CCC-WWC-04 The Black Hand [5e Adventurers League] [Recruitment Closed] (Inactive)

Game Master Aeshuura

Used to unorthodox and generally counter-intuitive fae spells, Shaldinari breathes in the water. Feeling her lungs fill with the salty fluid, she struggles to relax her chest and lungs enough to comfortably start breathing again. Finally she gets just enough equilibrium, or the need to breath is simply too overwhelming and she finds herself breathing both air and water normally.

Breaking into a smile, but then frowning for a second she snaps her fingers, runs back to her pack and grabs her wand and healing potions and ties them both carefully to her belt.

"Almost forgot these." She says and then leaps into the water to see how Halara's spell works.

Seeing Shaldinari breath in the water bubble Antonio take a deep breath. And panic sets in, his body goes stiff from the unnatural form flowing down his throat to his lungs. The feeling of liquid filling his lungs and just as he is about to start coughing it all up he notices that he is not short of breath and his body starts to relax.
Fear is the mind killer, there is nothing to fear but fear
He keeps repeating in his head until he is relaxed and ready to dive into the deep blue.
Standing on the edge of the deck about to dive in the feeling of not having any armor on makes him feel vulnerable. Holding his spear in one hand and the holy symbol around his neck in the other "Test me all you want I shall not fail" He says to himself. And then dives into the sea.

Sucking the bubble of seawater deep into his lungs, Jarprax chokes for a brief second, coughing a fine mist of water onto anyone standing next to him. Then, with a grin and a shout of "STRONMAUS!", he charges for the gunnel, leaps the rail, and cannonballs into the sea.

Having not quite put down a mouthful of freshly fried cod, the faceful of water thrusted forth suddenly was a shock. :Damnit, I knew it...the sea-b!$@* means to assassinate us all in one swoop.: But as he gurgles and gags he realizes after all it isn't that bad...and as the others depart he calms down and shrugs to the wizard and captain "Well...so long, and thanks for all the fish!"

Then disaster strikes. He bursts into a running jump but slips right on the edge in his barefeet, toppling head over heels and landing with a hard and loud *crack* of a belly flop. Curling into a fetal position, he slowly descends to the deeps...

Zar watches closely as Halara begins the ritual. At first it doesn't register what she is singing but when his attention is drawn to the words, he begins to blush. His wandering thoughts are brought back to focus by the blob of water in front of his face. Looking questioningly at the elven wizard, he takes a few deep breaths while getting the courage to breathe in the water. His first thought after taking it in is how salty the water is and he rushes over to get a drink from his water skin to rinse his mouth. It's only then does he realize he is breathing fine.

He watches as both Jarprax and Blacklock run and jump into the water, cringing when he hears the smack from Blacklock as he hits. Calmly walking over to the edge, he nods to Halara, and then jumps in feet first, making sure his gear stays with him.

Once in the water, he goes under to test his breathing. Satisfied, he carefully pulls out one of the rocks in his belt pouch. Holding it in the palm of his hand, he casts light on it and returns it to the pouch.

Ok, going to move forward. And, Blacklock, having been recipient of a belly flop like that, I appreciate it!

The shock of the cold water is like a punch in the gut, but being able to breathe underwater allows you to get acclimated after a minute. The sea floor lies 100 feet below the surface, and you find that the equipment that you did bring with you acts almost as ballast allowing you to adjust your depth fairly easily, though moving is slow.

Following the anchor chain down, you see the intense blackness of Maston's Trench on the backdrop of the darkness of the waters around you maybe 75 feet away. Your light allows you to see a bit and the trench stretches out before you, extending beyond the boundary of your light...

The depth is chilling and oppressive, the pressure upon you causing your head to throb, the cold piercing you to the bone. After two hours of searching, you begin to feel frustration at your lack of progress... Make four Constitution saving throws.

You do find that you can actually speak to each other, though it is muted and hard to understand if you get too far away.

Ah, constitution...my specialty.

