Having learned from the last time they were rudely awakened to tend to an emergency, Ankha is already wearing her chain shirt and responds to the alarm in a matter of moments. “Ooh, I’m glad the fireworks are being put to good use,” she says while hurrying to the north side of the colony, in a voice that is too cheery for one so recently roused from sleep.
Awakening to the sound of the explosion, Ku'Hania quickly jumps put of bed, throwing on her magical gossamer shirt and grabbing her spear, dagger and buckler, before retrieving Hapalochlaena from his tank and racing to the center of the colony to meet Ramona.
"Yes, early warning is a very good idea!"
Once you receive your 'orders' from Ramona and head towards the northern part of the colony where the flare went up (around 100 feet west of the ankheg field), you are greeted with a small group of colonists basically sprinting towards you. Once they reach you, they speak almost breathlessly about 'fish people' chasing them.
"You've got to get ready, they're right behind us!" one of them yells, pointing towards a group of what looks to be exactly that: green-skinned humanoids with wide, frog-like heads but mouths more akin to that of a toothy fish. fish people carrying tridents and nets.
Init
Round 1
17- Braxton
17- Ku'Hania
17- them
14- Becky
11- Ankha
Braxton cringes. "Blech! They look like deep ones." Or at least what he imagined deep ones looked like. Sailors had a lot of time to tell tales of the mysterious monsters that skulked in the fathomless abysses over which they sailed, but common sailors were not exactly scholars, and at least one or two sailors throughout history had even been accused of exaggeration. "They're... probably just friends of the sea gobbos." He says in a tone bereft of conviction. "Still, you never can be too careful." He advances with his usual swagger, mindful to stay out of charging range (he hopes) and hails the fishpeople in aquan. "Hail, fellow bipeds! What brings you to this lovely beach?"
Nowhere near as convinced as Braxton that the creatures approaching them with weapons are friendly, Ku'Hania utters a chant, as a long wooden javelin, resembling an oversized sea buckthorn barb, appears in her hand.
"Slowpoke" Becky starts looking toward the fishfolk to get a good look at them before trying to identify them. Unfortunately, with the general darkness , it takes her a while.
Unfortunately, Ku'Hania's intuition proves to be correct, as the monsters don't seem to even understand Braxton's Aquan. Instead, they advance up the beach towards you, weapons at the ready.
The creatures suffer from an unusual evolutionary curse: every member of their race is male. This does not mean they are unable to reproduce, however, and they often enact raids upon settlements in search of suitable mates. They are most certainly not friendly with the grindylow, or most other races.
Init
Round 1
17- Braxton
17- Ku'Hania
17- them
14- Becky
11- Ankha
Round 2
17- Braxton
17- Ku'Hania
17- them
14- Becky
11- Ankha
Ankha frowns when the monsters advance, seeming to not understand Braxton at all. “Ooh, I really need to work on improving my translation extract,” she frets, then plucks a vial out of her bandolier and drains its contents as a precaution. Her muscles ripple and bulge almost immediately as she advances to stand next to the Caydenite, her fauchard held defensively in both hands. “Though,” the optimistic alchemist quickly cheers herself up, “if we do have to fight, at least we’ll have a lovely supply of new specimens for my experiments!”
From Combat Reflexes, she can take 3 AoOs in total.
Becky recognizes the creatures and calls them out as skum. "They're nasty and evil!" is the bard's short version of a longer spiel about the monsters and their wicked behavior. The teen then moves forward, her light-bearing rapier at the ready.
Ku' Hania moves ofrward to stand with the others, hiring her thorny javelin at the furthest of the three advancing skum.
Braxton stays where he is, safely within the protective umbrella of Ankha's deadly polearm. "I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding. We'll laugh about this later!"
Becky would want to know any special attacks or defenses.
Ku'Hania's spear hits the red skum, but it doesn't look to be affected by the sickening effect.
The three skum all launch their nets, one each at Ankha, Braxton, and Ku'Hania.
