Q.Auger sends Py to invisibly watch the behavior of the Imperials with the next boats at the checkpoint and to count the number of guards.
A.12 soldiers on the barge, 12 on the road plus 4 cavalry on horseback, 2 messengers on camels, 2 orcs on giant hyenas. Stop & frisk where the road branches up to the castle.
Py reports nothing unusual ahead.
Re: Secret panel.
There are no existing secret compartments. It would be possible to fashion one in the hold big enough for a jug or a shield, or a narrow safe. You’d have to moor the boat for several days to a week to make it or, Auger can work as he goes, with the risk of falling overboard as he stretches into the hole, legs dangling off the prow.
Also possible: a secret panel in the back of one of the cabinets inside the cabin.
When Snow touches his bow to his wondrous violin, Granophyre opens and leaves ajar the cabin door. He listens, enjoying the lustrous sound immensely, taking up conversation with Snow about music, eventually continuing work on a manuscript.
Happily occupied during your journey, you travel almost as far north as Asni village, when evening comes and in the half light, the unfamiliar shallows prove too difficult to perceive their depth, and the Animu Borongo is stuck on a wide sandbar in the middle of the stream, firmly enough that brute force will be needed to lift and push the boat from the sand’s viscous grasp.
Py happens to be on one of its scouting missions, checking the remaining distance to the village, and out of telepathy range.
Peeking overboard, you find that the water is only a foot deep, sand under that. You spy a few slimy-looking eels in the water along with the fishes.
Auger completes his inspection and outlines what the potential safe compartment would look like and what it would entail to build it into the boat. The possibility of building something into the cabinet appears far more promising and would entail far less potential jeopardy to the boat so Auger is happy to go that route, if Snow is agreeable.
"...and so Snow I think it would be a useful thing and it would only affect the cabinet, so no particular risk should hit the Animu Borongo as I do the--."It is at that point that Auger feels the boat come to a halt on the sandbar and he shares a shocked look with the others and then peers over the side to get a look at what is going on. He moves the water out of the way to get a better look at the sandbar and then lets it return. "Looks like we are stuck in the sand." Seeing the eels, Auger decides he wants a better look and brings forth his lights, all four under the water, so that the fish and eels are lit from below.
Varielky stands up. She has mostly been sitting, doing nothing, or meditating on the boat, though that was not easy, being moved around by Auger every so often. "Shall I push the boat forward?" She doesn't know just how heavy a boat might be, but she can try. "Unless one of you have some form of magic that's simpler and faster." She waits a moment to see whether anyone responds. If not, she begins to take off her shoes and anything else that reaches below her knees. If nobody stops her by the time she's done (OOC: Meaning, I guess, unless Auger reveals something about those eels), she'll hop off the boat, landing in the sand, ready to push the boat forward.
Strength/Athletics? I'm rolling in advance because I may not be able to post again until later today, and I don't want you all to wait for a roll. 18, +3 if it's Athletics.
Snow peers over the side and tuts as he sees their situation, helpfully lit up by Auger. “Now that is embarrassing, I guess we should stick to daylight hours for travel, or have a spotter at the front”.
“Well it seems we either have to wait for a bit of rainfall, enough to raise the river, or we’ll have to get out and push us back I think Varielky, rather than forwards. That way the rivers current can help free us”, he says pondering.
He wanders into the cabin and returns with a shovel and leans it against the side of the boat. “Not sure if this will be of use. I would also like to tie a rope around you in case that sand is like quicksand”, he adds looking around for rope.
He suddenly frowns and looks around them. “You know if this is a common occurrence, strangers to the Vale getting trapped like this. There may be people who have learned to take advantage of it. Do they have river pirates here do you think? We should keep a lookout”.
Perception: 11 (Rolled in campaign)
(If Varielky does push)
Snow reaches his hand to her shoulder. “If you don’t mind?”, he says and plucks a string on the violin, mutters a few words and wills the power from the violin into Varielky. She feels her strength grow (Enhance Ability - Bull’s Strength).
He will man the tiller and use his Mage Hand (with telekinesis) to help push the boat with Varielky.
(OOC: Varielky will have advantage on her check, in case 15 isn't enough)
"That makes sense, I'll push the boat backwards." Varielky answers. If Snow can find a rope, she'll tie it around her waist. When she feels Snow's magic, she is reminded of Ednyss. Though even she could tell the magic was of a different origin, it was still the same effect.
