The Savage Tide [IC]

[lostsole31]

Ms. Venkalie puts on a little playlet of the "Battle of South Olman Isle". It is comical to hear her refer to the pirates as "Jellied Eels!"

The ships were going NE, shot the gap at the tip of the peninsula with South Olman Isle to the NE, and round so that the ships are now sailing SW.
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Reaping 27 (Earthday)

Passing along, the captain spots something pinkish on the coast. Using a spyglass he sees a 9-foot tall, vaguely humanoid-shaped creature entirely made of coral. It doesn't move, and has a sort of "guarding" position. Lavinia doesn't mess around with it or whatever it's guarding.

That evening, the Captain goes over voyage planning with Mr. Kahir. This will be more and more common as the ship is heading to a place called "Fort Greenrock". Hifestus studies Celiss' cryptography notes she left behind when she was teaching him. Desiria prays.
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Reaping 28 (Freeday)

Rope Yarn! Time to fix up the ship. The officers conduct commando training exercises for themselves.

Afternoon: Voyage planning. Hifestus given crow's nest duty. Desiria prays and meditates on positive energy power.

Evening: Voyage planning. Hifestus given shipboard movement training by Lirith. Desiria continues meditation.
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Begin Goodmonth, the 8th month of the Year, High Summer

[lostsole31]

Goodmonth 1, 589 CY
(Half-Moon, Waxing; Starday; 3 Days from the Blockade)

Evening: Hifestus continues to study cryptography. Desiria prays. It is recognized now that Agnipati is the best warrior onboard - scary considering she reads as evil. She runs combat training for Mr. Kahir and the rest of the crew. As an adjunct to that, on his own, the captain works on bull rushing soft stacks of material to learn how to get footing on a charge while throwing momentum forward.
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Goodmonth 2, 589 CY
(Sunday)

Evening: Darrius runs Ka'Xet through commando training. Desiria finds within her arcane bloodline a hint of angry fires to meditate upon. Hifestus works on smithing.
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Goodmonth 3, 589 CY
(Moonday)

Evening: Desiria's daily duties including ship's doctor (including counselor), and even into the evening. It is rough, and you might wonder how Rabbi Cohen ever managed. He must have been so happy when you came aboard to help manage the load. Sea voyage can be so boring.

Ka'Xet continually practices trying to form his mindblade into more of a bow than a thrown item. The captain tries the same bull-rushing combat technique. Hifestus works on smithing.
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Goodmonth 4, 589 CY
(Godsday)

Desiria holds main services, with venerations to the sea followed afterwards by Skald. No one wants to have anything to do with the half-elf but nobody wants to anger the gods of the sea. Lip service is given to those gods.

Afternoon: Voyage Planning. Hifestus works on smithing. Desiria prays on the use of non-lethal powers.

Evening: Voyage Planning. Desiria meditates on her most powerful arcane spells. Hifestus works on smithing.
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Goodmonth 5, 589 CY
(Waterday)

Evening: The captain guides Hifestus on the latter's studies of mechanical tinkering. Mr. Kahir studies Urol's notes concerning surviving in various terrains. Desiria can see it within her, if she can only grasp it. Given a little bit more control, she can send out a devastating blast of fire.
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Goodmonth 6, 589 CY
(Earthday)

From a significant distance but still in view of a spyglass, the captain notes some sea caves. Walking around the beach here and there strange hybrid creatures that are both humanoid and crustacean. The officers get together to try and figure it out. Skald wants to take a look, but Mr. Kahir and Ms. Venkalie don't really pay any attention to him. The captain and the bo'sun are entirely flummoxed, but the first mate tells them that these are "yurians", a hunter-gatherer race much as they see. They really don't harm anyone and keep to themselves, but are quite strong if pressed in battle.

Evening: Desiria meditates. CO/ XO conduct commando training, and include Hifestus.
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Goodmonth 7, 589 CY
(Freeday)
Distance from Sasserine: 1,765 miles
Distance from the Brotherhood Blockade: 330 miles
Time from the Brotherhood Blockade: 9 days


The expedition gets to Fort Greenrock, where Lavinia had hoped to be able to resupply food stores, and it soon becomes obvious as the ships round the coastal bend before this remote colony of monks and druids that something terrible has happened. The wooden palisade surrounding the fort has been torn apart, and the fort itself has been burned to the ground. It appears that whatever grim fate visited the place occurred several months ago, for no sign of life or activity can be seen from shore.

