27: Life's always better down where it's wetter

[Ebiris]

[14:04] <@Ebiris> Lavinia isn't immediately present when you arrive at Vanderboren manor, Kora informing you all that she's out conducting some business but should be back shortly. In the meantime she furnishes everyone with their choice of beverage and snack to wait in one of the sitting rooms. It's about an hour later when Lavinia finally arrives, her cheeks flushed and a satisfied expression on her face her maid takes her cloak off of her, the young noblewoman settling into an armchair to join you all. "Good afternoon, everyone. I'm afraid I haven't been able to speak with Lord Kellani since we last saw each other - it sounds as if he's ill. I hope your efforts have been productive, at least?"
[14:05] <@Rudy> "In a manner of speaking," replies Rudy, in a quieter tone. "The Lotus Dragons will no longer plague the good folk of Salerno, for one."
[14:06] <@Henrietta> Sullen and quiet, Henrietta resigns herself to observe.
[14:08] <@Ebiris> "Truly? You were able to disband them yourselves?" Lavinia brightens even more. "The Jade Ravens might find themselves obsolete by the time they return! What were you able to learn of my brother's whereabouts, then?" she asks, before pausing and furrowing her brow. "Wait a moment... Miranda isn't here, is she? Did something happen to her?" she asks more gently than her other questions.
[14:09] <@Henrietta> "They sent assassins after us," Henrietta finds herself responding. "We pushed them back and counter-attacked, but Miranda was not as lucky, I'm sorry to inform you, My Lady."
[14:12] <@Ebiris> That neatly punctures Lavinia's good cheer, the young baroness deflating as a hand covers her mouth. "Oh, goodness! That's horrible!" Her other hand worries the fabric of her emerald green skirts. "She never spoke of her family to me. Did she tell any of you who we should inform?"
[14:13] * @Glenn shakes his head. "She was pretty quiet about that even with us."
[14:13] <@Lucie> "She never mentioned anyone to me. We didn't even know where she lived. It took questioning guardhouses to find out what happened."
[14:14] <@Rudy> "We can put a word out to town," replies Rudy. "The least we can do is send her off properly." His grip tightens around the scrolls in his hand. "She didn't deserve that."
[14:14] <@Henrietta> "I can... vouch for Lucie's competence with a clean heart, now, if nothing else," Henrietta adds, subdued.
[14:15] <@Ebiris> "I see," Lavinia nods sadly, "In that case I'll take care of the arrangements myself, she'll have a proper funeral, that's as much as we can give. If you know of any places she liked to frequent we can try to spread words to any friends or family that way... although I think I recall her mentioning she was from Jovar, so perhaps not family after all."
[14:18] * @Glenn clears his throat and adds. "Well, as for your brother, our search of the Dragons' compound yielded some letters between him and their leader. We have a fair idea of where he'll be soon," Glenn says, bringing up the letters while keeping his eyes away from Henrietta, knowing she disapproves of this.
[14:19] <@Ebiris> "That's some consolation, at least," Lavinia agrees, unable to muster her previous enthusiasm but forging on anyway. "Where is Vanthus supposed to be now, then?"
[14:20] <@Henrietta> "It is no consolation at all," Henrietta says, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Lady Vanderboren."
[14:21] <@Rudy> "I am afraid there is little consolation to be found," replies Rudy. "He is hatching another plot of murder and betrayal upon the ocean. That his targets are pirates speaks nothing as to his character." He gestures to the letters. "They contain everything, including why he has acted as he has."
[14:22] <@Rudy> *presents the letters
[14:28] * @Glenn waits quietly to see how she reacts as she reads the letters.
[14:28] <@Ebiris> Lavinia takes the three letters curiously and holds up the first to read, her eyes scanning adroitly across the paper... and narrowing almost instantly. Colour drains from her face as she finishes and lowers her hands, not even bothering to read the other two. "If it..." she swallows and stops, blinking before she continues, "If it wasn't his own handwriting..." Her shoulders slump and she shakes her head before slowly looking up to regard the group. "I don't care where he is, I never want to see him again," she begins softly, "I don't want to look at his face and hear his lies and excuses," her voice rising and almost breaking. "Wherever he is, whatever he's doing, I don't care. He should die for what he's done!"
[14:29] <@Glenn> "He still seems to care for you, for what it's worth," Glenn notes quietly, even if he'd like nothing more than take that as an order to kill him.
[14:30] <@Lucie> "I understand," Lucie says with a terse nod. "If that's what you desire, we are more than capable of completing the task."
[14:30] <@Rudy> "Actions speak far louder than words," mutters Rudy. "It will be seen to, m'lady."
[14:32] <@Ebiris> "I don't want his care!" Lavinia looks at Glenn with fierce glistening eyes. "Mother and father cared, they loved us both. And this is what he does?" she holds up the incriminating letter, crumpling it in her grip. "I can't forgive it, I won't!"
[14:33] <@Henrietta> "It cannot be forgiven," Henrietta agrees.
[14:35] * @Glenn winces, but nods in understanding.
[14:36] <@Ebiris> "Do whatever you have to do," Lavinia concludes bitterly, shaking slightly as she holds back the worst of her emotions. "If you need money, or resources, or influence to get to where ever he's hiding, say and it'll be done. Nothing else matters, now."
[14:38] <@Rudy> "We will need a ship to take us to where Vanthus is," replies Rudy. "The letters, too, would be useful evidence to show his would-be rubes." He raises a hand to touch the tattoos drawn across his face. "I believe that will be sufficient."
