When everyone's ready, you all gather before sunset to try to stop the devil summoning ritual. Before you went to sleep Smith gave you a map leading to the site, and warned that you will have to wade through freezing water to get there (feel free to factor that into spell selection when you rest.) He gives you a quiver of 20 +1 crossbow bolts to divide as you choose, and offers to loan a light crossbow or two from the armory if you promise to either return with it or pay for a new one when you return.

Carmen is happy to move out. "Hopefully it's just a short wade across the river, but perhaps Nutcracker can fly over the river as we each cross and have a rope tied to us. That way if we freeze to death he might be able to drag us over. Thoughts?" suggests Carmen.

She thanks Smith for the crossbow bolts and accepts the offer of the light crossbow for the party to use.

Wendel looks at the wingless Kenku... But doesn't dispute Carmen's comment, leaving that to the new fellow to handle. He shivers at the thought of crossing the freezing water but with little options and less time it seems like a problem that will need dealing with in some form or other.

"The sooner we get going the sooner we can put an end to this ritual tonight. Everyone ready? Nutcracker, you seem the tracking type. Would you take point please?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:20, Mon 15 Mar 2021.

OOC: Oh crap....I thought Nutcracker said he could fly in OOC. Now I've just insulted his lack of wings :(

"I'm ready, or as ready as I will be, anyway." She purses her lips for a moment, gazes at the runes on her staff, and looks up with a bit more confidence. "Let's teach them a lesson about sacrificing innocents."

OOC: Per recent conversations, here's my first phone post. :)

"As long as we don't fall in the water we should be fine," Victor offers, looking at the map.

"For now let us not waste any time."

Through group consensus, Nutcracker claimed the case of magical bolts and borrowed a crossbow in order to properly utilize them. He would still use his bow for the time being until the potential demon threat reared its head. Carmen's comment did spark a pain deep in his soul, but made no sound or someone else's comment in response. Some day it would be great to fly as his ancestors did. But for now he was needed on the ground.

Checking that his gear was all secured, Nutcracker nodded his readiness to set out into the cold wilderness.

OOC: Ready to go. Carmen can pay for the comment later. =D

You set out for the cave you've been told the ritual would be held in, after about an hour of unimpeded walking, you reach the shore of Tempest Bay. You see the cliff that you're told holds the opening of the cave ahead and to your left, across the shallow water. The tide is high, the water you'll need to wade through is about three feet high. At least the waves are calm.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:26, Tue 16 Mar 2021.

OOC: What are we looking at as far as natural landscape, plant life, and anything that might be washed up in the surf?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:50, Tue 16 Mar 2021.

Carmen ties a rope to her waist, then starts to wade across the stream. She had mentally prepared herself for this, but even the mental preparation left her reeling in shock as the biting cold started to quickly remove all feeling from her extremeties...

14:48, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 11 using 1d20+4 ((7)).

Chelsie utters a short incantation, making her pants suddenly warmer. "Anyone else?" After doling out her magic, she mutters to herself, "Larazel guide me." The invocation felt strange, but seemed fitting for the moment.

Steeling her nerves, she enters the freezing cold water, which hits her hard as she wades across, grimacing.

OOC: I can have 3 prestidigitation effects active at once, so I'll warm two others' clothes and hopefully that will give us some kind of small bonus?
Also, Chelsie's cold.
10:25, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Con save.

Watching Carmen and Chelsie wade into the water, Nutcracker slipped his packs off and held them over his head to keep the bows and contents dry and waded in behind them. And then immediately regretted that action.

OOC: Wonderful start to this adventure!
17:03, Today: Nutcracker rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  CON vs Cold.

Even dry and having not crossed through freezing cold water, Wendel is already shivering out here in the night. How they managed to work up the nerve to cross that water he would never know. Thinking of nerves.. The half-elf looks at Victor, the only one who hasn't thrown himself into the water yet, besides Wendel. "Uhm Victor, I'm going to ride this one out in my ring I think. I don't think I could handle that water... I've been grinning and baring through a lot but that... Well, would you be willing to carry my ring across? You can wear it if that would be easiest."
--
"The energy it takes to enter this vessel is such that I can't do it more than once without really truly resting in between. So it may be best that I remain within until we get to where we are needed. Inside, I'll still be able to hear you all as if I'm right beside you but I won't be able to communicate to you... So.. If we get to a point where you need me let me know, I may be able to do some prep before I come out, not much but maybe something. If you think I need to, give me a phrase like 'prepare yourself' but if speed is of the essence I will join you all as soon as you say you need me."

It is a lot of information all at once. But it seems like he feels it necessary to share. And then he takes a breath, holds the ring out just over Victor's palm and dissolves into rocks and sand that break down even further as they all funnel into the compartment in the ring. Disappearing completely leaving only the ring in its place to fall into Victor's hand.

OOC: Bottled respite (can remain within for upwards of 4 hours at this level)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:44, Tue 16 Mar 2021.

Victor nods and catches the ring as it drops into his palm, a little surprised at the heft of it given the size. It is as though it is denser than it should be, perhaps owing to the half-elf occupant or perhaps due to the consequences should he drop it along the way.

Checking a few of his fingers he settles on sliding it onto the fourth finger of his right hand and ensuring it will not slide off accidentally.

The tiefling then bends to pick up what dry wood he had been able to scavenge and holds it aloft, wading into the water after his other companions. He sucks air between his teeth as the layer of icy coldness reaches up to his waist. "I shall have to find a magical way to shield myself from the cold in the future," he thinks to himself.

