Durik was surely going to follow Clíodhna's advice. He could even check in each room if something changed.

Count shrugged in response to Grog'tial's lack of enthusiasm for his novelty idea of spider's usage. "Hmph, Argy would do that."

-----

On the ship, when called by Clíodhna, he looked at the hostile gathering and passed his judgment:
"Clearly these cowards won't attack now 'cause they know we'd blow 'em of the water like afore. An' this ol' hagfish surely knows our purpose 'ere, meanin' knows also we won't be leavin' just yet too. Thus, I'm 'fraid, they be waitin' 'til crew is away to attack unmanned ship. Which is actually quite concernin' thought, ain't it? Will this ship defend itself fer who knows how long? Wouldn't be nice 'ave to kick out sea scum o'erboard aft return, or worse, be stuck 'ere."

-----

Before leaving, Count took free gillyweed.

He was very surprised to see black spider still waiting on the shore on their return from the ship. After consideration he decided it probably won't be much helpful in flooded temple though, so he let it loose and pointed to the grove. Besides it could be easy prey for Aboleth.

While they were approaching the structure, he makes a mental note that buildings made of glass look pretty awesome and himself wouldn't mind living in a glass house. Or tower, imagine whole tower made o' glass! If he wasn't vulnerable to sunlight, that is.

Before entering, he approaches Durik.
"Listen, lad, I need ye to remember one li'l thin' fer me. Should it happen that I'll become possessed by that wretch down there, don't 'esitate 'n hit me with this garlic grenade ye saved. I can't know fer certain, but I 'ope allergic reaction would overwhelm my senses 'n break the fiendish link. An' if not, well, I s'ppose at the very least it should slow me down a bit 'fore I'll kill y'all. - Count slapped Durik's back and laughed. - Harr, harr, harr!"

-----

Once inside, he will leave Chuuls for heavy hitters and prepare to face zombie squad. During fight will take advantage of saber being longer than cutlass to strike from out of opponent's reach. He will also keep an eye on the one with a whip. In case of being attacked by him, Count will try use off-hand to take the blow, wrap whip around the arm and pull, to either disarm zombie or pull it close to meet the saber.
He will remember to sever the heads after fight.

When zombies are neutralized, he will take a look to the big central room (left turn at the corridor's end), only to see if there's more enemies coming and not wandering in. If not, he will come back to the entrance area (or wherever crew is gathering). If yes, he'll get ready to face them. Unless it's something big, in which case will start retreating and warning rest of the crew.

Durik reluctantly took the garlic grenade
"Uh ok. But wudn't be better if ye stayed away from Ablet then? Durik doesn't want to fight crew"

Kyp somehow getting teleported on the ship was confused for a second.

But then kyp reaches out to the Dragon Turtle
"Yes I would be willing to help your eggs be berried in a safe place! Just tell me where the eggs are and where they need to go, also if I should do it now or if I should help my crew with the temple mission"

Durik already had one in his inventory - that is what the Count is referring to. Count is allergic so he does not carry any, Count is trying to warn Durik to use it if something seems off with him as it could break the influence and give an extra resist roll. ;)

LOL. He wasn't teleported, he just came back aboard as everyone was brought to the Ship for a quick briefing (which also saved a turn of doing mostly nothing). It is up to Kyp whether he wants to join for the temple mission or go back to the Dragon Turtle. You have a few hours to decide.

Grog'tial's happiness at the crew finally getting their act together (well, mostly Aeshma finally doing some incomprehensible magic thing, really) swiftly evaporates as the creepy spider walks up to the Count, and the Count proposes his crazy plan. Taking a few steps further back and sideways until both Mighty and Durik stand between him and the Count, he calls out a strangled "Err, I dunno, I'll get back to ye 'bout that!" and hastily starts heading back to the Griffon.

Back on the ship, Grog'tial reiterates his plan, and hands over his Remote Viewing Potion to Aylar (assuming that Aylar is indeed up for the plan). He also takes (eats?) some Gillyweed, reminding everyone else to do the same.

