Jiro continues to flail about in the ink cloud muttering to himself, ”This is such a bad idea. This is such a bad idea.’
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Initiative - Round 3
Order
Jiro -> Tana -> Blacklock -> Zar -> Shaldinari -> Antonio -> Octopus (-39) hp) -> Jarprax
Jiro slashes out and feels his dagger bite into flesh!
Blacklock is certain that he landed a blow with his crossbow, not seeing it emerge the other side... Not hearing an audible yelp, he is certain that he did not hit any of his companions.
Zar plays out probabilities and picks his shot, sending his spear of ice out from his finger!
Shaldinari's blast kicks up a cloud of sand and silt behind the inky cloud, telling her that she missed her shot!
Tana stabs again! Then she kicks again!
Antonio says a little prayer and he thrusts forward, feeling resistance as he punctures the beast!
Antonio, Jiro, Tana, and Jarprax feel a rush of water, a current blow over them as the creature rides a jet away! (Disengaging, as it goes!)
Shaldinari, Zar, and Blacklock see the cephalopod shoot out like an arrow from the inky cloud!
Watching the big sea creature flit off into the darkness of the sea, Shaldinari feels no need to pursue it further. We probably surprised it as much as it did us. She thinks to herself. Besides, she did not harbor the same bloodlust against innocent wild creatures that obviously lurked behind Blacklock's beady eyes.
But squinting in the direction of the thief's warning look, she had to admit, if only to herself, that his beady eyes seemed to be better than hers in this underwater realm. She could see nothing but rocks, kelp and a few flitting fish.
"Faces?" She says, her voice muffled by the water. "Where? I don't see anything."
Emerging from the ink cloud, Jarprax grumbles: "Ahh, damn - I was going to eat that ..."
Head swiveling quickly to see what Blacklock is talking about:
"Eh? Are you sure?"
Addressing the rocks directly, Jarprax shouts: "Alright then - come on out! Perhaps you can lend us a hand - we're looking for something, but are a bit lost."
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When Blacklock calls out, the forms begin to emerge. Eight, in total, your attention is quickly drawn to their lower halves, that of large fishy tails! While they carry spears, their posture is nonthreatening, and seem more curious than frightened or alarmed.
With some hesitation, the largest male amongst them swims forward. In a voice that carries easily through the water, he says, Greetings, I am Kalinos of the merfolk tribe Orlanthis. We mean you no harm, but your presence is unexpected. Why have you ventured below the waves?
Nodding politely to the merfolk, Jarprax (still unsure how to regulate his voice underwater) shouts: "Greetings to you and yours, Kalinos! We have travelled in search of an evil artifact, to retrieve and neutralize the hatred it spreads. Have you, perhaps, seen a large stone scallop shell?"
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Stone scallop shell, you say? He looks to his friends and back at you all, Everyone down here knows of it... for it is a tragic tale.
He looks at you all, and your exhausted faces, But you are looking in the wrong place! It is an hour swim that direction, the merfolk gestures toward the far end of the trench, If it pleases you, we could lead you and your ship there.
Satisfied that the immediate threat is gone when the octopus swims away, Zar relaxes for the moment. When Blackrock mentions they are being watched, he too struggles to see what he is talking about.
When the merfolk emerge, he wonders how long they have been there watching. Having had a previous encounter with one, and seeing their nonthreatening posture, he doesn't seem worried.
He listens patiently while Jarprax and Blacklock talk with Kalinos. "An hour swim! That's not happening," he thinks when he hears how far off they are. He nods in agreement when Kalinos offers to lead the ship to where they need to be while trying to determine if they can be trusted.
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While accompanying you all back to the ship, Kalinos tells you the tale of King Garnon, the merman that united the merfolk of the Western Moonsea. It was he that built a city amid the coral reef and underwater cliffs near the human settlement of Mulmaster in the time of the Spellplague.
He named the city Garnthall, and it flourished for decades with King Garnon as its cherished ruler. As the Spellplague altered the face of the surface world, so too, did it alter the lands beneath the sea. Many of the ledges above the city collapsed when the tremors struck, and amid the rubble this stone scallop shell was discovered!