(Ah, right. We decided on rolling in the sheets. Despite suggesting that, it might take me a bit to remember. Advantage's second roll: 17+5=22 if Strength, +3 if Athletics for a total of 25.)
When Varielky steps overboard, the boat’s mooring line fastened around her waist, she lands in a grainy, thick porridge. When she tries to push, her legs sink deeper, but she manages to lift the prow a foot. Yet now the boat’s aft seems stuck — she can’t seem to leverage it backwards. She can pull her legs out again, but really only by pulling down against the prow of the Animu Borongo, which doesn’t help to loosen the vessel. Granophyre asks if he should come out and assist.
Py buzzes back to land on Auger’s shoulder. ‘No more than one mile to the village,’ he sends.
“Sssssssstuck, are they?,” comes a serpentine voice from the shallows to the east.
“Yesssssss. It ssseeeems sssssooo,” answers another. All of their S’s are elongated.
“That’s a pityyy, but sandbars in the riverrr…”
“Yes, sandbars sssso easily missed at twilight.”
“Yessssss, so easy to missssss.”
You’ve spotted the source of these voices, which at first were only visible in the twilight as two pairs of beady red eyes lifting up from the river near a thicket growing over the water like a cage, a few long reeds reaching upwards through the old vines.
As the voices speak, the eyes rise to perhaps five feet above the lapping waters. They are set in human-sized snake faces with long fangs and forked tongues, on snakeheads covered in glistening mother of pearl scales, their snake bodies extending down into the river and disappearing into the darkness. Like two shepherd crooks bobbing sensually forward and back, they approached as they spoke, stopping some 30’ away.
(OOC: Something is nagging at Snow. Something about the water and the moon and tides.)
Snow regards the snake people with suspicion, hoping they are friendly but fearing they are not.
“Good evening to you, I have to admit your presence is unexpected. Are you able to help us with our predicament?”, he asks cordially whilst remaining wary.
He looks them over trying to see any weapons they might be carrying whilst slowly reaching back for his violin.
“I have a bad feeling about this, could these creatures be the reason we are stuck? Is this some sort of trap?”, he whispers to the others, searching his memory for any knowledge regarding snake creatures such as these.
Quietly Auger says, "All I know is that a pack of... of lizard people attacked our expedition not very long ago, it changed the complexion of things quite a bit for us. We should watch to all sides for others... try and delay them... I will be right back."
Auger leaves his lights where they are and steps into the cabin, seeking to get his coat out of the bottom of his pack and to pick up his rod. Just before he enters the cabin he takes a moment to take a clear look (Darkvision 120') in other directions. (Rolled a 7 +0 for Perception)
Py let me know what is going on out there, make yourself safe and invisible.
(OOC: Auger can either take a good look, or enter the cabin. Since his roll was low, we’ll say he entered the cabin. As an aside, other than being sentient reptiles, these creatures bear little resemblance to the lizard warriors Auger met before. Snow sees that these are enormous snakes. No arms or legs. He’s never heard of their ilk.)
‘Yes, master,’ sends Py. ‘They are still talking.’
The first one answers Snow.
“Oh yessss, we can help.”
“No.” Answers the second.
“But I can, can’t I?”
“But you’re not able to, are you, until…”
“That’s sssooo,” answers the first. Then, “No, we are unable to help you,” it finally hisses.
“Unwilling, actually,” says the second.
“But you just ssssaid…,” the first retorts, angry.
“Yessss, I said.”
“Why don’t you go back up the mountain?!”
“We are in the mountains.”
“UP. The mountain.”
“Thissssss again.”
They face off, mouths open, fangs showing. Then their tongues extend and… if one is squeamish one might turn away. They eventually release their… embrace… and turn back to you.
“I heard a sound,” says the first. “A magical sound. A magic spell. Very interesting. Is that how you will free yourself?”
“That will be interesssting. To sssseee,” finishes the other.
Varielky feels something slither past her under the water, but by the time she looks, it’s just the tail of an eel or something disappearing around the far side of the Animu Borongo.
He has his violin in hand now. He keeps the two snake creatures within his field of vision but starts to look about for more of them, or anything else unusual, specifically with the river and the size of the sand bank.
“So which is it, are you unable to help, or unwilling? Did you have anything to do with our getting stuck?”, he asks trying to keep them busy and to discern whether their behaviour is a distraction or in any way threatening.
