Bjorkus stares long and hard at Dalton after he announces his theory.
”If there was ever a time I wanted you to be wrong Dalton, this is it. She knows everything about us and she’s got that body-snatcher at her command”, he says while touching the delicate crown Ianna had crafted to protect him nestled near his horns. ”That thing could do a lot of damage on a ship all alone in the ocean. We can’t afford to lose too many more hands.”
The bull sighs. ”I guess we play it by ear for now. If Ragnar or Acera or whoever he was makes another move or there’s signs of the bodysnatcher we reach out to him. Otherwise we try to reach that rock and pick up the rest of my crew and then resume course for Wasco. Can you contact Luthor and the others again tomorrow? Let ‘em know what happened and to be on guard.”
"Certainly, but you can rest assured they are safe from him; the only threat they posed was letting us see through Ragnar's guise, and that has already passed. There is no benefit in returning to slay them now." Dalton tapped his chin. "While I do not wish to contact him, the wise woman would know whether her prisoner escaped. When we land to have the lizardfolk be picked-up by our associate, I'll give the escort a letter to make its way to her. I imagine she would be nigh immune to my scrying, and as primitive as it might sound, ink and parchment would actually be more secure. I'll put it in a cryptic mix of languages for her."
"I do not believe we can assume it was a body snatcher. That thing was certainly not the puppet witch. Perhaps it has always been Ragnar. And as for its interests in Acera? She knew the antipaladin. We have good reason to believe that they were in communication working towards common goals.
In my recent experience, letters are not secure either. Perhaps you could try to Scry her and her counter-measures would alert her to your identity."
Wise woman?
Ianna mouths the words silently, but asks no further questions. Her beloved brother was clearly in over his head, and she suspected that her father or perhaps, gods forbid, her grandmother had gotten him into this mess. And there was this organization the "Aestherics" she had heard that word bandied at the dock.
Still Ianna kept her peace and listened intently. The goddess had granted her many blessings -- skill at arms was not among them -- but she was clever and observant. She must bend what gifts she had to figuring these mysteries out and protect her brother from himself and anyone else who wished to harm him.
Rilka nods, agreeing with Toramin’s last comment. ”That’s why I want to develop cryptographic ink. Keep messages secure. Of course they could still get intercepted...” she waves her hands as if sweeping aside some thoughts. ”Sorry, we don’t have time for that. For now, let’s search the ship. I don’t think Ragnar is Acera, but he may have left some magical surprise for us.
“Also, we should have a funeral for the crewman. I feel bad I don’t know his name. Any customs for seamen lost at sea?”
"I will help you search, Rilka. There may be mystical surprises."
Ianna will use Detect Magic and scour the ship.
”Go ahead and search the ship. I don’t want the crew runnin’ into any booby traps that bastard might’ve left behind.”
At the mention of a funeral, Bjorkus frowns.
”There are certain rites for pirates killed at sea but Aisha used to handle ‘em. I can give it a shot. He wasn’t on my crew long but he was still one of mine and deserves to be sent off to Besmara properly.”
”Unless you’re feelin’ up for it”, he says with a nod Ianna’s way. ”It’s been a long time since we had a proper holy woman on the ship.”
"It would be no burden, and I'm happy to do it. But the rites would be unfamiliar to the crew. Do you think they would find it meaningful and take solace in it?"
"Pirates aren't a pious lot. Some kind hopeful words is all they wanna hear."
The majority of the party has some trouble getting their sea legs. Dalton gets queasy on his first day, but spends some more time outside and adapts. Toramin's stomach is surprisingly rebellious on-and-off, the second and fourth days being rough. But Rilka has a terrible time, losing her lunch on the second and third day.
It's the fifth day in the water and the search for the deserted island begins. The ship is on course for a cluster of islands in the distance when Dalton and Rilka point out some movement in the water. Two creatures that look 20 feet in length, swimming quickly at the boat.
