Kellek Zaderan |
The flying figure approaching the townsfolk gets almost entirely ignored until the sudden thunder crack draws their eyes and ears. Although he's usually not a particularly intimidating fellow, his menacing display is just enough to get the vast majority of people fleeing to the east. A few however stay back, and from the sounds of their plaintive shouts, they still have friends or family trapped within the town.
Perhaps if I incinerate one or more of them with scorching rays the others will get the hint.
"...Where?"
Colvyn "Slick" Dashtail |
Colvyn looks at the result of the attacks. "Okay, time to go all out I guest." He uses more divine energy to empower his attacks and gets ready for a second volley of arrows.
Channel Vigor with Fervor, activate holy strike blessing
Buff: Weapon of Awe, Divine Favor, Channel Vigor, Holy strike
Kargas Stormscar |
Planting his feet against the tentacle gripping him, Kargas arches his back and attempts to pry loose the appendage's iron grip on his torso.
Break Grapple: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
If that works, Kargas will attempt to get some distance. He's chooseing the +2AC/+2Ref for his Blessing of Fervor bonus this round
GM Cellion |
@Flo: Tentacles have 10 ft reach.
1d20 + 36 ⇒ (8) + 36 = 44 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (4, 3) + 11 = 18
On dry land, the survivors still looking for their family answer Kellek's question one after another, all in a jumble. They name individual roads and dwellings that don't make much sense given his limited time in town, but one common thread are people with family members that went to help the Major. It seems some folks might still be hiding in the church.
The two tentacles attempt to keep their hold of Guiness and Kargas. Somehow, Guiness manages to kick free. Kargas on the other hand is crushed further by the tentacle and then dragged underwater. (17 dmg, split with Flo. You are grappled and underwater, and therefore need to hold your breath or drown)
The remaining tentacles continue their work of smashing the town to pieces, each blow making short work of individual dwellings together with the raging floodwaters. Limp bodies begin to flow along with the flood from a couple of houses - places there people were hiding out.
The head of the beast releases a piercing scream as it swims toward the east. Accompanying the scream is a general sensation of helplessness that washes over Guiness and Kargas. (You suffer the negative effects of prayer)
|||| INIT ||||
Guiness (30 dmg, unholy prayer)
Kellek
Flo (8 dmg)
Colvyn
Kargas (34 dmg, grappled, underwater, unholy prayer)
The Terror of Storval Deep (11 dmg vs pale pink, 48 dmg vs pale green)
Brother_Guiness |
Encouraged by the Blessing of Fervor but discouraged by the enormity of the beast before him, Guiness nonetheless continues to stand his ground, feet planted firmly on the front steps of the church. Over his shoulder, he shouts to those huddled within, "Flee out the back door! I do not know how long I can hold this terror at bay!"
With a small prayer of thanks that he is still somehow on his feet, Guiness continues to smash at the tentacle, trying to batter it into a pulp before it can pull down the house of worship behind him!
Dragonfist Primary Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 15 - 1 = 19
Dragonfist Damage: 1d8 + 17 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 17 - 1 = 20
Dragonfist Secondary Attack: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 1 = 22
Dragonfist Damage: 1d8 + 17 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 17 - 1 = 20
Steel Headbutt Attack: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 1 = 20
Steel Headbutt Damage: 1d4 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 - 1 = 7
Shield Slam Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 - 1 = 10
Shield Slam Damage: 1d4 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 - 1 = 9
Dragonfist Fervor Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 1 = 33
Dragonfist Damage: 1d8 + 17 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 17 - 1 = 22
Brother_Guiness |
Guiness' crit did 62 points of damage last round, but the damage tracker says 48 damage. Can Guiness tell there is some kind of damage reduction involved here?
Colvyn "Slick" Dashtail |
Seeing Kargas in trouble, Colvyn aims for the tentacle that holds him.
