Hassan remains out of range of the devilfish, and throws off a Magic Missile.
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Hassan moves so that he is submerged up to the waist in water. He focuses his arcane energy, muttering incantations and performing waving hand gestures. He casts Touch of the Sea, first on Fjori and then Bart. He looks to Quillin, but the gnome seems to be planning to stay back and cast from a distance.
Hassan offers his shortspear to Fjori. "Axes and swords are no good underwater. Perhaps you could use a weapon that is a little bit more... سجن... what is the word? Pokey?"
Hassan, chastised by his poor performance since returning from near death, stands by quietly while the others debate plans of attack, and waits for a clear opportunity to put his skills to their best possible use.
Hassan pauses his spell in mid-cast, happy to save the energy. He graces Quillin with a withering glare, but nonetheless casts Detect Magic instead and begins idly scanning the room for anything of notice, muttering under his breath.
Hassan fires a pair of Magic Missiles, hoping to cut down the grindy before it can raise an alarm.
Hassan concentrates for a moment, summoning forth the power of the seas, and sends a Water Blast arcing across the room at the fleeing Grindy, but in the darkness and confusion manages only to dampen the walls.
Hassan looks for an opportunity to let loose his Light enhanced crossbow bolt, hoping to both hit a grindy and light up the room.
"Just be careful where you swing. Who can say where Quinn might be found in this dark morass, and an errant spell or bolt might cause grievous harm."
Hassan focuses his arcane power, and muttering a few words casts Light on the butt end of one of his crossbow bolts, which he loads into the crossbow. "Let us not tarry overlong, my friends."
"Knowing goblins, they'll warn the rest in a second if we give them a chance. All the gods of heaven know that Hassan is a peaceful man, but the Grindy's won't give up their prize without a fight. If we cannot sneak around them, we'll have to take out all four at once."
"If it's seen us, it doesn't seem to have raised an alarm yet. And it'll be faster than us in the water. Hassan knows little about Grindys, but Goblins are seldom subtle or careful. Perhaps we should duck low and wait to see if the boy... er—the young lass returns to report in."
"Aye, one for you Ajani, and the lad. Here master gnome, you take the last potion, and I'll handle breathing and swimming for Bart and Fjori. We must be swift, however, as the spells will only last a few minutes."
Bathed in the healing power of the wand, there is an audible crunching noise as Hassan's bones reknit themselves, and his skin flushes pink as the myriad bruises and other injuries fade. "Better," says Hassan. He stands, twisting this way and that to stretch out his sore limbs. "Under other circumstances, this one would want another day or two a-bed. But this will do until we can rescue the good lady Quinn." "Many thanks to you, brother Ajani." After a few moments of adjustment, Hassan casts Create Water again, to provide another day's supply to the rest of the crew, and then Detect Magic.
"This device is a mystery to me as well. I suppose it will be a mystery to be solved another day. I think I am ready to depart as soon as the rest of you."
Hassan looks over at the commotion with interest, but does not rise from where he rests—the focus required to cast even a simple cantrip being more than he can muster at the moment. "Don't... get too excited... master... gnome. Whatever was in that box... wasn't enough to save its previous owner. Besides... those wands look a might pointy... from over here. I would hate... to see you prick yourself."
Hassan awakens the next morning barely better than the previous night.
Using his spear as a make-do cane he hobbles slowly around the campsite, but is still too badly injured to lend a hand to the repairs.
He does his best to lend a helpful word to the others, but seeing that words alone add little soon retreats to a nearby rock to sit and rest. GM: "Your gifts and sweet words are matched only by your kindness and beauty, dearest of ladies. These should aid greatly in our quest to rescue the maid Quinn. Unfortunately it is balms and healing that Hassan needs most." Hassan spits on the ground. "Between that cur Plugg's expert captaining—may his spirit be condemned to the deepest pit of hell for a thousand years and a day—and the creatures of this accursed island it is a miracle that this humble sailor still breathes above the waves, let alone beneath them."
Hassan moans pitifully upon regaining consciousness. "I am not sure if the gods love me or hate me, that I find myself once more awakening on this hell-spawned island."
Hassan screams as the cloud envelops him, and tries vainly to run for the door. Unable to see amongst the flames and swarm around him, he merely flails about helplessly, as the repeated beatings, stabbings, and drownings take their toll, and he falls to the ground, dying.
