PrP: Docking Pay

Log Info

• Title: Docking Pay
• Emitter: Jinks
• Characters: Folkmar Level 3, Halani Level 9, Kravar Level 4, Tak Level 3, Vennan Level 6
• NPCs: Stocky the Dockhand, Ol' Ordari
• Place: Alexandria - Western Dockyards
• Time: May 19, 2012
• Summary: A tentacled horror attacks the working men of the Alexandrian docks unprovoked, killing two of their number before they can flee. The survivors take up a collection to persuade the Guild of Explorer's intervention.
• APL: 5
• Encounter 1: 1 (Young) Devilfish CR 3, 1 (Advanced x2) Devilfish CR 6 (Total CR 7)

The call spilled into the Guild at a late hour, a battered fold of dampened paper in dirty hands of a winded docker. Foul play. Men lost. Help was needed and all hands would be accepted. Something dark and vicious had attacked working men in one of the southern warehouses abutting the docks. Most escaped. Two taken. A collection was put together by the boys-- sweetened by the warehouse's owner-- and is to be offered as a reward.

Mist has rolled into the bay, creeping up and over the quay to lie lazily over aged planks and battered cobblestones. The bustle dies down to a low roar at this time of night with visiting sailors, local tradesmen, and assorted dockhands moving through the burned-yellow glow of old, greasy-glassed street lamps. The stern talk of men unloading a ship mingles with the distant sounds of a raucous tavern, the idle play of the waves, and the settling complaints of old man-made structures.

The boats put into the harbor sit at anchor, their lamplight melting into the mists with a gentle sway.

High above, a yellowed moon looms in a starless sky, perched atop the Redridge.

The bleary-eyed official manning the wharfinger's office directs you to the numbered building in question. Tall enough to be two-storeys and as aged as almost any wooden building in the metropolitan city of Alexandria, the warehouse is an ugly thing to behold. The tall windows are boarded or caked with grime, rot has set into the wood, and repairs that were started on the shore-facing wall seemed to have been abandoned some months ago. Fresh wooden beams rib tarpaulin patching in more than one place and there's sign of an ancient fire near one corner of the roof.

But, as many will tell you, looks aren't everything. The old docks are no less busy for their lack of aesthetic conceit. Two sliding barn-style doors facing the water are padlocked shut with heavy chains and a smaller pair are set onto the eastern streetside of the building. A carved wooden sign is tacked to the building, its once-painted facade entirely faded, but close inspection reveals storage rates by day per lot.

Two shabby-looking men loiter around a rusted drum housing a fire near the smaller doors.

Looks may not be everything, but they're enough for Vennan to start making judgments. The elf has a haughty, disdainful look on his face as he approaches the docks, nose wrinkled at the smell. Of course, he always sort of looks like that. But nothing about this is improving his demeanor.

Tak is ready to help, and earn some coin in the process. He looks over the building as they approach, not really making any judgements except to be careful where it might be unstable. He has his weapons, though he is concerned at what might be the source of the danger here.

Kravar follows not far after Vennan and Tak - and would no doubt be leading the way if the Northerner weren't weighed down by what must be his heaviest armor. When he spots the loiterers, Kravar addresses them in a low voice. "You there - what happened here?"

There is definitely a feel of comraderie in Folkmar's heart at word of dock workers gone missing. He's a long time sailor, and has shared many a drink with the hard working men, and so he arrives, ready to offer his services. He looks about at the ships, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he looks them over, then makes his way to the building.

Halani is already there; she was there when the call was made for help, and didn't wait for a group to be entirely assembled before heading off. She's near the loiterers, easily mistaken for one perhaps until the others make their presence known. She eyes them up, recognizes them as likely people sent to round the task group out, then makes her way over to them as they gather together.

The two men are talking as you approach and their voices carry without keeping the shape of proper words. The flickering coals smolder with a bit of dark smoke and an off smell, painting the pair in an orange-red profile. They're laborers, clearly, and their sturdy clothes are heavily worn, patched, or wrapped with scrap cloth.

"Oi. Finally," the stockier of the pair answers Kravar, waving off the other man a moment. "You're from the Guild? 'Course you are. And just in time."

The speaker motions towards the fire, inviting any in who might want to stand closer for warmth. His crooked teeth lean behind his smile-- a smile that spreads at the sight of Vennan. "It's still inside, whatever it is. Took two of my boys; Kalhat and Barak. Came out of nowhere--"

"G-g-giant monster! T-t-tenta-ta-ta... wiggly arms!" The second explodes in stutter, interrupting. The color of his right eyes is smothered by cataracts and what few teeth he has are dark and rotten. His wiry arms gesticulate with surprising fervor for a man of his apparent age. "G-g-going to g-g-gobble you if you're not c-careful!"

