Boodiddly ducks, then gives his jaw harp another twong. “Hey there captain - why the long face?”
Kolgradd makes a noise half way between a blood-curdling scream and a heaving wretch, he sees his own body transforming as Skywin did, turning into a repugnant flesh-mass. With what he thinks is his last action, he tries to knock the beast from the ship.
Jevar claps his hands over his ears in response to the horrific screaming.
Why do the dark nightmares we encounter always have such hideous screams?!
His tone seems vaguely sarcastic but it's obvious that it has affected him. He throws his fingers forward and releases a bolt of lightning through the creature.
With the pain of the shriek fresh in his mind he jogs back behind Shakur.
Kolgradd manages to shove the ccreature a bit more, causing it to teeter on the edge of the ship!
Boodiddly throws a quip at the monster followed by some of his magic, though the creature doesn’t seem to understand the gnome’s words.
But even despite not understanding the joke, the creature’s nightmarish screams give way to shrieking cackles.
Shakur casts shield then casts ray of enfeeblement at it.
Success --> Failure (crit on the spell attack roll)
Jevar lets loose a bolt of lightning before hiding behind Shakur.
And despite all of the abuse, the monster remains balanced on the edge of the ship!
The creature Strides away from the edge of the ship and lets loose another hideous screech!
Round 3
==============
What was once Skywin (-47) {2d8 persistent negative; Laughing Hideously: Round 1 of 10; enfeebled 2: Round 1 of 10}
Kolgradd (-17) {Stupefied 1: Round 0 of 1}
Boodiddly (-40) {Lingering Defense: Round 2 of 3}
Shakur {Stupefied 1: Round 0 of 1}
Jevar {Stupefied 1: Round 0 of 1}
==============
Jevar looks more and more eager as the creature is backed towards the edge of the ship. Then his expression sinks when it slithers back to the center of the deck.
Okay, let's try something different...
He begins weaving an imaginary sphere between his palms and "dismisses" it forward after a short incantation. A ball of fire appears next to Skywin, rolling onto its fleshy mass.
He blinks and tries to focus his stupefied mind to reel off another spell.
Boodiddly chuckles to sustain his enchantment (though there is very little to find humorous about the situation) before wrapping himself in protective magic.
↻ AoO
Kolgradd had his maul held like a battering ram and awkwardly tried to lunge with it when it moved, but misses wildly. He grabs it properly and swings with rage at it
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
Somehow the shrieks are affecting his motor control, and he hastily puts up a magic shield to protect himself
◆ Cast Shield
Jevar creates a sphere of flame, then protects himself.
Boodiddly protects himself as he keeps the monster laughing.
Kolgradd tries, and fails, to hit the monster multiple times. He then protects himself.
Shakur casts telekinetic projectile then backs away from the screaming beast.
The monster once more echoes a nightmarish scream!
Critical Failure
The monster then lunges at Kolgradd, intent on biting the dwarf.
Round 4
==============
What was once Skywin (-57) {Laughing Hideously: Round 2 of 10; enfeebled 2: Round 2 of 10}
Kolgradd (-17)
Boodiddly (-40) {Sanctuary: Round 1 of 10}
Shakur
Jevar
==============
Boodiddly maintains his magic while wracking his brain for anything useful about the creature.
The next scream causes Jevar to lose all expression temporarily. He blinks and stares ahead for a moment, trying to regain his thought. First he recalls his ball of flame and reaches out from his mind to take it again.
Then he attempts to muster more of his arcane energy for another attack...
but he cannot just yet.
Kolgradd is having a literal nightmare, and attempts to gather his thoughts long enough to guide his hammer.
◆ Cast True Shield (verbal)
The brief incantation comes out more of a scream of pain, and his hammer flies unaided...
◆ Strike
It's all he can do to hold on to his weapon amidst the pain.
◆ Strike
Boodiddly continues singing and thinks about this creature.
Jevar sustains his sphere, then tries to send a flurry of missiles at the beast, but fails.
Kolgradd tries to attack the creature, but his mental turmoil clouds his motor skills.
Shakur Demoralizes the beast.
Unfortunately, he fails to do so, so he follows up by casting agitate.