Con: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13
Con: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19
Con: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5
Con: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18

CON save 1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
CON save 2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CON save 3: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Yikes! I'm hoping you'll allow me to cast Guidance on this roll: CON save 3: 8 + 1d4 ⇒ 8 + (1) = 9

Dammit!

CON save 4: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Diving quickly for the bottom, Jarprax is amused by the underwater realm, and laughs uproariously at the sound of his own voice. Unfortunately, his scaly hide does not adapt well to the cold, and he soon finds himself regretting this adventure - if you didn't know better you'd think he was whining: "We were not meant for this world below the waves - Stronmaus's people belong to the air, the sky, even, I'll grant you, bobbing on the surface of the sea. But this?!"

Blacklock, you are starting to feel the effects of the cold and pressure. You have one level of exhaustion.

@Jarprax, sadly, it is the cantrip [/i]resistance[/i] that you would need for Saving Throws. You are going strong the first half-hour, but the next hour saps you! You have two levels of exhaustion! You have disadvantage on ability checks and your speed is halved.

You all notice that Jarprax is starting to lag behind, though not by much as everyone is moving at half speed (and Jarprax at 1/4)...

EDIT: You do know that lesser restoration will remove one level of exhaustion. Hopefully, you prepared that spell... ;)

Oh right - saving throw, not ability check. Oh well...
Lesser Restoration?! What do a look like, a Life cleric? :P

Just checking! ;) Bwahaha, well, long rest it is then!

*swatting away a pack of weird minnows pecking at his nose* "...Damn this interminable underwater wonderland...*glub* ...anyone see anything?"

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Perception, disadv: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

As the others join her in the sea, Shaldinari tests her ability to summon her powers. While sinking beneath the surface she calls upon her fae patron to send a spirit to help her navigate this unfamiliar environment under the sea. After a few minutes of chanting, which might occasionally sound more like arguing to the uninitiated ear, a single fae spirit coalesces near the wood elf. The simple energy form appears to grab Shaldinari around her waste helping guide her body and ease some of the work of swimming through the depths as she kicks with her 'fin' boots.

Casting Unseen Servant to see if this will work.:)

Con: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Adv. Con: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Con: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Adv. Con: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Con: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Adv. Con: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Con: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Adv. Con: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

This save is not due to swimming, so alas, you do not get advantage, but ignoring advantage, you only fail once. You have one level of exhaustion as the cold and pressure brutalizes you in the first 30 minutes, but you get used to it by the end of two hours...

Con save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Con save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Con save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Con save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

The feeling of not having armor on is strange and Antonio looses some of his focus being in the dark cold water.

This save is not due to swimming, so alas, you do not get advantage, but ignoring advantage, you only fail once. You have one level of exhaustion as the cold and pressure brutalizes you in the first 30 minutes, but you get used to it by the end of two hours...

Ah! Got it. Sorry for the confusion on my part, but at least I still made some of the checks. :)

No worries! You made all but the first one.

Antonio struggles a bit, getting used to the lack of armor and the utter cold, but he starts to get used to it after a while... Unless you take my suggestion with the rebuild, you will have two levels of exhaustion. If you bump up your Con (which won't affect your other bonuses) you only missed the second one.

Now just waiting on Zar, Tana, and Jiro. 4 Con saves each, please!

Con: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Con: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Con: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Con: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Not being much of a swimmer, Zar struggles a bit to swim to the sea floor. Once there, the cold and pressure initially bother him but he eventually acclimates to being under water.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

I will be doing the rework when I get home

Going to move on...

Zar catches up to everyone, feeling the effects of the last two hours swimming along the sea floor. Zar has one level of exhaustion.

Jiro and Tana are looking about the same. The look of exhaustion is evident on their faces, but they soldier on...

Disadvantage for Zar: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

As you both make your way along the sea floor, trying to find where this Tenet of Bane might be hidden, Blacklock spots an odd rock formation ahead, just as Shaldinari is moving up to it. A pair of dark eyes flash open before it leaps after her, but Blacklock notices it just early enough to shout a warning!

