... only to see it rise back up a moment later. She watches it for a while as it slowly bobs in the water, slowly drifting away.
~~~~~
The Siren easily avoids the weapons fire from the keep itself and moves around to the partially hidden cave. With the tide currently at its lowest, the entrance is readily visible. Even at low tide, though, there is only a couple of feet of clearance between the rough water and the top of the natural opening - not enough for a longboat. You're going to have to swim.
Polli feels somewhat lighter, despite the chance of impalement and death. Discarded burdens. Without so much as a pause on the railing, she flies into the air then dives into the waves.
Val can't help but smirk and shake her head at Tessa's words. Although she'd long given up on convincing anyone of the wisdom of teleporting in invisibly and killing their prey in his sleep, she does still offer "I agree with Cap'n Tessa. If we get to Harrigan and his magician quickly a lot of his protection is likely to surrender."
"And, speaking of his magician... has anyone come up with a plan for dealing with her spell or are we just going to rush in again and hope that it doesn't kill anyone this time?"
"Kill them in their sleep would be nice. Although... Polli. Can you make their mouth melt away so they can't cast spells?"
"There's not a lot that can be done against magic that powerful." Harmony says grimly. "Stealth will be our best bet I think."
Harmony is still not a confident swimmer, but with some help from Tessa and Val, and a little magic she makes it in reasonably good shape.
”There are some things that could at least be tried,” Val offers as she drops into the water and transforms into a mermaid. ”We could have a plan in place to try to stop her from casting? Maybe as soon as we see her Donomsail could cast silence on her and then I can ready an arrow to try to interrupt her spell-casting and Polli can ready a dispel magic to try to counter her if she does succeed?”
Polli is swimming so is not listening to the tactical discussion.
With Valeria in her mermaid form assisting Harmony, the five ladies navigate the rough waters near the rocks and enter the darkness of the sea cave. The water continues to rush back and forth as the chamber itself is revealed. It's about fifty or sixty feet wide and approximately a hundred feet deep, front to back. At the rear, you can see the water growing shallower and culminating at a narrow beach. There's a tunnel exiting the cave at the far end.
Before you even reach the beach, however, a writhing mass of orange-and-black tentacles surrounding a cavernous, toothy maw rise from the rough water.
Combat Begins!
Round 1
"Deep tiger anemone!" Harmony calls, her cautious keep-head-above-water stroke making it much easier to yell. "It's poisonous and may swallow you whole!"
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Polli is swimming so is not listening to the tactical discussion.
Tessa nods along to whatever Valeria says, finding that information value on some subconscious level but only thinking Stab it! Repeatedly!
So logically she responds, "Fill it with holes! Aye!"
Tessa stabs at the huge sea creature but discovers that her piercing rapier isn't as effective as it normally would be. It retaliates by bludgeoning her with a tentacle that wraps around her as well.
"It has Tessa!" Polli yells unnecessarily. The wizard flies up out of the water and sends a sickly green ray streaking toward the giant thing.
yes, this is much better than flying in under cover of darkness...
Val takes one deep breath to stop herself from shaking her head, then she quickly studies the tentacled sea-monster and begins firing arrows at it.
Harmony lets out a sharp cry when Tessa is grabbed, a sound laden with magic.
Then once Tessa is clear she hurls her harpoon at the creature, whistling a jaunty tune.
Tessa screams in pain as she is scooped up, waving Wayfinder around menacingly just as Harmony casts a spell that gives her a chance to wriggle free. Exactly as planned!" she says defiantly!
Tessa's face pales suddenly as she staggers a few steps once the poison sets in. She does her best to swim clear of the large creature.
The anemone shrugs off most of the damage of Polli's spell. Her lover's spell, on the other hand, is more successful as glowing chains appear and surround the giant creature - binding it temporarily. Consequently, Valeria's arrows and Harmony's harpoon all strike the unmoving beast.
Round 2
Tessa extracts herself from the creature's bound tentacle and moves out of range and it continues to struggle against the magical chains. It's struggles are in vain, however, as the ladies of the Siren make quick work of the bound monster.
Combat Ends!
Searching the crannies of the creatures lair, you find 534 gp, 22 pp, a circlet of persuasion, a minor ring of fire resistance, and a wand of fly . With two more prayers from Donomsail, Tessa feels the effects of the poison fade away . The defender of the cave defeated, you follow the small tunnel upwards as it spirals through the stone foundation of the island.
After climbing at least a couple of hundred feet, you emerge from a sinkhole in the center of the fortress. In spite of an annoying unhallowed effect that prevents you from speaking in the area in which you emerge, you manage to defeat four low level priestesses of Norgorber. Searching the rest of the ground floor of the keep, you discover the lair of their leader.
Along one wall of this elegantly appointed room, shelves hold a collection of ominous looking tomes. Near the shelf rests a bed with black silk sheets. A huge red-and-black banner depicting a spiked cross in a circle hangs above the bed. Along the far wall stands a stone masked-shaped font, filled with a dark liquid. A woman in a formal black gown and mask awaits you here, flanked by two more lesser priestesses.
