PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Grugga paddles out into the canal halfway between the body and the ones on the boat. Guessing that Rohuzar and Aubrey have it handled over there, he keep an eye on both groups and stays ready for anything (dodge action).
Guilim moves towards the edge of the boat but holds off on jumping into the water, looking over the side of the ship as he readies his halberd to jab down into the water if needed. He will ready his action to jump in if he sees anything that looks hostile or feels that the others are in combat.
Now the only one on his boat, Leelan tries to quicken his pace to get to where Aubrey and Rohuzar are. He uses the pole to get as close as possible while still leaving some room for them to resurface.
Once he’s close enough, he will pull out his rope from his bag and drop one end of it in the water.
Aubrey and Rohuzar swim down the to the restrained figure at the bottom of the canal. As they take stock of what they see, the coiled end of Leelan's hempen rope drifts down to them from above.
Grugga swims at the surface, monitoring the progress of Aubrey and Rohuzar and keeping a look out. He is ready for any attack, from above or below (dodge action).
Guilim stands alert in his boat, halberd raised like a harpoon in the event a threat emerges from the water. 20Guilim can see the light from Aubrey's mask below, and a shadowy form that can only be Rohuzar. From what he can see, there are no other large figures moving below, but there is a dark shape on the bottom in between Rohuzar and Aubrey. He doesn't see any imminent threat. Eskil (for now) holds his action and keeps a lookout for danger. 25Eskil keeps a look out around the surface. Other than the wind there is no sound from the topside of the docks. The full moon dominates the night sky visible above the canal and Eskil has the bizarre sensation that is it watching him. The wind really seems to be howling now, and though much of it cannot reach them down here, Eskil feels a chill in his bones. Some structures loom up close to the sides of the canal, but from this angle it is hard to tell what they are... warehouses, most likely given their location. There is a ladder heading up to the top about 30 feet down the canal in the direction of the lake, and another one about 15 feet away in the other direction on the opposite side of the canal. He sees no sign of spiders, golden eyeballs, or other threats.
Alone in his boat, Leelan takes the pole and pushes it out into the canal until he cannot reach bottom without leaning out over the side. Then, once he's drifted over top of where he can see Aubrey's mask light, he drops one end of his rope over the side in case it can aid those below.
In rapid succession, the four on the surface hear Aubrey's voice in their minds, "Hurry, someone´s drowning."
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Rohuzar plants his feet on the weight tied to the bottom and heaves up on the chain with all his - considerable - might! The bottom link bends and Rohuzar feels the chain give.
Not having half the stength of Rohuzar Aubrey instead tries to help him by telekinetically pushing the body up towards the surface while moving closer to try to get the body onto one of the pole boats. "Get closer with the pole boats." He messages to Leelan, Eskil and Guilim.
Rohuzar tears the chain from from the stone weight and a "CA-CHINK" is heard loudly by the three underwater, and is audible to those above in the boats.
Aubrey uses his telekinesis to push the body - which is close to neutral bouyancy already but for the chain still wrapped loosely around the torso - and Grugga uses his action to help by following the rope up to the surface and pulling the body up. They are able to get the body up to the surface where one of the boats is waiting right above them.
??? 16
Eskil, Guilim and Leelan are up.
Eskil and Guilim see some wrapped in dark fabric and a chain pop up to the surface next to Leelan's boat. Leelan sees a body in dark, soggy clothes with a hood covering its face, a chain criss-crossing the torso, and rope bindings at the wrists and ankles. It is in the water next to his boat, supported at the surface by Grugga who is surfacing behind/below it. The body is not moving.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Leelan is startled by the body surfacing next to his boat, but quickly snaps out of it as he rushes to help Grugga. He moves the boat closer and attempts to pull it out of the water with the artificer’s help.
"Grugga! Grab them from the waist and try to heave him over the side."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(I'll let Grugga'shelp for this round extend to helping Leelan)
Leelan attempts to pull the body up over the rail and into the boat, with assistance from Grugga pushing from outside. 19
The body is lighter than it appears... whoever this was they were not a heavy person. But with the soggy clothing and chain, Leelan is not able to muscle them up over the side. The body remains at the surface, alongside the boat.
Eskil and Guilim are still up this round. Their boat remains 15 feet away near the edge of the canal.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Guilim will move to help get at the body, going to move the boat closer so that he is close to the other boat. Once they stop of he can manage he will go to help recover the body from the water.