Lavinia asks Captain Darrius to investigate briefly to try to determine what happened, but just the ruin ... no recon beyond that. His away team finds further evidence of a great battle. Dried blood stains the timbers of collapsed buildings here and there, broken weapons lie in the sand, and hundreds of black-feathered arrows decorate the sides of the ruins that face the jungle. No one can figure out who might have fired the arrows.

No stores remain in Fort Greenrocks, nor are there any survivors. The savage tribe that brought ruin to this one-idyllic waystation have long returned to the depths of the Amedio. Lavinia urges to press on, saying that they'll have one final opportunity to restock supplies at the village of Renkrue on the Axuxal Isles in about ten days.

[PSinger]

I'd want Desiria on the away team. (She's the Spock and Bones rolled into one.)

"Soooo, what happened to all of the bodies?"

[MikelaC1]

DESIRIA

Forest predators, I wouldnt doubt. Once the fort itself was destroyed and the people killed, the scavengers of the forest took care of the rest. Theyve had months to pick over the remains.

[PSinger]

"No, Desiria, I don't think so. If that were true, we'd have remains. I think these people were killed to become food, so their bodies were moved with the victors."

Darrius looks about the quiet destruction, remembering stories of how the Amedio - and the tribes, people, and creatures within - have no desire to be tamed by the outside world.

"Come. Let's go back to the ship. There's nothing for us here."

[lostsole31]

Goodmonth 8, 589 CY
(Starday, Full Moon)

Evening: Hifestus focuses on buckler defense in sparring with Agnipati, and Desiria (likely begrudgingly) is made to join. Commando Training.
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Goodmonth 9, 589 CY
(Sunday)

Evening: Desiria meditates on her sorcery and can almost taste a greater power. Mr. Kahir is able to use two small mindblades in combat, but he tries to control their use to conduct a rending style attack. Hifestus now focuses on his two-weapon fighting in sparring with Agnipati.
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Goodmonth 10, 589 CY
(Moonday)

Evening: The captain runs Hifestus through calisthenics. Desiria, in acting as a ship's counselor and recognizing the healing power of the mind, also understands how to override it more effectively. Ka'Xet conducts the same exercises with his mindblades.
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Goodmonth 11, 589 CY
(Godsday)
Distance from Sasserine: 1, 925 miles
Distance from Fort Greenrock: 160 miles
Time from Fort Greenrock: 4 days

As with the Havekihu and Xatalai Rivers before, the expedition stops here at the mouth of the Atikula River to refrresh the supplies of fresh water. Unlike the two previous rivers, the point where the Atikula reaches the sea is marked by a magnificent 900-foot-wide waterfall that cascades two hundred feet over a cliff into the ocean below. With no beach nearby to speak of, it's easy enough for a ship to sail in pretty close and then send out a rowboat or the launch with barrels to fill. There's only room in the narrow harbor for one ship at a time, and Lavinia graciously allows the Sea Wyvern to go first.

Before anything else, however, the two ships tie up outside the harbor and conduct a combined Godsday worship, with Desiria providing the primary service and Skald providing the veneration to the sea. Even the crew of the Blue Nixie finds something unsettling about him.

Captain, now is the great time for a much-needed swim call in a beautiful paradise setting. Your aquatic nature is calling you, and some of the crew are likely wanting to enjoy themselves. Several of the passengers are desperate to get off the ship. Avner Meravanchi is among the lead of them.

Three people will be needed to use the rowboat, Tavey can watch the ship is a lookout, and the rest can enjoy themselves. Who is assigned to the rowboat?

[PSinger]

I'll assign Ms. Venkalie, Agnipati, and Hifestus to water duty. They'll end up swapping out in overlaps so that they can enjoy themselves as well.

Spoiler

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As a player, I feel this is a setup ...

But as a character with the aquatic (amphibious) subtype, who has been stuck in dryness for some time, this is a much needed break for Darrius as well, so ...

"SWIM CALL!"

And with that, Darrius climbs up the mainmast, heads out to the edge of the yardarm for a magnificent dive.

