Episode 1

Maeriks watches as Hinka takes the creature and puts the bladder-like section completely over his own head. The krekutil's translucent skin engulfs the tcho-tcho's face and slowly seals around his neck. On top of the bladder section, the squid-like body of the krekutil sits on top of Hinka's head. Hinka reaches up and pulls on of the side appendages that protrudes from the mass of the body. When he does, the upper swell on the krekutil's back begins to shrink and deflate. Simultaneously fluid begins to fill in the lower bladder section, in the interior space with Hinka's face.

Eventually the entire bladder is full of fluid. Hinka braces himself and then breathes in, apparently sucking the fluid into his lungs. Practiced in the technique, the tcho-tcho gives minimal sign of any discomfort or fear. He leans forward briefly to stabilize his breathing. After a few seconds, he stands up straight and walks forward to Maeriks.

Maeriks sees that now Hinka has a complete bag of fluid over his head and is apparently breathing the fluid in and out of his lungs. The bladder skin of the krekutil that is in front of Hinka's face is now completely transparent and it looks very thin. Hinka's eyes are wide open within. They even seem to have some sort of skin covers on them, almost like goggles made from interior appendages of the interior anatomy of the creature that extend and seal over his eyes.

Hinka nods and smiles to Maeriks. He pantomimes breathing fully, in and out, and then gives a signal for "ok".

With that Hinka walks to the nearby pond, a small body of water fed by a steady tributary. He descends quickly into he pond, completely submerging.

Pumji, still sitting beside Maeriks, looks up at the big Dannein. "See? It is good. Hinka breathes under the water for many minutes. For all minutes. All night? Yes. All day next day? Yes. Still good. Krekutil water is air water. Hinka live in lake if he tries." Pumji nods to see if Maeriks understands.

"Krekutil makes a man like a fish. Makes the lake like the world and the earth. Tcho-tcho or man with krekutil can make any long swim. No need to see the sun or breathe the air of the sky. This is how Hinka get through long tunnels of the Black Temple."

One of the other tcho-tcho bring another krekutil forward. The creature hangs motionless, a blob of a squid-like length with a large loose translucent bladder below and a tighter bulbous bulge above.

Pumji takes the creature from the other tcho-tcho and offers it up to Maeriks. "Will Maeriks try this krekutil now? Go in the pond, under the water, like Hinka? It is good. Maeriks says 'Let's go!". So now, this is what will happen to say, 'Now we go! Swimming into the Black Temple!' Here is the way."

Bryn is off to the side and watches the entire training session. He now sees clearly, for the first time all the way through, the use of these creatures as living tools. Unbelievable! And how and why would these creatures ever exist? And why would the tcho-tcho have access to them and in fact raise them like FARM ANIMALS?!

Unanswerable questions, but Bryn has come to realize that this community of little people is steeped in so much mystery and strangeness that it is impossible to know where to start trying to figure out their ways, their history, or their purposes.

As strange as it may have sounded a few weeks ago, Bryn is not really surprised that the tcho-tcho have a specialized creature that can be put in service as a living underwater breathing apparatus.

Rutcranna nods, aware of Thorn's increased passion on the topic of the dagger. "I thought as much could be possible. As troubling as it may be, perhaps at least you can gain some sense of satisfaction that you can strike back against the very man who likely stole from your family. It is a justice often missed, that might be served this time - to eventually face an offender and confront him directly, and make him pay for his crimes. It is a rare satisfaction, but this time you may have it, Thorn."

"I will do all that I can to hinder the efforts of Gorolach if we are to face him. He is truly a fool. Not slow of wit, but low in character. And my hexes are difficult to dismiss, and this Gorolach will learn."

"The Locust Spear has been passed down from one leader to the next for more than 20 exchanges. Sometimes in a peaceful transfer, most often in a bloody duel that ended in death of the defender and the victory of the challenger. To the Norach, the Spear gave the strength, wisdom, and tenacity of our ancestors. And others would follow the wielder of it.

