"A harpoon? Where are you going with this Breach?"
With a wry grin and a wink, Breach responds,"I've lost ma axe and ma shield. How else am I s'pposed to get more aboleth skin for the handle of my next weapon, Jason?"
With a wry grin and a wink, Breach responds,"I've lost ma axe and ma shield. How else am I s'pposed to get more aboleth skin for the handle of my next weapon, Jason?"
Jason just smiles and shakes his head.
"Crazy old coot," he mutters to himself under his breath.
Unless my math is wrong, which is quite possible, we won't have enough air to get to my next spell replenishment, but should be through the gate before that time assuming we don't all drown first. So my getting more spells might not be necessary.
It's certainly possible. You're probably assuming Donkor prayed at 12:000 and Hal at dawn though. The actual gap could be better (or worse).
As to whether you'll reach the gate there before Hal's spell expire, I suspect you're going by the range estimate Faren gave Donkor before he prayed. If he's right, you're right, maybe with even a little time to spare. But did you factor in the stop time, including two separate prayer sessions? Also, do give yourself some time to engage Deca-Jaws, though admittedly most combats don't work out to much more than seconds of game time.
One thing I noticed looking at Hal's character was that he had taken Water Breathing for level 3 and for level 4. I didn't realize we could fill a higher level slot with a lower level spell. ack! Ah well.
I thought that was very clever of him - most people, myself included, rarely take advantage of this.
I suppose Donkor will also ask Orchid and Untranslatable if there are any other sources of air around before he starts volunteering to be left behind. :)
There's nothing here, out in the open water, that they can think of. They assumed this was under control when you guys said goodbye to Schmoosh.
Already concerned, they have now clued in that their passengers are poised to drown. Orchid is distraught. Faren seems more annoyed - probably because you've gone and upset Orchid. Orchid's plan is stop talking and get moving. She wants to try to tax the Vonovoxen to move even faster.
The dying monk staggered forward through the desert. He had convinced himself that if he could just make it over the next rise, he might somehow live. Although it was madness, it was the madness of a survivor.
His partner, however, no longer had such delusions. Although he trudged one foot in front of the other, the spark had long left his eyes and he was unlikely to make it over the hill.
Crunch! A wineskin plopped right in front of the first monk’s feet, landing in the soft sand. No doubt a mirage, but the monk decided to enjoy it none the less. He had been begging for a mirage for the last several hours, but none had come. By this point he had figured such glorious illusions were just tales.
But the wineskin was real. He greedily pulled the leather to his mouth and clumsily popped open the cap. It was water alright – cool liquid life. He drank and drank some more, willfully blind to his comrade struggling to reach his side for a share.
“Relax,” called a voice from the top of the rise. “I have one for you too.” A second canteen was thrown down the rise at the feet of the second monk. “Drink up, then we’ll have a talk. You’re just lucky I decided to follow you. Mercy’s not really my thing.”
“Who are you?” the first monk managed with a cough as he clutched his new-found treasure. He could barely see his savior. Whoever it was, the newcomer had decided to position himself so that the sun would be directly in their eyes while he held the high ground. The monk also had a distinct sensation that a weapon was trained upon him, expertly so.
“I’m the guy giving you water,” was the answer. Then after the monks grabbed a few more gulps the newcomer added, “I’m tracking the same two men you are, only competently.”
The monks stared, unsure what to do with this information other than to continue to drink.
The stranger continued. “I’m after the heads of Professor Hoffenburrow and Hurgah the so called Reaver. Earlier this morning, I watched them slip through your fingers. What I don’t know yet is whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing or even how the professor managed to get back here ahead of schedule without my knowing. For now though, I need to know who you people are and what’s going on at the dig site back there. You fill me in and I have more water for you – maybe we can even reach an understanding about where we go from here. If you don’t, I choose between leaving you out here to die, or shooting you for sport. Then I take care of that dividing pig-dog thing – what’s the deal with that?”
