Kragg starts to remove his armor for the quick swim. That sounds reasonable Ramona. If that is what you wish then I have no problem with being part of a team to counter any problems the colony might have. It is Abadar's will that I aid you as best I can.
As for this issue under the ship, Perhaps those that are the best swimmers go down first for a quick look and report back. That way we do not use any resources that could be used later.
The waters around the ship are cool and clear. You can see the bottom of the bay some 35 feet below, apart from the occasional flora and fauna, nothing catches your eyes as you row out to the ship.
Thame sighs and lets down his pack, tucking a few crossbow bolts into his belt. It would be hard enough to swim with the crossbow...anything else would probably have the wizard sinking to the bottom of the shallow bay. At Kragg's suggestion he decides he'll probably be part of the 'second' group, if it is needed. So he stays put where the other not-so-swimmy companions are, ready to assist those below the water if needed.
Trieste asks Jobert to scout around under the ship to see if he sees anything. "Be sneaky, and be careful." She never really knows what he does and doesn't understand, but she seems to get the message across. She sets him down gently in the water and he disappears with a flash of his tail.
Kaldan strips his armor off, leaving sword and shield with it. He's ready to take to the water with his dagger if it's needed.
Kragg tosses Kaldan his longspear back. Yuo will do better with this that I will. Hopefully I can just hold anything off long e ought for you to kill or drive anything away.
Kaldan nods in gratitude to Kragg. 'This group works really well.' He thinks happily. Keeping an eye out for Trieste's Caiman, ready to enter the water the moment something was found.
The small Caiman returns seeming somewhat disappointed.
Trieste slides over the edge, making only a small splash. "Jobert didn't notice anything. I can go take a quick look."
Kaldan will slip into the water with Trieste. "Best if you don't go alone." He suggests. An animal might not draw the attention a human would.
Lara joins the others at the waterside. Bow in hand, she watches vigilantly, but does not jump into the water just yet.
Thame stands with Lara, crossbow loaded and at the ready. Not that he expected to hit anything, mind you, but appearance counted for a lot, and right now he looked the part of a concerned party member looking to cover his comrades. He sure hoped the duo got it figured out...Thame didn't fancy a swim at the moment after the last trying day.
As Trieste and Kaldan slip under the water Kragg crawls over the side of the boat himself. Instead of diving under the water though he holds onto the side of the ship's boat ready to swim forward if necessary. Hopefully the 2 of them could handle anything underwater but he was there to heal them if they needed it.
Below the waves, Kaldan and Trieste two strangely colorful fish approx 3ft in length close together up against the hull of the Peregrine. These thin, colorful fish have a broad, segmented sucker above their narrow mouth. A line of spines runs down their backs.
Like the remoras they resemble, echeneises are scavengers. However, they are aggressive and often retaliate when knocked off of creatures or vessels. In combat, echeneises attach themselves to enemies to slow them down while flailing with their tails against anyone attempting to remove them. If badly injured while attached, an echeneis releases its victim and uses the speed it has stolen to quickly escape.
An echeneis averages over 3 feet in length and weighs at least 12 pounds.
Trieste has never seen anything like the strange fish attached to the hull, but they don't seem natural. She signals to Kaldan to head back to the surface for a moment.
Kaldan heads for the surface as Trieste signals, keeping his eye on the strange fish warily.
As they breach the surface, Trieste asks Kaldan and the others if they've ever seen fish like that. "I'm pretty familiar with fish and those are like no natural creature I've ever seen. Almost like large, colorful, spiky, remoras. You know, the sucker fish that live on sharks."
Thame rubs his chin thoughtfully as the diving duo describe the creatures attached to the hull. After a few minutes, he nods. "Yes, yes, I see now. Don't know why I didn't think about it before. What we have here is a pair of echeneis, fishy creatures that drain the speed from large boats and sea animals. I'm afraid they will have to be driven off if we are to solve the boat's speed issues."
After a little discussion, Thame shares what he knows this pair seem a bit aggressive and territorial of their new source of speed, you can anticipate a fight trying to drive them off.
