Avaria follows the quartermaster towards the quarterdeck and her eyes go wide when she hears giant squids. "Do you have any weapons to fend off such beasts?" she asks Bigge after he is done ringing the bell.
"Alright, I'll let the others know to put on their squid stomping boots."
Ducking back into the cabin, "Mar says we've got giant squid incoming, you two feeling up for repelling tentacled boarders?"
She retrieves her crossbow and bolts, checking the mechanisms with practiced precision before loading the weapon giving the other two a crooked smile. "I'll never complain again about getting sent into a hold to deal with rats of any size."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Still feeling sick, Ula bites off another chunk of raw ginger to chew on, she takes a huge sniiifff of the incense from her censer, grabs her warhammer and shield and clangs them together saying, “Istishia help us! If these are the seven trials, then to the very hells with them!!… Rats, fires, sickness, storms, and squids!!… What’s next?! Locusts?!… A pox?!… Dash and darn it!”.
”Come on, let’s be having you!”, she calls to the world at large. The party probably get a good inkling of how she is, in her parents tavern, at closing time.
Ula vocalizes the thoughts passing through Ethel’s mind. What is next? Perhaps the gods have taken an interest in putting an end to us.
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
Quartermaster Bigge points to the forecastle in response to Avaria’s question.
"That ballista is all we have that might help. Otherwise it’s try to outrun them or fight them off the same way we do pirates with swords and knives and whatever else comes to hand." Bigge says. "Once person can operate it but it's much faster with three."
Ballista:
The ballista has to be loaded, aimed, then fired. For one person that takes three rounds (one for each). Three people can do it in one round.
Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 120/480 ft., one target. 3d10 piercing damage.
If the party wants, they can use it, or leave it to the crew. It might work once something was above the waterline but the angles would make it hard to aim at anything below the water.
The crew opens lockers along the edges of the ship, pulling out all manner of sharp edged weapons and clubs.
From what you remember, the barrel of fish won’t be light, but it would be moveable for a couple of people of decent strength. You’re all pretty sure a big squid would eat smaller fish.
As the crew gets ready for a possible fight, the captain is still trying to catch what wind is available to try and outrun whatever's in the water.
All the bell ringing has brought the other passengers to the main deck where Slick the goblin sailor presses knives and short swords into their hands.
Goodrick Hargrove has reappeared from this cabin and looks over the side down into the water.
Nothing is attacking the ship yet so you have a few moments to decide your next steps.
Ethlehyn:
You haven’t read the book yourself as it’s rare to find a copy. You do know that the original is secured in Candlekeep but you had heard that in the rebuilt Arcanum of Magic in Gheldaneth that there was a second copy of the Chronicle of Years to Come, handwritten by Maglas himself. Whether what Jan saw was a later copy or not is impossible to say. From what you recall, the book contained prophecies related to the future of Faerun.
Avaria frowns as she looks at the ballista, the words from Marrin slowly worming into her mind. As the idea finally takes shape about using the old fish as bait to try and keep the squid busy as they attempt to outrun them, she looks back to Bigge, "Do you have crew to run that? My friend here and I have a thought to try and bait the beasts."
She turns to Marrin with a big smile, her wild hair tornadoing around her head, eyes alight, enjoying the thought of trying to outsmart those that are hunting them, "Fish barrels in the hold, you ready? Shall we go grab them?" She turns to look at Ula, thinking the dwarfs strong arms would help, but sees that the seasickness has returned to the poor girl. "Think we can try on our own?" she asks Marrin.
Ula, Avaria and Marrin navigate all the way back down to the forward hold. With all that has gone on since you first encountered the rodents of unusual size, no one has been down to lock the hold door and you're easily able to get back inside. You can smell the barrel before you see it, the lid not being put back on after your exploration of the forward hold.
Ula or Avaria could lift the barrel on their own, but the stairs would be awkward and with the rolling ship there would be a good chance of dropping the cargo. But with one on either side and with Marrin guiding them through doorways and to the stairwells, the trio are able to get the barrel up on deck. Only a small splash of 'fish sauce' getting on to Avaria and Ula.