"It came out of nowhere," Stocky reiterates, patiently, once the older man's rant is out of the way. There's a familiar, half-amused smile that says this sort of thing isn't new. "Ol' Ordari got it with a loading hook to drive it back long enough for the rest of the gang to run out. Then we call for you."

"Kraken?" Folkmar asks curiously. "Or something else?" He arches an eyebrow, then looks towards the building idly. Before the men can even answer, "Is there access to the main warehouse from above?" and he points towards the roof.

"Wouldn't go up there if I was a luchtsee walkin' on farts," Stocky laughs at the notion with a look askance at the roof. "'less you wanna fall straight into Grey Lady's arms... But then you boys are the professionals."

Kravar follows Folkmar's gesture, then nods approvingly. "Yes...attack it from above. I'll be going in the front door." He pauses to make sure his shield is held securely in his hand and to loosen his sword in it's scabbard, then moves for the door. "We'll pin it between us...and crush it!" he barks out that last part with enthusiasm.

"Tentacles." Vennan scowls, touching the scar on his face. "... It had to be tentacles again, didn't it?" He sighs heavily, his disposition going from grumpy to outright scowling. "Get your people as far back from the building as possible. This could be dangerous."

Tak nods as he listens, "I am glad you were able to get most everyone out, I'm sure we can take care of this problem." He looks up at the talk of the roof, then shakes his head.

Folkmar mmms and glances at the roof with a bit of disappointment, then nods to 'Stocky' "Describe the interior to us. Is this not a warehouse?"

The Aesir in studded leather pokes at the building a bit, though, and frowns with a grunt as some of the old and rotted wood flakes off.

Halani doesn't seem overly joyed at the description of the monster infesting the warehouse either and her expression makes that plain. Still, she slips a long strip of silk from her sash belt and ties it about her forehead to keep her hair out of her face, then she begins tightening the ties on her wrist pads and leg guards. "Hate tentacles," she mutters.

The old man giggles at Folkmar's question and the guesses about the beast's nature, rubbing his hands one over the other where they hover over the fire. "What else would it b-b-b-be?" He chitters.

"A warehouse, yes. We were loading out one of the lots when it got Kalhat-- broke him with a slap from behind, boy just about bounced on the floor. Like a bloody doll..." He sniffs, scratches at the scruff and grime at his jawline. It's not really a proper beard. "Place is wide open inside, lots all over the place. People pay for space day-to-day. Sometimes weeks or months. We take stuff in or out when folk are done in town."

He gives a nod at Vennan and then Tak. "Boys are out, home with their wives or mums. Ol' Ordari'n I were just waiting for you lot to show."

"Holding th-the f-f-f-fort. Heh heh heh," the old man adds, shaking a fist. There's a jangle-jangle of metal-- a brass loop with a single key swings in the gnarled digits of fellow.

Tak pulls a bow off his back, checking the string and then making sure his quiver is in reach on his shoulder as he shifts it around. "I'll stay back, I can heal if need be so let me know if you are really hurt." He speaks to the rest of the party, making sure they know his role for this little scuffle.

Folkmar mmms and nods, gesturing towards the bow. "That will likely be a big help, as well. Just try not to hit us with it, hm?" He then looks to Kravar and Vennan, "Either of you have anything useful in the way of ranged weaponry? Mayhaps we can soften it up before we close with it." He gestures towards the lock, then, and nods to the two men. "Best to get that off. Try to be quiet as you do, hm?" He looks at the warehouse, then, walking towards the side. "Is there another door? Window perhaps?"

Vennan draws his weapons, narrowed eyes focused on the warehouse. "Good. Keep a safe distance and do everything you can to ensure that no one approaches the building until we've returned and given the all clear. Understand?"

Kravar eyes the key, then peers at the door to the alleged warehouse. "That key unlocks the door?" He gestures at the door. "Yes -- open it, and we'll put an end to this menace." He looks over any of the more obvious warrior types and gives them a brief nod. "When we enter, I go to the left. My shield," he says by word of explanation.

"Dock doors'n street doors." Stocky explains, canting his head towards the large barn-style doors first, then tilting to the nearby double doors. "I don't think the windows open, but..." you can smash them, his look says with a wince and a shrug.

The old man bobs his head like some agitated fowl and skips to the lock, working the key in and giving it a twist before dancing his way back. "Aye-aye-aye-aye-aye-aye-aye..." Stocky saves the quintet from a terminal stutter with a hand clamped gently over Ordari's mouth.

"Try not to wreck up the place too bad, lads. A good many of us need the job to put bread on the tables. Smooth sailing," he smiles and steers the old man away from the door as the weapons come out.

Folkmar grins to Kravar and nods, patting one of his throwing axes as he hefts his earthbreaker over his shoulder. "If there's no window, I am tempted to make one." He nods towards the men, then, "Though, they might not appreciate it, much." He rubs his chin, then shrugs. "Of course, we can do this the fun way. Shall you lead the charge?" He nods to Kravar, then hmms. He points at Tak, "I know the pretty man, here, but not you others. I am Folkmar, son of Leif. If we need to call to each other for aid, we should at least know each other's names, huh? It would be quite droll for us to yell 'bard!' or 'Fighter!' I think."

