Half the party joins the crew in climbing down to the surface of the weed. The Sargasso is soft and gives way a little underfoot so that every step is a wet slodging affair (it is all 'difficult terrain' and costs double to move in) but is at least thick enough to support their weight...
... in fact it is so thick that cutting through it to free the ship is a nightmare. The tangled weed is about 10' thick on average and doesn't just consist of the rubbery seaweed fronds that are nearly impossible to cut through. Mixed up with it is all sorts of flotsam that must have been floating around the sea... tree trunks, dead marine life ranging from small fish, to rotting seal carcasses, bits of torn up ships... all mixed up together into a putrid rotting morass. When they start cutting through the sulphur smell from the weed threatens to make them sick at times.
So the work is very slow and very difficult under the hot tropical sun. After several hours they have moved the shop only a couple of dozen yards and then Urol, who is still up on deck, makes a terrible recovery. The edge of the Sargasso closest to them is growing, actually growing fast enough that it will be difficult to outrun the rate at which they can cut. Urol shakes his head in amazement and declares that there is no way that this can be natural.
Alohan spurs his crew to redouble their efforts and they work their asses off. But it is no good. As the sun begins to sink beneath the horizon the Sea Wyvern is no closer to the edge of the Sargasso than it was at sun up.
Then one of the crew on deck calls out in alarm. Shapes are stirring in the distant green, and the mist rises once again, the party begins to see the shape of horror rising from the weeds. Plant like monsters that are vaguely humanoid swell up from the seaweed like shoots pushing up from the soil.
Suddenly those still trying to free the ship feel green roots shooting across their feet and climbing up their legs. The slippery weed underneath them ships as some of these creatures... vine horrors... begin to form right under them!
OOC: Initial placement decided randomly by the dice roller
Sailor #1 is entangled and begins to be pulled down into the green weed. Celene calls out in alarm at the sight but has no time to do anything else as shoots also appear around her ankles <GRAPPLED>. Logan and sailor #4 are likewise entrapped (grappled).
Alohan kicks free of the roots trying to entangle him scornfully. "Get back on de boat!" he screams as he moves towards sailor #1. "You not be taking dat man!" he screams as he starts frothing at the mouth. He ignores the second horror that appears on his side and slams its seaweedy fists into him (5 hp), and runs to help his sailor.
Celene is well and truly stuck fast and can only watch in horror as creature rises up out of the weed in front of her. She gets a good look at it... seaweed bundled together in a humanoid shape and then closes her eyes as the faceless monsters balls up its fists and raises them above its head... the blows shake her body (11 hp).
Sailor #3 remains free, but is pummelled by the next attack (13 hp).
Logan can't avoid the creature that appears in front of him (19 hp).
Angati is able to escape the first grapple attack, but her jaw drops as no less than FOUR more of the creatures rise up to surround her. Flat-footed, she doesn't have time to dodge but her armour proves its worth again - the creatures' fists rain down on her but somehow she manages to only be hit twice - but they are solid hits (13 hp).
<END OF ENEMIES' ROUND ONE>
HIT POINTS & MISFORTUNE
The Party & Allies
Kinstal AC:23/T14/F21 HP: 78/78 <MF NOT USED>
Angati AC:22/T13/F20 HP: 43/56 <MF NOT USED>
Logan AC:21/T16/F16 HP: 20/39 <MF NOT USED> <GRAPPLED>
Celene AC:10/T10/F10 HP: 18/29 <MF NOT USED> <GRAPPLED>
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:21/T20/F16 HP: 47/52 +12 RAGE_HP <MF NOT USED>
Skald AC:17/T13/F14 HP: 20/20 <MF NOT USED>
Amella AC:16/T13/F16 HP: 20/20 <MF NOT USED>
Avner AC:17/T14/F15 HP: 20/20 <MF NOT USED>
Vine Horror AC:19/T13/F16 HP: 42
(De-)Buffs
Whole Party
None
Kinstal
None
Angati
None
Logan
None
Kassius
None
Kibeti
None
Celene
None
Omi
None
<START OF PLAYERS' ROUND ONE>
Battle map