This is something that need not be bandied about, mind you, but perhaps you could lend a bit of assistance to our good friend Crimson Cogward. You see, he had stowed and stashed away quite the assortment of odds and ends, some of which he swears are magical. I myself don't rightly know the means of figuring out mystical mysteries. But perhaps you might have the magical knack to tell us what Cogward has in his stash. Then, if these items are to our liking, I'm sure he'd be willing to exchange them for a bit of coin or some other oddments of treasure we may come across.
I led Chum to the secret confines and watched with fascination. Magical wands and mystical writings, lurking just underneath our noses here on board the Wormwood!
Pardon me, Miss Bansion. I think perhaps we started off on bad seas, and I wonder what it may take to calm the waters.
After receiving my orders for the day, I prepare to lower one of the ship's dinghys. Two Hundred feet is a long way to carry a bucket full of crabs.
Evril does manage to find a moment to speak with Aretta, but all he gets for his olive branch is spittle in the eye.
The scroll turns out to be a scroll of scorching ray, while the potions and wand are indeed magical as well. Unfortunately, Chum's lack of formal magical training prevents him from being able to speculate about what they might do.
When Evril goes to start untying one of the ship's boats, Mr. Plugg rushes over, his whip cracking the air just over the Andoren's head. "I said swim, Mr. Cooper! Yer landlubber's hands aren't fit to touch any boat on yer own, not til ye've made some actual progress ta becomin' a true pirate! Swim, damn yer eyes, and be quick about it!"
When Eleuterio hears his new assignment, he inhales sharply. "Swim, you say? Hmmmm, very well." He checks that his brass knife is securely in his holster, and removes his shirt. His back is red and angry from the whippings over the previous day, and the swim in the sea will be agonizing.
To say nothing of the fact that, despite his eagerness to travel at sea, the paladin couldn't swim.
The swim across to the reef is slow but not difficult, even for Eleuterio, although his mighty splashes do much to amuse Barefoot Samms and fairly little to move him through the water with any efficiency. Evril discovers that his concerns about the pots were largely unwarranted, as they have lids that seal tightly enough to keep almost all the seawater out and in such a state they bob over the waves behind you like ducklings following their mother.
The reef, when you reach it, spreads out under the surface for fifty yards in every direction, a sprawling, brilliant panorama of color and movement. Some parts are close enough to the surface that you must swim carefully to avoid getting cut on the sharp coral, while others are deep enough that even their highest sections are only faintly visible in the deepening gloom ten yards below the surface. The water is clear and calm, and you can easily see a number of crabs scuttling over the coral in every direction.
With so many crabs around, it is a simple matter for you to spot likely candidates and dive down to grab them. Within a few moments, you have each snagged your first crabs, and one pot has already been filled, with Barefoot Samms dropping her catch into a second pot. As she does so, though, a pair of shadowy shapes, each about three feet long and looking like a combination of lobster, eel and spiked chain, swim out from the coral beneath her, their serrated claws flexing in anticipation of a meal.
"Reefclaws!" Samms shouts to the rest of you. "Poisoned claws and they die hard and messy!"
Steadying herself in the water, Samms pulls her dagger from her belt and drifts a bit closer to the rest of you as she waits for the first of her attackers to get into range.
Eleuterio swims closer to Samms as well, preparing to stab one when it gets close.
Ready to attack one, with a smite evil. No reason not to...
Add one to both of those if they're evil.
Chum is not exactly a fish in the water, but he's obviously very comfortable. Not quite 'in his element', but close.
We had paddled out to the reefs to catch a feast for our captain. A noble pursuit, even though my growing distaste for Harrigan has lessened the joy in such tasks. We had been bobbing about for a short while when Samms cried out about a pair of strange sea creatures bearing down upon us.
Well, I must say I was quite eager in anticipation for a chance to do battle with a real life sea monster. They weren't especially large, but Samms' information led me to believe they would be fierce. Unfortunately, they were underwater, and my pistol would unlikely be of much use beneath the waves. So, I drew my trusty rapier and shouted to my comrades, Look alive, gents! Stay on either side of them, and you'll keep them confounded! All the better to stab them with!
They never write about this part in the textbooks, I think, drawing my rapier and moving to face our assailants.
Chum will work to get near the others and aid Samms in her attack by distracting the reefclaw when it approaches.
