Suddenly, two enormous crabs emerge from the water, drawn to shore by something irresistible. They immediately attempt to grab the nearest tasty morsel: a couple of your competitors! Fortunately their reflexes are quick enough that they manage to slip out of reach, but what will happen next?
An orange crab as large as a medium-sized adult bursts from the water, scuttling forward to snap its claws at one of Demed's teammates.
It grabs her in its pincers and squeezes hard. She cries out in pain, unable to free herself from its grip.
Orange Crab
Iput
Felinzi
Gwendellyn
Esmeralda
Green Crab
What do you do?
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Shrieking is beneath Gwendellyn, but sometimes she wishes it wasn’t. This moment, when crabs the size of houses rise from the water, is one of those times.
"Benji!" Her familiar is already at her side, short legs bent to help her up into the saddle. The fairy clambers up and surveys the situation from two feet higher.
"Iput, love, you’re doing great - don’t think about that arrow anymore." As his rider consoles her colleague, Benji barks and yips to encourage the lady caught in the crab’s pincers.
Iput's arrow pierces the water, but not the crab. Gwendellyn hops onto Benji and fills Iput's heart with vigor, while Benji gives such an encouraging bark for Ell that her wounds seem to close up a little bit, at least for now. Meanwhile, Felinzi flings a glob of fire at the orange crab, which is so surprised by the sudden burning sensation that it nearly drops Ell.
Esmeralda sends a shower of tiny rocks onto the orange crab, pitting its shell and whacking its eye stalks. It's suddenly wondering if this meal isn't worth the effort. She strides off the dock and onto the sand. Unfortunately, her movement attracts the green crab's attention. It scuttles onto the beach and tries to grab her in its pincers.
It holds her fast, eagerly anticipating lunchtime!
Meanwhile, Ell tries to squirm out of the orange crab's clutches.
Ell manages to dart away, dashing up the beach and out of reach. The orange crab looks at its empty claw for a moment, seemingly befuddled by the lack of prey in it. Determined to eat something, it swims up to Benji and Gwendellyn and tries to grab the tiny appetizer sprite off the loyal dog's back.
It slashes her up, but she manages to slip out of its grasp.
Orange Crab
Iput
Felinzi
Gwendellyn
Esmeralda
Green Crab
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"On the sand burns nice though," Felinzi chortles a bit as he throws a much bigger burst of fire at the crab on the beach harassing Esmeralda. "Roast crab with fish. Good yes?"
He scorches the shell a bit but mostly just sets the ground itself on fire.
Noticing the other crab getting a bit close, Felinzi casts a magical shield in case the crab loses interest in Gwendellyn and comes after him instead.
Felinzi sets the sand under the green crab on fire, which is quite a sight to behold, then conjures a magical shield. Esmeralda breaks free from the famished crab and dashes out onto the dock, bleeding heavily, while Iput dives into the water to distract the orange crab with a savage beating. The first slash misses, but her fist cracks its shell, causing it to leak bodily fluids at an alarming rate. Suddenly, the orange crab's demeanor changes. It takes on a defensive posture, and its eye stalks begin looking wildly about.
Disliking being up close and personal with such a hulking predator, Gwendellyn urges Benji to back away out of its reach. He's more than happy to high tail it over to Esmeralda. Noting the orange crab's change in behavior, she decides to gamble on Iput taking care of it and turns her attention to the Green crab that just savaged Esmeralda, sending a Divine Lance hurtling toward its hungry face.
The green crab jumps in surprise as Gwendellyn's bright light hurts its face just as it's trying to skitter off Felinzi's ouchy-hot burning sand. Hungry and burning mad (figuratively, not literally), it charges up the dock toward the kobold and strikes at him with its claws.
It slashes him up badly, but he just barely manages to slip out of its grasp.
The orange crab, so close to death, decides that this meal isn't worth the effort. It flees into the deep water in a desperate attempt to survive.
