Chiruut rushes to the boat, seizing Thomas if the old softskin does not move of his own volition.
You all quickly pile into the ship's boat and cast off from the Islander. The wind catches the ship's sails and swiftly carries it away, trailing blood as it goes. Soon, the accursed ship with its ghostly crew and the raging demon are swallowed by the darkness of the night.
You make your way back to the Isle Marauder, where Captain Bloodtusk's crew helps pull you back on board. "Looks like ya got yer asses handed to ya," the orc scoffs. "What'd ya find?"
Thomas stumbles as he takes a bullet to the chest, collapsing into the boat. It hurt more than anything he'd ever experienced and left him spluttering for air as the breath caught in his lungs. The older man does little besides hold his hand to the wound, trying to staunch the flow. He'd been lucky, it didn't puncture his heart or catch in his bones, passing cleanly through his body. It was small comfort to the man bleeding all over their dinghy, but he'd live.
"A bullet to the chest." Thomas says, clearly not interested in the orc's patronizing attitude. Understandably, the noble is rather surly after being shot. "Where's the doc?"
"Far too little, knowledge regarding the fall of the ship and its crew, mostly. The ship was haunted by the spirits of the crew and something far worse."
Raven was unhappy with the outcome of their trek. Still, he was alive and that was worth something at least.
They were killed by Anne the Red, Kris says, solemnly. The captain was worried that she was after the watch. I... I think it was the watch that summoned that thing.
"Their ghosts still haunt the ship. This watch-", Chiruut says, pulling out the watch, "-summoned thing set to one hour. Maybe other hours give happier results. I will not try those though. You want it?"
Chiruut dangles the watch.
Give him something, he may be satisfied with that. Demon can eat him for all I care. So long as I and three softskins are already gone.
Bloodtusk's eyes glitter with avarice as Chiruut offers him the watch. "Aye, I'll take it off yer hands if ye not be wanting it," the orc declares, snatching it from the yerathi. "Monsters be damned."
He calls for the ship's doctor to tend to your wounds, then orders the crew to make haste, putting as much distance between yourselves and the wayward Islander as possible.
Mercifully, the rest of the voyage is uneventful, and after only two more days, your destination comes into view. On the largest island of the Pirate Isles, A’Val, stands Freeport, the City of Adventure. Founded by pirates long ago, the city has evolved beyond its criminal origins and has become a legitimate port city on the edge of the known world. Nevertheless, Freeport has had trouble shedding its reputation as a lawless, riotous place that is home to pirates, scoundrels, mad thinkers, and exiles. To be sure, such people live in the city, but Freeport is home to honest people as well—explorers, farmers, laborers, and others struggling to carve out lives for themselves far from the mainland.
There is plenty to do and see in the city. Fortunes to be found and lost. You've earned some downtime, but it won't be long before adventure calls again!
You botched your work so badly that you lost 1d6 gc. If you don’t have enough coin, you must sell off items to make up your shortfall. Selling an enchanted object clears your debt.
You gained a suit of armor or a weapon of your choice.
You spent your time performing charitable acts to atone for your misdeeds. Reduce your Corruption by 1. If you already had 0 Corruption, you start the next adventure with Fortune
You made a lifelong friend (as a commoner) who will accompany you on your adventures and help you.
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Ruin had come for his family. In the seven long years he'd been away, squabbling amongst the lesser lords had become worse and without his leadership, Thomas's family had been unable to quell them. It was then that the Fomor struck in a great rolling horde, as if they smelled the weakness that quivered in the castle's walls. The sniveling grubs that infested his courtroom soon abandoned his family to the Fomor. His wife and children were killed or dragged off with the squealing hordes, never to be seen again. Thomas took cold comfort in the fact that the fleeing cowards had all met similar fates.
