CCC-UK-4: Bourne of Candles (Inactive)

Game Master Aeshuura

You estimate that you maybe have 5 minutes left of water breathing. ^_^

Vigs jumps on Mender's back and you all step into the wall of water at the top of the stairs...

One by one you each enter, as Lady Lenedriel has a moment of panic, but a tusky grin from Gorum somehow gives her enough confidence to step in!

It is a bit tricky, navigating the kelp, and you see out of the corner of your eye, the elf patrols watching you leave.

As the water touches Vigs' cloak, it adheres to his body and he slips through the water like a ray! Soon, you have lost sight of him completely!

--

Your heads burst from the surface, near the sloop that you had anchored! After pulling yourselves from the icy waters and laying under the near noonday sun, you see Vigs breach a couple of hundred yards East from your location. You can hear his voice of pure glee!

So what's the plan?

Mender pulls up the anchor and begins rowing back towards the shore.

Well hopefully towards Vigs first, then towards shore!

Once Io is pretty sure Lady L has got her bearings, he will gently ask what the last thing she remembers is.

Vigs is moving so quickly that you would never be able to catch up without a strong wind, but you think that you can call out to him and catch his attention...

Lady Lenedriel frowns as she tries to muddle through her memories, I remember that Jerrold and I were out for a walk on the beach. It was a beautiful moonlight night, romantic, but a chill wind swept in off the Moonsea and so, my husband gave me his fur cloak and ran back to the castle to get my coat.

No sooner had he left view, when it felt as if someone was choking me!

The beautiful young woman instinctively touches her throat before continuing, I must have blacked out, because the next thing that I remember is waking up to your faces looking back at me... It is all a terrible nightmare.

Zdravko frowned, the logical implication was that she was trapped for a lifetime "M'lady...what year it be?"

When she tell you the year, it becomes clear that she still thinks that it is 15 years ago!

Gorum enjoys not being the one to row for a change and smiles again at the newly set free woman. ”You’re a pretty good swimmer. Didn’t have to help you much at all.” Feeling the wetness of the water around his eye, he drags the back of his gnarled finger across the bottom of the eyelid as if wiping away a tear. He didn’t want to distress the Lady by letting her see the bloody sap ooze out of the socket.

He then turns to look toward shore. Something in the back of his mind is as telling him that this wasn’t over just yet.

Ooooooh boy. So, do you remember a woman named Madge? Io asks her.

Lady Lenedriel smiles at the compliment, unconcerned with Gorum's intimidating form, Thank you, I swam often as a child...

Then turning to regard Ionnis, with genuine confusion, Who?

Madge Figgy? he tries again, using Vig's name for her. No? Um, well, so this is going to be a bit of a shock, but you were being held prisoner. Magically! Your husband will be so happy to see you.

Io is absolutely overwhelmed with how to tell her that everyone else is 15 years older, and she missed it, and that they know who did this but have no idea why.

Should we take her straight to the castle, trying to avoid Madge? Should we try to catch up to Vigs?

She shakes her head, I have never heard that name before...

I am fine with either plan

Mender? Gorum? After Vigs or to the castle, or something else?

Castle is Mender's vote. He told Vigs he wouldn't stop him from doing what he wants to do, but I'm sure you probably want to stop him from attacking the hag Mags.

follow the magic item. Let’s find out what ol Vigs has to say to Madge.

My character's logic tells me to take this poor woman to the castle, but my player's intuition says go find Mags.

Hey guys, maybe we should catch up to Vigs first? I don't want him doing anything rash!

It is at that time that you see Vigs crawling out of the water at the rocks, near the base of the castle. He shakes the water off, reminding you of a wet dog...

What is he? Lady Lenedriel asks, a little nervous as you turn the boat in his direction.

Well, he's the one who helped us rescue you! He seems a little, um, he's not the brightest star in the sky. So we're going to go make sure he's okay. Just a few more minutes!

Io hopes this doesn't turn into more hag slaying. He's so done with curses.

Vigs looks back at you all and holds up the cloak, in sort of a gesture like he is leaving it for you, and he drops it up on the grass at the base of a tree.

Your progress is frustratingly slow, even as you catch the wind of the sea breeze coming off the Moonsea. As you are pulling onto shore, you see Vigs step into the shadows and you lose sight of him!

As you look around, Lady Lenedriel points off a ways to the right, The trail to the castle is right there. That spot, that was where I blacked out.

To the castle? To Madge? Look for/call out to Vigs?

Vigs! Wait, hold up! Will give it a half-hearted attempt to catch up to him at least, going just a little way the way he went to see if we can see him. But otherwise, switch to the castle. If that's cool with everyone.

Perception to find Vigs if it comes up: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 LOL

You may make a Wisdom (Perception) check.

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 7

still think we need to go talk with Madge but the path is right here and Gorum would probably think the job well done. Saved the noble lady.”

”Yeah lets get the Lady back home where she belongs.”

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

my passive perception is 16

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 perception

In this case, your Passive will be the lowest you can roll.

Oops, didn't see Io's roll!

