Iclos' little theory (which he had kept to himself), that the Red Wizard had been zombiefying crewmen, was pretty much kaput. With him being all glassy-eyed too, it seemed the Thayan had been affected by this curse as well. It was only too bad he could still cast spells. It would have been better if his brain had gone all glassy too.

The dwarf closed in on the enemy (which they now were). He was looking for an opening to either cast his radiant magic or thump someone with his warhammer. The Sacred Flame had further range, but he wasn't sure how slow or fast these things were to duck away. He tried the warhammer first, but only managed to make a loud whoosh as he hit a big portion of air. He would try the spell next.

Action 1st round: Melee attack on nearest baddie misses with a nat 1.
Action 2nd round: Sacred Flame on nearest baddie for 4 hp radiant. Dex save DC 13 to negate.
Move: Will move into the thick of things where I can attract some attacks away from the others.

Horror washed over Naim as he felt his life force drained out, even if just a little, by the hand of the Red Wizard.

A quick reaction he hurled his fire at the man and clipped him with his fires. Another word summoned more fire and this was tossed across the space to connect more fully with the Red Wizard again.

"I never heard good things 'bout Red Wizards, seems this ones been mucking about with stuff that was too much for him. Don't let that hand get you, it's sucking out my soul! END HIM!" Naim screamed into the hold.

Action 1st round: Produce Flame attack, hit AC 20, 3 fire damage
Action 2nd round: Produce Flame attack, hit AC 16, 7 fire damage

More reactive to the wounds inflicted on him, the red wizard hissed in pain at the flames that Naim and Saul had conjured. Black lightning danced along the mans robes arms, then launched fire blazed at his fingertips. Erupting from his fingers, three lines of fire lanced through the air. The ray struck Iclos square in the chest, he felt his armor grow uncomfortably hot, but the protective gear did its job and other than breaking into a sweat, he was none the worse for wear. Another ray lanced off towards Naim, but the half-elf's luck held up. Other than a light burn across one arm, he was mainly unscathed. (-2 HP Naim) The last sliced toward Faith, but the licking flames only felt like a gentle caress to her fel touched hide. (Faith's fire resist negates 4 damage)

Saul fired off another bolt of fire towards the wizard, but the rigging ate the intended blow. Several thick strands of rope burned away and separated, but the wizard remained unscathed.

The shambling crew had finally started to reach the stairs. Jaryn had continued to put his years of training to use and he opened up a slice across the shipman, another bloodless wound, and delivered a blow to follow it. (-13 HP Crewman 1) The wreckage underfoot betrayed the nimble warrior though and he slipped at just the wrong moment. The crew member staggered forward and bit into his shoulder and tore away a sizable chunk of flesh. (-10 HP Jaryn) Recovering, Jaryn neatly ran through the man's face with his blade. There was no getting back up from that. The other two crew members were out of reach, both having been distracted by Iclos who was presenting himself as a target.

The two crew members who remained standing had set upon the cleric of the violent seas. One smashed an arm down on his shoulder and sent a jolt through him. (-4 HP Iclos) The other scratched at his exposed side. (-2 HP Iclos) The wounds were superficial, but they were still wounds nonetheless.

Edging out from the safety that Jaryn and Iclos offered, Faith moved closed to the Red Wizard in order to unleash the dark power she was conjuring. Blue lightning leapt from her and engulfed the wizard making his robes crackles and his crooked spectacles crack. Blackened marks were left across his face and hands, but he was still standing. (-18 HP from Red Wizard)

Between the two taller human sailors, Iclos called up more of Umberlee's fire. It leapt to the nearest one and ate away at his uniform and the soft flesh underneath. (-4 HP Crew 2)

Fire continued to be traded back and forth across the hold of the ship when Naim threw his only flames back at the Red Wizard. His robes were signed, his flesh blackened and bone exposed in places, but he was still standing. Green vapors had begun to rise up around him again, they seemed to be coming up off the floor from somewhere. It was hard to say precisely where due to the shifting sea of debris.

Initiative

All terrain is rough terrain this combat.

Reaching the Red Wizard will require passing by the three crew members.

