Skulls and Shackles pt 1: The Wormwood Mutiny (IC)

[PallentisLunam]

Maheem still undeterred makes a clumsy grab for the axe.

Spoiler: OoC

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Yet, another AoO. Come on Gale!
And a disarm attempt: (1d20-2)[3]

[theasl]

Gale strikes out again as Maheem lunges awkwardly for her weapon, then backs away more.

Spoiler: rolls

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still nonlethal
attack (1d20-2)[16]
damage (1d6+1)[4]

on her turn: miss and move back another 5 feet.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Sneaking around Thellan thinks he hears a comotion and pauses to listen.

Spoiler: Crunch

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Perception (1d20+5)[25]

[PallentisLunam]

While sulking about in the kitchen, Thellan finds various knives, utensils, bottles, and cooking ingredients. He also finds a grappling hook tied to a spool of silken rope. Suddenly, Thellan hears a series of clatters and thumps wafting in from a cracked porthole in the stern. He recognizes Gale's voice but can't make out the words.

Gale opens a long shallow gash across Maheem's chest, the kind that will ache terribly, especially with the salt spray, but won't be life threatening. The big man lays a hand on the wound and glances at his blood. Stepping back he moves to block the stairs down to the main deck. He fixes Gale with a fierce glare, daring her to make the next move.

Spoiler: OoC

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Maheem has readied an action.

[theasl]

Seeing Maheem retreat, Gale darts towards the ropes, trying to climb into the ship's rigging.

Spoiler: ooc

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sorry about the delay!

move action to get to the nearest rope
move action to climb 7.5 ft: (1d20+5)[17]

[PallentisLunam]

"Bah!" Maheem shouts grabbing a spar of wood and flinging it at Gale. "Stupid bitch!" With that he turns and stomps off towards the hatch that leads below.

Spoiler: OoC

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Improvised weapon: (1d20-2)[3] Crit: (1d20-2)[7] Damage: (1d4)[2] Crit Damage: (1d4)[3]

If Thellan or Gale want to do something else go for it otherwise (wifi stability permitting) I will advance the plot

[theasl]

Gale stays up in the rigging for a while, then goes back down and to bed...but she resolves to keep one eye open in the future for.more danger.

Spoiler: ooc

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so...that night wasn't the brightest of ideas...but it turned out ok I hope. no problem with moving on.

[PallentisLunam]

By the time Gale gets down to the bunks Maheem is snoring loudly without the slightest of cares. Gale takes up her place among friendlier hammocks and she too drifts off to sleep at the rocking of the sea. Finishing his poking around in the kitchen Thellan is the last of the crew to turn in and after he does the night passes uneventfully.

---

The following day sees a slow tightening of nerves as the crew senses the approaching of their final destination, the southern shipping lanes. It will only be a few days now. Past highsun the Wormwood begins its run through the various reefs and uninhabited island chains that jut out from the slithering coast. Word comes down from the poop deck that the captain would have fresh crab for his supper. With the going slow, so as to avoid damaging the ship, Plugg picks out Grayson, Thellan, Alistair, Gale, Anika, and Jape, ordering them all to come see him on the main deck.

When everybody arrives Plugg scowls at his newest sailors while Owlbear hauls several crab pots up from the hold. "Jape," he says locking eyes with Grayson and staring at him, "Yar to go with these layabouts and ensure that they work as hard as they would under my whip.
You lot are to swim over to that reef," Plugg points, with the very whip in question, to a coral outcropping that Gale spotted about an hour ago from the nest that is about 200 feet off the port side of the Wormwood, "And bring back enough crabs for the captain and the officers to make a meal of."

Owlbear drops four crab pots on the deck with a clatter that elicits a venomous glare from Plugg. The giant cowers and whimpers putting his hands up defensively. Snapping back to the sailors in front of him Plugg shouts, "What in the bloody hells are ya waiting for! GO!"

Spoiler: OoC

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The seas are calm so swim checks are made at DC 10. The crab pots do not encumber you once you are in the water. The Wormwood is moving but as long as you work quickly it shouldn't be a problem to catch back up with it.

[Ravenica]

Anika

With some trepidation Anika dives overboard. Bobbing to the surface she hollers up. "Okay, toss me one of them pots!"

[theasl]

With practiced ease, Gale dives in and swims out to the reef with a pot.

Spoiler: ooc

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take-10-ing (15) all the way if there's no distractions or danger. anything to roll once we get there?

[PallentisLunam]

Jape casually swings a pot over the side for Anika and, after removing his dirty linen shirt and his boots, he grabs a pot of his own and dives in with considerably less grace than Gale. He thrashes noisily through the water towards the green shallows that mark the reef.

Spoiler: OoC

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We'll get to specifics about what happens at the reef in a bit. At the moment Gale will make it in 14 turns (just under 90 seconds) assuming full round swim actions. Anika won't be able to keep up even if she makes all of her checks which is not a given.

