As Esteban turns his back on them and heads towards the pilot house Fippin casts a create water spell above his head, so that water dumps all over him. He tries to do it subtly. He then looks up at the sky as if trying to determine where the water came from.
Seeing the crocodile slipping away, Baas immediately moves towards the crocodile harassing Sykala, attempting to crush its spine with his enormous club.
Attack! (1d20 10=16, 2d6 14=17)
As Esteban turns his back on them and heads towards the pilot house Fippin casts a create water spell above his head, so that water dumps all over him. He tries to do it subtly. He then looks up at the sky as if trying to determine where the water came from.
As Esteban turns his back on them and heads towards the pilot house Fippin casts a create water spell above his head, so that water dumps all over him. He tries to do it subtly. He then looks up at the sky as if trying to determine where the water came from.
Seeing the crocodile slipping away, Baas immediately moves towards the crocodile harassing Sykala, attempting to crush its spine with his enormous club.
Attack! (1d20 10=16, 2d6 14=17)
Faruq is shouting "NO! Not the hammer!! You ... get out of the water ... piranhas, you know."
Fippin fully expects Esteban will realize what happened he's not trying particularly hard to actually bluff him. At this point he thinks Esteban's a total dick and he doesn't care if he pisses him off a little.
As Esteban turns his back on them and heads towards the pilot house Fippin casts a create water spell above his head, so that water dumps all over him. He tries to do it subtly. He then looks up at the sky as if trying to determine where the water came from.
Faruq is shouting "NO! Not the hammer!! You ... get out of the water ... piranhas, you know."As Esteban turns his back on them and heads towards the pilot house Fippin casts a create water spell above his head, so that water dumps all over him. He tries to do it subtly. He then looks up at the sky as if trying to determine where the water came from.
Seeing the crocodile slipping away, Baas immediately moves towards the crocodile harassing Sykala, attempting to crush its spine with his enormous club.
Attack! (1d20 10=16, 2d6 14=17)
Baas turns to Sykala, gesturing to the boat. "After you."
He will wait until Sykala leaves the water to climb up to the boat.
"Guys hurry up and get up here you have to see this. The gods just pissed on Esteban. He's soaking wet with god pee!" Fippin yells.
"Guys hurry up and get up here you have to see this. The gods just pissed on Esteban. He's soaking wet with god pee!" Fippin yells.
Esteban turns angrily on Fippin and then starts to laugh. He laughs long and hard and continues to laugh as he climbs up to the pilothouse.
"Guys hurry up and get up here you have to see this. The gods just pissed on Esteban. He's soaking wet with god pee!" Fippin yells.Esteban turns angrily on Fippin and then starts to laugh. He laughs long and hard and continues to laugh as he climbs up to the pilothouse.
"Oh nuts guys, I think you're going to miss it. He's going back into his lair to dry off. Hold your tongues, no comments about Desna, she wouldn't do that kind of thing. It had to be Gozreh."
Keliwyn spins around, looking for any other threats. He turns to check on Baas, and is slightly surprised to see him lumbering over to assist Sykala and Faruq. Upon hearing any mention of piranhas, however, the grin fades from his face and he scrambles to climb back aboard the ship.
Ixius has a hearty laugh when the water falls on Esteban's head, then he helps Sykala out of the water.
Faruq hauls his crocodile out of the water and plunks it on the deck. "Phew. Okay. Thanks everybody. This one is perfect. Only a slight puncture wound," he says shooting a glance to Ixius. "Okay. Now. Who knows how to skin a croc? Anyone? Sykala? Ixius?"
"Okay. Now. Who knows how to skin a croc? Anyone? Sykala? Ixius?"
"Sorry Faruq, I don't know how to skin a crocodile. I just know how to shoot one."
Ixius then reaches down and tries to get his arrow out of it without breaking it or damaging the hide too much more.
"Fippin. Baas hurt. You look please." Sykala comes over to Faruq and pulls out a bone handled dagger, "Turn crocodile over. I cut. You pull skin. We eat meat too."
"Esteban, we're having croc!" yells Faruq excitedly. "And I'm getting some new boots!"
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The boat is pulled ashore. The crocodiles are skinned carefully, a process Faruq oversees and is not incompetent in himself.
Fires are lit. Croc is roasted.