----------------------------------------------
Jan remains on deck, watching over the sea and the preparations on deck. She sees Hammerdasher refuse any of the weapons the crew is pushing on the other passengers. Instead he hoists a warhammer of his own, swinging it through the air a few times, shouting incoherently out to sea something about "you won't take this from me too."
Godrick Hargrove remains at the rail near his cabin. He stands still, one hand on the rail, his gaze out to the sea.
Slick, the goblin, Tanner, the half-orc, and Carnavon, the dragonborn, crew members unlock the ballista on the forecastle, and get a bolt loaded into the weapon.
Then Jan sees, a couple of ships lengths off to the starboard, two large tentacles rise up out of the sea and slap down on to the water.
----------------------------------------------
For the moment it appears Ethlehyn is still lost in thought about the Chronicle of Years to Come and remains in the cabin.
Jan raises a hand, but when the tentacles slap down, she figures everyone else has noticed it. Once it gets within 90 feet of her, she'll be intending to sap its strength to limit its ability to grapple the ship.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Ula struggles to keep her lunch down, as the smell of old fish gets to her… But she manages to suggest, “Maybe we throw the whole barrel in with the lid off? So it has a chance to float away from the ship - at least a bit - before the fish bits spread out too much… We want a distraction, not to paint the side of the ship with fish guts”. She’ll help get the barrel up and over the edge if it looks like the boat is making decent speed.
Ula’s history check: 16
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Ula listened raptly to any stories her parents shared about their adventuring days but she doesn’t recall mention of any books.
Avaria follows the quartermaster towards the quarterdeck and her eyes go wide when she hears giant squids. "Do you have any weapons to fend off such beasts?" she asks Bigge after he is done ringing the bell.
Marrin looks back at the storm then over at the water.
"Maybe we can throw over that barrel of off fish? Would that help distract them?"
Jan grimaces as the bell starts ringing. "You two can wait here if you want, I'll pop up and find out what the issue is."
She'll open the door to their cabin, and catching sight of Mar, Ava or Mister Bigge, she'll ask what's going on.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
"Giant squid, apparently. A whole... school of them. They are apparently not a sign of fortune and luck."
"میرے سوپ میں گندگی", Jan mutters.
"Alright, I'll let the others know to put on their squid stomping boots."
Ducking back into the cabin, "Mar says we've got giant squid incoming, you two feeling up for repelling tentacled boarders?"
She retrieves her crossbow and bolts, checking the mechanisms with practiced precision before loading the weapon giving the other two a crooked smile. "I'll never complain again about getting sent into a hold to deal with rats of any size."
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Still feeling sick, Ula bites off another chunk of raw ginger to chew on, she takes a huge sniiifff of the incense from her censer, grabs her warhammer and shield and clangs them together saying, “Istishia help us! If these are the seven trials, then to the very hells with them!!… Rats, fires, sickness, storms, and squids!!… What’s next?! Locusts?!… A pox?!… Dash and darn it!”.
”Come on, let’s be having you!”, she calls to the world at large. The party probably get a good inkling of how she is, in her parents tavern, at closing time.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Ethlehyn History:11
Ula vocalizes the thoughts passing through Ethel’s mind. What is next? Perhaps the gods have taken an interest in putting an end to us.
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
Quartermaster Bigge points to the forecastle in response to Avaria’s question.
"That ballista is all we have that might help. Otherwise it’s try to outrun them or fight them off the same way we do pirates with swords and knives and whatever else comes to hand." Bigge says. "Once person can operate it but it's much faster with three."
Ballista:
The ballista has to be loaded, aimed, then fired. For one person that takes three rounds (one for each). Three people can do it in one round.
Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 120/480 ft., one target. 3d10 piercing damage.
If the party wants, they can use it, or leave it to the crew. It might work once something was above the waterline but the angles would make it hard to aim at anything below the water.
The crew opens lockers along the edges of the ship, pulling out all manner of sharp edged weapons and clubs.