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan shrugs, kicks off his boots, grabs a pot and dives into the water.

Spoiler: Crunch

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Taking 10 for 16 for swim.

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore

Alistair, too, removed his boots and started swimming for the reef, pot in tow.

Spoiler: swimming

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I'm taking 10 for 17 as well, I suppose.

[thegoldenfedora]

Grayson looks nervously out into the water as everyone else leaps in. He knew what he could do while in the water. How dangerous he was. His fear keeps him on the boat until he was the only one remaining and even Anika was lugging a pot along with her. He knew he had no choice, no one aboard the ship would care that he was a monster in the ocean. He knew this was bound to happen, that he would have to control the monster even more than normal. He tosses his shirt and shoes to Owlbear, and dives headfirst overboard.

The water felt terrific. He had forgotten how wonderful the frigid water felt on his body as he stretched his muscles with long powerful strokes. The monster was gleeful, aching for the chance to be free again. Besmara, you cunning wretch.

He swam up to Anika, offering to take the pot from her. With it tucked under his left arm he pulls with his right alternating between kicking and pulling and occasionally swapping the pot too the other side of an arm got tired.

Spoiler

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swim (1d20+9)[20]

[PallentisLunam]

The group makes its way through the waters with little enough trouble. After a brief period of struggling Anika is aided by the more powerful swimmers and within a few minutes the hunting party is positioned above the reef. The reef itself is a riotous explosion of color and life beneath the waves. It ranges from about thirty feet down to shallow enough for a man to stand upon with his chest and shoulders above water. Shimmering silver schools of fish dart here and there across shelves and overhangs. Anemones and kelp strands lazily cast about the waters with their long tendrils. And across it all scuttle dozens and dozens of prize crabs, ripe for the picking.

Jape, never one to mince words, takes no time to absorb the beauty of the reef and immediately begins crab hunting. With a keen eye and a swift hand he plunges into the depths and comes up with a large spiny beast. A quick flick of the orc's wrist see the crab chucked into a pot before it can snap its rather large pincers around any of Jape's unprotected fingers.

Spoiler: OoC

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Visibility is 100 ft.
To track a crab is a DC 12 Perception or Survival Check. To dive down and catch it is a DC 15 swim check.
You have four crab pots and it will take four crabs to fill each pot.

Jape's Rolls:
Perception - (1d20+1)[19]
Swim - (1d20+7)[24]

Crabs: 1/16

[theasl]

Following Jape's lead, Gale dives down trying to catch a crab, her scarlet hair adding to the color of the reef as it billows around her head in the water.

Spoiler: ooc

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perception (1d20+9)[27]
swim (1d20+5)[15]

[Ravenica]

Anika

Not confident in her diving Anika keeps a weathered eye out for crabs and points them out to anyone having difficulty spotting them.

Spoiler

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[(1d20+8)[28](1d20+8)[14](1d20+8)[19](1d20+8)[26](1d20+8)[9](1d20+8)[27](1d20+8)[18](1d20+8)[10](1d20+8)[9]roll]1d20+8[/roll]

[thegoldenfedora]

Still struggling to stay calm, Grayson follows Anika's directions and dives into the water after the crabs. Thoughts of real hunting stray into his mind as he sees others swimming about.

Spoiler

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survival if Anika's rolls count as an aid another (1d20+4)[8]
Swim (1d20+9)[21]

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan reaches the reef and while getting right to the task takes in the colourful reef.

Spoiler: Crunch

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Perception (1d20+5)[22]
Swimming (1d20+6)[24]

[aberratio ictus]

Alistair Notelgamore, esq.

How was anyone supposed to see anything in here? Alistair was happy to accept Anika's help in spotting the crabs, and dove down to catch them, preferably without injury.

Spoiler: rolls

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(1d20-1)[15] hopefully it works with Anika's help...
(1d20+7)[17]

[PallentisLunam]

Gale, Thellan, and Alistair all come up with crabs and the first pot is filled. Anika spots a crab and Grayson dives down after it but once underwater his senses are assaulted by the feeling of the others splashing around and the smell of their sweat in the ocean. Struggling to filter all of this out Grayson loses the crab but notices something else. A pair of creatures, looking like a horrific cross between lobsters and eels, covered with blood red spines are shooting like harpoons out of the reef towards the rest of the crabfishers!

Spoiler: OoC

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Everybody sees the creatures, they are 20 ft. away at the moment.
ROLL FOR INITIATIVE!
Hostile reef critters: (1d20+5)[8]

[theasl]

Treading water, Gale pulls her axe out again, ready to spike one of the creatures if it gets too close.

