Ghosts of Saltmarsh by Dylanthalas

Wake keeps the eyes of Selune fixed upon Xolo, hoping that he will direct his wrath towards Wake and not the others.

“Moonlight, no. But her radiance knows no limits!” He scoffs back to Xolo.

Movement: none

Action: Sacred Flame DEx 13 or 2 radiant damage

Gorik - The blade flashes in the dimly lit cave and strikes true. Water sprays from the body of Xolo, but water now tinged with blood.

Kulogall - Xolo grasps his chest where Gorik's blade struck him and snarls at you, "Never! NEVER!" The firebolt slams into him in a gout of steam. He winces from the blow and you can see that his skin appears burned where the firebolt struck.

Ruby - You bury the shortsword in Xolo's back and he cries out in pain and anger. He twists aside and you see the blade slide through him as if it slid through only water. He jerks free of the blade, but you can see blood pooling from the wound through the rent in his armor.

Wake - The flame like radiance descends upon Xolo, spitting and sputtering as it touches his body. The flames snuff out with a sizzle and he appears unharmed.

Xolo DEX Saving Throw: 13

Daveth will swing his longsword at Xolo with both hands now, dropping his shield in the sand. The longsword slices a red path from shoulder to hip across Xolo's front. The back swing signs a line almost perpendicular to the first, horizontally across his chest. Xolo is bleeding from numerous wounds now, gasping heavily and swaying a bit on his feet.

Attack: 13 Damage: 3

Attack: 15 Damage: 6

Xolo holds himself and repeats, "No... No! NO!" A fierce wind suddenly tears at you all, threatening to knock you from your feet. Dark clouds coalesce near the roof of the sea cave, growing and roiling with lightning. Lightning cracks, crawling throughout the storm cloud, again and again. Xolo shouts with all the fury of the storm above, "I WILL NOT FAIL!" Electricity crawls from his mouth and eyes, arcing to the ground round him. With a cry of fury he thrusts both his hands upward, "QUEEN OF THE DEPTHS, YOU CHOSEN CALLS FOR AID!" Xolo closes his hands and rips them downward, drawing down a massive bolt of lightning. The bolt slams into Xolo and erupts with a deafening BOOM.

Xolo, Ariana, Gorik, Ruby, and Daveth must make a DC 13 DEX Saving Throw or take 19 lightning damage, half damage if successful.

Xolo DEX Saving Throw: 16

Daveth DEX Saving Throw: 5

All - The after glow of the immense lightning strike fades from your eyes after a bit, though your ears still ring. Xolo lays in the sand, his leather armor blackened and smoking. His body is burnt as well. Over half his hair is missing, the flesh raw and red. The right side of his face is similarly injured. His eyes are no longer orbs of storm clouds and lightning. Xolo gasps and wheezes in the sand as waves lap at his form. He raises a shaking hand and suddenly it falls to his chest with a wheeze. His eyes close and his breathing stops.

Xolo is DYING. Combat has ended.

Wake lowers his shield and turns to Kulogall. If he allows it, he will embrace him in a bro-hug.

”I’m sorry, Kulogall. But you know he’s been dead for a long time now, we just put an end to his corrupted form. I will go with you back to the storeroom, if you wish. You don’t need to be here for the cleanup.”

Wake will look to Kulogall for signs of how he’s processing all of this.

Dex save: 9

Elwyn quickly moves over to Xolo's lifeless body, glancing over at his electrocuted companions on his way there checking they don't need immediate attention.
Medicine to check on Xolo: 10
"Don't take this the wrong way Kulogall, but I sort of expected more of a chosen of The ***** Queen." He says grimly, leaning over Xolo. "We could use some information out of him though."

Ruby - You take 6 points of lightning damage from the blast.

Elwyn - Xolo isn't dead, but his life is slipping away as you watch. If you intended to do so, you successfully stabilize him with the 10 you rolled.

"I think he will live, if we let him." Elwyn says, looking up at Kulogall. "Is he too dangerous to keep alive? Is he beyond redemption?"

(OOC: Yes, Elwyn would stabilize Xolo.)

Kulogall collapses to the ground, sobbing, initially inconsolable.  All of his energy spent, he feels the psychic shock of losing his brother.  He reaches out to him in his mind, as he looks at his lifeless form.  “Are you there?  Speak to me!! Is there any hope for you, any chance I have to redeem you?  Speak to me!!!”

Kulogall -

Kulogall in between sobs says to Elwyn and Wake, “Yes, bring him back!  Please!  The ***** has lost her grip on him!  Help him, I beg you!”

Wake nods solemnly to Kulogall and approaches the steaming body of Xolo. He will stoop down and,  although he has no magic to bring him back, he will use his best care and Healer’s Kit supplies to clean, bandage and tend to his wounds. He will pray to Selune to aid in Xolo’s redemption and healing.

Medicine: 13 plus Guidance: 1

While tending to the cuts and burns, he will remove any personal items from Xolo to be returned when/if he is recovered and of right mind. He will prefer to give any items to Kulogall, but will give them to others if Kulogall does not wish to approach.

Wake - You're able to clean sand and dirt from Xolo's many wounds, including the burns. Using gut and needle, you close the slashes and punctures. Xolo is bandaged and unconscious, but by now his breathing has assumed a steady, slow rhythm. He will awaken in 3 hours.

Seeing Xolo being in good care Elwyn turns his attention to the rest of the sea cave. Investigation: 20
He will also scan the sea for any signs of ships and/or manifestations of the ***** Queen. Perception: 8
"See if you can wake him up, we have more work to do here." He says to Wake.

Elwyn - Aside from the boat and the rock it is anchored to you don't find anything else of note in the sea cave. Gazing out to sea you find a clear horizon and gently rolling waves. There does appear to be a ship far out at sea, but its sails are the color of bleached canvas and you can barely make out a flag flying from the stern of the ship. From what you can see it appears to be nothing more than a trade ship.

"There is a ship out there, it might be nothing but this boat here is likely used to get to a ship further out to sea. Did we find a spyglass earlier?" He says to the others while standing at the mouth of the sea cave looking out to sea.

Wake recovers a spyglass and parchment from Xolo during his treatment. He offers it to whomever is closest with a warning.

”Be cautious with these, they may be enchanted or cursed.”

Any who would inspect the items would find: A peculiar spyglass and folded piece of parchment. The parchment appears blank but for a heavily stylized compass rose in one corner. The spyglass is embossed with great crashing waves along its length.

Wake will slump and sit on the floor at the head of Xolo, remaining near to monitor his condition.

”It will be several hours before I would expect him to regain consciousness. Perhaps this is a good time to consolidate ourselves and fully rest.” Wake will suggest.

Wake will study the cave to determine if the tide is likely to submerge it within eight hours.

Wake - There is an obvious high water mark back near the entrance to the sea cave. Judging from its position, the cave will likely be submerged.

Elwyn grabs the spyglass and tries to take a closer look at that ship.
Perception if needed: 15
He also takes a look at that paper checking it for signs of a hidden map.
Investigation: 15