Sandlot finally has it his way and the group begins to move from its resting place over to the western end of the underwater coral caverns. On their way, the party crosses the field of luminescent coral and crosses over the western portion of the dark field of neatly arranged sailor corpses. The light of the former reveals with certainty that nothing has changed in the area, but they can't be completely sure that the same holds true for the latter area given its darkness.
Eventually, the party reaches a path that is just across the ship that first gave them access to the belly of the coral mountain (Path 1). The coral creates a passageway here that leads directly to yet another sunken ship which is nearly enveloped by the surrounding coral. On the ship, about five feet from the sandy ocean floor, there’s a sizeable hole. This orifice is about fifteen feet in diameter, and it is located on the ship's hull. A faint green light emanates from somewhere inside the lower decks of the ship.
(OOC: The group is anywhere between 20 to 35 feet away from the hole. How would you like to proceed?)
Barnacle's knuckles whiten as he tightens his grip on his trident. "I've got a bad feeling about this... What's the plan? Same as before, Barnacle and Bubbles in the van?"
"Let me check it out first, maybe Gar is not even there." The formation suggested by Barnacle worked well so far, of course, but it's nice to know where you are going. Even if Gulp was not the "scoutiest" one of the group, he deemed himself good enough to notice some danger and to avoid some too, so he volunteered himself as a scout. He moved forward - slow and careful, counting on the difference in lighting (after all, he was in the dark, while whatever was inside - on the light), and peeked inside.
As Gulp proceeds Bubble readies himself to 'dash' forward to attack anything that strikes at Gulp, making sure that he stays within 40ft (swim speed) of him.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
Sandlot nodded in agreement, though would look on uncomfortably as Gulp swam away. While waiting with baited breath for the monk's return, the old catfish took to keeping a closer look out on their surroundings, both from whence they came and the fore, if only to distract himself. Though given their enemies ability to merge and move through the coral, the caution wasn't entirely undue, or so Sandlot used to mutely assuaged himself.
Barnacle suggests that the bulkier among the party advance first but Gulp volunteers to take a look ahead quietly. Nonetheless, Bubbles stands ready to dash in if need be.
Gulp approaches the opening and has no reason to believe that his presence has been noted by anyone other than his own party. Within the lighted area, there is life in abundance. Starfish of all shades grow on the coral, in the opening, and inside the hull of the ship. Tiny fish that flash silver and green swim in schools, and algae, seaweed and other underwater plants grow freely and thrive, all lit by the soft green glow. Keeping an eye out from a distance, Sandlot also picks up on these details.
Once Gulp pokes his head through the opening on the ship's hull, he manages to identify some more details. The source of the green light quickly becomes apparent. About ten feet from the aft of the lower deck, a large turtle, its head and limbs pulled in, floats in the middle of the rear cabin. The green light emanates directly from the creature’s shell.
For a good few moments Gulp stared at the glowing turtle trying to understand what is going on. Finally, he gave up and returned to others with the report. "Me be damn if I know what is going on there. It's like that turtle is a lantern there or something. Never saw a glowing turtle before. Not sure I want to touch it... Looks peaceful enough, though."
"Glowing Turtle you say.... how.... curious!" Sandlot said with eyes lit up with excitement instead of trepidation for a change. "Hm... hm... Perhaps a servant of Lady Eldath, it is... Or another's even... captured and changed to help create all this, it may even be... hmm...." Sandlot trails off from there rubbing his temple, hoping to message out an answer from a more spiritual perspective. If not in determining to be some divine beast, then at least find clues that might suggest such a being as a necessary component for the dark ritual in place.
Bubbles curiousity is piqued and he swims forward to peer into the hole as well, not that his knowledge would contribute to solving the mystery of the turtle below.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
Currently playing in: Quest for the Shunned City, Coliseum of Conquest, DragonDenn's Dragonlords, Shipwrecked on Fugue, Tomb of Annihilation, Razor's Lost Mine of Phandelver, The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above
Currently DMing: Princes of the Apocalypse, Out of the Abyss, Coliseum of Conquest—The Arena (Sometimes)
Gulp returns and shares his findings with the rest of the party. The other locathah can barely hide their curiosity and Bubbles leads them into the ship as a group to take a look at this turtle as well.
@Sandlot: It is hard to determine if this creature follows any gods simply by looking at it. That said, the life its light is creating within this small area certainly strikes you as either divine or perhaps druidic in nature. You also notice that the undead do not seem to willingly approach this ship. You assume they are being repelled by the power emanating from this strange creature. In fact, this passage inside the coral mountain looks fairly unexplored in general. You take all of this to mean that this creature is unlikely to be under the evil influence of Gar Shatterkeel.