Once on the other side with his allies he finds a likely spot to place down the dry wood and begins to saturate it with the oil from one of his flasks. "Can any of you light this magically I'd appreciate it, using my flint and steel is likely to cost me my eyebrows. Hopefully there will be enough heat to dry us."

OOC: -1 flask oil
17:04, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  Con Save vs cold.

Chelsie and the next two that went into the water after her can take advantage on their first saves thanks to prestidigitation.

On the other side, you see the entrance of the cave, and darkness. From within the darkness, you hear muffled cries and a wet breathing. A chill breeze seems to freeze your very bones. The sun will set shortly, but if you don't see to your wet clothes immediately you may not be in any condition to save anyone!

For every turn with wet clothes any of you spend outside the water, I'm gonna need another DC 10 CON save, or gain another level of exhaustion. If you're adjacent to a fire, you get advantage.

Exiting the water, Carmen immediately uses the prestidigitation spell to expel water from her clothes and blow a warm breeze through them. She even thought to style her hair to look presentable.

"Anyone else need drying off?" she asks, moving to help out where required.

"Yes, please," the tiefling nods, his heavy metal armour clinking gently as he shakes from the cold.

"Not a problem." says Carmen, and she practices her magicks once more upon the wet clothing of Victor. "I'll also warm your armour. It will last a while." she says, enacting the other property of her spell to keep an item warmed for up to an hours duration. Thinking of it again, she decided to make her own armour feel much warmer also.

Shivering cold, Chelsie emerges from the water and sets down beside Victor. "I c-can d-d-do that." She quickly lights the fire with her magic, and wills her spell to warm her clothes more thoroughly.

OOC: Prestidigitation to start the fire. Thanks for the advantage, not that it did any good (4 rolls under natural 8!). Chelsie has 2 levels of exhaustion and is considering removing her pants.
09:41, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 5 using 1d20+2.  advantage for Con save. [in the water]
09:44, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 7 using 2d20+2, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 3,5.  Out of water save next to fire. [first turn out of the water]

Winter in the woods back with the Green Knight were nothing compared to the bone-chilling cold of the water here. When Carmen offered the drying out after emerging Nutcracker was nodding furiously in an effort to affirm and to warm up as he settled in by the fire. As he warmed up he also checked that his bow and the borrowed crossbow were in good shape.

OOC: Nutcracker rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  CON vs Cold Adv. (in water)
Nutcracker rolled 16 using 2d20+1, dropping the lowest dice only.  COV vs Cold by fire.

Carmen considers the possibility of a fire and thinks better of it. "Do we really want to alert our enemies to our presence by building a crackling fire right outside of their caves?" she asks. "We need to push on, not camp outside waiting for them to find us."

She does take the time to expel the cold water from her allies that needed it, as well as warming Nutcracker's clothing.

Everyone's clothes get dried promptly, thanks to prestidigitation. You all hear the sound of webbed feet splashing on a puddle in the darkness near the cave entrance. You see fishman silhouettes in the shadows.

Roll initiative!
Fishmen 8


CD= Carmen
CP= Chelsie
VI= Victor
NC= Nutcracker
WE= Wendell
!= Water
Shaded squares are in darkness, all others are dim light.

Not having expected to encounter the fishmen so soon upon emerging from the water, Victor hurries to light the lamp at his hip and send the darkness and shadows further back into the cave.

He then readies his greatsword and moves forward towards the source of the sound,

Moving 30ft forward to F13. The lantern sheds bright light out to a 30 ft radius and dimlight another 30 ft beyond that.
17:12, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 15 using 1d20. <-- Initiative
This message was last edited by the player at 06:33, Thu 18 Mar 2021.

Carmen knew all too well the folly of engaging in things that were able to see them fully. She conjured up a small wall of thorny spikes from the cave ground ahead of them, blocking the vision of the fishmen considerably.

HP: 15/15 | AC: 18 | Spd: 30ft. | Hexblade's Curse 1/1 (SR) | Divine Soul 1/1
Action: Cast Minor Illusion on E12 | Move: to E13 | Bonus: N/A
17:24, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 19 using 1d20+2 ((17)).
This message was last edited by the player at 09:24, Thu 18 Mar 2021.

Wendel had been sitting comfortably amidst the cushions that made up the majority of the floorspace. Inside this ring was probably the most comfortable place in all this cold land... Still he sits listening carefully to what happens around him, around Victor. There seems to be a shift in the quiet around him and his ring. Nobody says anything to alert him to what they see but he hears the difference and gets tense. Should he prepare something just in case? Even if he cast something and they didn't need him he could rest in hear and still have the energy to bring to bare when an actual fight begins.

He juggles the thought back and forth.

Initiative: 6

Wendel rolled 6 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.

"It starts," Chelsie says quietly to herself. She starts to move forward, fighting the instincts of her chilled muscles, and holds her staff forward, squinting at the fishmen.

Move to G15, Ready action to eldritch blast the first fishman to come into the full light.
OOC: I messed up the die roll somehow (I hit keep lowest), but that's why I also hit show the individual dice. My initiative is 16 with the disadvantage from exhaustion.
08:35, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 33 using 2d20+3 ((17,13)).

Hearing the odd slapping sounds and seeing everyone else moving into position to confront the sounds, Nutcracker took his longbow and moved into a good vantage to fire upon anything that came out of the darkness.


OOC: Initiative 9
Move to I 16
Ready Action to shoot the first fishman illuminated with Longbow

12:01, Today: Nutcracker rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  Attack vs Fishman. Nat 1. Again.
11:57, Today: Nutcracker rolled 9 using 2d20+3, dropping the highest dice only.  Initiative with Exhaustion.