It was not all tragedy, for it seemed his second grandchild, the elder of two sisters, was alive and well. She'd been taken with the arts and ostracized by her immediate family. Because of this, she'd taken her leave to study under the great master Claude Monet. Thomas contacted her, and though she'd not initially believed him, sending her his signet ring was enough to convince her of his authenticity. In a surprise twist of fate, the master took an interest in his student and they were to be wed. Thomas, as the only surviving member of her family, passed his blessing upon their union.
The new family offered to allow Thomas to live upon their estate, but the stubborn old man refused. His pride would not allow him to retire, instead seeking to improve his fortunes through adventure. Instead, the Monet family patronized his adventures, sending funding to pursue greater heights. The once-noble was quick to spend his coin, purchasing all manner of goods including a pair of war slaves. They were conditioned to listen to him unconditionally and would serve to protect him should the need arise.
His visits to the bar were frequent, as he had been out of touch for so long. The companionship of the barrister was something the noble had sorely missed, being stuck with the savages for so long. His friend, Mr.Greenvale clued him in on a scheme as old as time. Moneylending to the illiterate. The practice seemed poor to Thomas, though he did not reflect his feelings with his longtime friend. One does not squeeze water from stones after all.
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Level 3 Downtime Story, Part 1 of 2
She stood in the center of a circle of Naga priests, all hands raised to the blood moon - the second full moon in a month. The Matron of Freeport knew of Kris’ past and knew that she was the one born of the Cosmic Egg on the Holy Creche. This ceremony was to fully recognize her and officially - at least in the religion of the Naga - anoint her for that status. She would become Exalted in the eyes of her people. This was in preparation for the following ritual, which would see her sacrificed to stop the Lord of Demons. They would stand beneath the stars and the Celestial Realm - considered holy by her people - and anoint her with the power of the Shavra. Only then would she be a sacrifice worthy of stopping the Lord of Demons. Only then.
Kris felt something wasn’t right. She had tried to protest, in the early days, but the Matron of Freeport would hear none of it. Kris tried to warn her of the dangers of the people out there. Shrieking eels were coming up from the waters. Ghost ships were appearing. Monsters were coming. Anne the Red was terrorizing ships. Anne the Red! That was someone who needed to be stopped! All of it just reinforced the idea that the Lord of Demons needed to be stopped - for all of it was surely caused by Him.
”That’s not your place, Krislyx, she would be told. You have a higher purpose. You must be sacrificed so that all may be saved. The Lord of Demons is coming. The Dreams have started. This has all been prophesied. You need to prepare your body and soul.”
”But that’s not what I want to do with my life,” Kris protested. ”I don’t want to be sacrificed.”
”Oh, Krislyx. Dear Krislyx. We must all die some day. And most who die do so never knowing what their fate will be, never knowing what impact they will have on the world. You will know. You, above all others, will go to the next life with the knowledge that you saved every last living thing in the world. This is your destiny, my dear. You must embrace it.”
”But.. What about my choice? Don’t I have a decision in all this?”
“Don't be selfish, Kris. You need to think of others over yourself. You need to put the needs of all your people - of all the peoples of this world - ahead of your own. We have always taught that the needs of others must come before our own. Did the Holy Matron not teach this to you? Did you not preach it to others during your own sermons?”
”Yes, but something doesn’t feel right with this,” Kris responded.
”Why would you want to put the life of every living creature on Urth in danger? Would you really want to sacrifice everyone else, just so you can go galavanting around the seas? Don’t be a fool,” the Matron scolded. ”Now, go study your texts and perform your ritual prayers. You need to prepare your soul.”
Kris did not argue anymore, but still didn’t feel it was right. She just couldn’t articulate it, even in her own head. Something told her that the sacrifice just wasn’t right. But she didn’t know what.
Every night she would lay in the room which had been prepared for her. Every night she would look out the window and stare out at the stars and the sea. Her books rested on her lap, but she did not want to read them. Sighing, she looked down - something had caught her eye. The ship’s logbook. The Islander’s log book. She read it. Then she read it again. And again. Every time she read it, anger welled up inside her. How could that woman kill all these people? All over a silly trinket! What was wrong with her?
