Profession (sailor) to aid another .
Through the ado, an exotically beautiful woman seems somehow to gain relevance. Prasi is a dangerous but welcome visage; a young Varisian with long black hair and captivating green eyes. The crew mate doesn't look minimally skilled for the job - she's very much dressed as a buccaneer and showing an hypnotic tattoo with images depicting the seas and Besmara on her upper back and shoulders, yet her actual talent with the rigs looks abysmal.
She does, however, moves with intensity; almost aggressive intensity. Even from afar her perfume can be smelled, and her delicate hands pull cords with pure rhythm. The symphony of the seas around and the salty smelling air just witness as she dances through the rigs - sensually, some would say - and seems to hum songs of incentive to the other, fairly drenched and staring crew mates. It's almost as if her lack of skills on the job is trumped by all the competence she inspires on the ones around her.
As Carmelia holds fast to the wheel, she notices one of the other women on the ship. What was her name...Prasi? How long had she been with them again? Had she joined before her, or was she one of the newer recruits? Carmelia can't spare too many moments of thought for that as she spins the wheel to handle another oncoming wave, but she does wonder. It was curious that she was wearing that strong perfume at a time like this. But why not?
She begins to hum along absentmindedly to whatever tune Prasi has struck up.
Faengrim helps with the rigging.
The bard graciously stumbles during her dance, almost incorporating the momentum of the wave onto her steps. She laughs openly yet again, giggling towards the other crew mates as her black hair, all wet, moves wildly on the wind.
Although not quite as graceful as Prasi, both Carmelia and her little octopus manage to hang on tight as another wave batters the ship. "All right, Gozreh, I know I told you to go @#$% yourself, but you can lay off, you fickle sod!" she screams into the wind, gripping the wheel and driving it around to crest with the wave as much as possible.
Faengrim grabs hold of some line to keep from being tossed around.
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As the wave passes, only Dantes has gone to the deck but is otherwise unharmed and the Kiss breaks free of the driving wind and spray, ready for the next task.
Next, you must sail through the two concentric rings of Sharkskin Reef and around the towering spire of rock called Pinnacle Atoll. Steering the ship through both rings of the razor-sharp reefs requires four DC 30 sailing checks. Failing any of these checks results in the vessel being smashed against the reefs. You can pass through only the outer ring of reefs, which requires only two checks, but the extra distance subtracts 2 from your Race score. Sailing wide around the outer ring to avoid all of the reefs eliminates the need for any sailing checks, but subtracts 6 from your Race score.
You may also attempt two DC 25 Sailing checks (separate from those above) to improve your Race score during this leg of the race.
Can we tell how well we're doing so far? How far are we in or out of the lead?
Faengrim is able to automatically Aid in the sailing. "Tighten up that line you slimey goblin farts!"
Chumtooth takes an assessment of the situation. The Kiss of Vengeance is damaged, if slightly, and one officer has already been lost. How much should he push? Should he risk the quicker, more dangerous route, or exercise a bit of caution, and try to make up the time later in the course?
He decides to split the difference, hoping to avoid the most dangerous part of the course without giving up all advantage.
he shouts down from the rigging.
He then proceeds to move along the mainmast, adjusting the sails himself.
Prasi dances her heart out through the ship, moving around from rig to rig without much of a true mariner experience - but definitely a lot of flair! The kitsune kith sways like there's no tomorrow, seeking to inspire the other sailors to push for their best.
In her way, she still tries to at least provide some sort of assistance - helping pull cords, carrying buckets, or just smiling with the whitest ships no pirate ever had.
Chumtooth moves to a higher beam, just below the Crow’s Nest, and leans into the list of the ship, trying to give just enough shift in the keel to clear the reef.
With her Captain's instructions ringing clear and watching the dance of the crew's actions, Carmelia does her best to guide the ship through the outer ring. The first pass seems to go well, but navigation becomes more and more challenging as she rounds Pinnacle Atoll.
"Hold on to something!" she cries, loosing one hand from the wheel as her familiar holds it steady. She makes some fast motions, calling on the Spirit of the Waves to save her and her crew from certain disaster.