Longbow Extra: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 14 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 = 22
Miss Chance Haste: 1d100 ⇒ 50
Longbow1: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 14 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 = 27
Miss Chance1: 1d100 ⇒ 48
Longbow2: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 = 19
Miss Chance2: 1d100 ⇒ 90
Longbow3: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 = 21
Miss Chance3: 1d100 ⇒ 79
Damage Extra: 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + (1) = 14
Damage1: 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + (6) = 23
Damage2: 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + (6) = 22
Damage3: 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + (1) = 17
Cat's Grace with Fervor
AC: 23, Buffs: Cat's Grace(+4 dex), Weapon of Awe(+2 dmg), Divine Favor(Extra Att), Channel Vigor(+4 Perc/Ranged Att), Holy strike(+1d6 dmg), Blessing of Fervor(+2 att/ac)
GM Cellion |
Indeed, DR! I tried to narrate its existence when Kargas landed his first attack in round 1, but I might've not been clear enough. You would recognize it in character for sure.
Guiness strikes furiously, but only his final blow with Dragonfist seems to do more than glance off the tentacle's rubbery form. Colvyn delivers a deadly flurry of arrows, but finds every single one deflecting off the beast's body.
|||| INIT ||||
Guiness (30 dmg, unholy prayer)
Kellek
Flo (8 dmg)
Colvyn
Kargas (34 dmg, grappled, underwater, unholy prayer)
The Terror of Storval Deep (11 dmg vs pale pink, 54 dmg vs pale green)
Floredana Mandulescu |
It's not enough! We're barely doing anything to it! Underscoring her sentiment, a fresh corpse from one of the destroyed houses is ferried past her by the strong current. "We have to hurry, people are dying!" she urges her friends over the pouring rain.
Pointing at Kargas as he goes under, she sends a swarm of glowing bumblebees to harry the tentacle enough to give him an opportunity to escape. Then, gesturing with both hands, she funnels her signature kaleidoscope of ethereal butterflies to Guiness. There aren't enough of us, how are we going to make it through this?
________
Immediate action to cast Liberating Command on Kargas (who gets an immediate action to try an Escape Artist with a +18 bonus to escape the grapple!), 5ft step, Luck on Guiness! Can Flo use her Dimensional Hop ability to pluck Kargas from the grapple and move him back to the roof he was on? It would be a move action for her to do so and only if the Liberating Command didn't work (which it certainly might not!).
Kellek Zaderan |
On dry land, the survivors still looking for their family answer Kellek's question one after another, all in a jumble. They name individual roads and dwellings that don't make much sense given his limited time in town, but one common thread are people with family members that went to help the Major. It seems some folks might still be hiding in the church.
Sigh.
Which building is the church?
"Book."
A hand reaches out from the small cabinet strapped to his back bearing one of Kellek's spell tomes. Kellek accepts the book and flips it to the appropriate page "invisibility."
In the space of a few seconds he has committed the complex spell to memory via Brilliant Spell Preparation, a standard action. He snaps the tome closed and hands it back to the strange little hand. He looks up. "Why are you still here!? Did you not hear what I have just said!? GO! Or by all that is arcane, I will give you something to REALLY worry about."
Depending upon where it is, Kellek takes a fly move action in the direction of the church to end his turn.
GM Cellion |
Assuming Kargas spends the round trying to get free:
Grapple to escape: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31
Liberating Command immediate action to escape: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 18 + 2 = 37
@Kellek: The church is building 10 on the map. I've moved you 60 ft closer to it for your move action.
@Flo: You can certainly try to do so, however you're not currently within 30ft of Kargas, so you would have had to spend your move action to get closer.
---
1d20 + 36 ⇒ (9) + 36 = 45 4d6 + 17 ⇒ (4, 6, 3, 1) + 17 = 31
-
1d20 + 24 ⇒ (12) + 24 = 36 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (7, 6) + 13 = 26
The beast approaches, its head rising up from the surface of the water about 15 feet away from Guiness. Its tentacles writhe and grasp, the one closest to Guiness slamming into him and then quickly regaining its grip on the dwarf. (Dealing another 30 total damage after DR and grappling Guiness) Meanwhile the tentacle grabbing Kargas continues to squeeze and crush him underwater. (29 total damage after DR, split)
With Guiness tangled up, the massive head of the beast reaches down. A long tongue, its surface studded with eyes, reaches out and licks him. Blistering wounds open up all over his flesh and it feels as though his very soul is being dragged out of his body. (24 damage and two negative levels) This close to the beast, Guiness can feel waves of foul wrongness emanating from it. The town behind it seems to ripple and distort.
