Underwater Plan-Weaving (DM Wayne) Thursday April 6th, 2023 10:59:17 PM
Stohp considers, and tells the group that it’s an old danger acting in new ways, and perhaps there’s a druid or other spellcaster behind the Tangle/Reeds’ cunning attack on the fisherfleet.
Bartomus tried to follow along with the whispers, but even the snatches he heard were not in a language he knew. He became concerned at the mention of possibly two threats instead of one. Bartomus muses aloud about the Sargrass incident and whether something could have happened then. He finishes by discussing with Stohp the possibility that the attack is a prelude to another leadership challenge.
Stock gets to the point – the Shields know more, but don’t yet know enough. Stock advises the merfolk to be on the alert on all of their borders for more of these monstrous plants.
Zanderallen is aware of the horrific descriptions of the monstrous plants, yet is drawn to the words like a moth to a flame. He offers that the Shields might have encountered something similar during the Sargrass cataclysm. Zanderallen resolves that the Shields must go down and end the threat, whether its source be Sargrass spores… or something unrelated…
Delia continues to keep watch, noting no threats, and occasionally shudders at Melanie’s descriptions of the monstrous plants.
Armalad and Joker listened raptly to Princess Melanie’s words… and perhaps too the faint whispers that preceded them. After Princess Melanie and the other Shields finish speaking, Armalad finally speaks up, discussing many finer details about the situation than any of the other Shields had perceived. One thing is immediately clear to the Shields and by the startled reactions, the merfolk as well – Armalad does not just have keen elven ears… she can understand the merfolk’s native tongue!
It was obvious to the rest of the Shields that Princess Melanie had a slightly-accented Common, and at times could not find an appropriate word. Armalad appears to have more skill in this arena.
The name “Blood Lilies” has been spoken aloud. The other Shields skilled in nature lore (Bartomus and Delia) instantly see in their mind’s eye blood-red lilies as large as the Tangle/Reeds, petals spreading forth for an attack… but… what kind of attack?
Bartomus and Delia quickly come back to Armalad’s monologue, wherein Armalad has perhaps forgotten she is speaking to royalty and is on a roll that no one soon stops. Armalad wonders why Princess Melanie is confident the Shields will prevail against the blood lilies when the Princess’ own guard would stand much less of a chance. Armalad doesn’t wait for answers, but finishes with asking whether the merfolk have some store of knowledge that might reveal more about the capabilities of the blood lilies.
There is stunned silence from the merfolk for several moments. Princess Melanie’s guards each keep one eye on their respective horizons and the other on their princess. The princess’s advisor simply has no words. The expression on her face is of one who has witnessed the most unthinkable social faux pas before royalty and is obvious to all.
Princess Melanie appears calm, her expression unmoving, though there may be clues…
Sense Motive DC 11 Highlight to display spoiler: {Princess Melanie is trying to hide the expression of a human girl caught with her hand in the cookie jar, here meaning if anyone previously had ever managed to eavesdrop on her, she never knew it happened… until now. The only deceit here is Melanie trying desperately to hide her embarrassment and not flush her cheeks, and today is not her day for success at that skill...}
Princess Melanie is finally the first to speak. Perhaps recognizing she’s not doing very well at hiding her emotions, she chooses to show them instead, beginning with a (protective) series of laughs.
Finally Princess Melanie speaks to the Shields, but looking straight at Armalad, “Shields, never in my life have I met a surface-dweller who understands our language, and now the first time it happens it’s one who can hear a pin drop above water! While Armalad might have asked more polite questions that showed more respect to visiting royalty, I will forgive her in this instance because the Shields will need even the tiny scraps of conjecture we can offer. First, storing knowledge underwater is hard – ink, even squid ink, doesn’t want to stay in one place, and rock carvings work best above water. We are more reliant on oral histories and practiced memories than anything else, but our writings can be tedious to go through. Also, we in the Royal Council also have our sages, with lengthy and accurate memories of recent and long ago histories. Individual merfolk have lesser defenses than the Shields – it’s not that the blood flowers are exceptionally resilient, but that warriors must be nigh-unkillable to survive whatever petal horrors they visit upon their victims. Merfolk wear light protection in order to function well in underwater fights, but these legendary monstrous plants are skilled in taking advantage of that.