Each new reading brought up new questions and a new surge of emotion. This wasn’t right!
But, it wasn’t her place. It wasn’t for her to do. Her place was to be sacrificed. To be Anointed in the Celestial light and Exalted by the power of the Shavra.
And so here she was, standing in the middle of a Circle on the night of the Blood Moon, ready to be Exalted in the light of the Celestial realm.
The ritual commenced and the Circle of Priests raised their hands to the Celestial Realm, drawing down the power in the Light of the Stars and the Blood Moon. The Light bathed Krislyx and the transformation started. She could feel the power surge up within her. She could feel the anger she held for the injustices of the world. She could feel the anger for that woman in red and what she did to those poor sailors. This anger took physical shape as the magic welled up inside her.
She became the Shavra.
She was not supposed to.
She was supposed to become Exalted by the power of the Shavra, anointed in the holy light. Instead, she exemplified the Shavra herself. She became an Exemplar - a personification of her deity in flesh.
-------------
To say the Matron was angry would be an understatement. She was angry the way a match stick compared to the sun. Righteous anger - and all of it directed at Krislyx. But with Kris’ new power, she had gained a pool of confidence as well, and allowed the anger to flow around her and dissipate against the back wall of the room.
Once the Matron finally left, Kris started packing up her things. She knew the upcoming sacrifice wasn’t right - she knew it in her bones, but she was unable to articulate why. She packed her clothing and her books and her stone egg censer and - what was that? She looked down at the book in her hands, the holy book she had been given by the Holy Matron before she left the Holy Creche. The locked book. It was not locked. She opened it. She read. She read until well after sunset.
”The Sacrifice is wrong,” Krislyx declared to the Matron of Freeport.
”You don’t know what-” the Matron started, but Kris interjected.
”Shut it, Matron,” she said. ”I’ve got the Holy Book right here. I can read for myself.”
The Matron looked astonished. Both at being interrupted - the nerve of this girl! - but also because the Holy Book had been opened. It had never been opened before! Not for a thousand years or more!
”Yes,” Kris said, ”It’s been opened. And I can read for myself. You misinterpreted the text. You all have. For centuries you’ve been preparing to sacrifice the one who was born of the Cosmic Egg, but that’s not what it says to do! You were wrong, Matron!”
”Oh, Krislix,” the Matron started, but Kris spoke over her.
”Right here, look,” Kris said, opening the book to a page she had marked the night before, ”Right here. It reads the one born of the Cosmic Egg is to become one with the Celestial Realm! One with the realm!”
The Matron smiled. It was one of those knowing smiles one gives when expressing pity for someone else. ”Yes, Kris, I know what it reads. We have copies of it in the library. One with the Celestial Realm. This means your soul must rise up to the heavens and join them to stop the Lord of Demons.”
”No!” Kris screamed back, and as she did so, light hinted behind her scales.”No! It does not mean that! It means she - I, me, I must become the Shavra and embody her spirit! I must accept the power of the heavens within me! And that is exactly what I have done! I will not stand here and let you kill me!”
”Krislix,’ the Matron started.
”No,” Kris interjected again. ”No. I am leaving. And you will not stop me. I can feel it in my bones. I can feel it in my flesh. I can feel it in my spirit. The Shavra does not want me to be sacrificed. She wants me to embody all that is Good and Holy and Orderly and impart it on the world. And I am going to do so. I am going to start by finding Anne the Red and I am going to stop her injustice. This is my purpose - to fight here, in the physical world against all that is wrong with the world. To be an Example of Goodness to others and to Shine the Light against the Darkness to come. And you will not stop me, Matron.”
