150502 Below Water Assault Group Stumbles into an Occupied Arena...With a Fight to the Death Match in Progress !!!

TWITCH STREAM Be sure to participate with the group each week LIVE! at <a href="http://www.twitch.tv/dm4hire" rel="nofollow">www.twitch.tv/dm4hire</a> every Saturday night at 6 PM until midnight. View this entire session here... <a href="http://www.twitch.tv/dm4hire/b/655593471" rel="nofollow">http://www.twitch.tv/dm4hire/b/655593471</a> Twitch.tv keeps each broadcast for one week only, so be sure to stay up-to-date while it is still available, and be sure to click the heart icon under the twitch screen to 'follow' the group and be alerted of each new session. Brief portions of these weekly sessions can also be found on Youtube with the same date code. QUICK READ RECAP Above water assault group finishes taking care of the sahuagin forces from last session and push deeper into the uppermost, dry level, finding an unusually large, abandoned armory, barracks with many empty coffers scattered throughout, and that the entire place, thus far, having a strange, clinical creepiness to it. Below water, submerged deep in the cold lowest third level, the other part of the party finds that the "treasure" the pleading sahuagin was referring to, was none other than a ferocious, and obviously madder-than-hell sea lion, that upon being released, initiates a fight to the death battle right in front of them all! They later discover, after releasing an imprisoned Triton named Kysh, that the poor, now dead, animal was his personal companion! The group explains the situation to dissolve the mounting tension, referring to the dead giant eel of Borga, the newly freed locathah. Exploring deeper into the coldest areas of the fortress, they soon find themselves standing on the same stage where two sahuagin battle to the death, all the while being observed by a crowd of spectating fish men! DM SESSION LOG 150502 Spells memorized. Tralann - hypnotism, magic missile, invisibility, wall of fog, web Argo - 4x magic missile, mirror image, blur, water breathing* Karmadel: 5-1st Endure Cold x2 7-1/2 hours /5-2nd /2-3rd Bless, Protection evil / cure serious x2, hear heart x2, water fist Below Water Assault Group (Karmadel, Oceanus, Barlfon, Borga, Kysh)... Karmadel tells the lone sahuagin survivor to open the door by sword point, since his sword can't see through the stone. Oceanus attempts to grapple with the sahuagin and fails. Sahuagin attempts to flee, Oceanus attack of opportunity inflicts 27 hp of damage, killing it. Oceanus performs a backstab for 20 hp of damage against the sealion body. Balfon makes a critical attack on the sealion body for 18 hp of damage. Oceanus and Karmadel make second attacks for 18 and 14 hp of damage killing it. Above Water Assault Group (Bjorn, Aaron, Tralaan, Argo, Kyra, Marines and Lizard men)... Sahuagin in west hall attack marine for 2 hp of damage reducing his life to 3 Sahuagin knocks same unconscious. Marine moves unconscious marine out of area. Kyra, a female dwarf cleric, walks into the mess in progress, sees people needing help and performs a successful heal check on the unconscious marine for 2 hp of health waking him. Sahuagin hit a marine for 2 hp of damage lowering his health to 6 Sahuagin hit a marine for 2 hp of damage lowering his health to 6 Marine makes a critical attack for 6 hp of damage Lizard men apply healing potuses for 2 and 1 hp of health, raising them to 12 and 9 respectively. Kyra heals the marine for 3 hp of health raising him to 6. Argo tells the remaining sahuagin "run while you can" Sahuagin makes a critical hit a