The Last Paladin IC - Part III

[Maquise]

"We shouldn't have to wait long," the acolyte says, "They should be coming soon."

In fact, off in the distance, you think you see some silvery shapes move in the expanse of emptiness.

[Frosty]

(How is riding Trombe in the Astral Plane turning out?) "Alright, I don't want anyone to get hurt. I will try to keep the shark...or sharks...distracted while you all FIRE the harpoons! Acolyte, if we kill a shark here, we can still bring it back right?"

The paladin wields her lance with confidence.

[Maquise]

You are able to hide Trombe just as well.

"Yes," the acolyte says. "Beware, they are cunning hunters."

[Frosty]

(is there a map of the terrain, as wierd as that may sound? Also, are the sharks "submerged" in anyway or are they just moving in plain view through the astral like the party is?)

[Maquise]

(The sharks are floating the same as you are. Also, this is an experiment, I'm going to try to map this in 3 dimensions. There are two tabs, one vertical, one horizontal. I make no promises on how smoothly this will go. Speed is the same moving on all axes.)

[Frosty]

(Before we do combat, I should level up. Been sooo busy at work heh so I'll have to wait till tonight. Oh yeah, Archetypes for animal companions are now available. Since we're doing level ups, can I let Trombe have the Bodyguard archetype? It's what Karrin ahs been training Trombe to do a lot anyways in the past.)

[Maquise]

(I don't have an issue with that. I guess I'll hear from you later then)

[Frosty]

(I'll be able to chat a bit when I have breaks, but I can't spend time during work to do full-on leveling up. I'll probably chat in the OOC thread instead of here)

[Frosty]

(Leveling up done. I don't see the sharks on the map yet)

While she has the chance, Karrin makes sure to call forth the blessings of the Thrones to make herself stronger. If these sharks like to bite, then Karrin certainly wants the strength to resist! Trombe trots forward to the front, ready to intercept any attack.

Spoiler

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Karrin casts Bull's Strength on self.
Trombe, having learned the In Harm's Way feat, is ready to give Karrin +2 AC, and if Karrin gets hit, spend an immediate action to take a hit. And, both Karrin and Trombe have Alertness when next to each other thanks to the Bodyguard Archetype.

[Maquise]

You watch as the sharks grow closer, breaking off so that two come from below, one above.

Initiative:
Grembler - 21
Lyanna - 19
Skeever - 16
Kensin - 14
Karrin - 9
Mirabelle -7
Sharks - 5

Grembler readies to hex the first shark that comes into range. Lyanna, holding a harpoon, prepares to throw it at the first shark that comes into range, as does Kensin. Skeever applies a thick substance to the blade of his dagger.

[Frosty]

(As a reminder, the Ring of Protection was given to Grembler. Presumably he was happy. I'll again be very busy today and probably not post too much. Did you manage to get the links?)

[Maquise]

(Yes, I got them)

[Frosty]

Karrin Ye
HP: 96/96  ///  Saves: 14F / 9R / 19W [+2/2/2 Morale bonus]
AC: 21 = 10 ARMOR + 1 DEX
Conditions:  LoH 9/9, Smite Evil 3/3, Heroism, Bull's Strength

Trombe
HP: 77/77  ///  Saves: 13F / 12R / 8W
AC: 19 = 4 ARMOR +4 NATURAL + 2 DEX -1 SIZE
Conditions:  Devotion (+4 vs enchantment)

"PHYSICALLY WEAKER PEOPLE IN THE CENTER! Make sure they can't drag them away!" Karrin uses the time before the battle actually commenses to summon forth the powers of her armor. Trombe is ready to defend any allies within his range (up to 3 times per round) and will take a hit for the first friendly target hit. He gets into position by floating a bit above the rest of the party.

Spoiler

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Trombe moves to 12-M on the X-axis, and 10-M on the Y-axis, and readies an action to kick any shark that comes near

Karrin: Use Heroism from armor. Has lance ready.
Power Attack: Off

[Maquise]

Mirabelle raises her harpoon, ready to strike the first shark in range.

The sharks move in, two below, one above. Mirabelle throws her harpoon, and hits the upper shark. The harpoon holds. Lyanna and Kensin both throw theirs as well; Lyanna's hits but does not hold, and Kensin's misses. Skeever throws a dagger coated with a sticky substance; it hits squarely, embedding itself in the astral creature's flesh.

Grembler immediately hexes another shark, in an effort to dull its attacks. Lyanna moves to aid Mirabelle in securing the harpooned shark, while Skeever ties down the other end of the rope. Kensin floats up, and slashes the captured creature.

