Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [2][IC][2024]

Marin will swim over to the octopus and attack it with his shortsword first followed by his dagger (nick) second and then Dash with his bonus action to swim over to join Dirk on the stairs.

Shortsword Attack: 25

Shortsword Damage: 9

Dagger Attack: 12

Dagger Damage: 4 (no bonus)

Onji appears to be 10' away, to clarify he retreats about 15 feet which means a range of 25'.  Repeat attack verbiage.

Attack 24 damage 9 piercing.

Octopus dex save 14

Perhaps sensing Irtos' holy magic about to descend upon it, the octopus swirls its tentacles and moves to the side just in time to avoid the attack. It isn't fast enough to avoid Onji's well-aimed arrow that buries itself deep into its body. Weirdly, the creature doesn't display any sign of pain, although it is clearly getting hurt, first by Onji's attack and then by Marin's blades. It does, however, attempt to smack Marin with its tentacles as he moves towards Dirk. 

Attack: 18 Damage: 9

Over to Dirk. 

Dirk turns to see if his friends are following him, what he sees instead makes him wonder, the creature doesn't display any sign of pain, although it is clearly getting hurt.

Could this be a kind of myconid?  Dirk try’s to reach out with his mind, ‘Are you a mushroom creature?’

Gripping his stone club the force of shillelagh empowering its very minerals, Dirk hopes that this ends without death.

Dirk, give me a Nature check.

Marin gets clubbed as he swims away (20 hits for 5 damage).

Onji sees Marin get clubbed, and looks to see if Marin is still OK and if the octopus wraps his tentacles around Marin.  With his arrow notched, Onji holds the arrow/bow with one hand and prepares his dagger to grab if Marin goes under.

Dirk's nature check 9

Dirk, from your knowledge of myconids, you know that they rely on special rapport spores to communicate telepathically. You don't currently sense any of those spores in the air, meaning you can't be sure this creature can understand you without spoken words.

Dirk will draw his bow and ready an arrow.

(You can also try speaking to it directly as a free action if you wish. Otherwise, I will continue with the top of the round.)

Dirk will voice his mental communication, “Are you with the myconids?”

As Dirk speaks up, the octopus' giant head appears to move in a way that looked almost like a nod.

Back to Onji, Irtos and Marin. Dirk can use the readied arrow as a reaction before his next turn.

Dirk sees the nod, “We are here to speak with them.”  He holds up some of the fertilizer they brought with.  “We bring gifts.”

Onji holds waiting on Dirk for a peaceful resolution.  But, the bow is partially pulled taut and the arrow is aimed if communication breaks down and fails.

Irtos also waits to see if this can be resolved peacefully, but she's ready with a cantrip if it isn't.

Marin also decides to wait and see what the outcome will be from Dirk's efforts to communicate with the strange octopus creature.

As the party halts their attacks, the octopus suddenly lunges beneath the water's surface, and moments later, Dirk senses movement somewhere behind him.

Two strange shapes emerge from beyond the stairs, stopping at the top. They look like a bizarre mixture of humanoid and mushroom, and the air around them flickers with drifting spores that float down toward the ranger.

"LEAVE," a voice speaks directly into Dirk's mind. The tone has a sing-song cadence, yet it is fueled with undeniable hostility. Strangely, the message comes across in a language he can perfectly understand, though he senses that is not how it was originally spoken. "Leave, or become food for us."

Dirk will answer We have been tasked with delivering this compost as a gift.  Tarak would like to know if trade could be reestablished.  Is there anything we could help you with?