Nothing you can discern, Sekathral. An occasional wave does slosh in from the west.
"Let me know if and when you need me to scout ahead. I can walk along the bottom of the pools if necessary! Hey Silvio, I'll challenge your lungs to mine underwater, anytime! Sea air is excellent, Kyson, but a diet of swamp bladderwort, calisthenics, and Gebite nose-chanting does wonders for lung capacity! Why, I can talk for a quarter hour, now, without needing in inhale once!"
Sekathral rubs his temples, wincing at Finn's incessant flow of talk. "Tell you what. Have a look up that right-hand passage. Far be it from me to naysay Kyson's guts, but I reckon heading west'll bring us out onto more water - we don't want to get out only to find there's nothing there but open sea. Still, anything's better than getting stuck in here.
Sekathral rubs his temples, wincing at Finn's incessant flow of talk. "Tell you what. Have a look up that right-hand passage. Far be it from me to naysay Kyson's guts, but I reckon heading west'll bring us out onto more water - we don't want to get out only to find there's nothing there but open sea. Still, anything's better than getting stuck in here.
"Nothin' bad 'bout being here? It's rather comfortable down 'ere if ya ask me. Yeah, the flesh eating deaders were a pain in the arse, but we've put 'em all back ta rest."
"I do mean to learn what's going on with the Vanderborens so if getting outta here motivates ya to press on, I suppose I needn't complain."
Kyson sits and waits.
Why would they listen to my stupid gut? For that matter, why would I?
Listening to everyone, Finn replies, "Very well, right-hand passage it is!"
He starts down the passage.
"Of course Silvio can pit his lungs against yours, my friend. Silvio is a natural swimmer of great talent, much to the point that Silvio feels a special kinship with the fish. Agile as an eel and vicious like a shark! That is how people describe Silvio", the chelaxian announces and follows Finn.
Kyson urps at Silvio's claims and wonders if he worthy to swim in the same currents as the Chelaxian.
After several moments of self-doubt and then deciding that he doesn't have a choice (surely the water will reject him if Kyson's not worthy, right?), Kyson follows.
* * *
"Which time are you talking about, and why in the Nine Hells are you so bloody surprised?"
Kyson considers running, fearing he had angered the man with this questions, but instead keeps his seat but clutches his shield closer.
"I don't deal in slaves, or interfere with kids, or murder for money."
Kyson considers asking whether he murders for fun or on a whim, but thinks better of it...and just nods and listens.
"Oh. Right. Bloody hell! She was a prostitute, for sod's sake! Stoning someone to death for having a bit on the side?! *Your* lot don't do that, do you?"
Kyson racks his mind for Sarenrae's teachings on prostitution, his mind feeling blank under the verbal onslaught.
"Uhm, no, I don't think so."
Have I ever seen a prostitute? I'm not sure I know what to do with one if I had one. I'm supposed to ride on their back, right? I think that's what that one picture in that one book I copied had a picture of.
Kyson thinks about asking what to do with a prostitute, but realizes that maybe this isn't the right time to ask.
"Got married in the temple of Calistria,..."
Know (religion)
Kyson recalls what he knows of Calistria and remembers how much he wants to visit one of their temples, but never has ever gotten up the courage to do so.
"I think I seen a Priestess of Calistria once. She was pretty but I think she must have been poor because she couldn't afford very many clothes. You'd think that a woman that pretty would have a husband to buy her more clothes, but maybe she had a vow of poverty or something."
Being underground is beginning to get to Sekathral a little, and he hangs towards the back of the group, sweating despite the fact that it isn't at all hot... "No more rum. Abrogail's balls, I could do with a drink" He thinks, following the rest of the party up to the right.
"I think I seen a Priestess of Calistria once. She was pretty but I think she must have been poor because she couldn't afford very many clothes. You'd think that a woman that pretty would have a husband to buy her more clothes, but maybe she had a vow of poverty or something."
