Rannik's Carrion Crown

Game Master Patrick Levasseur

Tolvan's features pale as the conversation between the sheriff and Andjela begins to unfold. Andj, where are you going with this...

Andjela silently watches as the man walks away, keeping her voice down. If the forces we encountered have been here generations, there is a network of agents... not a single madman, though he may have been the leader.

Some of the townsfolk register as evil, but a sheriff? That's particularly at odds with the oath to serve and protect. They had time to take over functions of command and control.

Ananias relax a bit after the sheriff leaves. "So you are really going to try that metal ship that can swim underwater?" He fidgets for a short while. "I can face undead horrors, but the idea of climbing in one of those just send shiver down my spine. I just can't imagine how metal could float." Turning to Andjela. "Don't worry, while I stay here, I will keep an eye on the Sheriff."

Anna smirks at the reborn warrior. "Well, don't wonder, since it's supposed to sink!" Her cocky attitude fades quickly, though, as she thinks about herself actually getting inside it.

She squints at Andjela. "So, what? You finally get some sense and realize that not all lawmen should be trusted?" Her mouth twists. "If you want, I could see about sneaking into his office or home. See if he's got some dirty secrets?"

I would say that lawful evil make the best lawmen and government officials in general. lol

I'm saharing the knowledge Desna has been generous enough to bestow. And, do note... he deflected. He did not address, nor deny it. Perhaps because that would be lying.

Let's go and find a heavy metal vessel, get nto it and toss it into a lake.

As you cross the village, you notice that while you still get the sideways glance from some villagers, you also get a few shy smiles from young women. It take you a few minutes to reach the lone pier where you left Horace Croon. Next to his wooden ship, you see his invention that will allow you to travel to the bottom of the lake. The thing look like a huge metallic fish.

The inventor notice you approaching and happily wave at you. "Hello! You have a perfect timing. My submersible is ready to be deployed. If you are ready, we can go explore the bottom of the bay. Though one of us need to stay at the surface to handle the air pump."

Anna looks over the big contraption. "Handle the air pump? What does that mean? Oh, you mean someone gets to stay up here, on dry land?" She looks around. "I mean, darn, who gets the honor of staying up here, where it's safe and misses out on all the fun?"

Sonny looks at the machine and says "It's safe to get in that thing under the water? If so maybe we could get someone from back in town that you trust to man the pump so we can all go down there."

Tolvan looks with interest. How is it piloted?

"Yes, the air pump. You do breathe air, right? Well, that air will travel from the pump that is on the ship through a hose that is attached to the to of the submersible." The inventor turn to Sonny. "Of course it is safe! Everything I built is one hundred percent safe, must of the time. He then smiles at Tolvan. "Oh, that is quite simple. Since the vessel isn't entirely independent, something I will fix in a near future, you only have three lever. One control your level in the water, one gives you a bit of a forward motion, and the last make the vessel turn port or star-port." He starts walking toward the ship. "So, who is staying at the pump?"

I've never been fond of water or confined spaces... But, if there is roon, I'd like to go. Can we get Kimberly and your new friend to man the pump?

A reasonable suggestion Andj. If they are not available perhaps you can stay top side and pump? he ask the inventor. After all, this is your creation and I would not want to risk you needlessly. Who could ever make another, or even repair this one?

Anna stays quiet, trying to ignore her instincts screaming at her to stay on dry land. Though she had a healthy respect for water (or more specifically, the things that live in water), she knew well enough how to swim. So she figured if the submersible proved to be a bust, so long as she could get out, she'd be fine. The others, though....

"Humm, stay top side, while you guys go test it out." He looks at the submersible and then at the pump. After a few seconds of thinking he turns to Tolvan. "That might be a good idea. I can keep an eye on thing here and if there is trouble, I can reel you back up." He pauses again, and you can almost hear the gears turning in his head. "Yes, yes. This will be perfect." Looking again at Tolvan. "You look like a man that know his way around books. Would you mind giving me a full written report of the journey to the bottom?"

Once everyone is ready, you board the ship and set sail of the coast. When Horace is satisfied that you are far enough, he starts preparing the submersible.

Sonny points and shouts "Look there! There was a bunch of tentacles and hair emerging from the water. I think trouble is on the way!"

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Tolvan takes out and taps his handy notebook stating Not a problem. I take notes of most of our adventures.

