Logan struggled along through the seaweed, until another vined horror erupted out and entangled him before he knew what has happening.  The rogue didn't panic, but rolled and shifted, freeing his limbs, then worked with Kassius and Kibeti to defeat the plant-monster.

12:58, Today: Logan rolled 29 using 1d20+14.  Escape Artist.
Success!

OOC: Anyone think the "Rose of Bad Breath"/"Blood sucking tick bane" might be garlic?
Job's tears is the name of a plant, a grain-like one.  Maybe you need something fermented, like beer?
And the last one "a whale's tears" sounds like it could be Ambergris (which used to be used in perfume production, so maybe that would work.)
I can't think of the first one, though.

OOC: It's gunna be fun watching you guys try and solve this thing. We haven't had a decent riddle since the combination lock with the monsters in module one.

FYI, I am hoping that for this skill challenge round you guys will post about things happening while exploring the boat, rather than more tentacle stuff.

Well, obviously I'm rolling my skills in order from highest to lowest, but I could edit my post to make it something while exploring the ship instead, if you'd prefer.  Escape Artist would have many uses.

OOC: Also, you can make vinegar from Job's Tears, which is also called Chinese Pearl Barley.  That's got to be the answer to Poison Ingredient #3.  So maybe we have vinegar, garlic, ambergris, and one more thing.  I still can't think of anything for the "maiden flower", though.

This message was deleted by the player at 01:26, Tue 22 Aug 2017.

OOC: Nah, it's cool. We'll say that there was some kelp on top of the ship that animated.



OOC: Heh. I remember you doing very well with the first riddle, and you haven't disappointed this time either!

I can confirm that you have correctly guessed the last three ingredients, i.e. ingredient #2 (garlic), ingredient #3 (Job's Tears) & ingredient #4 (ambergris). You still need to work out the material of the weapon to be used (night's metal, blades of Diana's beams, gifts of the heavens) and ingredient #1 (beautiful lady, maiden's flower, that opens the eyes).

Hey, how did you guess ambergris? I didn't think too many people had heard about it.

You underestimate how nerdy I was as a child. One summer I literally read an encyclopedia  It was an encyclopedia of science (A-Bomb to Zoologogy), not Brittanica, but it still had a lot of stuff.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:38, Sat 19 Aug 2017.

OOC: Okay, waiting for skills rolls from Kassius, Kibeti, Celene and Alohan

Is the metal meteoric iron?

Post coming soon.

OOC: Hold that thought, you may need the third clues to sort the last two things out.

OOC: Driving Kassius and Kibeti on auto-pilot since their player is off burning his eyeballs out by looking at the eclipse...

...how long is this eclipse lasting, anyway?!

Kassius helps investigate the wreck of the 'Sturmkondor' with the test of the party. Unfortunately, he overestimates the integrity of the floor in the galley, and the floorboards give way under his weight. The hunter scrambles to fling himself free and avoid falling down into the much pit of sargasso below...

13:09, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 17 using 1d20+14.  Kassius acrobatics DC20.

...and fails to jump away. He claws desperately at the boards as he slips on the slimy wooden floor and slides towards the hole.

Kibeti leaps to his master's aid, treading as softly as he can to get across the treacherous flooring and reach Kassius' side...

13:10, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 20 using 1d20+8.  Kibeti stealth +8 cs DC20.

The cat makes it... just. At the last minute Kibeti clamps his jaw around Kassius' sleave and slowly heaves the man back to firmer ground.

OOC: I'm not rolling for Celene or Alohan... you'll just need to catch up!

OOC: Kassius, please take 1d8+5 damage or sacrifice a spell for Kassius.

