Romeroz dug around and pulled out the healing potion he had carefully tucked away in case of danger.  This was danger in its most terrible form.  Uncapping the potion, he felt a sudden fear that it would mix with the sea water and drift away, but it just crated a strange tension and both liquids jostled.  Putting it to his mouth he downed the fluid and felt health seep back into his body.

He was in no way fully recovered, but he moved around the column and swam to the opposite side of the shark from Lesstry.  As his hand was swinging towards the shark the pulsing white-grey blade rematerialized, hoping to score a hit across its flank.

---

Romeroz chugs a healing potion as a bonus action.

14:30, Today: Romeroz Gult rolled 7 using 2d4+2 ((1,4)) Healing

Romeroz heals 7 Hp.  According to the shark health chart, Romeroz looks Mauled.

Then Romeroz attempts to swim to a flanking position opposite Lesstry.  That would be possible in the shark's last location, but it may not be if the shark moved.

Romeroz is attempting to attack while flanking.  If that is not possible, then the attack roll is as follows:

14:32, Today: Romeroz Gult rolled 8 using 1d20+6 ((2)). Attack with Psychic Blade.

But Romeroz is flanking, so I reroll:


07:47, Today: Romeroz Gult rolled 18 using 1d20+6 ((12)).  Attack with Advantage.

08:15, Today: Romeroz Gult rolled 7 using 1d6+4 ((3)).  Psychic Blade Damage
08:16, Today: Romeroz Gult rolled 7 using 2d6 ((3,4)).  Sneak attack damage

Total damage: 7 + 7 = 14
This message was last edited by the player at 12:19, Tue 02 May 2023.

Flooding into the cavern is the rival team from the point indicated on the map. The team is made up of a half-orcish woman with short cropped, raven black hair, a small goblin male who bares the sigil of the Luxon, an oddly ethereal drow (who does *not* look happy at all), a thin human male, and a full-blooded orc quickly assesses the situation and the group's battle with the shark.

The shark disengages from Romeroz and Lesstry, thrashing about the space in a horrifically silent rage as its blood adds to the water. The silver glow begins to recharge within its smooth unearthly skin.

Sending a radiant blast into Ayo while chomping down on Maggie the shark continues to move to the rear of the cavern.

Combat Tracker

Name	Type	AC	Hitpoints	Status
Moonshark	Beast	13	91 of ?	Crippled

Healthy	Bruised	Hurt	Wounded	Mauled	Crippled	Dying	Dead
100%	99% - 75%	75% - 60%	60% - 45%	45% - 30%	30% - 15%	15% -1%	0%	/red>

---

OOC: Race progression 12/6


Healthy Bruised Hurt Wounded Mauled Crippled Dying Dead
100% 99% - 75% 75% - 60% 60% - 45% 45% - 30% 30% - 15% 15% -1% 0%


OOC: Race progression 14/7

Romeroz has acted
Moon shark has acted
Galsariad has acted
Ayo(NPC)has assessed the situation.
Lesstry <===Is up
Dermot(NPC) <== On deck
Irvan (NPC)
Chitterkit
Maggie (NPC)

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:03, Wed 03 May 2023.

The drow, Galsariad moves through the water like a dark angel while casting a spell.


OOC: Galsariad attempts to cast Mage Hand to wrest the amulet that hangs from the moon shark free, but unfortunately, due to his angle and the movement of the shark, he is unable to do so.

GM rolled 10 using 1d20+4 ((6)).


This message was last edited by the GM at 14:23, Thu 04 May 2023.

Lesstry swam toward the very injured shark, he was in shock, there was no other way to describe how he felt watching Gar get torn apart. His strike at the shark was cold, void of emotion, pure muscle instinct at this point.

---

OOC:

Move Action: Swim to the position just north of the shark
Standard Action: Rapier attack.


08:34, Today: Lesstry Meadowscale rolled 5 using 1d8+4.  Rapier Damage.
08:34, Today: Lesstry Meadowscale rolled 25 using 1d20+6.  Rapier Attack.