Varielky shivers for a moment in response to the strange sensation. Be it a harmless fish or not, she'd rather feel a blade than something slick. She pulls herself out of the sand. They could think of a different solution later, but if these snakes attack... or something like that, she'll be of no use stuck in the water. "So what are you here for? If it's to help me, stop talking and do it already. If you want something in return, state your demand and we'll consider it. If you've come to fight, however..." Varielky reaches back for her shield. She had learned her lesson - she does not leave it even when it seems uncomfortable. She straps it to her hand - she can always unstrap it if the reptiles actually aren't hostile, but she's come to expect that sort of behaviour from more or less anything at this point. However, the only thing that really interests her at that moment is whether they'll fight like sentient snakes or limbless Humans. She would lie if she'd say she did not want to fight them in order to find the answer and... perhaps they could even prove worthy warrior, who knows? "then let's see if these fangs of yours are sharper than my sword."
(OOC: Snow notices a third snake, even bigger than the two speakers, slithering through the water around the Animu Borongo. He is certain there are no others. He also notices something about the two speaking snakes’ mother-of-pearl scales. They seem to glow with magic, and… if they were closer he might have something else to observe too. Snow also notices something weird about the water. The Animu Borongo is stuck because the water, somehow, has pulled away from this area. The river is more shallow than it should be. Magic.)
“I think you can free yoursssself. If you try hard enough,” answers the first one, ignoring Snow’s questions and answering Varielky.
“No they cannot,” says the second.
“Why not?,” asks the first.
“Chisssss won’t have it.”
“Of course… Chisssss…”
The third snake which had slithered past Varielky, Chiss, apparently, rears up behind the first two. The visible part of its body slowly extends 10’ above the water line, its beady eyes hover high above the others, menacingly.
As Varielky equips her shield, they respond in the same tone as before.
The speakers slide back a few feet, leaving the big one in full view. It focuses on Varielky, and it, like a bolt of lightning, shoots through the water toward the shield maiden leaving a frothing, bubbly wake. (Monsters win initiative.) Its huge mouth unhinged, the big snake comes up to bite the shield-maiden, and hits, its sword-like fangs drawing blood, for 14HP damage. Varielky, please roll a CON15 save against poison, which has a delayed effect and will not affect you this round regardless of your roll.
"Don't interfere!" Varielky calls to the others, thrilled to see that even these strange water snakes can appreciate a duel. "This one's mine!"
Varielky summons her sword to her hand, and the red-steel blade materialises in it. As the mark on her forehead shines, Varielky attempts to step forward, despite the sand, and quickly delivers a double-strike, slashing right to left then vice versa. Her first hit cuts through the snake, but the slippery thing manages to move back just barely enough to dodge the second. That gives Varielky the chance to try bashing the creature with her shield. She's not sure if she can make a snake fall on its back, because snakes are... sort of like a rope, but it was worth a try. Then, whether or not she succeeds, Varielky attacks the snake twice more. "The only thing you're going to see is this blade severing your body in two!"
(Well, my rolls were a mess this time. I'll find a way to organise it better for next time.) Attack 1: Attack: 18. Damage: 17. Attack 2: Attack: 12. Miss. BA Shield Shove, Athletics: 18 (and later I remembered Varielky has an advantage on the roll from Snow's magic, so I rolled again. 15, so 18 sticks). Using Action Surge for two additional attacks. Attack 3: Attack: 14 (or 15 if Varielky managed to push the snake prone). Damage: 16. Attack 4: 23 (advantage roll was lower, so even if it applies it doesn't matter). Damage: 16. Moreover, Varielky would like to use her superiority dice for a Menacing Attack manoeuvre. She'll use it as many times as needed, once per hit, until the snake either dies or fails the saving throw (Wisdom, DC 16 or be Frightened of Varielky until the end of her next turn). Consider the following rolls only until the snake either dies or fails the save. Also, tell me how many were used so I can mark them. First Superiority Die: +2 damage. Second Superiority Die: +7 damage. Third SD: +2 damage.
(As a result of Varielky’s actions, the snake is down 51HP, prone, and frightened. As a result of being prone underwater, the creature gains ½ cover, I am ruling.)
“Ooohh,” says the first snake, excited, “The human’sss blade is enchanted. And, ssssee the rune on her forehead!”
“Yes… but sssshe casts no magic herssself. Disssssappointing…”
(Awaiting Varielky’s CON save and Snow and Auger’s R1 posts.)