Therefore, some of my guard will follow you at a distance and focus on recovering the remains of the last victims of the Tangle/Reeds attack while you Shields, now warriors of legend yourselves, put an end to these foul plants whose very touch may mean your death! How does a touch kill you? I do not know… the legends said only that their touch turned your own body against you! I wish we knew more, but on the bright side encounters with the blood flowers are so few and dimly remembered that once you defeat the monstrous plants in the “moundtown” I hope all of us never hear of them again during our lifetimes!”
With that, Princess Melanie gestures at several merfolk, about half of her guard, and directs them in the merfolk’s tongue at normal volume. Armalad: Highlight to display spoiler: {In Aquan, Princess Melanie directs the guards to do exactly as she offered to the Shields, to follow the Shields at a distance, recover any remains of surface-dwellers, especially remains the Shields point out, and return them to the dragon ship for burial. Still speaking in Aquan, she turns to Armalad and says, “you understood all that, right?” finishing with a smile.}
Princess Melanie finishes addressing her guards and then turns and continues in her native tongue, speaking directly to Armalad and finishing with a smile. The princess then turns to face all of the Shields, and says in Common, “My guards will follow you at a distance, as I said, and focus on the recovery of remains and delivering them to the dragon ship for burial. You need only point out particularly important remains as needed. If you need to speak to the guards, they don’t know Surface Common well yet, but Armalad can translate for you.”
Princess Melanie returns Zanderallen’s thanks and then bids the Shields farewell. She, her adviser, and half the guard mount their giant seahorses and dive deep and far under Turtle Lake. The other half of her guard mount their giant seahorses and ride at attention, all looking at Armalad for their cue to follow.
The Shields likewise say their farewells and row back to the dragon ship, board, and Rick, Belba, James and Hasan and his crew get things going again. James had shrunk to only gigantic size once the conversation went on long enough, but Belba once more steps behind Rick and casts a few spells, and Colossal James rides once more on a slipstream of water, towing the sailing/rowing dragon ship at 30 knots/hour once more, heading on that north by northeast direction Bartomus called out from his underwater exploration.
It does not take long before Bartomus calls out, “this is the spot!” and James and the dragon ship slow to a stop some miles north by northeast of the Float. Far enough that the Float is too tiny to be easily seen at this distance except perhaps by Delia’s spyglass. Water diffracts light, but the Shields (and the merfolk guard) are confident the Lake floor is between 80’ and 100’ deep here.
SHIELDS – What, if anything, do you do before diving the Turtle Lake deeps? (OOC – include all spells cast, such as water breathing, etc. and include an OOC line in your post with the names of each recipient, the duration for each recipient, etc. with this spell and with all spells cast)
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 7/38 used d20+14=22 ; Friday April 7th, 2023 9:39:32 AM "Bart - I will need some water breathing before we dive in. Likewise, Delia, you can save the freedom of movement until we know we are close."
Stock puts on his flippers and lashes the borrowed trident to his gear.
======= Sense Motive 22
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+4=17 ; Friday April 7th, 2023 11:37:14 AM
Delia mentally shrugs at Princess Melanie's obvious discomfort, if you're going to talk in front of people, don't be surprised if they understand you at some point.
"Sounds like these noose-reeds are what we ran into. You two's necks will be safe with Freedom of Movement," she nods at Stock and Zanderallen. "And I have some poison prevention prepared. If we're careful and stick together, we should be fine."
She double checks all her gear, especially the borrowed stuff, muttering about crossbows being so much less convenient than bows as she does so. She holds her spells until they are closer to combat so they last as long as possible.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday April 7th, 2023 1:15:38 PM
Stohp thanks the princess for the information she shared. When the turtle makes ready to dive she puts on her helm of underwater action, activating it as soon as her head hits water.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 Friday April 7th, 2023 5:30:51 PM
When the expedition got underway, he scanned the horizon and paid close attention to the route they were taking. When he became more and more certain they were getting close, he signaled that fact to the Captain. Then when he knew they were there, he called out and the water-skipping turtle came to a stop. He looked about and nodded in agreement that this was in fact the place.
