Toramin stands toe to toe with the creature and swings once, and while his attack hits the creature's blood seems to move and soften the blow. His next attack lands true and the creature roars in fury. Rilka swinfs from the mast in a brilliant display of fearlessness, and lands on the creature's shoulder and then climbs up to its head. Bjorkus barks out an incantation to wash away his fear. Ianna weaves a spell to help tip the tide of the battle. Dalton's spectral hand strikes strait towards the creature's chest, but he feels a resistance and he is unable to harm the creature. Luthor gets ready to haul up the anchor again.
The platypus focuses all of its rage on Toramin, leveling another blow at him. With a huge effort and a grunt Toramin manages to barely deflect the first blow to hit the boat instead of him, but the other one comes around and crushes armor and flesh in a piercing screech of metal. Meanwhile the blood tornado continues to burn at Bjorkis and Luthor.
Toramin
Bjorkus
Ianna
Rilka
Dalton
Crew
Enemy
Ianna - Sanctuary, Blind (3 rounds left), 3 damage
Bjorkus - 7 damage
Rilka - Spider Climb, 6 damage
Dalton - Flying, Shaken, 2 damage, 4 hp in spectral hand
Blinded The creature cannot see. It takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class, loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), and takes a –4 penalty on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks and on opposed Perception skill checks. All checks and activities that rely on vision (such as reading and Perception checks based on sight) automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) against the blinded character. Blind creatures must make a DC 10 Acrobatics skill check to move faster than half speed. Creatures that fail this check fall prone.
Shaken A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.
Frightened A frightened creature flees from the source of its fear as best it can. If unable to flee, it may fight. A frightened creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. A frightened creature can use special abilities, including spells, to flee; indeed, the creature must use such means if they are the only way to escape.
Prayer (everybody) Allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls.
Luthor - 8 damage
Bandu - Frightened, 2 damage
Kal - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Chubwart - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Zirul - Frightened, 2 damage
Aisha - Frightened, 2 damage
Zandra - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Gabby - Frightened, 2 damage
Axen - Frightened, Blind, 3 damage
Seg - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Opal - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
P1 - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
P2 - Frightened, Blind, 3 damage
P3 - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
P4 - Frightened, 2 damage
P5 - Frightened, 3 damage
P6 - Dead
P7 - Frightened, Blind, 3 damage
P8 - Dead
P9 - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Toramin downs the Shield extract Rilka had given him. The best way to prevent this thing from killing him was preventing it from hitting him.
He then knits his wounds together as he continues to brandish his weapon at the beast.
Ianna lays a hand on her brother. "Loving Goddess, bless us with your mercy."
Timing his efforts with Luthor's, Bjorkus roars and hauls on the chain.
Rilka draws her rapier and attempts to slip into the gigantic creature’s ear. She stabs the ear drum as soon as she can. ”Zzzz zzzz zzzzzz!” she drones, doing her best to sound like the buzz of a bee.
Swimming through the air, Dalton saw his superior near the beast's head!
Amazing bravery she has! Stabbing at its ear would be a sure way to get its attention... but at what cost?
He invoked levitation on her, a precaution in case the malicious monotreme were to jettison her; without an adjustment to be made to her height, the spell would merely keep her altitude if her support left her.
"It is warded against my spells, Miss Featherfeet! I fear I cannot assail it directly!"
The gluttonous man surely looked comical yelling to a small lady atop a platypus, but necessity trumped appearance.
Toramin grabs one of Rilka's extracts and drinks it, but the lapse in attention costs him as the creature whumps him. Armor screeches and Toramin feels two of his ribs crack from the powerful blow, but he remains standing and drinks then heals himself a little. Bjorkus starts hauling the anchor up with amazing swiftness, but it's still well underwater. Ianna's blindly struggles to find Toramin, and manages to get her healing spell off on him. Rilka swings into the creature's ear and runs it through the ear drum, causing the creature to instantly shake its head and shriek in pain and fury. Dalton predicts a problem and per-emptively prepared for it before it happens. Luthor continues to help Bjorkus.
