Sic Semper Tyrannis! (Thrune's Hell's Rebels Revived) (Inactive)

Game Master GM Aarvid

The dolphins speed you to your destination, but stop two hundred yards from the eye. Aava bids you good luck with a bit more information as you reach treacherous reefs that complicate entry into the
Dismal Nitch from the sea. She hands Lubella a pale blue ring.

Here, this will help.
The Drowned Eye is a deep pit in the ocean floor that drops
away into inky darkness. The upper
extent of the pit and the surrounding
sea floor are a mere 30 feet underwater,
but the floor of the pit drops away to
a depth of over 250 feet. Viewed from
above, the waters above the pit are dark
and ominous, and on a day of calm seas,
present the illusion of a dark eye looking
up out of the depths.

It will take a good minute or two to swim over to the Eye before you will need to dive. You can make preps now or once you reach the Eye. Water breathiing has you covered for awhile. But what are each of you doing for swim speed and checks? The pale blue ring is a ring of swimming.

Lubella handed the ring to her companions, "I already have one of these. Whoever needs help swimming the most should wear it."

She cast a spell on everyone before starting to swim over to the Drowned Eye.

Casting extended Good Hope on the party.

Taking 10 for 16 on swim checks with her own Ring of Swimming.

She also cast a communication spell so she could whisper to everyone and hear their replies.

Casting Message on the party (duration 70 min).

Getting Sunless Sea vibes.

"Dolphins? Well, that took an unexpected turn! Something to add to my list of 'things I didn't know I wanted until they happened', I suppose." Despite his words, Talvek is grinning as he begins to strip of boots and all clothing except his armour and that strange cape they had found under the Lucky Bones. He places the items into one of the waterproof bags and wades into the water, running a hand across a smooth back. "Alright, please don't bite me. We're friends now, right?" He tries to place a secure, but gentle, grip on the fin, as instructed.

As the cape touches the salt water, it begins to mold to his body, elongating to the sides until Talvek looks like a giant manta ray, with only one arm emerging from the sleek form to hold onto the dolphin.

As they reach the Eye, he drinks his mutagen, then offers two vials to anyone who might need a little assistance with swimming. 2 x Monkey Fish extracts via Infusion - 10' swim speed for 6 minutes.

Talvek has a swim speed of 60' feet, +3 to AC, can breathe underwater and has an extra tail sting attack, thanks to the Cloak of the Manta Ray finally being useful. :D

Kenji swims.

swim : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

I hope it’s not in the water all the time.

Kenji appreciatively takes the monkey fish infusion from Talvek with a nod. But he does not use it yet.

Ok, I updated the swim stats. Everyone can swim via speed or take-10

As you paddle or swim towards the actual eye, you notice the darkness of the pit ahead of you. But before then you notice in the shallower water...

A wide trench scars the seabed here. Sprawled along its
northern slope is a wrecked sailing ship, while
the pit below is thick with seaweed.

Will figure you are all at the surface. The sea bed is 30' below you here (on the map, the ship at 45' deep and the darker waters are 200'+ to the west as shown). I put Talvek in front, as the fastest, and Lubella and Arcos in the rear with their slower speeds.

As you peer into the depths (perception checks) you notice the rotted merchant ship has a barnacle encrusted name 'Mistrunner' on its sunken stern.

perception : 1d20 ⇒ 18

Perception, heightened awareness, inspiration: 1d20 + 16 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 16 + (3) = 38

As they detach from their dolphin mounts, Talvek relishes his new form, swimming in circles around the rest of the party, rolling, diving and generally frolicking in the water. Some of his senses seem heightened, while others are dulled, but his alertness is ever sharp.

Lubella swam forwards, surveying the wreck. "Maybe there might be something of interest in the remains of that vessel."

Swim, taking 10. Good Hope: 10 + 4 + 2 = 16

Perception, Good Hope: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 2 = 16

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Sidius holds back, watching carefully, wondering if this was a good time to cast his spell to allow him to move more freely.

Sidius and Talvek notice movement within the broken hull of the shipwreck.

===Surprise===
(22+) Sidius(), Talvek()
(16) Things()

Sidius and Talvek can get a partial action in the surprise round...range is 40' down and ~20' over (so about 50' from Talvek)

Perception: 1d20 + 16 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 16 + (3) = 20

The movement was easy to spot, but the details of exactly what is moving down there were a little more difficult to make out. Still, Talvek doesn't think that fish have red eyes, do they? Somehow, his manta ray form produces his rapier, held in an arm peeking out from the leathery skin of the aquatic body, and he uses it to point towards the danger. He could swim over there in a blink, but the others would take more time to catch up, and he would be exposed.

Sidius says, "Undead!", then quickly casts Alter Self, turning himself into a Boggard.

