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"We haven't had a lot of time to explore. We visited some old cyclops ruins, but that's about it so far. We're preparing for a party, with some very important guests," he explains, before listening intently to Serafina's description of the island's dangers. His mind quickly goes blank, however, at her excited reaction to the prospect of songs and entertainment.
Construction has gone well while you've been travelling around. You have repaired and new buildings in the old fort. An expanded set of docks. You have the staff and the booze.
You have two weeks before the party is set to start, so clearing away some of the hazards on the island is probably a good idea.
Of note is the fact that the Cyclop's bought dinosaurs to the island, hoping to let them develop as a food source, with the demise of the Cyclopes the Dinosaurs are growing in number. Mostly herbivores, large and tasty. :)
Marnir manages to tear his eyes away from the excited neriad and turns back to his friends. "It sounds like we've still got some work to do to make this place safe. Let's keep following the path of our missing builders and see if we can work out what happened to them."
O. KELP FIELDS
Thick growths of kelp, seaweed, and other aquatic plants float beneath the water's surface here, choking the shoreline. The marine garden stretches nearly a mile in both directions.
While you look around for any sign of the missing men Marnir & Niobe both start walking out into the waters with a dazed look on their faces.
You both see what your heart desires the most waiting for you out in the bay.
Callidora & Kung you both notice a strong scent over the bay, one that makes your head swim but you shake it off.
What are you doing now?
"What's the glinting out there?" Marnir says, irresistibly drawn towards something he's spotted among the seaweed. He walks quickly across the soft sand. "Looks like gold!" he exclaims.
Shaking her head as the oddly cloying scent makes her dizzy for a moment, Callidora notices the dazed look on first Niobe's and then Marnir's face. "What? That smell I... there's something wrong."
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Niobe doesn't hesitate, she rushes toward the water and shifts into her native form, diving down and then rushing back to the surface. She pushes her wet hair back and then looks very puzzled as she looks back at the team on the shore.
"Callidora? How are you in both places at once?"
Kung is clearly confused by Marnir and Niobe's sudden actions. "Captain, there no gold in water, and Niobe, there only one Callidora... here!" He points to Callidora where she stands next to him on the beach.
But, Kung also knows that he's not always the brightest in the bunch, so he allows that maybe there is something in the water that he can't see. He cups his hands above his brow to block the sun and reflections, and peers out into the water where Marnir seems to be heading, to see if he can see the glint of gold that his captain sees.
Callidora frowns, clearly able to see the genuine confusion in Niobe's eyes.
"I think she's seeing me down there, as well and seeing me here is confusing.....and the captain's seeing gold in the water." she says quietly to Kung.
There was definitely some sort of either illusory of enchantment magic at play here.
"Kung's right Ni, it's me! I'm real, and I'm right here." she says in a soothing tone walking a few feet into the water.
Callidora wracks her mind and remembers hearing of a coastal predator that uses an hallucinogenic scent to draw it's victims to it.
A mass of kelp that moves slowly towards Niobe sparks her memory more fully.
Sargassum Fiend
This shifting mass of green seaweed transforms from the shape of
a humanoid back to a patch of algae, continually changing.
SARGASSUM FIEND
XP 6,400
N Large plant (aquatic)
Init +6; Senses blindsense 60 ft., tremorsense 120 ft.;
Perception +11
Aura mirage (300 ft., DC 18)
DEFENSE
AC 24, touch 12, flat-footed 21 (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, +12 natural,
–1 size)
hp 123 (13d8+65)
Fort +15, Ref +8, Will +4
DR 5/slashing; Immune plant traits; Resist cold 10
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 40 ft.
Melee 2 slams +16 (2d8+7 plus grab)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks constrict (2d8+10), grab (Huge)
STATISTICS
Str 25, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 15
Base Atk +9; CMB +17 (+25 grapple); CMD 30 (can’t be tripped)
Feats Dodge, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative,
Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Perception), Stealthy,
Weapon Focus (slam)
Skills Climb +19, Escape Artist +4, Perception +11, Stealth +7,
Swim +15
ECOLOGY
Environment any oceans
Organization solitary, pair, or bed (3–8)
Treasure incidental (1d6 sargassum fiend bulbs, other
treasure)
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Grab (Ex) A sargassum fiend can grab Huge or smaller foes, and has a +8 racial bonus on grapple checks rather than the normal +4 bonus most creatures with grab possess.
