Episode 1: A Helping Hand

Tordek is now at the doorway on the main deck, standing with Parallel.

Haesh makes his way carefully across the deck to the port side where he sees the grappling hook. When he reaches it, he notices three barbed hooks and spears further down the hull, embedded like those on the starboard side, all with taut ropes into the water.

Jandral's Fire Bolt strikes one of the five hooks embedded into the starboard hull, the arcane flame fighting against the torrential rain. With a burst of smoke, the rope snaps and disappears into the water. Now that Jandral is closer, he can see that some of the hooks look like barbed daggers or spears that were thrust into the ship, serving as anchor points.

Rhodrick moves to the starboard rail and sees the same thing, as well as Jandral's successful cutting of one of the ropes.

On the starboard side, an aqua-skinned hand breaks the surface of the water and grasps one of the ropes still attached to the ship. Jandral and Rhodrick see a finned form emerge, with a fish-like face filled with razor-sharp teeth, pulling itself up the hull.

On the port side, Haesh sees two similar piscine forms begin to climb.

Golwen's bolt of fire flares as it impacts the rope and a small explosion detaches it from its anchor. The fish-like creature falls back into the roiling ocean with a splash.

Rhodrick can hear Captain Yokgrumli yelling something, though whether it is to him or the helmsman isn't clear, as the dwarf's words are lost in a thunderclap.

Parallel's blade cuts through the rope, and with a flash of water the broken tension snakes quickly over the railing and back into the water. One of the fish-creatures was using that rope, and follows its broken tether under the waves.

Those on the starboard side (Rhodrick, Jandral, and Golwen) see more fish-like creatures emerge from the water, one climbing each of the three ropes currently attached to the hull. The lightning briefly silhouettes the creatures, jagged fins flat against the endless rain.

On the port side, Parallel and Haesh stand ready as the creature ends its climb to where its hook has latched onto the hull. From its position, holding onto the rope with one hand, it reaches behind for a barbed spear, which it thrusts upward at Haesh. However, the angle of the attack is too great to afford a good target, and the weapon deflects harmlessly off the railing.

Two more fish-like creatures emerge from the water on the port side, climbing the ropes and scaling the hull.

Currently it seems like the captain and crew are too engaged in keeping the ship sailing through the storm to either notice or address this threat from beneath the waves.