THE SAVAGE TIDE ADVENTURE PATH
Module One: There is No Honor... (Dungeon #139)
Chapter Two: Trouble on The Blue Nixie

The party say goodbye to Lavinia and Kora and make their way back out onto the streets of the merchant district which are now coming alive. It is a short walk to the start of pier five, and they arrive there within half an hour.

The party  congregates is the nearest building to the pier's starting point. This is the major gondola waystation in the merchant's district and makes a great spying point since there are a lot of people coming and going.

OOC: There is plenty of people coming and going on the pier as well. The Vanderborens rent the berth right at the end of the pier which is about 100 feet long. There is no cover as such between here and there, but lots of workers carrying goods, merchant coming in from other districts to open their shops, and other folk. There are at least half a dozen vessels you can see moored on pier five at the moment, but you can't make out the Blue Nixie.

So... just run this past me again. Logan is going to observe from the roof and Alohan will swim? It is broad daylight (about 0900) and no-one else is climbing on the roof and no-one is swimming.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:51, Tue 09 June 2015.

Logan pulls up his hood, gabs and empty crate and joins the steam of workers heading to the pier. Meanwhile, the rest of the team stay in the large gondola waystation and enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

09:29, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 13 using 1d20+3. Disguise for Logan.
OOC: That's enough to get onto the pier at least.

The pier is a broad stretch of hard wood extending almost 100 feet out into the grand canal. The first moorings are kept free for the many gondolas dropping people off and picking up new passengers. The gondoliers maneuver aggressively to get into the wharf first and the sound of cussing and threats fills the air.

The rogue keeps walking out and starts passing big sailing ships that are unloading goods from other cities and lands. The first is a simple flat bottomed river boat that has brought food down from one of the plantations that surround Sasserine. The next is a carrack that is off loading coconuts - probably from the Pearl Islands guesses Logan. The number of workers milling around on the dock quickly drops off as Logan reaches the last third of the wharf, and he starts to be able to see ahead better. The thief looks down to the very end of the pier where the Blue Nixie should be and his heart sinks.

The ship is not there - the mooring is simply empty.

Logan's eye travels further out and is caught by a familiar eight pointed star embossed on the side of a vessel anchored in the middle of the grand canal. Bending down and pretending to tighten a shoelace, Logan studies the ship. Yes, it is the Blue Nixie alright. Anchored (illegally) right in the middle of the channel at a point equidistant from the end of pier five and Barge End.



OOC: The Blue Nixie is anchored about 100 feet (66 yards, 30 m) out from the end of Pier Five and roughly the same distance from Shadowshore. Logan can see several men moving around on deck - they are pulling water barrels onboard using a rope and tackle. He doesn’t recognize any of them (i.e. No Vark, Ketrana or Vanthus) The vessel is slap bang in the middle of a main naval thoroughfare and sailing vessels and gondolas are having to weave around it as they head to navigate past to other points in the city.

There is no-one moving around on the last third of the dock so it would be hard to get any closer than he is.

The gondola waystation is buidling 20 on the map.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:00, Wed 10 June 2015.

Upon getting this information from Logan Angati commented, "They are preparing to leave... if they are loading water that's what they are up to...we have two options that I see... either try to get into the boat at night or something.... or convince someone with the power to do so, that there is something wrong going on with the boat, it should not be there, and we would need to go with them in representation of the boat's owners".

"My skills are better set for the second course, and I daresay we loose not much by trying that route first, and if it fails taking on the first option... what's your call ?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:15, Wed 10 June 2015.

Logan nods.  "The only flaw with that is that if we alert them by trying to have the ship impounded, or at least detained, they'll be aware that someone is trying something.  If, on the other hand, we just sneak on board at night, we might catch them unawares."  The rogue shrugged.  "But it might be worth trying anyway.  Of course, they might just ignore official pressure and leave.  After all, what they're doing right now is already illegal, and they don't seem to care."

Celene sighs. "And I'm indecisive. I am worried that Vark is going to play another 'corrupt sheriff-card' on us again, to keep the boat even if we get it back to shore. But your objections ring true, Logan. How about something in between? Logan, you say Keltar Islaran was really not corrupt, just old and tired - and you had his ear that evening. What if we ask for a meeting with him, you - or we - explain the situation and particularly the illegal anchorage of the ship, and request for a authorisation from him to detain the ship and get it back at the pier. We THEN sneak out there ourselves this night, to carry out his wish. Whatever document we have, they're bound to not give a frak - we are then in our good right to whop them around - and there we have it? This time he, Vark that is, can't hide behind corrupt law enforcers or bent rules."

Thinking it over, Celene sighs again. "Or do we now just have three equally good options to choose from? What do you think, Alohan?"

