Motteditor's Savage Tide (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

As soon as Zstelian enters the room, the floorboards twist and buckle, the journal falling into the sargasso five feet below!

"Damn", Zstelian says as the journal plummets into the water.

You think you might be able to get to it before it's ruined.

There's no way this is a trap.

What kind of check is it?

Kyson dives for the precious book.

A book! No!!! The inks will be ruined!!!

Sekathral quickly inspects the sargasso for signs of movement

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Presumably Seeing nothing, he clambers down to join Kyson, ready to grab hold of him should he start sinking.

Trap? Technically, no. However...

As Kyson clambers into the hole after the book, the sargasso around him suddenly starts to writhe, vines lashing out toward the young priest!

Kyson is among the vegetation five feet below while everyone else is still at the doorway, 15 feet away. Zstel and Seka can act in round 1, then I'll run the enemy before going into full rounds.

Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

"Kyson get out of there. There's something down there with you", the old ranger say as he slips a dagger into his hand.

Readying to attack if one of the vines makes a move.

They're moving -- you can make your attack.

Dagger /w Point Blank: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 1 = 29
Damage: 1d4 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7
Confirming: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 1 = 21
Extra Damage: 1d4 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7

Round 0, init 23

Sekathral retreats back up the ladder, firing a crossbow bolt at the vines as he does so

Attk: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Looks like bad things is up, followed by Kyson and his rebel band of misfits.

Kyson looks around for what Zstelian is yelling about.

Zstelian's dagger slams into one of the three vines, nearly slicing it in two as he hits the heart of the plant, while Sekathral's bolt nearly pins a second to the ship's hull as he backs up to the upper deck.

As Kyson looks around, three vines suddenly whip out of the sargasso, lashing at him. Though one ineffectually hits his armor, two hit with staggering strength, one wrapping around the pained cleric. 23 hp total; one is grappling Kyson

At the same time, the weeds he's standing on seem to clutch at him, making it hard to move! DC 13 Reflex save or be entangled, as the spell

The book seems to sink a little deeper into the briny weeds.

"Kyson get the hell out of there!" Zstelian shouts as he pulls two more daggers and lets fly at the one wrapped around the young scribe.

Dagger: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Dagger: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Round 1, init 23

Dropping his crossbow, Sekathral dives nimbly into the dank tangle of weeds, rapier drawn, attempting to snatch the book with his other hand before it vanishes.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26

Touch attack to pick up journal?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"Don't worry, old son - I'll have you out of there after I've nabbed this thing!, he yells to Kyson, grabbing at the book at the same time.

Round 1, Init 12

Kyson gaks noisily as the vines begin to strangle the #@#! out of him.

"KHAZ!!"

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 Reflex

While hoping that Khaz will save him, Kyson calls out to his favorite lady for help.

Sarenrae, it's me, Kyson. I'm going to die!!

3d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 4) = 13 Healing (excluding bad guys)

Round 1, initiative 11
ac 24, touch 17, fleet-footed 17
fort +7, ref +5, will +1
cmd 23, (27 vs disarm)
hp 52/52
effects: combat expertise

”Auh, foul things from the deapths of the sea! Silvio shall send you back”, Silvio declares and moves up to slice Kyson free from the constricting vines.

Move action to move adjacent to the vines
Standard action to attack: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 12 - 2 = 19 (-2 combat expertise)
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Seka, I'm a bit confused. You ran back upstairs the previous round, so you're not really near the hole where Kyson is. Khaz is going to get the book, so I'm going to have you at the far end of the boat, shooting at the vines with your crossbow.

"Kyson, hold on!" Khazmia calls. She rushes to the edge of the hole, and gesturing summons the book out of the muck. Casting mage hand

Kyson channels healing energy over himself as Silvio moves to the edge of the hole, slashing at one of the vines.

Zstelian's dagger slashes at the vine holding Kyson, but the plant keeps thrashing as Sekathral's bolt flies past it. It tightens its grip on the priest, crushing his rubs 24 hp, as two other vines lash toward him, but hit nothing but his armor.

"Damn, this isn't working", Zstelian growls as he whistles sending Kayle down into the hole. He jumps down after her with his falchion drawn.

Kayle Claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Falchion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Damage: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (1, 1) + 7 = 9

The idea was to tumble into the weeds and retrieve the book - if it's too far away to do that, fair enough

Seeing that emergency measures are needed, Sekathral drops his crossbow and moves to engage the vines.

I'm assuming I haven't got enough time to move and attack the vine holding Kyson - if I can attack, then I'll drop the crossbow and use the rapier. I *think* I get sneak attack if it's grappling... If not, ignore extra damage

Attk: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Dmg: 1d6 + 2 + 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + (4, 6, 5) + 1 = 23

Round 2, initiative 11
ac 24, touch 17, fleet-footed 17
fort +7, ref +5, will +1
cmd 23, (27 vs disarm)
hp 52/52
effects: combat expertise

Silvio continues to hack at the vines. ”Hang in there Kyson. Silvio will have you out in no time.”

