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Rogar's bolt strikes home, but the gargoyle plucks the bolt from its forehead and glares at the dwarf. Dantes casts mirror image and instantly, four dwarves stand in a group, each mimicking the actions of the others. Faengrim cuts deeply into the body of Gargoyle 5, causing it to plummet from the sky and hit the ground, dead. Without pausing, he moves to the next nearest opponent, number 2.
Gargoyle 6 targets Rogar in retaliation for the dwarf's attack on its person, but the arrows fail to get past the dwarf's defenses.
INITIATIVE
Gargoyle 2
Rogar
Dantes
Faengrim
Gargoyle 5
Gargoyle 6
Riori
Chumtooth
STATUS
Gargoyle 1: AC 19, unharmed dead
Gargoyle 2: AC 19, -62 hp, engaged with Faengrim
Gargoyle 3: AC 19, -96 hp dead
Gargoyle 4: AC 19, -63 hp dead
Gargoyle 5: AC 19, -82 hp dead
Gargoyle 6: AC 19, -10 hp
Chumtooth: AC 19, hp 60/111
Riori: AC 25, hp 87/87
Faengrim: AC 23, hp 95/124, engaged with gargoyle #2
Dantes: AC 15, hp 52/65
Rogar: AC 25, hp 93/93
"Let us finish this!" Chumtooth says in a tone of resolution.
Faengrim goes in on #2
+2 Greatsword: power attack
If that attack takes it out, Faengrim will fly at #6. If not, cut again.
+2 Greatsword: power attack
Riori hurls her starknife at whoever is hurt most.
But it flies wide.
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Riori tries her starknife again, but this time the blade goes wide. Chumtooth hurls his harpoon, striking #2 square in the chest. The weapon does not stick, but it has done its work. Gargoyle 2 plunges to the ground dead. With a growl, Faengrim turns his attentions on the remaining gargoyle. It turns to flee.
STATUS
Gargoyle 1: AC 19, unharmed dead
Gargoyle 2: AC 19, -73 hp dead
Gargoyle 3: AC 19, -96 hp dead
Gargoyle 4: AC 19, -63 hp dead
Gargoyle 5: AC 19, -82 hp dead
Gargoyle 6: AC 19, -34 hp, engaged with Faengrim
Chumtooth: AC 19, hp 60/111
Riori: AC 25, hp 87/87
Faengrim: AC 23, hp 95/124, engaged with gargoyle #6
Dantes: AC 15, hp 52/65
Rogar: AC 25, hp 93/93
"Hraghh! Faengrim swipes at the passing gargoyle.
+2 Greatsword: power attack
Seeing the vicious wound that Faengrim inflicted, Dantes triggers his wand again, hoping the arcane darts will be enough to finish the creature.
Wand of magic missiles, damage .
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Between Faengrim's savage attack and Dantes' barrage of magic missiles, the gargoyle is finished. It plummets to the ground and lies unmoving.
Aside from their arrows and masterwork composite longbows, the gargoyles have no treasure to speak of. The arrows are +1 arrows (100 can be recovered), +1 giant bane arrows (30), and +1 monstrous humanoid bane arrows (30).
From here, you can see a large well at the center of the city to the southwest, and a rough-hewn tunnel blocked by rockslides at the north and south. It appears the only way to go from here is back down the stairs. As you approach the well at the center of the city, you note tall, alabaster columns—one of which lies toppled and shattered to the west—surrounding this outdoor monument. Four short stairways climb to the low, circular wall of decorative archways that wraps around the raised dais, where a triangular pool reflects the sky overhead.
"We can use these bows and arrows against the giants that dwell here," Chumtooth says. "There are enough for all of us. Who can use a bow?"
Riori shakes her head at Chumtooth. "Best stick to Desna's star. But you all have fun."
She takes a look at the area around them and assesses the view. She points to the series of archways wrapped around a dais. "Looks like an altar, maybe. Good place to keep a sacred magical whatsit. Maybe we look there next?"