Snow narrows his eyes and stares at the two snakes as he realises the river has been effected by magic. It is then that he sees the larger creature and he instinctively raises his violin and bow, ready to employ his magic to defend against attack.
He listens as the two original creatures ignore him and keep chattering amongst themselves.
The beast lunges at Varielky, and he sees her take the hit, but he stops in his tracks as Varielky demands they stay out of it. He throws Auger a questioning look, motioning as to whether they should help or not, before turning his attention back to the other two creatures.
He decides he can’t just do nothing and puts his bow to the strings of the violin, starting to play a dramatic melody, inspiring Varielky.
Auger comes out of the cabin, coat on and ready to fight when he hears Varielky's words. A duel? What was she thinking now? He then sees a few of her strikes hit with great ferocity and looks to Snow, "Yes, she does things like this now and then."
"I'm afraid your friend Chiss, is not long for this world," Auger calls to the others, "Is this the magic you seek?"Auger reaches into the Sea of Stars, to create his simple lights, they are shining purple orbs and they float in place, this time above the water. One is in the vicinity of the two speaking snakes to perhaps examine while the others show behind them.
Look around and see if there are more of them. If you can find who is impeding us magically, let me know.
Actions
Py: to 40' up, still invisible
Move: Leaves cabin and looking over railing.
Action: Casts Dancing Lights. The orbs are located at N9, R9, R5 and R13. Those areas have dim lighting in a 10' radius
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
(Auger knows nothing of magic impeding the boat. Only Snow does, due to his water vehicles proficiency.)
‘There are still no other enemies, master, only these three,’ replies Py.
“The human who made the sound! That was magic!,” hisses the first snake.
“No it wasn’t. What makes you say so?”
“I think it was.”
“You’re just fond of music. You always call it ‘magical.’”
“But the lights! Yes!,”
“Yes. But that is a simple spell. And not arcane — intuitive.”
“You know what they say about intuitives.”
They both chorus, “Intuituves have the worst teachers! Sss sss sss sss sss.”
“Don’t you have more powerful magic? Isn’t one of you learnéd?”
During this time, the big snake has disengaged and swims 15’ northeast into deeper water away from Varielky and out of Auger’s lights. Its poison now affects Varielky, who feels herself becoming stunned, paralyzed, and her brain functioning is compromised (“madness”) for 10 minutes. If she makes a CON15 save (at disadvantage), which she can roll once each turn, she can maintain her faculties for just a moment to access Dreygaard’s special properties, but that will consume her entire round’s activities.
Meanwhile, the snake’s frightened condition elapses.
(N.B., the hour is twilight, so everything is in dim light. Auger's dancing lights don't affect the condition therefore, but I have indicated them in the map.)
Not quite aware of Varielky's problems, Auger shifts his attention to the assailant swimming away and decides to intervene. Perhaps if he does it quietly, Varielky will not get angry about it. First he shifts his lights to ensure he has a good look at the giant snake and then he reaches into its mind, searing it painfully.
Leaning over the railing Augers says, "Varielky, are you alright?"
Actions
Py: Stays put, Invisible and focused on looking around and into the distance. Perhaps at the town to see if there is any sign they are being noticed.
Bonus Action: Moves lights so they are now at M9, O4, N9 and R5 (I believe I stayed inside the 60' limit for the lights that moved most)
Action: Casts Mind Sliver on #3. It will take 7 points damage and it must subtract 1d4 from its next saving throw on a failed save (INT DC 18).
(Now that's a nasty poison. I was going to ask about the "This occurs automatically at the beginning of Varielky's turn if she starts the turn poisoned" part, but I guess that's what you meant regarding the CON save.)
Constitution Save: (13;5 - disadvantage)+4=9. Can she add the Bardic Inspiration die? If so: +6, for a total of 15.
Varielky doesn't respond to Auger, for she simply cannot. She can barely think, not even mention act. She stands there, paralysed for a few moments, almost long enough that one might ask themselves what Auger asked verbally. As Snow's music reaches her ears, however, it somehow pierces through the poison's disorienting effects. Just for a mere moment, but that's enough for Varielky to mentally call for Veleif's aid through Dreygaard. No words, no thoughts. It is something beyond that.
Q.Auger sends Py to invisibly watch the behavior of the Imperials with the next boats at the checkpoint and to count the number of guards.
A.12 soldiers on the barge, 12 on the road plus 4 cavalry on horseback, 2 messengers on camels, 2 orcs on giant hyenas. Stop & frisk where the road branches up to the castle.