Tak chuckles and nods "Fear not, I'll try to keep these agressive folk from burning the place down." He shifts his quiver again, then grins when folkmar makes intrductions. "Tak." he says simply for his own.

Kravar says, "Kravar." A moment later he adds, "Well met, Folkmar."

"Vennan. Vennan Arcanost, of House Guardian." The grumpy elf introduces himself. "Now, let's get this underway. These things are best dealt with swiftly."

GAME: Tak casts Dancing Lights. <OOC> Vennan has low-light vision.

Folkmar gestures towards Kravar, then towards the door, moving quietly to one side of the opening and crouching down, preparing to glance inside.

Halani looks at the others as introductions are made, filing names away with faces. "Halani," she says, without elaboration. "Are we going to send anyone in to scout, first? I can't see in the dark too well."

Tak gestures for a moment, speaking a few strange words before he creates four glowing lights that he moves above the party. "These don't last long, so I'll have to keep renewing them, but its better than nothing."

Inside, the building smells more strongly of the sea, of mold, and of mildew. Insulated from the busy sounds of the dock, the play of the water beneath the floor's wooden planking echoes through the building. The ceiling stretches overhead into shadow, the tall walls uninterrupted by a second floor, and dozens of lots painted with whitewash squares dissect the floor with walking spaces in between.

Many lots are full, stacked with boxes, piled with sacks, or sparsely populated with a few curiously-shaped objects. All have been covered with a haphazzard collection of stained white sheeting or a coarse, tarpaulin material; a perfunctory play at protecting the goods from the weather. Adherence to the painted divisions is not complete and some lots have been pushed together into rows (likely belonging to the same client) that form a sort of hallway here and there.

There are no obvious lightsources inside the building and little chance of the moonlight pushing through the filth-caked windowpanes. Tak's condensed mana-lighting cavorts through the air about the party, throwing the warehouse interior into a stark contrast of well-lit facades with deep, thrusting shadows behind. Shadows the wrap and bounce as the lights play.

There are the occasional, noticeable gaps in the floor between planks that look down into the bay, shadows devouring the light before it can describe the water's surface.

No immediate, tell-tale signs of something amiss immediately opposite the portal in.

The lack of immediate signs of danger doesn't really do that much to set Vennan at ease. If anything, it just makes him more edgy. He creeps in, weapons held at the ready.

GAME: Folkmar rolls stealth: (8)+9: 17 GAME: Vennan rolls stealth: (18)+13: 31 GAME: Tak rolls stealth: (11)+9: 20 <OOC> Jinks says, "Anyone in possession of ranks of Knowledge/Engineering?" <OOC> Tak says, "Yes" GAME: Tak rolls 1d20+3: (12)+3: 15 GAME: Halani rolls stealth: (13)+17: 30

Tak looks around, mentally counting in his head so he can keep up with right before his lights expire so he can make more of them. He doesn't bother with stealth, do tenticle things even see with eyes?

As the door opens, Folkmar stays low, his long legs letting him walk, albeit slowly, in a low crouch. He moves through the building, keeping to corners as best he can. He looks between floorboards and into the waters below. As he sees no immediate signs of danger, he stands up, looking about for Tak and trying to make a visual line between the two, so he can gesture in handtalk.

You paged Tak with 'This far back from the docks-proper it's entirely likely that the warehouse is on posts above water but that the water isn't entirely deep. Just something to notice with the sounds of water below.'

Tak speaks "I think we are standing on posts, meaning it might just punch up through the floorboards at us..." He says this quietly, and he steps lightly as he moves, thinking now might be a good idea to stealth.

"Great," Halani mutters under her breath, her gaze shifting from trying to pierce the shadows cast by Tak's light spells to the floorboards underneath everyone's feet. She automatically shifts closer towards a wall.

<OOC> Tak says, "May I use ghost sound to make knocking noises ahead of us on the floor?" <OOC> Jinks says, "Sure, go ahead and +cast it, Tak, and give it a pose." GAME: Tak casts Dancing Lights. GAME: Tak casts Ghost Sound.

Folkmar makes an attempt to wave to Tak, once again, then hand signals, <<Handspeak: Can your dancing lights go into the water, and stay alight?>>

Tak nods to Folkmar, he actually does know handspeak. <<Yes>>

Pointing to the other end of the warehouse, Folkmar signals back, and then down. He then points to his eyes and then at the water.

Clutter-- piles of clutter-- poor lighting and now a floor that you, apparently, cannot trust. The warehouse spreads out before you in a zig-zag with some of the lots short enough to see over and others that are taller than the tallest of jotun. A quiet splish-splash of the tire sworls beneath the warehouse.

