WHAT IS DEAD MAY NEVER DIE - Initiative Round 3

• 18. Bubbles (74/101; orange) - Emboldened Bond (d4), Blessed;
• 14. Gulp (62/76; pink) - Emboldened Bond (d4), Blessed;
• 14. Shanty (67/67; blue) - concentrating on Detect Magic;  
• 13. Undertow & Riptide (43/91 & 55/65; green) - Emboldened Bond (d4), Blessed, concentrating on Healing Spirit (9 - 3/4); Riptide dodged;
• 13. Unarmed Drowned Sailor (x2, purple) 
• 12. Sandlot (75/75; cyan) - concentrating on Bless (8);
• 11. Barnacle (45/104; red) - Emboldened Bond (d4), Blessed;
• 09. Armed Drowned Sailor (x2, black) -  

MAP:

NOTES: Driftglobe dropped at {O-19}. Undertow's Ethereal Clown Fish is on the same square he is in {R-19}.

(All of you can post your next turn.) 

Satisfied that these dead coral creatures are still falling to attacks Bubbles swims forward to S17 to strike at the armed one that has already taken damage, using the momentum of the movement forward contribute to the force he puts behind the first attack, and attacking recklessly now that the number of foes is reduced to just two.  He tries to drive his pike through the creature from the side.

Last Rites Attack: 29 Damage: 33 (attacking with GWM & Recklessness)

Last Rites Attack: 24 Damage: 13 (attacking with Recklessness)

"Thanks, matey, that helps." (He always said "the skill never ages") Gulp with renewed energy attacked the last (on their side) standing monster:

Attack on R17 - the one under Barnacle:

Attack 1:  Emboldened Bond  1 +  Bless 4 + Attack: 9 Damage: 10

Attack 2: Bless 3 + Attack: 15 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.

BA: Attack 3:  Bless 1 + Attack: 21 Damage: 8

Shanty mutters to himself, seeming to consider multiple options before just sending another 2 beams at The armed one.

Attack: 16 Damage: 7

Attack: 21 Damage: 9

(@MuggsHill: Just to avoid confusion, note that Bubbles was indeed hut by the enemy in the last round. Also, it looks like you forgot to add the Bless bonus this turn.)

Bubbles moves around the broken mast piece and attacks. He allows himself to be a bit more reckless with each thrust this time around, delivering devastating blows that reduce the undead enemy to a pile of coral. (Armed Drowned Soldier#1 takes 38 magical piercing damage and is DEFEATED.)

Bubbles then tries to quickly turn around and face the last foe but is beaten to the punch by Gulp (literally). The monk delivers three powerful blows to the enemy's head just a Shanty's Eldritch Blasts bore two holes on its stomach. (Armed Drowned Soldier#2 takes 45 magical bludgeoning and force damage and is DEFEATED.)

-> Healing Spirit die: 4

Before Undertow even notices that the fight is over, his ethereal clown fish mends another of his wounds. (Undertow recovers 4 HP.)

WE ARE NOW OUT OF INITIATIVE. YOU MAY DO AS YOU WILL. 

Impressed at the effectiveness of his colleagues in downing two foes in short order, Barnacle wonders if there mightn't be some benefit to trying to pick up a few pointers...

Bubbles uses Last Rites to poke at the now still forms floating in the water, muttering "There is no blood...where is the blood..." and then pushes the bodies to clear their way ahead, then steps away, and waits for the others to finish the investigation of the wreck.

"Of course there is no blood - they were dead. And now they are ... dead-ier? Can not tell with this things. Broken may be?" Gulp pondered the right term for a few moments, but quickly refused from the idea - it was hard even on a sober head.

"Well, that "Darkening" turns drowners into the ... moving things again. Foul magic! Need caution." The monk picked up his Driftglobe again and looked around the room that undead were guarding.

Perception: 23

 Sandlot would refrain from any immediate comment, as his focus had immediately shifted towards drifting over to examine the conditions of those at the frontline. After finishing the inspection, the old codfish sighed, gently shook his head, then following glance towards the other bodies had this to say: "Matters little if... no blood... or not... dead... or not... Proof perhaps of the Darkening's power, perhaps so... Dying here ourselves, not affordable."

"No, no, no... Remove them from here, perhaps best... then... a brief reprieve here, we should do? Before exploring any further?" He suggest. "Mend wounds, this one can.... But, only so much can do, this one."  The Locathah reminded the others. However, if they insist on preceding forward as is, then he would at least ask for Barnacles to wait but a moment more, so that Sandlot could mend what he could at the moment. After that, he'd follow behind the rest.

----> (3rd level)Cure Wounds on Barnacle: 14 (if not short resting.)

.

DM's Screen

Barnacle takes a few moments to consider his companions' skill while Bubbles and Gl'Ulp discuss the inner working of undead creatures. A silent Sandlot begins to examine the other locathah.

The party looks about the last compartment of the caravel's hull area and confirms that there is very little of interest in this area. It is not hard for them to noticed the one exception to that statement, but Gl'Ulp is the first one to point it out: the floor from the room above has collapsed, leaving a crude set of stairs as well as a gaping hole to swim through. The group deduces that this unintended open passageway would lead back up to the captain’s cabin aft, a chamber that was hidden behind closed doors upon the party's initial arrival at the ship's upper deck. Alternatively, the back wall of this lower chamber is also busted, leading toward what looks like the inside of the coral mountain. Either way, the only light illuminating either passage is the one coming from the Driftglobe.  

Before the group can decide where to go, Sandlot proposes they take some time (1 hour) to rest up, catch their breath, and mend their wounds before proceeding. A moment of silence fills the water about the locathah as they decide.

