30: Mr Worf... Fire! Shut up Wesley!

[Ebiris]

[13:59] <@Ebiris> The mutated woman shuffles closer towards Rudy, seemingly ignoring Glenn's comment as well as Rudy's mutterings, her bulging eyes slowly starting to focus properly on the summoner as she advances. Her nose twitches, recessed into her deformed face to make room for the too-big mouth she now boasts, "Smells... good," she rambles, running her monstrous tongue over sharp teeth. "Hungry...!"
[14:01] <@Rudy> "Oh, yeah, I bet you wanna just eat me up- I mean, this ain't the time for- ah, dammit! Myra!" Rudy backs up in a hurry, leaving one abomination to face the other!
[14:01] <@Henrietta> Henrietta's arm goes slack, and she barely avoids dropping her flail at the sight.
[14:01] * @Lucie backs away, hand on her weapon just in case. "Carefuly Rudy, think she's taken a liking to you."
[14:02] <@Ebiris> OOC: lets roll init since she's going for Rudy and presumably you're not gonna just let her
[14:02] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3 Trucy
[14:02] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+3 Trucy and gets 22." [1d20=19]
[14:02] <@Rudy> OOC: right, guys? you wouldn't, right?
[14:02] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 m
[14:02] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 m and gets 8." [1d20=3]
[14:02] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 r
[14:02] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6 I guess she wouldn't have been able to tell us much anyway
[14:02] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+4 r and gets 18." [1d20=14]
[14:02] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 I guess she wouldn't have been able to tell us much anyway and gets 25." [1d20=19]
[14:02] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9 Brissa
[14:02] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+9 Brissa and gets 21." [1d20=12]
[14:03] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2 we wouldn't!
[14:03] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 we wouldn't! and gets 10." [1d20=8]
[14:05] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Lucie > Trucy > Brissa > Rudy > Henrietta > Myra > Glenn'
[14:05] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Lucie
[14:06] <@Lucie> "Hands off, monster--hell with that, TEETH off!" Lucie focuses her will on the shark-woman to trys and crush what's left of her mind. (OOC: Doom, will DC 16 or shaken)
[14:06] <@Ebiris> OOC: is it mind-affecting?
[14:07] <@Lucie> OOC: yes.
[14:07] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6
[14:07] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 and gets 21." [1d20=15]
[14:07] <@Ebiris> "Don't think she's gonna listen!" Trucy chimes in from the back, throwing a knife inbetween the others towards Brissa!
[14:07] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3
[14:08] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+3 and gets 16." [1d20=13]
[14:08] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+1+1d6
[14:08] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4+1+1d6 and gets 8." [1d4=2][1d6=5]
[14:09] * Glenn is now known as Merc
[14:09] <@Ebiris> The knife cuts through the side of the mutant's neck as it whizzes by, a shower of blood spraying out but quickly halting as the wound rapidly scabs over! The mutated blonde madwoman seems unconcerned, lunging at Rudy with a tormented wail, "Why did you run, my love?!" she cries as she barrels past Myra to sink her teeth into the tattooed man's flesh!
[14:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+9 charge~
[14:10] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+9 charge~ and gets 14." [1d20=5]
[14:10] <@Rudy> OOC: miss! luckyy
[14:10] <@Ebiris> But Rudy steps back just in time to avoid her deadly bite, keeping himself pure! For certain definitions, anyway.
[14:10] <@Ebiris> OOC: Go Rudy
[14:10] * Joins: Glenn (~k@c-98-197-243-233.hsd1.tx.comcast.net)
[14:10] <@Rudy> "Oh god! I told you we should've run!" replies Rudy, running away!
[14:10] <@Rudy> OOC: withdrawl action
[14:11] <@Ebiris> She flails her arms futilely through the space formerly occupied by Rudy!
[14:11] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[14:12] <@Henrietta> "Uh-- uh, just drop!" Henriette commands, fumbling with her flail for several long moments before switching over to her far more reliable magics.
[14:12] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+11 trip
[14:13] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+11 trip and gets 17." [1d20=6]
[14:13] <@Ebiris> The vine snaps out but only manages to partially curl around her calf, not latching on securely enough to yank her off her feet!
[14:13] <@Ebiris> OOC: Myra, she's in melee range
[14:14] <@Rudy> Myra lets loose keening wail- no, not one, but three, all at different pitches! The noises pierce the ear, and cut off abruptly as she seeks to savage the hideous madwoman in so many ways!r
[14:14] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7 bite
[14:14] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 bite and gets 19." [1d20=12]
[14:14] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7 claw
[14:14] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7 claw
[14:14] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 claw and gets 26." [1d20=19]
[14:14] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 claw and gets 9." [1d20=2]
[14:15] <@Ebiris> OOC: claw hits
[14:15] <@Rudy> roll 1d4+4
[14:15] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d4+4 and gets 7." [1d4=3]
[14:16] <@Ebiris> Myra finds that Brissa is able to move with inhuman agility now that her blood is up, no longer shambling but dodging and weaving out of the way of her strikes, her leather armour well able to endure what she can't dodge... until a claw finds the back of her head and tears viciously down, cracking the skull and making her stumble!
[14:16] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[14:18] <Glenn> Since there haven't been any complaints with bombs so far today, Glenn is happy to keep relying on them! Although he bets they'll probably say something about unsafe conditions or something now that he's using them on his own...
[14:18] <Glenn> roll d20+6
[14:18] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+6 and gets 19." [d20=13]
[14:18] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[14:18] <Glenn> roll 2d6+5
[14:18] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls 2d6+5 and gets 14." [2d6=3, 6]
[14:19] <@Ebiris> Brissa shrieks as she goes up in flames, flesh melting off of her to make her features run even more hideously, tangled blonde hair becoming charred and even more ruined before she quickly beats the flames out!
[14:19] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[14:21] * @Lucie runs in to take a position opposite Myra, pinning the horror between Lucie and...the other horror...before flailing away with her mace.
[14:21] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+4+2 flanking
[14:21] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+4+2 flanking and gets 21." [1d20=15]
[14:21] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[14:21] <@Lucie> roll 1d8+2
[14:21] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d8+2 and gets 7." [1d8=5]
[14:22] <@Ebiris> Lucie slams Brissa in the back with her mace, just above where her armour stops protecting her and no doubt crushing several vertebrae! The mutated pickpocket turns a slobbering look of haunted malice at the oracle, just as Trucy's last knife comes whizzing towards her face!
[14:22] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20-1
[14:22] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20-1 and gets 2." [1d20=3]
[14:23] <@Ebiris> But it ends up even closer to Lucie's face, sailing right past the melee! Snarling, the mutant attempts to bite at Lucie before whirling around and clawing wildly at Myra!
[14:23] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7 bite
[14:23] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 bite and gets 26." [1d20=19]
[14:24] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5 claw
[14:24] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+5 claw and gets 9." [1d20=4]
[14:24] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5 claw
[14:24] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+5 claw and gets 18." [1d20=13]
[14:24] <@Ebiris> OOC: Myra AC?
[14:24] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8+3 hit Lucie for sure
[14:24] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d8+3 hit Lucie for sure and gets 10." [1d8=7]
[14:24] <@Rudy> OOC: 17
[14:24] <@Ebiris> roll 1d6+1
[14:24] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d6+1 and gets 7." [1d6=6]
[14:25] <@Lucie> A snarl of irritation turns into a cry of pain: "Watch where you're throwing those things, Truc--OH GODS GET IT OFF ME!"