Py reports nothing unusual ahead.
Re: Secret panel.
There are no existing secret compartments. It would be possible to fashion one in the hold big enough for a jug or a shield, or a narrow safe. You’d have to moor the boat for several days to a week to make it or, Auger can work as he goes, with the risk of falling overboard as he stretches into the hole, legs dangling off the prow.
Also possible: a secret panel in the back of one of the cabinets inside the cabin.
When Snow touches his bow to his wondrous violin, Granophyre opens and leaves ajar the cabin door. He listens, enjoying the lustrous sound immensely, taking up conversation with Snow about music, eventually continuing work on a manuscript.
Happily occupied during your journey, you travel almost as far north as Asni village, when evening comes and in the half light, the unfamiliar shallows prove too difficult to perceive their depth, and the Animu Borongo is stuck on a wide sandbar in the middle of the stream, firmly enough that brute force will be needed to lift and push the boat from the sand’s viscous grasp.
Py happens to be on one of its scouting missions, checking the remaining distance to the village, and out of telepathy range.
Peeking overboard, you find that the water is only a foot deep, sand under that. You spy a few slimy-looking eels in the water along with the fishes.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Auger completes his inspection and outlines what the potential safe compartment would look like and what it would entail to build it into the boat. The possibility of building something into the cabinet appears far more promising and would entail far less potential jeopardy to the boat so Auger is happy to go that route, if Snow is agreeable.
"...and so Snow I think it would be a useful thing and it would only affect the cabinet, so no particular risk should hit the Animu Borongo as I do the--." It is at that point that Auger feels the boat come to a halt on the sandbar and he shares a shocked look with the others and then peers over the side to get a look at what is going on. He moves the water out of the way to get a better look at the sandbar and then lets it return. "Looks like we are stuck in the sand." Seeing the eels, Auger decides he wants a better look and brings forth his lights, all four under the water, so that the fish and eels are lit from below.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Varielky stands up. She has mostly been sitting, doing nothing, or meditating on the boat, though that was not easy, being moved around by Auger every so often. "Shall I push the boat forward?" She doesn't know just how heavy a boat might be, but she can try. "Unless one of you have some form of magic that's simpler and faster." She waits a moment to see whether anyone responds. If not, she begins to take off her shoes and anything else that reaches below her knees. If nobody stops her by the time she's done (OOC: Meaning, I guess, unless Auger reveals something about those eels), she'll hop off the boat, landing in the sand, ready to push the boat forward.
Strength/Athletics? I'm rolling in advance because I may not be able to post again until later today, and I don't want you all to wait for a roll. 18, +3 if it's Athletics.
Varielky
Snow peers over the side and tuts as he sees their situation, helpfully lit up by Auger. “Now that is embarrassing, I guess we should stick to daylight hours for travel, or have a spotter at the front”.
“Well it seems we either have to wait for a bit of rainfall, enough to raise the river, or we’ll have to get out and push us back I think Varielky, rather than forwards. That way the rivers current can help free us”, he says pondering.
He wanders into the cabin and returns with a shovel and leans it against the side of the boat. “Not sure if this will be of use. I would also like to tie a rope around you in case that sand is like quicksand”, he adds looking around for rope.
He suddenly frowns and looks around them. “You know if this is a common occurrence, strangers to the Vale getting trapped like this. There may be people who have learned to take advantage of it. Do they have river pirates here do you think? We should keep a lookout”.
Perception: 11 (Rolled in campaign)
(If Varielky does push)
Snow reaches his hand to her shoulder. “If you don’t mind?”, he says and plucks a string on the violin, mutters a few words and wills the power from the violin into Varielky. She feels her strength grow (Enhance Ability - Bull’s Strength).
He will man the tiller and use his Mage Hand (with telekinesis) to help push the boat with Varielky.
(OOC: Varielky will have advantage on her check, in case 15 isn't enough)
"That makes sense, I'll push the boat backwards." Varielky answers. If Snow can find a rope, she'll tie it around her waist. When she feels Snow's magic, she is reminded of Ednyss. Though even she could tell the magic was of a different origin, it was still the same effect.
(Ah, right. We decided on rolling in the sheets. Despite suggesting that, it might take me a bit to remember. Advantage's second roll: 17+5=22 if Strength, +3 if Athletics for a total of 25.)
