"I'll summon something to pull him up... try to keep them off him" said Angati as she started to concentrate to cast the spell.

OOC: Summoning Dire Bat. It is a large riding animal. Should be able to pick him up, but let me know if that is not so...

Alohan manages to get free of the sharks for a second and swims furiously towards the closest vessel - the Sea Wyvern.

<END OF PLAYERS' ROUND ONE>

HIT POINTS & MISFORTUNE
Kinstal AC:23/T14/F21 HP: 78/78 <MF NOT USED>
Angati  AC:22/T13/F20 HP: 56/56 <MF NOT USED>
Logan   AC:21/T16/F16 HP: 39/39 <MF NOT USED>
Celene  AC:10/T10/F10 HP: 29/29 <MF NOT USED>
Kassius AC:19/T15/F14 HP: 37/37 <MF NOT USED>
Kibeti  AC:21/T14/F17 HP: 42/42 <MF NOT USED>
Omi     AC:14/T14/F12 HP: 28/28 <MF NOT USED>

Alohan  AC:17/T16/F13 HP: 33/52 <MF NOT USED>

Shark #1 AC:18/T14/F17 <MF NOT USED> <SLOWED>
Shark #2 AC:18/T14/F17 <MF NOT USED>
Shark #3 AC:18/T14/F17 <MF NOT USED> <SLOWED>

(De-)Buffs
Whole Party
None
Alohan
None
Angati
None
Logan
None
Kassius
None
Kibeti
None
Celene
None
Omi
None

<START OF SHARKS' ROUND TWO>

The sharks chase after Alohan, two of them moving with unnatural slowness and unable to keep up (can't move and attack). Shark #2 does manage to attempt a bite as the barbarian reaches the boat but the monk kicks it away.

"Through down a rope!" yells Alohan, as his eyes sweep the water on the lookout for the next attack.

No map update - we don't need it really. Alohan and the sharks are all the way to the west against the left hand boat now.

<START OF PLAYERS' ROUND TWO>
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:06, Tue 31 Jan 2017.

Kinstal quickly wraps one end of the rope around himself and throws the other end to Alohan, while yelling to those closest to help haul him up.

OOC: Animal summoned: Shark
Shark (Celestial) CR 2
N Large Animal
Init +5; Senses blindsense 30 ft., keen scent darkvision 60 ft. ; Perception +8
Defense
AC 14, touch 10, flat-footed 13 (+1 Dex +4 natural -1 size )
HP 22 (4d8+4)
Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2
Resist cold 5, acid 5, electricity 5
SR 7
Offense
Speed swim 60 ft.
Melee Bite +5 (1d8+4)
Special Attacks Smite Evil
Statistics
Str 17, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Base Atk +3, CMB +7, CMD 18
Feats Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative
Skills Perception +8, Swim +11
Special Abilities
Smite Evil 1/day as a swift action (adds CHA bonus (+0) to attack rolls and damage bonus equal to HD (4) against evil foes; smite persists until target is dead or the celestial creature rests).

Unable to think of anything to do, Logan merely watches as Alohan swims for the rope.

Celene cleared her arms of the deck and then wove her fingers in complex gestures. Two motes of purple energy appeared above her upturned palm. The revolved around one another as Celene looked down at them. She flicked her gaze upwards toward the shark that was moving at a normal pace and one by one the motes of energy zipped towards the sharks sleek form hitting home regardless of the water in their way.

---

Free :  | Swft :  | Move : None | Stnd : Cast Magic Missile | Full :

Magic missile on the un-slowed shark.

11:53, Today: Celene rolled 12 using 3d4+3.  Force Damage.

---

HP: 29/29 |  AC: 10/10/10  | CMD : 12 | Saves: +4/+4/+9

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells :
   - Unlim. : Dancing Lights, Daze (DC15), Detect Poison, Drench, Flame Burst,
              Light, Mage Hand, Message,
   - 1/day  : Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation
  L1 Spells :
   - 09/10  : Burning Disarm (DC 16), Burning Hands (DC 16),
              Charm person (DC17), Enlarge Person, Grease (DC 18), Hydraulic Push,
              Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Summon Monster I, Vanish
  L2 Spells :
   - 6/6    : Create Pit (DC 19), Glitterdust (DC 19), Scorching Ray,
              Summon Monster II
  L3 Spells :
   - 3/4    : Slow (DC 18)

  Abilities : Flame lance (8/8), Wand of Magic Missile (41),
              Wand of Alter Self (25), Wand of Cure Light Wounds (50)

Alohan reaches the rope and starts to climb, but only gets his chest out of the water before one of the great whites in on him. He kicks out desperately, deflects the beast, and spins in a small loop on the rope. Before he can start climbing again the next shark is snapping at him and he has to lift his knees high in order to keep the 'Royal Eel' out of the water.