[14:25] <@Ebiris> Myra finds one of her wailing mouths shut up by a many-clawed hand violating it and knocking out several teeth, while Lucie manages to bring up her arm to ward off the blow, losing a strip of flesh from her forearm in the bargain!
[14:25] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[14:26] <@Henrietta> "Why are they always biting?!" Henrietta cries out, clutching her flail tightly.
[14:26] <Glenn> "They've forgotten to use forks and knives like civilized folks?" Glenn ventures a guess.
[14:26] <@Rudy> "They like us! They like how we taste!" shrieks Rudy, awkardly firing a bolt at Brissa from as far away as he can manage!
[14:26] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+6
[14:26] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+6 and gets 26." [1d20=20]
[14:27] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+6 ting!
[14:27] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+6 ting! and gets 24." [1d20=18]
[14:27] <@Ebiris> OOC: crit
[14:27] <@Rudy> roll 2d8
[14:27] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 2d8 and gets 5." [2d8=1, 4]
[14:27] <@Lucie> "It wouldn't feel any better if she were using a fork, let me tell you!" Lucie yells, clutching her arm.
[14:28] <@Ebiris> Rudy fires true, a thunk heard as the crossbow bolt embeds squarely in the side of Brissa's head, penetrating several inches into her cranium and making her stagger! But impossibly she remains upright, letting out a strangled cry, "Vanthus... where are you?!"
[14:28] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[14:29] <@Henrietta> "In hell!" Henrietta calls, gathering all of her courage and smashing her weapon into the mutant's head. "Go join him!"
[14:29] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+5
[14:29] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+5 and gets 25." [1d20=20]
[14:29] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+5
[14:29] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+5 and gets 12." [1d20=7]
[14:29] <@Henrietta> roll 1d10+4
[14:29] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d10+4 and gets 14." [1d10=10]
[14:31] <@Ebiris> Henrietta's words ring with conviction and sincerity, and are backed up by a massive chunk of spiked metal on a chain that impacts wildly on Brissa's head, reducing the crossbow bolt to kindling and her skull to pulped bony mush! The mutated pickpocket collapses bonelessly, even her insane metabolism unable to withstand such punishment.
[14:32] * @Henrietta exhales in elation, before seeming to remember herself. "Not that Hell exists or anything," she mutters to herself, shaking the flail clean of pulped mutant bone.
[14:32] * @Lucie gives the corpse a desultory kick as she scans the late Brissa's belongings for magical signatures.
[14:32] <@Rudy> "Well, it should! Because there are people who belong there."
[14:32] <@Ebiris> "If it does it's full of things like her," Trucy mutters, going to retrieve her daggers. "Uh, sorry Lucie..."
[14:32] -> *Lucie* The leather bustier is magic, and make a fort save.
[14:33] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+3 (+2 more if it's against disease)
[14:33] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+3 (+2 more if it's against disease) and gets 18." [1d20=15]
[14:33] <@Ebiris> OOC: carry on
[14:33] <@Lucie> "Yeah, well, save apologies for it you actually hit me."
[14:33] <Glenn> "Well, that's another dead lead, I guess..." Glenn notes as he grabs one of his flasks from his jacket and hands it to Lucie. "Damn slippery Vanthus."
[14:33] <Glenn> ooc: CLW for the oracle
[14:34] <@Henrietta> "He is probably still here," Henrietta muses, eyeing the mutant's corpse warily. "Are... going down there to check?"
[14:34] * @Lucie gulps the potion down before kneeling next to Brissa to unstrap the bustier. "Likely want to give this a good wash before anyone wears it, but it's magic. Might be worth something."
[14:35] <@Rudy> "I can send Myra to have a look. She can be pretty quiet if she tries." Rudy eyes the monstrous woman. "She'll probably blend in too- ew! Seriously? We seriously want to take that?"
[14:35] <@Ebiris> The armour has a silk lined interior, and Brissa seems to favour wearing it next to bare skin. Sadly the sight isn't nearly as good as people in Salerno implied it might have been back when you were asking around about her.
[14:35] <@Henrietta> "Why--" Henrietta gasps, before swiftly turning around.
[14:36] <@Lucie> "Look, you don't waste enchanted items if you can help it. Why leave it for the mutants, right? Might be of some use. Have to figure out what it does later. Once it's cleaned."
[14:36] <@Ebiris> "If Vanthus was dicking around with that he's a brave man," Trucy opines, not looking overlong.
[14:36] <@Rudy> "That's the one thing we know he isn't."
[14:36] <@Lucie> roll 1d8+2 belated healing
[14:37] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d8+2 belated healing and gets 8." [1d8=6]
[14:37] <@Lucie> OOC: oops, +1
[14:37] <@Ebiris> "So, uh... we gonna try swimming that?" Trucy gestures to the churning dark tidepool, "Or go where the scary noises were?"
[14:37] <@Lucie> "Vanthus ditched her as soon as she turned, I bet," Lucie says, standing and stowing away the bustier for now.
[14:38] * @Lucie looks around the cavern for more inviting ways out. How about that break in the ceiling where the light comes in?
[14:38] <@Rudy> "I, uh, ain't going in there," replies Rudy, eyeing the pool.
[14:38] <@Henrietta> "Myra will go to the, ah, scary noises, I believe," Henrietta responds. "How long shall we wait on her to return, Rudy?"
[14:39] <@Rudy> "I dunno, a few minutes?" Rudy shrugs. "Maybe she'll die and we won't see her until tomorrow."
[14:39] <@Henrietta> "In that case, please send her and tell her to return within ten minutes. If she is not back within fifteen, we will return to the ship without her."
[14:39] <@Ebiris> There are several small holes in the ceiling, they look to extend up through several feet of rock into the cliffs above. They're only a few inches wide at the most.
[14:39] <@Rudy> "You heard her, Myra. Get!"
[14:40] <@Rudy> Myra promptly shuffles off, but not before giving Henri an approving pat on the head.
[14:40] * @Lucie strolls around the pool, then, looking down to the bottom to see if it possibly goes anywhere through underwater tunnels.
[14:40] <@Ebiris> OOC: sending Myra back to the gallery and then up the North passage? Do note Henrietta retrieved her rope so a climb check is needed to get back down
[14:40] <@Ebiris> OOC: perception, Lucie
[14:40] <@Rudy> OOC: myra will jump
[14:40] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+10
[14:40] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+10 and gets 28." [1d20=18]
[14:40] <@Rudy> OOC: wait, no she won't
[14:40] <@Rudy> OOC: ONE MOMENT
[14:40] * @Rudy makes sure to fix Myra before she departs.
[14:41] <@Rudy> roll 1d10+3 healz #1
[14:41] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d10+3 healz #1 and gets 4." [1d10=1]
[14:41] <@Rudy> roll 1d10+3 healz #2
[14:41] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d10+3 healz #2 and gets 6." [1d10=3]
[14:41] * @Henrietta can easily provide a rope for Myra to climb down, retrieving it once more afterwards.
[14:41] -> *Lucie* It's hard to see through the froth and darkness, but the rocky passage looks to extend both left and right after descending down several feet.
[14:42] * @Lucie kneels down next to the pool, staring at something underwater. "Hey Rudy. You make a fish or something, can it tell you what it finds when it comes back? There's tunnels down there under the water."
[14:42] <@Rudy> "Can't do it." Rudy coughs. "Myra vanishes when I make other stuff."
[14:43] <@Henrietta> "You can do it when Myra returns," Henrietta suggests. "Or when she doesn't."
