LEGENDS OF HAWAIKI - Prologue

[Seonaid]

Lani peers out at the shape in the water, certain it isn't a shark. [roll 8 + mod 3 = spot check 11] She smiles with relief tinged with concern as she sees so many so close to the whirlpool. This can't be natural, she thinks to herself. Someone would have noticed any disturbance powerful enough to cause this. She looks around, trying to come up with some way to help the others or to get back to shore safely.

 

[Mirth]

Puna Tani
Exhausted by the impact, Puna Tani struggles to push himself up towards the light and the air above. Breaking the surface again he reorientates himself and turns towards the Rock with Lani perched atop and the Porpoise Mou trying to catch her attention.

Spying the whirlpool, for a moment you think you saw somthing up from the waterlaring back at him ,

"you will drown, slowly, paimfully" the voice inside your head hisses

(ooc Spot check 20)

Not this time, I won't, spirit. Puna Tani thinks as he regains his composure and starts pulling himself through the water towards the rock, trying to put what he was sure he saw in the whirlpool (OOC: Spot check -- 19 + 1 = 20), out of his mind for the moment.

 

[wolff96]

Wai stands to get a better view (Spot Roll - 3 + 1 = 4) but can't make out anything through the crowd.

He pushes forward towards the swimmers, distantly noting that the two still-competing swimmers are about to finish.

He wrings his hands, wanting to help but not knowing what he can do.

 

[Guest 11456]

Tu-Ru, not knowing what is happening, focuses on the task at hand. He continues concentrating on the race and the Hiva swimmer before him.

 

[Tonguez]

Lani
From her perched on the rock Lani takes in the scene before her, even as Mou attempts to call for her attention from her left. Directly before her the vortex still spins leaving her only option for escape a now short scramble up and over the slippery rock.
No less than four of the remaining swimmers still lie in the danger zone of the whirlpool which before her eyes heaves and shifts in what can only be an attempt to grab another victim before they all escape its currents grasp and to her horror two of the swimmers are dragged in wih no hope of escaping on their own...

(Climb DC 10 Swim 20)

Tatiki
Even as Mou draws up alongside the Rock and thrusts her head up to call Lani's attention, you see your combined call answered as another of her pod appears from outside the bay and approaches the scene. The Nukuhau swimmer is at first shocked to see the porpoise before her but quickly takes advantage of the assistance being offered there.
You can see Lani's head above the rocks peak and you see the other swimmer and even Puna Tani. Unfortunately from your vantage you cannot see the remaining swimmers that have now fallen victim to the vortexs pull

Puna Tani
The elemental aitua in the vortex has the form of a large moray eel though you know that is not its true guise, it is enflamed by the escape of the Urukehu Hautai and in its fury heaves up before your eyes and the vortex shifts in what can only be an attempt to take another victim before they all escape its grasp. Of the four swimmers within the dangerzone two are dragged in with no hope of escaping on their own...

Tu-Ru
Still oblivious the O'punga powers foward to draw parralel and then overtake the Hiva swimmer. It is not long before his powerful strokes carry him close enough to the shore that he knows that he could stand if he wished too, the voice of the crowd is easily heard here with its calls and rumble.
It is with a few more strokes that he finds himself meeting the first line of the wall of legs that have moved down from the sand into the water to block his path.

Then you feel something grab your leg...

(DC 15 Reflex save)

Wai
As the scene on the water unfolds before you the situation on the beach has also changed. As a body the whole crowd seems to have pushed its way down the beach and into the water.
The O'Punga and the Hiva swimmer are approaching fast though the incident out the rock draws everyones attention. Cries of Shark have died down as Mou and the other dolphin are spotted more clearly. Lani can be seen up on the rock and Puna Tani and Tatiki both swimming towards her.

However the plight of the two caught by the vortex can also be seen as your own feet enter the water. Their are calls and concerned babbling and prayers as the pair and pulled in to the whirlpools maul

"Wai, quickly!" a voice calls and turning you see Maeharoa and a few other of the young men hauling one of the village canoes from along the beach into the waves ready to row out to assist...

 

[Guest 11456]

Feeling something grab at his leg, Tu-Ru tries to jerk his leg away from it. (Roll 10, Mod +3, Total 13, DC 15, Failure) The large o'punga is not quite quick enough and does not escape the grip. He turns to see what has grabbed him.

 

[wolff96]

Wai turns at Maeharoa's call.

Seeing the other youths attempting to wrestle the craft into the water as quickly as possible, he runs over and grabs an edge.

Then he lets go just as quickly and darts to the shed where the canoe was kept and emerges with a coil of rope over his shoulder. Adjusting his coral bracers to make sure they are snug on his wrists, he grabs the canoe once more and helps wrestle it into the water.

He leaps into the front of the canoe and pulls the rope from his shoulder, feeling the craft surge into the waves with the powerful oar strokes of those behind him.

As they rapidly approach the whirlpool, Wai readies himself to cast the rope out to those caught in the deadly swirl of water.

 

[Seonaid]

Lani watches in horror as the whirlpool reaches for the swimmers. It seems almost intelligent to her eyes, and definitely malevolent. After throwing a prayer to Whomever might be listening, she takes a deep breath and dives into the water, hoping to be able to save at least one person.

Roll 12 + modifier 12 = swim check 24

 

[Mirth]

Puna Tani
The elemental aitua in the vortex has the form of a large moray eel though you know that is not its true guise, it is enflamed by the escape of the Urukehu Hautai and in its fury heaves up before your eyes and the vortex shifts in what can only be an attempt to take another victim before they all escape its grasp. Of the four swimmers within the dangerzone two are dragged in with no hope of escaping on their own...

Seeing his fears manifest in the vortex, Puna Tani pulls himself harder through the water, trying to close to within 60 ft of the aitua. Once there, the shaman reaches out with his mind...

These people are under my protection, furious one. Although this may be your place, it is NOT your time! Go feed your anger elsewhere. BEGONE!

OOC: Puna Tani will use his ability to TURN SPIRITS on the moray eel. Honestly, I would rather the DM make all of the rolls behind the scenes, only informing us of the actual die result if something especially horrible or heroic happens. So take it away, Tonguez

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Tatiki will swim closer to where Lani is to see if she is well, when he sees her jump back into the water he assumes there is more endangered and swims faster.
Swim check 19+6=25