"I'll take a share of those, Captain."
Chumtooth hands a bow to Faengrim and divides the arrows evenly between the two.
He then reaches into his pouch, retrieves one of his potions, pops the cork and drinks it down.
Riori will pull out her wand of cure light wounds and begin healing folks.
Faengrim has a better bow already, but accepts the arrows with a sharp grin. "Thank you for the healing." He says to Riori.
I am Chumtooth! Free Captain of the Shackles, and rightful chieftain of this island. Who are you?!
Chumtooth does not speak aloud, but his thoughts ring out in challenge to the voice in his head.
Faengrim does not respond. He begins turning and looking for the source of the voice, ready for a fight.
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A beautiful, blue-skinned female figure with hair as green as seaweed rises from the pool, dressed in diaphanous clothing that leaves little to the imagination. She is not quite indecent, but borderline, certainly. She wears a diadem of gold and has pointed ears, not quite as prominent as those of the elves, but unmistakable.
She speaks, but her mouth does not move, and you hear her voice in your head. I am Vailea, guardian of this pool. I bid you welcome, if you come in peace.
"There's no need to fight," Riori says aloud, eying some of her more bloodthirsty companions warily.
"I'm Riori, of Captain Chumtooth's crew and oracle of Desna. What do you mean by your city? Do you have a connection to the cyclopes?"
"We will rid the city of the one-eyed giants," Chumtooth replies. "We will take you with us when we return to the fort, if you wish."
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I cannot leave this well unless... unless someone wishes me free. You see, I am a djinn. I can grant a single wish to each person, but for me to leave the well and return home, someone must sacrifice their wish to grant my freedom. The giants know of my power and have spent countless years forcing me to grant their wishes. Even so, their numbers have waned greatly over the years, and even now they face starvation. I fear the last of them may perish, leaving no one to wish me free. I would be trapped here for all eternity, alone.
I have lived in this well for centuries, since the waning days of Ghol-Gan. The current leader of the cyclopes is Ishtoreth, a monstrous example of his kind. He rules through might and fear. I just want to return to the open sea!
”What do you want?” Chumtooth says to the rest of the crew. ”If you want a wish granted, ask it now., for I intend to see her freed.”
"Captain, what are you saying? You can wish to be stronger than the strongest giant, be able to withstand their mightiest blows, for a weapon that would cut them down like you're threshing wheat. You could wish to be able to fly or breath fire like a dragon or have your words backed by magical compulsion. And you want to free her?" Faengrim is shocked and amazed at Chumtooth's largesse.
"Look where all the wishing got the cyclopes." Riori gestures to the ruins around them. "And Captain's still giving you your wish if you want it, so what're you bellyaching about? Hells, Captain, I'll do the freedom wish if you want your own. Serves my goddess to wish for freedom for a trapped soul."
It's not that Riori doesn't have things she might wish for. A new leg for one, but she fears she'd lose her oracular gifts in the process. The wish for Faengrim to be cured of his lycanthropy but she'd not survive his wrath after. Loads of wealth... But that one's always a double edged sword, especially around pirates. She'd rather serve the cause of freedom than grasp the monkey's paw.
Not for an instant did Dantes consider giving up a wish. His eyes narrow a little with suspicion at those offering it, even his own captain. Perhaps he has been charmed? No matter. Dantes' mind reels at the possibility. Perhaps the cyclops treasure he's hunted for years? Or perhaps just the cleverness to find it and keep it...
"I want nothing from the Water Spirit," Chumtooth says. "Make your wishes now, if you still want them, then I will see it set free."
Dantes, the very model of dwarven greed, steps forward. "I wish to be more clever than I am already."
Is this the first time he has shown weakness? Faengrim looks continues to look incredulously at his captain. After a long pause, he turns to the woman in the water. "I wish to have the blood of the dragon turtle flow in my veins." My thought is to include a template, but take that how you will. Wishes are what wishes are.