Tak gestures with his free hand, speaking quietly and recreates his lights. Then he points ahead, at the edge of thier lighted area, and gestures again dropping a bit of wax to the ground. Ahead there is a loud knocking on the wood and Tak is making knocking gestures with his hand.

Vennan continues to creep further into the darkened warehouse, making almost no sound whatsoever. He keeps glancing in the direction of the others, doing his best to keep tabs on them as they move.

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+5: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+15: (6)+15: 21 <OOC> Jinks says, "Alright, folks go ahead and give me some Perception checks." GAME: Tak rolls perception: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Kravar rolls perception: (16)+5: 21 GAME: Halani rolls perception: (9)+16: 25 GAME: Vennan rolls perception: (2)+13: 15 GAME: Folkmar rolls perception: (6)+4: 10

You paged (Kravar, Halani, Vennan) with 'From the far corner of the warehouse you can hear what something quite a bit like weeping. Mournful weeping smothered by a sleeve, perhaps, at someone tries to keep quiet.'

You paged Halani with 'Between here and there you're almost certain you catch the noise of a lot disturbed; a squeeking crate and the rattle of something settling after being bumped. The sound of the water beneath you nearly covers it, entirely.'

"I think," Halani whispers, trying to have her voice carry enough over the sound of the water beneath the floorboards to the others, "that there's someone still alive in here. But... there's definitely something else, hey? I think we should make some noise to attract its attention, vers."

"You think that it's... a good idea to attract the attention of this thing?" Vennan whispers in reply to Halani. He sounds highly uncertain about the suggestion, to say the least.

<OOC> Tak says, "May I make a know/nature untrained to figure out how this creature even detects things outside the water?" <OOC> Jinks says, "Er, sure, go ahead and roll it." GAME: Tak rolls 1d20+3: (3)+3: 6 <OOC> Jinks says, "Eyes, ears, mouth, nose, tentacles? Maybe one of those. :)"

Kravar overhears and frowns. "Better to face it openly," he whispers. "And if there is someone alive and in danger here..."

<<Pretty man!>> Folkmar gestures again, <<Send your lights under the boards, and into the water, please?>> and he gestures down at one of the holes in the floor, lowering himself at a different one to watch through, looking for shadows under the water if Tak does so.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Folks that have moved further in (beyond the first row of boxes by the door) give me another perception check, please." GAME: Vennan rolls perception: (18)+13: 31 GAME: Folkmar rolls perception: (12)+4: 16 GAME: Kravar rolls perception: (9)+5: 14

Tak frowns, looking to Folkmar, then gestures back. <<If I do that then we wont have any light, so unless you can get us some light I need to wait.>>

Folkmar nods to Tak, then reaches into his pack to withdraw a torch. He unwraps the protective layer of cloth to reveal the oilsoaked rag beneath, then begins striking at it with his flint.

Stepping further into the warehouse-- around the first lots in storage-- reveals a pair of neighboring items tumbled messily into scattered piles. Crates are pushed across the floor. A sack of grain has ruptured. Some glass curio is shattered and twinkles in the light of the spell. A wet, coppery stain smears the surface of a battered trunk.

This is likely the site of Kalhat's end.

You paged Vennan with 'You find a trail leading away from the mess, the occasional smearing of blood intermingled with a dampness on the floor.'

Vennan narrows his eyes again at the sight of the bloodstain on the floor. He points to it, speaking quietly to those nearby. "Look. A trail." He points it out, a few scattered smearings of blood along the damp floor. "We should follow. Cautiously."

Tak starts moving behind the others, letting his floating lights move and spread out to cover as much as he can. He has his bow ready just in case something actually does shoot up from the floorboards.

Offering a nod to the man, but staying somewhat behind him, stepping carefully, Folkmar moves across the floorboards, holding his torch aloft to light the trail.

<OOC> Jinks says, "So I've got Vennan at the vanguard, Folkmar and Kravar behind, and Tak at the rear?

Halani frowns... a slight, barely perceptable thing... but clenches her fist and follows the consensus of remaining sneaky. For now. Her softly booted feet tread lightly on the floorboards as she follows along, staying as close as she can to stacked crates, anything that casts a shadow.. and gives her something to put her back to. "I.. don't think that's a trail, vers," she comments when she gets close enough to see it.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright guys, go ahead and +init for me, please!" GAME: Folkmar rolls initiative: Roll: 12 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 16 GAME: Vennan rolls initiative: Roll: 9 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 13 GAME: Tak rolls initiative: Roll: 16 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 20 GAME: Halani rolls initiative: Roll: 14 + Bonus: 5 = Total: 19

===== Current Initiative Order ========= ---------------------------------------- 21 M ---------------------------------------- 20 Tak ---------------------------------------- 19 Halani ---------------------------------------- 18 B ---------------------------------------- 16 Folkmar ---------------------------------------- 13 Vennan ---------------------------------------- 9 S ---------------------------------------- ===============================

The path does lead you through the warehouse, taking you on a winding journey through the labeled plots while the sounds of the water below and the old, creaking building around you inspire a jump at every shadow.

