In case Yenrry manages to grab the staff:
Vesera stems her entire weight against the hole to prevent getting pulled in as well, as the halfling dangles from her staff. She tries her best to pull him up, but mostly is just glad if she can hold it, so he can climb up on his own.
"Someone help! That guy is heavy!"
Milena drops into the water next to Chavakala, drenching her with the foul river water. For the moment, ignoring the new problem, Chavakala concentrates on the spirits surrounding her. She pictures the time she and her sister, Zalinsa snuck away from the caravan in Riddleport, going to the rocky shore north of the city. The joy of watching the seals play in the ocean. Then the utter terror as a shark grabbed one of the seals and the sounds of the wounded seal until the shark came back to pull it under the waves one last time. She whispers to her spirits, "Do you remember that time? Go now and make that sound behind the shark."
She looks into the murky waters hoping to catch a glimpse of Gethric or Milena and reaches out to see if she can pull one of them to the lower quay.
Yenrry manages to shake the spiders off of him, and only barely does Vesera manage to pull the halfling up from the hull, yet he successfully climbs up to the shaky edge of the hole.
Chavakala's spell seems to distract the shark as it thrashes around and darts into the water. Milena is unable to get a solid hold in the water...
(fail)
Round 2:
Swim:
Managing to regain control Gethric's head re-surfaces as he tries to get clear.
Round 3:
Swim:
Vesera is helping Yenrry out of the deep hole and leans him against the railing of the barge.
"You got bitten by those spiders? Does it hurt? Let me have a look!" she says in a no-nonsense tone that clearly indicates she doesn't expect nor will she tolerate any objections.
She quickly examines his wounds "Looks like you got poisoned. Here, chew on this" she orders him as she stuffs some foul tasting herb into his mouth, before going back to treat the wound "but don't swallow!"
"Gethric, Milena...I'm right here. If you can hear me, come here and I'll help you up."
Chavakala continues looking out over the water for Gethric and Milena, grabbing them and pulling them onto the dock if she can see and grasp them.
Round 2:
Vyshael smiles as a Celestial Eagle appears in the hold, dropping down to attack some of the spiders on Yenrry.
He then draws his magic through his blade, directing a blast of acid at one of the spiders attempting to climb up to strike at Yennry.
Round 3:
Vyshael sighs with relief as he sees that the halfling has made it to safety and Vesara looking at his wounds and call out, "How does he fare, Vesara?" The concern about one companion causes realization to crash into him, "and where are the others?"
He readies another spell, looking for a target that threatens one of his companions.
Round 3
Yenrry, relieved to be out the hole, continues telling his inspiring story. When Vesera shoves the bitter herb into his mouth, he chokes and sputters, but manages to continue speaking. Barely. He hopes that this plant will help improve his strength, which has still left his body. He moves back from the hole and the spiders.
Looking to the water and seeing his new-found companions thrashing around, he conjures some lights to help distract whatever was in the water and illuminate the water for the rescuers.
With Chavakala's aid, both Gethric and Milena manage to get out of the murky waters while the shark violently thrashes about for the seal that is not there.
Down in the hull the spiders scurry away, almost invisible to the naked eye, and they eventually crawl into the darkness, away from eager eyes. Vyshael's eagle dives down but fails to grab any of the spiders. The shackles that bind it to this world eventually vanish and it whisks into the shadows. With Vesera's aid, Yenrry manages to stave off the after-effects of the poison.
The shark is swimming around the lower boardwalk, patiently waiting. It seems reluctant to attack you on the boardwalk, though. There appears to be no way up to the barge from the lower area...
Round 4:
Dry retching slightly as some of the oily water made it into his lungs Gethric manages a strangled "Thanks" before looking to pick his way carefully along the lower boardwalk towards the front of the barge - seeking a rope ladder or the like to ascend upon.
Round 4
"You feel better again now?" she asks Yenrry, before looking over the edge of the barge down for the others "Are you guys ok? What's that noise all about?" She speaks in a loud whisper, afraid that any louder might alert anyone inside the fishery.
Gethric carefully guides his way along the barge, searching for a ladder...though his search remains unfruitful.
As she's not able to see them, she looks towards Vyshael "Can you see something on your side?"
Yenrry tries to stand and is relieved to find that his strength has returned. Spitting the herb onto the deck of the barge he whispers, "Yes, thank you Vesera, it appears that I am recovered." He moves to Vyshael's side and tries to spot their companions.
Vyshael looks over the edge, trying to see his companions, and then stage whispers back to Vesara, "No, I can't... but I can hear them."
I hope that this poor start is not a portent of our chances of success...
As Gethric begins looking for a way up, Chavakala follows him, "Hold still a moment Gethric. You don't look so great right now. That was a close call."
She puts her hands to his wounds and draws the spirits to her. Gethric and Milena can hear her say, "Come to me and heal my companion." Gethric feels a deep chill penetrate his wounds and then, suddenly, they begin to draw back together.
After a brief moment, Gethric's wounds close completely and the chill fades from his body.
