The small stone flashes to life, emanating a soft golden glow. The small cell chamber is made out of rough hewn stone and the floor is covered in piles of clean-picked bones. In the center of the chamber, instead of finding the Captain, you see a horrific creature: the size of a bear, it has a narrow, doglike face, and a tail that ends in a nasty, clawed hand.
It's mouth opens, and out of it comes a perfect representation of Varossa's voice. "I take it that you didn't believe me? Now if you would be so kind- I would like to be let out. I may be able to tell you a little more about the one who owns this voice"
Riy-Zi looks at the weird creature suspiciously. "What are you?"
He eyes the door, and checks it for traps.
"I can let you out," Riy-Zi says as he brings out his tools. "But tell us what you know about her first."
"Yeah, I'll let you out weird dog!" Smacky says happily. She examines the lock. "Hmmm... Do you have the key?" she asks the prisoner.
"Ack!" Craigie exclaims. "Who are you and why do you sound like her?"
Craigie fishes through his pack, pulls out his rations, and tosses them to the creature.
"How long have you been in there? And who's been feeding you?"
Riy-zi moves over to take a good look at the creature and recognizes it as an Ahuizotl. It is an intelligent magical beast that has the ability to mimic any humanoid voice once it has been heard. He closely inspects the door itself, and while it does not seem trapped, it does have a relatively high quality lock on the door.
"Some giant, shelled creature. It's takes over the bodies of creatures it can overwhelm. It has been feeding me, though not enough. I do not know its purpose with me. I have lost track of the time... perhaps a month? Longer?"
"How is it you sound like Captain Lanteri? When did you meet her?"
"I have never met her, only heard her voice. I do not know the name of the one who owns it. She was being taken to the ship"
There is a moments pause and the voice comes back, this time lower than before. A perfect reflection of Craigies voice.
"This is just something that I can do"
Riy-Zi grins. "Interesting. I've never met an ahuizotl before."
He starts trying to unlock the cage. "We'll let you out. Would you help us with something before you leave? We need to go kill the woman who owns that voice. You said she was brought to the ship? Want to join us?"
"Fight? I... I... I cannot fight. I am starved and wasted away. I do not think that I can fight." the voice comes out of the prison cell, this time mimicking the voice of Riy-Zi
Putting off the oddness of hearing his voice from another source, Riy-Zi directs his attention to the heavy lock on the door. After a few moments of fumbling around with the tumblers, he is able to find the right combination of lift and twist that pops the lock open.
The cell door creaks open, and the dog/hand/bear creature blinks a moment at his new found freedom. Lumbering forward, it approaches the group.
"I believe it is a trap. The lord always needs more subjects", but before any of you can respond it leaps into the dark, disgusting water, and disappears out of sight
Smacky looks confused. "Hey! Where'd you go, cute doggie? Doggie? Here, doggie, doggie!" She crosses her arms and pouts a bit. "Oh, drat! I wanted to be friends!"
"Wait, didn't it owe us some extra information or something?" she shrugs. "Oh, well. Let's go!"
Smacky goes up to the cave wall and rock climbs her way across with her awesome climbing skills.
She waits on the other side for the others.
Riy-Zi flies over across the gap.
Kildrax flies across the gap.
Reva, meanwhile, scowls at everyone. Slowly, she crosses the rope bridge.
She looks terrified.
Momentarily defeated by the flight of her future friend, The Vanara instead shows off her extrodinary climbing ability, completely bypassing both of the rope bridges. Likewise, Riy-Zi and Kildrax gently float over the small cove coming to rest on the other side without incident.
That doesn't mean quietly, however, as Kildrax continues to laugh and mock Reva's slow progress over this much more stable bridge. After what feels like hours to her, the Tiefling's boots reach the far side, and she releases a loud sigh that had previously been trapped in her lungs.
Craigie, much more careful this time, comes back across the rickity bridge and then across the more stable one towards the docked ship. Thick plates of black coral coat the hull of this derelict ship. The sails bear dozens of unsettling stains and irreparable tears, and more coral is built up around its main mast. It is quite clear that this ship has been here for some time, and is no longer seaworthy.
The pirates pick their way along the outcropping, approaching the ship cautiously. There is a slight movement on deck, and peering over the railings, you can plainly see Captain Varossa Lanteri. She has a pistol drawn, and her trusty rapier at the ready. She is dressed much the way you have seen her in the past- with the exception of dozens of glittering gold chains hung about her neck. She is also wearing a very out of place a very thin, silver tiara. Her left arm seems to be encased in the same black coral that has begun to consume the ship, and the chambers in the back of the temple. At her side is a tri-form horn, what you now recognize as the completed goal for so much of your adventures in the past several months.
"Hi, there Captain! Why do you have coral on your arm? And why are you aiming a gun at me? And why did you leave us to die on that island?" She puts her hands on her hips. "You're not very good at this 'captain' thing."
Riy-ZI says "Put down the gun, Lanteri, or I'll burn ya' alive!" He scowls. "It's better than you deserve for abandoning us."
"Yeah, you may want to get that looked at..." Craigie remarks as he points at her coral arm.
