Dangerous creatures - A Monster of an Adventure! - IC

[Togo]

Svirikiki glances around, and then settles himself into a reed bed and partly disappears. Occasional arms and crossbows briefly emerge from hiding place and retreat again, as he fidgets into position, and then all is still.

[Aneurin]

Goopy

Tumbling majestically - and seemingly uncontrolably - across the ocean bed, Goopy's colours begin to drain away leaving a barely distinguishable outline in the water.


Mechanics;

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Goopy doesn't need cover to hide in, nor does he take penalties for moving. He has a racial bonus to Hide equal to his HD, which doubles if he takes nothing but Move actions. Any creature that fails to Spot him and tries to move through a square occupied by him is automatically Engulfed without an AoO or save.

[Doxkid]

Yhrashnal sinks to the bottom, but does not seem entirely happy he has been forced to hide. Perhaps it is his demonic nature, but everything about his presence suggests he is merely waiting for a chance to charge out and tear something else apart.

The fact that he is still dragging the slain Kuo-Toa with him certainly doesn't help.

[Delia2531]

As you are settled and know that something is coming you begin to make out the outline of a large something in the distance (around 300'). It soon begins to resemble what it actually is, the front rank of a squad of merfolk soldiers. From this distance it isn't possible to make out what they are armed with, but the way they move marks them out as some sort of organised force rather than a rag-tag band. From the direction they are moving, they will pass nearby coming from right to left.

Biding your time you notice that this is merely the front of a sizeable force, the merfolk are four abreast in their column and it is hard to see the rear rank yet, and there are signs of a still larger shape amongst them.

As they get to approximately 150' you can clearly see that there are about 50 merfolk armed and armoured, with a giant squid-like creature following behind which appears to be tethered to something behind it; this slowly resolves itself to be some sort of underwater cart supporting a cage and several large chests. You begin to see yet more merfolk behind that.
Suddenly, off to the side you glimpse a very large black and white shape, as your eyes are drawn towards it you notice it is accompanied by several smaller, but still large creatures that look as if they have something on each of their backs. This group seems to be following alongside the procession, at a distances, but moving considerably faster.

If you wait until they are a little closer:

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the small group turns out to be 10 swordfish ridden by more merfolk accompanied by the whale. The merfolk are well armed and armoured and have an experienced and authoritative air about them.

Of course if you act before they come closer...

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Spot checks:
(1d20+5)[18]
(1d20+5)[23]
(1d20+3)[19]
(1d20+3)[16]
(1d20+7)[24]
(1d20+8)[23]
(1d20+7)[21]
(1d20+5)[13]
(1d20+10)[30]

[Delia2531]

At a silent jesture from their commander, the convoy comes to an immediate halt. Weapons bristle and the Merfolk take defensive postures. You can see that the front and rearmost squads are holding tridents whilst the inner two squads are now aiming vicious-looking harpoon guns in your general direction.

The commander and his bodyguard are alongside the wagon, out of the field of fire and the other individual has taken a position above the wagon, the orca with him slowly circling.

The whole convoy is about 140' from your positions and ready for action.

[Delia2531]

Start of Round 1

Turning towards you the Captain on his steed calls out, "To the troll and other creatures in that kelp bed over there, whoever you are and whatever your intentions you should know that this convoy is the property of the Lord Varnemis, master of these leagues. We are retiring to him with the spoils of his land. If you interfere with us this day, know that you do so facing his wrath and might.

I suggest you depart from here under our gaze, and nothing further will be said, whilst you still can!"

He makes a gesture to the column and their alertness and posture seems even more threatening (if that were possible).

From above the convoy, the other leader makes a gesture and then pats the Orca on the side of its face. The Orca heads out from the column, in your general direction, without getting between you and the 40-odd harpoon guns pointing your way. It swims in small circles about 100' feet away. Now it is slightly closer you can appreciate its size and see that it's flanks shimmer unnaturally.