Now though, The Locust Spear is a relic that has outlasted its purpose. The Bat Hannoc are no more. Not as they once were. If it can be captured, I would prefer the spear to endure. In truth, it could be passed to Maeriks, though many ceremonies that should be completed can no longer be fulfilled. If the spear is broken, then so be it. Perhaps the Fates themselves will decide and make their judgment over the old weapon. Its survival or its destruction, either could become a symbol."

Retro Edited out of Note to X

Through all of the talking and interchange, training and exchanging, Rutcranna is fascinating and beautiful. She seems smart, insightful, assured in her own prowess and role, yet at the same time feminine, complimentary of male prowess, even vulnerable and malleable. She is confident, yet nervous. She asserts, but she defers. Her words carry authority, yet she is approachable. Whether it is sincere or a complete act, it is inescapable. Thorn is drawn to her. Her magnetism is almost palpable, yet it does not seem harmful. The question of course: is it?

Again, whether it is an act or not, she does seem to be at some level enamored with Thorn. Maybe not the best word, enamored,
but she seems like she is trying to figure out something about him, but is struggling a bit to find that she likes him.

At one point, after a demonstration of some movements mimicking Gorolach, and a recount of some of his past battles, Thorn finds that he and Rutcranna are very close to one another. Yet again. She stands close to him. Both of them have a thin glaze of perspiration over their skin, in the heat of the wigwam with multiple boiling fires. Thorn looks down at her. She is so much smaller than him, but her proportions are perfect. Her robe is loose and partially opened. She sees him looking at her and does not move away. She does not advance either though. She brushes his hand briefly, but does not take hold of it.

The moment keeps lasting, like a small eternity. Rutcranna looks up at Thorn with the look of a lover. Waiting.

There is no one else in the wigwam. All of the helpers are gone now. The front curtain is closed.
Just a few steps away, some reed cot beds covered in soft furs.

Rutcranna closes her eyes and bathes in the tension. She looks down. Breathing in and out slowly and sensually. Waiting. Waiting to feel if anything will happen.

Ivor and Kray find themselves taken up by the Tcho-Tcho for a demonstration. The little warriors seem to want to show the men how to work a specialized weapon, a wrist launch javelin.

Kray can speak with the Tcho-Tcho to some degree, and is able to manage a reasonable interchange. The Tcho-Tcho explain that the "spear sling" can be used underwater. It has a specially crafted wrist band that can be gripped, and then attached to the rear of a specialized barbed javelin. A shooter can pull the javelin backwards, along the length of the forearm, and then grip the javelin at the top end near the neck of the sharp end. When the javelin is then released, the springing strap retracts quickly, launching the javelin forward at high speed.

The range is not great, and accuracy fails at longer distances, but the system seems to work exceptionally well underwater. After a few practice tries, both Ivor and Kray get more and more proficient at the firing technique.

Ivor, familiar with spear fishing from his home at Nangh Stuc, can tell that the javelin is made for water travel. Though he has seen several versions of pole spearing and short pole throwing, this is a new system of launch that he has never seen before. With his previous experience, the rare Dannein who grew up by the sea picks up the skill of firing rather quickly.

The Tcho-Tcho seem happy. They enjoy the success of the men's trial runs with the weapon.

One of them nods and gives a pantomime to Kray, a motion of firing, followed by a resulting motion of a spear impaling in a neck and the victim being hurt. "Maako umasu. Pocomen maako umasu."

Kray understands. The words were kept simple. "Deep Ones. Kill Deep Ones."

When Maeriks gets the hang of the krekutil, the tcho-tcho are extremely pleased.

They say, "Maeriks! Maeriks Pangnoon Manaoukuwa!"

They cheer him on in their low voices. Patting him on the big back.