THE MOTHER OF ALL SKILLS CHALLENGES - STAGE TWO MOSTLY COMPLETE

Pass: 4
Fail: 4
Total: 8 + 2 pending

CLUE REGISTER

The BBEG can only be killed using a weapon made from:

Weapon Material Clue
- night's metal coated in a special poison
- blades of Diana's beams, gifts of the heavens

Poison Ingredient One
- Belladonna

Poison Ingredient Two
- garlic

Poison Ingredient Three
- Job's tears

Poison Ingredient Four
-  ambergris

The party return to the Sea Wyvern but have left their journey too late. The last hour of travel is spent in complete darkness and results in a nerve raking period of skirmishes with the endless kelp monsters. Finally the catch sight of the lights on their ship when the Sargasso unleashes a massive ambush. No is no help for it... they will have to make a run for it.

OOC: Third skills challenge please. Remember to not reuse skills.

The next day they set out again and reach the third ship.

This one flies a familiar flag - it is the cursed skull and cross-bones on a crimson field flag of the 'Crimson Fleet' - the armada of loosely organised pirates who prowl the Sea of Dread.

The Privateer’s Lust, as the brass plaque on the side of the ship reveals it to be called, is in much better shape than the other two ships and doesn't look to have been here that long. But one of the walls of the captain's cabin has been destroyed by the encroaching weed and as such the ship's log is a mess. Here is what you can make out:

Noon watch: There is another ship nearby so <unreadable>. The  cursed creatures ever slacken their attacks <unreadable> see what we can recover from it.

Dusk watch: The vines no longer <unreadable> upon <unreadable> ship but still <unreadable>. Had to flog two men before <unreadable> party <unreadable> set out for <unreadable> other ship.

Midnight Watch: Half party <unreadable> back but other half did not make it. Vines now <unreadable> relentless. They were good men, and will be missed. They copied a page from the Rage's logbook - <unreadable> died in the retrieval. I have read both - this <unreadable> fellow must have been an idiot, such a poor translation. We ransacked Lady Martya's room and found two ingredients, searched the galley and found the other two. I fear Sir Adrigal's meteoric iron will make a poor replacement for a weapon made out of 'the color of moonlight', but it is what we have and it will have to serve. We must find this kindergarten before dawn, less the vines overwhelm us.

The cabin next to the cabin's was clearly that of a rich lady. Her small vanity was clearly ransacked at one point, and bottles of perfume lie all over the place. A small bottle contains a few drops of belladonna. Another contains ambergris.

"We don't have to fight them, if we can sneak past!"

Logan tries to lead the others around the besieging plant creatures, findind another nooks and crannies to hide their approach to the pirate vessel.

Another success!
11:29, Today: Logan rolled 32 using 1d20+14.  Stealth.

Kassius follows the others into the boat. As cat and human explore the aft of the boat, they are attacked by yet another of the vine creatures, which briefly grapples Kibeti. After some effort, the cat escapes. Seeing more vine monsters attracted by the commotion, Kassius and Kibeti duck into what was apparently the ship's mess and manage to hide until the foe gets bored and wanders off.

18:39, Today: Kassius rolled 13 using 1d8+5.  damage.
18:40, Today: Kassius rolled 25 using 1d20+13.  stealth.
18:41, Today: Kibeti rolled 14 using 1d20+4.  escape artist.
18:42, Today: Kibeti rolled 6 using 1d8+5.  damage.

---

Kassius

---

HP: 24/37 AC 19 (FF=14, Touch=15),
Saves+8/+11(+12)/+6
Spells Slots: 1st: 3/5; 2nd: 2/4;  Animal Focus Minutes Left: 5/6, Door Sight 6/6
Current Buffs:

---

Kibeti

---

HP: 27/42 AC 25( (FF=17,Touch=20), Saves+7/+9(+10)/+6
Current Animal Focus: Tiger(+2 dex)
Current Buffs:

This message was last edited by the player at 02:11, Thu 24 Aug 2017.

Alohan attempts to use his skills learned after years of sea voyages to escape and then proceeds to make himself look as large as possible to fend off the second attack.

---

Free :  | Swft :  | Move :  | Stnd: | Full :

21:04, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 27 using 1d20+10.  Intimidate.
21:04, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 12 using 1d20+11.  Profession Sailor.

One Failure one success.

21:05, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 13 using 1d8+5.  Damage.