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Orca delays;
Captain delays;
Other commander (to be known as Druid) casts Magic Fang on Orca (Level 1 spell);
Orca moves closer;
Squad 4 (currently 160' away) ready an action.


Ugg, Svirikiki, Goopy up next.

[Lexin]

"So... we have here an army... accompanied by an army... accompanied by a tentacle monster...
I guess I could take them on, but it would take some time to even get to them, in this whole water...
Any ideas?"

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Should be enough to inform Goopy what's there... and if talking is free action, nothing changes for now.
If not, Ugg delays action until he hears any answer.

[Doxkid]

Yhrashnal's eyes burn with gold fire as he summons his fiendish magic. "If you wish to hide then bath in my might, mortals. Our attack must be swift and unexpected." He waits just long enough to give others a chance to enter the spell rang, before releasing a wave of rippling light. A moment later he and those who approached him, vanish.

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Popping a use of my Invisibility Sphere SLA to give us a few options.

If Ugg and Svrikiki want they can join me in it; not sure if we should reroll Hide, but a +20 to hide (and not being easily visible in the first place) should help quite a bit. I'm assuming the spell would only target thingsI wanted to target and wouldn't turn the water around us (and the ocean floor) invisible, as that would be pretty suspicious.

If you guys are undecided, delay until my turn and I will lead the charge into the enemies.

[Lexin]

Ugg has exactly no idea what "bathing in someone's might" might mean... but he does come a little closer...

[Aneurin]

Goopy

Goopy continues its seemingly random tumble through the water, rebounding off a convenient clump of rocks and changing its heading. Whether or not it is even aware of the others' conversation - much less understood it - the cube of transparant slime is now headed directly towards the merfolk.


Actions:

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Double-move towards them, moving Goopy 40ft. Can roll something to detect the direction he should be going in, as he can't actually detect the merfolk.

[Togo]

Svirikiki curses, and drifts forward.

Ah... he calls out, would it be interfering with you to ask for directions? We're a bit lost!

[Delia2531]

Directions to where exactly? All from this region know where to find my Lord's mansion; what is your business with my Lord and why do you lie in wait for us if you merely need assistance?

The leader looks disdainfully at Svirikiki whilst the rest of his team keep a watchful eye out for trouble and their lances pointed in all directions, circling their mounts and constantly moving.

[Lexin]

The Invisible Troll (TM) called Ugg looks at the fishfolk commander for a longer while. After a moment he shifts uneasily, usually hard staring at someone worked quite fine as a conversation starter, then he proceeds to waving his club in a threatening manner and notices that there was no club! ... no hands or the rest of his body either... so that's what "Bathing in someone's might" meant!

Unfortunately the best moment to make the first impression already passed... Ugg leaned at his club and let others do the talking. If they needed him (their leader, after all) he would help them out. Possibly by charging at the enemy...

[Togo]

Svirikiki decides to take the diplomatic approach.

Ok, have a good old stare at us and ask yourself. Do we look local? I mean really?

Ok, maybe that wasn't so diplomatic. He's trying.

And what exactly is our motivation here? We're trying cunningly to extract some information you say is common knowledge around here just so we can get beaten up by a a tentacle monster and soliders who outnumber us, what twenty to one?

Sarcasm is clearly the new diplomacy.

Or.. Are you lost yourselves? In which case, sorry for the embarassment and we'll ask someone else...

[Delia2531]

"You certainly are a motly bunch, we can escort you to our Lord; but I would still know your business with him before we do. It will not go well for me if I took you there to attack him or steal from him now would it?"

[Togo]

Svirikiki shrugs.

So.. don't take us there. Just tell us roughly where to go. I assume it's pretty obvious, yes?

[Delia2531]

Pointing past you in to the distance, he says"It's that way, you can't miss it and you'll be there in about 10 mins if you swim fast enough. Alternatively, you can fall in behing the wagon and we will escort you all in?"