Two Octopi burst forward at Shaldinari and Antonio!

Initiative!

"Loooook ouuuut!" and 2 huge bubbles flow out of his nostrils, screaming across the sea floor while leveling his xbow at the predator's inksac...

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Initiative, disadv: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Ready for when ally in melee

Xbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Dmg+Snk: 1d8 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + (5, 5) + 3 = 14

Oh damn, thanks for remembering! Remember that initiative is an ability check, so since everyone has at least one level of exhaustion, it is at disadvantage...

Octopus initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

A storm of bubbles erupts around Shaldinari's head as she hears Blacklock's warning and spots the big eye staring at her at about the same moment. Not used to the way her body reacts to every little motion in the underwater realm, she loses several seconds trying to regain her balance and footing before she can truly respond to the danger. But eventually she recovers enough to try and shot the big octopus with her crossbow.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Dis. Adv. Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Crossbow nearest octobeast: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Initiative1: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Initiative2: 1d20 ⇒ 9

At the rear of the group, Jarprax is finding it difficult to see what is happening near the front. It isn't until he puzzles out Blacklock's muffled shout that he realizes the party is under attack. Rushing forward, the water and his own exhaustion slowing him down, he realizes he won't make it to the melee fast enough, and instead throws a javelin at the nearest enemy.

I assume, moving at half speed, Jarprax won't be able to make it to melee range, but will at least be within javelin range (30').

Javelin: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Initiative: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8
Dis-advantage initiative: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

Lashing out with his spear, Antonio tries to stab at the creature.
Spear attack one handed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage, piercing: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Seeing the octopi, Zar tries to cast a spell.

Ranged attack (Ray of Frost: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage (cold): 1d8 ⇒ 3(-10 ft on speed on hit)

Jarprax roars out: "Isn't is cold enough without you throwing around icicles?!"

Did I get a level of exhaustion? I'll include disadvantage just in case.

Jiro Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Jiro Initiative (disadvantage): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Of course, use up a 19 and a Nat 20 on initiative! ;)

Jiro points his wand of magic missiles at the octopus attacking Shaldinari and hopes the wand is not a fake like the "artifacts" he usually deals in.

1 charge - all 3 darts at the one octopus

Magic Missle damage: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 4) + 3 = 13

Yes, I rolled for you and you only failed once.

Tana Initiative w/ disadvantage: 2d20 + 3 ⇒ (19, 20) + 3 = 42

Initiative - Round 1

Order
Jiro -> Tana -> Blacklock -> Zar -> Shaldinari -> Antonio -> Octopods -> Jarprax

Jiro calls out the command word on his wand, sending silvery bolts into the first octopus! Trails of bubbles raise to the surface behind each shot... -13 hp for Giant Octopus 1

Zar casts his ray of frost and it flares out in front of him, creating a chunk of ice that begins floating to the surface! He finds that though his range has been reduced greatly, he was still close enough to strike the creature, which recoils in response! -3 hp on Giant Octopus 1 (total -16)

Shal levels her crossbow, firing at the rapidly expanding creature! The bolt tears through a membrane, but does not slow the creature! -4 hp on Octopus 1 (total -20)

Antonio swims forward to intercept the charging beast, thrusting his spear forward into the creature! Simultaneously, Blacklock takes his shot, the two of them scoring vicious hits! 9 + 14 hp damage to the Giant Octopus! (Total -34 hp).

Simply looking for food, the injured one sprays an inky cloud of black and Antonio and Shaldinari feel the jetstream of water signifying that it is bolting! Antonio may make an Attack of Opportunity at disadvantage, if he wishes.

Giant Octopus 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Disadvantage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

For a moment, Antonio allows himself a breath, but then is battered by the second giant octopus, then it wraps around him! 10 bludgeoning damage and Antonio is grappled and restrained!

Jarprax swims in to strike, hearing Antonio's yelp of surprise! Disadvantage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 Still a hit!

