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718694 No. 718694 ID: a107fd

http://tgchan.org/wiki/Please_do_not_Take_these_Organs
New players still being accepted, see start of thread 1 for instructions.

The spiral staircase is one of those things, like knives or sewers or taxation, that any credible civilization has to figure out sooner or later. Cut blocks of stone into keyhole shapes, chunky wedges with a circle on the pointy end. Stack them in a hollow cylinder, each locked into the walls, slightly offset from the one below. Sturdy, elegant, efficient use of space, tedious and dizzying to traverse.

As you climb, curving constantly to the left (which would imply, militarily, that either the goblins are left-handed, or they expected attacks mostly from above and wished to give the advantage to defenders below) there's a maddening sense of movement without progress. The view is always limited to half a turn up ahead, and always seems to be the same... until a faint golden light becomes visible.

Five bedraggled adventurers, three (former?) acolytes of the church of Orcus, three meek kobold slaves, and one goblin junior officer find themselves in a shallow east-facing cave, just as the pink fingers of dawn poke through a web of underbrush across the entrance. Kamlyss's new second-in-command lifts the vine and driftwood camouflage net up out of your way, then points out some roughly flat-topped boulders you should hop across, in order to avoid leaving a clear trail back to their secret entrance. Once satisfied that you're all departing without making a mess, he returns below, and the cave becomes indistinguishable from any other overgrown patch of hillside.

There is a small problem: all three adventuring parties originally entered the dungeon by a very different route, after setting out from either the elven village of Rook's Vineyard or a nearby river ferry/inn, in a deep forest full of roving bandit gangs and horse-sized spiders, hundred miles or so from the nearest coastline. You're now up on top of some rugged grey hills, a two-hour walk from the beach, with only a few small, scattered trees visible anywhere out to the horizon. The kobolds and acolytes, having spent most of their lives underground, are not much help. In short, you are lost. What do?

You could head downhill to the beach, with long clear sight lines and probably the easiest access to food (most of which Marijke can't safely eat), then continue north or south until you find a river mouth.
You could march off in some other direction, hoping to cross a road.
You could set up camp in some nice defensible cave or hilltop (a respectful distance away from the goblins, of course), and then gather scrub vegetation for a signal fire, hoping someone friendly comes to investigate, or wait for tomorrow when Marijke can prepare new spells, or use Snake's pen and parchment to start systematically mapping your surroundings, or combine those options in various ways.

The group is large and diverse enough that you might also want to think about chain of command.
245 posts omitted. Last 100 shown. Expand all images
>>
No. 728093 ID: a075ba

rolled 6, 6, 1 = 13

Oh, since we're heading into a potentially dangerous situation and have a little prep / approach time, it occurs to me there's no reason for Marijke not to spam Fool's Luck on everyone with her, time permitting (herself, Snake, Nico, Goris).
>>
No. 728109 ID: 0ae7f9

rolled 1, 2, 4 = 7

>>727602
Hearing the commotion
>>727809
Then looking at Rixxil and the smell
>>727840
And listening that they were coming and to go aggressive.

Than shrugs then draws her bow and aims straight for a death blow on Rixxil.
>>
No. 728132 ID: a107fd

>>727920
Rixxil Kas feels the mind bondage fail to take hold, and abandons all pretense of salesmanship to shout a warning for it's confederates. Nico, still (for the moment) outside in the howling storm, hears "Escape! The four-armed engineer is escaping!" but everybody else just hears randomly modulated buzzes.

>>728109
Rixxil Kas attempts to dodge, without success, and eel-ticks turn out to be squishy rather than chitinous. Than's arrow hits squarely on Rixxil's center of mass, overpenetrates, and embeds itself in an adjacent crate. Rixxil is not dead, perhaps not even mortally wounded, but clearly impaled and immobilized. The outraged buzz trails off into pained gurgling.

The orcish stevedors flee, following Riv toward the cove.

A dull red tentacle, studded with suckers and toothy hooks, silently emerges from the water and loops around Than's ankle.
>>
No. 728151 ID: 3d2d5f

rolled 3, 2, 5 = 10

>>728132
Our group was approaching in the tunnel. Is Marijke close enough to Eadric to pass spells through him?

Because hitting the giant octopus with a friendship curse sounds like a good idea.
>>
No. 728155 ID: cea69d

Does that work on animals and such?
>>
No. 728186 ID: a075ba

>>728155
Well, the giant octopus didn't make a move until someone was attacked and/or the alarm was sounded.

That suggests it's either intelligent enough to assess the situation on it's own, intelligent enough to be trained, or under someone's mental influence already.
>>
No. 728200 ID: 0ae7f9

rolled 1, 4, 5 = 10

>>728132
Shit. Try to get Than's ankle out of that.

Anything else going on besides immediate danger?
>>
No. 728245 ID: a107fd

>>728151
>close enough to Eadric
By now, sure. It'd only take about five seconds to close the distance at a dead run, now that the guards are cleared out of the way.

>>728155
The version that works on animals is not the version Marijke has available.

>>728186
Also, one or more of those factors apply.

>>728200
Just trying to pull away, or stomp on it, or kneel down and peel the tentacle loose with fingers and knife, or what?
>>
No. 728267 ID: 0ae7f9

>>728245
Anything that removes the tentacle, without further agitating said octopus
>>
No. 728280 ID: 24aec8

Being in the cove and under the effects of fear are there any rolls I need to make or actions I can preform?
>>
No. 728295 ID: a107fd

>>728267
Than hops away from the water's edge, but is at a disadvantage in terms of raw strength. She hugs the nearest barrel, as an anchor, which prevents her from being dragged away by the octopus. Unfortunately this also puts her in melee range of Rixxil Kas, who bites her left forearm. Roll to resist poison.

>>728280
Rain's still pouring down. Beetle monster, uphill to your left, wants to escort you toward the ship to begin repairs, as previously scheduled. Has some questions about the delays, why you came through the wrong door, and what's up with the alarm.

You've recovered enough composure to speak coherently and otherwise choose your own actions, but not enough to seem calm, or confidently spin a line of BS. Nod submissively and proceed toward the work shack in silence? Try to explain yourself with ominous incoherent ranting about the King In Rags And Tatters? Pick a fight, most likely by spending another glue bomb? Flee?
>>
No. 728326 ID: f77a39

>>728295
If I return to work, I risk loosing my chance at freedom, and I do not want to flee further into the compound not do I want to flee towards The King- both options seem grim in terms of freedom or survivability. Direct armed conflict is dubious at best- even if I'm surround by Orc workers, there's no guarantee they will help, and they may even fight against me to appease their masters; in turn my manufactured weapons hardly seem sufficient and I'm feeling to scattered and panicked to throw out any sort of magic confidently. Riv mentally flips through her options and settles on explaining the presence of attackers in the base- if I can use my very really terror of The King, and group him in with the Pirates raiding the base, perhaps the beetle creature will consider running to the aid of Rix, especially if I elaborate to say that Rix is wounded but fighting back.
>>
No. 728336 ID: a075ba

rolled 1, 2, 1 = 4

>The version that works on animals is not the version Marijke has available.
Drat?
>Also, one or more of [these] factors apply:
>it's either intelligent enough to assess the situation on it's own, intelligent enough to be trained, or under someone's mental influence already.
I was thinking in the first case it's sapient enough to be put under the curse of friendship as per normal, in the second case that intelligent animals can still form friendships and/or that the closest equivalent would be the spell giving myself the comparable status as the trainer, and in the last case, that if they can do it, why can't I try and steal their control (or at least mess it up).

If my first plan isn't workable, I'd like a better tactical picture, please. How far are Than and Rixxil from the water? How far is our entrance? (It's important if it's close enough to water to be within the octopus' known reach). How far away is Lectra?

If I'm close enough to see, does Marijke's mage sight pick up anything? (Combat situation, I'm not going to spend time standing around to study spell effects in detail).
>>
No. 728371 ID: 0ae7f9

rolled 2, 1, 5 = 8

>>728295
Bash in Rixxil's head while Than is at resisting the poison too.
>>
No. 728387 ID: cea69d

rolled 2, 3, 4 = 9

>>728326
dice roll because I forgot the dice command doesn't work if you post from a mobile device
>>
No. 728401 ID: a107fd

>>728336
Crit success! Within the class specialty, even, and with fool's luck active besides. Through a miraculous moment of clarity you can actually see the telepathic tendril extending from Rixxil to the giant octopus, in such sharp relief that you could confidently attempt to meddle with it directly. Haven't got raw power enough to break the enslavement outright, but could tweak Friendship Curse and slip it in there spoofed to seem like part of the command channel, or the feedback channel, or maybe try something else tricky.

As for contingency plans and the tactical situation, Than and Rixxil are at that middle cluster of cargo, right near the number 2 here:
>>727422
Marijke could probably move from the front entrance, to the passage leading up to the back room, without passing through the octopus's reach, assuming it doesn't climb any further out of the water. Playing it safe would involve clambering over the southernmost set of crates.
>>
No. 728404 ID: a107fd

>>728387
The beetle-monster listens, cracks it's chitinous knuckles, and points imperiously at the shack, chittering "Get back to work. I'll deal with the unexpected guests." As soon as Riv begins to move toward the assigned post, it turns and lumbers into the front room, prepared for the worst.

