Jaina scratches her head. "Well, we'll need to see if we can pick up the trail again. Grab whatever's useful and get ready to move out."
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"I know of a spell that can repair the damage, I'm sure one exists to clean it." Rhialla replies with a grin. "We may as well take it along."
Gathering up the valuable bits of treasure you once more begin to follow the trail through the jungle. After another hour of slogging through the undergrowth your eyes are stabbed by the bright, compared to the relative gloom of the swamp, noonday sun.
You emerge on to a mile long, palm tree lined, stretch of white sand beach. Each of the palm tree are about 50 feet tall and all are crowned with a wide canopy of palm fronds. All of the trees are brimming with coconuts just ripe for picking.
Piles of cracked and smashed coconuts lie beneath three of the trees just off the beach.
Even blinded somewhat by the sudden influx of sunlight, Jaina notices something odd about the coconuts on the beach.
"Uh... looks like something's been here before us. Those coconuts are smashed up." She points out the smashed coconuts under the three trees.
Randall hold the flask up in salute before tipping it back "Skol!".
Wiping his arm across his lips "Now that hits the spot." he says with a grin.
Bolstered, and emboldened, by Neela's magic Randall goes to examine the pile of coconuts.
Jaina moves to keep Randall covered.
Randall examines the coconuts and finds that each one has been cleaved in two as if by a giant scissor. Suddenly his attention is drawn upward by a loud clacking noise. Looking up he sees a giant crab, roughly the size of a large dog climbing down the tree, clicking its pincers menacingly.
Initiative:
Backing up and drawing his crossbow as he goes Randall can't help but remark "Will you look at the size of that thing! We are going to eat good tonight." Once a good distance away Randall looks at the others "You know, this reminds me of a humorous story that my Father told me when I was younger..." and with that he begins to tell a story so preposterous that it has to be true.
Jaina drops into a combat stance as she prepares to punch the crab!
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He coughed feeeling more than a bit under the weather.
I dont think we brought enough butter...
He muttered as he drew out a throwing axe and launched it hoping to crack the crabs shell deeply.
Son of a.." The axe slipping from his hand even as he drew it back to throw. It was not his day obviously.
As the crab descends, Rhialla's eyes widen. QUickly she casts a spell, a chaotic field of protective energy shimmering around her.
Drawing her sword, she exteds her hand sending another shard of ice flying toward the crab.
The massive crustacean reaches the bottom of the tree and begins to move towards Jania but not before a bolt of ice from Rhialla strikes it in a vulnerable spot where it's legs meet it's carapace.
Percival weakly throws one his axes at the monster, but the range is too great and the axe plunks harmlessly into the sand.
Neela weaves her arcane magics around the crab causing it some consternation as it approaches Jaina.
Her feet firmly planted Jaina waits unflinchingly as the crab barrels down on her. Before the crab can attack Jaina punches it but, unfortunately, her fists skitter off the things hard shell.
With its foe finally in reach, the crab snaps at Jaina.
As it's claws close around Jaina she is able to wiggle herself free thereby avoiding being crushed by it's giant pincers.
Randall breathes a sigh of relief as Jaina manages to avoid the crustacean's clutches. Bringing his crossbow he fires at the giant crab.
He pumps his fist as the bolt scores a solid hit "Yes!"
"Ow!" Jaina manages to escape the crab's claws, but ends up with a cut on her belly. She glares at the crustacean. "That's it--I'm looking forward to breaking that shell of yours open."
She unleashes a flurry of punches!
"You know, just as soon as I can ACTUALLY BREAK IT."
Stepping in, Rhialla's rapier seems to skate off the crab's shell before slipping into a seam by sheer happestance.
Randall's bolt strikes the crab's soft underside with a great deal of force, causing the crab to swivel it's eyes to see what caused it such great pain.
Jaina meanwhile continues to fruitlessly pound on the crab's hard shell only causing herself pain in the form of scraped knuckles.
Percival, feeling the effects of gods only know what , advances on the crab, waving the magic pike he looted in front of him. But, due to his hypochondria, his thrust goes wide.
Round #2
Neela continues using her magics to effect the outcome of the fight while Rhialla closes with the crab and stabs it with her rapier, the blade effortlessly pierces one of the crab's legs in it's joint, causing it to buckle momentarily before righting itself.
The crab ignores Jaina's attempts to hurt it and instead whirls to face the Cleric who caused it such pain.
Despite Neela's reality warping magics the giant crustacean grabs Rhialla with both of it's claws and begins to squeeze her, hoping to split her in two for easier consumption.