"Right Stock, who else needs such a breathing touch? You'll be able to breathe above or under the water. I think I will be going as a water elemental again. That worked last time." Bartomus said to Stock and then turned looking at the rest of the Shields. When those are noted he would ask them to gather about allowing him to touch each of them. Afterward, he would change himself back into a huge water elemental as he slid off of James' shell.
Water Breathing 1st casting of the 2 spell slots. 2 hrs/level - so 30 hours equally divided between those that need it.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 13/13 SE 5/5 Friday April 7th, 2023 8:11:42 PM
It takes a second for Zander to realize what happened, but then comprehension dawns that Armalad was replying to what the Princess thought was a private conversation. He winces a little at the break-down of social convention, but what was one to do? He just bows to the princess as she depart and re-boards the ship. When Bart announces their arrival he takes a few moment to prepare, making sure every piece of his equipment is secure. "I will save one casting for emergencies but Stohp I am going to grant you some protection from poison. It won't stop you from getting poisoned but it will delay any effects for hours." With that he jumps off the side of the boat activated his new helm and feeling the power of his new ring remove any hindrance from being underwater. =============== Spells Cast: Delay Poison on Stohp - Poison does not effect Stohp for 11 hours, at the end of 11 hours any and all poison in her system will immediately take full effect.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Sunday April 9th, 2023 6:51:12 PM
Stohp makes sure all her gear is secured well enough to not float away as they dive.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20=20 ; Monday April 10th, 2023 3:18:41 AM
Armalad says to the princess, "I'm sorry if I've given offense. Let's just say I'm a very cunning linguist and leave it at that. I didn't mean to cause any embarrassment or scandal and I probably could have been more tactful in how I spoke to you. I guess we'll just have to be careful not to let the blood flowers touch us."
Armalad then starts casting her spells.
She puts mage armor on herself and casts waterbreathing and shares it with anyone who wants it.
Mage Armor = +4 AC for 10 hours Water Breathing = 20 hours worth of water breathing, can share up to 9 other people, dividing the duration by those it is shared with
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Monday April 10th, 2023 9:23:39 AM Status: Water Breathing Stock lowers himself into the water. "It's cold today."[/g]
He then dips his face in the water and confirms that he is able to breathe. [b]"Ready to go"
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Monday April 10th, 2023 1:19:34 PM (ooc: forgot Zander got himself a ring of freedom of movement. Stock and Stohp, you will have my 2 casts, since it doesn't help archery.) (We have 50 hours of water breathing, divided among I think 4 who need it?) Water Breathing (some number of hours)
As they are preparing, Delia will take a moment to braid her hair back in preparation for going underwater. She snaps her darkvision goggles on, then follows suit of Stock, pushing past the mental block of inhaling underwater. She double checks her flippers and gloves, then is ready to go.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 13/13 SE 5/5 Monday April 10th, 2023 5:09:45 PM
Zanderallen takes a minute to accustom himself to moving about underwater. He soon gets the hang of thinking himself through the water as the helm magically aid his swimming. He takes some experimental swings marveling as the ring on his finger warms slightly, allowing his arm and blade to swing freely. The air bubble around his head may get stale but he had been assured it would stay breathable. ======================= Spells in effects - Delay Poison - Stohp - 11 hours
Underwater Plan-Weaving (DM Wayne) Monday April 10th, 2023 8:54:07 PM
Stock asks for Water Breathing from Bartomus, and asks Delia to delay Freedom of Movement until closer to encountering any Tangle/Reeds.
Delia is at ease despite Melanie’s uncomfortableness. She concludes the “noose-reeds” are what attacked the fisherfolk, and then suggests a battle strategy for protecting Stock and Stohp from the noose-reeds. Delia then goes silent, rifling through her gear, getting it in order.
Stohp thanks Princess Melanie. She then readies her helm of underwater action for the dive.