Mirage (Su) A sargassum fiend emits a powerful scent that causes specific, miragelike hallucinations. All creatures within 300 feet of a sargassum fiend must make a DC 18 Will save or become enraptured by the scent. An enraptured creature sees the monster as whatever would most compel it to approach. This might be a lost loved one, a child in need of help, an enchanting mermaid, the promise of dry land, and so on. The extent of this illusion functions as mirage arcana (CL equals the sargassum’s CR), but is a mindaffecting phantasm, not a glamer. This effect ends immediately if the plant makes an attack against any target. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Marnir & Niobe are still trapped in the mirage, the fiend is currently 40' from Niobe and slowing drifting closer.
What are you doing now?
"There is, look!" Marnir calls back to Kung, pointing ahead. It looks like a small coffer is part buried in the sand just off shore. He keeps walking towards the treasure. "I think I can see some arm rings," he says, surprised to see the traditional Ulfen items so far south. "Maybe there are others from Halfbjorn's crew still sailing these waters," he adds, suddenly realising how much he misses his people. He's so focused on reaching the gold that he doesn't hear Niobe and Cally's confusion and he splashes into the warm shallows as he heads for the pile of gold.
Callidora's eyes widen as she realizes what it is that affects them, her hand inadvertently going to her mouth as Niobe's words hit home.
"I have to stop this! Kung there's a monster in the water!" she says running forward and diving into the water, her shirt and saron vanishing as she shifts to her natural form, swimming to Niobe with a few powerful strokes and putting herself in between the deceptive creature and the unsuspecting druidess. As she comes up above the surface, the sea witch thrusts her hand forward, commanding the water to shove the mass of kelp back.
Callidora casts a powerful jet of water which strikes the mass of kelp, but does nothing to it.
Kung, what is your action?
"That?!?" Kung looks confused as he points to the bed of kelp, not quite sure what he's supposed to do against such a monster. But, his allies' actions all make it clear that indeed it is the kelp bed that they believe to be the threat.
He keeps his helm firmly in mind as he moves along the beach, activating it when he reaches the edge of the water. His pegleg begins digging a rhythmic pattern into the surf as he hurls a javelin into the water with power.
HP 22+120/120
AC 22 touch 13 flat-footed 18 (+8 armor, +4 dex, +1 natural, +1 deflection/ring, -2 rage)
DR 1/-
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +14, Ref: +14, Will: +9 (+2 rage)
Superstition: +7 vs spells & spell-like
Conditions: rage
Melee (+3 furious greatsword): +21/+13 (+10 BAB, +6 str, +3 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack, +2 rage)
Damage (+3 furious greatsword): 2d6+23 (+9 str, +3 enhancement, +9 power attack, +2 rage)
Ranged (javelin): +14 (+10 BAB, +4 dex)
Ranged damage (javelin): 1d6+8 (+6 str, +2 rage)
22/23 rds Rage remaining
Kung's javelin slams into the mass of seaweed with a solid thud, it lurches more upright, looking like a rough mockery of a human sculpted out of seaweed.
Shuffling towards Kung it raises one limb and slams it into him.
Kung is rocked by the blow and the mass of weed wraps around him tightly.
Marnir & Niobe. You are now both back to reality. The party may now act.
Niobe shakes her head and realizes what danger she is in.
"Captain! Don't get too close!" she says. "If it can move... it may tangle you up and drag you under!"
Then she shakes her head. "No, wait, I'm not thinking... here!"
She swims next to Marnir and places a hand on his arm while chanting a wave-like susurrus.
Marnir nearly lands on his backside as he stumbles away from the mass of seaweed that rises up from the surf, taking on the shape of a giant humanoid. He sees the creature wrap itself around Kung before feeling Niobe's spell wash over him, her aquatic magic clearing the water around his feet and solidifying the sand beneath his boots.
"Drakes, attack!" he roars, drawing his axe as he charges forward towards the seaweed giant. He starts up a war chant as he approaches the creature before slamming his axe into it's centre.