The ground is wet here, little miniature puddles sit in the recessed imperfections of the wooden flooring and the base of the tarps and sheets sag from the damp. Another scent mixes with that of the water beneath and the mildew rotting the building, a sickly tang.

"It hurts," comes the complaint, warbling and wet between sobs. Another sound. Chewing? And then the light finds it. A bulbous thing, blue on deeper blue, writhing like a knotted, blood-slick flower in the remains of two men in simple worker's clothing-- nearly tattered beyond recognition, now.

The largest portion of creature-- the source of the weeping-- rolls in the gore, turning a slit that pops open to reveal a bulging eye of otherworldly yellow.

"It hurts..."

<OOC> Jinks nods. "For the sake of time, here we are. We'll start from the top of initiative with no surprise round or anything." GAME: Jinks rolls 3d6+8: (6)+8: 14

The flooring beneath Halani heaves, planks cracking with small, splintering shards spinning into the air. Something large moves beneath the floor-- a floor that's sagging now-- but the barrier between it and the Xian girl holds for now.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Tak, you're up." <OOC> Tak says, "So I see one blob with the bodies, and something else on the floor..." <OOC> Jinks says, "There's a shadow beneath you in the water, yes, under the floor, and a critter that was eating poor dockhands. :(" <OOC> Tak says, "I will shoot the eating critter with an arrow" <OOC> Jinks says, "Alrighty. Rollit. :)" GAME: Tak rolls shortbow: (16)+shortbow: 16 <OOC> Tak says, "Well that didnt work" <OOC> Tak says, "Well my shortbow is +7, so there" <OOC> Jinks says, "That's a hit, roll damage!" GAME: Tak rolls 1d6: (1): 1 <OOC> Jinks says, "You knicked it! Pose, please, and Halani. It's you!"

Tak ewws inwardly at the sight, poor dead folks. He quickly draws an arrow from his quiver and knocks it. After drawing back he lets the arrow fly and it grazes the creature before flying off into the darkness.

<OOC> Halani says, "Is there something nearby I can climb on to?" <OOC> Jinks says, "There are the stowed items you've been walking through." <OOC> Jinks says, "You could climb up crates'n such, Halani."

Halani stumbles a bit as the floorboards beneath her heave; it wasn't as if they were completely unaware that there was something in the water. "Oh, no you don't.." the monkette declares, all pretense of being quiet gone now as she scrambles up onto a stack of nearby crates. She lets the others gangup on the creepy tentacle thing... she's had enough of tentacles for her lifetime. Instead her eyes remain on the floor, trying to catch the movement beneath it. "C'mere creepy... up where I can see you."

<OOC> Jinks says, "Alrighty. I need Fort saves from everyone, please!" GAME: Tak rolls fort: (12)+3: 15 GAME: Vennan rolls fort: (3)+4: 7 GAME: Folkmar rolls fort: (10)+5: 15 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d4: (3): 3 GAME: Halani rolls fort: (13)+8: 21 <OOC> Jinks says, "Everyone saves except for Vennan. V, you're Nauseated for three rounds. The ground between the critter and the ground is covered in gunk and is considered difficult terrain." GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+6: (15)+6: 21 <OOC> Jinks says, "AC is 18 now, Vennan?" <OOC> Vennan says, "Yep!" GAME: Jinks rolls 1d12+2: (12)+2: 14 GAME: Jinks damaged Vennan for 14 points. 21 remaining. GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9: (19)+9: 28 <OOC> Jinks says, "What's your CMD, sir?" <OOC> Vennan says, "20." GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+4: (15)+4: 19 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8 GAME: Jinks damaged Vennan for 8 points. 13 remaining. <OOC> Jinks says, "Folkmar, you're up. The thing is grappling Vennan now and eating him. (posing)" <OOC> Folkmar says, "Is it possible to aid another to help him break the grapple?" <OOC> Jinks says, "You can Aid Another to give him a +2 on his turn or you can just attack the monster. PF doesn't have rules for hitting your buddy or anything like that when they're grappled." <OOC> Folkmar says, "Would it be considered flanked, or just the -4 to dex?" <OOC> Vennan won't actually be able to resist the grapple while nauseated, I think.

The creature issues a wheezing complaint when the arrow draws blood, writhing for all the word like a set of slime-covered marbles. It unrolls, then, spreads out a series of long, horrible tentacles to drag itself out of the corpse. A beak previously hidden behind a bloody pucker opens to spew a torrent of noxious ichor that coats a vast swath of the warehouse before it.

The smell is horrible; bile and blood from a creature born of fiendish mating.

