Faru'ash returns to the orphanage to see his old friends -- actually only one friend who matters, Olvan'pran, one of the three other undine children who had been crammed in the basement of the orphanage for the past seven years.  He had promised the smaller boy that he'd come back for him once he got himself established, and here it was, three months later.  Faru has a job working with a fisherman and a small place to live in Port of Rosillac.  He can finally bring Olvan out of the dank place that had been their home together.

He arrives in Harbracki, the coastal village in which he grew up, and is amazed as how small it seems.  Only a few months living in the big city has completely changed his perspective.  Arriving at the Gozren orphanage, he is met by Goodwife Aelreen, the laysister who acts as mother to all the orphans.  She is a kind-hearted widow who always did her best, but could never control the more difficult children, leaving the smaller children like Olvan'pran to the questionable mercy of the bullies.  "Faru'ash!" she calls out, genuinely pleased to see him.  "Did Olvan find you?  He left more than a week ago, to bring you some news."

Faru politely asks after her health, and informs the elderly woman that he has not seen Olvan, that he was coming here to meet up with the young undine.  After some dithering, she finally is able to produce a letter that Olvan left in case Faru were to come here looking for him.


This message was last edited by the GM at 04:52, Mon 10 May 2021.

"Thank you, Aelreen. For everything. Hopefully I can catch Olvan in the Reamus, before he REALLY gets himself into trouble."

So much for my service with the fishermen! Faru'ash spends an hour paying his respects to both of the orphanage's shrines before returning to Rosillac.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:53, Wed 12 May 2021.

As Faru'ash visits the underwater temple to Gozreh the Waves, he sees an argument, or at least a heated discussion, going on in the small office off of the temple proper.  Radir, the senior cleric at the temple is deep in conversation with a Triton that Faru has never met.  The triton carries an impressive trident and is wearing some sort of plate armor that does not seem to inhibit his ability to swim.

Radir says, "I'm sorry, you'll just have to wait until tomorrow.  You know that Millifan and Jergosh are away; Ahera is very ill; and I have a new group of Candidates starting today, which is going to take all of Ichar'dov's time."  Faru'ash recognizes all those names as the clerics permanently stationed at the temple.

The triton spins in tiny circle, a common gesture of frustration among water-dwellers.  "But it will get away if we don't act now.  We probably don't need a healer; maybe you could spare a few potions -- maybe a Neutralize Poison?  That's all we really need, I've got enough skill at battle medicine to get someone back here if the worst happens."

Faru'ash sees the ancient undine cleric cross the room out of sight.  He can hear a cabinet being opened, its contents being shuffled around carefully.  "I've got a scroll of Neutralize Poison, and one of Delay Poison, but no potions.  None of you can use divine scrolls?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:55, Wed 12 May 2021.

Faru'ash knocks on the passage to the office. "Father Radir, is something the matter? Oh! Good day, sir. Did you require assistance?"

"Ah, young Faru'ash! Welcome back. A pleasure, as always," Radir exclaims. "Sergeant ked Torqaann requests protection and assistance against a poisonous beast (I assume?). Apparently the thing's been on such a rampage that the apothecary is completely out of the recommended antidote, so he's come seeking a more general remedy. Unfortunately I'm also out of potions of delay poison, but I have a couple of scroll shells that could help him. I know you've moved down to the city, but perhaps you could do one last service for the orphanage? Sergeant, Faru'ash here is the last novice I ordained; young, but devout, and skilled beyond his years. If he's willing, he should be able to serve you well."

"I mean to be leaving for the Reamu Islands within the week, actually, chasing after Olvan'pran. He's probably got himself into trouble by now: you know how he is." Radir smirks and rolls his fins in resignation. "But for you, Father, anything; although I worry neutralize poison may still be beyond me, even from a scroll. I'm willing to try, though. What exactly is the problem?"

You'd have to get a potion of neutralize poison from a druid; for clerics, it's too high-level to be potioned (and would cost 1400 gp if it could!). There's a decent chance the keeper of a shrine to Gozreh would actually turn out to be a druid rather than a cleric, which is presumably what ked Torqaann was hoping for, but Radir isn't. Faru'ash actually has only a 20% chance of botching a scroll of neutralize poison, but he's nervous. At least clerics generally don't have to worry about losing the scroll in a miscast!
This message was last edited by the player at 05:45, Thu 13 May 2021.