Sekathral can't really believe his ears. Is he yanking my yard? No. No he isn't. Strike me blind! "Er, shipmate, couldn't you work out for yourself why some ladies dress like that? Did nothing, ah, occur to you when you saw her?" He sighs. "Maybe not. Someone's going to have to have a long talk with you at some point. Silvio gets my vote. Although..." He pauses, rubbing his chin. "You're into books, aren't you? I might have a book for you." He nods significantly and winks at Kyson
You all manage to swim through the pool, and carefully cross another section of slippery cave floor, arriving at another pool.
Again swimming across, you arrive at what appears to be a shallow rim along the eastern cave wall that extends to run along the south wall. To the northwest, a large pool rises and falls regularly as water seems to come in and out from somewhere.
Before you can do anything else, however, a ragged figure limps toward you -- one of his legs seems to end in a wooden shaft where his foot used to be -- from the beach to the southeast.
Kyson is definitely armorless...and feeling a bit naked, scared, and vulnerable in this environment.
Kyson moves to interpose the party between himself and the oncoming man and begins to put his armor back on.
"Hi there...be with you..." Kyson begins to put his gauntlets on the wrong hands, "...in a moment." Kyson stutters as he initially putting his scale armor on backwards, but spinning around in place to try to get it on straight.
"One moment!"
Completely on instinct Dargon pulls out his hand axe and takes a guarding position in front of the rest of the party.
"What 're ya about? Ya ain't another deader 're ya?"
"Now what do we have here? Silvio advices you to state your name and purpose to Silvio before moving closer. Your only other alternetive is to loose your other leg to Silvio's blade", Silvio announces and assumes a casual stance with his blade drawn.
Sekathral will leave the others to do the talking and attempt to hide in any shadows that may exist, drawing a dagger as he does so
The man continues to move toward you, though he doesn't reply to your calls.
The figure appears to be dressed in rusty chainmail, though he carries no weapon.
He appears to have an amulet -- what appears to be an ivory skull and crossbones on an obsidian pendant -- around his neck.
Zstelian and Sekathral, he appears to be a normal man. He continues to move closer, until he's about 30 feet from the group.
As he comes closer, you seem to almost see THROUGH his skin, as if it were some illusion, to rotting flesh below. In his mouth, his teeth are sharpened to points, while wicked looking claws adorn his fingers.
[/spoiler]
Kyson stops fidgeting with his rushed armoring to take a look at the approaching man through the left arm slit of his scaled armor where we was trying to shove his head through in a rush.
"Say guys, that ain't right. THAT AIN'T RIGHT!" Kyson's voice rises in panic as his struggles for armament grow more furious...none of which lead him to getting armored more quickly.
Know (Religion) - Does Kyson know anything about it?
"You are correct, that is not right. That thing is supposed for your arm, not to go over your head", Silvio informs Kyson as he struggles with his armor. "But that is not important right now. You don your armor back there and leave men like Silvio to deal with this."
The chelaxian resumes his attention to the mysterious stranger. "You are trying Silvio's patience. Speak up and tell us who you are or wage your head along with your leg", he says and proves his point with a swift swing in the air.
Finn looks at the approaching man, narrows his eyes, and replies, "You know, those urchins we found are amazing! Not only are they useful for nettle-approximants, but their bodies are appropriately gourd-like! Observe!"
With that, he pulls out an urchin, jams a odd wick-like contraption in it, and throws it.
"Aight, its far 'nough for ya deader," Dargon shouts before drawing out his throwing ax and sending it towards the man.
Kyson, you believe the creature might be a huecuva, the risen corpse of a heretical clerics who blasphemed and renounced his deity before meeting death.
You seem to remember having to transcribe an account by a long-dead monk of his meeting with one, where he talked about how they had to use silver or other magic to harm the undead horror. Even days later, it was blamed for the deaths of several of his companions as they fell ill with fever and wasted away.
Surprise round
The bomb explodes on the creature, bathing it in fire and drawing a moan from its lips.
Dargon: 11
Finn:
Kyson:
Sekathral:
Silvio:
Zstelian:
Creature:
Kyson begins to wet himself while wishing how badly he had clothes on.