If the djinn is truly giving out wishes--and she will be sure to confirm this is so, Riori gives her wish: "The immortal dreamstone that is supposed to be on this island, placed on the ground before me at my foot. If that is not possible, its current location."
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Dantes, the very model of dwarven greed, steps forward. "I wish to be more clever than I am already."
"So mote it be!" The marid replies. Instantly, Dantes feels smarter.
After a long pause, he turns to the woman in the water. "I wish to have the blood of the dragon turtle flow in my veins."
The marid thinks for a moment, as if sizing Faengrim up, then nods her head. "Let it be done!" For a moment, Faengrim feels nothing, but then a warming sensation takes hold of his body.
"The immortal dreamstone that is supposed to be on this island, placed on the ground before me at my foot. If that is not possible, its current location."
"As you have said," the marid replies. At Riori's feet appears a small, yellow gemstone which seems to write with faces that appear and disappear along the surface of the stone.
"And what would you ask of me?" The marid asks Rogar.
Riori scans the stone with detect magic. If it seems safe to pick up, she does so.
Faegnrim chuckles as he can feel the heat in his belly. A small curl of smoke escapes his lips.
Chumtooth shakes his head resolutely. ”The Kuru were enslaved to the Blood Queen by wishes and promises of power. Such power always comes with a cost. For the Kuru, it is our blood and flesh to feed the Queen’s never ending hunger.”
Feeling cautious, Riori pulls her coffee pot out of her haversack and nudges the stone into the pot with her wooden foot.
She then takes a closer look at it to identify its capabilities.
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"I suppose bein' smarter wouldn't harm." he finally says, meekly.
"As you wish." The marid nods, and Rogar does indeed feel a little smarter.
"And you, oh captain?" The marid queries.
Riori: Your caution is well-advised. The stone seems to hold trapped souls within. Touching it might subject you to the effect. Even looking upon it makes your mind reel, and you can feel it tugging at your soul.
”I wish you free, Spirit. Depart this place in peace,” Chumtooth says, his tone firm in its resolve.
Even hearing that story, Faengrim thinks Chumtooth is being foolish.
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"Your wish is... You wish me to be free? After all these decades! Thank you! Thank you! I owe a debt that I can never repay, but I can tell you of a secret trove a few miles southwest of this island. It is well hidden and well-protected, but that should hardly be an issue for such as yourselves. I will mark it on your map for you. The site is marked by a shipwreck in shallow water, but you will have to dive deep to find the trove." With that, she embraces Chumtooth and plants a kiss on his cheek, then becomes a vortex of water and disappears.
"May Desna ensure you remain free to travel." Riori offers as the djinn disappears. She nods at the captain in a gesture of respect.
She then rattles stone around in the pot in her hands. "So this is quite the little love bomb. Remind me as I was on the ship when you were told about it, who wanted this thing for what?"
"There is an angry spirit and a crazy man in the fort." Chumtooth replies. "The crazy man claims that the Stone can banish the spirit. Since we cannot kill it, we came to find the Stone. When we return to the fort, you may speak with the crazy man, and perhaps the two of you can understand how to make use of the Stone."
"It looks like it holds souls. And already contains a few." She holds the pot out to show the captain so he can see the faces appearing and disappearing on the surface of the stone. She frowns, no more liking the idea of trapped souls than the trapped djinni.
"We'll chat with the hermit, but I reckon the gist'll be using it to trap the spirit."
"We could return to the fort to better delve into our granted wishes. Or we could continue on and unleash them on the first giants we see."
"We must deal with the giants," Chumtooth says. "We must either conquer them or destroy them. Otherwise, they will continue to fight us for the island. Perhaps they will be inclined to surrender now that we have their Magic Stone."
Dantes looks at the map, avarice clear in his face and posture as he examines the addition to it.
"As you command, captain. Since we have this lead to the treasure, the giants serve no purpose to us anymore, and can be extinguished."