Spoiler: ooc

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I think I need a swim check? grapple rules and now underwater combat rules ugh (1d20+5)[19]

move action draw boarding axe

ready action - if creature enters threatened area, attack:
attack (1d20+2)[16]
damage (1d6+1)[3] piercing

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan pulls out his brass knife. "We have not so friendlies out here."

Spoiler: Crunch

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Initiative (1d20+4)[12]

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan swims towards the creature without getting too close. His goal is to be positioned to flank it, if it is engaged or attacks.

Spoiler: Crunch

Show

Swim (1d20+6)[9]
Here is an attack rolled in case the creature attacks or he can flank it.
Attack (1d20+4)[14]
Damage (1d4+2)[5] + sneak attack if applicable (1d6)[6]

[thegoldenfedora]

"We've got incoming!" Grayson growls, the monster sensing the enemies approach, relishing for a fight. He tries to think of a plan, of how he can get through this without letting the monster win. But the burning emotions pound away at his reason.

Spoiler

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moving back a little towards group, holding action to attack the first one that gets near, I'm gonna be at a wedding all weekend and the reception is pretty horrible

I'm having trouble with finding the correct modifiers tight now due to poor internet so I'm going to roll normally, sorry for the hassle

Power attack (1d20+3)[13]
Damage (1d4+5)[9]
Swim (1d20+9)[17]

[Ravenica]

Anika
The horrors in the water shock the girl, she glances around and sees no place she can stand. She desperately tries to tread water.
(1d20-1)[8]
Glancing down into the water she focuses on a small rock in the reef, and with her mind flings it at one of the beasts.

Spoiler

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Telekinetic projectile, ranged attack and 1d6 bludgeoning damage
(1d20+2)[15]
(1d6)[4]

[PallentisLunam]

Grayson bursts out of the water and delivers his warning allowing the others to draw blades and ready themselves for the attack. Anika grabs a rock with her mind and hurls it at one of the creatures with all her mental might but the drag of the water is too much and the stone merely settles back to the bottom a few yards away from where it began. Jape spots the creatures and seems to recognize them, gesturing frantically while trying to stay afloat. Unfortunately nobody on crab fishing duty has spent enough time with the mute to understand him very well during normal circumstances, which these certainly are not. When Anika goes under the half-orc grabs her by the collar and hauls her through the water over to a shallow spot and puts her on his shoulders.

The crustaceans zip through the water like bolts shot from crossbows, their thick tails propelling them with powerful twisting motions. They fly straight for Thellan and Gale, their fearsome claws snapping in the water. Thellan slashes at his opponent and the knife skitters along hard shell, being slowed by the water, but it does find a soft spot between the creature's chitinous plates and a thin line of blood flows from a shallow cut. The spike on Gale's boarding axe packs a bit more punch underwater when she slams it down on top of the thing as gets close enough. However, neither creature is deterred in the slightest and their beady little eyes betray both intelligence and hunger.

Each snaps out a meaty claw that is covered in nasty looking spines.

Spoiler: OoC

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Initiative Order
18 Grayson
13 Thellan
12 Gale
9 Anika
9 Jape
8 Reef Critters
4 Alistair

Jape and Anika are 10 ft. away from Gale and Thellan. Grayson is 10 ft in the other direction (20 from Jape and Anika), too far for his readied action to trigger

Attack Roll vs Thellan: (1d20+4)[12]+2=14 Crit Confirmation: (1d20+4)[9] Damage: (1d4)[3] Crit Damage: (1d4)[1]

Spoiler: If Struck

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Grab attempt vs CMD (1d20+8)[16] and you must make a fortitude save vs Poison DC 13 or take (1d2)[2] strength damage

As per the underwater combat rules Thellan has failed his swim check and is therefore off balance. He is denied his Dex bonus to AC and the monster gets an additional +2 against him.

Attack Roll vs Gale: (1d20+4)[10] Crit Confirmation: (1d20+4)[10] Damage: (1d4)[4] Crit Damage: (1d4)[2]

Spoiler: If Struck

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Grab attempt vs CMD (1d20+8)[28] and you must make a fortitude save vs Poison DC 13 or take (1d2)[2] strength damage

[theasl]

As the creature's claw gets briefly snagged on her shirt, Gale slams down the spike on it again, hoping to pierce the shell and hit a vital point.

Spoiler: ooc

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swim (1d20+5)[20]

attack again (1d20+2)[10]
damage (1d6+1)[3] piercing

[HappyMerecat]

Thellan

Thellan was not ready for the speed of the creature and does his best to escape it's claw.

Spoiler: Crunch

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Break Free (1d20+4)[15]

[Ravenica]

Anika

She quickly pats the half orcs head and gasps out a thanks. Then her eyes narrow. Summoning up far more of her mental power than she ever has before she sends an unerring blast into the nearest creature.

Spoiler

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Spending a point of her phrenic pool for focused force and casting magic missile. (1d6+1)[6] force damage
2 pool remaining 3 castings remaining