-> Healing Spirit dice: 3 and 6

While they decide, Undertow's ethereal clown fish passes through a few more of the ranger's wounds. The spell then dissipates. (Undertow recovers another 9 HP.)

Undertow rests, mending their wounds and ensuring Riptide is alright. "First sahuagin, now undead surface-dwellers... warped by some strange magic. This is mighty strange. Stay on your guard, comrades, we're not out of this yet..."

(I spent 4 hit dice and rolled on my sheet for a total of 35 - 33 + con mod. I am back up to full. You can confirm in the Campaign Dice log)

Coming off of two quick battles, Bubbles regains his breath and takes stock of his wounds and then looks to the others "I should clean these wounds....are we good to take a quick rest and figure out what to do next.....what were those things anyway?"

OOC: With 27HP to recover Bubbles takes 2, 3, 10, 6 which will take him to 95HP.

plus 6 - thanks Shanty!

(Note—everyone can roll an extra d6 due to song of rest.)

‘Shanty doesn’t need any healing, but will gladly take back an inspiration.

"Lets rest." Gulp did not feel all that bad - thanks to healing magic - but did feel tired (could it be he was getting too old for that ... all? No! He refused to even finish the thought.) He assumed the meditating pose and concentrated on the inner peace.

((I'll even spend 2 dice: 3 + 3 + 6 )

"We are, this one hopes... Young Bubble... But if you would...." Sandlot gestures to the bodies. "Move them, I would. All in one spot." He request. As that's either being done or considered, Sandlot squinted at the nearest body, and consider Bubble's question a moment more. Much to his ongoing consternation, it wasn't above Umberlee in the past to make use of strange and sometimes abominable creatures, living or dead. But, it had been a while....

----> Religion: 26 (Guidance included) - regarding details on the undead sailors

After considering and narrowing down what he could on the subject, including any precautions he'd warn be taken regarding the bodies, the Aged Locathah took a few moments to pray over the dead: His holy symbol held aloft above them as he burbled in elvish a story to help guide any lingering spirits to the other side. Though the act alone had little active magic to do with it, it is in that moment he'd feel some of his strength return. Strength to endure and channel just a bit more of Eldath's magic in the future. 

With all of that eventually done, he settles down near Bubbles for respite and tending as necessary.

----> Just prior to Short Rest, using Harness Divine to get back a 2nd level Spellslot
----> No HD to roll, but taking SR to get back Channel Divinity

 .

On Shanty's request Bubbles will immediately move the floating dead bodies, using his pike to avoid touching them, across to one side of the ship before taking the short rest  

Postponing their decision on which way to investigate next, the group of locathah agrees to take the time needed for a break. Some mend wounds, others revisit their blessings. Gulp finds a spot to meditate, while Shanty makes sure to play a soft melody to help the group relax.

• Undertow recovers 41 HP -> (91/91) (@Owl: Would you like to roll Hit Dice for Riptide too? He can roll 1d8 +2 up to nine times.)
• Bubbles recovers 27 HP -> (101/101)
• Shanty -> (67/67)
• Gulp recovers 12 HP -> (74/76)
• Sandlot -> (75/75)
• Barnacle recovers 48 HP -> (93/104)

Some of the locathah adventurers find time to do some investigating and clean-up work too. Bubbles skewers undead remains and places them in a more neat faction at a designated corner within the shipwreck. After a little while, they all sink lifelessly, no longer floating about.  

Undertow wonders if the Darkening itself is responsible for raising the dead, which prompts Bubbles to asks what exactly the creature were and, in turn, prompts Sandlot to look more closely at the remains. The cleric ponders if his old deity had something to do with this development, while asking his current deity for some guidance on the matter. Sandlot eventually concludes that, not unlike the coral mountain itself, these dead sailors rose too quickly. The wreck is relatively fresh and yet, foul magic had already taken hold of the bodies they found. To the best of Sandlot's understanding, this type of cursed magic takes time to work on its own. Unless, of course, there was some type of conduit for an intricately cast necromantic spell or ritual. The speed with which these sailors rose to serve the unholy powers of this world would suggest the latter.

(@Ori: Please also roll a medicine check.)

(@MB: Please roll your Hit Dice.) -> Done, thanks! (reference)

(@Owl: Just to reiterate, would you like to roll Hit Dice for Riptide or is the octopus good to go?) 

(OOC Rolling four hit dice = 10 + 12 + 11 + 12 + 3 from Shanty's song of rest = 58hp)

Tapping absently along with Shanty's shanty, Barnacle takes a moment's respite when it is offered. Absently playing with a half carved piece of wood from his pack, turning it and flipping it in his hands. After a while he runs a simple lathe along one of its edges, taking two slivers of wood from it. Considering the new form of the wood, he seems pleased and returns it to his pack.

Medicine: 19.
(If able to recast Guidance and apply bonus to check: 4.)

The music, while pleasant, is something Sandlot found himself tuning somewhat out over the resting period. The mystery of the transformation and its rapidness yet plagued him tot eh point of needing to reevaluate and even study the bodies with care...

@Sandlot: During your extended examination of the bodies, you are able to derive one additional piece of information: you recognize that these sailors died by drowning. You come to believe that this either means that drowning is part of the ritual you suspect took place here, or the storms above the Darkening may serve the purpose of providing corpses for said ritual. If the latter, there might be more than just this one purpose, though.

Once Barnacle concludes his underwater woodcarving practice, the party completes its Short Rest. Your options at the moment seem to be to either exit through the broken end of the ship and explore the inside of the coral mountain or investigate the caravel's captain's cabin through the hole in the ceiling of the room you rested in.