20 - Red Wizard, AC 10, HP 05/34 (Soft cover with rope netting, 12 AC to ranged attacks)
14 - Saulucian - AC 13, HP 11/14
11 - Violent Crewman 1 Slain
10 - Violent Crewman 2 AC 9, HP 18/22
07 - Faith - AC 13, HP 15/15
06 - Violent Crewman 3 AC 9, HP 22/22
05 - Jaryn  - AC 18, HP 10/27
03 - Iclos - AC 16, HP 27/33
03 - Naim  - AC 16, HP 17/27

OOC: Okay, I think we're all caught up. I lumped a couple rounds of the combat in with some of the updates. Hopefully it doesn't cause much confusion! You guys are tearing up these encounters with your big rolls! Until one of the enemies rolled a crit I thought you were going to walk out of this with just a few bumps and bruises!
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:08, Sun 28 Mar 2021.

Faith was beginning to worry about this as the red wizard and his companions didn't seem to want to go down. Maintaining her connection with the red wizard and sent more power down that connection. Things needed to really step up and get these...whatever they are dealt with so they can go on with what they were doing in the first place.

If I'm right I don't have to roll to hit again, just the damage so here is that roll. 16:43, Today: Faith rolled 2 using 1d12.  Witch Bolt Damage.

Naim saw the brutal strike against Jaryn and spoke a word of healing into the air that coalesced around Jaryn in a seagreen light, closing some wounds and healing some of the fast bruising.

With another word and gesture, fire flew from Naim's hand to strike the Wizard again. This burst crashed into him and looked like it burned the life out of him.

Bonus: healing word on Jaryn, heal 5 hp
Action: produce flame, hit AC 13, 6 fire damage

14:30, Today: Naim rolled 5 using 1d4+4.  healing word Jaryn.
14:29, Today: Naim rolled 13,6 using 1d20+6,1d8.  Produce Flame, Round 3.

That Jaryn moved fast, but not fast enough. Iclos could see Faith healing him with a spell, although it wasn't quite enough to bring him back to full health. He was going to have to keep an eye on that situation. Iclos did not want to lose allies in this nasty situation. He had suffered a few minor wounds and bruises himself. He could hardly feel it now, but he was pretty sure it'd hurt in the morning. Unless they were all dead by then. They were on their feet for now, though. So Iclos cast another divine spell; radiant energy washing over and searing another of the violent crewmen.

Sacred Flame on nearest baddie for 3 hp radiant. Dex save DC 13 to negate.

Jaryn let out a sharp cry of pain as one of the affected crewmen BIT him! Hard! "AAAHHHH!" He quickly turned and sliced them with his sword. "Get off of me please!" The crewmen crumbled.

He breathed heavily for a moment, wincing in pain. Then he shook his head and hurried over to the next crewmen and swung his longsword awkwardly, compensating for the bite wound, in a shorter diagonal arc, which meant it was accurate but had less power behind it. He quickly sent an knee up in to their stomach as well.

09:28, Today: Jaryn rolled 22,5,20,8 using d20+6,d10+4,d20+6,d4+4.  Longsword & Martial Arts.

Saul took his shortsword between his thumb and middle finger and slapped the side of the blade against the metal brace of its scabbard, causing the metal to ring out with vibration. He then carefully moved the vibrating blade in front of him and pointed the tip toward the wizard. "It calls you," as he spoke the words, the vibration stopped.

Bonus: Bladedance (increases AC 16)
Action: cast Toll the Dead on the wizard
Result: Wis DC 13 vs 3 Necrotic damage

22:06, Today: Saulucian Bensvelk rolled 4,3 using d8,d12 ((4,3)).