Dermot looks back and forth between the moon shark, and his comrade Maggie, and touches his holy symbol.


OOC: Standard Action: Heal +1 Sorcery Pt (Ranged) to heal Romeroz Gult of 5 points of damage 1d8+3
Bonus Action to heal Maggie Keeneyes of 5 points of damage 1d4+3

Irvan swims closer to the moon shark and delivers a series of quick thrusts with his blades in an attempt to get the creature off of his comrade, Maggie. However his glancing blows did nothing to impede the shark's mauling of Maggie.

Combat Tracker

Name	Type	AC	Hitpoints	Status
Moonshark	Beast	13	96 of ?	Crippled

Healthy	Bruised	Hurt	Wounded	Mauled	Crippled	Dying	Dead
100%	99% - 75%	75% - 60%	60% - 45%	45% - 30%	30% - 15%	15% -1%	0%

---

OOC: Race progression 14/7

Romeroz has acted
Moon shark has acted
Galsariad has acted
Ayo(NPC)has assessed the situation.
Lesstry
Dermot(NPC)
Irvan (NPC)
Chitterkit <====Chitterkit is up
Maggie (NPC) <=== Maggie is, "on deck"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:55, Mon 08 May 2023.

"Yes, work together! Chitterkit think that great idea!" glubbed the Kobold quartet. They aimed their foci at the shark, and another volley of silver missiles launched toward their target. Unlike the previous salvos, these three just plinked into the vicious sea beast...

OOC:

Move: Keep distance from shark
Action: Cast Magic Missile
20:53, Today: Chitterkit Snagglefang rolled 7 using 3d4+3.  Dmg Magic Missile.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:55, Tue 09 May 2023.

Chitterkit's magic missiles unerringly hit the shark, which loosens its grip on Maggie Keeneyes. Seeing an opening, the muscular she-orc slashed down on the moon shark with her comically large greatsword, then surged into another attack that ripped through the gills of the moon shark.

A cloud of blood erupts from the moon-shark, and it thrashes in pain, crashing into and knocking loose the column to the right. Dirt and silt quickly begin to cloud the cavern, lifeless; the moon shark's body begins to sink into the depths as the column falls into the rumble of the southern wall. Within the shadow and silt is a hauntingly beautiful golden light that beckons to all those present.


[OOC: If there are no objections, I will end combat.]

This message was last edited by the GM at 19:19, Tue 09 May 2023.

Romeroz let himself sink to the bottom of the watery room.  Lifting what was left of the body of Gar, he held the partial tortle in his massive arms.  And he looked to Dermot, giving a nod, since water made speech impossible.  That would be enough thanks for the kind goblin, for now.

Claiming the amulet from the shark would be something his companions could fight over.

But Romeroz linked the light that he saw around the shark when they entered to the light coming through the crevasse that was uncovered by the fallen shark.

Making his way towards the area, he looked to see if it was wide enough to enter.  Perhaps there was some kind of special magic to this place?  Something that might draw the shark?  Or that could help Gar?

To Chitterkit he sent a message.  I don't know if we can claim the amulet.  Maybe it is best to share it.  But... Maybe there is something in the glowing place to help Gar?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:25, Wed 10 May 2023.

[OOC: My apologies, for clarification; one half for Gar was eaten by the shark (in one gulp) while the other-the legs settled to the bottom of the cavern. ]

Lesstry wasn't sure what to do, the others had shown up here, Gar had been viciously killed, the shark was dead, but should put away his weapon? He watched Romeroz give a nod to to the goblin, and had seen the goblin's magic heal Romeroz. But then there was the amulet. He needed to win this, and so far as he could tell this was the thing, the treasure, so he swam down to the shark to take the amulet off it's body.

OOC: Don't want to assume I can just take it...

Lesstry swims down and detaches the amulet from the moon shark's lifeless body. Within the Emerald Grotto, a rattling thunderous tone sounds as Lesstry takes the amulet declaring the PC team as the winners of the race.

Outside, the crowd goes wild as goblin teens punch and push each other. As the event winds down, a few crowd members "pay up" on lost wagers. A steady chant begins with the crowd for the "Sagacious Seagulls," the moniker gifted to the group after they entered the Emerald Grotto.