Tolvan's keen elven eyes catch the sight as well. Tapping that roll I see it to Sonny. Our first thing to investigate?

"Does anyone know how to steer this thing?"

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25
Any idea how big it was?

Danica stares through the port hole and notices the tentacles.
Knowledge (Nature) / Monster Lore: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

I believe I can handle the controls. Tolvan says. Do we pursue?

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

"I saw it. Whatever it was." Anna checks her crossbow to make sure it's loaded. Then she moves to the bow of the ship.

"So, who wants to be the bait and lure it in close so I can get a shot at this thing?"

That does bring up the question of this submersible's defensive capabilities. Can it fight, or can we fight while on it?

"I say let the creature be. We are the intruders and outsiders in its world. Let's just pass by for documentation purposes. If it leaves us alone then we should leave it alone....unless we are attacked."

Is the sub completely closed or does it have an opening in the belly?

right now, you are still one the deck of the wooden ship, about to transfer to the submersible."

As you talk about what you say, Horace raises his head from what he was working on. "Tentacles? Creature? What are you talking about?" He scans the horizon but doesn't see anything. "Bah, must not be important. Now, let's go over the submersible controls again. The pilot has three lever. One that make it go up and down. The second allow you to get a bit of forward thrust by using some of the air the pump is providing. The last one is for rotating the ship, so that you can face another direction."

He pulls out two weird looking crossbow bolts. "Now these are in case there is trouble. On each side of the ship, you will find one special mounted harpoon that use those. The are made to not only pierce the target but also provide a small electrical shock to the target. I don't have a lot of those and they are expensive to make, so please to use them all. Any questions?"

The harpoons are treated as heavy crossbow. They have been installed permanently to the ship. The bolt deal an extra 1d4 of electrical damage on a hit.

The sub has a window on either side that allows the gunners to see what they are aiming at. The pilot is also able to see out, but his sight is more limited. There is no opening underneath the sub, but there is an airlock at the front of the ship. From the outside, it look like you would be entering and exiting by the mouth of the fish looking vehicule.

Can the harpoon launcher be reloaded from inside the "fish"? How many total bolts do we have? Not sure 1d10+1d4 is gonna impress that tentacle creature. lol

Yes, they can be reloaded. Also, since there are only two and there are 5 of you, some members of the party can step outside of the vehicule to fight.

Excellent, but how many bolts do we have?

And if I fire it, can I get sneak attack damage?

30 bolts, after that you can use your own crossbow bolts.
that is a yes Anna.

Tolvan climbs into the driver's seat and reviews the simple controls. I am ready when everyone is aboard. he announces.

Andjela hesitantly clambers aboard and settles in.

Anna shrugs out of her heavier packs with alchemical tools and weapons, deciding to stay as light as possible. Then she climbs inside the deathtrap submersible after Andjela.

Sonny pauses for a moment and says, "I may not be of much help right now underwater, but if you wait a few minutes I can pray for a spell that will be of some help to us."

He then prays to Sarenrae and when he is done Sonny finds a place in the center as much as possible where he can reach everyone.

Prayed for air bubble to fill the open first level spot I had

Danica excitedly gets aboard the submersible as well. "Were is your sense of adventure. Think of this. We will be the first to go under water and stay under for a long time."

Danica removes her Feather Fall ring and replaces it with her Ring of Swimming. "I wish that the ring would allow me to breath under water."

Once you are all inside the submersible, Horace unhooks the vessel and you slowly start sinking in the water. After a few feet, the submersible stops it descent and silently float just under the waves. The only sound is the air being push in the ship, allowing you the breathe easily. Tolvan use one of the lever and the thing starts sinking again.

The descent is quite pleasant. you see some fishes swimming nearby the window, curious about this new intruder within their world. After a few minutes, the light outside start dimming and the water takes a darker colour. Inside the ship, you hear creaks and and knocks as the pressure starts building outside. The noise of the pump reassure you that at least Horace is still up there doing the pumping.

Eventually, the water turns pitch black. The only sources of light you comes from some bioluminescent plancton that float peacefully outside the craft. As you wonders at those spectacular sight, you think you saw something swim by real fast. You all pear out the window trying to find what ever it was. At first, you don't see anything, but then a long tentacle with one side covered in long spike strikes the window. The submersible shutters from the impact. Tolvan uses the control to stabilize, but it is obvious that a more agressive response will be needed.