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As the Kiss glides through the reefs, Carmelia realizes that she isn't going to make it! Reacting quickly, she casts a spell that raises the level of the water enough to allow the beam to clear the reefs! The Kiss clears the reef with inches to spare!
As you are coming out of the Eye of Abendego, an unnatural electrical squall strikes and a corona of baleful green lightning limns the ship’s mainmast.
Prasi sees the electrical squall and instinctively steps back, but she doesn't really know what's that about. Her dance is interrupted, and she steps sideways to give space to the officers, while looking to the mainmast, a bit scared the storm could break it.
Carmelia practically cackles with glee as the Kiss clears the reefs. She wasn't about to praise Gozreh or anything like that, but she dances a bit along with Prasi.
That squall, though...a lightning elemental!
"The Eye brings an enemy to our mast!" she cries. "A lightning elemental, coming fast! Come to the wheel and I'll prepare us for the attack!"
Chumtooth descends from the rigging, jumping and sliding down the lines.
Once he lands on the deck, he sprints back towards the ship's wheel.
With the warning of Carmelia, Prasi approaches the officers and casts a spell - hoping to instill some more inspiration on them. Despite the storm and the danger, her voice is comforting, swift and caring like a breeze on the sun, and they should feel invigorated by it.
If there's still time, she casts yet another spell on herself. This time, the bard becomes even more impressive, as multiple images of herself appear around her - making hard to distinct who's she.
Finally, she starts performing a new song - this time, escalating on the hope she originally gave people, and trying to stimulate even more courage on them. As she does it, she lets out a last spell to the group, making sure to stand behind them as the creature forms to attack.
"Finally! Something interesting to do." Faengrim gathers with the others, his greatsword in hand and a feral grin on his face.
He casts Resist Energy (Electric) then Barkskin and, finally, Lead Bladess.
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Lightning elementals move like, well, lightning. They are very fast and capable of flyby attacks. They are, naturally, immune to lightning and excel against opponents wearing metal armor or wielding metal weapons. They are immune to bleed, paralysis, poison, sleep effects, and stunning.
They are not subject to critical hits or flanking and do not take additional damage from precision-based attacks, such as sneak attacks. Finally, they do not eat, sleep, or breathe.
"We have fought the storm, and now it has come to fight us," Chumtooth remarks. "If you have magic to keep the lightning from my skin, it will help me in my fight against it."
He hefts his harpoon, ready to hurl it at the creature as soon as it coalesces.
Carmelia shares what she knows about lightning elementals, knowing how ineffective she will be against the creature. Perhaps she ought to focus on steering the ship, though.
The shaman of the deep reaches out to her Captain and casts Resist Energy (electricity) on him. She turns to Faengrim and smirks. "How would you like to be a flying shark?" She holds her last spell for herself, further protecting herself from electricity.
Dantes lunges forward and imbues his captain with extra toughness to resist the elemental's shocking power.
Resist Energy (Electricity) 20
Lead Blades
"Flying? I could get on with that." He then casts Lead Blades on his greatsword.
Faengrim will try to place himself in position to intercept the elemental.
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The lightning begins to coalesce into a humanoid form, flying above the ship. Seeing what opposes it, it dives towards Faengrim, intent on attacking the shapeshifter. It slams into him, battering him with its fists.
INITIATIVE
Elemental
Dantes
Faengrim
Carmelia
Chumtooth
Prasi
plus electricity
plus electricity
Carmelia looks up at the Elemental, a wicked thought racing across her mind. She fixes her eye above, and then lifts her eyepatch. The eye beneath, cast in a different color than its sibling, flashes like a minuscule, far off bolt in the storm.
Having bolstered his captain, Dantes steps back, draws a wand, and triggers it at the elemental.
Prasi makes sure her tattoo is visible to the elemental; she keeps dancing, but not really extending on the same performance as before. The performance seems to linger after she does so, however, inspired by the magic of music itself.
Finally, she pronounces arcane words and a spell seems to dance its way to the enemy, seeking to affect it.
Faengrim goes after the elemental with blade and bite.
Mwk Greatsword:
Mwk Greatsword:
Bite: magic, silver
I did forget.
