lostsole31
  
 
    Trouble in Paradise!     
    The  Ruins of Azlant  Adventure Path begins with the adventurers standing on the deck of a ship  ready to make landfall at their new home.
However, dread settles in as  they notice that the colony is empty and abandoned.
Tasked with  uncovering the whereabouts of the prior group of colonists, the  adventurers go ashore and explore the deserted settlement. Uncovering  strange evidence leads the adventurers across the island, where they  encounter two survivors who can give them clues as to the fate of the  rest of the first wave of settlers.
Can the adventurers survive long  enough to discover what truly befell the fledgling colony? 
      
     DRAMATIS PERSONAE     
     Character
[Player]
  
  Speech Color  
  AL
  
  Faith  
  Race [Ethnicity]
(Gender ID)
  
  Side #1
  
  Side #2
  
  Campaign Trait  
 
    Aissah Arvodair
[NPC]
   
   Fire Brick Red
   
 ?? 
 ??? 
 What? (f) 
 Fisticuffs? 
 Lava-Breather? 
 ?? 
 
    Arsenne
[Danath]
   
   Violet
   
 LG 
 Shelyn 
 Human (m)
[Chelaxian] 
 Cleric 2
[Sacred Attendant] 
 Monk 
 Set Mind 
 
    Eirina Silverleaf
[Espeon55]
   
   Teal
   
 NG 
 Ketephys 
 Half-Elf (f)
[Elf-Raised, Chelaxian] 
 Hunter 2 
 Rogue 2
[Eldritch Scion] 
 Seasoned Hunter 
 
    Kaen Silverleaf
[digiman619]
   
   Green
   
 NG 
 Elven Pantheon 
 Elf (m) 
 Aegis 2
[Trailblazer] 
 Vizier 2 
 Azlanti Scholar 
 
    Mr. Luren Arvodair
[NPC]
   
   Indigo
   
 ?? 
 ??? 
 Did the 7-1/2' tall man
call himself a "halfling?!" 
 ??? 
 Warlord 2 
 Eagle Knight Recruit 
 
    Thikha'Nes Meswad
  ("Thickness")  
 [5ColouredWalker] 
  
   Blue
   
 LG 
 Wadjet
(&amp; Osirian pantheon) 
 Sobek (m) 
 Bard 2
[Arcane Duelist] 
 Zealot 2 
 Healthy 
 
  
lostsole31
  
 
The colony of Talmandor’s Bounty is first and foremost a financial venture. The desire to spread freedom and democracy across Golarion is definitely part of the settlement’s mandate; nevertheless, the resources necessary to settle an island far from the mainland are not inconsiderable. Talmandor’s Bounty has two primary sponsors: the Andoren government, and a newly formed finance company named the Bountiful Venture Company. The Bountiful Venture Company is co-owned by House Naran and House Vaylen, two of the three merchant houses running Andoran’s major banks. Managing the colony through a company in this way protects the assets of both houses’ banks should the endeavor prove unprofitable and the Bountiful Venture Company go bankrupt. If the company were to go bankrupt, the colony’s business assets revert to the Republic of Andoran, subject to the People’s Council.

The Venture Company also provides both merchant houses a relative degree of anonymity. The Bountiful Venture Company wishes to export natural resources, such as agricultural staples, lumber, mined ore (especially lucrative skymetals), and recovered artifacts, relics, and other antiquities. 
 Spoiler: Kaen, Roran, Zeferin 
House Naran, however, also provides banking services for the Andoran-based Lumber Consortium, and its investment in a colonial lumber operation could be a significant conflict of interest—hence the need for anonymity. Were the Lumber Consortium to become aware of the relationship between House Naran and the Bountiful Venture Company, that conflict of interest would be exposed.
 

The individual colonists each have their own motivations for joining the colony, but certain incentives and potential rewards appeal to just about anyone. If the Bountiful Venture Company successfully exports goods from Ancorato, each settler in the first few groups of colonists is entitled to a small share of the profits. This occurs only after the initial costs of the settlement are recouped, which may take years. Additionally, these early settlers receive a land grant once the colony becomes self-sufficient. These benefits serve to make early settlers feel invested in the venture while motivating them to work hard to quickly build an infrastructure for future settlers and industry. Colony leaders Rayland Arkley (from the first group to arrive on the  Liberty’s Herald ) and Ramona Avandth (on the  Peregrine ) are promised marginally larger shares.

Ramona Avandth is the acting leader of the colony. Ramona’s role is to facilitate the adventure and not impinge on their character’s agency during the course of events in the upcoming adventures.

 
  
 The  Peregrine  is a three-masted sailing ship with a spritsail on the bow. The vessel is 100 feet long and 25 feet across at its widest point. There are three decks and the ship can accommodate a cargo volume of 180 tons. Two ship’s boats, used to ferry passengers and cargo ashore, are stacked on top of each other on the top deck. Each ship’s boat is 10 feet by 20 feet, and is capable of transporting eight Medium creatures without squeezing.

The  Peregrine’ s cargo manifest is not listed in detail and will be handled in an abstract manner, particularly if the items are mundane and common in nature. The  Liberty’s Herald  brought numerous tools, such as wood axes, shovels, saws, barrels of nails, and an anvil—everything necessary for multiple work crews to perform carpentry, farming, masonry, and smithing work. Foodstuffs, including grains, hardy vegetables, preserves, and salted meats, were also transported to help the colonists in their first few months while they planted crops, assessed the lay of the land, and located reliable game. The  Liberty’s Herald  also left one of its ship’s boats at the colony so the first group of colonists could move around the island by water. The  Peregrine  also carries supplies and materials, but as it was anticipated that the tools from the first ship are still available, its cargo contains much more food and a small herd of goats.

If the PCs require basic tools like hammers, rope, and iron spikes, they should be available within reason. Though the supply of materials is not inexhaustible, as long as the PCs don’t take advantage of their fellow settlers, these items are loaned out to them for the purpose of helping the entire colony. Specialized equipment like alchemical weapons, rarer adventuring equipment, and magic items are typically not available except where specifically described, although individual PCs can certainly bring those items along with them as part of their starting equipment (and most of you have).


 
  
 
There is no societal infrastructure to support the PCs in their endeavors on the island beyond their fellow settlers. There are no taverns, inns, or merchants, nor anyone to buy their treasure and sell them equipment upgrades. After 6 weeks, the  Peregrine  is scheduled to return to the colony (or another vessel if the crew of the  Peregrine  has cause to decline). Captain Jacob Markosi will anything the PCs wish to sell, and will purchase any equipment and magic items they want from Almas to be delivered on the next return trip. This can even include new formulae or spells transcribed into spellbooks from city-based arcane casters and alchemists.
lostsole31
  
 

After six long weeks, this morning the crew of the  Peregrine  sighted land to the west. A few hours later, the  Peregrine  sails into a natural bay with a sandy beach within rowing distance for the ship’s boats. As the crew begins to untie one of the smaller boats to lower it into the water, the sailors pass a spyglass among themselves and finally hand it back to the captain. Captain Jacob Markosi peers at the island for a moment before grunting and handing the spyglass to expedition leader Ramona Avandth.   “You should see this,”   he says quietly.   "Take the coxswain."  

Ramona accepts the spyglass and peers toward the shore. When she lowers the scope, she is clearly distressed but trying to hide her worry. She approaches and motions toward the far side of the deck, away from where most of the other colonists have congregated.   “Can I have a word with you?”   she asks individually of six of the colonists - the PCs, in fact - pointing to a mustering spot.

She then gestures for the PCs to follow her, and for the coxswain to follow as well from the rear.

  “We have a problem,”   Ramona says bluntly, once she and PCs have some relative privacy. She offers the spyglass to the party and explains,   “Something is wrong. Nobody’s in sight. There’s no smoke from cook fires or the smithy. Some of the buildings look burned out.”  

Assuming some or all of the PCs look through the spyglass, they can confirm these observations for themselves.

Ramona continues, her voice low.   “Sailors can’t keep their mouths shut. No offense, Mr. Arvodair."  
  "None taken, where there is truth,"   comes the deep grumbling of the coxswain.

  "Soon all the other colonists are going to hear about this—if they can’t see for themselves already—and things could become… tense.”   She takes a breath.   "I would like to know if the six-"   and she sees Ambyr looking off bored   "-er, seven of you would be willing to go ashore and check out the settlement. I'm going to ask Captain Markosi to sail north along the island's coast to a secondary landing site determined by the expedition's surveyors as an alternative spot to found a colony. The site was later designated as an emergency extraction point should any danger befall the first wave of colonists. After you've had a chance to check out Talmandor's Bounty, the ship will rendezvous with you at this secondary location, whereupon I will make a final determination on where the rest of the colonists should embark.

"If you agree, Mr. Arvodair will take you in one of the ship's boats to transport you to the shore, where we've seen a deserted dock."  

Do you each agree?
5ColouredWalker
  "Wadjet would forsake me should I back down now. I marked myself for such tasks for good reason. We might not find much unless they... Departed recently."  

Thickness takes a while to think, then pipes up again looking at Ramona.

  "I dont think we do, or at least I was told no when asking earlier, but we dont have a copy of the island surveys do we? I dont recall there being any particularly aggressive animals or tribefolk meant to be here, but if we have some records we can check it gives more of a guess as to what we might be getting, beyond maybe the ruin seekers hitting something bad."  
lostsole31
Ramona shakes her head,   "We don't have anything like that because what has been done in that regard has been done between the  Liberty Herald 's drop and this ship's arrival."  
Diavolo
Arsenne looks quickly at his companions, nods at Thickha'Ness and says:   "Of course I agree! And thank you for choosing to place your trust in us. When we have more time, I would love to know on what basis we six, er.... seven, earned your confidence in this way.  But right now, I think we should hasten to pack our belongings and be ready to row.  I trust that the Quarter Master will release my glaive from his stock rooms now ...."   

He mutters to himself:  " No matter how emphatically I apologized for practicing with it on the deck, he still would not listen to reason! Some people are just so rigid!"


  
digiman619
Kaen pursed his lip as he overlooked the situation.   "Clearly  something  has gone wrong here. Even if it turns out that the sane course of action is to head back, we need to figure out what happened to the previous colonists."   He shook his head slightly in distaste   "To prevent the company from sending more people in after us, if nothing else."  
Espeon55
Eirina listens to Ramona, Thikha'Nes and Arsenne as well as her Uncle's opinions before looking out over the water again.
 
 "Ambyr and I are excellent trackers and I trust his nose to help us find out what happened."   Eirina States confidently   "Don't worry ma'am you can count on us."   
rypt
Roran is surprised to be selected by the expedition leader, looking to his left and right at her initial summons.  Surely she must have been gesturing to someone beside him.    "Oh, y-yes, certainly."  

After taking a look for himself through the spyglass, he is slow to hand it off to the next person, clearly troubled but what he's seen.  Or rather, what he hasn't.    "Oh dear.  How many were delivered ashore by the  Herald ?"  
KupoTheMage
Zeferin pops his head around to look at the group, then to Ramona.   "Don't worry Miss Ramona, you can count on us to find the colonists! I'm sure of it!"   Zef begins rummaging his pockets in a sort of last minute checks ordeal before nodding to himself.   "And when we return, we can all celebrate the start of something new!"  
lostsole31
 
 Originally Posted by rypt 
 After taking a look for himself through the spyglass, he [Roran] is slow to hand it off to the next person, clearly troubled but what he's seen.  Or rather, what he hasn't.    "Oh dear.  How many were delivered ashore by the  Herald ?"   
 

  "I think it was in the nature of some 50-100 souls,"   she says.

Arsenne's glave is retrieved.

 Everyone  else, do you wish to put anything into storage on the  Peregrine , and or take anything out? Please specify that if you do or don't here, and give a line-by-line list, not a wall of text.
KupoTheMage
 
 Artisan's Tools: Craft (Armor) 
 Artisan's Tools: Craft (Weapon) 
 Artisan's Tools: Craft (Blacksmithing)

(Leaving these behind) 
 
5ColouredWalker
Looking over what he has in storage, he doesn't grab his lesser used tools or long term items... He does however, grab his extra rope and pitons.

  "Don't forsee much climbing. But best have it in case we have to walk a bit."
   
 
 Spoiler: Inventory Changes 

Add to Storage:
None.

Remove From Storage:
50ft Woven Kelp Rope.
4 Pitons
 
Espeon55
 
 Backpack 
 Bedroll 
 Spellbook 
 Longbow 
 Arrows 
 Elven Thornblade 
 Waterskin 
 

(She will be taking these with her and leaving the rest in storage )
rypt
Roran will store his crafting tools before heading ashore.

 
 Spoiler: Inventory 
Deposit Tools, Artisans [Craft: Wainwright].
 
Diavolo
I put nothing into storage.

I take my backpack and all my belongings.

I ask if I can also keep the bedroll that I have been using on the ship, since I came without one.

I ask if I can have couple of empty sacks, perhaps former containers for flower or onions that have been used up in the past six weeks.  I explain that I want to use these to cover the blade on my glaive while we will be in tight quarters on the ship's boat. I don't want anyone cutting themselves accidently.

 *Once Arsenne has his belongings together, and as the Island grows larger in the distance with the approach of the ship,  Arsenne takes out his 'Fine Journal', ink and pen to do a quick sketch of the Island from this vantage point. He an outline of the island with emphasis on the relative dimensions and distances of various rises and landmarks. When someone looks over his shoulder to see what he is doing he causally explains:* **  "I just need three more minutes to catch the important details.  This sketch may become become the basis of an important painting some day!"  ** 
digiman619
Kaen leaves the following in storage:

* Bedroll
* 10 Torches
* Iron Pot
* 50 ft of Hemp rope

That done, he will gather the remainder of his supplies and makes his way to the rest of the group.
lostsole31
Arsenne is NOT permitted time to draw. Everything is moving at a rush, and all his time is spent requisitioning a bedroll and single sack from the quartermaster's office. (He slept in a hammock on the trip here, not a bedroll, as he would just be underfoot.)

There is no time for anyone to skylark or anything as there is so much activity on deck. Mr. Arvodair comes out in gleaming breastplate, arrayed with trident and shield.  The boat is lowered to the water ... the passengers (you) are lowered into the boat ... and the boat leaves the  Peregrine .

The bay’s waters are calm, with only a gentle rocking of the ship’s boat. The shore is approximately three hundred feet to the east, where a lonely dock is built off a sandy beach.

Does anyone do anything at this time or say anything?  Arsenne , do you do your drawings now?
5ColouredWalker
While the group descends Thickness speaks up.
  "If theres no objections I'll swim ahead for a slightly earlier look. I can use the water be be inobvious, and one of my whistles as a danger warning on the chance someones setting something up."  
lostsole31
  "Who're you taking with you?"   asks the boatman.   "If you don't have a buddy that can go with you, I'm responsible for your safety until I put you ashore. So, unless someone is going in with you, that's a no, shipmate."  
Diavolo
Arsenne aborts his motion to pick up one of the oars, and backs up to the middle of the boat.
Once the ship's boat is under way and Mr. Arvodair has a steady rhythm going...
 
... Arsenne takes out his 'Fine Journal', ink and pen to do a quick sketch of the Island from this vantage point. He draws an outline of the island with emphasis on the relative dimensions and distances of various rises and landmarks. When someone looks over his shoulder to see what he is doing he causally explains:*    "I just need three more minutes to catch the important details. This sketch may become become the basis of an important painting some day!"
   
 Spoiler 
[I am taking it for granted that the boat is small enough and that there is manifestly enough time for all this. Otherwise, he keeps his journal safe as he can inside the backpack]
 
5ColouredWalker
  "I would have none. Very well, ashore together."  

Thickness settles into his seat on the boat, eyes roaming in the direction of the settlement.
Espeon55
Eirina looks over to Kaen with worry.   "Are you going to be alright? You didn't exactly handle motion sickness well while on a big boat and now we're in an even smaller one and this is going to be an even rougher ride I fear."   
digiman619
Kaen sighs as he is squished between Messrs. Thikha'Nes and Arsenne.   "I will be fine. This isn't going nearly fast enough to cause discomfort. Though the sooner we're ashore, the better."  
lostsole31
Eirina finds out that she was dead wrong about what the roll would be.  There are gentle rolls, true .... but it is a calm day. Also, Mr.  Arvodair - though a fine boatman to give him some credit - doesn't move a  rowboat as fast as a ship under full sail, which significantly cuts  down on motion sickness. The ship is some 250' behind you now, and the  pier around 50-60' away.

 Surprise Round ...

S19/5:   At the same time, there is water splashing upwards and everywhere as a  figure shows from each side of the rowboat. One appears right by  Arsenne, and the water complete waterlogs and destroys Arsenne's initial  notes and sketches, colored ink running everywhere. A small spear  catches Roran along the side of the ear and temple for  4 , while Arsenne gets speared in the right hand for  6 .

 End Surprise Round, Begin Round One ...

R1T19:  Roran's attacker strikes again, but the creature's own movements pitches the boat side-to-side and it misses.

 R1T20:   Eirina ,  you are seated at the port-bow of the rowboat, with Ambyr sort of  cramped at the very bow section. You look into the water and see a  small-sized creature with an unusually large head with numerous teeth on  a too-wide mouth, something along the lines of an aquatic goblin. What  do you do?
Espeon55
Eirina spots the creature and the words to one of the spells she has prepared comes to mind. She casts Web Bolt at the creature whom attacked Roran defensively.

  "I'll trap it! Someone attack this thing!"   She shouts to the others.

 
 Spoiler: Web Bolt  
 (1d20)[ 20 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T20:  Eirina spots the creature and the words to one of the spells she has  prepared comes to mind. She defensively casts  web bolt  at the creature whom attacked  Roran.   "I'll trap it! Someone attack this thing!"   she shouts to the others as the sticky glob is sent forth but the monster ducks its head quickly  underwater, and the glob dissolves almost instantly in contact with the  seawater.

 R1T17:  Instead of rowing faster, Luren  locks the oars and then rubs the lamp at his side as if a truly  treasured item. He begins speaking in a strange language as if to  someone in another room, but looking down at the lamp ... not at the  other PCs or even the enemy. The language seems to use a lot of vowels  that flow into each other, some voiced fricatives, but then including  glottal stops and gutterul consonants and even the occasional creak,  squeak, or pop.     &lt;*"Aissah, rakas, herää! Taistelu on määrätty!"*&gt;     
 Spoiler: Roran, Thickness 
 Aquan :    "Aissah, beloved, awaken! Battle is enjoined!"   
 

 R1T13:   Kaen , you are seated. What do you do?
digiman619
Kaen 'unsheathes' his curveblade as he unsuppressed the veil, as well as summoned his armor in its  astral skin  form. Bringing the sword down on the closest foe, he shouted to the coxwain "  I don't care what that chant is, get us out of here!"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
MA: Unsuppress  slashing volley .
SwA: Summon astral skin.
SA: Attack blue.  (1d20+7)[ 26 ]   (1d10+1)[ 10 ] . Note that this should be getting a +1 to attack, as I am currently getting a +2 enhancement bonus to my Dex via the astral skin. And it should boost my AC by 1 as well.
 
digiman619
 
 Spoiler: Confirmation roll 
Extra text!
 (1d20+7)[ 20 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T13:  Kaen 'unsheathes' his curveblade as he unsuppresses the veil, as well as summoning his armor in its  astral skin  form, covering from head-to-toe in a lambent green glow. Bringing the sword across the closest foe's throat for  11 + ( 1d4 bleed ) , he shouts to the coxswain,  "  I don't care what that chant is, get us out of here!"    

Meanwhile, the enemy gurgles noiselessly and slumps below the water, filling up the area with blood.

 R1T10:   Zeferin , what do you do? You are seated on the rowboat bench. Nothing is in hand.
KupoTheMage
Zef pulls his mighty Warhammer off of his back. He charges it with the power in his blood before unleashing a strike on the closest enemy.   "Get away from our boat, you slimy creature!"
  
 
 Spoiler: Mechanics 

Move Action: Draw Weapon: Warhammer
Swift Action: Activate Arcane Strike
Standard Action: Attack Once with Warhammer against Red Enemy. [roll0] to hit, dealing [roll1] Magical bludgeoning damage if it connects.
 
lostsole31
 R1T10:  Zef pulls his mighty warhammer off of his back. He charges it with the  power in his blood before unleashing a strike on the closest enemy's shoulder(?) for  7 .   "Get away from our boat, you slimy creature!"  
 R1T8:   Arsenne ,  your ruined journal is in your lap and you look over the side next to  you ... not even having had a chance to really see an enemy, but just a  growing pool of blood. What do you do?
Diavolo
Arsenne shouts in pain, anger and surprise:  "  Arghhh! You vicious little Beast!  " and slams his journal shut to protect the pages from further damage.
When he sees his attacker sinking back into the water, He says:    "Oh no you do don't! "   and he braces his right elbow, forearm and injured hand against the gunwale of the boat and plunges his other hand into the water to grab the creature and pull it aboard.
lostsole31
 R1T8:  Arsenne shouts in pain, anger and surprise:  "  Arghhh! You vicious little Beast!  "  and slams his journal shut to protect the pages from further damage.  When he sees his attacker sinking back into the water, He says:    "Oh no you do don't! "    and he braces his right elbow, forearm and injured hand against the  gunwale of the boat and plunges his other hand into the water to grab  the creature. His hand slaps against it - on the front and back of his hand - but it is very slippery and he fails to grab it.

 R1T6:   Thickness , you are seated on the bench. What do you do?
5ColouredWalker
   "Strike to Subdue or Keep Rowing! I got them!"   Thickness lets his shield clatter against the bottom of the boat, pushing through to the other side and diving into the water to give chase. While he lashes out, it's no to kill but to disorient, head snapping forward but jaws not biting, while he grips his lance loosely underwater.  
 
 Spoiler: Action! 


Move: Jump into the water on the side of the boat with the creature. No penalty for moving through allied spaces, but I almost certainly provoke a AOO.
Swift: Arcane Strike, because I have nothing better to do.
Standard: Non-lethal bite attack.

Hit:  (1d20+3)[ 5 ]  -4 for Non-Lethal.
Damage:  (1d6+6)[ 9 ] , +1 for Arcane Strike, Nonlethal.

If/Thens:
If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin.
If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat manuever with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage.
 
lostsole31
 R1T6:     "Strike to Subdue or Keep Rowing! I got them!"   Thickness  lets his shield clatter against the bottom of the boat, pushing through  to the other side which includes trying to stand first - and he doesn't  do well at that. He charges his weapon as he falls snout over tail into  the water. While he  lashes out, it's no to kill but to disorient, head snapping forward but  jaws not biting, while he grips his lance loosely underwater. He misses  wildly, but he is off-balance in the water now, submerged. 
 Spoiler: Thickness 
Off-balance  is the underwater version of being prone. You will maintain penalties  and unable to move from spot until you spend a MA to right yourself  (provokes AOOs).
 
  
 R1T5:  Blood in the water continues to flow from the spot of the fallen bogey.

 R1T4:   Ambyr yowls unhappily in the now pitching lifeboat, claws sunk into the  wood and keeping as low a profile as possible. It then kitty vomits all  over the front bench - on Eirina and Arsenne.

 R1T3:   Roran , what do you do? You are currently seated.
rypt
  "Ow!"   Roran cries out, reflexively raising a hand to the bloody wound along the side of his head.    "Not the welcome I'd hoped for!"    Twisting in his seat to get a look at his attacker, he draws a machete from a sheath on his hip and chops downward at the blue skinned creature.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Free action: Assessment to try to identify the monster.

Move action: Draw machete.

Standard action: Attack Red with risky strike.
Attack: (d20+5)[ 17 ] 
Damage:  (d6+6)[ 12 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T3:    "Ow!"   Roran cries out, reflexively raising a hand to the bloody wound along the side of his head.    "Not the welcome I'd hoped for!"     Twisting in his seat to get a look at his attacker, he draws a machete  from a sheath on his hip and chops downward at the blue skinned  creature. It ducks underwater before his stroke glunks underwater. He  thinks he contacted something, but there is no blood that pools when he  withdraws his arm from the water.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T22:    A thick steaming mist comes out of the lamp and then there is a  kersplash in the water on the opposite side of the little monster from  Thickness. Nothing of whatever made that splash is above water right  now, but the area where it came into the water is hissing with steam.

 R2T19:  Despite the newcomer, the little creature stabs at the off-balance croc-man, but his tail slaps away the attack.

 R2T20:   Eirina ,  the enemy is just under the water but visible; Thickness and whatever  came out of Mr. Arvodair's lamp likewise is not above water. What do you  do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Kaen in the hole ...
Espeon55
  "Ick! And here I was worried that Uncle Kaen would barf."   Eirina states as she unsheathes her Elven Thornblade.   "I Cannot fight like this, I'm going in!"   After channeling an animal focus upon herself, she then jumps into the water after Thickness. She then goes to stab the squid goblin thing with her sword.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
SwA: Animal Focus Frog on Eirina, granting +4 on Swim Checks and on Acrobatics Checks to jump.
Move Action: Jumping into Water
Acrobatic Check:  (1d20+4)[ 23 ] 
StA: Attack Red
Attack Roll:  (1d20+5)[ 12 ] 
Damage roll:  (1d6+3)[ 6 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T20:    "Ick! And here I was worried that Uncle Kaen would barf,"   Eirina states as she unsheathes her elven thornblade.   "I Cannot fight like this, I'm going in!"   

After  channeling an animal focus upon herself, she stands up before losing  her footing and falling overboard. She is now submerged and off-balance,  though she did get a good gulp of air before going underwater. Now  underwater, she rights herself, which includes putting her feet on the  ground as it appears the boat is over a sandbar right now. Where she  fell, though, she can't get to the enemy, and she now appears to be  behind ... a woman made of steam or something?

 R2T17:  Mr. Arvodair tries to stand, but falls in the pitching boat, then manages to get to his feet.

 R2T13:   Kaen , what do you do?

Zeferin on deck, Arsenne in the hole ...
digiman619
Kaen shifts his weapon into its shortbow form, firing an arrow at the aquatic foe. He then shifted his astral armor shifts to its armored form.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
SwA, move E so that I have 1 E in both Slashing Volley and Bangle of Barriers.
SA: Fire shortbow at red.  (1d20+8)[ 17 ]   (1d6+1)[ 5 ] .
MA: Turn armor into armor mode. This changes the enhancement bonus to STR, so I did it after the shot. I seem to remember something about bonuses lasting a whole turn, so if the change from +2 DEX to +2 STR applies before the attack, that will be effective -1 to attack, but +1 damage (as the bow is composite)
 
lostsole31
 R2T13:  Kaen shifts his weapon into its shortbow form,  firing an arrow at the  aquatic foe, but the angle from his side of the boat is too severe and  he overshoots. He then concentrates, and the formless green "skin"  shifts to a much more significant form, as if wearing very fine  chainmail.

 R2T10:   Zeferin , what do you do? The head of the monster is below the surface of the water, but you do see it just under the surface.

Arsenne on deck, Thickness in the hole ...
KupoTheMage
  "Back to back everyone! Watch for where the nasty thing will pop out!"   Zef shifts in his seat awaiting the sea beast to show its ugly fish mug again.

 
 Spoiler: Mechanics 

Move Action: Draw Shield
Swift Action: Activate Arcane Strike.
Standard Action: Ready Action - "If the sea monster currently peeking it's head out comes within striking distance, I will swing my Warhammer at it" (1d20+6)[ 7 ]  dealing  (1d8+3)[ 6 ]  magical bludgeoning damage, adding +1 to that damage if Arcane Strike is still in effect.
 
Diavolo
Arsenne shouts   "Better yet, if you are not fighting, lower your bodies and try to stabilize the boat!"   and with that he slides down off of his bench, twists around so he is facing the rest of the boat and the team, and with his knees against the bottom of the boat and his hips down as low as his flexibility will permit, he holds the bench that he was sitting on with his right hand spread wide toward the center and his left hand against the gunwhale.

 
 Spoiler: Mve, SA, Roll 
Move Action: take position at the bottom of the boat.
Standard Action:  preparing to shift and counterbalance when someone else upsets the boat's stability.
Rolling to assist with Acrobatics  (d20+8)[ 27 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T10:    "Back to back everyone! Watch for where the nasty thing will pop out!"   Zef shifts in his seat awaiting the sea beast to show its ugly fish mug again.

 R2T8:  Arsenne shouts,    "Better yet, if you are not fighting, lower your bodies and try to stabilize the boat!"   

With that he slides down off of his bench, twists around so he is  facing the rest of the boat and the team, and with his knees against the  bottom of the boat and his hips down as low as his flexibility will  permit, he holds the bench that he was sitting on with his right hand  spread wide toward the center and his left hand against the gunwale.

 R2T6:   Thickness ,  you are prone/ off-balance in water with lance in hand, next to one of  these critters which is now also submerged. The depth here is only 5' as  there is a sandbar at this point. What do you do?

Roran on deck, Unknown water-steamer in the hole ...
5ColouredWalker
Thickness takes a moment to right himself in the water and glance at the mass of steam before back to the attack, his legs and tail taking their proper place as he strikes again with his closed jaw, aiming to subdue instead of kill.


 
 Spoiler: Action 

Swift: Enter Silver Crane Waltz Stance, improving AC and Reflex Saves by 2, Initiative by 4.
 Move: 'Stand up'/End Off Blance 
 Standard: Non-lethal bite attack with Enduring Crane Strike. 
 Hit:  (1d20+7)[ 10 ]  , needs to loose -4 for Non-Lethal. Heal Occurs on a hit. 
 Damage:  (1d6+5)[ 6 ]  Nonlethal.
 Heal -Targeting Myself if hit by AOO, or  Arsenne or   Roran determined randomly since they were speared, determined randomly to mimimize metagaming.
 Heal Target (If not self)  (1d2)[ 1 ]  1 Arsenne, 2 Roran.
Heal Amount:  (1d6+5)[ 11 ] 
 If/Thens: 
 If Attacked I'll use Whirlpool Spin. 
 If the enemy attempts to leave in a manner that provokes AOO, I'll attempt a Hamstring Manuever from the Elephant in the Room Feat reduction, being a opposed combat manuever with attacks to entangle them/prevent them from leaving instead of doing damage. 
 
lostsole31
 R2T6:  Thickness takes a moment to right himself in the  water, but not before trying to get into a fighting stance. That is when  he learns that he can't really get into a proper fighting stance while  off-balance, so he doubles down on righting himself. As he is flailing  around like that, the bogey stabs its spear into Thickness' lower left  calf for  3 .  He tries to glance at the  mass of steam on the other side of the bogey before he focuses on his  offense, his legs and tail taking their  proper place as he strikes again with his jaw, attempting to use more  of the back molars on fatty parts of the enemy - seeking to  incapacitate, not kill - but the enemy is very squirrely and the sobek  fails to find any purchase.

 R2T5:  The pool of blood off the starboard side continues to get thicker.

 R2T3:   Roran , you are seated with your machete in hand. You could attack the enemy, but it is fully submerged at this time. What do you do?

Steamy Sue on deck, Enemy in the hole ...
rypt
Roran frowns as he peers over the edge of the boat.    "These look to be grindylows, aquatic aberrations not unlike goblins in temperament and appearance.  Nasty little creatures.  Not sure I see the wisdom in engaging them in their native environment."    His blood begins to quicken as he waits with his machete raised, preparing himself to strike at the tentacled creature in the event that it emerges from the water.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Move action: Roran will unsuppress the Blood Rush veil.

Swift action: Invest 1 essence into the Blood Rush veil.

Standard action: Ready a Risky Strike attack vs. Red in the event that it emerges from the water within 5 feet of him.
 Attack:  (d20+5)[ 16 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+6)[ 11 ]  
 
lostsole31
 R2T3:  Roran frowns as he peers over the edge of the boat.    "These  look to be grindylows, aquatic aberrations not unlike goblins in  temperament and appearance.  Nasty little creatures.  Not sure I see the  wisdom in engaging them in their native environment."    His  blood begins to quicken as he waits with his machete raised, preparing  himself to strike at the tentacled creature in the event that it emerges  from the water.

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T22:  The water-lady misses with a red-hot, steaming dagger.

 R3T19:   Red remains submerged, adjusting away from the rowboat. Its tentacles  try to pull on Thickness to throw him off balance, but braced against  the bottom that doesn't work. It attacks with its spear, but the sobek  does something akin to a crocodile's death roll - but without an enemy  in its mouth, and the confusion and thrashing and cavitating water throw  off what looks like it would have been a successful strike. It finally  snaps wildly at Thickness with its mouth of razor sharp teeth.

 R3T20:   Eirina , you are under the water, standing on your feet on the sandbar. You don't have anything in hand. What do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Kaen in the hole ...
Espeon55
Eirina surfaces before she casts Air Bubble on herself while assessing the situation, studying the Steam Lady to try and figure out whether she is friend or foe. She saw the woman throw a dagger but she isn't sure who the target was since she missed.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
StA: Air Bubble:  (1d20+6)[ 14 ] 

Move Action: Surfacing

Sense Motive Check:  (1d20+4)[ 23 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R3T20:  Eirina surfaces before she attempts to  defensively cast a spell while assessing  the situation, studying the Steam Lady to try and figure out whether she  is friend or foe, but that distracts her casting and she loses her  spell. She saw the woman throw a dagger but she isn't sure  who the target was since she missed. Thinking about it, though, it seems  that the woman is more focused on the grindylow than Eirina.

 R3T17:   As he picks up his trident, Mr. Arvodair shouts all manner of nautical  imprecations best left out of print. Funny for a man of his height, he's  actually not that scary as he does so, but something about the various  things he says makes you not want to disappoint him for lagging in  combat. He then bodily throws himself at the grindylow in the water with  a mighty yell. He lands with an amazing splash next to Thickness, but  the grindylow is sent hurtling 20' to the northeast, the water doing  little to slow the beast down and rattling its cage. Though in the water  next to the boat, Mr. Arvodair stands on the bottom with his head above  water.

 R3T13:   Kaen , what do you do? You  saw the Bernoulli hump (underwater wake) of the creature being rocketed,  but at this distance you don't see the grindylow, as a function of both  distance and reflection on the water.

Zeferin on deck, Arsenne in the hole ...
digiman619
Kaen smiled at Mr. Adovair as he went overboard at the beast. "  His strength is as uncanny as his manner is uncouth, it seems"  , he said wryly. moving to the edge of the boat. Once in position, he lines up a shot, ready to fire once the grindylow was again in view.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
MA: Move northeast 5 feet, making any balancing checks as needed.
If I fall, I will spend my next action to get up. If I maintain my footing, I will ready an action to shoot the grindylow when I have a clear shot.
 
lostsole31
 R3T13:  Kaen smiled at Mr. Ardovair as he went overboard at the beast. "  His strength is as uncanny as his manner is uncouth, it seems"  ,  he says wryly, moving to the edge of the boat. Once in position, he  lines up a shot, ready to fire once the grindylow was again in view.

Mr.  Ardovair rumbles, and that rumbling is heard underwater only a few feet  around him, but still intelligibly, and Thickness thinks it might be to  him as Mr. Ardovair looks down from above the waterline to him,   "She's got this."  
 R3T10:   Zeferin , your readied action didn't go off. What do you do?

Arsenne on deck, Thickness in the hole ...
KupoTheMage
Zef draws the shield from his back and holds it forward. He yells out to the crew,   "Hold your ground everyone, it could come back at any moment!"  . 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Standard Action: Total Defense
Move Action: Draw Shield
 
lostsole31
 R3T10:  Zeferin readies his shield and readies it to the north and advises,   "Hold your ground, everyone. It could come back at any moment!"  

Mr. Ardovair continues to rumble to Thickness,   "Don't get in..."  
 R3T8:   Arsenne , do you maintain your low position to help steady the boat as needed, or do you do something else?

Thickness on deck, Roran in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne continues to keep his center of gravity as low in the boat as possible and he continues to hold on to the the bench and the gunwale so as to actively counterbalance the boat if necessary. He calls out:    "Uhh, folks.... There's a lot of blood in the water.  Aren't sharks attracted to that? But please, don't all try to climb back on board from the same side at the same time.  Capsizing would be bad!"   And he looks over his right shoulder and nods to Ambyr.
lostsole31
 R3T8:  Arsenne continues to keep his center of gravity as low in the boat as  possible and he continues to hold on to the the bench and the gunwale so  as to actively counterbalance the boat if necessary. He calls out:    "Uhh,  folks.... There's a lot of blood in the water.  Aren't sharks attracted  to that? But please, don't all try to climb back on board from the same  side at the same time.  Capsizing would be bad!"   And he looks over his right shoulder and nods to Ambyr.

Ambyr responds,   "Aohw."  

Mr. Arvodair continues to Thickness,   "... front of her."  
 R3T6:   Thickness , what do you do? Do you heed Mr. Arvodair's warning at all?

Roran on deck, Babs Bubbles in the hole ...
5ColouredWalker
Thickness pauses at the words before his jaws open slightly with a small bubble of air, whatever he might have uttered in the syllable swallowed by the water before he sets, and his body lines with his spear for a charge at the remaining Beast, water guiding for a picture perfect strike, aimed to inflict pain instead of death.


 
 Spoiler: Charge 

Swift: Enter Silver Crane Waltz, +2 AC/Reflex, +4 Initiative.
Full: Charge using Sand Shark Rush replacing Attack with Swim.
Attack roll:  (1d20+5)[ 19 ]  (+8 for Swim Speed. +2 for not actually wearing shield. -4 Nonlethal. Possibly modified by Charging and high ground (depending on if he was pushed downward.)
Damage:  (1d8+4)[ 9 ] + (1d6)[ 4 ] , Spear + Sand Shark Rush bonus damage, Non-Lethal.
Movement from Charge: Move 1 square East and 3 up.
 
lostsole31
 R3T6-5.5:  Thickness pauses at the words before his jaws open slightly with a small  bubble of air, whatever he might have uttered in the syllable swallowed  by the water before he sets, and his body lines with his spear for a  charge at the remaining Beast, water guiding for a picture perfect  strike, aimed to inflict pain instead of death.

The unconscious  grindylow floats to the surface. Kaen, seeing the grindylow, shoots at  it but way overshoots the mark, nearly pinching his fingers in the  akashic bowstring's path.

 Combat Ends! 

As combat ends, the woman underwater flashes completely to steam, and returns back inside the lantern at Mr. Arvodair's side.
5ColouredWalker
With the immediate threats dealt with, Thickness actively takes a moment to look around for anything else that might be swimming towards them.
lostsole31
There are no shark fins circling around in the water. One thing that everyone in the boat and Thickness notes - as Eirina is helped aboard by Mr. Arvodair - is that the Peregrine noticed the attack, and there are many cheers and hup-hups being given in the distance.

What now?
5ColouredWalker
With the weird water creature stunned and no more immediate threats, Thickness rises to the surface, and starts hauling the creature and its spear back to the boat.
digiman619
Kaen dismisses both his weapon and armor as looks out to the water, seeing if anyone else needs help getting back into the boat. Once everyone in accounted for, he will address the party.  "While having grindylows this close to shore isn't a good sign, they alone wouldn't be enough to ruin a colony like it seems to have happened here. Everyone keep on your toes; I fear more dangerous things are afoot."  
lostsole31
Assuming Arsenne continues what he had originally attempted, the starboard-side grindylow is also brought up, very definitely dead.

Arsenne isn't used to grindylow anatomy, but he determines that the one that Thickness brought back died of untreated shock ... likely from having been wounded badly enough before Thickness struck him to shock his system ... and then while Thickness was doing a safety check and grabbing the creature's spear and bringing it back to the boat, it had succumbed to the shock.

Mr. Arvodair rows the group up to a solitary dock extending from the beach into the bay. The construction is solid and looks recent, suitable for tying off a small boat, although no watercraft are visible. The beach inclines to the east before giving way to grass and trees. Further on in that direction, buildings and a palisade wall stand on the rise.
rypt
When the grindylow moves out of sight, Roran turns his attention to the unusual steam woman beside the boat.
 Whatever it was Mr. Arvodair had intended her to do, Roran is plainly disappointed when she does not do it.

 
 Spoiler: &gt;&gt;&gt;Elyich 
  "Fascinating.  Any idea what that lady was?"   he asks after observing her return to the lamp.
 

Roran will then sheath his machete and offer a hand to any who need help climbing back into the boat.

Once they reach the dock, he will disembark, and heading Kaen's warning, draw his greatsword as he observes the nearby buildings and fortifications, checking for any damage or other signs of a battle.
Diavolo
Once the threat is over, Arsenne tries to salvage what is left of his ink container, stoppers it, and put it, his pen, and the journal into his backpack.
Once his companions are back on board, he tell them:    "Those of you who are injured, please apply some pressure and elevation to your cuts, as I'm doing with my hand, and I'll wash and dress your wounds once we arrive at the beach."   

He then looks at himself and says:   "What a mess! I hate getting dirty! One of the things I like about the Glaive is that it's a reach weapon.  So if ever the day comes when I need to use it against a deserving enemy, they will be far enough away that they have less risk of splashing blood and guts on me.  I did not anticipate that the real danger would be spilt ink and cat barf!"

  Finally, upon arriving at the dock, he checks for obvious dangers in the water, then hops overboard to wash off the assorted mix fluids. He then climbs back onto the boat and helps to unload it.   "Once we are sure the beach is safe, let me take a look at your injuries."    
 
 Spoiler: Heal checks 
Heal check Roran(?), ear and head :  (d20+8)[ 16 ] 
Heal check Thikha'Ness (?), calf :  (d20+8)[ 24 ] 
Heal check self, right hand :   (d20+8)[ 27 ] 
 
digiman619
Kaen takes a deep breath. Now he is finally on dry land, he takes a moment to steady himself without the waves interfering. Once finished, he opens his eyes once more, activating his astral skin, its green hue washing over him before changing color to match his nearby environment.   "I'm going to scout ahead. Anyone who trusts themselves to be inconspicuous can join me, but the rest of you should follow at a distance. We don't know who or what is going on, so proceed with caution, all of you."   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Kaen is now in his astral skin, so between losing the -3 in ACP, gaining +2 DEX, and the +2 from Chameleon, if my math is right, I should be doing a +19 for Stealth. Assuming that enhancement bonuses still exist, I guess.

I am planning on scouting out ~50 ft ahead of the rest of the party.
 
Espeon55
  "I'll accompany you Uncle Kaen!"   Eirina states after they reached the shore. She was disheartened about not being more helpful during the battle. Her Uncle had gotten a kill as had Thickness but she hadn't even gotten a hit in nor had she been able to cast a spell successfully. She felt the need to prove her usefulness. Scouting and looking for trouble was one thing she was sure she could do well. She then changes her focus, to be as stealthy as an Owl while keeping Ambyr with the perception of a falcon so he could alert the two of them to danger.

  "Ambyr! Come! We're scouting ahead with Kaen."   Eirina then calls to her cougar to follow after the two of them.

 
 Spoiler: Animal Focus  
SwA: Changing Eirina's animal focus to Owl.
 
rypt
After watching Kaen summon forth his armor, Roran looks down at his own scale mail.  He tugs at the arm opening, adjusting its setting.    "Uhm.  I will stay with the others.  But if you come across an area you cannot access, well..."    He pauses a moment.    "It would be easier if I showed you."    At that, a long strip cloth, not unlike a scarf, appears draped around his neck.  The fabric is a deep blue and stitched along its length are a series of golden runes.  Roran gestures to his right, and as the runes begin to glow, there appears a man-sized opening in space.  Dipping his head, he steps into the opening and emerges from a nearly identical opening behind Kaen.    "It's gotten me out of a trouble on more than a few occasions.  Into trouble too, but, well, you know."    He laughs nervously.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Roran with unsuppress his Runecloth of Doorways veil and invest 1 essence into it.  He will then create a pair of portals as a demonstration.
 
5ColouredWalker
Thickness, despite his gripe of   "It lived when I started bringing it over.""  , was back to smiling on the last of his swim over. Though while the rest rowed to shore, he dragged the floating and bled out grindelow to the beach leaving a trail of bloodied water up to where he dragged it onto the beach, before rinsing himself back off with that water...

Thickness seemed distracted in thought, barely looking up then away when it came to those volunteering to scout ahead, but rejoining once the bodies were together in the sands. If none objected, he would mark their location with a spear buried point first to act as a marker

Returning his full attention to the group he speaks up.
  "It could be useful if locks are intact. Or perhaps skipping the gates through the palisade if we
deem it best to enter like theives. Though i offer no great use, unless any who were in the water want help rinsing the salt off."  

And with that, he chants a few words, cleaning himself off.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Thickness will accept Arsenne's offer of first aid, would like to consider aquatic race likely funeral practices (Religion perhaps?), and offers presdigitation to clean people. And he cleans himself off.
 
Diavolo
Arsenne cleans out the various cuts to make sure there is no infection and ensures that the bleeding stops.
  "O.K. these don't look too bad.  I only have one healing kit and a limited limited amount of Shelyn's magic that I can use per day, so hopefully topical care will do for now and I'll be sure to treat them again overnight to speed up the healing.  You two should be fine by tomorrow.  My own hand might take a bit longer to fully heal."
  
He then emulates Thikha'Ness and rinses himself off with fresh water conjured by Shelyn's grace, offering to do the same for anyone else who requests it.