The platypus flails and screeches, glaring down at Toramin with burning fury before looking away and shaking its head furiously. After a moment Rilka is seen clinging onto the creature's ear, hanging on for dear life, and the monster whips up a paw and clubs her strait across the boat. She flies hard and strikes the mast, but Dalton's hunch paid off and Rilka has time to clear her head while the levitation spell keeps her safe up in the air. The creature continues shaking its head, pawing at its right ear. Rilka may not have made a serious rupture in its eardrum, but she certainly distracted it from continuing to beat on the badly wounded Toramin below.
Toramin
Bjorkus
Ianna
Rilka
Dalton
Luthor
Enemy
Ianna - Sanctuary (3 rounds left), Blind (1 round left), 3 damage
Bjorkus - 7 damage
Rilka - Levitate, Spider Climb, 38 damage
Dalton - Flying, Shaken, 2 damage, 4 hp in spectral hand
Blinded The creature cannot see. It takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class, loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), and takes a –4 penalty on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks and on opposed Perception skill checks. All checks and activities that rely on vision (such as reading and Perception checks based on sight) automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) against the blinded character. Blind creatures must make a DC 10 Acrobatics skill check to move faster than half speed. Creatures that fail this check fall prone.
Shaken A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.
Frightened A frightened creature flees from the source of its fear as best it can. If unable to flee, it may fight. A frightened creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. A frightened creature can use special abilities, including spells, to flee; indeed, the creature must use such means if they are the only way to escape.
Prayer (everybody) Allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls.
Luthor - 11 damage
Bandu - Frightened, 2 damage
Kal - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Chubwart - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Zirul - Frightened, 2 damage
Aisha - Frightened, 2 damage
Zandra - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Gabby - Frightened, 2 damage
Axen - Frightened, Blind, 3 damage
Seg - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Opal - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
P1 - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
P2 - Frightened, Blind, 3 damage
P3 - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
P4 - Frightened, 2 damage
P5 - Frightened, 3 damage
P6 - Dead
P7 - Frightened, Blind, 3 damage
P8 - Dead
P9 - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
\
Toramin sends Talev's Legacy hurtling towards the beast.
Ianna continues to call upon her goddess for succor. She refused to let her brother die here. Her golden rings glow brightly.
I should have braced myself first before attacking, she thinks as she flies from the creature’s ear. Her mind goes blank as she hits the mast. A split second later she realizes she’s floating against it. Wha?! Dalton? she thinks before the pain from the blood tornado makes her seek her healing extract. She feels a little better and looks for a rope to swing onto the platypus again.
Bjorkus continues pulling up chain.
Dalton notices the Bull's efforts and sends his hand out to grant him a boon as he wheels above the ship.
Toramin reels back with his weapon and thuds into the creature twice, finding it incredibly easy to hit but it just keeps taking the hits and standing. Bjorkus continues hauling up on the chain, and he feels that he's getting close to having it above water. Ianna heals Toramin again, keeping him alive from the bloody assault. Rilka heals herself and swings back onto the the platypus, this time landing right between its eyes. Dalton enhances Bjorkus's strength. Luthor continues to assist Bjorkus.
The platypus stares at Toramin in rage for a moment, then instead of slamming down on him it sweeps sideways and clubs Toramin off the boat, into the water. And the blood tornado continues.
Toramin
Bjorkus
Ianna
Rilka
Dalton
Luthor
Enemy
Ianna - Sanctuary (2 rounds left), 3 damage
Bjorkus - 9 damage, Bloodrage, Bull's Strength
Rilka - Levitate, Spider Climb, 31 damage
Dalton - Flying, Shaken, 2 damage, 4 hp in spectral hand
Blinded The creature cannot see. It takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class, loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), and takes a –4 penalty on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks and on opposed Perception skill checks. All checks and activities that rely on vision (such as reading and Perception checks based on sight) automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) against the blinded character. Blind creatures must make a DC 10 Acrobatics skill check to move faster than half speed. Creatures that fail this check fall prone.
