The half-orc gives Markizio a wide grin when he sees the approaching sahaugin. "This be fun." He visualizes the sea of floating sahaugin bodies that he expects to see at the end of this battle, then strikes at the lead sahaugin when it approaches.
HP 75+14/75
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+6 armor, +3 dex, +1 natural, -2 rage)
Fort: +12, Ref: +11, Will: +7 (+4 vs. spells/-like abilities, superstition)
Conditions: inspired rage, blur
Melee (+1 keen spear): +13/+6 (+6 BAB, +6 str, +1 enhancement, -0/-2 power attack, +2 rage)
Melee Damage (+1 furious greatsword): 1d8+18 (+9 str, +1 enhancement, +6 power attack, +2 rage)
11/15 rds Rage remaining
Markizio and Kung easily slaughter the first Sahaugin to approach. More push forward with the fishmen's bloodthirsty rage. Of more concern is the large, four-armed Sahaugin just behind them. He wears scale mail and wields an ominous feeling trident.
Sahaugin.
Green attacks Markizio.
Yellow attacks Kung.
The party can go again. The Four-armed Sahaugin is next round
Markizio easily avoids the trident but his eyes go wide at the sight of what he could only was their chief or champion or something pretty nasty.
Making sure Kung also saw it, he kept his post and attacked the next fishman to come near.
------------
HP 54/59
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18
Conditions:shield so AC=23, shocking burst, aquatic agility (6 more rounds)
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +9 = +1(magical) +5(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
4/6 arcane pool
Spell used: shield
Kung's spear catches as he pulls it from the belly of the sahaugin he just killed, drawing the body slowly in front of him and knocking away the errant strike of the sahaugin behind it. Kung shakes the spear loose and starts readying his next strike when he sees the four-armed monstrosity coming up behind. He pauses, his motions nearly frozen as he locks gaze with it. He turns to Markizio with the start of a wicked grin on his face, a grin that grows as he whips his head to yell behind at the others. "Big one coming. You ready? Be ready!"
He turned back to the sahaugin in front of him and--with casual precision--plunged his spear forward.
HP 75+14/75
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+6 armor, +3 dex, +1 natural, -2 rage)
Fort: +12, Ref: +11, Will: +7
Conditions: inspired rage, blur
Melee (+1 keen spear): +13/+6 (+6 BAB, +6 str, +1 enhancement, -0/-2 power attack, +2 rage)
Melee Damage (+1 furious greatsword): 1d8+18 (+9 str, +1 enhancement, +6 power attack, +2 rage)
11/15 rds Rage remaining
Now, as a badly disguised foe, Jane will watch and cheer on her team. "Woooooooo"
Marnir sees an enormous four-armed fishmen approaching through the murk. Better equipped than the fishmen being slaughtered by Kung and Markizio marks him out as a leader of some sort. Marnir catches his eye and roars at the freak, hoping to stun him into submission. "Fishmen are no match for Drakes!"
The four-armed monster is visibly shaken by Marnir's roar, he fingers his pendent nervously for a moment. "Kill them!" He screams, surging forward desperately. "Kill the slayers of my son!"
As they swim within range Ghilda's readied action goes off.
Two more flinch as the very water they swim in turns fatal to them and they die instantly. Only the leader makes his save, but still takes heavy damage.
Krelloort attacks Markizio.
Nearly impaling poor the poor Magus on his ornate Trident. Markizio Fortitude save please.
You take and are slowed (as the spell) for 1 round as its flesh calcifies. A DC 16 Fortitude save negates the slow effect but not the ability damage.
Krelloort is the only one in the area at the moment. The party can now attack.
Another trident wound. This one deeper. As the water turned red around him, Markizio struck out again with his blade at the four-armed monster.
------------
critical?
HP 26/59
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18
Conditions:shield so AC=23, shocking burst, aquatic agility (5 more rounds)
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +9 = +1(magical) +5(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
4/6 arcane pool
Spell used: shield
Marnir's laugh at the fearful expression on the fishman leader's face is cut short as it skewers Markizio with it's enormous trident. "You bastard!" Marnir growls between lines of his war chant, before extending his hand towards the trident and weaving a pattern in the water. "See if your slippery hand can hold onto this!" he says as a sheen of greasy oil coats the trident.
Even Markizio's vicious return strike isn't enough to force Krelloort to drop his weapon, Greased or not. The shaft made of petrified coral looks to be as rough as sandpaper.
Some of Kung's glee leaves his face when he sees Markizio get pinned by the monster's trident.
"Beast fight Kung; not ruin friend shirt! Fight Kung, ugly fish-man!" He strikes out again with his spear in a fury, attempting to draw the monster's attention to himself.
