Neverluster Underwater Battle:
CHES 25th (THE CLAW OF SUNSETS)
00:40 am
Zarek was still on a high from his exceptional acrobatics which he had perform on the deck of the Neverluster, whilst avoiding the lunging Zombies, to move off towards the Fore Deck where he bravely battled and defeated the Zombies of the pleasure ship called the Neverluster.
Alley looks over Zarek and stances any bleeding that he had and did the same to herself. Then the Bard cast one of her Clerical Spells on the Rogue and herself, ‘Aid’.
Zarek and Alley swim down to the Fore Deck and along the main deck which had very similar layout as the Hellraiser and Heartbreaker.
There is lots of wreckage and the remains of an office of sorts and supplies.
The Rogue looks about and finds nothing of interest.
The Sharks are still swimming above the Neverluster hunting for further pray.
Zarek, the Arcane Trickster, calls forth his Familiar, Hank the Octopus and has it attempt to swim over to the Aft of the Neverluster, to the door at the Main Deck.
The door and area above, that the Aft Deck that held the captain’s Cabin on the Hellraiser and Heartbreaker, are hidden by the darkness of the silty water and Hank will be used as the Rogues eyes.
Hank swims across the main deck attempting to stay hidden from the predators that are swimming around the Neverluster.
Hank is unable to stay hidden and his movement alert a Reef Shark that dashes down and attacks the Octopus. Twice this happens and Hank is able to stay hidden enough to avoid being eaten. Zarek and Alley both attempt to strike the Reef Shark with their ranged weapons, Zarek with his Hand Cross-bow and Alley draws her hidden Light Cross-Bow from behind her back, but both miss as they are unable to correctly judge the resistance of the water.
The Rogue first looks and hides then fires his Hand Cross-Bow and hides and he leaves Alley confused as to his actions, but is use to his eccentricities.
Eventually the Reef Shark swims off, as if it was spooked by something higher up on the food chain, and the waters become eerily quiet and calms.
The Arcane Trickster calls forth sight from his Familiar’s very own eyes and he can see that there is lots of detritus on the Main Deck area, the door to the area beyond is closed and the Rogue was too far away from the door to use his Invisible Mage Hand, Mage Hand Legerdemain, Spell to test and unlock the door if necessary.
Zarek sent Hank back down to the Main Deck where he could see that that door too was closed. The Rogue had no choice but to advance towards the door and the danger that comes hand-in-hand with the life he had chosen.
Using his Thief Skill of lock picking, the Rogue finds once again that things are harder and he faces different conditions that he needs to deal with and adapt to. After a couple of attempts, the Rogue manages to unlock the crustation covered lock and opens the door enough to allow Hank to slip through and investigate further.
Beyond the door the Octopus Familiar finds a series of rooms on the Neverluster Pleasure ship and they bear the names that are somewhat well-known to the Rogue, but he is not quite sure.
The Neverluster:
Zarek: “These names on the Cabin Doors are ones that I have seen before, to do with Magic but I’m not sure what their connection to each other are.”
Zarek can make out that all the doors are shut and the corridor is full of old wreckage. However, the door due south is slightly ajar and the Rogue orders the Octopus to swim further down the Neverluster.
As the Rogue looks once again through the eyes of Hank, he can see that there is a dining area, including a large table, chairs and other furniture. Looking down at a pile of booty, there is an Aquatic creature facing the door with a sack next to the items.
Zarek the Sage remembers passages he had read of such creatures that were called Sea Spawn.
Sea Spawn are Neutral Evil humanoids warped by powerful sea entities (Krakens, Hags) into amphibious, mutated monsters. They are cursed to live underwater and are fanatically loyal to their creators, possessing aquatic features like tentacles, gills, or coral growths. They serve as drudge labourers and melee fighters in the depths.
They were humans or other humanoids transformed after being lost at sea or falling under the influence of an evil entity.
Sea Spawn resemble their former selves but are grotesque, with features such as shark mouths, seaweed hair, tentacle arms, or barnacle-encrusted skin. They have a twisted, fanatical loyalty to their creator and often lose their sanity.
Sea Spawn are strictly aquatic, needing to be submerged in water at least once daily to avoid suffocation.
As the ship is laying at an angle, there is an area of the cabin that has a pocket of air trapped. Also, the Rogue can see that one of the Aft windows had been broken and this must have been the way the creature entered the Dining Area.
Zarek: “How many other windows or porthole are broken I wonder and can we use them as a way into areas of the Neverluster?” The Rogue thinks out loud.
The Arcane Trickster elects to cast his ever useful ‘Message’ Spell to speak to the Sea Spawn and hopefully scare the creature away.
Zarek: “Who dares to disturb the Neverluster and violate its contents, leave now.”