Reva readies herself for a fight by pulling out her weapon.
The Captain looks over at your direction as you approach and simply smiles. She flourishes her pistol but continues to point it Smacky as the Vanara approaches. The cavern is eerily silent, and Varossa makes no attempt to break the quiet.
Riy-Zi keeps his promise and tosses a flaming bomb at Varossa and the ship.
"Well, that's decisive. Alright then. Come on, Lady Jade. Let's get in there."
[ooc]We're ready for initiative. If he can act beforehand he and Lady Jade move closer so they can board the ship.[/oo]
Waisting very little time, Riy-Zi makes good on his threat and lobs a bomb at his former Captain. Instead of trying to dodge it, she instead whips her gun around at the flying Strix, and squeezes the trigger.
The boom from the bomb and the bang from the gun overlap each other, and then echo about the silent chamber. The captain stands, singed from the flames, while a small wound is opened in Riy-Zi's side.
Craigie
Lady
Smacky
Riy-Zi (-5)
Varossa (-16 HP)
Reva
Kildrax
Smacky pulls out a vial of acid and throws it at Varossa! She doesn't want to go anywhere near that creepy coral arm!
Riy-Zi suddenly looks overjoyed. He smiles like a psycho, pulls out another bomb, and throws it at the ship near Varossa! As the fire explodes he bursts out in maniacal laughter!
Reva
Kildrax
Smacky
Riy-Zi (+5)
Varossa (-16 HP)
Fearsome Tide (-139 HP, 25 squares burned, 1 square actively burning)
Cragie
Lady
Unafraid of the flames, Kildrax slithers through the air, circles around Varossa, and closes in for the kill.
Reva casts out her arms at Kildrax and cackles. "Unleash the storm!"
A blast of lighting erupts from Reva, connecting her to her eidolon and slamming right through Varossa.
Reva and Kildrax are unharmed by the blast.
A bolt of electricity jolts across the space between Reva and Kildrax. The rest of the party feels their hair stand on end, but it is the Captain who is directly in the path of the current. In the moment while the static builds, she is able to deftly step out of the blast- avoiding the zap entirely .
Turning on her heel, she stabs out at the shark-like demon with her rapier- a crooked smile on her face.
The fire continues to burn on the deck of the ship, the flames licking up the side of the ship and the railings.
Reva
Kildrax (-5 HP)
Smacky
Riy-Zi (+5)
Varossa (-16 HP)
Fearsome Tide (-147 HP, 25 squares burned, 1 square actively burning)
Cragie
Lady
Smacky pulls out another vial of acid and throws it at Varossa!
Craigie hustles forward and sends a black of light from his eyes out at Varossa.
Lady Jade hustles forward.
Seeing the ship catch on fire, Riy-Zi cackles even louder. He pulls out another bomb and tosses it at the rear mast and rigging, hoping to set that section of the ship on fire too.
Kildrax slithers back a step and tries again, channeling lightning between himself and Reva — cause clearly she just needed another, better, ZAP!
Reva thrusts her arms out, sending another blast of lightning at Varossa.
The gleaming vial of green acid floats through the air, before striking true onto the blackened corral body of Smacky's previous Captain.
Craigie rushes forward, and the light in the cavern dims eerily- as it is almost sucked into a beam of pale light shooting out from the glare of the half-elf. As the beam crosses Lanteri, you see the thick dark armor crack under its assault- but the 'creature' seems to avoid its disorienting effects. While the beam sweeps across the cavern, Lady sneak closer and closer to the woman.
Riy-Zi, opting for a scorched wood strategy, lobs bomb aimed for maximum damage to the vessel itself. The bomb explodes, and the magical flames lick across the hardened wood of the ship.
Kildrax repositions while another bolt of lightening jolts between the two. As he moves, he notices some bubbling in the water just off the port side of the ship.
Facing her approaching threats, Varosa brandishes her rapier at Lady.
Her blade strikes the companion, just narrowly missing a soft spot in her underbelly.
As the battle rages on you notice at the base of the mast, amost a thick layer of black corral, the shell begin to move and quake.
Reva
Kildrax (-5 HP)
Smacky
Riy-Zi (+5)
Varossa (-30 HP)
Fearsome Tide (-262 HP, 50 squares burned, 2 square actively burning)
Cragie
Lady [-7 HP)
Smacky hurries away, pulls a fuzzy ball out of her bag of tricks and tosses it onto the ship!
A cat appears on the ship! It scurries across the ship and bits Varossa in the leg!
But the cat has bad aim!
This time Riy-Zi tosses a bomb at the nearby hull, hoping to burn a hole in the side so it sinks faster.
Craigie blasts Lantern again with another moonbeam, then hurries over towards Lady Jade.
Lady Jade attacks Varossa, snapping and biting and spinning with all her might!
Despite Varossa's uncanny ability to dodge their lightning blasts, Reva and Kildrax try one more time to electrocute her!
Lady and Craigie press on in their attack to Captain Varossa. A pale blue light emanates from the half-elf and strikes true on the creature.
Lady takes advantage, and lands a massive bite on the Captain, nearly wrestling her down the deck of the ship.