From a distance these creatures resembles giant snapping turtles. They have peaked and craggy shells from which protrude four long fins and a scowling head at the end of a long neck. Rather than a turtle's head, however, these creature's heads has irrefutably shark-like features. They have round, black eyes and gaping maws filled with rows of razor sharp teeth.
Fail
Fail
Fail
Fail
Fail
Fail
Fail
Ianna casts Sanctuary.
"Dancing Maiden, I beg that you cloak me with your grace."
Toramin draws his weapon and moves to a place where he can best take advantage of AoO.
After Ianna checks the ship for illicit magic, she turns her efforts towards the dead.
Ianna washes and dresses Dolok's corpse. She sings softly as she works. Her song is sung by countless dwarven women when they dressed the dead of their family before they were taken by Magrim's priests. This man was neither dwarf nor family but it seemed like a kindness and a mercy regardless.
She ties a scarf around the ragged hole in his throat. There was no need for visceral reminders. Everyone knew how this man had died.
Taking long green or gold ribbons she ties a series of intricate prayer knots on his arms and legs.
"Tanrıça Dans, ben onun Ruhlar Nehri üzerinde bu adamın ruhunu koruyacak, böylece ölü koruyucusu ile şefaatçi olduğunu yalvarıyorum. O bir cüce değildi ama o hala güzelliğini biliyor olabilir. O bir yabancı olmasına rağmen, hâlâ aşk layık oldu."
When her labors are finished she asks Bjorkus to carry him to the deck and to assemble the crew.
The dwarven priestess looks out over the crew and begins to speak.
"I do not know Besmara's rites. Neither are Magrim's mysteries open to me. I am a daughter of Bolka, the Dancing Maiden, the Queen of Love, Goddess of Beauty, the Flame of Desire.
Dolok was a stranger to me. And yet, something unites all of us. Regardless of who we are or from where we come, we all recognize beauty in each other and the world around us. We all need to love and be loved in return.
Dolok was a stranger to me, but he was no stranger to you, the crew of the Storm. Bring him to presence by speaking of whom he loved and who loved him. Let him live again by recounting what he saw as beautiful.
For no one who is loved and who loves can never truly be a stranger."
Ianna looks out over the crew with an expectant and encouraging look.
”We’ve got trouble!” Bjorkus roars. ”Form ranks: Pikes brace with me and crossbows on the upper deck!”
The bull’s commands are infused with his might, empowering his largely green crew.
If it wasn't thing, it was another.
Dalton did not know what the threat in the water entailed, but he did not wish to find out.
He summoned his ghostly, out-of-body method of connecting his spells, preparing for the worst.
Rilka groans, fighting back the urge to vomit by squeezing her eyes and gnashing her teeth together. Sweat pours from her forehead as she moves to the upper deck's rail, pulling out her pistol. Her feet didn’t feel as light as they normally did, but they didn’t feel extra heavy either. A glance at the crow’s nest, wondering if she could climb there, if that’s a good idea.
The two hybrid creatures swim closer and start circling the boat on opposite sides, twenty feet away. The turtle shell would almost be comical if not for the massive size and teeth of the animals.
Rilka
Ianna
Enemy
Crew
Dalton
Toramin
Bjorkus
Ianna - Sanctuary
Dalton - Spectral Hand (1 hp)
Toramin -
Bjorkus -
Sanctuary Ianna (5 rounds remaining)
Will Save to attack
Spectral Hand Dalton
Deliver touch spells at a distance
TS2 -
Ianna holds her action until after the Avatar-esque hybrid animals have gone.
Rilka shakes her head, refusing to let Bjorkus’ song inspire rage within her. She needs to keep a clear head and figure out what these creatures were. Some type of turtle?
”Turtle-sharks! They're good at capsizing boats,” she ending her yell with a fierce swallow to keep herself from throwing up. She grumbles and fires a shot at one of the creatures, not expecting to do much damage against the thick shell, and not expecting to hit the creature’s head.