Round 1!
Carmen moves and conjures illusory vines between herself and the fishmen!
Chelsie waits to blast the first fishman to enter the lantern-light (I'll roll that for you this time. In the future, when you ready an action, please post the roll when you declare it.)
Victor lights his lantern and moves forward, drawing his greatsword.
Nutcracker prepares to shoot the first illuminated fishman.
The first fishman dashes forward, dodging Nutcracker's arrow-- right into Chelsie's eldritch blast!
The other fishman, seeing its companion take the blast, moves more carefully (he's using his action to Dodge, so attacks against him have disadvantage.)
Wendel's action will start the next post, and from there I will end on fishmen each time.


Initiative!

Wendel 6
Carmen 19
Chelsie 16
Victor 15
Nutcracker 9
Fishmen 8


E1 has taken 7 damage


CD= Carmen
CP= Chelsie
VI= Victor
NC= Nutcracker
WE= Wendell
~= Better ascii Water
*= illusory thorns
Shaded squares are in darkness, all others are dim light.

Hearing the sound of someone casting magic along with the unique pattern of the fishfolk feet slapping the ground Wendel stands up in his chamber. Nobody had said anything specific to him yet which makes him hesitate.

Still he casts his own magic drawing in the cold from beyond his bottled respite and wrapping himself in the armor of frost that was becoming a little to familiar in this climate.

And then he waits.

Action: Cast Armor of Agathys
 A protective magical force surrounds you, manifesting as a spectral frost that covers you and your gear. You gain 5 temporary hit points for the duration. If a creature hits you with a melee attack while you have these hit points, the creature takes 5 cold damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:41, Sat 20 Mar 2021.

Hiding behind the wall of thorns, Carmen attempts to blast the closest fishman with a bolt of eldritch energy. She misses, then retreats behind the wall of thorns.

HP: 15/15 | AC: 18 | Spd: 30ft. | Hexblade's Curse 1/1 (SR)| Divine Soul 1/1
Action: Eldritch Blast | Move: to D12 | Bonus: N/A
13:00, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  Eldritch Blast vs E1. – [roll=1616216443.69292.352983]

Chelsie takes a few steps and shoots another blast of golden white energy towards the fishman.

Move to H15, Action: eldritch blast E1
08:54, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 11,11 using 1d20+5,1d10+3.  Eldritch blast attack, damage.

Now engaged by one of the fishmen in the clear light of his lantern Victor brings his greatsword to bear on the foe on a vicious swing. The lantern light reflects menacingly off of his now blood slicked blade as he turns his gaze to the other fishman deeper in the cave.

"If you want out of there Wendel, it'd best be now, I'm about to be up close and personal."

He flicks the blade to one side in order to clear the cutting edge as best he can then lifts it to rest with the flat across his shoulder, tip upwards, while he points with his right hand at the new foe.

"You're next," he says.

---

HP: 18/18 | THP: 0 | AC: 16 | Spd: 30ft. | Lay On Hands 10/10 | Divine Sense 4/4 | S1 2/2
Attacking E1: Hits AC 16 for 12 slashing damage
If E1 is down the move up to I7, else remain in place.
08:23, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 16,12 using 1d20+5,2d6+3 with rolls of 11,5,4.  Greatsword attack, damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:40, Sat 20 Mar 2021.

His fingers still a little numb from the cold caused his last shot to go wide. With the first fishman getting into melee with the rest, Nutcracker decided to try to keep the other one occupied with a (hopefully) better shot.

OOC: Longbow vs Fishman 2
17:38, Today: Nutcracker rolled 7 using 2d20+5, dropping the highest dice only.  Attack vs Fishman 2 (Dodging).

Also, NC should be in space I 16, not J 15.

Round 1!
Wendel casts Armor of Agathys, then waits.

Round 2!
Carmen fires an errent blast and then moves to the side of the false thorns.
Chelsie also fails to hit the fishman with an eldritch blast.
Victor's blade slices deep into the fishmen, its blood shining like black oil in the lantern light. The fishman falls!
Nutcracker fires at the farther fishman, who dodges.
The remaining fishman bites Victor, dealing 5 damage It attempts to stab him with his spear, as well, but misses!

Initiative!

Wendel 6
Carmen 19
Chelsie 16
Victor 15
Nutcracker 9
Fishmen 8


E1 has taken 19 damage and is dead!


CD= Carmen
CP= Chelsie
VI= Victor
NC= Nutcracker
WE= Wendell
~= Better ascii Water
*= illusory thorns
Shaded squares are in darkness, squares within 30' of Victor are bright light, all others are dim light.

Victor giving him the go ahead is all Wendel needs to hear. He spares a thought and is pulled from his vessel disintegrating into earthen sand that pours out of the ring on Victor's hand. That hand that had been pointing but is now pulled back and away from the attacking fishman. Wendel coalesces just outside the fishman's reach with it's spear and maw. He knows this because the spear thrust meant for Victor is close but far enough from his own face for a brief moment of comfort. That feeling is undertinged with one of guilt. If Victor hadn't kept his hand free to allow Wendel's safer egress he might have not taken that bite. All this races through the little half-elf's mind as he reaches out to the ring on the tiefling's finger. "Sorry Victor. And thank you."

Ring in hand he feels the wrath of Radha well up in him as he begins his earthen-speak incanting, draws back his fist and throws it forward, in an air punch. A beam of energy surrounded by those swirling sand and rocks blasts out and pummels the fishman pushing it back a good ten feet further into the cave.

Wendel checks around him trying to take note of where everyone is and decides to get the hells out of their way. He scurries over and away toward the opposite wall.