---

HP: 39/52 | CMD : 25 (27) | Saves: +8/+7/+2 | AC: 18/17/13 | Rage AC: 16/15/11
Mage Armor AC: 22/17/17 | *Mage Armor Rage AC: 20/15/15*

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs : Mage Armor: +4 AC (6 hours)

 Conditions :

 Abilities : Rage (7/12), Stunning Fist (3/3) DC 15, Feather Step (1/1)

Celene attempts to talk down any vines that threaten her using calming gestures and offering bits of flotsam in her stead. When next confronted Celene does her best vine impression covering herself with kelp in order to avoid any attacks at all.

---

Free :  | Swft :  | Move : | Stnd:  | Full :

21:08, Today: Celene rolled 19 using 1d20+10.  Diplomacy.

21:09, Today: Celene rolled 25 using 1d20+9.  Disguise.

One success one failure. Lose one 1st level spell.

---

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

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells :
   - Unlim. : Dancing Lights, Daze (DC16), Detect Poison, Drench, Flame Burst,
              Light, Mage Hand, Message,
   - 1/day  : Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation
  L1 Spells :
   - 07/10  : Burning Disarm (DC 17), Burning Hands (DC 17),
              Charm person (DC 18), Enlarge Person, Grease (DC 19), Hydraulic Push,
              Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Summon Monster I, Vanish
  L2 Spells :
   - 3/7    : Create Pit (DC 20), Glitterdust (DC 20), Scorching Ray,
              Summon Monster II
  L3 Spells :
   - 2/4    : Slow (DC 19)

  Abilities : Flame lance (9/9), Wand of Magic Missile (41),
              Wand of Alter Self (24), Wand of Cure Light Wounds (49)

THE MOTHER OF ALL SKILLS CHALLENGES - COMPLETE!!

Pass: 8
Fail: 7
Total: 15

CLUE REGISTER

The BBEG can only be killed using a weapon made from:

Weapon Material
- silver

Coated with a poison made from:

Poison Ingredient One
- Belladonna

Poison Ingredient Two
- garlic

Poison Ingredient Three
- Job's tears

Poison Ingredient Four
-  ambergris

OOC: Well... that was certainly... creative. :D

After gathering the hints from the last ship the party return to the Sea Wyvern one last time to discuss what is ahead and plan their attack. They also heal up (wand of CLW please). They understand now that they must march to the middle of Journey's End, to this 'kindergarten' and strike the 'Mother of All' with a silver weapon coated in the poison. Urol works hard to make up a large amount of the poison, but the party is disappointed to realize that the only silver weapons they have are Logan's silver dagger and Kassius silver coated arrows (how many of them do you have?).

Kinstal speaks up and says he wants to join them on this last attack (under Logan's control). Alohan will also come.

During the night there is a break in the fighting and a hole in the seaweed opens. A shinning figure rises out of the gap and then Angati stands before them. Alive, but changed.

OOC: You now have your divine spellcaster back. Please let me know what buffs you want to cast before you encounter the final boss.

Were we able to regain spells?

I'm assuming no. I'll post healing this afternoon.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:58, Mon 28 Aug 2017.

20. They're durable, so I can normally recover them after battles, although if they sink below the ocean that will obviously not be the case here...


Kassius casts gravity bow on himself, barkskin, vine strike, and monkey fish on Kibeti.

---

Kassius

---

HP: 37/37 AC 19 (FF=14, Touch=15),
Saves+8/+11/+6
Spells Slots: 1st: 1/5; 2nd: 0/4;  Animal Focus Minutes Left: 5/6, Door Sight 6/6
Current Buffs: Gravity Bow

---

Kibeti

---

HP: 42/42 AC 24( (FF=17,Touch=14), Saves+7/+9/+6
Current Animal Focus: Bull (+2 str)
Current Buffs: Barkskin, Vine Strike, Monkey Fish

Celene and Alohan both cast mage armor. Celene uses alter self to become a Halfling and gain +2 Dex, +1 AC, +1 to hit. Alohan will have his salve of slipperiness ready in case this thing seems grabby. Celene will Enlarge both Kassius and Alohan when we get closer to the battle.