>>728371
Than grabs Rixxil Kas's slimy eel neck in her right hand, prepares to smash that miserable mango-sized skull against the iron hoop at the barrel's upper edge with a hammerblow from her left fist... but it slips out of the way at the last moment, and she bruises her fingers almost as much as the intended target. The double-dealing eel-tick's lower jaw appears to be broken, at least.

Now lacking handholds, she faceplants in the sand, and is promptly dragged two or three feet closer to the water by the octopus.

As for poison: Than's heart is pounding, eyes and nose are watery, she feels jittery and hyper-alert. No mechanical penalty yet.
>>
No. 728407 ID: a075ba

rolled 2, 6, 2 = 10

Rixxil's got some impressive mental focus to have kept up its control spells up despite the arrow and the beating.

>could tweak Friendship Curse and slip it in there spoofed to seem like part of the command channel, or the feedback channel
What would the difference there be? I'm assuming dropping the curse in the command signal would make the octopus react / transmit the curse as if Rixxil had ordered it to treat Marijke as a friendly (and the curse aspect would prevent the Eel-tick from quickly or easily countermanding that, if and when it realized what happened). Feedback would... allow me a direct line to dump the curse on Rixxil, bypassing its normal defenses?

Suborning Rixxil might grant effective control over the base and his minions, but he might not be much use as a puppet in its current condition. Befriending the octopus doesn't grant me control over it (especially if it turns out I have no means of communication), but it should allow me to shield the party if it's unwilling to harm me.

>Now lacking handholds, [Than] faceplants in the sand, and is promptly dragged two or three feet closer to the water by the octopus.
Electra could probably place her force shield in between Than and the water to keep her from being dragged off before I finish my spell.

>what do
Marijke will advance from the tunnel coming around the crates, grade amulet held aloft, calling Eadric back to her emphatically. She will pass the Friendship curse to her familiar, and then dropping her arm, send him cutting right across the mental command tether to drop his payload into the command channel.

(I'm assuming meeting my avian familiar partway and sending him flying back is faster than closing the full distance myself).

In Seatongue "Please release my scout, friend."

>what else do
Between 'Lectra, the king, Snake, Goris and Nico someone should be able to kill or disable Rixxil before it causes any more trouble.
>>
No. 728486 ID: a107fd

rolled 4, 6, 6 = 16

>>where is Lectra?
She's still standing over by Than, a little to the north.

>>Marijke will advise Than and 'Lectra over whisper-web that we're following them in, the ogres and the beetle thing are no longer a problem.

Letkra isn't sure what that means, since she thought Mister Bug Man and the Ogres weren't a problem anyway. They were friendly about letting us in, right?

>> glass Rix in the face with a bottle of fish gunk
>> Than shrugs then draws her bow and aims straight for a death blow on Rixxil.

Letkra stares dumbfoundedly, then slaps her hand to her forehead. "Wait, what's going on here?? Why are we attacking a Merchant? You can't do that! (also, why is nobody in formation?)"

Noticing the other beetle-monster approaching from the north, she says, "Now the Invincible Town Guards are coming to get us! See?"

>>tentacle
Letkra sees Than struggling, so she pulls her glaive from her back and makes a big overhead chop to try to sever the tentacle (aiming more towards the water than towards Than's leg).

>> Electra Letkra could probably place her force shield in between Than and the water to keep her from being dragged off before I finish my spell.
Her shield can't really slam into and puncture things, so it's not so good for disentangling Than's leg. Also, it's a little bit slow to move around in a hurry since she hadn't finished recalling it from outside yet; Marijke might've outrun it on the way in. That said, she'd start trying to retrieve it around the time the fighting started.
>>
No. 728504 ID: a107fd

>>728407
> I'm assuming dropping the curse in the command signal would make the octopus react / transmit the curse as if Rixxil had ordered it to treat Marijke as a friendly (and the curse aspect would prevent the Eel-tick from quickly or easily countermanding that, if and when it realized what happened). Feedback would... allow me a direct line to dump the curse on Rixxil, bypassing its normal defenses?
Yes.
>(I'm assuming meeting my avian familiar partway and sending him flying back is faster than closing the full distance myself).
It certainly doesn't hurt.
>In Seatongue "Please release my scout, friend."
The octopus does not understand seatongue, or any other spoken language. Friendship Curse is partially successful: elvenoids in general (and Marijke in particular) have been reclassified, in the octopus's mind, from "food" to "potential mate." This creates an immediate conflict with Rixxil Kas's order to attack Than. The tentacle remains in place, but stops pulling.

>>728486
>big overhead chop to try to sever the tentacle
>rolled 4, 6, 6 = 16
The telescoping haft extends an extra foot or so in mid-swing, causing the blade to miss it's mark entirely, instead putting a useless, and very temporary, gouge in the wet sandy floor.

>might've outrun it on the way in
Yeah. Extended out to a 7-yard radius, Letkra's shield can only move (or resize) one yard per second. Seven foot radius, three yards per second. One yard radius, seven yards per second. One inch radius, 250 yards per second, but pretty much only as 'goalkeeper' armor.

Rixxil Kas gurgles piteously, coughing up green gunk in between attempts to address Marijke in seatongue. "Sorceress! You command this raid, and subvert my own slaves? Spare my unworthy life, claim it by right of conquest, and my share in the enterprise becomes yours. Gold and potions, hidden and locked tight, impossible to extract without either my cooperation, or far more expensive violence!"

Goris and White Snake scramble over that heap of crates and up into the back room, then announce via whisperweb that there's some sort of shark-man, down in a pit, who appears to have just singlehandedly mauled an ogre (other slaves are present too, but they're cowering or trying to hide, rather than covered in blood) and he wants to join the crew. Requesting the captain's permission before lowering a ladder to extract him.

The King, and the other beetle-monster, are both observing all this chaos with some degree of calm detachment, and slowly advancing to meet each other at the center of the room.
>>
No. 728515 ID: a075ba

rolled 3, 2, 2 = 7

>The octopus does not understand seatongue, or any other spoken language.
I figured that was probably the case, but it was low cost to try.

>elvenoids in general (and Marijke in particular) have been reclassified, in the octopus's mind, from "food" to "potential mate.
I apologize in advance if anyone if subjected to amorous advances or worse. (OOC, of course. Can't afford to show weakness in front of the enemy, and I'm not sure Marijke realizes, in character, exactly how the octopus parsed that).

>energy shield move rate
She can't choose to dismiss / release it and then reform it at default / close range?

>he wants to join the crew. Requesting the captain's permission before lowering a ladder to extract him.
Granted. Turning any of the slaves here against their master works to our advantage here. I trust you can handle him if he's lying.

>Rixxil Kas gurgles piteously, coughing up green gunk in between attempts to address Marijke in seatongue. "Sorceress! You command this raid, and subvert my own slaves? Spare my unworthy life, claim it by right of conquest, and my share in the enterprise becomes yours. Gold and potions, hidden and locked tight, impossible to extract without either my cooperation, or far more expensive violence!"
I'm impressed it can still speak. That is one tough mofo.

Whisper-web: Than, lie check?

Marijke, brandishing her idol, replies: "Know that you brought this raid upon your own head, with your brazen attempt to cheat my representative. You are fortunate you have a means other than blood to repay this insult."

Assuming Than doesn't indicate Rixxil is lying, I'll accept the surrender. Assuming no funny business, first order of business will be extricating Than, and casting staunch bleeding to stabilize the prisoner.
>>
No. 728524 ID: 0ae7f9

rolled 2, 1, 6 = 9

>>728515
Than looks at him to detect if he's lying and how alive he is.

Look at the shark too while we're at it. Roll to resist poison and if you need it, to check for lies.
>>
No. 728562 ID: a107fd

>>728515
>She can't choose to dismiss / release it and then reform it at default / close range?
No. It doesn't have an 'off mode,' the way Than's bow disappears when not being actively wielded; Lektra can no more dismiss the shield by will alone than Marijke could stop having a familiar, or Eadric could choose to stop casting a shadow while flying in direct sunlight.

>Granted.
Ravenous Llyr is now in play.

>impressed it can still speak
Speech organs don't seem to have much to do with the mouth.

>one tough mofo
Truer than you know! Ask about 'great old masters' some time.

> "Know that you brought this raid upon your own head, with your brazen attempt to cheat my representative. You are fortunate you have a means other than blood to repay this insult."

It meekly nods along and makes agreeably penitent noises until Marijke seems to have wrapped up her litany of recriminations. "With all that settled, mistress, and," another wet cough, "related to the subject of payment in blood, will I be permitted any sort of medical care?" Greenish hemolymph, leaking from both ends of the arrow wound and elsewhere, is pooling on top of the barrel, coagulating into a crusty purple-black mess as dries.