Varielky
When Varielky steps overboard, the boat’s mooring line fastened around her waist, she lands in a grainy, thick porridge. When she tries to push, her legs sink deeper, but she manages to lift the prow a foot. Yet now the boat’s aft seems stuck — she can’t seem to leverage it backwards. She can pull her legs out again, but really only by pulling down against the prow of the Animu Borongo, which doesn’t help to loosen the vessel. Granophyre asks if he should come out and assist.
Py buzzes back to land on Auger’s shoulder. ‘No more than one mile to the village,’ he sends.
“Sssssssstuck, are they?,” comes a serpentine voice from the shallows to the east.
“Yesssssss. It ssseeeems sssssooo,” answers another. All of their S’s are elongated.
“That’s a pityyy, but sandbars in the riverrr…”
“Yes, sandbars sssso easily missed at twilight.”
“Yessssss, so easy to missssss.”
You’ve spotted the source of these voices, which at first were only visible in the twilight as two pairs of beady red eyes lifting up from the river near a thicket growing over the water like a cage, a few long reeds reaching upwards through the old vines.
As the voices speak, the eyes rise to perhaps five feet above the lapping waters. They are set in human-sized snake faces with long fangs and forked tongues, on snakeheads covered in glistening mother of pearl scales, their snake bodies extending down into the river and disappearing into the darkness. Like two shepherd crooks bobbing sensually forward and back, they approached as they spoke, stopping some 30’ away.
(OOC: Something is nagging at Snow. Something about the water and the moon and tides.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Snow regards the snake people with suspicion, hoping they are friendly but fearing they are not.
“Good evening to you, I have to admit your presence is unexpected. Are you able to help us with our predicament?”, he asks cordially whilst remaining wary.
He looks them over trying to see any weapons they might be carrying whilst slowly reaching back for his violin.
“I have a bad feeling about this, could these creatures be the reason we are stuck? Is this some sort of trap?”, he whispers to the others, searching his memory for any knowledge regarding snake creatures such as these.
Perception: 13
Nature: 10
Quietly Auger says, "All I know is that a pack of... of lizard people attacked our expedition not very long ago, it changed the complexion of things quite a bit for us. We should watch to all sides for others... try and delay them... I will be right back."
Auger leaves his lights where they are and steps into the cabin, seeking to get his coat out of the bottom of his pack and to pick up his rod. Just before he enters the cabin he takes a moment to take a clear look (Darkvision 120') in other directions. (Rolled a 7 +0 for Perception)
Py let me know what is going on out there, make yourself safe and invisible.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
(OOC: Auger can either take a good look, or enter the cabin. Since his roll was low, we’ll say he entered the cabin. As an aside, other than being sentient reptiles, these creatures bear little resemblance to the lizard warriors Auger met before. Snow sees that these are enormous snakes. No arms or legs. He’s never heard of their ilk.)
‘Yes, master,’ sends Py. ‘They are still talking.’
The first one answers Snow.
“Oh yessss, we can help.”
“No.” Answers the second.
“But I can, can’t I?”
“But you’re not able to, are you, until…”
“That’s sssooo,” answers the first. Then, “No, we are unable to help you,” it finally hisses.
“Unwilling, actually,” says the second.
“But you just ssssaid…,” the first retorts, angry.
“Yessss, I said.”
“Why don’t you go back up the mountain?!”
“We are in the mountains.”
“UP. The mountain.”
“Thissssss again.”
They face off, mouths open, fangs showing. Then their tongues extend and… if one is squeamish one might turn away. They eventually release their… embrace… and turn back to you.
“I heard a sound,” says the first. “A magical sound. A magic spell. Very interesting. Is that how you will free yourself?”
“That will be interesssting. To sssseee,” finishes the other.
Varielky feels something slither past her under the water, but by the time she looks, it’s just the tail of an eel or something disappearing around the far side of the Animu Borongo.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
“Now now”, Snow says, “No need to…fight”.
He has his violin in hand now. He keeps the two snake creatures within his field of vision but starts to look about for more of them, or anything else unusual, specifically with the river and the size of the sand bank.
“So which is it, are you unable to help, or unwilling? Did you have anything to do with our getting stuck?”, he asks trying to keep them busy and to discern whether their behaviour is a distraction or in any way threatening.
“Unable to help until what?”, he adds curiously.
Perception: 25
Insight: 16
(Ah, sorry. I was very busy the other day.)
