[pnpgm] Game update #81 - File #322 - Creature from black lagoon

Scott Adams longshot at darktech.org
Fri Oct 5 08:23:26 CEST 2007


#  
  HT Alias/Player          Character Name    Type    Status/Notes  Sex
  -- -----------------------------------------------------------------
  R1 John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid  .Normal/Alfar  Ma
  ?? Chris Wells...........Ben'dar...........Warrior.Normal/Human  Ma
  W2 Marcel Liberty........Chion.............Sailor..Normal/Human  Ma
  W3 Ryan Torres...........Farseeker.........Warrior.Normal/Human  Ma
  R3 Wayne Richardson/Uji..Thig..............Sidh MU.Normal/Faerry Ma
  W2 Robert Maxwell........Strie'bog.........Bard  ..Normal/Human  Ma
  R3 Orion (Paul Broman)...Trembyl...........Wizard..Normal/Human  Ma
  W4 Wout Broere...........Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human  Fe
  R3 Scott Adams...........Xian..............Wizard..Normal/Human  Ma
  R4 Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human  Fe
     Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Boyzdar [Wolf] (Strie'bog),
             
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     Game Update #81 in sequence (file #322)
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     Admin notes: None. 
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     [Recap]  

        From Ben'dar: [Re: Actions]
          Ben'Dar loudly curses the murky lake and seethes at his
          inability to help.  He grabs his bow and arrows and stands at
          the edge of the water, straining to see anything out in the
          darkness.

          Ben'Dar yells to Thig and Unali, "What is it?  What do you
          see?"

          Once he figures out that it is some sort of huge water
          creature, he rushes to Z'leyra and says in a low voice,
          "The claw.  It may be their only chance.  I know how to
          use it.  No time to explain now...I know there's a risk,
          but if I don't take it, Strie'bog and his mom will likely
          die."  He holds out his hand for the claw.
        GM: Ack. 

                        ----------------------

        From Z'leyra: [Re: Actions]
          Wordlessly Z'leyra takes the Claw from her satchel and hands
          it to Ben'Dar.

          She signs to Chion that Ben'Dar may need a teleport to the
          raft.

          [She thinks to herself that she is really tired of the problem
           with her voice.]

          Someday she is going to have to learn to swim....
        GM: Ack. 

     -----------------------------------------------------------------
     [New Stuff]

         [Decalis 16th, 107th day since left Marentia, 42nd day of
          Adventure #3 of the 1633rd year [TH].]
          [Location: Pavassa Forest - Lake Oca/Deep Forest]
          [Weather -  Overcast, 56 Degrees]

          [Time    -  7:30pm]


          [Darkness shines throughout the forest making a inky blackness
           against the starlit skies like sheer cliffs of black shadows.
           By now the moon is low on the horizon but not seen now
           by the thick forest trees.  Many stars are out by now.
           Other than the campfire behind the party in the clearing
           and 3 torches held by the party and the 1 torch held
           by Strie'bog there is no other light.]

          [Deep in the forest to the left of the party Arawn is
           doing his prayer to his parents or other gods for
           help in this situation.  Thig has been hovering over
           the lake some distance away to keep track and stand
           as a in-between source of information.]

          [Chion watches the scene with some fascination.  To him
           the use of magic is something to strive to.  A whole
           new set of magics to learn.  If only there was enough
           time to learn everything...]

          [Though Farseeker sees nothing in the darkness he
           watches the flicker of the distant torch in the
           center of the lake.  Curious as to what she is trying to
           do about the problem.  As usual he is weary of this
           magic stuff and rather have something simple to kill.]

          [As the magic on the lake starts Trembyl comments.]

          Trembyl: "What do we do with the staves and those orb
            things?  Bury them with the bodies?"

          [By now all but 3 bodies are buried, one of those being
           the female killed in the forest.]