>staunch bleeding to stabilize the prisoner
"This one is most grateful."

Giant octopus disengages and withdraws, but the beetle-thing steps over Than's prone form to meet the Avatar of the King almost nose-to-mandible. "We are a very great distance apart from Ĉ̞͓̫̘͖̝̣a̡͔̠̼͚ṟ̯̪̭͎̗͖̓͂ͦͮc̠̩͎̭͐o͈͙̩̲̒̔͒̎̽ͤ̍s͍̰͔̏̆ͤ̏̈͡a here, Your Majesty. What brings you so soon?"

>>728524
Than is now experiencing blurred vision, in addition to the previous symptoms, and proved unable to detect a lie on Rixxil Kas's part even before being poisoned.
>>
No. 728588 ID: cea69d

Riv reluctantly turns and pretends to head in towards the ship, before doubling back and returning to the cove- how much of what's going on would I be aware of? From the looks of the map I don't think I'd be able to see anything, but it's possible I could still hear what's going on, or notice a change in behavior of the Orcs, etc. What am I aware of currently?
>>
No. 728618 ID: a075ba

rolled 5, 4, 4 = 13

Marijke has staunched our prisoner's bleeding, but I would be more comfortable if I could get one of our more martial members standing over him in case Rixxil tries something. (Snake is carrying rope, right? Might be prudent to bind it).

Frowning at Than's difficulty Marijke will whisper "someone help her up, please" Aloud, to Rixxil: "Your bite. How much jeopardy is my archer in?"

Goris might want to use her prayer against poison.

Once we've helped Than and secured the prisoner, the next most important questions to ask Rixxil is if there's anyone else who's going to violently object to our presence here. And where this hidden cache of gold and potions is supposed to be. (Verbal only, don't let him lead us anywhere, yet).
>>
No. 728715 ID: a107fd

>>728588
Beetle-monsters can hear footfalls through the sand, but not so clearly in rain, or much at all beyond, at most, twenty yards. Riv could sneak back and be peeking in to the front room, with an excuse ready about having forgotten some tool.

>>728618
>How much jeopardy is my archer in?
If she was not already in poor health, or under the effects of some other powerful stimulant, almost none. Recovery sufficient for combat duty could reasonably be expected within a day or two, assuming bed rest and competent medical care, or in a matter of minutes with suitable healing spells no higher than the second circle. Rixxil is quite familiar with the effects of it's own poison, and anyone with diagnostic skills can confirm that Than seems a little twitchy and loopy, but is not deteriorating further.

>Might be prudent to bind it
Rixxil Kas offers to solemnize the surrender by using it's telepathic enslavement ability "in reverse," allowing Marijke to communicate with her new toy silently, at arbitrary distance, and issue nonnegotiable commands. Alternatively, as a further humiliation, the link could be delegated to some other member of her crew.

>anyone else who's going to violently object to our presence
"Not if you explain, mistress, that you came only to trade, were provoked to violence by my own clumsy deceit, and ceased hostilities upon my surrender."

>where this hidden cache
"An iron coffer up in the back room holds the readily severable portion of this one's recent contribution to your material wealth, mistress. Would it be permissible to instruct a domestic umber," gesturing toward the beetle-monster engaged in a staring contest with the strangely regal perambulatory pile of dirty laundry, "to retrieve the box in question, so that you may peruse your winnings without further exertion?"
>>
No. 728724 ID: cea69d

Now Nico's avatar is still visible in the room correct? Do I need to roll to resist fear once again? Or has the terrifying presence ceased to effect me so viscerally?
>>
No. 728736 ID: a107fd

>>728724
Frightful Presence only activates as part of some visibly aggressive action, and doesn't affect allies. It's extraordinary intimidation, not magic fear-beams.
>>
No. 728781 ID: cea69d

rolled 4, 5, 3 = 12

>>728736
In that case, Riv will confer with the Orcs who fled in her direction, in their tongue if possible/necessary:
"Compound is invaded. Rixxil surrenders. Suggest you follow my lead, ask to join crew."
She then precedes to walk cautiously out into the main room- making sure to obvious about her approach- while locking eyes on Marijke and doing her best to avoid letting Rix into her field of view. Upon entering the room she will announce loudly:
"Hear me! I wish to offer my skills as an alchemist; permit me to join you, so we may both gain."
>>
No. 728790 ID: 0ae7f9

Than tries wiggling or moving around a little. Any paralysis still there?
>>
No. 728830 ID: a107fd

>>728781
>Suggest you follow my lead
>rolled 4, 5, 3 = 12
"Nope! I seen what they do to resisters."

>"Hear me! I wish to offer my skills as an alchemist; permit me to join you, so we may both gain."

You've successfully (?) made it clear to everyone in earshot that you're rebelling against the eel-ticks, but are also not yet under anyone else's protection.

The beetle-monster in the center of the room glances back and forth between Riv and Marijke in momentary disbelief, then charges, swinging at Riv's legs with a foreclaw. Roll to dodge.
>>
No. 728831 ID: a107fd

>>728790
No paralysis at all, just jittery overstimulation. Maybe some swelling around the bite. She could walk, though it might take a bit of conscious effort not to break into a run.
>>
No. 728874 ID: 0ae7f9

rolled 3, 4, 2 = 9

>>728830
"Heyyyyy! Don't you want to go back to your staring contest with the intimidating rag man?"

Or some motion signifying what she just said if the beetle didn't understand her.
>>
No. 728876 ID: cea69d

rolled 5, 2, 2 = 9

Riv, seeing the openly hostile Ell-tic charge her is moderately surprised- she was walking cautiously, trying to stay away from threats and put her self in a safe location just for an attack of this nature but she didn't think the creatures would attack her without anything to gain; all that will happen now if she is wounded is a loss of resources to both parties, and she was hoping the creature would be a little more receptive to this.
She does her best to dodge out of the way and put some distance between her and her assailant, preferable positioning herself with someone between herself and the beetle monster. She will cry out to everyone occupying the room:
"Oaf, my death harms all! Rix, end this, you destroy resources for your new masters, and presume you have the authority to answer form them as if you think them incapable! Do not insult them further with these offences worm"
>>
No. 728885 ID: a075ba

>>728830
>>728876
Marijke finds herself distracted from her inner musings on the morality of slave taking, the potential usefulness of a telepathic minion, and the ridiculous risk of letting a creature she doesn't trust cast any kind of mind magic on her (and the leader of the group) to stare incredulously at the performance in front of her.

"Who is that?" she asks.

>Rix, end this
Technically, Rix surrendered its share in the enterprise, I'm not sure it has the authority to tell the attacker to stand down anymore. Marijke might, if she's taken his place in their organization by conquest (I'm not clear on if what Rixxil was offering constituted a transfer of his shares, or liquidating his assets and cashing them out to hand over).

If I have taken Rixxil's place, letting slaves join my crew isn't so much acquiring resources as moving them around. There's also the question of how long Rixxil's former confederates would tolerate the newcomer allowing slaves to escape and undercutting authority.
>>
No. 728911 ID: a107fd

>>728876
>my death harms all
Your survival, after such a bold claim of self-determination, would hurt the eel-ticks' credibility, and thus their capacity to keep other slaves under control. They tolerated petty misbehavior and "mistakes" before because you had rare, mission-critical skills, but now your symbolic status as a defector is just as much a threat to their organization as if you'd deliberately set something expensive on fire.

Beetle-monster's got the overwhelming advantage in strength, speed, and reach, and you can't look straight at it safely, but it blatantly telegraphed that first swing, so you just barely manage to get out of the way. Are you
A) Climbing the crates for high ground advantage and possible access to the main exit, in which case you'll need to closely watch the enforcer's movements, and thus, roll to resist gaze attack?
B) Diving in to the water, which will have unpleasant effects on mummified physiology, but forces Rixxil Kas's octopus to get involved?
C) Fleeing back toward the cove, counting on someone else to delay pursuit? In a footrace on level ground your odds would be very bad, and even if you could keep ahead, there's nowhere to hide out that way, other than inside the repair tents or the ship itself.

>>728885
Even with telepathy already in place, Rixxil couldn't fully explain the relevant nuances of accountancy and social protocol in the few seconds before the current fight is resolved. It did, however, already strongly imply retention of sufficient authority to order the beetle-monster to retrieve that box of gold and potions from the back room.
>>
No. 728914 ID: a107fd

rolled 3, 3, 4 = 10

> Combat seemingly concludes

Letkra hefts her glaive from the sand and scratches the back of her head apologetically. She also retrieves her shield holds it at about tower-shield size, like around 6' diameter maybe if that can be moved around quickly.

> Riv asks to form an alliance and is promptly assaulted

"What the- don't you people have any sense of etiquette?" She turns to Marijke and asks, "She's trying to Join The Party, so we help her, right? We're fighting a battle with that Beetle Person now?"