It was a thing of beauty, with flowing engravings along its top half. Every child was taught this story, and the description so detailed that we could recognize it, even without seeing it with our own eyes. The people made it a gift to the king, and he was so touched, that he put it on display in the common room of his palace to represent the people... HIS people.
As years passed, King Garnon's disposition soured, and he began to treat his people with malice and contempt. The barest of slights were met with death, or worse, slow, agonizing torture. The tales say that he obsessed over the shell and eventually moved it to his private chambers so he could be near it, always.
We are a peaceful people, Kalinos says solemnly, While others may have devolved into war, many of our people left the city, forming new tribes and settling elsewhere in the Moonsea. Only his most loyal and fanatical subjects stayed behind.
What remains of King Garnon and his subjects is largely unknown. No one goes there. No one dares. Ah, we are at your ship!
He and his hunting party remain in the water but he tells you all, We will be here. Speak with your captain. If you trust us, we will take you to edge of Garnthall and no further. If you require rest, let us know and we will wait for you. We can return later, if you wish.
--
You all get back on deck. The climb is hard on you all, and the exhaustion shows. Captain Lesko, not wasting any small talk, Have ye found it? What ye've been searching for?
Feeling the rush of water from the departing creature Antonio stand ready for another attack inside the black inky muck. But when he hears voices he makes his way out of the black only to be face to face with war party of Merfolk.
Then he notices that Jarpax is have a civilized talk with them and realizes that the Merfolk are peaceful.
"So is the eight armed beasts the most fear predetor in the area? Or are there other dangers around?"
Accepting their offer as guides Antonio makes his way back to the ship for a rest.
On board the ship, Antonio asks if there is a healer on the ship. As he nurses his wounds.
"I knew that creature liked me, since it really was having a 'crush' on me."
"Many thanks to you, Kalinos! It is our belief that an evil artifact contained within the shell sculpture is warping the minds of Garnon and his followers - we've seen similar cases twice before, on the surface and below the ground, and both times were able to remove the cursed object. Would you or some of the other tribes be willing to help us?"
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It must be something to do with the underwater environment. The odd quiet and peace of this cold, dim realm. So different from the surface or even being underground. Whatever it was, it made Shaldinari unusually quiet during the journey back to the ship. Simply content to listen to the merman's story and let Jarprax do the talking.
Climbing back onto the ship she notices several stares from admiring sailors as the sun glitters off of her wet, scantly clad body. Smiling coyly she throws back her long hair in a great wave as she finishes the climb up the rope ladder. She could practically feel the multitude of hearts racing on the ship, and decides to soak the moment for all its worth.
With all of the grace and poise of an elf, she steps over the railing, to masterfully finish her return onboard. Only she forgots about her big floppy, flipper, shoes. The long 'webs' catch the rail and instead of a glorious graceful arrival there's a loud Thwack as her face slams into the deck. Nose bleeding, but fortunately not broken, she gets onto her hands and knees only to suddenly have her stomach revolt as all of the water in her lungs and guts comes flooding back out. The seemingly massive pool of foul water covering a large area of the deck and her front. A single fingerling flops around, which she promptly flicks back overboard wondering How did that get there?!
"Can we go back to the bloody kobold cave." She mutters, her voice a bit nasally before she staggers down to her hammock, the laughter and 'eeewwws' of the sailors still echoing in her ears.
Zar relaxes a bit as it seems the merfolk are willing to help. He listens to Kalinos as he tells the tale of King Garnon, nodding in agreement to Jarprax's statement.
Climbing aboard the ship, Zar collapses on the deck, worn out from all the physical activity. He reaches around his side, rubbing his back. "All that swimming is tiring. I'm sore in places I didn't know I had muscles. A night's rest might do us all some good," he says, still laying prone on the deck. "I'm not sure I'll ever get used to all this physical activity," he thinks to himself, not noticing what happened to Shaldinari.
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Kalinos laughs and replies to Antonio, No, they are dangerous and intelligent. That one that lived will not come near you again, I'd wager. She'll remember you for a long time. The ones that you want to watch for are the sharks! Nasty creatures, teeth like daggers!