The monstrous beast screams once again!
Failure
It then ignores its overwhelming urge to move and bites at Kolgradd!
Round 5
==============
What was once Skywin (-80) {Laughing Hideously: Round 3 of 10; enfeebled 2: Round 3 of 10; Agitated 4d8: Round 1 of 2}
Kolgradd (-17) {Stupefied 2}
Boodiddly (-40) {Sanctuary: Round 2 of 10}
Shakur
Jevar {Stupefied 3}
==============
"Don't stand,
don't stand so,
don't stand so close to it, Jevar!"
Boodiddly sings his instructions as he sustains his enchantments and tries to remember something else useful about the poor nightmare.
Jevar continues to get more and more stupefied, shaking his head and blinking to try to regain his clarity. First, he focuses on his fireball again.
Then he hears Boodiddly's input on the creature.
Weak will you say...
He looks down for a moment to really focus on the next incantation.
He looks up and says Run away.
Failure For the first action on its next turn, the creature must use a single action to do as you command.
Critical Failure The target must use all its actions on its next turn to obey your command.
With his head still pounding, Kolgradd tries to smash the creature before it finishes exploding his brains.
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
◆ Cast Shield
Boodiddly continues his music and jokes.
Jevar sustains his sphere…
…and then issues a command to the beast, but the creature doesn’t pay him any mind, as it seems to have not understood the wizard.
Kolgradd moves forward and swings his maul, hitting the creature once before it dodges away on the second.
Shakur casts a 2nd-level spiritual weapon, then Sustains it to attack again with his force dagger.
As the force dagger slashes through the creature, it doesn’t seem super-effective in any capacity.
Once again, the creature rears up and unleashes a terrifying screech!
Crit Failure
It then turns and bites at Kolgradd!
Upon being hit, Kolgradd Shield Blocks. The creature then cringes in mental turmoil from the last salvo of Shakur’s occult magic.
Round 6
==============
What was once Skywin (-124) {Laughing Hideously: Round 4 of 10; enfeebled 2: Round 4 of 10}
Kolgradd (-31) {Stupefied 4}
Boodiddly (-40) {Sanctuary: Round 3 of 10}
Shakur
Jevar {Stupefied 4}
==============
Jevar grunts and growls in frustration at the difficulty he is having controlling his fireball and getting the creature to plant squarely on it. He didn't expect this lumbering mass of flesh to be able to dance around it so much. Or maybe it's the screens.
In frustrated resignation he throws his hands forward again.
Absolute power!
Boodiddly puts his hands in the air as Shakur’s dagger slashes… then lowers them as the nightmare creature remains upright. Grimly he weaves his wards and debilitations once again, pausing only to yell an encouraging word to Kolgradd.
"Any other ideas on this thing?"
Shakur curses as the weapon flies right past the creature. "Uhh...New plan" Though he's not sure it'll work, Shakur casts Fear (first level) at the creature.
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
Kolgradd is clearly in pain and having trouble thinking, he continues swinging weakly despite his better judgement
◆ Strike
Jevar sustains his sphere…
…then launches a bolt of lightning at it.
Boodiddly continues helping.
Shakur sends fear into the creature.
Then Kolgradd attacks the beast, finally managing to down the monstrosity!
Unfortunately, though, the Bloodwind is catching up fast, and the Starling’s crew seem to have all completely disappeared! The amnesiacs all gather up their various items they acquired in the Dreamlands (including Quaveandra’s heartstone) and try their damnedest to prepare for another attack!
Shakur then casts a single 3-action heal to top folks off.
Shakur then pulls out two scrolls of restoration and cast them both on Jevar to get rid of his stupefaction.
Suddenly, the sky turns dark, and the Bloodwind comes close to the Starling! Out from the Bloodwind shoot several lines of grappling hooks that pierce through the Sellen Starling’s frame, connecting the smaller ship to the Bloodwind! The Bloodwind’s anchor falls and on the other ship, the amnesiacs see several creatures: four grizzled humans up on the mast with ropes in hand, and a single cloaked creature that hovers mid-air near the ship’s edge, with only darkness and a pair of glowing eyes visible beneath the cloak.