(The DM is reminded of an old joke. Q: How many halflings, orcs, humans and gnomes does it take to lift a body into a canoe? A: I think that's just about enough.)
With the second pole boat in position, the crew is able to pull the body up and into the boat with Guilim and Eskil. As noted before, it is surprisingly light, despite the heavy wet clothes and chain. Removing the hood, the four on the surface (Guilim, Eskil, Grugga and Leelan) are greeted with a startling and unpleasant sight. The body is a young elven woman, perhaps 18 or 20. You think she may have been attractive, even beautiful once, but her face shows signs of terrible abuse. She's been slashed across both cheeks with a blade and it looks like one of her cheekbones may be broken. Worst of all, someone has branded her forehead with a strange symbol.
Both the cuts to her face and the brand are still fresh and raw. She is turning blue.
??? - 15
(We are still kind of in initiative until....)
Aubrey and Rohuzar...
Before you surface... you both notice something. In the weeds on the bottom where you found the body... there are other chains and stones. Some look new... some have started to accumulate algae and plant growth... and some can barely be seen on the bottom, so rusted and overgrown they are. You both spot at least a dozen. But there are no other bodies....
Then you both surface and note what was detailed above.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
((Once it's his turn)) Grugga places a palm on the poor girls mangled face then takes a copper coin out of his pocket and flips it over his shoulder into the water. "Be somewhere else tonight, reaper..." he mutters under his breath... an old farmers' invocation (casts spare the dying).
He frowns, looking at the girl. "Aubrey... didn't you say people were being taken on full moons and strange symbols were being carved on their hearth? I think I know what these lake creatures are..." He looks like he's going to be sick, then he turns aside and is sick.
(For my next turn) Leelan looks baffled by the series of event that just transpired. What should have been an exciting encounter with a new specie had turned into an improvised rescue mission. An expression of shock could be seen on his face.
Trying to focus back on the situation, the gnome attempts to remove the bindings on the girl’s wrists and ankles. He then notices her skin. Early signs of hypothermia. They needed to help her stay warm. Having left his bedroll at Aubrey’s estate, Leelan thought of an alternative.
"Guilim, would you kindly lend your cape? This young lady is freezing and we need to help keep her warm."
The woman coughs up what seems an impossible amount of whatever and then begins breathing again. She is unconscious but stable and we are out of initiative. Leelan does his best to keep the poor woman warm while the rest of you can discuss how to proceed and what this means… both for tonight’s mission and the days to come.
Oh… and since you all pulled off such a daring and unexpected rescue, I will give you all Inspiration. Nice teamwork!
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
"Be praised! She's alive!" Grugga quickly fumbles for one of the little contraptions in his "fanny pack". After nearly dropping it in the water in his haste he grabs good hold of a recognizable little box... he begins cranking and the box begins to hum. When it does, he holds it up to the girl's nose and it begins spraying out a mist of effervescent green mist for her to breathe in. (casts cure wounds healing: 7)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Yes, that was the rumor at the market this morning, and it is a full moon tonight."Aubrey answers Grugga as he removes his breathing equipment and climbs on board pole boat b, but still looking over at the young elf. "What do you mean Grugga, what are these lake creatures then?" He tensely asks the artificer. From his position in pole boat b just beside pole boat a Aubrey uses prestidigitation to quickly warm the elf.
"Perhaps there could still be money in this Rohuzar. Let´s at least talk to the elf if she comes around. The symbol indicates some kind of sacrifice and what we both saw down there suggests there has been sacrifices like this for some time, and as Grugga mentioned, this is likely connected to the disappearances we heard about. I´m willing to bet that there are someone prepared to reward us for getting to the bottom of this, no pun intended." Aubrey says with a grim smile. "I agree we should continue with our current mission, but I think we must expect that these creatures are devouring the bodies sunk into the canal, so I wouldn´t give much hope to peaceful negotiations." He finishes while taking a good look at the symbol branded into the elf´s forehead. Knowledge to recognize symbol:18 (never mind :-P )
???
9
(Eskil, Grugga, Guilim and Leelan are still up this round if they plan to take any actions.)
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
As fast as he can Aubrey messages the others "Hurry, someone´s drowning." and swims closer to try to rescue the poor fellow.
(OOC: There doesn´t seem to be an action required to use the awakened mind so perhaps it is just like talking in general.)