[14:44] * @Lucie grunts. "When she gets back, maybe." Lucie goes to sit up against a wall while they wait. (OOC: possible to spellcraft on the bustier to determine what it is, as something to do while we wait?)
[14:44] <@Rudy> "Oh, so I can! Thanks!" Rudy slouches against the back wall. "If Vanthus got away, he's probably back in Salerno by now."
[14:45] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll for it, Lucie
[14:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+18
[14:45] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+18 and gets 27." [1d20=9]
[14:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+14
[14:45] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6
[14:45] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 and gets 7." [1d20=1]
[14:45] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+14 and gets 19." [1d20=5]
[14:45] <@Ebiris> Lucie has no idea what magic is on the bustier.
[14:45] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+6
[14:45] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+6 and gets 16." [1d20=10]
[14:45] <@Henrietta> "That sounds... so annoying," Henrietta says, frowning slightly. "For some reason, I am filled with inexplicable rage at the very possibility, Rudy."
[14:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4-2
[14:46] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4-2 and gets 0." [1d4=2]
[14:46] <@Rudy> "You don't sound angry."
[14:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4
[14:46] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 and gets 21." [1d20=17]
[14:46] <@Henrietta> "I hide it very well."
[14:46] <@Rudy> "Really? You don't usually hide your feelings."
[14:47] <@Henrietta> "I'm not certain I should take that as a compliment."
[14:47] <@Rudy> "It's a fact, not a compliment. I pay compliments to dates, but I tell my colleagues facts."
[14:47] <@Lucie> "Pretty sure he's still here somewhere," Lucie says, glancing up. "Don't think it would've been easy to leave the island once things fell apart. Better be here, at least. Got a stout piece of metal to introduce to his skull."
[14:48] <@Henrietta> "How strange," Henrietta says, looking perplexed. She brightens up at Lucie's words, however. "Yes, surely this is it! He will reap what he has sowed right here, on this very island!"
[14:49] <@Ebiris> Ten minutes pass before Myra returns. She holds a grotesquely deformed monster in her hands and drops it proudly at Rudy's feet. It may once have been a cat but its limbs and neck are horribly elongated, fur patchy and replaced in places by rubbery bulging flesh, its face more of a long barbed maw.
[14:49] -> *Rudy* Myra claims this thing jumped on her when she went down the passage but she killed it. Then she found a 4-way intersection, the left led to a prison filled with loud and angry mutants. They got more angry on seeing her but weren't a threat. She killed one of them through the bars while it couldn't reach her, then came back.
[14:49] <Glenn> "We can't really just search the whole island for him to make sure...if he is still here, we could always just make sure he has no way to get off, and leave it at that."
[14:50] <@Rudy> "Uh.. huh. Right? Oh, really? I see..." Rudy brightens up. "It looks like most of the noises are from mutants who are behind bars. Which explains why they're not roaming around trying to kill us, I'd say."
[14:50] <@Lucie> "Sure. If we don't find him, we burn that last ship and go. At least make sure anything left isn't getting off." Lucie stops, eyes Myra and her catch. "Y'know, usually it's the cast dropping some dead thing at its master's doorstep."
[14:51] <@Lucie> OOC: cat, not cast, ffff typos today
[14:52] <@Rudy> "You think I should leave her a saucer of milk or something?"
[14:52] <Glenn> "Not unless you want her to start purring and sleeping on your lap..."
[14:52] <@Henrietta> "Please don't," Henrietta says quickly. "So if they are behind bars, let us go and see the situation for ourselves. After you summon something to satisfy Lucie's curiousity here?"
[14:52] <@Lucie> "Maybe when we get home." Lucie stands up, brushes herself off. "So, want to send something down the pool, or are we heading back down that hall?"
[14:53] <@Rudy> "Even if there's something down there, how are we meant to go after it?" asks Rudy. "It's a pain to summon Myra again afterwards."
[14:53] * @Lucie shrugs. "Alright. We know there's another way to go anyway."
[14:54] <@Rudy> "Then, let's go!" And Rudy does, in fact, go! "Apparently there's an intersection, and one path lead to this prison. I doubt there was anything much there of interest, so let's check out the other two routes."\
[14:55] <@Henrietta> "Fine by me," Henrietta says, using her rope once more to ensure everyone climbs down safely.
[14:55] * @Lucie follows Rudy back out of the cavern. "Maybe somebody's locked up in there? Could've missed the plague for isolation."
[14:55] <@Ebiris> And so the party advances past the trophy room, finding a four way intersection as promised. To the right is a wooden door barring the way immediately, while the left descends a bit down a tunnel, an open door seen ahead. Directly ahead the path advances further than Lucie's light can penetrate.
[14:55] <@Rudy> "Then they're stuck with a bunch of mutants. You think they lasted long?"
[14:56] <@Lucie> "Depends on whether mutants can unlock doors." Lucie tries the wooden door at the intersection.
[14:56] <@Ebiris> The door... it is locked!
[14:56] * @Lucie shrugs, nods to the left. "Down?"
[14:57] <@Rudy> Rudy knocks on the door!
[14:57] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+7
[14:57] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+7 and gets 26." [1d20=19]
[14:58] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll perception peoples
[14:58] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+12 m
[14:58] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+12 m and gets 32." [1d20=20]
[14:58] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+1 r
[14:58] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+1 r and gets 11." [1d20=10]
[14:58] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+10
[14:58] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+10 and gets 30." [1d20=20]
[14:58] <Glenn> roll d20+8
[14:58] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[14:58] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+8 and gets 13." [d20=5]
[14:58] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 13." [1d20=11]
[14:59] -> *Rudy* Myra can hear what sounds like a man begging for his life dimly through the door, apparently some ways off. Someone else yells that there's no choice, and the discussion is abruptly ended mid-sentence.
[14:59] -> *Lucie* You can hear what sounds like a man begging for his life dimly through the door, apparently some ways off. Someone else yells that there's no choice, and the discussion is abruptly ended mid-sentence.
[15:00] <@Rudy> "Oi! What're you lot doing?" demands Rudy, after Myra informs him of what's going on. "Open this door!"
[15:00] * @Lucie pauses, listens. "Well, there's someone alive in there," she says, adding flatly, "or there was."
[15:00] <@Ebiris> "Who's out there?" A gruff voice calls through the door a moment later. "You don't sound like one o' them."
[15:01] <@Henrietta> "It is because we do not eat people!" Henrietta responds, silently shooing Myra away.
[15:01] <@Rudy> "We ain't. We came here for business, and found.. all this."
[15:01] <Glenn> "Understatement," Glenn mutters.
[15:01] <@Ebiris> There's a pause before the voice asks in a cagy tone, "Ye ain't been bit, have ye?"
[15:02] <@Rudy> "Ain't got a scratch on me," replies Rudy, proudly.
[15:02] * @Lucie lets someone else answer that question.
[15:03] * @Henrietta almost sobs out loud, trying to convince herself that her mother is always right and that nothing like a poison can possibly get to her.
[15:04] <@Ebiris> "Good. Ye get bit an' we're all fucked!" the voice replies, the sound of something scraping along the stone heard for a moment before the door is unbolted with a clunk and slides open. The man before you is tall with a braided blonde beard, wearing ragged hide armour of some sort and carrying a large axe that drips with fresh blood. He takes a moment to look over the party and their many wounds, eyes starting to widen...
[15:04] <@Henrietta> "Wait!" Henrietta exclaims. "I can't get sick like that! It's in my blood, honest!"
[15:04] <@Lucie> "We got magical healing, alright?" Lucie snaps. "quit gaping and tell us what's what here."
