Farming Out Part 5
Log Info
- Title: Farming Out Part 5
- Emitter: Williwaw
- Characters: Jinks, Lyme, Paenitia, Randolf, Seyardu, Auranar
- Place: Alexandros Farmlands, the swamp
- Time: Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 7:36 PM
- Summary: Simultaneously swamped with questions and bogged down by a lack of answers, the three-hour tour continues. Auranar, Randolf, and Seyardu near the wreck of the lost ship in a borrowed skiff while Jinks, Paenitia, and Ramirez handle overwatch. An ambush of the flat dragons (crocodiles!) seeks to destroy the modest, on-loan conveyance and drop khazad, sith, and sil into the murky drink. The trio fight off the summoned creatures while making for dry land, their retreat covered by the diving charges of paladina and harrying fire of a singing (and surprisingly sober) minstrel. Only the briefest of respites is taken before the group forges on, north this time to find the source of an odd light in the darkness beneath twisted trees...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Jinks 3'4" 39 Lb Gnome Male A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry. Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Randolf 4'10" 280 Lb Mountain Dwarf Male A burly, well-dressed Khazad in wizardly robes. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. Auranar 4'8" 123 Lb Wild Elf Female A wild elf with dark skin and a red dress. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Williwaw -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
So, you found the remains of a boat. THE boat? It is too soon to tell, if there even is any way to know for sure.. but being that it's been heavily implied that people don't typically range into these swamps, there's a pretty good chance it belongs to at least one of the people you're hunting. A glance shows extensive damage... any more information than that will require a closer look.
Being up in the air, Paenitia and Jinks are likely to be able to get to the ruined boat sooner, though the boat is very close to landfall as well.
Of course, there's the matter of the crocodiles you managed to spot.. and it's swimming straight at your boat with what looks to be hostile intent.
The water is of varying depths, with a rather soft bottom. There are lots of reedy vegetation, a boat nearby beached on a small island, and the one the adventurers are on. The island has a bunch of trees. The croc is just barely at the surface of the water
The boat definitely doesn't look good. As the skiff gets closer to the island... and Paenitia and Jinks are able to tell from their vantage... it has been ripped apart. Something powerful has pulled planking, reducing it to little more than a skeleton... many of the boards seem scorched, as well.
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+1: (7)+1: 8 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+1: (10)+1: 11 GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon3+4: (16)+11+4: 31 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage3+8: aliased to 1d6+2+8: (1)+2+8: 11 (spirited charge, so mounted lance is x3 damage) GAME: Paenitia rolls damage3+8: aliased to 1d6+2+8: (5)+2+8: 15 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage3+8: aliased to 1d6+2+8: (3)+2+8: 13
"Hola! Flat dragon! We are the target." Paenitia shouts, leaning into her knees to make her hippogryph turn. He wheels into the air, going into a dive. "Hold on Jinks. Ramirez, make your challenge!"
'Ruaaaah!' The giant bird-horse screeches. If the crocodile didn't hear his mistress, it knows something is coming for it out of the sky.
The red knight sets for her charge, leaning forward and bracing as they wing lower. The point pierces, runs it right through.
The crocodile crumbles like a fine dust, coating the surface of the water.
Rider and mount pull up before they splash down, gliding over the rushes, "That, I do not expect."
GAME: Randolf rolls Perception: (11)+7: 18
Randolf hunkers down in the skiff, wand held in a white-knuckled grip. He starts as Ramierez comes swooping down out of the sky. "Gah!" Seeing the crocodile PAFF apart into dust... that has the dwarf leaning forward with a curious peer. "What the -hell-... was it made o' dirt?" he grunts, tugging thoughtfully at his beard. He looks up and around at the swamp, head on a swivel and eyes darting hither and yon. "Och, they could be anywhere out there," he mutters.
GAME: Jinks casts Haste. Caster Level: 9 DC: 20 GAME: Jinks spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE. GAME: Jinks rolls Spellcraft: (18)+7: 25 GAME: Randolf rolls Spellcraft: (12)+13: 25 GAME: Seyardu rolls spellcraft: (16)+5: 21
Jinks already holds his bow against his thigh so he employs his free hand in latching onto whatever pauldron sweep or spaulder lip the paladina's armor offers as a ready handle. He turns his head and hunches low, braced against her back and forgetting to breathe through the ride. At least he didn't swallow a bug.