It rolls clumsily on the planking, like a lopsided children's ball, and one after the other the tentacles slam into the elf and find a puckering purchase. It drags, then, with surprising violence as the beak extends, longer and larger from the gore-smeared pucker and begins to chew at Vennan.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Ah! You are correct. Move actions only." <OOC> Jinks says, "Vennan doesn't threaten, it'd just be 2 down on AC because of the Dexterity penalty, yea." <OOC> Folkmar says, "Can I directly attack the tentacle that's chewing on him? Try to sever it or something?" <OOC> Vennan says, "Since the nauseated/grappled condiiton pretty much puts Vennan out of commission, and I badly need sleep, I think I'm going to call it a night. Thank you all for playing, and thank you Jinks for running. :) I'll leave instructions in case Vennan gets free later in the scene." <OOC> Jinks says, "You could attempt to initiate a grapple with it, in which case you could attempt to pin it in subsequent turns (thus, freeing Vennan). Otherwise it's just straight damage." <OOC> Folkmar says, "Swing away, then! +1 earthbreaker. Begin raging." <OOC> Jinks says, "Rolls it." GAME: Folkmar rolls melee+1: (3)+5+1+2: 11 <OOC> Vennan is going to bed, but will stay connected to catch the rest. Goodnight, folks! <OOC> Jinks says, "Alright, Vennan cannot act on his turn (nauseated turn:1). Which brings us around to M. Who attacks the floor, again." GAME: Jinks rolls 3d6+8: (12)+8: 20 <OOC> Jinks says, "And busts through. Halani, give me a Reflex roll, please!" GAME: Halani rolls reflex: (11)+12: 23 <OOC> Jinks says, "You don't tumble over. Tak, you're up." <OOC> Tak says, "Inspire Courage standard action." <OOC> Tak says, "Btw, how much longer does my light have?"

The floor lurches again, wood groaning with complaint a split second before it explodes up and out and reveal the beast below it. Thicker, longer tentacles splash out of the water and through the hole, slapping down to find purchase on the floor of the warehouse. The massive spheroid head of a cephalopod breaks the surface, one eye blinking and searching.

Folkmar bellows a primordial roar, seeing Vennan attacked by the tentacled... thing. His veins stand out as adrenaline and supernatural might course through his body, his muscles cording against his skin. He drops his torch to the side on the planks, hefts his earthbreaker in both hands, and raises it above his head to swing down at the creature. He slips however, on the boards, slick with blood and sea water, and his swing misses by a great distance.

<OOC> Jinks says, "This is round 2. I'll give it another three, say, before it needs to be renewed." <OOC> Jinks says, "Halani, you're up!"

Tak takes a few steps back, still holding his bow at the ready. As he speaks now, his cadence and measure activating his bardic magics. "This reminds me of a story of course. Now, in the story, no one died, so lets try to make that same result here."

<OOC> Tak says, "Everyone gets +1 to attack and damage, and +1 saves vs fear and charm" <OOC> Halani will punch it in the eye :( what's the range? <OOC> Jinks says, "You'll have to give me an Acrobatics check. It has long, loving arms and wants to hug you." GAME: Halani rolls acrobatics: (10)+17: 27 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+11: (4)+11: 15 <OOC> Jinks says, "You provoke, it slaps at you... but misses." GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+2+1: (18)+9+2+1: 30 GAME: Halani rolls 1d10+3+2+1: (7)+3+2+1: 13 <OOC> Jinks says, "A good hit. You punched an evil octopus." <OOC> Jinks says, "B continues to nibble on Vennan (who cannot resist the grapple)." GAME: Jinks rolls 1d12+2: (4)+2: 6 GAME: Jinks damaged Vennan for 6 points. 7 remaining.

Halani's perch proves to be none too stable as the tentacle beasty makes a forceful entry. For a moment it almost seems like the islander girl is going to topple, but then she gives up on staying back out of reach and rides the collapsing stack of crates down. She's not very graceful about it, but she manages to duck under one of the creature's lashing appendages, twisting and flipping.. and landing her foot right on the creature's head. Well, it's probably its head.

Vennan is in a bad way, the fancy elf violently repulsed to the point of vomiting, covered in sick black ichor, and wrapped up by an unnatural sea creature spawned of another plane. A pair of tentacles have wrapped and re-wrapped the elf's head and begin to squeeze, mightily.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Folkmar!" <OOC> Folkmar says, "I'll attack the thing eatting Vennan again on my round." <OOC> Jinks says, "Go fors it." GAME: Folkmar rolls melee+1+1+2: (16)+5+1+1+2: 25 <OOC> Jinks says, "A most palpable hit." GAME: Folkmar rolls 2d6+1+3+7: (5)+1+3+7: 16 <OOC> Jinks says, "Something pops and it starts leaking goo but it's holding tight onto Vennan for now." <OOC> Jinks says, "Vennan throws up on the monster and himself some more." <OOC> Jinks says, "M attacks Halani!" GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+11: (11)+11: 22

"You... WILL.. DIIIIIE!!!!!" Folkmar bellows as he hefts the hammer over his head once again. This time, as he keeps his momentum from the slipping, he whirls around, bringing his earthbreaker down in a thunderous slam. Tentacle squishes and makes gooey sounds as it absorbes the force of the blow, squirting otherworldy ichor.