The sea churns as Angati's sharks and whatever critters that Kassius summons are added into the mix, then Celene's magical motes make the sea boil. The respite gives Alohan a chance to tighten his grip on the rope, and the next second he is being hoisted on board as Kinstal and Skald pull him up, hand over hand. The captain is ungracefully pulled over the gunnel by his loin cloth and then collapse on the deck like a landed fish, big gulping coughs clearing out the salt water from his lungs.

Those on board the Blue Nixie continue to watch the combat, but it turns out to be disappointing. A few seconds later the sharks seem to have been scared off as they disappear from view.

"You... <cough, cough> saved me dere hoaaloha," says Alohan gravely to Kinstal and Skald. "I not be forgetting dat, I promise you."

Logan breathes a sigh of relief as Alohan is pulled back onto a boat - manhood and all.

Then the rogue glowers and points at the trail of meat that Kibeti spotted.  "That was either sheer incompetence or a plot to attract the sharks."

The rogue moves over to grab one end of the line that broke, casting Alohan into the water.  "I bet this rope was tampered with as well."

The rogue starts pulling the line ashore, eager to check the spot where it broke.

Logan pulls in one end of the rope onto the Blue Nixie. Sure enough, the break point is not frayed, it has been cut most of the way across with something sharp.

The Blue Nixie and the Sea Wyvern are maneuverered next to each other so that it is possible to walk between them.

It is then possible to track the trail of blood and guts back to its source... a porthole near the stern of the ship.

Celene tried to not jump to conclusions.

"Shall we pay Avner a visit?" Celene said as she observed the porthole. "I'm sure I can find a way to make him talk if we think he's involved." she said with a sly smile.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:24, Thu 02 Feb 2017.

OOC: Avner's still standing right next to us on the boat, right?  Alohan went across first, and the rope snapped with him.  Avner's not the person who "pulled the trigger."  It's probably not related to Avner, honestly, because I don't think he had a way of telling a compatriot on the other boat that everything had gone south, nor did he know who would be going across first.  I think this is more general sabotage and not actually related to the Avner thing.  Or at least not directly related to what just happened at dinner.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:07, Wed 01 Feb 2017.

For some reason I thought he left ahead of us. Maybe I was mistaken.

I assumed he would have gone to his quarters. I see where I went wrong. He just left the room not the boat.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:36, Wed 01 Feb 2017.

Kassius' summoning spell doesn't finish until after Alohan is safely back onboard, so the hunter allows the magical energy to dissipate harmlessly.

"Whether it's that rascal or a saboteur, we need to find out. Let's see if we can figure out who was near that porthole."

Angati examined the rope and the trail... "From which ship was this rope thrown ?... and out of what ship is the trail of food coming ?... let us start by this" said Angati, as she bent to examine Alohan's wounds and heal them as best she could.

"You are going to sport some nice shark wounds... this one even shows each of the teeth mark... hey wait ... she said smiling... I am sure this must be good look charm or something". She said pulling out a shark tooth that had remained dug in Alohan's skin and handing it to him.

OOC: This is exactly right, after Avner was taken out of the captain's quarters / dinning room on the Blue Nixie he was just held on deck while the rest of you stayed in the cabin and discussed what to do. Then Alohan was the first one to try and get over on the rope. Avner was in full view of the entire party when the rope broke and was at the party before that - it seems unliekly that .



OOC: Thrown? you mean cut? It was cut at the Sea Wyvern end, close to the point where the rope went over the edge of the ship.



OOC: It was coming from a porthole in the stern of the Sea Wyvern.




Alohan chuckles, some colour returning to his face. "I be thanking you for dis, Angati. You are a good friend."

He grabs hold of the gunnel and pulls himself up onto his feet, then he gazes out across the moonlit ocean. The bloody trial is still visible. "I would like to know why the sea was being soaked in de blood," he mutters. "Der be a rascal on board, dis is clear at least."



Just as Kassius finishes speaking the porthole above the offending trial of blood opens, revealing the lit interior of a cabin. A small stream of guts is thrown out the window, then the porthole is slammed shut again.

Without hesitation, the party sprint down to the hold and head through the main bunkroom to the stern of the ship. This leads them to the last cabin in the vessel... the galley. When the door is flung open a scene from a slaughter house is revealed.

Two gutted pigs lie spread open on the table, their innards spilling out onto the floor. It looks like they have been recently gutted, rather inexpertly judges Kassius, and their internal organs ripped out. The cook, Shefton Rosk, stands at the other side of the table cheerfully whistling and scooping the lower intestine of one of the pigs into a wooden bucket.

"Ahoy there!<b> he says cheerfully as they burst in. <b>"Did the party finish early over on the 'nixie? Ha! Let me guess, the food was rubbish, right? Well I am cooking up a feast in here, although you're a bit early. I'm not gunna have these two done until dinner tomorrow." Blood trickles down ou of the bucket onto the deck of the galley.