Having stopped looking through Hank’s eyes, the Arcane Trickster cannot see what transpires during the exchange of words.
The Sea Spawn either does not understand the words of the Rogue or it refuses to talk in reply.
The Arcane Trickster then reconnects to Hank and can see that Hank has swum off, back towards the door, leaving a cloud of Ink behind himself. As Hank looks backwards under the direction of Zarek the Sea Spawn flows close behind and then the Rogue can see Hank being caught by the Sea Spawn and he is placed into the sack he carried.
Zarek: “Well won’t he be surprised when I call Hank back and it find Hank gone.”
Alley grabs Zarek’s arm and makes the sign of him to cast his ‘Message’ Spell so they can speak.
Alley: “What do you want to do now.” Alley asks.
Zarek: “I think that one Sea Spawn is too many Sea Spawn creatures for us and we should decide where to go next. Maybe we should ask Zelifarn to help use to keep the creatures of the Sea at Bay for us?”
Alley: “The time has come for us to take charge of our own destinies Zarek, we need to face and concur our fears and fight for Iomhar and his memory.”
Zarek follows up after Alley as she swims towards the Aft section of the Main Deck. Once they reach the door, having moved as quietly as they could, they find several of the doors of the cabins open and see as the Sea Spawn move silently into one of the cabins.
Alley moves into the corridor and stand by the door and Zarek moves in and joins the Bard on the other side of the door.
Alley then casts her ‘Minor Illusion’ Spell and makes an image of herself standing in the corridor and in front of the door entered by the Sea Spawn.
The Sea Spawn attacks the image and finds it to be false and illusionary.
Distracted by the Illusion, the Sea Spawn is attacked by the Rogue and he manages to inflict plenty of damage to it but the sea creature still lives.
It then attacks, clawing at the faces of both Alley and Zarek and missing them both. Then the Sea Spawn points it arm towards Alley and fires a Quill at the Bard and a green secretion could be seen on it, Poison.
The Sea Spawn is killed and it screeches out into the dark, whether in pain or a call for help, the Rogue and Bard were left unknowing the truth.
Zarek searches the sack it was carrying. Inside the Bard finds some coins and an Ivory Statuette of a Monkey.
Zarek: “This looks expensive.” The Bard thinks to himself.
Alley and Zarek then spend some time looking through the cabins, and with Alleys help, the Rogue is also able to remember the names written on the doors. Zarek’s Spell ‘Message’ is used once more and they realise the names are of famous Wizards and Sorcerers that were specialised in Illusions.
The walls of the cabins were decorated in Magical writings, images and one of the first rooms checked had a candle that had a flickering Light Spell cast upon it but time must have faded in its potency.
Zarek uses his Spell one more and a ‘Message’ or two is sent between them. The Rogue is unsure what to do next and is uneasy about moving down any further. Once more the Bard insists that they are the only ones here and they need to collect any magical help that they can, and more importantly collect more information that will allow them to bring the murders of Iomhar to justice.
Alley: “Or I will be the justice that is served on them Zarek, remember why we have chosen to do what we do, to help those that can’t help themselves.”
They agree to continue to search the Neverluster and finds the Magic Items that Zelifarn believes is on the Shipwreck.
As they both swim out as silently as they can out from the Dining Area on the Main Deck, the Rogue spots 2 more Sea Spawn swimming out and towards the Fore area on the Main Deck and the area with the office and closed door that they had previously checked.
Zarek looks about and thinks of leaving the Neverluster and its treasure to those who may want it more.
Alley can spot the Rogues hesitation and make the sigh for the Arcane Trickster to cast ‘Message’.
Searching the Neverluster:
Zarek: “We should hide or leave and wait for them to swim away.”
Alley: “Which direction did they swim from Zarek?”
Zarek: “From the starboard side, there possibly the Deck above or from the stairs leading down.”
Alley: “Then they are less likely to go that way again, we can go down and have them at our back or fight?”
The Rogue reluctantly, but willingly, points to the Fore section of the Main Deck and at the 2 Sea Spawn swimming away from them both.
The Rogue and Bard both wait, hidden and ready to ambush the 2 Sea Spawn.
The pair have advantage against the 2 Sea Spawn as they do not see them until they attack.
Another savage attack from the Rogue, with his Familiar Hank the Octopus clinging to his chest, nearly kills the Sea Spawn outright and the Bard makes the choice to only have one of the creatures attack them and finishes off the Sea Spawn attacking Zarek and this leaves the second to attack the Bard and she is scratched by the creature.
Then the 2 Sea Spawn left is dispatched by them both after more incredible underwater acrobatics by the Rogue. A true fish in water.