"A summoning," mutters the minstrel, both for dame driver and the lazy, swimming motes on his end of the Message spell. The words find the other end of the line on Randolf's shoulder, too.
Recovering, he sucks in a breath of fetid, swampy air and begins to sing a bolstering song in his gnative gnomish. He releases Paenitia from his deathgrip and wiggles his fingers through the weave until he has the glittering, gossamer cord that binds the group together and begins tapping out the rhythm to speed their actions.
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+7: (11)+7: 18 (Crocodile attack) GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d8+6: (1)+6: 7 <OOC> Williwaw says, "The boat has been attacked, Everyone on the boat make an acrobatics check, you're attempting to keep your balance." GAME: Auranar rolls acrobatics: (16)+3: 19 GAME: Seyardu rolls acrobatics: (17)+-1: 16 GAME: Randolf rolls Acrobatics: (9)+1: 10
It wasn't alone.
Odd ripples in the water offer only a split second's warning before another crocodile makes its presence known quite forcefully, its gaping maw rising out of the water to snap down on the rail of the boat, sending splinters everywhere as the small vessel shakes.
GAME: Randolf used a Wand of Magic Missile. GAME: Randolf rolls 3d4+3: (6)+3: 9
Randolf yelps as the croc lunges out of the water and snaps its jaws down on the skiff. He staggers, throwing his free hand out to cling to the un-chompfed part of the boat. The other whips his wand out. "HAH!" A trio of blue orbs burst from the tip, wheeling to the croc in a helix pattern. PA PA PAH! They strobe off the beast's scaly hide, but it's still coming!
GAME: Auranar rolls 1d20+8: (8)+8: 16 GAME: Auranar rolls 1d100: (19): 19 (vs 20% - Miss) GAME: Auranar rolls 1d20+3: (16)+3: 19 (+3 Jinks bonuses) GAME: Auranar rolls 1d100: (83): 83 (vs 20% - hit) GAME: Auranar rolls 1d8+1: (5)+1+2: 8 (+2 damage from song)
Auranar pulls back on her bowstring, barely managing to keep her balance long enough to shoot an arrow. She's not extremely practiced at this, but she's surprised to find that she's the time to shoot a second arrow before the crocodile can attack a second time. This arrow hits it unlike the first, and she has to almost restrain a cheer.
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d8+6: (6)+6: 12 GAME: Randolf rolls Acrobatics: (1)+1: 2 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Randolf rolls Athletics: (18)+2: 20 GAME: Seyardu rolls acrobatics: (1)+-3: -2 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Seyardu rolls athletics: (13)+1: 14 GAME: Auranar rolls acrobatics: (8)+3: 11
The water erupts from the north side of the boat this time as a second (third?) crocodile assaults the boat. This one manages to rip some planking from the side, and once more a tremor runs through the boat as it shakes beneath the feat of those riding it.
Randolf and Seyardu are thrown into the water.
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+10: (9)+10: 19 GAME: Seyardu rolls athletics: (18)+1: 19
The boat shaking for the second time made the silver makari lose her already questionable footing in the small boat, and the pole she was using to propel it onward is knocked out of her hands, making her lose her balance enough to be sent tumbling out of the craft. She wasn't that concerned about being in the water, but the creatures were more of a threat. Seeing Randolf having been knocked in as well, she grabs the neck of the dwarf's robe and drags him along, spurred on by the gnome's magic until her feet are digging into the soft lakebed.
"To the land over here! "She shouts to the others. "We should not fight where they have the advantage."
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+1: (16)+1: 17 GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon3+4+3: (14)+11+4+3: 32 (+4 cav charge, +3 Bonuses from Jinks) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d100: (54): 54 (vs 20% - Hit) GAME: Paenitia rolls damage3+2: aliased to 1d6+2+2: (2)+2+2: 6 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage3+2: aliased to 1d6+2+2: (3)+2+2: 7 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage3+2: aliased to 1d6+2+2: (6)+2+2: 10
"Hold, we are turning. Anywhere, I do not feel it through the armour." Paenitia says, as Ramirez wings and wheels and goes into another screaching run past one of the crocodiles. The little Lucht leans low, lance out, and even with the water hampering her attack, gouges a long jagged wound.
This time, the crocodile doesn't disappear.