Shaken A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.
Frightened A frightened creature flees from the source of its fear as best it can. If unable to flee, it may fight. A frightened creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. A frightened creature can use special abilities, including spells, to flee; indeed, the creature must use such means if they are the only way to escape.
Prayer (everybody) Allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls.
Bloodrage +4 strength/con, -2 AC
Bull's Strength +4 strength
Luthor - 13 damage
Bandu - Frightened, 2 damage
Kal - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Chubwart - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Zirul - Frightened, 2 damage
Aisha - Frightened, 2 damage
Zandra - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Gabby - Frightened, 2 damage
Axen - Frightened, Blind, 3 damage
Seg - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Opal - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
P1 - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
P2 - Frightened, Blind, 3 damage
P3 - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
P4 - Frightened, 2 damage
P5 - Frightened, 3 damage
P6 - Dead
P7 - Frightened, Blind, 3 damage
P8 - Dead
P9 - Frightened, Blind, 2 damage
Bjorkus watches in disbelief while Toramin is tossed overboard.
Finding herself between it’s eyes, Rilka stabs towards the creature’s left eye. Sheathing her rapier with a flourish she climbs onto the crown of the head.
Toramin!
Dalton had never seen the dwarf knocked around like that in his memory. Then again, he hadn't seen him fighting a mountain of flesh either.
Flying to the other side of the tornado, Dalton sent out his hand once more, this time with the gift of breath. He didn't imagine the stalwart was the best swimmer.
He breathed a sigh of relief as the pocket of air formed above his head. Looking back at the platypus, Dalton saw Rilka relieve it of one of its eyes!
No qualms about maiming, I see...
Ianna watched in alarm that her brother was knocked into the ocean, she had seen giants bounce off stone-lords in the past. She had never seen one knocked from his feet.
She didn't want to be crushed by this titan, but her sacrifice might be worth it if it saved the lives of others. Trusting in her goddess' grace she stands before that terrible undead and calls upon her goddess' mercy.
Ianna thrusts her be-ringed hand into the air and waves of green and gold light spill from it.
Toramin is shocked to be knocked from his feet, but grateful for Dalton's magic.
Toramin 5' steps (if possible) to D7 and renews his stance.
Toramin tries to swim over to the platypus, but he barely manages to tread water and only gets one blow in. Bjorkus pulls up the anchor further and he can see it in the murky water now, he almost has it all the way up. Ianna bursts out positive energy, healing everybody except Dalton and Luthor and causing the platypus to roar in pain. Rilka climbs down and stabs the creature right in the eye, and the roar that comes from it literally causes Rilka's ears to bleed as it starts thrashing around wildly. Dalton gives Toramin a protective net if he starts sinking, and Luthor keeps helping Bjorkus with the anchor.
The platypus thrashes its head wildly and clubs at Rilka, but in its partially blinded rage it only hits air. If the creature seemed dangerous before, now it's enraged and insane. Meanwhile the blood tornado continues to sting at Bjorkus and Luthor.
Toramin
Bjorkus
Ianna
Rilka
Dalton
Luthor
Enemy
Ianna - Sanctuary (1 round left)
Bjorkus - 1 damage, Bloodrage, Bull's Strength
Rilka - Levitate, Spider Climb, 20 damage
Dalton - Flying, Shaken, 2 damage, 4 hp in spectral hand
b]Blinded[/b] The creature cannot see. It takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class, loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), and takes a –4 penalty on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks and on opposed Perception skill checks. All checks and activities that rely on vision (such as reading and Perception checks based on sight) automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) against the blinded character. Blind creatures must make a DC 10 Acrobatics skill check to move faster than half speed. Creatures that fail this check fall prone.
Shaken A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.
b]Frightened[/b] A frightened creature flees from the source of its fear as best it can. If unable to flee, it may fight. A frightened creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. A frightened creature can use special abilities, including spells, to flee; indeed, the creature must use such means if they are the only way to escape.