When they arrive in the temple, Grog'tial hopes that Aylar will indeed be using the potion to scout out the lair of the Aboleth, and figures it's up to the rest of the team to keep the gathered enemies far away from Aylar. Those zombies sure are clustered nicely together - he'd love to fire a stun bolt at the front rank of the zombies, but with only 2 such bolts left in his supply, and them being a crucial part of his plan, he'd rather not risk it. Instead he'll ask Bellandra to do the honors on that count, assuming that no one will wander into the danger zone. (If for any reason Bellandra doesn't, and no one else seems to be effectively taking care of the zombies, Grog'tial will reluctantly use one of his remaining stun bolts - if he can do so without endangering anyone.)

If he doesn't use a stun bolt, or is now consistently reloading more swiftly, Grog'tial will shoot a hardened bolt at a Chuul, assuming any are still left by the time he gets to act, otherwise an explosive bolt at the head of any non-stunned zombie not directly engaged in combat with a crew member.

Grog'tial also suggests to Gilius that if the Aboleth watches through his servants eyes, some flash powder into those servants eyes right as they teleport away with Aylar (preferably before, assuming any servants are left, but otherwise immediately upon arrival) should give them some extra edge and help retain the element of surprise of their swift traversal through the temple. Grog'tial is really not happy with the idea that they're walking into a trap. Knowing that it probably is a trap helps, and he does trust that his own plan will be an unwelcome surprise for the creature, but all the same, he feels that it's crucial to go in hard and decisive, before the Aboleth can actually spring whatever trap he has planned.

Once Aylar gives the signal that he's ready for a teleport, Grog'tial will link arms with everyone else (hoping no one has wandered off too far; if they have, he'll make a reasonable effort to safely retrieve them, or a great effort if it's Count Karnstein). He hopes Aylar will have given a swift report about what to expect after the teleport regarding positioning and enemy forces. If after the teleport there's still time to act, he'll wait for the Aboleth to be at (or at least close to) the water surface, and then fires a stun bolt at it.

Once briefing starts and information is shared between the Crew, Aylar leans over the table, studies the temple map intently for a few moments, taking what he has heard into the account, then nods. "Alright, let me outline what we be dealing with. First off, judging by that display o'gaggle outside our Ship and the lack of any shenanigans on the Island - well, I be thinking that this means our overgrown eel is feeling pretty sure of its own designs. I'm hoping that means that it will nae launch an attack on the Ship just yet after we leave fer the temple, but if its forces begin to move after we be gone, or it loses its patience and cool - which would be a likely thing if we be successful in what be coming - he looks towards the phantoms and Clíodhna at that - "I trust ye and Bellandra's kin be able to hold down the fort." Signal me if the siege forces start misbehaving, we'll pick up the pace smartly, he thinks.

"Now, it be definitely waiting to spring a trap upon us, and I be thinking that it might be here, where it and the mechanism be waiting for us," He motions round over the biggest chamber. "Now, as fer that plan of yours, Grog'tial, the aspects of that be very good - stunning it with bolts, freezing the water, using Sextant to pause it. These things in separation, we will keep in mind and use if there be an opportunity.

However, what be dangerous about it is hoping that everything will go exactly as ye envision it to happen. If we nae able to pull the sequence off, there it goes. Nae forget, we be facing the Aboleth in its lair, with its forces close to it. It be having a tactical advantage, and it be knowing that. Fer example, just one way it may go - what if once we arrive to the main chamber, it be nae coming to the surface, and flooding the chamber? Then there be nae freezing the water, and nae shooting. Its forces could be stationed there to offer reinforcements and overwhelm us. The mechanism may be messing about with our Weapons, and from that, Locket teleport going wrong, nae Pipe or Sextant working.

We might be able to use the Remote Potion and Teleporting combo after we be done with the battle, if something goes very wrong and we are left trapped with nae way to escape. Now, we ought all use Gillyweed before we enter the temple, and so the water should indeed nae be danger to us, which brings me to that secret door Durik pointed out," he traces the route from the main corridor to the secret alcove and beyond, "if ye look carefully right here, ye can see that it leads outside. There could be a way fer us to swim back to the portal that way, if we be nae able to exit the way we came or teleport closer to the portal. Naturally, that could also allow us to take a look at the big chamber from outside, if it turns out to have windows or such, but that be more of an aside," he waves his hand slightly. "Now, the main event."