'Ruaaah!' Ramirez is pleased.
"Swim for the shore, we will try to keep them from you. If in the boat, stay in the boat."
GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+7: (14)+7: 21 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d8+6: (7)+6: 13 GAME: Williwaw rolls 1d20+13: (1)+13: 14 (EPIC FAIL)
Another crocodile appears, attaching Seyardu, snapping and damaging its fellow reptile. Its jaws fail to latch upon her, so underwater wrestling and 'who can hold their breath the longest' will have to wait.
<OOC> Jinks says, "Gonna cover the retreat. Maintain perform as a free." <OOC> Jinks says, "Full attack with bow. Point Blank, Precise, Rapid, Deadly Aim, and Manyshot." <OOC> Jinks says, "So attack (2x arrows), rapid attack, -5 attack, haste attack." <OOC> Jinks says, "I'll start on the north and move to south as damage wraps them up." GAME: Jinks rolls weapon11+2+1+1-2-2: (11)+12+2+1+1+-2+-2-4: 19 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d100: (73): 73 (vs 20% - Hit) GAME: Jinks rolls weapon11+2+1+1-2-2: (20)+12+2+1+1+-2+-2-4: 28 (THREAT) GAME: Jinks rolls weapon11+2+1+1-2-2: (14)+12+2+1+1+-2+-2-4: 22 (Confirmed) GAME: Jinks rolls 1d100: (6): 6 (vs 20% - miss) GAME: Jinks rolls weapon11+2+1+1-2-2-5: (2)+12+2+1+1+-2+-2+-5-4: 5 GAME: Jinks rolls weapon11+2+1+1-2-2: (8)+12+2+1+1+-2+-2-4: 16 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d100: (69): 69 (vs 20% - miss) GAME: Jinks rolls 2d4+4+2+2+8+2: (5)+4+2+2+8+2: 23 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d4+2+1+1+4+1: (3)+2+1+1+4+1: 12
"Pleasedon'tdropme," Jinks mutters at the back Paenitia's helm, squeezing his thighs a bit tighter on the saddle. Another breath and he continues the rousing gnomish melody while the words are lost on his compatriots.
Up comes the bow and his ensorceled arms go to work. Two arrows, then another, another, and one last for good measure. The barrage a series of overlapping, stacatto whistles ending in dull thuds into crocodile flesh or hollow thoomps where they find the water.
The two beasts flanking the boat still, roll up to expose their bellies, and discombobulate into dust on the murky surface.
GAME: Randolf used a Wand of Magic Missile. GAME: Randolf rolls 3d4+3: (10)+3: 13
Randolf tumbles into the water with a flailing of limbs. "GWAAGGH!" He thrashes to the surface, churning the swamp water to a roil as he flounders. But there's Seyardu snagging his robe and hauling him towards the island. Arms and legs flail as he gets his feet under him. Coughing and spitting, he staggers through the shallow water and up onto the island, the soft mud squelching around his boots. Panting for breath, he turns and snaps his wand out. "HARRRGH!" Three more orbs burst out to slam into the croc, dealing it a telling blow, but it remains up and snappy!
Seeing the crocodile on Seydardu, Auranar frowns. They're too tangled together for her to risk shooting lest she hit her companion in this venture rather than the crocodile. Instead she grabs the pole and tries to steer the boat to shore. They will after all - hopefully - need it later.
GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d20+8+2: (8)+8+2: 18 GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d100: (94): 94 (vs 20% - hit) GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d8+3: (5)+3: 8
Seyardu scrambles to find better footing in the ground as one of the crocodiles snaps at her, biting down hard for a moment before she can shove it away. She reaches for her bag, and pulls a large mace out of it, which she uses to smack it further away underneath the head. Enough for a moment to catch their breath, at least.
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon3+4+3: (12)+11+4+3: 30 <OOC> Williwaw says, "You club it good! It is still there however." GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d100: (63): 63 (vs 20% - hit) GAME: Paenitia rolls damage3+2: aliased to 1d6+2+2: (6)+2+2: 10 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage3+2: aliased to 1d6+2+2: (1)+2+2: 5 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage3+2: aliased to 1d6+2+2: (2)+2+2: 6 <OOC> Williwaw says, "And Paenitia finishes off the last couple of hps."