Bryn is next on trying the krekutil. The task is extremely unnerving, with the shocking nature of the creature itself, it's unseemly look and feel and many gross appendages. Plus the idea of relaxing enough to breath in fluid, fighting against the body's reflex (laryngospasm) to seal off the throat when fluid enter the trachea. It is quite a physical and mental ordeal.

No one can get it on the first try, but different people take different number of iterations to get the hang of it.

For the krekutil LUBA mastery, if anyone wants to map out how hard it is for your PC, you can do a roll to see. I think of this as most closely related to a WIS check, to get your mind and body right to accept this crazy unnatural task.
For fun if you want, I say DC 15 WIS Check.
If you make it, you get it right on the second try.
If you fail, you have to retry the number of times that you were away from success.
So, hardcore slow-learners who just can't get it right, might have to try up to 14 times (rolling a 1).
But no need to kill time on this either, so it's not required. Everyone gets it eventually.

The Tcho-Tcho Spear Guns:
These are mostly just javelins jazzed up with detail and flavor.
But tossing in a few small adjustments just to make it fun:

They suffer -5 on Range ratings (both for normal and long range) when used above water.
They gain a +5 on Range ratings (both for normal and long range) when used underwater.
When used underwater, they do not suffer Disadvantage if fired within 5'.
When used underwater, Critical Hits deliver an additional die of damage (though modifiers not added for a third time) and the victim's Movement Rate is reduced by 1/2 during its next turn.

In the pitch blackness of night, the group gets into the small boats. All of the other Tcho-Tcho teams have already departed. Some by land, some by boat.

The ones guiding the team begin to row out on the 3 boats. All torches are extinguished. Talking and sounds are ceased. Everyone has checked their equipment. The plan has already been studied and discussed. Everything shifts to execution.

Eventually the small tributary branches out into a larger waterway. Soon after, the waterway opens up into a large lake, encased in the rugged thick shoreline of the gnarled black trees that are The Goatswood.

At first it cannot be seen from the distance. But then in the darkness the silhouette takes shape and is seen emerging from the far tree line. The sun itself is not yet seen, but the edge of morning light is changing the sky from black to gray.

The Black Ziggurat looks mostly like a large hill at first. As the hulking structure gets closer in view however, the angular and block like lines can be seen more clearly. Partially in the forest, partially in the lake itself - the looming mega-structure looks like something that does not fit in on one hand. In another way, it appears to have been at this site so long that it is part of the land itself.

It is a remnant from a forgotten time, one that intrudes in this era now, one that cannot be what it once was perhaps, but still has yet to be overtaken.

Pumji, Kwinga, Hinka, and two other Tcho-Tcho's are there leading the boats. Only Kwinga and Hinka will be coming underwater with the group, and only Hinka will continue as the guide into the lower tunnels.

Pumji scans the horizon, looking at the tree line. He will make the call on the launch time, based on the light. The timing is perfect on the travel. Minimal time out in the open on the lake. Launch time is now. Pumji nods to Hinka. All of the rest of the commands will come from him.

The little thief shifts to a kneeling position and takes his krekutil out from the net bag in the low pot of water. The others know to do the same.

Hinka quickly scans over the water, and looks down into the depths all around the boat.

The inspection over, Hinka looks up to the group and holds 4 fingers up. The first sequence of the countdown.
Everyone knows to inspect the krekutil for a full top bulge and smooth bladder. Everyone nods.

Three fingers up from Hinka. Everyone puts on the krekutil over their heads, allows the low muscle to seal to their necks, and then checks the seal with their hands. Complete.

Two fingers up. Fill masks. Everyone has to get this right, with no botched intakes. They do. Practiced enough, the crowd floods their masks, draws in the water, avoids the panic, and normalizes their breathing. They wait as the internal goggle appendages cover their eyes, purge the water in the small window, and they can see clearly. Eventually everyone looks up again. Ready. In silence. Back at Hinka.