[15:06] <@Ebiris> "You fucking idiots!" he roars and hefts his axe, "I just had ta kill Timo 'cause he tried to hide his bite, ye think I'll give a shit about you?! If ye've got any decency, ye'll kill yerself to save the others!"
[15:07] <@Henrietta> "We-- we have a ship and there's more of us than there is of you!" Henrietta tries, switching tactics. "And we're fine, see for yourself!"
[15:07] <Glenn> "To be entirely fair, Rudy really hasn't been bit at all."
[15:07] <@Rudy> Rudy pauses, makes a brief assessment of the situation, and reaches out to yank the door shut.
[15:07] * @Lucie sighs. "Right, fine, then we'll just walk away and leave you to starve here, all alone on an island full of monsters. There's room on the boat, surely, but if you don't want out--" Then Rudy shuts the door.
[15:08] <@Henrietta> "We are not saving him?" Henrietta asks, blinking. "Why are we not saving him?"
[15:08] <@Ebiris> "Then the ones that arnae bitten should all-" he cuts off with a shocked noise as Rudy shuts the door. "Hoi! I wasnae sayin' no tae the rescue!"
[15:08] <@Rudy> "He was gonna hit me!"
[15:08] <@Rudy> "Fuck that guy, let's go."
[15:08] <@Lucie> "Can't save someone who doesn't wan tto be saved." Lucie rolls her eyes. "Where to next?"
[15:08] <@Henrietta> "No way!"
[15:08] <@Rudy> "Why're you so worried? He wouldn't want to travel with you anyway."
[15:09] <Glenn> "Sometimes, you're an okay guy, Rudy!" Glenn notes.
[15:09] <@Henrietta> "Maybe he knows where Vanthus is and we can just punish him and leave?"
[15:10] <@Lucie> "Maybe." Lucie raises her voice to be heard through the door. "Hey guy, any idea where Vanthus might run to hide?"
[15:10] <@Ebiris> The door opens again, the man glaring at you all with ruddy cheeks. "Fuck it, ye're no about tae turn right now. Look! I'll take yer boat, but naebody that's been bitten should be gettin' off this island! It turns ye intae one o' them, slow-like!"
[15:11] <@Henrietta> "How slow?"
[15:11] <@Rudy> Rudy crosses his arms. "How slow? It's about a week back to Salerno."
[15:14] <@Ebiris> "Havenae seen much outside o' here, but Nelson got in just after things went tae shit yesterday an' he was fine aside from a few wounds. Then he started growing this fucked up boney shit all over, gettin' short tempered... went fuckin' berserk around noon. Killed two more that were on the same way before they could do the same. Then Kearney said one o' them had climbed up the cliffs - I killed that one too, but he'd been bitten and all, tried to keep it secret. Just noticed before you lot showed up..." he looks down at his axe, "Did what I had ta do, I did."
[15:15] <@Henrietta> "So if we're fine after a day, it's alright?"
[15:15] <@Lucie> "That was you up on the cliffs, was it?"
[15:16] <@Ebiris> "Naw, only went near the cliffs to kill the mutant that got in after it killed Jimbo 'cause he was screaming and shouting out there," he shakes his head. "I dunno how all this fucked up shit works, but who the fuck wants to take chances? Ye get bit, ye're better off dead!"
[15:17] <@Henrietta> "Since you are so unreasonable I suppose we will have to leave you here, then," Henrietta says sadly. "Are there others here that want to go with us?"
[15:17] * @Lucie nods. "Right. Well, Henri asks a good question: anyone else you know's still alive and healthy here?"
[15:18] <Glenn> "And not willing to tell us 'Let me in on your boat while I make you stay here and die with mutants'? That part's important," Glenn chips in.
[15:18] <@Ebiris> "I'm the last one left, ye selfish bitch," he glares at Henrietta. "Ye think yer life'll be worth livin' when yer a slavering monster o' tentacles and claws all fierce tae bite yer friends?"
[15:19] <@Henrietta> "I'll have you know I'm very confident about my chances to survive all sorts of horrible poisons and mutations lethal to most people," she responds primly, sniffing.
[15:19] <Glenn> "Ditto."
[15:20] <@Rudy> "That means you're going first for the rest of the trip."
[15:20] <@Henrietta> "I thought that was Myra?"
[15:20] <@Lucie> "Enough!" Lucie says with an annoyed wave. "Look, we're here for one thing: Vanthus. We find him and then we leave. You know the island, right? You can guide us around and in exchange you get off the island when we go. How's that sound? Anyone shows signs of being sick, we deal with that when it happens out on the sea."
[15:21] <@Ebiris> He sends an imploring look towards Rudy and Trucy as the only two unmarred. "Look, we'd be doin' them a favour! Do ye want to see what they'll turn intae if they're left like this?"
[15:21] <@Ebiris> "Are you sure you haven't been bit?" Trucy asks nervously, "We're all find but you're the one acting psycho."
[15:22] <@Henrietta> "Good point," Henrietta says, and then she smiles reassuringly at Trucy. "And I will never try to bite you, so you should not worry about that. Or you, Rudy."
[15:22] <@Rudy> "Then we just need to tie them down while we're on the boat until we get to Salerno," replies Rudy. "We should be able to find some chains and things. That way, when we get there we can take them to the clerics."
[15:23] <@Ebiris> OOC: make a diplo check, Rudy or Henrietta? The other can aid. Lucie can try Intimidate as well.
[15:23] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+5 sure, how scary am I today?
[15:23] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+5 sure, how scary am I today? and gets 13." [1d20=8]
[15:23] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+12 whichever of us has the higher check will make the core rol
[15:23] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+12 whichever of us has the higher check will make the core rol and gets 30." [1d20=18]
[15:23] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+13 sure
[15:23] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+13 sure and gets 15." [1d20=2]
[15:23] <@Rudy> OOC: sigh
[15:24] <Glenn> "If we're getting tied up, so does he. I don't want to wake up in the middle of the trip home with a crazy man about to swing an axe down on my head..." Glenn adds.
[15:25] <@Ebiris> "Then I'll do it now ye fucking monster!" he roars and lunges at Glenn!
[15:25] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+2 init time
[15:25] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+2 init time and gets 19." [1d20=17]
[15:25] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3 Trucy
[15:25] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+3 Trucy and gets 14." [1d20=11]
[15:25] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 me
[15:25] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+4 me and gets 21." [1d20=17]
[15:25] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6 jerkass!
[15:25] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 jerkass! and gets 19." [1d20=13]
[15:25] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 oh no!
[15:25] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 oh no! and gets 14." [1d20=9]
[15:25] <Glenn> roll d20+4
[15:25] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[15:25] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+4 and gets 12." [d20=8]
[15:25] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 19." [1d20=17]
[15:26] <@Ebiris> roll 1d2 Henrietta 1 dude 2
[15:26] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d2 Henrietta 1 dude 2 and gets 2." [1d2=2]
[15:26] <Glenn> "See, he admits to being crazy!" Glenn exclaims.
[15:26] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Rudy > Lucie > Axeman > Henrietta > Myra > Trucy > Glenn'
[15:27] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[15:27] <@Rudy> "Look, I don't wanna shoot you!" yells Rudy, shooting the axeman.
[15:27] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+7
[15:27] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+7 and gets 8." [1d20=1]
[15:27] <@Ebiris> Rudy's warning shot seems to do nothing to deter his fury!
[15:27] <@Ebiris> OOC: Lucie
[15:28] <Glenn> "I know you said you don't want to shoot him, but at least aim near his ear or something! It gives the warning shot more credence!"