Sergeant Torqaann brightens up immediately.  "Pleased to meet you, lad.  ked Torqaann at your service."  He holds out a hand to shake in the manner of dryland folk, and gives Faru's hand a vigorous two-handed shake.  We've got a devilfish that has been harassing a small village not far from here.  I haven't yet seen it myself, but the report is that it is a large one.  My companions and I, we'd probably be safe taking it on, but a healer would round us out nicely.  If you're willing, we should head out right away, and maybe save a life or two before it retreats back into the deep water."

Radir gives the two scrolls to Faru'ash, and he slips the two shells into a pocket of his belt pouch, putting them in a quick-access area.  "I hope you don't need them, son, but don't hesitate to use them if you do.  A devilfish poison can cripple a warrior permanently.  And don't you be charging in to battle.  You've got warriors with you -- your job is to keep them fighting, not to go in and do the fighting yourself.  This monster is too much for you."

As they leave the temple, they meet up with Bolodial, a sea elf wearing no armor, obviously an arcane caster of some sort, and another heavily armored man who looks like a triton but is bulkier, more heavily boned, with a brow ridge that does not belong on any of the undersea races.  "You healer?" Graag asks.  Without waiting for a reply, he continues, "Good.  Graag kill octo, you keep Graag ok.  Graag not let octo bite you."

Bolodial:  https://www.d20pfsrd.com/besti...erer-elf-sorcerer-3/
Graag:  https://www.d20pfsrd.com/besti...alf-orc-barbarian-3/
ked Torqaann:  https://www.d20pfsrd.com/besti.../guard-officer-cr-3/

I would think the good sergeant would introduce himself with a personal name, not just his house. Maybe he's been in the military so long he's forgotten his personal name isn't "Sergeant". Also, a half-orc half-triton: that's gotta be an interesting backstory. Also I assume you actually meant this Guard Officer https://www.d20pfsrd.com/besti...cer-human-fighter-4/ not the one with the pistol.

Faru'ash checks his own gear as he swims along with the soldiers. "You've got a deal, Graag. But don't get bit yourself either. I'm told that poison's nasty, and tough to heal." He turns to the sergeant. "Let me know when we're getting close. I'll want to armor up as well, just in case. Anything else I ought to know?"

"Just remember that it can't bite you if it can't get a grip on you. And by all the gods, don't get caught in the ink cloud. Lure it out or wait it out, but going in is death for sure."

As they reach the predicted hunting area, Faru'ash casts his ice armor and uncaps his trident. (This would be the time for Bolodial to cast his mage armor also, if he's got it, which he should.) "Stay close, now. You wouldn't think something that big could be too sneaky, but you wouldn't want to be surprised either," ked Torqaann warns.

Faru'ash gets ready with bless the instant the monster shows itself. Combat training in the shrine is one thing, but this is entirely different.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:00, Fri 14 May 2021.

I was ignoring the ranged weapon, anyway, but sure, that one is fine.  You can play the warriors and I'll do the mage and the opposition.  Sound ok?


After an hour and a half of fast swimming, Faru'ash is starting to feel fatigued, and he can see that the Bolodial is struggling.  Torquaan tries to give some encouragement, "Just a little farther, and we'll take a break, lads."  As if his words were prophetic, a village -- really just 5 or 6 houses -- looms into view, and the group approaches the largest of them.  (Too big an image to include here.)  All the windows and doors are shut tightly, but the Sergeant taps on a soft pad beside the door and it soon opens, revealing an elderly merman.

"Greetings, sir," starts Sergeant ked Torqaann.  He starts to reach out his hand but stops himself.  "We understand you have a devilfish plaguing the area, and we've come to put a stop to it."  After learning the best guess as to where the beast might be hiding, the group casts a few defensive spells, then heads out once again.

As they move cautiously forward, Torqaann holds up a hand.  "Do you smell that?  It's what's left of a devilfish's blood cloud."  (Roll perception above 16 to smell it.) He continues, "if that's from today, then we might be safe from seeing it again.  Only the strongest of them can do it more than once in a day.  But I think it's probably from yesterday, when the townspeople confronted it.  But keep your eyes open, it could be anywhere around here."  The sergeant turns to Graag, "OK, Graag.  Get your axe out.  Now, remember to activate ..  umm, to hit your rune as soon as we see the octo.  You remember?"