Braxton's and Ankha's nets both miss wide, but Ku'Hania is caught up in the net and entangled.
An entangled creature can escape with a successful DC 20 Escape Artist check (a full-round action). The net has 5 hit points and can be burst with a successful DC 25 Strength check (also a full-round action). A net is useful only against creatures within one size category of you.
Init
Round 2
17- Braxton
17- Ku'Hania
17- them
14- Becky
11- Ankha
Round 3
17- Braxton
17- Ku'Hania
17- them
14- Becky
11- Ankha
"See? Nets! They're just fishermen!" Braxton easily sidesteps the net, turning his movement into forward momentum as he lunges forward and lands a nasty staby on one of the froggos.
At 1st level, when an opponent makes a melee attack against the swashbuckler, she can spend 1 panache point and expend a use of an attack of opportunity to attempt to parry that attack. The swashbuckler makes an attack roll as if she were making an attack of opportunity; for each size category the attacking creature is larger than the swashbuckler, the swashbuckler takes a –2 penalty on this roll. If her result is greater than the attacking creature’s result, the creature’s attack automatically misses. The swashbuckler must declare the use of this ability after the creature’s attack is announced, but before its attack roll is made. Upon performing a successful parry and if she has at least 1 panache point, the swashbuckler can as an immediate action make an attack against the creature whose attack she parried, provided that creature is within her reach. This deed’s cost cannot be reduced by any ability or effect that reduces the number of panache points a deed costs.
Maintaining her Naturalist ability, Becky briefly considers being brave and engaging a skum herself while Ku'Hania's freeing herself from the net; then the young adventurer decides that liberating her friend is more important (and a task more suited to her limited abilities). Dropping her glowing rapier to the sand temporarily, Becky draws a dagger, enchants it with a bit of her magic (via Arcane Strike), and begins sawing away at the net that covers the half-elf.
"Aw, come on!" she says with a frustrated whine as the task proves a lot more difficult than she'd imagined. Gulping nervously, the bard takes a cautious step in front of the shaman and prepares to take on the nearest skum...with a dagger. "Darn!"
for
“Don’t fishermen normally use nets on fish in the water, not people on land?” Ankha asks Braxton in mock seriousness. Seeing the Caydenite’s exceptional combat prowess, she focuses her attention on the other side of the battlefield. With a wide sweeping arc she slashes her fauchard at the one menacing Becky, then steps protectively to the side of the young bard.
Braxton scores a good hit on the skum facing him, but doesn't manage to fell it. Ankha, however, combines her strike with the javelin sticking out of the skum threatening the rest of the party and takes it down quite handily.
Init
Round 2
17- Braxton
17- Ku'Hania
17- them
14- Becky
11- Ankha
Round 3
17- Braxton
17- Ku'Hania
17- them
14- Becky
11- Ankha
Damage dealt: Green: 18, looks heavily wounded.
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Kicking the last remnants of the net free of herself, causes Ku'Hania's next shot to go wide, but she flashes Becky a grateful look as another appears in her hand.
The skum that was wounded by Braxton lashes out with a flurry of attacks, starting with its trident and moving into a claw and bite.
The other surviving skum takes a small step towards Ankha to avoid her reach advantage and does the same attack pattern.
Braxton parries the first attack with the trident and finishes off that skum, but Ankha gets caught with the teeth of the fish monster.
Init
Round 3
17- Braxton
17- Ku'Hania
17- them
14- Becky
11- Ankha
Round 4
17- Braxton
17- Ku'Hania
17- them
14- Becky
11- Ankha
As the skum bites dowm on Anyka's arm, Ku'Hania takes the opening, stepping in between her two companions to drive her spear into the fish-man's side.