"The Sirens have finally arrived," she says with a smile, spinning one of the blades in her hand. "I've been wondering when I would finally meet you all. I know so much about you so its refreshing to see you face to face. The young noblewoman attempting to escape the shadow of her mothers by playing pirate. The red-headed dilettante. The sylph who lusts after demons. The aasimar with an abyssal-tainted lover. How does it feel knowing that Grandma is trying to bed your shipmate?" The woman laughs coldly. "If you leave now, I'll consider not spreading your embarrassing secrets to the world at large." She winks at Valeria. "And I do know all your dirty little secrets."
Polli felt slapped in the face as her uncontrolled desire is laid bare. Her body becomes rigid with rage, her fists tightening until blood is drawn. She suggests in low hate filled tones "she needs to die... now"
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"More pratting idiots." Harmony says with a sigh. "I make my own legend, and you've heard of me. Which is a damn sight more than has ever happened to you." She waves a hand, dismissing the woman as an annoyance. "Now ladies. I imagine this one is a vampire, not that that should be much of a problem. They always think they're better than they are, we should make haste to defeat them in a timely manner. You are heroes one and all and we aren't going to be held up more than... hmm... a minute by a second rate poser and her minions. I mean really."
She turns back to the other woman, her face a picture of aristocratic disdain. "At least I do my own pirating. You cower in the fortress of a pirate too cowardly to fight for himself. He's not even here now. Probably wise given how quickly you're going to die, but still disappointing in a lover. I assume he's a lover." Her lip curls. "He certainly isn't a fighter. Now where were we? Oh yes, you were being an idiot. This is your one chance. Put your weapons down and we will spare your lives."
Val, now out of her mermaid form and in to her four-armed form, studies the priestess and one of her underlings. Keeping her bow fixed on the dark woman, she fidgets with her shortswords while earnestly asking Harmony, "we will?"
Tessa wants to clap for Harmony's speech, but she needs to play her part and keep a witty smirk on her lips as she nonchalantly leans against the wall with Wayfinder balanced in one hand, awaiting the moment to end their lives their submission.
"You heard the beautiful lady, now's the time to throw them down before we walk right through you and put you down.". She ends her little addition with a wink.
"Always trying to outshine Mummy, eh?" the woman says with a mock pout. "You speak so eloquently about subjects that you know nothing about and couldn't be more wrong." She gestures with one of her blades. "Take them!"
Combat Begins!
Round 1
"Why not tell me what I don't know then?" Harmony asks, waving a negligent hand and weaving magic around the woman.
"Just SHUT UP!" the irate turbulent mage yells, summoning lighting to tear through the priestess of Saying BAD Things.
Neglecting the underlings, for the time being, Val begins rapidly firing arrows at the priestess.
Aided by Harmony's spell of speed, Tessa steps up and stabs at the priestess with lightning strikes of her rapier. "Damn. You're quick," the woman manages to groan out before crumpling to the floor. Valeria drops one of the underling priestesses with a hail of arrows and Polli shocks the remaining woman with an arc of lightning. With two of the three enemies already down, Harmony holds back on her magic.
With her hair pointing in all directions, the remaining cultist turns to flee, but arrows from Valeria and a few more stabs from Tessa's blade brings the woman down.
Combat Ends!
Harmony doesn't bother with something as crude as 'I told you so', but there is a distinct sense of satisfaction in her stride as she crosses the room. "Let's move on while my magic lasts." She says firmly.
Polli was about to look at the remains, she was also about to grumble out a comment or two but a Hurrying Harmony makes her move along quickly.
Ready to continue your search for Harrigan, himself, you turn to exit the room. But as you do so, a miniature figure appears above the water in the font in the corner of the room. Composed of water itself, the monochromatic figure is, no doubt, just a representation of someone using a matching font somewhere else. It takes a moment to discern with the lack of color, but the figure appears to be wearing the garb of a Chelaxian admiral.
The Admiral looks surprised for a moment, but quickly recovers with a self-assured smile. "So you must be Harrigan’s pests," she says. "I've been curious about you! Hopefully, when we next meet, you will have a change of heart. Submit to Thrune, and perhaps we may bargain — my thralls are well kept, after all. Perhaps you would enjoy a magistrate’s position within our new colony? I suppose by the time you’ve finished with Harrigan, he won’t be needing it. A shame, really... he was such a good puppet. If your pride prevents you from bending the knee to me, no matter. There are plenty among the Free Captains who will gladly serve us once Bonefist falls and the Shackles break beneath my armada. In any event, I’ll see you soon, so be sure to have an answer for me." She blows a kiss in your direction and then vanishes.
The font cracks and the defiled water spills out on the floor.
~~~~~
You find nothing else of interest on the ground floor and move up the stairs to the second floor. The stairs lead directly into a barracks and you quickly dispatch the four smugglers there along with their tengu commander. Your foray next finds you in the storage warehouse where you see stairs continuing up on the other side of the large room.
Numerous crates, boxes, barrels, and chests lie scattered about this large room, interspersed among sails, timber, figureheads, bolts of cloth, ballista bolts, and other various forms of plunder.