Bonus Action: Exit Bottled Respite - J8

Object Interaction: Take ring back

Action: Eldritch Blast AC 22 for 6 force and 2 bludgeoning damage. (Repelling Blast push E2 - J4)

Move: to D8

Wendel rolled 22,8 using D20+5,d10+3+2.  Eldritch Blast, damage w/genie's wrath

Coming out from her hiding space, Carmen joins in with the coven of warlocks with their eldritch energies all sapping away at the energy and lifeforce of the fishman before them. Maybe they were coming to greet them to the upcoming feast....they would never find out.

HP: 15/15 | AC: 18 | Spd: 30ft. | Hexblade's Curse 1/1 (SR)| Divine Soul 1/1
Action: Eldritch Blast hits AC 16 for 7 damage | Move: 20'  | Bonus: N/A
20:20, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 7 using 1d10.  Damage. – [roll=1616415655.06122.352983]
20:20, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Eldritch blast . – [roll=1616415630.71912.352983]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:58, Mon 22 Mar 2021.

Chelsie slowly ambles forward, taking aim at the next fishman with another blast of white and gold. After the success, she breathes deeply, still out of breath from the frigid water.

Move to J12, Eldritch blast vs. E2, hits AC 20 for 9 force damage
08:17, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 20,9 using 1d20+5,1d10+3 ((15,6)).

The fishman falls to the salvo of eldritch energies from the three warlocks.

Congratulations! Each of you gain 40 xp. The fishmen were carrying a spear each, one had 13sp, the other had 17cp.

With the fishmen down, Wendel releases a pent up breath he'd unknwokingly been holding since he first heard the others beginning to act.

"Well, those are just the first of many I'd bet. Victor are you alright?"

While asking he also looks to the others. "We should hurry up and keep going dee.. Oh, Chelsie, you look absolutely freezing... Are you going to be able to keep going?" And then to everyone. "What's our plan? Take it slow and try to surprise them hopefully in small batches? Nutcracker, how are you holding up?"

Victor nods and reaches a hand up to the bite mark, there is a brief flash of warm yellow light and when he takes his hand away the wound appear to have disappeared.

"We have no way of knowing what is ahead so we should stick close together and press forward. If we go as fast as our slowest member and try to be quiet we may be able to come across them in smaller quantities as you suggest. I want to stop that sacrifice but a dead hero saves no-one, we may have to settle on destroying whatever is summoned. If we are too late we may at least have the cave to contain the the thing to our reach."

The tiefling looks over at the shivering Chelsea as if appraising her, "If we keep moving that may warm you up a bit as well."

OOC: Using 5 points of Lay On Hands to top back up, 5 remain.
I suggest we split loot at the end of the quest for now unless encumbrance becomes an issue.

"I can keep going, just slowly," Chelsie says. Her lips are blue, and she suffers an occasional shiver, but she's determined to push forward. "We have to stop them."

OOC: Agreed on the loot, and I can speed up or hang back if it's vital.

From what Smith told you, the cave isn't very deep (it ends about 100' in, straight ahead, from where the dim light on the first map faded to dark) if you're carrying a lit lantern, any fishmen in the cave can probably already see you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:24, Mon 22 Mar 2021.

This message was deleted by the player at 21:32, Mon 22 Mar 2021.

"If what Smith said was right, we're probably close. Maybe even right on top of them." As the thought comes to him, Wendel tips his head this way and that trying to hear what he can't see further back in the darkness.

Perception 18

Wendel rolled 18,19 using d20+4,d20.  Perception, disadvantage (if so)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Mon 22 Mar 2021.

When the last fishman fell, Nutcracker realized his hands had been shaking, ever so slightly, from the excitement and cold. Fighting against something that wields weapons and wants to kill you for not food reasons turns out to be quite different from hunting. He was going to have to learn more if he was going to survive out here.

Regrouping with the others, Nutcracker kept an arrow ready in his bow in the event more fishmen appeared. There might be more in the cave, but he was also wary of any that might come out of the water behind them.

OOC: Perception while moving with the group. Perception 18.
17:11, Today: Nutcracker rolled 18 using 2d20+2, dropping the highest dice only.  Perception with Exhaustion.

Carmen moves forward slightly, then creates another thorny bush at the passageway leading further into the cave. It would help to give them cover as they proceeded further into the caves.

"These thorny bushes are just illusions, but they are effective at providing cover to hide behind. Just make sure you don't walk through them otherwise it makes them less believable and ruins the effect." she warns.

You hear the sounds of 3-4 humanoid creatures. One of them is struggling, as if trying to break free of bonds. Then with a scream, the struggling stops.

In the strange, gurgle tongue of the fishman, you hear the chanting begin:
[Language unknown: "Hatinglatome, poreet osmimi ie ughno oveersoreyinall, fo omio tha! Hach'neta, p dinhi utiv er, i moloos ure ll ommilo refowi we! Hispreverout, welapl ounmo entressomich lo, p ofrolo ngon ughreanot'ersratain astaadtr m osngomni po eauundted forbutthesti ithlartho hi unbepawa pre ceiou whndolpl amehasoul!"]

"Oh... No, no no no... They started. I don't know what they're saying but it sounds like the ritual's begun and they've killed someone. We need light in there. NOW!" Wendel's voice had never pitched this loud before. It serves two purposes. To get the others into action and to possibly try to distract whatever was heading the ritual. He gathers energy to himself, his hand curled in a fist begins bruising as he does, ready to blast the first thing that seems to be part of that ritual. Preferably whatever creature just ended another's life...

I don't know if we can ready an action outside of combat but if so there's an eldritch blast ready to go as soon as he sees them.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:33, Tue 23 Mar 2021.

Darting forward, Carmen looks past the illusory thorns to see what she can see ahead...