          [As the lake magic starts Unali doesn't pay much attention
           to the lake but watches the Vassa.  She is interested
           by their reaction and quiet whispering.  Being around
           powerful people like Arawn (son of gods), Z'leyra,
           Farseeker and Chion, she is used to the level of power
           around her.  But its fascinating to see how the common
           person handles worship and hero watch.  The way these
           Vassa treat and defer to Bohusara is something to learn
           from and use later.  You never know when you have to
           defer yourself to a more powerful being.  The Vassa
           seem utterly fascinated by Bohusara, Arawn, Thig and
           the others.  Fascinated by the Green Lady's power and
           will but yet familiar with her as if she was a trusted
           friend and companion.  They defer to her but treat
           her as friends.  a strange paradox of feelings and
           actions by these Vassa.  Whereas Miklav was treated
           as a powerful being outright but not a close companion.
           Its clear Miklav is more secluded to the people than
           Bohusara seems to be.  Power to Unali is interesting in
           its absolutes.  Working with Duke Aren in Marentia she
           has learned a bit of Marentian society and knows first
           hand Katai society (though it has been a long time).
           New concepts like diplomacy through Jordi and strong
           hand tactics by secret missions to foreign lands are
           also parts of power.  The person behind this whole
           situation must be a power greedy soul.  In Katai with
           millions of people that person could blend in like
           a Elf in the forest.  Maybe by studying how folks defer
           to others like the Vassa she can learn later how to
           observe and notice the unnoticeable in Katai.]

          [Z'leyra sighs and wishes she could use her voice again.
           But it might be hours before the failure lifts from her
           body.  She thinks back to the claw perception attempts
           to try to learn its nature.  These items must have
           a strong magical defense or the gods themselves don't
           want her to learn of the things.  If that's the case
           why would they hide such information?  Or better yet
           could it be they don't know the information.  if that's
           even possible that scares Z'leyra even more.]

          [At the time of the splash and creature attack the
           party gets into action.]

          Ben'dar: "What is it?  What do you see?"

          [As Thig starts to fly toward the Raft he yells over his
           shoulder.]

          Thig: "Something from the water is attacking the raft
            and taken Bohusara!"

          [Arawn hears Thig yell and runs from the forest into
           the clearing and comes to the lake edge to view what
           is going on.  He missed the initial light fireworks
           of magic and only sees the torch on the raft itself.
           It looks to his night vision that Strie'bog is lying
           on the raft while Bohusara is nowhere to be seen.]

          [Xian considers teleporting out to the raft with someone
           but knows he can't swim so would be quite dangerous
           especially for him.]

          [Farseeker draws his sword and turns to Trembyl.]

          Farseeker: "You can swim take me to the raft."

          [Trembyl draws his own scimitar and prepares to cast the
           spell.  Unali hands the spyglass to Ben'dar to view
           the scene.  he sees tentacles thrashing about and
           a struggling Bohusara in and out of the water.  He
           sees Strie'bog clawing on the raft to gain some hold
           and attempt to grab his axe.  Ben'dar hands the
           spyglass back to Unali and rushes to Ben'dar.]

          Ben'dar [in a low voice] "The claw.  It may be their only
             chance.  I know how to use it.  No time to explain now...
             I know there's a risk, but if I don't take it, Strie'bog
             and his mom will likely die."  [He holds out his hand for
             the claw.]

          [Z'leyra looks at Ben'dar in the flicker of a torch Xian
           is holding nearby and studies Ben'dar's face.  How can
           he know how to use it. Just a little while ago Thig
           mentioned the Claw is likely a tool the creatures made
           or use.  She has seen what that can backfire to by
           losing her voice.  When did he have time to use the
           Claw?  Z'leyra looks into the eyes of Ben'dar and sees
           understanding and desperation.  Desperation could lead
           to making mistakes with a powerful item as the Claw.
           Z'leyra glances over his shoulder and sees Arawn thinking
           about him and the snake hood and that risk.  She nods
           and runs to the horse to get her satchel.  Running back
           with the claw she hands it to Ben'dar.  She signs to
           Chion that he may need to be teleported to the raft
           but Ben'dar didn't ask for that.]

          [Xian sees Ben'dar insert his fingers into the claw and
           walks forward recalling Thig's warnings about the device
           back on the plains.]

          Xian: "What are you doing?"

          [Ben'dar ignores him recalling what Bohusara said earlier
           about things he could do if only he could control the
           lakeside animals.  This may be their only chance.  He
           begins to concentrate his senses.]

          [Farseeker and Trembyl teleport onto the raft making
           it sink just slightly to the new weight.  Trembyl
           holds a torch and scimitar as Farseeker steadies himself
           with his great sword.]

          [In the water 3 feet out Bohusara is trying to use her
           wings to gain height but the 3 tentacles are pulling
           her up and down.  Its clear she is losing strength
           from her small strength.  On the raft Strie'bog has
           falling to his chest and is reaching for his axe and
           the torch to the side as one tentacle pulls him toward
           the water's edge.  He doesn't see the two newcomers
           to the raft.  Farseeker strides the few feet to the
           edge of the raft and brings down his sword in a chop
           and cuts off the tentacle's middle section.  One part
           sinks to the water as the other thrashes on the raft.
           Trembyl goes to the other side and swings his torch
           at the creature's tentacles but it doesn't seem to
           be affected.]