Those attacks should be
28 to hit and 20 damage
23 to hit and 25 damage
33 to hit and 10 damage.
The haste attack is
Mwk Greatsword:
Fly check
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Dantes blasts the elemental with magic missiles, to seemingly no effect as the missiles of force pass right through the elemental. Faengrim's attacks also seem to pass through, but they actually manage to disrupt its form slightly. Carmelia raises her eye patch and curses the elemental with her evil eye. Chumtooth throws his harpoon and it magically returns to his hand, allowing him to hurl it again. Both times it passes through the elemental, disrupting it slightly. Prasi continues her dance, casting a spell at the elemental, which seems to slow down. As Faengrim has closed with it, the elemental again swings a fist at him. It connects, hitting him for 12 points of damage (and no electrical damage).
Elemental -48 hp (DR 10/-) (slowed)
Faengrim -41 hp
[color=red]failed[/color]
[color=red]failed[/color]
plus electricity
Chumtooth hurls his harpoon at the elemental again.
Witnessing the Elemental's brutality, but also seeing how it begins to dissipate amidst their barrage, Carmelia cackles and sends a flurry of arrows at the creature. They probably won't do much to it, but every bit would help. And hopefully Faengrim wouldn't become fried flying shark.
The bard finally moves towards the enemy, rapier in hands, and tries to attack it.
Her performance still lingers for another round, and she hopes the slow enemy is easier to handle - or at least that she can keep him busy enough for the much more capable officers to deal with him.
When Dantes' magic missiles pass through the elemental, Dantes frowns. His gaze pops up at the elemental, and he focuses.
Dantes rubs his eyes, wondering if a rival wizard is playing tricks on him. But he has no time to investigate with the dangerous foe before them. He raises his wand again. Two shards of force magic emit from it, spiraling past Faengrim before hitting the elemental.
He'll use his wand of magic missiles again, damage .
Active Effects
- Good Hope (Prasi): +2 morale to saves, attacks, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage
- Haste (Prasi): +1 to attacks and reflex saves; +1 dodge to AC; +30' all movement
- Inspire Courage (Prasi): +5 morale to saves v charm and fear; +5 competence to attacks and weapon damage
- Resist Energy (Electric) 20
- Lead Blades
- Fly (Dantes): 60'
So sorry. Work has been crazy.
Faengrim doubles down and goes in on the creature.
Mwk Greatsword:
Mwk Greatsword:
Mwk Greatsword:
Bite: magic, silver
Claw: magic, silver
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As the barrage of attacks hit, there is a sharp smell of ozone and the elemental dissipates into nothingness!
As you emerge from the storm, you find that there is only one other vessel that has cleared the Eye to compete against you; the Wormwood! Harrigan's vessel is still a fair distance behind you as you approach the finish line. In the distance, you can see the Kraken with the Master of Gales on deck to observe the finish!
You are approaching the finish as clear winners, but suddenly, Carmelia feels something unseen whip by her! In the same instant, Chumtooth is hit from behind by an unseen force, inflicting 35 points of damage!
INITIATIVE
Unseen 2
Carmelia
Chumtooth
Prasi
Faengrim
Unseen 1
Dantes
The haste is still in effect for 4 rounds!
Before Chumtooth can react, he is hit again by the unseen force for another 14 points of damage!
Damage Track
Chumtooth -49 hp
Faengrim -41 hp
"What in the razor walls of Blood Vale was that?" Carmelia shrieks as she spins the wheel and feels something brush against her armor. "I could use some help here! Something is attacking!" she cries out. Uncertain from which direction the unseen assault is coming from, Carmelia keeps her right hand on the wheel and begins gesticulating with her left hand and chanting something under her breath.
Responding to his master's call, Hap rides up on the wheel as Carmelia spins it around to keep pace on the final leg of the race, climbs on top of her head, and sprays ink everywhere around him.
While within water, an octopus can emit a 5-foot-radius sphere of ink once per minute as a swift action. This ink provides total concealment and persists for 1 minute.
Prasi moves towards Carmelia and Chumtooth, trying to help them find whatever is able to attack them and still stay invisible. She starts to dance again right before moving, trying to imprint her performance effects on allies that can hear her.