Seagulls, Seagulls...Seagulls!

From outside, it becomes apparent that illusion magic had been employed to broadcast the events inside the grotto to the crowd outside. Some people leave, but most townsfolk stay, waiting for the heroes' reappearance.

Romeroz moves past Maggie, holding the remnants of Gar, but stops.  Shifting what he can to his left arm, he reaches out to the Orcish woman with his empty right hand, and, if she allows, grasps her firmly by the forearm.  And then he gives it a meaningful shake of thanks.  But his eyes are on the glow, and the hope that maybe it will mean some kind of help for Gar.

That he had only half of the tortle did not seem to register to him, as he held his partial companion in his arms.  The blood pounded in his ears, and he pushed towards the light.

Maggie returned the shake from Romeroz, there was sorrow in her eyes, the sorrow of one who knew the pain of seeing a fallen comrade. As she shook Romeroz's hand she also clapped him on the back with her other hand.

Slowly swimming over Dermont offered a quick and silent prayer over Gar's remains as he looked to Romeroz with the same pained expression.

Romeroz disappeared into the golden luminance with the remains of Gar...
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:44, Tue 16 May 2023.

Chitterkit grimaced as Romeroz walked into the light. He remembered an adage from old Wiseclaw Clackayak Snagglefang. "Not all shinies are safe for Snagglefangs."

He cocked his head to the side and scoured his brain for any bit of theory or trivia that might discern the nature of the light...

OOC:

10:14, Today: Chitterkit Snagglefang rolled 11 using 1d20+6.  Arcana-Golden Light.

After assessing the glowing phenomenon, Chitterkit cast another round of Message to communicate with Lesstry.

Golden light not wizard magic but priest magic. Not sure if safe, but Chitterkit ask Romeroz.

The Kobold wizard then shifted his attention to the vanished Bugbear.

Is Romeroz okay?

[Private to Romeroz Gult: Moving through the passage created by the death throws of the moon shark, Romeroz finds himself in a cramped pace with a tunnel that bends upward until it becomes almost vertical. Radiating from the upper end of the shaft Romeroz and she the outside of a vaguely humanoid shape that is radiant with the golden light!

OOC: Please hold. Let's wait for a few PC reactions.]


OOC: Romeroz disappears into the golden light; Chitterkit cast a spell; what is everyone else doing?
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:09, Wed 17 May 2023.

OOC: Sorry for my delay in posting, I didn't see a notification for this message.

Lesstry watches at Romeroz disappears into the golden light and his eyes go wide. He looks to Chitterkit who seems to be casting a spell, and he isn't sure what he can do. For no he begins thinking very hard at Chitterkit, "What should we do, go in, stay put?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:18, Mon 22 May 2023.

[Private to Chitterkit Snagglefang: Romeroz responds with sorrow.  I am very sad.  I have seen good people who I was ready to hurt.  And I hold only half a friend in my arms.  The gold light does not listen to me.]

Only water flows through the space Romeroz once occupied.

Romeroz wait a moment and Chitterkit and Lesstry will join, the Kobold replied through the telepathic link. He then cast another round of Message to keep conversing with Lesstry.

Romeroz safe but sad. Chitterkit will enter light to help Romeroz. Lesstry will follow? Chitterkit not think Message spell will work once inside light. Chitterkit waited for Lesstry's reply, and then entered the pillar of light...

"Yes..." Lesstry nodded along with his answer instinctively. He then swam toward the light and entered it.

The you enter a tunnel which angles up and empties into a cave that is open to the sky, the watery environment giving way to a cavern dotted with trees and pools of water. The walls are  covered in vines of green ivy interspersed with colorful flowers. Part of the cavern is open to what is now the twilight sky.

In the middle of the cavern is a sphere of pale light surrounded by a crystal pedestal, upon which rests a golden pendant that glitters like a sunrise. The pendant is attached to a fine golden chain. Romeroz stands in front of the pedestal and as he stands, look and perhaps praying for some type of divine intervention a ribbon of light glances over Gar's remains, within an instant the remains begin to dissipate into motes of light and rise into the night sky.