The monks just stood there, totally unsure of what to make of this development and the sun-shielded stranger.
“But really, please, take your time. It’s not like Hoffenburrow and his bodyguard are getting away.”
"Karek you may need to strongly consider how brave bunky must be. I do not relish the thought of losing any one of us but we will need to be at full strength of get past much less defeat Deca-jaws. My most powerful spells will have been expended keeping us alive by the time we arrive to confront the creature. One less of us will give the rest of us one more hour to breathe. Donkor will four or five hours be enough time for you to pray to Pharasma and regain more Water Breathing spells? If not we are doomed in any case".
"So pass the short straw to the badger? No draw for him, eh?"
"Too bad my powers don't include haste - I'd love to soup up the Vonovoxen and just get us there faster."
"I could try using slow on all of us. Maybe if we were slowed we'd breath slower and use less air. Not sure that would work though, I imagine Hal's spell simply ends when it ends, regardless of how much air you have used."
"If times of the essence, why don't we have this discussion while the Vonovoxen is moving. Gandel and I can relay messages to keep us in communication while it swims."
"I am going be quite upset ifin' I don't get the chance to even use this thing." he says patting the carapace like short sword on his side.
If you are inclined to try your luck burning more spells, monster summoning III will get you 1d3 small elementals (more checks), whereas a monster summoning IV gets you a Medium elemental with Knowledge of +2 or 1d4+1 small elementals
Drat! These Paizo dice rollers are brutal.
Well, I'll give the Summon III a try.
Moonpate decides he has no choice but to interview more earth elementals. He reaches deeper into his reserves of magic:
This time two elementals heed his call. Moonpate quickly questions the two clan brothers in the guttural mystical language that passes for the creatures’ tongue.
This time the wizard has more success. While the brothers fail to comprehend why Moonpate would want to travel to such a place they confirm there is indeed such a forbidden locale.
The elementals’ alien directions loosely translate as set out below. It requires quite a bit of deciphering as many of the landmarks they refer to are below ground, referring to sedimentary layers or subterranean markers you cannot see.
There message relayed, the brothers crumble away back into the elements that spawned them.
Ah! I see from prior posts, I actually do have instructions so I can advance the Hurgentate.
Moonpate and Hurgah follow the directions from the two brothers as best they can, still making their way on their powerful eldritch horses.
Despite the fact that Hurgah can’t see a thing from the sky, he apparently is pretty solid at distinguishing different granules of sand, guiding them closer to their goal. And for his part, Moonpate has been holding out, he's able to correctly identify the Heavenscape and skillfully adjust their course.
A few hours later Moongah spots shoots of green protruding from the sand, punctuated by the occasional desert flower. A short while later, they finish tracing the slope and find water. A crystalline pool with a sandy beach stands before them. A few groves of stubby palm trees mark the water’s edge. It has been many weeks since the last rain, you can tell the water’s level has receded. If anything, it is surprising it hasn’t evaporated entirely—the desert heat here is as exceptional as it has been throughout your journey.
The oasis is immediately suspicious. There is almost nothing here. A pool of water in a cruel desert of this size should be densely populated. There should be tracks and birds overhead. There is none of that.
There is also no sign of the rest of the Dune Squad.
You know what? I don’t think we need to be “Behind Enemy Lines” anymore. Thank you for humoring me.
"Very well, then let us allow Bunky to draw straws if that is how you feel Jason I am sure Karek would agree with you. Hopefully the Gods will be with us".
The oasis is immediately suspicious. There is almost nothing here. A pool of water in a cruel desert of this size should be densely populated. There should be tracks and birds overhead. There is none of that.
There is also no sign of the rest of the Dune Squad.
Awesome, we made it! Now what...Moonpate will cast his Mage Armor and mull over their options, keeping away from the waters edge for now.
"Very well, then let us allow Bunky to draw straws if that is how you feel Jason I am sure Karek would agree with you. Hopefully the Gods will be with us".
