xxx
The godling shrugs off any potential damage as he catches up with the mecha at the site of the diving bell. The diving bell, however, isn't there anymore. In its place is a massive very bumpy rock like shape.
"Well I think we know where the octopus is now. It'd be nice if we didn't need to hurt it--maybe you can just scare it off?"
Nissa considers the evil symbol… but also Chales’ words. She replies, “You’re saying, like, the octopus isn’t a Nazi, but a creature that was experimented on by the Nazis?”
"Well, if this is from a different world, how do we know that swastikas mean Nazis? Didn't they mean other things before them?"
"If we end up fighting it. I'm still going to eat it.. but not fighting a undersea predetor in its own enviroment; when we don't actually know if its just one.. Is a better plan. But plan B is my seafood dinner. Never had cephalapod. Not common where I"m from. Seafood."
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Over the comm link, Theo chimes in once more. "I'd like to try and communicate with it. Despite what it's done, it's still a subject of Poseidon. Just humor me like you guys always do."
The godling takes a moment to remove the breathing apparatus from his mouth. In the gloom of the dark of the ocean, Theo speaks at first in Latin, then Celestial.
"Hail Mighty Octopus. I am Theo Nephus, nephew to Poseidon, King of all the oceans! Will you parlay with me?"
"Well.. He's going to drown. also die of the bendz.. I've never had to treat someone for that before. I should've looked it up last night. Damn discovery channel "
The somewhat rocky formation reveals itself--to no one's surprise--to be an enormous octopus. It's natural camouflage ripples and disappears as it let's go of the very old diving bell and makes its way towards the mecha. The octopuses Zellgato saw on the Discovery Channel were just as curious, but not so unafraid and menacing.
It ignores Poseidon's nephew, despite how diplomatic he is.
Nissa watches the giant octopus reveal itself and… ignore Theo?
“At least it didn’t attack you, Theo. Maybe the octopus is humoring you too!
“Kai, are you able to tell what it’s feeling?”
Zellgato does not properly notice the creature shift; while he ponders pointlessly about pressure sickness. Then freezes up slightly as it gets closer. It is bigger than he was thinking.
"Uh, I can try..."
Zellgato finds it is a lot bigger than he was thinking. None of the nature documentaries prepared him for a creature of this size.
It draws itself closer and looms over the mecha.
As the enormous sea creature looms, Zellgato notices the presence of transdimensional radiation coming from near the base of the submersible.
I meant at the ground near the diving bell. We've moved away from the alien ship.
Maybe I was confusing. The octopus had surrounded the diving bell and used its camouflage when you came over. It made itself look like the rocky environment. Then, when it realized that it was these two mecha again, it approached you.
"Careful, everyone, it recognized the mechas and it is not happy about them. " Kai thinks fast, trying to figure out any way to communicate their non-hostile intentions to the giant octopus while trying to maneuver Blue One in the most non-threatening position.
The giant octopus, who apparently is not a nazi, wraps a couple arms around each of you. Life Science tells Kai that octopuses are usually more standoffish than this one is.
Kai still senses hostility coming from it. This is not a hug.
“Kai… I’m afraid I can’t fight in this form.”
There isn’t room enough in the cockpit for Nissa to change size… or at least not get any bigger.
“Kai… I’m afraid I can’t fight in this form.”
Over the comm link, Theo reports, "I can!"
The godling swim off the mecha's arm and at the octopus.Theo pushes the water behind him, like the half-god he is. He unsheaths his tactical sword. Theo knows a trident would be better underwater, and sticks to stabbing motions to reduce water friction.
Charles watches the feed and tries to see or think of something, anything he can do to help... without being insane like Theo and swimming below the rated depth for his suit.
The octopus shouldn't have overlook Theo. He leaps from the mecha's arm and swims between several of the octopus's arm and within striking distance of its body.
Theo, swimming expertly between the arms, cuts the sea monster deeply.
"I don't want to fight at all, but I'm afraid this octopus is not giving us much choice!" Kai replies in a slight panic. "It remembers these mechas, and it's NOT happy about them! I really wish I could tell it we don't mean it harm."
Nissa is too flustered by her vulnerable fairy-ish form to know what to do!
Kai tries to wriggle the mecha out of the not-a-hug as gently as possible.
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Senses darkvision 60 ft., blindsense 60 ft., low-light vision;
Init. = Operator's Init.
DEFENSE
Hit Points 42
Shield Points 11 (Regains 4 SP beginning of each turn)
Hardness 1
EAC = 21
KAC = 25
Immunities Mechs are immune to ability damage, ability drain, bleed, death effects, disease, energy drain, exhaustion, fatigue, mind-affecting effects, necromancy effects, negative levels, nonlethal damage, paralysis, sleep, and stunning. They are also immune to any effect that requires a Fortitude save unless that effect works on objects or is harmless.