Orange Crab -15
Iput 19/19
Felinzi 9/17
Gwendellyn 5/14
Esmeralda 1/15
Green Crab -7
Disliking being up close and personal with such a hulking predator, Gwendellyn urges Benji to back away out of its reach. He's more than happy to high tail it over to Esmeralda. Noting the orange crab's change in behavior, she decides to gamble on Iput taking care of it and turns her attention to the Green crab that just savaged Esmeralda, sending a Divine Lance hurtling toward its hungry face.
[dice=Gwendellyn's Divine Lance vs. Green crab]1d20 + 7
[dice=Spirit Damage]2d4
The green crab jumps in surprise as Gwendellyn's bright light hurts its face just as it's trying to skitter off Felinzi's ouchy-hot burning sand. Hungry and burning mad (figuratively, not literally), it charges up the dock toward the kobold and strikes at him with its claws.
Green crab claw vs. Felinzi AC 14: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Slashing damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Grapple vs. Felinzi DC 13: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12It slashes him up badly, but he just barely manages to slip out of its grasp.
The orange crab, so close to death, decides that this meal isn't worth the effort. It flees into the deep water in a desperate attempt to survive.
Orange Crab -15
Iput 19/19
Felinzi 9/17
Gwendellyn 5/14
Esmeralda 1/15
Green Crab -7
The green crab snaps its claws at Felinzi, who expertly dodges away both times.
Green crab claw vs. Felinzi AC 17: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Grapple Green crab claw vs. Felinzi, MAP: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Orange Crab -15
Iput 19/19
Felinzi 17/17
Gwendellyn 5/14
Esmeralda 1/15
Green Crab -7
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Felinzi keeps his shield going and points a finger at the crab. "No! Bad roasted crab. Stay on the fire." Then he casts Fire Ray again, enchanted by the tickling flames and smoke coming from himself and the visions of everything around him burning down.
Focus: 0/2
1st: □ □
Moderate: Vision becomes imprecise beyond 30 feet. Creatures beyond 30 feet are hidden from you (DC 11 flat check to target, you are flat-footed to their attacks). You are also concealed to all other creatures (DC 5 flat check to be targeted).
Felinzi sends another gout of flame at the green crab, which also sets the deck on fire! Esmeralda finishes off the crab with a blob of acid. The crowd cheers as the dead crab collapses into the flames, obeying Felinzi's command. Iput clambers up onto the dock, dripping wet, and sees a dead crab roasting on the burning planks of the dock. Realizing their dock is aflame, the crowd cries out in dismay.
Orange Crab -15 (gone from map)
Iput 19/19
Felinzi 17/17
Gwendellyn 5/14
Esmeralda 1/15
Green Crab dead
"Oh no! The dock's on fire! Quick, Benji! Let's put it out!" Gwendellyn urges the adorable pup over to the fire. He scampers over and, unsure what else to do, lifts a leg. "No Benji! That's not what I meant!" Instead, she leans her head over the fire and casts Rousing Splash on herself, allowing the cool water to drip off her onto the flames.
It hisses and steams, but doesn't do much else. The onlookers chuckle at Benji's practical solution, but Gwendellyn's actions leave them confused.
Orange Crab -15 (gone from map)
Iput 19/19
Felinzi 17/17
Gwendellyn 5/14 (+4 temp HP)
Esmeralda 1/15
Green Crab dead
Iput shifts some crates and fishing gear, just in time for the flames to gutter out on their own. The onlookers cheer, and the judges approach the Pathfinders. They offer hand shakes, gratitude, and praise. "That has never happened in all my years of officiating this event. Do you have any idea what could have attracted those crabs?"
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Felinzi dances a bit on the dock in front of the fire that is roasting the giant crab. "Flames and smoke to make the food just right." The fire quickly burns down to smoulders as the judges approach.
"Do you have any idea what could have attracted those crabs?"
"I not hear anyone shouting for crab," Felinzi answers. "Just fish. Crab good to eat too, yes?"
While two of the judges linger to talk to the heroes of the day, the other approaches Demed and asks him the same question. He glances over at Ell, who is still getting patched up by the medics. Shamefully, he admits that his bait is magically enchanted to attract fish, but it must be stronger than he intended. Stern-faced, the judge declares: "I have half a mind to eject you from the competition right now!"