Another perception roll, plus an initiative roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:53, Fri 14 May 2021.

13:14, Today: Faru'ash rolled 11 using 1d20+6.  perception (scent). – 11
Nope.

Faru'ash travels through the area cautiously, but doesn't smell anything in particular. He's probably better off that way.

13:15, Today: Faru'ash rolled 18 using 1d20+6.  perception. – 18
At least I saw it coming, probably!
13:21, Today: Faru'ash rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  initiative. – 15
00:46, Today: Faru'ash rolled 16,21 using d20+3,d20+6.  Perception for ked Torqaann and Graag. – 16,21
13:29, Today: Faru'ash rolled 5,13 using d20+1,d20+1.  initiative for ked Torqaann and Graag. – 5,13
I know ked Torqaann actually has a trident (and presumably a shield?) rather than the guisarme. Is Graag really rocking the greataxe? Not really a sensible choice, unless he has Aquatic Combatant instead of Intimidating Prowess. What's his "rune"?

"Whoa, is that it?! Gozreh guide our blows, and may She bless us in our time of need!" This is Faru'ash's first action pretty much regardless of where he ends up in initiative order or what anyone else does, although it looks like he beat ked Torqaann and Graag anyway. As instructed, Graag hits the rune as he and the sergeant swim into battle, spreading out a bit in hopes of surrounding the beast.

Edit: added Perception for the martial NPCs. Maybe Graag's is good enough?!
This message was last edited by the player at 05:47, Sat 15 May 2021.

20:25, Today: Zag, for the NPC Bolodial, rolled 18,22 using d20+7,d20+2.  Bolodial Perception & Initiative
20:29, Today: Zag rolled 20 using 1d20+3.  Devilfish Stealth.  (I was thinking of rigging this roll, but I didn't.  I really rolled this.)
20:36, Today: Zag rolled 3 using 1d4.  Random choice whom the Devilfish attacks.  Alpha order.
20:39, Today: Zag rolled 7 using 1d20+3.  Devilfish initiative
20:44, Today: Zag rolled 24,12 using d20+5,3d6+4.  DF on Graag.
20:46, Today: Zag rolled 14 using 1d20+13.  Devilfish grapple


Torqaann leads the group in a search pattern, being careful.  "This creature spews out a cloud of nasty that you REALLY don't want to be in.  It will blind us and make us sick, but it can see through it.  When we see the creature, I'll summon a small water elemental to dissipate the cloud, but until it does its job, stay out of it.  Graag, you got that?  What do you do?"

Graag answers, "Stay out of stinky cloud.  Graag remember.  Last one was bad."

"And what else, Graag?"

Graag has a puzzled look, until Torqaann points again to the rune on Graag's axe.  "Oh yeah.  Graag hit rune before charge in."  Suddenly the huge-boned Triton points and shouts, "OCTO!  Octo octo!"  The group had almost stumbled over the creature before they saw it.  It snaps a tentacle which strikes once at Graag, hitting him hard in the head and tries but fails to pull the big triton in.  Graag, meanwhile, remains defensive and activates the rune on the handle of his axe.  The devilfish, without a prey, darts away into a small hollow as Graag activates his rune.

Ding!  Surprise round is over.  Only Devilfish and Graag got to act.

Round 1 actions?  I won't hold you to your declaration to cast Bless if you want to heal Graag instead.

Round 1:
22 Bolodial
15 Faru'ash
13 Graag
07 Devilfish
05 Torqaann

Bolodial shouts, "Let me see if I can Cause Fear on it.  With any luck, it will spew its cloud and try to escape, and we'll be able to go around the cloud and after it without fear.  He casts the spell.

It's hard to tell whether or not it affected the devilfish, but it doesn't seem to take any action.  It is currently 25' away, in a little hollow such that if any of the combatants were to get behind it, they would be above it, as well.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:40, Sun 16 May 2021.

Bless is still so much better than anything else I could do that it isn't even funny. AoE offensive buffs beat everything. Graag's tough, he'll be fine. Probably.

"Wait, only seven tentacles?! An unnatural monster! May Gozreh bless us; let Her guide our blows!" Faru'ash casts his own spell but stays to guard Bolodial's flank, for all the good it's likely to do; that one blow would have knocked him half-senseless.