"What I be hoping to pull off, is to force it play by our rules, or rather lack of thereof." He grins at that. "I be hoping to tick it off and cause it nae be thinking tactically, force it to lose that advantage. First off, I propose we nae be going to it right away and force it to wait a bit. Look round these rooms near exit first, kill every and all enemy we see - less allies fer it, less ways for it to spy on and affect us. Nae look them in the eye fer long, nae drop yer guard, be bold and vicious - it should see us nae unsure, nae cowering. That should annoy it some. Hopefully it might attempt to send out some of its lackeys out of its chamber, if there are any, to ambush us fer our defiance and separate forces even more, which would be a boon to us.

If there be marine creatures, maybe Kyp can try reason with them and free them from the eel, but otherwise, consider them potential ways for it to attack. Just in case, keep an eye out fer drains or any openings that might let us know that there be a way to flood the room, and pay attention to the doors, it could be attempting to trap us that way before we even reach the main chamber.

What also might be useful fer us is that the Aboleth be a squatter in a sacred place - true, it be its lair presently, but it's nae really be belonging to it - it was previously taken by a Hag, and its actual creators are long gone by now, so if we be able to turn the place itself against it that be a boon. To put it simply - all of us should be as disrespectful to the fish as be possible. It has been leaving shrooms about in our holds, sickening our livestock, messing about with our supplies, ambushing at night, trying to abduct people, why in the Nine Hells should we be giving it any respect and going its way just cause it expects to and wants to? Those of us more attuned to picking up on ta spirit of the place, Aeshma, Gilius, keep a magickal eye out, perhaps there be an advantage to seek there. An old Dwelling like this could be having, in a sense, a mind of its own, and it could nae be too happy with the way things be now.

Well, once we have cleaned up the rooms by the exit and near the corridor, lured out as many enemies as possible and written as many water-washable insults twards the fish on the walls as can be reasonable, then we be going after the Aboleth - but naturally, be ready fer anything." He'll hear out any other opinions and finish up the briefing with " Now, go prepare as ye see fit lads and ladettes. Aeshma, stay behind fer a moment please, I have a few magick related questions about this here temple..."

---

Once he had his talk with the aasimar witch, Aylar will go to his cabin and don the runic gloves, then, after a moment of gathering about his will and resolve in order to quell the incoming magickal turmoil, he will open the box and retrieve the Sword. Only after he be absolutely sure that all three energies involved into the altercation, be it Fae, Phoenix, or Fell, are settled down and nae throwing an uncooperative fit (he will remind the more good natured ones of the necessity of such cooperation, and remind the Sword just how great and delectable the soul will be), he will secure the Sword upon his back, give his cutlass and axe a quick re-sharpen with his whetstone, if need be, and exit to rejoin the Crew. He'll take his gillyweed when it be the most convenient, which would probably on the Island a ways before entering the portal.

---

Once through the portal and arrived at the cavern, he be attempting to check if he can still communicate with Clíodhna. He nae thinks he ever dealt with other planes before, but it dawns on him that other plane be really, really far, and it be best to test that before they be at the eel's lair proper.

At the temple itself, he will be attacking the zombies with his cutlass and axe, picking targets that aren't currently engaged with anyone else in combat. If the whip zombie happens to target him, he will opt for dodging, and aiming to close the distance and strike the moment after the zombie's attack lands, as that when he deems it be most off-balance and vulnerable.

After there be no more enemies to slay, he will be alert for any sounds or signs of approaching enemies or any potentially enspelled wildlife secreted away from the Crew's sight. He be curious in scouting the closest room, but opt to keep an eye out on the corridor instead, or remain stationed on guard by the room's door, if there be no enemies to fight inside but other Crew be checking it out. If there be enemies inside he be partaking in combat.

If anything turns out to be well quiet enough, he might sever a finger off a zombie and set about inscribing a few Elvish runes upon the wall in its blood. He be ready to move out towards the next leg of the corridor when all are.

Mighty

Mighty nods to Clíodhna and Grog'tial: "Mighty thinks this is a good plan." (Mighty strongly believes that each plan that involves skull cracking on some level is a good one, although he may miss more subtle details).
He pets his wooden monkey charm and drinks a mental resistance portion.