Becky ceases her Naturalist spiel about skum, feeling fairly certain that she and her friends can dispatch the final one within the time (2 rounds) her Lingering Performance ability still affords them all. The bard hooks around the perimeter of the battle before stepping in to flank the last monster opposite Ankha and stabbing at a vulnerable spot. Despite a slew of advantages--including some that are magical--the teen's stab is wild and inaccurate.
for
Ankha grits her teeth as she pulls her bloody arm free from the monster’s jaws, then steps back to gain more room for her polearm. Taking advantage of Becky’s brilliant distraction on the opposite side, the alchemist whirls and brings her fauchard down in a deadly overhand chop.
Braxton winces and steps back, trying to duck the spray of gore from Ankha's devestating fauchard. "Blech! Do you have to be so... messy?"
Ankha and Ku'Hania work together to take the last remaining skum down, and its body falls to the ground.
Searching the bodies after the fight is over reveals an interesting map made out of a strange material that Becky identifies as whaleskin.
The map reveals the northwestern contours of the island of Ancorato, with a few terrain landmarks and a symbol that resembles a tower (at area P on the island map). This symbol is also accompanied by another glyph that is obviously script in an unfamiliar language.
"This map looks like it is of the island Carver was taking about. Maybe not as uninhabited as he thought." Ku'Hania says looking over the unique whaleskin map.
It made sense, using things that could survive submersion in water unlike paper or parchment.
Apparently not understanding his intent, Ankha gives Braxton a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry—the one you killed is a perfectly good specimen, so it’s okay that this one wasn’t butchered properly. Sometimes it’s hard to be as precise as you’d like in the heat of battle. Plus, there’s another one I can collect parts from.” So saying, the devoted alchemist starts snipping off samples from the dead skum and storing them in a variety of jars and vials. She doesn’t touch the one killed so precisely by Braxton’s rapier though: “Please be careful with that one. It’s rare to have such an excellent specimen with just two small holes in it.”
When the map is discovered, Ankha hesitates. “We should definitely report back to Ramona and see if Carver or someone else can translate that. But give me a moment to see if I can track down where these things came from first. We need to be careful in case there are more nearby.” She starts examining and following the skums’ footsteps.
Becky tags along with Ankha to serve as a bodyguard while she looks for any clues.
With a nod, Ku' Hania crouches down, studying the footprints of the dead fishment5 before working to retrace their path. "Braxton, maybe talk to the runners, find out where they were and what they were doing when the fishmen came after them."
Ankha and Ku'Hania follow the tracks relatively easily, and they spend a little bit walking along the shore (where the colonists originally came from) before heading into the ocean. Makes sense, once you think about it.
The colonists themselves just explain that they were fishing down along the shore before the skum climbed out of the ocean and attacked.
"Caught us completely by surprise, honestly." one of them says, shaking their head in disappointment. "Didn't even see them before they were on us. Actually extremely lucky that they didn't kill any of us."
Ramona is shocked by the revelation of yet another hostile force acting on the island. "Is there any peace to be had on this island?" she says, sighing. "I asked around the colony, and none of our language experts know what language this is."
"I don't know what it means, but I'm sure you can figure it out, right?" she says, looking expectantly around the group. "And, while you're here, you've done a great job so far and I am thankful for your help of course. I'm working on getting some nice rewards set up, check back in a few days and remind me about it okay?" she finishes, seeming genuinely thankful.
"I don't know what it means, but I'm sure you can figure it out, right?"
“Ooh, wait a minute,” Ankha holds up a finger as realization dawns on her face. Buoyed by Ramona’s confidence in their translating abilities, she quickly mixes and drinks an extract, then examines the map again. “I don’t know what language this is, but I can read it now.”
After deciphering the script for everyone, the alchemist muses “I think we should ask Kelpa about the skum. Given that they both live in the water, the grindylow might be able to tell us more about them.”
The text is fairly simple, actually, and just says "Transport prisoners here". Not that complicated, it seems.
"Kelpa is the grindylow you've befriended, yes? I think that might be a good idea, her people may have the information we need. Although, given that they didn't mention them the first time we met perhaps these 'skum' are newcomers to the situation.' Ramona says, musing on the possibilities.
