Expedition 34: A Ghastly Situation

### Summary

We retrieve a statue of Nerulla from the bottom of the sea floor, and fight a group of ghasts.

### Detailed Writeup

The adventurers set out on the 7th of Titanus, undertaking the offer of father Menau to get back the statue of Nerula.

The older looking teifling captain with grey purple skin, Captain Kindness, introduces us to his cartographer. Before embarking Valorie and Calliope offered the water breathing spell to any sailors who wanted extra insurance. One of the soldiers steps up to accept and after the casting, Valorie sticks her head into the water to test its efficacy. After a quick discussion of armaments, the group decides to risk the mantises, which resulted in a party of six buzzing towards the ship. After a rousing speech from Valorie, the crew remains at their posts and coax the boat to a blistering clip as they sail away from the mantises. Nexrin begins peppering them with longbow shots, as they dive into the water below. Calliope jumps into the water as Lahont peers off the back of the boat and Calliope notices the mantises losing ground faster and faster.

They arrive at the place where the statue was jettisoned, Valiore begins studying the currents to determine some trenches where the statue likely was. Calliope, full of verve, jumps into the trenches, but is unable to see in the darkness under the sea, as she is approached by a group of corpse-white figures.

As they attempt to attack her, Calliope casts invisibility on herself and successfully swims to the surface. Slightly confused at the fact they cannot see Calliope, the party discusses a new plan, with Calliope tells everyone how happy she is that she remembered to bring Marzipan’s horn as the party jumps into the drink.

As Calliope casts the daylight spell on her shield, and the pale creatures turn towards us. Valorie brings down a cube of glowing light, as Lahont and Nexrin both launch attacks at the approaching creatures killing one. After a flurry of reactions, Calliope rains blows down on the approaching creatures while they converge on the group. Valorie retches as she yanks on the rope, zipping up towards the surface. Lahont disengages and fells one of the creatures as Nexrin breathes(?) a gout of acid at the creatures, wounding three. The three creatures surround Nexrin, paralyzing him with one well-placed bite. Valorie yells obscenities at the creatures as Lahont finds a soft spot at the base of one’s skull. Nexrin becomes un-paralyzed, but becomes poisoned. Calliope enters, fists swinging as two more attack Nexrin, but are unable to hit. Lahont kills a third as the ghasts flounder around Nexrin and Calliope. Vallorie descends, mocking one as Lahont knocks down a fourth. Nexrin stabs one handily as Calliope turns, killing the final ghast.

As a hush descends, Lahont begins looking around, and finds a small silver of the silver that we believe was coating the statue. Valorie investigates closely, picking up the trail where Lahont’s big picture searching left off. The currents are so strong that the group is dragged off course and Valorie’s clothes are ruined. Calliope attempts to clear the way with her athletic ability, leading the group into a particular pit. They look down and spy the statue of Nerula absolutely covered in ghasts, 20 to 30, that appear to be attracted to the statue’s base.

After a quick strategic discussion, the group decide to use their magical weapons to blow all of them into spiky growth, this…should work. Valorie casts Faeire Fire on about half of them, as Nexrin summons spike growth. A tiny cloud of biting fish are revealed as the ghasts begins rising up. Valorie’s eyes begin glowing in a very frightening way as she attacks a group of fish.

As a group begins rising out, Lahont summons a gust of wind, driving many of the creatures back. The spike growth does its bloody work as they are torn apart by the sharp coral. Calliope casts the shatter spell and Nexrin casts spike growth centered on us as Valorie attacks the fish in front of her, driving them back with horrible magics. The ghasts in melee range rain blows upon the group, but are unable to do much damage. Lahont prepares to avoid the creatures as Valorie is bitten by tiny fish. Nexrin strikes out, felling two ghasts. The fish converge on Nexrin as Calliope throws another ball of magical energy towards the rapidly closing ghasts. Valorie, dragged away by the rope, makes a slight dent in the fish. The ghasts around the group attack as Lahont jumps up, attempting to drive the ghasts into the thorns, but is generally unable to. Some of the fish bite Lahont, but he looks on satisfied as eight more ghouls fall to Nexrin’s spike growth. Nexrin spears some of the fish, and they are unable to respond. Calliope attempts to knock a ghast off her but isn’t able to. The ghasts are summarily unable to harm Calliope, but Nexrin is downed. Lahont is unable to fell the ghoul attacking Calliope, but she is able to cast cure wounds on Nexrin. Valorie launches a shatter at the ghasts and swarms of fish around Nexrin, hitting Calliope, but absolutely mauling the fish.

Lahont then comes up with a crazy plan to float us all to the surface. The group grabs onto the statue and holds on for dear life, and as Lahont pulls the magical ripcord of walk on water as we go shooting up to the surface, aided by copious ammounts of Valorie’s magic.

Back in town, the group brings their tale to father Menau. Well, mostly Valorie… At any rate, she is able to net us a little bit more hazard pay.