Kyp returns to the turtle with the mission of helping the dragon turtle nest her eggs.
(I expect that I will get a briefing from her when I go back to her so I know more details of where to go and such)

For GM clarity then - Kyp will not be accompanying the Crew into the temple? Fine if he doesn't, the GM just needs this specified.

Captain Baldbeard has some gillyweed in prepration as well.
He also mentions to the others that he has shark pack ready to go ahead and decimate any creatures without getting any of the crew in danger from Aboleth influence. Based on the decision the crew makes, he will send them either to the chuul or the zombies. If no decision is made by the crew, he'll send them ahead of the direction most of the crew is going and decimate whichever creatures are there (if they are the zombies, he will be sure to remind them to do some good head-chomping). If nobody is moving at all, he'll send them to the chuul and go down that path.

If time and circumstance allows for it, he will send them to the other side after dealing with one side.

After the battle of the grove:

Bellandra was glad to be feeling her ribs in proper shape again, and thanked Argy for her assistance. She mentally congratulated the Griffon, Mermaid and Sea Horse for their roles in the past battle.

She then beheld the power of the stone elementals as they took out the remaining Chuul, and felt glad they had mostly not had to fight the elementals. It seemed to her there was something similar to the elementals as to herself and her newfound kin, beings of seemingly lifeless matter but imbued with life and strength.

She also thought back to the light she had seen enveloping her from the rabbit's foot, but recognized that the foot had only been a channel and the light had emanated from elsewhere. It had felt good, pure like starlight but far warmer than the distant stars. She had seen Aylar glowing with it. Cliodhna and now Aylar too - hidden power so strong in both of them.

The abomination was gone thanks to the concerted effort of all the crew, Aeshma, and the grove itself, but it had proved formidable. "We be well rid of that foul being," she thought, "but it that be the like of foe the aboleth can summon from afar, we may be in for a tough fight in its lair." She would need the sextant charged and ready, either for the aboleth itself or for any further dread summon it might spring on the crew. Thus she would return to the ship to recharge the sextant.

On the way to the ship, she thanked Kyp for his crucial role in freeing the Dragon Turtle, and asked him about the details. Hearing what had been done to it sickened her, and she hoped they would soon ensure the turtle's tormentor would not be able to try again. However, the mention of a trapped Sea Dragon worried her, would it still be there, enslaved as the turtle had been?

Back on the Ship:

Aboard ship, Bellandra noted the raised ships in the distance. She reached out with the mind, hoping for a small chance that more of her kin might be attached to them. If there was any sensation of them, she would try to implore them to seize their freedom as she had done earlier.

In the Great Cabin, Bellandra listened to Cliodhna's description of the portal and its controlling mechanism. She resolved to use the knowledge she had gained from the Book of Puzzles & Treasures to assess if there was anything they could notice about the mechanism the crew could turn to their advantage, such as flaws or misalignments. Once she was in sight of it she also planned to use the mirror to see if there was anything unseen about it.

Bellandra also listened to Grog'tial's recap of the plan which he had suggested earlier before the mission to the grove. It still seemed sensible to her, even though like Aylar she suspected the aboleth would have tricks to try to disrupt the plan. Nevertheless, she was ready to do her part both with the sextant and with stun bolts in the initial attack. However, she had heard Cliodhna's warning about potential unforeseen effects of magic near the tear and would try to use the sextant not too close to the tear.

Perusing the map of the temple, she pointed out the easternmost chamber near the exit seemed to have a very thin wall between it and the snaking corridor. She suggested that if they had access to the chamber and if the way into it was not swarmed with enemies, they might be able to break the thinnest point of the wall down as a shortcut either on the way in or the way out, avoiding any traps or enemies the snaking corridor might hold.

She asked Aeshma if she could still whip up a mental resistance potion for her. If so, she would take one along and drink it before venturing through the portal. She would also take along gillyweed and use it at the same time.
However, she also told the Crew that if she should become subjugated by the aboleth, she hoped her kin the Mermaid, Sea Horse and Griffon might be able to reach her and break its hold, much like she had reached them earlier.

She noticed Cliodhna's uneasiness and wondered if her puzzle knowledge might help her recognize any part of the enemy's plan. She offered to help, but understood that the twists and turns of an aboleth's mind might be beyond her knowledge to puzzle out.