"I do not plan to." Paenitia replies, as Ramirez gets another guiding squeeze from her thighs. Her shield is re-positioned, the lance cinched in, her banner flapping behind her as her mount rushes in.
Ramirez flies, fast and low, passing over Auranar and the boat as they angle down to the water. His talons skim the surface. His rider leans, her lance pointing.
The third crocodile explodes into dust and spreads like an oily stain across the surface of the marsh as her lance strikes true.
"I do not expect the flat dragon fight to go this way. Tell me friend dragon, you do not become dust when you die too? This is not the normal way?"
Auranar poles the boat the rest of the way to the island before rubbing her arms and looking a bit exhausted from the effort. Her eyes are a little wide from the encounter with the summoned crocodiles. "If someone summoned those crocodiles... they're out here somewhere." She looks around and shivers uncomfortably. "We need to hurry up and get out of here."
Jinks uses one hand to brace against Paenitia and sits a little taller in the saddle, craning his neck to consider the surrounding water and make sure there were no further lizards on approach. Spotting none he allows for the Hymn to rest as the sung melody fades from his breath with a sigh. "That... certainly went better than Maridran, paladina," he observes. He considers the state of Randolf and Seyardu and can't help but smile faintly, "and we didn't end up swimming. Good flying."
"I do not become dust when I die, no. That is what the funeral pyres are for." Seyardu sighs when the crocodile disappears. But that was a quick diversion as she jogs out onto dry land. "Auranar is correct. We need to find out who is behind this. If they are summoned, they usually do not last long. So the person we need to find may be closer than we thing."
"So you are become dust, but there is the more steps to it." Paenitia laughs, as Ramirez circles overhead. She's not landing yet, like her passenger she's scanning the nearby swamp for more crocodiles.
"I am looking, I do not see." Of course, her mask blocks a lot of vision, "Any signs of the ones we seek? Are there clues in the boat."
"Novah!" Paenitia shouts, "are you hear us?"
Randolf pants for breath as the last of the crocs is dusted. He looks down at himself, resembling a soggy wet sheepdog. His beard sodden, his robe and kilt steadily dripping. "Piss an' blood an' flamin' -shit-," he grumbles. He holsters his wand so he can take ahold of his beard, wringing it out with a grunt. "Are there any others?" he asks, looking up and around as he shakes swamp water from his hands.
Auranar presses her lips togther as Paenitia begins calling out for whomever attacked them, but keeps her silence. "I don't seem them, but that doesn't mean they aren't there." She replies instead to Randolf. Heading toward the other boat in the hopes of finding clues.
"The life underground sound terrible." Paenitia quietly comments to Jinks.
GAME: Jinks rolls Perception: (5)+7: 12 GAME: Paenitia rolls perception: (8)+5: 13 GAME: Auranar rolls perception: (3)+5: 8 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+5: (13)+5: 18 (Ramirez perception) GAME: Randolf rolls Perception: (19)+7: 26 GAME: Jinks casts Gallant Inspiration. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19 GAME: Jinks rolls 2d4: (6): 6 <OOC> Jinks says, "32 for Randolf" GAME: Seyardu rolls perception: (16)+6: 22
"You always know how Randolf feels about a given situation," Jinks adds, shaking his head as he's unable to espy anything of note. He lifts the bow and loops it over one shoulder after pushing an arm between the multi-part limb and the taught string.
Randolf grunts, working on wringing out his kilt. "Aye, well, when ye get tossed in a nasty swamp, it's bound tae ruin -anyone's- day. An' my mood was shit tae begin with," he grumbles. "Why--" He cuts off, looking up and towards the north. "What--?" He drops his soggy kilt and pulls his wand stepping forward a couple steps, heedless of the mud squelching around his boots. "Did you all see that? Some sort o' glow..." He growls, tightening his grip on his wand, and trundling forward. "OY!" he thunders. "Are you the one callin' up these crocs? I've got some things tae -say- to you! GET OUT HERE!"
Seyardu turns her gaze to the north, and she squints further. "I do not know what he is referring to, but if he saw something, we should investigate." The cleric notes. "Although, Randolf, please contain your anger. I know this is an uncomfortable situation, but do not give away that we have seen them before we are ready to act."
Sound advice, although it can be hard to miss a giant white peacock that is the size of a horse. Yet, Ramirez can look remarkably like a cloud on a good day. Paenitia turns her hippogryph and glides in the direction Randolf reacted too. They get a bit of altitude, especially as solid ground has trees and its easier to go over them than through.