Full round action to attack!
Main attack roll: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 12 - 2 = 12 (-2 combat expertise)
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Second attack roll: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 2 = 22 (-2 combat expertise)
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

End of Round 1, Immed Action

Kyson begs Sarenrae for quick release. Cast liberating command.

1d20 + 0 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 0 + 12 = 32 Escape Artist

* * *

Round 2

With the book apparently safe, Khaz uses her long arms to reach into the pit and touch the vine clinging to Kyson. The acid from her spell appears to be too much for the briny creature, and its tendril falls off the priest, its remaining pieces falling into the mass of vegetation he's standing on. Khaz casts corrosive touch

Now free without having to cast liberating command, Kyson heals himself as Silvio cuts into the second of the plants, slashing a swath through the greenery. Moments later, Zstelian leaps into the pit, his blade and Kayle's talons finishing off the second vine.

Seka drops his crossbow and rushing forward, his blade catching the remaining vine and hacking the tip off one of its tendrils as it lashes toward Kayle, easily letting the falcon escape harm.

Remaining vine has 19 hp and AC 15, so feel free to post follow-up actions if you kill it on your turn (which I assume you will).

Zstelian and Kayle work in tandem to hack at the remaining vine.

Kayle: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Zstelian: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Damage: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (2, 1) + 7 = 10

Round 3, init 23

The vine still feebly twitches after Kayle and Zstelian's attacks, but Sekathral's able to put an end to that with a quick riposte.

The elf doesn't find anything of interest in the hole in the hull; likely anything that fell in here sank into the ocean some time ago.

Have some time right now, and since I assume someone will look at the book eventually:

The slightly damaged tome appears to be a journal chronicling the tale of a monk named Anhelm and his journey along the coast of Garund to visit the natives of some distant isles. The document tells of a fierce storm that drove the Rage far out to sea.

The last few entries read:

This foul green land is stained with blight. We tried to cut away the weed, but to no avail, and soon had to abandon the tools we had used, their edges dulled to misery.

At noon, I ordered Carus and Twaid out onto the weed to explore. How large can such a place be? The crew grow restless.

---

It is dusk. Efforts to destroy the weed have failed. I have explored what I could, but this is all mists and weed. When will Carus and Twaid return? Despite the calm, the night is not still, and I feel eyes watching me.

---

The night brought noises but no attack, but I fear for my brothers. I heard cries in the night -- was it them? I feel something is alive here, but what can it be? Captain Grough claimed the land had a black heart -- maybe Carus and Twaid will have some useful information when they return.

---

Afternoon. I have decided to find my brothers, and have taken Ranis and Pale with me. They are good brothers, and will aid me as best they can. We shall find the land's black heart.

---

We headed east, making good headway as only brothers can. By night we had covered many miles but saw nothing but more of the green.

---

It is night, and I can hear life. Something moves at the edge of sight. Why do they not show themselves? I can hear them whisper one word, over and over: Outsiders...

---

It is afternoon. We have come to a terrible place, a forest of weed grown in mockery of real life, a mire of skeletal ships. How many souls have been lost here? Our supplies grow wan, we must return by the morn to the Rage.

---

It is dawn and we have returned to the Rage too late. The crew are gone and the green holds her ever fast. Where have they gone?

---

I can hear them in the day now. They are outside. They are watching. They want me to join them, but I shall not.

---

Ranis and Pale are dead. They came through the mist, yet they were not the same. I knew them by the tatters of clothes draped over the green that took their flesh. What wore their bodies has been vanquished, but I know now that these were but the children of what dwells at this land's heart. I must seek the mother at this heart, for to destroy the mother is to destroy the brood. If only I had ...

Zstelian listens to the story growing frantic near the end.

"That can't be the end! What did they need to kill the mother?"

Kyson checks himself for broken spleens, bones, and skin before sighing with relief as the vines stop wriggling and fall dead.

"I'm alive! Praise Sarenrae!" Kyson says, jumping happily, though still injured. "Are these things plants? Selfish and stupid plants?!" Kyson asks while looking around.

Kyson reaches down and picks up a piece of green vine and ties it to his holy symbol.

"This stupid plant could happily live in Sarenrae's light nicely with others but is selfish and trying to each one of Sarenrae's own. I'll teach this vine what it feels like to mess with the sun. In a few weeks it will be burnt and scorched and even more dead."

* * *

Kyson lowers the book from where he was reading it aloud, shaking it upsidedown in hopes that more paper would fall from it to answer Zstelian's question.

"That's it?! That can't be it!" Kyson says, flipping through the pages for additional or hidden text.

"C'mon c'mon c'mon! There is nothing more! There has to be something!"

After a few moments of frantic, then less-frantic search, Kyson gives up.

"Maybe I'll take this back to the ship and pour over it slowly with better light and see if there is anything I missed," Kyson says sadly. "If I don't find anything, I bet we're stuck here forever."

"We won't be stuck here forever. Maybe this is why Saranrae made sure you came on this trip? To deal with this thing?"

Kyson turns to look at Khaz as if she hadn't talked to him in weeks or months, a quizzical look on his face.

