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Aterro releases Fin, nodding once that all seems as it should be. He brushes the dirt off his armor.
Then the second song starts and, for a moment, he can feel himself drawn to the cliffs, beckoned by some glittering Valkyrie with golden hair and silver armor....
But he shakes his head and recites a benediction to Thor, reminding himself and who he is and where he is...
...and he knows hate.
"Oh by Slepnir's eight legs and Fenrir's three chains, are we beset by
TWO pathetic shrieks where one has already failed?"
He STALKS to the edge of the cliff and looks down.
"Oh confound is there any kind of woman that does not try to drive men to their deaths with their shrieks?" Aterro muses to no one.
"You think you are safe? The Wrath of Thor will not be halted by any craft YOU can summon!"
He points at the first woman and closes his fist.
"Sure... Sure!!!" replies Trevor, suddenly realizing that, based on what he put his hands on to prevent the Shadow Elf from tumbling down, that said Zove is actually a woman, and he jumps back clumsily, almost falling on his ass.
He seems not to notice the music, but Aterro he notices, so he follows the priest. As he does so, he sees Ibrox rush past him and, as the Gnomw doesn't seem to slow down, he throws himself in the Gnome's legs to stop him. I hope Ibrox is not a girl too. That is getting quite awkward...
"Uh, mates? Is there anything stopping us just walking away from the edge of the cliff?" Finnigan asks, thinking it less than productive to rain fire down on some seductive singers in the ocean below.
Ibrox steps up to the edge of the cliff and tries to spot where the trouble is coming from when the second singer's song begins. The little gnome is initially drawn to the music and starts to step forward. Fortunately the instincts of his people kick in. Long honed in the feud with Baba Yaga and then by the hellish bargain for protection, his gnomish mind barely manages to shake off the effect.
Trevor seeing the gnome start to fall under the influence of the evil song, ceases his assault on Zove and instead launches his big knightly form at the groups smallest member. The gnomes vision suddenly goes dark and his nostrils fill with the scent of sweaty, teenaged knighthood as Trevor tackles him to the ground. The knight's big armored body practically smothering the little gnome mere inches from the edge of the cliff.
Zove, having recovered her senses, but with a large bruise already beginning to swell on her cheek, attempts to distract the creatures while Aterro rains down holy fire. The roar of a great sea beast erupts near the rock where the two creatures sit. Initially startled, they quickly recognize the shadow fae's gambit, and raise their voices louder so they can still be heard over the illusionary noise. Aterros fire hisses and sizzles as it lands against the wet rock, but his target manages to slip and duck away, avoiding the holy flames.
"It's all right Ibrox. You're safe now. Hush... Don't fight it. I got you!" Trevor says as he keeps his grip on the Gnome.
The cheerful gnome is initially drawn to the music and starts to step forward. Fortunately the instincts of his people kick in. Long honed in the feud with Baba Yaga and then by the hellish bargain for protection, his gnomish mind barely manages to shake off the effect.
"Trevor. Trevor, put me down. I'm fine. Where is that music coming from? We've got to kill it. The music seeks to magically control us."
"Honestly mate, must you really stand right at the edge of the cliff? And why have we got to kill them? I mean, their singing is rubbish I'll agree to that but is it cause enough for a death sentence? Let's be on our way. Honestly."
Saying all this Fin nonetheless keeps a bolt cocked in his crossbow.
"Or are you lot going to tell me you've got a hankering for grilled fish now?"
The cheerful gnome is initially drawn to the music and starts to step forward. Fortunately the instincts of his people kick in. Long honed in the feud with Baba Yaga and then by the hellish bargain for protection, his gnomish mind barely manages to shake off the effect.
"Trevor. Trevor, put me down. I'm fine. Where is that music coming from? We've got to kill it. The music seeks to magically control us."
"The music? Oh yeah! The music! Finn, it's the music that made these guys want to jump off a cliff!? This is a big problem. Let's find a way down and solve this conundrum!" Trevor shouts and looks for a way down.
"We're going to have to jump!"
The cliff face is a straight drop sixty feet down to the surf below, although the rocky surface does offer plenty of small ledges, handholds, and cracks that a person could climb it with moderate difficulty and enough time and care. However there is no beach at the base, only churning sea water between the cliff and where the mermaids sit on their rock thirty feet further into the sea.
"Like I said: no climbing down... Wait! Let’s put a sign like we did for Bentknee, but for every traveler!" says Trevor, beaming widely.
"Just put up a sign that says "Travelling is Dangerous" and be done with it. If we stop and kill these singing fish what's to stop another one swimming up tomorow? Sometimes I wonder if It'd be a better world without pointy eared folk and their magic. I tell you one thing we wouldn't have to worry about. Dead people walking around and drinking blood what belongs to living folk."
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Aterro sighs in contemplation. "I think it naive to believe that a sign will stop all travelers along this road from falling to their effects. If we leave this place, and so much as one caravan falls to their trap, could we call our selves good ever again?