Jarprax smiles a toothy grin as he feels his javelin strike home! He is doubly happy that there is no sharp yelp of pain from Antonio, telling him that he struck the giant beast instead of his friend! -7 hp Giant Octopus 2

Blacklock from a bit further back sees that the first Octopus is barely visible maybe 100 feet away!

Initiative - Round 1

Order
Jiro -> Tana -> Blacklock -> Zar -> Shaldinari -> Antonio -> Octopus -> Jarprax

Will give Tana a little more time to post.

Not that it matters likely, but math nerd sitting next to me smells something fishy...13+3+4+9+14=43 not 34.

Ooops! Still not enough to kill it. ;p

Okay, botting Tana.

Tana swims forward, a dart in her hand and thrusts forward!

Dart: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Disadvantage due to darkness: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Missing that attack, she kicks out to strike at the creature!

Unarmed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Disadvantage due to underwater/darkness: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Back to the top!!!

Initiative - Round 2

Order
Jiro -> Tana -> Blacklock -> Zar -> Shaldinari -> Antonio -> Octopus -> Jarprax

Reminder: There is a 10' radius of inky black cloud, so any attacks on the Giant Octopus are at disadvantage.

EB Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Dis Adv EB Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 2 Plus 10' Knockback

Not wanting to spend time reloading her crossbow, Shaldinari sends a blast of purple-green eldritch force toward the octopus. The chaotic fae orb, generates a comet tail of bubbles as it travels through the sea toward it's intended target only to be lost in the swirling black ink.

Stubbornly unwilling to let the first octopus get away, Blacklock reaches for the wand knowing his xbow simply doesn't have the range down here. He thought he had figured out how it worked, but nothing happened at first...so he kept calling out the command word over and over while punching the wand physically in the stalk. In reality, subtle imperfections in his voice were causing it to fail...until he by chance got it right on an accidentally overloaded cast, astonishing him with the recoil of 8 force missiles...

Targeting the one he glimpsed at 100 ft

6 charges: 8d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 1, 2, 4, 2, 4, 4, 2) + 8 = 30

Content that the first octopus is fleeing, Zar sends the next Ray of Frost at the second one. "What's a little more cold? Better than sending less effective fire bolts. I suppose when were done here I can send a few off into the depths to see if it will help warm up the water," he adds.

Ranged attack (Ray of Frost): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Ranged attack (Ray of Frost): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Damage (cold): 1d8 ⇒ 7

The tentacles wrapping tightly around Antonio squeezing him for all that it worth. Antonio sensing the danger flexes his mussels and fall back to his hand to hand training when he was still in the Infantry and tries to break fee of the aquatic nightmare.

Escaping a Grapple-Athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

A stunned Jarprax almost forgets to attack: "You mean, this whole time, you could have made the water warmer!? YES! Definitely you should do that, wizard!"

Javelin: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Javelin (disadv): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Blacklock, make a Perception check. I think at 100 feet underwater, without goggles, it might be difficult to make out the target. Though it is auto hit, it is a target you can see.

Antonio feels a chill, then hears a Whomp! followed by bubbles! Zar and Shaldinari both miss!

The holy warrior flexes and powers his way out of the grasp of the creature!

Initiative - Round 2

Order
Jiro -> Tana -> Blacklock -> Zar -> Shaldinari -> Antonio -> Octopus (-12 hp) -> Jarprax On hold.

Reminder: There is a 10' radius of inky black cloud, so any attacks on the Giant Octopus are at disadvantage.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

The Zhents had trained Blacklock in some arts of perception...fundamentally you had to learn to suppress interpretation, and instead focus on the raw observation. Only with such practice could the rogue cut through the swirling sea and the tentacles of the routing foe...

edit, oops I'm up also. Or were you saying that was an active search required? Fine either way

Xbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Xbow, dis: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Dmg+Snk: 1d8 + 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + (4, 5) + 3 = 15

No, that Perception was for this round (and magic missile.)