HP 75+14/75
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+6 armor, +3 dex, +1 natural, -2 rage)
Fort: +12, Ref: +11, Will: +7
Conditions: inspired rage, blur
Melee (+1 keen spear): +13/+6 (+6 BAB, +6 str, +1 enhancement, -0/-2 power attack, +2 rage)
Melee Damage (+1 furious greatsword): 1d8+18 (+9 str, +1 enhancement, +6 power attack, +2 rage)
11/15 rds Rage remaining
With his blood seemingly congealing, the magus takes a step back and let's his captain in on the front line, "Captain, can you hold line? That trident is poisonous or something. I need a second to recover."
-------------
Jane withdraws her two flasks, filled with cure light wounds potions. She's ready to pass them out once the fight is over.
On Ghilda's action she reaches out and touches Markizio
Kungs strike misses the well armored mutant monster.
When Markizio and Marnir swap Krelloort simply smirks. "More Human scum for Zul to make into statues!"
He strikes twice at Marnir.
Fortitude save DC16 please Marnir.
And you also lose
As an immediate action after a successful melee attack with the trident, Zul’s wielder can transmute the substance of the target creature into rigid coral. This attack deals 1d4 points of Dexterity damage and slows the target (as the spell) for 1 round as its flesh calcifies. A DC 16 Fortitude save negates the slow effect but not the ability damage.
Marnir laughs back at the giant fishman as the trident stabs ineffectively at illusions. "No more statues today!" he roars before swinging his boarding axe.
Kung gives up trying to antagonize the uber-sahaugin, and focuses on drawing its attention by instead drawing blood.
HP 75+14/75
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+6 armor, +3 dex, +1 natural, -2 rage)
Fort: +12, Ref: +11, Will: +7
Conditions: inspired rage, blur
Melee (+1 keen spear): +13/+6 (+6 BAB, +6 str, +1 enhancement, -0/-2 power attack, +2 rage)
Melee Damage (+1 keen spear): 1d8+18 (+9 str, +1 enhancement, +6 power attack, +2 rage)
11/15 rds Rage remaining
Markizio swam back to behind the front line and smiled as Ghilda healed some of his wounds
------------
HP 46/59
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18
Conditions:shield so AC=23, shocking burst, aquatic agility (4 more rounds), -3 DEX
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +9 = +1(magical) +5(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
4/6 arcane pool
Spell used: shield
Shaking his head in anger it Marnir's elusiveness Krelloort turns to the one who wounded him.
Krelloort attacks Kung.
Brutally stabbing him twice while screaming in joy as he draws blood.
Kung Fortitude save DC16 please, and lose . If you fail the save you are slowed for one round. You lose the Dex either way.
The party can now go again.
"Oh no, not our big guy!
The magus gesticulated and four missiles struck true at the four-armed abomination. The small missiles left considerable holes in its flesh.
------------
HP 46/59
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18
Conditions:shield so AC=23, shocking burst, aquatic agility (3 more rounds), -3 DEX
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +9 = +1(magical) +5(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
4/6 arcane pool
Spell used: shield, magic missile
Jane swims forward and puts a potion up to Markizio's mouth. "Drink" she says.
"You fishy bastard!" Marnir shouts, almost in the four-armed fishman's face. His chant becomes louder and more fierce and he swings his axe in fury.
Krelloort is still flinching from Marnir's biting words when the Ulfen Skald ends the matter by sinking the spike of his axe into the Sahaugin leaders head, leaving him with a look of eye popping agony as he dies.
The rest of the Sahaugin, those that remain anyway, attack you in blood frenzy and die.
Loot list:
Zul is a +1 human bane trident that has been passed down from chieftain to chieftain in Krelloort’s tribe for generations. Zul’s three-pronged head is crafted of magically strengthened seashells, and its haft is composed of rough, twisted coral that deals 1 point of damage each time it is grasped, unless the wielder has a natural armor bonus or is wearing gauntlets.
As an immediate action after a successful melee attack with the trident, Zul’s wielder can transmute the substance of the target creature into rigid coral. This attack deals 1d4 points of Dexterity damage and slows the target (as the spell) for 1 round as its flesh calcifies. A DC 16 Fortitude save negates the slow effect but not the ability damage. A target reduced to 0 Dexterity is permanently petrified, transformed
into inert, mindless coral. Break enchantment or restoration reverses all of the effects of this calcification. This ability can be used up to 7 times per day.
potions of cure moderate wounds (2)
Masterwork scale mail
Eel leather and coral war harness (worth 75 gp)
Deep platinum necklace worth 3,000 gp
Marnir takes little joy in ending the rest of the frenzied fishmen and is relieved when the water stops churning and the blood starts to clear. "How is everyone doing?" he asks, checking on Kung and Markizio after their grievous wounds.