|||| INIT ||||
Guiness (84 dmg, unholy prayer, 2 negative levels, luck)
Kellek
Flo (22 dmg)
Colvyn
Kargas (49 dmg, grappled, underwater, unholy prayer)
The Terror of Storval Deep (11 dmg vs pale pink, 54 dmg vs pale green)
Brother_Guiness |
Current Maximum Hp 120, cumulative -3 on attacks and -1 on damage rolls. Blessing of Fervor, Bit of Luck, and Defensive Stance in effect
A sense of calm washes over Guiness in the heat of the battle, this struggle against the titanic foe. "If I am going to die this day, Torag, let it be defending my friends and protecting the innocent."
Having already shouted for the people huddled in the church to run, Guiness merely faces his doom head-on and says, "So be it." He then erupts in a flurry of strikes at the tentacle gripping him, hoping for divine inspiration in taking it down so he can escape.
If by some miracle he takes down the tentacle, he will break his Defensive Stance and try to go help Kargas.
Dragonfist Primary Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 3 = 31
Dragonfist BOL Primary Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (8) + 15 - 3 = 20
Dragonfist Damage: 1d8 + 17 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 17 - 1 = 22
Dragonfist Secondary Attack: 1d20 + 10 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 10 - 3 = 13
Dragonfist BOL Secondary Attack: 1d20 + 10 - 3 ⇒ (9) + 10 - 3 = 16
Dragonfist Damage: 1d8 + 17 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 17 - 1 = 20
Steel Headbutt Attack: 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 3 = 7
Steel BOL Headbutt Attack: 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (4) + 8 - 3 = 9
Steel Headbutt Damage: 1d4 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 1 = 8
Shield Slam Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 3 = 14
Shield Slam BOL Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 3 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 3 = 24
Shield Slam Damage: 1d4 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 - 1 = 7
Dragonfist Fervor Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 15 - 3 = 19
Dragonfist BOL Fervor Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 15 - 3 = 14
Dragonfist Damage: 1d8 + 17 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 17 - 1 = 20
Shield Slam Confirm Crit Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 3 ⇒ (18) + 7 - 3 = 22
Shield Slam BOL Confirm Crit Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 3 = 19
Shield Slam Damage: 1d4 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 - 1 = 9
Kellek Zaderan |
Kellek casts invisibility upon himself as he flies toward the temple.
Floredana Mandulescu |
We are all dying... Flo realizes as Guiness takes a severe beating, Kargas only managing to thrash and burble. "NO! THIS CAN'T BE IT!" she shouts above the howling wind.
Starsong, Lady Luck, Queen of the North Star, Mother Moon, we need you now more than ever, bless us with the strength to push through for the townsfolk... please... They drown and we are soon to join them. Flo raises her arms and starts to dance. Slowly, at first, she gracefully, solemnly weaves circles on the roof top, spinning, then churning as the pace quickens. The raindrops stand still and accumulate all around her as she begins to radiate divine magic. Her eyes close as she yields herself to the building power of her ritual.
________
Begin casting Summon Monster V!
GM Cellion |
Only Guiness' divinely guided shield slam solidly connects with the tentacle, but even so, the massive rubbery mass distributes the impact and the tentacle seems unharmed. (I've assumed the first attack missed because you didn't include your penalties for being grappled, let me know if you have something that lets you ignore said penalties)
Kellek turns invisible and gets almost all the way to the temple (moved you 60ft closer). Meanwhile Flo begins weaving a summoning spell.
|||| INIT ||||
Guiness (84 dmg, unholy prayer, 2 negative levels)
Kellek
Flo (22 dmg)
Colvyn
Kargas (49 dmg, grappled, underwater, unholy prayer)
The Terror of Storval Deep (11 dmg vs pale pink, 54 dmg vs pale green)
Kellek Zaderan |
What maniacal evil tentacled fish god is the temple dedicated too? Knowledge (religion, Take 10) for 24.