          [Suddenly Bohusara is pulled down into the water.
           Trembyl curses and drops the torch to the raft and
           drops his robes.  Now only wearing pants and a thin
           jerkin shirt he drops his scimitar.  He pulls out
           his dagger and dives into the murky black water.]

          [Bohusara is pulled feet down into the water and she
           starts to lose air and panics.  Strie'bog screams
           for his mother and finally grabs his axe.  He gets
           to his knees and crawls to the edge of the water.
           He looks down into the black water but sees nothing.]

          [Farseeker cuts another tentacle from trying to reach
           onto the raft. But it stops its approach.]

          [Thig continues to fly forward toward the raft as the
           others on the beach are helpless.  The Vassa are
           drawing bows but know the distance is too great to
           fire.  They demand the party help in panic mode but
           Arawn is the only one to understand them.]

          [Trembyl tries to dive down and find the creature but the
           water is too dark.  Confused he can't swipe out without
           hitting Bohusara.  Suddenly one tentacle grabs onto
           Trembyl and pulls him down 5 feet with a jerk.]

          [Bubbles begin to rise to the surface as Strie'bog gets
           to his feet and almost jumps in.  But Farseeker hods
           him back with a look that its too dangerous.]

          [On the beach Ben'dar feels a warm sensation creep up
           his arms.  He doesn't know what the creature is or
           how to pinpoint it.  He concentrates on the lake itself.
           Suddenly images flood his mind.  Fish, turtles, plants,
           and snakes.  All in the lake doing their thing.  Suddenly
           a sensation comes to him of a larger life-force in the
           water.  He concentrates on it and sees a squid like creature.
           He begins to concentrate on it to force it to stop.]

          [In the water Trembyl swipes at the tentacle with his dagger
           but another grabs his legs.  He cuts the tentacle but
           the dagger isn't thick enough to slice it.  He begins
           to lose air and bubbles rise.  On top Strie'bog pulls
           free of Farseeker and drops his balalaika to the raft
           in preparation for diving in.  He feels obligated to
           help his mother and he knows how to swim.]

          [Suddenly Bohusara stops thrashing in the water and
           is pulled down now 20 feet deep.  Trembyl tries to
           struggle free but the one tentacle on his leg is
           too hard.]

          [Thig finally reaches the raft and hovers over the
           area trying to figure out how to help.]

          [A strong energy surges through Ben'dar's mind as
           he makes some ethereal connection to the creature.
           Alien strange thoughts come to Ben'dar's mind but
           he can't understand any of it.  He seneses it is
           in defense mode and only doing as it knows best.
           He tries to have the Green Lady released.  But the
           creature doesn't react.  He tries to have the
           creature go to sleep or stop moving at all but the
           creature still doesn't react.  sweat begins to show
           on Ben'dar's face even with the cold temperature.
           Ben'dar starts to give up when he thinks tot he
           creature that another threat to it is on the side
           of the lake at the beach.  Suddenly the creature
           begins to lift up fast.]

          [At the raft tentacles emerge from the water.  Thig
           and the others count maybe 20 of them thrashing
           about.  In the hold of 4 is Bohusara who is not
           moving.  At this Strie'bog dives into the water
           and swims to her unaware of the danger.  The
           creature seems to halt and a lump in the center
           of the tentacles rises up and bobs there for a few
           seconds.  it releases Bohusara and Trembyl who is
           gasping for air.  The creature begins to move toward
           the west away from the raft.]

          [Strie'bog gets to his mother and grabs her.  As
           Farseeker and Thig help Trembyl onto the Raft he
           coughs up water but seems ok.  He plops down his
           dagger and he rolls over to gasp for air.  The
           others help Bohusara onto the raft but finds she
           is not breathing.  They turn her over and bump her
           full on the back with light taps.  But no water
           comes out.  Strange.  Strie'bog pleads for her to
           wake up.]

          [On the shore Ben'dar leads the creature to the west
           but then turns it south toward the party.  if they
           can get it out of the water maybe they can study it
           and kill it.]

          [Suddenly Bohusara gasps for air and instead of coughing
           up water just sits up.  Trembyl and Farseeker look to
           each other confused why she didn't take water in her
           lungs.]

          Bohusara: "Where is it?"

          Thig: "There about 20 feet away."