Bartomus carefully directed the Captains to the correct spot on the Lake for the dive. He agreed to grant Water Breathing at the appropriate time, asking for who else might need it. Once the Shields desiring the magic so indicate, Bartomus grants it, excluding himself, and then wildshapes into a huge water elemental form!
Zanderallen double-takes at Armalad’s sudden conversation with the Princess, only belatedly realizing what must have happened! The conversation finishes, and Zanderallen bows to Princess Melanie and wishes her well. He then secures his equipment following Bartomus offering Water Breathing. Zanderallen then casts Delay Poison on Stohp. (OOC – Duration 11 hours)
Stohp then secures her own gear as well.
Armalad gives Princess Melanie what might pass for an apology among scholars. Princess Melanie smiles in a way that perhaps indicates she in turn has given “scholar’s grace” for the social faux pas before she and her half of the merfolk dive and go on their way. Armalad notes aloud that the best defense against the blood flowers is “don’t be where they’re reaching for!” Armalad then casts Mage Armor on herself, noting that she too, like Bartomus prepared [i]Water Breathing, but agrees to partake from Bartomus’ Water Breathing this time.
(OOC – you’re going down 80-100 feet. Stohp and Zanderallen bought helms and Bartomus is a water elemental, so 30 hours divided by Armalad, Delia, and Stock is 10 hours each, which should be plenty, the Shields hope…)
Stock tests out Bartomus’ Water Breathing and finds it works! He declares himself ready to go.
Delia braids her hair back, to streamline herself for battle! Then she puts her darkvision goggles on and like Stock tests out breathing underwater… it feels unnatural at first, but Delia soon acquaints herself with it. Then she double-checks the flippers and gloves borrowed from Redbow, and declares herself ready.
Zanderallen practices moving around underwater – with the ring of Freedom of Action he finally understands what Stock was tight-lipped about when Stock received Delia’s spell – there is no longer swimming, only walking, running, and “pulling” oneself up or down “stairs” in order to change position, even depth! Could this be… even stranger than flying like a bird the way Armalad often does?
Now that Bartomus has cast Water Breathing the Shields gather on James the Turtle, and all but Bartomus and Zanderallen simply fall backwards into the Lake, allowing the weight and density of their weapons and armor to take them deeper and deeper to the bottom! Bartomus in water form effortlessly follows the lead-weight Shields! Then, any who find themselves too buoyant (due to lack of dense weights) simply grab a hold of Zanderallen, who briefly removes his ring so his full plate quickly drags them to the Lake floor! Sliding his ring back on, Zanderallen regains his balance and those who were too buoyant now have lungs full of water, and so perhaps only occasionally have to grab ahold of Zanderallen or Stock to stay along the Lake floor. The merfolk follow you down, and though most of the Shields are not accustomed to hearing chuckling underwater, there apparently is a way for it to carry, especially in Aquan. Though the Shields find it strange, those not in water elemental form eventually adapt to speaking, after a style – sound distorts quickly underwater… in Common. Zanderallen and Stohp find that with their helm-enabled air bubbles are able to speak Common normally within the bubble and then have their voices retain understanding at a greater distance than those with water-filled lungs such as Delia, Armalad, and Stock. Bartomus realizes he can still cast spells through water-shifting, but lacks any semblance of vocal cords… Bartomus Highlight to display spoiler: {(OOC – if only Bartomus could speak a language designed for such an unusual scenario… like Aquan…)} Armalad Highlight to display spoiler: {finds Aquan to be designed for much more effective use underwater than surface-dweller tongues reliant on air and its vibrations, and} occasionally gives direction to the merfolk in their own language, and for the rest of the Shields, the incomprehensible clicks and water-swishes seem to travel clearer and farther than anyone using Common, even in a magical helm.
(OOC – please roll with it on the underwater communications thing – this is supposed to be an alien environment for surface-dwellers, and magic handles a lot of it, but not all – chalk it up to “DM’s license” for this adventure. Yes, spell-casters can still cast spells normally, given water breathing, helms, etc. – enunciating the words is more important than whether anyone can hear you.)