Static electricity fills the air, before a directed bolt blast between Reva and Kildrax. But, the electricity fizzles around the creature.
A small fuzzy ball appears in Smacky's hand, before being flung into the fray. In mid-air, it transforms into an incredibly confused looking cat which instinctively lunges at the former Captain, to little effect.
Like before, the Strix lobs his weapons at the hull of the ship- and the damage continues to grow as the fire spreads across the deck of the ship.
It is in this moment that the blackened corral around the mast cracks and shifts- rising up out of the cracks is none other than the infamous Jemma Redclaw herself... or, at least what is left of her. She is covered from head to toe in the same black corral that only partially covers Lanteri.
At the same time, a giant shelled and tentacled creature pulls itself out of the inky and mirky water. Throwing its long arms up onto the ship and pulls itself up and over the railing. The creature itself looks familiar, a much larger version of the shelled creatures that you faced not long ago.
Varossa swings wildly in her blinded state, attempting to stab Lady. But fails to make contact.
Jemma steps forward and swings her scimitar at Craigie- and despite the many years of inactivity she still finds her mark in the half-elfs side.
Reva
Kildrax (-5 HP)
Smacky
Riy-Zi (+5)
Varossa (-46 HP, Blinded)
Redclaw (-26 HP)
Shelled Creature
Fearsome Tide (-393 HP, 75 squares burned, 2 square actively burning)
Cragie (-11 HP)
Lady (-7 HP)
Lady continues to snap and bite at Varossa!
Craigie startles as the coral monster woman who he's pretty sure should be dead arises beside him. He takes a quick step back off the gangplank and onto the rock path and twists his body as he casts a spell.
Then, for the first time in a long time, he draws his magical spear and brandishes it.
Riy-Zi quickly concocts another bomb and goes to lob it at the hull when he sees a monster-clawed-coral lady burst up out of the ship. He eyes his bomb, then the hull, then his bomb, then Jemma.
Riy-Zi tosses his bomb at Jemma! As it explodes, the flames wash over the big shelled monster and Varossa, too!
The fierce and vicious kitten attacks Varossa!
Since Smacky can't toss a bomb without hitting Lady Jade, she takes a deep breath and dashed up onto the gangplank, then whips her tail at the Jemma-monster!
Reva and Kildrax sidestep in unison, then shoot a blast of lightning between themselves — right across the body of the weird shelled monster!
The half-elf, sensing the tides of combat turns, calls out to his allies- infused with an ancient druidic magic. Each of his allies feels a renewed strength wash over them, as he arms himself for what he thinks will be an inevitable hand to hand combat.
In front of him, Lady continues her assault on the former Captain. Varossa moves and dodges- but her calcified form and sudden blindness makes it difficult to evade the snapping jaws of lady. She twists and turns, the Captain's blood in her mouth, but Lady is unable to drag her to the deck. Frustrated, she whips out her tail, and makes contact despite the less than ideal placement, Varossa can't see it coming in order to avoid it.
The Strix, initially consumed in the destruction of the ship- suddenly pauses at the arrival of a new threat. It would take a lot to alter his course of action, and yet when the bomb releases it is aimed at Redclaw and not at her ship. The explosion strikes true and with it engulfs the other two central figures in the combat.
In the midst of the chaos aboard the ship, a small summoned kitten steps forward and bites into the foot of the Captain- drawing blood and causing her to pull away in pain.
Sensing her moment, Smacky leaps onto the burning ship and approaches Jemma. Unphased by her clockwork arm and blackened body, she strikes out with her tail- finding its mark onto her core. Jemma staggers under the blow, taking a moment to regroup before redoubling her assault!
The zap of lightening shoots out between Reva and Kildrax.
The shelled creature, with its LONG arms, somehow manages to avoid the worst of the jolt.
In that moment, the villains respond. Jemma slashes out at Smacky, with her fearsome scimitar and crab-claw arm.
Only one of the blades finds its target, leaving Smacky with a growing red stain across her chest.
Varossa, recovering her sight, takes a small step to utilize her undead ally and stabs her blade into a defenseless lady. The first finds its mark with unwavering precision, as does the second- narrowly missing a vital organ that surely would have killed the fearsome creature. Instead, she slumps over motionless on the deck
That leaves the giant, shelled creature- which reaches out a tentacle and easily dispatches the summoned cat.
Reaching out it's other claws- it flails at Kildrax despite his considerable distance away
One of the tentacles finds purchase, and on the side of his body Kildrax can feel the pulse of some vile poison. The creature must have left some stinger in his skin!
As the fires rage on the deck and side of the Fearsome Tide, those on board can feel the ship list to the port as the burned supports strain under under the weight of the coral.
Reva
Kildrax (-12 HP, DC 19 Fort Save. Potential 6 damage, 2 dex drain)
Smacky (-10 HP)
Riy-Zi (+5)
Varossa (-68 HP)
Redclaw (-48 HP)
Shelled Creature (-6 HP)
Fearsome Tide (-403 HP, 75 squares burned, 2 square actively burning)
Cragie (-11 HP)
Lady (-44 HP, Unconscious, Dying. Constitution Check, DC 21 to stabilize)