If possible to do quickly enough, Letkra will try to run over and interpose herself in between Riv and her attacker, with the shield up to block further attacks. She doesn't attack, though, just trying to block.
>>
No. 728919 ID: a107fd

>>728914
This will noticeably improve Riv's chances, and presents at least one new option:
D) riding the shield somewhere above the surface of the water.
>>
No. 728938 ID: a075ba

rolled 6, 1, 2 = 9

>crewmate puts herself between the apparent crazy person and her attacker.
Marijke sighs, and then gestures to Rixxil.

"If you retain the authority to call off that attack, do so."

>Your survival, after such a bold claim of self-determination, would hurt the eel-ticks' credibility, and thus their capacity to keep other slaves under control.
Assuming Rixxil gets the other one to stop its aggression "As of now, your tax for foolishly attempting to cheat us has grown to the transfer of ownership of one... apparently mad slave. Now let us dispense with this foolishness before it grows further or any more violence breaks out.

To Riv: "And you. You will behave yourself with no further outbursts until we are done here or I have half a mind to hand you back over."

>Wait, what's going on here?? Why are we attacking a Merchant? You can't do that!
>Town Guard
>We're fighting a battle with that Beetle Person now?
In response to her naive companions recent questioning: "we attacked the merchant because it attempted to steal from us, and as we are not inside a town, there is no guard nor anyone else to punish that crime but ourselves. Now, it has surrendered, and has agreed to pay us a fine, so there will be no further fighting."

Assuming that puts a stop to the fighting, Rixxil can send for our payment to be brought here.

Put Letkra on prisoner guarding duty. I'm pretty sure she can't be poisoned, and as a construct, her mind might not be eligible for telepathic attacks either.

If Than is still struggling to get up, I'd like to send Snake and Goris to help her.

(For the moment, I think I have to table the offer of allowing Rixxil to tie itself to anyone in telepathic bondage. Too much immediate risk, although if we don't trust it or bind it more thoroughly, there's going to be risk taking it with us as well).
>>
No. 728989 ID: 4201a2

Not sure where Llyr currently is or what he's doing, but this seems like a pretty good time to try and acquire a weapon of some sort. What was the ogre carrying?
>>
No. 728999 ID: a075ba

>>728989
I was assuming Than and Goris lower the rope down to you, so assuming you climbed up it, you'd be in the rear of the same room with the octopus pool we're all in.
>>
No. 729124 ID: a107fd

>>728938
>If you retain the authority
Rixxil nods meekly, "Yes, mistress," then pivots and draws itself up to address the beetle-monster. "I am haggler second class Rixxil Kas, of the Neogi! YOU were born with no other purpose but to toil, suffer, and die at the merest whim of me and my kin! Cease this brawling immediately. Instead, retrieve my personal coffer and other possessions from the climate-controlled storage area." Then, turning back to Marijke and resuming the submissive tone just as abruptly, "Alas, mistress, delaying the matter for some minutes is the limit of my power at this time."

(Riv still needs to pick a strategy for surviving the seconds while Rixxil and Marijke are talking.)

>>728989
Ogre was carrying a six-yard leather whip. Not especially practical in close quarters. White Snake has spare knives, though.
>>
No. 729132 ID: 4201a2

>>728999
>together with everyone
As Llyr was requesting to join the crew before being rescued from the pit, he jumps to the conclusion that being rescued means he must have just been recruited.
"Thanks for liftin' me out o' there. That means I'm one o' you now, yeah? I always wanted to be a pirate."

>>729124
>Llyr has a whip. White Snake has some spare knives.
With a toothy, blood-spattered shark grin: "Trade ya for them knives."
>>
No. 729147 ID: a075ba

>"Alas, mistress, delaying the matter for some minutes is the limit of my power at this time."
Thank you, that will do.

Assuming Riv doesn't crit fail on not getting killed before its attacker leaves to retrieve the storage container, I'm going to strongly advise that Riv makes sure they're not here when it gets back. Out, door is that way. I already got an agreement to cease hostilities, and I'm not fighting the whole group here for your sake.
>>
No. 729231 ID: a107fd

>>729132
White Snake is initially reluctant to break up the set, until Goris quietly points out that it's a very well-crafted whip, made from what appears to be kangaroo leather.

Llyr now has two knives. Handles are awkwardly thin, optimized for throwing, but it's fine steel, kept sharp and clean. No scabbards, other than Snake's bandolier, but it's easy enough to hold both in one hand, or clenched between humanform teeth, if (for whatever reason) you felt like a situation demanded grabbing rather than stabbing.

>>728999
>assuming Than and Goris lower the rope

Than's in the front room, with the cargo and most of the action. Goris and Dimitry went up a steep, narrow tunnel to the ledge in the central room, above the slave pit. The floor of the slave pit is at the same level as the sand in the front room (it'd be flooded if it were any lower) but the only way in and out is by having someone on the ledge lower the wooden ladder, which is explicitly called out on the map's illustrated key back here:
>>727422
>>
No. 729248 ID: a107fd

As Riv scrambles up the pile of crates behind magical cover, the umber beetle focuses on Letkra as a more immediate threat. She hops over it's initial leg-sweep, kicks off the wall for a lunge. The beetle steps back, parries with an massive armored forearm, and counters, throwing her straight up in the air. After a very brief three-point landing on the cavern ceiling, Lektra rebounds, spearpoint downward for an unblockable dragoon-strike... only to have the beetle-monster burrow into the sand with uncanny speed, leaving her "trapped" in a crude pentagram which it sketched out with footwork during the duel.

It re-emerges from the ground, leaving no visible tunnel, right where Riv is starting to think about how best to use Letkra's shield for a game of 'the floor is lava.' Then, Marijke and Rixxil provide an opportunity to escape, as previously described.
>>729124
Unfortunately, it's still raining outside, and Riv realizes she won't make it far if she's soaking wet, swollen, and her joints get locked up. Ransack the mundane supplies for a raincoat, bring Letkra along for the shield, or beg a casting of Bestow Shadow Armor from Marijke or Nico?
>>
No. 729255 ID: a107fd

Letkra notices she's landed on the crudely drawn pentagram. She flails around the air above the circle like some sort of mime.

"Ahhhh! I'm trapped!"

She stands and steadies her glaive to be ready for further attack, but remains on the spot.
>>
No. 729274 ID: cea69d

rolled 3, 1, 5 = 9

"And you. You will behave yourself with no further outbursts until we are done here or I have half a mind to hand you back over."
Riv struggles to reply while scrambling to avoid what is likely certain death, even with the help of Letkra, doing her best to state, through awkward climbing and grunts of exertion that: "Would be no trouble if not for unwarranted aggression- misunderstood the hierarchy and Rix's level of command, apologize for further inconveniences."
She then goes on to express her gratitude once the rather impressive display of coordination leaves Letkra trapped
"Very grateful, did not anticipate such hostilities, your intervention on my behalf will be repaid in full. My services, yours."
She then does her best to scuff the lines of the pentagram, unsure exactly how the shape traps her savior but recognizing that it in some way inhibits her, before going on to search for something usable as a raincoat.
>>
No. 729284 ID: a075ba

rolled 5, 4, 1 = 10

>>729231
Sorry, typo. I meant Snake and Goris.

>only to have the beetle-monster burrow into the sand with uncanny speed, leaving her "trapped" in a crude pentagram which it sketched out with footwork during the duel.
Huh. How did it know that she would be scared / restrained by that? A fear-sense ability? Rixxil?

>Ransack the mundane supplies for a raincoat, bring Letkra along for the shield, or beg a casting of Bestow Shadow Armor from Marijke or Nico?
Riv can craft a raincoat or get a kobold to craft a raincoat later, assuming she takes the supplies. Marijke isn't about to send one of her escorts and the group's rain shield with a single person, either.

So sure, I'll cast a shadow armor on Riv, in the interest of her laving faster.

And if I have time while we're waiting for the luggage carrier to return, I might as well buff our two newest party members with Fool's Luck.
>>
No. 729299 ID: a107fd

>>729274
> unsure exactly how the shape traps her savior
It doesn't. A quick examination clearly reveals that there's no magic at all involved with the diagram in question, the seeming impossibility of which attracts Nico Nashville's interest. He moves to interfere with Riv's attempts to obliterate the diagram.

Riv could attempt to grab Letkra with her free hand, dragging her over the sandy lines by force, or simply flee solo. Once she's out the front entrance, will she be running along the beach, or taking the first reasonable opportunity to climb inland?
>>
No. 729312 ID: 0ae7f9

rolled 3, 4, 3 = 10

>massive armored forearm
Have Than take a good look at the beetle.
Any perceivable points to cripple the beetle as it is not ceasing hostilities?
>>
No. 729379 ID: a107fd

>>726261
>overwhelming (albeit mercifully brief) hallucinations and/or compulsions, typically resulting in violent or otherwise profoundly antisocial behavior
>>728911
>can't look straight at it safely
>roll to resist gaze attack
>>729312
>take a good look at the beetle
>rolled 3, 4, 3 = 10

As Riv and the beetle-monster depart, to the south and southwest respectively, Than simply watches, and in so doing, attains an epiphanic understanding of why her target-seeking eyes have not been functioning properly on eel-ticks and their umber thralls: those un-insect abominations are from a different world. A different ecosystem. An utterly alien spark guides subtle energy through flesh by unfamiliar laws. In time, she could learn to interpret the corresponding signs of weakness, seeing their lies and hearing vital points as easily as she does to normal creatures.