"Hey, I'm just cracking jokes to release the tension, my friend. I don't think badgers actually can draw straws."
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"Still you make a good point. I do not wish to condemn Bunky to death but an hour could mean the difference between life and death. On top of that we will need all the aid we can get against our foe. Remember this is the easy part of our journey".
Awesome, we made it!
Congrats - that turned out to be a very successful mini-mission for the two of you.
Now what...Moonpate will cast his Mage Armor and mull over their options, keeping away from the waters edge for now.
Good question.
Ideally, I'll want to know Moonpate and Hurgah's plan here before the posts start revealing what's happening on the other side (or happened - the time has been deliberately kept rather fuzzy). Otherwise the temptation to spontaneously metagame could become very strong.
"Still you make a good point. I do not wish to condemn Bunky to death but an hour could mean the difference between life and death. On top of that we will need all the aid we can get against our foe. Remember this is the easy part of our journey".
"We are just talking about a fuzz ball, right? I mean, if we have to, I'll buy him a new one. Heck, we get out of this, I'll buy him a whole pack of em. Maybe get him a bag of tricks and he can draw 10 new weasels a week. How about. . ."
Belleson sees Karek's death glare and abruptly stops. Then he sheepishly adds:
"Of course, that's a totally unacceptable way of looking at it."
And then:
"Hey! I did say, I was cracking jokes."
The dwarf settles into a thoughtful comptemplation. The idea he would never see the Five King Mountains again or the feel the wamth of the forge weighed heavy on his soul, but the idea of not offering to stay behind was all the worse. Of all the Dune Squad he realizes he is likely the most hardy and prepared for the demands of the depths.
"Faren.....you wouldn't happen to know where I can get my hands on a dose of aboleth slime. If you can keep me in this realm...permanently, I can fight for your glorious A'viss and my friends will have the resources necessary to make their escape attempt. I have made many enemies in my days and these dark creatures are most certainly amongst them. Perhaps a wish or some sort of spell to make my ability to survive in this plane permanent.....
The dwarf settles into a thoughtful contemplation. The idea he would never see the Five King Mountains again or the feel the warmth of the forge weighed heavy on his soul, but the idea of not offering to stay behind was all the worse. Of all the Dune Squad he realizes he is likely the most hardy and prepared for the demands of the depths.
Faren dismisses the elder dwarf’s idea out of hand. The message comes back to Breach, relayed through Jason’s message spell as the Vonovoxen swims furiously.
“Listen, A’Viss is doomed,” he answers sharply. “A one-eyed dwarf with a death wish is not going to change that - all we can do now is try to save what knowledge the great city has, before it's lost forever.”
“And we’re not that kind of genie – there’s no wishes with common folk like us. So don't start rubbing a lamp and getting ideas.”
----------
On hearing Breach's offer of self-sacrifice, Jason gets a little misty, but quickly covers it over:
"Forget it, old man. I'm not leaving anyone behind this time."
"Besides, I need you well in front of me when we face that hydra!"
Karek's words become silky and dangerous - at least to Jason, who I suppose is communicating his messages.
Ye'd save'n 'our by senden ov one ov us? 'Ow 'boud doo?
"So be it then, Faren." he says in the resolute tone of a hardened veteren.
Karek repeats himself. 'Ow much dime do ye sabe iv ye hab do casd yer spell on fibe? In his hard-to-understand words, you do not miss the building of the years of pent-up rage against spellcasters of all stripes.
Bunky came do me seekin' savedy. I will nod send'im 'way now. Iv ye won'd helb'im, Morgrym, den I hab no use fer yer accursed magic. Karek spits the last word like a venom.
"You would sacrifice all of us for Bunky? What if our death leads to whatever evil is buried at the dig site being loosed upon the world?" is Hal's calm response in the face of Karek's hostility.