He then looks at the group preparing to scout.   "I would love to come with you. I'm not much of a hunter. But I used to play hide-and-go seek often with my sisters when we were young. Surely, hiding hiding behind a column or avoiding the squeeky parts of a polished wooden floor are not much different from hiding behind a tree and avoiding broken....OH MY GOODNESS!  By all the beauty of the Eternal Rose!  Would you look at these seashells!  They're GORGEOUS!!!  And so many colours!  And so big!  We never find such pristine shells on the beach back in Almas!  Hold on a minute please, let me just pick up a few before we go.... "  

He puts down his Glaive out of range of the surf, and quickly picks up a collection of about half-a-dozen shells, popping them into his back pack before speaking in the direction of the sand:   "Don't worry, I'll be back for the rest of you as soon as we're done tending to some important business."    And he picks up his Glaive and smiles eagerly at the rest of the group.


 
 Spoiler: Healing Attempt 
Treat Deadly wounds without use of healing kit.
 
lostsole31
 
 Originally Posted by Diavolo 
 Finally, upon arriving at the dock, he [Arsenne] checks for obvious dangers in the water, then hops overboard to wash off the assorted mix fluids. He then climbs back onto the boat and helps to unload it.   "Once we are sure the beach is safe, let me take a look at your injuries."     
 

 Arsenne , when you were looking where to hop into the water, you spotted a canoe off the western edge of the dock, 10' below the waterline (on the bottom). While .... interesting? Arsenne is far more into the shiny objects of Thickness' cleaning magic, seashells, and healing people.

That is when Mr. Arvodair calls out,   "Hey! The colony boat is underwater by the dock here. I'll pull that up while the rest of you look around."  
Diavolo
Arsenne does as Mr. Arvodair said.  He 'looks around'. But his focus is literally on the beach itself. He then scoops up three more sea shells, tucks them into his sash and comes over to ask Mr. Arvodair :    "Do you need any help with that?  It looks a bit unwieldy  ".
5ColouredWalker
  "Sabotage. Wonderful. If they've taken to such, than I daresay we're assure because of luck. Perhaps our two attackers were the only ones nearby."

  Thickness takes a look around for a bit, but instead of offering his strength for the boat, adopts a odd stance, head low he takes to sniffing around the area.

 
 Spoiler: Stance 

Enter Running Hunters Stance gaining scent. Thickness then proceeds to take a sniff around for any tracks, while also looking out for anything of interest.
 
Espeon55
While scouting ahead Eirina tells Ambyr to sniff around the area and be on the look out for danger, she then hears what Mr. Arvodair said and turns to Kaen.   "Uncle do you think those creatures caused their boat to sink under the water? Or is there something more dangerous around here?"   
lostsole31
Mr. Arvodair keeps his shield in the longboat but takes his trident and jumps off the end of the dock into the water, then pops back up.   "I need some rope. I'll tie it off to the bow ring, and then I need you strappers to haul it up onto the beach. I want to inspect the colony boat and see why it isn't floating."  
rypt
Roran sets down his greatsword on the dock to rummage through his backpack until he finds a length of rope.  He hands the rope to Mr. Arvodair and then steps back.  A moment later, he mumbles,   "Oh,"   and then steps forward again.    "I can help pull."  
Diavolo
Arsenne plants his glaive pommel deep into the sand, blade up like a flag pole, at a location equal to about one wave length from the highest point of freshly wet sand.  He puts his backpack down beside it, and takes the three seashells out from the folds in his sash and adds them to the backpack.  He quickly scoops up another three decent looking shells, brushes off the sand and adds them to pack as well.

He then goes down toward the surf to take a position behind Roran on the pulling train, and does a few limbering up exercises, rolling his neck, his shoulders, his hips, stretching out his upper and lower back, and says :   "O.K., I'm ready."  
lostsole31
 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T19:  Mr. Arvodair comes up to the surface in a hurry and calls out,    "Critter under the canoe! Tried to magic me. I pulled my back tryin' to stab it!"   
 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T21:   Kaen ,  you heard Mr. Arvodair calling frantically, so you got a "tone" but you  didn't understand quite what he said from this distance. What do you  do?
digiman619
Kaen un-suppresed his bow, summoning it to his hand as he rushed towards the sound of the disturbance.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
MA: Resume  slashing volley  in shortbow mode.
MA: Move towards the disturbance. Note that I have a 40 foot move due to my armor being in astral skin form.
 
lostsole31
 R2T21:  Kaen unsuppreses his bow, summoning it to his hand as he rushes towards the sound of the disturbance.

 R2T20:   Eirina ,  you heard about every other word in Mr. Arvodair's shout, but it sounds  like trouble, and your uncle just passed you. What do you do, and what  do you direct Ambyr to do?
Espeon55
Eirina hears the shout from Mr. Arvodair and watches as Kaen springs into action and she decides to follow suit. Longbow in hand she runs towards the action and calls to Ambyr.   "Ambyr come! The battle is this way!"   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
MA: Moves 30 feet towards the disturbance
StA: Draws Longbow.
 
lostsole31
 R2T20:  Eirina hears the shout from Mr. Arvodair and watches as Kaen springs  into action and she decides to follow suit. Longbow back in hand, she runs  towards the action and calls to Ambyr.   "Ambyr, come! The battle is this way!"   
 R2T19:  Mr. Arvodair hustles to move back onto the splashing surf, trident in hand. He looks around at the others.   "You kept her from blowing off steam once. She  won't  bottle it up a second time. Just let her let off a good blast. Stand clear."  
 R2T14:   Again, a gaseous cloud comes out of Mr. Arvodair's lantern and moves  several feet to the west before taking on a more semi-solid appearance  ... still seemingly made of packed steam, but not as wispy as before.  She - for it seems to be female - floats an inch or two off of the  water. She stands 5' 7" tall. If she were more solid and made of  traditional muscle and not gas an steam, she would way well past 160  lbs. of broad muscle, but guessing her actual weight in this form is  impossible. She wears a simple kimono with coral and pink and peach  trim. Her hair starts as blue at the roots, quickly brightening out to  yellow and then red at the tips. In her hands she wields a flaming  jambiya.

She takes in a big breath, which seems to act like a  bellows for an internal fire, for as she breathes in, within her  semi-opaque form all manner of red-hot tracery forms as if a great fire  were within, and she faces downwards at the water and end of pier. You  don't know  exactly  what to expect, but something tells you that you don't want to be in the path of wherever she is about to breathe out.

 R2T13:   Thickness , what do you do?
5ColouredWalker
Unsure where exactly the threat is exactly, Thickness hurries to Arvodair's position, stopping to take stock of the situation and change his footing.

 
 Spoiler: Move carefully 

Move: 30 to Ardovairs side of the Peir. (Was in Running Hunter Stance using scent on the beach.)
Move: Active perception check including scent
Swift: Enter Silver Crane Waltz, +2 AC/Reflex, +4 Initiative.
 
lostsole31
 R2T13:  Unsure where exactly the threat is exactly, Thickness hurries to  Arvodair's position, stopping to take stock of the situation and change  his footing.

 R2T12:   Arsenne , what do you do?
Diavolo
Arsenne draws his siangham as he runs along the pier searching for a foe in the water along the dock. He stops once he reaches the conjured steamy-lady and continues scanning the depths. He calls out to Mr. Arvodair:   "What was it?  Was it another one of those Grin..., those Grindy..., those Squid-Goblins that attacked us on the boat?"  
  
   
 Spoiler: Helpful stats. 
 
Perception = +8.  Move = 30 
 
lostsole31
 R2T12:  Arsenne draws his siangham as he runs along the  pier searching for a foe  in the water along the dock. He stops once he reaches the conjured  steamy-lady and continues scanning the depths. He sees ... something ...  well below the water, though refraction makes depth perception  difficult.

He calls out to Mr.  Arvodair:   "What was it?  Was it another one of those Grin..., those Grindy..., those Squid-Goblins that attacked us on the boat?"  
  "Creepy lobster-man!"   he answers.

 R2T10:   Zeferin , what do you do?
KupoTheMage
Zef calls out towards the shore   "Everything alright?"   before holding his shield tight and moving towards the commotion.

 
 Spoiler: ooc 
Zef moves Left one square, Down two squares and draws his Shield and Warhammer.
 
lostsole31
 R2T10:  Zef calls out towards the shore,   "Everything alright?"   before holding his shield tight and moving towards the commotion.

 R2T7:  The little something Arsenne saw zips to the west at a moderate clip for something that swims naturally, and is out of sight.

 Initiative Ends! 

While  the rest congregates, Mr. Arvodair calls out for the strong boiz to  continue pulling out the boat (he tosses them the bitter end of the rope  that is tied to the canoe).

The steam lady has already moved  back into his lantern. Meanwhile, it is clear after a minute or so that  what he found is not a persistent aggressor.

Mr. Arvodair looks to Arsenne.   "Doc. Pulled my back trying to stab the bugger. You got anything for that?"  
Diavolo
Arsenne responds to Mr. Alvodair:    "Of course.  Let me just help pull this boat out, then I'll take a look at your back. In general, if your back is our of alignment, it will just take me a minute get it back in place if I can crack it just right. If it's a pulled muscle, then we are looking at massage and a night or two of rest. Of course, a dab of Shelyn's healing magic can usually accelerate things a lot.  And I still have everyone else's wounds to clean out. We have only just arrived on this island and four out of seven, sorry Ambyr, four out of eight have already gotten hurt! Let's hope that now that we are on land, all that is past us."


   
 Spoiler: Helpful stats 
 Healing +8 
 
lostsole31
The canoe is pulled up from beneath the dock.

Meanwhile, Arsenne takes a look at Mr. Arvodair, doing response tests and determines that it is muscular, but not that bad - painful, sure, and impinging some of his strength. But a night of rest should be what he needs.

The examination done, he comes over and looks at the canoe with everyone else. A hole in the bottom of the hull is evident. To Mr. Arvodair's trained eyes as both sailor and boatwright, it appears that the hole was created from inside the canoe, not outside, and was punctured by a tool or weapon. After looking it over he says,   "I can fix it, but I don't have any of my tools from the ship. I didn't come with gear."  

You look back out to the water, and the ship has already sailed farther away.

  "Well, I guess that's going to have to wait. The captain told me that if it seems like we were running into trouble, I would be stuck with you and to secure the ship's launch at the pier. Without tools or anything, I have nothing better than to either skylark at the pier, or accompany you as you check out Talmandor's Bounty."  
Diavolo
Arsenne responds:   "I am sure everyone would appreciate your help in verifying Talmandor's Bounty. But if something is going around punching holes into boats, what do you all think of hauling these boats out of the water and up past the beach, and tying them to a tree or something?"

   He then glances over at the Grindylow corpses and adds:    "And what exactly do we know about these Grindy.... these Squid Goblins? So far all I have got is that they are slimy-slippery and have multiple tentacles as well as arms, so, probably not a lot of fun to grapple. How amphibious are they?  Can they walk around on land? Do we risk encountering them in the settlement?"     

He glances at Kaen.     "You, Good Sir Elf, seemed to know a bit about them.... . And did we manage to collect their spears?"  
digiman619
Kaen shakes his head.   "Only academically. I had never before laid eyes on one before today. As for the spears, they have probably fallen to the ocean floor. I suppose Mr. Thikha'Nes might be able to retrieve them, but I hardly see the point of it."   He exhales purposefully. "  Regardless, unless there's another pressing matter here, I will go back to my scouting."   And with that, he turns back towards the village.
lostsole31
Thickness can show Arsenne he had already taken the spears (which, by the way, would not do a good job of puncturing a boat of hardwood).

Assuming the rest of the party - now with Mr. Arvodair in the rear (having gotten his shield off the launch) - fall in some 50' behind Kaen (at his request), the group moves along a well-worn path in the grass that rises up a slope toward a cluster of buildings to the east. The buildings are arranged in a rough triangle, with each point ending in a wooden circular enclosure with rectangular notches cut intermittently, like battlements. These round enclosures are clearly meant to be three points of a wooden palisade fence, which would enclose this first group of buildings once completed. The palisade fence, however, is complete only along the southeastern side of the triangle and is obviously unfinished elsewhere. The grass around the settlement looks like it was cropped at one point, and many paths exist between locations in the settlement, but in less well-trafficked spots, the grass has started to regrow.

All the buildings are constructed of either rough timber or mud bricks set in a wooden frame, and have pitched thatch roofs. Many have open window frames, but only a few have actual shutters or even a canvas curtain for privacy. Doors are basic, wooden affairs, too simple for locks, and some buildings lack them entirely. The construction is new, quite rough and unfinished.

The entire settlement is dead quiet.
digiman619
Kaen moved silently towards the northernmost building, taking a brief stock of the inside before making his way to the building to its south.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Making my way to A3, doing a quick search of the house. If the window is open, I'll look in there, otherwise, he'll crack the door to take a look inside. I then intend to do the same for A4-6, stopping when either I find something or confirm that  they're all empty
 
Espeon55
Eirina heads towards the triangle cluster of buildings to the east and beckons Ambyr to follow her.   "Ambyr, stay on guard okay?"   
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Eirina heads to A2 and cautiously looks around the buildings there, ordering Ambyr to stay alert and to yowl or make some sort of cougar noise if he smells danger.
 
lostsole31
 
 Originally Posted by digiman619 
 Kaen moved silently towards the northernmost building, taking a brief stock of the inside before making his way to the building to its south. 
 

This rectangular building is constructed of mud brick walls. The building has a simple door facing east, but unlike all other buildings in the colony, it lacks any windows. A heady smell of dried plants, herbs, and dried meat lingers in the air.

Kaen, a search of the house is going in and searching it ... not peering in through a partial doorway. You can do just that, but you don't get information for "searching" the house. What do you do? 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Also, don't try and "push" things by going more than one site at a time.
 


 
 Originally Posted by Espeon55 
 Eirina heads towards the triangle cluster of buildings to the east and beckons Ambyr to follow her.   "Ambyr, stay on guard okay?"    
 

Seven canvas pavilion tents were set up here, all of which are large enough to shelter two to three people each. All but two tents have collapsed due to wind, rain, and lack of maintenance. The two that remain standing lean haphazardly and do not appear to have been entered for a long time. Grass has begun to grow around them.
 Eirina , what do you do here at the pavilion tents?

In the meantime, everyone else is back on the main thoroughfare as the scouts went in opposite directions. What do the rest of you do?
5ColouredWalker
As the group enters the empty village, Thickness moves from his more relaxed stride to an odd stance. Head stooped low, he alternates between scenting the ground like one might expect a hunting dog, and speeding up to catch up with the group.
When the group starts to split Thickness calls out,    "We should probably hold off on separating to much!"     , and while he shouts it, he waves his right arm in a sweeping wave towards the north where    Kaen headed.     " And what are we thinking, a quick patrol for obvious signs before doing more in depth searches?"
     
  
 Spoiler: OOC 
 

Thickness continues to maintaining Running Hunters Stance, using the Scent ability to try and pick out any tracks or notable scents.

When the group catches up to the northern building Kaen is looking into, Thickness will comment    "The foods still here? Even if it's not water safe you'd think they'd bring it to shore as a cache, unless they're water bound. Maybe the Grindy's just made things worse."   
 
 
 
 
digiman619
After stepping inside the building to investigate,  he nods to himself before moving to the south to check the next one.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
I suppose I was arguing that I was doing a quick Take 10 perception in the house, but if I must fully enter it to do so, then Kaen shall. I also wasn't trying to push per se, more trying to keep the scene moving. Having to call back to me to make the same "Yep, nothing in that building, moving to the next one" statement like 4 times just felt like it would slow things down.
 
lostsole31
 
 Spoiler: Kaen 
Kaen, the door lacks a means to bar it from within.  Inside, the ground has been dug out to a depth of 3 feet so that the  floor is lower than the ground outside. A short flight of steps set with  flat stones leads into this darkened area, lit only by any ambient  light coming through the door. The building lacks interior walls except  for a few short partitions, and four stout posts support the roof. The  temperature is cool and the smell of rotted vegetables and meat is  strong. Strings of garlic hang suspended from ceiling crossbeams  alongside chunks of salted meat and bone. Debris and refuse is strewn  across the floor between stacks of crates, boxes, and barrels against  the walls.

This building is where the first colonists stored those provisions brought over on the  Liberty’s Herald ,  intended to supplement their diet until their crops matured. Much of it  was salted meats, fish, and hardy root vegetables. Kaen's keen senses  notice that some of the barrels and containers have remained sealed. One  thing that Kaen's keen senses fail to detect in the gloom, however ...

 Surprise Round! 
 S16:   With the interruption of light into this dank place, there is a sudden  thrumming, humming, and chittering as thousands of little particulates  seem to come to life and surround and practically engulf Kaen. All the  nibbling and chewing from the swarm of insects can't seem to get through  the protection of his astral skin.

 Begin Round One ...

R1T16:  The angry swarm of whatever continues their chewing. This time, however, Kaen takes  4 mod  past the protection of his astral skin.

 R1T15:   Kaen , roll a Fort save. Your veil is in bow form in hand right now. What do you do?
 
digiman619
 
 Spoiler: save 
 (1d20+5)[ 13 ] 
 


Kaen immediately flees; he isn't currently equipped to handle this, as conventional attacks are suboptimal ways of dealing with them. He makes his way back to the party at best speed and calmly asks   "Do any of you have any good destructive magicks? I seem to have riled up an insect swarm."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
I move to the rest of the party at best speed (40 ft if I fail the save, 80 ft if I pass).
 
5ColouredWalker
  "No."  
Devolving into foreign swearing, Thickness dropped into a crouch on the spot, dropping spear and shield to start riffling through his pack for one of his torches.

 
 Spoiler: Mechanics 

Dropping lance should be free, doffing shield is move.
Then a move to either retrieve my torch or a move to manipulate my backpack so I can retrieve the torch next turn.

Ofc, reduce actions for surprise round if relevent.
 
lostsole31
 R1T15:  Kaen completely freaks out and immediately  flees, but only at half-speed as he is distracted by what seems to be a  swarm of insects all over him. He isn't currently equipped to handle  this, as  conventional attacks are sub-optimal ways of dealing with them.

As  he stumbles out, he sees that a few of the bugs give chase, but not  enough to really be of any issue. As they get into the rays of the sun  they angrily disperse and go back into the house, likely to find even  darker corners since Kaen left the door open.

 Initiative Ends! 

He catches his breath and makes his way back to the party at best speed and calmly asks,   "Do any of you have any good destructive magicks? I seem to have riled up an insect swarm."  
  "No,"   replies Thickness flatfly, devolving from thence into foreign swearing. Dropping into a crouch on the  spo while divesting himself of spear and shield, he starts rifling through his pack for  one of his torches, pulling one out.
5ColouredWalker
After a moment Thickness pulls out a second torch.

  "So, at least one dangerous house... Clear it out now just in case or shall we check everywhere else? I've got a spare torch ready if no one else has one."  
Espeon55
Eirina studies the tents and decides it may be too dangerous and unhelpful to investigate the two remaining ones with just Amber since they look ready to collapse. And decides to rejoin the rest of the party.   "I don't think we'll find anything here boy let's rejoin the others." 
 
digiman619
Kaen frowns at the crocodile man   "Don't bother. The swarm isn't what got the colonists, so ending them won't answer the pressing question. If we are going to set-up a base camp here, then we will have to deal with them, but until then, we should focus on finding out what happened here."  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness nods, redons his pack, and sets himself up with shield and spear held I'm one arm awkwardly, able to do little more than Cary and drop them. He firmly holds the torch he got out in the other.

  "Reasonable. I think ill keep a torch out though, just in case."  
lostsole31
Alright, you are all back together again. Now what?
digiman619
Kaen closes his eyes as his astral suit reforms in its armor form.   "I think we can end the scouting plan. The desire to be stealthy is outweighed by the risk of getting attacked by something, I feel."    He then addresses the rest of the group   . "Unless anyone objects, I suggest we all go together and search the remaining structures  ,"
Diavolo
Arsenne nods, "  That sounds like a good plan. Together, but not too close, that way a warm cannot engulf more than one of us at a time. And, just so you know, I have no 'blasting' magics at the moment.  I am a cleric of Shelyn. I came here to spread love, beauty and joyful healing within the colony.  Given the reception we have received so far.... It looks like I may have to diversify my portfolio somewhat.  "

He pauses. "  Shall we light a couple of torches in advance in case the next swarm is not so deterred by sunlight? I don't have any myself, but i can certainly carry one without needing to balance my glaive with a shield that I don't have...  " He looks to Thickha'Ness.
Espeon55
  "Yeah I specialize in hunting vermin not insect swarms and I cannot communicate with those..."  Eirina states as she looks at the houses.  "Ambyr would also not be very good in a situation like that and I'd rather he  not  get fleas."   
5ColouredWalker
  "Could pre-light them, but i can do it quickly. Better holding off for now I think so we dony waste them... I'll take lead, with luck my nose will help us avoid a surprise. Shall we sweep the outer ring than go in or just try to find the centre for any stockpile or..."  

With that Thickness returns to that odd stance of his, and picks a direction. Unless others direct elsewhere, he'll go north again, intending to cycle in on the settlement. He does however skirt around the building with the swarm.

 
 Spoiler 

Running Hunters Stance for 30ft move speed and Scent.
 
Diavolo
Arsenne responds:
  "O.K..  If you say that you can light them quickly, then I'm all for conserving our resources.".  
And he takes up position near the rear ranks, holding his Glaive in a ready position with his fore hand but keeping his back hand free so as to either deflect anything that may be thrown or shot at him, or to grab the haft of the Glaive and leap into Melee.
lostsole31
The closest building to the group on the main path into the colony is the best place to begin ( A5 ). This L-shaped building is constructed of mud bricks on a wooden frame. The western portion is of the structure is enclosed by four walls. This section has a single open window on the south side, with a canvas curtain hung across the opening. The single entrance is a wooden door, standing slightly ajar, on the southern end of the eastern face of the building. A ten-foot extension connects to the building on the east side. This extension has only a northern wall and is otherwise just a roof sheltering the space below, which is open to the outside. Underneath this cover is a forge with an exhaust flue directly above it, a worktable covered in metal scraps, a small tub of black water, and a partially sheltered anvil.  This was the smithy.

Do you go in? If so, how and who and with what in hand?
digiman619
Having effectively nominated himself as the party's forward element, Kaen enters the building and takes a look around, his weapon in longblade form.
lostsole31
 
 Spoiler: Kaen 
 Surprise Round ... 

Once Kaen steps into the smithy, he is surprised!

 S15-13:  Kaen gets struck along the side of the head from something above and in front of him for  4 mod , and then again from something next to him stabs him in the crook of his left elbow for  2 mod . There is all manner of screeching now.
 

 Surprise Round Over, Begin Round One ..

R1T22:   Arsenne ,  you have your glaive in hand and do not know the layout of what's  inside, but you hear all manner of inhuman whooping and screeching that  surely isn't Kaen. What do you do?
Diavolo
Arsenne moves to the entrance and peers inside, and if he sees anything that might be attempting to cause harm to Kaen, then he attacks it with his Glaive.

If he strikes, he calls out:    "Hunting hornet, SLASH"   while striking with his Glaive.


 
 Spoiler: Crunch, just in case.  
Perception +8
Risky strike (power attack) [roll]d20+5[/roll]
Damage [roll]d10+9[/roll]
Note:  His feat, Combat Maneuvers may prove useful.
 
lostsole31
 R1T22:  Arsenne moves to the entrance and peers inside.  Seeing two creatures hanging from the rafters by their tails and  wielding spears, he strikes out at the one farther from himself, calling  out,   "Hunting hornet, SLASH"   while striking it (Red) in the left knee with his glaive for  14 + disabled !

 R1T21:  Ambyr yowls, smelling blood, but waiting for a command from Eirina.

 R1T17:   Eirina ,  longbow is in hand and Ambyr is already alert. However, you see the  back of Arsenne's shins telling you that there might not be any room  inside. What do you do? What do you command Ambyr to do?

Ambyr delaying ...
Espeon55
Eirina readies her longbow to make a shot at the enemy. Whatever the enemy is, she moves into get a clear shot, but leaves enough space for Arsenne to get out and shouts to Arsenne.    "Move out of the way Doc!"
     

once in position she calls out to Ambyr.   "Attack when our Doc is out of the way go for the smell of blood."


   
 Spoiler: Crunch 
MA: Moves 10 feet
FA: Prepares Longbow readying to fire when allies are out of the way.
 
  
lostsole31
 R1T17:  Eirina readies her longbow to make a shot at the  enemy. Whatever the  enemy is, she moves up 10' to get a clear shot, but can't because of the  difference of sunlight and dark interior, bodies in the way, and the  party screen at the door. She shouts to Arsenne .... right in his ear:    "Move out of the way, Doc!"
     
Without a clear target, she says to Ambyr ... more to keep Ambry focused  than any command, as Ambyr can't understand any more than one word of  what is said,   "Attack when our Doc is out of the way; go for the smell of blood."
    
 R1T16:  Yet  another one of these things were hiding behind the corner and jumps out  to stab at Green, but Arsenne deflects the spear for his new elven  friend.  This one (Green) is on the ground right below Blue (who, like  Red, is hanging from the rafters).

 R1T15:  Blue also stabs at Kaen, and again Arsenne is there with his polearm to block it.

 R1T13:   Red withdraws around the west, and Arsenne misses as it goes by. It  jumps out the window to the south and tries to scramble along the side  of the corner of the building, but Ambyr is there to bite at it for  4 , dropping the creature on the ground where it doesn't move.

 R1T11:   Kaen ,  you finally have your wits about you, and though dimly lit inside (he  sun is not angled to come in through the southern window, though there  is ambient light there). You see the little things. What do you do?
digiman619
Kaen chides himself for not putting his armor in its heavier form, He shifts his veils slightly in order to get his weapon back in sword mode, swiping at the higher of the two foes before retreating out of harm's way for the moment.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
SwA:I make what I am calling a "null shift" of my essence; spending the swift to move essence, but leaving 1E in Stalker's Tabi, Slashing Volley, and Bangle of Barriers (i.e., where they already were). This lets me reset my Slashing Volley to be  in its curveblade form.  
 Spoiler: Relevant ruling 
https://libraryofmetzofitz.fandom.com/wiki/Akashic_Rules#Using_Essence

"When investing your essence, you can divide your total pool of essence however you like amongst all of your essence receptacles, up to your essence capacity. You cannot invest more essence in a receptacle than your essence capacity.  If you have a feature that allows you to change a selected effect each time it is invested with essence, you can do so every time you spend a swift action to invest your essence, even if you leave the same amount of essence in that receptacle."  (emphasis mine)
 


SA: Attack the hanging foe (I think blue? It's hard to figure)  (1d20+8)[ 26 ]   (1d10+1)[ 11 ] 
MA: I *assume* the 'withdraw' and 'charge' abilities of Slashing Volley are move actions, but it's actually kinda vague. Assuming the sane reading is correct, I will then take a move action to get out of the house (I want to get 1 square southeast of Thickness' current location) and swap weapon form back to crossbow. I will Acrobatics in order to avoid  AoO's. If the 'withdraw' is instead part of the attack, I will spend the move action summoning my astral armor (which I was reasonably certain I had already done).

Call this a hedge if you must, but on the odd chance that I've misread something and the "not moving essence" trick doesn't work, I logically should know that it failed, in which case I will Withdraw to the 1 square southeast of Thickness
 
lostsole31
 R1T11:  Kaen chides himself for not putting his armor in  its heavier form. Considering this is the first day he's ever been in  mortal combat, he has to take a quick second to verify that he does have  his veil in sword mode, and swipes at the higher of the two foes. When  the dim lighting throws off his aim, he retreats out of harm's  way for the moment, but not before both bogeys stab at him, one of them  skimming off his back while Arsenne protects him from yet another  thrust.

 R1T9:   Thickness , what do you do?
5ColouredWalker
Dropping his torch Thickness readies his spear and shield, stepping back from the building.

   "Bring the fight outside!"   
 
 Spoiler: ooc 

Swift: Change to Silver Crane Waltz stance
Free: Drop Torch.
Move: Equip shield.
Move: Equip Lance.
Free: 5ft step east/to the right side of the map.
 
lostsole31
 R1T9:  Dropping his torch Thickness readies his spear and shield, stepping back from the building and calls out,    "Bring the fight outside!"   
 R1T8:   Roran , what do you do?
rypt
Drawing his greatsword, Roran hurries to the west, nearer to the creature that Ambyr struck down.    "What is it?!  What are we fighting now?!"    He eyes the fallen creature before turning his attention to the doorway, readying himself should another emerge.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Move action: Move between Ambyr and Zeferin, drawing greatsword as part of the movement.

Free action: Assess Red's body.

Standard action: Ready a greatsword attack should an enemy move into a square he threatens.
 Attack:  (d20+7)[ 26 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 14 ]  
 
lostsole31
 R1T8:  Drawing his greatsword, Roran hurries to the west, nearer to the creature that Ambyr struck down.    "What is it?!  What are we fighting now?!"    He eyes the fallen creature before turning his attention to the doorway, readying himself should another emerge.

 R1T7:   Mr. Arvodair equips his shield on the move to the west of the body,  readying his trident should something similar to what's on the ground  come out the window. He does so with an imposing air and the look of one who has been given formal combat instruction, not just a pick-up-as-one-goes like some sailors that just fall into combat and live. To see his big frame standing there, readied, instills the rest of you with confidence, as if nothing could take the lot of you down.

 R1T5:   Zeferin , shield and warhammer are readied. What do you do?

Arsenne on deck, Ambyr delaying, Eirina in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne shouts in response:   "Goblin Monkeys. Good Climbers. Risk Escape. Trap'em here!"  

Then, holding his thumb apart from his index and middle finger of his right hand in claw-like position, he launches a flurry of stunning blows at two creatures.
As he strikes, he shouts:   "Soldier Ant, PINCH!"  .

After his attack, he shifts further into house to make room for others to enter.


 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
Free Action: let go of Glaive with right hand only.
Full Attack: Flurry of blows strike #1 at one target, stunning fist DC 14,  (d20+7)[ 20 ] ,  damage  (d6+4)[ 5 ] ;
                 Flurry of blows strike #2 at the other target, stunning fist DC 14,  (d20+7)[ 10 ] ,  damage  (d6+4)[ 5 ] ;
Move 5':  Option 1 - Diagonally South West if there is room for him. If space is too limited, then Option 2 - straight West to where Kaen was previously.
Free Action: Place right hand back on shaft of Glaive.
 
lostsole31
 R1T5:  Zeferin moves west to be part of a welcoming  committee for any other of these creatures. Arcane energy flickers  around the head of his hammer, which he in turn drops on the little  monster to put it out of its misery.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T22: Arsenne shouts in response:    "Goblin Monkeys. Good Climbers. Risk Escape. Trap'em here!"   

Then, holding his thumb apart from his index and middle finger of his  right hand in claw-like position, he launches a flurry of of blows with his hands in this position, crying as he attacks:   "Soldier Ant, PINCH!"  . His first attack hits the hanging one in the chest for  5 + stunned  and it falls to the east of the other, and dropping its spear. He then strikes the other in the left shoulder for  5  as well. After his attack, he shifts further into house to make room for others to enter.

 R2T17:   Eirina , what do you do? What do you order Ambyr to do?

Enemies on deck and in the hole ...
Espeon55
Eirina whistles Ambyr to her side before casting Speak with Animals on herself so she can better communicate with her partner, she points to inside the house.   "Move in Ambyr! Attack those monkeys! Closest one you can find and don't hurt the doc. Herd them outside if you can, I want a piece of the action too you know."
  
Eirina then moves south and waits near the door for the enemy if they come out.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
MA: Moves 5 feet south
StA: Casts Speak with Animals.
Concentration check:  (1d20+6)[ 8 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T17:  Eirina moves south and whistles Ambyr to her side before casting  speak with animals  on   herself so she can better communicate with her partner. But she is so  nervous with this third mortal combat in under an hour that she is  worried about enemies around every corner and casts defensively ... and  fails. Recovering quickly she points inside the house, to the dead  monkey goblin, and back to the house, cutting out all the fat.   "Ambyr, attack!"
  
 R2T16.5:  Ambyr instantly zig-zags into the house and nips Green in the head for  2 .

 R2T16-15:  Having just gotten nipped, Green turns its attention to the cat and stabs and just catches Ambyr along the lower side for  5 . Meanwhile, Blue writhes in pain on the ground.

 R2T11:   Kaen , what do you do?

Thickness on deck, Roran in the hole ...
digiman619
Kaen takes aim before firing an arrow at Green. His weapon changes mode once more as he rushes in.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
StA: Attack Green. Note that I'm getting the extra 2d6 precision damage because of last turn's movement via slashing volley. Attack:  (1d20+8)[ 23 ]  Damage:  (1d6+1)[ 7 ]  +  (2d6)[ 5 ] 
MA: I will attempt to move in (it's hard tell if there's room). If there is, I will attempt to move into flanking, switching into sword mode. If there's not, spend a swift to move into sword mode and get as close as I can.
 
lostsole31
 R2T11:  Kaen takes aim before firing an arrow at Green, striking the monkey goblin in its left lower arm for  12  and dropping it. His weapon changes mode once more as he rushes in.

 R2T9:   Thickness , what do you do?

Roran on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
5ColouredWalker
As space around the door is filled again, Thickness' jaw rattles with a growl and ge begins stalking north, circling the building looking for another entry... Or exit.

  "If we're trapping them we should be surrounding them."


  Thickness' voice is calm and level despite his earlier growl.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Swift: Running Hunters Stance
Move: Circle the building heading North, and then east, staying within 10ft of the walls (AOO range for spear). If Thickness spots a new enemy, he'll stop and shout:    "More of them!"     , if I spot nothing, I think I end up 4 squares north, 2 right.   
  Move: Thickness will assess the building, looking for more entrences/enemies. He will check the roof since they creatures seem to be climbers. Thickness currently has scent 30'.
 
lostsole31
 R2T9:  Thickness' voice is calm and level despite his earlier shout,   "If we're trapping them we should be surrounding them."   As space around the door is filled again, Thickness' jaw rattles with a  growl and he begins stalking north, circling the building looking for  another entry... or exit.

 R2T8:   Roran , what do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Zef in the hole ...
rypt
Roran circles around the building to the west, attempting to cut off other avenue of escape.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Move action: Move west and then north to the west side of the building, stopping if there is a window or doorway there (positioning himself 5 feet out from the building if possible).  Continuing toward the north side if not.

Standard action: If there is no window or doorway on the west side, move the north side of the building, stopping if there is a window or doorway there (positioning himself 5 feet out from the building if possible).  If he stopped at the west side of the building, instead ready a greatsword attack against any enemy that enters a square he threatens.
 
lostsole31
 R2T8:  Roran circles around the building to the west,  attempting to cut off other avenue of escape. He makes it west and north  and begins to tear eastwards when he stops suddenly, face-to-face with a  hideous creature out of some primal nightmare. It is a scaled  monstrosity, with beady eyes looking right at you, and a long snout full  of teeth... oh, wait, it's just Thickness.

 R2T7:  Mr. Arvodair just resets his readiness.

 R2T5:   Zef falls back on his bum, looking in shock at his bloody hammer and the caved in skull of the monkey goblin he killed.

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T22:   Arsenne ,  what do you do? The monkey goblin you stunned shakes its head - no  longer stunned - but prone and with its spear laying next to it.

Eirina on deck, Ambyr in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne announces:   "I'm going to incapacitate it."  

He then draws his right knee high up to his chest, and launches a flurry of short, shallow, non-lethal but powerful sidekicks downward at the prone Goblin-Monkey. As he strikes he shouts:    "Dung Beetle SMASH"!  

In order to make his kicks non-lethal, he strikes with the whole flat of the foot rather than focusing all his force into the heel.

If the Goblin Monkey is still conscious after that, Arsenne stands by with his right leg and knee chambered high in a pre-kicking position, ready to capitalize on any opening that the creature leaves him.

 
 Spoiler: Attack detail 
Flurry, non-lethal damage, risky strike #1  (d20+6)[ 8 ]  , non-lethal damage  (d6+6)[ 10 ] 
Flurry, non-lethal damage, risky strike #2  (d20+6)[ 12 ]  , non-lethal damage  (d6+6)[ 8 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R3T22:  Arsenne announces:   "I'm going to incapacitate it."  

He then draws his right knee high up to his chest, and launches a flurry  of short, shallow, non-lethal but powerful sidekicks downward at the  prone goblin-monkey. In order to make his kicks non-lethal, he strikes with the whole flat of  the foot rather than focusing all his force into the heel. As he strikes he shouts:    "Dung Beetle SMASH"!  

Because he completely telegraphed his attack, the monkey goblin  rolls out of the way of the first, but was surprised that this human  could kick so fast as the second as the follow-up catches it in the head  for  8 NL . Arsenne stands by  with his right leg and knee chambered high in a pre-kicking position,  ready to capitalize on any opening that the creature leaves him.

 R3T17:   Eirina , what do you do?

Ambyr on deck, Blue in the hole ...
Espeon55
  "You can do it Ambyr! Show that Monkey where it stands on the food chain! Attack!"  Eirina encourages her partner to try and bolster his confidence hoping his strength would also increase because of this.


 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
StA: Eirina will be using Aid Another on Ambyr to help his attack roll  (1d20)[ 13 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R3T17:    "You can do it, Ambyr! Show that monkey where it stands on the food chain! Attack!"  Eirina encourages her partner to try and bolster his confidence hoping his strength would also increase because of this.

 R3T16.5:   Eirina's exhortations to Ambyr key a greater viciousness in Ambyr, who  attacks the beleaguered monkey goblin with more savage attacks. Ambyr  crits with a bite on Blue for 9, which allows him to then bite Green as  well for 9. Ambyr then mauls Blue with his claws. The entire gruesome  display is enough to kill both monkey goblins.

 Combat Ends! 
digiman619
Kaen takes a breath to calm himself now that he was no longer in immediate danger, his armor and weapon dissipating as he relaxed and ended each effect.   "Doubt we'd've gotten much from them anyway."   he said to himself before turning to Arsenne.   "Mr. Arsenne, I have been wounded twice now, and I'd rather avoid having them compound any further. You spoke about being a healer, so if you could aid me, it would be much appreciated."  
Diavolo
Arsenne responds to Kaen:    "Yes of course!"  

He looks down at the inert Monkey Goblin bodies by his feet:    "I don't think there is much I can do for these at this point. Poor Ambyr.  Such a good Kitty. I guess you don't know the meaning of 'incapacitate' yet, do you?"
  
He squats down to take closer look at the Goblin Monkeys, but then stands up and sways unsteadily, leaning on his upright Glaive for balance:
  "Oh sorry! It seems that with the excitement draining out from me, I am left slightly wobbly kneed.  Let me just catch my breath."  
He continues to sway and he swallows a few times.

  "This is the first time that I'm in a real fight.  Well ..... aside from back on the boat where I proved my worth as a pin-cushion and as ballast. Actively fighting is far more intense."  
He forces himself to take deep breaths, swallowing more frequently and still swaying slightly as he looks at the Goblin Monkeys.  Eventually his eyes land on the first one to go down, the one that he himself had carved up with his Glaive.  Suddenly his stomach heaves, and he brings his left hand up rapidly to clamp over his mouth, letting the Glaive clatter to the ground.  He barrels past Ambyr, out the door, and past his friends, stopping ten feet way to drop to his hands and retching his last meal up and onto the ground.
5ColouredWalker
Thickness rumbles as he finishes his circling of the building, eventually reclaiming his torch and intending to speak with Kean before redirecting to where Arsene is vommiting.

  "First time? I've hunted beasts but the first shook me. Let it out and take your time to steady your breathing... though I am surprised given your profession."  

With muttered words and a wave the vomit disapears, Thickness cleaning the ground to reduce the smell before he calls out to Kean, turning his head.

  "All's well ends well. But perhaps the nose than can pick out people should have gone in first instead. Could have prevented a ambush. I can offer healing too should it be needed."

   
 Spoiler: Cleaning 
Cleaning Accomplished by Presdigitation.
 
Espeon55
Eirina crouches and hugs Ambyr, giving him very affectionate ear scratches and pets.   "Good boy Ambyr!! Such a good boy!! You showed them who's boss, yes you did!!"
  Eirina then lets Ambyr and Kaen come out of the house as the group gathers together and watches Arsenne vomit and grimaces.   "Not use to seeing blood and guts yet are you doc? Heh sorry about that, Ambyr can be a rather messy hunter."   
Diavolo
Arsenne stands up, nods to Thikha'Ness ands says:   "Thanks".   
He then says a quick prayer and conjures up some water into his cupped hands and he splashes it onto his face.
He conjures some more, but his times sips the water from his cupped hands, gargles and spits it out, in a direction away from the group.

He then looks again at Thikha'Ness says:   "Oh, I have fought plenty of times.  Thousands if not tens of thousands of sparring matches, and I must have competed in at least half-a-hundred Irorian tournaments as a child. But, I have never squared off against something in a kill-or-be-killed match before.  And I have certainly never killed anything before.  Well, nothing bigger than a mosquito anyway."  

He looks at the rest of the group and adds:
  "As for blood &amp; guts, I have learned to deal with that as a part of being a doctor. I am just more used to being the cure rather than the cause. It was all just a lot to take in at once, and very suddenly. When I saw Kaen being attacked, I immediately wanted to protect him at all costs, even without hesitation being ready to kill his attackers.  I'm rather shocked at how automatically my body .....   Sorry.  I'm blabbing.  I'll be fine.  Now let's take a look at your wounds, Kaen."  

He takes a quick look.
  "Hmmm.  Indeed.  I could certainly treat this through traditional means, and accelerate the healing overnight.  But with more buildings to explore, it might be more prudent so call forth some of Shelyn's magic to cure what we can more quickly."  
He nods to Thikha'Ness, and says   "If your will allow me...."  

And he casts a spell, gently touching Kaen on an uninjured part of his body, to let the magic flow through to where it is needed.

 
 Spoiler: Healing magic 
Spontaneous casting cure light wounds in lieu of divine favour  (d8+2)[ 3 ] 
 
5ColouredWalker
With everyone having taken their moments of rest and healing, Thickness speaks up.

  "So, next house? I have a feeling we'll be just finding more... mindlessly aggressive folks. Best to clear them before searching buildings I think."  

If no one objects, Thickness will lead the group to the next house.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Thickness intends to circle from the outside of the settlement in, continueing north until no more, then going clockwise and spiraling in.

Thickness will use Running Hunter's Stance to pick up scents, particularly before entering any building. Given frequent ambushes, he'll however switch to the Silver Crane stance for AC, putting his spear down and wearing his shield properly, relying on his bite to have a weapon.
 
Espeon55
  "Well I am certainly up for it! Bring on the next enemy, Ambyr and I can handle anything now."   Eirina states now full of confidence, keeping her bow in hand she follows Thickness to the next house.
Diavolo
Arsenne looks a bit confused as he stares at Kaen's remaining wounds.   "Hmmm. That spell usually has a bigger effect.  Might you have some sort of magic resistance that diminished the healing? Anyway, I can cast this two more times today, hopefully with greater impact. If everyone gets injured, Shelyn grants me the privilege of channeling some of her positive vibes for the entire group.  I can do that twice per day."   

He looks at Kaen:   "We'll need to communicate honestly so that we can best manage our resources. You know better than anyone how injured you are. But please keep in mind how much more of this colony we must explore today. If you feel like you need me to cast this again, you let me know, O.K.?"  

He goes back inside to get his Glaive, and he then peeks his head out and says:    "Shouldn't we look around a bit inside for clues as to what might have happened before we move on?  
rypt
Roran sighs as he rests his greatsword on his shoulder.    "These monsters... do you think they meant to ambush us?  Or were they simply enjoying the absence of the other colonists?"  

To Arsenne's question, he replies,   "Yes, I'd like to take a look inside, if that's all right."    
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Roran will look around the inside of the smithy, trying to get a sense of whether it was abandoned suddenly or if tools and/or supplies might have been packed up and removed.
 
lostsole31
The party begins an extensive search of the smithy, dragging the bloody corpses of the monkey-goblins outside.

This building serves as the smithy for Talmandor’s Bounty and is a critical location for the newly arrived colonists. The actual anvil and forge are outside the smithy under the shade of a roof extension. The outdoor worktable is covered with a few blacksmithing tools and pieces of metalwork, such as weapons, tools, or farming implements abandoned halfway through being forged or repaired. If  necessary, these metal objects can serve as improvised weapons for Medium and Small creatures. The water in the tub is filthy with soot, ash, and charcoal residue.

With Eirina's help, when Kaen checks the forge he is able to determine that the forge was last lit about a week ago. This is noteworthy because the rest of the colony appears to have been abandoned for a month from what the two of them can determine.

The southern window has no shutters and is large enough for a Small creature to move through easily without having to squeeze. Inside the smithy building, the space is divided between personal living quarters and an indoor tool storage and work area. A pungent animal smell lingers in the air and a tussled pile of blankets on the wooden cot is soiled. The room is in a state of disarray, with tools such as tin snips, pliers, and files carelessly strewn all over. A few Medium weapons and pieces of armor are strewn among the debris.

A few pieces of equipment of exceptional craftsmanship can be found among the mess the monkey goblins have created. Among them are two masterwork machetes, a masterwork chain shirt, and a darkwood buckler, which appears to have had a new arm strap affixed recently.

The PCs can also salvage 40 metal arrowheads from the debris. While these are not useful in their current state, a fletcher could make complete arrows from these at no additional material cost (as the other materials are easy to obtain on Ancorato).

From the monkey-goblins, the equipment they had on them, each, were: buckler, 3 daggers, a shortspear ... all of poor, unsalvageable condition and all Small-sized.
5ColouredWalker
As things begin to quiet down from the search Thickness calls out from where he's cycling the building and keeping watch.