Once he is satisfied that everyone is safe, he gathers up the four-armed fishman's belongings, taking care with the dangerous-looking trident, and readies himself to move off.
"Tridents and fishmen. May I never see one of them ever again. That was twice brought to kiss Besmara by a trident. Nasty weapons, especially once they get under your ribs."
He looks at the impressive trident, "Someone can keep this or we should break it!"
After his ranting, Markizio seeks out Ghilda for further healing, "If I still hold any sway in Besmara's eyes... Can you do anything for the stiffness I feel all over due to that cursed trident?"
He looked at his companions, "C'mon, we must be getting close to the end of this..."
-----------
HP 46/59
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18
Conditions:shield so AC=23, shocking burst, -3 DEX
Melee (+1 keen falcata): +9 = +1(magical) +5(base) +3(STR)
Melee Damage (+1 keen falcata): 1d8+4 = +1(weapon) +3 (str), 17-20, x3
4/6 arcane pool
Spell used: shield, magic missile
You pass through D19, which seems to have been unoccupied for some time now. Onto the next chamber, which shows much more for your greedy eyes.
D20.
Curtains of golden seaweed block either end of this room. A crudely chiseled dais sits against the back wall, supporting a stone throne of massive proportions. The throne’s eroded appearance, darkly stained stones, strange runes, and images of one-eyed beasts make it evident that it had sat in the slime at the bottom of the sea for long ages before being dragged up and placed here.
The western room was Krelloorts personal chambers, and holds his personal effects as well as a long iron bar, once the handle of a capstan.
Loot.
A gold-plated conch shell engraved with images of sea elves and hippocampi (worth 1,200 gp) that holds a selection of putrid fish and humanoid livers (a sahuagin delicacy).
A gilt tattooing kit that he uses on his slaves and concubines (worth 50 gp)
A burnished brass hand mirror (worth 20 gp).
In the seaweed bed there is also a gold Varisian music box (no longer functional) that holds the ivory image of a dancing harrower (worth 400
gp). Inscribed on the underside of the lid are the words “For my darling Isabella.”
There is a space under the throne, the throne must be moved to reach this space. DC30 strength check. Using the iron bar adds +10 to the Str check.
The massive stone throne is an artifact of the ancient cyclops empire of Ghol-Gan and can be identified as such with a DC 25 Knowledge (history) check. It was discovered at the bottom of the blue hole by the sahuagin.
Kung embraces his battle companions, pulling both Marnir and Markizio in for a huge hug. "Captain make good finish! As he lets go of the embrace, he winces, starting to feel the gravity of the wounds he's taken. He rips his shirt open a bit more to examine the wound underneath, and starts poking at the slightly calcified flesh with his finger. Following Markizio's lead, he too asks Ghilda for aid. "Kung not like this. Besmara have help?"
D20
Kung marvels at the sights in the sahaugin's throne chamber, drawn particularly to the throne. Completely enrapt in studying its ancient and eroded form, Kung fails to notice anything else of significance in the chamber. "What beast this?" he asks, pointing at one of the one-eyed carvings on the throne.
"Some fancy stuff for a four armed fish freak," Marnir remarks as he sorts through the assorted valuables. "We should grab this stuff now in case we have to make a swift exit."
Looking at the ancient and worn throne, Marnir spots a small gap underneath it.
"There's something else under this big chair," he says, grabbing the long iron bar to use as a lever. "Give me a hand to see if we can move it," he asks Kung and Markizio.
Kung swims up next to Marnir and attempts to push the throne out of the way.
The chamber hidden below the great throne is empty save for two chests. One is a iron-banded chest decorated with skulls that seems to have held up remarkably well considering its immersion in seawater. The other is a stone box with the image of a fish-headed demon carved onto its lid, whose seams appear to have been sealed by lead.
What are you doing now?
Jane watches the others push the throne. "So, this is the old throne of Ghol-Gan. He was the leader of an ancient cyclopsian empire. I hope none of them are around."
"These were surprisingly well hidden for fishmen," Marnir remarks. "Must be something of value in them, though I'd wager they're protected."
He looks around at Ghilda. "Are they magical?"
Ghilda tells you that the Iron banded chest with the skulls decorating it is very magic. The stone chest is not.
Ghilda She can't tell you what the chest is though, aside from the fact it bears strong conjuration magic.