[14:38] <@Lucie> "We'll need transportation to reach him, yes, as he is not hiding within the city itself. Otherwise...an evening to rest, recover and prepare I think is all."
[14:40] <@Ebiris> Lavinia hands the letters across to Rudy once more, rising. "I haven't hired a crew for the Blue Nixie yet, and at this short notice..." she shakes her head, "Hire whatever boat you can as soon as possible, I will pay whatever it takes."
[14:44] <@Lucie> "Of course, your ladyship. Also...the Dragons' lair contained a map of the city with various homes and locations marked in different ways. We did not take time to peruse this in detail, but it may provide a clue to any collaborators they had in other quarters. I think we should see it in the hands of trustowrthy authorities, in case any leftover allies of the Dragons try to carry on or plan
[14:44] <@Lucie> reprisal."."
[14:45] <@Glenn> "I do recall a blue flag on the Kellani estate and a red one on the Islaran one, but that's all I got a good look at," Glenn notes.
[14:45] <@Glenn> "Your own estate had a gold and red flag."
[14:46] <@Ebiris> "Speak to Kora about those matters, I'll have her arrange things with the detectives... what I ask you to do now won't be celebrated, but at least you may be honoured for dealing with those thieves," Lavinia nods tersely, seeming to be in little mood for further elaboration on other matters.
[14:47] * @Glenn frowns, but nods. "Of course."
[14:47] <@Henrietta> "We will... return as soon as we can," Henrietta says, fidgeting. "Please stay safe, Lady Vanderboren."
[14:48] <@Rudy> "Well, then. By your leave," replies Rudy. "We won't take long."
[14:48] <@Ebiris> So after telling Kora some relevant information, the party departs to see about getting a boat!
[14:49] * @Glenn makes sure to also leave Kora his flask of Alchemist's Kindness, in case Lavinia has need of it from getting well and jolly smashed.
[14:51] <@Rudy> "This might actually be hard," mutters Rudy, sauntering towards the docks. "We're asking a crew to go into mysterious waters on the basis of a weird map, and pirates are involved. We'll need people who are either real greedy, real desperate, or real st- courageous."
[14:52] <@Henrietta> "I can just ask Trucy," Henrietta comments. "She might know who to talk to."
[14:54] <@Ebiris> "Well, it's some ways off, so a rowboat's right out," Trucy mentions after joining the group now that the assault on the deadly thieves guild is over and things look safe. "And you don't want a big merchant looking ship because pirates eat those. I figure your best bet is a fishing boat - pirates are just gonna ignore that for the most part, and it's still big enough to sail properly away from shore. Mind you it'll stink if you're not used to the smell."
[14:56] <@Rudy> "We can bring clothespegs along if it's dire," replies Rudy. "You think the crews would spring for it?"
[14:56] <@Henrietta> "Of... fish, right?" Henrietta confirms. Not the horrible smell of undead, she sincerely hopes.
[14:56] <@Lucie> "I've put up with worse ones," Lucie says with a shrug. "Job's all that's important here. It just needs to get where we need to go."
[14:57] <@Ebiris> "If you pay them, sure," Trucy shrugs, "A lot of them make a bit extra on the side smuggling, so I figure this won't be out of the question. Probably best to play down the danger, mind you."
[14:58] <@Lucie> "Sure. No point telling 'em more than they need to know."
[14:59] <@Rudy> "I dunno, aren't there any that'll take it on even if we do?" asks Rudy, with a shrug. "Don't care if we pay more..."
[14:59] <@Henrietta> "Is it really that dangerous?" Henrietta wonders. "We are not going to fight any pirates, after all."
[15:00] <@Glenn> "We don't want to fight them, but they might be wanting to fight us," Glenn points out.
[15:00] <@Rudy> "We just have to hope the pirates think the same way, right? I guess it's a fishing boat after all..."
[15:01] <@Ebiris> A bit of hunting around and the party finds a middle aged fisherman and his young son cleaning the nets beside their boat, the 'Fisher Princess', a compact single sailed little thing with plenty of open deck space and a small cabin to the rear. "Looking ta go on a cruise, eh?" the man laughs, patting his quite enormously rounded belly. "Well, so long as you don't mind paying to make up for the fish we won't be catching, we might oblige ye."
[15:03] <@Henrietta> "Well, I don't think it would be a problem," Henrietta muses. "How much would it cost us?"
[15:04] <@Ebiris> "Thirty five gold a day sound fair?" he asks, scratching at one of the enormous mutton-chop sideburns adorning his ruddy cheeks below his receding hairline.
[15:05] * @Henrietta glances at Trucy unobtrusively.
[15:05] <@Ebiris> Trucy looks at the boat again and then gives Henrietta a tiny little nod.
[15:07] <@Henrietta> "Very well," Henrietta states, nodding at the fisherman firmly. "We expect this to take slightly over a week. Is that alright?"
[15:09] <@Ebiris> "Grant, what's that work out to?" the man looks down at his son, who looks a few years younger than Trucy.
[15:09] <@Ebiris> The tousle-haired blonde boy furrows his brow a moment, mouthing to himself before grinning toothily, "Two hunner'd an eighty, da'!"
[15:09] <@Ebiris> "Good lad!" the fisherman ruffles his hair and then sticks out a hand to Henrietta, "Name's Callum. When ye lookin' ta set off?"
[15:10] <@Rudy> "Tomorrow morning, crack of dawn," replies Rudy.
