quality.
You notice many similarities between the caryatid columns here and those in modern Absalom, Cheliax, and Taldor, where some nobles consider it fashionable to imitate Azlanti architecture.
you notice that there is a suspicious crack in the wall to your left. looks like a secret door! as you look at it, you see it crack open slightly. someone may be watching you...
the columns are covered in spiny yellow coral. you recognize it as a venomous variety that responds to changes in pressure around it. stopping adjacent to the columns will cause the coral to extend its spines potentially poisoning whoever is standing there.
“Looks a bit like Taldan sculptures, back home,” Lara observes.
More quietly, she adds, “Aaand that looks like a hidden door. Careful now, I think we’re being watched.”
Lolito admires the columns as Lara raises point about them "Interesting, this proofs then these cultures descend from ancient Azlanti I guess..."
"There? Ah! You have such eyes! If we are being watched we need to find out who and why. Let's check it out" Lolito follows Lara's directions, as he is not seeing it himself, and opens the secret door.
"I would very much like to take notes on this but I will have to ask you questions one we leave and dry off."
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Kragg casts light to help illuminate the darkness before them. Almighty Abadar, grant us your blessings so we may shine a light in the darkness for other to see your power!
know nature with guidance
AS Lara and Lolito talk about the columns Kragg takes notice as well. It is true that all civilizations and generations take and learn from previous civilizations and generations. That is what makes a civilization so great. It has the opportunity to pass on to those that follow the success it had. By this then we hope that later civilizations and generations will rise to greater heights than their predecessors. It is much the same that a parent will try and raise their children to exceed their own success. Taldor, Absalom, and Cheliax are in essence the partial offspring of Azlanti culture and civilization.
Kragg is not able to see the hidden door but will stand back and be ready to proceed forward as Lolito and Lara open the door.
Derym refuses Kragg's water breathing spell, "I... don't need it. Thanks."
Lara spots the door and Kragg moves right up to it. the door swings open to reveal a waiting group of Skum with longspears. they are surprised by your ability to spot them but prepare to fight!
three of them are in range to stab at Kragg
None of them break through the giant cleric's defenses
The party may act
Kragg will step to the south 5ft to allow the more martial members of the party to attack and create a firing lane for Lara. After he moves he stabs forward with his spear trying to impale one of the skum.
Mw longspear enlarged bulls strength for put
Iterative for
Lolito tries to find a place around the corner but sees no opportunity "Hold them in there Kragg!"
He instead draws shurikens from his belt and move a bit forward, throwing them at the first one in line out of Kragg's long reach.
Seeing as her bow is slung over her shoulder, Lara holds her sword at the ready in case any of the skum come too close.
Lolito looks with surprise as his perfectly thrown shuriken just sinks half-way its destination, he smiles and blurbs underwater "Oh, ho, guess I will have to go complain those are not water-proof!"
Derym cuts through the water, drawing his rapier as he moves, abandoning any pretense of hiding his amphibious nature as he closes, then attacks the Skum.
for
Alyn swift action remembers his aquatic combatant training moves. Then he attacks along with Trick.
Kragg stabs the lead skum and then makes room. Derym barely misses even though he gets up in range quickly.
Alyn and Trick finish off the first enemy.
the skum are clearly accustomed to fighting with their long spears, and they use their reach to all join the combat even with the tight confines.
yellow stabs at Alyn, the other two go after Derym
none of their attacks land a blow!
the party may act
Lolito walks through the ground covered in water and attacks with the Hamatulatsu style to pierce through the water and hit the first skum in line "*We need finish them before they give the alarm* *blurp*"
With everything bottle necked Kragg tried an unconventional approach to the situation as he reaches out to pull the forward skum towards him and past the others allowing them all to gang up on the possibly now flanked skum.
drag maneuver position marked in yellow if successful
Lara moves forward and, assuming Kragg is successful, stabs at the skum with her sword.
Oh, I do so love when we solve problems this way...
I know, you tell me that every time. And you were so excited about it last time you moved before I was ready and we missed.
What's the saying? It's a poor workman that blames his tools?
Most tools don't spend their time nagging their workmen. Or pulling themselves out of position. Though, if you want me to start treating you like a normal, unremarkable blade...
No! Ugh. Fine. Stab them already. Should have bonded to one of your cousins...
Derym smiles at his small victory and point in the mental duel, even as he drives the black spire in his hand at the Skum before him, blade and magic blazing as he does.
Kragg manages to break open the formation of Skum by dragging it back into the open.
it stabs at him as he gets ahold of it but fails badly.
Lolito and Derym manage to get some damage on the yellow Skum, but Lara misses with her stab.
the skum all stab at the party
Derym takes a minor cut, but the other attacks miss.
As the party moves around the central columns, spiny lichen attached to each column responds to the disturbances in the water around them, and small sharp spines stick out, attempting to pierce anyone standing nearby!
No one moves out of the way fast enough and each one is pricked!
Something in the spines makes your skin feel warm, and not in a pleasant way.
Lara and Kragg both fight off the effects of the poison, or had a small enough dose that it won't bother them. Alyn on the other hand feels poison take hold in his blood.
The party can act!
