This time, Bubbles and Barnacle break the silence simultaneously. One seems interested in the recent past while the other is concerned with the immediate future, but both looks equally confused. All look at Sandlot for some answer and the cleric provides one, to an extent. Amble takes this opportunity to say a few words: "As a fellow follower of Eldath... I understood what you... were trying to do... and saw the powdered diamond... as a clear indication... of what needed to be done next... I hope you do not mind... that I did what I did... The end result... should be reward enough."

Above the group, Whale-Gulp continues to swim in circles, now trying to get Shanty's attention. In the center of it all, Wave remains unclaimed.

(OOC: The impromptu cleansing ritual took some time. I'll say that Emboldened Bond is no longer active as of this point. Also, here's the map as of your most recent explorations. I realize Sandlot is trying to get everyone home, but let me know if there is anything else you want to do before you start heading out.)

MAP UPDATE:

Stretching out a hand to take Gar's trident, Barnacle hesitates for a moment, before quickly grasping the shaft of the trident and lifting it from the ground.  After all, this is a trophy of their battle, it cannot be left here.

Holding it in front of him, Barnacle takes a moment to take in Wave's shiny new form.

Investigation 3

(OOC I doubt there's time for Barnacle to gauge any magical abilities that Wave retains, but the intention is to see if it is still a formidable weapon that Barnacle would be proud to carry, or whether it is now more of a trophy.)

Shanty will drop concentration on Polymorph.

Ah, that felt much better! Not that Gulp did not like to be a whale per se - that raw power, the size, and the sense of calm careless existence that came with it (when nothing can stand in your way, it changes perspectives), but to be himself had its perks. Drinking, for example. Or hands. The monk clenched his fists and open hands again - yes, much better!

"Looks like we won? What do you say we leave that mass grave and go home now? My new brew should have to be ready yesterday. Can celebrate once we are there."

Gulp's statement about heading home triggers Bubbles to consider how the recount of his exploits to Whirlpool would be received and he gets a surge of pride to realise that perhaps the task would elevate his status greatly in his mentors eyes and he excitedly echoes the statement "Home...yes...let's leave this corrupted place as soon as we can....unless there are other tasks here?", looking to the wiser members of the group for answers to that question

Sandlot chuckled and reached out to pat Amble on the arm. "Mind not, I do... all played there part, as far as this one is concerned...." He smiled brightly, and then turned to address everyone else again. Just as it looked as if he was to speak however, the clerics face turned shocked for a moment. "Right... the bag... uh... a moment before we leave." Sandlot then swims over to retrieve the coin and holds it up.

Another thought seems to occur afterwards, leaving him swimming there with a troubled look on his face for a moment or two, before eventually shaking his head. "Find, I wish.... This one Bag of Holding... though fear I do its destruction... And after.... Hmm... Dead are likely, the priestess are... but assurance we should make as well...." He admits; and yet, as he looked over the conditions of the others, he nod solemnly. "One day, this one proposes... The remains of Amble's former conveyance... the ship we found them, is where we should rest for a time... Tomorrow then we search... and then, if all is well enough... go we then to inform the others... This I propose.... But force not on all, this one will not.... So, what will it be?" The question is asked, but regardless of answer, if some time can be spared to search the immediate area for the bag of holding, then that was to be Sandlot's next course of action... with some recruited assistance, naturally.

@Barnacle: You claim Wave and immediately feel that your grip on the weapon fits like a glove. The sensation you get is intoxicating, in a good way. With a quick investigation, you can tell that the weapon has lost some, if not much of its power, but it is still a magical weapon nonetheless. Learning all of its properties would likely require a lot more time and careful analysis. 

Shanty allows Gulp to return to his original form. The monk wastes no time in suggesting the group should head home from here. Bubbles agrees, but double checks with the rest of the group whether there is anything else they should be concerned about. Sandlot had initiated that topic just a moment ago, but the barbarian's question gets him thinking again. After a few seconds, the cleric proposes that the group retreats to Amble's former resting place to take a rest there.

@Sandlot: No matter how much searching you do, the bag of holding is not in the immediate area around which the fight came to an end. If you'd like to search for it more purposefully, either now or after the potential rest, please tell me which area of the map you are looking into.

(OOC: If taking a rest, will it be a short or long rest? If you decide to take a short rest, go ahead and roll hit dice if you have any left.) 

Barnacle runs his hands along the form of his new trident and tries out a few practice thrusts against nothing more than water.  He can see why Gar favoured this weapon so much and why he fought so hard to see it returned to his hand.  It is clearly a masterpiece worthy of serving a great hero.

DM's Screen:

The party watches as Barnacle performs a few test strikes with Wave and shows satisfaction with the weapon. Once they are ready, Undertow leads the group back to the wreck where Amble was found and the group settles in for a well-deserved period of respite. 

With much of the danger in the coral mountain already dealt with, the rest goes by almost undisturbed. At some point during Barnacle's watch, one of the undead sailors that Sandlot had turned comes shambling by the wreck. A few well-timed strikes with the new trident are enough to deal with the foe and learn that, at a minimum, Wave functions as a +3 magical weapon.

The remainder of the rest should have been quite pleasant on account of the natural shrine that grew here in Amble's dormant presence. However, four hours into the rest, some of the wounds on the locathah start to foam up. Undertow, Bubbles, Shanty, and Gulp grow grotesque blue boils on their faces and backs. They also grow a horrible fever and develop a tingling in the extremities. The four locathah:

• Have their CON score reduced by 3 and CHA score decrease by 3.
• Are vulnerable to radiant damage.
• Grow additional gills.

