"Thank you for sharing with us. That's an awful lot to process. Let's see . . .." Til looks up towards the ceiling over her head for a moment, fingers counting things off while his lips move.
"So, a deflection, no, you said anchor, rune? Anything in particular we should do to disable it? Could it be inside the circle, or would it need to be outside the circle? How close to the circle's edge would it need to be? Since we all normally breath air and not water, yes, we'll need some magics to be able to search for this rune and the necromancer. Though I suppose if we disable the rune, the necromancer will look for us." He stops and ticks off on his fingers, like he's forgotten something.
"Oh, yes! What's a draugr?"
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“Thank you, Athannah,” Adonara says, echoing Tilorean. “With your help, we can set to work thwarting this necromancer soon, perhaps as early as the next tide. As you know, we’ve tangled with some of his creatures before, to their cost.”
She tries to sound reassuring, though privately she worries about where that devil got to, and she’s not sure if Fulk or Valekar are keen on the finer points of abjuration, to dispel this rune. Worst case, could they just magically erase the aboleth’s anchor rune, or – though it pains her to be so crude – destroy whatever it’s inscribed on?
She tries to place the name ‘draugr:’ some sort of servitor she presumes, though not so common that she can immediately pin it down and identify any weaknesses, especially. Though based on what they can guess of their foe so far, she presumes it would be either some sort of undead or devil.
Valekar tries to recall what he knows about Draugr as well as what he might know about the anchor rune and how to destroy or disable it
"As far as I know, physically removing the anchor rune would restore things, I imagine you would need to enter the circle to remove it. The main danger will be whatever is protecting the circle and therefore the anchor rune."
Adonara you remember that the draugr are a form of undead. They have damage reduction except against bludgeoning or slashing weapons. Their attacks can cause their victims to be nauseated.
Valekar you do not recall anything about draugr, however you do know that if the circle is a protection circle then removing the anchor stone will restore it to its normal state. Removing should be enough to restore things but destroying it would prevent the anchor stone from being used again
"I may be able to dispel it, though I'm not as skilled at such things as a wizard."
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Sounds … Skaldish, Adonara thinks vaguely, as the pieces fall into place and she remembers a book she read back home once on the varieties of ghouls and the best ways of putting them down. “They’re like sea-sick ghouls, as it were. Draugr, I mean. Not like lacedons, exactly, but they’re undead whose blows can badly turn one’s stomach, though I don’t think their touch will paralyze.”
“Probably the most obnoxious thing about them, for present purposes, is that they’re resistant to the types of weapons that are most effective underwater. If there are any airy spaces in the Drowning Eye, we might want to lure the draugr there,” she continues.
“With the goddess’ grace, though, we’ll find the stone first and thwart this Menetheguro. There are some abominations that should never have emerged to crawl below the waves,” she says quietly, a gleam of zeal sparking in her eye as she considers the prospect of stopping the plots of creatures that are an age-old enemy of elvenkind, and of all free folk.
Valekar tries to remember if he knows how to destroy such an anchor stone.
"Removing the anchor stone should be enough to restore the protection to my cousins, but destroying the anchor would ensure it isn't used for such a purpose again."
"We should head out soon. If possible we should do some reconnaissance on the area before we strike."
Til spends some time in whatever social spots he can find, talking up the people present and trying to see what he can find out about the Drowning Eye or this wise woman . . ..
As the Ravens equip themselves with suitable ordnance, Adonara can’t but notice the villagers caginess. Not that she blames them, with the pressures they’re under: even with their scouts newly returned, and with her and Valekar in the mix to provide a connection to other branches of elvenkind, it’s a lot of new faces under less than ideal circumstances.
She accompanies Tilorean to meet with Athannah, to announce the group’s preparations and request an escort to the waters of the Drowning Eye and, if such can be spared, a spell to mitigate the drain of water-breathing magic on the Ravens’ resources.
She explains the plan to anchor off the Eye and dive down, and that while their own spells offer them fairly wide scope for action, depending on what’s down there, it might take more than one trip.