Graag, meanwhile, secure in the protection of his freedom of movement, starts to give voice to his ancestral rage. But just in time he remembers: "No! Sarge have plan! Graag not get too close. Bolo scare octo? Bolo not scary. Graag scare octo!" With this he releases himself to the blood rage, and screams his defiance at the devilfish. "That all you got, octo? Graag hit harder by whelp! Small whelp! Three winters! Octo punch like pinkskin! Come find out what real hit feels like!" He drifts forward a few feet, so if the octo wants to get to any of his friends, it has to go through Graag first.

It's worth a shot. Devilfish do understand Common (and Undersea, in this world), after all.
22:47, Today: Faru'ash rolled 25 using 1d20+14.  Graag's Intimidate. – 25
There, shaken for 2 rounds, even if Bolodial botched it. Although I forgot the -4 penalty for trying to Intimidate something clearly bigger than you, but even at 21 it's still 2 rounds.

Sergeant ked Torqaann, if he's still alive and not in melee by the time his turn FINALLY comes around, starts to summon his elemental; we're going to need it.

I'm unconvinced Bless is so good.  It's only going to affect two of you for attack, unless you have plans to do so, and it's only +1 to hit and +1 saves, so only a 5% chance of making a difference.  But I did forget that you don't have Cure Moderate, yet.
The devilfish only has a 3 intelligence, but I guess that's not reason for it not to be intimidated.  After all, shouting like that will work on a dog.

01:45, Today: Zag, for the NPC Bolodial, rolled 9 using 2d4+2.  Magic Missile

With the devilfish cowering in a hollow, Bolodial puts a restraining hand on Graag as the big triton shouts out his threats.  The challenge seems to work on the monster, and it cowers even deeper into the hollow.  As Faru casts his Bless he sees it holding its two largest tentacles out menacingly, but it doesn't charge out for another attack.  Clearly it is confused to face a foe that does not run in fear from it.

Torqaann begins his summoning spell.

Ding!  Round 2 begins.

Bolodial casts Magic Missile, putting one missile directly in the creature's eye.

Wish I had resistance prepared; it would help here. Oh well. Faru'ash is kind of running out of things to do that aren't "stab the monster", which isn't a good idea.

"Here, Graag. Gozreh will see you through." Faru'ash drops summon monster I to lay down a cure light wounds on Graag before he moves out of reach.

22:47, Today: Faru'ash rolled 5 using 1d8+2.  cure light wounds on Graag. – 5

Graag can no longer restrain the rage: with a roar, he swims in to crush the beast!

With the devilfish shaken, Graag is never going to get a better chance to dodge the attack of opportunity he has to take to close with the devilfish. I know we were hoping to somehow trick the devilfish into wasting its blood cloud on no one, but I really don't see how that was ever going to work, unless you decide it just makes a bad decision for no reason. Of us all, Graag has the best chance of making the save.

Graag does keep enough presence of mind NOT to Charge in; he just swims in normally and Power Attacks. The devilfish gets an AoO here (at -2 for shaken) but since the grapple automatically fails, the only way it could prevent Graag's attack is by killing him in one shot, which isn't likely.

22:55, Today: Faru'ash rolled 15,16 using d20+9,d12+10.  Graag's attack. – 15,16
And he misses, and rolled low on damage anyway. I don't know why I bother. Are we sure he's not using one of your dumb d20-shaped d10s? I guess he should have Charged after all. But we'll see how the AoO goes.

Unfortunately Graag's mighty blow seems to bounce off the thing's hide without effect.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:02, Thu 20 May 2021.

I think you might have done better by waiting one more, so Torqaann, Graag, and the water elemental could all go through the AoO zone together.  Oh, never mind: It has combat reflexes.  I guess the 8 tentacles can move pretty independently.

Too bad you didn't charge.  That +2 would have made the difference.  I guess you also counted +1 for bless and -1 for Power attack?

I was hoping that the -2 AC for charge would have made the difference, also, but the DF would have missed, anyway.
09:03, Today: Zag, for the NPC Devilfish, rolled 8,11 using d20+3,3d6+4.  DF AoO.
09:05, Today: Zag, for the NPC Devilfish, rolled 16,9 using d20+3,3d6+4.  DF attack on Graag
09:10, Today: Zag, for the NPC Devilfish, rolled 20 using 1d20+13.  Grapple.