On the fire side of the rigging, the Red Wizard swayed with the shifting cargo. His body was in tatters, but those white eyes only seemed to partially register what was going on. But that did not stop his years of arcane training from coming through. Waving his arms and flourishing those singed robes, he growled "Ekez razaj" and three translucent red orbs materialized in front of him, each as large as a fist. Then they launched towards Faith. The first struck her shoulder, then next square in the stomach, the last hit her leg and drove her to a knee (-4, -2, -4 HP Faith)

Then the sound of chiming bells resounded through the cargo hold of the Sword's Edge. The Red Wizard stiffened and trembled, Saul felt the brief struggle of wills and triumphed, just barely. (-3 HP Red Wizard)

But it wasn't only the wizard threatening them. Iclos continued to fend off the crew that was attacking. More blows glanced off his armor. (OOC: Lumping in Crew 2 and 3 both attacking Iclos and missing)

Meanwhile Faith maintained the connection between her and the wizard. The black lightening she had tethered to him continued to dance between her outstretched hand and his body. A crackled ran between them, just a faint spark really, but it was enough. (-2 HP Red Wizard) The badly abused form of the wizard crumbled into a heap amongst the thickening green vapors on the ground.

Jaryn, bleeding heavily, was no less potent as he unleashed two more blows on one of the crew members. The man swayed and grunted from the hits, but remained standing. (-13 HP Crew 2, picked one at random since it wasn't specified.)

More divine fire rose at Iclos' beck, it blazed across the wounded crewman and it made the cuts Jaryn's blade had left crackled and smolder. These divine flames elicited a greater response from the being and it moaned loudly. But it remained standing. (-3 HP Crew 2)

The Red Wizard already slain, Naim turned and unleashed his fires upon the nearest crew member threatening them. The flames melted flesh and exposed bone, it should have slain the sailor, but these crew were proving quite resilient to proper death. (-6 HP to Crew 2... yet he remains at 1 HP) With his other hand Naim motioned towards Jaryn and a soft glow enveloped him, the bleeding from his shoulder slowed. (+5 HP Jaryn)

Initiative

All terrain is rough terrain this combat.

Reaching the Red Wizard will require passing by the three crew members.

20 - Red Wizard, AC 10, Slain
14 - Saulucian - AC 13, HP 11/14
11 - Violent Crewman 1 Slain
10 - Violent Crewman 2 AC 9, HP 01/22
07 - Faith - AC 13, HP 05/15
06 - Violent Crewman 3 AC 9, HP 22/22
05 - Jaryn  - AC 18, HP 15/27
03 - Iclos - AC 16, HP 27/33
03 - Naim  - AC 16, HP 17/27
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:26, Tue 30 Mar 2021.

Naim was thrown off by having to redirect his attack at the last second as the wizard dropped from lightning of Faith. He managed to connect with one of the sailors but his next attempt to gather and hurl lightning came just as a surge of the seas beneath hit the ship at an awkward time and this burst splashed fire at the feet of the crewman rather than hurting anyone.

Action: hit AC 7 (nat 1)
09:19, Today: Naim rolled 7,2 using 1d20+6,1d8.  Produce Flame Crew 3.

"Hah!" Iclos exclaimed triumphantly when one of his allies put the Red Wizard down. Through the chaos, the dwarf could still see two more crewmen that looked affected. One was in a good shape, the other was knocking hard on death's door.

Iclos approached the uninjured one and lay his warhammer into it, missing. Annoyed, he summoned a spiritual version of his physical weapon, which hovered beside him. It hit well!

Move: Engage Violent Crewman 3.
Action: Melee attack misses.
Bonus: Cast Spiritual Weapon. Hits Violent Crewman 3 at AC 21 for 8 damage.

Saulucian made his way to the nearest of the crewmen, raising his blade up before his face then flicking it out to the side, a visible roiling energy sliding along the blade, before he lunged toward his target.

Move: to a crewman, preferably #2 but #3 is fine
Action: cast Booming Blade
Result: Hit AC 16 for 4 Piercing damage
Special: Target takes 4 Thunder damage if it willingly moves on its turn

13:09, Today: Saulucian Bensvelk rolled 16,4,4 using d20+5,d6+3,d8.  Booming Blade (Shortsword).

Waving both hands this time, Faith muttered some words under her breath and three darts of glowing energy formed in front of her. Directing them with her mind, she sent them at the violent crewman that looked the least hurt. She knew they wouldn't do a lot, but at least it would be something. And with the red wizard down, all that were left were these crazed members of the crew, so maybe this would be over soon.