   "Anything interesting?!"   
lostsole31
The party (collectively) lets Thickness know what was found.
5ColouredWalker
  "A concerning old and disturbed. I doubt we can keep the stock but it might be worth borrowing parts. I could use the mail shirt should no one else want to burrow it."

  Thickness returns to his circling of the building, keeping a ear out for any discussion by the others.
Diavolo
Arsenne says:   "I have no objection on a personal level to you wearing the chain shirt, Thikha'Ness, nor to anyone else making good use of anything else we might find. However, let's bear in mind that these items surely belonged to somebody, and hopefully still do belong to that person if said person is still alive."  

He pauses.
  "I think we have some complex legal and moral issues to agree upon before continuing. These items, these buildings, they were all supposed to belong to the colony as a common area, or to individual colonists as personal effects. Our "intended fellow colonists," to be more precise. It makes me a bit uncomfortable to just take and use what we please, unless we can agree to a few guidelines."  

He takes a deep breath.
  "As I see it, our primary mission at this time consists of finding the other colonists, aiding them if necessary, and finding out what happened. In pursuit of that mission, I think it is perfectly legitimate for us to use various items that we may find, and to take shelter in the appropriate buildings. The original colonists and owners will surely pardon us the presumption, if and when we do find them.  What is important is that we treat what we find with respect, and that we keep track of anything we take and where we took it from, so that it can eventually be returned to the proper owners should they be found."  

He looks around.
  "Can we all agree upon these basic guidelines?"  
  "In the meantime, If you will just allow me two more minutes, there is something I want to do."  
He takes his beautiful journal out of his backpack, and lays it on a flat area inside the enclosed portion of the Smithy. He takes all the shells out of his sash, and a few out of his back pack.  He then very carefully opens the journal and slowly separates the pages that have spilled ink and water on them.  He then takes as many sea shells as necessary and places them between the pages so as to hold the vellum apart and allow air to circulate between the pages."

He explains:   "I don't want the ink to dry and fuse the pages together. If they dry this way, I will have some free-form splotches on a few pages, and these can eventually form the base for impressionist or adaptive art. I already have several ideas that I look forward to exploring. With Shelyn's blessing, after we have thoroughly for the missing colonists, of course!"  
lostsole31
  "You the heroes,"   says Mr. Arvodair,   "and this is your scene now. I'm just along for the ride. But that makes me the outsider, and I agree with Arsenne. If you ever find the colonists, it sets up a bad example to say you're going to shake them down with the excuse of, 'Well, we saved you, so your property is our fee.' That, and technically this is a colony of Andoran, and that don't meet with Andoren law.

"That said, I think if we borrow in good faith because it helps us in finding them, then they shouldn't mind."  
Espeon55
  "To be blunt and fair, the machetes won't do any good just lying around. I mean personally I prefer a bow and Sword for my weapons but if someone can make use of them until we find out what happened to their original owners I say we make use of them."   Eirina states as she looks over the loot.   "And I am hoping we do find  someone  alive at least, the forge was last lit a week ago from what Uncle Kaen and I can determine. It's possible they could still be alive."    
5ColouredWalker
Thickness' eyes roll.

  "I did say burrow did I not? I'd pretend to fumble language but we'respeaking in my birth tongue. I'm sure those aware of hiw the colony is to be administrated will know who is to take hold once this has passed. But in the interest of timelyness we might as well check the remaining buildings for any survivors first."  

Thickness makes no move to actually change into to mail unless prompted, but once others are ready will continue his clock wise lead towards the next building on the perimeter. When coming close, he also takes his odd stance before approaching the door

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

When within 20ft of the next building, assuming Running Hunters stance for Scent.
 
Diavolo
Arsenne says:   "So Thikha'Ness, If you are going to be borrowing that chain shirt, and you think it will confer an advantage, and we all expect more combative surprises to come, then shouldn't you be putting it on?"  

He then adds, while looking at the ground in the general area where he had thrown up earlier:   "And by the way, I really like that clean-up spell of yours. You disposed of the evidence of my ill-ease without a trace.!"  

Suddenly he stops walking, while continuing to stare at the ground, and mumbles under his breath:   "Trace... traces... tracks...."  And then louder, to the rest of the group: "Say, could our hunter-types be checking for tracks? I mean, not just to try and figure out what might have been wondering about this little outpost and what might have happened, but also to maybe have an idea of what lurks in the next building before we enter?"  

And he stands ready to accompany the group to the next building.
digiman619
Kaen nodded along with the discussion of borrowing any property they found.   "Indeed. Even if it was legal, it'd set a bad precedent for the colony."   He then turned to Arsenne.   "We can try, but I have serious doubts that any tracks would be visible this long  after they've been made."    He then re-summoned his armor and blade in anticipation of more problems.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Summon armor in Juggernaut form,  and  slashing volley in curveblade form
 
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "I have faith in you. Let's do this!"  

And he holds his glaive in a relaxed combat position, ready to follow to the next destination.
Espeon55
  "Ambyr! Track! Sniff out the enemy boy. We should have Ambyr and Thickness lead if that's the case their noses are better than ours. As for prints....as Uncle Kaen said finding tracks after this long will be nearly impossible. But I shall look anyways."   ​Eirina begins searching for tracks while ordering Ambyr to keep his nose alert for danger.
5ColouredWalker
With the others changing their stances Thickness does indeed go about changing his hide shirt for the one of quality chain.

 
 Spoiler: time 

Don and Dof for light armor takes 1 minute each, giving 2 minutes for more searches and such.
 
Diavolo
As we start walking and the leaders are generally looking downwards for tracks, Arsenne starts looking upwards in every direction, with a very anxious expression on his face.

When asked, he responds:
  "I'm just thinking:  On the water, we were attacked by squid-goblins. Once on land, we got attacked by goblin-monkeys.  If the universe follows a theme, which I personally think it does, we should be attacked by goblin-eagles any minute now."  
digiman619
Kaen shook his head.   "I'm reasonably certain that's not a thing."   He then continued aiding his niece in searching for tracks.
lostsole31
The party is not finding any tracks for the monkey-goblins.

They aren't going breakneck speed as they wait for Thickness do don the better armor for now. Though with carrying his old hide shirt in his pack he is now hefting a medium load.

Meanwhile, Mr. Arvodair looks to the party and in a low voice says,   "You may want to check on your man there. He hasn't moved from the body of the monkey-goblin he brained."  

As you look back, you notice that a tear-streaked Zeferin Voss is still sitting next to the goblin back by the forge.
Diavolo
Arsenne says:   "Do we give him some space or does someone try to speak with him?  I'm not the most adroit at this sort of thing."  
Espeon55
Eirina looks at Zeferin.   "Uh are you okay? Um look your first kill can be difficult but please try to um get ahold of yourself okay?"
  
Eirina then looks at the others in her group.   "Anyone else want to try talking to him?"  
lostsole31
  "He was ... already down,"   says Zeferin.   "Why did I kill him? Was he even evil? Did they just protect a home they thought they had once this place was abandoned, and now it's we who came in and were the villains? " 
Diavolo
Arsenne says quietly to Eirina and the others :   "O.K. I'm really not good at this, but I'll give it a shot."  

He approaches Zefferin and says:   "Look, I'm ready.... we're all ready to just be here and support you. Or return here to support you after we have finished exploring this place. We can't neglect our immediate mission. People's lives may be at risk, and we don't even know it. And we would like your help."  

He looks at Zeferin.  He looks back at the others for reassurance.  And he continues:   "Look, ummm, the questions that you are asking are good questions.  They are hard questions.  The fact that you are asking them means you are a good person. And lot's of good people have asked the same questions when they have found themselves in similar situations. There are tons of books that have been written on the ethics of killing."  

He pauses, tries to gauge some sort of reaction, and continues:   "I don't remember the names of most of these books, or the substance of the arguments, but I remember this one particular book ... a beautifully embossed cover made of fine deer leather dyed a deep blue and lined with silver thread. And just inside the cover, introducing the first chapter, there was this amazing painting of a confused-looking Paladin or knight who had a small angel on each shoulder, and each was giving him advice, and you could tell they were giving him conflicting advice and he did not know what to do."  

He eyes look off into the distance :   "I don't remember all the boring text, but the image painted a thousand words for me and I remember it well.  If it had been a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, then it's clear which advice he should take.  The angel's, of course.  He can decide with confidence and move on.  But in this case they were both angels, so that made it much harder to decide, and that indecision made him confused and slowed him down and distracted him.  In the next chapter, we see an image of the same fellow lying on the ground with a lance through his chest, and the two little cherub angels are still arguing in the foreground.  Again, I don't remember the text, but the image is clearly embedded in my memory, as is the message:    When facing lethal combat, you cannot let yourself be distracted by ethics. Those discussions can go on forever.  You need to finish your fight, by whatever means available, protect yourself and your allies, hope that your actions are virtuous and that you will do more good than harm, and then move on. "    

He looks back at Zeferin:    "You did good. Those goblin-monkeys had ambushed us and attacked us without even giving us a chance to talk or come to an arrangement.  Could we have acted differently? Of course!  Could things have turned out differently?  Of course!  But that's not the portrait that Shelyn painted for us. You moved quickly &amp; decisively to protect us. Had it escaped, it may have come back at night with a dozen friends and tried to kill us in our sleep.  We just don't know. But from the little I remember of the actual 'text' part of most of those books that my tutors forced me to read, it is the well-earned right and privilege of every combatant feel relief at having survived combat and having protected his friends.  You have that right, as do we all."  

He glances back at the group, then asks Zeferin:    "Now, will you pull yourself together and join us?  We have several more buildings to explore, and could very likely use your help."  

He stands up and offers a hand to Zeferin to pull him up as well.
lostsole31
Zeferin stands and says,   "I will return to the beach and guard the boats."  
Diavolo
Arsenne, glances nervously back at the group, and then in a forced jovial tone says:   "O.K., that's an awesome idea!  Thanks for thinking of it!  That could prove very useful!  Just, ummm, shout if you need anything, O.K.?"  

He takes a few steps towards the group, then stops, turns around and adds:    "Actually, while you are there, would you mind throwing those dead Grinder-woles.... Grinky-voos.... those Squid-Goblins back into the sea? I think we'll all be happier if they get eaten up by the fishies rather than sit rotting in the sun for a few days.  Thanks."  

He rejoins the group and says without any confidence:   "O.K.,  I think that went pretty smoothly.  He's decided to to pull himself together and try to do something productive, right? So.... shall we continue with our exploration?"  
lostsole31
At the center of the colony, in front of the Government House, is a public well.

Just southwest of the well is a wooden scaffold with a set of steps. It looks suitable for use as a platform to address a large crowd, though it would take minimal effort to convert it into a gallows. North of the scaffold is the remnant of a well-used community fire pit surrounded by stones, large enough for a reasonably sized bonfire. Most of the ashes in the central fire pit have been rained on repeatedly and are now mixed in with the soil. It is clear that no fire has been lit here for weeks.
Espeon55
  "This is very strange.... The forge was last lit a week ago but this bonfire hasn't been lit in  weeks.  What the heck could have happened here?"   Eirina ponders as she looks around.   "Perhaps we should investigate the Well...and see if they at least have clean drinking water here. I'm certain we could all use a drink of water after the battles and the heat."   
digiman619
Kaen had said nothing about Zeferin's emotional moment; such things were deeply personal and he had neither the qualifications to help him nor the right to view him in such a difficult time.   "It is most confusing. It's not like there's a lack of wood to burn that would make them use the smaller fire.  " He will then follow Eirina towards the well; half expecting something else to leap from it to attack him the second he drew near.
lostsole31
The party congregates around the well, finding nothing which adds to or conflicts with what they've already learned.
Diavolo
Arsenne remains close and alert, ready with his Glaive in case of any surprises.
He does keep glancing with a worried look at the sky for threats, but he only does so when he is sure that he is standing outside of Kaen's field of vision.
Espeon55
Eirina inspects the Well to see if it has any water and if said water is safe to drink.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
StA: If the Water is unsafe to drink she will then cast Purify Food &amp; Drink on the water as people fill their waterskins or canteens.
 
lostsole31
The water  appears  clean, but there is no way to actually determine if it is safe or not.
5ColouredWalker
With the group having circled the well and having had a look Thickness pipes up.
  "Unless someone wants to take a dip or drink it might be best to keep sweeping the buildings. Though not seeing the communal fire place lit, perhaps someone tried to cook in the forge?"

  With that Thickness will head towards the long buildings to the north, going first to the one closest to the well.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Head towards A11's south most building, dropping into Running Hunter's stance near the entry ro use Scent to try and pick up on anything before heading in.
 
Espeon55
  "Okay whoever needs to fill up their water skins line up, however Ambyr gets first dibs on water cause he has fur and probably needs it the most."   Eirina then gives what's left in her waterskin to Ambyr to drink before filling hers up and casting Purify Food and Water on the water for herself and Ambyr. She will then purify the water of those who need to fill up.
lostsole31
Thickness heads off while everyone grabs water. Loping along the ground as he is, he gets to the southern end of the two long, facing buildings. These two long, rectangular buildings are constructed entirely from planks on a wooden frame, with a pitched thatched roof. Each building has two doorframes on the side of the buildings opposite the palisade, but lacks doors. Four window frames open into either side of the long walls, a few of which have no cover and others only a canvas draped across the inside.
Diavolo
Arsenne follows Eirina's instrcutions, leans his Glaive against the well, fills up his waterskin, and allows her to purify the water, all the while watching her intently with a slightly bemused smile.

Once done, he takes a sip, nods at Eirina and, still smiling for some unknown reason, says :   "Thank you."  

He thing picks up his Glaive and follows Thikha'Ness.
digiman619
After giving his niece a polite shake of the head, Kaen ignores the water for the moment and turns to follow Thickness.
5ColouredWalker
  "No scents so far. Maybe we were unlucky with the other buildings."  
Thickness takes his care near the window frames, being basically holes in the building, taking a quick look inside for signs of occupancy or other things of concern.

If he spots nothing of note, he will continue to stand near the door, placing his lance down to lean against the wall while equipping his shield properly.

  "Lets wait for the rest to catch up. Surprised they left the ship with empty skins."  
 
 Spoiler: Action notes 

Continuing Running Hunters stance for Scent
Basically moving slowly to the door making perception checks focusing on scent, with one made near the window, before putting down the spear and wearing my shield properly, still holding a torch in case of swarms.
 
Espeon55
Upon both rehydrating herself and Ambyr, Eirina follows Arsenne as they rejoin the others.
Diavolo
Arsenne catches up to Thikha'Ness, and stands ready with his Glaive.
He looks at the others and says:   "If Thikha'Ness is ready to go in first, I would like to offer to go in second. I can try and support him from close with my Glaive, even possibly deflecting some attacks, and perhaps summoning some of Shelyn's own luck for him if the opportunity presents itself. Is that O.K. with everyone, or do you suggest something different?".  
lostsole31
Thickness looks/ sniffs. inside the front entrance of both barracks. Four window frames open into either side of the long walls, a few of which have no cover and others only a canvas draped across the inside. A partial view of the interior is possible from the doorways. Inside, the floors are hard-packed earth, and along the walls are wooden bunk beds. Many of the pallet beds are covered with blankets that now gather dust. Those beds have sacks or tied bundles of clothes sitting at their feet.

The only olfactory oddity is that there is more of a scent of fresh-turned earth than expected, and a background hint of something that is pungent and unfamiliar.
5ColouredWalker
  "Didn't take there stuff... some of the dirt smells turned but I cant see where. Something else new too... if they fled I'd expect them to have taken their stuff. Taken perhaps?"  

Thickness shakes his head as he braces by the door.

  "I should save it for after we've searched. Going in."  
 
 Spoiler: Breach! 

Activate Silver Crane Waltz and keep it active while Thickness relays his thoughts. Then enter the building. If nothing jumps out he'll head in the direction he smelled the unusual scent until he's sure its not a creature/Ambush and then join investigating the barracks.
 
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "Right behind you. I'll be watching the rafters too."  
He follows thikha'Ness in, glancing in all directions in addition to the rafters, of course.
Espeon55
  "I'm coming too!"   Eirina states in a determined tone as she switches her longbow to her Elven Thornblade. If there was fight to be had she didn't want to miss out again. Eirina then follows after Thickness and Arsenne.   "Let's go Ambyr!"  
 
 
 Spoiler: Moving North.  
FrA: Switching Longbow for Elven Thornblade
MA: Moving north towards A11.
 
lostsole31
The group begins their search of both barracks.

Just then, an insect looking something like a modified grasshopper  scuttles forth angrily into view. It is about the size of a working dog  (Small).

 Begin Round One ... 
 R1T25:   Kaen , you are currently juggernaut-ing with sword. What do you do?
digiman619
Kaen rushes forward, bringing the curveblade down on the insect's head.   "Ankheg larva, its progenitors are probably nearby"  , he said matter-of-factly, showing a surprising degree of calm despite the danger.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
FRA: Charge the insect! Or if I'm not far away enough for that, MA: Approach insect!, SA: Attack the insect! Leaving the charge bonus up to you to determine.
 (1d20+6)[ 10 ]   (1d10+1)[ 6 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R1T25:  Kaen rushes forward, bringing the curveblade down on the insect's head.   "Ankheg larva, its progenitors are probably nearby"  , he said matter-of-factly, showing a surprising degree of calm despite the danger and missing his target.

 R1T21:   Thickness , you have lance and shield readied. What do you do?
5ColouredWalker
Thickness charges the insect, jaws snapping out from above his shield.


 
 Spoiler: Nom nom nom 

I put my lance down in 184, actually holding my torch.
Already in Silver Crane Waltz, so

Swift: Arcane Strike, +1 Damage.
Charge
-Movement Portion: Ending the square east of the lavae.
-Attack Portion:  (1d20+5)[ 9 ] . Needs another 2 for charging.
-Damage Roll: [roll]1d6+5[/roll[. Needs +1 for Arcane Strike.
 
lostsole31
 R1T21:  Thickness, unable to charge because Kaen is  partially in the way, instead carefully approaches the insect while  returning to his fighting stance, jaws snapping out from above his  shield, but missing. At least by not having charged his defense is more  measured.

 R1T17:   Arsenne , what do you do?
Diavolo
Arsenne shifts 5' North, so that he is with arm's length of Kaen and Thikha'Ness.
He then uses his Glaive to strike at the aphid with a powerful short, downward, circular slash and says firmly:    "Aphid rainbow Drop!"

  If he cannot strike between his two teammates and he realizes it on time, he will then instead let go of Glaive with his lead hand (the left), and touch Kaen on his right shoulder while saying   "May Shelyn's own luck bless you on your next try."   
 
 Spoiler: Crunch  
Attack, risky strike  (d20+5)[ 24 ]  damage [d10+9]
Or
 Bit of Luck (Sp): You can touch a willing creature as a standard action, giving it a bit of luck. For the next round, any time the target rolls a d20, he may roll twice and take the more favorable result 
 
lostsole31
 R1T17:  Arsenne shifts 5' North, so that he is with arm's length  of Kaen and Thikha'Ness. He then uses his Glaive to strike at the aphid  with a powerful short, downward, circular slash and says firmly:    "Aphid rainbow Drop!"

  Arsenne hits the insect firmly for  17 .

 R1T17:   Eirina , what do you do?
Espeon55
Eirina assesses the battlefield and remembers her Uncle's words about progenitors. Upon reflection she decides to leave the battle of the lone insect to her uncle and the others and while trying to discern where the other bugs might be.  "Ambyr! Stay on alert."

   
 Spoiler: Assessing the battlefield 
Perception Check: (1d20+10)[ 14 ] 
OOC:She is currently trying detect if there are more enemies hidden somewhere.
 
lostsole31
 R1T17:  Eirina assesses the battlefield and remembers her Uncle's words about  progenitors. Upon reflection she decides to leave the battle of the lone  insect to her uncle and the others and while trying to discern where  the other bugs might be, though she doesn't see any others..  "Ambyr! Stay on alert."    
 R1T15:   Mr. Arvodair settles into a fighting stance as he moves forward, taking  out trident and readying his shield. He does a quick jab as some type  of special maneuver at the ankheg-baby, but fails to connect. Meanwhile  he calls out various exhortations that help the party feel tougher.

 R1T13:   The ankheg nymph spits a line of acid at Kaen and Arsenne, and neither  of them were expecting that as they both are squarely struck - Kaen  takes   4 acid  , and Arsenne takes   6 acid  . It then readjusts its position.

 R1T11:   Roran , what do you do?

Ambyr on deck, Kaen in the hole ...
rypt
Roran draws his greatsword.    "If there are more, we will be ready."    He glances to Eirina and her predatory companion.    "...I think."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Free action: Assessment of the bug monster.

Move action: Draw greatsword, if not already drawn.

Standard action: Ready a greatsword attack against any bug monster that enters a square he threatens.
 
lostsole31
 R1T11:  Roran draws his greatsword.    "If there are more, we will be ready."    He glances to Eirina and her predatory companion.    "...I think."  
 R1T9:  Ambyr looks and sniffs, wary of any other danger.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T25:   Kaen , you recover your balance from your charge. What do you do?

Thickness on deck, Arsenne in the hole ...
digiman619
A hiss escapes Kaen's lips, but he does little else to acknowledge the pain. Changing tactics, he steps back as best he could (the cramped conditions hinder him more than he'd like), his weapon once again in shortbow mode as he loses an arrow at the beast before shifting back to sword and back into the fray
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
SwA: "Null adjust" my essence into the same veils, shifting slashing volley to shortbow mode
5 ft step SE
SA: Attack the beast. Because my last attack was with the veil in sword mode, I get +2d6 precision damage (base 1d6 and and additional 1d6 for the 1 E invested into it)
 (1d20+6)[ 11 ]   (1d6+1)[ 2 ]  +  (2d6)[ 9 ]  (precision damage)
FrA: Move 10 feet NW and shift into sword mode.

Note to self: find a veil/ability that I can activate as a move action.
 
lostsole31
 R2T25:  A hiss escapes Kaen's lips, but he does little else to acknowledge the  pain. Changing tactics, he steps back as best he could (the cramped  conditions hinder him more than he'd like), his weapon once again in  shortbow mode as he loses an arrow at the beast (that misses) before shifting back to  sword and back into the fray.

 R2T21:   Thickness , what do you do?

Arsenne on deck, Eirina in the hole ...
5ColouredWalker
Taking a moment of focus, Thickness strikes out again with his jaws, silver light gathering and heading for Arsene -

 
 Spoiler: Plan Attack! 

Swift: Arcane Strike.
Standard: Enduring crane strike with bite, on hit heal 1d6+cha to Arsene.
-Attack:  (1d20+7)[ 12 ] 
-Damage:  (1d6+5)[ 7 ] +1 for arcane strike.
-Healing:  (1d6+4)[ 6 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T21:  Taking a moment of focus, Thickness strikes out  again with his jaws, a silver light limning his teeth. But when he bites  nothing but chitin and no deeper, the silver light fades.

 R2T17:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Eirina on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne cries out:    "Arrghhh!  That better not leave an ugly scar!"  


He throws a curious glance at the briefly glowing Thikha'Ness, then shifts 5' to the North and attacks the little monster  using the same vertical downward slashing technique again so as to be able strike without endangering his comrades. Shouting much louder and angrier this time:    "Aphid rainbow, DROP!!!"
  
 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
Risky strike  (d20+5)[ 7 ]  to hit, and damage of  (d10+9)[ 16 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T17:  Arsenne cries out:    "Arrghhh!  That better not leave an ugly scar!"  

He throws a curious glance at the briefly glowing Thikha'Ness, then  shifts 5' to the North and attacks the little monster  using the same  vertical downward slashing technique again so as to be able strike  without endangering his comrades. Shouting much louder and angrier this  time:    "Aphid rainbow, DROP!!!  

He completely misses.

 R2T17:   Eirina , what do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Ankheg nymph in the hole ...
Espeon55
Eirina grips her Elven Thornblade tighter and continues to search for any in-coming danger from the rear. Glancing at Ambyr to see if he senses anything before going back to surveying the field.   "Smell anything boy?"
   
  
 Spoiler: Staying Alert 
Readying an Action: Prepares to attack with her Elven Thornblade if a new enemy appears.
 
lostsole31
 R2T17:  Eirina grips her Elven Thornblade tighter and continues to search for  any in-coming danger from the rear. Glancing at Ambyr to see if he  senses anything before going back to surveying the field.   "Smell anything, boy?"   

Ambyr doesn't appear to have caught an interesting scent.

 R2T15:   Mr. Arvodair fills the air with may imagination nautical imprecations,  hitting the thing with both trident and shield and dropping it.

He puts it to the tine.

 Combat Ends! 
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "Thanks Mr. Arvodair. I was getting angry at it and lost my focus."  

He looks at the big bug:    "Is that thing fully dead?"  

He looks around:   "And how's everyone doing? Is now a good time for me to channel some of Shelyn's beautific energy so as to heal the group, or should I save that a bit longer and attend to you each individually?"  
lostsole31
  "Use it,"   says Mr. Arvodair.   "A bunch o' youse got hurt by acid just now. Painful wounds. And a couple of youse still got scrapes and bruises from before."  
Espeon55
  "We should search this place, I am surprise no more appeared."    Eirina states.   "And I am good for healing but thanks please focus on my Uncle and the others."   
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "O.K. then, gather round. I'm only going to talk you through this once, so you don't get surprised, because after this, I'm just going to go ahead and do it when appropriate, sometimes without warning.  The range is limited to about a 30 foot radius. The goddess I worship, and who empowers me is Shelyn, and she works through beauty and love. So for this first try, I'm going to ask you all to close your eyes, and think about how much the Eternal Rose loves all of us, so much that she will share a tiny portion of her infinite beauty in order to heal us. Health and beauty go hand-in-hand. So, is everybody ready..."  

Arsenne pauses, looks at the body of the immature Ankheg and stops.   "No wait. Are we sure that thing is really really dead? Shelyn is quite generous with her love and beauty, and I don't have the power to be selective in how I channel it into this world. I'll feel really stupid if that thing stands up and shoots acid at us all over again."  

Arsenne makes sure that Ankheg's head was properly bashed in by Mr. Arvodair's shield.   "O.K., it looks safe. Think of yourselves as small, half-filled ponds of water.  Shelyn is an immense ocean of beautiful, clear, sweet water.  I'm going to open for just a short second, a tiny channel between The Eternal Rose and us so as to refill those of us who need it."   

He adds softly:   "Now let's hope this work, because after such a big build up, if I flub this it's going to be horribly anti-climatic..."  

He touches his rose-shaped symbol around his neck and looks upwards.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
Channel positive energy, 30'r  (d6)[ 3 ] 
 
lostsole31
A pink glow washes outwards, almost like a relaxing sunset, rolling over everyone. While not dramatic in effect, still it offers an easement from current pain of   3 healing  .

Does the party wish to do a quick or deep search in both barracks?
5ColouredWalker
Thickness smiles.

  "It is nice to see devotion rewarded. We should do a quick search for anything of import. Or perhaps the beast's parents if that is truly a youngling..."  
lostsole31
It takes a little over an hour, but the party completely searches both barracks.

Here is what you find, and this assumes Roran uses his  eyeglasses of magic sight :

 
 An amulet with a moderate aura of enchantment that Roar identifies as a   lesser amulet of good fortune  . 
 Coins that represent loose change and the paltry savings of some two dozen people: 65 gold, 240 silver. 
 A wand with a faint aura of illusion that Roran IDs as a  wand of color spray  (12 charges) which was hidden in a small tear of a mattress, with the initials "U.H." 
 

What do you do with these things? What's next?
Espeon55
  "Whoa! That's a lot of coin just to leave lying around..."   Eirina states in shock, given her hometown being so small and being in the hunting and trapping business she's not used to see so much money just lying on the ground.   "Why is there such a large amount sure it belonged to more than one person but even still this is weird right? Just what happened here?"   Eirina then looks at Ambyr.  " Can you pick up a scent boy?"   
lostsole31
Ambyr is unable to pick up on any scent.
5ColouredWalker
  "This... Only makes sense if there was an emergency that required them to leave immediately. But there's no looting. The only thing that makes sense is some sort of mind sorcery. Sailors tales speak of odd things, including Sirens that draw sailors to them despite danger. Perhaps the local waters have something worse than water goblins."  

Thickness has taken to looking around more frequently.

  "If there's no trail, then I think it's time for the next building. I couldn't use the wand, but I imagine one of us could make use of borrowing the amulet."  
digiman619
Kaen had been silent, lost in thought over this.   "I think it's more likely that some nonsapient animals drove them out. Mental control on that scale would be have to be used by something  incredibly  powerful."  
rypt
As Roran studies the magical objects, sparks of excitement burn in his eyes before extinguishing themselves a moment later.    "I had hoped to uncover some magical relics on this island.  I did not think they would belong to the other colonists."    He offers the items to whoever will take them, evidently having no desire to keep any of them himself.
lostsole31
  "If'n you take boater's input,"   says Mr. Arvodair,   "I think that amulet would look dashing on our 'sirrani croc-man .. or gator-guy ... I never could get the difference. And then if any'ya are good at taking yer' magic knowledge and figuring out other types o' magic - maybe the girl or the guy who told us what the wand was - they might be your best bet of making use of dat sparkle-stick."  
Diavolo
Arsenne looks longingly at the Amulet of Good Fortune, and finally says:    "Luck is one of the fine attributes of The Goddess Shelyn.  I am sure that you would wear it well, Thikha'Ness, and may whatever favour it attracts to you benefit us as well. As for the wand, although I am enthusiastic about witnessing its use and seeing all of the pretty colours at once, it is unfortunately not the sort of magic I can use."   

He pauses.   "I say we assign these items and put them to the use for which they were intended. As with the shirt that Thikha'Ness is wearing, we can all agree that this is provisional until we find the original owners, healthy and hail."  
  "Shall we move on to the next building? And keep a very sharp eye out. I hit that bug really hard and it was still standing. If it really is a mere infant, then the parents must be somewhere on the island, and will pose quite a danger."  
5ColouredWalker
  "It sounds as we are in agreement. I wasn't going to suggest it since I was already wearing another's chain. I shall wear it, and let's move on."
  

Donning the amulet, Thickness will lead towards the building in A10.

 
 Spoiler: Direction note 

Continuing the perimiter sweep. If we've only checked one of the two barrack's though, I'll instead lead towards the door of the other.
 
Espeon55
  "I'm able to use the wand if you do not want it."   Eirina states as she takes the wand and puts it in her backpack for now.   "And yeah let's move onto the next building and see if we can find anything else. I am hoping we don't find that bug's mama however."
  
 
 Spoiler: crunch  
MA: Eirina puts  Wand of Colour Spray  in Backpack.
 
lostsole31
Both barracks having been searched, it is important to note that Thickness' torch is expended (and assumed dropped).

Now what? Where from here. If another building ... be specific, and don't make me interpret which one you mean.
5ColouredWalker
Having ensured both barracks are checked, Thickness begins leading the group towards the easternmost building making up the east corner of the settlement.

 
 Spoiler 

Heading to A10 on the map, making more clear.
Also raised in Discord, but what's used my torch?
 
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "Hang on, before going for that corner building, how about if we take a look at this second long building between the one we just explored and the corner building?  I mean, it's on our way right?"

"Also, I think we should discuss all that coinage we found. Unlike the wand, the amulet, or the chain shirt, loose coins are not specifically identifiable items.  I don't think some colonist is going to come back and say, 'hey, that is my specific silver coin!'. And it's not like the coins were in an identifiable chest or specially adorned coffer. They were laying about in the building.  I think we should keep it together and use it for communal benefits of us, the new colonists, and hopefully the original batch of colonists whom we hope to find."

"If you like, I can keep it in a bundle, and keep track of it for our purposes.  Much as I hated those six infernal weeks I spent training in the Church of Abadar before discovering the beauty of The Eternal Rose, I did stay long enough to learn the rudimentary elements of accounting and can keep track of what coin comes in and what goes out, and what belongs to whom."  
Espeon55
  "Keeping the coin all together until we agree how to split the coin amongst our group is a good idea."   Eirina states.   "And I agree that we should explore the building next to this one since it is on our way. What say you Uncle? Roran?"   
lostsole31
Having already searched the second barracks building, the PCs continue to southeast to the far eastern building (A10).

This wooden-framed, mud brick structure is currently the colony’s only two-story building, as well as one of the largest structures. It has the appearance of a rural courthouse or city hall rather than that of a residence. The front features a small porch supported by rough log pillars, with double wooden doors facing west. Numerous window frames with shutters, some of them open, wrap around the building on both floors. The roof is not thatched, but has wooden shakes instead. The construction suggests this building was intended to be a source of community pride, but it still has a rough, unfinished appearance due to lack of paint and coarse materials. A few small shrubs have been planted around it.
Diavolo
Arsenne says,   "Shall we circle it once to check for recent tracks or any other clues before going in?"  
Espeon55
  "I doubt there are any left but yeah I can do a quick search."   Eirina states as she searches around the building for tracks.

 
 Spoiler: Crunch 
FRA: Eirina searches around A10 for tracks
 
lostsole31
There are no tracks outside anywhere around the building, and Ambyr has no scent pools.
5ColouredWalker
  "Well then. Once more through the door."
 
 Putting his spear down and gripping his shield properly, Thickness takes his crane stance opens the door, walking through weary for ambush.

 
 Spoiler: Stance 

There's only the one relevent one, but Silver Crane Waltz for extra AC if his by surprise.
 
lostsole31
This main chamber is intended for community meetings and future government and legal proceedings. The building has not been used recently, as evidenced by a light layer of dust throughout.

That is just what is obvious at a glance. Do you do a deep or quick search in here?
Diavolo
Asrenne cast spell on the blade of his glaive, which start to glow like torch that casts a soft lavender light.  He says:   "If there are no obvious dangers, let's explore the rest of the building so that nothing ambushes us while we are searching."  

He adds:    "As you've surely gathered by now, I like to be in the second or third rank so that I can support with my Glaive should we encounter anything hostile, and, with all due respect and appreciation, it allows one of you brave folks with armour to absorb the initial attacks."   He winks at Thikha'Ness.


 
 Spoiler: Spell 
Action:  Cast orison "Light"  on blade of his Glaive.
 
5ColouredWalker
  "I'd be more than happy to join to join you there. But as I'm able then as we should."


  Thickness relaxes as nothing jumps out.

  "I agree on the search though, a quick search to make sure nothing's here, and moving on to the next building."  
lostsole31
The makeshift offices have simple wooden tables, chairs, and writing equipment including stationery, ink, and quills. The northern office also has a locked wooden coffer.
Espeon55
  "Hm...wonder that's in here? hang on I can get it open."   Eirina approaches the Wooden Coffer lock and brings out her Thieves' Tools and starts playing with the lock on the coffer so as to open it incase there is a clue hiding in there.

 
 Spoiler: Rogue Time 
MA:Eirina moves to the Wooden Coffer and begins picking the lock. Doing a Take 20 on the lock.
 
rypt
Roran pauses abruptly amidst the search and looks up, glancing first to any nearby windows or doors.  "  Did uh... did anyone else just get the feeling that we're being watched?"  
lostsole31
It will take Eirina 10 minutes while taking her sweet time to open what turns out was actually only a meager challenge. It is assumed that once she gets that open the party takes the time to peruse what is within. Inside are multiple journals and logbooks. The logbooks record various types of events, such as the sea journey to Ancorato, daily work details for construction and farming, a master tool inventory, records of the daily weather, and so on. This information is mostly pedestrian in nature, but might serve as the basis of a future almanac. All of the books date back to approximately 1 month ago, whereupon the entries become sporadic and stop altogether a week later.

One logbook details daily events in the colony since landfall, and it’s the one book that contains something of particular interest. Those carefully carefully examining the colony logbook notices that it is missing three to four pages after the last entry, as evidenced by a razor-sharp incision along the binding where the pages were carefully cut out. Assuming that  detect magic  is also used, the logbook radiates a faint aura of universal magic. This aura originates from two invisible  arcane marks  inscribed on the inside of the back cover. The arcane marks are normal words and spell “plum tree.”
Diavolo
Arsenne says:   "O.K.  That's weird.  I wonder what that means? If they bothered recording it magically, and invisibly no less, and lock it up, it must have some important significance to someone."  

He looks around, and continues.

  "Shall we put it back for now and continue our exploration of the building?"  
rypt
  "Curious,"   Roran notes as he leans down to get a look at the logbook.    "Would it be too large a leap to think that perhaps the missing pages are hidden near to a plum tree somewhere on the colony grounds?"  

If Roran is able to recall what a plum tree looks like, he will share a description with the others so they can keep an eye out while their search continues.
Espeon55
Eirina nods as she puts her documents back for now.   "These do have some value for when we start planning to colonize ourselves but what happened a week ago? That's what I am most curious about. Everything seemed fine up until then. And Does Plum Tree mean that's where the missing pages are or is it some kind of warning to stay away from the plum tree?"   
5ColouredWalker
  "My gut feeling says that's where the rest of the pages are, but it could be a trap. It might be best to clear out the rest of the settlement first though before we go looking. Once cleared we can look for any other clues. Hopefully one will say why they've left."

  Thickness rolls his shoulders.
Diavolo
Arsenne, looks around at everyone, nods, and says:   "O.K., I think it's safe to say that I agree with every one of you. Shall we proceed to the next room?"   

And he prepares his glaive.
lostsole31
The rest of the government house is searched - upper and lower floors - and there is no other items of value nor any more clues of any kind.

What now?
Diavolo
Arsenne has a quizzical expression on his face as he says:    "Hmmm. I'm surprised. I was expecting to meet with more obstacles in this building.  Well, I'm certainly not complaining.   Shall we move on to that little building just to the South West of us?   And, keep an eye out for plum trees as we go."  
Espeon55
Eirina reviews the buildings they have visited mentally.   "I say we go to the building southeast of the last one we searched."


   
 Spoiler: OOC 
OOC:Eirina is refering to A9.
 
rypt
At Eirina's suggestion that they search to the southeast, Roran fidgets in place for a moment, then looks to the others, then clears his throat.  Seeming almost pained by the forthcoming words, he forces a smile as he asks of the half-elf,   "Perhaps you mean to the southwest?"  
Espeon55
  "Ahem, uh yes? sorry my sense of direction is much better in the wilderness."   Eirina responds awkwardly, clearly embarrassed she gestures for Roran to take the lead.
Diavolo
Arsenne prods Eirina a bit, with a teasing tone to his voice:    "So, I was thinking that once we settle in a bit, I might ask you to teach me some of your amazing wilderness skills, but I was worried about what I could offer in return.  Now I've got it!  You would teach me how to track and how to stealth my way in and out of trouble, and I would teach you the basic cardinal points!  Do we have a deal?"  

He glances at Roran, smiles, and adds:    "And and to maintain objectivity and high standards, Roran can be in charge of testing us once we think we have sufficiently assimilated the material!"   
5ColouredWalker
With the building picked out Thickness starts trundling along behind Roran as he takes the lead, smiling as he does so at the conversation starting up.

  "Sounds like a fun. For now hopefully the other buildings are as clear as this one was."  
rypt
Perking up a bit after his uncomfortable exchange with Eirina, Roran appears to take Arsenne's teasing as a very real proposal.    "Oh, yes, I like that idea very much.  Particularly if I might listen in on your lessons."  
Espeon55
  "I thank you for the offer however I do indeed have a spell than can help me incase of such emergencies. It's called Know Direction."   Eirina states as she follows the group. A bit disappointed and frustrated with herself. She had been trying to sound like an adult and was hoping to be treated like one here with the group being the youngest among an elven family meant she was always treated like a child. She feared it might be the same story here. She didn't know the ages of everyone present other than her Uncle's age but she was afraid she might be the youngest again. However she was determined to prove her worth.

  "Though if you were serious about wilderness survival skills than I shall help you. Ambyr and I will to be exact."   Eirina tells him.   "Tracking, hunting, trapping those are my specialties. I just hope I can show you my superior archery skills at some point."  
digiman619
  "Far be it from me to interrupt this exchange"  , Kaen began, hoping to diffuse any possible friction Mr Arsenne and his niece,   "but let's focus on clearing out this area and figuring out what drove the previous settlers out. The more I think of it, the less sense this is making."  
lostsole31
The name “Arkley” is carved into a wooden sign nailed next to the door frame of this log cabin. A single, closed door faces northwest, and the structure has two wooden-shuttered windows. The architecture is otherwise the same as many of the other buildings.

The PCs should recognize the name Arkley, or specifically Rayland Arkley, as the leader of the first group of colonists who arrived on the  Liberty’s Herald . The only door is shut and latched, but not barred. The inside of the house stands in contrast to most of the other buildings in the settlement in that it is relatively organized and tidy. It contains plain wooden furniture, with simple amenities such as wall racks for weapons and armor, a modest dining table and chairs, and a sitting chair with a makeshift cushion and footstool. A separate bedroom features a wooden bed frame and pallet mattress, a boot rack, and a large unlocked chest of folded clothes and other personal items. The entire house is a study in normalcy, though Eirina and Kaen find just enough dust to ascertain that the house has not been entered for 3–4 weeks.

Do you do a quick or deep search in here?
5ColouredWalker
  "A month'sdust opposed to a week. I don’t belive those monkey things would have been unable to get in. Perhapsnwhatever survivors or natives nearby are few in number, which bodes well for us at least."  

His peice said, Thickness goes about the quick search the group's been doing.
lostsole31
Led by Eirina and Roran, the group does a careful search. In glancing upwards, the group spots the corner of a sheet of folded parchment resting on top of a crossbeam, 9' above the floor. It is easy enough to retrieve - a chair or a hand up by an ally suffices - they discover that the parchment is actually four sheets that have been folded together and tightly creased. When unfolded, it proves to be the Talmandor’s Bounty colony charter. This legal document declares the island and the colony to be under the protection of the nation of Andoran, outlines the colony’s relationship to the Bountiful Venture Company, and enumerates the rights and responsibilities of all colonists. It bears the sealed signature of three members of the People’s Council, representatives of the Bountiful Venture Company, and every colonist that came aboard the  Liberty’s Herald . The PCs remember these facts as part of the debriefing and disclosures given to all colonists, and in fact likely signed a similar document themselves before joining the colony. The document is important for historical and legal reasons but is not intrinsically valuable in itself; a duplicate charter remains in Almas.

This document should have been stored in the Government House (area  A10 ), where it would be safe and Rayland Arkley would have access to it anytime he wanted. The charter’s presence here is puzzling. The charter also doubles as a passenger manifest for the  Liberty’s Herald . Interestingly, there are small check marks listed alongside the names of the colonists, but not the colony’s officials.

The 16-minute-total search also turns up more, as they find a silver pocket watch in the cushions of one of the chairs. Such timepieces are rare in the Inner Sea region, and this one also functions as a compass. Study of the symbols on the watch’s face indicates it is of original Azlanti design, and it is amazingly still in working order. Kaen and Roran - evenly matched in the understanding of commodities and valuation - know that it would be very valuable, on the order of hundreds of gold pieces - but are unable to appraise a more finite value.

Additionally, tucked under the mattress in the bedroom is a traveling spellbook. Twenty-nine pages have been used, with 21 blank pages remaining. The book contains 10 0-level spells, eight 1st-level spells, and eight 2nd-level spells. The book is worth 920 gp. Inside the front cover is an  arcane mark  that reads, “Hendrake.”

Assuming the the PCs cross-reference this name with the charter, they find one of the colonists was named Una Hendrake. Additionally, a spell component pouch is tied to a brass ring bound into the spine of the book, though this spell component pouch is particular to the wizard who owned this book. 
 Spoiler: Spell Component Pouches in Rusty Games 
They are not "one size fits all" ... not even for members of the same class ... but are specific and tailored to the needs of the owner. They are worthless as resale.
 

Roran recalls from the information presented when joining the colony that Rayland Arkley was a former military man, not a spellcaster, and this structure appears to have been the Governor's House (i.e., Rayland Harkley's home).
Espeon55
  "I grew up among elves and my mother herself was a scholar of sorts, leaving behind a spellbook and spell components....that isn't a good sign. No magic user wizard or otherwise would leave behind their only source of power."   Eirina states.   "Also why are these items  here  in the house where the governor resided? Honestly this mystery is just getting more confusing by the minute."    
digiman619
  "Somehow, this makes matters even more confusing."   Kaen said, lost in thought.   "The lack of checkmarks next to the officials is worrying. What are they signifying?"   He paces slightly, trying to determine any possible scenario that the evidence could support.   "It can't just be a headcount, because otherwise it wouldn't be here; it'd be wherever the colonists are now. Could the officials have gathered the colonists for something untoward that killed or otherwise got rid of all of them? If so, how'd they overpower that many people; the colonists would greatly outnumber them. And why is the list in the mayor's home instead of the government building? Nothing is adding up."  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness frowns.
  "Nothing springs to mind that I dont immidiately find fault with. I imagine once we've done a thorough search of everywhere we'll have more clues to work upon. For now there's more buildings to clear."  
Diavolo
Arsenne says:   "I agree with Thikha'Ness.  Let's search the other buildings.  Perhaps we if we find more clues, we can paint a more complete picture for ourselves.  And I suggest that we keep this copy of the colony charter with us.  We may want to cross-reference it with other information that we come across."  
  "Shall we explore the next building Southwest of us?"     He looks at Eirina and adds with a smile and a wink   "That's just out the door and to the left!"  
lostsole31
As the group heads on their way to the next building to the south, you pass area  A8 , the Gate. The south side of the palisade fence is the only finished side. A large gate set in the fence can be barred from within. The gate is open, however, and the large wooden bar leans against the fence. Beyond the gate is an unpaved road where homes have been built or are in various stages of construction.