Faru gives Graag a quick heal before the barbarian cleverly ducks under the monster's tentacles and makes his attack.  Unfortunately, his blow is unable to cut through the creature's thick hide.  Somewhat shocked that his blow did not penetrate, Graag floats a little too still and allows the beast to hit him in the thigh, no doubt causing a nasty bruise and almost inverting him.  The devilfish makes an attempt to grapple the half-orc, but the magic crackling around Graag makes such an attack impossible.

Name	AC	Hit points
Bolodial	17	19/19
Faru'ash	18	17/17
Graag	15	24/40
Devilfish	17	33/42
Torqaann	18	34/34
Water Elemental	17	13/13

A relevant video:  https://www.facebook.com/10004...deos/470952713887451

Did anyone bring a net or something, to prevent the devilfish from just swimming away? Its jet ability doesn't provoke and lets it just leave at any time; we can't catch it. I guess we could surround it in its hollow to prevent it jetting away... if we had one more melee character... counting the elemental, which will die instantly if it enters melee. The stock Guard Officer has a net (and the proficiency feat for it); this would be even more useful for ked Torqaann than a guisarme-wielding human. I'm going to assume he's got this too, and doesn't have Skill Focus (Intimidate), which sucks anyway. But how do you use a net underwater?! The Net Adept feat, I guess. He would have to have that instead of Dazzling Display?

I was going to ask if ked Torqaann has an extra +2 natural armor from being a triton, but I see that you've already included it (but he's wearing a breastplate and has +0 Dexterity instead of the stock human officer's full plate and +1 Dex).

The sergeant's elemental takes form: a glistening triton, visible more in outline than as an actual being. He nods to it in thanks. "We don't want to frighten it off, lads; we want to kill it! With me!" ked Torqaann shouts. He swims in as well, trying to get across the beast from Graag. The elemental hangs back, ready to shift into its tallest vortex form to dissipate the ink cloud when it appears.

This provokes AGAIN (bloody Combat Reflexes) still at -2 (until Graag's turn). But as long as ked Torqaann doesn't get killed instantly (which isn't likely), he still stabs it with his trident rather than trying to escape the grapple (assuming he gets grappled, which is virtually certain).
14:27, Today: Faru'ash rolled 28,8 using d20+10,d8+5.  ked Torqaann's trident vs. devilfish. – 28,8
Even if he's grappled for -2 by the time he does it, that still hits easily. (Almost a critical!)

The sergeant sinks his trident into the beast's mottled flesh.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Sun 23 May 2021.

17:46, Today: Zag, for the NPC Devilfish, rolled 7,8 using d20+3,3d6+4.  AoO
17:48, Today: Zag, for the NPC Bolodial, rolled 6 using 2d4+2.  MM.

The Sergeant finishes his casting and charges into melee which instructing his small elemental to hold back.  The Devilfish casually swipes a tentacle at him, but it misses him completely.

Ding!  End of round 2.

Name	AC	Hit points
Bolodial	17	19/19
Faru'ash	18	17/17
Graag	15	24/40
Devilfish	17	19/42 (including MM)
Torqaann	18	34/34
Water Elemental	17	13/13

Bolodial moves around the melee, hoping to cut off its likeliest escape route.  Once in position, he casts another magic missile.

Can Graag 5-foot-step to flank with ked Torqaann? If so, he does. Why not, right?

With an inchoate roar, Graag takes another mighty swing at the beast, hoping to finish it right here and now, and scowling it into submission if that doesn't work.

18:26, Today: Faru'ash rolled 19,21 using d20+9,d12+10.  Graag's attack. – 19,21
Boom. Headshot. This is why you Power Attack, folks. Say your prayers, but always remember to Power Attack. At least I don't have to think of something non-suicidal for Faru'ash to do.
18:27, Today: Faru'ash rolled 19 using 1d20+10.  Graag's Intimidating Glare vs 16. – 19

Graag strikes the beast a solid blow, his axe sinking deep into its body. He gives it a good grimace as its struggles lessen, but in its death throes, it doesn't seem to care very much. Just as well: Graag has a sneaking feeling this wasn't his A-game glower; the bounced hit earlier really has him off his stride.

Disappointed, the elemental swoops in for one good slam on the body before dissipating. Just for good measure. "All right, boys, good work," ked Torqaann says. "Let's head back to let those poor villagers know they can swim easy. Too bad Lieutenant Keluan is still laid up with that busted leg; I bet she'd love to harvest the ink sac and venom glands from this critter. Could sell those to an alchemist or apothecary and probably make payroll for weeks. But without her skills behind the scalpel, it's just too dangerous, unless you know how, lad?"