[15:10] <@Henrietta> "I am Henrietta Ul Copt," she introduces herself in turn, taking Callum's hand. "Leaving as soon as possible is our intention, yes."
[15:11] <@Ebiris> "Right-o. We'll be here ready for it, then," he nods briskly. "Grant, go an' tell Jan and Hagar they've got the week off." The boy nods and runs off at that.
[15:16] <@Ebiris> The next day the Fisher Princess sets off with its passengers. It's got plenty of room above deck, and a small berth in the cabin with space for three to sleep at any time in somewhat cramped conditions. Callum mans the ship's wheel almost constantly except for a few hours after dawn when he sleeps and his son takes over. Trucy makes herself helpful maintaining the sails to keep herself busy, but it's otherwise quite dull aboard ship. Sailing South you lose sight of Salerno and the Northern coast by dawn of the second day, only the scraping peaks of the Pinnacle mountains visible far to the Northeast well over the horizon.
[15:16] <@Ebiris> It's mid-afternoon on the second day when Rudy thinks he can see some sort of enormous bird in the distance as he loiters on deck, far larger than a seagull, with big white wings barely moving as it soars on a path that might bring it over the boat as it sails below.
[15:17] <@Rudy> "That thing's huge! Wait, is that normal for these waters?" asks Rudy, squinting at the creature.
[15:20] <@Ebiris> "I think it's an albatross," Trucy squints alongside Rudy, leaning on the low railing across the side of the ship. "They're good luck. Unless they circle overhead, that means one person on the crew will suffer calamity. Or if it dies, then the voyage is cursed to misfortune. And if one of us kills it then we'll be well and truly doomed forever," she nods sagely.
[15:21] <@Henrietta> "Why would we want to kill it?" Henrietta can't help but wonder, peering along with the others.
[15:21] <@Rudy> "No need to worry! It's well out of range," replies Rudy, relaxing.
[15:21] <@Lucie> "Hrm?" Lucie rouses herself from a half-daze midships, staring out into the waters, to stroll over and take a look. "Superstition," she says dismissively.
[15:22] <@Ebiris> "Sometimes starving sailors try it out of desperation, or stupid passengers want a trophy?" Trucy muses, "That's how it usually goes in the songs. Lets hope it just passes by, I guess?"
[15:23] * @Lucie waits and watches, expecting the bird to just pass along and do nothing conveniently symbolic (although she wonders if it may longer in a search for food).
[15:25] <@Ebiris> The bird soars effortlessly closer, still high up but it's easier to see its sillouette against the sky now, quite innocently avian. And getting bigger as it starts to descend, it's wings folding inwards!
[15:27] <@Lucie> It's just a sea bird. Surely it has no interest in humans and will shortly dive for fish!
[15:27] <@Rudy> "Is this going to count as a calamity?"
[15:28] <@Henrietta> "Only if it circles, surely?"
[15:28] <@Ebiris> The bird does indeed do as Lucie predicts, angling down about sixty feet away from the boat's side and lowering its webbed talons into the water! It emerges with a nice juicy looking haddock and slowly, ever so slowly, begins to rise back up again... and is about three feet above the water when a shark suddenly bursts out of the waves and latches its huge gaping maw onto the bird's tail, dragging it down!
[15:29] <@Glenn> "Well...I'm certainly not going to go swimming any time soon," Glenn notes, though he does seem somewhat impressed with the shark's hunting trick.
[15:30] <@Henrietta> "Stop frightening the superstitious people!" Henrietta calls out to the shark, producing a pair of roses and tossing them at the aggressor.
[15:30] <@Rudy> "Stop it! You'll get it's attention!"
[15:30] <@Henrietta> roll 2d4+2
[15:30] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 2d4+2 and gets 7." [2d4=4, 1]
[15:31] <@Ebiris> "Posiedon's breath, did you see that!" Callum calls up from the wheel as the bird cries plaintively and struggles on the surface, the shark ravaging it before its pelted with magic missiles! The ocean predator has its gills perforated and abruptly dives back below the waves, leaving the stricken albatross floating wounded on the bobbing water, letting out a mournful agonised cry!
[15:32] * @Lucie can only respond with a shrug. "It's just an old sailor's legend, people trying to see meaning where there isn't any. A bird dying's got nothing to do with whether we succeed or fail out here. That's all on us."
[15:32] <@Henrietta> "We can still help it!" Henrietta insists. "Rudy, can you bring it here?"
[15:32] <@Ebiris> "It's not dead yet... do you think if it lives at least until we're away from it we won't be cursed?" Trucy asks hopefully.
[15:32] <@Rudy> "What? I can't swim!"
[15:33] <@Henrietta> "You can summon something!"
[15:33] <@Rudy> "I'm not wasting a summon on some cursed bird!"
[15:33] <@Henrietta> "There is no such thing as curses!"
[15:33] <@Rudy> "Hecate would disagree with you!"
[15:33] * @Lucie sighs. "Rudy, if it'll keep the crew happy, what's the harm?"
[15:34] <@Ebiris> "I don't like this," the sailor declares from above, "It's a sign, it is. We ought to turn back."
[15:35] <@Ebiris> The albatross tries to beat its broken wings on the water and lift itself, but to no avail as it cries in pain and despair!
[15:35] <@Henrietta> "That charlatan!" Henrietta seethes at the mention of the fake goddess. "We will save that bird, and heal it, and then everything will be alright," she insists, raising her voice.
[15:35] <@Rudy> "Oh, geez, we're not turning back!" insists Rudy, sighing. "Really? We're really doing this?" he mutters, dispatching a squid to retrieve the avian. "I can't believe it's coming from you, of all people!"