Global Condition: |Derym HP: 40/47 - AC: 22/14/18 Status: 3 images
Lara: HP: 46/47 - AC: 17/12/15 Status:
Kragg HP:57/61 - AC: 26/11/26 Status: barkskin, circle of prot evil, shield, bull’s strength, enlarge person (AC 30)
Lolito HP: 60/60 - AC: 24/19/21 Status:
Alyn HP 44/58 - AC: 22/11/19 Status: poisoned (1/round, DC 20). -3 CON
Trick HP 41/41 - AC 18/11/15 Status:NPCS:
Yellow Skum HP: -29 | AC: 17
Blue Skum HP: ?? | AC: 17
Green Skum HP: ?? | AC: 17
Derym winces in pain at the strike, then scolds the blade in his hands, You're so focused on the attack you forgot to defend me..
Against Skum? Bah. It's barely a scratch!
Maybe, but scratches add up, and the last thing either of us want is me to die and one of them to grab you....
Skum?! In the hands of Skum?? Eww.. *sigh* Point taken.
Derym quickly strikes forward with the blade once again, trying to fell the Skum, then pulls back, readying the blade to push away an incoming attack.
Unable to perform the same trick this time Kragg is forced to stab at the skum around the corner until he is able to reach them with his hands.
Longspear vs skum with cover for
Iterative for
Lolito moves into the opening, even if that means being attacked by the grappled skum, and delivers a defensive kick on the next in line, blue "Blurp*! Blurp* Blurp*!"
Derym and his talking sword finish off the front Skum.
Lolito moves forward through the new gap, kicking the next creature. Kragg also hits that one once, but the extreme angle makes a second stab go wide.
Alyn, Lara, skum, Lolito, Derym, Kragg
Global Condition: |Derym HP: 40/47 - AC: 22/14/18 Status: 3 images
Lara: HP: 46/47 - AC: 17/12/15 Status:
Kragg HP:57/61 - AC: 26/11/26 Status: barkskin, circle of prot evil, shield, bull’s strength, enlarge person (AC 30)
Lolito HP: 60/60 - AC: 24/19/21 Status:
Alyn HP 44/58 - AC: 22/11/19 Status: poisoned (1/round, DC 20). -3 CON
Trick HP 41/41 - AC 18/11/15 Status:NPCS:
Yellow Skum HP: -53 | AC: 17 | dead
Blue Skum HP: -29 | AC: 17
Green Skum HP: ?? | AC: 17
Alyn and Trick will get into position, but it looks like only Alyn can attack.
Seeing that she has no clear path to an enemy, Lara bides her time.
Alyn cuts down the closest enemy, leaving only one more!
it attacks Lolito, looking desperate and switching from a long spear to using its body as a weapon
Alyn's body tries to fight off the poison
Even with the con damage his body is strong and he is no longer affected by the poison.
the spiny coral is still close by, but the needles have retracted for the moment.
the party may act
Global Condition: |Derym HP: 40/47 - AC: 22/14/18 Status: 3 images
Lara: HP: 46/47 - AC: 17/12/15 Status:
Kragg HP:57/61 - AC: 26/11/26 Status: barkskin, circle of prot evil, shield, bull’s strength, enlarge person (AC 30)
Lolito HP: 54/60 - AC: 24/19/21 Status:
Alyn HP 44/58 - AC: 22/11/19 Status: -3 CON
Trick HP 41/41 - AC 18/11/15 Status:NPCS:
Yellow Skum HP: -53 | AC: 17 | dead
Blue Skum HP: -69 | AC: 17 | dead
Green Skum HP: ?? | AC: 17
Lolito reels back a bit as the claws scrap his left arm tainting with blood the waters around. Cornered in the middle of the tunnel, unable to properly step around the enemy, he spins around delivering a kick around the corner that he follows with even more Hamatulatsu attacks, trying to finish this menace here and now.
Kragg stabs away at the skum past Lolito hoping to get a lucky hit in even with the skum getting cover.
Primary for
Iterative for
He then steps forward squeezing if he has to to avoid the columns and the poison.
Derym swims past Lolito, using the corner to protect himself while he gets into position to strike with Antipatharian.
Alyn will poke at green.
One remaining skum is no match for the full party. everyone joins in, stabbing it until dead...
end of combat
the water is still, though cloudy from the blood. the secret room looks empty. it appears to have been a storage room, but whatever was stored here was clearly not waterproof, and very little of it remains after untold years. it was maybe being used as a guard post for the skum and little else.
what do you do now?
Kragg makes a quick sweep of the area for any magical auras. With some luck or divine guidance they might be rewarded as before when they found the pearl of power.
Detect magic
Perception
Does anyone need healing or shall we move on as we have our spells and miracle aiding us at this time? Be careful as well if the columns as they can reach out and stick you.
Sidius quickly scans the room, looking for threats - or things of value.
"*Good enough, thanks Kragg*" Lolito's voice sounds distorted by the engulfing waters. The man helps examine the room a bit, until the group understands this was just a guard post.
"*So skum are also allies of the aboleth, arent' them? I think to remember someone said they were created by them?*" leaving the guard post room, Lolito is very cautious in avoiding the danger of the columns.
He moves around the corner and looks after the doors to the east, opening them to continue the underwater exploration.
"I'm ok for health, but I do have some weakness left from the poison."
Sorry Alyn but I do not have the blessing to remove the effects from the poison. I will gladly ask Abadar for such a miracle tomorrow to return your strength and vitality.
I think you are correct Lolito, but I can't remember for sure the history of the races. I do think it is safe to assume that any skum here are allied with the aboleth.