Male CG gnome ranger (trapper) 3 | HP 25/25 | AC 18 T 14 FF 15 | CMB +2, CMD 15 | F: +4, R: +6, W: +3 | Init: +7 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 20 ft | Dancing Lights: 1/1, Ghost Sound: 1/1, Prestidigitation: 1/1, Speak with Animals: 1/1 | Active conditions: None.
Hal motions ahead of them and says, "Watch out for--Ack!" His arms wildly flail in a pinwheel pattern as the gnome is thrown from the ship into the water.
Swim:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Hal has little trouble staying afloat and begins looking around for the beat place to climb out of the water, to make him less of a potential target.
Can I swim over to the rocks to our right and climb onto them? If not, what about that sandy spot to the left, behind the boat?
You can Hal. You will still be in range of the creature.
Taariik: No resistances, No immunites, no special defenses
Leeda expresses a lack of interest in swimming and begins to encourage her companions.
Altorin draws in an icy ball and launches it...connecting soundly with the creatures head. A large welt appears suddenly as blood trickles from its eye.
Hoping against hope to avoid drowning, Hal doggy paddles frantically away from the boat. Securing his feet on some rocks near the surface, he hoists his head above the waves.
The large water creature dives just below the boat as it swiftly swims forward. Lashing out at Balin, it gums the dwarf with it's powerful maw.
F Ifrit Arcane Duelist-1 | HP 10/10 | AC16 T11 FF15 | F+2 R+3 W+1 CMD14 | Init:+5 Percept+3, darkvision 60' | Performances: 4/6 | Current effects:
Leeda tries to stab the seahorse with her sword when it swims by the boat.
inspire courage continues with lingering performance, swift action arcane strike, attack longsword:1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9damage:1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 6
But she has enough trouble just staying in the boat, let alone trying to skewer the creature.
Male CG gnome ranger (trapper) 3 | HP 25/25 | AC 18 T 14 FF 15 | CMB +2, CMD 15 | F: +4, R: +6, W: +3 | Init: +7 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 20 ft | Dancing Lights: 1/1, Ghost Sound: 1/1, Prestidigitation: 1/1, Speak with Animals: 1/1 | Active conditions: None.
Hal climbs up onto the rocks, muttering, "I'm a gnome, for heaven's sake, not a dwarf..." He turns just in time to see Altorin blast the creature. "What are you doing?" he shouts. "We aren't even sure it was hostile..." He frowns as it bites Balin. "Well, you gone and pissed it off now."
He tosses a rope out to Balin to drag him over to the rocks, as it becomes clear he is having trouble swimming in the water. As Hal does so, he calls out, "The rider on the side of the creature is injured. I think you guys are over-reacting here!"
Question for GM:
Does the "severe head wound" on the rider look like maybe we banged him in the head with the boat? Is this a reasonable interpretation? Or is it clearly a wound from something else?
Reasonable that it was from 'blunt force trauma' I would say. Beyond that with this being Society, I would have to get a heal check as a standard to give more.
At this point with the information shared and how the creature is acting, I can allow a Sense Motive check from all that wish to take one
Hal climbs up onto the rocks, muttering, "I'm a gnome, for heaven's sake, not a dwarf..." He turns just in time to see Altorin blast the creature. "What are you doing?" he shouts. "We aren't even sure it was hostile..." He frowns as it bites Balin. "Well, you gone and pissed it off now."
He tosses a rope out to Balin to drag him over to the rocks, as it becomes clear he is having trouble swimming in the water. As Hal does so, he calls out, "The rider on the side of the creature is injured. I think you guys are over-reacting here!"
** spoiler omitted **
I was going off of this:
Post wrote:
Thrown off balance, your two dwarven companions topple overboard!
Taarik quickly summons an eagle over the swimming creature. Lashing out, it catches the hippocampus with a single talon, cutting it's hide.
Splashing about in the water, Balin barely manages to grab ahold of the rope tossed to him by Hal, who pulls him to safety against the currents.
Leeda swings a large blade, missing the beast by mere inches as Altorin hangs back. Assessing the creatures actions, all consider it's non-lethal nibble a bit odd but Halin figures it out.