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"We should head out soon. If possible we should do some reconnaissance on the area before we strike."
“The problem of air complicates matters a bit, but we can certainly do a quick, discreet circuit before inserting ourselves. I think most of us are fairly subtle, and I know a few blessings that can help. I would say especially with the undead, but the one I know works best with simpler brutes than draugr, and it only holds if one doesn’t hold immediate hostile intent,” Adonara floats.
“We also wouldn’t want to leave our scout exposed in a forward position for too long. But it’s worth seeing what we can see when we get there. On the morning tide?”
"Yes, we can provide you with an escort to the Drowning Eye, but we are currently too ill to be able to take part in combat."
Valekar, doing enough physical damage, particularly with a bludgeoning weapon will be enough to destroy the rune.
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“Of course,” Adonara says gently, “and we appreciate the courage to brave even so much. We’ll do our very best to put things to rights as soon as we can.”
“That is, after all, what some of us are born to do,” she proposes wryly, knowing all too well that she doesn’t quite cut the prototypical figure of a crusading saint or heroine straight out of legends and old stories. Even after all this time, she sometimes feels like she’s in costume – that sort of adventuress playing at the other.
“If there’s nothing else that needs immediate attention in our preparations, I’ll return to my devotions and see what spells the goddess sees fit to grant for the morrow,” she concludes.
Taking your scout and a boat you head out to sea. A wide trench scars the seabed here. Sprawled along its northern slope is a wrecked sailing ship, while the pit below is covered with seaweed.
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Come the morning tide, Adonara greets the day with a certain degree of trepidation, remembering her grandmother’s stories about what lurks beneath the waves, and that her ancestors have fought and her kin still do. Nonetheless, the danger only steels her resolve, combining in turn with her zeal to perform a feat worthy of dedication to her goddess.
As the Eye comes into view beneath the waves, along with a wreck that shows that the place lives up to its adjective, she calls out, “There! Worth taking a look at before we go deeper, do you think? If I were defending this place with undead, I might hide some in the wreckage.”
She keeps one eye out as Ragnar sets about guiding their efforts at making safe anchor and everyone gathers their supplies for the dive. In the meantime, knowing the sorts of other tricks a necromancer might try, she finds one of the things she won’t be taking into the waters below, but brought on board for the purpose.
Opening up a slim volume bound in black leather, over the hustle and bustle Adonara recites one of the litanies of war found within. The imagery is perhaps unusual, but aptly pointed, if not even vicious, as befits Calistria, and she’s sure that even nonbelievers might be inspired.
And then, after a suitable pause, when everyone’s physically ready, it’s time to start layering on spells. She turns to Athannah, and inclines her head gratefully, indicating that the adventurers are ready for her water-breathing spell. “Thank you, and we’ll see you back in Acisazi soon, I hope. You should probably return where it’s safest, but this one spell might give us the edge to put things to rights sooner rather than later. If you don’t hear from any of us within a couple of days…”
She lets the winds carry away the obvious implication.
I agree, we should look over that wreckage afore we even attempt a dive.
Ragnar slips off his pack and stows his various weapons on himself, as he gets ready for the swim over to the wreck.
"Since we really don't know where the anchor is, it could be inside the wreckage. Not looking would be almost as foolish as going down there in the first place." He grins as he replies to Adonara's question about exploration.
As Adonara reads, Til almost instinctively responds, even quoting along in short spurts.
As for her trying to leave a shoe undropped, Til just can't avoid attempting a wisecrack. "Well, I'll make sure to tell your hairdresser you won't be back. I know I'm coming back!"
Fulk says some prayers to Milani as he readies himself for the dive.
Diving down into the dark murky waters you can see several sunken ships. One wreck seems to lie closer to the location of the Eye than the others, a Magnimarian merchant vessel called the Mistrunner. It looks as if this vessel went down decades ago. You can see 5 undead figures moving around the remains of the wreck but they don't seem to have noticed you as yet.
"Shall we clear them away or use Ado's spell to avoid them?" Valekar asks the others quietly
I am thinking that we need to look in the wreck. Thinking we need to get our undersea legs first. There is only 5, and we should be able to clear them with no issues.
