The dolphin attempts to hit the octopus holding it (nose punch? tail slap? whatever... lol)
Arhiel attempts to free herself from the weeds.
... and finds herself more and more entangled, sigh...
As the dolphin twists and shrieks, its muscular tail slaps the octopus that is grappling it hard, and the octopus, writhing, dissolves into a slurry of bubbles and seafoam. Jesal, moving like a fish through the water, swims down to Giffer and closes his eyes, reaching out to the aquatic ghouls chained to the bottom of the whirlpool. He feels them push and fight against his control. There, at the bottom of the whirling waters, Jesal pushes back and, though they snarl and snap and writhe in their mental contortions to try to escape, they are no match for the druid...and both come under his command.
Initiative
Alabaster, Edward, Isaac <----
Foes
Arhiel, Jesal
Lacedons HP: 13 each | AC/T/FF: 8/6/8 | Fort +2 Ref +2 Will +5 | CMD: 14 | channel resistance +2
Dolphin HP: 9
Edward swims as far as he can.
Alabaster swims down to Giffer and uses the power of Besmara to heal her, and then begins to cut her and Sandara free if he can.
Issac swims down at half his speed to try and aid in freeing Giffer and Sandara.
As the gang swims closer to Giffer, it becomes clear that she's in a bad way, indeed. The two undead wait, swaying in their manacles, eyeing Jesal with a malevolent glare.
Giffer, meanwhile, has clearly been badly injured both by the ghoul's bite and, presumably, the grindylows before that. Sandara is still conscious, though she's unmoving--her wide eyes, however, urge you toward Giffer. And you can see why--even now, the gnome is beginning to choke and spasm, her shallow breath drawing too much water into her lungs!
Initiative
Alabaster, Edward, Isaac
Foes (Delayed)
Arhiel, Jesal<----
Sandara HP: 4 (CON 10) | Rds. breath remaining: 13
Giffer HP: -6 (CON 11) | Rds. breath remaining: UNCONSCIOUS, DIES NEXT ROUND
Arhiel sends her dolphin to charge at the ghoul closest to Giffer.
Then she again tries to free herself from the weeds.
Jesal casts air bubble on Gifford and then reaches out to haul her and Sandara up.
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Arhiel finally manages to free herself from the entangling seaweed as her dolphin streaks through the water and bashes the ghoul in the shoulder. The undead turns toward the dolphin with a snarl. As it does so, though, Jesal closes his eyes and, concentrating hard, places his hand on Giffer's shoulder. A small bubble of air forms around the gnome's head, and you can see her draw in a ragged breath, coughing and choking. She's still in a bad way, though.
Initiative
Alabaster, Edward, Isaac<----
Foes
Arhiel, Jesal
Lacedons HP: Red 9, Yellow 13 | AC/T/FF: 8/6/8 | Fort +2 Ref +2 Will +5 | CMD: 14 | channel resistance +2
Dolphin HP: 9
Arhiel moves to get out ofthe range of the weeds... and heads towards the others to help with ladies.
the dolphin attempts to bash the same ghoul again.
Edward swims as best he can.
Alabaster, now close enough, reaches out to heal Giffer.
Edward leaps into the water, but is immediately dragged sideways into an uncontrolled submersion, tumbling around until he's fifteen feet below the surface!
Alabaster, meanwhile, keeping his place near Giffer, reaches out to her and calls on the power of Besmara. The gnome gasps as the many bite wounds and nasty gouges on her body close up, and her eyes open. Although you can't hear her, you can see her mouth move inside the bubble: Alabaster?
Isaac is close enough to Giffer. He smiles at her, glad to see that she'll be alright. He begins to aid her to the surface.
Alabaster nods, and then starts helping get Giffer and Sandara to the surface.
As Isaac and Alabaster begin to pull their companions toward the surface, Edward manages to right himself, and Jesal, moving easily through the waters like a fish, aids everyone in making the surface. Above, Arhiel helps everyone out of the water and onto the seaweed-strewn (but now quiescent) ledge. Everyone catches their breath and half-sits, half-collapses on the rock.