In desperation, the beast curls up around it's rider, to protect him from the group.
Going to assume Hal shares this - so no spoiler
Hal gets the sense the beast is terrified and exhausted. Stuck in the current, and it's rider unconscious, it seems at a loss of what to do.
Round 2: Inspire Courage Active
Hippocampus (-14: Full Defense) Taariik
Balin (-7 NL)
Male CG gnome ranger (trapper) 3 | HP 25/25 | AC 18 T 14 FF 15 | CMB +2, CMD 15 | F: +4, R: +6, W: +3 | Init: +7 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 20 ft | Dancing Lights: 1/1, Ghost Sound: 1/1, Prestidigitation: 1/1, Speak with Animals: 1/1 | Active conditions: None.
Pulling Balin to safety, Hal begins waving his arms toward his companions. "Stop attacking them! I don't recognize this thing, but it's confused and scared, because its rider is unconscious. Stop attacking, and let's see if I can talk to it."
I know the roll for it was Knowledge(planes), so I'm not sure if either Handle Animal or Wild Empathy will work here, but I'll give it a try. I'm assuming that Speak with Animals would not work on a creature from another plane.
He kneels down on the rocks, holding his hand out just above the water, palm down. He begins speaking in a soft and soothing tone in a language other than Common.
Sylvan:
"Hey there, buddy, sorry 'bout that. I know you're a little spooked, but we're not gonna hurt you ... C'mon up here and let's see if we can be friends."
The creature seems to settle a little as Hal speaks to it, though it displays no indication it understands his words. As the eagle vanishes, it glances back towards its rider and nudges the unconscious creature, wailing in protest.
Looks like you've decided not to continue attacking, so dropping out of initiative. The hippocampus will stay full defense.
Wisdom Check DC 12:
You get the sense if you revived the rider, you may get some more answers
However, I don't think you guys have the ability to do so...without using a potion or something
Will give you till this evening to deal with this. As long as you don't attack it, it won't attack you anymore
F Ifrit Arcane Duelist-1 | HP 10/10 | AC16 T11 FF15 | F+2 R+3 W+1 CMD14 | Init:+5 Percept+3, darkvision 60' | Performances: 4/6 | Current effects:
Leeda finally notices that this creature has an unconscious rider. "Ah, well if we can get to him, I could heal him. But his beast will need to stay calm."
Altorin closes his eyes and falls silent, concentrating on reaching out to the leylines of current that run through the water, nudging them in the direction to push the fallen rider to towards the boat.
Keep forgetting arcane duelist is a bard arch. :-P
The creature slowly allows the currents to pull him towards the boat as Leeda reaches out and heals the unconscious man. (Go ahead and mark a spell off your daily - assuming that was your intent)
Coughing, the creature opens it's eyes slowly. Looking around, it takes in the view before inclining it's head ever so slightly. "Takk for din assistanse. Jeg er Nalu, og dette er Kelp. Det ser ut som jeg misjudged strømmene ... hvor pinlig."
"Han gjorde ikke vondt, gjorde han det?"
Aquan:
"Thank you for your assistance. I am Nalu and this is Kelp. It would appear I misjudged the currents...how embarassing."
Hearing her response in Common, he inclines his head again.
"Apologies. I didn't not realize...Yes, I speaks it oh kay. Bear with me though"
"Thanks you for your assistances. I am Nalu and this is Kelp.
"He didn't not hurt you did he?" he replies in common.
"As thanks for you aids, allow me to reward yous." he adds, holding out a satchel.
inside the bag:
A masterwork trident, underwater light crossbow with 20 bolts, two potions of cure light wounds, four potion sponges, a compass, a signal whistle, and a carved obsidian figurine (worth 30g)
No need to roll spellcraft to id - he gladly tells you what is in the bag.
Male CG gnome ranger (trapper) 3 | HP 25/25 | AC 18 T 14 FF 15 | CMB +2, CMD 15 | F: +4, R: +6, W: +3 | Init: +7 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 20 ft | Dancing Lights: 1/1, Ghost Sound: 1/1, Prestidigitation: 1/1, Speak with Animals: 1/1 | Active conditions: None.