Colvyn "Slick" Dashtail |
Colvyn hesitates for a moment. The tentacle holding Kargas is visibly less damage than the one attacking Guiness. Clearing one of those could only help both in the long run. Well, let's hope this actually cause some damage. He aims to the one near Guiness and sends his arrows flying.
Aiming at pale green, which to someone like me, looks white.
Longbow Extra: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 = 28
Miss Chance Extra: 1d100 ⇒ 16
Longbow1: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 14 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 = 21
Miss Chance1: 1d100 ⇒ 2
Longbow2: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 14 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 = 35
Miss Chance2: 1d100 ⇒ 86
Longbow3: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 2 = 31
Miss Chance3: 1d100 ⇒ 69
Damage Extra: 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + (5) + (2) = 20
Damage1: 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + (3) + (3) = 21
Damage2: 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + (3) + (1) = 21
Damage3: 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 4 + (4) + (2) = 21
Sacred weapon to add lightning damage
AC: 23, Buffs: Cat's Grace(+4 dex), Weapon of Awe(+2 dmg), Divine Favor(Extra Att), Channel Vigor(+4 Perc/Ranged Att), Holy strike(+1d6 dmg), Blessing of Fervor(+2 att/ac)
Kellek Zaderan |
Kellek with all his knowledge and Taking 10 looks at the thing to try and suss what it is. You know of course that if he can't identify it at standard difficulty we are dead. ;)
GM Cellion |
Lol Kellek, that'd be Erastil for the temple.
Botting Kargas:
Grapple to get free: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30
--
1d20 + 36 ⇒ (3) + 36 = 39 4d6 + 17 ⇒ (4, 3, 1, 5) + 17 = 30
Some say that those who have seen her soon begin to choke on black blood that fills their lungs and eventually drowns them. Others say that she is older than many gods and that divine magic has no effect on her at all - but that anyone who bathes in her putrescent blood will likewise become immune. Still other stories tell that she has the ability to control storms themselves, and that those who get lost in said storms turn into terrible horrors that serve her.
While Kellek recalls this, Colvyn is hard at work sending arrows into the tentacle attacking Guiness. Of all the arrows he fires, only one strikes true, and even then it only scratches the massive beast.
Guiness' tentacle squeezes tight and drags him off the church's steps and into the water. He starts having to hold his breath or drown. (And takes 20 dmg after DR) Kargas' tentacle just continues to squeeze, slowly crushing him, and Flo by extension. (29 dmg, split)
Black Magga's head begins breathing in... shimmers of light starting to emanate from its eyes (Casting a 1 rd spell)
|||| INIT ||||
Guiness (104 dmg, unholy prayer, grappled, 2 negative levels)
Kellek
Flo (36 dmg)
Colvyn
Kargas (64 dmg, grappled, underwater, unholy prayer)
The Terror of Storval Deep (11 dmg vs pale pink, 61 dmg vs pale green)
Kellek Zaderan |
Lol Kellek, that'd be Erastil for the temple.
Ah, the Black Ungulate of the Wood with a Thousand Young.
Kellek zooms in close to have a look-see at where the cultists might be hiding. No doubt directly under all the stained glass.
perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Floredana Mandulescu |
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The still water coalesces into a cocoon. We can't do this alone, but we can't fail Turtleback!
Concealing Flo, the watery prison becomes evermore lifelike. Streams become strands as it continues to expand around her. Whatever is to emerge from this, it's going to be big.
Dwarfing the nearby houses, a trio of feathery antennae are the first to free themselves, followed shortly by the first of three pairs of slender, segmented legs. In eerie silence, it rips free from the cocoon and unfurls its mighty wings to their full length. The tips graze the buildings across the street.
Huge, purple orbs set astride a curled proboscis stare only at the Black Magga. With two heavy beats of its wings it launches its bulk at the abomination and clings to its face, fanged maw now clamped shut. Despite flailing and thrashing, it cannot be shook free. Antennae rub together urgently and the resulting soundwave is easily tracked through the downpour. Answering the call is a frantic eclipse of moths.
Turning ephemeral as they close in, the moths collide with the Black Magga's body and tentacles, searing its flesh. Strange words ring in the onlooker's minds as one of the purple orbs are pressed to the Black Magga's red.