"It's now or never," says Chelsie, steeling her nerves.

Seeing Nutcracker's arrow nocked, she adds, "Nutcracker, we need to see what's going on in there. After I light up this arrow, shoot it into the cave."

With that, she holds up her staff, mutters some mystical syllables, and taps the arrow, causing it to radiate light. "Now!" And with that, she starts forward.

Casting light on the nocked arrow, then moving 15 feet forward.
OOC: Sorry to co-opt your weapon, Nutcracker; I hope you agree with that plan.

Chelsie's plan was good. Nutcracker thought that if they couldn't see anything, then they couldn't fight. Maybe the light would also distract the fishmen. The arrow being lit would make it near impossible to aim even if he could see into the cave, so he fired into the depths and hoped for the best.

OOC: I shoot the "magic" missile into the darkness!
And then move up to stay with, but behind, the others.

Victor moves up to remain parallel with Carmen, taking care not to move through her illusory thorns, acting both as a source of light with the lantern lit at his belt and also as a bulwark against anything that might try to rush past them towards their more fragile allies.

OOC: Victor's lantern was lit earlier, bright light will be shed around him in a radius of 30ft with another 30ft of dim light beyond that.

Nutcracker's glowing arrow clatters off of the back of the cave. Between it and Victors lantern, you can see everything. On a stone altar, framed with the ribs of a sea creature, a young man lies, bleeding and unmoving. The chanting fishman still holds the dagger, stained with blood, over the body. Two other fishmen flank the altar, and  prepare to attack!

Okay, everyone roll initiative. Keep in mind: if you go after the fishman, you can change your action after seeing what they do. Wendel, you can't ready an action in this circumstance, but if you roll higher than the enemies, you can shoot as soon as you see them.

INITIATIVE!
Fishmen 17


AA=Altar
Other symbols same as before.

From behind the thorns, Carmen could see straight through at the scene unfolding before her. She attempted to centre her sleep spell upon the weak fishmen standing to the upper right corner of the alter. "I'm trying to subdue them with a sleep spell. Don't disturb them if they fall." she recommends.

HP: 15/15 | AC: 18 | Spd: 30ft. | Hexblade's Curse 1/1 (SR)| Divine Soul 1/1
Action: Cast sleep (18hp) on an area that includes E1 and E3 but not AA | Move: N/A  | Bonus: N/A
18:45, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 18 using 5d8.  Sleep Spell hp. – [roll=1616582747.64738.352983]
18:45, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Initiative. – [roll=1616582720.44847.352983]

Victor acknowledges Carmen's directive with a nod as he moves engage but the fishmen are too swift to react and seemingly unaffected by her spell. Instead he opts to attack the one nearest with his greatsword, seemingly off balance after the enemy rush.

Seeing that his opponent may be about to target his ally his gestures in her direction, "[Language unknown: Ecssar]!"

An ethereal shield of white light flicks into being between the warlock and fishman.

---

HP: 18/18 | THP: 0 | AC: 16 | Spd: 30ft. | Lay On Hands 5/10 | Divine Sense 4/4 | S1 1/2
Greatsword attack vs E2 hits AC 8 for 10 slashing damage.
Bonus action: Shield of Faith on Chelsie
Concentrating on Shield of Faith for 10 minutes.
22:14, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 14 using 1d20.  Initiative.
17:19, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 10 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 5,2.  Greatsword damage.
17:18, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 8 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 3.  Greatsword attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:23, Thu 25 Mar 2021.

With the fishman and the ritual revealed, it is time to act. Wendel draws on his eldritch energies again as he steps around the others to get a clear view of the alter. He knows what he is going to see but even so it turns his stomach. The blast that lashes out at the fishman chanting with a knife in its hand is absolutely swirling with the stones and sand of Wendel's particular pact. Whatever emotion is driving him in this moment is strong enough that his aim isn't as true as it should be though... With frustration clearly in his eyes he moves to the cave wall as he tries to formulate a plan of action...

Initiative: 17 (Dex: 16 if needed for tie breaker)
Action: Cast Eldritch Blast AC 9 (Miss I assume)
Movement: to A14

Wendel rolled 17 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.
Wendel rolled 9,14 using d20+5,d10+3+2 with rolls of 4,9.  Eldritch Blast, Damage+Genie's Wrath

Chelsie gasps as the fishmen's ritual comes into view. After a moment of collecting herself, she sidesteps the fishman rushing her and fires another blast at the fishman leading the ritual. At that moment, as her eyes shift to their victim, she feels a welling up of radiant energy inside her. She instinctively directs a wave of healing energy towards the victim.

Initiative: 11
Move: to F13
Action: Eldritch blast vs. E1, hits AC 12 for 10 force damage.
Bonus Action: Healing Light to heal the bleeding man for 6 HP.
Status: Exhaustion 2, AC 17 from shield of faith

08:17, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 11 using 2d20+3, dropping the highest dice only with rolls of 18,8.  Initiative (disadvantage).
08:21, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 12,10 using 1d20+5,1d10+3.  Eldritch blast attack, damage.
08:29, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 6 using 1d6.  Healing Light.
06:44, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 14 using 1d20+5 ((9)).  Eldritch blast disadvantage roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:50, Thu 25 Mar 2021.

The combined lights in the cave made the atrocity before him all the more clear. These fishmen meant to accomplish evil things and not simply live in the world. NOw more warmed up from the cold, Nutcracker took aim and loosed another arrow - straight at the one with the bloody knife.