Prayer (everybody) Allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls.
Bloodrage +4 strength/con, -2 AC
Bull's Strength +4 strength
Luthor - 14 damage
Ianna tries to throw a rope to her older brother.
Toramin treads water and channels the holy power of the earth into his strikes.
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Rilka scrambles down the creature’s back looking for Toramin. She believes he can swim as any well as any stone-like dwarf encased in metal can swim, but thinks a little alchemical assistance is called for. As she crawls upside down like a spider, drops of blood trickle into her hair. She can’t remember the last time her ears hurst so much.
Bjorkus continues hauling chain.
Not knowing the particulars of the best spot to strike at the creature, Dalton used his limited offensive ability just as he would against a drunk...
... a slug to the gut!
Toramin hits twice more, and the creature starts bleeding more, new blood that is fresh and hot. Bjorkus finally manages to get the anchor up onto the deck. Ianna throws a rope overboard, then realizes she forgot to grab onto the other end of it. Rilka makes her way quickly over to Toramin. The platypus tries to club her, but she swims on its bad side and he misses again. Dalton punches it with a strike of force. Luthor steps over to the mast, and with a chop of his axe opens up the sails. However, a new problem is seen now. The acidic blood has burned away the sails, rendering them all but useless.
The platypus roars and sprays blood and eye seepage over the boat and those close to it, then plunges south and into the water, retreating.
Ianna
Bjorkus - 1 damage,
Rilka - 20 damage
Dalton - 2 damage
Luthor - 14 damage
Ianna ties a rope to the railing and lowers it to the water.
"Gather round."
After the injured draw near, Ianna channels more of her goddess' mercy into the world. Wave after wave of green golden energy emanates for her upraised hand.
After healing the injured she turns her attention to the sails and laboriously mends them with chanted prayers.
Toramin climbs up the rope.
"That thing was incredible. An abomination, but whatever animated it was quite potent."
Seeing that the dwarf was being tended to by his sister, Bjorkus darts to the ship's wheel to steer her out of the messy storm of swirling blood.
"That's life on the sea", the bull says nonplussed. "Monsters like that come out of the water all the time. The crew should be headed back 'bout now."
Toramin blinks slowly. Bjorkus knew more about the seas than he did. "Then those who ply these waters must have great courage."
Back on the deck, Rilka discovers that her shirt used to wipe Toramin’s eyes clean is less useful than a rag. Maybe oakum. She heads below deck to get a shirt from her bag. The halfling walks without hiding her breasts. She didn’t mind being shirtless if there’s a reason, but she’s not here for the crew’s entertainment. Helping in the battle was as good a reason as any.
The halfling returns with a clean shirt, midway through buttoning. ”Thanks Dalton for the levitation magic. Really saved me from a nasty fall. I hope we never cross paths with that monstrosity again. After shark-turtles and this, it’s a wonder any one sails. Acidic blood! Even if I made a base to neutralize it, storage and the application of it would be impractical.”
Rilka looks at her companions and the ship. ”Well, Cap’n should we do a head count next?”
"That sounds wise, Rilka. We may also want to examine the food stores."
"Well giant undead duck-monster is a new one but you get the idea", Bjorkus laughs as he starts tying off lines so the crew can haul themselves back up onto the ship.
Once Kal's back on board, the puts a big hand on the young druid's shoulder. "Get in the water and try to fish up Thorton and Sutcliff. They were new to the crew but they deserve a proper send off if you can find their bodies. Talk to Toramin and see if he doesn't mind goin' with you. His eyes aren't nearly as good as yours but he'll watch your back."
The rest of the crew he sets to cleaning the thick layer of congealing blood off of the deck and repairing the sails. "I don't care how minor the damage is. Come sunrise I want the Storm movin' at full speed."
He gives Rilka a grunt of approval. "Nice work poppin' that ugly thing's eye out. If it's got any sense it won't come back so you can take the other."