[15:36] <@Henrietta> "It is a waste of time to argue with superstitious people," Henrietta tells him quietly. "And besides, don't you feel sorry for the poor bird? It's hurt!"
[15:37] <@Glenn> "As long as we don't have to put it out of its misery. By the superstition, we'd be pretty screwed if we did," Glenn notes.
[15:38] <@Ebiris> Thankfully the shark was sufficiently threatened by the bolt's from above that it refuses to come back up, perhaps developing certain superstitions of its own after such a strange attack! The mysterious dark squid of Rudy's magic jets across the water and wraps its tentacles around the bird which struggles even moreso as its dragged along to just below the ship's deck, letting everyone get a good look at its mangled bloodied form. Yellow eyes look up at its potential saviours desperately, the long hooked beak opening in a loud reverbating cry!
[15:38] <@Lucie> "I'd as soon leave it myself, Rudy, but you can't fight an omen long as there's a fearful mind to give it strength. Let's just heal the thing and send it on its way so the captain can focus again."
[15:38] <@Rudy> "So how do we heal it?"
[15:38] <@Ebiris> "If it dies on board is that worse luck, da'?" Grant asks as he lingers up by his father.
[15:38] * @Henrietta looks at Glenn expectantly.
[15:39] <@Glenn> "I have some healing extracts, I've been using them on myself but I can try to use them on the bird," Glenn answers, nodding at Henrietta's look.
[15:39] * @Henrietta does her very best to get the wounded bird on the deck without aggravating its injuries or acquiring some herself.
[15:39] <@Glenn> "Since the trip is to take a few days still, I suppose my wounds can wait. I...don't entirely know if they will help the bird though," he warns. "I'd modified them for -human- consumption."
[15:39] * @Lucie leans over the side. Hopefully the helpful squid can lift the bird up to arm's length?
[15:40] <@Ebiris> The boat is quite low-slung, no doubt to make casting and retrieving nets easier. It's no trouble at all to reach the bird with outstretched arms.
[15:41] * @Henrietta does so, cradling it carefully and waiting for Glenn's assistance.
[15:42] * @Glenn pulls a stopper from one of his flasks, and tries to let the liquid drop down the bird's throat. "Let's hope for the best..."
[15:43] <@Glenn> roll d8+1 assuming it heals the bird instead of turning it into a birdman or something freaky?
[15:43] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d8+1 assuming it heals the bird instead of turning it into a birdman or something freaky? and gets 2." [d8=1]
[15:43] <@Ebiris> It's easy enough to pour down when the bird opens its beak to cry, and the alchemist's work seems to be good! The wings straighten out and the albatross struggles with more vigour against the squid gripping it!
[15:44] <@Glenn> "I have one more extract prepared, hopefully it's enough," Glenn says as he goes for his second prepared extract.
[15:44] <@Glenn> roll d8+1
[15:44] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d8+1 and gets 3." [d8=2]
[15:44] <@Henrietta> "Umm. Is it alright now?" Henrietta wonders, inspecting the bird's wings.
[15:44] <@Ebiris> The bird starts flapping its wings and pecking at the squid as it struggles to free itself!
[15:44] <@Glenn> "I hope, because that's all I've got for the day unless you want to keep it as a pet."
[15:45] * @Henrietta pats the bird's head lightly, and smiles at Rudy. "I think it can fly now. What do you thin?"
[15:45] <@Rudy> Rudy dismisses the squid with a shrug. "It's okay if it gets eaten by a shark where we don't see, right?"
[15:45] <@Lucie> "Blasted thing wants to go, let's see if it can so we can get on with our journey?"
[15:45] <@Glenn> "Agreed. Hopefully the fishermen will be less worried now."
[15:46] <@Ebiris> The squid vanishes and the bird paddles away from the boat, stretching its wings to their massive extent and picking up speed as it takes itself aloft and soars away! Is that a note of gratitude in its cry?
[15:46] <@Henrietta> "It should be smart enough not to hunt here now!" Henrietta says optimistically, waving at the soaring bird.
[15:46] <@Ebiris> "It feels like we're defying the will of the gods, though..." Callum grumbles but makes no move to change course.
[15:47] <@Rudy> "Be that as it may, the gods shouldn't come between a man and his job," replies Rudy, with a solemn nod.
[15:47] <@Ebiris> "Hah, well spoken," he laughs at Rudy, mood lightening.
[15:49] <@Ebiris> Another two days pass, Griffin Reef surely close by now. Lucie happens to be sitting by the prow of the ship, peering into the early morning gloom in hopes of glimpsing the pirate lair on the horizon, when she happens to notice a disturbance in the waves ahead... it looks like something, or two somethings, swimming straight towards the Fisher Princess!
[15:50] <@Lucie> "Oy!" Lucie hollers belowdecks. "You lot might want to be up here soon! Somethin's taken an interest."
[15:51] <@Ebiris> "What is it?" young Grant calls from the back of the ship where he's at the wheel, keeping on course according to Vanthus's charts.
[15:51] * @Glenn quickly goes to join Lucie. "What'd you spot?"
[15:51] <@Henrietta> Already awake but still in the middle of her morning preparations, Henrietta brushes off her hat and puts it on, before taking her flail along and heading for the deck.
[15:52] <@Rudy> An incoherent moan echoes from Rudy's bunk, followed by the man himself, still cradled in a blanket.