Lara frowns and muses, "I'm not sure how effective I can be with a bow underwater. I suppose we'll have to get up close and personal if we're going to deal with this problem." She begins removing her armor, laying it in a pile where it is quickly joined by her bow and quiver.
Listening to what the creatures are Kragg seems intrigued. Intersting, I have not run across them personally in my long life. I wonder if they are native here. Regardless we will have to take care of her problem as yousame Thame.
Turning to Kaldan, Do you think I can borrow a dagger under water? I can use that and the shield to provide a barrier while you take care of them.
Kaldan slips a dagger from it's sheath and hands it hilt first to Kragg. "Sounds good to me."
He turns to Trieste, "I'll take that spell thanks." Holding up his spear. "I've got the best weapon for fighting beasties in the water, so I'll take the lead."
Trieste touches Kaldan's shoulder while murmuring a prayer to Besmara. His hands and feet become webbed and his skin begins to bead water. She pulls out her dagger and nods. "That'll last a few minutes. Deep breath." She dives under the water, her caiman swimming by her side.
Kaldan does as suggested, drawing a few deep breathes to fill himself up with air, and then slips into the water again. Heading for the Echeneis.
Thame looks at the water with trepidation, not even taking the time to ogle Lara as she strips her armor off. He slips his pack off, but otherwise is ready, setting the crossbow down but keeping his knife. This wasn't going to be his favorite thing, but he wanted to get credit for it. Those rewards Ramona had offered were too tempting to chance throwing it away because of two fish.
The wizard slips into the water, thankful that it is warm, at least. He takes a couple of deep, steadying breaths, then goes under after Trieste and Kaldan.
The water on in the bay is calm and clear 0 ft.
- Detatches from the ship and rushes Kaldan
- Detatches from the ship and rushes Trieste
Thame-
Lara-
Kaldan-
Kragg-
Trieste-
Lara dives in with the others and draws her dagger. When Kaldan is rushed by the two fish, she swims closer and stabs at one with it.
Thame slowly swims towards Kaldan, covering about the short distance between himself and the half-orc. He wondered how much punishment the things could take. Only one way to find out, the wizard supposed. He brandished his knife, ready to jab it at the creature when it came in range.
Kaldan takes one hand off his spear, draws his other dagger and tries to stab the Red fish.
Kragg swims down beneath Kaldan to get to the fish attached on to him. Or at lfeast tries to. All he manages to do though is flail hopelessly in the water. Catching his timing he manages to quit floundering and swim over to the beleaguered half orc.
Swim
Swim
- Detaches from the ship and rushes Kaldan. Bites Kaldan and grabs hold draining his speed as well.
- Detaches from the ship and rushes Trieste
Thame- Swims next to Kaldan
Lara- Hits
Kaldan- Slowed Kaldan struggles with his dagger and only manages to draw it feeling as if the water around him is molassas.
Kragg- Swims slowly to Kaldan's aid.
Trieste-
Trieste tries to stab the bizarre fish creature with her dagger.
Jobert darts to her left and also attacks the echeneis.
- Detaches from the ship and rushes Kaldan. Bites Kaldan and grabs hold draining his speed as well.
- Detaches from the ship and rushes Trieste
Thame- Swims next to Kaldan
Lara- Hits
Kaldan- Slowed Kaldan struggles with his dagger and only manages to draw it feeling as if the water around him is molasses.
Kragg- Swims slowly to Kaidan's aid.
Trieste - Misses
Jobert - Misses
- The fish contiues holding tight to Kaldan while its tail whips around at Lara but fails to make contact.
- Tries to bite Trieste and whipes its tail at her for good mesure. Still its fials to hit.
Thame-
Lara-
Kaldan-
Kragg-
Trieste -
Jobert -
Lara stabs at the over-large fish again.
Kaldan continues his efforts to free himself, wondering why everyone had become so fast? He stabs at the attached thing.