Kalinos' demeanor darkens at Jarprax' request for aid, None of our folk will dare enter the city. I am afraid that you are out of luck. At most, we can take you to the border of the city. I apologize, but that is as much as we can offer.
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As you all spill aboard, finding that the hours that you spent underwater was more work than it seemed, your muscles scream for relief. The captain looks at Blacklock, then at Shaldinari's mess, Cabin boy! Swab this up!
Captain Lesiko turns back to the Zhent thief and speaks, Can they be trusted? Ain't ever encountered one o' them 'afore.
Halara, the ship's wizard, crouches down to help Shaldinari up, The merfolk are a peaceful kind, I don't expect much trouble.
Then turning her attention back to Shaldinari, Come now, youngling, let us get you cleaned up. Captain, I will return shortly.
The captain bristles at Zar's remark, Time is money folks. I'll give ye a night, but I can't be floatin' listless waiting for y'all to search fer whatever it is ye're hunting!
Talking to the ship's wizard.
"The water was colder than we thought and the pressure was much more and took a toll on many of us. Do you have magics to help counter act the effects?"
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Tana is happy to be back aboard the ship. She first listens to both Antonio.
She nods in agreement as Antonio mentions the cold and the water pressure.
Yes, Captain, Antonio is correct. We need something to counter the effects of the cold and the pressure.
Then as Blacklock speaks Tana's ears perk up. His theory is intriguing! And as Blacklock says "We'll be countin' on you for backup", she too focuses on the Captain's response to Blacklock.
Insight: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
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Captain Lesiko shakes his head, We are a merchant vessel, not a deep sea recovery vessel. Halara's water breathing magicks are a kind of, just-in-case. I am afraid, you will have to power through, unless you have magicks that may help you. What about the storm priest?
The captain gestures toward Jarprax with a shrug.
Tana can clearly see that the captain is impatient, but it seems moreso because this is taking longer than he expected than any desire to take what you are looking for. In fact, you haven't revealed what it is you are searching for and he doesn't seem to care overly much. He seems to care more for his ship and crew.
"Believe me, we want to get this over with as quickly as you do. No offense, but I'd rather not spend so much time on the boat. I prefer it when the surface I'm standing on doesn't move underneath me," Zar responds to the captain.
He slowly gets up and gathers the equipment he had left on board and finds a bunk to rest in. He gets a bite to eat and is about to study his spell book when he remembers Halara and finds the elf.
"Thank you again for your helpful spell today. We wouldn't have been able to accomplish what we did without it. How long do the effects last? I can't say that I'm familiar with how the spell works but I imagine it is one you use often being on a ship.
One of the reasons I started adventuring was to have an ability to collect more spells. Perhaps you would be willing teach me one that I don't know. I would be willing to do the same for you," he says tapping his spell book. "Or perhaps you find other things more valuable," he adds tapping his coin pouch. He smiles awkwardly, trying his best not to get too excited about learning new spells, as he waits for a response.
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Halara helps Shaldinari to her cabin and says with mock sternness, Can't let them see an elf in such an undignified manner. You'll be alright, youngling. We will see you when you are cleaned up.
--
The day goes by fairly quickly, with the ship following the merfolk and you all getting some rest after the harrowing dive from earlier in the day. Soon, the morning comes and you all feel better!
Halara is waiting at the rails of the deck for you all to prepare your next expedition, Ready to go? I believe that the merfolk will take you as far as they dare. Make sure you mark your direction. If you have to make your return after dark, you'll not be able to make out the ship. Make for the anchor chain and you will be able to climb it back up to the surface.
She looks overboard and signals to a merfolk awaiting you all, May the gods be with you.
Crashing into bed, Jarprax sleeps long and hard. When people try to rouse him the next morning, he is uncharacteristically harsh: "Piss off - I'm tired!"
Eventually, annoyed into rolling out of bed, Jarprax staggers his way to the captain and growls: "Look, what's it going to take to keep you here another day? 20 gold? 50? It's yours, just let me sleep."