[Private to Romeroz Gult: As Gar's remains disappear into the night sky you receive a vision of a darkely handsome Drow who carries the symbol of the Luxon. The vision is fleeting but you get the sense that it might be something that may say with you for a long time...]

The light around the pedestal fades as Gar's remains disappear and a spectral figure in the form of a male human rises from the amulet on the pedestal. He is dressed in leather armor and a tattered red cape and wears a shield. His face is framed by curly brown hair and bears a melancholic expression. He pleads, "I am imprisoned. Please help me."

Suddenly, the ground vanishes beneath your feet, and you fall, tumbling through a vortex of golden light. You fall deeper, deeper, deeper, then suddenly stop. The golden light subsides, and you find yourself suspended in a pitch-black expanse. You feel water buoying you as a vermilion light appears in the distance illuminating the melancholy warrior, who is shackled to the ground by disgusting strands of a fleshly, crimson substance.

He raises his hands to the heavens and, sobbing, chokes out, "Moon-weaver, I beg of you. Guide those with the power to save me to the site where first I prayed to you." He looks around, and his eyes settle on the group. "Oh gods, there you are! My name is Alyxian, I am lost in darkness. Long ago, I prayed to the Change Bringer in the heart of a temple of evil. I beg you, take my jewel and..."

You feel consciousness leaving you as if the pressure of this being's presence were crushing the life out of you. Alyxian's voice is the last thing you hear before you pass out. "Save me. Please."

Chitterkit let out a gurgle yelp upon awaking. He then shook himself, forgetting for a moment that he was still underwater after the barrage of strange visions. He had questions, but was more than willing to set them aside in order to deal with the more pressing matter of getting back to shore before the Breathe Underwater spell wore off. The Kobold dogpaddled over toward the others, and did his best to jostle them awake. Unsure of whether Romeroz's link still worked, the Kobold wizard cast Message at both the slumbering members of his parter and sent them the same frantic plea.

Wake up! Chitterkit fell asleep, and now not know how long we have to get to shore before water become glug glug again!

Romeroz, groggy and disquieted, begins to wake.  He looks up.  And sees Chitterkit.  But he also does not see Gar.

Which meant this was not a dream.  Gar's body had been taken away.  And the glowing amulet...

Romeroz looked at it.  Alyxian.  Moon-weaver.  Change Bringer.  A temple of evil.

There was a lot that needed to be dealt with.

Seeing Chitterkit reminded Romeroz that they were under water, but didn't have much time.  Lifting Lesstry into his arms, he nodded to the kobold, and sent a mental message.

"No need to wait.  I can carry him.  We have two necklaces to deal with.  We should go."

And Romeroz began making his way with Chitterkit and their Lizardfolk companion towards the exit.

As the players awaken, their rivals are there attempting to rouse them, while others are helping characters to their feet.

Ayo asks, "Are you all okay? You blacked out for a second there."

Heading out of the Emerald Grotto, the characters are met by Elder Ushru, who declares them winners of this year's Festival of Merit. The rival group quickly gathers before disbursing into the Jigow proper. The ecstatic crowd (what is left of it) surrounds the characters and offers congratulations. As the townsfolk of Jigow begin to settle down and turn in for the night, Elder Ushru places a heavy hand on Romeroz's shoulder, "I am so sorry for your loss..." Elder Ushru says while looking over the group. Moving on to lighter topics, Ushru asks the characters to hand over the Emerald Eye in exchange for the reward and an invitation to stay the night at the Unbroken Tusk Inn free of charge.

Elder Ushru informs the group that the innkeeper will be expecting them and asks if it would be okay if he, and the group, have breakfast in the morning. After imparting instructions on how to get to the Broken Tusk Inn, Elder Ushru leaves the group to ponder the events of the Emerald Grotto.


[OOC: Please level up your characters. Welcome to level four! Each character receives 100 gp as part of the reward for finding the Emerald Eye.]