Journey into the Temple:

When the time came she traveled back with the crew and ventured into the seaglass building. She was willing to be in the first group in, following Grogtial's plan. She used the Gillyweed (and a mental resistance potion if available) before venturing in.

Inside the Temple:

Bellandra saw the incoming enemies. She wondered if the zombies would be vulnerable to a stun bolt - the grung had been but what of zombies? If her sense indicated the zombies might be vulnerable she would fire a stun bolt at them. If not, she would fire a hardened bolt at a Chuul. She was also ready to fight off any that ventured close with her cutlass. When the moment permitted it, she would also take a quick look around the corridor hoping to detect hidden enemies, traps, or secret doors.

If Grog'tial's teleporting plan took place, and they came in range of the aboleth, she would use the sextant to freeze it. If that succeeded, she would fire a hardened bolt at the frozen aboleth, otherwise she would fire a stun bolt at it.

After leaving the island, Gilius recharged his Staff on the ship.
He also took the gillyweed.
During the briefing, he agreed with the crew's suggestions.

On the way to the temple, he ate the gillyweed.
He took the stone elemental under his command along. "I think I'll call ye Rocky. We'll be best mates, Rocky, ye an' I !"

Gilius will enter the temple in the second line.

Once in the entrance, seeing the enemies, Gilius asks Rocky to guard the front while the others examine the rooms on the right. Rocky wil smash any incoming threat in the front.
Meanwhile, Gilius will try blowing a sleeping dart on a chuul on the left (aiming at a possible soft spot) without much hope given their natural armor. If by any chance it works, he will fire another one on the second one.

After that, Gilius will try to feel any magical energy in the air around him. He will try to feel if there is anything strange nearby. Any being ? Life being or ethereal being ? He will try to communicate if he can. He will try to feel what is this place, what it was used for, if something or someone is being trapped or is in distress. He will try to feel any information that his druidic senses allow him to get.

If there are enemies in the right room, Gilius will interrupt his actions to help there and cudgel any hostile there.

Mission 4 - Temple Turn 2
*Next turn starts 3 AM UTC, 5 December

[GM Note - As some players are catching up by reading turn posts only, there is a lot of quoting of posts on important points and set-up below.]

Bellandra is glad to be feeling her ribs in proper shape again, and thanks Argy for her assistance. She mentally congratulates the Griffon, Mermaid and Sea Horse for their roles in the past battle. She beholds the power of the stone elementals as they take out the remaining Chuul alongside Mighty, and feels glad they had mostly not had to fight the elementals. It seems to her there is something similar to the elementals as to herself and her newfound kin, beings of seemingly lifeless matter but imbued with life and strength. Bellandra thinks back to the light she had seen enveloping her from the rabbit's foot, but recognizes that the foot itself is only a channel and the light had emanated from elsewhere. It had felt good, pure like starlight but far warmer than the distant stars. She had seen Aylar glowing with it. Cliodhna and now Aylar too - hidden power so strong in both of them.

The abomination was gone thanks to the concerted effort of all the crew, Aeshma, and the grove itself, but it had proved formidable. We be well rid of that foul being, she thinks, but if that be the like of foe the aboleth can summon from afar, we may be in for a tough fight in its lair. She would need the sextant charged and ready, either for the aboleth itself or for any further dread summon it might spring on the crew. Thus she would return to the ship to recharge the sextant.

Grog'tial's happiness at the crew finally getting their act together (well, mostly Aeshma finally doing some incomprehensible magic thing, really) swiftly evaporates as the creepy spider walks up to the Count, and the Count proposes his crazy plan. Taking a few steps further back and sideways until both Mighty and Durik stand between him and the Count, he calls out a strangled "Err, I dunno, I'll get back to ye 'bout that!"

Count shrugs in response to Grog'tial's lack of enthusiasm for his novelty idea of spider's usage. "Hmph, Argy would do that."

-----
Back on the ship, Bellandra thanks Kyp for his crucial role in freeing the Dragon Turtle, and asks him about the details. Hearing what had been done to it sickens her, and she hopes they can soon ensure the turtle's tormentor will not be able to try again. However, the mention of a trapped Sea Dragon worries her, will it still be there, enslaved as the turtle had been? Bellandra notes the raised ships in the distance. She reaches out with her mind, hoping for a small chance that more of her kin might be attached to them. (roll dice) But there is no response, and the voice of the Ship is also quiet, as if it restrains itself now, although she feels the slightest touch of sympathy. The enemy may have learned from its mistake the last time.