So soon, the... adventure. Danica, get out there... you are best equiped.

Andjela raises her hand towards the unseen surface. Desna, here my call... Keep us. Her hand starts to glow and the nimbus of light expands 10 paces in every direction, revealing what is outside the vessel.

I assume (hopefully correctly), that the vehicle would not impede the holy light. I especially like that it's one of the few times you see a sphere, rather than a hemisphere with such an effect.

Power of Faith: She can spend a use of her lay on hands ability to call upon the power of her faith as a standard action. This causes a nimbus of light to emanate from the warrior of the holy light in a 30-foot radius. All allies in this area (including the warrior of the holy light) receive a +1 morale bonus to AC and on attack rolls, damage rolls, and saving throws against fear as long as they remain in the area of light. This power lasts for 1 minute.

Tolvan conjures and sends out 4 globes of dancing light to surround the vessel He can dart it out in front of the submersible as a free action. AS he does so he says Be ready on those harpoons.

Unsure if Tolvan can cast spells outside from the controls? Can he do so if he moves to the mouth?

"Gotcha," Anna says as she tries to gauge where the thing is. "Hopefully it's not ready for this."

When she sees the shadow pass by the window and directly in front of the harpoon, she pulls the trigger.
Ranged, point blank, holy light: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 1 + 1 = 24
Damage, sneak attack: 1d10 + 1 + 1 + 1d4 + 5d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 + (3) + (5, 6, 6, 4, 5) = 33

Instinctively, Andjela expands her senses... wondering if the creature is natural or has evil intent.

Detect Evil, at will.

@Tolvan, Spellcasting require either line of sight, line of effect or both. Spells like magic missiles, lightning bolt and burning hands require a line a effect, so it would be useless unless Tolvan steps outside the ship. However, spells like summon monsters, grease, and hod person would work. Of the three, only summon monsters would actually be useful, but I hope my exemple will help here. Moving to the mouth of the fish will solve the line of effect problem, but then you would have the holding your breath problem.

@Andjela, The thing that attacked the ship is evil.

Andjela and Tolvan manage to illuminate the darkness outside the window, giving Anna the chance to fire the harpoon just well enough to hit the creature.

Just waiting on Sonny and Danica to give me an action before the battle really start.

Sonny looks to Andjela and says "If you want to go out and fight it, or anyone else, I can cast a spell that will let you breath but you'd have to swim or stay on the ship."

"Sonny...me, me, me. I am not encumbered and I have this cool swimming ring that I'd like to try." Danica catches herself in her bout of enthusiasm and a hard cold fact hits her.... her temple sword and nunchaku is useless under water. The only weapon she realized that may be effective in water is a piercing weapon. "Swinging a sword or any other weapon won't work. Can I use one of the harpoons?"

"Sonny, how many people can you enchant to breathe water?" Someone will need to draw the creature's attention so the submersible can flank. Any thoughts anyone?"

Sonny chuckles and replies to Danica, "I wasn't expecting such...enthusiasm. Unfortunately I only have one person I can protect. I do have a dagger you can use though." Sonny draws and holds out a dagger hilt first to Danica, prepare to cast air bubble if she takes it.

I won't need to breathe long, and with Danica enchanted... well, let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Danica takes the dagger. "Thanks Sonny."

Danica looks at Andjela. "Well?? Who is getting the enchantment? Whoever is out there will need to occupy the creature so Anna and the submersible can come in from behind and kill the thing."

You, Princess...

"Ok Sonny....enchant me with some water breathing."

Danica removes all her weapons except for the dagger. She then casts Light on the blade of the dagger. She then cast Protection from Evil and Shield of Faith on herself.

"Any advice before I head out?....except not dying."

"Stab it a bunch," Anna adds with a wink.

"Tolvan, let's get your Message spell active."
Not sure if this is active."

You have at least 3 rounds of actions. Are you going to wait that long to leave? Sonny will cast the spell right before you leave.

When Danica is ready Sonny casts air bubble on her.

Sonny moves with Andjela and Danica to the airlock. The cleric stand ready to cast his spell just as the inner door closes and the compartment fills with water. Once full, the outer door opens and the two warrior are able to see the exterior of the ship. From this position they can't see the target. From her window, Anna saw that the creature retreated from the light while the others were getting outside.

Group is up again.