"You harm Turtleback no more! When you meet the Mother of Beasts, Floredana, Symphony of the Rivers, sent you!"
GM Cellion |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The tremendous moth-like creature that emerges from Flo's watery cocoon stills the storm as it rises free. For the first time since you arrived back to Turtleback Ferry, you can see clearly out across the town. This only puts the clash of titans before you in clear perspective.
(See handouts for another picture of the creature)
Black Magga, visible clearly now as a massive, glistening green monstrosity, wrestles with the enormous shimmering blue moth gripping its face. The moth's 40-ft wide wings beat against the wind, counteracting the storm's gusts. Black Magga retracts its tentacles from the town, bringing them up to tug and pull at its attacker, but even with multiple tentacles working at it, the moth stays firmly attached.
The spectral moths that arrive in answer to the great moth's call seem to phase in from elsewhere entirely, rather than fly into the scene. Their short lived dives at Black Magga each deliver small but indelible searing wounds, leaving the beast to writhe in pain.
In agony, Black Magga begins to back away, seeking the safety of deeper waters.
Amid this celestial distraction, Kellek spots several broken windows on the church, but no obvious sign of its occupants, if any.
|||| INIT ||||
Guiness (104 dmg, unholy prayer, 2 negative levels)
Kellek
???
Colvyn
Kargas (64 dmg, underwater, unholy prayer)
The Terror of Storval Deep (badly injured)
Kellek Zaderan |
The tremendous moth-like creature that emerges from Flo's watery cocoon stills the storm as it rises free. For the first time since you arrived back to Turtleback Ferry, you can see clearly out across the town. This only puts the clash of titans before you in clear perspective.
At the arrival of the gigantic moth, Kellek is glad to have left most of his sweaters at home.
Amid this celestial distraction, Kellek spots several broken windows on the church, but no obvious sign of its occupants, if any.
What a waste of perfectly good magic. Alas, with all this flapping going on I can't simply smoke the cult out with a stinking cloud. I suppose there would be complaints if I just set the place on fire.
Are we talking windows of moderate size, and broken enough that Kellek can fly through?
Brother_Guiness |
Guiness:
Unaware of the details of the titanic struggle above, Guiness thanks the gods that the tentacle has released him. He flings himself back out of the water using the fly spell’s movement, but his cumulative wounds are too severe once his concentration is broken, and he skids into the church on his back, above the water but unconscious and bleeding.
Moving under his own power breaks the Defensive Stance, dropping his current max Hp from 120 to 102 (including the effects of the 2 negative levels). At 104 damage, he is at -2 hp and dying...plus fatigued, for what that is worth.
Constitution Check to Stabilize: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 2 = 16
Guiness stabilizes.
GM Cellion |
@Kellek: I'd assume they're probably pretty small, but I think you could fly in if you wanted.
Guiness seems to wash up on the church's steps half-dead.
|||| INIT ||||
Guiness (104 dmg, unholy prayer, 2 negative levels, unconscious, stable)
Kellek
???
Colvyn
Kargas (64 dmg, underwater, unholy prayer)
The Terror of Storval Deep (badly injured)
Kellek Zaderan |
@Kellek: I'd assume they're probably pretty small, but I think you could fly in if you wanted.
He flies in for a closer look around.
perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Kargas Stormscar |
Well this is cool as hell!
Kargas grunts in confusion when the tentacle suddenly releases him, but kicks his legs hard to propel himself back to the surface--he hopes.
Swim: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
GM Cellion |
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While Kellek enters the temple and Kargas manages to struggle to the surface of the now-calm waters, the two massive creatures continue their clash. Black Magga breathes out a pestilent wave that wilts the moth's feelers. The moth counters by intensifying the flurry of spectral moths. The western end of town starts to glow from what look like hundreds of candlelights igniting and then getting put out.
Black Magga bellows and raises its tentacles in what looks like a defensive motion at first. But mid way through, it slams them together against the moth's body, visibly crushing legs and badly bruising its abdomen. Through sheer grit, the moth continues to cling, forcing Black Magga to continue to back off.