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft. Swim 60 ft. Reach 15 ft.
Spear 9 + the operator’s BAB or ranks in Piloting (2d8+9 P)
Spiked Flail 9 + the operator’s BAB or ranks in Piloting (2d8+9 B; Cleave); Chain can extend for additional 10 ft. of Reach
Harpoon 9 + the operator’s BAB or ranks in Piloting (2d8+9 P)
Dual Strike (1 PP) When making a full attack with two different weapons mounted on your arms, you attack twice with one of those weapons and once with the other weapon. You take a –4 penalty to these attacks
Saves +5
Skill Modifiers A mech’s skill check modifier equals 5 + operator's ranks; for Athletics checks, also add the mech’s Strength modifier (+4).
"When performing a Strength- or Dexterity-based skill check, a mech can instead use its operator’s ranks in Piloting to determine the mech’s skill modifier."
Kai tries to wriggle the mecha out of the not-a-hug as gently as possible.
[dice=CMB with Tarot bonus]1d20
The octopus tightens its grip on the struggle Kai-mecha.
Charles doesn't like the idea of being this deep underwater.
He wasn't a hero. He was just a zookeeper who'd got caught up in things way over his head, and now here he was, way over his head in water that could crush the life out of him. But the rest of them were out there fighting a giant angry octopus that wasn't acting like a normal octopus, and he couldn't do anything to help from up here.
Grumbling to himself, he seals his helmet again and heads out of the Starfish.
-2 for grappled for a total of 2.
I have a Spade; most of us got the same one I believe.
Zellgato is still currently confounded about how big it is
I have a Spade; most of us got the same one I believe.Zellgato is still currently confounded about how big it is
PBS would be confounded too. So would that David Attenborough Holo-celebrity that does all the nature documentaries. None of them ever saw an octopus this side. He's old, he's angry, and the last time he saw a red and blue mecha he told them to steer clear.
He decides to pry these shell creatures apart and see what's inside. The gash Theo cut across his flesh hurts, but not enough to distract him from his decision.
Nissa says to Kai, “I’ll be back.”
In a flash, Nissa becomes a single golden spark—then nothing!
The source of this feeling is a foot away—nope, two—three… four…… four and a… wait for it… half………
Charles leave the Starfish in the hands of Gristlethorn and begins to swim down. It will take a couple rounds for Charles to get here.
☀️
Nissa grows back to her halfling form behind the Blue One mech. Her diving suit envelops her. She attuned to her photons.
Zellgato shuts up, snaps out of it, and tries to scan and inject it.
Spear 9 + the operator’s BAB or ranks in Piloting (7) (2d8+9 P)
34 life sci.
As long as you have your custom microlab, as a move action you can target a creature within your line of sight and within the microlab’s range (60 feet at 1st level) and attempt a special skill check to identify it. If the creature is living, this is a Life Science check. If it is unliving, it’s a Physical Science check. The DC of this check is determined by the creature’s rarity, as presented on the Creature Rarity table on page 133 of the Core Rulebook. You can attempt this check untrained regardless of the DC, and you always treat your die roll result as a 20.
"I dedicate this battle, to my exalted Uncle Poseidon, God of the Sea!!" Theo yells, as his concentrates and stabs the giant octopus with all his strength.
Kai had watched enough nature documentaries to know that being grappled by a giant octopus could not end well, even though Kai was currently inside a mecha... a mecha that had weapons!
Since everyone else seemed determined to have octosushi for dinner, Kai does not see much choice but to engage said mecha weapons.
With Theo giving it a mighty gash, Kai sticking a harpoon in it, and Zellgato stabbing it with needles full of nasty stuff, the octopus has decided to reevaluate its situation. A cloud of ink fills the water and the creature jets away. This could be the end of it if it weren't for the harpoon stuck in him and the cable extending to the mecha.
While none of you can see anything, Kai feels the mecha's harpoon cable pull taunt.
☀️☀️
Nissa calls to Zellgato, “Care to give a girl a lift?”
She intends to hang onto the mech, and if successful, she clarifies, “Get me within 40 feet, and I’ll blast that thing with holy light!”
Nissa will grab onto Big Red if Zellgato can get to her, or she to him.
"Uh, I have it harpooned, what should I do? Try and reel it in, or let it go?" Kai's preference would be for the latter; perhaps they had spooked it enough that it would leave them alone as they completed their work down here.