[15:53] <@Lucie> "Something underwater. Something big." Lucie points.
[15:53] <@Lucie> "Or two of 'em, hard to say, but it's headed right this way."
[15:53] <@Rudy> "Should we shoot it?" asks Rudy, dropping the blanket and fingering his trusy crossbow.
[15:54] <@Ebiris> Trucy likewise rushes to the front, leaning over to look... as they get closer, it looks like people? Certainly humanoid, but swimming far faster than anyone should be able to. They suddenly dive under once about a hundred feet from the boat, no longer breaking the waves, but not before everyone watching got a good look at a human face locked in a grimace of effort from the one on the left!
[15:55] <@Lucie> "Dunno, Rudy. Don't think so. If they didn't have ill intent already, they sure would after that."
[15:55] <@Rudy> "Are these.. uh... what'ya call 'em, mermen?" asks Rudy, grimacing.
[15:56] <@Glenn> "That's what I was about to ask," Glenn admits. "I've only heard vague tales of such beings, but that's what I'd imagine them to be like from the tales?"
[15:57] <@Rudy> "Vague? The tales I heard were very explicit."
[15:57] <@Lucie> "Oh yes? Do share."
[15:58] <@Glenn> "I don't exactly listen to tales that much when I go out drinking," Glenn retorts. "I go to get plastered. So yes, vague tales."
[16:00] <@Ebiris> Suddenly hands claw at the port railing on the middle of the ship, a black haired figure hauling himself up onto the Fisher Princess! His face is a greying leathery grimace, bulging dark eyes straining out with effort while the mouth reveals rows of vicious sharp teeth, long claws scratching the deck as it clambers up, looking somewhat like Glenn in the throes of Mutagen dosage, but considerably more wild and deformed - the left arm seems to have two elbows, while a gnashing half-formed mouth slavers just below the collarbone!
[16:00] <@Ebiris> On the starboard side, a rubbery pink tentacle covered in hooked suckers flaps onto the deck, coiling around as another figure emerges, this one female, with long but torn and ragged red hair, her face split by a monstrously toothy grin, her right arm a withered vestigial thing no bigger than a baby's, while her left arm is replaced by that horrendous tentacle. She at least has on a seashell bikini to preserve some modesty, but it's half torn off to lessen that effect. As both clamber up onto the boat, you can see below the waist they have long muscular fish-tails, similarly deformed and adorned with vestigial appendages and orifices.
[16:00] <@Rudy> "Oh, god! They were nothing like this!"
[16:01] <@Lucie> "I take it back. You should have shot them."
[16:02] <@Henrietta> "Wha-- how indecent!" Henrietta exclaims, recoiling in shock.
[16:02] <@Ebiris> The two mutant merpeople burble and shriek incoherently, starting to move towards the party clustered on the prow of the ship while Grant yells out in horror for his father from the stern!
[16:02] <@Ebiris> OOC: they aren't friendly, lets roll init
[16:02] <@Rudy> "Yes! Shoot! Get off our boat, or I'll shoot!" yells Rudy, brandishing his crossbow.
[16:03] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 dur
[16:03] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+4 dur and gets 17." [1d20=13]
[16:03] <@Glenn> roll d20+4
[16:03] <@Ebiris> roll 2#1d20+3
[16:03] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6
[16:03] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+4 and gets 18." [d20=14]
[16:03] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[16:03] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 2#1d20+3 and gets 35." [2#1d20+3 = 20, 15]
[16:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20 Grant
[16:03] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[16:03] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20 Grant and gets 16." [1d20=16]
[16:03] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 12." [1d20=10]
[16:03] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3 Trucy
[16:03] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+3 Trucy and gets 9." [1d20=6]
[16:04] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Tentacle > Glenn > Rudy > Grant > Claws > Henrietta > Trucy'
[16:04] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Lucie
[16:07] <@Lucie> OOC: was going to put up my armor special ability. Book says nothing about what kind of action this is. Should I assume free?
[16:07] <@Lucie> OOC: *SRd, of course, not book
[16:08] <@Lucie> OOC: " never mind, standard. Please ignore Cid babble.
[16:08] * @Lucie draws her weapon, shouts at the tentacled monster as she summons a mantle of starry void to protect her. "Go back to the depths where you came from, wretch!"
[16:09] <@Ebiris> The tentacled mermaid shrieks at Rudy, gnashing her teeth as her  tentacle lashes out ten feet to strike at him!
[16:09] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+8
[16:09] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+8 and gets 10." [1d20=2]
[16:10] <@Ebiris> It whips just across his face, barely missing before it's jerked back with a tormented cry of frustration and hatred!
[16:10] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Glenn
[16:12] * @Glenn grabs his mutagen and downs it, before moving in the direction of the clawed merman, hoping to grab it's attention.
[16:12] <@Ebiris> OOC: getting into melee?
[16:13] <@Glenn> ooc: yes, but no attacks since downing mutagen
[16:13] <@Ebiris> As Glenn hulks out to rival his foe and approaches the clawed merman, the mermaid points accusingly with her tiny hand at him before her tentacle whips across to strike!
[16:13] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+8 she has reach so AoO
[16:13] <@Glenn> "I have no idea what your problem is, but we won't stand by quietly!" Glenn says as his body changes.
[16:13] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+8 she has reach so AoO and gets 19." [1d20=11]
[16:13] <@Ebiris> OOC: AC?
[16:14] <@Glenn> ooc: 20
[16:14] <@Ebiris> The hooked suckers are felt grating across Glenn's armour, but it holds off the attack without harm!