With those final words, Kris turned to leave. The Matron reached out and grabbed Kris’ shoulder, stopping her. Kris turned, righteous anger flaring in her eyes, and she Spoke the Words. The light behind her scales intensified until Kris was a beacon of shining light, shining as bright as the sun. As Kris embodied the spirit of the Savra, her physical form changed to match. Gold and Silver threads weaved through her clothing to make her look more regal. Crystal earrings formed on her earlobes, reflecting the light and shimmering even in the darkest of places - even her bearing and posture changed from that of a meek girl to a steadfast woman.
Magical words enveloped the Matron, locking her in a magical prison. ”You will not stop me, Matron,” Kris said one last time before she left the enclave of the Naga.
Equipment Change:
Fancy Clothing (5 ss), Bullets and Powder x10 (2 ss), Writing Kit (1 ss), Navigator's Tools (2 ss), Satchel (1 ss), Incantation of Bless (2.5 ss)
Downtime Weapon: Rifle
Remaining Coin: 1 ss, 1 cp
I should have turned right.
Chiruut's first thought of the day is rapidly followed by a second.
I should have kept the watch. It would have made the mess go away.
The Yerathi gets up from his pallet in the flophouse he had called dump for the past week.
"There is plenty to do and see in the city. Fortunes to be found and lost." Heard the thought. Not see the person. They were not wrong. I lost plenty already.
Chiruut thoughts turn back to the disastrous mercenary job - less than ten days ago - where, running through the graveyard at night seeking his quarry, he had turned left - and crashed straight into an aging headstone, knocking it over and cracking it.
The tombstone was that of a local saint.
Angry mobs are hard to please. Until that *!&*!" offered me gold to pay for a new headstone. I should have just ran, full stop.
Chiruut mulled over how quickly the moneylender had seized upon that improbable chance meeting.
Like shark - smells chum.
Chiruut washes as he mulls some more, remembering how little he had left.
Enough coin to afford this dump for now. A new pack of tools. A belt. A pouch. Not even a weapon. Which means loot the next corpse.
Find the softskins. Work finds them.
After an eventful month in Freeport, you gather together again, filled with new purpose. Your reasons for reuniting vary. Having fallen on hard times, Chiruut needs money to dig himself out of the hole. Krislyx is devoted to tracking down Anne the Red and bringing her to justice.
Unfortunately, the nightmares that have been plaguing you have been getting steadily worse. It's becoming harder to avoid madness creeping into your minds, and everywhere in Freeport, bedlam is spreading. The rule of law is starting breaking down. Unhinged people now roam the city, acting out their deviant fantasies. No place is safe, and everyone you meet could be a threat.
Amidst the infectious madness, Kris gets a lead on Anne the Red's ship, the Orphanmaker. It was recently spotted in a small town on one of the Pirate Isles called Wrecker's Roost. Since it left port, there have been reports of people disappearing from town at an alarming rate...
Chiruut stands by his companions. He wears a backpack with gear and a belt with an attached pouch which appears to be empty. No knife, axe, or armour to be seen.
"So, Wrecker's Roost? And is anyone important in this city offering to pay for Anne the Red to become Anne the Dead? We should get gold for killing her."
Thomas was looking better than he had a mere month ago, though the air of disdainful arrogance was still present. He's now flanked by a pair of burly men, each wearing a metal helmet clamped shut with a metal ring around their necks. The noble look rather displeased at Chiruut's destitute appearance, though he does not say anything.
"Yes, and I think it's time we paid her back for the hospitality she showed us on that deserted isle." He says with utmost confidence.
The older man approaches the bug and shoves a small pile of coins at him. "Here. Get yourself equipped. I don't abide by dead weight."
Kris looked different. Not so much her physical looks, but her posture. Her back was straight and she had more of an air of confidence about her. Something had changed in her while she was in Freeport.
We do not need gold to chase her down. The reward of bringing justice into the world is reward enough. Madness abounds everywhere, and we.must stand firm against it and show the world what it means to be right.
Come. Let us find a ship to sail to Wrecker's Roost.