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Nodding her exhausted thanks to Halara, Shaldinari sleeps the night away and awakens with the others in the morning.
"Gods!" She cries out as she first tries to move. Muscles she didn't even know existed before now announced their said existence with a level of soreness and pain she hadn't encountered since riding in the dinosaur races of Port Nyanzaru. But that was only her backside. This, this was seemingly every part of her body, and that didn't even take into account her swollen nose from the fiasco on the deck.
Now not only would she have to breath underwater, but it would be with swollen nasal passages as well.
With a heavy sigh she forces herself out of the hammock and up on deck where she could at least do a little stretching to try and limber her tight, tense body.
The from Jarprax rattles the rigging near her and she suppresses a wry grin. Sounds like I wasn't the only one to wake up feeling the effects of yesterday's excursion.
When the thunder priest climbs on deck to confront the captain, she watches quietly seeing who would win the battle of wills. The exhaustion of the dragonkin or the innate greed of the merchant captain. Having known many a merchant and even a few captains, her odds were with the captain.
Besides, she certainly didn't have the coin available to hire a full ships crew for an hour better yet a full day.
Getting out of the bunk Antonio limbers up remembering some of those forced marches he had to do when he was in the army. As he makes his way to the upper deck, he hears Jarprax bellowing about wanting to stay one more day for rest. So he walks up to the captain tries to sooth things over.
"Captain my friend we are going in to very hostile waters. And it would be best if everyone was in top form. I am sure that just one more day would not hurt, would it?
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The captain grumbles a bit, but notices Antonio's holy symbol, Fine! But what ye find below had better be worth it!
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You spend a couple of days resting, those that were up for it are taken by the merfolk down to do a little scouting, but no more than an hour at a time, and when fatigue starts to set in, you return to the surface.
Those that go on the scouting mission get a tour of the waters, its denizens, and actually get a neat look at predators when they aren't hunting. Sharks, those octopods, and a few other strange critters that reinforce that this is truly another world...
The captain convinced, Jarprax spins away, hesitates, and places a (surprisingly gentle) hand on Antonio's shoulder: "Thanks, friend." before shambling back below deck to collapse again in bed.
*****
That evening, bored with having spent the day in bed, Jarprax returns to the deck to enjoy the night air, and some company. If the merfolk are around, he will chat with them about inconsequential daily activities, hoping to learn a bit about their species and culture. He'll seek out his companions, somewhat meekly, and to think about the coming undersea adventure.
Zar seems relieved Halara is not offended by his suggestion and is optimistic that a deal can be reached in the future. "Certainly. Hopefully we will find something that interests you," he says with a smile. "So you're saying there's a chance." he thinks. "Well then, I'm off to study before bed."
The next morning, Zar is woken by the screams of pain from the others trying to get up. Delaying his own pain for as long as possible, he lays in his bunk longer than usual. Gritting his teeth in anticipation, he grunts as he slowly gets up. He stretches a bit before attempting to walk up the stairs to the deck.
He approaches the captain and Halara, dreading the the thought of going back into the water being this sore. When Jarprax confronts the captain, he waits for a response, hoping for a reprieve and is relieved that they get one. As he is just sore and not tired, he spends the rest of the morning walking around and stretching.
When the merfolk offer to take some of them scouting, he thinks about what Halara said and agrees to go, hoping he might spot something that will entice her. "Don't think she'd be too impressed if I brought her a fish," he thinks to himself, disappointed that the scouting mission didn't bring them close enough to anything that would interest the elf wizard.
Antonio accepts the mefolk's offer to show us around.
"So when the predators are hunting, what are the best ways to avoid or get around them? Such as if a shark was hunting by a sea cave that you needed to get into. How do you get into the cave with out the shark coming after you?"
Antonio asks the merfolk as they were watching a shark swim past.
Tana will go scouting!
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The merfolk smile, Either feed them or wait it out. Predators rarely take well to being told what to do... And they aren't something you can persuade without force. Your best bet is to approach calmly and when it is not feeding time, which is generally in the evenings. Some creatures, like the octopodi that you ran into earlier are opportunistic hunters, so they can be avoided by staying away from rocks and the sea floor, for they have the ability to blend in...