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Esteban seems much friendlier than he has in days. At some point in the coversation turns to the topic of 'nature'. "You know, anyone who thinks nature is all cute little animals and lovely orchards, has never spent a night naked, covered in honey, and tied to a tree," says Esteban snarkily.
"That was only once and it was business," replies Faruq with a laugh. Turning to Fippin he adds, "That's how we met. Estee owed some money to my boss at the time."
Esteban bristles at the nickname 'Estee.'
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Fippin gives Baas 5 charges from the wand (25 hp)
Fippin isn't really happy to see the party ashore, lighting fires and cooking meat. He's worried it will attract unwanted attention.
"Faruq and Esteban, I don't think this is a good idea. We need to keep the boat moving up river. This jungle is crawling with elves and plenty of other dangers, all of which probably have keen noses and will smell our food and fire from far away. We should stay on the boat, keep moving up river and subsist on our rations until we reach our destination. I have a spell that we can preserve this meat with, so it need not go to waste. If we stay on shore, we are just asking to be filled with arrows."
Fippin chooses to stay on the boat. With his bow ready. He will eat dry rations and not bother with any of the crocodile. He keeps on eye out for danger.
Then we really do need to get moving. Fippin needs to rest and recover his spells.
Nope, this is all the same day. It's been a busy one.
Esteban seems much friendlier than he has in days. At some point in the coversation turns to the topic of 'nature'. "You know, anyone who thinks nature is all cute little animals and lovely orchards, has never spent a night naked, covered in honey, and tied to a tree," says Esteban snarkily.
With a smile, "It not Nature tie you tree or cover honey. Nature does what Nature does." Her smile turning more sinister, "This kind Nature..." sweeping arm to encompass the jungle, "....never cute. It try eat you. Why you here? You like be eaten?"
"... Why you here? You like be eaten?"
Faruq appears to be choking on something ... oh, it's laughter.
Then we really do need to get moving. Fippin needs to rest and recover his spells.
"Where are we going to go? It's getting dark. The boat needs to be towed until we are through this marsh. I'm not putting anyone in the water at night. The crocs almost had one of you for dinner and it was light enough to see them."
Fippin curses.
"I guess we're stuck here for the night. We'd best post watches, and I suggest we make camp on the boat.
How much farther is the outpost? Maybe tomorrow we could take canoes, head up river with some supplies and scout it out, and leave the boat here."
Fippin curses.
"I guess we're stuck here for the night. We'd best post watches, and I suggest we make camp on the boat.
How much farther is the outpost? Maybe tomorrow we could take canoes, head up river with some supplies and scout it out, and leave the boat here."
"Well ... we're not actually heading in the direction of the outpost. We need to get something from this marsh or The River Queen won't be going anywhere. Though, taking the canoes is a thought. Tomorrow we could send those who want to go out with Hurg and the rest can stay and guard the boat. That would be better than hauling this in any deeper into the marsh," says Esteban. "Good thinking, little guy."
"If this is only a detour to get more of this worms, then it would make a lot more sense to go grab them with the canoes and bring them back to the boat. This big thing will take a long time to drag through the swamp, and the canoes won't get bogged down, though they are more vulnerable to the local fauna.
I'll go, and I think Sykala and Baas should come too, and Ix and Keliwyn if they'd like, but it might be hard to bring everyone."
Fippin is saying all this from the railing of the boat. He still refuses to hang out on shore near a camp fire.
"If this is only a detour to get more of this worms, then it would make a lot more sense to go grab them with the canoes and bring them back to the boat. This big thing will take a long time to drag through the swamp, and the canoes won't get bogged down, though they are more vulnerable to the local fauna.
I'll go, and I think Sykala and Baas should come too, and Ix and Keliwyn if they'd like, but it might be hard to bring everyone."
Fippin is saying all this from the railing of the boat. He still refuses to hang out on shore near a camp fire.
"Can't take everyone," Esteban agrees. "We need to protect the boat. In the morning, Faruq and I will get out and away from shore. The five of you take Hurg up to the place where he can get his 'supplies'. We'll guard the boat. ... Hey, what's that?"
As Esteban's been speaking, a dim light has become visible out in the swamp.
Fippin tries to ready his bow and tries to get a better look.
"See, someone likes Sykala's cooking."