marine for 2 hp of damage lowering his health to 4 Sahuagin makes 3 hits on a marine for 6 hp of damage knocking him unconscious. Marines kill last two sahuagin for 7 and 8 hp respectively. Marine applies healing potus for 2 hp raising him to 2. Oceanus searches bodies. Karmadel uses sword to listen at a cell door, but it says 'if I had shoulders to shrug I would, but for now....idunno" Karmadel cracks the door and looks inside to find nothing. Karmadel reassures Borga the locathah about his giant eel loss that Borga opens a cell door and finds a triton who stripped of possessions. "We'll set you free" "You're not here to force me to fight?" "Some people came and saved me" He introduces himself Kysh and wants to know if anyone has seen his sealion companion. Party explains the sahuagin released it from a cell and we had to defend ourselves. Borga explains that the sahuagin killed his giant eel, to smooth the uncomfortable situation out. Not too happy with the situation, asks "have you seen my stuff", "what have you lost?" "dagger, crossbow, etc" "I lost my horn of the tritons and would like to get it back, if you all can assist me it would be appreciated" Party agrees. Karmadel introduces himselft to Triton. "Happy to be alive, unlike my sealion companion that was needlessly killed...no offense meant" Karmadel finds two key rings in a pile of chains and mantacles in the east end of the torturre chamber. Karmadel determines the keys work for the shackle locks. Tridents are given to Borga and Kysh Oceanus successfully moves silently. Party moves down south hallway. Bjorn searches a storage room full of furs, rope, etc. Kyra and Argo visually assess the armory. Aaron stands guard by south hall exit of armory. Argo surmises something is not right with all of the unused weapons in the racks but no sahuagin present. Aaron finds two closed coffers in the south hall way, and then moves into a massive southern barracks room full of open coffers finding a sledge hammer. Argo examines eastern storage room and puts a trident on his back. Tralaan takes a trident as well. Kyra examines the hall closed coffers. Kyra counts 60 open coffers in the barracks room. Bjorn opens the eastern coffer in the south hall to reveal daggers in scabbards. Tralaan opens the western coffer to reveal more daggers in scabbards. Karmadel and party moves along west hallway. Balfon enters a room that appears to be an armory with nets, tridents, javelins propped up against the wall, along with supplies, like coils of rope, nails, bundles, hooks, etc. Oceanus heads past up the north hallway that heads east. Borga and Kysh examine the supplies to find their personal equipment, but find none. Shark attacks Borga for 4 hp of damage reducing his life to 7. Kysh attacks for 6 hp of damage. Balfon does 5 hp of damage. Balron hits for 5 hp of damage. Kysh does 6 hp of damage. Karmadel the priest kills the shark with 17 hp of damage. Karmadel performs a heal check on Borga for 1 hp of damage. Party leaves area and moves down a south hallway. Karmadel senses evil in SE direction. Karmadel lifts bar from door and opens the double doors to instantly be seen by an entire arena full of sahuagin spectators, silently watching a death match in progress!! Party lump sum XP with all aspects considered (including but not limited to) session survival, skill usage, role-playing, alignment checks, etc: 2100 Karmadel, Priest (Christopher S.): 300 Oceanus Elf, Aquatic (Isaac R.): 300 Argo Mage (Paul W.): 300 Tralann (Shalvenay K) Elf, Half: 300 Kyra Foghard (Jessica H.): 300 Bjorn: 300 Aaron: 300 SESSION LENGTH: 6 Hours