@Barnacle & @Shanty: You work in conjunction, sharing your respective knowledge bases regarding all natural life. You notice a type of energy emanating from this creature that makes you think of the Feywild. In fact, you judge that there is a chance that this creature has an extremely strong connection with the Feywild, otherwise you would likely not be able to place its source being so far from any portals leading to that realm. You gather that this creature was able to enter a protected state of suspended animation, and guess that this happened as this ship sunk should the creature have been a passenger in it. This torpor of sorts is likely protecting them from drowning, or perhaps it can breathe underwater like locathah can. Finally, you presume that this creature can be awaken from its hibernation with a simple shake.
Sandlot seemed at once both excited and still wary about the new discovery, and would point out as much as he'd taken into acount. Though anything Barnacle and Shanty has to share leaves him all the more conflited. "Feywild.... Heard of this place... This one has not.... Not for a long time.... Not since the renewel of spirt...."Sandlot mentions, eyes becoming half-lidded and distant as he'd begun to drift in thought. But if left to his own devices for a few short moments, he sighed softly and shook his head.
"An ally, this one would be... a powerful one at that, if so connected to another plane.... but without guarantees of surviving our realm...."He shuddered, and taken to clutching the music box reliquary to his chest. ".... Clear it is, Gar would not settle here.... So off, we must be.... But return we should, we must... Unless...."Sandlot looks more pointedly at the others. "A way of protecting this one, any of you have?... To safely awaken them, yes.... without succumbing to our realm."He lets the words hang there for awhile, both for debate and for answers. But if it however becomes clear that gaining the possible assistance of the fey-touched creature would prove too difficult or impossible at the current conjecture, Sandlot solemnly nods in acceptance, before suggesting they take another path.
(@All: Sandlot is suggesting path #2 next, if noone has any ideas that wish to put forth for protect the turtle IC.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Undertow responds to Sandlot's plea: "As you mentioned, I keep this Cap of Water Breathing handy for whenever Riptide wants to assume a less water-friendly form. As long as he remains an octopus, I could let this turtle borrow it. That is, if you truly believe they would be an ally to us."
Undertow offers the magical cap and lets the rest of the group decide.
"Hm... Anyone speaks turtle?" Gulp remained on the practical side of things. "What if it takes us for the offenders? It looks powerful,"agreed he with Sandlot, "but is it a defender of someone to defend?"The question was too philosophical for him and he led others to decide.
Path 2 looked as good as any other to him and he, again, would go forward to keep an eye on things.
As soon as Gulp asked if anyone spoke turtle, Sandlot sideyes Undertow, if only for a brief moment. The rest leaves Sandlot looking initially speculative, before he simply shakes his head. "Know not would we without asking first... For though the stones and shell can be cast... A future divined by this one... On our side, time is not... Not entirely, or so we can assume."He expressed calmly, then looked more fully to Undertow. "If means you have, then... means you use, this one would suggest still... Though uncertain is this one, an ally we find.... at least for certain, no enemy we would awaken now."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Undertow listens to Barnacle, Gulp, and then Sandlot. The ranger nods, calls Riptide to his side, and approaches the large turtle. With the magical cap in one hand, Undertow reaches for the floating shell and shakes it with the other. The shell rumbles softly at first and then, as the creature's limbs begin to sprout from within, the greenish light it shone dims considerably. A bald head atop a long neck slowly makes its way out of the shell. The creature seems fairly confused, to the point it takes them a few moments to finally realize they are completely submerged and without any means to breath air. Undertow kindly and softly extends his arm over the humanoid turtle's head and places the cap on it, making sure to gesture in a friendly manner while doing so. A few seconds pass before the creature responds with a gentle smile.
Now in full view of the party, it becomes clear that this creature is a tortle, although it is hard to discern what gender they might be. They speak with a slow, deep resonance, and their head slowly gyrates as they get excited to meet so many locathah at once. The tortle has a gentle demeanor, but they speak a language that no one in the party understands at first. Realizing that, it changes to a more approachable speech (Aquan, which everyone understands.) "Hello... My name is Amble... It is curious to make your acquaintance under the sea... Thank you for the gift of underwater breathing... I hope I can repay for it somehow before I find my way out of this particular predicament I find myself in... May I ask what is it that brings you to this shipwreck?"
("... safe to assume we're heading for passage 1 from the main chamber? Because that'd definitely be Sandlot's vote." Path 1 it is!)
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Sandlot finally has it his way and the group begins to move from its resting place over to the western end of the underwater coral caverns. On their way, the party crosses the field of luminescent coral and crosses over the western portion of the dark field of neatly arranged sailor corpses. The light of the former reveals with certainty that nothing has changed in the area, but they can't be completely sure that the same holds true for the latter area given its darkness.