Round 1
==============
Shakur
Kolgradd {stupefied 4}
Cloaked figure [5 feet above ground]
Boodiddly
Red [50 feet above ground]
Yellow [50 feet above ground]
Green [50 feet above ground]
Blue [50 feet above ground]
Jevar
==============
Jevar exhales in great relief and nods at Shakur.
Much thanks for that. The creature's shriek had me very out of sorts...
Shakur just swallows hard as he blindly reaches for Kolgradd's hammer, eyes fixated on the cloaked figure. He ends up grabbing Kolgradd's elbow instead, which still works. "Go...uhh...*gulp*...Go get 'em tiger..."
Shakur then throws up a quick shield, expecting the initial onslaught to be quite brutal.
"Right, herewe go, thanksh Shaklur"
Kolgradd's voice is slightly slurred and his head is pounding, but he tries to cast a protective spell anyway
◆◆ Cast Mirror Image
He then moves to the edge of his own ship and shouts at the floating figure.
"What are you waiting for?"
◆ Stride
Shakur buffs Kolgradd.
Kolgradd multiplies himself and moves to the edge of the ship.
The cloaked figure turns around and looks up toward the pirates up on the Bloodwind’s mast. The cloaked figure shouts, letting out a gruff, feminine voice. ”You there! Focus on the short one!”
The cloaked figure then Flies down off of the Bloodwind, completely ignoring Kolgradd as she moves amidst the other amnesiacs. She turns to Shakur and reaches out a shadowy, insubstantial hand toward the Pharasmin!
Failure
Failure
Shakur feels as the cloaked figure reaches straight inside of him and pulls out portions of his own life force and absorb it into her own form.
Round 1
==============
Shakur (-26) {drained 1}
Kolgradd {stupefied 4; Heroism +1; 3 images}
Cloaked figure (+5)
Boodiddly
Red [50 feet above ground]
Yellow [50 feet above ground]
Green [50 feet above ground]
Blue [50 feet above ground]
Jevar
==============
"That didn't sound good," Boodiddly says nervously as his fingers tap a jittery rhythm on the body of his violin. His gaze likewise drifts up to the sailors on the other deck. "Um, nothing to see down here folks!" he calls with false positivity. "No cause for alarm or anything like that!"
The cloaked figure instinctively moves to intercept Boodiddly’s spellcasting!
But Boodiddly deftly dodges and sends a wave of calmness up to the pirates on the ship’s mast.
All four of the pirates look at each other, then look down at the PCs. The cloaked figure looks up at them and shouts ”What are you doing?! Come on!”
The pirates all shrug and leap off of the mast, using the ropes in their hands to swing down onto the Sellen Starling, though from there they…just stand around, not even waving their swords offensively.
Round 1 —> 2
==============
Shakur (-26) {drained 1}
Kolgradd {stupefied 4; Heroism +1; 3 images}
Cloaked figure (+5)
Boodiddly
Red {Critically calmed}
Yellow {Calmed}
Green {Critically calmed}
Blue {Critically calmed}
Jevar
==============
Haha! Looks like you lost your friends...
Jevar jeers as he steps back and looks up at the cloaked figure to take aim. He manifests an acid arrow and sends it speeding towards her.
He then grimaces in mock sympathy at the (assumed) effectiveness of his shot.
That's... going to burn a little.
Kolgradd looks at the befuddled sailors and sighs heavily before running around to avoid breaking their spell.
◆ Stride
Building up momentum, he barrels round the corner and tries to swing up in an overhead arc at the floating creature
◆◆ Sudden Charge
Shakur reaches back towards the creature like it did him as his hand glows. "Pharasma give me strength." he utters
[A]True Strike (from sorc L1 slot)
[AA]Searing Light
fire
good if undead? Maybe?
Jevar shoots an acid arrow at the cloaked figure and hits; however, the arrow seems to mostly phase through the figure’s form.
Kolgradd attacks the cloaked figure by going the long way around and manages to swing his maul straight through the figure, but even though it doesn’t impact with anything substantial, the cloaked figure still seems to have been injured.