Depending upon the availability of members, next week session is currently tentative. We will determine the actual game status, at that time. With the school year wrapping up and things overly busy for folks, the session may be either above or below ground in the mean time. Possible options might be to have a second session for the other assault group, since everything is happening simultaneously. Just a thought.

Let's use this log post to the groups advantage, and take a moment to reflect upon the current situation and strategize on how best to handle this precarious predicament. You have an arena full of sahuagin who are obviously aware of your presence and, taking into account their alleged evil alignment, will probably pursue the group at some point. As always, sometimes things are best thought out...out loud. Here is the pickle the group is in... <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpRY00aC14Y" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpRY00aC14Y</a>

Oh boy we really stepped in the crapper now, opening these double doors revealed a ton of Sahuagin about 45+ from what we see in this arena. What to do, what to do, what to do, well one thing we can back up and have them funnel in to us fighting them 2 at a time while having two on our back fighting that way for when they do come up from behind. Two maybe challenge the leader to a fight to the death if we win then they surrender....like that'll happen. Or three we do a Forest Gump.....RUN FOREST, RUN!!!!!!. lol, will take all advice in mind and you will see the action on the next game session.

Hmm if you could get a shot at the leader before you all pull a Gump that might be the best thing to do! At least that way you would have wounded him who knows, it may get infected and he could very well die from the infection. Cuz I mean seriously 45 sahuagin you guys should really, no I mean really, run like bats out of hell. And do not look back for any reason. Just run or swim away as fast as your little legs can carry you. "He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day." May be the cowards code but in this case it works. There is no way you guys can stand against those kinds of odds. Unless you want to be pitted against each other for their entertainment. Just saying :-/

Well 1st off i'm the only one with one range attack spell called Watery Fist that hits anything above the surface of the water or on land that is 10 feet + 1 foot per lvl so that's 15 feet atm, and i'm underwater so i have a long distance as far as i can see to punch him with a fist of water lol. And that's 45 sahuagin that can be seen look at the top right of the arena that blackened area, will have more might be 4-5 more there lol......(Flex's muscles and will taunt them all....let them funnel in the hallway then look them in the eye and yell FEAR ME, I HAVE TARTAR SAUCE, and i use my inspire fear to make most or all flee deal with a few and run and hide lol)

And well we could fight them they go by two's in the hallway and 5 of us, so 2 in front and 2 facing back and the 1 in middle spear hedging, that's if we need to + the sahuagin have swim speed of 15, i have 12 dwarf has 6 lol not getting far

Hmm perhaps the best bet for you guys would be for you to cast your watery fist thingamajig then to slam the door closed re bar it and then swim away as fast as the dwarf can go. At least that way, they'll have to get through the door first in order to determine where you've gone that might buy you guys some time!

Ok here's the plan going to shut the doors and re-bar them and run away. Of course now the alarm will be set off, so we just have to keep a more watchful eye. But at least we won't be fighting 45+ sahuagin, and at least we got a look maybe what might be their leader that we can take out later on. They might expect us to head for the exit as we flee, so i say not to head towards the exit, since the door on the opposite side is so close to the hallway leading to the exit Instead should take the stairs that lead to the next lvl that is by the armory where we killed the shark.

Well wait a moment now how high were the ceilings in the arena? If they were more than 10 ft you guys might be running into more guards if you continue to proceed upstairs. If it's laid out like the colluseum in Rome then you can see my concern, ayup? The higher you go the more guards you'll probably run into until you reach the "nose bleed" seats. I'm assuming of course that you guys came out on the bottommost level otherwise why else would everyone be gazing at you?

Yes, they did come out of the lowermost level, and ceilings are quite high with a dome above, but I believe he was referring to the flight of stairs near where they battled the shark in the photo above. The stairs are not shown, but along the left side (west wall) near where Oceanus the aquatic elf (the blue token) is standing. Those go up to a totally unexplored level. I'm assuming he is referring to using those as a possible escape route, even though they do not know what is on the other end.

Yes i'm talking about going up the stairs or stay on the bottom and do a complete search of the bottom, cause at least they will think we ran the way we came cause an alarm would've been raised f we came from up top, same with coming through the portcullis, so the only thing they would surmise that we came from the 10 ft opening. Which they'll try and head us off, when we go the completely other way.

Wait a moment tho is all the combat happening at the same time cuz if it is then the alarm has already been raised, ayup boss? I'm not entirely clear on what the other half of the party is doing. But I thought they were assaulting the portcullis, if that's the case then all hell should be breaking lose down in the lower levels unless this is how they deal with intruders lol. Fair warning tho they will probably post a heavy guard on the way you guys came in once they figure out that's how you guys got in.

yes it is all simultaneous, or so i thought as well. are they really watching a death match while an assault is happening up top? groovy lol keep watching. for real tho, good plan chris, get the hell outta there, now is where we take what info we have gathered and go straight back on your animals.

Let's review the objectives of this reconnaissance mission again. 1. Determine sahuagin force (barons, lieutenants, warriors), detailing how many are present. 2. Locate important areas (where officers are quartered and warriors are barracked). 3. Identify any significant defensive measures (traps, fortifications, etc) what and where. 4. Discover how advanced the sahuagin are, and when they might mount their first attack. This is what the Saltmarsh council had asked for in lieu of payment.

Yup and we haven't determined the sahuagin force yet, only saw a small part of it, it's just a inconvenience that we got spotted at the arena, and there is 3 to 4 levels of this base still have 2 more levels to check out. So re-sealing the door with the bar will help us get away, but the door on the other side is right by the exit for us to get out the 10 foot opening we came in at. So we can't go that way, the only options we have it to head for the stairs or by the map behind us is a way west of this hallway we are in and the hallway south and turns to the west, or go north up the hallway then at the T intersection turn west, then north again there is a armory in the east room with the dead shark, but keep moving north up that hallway and there will be a U-turn to the east with stairs that'll lead up. But going that way will be a huge mistake at this time, think about it going towards an armory when they know you are now there, is right where they would go and see the dead shark and surmise that we went up stairs and now we get blocked off at to ends from the force behind and whatever we run into on the next floor.

well, since we are meeting resistance now on both ends, i guess we all explore now and gather/kill what we can meet somewhere in the middle lol

lol yeah since now that the sahuagin know we are here we might have to fight and clear this place, and as i said might have to fight. But 1st we'll have to lose this huge group and will go off in another direction and they will be hunting us in groups so at least it'll make it easier to fight them. And that's after we close and re-bar the door lol.