Action: Cast Magic Missile at Violent Crewman #3. All three darts go to him for a total of 12 damage.

14:13, Today: Faith rolled 5,2,5 using 1d4+1,1d4+1,1d4+1.  Magic Missile Damage.

Jaryn gave a nod and said, "Thank you, much appreciated!" to Naim after the healing the other one gave him.

He narrowed his eyes at the two still-standing-stiffly crewmen and slashed at the first one to try and make sure it went down. Then he moved towards the second and lashed out with a quick snap kick if he could get close enough.

OOC: Man, I hope he can reach the 2nd crewman as his bonus action attack is a natural 20 (though for some reason instead of just doubling what I already rolled, I thought I needed to roll again since I'm fighting off sickness lol).

17:45, Today: Jaryn rolled 22,9,26,6 using d20+6,d10+4,d20+6,d4+4.  Longsword & Martial Arts.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:47, Tue 30 Mar 2021.

Saul plunged his short sword into the badly wounded crew members chest. When the blade was pulled loose the man fell to the floor. The rest of the passengers had set their sights on the final crew member. It was hardly a fight. He managed to get one swing at Iclos, but the hardy dwarf continued to prove a tough target. Before he could raise his arms again he was brought down, a mixture of blasting orbs of energy from Faith and blows from Jaryn, the last one being particularly power and splitting the mans skull.

The fight was over, but the danger has not yet passed.

Ahead of them the cargo hold was still rolling violently and the strange green vapors were rising up from the floor of the hold. With the turbulent state of the seas the shifting crates and barrels couldn't be left in that state, but heading back there would be dangerous. Those crashing and banging boxes and barrels threatened to crush an unlucky soul and it was anyone's guess what those vapors would do.

This danger was distinctly different. But no less life threatening, especially with how battered some of the group already was.

Skill Challenge

Securing the cargo will require 3 successful Athletics checks, DC 14.

Entering the cargo hold to secure the cargo will require a Dex Check DC 12, or you'll take 1d6+3 damage from being battered and bludgeoned.

A constitution check, DC 10, is also required to avoid breathing in those green fumes.

Required Skills:

Athletics DC 14 (3 required)
Dex Save  DC 12
Con Save DC 10

OOC: Feel free to have fun with creative writing here, describing what your characters are doing and also feel free to converse with one another, reflect of the events that occurred, or make any skill checks you feel are relevant. During this challenge you can make your checks once a day, but may post freely in-between those checks. So this will take somewhere between 0 real life day to 3 real life days to play out depending on how the dice treat you.

Moving cargo was certainly not Saul's style. Dancing around it? Sure. Jumping or climbing over it? You bet. Moving and stacking, tying off, and all? No, certainly not Saul's strength.

Nonetheless he worked his way back to give it a shot. Moving through the shifting boxes and things was as nothing to him, and would have been even without the effects of the bladesong. (dirty 20, no damage)

Next, he had to deal with securing those boxes. He lifted one that was within a range of weight that he was capable of, and stood on one leg while using another to prop up a tumbled barrel so that he could stack them together. Saul was prepared for the wave to hit, he'd developed sea legs almost immediately and his training helped him to excel in this setting. Unfortunately, his training was in moving blades and himself, not these stupid barrels with their rounded bottoms.

As the ship rose, the barrel spun to the side. Saul adjusted to get in front of it, stopping the barrel, but only until the box began pulling his weight the other direction. He changed his stance to counter the shifting weight, and it would have worked perfectly if not for another box hitting the barrel and knocking it over to a side Saul could not stop. The barrel tumbled, rolled, took out his supporting knee, and the weight of the box he held pulled him once more. There was nothing he could do to stop that chain of events. He dropped the box (failed Athletics) and reflexively let out a frustrated breath and breathed in a new one without giving a thought to the green gas, which was then sucked into his lungs. (nat 1 on the Con save)

20:32, Today: Saulucian Bensvelk rolled 1 using 1d20.  Con Save.
20:32, Today: Saulucian Bensvelk rolled 20 using 1d20+3.  Dex Save.
20:32, Today: Saulucian Bensvelk rolled 7 using 1d20-1.  Athletics.

