Chumtooth and Bangkha have a lengthy, muted conversation. Chumtooth then removes his hardened leather breastplate and hands it to Bangkha, who hands him the softer leather coat and breeches covered in metal rivets.
Chumtooth dons the suit and takes a moment to admire it.
"A good trade," he says, nodding to the druid. "The metal bits are like...teeth." he says with an all-too-predatory smile.
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The stockade is quickly lit and in no time at all, is a roaring column of flame. The corpse dances wildly inside as it struggles to free itself from the leash by which it is hanged, but to no avail. The thick stench of burning flesh mixed with wood hangs in the air, and you feel certain that you have made your presence quite clear.
Chumtooth moves with purposeful speed in the direction the grindylows were sighted.
Yes. Knowing the fire will likely alert the grindylow, once we set things in motion to start the blaze, we are moving fast toward the grindylow.
Satinder follows Chum quickly.
Alwen's already plotted the swiftest trail to take to the caverns, but makes a point to determine when high tide is likely to occur first. "You know, like I've said before, we'll have the best advantage going in when we're not forced to tread water while fighting natural swimmers. Just saying."
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You follow the trail and soon find yourselves standing over a deep cove that churns with dark seawater some 50 feet below. The natural basin that forms the cove is about 30 feet in diameter. From here you can see that two passages exit the chamber to the south.
You can either climb down (requiring six checks at DC 15) or you can dive right in (a DC 15 Acrobatics or Swim check).
"Jumping in would get us to the females faster. Is it safe?"
Knowledge (geography)
"The water looks deep enough, and without obstruction. I would say it is as safe as could be expected..."
The dwarf is clearly uneasy at the thought, but won't hold the group back.
"Ears, you and I will take the jump first, see what lies ahead. We can help the others when they hit the water."
She looks down, and tries to peer through the water.
"Don't look like no rocks in the water to me, but best be safe and jump in turns."
She turns her head towards Alwen's, and then turns around and leaps graciously off of the cliff.
"Well that's a terrible nickname - all elves have ears," Alwen quips as he looks down at the waters, pondering a moment before leaping off in a dive.
Once safely in the water, he takes a moment to look around for any surprises possibly waiting for them here - these squiddies could have some devious traps in store for them.
Chumtooth unstraps the buckler from his arm and fastens it to his belt. He taken a firm grip on his harpoon, and leaps into the water below.
"Well that's a terrible nickname - all elves have ears,"
Though the elf is already gone, Dantes replies "In my experience, all dwarves have ears, too. Well, not all, but certainly the vast majority."
If Alwen waves that all is clear, Dantes will, reluctantly and without much grace, follow.
Swim
Bangkha and Cat mutter a bit before jumping off the edge of the cliff and splashing into the water.
Neither of them seem to be in any hurry to surface.
Treading water, Chumtooth pops the stopper on the water breathing potion and gulps it down.
Chumtooth nods his head toward the southeast tunnel.
"The water flows that way. If we take the other tunnel, we will have to swim harder."
Bangkha and cat swim to the surface, and Bangkha lets loose a flood of orcish words that sound an awful lot like a curse aimed at the gods and devils and every being that has ever lived.
When he finishes, he looks around him.
Bangkha sputters a bit, but when his head finally comes above water, he points Southeast. "That way should lead into the island. The other probably flows to the sea. Tide's coming in."
Satinder looks at Alwen.
"What do you reckon, scout?"
"Well, my first instinct says that these squiddies will want to base themselves in the largest caverns here, with the most retained seawater," Alwen comments, careful to be quiet and not splash around too much. "My second considers that they'll probably have an ugly as sin leader and perhaps some tough as nails second we'll have to fight. That and whatever traps or other surprises they have in store for us."
The elf looks between left and right, taking a few moments before going to the right for now, keeping an eye out for anything dangerous to the group.
Satinder seems to agree, and follows Alwen into the right exit.
Chumtooth moves with them; harpoon at the ready.
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Bangkha puts his hand on the elf's shoulder. "Wait. Something isn't right." The half-orc looks more closely.
Cat bristles as though alerted by something unseen (or perhaps she just dislikes swimming).
(+4 in bright sunlight)
(+2 w/familiar)
"What do you see?" Chumtooth asks Bankgha.
He looks around cautiously, ready to throw his harpoon at the first sign of an enemy.
"Good eye," Alwen says, figuring there had to be something devious - this certainly qualified. "Let's swim over these, shall we?"
After circumnavigating the obstacle, the elf continues to act as the forward scout for the group, keeping a low profile.
Chumtooth looks to Satinder.
"Wait or follow?"
"We follow, with some distance between us. Something is off, but I'm sure Alwen will find out what, one way or another."
Satinder will start to swim that way, a dagger between her teeth, ready for anything that might jump Alwen.
Bangkha points out the hooks and swims over them carefully.
Bangkha smiles and swims around the edge of the room.
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As Bangkha enters the room, he is swarmed by grindylow that bubble up from the seaweed at the bottom of the room. Please refer to the new combat map. For convenience, all of the grindylow will go at the same time.
Initiative
Ayaki
Grindylow
Chumtooh
Satinder
Dantes
Ayaki
Bangkha
"Watch out Bangkha!!!"
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Come on everyone! let's get rid of these things yuck!
Inspire Courage (Su): A 1st level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard’s performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At 5th level, and every six bard levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1, to a maximum of +4 at 17th level. Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability. inspire courage can use audible or visual components. The bard must choose which component to use when starting his performance.
"Try that one first!" Alwen directs, firing off a arrow ahead of them to hit the closest of the grindylows.
Chumtooth swims forward into the room, driving his harpoon point into the nearest grindylow.
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The grindylow swarm Bangkha, forcing his back against the wall of the chamber. Despite this, not a single one of the creatures is able to get past the half-orc's armor.
Chumtooth swims forward, driving his harpoon into one of the creatures, dropping it instantly!
Initiative
Ayaki
Grindylow
Chumtooh
Satinder
Dantes
Alwen
Bangkha
Dantes treads water where his is, and uses a minor spell to help lay low one of the grindylow.
Swim to between Cat and Satinder, and cast Acid Splash. He'll hit any one he can from that angle. If the one Alwen baned is still up, that will be his choice.
To hit
Damage
Bangkha snarls at the creatures swarming at him, and attempts to bludgeon one with his club, as cat swims over the hooks to sink her teeth into another.
Without a doubt, Satinder steps into the fray, plugging the hole in their line.
"Stand together. Don't let them flank us!" she says, while pulling her rapier and thrusting forward. The creature in front of her hisses as the blade hits a vital piece.
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