OOC: Initiative: 10
Move to J 15
Bow Attack vs E1 hits AC 19
Damage 7 + 3 Favored Foe = 10
09:08, Today: Nutcracker rolled 3 using 1d4.  Favored Foe.
09:07, Today: Nutcracker rolled 7 using 1d8+3.  Bow Damage.
09:07, Today: Nutcracker rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Bow vs Fishman.
08:56, Today: Nutcracker rolled 10 using 2d20+3, dropping the highest dice only.  Initiative with Exhaustion.

Turn 1
Carmen attempts to put the fishmen to sleep, but they shrug it off!
Wendel fires a blast at the chanting fishman as he moves to the wall, but it goes wide.
The first fishman continues to chant.
The other two dash forward.
Continued next post.


INITIATIVE!
Carmen 20
Wendell 17
Fishmen 17
Victor 14
Chelsie 11
Nutcracker 10


AA=Altar
Other symbols same as before.

Carmen is surprised to see a fishman stay upright and alive and well. They had rushed her location, so she defended herself with her spear.

Her weak attack is bolstered by divine aid, and it strikes the fishman.

HP: 15/15 | AC: 18 | Spd: 30ft. | Hexblade's Curse 1/1 (SR)| Divine Soul 0/1
Action: Spear attack E3 hitting AC 14 for 8 damage | Move: N/A  | Bonus: N/A
15:21, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 8 using 1d6+5.  Damage E3. – [roll=1616656863.29091.352983]
15:20, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 4 using 2d4.  Divine Soul extra attack bonus. – [roll=1616656840.08093.352983]
13:52, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  Attack E3. – [roll=1616651547.73336.352983]

Still desiring to stop this ritual Wendel moves along the cave wall, leaving the others to deal with the spear wielders. His attention is fully on the fishman wielding the knife. Before drawing on the eldritch energies he first tries something else, he'd used once before. Speaking in his earthen incantation, he points at the ritual leader and hexes it feeling his ring well with a new intensity focused on that particular creature. He draws his bruised arm back again and throws another air punch with the sound of his usual incantation spilling from his lips. Lips that are turning blue as his frost armor does little to aid against the real cold out here. The swirling energies of force and stone gather together as the beam blasts the fishman knocking him back and away from the altar.

Move: to A8
Bonus Action: Hex E1 (disadvantage on strength I guess? I never know what ability to target with this...)
Action: Eldritch Blast E1 AC 19 for 7 force, 2 Bludgeoning, 2 necrotic damage.
 (Repelling Blast pushes E1 to J1)

Wendel rolled 19,9,2 using D20+5,d10+3+2,d6 with rolls of 14,4;2.  Eldritch Blast, damage, Genie's wrath damage, hex damage

Turn 1
Victor swings his greatsword at the fishman next to him, but his balance is off. He casts a protective spell on Chelsie.
Chelsie manages to find an opening and blasts the chanting fishman. She sends healing energy to the victim on the altar. The victim does not move.
Nutcracker moves to get a better shot, and shoots the chanting fishman.
Carmen with a bit of divine guidance, stabs the fishman threatening her and Nutcracker.
Wendel curses the chanter, then blasts it, pushing it away from the altar!
As the first fishman finishes chanting, a fork erupts from the victim, followed by a small winged devil, covered in spines, with a long, spined tail. It flies up, then lands on the altar, staring at the fishman who summoned it for a moment. Then it screeches in rage, and skewers its summoner! It then turns and fires two flaming tail spines at Wendel, but both miss!
The other two fishmen turn to see their leader killed, and decide to flee, dashing past you, and running for the mouth of the cave. Feel free to take opportunity attacks, if you're next to one and wielding a melee weapon.

E1 has taken 35 damage, and is dead!
E3 has taken 8 damage

INITIATIVE!
Victor 14
Chelsie 11
Nutcracker 10
Carmen 20
Wendell 17
Fishmen 17



AA=Altar
SD=Spined devil
Other symbols same as before.

Victor takes a brutal swing at the fishman as it tries to flee the cave before he moves forward towards the devil on the altar, reaching out three fingers to point at the new foe, "[Language unknown: Estardwil]!"

---

HP: 18/18 | THP: 0 | AC: 16 | Spd: 30ft. | Lay On Hands 5/10 | Divine Sense 4/4 | S1 1/2
Greatsword Opportunity attack vs E2 hits AC 13 for 13 slashing damage.
Move 30 ft to H8.
Action: Sacred Flame on Spined Devil, DC 13 Dexterity save (no benefit from cover) or take 6 Radiant damage.
Concentrating on Shield of Faith on Chelsie for 10 minutes.

07:43, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 6 using 1d8.  Sacred Flame Damage.
07:43, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 13 using 2d6+3.  Greatsword Damage.
07:43, Today: Victor Iusticia rolled 13 using 1d20+5.  Greatsword Opportunity Attack.

Chelsie instinctively swings her staff at the fishman as it leaves, but her focus remains on the scene unfolding before her. So they failed to stop the ritual, and the sacrificial victim was clearly dead. She focuses her energy, invoking the power of her celestial patron for another blast, now to take down the summoned fiend.

Reaction: Opportunity attack vs. E2 with staff, hitting AC 8 for 3 bludgeoning damage.
Move: None, but Chelsie had moved to F13 (the revised post), so she'll stay in F13.
Action: Eldritch blast vs. spined devil, hitting AC 10 for 7 force damage.

OOC: Alas.

15:39, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 10,7 using 1d20+5,1d10+3.  Eldritch blast attack, damage.
15:38, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 8,3 using 1d20+1,1d8-1.  Opportunity attack, damage with staff (2 hands).