          [Bohusara stands and stares.  A shadow of anger rises in
           her and Thig senses a build up of power.  She begins
           to speak a few quick words.  Few seconds later she
           waves her hands in a circular motion and then a ball
           of sparks forms in her hands.  She then reaches back
           and throws the ball toward the creature.  It skims
           the water line and hits the creature mainly in the
           tentacles.  Sparks and lightning cover the creature.]

          [Ben'dar suddenly jerks back and begins to stumble
           and shake as if in shock.  Z'leyra and Xian rush
           to him to grab him as he gets to his knee.  Xian
           pulls the Claw free and Ben'dar's eyes roll in his
           head.  He collapses to the ground.]

          [As smoke rises above the lake the creature begins to
           submerge under the water.]

          Thig: "Did you kill it?"

          Bohusara: "Doubt it.  I wanted to get its attention."

          Farseeker: "To come back here?!"

          Bohusara: "No.  To give that time to do its thing."

          [She points to the east to a glowing orb on the water.
           It looks like the thing she was forming before the
           attack.  The glowing red and green hue of the magical
           creation seems to shimmer.  It looks to be 10 feet
           in diameter.  It begins to shimmer again and gets
           larger as if growing.  With some confusion and
           awe those on the raft watch as the creature grows
           to a size of 30 feet.  It then separates into two
           parts.  One part goes to the east and another to
           the west.  The one going to the west seems to shimmer
           more.  It begins to pulse blue and shifts its movement
           toward the creature.  It quickly overtakes the slow
           moving creature and seems to float over it.  It pulses
           more heavily in blue and a smell of ozone or some
           chemical seems to fill the air near the raft.]

          Thig: "What is that?"

          Bohusara: "We should return to shore.  It..they need
            to do their work.  I'll explain then."

          [Bohusara and Thig take ropes and fly toward the
           lake edge slowing moving the raft forward as Farseeker
           helps with a small oar in the back.]

          [On the beach Z'leyra checks Ben'dar but finds no
           obvious problem.]

          Xian: "What's wrong?"

          [Z'leyra shakes her head and thinks about speaking to
           create a magic spell as Chion mentions the others
           are returning.  She stops from speaking and hopes
           Bohusara may be able to help.]

          [As the raft moves to the south shore Arawn leans down
           and checks Ben'dar.  He touches his neck and finds
           a strong pulse.  As Arawn pulls back his fingers
           suddenly Ben'dar wakes and sits up.  He rubs his
           head and wipes the sweat.]

          Xian: "Arawn what did you do?"

          [Arawn shakes his head having not even said a word or
           cast a spell of any kind.  Confused he shrugs.  He
           then looks to the forest as a wind picks up and blows
           his hair about wondering if his prayer helped?]

          [Thig yells from the raft that all is ok and within
           about 5 minutes the raft gets to the lake and all
           get onto the beach.]

          [Ben'dar stands and looks to the others happy to see
           them safe.]

          Xian: "What happened there?"

          Bohusara: "I formed a creature a creation to cleanse
            the lake.  It can grow to a certain size and then
            divide.  Eventually in a few hours it might cover
            the entire lake and cleanse the poison.  Thanks
            to the Hyachinthus stone." [She turns to Z'leyra]
            "I'm sorry the stone will likely be gone forever
            but of great use." [She turns back to the party]
            "The stone will help cleanse the poison.  then
            that odd creature attacked us.  It was strange
            as I was under the water I was gasping for air
            but wasn't panicked.  In fact I felt content for
            some reason.  Something or someone was helping me
            but I can't explain what." [She pauses and looks
            at the water] "The Creation should be able to
            cleanse or attack the creature.  I doubt it is
            dead but it may be weakened.  We'll have to keep
            watch and look for it.  In the daylight we can
            look for it again."

          Farseeker: "Ben'dar?  What's wrong?"

          Bohusara: "Someone helped us with the creature.  That
            I don't understand." [She turns to the party] "Did
            someone here help out with magic?"

          [Bohusara looks down at the sand and notices the claw.]

          Bohusara: "What is that?"

          Actions? Comments?

          Next update Monday...

          GM: This encounter wasn't a planned one.  But I wanted
              to make a lesson on reading clues.  I tend not to
              post stuff just for fun of it.  Some things are
              clues for current, past or future situations.
              Things link to all things.  Next adventure may
              or may not have some intricate puzzles or situations
              to solve.  So its important to understand the
              updates.  No need to take notes just as long as
              you can pick up on the clues :)  The claw in this
              situation was the major clue.  Just one of those
              object lesson things. :)







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