From his body language it is pretty clear that being part of the formation would out you on a par with the Kraken, possibly even lower than that and would certainly be his preferred approach. Especially when the mermen with tridents come forward a few yards to present a gap and get their weapons closer to you.

[Doxkid]

"Excellent. you have served your purpose then."

Yhrashnal darts forward at full speed and slams into the leader, a savage snarl twisting his already lupine face. In a flash of demonic magic his spell of invisibility breaks revealing him just as he bites at the leader's arm, attempting to draw the aquatic being into a close fight it will surely lose.

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Charging into a grapple on the leader.
Attack: (1d20+17)[18] vs the leader’s touch AC. As Yhrashnal is currently invisible it is probably that he gains and additional +2 to attack the leader, depending on the leader’s ability to see Invisible beings.

Opposed Grapple check if that touch attack lands: (1d20+23)[28].
Unarmed strike damage if that roll beats the leader’s roll: (3d6+8)[21]

I’ve probably missed a few notes, but it has been a while. Remind me of anything I missed and I’ll correct it OOC.

[Delia2531]

Yhrashnal appears out of nowhere to grab the Captain and gets a firm grip on him with his teeth and draws him in to a close embrace. As he is not attached to his mount, other than by the bridle, the merman is torn clear. The fangs of the mighty predator draw blood from his prey, which floats like ribbons on the currents caused by the violent movement.

Meanwhile, Goopy floats serenely through the deep; initially unaware of the exact location of his targets, but knowing that they are out there.

He crashes headlong in to the front rank of the harpoon squad infront of the Kraken, easily swallowing almost half of the mermen and their weapons, and imediately starting to digest them. Whilst this does leave the ooze surrounded by enemies, they are not in a position to react immediately as they are unsure what has just happened as their colleagues appear to be slowly dissolving before their eyes.

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Goopy needs to roll damage for each of those engulfed (one roll will suffice for them all)

Now let's start the real turn if people want to continue?

Withdraw this:
Orca delays;
Captain delays;
Other commander (to be known as Druid) casts Magic Fang on Orca (Level 1 spell);
Orca moves closer;
Squad 4 (currently 160' away) ready an action.


Ugg, Svirikiki, Goopy up next.
new post to follow.

[Delia2531]

The Orca, shimmering after the touch of the merman, makes a direct bolt towards the glowing troll and tries to eat him. The beast's fangs close on the troll's torso, crushing a couple of ribs and breaking the skin.

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Orca charges Ugg (100') and makes a melee attack (+1 for magic fang):
(1d20+13)[32] (so close to a crit!)
confirm any crit:
(1d20+13)[25]
for damage of:
(2d6+10)[19] (DR4/adamantine)
crit damage:
(2d6+10)[18]

Orca can hold it's breath for 168 rounds, let's say it had last surfaced (1d10)[4] minutes ago (at 6 rounds per minute) so it has 144 rounds remaining.

The Captain of the Guard attempts to extract himself from Yhrashnal's grasp, but flails ineffectually under the powerful talons of the demon-beast.

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grapple roll:
(1d20+10)[11]

Captain has 50HP remaining.
Grappled AC is 17, normally 18. Touch AC is 11.

The Captain's mount reacts to it's master's predicament by striking at Yhrashnal with it's snout and attempting to swat the beast with its tail. Unfortunately, the movement of the two bodies tumbling in the water and the toughness of the beast's hide mean that the sword-snout merely passes along the demon's flank without harm and the tail slap merely causes a current of water to wash across his snarling face.

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Full attack - stab and tail slap
Stab attack roll:
(1d20+7)[23] vs AC less Dex mod
potential crit:
(1d20+7)[21]
for damage:
(1d8+4)[12]
crit damage:
(1d8+4)[10]

Tail slap:
(1d20+7)[22]
potential crit:
(1d20+7)[12]
for damage:
(2d4)[7]
crit damage:
(2d4)[3]

The rear-most squad of harpoon-wielding mermen take defensive positions and ready their weapons in case they are charged.

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Squad readies an action to attack if approached.