[15:28] * @Lucie sends a twist of colors at the man to warp his mind and perceptions!
[15:28] <@Lucie> OOC: CS, will 16, etc
[15:29] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+2
[15:29] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+2 and gets 9." [1d20=7]
[15:29] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4 blinded/stunned
[15:29] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4 blinded/stunned and gets 2." [1d4=2]
[15:29] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Rudy > Lucie > Axeman 2rnd fucked > Henrietta > Myra > Trucy > Glenn'
[15:29] <@Ebiris> "Augh!" he yells and drops his axe, shielding his eyes as he staggers from Lucie's colourful assault!
[15:29] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[15:30] <@Henrietta> Assessing the situation, Henrietta crouches to pick up the man's axe and then retreats with it.
[15:31] <@Ebiris> OOC: Myra
[15:31] <@Lucie> "We may as well just kill him, Henri. Otherwise he'll just find stalk us later." Lucie sighs. "It was almost nicer when the only survivor we found was a grabby drunk."
[15:31] <@Henrietta> At Lucia's prompting, Henrietta feels obligated to check! "Are you stopping now? We really don't want to kill you!"
[15:32] <@Ebiris> His only reply is incoherent moaning.
[15:32] <@Rudy> Confused by this protestations of nonlethal retribution, Myra begins to start punching the man out!
[15:32] <Glenn> "I'm okay with not killing him, but I don't want to take him with us either! Let's just leave him with his mutant friends like he wanted to do to us!"
[15:32] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+3 subdual?
[15:32] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+3 subdual? and gets 22." [1d20=19]
[15:32] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+3 subdual?
[15:32] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+3 subdual?
[15:32] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+3 subdual? and gets 10." [1d20=7]
[15:32] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+3 subdual? and gets 16." [1d20=13]
[15:32] <@Ebiris> OOC: all hit
[15:32] <@Rudy> roll 1d6+4
[15:32] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d6+4 and gets 7." [1d6=3]
[15:32] <@Rudy> roll 1d4+4
[15:32] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d4+4 and gets 8." [1d4=4]
[15:32] <@Rudy> roll 1d4+4
[15:32] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d4+4 and gets 7." [1d4=3]
[15:33] <@Ebiris> He's knocked around by Myra's gnawing and gentle scratching barrage, but stays on his feet! Trucy shrugs a moment before shoulder checking him back past the door!
[15:33] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+1
[15:33] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+1 and gets 8." [1d20=7]
[15:34] <@Ebiris> He stumbles back, nearly falling over as he's barely moved several feet. "We can jam the door on him or something?" she suggests lamely.
[15:34] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[15:35] <Glenn> "Sounds good to me," Glenn nods as he also tries to help with knocking the lunatic out, drawing out his dagger and driving the hilt down on his head.
[15:35] <Glenn> roll d20+2
[15:35] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+2 and gets 17." [d20=15]
[15:35] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[15:35] <Glenn> roll d4+1 nl
[15:35] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d4+1 nl and gets 5." [d4=4]
[15:36] <@Ebiris> Glenn drives the hilt solidly into the man's temple, making him drop like a sack of bricks!
[15:36] <@Henrietta> "I have rope!" Henrietta announces, the man's axe clattering to the ground. "Lots and lots of rope!"
[15:37] <@Rudy> "Are we just gonna tie him up and leave him here?" asks Rudy. "Or are we gonna actually take him with us? Minus the axe, of course." He glances inside to check out the rest of the room while thinking on this.
[15:38] <@Henrietta> "We won the axe," Henrietta confirms. "And we should take him with us, yes."
[15:38] <@Rudy> "We won the axe?"
[15:38] <Glenn> "Really, I'd rather just leave him, but he's going to find it hard to fend for himself if he's tied up...and yet, I still want to leave him."
[15:38] <@Henrietta> "We did."
[15:38] * @Lucie joins Rudy in poking around inside. "I'm happy with leaving behind after he tried to *kill* us," she says.
[15:38] <@Ebiris> There's a short passageway before opening out into an armoury. There's dozens of weapons of all types stashed around, and several ominous bloodstains on the ground and streaks leading to a passage leading further on, natural light spilling forth from that direction. There's also a decapitated corpse in the middle of the room.
[15:38] <@Rudy> Rudy rubs his nose and glances away from the body. "But we don't need it."
[15:39] <@Ebiris> It is a very nice axe!
[15:39] * @Lucie looks around the armory. "Well, he won't have any lack of arms if we leave him."
[15:40] <@Henrietta> "It is the principle of the thing," Henrietta insists.
[15:40] <@Rudy> "...principle?"
[15:40] <Glenn> "Winner takes all, at a guess?"
[15:40] <@Lucie> "The principle of helping men who try to butcher us? You think he won't try again. You're too soft, Henri."
[15:41] <@Henrietta> "Quite." She looks around for any daggers that Trucy could take to replenish her stock.
[15:41] <@Ebiris> roll 1d8
[15:41] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d8 and gets 8." [1d8=8]
[15:41] <@Ebiris> There's quite a few scattered around, three embedded in a dartboard as well. Trucy shouldn't be hurting for projectiles now!
[15:42] * @Henrietta collects them all before presenting the lot to Trucy with a smile. "There, isn't that better?"
[15:42] * @Lucie idly scans the armory for anything magical. Probably not likely the pirates have anything fancy just lying about, but it costs her nothing to check, right?
[15:42] <@Rudy> "It doesn't surprise me that he went crazy after all this," remarks Rudy. "Probably thinks he's doing the right thing." He frowns. "I suppose if one of us actually is infected and turns into a monster, returning to Salerno would be problematic. We can't start an epidemic there, too, and I can only presume you all have objections to being chained up."
[15:43] <@Ebiris> "Nice!" Trucy grins, starting to arrange them in her pockets and under her belt for easy access. The weapons all seem perilously mundane, however.
[15:43] <Glenn> "I won't object to it, though it wouldn't do if one of us was infected and then within reach of the others who happen not to be. And the boat isn't -that- big..."
[15:43] <@Henrietta> "It is as you said," Henrietta muses. "The trip back would take a week. If we are all fine halfway into it, then there should be no trouble. And should something happen, we would still be too far away from Salerno to cause any trouble."
[15:43] <@Ebiris> "If it's alchemy can't you find a cure or something, Glenn?" Trucy asks hopefully.
[15:43] <@Rudy> "Except to the others on the boat." Rudy shrugs. "I guess it's all or nothing, eh?"
[15:44] <@Henrietta> "The risk exists all the same. What if more of those creepy mermen exist? Can you defend the boat all on your own if the rest of us are chained up?"
[15:45] <@Rudy> "Even if I could, getting cut would probably be inevitable..."
[15:45] <Glenn> "Maybe, Trucy. A lot of this outbreak just seems beyond what I considered possible though, and I'm not sure how fast I could create a cure if it is doable."
[15:45] <@Lucie> "Let's focus on getting out of here for now?" Lucie suggests. "Somebody tie him up for now, because we can't really drag him around with us."
[15:46] * @Henrietta proceeds to do just that with her spare length of rope.
[15:46] <@Ebiris> His comatose form is quite obliging to being tied up.
[15:47] <@Henrietta> "We can see what lies past this armory, first?" Henrietta suggests, leading the way.
[15:48] <@Ebiris> It's only a short path out onto a small crevasse in the cliff-face, looking out towards the East over the reefs and sandbanks below. There's quite a lot of blood near the edge, making it a little slippery.