Eventually, the party reaches a path that is just across the ship that first gave them access to the belly of the coral mountain (Path 1). The coral creates a passageway here that leads directly to yet another sunken ship which is nearly enveloped by the surrounding coral. On the ship, about five feet from the sandy ocean floor, there’s a sizeable hole. This orifice is about fifteen feet in diameter, and it is located on the ship's hull. A faint green light emanates from somewhere inside the lower decks of the ship.
(OOC: The group is anywhere between 20 to 35 feet away from the hole. How would you like to proceed?)
Barnacle's knuckles whiten as he tightens his grip on his trident. "I've got a bad feeling about this... What's the plan? Same as before, Barnacle and Bubbles in the van?"
"Let me check it out first, maybe Gar is not even there." The formation suggested by Barnacle worked well so far, of course, but it's nice to know where you are going. Even if Gulp was not the "scoutiest" one of the group, he deemed himself good enough to notice some danger and to avoid some too, so he volunteered himself as a scout. He moved forward - slow and careful, counting on the difference in lighting (after all, he was in the dark, while whatever was inside - on the light), and peeked inside.
Stealth: 21
Perception: 16
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
As Gulp proceeds Bubble readies himself to 'dash' forward to attack anything that strikes at Gulp, making sure that he stays within 40ft (swim speed) of him.
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
Sandlot nodded in agreement, though would look on uncomfortably as Gulp swam away. While waiting with baited breath for the monk's return, the old catfish took to keeping a closer look out on their surroundings, both from whence they came and the fore, if only to distract himself. Though given their enemies ability to merge and move through the coral, the caution wasn't entirely undue, or so Sandlot used to mutely assuaged himself.
Perception: 18.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Barnacle suggests that the bulkier among the party advance first but Gulp volunteers to take a look ahead quietly. Nonetheless, Bubbles stands ready to dash in if need be.
Gulp approaches the opening and has no reason to believe that his presence has been noted by anyone other than his own party. Within the lighted area, there is life in abundance. Starfish of all shades grow on the coral, in the opening, and inside the hull of the ship. Tiny fish that flash silver and green swim in schools, and algae, seaweed and other underwater plants grow freely and thrive, all lit by the soft green glow. Keeping an eye out from a distance, Sandlot also picks up on these details.
Once Gulp pokes his head through the opening on the ship's hull, he manages to identify some more details. The source of the green light quickly becomes apparent. About ten feet from the aft of the lower deck, a large turtle, its head and limbs pulled in, floats in the middle of the rear cabin. The green light emanates directly from the creature’s shell.
For a good few moments Gulp stared at the glowing turtle trying to understand what is going on. Finally, he gave up and returned to others with the report. "Me be damn if I know what is going on there. It's like that turtle is a lantern there or something. Never saw a glowing turtle before. Not sure I want to touch it... Looks peaceful enough, though."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Glowing Turtle you say.... how.... curious!" Sandlot said with eyes lit up with excitement instead of trepidation for a change. "Hm... hm... Perhaps a servant of Lady Eldath, it is... Or another's even... captured and changed to help create all this, it may even be... hmm...." Sandlot trails off from there rubbing his temple, hoping to message out an answer from a more spiritual perspective. If not in determining to be some divine beast, then at least find clues that might suggest such a being as a necessary component for the dark ritual in place.
Religion: 23.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Glowing, you say?"
Barnacle racks his brain for any helpful nugget of information.
Nature 4
"Turtles don't normally do that."
Edit: Help from Shanty - 20
Bubbles curiousity is piqued and he swims forward to peer into the hole as well, not that his knowledge would contribute to solving the mystery of the turtle below.
"Bubbles the Barbarian" (Locathah - Lvl 9) - Locathah Rising; Shai'ere Delatete (Githyanki Monk - Lvl 9) Rrakkma (deceased - MindFlayer); Saros Rockfoot (Deep Gnome Diviner - Lvl 5) - The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above; Tagret (Goliath Barbarian - Lvl 2) - Tales of Faerun;
Shanty will offer his expertise on turtles to help Barnacle.
Check out my Extended signature here
Class Guides: Barbarian, Rogue, Sorcerer, Bard General Guides: PvP
Currently playing in: Quest for the Shunned City, Coliseum of Conquest, DragonDenn's Dragonlords, Shipwrecked on Fugue, Tomb of Annihilation, Razor's Lost Mine of Phandelver, The Lost Kenku & One Grung Above
Currently DMing: Princes of the Apocalypse, Out of the Abyss, Coliseum of Conquest—The Arena (Sometimes)
Gulp returns and shares his findings with the rest of the party. The other locathah can barely hide their curiosity and Bubbles leads them into the ship as a group to take a look at this turtle as well.