Sidius changes form after completing his spell.

Tariq spots shifting shapes once men but now covered in barnacles and scraps of clothing and seaweed. They emerge from the wreck, look around with lifeless eyes. and start to swim upward.

surprise done. Full round actions for bold…

== Round 1 ===
(22+) Sidius(), Talvek()
(17) Arcos()
(16) Things()()()()()()
(12) Lubella() , Kenji()

Sidius begins to cast a summoning spell.

Flaring the sides of his manta ray form to better protect his comrades, Talvek waits patiently for them to get in range, rapier extended. There was a tiny chance they would not attack, and it seemed rude to attack first, given that this was their home.

Drinking his extract of Barkskin and his mutagen.

Sidius starts casting a spell where he floats

Talvek prepares for more direct interaction

Arcos?

Arcos waits and watches to see the actions of the lurking undead.

The six creatures swim (surprisingly quickly) upward to the surface and one is actually able to reach Talvek for a swing of a barnacle encrusted fist.

If you have 10' reach, you'd get an Aoo, otherwise...not

Red slam: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 for slam: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 plus DC12 fort vs nausea if hits. (miss!)

end of first round so everyone can go...summons completes.

== Round 1-2 ===
Arcos(), Lubella(), Kenji()
Sidius(summons), Talvek()
Things(green )(orange)(red)(blue )(teal)( purple)

Also, assume everyone is at surface level so 2D fight, unless you want to swim down.
Any water movement first requires a swim speed, or DC12 swim check. No taking 10 in combat. Water combat rules/damage etc apply.

Lubella cast a spell to boost her agility, and then swam, forward.

Casting Cat's Grace on herself.

Swim, Good Hope: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 = 14

Talvek gurgles in his manta ray form - whatever he is trying to say is unclear, however. With their intentions made clear, the tiefling feels free to retaliate, and flaps his sides to propel himself forward, rapier point leading.

Attack red, studied target: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19 Damage: 1d6 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 3 = 14

Lubella casts and paddles

Talvek stabs the closest one but his blade is not as effective as would be an axe or hammer.

Piercing weapons do full damage in water vs half for piercing Or bludgeon . However these creatures seem resistant to piercing so …not really a good option.

=== Round 1-2 ===
Lubella(), Talvek()
Arcos(), Kenji() ,Sidius(summons),
Things(green )(orange)(red -9)(blue )(teal)( purple)

Kenji swims forward and strikes the opponent in red with his trident.

swim : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

trident, 2-handed, power attack : 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 2 = 271d8 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Kenji, that's a critical threat, so you can roll to confirm the critical hit.

Crit? Thanks Lubella :-) : 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 = 211d8 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Number: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Sidius completes his spell and two Celestial Dolphins appear to assist in the combat. Both smite their shared target.

Red Dolphin (Slam, Flank): 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10
Purple Dolphin (Slam, Flank): 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 2 = 19 for 1d4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6

He then tries to fire his crossbow at one of the coming creatures.

Crossbow (v. Orange): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Ok, the -2 per 5 feet kind of kills that.

Kenji totally skewers the red drowned sailor…the dude floats without so much as a twitch

Sidius pair of dolphins land one hit but his crossbow bolt loses too much momentum to reach his target.

=== Round 1-2 ===
Lubella(), Talvek()
Arcos(), Kenji() ,Sidius(summons),
Things(green -6 )(orange)(red SLAIN)(blue )(teal)( purple)

Arcos? Will advance tomorrow …

Arcos continues to watch and wait for an opening.

The sunken sailors silently swarm attack you with vigor...

Green attacks the dolphin as he moves up towards the halfling.

Green On Purple slam: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 slam: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 DC12Fort vs Nausea

Orange moves to engage Talvek and one almost brains the tiefling with a fist

On Talvek slam: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 slam: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 DC12Fort vs Nausea
confirm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 slam: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Teal and Blue coordinate their attacks on Kenji, with one landing a crushing punch, and the other barely missing.

slam: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 slam: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 DC12Fort vs Nausea

slam: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 slam: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 DC12Fort vs Nausea

And Purple seeks out Arcos

slam: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 slam: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 DC12Fort vs Nausea

fort saves DC!2 from Talvek, Kenji and Dolphin...then go

=== Round 2-3 ===
Lubella(), Talvek(-14)
Arcos(), Kenji(-12) ,Sidius() Dolphin(-8 purple) Dolphin(red )
Things(green -6 )(orange)(red SLAIN)(blue )(teal)( purple)

Swim, Good Hope: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 = 19 | DC 12: success

Lubella maintained her bearings in the heat of battle, and started to perform an intricate martial underwater dance. Once she had built up enough spin, she lashed out with her mithral blade at the undead creature attacking the dolphin next to her.