Than does not feel that she has sufficient time. The knowledge is too much, a weight that will crush her unless set aside quickly. Only obvious way to do so is the cleansing ecstasy of nearby death.

Than has gained the Confused affliction, and will attack (or, in subsequent rounds, possibly take other actions) without distinction between friend and foe. Who is standing closest?
>>
No. 729401 ID: 0ae7f9

>>729379
Rixxil and/or Marijke are closest(?).
I can only pray other characters will notice or Than doesn't die somehow. Oh well.
>>
No. 729418 ID: cea69d

rolled 2, 3, 2 = 7

>He moves to interfere
WHile Riv was looking to do the bare minimum of scuff the sand immediately at her feet to break the lines, if this is not enough, or if she was unable to finish this before Nico intervenes, then she will stare at him for a moment before scurrying away to search for a rain coat.

>I'll cast a shadow armor on Riv
If Riv had found a raincoat before this, then she will don it anyway and rush out the door; otherwise, riv freezes in her tracks for a moment before staring at Marijke and then rushing out the door wordlessly.

>I'm going to strongly advise that Riv makes sure they're not here when it gets back
>will she be running along the beach, or taking the first reasonable opportunity to climb inland?
After rushing out the door Riv will try to take cover within any nearby foliage sufficient to hide her, roughly 30 feet from the entrance. On her way out she will uncork a stink bomb and splash some on the side of the cave entrance and then throw it in a direction suitably far from her position- she is beginning to think they don't track through smell, but if there's any chance that can throw off pursuers then it's worth a bottle of rotten fish. After finding cover in the nearby leaves she will do her best to mash some of the leaves to make their scent stronger and use it to mask any lingering stink or scent she can detect. Finally she'll attempt to cover her tracks with rain and mud and such, hoping to look as inconspicuous as possible .
>>
No. 729440 ID: a107fd

>>729418
>elaborate trail-covering
Granted. Which direction?

>>729401
Than's about to fire a broadhead arrow, loaded with some random magical poison, straight into Marijke's heart. Nico's Avatar of the King is coiling His wrappings in preparation to entangle Than, but this will come too late.

Will Marijke attempt to dodge, or grab Than's bow and force it out of line, or...?
>>
No. 729441 ID: cea69d

>>729440
Towards the shore if that is suitably opposed to my hiding place
>>
No. 729446 ID: 4201a2

rolled 3, 3, 5 = 11

>>729440
"Mutiny already? Bein' a pirate is excitin'!"

Targeted knife throw at Than's hand.
>>
No. 729452 ID: a075ba

rolled 1, 2, 4 = 7

I just want to say I was sorely tempted to simply execute Rixxil, thus triggering Than's convulsive response to a death, but drawing a dagger and knifing him is probably more prone to failure than anything else I could try, (given that I'm not a primary melee fighter, it would very likely have a chance to react, I'd be leaving Than free to act unopposed, and if I screwed it up, I'd be facing two combatants).

So instead, Marijke stands her ground, thrust the arm holding the jade amulet forward and cast.

"I DEMAND you give me your bow."

I'm betting on confusion and struggling with poison tanking Than's will score. And on Fool's Luck being on my side but not hers. (Making a sudden demand to someone about to shoot you seems more eligible than trying to resist mental domination).

Considering Than's bow can be dismissed and resumed from hammerspace, demand gift won't disarm her for long, but it should be long enough to prevent a fatal shot before Than is immobilized by the king, or we can get Goris to cast paralysis on her.

(I'm not sure on the order of event resolution: if Lyr disarms or overwise stops Than before Marijke can cast, I'll abort the spell).

>Assuming I'm still standing after this exchange
Marijke whirls back to Rixxil, expression angry. "Explain."
>>
No. 729458 ID: a107fd

>>729446
Figuring a base skill of 10 for starting-soldier proficiency, -2 for unfamiliar weapon, -3 for seven yard range, -4 for a target the size of a hand, no time to aim for more than +1...

Llyr's thrown knife whistles through the air less than an inch from Marijke's nose. In conjunction with that comment about mutiny, it would not be unreasonable to conclude that he thinks it's everybody-stab-the-captain time.
>>
No. 729465 ID: a075ba

>>729458
Pfff. To append my actions in reaction to that: before whirling on Rixxil, Llyr just earned himself a glare. When it becomes apparent he isn't suffering the same confusion / compulsion as Than and isn't pressing his attack, I'll move to demanding an explanation from the obvious suspect.

(Uh, unless Marijke can somehow tell what happened on her own. Then no need to demand answers?).
>>
No. 729471 ID: a107fd

>>729452
It's over in a blink. Than's arrow passes smoothly through Marijke's amulet, producing a sharp pain in her chest, but there's no visible wound. The arrow, and bow, have simply vanished. Amulet is intact, but it's material has changed from a gleaming pale-green opacity to translucent dark yellow, with faint suggestions of movement at the center.

Than can hear someone far away, screaming. Everyone else can hear Than screaming.

>whirls back to Rixxil
Cowering, foreclaws over it's head. "Wasn't me! Wasn't me! You people just go crazy from looking at stuff sometimes, don't know why!" After a bit of hyperventilating, and awkward gestures toward Than's previous arrow, upon which Rixxil Kas's abdomen is still impaled: "Mistress, if this one were capable of commanding your archer, don't you think that might have been done sooner?"
>>
No. 729477 ID: 4201a2

rolled 6, 5, 5 = 16

>>729458
>-2 for unfamiliar weapon
It's not unfamiliar. Llyr had a bandolier of knives in his starting kit.

>>729471
>Than's weapon has been magicked away by Marijke, and Than is apparently screaming in dismay over being disarmed?
"Oh, it's over already. I guess you're not captain for nothin', hahaha."

Tackle Than and bludgeon her unconscious.
>>
No. 729490 ID: a075ba

>outright stole the hammerspace bow as a knife flies by my face
Damn. That's pretty badass visual, though possibly awkward later.

>knife by my face
>aimed at Than's hand
Could we please stop trying to "help" party members with attacks that have a high chance or hurting them, whether they work or fail? Remember what happened to Nick? Don't tempt the horror setting.

>Mistress, if this one were capable of commanding your archer, don't you think that might have been done sooner?
...granted. My apologies for the outburst, my crew pointing weapons at my face *glares at Than and Llyr* puts me in poor humor.

>You people just go crazy from looking at stuff sometimes, don't know why!
Everyone please please avoid looking too closely at our hosts, it's apparently not good for your mental health. We're leaving as soon as we've secured our payoff, before anything else can go wrong.
>>
No. 729493 ID: a075ba

Where is everybody, at this point? Lektra is 'bound' in the pentegram, Nico is examining it, Than is standing near Marijke and Rixxil, the King is about to restrain her, Llyr is... somewhere within knife throwing distance but probably further than the King? Did Snake and Goris return with Llyr?
>>
No. 729494 ID: a107fd

>>729477
>familiarity
Llry's not new to the idea of a throwing knife. Give 'im a few hours to practice, figure out how to properly grip the thinner handles, different balance, and so on, penalty goes away.
>Tackle Than and bludgeon her unconscious
>rolled 6, 5, 5 = 16
As Llyr approaches, Than drops into a crouch, eyes wide but unfocused, hands over her ears. Without apparent conscious effort, she deflects the tackle over her head, sending Llyr into the water.
>>
No. 729495 ID: a075ba

>>729494
Right, so Than is still up and cuckoo.

If the King has closed, he should probably grapple. If that doesn't adequately restrain her, I'll direct Goris to use her paralysis spell.
>>
No. 729522 ID: a107fd

>>729495
Avatar's already moving in to grapple Than, I'm waiting for her player on how she's going to respond to that.

White Snake and Goris come in from the north entrance, carrying Llry's personal effects (spare clothes, a three-pronged spear, set of knives, and an S-shaped piece of jade with a hole through the center) and a scouting report about the cove.

There's something in there, under construction or major repairs, big as frigate, made out of mostly wood and rope and cloth, but no way was it ever meant to go in the water. You're familiar with the idea of a ship in a bottle? Picture such a project, half-complete. A mutilated scorpion crawls into the bottle, shrivels up and dies. The bottle is sealed and sent as a gift to the elven king of a high forested plateau, whose subjects know nothing about either scorpions or sailing. The mad king decides to devote all the resources of his realm to scientific and artistic innovation, in an effort to recreate and improve upon the vessel apparently depicted in miniature within that bottle. He supervises the project closely for decades, living on a strict diet of wine, honey, and hallucinogenic mushrooms, and somehow remaining ignorant of any body of water larger than a five gallon bucket through all that time. The resultant twisted abortion of naval architecture so offends the very gods who look upon it that they send a cataclysm to wipe out his kingdom, crushing the charred bones of the Grand Endeavor itself against a distant rocky shore, right here, maybe two weeks ago. Probably not what actually happened, but it's the first approximation that sprang to mind.