[16:14] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[16:17] <@Rudy> Rudy steps back into the space Glenn just left, and with a wave of his hand, a cloud of dust suddenly grows and forms the familiar rocky body of his most favoured minion! It appears between Grant and the vicious male creature, and unleashes a mighty blow!
[16:17] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+8 flankw/glenn
[16:17] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+8 flankw/glenn and gets 19." [1d20=11]
[16:17] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[16:17] <@Rudy> roll 1d6+4
[16:17] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d6+4 and gets 9." [1d6=5]
[16:18] <@Henrietta> "Glenn, leave this to us!" Henrietta calls out, gesturing for him to move out of the way.
[16:18] <@Henrietta> *Grant
[16:19] <@Ebiris> The basalt elemental rises up from the deck, covered in pale white barnacles and delivers a thunderous blow to the back of the mad merman, a crack of bone heard! Grant hauls out a rusting cutlass from a scabbard affixed to the wheelmast and stands nervously over the step up onto the upper deck, still yelling for his father and showing no desire to join the battle. Drooling thick brakish fluid from its mouth, the merman ignores the elemental for the moment and assails Glenn in a frenzy of biting and clawing!
[16:20] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+8
[16:20] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+8 and gets 15." [1d20=7]
[16:20] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6 claw
[16:20] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 claw and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[16:20] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6 claw
[16:20] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 claw and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[16:20] <@Ebiris> roll 1d6+4
[16:20] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d6+4 and gets 6." [1d6=2]
[16:21] <@Ebiris> Warding off the first bite, Glenn nonetheless takes a raking slash down his arm from one of those claws, the mutant straightening up as it recovers from Rocky's surprise attack!
[16:21] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[16:22] <@Henrietta> Going through the options available to her, Henrietta decides to hold her ground, calling upon Mage Armor and holding her flail at the ready!
[16:23] <@Ebiris> Trucy yanks out one of her daggers and hangs back behind Henrietta, seeming unwilling to enter the melee against such terrible foes!
[16:23] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[16:30] <@Henrietta> Now prepared to face their horribly mutated opponents, Lucie decides to help Glenn and Rudy, punishing their opponent with the horrible cold of the void!
[16:30] <@Henrietta> roll 3d6 cold, fort16
[16:30] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 3d6 cold, fort16 and gets 10." [3d6=5, 2, 3]
[16:30] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7
[16:30] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 and gets 22." [1d20=15]
[16:32] <@Ebiris> The clawed merman is covered in a sheen of ice as the water clinging to his body is frozen, but he endures anyway, spitting out some sort of invective against the stars! The mermaid decides Henrietta is her new target, shuffling forward a little on the base of her deformed tail to get in range and whipping out with her tentacle at the sorceress!
[16:32] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+8
[16:32] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+8 and gets 21." [1d20=13]
[16:32] <@Henrietta> OOC: AC16
[16:32] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+11 CMD?
[16:32] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+11 CMD? and gets 30." [1d20=19]
[16:32] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+4
[16:33] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4+4 and gets 8." [1d4=4]
[16:34] <@Ebiris> The hooked suckers embed around Henrietta's neck as the sorceress is grabbed and dragged against the mermaid's disgusting embrace, the perhaps once beautiful but now horribly mutated creature leering terribly over her, dripping briny ichor from her gaping mouth!
[16:34] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[16:34] <@Henrietta> "Nooo!" Henrietta screams, squirming in that terrible embrace. "Let go, let go!"
[16:36] * @Glenn ignores Henrietta's plight as he continues to focus on his clawed enemy and returns in kind a barrage of claws and bites powered by alchemical might instead of undersea strangeness!
[16:37] <@Glenn> roll d20+8 claw
[16:37] <@Glenn> roll d20+8 claw
[16:37] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+8 claw and gets 22." [d20=14]
[16:37] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+8 claw and gets 11." [d20=3]
[16:37] <@Glenn> roll d20+8 bite
[16:37] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+8 bite and gets 20." [d20=12]
[16:37] <@Ebiris> OOC: claw and bite hit
[16:37] <@Glenn> roll d6+2+d8
[16:37] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d6+2+d8 and gets 11." [d6=1][d8=8]
[16:39] <@Ebiris> Foul blood flows freely as Glenn sinks his teeth into merman flesh on the shoulder that doesn't have a mouth of its own and claws several scales off its tail! It tastes like far too salted meat, a wholly unwholesome flavour underneath it. The creature howls in rage but remains upright and in the fight!
[16:39] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[16:41] <@Rudy> Rudy's elemental takes another swing at Glenn's nemesis!
[16:41] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+8
[16:41] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+8 and gets 20." [1d20=12]
[16:41] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[16:41] <@Rudy> roll 1d6+4
[16:41] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d6+4 and gets 8." [1d6=4]
[16:42] <@Ebiris> The fist impacts squarely in the back of the head, caving in skull fragments that surely pierce the brain! The creature doubles forward against Glenn with the force of the impact, but continues to flail and rage wildly, injury to the brain clearly little impediment to its hatred!
[16:43] <@Rudy> A bolt follows soon after, as Rudy quickly deduces that these are the sorts of creatures that won't stop until they're dead!r
[16:43] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7
[16:43] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[16:43] <@Rudy> roll 1d8+1
[16:43] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8+1 and gets 2." [1d8=1]
[16:47] <@Ebiris> The bolt scores a solid hit in the chest, going right between two ribs and sticking there! Most people would be down from that, but not this thing! Meanwhile Callum emerges from the cabin and stares wild-eyed at the display on his boat, before dmanding that Grant hand down the cutlass to him, which is hastily obliged to! The clawed merman, however, attacks Glenn with undiminished ferocity, its wounds rapidly scabbing and shrinking as it hurls itself into the fray!