"No, sorry. I did see the technique for making antidotes out of venom once, but getting the venom itself was never really my specialty. But we could go ahead and haul the whole thing home, that's no problem. I've got a scroll here that should do the trick nicely. It'll make Graag strong as an ant! As long as we get it back to town within a couple of hours." Faru'ash pulls out his scroll of ant haul, and turns to Graag. "What do you say, Graag?"

Graag's gills are still fluttering hard coming down from his blood rage, and he gives the young undine a dubious glance. "Ants tiny, not strong. Graag stronger than ant! Octo still too big."

Bolodial drifts over. "No, I've heard of this one. Ants can carry three times their own weight. That's what the spell does: lets you carry three extra people, or treasure that weighs that much. This thing is big, but it isn't THAT much bigger than you, big guy."

The sergeant nods. "The LT always says stuff like this loses value by the minute, but still, oughta be worth something. At least it'll be a nice trophy to show the townsfolk. Let's go." Faru'ash casts his scroll, and sure enough, Graag has little trouble dragging the devilfish out of its hollow and strapping it roughly to his back, despite the beast being twice his size. He doesn't seem to mind the ridiculous picture this presents, although Bolodial and ked Torqaann both suppress snickers while they help him get it balanced.

Ant haul. For when you absolutely, positively, need to lug home every last copper piece. From a scroll, it only lasts 2 hours though. Faru'ash will have time to write a new scroll on the boat; it only takes 2 hours.

Keluan is presumably their normal druid (if she knows enough Survival to harvest venom glands); an injury would explain why they were trying to hire a day jobbing healer.

Ack.  I assumed I'd have one more round.
Didja do any healing on these guys?  They're all bruised up.  I'll assume you brought them up to full.  :-)

The group returns to the underwater temple of Gozreh, where Radir meets them, shouting, "Whoa!  Whoa!  Don't bring that stinky thing in here.  I mean, good job and all, but did you have to bring the monster back just to prove you took care of it?  I'd have taken you on your word."

"No, sir," Sergeant Torqaann replies, "we managed to kill it before it emptied its blood sac.  We know what those things are worth, but none of us know how to harvest it properly."

"Ahh, OK, then.  Well, at least bring it around back.  I'll be glad to show you how."

Just as he starts to lead the way, it is clear from Graag's reaction that the Ant Haul has just worn off.  The big triton suddenly slumps and is staggering on every step.  "Octo ... heavy ... so," he manages to grunt, but with the Sergeant's help, they drag the bound weight to the area behind the temple.

After untying the net, Radir makes a few deft cuts with a knife and opens up the beast.  He points to reddish organ to the side of the beak.  "This is the blood sac.  You want to be very careful not to cut it.  Cut THIS muscle, which squirts it, before you tie it off.  Then tie it here, and here just in case, before you cut away these tendons.  Now gently, cut this connective tissue, and there it is!  Lovely!  It's so good of you to donate it to the church; we'll be able to make a bunch of antidote and a couple of strong potions with this.  Well done, lads."

"Umm, donate.  Yeah.  OK."  Torqaann says dejectedly.

"Oh come now, Sergeant ked Torqaann, I joke with you.  I can pay you 400 gold for this, and the church should see a decent profit on the potions we make out of it."

As the group says their goodbyes, the three adventurers all wish Faru'ash well.  "You did a great job, kid," says the Sergeant as he gives him his share of the payment.  "I had forgotten to check whether or not you knew Selective Channeling.  You'd be surprised how many young priests get so eager to heal up the fighters that they heal the monsters, as well.  I look forward to working with you again some time."

What about the two scrolls that started this whole adventure, but we ended up not needing after all? Neutralize poison, in particular, is worth 700 gold (if a cleric wrote it), and even delay poison is 150 gold; not the sort of thing a cash-strapped orphanage hands out for free. I assume ked Torqaann gave those back and got refunds for them.

"I never could get the hang of that trick. Father warned us to watch out for that. Maybe it's easier for followers of land gods like Iomedae or Cayden Cailean, but we serve the Wind and the Waves, and She plays no favorites. 'If you must heal in battle, count on your own spells, and save channeling Her power for afterwards, among friends,' he told us. Honestly, I think it was easier for the novices who studied Gozreh's wrath, rather than Her grace. No one expects them to help, after all, but everyone expects them to be careful. That always seemed a bit cruel to me, though. Anyway, I'm glad I could help, sergeant. Maybe we'll see each other again one day."