On the ship, when called by Clíodhna, Count Karnstein looks at the hostile gathering and passes his judgment:
"Clearly these cowards won't attack now 'cause they know we'd blow 'em of the water like afore. An' this ol' hagfish surely knows our purpose 'ere, meanin' knows also we won't be leavin' just yet too. Thus, I'm 'fraid, they be waitin' 'til crew is away to attack unmanned ship. Which is actually quite concernin' thought, ain't it? Will this ship defend itself fer who knows how long? Wouldn't be nice 'ave to kick out sea scum o'erboard aft return, or worse, be stuck 'ere."

"The Ship be equipped to defend itself well, Count," Clíodhna assures him. "We be having a few tricks they not be knowing about." *Though I be not wanting to use them all as one or two be leaving ye without us in possible range of ye* she sends to Aylar. "If the worst be happening and the Ship cannot retrieve ye however, Kyp can be asking the Dragon Turtle to break through and be taking ye to another port. Mind ye, it may be a rough ride as it plows through the enemy, but with the Gillyweed and sheltered inside the seaglass building ye should be safe."

"Hm. Could be it nae be their objective to attack us, only to position to box us in and ensure we and the Turtle nae be leaving, mayhaps scratch at our nerves so we fidget. There be no reinforcements arriving from the temple, all is quiet; me be thinking the eel has pulled all its island crew close and be biding its time and waiting on us to come pay it a visit," Aylar says, then turns for the Great Cabin, ready to start the Briefing.

-----
In the Great Cabin, Bellandra listens to Cliodhna's description of the portal and its controlling mechanism. She resolves to use the knowledge she had gained from the Book of Puzzles & Treasures to assess if there was anything they could notice about the mechanism the crew could turn to their advantage, such as flaws or misalignments. Once she's in sight of it she also plans to use the mirror to see if there is anything unseen about it.

After the preliminary briefing [Post 910] Grog'tial elaborates on his plan while handing over his Remote Viewing Potion to Aylar. He suggests that as soon as Crew enters the temple, Aylar use the potion to take a look at the big room which the Admir'l suggests as the most likely place for the Aboleth. Grog'tial tells the crew, "If it's there, he takes a moment to observe any massed enemies there, communicates those to us so we know what to expect and can immediately act on the information, and finds us the most advantageous location to appear at en masse - at most waiting for the Aboleth to move close to the surface first so that the ice trick will work. Then we all link arms, count to three, and teleport. Immediately upon teleporting, we fire stun bolts, the Count uses his pipe, and then if the scheme is successful, we all protect Aylar from all other enemies while he goes take out the Aboleth, with the sextant kept back until the moment that Aylar reaches it." He also takes some Gillyweed, reminding everyone else to do the same.

Durik drinks his Mental Resistance potion and grabs some Gillyweed. He had already taken three harpoons from the ship to use for melee attacks. Checking the temple map again, he says, "What about the secret door, we be goin' to use it or not?"

Clíodhna remembers something else and goes back to the briefing, gliding in to land on Aylar's right shoulder and surreptitiously tug on a lock of his hair for him to pay particular attention. She looks at Grog'tial intently. "Grog'tial, ye once told me ye saw yer brother taken by portal. Ye remember it. Can ye describe what that be like? What did ye see, did ye hear or smell or feel unusual? How be he taken, by something reaching, by falling?"

"I was quite some distance away, but it be like a swirling vortex of many colours. One moment there was nothin', then it was there. I couldn't see through it. A shadowy figure appeared from it, yanked me brother by the shoulder so 'e stumbled in and disappeared. 'e prob'ly ne'er even saw the figure. Then another vortex appeared, the shadowy figure stepped into that, and then both those vortexes just... vanished." Grog'tial answers.