[Frosty]

Karrin Ye
HP: 96/96  ///  Saves: 14F / 9R / 19W [+2/2/2 Morale bonus]
AC: 21 = 10 ARMOR + 1 DEX
Conditions:  LoH 9/9, Smite Evil 3/3, Heroism, Bull's Strength

Trombe
HP: 77/77  ///  Saves: 13F / 12R / 8W
AC: 19 = 4 ARMOR +4 NATURAL + 2 DEX -1 SIZE
Conditions:  Devotion (+4 vs enchantment)

"Keep on hitting it til it's down!" shouts Karrin as she also tries to hit the tied-up shark. Once it becomes unconscious then Karrin wil focus on the others. Karrin stabs twice while Trombe bites and kicks.

Spoiler

Show

Trombe 5-ft floats closer to the harpooned-shark, then Full-attacks

Bite: (1d20+8)[21]
Damage: (1d4+5)[7]
Hoof1: (1d20+8)[25]
Damage: (1d6+5)[7]
Hoof2: (1d20+8)[22]
Damage: (1d6+5)[10]

Karrin: Full attacks the same shark!
Power Attack: Off
Attack1 (+2 Heroism, +2 Bull's Str): (1d20+16)[35]
Damage (+2 Heroism, +3 Bull's Str): (1d8+10)[13]
Attack2: (1d20+11)[28]
Damage: (1d8+10)[17]

[Frosty]

Crit Confirm (+2 Heroism, +2 Bull's Str): (1d20+16)[23]
Crit Damage (+2 Heroism, +3 Bull's Str): (2d8+20)[30]

[Maquise]

You put your lance through the shark's head, ending its struggles. While your companions work to repel the other two, the acolyte reverses the ritual. You suddenly experience an intense feeling of vertigo, as though you were falling from a great height. Indeed, the world seems to fall away from you.

You awake back in the crystal cave, with all of your companions in addition to one dead shark.

[Frosty]

"Well, that was quite the success. Well done, everyone! Feels almost wrong...a mission being this easy. No, I won't stare a gift horse in the mouth. If the rest of the items are as easily gotten, I'll deal with the boredom in return for the safety of my friends. Thank you, acolyte. Now...to skin it..."

[Maquise]

"Can't be that much different than skinning anything else," Mirabelle says, drawing a knife.

The acolyte objects, "I will have the servants move it, but not here! This is a ritual chamber, not a butchery shop."

[Frosty]

Karrin smiles at the acolyte. "Of course you're right. Mira, put the knife away. We'll help move the shark to a more suitable location for skinning and butchering. Perhaps the kitchens? I'm dying to see what this thing tastes like. Maybe make a gift of the dish to the duke?"

[Maquise]

"That will be a bit complicated," the acolyte says. "The creature is after all completely immaterial in nature. Before the skin can be used it must be treated in ghost salts, and the rest of it will likely dissolve after a short while."

You take and skin the creature, having the acolyte treat its skin. You are startled, as beneath the shark's skin is not muscle, sinew, or bone but a strange miasma of white and pink vapors which slowly begin to flow out like a highly viscous liquid.

[Frosty]

"Wow, they're really not like us at all, these creatures. The world has many wonders. Say, can we get more ghost salt in case we run into ghosts? WE can sprinkle it onto them and make them solid right?"

[Maquise]

"You might speak to an alchemist about that; I've heard that you saved one from bandits who is quite knowledgeable of the undead. Regardless, in order to use the salts in such a manner, you would have to dissolve them in a medium that bore some connection to the ethereal plane; water simply removes its properties."

[Frosty]

"Well will do that. thank you again for your assistance. Mira, take good care of the shark pelt. It's gonna be your sword, so you take care responsibility for the ingredients."

Karrin will go see Tamoq next with Mira, letting Lyanna go back to researching that xenophobic city.

[Maquise]

You find the blind alchemist in a small nook of the healing house, creating a poultice. He seems to have grown quite adept at working by feel, though he does have an assistant to help.

"Eh, who's there?" he says. "Some people, bigger?"

[Frosty]

"It's me, Tamoq. How've you been the past day? I'm glad you seem to have adjusted. Are the people here allowing you to do what you want?"

[Maquise]

"Well, they've certainly kept me busy," he says. "I've been making potions 'n doing healing, all sorts of stuff. Haven't had as much time to do my work, but is okay."

[Frosty]

"Well, you're helping a lot of people stay healthy, and people appreciate that. Once you've shown how much you are contributing, I'm sure they'll let you do some of your own work as well. Today, I'm going to help heal people as well, but right now I'm interested in Ghost Salt. Do you know what medium it needs otbe dissolved in so that we can use it to counter ghosts and spectres enemies? We haven't seen any yet, but it's best to be prepared."

[Maquise]

"Ghost salts? Normally used by, sprinkling on blade then tempering in fire. If wanted to dissolve it though, need vitae-based solvent. Vitae harvesting difficult. Only found in blood of living things when they in great pain and fear. Easier to harvest from intelligent beings, best way torture."

[Frosty]

"Eww, we can't have that. But on the other hand, we dont have time to tempe a blade if ghosts suddenly attack. Any other good way besides torture? Remember, torture is WRONG. It does the OPPOSITE what you want to do here."