The trip down leads the Shields, or at least some of the Shields, once more into the alien depths… the brightness of the sun begins to lessen some, though perhaps 100 feet of depth is but a drop in the bucket compared to the deeps of Turtle Lake wherein the merfolk dwell, and the sahuagin were fought. Occasional boulders along the Lake floor cast large shadows, making Delia and Stock happy to be able to see into it. Other than the Reeds, and perhaps these mythical blood flowers, and the sahuagin, the Lake simply hasn’t had that many predators that would attack people – plenty up and down the fish food chain, but without the midnight depths of the Wold’s oceans, well, this is “easy.” Bartomus leads the way, as best as water-in-water can lead, making currents to signal the path this way and that… but soon enough the now-lessened remnants of viscera still point out the gruesome final journey of Edvards, Nuria, Triggan, and Jerma…
There’s a lot of seaweed, kelp, and other vegetation down here, but with Bartomus retracing his “swims,” soon the Shields stand, float, or otherwise are present looking ahead at what Bartomus found the other day.
Bartomus Highlight to display spoiler: {”recalls discovering what may or may not be some kind of… underwater plant-town(?)… or maybe a plant-building or two amongst a building-complex-like weed/reed forest?” and then internally hmms at not being able to talk or yell to alert the shields and begins pondering “water sign language,” perhaps directing a sudden current (pushing someone lightly with a watery arm) towards a desired destination, or pushing a seaweed forest over, flattening the terrain in a specific path… but what would be best for what Bartomus wants to tell the group from time to time? (OOC – Rod, this is an opportunity for Bartomus to “play charades” with the Shields when he wants to give them direction – run with it!)}
The Shields see amongst the reedy and seaweedy “forests” along the Lake floor some… structures (?) if they can be called that – huge, irregular “domes” that could be called “woven” of reeds and the like, some rising 20 feet from the Lake floor, still far below the surface some 95 feet above your heads. The trail of viscera has increased slightly… a sign of the water’s wear on the corpses… or of the Reeds… playing with… or even eating… stomachs try to churn at the thought, but the Shields are made of sterner stuff than that… aren’t they?
The merfolk, never having met any of the victims, all manage to turn their heads in time to avoid having a severe reaction, but the Shields can tell (Sense Motive DC 15) Highlight to display spoiler: { that for these merfolk, battlefield carnage… is maybe a bit new – Princess Melanie may have left the most inexperienced guards with the Shields since they were just on corpse recovery duty it seems.}
(OOC – SHIELDS please include in your next posts whether your Shield has a sterner stomach even in the face of the mounting realization that you’re looking at strewn bits of some Lads and of Fabricia’s husband and daughter, or whether your Shield is new to such alien undersea horror and perhaps has a stomach not-so-sternly-resistant. This is a roleplaying choice, not a saving throw, but each Shield does have a reaction – describe it, please!)
SHIELDS, having recovered, in your own way, from the gruesomely increasing amount of viscera-decorated carnage, you see before you the trail of viscera leads towards a…. complex (?) of reedy mounds… either one mega-mound with multiple chambers, or multiple chambers that have grown together serendipitously. The trail then seems to stop about 30 feet from the complex. There are other, disconnected, mounds off to the left and the right, about three on each side.
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20=6 ; Monday April 10th, 2023 11:01:25 PM
Sense Motive: 6
Armalad is oblivious to the merfolk's reactions or what might be their impetus for having them.
Armalad, herself is not a stranger to the dead, having served with the palace guards and being an academic had attended her fair share of dissections. The state of the viscera is somewhat disturbing though. Dealing with a dead body from combat or dissection things are usually more or less whole unless the person's cause of death was something spectacular or certain spells were cast on a corpse. She doesn't gag or retch or anything but she doesn't dwell too hardly on what particularly she is seeing.
Armalad asks the others, "Should we investigate those chambers off to the side before investigating the massive reed structure or circle back to them later?"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday April 11th, 2023 7:11:30 AM
Stohp has been to the murky depths of the lake before and adjusts quickly to the oddities of underwater conversation and navigation. Similarly she has seen pllenty of corpses, both friend and stranger, in plenty of terrible states. She is not disturbed by the status of the corpses - rather she is disturbed by them being here at all.