Spoiler

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Athletics (Jump): (1d20+17)[21]

[MikelaC1]

DESIRIA

Desiria's preference for water usually runs to warmer baths with more soap bubbles, but a tropical paradise has its attractions as well. However, she will take a later shift in the swim calls, maintaining a bit of a vigil for now.

[lostsole31]

The Sea Wyvern

The barrels are refilled and the water team comes aboard. The captain makes sure that the passengers are aboard before he and Desiria go to head up. Desiria will head up first (gentleman), and then himself. Desiria had to use planking - as did many others - because she has no ability to swim and might otherwise have drowned.

As she heads up the Jacob's ladder she sees an immense form coming up from below. As she stands on the ladder transfixed, that is what may help Darrius as he turns and notices the same thing.

Surprise Round ...

S18: A large, angry, snake-like head bursts from the surface of the water to bite Darrius on the side of his head for 6 damage.

S15: Darrius, you see the shapes of other serpentine heads under the surface of the water attached to a huge body. You recognize the form of this monstrosity as a hydra.

Spoiler

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Hydrae are creatures of myth and horror with many heads and are very hard to kill. You recognize this as a magical beast. In addition, you specifically note from its snake-head's that this one must be acclimated to living underwater. Magical beasts are tough, may have the intelligence of an animal or maybe more, but still have weak minds, and usually have good senses, stealth, and as obvious here ... swimming.

What do you do?

Desiria on deck, then to Round One...

[PSinger]

Darrius calls out, "Hydra! All hands to weapons!"

He looks to Desiria, "Quick get up and over the ladder onto ship so you're not exposed."

Darrius' sailor's bracers dim as the acidic drool and his gorget become more distinguished. The water is Darrius' home, but even he isn't stupid enough to try to go it alone. He had to bring the monster more into the open for the rest of the crew to have a chance to attack it. He spits at the head that just bit him.

Spoiler

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3 E from bracers to spittle.
(1d20+6)[8] RTA, (4d6)[11] acid damage

EDIT: Mother of God! That was horrible. A great huge monster, but I doubt it is that slow, and there's probably cover from water.

[lostsole31]

Desiria? You're up!

[MikelaC1]

DESIRIA

Desiria recovers from her shock of seeing the beast, and finishes her climb up the ladder.

(1d20)[11] Climb...no ranks, and probably a STR penalty which is not factored in

[lostsole31]

S5: Desiria has little climbing ability, but the ladder helps with that. But her meager agility and no spell protection makes her easily targeted as she climbs up the ladder. The snake bites her left hand for 6 damage.

Desiria has a much better recognition of what this monstrosity is. The best way to kill a hydra is to focus slashing weapons, and fire or acid, against its heads. Hydrae have a regeneration that is nearly impossible to overcome. Just killing a head with any method other than the above will simply cause it to regrow more heads. Of course, classic massive, unforgiving trauma to the body - which currently has total cover as it's in the water - might help.

I imagine, given how dangerous these things are, that she quckly relays that information as she manages to tumble over the gunwale. (She is prone, BUT has total cover for now.)

End Surprise Round, Begin Round One ...

[MikelaC1]

DESIRIA

Focus fire or acid on the heads or a slashing weapon...using any other methods will only double our danger. If the body happens to rise above water, that can be damaged as well.

[lostsole31]

The Sea Wyvern

Desiria calls out "Focus fire or acid on the heads or a slashing weapon...using any other methods will only double our danger. If the body happens to rise above water, that can be damaged as well."

Round One ..

R1T28: With the snake head having attacked at Desiria near the gunwale, it is adjacent to the ship. With unbelievable speed, Lirith darts forth while drawing her falchion. She wastes too much of her focus on closing, however, and her sword barely skims off of its scales.

R1T22: In the kitchen below, the cook has no idea that there is danger topside. As he was working alone and food was boiling, Desiria's shouts were masked.

R1T21: Having been a part of the water crew, no one is manning the crow's nest. This gives Skald a chance to rush forward with kukri and cutting into the head for max (5) damage.

R1T18.1: Though not skilled at missile-to-melee, Hifestus would rather let someone better at slashing weapons step up. He draws a chakram and throws it at the head, hitting it for max (10) damage.