Move Action: Start Battle Dance, Swift Action: Arcane Strike, Standard Action: Attack

Mithral Scimitar (green), Cat's Grace, Battle Dance, Good Hope, slashing underwater: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 = 21
Slashing Damage, Cat's Grace, Battle Dance, Good Hope, Arcane Strike: 1d4 + 4 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 2 = 15 | 7 with half damage for slashing

Kenji strikes the next opponent in blue with his trident and also bites.

trident piercing, 2-handed, power attack : 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 2 = 201d8 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Bite piercing/blud./slash., power attack : 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 2 = 151d8 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Talvek flails for a bit as one of the creatures manages to land a solid hit on him, almost flipping belly up in the water before regaining his senses and seeking his revenge.

Attack orange, studied target: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21 Damage, studied strike: 1d6 + 5 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 3 + (2, 3) = 17
Opportune parry: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
Opportune riposte: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17 Riposte damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Fort save, sorry missed that: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

Don't forget that everyone gets a +2 morale bonus to hit and damage from Good Hope.

[EDIT] +2 morale bonus to saves as well.

With weapon and bite, Kenji drops his opponent

Lubella and Talveks blades do a fair amount of damage but not quite to take theirs down.

I added the +2 to all damages

=== Round 2-3 ===
Lubella(), Talvek(-14) , Kenji(-12)
Arcos(),Sidius() Dolphin(-8 purple) Dolphin(red )
Things(green -13 )(orange -12)(red SLAIN)(blue )(teal SLAIN)( purple)

actually orange at -14

Dolphin Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

The dolphins attack the creature again.

Slam: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 2 = 17 for 1d4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6
Slam: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9

Sidius watches carefully, ready to cast disrupt the undead with life energy if they close.

Immune to cold and mind-affecting, making my hexes *also* not so useful. sigh.

One of the dolphins is successful in taking down green

Arcos backs away from his opponent. Sidius's readied action is triggered by the advancing drowned sailor.

Meanwhile, Tavlek and Kenji each have a foe of their own pressing on them.

Yellow on Talvek slam: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 for slam: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Which Talvek easily parries and sticks his blade into the shoulder of the drowned attacker.

Blue on Kenji slam: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 for slam: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 hits!

Sidius has a readied attack...if he can stop purple, it will not get to attack.
Kenji was hit and needs another fort save DC12 vs Nausea.

=== Round 3-4 ===
Lubella(), Talvek(-14) , Kenji(-26, save)
Arcos(),Sidius() Dolphin(-8 purple) Dolphin(red )
Things(orange -18)(blue )( purple)
(green SLAIN ) (red SLAIN) (teal SLAIN)

Waiting to see if purple survives to make its attack. If so, Lubella wlll try to swim next to purple and strike it.

fort : 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

Kenji strikes the opponent in blue with his trident again and also bites.

trident piercing, 2-handed, power attack : 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 2 = 231d8 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Bite piercing/blud./slash., power attack : 1d20 + 9 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 2 - 5 = 151d6 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Readied CMW (Touch): 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 2 = 21 for 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (1, 1) + 7 = 9

Talvek continues to attack his opponent, hoping to finish it off.

Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24 Damage: 1d6 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 3 = 11
Opportune parry: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Opportune riposte: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33 Damage: 1d6 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 3 = 14
Crit confirm?: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32 Damage: 1d6 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 3 = 10

Lubella swam around Sidius and attacked the enemy beside him.

Swim, Heroism: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 = 23

Move Action swim 5 ft, Swift Action: Arcane Strike, Standard Action: Attack

Mithral Scimitar (purple), Cat's Grace, Battle Dance, Good Hope, slashing underwater: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 2 + 4 + 2 - 2 = 20
Slashing Damage, Cat's Grace, Battle Dance, Good Hope, Arcane Strike: 1d4 + 4 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 4 + 2 + 2 = 17 | 8 with half damage underwater

1d20 ⇒ 11

The readied spell, blades and trident take Down the three remaining drowned sailors.

** end of combat **

The corpses float before you and seem to be pulled to the darkness in the depths of the eye. The shipwreck shows no further signs of movement.

Kenji starts to search the fallen to see if he can find anything of note.

“Does anyone here know why these people attacked us? This is crazy!“

Sidius says with a tone of disgust, "Undead hate the living. Some feed on us."

The drowned sailors have nothing on them other than tattered clothes and barnacles. They were using fists rather than any weapons.

Lubella recited a brief prayer for the dead; she wished knew how to consecrate their bodies so they could rest in peace.

Kenji heals his wounds and continues swimming down.

Talvek joins Kenji in scouting the depths, his euphoria over this new form still keenly felt.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23