[15:49] <@Henrietta> "Only one path left to explore," Henrietta says, keeping well away form the puddle of blood.
[15:50] * @Lucie nods. "Let's get on with it, then."
[15:51] <@Ebiris> "I wish whatever's down in that prison would shut up at least," Trucy sighs as the racket continues from that direction.
[15:51] * @Henrietta leads the way along with Myra!
[15:51] <@Rudy> "They'll eventually all starve to death, so if we ever come back..."
[15:55] <@Ebiris> Heading up the middle path, the din from the prison at least recedes somewhat, until the passage emerges into a larger cavern. This cave stretches farther than Lucie's light can penetrate, what's immediately visible is a seeming underground village or dormitory, with wooden rooms  built around the edges of the cave, forming several stacked levels with criss-crossing walkways overhead... it's incredibly cramped, seemingly built over and over repeatedly to fill almost all the space available, leaving only narrow paths for passage. The smell of filth and gore is overwhelming, and noises  of creatures growling and wheezing come near constantly from the darkness, interspersed with sickening crunching and tearing sounds.
[15:57] <@Henrietta> "We have seen all we could here," Henrietta says quietly. "Let's go and take a look at the prison now?"
[15:57] <@Rudy> "I really don't like being here," mutters Rudy. "I'm sure there's nothing to find, much less risk our lives over. We could be attacked at any moment by any number of creatures."
[15:57] <@Lucie> "Thinking I may have my fill of this," Lucie agrees. "At least they're caged in the prison? Should be safe to have a look."
[15:58] * @Henrietta takes that as approval of that plan, and begins her retreat, intending to double back to the prison.
[15:58] <@Ebiris> "Even if there weren't monsters I wouldn't want to go into that," Trucy shivers at the claustrophobic nightmare ahead, eagerly following Henrietta back even in the face of loud noises!
[15:59] <@Ebiris> Walking through the open door down the leftmost passage... Dozens of five-foot wide iron cages are built into the walls of this large cavern. Some are empty, while others contain the partially eaten remains of dead  men and women. Yet most horrible are the cages that contain thrashing, wailing figures. Each of these seems more deformed than the last, twisting legs, writhing arms, vestigial heads, and jaws agape with too many teeth are all on display as the mad prisoners howl and slobber and throw themselves against the walls of their cages in a cacaphonous attempt to break free. At the far end around all the cells is a wooden shed like structure, its door hanging ajar.
[16:00] <@Rudy> "We need, like.. a spear or something," voices Rudy. "Then we could kill them without a problem. As it is, I'll probably run of bolts before I shoot them down."
[16:00] * @Henrietta heads towards the shed cautiously, forcing herself to peer into the cages in order to see if Vanthus can be recognizeable in any of the monsters. "Fire," she tells Rudy tersely.
[16:00] <@Lucie> "Rudy," Lucie says, "any chance of you putting a bolt into their heads? I suppose not. It would stop the noise, and they can hardly dodge. Maybe there were more bolts in the armory." She shrugs, walks to the shed.
[16:01] * Glenn grimaces at the sight. "Alchemy really should not be used for such horror..." he mutters.
[16:02] <@Ebiris> The shed looks to contain a small office. There's a large key hanging on a hook on the wall inside, a table and a chair there, with what seems to be a logbook currently open on said table. A heavy looking wooden sap is being used to prop the door open, and the chair has fallen on its back.
[16:02] <@Rudy> "Come on, there's a ton of them! You know how tough they are," replies Rudy, unloading a few shots into the nearest creature to demonstrate.
[16:03] * @Lucie pushes her way into the office (looking around carefully for unexpected fungus monsters this time), intent on examining the logbook.
[16:03] <@Ebiris> Indeed he steadily heals the damage from the bolts, tearing them out of regenerating wounds and howling at Rudy!
[16:03] <@Ebiris> The logbook details identities of the prisoners along with either their infractions (in the case  of comrades) or their expected ransom value (in the case of captives taken from other vessels). Most are in the 50 gold range, except one of the current captives is sir Walter Arabani and rated for a thousand gold.
[16:03] <@Rudy> "Fuck, it doesn't even work!" Rudy eyes the cages warily, hoping they're sturdy enough to hold out another five minutes...
[16:03] <@Ebiris> OOC: architecture, Rudy
[16:04] <@Rudy> roll d20+6
[16:04] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls d20+6 and gets 20." [d20=14]
[16:04] -> *Rudy* The cages look sturdy. For all their sound and fury, the mutants aren't getting out of them soon, if ever.
[16:04] * @Lucie raises her eyebrows, walks back out to eh others. "There's a noble in here somewhere, worth a lot from the sound of it. 'Walter Arabani.'"
[16:04] <@Ebiris> OOC: perception, Lucie
[16:04] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+10
[16:04] <@Henrietta> "Can you tell which cell he would be in?"
[16:04] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+10 and gets 17." [1d20=7]
[16:06] <@Ebiris> One of the occupants of a cell two down from the door on the left looks to be (or once have been) a young man wearing conspicuously well tailored nautical clothes of fine material and make. They're somewhat covered in filth and defecation as the figure wearing them howls and rattles his cage with his one good arm, the other ending in a fused-fingered club-like appendage.
[16:06] * @Lucie points at the figure. "That one, perhaps? Best of luck getting him out, of course. But if we hear his family's looking for him, well, we know what happened at least."
[16:06] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+5
[16:06] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+5 and gets 14." [1d20=9]
[16:07] <@Ebiris> "I think he's one of the sons of the Arabani family that runs the Merchant District back in Salerno," Trucy pipes up. "Hadn't heard of him going missing."
[16:07] <@Rudy> "Arabani... Arabani... wait, Arabani's my landlady!"
[16:07] <@Henrietta> "Maybe we can knock him out and put him in chains before bringing him to the shore," Henrietta suggests. "Then Glenn can try and go over that journal we found to try and reverse this?"
[16:08] <Glenn> "If we were going to take mutants with us to try and cure, shouldn't we have also grabbed Vanthus' lover for some answers?" Glenn asks curiously.
[16:09] <@Henrietta> "I didn't think of that until we talked to the angry man with the axe," Henrietta admits.
[16:09] <@Lucie> "I'm not eager to try taking any of these monsters with us," Lucie says. "If someone finds a cure, they can come back with it later."
[16:09] <@Rudy> "It's too hard, so we can't. But look, they regenerate. Maybe they'll get by without food for a long time," points out Rudy. "We should go back to Salerno and let the professionals handle this."
[16:10] <@Lucie> "I think Rudy's right." Lucie tucks the logbook into her pack. "If anyone landside has a personal itnerest in cleaning this up, let them take the risks. I've seen enough."
[16:10] <Glenn> "That's probably the most reasonable idea. Taking one of them with us just increases the risks of an infection, and we already have our worries regarding that," Glenn agrees with Rudy as well.
[16:11] <@Henrietta> "Well, if you agree that you aren't a professional...." Henrietta glances at Glenn before deflating. "Alright. Let us return to the ship and leave this island."
[16:12] <@Ebiris> "Vanthus is probably dead anyway," Trucy nods, "This way we don't have to get our hands dirty."
[16:12] <@Lucie> "Right." Lucie walks out of the prison, starts back the way they'd come through the trophy room (pointedly ignoring the tied up man unless anyone makes an issue of it).
[16:13] <@Lucie> "I hate to leave without seeing for ourselves that he's dead, but pressing on further'll only make sure the rest of us join the residents in their little hell."
[16:13] * @Henrietta picks up their won axe and the tied-up man who was carrying it, even though it would force her to relinquish her place at the front.