Sandara, breathing raggedly but regaining the use of her limbs, starts laughing shakily. "Besmara's sweet bones! I thought we were goners there fer sure! What in the name o' all the holies are you lot doin' here?! Don' tell me Plugg an' Scourge sent ye...damn, but it's so sweet to see a friendly face again." She smiles warmly at you all, despite her wounds.
Giffer, still wounded and having started off much more badly wounded than Sandara, is huddled on the floor next to Alabaster, her tiny frame racked with spasms as she chokes and coughs up the remaining seawater in her stomach and lungs. The sound echoes through the now strangely silent cavern, but you're all too relieved to have survived that fight to be perturbed by it.
On the floor, you find the rest of what seems to be Sandara and Giffers's gear, along with various scattered coins totaling 136 gp and 211 sp, an iron bracelet, a silver spearhead, and four remarkably well-preserved heavy crossbow bolts. Though the massive grindylow didn't carry any gear, the female did: in addition to the harpoon she never got the chance to throw, she carried a a white driftwood stick, a small glass vial filled with green liquid, and a lobster pot containing the following blades: two masterwork daggers, a masterwork silver dagger, a masterwork cold iron sickle, and a high-quality scrimshaw blade made of bone (more valuable as an objet d'art than a weapon).
Edward's pride is slightly hurt, failing that second swim check.
He always knew the straining feats were the other side of his social coin.
"What matters is that you two are alive.
Besides, i've got to use my magic hands now."
With a knowing smile, Edward casts CLW on Sandara.
"I've got something for you."
Edward hands Sandara her hat.
Isaac breathes as he breaches the service. He grabs his floating tricorne and gets back on land. He lays on the ground, panting and laughing in relief. With Giffer, he gently pats her back to help get the water out.
Isaac is then busy with getting his thrown dagger (quickly, mind you) and begin looting the cavern. When everything is gathered, he chuckles. "Quit' th' haul. An' we haven't be lookin' through th' entir' cavern." When Sandara asks about why they're there, Isaac says, "Th' ship be run agroun'. We be gettin' fresh wa'er an' explorin' th' isle. We definitely be comin' back after th' mutiny, which migh' be soon. Ther' be so much loot we haven't collected yet."
Alabaster pats Giffer's back as she coughs up the seawater, and sighs.
I be outta magic now. I used everythin' I had ta get us here. I wa'nt about ta lose me friends, fer sure.
His eyes turn dark and he spits the next few sentences.
An Scourge an' Plugg wa'nt even gonna send anyone ta find ye! Isaac, I think we need ta be seriously considerin' what needs ta be done... maybe even as soon as we get back on tha ship.
He raises to a sitting position, his back against the wall, and pulls Giffer against his side, sharing his body warmth with the injured gnome.
Isaac nods at Alabaster, a frown settling in. "I be agreein' wit' ye. Befor' we be explorin' th' isle, befor' we be collectin' th' treasur', we be restin' an' healin'. Then, com' mornin', we be gettin' th' wat'r, returnin' to th' ship, an' takin' o'er."
Giffer, breathing more steadily now, huddles against Alabaster, clearly grateful for the body warmth and the companionship. "Thank ye," she says weakly. "Thought that were th'end o' me fer sure."
Sandara smiles as Edward's magic heals her wounds. "Ah, that feels good. An' I agree wit' yer plan, Isaac--I'm sick o' livin' under Plugg and Scourge's thumb! Near-death experiences'll put yer priorities in perspective, me da used t'say."
When Edward tries to hand her her hat, she laughs. "Me hat! Never thought I'd see that again. But y'know..." she takes it and places it on his head. "I think it looks better on ye. Consider it a thank-ye from me t'you, for savin' the two of us. An' it's got a secret...if'n ye ever need a boat in a hurry, ye can get one by sayin' aloud, 'Hold me in thy bosom.'" She leans in and adds in an undertone to Edward, "T'the hat, not t'me."
She winks, then stands and dusts herself off. "Anyone find me holy symbol? If so, I'm ready to head on outta here. If I ne'er see a cave again, it'll be too soon."
"T'the hat, not t'me."
"Naturally..." [Playful look in his eyes]
----------
"Well then, this tricorne is telling me to tell us all to stay alive and take revenge on Plugg and Scourge.
Though i reckon we could all use the rest tonight, i don't know about you guys, but i'm out of my more useful arcane resources."