"It's been most of a day. If the creatures attacked merely for food then their would not be all these traces left. Heck regular fish should have come along and eaten all of this by now. Whatever is going on it's no simple predator attack, and it ls likely keeping wild animals from this area."
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Tuesday April 11th, 2023 8:56:39 AM Status: Water Breathing Stock starts talking too loudly at first, not used to the effect of the water. He then shakes his head and brings it down to a more normal level. "It's just sad really. I was holding out hope that the victims were somehow going to be ok." True to his word, Stock's reaction is just sadness.
"My old campaigner instincts are to go for the smaller buildings first. Let's go right of the trail first." He looks to the other Shields to agree before leading the way forward.
"Delia - It feels like we're close enough now for Freedom of Movement. What do you think?" ----------- Sense Motive Autopass +14
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+10=27 ; d20+16=17 ; Tuesday April 11th, 2023 11:02:04 AM
Bartomus nodded and extended the spell to those that needed it and then slipped into the water. He changed into a moving whirl of water and found himself laughing. Or, at least he thought that was what he was doing. He looked over at the fins of the turtle and down at the diving Shields and Merfolk. He smiled and dropped down ahead of them and started pointing the way forward. He wasn't really certain that they could see him. He moved his hands but realized eventually he didn't have hands. Then he tried shouting again...what exactly did water elementals sound like, he then thought to himself.
"Think, think, think," the Taur turned Waterwhirl on a huge scale said aloud. Whether that came out in anything audible he had no clue and suspected that swirls of water rising may have been all that occurred.
Then he had an idea. He tried tapping one of the shields with a small ripple of swirling water and did the same to one of the merfolk. Then when it seemed he might have the helmed Shield, was it Stohp, had to be. He spun out two vortexes in the direction of where they had to go. He sent one forward. Then he moved forward and sent that one forward again. Then sent the second one ahead of the first. He looked about, would that still be over his shoulder he wondered. Eventually, the merfolk caught on and it appeared so did the Shields. He continued this approach to lead the shields along the lake bed. However, leading those underwater with water in the murky dark was a challenge. Without a doubt, someone started wandering slightly off and he found himself moving water whirls forward for one group, then gently pushing the wayward adventurer back in the right direction.
He picked up the initial sight of one of the viscerated fisher folk and used that grisly lodestone to direct everyone further along. He then saw a couple of initial forms that were the outskirts of the reed village, if that is what it would be called. The path of remains continued onward and he brought the two whirlpools together and tilted them to create a pointing set of streams towards the direction they still needed to go. When the two streams met, they canceled each other out.
"Don't cross the streams, apparently" He said aloud and tapped one of the merfolk gently who was avoiding looking at the increased gore and swimming in the wrong direction as a result. He was pretty sure that this merfolk had turned a deeper shade of greenish blue than the others. But, come to think of it, they were all a bit green about the gills and whatnot. It was vile, there was no doubt about that. But, sadly, he had seen worse, a lot worse. He sent forward a new water whirl and continued onward.
He stopped at the point where the center of the village if that is what it would be called seemed to rise up off the lakeshore. He took some time to focus on the reeds from his vantage point. But, got distracted, seriously distracted by one of the merfolk that was desperately trying to keep themselves together as they seemed wide-eyed, even more so for them, at one of the ghost white pieces of flesh. He moved over to that terrified fishlad and gently created a swirl of currents to move him, if not his eyes over to the much bigger problem they were facing. He managed to at least hear what the others were saying. He wasn't sure what was the best approach, so stayed focused on the shell-shocked merfolk.
Sense motive 27; Perception 17 which means Bartomus rolled a 1 for that check at the trail's end.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 13/13 SE 5/5 d20+21=39 ; Tuesday April 11th, 2023 1:59:48 PM
As they follow the little whirlpools across the lake floor Zander speak up, adjusting his voice mid statement as he adjusts to the underwater echo, "GOOD THInking, Bart. Now we just have to go with the flow."