Well, it looks like this game isn't going to happen.  I'd like, at least, to run the puzzle scenario I have already prepared, if you're game.  Just in case, though, I want to include the required setup for the overall story. 

Faru'ash signs on with a merchant ship headed to Reamu Islands, convincing the captain, a tall, ugly human man, by displaying his ability to Read Weather and his willingness to work for little more than passage.  It is a 6-day journey, if the weather is good.  He correctly predicts that the weather for the first two days will be excellent, with a light, favorable breeze.

The cleric is a little surprised to see how empty the holds are in the ship.  Besides a small amount of manufactured goods which can be sold at a premium on the islands, the only cargo is a batch of 13 rundlets.  The cleric has no idea what they contain, but it is clearly valuable.  The captain has hired five armed guards, such that there are never fewer than two of them guarding the barrels.  Speculation among the sailors is filled with tales of magical rum, or crystal wine, or a whisky so powerful that a thimbleful would get a man roaring drunk.  No one seems to know for certain, but neither the captain nor the first mate are willing to speak of it.

During the voyage, Faru meets and befriends Sharzak, a Maerean male, a bard, who is travelling as a passenger on the ship.  He knows about the plight of the Merean -- it is not unlike that of the undine -- so he makes attempts to converse with Sharzak when he can, in spite of the captain discouraging contact between crew and passengers.

On the first two days at sea, Faru repeats the Read Weather spell, with similar predictions.  However, on the third day, his spell indicates a storm on the following day.  He explains clearly the limitations of the spell, and the captain decides to head west in order to approach the Reamus from the south.  On the fourth day, Faru's prediction indicates that the worst of the storm is behind them, but the blowing wind instead shows that they are approaching it.  The captain, now in relatively unfamiliar waters, changes course yet again looking to outrun the blow, but it moves with a speed that indicates what Faru already suspected -- this storm is not natural.

Just after midday the waves are washing well over the gunnels and the captain has the crew working double time on the pumps.  Faru is below decks, aiding as he can, when suddenly there is a thundering boom and water begins pouring in.  The undine scrambles to try to help the humans out of the watery prison when another blast opens the hull in another point and he sees a terrifying face, that of a sahuagin, the dread scourge that has destroyed more undine than the demon lord Dagon.  As the ship breaks apart, the rush of water carries the cleric away and pulls him down into a small crevice.  From his hidden vantage point, he can see that the few humans who survived the explosion are quickly killed.

The commanding sahuagin, a huge specimen dressed in robes and wearing a circlet of gold, orders the others to search for any additional survivors.  However, Faru can see that the others are ignoring him.  One of the small casks of the mysterious liquid has broken open, creating a golden yellow cloud in the water.  The vile creatures are diving into the cloud like cats drawn to catnip.  The undine can see the ones that manage to get into the thickest part of the cloud are growing visibly larger, and they seem to move somewhat faster.  As if they weren't terrifying enough...  In another minute, the cloud starts to disperse, and the commander seems, once again, to be getting control of his troops.

There are at least a dozen of the monsters, and Faru spots more every moment.  His current hiding place is not likely to remain safe for long.  As he creeps along the crevice, he runs into the Merean he met earlier, similarly trying to escape the marauders.

This image is too large to include as an image.  You're in the crevice in the northeast corner.  I'm not expecting you to do anything other than swim away, but I was done typing and I wanted you to have a chance to interject, here, if you have other plans.  Definitely fighting the sahuagin is not an option, though my original plans included the group being chased by a couple of them and having a small battle before escaping.
https://zag.net/DandD/undersea...s/ShipsGraveyard.jpg
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:08, Thu 03 June 2021.

(As Paul said in person ...)

Faru'ash and Sharzak follow the crevice north and a little east.  They both feel a little guilty leaving the crew of the ship behind, but if any of them are still alive right now, they won't be for long, and the two would just be sacrificing themselves even to look.  About 40 yards along, the crevice seems to peter out, but near the end is an opening straight into the ground, perhaps 5 feet in diameter.  The two speculate whether it is a home for some gigantic moray eel, but the sounds of soldiers coming from behind them convince them that it's a better risk than the sahuagin.