Ragnar lines up his crossbow and waits for the word, one way or the other.
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Peering through the shadows of the waters, Adonara nods appreciatively at Ragnar’s aggressiveness. “Sounds like a plan, but if those are draugr, they’ll be resistant to the weapons that work best underwater, so we might want to concentrate on taking them down one at a time.”
Then again, many of the others are much better at the direct application of violence than she is. In any case, she waits until the group is just close enough, and then…
When everyone is ready Bachu will move forward (and attack if we are close enough for a charge).
Fulk throws a flurry of acid bolts at the same draugr Ado is firing at.
Valekar uses his slumber hex on the nearest one.
About as uncomfortable as he gets, Til tries to line up the new crossbow with one of the undead thingies closer to the group.
BAB, Dex, Deadly Aim
Cold Iron / Piercing
Ragnar fires at the same one that Til fires at.
Adonara's spell hits one of the undead and it howls in pain.
Bachu moves across and strikes the closest one.
Valekar's spell goes off but it seems the draugr are immune to its effects.
Tilorean's crossbow strikes a third creature but it ignores the damage.
Ragnar's crossbow also strikes a creature, but only some of the damage gets through
[i]Fulk's bolts blast into one of the draugr, destroying it.
Til frowns, thinking he had hit the target but seeing no evidence of it. He reloads and looses another bolt at the same target.
After connecting the first time Bachu puts all his might and quickness into taking out the creature.
Valekar imbues the crossbow with arcane power, points it at the skeleton he has the cleanest shot at, and fires.
for
Then he reloads the crossbow
Tilorean's bolt flies through the water striking one of the druagr and destroying it.
Bachu punches another draugr, several times pulverising it into dust.
Valekar's bolt strikes a third creature but not all of the damage gets through.
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It won’t work but half as well underwater, but Adonara gets her whip in hand as she joins the others in pressing their attack diving down to the wreck which the wretched undead are scattered about.
She stays out of reach, just close enough that if she doesn’t get charged next round she can put her whip to good use, and sends another cantrip at the draugr Valekar wounded.
Seeing the bolt had minimal affect, Ragnar slings it and moves forward while pulling his axe.
Alright you miserable stinking walking pustules of goo. Lets see how you like this.
Adonara your spell strikes one of the draugr, doing a small amount of damage
Fulk keeps flinging acid, concentrating on the Draugr Valekar hit.
"Are they resistant to cold energy? " Valekar asks the others
Fulk's bolts destroy another draugr and damage a second.
One of the draugr swims across and attacks Bachu, the other double moves towards Adonara.
Bachu continues his assault against the undead.
Valekar imbues his crossbow with even more arcane energy, and a minor spell and fires again.
for
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"Are they resistant to cold energy? " Valekar asks the others
“I don’t think so, no,” Adonara offers, sending herself floating back from the nearest draugr, calling a spark of magic to her whip as she goes.
She lashes out as best she can through the water, calling upon her favoured cantrip for this sort of business again like a prayer as well.
Fulk fires off a few bolts aimed to intercept the one headed for Ado.
Bachu's three blows pulverise the draugr in front of him.
Valekar then finishes off the remaining one.
Ragnar drifts to halt from swimming to the one going for Adonara.
Well those went down quick. Lets hope everything else does as smooth
"That went well. Shall we explore this ship?"
Valekar looks around for any sign of the anchor.
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“Do let’s,” Adonara nods, as she makes a bee wasp-line for the wreck, swimming forward quickly but cautiously as she coils her whip again and readies her crossbow instead.
“We can hope,” she adds, her jaded cynicism prompting her to offer a word of caution nonetheless, “but it was bound to be whatever was pulling their strings that we really have to worry about. Especially if it created them.”
Necromantic aboleth, the courtesan thinks, disgustedly. As if the slimy, megalomaniac things weren’t bad enough to begin with.
As she gets closer to the wreck, Adonara peers through any promising holes in the hull for anything of interest or more lurking undead.