As they come across the trail of viscera his stomach knots up, back in the early days it was nausea, but now it's anger. Anger at something that would just leave bits of the victims strewn across the lake bed. "What kind of monster just tears apart people for fun? If a predator had eaten them I could have understood, still would have tried to drive it off, but this... this is evil."
He notes the reaction of their guard, definitely would be keeping them out of harms way. No reason for more kids to get killed by whatever was down here, "If you gentle merfolk would like to hang back, I'd hate for any of you to fall to these creatures. We can handle it from here and call you back when we're finished."
"I agree Stock, check some of these outer buildings to get a sense of what we're up against, before becoming trapped inside. Lead on" ============== Sense Motive 39
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+4=21 ; Tuesday April 11th, 2023 4:24:37 PM
Violent death is not new to her. She has dealt it to many and seen it dealt to many. But still... Delia reflexively reaches to touch Hawky for comfort, realizing too late that she left him stationed above the surface on the boat. She would not feel confident in his safety in these depths. The faces of Triggan and Jerma flash into her mind, and the faces of many others who didn't deserve to die such a savage death. She glances at the Merfolk, sensing their discomfort, but glad that others moved to comfort them as she wouldn't know what to say even while not grieving herself.
She agrees that investigating the outer "buildings" is the safest best. "Hold... on...." she burbles out, then makes a face at the thick feel of speaking through water. She swims to Stock, carefully casting Freedom of Movement (120 minutes) and then moving to do the same on Stohp (also 120 minutes).
================== Sense Motive: 21
(Freedom of Movement (abridged): This spell enables you or a creature you touch to move and attack normally for the duration of the spell. You cannot be grappled (but you can still grapple) and you auto-succeed any checks to escape a grapple. The spell also allows the subject to move and attack normally while underwater, even with slashing or bludgeoning weapons, provided that the weapon is wielded in the hand rather than hurled.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday April 11th, 2023 9:27:52 PM
Armalad and Joker wait to hear what the others have to say. (OOC: checking in)
Underwater Plan-Weaving (DM Wayne) Tuesday April 11th, 2023 10:02:32 PM
Armalad sees the merfolk turning their heads away from the viscera, but thinks little of it. She mentally notes the unsettling presence of the viscera of Floatizens, but summons her academic training to avoid losing her lunch over it though she takes care not to dwell on the viscera beyond what may be necessary. Armalad gathers in close enough for her fellow Shields to “hear” her ask whether the Shields should investigage the mounds separate and to the sides, or follow the trail into the mound-complex (“moundplex?”).
Stohp relies upon her prior underwater expeditions and instinctively adjusts her positioning and manner of speaking based on her lessons learned. Jaded by past battles, the bodies of foe, friend, and bystander alike, her stomach is made of sterner stuff and she remains focused on the mission. Stohp, having already drawn near to the Shields and heard Armalad’s question, and adds, from her air-filled helmet, her observation that if the attack was truly about hunger, then every scrap would have been eaten, leaving virtually no trail. She speculates that normal fish are likely giving this area a wide berth.
Stock at first begins speaking like he’s on the surface, and then quickly realizes water, not air, is flowing in and out of his lungs whenever he tries to speak. Making adjustments, he too draws close to the Shields and notes his sadness that it’s clear now that all of the taken must be dead. Stock suggests the Shields go towards the smaller mounds on the right first, and then waits to see how his friends react. Then Stock asks Delia if now might be a good time for Freedom of Movement. Stock briefly considers the behavior of the merfolk and mentally makes astute observations.
Bartomus cast Water Breathing on the three Shields that need it and then slipped into water elemental form, and into Turtle Lake, down, down, down… realizing along the way that communicating with the Shields was going to be difficult without being skilled in alternative ways of making sounds underwater, especially speech sounds! Bartomus experimented with moving his Huge arms to make watery vortices that made Shields and merfolk alike feel like a directed current was “pushing” them without actually moving them, and soon caught on to Bartomus’ lead. Bartomus led the group past unfortunate landmarks of viscera he’d passed by the other day, and onwards until they reached their destination, guided by the “water-rails” Bartomus created for any whose swimming became misaligned. He saw concerning reactions from the merfolk, perhaps due to the scattered viscera, and focused on helping them keep it together while listening to the Shields strategize.