Well that was horrifying. Whatever these fishmen were doing, they were certainly not prepared for the result of their actions. But with the reamaining ones fleeing, there was nothing left but to eliminate this creature that was an atrocity to nature and did not belong here.

Letting go of his bow, Nutcracker pulled out the loaned light crossbow and loaded a magical bolt into it, as Smith had told them might be needed if this came to be. Taking aim, the bolt seemed to glide off of the body with nary a sound. Truly, magical weaponry was a marvel.

OOC:
Drop Longbow and Draw Light Crossbow
Fire at Spined Devil hit AC 16
+1 Bolt + Favored Foe Damage = 10

15:56, Today: Nutcracker rolled 2 using 1d4.  Favored Foe.
15:56, Today: Nutcracker rolled 8 using 1d8+4.  Cossbow +1 Damage.
15:56, Today: Nutcracker rolled 16 using 1d20+6.  Crossbow +1 vs SD.

It's to late for the person on the alter then... The spines of the devil getting that close scares Wendel but he keeps the fear at bay for now especially since Carmen just destroyed the thing that sent them flying. Instead he grips his fist tighter, shifts his curse from the dead fish creature to the fleeing one instead, and throws another air punch beam of earthen force aiming to knock the creature back. He then turns and runs back along the cave wall.

Bonus Action: Shift hex to Spined Devil
Action: Eldritch Blast AC 19 for 12 Force, 2 Bludgeoning, 6 Hex damage
 (Repelling Blast push SD 10' back)
Move: to A14

Wendel rolled 9,14,6 using d20+5,d10+3+2,d6.  Eldritch Blast, Damage+Genie's Wrath, Hex damage.
Wendel rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Disadvantage.
Wendel rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  Inspiration re-roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:18, Fri 26 Mar 2021.

Carmen was surprised to see the spined devil appear from nowhere, but it wasn't entirely unexpected. She just didn't expect the summoning to be so short. She stepped out from her illusionary blockade, casts a few spells to devastating effect, then moves back behind her cover.

HP: 15/15 | AC: 18 | Spd: 30ft. | Hexblade's Curse 1/1 (SR)| Divine Soul 1/1
Action: Eldritch Blast at SD hits AC 21 for 10 force + 2 necrotic damage | Move: Out of cover then back in  | Bonus: Cast Hex on Spined Devil (disadv on Dex)
09:10, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 10,2 using 1d10,1d6.  EB damage + Hex. – [roll=1616721045.7165.352983]
09:09, Today: Carmen Diaz rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Eldritch Blast. – [roll=1616720988.48865.352983]

Turn 1
Victor swings his greatsword at the fleeing fishman, wounding it on the way out. Then, while moving forward, he calls divine fire down on the devil, but the nimble creatures darts out of the way.
Chelsie's parting gift to the fishmen doesn't get accepted, and she fares no better against the devil.
Nutcracker draws and loads the crossbow. The magical bolt strikes true! The devil is wounded!
Carmen steps out of cover, hexes the devil, and blasts him to smithereens with a powerful beam before stepping back behind her illusion.

Wendel if you want, you can fire at the fleeing fishmen, though at disadvantage because of the darkness.

INITIATIVE!
Victor 14
Chelsie 11
Nutcracker 10
Carmen 20
Wendell 17
Devil 17

Devil has taken 22 damage and is dead!
E1 has taken 35 damage, and is dead!
E2 has taken 13 damage
E3 has taken 8 damage

Carmen finishes things up by entering the lit cave and looking around to see what she can find. She doubts the sacrifice is saveable, but she checks anyway before moving on to treasure hunting...

"I doubt we can swim after those natives, so we should be wary on our way out. They could easily pull us under."

Victor moves over to the devil's body, driving the tip of his sword through the creature's heart as if making doubly sure that it is dead. Once done he then looks up to the body on the altar.

"We should take the body with us back to Smith's Gambit, someone may want to give them their burial rites. I can carry them across my shoulders if someone can help me get them up there. We should also destroy the altar if possible, it might prevent the fishfolk from making a later attempt."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:42, Fri 26 Mar 2021.

Seeing that the threat had been dispatched and the remaining fishmen were out of sight, Nutcracker put the crossbow away and retrieved his bow, making sure to check it for any damage from being dropped before keeping it handy in the event of an ambush.

Afterwards he couldn't help but take a look around the cave interior still lit by the arrow and lantern. Was there anything else significant in here?

OOC: Searching the cave.
22:36, Today: Nutcracker rolled 11 using 2d20+2, dropping the highest dice only.  Perception with Exhaustion.

Chelsie catches her breath a little after the whirlwind of activity, looking back to see if she can spot where the fleeing fishmen have gone.

Perception: 5. Not seeing anything, but at least disadvantage didn't hurt me?
08:51, Today: Chelsie Primrose rolled 5 using 2d20+2, dropping the highest dice only with rolls of 3,3.  Perception of fishfolk.

Wendel finishes off one of the fleeing fishmen. As Victor approaches the spot where the devil fell, he finds that there is no body. As he well knows, fiends never truly die, they simply return to the hells, often to face punishment for their failure.

The altar is made of stone, with a "cage" of bone around it. The bones make up a magic circle, inscribed with the spined devil's name:  The victim on the altar is dead.

Congrats you each get 310 xp The dagger the priestess held is on the ground where she fell, along with a purse containing 55gp and 16cp.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:14, Sat 27 Mar 2021.

Seeing the final fishman had probably made it's escape he walks over to where the priestess had fallen, he picks up the dagger looking it over, and tosses the pouch of gold to Victor. "Maybe some of that can go to the family of the fallen."

He then approaches the altar. Gently he closes the eyes of the deceased and then starts to get his blanket off of his pack to wrap the body.