[16:47] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+8 bite
[16:47] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+8 bite and gets 24." [1d20=16]
[16:47] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6 claw
[16:47] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6 claw
[16:47] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 claw and gets 15." [1d20=9]
[16:47] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 claw and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[16:47] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+6+1d6+4
[16:47] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d8+6+1d6+4 and gets 18." [1d8=6][1d6=2]
[16:48] <@Ebiris> Now the merman finds out what Glenn tastes like as it takes a chunk out of his bicep, ripping clothes and flesh alike and devouring without shame while one of its claws finds purchase under his armour, tearing the skin there!
[16:48] * Retrieving #dunes modes...
[16:49] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Tentacle > Glenn > Rudy > Elemental > Grant > Callum > Claws > Henrietta > Trucy'
[16:49] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri
[16:50] <@Glenn> "Gah!" Glenn exclaims from pain. He'd just finished healing too, dammit!
[16:51] <@Henrietta> "It's very improper!" Henrietta complains, summoning purple roses into her flailing hand and stabbing their stems into the tentacle gripping her. "Stop that right now!"
[16:51] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3+6
[16:51] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+3+6 and gets 16." [1d20=7]
[16:51] <@Ebiris> OOC: DC 18, alas
[16:53] <@Ebiris> The roses flash into existence for an instant before fading before Henrietta can throw them, leaving her still trapped and unable to kill! Trucy curses at this and forces herself to advance into the melee, stabbing her dagger down at the monster embracing her employer!
[16:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3
[16:53] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+3 and gets 4." [1d20=1]
[16:53] <@Ebiris> She slips and almost falls into the flailing mass of female flesh, failing to inflict a fatality of any sort!
[16:53] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[16:54] * @Lucie strides forward next to Trucy to try and club the mer-thing into submission. "Monster, unhand her! She's not for you!"
[16:54] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+4
[16:54] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+4 and gets 18." [1d20=14]
[16:54] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[16:54] <@Lucie> roll 1d8+2
[16:54] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d8+2 and gets 6." [1d8=4]
[16:56] <@Ebiris> Lucie bashes a nice bruise on the mermaid's back, but sees it begin fading already before her eyes as the deformed mutant attempts to devour Henrietta!
[16:56] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+13 CMD?
[16:56] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+13 CMD? and gets 17." [1d20=4]
[16:56] <@Henrietta> OOC: 15
[16:56] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+6
[16:56] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d8+6 and gets 11." [1d8=5]
[16:57] <@Ebiris> The jaw almost unhinges as the mermaid chomps down on Henrietta's side under the ribs as they flail against each other, ravaging her flank and greedily eating of her flesh!
[16:57] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[16:59] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy and Elemental then
[16:59] <@Rudy> Rudy snaps off another shot at the unhinged beast, though his eyes inevitably drift to Henri and widen in alarm!
[16:59] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7
[16:59] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 and gets 19." [1d20=12]
[16:59] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[16:59] <@Rudy> roll 1d8+1
[16:59] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8+1 and gets 9." [1d8=8]
[16:59] <@Glenn> Glenn looks split up between killing his current opponent and going to the rescue of Henrietta, letting Rudy take the initiative.
[17:00] <@Ebiris> This bolt penetrates the monster's eye, embedding half a foot into the skull and knocking it back! A wound that would surely kill anyone else, but impossibly the merman stays upright!
[17:00] <@Rudy> The elemental throws another hefty punch to put the creature down, down, down!
[17:00] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+8
[17:00] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+8 and gets 17." [1d20=9]
[17:00] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[17:00] <@Rudy> roll 1d6+4
[17:00] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d6+4 and gets 9." [1d6=5]
[17:01] <@Ebiris> With a mighty heave, the elemental shatters the monster's spine with a final deadly punch! Yet even as it falls, completely broken, it twists its ruined body around in a final vengeful bite against the elemental's stony surface!
[17:01] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+8
[17:01] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+8 and gets 9." [1d20=1]
[17:01] <@Ebiris> But teeth that rend flesh cannot harm rock, and at last it lays broken and defeated on the deck.
[17:01] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Tentacle > Glenn > Rudy > Elemental > Grant > Callum > Henrietta > Trucy'
[17:01] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[17:02] <@Henrietta> "Don't eat me!" Henrietta wails, struggling in the mermaid's grasp.
[17:03] <@Glenn> Rudy has made the decision all the easier by finishing off the creature, and Glenn immediately turns his attention to the other creature! "Let her go!" Glenn says as he steps around the downed body of his previous opponent and attempts to unleash a small barrage of attacks against it to make it regret it's focus on Henrietta!
[17:03] <@Glenn> roll d20+10 claw
[17:03] <@Glenn> roll d20+10 claw
[17:03] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+10 claw and gets 30." [d20=20]
[17:03] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+10 claw and gets 22." [d20=12]
[17:03] <@Glenn> roll d20+10 bite
[17:03] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+10 bite and gets 24." [d20=14]
[17:03] <@Glenn> roll d20+10 claw threat?