Grugga paddles out into the canal halfway between the body and the ones on the boat. Guessing that Rohuzar and Aubrey have it handled over there, he keep an eye on both groups and stays ready for anything (dodge action).
Guilim moves towards the edge of the boat but holds off on jumping into the water, looking over the side of the ship as he readies his halberd to jab down into the water if needed. He will ready his action to jump in if he sees anything that looks hostile or feels that the others are in combat.
Now the only one on his boat, Leelan tries to quicken his pace to get to where Aubrey and Rohuzar are. He uses the pole to get as close as possible while still leaving some room for them to resurface.
Once he’s close enough, he will pull out his rope from his bag and drop one end of it in the water.
Aubrey and Rohuzar swim down the to the restrained figure at the bottom of the canal. As they take stock of what they see, the coiled end of Leelan's hempen rope drifts down to them from above.
Grugga swims at the surface, monitoring the progress of Aubrey and Rohuzar and keeping a look out. He is ready for any attack, from above or below (dodge action).
Guilim stands alert in his boat, halberd raised like a harpoon in the event a threat emerges from the water. 20 Guilim can see the light from Aubrey's mask below, and a shadowy form that can only be Rohuzar. From what he can see, there are no other large figures moving below, but there is a dark shape on the bottom in between Rohuzar and Aubrey. He doesn't see any imminent threat. Eskil (for now) holds his action and keeps a lookout for danger. 25 Eskil keeps a look out around the surface. Other than the wind there is no sound from the topside of the docks. The full moon dominates the night sky visible above the canal and Eskil has the bizarre sensation that is it watching him. The wind really seems to be howling now, and though much of it cannot reach them down here, Eskil feels a chill in his bones. Some structures loom up close to the sides of the canal, but from this angle it is hard to tell what they are... warehouses, most likely given their location. There is a ladder heading up to the top about 30 feet down the canal in the direction of the lake, and another one about 15 feet away in the other direction on the opposite side of the canal. He sees no sign of spiders, golden eyeballs, or other threats.
Alone in his boat, Leelan takes the pole and pushes it out into the canal until he cannot reach bottom without leaning out over the side. Then, once he's drifted over top of where he can see Aubrey's mask light, he drops one end of his rope over the side in case it can aid those below.
In rapid succession, the four on the surface hear Aubrey's voice in their minds, "Hurry, someone´s drowning."
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
(I’m assuming we’re up again)
Rohuzar is going to try to break the chain.
Strength 24
Rohuzar plants his feet on the weight tied to the bottom and heaves up on the chain with all his - considerable - might! The bottom link bends and Rohuzar feels the chain give.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Upon hearing Aubrey's voice in his head, Grugga dives down to Aubrey and Rohuzar and uses his action to assist in some way.
Not having half the stength of Rohuzar Aubrey instead tries to help him by telekinetically pushing the body up towards the surface while moving closer to try to get the body onto one of the pole boats. "Get closer with the pole boats." He messages to Leelan, Eskil and Guilim.
Rohuzar tears the chain from from the stone weight and a "CA-CHINK" is heard loudly by the three underwater, and is audible to those above in the boats.
Aubrey uses his telekinesis to push the body - which is close to neutral bouyancy already but for the chain still wrapped loosely around the torso - and Grugga uses his action to help by following the rope up to the surface and pulling the body up. They are able to get the body up to the surface where one of the boats is waiting right above them.
??? 16
Eskil, Guilim and Leelan are up.
Eskil and Guilim see some wrapped in dark fabric and a chain pop up to the surface next to Leelan's boat. Leelan sees a body in dark, soggy clothes with a hood covering its face, a chain criss-crossing the torso, and rope bindings at the wrists and ankles. It is in the water next to his boat, supported at the surface by Grugga who is surfacing behind/below it. The body is not moving.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Leelan is startled by the body surfacing next to his boat, but quickly snaps out of it as he rushes to help Grugga. He moves the boat closer and attempts to pull it out of the water with the artificer’s help.
"Grugga! Grab them from the waist and try to heave him over the side."
(I'll let Grugga's help for this round extend to helping Leelan)
Leelan attempts to pull the body up over the rail and into the boat, with assistance from Grugga pushing from outside. 19
The body is lighter than it appears... whoever this was they were not a heavy person. But with the soggy clothing and chain, Leelan is not able to muscle them up over the side. The body remains at the surface, alongside the boat.