You charter a ship to take you to Wrecker's Roost. It takes most of the day to sail to the small isle upon which the small town is located. Upon arrival, you find the inhabitants on edge due to the recent spate of disappearances. The son of the town's mayor, Lord Halidale Insmeister, went missing last night, and the mayor is now offering a reward of 50 gc to anybody who can find and return him.
Old softskin is definitely useful. Plus, he brought large softskins. Spiky softskin is...more. Good! Other softskin is quiet.
"Thanks, Thomas. You look less wrinkly. More steel and leather for silver. Kris, you look stronger. Good. I intend Anne dead anyway."
*******************
Chiruut stands in Wrecker's Roost, his pack bulging with supplies and a stout wooden shield on his back along with a spear in a hand.
"Did anyone see the son get taken? What does he look like?", Chiruut asks, rapid-fire.
Spear 1ss
Large Shield 1ss
Basic Clothing 0.5ss
Sack 0.05ss
5 Oil flasks 0.5ss
2-person Tent 0.5ss
A 4th torch 0.05ss
4 more weeks rations 0.4ss
0ss left
Kris is elated that they are able to quickly find a ship and she's able to get away from Freeport. The growing insanity of the city and the crazed humans that live there (seriously, they confirmed everything she's been taught about them!) was starting to be too much for her. She was glad to finally be on a ship and on the ocean again.
Getting to the ship, she practiced her navigation skills that she had spent nearly every night reading, and tried to make friends with the captain.
At one point, Ven or Thomas or perhaps even Chiruut has questioned her on why she wasn't shy about being seen any more. I do not believe I need to stay hidden anymore. I, and all of us - you, me, and every soul we can convince - need to be shining lights for all to see. We need to uphold all that is good and right. We cannot do that if we hide ourselves from the world. Hiding may have been right before the Dreams started, but it is no longer the right path to follow.
Every day she studied her ancient snakeskin-bound book. Every night she studied the stars and tried to use them to help navigate the ship. She needed to be ready for Anne.
-----------------
Let us go speak to the Mayor, Chiruut. He likely has more details.
The townsfolk can give you a description of the mayor's son, but nobody saw him get taken. "The sea swallows people who spend too much time by it at night," one crusty fisherman says, twitching and blinking far too rapidly. "The curse of Oceanus takes 'em, changing 'em into sea wolves. Skinchangers."
Another greasy swab hangs upside down from a dock like a bat, arms crossed over his chest. "The mayor's boy, Tisvale? He's recently been consorting with a rough crowd. He met with some of the crew of the pirate vessel Orphanmaker a little ways back. The Orphanmaker is no longer in port, but the man who introduced Tisvale to the pirates is. The man’s name is Klinz."
Lord Insmeister has little more detail to offer beyond pleas to find his son.
Eager to find the boy and any lead on Anne, Kris says, Come on! We must talk with this Klinz person!
Chiruut looks at Kris as she speaks.
"You think you can stop the dreams? That would be useful."
****************
"We do it. Where is Klinz?"
You find Balic Klinz in a bar called The Mad Mug, the sign sporting a cartoony image of a scowling tankard. Klinz wears a worn-out long brown coat and a dirty tricorn hat. He looks up at you as you approach. ”You’re an odd lot, ain’t ya? Help ya with something?”
Chiruut approaches the man.
"Klinz. You see the boy Tisvale? Where is he?"
”Tisvale? Tisvale Insmeister?” Klinz says quickly. ”Yeah, I seen him. A while back. He wanted a meeting with Anne the...” He trails off, as if he lost his train of thought. Then he starts talking again. ”—Red! Anne the Red! Lovely lass, nice crew she’s got too, sold me a pretty little snuffbox. Anyways, Tisvale wanted to meet with her, so I arranged it. He didn’t talk to Anne though, oh no, she was too good for him. Just some other sailors on the Orphanmaker. And then he...” Klinz trails off again. ”I don’t know what happened after that. My business with him was done, so I thought nothing more of him.”