@Sandlot: It is hard to determine if this creature follows any gods simply by looking at it. That said, the life its light is creating within this small area certainly strikes you as either divine or perhaps druidic in nature. You also notice that the undead do not seem to willingly approach this ship. You assume they are being repelled by the power emanating from this strange creature. In fact, this passage inside the coral mountain looks fairly unexplored in general. You take all of this to mean that this creature is unlikely to be under the evil influence of Gar Shatterkeel.
@Barnacle & @Shanty: You work in conjunction, sharing your respective knowledge bases regarding all natural life. You notice a type of energy emanating from this creature that makes you think of the Feywild. In fact, you judge that there is a chance that this creature has an extremely strong connection with the Feywild, otherwise you would likely not be able to place its source being so far from any portals leading to that realm. You gather that this creature was able to enter a protected state of suspended animation, and guess that this happened as this ship sunk should the creature have been a passenger in it. This torpor of sorts is likely protecting them from drowning, or perhaps it can breathe underwater like locathah can. Finally, you presume that this creature can be awaken from its hibernation with a simple shake.
Sandlot seemed at once both excited and still wary about the new discovery, and would point out as much as he'd taken into acount. Though anything Barnacle and Shanty has to share leaves him all the more conflited. "Feywild.... Heard of this place... This one has not.... Not for a long time.... Not since the renewel of spirt...." Sandlot mentions, eyes becoming half-lidded and distant as he'd begun to drift in thought. But if left to his own devices for a few short moments, he sighed softly and shook his head.
"An ally, this one would be... a powerful one at that, if so connected to another plane.... but without guarantees of surviving our realm...." He shuddered, and taken to clutching the music box reliquary to his chest. ".... Clear it is, Gar would not settle here.... So off, we must be.... But return we should, we must... Unless...." Sandlot looks more pointedly at the others. "A way of protecting this one, any of you have?... To safely awaken them, yes.... without succumbing to our realm." He lets the words hang there for awhile, both for debate and for answers. But if it however becomes clear that gaining the possible assistance of the fey-touched creature would prove too difficult or impossible at the current conjecture, Sandlot solemnly nods in acceptance, before suggesting they take another path.
(@All: Sandlot is suggesting path #2 next, if noone has any ideas that wish to put forth for protect the turtle IC.)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Undertow responds to Sandlot's plea: "As you mentioned, I keep this Cap of Water Breathing handy for whenever Riptide wants to assume a less water-friendly form. As long as he remains an octopus, I could let this turtle borrow it. That is, if you truly believe they would be an ally to us."
Undertow offers the magical cap and lets the rest of the group decide.
(OOC: The cap requires no attunement.)
Barnacle nods along as Undertow sets out his plan. "Waking them without it would be a death sentence and unlikely to win us any favour."
"Hm... Anyone speaks turtle?" Gulp remained on the practical side of things. "What if it takes us for the offenders? It looks powerful," agreed he with Sandlot, "but is it a defender of someone to defend?" The question was too philosophical for him and he led others to decide.
Path 2 looked as good as any other to him and he, again, would go forward to keep an eye on things.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Barnacle assumes that of anyone in the group could speak turtle, it would be Undertow. He looks at him expectantly.
As soon as Gulp asked if anyone spoke turtle, Sandlot sideyes Undertow, if only for a brief moment. The rest leaves Sandlot looking initially speculative, before he simply shakes his head. "Know not would we without asking first... For though the stones and shell can be cast... A future divined by this one... On our side, time is not... Not entirely, or so we can assume." He expressed calmly, then looked more fully to Undertow. "If means you have, then... means you use, this one would suggest still... Though uncertain is this one, an ally we find.... at least for certain, no enemy we would awaken now."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Undertow listens to Barnacle, Gulp, and then Sandlot. The ranger nods, calls Riptide to his side, and approaches the large turtle. With the magical cap in one hand, Undertow reaches for the floating shell and shakes it with the other. The shell rumbles softly at first and then, as the creature's limbs begin to sprout from within, the greenish light it shone dims considerably. A bald head atop a long neck slowly makes its way out of the shell. The creature seems fairly confused, to the point it takes them a few moments to finally realize they are completely submerged and without any means to breath air. Undertow kindly and softly extends his arm over the humanoid turtle's head and places the cap on it, making sure to gesture in a friendly manner while doing so. A few seconds pass before the creature responds with a gentle smile.
Now in full view of the party, it becomes clear that this creature is a tortle, although it is hard to discern what gender they might be. They speak with a slow, deep resonance, and their head slowly gyrates as they get excited to meet so many locathah at once. The tortle has a gentle demeanor, but they speak a language that no one in the party understands at first. Realizing that, it changes to a more approachable speech (Aquan, which everyone understands.) "Hello... My name is Amble... It is curious to make your acquaintance under the sea... Thank you for the gift of underwater breathing... I hope I can repay for it somehow before I find my way out of this particular predicament I find myself in... May I ask what is it that brings you to this shipwreck?"