Goris's paralysis spell is already spent; she used it on the beetle at the front door.
>>
No. 729529 ID: 0ae7f9

rolled 5, 5, 1 = 11

>>729522
Struggle while closing her eyes. The beetle did this to her, what would the King do to her?

"So cold... So much darkness... I can't understand yet! I WON'T UNDERSTAND YET!"

Continue screaming and babbling as well. She mostly just wants to curl up and sit, but she doesn't really know what's going on right now. Everyone else's face is obscured by shadow, but Llyr looks more shark and less man to Than in his shadowy form.
>>
No. 729551 ID: a107fd

By the time the umber thrall gets back with Rixxil's little iron box of valuables, Than has mostly calmed down, curled up in the fetal position, and is tangled onto the King like a backpack. She could probably tear free, but the tattered yellow silk is surprisingly comfortable, and so luxuriously soft... through closed eyes, she sees a creature traveling through a desert of silver sand, under a sky studded with black stars. It has no ears, no eyes, no arms, no legs, no head, no chest, no tail, and barely any hair, but she immediately recognizes it as herself.

In addition to the box, Administrarch Neex Hist sends it's regards, along with a humble request that you leave immediately and never return.
>>
No. 729571 ID: a075ba

>>729551
First thing to do before we leave is check that the box actually contains valuables.

>Administrarch Neex Hist sends it's regards, along with a humble request that you leave immediately and never return.
I for one am perfectly fine with that. Although if they want to buy back their former colleague t this point, I'm willing to entertain offers.

Assuming they don't go for that (or if Rixxil protests, more afraid to return to them than go with us):

I'm ordering Nico to stop playing in the sand and let Lektra out already. Then we're all getting the hell out of here.
>>
No. 729574 ID: 4201a2

rolled 2, 1, 1 = 4

With the octopus already subdued, there's not really anything actively keeping Llyr from leaving the lake, so he'll swim to the edge and climb back out.

I assume this will pretty much wash the blood off his face as well.
>>
No. 729587 ID: a107fd

>check that the box actually contains valuables
It's 6" square and a foot long, and weighs somewhere between 30 and 35 pounds. Marijke can tell that at least 15-20% of that weight is coins (as opposed to, say, gravel) just by the sound of it shifting and rattling inside. Two keyholes, and Rixxil Kas has a ring with nine elaborate keys, all of which are needed, in a specific sequence of combinations, to disengage the mechanism. Years of practice streamlined the procedure to a point where it usually takes less than five minutes.

>buy back their former colleague
"Thanks for the offer, but we prefer to be on the other end of the kidnapping and protection rackets and such. Maybe eventually, probably through proxies. Where will you be heading?"

>octopus already subdued
Ordered to withdraw, but not tired or hurt at all. Could be an important distinction. That being said, with a crit success Ravenous Llyr exits the ocean and returns to shore in a suitably majestic manner, well before the giant octopus makes any lecherous advances. He even manages to retrieve the second throwing knife, which he was still holding when Than's judo resulted in him abruptly shifting into a non-anthro shark.
>>
No. 729616 ID: 3d2d5f

rolled 5, 1, 1 = 7

If I can tell the box has ~6 pounds of coinage, that's enough to make this worth our while. It's not worth the ten minutes to check now, when we've overstayed our welcome. We can do inventory back at base when we divy the loot. We're leaving.

>"Thanks for the offer, but we prefer to be on the other end of the kidnapping and protection rackets and such. Maybe eventually, probably through proxies. Where will you be heading?"
For the moment, we have unfinished business with the local coven. Then, likely island. We'll send you a messager.

(Don't want to be too specific, in case we invite counter attack. If they're on poor terms with the coven, hopefully that keeps them from searching their territory. Rain should cover our tracks pretty well, but let's not head in a straight line to our camp).

>well before the giant octopus makes any lecherous advances
I was wondering if a shark morph would be elfinoid enough to count.
>>
No. 729617 ID: 3d2d5f

>Then, likely island
INLAND. Damn you, auto correct. I'd delete and repost to fix that, except I already rolled.
>>
No. 729622 ID: a107fd

Alright. You trek back to your own cave and regroup as the storm is finally dying down. Rixxil's octopus rescues a half-drowned ogre, who seems likely to be amenable to recruitment, assuming treatment for hypothermia and some coral-related injuries is successful.

Marty the Tiny Adorable Talking Shark shows up just as you're breaking camp. "When I asked about compromising security, I was thinking you'd come back with... I dunno, a sketchy map, or a lock of hair from a guard, not eviscerate their whole front end! Favor done, and then some. Stop in any time you'd like. Anywhere along the coast, to about two hundred miles south of here, I'll be able to find you."

Where to next?
>>
No. 729626 ID: cea69d

>You trek back to your own cave and regroup as the storm is finally dying down.

Is Riv included her or am I still separated? If so I'd liked to have followed them back
>>
No. 729627 ID: 4201a2

>>729522
>>729622
Llyr is very pleased to reacquire his belongings. Once in the cave, he'll take the time to change out of his ragged slave clothes and into his probably-also-ragged regular clothes, as well as to re-string and wear his jade.

He'll also cheerfully meet and greet with everyone new. He's probably dried off enough to revert to human form by now.
>>
No. 729654 ID: a075ba

rolled 1, 4, 1 = 6

>grabbed an ogre and Rixxil brought the octopus
Dang are we collecting npcs at an alarming rate. (I'm going to need to make a table or something to keep track of them all). ...how did we transport the octopus, it just followed along the coast?

>assuming treatment for hypothermia and some coral-related injuries is successful.
I can dish out staunch bleeding, but assuming hypothermia requires at least a least true healing or a protection from the elements, that would have to come from one one of the acolytes.

>Where to next?
Don't we still have to wait out the remainder of the storm? The entire group is pretty big now to completely cover with shadow armors / force shields / protection from the elements?

I would ask for a reminder as to our options, and what opinions the crew has. (New members might have information about the area we didn't before).

The obvious next thing to do might be to cache in our favor with the coven, since several people have questions they might like answered.

Eswic was the one who was gung ho about the pirate charter stuff before, she should probably explain the basics to the newbies.

Marijke should examine and appraise our the loot we recovered (I'll have to wait for the next day to prepare the spell, though). Division of loot goes to the quartermaster. Don't know if Nico's player will be around to do that, but it would make sense to me that people who participated in the raid get a bigger cut than those that didn't, and Than / Lektra get a little more for volunteering to be the tip of the spear.

If there's any other lingering healing that needs doing (Ogre, Rixxil, maybe Than?) I'll delegate to the acolytes for now.

After the loot, Marijke's next interest would be investigating what the hell she did with Than's bow. (Order of investigation would probably be: apply mage sight, ask Than how she summons it, have Than try to summon it, have Marijke try to summon it, consult with Nico, acolytes, maybe Riv).

Do have have to deal with level ups?

(I just said a million thing, I don't even know which one I'm rolling for).
>>
No. 729670 ID: a107fd

>>729627
>dried off enough to revert to human form
Still on the beach? Still default to sharkman. Cave might be enough to tip it over into full-human default, especially if there's a fire going. Up on the hills definitely would be.
>>729626
Yeah, Riv's there too. Even if she was running ahead with no directions, that big sail-tent on the beach is hard to miss.

>>729654
>which one I'm rolling for
I take the roll as a guideline for assessing the overall success of all your intended actions. If it'd require multiple rolls by strict GURPS rules, I'll eyeball the potential failure-points, and overall probability distribution, accordingly.

> level ups
Lessee... main thing is two umber hulks, pair of ogres and a neogi were certainly also significant... giant octopus wasn't involved as much, but it's pretty tough... no extravagant indulgences of note... let's say the new PCs (Letkra, Ravenous Llyr, and Riv) are caught up to 3rd level. Everybody else learned something, but not enough to advance.

>cash in our favor with the coven
Marty just implied they're based somewhere around a hundred miles to the south. That's probably at least a week on foot, even with good weather.

>reminder as to our options
Here's Marty's map:
>>721109
Crew consensus is leaning toward returning to civilization for resupply, and, long story short, that means following the river. You could get to the bridge in a day's march without too much trouble. From there, your shortest route to a proper bed is another day along the swampy north bank to an out-of-the way monastery. The Black Boar Inn is two days' march upstream from the bridge, but it's easier going along the south bank: a dirt road wide enough for wagons, instead of a swampy single-file footpath.

>hypothermia requires at least a least true healing or a protection from the elements
True Healing would only help with hypothermia itself if you're looking at necrotic tissue from frostbite. Marijke can hand out 'free samples' even when she doesn't have a true healing spell prepared, though, and the patient's got enough other bruises and abrasions and hypoxia and whatnot to make it worthwhile. The elemental-protection prayer prevents hypothermia from getting worse, under any otherwise remotely survivable conditions, but doesn't accelerate recovery. For actually raising core temp back up to safe levels, you'll want at least two of mundane nursing skill, a regulated heat source, and Lymphatic Auditor. Nico can dismiss the King to bring in another fire elemental, no prob, and there's no shortage of water, so all three are available, and thus the ogre's prognosis looks pretty good.