Zanderallen, too, follows Bartomus’s whirly vortices, and then speaks, with ease because of the air bubble, but with strangeness as his voice leaves the air bubble and enters the Lake! He congratulates Bartomus for finding a way to keep the group on course. As the viscera continued and led to the “moundtown,” Zanderallen’s stomach knotted up, not with the pain of a novice to battle, strife, and death, but with anger at the fate the monstrous plants visited upon the Floatizens. Zanderallen too, falls in agreement with Stohp, that hungry beasts, or monstrous plants, wouldn’t be too picky about what they ate – wild beasts in forests will clean a carcass down to the bone, with vultures to eat anything inedible… could these monstrous plants find part of people to be inedible? Zanderallen’s anger boils up, and he is convinced this type of killing is evil, not just for food. He observes the behavior of the merfolk and resolves that Princess Melanie was right – recovery of corpses is all that they should perform on this mission.
Zanderallen asks the merfolk to hang back, but they seem puzzled by his words. It is then that Zanderallen recalls that Princess Melanie said Armalad would be the one to tell the merfolk anything.
Shaking his head, Zanderallen moves near Stock and speaks his agreement with Stock’s plan, while gesturing for Armalad to come closer.
Delia is a ranger through and through – huntswoman that she is, in her training, and in helping others, she is no stranger to gutting fish for the frying pan or preparing and dressing an animal for roasting over an open flame… but this… perhaps this was for food, but she too senses something alien about the HUNGER of the monstrous plants, and reflexively reaches to Hawky for comfort, and then recalls he’s still above-water at the dragon-ship. The scattered viscera cause the faces of Triggan and Jerma to flash through her mind, among others. Delia notices the discomfort of the merfolk and is pleased by Bartomus’ wordless water vortices drawing their attention away from the viscera, saving her from public speaking. Delia agrees with Stock and Zanderallen that starting with the surrounding buildings would be best. She begins to speak, but is fumbletongued at first, unconsciously realizing that the glides and nasals of the Common tongue change significantly when your lungs and mouth are filled with water. She adapts her mouth and tongue movements as she swims over to Stock and then Stohp, not too far away as everyone had gathered to “speak,” and casts Freedom of Movement on each of them.
(OOC – 120 minutes on each)
With Zanderallen, Stock, and Delia aligned on heading to the three smaller, separate buildings to the right, the Shields agree to search the outskirts before perhaps going into the monstrous plants’ den!
Zanderallen takes a moment to have Armalad explain to the merfolk that they are to hide here at this vantage point until the Shields tell them to come in for corpse recovery, and Armalad does so, speaking the merfolk’s tongue once more!
Considering the whole “moundtown,” the Shields observe essentially a line of seven mounds, with the central one being the larger “moundplex” of them all, and the other six being single spherical mounds of approximately 50’ in diameter with some having a rough circular opening on the side facing you, and the others the Shields may have to swim around to find the opening. The “moundplex” is decidedly less-round, and yet not quite a square or rectangle, perhaps “four sides and a flat roof” is as much as can be said about it.
On the right, the two closest mounds do not have an opening facing you, and the rightmost mound does have an opening facing you, though it’s beyond darkvision range from your vantage point, so only those with lowlight vision can see what might be some kind of back wall… and empty space in-between? At this distance, you guess that opening is a lot closer to 10’ by 10’ than 5’ by 5’. Non-water-elemental Taurs might have to do some ducking, and water-elemental Taurs might have to “squeeze,” though that’s a much easier task when you’re made of water!
SHIELDS – 1) Please declare a “swimming order” (though three of you with Freedom of Movement are entitled to march!).
**and**
2) Pick your first mound on the **right**:
A) Nearest to “moundplex.” (more scouting required to find entrance) B) Between small mounds. (more scouting required to find entrance) C) Farthest from “moundplex.” (opening is visible from your vantage point)
LOG ON