[Encounter] Giant Octopus

Unbeknownst to the party they'd stumbled into the den of a large creature lurking in the shadows. While Gideon was still stumbling around on the deck above it was Aeylin that had descended into the belly of the ship. She soon found out it was not just the belly of the ship that shed explore as a giant tentacle had wrapped around her arm and tugged on her with unyielding might. She had not seen what lurked in the deepest darkest corner of this underwater tomb but could definitely feel it. Large suction cups had begun to draw a vacuum on her arm causing her to stagger.
[Str Contest: Ae 19 - Oc 21, 17] Ambushed!

• Reference to IN TURN ORDER: (1 Aeylin Ae, 2 Gideon Gi, 3 Octopus Oc)

It had been too late, the creature had stealth, swiftness, and strength on its side. Along its natural advantage to lay an ambush in these depts and she had walked right into its trap. She could barely make out a shadow coming for her other arm.. but more so felt it as another tentacle wrapped around it. [Ae 20 - Oc 10, NAT 1] Break free.The mare made another **** attempt to escape the unknown creature's clutches.. although she had a pretty good feel for what it was. She could feel the suckers peel from her skin leaving them slick with slime. Now she had a fighting chance.

Without delay, she attempted to escape to the upper deck to warn Gideon she sprinted off with a backward kick toward the corner, hoping to kick this thing right in the face. [Ae] [Natural 1 on kick] [23 to flee] - 1 stamina.

She kicked blindly not daring to delay, and her back hoofs connected with simply more water before she trotted off, she just about made it to the stairs before she could feel a tentacle coming down on her flank.
[Oc] [Natural 20 dash] [11 to hit]

[Ae] [26 dodge.] Fortunately for her, it no longer had the element of surprise and she continued to dash towards Gideon, knowing she had no hopes of dealing with this thing on her own, especially underwater as her bow would prove useless. [23] The water proved a strong resistance to her movement but she did manage to get onto the middle deck, she could make out the shape of Gideon who appeared to walk in her direction. She tried to yell but all that came out were bubbles. Hopefully, it would be enough to warn him.

[Gi 3 Perception] The ship proved far too dark for Gideon who slowly walked towards the back to pursue his companion.. his Queen he'd seen walk over earlier. He'd been unsuccessful on this deck, maybe she had discovered something?

[Oc] [9 Pursue] The creature struggled to maneuver in the confined space of its lair but had no intention of letting its prey escape that easily.. [Lair action] [DOMINATE MIND] -1/2 Willpower in 15m/50ft range.

{You should not resist, I will have my way. There is no need to fight}

• Gideon -3, Aeylin -2

An overwhelming sense of dread consumes the minds of both noble warriors, a familiar sensation that could only be caused by strong and fearsome creatures or devils. Aeylin was fully aware of the situation, and now Gideon was too.

[Ae 25] Aeylin rushed towards her companion nearly bumping into the hulk of a man, her hand placed upon his strong bicep with the other pointing towards the stairs, she guided his arm to her own so he could feel the direction. He nodded and gave her arm a little affirming squeeze.

[Gi] Gideon took a battle stand, his hooves scrapping on the deck as he braced for whatever thing came up those stairs, he could barely see anything but what little light made it into that deep corner was enough to make out shapes now that his attention was directed towards it. [Prep: Reaction Bull Rush]

[Oc] [9] The creature waddled up the stairs, its long tentacles wrapping around the upper deck as it pulled its bulky mass through, squeezing through the gap. When a large shade had started to appear in the corner Gideon charged.

[Contest of Str] [Gi 15 - Oc 14, 16] [1d4= 4 damage]

[Ae] She decides to stand beside her companion and attempts to trample some of the tentacles beneath her hooves.
[9 for 3 dmg]

The Octopus [14] manages to slide its tentacles back. It has superior vision in this environment and would not let this creature get the best of him. But now there were two..

[Gidion] Hurls his axe overhead and brings it down into the mass: [24 to hit, 10 damage].

[17, 19] The axe lands right into the creature's core, an agonizing sound piercing through the water

The giant octopus latches out attempting to snatch its earlier prey [23] and connects, instantly wrapping around as much of the Mare body as possible.

Aeylin reaches for her flask and downs her potion of strength. Then she attempts to struggle free.
[Contest Str: Ae 22 - Oc 11, 24] - 1 stamina each.

• Aeylin suffers -1 Will - 1 Stam as she struggles within its grasp, each attempt somehow arousing her further whilst exhausting her will to fight.

Gideon chops away at the tentacles holding his Queen. [20 for 2]

[Oc 24] It maneuvers in such a way that the axe slashes pure water, clearly, it knows that these things can't see as well as itself and fully intends to use that to its advantage. It attempts to latch the brute Bullman too to subdue it with its axe. [Natural 20!] It successfully wraps multiple appendages around the brute's arms, its suckers latching on. Now both of them have to struggle against this monster. [Contest of Strength] -1 stamina. [20, 23]

• [Ae 15] [Gi 21] - 1 stamina, -1 Will, + 1 Lust.

With the both of them in its clutches their hope dwindles, how could they be so foolish.. [Contest of strength]

• [Ae 14] [Gi 15] [Oc 9, NATURAL 20] - 1 Stamina, -1 Will +1 Lust.

Resistance is futile..It almost feels like the more they struggle the more they allow the creature to latch on further, the Mare completely enveloped, several tentacles around her limbs and ribs, she can feel her power seeping away.. her will to fight this creature..dwindling..she gets excited at the thought.. [Lost the will to fight]

Gideon in an equal predicament still attempts to save both of them, he can not fail.. he will not falter!

• [Contest of Strenght: Gi 16 - Oc 23, 24] -1 st, -1 w, +1 l.

With all his might he pulls at an appendage around his abdomen, the ones around his arms waiting for his struggle to end.. only to pull them away once his grip slacks, the struggle continues for a few minutes before Gideon too loses his will to fight.. It's pointless. [Lost the will to fight].

The Giant octopus jiggles each of its prey, 1 of them limp the other grimacing angrily but no longer struggling.

{You alive? You give in? This could have been easy..}

The voice is projected into each of their minds because they are no longer conscious. Their subconscious can still receive its message.The creature tears a piece of cloth of the Minotaur's attire and pulls it over his eyes, wrapping a tentacle around. Then it proceeds to swim somewhere to the surface.. somewhere far away and tosses the Bull on the sand only to retreat with its intended vassal, the inside of its tummy stirs as if to anticipate what has to come.. Mating season has come and this Male octopus has to find a safe and secure place to host his eggs before it perishes. No longer.. it has found its host and he already has the perfect lair to securely do so..