Having helped get the Captain back on board safely.  Kinstal, decides he needs to keep an eye on both ships. Something was up,he knew a cut rope when he saw one and no one was going to get hurt on his watch.

Logan glares at the cook.  "How long have you been gutting these pigs and throwing the slop overboard?"

Celene stepped into the room and gagged slightly. Once she composed herself she looked at the tableau with a smirk on her face. "Seems we have a bit of a coincidence. If Shefton spent his time down here gutting pigs he couldn't have been involved in cutting the rope. Someone else sabotaged it. Perhaps we should assemble the crew of the Sea Wyvern and ask a few questions. Someone must have seen something."

As Kinstal stays above deck, he catches the little drama that plays out there.

Amella, the first mate, walks over to the end of the broken rope that is hanging over the side of the Sea Wyvern (since it was the other end that Logan inspected, the end of the Blue Nixie) and pulls it up. Once she has the broken end in hand she checks it carefully, then finally mutters something to herself. She turns and faces the crew who are now on deck.

"Mister Skald! Front and centre please!"

The pale skinned half-elf raises and eyebrow, but makes no comment as he walk to a spot in front of her and stands... well, not at attention since this is not the navy... but at least at alertness.

"MISTER SKALD!" bellows the first mate. "ARE YOU OR ARE YOU NOT AWARE OF WHO HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY ON BOARD THIS VESSEL FOR THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF ROPES?"

The lean sailor seems a little taken aback, but answers her question quickly enough.

"That is the bosun, ma'am. That would be me."

"MISTER SKALD! CAN YOU THEREFORE EXPLAIN HOW THIS ROPE CAME TO BE SEVERED AND HENCEWHIST DROPPED OUR GOOD SKIPPER INTO AN OCEAN OF MAN EATING SHARKS?"

A frown appears on the bosun face. "I checked all of the ropes before we left port ma'am. I remember it clearly that..."

"THIS ROPE HAS BEEN DAMAGED BOSUN SKALD! THIS INDICATES NEGLET AT THE VERY MINIMUM. PERHAPS HAVING A WEEK'S PAY DOCKED WILL HELP YOU REMEMBER." Amella puts up her hand to stop Skald's rebuttal. "TAKE THIS MISERABLE ROPE AND YOUR MISERABLE SELF OUT OF MY SIGHT BEFORE I GET SICK."

Skald finally gains some colour in his cheeks - the flash crimson as he walks past her to gather up the rope with a furious look on his face. He heaves the wound rope over his shoulder and walks towards the stairs leading below decks muttering to himself.

"I checked the damn ropes..."

"...checked it again just before it was strung across..."

"...that end was cut...must have been done just now..."

"...only one on deck was..."

Skald seems to figure something out and looks at Kinstal, a deep scowl growing on his face. Indeed, the burly fighter had been the only one on deck during the party since he'd had the watch.

The half-elf 'accidentally' lowers his shoulder into Kinstal as he walks past. The impact doesn't make any impact on the seventy-five hit point warrior, and the sailor merely ricochets off, almost pushing him off balance. Skald's scowl deepens.

OOC: Don't you hate it when players insist on playing secretly CE characters that want to kill off the other party members one by one? Welcome to the game Shawn! :P

"Whaa?" is the only response from the reformed Lotus Dragon thief. When the recent event involving the captain and sharks are explained to him he looks horrified.

"My... by the gods! Skipper I am so sorry! I had no idea. But, I mean... where else should I throw the slops? It's not like I can bag them up until we reach the Isle of Dread after all, is it?"



OOC: Well you're easily convinced. Great!

As the party turn to go, Shefton continues his heartfelt apologies despite Alohan saying it was nothing to worry about and no harm had been done.

Just before he leaves the room, Logan realises where he has seen those pigs before - they are two of his prize breeding pigs that he bought to make a profit on trading! (You just lost 5% of your investment). Shefton sees the look of understanding flash across Logan's face and nods, his fingers dancing as they spell out a message in Thieves' Cant - no doubt a heartfelt apology to the Shadowshore rogue.

Celene tries to gauge the young man's responses as they are given. She only wrinkles her face at the strange hand gestures thinking she should ask Logan about them later.

14:47, Today: Celene rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Sense Motive. Not very good.

Celene has no doubt that the former Lotus Dragon guildsman is entirely sincere with his apology and genuinely regrets slaughtering two of Logan's pigs without permission. No doubt the 'finger speak' was a formal apology between two professionals with a high level of mutual respect of each other.

Logan returns Shefton's stare and replies back in his own Thieve's finger-talk Cant: "Forgiven because of ally.  Cross me again and find yourself treated as my stolen goods."  He slams the door and stalks out of the galley.