The two titans hit the edge of the mist. As they do, Black Magga seems to fall backward, descending into deeper water. The moth tries to release the beast, but at the last moment tentacles come up to grasp the divine being. The moth disappears - spectral allies and all - into the waves.
The calm that it had brought with it ebbs away. The rain begins to fall in earnest once more, though not with as much fury as it did earlier. The floodwaters too seem far gentler.
The two titans do not surface again. It seems the town is safe once more. The empty shell of Flo's cocoon of water evaporates, but the cleric of Desna is nowhere to be seen.
Combat Over
-----
Inside the temple, Kellek finds a few locals, all either very young or old and infirm. People who weren't swift enough in evacuating earlier who had ended up trapped in the temple when the floodwaters rose up its steps.
Kargas Stormscar |
Spluttering to the surface and then winging into the air on lightning wings, Kargas lands next to Guiness and fumbles at his belt for a potion. "Flor! Guiness is down, he needs help!" Tipping back the dwarf's helmeted head, he drips the healing draught down to Guiness' mouth. As the stout warrior's most immediately lethal injuries close up, Kargas breathes a sigh of relief and rises to peer out the shattered window at the calmer floodwaters.
"Thunder's blood, what was all that? Giant tentacle-dragon and a moth as big as the sky! Maybe Kellek or Flor will know." He looks around, spotting the flying wizard and Colvyn, and his expression slowly goes ashen. "Where is Flor?"
Brother_Guiness |
Sputtering awake, Guiness frantically asks Kargas, "What's going on? Are we still under attack? Do people still need saving?!?" as he rises unsteadily to his feet, trying to get his bearings (assuming that was at least 3 hp of healing, otherwise he is still down).
Colvyn "Slick" Dashtail |
Colvyn just stand there with his mouth open as Kargas walks ashore. He is still unsure what he saw and can't seem to believe it either. At the question about Floredana, he turns his head toward the Half-Orc. Unsure how to answer, he just look back at the water, pointing his finger where the giant moth was last seen.
GM Cellion |
The floodwaters move more slowly now, but they still carry debris from the destroyed side of town to the south, out into the lake. The sky lightens a few degrees as you help Guiness get back on his feet. The mists to the west start to thin, revealing the rough waters of the lake where the bloated Skull river flows into them. There's no scaly hide nor glowing feeler to be found out there. If the massive beasts are still around, they are deep below the waters.
To the east, a few brave souls start to approach the town once more, staring hollowly at the ruins where the vibrant settlement was once whole. Among them, you see Maelin Shreed attending to several injured but eager villagers.
Brother_Guiness |
Critically injured and barely standing, the fatigued dwarf responds to Kargas saying, "Wait, what was that about Floredana? Did she fall in battle?"
If the fly spell is still active, Guiness zooms up from the doorway of the church and looks down upon the scene of devastation, both hoping and fearing to see the Lady of the River somewhere below.
Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23
GM Cellion |
Despite his birdseye view of the destruction, Guiness sees no sign of the group's cleric. She seems to have entirely vanished.
Brother_Guiness |
Unwilling to admit that she is gone, Guiness will zoom around the destruction, looking for Floredana, as long as the Fly spell lasted. When he came across people stranded by the high waters, he would take them to dry land, muttering something about ”It’s what she would have wanted me to do.”
GM Cellion |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Alright, I'll give you guys a moment for some last RP here and then update tomorrow with you regrouping with the Mayor, to keep us moving, if that sounds good.
Brother_Guiness |
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After saving whomever he can, Guiness comes down to the ground as the fly spell fades, saying to the others, "I can't find her! What happened? I was pulled underwater by the tentacle then it suddenly let me go. I was barely able to escape drowning before I was knocked out. What happened and where is the Lady of the River!?"
Guiness seems on the verge of panic, an unusual state for the typically stoic dwarf. Besides his horrific visible injuries, he seems...lessened...somehow, his skin boiling up and peeling where the terror of the deep breathed on him.
GM Cellion |
You regroup back on the new shoreline, just east of the church. Rain continues to fall steadily upon the town, but the level of the floodwaters drops from its peak earlier, when Black Magga struck. Huge mounds of rubble and debris have already been deposited upon the new banks, the detritus not only the rocks and tree branches swept down the river but also the mangled remains of the town's westernmost dwellings.