So too, even if the sign provides proof for ever and ever, there is nothing to stop them from leaving their perch and finding another spot, perhaps one closer to, say, a caravan of children recently released from a magical sleep? Who among would have a restful night if we heard that one of those kids had fallen into the sea, lured by a magical song?
Zove, I am all but proof against their song, if I stand next to you, locked arm-in-arm, would you be able to send fire against them sufficient to deter them from ever again troubling this place?
If that is not sufficient, the rest of these...brave heroes...could stand a distance away, holding a rope tied about our waist.
Is that sufficient precautions to stand and fight?"
After Zove's firebolt, Ibrox tries to pinpoint the magical creatures.
The bright sunlight in the sky and reflecting back off of the sea below causes Zove's squinting eyes to water as she tries to strikes at the two mermaids below. But the light is simply too much and her fire magic lands harmlessly in the ocean.
Crawling out from under Trevor, Ibrox tries to get another look at the enemy below. But the reflecting sunlight bothers the gnome's vision as well and he is unable to spot the two creatures with all of the sparkling glare.
Vrindel scratches his head at their predicament.
"I would think that at this moment our best plan is to leave a warning here to avoid this area. I hate to leave them there to possibly hurt others... the thought of some innocent children wondering too close hurts my soul... but what choice do we have"?
The big Trollkin is obviously perplexed. "If we start shooting at them and injure them, they'll simply jump into the water and hide. We can't stand here all day taking pot shots. On the other hand if we find a way down they can also just run away into the water, and we have no way to follow them. Unless we can find a way to render them helpless I'm afraid we must leave them be".
He then stops with a sudden thought. "There is one slim chance. If I can entangle them with the same spell I just used, perhaps we could hold them inert until we can get down to defeat them. We'd need to find an easier way down first... but it's the only way I can think of to possibly remove their threat".
Finnigan is really craving a cup of whiskey.
I reckon if they swim away these naive do-gooders will have no choice but to let us be on our way...
"Ok lads you want them dead I'll join your cause!"
He lets off a bolt with a twang not caring if it hits or misses.
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Trevor looks down at the ground, shamed by Aterro: "Allright then... I guess... We jump down then? It will pinch..." he asks Aterro, ready to jump to the bottom.
Then, not wanting to be upstaged by a follower of Thor, he just shrugs and shouts as he jumps down!
"For Khors! Yaaaargh!!!"
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The cliff face is a straight drop sixty feet down to the surf below, although the rocky surface does offer plenty of small ledges, handholds, and cracks that a person could climb it with moderate difficulty and enough time and care. However there is no beach at the base, only churning sea water between the cliff and where the mermaids sit on their rock thirty feet further into the sea.
Aterro leans over the edge, trying to look for another way down.
"It looks like we could get closer onto a few other outcroppings, there or there, that would close the distance. There are even those great rocks, there, that are merely 20 feet from the witches."
"Aye, they might get away, but they do not look too hardy to me.
In fact, just now I see I am a hypocrite, asking others to fight for me when I do not let fly with my greatest weapon. In truth, I had not thought them worthy of such a death. But, it does not do for me to inconvenience us so without bringing ALL of Thor's wrath upon them.
So be it. Perhaps they will think us more dangerous, if they know that we all have danger to bear.
(And, in truth, if they swim away I can at least say I have done all I can.)
" He shouts, extending forth his hammer.
Unable to locate the source of the magical music, he assumes Trevor is affected and attempts to pull him into the magical entangle. »Trevor, snap out of it. «
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The debate about staying or going is interrupted rather abruptly as Trevor suddenly leaps off the cliff. For a brief moment time stands still. The song of the mermaids below is little more than background noise mixed with the sounds of the wind and churning surf. Sunlight sparkles on the rolling waves. A flight of pelicans glide peacefully over the waves while gulls whirl overhead. The smell of sea air mixes with the burst of spring growth in the forest and the wind ruffles hair and dances lightly in the tall grasses.
In that moment the young knight feels the freedom of weightlessness as his flying leap takes him up and out into the air. There is also the cathartic feeling of overcoming his underlying fears of throwing everything to chance in one heroic deed.
His companions react with surprise, wonder, and admiration. The mermaids lean forward, smiling in hungry anticipation and knowing their magic has worked its charms once again.
The moment passes. Gravity regains its supremacy over Trevor's fifteen or more stones worth of body, armor, weapons, and gear. Teenaged legs and arms flail wildly he plunges like a catapult stone sixty feet into the churning sea.
From above there is little to see except a plume of water when the knight hits the surface of the sea. Bubbles swirl and rise to the surface as the sound of his impact finally reaches ears high up on the cliff.
Seconds tick past with no sign of the knight breaching the surface then with a mighty shout.
Aterro unleashes the fury of a god. The small island where the mermaids sit erupts in a glorious burst of blinding, searing light. One mermaid is caught in the center of the blast, her song cut off abruptly and turning quickly to horrified screams. Her flesh burns and boils in the maelstrom of Thor's revenge. Zove adds her own shadow fire to the conflagration surrounding the dying mermaid and soon enough the screams end. Little remains of the half woman, half fish creature but a still twitching tail fin and the smoldering skeletal frame of her upper body.