As the battle rages, Randall from his vantage point sees two more of the monstrous beasts lumbering down the beach, drawn by the sound of the fighting.
"Lookout, there's more of them!" Randall shouts in warning as he rushes to Rhialla's side. Once within reach he casts Cure Light Wounds on the Cleric
Jaina refocuses and starts punching the crab again, trying to break its shell apart!
Jaina's punch finally cracks the crab's shell as the force of the blow carries her fist deep into the creatures brain. Withdrawing an arm covered to the elbow with ichor the creature's legs splay out from underneath it and it falls lifelessly to the ground, releasing Rhialla as it dies.
The scream of pain comes just before Jaina shatters the crab's defenses, and as the creature releases her, Rhialla slumps to the ground, her rapier falling from her hand as she succumbs to her wounds.
With a rushing intake of breath, Rhialla's eyes open. Flashing Randall a grateful smile she reaches over to pick up her rapier, getting up from the sand.
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First the swampy muck, then a ghoul trying to eat him for dinner. This entire trip to the shore had him flustered. His heart froze for a minute as Rhialla almost dropped to giant crab claws before Randall's magic took hold and kept her with them. He moved forward torwards the new threats pike in hand readying to stab the first one in range.
Round #2
Jaina's punch penetrates the crab tough shell and strikes the sensitive organs underneath killing the creature outright. Withdrawing a blood soaked fist she shakes it at the dead crab triumphantly.
As the giant crab releases Rhialla in it's death throes Randall rushes the Cleric's side and using his magic revives the fallen Rhialla.
The immediate threat taken care of, Percival wheels to face the oncoming crab. Although his initial thrust with his boarding pike goes wide he brings the shaft around again to stab with as the creature closes with him.
Round #3
Rhialla restored from her near death experience gets up from the beach, picks up her fallen weapon and turns to face these new foes. Meanwhile, with the object of her hex now dead Neela focuses her attention on the threat closer to home.
The nearest crab makes it's way to Percival, easily batting his clumsy thrust aside with it's claws. Drawing close it attempts to catch the big Chelaxian in it's claw and misses.
The tailing crab bypasses the skirmish with Percival and instead makes a beeline towards Randall.
Randall sidles to his left, hoping to draw the crabs attention away from the two women nearest him. Drawing his sword he thrusts the blade at the crabs eyes.
The blade slides between the plates of the shell, drawing blood and the creatures undivided attention.
Seeing another couple of crabs come down from the trees, Jaina opts to go after the one clawing at Percival. If anything, Dandy needed the help more than Squeezebox did anyway.
"Need some help?" She asks as she comes up by the crab, punching at its shell.
Round #3:
Randall, sidestepping to the left, stabs the crab with his sword as his ploy works and he now has the crab's undivided attention.
Jaina rushes to the poor, befuddled, Percival's aid cracking the other crab's shell with her brass knuckles. The wounded crab forgets all about Percival as it turns to face the woman who hurt it, it's black eyes focusing on Jaina.
That attention is short lived however as Percival takes a step backwards and brings the pike to bear. Thrusting the pike between the top and bottom plates of the crab's shell he scores a hit on the fleshy innards.
The crab reacting to this new hurt turns, belatedly, to face Percival once again.
Round #4
The crab seems unfazed by Neela's attempts to redirect it's destiny.
Taking a step to the side, Rhialla brings her sttention to the crab facing Randall, seeking a spot between the shell's hard plates.
Rhialla's blade seems to be going awry when the fates intervene, guiding her sword between the crab's armored plates.
The crab facing Jaina and Percival seems confused as to which antagonist it should attack. Making up it's tiny mind it continues it's assault on Percival, ignoring Jaina in it's attempt to make the pain stop.
Much to Percival's relief both claws snap shut on nothing but air.
The crab attacking Randall sidles away from Rhialla all the while keeping it's focus fixed on the bard. Lunging forward it attacks.
Randall dodges the first claw unfortunately leaving him open for the second claw which closes around his midsection and begins to squeeze, leaving Randall gasping for breath.
Hit points: 9/18
With a heroic second effort Randall manages to break free of the claw, dropping to the sand. Rubbing his bruised ribs he steps to the side never once taking his eyes off the giant crab
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Round #4:
Percival's axe cracks the crab's shell between it's eyes, causing the light within to fade as the creature dies. With her foe now vanquished Jaina runs across the beach, ala Baywatch, to confront the crab attacking Randall.
Unfortunately a grain of sand stings her eye and, unable to see through the tears, her fists punch nothing but air.
"It's the one trying to hold on to me!" Randall shoots back at Percival. "Reminds me of a girl I used to know."