[16:14] <@Rudy> "I don't think he's dead. This guy is too slick," notes Rudy, dismally. "I can't believe we'll have to report failure to milady."
[16:14] <@Henrietta> "We can ask this man once he calms down a bit."
[16:14] * Glenn chooses not to react to Henrietta's jab besides a frown, not really wishing to study this mutation phenomenom more in depth.
[16:15] <@Rudy> "Who says he even knew Vanthus?" asks Rudy. "It'd be nice if things were that convenient."
[16:15] <@Henrietta> "Vanthus was here to bargain with the pirates, wasn't he?" Henrietta responds with a light shrug. "It would make sense that would make him stand out."
[16:15] <@Ebiris> The path back out of the cavern is clear, seeing the Fisher Princess waiting in the bay, which moves closer to the remaining pier to collect the party. "All done?" Callum calls over as you approach.
[16:16] <@Lucie> "I twas trying to ask him about that before he went and attacked us," Lucie grumbles back to the others. "Think we're ready to leave now, cap'n."
[16:16] <@Rudy> "Lots of pirates, only one guy. Live in hope, I guess."
[16:16] <@Ebiris> "Not a moment too soon," the drunken pirate you rescued earlier utters dismally, sitting morosely on the deck.
[16:16] <@Henrietta> "So it seems," Henrietta responds. "We don't think there is anyone else left to rescue here. So are we going to try and take that ship?"
[16:17] * @Lucie eyes the bigger boat. "Don't think we've got enough sailors to take that home with us. Rather burn it, make sure those monsters don't have a way off."
[16:17] <@Rudy> "I don't think the monsters will be sailing any ships."
[16:18] <@Ebiris> "Seems a shame to leave a fine boat like that behind, but I wouldnae trade this beauty for it," Callum thumps the side of his humble fishing boat. "Easier to navigate the reefs on this one, too."
[16:18] <@Ebiris> Trucy's expression falls at Callum's comment.
[16:18] * @Lucie shrugs. "Easy enough for us to light it up before we leave that we may as well, right? Just to be sure."
[16:19] <@Henrietta> "There might be a rescue sent here for that noble," Henrietta reminds Trucy. "If we are part of it, we might be able to bring it back as salvage."
[16:19] <@Ebiris> That makes Trucy brighten. "You think? Would your noble let you go for that?"
[16:20] <@Lucie> "Or just raise the anchor, untie it, let the tides and the shoals do the work for us," Lucie continues on that line of thought.
[16:20] <Glenn> "Well, we'd want to damage it just enough to keep it from being sailed off on it's own then, but still easy enough to salvage. Your knowledge of architecture extend to boats, Rudy?"
[16:20] <@Henrietta> "Sounds cheaper than having to pay with your own cash, don't you think?"
[16:20] <@Rudy> "Boats are not buildings."
[16:20] <Glenn> "Still architecture, so worth a shot," Glenn replies with a shrug.
[16:20] <@Rudy> "Nor are they bridges, barricades, bulwarks or.. or..." Rudy furrows his brow. "Banks?"
[16:20] <@Henrietta> "Let's just go. We've done what we can here, and we really should be leaving."
[16:21] * @Lucie frowns. "Alright, but nobody blame me when the rescue party shows up and that thing's gone."
[16:21] <@Ebiris> "Aww, not Steadfast Red," the drunk pirate moans with a sad look at the once proud Collective vessel as it's left behind, the Fisher Princess retracing its path through the reefs and away from the island. As you sail Northwards, another blinding flash of light emanates from the Lighthouse on the cliffs far behind you.
[16:22] <@Rudy> "Should we have checked that place out?" asks Rudy, eyeing the lighthouse. "That's some magic."
[16:23] <@Ebiris> OOC: people can spellcraft for it
[16:23] <@Henrietta> "We never did visit it," Henrietta muses.
[16:23] <@Lucie> "Prob'ly so," Lucie says, eyeing it and looking for any clear way to reach the lighthouse.
[16:23] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+7
[16:23] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+6 SC
[16:23] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+7 and gets 20." [1d20=13]
[16:23] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+6 SC and gets 8." [1d20=2]
[16:23] -> *Henrietta* It's the fireworks function of a Pyrotechnics spell, you think.
[16:24] <@Ebiris> The lighthouse lies beyond open water, deadly reefs and sandbanks, and tall imposing cliffs. The way is far from clear.
[16:24] <Glenn> roll d20+10 I apparently have spellcraft!
[16:24] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+10 I apparently have spellcraft! and gets 19." [d20=9]
[16:24] <@Henrietta> "Pyrotechnics," Henrietta says quietly, nodding to herself. "How would one reach the Lighthouse, say?" she asks the drunken pirate.
[16:25] <@Ebiris> "Urgh... either climb up, yeah," he nods weakly, glancing back, "Or go up the caves past the bunks. That girl was cute... hope she's dead rather'n a monster."
[16:26] <@Rudy> "Wait, what? Who?"
[16:26] <@Lucie> "Girl? Hm?"
[16:27] <@Ebiris> "Urgh?" he blinks blearily at Rudy. "Eleanor Delsomthin'. Cute little lass. Her sister was on the 'Red, too... she were cute, too. Magician girl, y'know?"
[16:28] * @Henrietta takes out a piece of parchment and eyes the distance. "Rudy, can you summon something that would take a message all the way over to the lighthouse?"
[16:28] <@Rudy> "Mmm.. yeah, I could. But make it small, birds aren't that strong."
[16:29] <@Lucie> "Magician, eh? Doubt any of those monsters had the presence of mind to still cast spells. Could be she's still alive and human up there."
[16:30] * @Henrietta nods, and considers what she will write. "How about 'Can you climb down? We can send a summons to pick you up at sea level. Flash twice for yes.'?"
[16:30] <Glenn> "That's pretty simple, so why not?"
[16:30] <@Rudy> "Could a dolphin really carry them back through the reefs in three minutes?" asks Rudy, eyeing Henrietta. "That seems optimistic."
[16:31] <@Henrietta> "It needn't be all the way across. If you can help her get to a reef, and then summon another to take over, it might be possible."
[16:31] <Glenn> "I do have a flask of Ant Haul. That triples the carrying capacity of its drinker," Glenn suggests. "That might help with that as well?"
[16:32] <Glenn> "Well, assuming your summons have stomachs and can drink such things anyhow..."
[16:32] <@Henrietta> "I can send over my rope if that would be enough, then."
[16:34] <@Rudy> "That's such a clinical definition. Anyway, I don't think it'll work; they might not be strong enough to hold on, never mind the cliffs- and the water looks freezing to boot. The only way would be to go and get them somehow, in my opinion." He shakes his head.
[16:34] <@Ebiris> "Plus, y'know, monster fish," Trucy adds, gesturing down at the choppy water.
[16:35] <@Lucie> "Hells," Lucie grunts. "'Past the bunks,'" she wonders aloud. "That would be the...the cavern shantytown past the trophy room?" she asks the drunk pirate.
[16:36] <@Ebiris> "Yeah, that's where we bunk!" he nods and gives Lucie a sloppy grin.
[16:37] <@Lucie> "No doubt," Lucie says in a flat tone. "There isn't anywhere else she could get to between there and the light house, is there? Anywhere easier to reach?"
[16:37] <@Henrietta> "There were people left after all," Henrietta states. "We have to return for them. I'll ask her how many people are trapped there, and to be ready to help us when we fight the mutated monsters in that cavern, if that is alright?"