Klinz takes a swig of his wine.
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Thomas does not respond to Chirrut's thanks, simply scowling as snake opened her mouth again. Seems that the reptile had developed delusions of righteousness in the time they'd been ashore. "I'm not interested in being a beacon for bovines, but I'll put down those grease sea scum all the same. The family fortune needs to be restored and where better to take it than a band of greasy pirates?"
****************
Thomas shook his head at Klinz's story. "Bah! I'd wager the fool weaseled his way onto Anne's crew and stole his fathers funds to do it. He probably made it a day on that ship before the pirates dumped him overboard and kept his money."
Raven had not changed in his appearance overly much in the last few weeks. His manner of dress was somewhat less ragged by comparison but he seemed perhaps more... plain than before? Was it that he talked less, or walked more cautiously than before and chose not stand out if he could? If anything, to those who knew him anyway, he seemed more skittish with a nervous energy. He also was a lot more tired looking than before.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He sighed as the fate of the young man they were looking for had seemingly taken a turn for the worse.
"That's unfortunate, but it doesn't necessarily mean Tisvale's dead." he said, finally speaking up. "Our task simply becomes that much more direct. We know that Anne and her crew have been engaged in several dangerous activities lately, she's more likely looking to be actually recruiting people than simply picking people up and casually throwing them overboard. That does mean that he's the newest member of the crew and going to get the most dangerous jobs though. Hard to guess what's on the boy's mind, but he was probably at least willing to put himself into hard work if he was joining with her crew."
He casually eyed the man named Klinz. "Unless he foolishly had some ideas of romanticism with living the life of a pirate and was charmed into it, of course."
Chiruut focuses on questioning the rambling softskin before him.
"You know where Orphanmaker went?"
Klinz shrugs. ”Not my cow, not my milk, yeah?”
You know anyone who might?
”Well, come to think of it, Tisvale was involved with some questionable folk before he asked to meet the Orphanmaker crew,” Klinz says, speaking quickly again. ”Yeah, they kept a small pirate camp north of town along the coast. There’s a small cove about two miles up. Just follow the coast and you can’t miss it! If anybody is still there, I bet they could tell ya where the boy got to.”
Oh, thank you sir! Kris says, blindly accepting what the man says as truth. Why wouldn't she?
"Unless Anne declared where she was going ahead of time, it seems like this might be the next best clue we have to try and find out where she was going."
You follow Klinz’s directions to the pirate camp, arriving just as the sun is beginning to set. Unfortunately, the camp is in ruins, tents shredded and belongings scattered about. It doesn’t seem as if anybody has been here in several days.
As you are completing your search, you hear snarls coming from the entrance to the cove. Six hulking humanoids emerge from the water, brandishing axes and shields. They have the heads of barracudas, rows of sharp teeth gleaming in their long maws, and their bodies are covered with thick silvery scales. Behind them loom three enormous crabs the size of horses! The creatures menacingly advance!
Upon seeing the crazed monsters, Kris reaches for her stone censer and holds it aloft, speaking nagaic words and illuminating a bright grey light from herself. Her scales glow a bright white light, which extend our to three yards around her. A softer grey light stretches an additional two yards.
Stay within the Light, and you shall be protected, Kris says, her voice firm and resolute.
Chiruut sees the pack of sea monsters and focuses - now illuminated by Kris's light.
Huh. Softskin lighting up.
The yerathi strikes at the mind of the closest shark man, aiming to tear it apart!
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Thomas waves forward his bodyguards, not interested in getting his hand dirty. "One, Two. Drive today's catch back into the sea." The hulking men advance on the fishmen, ready to intercept the creature's charge.
The noble on the other hand, hung back with his new sabre at the ready.
A pair of war slaves that Thomas purchased. They're conditioned to listen to their owner unconditionally and only take the bare minimum effort to survive on their own. He didn't bother to name them.