HP (123) 101/(123) 101
AC 24, touch 13, flat-footed 24 (+9 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 natural armour, -1 inspired rage)
Speed: 30ft
Fort: +14, Ref: +18, Will: +15 (+4 vs fear) (+2 Fort & +3 Will inspired rage)
Conditions: inspired rage, Battle Cry, freedom of movement
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +15/+10 (+8 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, -3 Power Attack, +2 inspired rage, +2 furious, +1 Battle Cry)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+24 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +3 Arcane Strike, +9 Power Attack, +3 inspired rage, +2 furious)
25/26 rds raging song remaining
Kung steps back as the monstrosity emerges from the water and begins approaching him; confusion and shock are both apparent on his face! As the kelp wraps its fronds around his arms and legs, his rage doesn't cease; in fact, it focuses his rage to ensure that his future attacks will strike more accurately. But, he still has to get free from this monster if he's going to effectively attack it. He struggles against the creature's strength, hoping to break free.
HP 4+120/120
AC 20 touch 11 flat-footed 18 (+8 armor, +2
CMD 27 (+10 BAB, +6 str, +2
DR 1/-
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +14, Ref: +12 (-2 grappled), Will: +9 (+2 rage)
Superstition: +7 vs spells & spell-like
Battle Cry: +4 morale vs fear
Conditions: rage, battle cry, accurate stance, grappled
CMB: +17 (+10 BAB, +6 str, +2 rage, +1 morale/battle cry, -2 grappled) +19 vs. grapple
Melee (+3 furious greatsword): +23/+15 (+10 BAB, +6 str, +3 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack, +2 rage, +1 morale/battle cry, +3 competence/accurate stance, -2 grappled)
Damage (+3 furious greatsword): 2d6+23 (+9 str, +3 enhancement, +9 power attack, +2 rage)
Ranged (javelin): +16 (+10 BAB, +2
Ranged damage (javelin): 1d6+8 (+6 str, +2 rage)
21/23 rds Rage remaining
Kung struggles against the thick binding holding him in place, but despite the weeds stretching is still grappled.
Marnir slogs over and swings mightily, his blow skidding off the thick covering of weeds.
Maintaining her distance, Callidora focuses on the seaweed monster, making a gesture with her hands as she curses the creature's luck.
The Plant shrugs off Callidora's hex.
it slams its free arm into Kung.
And then begins to crush him in it's grasp.
38 points damage to Kung
The party may now act.
Marnir sees a long arm-like mass of seaweed reach out towards Kung, slamming into the half-orc before wrapping around and crushing him. Seeing the peril his master-at-arms is in Marnir roars out his warchant and hacks away at the grasping appendage, trying to free his friend.
HP (123) 101/(123) 101
AC 24, touch 13, flat-footed 24 (+9 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 natural armour, -1 inspired rage)
Speed: 30ft
Fort: +14, Ref: +18, Will: +15 (+4 vs fear) (+2 Fort & +3 Will inspired rage)
Conditions: inspired rage, Battle Cry, freedom of movement
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +15/+10 (+8 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, -3 Power Attack, +2 inspired rage, +2 furious, +1 Battle Cry)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+24 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +3 Arcane Strike, +9 Power Attack, +3 inspired rage, +2 furious)
24/26 rds raging song remaining
Kung feels the tendrils of the kelp creatures constrict ever harder. Even with his prodigious strength, the barbarian feels like he'll probably never break free. He begins punching and grabbing at the thing with a spiked gauntlet, trying to free himself that way.
HP 89/120
AC 20 touch 11 flat-footed 18 (+8 armor, +2
CMD 27 (+10 BAB, +6 str, +2
DR 1/-
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +14, Ref: +12 (-2 grappled), Will: +9 (+2 rage)
Superstition: +7 vs spells & spell-like
Battle Cry: +4 morale vs fear
Conditions: rage, battle cry, accurate stance, grappled
CMB: +17 (+10 BAB, +6 str, +2 rage, +1 morale/battle cry, -2 grappled) +19 vs. grapple
Melee (+3 furious greatsword): +23/+15 (+10 BAB, +6 str, +3 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack, +2 rage, +1 morale/battle cry, +3 competence/accurate stance, -2 grappled)
Damage (+3 furious greatsword): 2d6+23 (+9 str, +3 enhancement, +9 power attack, +2 rage)
Melee (+1 spiked gauntlet): +21/+13 (+10 BAB, +6 str, +1 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack, +2 rage, +1 morale/battle cry, +3 competence/accurate stance, -2 grappled)
Damage (+1 spiked gauntlet): 1d4+15 (+6 str, +1 enhancement, +6 power attack, +2 rage)
Ranged (javelin): +16 (+10 BAB, +2
Ranged damage (javelin): 1d6+8 (+6 str, +2 rage)
20/23 rds Rage remaining
As they battle against the creature, Callidora calls out to Cioldryss. "Give him my aid!" she shouts, beginning to cast a spell. The little dragon glows, flying to where the barbarian punches and tears at the monster, and touching him with his tail as he flys by.