Time to plan the bottle necks.

Bottle necks don't work against a massive force, the aren't 2D lego pieces that will stand in 2 columns, wait for us to kill the 1st pair and then the next pair steps forward to die. They will overrun us within a few rounds. I suggest getting leading them back outside where we have sharks and a killer whale waiting. We can pick off a good number of them as they come out of the tunnel, and then have fall back into a circle type formation or head to the surface (but that means leaving the animals behind).

Remember....it's underwater,which means everything is now three dimensional, meaning that movement can come from above and below as well.

I was wondering when they'd realize that lol good call on your part to remind them of that Dungeon master :-)

Remember that Sharks, killer whales, Kraken, ETC will attack us to. so you are going to add onto the encounter. if you guys want to escape its best to get away fast as possible.

First order of business will be to roll surprise for both parties (adventurers and sahuagin)....if luck is on the side of the party, and they catch the sahuagin flat footed, they will have a brief moment to do something....otherwise.....OMG

THE Dungeon Master said: Let's review the objectives of this reconnaissance mission again. 1. Determine sahuagin force (barons, lieutenants, warriors), detailing how many are present. 2. Locate important areas (where officers are quartered and warriors are barracked). 3. Identify any significant defensive measures (traps, fortifications, etc) what and where. 4. Discover how advanced the sahuagin are, and when they might mount their first attack. This is what the Saltmarsh council had asked for in lieu of payment. 1. Aren't they pretty much killing 'the force' as the party explores? 2. What is important to lizards as opposed to 'humans'? Is fresh fish beside the bed better than a jug of ale? (ie. indicating rations availability) 3. Isn't the party pretty much stomping on traps as they go? 4. heh.. isn't this more of a discussion best done after instead of while swinging a weapon? (although.. their weapons used could be a clue also) Just some noob observations...

Cheese and cracker boss that's quite a list of stuff the council wants to know. If the party did not have their abilities to get underwater where would they be. Attacking the above ground portions of the base. Honestly I think the council wanted you guys to get into it with the shahugin otherwise why would they give you such a list of objectives. With all that you guys have done against them so far, I don't think they'll be up to doing anything for a good long while, unless it's seek revenge against you guys for having the balls to attack them In the first place! Good luck to you guys this weekend! I can't wait to read the after action report.

THE Dungeon Master said: Remember....it's underwater,which means everything is now three dimensional, meaning that movement can come from above and below as well. yea bottlenecking isnt a real option as you fight 2, 10 more swim over, out of melee range (no attack of oppertunity) run, now.

also, i like Robert D.s' assesment. it rings very true. this is seeming more like a wipe mission, despite the tasks, as they involve getting caught and a fight.

Normally I don't share this type of information, but the module does state that the party should maintain secrecy, utilizing covert tactics, during this reconnaissance mission, implying that barging into rooms unannounced, without taking any precautionary measures, might not fall into that category, and that attempting to face the entire sahuagin force head on could turn the simple "gather intel and get paid" scenario into a potential suicidal death wish. This is your DM advising you...sometimes challenges are best overcome by other means....not always necessarily by sheer brute force....because sometimes that is just not possible. A trainer once said, "Don't fight him on his terms, because you will lose....instead, fight him on your terms so that he will lose".

man, i kinda wish a theif slot had been open when i joined lol

So what plan did the party finally decide to execute?

wish i knew. Argo is still up top trying to get their attention, has no clue what Karmadel has walked into, so he will continue his mission. as a player, i hope they are smart enough to get out of dodge, meet up with us, and then we can regroup and try to form a new plan, maybe one with the group staying at camp, and our only thief bolstered with some silence/invisibility, or something along those lines, while we hold and wait for him to do the job.

Really might be best to discuiss once we all get on skype.