Jason fires his message spells back and forth trying to keep everyone up to speed as Karek and Hal grapple with the gravity of the situation.
"Well whoever the recipients are going to be, I think we're going to need that next casting soon. The water's starting to feel a might stuffy again. There isn't much time!"
I lose sleep knowing that this is undoubtedly true.
And ye'd sacrivice Bunky fer one measly 'our. D'ear our 'osd dell id, dad 'our won'd eben ged us dere. Ye don'd have do bring Bunky. Jes leave me oud, doo.
"I am proposing a solution to a possible dilemma. An hour less of air is not exactly one measly hour Karek it is possibly the difference between life and death, for all of us. Times like these lead to difficult choices. I want everyone to know that by extending the spell to one more recipient we may all die. I don't want to have to make that choice without input from all of you. If we can't reach a consensus I will make the call myself".
The debate rages over the message lines of Gandel and Jason. No doubt if circumstances were different, there would be some very dramatic body language at hand.
As is, however, Karek can only simmer and growl. Yer brobosin' dad I see my vriend die. Ye hab my inbud. Breach? Sooron? Drabsbringer? Do you stand wi'dis baragon ov good?
"Master Sooron? Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you communed with the Lady of Graves in A'Viss, Her divine guidance was: 'The Last Oasis of Tumen will salvage the separate goals of the Shar of Kren, the Ab Scar and the Grym of Mor, but the Deca-Jaws will also deliver at least one among you to the bone yard', was it not?" Gandel asks slowly, pondering the priest's words of prophecy as he strokes the stubble on his chin before continuing.
"So the Lady Herself has foreseen that we will survive long enough to reach the Oasis and Deca-Jaws. Ergo, logic dictates that our water-breathing spells will last long enough for us to reach our destination even if we include all seven of us in the castings," the halfling adds, with a respectful nod toward Karek and Bunky.
"The Goddess of Prophecy Herself has promised it!" the diminutive scholar concludes with a beaming smile.
"Well then. That is three votes for Bunky, me, Karek, and Gandel and no votes against him. Based on Breach's feelings I think we know he is voting for Bunky too. Very well we all make it out alive or none at all". Hal casts his second to last water breathing spell including the spunky Bunky.
OOC:
True, but still I thought it was pretty clever way to attempt to analyze the situation.
I suppose a Golarion-phile would point out that prophesy has failed following the death of Aroden, or the cautionary text in the divination spell, but it's still Pharasma dag nab it.
Thank you though for reminding me of what needs to be done to protect her honor. Deca-Jaws has some work to do.
. . . "Very well we all make it out alive or none at all". Hal casts his second to last water breathing spell including the spunky Bunky.
Belleson relaxes as the dense water suddenly becomes easier to breath once more. He fires off another message spell to indicate his appreciation, adding:
"I guess Bunky weaseled out of this one.”
The minutes tick by for what seems like far too long. Hal's final comment of “none at all” weighs heavily on the Dune Squad’s mind.
How long has it been?
How far have you travelled?
What if the gate isn’t even there anymore?
The message spells gradually slow to a trickle as the Dune Squad is left to their own thoughts. . .
Hurgah sits in the hot sand, watching the oasis...
Suddenly, he feels a slight rumble in the pit of his belly. Not really hunger, just a craving for a small snack....some kind of small, furry animal perhaps.
Out of hand, he dismisses the thought....what are the chances that a small furry animal should happen by within the next few hours, out here in the middle of the sand...but still...nom, nom.
Ha! Perhaps the SBS should not disband just yet.
I'm going to take it that the Hurgentate's plan is to watch the oasis and react accordingly, if and when anything happens.
Absent activity, there's no plan to otherwise enter or explore the water. I'll have you guys resting 30 feet from the water's edge.
----------
Suddenly Orchid rises higher in her seat, pointing directly ahead, as her unnaturally long ponytail snakes behind her in the Vonovoxen’s wake.