[17:03] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+10 claw threat? and gets 16." [d20=6]
[17:04] <@Ebiris> OOC: all hit, including crit
[17:04] <@Glenn> roll 3d6+4+d8
[17:04] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls 3d6+4+d8 and gets 15." [3d6=5, 2, 2][d8=2]
[17:06] <@Ebiris> Glenn once more dines on mutant merperson flesh, this one tasting no better, but its flesh rending all the easier for her lack of focus on defending herself! She burbles and shrieks angrily, letting go of Henrietta to better defend herself as she rises where Glenn was standing before. Callum hangs back with his blade ready, the way into the melee seeming blocked to him.
[17:06] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henri
[17:07] * Quits: @Henrietta (corwin@bzq-79-177-22-232.red.bezeqint.net) (Connection reset by peer)
[17:07] * Joins: Henrietta (~corwin@bzq-79-176-4-132.red.bezeqint.net)
[17:07] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Henrietta
[17:09] <@Henrietta> Hefting her flail angrily, Henrietta does her very best to smash the foul creature's head in!
[17:09] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+5
[17:09] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+5 and gets 23." [1d20=18]
[17:09] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[17:09] <@Henrietta> roll 1d10+4
[17:09] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d10+4 and gets 10." [1d10=6]
[17:10] <@Henrietta> "Don't treat me like food!" she cries out, her side covered in blood.
[17:10] <@Ebiris> Henrietta ruins her mutated face with a powerful strike, caving in bones and puncturing an eye! That would surely be enough to put down most, but despite her ruined face and other wounds, the mermaid refuses to yield, even as Trucy attempts to sneak a dagger in under her breast!
[17:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3
[17:11] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+3 and gets 13." [1d20=10]
[17:11] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+1
[17:11] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4+1 and gets 3." [1d4=2]
[17:11] <@Ebiris> It's a good hit, tearing a jagged line under the mermaid's broken seashell bikini and letting blood drop freely down her stomach, but it doesn't deter her frenzy at all!
[17:11] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[17:12] <@Lucie> "Whare ARE you monsters? DIE already!"
[17:12] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+4 sadly don't think I flank with anyone
[17:12] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+4 sadly don't think I flank with anyone and gets 22." [1d20=18]
[17:12] <@Ebiris> OOC: still hits
[17:12] <@Lucie> roll 1d8+2 DIE
[17:12] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d8+2 DIE and gets 5." [1d8=3]
[17:13] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+8
[17:13] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+8 and gets 15." [1d20=7]
[17:13] <@Ebiris> Lucie shatters the mermaid's ribs and caves in her chest utterly, destroying her lungs and heart beyond all hope of regeneration! Nonetheless even as her body contorts and crumples, she forces herself into one last lunge, slavering teeth only deterred by the oracles coat of stars at the last!
[17:14] <@Ebiris> OOC: fight over, Henri and Glenn make fort saves?
[17:14] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+4 (+2 if poison)
[17:14] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+4 (+2 if poison) and gets 24." [1d20=20]
[17:14] <@Glenn> roll d20+6 (+2 if poison)
[17:14] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+6 (+2 if poison) and gets 9." [d20=3]
[17:15] * @Lucie kicks the monster to make sure it's dead, then fishes in her pack to pull out a vial. "Are you two alright? Here, I've still got our other potion we got before tackling the Dragons."
[17:16] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4
[17:16] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4 and gets 1." [1d4=1]
[17:16] <@Rudy> Rudy sets his elemental to heaving the bodies off the deck, glancing at them with great revulsion. "We gotta pack more of those things! Hells bells, you two are lucky to be alive!"
[17:17] <@Henrietta> "Mother warned me there would be days like this," Henrietta says sadly.
[17:17] <@Ebiris> As everyone breathes deeply and collects themselves, the morning gloom lifts sufficiently that on the horizon one can see the vague outline of Griffin Reef... plumes of greasy wispy smoke rising up from it.
[17:17] -> *Glenn* You feel something twisting inside your body, changing under the skin like what your mutagen inflicts. A dull rage fills your mind, inspiring violent thoughts. You also have 1 point of int damage.
[17:18] <@Ebiris> The two merpeople fall into the sea with a splash, plummeting out of sight. "By Posiedon, I knew this journey was cursed!" Callum exclaims as he approaches. "Are you all alright? Never seen anything like those monsters before!"
[17:18] <@Glenn> "I wish I knew why those things attacked us," Glenn says in frustration, kicking the body of one of the creatures as he digs into his extracts to heal.
[17:18] <@Glenn> roll d8+1 CLW
[17:18] <@Glenn> roll d8+1 CLW
[17:18] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d8+1 CLW and gets 4." [d8=3]
[17:18] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d8+1 CLW and gets 7." [d8=6]
[17:18] * @Lucie eyes their destination. "Look, one of you take the potion, alright? Unless we're going to float out here for days so you can rest up and recover."
[17:19] <@Rudy> "You think we could just buy some more over there?"
[17:19] <@Glenn> ooc: oh, uhm can I give the 7 to Henrietta? >_>
[17:19] <@Henrietta> "What potion is that?" Henrietta finally asks Lucie.
[17:19] <@Lucie> "Healing. What else would I be giving you?"
[17:20] <@Henrietta> "Thank you," Henrietta says, closing her eyes and making full use of it.
[17:20] <@Henrietta> roll 1d8+1
[17:20] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d8+1 and gets 4." [1d8=3]
[17:21] <@Henrietta> With things being as they are, she decides to use up the other potion from that time, reminded by Lucie's handy intervention.
[17:21] <@Henrietta> roll 1d8+1
[17:21] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d8+1 and gets 3." [1d8=2]