>need to make a table or something
Indeed.
>>718694
>The group is large and diverse enough that you might also want to think about chain of command.

While fiddling with keys, Rixxil Kas volunteers to interview everyone, assess relevant skills, and draw up a proper orgchart.
The box finally opens to reveal 350 gold coins, thirty 6-carat gems (bloodstones, mostly), four potions of Least True Healing, a potion of Lymphatic Auditor, and a grooming kit including various pigments for skin and hair, which would all add up to be worth approximately 275 pounds of silver. The potions represent 80 of that, so, probably emergencies-only. As a cashbox, it can safely hold some two thousand five hundred standard-size coins, neatly organized in racks and shelves and trays, along with fifty single-ounce vials, so it's only a little over 10% full at the moment. The actual lock (which occupies the entire front face of the box and underside of the lid) is a dizzying masterpiece of multilayered brass clockwork and crystalline rod-logic which might be worth over 300 pounds of silver in itself, to the right collector.
>>
No. 729671 ID: 0ae7f9

rolled 1, 3, 2 = 6

Might as well have Than make a table from whatever wood is left around. Shouldn't be too difficult with the small knife and her proficiency in making bare minimum.

>>729654
"You disarmed me for a while, but the bow is with me until the day I die." Is all she tells Marijke.
>>
No. 729682 ID: cea69d

Riv, upon reaching the cave would like to quickly survey the surrounding area and people around- who is in the cave? what is in the cave?
Because I really only read the second thread I am actually in the dark on a lot of that so any details are appreciated
>>
No. 729729 ID: a075ba

rolled 5, 2, 1 = 8

Okay then, heading to town where we can buy some supplies and the crew can actually spend some loot as soon as the weather permits sounds like a good plan. Oracular reward caching in comes after.

>2 day proper road to the inn
>1 day single file through a swamp to the monastery
I think I'd prefer not to snake though a swamp, thanks. Especially since I'm not even sure every member of our group would even be welcome in a monastery.

>>729671
Marijke isn't really surprised to get a cold shoulder from Than after what Marijke sees as her accidental magic weapon theft. Disappointing, but not unexpected.

Rollin for Marijke's own examination. Apply mage sight, maybe the appraisal spell. Possibly consult with others. (Nico loves weird stuff like this, and the other casters might have insight).

>>Marijke can hand out 'free samples' even when she doesn't have a true healing spell prepared
I can?! (I figured it needed to be prepared to proc)!

What's the restriction on that- only one use ever on given person? What's the full list of spells I have that are eligible for free samples?
>>
No. 729731 ID: a107fd

>>729682
Looks like we're heading toward wrapping up this thread, so how about everybody poses as a team? By which I mean, textually recapitulates their appearance and other relevant qualities for ease of reference.

As for NPCs, they break down into three groups of three:
Rixxil Kas, it's mind-bondaged giant octopus, and Gunderbag the half-drowned ogre were described earlier in this same thread. The acolytes, Goris, Eswic, and Altsoba, and the kobold slaves specialized in stitching, hammering, and chemistry, are described here:
>>718024
with the main changes being that the kobolds have been encouraged to a higher degree of self-determination, and are under Sir Garaile's protection, and Acolyte Goris has become romantically entangled with Dimitry Nicola.
>>
No. 729741 ID: a107fd

>>729729
>What's the restriction on that- only one use ever on given person?
One use, per customer, per day. Just like Eadric said.
>What's the full list of spells I have that are eligible for free samples?
Currently? Least True Healing and a weaksauce version of Friendship Curse.
>appraisal
It's not jade anymore. Completely different crystalline structure.
>mage sight
That's definitely the same magic weapon which you first saw at the bottom of a pit, and which Than has been using.
>Nico
Says it resembles an hourglass full of silver sand, or a bug stuck in amber, or a scrying pool focused on the lunar surface.
>other casters
The acolytes know of a type of stone that can bind ghosts and demons. Same color, but it has to be chunky and angular. A thin, rounded shape like that wouldn't work right at all.
>>
No. 729777 ID: 4201a2

>>729731
>textual recapitulation

"Sir" Garaile (with audible quotes) is a grim-faced soldier with a strong sense of justice and something of an ego, as well as some level of supernatural endurance and spiritual power backing it up. Tends to look down on others, but respects authority. Close ties with Marijke and Nico. Speaks with an outrageous accent and has dreams of being a famous hero. Notably wears a disgusting necklace of ears and wields an axe with a giant rat skull attached to the hilt. Has sworn an oath to protect the kobolds from any harm, until such time as they willingly waive that protection. (Possibly has a thing for kobolds, but unlikely to admit it.)

Ravenous Llyr is a brutish wereshark fisherman-turned-slave-turned-pirate. Preferred form is a grotesque shark-faced biped, but shifts to full shark when fully submerged, and sharp-toothed human when dry and away from water. Aggressive and eager to participate in any sort of violence. Not very smart and has poor social skills, but is good at hunting and living off the grid. Preferred weapons are spears, knives, and his own teeth. Longs for a lover to share a meaty carcass with.
>>
No. 729783 ID: cea69d

Riv could be described by some as a "small, teenage girl", on the condition that your idea of teenage girls includes disturbing, leathery skin, and a shriveled extra set of arms. A shock of short black hair sits in stringy clumps, giving the impression that she grooms herself with nothing but a rusty bread knife and some dirt. Bandages adorn her body, some crusted onto the flesh by a pungent blue substance from what could possibly be old wounds- it's hard to tell for sure. Her second pair of arms is small and withered, and appear as though they lack the strength to do much offensively; however the small hands and thin fingers are incredibly thin and dexterous, and look like they would allow her to work on complex and delicate machinery with ease. She is seemingly always on guard, constantly scanning her surroundings and hunched down as if ready to flee or fight at any moment. Her eyes seem to drink in the surroundings, studying everything in sight, pouring over every available detail. Finally, she seems to be constantly fiddling with a small mechanical device, roughly the size of a fist, with so many complex gears and mechanisms it's hard to follow what she's even doing to it. Her paranoid and alienating behavior is all but inviting, however she seems to show deference, cower even, when addressed by Marijke.

Upon entering the cave she will approach Marijke and lower herself onto one knee, bow her head, and wait to be addressed.
>>
No. 729826 ID: a075ba

>The acolytes, Goris, Eswic, and Altsoba, and the kobold slaves specialized in stitching, hammering, and chemistry, are described here:
>>718024
Hmm. That link isn't working for me when it should be. Let's try...
>>/questarch/718024

>pose as a team because we just scored a lot of money and the thread is ending
Marijke is a young human woman, with frizzy and (currently) unkempt shoulder length dark hair, and green eyes the color of her jade amulet. (Well, once-color of her formerly-jade amulet). She seems to have a mercantile background and training (a fact incongruous with her apparent financial status and class when she entered the dungeon) and rather less training in the magical arts, though her dabbling has proven rather effective lately.

Her current tattered state of dress and apparent fashion sense might favorably be described as somewhere cross between "hobo" and "hippie". A scarlet macaw, large in size and raucous in color, looms on one shoulder. A dark yellow, translucent amulet hangs from her neck, and seems to display an unusual, unsettling depth if focused on for too long. A hand not infrequently return to the coin purse hanging from her waist, when they aren't occupied in some other task, or turning over a small idol.

It is an amazing coincidence (or perhaps a divine joke) that in her shabby outfit, coupled with her parrot, framed against a beach, a chest of loot, and a ragtag crew that she very nearly looks the part of the pirate captain she fell into.

Peer deep into her eyes and you will find someone still surprised at her recent reversal of fortunes and that people are listening to her (without her making them).

>Upon entering the cave she will approach Marijke and lower herself onto one knee, bow her head, and wait to be addressed.
Speaking of which.

"Can I help you?"
>>
No. 729913 ID: 0ae7f9

Than is an elf with a slim figure, silver hair, and blue and red eyes. Normally she would wear a mask to cover her face, but has none at the moment. Everything she has is linked to where she came from. She wears ranger clothes that were usually well kept, but after all the incidents should be tattered and in need of new clothing now.

The bow and allowing her to be incapacitated is linked to the incident that left remnants of an eternal life ritual that backfired letting her absorb traces of life and death magic while she took down her former family, friends, and others.

She has a different view on the world in other words people see her as crazy and poor social skills due to long isolation throughout her travels, not to mention being accompanied by undead that were reanimated but still themselves when they were alive in front of other adventurers/travelers as well before meeting the group. She is not afraid of death after seeing so much of it, and is willing to take in her eyes a best case scenario, even if it could potentially kill her or others. It doesn't mean she's a masochist or sadist of any kind though.