Do you continue to that next building ( A7 ) or do something else?
Espeon55
Eirina tries to comfort Kaen by putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "  We'll figure this out Uncle, there's no one smarter than you. But for now we need more clues so let's just search the next building."   
5ColouredWalker
  "If only the wall was complete, then the gate might be worth closing. I figure we finish inside the walls first."  

Unless there's obvious disagreement Thickness will continue onwards to the next building.
rypt
Roran remains focused on the charter for a time, possibly even continuing to read it as they continue on to the next building (and drifting towards the rear of the group in the process).  His focus is such that he has little to contribute to the ongoing discussion beyond the occasional nod or muttered word.  When at last his careful review is complete, he informs the others,   "Ah, there.  Sorry.  It seemed important, so I have committed the whole of the charter to memory.  Would anyone else like to hold onto it?"    He'll hand it off to anyone who asks or otherwise store it in his own bag.    "May I take another look at the spellbook?"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Roran will store the text of the charter in his eidetic cache.  He'll then begin to attempt to identify the 0th and 1st level spells which have been scribed into the spellbook.
 
lostsole31
Roran memorizes the four legal pages, to include the first expedition colony roster.

He is unable to recognize the spells.
digiman619
Kaen holds up a hand placatingly, waving away his niece's compliment while accepting the sentiment. While Kaen was knowledgeable in multiple fields, he was sure there were more focused scholars smarter than he. Still, that would be an issue for another time, as he agreed with Thickness's assessment and went towards the next building as well.
lostsole31
The party gets to the next building. From the outside, this long, rectangular building appears to be a home, though larger than many beyond the palisade to the south. It has three windows, all covered with wooden shutters, and a single door facing northwest, which is unbarred and slightly ajar.
Espeon55
  "That's ominous."   Eirina quietly approaches the door and gestures to Ambyr.   "Okay boy growl once if it's safe and growl twice if you smell Prey."   
Eirina herself is also trying to get a sense of if there is any danger beyond the door.
lostsole31
Ambyr doesn't seem to react to any smells.
5ColouredWalker
  "No more than the rest of this quiet village. It'd be a relief if there was more noise, at least we could know others were using the settlement."  

Thickness leans his lance against one of the walls and adjusts his shield to be worn properly, taking a bit of a stance near the door before entering.

 
 Spoiler: Stance 

Taking Running Hunters stance and using a spending a round using Scent to see if anything unusual is there expecting just dust. If there's anything unusual Thickness will relay it before entering.
 
lostsole31
Simple wooden furniture is in disarray throughout this residence. Tables and chairs are knocked over and pushed aside, though none appear willfully broken. Articles of clothing and household items are scattered across the floor as if they were examined briefly and discarded. A large pallet bed is visible in a separate room through an open interior door. A third room with no windows is next to the bedroom but is completely empty.
Espeon55
Eirina stares around in stunned silence and only manages to speak after taking everything in.   "The heck happened in here?! I am no expert in the case of robbery or the like but this looks like a crime scene. We better search this place thoroughly."   
digiman619
Kaen nods.   "Clearly, someone was willing to tear this place apart to find something. I wonder if they did."   He shook his head.   "The completely empty room is somehow more confusing than the mess. Why build a room into a home and leave it completely empty? If it was being saved for someone, one would think that there would at least be furnishings of some kind."  
5ColouredWalker
  "More likely a storeroom. But if you want to be thorough we can be."  
After a quick glance around, Thickness pays the house no more attention, looking outside instead.
Diavolo
Arsenne shakes his head slowly and says:   "I don't know.  From the clues available, the mess in the first room could just as well have been the result of someone having to pack lightly for a very urgent departure. And if they were in a hurry, they may have missed something that could be useful to us in understanding what's going on here.  Do you all mind if we search this place thoroughly before moving on?"  
lostsole31
With all hands on deck, it only takes 10 minutes to search through everything on a deep search.

Although the home has been ransacked, there is no evidence of foul play or personal violence. A casual search reveals any number of common domestic items, such as boots, spare cloaks hung on pegs, cookware, and plates and mugs—sundries that one might find in any dwelling. A search of the main room finds a gold wedding band left sitting on a windowsill. “My dearest Livvy” is engraved on the ring’s interior. There are no other direct clues as to who lived here, but there is only one “Livvy” listed on the town charter.

Searching the empty room, the group discovers a few large circles on the floor where no dust has accumulated. The bare circles correspond to the size of an average wooden barrel, if set upright on end. No barrels can be found in the house, although there is a clear path to the door.

A search of the bedroom spots a small metal chest shoved far under the bed and against the wall.

Due to wind, rain, and the passage of time, only the most significant or fresh tracks are still visible in Talmandor’s Bounty. Just outside this building, the PCs spot a strange set of tracks that appear to be about a week old. A very easy check is required to follow this odd set of tracks as they lead northeast and then south through the gate in the palisade fence. One trail is 3-1/2 feet wide, heavy and flat, and corresponds to no natural creature. The other is a set of odd, starfish-shaped footprints running down the center of the flattened trail. The trackers can surmise that something large and heavy was rolled away from the house, and that the footprints belong to whoever or whatever was pushing the object. The tracks lead due south down the road between houses. Those tracks could be continued, but here is where it stops right now to keep people from walking all over the place when  A7  is the focus.

So, several things going on here, what do you do?
Espeon55
  "I want to try and open the chest in under the bed if no one objects to this before we follow the tracks. There may be a clue left inside. I'll try not to take so long this time I swear."   Eirina tells the group.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
MA: If no one objects she will pull the Chest out from under the bed and check the lock for traps before attempting to pick the lock.
 
rypt
Roran searches his memory of the charter for any other colonists with the same last name as Livvy.

He nods to Eirina.    "Yes, of course."    He then looks to the circular imprints left in the dust.    "I wonder what was being stored in those barrels.  And what manner of creature took them away."  
 
 Spoiler: &gt;&gt;&gt;Elyich 
  "Did you ever encounter a creature that could have left footprints like this?"  
 
5ColouredWalker
  "We're it not for the odd feet, I'd guess survivors came back, used the forge as a fireplace, then left with abandoned supplies. I think we should finish searching the town first. Quickly or in depth. They've got quite the head start. I doubt searching will make it much harder."  

Thickness looks to the chest.

  "But as for the chest, opening it for whats of immidiate use, not trinkets like the ring, I consider acceptable."  
lostsole31
Despite it being a difficult lock, Eirina pops it on the first try. The small chest contains five bags, each of which holds 5 pounds of powdered silver (worth 25 gp each), four blocks of incense (worth 25 gp each), and a pouch with 100 gp worth of diamond dust. These are expensive material components for  bless water ,  augury , and  restoration , respectively. They also serve as a clue as to the house’s original residents. The gold wedding band is worth 125 gp.

What do you intend to do with these items?

Meanwhile, Roran, there is only one "Livvy" listed on the town charter. Livvy Felton is the wife of Father Adrian Felton. This makes sense as this home - presumably the Feltons - was built next to the chapel so he'd have easy access to the colony's place of worship. As a priest of Cayden Cailean, Father Felton was entrusted to watch over the colony’s only kegs of beer that were transported from Almas aboard  Liberty’s Herald .
5ColouredWalker
Hearing the contents Thickness's voice drops to a rumble.
  "I believe the reagents and ring should go in the box, and back in it's hiding place for safe keeping.I daresay none of us are here to loot the village."  
Espeon55
  "Yeah am not looking to loot someone's wedding ring. However it is strange that they are  here  and not with their respective owners. My parents never left the house without their wedding bands."   Eirina states as she puts the contents back into the chest.   "And I cannot make use of the spell components in here either. But we shouldn't steal from a Priest no matter if we can use them or not."   
lostsole31
  "Let's be moving. Check those tracks,"   rumbles Mr. Arvodair.
5ColouredWalker
  "Very well, tracks before the rest. Just a moment to resort my pack."  

With that Thickness will put his torch back not expecting to need it. He'll also put his hide armor in the storeroom just out of sight around the door, before joining the group outside. He takes a moment to examine the tracks, leaning low and giving them a sniff with his wide stance.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Torch in bag, now weilding lance/shield properly.
Also not carrying around hide armor so not encumbered. I should have left it in the smithy.

Survival of +8 for tracking While Scent/Running Hunter's Stance is active which I'm doing. Probably not enough to track, but as or with aid another it should do well.
 
lostsole31
Which set of tracks does the party wish to explore:
 
 The odd set of tracks that head northeast and then south through the palisade fence, or 
 the tracks that lead south down the road between houses? 
 
Espeon55
  "I vote in favour of continuing to explore the village so I saw we follow the tracks that head south toward the road. We can study the starfish tracks afterwards."   Eirina states.
digiman619
Kaen nods in agreement.   "Finishing one task before moving towards the second seems wise here"  
lostsole31
Mr. Arvodair simply shrugs.

Everyone else good to continue building sweep?
5ColouredWalker
  "It's been a week. I imagine the 10 minutes to at least look through the Village will harm things much. Or longer if we do thorough searches. Though I do agree once we set off following the Barrel tracks would be better."  
Diavolo
Arnesse says:    "We still have a couple of buildings to check right? Let's fully explore the compound before heading off."  

He looks toward the bed where the small lock-box was re-hidden and says:   "You know, once I grow more confident in my role as a Sacred Attendant for the Eternal Rose, I will be able to put those spell components to good use for all of us. I of course abhor the idea of stealing from a fellow colonist, but if something has happened to them, or a certain lapse of time goes by without us finding anybody, we should eventually be prepared to declare some of these items, including the spell components, to be subject to the rules of salvage."

   He looks in the direction of the tracks that his friends were following and says:     "That's really convenient of our little starfish-footed friend to flatten the ground by rolling the barrel before giving us his very clear prints. I definitely look forward to seeing where that leads to once we we have cleared the compound."  
lostsole31
The party continues to the southwest to the large corner building. This large building is durably built in a log cabin–style construction with a thatched pitched roof and three gables. Its several open windows are uncovered, and the sole entrance on the east side of the building is bereft of a door. A small porch covered by a gable shelters this door, though the porch has not been swept and dirt and dust have started to accumulate, while one end of the gable is starting to sag from neglect.
Espeon55
  "Looks as abandoned as the other buildings still possible to hold some clues however so let's get investigating!"   Eirina declares as she enters the building with Ambyr.
Diavolo
Arsenne replies,   "With Pleasure!"   and holds his Glaive firmly as he follows them in.  If there is space, he will try to be right behind Ambyr. If not, he'll be behind both Ambyr and Eirina.


 
 Spoiler: Cantrip 
The light spell on the blade of his Glaive should still be in effect. If not, he renews it before going in.
 
lostsole31
The party heads inside ... The interior of this building suggests a modest place of worship—not quite a temple but more than a mere shrine. A table near the center of the west wall appears to serve as an altar, draped in a white but dusty cloth. Behind the table, a large wood carving of a humanoid figure with a stag’s head leans against the wall. Two rows of benches face the altar, although some have been knocked over and two piles of ashes are visible in the aisle between them. Scattered throughout the room are assorted objects related to public worship, such as a chalice and a ceremonial rod. An ornately carved longbow hangs on the wall near the altar, as if on display. Against the north wall is a smaller shrine. Nearby is a wooden statue roughly three feet tall that depicts a male half-human and half-avian creature. One carved wing hangs partially broken from the statue.
Espeon55
Eirina looks at the scene completely perplexed. Whilst she is a follower of Ketephys, God of the Hunt she is not at all familiar with any of the objects of worship in this room and looks to Arsenne for answers.   "Uh Arsenne you are the one most familiar with deity worship correct? Can you make any sense of....well....any of this?"  
Diavolo
Arsenne looks around, pausing a bit longer in front of the statue of the elk-headed man and the ornate bow, and responds:

  "Indeed, this looks very much like a shrine to Erastil, also known as "Old Deadeye".  He is an older god, from before the age of Darkness. As a god of hunting, farming, family and trade, I presume he must have a lot in common with your own revered 'Ketephys', may his hunts be ever fruitful. He would seem to be a reasonable choice as the patron deity for a remote wilderness colony such as this one.  You know -- self-reliance and all that...."  

He smiles a bit, focused on nothing in particular, then adds:     "I always had a soft spot for his followers because they were so often at odds with the followers of Abadar.  But I found them far too uncouth and ragged-looking for my tastes."   

He looks at Thikh'ness and then the others and says:   "The ability to detect magic auras is something that my own goddess will readily grant me should I request it during my morning meditations. This morning, however, I did not make such a request, not knowing beforehand that we would arrive at this island today.  If one of you has that ability available now, I am very curious about this longbow, the large wooden carving, the statuette, the shrine and the altar. I would even ask you to check if there is any residual magic on those two piles of ash."  

He looks at the Statuette of the half-human and half-avian and says with a determined tone:   "If you all do not object, I am going to mend this wing.  It might not be a master-piece, but I simply cannot stand by and ignore a broken piece of artwork."

   
 Spoiler: Orison 
If nobody objects or moves to prevent him, Arsenne casts the orison 'mending' to fix the wing on the 3'foot tall statuette of a half-human half-avian.
 
lostsole31
Roran can second Arsenne's understanding that the wood carving represents Erastil. The wing that Arsenne is trying to fix near the smaller shrine is a depiction of the agathion patron of Andoran, Talmandor.

While Arsenne is focused on the carving of Talmandor, the rest of the PCs immediately recognize (no time spent on search) that there was a struggle in this area and it was never straightened up afterward.

Does the party do a search in here? If so ... quick or deep?
5ColouredWalker
  "Take your time with the wing, this is the first place showing a fight before we arrived, I agree we should be thorough here."  

While Thickness shows no particular difference to the statue, he's paying more attention to this building than he did the others after entry.
lostsole31
The party begins a deep search of the chapel.

The party finds a  trail of dried blood leading from the altar to the front entrance. No  creature has entered this place in the last few weeks, or possibly a  month. A smell of rotting flesh lingers near the altar, but there is  nothing obvious, even a large bloodstain, that could suggest the source  of this smell.

When the PCs remove the dusty white cloth covering  the altar, it becomes evident that it is not a table on four legs but  is constructed more like a large box with religious carvings on the  front face. A careful examination of the back allows the PCs to locate a  secret sliding panel. Opening the panel leads to the discovery of a  dead body. The strong smell of a rotting corpse fills the dusty air. It  isn't enough for anyone to feel sick, but it is extremely uncomfortable.

And then, a ghostly figure rises from the body and up several feet off the ground!

 Begin Round One ...
 
 R1T23:  Ambyr sniffs and backs up away from the apparition and closer to Eirina in the corner.

 R1T22:   Arsenne , what do you do?
Diavolo
Arsenne swallows to moisten his suddenly dried throat and says in the most soothing voice he can manage:   "We are new colonists just arrived today. It seems that there has been violence done here. We can provide you with a proper burial. Can you give us any clue as to what has occurred?"  
lostsole31
 R1T22:  Arsenne swallows to moisten his suddenly dried throat and says in the most soothing voice he can manage:   "We  are new colonists just arrived today. It seems that there has been  violence done here. We can provide you with a proper burial. Can you  give us any clue as to what has occurred?"  
 R1T21:   Roran , what do you do?
rypt
Eyes wide and mouth agape, Roran waits to see how the spirit responds to Arsenne's words.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Roran will delay.
 
lostsole31
 R1T21:  Eyes wide and mouth agape, Roran waits to see how the spirit responds to Arsenne's words.

 R1T20:  The apparation's countenance becomes even more terrifying before it screams horribly and disappears from view.

 Everyone , roll a Will save!

 R1T18:   Kaen , assuming you make your Will save, what do you do?
digiman619
Kaen focuses his will into his ring finger, surrounding himself with a bubble of force as he focuses on his defense until he can get a clear line to a target.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 Will save:  (1d20+5)[ 11 ] ; +2 if it's an enchantment effect
SA: Activate the *bangle of barriers* veil to make a force field around me (4 hardness, 9 HP)
 
5ColouredWalker
 
 Spoiler: Will Save 

 (1d20+2)[ 6 ] 
 

 Thickness stumbles back with a shout of shock. 
Espeon55
Eirina's Will Save.

 
 Spoiler: Will Save 
Will Save:  (1d20+4)[ 6 ] 
 
rypt
 
 Spoiler: Will save 
Roran's Will save:  (d20+4)[ 24 ] 
 
Diavolo
Arsenne's Will Save


 
 Spoiler: Arsenne's will save. 
Will save :   (d20+6)[ 10 ] 
Note character trait:  Unswaying Love:  +2 trait bonus on saves vs. charm/ compulsion effects.
Note also:
Set Mind:  1/day, FA, when he would fail a save vs. a charm/ compulsion effect that would cause him to act differently than he normally would, he can immediately reroll that save, but must take the results of the second save, even if worse.
If the end result is a 14 or less, he will use his 1/day roll again:    (d20+6)[ 18 ] .
 
lostsole31
 R1T18:  Kaen completely loses whatever will he was trying to control and bolts out the front.

 R1T17-7:  Eirina and Thickness follow, scattering outside.

 R1T7:   Mr. Arvodair is unmoved by the terror. Roran sees him rub his lamp as  he backs up to the doorway, and there is an unknown strength that seems  to form around him.   "Everyone out!"  
 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T23:  Ambyr and Arsenne both bolt outside.

 R2T21:   Roran sees clearly and for the first time the creature that comes out  of Mr. Arvodair's lamp. Her skin and face is covered in all sorts of  cracks, as if she is made of porcelain, and all of those cracks begin to  glow a bright cherry red-orange, and heat shimmer builds on her body.

Mr. Arvodair looks to Roran.   "You'll wanna leave."  
 Roran , you were delaying. What do you do?
rypt
For a moment, the horror of the spirit is forgotten as Roran observes the otherwordly beauty of Mr. Arvodair's companion.  That moment is fleeting, however.  Mr. Arvodair's suggestion, and indeed the glowing skin of the lamp-lady, promise something he would surely rather observe from a distance.

  "Y-yes, sir!"    He stumbles first over his words and then his feet as he turns to flee the building.
lostsole31
 R2T20.5:  For a moment, the horror of the spirit is forgotten as Roran observes  the otherworldly beauty of Mr. Arvodair's companion.  That moment is  fleeting, however.  Mr. Arvodair's suggestion, and indeed the glowing  skin of the lamp-lady, promise something he would surely rather observe  from a distance.

  "Y-yes, sir!"    He stumbles first over his words and then his feet as he turns to flee the building.

 R2T18:   Kaen ,  the terror that washed over you leaves just as quickly. What do you do?  The entrance to the building (if you even head back) is facing east.
digiman619
Kaen shakes his head as the fear effect dissipates for him. Summoning his akashic bow again, he makes his way to the doorframe.
 
 Spoiler 
MA, to summon my weapon veil, MA to get near (preferably beside) the door. If I'm more than one move action away, I'll work on closing the gap next round.
 
lostsole31
 R2T18:  Kaen shakes his head as the fear effect  dissipates for him. Summoning his akashic bow again, he makes his way to  the door frame while Mr. Arvodair lightly gestures him to stay at that  point. There is a quiet strength about him that is infectious to Kaen.  At the doorway, he now fully sees the creature that seems to come out of  Mr. Arvodair's lamp that has been hard to fully spot until now.

 R2T17-7:  Eirina and Thickness keep hustling away.

 R2T4:  Mr. Arvodair says,   "We  back out. Close the door, and rendezvous with the others while I tell  you what we're up against. Don't push combat. It's pointless."  

He steps out by Kaen, and seems to ready to close the door, looking both in and out.

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T23:  Ambyr keeps moving away.

 R3T22:   Arsenne , you are no longer scared witless. What do you do?
Diavolo
Arsenne looks left, toward the door, then right toward his teammates who are running away, then left again as he shouts   "Let's try to not get too separated and.... Oh, who's that running off by themselves up there?  I'll try to recollect our our errant runners before they land in more trouble!"  

And he takes off at run to in the Northwest direction.

 
 Spoiler: Actions specified. 
SA :  Pause and assess the situation.
MA : Take off running NW direction to try to catch up with Eirina.
 
lostsole31
 R3T22:  Arsenne looks left, toward the door, then right toward his teammates who are running away, then left again as he shouts   "Let's  try to not get too separated and.... Oh, who's that running off by  themselves up there?  I'll try to recollect our our errant runners  before they land in more trouble!"  

And he takes off towards the west-northwest.

 R3T21:  The strange woman floats back outside.

 R3T20.5:   Roran , what do you do?
rypt
Roran gestures with one hand toward Eirina and a strip of rune-marked cloth flies from his wrist to form the opening of a portal 30 feet away in the direction of the fleeing half-elf.  A matching strip slides from his other arm to form a similar opening at his side.    "Eirina!"    He calls out.    "We'll be safer as a group!  Step through the portal when you're able!"  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Standard action: Utilizing his  runecloth of doorways , open one portal as close to Eirina as the range of the veil will permit, and open the other in the adjacent square to the east of Roran.
 
lostsole31
 R3T20.5:  Roran gestures with one hand toward Eirina and a strip of rune-marked  cloth flies from his wrist to form the opening of a portal 30 feet away  in the direction of the fleeing half-elf.  A matching strip slides from  his other arm to form a similar opening at his side.    "Eirina!"    He calls out.    "We'll be safer as a group!  Step through the portal when you're able!"  
 R3T20:  A chair flies out as Mr. Arvodair ducks below it.

 R3T18:   Kaen , what do you do?

Eirina on deck, Thickness in the hole ...
lostsole31
 R3T18:   Kaen delays ...

Eirina and  thickness continue to run, Eirina complete avoids the freaky portal  which she figures would only take her closer to the thing that  frightened her.

Mr. Arvodair shuts the door and shoos others away from the door.
 
Initiative Ends! 

Finally,  Ambyr, Eirina, Thickness, and everyone will regather together. The  strange, almost luminescent woman that a few saw is no longer there.

  "The spirit inside be a poltergeist,"   says Mr. Arvodair.   "It is only visible to scare, but otherwise nothing we can see or fight at this time."  
digiman619
Kaen nodded.   "In other words, we will eventually need to get someone with enough divine or occult power to deal with it, but it's relatively safe in the mean time."   He then turns to the bosun's mate.   "Forgive me if this seems rude, but how did you know what that was? And while I'm asking questions, who or what was that strange woman you summoned earlier?"  
Espeon55
Eirina still recovering from her experience with the spirit pets Ambyr to both comfort herself as well as her cat.   "I agree I do believe we deserve some answers."   
lostsole31
  "How do you all know the things you know?"   Mr. Arvodair answers.   "That's rhetorical, because I care not. What I care about, and should ye, is what you know, not how you know it. As for Aissah, she is a spirit bound to me. More than that be your curiosity, which I care not a whit about."  
5ColouredWalker
  "I agree. I doubt we we all wish to bear our hearts, for time even if they're clean. Consecration and banishment can wait. I think this is the last place in the main settlement unless we want to be more thorough over the places we've already gone. Or investigate the row of houses. While that could be of interest, I would rather follow one of the sets of tracks. Probably the dragged barrel."

  When Thickness starts his voice retains a hint of shake, which he's calmed by the time he's finished. However he doesn't speak as firmly as when this trip started.
digiman619
Kaen felt the burgeoning respect he felt for the sailor evaporate into further disdain. It was probably for the best Thickness had spoken up when he did, as it let him metaphorically bite his tongue for a moment as he regained his composure.   "We should probably investigate the houses to be thorough, though the tracks do seem like our best lead."  
Diavolo
Arsenne looks a bit worried as he glances at the various members of the party and notes the unfriendly exchange. He says, in a tone meant to inspire some levity:    "O.K., so, um.... who had 'disembodied spirit' on their list of probable encounters for today?   Anyway, I agree with all of you that this does not seem to be an immediate threat as long we don't re-enter.  We can therefore deal with it later on.   I'll meditate a bit on what I have learned over the years about exorcisms and such.  It's all theoretical of course, I have no personal experience in the matter.  Yet."  

He looks at again at the trail leading out the South end of the village, looks at Thikha'Ness and adds:   "While I do think we should eventually explore all those houses South of this enclave, I think the trail itself is our next most pressing clue. Since we do not know how long that avenue will take, we should probably get to it next.   I would also like to mention that I would love to eliminate that swarm that was in the first building before night falls.  Without the protective barrier that sunlight provides, that swarm could leave the pantry and then swarm us wherever me might make camp."  
Espeon55
Eirina glares at Arvodair before contemplating their next move whilst still petting Ambyr. Thickness had made a good point about the tracks but Arsenne also made a good point about the insect swarm. With a deep breath Eirina makes her opinion heard.   "As much as I dislike it, I Agree with Arsenne. I believe we should deal with that insect swarm before nightfall."  
Diavolo
Arsenne nods and says :   "Believe me I'm not looking forward to it either. Let's just say I'm eager to have it done so we don't have to worry about it anymore."  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness blinks slowly.

  "Reasonable. Anyone against?"  
digiman619
Kaen shrugs.   "Give me a lit torch and I can handle it on my own. They won't be able to get me once I use my power."   And to illustrate, he activated his ring veil and a translucent bubble of force appeared around him,   "They won't be able to penetrate this. It doesn't have any mobility per se, but I can move to them and activate it if they decide not to bite,"  
Diavolo
Arsenne looks with eyes wide at Kaen and says:    "Wow! That is really impressive... You are full of surprising powers, aren't you?   O.K. then. Since we have a viable solution that does not seem to be too onerous to implement, how about if we take care of the swarm right now before we wander off?  And while Kaen embarks on this role as exterminator, maybe we can all also stand by with torches just in case that old rule about plans going afoul proves itself true."  
digiman619
Kaen nodded.   "Indeed. Having backup would be wise in case my confidence is misplaced."   He then made his way towards the swarm-infested shed.
lostsole31
The party follows Kaen's lead up to the northernmost building ( A3 ). Kaen, all eyes are upon you, mighty roach-killer. What do you do?
digiman619
Kaen takes off his pack, reaching into it and retrieves both a torch and his flint and steel. Lighting the torch, he turns to his teammates.   "Open the door and close it behind me, that should keep them from getting to you. Do keep an ear open in case I need assistance, though."   He then enters the building, activating his protective field as he waits for the swarm to arrive.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Have someone open the door with a move action and someone else ready an action to close it after he steps through.
MA: Get into the building.
SA: Activate the Bangle of Barriers to use its force field effect. Because I have one essence in the veil, it has a 3 hardness and 9 HP
 
Diavolo
Arsenne hastily unbundles the extra cloth around his waist and pulls it up over his chest, shoulders and back, displaying a monk's sparse combat top.  He looks at his friends and says:    "What?  O.K., so I know it won't add any protection at all, but psychologically, I am just not enthusiastic about facing a swarm of biting and stinging insects with this much bare skin showing!

Does any body have a torch I can borrow for about a minute?  
 
 Spoiler: Positioning and contingency. 
If someone provides him a torch, he will light it, leave his Glaive on the ground, and move to the West side of the door so he can open it and close it Kaen. He then stands beside the door, just to West, ready to swing his torch and try to burn as many insects as possible that might come out.
 


He looks at Kaen and says:    "We're counting on you, but if I hear you yelling, or if I hear nothing at all, I'm coming in after you."  
Espeon55
Eirina's eyes glimmer and shine while watching her Uncle, she knows he's not one for emotional outbursts but she just can't help herself. He's her family after all. Her fear of the Poltergeist drifts away as does her fear about what to do about the Swarm.   "You're so amazing Uncle!! You can do this!! I know you can! Come on Ambyr give Uncle Kaen a roaring cheer!"
   
 Eirina then looks to Mr. Arvodair with slight disdain but whispers to him.    "I know I sound super confident right now and I am I totally believe my uncle can do this without your help....but....if he needs help...can you send in your lady friend? I hate to admit that I am helpless to assist him in this but I am so..."   
lostsole31
 
 Originally Posted by digiman619 
 Kaen takes off his pack, reaching into it and retrieves both a torch and his flint and steel.... 
 

Unfortunately, Kaen pulls out his flint and steel, yes, but he realizes he didn't actually bring his torches with him, as they are still on the ship!

Does anyone else have a torch they wish to give Kaen? And, for that matter, Arsenne since he asked for one?
5ColouredWalker
Thickness pulls off and ruffles through his pack, pulling out two torches, one he keeps, one he passes to Kean.
  "Put the flint away, I'll light it with a spell while you go through the door, and stand ready here in case they bust out. Or I can light it now if you're concerned, just save the flint for later."



   
 Spoiler: Action 

If Kean accepts, Thickness will ready a Action to cast Spark on the torch as Kean enters the building.

If Kean would prefer the torch prelit, he'll use Spark when Kean is ready to light the torch saving time.

As for equipment juggling, spear goes down and holding a torch in one hand. Spark is V or S so I'll keep my shield on.
 
digiman619
Kaen will accept the torch.   "Thank you, Mr. Thickness. Lighting it now should be sufficient; I'd rather not risk leaving the door open too long."   Once lit, he nods to his teammates to open the door for him before they close it back up, walking into the middle of the room before activating his defenses.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Get an ally to open the door, and another to ready an action to close it behind me.
MA: move into the building
SA: Activate Blade of Bangles. As stated before, I now have a barrier around me that has 3 hardness and 9 HP.
 
lostsole31
 Begin Round One... 
 R1T18:  Now  that Kaen is in here alone, before he can even react he gets swarmed by a  massive of cockroaches! They start to chew against his force field,  doing some damage before ....

 R1T17:  .... the force field immediately repairs!  Kaen , what do you do?
digiman619
Kaen nods to himself. He was reasonably certain that his defenses were adequate against the swarm, but it was reassuring to have confirmation. He shifts his astral suit to its most flexible form and strikes at the swarm with the torch, trying to slay what bugs he can and safely disperse the rest.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
SwA: Change astral suit into its astral skin form. This moves my enhancement bonus to DEX. I *think* I can use Dex for this? Do let me know, as it will be easier using just the strength score than assuming I use DEX and you applying a penalty equal to the difference.
SA: Attack the swarm:  (1d20+7)[ 25 ]  (with an additional +1 from DEX increase)  (1d3+1)[ 4 ]  plus 1 point of fire damage.
 
lostsole31
 R1T17:  Kaen nods to himself. He was reasonably certain  that his defenses were  adequate against the swarm, but it was reassuring to have confirmation.  He shifts his astral suit to its most flexible form and strikes at the  swarm with the torch, trying to slay what bugs he can and safely  disperse the rest. Mind you, this is the first battlefield test, and he  finds that his torch simply pongs against the inside of the barrier for  little effect ... he is on the outside, and bugs are on the outside with  him sealed in the barrier. It is also at this time that Kaen notes that  his hand is feeling very warm right now.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T18:  Cockroaches completely unable to do enough damage to matter ...

 R2T17:   Kaen , your whole upper body is starting to feel very warm, and the air quality is fast eroding. What do you do?
digiman619
Kaen realized his error, as he'd caught the torch in his protective bubble. Popping it with a thought, he moved out of the swarm, tossing the the torch onto the ground out of the swarm and following after it. Making sure to reactivate his protection first, he quickly bent down to retrieve the torch, looking back at the swarm, a look of mild frustration on his features.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
 Free action: deactivate the *bangle of barriers*.
Free action: Drop the torch in the square to the southwest (i.e. not in the swarm)
5 foot step to the square to the southwest
SA: Activate the *bangle of barriers*'s force field again.
MA: Pick up the torch
 
lostsole31
 R2T17:  Kaen realized his error, as he'd caught the torch in his protective  bubble. Popping it with a thought, he moved out of the swarm, tossing  the the torch onto the ground out of the swarm and following after it.  Making sure to reactivate his protection first, he quickly bent down to  retrieve the torch, looking back at the swarm, a look of mild  frustration on his features.

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T18:   Sure enough, the cockroaches swarm the barrier.

 R3T17:   Kaen , what do you do?
digiman619
Now within his protective field (and the torch without it), he struck at the swarm once more.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Attack the swarm: Since I'm apparently using STR for this  (1d20+2)[ 11 ] .  (1d3+2)[ 4 ]  blunt damage + 1 fire damage
 
lostsole31
It seems that because he holds the torch, it is encapsulated in the barrier ... what he holds and carries is a part of him, and the barrier extends several inches past him, and what he holds, in all directions ... but that still isn't a tremendous amount, as no doubt again the torch will befoul and overheat the air within the barrier in short order.  Kaen realizes at this point that he cannot make the barrier in such as way that he can attack beyond its borders .... he is protected, but he likewise is immobile and inoffensive.

Kaen, what now?
digiman619
  "I regret to announce that my plan has failed."   Kaen says frustratedly, drops his protective bubble long enough to toss the torch out of range.   "Do any of you posses any sort of elemental attacks? Because I am sadly unable to defeat them as I anticipated."
 
  
 Spoiler: OOC 
FRA: Throw torch out of my square.
SA:Reactivate  bangle of Barriers 
 
lostsole31
Mr. Arvodair calls out,   "Everyone back away, I am calling forth Aissah. Kaen, back up to the southeast corner of the building. Once you are there and protected and the roaches are on you again, shout that you are ready. Once I open, let Aissah get the first blast in; then drop your thingummy and bolt outside."  
 
 Spoiler: Everyone except Kaen 
He rubs his lamp and Aissah forms again.   "Man inside with lots of roaches. He's going to take cover to the southeast. Ready when he calls me I will open the door."  

I will assume everyone backs away, unless you say otherwise.
 

 Kaen , inside, how do you respond?
digiman619
  "Understood."   Kaen responds. As much as he dislikes the bosun's mate, the man had a plan, which was better than what he had at the moment. He deactivates his barrier before retreating to the southeastern corner before reactivating it. He dropped into a runner's stance as he waited for his cue.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
FA: Drop barrier.
MA: Move to the southeastern corner.
SA:Reactivate barrier.
 
lostsole31
There is a long pause .... 
 Spoiler: Kaen 
 (  "once you are there ...shout again when you are ready"  )
 
digiman619
Kaen waited until the swarm covered him before shouting.   "I am in readiness, Mr Adovair."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
I will delay until after "the first blast". After than, I will come out of delay and make a run for the door.
 
lostsole31
Mr. Arvodair opens the door.

 Begin Round One ...

R1T22:   The strange woman is behind Mr. Arvodair in the doorway. She steps past  him, up the step and into the building against the eastern wall. Facing  the southwest, she breathes in deep, and the strange irregular marks on  her body, limbs, and face go from a faint red glow to a brighter orange  and she breathes out. Vomiting out of her distending mouth are  blackened hunks of burning rock and copious amounts of a viscous,  red-orange bright fluid that covers much of the swarm. Many of the  cockroaches move out of the way, but this strange attack still washes  over the swarm even then to do  6 +  1 fire  .

  "Leave now while you still can,"   she says to Kaen.   "I will expel noxious fumes that cover a 50' radius. Get everyone well away."  
 R1T19:  The cockroaches try in vain to affect Kaen, but do nibble and bite on the otherworldly woman for  5 .

 R1T18:   Kaen , what do you do?
digiman619
For a half second, Kaen was taken aback. He'd assumed that the bosun's mate had some summoned elemental or construct at his beck and call, not something with full speech capability and apparent sapiency. Still, there'd be time to learn what that was about later; right now, he needed to get out of this shed.

  "As you wish, madam"  , he said, dropping his protective field once more. As he dashed out of the building, he called to his teammates.   "Noxious fumes are imminent, everyone who breathes retreat!"
  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
FA: Drop field.
Double move out of the building
 
lostsole31
 Everyone else , do you bolt? If so, how far are you trying to get?
Espeon55
Eirina hearing her Uncle's warning decides to get the heck out of there and prompts Ambyr to follow.

 
 Spoiler: RUN!! 
MA: Eirina does a double move of 60 feet heading North
 
5ColouredWalker
Thickness begins jogging away from the building, taking a odd gait.

 
 Spoiler: Distance 

Double move away. Would be 5ft from the door. Swift Hunter's stance and no longer encumbered due to dropping the other armor, so 65ft awayish?
 
rypt
Roran is momentarily stunned by Kaen's warning.    "Wait--who doesn't breathe?!"    he asks as he turns to follow the elf away from Mr. Arvodaor and his lamp-lady.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Roran will double move (60 ft.) away.
 
lostsole31
 Kaen , will you also open datum (i.e., move away)?
digiman619
Kaen will gradually slow down, turning to face the shed now that he was well clear of it.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
I figured the double move would have been enough to get me out of the aforementioned 50 foot radius, but let's do one more to be safe.
MA: Move directly away from the building
 
lostsole31
It takes several rounds, but Mr. Arvodair's voice rings out,   "Everybody recover at House Cockroach! It's done. Exterminator did a house call."  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness slowly approaches.
  "Theres a reason this is the job of specialists. The building looks intact, hows the inside?"  

Thickness makes no effort to actually look inside just yet.
lostsole31
Thickness realizes he, perhaps, spoke out of turn. As he closes, the building is standing, but definitely not intact. While not completely immolated, there are signs of destruction and very slow-burning fire.  The fire is low and medium-dark red, and isn't coming from wood, but the holes blasted here and there on the building have a strange, black substance with orange cracks from which the fires burn.
digiman619
Kaen shakes his head. He somehow wasn't surprised that a man as crude as the bosun's mate would come up with such an inelegant solution. The supplies that were in that building were no doubt completely destroyed.

He turned to his neice.   "It's a pity that my plan didn't work out; it would have been so much cleaner a solution. However, it seems that the protective field wasn't as skintight as I'd thought, so it kept enveloping the torch, making it useless for my plan. If I'd have foreseen the need for an elemental veil, this could have been so much neater, but alas,"  
Espeon55
  "On the bright side at least we don't have to deal with that problem anymore?"   Eirina states trying to be optimistic as she rejoins the group.   "However we are definitely not finding any clues here now...."   
Diavolo
Arsenne speaks up:    "Let's not be too hasty about total destruction of clues and of outdated food supplies.  I am sure that, by the Grace of the Eternal Rose, we can still find something if we search carefully and there will still be plenty of food that we can purify tomorrow, after we have meditated upon and acquired the proper spells. But first, let's put out the slow-cooking fire. Since we were traveling by ship until today, I had been regularly requesting that Shelyn bequeath to me the power to create water."  
 
 Spoiler: Orison 
Use Orison 'Create water' to put out remaining fires.
 
lostsole31
Arsenne never really gets the chance. By the time he turns around to attend to the task, the fires are out and no glow remains, only a strangely textured gray-black with an extremely uneven surface (even down to the micro-level).
Diavolo
Arsenne looks at the mess and says:    "Actually, I take that back.  Maybe there isn't anything to salvage after all."    He looks at Kaen and adds.    "Yes, it is a pity that your plan did not work. It certainly sounded good and had a nice elegance to it. "   He looks at Mr. Arvodair, but does not express whatever internal dialogue is going in on his mind. Finally he just says,   "Thank you for eliminating that threat."  

Looking at the rest of the group he says:   "Well, shall we explore that trail leading South?"  
digiman619
Kaen is puzzled by the sudden change and turns to the crewman.   "How did you extinguish that flame so quickly?",   he said, his tone more confused than accusatory.   "And if you had that level of control, while let it consume the building in the first place?"   
lostsole31
Mr. Arvodair shrugs.   "Sometimes, you let the genie out the bottle .... chaos ensues. Cockroaches are dead and you're alive. Accept the price and move on."  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness nods.

  "Agreed. I believe we were collowing the barrel tracks next? With luck itll uave been surplies and we'll find survivors."  

Thickness rolls his shoulders, and will begin walking towards those tracks if not countermanded.
Espeon55
Eirina while familiar with magic and the arcane arts is a bit unnerved by the fire extinguishing on it's own and decides to focus on something else.   "Allow me to assist you Thickness, I am quite good at tracking. I have full confidence in both this and my archery skills."  

Eirina will then follow beside Thickness and whistle to Ambyr to follow her.
Diavolo
Arsenne picks up his Glaive, moves to follow Eirina and says:   "Maybe when those hot burning rocks have all cooled down and we have explored more promising avenues, I'll come back and search through this mess, just in case.  But as Mr. Arvodair says, at least the swarm is eliminated."  
rypt
Roran moves closer to the scorched building to eye the curious damage caused by Aissah.  He holds a hand near to a spot where flames had died down to see if it still radiates heat.  Only if it doesn't seem too hot will he touch it.

As consensus seems to form around following the tracks found earlier, he adds his assent.   "Very well.  Let's not forget to keep an eye out for any plum trees along the way."  
lostsole31
The rocks definitely still seem to be hot, but they are cooling down quickly. The surface is unlike anything he's ever touched before. It is a weird sticky-prickly surface at the micro-level, despite looking smooth when viewed from back up as a larger mass.
Diavolo
Arsenne responds, under his breath, to Roran's reminder to "look out for any plum trees along the way", adding :   ".... and Goblin-eagles."  

And he thows a quick glance upwards before starting along the path South.
digiman619
Kaen is absolutely stumped as to how the elemental woman did this, but he refused to admit that to the bosun's mate, keeping a neutral expression as he turned to the southerly path.   "Unless you had the heretofor unknown ability to manifest monsters into reality, I assure you there is no such thing, Mr. Arsenne."  , Kaen said dismissively.
lostsole31
Eirina and Kaen have trouble picking up the tracks heading south.
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "That's so strange. You had described them so clearly."   Looking at Eirina and Kaen.   "They were
 'Web-footed tracks that seem to following, as if pushing, a rolling barrel...' right?  So what happened, the tracks just stop? Or the texture of the ground changed and there are no more markings after a certain point?"  

He looks around.    "If we cannot follow the trail any further, shall we explore some of the small shacks here in this region South of the triangular compound?"  

Every once in a while, when he is sure Kaen's attention is elsewhere, he continues to gland nervously at the sky.
Espeon55
  "Perhaps we just need to go back to where we first found the tracks and start from there."   Eirina states. Before Moving back towards the house with the Poltergeist.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
MA: Eirina moves towards A6 to follow the tracks.
 
lostsole31
Eirina (and Kaen) can get the initial tracks as they were very obvious and they go the last place you verified the tracks before losing the trail.

Do you spend an hour to try and regain the trail?
Espeon55
Eirina will spend an hour to try and regain the trail.
lostsole31
Eirina and Kaen pick up the trail again after an hour of searching. The tracks lead south down the road between the houses. At the four-way intersection, Eirina easily follows the trail due south, east at the end of the street, and up a low rise. Atop a sloping hill stands a solitary cottage built apart from the rest of the colony. A stone well has been built not far from the house’s front door. A large stone near the entrance is painted with the words “Levin Farm.” Just south of the cottage is a tilled vegetable patch that grows wild from neglect. The trail seems to terminate here.
5ColouredWalker
Thickness frowns and gets low, sniffing the ground.
  "If they were grabbing a barrell to haul food or water the tracks would get deeper... should we knock politely in case or?"  
 
 Spoiler: action 

Running Hunter's Stance for Scent, trying to pick up any recent smells that aren't us.
 
rypt
Roran consults the list of colonists recorded in his mind, checking for the name "Levin."
Espeon55
  "Yeah we should probably see if there is someone here before we check the garden and see if there is anything edible still here."   Eirina states before looking to Ambyr.   "Smell anything boy?"  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness recoils a bit from the ground.

  "If he's anything like me, a bad time. Maybe a survivor drowning sorrows in rotgut? I'm happy to go first and risk knocking."  

Thickness' snout twitches as he stares at the building with a frown.
lostsole31
Ambyr gives an annoyed yowl, pawing at his nose. Even those of you not so olfactorily gifted can smell a particular pungent alcoholic smell.
digiman619
Kaen didn't actually hold his nose at the hard alcohol smell, but his displeasure towards it was clear.   "Unless the all of missing colonists are all here getting inebriated on particularly bad wine, I suspect we're about to discover something quite unsanitary. Be on your guard"  
Espeon55
Eirina sheaths her Elven Thorn blade and arms herself with her Longbow.   "Ambyr can't be too close to that smell so I'll stay in the rear and support you all with my archery skills if there is an enemy here."
  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
MA: Switching weapons. Sheathing Elven Thornblade and taking out Longbow
 
5ColouredWalker
After a moment, Thickness nods.  "Very well. I'll open."  

With that Thickness approaches the building, once close to the door he'll move his weapon to the crook of his elbow, using his now free hand to knock, once, twice, three times.

  "You alive in there?"  
lostsole31
No response from within.
Diavolo
Arsenne places himself behind Thikha'Ness, with his Glaive ready for action and says :   "I am as reluctant as you are to barge rudely into someone's private dwelling, but I think that the circumstances fully justify our going ahead and opening the door."
  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness chuffs with an aborted laugh at Arsene filling the silence after Thickness's call out.

  "I agree, just giving time for a calmer response.  I'm coming in friendly! "  

With that, Thickness attempts to open the door, and if not jumped.will make his way inside, holding his weapon point tipped back over his shoulder to present less of a threat.
lostsole31
As Thickness steps inside, he notices that one of the boards is warped at an odd angle and has the potential to squeak or otherwise make noise.

 Thickness , what do you do/ say?
5ColouredWalker
Thickness avoids the warped board, saying nothing as he gets inside and looks around for signs of a person.

  "Watch your step coming in. Some of the floor boards might be weak. Anyone alive in here?"  
lostsole31
Outside, those that are standing around note that there is nothing unusual about the house. it has a thatched roof, a single entrance with a working door that Thickness and now Arsenne have gone through.

Eirina and Kaen note some odd anti-symmetry about the plants, but would have to go closer to see.