While there he tries to understand this altar a little more. Obviously it is a rudimentary summoning circle of some kind. But is there anything beyond that? Probably not.

Arcana: 5
This message was last edited by the player at 19:20, Sat 27 Mar 2021.

Convinced that the fishmen are, for now at least, gone, Chelsie joins the others in checking out the altar and the ritual area.

Wendel, I'll give you a Help on that arcana check, unless the DMs rule helping doesn't work for knowledge.

DMs, was the name of the devil supposed to be illegible or inconsequential? With the Eyes of the Rune Keeper invocation, Chelsie can read all writing, so I'm just checking whether she should be able to read something the others cannot read.

Victor takes the pouch and bends down to rub his fingers gently of the the infernal inscription on the altar, "Tezzeroth," he translates, "they say speaking a devil's true name gives you power over it. If we cannot destroy the altar we should at least remove the name or change it to something else."

“There are five of us, so if we give 5gp and the silver to the family, we will have earned a solid ten gold for our efforts. Plus a dagger and the spears of course.”  suggests Carmen. “Do we have the ability to test for magic? Perhaps there is something we missed?”

With the danger passed, Nutcracker's curiosity was beginning to get the best of him as he began to examine the fallen fishmen. He had never seen anything like these in the forest or the city. They were apparently a dominant species in the area if they had tools and magic at their disposal. There probably wasn't much he could really tell about them by looking, but he felt the need to check for weak spots or surprisingly hard points so he knew where to or not aim. They probably tasted awful, too.

With Chelsea's help examining the alter, a few more ideas filter in to Wendel's mind.

"Good thinking Carmen, that should be more than enough for a proper burial. Now, how do we get back across that water?"

Wendel rolled 13 using 1d20+3.  Arcana advantage.

"Now we have the advantage of time, perhaps we can go the long way around instead of wading through that icy water?" suggests the warlock.

Wendel is confident that destroying the bones and defacing the engravings on the altar itself would be enough to render the altar useless for this ritual. Alternatively Chelsie could, in fact, make strategic alterations to the instructions on the tablet to ensure that any attempt at a summoning would fail without the would-be summoner knowing why.

Unless one of you (or a familiar) can fly/ jump with a rope, 100' to the top of the cliff above, the long way around only works the other way.

"Defacing or altering the alter could work, I think altering it might be the better option so as to continually confound any future use rather than encouraging someone to build somewhere else and try again. Unless we plan to stay here the night I don't think the long way is much of an option. And if I recall correctly staying here for to long might run the risk of rising tides, so that's probably straight out. We've got to come up with some other means of getting across. Warming your clothes seemed to help a little no? If one of you would show me how to do that then I could help in that regard as well."

Forgot I also had Prestidigitation last time around. With the three of us casting that's 9 total chunks of material warmed magically for the crossing. Almost enough for two apiece.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:25, Sun 28 Mar 2021.

Looking up at the climb, Carmen regrets her previous words. "Perhaps the climb looks a little too much. I did ok wading across the last time. Do you all feel up to wading across again? Warming your clothes really helps." she says, agreeding with Wendel.

Victor nods, "Just as soon as this altar is dealt with we should go straight across lest the tides rise any higher. On the other side we can build fires a set up a camp if we are unable to return to Smith's Gambit tonight."

Hearing the rest of the group talking about vacating reminded Nutcracker that the journey back involved another crossing through that frigid water. But they were not going to get back any other way. Once they got back it might be good to scout the area around the town to know where features were and how they might be overcome should another job involve something like this.

The altar would be left to someone else since they wanted to do something odd to it rather than destroy it. It was all gibberish to him, anyway. Arcane things that didn't make a lot of sense. Instead, Nutcracker collected up the dropped spears for possible use later and made ready to help anyone cross the waters.

OOC: Maybe bunching together could work as an assist on making checks? Huddle for warmth with Prest. helping those on the current side?

"Let's see," says Chelsie, as she examines the altar and tablet. "I don't know how, but I seem to understand these engravings. Larazel blesses me with growing abilities. Hmmm, yes, I think we can change that. And that, the syntax doesn't work without that verb ending. And that's a totally different word...." Her voice trails off, as she works to alter the tablet's engravings to surreptitiously drain its magical utility.

As they prepare to cross the frigid water again, Chelsie shivers. "The clothes helped, but it was still an ordeal. Yet we must cross, so we'd better get to it, before those fishmen come back with friends."

Huddling together seems smart, too, hopefully that helps. I'll warm three articles of clothing again, two of them mine if that's alright.
If I fail two more saves, I will set myself on fire to warm up. A bit rough, but I should be able to put it out with an action and then heal up any damage. Better than dying of hypothermia.

Carmen waits for the alter to be dealt with but as she does she expels water from her winter blankets using prestidigitation. "These are much larger than a single item of clothing, and warmer too. They may provide a better form of protection."

Noticing the tide is actually receding somewhat, Carmen suggests that the group waits it out for a few hours before crossing.

Carmen's idea was much better than going through that water again. Setting down the spears he had picked up, Nutcracker found a nice spot to settle in and inspect his gear in the event anything might have been overlooked or otherwise damaged in the encounter or by the biting cold.

OOC: Ready to camp out long enough for the tide to go down.

You pass the hours until low tide in peace. All who inspect their equipment find it unharmed. The return trip to Smith's Gambit passes quietly, with no other signs of fishmen. You still have a few hours until sunrise, but Carmen knows a good place to kill time.

Congratulations! Once you report in to Smith, you will each receive 100 GP, 450 XP, and 1 downtime unit. You may all take a long rest in time for the start of the tournament!