Water continues to splash up and over the breach in the floor. The giant creature crushes a hay-packed crate through the battered floorboards with an almost effortless swing. "Nessssssssssst," he calls, burbling as it slaps around furiously.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Tak, sir, it is your turn!" <OOC> Tak says, "Not performing: Lingering Performance covers 2 extra rounds. Moving up and going to Cure Light on Vennan." <OOC> Jinks says, "Movement will provoke an Attack of Opportunity, are you OK with that?" <OOC> Tak says, "I can take it" GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+6-2: (5)+6+-2: 9 <OOC> Jinks says, "It tries to slap and grab ahold of you but multitasking proves not to be its strong suit." GAME: Tak casts Cure Light Wounds. GAME: Tak rolls 1d8+3: (1)+3: 4 GAME: Jinks damaged Vennan for -4 points. 11 remaining. <OOC> Jinks says, "Halani, your turn."

Tak realizes that Vennan is in a bad way, he moves foward quickly, raising a hand as he channels arcane magics to his palm. As he touches Vennan he sends a surge of energy to revitalize him.....and as Tak pulls his hand away, he shakes off some of the vomit that got on him.

<OOC> Halani says, "Chocolate flurry." <OOC> Halani says, "Ki point into the extra attack." <OOC> Halani says, "and I'll use power attack." GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2-3: (17)+9+5+2+1+-2+-3: 29 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2-3: (5)+9+5+2+1+-2+-3: 17 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2-3: (12)+9+5+2+1+-2+-3: 24 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2-3-5: (20)+9+5+2+1+-2+-3+-5: 27 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2-3-5: (7)+9+5+2+1+-2+-3+-5: 14 <OOC> Jinks says, "Two hits. Was that 14 an attempted confirm or do you still need to roll that?" <OOC> Halani says, "Haven't confirmed." GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2-3-5: (8)+9+5+2+1+-2+-3+-5: 15 <OOC> Jinks says, "Two hits!" GAME: Halani rolls 1d10+3+2+1+6: (3)+3+2+1+6: 15 GAME: Halani rolls 1d10+3+2+1+6: (7)+3+2+1+6: 19 <OOC> Jinks says, "You beat it severely, but it's still alive. As long as it knows how to love..." GAME: Jinks rolls 1d12+2: (1)+2: 3 GAME: Jinks damaged Vennan for 3 points. 8 remaining.

Healing energies still coursing through his battered frame, Vennan staggers as the bulbous 'head' shifts, yellowed eyes focussing to malicious slits. Ichor dribbles through popped membranes and pulsing veins but the tentacles continue to contract.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Folkmar, you're up." <OOC> Folkmar says, "Attack, with power attack, still raging and inspired. =P Con bonus is only 2, btw, so 6 rounds of total rage, this being 2" GAME: Folkmar rolls melee+1+1+2-1: (10)+5+1+1+2+-1: 18 <OOC> Jinks says, "Another hit!" GAME: Folkmar rolls 2d6+7+3+1+1: (10)+7+3+1+1: 22 <OOC> Jinks says, "It is kaputski. Icky black smear of floppy, semi-trapsparent gooflesh." <OOC> Jinks says, "Vennan will get a good and proper puking on his turn (the last nauseated round)." <OOC> Jinks says, "So, now, the biggun on Halani." GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+11: (1)+11: 12

"KOOOOOOOOOR!" Folkmar bellows as goo flies from his first blow. Bloodlust... or... ichor-lust.. or... slime-lust. Okay, battle-platonic-love overtakes him, and he brings his hammer up once again, then back down, crashing against the center mass of the gelatanous.. thing, like some sort of Gallagher special on a jello mold.

Within its reach, now, Halani uses her fists and elbows for the close in 'knife fight.' Several of her blows seem to just bounce off of the rubbery, resilient skin that the creature has... but a few that connect just ... sound... painful. All the while the monk seems to have an almost unnatural sense of where the creature's tentacles are, using the broken floor boards and the creature's own body to find footing that keeps her clear of its attacks.

The creature is dazed, clearly. With a head as large as a horse and tentacles longer than most trees in the city are tall it could take each of the Guild's representatives in its grip and crush the life out of them slowly... but it doesn't. A half-hearted attempt is made to snag at the monk but a mirror topples drunkenly instead, shattering.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright, Tak!" <OOC> Tak says, "Um....I'll restart my inspire courage this round and try to pull vennan out of reach" <OOC> Jinks says, "And it's Halani."

Tak pulls at Vennan after the creature is cut free. "So, again, I'm hoping that we all survive this, but its not looking well, so lets get you slightly out of the line of fire until you can control your stomach."