Jaryn let out a sigh as the last affected crew "died", or at collapsed. "A shame." He shook his head. "This is all very strange." He cleaned his blade off and started to sheathe it, but then hesitated in case there was more danger yet to come.

He then immediately began coughing pretty hard, eyes tearing up a bit. He tried to step away from the area with the vapors but tripped and fell backwards over a box and fell over a barrel which twisted him around. He let out a grunt of pain and shook his head as he stepped back towards the exit of the room once more. "Ughh...I shall...keep watch on the hall...for any more of them."

23:32, Today: Jaryn rolled 5,11,8 using d20+3,d20+6,d20+2 with rolls of 2,5,6.  Constitution Save, Dexterity Save, Athletics check.

23:34, Today: Jaryn rolled 6 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 3.  Damage.

Securing cargo was what Iclos had come down here for. He had spent years securing cargo. Securing cargo was his middle name! The green miasma was a problem, however. Iclos could hold his breath for minutes and minutes, but he wasn't the only one here. "Stand back, people! The Bitch Queen is about to release some wind!"

Casting Gust of Wind. The gust disperses gas or vapor, etc. Duration 1 minute.

Iclos blasted the hells out of the noxious vapor, giving the others an easier time securing the cargo without having to be careful breathing. He barked at any other passengers or crew nearby to come and help. The dwarf tried to lift a few crates himself, while maintaining focus on the wind, but his attention was drawn to the mystery. Trying to keep the shifting air from knocking people down, Iclos moved to see if he could see the source of the vapor.

Con save (if necessary): 14 (success).
Dex save: 16 (success).
Athletics: 6 (fail).

His face relaxed when he realized the last of the "eat your face" kind of danger had seemingly passed, and Naim chanted a quick spell as he stowed his shield away. As he did so, it seemed like his muscles... well they didn't grow per se, but they seemed to tighten up and grow every slightly more pronounced. He knew now the danger was loose cargo, so he didn't hesitate to act.

Grown muscles didn't hinder his steps as he moved in like a seasoned sailing pro that he was to help secure the loose cargo that was sloshing about the decks. "No you've got to..." he started to call out to Jaryn even as the man got slammed by a flying carton. He winced in sympathy with the hit and tried to help direct people's actions as he moved around and through the mists and cargo with seeming ease, pushing back and lashing things down with whatever cargo rope he could find.

"Come on! Work with the storms movements to push things against the sides, or other cargo while you hold a rope, then LASH!" he called out as he showed the others how he managed it. He knew it wasn't easy without practice, but he looked side eyed at Iclos and thought, figured at least the sea-bitch's priest could handle this though.

Cast: Enhance ability (1 hour concentration) Strength, adv on Str checks and double carrying capacity
Athletics: 22 (nat 20!)
Dex Save: 15 vs. DC 12
Con Save: 12 vs. DC 10

17:49, Today: Naim rolled 22 using 2d20+2, keeping the highest dice only with rolls of 20,9.  Athletics check (Enhanced Ability Str).
17:48, Today: Naim rolled 12 using 1d20+3.  Con Save.
17:48, Today: Naim rolled 15 using 1d20+2.  Dex save.

OOC: Thanks for the reminder Naim, I forgot to account for those of you with sailor backgrounds! You and Iclos both had advantage. I didn't bother rolling a second time for you, Iclos passed though with advantage! I couldn't Naim's natural 20 as two successes, so that wrapped things up!

The group set to work on their final danger facing the Sword's Edge. The loose cargo. Faith held back, her wounds from the red wizard giving her pause, the rest hurried past the makeshift rigging and worked to tackle the loose boxes and crates. For several of the passengers this was outside their element, Saulucian managed to dance through the mess, avoiding being battered, but Jaryn was caught off guard as the ground underfoot refused to be stable as it should. Both of them though were not used to doing all these things while holding their breath. They both caught a lungful of that green gas.


Iclos uttered a brief prayer and an unnatural wind blew through the hold and dispersed the green gases. They still rose up from the floor, but now they were harmlessly blow off towards the back of the ship and it allowed the group to work with one less danger.