R1T18: With Darrius still in the water by the ship, he's the natural choice. Six more heads come bursting out of the water. They are quite long and large, and there is some trepidation of how large the body might be. The wounds on its first head seems to transfer to the body that now appears ... and it is Huge. The transferred wounds almost entirely heal.

Three heads attack Darrius, one of which bites him in the right elbow for minimum (4) damage. Two heads attack Lirith, one biting her in the belly for max (11) damage. Two heads attack Skald, the first time he's been attacked in melee (as he usually shoots from the crow's nest) and this is the first time he's been seen to have truly phenomenal dexterity ... well below that of the late Jer'el, but at the peak of half-elven ability.

R1T15: Darrius, what do you do? Do you get out of the water for healing, or do you stay in your favored terrain?

[PSinger]

A swirling nimbus cloaks Darrius in shadow energy. These shadows spin and flow around him, preventing the hydra from being able to anticipate his attacks. This confounds the hydra, giving Lirith and Skald a better chance. However, despite the advantage of attacking the heads (which are a lot), the captain attempts to use his skills and acid to bore into the body.

Spoiler

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Island of Blades stance: considered flanking with all allies. He and they get this bonus, and I get sneak attack.

Too many heads to attack and not enough slashers, so I want to experment on attacking the body.

RTA underwater: (1d20+6)[25]
Damage (4d6)[10] + (1d6)[5]

[lostsole31]

The Sea Wyvern

R1T15: A swirling nimbus cloaks Darrius in shadow energy. These shadows spin and flow around him, preventing the hydra from being able to anticipate his attacks. This confounds the hydra, giving Lirith and Skald a better chance. However, despite the advantage of attacking the heads (which are a lot), the captain attempts to use his skills and acid to bore into the body for 15 acid damage.

R1T11: "Lubberscum!" curses Ms. Venkalie. "Figures this this thrice bastard-thing requires a type of weapon I don't have. Still, I can help you out, me hearts!"

She begins a dramatic monologue that hearkens back to a play wherein a demigod slew a hydra as part of a series of great quests. This instills great courage in all the allies.

R1T7: At his usual place on the poop deck, Mr. Kahir brings forth (temporarily seen) his force shield. That done, he now rings the alarm bell.

R1T5.1: Agnipati readies her spear and moves to the second rank. Her body then shifts from the tall human woman to a form not yet seen. Hers is now the form of a brimstone-smelling humanoid-hound, and licks of flame are seen about the head of her spear.

R1T5: Desiria, you are prone next to the gunwale. Do you get up and provoke an AOO, cast a spell, do some combination? With the snake heads on the other side of the gunwale (and you currently with total cover), you can't target them unless you get to your knees or stand. You are currently next to Lirith. What do you do?

Lirith on deck, Sadi in the hole (but it will take him a full round to get topside with his weapon).

[MikelaC1]

DESIRIA

Seeing that the body has risen to the point that it can be attacked, Desiria takes a chance on rising up so that she can target it with a scorching ray

Spoiler

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(1d20+4)[21] ranged touch
(4d6)[14] damage

[lostsole31]

The Sea Wyvern

R1T5: Desiria pops up looking for the best target. A snakehead reacts quickly enough to bite her on L shoulder for 6 damage. She sees that the upper body is exposed and wounded, but no heads so she targets the body anyway, hoping to seal the wounds with fire. A scorching ray of heat surges forth to hit the hydra for 15 fire damage.

End Round 1, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T28: Despite Darrius' help, Lirith is unable to hack through the hide of the hydra's neck.

R2T22: The ship's cook, Sadi, comes bursting forth with a bardiche in his hand and stands next to the strange hound-human woman. He's never met this creature before, but she definitely seems to be helping ... so he let's that go for now.

Spoiler

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Sorry, Blade, but I just made that assumption after you made the alarm bell. You would only have time to just get into position for next round. Feel free to shout any imprecations, however.

R2T21: Skald goes to cast a spell on Lirith, but gets bitten in the belly for 6 damage for his trouble, losing his spell.

Spoiler

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Darrius and Desiria both recognize the spell as bull's strength.

R1T18.1: Hifestus tosses a chakram at one of the heads but misses.