Inside, the interior of the house is comparable to the other private homes in Talmandor’s Bounty. It contains only simple wooden furniture and an assortment of common household and personal items. Unlike the other residences, this house is in disarray, with chairs and tables flipped over, blankets torn to shreds, and produce such as corn and melons gnawed upon and then discarded to rot on the floor.
digiman619
Kaen holds up a finger.   "One moment, there's something odd about this plant..."  . He then steps closer to investigate.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Much as I implied, Kaen moves closer to the plant to investigate
 
lostsole31
Kaen notices that a lot of the crops were mashed down, but he can't tell by what.
5ColouredWalker
Thickness frowns, moving to check the other rooms with a mutter.

  "I could've sworn I smelt something stronger than rotting vegetables."  
rypt
Roran steps forward to take a look at the odd plants.  If he too is able to notice their stomped state, he will try to determine if they were all flattened in one direction that would indicate the direction of something moving through them.
Diavolo
Arsenne stays close by Thikha'Ness as the latter studies the place, Arsenne keep his eye out for ambushes or lurking dangers. He says softly: "  I'm with you.  "
lostsole31
Outside, Roran can't tell much from the ruined crops.

Inside, both of the house explorers think they hear a thump against the outside of a window in the larger of the two bedrooms.

 Thickness and Arsenne , what do you do?
5ColouredWalker
Thickness's steps thump loudly as he rushes towards the noise without a word.
Espeon55
Eirina also steps forward to examine the plants that have been trodden upon.
lostsole31
 
 Originally Posted by 5ColouredWalker 
 Thickness's steps thump loudly as he rushes towards the noise without a word. 
 

The sound was just outside the house, just outside of the window somewhere. Do you go look out the window to investigate?

 
 Originally Posted by Espeon55 
 Eirina also steps forward to examine the plants that have been trodden upon. 
 

Eirina, you notice some of the plants were casually trampled recently by some Small or Medium humanoid, but the tracks are not distinct enough to be specifically identified.
5ColouredWalker
   "Anyone out there!?"   

Despite his loud question, Thickness then pauses, and approaches the window quietly.
 
 Spoiler: actions 

Wouldn't actually help vs a readied action, but using Stealth on approach of window so that the person won't know when exactly Thickness pokes his head out the window.
Speaking of which, if there's no response and no obvious sign of danager, Thickness will take a deep breath and put his head out the window. I'm assuming it's a open window, please correct me if wrong.
 
Espeon55
  "From what I can tell these tracks were made by a Humanoid. They were either short or of average height but I cannot identify who or what made these tracks specifically."   She relays this information to Kaen and Roran.   "Ambyr, sniff. Can you pick up a scent? Track if so."   
lostsole31
 Surprise Round ... 

For all of Thickness' worry  and caution, he still gets surprised when something slaps against the  upper part of his chain shirt after he leans out the window to look  around.

 Begin Round One ...

R1T5:  Before Thickness even has a chance to adjust, he is attacked again, this time getting hit in the neck for  7 .  Despite being surprised, Thickness just barely manages to keep this ...  tentacle ... from grasping around his throat. But then he gets hit  again for  9 . This time, Thickness is held fest around the throat, being strangulated.

 R1T4:   Thickness ,  looking out the window, you were attacked by a strange beast, and  bludgeoned and now being strangulated, partway out the window. You  already feel woozy. What do you do?
5ColouredWalker
Thickness thrashes, attempting to brace himself against the window and rip himself free, making what little noise he can.

 
 Spoiler: Grapple, with nested if actions! 

Swift [If Possible]: Silver Crane Waltz Stance, +4 innitiative may help.
Standard: Resisting Grapple, CMB vs DC of opponent CMD:  (1d20+6)[ 11 ] 
 
 Spoiler: If Free 

Headless of Danger Thickness runs from the monster shouting.
   "Help! Monster!"

   Action: Move
If Action: If Attacked, Thickness will try Whirlpool Spin to counter the attack, rolling 1d20+5 as a swim check vs the roll.
 

 
 Spoiler: If Not 

Move Action (Environment interaction/Manipulate a Item): Thickness begins thumping his legs against the window as hard as he can to make noise.

If Action: If Attacked, Thickness will try Whirlpool Spin to counter the attack, rolling 1d20+5 as a swim check vs the roll. I don't think I can use this against a grapple damage attack.
 

 
lostsole31
 R1T4:  Thickness thrashes, attempting to brace himself  against the window and rip himself free, making what little noise he  can. Thrashing is right, because he finds that in his  bent-over-window-and-strangled he can't get into the desired defensive  stance. He tries to brace against the window, not recognizing that the  semi-elastic nature of the attacker is nonplussed by the attention to be  stretched, and Thickness is no better than he was before. Failing that,  he slams his legs against the wall under the window.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T20:   Arsenne ,  Thickness is in trouble. He is 5' from you, bent over and partly out  the window (though feet still on the ground in the room with you), and  not saying anything but kicking the wall frantically. What do you do?
Diavolo
Arsenne Shouts loudly   "Help! Something from outside is attacking us through the window!"  

He then drops his Glaive, shifts quickly to Thikha'Ness, and touches him on the back, saying   "Goddess, please grant this friend a  bit of luck ."  

He then wraps his arms around the waist of Thikha'Ness, braces a foot against the wall and prepares to pull him away from the window.

 
 Spoiler: Action breakdown 
- Five foot step to beside Thikha'Ness.

- SA - Domain use:
Bit of Luck (Sp)
6/day (3 + 3 [WIS]), SA, touch an allied creature, granting it a bit of luck.
*  For the next round, any time the target rolls a d20, they may roll 2x * take the more favorable result.

- MA - Wrap arms around Thikha'Ness, brace leg against wall, prepare to assist him in pulling free or to pull him free on my own, whichever opportunity presents itself first.
 
lostsole31
 R2T20:  Arsenne shouts loudly,    "Help! Something from outside is attacking us through the window!"   

He then drops his Glaive, shifts quickly to Thikha'Ness, and touches him on the back, saying   "Goddess, please grant this friend a  bit of luck ."  
 R2T5:  The ugly creature breathes wretch and alcohol  in Thickness' face, a little unsteady, but still strong enough to  leverage it in continuing to strangle the sobek for  12 , causing the hero to go limp partway hangingo out the window.

 R2T4:   Thickness  roll two stabilization checks (CON checks)!
5ColouredWalker
 
 Spoiler: Rolls to maybe not die! 

Stabilise roll
 (2d20b1)[ 16 ]  DC 10, -6 for negative hp, + 1 for con, Effective DC 15.
 
lostsole31
 R2T4:  Thickness stabilizes.

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T24:   Kaen , you can't understand what he said, but you heard Arsenne shouting, and you at least heard the word "Help." What do you do?
digiman619
Kaen drops the bulky form of his armor for its lightest form, running as fast as he can towards the cry of help.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
SwA: Put astral armor into astral skin, which increases my movement speed by 10 ft.
MA towards the shout.

If I can see Thickness from there, I will 'draw' my sword veil. If not, I will spend a second move action to get as close to Thickness as I can.
Regardless, I shout to Eirina   "Go 'round back!"  
 
lostsole31
 R3T24:  Kaen drops the bulky form of his armor for its  lightest form, running as fast as he can towards the cry of help. He  gets inside and heads through the open door into the master bedroom to  see Arsenne there, and Thickness half over the windowsill and not  moving. He calls out loudly for Eirina to hear,    "Go 'round back!"   
 R3T20:   Arsenne , you dropped your glaive, but hadn't yet taken hold of Thickness, who isn't moving. What do you do?
Diavolo
Arsenne says to Thikha'Ness   "Stay with us friend ...."   and he shifts toward the window, and strikes with a flattened palm to try and damage the tentacle wrapped around the neck of Thikha'Ness while shouting   "Assassin-bug, spear-hand!"  
 
 Spoiler: Action breakdown 
Five foot step (if necessary).
FA Flurry of Blows, strike #1 one with intent to stun:  (d20+7)[ 11 ]  and lethal damage  (d6+4)[ 6 ]  + stunning fist (Stunning Fist (Fort DC 14 neg.)
Strike #2, risky strike  (d20+6)[ 25 ]  and lethal damage  (d6+6)[ 7 ] .

If the first strike is sufficient to dislodge the tentacle, he will use his second "attack" grab Thikha'Ness so he can pull him away from the window.
 
lostsole31
 R3T20:  Arsenne says to Thikha'Nessn   "Stay with us friend ...."    and he shifts toward the window, and strikes with a flattened palm to  try and damage the tentacle wrapped around the neck of Thikha'Ness while  shouting   "Assassin-bug, spear-hand!"  
 
 Spoiler: Arsenne  
But  then Arsenne notices that his palm struck just the side of the  building. There is no tentacle, no hand, no assassin-bug or any  creature. There is no creature around, just an unmoving Thickness.
 

 R3T19:   Roran , what do you do?
rypt
Heeding Kaen's call, Roran hurries to the far side of the building, drawing his greatsword just in case.    "What's happened?  " he calls back.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Move action: Move 5 ft. to the SE, then 25 ft. east.

Free action: Draw greatsword during move action.

Standard action: If Roran can see either Thikka'Ness or an enemy after the move action, move around the NE corner of the building to be as close to either as possible while remaining outside the building (prioritizing the enemy if he can see both).  Otherwise he will move to the square that is 2 spaces east of the NE corner of the building.
 
lostsole31
 R3T19:  Heeding Kaen's call, Roran hurries to the far side of the building, drawing his greatsword just in case.    "What's happened?  "  he calls back.  He continues around and north, passing Thickness  hanging out of the window and adjusts to move to the unmoving warrior.

 R3T10:    "Arsenne, Kaen ... report!"   barks Mr. Arvodair with uncanny verve as he takes a position towards the north with his trident in hand.   "Everyone else, surround the building."  
 R3T9:   Eirina , what do you do, and what do you task Ambyr to do?
Espeon55
Eirina heeds her Uncle's orders and goes around back searching around the house for any signs of the enemy as she goes.   "Ambyr stay on alert."

   
 Spoiler: scout 
OOC: Eirina will do a double move as heading around the house towards Arsenne and scouting the area for danger as she goes.
 
lostsole31
 R3T9:  Eirina heeds her Uncle's orders and goes around  back searching around the house for any signs of the enemy as she goes.  Once there, she calls out so her pet can hear her,   "Ambyr, stay on alert."
  
 R3T7:  Ambyr stays where it is.

 R3T5:    "Over here!"   calls out Mr. Arvodair.

 End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T24:   Kaen , you hear Mr. Arvodair's voice outside. What do you do?

Arsenne on deck, Roran in the hole ...
digiman619
Kaen gives a small grunt as he reverses his momentum, now running back outside to help.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Heading back outside, following Mr Adoviair's instruction. Whether that takes one MA or two
 
Diavolo
Arsenne mumbles to himself :    "What ... is ... going ... on ... ?  O.K., let's have a look at you my friend"    as he tries to lift Thikha'Ness gently from his position on the window sill and lay him down on the floor, cradling his head carefully to make sure it does not bang on the floor. He does a very quick, cursory, initial assessment of his condition while handling him.


 
 Spoiler: Tender actions 
FA  :  Lifts Thikhness from the window, and lays him on the floor. Strength is 18. Receptive to any clues as to his condition as he is doing so.  Reserves a full examination for next round if appropriate.  Heal check without healer's kit is +8.
 
lostsole31
 R4T24:  Kaen gives a small grunt as he reverses his  momentum, now running back outside to help. He has to hustle, but he  gets to Mr. Arvodair. The coxswain is pointing upwards, and a hideous  creature is hanging from the end of the ridge beam of the thatch room,  with an overlong forelimb with crazy little sub-tentacles on its  forelimb. The stench of alcohol seems to be particularly strong, wafting  down from it, and it seems to be unsteady in holding onto the ridge  beam.

 R4T20:  Arsenne mumbles to himself,    "What ... is ... going ... on ... ?  O.K., let's have a look at you my friend,"     as he lifts Thikha'Ness gently from his position on the window  sill and lays him down on the floor, cradling his head carefully to  make  sure it does not bang on the floor. He does a very quick, cursory,  initial assessment of his condition while handling him. His medical  expertise tells him that Thickness is badly wounded and comatose, but  having self-stabilized.

 R4T19:   Roran ,  what do you do? You did NOT get to see what was described on Kaen's  turn, but you do see Arsenne taking Thickness off the windowsill and  into the house.

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Eirina in the hole ...
rypt
Roran gasps at the sight of Thika'Ness's seemingly lifeless body.    "Gods, tell me he's not dead!  Was it a trapped window?  Was there something outside?"    As though suddenly realizing that he is himself outside, he spins around to face east and takes hold of his greatsword with both hands, ready to meet an unknown threat.
lostsole31
 R4T19:  Roran gasps at the sight of Thika'Ness's seemingly lifeless body.    "Gods, tell me he's not dead!  Was it a trapped window?  Was there something outside?"     As though suddenly realizing that he is himself outside, he spins  around to face east and takes hold of his greatsword with both hands,  ready to meet an unknown threat.

 R4T10:    "North side of the buidling, hanging from the top beam!"   Mr. Arvodair shouts as he steps back and gets into a defensive stance with trident and shield.   "We need shooters!"  
 R4T9:   Eirina , what do you do?

Ambyr on deck, Enemy in the hole ...
Espeon55
Eirina moves to the northside of the building, heading towards the well after hear Mr. Arvodair's shouting, she grips her Longbow tighter and draws an arrow from her quiver to ready her bow for action. Upon seeing the monster she aims and fires her arrow with the precision of an expert archer.

 
 Spoiler: Action time 
MA: moves 20 feet and puts herself right next to the Well.
Attacks the Creature using Precise Shot if she can see it from her position with her Longbow
Attack Roll:  (1d20+5)[ 24 ] 
If the attack hits.
Damage:  (1d8)[ 3 ] 
if Crit :  (3d6)[ 12 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R4T9:  Eirina moves to the north side of the building, heading towards the well  after hear Mr. Arvodair's shouting, she grips her Longbow tighter and  draws an arrow from her quiver to ready her bow for action. Upon seeing  the monster she aims and fires her arrow with the precision of an expert  archer, striking it for  3 .

 R4T7:  Without any commands, Ambyr - still at the garden - delays.

 R4T5:  Angry, the monster lashes out with impressive reach and smacks Eirina in the throat for  4  and a second tentacle for  2 + 2 + grabbed .  The tentacles grasp around her throat and pull her to the building and  up 5' off the ground. She is held up by the neck, and finds that she  can't breathe or speak.

 End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T24:   Kaen ,  you are still holding a torch and are in astral skin. Your niece has  been grabbed by the strange creature and lifted off the ground, being  strangled ... almost as if being hung. What do you do?

Arsenne on deck, Roran in the hole ...
digiman619
Kaen drops the torch and summons his bow in one swift motion, taking a step back as he looses a bolt aimed at this... ,monstrocity.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Free action: Drop torch.
5 foot step NW
MA: 'unsheathe' my Slashing Volley veil in bow mode (if it was previously in sword mode, I spend a swift to redistribute my essence to change modes).
SA: Fire at the thing grabbing my teammates using Risky Strike. Note that because my armor is in Astral Skin mode, I'm getting a +2 bonus to Dex and thus should add 1 to this attack roll.  (1d20+6)[ 7 ]   (1d10+4)[ 11 ] 
 
digiman619
 
 Spoiler: Fumble 
Extra text!
 (1d20)[ 2 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R5T24:  Kaen drops the torch and summons his bow in one  swift motion, taking a  step back as he looses an arrow aimed at this monstrosity. His back  twinges, taking the breath out of him, and his arrow goes high and wide  and out of sight. 
 Spoiler: Kaen 
You are now fatigued.
 

 R5T20:  Inside,  Arsenne , what do you do?

Roran on deck, Mr. Arovdair in the hole ....
Diavolo
Arsenne calls out: "  Thikha'Ness is alive, I'll cure and come to help!  " then says quietly and reverently:  "  May the Eternal Rose guide my hands as I attend to this comrade  ." He gestures with one hand and reaches down to place the other hand lightly on Thickness.

Once done, he grabs his picks up his Glaive and looks back toward the window.


 
 Spoiler: Actions breakdown and cure roll 
SA :  Spontaneous casting a cure spell, sacrificing 'Shield of Faith'
Cure Light wounds  (d8+2)[ 5 ] 
MA : pick up Glaive.
5' Step :  If available, 5' step toward the window.
 
lostsole31
 R5T20:  Arsenne calls out: "  Thikha'Ness is alive, I'll cure and come to help!  " then says quietly and reverently:  "  May the Eternal Rose guide my hands as I attend to this comrade  ." He gestures with one hand and reaches down to place the other hand lightly on Thickness (  5 healing  ). He is still unconscious, but much healthier.

Once done, he grabs his picks up his Glaive and looks back toward the  window, straddling over Thickness' unconscious body and stares right at  Roran, who is outside the window, looking in.

 R5T19:  Roran, you are now staring across the windowsill into Arsenne's face. What do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Eirina in the hole ....
rypt
  "Oh goodness,"   Roran gulps when he catches sight of Eirina struggling high above the floor, adding important context to Mr. Arvodair's earlier call.    "I have a spell that I believe will help her, but it will take time to cast.  Please do not block my view."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Free action: If Roran can see any of the creature holding Eirina, he will assess it.

Full-Round Action: Cast  enlarge person , targeting Eirina.
 
lostsole31
 R5T19:    "Oh goodness,"   Roran gulps when he  catches sight of Eirina struggling high above the floor, adding  important context to Mr. Arvodair's earlier call.    "I have a spell that I believe will help her, but it will take time to cast.  Please do not block my view."  

He begins to cast a spell.

 R5T10:    "Had I only known I'd'a had ta throw my trident today,"   Mr. Arvodair mutters under his breath before he throws his trident and it sticks into the side of the eaves of the house.

 R5T9:   Eirina , not the best place to be. What do you do?

Critter on deck, Kaen in the hole ...
Espeon55
Eirina's fight or flight instincts kick in and she struggles desperately to escape the creature holding her because her life does indeed depend on it. She also tries to call out for Ambyr given if she has enough air to do so.

 
 Spoiler: Escape!!! 
Escape Artist check:  (1d20+4)[ 15 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R5T9:  Eirina's fight or flight instincts kick in and she struggles desperately  to escape the creature holding her because her life does indeed depend  on it and fails. She also tries to call out for Ambyr given if she has enough air  to do so, but she has no breath to do so.

 R5T5:   Though unsteady, moving erratically like a drunk man, two things are  still sure on this critter - the ability to maintain its purchase, and  its hold on Eirina's throat. It continues to choke her for  11 .

 End Round 5, Begin Round 6 ...

R6T24:   Kaen , what do you do?

Arsenne on deck, Roran in the hole ...
digiman619
Kaen feels a tad winded from his sudden running, but puts that aside as he looses another arrow at the beast.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Fire again. Note that the fatigue penalty is counteracted by the enhancement bonus from my astral skin  (1d20+6)[ 19 ]   (1d20+3)[ 13 ] 
 
digiman619
 
 Spoiler: damage 
I just noticed I typo'd the damage roll, fixing that.  (1d10+3)[ 12 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R6T24:  Kaen feels a tad winded from his sudden running,  but puts that aside as he looses another arrow at the beast that  strikes it solidly for  12 .

 R6T20:   Arsenne , you are inside with glaive in hand, looking out the window but inside the house. What do you do?

Roran on deck, Mr. Arovdair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne says :    "By the Goddess, that thing must have hit you harder than I thought!"   and reaches down to touch his hand on Thikha'Ness again, casting another cure spell.

He then moves to window with his glaive, and using window frame for partial cover, reaches up with his glaive to threaten their enemy and establish if he has sufficient reach to hit the thing on the next opportunity.


 
 Spoiler: Actions + cure 
SA : Sacrifice 1st level spell "Magic Weapon" for spontaneous casting of Cure Light wounds on Thickness
 (d8+2)[ 5 ] 
MA : Take position by the window sill with Glaive outside the window and pointed up at the rafters.
 
lostsole31
 R6T20:  Arsenne says,   "By the Goddess, that thing must have hit you harder than I thought!"   and reaches down to touch his hand on Thikha'Ness again, casting another cure spell for   5 healing  . Thickness is now conscious.

However, now that Thickness is awake, and directly under the windowsill,  this means that Arsenne can't stay here at the sill but has to step  back at an angle to leave room for Thickness while at least getting a  vague look outside, but doesn't see the creature.

 R6T19:   Roran finishes his spell, and Eirina grows to a height of 12' 4", and  with her sudden growth and weight (now around a ton), the critter can't  maintain the hold and Eirina stands on her own.  Roran , what do you do now?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Eirina in the hole ...
rypt
  "It worked?"    Roran seems surprised at first, before his eyes widen with excitement.    "It worked!"    Stowing his greatsword, he attempts to climb through the window and into the building to get a better look at whatever had taken hold of Eirina.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Move action: Stow greatsword.

Standard action: Climb through the window and into the building, looking for a space with clear line-of-sight to the creature in the ceiling.

Free action: If the above movement permits Roran to draw his crossbow at the same time, he will do so.

Free action: If Roran ends his movement able to see the creature, he will assess it.
 
lostsole31
 R6T19:    "It worked?"    Roran seems surprised at first, before his eyes widen with excitement.    "It worked!"     Stowing his greatsword, he climbs through the window and  into the building, stepping over Thickness - whose eyes flutter open - to get a better look at whatever had taken hold of  Eirina, but he only sees the ceiling, telling him that this thing must be on the roof outside.

 R6T10:  Mr. Arvodair moves forward, reaches up, and pulls his trident out of the side of the farmhouse.

 R6T9:   Eirina , what do you do? You currently have your oversized bow in hand.

Critter on deck, Thickness in the hole ...
Espeon55
Eirina coming to her senses after regaining her breath, looks at the creature with hatred. She drops her bow and draws her Elven Thornblade.   "You will pay for that!!!"
     Eirina then lets out a loud whistle to call Ambyr to her side, before stabbing the creature with her sword.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
SwA: Drops Longbow
MA: Unsheaths Elven Thornblade
Attack: no sauce  (1d20+5)[ 10 ] 
Damage:  (1d6+3)[ 8 ] 
if Crit  (2d6+3)[ 8 ] 
 
  
lostsole31
 R6T9:  Coming to her senses after regaining her breath, Eirina looks at the  creature with hatred. She drops her bow and draws her Elven Thornblade.   "You will pay for that!!!"
     Eirina then lets out a loud whistle to call Ambyr to her side, before stabbing at the creature with her sword, but missing.

Meanwhile, her bow - laying where she drops it - returns to normal size.

 R6T7:  Ambyr appears from the west, looping around the fountain, and gets up to Eirina, looking at the massive woman curiously.

 R6T5:  The critter whips out a tentacled-hand, just missing Eirina's throat.

 R6T4:   Thickness ,  you are prone on the floor. Roran and Arsenne are here, and you have no  idea what happened, nor what is happening. What do you do?
  
Kaen on deck, Arsenne in the hole ...
5ColouredWalker
  "What,  where is it!?   Silt ... Aggressive humanoid, smooth with long arms."  

Thickness gets up. Picking up his lance but leaving his shield where it lays, taking a defensive posture as he orients himself to the sounds of fighting. His voice rasps painfully.

 
 Spoiler: action breakdown. 

Move: Stand up.
Move: Pick up my Lance.
Swift: Silver Crane Waltz stance. +4 initiative, +2 AC/Reflex.
 
lostsole31
   R6T4:      "What,  where is it!?   Silt ... Aggressive humanoid, smooth with long arms,"   Thickness  rasps painfully as he gets up. Picking up his lance, he takes a  defensive posture as he orients himself to the sounds of  fighting.

 End Round 6, Begin Round 7 ...

R7T24:  Kaen, what do you do?

Arsenne on deck, Roran in the hole ...
digiman619
Kaen keeps mobile as he fires again at the beast
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
5 foot step north
SA: Fire at the monster, using Risky Strike  (1d20+5)[ 21 ]   (1d6+2)[ 5 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R7T24:  Kaen keeps mobile as he fires again at the beast, shooting it for  5 .

 R7T20:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Roran on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "Thickness my friend, you are still quite injured. How about stepping away from the Window and letting one of us step into the firing zone?"   

He taps Roran on the shoulder with his left hand and says,   "And when YOU act, you will do so with the fortune of the Eternal Rose herself to guide you!"   And he winks at encouragingly at Roran.


 
 Spoiler: One standard action 
SA:  Bit o' Luck --  For the next round, any time the target rolls a d20, they may roll 2x * take the more favorable result.
 
lostsole31
 R7T20:  Arsenne says:    "Thickness my friend, you are  still quite injured. How about stepping away from the window and letting  one of us step into the firing zone?"   

He taps Roran on the shoulder with his left hand and says,   "And when YOU act, you will do so with the fortune of the Eternal Rose herself to guide you!"   And he winks at encouragingly at Roran.

 R7T19:   Roran ,  what do you do? 
 Spoiler: Bit of Luck 
For the next round, any time you  roll a d20, you may roll 2x &amp; take the more favorable  result.
 

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Eirina in the hole ...
rypt
Roran nods in gratitude to Arsenne.    "Right.  How's the saying go?  Better to be lucky than good?"    He looks down at his crossbow, sighs, and then climbs back out the way he came, heading north in the hopes of finding a clear shot against this long-armed creature.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Move action: Move out through the eastern window, continuing 1 space further east so as to put 5 ft. between himself and the building, then head north until he either runs out of movement or has line of sight on the monster.

Standard action: If he has line of sight on the monster after moving, he will fire at it utilizing risky strike and taking the better of 2 attack rolls courtesy of Arsenne's lucky touch.  Otherwise, he will continue moving, circling to the west if necessary with the goal of being in clear line of sight to fire on it next turn.
 Attack roll #1:  (d20+4)[ 14 ] 
Attack roll #2:  (d20+4)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (1d8+2)[ 9 ]  
Free action: If he is able to see the creature this turn, he will assess it.
 
lostsole31
 R7T19:  Roran nods in gratitude to Arsenne,   "Right.  How's the saying go?  Better to be lucky than good?"  

  He looks down at his crossbow, sighs, and then climbs back out the way  he came.

 R7T10:  Mr. Arvodair steps back and  throws his trident. This time, his trident goes over the head of the  critter to land in the roof, out of sight.

 R7T9:   Eirina , what do you do? What do you command of Ambyr?

Ambyr on deck, Critter in the hole ...
Espeon55
   "Ambyr go in for an attack!"     Eirina commands whilst pointing at the monster who had almost strangled her. She then goes in for an attack herself hoping that her injuries don't prevent her from missing her target yet again.    "Hey Doc, if you can hear me I could use some of your healing!."   
 
 Spoiler: Revenge attack 
 
Attack Roll:  (1d20+5)[ 17 ] 
  Damage if hit:  (1d6+3)[ 7 ] 
if crit:    (2d6)[ 4 ]  
 
  
lostsole31
 R7T9:     "Ambyr go in for an attack!"     Eirina  commands whilst pointing at the monster who had almost strangled her.  She then goes in for an attack to strike the monster for  7 + disabled .    "Hey, Doc! If you can hear me I could use some of your healing!"    
 R7T7:  Ambyr goes around and tries to bite up but is out of reach.

 R7T5:   It's days numbered, the monster lashes out at Eirina to strike her in  the left forearm for 7, dropping Eirina, but the critter falls from the  top beam to the ground for  1 , unmoving.

 R7T4:   Thickness , you don't know what's happening outside, but it sounds like a lot of things falling on the ground. What do you do?

Kaen on deck, Arsenne in the hole ...
5ColouredWalker
  "Sure, I'll go join in the long way...  Try not to get strangled again." 
  
Thickness looks wearily at the Window before moving to exit the house and towards the fighting.

 
 Spoiler 

Move: Move, leaving the house and heading towards the sounds of fighting rather than through the window. 20ft covered.
Move: Move, leaving the house and heading towards the sounds of fighting rather than through the window. 20ft covered (40ft total)
Swift: Arcane Strike. (Someone might provoke a AOO)

If it's faster to move through a character's space Thickness will.
 
lostsole31
 R7T4:    "Sure, I'll go join in the long way...  Try not to get strangled again." 
  
Thickness looks wearily at the window before moving to exit the house  and towards the fighting, only to find the fighting seems done. The  creature and a giant Eirina are both on the ground, unmoving.

 End Round 7, Begin Round 8 ...

R8T24:   Kaen , what do you do?

Arsenne on deck, Roran in the hole ...
digiman619
Kaen unsummoned his bow as he ran to his neice, drawing a potion from his pouch.   "Mr. Arsenne, we require your assistance."  , he called back, his voice louder though not concerned.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
MA: Take out CLW potion.
MA: Walk over to  Eirina, ready to give her the potion when he has the time. 
 
lostsole31
 R8T24:  Kaen dismisses his bow as he runs to his niece, drawing a potion from his pouch.   "Mr. Arsenne, we require your assistance!"   he calls, his voice louder though not concerned.

 R8T20:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Roran on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne goes the short way - climbing out the window. As he does so he pauses a second to gauge the dimensions and estimate how hard it would have been to leap through the window and land on his feet, in a position to immediately attack the creature. He then approaches and examines Eirina, and glances again at Thikha'Ness and says:   "Regrettably, i have used up all of the personal cure spells that Shelyn grants me for the day. I do, however, have one more healing burst remaining. It doesn't heal quite as much as do the personalized spells, but it will benefit all of us."  
 
 Spoiler: Move and action 
MA - climb out of the window
SA - Examine Eirina.
 
lostsole31
 R8T20:  Arsenne goes the short way - climbing out the  window. But stepping up to the window, he finds that he can't get past  Roran. As he does so he  pauses a second to gauge the dimensions and estimate how hard it might  be to leap through the window and land on his feet, in a position  to immediately attack the creature. From still within the home but with  his head out the window, he calls out,   "Regrettably, I have used up all of the personal cure spells that Shelyn grants me  for the day. I do, however, have one more healing burst remaining. It  doesn't heal quite as much as do the personalized spells, but it will  benefit all of us."  
 R8T19:  Roran, you no longer feel lucky. That could because you have blocked Arsenne from getting out the window. What do you do?

 R8T10:   Mr. Arvodair smashes the edge of the shield into the critter's face.

 R8T9:   Eirina , roll a CON check.

Ambyr on deck, Thickness in the hole ...
Espeon55
 
 Spoiler: CON Check 
CON Check:  (1d20+12)[ 26 ] 
 
lostsole31
 Initiative Ends! 

Everyone presumably goes to the north side of the farmhouse where lies the dead critter (pic posted in Discord) and an unconscious, giant Eirina.
5ColouredWalker
  "****,  Eirina !"  


Thickness's lance clatters to the ground as he rushes to Eirina, laying a hand upon her, before removing his shield and incanting.
  "We shall fear no blade, skin rippling like her warters."  
His voice is a preachers voice, and the light that answers is not divine, but still healing.

 
 Spoiler: cure light wounds. 

 (1d8+2)[ 6 ] 
 
 Spoiler: 2nd if the first doesn't wake her. 

 (1d8+2)[ 10 ] 
 

 
lostsole31
Thickness casts a single spell on Eirina, and her eyes flutter awake and is awake after   6 healing  .
Espeon55
Eirina's eyes flutter open, she's awake but she still feels very weak. She sees Thickness and her Uncle standing over her and tries to get up but she barely has the strength to sit up.   "I-is...it...d-dead?"   She then asks her companions weakly.
digiman619
Kaen nods at his temporarily enlarged kin.   "Indeed. It was wise enough to strike from ambush, but foolish enough not to run once it'd been uncovered."   He will look up at his scaly associate.   "How much more healing can you muster for the day? I have a potion here, but I'd rather keep it in reserve if possible."  
5ColouredWalker
  "Three more acts of magic beyond a cantrip. I intend to keep one in reserve. We're both hurt, I'll get us a little more mended and then perhaps the good doctor can help. That was not a fun meeting. Can someone make sure it's either properly dead or restrain it."


  With that Thickness incants again, bringing healing to Eirina and himself with shining blue-gold light and heavenly verse.

 
 Spoiler: Healing 

I'm assuming I can't keep my previous roll. If I can then I'd like to give it to Eirina.

Rolls:
Eirina: [Assuming can't use previous] [/roll]1d8+2[/roll]
Thickness:  (1d8+2)[ 10 ] 
 
5ColouredWalker
 
 Spoiler: Fixing botched Roll. 

 Eirina: [Assuming can't use previous 2nd roll for her]  (1d8+2)[ 4 ]  
 
lostsole31
Thickness provides   4 healing   to Eirina, and   10 healing   to himself. It is obvious that Wadjet protects her own, and is more conservative with others.

  "The monster is dead,"   says Mr. Arvodair, his shield having stoved in its head.
rypt
Looking up at Eirina and down at Thickness, Roran sighs in relief.    "I am glad you are both alright,"    he says with a subdued but earnest smile.

He then moves to examine (and hopefully identify) the creature that had very nearly killed two of his companions.
5ColouredWalker
  "Praise be. I daresay such a creature is a harsh reminder were on the frontier. Cowardly, but it likely inflicted a fair few casualties. Everyone's going to need to know to stay together for safety with monsters such as this about."  

Thickness' Voice rasps somewhat, unhealed throat bruising revealing why as he talks despite the pain.

  "I'm ok to continue though not optimistic. Eirina, do you feel well enough to try cautiously or should we try to stay safe and get to the ships landing point?"  

As Thickness speaks he regathers his weapon and shield, strapping his shield in place.
Espeon55
Eirina shakes her head in defeat and speaks a bit more raspier now as well.   "I might be competitive and stubborn but I am not stupid....I am in no condition to continue today."   
digiman619
Kaen nodded.   "Retreat seems wise, though I worry that the captain might be displeased that we don't have a full report of the whereabouts of the colonists."   He walks over to the beast that had nearly slain his compatriots, trying to ascertain what exactly it was.   "Though I daresay this beast is no doubt part of it."  
Diavolo
Arsenne finally joins the group and asks Eirina if he can examine her.

He announces, looking at both Eirina and Thikha'Ness, whom he had already examined:   "Regrettably, without more magic, I would have to attend to your wounds via mundane means and that would take a full rest overnight, at the very least."  

He looks over at the dead creature and says,   "Does anyone know what is that thing?"  

Then adds,   "Wait, don't let me get distracted. I do have one more healing burst left and I think now is a good time to use it.  All who are injured, please gather round. It doesn't do much, but it will affect each one of us to a small degree."  

He holds forth his holy symbol of Shelyn and implores her help.

 
 Spoiler: Healing Burst 
Healing burst  (1d6)[ 3 ] 
 
5ColouredWalker
Thickness stands up a little straighter with the help of divine healing.

  "We just need to be clear with what we know... It might be worth doing a thorough search of buildings we've already looked through and cleared, though maybe not new buildings just in case. At least most of these monsters seem to be opportunists at least making use of whatever convinced people to leave.... Perhaps one of the colonists knows a thing or two about ritual magic and we can figure out some sort of defence."  
lostsole31
 
 Originally Posted by rypt 
 He [Roran] then moves to examine (and hopefully identify) the creature that had very nearly killed two of his companions. 
 

Roran is assisted by Kaen on determining what this strange creature is, and they come up with the following:
 
 This creature is a "choker," a type of alien (q.v.) creature that is part of a greater nomenclature of monsters known as an "aberration." Its alien nature means that this group of creatures has a harder time resisting physical effects, but its alien mind and spirit are better protected. It is no taller than a halfling, around 35 pounds, and has an almost comical gait due to its extremely limber legs. 
 Its biology seems to be evolved best for underground, though as you can see it survives just fine on the surface, though that is likely a more uncomfortable terrain for it. 
 Its mottled dark olive and near-black skin - though looking like it is covered in dark bruises - actually aids it in stealth, especially in rocky underground. 
 Roran actually recalls these creatures, and an essay he read about the Darklands mentioned these creatures are fluent primarily in a tongue called "Undercommon," a sort of pidgin of Aklo, Elven, Dwarven, Gnome, &amp; Terran. 
 The flexible nature of the choker means that they climb naturally but slowly, but perform physical tasks more quickly than expected.  
 
"Alien" in this regard means not a creature that naturally formed on Golarion. It either came from beyond this world, or is a strange and extreme mutation. As such, aliens can create their own place in the ecological niche, while ecology itself cannot account for such a creature.

Also, it seems that this creature was absolutely blottoed .... and that it could actually have been much more dangerous if it wasn't stewed in alcohol.

 
 Originally Posted by Diavolo 
 He [Arsenne] holds forth his holy symbol of Shelyn and implores her help. 
 

Everyone gets   3 healing   up to max.
digiman619
Kaen placed a hand in his chin in thought  . "It's unusual that one if these would be in the surface. Was there some disturbance underground that drove it upwards? And if so, was it something the colonists did?"   He shook his head.   "Always with more questions than answers, it seems."   He turned to his compatriots.   "Unless there's something vitally important to check around here, I'd suggest we make our way back to the ship and report what meager finding we have to the captain"  
Diavolo
Arsenne looks at Kaen and says: "  That sounds like a good plan.  But since we are here, how about if we do a thorough search of this house? I might give these two..."   Looking at Eirina and Thikha'Ness   ".... more time to catch their breath if they need it  . "
lostsole31
Mr. Arovdair clucks in his deep voice,   "Sure, check this farmhouse, but we can't go 'back' to meet up with the ship.  Remember, Ms. Avandth was going to ask the captain to sail north along the island's coast to a secondary landing site determined by the expedition's surveyors as an alternative spot to found a colony. That is where we are to rendezvous with the ship."  
Espeon55
  "Then we should find a safe spot to set up camp"   Eirina states feeling somewhat better but still not fully recovered. Eirina then looks at the position of the sun to try and determine the time of day.
lostsole31
The time is about 1630.
Espeon55
Once figuring out it is late afternoon getting close to evening she speaks to the rest of her companions.   "If you all didn't bring a bedroll or camping gear we can clean out one of the houses at the village and sleep there tonight, but either way we need to make plans on where we are sleeping. We won't make it to rendevous point in time today and we still haven't solved the mystery of what happened here. And we need to heal and recharge our magic. I don't know about everyone else but I need 8 hours of sleep in order to cast spells again as well as study my spellbook. So we need a safe spot to do all this. And food we need food. I can go hunting with Ambyr if we do not have enough trail rations for everyone."   Eirina then looks to her Uncle.   "I am fine now, I may still need rest and healing but I am out of danger so don't worry about me. You know I am an experiences hunter."   
5ColouredWalker
  "It feels off to stop just now, but seperating is likely to be worse given that thing."

  Thickness pauses, then rolls his shoulders, a wave of scaled muscle from left to right as he thinks.  

"Is anyone actually opposed to stopping? If not then we might as well search this place, then settle in. Get a early start tomorrow perhaps?"  
Diavolo
Arsenne says :   "I agree with Eirina. It makes sense to change our focus from exploration to rest and recovery. The sooner we get set-up, the sooner I can attend to people's wounds and see if I can accelerate the natural healing process overnight. "  
He looks lost in thought for a moment.   "I have a bedroll, but no rations with me. I can, however, magically purify vast amounts of food and water, by the gift of the Eternal Rose. By know the semi-molten rocks that were conjured by Mr. Arovdair's little lamp-friend must have cooled down after our run-in with the insect swarm.  Shall we see what foods can be magically salvaged from the pantry?"  
digiman619
Kaen nodded.   "In that case, we'll need to set up a watch to keep an eye throughout the night."   He looked around his party.   "How many of us need uninterrupted sleep to recover their magicks? We'll need to figure out shifts that allow for that. Mine aren't usually expended like that, so I am able to fit my watch in whenever is most convenient."  
lostsole31
  "I won't stay in this place,"   says Mr. Arvodair.   "I couldn't get to sleep for want of a clean breath, the smell of alcohol is so pungent."  
digiman619
Kaen nodded again.   "Indeed. Let's instead do one of the other buildings closer to the shore. I fear we may have to bunk a tad closer than some of us might like, but staying inside a set of walls seems the most logical course of action."  
Diavolo
Arsenne says :   "Yeah, were packed pretty tight, day and night, on that ship.  I don't mind brushing elbows from time to time as one of us tosses or turns.   And I'm happy to take a shift at any time period. Shall we go by Standard Taldayan alphabetical order for this first night. just for simplicity's sake?"  
lostsole31
  "Be no need,"   says Mr. Arvodair.   "I have a watch that'll see over us all night long with nobody needing to give up or break up their kip."  
Espeon55
  "I assume you mean the lady who lives in your lamp?"   Eirina asks Mr. Arvodair.   "Anyways how much food do we all have? So I know how much I have to hunt for prey. Ambyr can pretty much take care of himself. I am sure there have to be rabbits or birds here somewhere."
  
Diavolo
Arsenne says:   "That sounds good. Some fresh game will make a nice change after all those weeks of eating fish and ship's rations. How long do you think it will take you to hunt?  It's already late afternoon. I guess the rest of us can take care of setting up camp while you hunt. But remember, if there were dangerous creatures within the colony, there are certainly plenty more out there. I would feel better if you and Ambyr did not go alone."

  He looks at the rest of the group and says:   "For spending the night, I would like to recommend that large two-story structure that was in the far Eastern corner of the triangular enclave. It seemed solidly built, and no other denizens seemed to have claimed it."   
5ColouredWalker
  Thickness nods at Arsense. "A good idea. As for food."

  Thickness looks to Eirina, shifting from foot to foot.  
"I brought a days worth intending to supplement with hunting as needed, birds and fish if nothing else. Are you sure you're too injured to continue if intending to hunt?"


  
Espeon55
  "Exploring any further is too risky, if there are other monsters lying in wait it could cost us our lives with our limited healing spells left."   Eirina states to Thickness.   "Hunting game however is a piece of cake in comparison. I was brought onto this team because of my skills in hunting and trapping. However I will take someone with me. Are you volunteering to help? You sound like a capable hunter yourself."    
5ColouredWalker
  "I am and intend to. Just as long as we're cautious, monsters can hide in far more places than abandoned buildings."

  Thickness offers  Eirina a smile, though his crocodile mouth leaves it full of sharp teeth.

   "If naught else, it may help me slim down the number of whistles I'm wearing."  
Espeon55
Eirina looking at her still large size, looks at Roran.   "Hey how long does the spell last? I can't exactly be stealthy like this."   
Diavolo
Arsenne says to Eirina:   "Maybe you can take advantage of the opportunity to pick some hard-to-reach fruits from the tops of trees?"  
lostsole31
It's about this time in conversation that Eirina returns to normal size.

Mr. Arvodair says,   "I was not weather enough to think to bring food with me. I didn't expect not to meet up with the ship tonight."  
Espeon55
Eirina looks at herself in wonder and awe as she is now returned to normal size before standing.   "Well...that answers that."   She then bends down and retrieves her Longbow from the ground where she had dropped it and straps it to her back and then retrieves her Elven Thornblade which she had dropped promptly after falling unconscious and puts her sword back in it's sheath.

She then addresses Mr.Arvodair.   "I admit I was not expecting not to make it back to the boat by evening either but the way I see it, we need to recuperate. We can indeed inspect this home and learn what we can from here but after that...it seems too risky to explore further without risk of dying. Which is why I pointed out the need for a plan for the night and food."

   
 Spoiler: Retrieval of weapons 
MA: Retrieving both Longbow and Elven Thornblade and putting both weapons away.
 
digiman619
Kaen pursed his lips.   "It's a pity that we had to burn the building to deal with the swarm, as that's where the colony's food supply was. If it had occurred to me that's how we were going to solve the issue, I'd've moved the sealed barrels out before we ignited it."  
lostsole31
Mr. Arvodair agrees with searching the house, but not with staying in it.
lostsole31
A deep search is conducted of the Levin farmhouse. The interior of the house is comparable to the other private homes in Talmandor’s Bounty. It contains only simple wooden furniture and an assortment of common household and personal items. Unlike the other residences, this house is in disarray, with chairs and tables flipped over, blankets torn to shreds, and produce such as corn and melons gnawed upon and then discarded to rot on the floor.

The house has two bedrooms. Two barrels have been rolled into the larger bedroom; one stands on end by a window. That barrel is empty, but the other remains sealed. Both barrels are marked as containing ale.

The floorboards of this house are very squeaky, especially by the front door. That area is also searched in earnest, and the floorboards are pulled up with some difficulty. Secreted within is a masterwork longsword with a wire grip wrapped in green leather and gold wire. Roran detects a faint magical aura, but is unable to determine the school of magic. After discussions with Kaen, Roran and Kaen determine that this sword is of Azlanti manufacture, and was likely found by one of the Levin's while doing work on their farm land.
Espeon55
  "Azlanti manufactured? You are certain Uncle?"   Eirina asks unable to hide her excitement and curiosity.   "How old is this blade can you tell? Is it still useable? Oh I wonder where they found it! I wonder if there are more items hidden around here like this blade."   
5ColouredWalker
  "We already knew that they left for reasons not relating to needing to defend the colony in a rush, but who stores a magical blade under the floorboards?"

  Thickness murmurs with confusion before going to stand outside the building.

After a moment for those still inside to speak Thickness speaks up.  

"It's a nice find and potentially very useful, but we should go back to the main buildings and pick one for setting down. Both to fortify just in case and so we can scrounge what food we can."  
lostsole31
  "It's very likely they didn't know it was magical,"   says Mr. Arvodair as he follows Thickness.   "I wouldn't have known if it wasn't for you magical types. It's just an old, well-made, pretty sword that was probably hidden for its aesthetic value, the way people used to store gold pieces in mattresses."  