As the two swim into the opening, they are surprised to realize that this is really a tunnel, headed down for more than a hundred yards before leveling out.  Looking at the walls Sharzak realized that they are swimming through limestone, so this must be a cenote.  Very likely it will lead to an entire network of natural, smooth tunnels, some of which might lead to land.  As the bard is studying the stone, Faru notices a symbol -- a simple line drawing of trident -- on the wall ahead.  It is old and faded, but still clearly visible.  It points in the direction that they are going, which quickly leads to a three-way intersection, at which one of the paths, the northern one, is another trident symbol.

The pair follows the symbols through several more intersections, generally going north and up.  At one point they hear the booming voice of the sahuagin commander behind them.  They don't know if he is on their trail or just investigating the cenotes, but it makes them hurry along.  The two come to a five-way intersection of the tunnels, though at least one of them does not look natural.  The tunnel headed upwards has a less stylized version of the trident, more professionally created.  Looking at it closely, Sharzak realizes that it is not just painted on like the others, but carved into the limestone.  Below it is some writing that the bard recognizes as an ancient script, but he can not read it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:13, Sun 20 June 2021.

"If it's a message, I can comprehend it. This doesn't work for long, so hopefully it's the only one. But maybe these tridents are a signal from a previous follower of my faith." Faru'ash pulls out his scroll of comprehend languages and quickly casts it, leaning in to read the text below the symbol.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:50, Sat 19 June 2021.

Faru'ash casts his spell, and the symbols do not seem to change, but suddenly spell out words that he can read.  He realizes that this is a poem, and in spite of understanding it in Undersea, he can feel the rhythm and rhyme of it from its own language, making the poem feel lyrical, even compelling.  The final word of the poem takes a while to phase in, as if the magic of the spell struggles to find an appropriate translation.  (Indicated in italics.)

---

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The two continue up the passage, aware that the sahuagin are still searching for them, and hoping this path will lead to open air.  Their swimming ability is only on a par with the bloody-minded creatures, but they both know that they will have the clear advantage in the air.

Only another hundred yards or so the upward path levels off, and ends in a small room with a doorway on the far side.  The door is solid, and seems still to be whole and not encrusted with barnacles, which is very strange.  Surely there is some magic keeping it working.  There is a handle to pull the door, but no knob or lever, nor any sort of lock.

To the right of the door is an oversized trident coming up out of the floor, only a couple of inches from the wall.  It is made of bronze, but it is as clean as the door.  It clearly used to have a gem or jewel in a hollow in the perfectly round socket just below where it separates into the three prongs, but the socket is empty.  The trident looks more decorative than functional, though the points do still look quite sharp.  However, if Faru or Sharzak could ever get it out of the floor, it would be too large to wield.








To the left of the door is an odd artifact:  Channels cut into the wall, with balls that can move along the channels but can not be pulled out of their paths.  There are 15 balls altogether, and each has a different picture on it.  The balls have some sort of magic, or perhaps they are just cleverly built, because even if they are rolled in place, the picture stays showing forward.

There are three channels below, which currently hold all the balls, one holding six balls, one four, and the last five balls.  These connect through a single channel to another three above, which each have space only for one or two balls at the most.  They are currently empty.

Between the resting points of the channels above are two symbols, carved into the stone and colored bright red.  In spite of the obvious age of the passageway, the room, and the artifacts, the color is still vibrant.

The whole thing is about 4 feet tall, starting about a foot off the floor.  Each ball is a little bigger than Faru's fist.

These are the pictures.  Don't read anything into their relative sizes, nor the fact that some are more appropriate to fit on a round ball.  Those are just the limitations of my efforts at collecting pictures.


This message was last edited by the GM at 14:34, Sun 20 June 2021.

I think it's clear that I can fish out whichever picture I want by moving the balls around; there's plenty of space to stash unwanted balls to extract any particular one from the bottom of the stacks.

"Well, the poem said that the Waves and the Sand should form the Holy Spray. We can try that?" Faru'ash shifts the marbles around until he gets the wave (2nd row 4th), the sand (1st row 1st) and the spray (2nd row 5th) marbles into the notches at the top.

It takes a little shuffling to get the balls into place.  And then ...

one of the tines of the huge trident flickers a tiny bit of glow, but then it disappears.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:47, Mon 21 June 2021.