The eyes of the second mermaid fill with fright as her companion is so swiftly eliminated. But the loss of her sister while troubling is not without benefit as that leaves more of the sinking knight for herself. Before another fiery blow from heaven can rain down upon her, she leaps into the sea. Diving to search for her hard won meal.
"KHOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARGH!" shouts Trevor as he realizes how fast things are coming at him from below.
Trevor blacks out.
Vrindel stands with his eyes wide open in shock at Trevor's action.
"I'll head down and see if I can save him".
Fine line between bravery and foolishness with that one it seems.
Vrindel then walks to the edge of the cliff, lays down his Staff, and begins to chant. As the others watch his form begins to morph and reshape until the form of a Wolf Spider the size of a large dog stands in his place.
The transformed Vrindel then begins to climb down the side of the cliff towards where Trevor entered the water.
Giant Wolf Spider
Medium beast, unaligned
Armor Class 13
Hit Points 11 (2d8 + 2)
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.
STR
12 (+1)
DEX
16 (+3)
CON
13 (+1)
INT
3 (-4)
WIS
12 (+1)
CHA
4 (-3)
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +7
Senses Blindsight 10 ft., Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 13
Languages --
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Spider Climb. The spider can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Web Sense. While in contact with a web, the spider knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.
Web Walker. The spider ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 4 (1d6 + 1) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 7 (2d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If the poison damage reduces the target to 0 hit points, the target is stable but poisoned for 1 hour, even after regaining hit points, and is paralyzed while poisoned in this way.
"Bloody hell! I suppose we should have made a sign that said NO JUMPING? Honestly!"
Finnigan is aghast but his many years of never backing down from jumping into a bar fight started by his friends take over. He disconnects his reason and goes into blind loyalty mode. It's almost as if he's able to call forth reserves of whiskey from some reserve deep inside of himself.
"Vrindel! Give me some of those berries of yours. I'll dive after him but I may need a little something to ease the fall!".
If Vrindel is able to provide any goodberries Fin will pop them in his mouth and hold them there as he dives so they will go down the hatch even if passes out.
"Aterro! Have you any medicinal decoctions I might pour down that bloody idiots throat in case he's dead? Or imbibe myself if I face the same fate? "
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Aterro stares nonplussed at the goings on, taking in the scene, planning his tactics.
"All the comestibles you speak of were on Vrindel, I believe," he says, watching the giant spider go down. "But I would not worry, overmuch. I believe I can guess his plan, and it is much like you say."
Aterro sits down on the cliff's edge, waiting....
Held action: Upon the first sign of the witch, when he can cast Guiding Bolt.
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With no sign of Trevor beyond a few lingering bubbles still rising from the depths, the knights companions spring into action. Memories quickly flash across everyones minds as they scramble to save the rash and impulsive young warrior. Trevor's awful smelling socks drying by the fire; his constant teenaged attempts to avoid doing any of the camp chores; the astonished and disgusted look on his face after Aterro splatters him in the gore of the enemy, once, twice, three times; the smile as his mighty axe puts an end to yet another zombie menace...
Vrindel's spider form allows the druid to easily navigate the cliff and he manages to get two-thirds of the way down in a few short seconds. Just before the big spider disappears over the edge, Zove's eyes glaze over, her body goes rigid, and her amphibious companion deftly leaps onto the back of the big spider. Sticky frog hands cling desperately to the course fur on the spider's back as the sky tilt's suddenly and everything tips to the side during the run down the cliff.
With Vrindel and Zove on the move, Aterro sits along the edge of the cliff eyes focused and concentrating on the water below. His lips murmur in prayer quietly gathering strength and preparing to call on the thunder gods power for a second time.
Finnigan steps up to the edge of the cliff, contemplates following the young knight's path down, but some self preservation instinct kicks in and the ranger hesitates. Instead of jumping he looks to his companions for ways to ease the high potential lethality of the simple jump and pray to the gods strategy. Unfortunately, Aterro appears lost in his prayers, while Ibrox stands, hands still outstretched over the edge. The gnomes fingers tingling where the knights leggings brushed them as the little warlock tried to stop the much bigger Trevor from completing his ill-fated leap.
I think Vrindel's Passive perception would spot Trevor, but if not I'll roll just in case. I not required disregard roll
Perception.
Spider Vrindel moves down the cliff face until he finds a ledge or rock that will support the form of Trollkin Vrindel. Move Action. He then uses a bonus action to return to the Trollkin form, and his action to cast healing word on the floating corpse of Trevor.
Healing Word
Ibrox cannot believe what is happening. The curse of that magical music! The crashing ocean continues to hide both its source and Trevor. He watches his companions go over the cliff or wait in their special way.
Feeling useless, the gnome takes out his crossbow and searches for a threat.