Arsenne comes outside with them and offers,   "You know, all of the buildings are kind of jammed up except the barracks, we could go there?"  
digiman619
Kaen had been lost in thought as he examined the blade. After a moment, he looked back to his niece.   "Unless this is an  exceptionally  convincing forgery, this blade dates to the Age of Legend. Before the dwarves began their Quest for the Sky, before the Gnomes set foot on Golarion, before the Earthfall, before almost all of our recorded history, this blade was forged before them all, it has lasted over a hundred centuries, at it seems to be as sharp as it was all those lifetimes ago."   He took a deep breath before sheathing the blade and handing it to Mr Adovair.   "I hope we find this blade's proper owner, because I would very much like to purchase this from them, should I get sufficient coin."   

He then turned to Arsenne.   "The barracks also has the benefit of having multiple beds; I wasn't particularly looking forward to resting in such close quarters if it could be avoided."  
Espeon55
Eirina looks at the blade in awe.   "Whoa...th-that truly is an incredible find."
  
She then nods in agreement about the barracks then has one concern.   "Uh...does anyone remember if um that place had a divider of some sort of anything...? I am kind of the only woman here. And well...I'd rather not have anyone watching while I change out of my armour to sleep..."  
digiman619
Kaen shrugged at his niece's worries.   "It's only armor, dear. Unless you planned to change into an entirely different outfit before retiring to bed, it doesn't seem like much of an issue."   He paused before softening his tone.   "If nothing else, though, we could wait outside while you change if it would ease your concerns."  
Espeon55
  "...That would make me feel a little more comfortable."   Eirina admits.   "Mother drilled into me on how to be a lady and well ladies don't exactly undress in front of men who aren't their husbands. Even if it is as simple as removing my armour."
  
Trying to move past the awkwardness of this conversation, she clears her throat.   "Anyways if that is settled....let's head to the Barracks and start hunting and gathering."    
digiman619
Kaen rolled his eyes.   "Yeah, Eshraa always was a bit of a prude. Such propriety is lovely, as long as you're safely within the city walls. Out in the wilds, however, you often have to make do"   He then smiled at his niece.   "We'll do our best to keep you unscandalized in the mean time, though."  
lostsole31
The party makes it to the barracks. The sun is beginning to set.

Now what?
Espeon55
Eirina readies her Longbow before turning to Thickness and Ambyr.   "Shall we go gather some food before nightfall? Come Ambyr time to hunt for some real food."   
Diavolo
Arsenne looks at the three hunters with a slightly worried look and says:    "The sun is already beginning to set. How long should we wait before we start worrying, and maybe even go out looking for you?"  
digiman619
Kaen shakes his head.   "Hunting now would be quite unwise. At best, we are a bit more comfortable with a filled belly, but the risk is far too high. None of us know these lands well enough to go out at night and be 100% certain that they will find the way to the rest of our group in the morning. And that's  before  we consider the risk of interrupting the sleep of something dangerous like a boar."   He looked at his niece, as he took her hand.   "I especially don't want to risk you over such a small thing. Yes, the hunger will be uncomfortable, but I am begging of you to not make me tell your mother that you died because you were too impatient to wait for a meal."  
Espeon55
Eirina sighs but reluctantly agrees.   "Okay very well...however Ambyr still needs to eat. Telling me to go without food is one thing but you wanna tell him?"   She then pets her companion.   "You might have to hunt on your own buddy. I don't have any meat to give you."   
rypt
Roran's attention has been focused solely on the sword and it's mysterious magical properties.    "We are near the beach,"   he says without looking up from the blade.    "Perhaps we might catch some fish?"  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness nods.
 
   "It got dark faster than I anticipated. I can share rations to help get us through tonight, but as for meat... I could help with fishing and setting up light, but going into strange woods at night is a good way to get lost. I'm happy to go as a couple of us or as all of us just in case, but we should decide soon."  
lostsole31
  "We're much farther south than Andoran,"   says Mr. Arvodair.   "Daylight is less variable than you're used to, being nearly the same sunrise and sunset each day."  
digiman619
  "If Mr Thickness is willing to share a meal for this evening, I'm sure we can forage for what we need in the morning."   Kaen said diplomatically.   "But we've hit the end of our effectiveness for the day, and I suggest we take our rest now we're able to."   He knelt down to address Ambyr.   "If there's meat in the rations, you may have mine, but otherwise we don't have food for you right now, little one. We will be sure to get you a full belly in the morning"   
lostsole31
Arsenne, Eirina, Mr. Arvodair, Roran .... and Ambyr ... are without food.

Thickness has a single ration for himself.

Kaen has five rations meant for people (not predator-kitties).

This means that  if  Kaen shares with the other four, that everyone except Ambyr can eat dinner before turning in.

Is that what Kaen is willing to do?
digiman619
Kaen distributes meals to his bipedal allies, giving the small amount of jerky that came with his to Ambyr. It wouldn't be enough to truly stave off the hunger, but it was the best he could do for them considering the circumstances.
Espeon55
Eirina eats her trail ration and also gives the piece of jerky she had to Ambyr. She too knows this won't help her cougar but it's the best she can do for now.   "I promise you can go hunt tomorrow morning, okay Ambyr?"   
lostsole31
Ambyr takes the jerky greedily as everyone else eats.
digiman619
With his party fed for the most part, Kaen inspects the barracks to see if there's some sort of barrier in place to protect his niece's modesty.
lostsole31
There is  something, surely  that can be used for privacy/ modesty.
digiman619
Secure with the knowledge that his niece can avoid being scandalized another day, he tells her before turning to the rest of the party.   "Well, there we have it. I'm going to go inside and get some rest. I highly suggest you all do the same."   True to his word, he then makes his way inside and prepares for sleep.
lostsole31
Mr. Arvodair has the lamp at the ready, but waits for others to turn in.
Espeon55
Eirina breaths a sigh of relief as she goes inside the barracks to rest and beckons Ambyr to follow her. Once inside she goes to use a curtain for privacy and changes out of her armour so she can sleep more comfortably. Putting her Backpack, her thieves tools, her holy symbol and other items that she was carrying to the side as she sets up her bedroll to sleep on. She beckons Ambyr to sleep next to her for extra security.
Diavolo
Arsenne says in an authoritative voice that he has never used before in this present company:    "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, YOUNG LADY! And every one else as well! Nobody with injuries is going to bed until I have had a chance to inspect your wounds, and tend to them the best of my ability. Kaen has done us a great favour by sharing the little food he has, but now I need to to do my part to make sure we all wake up in better shape than we are when we tuck ourselves in. I'm pretty sure we can scavenge some pots and pans here in enclave. If someone can help me by gathering up some kindling and firewood so I can boil up a pot of water, and find me some abandoned clothing that I can use as compresses, I will do my best to speed up everyone's natural healing overnight."  

Arsenne uses his magical light and conjured water to washout wounds, do make cool or warm compresses on bruises depending on what his training dictates, and deep tissue massages where that the best call. He will attend to everyone willing, not forgetting that Mr. Arvodair had pulled his back earlier while tugging on the sunken boat that they had discovered. When done, he will reduce his usual bed-time preparation routine of one hour of stretching and meditating to just ten minutes so as to not lose too much sleep himself.

 
 Spoiler: Stats 
Skills:  Heal +8,  Profession Doctor +9.
 
5ColouredWalker
  "And I should use the last of my magics before we turn in. Eirina, if you would like further healing."  

Thickness will use the last of his magical energy to provide healing, and if refused will use his magic on himself.

Once done, he  allows Arsene his inspection before turning in.

 
 Spoiler 

Cure Light Wounds. Targeting Eirina, or myself if Eirina refuses.
 (1d8+2)[ 5 ] 
[Roll]
 
Espeon55
Eirina lets out a sigh in frustration about being fussed over but nods in agreement.   "I guess I won't say no to further healing. However Arsenne don't call me 'young lady' again please...you are not my father."   
Diavolo
As Arsenne washes out Eirina's wounds and makes sure that there is no infection, re responds with a smile:    "Well technically, I am a cleric performing his clerical duties and attending to you, and in many cultures, the honorific for such a person is 'Father'.... but very well, your preference is duly noted."  

Arsenne continues to fuss over her and all the others, admonishing them to be sure to get a full night's sleep, before looking after himself and going to bed.


 
 Spoiler: Providing long-term care. 
Action:
  Providing long-term care means treating a wounded person for a day or more. If your Heal check is successful, the patient recovers hit points or ability score points (lost to  ability damage ) at twice the normal rate: 2 hit points per level for a full 8 hours of rest in a day, or 4 hit points per level for each full day of complete rest; 2 ability score points for a full 8 hours of rest in a day, or 4 ability score points for each full day of complete rest.  
  You can tend as many as six patients at a time. You need a few items and supplies (bandages, salves, and so on) that are easy to come by in settled lands. Giving long-term care counts as light activity for the healer. You cannot give long-term care to yourself.  
  Action/Time: 8 hours.  
  .
 https://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/heal#TOC-Long-Term-Care 
  
 
lostsole31
When Thickness casts his spell, she gets   5 healing  , but Thickness feels flushed and gets a headache.

Arsenne does his check over all those who are wounded or strained.

Anything else, or ready for bed?
Diavolo
Once everyone has been attended to, Arsenne does his most minimal routine of stretching exercises and mediatation, keeping it only 10 minutes, and also goes to bed.
Espeon55
Eirina goes to bed once she is done being fussed over and treated for her injuries.
lostsole31
   Oathday, 17 Arodus 4717 AR [Waning Crescent]
 Weather:  90/ 75 F. Winds N 15 mph. Dry.  

It promises to be a hot day, but with a strong northern breeze it will keep humidity down.

Everyone begins their daily routines, which is about a full hour for each person (30 min. per class).

Since this is everyone's first time seeing each other do their morning routines, please give a  short  paragraph describing what that entails (for the sake of your fellow players).

Also, does anyone change any aspect of their lineup? Spells prepared, maneuvers readied, veils shaped, etc.
Espeon55
Eirina begins her morning routine by drinking some water giving Ambyr some of her Water before proceeding to do morning stretches and warm up exercises to loosen up her muscles and joints of any stiffness. She then grabs her spellbook to commit her spells to memory. Once she has memorized her spells she puts her leather armour back on and puts away her bed roll. as well as packs up her thieves tools, her holy symbol and other items she had put aside before she went to bed. And knowing she is about to go hunting with Ambyr she decides to change the animal focus currently on Ambyr. And grants herself an Animal Focus.

 
 Spoiler: Animal focus change and spells prepared 
Spells Prepared:
0-Level Eldritch Scoundrel
- Read Magic
- Detect Magic
- Detect Poison
- Mage Hand

1st Level Eldritch Scoundrel
- Longshot
- Gravity Bow
- Magic Weapon

SWA: Ambyr's Animal Focus: Snake
Eirina's Animal Focus: Wolf.
 
digiman619
Kaen's preparations, at an initial glance, might seem just like mediation. However, to those who paid close attention (or were aided by a spell or ability to sense magic) could see the mystical *akasha* flow through him, a faint blue glow to those using just their eyes. Starting at his heart, the energy seemed to flow into his extremities before bouncing back the way they cam and converging at his head, before all returning en mass to his heart. it repeated the same slow route until after one final cycle, he opened his eyes and seemed to float for a moment before stretching his limbs, his astral armor forming around him in its strongest form while his outstreched hand created his akashic bow once again. He then dismisses both before adjusting his clothes to keep his shirt straight, and looking for the others to start the day's activities.
5ColouredWalker
As might be expected of a adventuring Bard who's voice is their instrument, Thickness' day started with food, basic stretches, and vocal warm ups.
What was odd, was how it continued into prayer and hymnals. These began in Osiriani, but would include Taldane and Aquan. 
 
"Oh Wadjet, Glorious and Strong, Defender of Men and Water, may I be worthy of a fraction of your might that I may share it with others,
Oh Wadjet, Traveler of River's Winding, let me follow your paths through lands fertile and lush,
Oh Wadjet, Purifier of the Waters, forgive me my sins, and let me wash away other's.
Oh Wadjet, Goddess Fair and Good, may my actions honor you." 
 
Eventually Thickness' Hymns gave way to softer spoken songs, as Thickness exercised himself, martial kata kept in time to his verse, some praising Ragathiel instead of Wadjet, complimented with basic Arcane and Akashic channeling. His practice was disturbed somewhat as Kaen's practice caught his eyes, but after some stumbling Thickness returns to his flow.

Once done, Thickness cleans himself up with Presdigitation, and offers the same to others, also heating and flavoring the remains of last nights rations as a light breakfast for himself any any who want such.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 

The above is broadly Thickness' standard. Being a Bard nothing to change there. No other essence receptacle so Bite still gets 1 essence. No change to Manuevers readied or element for Zealot.
 
rypt
Roran begins the day with 30 minutes of quiet meditation, focusing his akashic energy into a trio of now familiar veils.  Next, he takes out a small pouch and begins to sort through a number of trinkets and oddities -- many of which are enclosed in small vials or wrapped in tattered strips of cloth.  He selects four items from the pouch and spends another 30 minutes in meditation with these arrayed before him.  He completes his preparations with stretching and light calisthenics.  Those who bother to pay him any attention might notice that there's something slightly off about his exercises.  There are moments of clumsiness and the occasional mumbled exclamation of surprise.

If any of his companions require more time for their morning preparations, Roran will occupy himself by making another attempt to decipher the spellbook which the party found the previous day.
Diavolo
Arsenne awakens, keeps his eyes closed to say a short prayer of thank you to Shelyn, and then opens his eyes, immediately rolls out of his bunk and pumps out 50 pushups. He then stands up dresses, takes a quick at glance at each of his teammates to assess that they are breathing and alive. He then quietly takes his belongings and, seeing that the weather is nice outside, he slips out the door.

Once outside he finds a quiet corner out of the way, between the buildings where he stands and faces the four cardinal directions and says short prayers of thanks to various affiliate gods before focusing on his patron.
He thanks Desna for the beautiful travels through the dream world throughout the night;
He thanks Sarenrae for bringing a beautiful dawn;
He thanks Torag for protecting them through the night;
He prays to Erastil for a safe and successful return for those going out hunting;
He then focuses his meditations and prayers on Shelyn, and chooses his spells for the day.

Once done with his duties to the devine, he attends the physical.
He does ten minutes of stretching and deep breathing meditation, trying to reduce his rate to just two breaths per minute.
He follows that with ten minutes of strength and hardening exercises, today focusing mainly on one and two finger pushups.
He completes the morning work out with ten minutes of Katas and agility training.

Once done with his clerical and monk morning duties, he conjures some water into one of the pots they gathered last night, and uses this to wash himself.  He is not at all careful or self-conscious about covering up. He takes out his grooming kit and mirror and plucks his eyebrows and polishes away any minor imperfections he might find.

Total time of between 1h10 and 1h20 with the grooming and washing.

When done, he seeks out his friends to see how they are doing and how well their wounds have healed.


 
 Spoiler: Spells chosen 
Spells:
Orisons = same
1st Level Domain = True strike (his only option, actually)
1st Level regular spells x3 = Bless, Magic Weapon, Summon Monster I.
 
lostsole31
Mr. Arvodair heads outside and as some go outside they may seem do his thing. In addition, the Lamp Lady seems to do things as well.

Mr. Arvodair spends the first half hour going from stretching to calisthenics to more intensive physical exercise. From there, he spends the next half-hour in various types of weapon drills, primarily using a tandem trident-and-shield style.

The Lamp Lady spends the first half-hour .... meditating? But that "meditation" is more about looking appreciatively at Mr. Arvodair doing his calisthenics. She gets bored, though, and then spends her time in actual meditation.

After they are both done, they walk together down to the beach, out of sight of the others. In time, Mr. Arvodair returns (alone) and tells the group,   "The means to eat if hunting or foraging turns out poorly has been granted. Plenty enough to feed everyone."  
Espeon55
Eirina polishing her sword and checking her quiver arrows as well as polishing up her bow, looks to Mr. Arvodair curiously.   "I thank you for that information but I am a rather good hunter and was trained by my father and grandmother, so I doubt it will turn out poorly but it is good to know there will be plenty to eat."   

Eirina then turns to Arsenne   "And thank you for the help I am feeling much better not 100% but better than I was last night. Sorry if I was a bit cranky last night, I am just rather stubborn and don't like being fussed over too much. My mother was kind of a worrywart. Honestly she thought I was still too young to go on a journey like this."    
Diavolo
Arsenne responds   "I promise to do only as much fussing as is strictly necessary for me to perform my duties to this group, as a cleric and a doctor."    He then smiles at her and turns to go, but then stops in mid-step, pauses, smiles discretely with a roguish glint in his eye, then turns back to Eirina and says:

  "Are you sure you won't be too hot with that tunic? And did you drink enough water this morning? I don't want you getting dehydrated.  Have you informed anybody of the general region where you will be hunting?  Did you provide and ETA after which we should worry?  Are you sure you have enough arrows with you? Are you bringing some snacks? Do you have means of starting a fire so as to send a smoke signal in case you need help? Did you pack a blanket in case you get tired and want to take a nap?  Did you ..... ?"  
 
 Spoiler: Prepared action 
Arsenne prepares an action:  'dash for cover'  to be triggered if Eirina looks like she is on the verge of blowing her top.  Sense motive = +3.
 
digiman619
As soon as Arsenne was done ribbing his niece, Kaen stepped up to Eirina as they got ready to go foraging.   "It's because you take after your father in many ways. A wholly Elven child wouldn't have grown to maturity as fast, and while she knew that  intellectually,  it still felt too soon."  
Espeon55
Eirina's eye twitches slightly as she glares at Arsenne.   "I take back what I said last night. You do not act like my father, you act like my  mother."    
She then gives him an annoyed 'hmph!' before speaking to her Uncle.   "I understand that, I know in Elven years I would still be considered a child. But in human years I am an adult."  
  "Thickness? You ready? I am certain Ambyr is more than ready to head out."   Eirina then asks their crocodilian friend.
5ColouredWalker
Thickness smiles and cuts himself off with a snicker before nodding.

  "I am indeed now that the fun is over. That said, Mr. Arvodair is this a means that would use up resources? Because if not it might be best to rely upon it and move with greater speed."  


As Thickness speaks he finishes adjusting  his bag and necklace of whistles, ready to leave.
lostsole31
  "Not a permanent, non-renewable resource, no,"   Mr. Arvodair replies to Thickness.

So, to verify, the hunter/gatherers are Eirina, Ambyr, and Thickness, correct?

What will Kaen, Arsenne, and Roran do in the meantime?
digiman619
Kaen will also go, though he is focusing on foraging rather than hunting.
lostsole31
Will Kaen accompany the hunters, or go separately?
digiman619
Kaen swaps his astral suit to its lightest form before following the others, pausing every so often to look for berries before catching back up with them.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Switch to Astral Skin. This will give me an enhanced move speed, but more importantly a +2 to Stealth. Also, going on my own seems like a great way to get ambushed, so I shall not do that.
 
5ColouredWalker
  "Very Well. Let's ensure we remain fed."  

With that Thickness joins the hunting group.
Diavolo
Arsenne looks at Roran and says:   "Well, It looks like it's you and I, my friend. The first thing I would like to do is go back to that building that had the insect swarm.  By now the lava rocks conjured by Mr. Arvodair must surely have cooled down. I would like to and explore the remains of that building and and see what can be salvaged. Shelyn, the eternal rose, has allowed me the use of a spell to purify food and water for the day. If we dig through the rubble, I'm sure we will find something that can be salvaged with a bit of magical assistance.  Will you accompany me?"  
rypt
Roran looks between Arsenne and Mr. Arvodair.    "Uhm, well, I suppose I could,"   he says hesitantly.    "Do you think it will be safe?"   he asks of the imposing bosun's mate.
lostsole31
 
 Spoiler: Arsenne, Roran, Mr. Arvodair 
  "It will with me,"   Mr. Arvodair answers.

The three of them make it to the building. The internal damage was complete. There is nothing salvageable now, boiled and popped and crushed bodies of cockroaches are everywhere that a strange, fragile black rock isn't.  The blackened remainder material from the destruction is an extremely porous black rock that is sticky to the touch ... not by way of adhesive, but because it is so uneven as to grab from a micro-"prickliness." The rock is extremely fragile, however, and crumbles easily, but only using tools as trying to crumble it by hand causes micro-abrasions.

Anything said in the failed attempt to get food, or just step outside?
 
rypt
Roran pokes with a dagger at the curious carbonaceous material.    "Maybe it's for the best there's nothing left,"   Roran says, his face scrunched in disgust as he turns his attention to the mass of dead bugs.    "I'm not sure I'd want to eat anything that had been roasted with a swarm of cockroaches."    He then steps back outside.
lostsole31
Roran steps outside ...

 Surprise Round ... 
 S20-4:   Blue steps forward and misses. Red steps forward, its spear barely  blocked by Roran's armor. Something charges him from the north, biting  Roran's left lower arm for  8 . Brown steps forward, and slips, missing awkwardly. Green steps up and stabs Roran's left foot with its spear for  6 .

Roran lets out a shout of pain and surprise.

 Begin Round One ...

R1T22:   Roran , what do you do?
rypt
Grimacing in pain, Roran twists to his left, turning his wounded arm and foot away from the group of enemies.   "It's an ambush!"   he cries, pain evident in his voice.    "Four monkey goblins and some sort of canine!"    He draws his greatsword, swings at blue, and then shifts backwards into the building.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Move action: Draw greatsword.

Standard action: Attack blue with greatsword.
 Attack:  (d20+7)[ 21 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+6)[ 16 ]  
Free action: 5-foot step to the west.
 
lostsole31
 R1T22:  Grimacing in pain, Roran twists to his left, turning his wounded arm and foot away from the group of enemies.

    "It's an ambush!"    he cries, pain evident in his voice.    "Four monkey goblins and some sort of canine!"  

He  draws his greatsword, and before shifting backwards into the building,  he slashes down at Blue. Blue ducks his body back, but the sword still  continues down to strike Blue's knee where it meets its leg for  16 , dropping it.

 R1T21:   Arsenne ,  the advantage of carrying a polearm is it is never not in hand. You  were probably even probing and poking the ruins of this hut with it, but  now it is time for war against ugliness. What do you do?
Diavolo
Arsenne says   "Good job, Roran! Now if you'll just shift away from me a bit, we can flank them as they come in. Meanwhile, let's see what I can do..."   He looks at Orange, shifts the Glaive that he had been using to sift through the rubble, and slashes at the goblin-monkey that is across the opening from him.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
Attack action = Risky strike against Orange  (d20+5)[ 20 ]    damage =  (d10+9)[ 18 ] .   If Critical threat, to confirm  (d20+5)[ 23 ] .
5 foot step (or if it is difficult terrain, move action) north one square, if there is room to fit. If not, stay there.
 
lostsole31
 R1T21:  Arsenne says   "Good job, Roran! Now if you'll  just shift away from me a bit, we can flank them as they come in.  Meanwhile, let's see what I can do..."   He looks at  Brown, shifts the glaive that he had been using to sift through the  rubble, and  slashes at the goblin-monkey that is across the opening from him.  Despite attacking at an angle out of the doorway, Arsenne still catches  Brown in the left shoulder for  18 , dropping it.

 R1T15:  Mr. Arvodair rubs the lamp at his side,   "My Love,"   he calls out,   "More dark work for us yet! Come now lads, I will not die among the roaches, and neither will you!"  

The  previous combats were weird, irregular affairs with people all over.  But as he calls upon your bravery ... you feel it, that nothing can  defeat you as long as you follow the boatman. He moves forward, quickly  readying both trident and shield as he does and passing Roran. He puts  his massive bulk behind his shield and slams into the strange dog, only  to find that it will not give ground.

 R1T14:  The Lady of the Lap billows forth, and ends reincorporating over a fallen goblin.   "You are outnumbered, husband, so I shall try to screen us,"    but as she says this and tries to carefully take a breath, she is not  given the luxury of doing so easily, losing hold of whatever she was  attempting to do.

 R1T13:  Red sidesteps to the north only to miss the Lady.

 R1T8:   The canine, who had thrown its weight at Roran previously, now settles  its stance to square off against the strange-looking giant. Instead, it  backs up a few feet, cunning and malevolence pouring forth from its  baleful, red glowing eyes. It looks past the giant in her way to Roran.   It then disappears from Roran's view .... and reappears right next to  Arsenne inside the shack, coming forth from empty air with a puff of  yellpw-orange smoke and an awful smell of sulfur and brimstone!

 R1T4:   Green steps out of reach of the massive man, draws a dagger, and throws  it, only for  the small blade to be deflected by Mr. Arvodair's shield.

 End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T22:   Roran , you and Arsenne are now face-to-face with this supernatural canine inside the shack. What do you do?

Arsenne on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ....
rypt
Roran recoils from the sudden appearance of the monstrous quadruped.    "Gah!  It- it teleports?!"    Shifting his footing, he exhales a steadying breath, adjusts his grip on his sword, and swings the heavy blade through a full 180-degree arc into a powerful downward cut.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Free action: Assess the monstrous canine.

Free action: 5-foot step to the west.

Standard action: Attack canine with greatsword, utilizing risky strike and expending 2 points of Inspiration to add +1d6 to the attack roll.
Attack: (d20+6)[ 24 ]  plus  (1d6)[ 3 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+9)[ 16 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R2T22:  Roran recoils from the sudden appearance of the monstrous quadruped.    "Gah!  It- it teleports?!"     Shifting his footing, he exhales a steadying breath, adjusts his grip  on his sword, and swings the heavy blade through a full 180-degree arc  into a powerful downward cut, firmly cutting the monster in the forward  part of its back. Or at least, he thought he would have, if only the  thing didn't teleport away and back in a burst of smoke and brimstone at the time of impact!

 R2T21:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Lamp Lady in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne says excitedly   "We must kill it before it teleports out!"    
He then brings his right knee up in a sharp blow to its lower jaw, attempting to stun it.  He then extends his leg and brings it back down in a vertical heal-kick to the top of its head, while shouting   "Grasshopper spring KICK"!  
He keeps hold of his glaive throughout.

 
 Spoiler: Attack actions 
Full attack :  Flurry of blows, #1, stunning fist DC 14  (d20+7)[ 9 ] . Damage  (d6+4)[ 8 ] .
Flurry of blows #2, regular attack,  (d20+7)[ 12 ] .  damage  (d6+4)[ 5 ] .
 
lostsole31
 R2T21:  Arsenne says excitedly   "We must kill it before it teleports out!"    

He then brings his right knee up in a sharp blow to its lower jaw,  attempting to stun it, but misses.  He then extends his leg and brings it back down  in a vertical heal-kick to the top of its head, while shouting (and missing again),   "Grasshopper spring KICK"!  
 R2T15:   Mr. Arvodair steps into the shack and attacks with some specialized  maneuver, but the monster briefly teleports away before returning.

 R2T14:   The rainbow-haired lady steps over, blocking the creature's exit and  then holds out her hand. A forceful jet of water strikes the dog-fiend,  but doesn't do anything.

 R2T13:  Red steps up to rainbow-brite and chatters in its language

 R2T8:  The monster bites Roran in the face for  7  and claws him in the shoulder for  6   into his lungs, but so worried about looking bad in front of Mr.  Arvodair, Roran refuses to fall. But it claws him in the chest for  another  5 . Still, Roran refuses to fall (yet).

 R2T4:   Green steps into flank blue lady, and as soon as he does Red attacks.  She turns to dodge that attack but then Green grazes her elbow for  3 .

 End Round 2, Begin Round 3 ...

R3T22:   Roran ,  your body is heavy from the wounds, and this thing is focusing on you,  and yet Mr. Arvodair's likely disapproval of you dying without his  say-so is worrisome. Do you wish to give in to your wounds and fall  possibly getting this thing to ignore you, or do you wish to lash out at  the enemy. Either way, your limbs are heavy and sluggish (i.e.  staggered)? What do you do?

Arsenne on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
rypt
Roran surrenders himself to unconsciousness.
lostsole31
 R3T22:  Roran, overcome by his wounds, slumps to the ground and falls over, surrendering into unconsciousness.

 R3T21:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Steamy Sultana in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "Stay alive, Roran!"   He then swings his left knee upward to smash the teleporting canine in its lower jaw, in a simulation of his first attack, but this time, with his knee high in the air, he pauses a second before continuing his flurry of blows, he tries to slam his downward heel kick to hit it in the back of the head with a stunning blow while shouting again the same phrase:    "Grasshopper spring, Kick!"  
 
 Spoiler: Actions 
Action:  Flurry of blows against teleporting dog-creature, attack #1, regular unarmed strike with the knee thrusting upward  (d20+7)[ 11 ]  and damage  (d6+4)[ 9 ] .
Free action A:  pause to see if the creature teleports away, and time the downward swing to hit it just as it reappears. If it does not teleport away, slam downward anyway!
attack #2, regular unarmed strike with the heel swinging down  (d20+7)[ 11 ]  and damage  (d6+4)[ 10 ] .
Free action B:  evaluation if it seems injured at all, either by Roran's attack or any others.
 
lostsole31
 R3T21:  Arsenne says:    "Stay alive, Roran!"    He then swings his left knee upward to smash the teleporting canine in  its lower jaw, in a simulation of his first attack, but this time, with  his knee high in the air, he pauses a second before continuing his  flurry of blows, he tries to slam his downward heel kick to hit it in  the back of the head with a stunning blow while shouting again the same  phrase:    "Grasshopper spring, Kick!"  

He  completely misses both attacks. It actually appears that the monster  constantly teleports in place, instead of just at a moment of impact,  and it does so completely arhythmatically, however, as it is attacked,  the untimeable tempo does seem to increase.

 R3T15:  Mr. Arvodair looks at Arsenne and says as he adopts a formal fighting stance with trident and shield,   "Get ready."  

He  tries his best to time the strike as Arsenne did, but finds more  success as the tines of his trident stab against its head for 7 mod and  Mr. Arvodair steps away. So incensed by the strike the monster snarls at  Mr. the warrior, but that is just what Arsenne needed as he does a  front snap kick that taps the thing with a nice sound, but wasn't hard  enough to actually do any damage.

  "Aissah! How ye be?"   he calls out.

 R3T14:    She steps away from the door to keep from being surrounded. The sound  of a heavy punch and the sizzling of fur and flesh accompanied by a low  screech of pain, informing she just hit one of the monkey goblins in the  gut, most likely.    "Is annoyed an  answer? Where have you brought me, my husband, that you call upon me so  often? These aren't the ones after us, are they? They seem so ...  crude."  
 R3T8:  The monster-dog  says something in a female voice in an language unknown to Arsenne  before launching at his midsection, and crushing horribly for  15 + punctured lung .

Assured  of that mortal wound, she steps around to attack Mr. Arvodair. She  attacks with one claw, and gets stopped cold by his shield snapping into  place, and as she swings with the other claw, he throws her well out of  alignment for that attack.

 R3T5-3:  Sounds of the goblin hunters trying to coordinate against Aissah outside as one stabs her for  3  and the other stabs for  5  before that one succumbs to its wounds.   "One down!"   Aissah calls in pain.

 End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T21:   Arsenne , what do you do? You think your blood is coming out in hissing, frothing bubbles at the spot where she bit you.

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Aissah in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne drops his glaive and puts his his two hands against the puncture wound on this thorax, attempting to block the hole and then release in time with his breathing. He says:    "It hurt me bad, Cough, cough, sputter, but I can still flank with you, cough cough cough!"   He then watches tries to time his attacks and launches a flurry of kicks with his right leg then his left against the teleporting dog-monster. He tries to name the technique:   "Butterfly, cough cough, lash, cough, cough, cough...." 
 
 Spoiler: Actions 
Action: Flurry of blow:  #1 Stunning Fist, DC 14  (d20+7)[ 27 ]  &amp; damage  (d6+4)[ 8 ] .
#2 regular strike  (d20+7)[ 17 ]  &amp; damage  (d6+4)[ 9 ] 
Heal check bonus to see if he can time his hands correctly to temporarily slow the onset of lung collapse :  +8.
 
lostsole31
 R4T21:  Arsenne drops his glaive and puts his his two hands against the puncture  wound on this thorax, attempting to block the hole and then release in  time with his breathing. He says:    "It hurt me bad, ... *&lt;cough, cough, sputter&gt;* ... but I can still flank with you! *&lt;cough cough cough!&gt;*"   He  then tries to time his attacks and launches a flurry of kicks  with his right leg then his left against the teleporting dog-monster. He  tries to name the technique:    "Butterfly ...*&lt;cough cough, lash, cough, cough, cough&gt;*...."  

Both strikes actually hit! The first strikes her chest for  3 mod + stunned , and the second hits her head for  4 mod . His focus on offense, however, means he didn't have the time to actually tend to himself properly.

 R4T15:   Mr. Arvodair takes Arsenne up on his offer as he steps into place and  thrusts. Even with Arsenne ringing her bell, she still teleports and  back in, almost as if it is a passive defense and not an active one.

 R4T14:   Aissah is heard breathing in, and that strange rumbling, hissing sound  is heard when Arsenne heard when she took on the swarm alone is heard,  including cries of pain from a monkey goblin. Though Arsenne didn't see  the genesis, he does see from his vantage of burst of orange goo blast  along with hissing and a terrible stench of a very ugly smell. He sees  the fallen body of Brown completely encased by this strangeness, most  assuredly dead now if not before.

 R4T4:  A more angry screech, followed by the sounds Aissah giving a cry of pain.

 End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T21:   Arsenne , the monster shakes its head, throwing off its momentary stunned effect. What do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Aissah in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne says   "If it's hitable, &lt;&lt; cough, cough, sputter&gt;&gt; it's killable,&lt;&lt;cough cough&gt;&gt;!  ." and he launches two of his most powerful side kicks with his right leg against the dog monster and taking advantage of the flank with Mr. Arvodaire while trying to name the techinque:   "Locust springing,&lt;&lt; cough cough cough &gt;&gt;; Thrust!".   As he strikes, he keeps his right hand against his chest wound, but uses his left as a counter-weight to get maximum power out of his side kicks.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
Actions:
Free Action:  Still holding his chest wound, for whatever it's worth....
Full Attack = Flurry of blows, risky strikes: Attack #1  (d20+6)[ 21 ]  + damage  (d6+6)[ 10 ] 
Attack #2  (d20+6)[ 22 ]  + damage  (d6+6)[ 12 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R5T21:  Arsenne says   "If it's hitable, &lt;&lt; cough, cough, sputter&gt;&gt; it's killable,&lt;&lt;cough cough&gt;&gt;!  ."  and he launches two of his most powerful side kicks with his right leg  against the dog monster and taking advantage of the flank with Mr.  Arvodair while trying to name the techinque:   "Locust springing,&lt;&lt; cough cough cough &gt;&gt;; Thrust!".   As  he strikes, he keeps his right hand against his chest wound, but uses  his left as a counter-weight to get maximum power out of his side kicks.

The first Locust Springing Thrust in the front ... elbow? with its people-like forelimbs for  5 mod , but the other attack hits nothing but *BAMF!*-air.

 R5T15:  Mr. Arvodair's trident hits sulfurous emanations from a teleport, whereas his shield bash flat out misses.    "Well  struck, twice, lad! Ha! I bet you never saw yourself fighting to your  last breath with an oversized halfling as your battle buddy, eh?"  
 R5T14:    "Beloved, I don't know if I can continue after this goblin. I am very hurt,"   calls in Aissah as there are sounds of tussling outside.

 R5T8:   The monster hops over to the northeast and bites, with Arsenne just  barely deflected the fetid orifice. He then dodges one claw, only to  have another graze his face for  5 .

 R5T4:  Close quarters combat continues outside.

 End Round 5, Begin Round 6 ...

R6T21:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Aissah in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "To my 'Last breath'? &lt;&lt;cough cough cough&gt;&gt; Did you have to choose that particular expression?"   &lt;&lt;cough cough&gt;&gt;  He then looks at the relocated dog-monster before attacking it again with another series of side kicks, adding   "If we can kill this thing, I can heal Roran and you, my Lady of the Lam.... ummm...&lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt; ..... uhhh..... 'Mrs. Arvodair'?.... &lt;&lt;cough, cough&gt;&gt;"  
His tone of voice starts out as breathless urgency but transforms into one of hesitant inquiry.


 
 Spoiler: Actions 
 Actions: 
 Free Action: Still holding his chest wound with his right hand.  
 Full Attack = Flurry of blows, risky strikes: Attack #1  (d20+6)[ 8 ]  + damage  (d6+6)[ 8 ]  
 Attack #2  (d20+6)[ 17 ]  + damage  (d6+6)[ 10 ] . 
 
lostsole31
 R6T21:  Arsenne says:    "To my 'Last breath'? &lt;&lt;cough cough cough&gt;&gt; Did you have to choose that particular expression?"    &lt;&lt;cough cough&gt;&gt;  He then looks at the relocated dog-monster  before attacking it again with another series of side kicks, adding   "If  we can kill this thing, I can heal Roran and you, my Lady of the  Lam.... ummm...&lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt; ..... uhhh..... 'Mrs.  Arvodair'?.... &lt;&lt;cough, cough&gt;&gt;"  
His tone of voice starts out as breathless urgency but transforms into one of hesitant inquiry.

The first attack is a wild miss, but the second kick catches it in the back leg for  5 mod .

 R6T15:   Mr. Arvodair takes his 7-1/2-foot-tall frame to bend low and rushes  forward - right over Roran's body - to drive his shield into the  monster. She shifts too early and by the time he gets to her his trident  strikes her neck for  7 mod .   "Start moving this outside if you can, but carefully."  
 R6T14:  Sounds of tussling outside continues.

 R6T8:  The monster ducks under both warriors to block the doorway. She bites Arsenne in the right lower leg for  6 . He blocks her first claw, but her second slashes his right knee for   6  .  Arsenne staggers, his body wanting to falter under his wounds, but the  weight of Mr. Arvodair's presence somehow keeping him on his feet.

 R6T4:  Frantic grunting and straining by the monkey goblin outside.

 End Round 6, Begin Round 7 ...

R7T21:   Arsenne ,  your body wants to fall, even as you fight what feels like fluid fast  building in your lungs. You can either choose to continue to keep going,  but you'll be staggered (no FAA like a flurry; MA or SA only), or you  could do as Roran did, and to just give in and let your body fall, but  you as a healer know that is a death sentence because of your punctured  lung. To be clear, none of those northern squares are big enough to  occupy. What do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Aissah in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne holds his action until after Mr. Arvodair's turn. "&lt;&lt;   Cough  &gt;&gt;"
lostsole31
 R7T21:  Arsenne delays, seemingly waiting for Mr. Arvodair. "&lt;&lt;   Cough  &gt;&gt;"

 R7T15:   Mr. Arvodair, taking care not to grind Roran's body, sets himself low  and launches forward at the monster, trying to push it outside, but the  monster keeps its footing, resisting the massive man.

 R7T14:   There is the sound of breaking bones outside, and the sounds of  struggling cease, followed by what sounds like a body dropping to the  ground. Aissah then is outside at the doorway.   "Forgive me, treasure, but I am here now and the goblins are vanquished."  
 R7T13:   Arsenne ,  you were waiting, what do you do? Do you remain on your feet or fall?  If you remain standing, you are staggered (as above). You feel the fluid  in your lungs just about reach a critical point.

Monster on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne has gone from coughing to making rough gurgling sounds with every third breath. He shifts to the East, pauses do concentrate, and as soon as he finishes one of his gurgling coughs, he attempts to cast a spell on himself, grasping the holy symbol around his neck with his left hand.   "By the Grace of Shelyn &lt;&lt; Kurrggle&gt;&gt; 'permutar, merapeh' &lt;&lt; Kurrggle&gt;&gt;."  
 
 Spoiler: Staggered actions 
5' step to the East, to end up just North of Arvodair and Rowan.
Spontaneous casting of cure light wounds on himself, sacrificing 1st Level spell "Summon Monster":   (d8+2)[ 4 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R7T13:  Arsenne has gone from coughing to making rough  gurgling sounds with  every third breath. He tries to shift to the East but in his  light-headedness fails to assess his placement well as he just bumps  into the wall. Undeterred, he pauses do concentrate. As soon as he  finishes one of his gurgling coughs, he attempts to cast a  spell on himself, grasping the holy symbol around his neck with his left  hand.   "By the Grace of Shelyn &lt;&lt; Kurrggle&gt;&gt; 'permutar, merapeh' &lt;&lt; Kurrggle&gt;&gt; ... GAAHHHH!"  

The monster savages his leg for  8  while he casts, but he is still awake somehow, but the pain was enough that he loses the blessing that was so close.

 Arsenne , your body begins to drown on the blood in your lungs. Roll a Fort save.
Diavolo
Arsenne says   "Krrrrgggll"   
 
 Spoiler: Saving throw 
Fortitude save  (d20+5)[ 12 ] 
 
lostsole31
Arsenne says,   "Krrrrgggll"    ... but keeps from drowning quite yet.

 End Round 7, Begin Round 8 ...

R8T15:  Mr. Arvodair sidesteps to flank and sidesteps the thing in the belly for  4 mod .

 R8T14:  Aissah kicks at the monster, missing.

 R8T13:   Arsenne , roll a Fort save.  Assuming you succeed, what do you do?

Monster on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne sways slightly where he stands, keeps a hand on his chest where the wound is, moves other to his holy symbol. He manages to stand still for a moment, visibly concentrating and mumbling something incoherent:  "  &lt;&lt;Krrggle, shlynbhlingbrst, krrgglle&gt;&gt;  ".

 
 Spoiler: Single action 
 Standard Action: Channel positive energy (healing burst):  (1d6)[ 5 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R8T13:  Arsenne sways slightly where he stands, keeps a  hand on his chest where  the wound is, moves other to his holy symbol.  He manages to stand still  for a moment, visibly concentrating and  mumbling something incoherent:  "  &lt;&lt;Krrggle, shlynbhlingbrst, krrgglle&gt;&gt;  ".

The bright flash emanating from his holy symbol provides   5 healing   to himself, Roran (still unconscious) and Aissah, but it also provides   5 healing   to  the enemy monster. While it helped seal, some of Arsenne's still-mortal  wounds, it wasn't helpful in stopping his punctured lung.

 R8T8:    The monster says something in a hideous language and with a hideous way  at Arsenne with ... a cruel smile? It hops over by Mr. Arvodair and  bites his hip for  8 , slashes his right lower leg for  8  with a claw, but he blocks the last claw.

 End Round 8, Begin Round 9 ...

R9T15:  Mr. Arvodair stabs at a puff of smoke that evades his trident.   "Take care o' yer chest, boy!"  
 R9T14:  Aissah steps in, and with her husband and  Roran clear of such short range, she huffs in and then breathes out  molten rock. The monster ducks and teleports partially, but still takes   3 fire  . However, it is enough to completely blow out the corner of the shack, which is now no longer stable.

 R9T13:   Arsenne , roll a Fort save in the spoilers. What do you do?

Monster on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne takes advantage of the moment of respite while Mr. Arvodair is absorbing the monster's attacks, and starts trying to concentrate on his chest wound and his breathing. Still swaying slightly, he mumbles to himself as he tries to coordinate his breathing with this the pressure that he is applying with the palm of his right hand:   "So simple, &lt;&lt;krrrgle&gt;&gt;, you've got this, &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;, sucking chest wound, &lt;&lt;krrgle&gt;&gt; treated these a dozen times, &lt;&lt;kurrrgl&gt;&gt; breathe in, seal the hole, breath out, release, &lt;&lt;kurrggllle&gt;&gt;, or is it the other way around? &lt;&lt;krrrggggle&gt;&gt; trouble thinking clearly... &lt;&lt;kruggle&gt;&gt;  ...so simple... &lt;&lt;Kurrggle&gt;&gt;"  
 
 Spoiler: Standard action 
SA - Heal Check, skill bonus +8.
Fortitude save  (d20+5)[ 25 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R9T13:  Arsenne takes advantage of the moment of respite while Mr. Arvodair is  absorbing the monster's attacks, and starts trying to concentrate on his  chest wound and his breathing. Still swaying slightly, he mumbles to  himself as he tries to coordinate his breathing with this the pressure  that he is applying with the palm of his right hand:   "So  simple, &lt;&lt;krrrgle&gt;&gt;, you've got this,  &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;, sucking chest wound, &lt;&lt;krrgle&gt;&gt;  treated these a dozen times, &lt;&lt;kurrrgl&gt;&gt; breathe in, seal  the hole, breath out, release, &lt;&lt;kurrggllle&gt;&gt;, or is it the  other way around? &lt;&lt;krrrggggle&gt;&gt; trouble thinking clearly...  &lt;&lt;kruggle&gt;&gt;  ...so simple... &lt;&lt;Kurrggle&gt;&gt;"  

A  brilliant healer motivated by the prospect of death, it seems he  finally succeeds at stopping the progression of drowning on his own  blood.

 R9T8:  The monster tries to bite Mr.  Arvodair, but he and his wife work together to force the bite against  its own leg to soft crit for  5 mod . Enraged, it claws at him, but the coxswain brilliantly deflects with trident and shield.

 End Round 9, Begin Round 10 ...

R10T15:   Mr. Arvodair now steps over to straddle Roran, smacking away an  incoming bite as he does so. A thrust from his trident hits the monster  in the belly for only  2 mod .

 R10T14:  Aissah tries to grab the monster, but fails.

 R10T13:   Arsenne ,  what do you do - staggered and yet somehow not fallen by the  inspiration of Mr. Arvodair, and now with your sucking chest wound  plugged?