“It’s the gate!” she says, “We’re almost there!”
The Dune Squad, however, cannot see anything from their positions lashed to the creature’s wings. You can only hope Orchid’s eyes are better adapted to these waters.
A few minutes later and you’re pretty sure you’ve reached the Oasis Gate – or at least what’s left of it.
The Vonovoxen comes to a halt. Orchid and Faren are already swimming out of their seats to get a better look.
In the distance, a few hundred feet away, you can see an unnatural looking rift. It looks like a scar suspended in the water. Although it seems to somehow be immune to the force of the various competing currents, it does not seem to be attached or connected to anything.
At the same time, the rift is slowly twisting on its own axis, as though it were alive. Its pattern of rotation appears to be rather random. First it twists end over end, then it slowly moves clockwise, turning in on itself. Then it begins to rotate at a new angle altogether.
There is though, no sign a giant sea monster worthy of the name Dec-Jaws. There is a dark reef a few hundred feet or so below with dozens of tendrils of sharp coral. No doubt, a lot of ugly could be hiding in that abyss. There’s also the possibility that the creature is simply on the other side of the “Oasis Gate”. After all, you certainly don’t see any oasis here.
The return to your world beckons. You have made it this far.
“Alright everyone. This is as far as the Vonovoxen goes. I can’t risk bringing him any closer to Deca-Jaws. It’s time for Orchid and I to return to A’Viss to finish our work while we still can.”
“If you can get through that rift, you’ll find yourselves back in Osirion’s desert. Home sweet home. Just remember, whoever you might talk to, don’t tell anyone we were transporting ‘The Sooron’ – it would be a might hard for us to explain.”
Suddenly reflective, Faren adds:
“You are interesting people, o’ aquatic dwarves, I hope our paths will cross again one day.”
In a world of Sh!&
Turning to Faren the seasoned warrior smiles a rather devious smile and says,"I got a bone to pick with them nasties, friend. Don't be surprised if one day a group dwarves in strange helms come calling in this realm." Returning his attention to the task at hand Breach looks to his friends and says,"I have a plan...."
Hal dismounts or unthethers, whichever one is more dignified and swims towards Faren and Orchid.
"Thank you for the sacrifice you have made to your work for us. I will pray that Angradd bless you in the dangers you are about to return to".
Hal turns to Breach. "A plan eh? Good. I have some tactics which rely on my magic that I want to fold into your plan". Hal practically shivers with excitement to finally face something...
“Alright everyone. This is as far as the Vonovoxen goes. I can’t risk bringing him any closer to Deca-Jaws. It’s time for Orchid and I to return to A’Viss to finish our work while we still can.”
“If you can get through that rift, you’ll find yourselves back in Osirion’s desert. Home sweet home. Just remember, whoever you might talk to, don’t tell anyone we were transporting ‘The Sooron’ – it would be a might hard for us to explain.”
Suddenly reflective, Faren adds:
“You are interesting people, o’ aquatic dwarves, I hope our paths will cross again one day.”
"The Sooron? Seriously, never heard of the guy until a few short hours ago. Is there anything we need to do to trigger the gate?"
Donkor additionally thanks their companions for the help and transport, and listens attentively to the dwarvish plans.
Hurgah sits in the hot sand, watching the oasis...
Suddenly, he feels a slight rumble in the pit of his belly. Not really hunger, just a craving for a small snack....some kind of small, furry animal perhaps.
Moonpate plops down next to Hurgah, his own stomach's rumblings joining the chorus. He looks aimlessly around at the forlorn surroundings and wonders what they can possibly do should their friends materialize in the midst of this cursed place with a terrible ten-jawed beast ready to feast on them all.