Braxton leans casually against the wall, puffing on his pipe, contemplating the disturbing implications of deep ones so near. The stories he'd heard from sailors told tales of cities of deep ones sprawling at the bottom of sunken canyons, often near shore, and even preffering locations near the coastal cities of land dwellers. Worshiping unkowable Outer Gods, they offer gold, forbidden knowledge, and even favorable winds to human civilizations in order to spread their blasphemous religion. Terrible! "If there's one thing these fish-people love, it's their cults! And I would dare say that the behavior of the missing colonists was very cult-like. This is a serious threat. The chokers were bad enough, but an intelligent, organized group, looking to kidnap us?" He shakes his head. "Talking to the sea gobbos is a good idea, but we need to deal with these skum as soon as possible."
"If they came to take prisoners, it is possible some of the missing colonists may have been taken by them. With the ones that came this morning not returning, more will come at some point." Ku'Hania says ominously.
"Well it looks like they had a base of operations, right? This tower on the map with the message to take prisoners back there?" Ramona says, taking another look at the whaleskin map.
"Might be a good idea to head on over and investigate what all that's about, you think?"
"Definitely. If only to make sure they never try this again." Ku' Hania replies.
“Ooh, it all makes perfect sense!” Ankha finally exclaims after a long pause. “The skum we killed attacked us with nets—they must have been trying to capture more prisoners! And Ku’Hania’s right, maybe this is where the missing colonists went! Though it seems strange for fish-creatures to have a base so far inland? I wonder if something else is involved?”
She muses for a moment, then nods her head. “Braxton’s right—we need to investigate this tower right now. Or, at least, first thing tomorrow morning,” she looks up at the night sky and corrects herself. “The prisoners have endured enough—they can’t wait. We’ll have to talk to the grindylow later.”
"If they are nocturnal, dealing with them by day may be an advantage." Ku'Hania adds
"Well I think it goes without saying that everyone should be confined to within the walls - such as they are - until this is sorted. The beach is far too large and warriors too few to patrol the entire length of it near the village. So we should solve this quickly since our evil corn and squash patches cannot grow within the walls but also cannot water themselves. Luckily Blaudon's pack is always ready to go." Braxton's efforts to put together a small dock were shaping up nicely, and he'll be damned if some amphibious frogs are going to get in his way. "And speaking of the sea gobs, have we an official liason or diplomat with them? It would be useful for exactly this kind of situation..." The sailor spoke the language and had a honeyed tongue, but he obviously could not fulfill the roll himself if he was always to be chasing after frogs and lost pathfinders and mapmakers. "But for now, I doubt I'll get any more sleep tonight. Blaudon is prime kidnapping material, so I can go speak to the sea gobs if I can get a few people to help with the rowboat."
We've only got like a rowboat here, not a boat-boat, right? So we can't sail around, gotta walk like plebs.
The next morning after getting proper rest, you set out on your journey to investigate this 'tower'. The geography of the island funnels you into a certain natural corridor that has formed. It's only a short while before you stumble into an interesting sight.
In a grassy field pockmarked with piles of fallen stone and sparse trees stands a monument that is relatively free from damage. A path of broken white marble leads to it, and the grass is curiously cut and edged away from it. The monument itself is a smooth marble disk, about thirty feet in diameter, and marked with representations of the phases of the moon. A semicircular row of thirteen columns surrounds the northern side on a curved marble base, the ends of which have broken off and subsided into the ground. Two adjacent columns near the center are broken and the lintel between them is sundered. Two curved stone benches sit before the semicircle on either side of the path, and two stone buildings lie to the north.
Standing in the middle of the semicircular row are two marble statues that look surprisingly life-like, and you almost think they are just two statues until one of them slowly rotates to face towards you.
"The last one to grace our site lied to us and broke our accord. You will not do the same, I assure you." the other adds.
“Ooh, is this another Azlanti ruin?” Ankha exclaims at the incongruous sight of a marble monument. When the statue turns, however, she instinctively grabs her fauchard and brandishes it defensively. “Can you understand what it’s saying?” she asks in a sidelong whisper to the others.