Seeing Kaldan struggle with the strange fish-creature, the wizard draws upon his small reserves of courage and attempts to jab at the beast with his knife.
Staring in awe at the effectiveness of Thame Kragg can barely hold on to his dagger and swim let alone get a solid strike in.
Tread water free action
Attack fish on Kaldan for
Frustrated and worried about Kaldan, Trieste tries to stab the fish again.
Though she isn't thrilled about Jobert being in combat, she can't fuss at him too much given the circumstances. He, too, tries to attack the fish creature.
- The fish continues holding tight to Kaldan while its tail whips around at Lara but fails to make contact.
- Tries to bite Trieste and whips its tail at her for good measure. Still, its fails to hit.
Thame- Stabs the fish in the eye!
Lara- Hit
Kaldan- Hit
Kragg- Misses
Trieste - Hit
Jobert - Hit
With your combined efforts not only is the fish on Kaldan slain but the companion as well leaving you with plenty of breath to spare to return to the surface and catch your breath.
Thame rushes to the surface as the water turns cloudy with the blood of the weird fish things. He gulps in a deep lung full of air, pleased that the group had dispatched the things with haste and with little injury to the party. Kaldan might not see it that way, but still a good showing from everyone.
The wizard calls out to Ramona, "Problem solved! You're gonna put down our arrangement in writing, yeah?"
With both fish killed Kragg hauls himself up to the surface sputtering al the while. Trieste! Next time you offer to help me with my swimming I will take it. Either that or I need to find myself a bouy to hold on to so I don't sink like a stone in the ocean.
As soos as the grou pis out of the water though he turns to Kaldan. Sorry about not getting there to help you. Let Abadar heal those wounds that you took. I don't think I can do anything about the other effects of the fish bites though.
convert endure elements to cure light wounds
As Abadar's healing covers Kaldan and the flesh knits together Kragg sends up a prayer of thanks to Abadar. Abadar has truly blessed us with his presence. He is looking down upon us and continues to look favorably upon this venture.
The fish having been slain, Lara surfaces and takes a huge gasp of air. "I'm glad that's over with," she says, resheathing her dagger and swimming over to their boat. She hoists herself up over the side adroitly, dripping water all over the interior of the dingy. "I've never seen such strange fish before. Shame I couldn't have spent some time studying them."
Kaldan nods gratefully to Kragg. "I think I studied that one close enough as it is!" He grumbles. "If it wanted to get that personal it could have bought me a drink first."
Triests surfaces and gently breathes in a new breath. Apparently, she had no trouble holding her breath at all. She splashes the surface of the water twice and Jobert comes to the surface, one of the dead echeneis' in his mouth.
She pulls the fish from his mouth, minus the bite he just took out of it, and hands it to Lara. She looks sternly at the little caiman. "What have I told you about getting into danger?" She pets his back and winks at him. "Thanks, pal."
She smiles broadly at Kragg. "I'll save a spell just for you."
As your group begins to make their way to the surface you spot another grindylow nearby the mouth of an undersea cavern. While he has a speer in hand he seems content to watch you for now.
Topside, Lara laughs, rolls her eyes and thanks Jobert. "Why, thank you. I'm sure I will learn a lot from the areas of it that weren't bitten off and chewed," she teases the caiman. Looking back up and glancing around at the others, she adds, "Did anyone else see that thing down there? The one that looked like it was guarding an underwater cave? Kinda goblin-like, but with tentacles?"
"Grindylow. Nasty pieces of work those. We'll have to deal with them since they're this close to the colony." He thinks about it. "And probably have to track down those chokers as well. You don't won't pests like that lurking around."
Thame was content to let well enough alone. If the grindylow wanted to watch them from his undersea cavern he was welcome to as far as the wizard was concerned. He sits in the small boat, drenched but in good spirits. Another successful mission completed. Maybe he wasn't so bad at this sort of thing.
Still, the illusionist will be happy to be part of a much larger group, now, as there was safety in numbers. If one discounted whatever weirdness had happened with the previous colonists, that was. Probably best to not think about it.