"Sarenrae wanted me to wander through the sea of deadly green grass and that's why I've been stuck on that stupid boat for the last 2 months?" Kyson crestfalls as he asks the question and realizes the answer.

Sarenrae hates me and wants me to suffer.

*sigh*

* * *

When the party returns to the ship, Kyson will take his time and pour over the book, copying it so that another version of it exists, just in case. In addition, he will study and re-study each page of writing for meanings that he might have missed the first time.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 Profession (Scribe)
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 Knowledge (Religion)
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28 Sense Motive
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Knowledge (History)

Zstelian paces while the scribe scribes.

"As soon as you're done we've got to get back out there Kyson. There might be other information out there on the wrecks."

Silvio strokes his moustache with a concerned expression. "The notes state that the other crew members got transformed into some unwholesome beings. This places us a difficult situation. If Silvio goes to explore, what will happen with those remaining on the Sea Wyrven? And if Silvio stays here, who will guarantee the safety of those exploring?"

"If I've got it right, mates, the things only come by night - so long as we're back before sundown, everything should be dandy. I'll have a word with the skipper - might be a good idea to prepare for boarders while we have time. We could always make a blow-up Silvio and leave that on board to reassure the crew while we go exploring", he adds, helpfully.

"She must have a lot of faith in you to trust you with such a task, Kyson." The princess eyes the scribe with even more respect than usual.

****

"I don't know that there *are* any guarantees, Silvio. But Sekathral is right. It is probably best if we do our exploring during the Lady's shining moments, and return to protect the ship during her absence at night." Khazmia eyes the sun through the veil of her scarf, hoping she's right about the Lady being on their side against the overgrown seaweed.

Kyson looks at Khaz with continued fear before slowly returning a stiff upper lip of faith.

"Of course. I'll serve Sarenrae and do my best."

Kyson begins to go back to the ship.

Kyson's plans are to research the book tonight, scribe a scroll or two based on what he learns from it, and we explore on the morning, eh? If the description above doesn't have a good enough direction to go, we'll just follow Silvio until he finds adventure.

You return to the Thunder, where Amella and the others seem very concerned over your discoveries, Avner demanding you do something about this situation.

The only exception is Urol, who Lirith has to hold back from leaving the ship to go explore the strange weed, but even the gnome seems a bit subdued from his usual self.

As the sun sets, Khazmia, Sekathral and Zstelian notice shopes stirring in the distant green. As the last light of day fades and the mist rises again, you see humanoid figures rising from the sargasso. Then the fog thickens and soon you can't see more than 30 feet from the ship.

Note it's now dark unless you have some light sources, with the fog providing concealment to boot.

Zstelian whistles.

"Everyone get up here! There's someone approaching. Kyson can you show us some of Sarenrae's smile you keep going on about?"

"There! I can see them out there! Errr, well, I did see something before this fog rolled in! I'll see if I can't slow some of them down with a pit."

Khaz prepares to drop a create pit (DC 16)spell in front of the advancing nasties should they get within 30ft of the ship.

...keep your hand steady, Kyson, don't let the ink seep through the page...

Kyson looks up from his scribing where he was happily engrossed in his work.

"WHAT!? I'M WORKING! IS IT IMPORTANT?!" Kyson yells back from his makeshift desk below deck.

...'It is dawn and we have arrived to the Rage too late...'

"Monsters attacking the ship. Get your ass up here now."

"Get some ***king lanterns up in the tops!", yells Sekathral, lighting his own lantern and hanging it on a convenient peg, after which he loads his crossbow.

Moaning and b#*$$ing like a 13 year old being asked to do chores while in the middle of doing absolutely nothing but still convinced that this is the biggest annoyance/inconvenience ever, Kyson tosses down his inkpen and grumpily heads to the deck.

I bet this is for something stupid.

"Light, Kyson! We need the Lady amongst us as never before, I think!" Khazmia points out at the unnatural mist. "They're coming for us!"

Kyson will cast light on himself and head to the deck to see what was so sunburned important that people had to interrupt scribing time.

"So you have come to try your meddle against Silvio Callgari Pazzi, the greatest blade in the whole of Avistan", Silvio calls out to the shapes moving in the night. "Silvio is happy to oblige. Now if Silvio could just have some light and perhaps a gust of wind to clear the fog?"

With the rest of the passengers sent below, time seems to tick by slowly, as if the sands in an hourglass were held up by some magic. Noises seem magnified in the fog, the oddly missing lap of water against the ship's hull making every creak sound like impending doom.

After what seems an eternity but also nowhere near long enough, though, you see four humanoid figures moving through the fog at the edges of Kyson's light toward the Sea Wyvern!

Round 1, Init 18

Kyson looks at the approachees, trying to figure out whether they are friend or foe.

"Are you sure they're bad?"

1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 Know (Arcana/Religion)

Kyson will hold until he knows they are less friendly (aka, the results of the knowledge check).

"Maybe they are here to lead us out of the muck?"

You have no idea what they are, Kyson.

Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

DR?