"It's evil! It's an unlive being who has been spurned by the gods themselves!"
Kyson feels shame at the warm rivulets of yellow 'courage' running down his leg, but tries to warn others (if nothing else to save himself).
"Yes, Finn! Fire is good. Hit it with fire...or silver weapons or those imbued with the arcane!"
Round 1, Init 8, HP 3/8, AC 16
Sekathral will move around the creature to within 30 feet then hurl a dagger at it
Round 1
Dargon charges in with his hand axe and swipes at the creature.
*
"You keep your silver and magic. Silvio needs no more than his blade to defeat his opponent", the chelaxian announces a moment before an ill placed step causes him to loose his footing and fall on his behind.
"Silver? Magic weapons? What?"
Finn stares in fear at the thing, tossing a gourd. "New plans, please!"
Zstelian: 19
Silvio: 17
Creature: 16
Finn: 12
Dargon: 11
Kyson: 10
Sekathral: 8
Zstelian's javelin hits the creature, but he seems to just brush it aside. His lips stretch into a grin, teeth filed to points visible in his open mouth as he gets closer.
Silvio moves to close, but slips on the slick surface. He falls, landing on several urchins, their spiny bodies cutting him.
The creature stops about 20 feet away, and gestures, and suddenly a wave of pain overcomes the six of you.
Finn's second bomb again hits the creature squarely, bathing it in fire and drawing a cry of pain.
Dargon charges forwrd, swinging with his axe, but the blade is stopped by the creature's chain mail.
As Kyson tries to edge behind his companions, Sekathral instead moves behind the creature. His perfectly thrown dagger slams into the back of the undead pirate's head, sinking deep into his skull ... but he doesn't seem to even notice the blade.
Silvio reflex:
Urchins damage:
Silvio fortitude:
Dargon will:
Finn will:
Kyson will:
Sekathral will:
Silvio will:
Zstelian will:
Round 2, hp 2/8, Init 8, AC 16
Sekathral will move slightly closer in then yell: "Finn! Pass me that silver dagger!"
Round 2
"What's 'tis pain? It's like me life's gettin' sucked outta me bones."
Dargon's takes a defensive stance and tosses some distracting punches while he comes to terms with how his life force was just sucked out of him.
Round 2, Init 10
Kyson emulates the mighty Silvio and falls prone. [Move action to go prone carefully.]
Maybe Silvio knows that these things can not see things on the ground.
"I'm just like you, Silvio! Safe on the ground." Kyson is happy that Silvio is showing him how to be safe by flopping on the ground.
While on the ground Kyson will ready to call upon Sarenrae for aid should the evil creature channel again.
Ready action to channel *after* the bad creature channels:
Sarenrae, it's me, Kyson. I need you.
healing.
Zstelian: 19
Silvio: 17
Creature: 16
Finn: 12
Dargon: 11
Kyson: 10
Sekathral: 8
As Kayle flaps around the creatures head, Zstelian darts in and grabs its unholy symbol, pulling it from around its neck. The creature's claws scrape Zstelian's breastplate as he pulls it free, but don't find any exposed flesh.
Kyson (carefully) drops to the ground to emulate Silvio, who instead of staying safe stands up and moves closer to the creature.
The undead pirate claws again at Zstelian, who's able to block one hand but sufferings tearing wounds as the other hand gets past his guard.
Dargon punches ineffectively at the horror as Finn gingerly moves to Sekathral, barely keeping his feet under him, and hands him the silver dagger recovered earlier.
Antagonist AoO:
Silvio acrobatics:
Antagonist claw:
Antagonist claw 2:
Zstelian save:
Finn acrobatics:
** spoiler omitted **
As Kayle flaps around the creatures head, Zstelian darts in and grabs its unholy symbol, pulling it from around its neck. The creature's claws scrape Zstelian's breastplate as he pulls it free, but don't find any exposed flesh.