"The Dragon Turtle be telling Kyp it be a tear in the magick. A tear could be something entirely different, and if so, ye need be very very careful in what magicks be used near it and the mechanism," Clíodhna cautions them. "The Cursed Items were done specifically so as to avoid a bad reaction crossing certain planes and still be able to keep their magicks locked within ... but a tear near the node or mechanism could twist things quite badly and we not be knowing what this Aboleth be doing with the energies. Durik, ye have a good connection with Dakka. While ye be there, especially near that room, be asking Dakka if he feel bad or he be not right somehow. That may be a good warning for all of ye." *Aylar, be wary. If there be a portal there be no guarantee it be only back and forth to here. It could be pulling in creatures from elsewhere, waiting for the 'right moment'. Ye be right, we be being baited through all of this, which be meaning it be wanting us here. Perhaps the way to go about it be to be giving it what it thinks it be wanting, but not the way it be wanting it? Ye seem to be quite good at that.*

Durik was surely going to follow Clíodhna's advice. He could even check in each room if something changed.

"Also remember, the Aboleth must see ye to influence ye - but it also be seeing ye through the eyes of its slaves and servants, so if ye be in sight of one of them, it can target ye. That be how it be gaining power and servants on land."

Grog'tial also suggests to Gilius that if the Aboleth watches through his servants eyes, some flash powder into those servants eyes right as they teleport away with Aylar, preferably before, assuming any servants are left, but otherwise immediately upon arrival as it should give them some extra edge and help retain the element of surprise of their swift traversal through the temple. Grog'tial is really not happy with the idea that they're walking into a trap. Knowing that it probably is a trap helps, and he does trust that his own plan will be an unwelcome surprise for the creature, but all the same, he feels that it's crucial to go in hard and decisive, before the Aboleth can actually spring whatever trap he has planned.

(to be continued below ...)

(... continued from above)

Aylar listens to the information and suggestions then leans over the table and studies the temple map intently for a few moments, taking what he has heard into the account, then nods. "Alright, let me outline what we be dealing with. First off, judging by that display o'gaggle outside our Ship and the lack of any shenanigans on the Island - well, I be thinking that this means our overgrown eel is feeling pretty sure of its own designs. I'm hoping that means that it will nae launch an attack on the Ship just yet after we leave fer the temple, but if its forces begin to move after we be gone, or it loses its patience and cool - which would be a likely thing if we be successful in what be coming - he looks towards the phantoms and Clíodhna at that - "I trust ye and Bellandra's kin be able to hold down the fort." *Signal me if the siege forces start misbehaving, we'll pick up the pace smartly,* he thinks to Clíodhna.

She nods. *Aye*

"Now, it be definitely waiting to spring a trap upon us, and I be thinking that it might be here, where it and the mechanism be waiting for us," He motions round over the biggest chamber. "Now, as fer that plan of yours, Grog'tial, the aspects of that be very good - stunning it with bolts, freezing the water, using Sextant to pause it. These things in separation, we will keep in mind and use if there be an opportunity."

"However, what be dangerous about it is hoping that everything will go exactly as ye envision it to happen. If we nae able to pull the sequence off, there it goes. Nae forget, we be facing the Aboleth in its lair, with its forces close to it. It be having a tactical advantage, and it be knowing that. Fer example, just one way it may go - what if once we arrive to the main chamber, it be nae coming to the surface, and flooding the chamber? Then there be nae freezing the water, and nae shooting. Its forces could be stationed there to offer reinforcements and overwhelm us. The mechanism may be messing about with our Weapons, and from that, Locket teleport going wrong, nae Pipe or Sextant working.

"We might be able to use the Remote Potion and Teleporting combo after we be done with the battle, if something goes very wrong and we are left trapped with nae way to escape. Now, we ought all use Gillyweed before we enter the temple, and so the water should indeed nae be danger to us, which brings me to that secret door Durik pointed out," he traces the route from the main corridor to the secret alcove and beyond, "if ye look carefully right here, ye can see that it leads outside. There could be a way fer us to swim back to the portal that way, if we be nae able to exit the way we came or teleport closer to the portal. Naturally, that could also allow us to take a look at the big chamber from outside, if it turns out to have windows or such, but that be more of an aside," he waves his hand slightly. "Now, the main event."