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While pretty, the symbology of the altar is lost on the sailor unless it has anything to do with constellations or tides. Braxton's is only slightly startled when the statues move, though, since they have already been ambushed by azlanti message leaving systems before. "Well they're speaking azlanti, but they cannot be azlantians since they're not covering their faces like cowards!" Braxton bitterly spits in common. "They're warning us. Say this is a holy site, and something about a broken accord. I believe accords are a type of vehicle. They expect us to play nice, but I don't take orders from despots." Rapier in one han, he sizes up the statues, then adds in azlanti, "Can you two at least talk back, unlike the other mindless azlanti messengers we've met?"
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"I take orders from despots all the time!" Becky cuts in excitedly. "My mom's one, in fact!"
"Someone else was here??!! Recently??!! Can you tell us what this person or being looked like? And what accord did they break with you?"
Becky identifies these statues as celedons, religious statues crafted from the strongest rock and given life by gods and goddesses to protect their holy sites eternally.
The two celedons move again, taking a few steps to prove that they aren't just recorded visions.
"That's right, Eliza." the other one steps in to provide a helpful hand. "We are no despots and we would not command you in any way, except insisting that you stay and learn of our goddess Acavna. For your own good, you must learn the ways of The Shield, She Who Guards. This holy site is dedicated to her, although it has seen better days I'll admit. Our other recent pupil abandoned her oath to return, after we mentioned the crumbling structure to the north." she shakes her head disappointingly.
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”I believe accords are a type of vehicle.”
“Wait, what?” Ankha exclaims in confusion. “So an accord is like a carriage, or a ship? Would it help if we fixed it? Or is this an Azlanti thing?” She watches helplessly, then suddenly smacks herself in the forehead.
“Ooh, of course! I keep forgetting about Alba’s formula.” The alchemist plucks a vial from her bandolier, one that she actually had the foresight to prepare that morning but had forgotten. After gulping it down she listens to the conversation with brand new ears.
“Ooh, I can understand! And I’m so glad you can understand Common. Who is this other pupil of yours, and what’s in the crumbling structure to the north?” she asks eagerly in the common tongue. After a pause, she puts away her weapon and narrows her eyes, examining the statues more closely. “And … what are you? Are you statues come to life? Were you alive during the Azlant empire?”
After telling her friends what the celadons are and what their general purpose is, Becky watches and listens in awestruck wonder. At some point she moves to Ku'Hania's side, translating the creatures' words for the half-elf shaman.
"So you're not with the masked alzanti? I don't like what I've learned about them so far. You say you spoke with an Eliza before. We happen to be looking for an Eliza. Can you tell me more about her?"
"Masked Azlanti? No, we're not with them." one says, before startling and speaking again. "Right, we haven't introduced ourselves. How rude. I'm Illyrius, and this is my sister Urlana."
Urlana picks up from there, answering Braxton's question. "She unfortunately did not stay long or even come back. Once she heard about the tower to the north she immediately departed, with promises to return to learn what we could teach her."
"So rude! Did not like her to begin with, honestly." Illyrius says, shaking her head in disgust. "She was not a good pupil, and we will not teach her even if she does return."
and what’s in the crumbling structure to the north?
"We don't know, we haven't ever left this holy site. We cannot leave it unprotected, you understand." Urlana answers.
And … what are you? Are you statues come to life? Were you alive during the Azlant empire?
"We are statues 'come to life' in a way, yes. Our creator, Acavna, goddess of the moon and defensive battle, breathed life into the marble that forms our bodies. We have been charged with defending her holy site."
"We were created before the Azlanti empire fell, yes, although we have little knowledge of what happened to it beyond a general calamity. There are no more Azlanti people here, but we patiently await the day they will return."
Becky recognizes the name and that the portfolio is correct, but doesn't have any other knowledge to add about their goddess from her own memory.