Chum, Evril and Eleuterio all swim close enough to their friend to help her against the reefclaws, but none are able to do much besides splash in the water. The reefclaws swarm up to attack Samms, their claws grasping, and Samms' own attack isn't any more effective than yours in deterring them - or, in fact, doing much beyond wasting her time.
One of the reefclaws manages to gash her leg, and although the thing cannot manage to get a grip on her, the wound almost immediately begins to blacken with venom.
Fortunately, the effect seems to be limited to the cosmetic damage, and Samms continues to struggle valiantly.
Samms pauses, waiting for one of her friends to give her some help.
SONOVA...!
Just as Eleuterio is about to swim into position, a rogue wave pulls him beneath the waves! Unable to do anything else, he slashes at the reefclaw, hoping to draw blood fast. They needed to get out of these creatures' element, sooner rather than later.
I swam within range of the thrashing creatures, noticing that my comrades were taking full advantage of my cunning plan. However, just as I was about to make an excellent thrust myself, a splash of water caught me in the face. I sputtered, and jabbed ineffectually at an air bubble. Hopefully the frothy brine kept such an ignoble attempt hidden from my fellows.
Chum attempts to move into position. Knowing his weapon is ill-suited for such combat, he once again feints in hopes to assist Samms.
Samms pauses, waiting for one of her friends to give her some help.
Vault! You'd think one of us woulda been a sailor! I chide, slashing at the clawed menace. Got your back, Samms!
Although Chum's efforts aren't worth much on their own, they provide the distraction Samms needs to get in a solid slice with her dagger. Likewise, Evril finds a vulnerable spot and, taking Artevious' advice to heart, skewers the reefclaw thoroughly. Blood swirls through the water around you all.
The reefclaw that felt Samms' stab responds in equal fury against her, but Evril's success with his rapier does an admirable job of distracting the second from his ally. Unfortunately, this is because it turns its attentions to him instead, its venomous claws snapping angrily.
The reefclaw manages to grab hold of Samms' leg, its claw digging deep into her flesh. Although she still does not seem to be poisoned, the wound is deep and she begins to pale from the blood loss. Evril, however, manages to keep his foe at bay.
Fearing for Samms' life, Chum attempts to place the point of the scimitar against her foe and presses it into the creature.
"I need to get behind Samms! Where's Eleuterio?"
Attacking the one on Samms.
Almost in response to Alamon's question, a tanned fist clenching a dagger breaks the surface of the water, and plunges it into the side of the reefclaw that has ensnared Samms. A second hand reaches up to meet it, and Eleuterio pulls himself above water, sputtering for breath. "Damn that swell, damn these beasts, and damn the crabs! Gut them like haddock if you must!"
We must finish this quickly, before our struggle attracts larger foes!
I maintained my swimmer's form, but the twisting, writhing creature was quite elusive. I was thoroughly unable to connect with my rapier. My staunch comrade Eleuterio, however, surfaced bravely and with a feral gleam applied steel to beast quite nicely, it appeared to my salt-stinging eyes.
Eleuterio's stab has all of the strength and viciousness he might have hoped for, and Evril's stabs with his rapier are deep and fatal.
Except that neither reefclaw dies as it should.
Despite lethal wounds, they keep attacking, seemingly oblivious to their own impending deaths. Their movements are slowed, but they slash around with their claws nonetheless.
Samms tries to break free of the one clutching at her, using Chum's presence to help give her some leverage. With a strong kick, Samms tears her leg free of the reefclaw and raises her dagger, hoping to be able to deflect any further attacks.
If anything, they seem even more fierce now that they are wounded - Samms' leg is grabbed again, her flesh ground between the thing's claws, and the same thing happens to Evril as well.
"Let go of her, beast!" Eleuterio cries as he plunges the dagger into the reefclaw again. The sea around him begins to redden with the reefclaw's blood, but still the thing thrashes in the brine.
Eleuterio's dagger finally manages to push the reeflclaw beyond even what it can handle - with one last spasm, the thing dies at last. That spasm, though, is a dangerous frenzied thing, as its claws lash out in all directions.
Although the thing's claws come nowhere near Eleuterio's flesh, they manage to sink deep into the hide of the other reefclaw - and as luck would have it, that seems to be the last indignity the second aberration can survive. It too expires in a whirling blaze of claws, lashing out as randomly as did its companion.