This goes on for a while until you all get that ache in your bones, as the chill begins to penetrate you to your core.
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Shaldinari's eyebrow arches in surprise as Antonio deftly takes the captain aside and persuades him to give her group another day of rest. For free! It was a remarkable turn of events. Perhaps too remarkable? She wonders to herself. Her eyes narrow and with a quick blink her vision shifts. Suddenly auras envelope those people and items on the ship with magical qualities.
As she concentrates a variety of soft colors glow gently around Halara, Zar, Blacklock's cloak, the usual things she had seen among her party and the crew all along. Her gaze shifts to Antonio. Nothing unusual there either. No new charms or hidden items of thought control or manipulation. Thank goodness." She breathes a quick sigh of relief. But someone who could turn a person's mind like that just with words, deserved...observation.
Blinking again, her vision returns to 'normal' and her thoughts are distracted by the announcement of another trip under the sea for a scouting excursion.
"Must get back on the horse and all that." She says to Halara's inquiring look when she steps volunteering for another go around of the water breathing magic. "Besides, I'll just hurt worse if I lay about all day. Better to keep the muscles working."
This time the shock of the spell and the chill water aren't so surprising. With the expert guidance and advice of the merfolk, she actually finds herself enjoying the exploration of the underwater realm.
She's thrilled by the sudden swirling arrival of a school of several hundred small silvery fish and watches, fascinated by the almost hypnotic motion as the entire school moves as one big group. Near the seafloor, she tries to memorize the amazing view of the tall kelp 'forests'. Their deep green undulating stalks drifting with the currents as numerous fish and other creatures flit between and around the lengthy plants. The graceful beauty of large ray flying along the sandy ocean floor. She does her best to take it all in.
The time flies past and she is surprised when their guides give the signal to return to the surface. It isn't until she climbs back aboard and begins to dry herself that she feels the cold in her bones and the hunger in her stomach which is severe enough to make even the ships meal of hard biscuits and some sort of stew look appetizing.
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The ruined merfolk city of Garnthall rests at the base of an underwater cliff one hundred feet below the surface of the Moonsea. A forest of kelp leads to the cliff, which rises eighty feet to a coral reef. A stone palace, partially built into the side of the cliff, inhabits the rocky face. It rests atop a sizeable ledge twenty feet off the sea floor. Dozens of small cave entrances dot the cliff on both sides of the structure.
In spite of its architectural beauty, the area conveys a darkness. Large patches of barnacles cover the palace walls, creating a scab-like exterior, the kelp forest appears muted in color, and no fish swim in the surrounding water.
Kalinos and his hunting party bid you good luck, then turn to leave.
Talking to the merfolk"Why did your king and others turn violent when you are a peaceful race? Did something happen?"
Making is way to the palace when Blacklock comes up with a plan.
"Let me go with you Blacklock. There are too many dangers in the sea for you to go alone."
Used to being in heavy armor clanking away, Antonio forgets that he can move quietly when not wearing it. So he keeps pointing out things he sees.
"Look at the colors of those fish....I have never see a rock that looks like a tree before, it has little fish like birds nesting on it.
Feeling much better after his long rest, but still uncomfortable underwater, Jarprax waits for Blacklock and Antonio to come back from scouting.
Content to let Blacklock and Antonio scout out the palace of the merking, Shaldinari watches some of the other cave openings for any signs of activity or potential danger.
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The central castle is not a castle in the conventional sense. It seems that it does not open up anywhere on the top of the area. As things can easily swim in through the higher altitudes, you all could see how that could pose a potential security threat.
However, from a higher vantage, Blacklock catches a glimpse of a cave beyond the swaying kelp of the forest. Looking at the proximity and placement, the rogue thinks it may be a back entrance, though it would require a closer look to be certain.
Antonio gets a slightly better view, and thinks that he can make out worked stone, rather than it being a natural cave in the kelp bed...
There does not seem to be any welcome party, however...