The weird creature charges at the octopus snapping its claws.
Mel gives the creatures a few seconds to become fully engaged before kicking off and skimming around the outside off the cavern.[delay one round]
Swim speed 30' water breathing.
Hassan, chastised by his poor performance since returning from near death, stands by quietly while the others debate plans of attack, and waits for a clear opportunity to put his skills to their best possible use.
Bart taps his foot impatiently as he imagines the underwater carnage taking place without him just out of his reach.
Seeing the others holding their actions to see how the two creatures react to each other, Ajani decides to do the same, figuring that charging into the fray would only invite physical harm upon his rather squishily-furred self.
Quillin treads water quietly with his ears perked for signs of ensuing chaos.
And chaos does assuredly ensue. Entering the cavern the reefclaw jets at the octopus with claws and spines bared and closes the gap only to be immediately gathered up by the cephalopod's various arms. The reefclaw struggles for a moment only to be brought into the great maw of the octopus and practically bit in half.
As is its method the reefclaw flails in the octopus' arms as it shudder to death and thrashes about, its cruel spines savaging the octopus' face and tentacles. The octopus throws the corpse of the reefclaw away and a low gurgling noise fills the cavern. It sounds suspiciously like TTtrreeesssssppppppaaaaasssss
Quillin frowns as his wee kraken ally is swiftly dispatched.
"AH, that ain't no fair. That's no natural octopoid, it's a devilfish. It may be short a tentacle, but it makes up for that in bad attitude. It spits blinding blood and its bite is nasty and venomous as well."
"It's still a sea creature though. Do you think you can set it straight, Ajani?"
"I can certainly try to command the creature, but doing so will require us to get in short range of it. Within 30 feet or so, I would say."
"Well, we ain't exactly in the Grand Palace of Cheliax. Bart and Fjori can stand between you and gurgly as you move in or we can just keep lobbing things at it until it closes."
Kno; Nature:
"Good gods!! Its a Devilfi....oh..you already figured that out huh? Never mind then."
Hassan offers his shortspear to Fjori. "Axes and swords are no good underwater. Perhaps you could use a weapon that is a little bit more... سجن... what is the word? Pokey?"
Mel had held back as the reef-claw was disposed off almost before the fight began.."Devil fish you say..well..to the Devil with him then"
She waves her rapier.."Spears, tridents..daggers even"
Fjori takes Hassan's offered Spear with a nod of thanks
"I will return it to you once we have dealt with this creature!"
Fjori will move towards the Devilfish to attack.
"Devilfish ye say. Heard a them from back home. Right nasty they are. I'm comin' too."
Huffing a disappointed breath at realizing the devilfish is too powerful for him to attempt to control, Ajani mutters an incantation at the conclusion of which his hand begins emitting a soft, icy blue glow. "Dangerous though it may be, if I can get close enough to touch the thing, I can help end the fight more quickly."
Quillin stays well out of reach treading water as the others move forward.
Hassan moves so that he is submerged up to the waist in water. He focuses his arcane energy, muttering incantations and performing waving hand gestures. He casts Touch of the Sea, first on Fjori and then Bart.
He looks to Quillin, but the gnome seems to be planning to stay back and cast from a distance.
initiative
Catching Hassan's look, Quillin purses his lips innocently and looks casual as he continues treading water at the back of the pack. sure. cast from a distance. that's the ticket.
Feeling rather fishy, Bart moves up with the rest to attack the devilfish.
:
Initiative:
Hassan remains out of range of the devilfish, and throws off a Magic Missile.
Mel lets Bart and Fjori occupy the creature whilst she tries to get round behind it
Acrobatics to avoid AoO
Quillin hangs back in the passage as the tall folk adroitly swim into the devilfish's lair. The dim light of the phosphorescent algae above accentuates the pale bones that litter the widened passage and long thin black worms flute from empty eye sockets and pits in the broken bones below the tide line.
I was using it to try and deflect any AoO the creature might get for reach, so I could get close and attack, but it I can get the same effect from jet-assist...then that will work as well. Just want to bypass its reach, if possible.
Knock off guard -
I am also choosing this creature as the target of my Freebooter's bane, giving everyone a +1 to hit and damage.
Fjori swims forward with a tangible malevolence that rallies his crew mates against the horrible septepoid. A purple tentacle shoots toward the Ulfen. With a twist of the magical cutlass, Fjori directs a blast of water that knocks it aside as he moves in to threaten the great head.
Hassan stays back and sends bolts of arcane force that strafe the monster.
The sea monster responds to the humans' affront with a gargling howl as it releases a cloud of slimy black blood that stains the water dark as night around the thing. In an instant, it grasps Fjori in its barbed tentacles tearing the man as it pulls him toward its deadly maw!
Fort Save
Mel feels horribly Ill and cannot attack.
Fort Save:
Bart and Mel follow right behind Fjori, but are nauseated by the viscous unholy slime that fouls the sea water around the devilfish. Things look dire for the crew with both Bart and Mel crippled by nausea and Fjori likely to be torn to shreds by the tentacled abomination!