Rilka's pistol shattered the quiet air and draws first blood, leaving a glancing blow off the creature's head. Then with silence and swiftness they both charge the boat! Toramin and one of the crew members both attack with their weapons held in readiness, but the first creature slams into the boat with a resounding thud. Bjorkus roars a command and gets the men to shift their weight to compensate, but an instant later there is another thud from the opposite side, and the Raging Storm is capsized!
Ianna
Crew
Dalton
Toramin
Bjorkus
Rilka
Enemy
Ianna - Sanctuary
Dalton - Spectral Hand (1 hp)
Toramin -
Bjorkus -
Sanctuary Ianna (5 rounds remaining)
Will Save to attack
Spectral Hand Dalton
Deliver touch spells at a distance
TS2 -
Falling into the water with a splash, Dalton was less afraid of drowning than he was of the beasts. I understood their danger but miscalculated their rate of aggression.
Fortunately, the mage had a spell prepared for just such an occasion. When his head cleared after the soft landing, he surrounded his head with a shell of air.
Bjorkus growls in frustration but doesn't panic when he's tipped into the water. Such things were incredibly common on the open water. In fact, it was well known that you were lucky to made it through the week only being capsized once!
"Crew, right the soddin' ship! Kal, hit Toramin that swimmin' spell!"
Paddling in after Toramin, Bjorkus slams into one of the beasts with his horns.
Kal nods to Bjorkus, swimming over to Toramin and quickly casting the spell on the heavily-armored dwarf.
”Rilka, get Ianna out of these things' reach!” Bjorkus adds.
Toramin sets his feet and swings his chain as the turtle shark charges.
Toramin leaps free of the ship . . .
Buoyed by the druid's magic, he strikes the injured turtle again.
Shielded by the protective hand of her goddess, Ianna leaps free of the ship. Once she is in the water she casts Water-Breathing.
"From your lips to mine, Bolka; please give me breath."
She then looks around for her brother.
Rilka feels the two turtle-sharks working together to capsize the boat. She’s able to leap towards the stern of the ship and avoid being trapped beneath. Amidst the shouting and splashing from the crew, she hears Bjorkus’ call.
”Aye, Cap’n! Aye!” she calls and begins swimming for Ianna, swimming in an ungraceful manner.
Ianna casts a spell to let her breathe underwater. The crew lets the party handle the creatures, following Bjorkus's command to try to right the boat, but they make little progress. Dalton also casts a spell so he doesn't drown. Toramin swims over and tries to follow up on the turtle-shark he hit when it charged, but it lashes out and grabs him in a vicious bite before he can strike, grabbing him! Bjorkus follows up and gores the creature biting Toramin while Rilka swims over to Ianna.
The unoccupied turtle-shark swims in and viciously bites at Rilka, but the nimble halfling twists around it. The one biting Toramin opens it's huge maw even wider and swallows him whole!
Ianna
Crew
Dalton
Toramin
Bjorkus
Rilka
Enemy
Ianna - Sanctuary, water breathing
Dalton - Spectral Hand (1 hp)
Toramin - 41 damage, Touch of the Sea, Swallowed
Bjorkus -
Sanctuary Ianna (4 rounds remaining)
Will Save to attack
Spectral Hand Dalton
Deliver touch spells at a distance
Inspire Rage All willing allies (round 2)
+4 enchantment str
+2 morale str
+2 morale con
-2 AC
TS2 - 41 damage
Seeing Toramin disappear down the beast's gullet sends Bjorkus into a rage. He lowers his head and drives his horns into the turtle again with crushing force.
”Toramin!” she calls seeing the dwarf get swallowed. Treading water next to Ianna, Rilka is thankful her pistol is magical, and she doesn’t have to worry about wet black powder. After dodging the bite of one of the turtle-sharks, she fires her pistol at it. A new worry springs into her mind: all the blood from the turtle-sharks and crew will attract other predators.