Blacklock's training and keen eyes are not thwarted by the distortion of their watery surroundings and locks on to the retreating beast, sending a barrage of arcane bolts after it! The trails of tiny bubbles draw lines to the giant octopus and it slows, crashing in slow motion into the sand... unmoving.

Initiative - Round 2

Order
Jiro -> Tana -> Blacklock -> Zar -> Shaldinari -> Antonio -> Octopus (-12 hp) -> Jarprax On hold.

Reminder: There is a 10' radius of inky black cloud, so any attacks on the Giant Octopus are at disadvantage.

Will wait a little bit for Tana and Jiro to chime in...

Does the ink cloud prevent the octopus from being seen (so magic missile will fail against it)? Or just disadvantage to hit? Hoping he can still see it... but if not he will try to use his dagger.

Jiro fumbles around trying to think what would help best and realizing he doesn’t have many options, he fires off another set of magic misses at that writhing mass of tentacles in the inky cloud near them.

”Jarpax, I bet if you gut that beast, that will warm the water up nicely for you! Show these soft skins how it’s done!” Bardic Inspiration to Jarpax. +1d6 to a roll, but lasts for 10 minutes in case this octopus is already dead.

Magic missle: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 4) + 3 = 12

It is not visible. It is considered as the darkness spell.

Jiro, unable to see his target, swims into the inky cloud and stabs out, but is unable to find the creature...

Botting Tana.

Tana, unable to see, strikes out at the beast, hoping that she does not stab Antonio!

Dart: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Disadvantage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Unarmed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Disadvantage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

She misses again with the blade, but lands another solid kick! The creature swipes at Tana!

Tentacle: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Disadvantage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

But Tana feels the current brush past her face as the cephalopod's appendage misses her!

Initiative - Round 2

Order
Jiro -> Tana -> Blacklock -> Zar -> Shaldinari -> Antonio -> Octopus (-19 hp) -> Jarprax On hold.

Reminder: There is a 10' radius of inky black cloud, so any attacks on the Giant Octopus are at disadvantage.

Jarprax, do you want to use the Bardic Inspiration on that attack?

Sure!

Inspiration: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Ugh...

"That's a good idea, Jiro," grunting and swinging wildly in the darkness, "though I'm not sure how warm these creatures are, inside or out..."

Agh, missed it by 1!

Jarprax feels inspired, but it just isn't quite enough!

Initiative - Round 3

Order
Jiro -> Tana -> Blacklock -> Zar -> Shaldinari -> Antonio -> Octopus (-19 hp) -> Jarprax

Reminder: There is a 10' radius of inky black cloud, so any attacks on the Giant Octopus are at disadvantage.

Okay! Everybody again! Jarprax, I will adjudicate after the Octopus goes!

Antonio Stabs at beast trying to find it's mark in the dark. Knowing where it was when it had him in the grapple, he thrusts the spear point where it should be.
"Torm guide my hand."

Spear attack one handed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Disadvantage Spear attack one handed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Damage, piercing: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11

Cursing as another blast of eldritch power disappears harmlessly into the inky darkness, Shaldinari swims back several paces hoping to either draw the creature out of the protective cloud or simply wait until the ink disperses in the current.

EB Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Dis Adv EB Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 1

Attack and move back 15'.

Blacklock couldn't see anything, but sound travelled nicely underwater, he was finding...and the octopus' giant beak was clicking and cracking loud as an old shutter on a windy day. He aimed at the sound source and let loose...

xbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
xbow, dis: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

...lifting his head from the sights, he waited to see the trail on the other side...but was wholly unsure if the bolt found purchase or no.

Trying to get a sense of the location of the octopus by watching his companions, Zar sends another Ray of Frost into the cloud.

Ranged attack (Ray of Frost): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Ranged attack (Ray of Frost): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Damage (cold): 1d8 ⇒ 8

Jarprax can be heard muttering curses, in several languages, about the darkness; the cold; and weird, soft, multi-armed creatures of the ocean.

Javelin: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Javelin: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Finally!