She trusts Marijke the most at the moment due to her healing, Lektra a little since she's also different, Snake because she was with her during their escape, and the rest are middle ground. She'll follow orders but not strictly, which may be trouble in an actual negotiation.
>>
No. 729915 ID: 0ae7f9

Since the thread is ending, and i'm too lazy, Than does like reading as well. She likes reading a lot. Books were her only friend while hunting the undead.
>>
No. 729916 ID: 1843cb

Thanks for the working link! I think the older thread got archived or something which means we keep having problems bringing it up

Riv stays on one knee, looking straight ahead rather than making eye contact- whether this is a form of anti-social behavior, an act of deference, or some other cryptic message hidden in her body language is hard to tell.
my rash and foolish behavior greatly complicated your recent effort to infiltrate the compound. My services are all I can offer in repayment for traynsgressions, but you have full command of my abilities. I will do my best to repay my debt to you in full however you see fit. What would you ask of me?
>>
No. 730068 ID: a075ba

>>729916
Marijke is a little taken aback at what is probably the most formal request to join to date (heck, more than half us didn't ask), and at the apology for a slight that has been largely forgotten since inventorying our haul.

"Uh, apology accepted, and welcome to the crew. Rise."
>>
No. 730107 ID: 2334fe

>>730068
Riv too is shocked at this response and freezes up for a moment before collecting herself and rising- eyes still divorced towards the ground even though her short statue would make it easy to avoid eye contact in other ways. She stays in this position, and awaits further instruction.

others are welcome to join in on this as well- it's happening in the middle of the cave and is not ment to be a closed off or secretive discussion- Riv is simply only directly addressing Marijke at this point
>>
No. 730349 ID: a107fd

Reviewing the timeline:
day 0: game starts, underground hilarity
night 0: goblin outpost, attempted sacrifice
day 1: reached surface at dawn, cliffside berries, thunderstorm
night 1: sleep in cave
day 2: Than finds broken-off topsail, adds front porch to cave, doubling available shelter space
night 2: cave sterilized by fire as prep for Nico's tongue surgery
day 3: winds escalate to gale-force
night 3: meeting with Marty
day 4: raid on shipwreck cove
night 4: recovery from raid, integration of freed slaves and captured slaver-bug into crew

It's now morning on day 5. Still drizzling rain, a little bit windy, and notably colder, but that means the worst of the storm is over. Are you going to wait for tomorrow, when it'll be calm and overcast? Or set out immediately, hoping to make it through these seaside hills to the main north-south road while bloodsucking striges and sheep-sized dire bees remain in their nests?

Garaile's diligently counted and repackaged the food, so, before deducting breakfast, you've got exactly 700 individually-wrapped meals, mostly goblin shroom-starch, plus two jars of mystery meat. Six PCs and three acolytes need three meals per day each to stay battle-ready, and a little extra tends to improve morale. Letkra's got a separate supply of oil. Rixxil Kas's octopus can take care of herself, given access to a body of water with a healthy population of fish. Rixxil seems to have some tricky internal injuries, and is unable or unwilling to choke down trail rations. So, with reasonable rations but no significant supplementary foraging, food will run out in three, maybe three and a half weeks. Or, it would, except that Gunderbag the ogre thinks mushroom-bread is the most delicious thing he's ever tasted, and will eagerly gobble down more of it than the rest of the group put together. You're only three days out from the nearest inn, though, so that should be fine. Good news is, having an ogre along means you can easily bring along the sail and chunk of mast as a crude umbrella.
>>
No. 730575 ID: a075ba

rolled 4, 5, 2 = 11

>Or set out immediately, hoping to make it through these seaside hills to the main north-south road while bloodsucking striges and sheep-sized dire bees remain in their nests?
That seems prudent, honestly.

>Rixxil Kas's octopus can take care of herself, given access to a body of water with a healthy population of fish
I'm not sure how we'd transport the octopus at all without a body of water. We have the river for now, but we're not gonna follow it forever.

>Good news is, having an ogre along means you can easily bring along the sail and chunk of mast as a crude umbrella.
Seems worth it.

>Thanks for the working link! I think the older thread got archived or something which means we keep having problems bringing it up
Yes. There's supposed to be automatic redirects between /quest/, /graveyard/ and /questarch/, but sometimes they don't work.

>spells for the day
0: staunch bleeding, gum-fire, bestow fool's luck, experimental miscellany
1: least true healing, bite-the-pinecone curse, bestow shadow armor
2: demand gift, spit spiders

For travel actions over the day, I'll spam some fool's luck around, do some humish lessons with Eadric (the maccaw), chat with crewmates, examine the amulet further with miscellany.
>>
No. 730583 ID: a107fd

rolled 1, 6, 4 = 11

>Pose as a team / describe self
Letkra is a tall elvenoid-seeming woman, around 6'. However, her physical features appear unnatural; simplified, and composed of a smooth simplistic material. Her eyes are very large and glassy, her ears stick out too far, and she has no nose. Her hands look more like gloves and her feet look more like socks. The most likely explanation that would occur to most people is that she's some sort of golem made to resemble an elf. She has pale skin, brown hair, toned abdominal muscles, and wears some sort of metal bikini that doesn't look like effective armor. She carries a telescoping metal glaive with a tip that can change into many different things, and controls a transparent roughly-circular (adjustable to an oval) force shield that can expand, but at the cost of being moved more slowly.

She has very strange ideas about how things work, possibly because she claims she's from another world, but she takes her role as an adventurer very seriously, trying to explore, defend others, and contribute in combat. She also works to be kind and helpful, and is starting to get weirded out by the social dynamics she's seeing in this world. She very badly wants to return to her own world, and has no very little idea how to actually do that, so she's trying to help out and work together with the most reasonable-seeming group of adventurers she's found so far.

> Rixxil Kas volunteers to interview everyone, assess relevant skills, and draw up a proper orgchart.
Sounds perfectly legit to Letkra (in her eyes it's one of the sanest things anyone's suggested all day!). She will cooperate fully if this occurs, or if he asks her directly.

She also still seems to think Rixxil Kas is some sort of Merchant, and asks what pronouns they'd prefer to be addressed by.

(Roll for diplomacy, maybe?)

(Also, is Rixxil Kas medically stable? There was that impaling and all. If it looks like they're dying she's gonna point that out and suggest Marijke cast "the Spell of Heal")

> Riv joins the party, possibly also an ogre and an octopus and stuff
"Hooray!"

As far as what to do next, Letkra's very much in favor of heading to town soon. She specifically thinks going to an Inn is important for some reason, also.

She's going to spend some of the intermittent downtime in power save mode, too, slumping over limply in the corner in a sitting position.
>>
No. 730590 ID: 0ae7f9

> Riv joins the party, possibly also an ogre and an octopus and stuff
Nodding is her only reply.
"So, to the inn we go?" while looking around at whatever anyone is doing.
>>
No. 730603 ID: a107fd

Alright, around lunchtime you come across a group of maybe 15-20 guys, camped out on a hilltop. They've got a fire lit, so you saw them before they saw you. Easy enough to circle around and avoid.

Assuming you do so, no more trouble until you're just about to take the ferry across a little tributary river to the Black Boar Inn. You meet a law-enforcement patrol, coming the other way. Three on horseback, with chainmail, longswords, and Surgis County heraldry. Eight on foot, with bronze-reinforced buff jackets, longspears, and light hunting crossbows. Lots of pointed questions, mainly on the subject of the ogre and the eel-tick. Eswic, Altsoba, and Goris have concealed their Orcusite paraphernalia, but couldn't pass a thorough search.

Fast-talk? Bribe? Two gold coins would be a reasonable day's pay for a patrol such as this. A fight might be winnable, but definitely not quickly and quietly enough to avoid folks at the inn noticing. Magic? Rixxil can attempt the mind bondage thing three times a day, and the footmen seem to follow orders from knights without much question, so you could try subverting the leadership that way.

>>730583
>is Rixxil Kas medically stable?
Answer hazy, ask a trained xenobiologist.
> pronouns
It/It's
>Heal
Yep, that's a spell which exists. Fixes just about everything that can be fixed, all at once, no muss no fuss. Unfortunately, it's sixth circle, far beyond anyone around here.
>>
No. 730645 ID: cea69d

Riv would suggest bribery- easy, fast, and not too much off the our bottom line.
>>
No. 730647 ID: a075ba

rolled 3, 5, 4 = 12

>assuming you circle around
Avoiding an unnecessary engagement with a group roughly the size of our own seems reasonable, yes.

>Fast-talk? Bribe? Magic?
I'd say let Nico be charming while Marijke slips them a few gold along with the weakened free sample version of the friendship curse to make them better inclined to be friendly to us.

(And from here we pick up in the next thread I suppose, since that's up and we've already reached the inn there).
>>
No. 730680 ID: a107fd

>>730647
Nico manages to convince the patrol that Rixxil Kas is not actually a living creature at all, but rather, a prop for an elaborate ventriloquism act. You're four gold poorer and will be held responsible for any damages the ogre causes, but otherwise allowed to pass.
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