"Friend Hurgah, this is indeed a sorry excuse for an oasis, one that would not play host to any gen's conclave. According to wee Schmoosh, though, this here be the lair of some foul Deca-Jaws, no doubt swimming in yonder pool waiting to make chowder of our friends and us. <rumble, rumble> We will need to act fast if there be any hope of savin' us all, though I du know what we can possibly do. I can summon a fierce water elemental, or some sharks, maybe a pair of killer octopi, or even a swarm of tasty shrimp perhaps to tempt its ten jaws." <rumble, rumble>
Moonpate rubs his big belly and looks at the large sack containing their friends gear.
"Gads, I hate waiting to eat, or in our probable case, to be eaten. Maybe we should take stock of our friends gear an' see if their be any weapons or such we could use. Maybe that blasted traitor left behind something useful, or at least tasty."
He then lets his hungry eyes linger for a dazed bit on their summoned mounts when suddenly a crazy idea pops into his prodigious head.
"Hurgah, what if we can lure this Deca-Jaws on to the shore with some bait and then slay the foul beast ourselves, like that pair of ancient heroes Soof and Zan-al Zweeb, the Sand Craw Slayers of Katapesh!"
Once the nightmare ride finally comes to an end, Karek tears through the straps connecting him to the Vonovoxen, still shaking with rage and fear over a reliance on something he does not want or understand. He takes Bunky from his pack and talks gently to him in a low, rumbling language, before putting him away again.
He bows respectfully towards Faren and Orchid, or at least as respectfully as awkward aquatic dwarf who knows nothing of the rules of nobility can muster.
Danky, Varen. Orchid. Iv ye need m'serbices, I'm in yer ded. Iv we survive, dad is.
Karek grasps his longspear, and turns towards the rift, letting Breach's plan float through his mind. No more than a suggestion. His muscles are tense, but he seems to grow more serene as the chance for death and glory in battle against a true foe grow near.
"Alright, boys. Here was what I got. When I was searching for gear in A'Viss, I found this beaut' when I was in a house with an aquatic garden of some sort." he says pulling the squid shaped back in front him. "We will need to make a break rift as soon as possible. The longer we lurk here, the longer the Deca-Jaws has to prepare its attack. We will need to move as one as quickly as possible to gate. I will swim in the middle and once we are within a sprint distance I will turn this bag on full blast. One its functions is to fertilize large swaths of land, but underwater it should produce a silty cloud providing us concealment when viewed from below if I aim it down or all around if I swing it around a bit. A bit ironic that it is in the form of a squid and all, but it seems to fit. I really don't much more a plan than that, but from what Gandel has told us, I assume a break for it is likely our best defense. Any thoughts?"
Gandel graciously thanks Orchid and Faren for all of their help, wishing them well on their dangerous mission back to A'Viss, and promising to treat them to an extravagant meal if they ever venture to Absalom or Sothis (that is, if the halfling scholar survives long enough to return to either city, of course).
Breach's plan penetrates Karek's concentration, and he turns to stare at the elder Dwarf.
Druly, I hab med no Dwarv wid yer cunnin', Breach Shaddershield. Dell me, Drabsbringer, how is d'ydra's sense o' smell?
"The Sooron? Seriously, never heard of the guy until a few short hours ago. Is there anything we need to do to trigger the gate?"
No, just swim through it - I'm fairly certain there will be water on the other side, but it will be your water - water from your home world I mean - water from our home, I mean.
----------
The Janni accept the individual thanks from the Dune Squad as they prepare for their return trip. Orchid, however, has one last gesture.
"Before we go, there might a small boon we can offer."
I know from my travels that mortals like you are normally born very tiny and then grow to a certain size. From there you will then hold that state for most of your lives.
Our people do not quite have such a concept of size and growth over time. Though there are limits, we exist as big or small as we need to be, changing our size with the season, the temperature or even our temperament. It is our proportions that we are born with.
Some of our tribe with particular talent, such as Faren, can share this gift with mortals. If you think it would help to be larger or smaller, we could provide you with such a change – though the transformation would only be temporary.
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"So!" says Jason looking around, "We going with the poop plan?"
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