Hal offers a wave. "Hey there. I'm Halunzet Methrigum, expert trapper ... but you can just call me Hal. Pleased to meet ya."
"Ooh, a whistle!" Hal grabs it enthusiastically, looking over the fine treasure. "Anyone mind if I take the crossbow, too? Balin should get one of the potions ..."
F Ifrit Arcane Duelist-1 | HP 10/10 | AC16 T11 FF15 | F+2 R+3 W+1 CMD14 | Init:+5 Percept+3, darkvision 60' | Performances: 4/6 | Current effects:
"Hold on there, folks. While we're here, let's see if there's any information on what happened to the Pride."
Turning to Nalu, she asks, "Do you know, or know anyone who might know, about how that ship went down? Or if anyone made it off alive?" She points out the Pride. "And do you have any ideas about why the currents here are so tricky?" Not knowing much about currents herself, she figures it won't hurt to ask.
"The city is not close. I still have a days travel or so. I must return to my people and tell them of this issue. My people have spoken of past times when issues with the Plane of Air or Plane of Water have caused such things...but nothing recent. This is the first time I've encountered such an issue."
"Sadly, I know nothing further about this situation. Kekp and I must rest now before we try and leave."
They assist in getting everyone back aboard the boat and then return to the rocks to rest.
He has no further for you. And....as it stands you must venture further into the cave.
Balin Str:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Through force of will, Balin is able to keep the boat from striking the sides of the cave as you move deeper in. The wind is fierce in the flooded tunnel, which terminates at a peninsula of sand and rock where the waves lash at the ground with stinging force. At the center of the underground island, a blue-green dragon with seahorse-like fronds and frills stands defiantly beside a rip in reality that hovers half-submerged next to the island. The water churns to a feverish cone-shaped tempest, drawing into its chaotic dance anything that floats, swims, or flies. Debris creates a pile of flotsam at the back of the cave similar to the mounds of broken ships outside the cave mouth. "Ah," the dragon says, "you've passed the Trial of the Tempest, and so you've been judged fit to serve me. Welcome, dear mortals. You may set down your arms and kneel before your new master."
Not in initiative. This dragon is small in size. What do you do?
Male CG gnome ranger (trapper) 3 | HP 25/25 | AC 18 T 14 FF 15 | CMB +2, CMD 15 | F: +4, R: +6, W: +3 | Init: +7 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 20 ft | Dancing Lights: 1/1, Ghost Sound: 1/1, Prestidigitation: 1/1, Speak with Animals: 1/1 | Active conditions: None.
Hal climbs off the boat onto the cavernous beach they come to rest against. He rests his hand on his loaded crossbow. He does not draw it, but neither does he set it down and kneel before his new master, who he instead eyes with a skeptical raised green eyebrow.
| Male LG follower of Irori | Ifrit | Outsider (Native) | Paladin 2, Ninja 2, Medium 6 | Darkvision 60 ft | Speed 20ft | DR 5/bludg. 15/40 | HP 93/93 | AC 18 T 8 FF 18 / AC 20 with heavy shield | CMB +14 | CMD 22 | F: +19, R: +14, W: +17 (+18 vs. fear/confusion) | Init: +13 | Perc: -2, SM: -2, Dipl: +22 | Mind Arsenal 9/9 | Ki Pool 4/7 | Reroll 1/1 | Smite 1/1 | Influence 1/4 | Spirit Dance 17/18 | Eefriti Magic 0/1 | Boots of Speed 5/10 | Horseshoe 1/1 | Active conditions: defending bone
"Ehhhh ... well, what my friends wanted to say is that we are not your butlers, yet!!! But we could be! I want to be!" Taarik says and bows at the same time looking at his companions with a big smile.
"You're an anomaly? Aren't you being a bit harsh on yourself? I mean, who dubs themselves the Ten Pest Monarch anyway? Were you bullied? Did bullies give you that name? But you're right, once you attend to the business of accepting who you are, you can move on to better pleasantries."