Kyson (carefully) drops to the ground to emulate Silvio, who instead of staying safe stands up and moves closer to the creature.
The undead pirate claws again at Zstelian, who's able to block one hand but sufferings tearing wounds as the other hand gets past his guard.
Dargon punches ineffectively at the horror as Finn gingerly moves to Sekathral, barely keeping his feet under him, and hands him the silver dagger recovered earlier.
1d6 ⇒ 6 healing.
Sekathral dives in, stabbing at the creature while shouting "Pin it! If you can't hurt it, trip it up and pin it! That way it can't hurt us and I can carve the ****ing thing up with this!"
Kyson keeps his ready, staying safely on the ground, holding his holy symbol white-knuckled and hoping for the good guys to win.
Round 3
"Haha, I like 'ur style elf," Dargon shouts as he sends some kicks to the creature, aimed to knock it's legs from under it.
Flurry with Trip Attacks
"That is good, you stay there and Silvio will take care of the this abomination", Silvio tells Kyson and jumps to his feet. Although the fall seems to have taught the chelaxian a lesson as he slowly advances towards the creature.
Zstelian: 19
Silvio: 17
Creature: 16
Finn: 12
Dargon: 11
Kyson: 10
Sekathral: 8
As Zstelian takes a defensive posture, Silvio steps forward and nearly decapitates the thing with a massive swing of his sword. Despite the huge wound, it seems to continue to grin and claws twice at the Chelaxian, who's able to fend it off with ease.
With the undead horror's attention fixed now on Silvio, Sekathral sneaks behind it and using the silver dagger severs the rest of its spine. Its head rolls into the sea water as the rest of the creature's body falls to the ground and crumbles into dust, the passage of time finally catching up with it.
Silvio acrobatics:
Silvio attack:
Silvio crit:
The pool continues rise and fall, claiming the creature's head and quickly washing away any blood that was spilled.
Once you have caught your breath, you can see there's also another door farther to the west.
Kyson will arise (carefully) and begin to wash the remnants of his cowardice off his legs in the salt water, hoping that few saw his fear.
The will then carefully begin putting on his armor, this time putting it on correctly and even managing to get the straps tightened. He does so hoping not to draw attention to himself.
...4 minutes later...
Kyson will don his shield and look again at the party.
Oh my, they are a wreck. Sekathral's wounds look hideous. And Zstelian's look infected. Silvio? Silvio is probably fine...his wounds probably sew themselves shut.
Kyson retrieves his holy symbol from under his armor, tugging at it from the string that keeps it at his neck.
Sarenrae, it's me, Kyson. I need you.
Kyson smiles as Sarenrae divine spark channels through him.
Healing
Init +5; Senses Perception +4
AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 17. (+5 armor, +2 shield, +3 Dex)
hp 10
Fort +4, Ref +3, Will +6
Spd 20 ft.
Melee
. . Scimitar -1 (1d6-1/18-20/x2) and
. . Whip -5 (1d3-1/20/x2)
Fire Bolt (1d6+0) 30' Ranged touch attack deals 1d6+0 Fire damage. (4/7 used)
Touch of Glory (Sp) Grant +1 to a CHA-based skill or ability check. (0/7 used)
Channel Positive Energy 1d6 (DC 14) (3/5 used)
"How do we feel?" Kyson asks as he lowers his holy symbol.
"That thing was scary!"
Kyson kneels to look at the body of the huecuva, hesitantly poking at it.
"This thing was accursed by the gods! The gods themselves rejected this...that is how horrible it is." Kyson looks from face to face as he speaks.
"And you killed. You. Killed. It. Amazing." Kyson stands.
"You killed a creature rejected by the gods. We are blessed by Sarenrae, clearly." Kyson's lip quivers as he speaks.
"Sarenrae blesses us."
Kyson reaches his hand out to Zstelian. "You took something off of it? May I see it?"
Kyson holds up the holy symbol, looking to see if he knows anything about it.
Know (religion)
It looks like the holy symbol of Besmara, goddess of piracy.