His mind moving his new hand, Dalton enshrined it with a petrifying touch. It swam through the water as if it were air, brushing against the nearest turtle-beast.
Why do things keep swallowing me whole? It is impolite at best. Toramin thinks inanely as he slides down the shark-turtle's throat.
Toramin does his best to give the beast indigestion.
Ianna lets out a mournful cry as her brother disappears. Swimming to where she would get both beasts and the majority of the crew, she cries out to Bolka for intercession.
"Goddess, I beg you; shield those I love and weaken those who would do them harm!"
Ianna casts a spell to bring divine favor into the battleground. Between her and Bjorkus's inspiring effects, with a monumental effort the crew flips over the Raging Storm so it is right side up! Dalton lands his spell and the turtle-shark is slowed by the effects. Toramin cuts his way free of the turtle-shark and heals himself, then Bjorkus impales it and sends it's corpse to the briny depths. The living turtle-shark tries to bite Rilka as she fires, but the combination of magic bogs it down and it just barely misses. She gives it another glancing blow with her pistol.
The turtle-shark lashes out again and viciously grabs hold of Rilka, filling the water with her blood.
Ianna
Crew
Dalton
Toramin
Bjorkus
Rilka
Enemy
Ianna - Sanctuary, water breathing
Dalton - Spectral Hand (1 hp)
Toramin - 33 damage, Touch of the Sea
Bjorkus -
Sanctuary Ianna (3 rounds remaining)
Will Save to attack
Spectral Hand Dalton
Deliver touch spells at a distance
Inspire Rage All willing allies (round 3)
+4 enchantment str
+2 morale str
+2 morale con
-2 AC
Prayer Everybody
+1 attack, damage, saves, skill checks (allies)
Opposite (enemies)
Ianna thrusts a hand out of the water. Gold and green light stream out in gentle waves from two golden rings.
"Goddess, deliver us!"
Toramin releases one of his boot-knives and grabs his chain in both hands.
Toramin swims forward and takes his stance. Marveling how odd it was to do it in the water.
Bjorkus powers through the water to drive his horns into the sea monster struggles with Rilka.
There was little Dalton could do to stop the beast from eating Rilka, but if he slowed it, perhaps the others could rescue her in time.
Finding a crevice in the creature's carapace, Dalton was able to see the beast become more sluggish as it calcified from the inside out.
Caught in the turtle-shark’s bite, Rilka’s forces herself to remain calm. Despite the crushing and cutting forces from the teeth, the strange texture of the tongue, and the low light level, she doesn’t panic, knowing that she only has a limited amount of time before she needs to breathe again. Picturing her legs dangling from the creature’s mouth, she thinks she’ll be able to laugh about it someday if she survives. She doubts she has the strength to free herself from the creature’s jaws. Though maybe she could twist and roll free as it adjusts the bite on her.
She feels healing and the creature shudder from her companions’ blows. For now, she draw her dagger with her left hand. Despite the severe attack, she aims her pistol towards the turtle-shark’s roof of the mouth and fires.
The turtle-shark takes a brutal beating as the party converges on it, but despite its various wounds it's still alive. The creature hesitates for a moment, then pulls into its shell, pulling Rilka inside with it.
As Rilka was pulled into the shell, Dalton began to panic. Could she get out if the beast dies in that state?
Halflings were a resourceful lot though, Rilka doubly so. He trusted in her spry body and mind.
Desperate, Rilka lets Bjorkus’ song fill her with rage, fueling her body for an escape attempt. She knows it will be difficult not only because she is weak from sea-sickness, but also the size difference between her and the creature. Holstering his pistol, she flexes, wiggles, and twists her body repeatedly as she tries to escape the sharp teeth of the turtle-shark.
Though far from the earth, Toramin remains a vessel for its power, slamming the creature repeatedly with his enchanted chain.
Desperate to free Rilka, Bjorkus buries his horns in the giant sea beast again.