Eskil and Guilim are still up this round. Their boat remains 15 feet away near the edge of the canal.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Guilim will move to help get at the body, going to move the boat closer so that he is close to the other boat. Once they stop of he can manage he will go to help recover the body from the water.
(The DM is reminded of an old joke. Q: How many halflings, orcs, humans and gnomes does it take to lift a body into a canoe? A: I think that's just about enough.)
With the second pole boat in position, the crew is able to pull the body up and into the boat with Guilim and Eskil. As noted before, it is surprisingly light, despite the heavy wet clothes and chain. Removing the hood, the four on the surface (Guilim, Eskil, Grugga and Leelan) are greeted with a startling and unpleasant sight. The body is a young elven woman, perhaps 18 or 20. You think she may have been attractive, even beautiful once, but her face shows signs of terrible abuse. She's been slashed across both cheeks with a blade and it looks like one of her cheekbones may be broken. Worst of all, someone has branded her forehead with a strange symbol.
Both the cuts to her face and the brand are still fresh and raw. She is turning blue.
??? - 15
(We are still kind of in initiative until....)
Aubrey and Rohuzar...
Before you surface... you both notice something. In the weeds on the bottom where you found the body... there are other chains and stones. Some look new... some have started to accumulate algae and plant growth... and some can barely be seen on the bottom, so rusted and overgrown they are. You both spot at least a dozen. But there are no other bodies....
Then you both surface and note what was detailed above.
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
((Once it's his turn)) Grugga places a palm on the poor girls mangled face then takes a copper coin out of his pocket and flips it over his shoulder into the water. "Be somewhere else tonight, reaper..." he mutters under his breath... an old farmers' invocation (casts spare the dying).
He frowns, looking at the girl. "Aubrey... didn't you say people were being taken on full moons and strange symbols were being carved on their hearth? I think I know what these lake creatures are..." He looks like he's going to be sick, then he turns aside and is sick.
(For my next turn) Leelan looks baffled by the series of event that just transpired. What should have been an exciting encounter with a new specie had turned into an improvised rescue mission. An expression of shock could be seen on his face.
Trying to focus back on the situation, the gnome attempts to remove the bindings on the girl’s wrists and ankles. He then notices her skin. Early signs of hypothermia. They needed to help her stay warm. Having left his bedroll at Aubrey’s estate, Leelan thought of an alternative.
"Guilim, would you kindly lend your cape? This young lady is freezing and we need to help keep her warm."
The woman coughs up what seems an impossible amount of whatever and then begins breathing again. She is unconscious but stable and we are out of initiative. Leelan does his best to keep the poor woman warm while the rest of you can discuss how to proceed and what this means… both for tonight’s mission and the days to come.
Oh… and since you all pulled off such a daring and unexpected rescue, I will give you all Inspiration. Nice teamwork!
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
"Be praised! She's alive!" Grugga quickly fumbles for one of the little contraptions in his "fanny pack". After nearly dropping it in the water in his haste he grabs good hold of a recognizable little box... he begins cranking and the box begins to hum. When it does, he holds it up to the girl's nose and it begins spraying out a mist of effervescent green mist for her to breathe in. (casts cure wounds healing: 7)
Rohuzar swims to the surface and climbs back in the boat. He peels off Grugga’s invention from his face and heaves several breaths.
“There are more down there… chains… but no bodies. Ve have stumbled on bigger problem. Not paying one, though. Not yet. Ve finish job ve came for.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Yes, that was the rumor at the market this morning, and it is a full moon tonight." Aubrey answers Grugga as he removes his breathing equipment and climbs on board pole boat b, but still looking over at the young elf. "What do you mean Grugga, what are these lake creatures then?" He tensely asks the artificer. From his position in pole boat b just beside pole boat a Aubrey uses prestidigitation to quickly warm the elf.
"Perhaps there could still be money in this Rohuzar. Let´s at least talk to the elf if she comes around. The symbol indicates some kind of sacrifice and what we both saw down there suggests there has been sacrifices like this for some time, and as Grugga mentioned, this is likely connected to the disappearances we heard about. I´m willing to bet that there are someone prepared to reward us for getting to the bottom of this, no pun intended." Aubrey says with a grim smile. "I agree we should continue with our current mission, but I think we must expect that these creatures are devouring the bodies sunk into the canal, so I wouldn´t give much hope to peaceful negotiations." He finishes while taking a good look at the symbol branded into the elf´s forehead. Knowledge to recognize symbol:18 (never mind :-P )