"Well, let's see if we can find a way back to our companions."
A brief clasp of hand on shoulder "Thanks lass"
"No problem Gethric. It'll be good to have you and your knives when we face Lamm. I want the holes in him, not you. I really wish I'd thought to bring some rope along.
Chavakala joins Milena and Gethric searching for any way up the side of the boat.
You do spot what appears to be a hole in the fishery's floor. A small hole with chains protruding down the edge, with bloodied hooks dangling. You also hear voices, a shrill, sadistic tone, and quiet sobbing. You cannot see a feasible way to get to the hole, however...
As you grace the side of the boat gently, you find a strange chasm in the woodwork. Tracing it, you find what looks to be a sort of door that leads into the hull...? You're not quite able to open it, however...
Chavakala feels at the gap in the wood, hissing "Gethric, Milena, over here. I think I've found some sort of door into the boat. Perhaps we can get it open and find the rest of our comrades."
Chavakala continues to explore the opening, seeking a way to open it up.
Gethric moves to where Chavakala is standing, keeping a wary eye on the water.
Listening at the door, Milena finds that there is a voice talking, or laughing, it's difficult to tell. The words are difficult to discern, though you can hear some words: 'wench', 'foolish', 'idiotic children', 'ought to feed'. As you check if the door is open, you find that it is - and it makes an audible creak as you test its handle. "Who's there!?"
Chavakala finds a slightly bigger gap in the woodwork, and with some carefully applied force the door slides open. Dust and atrophy defines the smell, and moonlight is shining in through a hole at the rear end of the barge.
Gethric moves to place his back to the side of the barge, seeking to remain hidden with dagger in hand.
Chavakala looks up toward the moonlight. She hisses up toward the opening, "Vyshael, Yenrry, Vesera. We're down here. Do any of you have a rope or anything to try to come down?"
Vyshael whispers back, "I have no rope... would it be better for us to come down than you to come up? Have you found an access into the building?"
"Yes, there's door that Milena was checking out...oh, and she's coming back now."
Vesera moves over to Vyshael and looks over the edge of the barge. She whispers just loud enough so she can be heard on the walkway below.
"Are you alright? How did you get down there?"
As Chavakala, Gethric and Milena slip into the hull, you can all hear a door being slammed open, and then an eerie silence. Within the minute you hear the door again, this time being slammed shut, and the silence carries on...
Gethric looks around at what he can see where they are.
Chavakala whispers, "What was that? I think we better get the others down here right away in case someone is coming. I can bring more light, but I'm afraid they'll see us."
She listens for the sounds of anyone approaching.
As she hears the door opening, Vesera drops herself down on the ground of the barge, pressing against the railing, so she can't be seen, and tries to be as silently as possible.
Vyshael gingerly lowers himself down to join his companions, whispering, "I worry that we may have lost the element of surprise..."
Yenrry follows as quietly as possible behind Vyshael.
Chavakala nods to Vyshael, "We may have, or perhaps we can use this to our advantage. Milena, what have you heard? I'm thinking of a trick we might play on our friend at the door if there is only one. I could send my spirits to tug on the handle. Then, I could use them again to make the sound of children laughing and running from the door. We then position ourselves to attack whoever comes to the door."
Gethric gives Chavakala a nod of approval and moves to one side of the 'door'.
Vyshael smiles wickedly at Chavakala's suggestion, "I like the way you think... That's just devious enough to work.... Let's just figure out where to position ourselves to take advantage... I fear I am not as adept at hiding as some."
Vyshael steps against the wall as best he can and draws his mother's sword once more, taking comfort from the harmonic echoes of his magic flowing through it.
"I think hiding is going to be tricky unless we stick someone our there on their own. Here's what I'm thinking. Gethric, if that door opens into the fishery, we could see if you can squeeze between the doorframe and the edge of the boardwalk. Otherwise, I think we need to pull you back because we don't need you falling back in with the shark."
"Vyshael, I think we put you with your crossbow near the end of the boardwalk to take a shot at Lamm or one of his cronies when they come to the door. Once you've shot, you keep shooting or charge for the door."
"Yenrry, we put you at the end of the boardwalk ready to shoot at the door."
"Milena, I think we put you next to Yenrry, ready to throw your stars or run for the door."
"Vesera, I think you and I go next to Milena and prepare to use spells to help our allies or strike at our foes."
"If we run into trouble, we fall back into the hull and see if we can ambush them there."
"If any of you have other ideas or skills that I don't know about, feel free to suggest modifications."
Vesera nods slowly at Chavakala's idea but adds "We should be careful to not be too many too close together though, we wouldn't want the same thing to happen again. Or are you sure that this one's more stable than the one above?"
"Good thinking. We didn't feel it creaking and groaning like before, but it was only the three of us."
"Ok, so let's put Milena in front and spread everyone out a bit more."
As you tread across the lower boardwalk and spread out, you find that it isn't quite as slippery as the one above, nor does it seem to creak and crackle as much either. It seems to be able to maintain your weight somewhat...
Gethric nods assent to the plan and takes his position.