Deka, standing nearby, shakes her head and intercedes on her brother's behalf. "Look, he messed up, but he didn't mean to. Accidents happen, and Ell's gonna be okay. How about, instead of disqualifying him, you take away his magic bait and let him continue just like the rest of us?"
The judges begin discussing the pros and cons. One of them suggests: "We should ask Ell for her input, as well as the Benji's Babies Swimming in Turbulent Waters team. Gosh, that's a great name!" Ell is adamant that Demed be allowed to continue without the magic bait. It seems she doesn't favor her team's odds without him.
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"Hm, difficult to answer, since I also tried to use magic to catch fish. But I used it in an obvious way. And I can't remember that using magic was prohibited, so I don't know if this can be considered cheating. At least they tried to catch fish with their magic and did not try to harm other competitors on purpose. I agree, it was an accident."
Esmeralda waits patiently until the medics finished patching up Ell and asks for some patches as well.
Felinzi rambles about bait and fishies, but doesn't seem to make an impression on anyone.
Some of the Pathfinders appeal to the judges to allow Demed to remain in the competition, but they remain unmoved. He is disqualified and escorted to the edge of the crowd, though his team is allowed to finish the tournament--without the magic bait.
Once that's finished, the judges call out: "Contestants, return to your places! This is your fifteen minute warning. When the bell sounds, any fish not already in your baskets will not be counted. Good luck!"
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Being frustrated by the fish being able to see kobold hands way too easily, Felinzi watches how the others are doing. It is a bit challenging with the images of flames obscuring things at any noticeable distance, but he sees Esmeralda wobbling a bit while trying to catch fish. "Oh. You not looking so good. This help a bit. Yes."
Focus: 1/2
1st: □ ☑
Minor: Creatures beyond 30 feet are concealed from you (DC 5 flat check to target).
Most of the team has trouble catching anything. Perhaps the scuffle drudged up too much sediment and the fish can't find their bait, or perhaps they're distracted by flames, wounds, or memories of large person-eating crabs attacking innocent folks. Iput is so distracted that she dives right into a net that had been abandoned when the crabs attacked. She manages to disentangle herself without harm, but her flailing has caused all the nearby fish nearby to flee.
Gwendellyn attempts to combine a fishing pole and a net. Will it work?
With a flourish and the help of Benji's strong jaws, Gwendellyn hoists up the net-on-a-pole, dumping its contents into the basket just as the judges yell: "Time's up! Turn in your buckets now!"
While the judges are judging, Deka and Demed approach the team. Deka speaks first. "Hey, thanks for speaking up for my brother. I know they didn't listen to you, but it means a lot to me." She looks like she's about to continue, but Demed interrupts her.
"Look, I'm really sorry! I had no idea that would happen! If Ell had..." He gulps a breath. "I'm never using that again!" He shakes his head, shame written all through his body language.
There's an awkward pause as everyone remembers how badly hurt Ell is. Deka tries to lighten the mood. "Well, Ell's going to live, and she'll have some awesome scars to point to every time she tells you to stuff it so she can win. Ha! Next time, I want to beat you fully fair and square brother, so don't get yourself disqualified again next year!" She gives him a playful whack on the shoulder, and the two amble back to their groups, tossing parting shots at each other along the way.
It doesn't take long to determine the winner, but there's some debate when it comes to placing Demed's team. Finally, the results of the Silver Scales Fishing Tournament are revealed.
Final Tournament Points:
Benji's Babies Swimming in Turbulent Waters: 17 points
Deka's Anglers: 8 points
Arina's Arena: 6 points
Demed's Bait and Switch: 5 points
A groan rises from Demed's team. The judges explain that, while Demed took responsibility and was the person using the enhanced bait, the entire team was committed to that strategy and therefore was penalized by losing half their points.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may we present this year's Silver Sovereigns: Benji's Babies Swimming in Turbulent Waters!" The judges laud Benji's Babies' incredible courage and skill during the competition and again offer their deepest gratitude for rescuing everyone from the crabs. They offer a cash prize of 4 GP each, which includes a bit extra as another thank-you for vanquishing the crabs. As they take turns shaking the team's hands, they extend an invitation to next year's tournament.