The light bobs up and down. You hear a hacking cough coming from that direction. The light bobs way down to just above the surface of the water and then pops suddenly back up. You hear a *cough*sputter*cough*haaaaacck* sound.
How far away is it?
How far away is it?
About 100' but coming closer by about 15' every round. It's coming in from the swamp which, as Sykala, Baas, and Keliwyn found out, is about 4' deep.
Keliwyn follows Fippin's gaze. He grabs his own bow, and as he stands up, he mutters, "Whatever it is, chances are, it's nothing good."
Sykala takes what looks like some sort of hollowed out crystaline rock and crushes open with a finger a a small fungal pod that had been placed in the hollow. It begins to phosphoresce and she tosses it out around where the noise and light are figuring if she misses it'll still backlight whatever is coming.Roll for sunrod throw (1d20+5=23)
Sykala takes what looks like some sort of hollowed out crystaline rock and crushes open with a finger a a small fungal pod that had been placed in the hollow. It begins to phosphoresce and she tosses it out around where the noise and light are figuring if she misses it'll still backlight whatever is coming.Roll for sunrod throw (1d20+5=23)
The throw is good but the rock sinks quickly into the marsh. She does not see who or what or if anything is holding the light. The coughing continues and the light comes closer.
She looks questioningly at the others. "Just light. No one hold. Is like big firefly?"
She looks questioningly at the others. "Just light. No one hold. Is like big firefly?"
"I don't like this."
Ixius puts his bow away and gets ready to cast.
Fippin stays on the deck near the edge of the boat with his bow ready, targeted on the light. He tries to stay a little concealed if possible in case it hasn't noticed him and is more focused on the party by the fire.
Sykala waits cautiously for it to come ashore. She is not certain what to think.
Baas will move over in front of Sykala and ready his earth breaker to deal with any incoming trouble.
Although the party is not fooled by this latest threat, its speed catches them off-guard. It suddenly ceases its bobbing up and and down and flies straight for Sykala giving her a nasty shock.
Although the party is not fooled by this latest threat, its speed catches them off-guard. It suddenly ceases its bobbing up and and down and flies straight for Sykala giving her a nasty shock.
Whatever it is that attacked Sykala has not changed in appearance. It continues to be just a ball of crackling light. The hacking and coughing have ceased and there is no longer any pretense of being a light carried by another creature.
Sykala gasps in pain as the lightning courses through her. Thinking it unwise to strike a creature that uses lightning with lightning she instead stabs into the heart of the glowing ball with her spear.
Knowledge (Nature) (1d20+10=25)
Melee attack with spear (1d20+5=25)
crit confirm (1d20+5=25)
spear damage (3d8+3=13)
Knowledge (nature) (1d20 9=13)
Baas swings his heavy club at the seemingly innocent bulb of light as it approaches Sykala, but is caught off-guard by its luminescence.
When it still about 10' away Ixius' readied burning hands goes off.
(2) If the boat were hauled up parallel to the shoreline (the shoreline on the starboard -- right -- side of the boat), and this creature's flight path were perpendicular to the boat (heading for Sykala) where would you be? I might make a map for this fight.
1) I would say no, unless it is of a type that is immune to criticals. The SRD doesn't say anything about creatures with the Air subtype being immune to critical hits.
2) Ixius is next to Baas and Sykala.
Question #1: Not if it's an outsider with the air subtype. If it's an elemental than yes. For instance Genies and Gensai aren't immune to crits. (as far as I know)
Question #2 I'd be near the stern of the ship firing down at the creature.
** spoiler omitted **
Yeah, makes sense. I didn't see anything that said they did but it seemed like the type of creature that would. Particularly since it had no discernable anatomy. The Dragon ecology article cleared that up though. It does have an anatomy but you never get to see it. It consists of a dozen or so spheres connected together. A crit could just be a slice down the center.
This is a "Will-o'-wisp". These strange creatures are known to lure unsuspecting creatures into sinkholes and quicksand so that it can feed off their agony. These creatures fly fast and hard and are known to toy with other intelligent creatures. Most magic has no effect on them.
The creature flies right through the cone of flame originating from Ixius' fingers without hesitation.
"Ixius. Is Will O' Wisp. Magic not effect. Very hard hit. You help Baas?"