"What I be hoping to pull off, is to force it play by our rules, or rather lack of thereof." He grins at that. "I be hoping to tick it off and cause it nae be thinking tactically, force it to lose that advantage. First off, I propose we nae be going to it right away and force it to wait a bit. Look round these rooms near exit first, kill every and all enemy we see - less allies fer it, less ways for it to spy on and affect us. Nae look them in the eye fer long, nae drop yer guard, be bold and vicious - it should see us nae unsure, nae cowering. That should annoy it some. Hopefully it might attempt to send out some of its lackeys out of its chamber, if there are any, to ambush us fer our defiance and separate forces even more, which would be a boon to us.

"If there be marine creatures, consider them potential ways for it to attack. Just in case, keep an eye out fer drains or any openings that might let us know that there be a way to flood the room, and pay attention to the doors, it could be attempting to trap us that way before we even reach the main chamber.

"What also might be useful fer us is that the Aboleth be a squatter in a sacred place - true, it be its lair presently, but it's nae really be belonging to it - it was previously taken by a Hag, and its actual creators are long gone by now, so if we be able to turn the place itself against it that be a boon. To put it simply - all of us should be as disrespectful to the fish as be possible. It has been leaving shrooms about in our holds, sickening our livestock, messing about with our supplies, ambushing at night, trying to abduct people, why in the Nine Hells should we be giving it any respect and going its way just cause it expects us to and wants us to? Those of us more attuned to picking up on tha spirit of the place, Aeshma, Gilius, keep a magickal eye out, perhaps there be an advantage to seek there. An old Dwelling like this could be having, in a sense, a mind of its own, and it could nae be too happy with the way things be now.

Well, once we have cleaned up the rooms by the exit and near the corridor, lured out as many enemies as possible and written as many water-washable insults towards the fish on the walls as can be reasonable, then we be going after the Aboleth - but naturally, be ready fer anything." Aylar nods to the Crew and waits to hear their opinions.

Mighty nods to Clíodhna and Grog'tial: "Mighty thinks this is a good plan." (Mighty strongly believes that each plan that involves skull cracking on some level is a good one, although he may miss more subtle details). He pets his wooden monkey charm and drinks a mental resistance portion.

Bellandra listens to Grog'tial's recap of the plan. It still seems sensible to her, even though like Aylar she suspects the aboleth has tricks to try to disrupt it. Nevertheless, she is ready to do her part both with the sextant and with stun bolts in the initial attack. However, she hears Cliodhna's warning about potential unforeseen effects of magic near the tear and resolves to try not to use the sextant too close to the tear. Perusing the map of the temple, she points out the easternmost chamber near the exit seems to have a very thin wall between it and the snaking corridor. She suggests that if they have access to the chamber and if the way into it is not swarmed with enemies, they might be able to break the thinnest point of the wall down as a shortcut either on the way in or the way out, avoiding any traps or enemies the snaking corridor might hold. Bellandra tells the Crew that if she should become subjugated by the aboleth, she hopes her kin the Mermaid, Sea Horse and Griffon might be able to reach her and break its hold, much like she had reached them earlier.

Clíodhna has also been listening and now speaks up. "What Captain Aylar says about the temple being a sacred place is due to me warning him that this be of very Old and Deep Magick. Being disrespectful to the Aboleth, seeing it as an intruder and foul be fair and fine - but DO NOT be disturbing the temple itself or seek to damage it beyond things that can be washed off or put right again. This temple can be considered as somewhat similar to yer kin, Bellandra, a possibly sleeping vessel or storage for an ancient power and ye do not want it hostile to ye. I warned the Captain to be being quite careful with that. If such a thing should awaken ye want it turned against the Aboleth and its ilk, nae against the Crew."

Gilius nods and agrees with the crew's suggestions, and also with Clíodhna's warning. If it was Old and Deep Magick, then he might be calling on his Nature Sense again to feel it out, as Captain Aylar has said. If it is connected to nature or the elements, he should be ready. His Staff is recharged and he also takes the Gillyweed to be prepared.

Captain Baldbeard has some gillyweed in preparation as well. He mentions to the others that he has the shark pack ready to go ahead and decimate any creatures without getting any of the crew in danger from Aboleth influence.

Aylar hears out the other opinions and finishes up the briefing with "Now, go prepare as ye see fit lads and ladettes. Aeshma, stay behind fer a moment please, I have a few magick related questions about this here temple..."

Clíodhna stays on Aylar's shoulder to give any magickal insights she can as well.

(continued below ...)