Monster on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne casts a spell on himself and calls out:   "Mrs. Arvodair, &lt;&lt;cough cough&gt;&gt; are you strong enough to drag Roran outside? &lt;&lt;Cough&gt;&gt; We could collapse the shed on the monster with another blast maybe? &lt;&lt;Cough, cough&gt;&gt; Mr. Arvodair, how are you holding up, I can magic your trident or cure you for a bit..... or fight! &lt;&lt;cough, cough, cough&gt;&gt;"
  
 
 Spoiler: Staggered actions 
SA:  Spontaneous casting of cure light wound on self, sacrificing "Bless":   (d8+2)[ 6 ] .
 

  
  
lostsole31
 R10T13:  Arsenne casts a spell on himself (  6 healing  , no longer staggered) and calls out:   "Mrs.  Arvodair, &lt;&lt;cough cough&gt;&gt; are you strong enough to drag  Roran outside? &lt;&lt;Cough&gt;&gt; We could collapse the shed on the  monster with another blast maybe? &lt;&lt;Cough, cough&gt;&gt; Mr.  Arvodair, how are you holding up, I can magic your trident or cure you  for a bit..... or fight! &lt;&lt;cough, cough, cough&gt;&gt;"
  
 R10T8:  Failing to land a blow on the man in the last salvo, the monster shifts its focus to Aissah, biting her in the upper arm for  9 ; clawing her chest for  6 ; then clawing her other upper arm for  5 .  Aissah's steps are very unsteady, but given strength next to her  husband she manages to keep her feet much like Arsenne has done.

 End Round 10, Begin Round 11 ...

R11T15:    "We can't pull him without the beast getting a free bite on him,"   Mr. Arvodair grimly remarks.   "Heal my wife, and both of you try to withdraw."  

Mr.  Arvodair braces his trident to his shield and tries to push the thing  away, but misses embarrassingly, and his crestfallen look is writ large  on his face. Obviously to the two of you he says,   "I'm sorry, I've failed every attempt I've tried to push her. All my tricks are spent."  
 R11T14:  Aissah takes as defensive a stance as she can muster, but her snap kick misses.

 R11T13:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Monster on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne says: "  If I pull Roran it attacks, but not if I push Aissah! &lt;&lt;Cough&gt;&gt; I'll heal her when she's out of range! &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;"  . He shifts to just North of Roran and Mr. Arvodair so that he is better aligned and shoves Aissah out the door. He then picks up his Glaive.


 
 Spoiler: Actions.  
5':  Five foot step West.
SA: Bull Rush on Aissah, being careful not to slam her into the door frame but rather out the door. (Note -- Weapon Focus Feat for Monk Weapons. If it applies, then CMB is +7)  (d20+6)[ 17 ] 
MA: Pick up Glaive, which should be where he dropped it in the square he just vacated.

In his metagaming mind, the thinks of adding the following:   "And Arvodair, stop speaking in Lavender!  That's my colour, and it doesn't suit you at all!!!"  
 
lostsole31
 R11T13:  Arsenne says: "  If I pull Roran it attacks, but  not if I push Aissah! &lt;&lt;Cough&gt;&gt; I'll heal her when she's out  of range! &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;"  . He shifts to just North of  Roran and Mr. Arvodair so that he is better aligned and shoves Aissah  .... and she doesn't move. He then picks up his Glaive.

 R11T8:  The monster continues its attacks on the more vulnerable woman, clawing her chest for  5  and her hip for  6 . And still, she is somehow on her feet.

 End Round 11, Begin Round 12 ...

R12T15:     "Heal her, ya daft fool!"    Mr. Arvodair shouts as he stabs a puff of smoke.

 R12T14:  Aissah focuses on her defense and withdraws outside.

 R12T13:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Monster on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne slashes at the beast as hard as he can with the glaive, coughs, and leaps out the door, using acrobatics to try to avoid triggering an attack from the monster, attempting dodge any attacks may come.

 
 Spoiler: Actions. 
SA:  Risky strike with Glaive:  (d20+5)[ 22 ] , damage  (d10+9)[ 15 ] ;
MA:  Acrobatics   (d20+8)[ 21 ] , to traverse the threatened square just to the East of Mr. Arvodair and attempting to dodge (+4 AC) the attack of opportunity if he fails his acrobatics,
and then he continues to move straight East from the doorway, four more squares. If that square is unavailable, he will go diagonally north upon exiting the door, then East to the full extent of his remaining movement, to end up four squares directly East of his starting position.
 
lostsole31
 R12T13:  Arsenne slashes at the beast as hard as he can with the glaive to strike the monster in the head for  10 mod ,  coughs,  and leaps out the door, using acrobatics to try to avoid triggering an  attack from the monster, attempting dodge any attacks may come. And it  does come, but Mr. Arvodair slams the shield right in its face, throwing  it off balance. Meanwhile, with avoiding the attack and dancing over  bodies of monkey goblins outside, Arsenne doesn't make it quite as far  as he had hoped.

 R12T8:   The monster gets to the doorway inside the shack. All of its attacks miss Mr. Arvodair.

 End Round 12, Begin Round 13 ...

R13T15:   Mr. Arvodair doesn't learn, or maybe he does, because once again he  tries to ram the monster with his shield. The only reason he doesn't  toss the thing this time is its damnable defense as it ports away and  back again. Again, it has a demoralizing effect on the big man.    "Heal her, and have her get you outta here!"  
 R13T14:  Aissah steps up to Arsenne, pleading in pain, her voice weak,    "Please, I can't take another hit. Do you have any healing remaining?"   
 R13T13:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Monster on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "O.K., &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;.  I've got this...."    and he casts a spell and politely touches Aissah on her left shoulder.    "Now all I have left is one healing burst, which could help all of us, but the monster is in the way and I don't want to help it any further. &lt;&lt;Cough&gt;&gt;."    
   
He then shifts over to be beside Aissah and stands with his Glaive ready and pointed at the Monster, and adds:    "What now Mrs. Arvodair?"   
 
 
 Spoiler: Actions 
 
SA:  Spontaneous casting to cure light wounds on Aissah, sacrificing 'Magic Weapon' =&gt;  (d8+2)[ 4 ] 
5'Step:  Moves diagonally, South East to be standing directly South of Aissah.  
 
lostsole31
 R13T13:  Arsenne says:    "O.K., &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;.  I've got this...."    and he casts a spell and politely touches Aissah on her left shoulder for   4 healing  .    "Now  all I have left is one healing burst, which could help all of us, but  the monster is in the way and I don't want to help it any further.  &lt;&lt;Cough&gt;&gt;."    
   
He then shifts over to be beside Aissah and stands with his Glaive ready and pointed at the Monster, and adds:    "What now Mrs. Arvodair?"   
 
 R13T8:  Within, the monster goes into  another attack routine. Its bite and a claw almost landed, but for Mr.  Arvodair's strange, defensive two-weapon style. It then backs out the  doorway outside.

 End Round 13, Begin Round 14 ...

R14T15:  Mr. Arvodair follows and stabs the thing in its left shoulder for  7 mod  and starting to look more confident again.   "It's  alright, son. Pull in a little more, and let that last burst rip. You  will heal four allies for the price of one enemy. Sometimes you have to  give your enemy a little to take a lot more."  
 R14T14:    "I don't know. What he said. I feel better, but still to weak too escape,"   answers Aissah woozily as she steps to the southeast and goes into an unarmed defensive stance.

 R14T13:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Monster on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "Much as it pains me to heal the monster again, I see the wisdom of healing all of us &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;.  I have less control over this one, but here goes..."   and shifts a bit to the North and he holds forth his holy symbol of Shelyn with vigor, and calls forth the healing energy of the eternal rose.


 
 Spoiler: Actions 
5' step directly North.
Burst of positive healing energy:  (d6)[ 2 ] .
 
lostsole31
 R14T13:  Arsenne says:    "Much as it pains me to heal the  monster again, I see the wisdom of healing all of us  &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;.  I have less control over this one, but here  goes..."   and shifts a bit to the North and he holds forth his  holy symbol of Shelyn with vigor, and calls forth the healing energy of  the eternal rose for   2 healing   to all.  All of the spell and channeling causes Arsenne to become momentarily flushed from mana exhaustion.

 R14T8:  The monster attacks Mr. Arvodair again, and a claw makes it through to slash his upper right arm for  7 . It then backs up to the northeast a few feet, in range of Arsenne's glaive.

 End Round 14, Begin Round 15 ...

R15T22:   Roran ,  a battle is raging around you, with Mr. Arvodair in the doorway. You  are prone, and your greatsword is on the ground next to you. What do you  do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Aissah in the hole ...
rypt
The moment Roran's eyes open, he winces in pain, suddenly aware of his wounds.  He glances about, trying to make sense of his surroundings.  Hearing the sounds of battle outside, he grimaces, pressing his forehead into the ground.    "It's...still alive, isn't it?"    His words are broken up by grunts of pain.    "The creature...is...a barghest.  It grows stronger...by consuming...the dead. "    He reaches out with one hand toward Mr. Arvodair's.    "Please...stay...where I can see you.  I will make you...larger and...stronger."    After taking a deep breath, he begins to incant a spell.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
1-Round Action: Begin casting  enlarge person  on Mr. Arvodair.
 
lostsole31
 R15T22:  The moment Roran's eyes open, he winces in pain, suddenly aware of his  wounds.  He glances about, trying to make sense of his surroundings.   Hearing the sounds of battle outside, he grimaces, pressing his forehead  into the ground.    "It's...still alive, isn't it?"    His words are broken up by grunts of pain.    "The creature...is...a barghest.  It grows stronger...by consuming...the dead. "    He reaches out with one hand toward Mr. Arvodair's.    "Please...stay...where I can see you.  I will make you...larger and...stronger."  

After taking a deep breath, he begins to incant a spell.

 R15T15:    "Welcome back, wizard!"   Mr. Arvodair nods as he steps out the door, taking on an even more defensive posture, and missing with his trident.

 R15T14:  Aissah flies and lands behind her husband for protection.

 R15T13:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Barghest on deck, Roran in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne says   "RORAN!  So go good to hear your voice!  And thanks for the tip. &lt;&lt;Cough&gt;&gt; Let's not give it the chance to consume anything!"    He then slashes the Beast with his Glaive, calling out   "Scorpion tail, SLASH! &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;."  

He then moves diagonally to just South East of Aissah.


 
 Spoiler: Actions 
SA : Risky Strike with Glaive against Monster =&gt;  (d20+5)[ 22 ] , damage  (d10+9)[ 17 ] 
MA : diagonal two squares South West, ending up directly South East of Aissah.
 
lostsole31
 R15T13:  Arsenne calls out,   "RORAN!  So go good to hear your  voice!  And thanks for the tip. &lt;&lt;Cough&gt;&gt; Let's not give it  the chance to consume anything!"    He then slashes the Beast in the lower foreleg/forearm for  12 mod  with his Glaive, calling out   "Scorpion tail, SLASH! &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;."  

He then moves diagonally to just South East of Aissah.

 R15T8:   The barghest steps away from Mr. Arvodair, and a wave of tangible  sadness hits the defenders like a wall. Everyone seems to resist the  effect, except for Mr. Arvodair.

 End Round 15, Begin Round 16 ...

R16T22:  Roran completes his casting and Mr. Arvodair is now over 14-and-a-half-feet tall!   Roran , what do you do now?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Mrs. Arvodair in the hole ...
rypt
Roran groans at Arsenne's seemingly limitless enthusiasm.    "Yeah, uh...good to be back,"   he replies tepidly.  He reaches out for his sword, pulling it close.  Then, he winces as he hauls himself to his feet, using the weapon as one would a cane.  He takes one uneasy step towards the door.    "I'm...not sure....how much help I can be."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Move action: Retrieve sword.

Move action: Stand up.

Free action: 5-foot step east.
 
lostsole31
 R16T22:  Roran groans at Arsenne's seemingly limitless enthusiasm.    "Yeah, uh...good to be back,"    he replies tepidly.  He reaches out for his sword, pulling it close.   Then, he winces as he hauls himself to his feet, using the weapon as one  would a cane.  He takes one uneasy step towards the door.    "I'm...not sure....how much help I can be."  
 R16T15:  Instead of stabbing with his trident, Mr. Arvodair shield slams the barghest's leg for  2 mod .

 R16T14:   Aissah staggers to the side and breathes forth another gout of magma,  and the monster takes   5 fire   from the blast.

 R16T13:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Roran on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ....
Diavolo
Arsenne says:   "By Shelyn's grace, keep yourselves together. If we don't kill it, &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt; nobody will be safe in this compound."    He shifts over to stand beside Aissah, a bit closer to the beast, and he launches another powerful downward slash with his Glaive, calling out.   "Scorpion tail, SLASH!"  
 
 Spoiler: Actions 
5'Step : Diagonally NE, to be in the square directly East of Aissah, two squares South of the Beast.
SA : Risky strike with Glaive against beast:   (d20+5)[ 10 ] , damage  (d10+9)[ 16 ] .
 
lostsole31
 R16T13:  Arsenne says:   "By Shelyn's grace, keep yourselves together. If we don't kill it, &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt; nobody will be safe in this compound."     He shifts over to stand beside Aissah, a bit closer to the beast, and  he launches another powerful downward slash with his Glaive, calling  out as he misses,   "Scorpion tail, SLASH!"  
 R16T8:   The monster steps forward and bites at the man that attacked him with  the big polearm, but Arsenne holds off its bite with the haft in its  jaws for a few seconds. It slashes Arsenne's left forearm with a claw  for  7 + staggered  as again Arsenne is badly wounded and  standing only with the grace of Mr. Arvodair's leadership. It then  claws Mr. Arvodair in his groin for  5 .

 End Round 16, Begin Round 17 ...

R17T22:   Roran , what do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Aissah in the hole ...
rypt
With the barghest momentarily focused on Arsenne and Mr. Arvodair, Roran attempts to slip around behind it.  Gritting his teeth with every step, he then puts all his strength behind a desperate swipe of his sword.

 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Move action: Move E, N, NE, SW to end opposite Arsenne.

Standard action: Attack barghest with greatsword, utilizing risky strike and expending 2 inspiration points for +1d6 to the attack roll.
 Attack:  (d20+6)[ 20 ]  plus  (1d6)[ 3 ] 
Damage:  (2d6+9)[ 20 ]  
 
lostsole31
 R17T22:  With the barghest momentarily focused on Arsenne and Mr. Arvodair, Roran  attempts to slip around behind it.  Gritting his teeth with every step, he has to move over fallen monkey goblins so that by the time he gets in position, he has gone too far to attack as well.

 R17T15:   Mr. Arvodair maintains his defensive stance, attacking with his shield.  Even though he connects, his current despair is such that he doesn't  actually harm the barghest.

 R17T14:  Aissah withdraws back and then up, and then north to stand on the top of the shack.

 R17T13:   Arsenne , once again you find yourself staggered/ disabled. What do you do?

Barghest on deck, Roran in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "&lt;&lt;Ugghh! Cough&gt;&gt; Will this creature never die?"    He then shifts away from the creature and tries to hit the creature from a different angle, this time slashing upward at it throat and chest:   "Ant-Lion, SHRED!"  
 
 Spoiler: Staggered actions 
5' Step:  South, to flank with Roran.
SA :  Ordinary attack with glaive, + flanking: [roll]d20+6+2[/roll]  + damage  (d10+6)[ 15 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R17T13:  Arsenne says:    "&lt;&lt;Ugghh! Cough&gt;&gt; Will this creature never die?"     He then shifts away from the creature and tries to hit the creature  from a different angle, this time slashing upward at it throat and  chest,   "Ant-Lion, SHRED!"  

But his glaive goes through naught but smoky brimstone air.

 R17T8:  The barghest snaps at Arsenne, but he blocks with the haft of his weapon high, even as it slashes his left leg with a claw for  7 . It then slashes Roran across the belly for  8 + staggered/ disabled .

 End Round 17, Begin Round 18 ...

R18T22:   Roran ,  you are physically depleted again. Do you fall down, or stay on your  feet? If the latter, you are staggered, so what do you do?

Mr. Arvodair on deck, Aissah in the hole ...
lostsole31
 R17T13:  Arsenne says:    "&lt;&lt;Ugghh! Cough&gt;&gt; Will this creature never die?"      He then shifts away from the creature and tries to hit the creature   from a different angle, this time slashing upward at it throat and   chest,   "Ant-Lion, SHRED!"  

But his glaive goes through naught but smoky brimstone air.

 R17T8:   With the softer fleshling having stepped away, the barghest snaps its  jaws to catch Roran in the midsection. It worries him back and forth  like a dog with a chew toy, and Roran's spine breaks, putting his body  at an odd angle, even with his armor. It drops Roran's body and casually  slashes at Mr. Arvodair before stepping south and pawing at Arsenne,  who blocks the claw.

 End Round 17, Begin Round 18 ...

R18T15:  Mr. Arvodair's trident misses.

 R18T14:  Aissah flies down near Roran's body.

 R18T13:   Arsenne ,  what do you do, having just seen an ally snapped in half (not  separated, but broken so that Roran's torso is bent with his legs at a  60-degree angle)?

Barghest on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsennes eyes go wide in horror and he whispers:   "By the Goddess....&lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;"    He then steps diagonally back and to his right to better flank with Mr. Arvodair and with tears in his eyes and his throat constricted in grief, he launches another glaive strike, slashing sideways at the creatures rib cage. He does not call out the names of the techniques, but just says:    "...Roran...".  
 
 Spoiler: Actions 
5'step East.
SA:  Regular attack with glaive against monster =  (d20+6)[ 10 ]    damage = [d10+6]
 
lostsole31
 R18T13:  Arsenne's eyes go wide in horror and he whispers,    "By the Goddess....&lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;"

     He then steps diagonally back and to his right to better flank with Mr.  Arvodair and with tears in his eyes and his throat constricted in  grief, he launches another glaive strike, slashing sideways at the  creatures rib cage, but Arsenne is too close with his glaive, and the  weapon sails over its head. He does not call out the names of the  techniques,  but just says,    "...Roran..."  
 R18T8:   The monster looks and says something in a language that Arsenne doesn't  understand, turning to Arsenne and snapping. Arsenne is ready for the  attack, knocking its jaw away, but not blocking the claw to his right  thigh for  6  before Arsenne desperately parries the other claw and then moving to the side.

 End Round 18, Begin Round 19 ...

R19T15:    "Listen, lad,"   says Mr. Arvodair sadly,   "I  know it's rough, but don't let it rattle you like it did. You can't  attack it at close range with that weapon. Hang in there, even be  defensive and hope to outlast it."
  
While  maintaining the same complex defensive posture, Mr. Arvodair now attacks  with trident and shield, but failing to land a hit.

 R19T14:  Aissah staggers a little closer.

 R19T13:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Barghest on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne collects himself. His eyes narrow, and with his face grim, he shifts diagonally away from the Beast slashes against the other flank with Glaive. He moves and attacks silently, focusing only on his laboured breathing and on hitting the creature with an unusual back swing against its left flank.


 
 Spoiler: Staggered actions 
5'step diagonally, South East, away form the creature.
SA : Regular Glaive strike =  (d20+6)[ 14 ]   damage  (d10+6)[ 15 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R19T13:  Arsenne collects himself. His eyes narrow, and with his face grim, he  shifts diagonally away from the Beast slashes against the other flank  with Glaive. He moves and attacks silently, focusing only on his  labored breathing and on hitting the creature with an unusual back  swing against its left flank, but it hits solidly against its hide and no farther.

 R19T8:   It seemed of have just stopped popping in and out right as Arsenne  attacked. It steps away from the glaive and seems to concentrates  carefully for a few seconds, and then the popping in and out resumes.

 End Round 19, Begin Round 20 ...

R20T8:   Mr. Arvodair continues his highly defensive, two-weapon combat. He  misses with the trident but his shield smashes it in the head  harmlessly.

 R20T14:  Aissah stumbles a few feet south and then breathes outwards again, catching the creature completely unawares as it takes   3 fire + disabled  .

 R20T13:   Arsenne , what do you do?

Barghest on deck, Mr. Arvodair in the hole ...
Diavolo
Arsenne shifts diagonally to his left, and still fighting to keep his breath, he swings at it again, this time at its right flank:   "&lt;&lt;Cough&gt;&gt;, Ant-Lion, RIP!".   
 
 Spoiler: Staggered actions 
5' Step diagonally South West,
He thinks he might be flanking with Mr. Arvodair, but unused to fighting with giant sized allies, he's not sure.
SA : Ordinary strike with Glaive against the beast :  (d20+6)[ 17 ]   damage  (d10+6)[ 8 ] 
 
lostsole31
 R20T13:  Arsenne shifts diagonally to his left, and still fighting to keep his  breath, he swings at it again, this time at its right flank:   "&lt;&lt;Cough&gt;&gt;, Ant-Lion, RIP!".  

His weapon strikes the right flank as hoped, and despite the monster's resistance to his weapon his glaive still does  3 mod  ... the monster looks at Arsenne in disbelief on its vaguely humanoid face, and falls over.

 End Round 20, Begin Round 21 ...

R21T15:  Mr. Arvodair tries to perform a CDG but even fallen the monster puffs away and returns.

 R21T14:  Aissah steps forward, grabbing the monster up and snapping its neck.

The  monster slips out of her hands, and the adrenaline of the situation  slowly peters away, and Mr. Arvodair breathes out, holding his hand to  catch his wife as she falls.

Several feet away, overcome by his  wounds, Arsenne uses his glaive to slowly shift to the ground, coughs,  and then his eyes close over as he settles into unconsciousness, unsure  if he will ever awaken, but righteous in having dropped the monster for  Roran's sake.

 Combat Ends! 
lostsole31
Kaen, Eirina, and Thickness ... you come into Talmandor's Bounty sensing something wrong.  The smell of sulfur and burning rock hangs heavy in the air. You get to the area of where the cockroach hut was, and you come across a scene of devastation. Multiple monkey goblin corpses and a strange cainid lie on the ground, as well as Arsenne, Mr. Arvodair and the Lamp Lady, and ..... Roran, who seems to have been savagely mauled and his back broken backwards to be at a 60-degree angle to his lower body.  Arsenne and Lamp lady aren't moving. Mr. Arvodair registers the rest of you weakly, cradling the woman.

There is a multi-layered field of cooled rock everywhere.
Espeon55
Eirina gasps in horror at the scene before her.   "What happened?!...Dr. Arsenne!"   Before anyone can stop her she rushes to Arsenne's side and sees that he can be saved.   "h-hang on doc...I-I do have a healing spell prepared but it's not as effective as one of yours..."   She casts Celestial Healing on Arsenne and prays to Ketephys that this works.

 
 Spoiler: Casting  
Spell Casting STA: Celestial Healing
 
digiman619
Kaen swore in Sylvan under his breath as he looked over the situation. He withdrew a healing potion from his pouch and held it out for Mr Adovair.   "What happened? Who did this to you?"  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness pauses for a moment seeing the two split, before going for heading to Mr  Adovair   and the Lamp lady, his attention focusing on her. He gives a quick check for breathing before he begins his incantation.

The moment the magic releases however he moves on, getting up and rushing to   Roran without even waiting to see how well his magic may have worked, checking for the breath of life.

   "Dead. SILT!"    Thickness doesn't pause despite his snarled shout, rushing back to to the trio of Mr.   Adovair  , The Lamp Lady and Kean.

 
 Spoiler: Action and healing roll 

Pretty sure Lamp Lady is dead. If she's not healing targets her, if she is dead then it targets Mr.
 
  
 Spoiler: Action and healing roll 
 Adovair  

Cure Light Wounds Result:  (1d8+2)[ 4 ] 
 
 
 
 
lostsole31
 
 Originally Posted by Espeon55 
 Eirina ... casts  Celestial Healing  on Arsenne and prays to Ketephys that this works. 
 

Arsenne regains   1 fast healing  , but does not awaken.

 
 Originally Posted by digiman619 
 Kaen swore in Sylvan under his breath as he looked over the situation. He withdrew a healing potion from his pouch and held it out for Mr Adovair.   "What happened? Who did this to you?"   
 

Mr. Arvodair pours the potion down the throat of Lamp Lady, giving her   4 healing  , though she remains unconscious.  Mr. Arvodair points to the bodies, ending his pointing at the cainid with a feral, human-looking face and what seems to be almost human-like forehands. He says simply,   "Barghest."  

 
 Originally Posted by 5ColouredWalker 
  Healing checks and healing...  
 

 
 As Thickness reaches to Mr. Arovodair, he points the Lamp Lady, who just showed evidence of healing and touches her instead, providing her with   4 healing  . Her eyes flutter awake, though she is disabled.

   "She could use another,"    says Mr. Arvodair,    "but let us focus on getting Arsenne awake at least."   
Espeon55
  "U-Uncle?"   Eirina calls out to Kaen.   "Do you have another potion what little healing I do know isn't helping Arsenne...."   She is quite scared that he could be dying.   "P-please don't die Arsenne...please just hang on a little longer."   
5ColouredWalker
Thickness nods and jogs over to  Kaen.

   "Lets get the good doctor awake. He's going to be busy."

  Without another word Thickness begins his chanting, repeating over twice as he immediately decides to make him as reasonably mobile as possible.

 
 Spoiler: Cure Light Wounds Rolls 

 (1d8+2)[ 3 ] ,  (1d8+2)[ 8 ] 
 
lostsole31
While the first casting isn't great, the second one makes up for it. While still very weak, Arsenne's eyes flutter open and he is now awake.
Diavolo
Arsenne swallows, winces in pain, looks around with his eyes, without moving his head, and whispers:    "...Roran...?"   
lostsole31
  "Still dead, son,"   says Mr. Arvodair.
5ColouredWalker
Thickness nods in confirmation of Mr. Ardovair's answer, before rising and jogging over to the man himself and, whatever the lamp lady is to him.

  "I thought she- unimportant. I can reach for healing one more time. You, her, or save it for a emergency or this eve?"  

Thickness will heal or not as is Mr. Ardovair's wish.
digiman619
Kaen shook his head.   "I only had enough coin to get the one, I'm afraid."   He then looked at the devastation.   "It waited for us to split up before striking. Clever."   He sighed before kneeling in front of Roran's corpse.   "I'm sorry, friend. If I'd considered that there'd be an attack while the rest of us were hunting, I'd've stayed behind to help."   He then offered a small prayer to both Pharasma and Alseta, hoping that his soul would find peace and transition into the afterlife safely.

He then turned to his remaining allies.   "In the morning, I can change my veils into ones that will help heal, but I'm not much help now. Our focus should be in staying put and holding out until morning. We'll have to figure out a watch schedule that will let our mystical members recharge their magics, but otherwise we've got too many wounded to go cross-country."
  
lostsole31
When Mr. A points to Lamp Lady, Thickness casts his last spell upon her for   5 healing.    Thi  ckness feels flush from the exertion of magic, with a warm trickle down his nose.

Mr. Arvodair looks to the group.    "We need help moving back to the barracks. Anyone with healing, I ask that you look over us and dress our wounds and help us rest the remainder of the day to help us with healing."   
 
Diavolo
Arsenne says:   "I can do it, Mr. Arvodair."    

With a painful groan he gets up, paying extra attention to a particularly nasty-looking puncture wound on the right side of his chest.
  "I used up all of the healing magic that Shelyn entrusts me with during the fight, but I still have my doctoring skills.  I could use some help though. If we can gather what sheets and clothing and supplies are around, boil up some water for me to wash out these wounds. Maybe we can gather all the supplies and consolidate them so I can look through what we've got. You would be amazed at what kitchen spices can be converted to excellent healing salves.  With a full day to attend to the two of you, I think I can set us on a good path to recovery. &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt; I'll just need some help to patch my self up a bit first, and then I can see to the two you."  

He pauses, winded, takes a few painful breaths and continues:

  "Be careful though when poking around the outpost.  That thing... that Barghest.... was intelligent and calculating.  It spoke several times, though no language I could understand.  And we don't even know if it's the most dangerous thing out here.  I failed Roran.  He specifically asked if I thought it would be safe to come here and explore this pantry shed. I innocently assumed that of course it would be, since we already cleared it yesterday.  They were watching and waiting and they ambushed us.  &lt;&lt;cough, cough&gt;&gt; Please don't feel guilty, Kaen, had you decided to stay and help guard, it would probably have recalculated the odds and attacked the hunting party instead. At least we had a surprise hiding in a lamp. Mrs. Arvo...  "

He stops himself, glances at Mr. Arvodair and Aissah with a worried look, and recommences:   "The Lady in the lamp definitely helped to even up the odds and tip the scales in our favour, even if just barely &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;. And they surely underestimated Mr. Arvodair who withstood a lot of attacks."  

He glances at Roran's body and pauses to choke back an upwelling of emotions.

  "Anyway, let's not fail one another. We still don't know what befell the first waive of colonists, but we do know that there are a lot of dangers on this Island. We'll have to set-up some protocols for spotting dangers ahead of time every day."

"So, who is going to be my official assistant?  I have three patients to 'attend' to, including myself! &lt;&lt;cough, cough, cough&gt;&gt;"   
  "Sorry, I inhaled a lot of my own blood &lt;&lt;cough&gt;&gt;, and think I still have some in my lungs.  Can I have some water please? &lt;&lt;cough, cough&gt;&gt;."  
 
 Spoiler: Healing Skills 
Heal Skills:
#1
"Treat Deadly Wounds on himself". Using two applications from his Healing kit. Action time = 1 hour. Heal check +8.

#2
Begin setting up to use Heal Skill: "Provide Long Term Care" on Mr. Arvodair and Aissah, using one application for each of them from the Healing Kit, Action time = Full day.  Heal check +8.

  https://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/heal/ 
 
Espeon55
Eirina looks down dejectedly.   "Afraid I don't have any training in this area...sorry Arsenne. But I can at least boil some water if you need it. And here."   She hands her waterskin to Arsenne to drink from.
lostsole31
So, we're back at the barracks, with Mr. Arvodair having asked for help to carry Roran back with them.

With Eirina helping as needed, Arsenne expertly works at working on his punctured lung to get   2 healing  . Then, he continues to use his quality equipment to work on patching up and tending more generally to Mr. Arvodair and Lamp Lady, both of whom fall asleep easily.

 Arsenne , do you ask Eirina to tend to you and then put yourself down for complete rest?

 Eirina &amp; Co. , you managed to gather a total of six rations.
Diavolo
Once Mr. Arvodair and Aissah are sleeping soundly, Arsenne looks over and says to Eirina:   "O.K. I know that this is new to you, but I really need your help. I can barely stand. You saw what I did for Mr. and Mrs..... Mr. Arvodair and Aissah. It's not that hard.  I'll talk you through it. Can you do this for me? Please?"  

After a moment, he manages a painful smile and adds:    "Plus, you can get your vengeance!  I am literally asking you to 'fuss' over me!"  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness coughs into his shoulder, his snout making the attempt to suppress a laugh more obvious than otherwise.
  
"I'm going to try to barricade the entrances. I don't have my axe but I might be able to break things for a better blockage... I'll leave some space to cook what we caught."
  
 
 Spoiler: plans 

Thickness will attempt to move beds/other furniture in front of the doors (and any windows, but I believe there were none), breaking them up with his hammer if needed. He will use his bite attack for slashing if needed, but will take extra care before hand (particularly to use arcane strike). Thickness will try to keep parts of items together in piles for mending later.
 
Espeon55
  "I shall do my best. Though you shouldn't force humour right now you are far too injured. Laughing will hurt more than heal you at this point."   Eirina states as she tends to Arsenne following the directions he gives her to the best of her abilities. Somewhat enjoying her so-called 'revenge'.
lostsole31
After awhile and Eirina's ministrations, Arsenne has drifted off into a hopefully healing sleep.

What is the intention of the party for the remainder of today?
5ColouredWalker
Thickness' intention is to barricade the building as best as he can from the inside, to limit the chances anything can get in with their reduced ability to keep watch.

Once he's satisfied he's done that the best he's able, he'll do what he can to prepare the results of the combined hunt to be as palatable as possible.
Espeon55
Eirina once satisfied that Arsenne and the others are no longer in need of urgent care takes her time to look around to see if she find items to make create a makeshift alarm so as to alert them if danger is nearby. And if Ambyr has not returned yet she will start calling for him after making said makeshift alarm system.
lostsole31
You think you might have a simple tripwire alarm system.

Anyone else?
digiman619
Kaen helps his niece with her makeshift alarm set-up, but otherwise spends the time in contemplation of the day's events, and what he'd do differently if he'd have the chance.
lostsole31
A cookfire is made as necessary for the food that was collected, and those convalescing are woken long enough to eat before returning to sleep, with the exception of Aissah. While she sleeps now for healing rest, it seems that she doesn't need to eat. That works out, as Ambyr likewise needs to be fed, and gets fresh meat that wasn't cooked.

Given that the current sleeping patients fought a real incarnation of evil from another world, that night Thickness will teach Kaen and Eirina (who in turn guides Ambyr) various Osiriani infantry tactics for avoiding a variety of powers attributed to desert cult worshipers who use dark powers before everyone turns in, leaving Ambyr to sleep near the tripwire rattlers while everyone sleeps.

 
  
  Fireday, 18 Arodus 4717 AR
 90 / 75 F. Winds N 15 mph. Dry.    
 
It's going to be a hot one today, but at least it is dry and not humid. Everyone gets up in the morning, having healed as well as can be expected, with Thickness having fully recovered from the last of his previous wounds with the choker.

Aissah, Luren, and somewhat Arsenne are all still weak and quite battered from yesterday's battle.

Does anyone change anything for their dailies?
5ColouredWalker
Thickness' Martial kata take a more defensive tone than previous days.

 
 Spoiler: Changes and Actions 

Preparing Strike of the Infinite Protector instead of Sand Shark Rush.

Edited Out: , and once he's done he approaches those still injured intending to provide further magical healing.
If fine I'll edit it back in, but once prepared Thickness will immediately use 3 1st level spell slots on Cure Light Wounds based on the directions of  Arsenne (The Dr) and Mr. Ardevoir, who he considers somewhat in charge. If they withhold input, Thickness will provide 1 each to Mr. Ardevoir, his wife/lantern lady, and then whoever appears most hurt. 
 
digiman619
Kaen abandoned his stealthy and protective veils, as what was needed right now was healing, so he shaped veils that would help with that.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Abandon Stalker's Tabi and Blade of Bangles. Instead shape Unicorn Feathering (2 E, chakra bind), and Lifechannel Ring (2 E). No other changes.
 
Diavolo
Arsenne gets up slowly and painfully, and starts a much more gentle morning routine than usual, focusing on slow stretches and holding positions rather than on endurance, agility and strength building katas. In his prayers to Shelyn, he veers much more strongly than usual toward those verses that express gratitude and relief.

 
 Spoiler: Spells.  
All same spells as the day before.
 
lostsole31
Lamp Lady, still very wounded, doesn't leave the barracks to privately do her thing. Rather, for nearly a full hour she meditates. At the end of this meditation, and nearing the end of most other's daily preparations, she talks more than she ever had before. She introduces herself as the wife of Luren Arvodair (your companion), and that her name is Aissah (Arvodair).

She then tells a story as she fashions a small grass effigy in her hands. She releases it over a very strange drawing or sigil she made in the dirt of the barracks floor, and the effigy floats around this sigil for the entire time she gives her performance. She takes her time with the story, giving everyone the full thing, and it lasts a few minutes in the telling. Unnerving, and yet additive to the story, is that a charming man's voice is heard following the effigy, and every now and then she pauses in her story, and the man's voice seems to fill in the blanks, and the effigy seems to hobble up and down to match the tone of his voice.

The skill in her storytelling is so expert and passionate, that it will be quite memorable to each of you for a long time to come. Her story finally finishes, and the little effigy falls away to dust. The power and verve of her story is such that there is absolute silence at the end ... you could hear a silvanshee agathion's hair drop.

[See Discord handout for the story.]
Espeon55
Eirina once she is done processing the story she had listened to.   "That had a rather ominous ending. Also can I just say  eww,  on the fact that one of them let a hobgoblin impregnate them. Don't care how civilized they were back in the day those beasts are ugly with a capital 'U'."   She makes a face and shudders.   "And Aissah, may I ask what prompted you to tell us this story?"   
5ColouredWalker
Thickness listened with enrapt attention, and laughs loudly at Eirina's response.

  "Well now I know if I take care to not shine my scales I shall be safe from you. But could you not see the sigil? It's not a magic I knew, but I take it that it's part of your days preparations?"  

Regardless of her answer, Thickness will take the time to get up and offer healing to those that need it, intending to keep a small portion of his energy back for emergencies. First though he'll consult  Arsenne.
   "I would heal thrice before we consider our actions today. I'm thinking of spreading my efforts in the hope that more are slightly capable instead of focusing, or do you think I should try to restore someone in particular?"  
 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Consult with Arsenne and his Heal Skill since he'd be best able to guesstimate people's HP.

Heal 3 worst hurt people with 1 dose of cure light wounds, unless anyone interjects.
 
digiman619
Kaen spoke up at that point.   "I also prepared some healing magicks for today. If healing is still needed, let me know."  
Diavolo
Arsenne says to Kaen and Thikness:  "  Thank you both. We are obviously in need of far more healing than I can provide alone. And thank you both for consulting with me first.  Let me start by channeling some of Shelyn's beautiful energy. This will provide some help to all of us who need it, and then can decide what additional individual spells we may want to cast. So, every one gather close and feel the beauty of Shelyn!"   He says has he hold up his holy symbol.

 
 Spoiler: Action 
SA:  Channel positive energy (healing)  (d6)[ 3 ] 
 
lostsole31
It's not much, but it is something that Arsenne offers ... enough to fully heal the last of Eirina's wounds, at least.

Arsenne takes a look at everyone carefully and determines (before any help from Thickness):
Aissah:  ~50% health.
Arsenne (himself):  ~45%.
Mr. Arvodair: ~45%
5ColouredWalker
With Arsene's assessment, Thickness will decide to offer a healing spell to each as there's been no objection to such. Should any refuse a healing spell, he'll focus it on whoever that person desires.

 
 Spoiler: 3 uses of cure light wounds. 

 Aissah: Cure Light Wounds Roll  (1d8+2)[ 7 ]  
 Arsenne:   Cure Light Wounds Roll  (1d8+2)[ 7 ]  
 Mr. Arvodair:   Cure Light Wounds Roll  (1d8+2)[ 8 ]  
 
lostsole31
After Thickness' magical ministrations:
Aissah: ~75%
Arsenne: ~65%
Mr. Arvodair: ~75%
Diavolo
Arsenne says:  "  By the Eternal Rose HerSelf, Thikha'Ness, you are truly gifted!  And we are lucky to have you with us. I feel much better. Not fully healed, but sufficiently to venture forth, I think. And I further think that we should probably save our remaining healing spells until evening, to use if other emergencies arise during the day."  

He looks around:    "I believe we are supposed to have a rendezvous with our ship and the rest of this second wave of colonists on the other side of the island. We have to decide what to tell them."  

He pauses, and continues:   "Yesterday, as Eirina was 'fussing' over me"    He smiles at Eirina   "All I could think of was how much I want to get off of this Island and how it's far too dangerous. But then, as I had a good part of the day to rest, and all night, a few things occurred to me. The most important of these is that frankly, I don't think I should be alive right now.  Any of us. Without diminishing Roran's sacrifice as he took the brunt of the first attacks yesterday, or Mrs. Arvodair's courage as she kept fighting past the point where most should drop, or Mr. Arvodair's unwavering support and determination which kept us all going beyond exhaustion as he fought that Barghest, I still think we received a bit of extra divine help, beyond anything that I myself can channel. I don't know if it was Shelyn herself, an Avatar of hers, or provenance of another deity, but I sincerely feel that some unaccounted-for power kept us alive. And if that's the case, then I am both grateful and in debt. If I, if we... were kept alive, then it must mean that there is something important that we must accomplish here. For this reason, I am letting you know now that if we are going to open up this discussion, as I believe we should, then I will be voting that we stay on and forge ahead with our mission."  
Espeon55
  "The dangers on this island are rather bad. However I am not one to run away from a challenge, retreat if it gets too gruesome maybe but not run away and not look back."   Eirina tells Arsenne.   "However we still haven't found the cause for the first colonists disappearance. We can rule out the creature that attacked you all I think otherwise we would have found corpses. The chances of them being alive are slim but they didn't die in this village that much is certain. So we must decide, do we continue our investigation here or leave and try and rendezvous with the ship?"  
lostsole31
  "We have a job, and we didn't do it on time, but it is more time critical than general investigation and exploration,"   says Mr. Arvodair.   "We need to go meet back up with the ship."  
5ColouredWalker
  "I agree. We haven't found the exact cause, but we've found significant clues and significant danger. It's best we regroup and prepare."  

Thickness pauses.
  
"To prevent getting lost, I suggest we follow the beach to the rendezvous. It might take longer, but I think clearer sight lines might be for the best."  
digiman619
Kaen nods.   "That makes the most sense. Let me finish healing you up before we start going."   He then got his injured teammates in a circle around him before clenching his hand, a small circle of positive energy emerged from it, washing healing energy over them.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
Using 1 usage of my channel ability from my Lifechannel Ring, healing them for  (3d6)[ 9 ] . If they are still under 90% health, I will do a second burst of energy.  (3d6)[ 8 ] 
 
lostsole31
With only one burst of light from Kaen's magic ring, everyone is fully healed except for Arsenne, and even he is good enough that another burst might be a waste of Kaen's power.

As far as rendezvous, that might be a poor plan. The dock they entered to Talmandor's Bounty was on the west side of the island, well towards the south. On the other hand, the intended rendezvous is on the eastern side of the island and to the north.
digiman619
Kaen did a quick bit of math in his head, as it occurred to him that he'd been making assumptions before.   "Now I think about it, that will probably at least double, if not triple the distance traveled, and that's assuming that it's a straight beach all the way around, there could easily be a cliff or such halfway through, and that would force us to go into the interior anyway."   He shook his head.   "Best we go in a straighter line, that way we will get back in a reasonable amount of time."  
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "Wow, Kaen, that was quite powerful!  By what power and how many times per day can you do that? I feel great!  I have just a few tender spots left, particularly on my chest, but nothing that will slow me down."  

He looks at the group and adds: "  I will defer the decision of what route we take to those of you who are better suited for that kind of analysis. What every you choose, I will agree with and diligently follow along."  
5ColouredWalker
  "Two votes either way. I'm happy to be slow to give us better sight lines, but I won't try to force the issue"


  Thickness looks to the rest of his travelling companions.
Espeon55
  "I luckily have a spell I can use to make sure we are going north even without a compass."   Eirina tells the group. So allow Ambyr and I to lead the way.
lostsole31
Aissah returns to the lamp, and Mr. Arvodair nods.

Anything final before heading out?
5ColouredWalker
Thickness shakes his head.
  "Between magic and compas we shouldnt get lost then. I'll lead, let my short legs pace set."  

With that Thickness starts towards the rendezvous.
Espeon55
Eirina follows behind Thickness and beckons Ambyr to follow as well.
Diavolo
Arsenne asks   "Will anybody accompany me back to the forge?  We had best avoid walking around alone if it can be avoided.  I need to go and pick up his art book and the sea-shells that he had set out to dry, two days ago now, so I'm sure they are ready."   
lostsole31
  "What do we do with Roran's things?"   asks Mr. Arvodair.   "Let alone Roran himself?"  
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "That's a painful discussion to have. But it must be had. I have some experience in notifying the family of those whom we failed to save. I recommend as follows:  
  First:  We search him carefully to see if he is carrying some sort of will or testament. If so, we follow it.  If not we go to the next step.

Second:  We search our memories to try and remember our conversations with him to see if we can figure out what gods he followed and what sort of post-life ritual he favoured, such as burial or incineration, etc. If we can piece it together, we follow that, if not we go to the next step.

Third:  If we cannot determine a preference, we bury him according in accordance to Shelinte rites, I will conduct them, we put up simple wood marker for now, and then go to the next step to deal with his goods.

Fourth: If he has no will, we we divide his mundane goods among us, and store here what none of us can use. He gave his life fighting a dangerous monster when he could barely stand. I think he would be happy to know we were putting his belongings to good use. As for his more precious belongings, we will check with the ship's registry if he listed family to whom we can send these back, otherwise we will divide these among ourselves as well."  

He pauses and adds.

  "I'll put it in writing later, but for now, please know that I am no longer welcome in my family, and they are quite wealthy. They don't need anything. So if I die, please bury me here, possibly next Roran, and divide my goods between yourselves by drawing lots to see who chooses first. Divide my coins equally."  

He nods, seemingly to himself more than to anybody in particular.
digiman619
Kaen looked down for a moment before speaking up.   "We should take anything that will help us make our trip and bury him with the rest."   He looked around for either something to use as a shovel or for rocks to make a cairn.
lostsole31
For now, Mr. Arvodair will separate Roran from his goods, setting all of his things beside for distribution later.

He holds up a bound up bunch of religious trinkets - worthless for any resale, and useless for actual divine casting.   "He was an antiquarian. There are perhaps a few more things here to Desna and Nethys in this passel, but nothing of any devotional focus. It was pragmatic, not spiritual."  
 
 "Next question,"   once the task of moving things to the side is completed,   "how far from Talmandor's Bounty to we bury him?"  
Espeon55
  "Ambyr and I can help dig a grave..."   Eirina states but looks uncomfortable about the topic and a bit on the awkward side.   "Er sorry I don't really know how to handle this...I've never really known anyone who has died or been well...brutally killed before..."   
Diavolo
Arsenne ponders the question posed by Mr. Arvodair about the distance between Talmandor's bounty and Roran's grave.  He considers puts a hand to his chin as he considers this from a religious point of view and from a medical and health point of view.


 
 Spoiler: Skill modifiers 
Knowledge religion +5
Profession doctor +9
 
5ColouredWalker
Thickness frowns before speaking.