The residents of the town, seeing that things are now safe, flock to the debris and the edge of the floodwaters in shock and fear for the safety of loved ones. Kellek is able to emerge from the church with about a dozen survivors, saved thanks to the heroic efforts of the party in blocking Black Magga's advance. Now that the town isn't at immediate risk of destruction, you're also able to check the remaining structures standing and rescue a few additional stragglers.
----
Several hours later, with the worst of the reckoning is complete, Mayor Maelin Shreed gathers you all under the eaves of the temple. The rain continues to pour down all around you, and the temple itself is full of the injured and shell shocked. Maelin and all of the other townsfolk who have been hard at work helping people these last few hours are all soaked to the bone. Nevertheless, there's a look of awe in his eyes when he gazes at the group of you that brightens his weary face.
"I- I don't know how to thank you. That beast you fought. All the people you managed to rescue. Risking life and limb out in the storm!" He shakes his head "When you warned us even. I can't imagine how many would have died had we not started evacuating when we did. Maybe half of the town owe you their lives."
"Still, that was... Black Magga. I know the tales as well as anyone who lives around these parts. The Terror of Storval Deep. A beast of myth and legend. Except, it's more than clear now that they were not just legends. It was more terrifying than the stories could have possibly prepared us for." He looks off to the west, eyes scanning the rain and mist as if the beast is waiting out there. "Again, you stood and fought. It's far more than we deserved of strangers like yourselves."
"I only wish..." He sighs "My friends have been keeping an eye out for your undine companion, but no one has seen any sign of her within the town. I worry that the beast claimed her in the confusion of the battle. I can only hope that she was only swept along with the waters and then managed to swim to safety somewhere else." He bows his head "We will keep an eye out for her. As one of the saviors of Turtleback Ferry, that's the least we can do for her."
Kargas Stormscar |
Kargas takes a weary breath. "Maybe she'll..." he pauses, then closes his mouth and shakes his head. He doesn't finish the sentence.
"Where will you all go?"
Colvyn "Slick" Dashtail |
"If she was claimed, it was by Desna and I'm afraid there is little we can do about it." He looks at what is left of the town. "Now, is there enough left of the place for you to rebuilt?"
Am I right to assume that the boat we used to get here is also gone?
Kellek Zaderan |
"My friends have been keeping an eye out for your undine companion, but no one has seen any sign of her within the town. I worry that the beast claimed her in the confusion of the battle. I can only hope that she was only swept along with the waters and then managed to swim to safety somewhere else."
"Was it wisdom, or divine fiat?"
GM Cellion |
The mayor's face takes on a mulish cast. "Turtleback Ferry's our town. Maybe a few folks will want to travel downriver, but for most of us, this is home. We'll rebuild once the waters retreat, and take care of everyone who needs help until they can get back on their feet. It'll be tough, but with Erastil's guidance, we'll see it through." He nods to Colvyn's comment "We've made our way as a community through other disasters before. I'm sure we can do it."
"Just..." He looks at the sky with a frown. "This rain isn't letting up."
"Other times we've had a lot of rain, the river never quite surged as catastrophically as it did today. This kind of flooding... it's beyond anything we've seen before. It makes me wonder if something happened to the old dam at the source of Skull River."
Kellek Zaderan |
The mayor's face takes on a mulish cast. "Turtleback Ferry's our town. Maybe a few folks will want to travel downriver, but for most of us, this is home. We'll rebuild once the waters retreat, and take care of everyone who needs help until they can get back on their feet. It'll be tough, but with Erastil's guidance, we'll see it through." He nods to Colvyn's comment "We've made our way as a community through other disasters before. I'm sure we can do it."
"Just..." He looks at the sky with a frown. "This rain isn't letting up."
"Other times we've had a lot of rain, the river never quite surged as catastrophically as it did today. This kind of flooding... it's beyond anything we've seen before...."
"Yes, well with the region's eroding coastline, lack of a sensible, kingdom-wide infrastructure plan, and the changing climate, I'm not surprised."