.
Niobe swims rapidly to the melee and touches both Marnir & Kung along with herself.
Marnir hacks into the mass of weed with one strike, the other thrown off by the unstable footing of the sea floor.
Kung slams his fists into the center of the thing, his blows finding the slippery weed hard to pierce.
The Sargassum fiend continues to crush Kung.
It also takes a step deeper into the water, dragging the bound Kung with it.
The party may now act.
After protecting her friends, Niobe dithers a moment. She can't use her big spells without hurting Kung too, after all.
She calls out a word of inspiration to aid Kung!
"Let him go you bastard!" Marnir roars as he hacks away at the seaweed beast, noticing Niobe's touch and the hardening of his skin between blows of his axe. His attacks become increasingly frenzied as Kung gets dragged into deeper water, desperate to save his friend.
HP (123) 101/(123) 101
AC 24, touch 13, flat-footed 24 (+9 armour, +1 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 natural armour, -1 inspired rage)
Speed: 30ft
Fort: +14, Ref: +18, Will: +15 (+4 vs fear) (+2 Fort & +3 Will inspired rage)
Conditions: inspired rage, Battle Cry, freedom of movement, DR 10/adamantine, fast healing 4
Melee attack (+1 furious battleaxe): +15/+10 (+8 BAB, +4 Str, +1 enhancement, -3 Power Attack, +2 inspired rage, +2 furious, +1 Battle Cry)
Melee Damage (+1 furious battleaxe): d8+24 (+6 Str, +1 enhancement, +3 Arcane Strike, +9 Power Attack, +3 inspired rage, +2 furious)
23/26 rds raging song remaining
Callidora chants rhythmically, putting all her will into a powerful spell that bombards the creature, hexing it's luck.
Kung struggles against the seaweed bonds entangling him, and can't tell friend from foe; he fights against both Callidora and Niobe's spells as if they were enemies!
He brushes off both spells, but something in Niobe's voice calls to him, inspiring him to fight even harder. He continues to bash at the kelp-beast with his spiked gauntlets, catching the seaweed tentacles in the spikes and trying to tear them loose.
HP 68/120
AC 20 touch 11 flat-footed 18 (+8 armor, +2
CMD 27 (+10 BAB, +6 str, +2
DR 1/-
Speed: 40 ft
Fort: +14, Ref: +12 (-2 grappled), Will: +9 (+2 rage)
Superstition: +7 vs spells & spell-like
Battle Cry: +4 morale vs fear
Conditions: rage, battle cry, accurate stance, grappled, inspiring word
CMB: +18 (+10 BAB, +6 str, +2 rage,
Melee (+3 furious greatsword): +24/+16 (+10 BAB, +6 str, +3 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack, +2 rage,
Damage (+3 furious greatsword): 2d6+23 (+9 str, +3 enhancement, +9 power attack, +2 rage)
Melee (+1 spiked gauntlet): +22/+14 (+10 BAB, +6 str, +1 enhancement, -0/-3 power attack, +2 rage,
Damage (+1 spiked gauntlet): 1d4+15 (+6 str, +1 enhancement, +6 power attack, +2 rage)
Ranged (javelin): +17 (+10 BAB, +2 +4 dex/grappled,
Ranged damage (javelin): 1d6+8 (+6 str, +2 rage)
19/23 rds Rage remaining
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The Sargassum fiend is simply shredded when Marnir & Kung get warmed up. Kung practically exploding it outwards from it's grasp on him.
Unfortunately a search turns up only the well picked bones of the missing men, drawn into the Fiends deadly embrace and quickly crushed.
Of the giant Octopus there is no sign?
What are you doing now?
Breathing a sigh of relief as they decimate the fiendish sea plant, Callidora pauses as her knowledge of the creature's effects catch up as her mind no longer has to worry about combat. The sea witch swims over to Niobe. "Ni, when you jumped into the water....you said you saw me there?"
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"Oh, uh... yeah, I... I guess it shows you images of things to try to get you to go out to it," says Niobe. "You're just my best friend, and the only person who I ever felt really understood me."