GAME: Auranar casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 2 DC: 13
The elvish woman quickly murmurs a few words to herself in the arcane tongue, moving her hands in a quick gesture to her eyes to help her detect any magic that might be coming from the woods. Perhaps she should have cast the spell sooner, but now will do.
Jinks follows Khazadi eyes north and narrows his own black-on-black eyes in an attempt to sort out the offending clue. "Might be the druid called the lizards," he muses, low enough that his voice will carry back through the Message spell to Randolf. He makes a quick finger count of the first quiver and takes out his bow again. "The chances of this being resolved with reason seem slimmer by the moment..."
Randolf scowls angrily, shooting a bushy-browed glower over his shoulder at Jinks. "Reason? This sheep-shagger lost any chance at -reason- when he took innocent folk from their homes!" He gestures angrily towards the wrecked boat. "Gods only know what's become o' Deid an' the others! Sure -we- can handle some conjured crocs, but those poor lads never had our arms an' magic." He turns his furious gaze back to the north. "We have tae -find- this bastard, an' put a -stop- tae this," he growls.
"We will get to the bottom of this, Randolf." Seyardu sighs, already beginning to head north before the light got too far away. "Everyone, stay close, there may be more crocodiles in the water, and that one that bit me was nearly dragging me off. I do not want that happening to anyone else."
GAME: Paenitia rolls perception: (5)+5: 10 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+5: (16)+5: 21 (Ramirez Perception) GAME: Jinks rolls Perception: (16)+7: 23
The Red Knight upon her Ivory Steed with her musical passenger head towards that which they cannot see. The dwarf has addressed someone, hopefully who will become clearer once they are closer.
Ramirez squawks, a noise Paenitia knows means he saw something out of the ordinary. Search as she can on either side of him she can't see what it might be. Full plate helms and her mask do limit the field of vision.
Still, she calls out, "Hola, we are seek the boys, and the Father Mann, or the dog. If that is you, make the noise. If it is not, and you have sent the flat dragons..."
Well, the others have already spoken on that topic.
Jinks pats Paenitia on her right shoulder and then snakes his arm over it, sitting higher so he can acquire the proper angle and point out the location to Paenitia. "Down through the trees. Two-, three-hundred feet," he guides, squinting his eye to sight down his arm as she might and aim it as best he can. "Just a faint glimmer in the darkness."
The gnome holds the pose as long as he needs to, trusting the Lucht to find the indicated site. Lowering his voice, he whispers to Randolf, "You need the boat. Get the others back in it and follow; there's plenty more water to cross."
Randolf looks up as Jinks sends that message. "A'right, you lot, back in the boat! Think the Dame an' Jinks got eyes on summat fer us, an' we've got more water tae be crossin'!" He turns and lumbers back to the boat. Hopefully it's not so chompfed by conjured crocs that it won't hold them.
Paenitia and Jinks (and Ramirez) are ahead of the group by some distance, about one hundred feet, give or take. Jinks's message confirms Randolf's spotting to Randolf. The dwarf presumably will pass the information on. Ah, there it is.
There is more water to be crossed. If they take the boat, there is always the chance that the water might become too shallow. If they decide to walk, there's an even better chance it will be too deep. They're between a wet and a dry place, land-bound on the island, near the boat, and our flyers out 100' ahead or so.
Auranar sighs, but obeys, heading for the boat with a wary eye for the waters that are beneath it.
OOC and Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
23 Paenitia 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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21 Jinks 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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19 Crododile
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15 Randolf 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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10 Auranar 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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1 Seyardu 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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Map
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mng7oy1n6ty
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mng7oy1n6ty&secret=sbznmcm55ds
Inspirational Video
https://i.imgur.com/YWCuuwb.mp4
<OOC> Williwaw says, "Alright. So while Pae helps me with a map, I'll go over a few things. While still wanting IC poses to reflect actions taken and stuff happning in combat, but I'm going to attempt to keep the pace going. Depending on how long it takes poses to come in, we may pause at the end of each round for them, once you know the results of the player ahead of you, there's no need to wait for a pose before declaring your actions. Try to have a general idea of what you want to do before your turn is up (yes, not always possible, I am specifically terrible for this)."