As you move towards the stairs, the sound of something large moving behind some of the crates draws you attention. Clattering out from concealment is a deadly and vicious bouquet of insectile claws sprouting from a horrid, three-legged, multi-eyed beast.
"A derghodaemon!" Donomsail declares. "It's immune to acid, poison, disease, and resistant to almost everything else. And beware of the swarms it summons!"
Combat Begins!
Round 1
Polli listens to Dony's list, mentally turning down her fingers of what NOT to cast. Then slams lighting into the hideously limbed demon.
Polli's spell flashes through the air leaving the room filled with the unmistakable smell of ozone, but the creature seems only slightly discomfitted by it. Tessa moves forward and stabs at one of the weak joints with her narrow blade. But even so, the abomination seems resistant to her assault.
Rather than attacking, the daemon begins rubbing its mandibles and chitinous plates together creating a screeching/grinding noise that seems to dig through your ears and into you very brain.
"I hate dirt-hog-demons!" Tessa grunts in acknowledgement of Polli's identification of this creature. "They smell terrible! I bet it's not immune to Wayfinder!" she says, hoisting her blade defiantly.
Shifting her weight to her backfoot, she prepares to lunge forward and place her weapon into the dirt-hog-demon again when suddenly a strange sensation washes over her. She then mumbles something incoherrent as she forgoes her usual flair of lunging and just extends her arm forward with her rapier and stabs it in one of it eyes with a grunt.
"Focus, Sirens and fight on!" Harmony calls, her voice loud and clear as it pierces the noise of the monsters chittering.
Polli's tight angry face suddenly relaxes and keeps relaxing until it becomes kind of a slacking droopy mess. The once-mighty wizard bites her lower lip to keep it from sliding off her face, gives a dopey grin with her mouth full of lip to Dony, and then... just stands there.
Val barely even notices the demon's effect as she quickly studies the foul creature begins her barrage of arrows.
*
Donomsail cringes against the grating sound, but avoids the worst of the effects. Two of Valeria's arrows find their mark and Captain Harmony counters the daemonic disonance. The red-skinned cleric presents her holy symbol and with a strong magical prayer to Gozreh sends the outsider back to where it came from. There's a crack of air as the creature vanishes.
Combat Ends!
After a minute or so, those affected by the creature's mind-numbing sounds regain their wits and are ready to continue on. After verifying that there aren't any more threats in the warehouse area, the group moves towards the staircase up to the next level. Their goal is interrupted a second time as two fiendish figures with bows and wings step down from the stairs. "Devils!" Donomsail calls out. "Furies!"
Combat Begins! ... Again
Round 1
”I like your style,” Val remarks with a smirk as she studies the black-winged devils. Before they can raise their bows, she raises hers and fires off several arrows at the foe further from her.
All of Valeria's arrows find their mark and the devil stumbles back before steadying herself with a beat of her stained wings. Both of the furies take to the air in the large, open space, rising up near the beam-filled ceiling twenty feet up. They then draw back their bows and return fire on the slayer and the swashbuckler.
Polli found a certain amount of comfort in the deadening stupidity that she had been suffering from and wonders briefly if she could return to that state where she doesn't have to think anymore. So many bad things... but not now, now she had to help. She follows the others and throws lightning at the furies.
Harmony keeps inspiring her comrades and readies her harpoon for when a foe presents itself.
Despite her appreciation of their aesthetic, Val continues firing at the furies.
Donomsail invokes a prayer of supplicaiton to assist her companions while Captain Harmony inspires them in her own way. The furies are both caught directly in Polli's lightning and the one that was already injured falls lifeless to the wooden floor.
Round 2
Valeria's arrows finish off the second erinyes. Tessa relaxes for a moment with the assumption that the battle is done, but is rudely dissuaded of that notion when Polli cries out in pain. Turning towards the rear of the group, you see the man you've all come here for, standing behind the wizardress, his blades dripping with her blood.
"Stupid bint never could see what was right in front her," he says with a evil chuckle.
"Bastard." Harmony replies succinctly. "Scrag him girls!"
is still going.
Anger flashes across Val's mostly covered face. She hadn't been on the Wyrmwood to develop the personal hatred for Harrigan that the others had, but sneaking past her to stab Polli was more than enough to earn her ire. She's about to knock an arrow and begin firing when she remembers that their enemy is not a spellcaster.
"Watch out, his spellcasting whore can't be far off!" the buxom slayer call out as her eyes begin to glow and she moves to flank Harrigan.
"Now that's not very sporting," Tessa chastises as she makes her way into position in front of Harrigan, "Then again, I don't know what I was expecting from the likes of you."
She lunges forward to strike Harrigan, but her positioning is quite poor.
Polli cries out in pain, coughing up more than a little blood, then stumbles away from him as quickly as possible. "You're... behind me you complete moronic buffoon!" she manages as she does so, countering his 'right in front her' comment.
Harmony directs magical energies at the man most of you hate with a passion and his weapons lower and his sneer fades.
Combat Ends?
"Describe to me in detail the remaining defenses of your fortress and how to bypass them." Harmony commands, holding up a hand to stop her crew from cutting this particular spell short. "Then describe the location of all your treasures, caches and other valuables."