Both Sea Spawn have no weapons, like the individual in the Dining Area, but do both carry sacks. Inside the Rogue finds more coins and 3 thick cut crystal flasks containing liquids.
2 of the flasks contain the tell-tale red liquid that glimmers when agitated. The other 1 has a transparent liquid that has floating in it a sliver of fingernail from a large creature or other.
The Arcane Trickster elects to cast ‘Message’ again to communicate with the Bard.
Zarek: “Potions of Healing, take one and I will take the other.”
Alley: “Fine.”
Zarek: “Not sure what the other one is but we can search the rooms later once we have eliminated all threats.”
Alley: “Yes, according to you something created these creatures and they don’t wander far from their lord and master I would guess.”
Zarek: “I didn’t think about that do you think there is more dangers aboard the Neverluster?”
Alley just points to the cabin at the very Fore of the Neverluster and the area that the 2 Sea Spawns were heading for.
The door is closed too, the 2 sea Spawn may not have wanted to, or were distracted, open the door.
The Arcane Trickster chooses to call forth his ‘Familiar’ again and Hank Appears in the water in front of the Rogue.
Zarek and Alley communicate once more, using the ‘Message’ Spell, and they decide to swim down to the Orlop Deck below and they leave the furthest most Aft Cabin unchecked on the Main Deck and they head down.
Hank is sent first and Zarek looks through its eyes. The Rogue can see that the Orlop Deck is darker than the waters outside with little to no light reaching this deck.
The Rogue can see that there is a door to the Aft section of the Orlop Deck, that it had a gap at the bottom and Magical Symbols cut into it providing ventilation.
Zarek: “This must be an opulent John for the guests.” The Rogue realises.
Zarek reaches down, puts Hank on the Orlop Deck and orders it into the John. Zarek and Alley stay on the stairs.
Inside the John appears empty and it is not until Hank swims up and level with the toilet holes that is spots something shining in one of them. As the Rogue looks through Hanks eyes, it orders it forward and make it look into the loo and luckily spots an Eel at the bottom next to whatever is shining.
Zarek the Sage has a think and believes it to be a normal Eel but Alley is not sure and the description make her believe it to be an Electric Eel.
Alley points and runs her finger along her throat and points at Hank. Zarek is worried about his Familiar and casts ‘Message’ again.
Zarek: “I can’t send Hank down into the John, he looks too much like food and I worry for him.
Alley: “Then take it without touching it Arcane Trickster.”
What does she mean, why does she use cryptic phrases when she can just say what she means, oh wait my Mage Hand Legerdemain is perfect though I will need to enter the John and see what I am using it on.
Zarek enters the John, casts ‘Mage Hand Legerdemain’ and is able to use his trained Sleight of Hand action to recover the item in the John with the Electric Eel.
The Rogue recovers a wooden box, a little worse for wear. But before he opens it Alley grabs his arm, and takes out her Purple Magic Crystal and sees that it glows when she touches the Box.
The Rogue opens the Box and inside finds a spectacular wand. The Rogue looks over the ‘Magic Wand’ and finds words carved upon it.
Zarek: “Deprehendere Magicae.”
Zarek thinks back to his Magic investigations and concludes that the Wand must be one of ‘Magic Detection’.
Due to the limited vision, due to the dark and silt, the Rogue and Bard move up after Hank once it had swum Aft and allowed the Arcane Trickster to investigate the Orlop Deck.
At the Fore section they find a Cargo Entrance down to the next Deck but it is covered with detritus and would take time to remove. Needing to speak with Alley, Zarek casts ‘Message’ and they discuss their next move.
Zarek: “I will use the Wand of Magic Detection to alert us of any Magical presence and that will allow you to cast your Spells if needed.”
Alley: “Great idea Zarek.”
The Arcane Trickster uses the ‘Detect Magic’ Spell to investigate the Orlop Deck and senses the presence of Magic emanating from the Deck below. Knowing that time was against them the Arcane Trickster choose not to investigate the type of Magic Further fearing another attack.
The Rogue and Bard continue Aft along the Orlop Deck slowly and keeping their movements are hidden as they could. They find more stairs leading up and to the Lower Deck below and further Aft they discover more Cabins. These 8 Cabins appear smaller and contain no Magic Writings or opulent furniture. Beyond that they find one Cell on the Starboard side of the Neverluster and what later turns out to be a store room.
The Store Room is filled with crates, barrels and the remains of sacks whose contents have long since been eaten or had dissolved away.
The Cell door is closed, but it was not checked to see if it was locked, and within was a lager Lizard Like Amphibious Creature, which stirred when the two Heroes approached, and they elected to leave it be.
The Rogue and Bard return to the covered Hatch leading down to the lower deck.
Alley and Zarek look at each other and both ponder what to do next.