Varielky shivers for a moment in response to the strange sensation. Be it a harmless fish or not, she'd rather feel a blade than something slick. She pulls herself out of the sand. They could think of a different solution later, but if these snakes attack... or something like that, she'll be of no use stuck in the water. "So what are you here for? If it's to help me, stop talking and do it already. If you want something in return, state your demand and we'll consider it. If you've come to fight, however..." Varielky reaches back for her shield. She had learned her lesson - she does not leave it even when it seems uncomfortable. She straps it to her hand - she can always unstrap it if the reptiles actually aren't hostile, but she's come to expect that sort of behaviour from more or less anything at this point. However, the only thing that really interests her at that moment is whether they'll fight like sentient snakes or limbless Humans. She would lie if she'd say she did not want to fight them in order to find the answer and... perhaps they could even prove worthy warrior, who knows? "then let's see if these fangs of yours are sharper than my sword."
Varielky
(OOC: Snow notices a third snake, even bigger than the two speakers, slithering through the water around the Animu Borongo. He is certain there are no others. He also notices something about the two speaking snakes’ mother-of-pearl scales. They seem to glow with magic, and… if they were closer he might have something else to observe too. Snow also notices something weird about the water. The Animu Borongo is stuck because the water, somehow, has pulled away from this area. The river is more shallow than it should be. Magic.)
“I think you can free yoursssself. If you try hard enough,” answers the first one, ignoring Snow’s questions and answering Varielky.
“No they cannot,” says the second.
“Why not?,” asks the first.
“Chisssss won’t have it.”
“Of course… Chisssss…”
The third snake which had slithered past Varielky, Chiss, apparently, rears up behind the first two. The visible part of its body slowly extends 10’ above the water line, its beady eyes hover high above the others, menacingly.
As Varielky equips her shield, they respond in the same tone as before.
“She wantsss to fight,”
“She put on her sssshell. She fears Chiss.”
“She ssshhould…”
“Perhapsss we’ll ssseee more of their magic?”
“Yesssss…”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
The speakers slide back a few feet, leaving the big one in full view. It focuses on Varielky, and it, like a bolt of lightning, shoots through the water toward the shield maiden leaving a frothing, bubbly wake. (Monsters win initiative.) Its huge mouth unhinged, the big snake comes up to bite the shield-maiden, and hits, its sword-like fangs drawing blood, for 14HP damage. Varielky, please roll a CON15 save against poison, which has a delayed effect and will not affect you this round regardless of your roll.
You are now situated like so.
(Only the big one is moving. The others are watching. The big snake is AC13, and has over 75HP.)
Please post Round 1 actions.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Constitution save: 3+4=7.
"Don't interfere!" Varielky calls to the others, thrilled to see that even these strange water snakes can appreciate a duel. "This one's mine!"
Varielky summons her sword to her hand, and the red-steel blade materialises in it. As the mark on her forehead shines, Varielky attempts to step forward, despite the sand, and quickly delivers a double-strike, slashing right to left then vice versa. Her first hit cuts through the snake, but the slippery thing manages to move back just barely enough to dodge the second. That gives Varielky the chance to try bashing the creature with her shield. She's not sure if she can make a snake fall on its back, because snakes are... sort of like a rope, but it was worth a try. Then, whether or not she succeeds, Varielky attacks the snake twice more. "The only thing you're going to see is this blade severing your body in two!"
(Well, my rolls were a mess this time. I'll find a way to organise it better for next time.)
Attack 1: Attack: 18. Damage: 17.
Attack 2: Attack: 12. Miss.
BA Shield Shove, Athletics: 18 (and later I remembered Varielky has an advantage on the roll from Snow's magic, so I rolled again. 15, so 18 sticks).
Using Action Surge for two additional attacks.
Attack 3: Attack: 14 (or 15 if Varielky managed to push the snake prone). Damage: 16.
Attack 4: 23 (advantage roll was lower, so even if it applies it doesn't matter). Damage: 16.
Moreover, Varielky would like to use her superiority dice for a Menacing Attack manoeuvre. She'll use it as many times as needed, once per hit, until the snake either dies or fails the saving throw (Wisdom, DC 16 or be Frightened of Varielky until the end of her next turn). Consider the following rolls only until the snake either dies or fails the save. Also, tell me how many were used so I can mark them.
First Superiority Die: +2 damage.
Second Superiority Die: +7 damage.
Third SD: +2 damage.
Varielky
(As a result of Varielky’s actions, the snake is down 51HP, prone, and frightened. As a result of being prone underwater, the creature gains ½ cover, I am ruling.)