R1T18: FH7 for the hydra! Two heads attack Darrius, one hitting him in the head for 11 damage, and another in the vitals for 7 damage. Two heads attack Desiria, both hitting her (R knee for 5, UR thigh for 9). The newcomer holding the big shiny thing grabs a head's attention and it attacks Sadi, hitting him in the R elbow for 5 damage, and another in his L shin for 9 damage. Its last head bites Skald in the chest for 8 damage.

Spoiler

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Every single attack connected on a monster that actually doesn't have a superior attack bonus. Ouch. Desiria, you are really starting to feel it.

Blade, FH'x' is shorthand for fast healing and the number by which it heals.

R1T15: Darrius, you don't really see the effects of your crew topside. You only see the burst of fire or the missing chakram or the falchion ... anything reaching into the adjacent square. You are not yet below half, but it is obvious that the hydra put a lot of focus on you - no doubt courtesy of your earlier acid attack. What do you do?

[PSinger]

This battle needs to end quickly. If the captain can blow apart the body, perhaps the heads will die. He continues his strange shadow-moves, but defensively this time, and spits.

Spoiler

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Fighting defensively
RTA (1d20+2)[18]
Damage (4d6)[15], but - (1d6)[6] because I botched and gave him sneak attack in a ranged attack when I shouldn't have last round.

AC: 22, provoke AOO for ranged attack.

[lostsole31]

The Sea Wyvern

R2T15: This battle needs to end quickly. If the captain can blow apart the body, perhaps the heads will die. He continues his strange shadow-moves, but defensively this time, and spits ... hitting the body for 10 acid damage. But in spitting a head bites at Darrius and hits him in the R hand for 5 damage.

R2T11: Ms. Venkalie continues her monologue ... and comes up behind Sadi (she's at the third line, and does not provoke an AOO) and casts CLW on him for 5 healing.

R2T7: The ship's pilot attacks the body from the poop deck with a long thrown mindblade, which bounces off the creature's hide.

R2T5.1: Even though it is a normal spear, not a longspear, the-hound woman is able bring it out at reach. She spins it like a double weapon, and it attacks like a blade vice a spear as she currently holds it. She sacrifices a little bit of accuracy to attack wildly, attempting to sunder as many heads as she can. She gets bitten on the R knee, but doesn't seem to be affected. Her first head is a critical that lops off a head. Her second two strikes take off another head. Her last attack bounces against the thing's armor.

R2T5: Desiria? (No, you can neither reach nor see Darrius from your vantage.) You are pretty wounded right now. What do you do?

[MikelaC1]

DESIRIA

Desiria would love to help out in the battle, but right now, she has to preserve herself or risk not being able to contribute. She casts defensively on herself, swapping out her dispel magic for cure serious wounds

(3d8+5)[16] Cure SW

[lostsole31]

R2T5: Desiria would love to help out in the battle, but right now, she has to preserve herself or risk not being able to contribute. She casts defensively on herself, swapping out her dispel magic for cure serious wounds, giving her 16 healing.

End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T28: Lirith goes for a long cut along a hydra head, hoping it goes towards the body, all while taking advantage of the captain's amazing set-up. She tries too furiously and she cries out in pain as she twists her ankle, but uses her sword to keep standing.

R3T22: Sadi, you are in the second line with your bardiche. There are stumps of two heads flailing about, and you can't get to the body from your position unless you move around Skald or Lirith. This thing seems to note weaknesses in the line and to attack them (Combat Reflexes).

What do you do?

[Bladehunter217]

Sadi attempts to work his way past Skald to get close enough to reach the beasts body with his Bardiche. Hopefully Sadi's training in acrobatics assist in his avoidance in the beast's claws and teeth. If successful, he tries to gouge a slab of flesh from its hide with his Bardiche.

Spoiler

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(1d20+10)[28] for Acrobatics,
(1d20+13)[15] for the slash (1d10+8)[16] for damage, going lethal since he considers it a beast instead of a person.

[lostsole31]

R3T22: Sadi attempts to work his way past Skald to get close enough to reach the beasts body with his Bardiche. His training in acrobatics assist in his avoidance in the beast's claws and teeth, despite the number of its heads. He tries to gouge a slab of flesh from its hide with his Bardiche, but spending too much energy in his acrobatics as he gets to the gunwale (Skald to his right), Sadi's blade goes wide and skips off the scaly neck of a head instead.