From what you remember, the barrel of fish won’t be light, but it would be moveable for a couple of people of decent strength. You’re all pretty sure a big squid would eat smaller fish.
As the crew gets ready for a possible fight, the captain is still trying to catch what wind is available to try and outrun whatever's in the water.
All the bell ringing has brought the other passengers to the main deck where Slick the goblin sailor presses knives and short swords into their hands.
Goodrick Hargrove has reappeared from this cabin and looks over the side down into the water.
Nothing is attacking the ship yet so you have a few moments to decide your next steps.
Ethlehyn:
You haven’t read the book yourself as it’s rare to find a copy. You do know that the original is secured in Candlekeep but you had heard that in the rebuilt Arcanum of Magic in Gheldaneth that there was a second copy of the Chronicle of Years to Come, handwritten by Maglas himself. Whether what Jan saw was a later copy or not is impossible to say. From what you recall, the book contained prophecies related to the future of Faerun.
Jan will stand by with crossbow for now.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Avaria frowns as she looks at the ballista, the words from Marrin slowly worming into her mind. As the idea finally takes shape about using the old fish as bait to try and keep the squid busy as they attempt to outrun them, she looks back to Bigge, "Do you have crew to run that? My friend here and I have a thought to try and bait the beasts."
She turns to Marrin with a big smile, her wild hair tornadoing around her head, eyes alight, enjoying the thought of trying to outsmart those that are hunting them, "Fish barrels in the hold, you ready? Shall we go grab them?" She turns to look at Ula, thinking the dwarfs strong arms would help, but sees that the seasickness has returned to the poor girl. "Think we can try on our own?" she asks Marrin.
"I think we'll manage if Ula has other priorities but I certainly welcome the help!"
She starts heading down, presuming the quicker the better!
Avaria looks to Ula, “You up for helping us grab the barrel? If not, I get it” And she runs after Marrin
Ula nods and follows the others. “Three hands might be better than two. Let’s go!…”.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Ula, Avaria and Marrin navigate all the way back down to the forward hold. With all that has gone on since you first encountered the rodents of unusual size, no one has been down to lock the hold door and you're easily able to get back inside. You can smell the barrel before you see it, the lid not being put back on after your exploration of the forward hold.
Ula or Avaria could lift the barrel on their own, but the stairs would be awkward and with the rolling ship there would be a good chance of dropping the cargo. But with one on either side and with Marrin guiding them through doorways and to the stairwells, the trio are able to get the barrel up on deck. Only a small splash of 'fish sauce' getting on to Avaria and Ula.
----------------------------------------------
Jan remains on deck, watching over the sea and the preparations on deck. She sees Hammerdasher refuse any of the weapons the crew is pushing on the other passengers. Instead he hoists a warhammer of his own, swinging it through the air a few times, shouting incoherently out to sea something about "you won't take this from me too."
Godrick Hargrove remains at the rail near his cabin. He stands still, one hand on the rail, his gaze out to the sea.
Slick, the goblin, Tanner, the half-orc, and Carnavon, the dragonborn, crew members unlock the ballista on the forecastle, and get a bolt loaded into the weapon.
Then Jan sees, a couple of ships lengths off to the starboard, two large tentacles rise up out of the sea and slap down on to the water.
----------------------------------------------
For the moment it appears Ethlehyn is still lost in thought about the Chronicle of Years to Come and remains in the cabin.
Marrin looks to Bigge,
"Ready when you are!"
Jan raises a hand, but when the tentacles slap down, she figures everyone else has noticed it. Once it gets within 90 feet of her, she'll be intending to sap its strength to limit its ability to grapple the ship.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Ula struggles to keep her lunch down, as the smell of old fish gets to her… But she manages to suggest, “Maybe we throw the whole barrel in with the lid off? So it has a chance to float away from the ship - at least a bit - before the fish bits spread out too much… We want a distraction, not to paint the side of the ship with fish guts”. She’ll help get the barrel up and over the edge if it looks like the boat is making decent speed.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
“Good idea Ula! C’mon, lets dump this over the tail of the ship. We better move now!” Avaria helps Ula dump the entire barrel over the rail.