Evril takes the brunt of the second one's death, and it is more than he can bear. Unconscious, he slips beneath the water, his life's blood spilling out into the ocean.
Chum swims to the stricken man and, saying a prayer to Gozreh, dives to touch the man and haul him back to the surface.
Chum's quick action and magical intervention scoop Evril out of the worst danger, bringing him back to both consciousness and the surface of the water. Although he is still coughing up water, the Andoren is otherwise safe. However, the reefclaw's poison is still coursing through him, sapping the strength from his muscles.
Although the reefclaw poisoned her as well, Samms still seems able to swim fairly well, and you discover her wrestling the reefclaw that grabbed her into one of the two empty crab pots. "They're great eating," she explains, "and I'm looking forward to the idea of a little culinary revenge..."
The two reefclaws fill up one crab pot each, meaning you only have to catch another three crabs to fill the last pot - this takes mere moments, and you are ready to start the swim back to the Wormwood.
"Tough fight. Let me see that wound."
Afterward, he shakes his head. "No fightin' with you for me."
Concerned and gesturing at Samms' wounds, he asks, "Can ya make it back t' the ship? I'm no cleric, but I can help a bit."
"Let's get out of the sea before our scuffle attracts something bigger than reefclaws. You two help Master Cooper back to the Wormwood. Just let me know if you need any help as well, Samms. You took a right savaging from those things."
I daresay, well done, mates! I extolled. The sea creatures -- the Reefclaws, the moniker bestowed upon them by Miss Samms -- were thoroughly vicious and frenzied monstrosities. Despite their grevious wounds they continued attacking, very nearly doing in brave Mr. Cooper. As he began to sink beneath the frothy waves, I readied myself to dive down and pull him back up. However, since Chum had elected to stay somewhat adjacent to the combat, he was in a much better position than I, and I had barely ducked my head underwater before he had Evril up and breathing.
When we finished with filling the buckets, we paddled our way back to the Wormwood. I was sure to fish my unused pistol out of the crab bucket lest it find its way into a cookpot. As I stuck it back in its proper place on my belt, I proudly announced that our mission was a resounding success, and furthermore, we had fought and bested two monsters of the deep, er, shallows, I suppose.
Following my rescue by the stalwart Chum, I spend the remainder of the day trying to assist in whatever small way I am able, but I cannot find the strength to do much.
With Evril in such worse shape, Samms waves off Chum's offer of help. "I'll live," the former housewife says grimly, "and that's as much as I've ever asked for."
Once you return to the ship, Sandara looks shocked by Evril's condition and Samms' wounds, and drags the two of them below decks to begin treating them as best she can. Captain Harrigan, however, greets Artevious' pronouncement with pleasure. "Reefclaw stew sounds mighty fine indeed, Mr Poisson. Caulky! The leather satchel on my desk, if you please!" The captain's girl dashes off, returning momentarily with a leather bag that she hands over to Harrigan with a quick nod. From it, the captain withdraws a potion bottle and hands it over to Artevious. "Healing potion," Harrigan says, nodding. "Stronger than normal, but worth it for the effort you've gone to. This won't be forgotten." There is a slight edge to that line; Harrigan seems like a man with a long memory.
Chum will accompany the cleric with her patients. He's hoping to learn more of the art watching her work, but he will do anything he can to assist while he's present.
Sandara looks shocked by Evril's condition and Samms' wounds, and drags the two of them below decks to begin treating them as best she can.
Below decks, I struggle to even talk as Sandara works, to the point that I am unsure if the words exist only in my mind. "One.. begins to wonder.. why it is.., m'lady.. that your ..patron.. wants us to spend.. so much time.. together. I am not.. opposed.., but would wish.. She.. were more ..proactive.. in Her.. attentions."
I tipped my hat and accepted the bottle from Captain Harrigan. My mind whirled at the sudden change in fortunes, for it was just a few nights ago that he was whipping me and my mates to bloody ribbons. I searched for a piratey quip, or a jaunty one-liner, something to further impress the captain and place myself firmly in his good graces.
And then a thought struck me: One potion to be shared amongst the five of us, seemed, well, odd. All five of us risked life and limb, but only one of us was to be healed? Both Samms and Evril were savaged by those beasts. Was he trying to foment discord amongst our merry band?
Before my face betrayed my uncertainty, I smiled broadly and responded to his promise, When the treasure's been spent, all a pirate has are his deeds. And may yours always be remembered.