If this is alright with you Kassius. Would you get the 2x weapon damage beyond gravity bow? Looks like no. I won't bother casting it on you unless you want it. Probably better on Kinstal.

Kibeti heals 8 and is down 7 I believe.

Alohan heals 4 and is down 9.

14:15, Today: Celene rolled 8 using 1d8+1.  Healing Kibeti.

14:15, Today: Celene rolled 4 using 1d8+1.  Healing.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:23, Wed 30 Aug 2017.

@Celene, correct, you do NOT regain spells. This part of the adventure is one long slog.

Celene and Alohan, I assume you'll both take a shot of the barkskin wand?

What about the basic buffs like bless, protection from evil... that sort of thing?

Okay, on with the show...

After another terrible night on the Sea Wyvern, one where the ship is almost overwhelmed several times, the party set out early for the middle of the Sargasso Sea and the 'kindergarten' - to kill the 'Mother of All'. Urol, Skald and the rest of the crew except Alohan and Kinstal stay behind, while the party make a run for in during a lull in the fighting. Before the heavy mist even blocks the vessel from view it is clear that the ship is under heavy attack again.

Onwards they trudge through the cloying, rotting seaweed. Past the wrecks of the ships they have searched, and into what they assume is the middle of this terrible trap. Eventually, more due to luck than careful planning, the PC's come upon a forest of kelp at the sargasso's heart. The fact that only here does the landscape change pique's their interest, and as they approach more closely they discover that there is something lodged at the heart of this land, a ship so ancient and covered in kelp that it is more weed than wood.

Alohan wipes off some of the sargasso from the prow of the ship to reveal a name... "βροντών", are the ancient letters stempled into the brass.

"It is, or rather was, called 'De Thunderer'," announces the native. When the rest of the party stare at him, he just gives a shrug. "My father said dat I should learn de ancient tongue of de Millennium, good for de culture."

He turns back to the tower of weed. "She must have been here a long time. De Empire and her war galleys fell over a thousand years ago and..." The barbarian pauses, he face shifting into a frown. A second later all the rest of them hear it too. A whispering in their minds, not words so much as a mental beacon.

The mist has cleared under the noon-day sun and they have good visibility across the seaweed, and looking back across it they see it come alive. Vine horrors form out of the weed with terrifying density and the nearest of them are already turning to face them. The Mother-of-All has sensed their arrival and has summoned all of her children. You must either kill her swiftly or die as her thousands of young converge at the core and tear you to pieces.

"Quick! We must kill de bitch!" screams Alohan as he charges into a whole in the kelp filled mountain. The party dive into the weed and start the final battle.

OOC: Can I have an initiative roll for each of you please.

OOC: Here's what you need to beat:

20:45, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d20-1.  Mother of all Initiative.

Hmm, not much then.

Celene follows Alohan into the maw of the beast.

---

Free :  | Swft :  | Move : | Stnd:  | Full :

14:44, Today: Celene rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.

---

HP:  29/29 |  AC: 18/12/17  | CMD : 10 | Saves: +4/+4/+9

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs : Mage Armor, Barkskin, Alter Self,
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells :
   - Unlim. : Dancing Lights, Daze (DC16), Detect Poison, Drench, Flame Burst,
              Light, Mage Hand, Message,
   - 1/day  : Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation
  L1 Spells :
   - 04/10  : Burning Disarm (DC 17), Burning Hands (DC 17),
              Charm person (DC 18), Enlarge Person, Grease (DC 19), Hydraulic Push,
              Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Summon Monster I, Vanish
  L2 Spells :
   - 3/7    : Create Pit (DC 20), Glitterdust (DC 20), Scorching Ray,
              Summon Monster II
  L3 Spells :
   - 2/4    : Slow (DC 19)

  Abilities : Flame lance (9/9), Wand of Magic Missile (41),
              Wand of Alter Self (23)