The two sailors in the group though were in their element. Iclos and Naim nimbly moved with each steep pitch of the decks, they leapt on barrels and boxes as they came to brief rests and expertly tied them down to the hooks and fixtures in place for just that purpose. Between the two of them the task was done in short order.

Taking the time to examine the hold now they saw several dents in the wooden walls of the ship, a few of them had slow trickling leaks of water coming in, but the worst of the damage had been mitigated due to their quick response. As for the hold itself, the place was a mess, it would take a week to clean out all the refuse. There was also bright green fluid spilled on the floor of the deck, it seemed to be the source of the gas which was coming off the fluid.

Examining the red wizard, the group found a few interesting baubles, but nothing that explained what had happened down here.

Loot

+450xp all players
+17g (Gold found on the red wizard)
Eyes of Minute Seeing
       It seemed the wizard's spectacles were more than just common glasses. Putting them on your nose, when you examine things in your hands they leap into startling detail. (Grants advantage on Intelligence (Investigation) checks that rely on sight  while searching an area or studying an object within 1 foot)

Potion of Water Breathing x2
       It seemed the wizard wanted to leave nothing to chance when it came to the sea.

Potion of Healing x1
Scroll of Unseen Servant (Lvl 1)

OOC: Discuss how you'd like to distribute loot! It's definitely not first come first serve!
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:27, Thu 01 Apr 2021.

With the cargo secured, Naim helped the others strip the Red Wizard of his wealth with little remorse.

"Those glasses are nice, anyone could use them really, but... hear me out. Maybe we can give them to the captain and they can be sold at a nice profit which we could have some of and the rest can go for the families of the sailors that got caught by that mist? Regardless I'm gonna take some of the gold I get from the wizard's pouch for the sailors too."

"I would like one of those potions that let you breath the water though."

"Plus... it looks like those vapors are still coming, Iclos' wind didn't stop it, just paused it."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Thu 01 Apr 2021.

"It seems like it's that green liquid." Iclos shrugged, as it was just a notion. "It could be some magical alchemical substance. Maybe we can wash it out with water?"

The dwarf found a bucket, and tried washing the green fluid away with seawater.

Saul moved out of the gas before saying anything, "My magic will not help with removing the liquid. I could set it on fire, I suppose, but if that small explosion is any indication, it may not be our best option."

"I can make use of that scroll. Another ritual is always nice to have."

Saul cannot heal, and has low HP, so I wouldn't turn down the healing potion

Jaryn actually looked worse for wear after a moment. He looked almost...thinner? Like some of the health and meat on his bones had shriveled up a bit. He staggered back and leaned against the wall, wearied.

He watched as some of the others searched the mage, but he stepped just outside the room to make sure he was nowhere near those vapors ever again. He then had a horrified thought, wondering if that was what happened to the sailors, that their lifeforce had been sucked out and tainted by...whatever was exuding those green vapors. He grimaced.

OOC: I'm going to open a loot thread where this discussion can continue until folks are satisfied, in the mean time! Time to wrap things up.

Somewhere during the process of lashing down the last barrel the ship had steadied. During all the chaos the group almost hadn't noticed. Bleeding and battered, they made their way back up through the bowels of the Sword's Edge. Other passengers were peeking out of doorways, news of the violence had spread quickly, but as they saw it was clear others started to emerge. Soon a flood of people were making their way up. It seemed no one wanted to remain indoors after the harrowing ordeal of the storm.

Climbing back up to the main deck the crisp sea air felt cleansing after the fetid confines of the ship. The scent of bile and blood was replaced by ocean spray, salt and the faintest scent of soil. A few dogged drops of rain still fell, but they were thinning with each passing moment. Umberlee's wrath had passed and the seas were calm now. Banks of swirling fog remained. Not minutes later those too parted.

Before them lay Neverwinter.

Outside the cities walls were the hard cold lands of the north, but along the river it was a warm oasis. Lights twinkled along that shore and seemed to beckon the ship in. Beckon it home. After many long weeks at sea and a devastating storm that threatened to end the voyage  in the final hours, the Sword's Edge had made it. Its cargo of several hundred immigrants were arriving at their new home.

Now the real work would begin.