Mender and Quen see Vigs walk into the shadow and completely disappear, as if stepping into a door, or portal! They can see into the shadow, and Vigs is simply no longer there! Meanwhile, Gorum and Io, cannot see him any longer, but are certain that he is just hiding in the shadows...

"He has used shadow magic to leave. I do not know where he has gone."

What? He's just over there. Whereupon Io would find that no, in fact, he's not right?. That's...odd. And he most definitely picks up that cloak.

OK well shall we go to the castle? This should be interesting.

I think that was the consensus... Feel free to hold conversation. I will post in a couple of hours.

Working off the assumption that you want to return the Lady to the Bourne as a priority, I will continue as such.

It dawns upon you that pulling the boat up here will likely find you dashed upon the rocks, and so you try to find the edge of the sandy beach. Luckily it is only about 50 feet from where you are and with a sharp turn of the rudder, you are underway! Quickly, the skiff slips along the shore and lurches as you hits the sandy shore!

As you disembark and one of you helps Lady Lenedriel down to the sand, the waves lap at her dress, darkening it. The howl of the Moonsea's whipping breezes cast a shudder through your bodies, just as a cackle begins to rise above the din...

Now, now, dearies... I cannot have you running off with MY prize!

You look around you, but see nothing!

"Yes, let's go."

Is that call for initiative? ;)

That was a crosspost =)

Do we recognize the voice?

”I knew it! Somethin’ was fishy about this the whole time!” Gorum steps near the lady and readies his axe to attack anything hostile that comes into reach.

Oh dearie, you have already lost, Gorum hears her voice by his ear!

It is at that time, that you all hear the familiar clicking of those giant crabs you faced earlier, coming from all around you!

It becomes fairly clear that combat is about to start...

Initiative - Round 1
Giant Crabs -> Ionnis -> Madge Figgy -> Gorum -> Mender -> Quen

Four giant crabs skitter across the beach, emerging from the water!

Two charge up to Gorum, distracting him while a third tries to grab Lady Lenedriel, who shrieks in utter terror!

Crab Green @ Gorum: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Crab Yellow @ Gorum: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Crab Purple @ Lady: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 Purple snaps its pincer on Lady Lenedriel's ankle and she shrieks, feinting at the stress!
Crab Red @Ionnis: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

All of the other crabs are easily fended off by Gorum and Ionnis!

Io is up!

EDIT: Map updated.

Was there a chance for the readied action before the crabs appeared or no? It’s fine either way, just wondering if I should take the attack or not.

Not in this case. As I rule it in this particular case, combat essentially started. Your readying allowed you all to avoid a surprise round. There is an interesting conversation that Crawford and Tito have about this in a segment of Sage Advice on the Dragon Talk podcast.

Can we see okay in the area?

Yes, you can see okay, but Madge Figgy seems to be invisible, somehow...

Why am I not surprised?! But you know he is surprised, a little.

Skewering a crab: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (3, 1) = 9

Io reaches around Gorum to strike at a crab near Lady L (green).

Up to the castle! he yells to her.

Io's blade is turned aside by the crab's shell, leaving a wicked scar running down its side!

Ionnis calls out to Lady Lenedriel, but sees that she has fainted, a wicked gash on her leg! The crab at her (Purple) begins to tug her away...

Suddenly Madge Figgy is standing behind Gorum, her features twisting and morphing into an ugly hag, seaweed braided into her stringy hair! Her clawed hands grasp the back of Gorum's neck and turn his head to look into her glaring face! Gorum, make a DC 11 Wisdom save. Remember that you still have inspiration...

At the beginning of each PC's turn, I need you to make a DC 11 Wisdom save. If you make it, you no longer need to make the save. If you fail, you are frightened for a minute, repeating the save at the end of each of your turns. Gorum, this is different from the Wisdom save that I am asking you to make, so you will still need to make a second save at the start of your turn.

EDIT:

Initiative - Round 1
Giant Crabs -> Ionnis -> Madge Figgy -> Gorum -> Mender -> Quen

After Gorum makes his save, everyone may go.

Wisdom from the Ugly Stare but not to worry, Gorum is feeling inspired today.: 2d20 + 2 ⇒ (15, 7) + 2 = 24 ”Awghh! I was gettin to like you too! Get off me witch!”

Wisdom Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Mender is, of course, unbothered by the appearance of the hag; instead of cowering in fear, he calls down divine fire!

Sacred Flame: DC 14 Dex save: 1d8 ⇒ 1

wis save 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

the cleric will call upon the goddess Mishakel and strike at the hag with savrwd flame as a pale blue flame engulfs the hag.

dex aave 14

1d8 ⇒ 6

[dice=Wisdom from the Ugly Stare but not to worry, Gorum is feeling inspired today.]2d20+2 ”Awghh! I was gettin to like you too! Get off me witch!”

she is not witch, she is your wife

Wisdom Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Gorum shoves the witch enough back to have some distance to swing his axe. His eyes then glow with divine rage and snarls at the creature. Now it’s time for you to pay for your acts.”

Reckless Attack: 2d20 + 5 ⇒ (6, 7) + 5 = 18
Slashing: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Radiant Smite if hit: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10
oof, does a 12 hit? Lol. She will have adv on attacks against Gorum next round.

beating up on your wife, lol