<OOC> Halani says, "Flurry again, but no power attack. Ki point in the extra attack." GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2: (3)+9+5+2+1+-2: 18 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2: (12)+9+5+2+1+-2: 27 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2: (2)+9+5+2+1+-2: 17 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2-5: (13)+9+5+2+1+-2+-5: 23 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2-5: (13)+9+5+2+1+-2+-5: 23 GAME: Halani rolls 1d10+3+2+1: (7)+3+2+1: 13 <OOC> Jinks says, "So, Folk, it's you." <OOC> Folkmar says, "Can I 5' step, draw a throwing axe in my right hand (while holding earth breaker in left) and throw?" <OOC> Jinks says, "That's fine, sure." GAME: Folkmar rolls ranged+1: (3)+6+1: 10

Halani weaves out of the way of another tentacle smash, spinning to drive another elbow into the not-quite-firm hide of the beast.

Seeing flailing tentacles all over, Folkmar steps forward slowly, drawing a throwing axe. He might be battle crazy, but he's not insane. He weaves between tentacles as he approaches, bringing his arm back to hurl one of his axes, but it's deftly swatted aside by the creature. The Aesir growls as he continues weaving, slowly trying to make his way into a flanking position.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright. Vennan's up but he'll decline the opportunity to charge back into gropey-grope town. He will use his Compound Bow to shoot at the creature. Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot." <OOC> Jinks says, "So, M at Halani, again." GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+11: (4)+11: 15 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+9+1+1: (11)+9+1: 22

Vennan shrugs off Tak's assistance, spitting the sick out of his mouth and sliding the bow off of his back. He tries to steady himself-- hoping to find his balance against a sturdy wardrobe-- and nocks an arrow. He manages to draw and fire... but the missile flies wide.

The monster, meanwhile, continues to press the attack against the xian, pulling itself progressively further out of the water as it wails in rage. It wants a hold. It -needs- to take hold and pull this biting gnat down into the deepest darks.

<OOC> Jinks says, "And now Tak!" <OOC> Tak says, "Stop perform, use lingering for +2 rounds. Fire arrow at tentacle." GAME: Tak rolls 1d20+7: (3)+7: 10 <OOC> Jinks says, "Halani!"

Tak nods as Vennan pulls out his own bow, and Tak too nocks and arrow and lets it go, firing towards one of the flailing tentacles but not hitting anything.

<OOC> Halani says, "Flurry again, no PA, ki point in an extra attack." GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2: (6)+9+5+2+1+-2: 21 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2: (18)+9+5+2+1+-2: 33 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2: (11)+9+5+2+1+-2: 26 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2-5: (1)+9+5+2+1+-2+-5: 11 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+9+5+2+1-2-5: (2)+9+5+2+1+-2+-5: 12 GAME: Halani rolls 1d10+3+2+1: (1)+3+2+1: 7 <OOC> Jinks says, "Two hits" GAME: Halani rolls 1d10+3+2+1: (1)+3+2+1: 7 <OOC> Jinks says, "It's dead." GAME: You clear initiatives.

Halani doesn't particularly notice the added aid from her companions. Arrows and flying knives, just more things to avoid as she twists around. A backhand helps deflect another swinging tentacle at the last moment, and then, finally, one of her attacks.. this one a stiff fingered jab.. gets the creature right in the eye. She barely jumps away from it in time, scrambling up on to not quite ruined floorboards as the creature shudders and collapses. Last thing she needs is to fall into the waters with it.

Wrap Up

The corpse of the mother-beast goes limp, folding in on itself to sink down into the waters below the dock. Sheets catch and follow her in, lighter debris and effects from nearby lots clatter after her. Foul-smelling ichor leaks from the deflating sack of its head and colors the water an inky, unwelcoming black.

With the two beasts slain there is time to consider the grisly scene. The remains of what must be Kalhat and Barak are tangled, half-eaten in a gruesome knot-- but there's more to it than that. In this, the furthest corner of the warehouse someone had performed a ritual summoning. Blood smears across the walls where they meet, sloppy lettering drawn with four fingers read 'the Azure Queen steals all hope.' The text drips down, splattered with later additions of demonic inks and spurts from the messy eating of the newborn monster.

The tattered robe of an arcanist is all that remains of a third body, pushed to one side of the runes described across the floor in a tight, methodic circle. The planking is broken and sagging beneath the bloodied clothes, dipping down into the water below and covered with large, milky-blue roe. Dark shadows twist inside the eggs when exposed to light, excited and eager to be born into this world.

Thin, whining voices scream out in complaint when they're put to the torch, sizzling until they pop-- Alexandria needs no more of these things.

The stocky man and his mad companion would likely hear the results of your findings. A trip to the Guild should follow, to collect your reward, and perhaps a visit at the Arcanist's Union to advise them of the loss of one of their number...