Hassan takes a quick swipe at the swarm with his shortspear as they come barreling past.
Thinking quickly, Hassan pulls from his sash a vial of Alchemist's Fire long secreted there, and waits for Quillin to move clear of the swarm before giving it a heave at the billowing mass of insects.
Not wanting to be drawn within range of either teeth or claws, Hassan summons forth a blast of water, seeking to knock the creature to the ground, then backs away as best he can.
"Rovagug's hairy pendulous balls!" exclaims the Qadiran, too surprised to act.
Hassan peers his head around Bart's shoulder and over Quillin's head. "PWAAH! What a stink." "At least we know the building is unoccupied. What living thing could stand such a smell? A thousand praises and one be upon your head, Bart, if you will see to removing that corpse from our new lodgings, and I will do my best to make this room livable, at least for the evening." The sorcerer prepares to make liberal use of his Prestidigitation cantrip, to clean and de-stink the room.
"If they move, we will see it in the map. Let us get inside."
"Looks so. Your arms probably better than mine. Just don't go burning the jungle down."i
"I see nothing. But let's get inside, just in case."
Hassan scans the trees.
Hassan mutters something under his breath in Kelesh, and nods to Mel. He looks up at the circling birds. "Sea or Sky, Gozreh will take them." He stands from where he had knelt in the sand to identify, and brushes off his pants carefully, before slipping on the ornate bracers and elaborate amulet. He also helps himself to the spare light crossbow, and a half-dozen bolts. "I pray that none will mind that this most humble of spell slingers makes use of this, at least until I have had time to rest and restore my magics."
"Aye. I might do well with those fine bracers. And I imagine the boy could put the bolts to good use." "Err... I mean girl. Mel. That is, Lady Mel--um....Yes." the Qadiran stammers out, tripping over his own tongue for once, before lapsing into silence.
Hassan moves slowly next to Quillin, Detecting Magic to render a second opinion.
Hassan looks out to the rolling waves. "Somewhere away from the water." "Perhaps the most gifted of trackers might find us a cave or copse that would provide some shelter, assuming it's too far to make it back to the ship before nightfall."
Hassan's eyes flutter open seconds after the healing brew meets his gullet. He shades his eyes from the burning sun high above. "I was having the most wonderful dream that I was dead." He stands, slowly, and catches up on what has transpired while he was unconscious. "Many and profuse thanks, oh wisest and most masterful of all Vanara, for rescuing my foolish self from the clutches of that wicked creature. It is my eternal and profound shame that we were not able to rescue the poor maid Quinn from them this day. It is my hope that whatever ill they mean her, it will hold until we can mount a stronger attack." "At least our comrades were successful where we have failed. Although..." he looks pointedly at Quillin, "it would have been good to bring back live prisoners to hang, in front of the rest of the crew where they could see our triumph. We must at least bring back trophies, to prove that those vultures and jackals are truly dead." Hassan punctuates this last line by taking the opportunity to spit in what's left of the faces of Plugg and Scourge. "And my thanks to you as well, oh mightiest of wizards, for the potion."
Badly hurt and without spells, Hassan casts his gaze about for options. Fight, or flight?, he thinks to himself. Running seems wiser, but as weak as he as it would be impossible to out-swim the druid. Seeing Ajani swim up behind the Grindylow Druid, Hassan steels himself for a last desperate strike, praying silently to sea and sky that he will see another day. He strikes out with his shortspear, pressing the slim advantage he has gleaned from Ajani moving to flank the Grindylow.
Hassan grimaces at the bite of the sharp blade. He swims backwards deftly, and focuses the last of his arcane might. He fires a blazing bolt of green force with each hand, heaving them at the same Grindy as Ajani.
Hassan nods to Ajani, and moves forward in pace, ready to defend himself with a Water Blast at the first sign of trouble.
Seeing no evidence of Quinn's location, Hassan motions to Ajani, holding up his hands and shaking his head. He points back to the shore, and shrugs his shoulders.
Hassan moves to make a dash forward, but stops as Ajani's quick action catches his attention. He nods to the Vanara, and indicts as best he can that the druid should lead the way, while Hassan follows, shortspear in hand.
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