Callidora smiles, her expression one of both understanding and a wealth of affection. She knew that the Sargassum fiend enticed it's victims by letting them see what they desired most, and the implications of that, coupled with Niobe's reaction was only now settling in. "You're the only person who ever fully understood me either Ni, I missed you so much when you left....more than I ever thought possible." she replies quietly.
Capable of feeling Callidora's emotions through their empathic link, Cioldryss swoops over to the shore, giving the witch a moment, as she perches on a tree a bit back from the waterline. This looked like it could prove interesting.
Marnir walks back onto the beach with Kung, picking bits of seaweed off his axe. "Thanks for keeping that thing busy. It got into my head, I had no idea there was something like that lurking out there," he says with genuine warmth. "You probably saved me and Niobe."
"Maybe now's the time to go and look for that shipwreck Serafina mentioned," he suggests once the group has reformed.
Kung laughs at Marnir's comment. "Keep busy, yeah, that what Kung doing." He looks over towards Niobe and Callidora, and gets a sense that their conversation carries an unusual weight. "What that? They OK?" he asks his captain with a whisper.
"I'm not sure, sounds private," Marnir replies, keeping his voice low. "Looks like they've got something personal going on," he adds, unwilling to get too involved in his crew's personal affairs.
It is a short trip further on until you reach the site mentioned by the Neriad.
P. SHIPWRECK
A mess of driftwood lies scattered and broken on these rocky shoals, continually battered by the crashing waves. Seabirds roost among them, their calls eddying upon the wind.
What are you doing now?
"Maybe now's the time to go for a swim," Marnir suggests, having missed out on the opportunity when Serafina appeared. "Who knows what's in the lockbox that Serafina said is down there?" he muses.
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Niobe's head droops and she says quietly, "I had never expected to see you again. I thought I'd left behind all our kind, that I'd forever be among the landwalkers now. I can't put words to how much it means to me that you came - that you are here too."
It seems their mutual appreciation society conversation may carry on for a while.
Seeing the captain and the big orc heading to the shipwreck and talking about going under, the dragon gets the witch's attention for a moment. Odds are this would give the mermaids time to sort their feelings or whatever it was they were doing. "Callidora, a moment! Your Captain is going under."
Turning to look for a moment, the seawitch nods, uttering the words to a spell in the soft slow, rolling language of aquan, a glow emanating on her hand and enveloping Cioldryss. She turns back to Niobe as the little dragon flies over to Marnir to deliver the spell.
She reaches out to touch Niobe's face, lifting her chin to look her in the eyes. "I...I had to... once I mustered up the courage to leave, I had to see if I could find you....if only to know that you were okay. I was so alone."
Kung stands with Marnir looking into the water, imagining that he might be able to see the shipwreck here from shore. Bruises bloom over his body from the kelp monster's constriction, though he seems to make no complaint about what must be multitudes of aches.
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Niobe gladly hugs her friend tight and says, "We can be anchors for each other." She bumps her forehead against Callidora's, but then the moment passes and she says, "Oh! Our friends! We still have work to do."
She clears her throat and blushes slightly, then says, "Kung, here, let me take away the sting of those kelp strands."
This site marks the resting place of the Sea Sparrow, a Sargavan merchant ship drawn into the shoals during one of Bikendi's raids. Pieces of the Sea Sparrow lie 40 feet below the water where the ship sank after taking a battering from the violent sea.
The pirates missed the strongbox hidden in the Sea Sparrow's hold. When you dive to explore the wreck.
You discover the strongbox. The chest is locked but Kung easily opens it.
Loot:
Cutlass +1 (Keen),
A watertight scroll tube containing a scroll of Transmute rock to mud and two scrolls of water breathing,
A jeweled scepter worth 300 gp,
A coral statuette worth 125 gp,
Nine diamonds worth 100 gp each,
380 gp, 769 sp, and 43 cp.
What are you doing now?
"This is a nice bonus... what else are we looking for, cap'n?"
Smiling warmly, Callidora nods. They could talk more later. Once Niobe heals Kung's wounds, she joins the others in swimming down to investigate, delighting in the found treasure. "At least it's unlikely anything else has inhabited this area, between the undisturbed chest and that kelp-beast."
"That's a nice little haul," Marnir says, still unused to the sensation of talking underwater. "I don't know what we're looking for, but there might be something else interesting down here. We'd better stick together though, in case there's more seaweed beasts," he adds with a shudder.
"Pretty lady mention other dangers on island. Maybe we find those and clear them out before big party-party?"