[16:38] <@Ebiris> He shrugs. "Climb up around the cliffs or go through the caves. What other ways are there?"
[16:38] <@Lucie> "Ask her then," Lucie says to Henri. "Then we'll decide."
[16:40] <@Henrietta> Deciding it's worth a try, Henrietta pens her note. 'Is there another way to you outside that cavern of monsters? Can you get down to sea level? How many of you are there? How many monsters?' Once done, she presents it to Rudy.
[16:41] <@Rudy> "We could just ask them for a situation report. Does anyone know that.. you know, that code thing you do with flashing lights?"
[16:41] <@Ebiris> "Even if we did, how do we know they do?" Trucy asks.
[16:41] <@Rudy> "They're.. in a lighthouse."
[16:41] * @Lucie shrugs. "Doesn't hurt to try, does it?"
[16:42] <@Henrietta> "And it would be very difficult, since I only know the normal light spell. Can you send that across and have your bird wait for a reply, if it can?"
[16:43] <@Rudy> "I'll need to send another one to pick it up," replies Rudy, noting down instructions to wait for another bird to attach a message to. That done, he whips a bird into form (prompting Myra's spontaneously vanishment) and sends it on it's way.
[16:44] <@Ebiris> The bird zooms up towards the lighthouse as fast as it can! Sadly it's too far away to see what transpires up there, but it certainly doesn't come back.
[16:44] <@Rudy> About ten minutes later, Rudy sends another bird to pick up their reply!
[16:46] <@Ebiris> The bird zips off and then comes right back again, barely returning to the boat before it vanishes and deposits the parchment where a hurried scrawl at the bottom of the message reads: "No more flash spells. Have feather fall, but we can't all swim so well. Three of us, too many monsters, we'll die if we go out the lighthouse before it's safe. Please help!!!!" The last two words are underlined several times as well.
[16:47] <@Rudy> "They need help! We have to help them." Rudy eyes the reefs. "Our odds of piloting through the reefs aren't good, are they? Is it because it's technically difficult, or because you can't actually identify where they are?"
[16:47] <@Henrietta> "Feather fall!" Henrietta exclaims. "I must learn that spell. Oh, why did I wait--" She shakes her head. "In any case, I really think our best bet is swimming. I can do it, I think, especially if you have a dolphin helping me, Rudy."
[16:48] * Glenn digs out the flask with Ant Haul. "You'll want this then, I imagine? This is what triples carrying capacity..."
[16:48] <@Rudy> "They can't swim! And what if one of those things appears midway? I don't like it."
[16:49] <@Ebiris> "Well, we could try gettin' back into the bay and then hugging the cliffs on the interior side through the reefs to get right below it on the other side of all those," Callum gestures at the sea between you and the island. "Be tricky since the charts don't cover that route, so we'd need to really be on our toes to navigate it safely."
[16:49] <@Lucie> "Swimming? Really? Did you miss seeing what kind of creatures habit these waters when they climbed onto our ship? And can you really swim safely in choppy seas?"
[16:49] <@Rudy> "See, that sounds more like it. I could summon dolphins to help guide us through," explains Rudy. "Since they can sense what we can't see."
[16:50] * @Lucie nods to second this latter plan. "I can provide a small amount of magical light to help look for underwater obstacles, perhaps?"
[16:50] <@Henrietta> "I would actually want the suspicious flask that makes me stronger for the duration," Henrietta responds. "But if we can just try a different route and scout with dolphins, that works even better! I'll pen a reply to tell her to jump, and you can send it once we are close enough."
[16:50] <@Ebiris> "Alright, if that's what you want, lets go for it," Callum nods bravely, wheeling the ship around and retracing their route back to the ruined harbour and then working in between the reefs and the island to get below the lighthouse...
[16:51] <@Rudy> "Hopefully they'll see us once we're there," replies Rudy. "Okay, captain. Let's do it."
[16:51] * @Henrietta snaps her fingers. "Another good point! We can cast Light on all sorts of useless objects and then just drop them overboard. Both of wood, so they float, and heavier to show the rest of the way below."
[16:51] <@Ebiris> OOC: another sailing check for this, people can aid like they did last time, dolphins add +6 assuming someone conveys their instructions, lights can provide another +2
[16:52] * @Lucie heads to the fore of the ship, keeping a sharp eye out for any dangerous underwater objects and lighting the way with an enchantment cast on her mace.
[16:52] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+6 aiding with natural talent, providing dolphins
[16:52] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+6 aiding with natural talent, providing dolphins and gets 25." [1d20=19]
[16:53] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+10 c'mon average roll
[16:53] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+10 c'mon average roll and gets 22." [1d20=12]
[16:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+3 Grant aids
[16:53] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+3 Grant aids and gets 23." [1d20=20]
[16:53] * @Henrietta divides the responsibilities with Lucie, illuminating what lies below while Lucie covers the water level.
[16:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+1 drunk pirate aids
[16:53] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+1 drunk pirate aids and gets 13." [1d20=12]
[16:53] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4 Trucy aids
[16:53] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 Trucy aids and gets 7." [1d20=3]
[16:54] * Glenn does his own part to try and help with guiding the ship.
[16:54] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[16:54] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 22." [1d20=20]
[16:54] <Glenn> roll d20+2
[16:54] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+2 and gets 15." [d20=13]
[16:54] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+22 this is what a team working together is capable of!
[16:54] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+22 this is what a team working together is capable of! and gets 33." [1d20=11]
[16:56] <@Ebiris> The group springs into action, even the drunken nameless pirate stepping up to prove his worth as the nimble fishing boat moves masterfully under Callum's command, quick instructions acted on immediately to avoid underwater hazards as the treacherous route is navigated until you round the North of the island and can just see the lighthouse directly above!
[16:57] <@Henrietta> "Jump down!" Henrietta calls out, raising her voice and adding a flash of her much softer light for good measure.
[16:57] <@Rudy> Producing another eagle, Rudy quickly sets it free, free to tell the cute girls above that their time has come!
[16:57] <@Ebiris> Your progress seems to have been tracked since figures are also seen rushing towards the cliff edge, three of them! Wait, no, four! They leap quickly over the edge, the last of the group lunging forward desperately... and falling far faster than the other three!
[16:57] <@Ebiris> roll 9d6
[16:58] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 9d6 and gets 32." [9d6=2, 1, 4, 6, 6, 1, 5, 2, 5]
[16:58] * @Lucie keeps her mace alight so the survivors have a nice target, and peers upwards.
[16:58] * @Henrietta tries to see if the three who jumped together will miss the boat.
[17:02] <@Ebiris> A mutant falls first belly flops horribly onto the waves, floating lifelessly afterwards! The other three descend at a sedate pace, like zephyrs carrying them gracefully in the wind as they float safely down to land upon the deck. The first to set her feet down is a tall woman with braided blonde hair, wearing a green tunic with numerous pouches dangling off bandoliers, a thick book belted to a harness on her waist and an officious beaked cap worn on her head, with a golden clenched fist on the front. After her is a shorter woman with a strong resemblance, looking younger, perhaps Trucy's age. The last is a man in a breastplate with an aristocratic expression and somewhat long brown hair, a goatee on his chin that's just starting to get overgrown, and a sword at his hip. His eyes gleam with recognition as he looks over the party... and indeed he's recognisable from the portrait in Lavinia's dining hall as her own estranged and murderous brother!
[17:04] <@Henrietta> "If it isn't Vanthus, the scheming murderer," Henrietta says, staring at the vile man. "Was this also your plot? Did your bombs go off sooner than expected?"