”Thanks, Cap’n,” Rilka says. ”It was mostly luck getting it's eye. It was strange to fight something so big. I’m used to feeling small, but not that small. I was more like a mouse or a spider. Let’s hope it stays away, but be ready to fight it should it show it's bill again. Does most of the crew know how to work the ship's weapons? I know I can use some instruction in the finer points. I'll check the food stores like Toramin suggested then help swab the deck.”
After some hours spent in preparation, the party and crew are on the move again. By the time night falls again the sandy coast is within sight as they come around the south side of Desolate Bay. The seas in these parts are more crowded, a ship being seen every other hour or so, except at ports where there are dozens.
It's the seventeenth morning, bright and early as te crew gets ready to push off for the day, when Rilka's sharp eyes see an unmarked craft a little out on the seas. Judging by the men and women dressed in rags cleaning the ship, it's most likely a slave ship. The ship is a bit larger than the Raging Storm, probably tougher toe-to-toe but not as fast. On average it would take about an hour to wind round and catch up to them.
After doing her best to mend the ship, Ianna retires for the evening. Her sleep is exhausted but she was plagued with the feeling that she could do more, that she should do more.
When she awoke, she ritually cleanses herself and anoints herself with holy oil.
"Bolka, Dancing Maiden, you have so many gifts, and I have been limiting myself to only one. These people need more than healing, they need to feel the bonds of love and community that you bestow. Please, Goddess of Love, make me your vessel. Reach out through me to make this world a more lovely place. I place all that I am in your hands."
When the ship is pointed out to Toramin he calls to Bjorkus and Dalton.
"We should do what we can for these people. With your magic, Dalton we might have the speed and advantage to save them."
Bjorkus nods to Toramin but is already busy giving orders to the crew. ”Aisha have the cannon primed and ballista loaded. Kal, get us movin’. That thing’s better armed than we are. I wanna be on her ass and boarding before they can bring those guns to bear. Axen, make sure everyone’s got an axe or a pike. Those slavers aren’t gunna roll over without a fight and it’s gunna get bloody.”
"If you permit me, I will take point."
”Go ahead Toramin but don’t be surprised if old Seg makes it a race”, Bjorkus explains with a laugh and a gesture at the heavily scarred orc.
Rilka’s thoughts while in the crow’s nest:
So, the trigger commands of Magic Mouth combined with illusions could conceal real text under the guise of a general letter until the conditions allow the real text to be revealed. Isn’t there a hidden speech spell? I wonder if the arcana theory underpinning disguised communication could be brought to the written word. That’s beyond my arcana knowledge though. I don’t really have time to commit a school of wizardry. Not now. But transformation and illusion may be the best place to start. Divination to too. Think more about ink, something that’s amenable to alchemical tinkering. How could ink be used to hide messages? Lead particles in ink may deter divination magic. Hmm — Oh a ship!
———
As the plans to engage develop, Rilka says, ”Any requests for extracts?” She hands a shield extract to Toramin.
”Does anyone recognize the ship?”
As the Raging Storm wheels around and starts gaining water on the unmarked vessel, some of the figures on the ship toss a few barrels overboard behind them. They plot heavily into the water then come up floating, directly in the path of the Storm.
"I doubt those are water barrels", Bjorkus says as he steps away from the wheel so Luthor can take over.
He gestures to a few of the crew loading crossbows. "Pop one of the further ones. Let's see what's inside."
"Since I keep ending up in the water perhaps I should get one of the swimming ones now? Thank you for the Shield"
The paladin nods at Bjorkus' plan, "The could be mines. Better to find that out now than latter."
One of the crew nods and raises a crossbow, then lets a bolt fly true into one of the barrel. Instantly the barrel explodes in fire and distant laughter is heard from the other ship.
There's a half a dozen of the barrels in the water, slightly spread out. There are three obvious ways to deal with them: Go around them (safe but time consuming), navigate between them (risky but fast), or shoot them all out of the water (also risky but fast).
"Perhaps we can blow the ones we cannot avoid ad navigate around the rest."