Shakur uses his magic and shoots a searing light at the cloaked figure, and the Lady of Graves guides Her cleric’s hand to destroy this abomination to the Cycle of Souls! While the attack does not seem fully effective, it nevertheless hurts the cloaked figure.
The cloaked figure growls, and glares at Boodiddly as it is clear that the gnome did something to pacify her compatriots. In anger, she reaches out to touch the gnome twice.
Failure (though you do still have two Hero Points)
[ooc]Boodiddly is now drained 1.
The cloaked figure then does a tactical retreat to be over the water and out of the line of fire.
Takes nothing
Round 2
==============
Shakur (-26) {drained 1}
Kolgradd {stupefied 4; Heroism +1; 3 images}
Cloaked figure (-73 from “4” attacks [before resistances]) {1d6 persistent acid}
Boodiddly (-16) {drained 1}
Red {Critically calmed}
Yellow {Calmed}
Green {Critically calmed}
Blue {Critically calmed}
Jevar
==============
“No cause for alarm,” Boodiddly repeats, his voice taking on a sing-song effect. “Nothing wrong here…” He squints at the retreating figure, trying to remember what kind of creature she might be.
↻ AoO
"Coward!" Kolgradd shouts after the retreating form as he swings at it, then thinks what he should do.
◆ Recall Knowledge
He spins his maul around in an arcane manner, trying to conjure the cold magic he was sure was easy this morning.
◆◆ Cast Ray of Frost
He can't seem to make it work however
Boodiddly sustains his magic.
The pirates just stand around looking awkwardly.
Kolgradd tries, and fails, to launch a ray of frost at the cloaked figure.
Round 2 —> 3
==============
Shakur (-26) {drained 1}
Kolgradd {stupefied 4; Heroism +1; 3 images}
Cloaked figure (-100 from “5” attacks [before resistances]) {1d6 persistent acid}
Boodiddly (-16)
Red {Critically calmed}
Yellow {Calmed}
Green {Critically calmed}
Blue {Critically calmed}
Jevar
==============
“It’s a wraith, it’s a wraith, does anybody see the sun? All she needs is a little sunshine in her life…”
I have fire, but I do not have sun. Jevar admits before he executes another incantation that touches Kolgradd.
Jevar protects himself and hastens Kolgradd.
Shakur casts shield then telekinetic projectile.
The cloaked figure Flies around the ship and reaches a smokey hand out to Jevar!
When she misses, she Flies once more out of reach of those on the boat.
Doesn’t get over resistances.
Round 3
==============
Shakur (-26) {drained 1}
Kolgradd {stupefied 4; Heroism +1; 3 images; Hasted: Round 0 of 10}
Cloaked figure (-100 from “5” attacks [before resistances]) {1d6 persistent acid}
Boodiddly (-16)
Red {Critically calmed}
Yellow {Calmed}
Green {Critically calmed}
Blue {Critically calmed}
Jevar
==============
Boodiddly continues to sing-song soothingly. “Nothing to worry about - we can all calm down slow down, take it easy.” The toad atop his head croaks in agreement.
Boodiddly continues soothing the pirates while slowing the wraith.
The wraith begins moving significantly slower as it becomes clear that Boodiddly’s magic worked.
The pirates stare off lazily, one of them eventually asking another ”So…uh…how’s the wife?”
Round 3 —> 4
==============
Shakur (-26) {drained 1}
Kolgradd {stupefied 4; Heroism +1; 3 images; Hasted: Round 1 of 10}
Cloaked figure (-100 from “5” attacks [before resistances]) {1d6 persistent acid; Slowed 1: Round 0 of 10}
Boodiddly (-16)
Red {Critically calmed}
Yellow {Calmed}
Green {Critically calmed}
Blue {Critically calmed}
Jevar
==============
Kolgradd grunts in disgust, ◇ shifts his maul into one meaty hand, and ◆ pulls the returning light hammer from a loop on his belt. He weighs it for a fraction of a section as he judges the throw, then hurls it at the cloaked figure.
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
Kolgradd takes out his hammer and chucks it at the wraith, downing the creature once and for all!
The amnesiacs barely have time to revel in their victory when more grappling hooks shoot out from the Bloodwind, piercing through the hull of the Sellen Starling, causing it to begin to sink. With only minimal time to heal their wounds, Shakur casts a single 3-action heal.