R3T21: Skald takes a flask off of his belt, and a head goes for him. The agile half-elf is ready and just turns enough that it doesn't penetrate his sharkskin armor. He steps back 5' and throws the vial at one of the severed headstumps. The damage from the humble, old-school acid does just barely enough to ensure that head will not recover as it drops limply into the bay, as the whole of the creature feels the pain of that loss.

In addition, a little splash of acid douses Sadi, Lirith, and Desiria ... all for 1 acid damage. Darrius gets a little splash on him, but not enough to hurt him. A small, but annoying, price to pay for hurting it, taking out a head for good, and minimizing its healing factor.

R3T18.1: Hifestus takes out a chakram and throws it, but the razor disc skips off of a head and into the bay.

R3T18: Two heads out of seven have been severed, and only one will regrow. The body continues to heal incredibly quickly, and yet that has slowed a little. As if in anger at the terrible acid attack and permanent loss of a head, three heads angrily converge on Skald. The first nearly crits him were it not for his armor, doing 8 damage to his L shoulder. A second head just scrapes off of his armor, and he flat out dodges the third. Its fourth head ducks down to attack the shadow-weaving, waterborne captain, but Darrius manages to duck entirely out of the way. Angry at that failure, it commits its final head to the captain again, using its neck from the first to act as a barrier from his dodging the second. He gets bitten in the LL arm for 10 damage.

R3T15: Darrius, you are in critical condition and not likely able to survive another volley. What do you do?

[PSinger]

Darrius musters all the power his healing belt can provide while maintaining his stance for the others.

Spoiler

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Keep up island of blades.

All 3 charges on healing belt = (4d8)[11] healing

EDIT: Aw, crap. Are you kidding me?!

[lostsole31]

R3T15: Darrius musters all the power his healing belt can provide while maintaining his stance for the others. The belt gives 11 healing, but the captain does not seem pleased, as if it should have expected more.

R3T11: Ms. Venkalie continues her monologue while moving up behind Desiria. She casts CLW defensively (8 healing) on the priestess with a slight interrupt of the monologue, whispering in Desiria's ear, "Gotta keep strong those who keep us strong against this Ostrogoth!"

R3T7: Mr. Kahir focuses his mental energies and lets loose with another mindblade. This one hits the body for 12 damage. He reforms his mindblade.

R3T5.1: Agnipati does that spinning slash again with her spear. The first attack severs a head. The second attack goes nearly dangerously wild. The third attack severs another head. The fourth attack just barely manages to sever the head. There are no heads remaining, merely four flailing necks and a badly wounded body.

R5T5: Desiria, with the boatswain's blessing, you are almost fully refreshed. The battle scene looks very promising, though Darrius is out of reach and notably wounded. You can tell that Lirith's twisted ankle (she's right next to you, Amella behind you, no one but rigging to your right) can't be healed just by a cure spell, though her wounds can.

What do you do? Finish off the creature? Tend to wounded .... ?

Liririth on deck, Sadi in the hole.

[MikelaC1]

DESIRIA

The best way to help the captain is to make sure the hydra is finished off or forced to retreat. She summons up more arcane energy and sends it off in the form of a scorching ray into its body

Spoiler

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(1d20+4)[21]
(4d6)[5]

EDIT: 4d6=5? REALLY?

[PSinger]

Darrius, through his pain, stifles a laugh. "Eat some hot peppers this morning, Sister Desiria? That's a fine belch to have a small gout of flame like that."

[lostsole31]

R3T5: The best way to help the captain is to make sure the hydra is finished off or forced to retreat. She summons up more arcane energy and sends it off in the form of a scorching ray into its body, but it's thrashing on the surface mitigatess to a mere 5 fire damage.

Darrius, through his pain, stifles a laugh. "Eat some hot peppers this morning, Sister Desiria? That's a fine belch to have a small gout of flame like that."

End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T28: Lirith goes to swing but falls prone. She rolls against the gunwale, holding her ankle in pain. "You've got this, right guys? I think I'm out for now."

R4T22: Sadi? The idiot hydra would be fine if it just let it self sink out of range of the weapons and into the water. Then again, with all the heads cut off, what brain does it have? What do you do?