Arhiel nods to Edward and his new look.. "It suits you... and I too am pretty well tapped for magic for the day. "
"Dis one canna be hearin da call of da sea," Jesal agrees.
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Alabaster nods.
I be usin' e'rythin' tha Queen be givin' me, an' then some. I ain't wantin' ta piss 'er off an' ask fer anythin' more ta'day.
Isaac smiles at Sandara and pulls out her holy symbol. "It was still on th' ship. Also, I be managin' to find all yer gear."
Sandara nods firmly, taking her gear with a grin. "If that be the case, let's move ourselves on. But first..." She closes her eye and grips the obsidian holy symbol tightly. "Black Lady, we be about t'take ourselves a ship. It be ours already in spirit, I know, an' I'm sure you're none too 'appy with the current masters. So if it please yer mood, Black Lady, grant us the strength t'carry on--and we'll do ye a good turn when we get a chance, right enough." You all feel a wave of relaxing energy wash over you, like a luxurious saltwater bath as the Lady shows her favor to you.
Picking yourselves up, you all clamber back up the slick, seaweed-strewn slope and into the chamber in which the still-stinking corpse of the devilfish lies. Turning north--toward the chambers you've not yet explored--you advance cautiously on foot, passing through a narrow tunnel into yet another cavern. Seaweed fronds sway gently in the current of this broad cave, which is dominated by a pool fifteen feet deep.
Peeing ahead, as best he could, something catches Edward's attention.
"Watch out, over there. That grille looks unstable, likely to drop soon, we wouldn't want to be underneath it if it did."
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Isaac sighs in relief as his wounds begin to close. As they go through the devilfish chamber, Isaac makes sure to pick up the dagger he threw earlier.
Isaac sees the trap and nods as Edward points out the trap. "I be seein' it, too. I don't be haven' th' skill to disarm it. Stic' to th' walls."
Alabaster nods, and let's the rest of the group go first before he pulls up the rear, his pistol drawn.
Jesal follows the to be Captain.
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You creep forward, wading around the walls of the trapped cavern to evade the crushing iron grille, and make it into a long, rough dry series of chambers where you can walk with ease--the water barely covers these at all right now, though it must when the tide is all the way in. After a few chambers, you find yourself coming upon a narrow passageway into a cavern that has been carved to resemble the inside of some great sea creature, its ribs towering over and around the chamber. Isaac holds up a hand--ahead, you can dimly see a group of grindylows clustered in the chamber, chatting and generally looking in the direction of the cave entrance.
Unfortunately, one of them has noticed you just as you pause outside the chamber, and it shrieks something in Aquan! The others whirl to face you, snatching up spears from nearby or from their belts. Fortunately, they're all surprised, giving you the upper hand!
Initiative
Party<----
Friendlys
Foes
"Your Queen is dead. If you want to live, you'll stand down... leave this place and never come back... One of you can be new the leader and find a new place to call your home... never look back. Your choice... leave or die."
The grindylows, still scrambling to grab weapons, pause at Arhiel's words and look fearfully toward each other, as though unsure how to proceed...
Seeing them hesitate, Arhiel adds:
"This is a one time offer and expires quickly... make up your minds fast - leave this place or die."
Isaac translates Arhiel's words to those who don't speak Aquan. He then frowns at the grindylows. He says in Aquan, "You'll be abl' to walk away. We won't pursu' ye. We won't kill ye. Howe'er, if ye will aid us in an endeavor, ye may continu' to liv' here."
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"My friend here has altered the offer and I agree... If you aid us you may remain here and continue to call these cozy tunnels your home. What say you?"
The grindylows' eyes widen when they hear you speaking Aquan, and even more once they hear what Arhiel and Isaac have to say. Several of them begin muttering among themselves, too low for you to hear. As you watch, one of them cuffs another in impatience, and the cuffed one turns toward its companion with a shriek of rage, baring its needle-like teeth.
Isaac frowns as the grindylows bicker amongst each other. "They be only respectin' power." He approaches them and shouts in Aquan, "Enough! Yer Queen be dead! Th' larg' creatur' be dead! We be victorious here! We be offerin' ye a deal! If ye will aid us in a figh', then ye can keep these caves and yer home! If not..." He leaves the threat hanging in the air.