(OOC: Let me know what do you do from here. The Long Rest is not considered complete yet.)  

On waking to find himself so diseased all he can do is let out a pained "No...no...no....don't let me turn into one of those creatures!!!" his eyes darting to the healers amongst the group looking for some help "What's happening......can you cure it?"

OOC: Still should push for long rest....those not impacted by this disease might need to carry the rest of us

"I said we have to go home, did not I? But did anyone listened? No! Now, look what happened!" Gulp was tired and quite grumpy even without a mysterious disease eating him up.

(@Lerus: Sandlot would give up on the search until after the long rest. And at which point he'd expand his search to the ship wreck to the immediate south west that hasn't been explored, before gradually expanding his search, seeing as Gar probably hadn't teleported too far to have gotten back to Sandy so quick during the fight.)

If awoken ahead of time to the news of the others suffering, even tired old Sandlot finds the spirit to examine the injuries and symptoms in hopes of narrowing down the cause. Though in his heart took root a seed of fear that the affliction was somehow a curse of Umberlee. 'Focus, Sandlot.... Your heart is not hers... And so are they not...' He reminded, before softly chanting the words to help calm the nerves and guide his focus in the right direction.

Medicine: 16(including guidance)

"Calm yourself, G'ulp.... A ways home was yet... and weakened we were... if more Sahaugin had intercepted us..." He lets the words hang there, but gives G'ulp a stern look. Focusing again on the injured, namely Bubbles, since he seemed so panicked, Sandlot half mumbled the first part before speaking the rest with true clarity, "Poison, this is perhaps.... or a malady, given the delay.... hmm.... With rest, this one can mend perhaps.... but rest, this one would need.... unless..." He looks to Malady. "Have you the means to ease their woes, Amble?"

Shanty sighs.

"Well, this isn't ideal."

(@Ori: Feel free to RP for Undertow as well.)

The party wakes up to screams of pain as four of the locathah realize they are now infected with some disease. Bubbles panics a bit, Gulp goes on an "I told you so" tirade, Shanty downplays it a bit, and Undertow remains silent.

@Sandlot: After examining Bubbles for a few minutes, you arrive at the conclusion that this is a case of Bluerot. This disease targets humanoids and is carried by the undead. Over time, the grotesque blue boils will burst and spread to other parts of the body (they start at the face and back). Apart from varied magical means, the best way to overcome this disease is to rest. Some infected will recover on their own after a few days but others may succumb to it. 

Amble takes a look at Shanty and speaks: "I may be able... to cure this disease magically... but I won't be able to... do it more than twice... before needing some rest myself... Determine who may be more vulnerable... and I can prioritize them... Others will have to wait a bit longer." 

Barnacle snaps to attention still clutching his new trident, sure that the party has come under attack in the dawn twilight. Seeing no-one else here but the party, his tension passes. Listening to Amble explain he suddenly roots around in his bag.

"I might have something that would help, or could help? I'm not sure. Maybe you can take a look and see..."

Routing further into the depths of his pack, a few other items are tossed without care, some, mostly weapons, placed with great care.

"Here it is!"

Barnacle emerges triumphant, handing a half used jar of some kind of pungent ointment out for inspection. Careful observers note the amount of fluff and grit around the top of the jar.

"There's maybe enough for two. It always helps me when I'm getting a bit battered?"

(OOC Barnacle is offering use of Keoghtom's Ointment so that, if they're willing, all four of his companions could be cured.]

(@Lerus: Oh no! The dreaded having playing two full PCs at once! T.T)

Undertow had tried to keep up the stoic act even as Riptide looked on in worry. But as soon as Amble and Barnacle came forward with solutions, the young Ranger's expression immediately brightens up. Just as his mouth though, Sandlot chimed in with an, "Ah! Seems again then.... that Eldath provides...", earning sidelong glare from the ranger soon after. Seeming not notice however, Sandlot goes on to add after some quiet mumbling to himself, "A combined effort then, this one suggests... to conserve on some resources... mn... Who would like the oint-"

He hardly finishes the words before Undertow surged forward saying, "No better time then the present! Let's get lathered up, ya?"

The disease obviously affected the mind too, as Gulp managed to forget about the potion he offered everyone for the last 24 hours. Through the thickening leaps he mumbled "I have it too" and searched in his backpack for the Potion of Vitality.

OOC: Bubbles constitution has dropped to 11 so has 0 modifier for HP and CON saves. Definitely impacted Bubbles but see how others are compared to this.

(@MB: Did we ever roll for the number of available dosages in your vat of Keoghtom's Ointment? Your wording leads me to believe that we have, and that you got a 2. Is that right?)

The good news delivered by Amble reminds Barnacle and Gulp that they might have alternative sources of treatment at their disposal. After a few minutes of examination, the tortle says: "I am not... familiar with these concoctions... but they smell appropriate for the task at hand... If you are confident of their power... I invite you to make use of your boons... My own method is... uncertain."

After Sandlot's and Amble's partial approval, Undertow does not need another second to make his decision. Grabbing a healthy amount of Barnacle's ointment, the ranger covers his face and upper back in the thick substance and finds a corner in which to remain quiet and allow the ointment to work. 

(OOC: Who else is taking what and who is putting themselves in Amble's care?) 

(@MB: Did we ever roll for the number of available dosages in your vat of Keoghtom's Ointment? Your wording leads me to believe that we have, and that you got a 2. Is that right?

@Lerus: I think it was rolled before I got here... I think there were four uses and I think, without going back through posts, Barnacle has used two as my notes say there are two remaining.)