  "While in good times I'd love to provide a proper burial, we are pressed for time. For now I would suggest somewhere close and soft, that he may be reburied properly should we or the settlement have the ability to return. Perhaps close to the outer wall such that if a animal does dig him up despite our efforts, it's less likely to wander further in."  
digiman619
Kaen nodded.   "That's probably our best bet, Being next to a wall would also let us mark his grave in the event we can't return."  
Diavolo
Arsenne says:   "Temporary solutions have knack of becoming permanent ones over time. So let us at least choose a 'temporary' solution that will be tolerable if it gets prolonged indefinitely. Thinking back to the various temples and churches I have visited, I recommend that we choose a spot that out of the immediate view from what would be people's residences and daily lives, so definitely somewhere outside the walls. The other thing is, let's put in the effort between us to dig at least six feet deep. That distance is a common theme.  It must have evolved for a reason!"  
lostsole31
So? Where is Roran's body going to go?
Diavolo
Arsenne says:  "  We have not explored the area just to the North East of this triangular compound.  I'm presuming that there is a bit of clearing between the trajectory of the North East wall and where the forest starts again. If there are no obstacles, how about there?  Jungle floor should be soft and easy to dig through."  

He adds: "A  lso, for our cross country trip to the other side of the island, I am can still carry far more stuff quite comfortably. I can bring many of Roran's belongings, particularly the rope and grappling hook, chalk, charcoal, pitons, candles, waterproof bats, extra water skin and bedroll. I guess we should also be sure to bring those three machetes that we found for chopping through underbrush. We can take turns leading the way so nobody get's worn out from slicing through the vines. I wouldn't know how to use one in combat, but since I can kick as well as punch, I would not lose much time switching weapons if we get attacked. Oh, and I can certainly use a crossbow and some of those bolts."
  
 
 Spoiler: Map coordinates 
On the map posted January 21, 2024, the area Arsenne points to is 50' diagonal, North East from the gap between the two buildings at A11.
 
Espeon55
Eirina still looking awkward about this pets Ambyr whilst trying not to look at Roran's body.   "C-can we please decide already, no disrespect for the dead or Roran or anything but...I don't like seeing a dead body...."   
5ColouredWalker
Thickness accepts Arsenne's decision.

  "Let'sget to it."  
lostsole31
Nobody has a shovel, so is this going to be a temporary or a permanent burial? Are you going to bury him the full six feet, or what?
5ColouredWalker
Thickness grunts at the revelation no one has digging tools.

  "In that case, our best bet is to convert one of the more decrepit buildings into a cairn on pyre."  

After a moment Thickness turns to Mr. Ardovair, eye ridge raised.
  "Or a lava burial?"  
Diavolo
Arsenne says :   "No, this isn't possible. This is a farming colony. They dug holes to put up the log fence. There are cultivated lands just to the South of us.  They cleared jungle.  There were partially repaired farming implements in that smithy near the entrance. There should be plenty of shovels around! And if they are no longer within this triangular compound, they must be near or in the farming huts."    
5ColouredWalker
Thickness' head snaps to Arsenne, twisting a moment. 
   "Given our track record with the buildings, perhaps traditional ceremony should wait until we can come back in proper force or proper preparation. Unless you're volunteering to enter the building's first?"  
Espeon55
  "Ambyr? Dig?"   Eirina asks her companion as she makes digging motions with her hands.
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "Challenge accepted!  I don't mind going in first if you don't mind delaying the start of our hike by a bit."    

He looks at everyone and adds.

  "Look, Eirina already said she does not like to look at a dead body, right? Well take that and multiply by ten, and that's how I feel about a body that's been sitting around in the jungle heat for a few days, or about exhuming a body after a week or so. For the sake of Roran's memory, I would like to bury him, but once buried, I really don't relish the idea of digging him back up.  So, can we please invest just a bit of effort, find a small fraction of the dozens of shovels, hoes and picks that must exist in this farming colony, and bury Roran properly, with the intention of it being the one and only time we bury him?  As for all those monkey-goblins, I'm happier to toss them in the ocean to feed the fishies rather than tossing them into the jungle to attract scavengers and more dangerous predators."
  
lostsole31
Ambyr, a type of feline that is not a burrower, looks curiously at Eirina.

Mr. Arvodair says,   "Bury him shallow, and at least a 100' from the colony. Remember we are likely going to rebuild and repurpose these buildings. Shallow grave for proper reburial later. Don't explore any new buildings. We'll use loose timber from the ruined pantry building to break the ground, and then once broken we'll use our hands ... ALL of us ... except the one who doesn't have hands..."   here he eyes Ambyr   "... and get this done as soon as we can. We are already late."  

Does anyone dissent with the coxswain?
Diavolo
Arsenne says:   "O.K.."  
Espeon55
Eirina nods in agreement.
lostsole31
Though it takes some time, Roran is now in a shallow, temporary grave, but deep enough to hopefully mute his scent and make it a deterrent to any scavengers. It won't be perfect, but it is something.

Now what?
5ColouredWalker
With words only not muttered through practice and the knowledge it stops working, Thickness cleans himself as best he can with Presdigitation, and offers the same to the others. Unless there's another disturbance, Thickness will begin the group's march towards their destination.
lostsole31
North of the colony, but well within sight, is a small field. Inundating the meadow is a series of large holes dug in at an angle. Piles of dirt surround each hole. A large copse of trees grows due east of this location.

Do you investigate, or steer clear of here?
Diavolo
Arsenne gratefully accepts the generous offer of Thikha'Ness to use magic to clean him up after the dirty work of digging with hands.

Upon seeing this strange meadow, Arsenne says:    "I am more than a little curious, but we are already late to a rendez-vous.  We are not on an exploration trip right now. I say we steer clear of this curious site.  For now...."  
5ColouredWalker
  "Agreed. No more surprises if we can, at least for today."

  Thickness adopts the odd stance he sometimes does, head low to the ground for a sniff before moving on, eyes  roaming as he leads a path well away from the holes.

 
 Spoiler: Action note 

Assuming Running Hunter's stance for a bit for Scent for any obvious dangers.
 
lostsole31
The party moves for about 2 miles to the northwest along a slow curve until Thickness notes something off ... even as Kaen and Eirina note tracks on the beach ... strange footprints of a possible humanoid - definitely bipedal, and have an unfamiliar smell to Thickness, specifically a sea-smell. The footprints go in and out of the ocean, and it seems that they don't go very far from this point. It is presumed after awhile that - with the bones of some fish and the like nearby of various age - that this area is a type of guarded area, or at least a lookout point. For whom or what is unknown.

Geographically, you can either continue northwest easily, or slavishly follow the beaches curve down to a long, thin peninsula or point that doesn't have much mass, and is easily visible from this point with nothing special or interesting visually that you note (from this point).
5ColouredWalker
  "Tracks? I'm also smelling sea creatures on land beyond what I normally get from sea spray. I think we might have found a common landing spot from the... Sea goblins? They're not so formidable I think we need to avoid them, but it may be for the best.  

Thickness cares not either way should debate start, but is attentively checking their surroundings for movement.
Espeon55
  "I think we should continue Northwest and stay clear of those monsters."   Eirina states as she checks the surroundings.
Diavolo
Arsenne says:   "I agree with continuing Northwest.  But before we go, I wonder, do you 'hunter-types' have the ability to hide our tracks as easily as you can detect theirs?  I don't want anybody else knowing we are here unless we have established how friendly they intend to be."   
5ColouredWalker
Thickness shakes his head as he answers.
  "We would need to move significantly slower than we already are. I think we should avoid such."  
lostsole31
Luren agrees, as does Kaen.

  "Meanwhile, we can cut across the peninsula instead of exploring the point. Take a look, I think I see the ship about five miles north,"   says Mr. Arvodair.

Once said, the group can see what he sees far enough.

It takes a little over and hour. The island shoreline arcs to the northwest until it hooks sharply south like a bird’s beak to form a small cape. Anchored offshore is the  Peregrine . Pulled up on the shore is a ship’s boat, evidence of a landing party.

Ramona, accompanied by a few sailors and colonial soldiers, waits near the second ship’s boat. When the PCs arrive on the beach, Ramona rises to her feet quickly to greet them. She notes a much smaller party than expected, and with a worried voice asks,   “You’re here, that’s a relief. We had some... unexpected problems. I’ll tell you about it, but first I’d like to hear your report on the colony. What did you discover?”  
5ColouredWalker
  "Your problems are shared. You might see we're fewer in number"  

Thickness pauses, giving a moment for eyes to roam while he swallows and gathers his breath.

  "The short version. It seems that everyone left without violence to places unknown months ago, without taking supplies.one might consider critical, only for the islands natives to fill in. Some are smart enough to use tools and had used some of the supplies or otherwise taken them, including lighting the forge. Some however were aggressive beasts, who apparently were so enthusiastic about the buildings use as shelter that previously cleared buildings would cease to be so. There were other oddities we were unable to investigate fully but... This is a violent place. No one should be alone here, small groups in earshot of others at least... Oh, and there were signs of amphibious beasts, more than the water goblin like things we had to fight off on our initial departure from the main ship"  

Thickness pauses, thinking over the events of the last few days.

  "Oh, and there was a ghost. So if we do find what happened to everyone that left or any survivors, I doubt they were having a good time of things... Game however has been plentiful so there's at least one silver lining."  

Thickness end's his abridged recap with a bitter half laugh.
Espeon55
  "We also found some interesting items such as this sword that was under the boards of a farm house. My Uncle Identified it as being of Azlanti craftsmanship!"   Eirina states trying to give some good news as well before remembering there is more bad news to give.   "however one of the beasts we encountered that is not a good surprise well...it was a monster known as a Barghest....a devil....it...it killed Roran."   
lostsole31
Ramona listens thoughtfully as the PCs explain the status of Talmandor's Bounty. She then asks a series of several questions,   “Are the buildings mostly intact? Did they plant crops? Were you able to chase off any dangerous creatures? Are there tools and equipment still there?”  
5ColouredWalker
  "Yes, almost all buildings are intact including a in progress palisade. One building was accidentally set alight clearing out a hostile swarm.  The remaining buildings are missing shutters and the palisade lacks gates."   Thickness pauses, eyes squinting as he looks up a big before looking back to meet  Ramona's eyes and  continuing.   "No proper fields, but there's been some planting, and it's all overgrown. The settlement hasn't been looted, even has some food and alcohol stores that were left, or at least definitely alcohol. As for dangerous creatures, none felt like retreating, but we managed to clear out the town centre, but given the rate they come back, unless we come in force it might be difficult to keep things clear."  

With that said Thickness looks down to the ground a bit, his leg fidgets a moment before stopping.
lostsole31
Mr. Arvodair looks at Thickness.   "Looks like your feet betray the courage your lips have not. Out with it, lad. Something's eatin' you, and it wants to be said."  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness half turns to Mr. Arvodair   "'Naught but shame at events turning out so poorly. But now isn't the time for wailing for water shed downstream, and I doubt we've much use for it."   Thickness returns his gaze to  Ramona. 
Espeon55
"  We did find a Masterwork Machete if that can count as a useable tool rather than a weapon."   Eirina tells Ramona.   "The smithy is still useable so as to make weapons and such from what we could gather. As for the monsters....we did clear them but we also saw signs along the beach that there are more creatures hiding in the waters and those Goblin Monkeys there could be more of them hiding in the forest somewhere."    
Diavolo
Arsenne adds:    "We found no clue as to what happened to the first wave of colonists.  It's definitely a hostile environment, but none of the beasts we met so far would necessarily account for the disappearance of an entire colony. I cannot help but fear the worst. More-over, there is something else that has been bothering me...."  

He looks at his friends, hesitates, looks down, shakes his head, and he falters a bit as he speaks:    "It's so sad... all these people coming here with dreams of building a better future, of establishing a community, to live in, to grow in, in which to raise their children and their ambitions for a bold new world.... "  

He swallows a bit to keep from choking up:    "And yet, they chose very crude geometric shapes in which to build their structures. The compound itself was a simple right-handed triangle instead of isosceles, with no symmetry whatsoever!  They left no space on their window lintels for proper flower boxes, they could have easily lined the paths with abundant sea shells of different colours. They didn't even leave any trees standing within the enclave to accentuate or frame the view as you enter, .... they.... they.... they gave absolutely no weight at all to the aesthetics of design, focusing purely on function over form!"
  
He cries out in anguish as he clenches and unclenches his hands:    "WHAT KIND OF SOCIETY WERE THEY TRYING TO CREATE!?!"  
lostsole31
There is a pause at Arsenne's outburst, and Mr. Arvodair whispers loudly to Ramona,    "The barghest nearly got him, mum. He hasn't been right since. Best not make eye contact."   

Ramona quickly looks away from Arsenne to the others. Seemingly having concluded their report, Ramona decides that although the situation is not ideal, the best course is to have the colonists disembark at Talmandor’s Bounty.

  “That is, if the ship can actually get there,”   she says glumly.

At that, Ramona changes the subject to a strange phenomenon affecting the Peregrine. She explains that after the PCs were dropped off, the  Peregrine  sailed almost all the way to where it is anchored now, quickly and without incident. When the ship approached the cape, however, its momentum dropped to a snail’s pace, despite the fact that its sails were full of wind. The anchor wasn’t lowered, they weren’t dragging the keel through a sandbar, and no giant monster was sighted with the ship in its clutches. At least one sailor swam underneath the ship, but didn’t report anything unusual.

Ramona indicates that both the ship’s crew and the passengers are on edge. She believes that if whatever curse has befallen the ship were to be lifted, the nervous colonists might relax. She asks the PCs if they would check out the underside of the ship’s hull and find the cause of the mysterious problem.
5ColouredWalker
Thickness nods.

  "Happily. Is there somewhere good to put down any items before we swim?"

  Thickness smiles, sounding much happier at the prospective task.
Diavolo
Arsenne continues shaking his head and muttering, mainly to himself:    "Beauty... Art.... How can anybody live without these?  Why would anyone WANT to live without these? What kind of people would emerge from a society that disregards the importance of aesthetics? Ahhh Shelyn, you have truly presented me with a monumental task... how to bring a greater appreciation of the world to those who have no appreciation for your exquisite teachings?
  
Eventually, he catches on that people are getting ready for a swimming expedition and he volunteers:   "O.K. I could use a good swim.  I have no particular magic or equipment to assist in underwater exploration, however."   

As he speaks places his Glaive and back pack, on the ground, keeping only his belt, his spell-component pouch, his holy symbol, his siangham, and Roran's 50' of rope which he coils  neatly and through which he puts his head and left arm and shoulder so that the rope sits cross-ways and diagonal across his chest and back, the top portion resting on his left shoulder and the lower portion leaned against his right hip.

He strips down to his underpants, and looks like he was about to remove those too, but then he stops, looks around at the others, purses his lips, and says:   "Hmmph"    and keeps them on.
Espeon55
Eirina covers her eyes as Arsenne strips down.   "EXCUSE ME!!! There are ladies present here!! Doesn't Shelyn teach you uh what's the word for it....uh public nudity being well bad?!"   Her face is bright red and she immediately turns her back to him to try and hide her obvious innocence and embarrassment.

  "Ahem...uh anyways Ramona y-yes we can um check things out for you. Ambyr stay with Ramona please."   Eirina orders before petting her cat. She then proceeds to put her Longbow down but keeps her Elven Thornblade and leaves her backpack next to Ambyr. As she follows the others to the water, still avoiding to look at Arsenne she will cast Air Bubble upon herself before diving underwater.

 
 Spoiler: Spell casting 
STA: Cast Air Bubble.
 
lostsole31
Kaen will stay on land in case those things come about to protect Ramona, and Mr. Arvodair is given permission to take the  Peregrine 's launch to row out to the ship (because it is some distance in the harbor) in order to get to the sailing ship.

He rows the group to the ship, and recommends the ship itself be searched first. The PCs can board the  Peregrine  and start their investigation there. A search of the vessel’s decks, holds, and cabins yields no useful information. The ship itself radiates a faint transmutation aura under a casting of  detect magic . If the PCs question Captain Markosi, First Mate Naerath, or Navigator Swain about the ship’s behavior, the sailors can clarify that the ship isn’t stuck. It is moving very slowly, in defiance of the physics of wind in their sails. The  Peregrine ’s maximum speed is 160 feet (sail or current), but since it came within sight of the cape, it has gone no faster than 40'. An attempt to row the ship failed to increase this speed. The crew can confirm that one sailor swam underneath the ship and reported nothing unusual, but they also point out that it’s a big ship.

So, time for underwater (Eirina would have waited until getting nearer to the ship before casting that spell).

Is there a plan, or just swim and look and get lucky?
5ColouredWalker
  "Are there any charms, inscriptions or basically anything other than barnicals and wood thats supposed to be below the water line? I'm no expert but unless there's some mer-wizard or something below I imagine anything thats lasted by this to be held by something?"  

Whatever the answer Thickness will nod in acceptance.

  "I can maintain some Dancing Light to illuminate below and signal above. I think it might be best if I did a deep inspection while you lot stay above ready to dive if I find something. If we don't find something we can look further out in case there actually are seafolk watching below.. And if we can spare 10 minutes I've some martial preperations I'd like to make."  
 
 Spoiler: Items not swam with/10 minutes 

Backpack and contents.
Shield.
Necklace (and contents), belt pouch and component pouch.
Weapons

This leaves my clothes and chain shirt worn and nothing else iirc.

If the 10 minutes are available, Thickness will unready Incite Betrayl and ready Sand Shark Rush.
 
Diavolo
Arsenne says to Eirina :    "You know, it was specifically for your sake that I kept on that last stitch of clothing, otherwise that would have been off as well.  And no, Shelyn teaches us quite the opposite. The physical form should be enjoyed, visually by all, and sensually by those few whom you choose. Have you never seen the statues in the Nude Gardens of Augustana? No. I guess not. Well, I'll try to remember to be more discrete in your presence."     He smiles warmly.

To both Eirina and Thiiha'ness, he says:   "O.K., since talking will be restricted underwater, let's plan this out now. Thikness, would you not prefer if we were underwater with you, so that we can keep an eye on you and react immediately, without the inherent delays of waiting for and responding to a signal? Also I brought this rope along.  I'm think of leaving one end in the hands of a couple of strong sailors aboard the Peregrine, to assist us with a fast  exit from the water if necessary.  I have never tried casting underwater but I don't imagine it's something that is easily done."

"Eirina has a spell to help her breath underwater, Thikness, I am sure, is capable of holding his breath far longer than most humans. So I propose to bob around near the surface, keeping an eye on things and ready to take a breath and .... swim into action if necessary!

"Finally, do either of you have the ability to 'Detect magic'?  It's something I could do had I prepared for it, which I have not.   
Espeon55
Eirina nods.   "I have  Detect Magic  prepared yes. However my  Air Bubble  spell is limited to minutes for when I am underwater. So I shall leave the big exploration to Thickness."      
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "Sounds good."    And he begins some limbering-up exercises and stretches while waiting for Thikha'Ness to be ready.
5ColouredWalker
  "As said, I'm happy for you to wait above for my signal. If you'd rather swim with me that is fine. The rope idea might be good if you can swim with them on, but I'll go without. Saving the Air Bubble until we find something promising makes sense. I lack the knowledge for the detecting of magic unfortunately."  
lostsole31
  "I will maintain position-keeping with the boat,"   says Mr. Arvodair.
digiman619
Kaen also agreed to stand guard; he could adjust his suit to breathe  underwater, but it would take him several hours to realign his chakra to  allow it. Arsenne's theatrics had been amusing, and as much as he'd  deny it if asked, so was his niece's reaction to it. It did much to ease  his mind, which had been focused on survival over anything else since  they buried Roran. Now there were new challenges, yes, but it allowed  him to not focus internally, as he had been of late.
Diavolo
Arsenne says :   "O.K. then, so three of us are going in."   

He asks one of the ship's men to tie one end of the rope to a suitably solid point along the gunwales near mid-ship, and throws the other end overboard, nodding when he hears the splash. He then ask for to of the bulkier sailors to hang on to the ship-bound end of the rope and to be ready to pull up if necessary.

He then pulls his siangham out of his sash and, holding the very non-threatening weapon firmly in his right hand, he asks   "are we are ready then?"  
lostsole31
The sailors have their own jobs, and stick to those jobs ... so Arsenne does not get the help he feels he is entitled to.
Diavolo
Arsenne stands around awkwardly holding a rope out that nobody is taking from him and says:    "Hello? .... Anybody? ..... But ..... the ship's not even moving....   O.K.  then... "    He looks around to find a sturdy looking railing where Roran's rope won't be in the way of any other lines, and walks to it and asks   "Does anybody object to my tying this off here for a little while"    

If nobody objects, he ties one end of the rope to as turdy post on the railing and then  throws the other end overboard, nodding when he hears the splash. He looks at his friends who are on the ship and says:    "I guess this can still serve as a secondary exit from the water incase the ship's boat gets compromised. But it looks like we'll have to pull ourselves up."  
 He then pulls his siangham out of his sash and, holding the very non-threatening weapon firmly in his right hand, he asks    "are we are ready then?"  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness utters arcane words, and a string of glowing blue dancing lights extend just above the water to the depths providing illumination.
 
 "I am. If the lights turn into a person or start bobbing up and down dive after me." 
 
With that, Thickness dives into the water, lights trailing his movements, meanwhile and surfacing to recast when they stop.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Dancing Lights. 4 Lights 10ft apart, movable 100ft per round. 1 will be 10ft above the water line the rest trailing which should get to a depth of 30ft or 45ft depending on rules interpretation (If 10ft apart is two squares between)

Assuming moving the lights aren't a free action, Thickness will alternate between moving 30ft and moving the lights to them, and then making a perception check targeting either the boat or the nearby waters (Alternating each time), circling the boat. If moving the lights isn't a action, then he moves and performs a perception check each round while moving 30ft with the lights. Thickness will surface every minute to recast, since breathing isn't a issue.

Thickness will circle the boat at a distance of 5ft.

If attacked Thickness will attempt Whirlpool Spin to counter.

If nothing obvious appears when circling the boat, Thickness will surface and say   'Just a moment.'   before diving without lights, assessing light levels under water and seeing how dark it is without lights, looking to see how difficult it is to inspect the boat without the extra light.
 
Espeon55
Eirina heads into the water.   "I am unsure if my spell can detect things underwater but I shall try."   Eirina focuses and casts  Detect Magic  as she idles in the water.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 
MA: Jumps into the water
STA: Casting Detect Magic.
 
Diavolo
Arsenne looks overboard to note where his two friends are, then moves to a part of the ship where they are not. He then stands at the edge of the boat, facing inward toward the ship, with his back to the water. He holds his arms out perfectly horizontally, his siangham in his right hand, and he smiles, take a breath and executes and acrobatic back flip and twist off the shipand into the water.

Once in, he swims over to the area where the rope is hanging down and threads water in that location, dipping his head underwater to keep an eye on Thikha'Ness, nodding to Eirina each time both of them happen to come up for air at the same time.
lostsole31
The  Peregrine  is 100' long and 25' wide at its widest point. Thickness swims the length and breadth underwater of the Peregrine, getting air as necessary. He always envisioned the bottom of a ship as wood, but he comes to find that the bottom of the ship is NOT the clean wooden ship he thought from looking at ship models. There are all manner of growths and life on the bottom of the ship, but nothing he sees that strikes him as particularly strange.
5ColouredWalker
Thickness surfaces, and with a quick   "Just a moment."   Dives down without leaving his daisy trail of lights, before surfacing once more.

  "Nothing on a quick search, and nothing obvious nearby. I can start doing a closer inspection of the boat for anything lodged in the barnacles or the like, or we can look further afield."  
Espeon55
Eirina will keep focusing on her  Detect Magic.  Trying to detect something magical underwater that is not Thickness' Dancing Lights.
lostsole31
Nothing "pings" to Eirina.
Espeon55
  "I'm not detecting anything magical."   Eirina reports. As she stops her Detect Magic.   "Thickness do you need me to help you with anything?"   
5ColouredWalker
Thickness shakes his head.

  "No. I'll do a deeper look. If I'm under for more than... 5 minutes at a time, be concerned."

  With that Thickness seemingly flips on the spot, diving downwith a little splash.

 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Thickness will start searching the boat's exterior, taking 20 as they examine the boat in detail. Taking 20 on a area should take 2 minutes, I can hold for 6 minutes, so checking two sections or a 10ft*5ft areas hould take 4 giving me plenty of time to dive and rise.
Thickness will continue until interrupted or complete.
 
Diavolo
Arsenne says to Eirina:    "Let's keep a keen eye on him. If he seems to focus on anything in particular, perhaps you can try detecting magic on that specific object."  
lostsole31
Thickness ends his deep search, which takes a significant period of time ... about three hours in total.

The only thing he finds is what he found before ... what he must assume is normal under-hull marine life.
5ColouredWalker
Thickness gets increasingly frustrated as time passes, however continues his search as none interrupt him.

Finally he rises one last time.

  "Nothing stands out. If there's anything on the boat, our best bet to find it is perhaps me helping Eirina swim as quickly as possible under the effects of her spell. I suspect some longer range ritual is at play, and we'll need to start a wider search..."   

Thickness sounds unconfident after coming up with the idea of a ritual. 
Espeon55
Eirina nods as she considers this.   "The only problem is, that my spell for Air bubble doesn't last long and I can't cast Detect magic whilst I am underwater without air....and I don't know how long I can hold my breath for if I cast it up here and then you swim me under. so I can focus there. I have never exactly experimented with how long I can hold my breath underwater. I'm an Archer, I learned to swim to learn how to swim not to be a deep sea diver."   
Diavolo
Arsenne, who by now is probably holding onto the ship's boat so he does not have to continue threading water, says: "  I'm sure you can do this without your air-bubble.  Cast your spell, do a length of the ship, and cast again.  But I'm not keen on staying in the water for another three hours. Perhaps the problem is not attached to the hull at all.  Perhaps you can scan the stern and the bow, above and below the water line."  
Espeon55
  "Very well I shall try however this might not be magic related."   Eirina will swim around to different sections of the boat's hull casting  Detect Magic  as she goes. Starting near the front of the boat.
5ColouredWalker
Thickness swims alongside  Eirina, ready to help in case of issue while staying approximately 10ft behind her. He'll drift further back if she starts detecting him on her attempts. 
Diavolo
Arsenne will also swim along and stay close.
lostsole31
No magical auras on the ship.
Espeon55
Eirina sighs.   "I am not picking up anything perhaps I do have to go underwater and cast down there."  
5ColouredWalker
  "We can do so if you'd like but I find it doubtful we'll find anything. I think it's worth going further afield..."

  Thickness' eyes narrow as he assesses Eirina. 
   
"We might actually go faster underwater if I pull you. How heavy would you say you are?"

   
 Spoiler: Math 

Assuming Eirina always hits her DC's she's moving 15ft per round. 5ft if she sometimes misses. If Eirina+25lb (My chain shirt) is lighter than 233lb that speed increases to 20 and I still hit DC 20 while taking 10. If she's over that but less than 350 it'll become tiring but doable at 17. If She's light enough (113 or under) It might be worth taking off my chain shirt and diving in underclothes for movement 30ft/Round.
 
Diavolo
Arsenne desperately tries to get the attention of Thikha'Ness. As soon as he has a chance when Eirina looks underwater to study the hull, he tries to hold Thikha'Ness back and says hurriedly:    "Listen, my friend, not much time to explain, and I don't know how it works with Elves, but Eirina is at least half human, and among humans we NEVER ask a woman her weight!"    

He shuts up and tries smiles widely and innocently when Eirina comes back up for air.
Espeon55
  "I am carrying a light load if  that  is what you mean. As for my actual weight....none of your business! I am fit as a fiddle I'll have you know! Hmph."   Eirina huffs.   "Let's go with your further afield theory. Do you believe the problem lies elsewhere?"   
Diavolo
Arsenne says   "Yes. I think we should check the stern and the bow, above and below the waterline.  If there's nothing latched onto the hull, those are the next two logical places."  
5ColouredWalker
  "Worry not, I've no desire to create more aquatic elves, as for the idea to check the boat further, we've checked below, I imagine the sailors already checked above. I'm not expert, but the only other thing I can think of is some longer range ritual, I wouldn't know where to look beyond a spiral search looking for odd things though."

  Thickness shrugs for his position in the water, and begins swimming to the boat in order to pull himself aboard.
  
"I think it's best we tell the sailors aboard before we leave, see if anyone else has any other ideas and recollect our things."  
Espeon55
  "Well it's better than wasting our time in the water."   Eirina states as she agrees with Thickness.   "Let's go back aboard and report we haven't found anything around the boat."   Eirina grabs the rope and starts climbing back onto the boat.
lostsole31
Is everyone back on the boat currently tended by Mr. Arvodair, then?
5ColouredWalker
Thickness nods, and likewise begins returning to the boat.
Diavolo
Arsenne says:   "Well I think I have sufficiently refreshed all of my various swimming strokes. I guess my next challenge will to focus my mediations on more breathing techniques.  Maybe with training I'll some day be able to hold my breath as long as our friend Thikha'Ness here!"   And he pulls tucks his Siangham into his sash and pulls himself back aboard.
lostsole31
Mr. Arvodair moves the launch next to the ship, and then calls up for the coxswain's mate to come take over for him. A sailor comes down and takes the oars.

Mr. Arvodair jumps into the bay.
Espeon55
  "I hope Mr. Arvodair has better luck than we did."   Eirina comments.   "However I have been wondering but never got the chance to ask him due to him being rather intimidating and rude in the beginning, then the whole he almost died.... but what species....er race is he?"   
lostsole31
The coxswain's mate seems really interested by this, but tries to pass it off as not listening.
Diavolo
Arsenne says   "After all that time in water, I think I'm ready for a warm fire."  
5ColouredWalker
For a moment Thickness looks over the side of the boat after  Eirina's question, his snout gives away a smile before his lips settle into their normal line.
   
"I'll be honest, I can't tell your soft skins apart. I thought he was a Dwalf."
  
A oversized grin appears on Thickness' mug... Showing far too many teeth before he snickers at his own statement, face returning to his normal subdued smile.

  "I would be surprised if he finds something we missed below. But perhaps luck will shine on him. As for getting warm with a fire, I don't think we'll have time for that soon. If you'd like I can help get your clothes warm and dry, both of you. I'll be honest I've liked being back in the water, if it weren't for the salt."  
 
 Spoiler: Actions 

Thickness will use  Prestidigitation  to help clean and warm the group's clothes, saving himself for last. He won't warm his clothes however despite offering it to the other two.
 
lostsole31
Thickness finds that he is unable to dry their clothes.
Espeon55
  "It's fine Thickness its not that cold right now so I doubt we'll get sick from staying a bit wet for now."   Eirina states when their friend's attempt to help them fails.
lostsole31
Every now and then at various lengths along the ship, Mr. Arvodair's head will pop up before he takes a breath and goes back under.

   "Huh,"    mutters the coswain's mate.    "Coulda' sworn he was part fish. I guess I owe Gumpter three copper."   

Finally, after a longer wait, the ship begins to surge more freely with the chop in the bay. Several seconds alter, Mr. Arvodair broaches the surface once more. He shows the body of a dead fish - thin and colorful, with a broad, segmented sucker above its narrow mouth. A line of spines runs down the back of its three-foot length.   "Echeneis. There were two of them under the ship. Along with the other under-hull marine life, I can see why it was overlooked. It won't stand out if you don't know what you're looking for."  

He makes his way into the boat, dismissing the mate back onboard the ship while he throws his dead evidence into the launch and rows back ashore, making his report to the captain.
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "Huh?  Wait... What? Is he saying a couple of 4'long fish managed to slow down this whole boat? I don't under... ....   Mr. Arvodaire!  Mr. Arvodaire!"   and he trots to catch up with Mr. Arvodaire as he heads toward the launch, to pepper him with questions at the first opportunity.
Espeon55
  "Well....that explains what I didn't sense anything magical."   Eirina states before looking at Thickness once they are on shore.   "However I am surprised you didn't find these guys"   
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "But it doesn't make sense. If these creatures were really the culprits, they must be magical!  How could something this small affect a ship that large? This would imply an impossibly hight strength to size ratio. Natural muscles don't work this way. I'm a doctor! I know about these things! Maybe because these little culprits look like fish, you didn't detect magic right at them?  Can you try now to see if there is any residual magic? Please!  I won't be able to sleep tonight if we don't figure this out!"  
lostsole31
Mr. Arvodair flatly says,   "You must have a lot of sleepless nights ... doctor."  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness kneels down where the dead fish were thrown, glaring at them as he takes them in as much detail as he can.

  "If I did they didn't stand out... I know most common fish by sight and a few oddities mainly for eating or not, less so for concern over magical beasts... I will remember these... Sucker jaws, sucker jaws..."

  Thickness' voice is more growly then usual as he repeats sucker jaws to himself a few times. After a extended period of staring at the fish and flipping them over to get a look at both sides, Thickness stands up with a snap of his jaw.
Espeon55
Eirina rolls her eyes at Arsenne but does indeed cast another  Detect Magic  ​on the fish.
lostsole31
No magical emanation - lingering or otherwise - on the fish.
Espeon55
  "It's not Magical."   Eirina states.   "Happy now Doc?"   
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "Not really, no, not happy.  It would have been easier form me if it were magical. If it's not, then that means that this little, O.K., medium-sized fish somehow has fortitude and strength well beyond what is imaginable for a creature of this size.  It has always been one of my core beliefs that through intensive training, one can summon inner strength to accomplish things that very closely resemble the effects of Arcane or Devine magic. That is, in fact, one of the basic tenets upon which a monk's training is based.   But this is a fish!  There is no way that it is practicing advanced katas so as to develop super-human, sorry, super-fishy strength! If anybody ever comes across some secret fish monastery where various aquatic animals are training rigorously, please do let me know."  

He glances at Eirina:   "Sorry, I was rude.  Yes, I'm happy you verified if it were magical.  Thank you."   

He glances at Mr. Arvodaire and adds softly:    "I will definitely meditate on this and pray to Shelyn for enlightenment on this paradox, otherwise I will be missing A LOT of sleep!"  
lostsole31
A second launch comes ashore with the first officer and some other sailors in the meantime.

  "When I was in the soup,"   says Mr. Arvodair,   "I  think I might have seen a grindylow at a distance, but it was right at  the limit of what I could see, but I'm not sure. But we did deal with a  couple grindylows the minute we stepped ashore when we got here."  

Ramona grimly states,   "Talmandor’s Bounty might continue to have trouble with the gang if they aren’t driven off for good."  
 "Ramona,"  says the first mate,  "a sailor noted that she spotted a partially submerged sea cave while our troubleshooters were checking the hull." 

Ramona suggests,   "It might be worthwhile to explore it and deal with the grindylows on the colony’s terms instead of waiting for a surprise raid. Let's all head back to the ship."  

Launches fill up with heroes and sailors and return to the  Peregrine .

Once the PCs step aboard, they receive a rousing cheer from the colonists and sailors, though there is some tension. The handful of PCs that came aboard previously sensed something at the periphery of their social consciousness, but were mission-focused on searching the hull. The tension is so palpable now it can be cut with a knife.

The PCs need only mingle with their fellow passengers to overhear whispered conversations that the expedition should be ‘scrubbed’ and everyone sail back to Almas. The ship’s officers and crew look sullen and apprehensive. Ramona is trying to be supportive and diplomatic with the colonists and crew, but as tensions rise, it appears that she needs a bit of help from the PCs.

Ramona gathers the PCs together to discuss with them quietly what she knows. There are four people she can identify that are the primary instigators so you don't have to spend time looking for them yourselves.    "You should try to discover what you can about them to best know how to deal with them, instead of just dealing with them blindly. Each of you should try to find out - individually - what might best work. Then I would only have no more than 2-3 of you at any given time dealing with them so they don't feel ganged up on.  The four instigators are Antona Sedgwick, Faedwyr Trundlebrook, Harcourt Carrolby, and Perrel Beys."  
Espeon55
Eirina wants to know more about Antona and Faedwyr.
Diavolo
Arsenne says:    "Very well.  I'll try learn more about the other two then,       Harcourt Carrolby, and Perrel Beys."

  
 
5ColouredWalker
With the other two speaking up Thickness turns to Kean.

  "So how about I do Harcourt and Faedwyr while you do Perrel and Antona? Gets us cycling around and hopefully makes it less obvious."
  

The last Thickness address to the entire group, head panning for a moment before returning to Kean.
Diavolo
Arsenne says :    "Good idea."  
digiman619
Kaen nodded.   "Sound like a good idea. But one thing?"   he said as he gave the crocodile man a wry smile.   "It's Kaen. Not all of us like our name to be swapped with a similar word, Mr. Thikha'Nes."  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness blinks, before smiling wildly.

  "To be honest, I'm more worn down than anything. But if you can put the effort to remember my name than I shall surely remember yours Kaen."

  With a nod he turns to Arsenne  

"With that solved let's get going. Perhaps we can start with Mr Carrolby?"
  
Unless something else comes up, Thickness is happy to continue about the tasks.
lostsole31
 
 Spoiler: Arsenne, Eirina 
The two of you approach Antona Sedgwick to get a better read on her. She is one of the colony's soldiers. The two of you don't get a good enough read on her situation to get any special insight on how to influence her.
 

 
 Spoiler: Eirina, Thickness 
The two of you approach Faedwyr Trundlebrook. It is through his profession of farmer that both of you are able to use analogies of the natural world to have him open up to learn more about him. Faedwyr is a farmer who is timid about the idea of a spooky and deserted settlement. He needs his confidence in the colony’s protectors bolstered. A demonstration of strength or an impressive round of nonlethal combat might reassure him that the colony is in good hands, or even a level discussion with one of the more combat-capable members of the group.
 

 
 Spoiler: Kaen, Thickness 
The two of you approach Harcourt Carrolby. Harcourt is one of the wealthiest colonists and thus often thinks of himself as nobility, even though Andoren society no longer recognizes that class distinction. Thickness is at a loss of how to proceed, lacking knowledge of worldly and societal affairs. It is Kaen who navigates conversation enough while Thickness stands embarrassed to the side that brilliant navigates Harcourt's subtle concerns. Harcourt loves to feel important. If the PCs ask for his help to assuage the fears of his fellow passengers, he might set a brave example for others to follow; thus the PCs can manipulate him into no longer sowing the seeds of doubt and fear. They might even be able to convince him that his snooty behavior puts others off when he is most needed to bring them together.
 

 
 Spoiler: Arsenne (&amp; Mr. Arvodair) 
The two of you approach Perrell Beys.  Luckily, both of the men are well-versed in a variety of arcane and historical subjects enough to at least follow the conversation, with Mr. Arvodair surprisingly having just a little more insight in such matters, and they learn that Like Faedwyr, Perrell is simply worried that there is some unknown danger on the island the group will not be able to overcome. The academic is a bit naive and sheltered, however, and
the PCs can persuade her that everything happening is actually normal with assurances like “Expeditions like these always go a little off course!” and “There’s nothing to worry about!” Though a bit disingenuous, the PCs can persuade her that the danger is exaggerated. Either way, the best way to placate her is either through partial assurances like above, or plain dealing as normal.
 


 

Okay, time to influence. Time is of the essence and as before, only two should approach one of the instigators to influence them, but now you should mention what tactic you would recommend to use with your "social target" .... and that one person should have no more than two "targets." Once you define who goes where, I will define where best to put Mr. Arvodair.
Espeon55
Eirina will show off her skills in Archery and hunting so as to ease the worries of Faedwyr Trundlebrook and Perrell Beys.
digiman619
Kaen uses his knowledge of Nobility to give Harcourt Carrolby examples of brave nobles who led their people through dangerous times, and will attempt to use his martial knowledge to assuage Antona Sedgwick.
 
 Spoiler: OOC 
(K:Nobility) and (K: Martial), respectively
 
5ColouredWalker
As the group discusses their options, Thickness rolls his shoulders.

  "I don't like it, but I can do it. I'll take Perrell. If either of you want a hand at the play fighting I can help."  

Thickness will approach Perrel Beys, and spin him stories of adventures going off course and coming right, some famous, some less so, some even humorous and spoken as if they happened to him.
  "It's started rough, but lot of settlements have. But with grit and gumption we'll get through."  
 
 Spoiler: OOC 

Perform (Oratory) Includes Storytelling. I don't think I can aid myself but that should help.
 
Diavolo
Arsenne approaches Harcourt Carrolby and shares his concern that some of the colonists seem frightened by the very real dangers on the island. He shares his idea of starting a series of games and skills competitions. These would serve a multitude of purposes. One would be to entertain the colonists and bring some joy into this venture. Another would be to allow us to get to know one another better and to take note of the various skills and combat abilities that we bring to the venture. And, most importantly, these would help to reassure the fearful that we have among us many capable individuals who are prepared to commit their talents to the protection of the colony.
He inquires if Mr. Carrolby would be interested in developing these games, or perhaps even sponsoring a prize? We could even call these the "Carrolby games".
lostsole31
Antona is a bit impressed by Kaen's martial knowledge, and Mr. Arvodair is able to capitalize on that and talk sense to her, though it takes a lot to do so, since she is otherwise a cipher. (Whew.)

Eirina inexplicably is distracting by showing off in the background while Mr. Arvodair herds her away from the crazy archer woman to try to talk sense into Faedwyr, and masterfully dissuades him from continuing his inciting actions, driving the point home by showing off his own prodigious strength!

The two-prong attack of Kaen and Arsenne finally wins over Harcourt, practically spinning the man's head, but greatly appeasing his ego!

Eirina again starts randomly shooting at the mast, getting admonished by the ship's master-at-arms for doing so. Unlike Mr. Arvodair, Thickness manages to explain to Perrell that while clearly insane, Eirina's focus is proof-positive that Perrell - and indeed the mission - is in the right hands!

Through their coordinated efforts, diplomacy, guile, and good use of multitasking ... the group completely shuts down all instigators from continuing to speak out!
5ColouredWalker
Thickness smiles as he and Perrel part ways, waiting a moment for shouting to die down before regrouping with Eirina.

  "The officers are a bit strict, but otherwise this seems to have gone well. Good show on the shooting before it got interrupted, lets regroup with the others. I hope things went as well with them."  
Espeon55
  "Ah right sorry showing off my bowmanship was the only thing I could think of to quell the fears of those afraid of the dangers lurking here. Talking and persuasion has never been my area of strength."   Eirina explains.   "Some of my Elven relatives looked down upon me because of my human blood so I learned the best way to prove myself was to show off my skills in Archery....I thought it could work here as well...."    
Diavolo
Arsenne listens to Eirina's explanation, puts a hand to his chin and says:    "Hmmm.  Good thing you are specialized in archery and hunting as opposed to horseback riding and bull-fighting.  I'm not sure how such a spectacle aboard the Peregrine would have impressed Antona!"   And he once again gives her that same smile as the other times he teased her.
lostsole31
Ramona gathers and thanks the PCs, before restating something else that concerns her, that Talmandor’s Bounty might continue to have trouble with the grindylow if they aren’t driven off for good. A sailor aboard the Peregrine notes that she spotted a partially submerged sea cave while the PCs contended with the echeneises, and then again while they were going around and diminishing tensions. Ramona again puts forth that it might be worthwhile to explore it and deal with the grindylows on the colony’s terms instead of waiting for a surprise raid.
digiman619
Kaen nods,   "We'll definitely have to deal with that, but I worry about how aqueous their base is. I have some tricks that would let me function like that, but I'll have to wait until morning to put it into motion, so we should at least wait until tomorrow to handle it."  
5ColouredWalker
Thickness nods.

  "I'm willing to scout ahead and take a look today, but unless they're much friendlier than they presented on the boat in to the abandoned settlement a deep look into the cave will probably require waiting 'till morning. We're only intact as we are due to a surplus of healing magic. That said, I'm fast enough underwater I'm willing to have a look on my own."  
lostsole31
Mr. Arvodair shakes his head.   "Faster than a man, but not as fast as a cephalopod-bodied goblin. That, and they are smaller and can hide in the shallows better than you. No, you having a look-see is an invitation for us to build a pine box for you. If the captain allows me to go with you tomorrow, I can swim fast and have strong lungs, but nothing magical like the pocket of air Eirina can create."  
Espeon55
  "You know in a sense we are the bad guys. This is their home and we're trespassing but they don't need to be so hostile about it with us."   Eirina states.   "And well once we deal with these locals...we also need to deal with the Goblin Monkeys at some point and find where they live. They're the reason why Roran is dead."   
5ColouredWalker
Thickness coughs, or laughs, one of the two.
 
 "Far be it from me to tar all goblins with the brush of monster given my appearance... But Goblins. Some of them have figured a grasp of common showing they might be civilizable, but one doesn't hear of goblin cities for a reason. I suppose these ones may end up more reasonable than others."  
Diavolo
Arsenne listens to Thihha'Ness, Kaen and Mr. Arvodaire discussing underwater adventures, and he looks at Eirina and says:    "I am definitely going to have to cater my meditation and breathing exercises toward developing the lung capacity required to keep up with you four. In the meantime, you will have to content yourselves with my slowing you down as I will regularly have to come up for air. That's if I'm invited to join the party, of course!  Perhaps someday, the Goddess will deem me worthy to be granted spells that can parallel Eirina's air bubble."  

He then adds:
  "So, 'Grindylows' are what we have been calling 'squid goblins', right? I have absolutely no reservations about wiping out a nest of such foul and ugly creatures, and have no doubt that the  Eternal Rose  would approve fully of such a venture."   

He crosses his arms and nods in satisfaction at his conclusion.