In a small nook in the walls of the chamber is a oiled iron key that fits the Iron bound chest.
"Bad magic or good magic? I'd put money on bad magic," Marnir says, shaking his head. He looks carefully at both of the chests for any evidence of traps or magical protections.
Markizio gave up on his shirt and just tore the remaining rags off his chest. He swum over to the chest and examined it carefully.
He nodded, "Yeah, magical chest. We should take it up above and open it there. Are we through with these caves? Is this the famous treasure that we came seeking?"
----------
Louisiana Jane .
Between the three party members with Spellcraft you work out that this is actually the magical container known as a Captain's Locker.
Aura strong conjuration; CL 13th
Slot none; Price 30,000 gp; Weight 150 lbs.
This iron-banded sea chest is 2-1/2 feet by 3 feet by 4 feet in size
and is decorated with chains and brass skulls. The chest has no lock, but any standard lock can be easily attached to its hasp.
The interior of a captain’s locker functions similarly to a type IV
bag of holding, and can hold up to 2,500 pounds or a volume of 250 cubic feet. The chest’s weight remains the same, regardless of what it is holding. A captain’s locker does not rot or take any other damage from immersion in water and is watertight, even if opened underwater.
When a captain’s locker is placed within the hold of a ship or some other enclosed cargo-carrying vehicle (such as a freight wagon with a cargo box), the chest warps the dimensions of the cargo hold so that the area’s cargo capacity increases by 50% without changing the weight of the vehicle. The cargo area remains attached to the vehicle, however, so outside conditions that affect the vehicle can also affect the cargo hold. If the captain’s locker is removed from the cargo area while the
hold contains more cargo than it could contain on its own, any excess cargo is forcibly expelled through hatches or other means of egress, dealing 3d6 points of damage to anyone standing within 5 feet of the means of egress.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, mage’s magnificent
mansion, secret chest; Cost 15,000 gp
Louisiana Jane reports that the Stone chest is a trap, the whole thing is filled with a poisonous powder that will fill the water of the chamber if the lead seal is removed.
The Captain's locker isn't trapped, and with Markizio's aid Jane spots the small niche that holds the key for it.
Within is what is left of Cyrus Wolfe’s hoard, as well as the Sahagin tribe’s own treasures. Besides the variety of luxurious silks, fine furs, exotic spices, raw gold and silver ore, and other plundered pirate booty worth a total of 10 points of plunder, the treasures include a ship’s
figurehead called Besmara’s Bones, two fan feather tokens, slippers of spider climbing, an ornate crown with undersea motifs crafted of deep platinum worth 5,000 gp, and a jeweled box (worth 500 gp) containing assorted jewelry worth 2,500 gp, as well as 2,083 gp, 18,900 sp, and 25,050 cp.
Besmara’s Bones
Aura faint necromancy; CL 5th
Slot see text; Price 10,800 gp; Weight 300 lbs.
DESCRIPTION
Named for the goddess of piracy, strife, and sea monsters, this figurehead must be mounted on the prow of a ship to function.
Once per day, a ship carrying Besmara’s Bones can inflict a curse on an enemy ship struck with a successful ramming attack.
The target ship must succeed at a DC 14 Will save or its pilot takes
a –4 penalty on Profession (sailor) checks to control the ship.
In addition, the cursed ship can never gain the upper hand in ship-to-ship combat (Skull & Shackles Player’s Guide 9). The curse inflicted by the figurehead cannot be dispelled, but it can be removed with a break enchantment, limited wish, miracle, remove curse, or wish spell. In addition, once per day, Besmara’s Bones can be used to cast false life (CL 5th) on the captain of the ship carrying the figurehead. A ship may not have more than one figurehead, magical or otherwise, mounted on it at one time.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, bestow curse, false life;
Cost 5,400 gp
"Let's leave that one alone," Marnir says at Jane's statement. Opening the magical chest reveals a vast space, more vast than the chest itself, stuffed with valuables. Marnir's eyes widen at the bounty within. "Let's leave this here for now," he says with some reluctance. "I don't know how much longer we're going to be able to breathe down here, so we might have to clear out the rest of these warrens then come back for the loot."
Markizio had suggested that the chests be opened above but now that the Captain's Locker was opened he could only stare at it. More wealth than he has seen in his lifetime.
He just looked at his companions and grinned, a small bubble escaping his mouth.
"Kung, you think we can get these things up above? I can change into a gillman and help out that way."
Kung cocks his head when Marnir suggests coming back for the chest later. "Magic chest, less weight. See?" He swims up and easily hefts the chest, then swims to the chamber opening with little difficulty.