One HP: 20/20
Two HP: 20/20
Defense: 17
Strength: 13
Dexterity: 10
Intelligence: 10
Willpower: 11
Speed: 10
Sword: +3+1d6 (1d6+2)
Crossbow: +0 (2d6)
"Well this place is a mess." Raven began as he took in the ruined camp before them. "Wonder if we'll find any clues or if that Klinz was just lying."
"Never mind! That's what killed everyone here... oh hell! That's a lot of things to deal with." he exclaimed as the creatures closed and he drew out his blade, gritting his teeth.
When the others started readying to fight and Kris begins glowing brighter than a torch, he muttered under his breath.
"Maybe we ought to get out of here instead?"
Krislyx enacts order around herself, glowing with radiance. Chiruut fails to overcome his target's will. Raven dashes in, stabs one of the giant crabs, then darts back before they can retaliate. As Thomas orders his flunkies forward, the fishmen do likewise, making way for the giant mutant crabs to lead the charge.
One misses with his readied strike, but Two hits the same crab Raven stabbed, further wounding it. The crabs move in to block the exit from the cove, snapping at Thomas's mercenaries. Two takes a hit, but Kris's magic ensures it is only a glancing blow.
"I'll try to clear the way." Raven said, as he rushed to the crab blocking their escape route, slashing towards the beast.
Kris moved towards the two poor souls that Thomas somehow wrangled up. To me, and be blessed by the Holy Shavra! Kris calls out, laying a hand on the two men.
I may as well benefit!
Seeing Kris' visible power, Chiruut moves next to the naga as he prepares again to assail an aquatic mind.
"Focus on the inured crab!" Thomas shouted, rushing in himself. He focuses in on the nearest fishman, hoping to keep the creatures from surrounding them.
Two grunts in pain, but both of the thralls follow their master's order.
Raven dashes in, stabs the crab, and leaps back. Thomas moves to help his minions, and all of them manage to hit, causing the large crustacean to fall! Chiruut manages to stab the mind of one of the fishman, wounding him.
The remaining crabs continue to attack, while two of the uninjured fishmen rush in to fill the gap left by the fallen creature. Two takes another pair of glancing blows, thanks to Krislyx's imposed order.
Kris moves about, sharing her blessing with the group.
Chiruut focuses on finishing off the wounded fishman - this time with telekinetic force to crush it to pulp!
Thomas hiring those two thugs had been a smart decision. Raven had not spent any time talking with them at all but they seemed to be doing their jobs well enough, and they weren't faltering yet.
Chiruut's strange magic seemed to have increased in power. The things he could seemingly do now were astounding.
He was still fearful of their situation, though he was sure he could break through them if he needed to. At Kris's touch, however, the fear of their dire situation seemed suddenly mitigated to Raven. As long as she was controlling things with her magic, somehow things seemed like they just might turn out okay.
Something in the darkest depths of Raven's mind resurfaced, as vaguely recalled nightmares caused him to falter. His rational mind argued that fear was something he needed. Bravery was for overconfident fools who wind up dead. He needed to focus on ensuring their escape route.
Kris channels her inner light and focuses an intensified beam towards the injured crab.
Thomas and his men continued to pour pressure on the crustaceans, a flurry of swords meeting pincers. The older man spared a glance to Two, concerned over his investment being compromised.
Chiruut's spell comes up short of crushing the beastman he targets. Raven's blade scrapes harmlessly against the crab's shell. Kris sears the crab with light, and Thomas and his henchmen all slice and stab at it, leaving it badly wounded.
The crabs lash out seemingly at random, one clipping One with a pincer. The fishmen continue to focus their attacks on Two. The mercenary gets hit by a an axe, and his strength begins to flag.
"Step aside." Thomas said to his more injured guard. The noble steps forward himself, taking the injured man's place. Their attacks are fierce, but the creature's shell is thick, blunting their attacks.
Chiruut *presses* the beastman's form from afar, seeking to finish it off.