One finger up. Last check. Everyone grabs the shell bulb strapped to the lanyard. Once they are underwater, they will bend back the membrane of the bulbous glob and throw it behind their back to be towed behind them. It will light up, a slightly different color for each person. All of the colors have already been discussed and memorized. In the darkness of the murky water, this is likely all they will see, the light of the person in front of them. It is imperative not to get lost. They will only have one chance to descend in a line, reach the entrance, and navigate through the pitch black underwater tunnels, following Hinka, the dark red light.

Bulbs in hand one hand for the moment. Small bags with supplies strapped tightly to their lower backs. Any undrawn weapons tied down with lanyards and safeties. All unnecessary material left behind in backpacks that will be staged up with Paucotl and the others on the north side of the ziggurat after the mission.

Everyone nods on the final check. Looking at Hinka.

Hinka raises a fist in the air slowly, looking out to make sure that everyone can see the count.

When everyone is confirmed, the fist expands to 5 little fingers, then on silent cadence the hand signal pulses closed to a fist again and then back again.
4 close...3 close....2 close....1 close.
Dive.

The water is extremely cold.

Darkness all around.

The predictions were not inaccurate. All you can see is the light bulb in front of you.

You keep descending. Deeper and deeper. Into the murk.

Initiative, for Bryn and for Ivor.

Opposition from the front and from the rear, emerging from the thick brown murk.

The group approaches the lake floor and begins to swim through a formation of large scattered stones covered in thick layers of muck and algae growth. A few of the rocks can be identified as old columns and even an archway.

Visibility is limited to only about 15 feet or so. The lights of one another's bulb lanyards are critical to maintaining connection and awareness of the travel line.

Hearing in the water and within the krekutil mask is severely hindered. It is a dark world of silence, with the sounds of one's own breathing and internal sloshing being far more dominant than any sounds that can be heard from external sources.

Out of the edges of the murk, attackers emerge.

Only Bryn and Ivor have perception of this initially.

Bryn sees a dark form lurch in and enwrap little Hinka ahead. The Tcho-Tcho's red light is suddenly engulfed in a cloud of mud and bounces around in a twirl of motion. Details are limited, but Bryn can see that the assailant is roughly humanoid in shape. He sees dark skin and the back of a beings head that has not hair, but a line of nobs and ridges--something perhaps inhuman?!

Ivor instead feels something approaching him from behind. Just in time, he twists to at least see his attacker without being caught completely unaware. He sees a thin dark-skinned being, or at least a glimpse of one, with huge bulging glazed black eyes and clawed webbed hands!

Ivor is not sure if he can surge forward in time to tap Maeriks and send the signal forward before the attacker latches onto him.

Going with Initiative Roll of Bryn / Ivor Average this time because of the special circumstance of the environment and the nature and location of the attacks by opponents. I calculate that as 12 + 3 = 15. Average is 7.5, shifted to 8.
Also, Surprise was avoided because of vigilant combat-ready stance of the party.
But opponents have specialized capability in water, gain Advantage on Initiative checks in this situation.

No matter which way Initiative goes, the only people who will be able to take initial action will be Bryn and Ivor. Everyone else will have to get involved as possible/as desired after first action and observance.


RESULTS: Opponents 18. Opponents have first Attack and command Top of Round in the combat sequence.

Top of Round 1

Deep One Lead

The horrid humanoid lurches in and tries to grab Hinka and slash him with its claws. The little Tochoan tries to evade and escape.

Bryn sees Hinka twirl and roll to escape, but still the Tcho-Tcho thief is under great duress from the underwater attack.

TR 1
Deep One Flanker

The creature closes in on Ivor and tries to tangle him up, to separate him from his friends and slash him to ribbons one-on-one.

Grapple Attempt.
Claw Strike Attempt.

RESULTS:
Grapple Attempt for Comparison: 8
Critical Hit Natural 20 on Claw strike. Add roll for expanded damage. Total Damage: 11.

TR1
Deep One Flanker (Related)