“Ooohh,” says the first snake, excited, “The human’sss blade is enchanted. And, ssssee the rune on her forehead!”
“Yes… but sssshe casts no magic herssself. Disssssappointing…”
(Awaiting Varielky’s CON save and Snow and Auger’s R1 posts.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Snow narrows his eyes and stares at the two snakes as he realises the river has been effected by magic. It is then that he sees the larger creature and he instinctively raises his violin and bow, ready to employ his magic to defend against attack.
He listens as the two original creatures ignore him and keep chattering amongst themselves.
The beast lunges at Varielky, and he sees her take the hit, but he stops in his tracks as Varielky demands they stay out of it. He throws Auger a questioning look, motioning as to whether they should help or not, before turning his attention back to the other two creatures.
He decides he can’t just do nothing and puts his bow to the strings of the violin, starting to play a dramatic melody, inspiring Varielky.
Bonus Action: Bardic Inspiration - 1d8 for Varielky.
Reaction:
If the other two snakes attempt to attack he will use Cutting Words on whichever is first - 3+2=5
”Be careful where you slither, there be crocs in this here river that would make short work of a spineless creature like yourself!”
Auger comes out of the cabin, coat on and ready to fight when he hears Varielky's words. A duel? What was she thinking now? He then sees a few of her strikes hit with great ferocity and looks to Snow, "Yes, she does things like this now and then."
"I'm afraid your friend Chiss, is not long for this world," Auger calls to the others, "Is this the magic you seek?" Auger reaches into the Sea of Stars, to create his simple lights, they are shining purple orbs and they float in place, this time above the water. One is in the vicinity of the two speaking snakes to perhaps examine while the others show behind them.
Look around and see if there are more of them. If you can find who is impeding us magically, let me know.
Actions
Py: to 40' up, still invisible
Move: Leaves cabin and looking over railing.
Action: Casts Dancing Lights. The orbs are located at N9, R9, R5 and R13. Those areas have dim lighting in a 10' radius
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
(Auger knows nothing of magic impeding the boat. Only Snow does, due to his water vehicles proficiency.)
‘There are still no other enemies, master, only these three,’ replies Py.
“The human who made the sound! That was magic!,” hisses the first snake.
“No it wasn’t. What makes you say so?”
“I think it was.”
“You’re just fond of music. You always call it ‘magical.’”
“But the lights! Yes!,”
“Yes. But that is a simple spell. And not arcane — intuitive.”
“You know what they say about intuitives.”
They both chorus, “Intuituves have the worst teachers! Sss sss sss sss sss.”
“Don’t you have more powerful magic? Isn’t one of you learnéd?”
During this time, the big snake has disengaged and swims 15’ northeast into deeper water away from Varielky and out of Auger’s lights. Its poison now affects Varielky, who feels herself becoming stunned, paralyzed, and her brain functioning is compromised (“madness”) for 10 minutes. If she makes a CON15 save (at disadvantage), which she can roll once each turn, she can maintain her faculties for just a moment to access Dreygaard’s special properties, but that will consume her entire round’s activities.
Meanwhile, the snake’s frightened condition elapses.
(N.B., the hour is twilight, so everything is in dim light. Auger's dancing lights don't affect the condition therefore, but I have indicated them in the map.)
You are now situated like so.
Please post Round 2 actions.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Not quite aware of Varielky's problems, Auger shifts his attention to the assailant swimming away and decides to intervene. Perhaps if he does it quietly, Varielky will not get angry about it. First he shifts his lights to ensure he has a good look at the giant snake and then he reaches into its mind, searing it painfully.
Leaning over the railing Augers says, "Varielky, are you alright?"
Actions
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
(Now that's a nasty poison. I was going to ask about the "This occurs automatically at the beginning of Varielky's turn if she starts the turn poisoned" part, but I guess that's what you meant regarding the CON save.)
Constitution Save: (13;5 - disadvantage)+4=9. Can she add the Bardic Inspiration die? If so: +6, for a total of 15.
Varielky doesn't respond to Auger, for she simply cannot. She can barely think, not even mention act. She stands there, paralysed for a few moments, almost long enough that one might ask themselves what Auger asked verbally. As Snow's music reaches her ears, however, it somehow pierces through the poison's disorienting effects. Just for a mere moment, but that's enough for Varielky to mentally call for Veleif's aid through Dreygaard. No words, no thoughts. It is something beyond that.
(I suppose that ends her turn?)
Varielky