And with no other option due to their sinking ship, the amnesiacs abandon ship and climb aboard the Bloodwind.
The ship beneath the blood-red sails is made of dark, gnarled wood. Open hatches provide a view of the rowing benches below. These benches bear manacles at every seat, but are currently empty.
”Hmph.”
Standing at the helm of the Bloodwind is a man whose body is almost completely covered in clothes. The man wears a tricorne on his head and holds a cutlass in one hand. This is no man, though; the amnesiacs know this to be the denizen of Leng Captain Vadrack.
”So you are the four Weiralai wanted dead? Must say, I was expecting more.”
Jevar pants leans over on the railing of the ship to catch his breath. He then looks up to catch Oreb flying overhead and final land, after his climbing out of the water. A very dark wet spot is forming under him as he air dries.
Hey... *pant* Yeah... that's *cough* Us. Uh... what did she say about us? Maybe we can still live up to it.
"Question, if I may, before any of this turns ugly." Shakur points back to the sinking ship. "Did...did you come to us or did we come to you? Either way, you MUST know we want something from you."
"Question, if I may, before any of this turns ugly." Shakur points back to the sinking ship. "Did...did you come to us or did we come to you? Either way, you MUST know we want something from you."
Captain Vadrack raises an eyebrow in curiosity. "You are after me? Such serendipity that we all now have what we were looking for."
Finally having caught his breath after the swim Jevar butts back in.
But why are you looking for us?
Boodiddly smiles coldly. “If Weiralai hired you to kill us, then surely she must have told you how she perished at our hands. Your boatswain? Evaporated. Your sailors? Pacified. Are you so eager to return to Leng yourself?”
But why are you looking for us?
”To kill you.”
Boodiddly smiles coldly. “If Weiralai hired you to kill us, then surely she must have told you how she perished at our hands. Your boatswain? Evaporated. Your sailors? Pacified. Are you so eager to return to Leng yourself?”
”What she has told me is of no consequence, for as long as my dear Bloodwind remains afloat, nothing will stop me!”
Captain Vadrack laughs loudly, and the hull of the Bloodwind begins creaking and swaying, as if the ship itself were laughing with him!
Captain Vadrack motions with his free hand as he casts mirror image on himself. ”Kill them all! Leave no remains to be found!”
Suddenly, a pair of ropes snake down from the Bloodwind’s rigging and act on their own! The ropes pounce on Kolgradd and try to tie themselves around the dwarf!
Kolgradd suddenly finds himself tangled in a mess of rope that are trying to restrain him!
Round 1
==============
Captain Vadrack {3 images}
Bloodwind
Boodiddly
Shakur (-4) {drained 1}
???
Kolgradd {stupefied 4; grabbed}
Jevar
==============
Boodiddly blows a long, melodic raspberry at the captain, then waves a hand dismissively. "One of you is boring enough. Begone."
"Straight to business, I see. Well, means I don't have to debate whether it's right or wrong..."
Shakur starts with a Jealous Hex (DC 23) before quickly whipping a dagger over to the captain.
Boodiddly lingers his music then tries to dispel the captain’s magic, but fails to do so.
Shakur places a hex on Vadrack then flings one of his daggers.
But it merely pierces through one of the illusory Vadracks.
Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, several greenish blurs race towards the amnesiacs from around Vadrack’s position. The stop next to Kolgradd just long enough for the amnesiacs to get a proper look at them: thin, lanky creatures with antennae that are about the height of Boodiddly. All three of them blow raspberries at the amnesiacs as they slice at the tied up Kolgradd with their shortswords!
Success
Just as quickly as they had arrived, the antenna-men dart away in a blur of green. It takes a moment of looking to find them again: one at the front of the ship, another at the back, and the third somehow managed to get up the central mast!
Round 1
==============
Captain Vadrack {2 images}
Bloodwind
Boodiddly {Lingering Defense: Round 0 of 3}
Shakur (-4) {drained 1}
Yellow
Green [45' above ground]
Blue
Kolgradd (-8) {heroism +1; stupefied 4; grabbed}
Jevar
==============