Brother_Guiness |
”Fort Rannick is back in the hands of the Black Arrow rangers, Mayor, and reinforcements should be on the way from Magnimar,” says Guiness, sitting down heavily on a nearby tree trunk carried downriver by the torrential flood,
”I’m all for investigating the dam before another such wave heads this way, but we need resupply, rest, and healing first—defending the church was nearly the death of me, and our healer gave her last full measure to defend all of us, else no one would have survived,” he adds.
Kellek Zaderan |
”I’m all for investigating the dam before another such wave heads this way, but we need resupply, rest, and healing first—defending the church was nearly the death of me, and our healer gave her last full measure to defend all of us, else no one would have survived,” he adds.
"It was a waste of time, effort, and life." Kellek says angrily. "If the citizenry had had a clear emergency flood plan as set down by a rational chief executive" he let's the bitter implication stew for a long moment, "rather than leaving all the work to Ole' Deadeye to come up with something on the fly, everyone--not least including our lost friend, Floredana, could have made it to higher ground with Nine Hells less drama, and sacrifice!"
Kellek storms off to make a secure shelter against the rain.
When complete, he goes in and sits down at his desk to try and work on his scrolls, with his back to Flo's old bunk.
Colvyn "Slick" Dashtail |
Colvyn looks at Kellek walk away. And I though I was socially inept. He turns to the mayors. "Sorry about that, not everyone goes to grieving the same way. Now, Guiness is right. Even if we wanted to head out immediately, we are in no shape to do so." He looks around what remain of the town. "For tonight, I would suggest we get everyone a dry place to eat and rest and tomorrow we will head out."
Since I am the main healer now, I will need everyone current status.
Kargas Stormscar |
Kargas took 64dmg, once the rage ends he's looking pretty injured too, though not as wood-chipper'd as Guiness
Kargas just shakes his head as Kellek storms off, then just sits down in the mud as the after-battle fatigue catches up with him. He stares out at the half-drowned town but he doesn't see anything, his thoughts elsewhere.
"Guess we better check on that dam," he mumbles to no one in particular. "Not sure what to do about it if Black Magga tore it up. Maybe Kellek will have a spell."
He falls silent for several long minutes. "Should we go look for her?" He asks, his voice not quite cracking.
Brother_Guiness |
Guiness is down 98 hp not including 2 negative levels.
"Aye, Kargas, I could not see anything from above, but I'll walk with you through the town and we can look for her as long as we have the strength to put one foot in front of the other," says the weary dwarf, reaching up and clasping the tall half-orc on his shoulder and thinking sadly about the precious holy symbol he crafted for the missing Lady of the River.
"I wonder if she ever realized I made it for her," he murmurs to himself, lost in his own thoughts.
GM Cellion |
The Mayor stares confused as Kellek rants about all sorts of things that go over his head. Guiness' comments similarly confuse him for a moment before he says "The Black Arrows? Ah! The Black Arrows, that's why you were here. What do you mean, back in their hands? You mean they lost it at some point?" He shakes his head and holds up a hand "Wait, nevermind. We have more pressing issues to deal with. It's good news that they're alright though."
"You're welcome to rest in the church or anywhere else you prefer. We'll share what supplies we have too, but we'll be stretched thin for a while." He nods "I can provide some healing as well tomorrow, though I am already spent for today."
It's difficult to see anything out in the rainstorm, but it seems to be getting darker, suggesting that night may be falling.
Feel free to throw out any last activities or discussion before your rest. Astrid, you're on deck! I think the team will be ready for you to pop in as soon as you're ready to join :). Message me if you'd like some setup for the circumstances of your entrance.
Brother_Guiness |
Guiness, having recovered a bit from the fight and no longer fatigued, moves to the church doorway and looks sadly at the damaged door. "Aye, I'll sleep here for the night, after I fix the door, of course." Emotionally wrung out, he feels bad about abandoning the search for Floredana, but realistically in the gathering dark and the continuing rain, there is no way he can find her tonight.
"If any of the townsfolk want to sleep in the church, I will protect them as best I can as well," offers the wounded dwarf, pulling out his traveler's anytool and setting to work on repairing the door broken down by the Terror of the Deep's deadly tentacle.
Craft Metalworking: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21