Alohan listened carefully as Logan reported his findings. It would seem the Blue Nixie's position just about eliminated the possibility of him swimming up to the boat undetected. Not without the aid of arcane magics and he wasn't well versed in them to know which he needed. Alohan considered Angati's method but agreed with Logan's assessment- any action to bring the authorities might just send the Nixie off into the sunset. Celene's idea of bringing Keltar into the fold did have merit but the ship already appeared to be in the final preparations of casting off. They night not have the time to get Keltar's permission. They might not even have enough time to wait until dark!

The native nodded at Celene, looking to the Shadowshore boy who continued to be the key to their continual success. "Logan, ya be thinkin' of talkin' to de Coughing Man? I be likin' dis idea. He be a powerful man ta have on our side when de fists be flying." He gestures out to the harbor, pointing at the moored ship barely seen through the forest of ship masts.

"But I be thinkin' we can't be waiting- not even for de night. De ship might be sailing by evening tide and I expect we wont be seeing it again for some time. I be sayin' we go as soon as we be able. Thinkin' Logan goes ta see what he can from dis Keltar. We stay and make a plan ta get out to de boat."

Alohan looks between Angati and Celene. "Ya be havin' any magics to help us get der under de water? Somting ta give me de breath ta swim?"

Angati nodded "Ok, before going to Keltar, make a stop by the Lady in Heat, let's inquire about him, and about this, she might know better how to pull the strings here... and she might even have a contact or two that we can pull on".

OOC: meaning Amarilde of course.

OOC: I’m going to take a few liberties here to move the story along.

The party decides that trying to enlist help from their contacts (Amarilde & the harbormaster Keltar Islaran)as this is a low risk  course of action that can be accomplished quickly.

Auntie Angati and Alohan head for the Toregson family mansion, where Amarilde Toregson (nee. Vanderboren) now lives, while Logan and Celene head over to the habormaster’s guildhall to explain the situation to Keltar. Kassius stays in the area of pier five to keep an eye on the vessel – this makes sense as he is the only one who Vark has not seen yet so is in no danger of being spotted. The team agrees to meet back at the gondola waystation as soon as they have finished their missions.

The oracle and the barbarian head over to the champion district and try to secure a meeting with Amarilde. It is a little tricky (it is the first morning of her honeymoon after all!) but she eventually appears at the top of the stairs with a mess of disheveled red hair and a happy grin on her face – she seems delighted to see them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:45, Thu 11 June 2015.

“Uggg! I have the mother of all hang overs, but it was worth it. You guys all left far too early last night, the party got REALLY wild later on you know. Come on, I need some breakfast and the hair of the dog.” When Alohan asks where her new husband is, she just shrugs. “He was up at dawn like usual so he could get to the arena and do his daily fitness regime. It’s fine, I like a slower start to the day anyway.” It is about ten o’clock by the time Angati and the pearl islander sit down with her for a second breakfast so it is a REALLY slow start to the day.

The noble lady takes her breakfast (mostly liquid in the form of tomato juice and some sort of strong Glantrian spirit) as she listens intensely to their story, then shakes her head sadly at the end of it. “I am so sorry to hear that cousin Lavinia is having problems. It is the last thing she needs after how rough the last month has been for her. That swine Vanthus should be helping her, not going around town causing problems! Anyway, I don’t see what I can do. I am well connected with the younger nobility in the town, but this is definitely a job for the harbormaster. Unless you can see some other angle?”

The rogue and the sorceress have a little more luck with Keltar – after a fashion. They arrive at the harbormaster’s guildhouse in the Azure district at about half nine but are told by a minor functionary that the harbormaster is sick and they should come back the next day. Logan takes the initiative of turning up at the Islaran manor and sweet-talks his way into an audience with the harbormaster. The old man is in his study, just as sick and morose as the night before, but he greets the rogue warmly. When the pair lay out the story of the Blue Nixie, paid mooring fees and illegal anchorage in the channel the man’s face grow red and steam almost starts coming out of his ears.

“I can’t believe this is possible – in my own harbor! I hired Soller Vark in good faith to look after a couple of the piers in the merchant district and this is the way he treats my trust?!” The man scurries around for a quill and some writing material. “I am preparing a document to authorize you as agents of the harbormaster with full rights to seize back the vessel and march Soller Vark back here in chains. This document is notarized and fully legally binding. I am sure that Vark will release control and come back here peacefully.” The man finishes the document, seals it with his signet ring and then wraps it up in a red ribbon. Then he coughs up a spray of red blood all over it, and presents it to them. “Good luck with you mission. I am sorry that I cannot provide any men to support you, but we are stretched at the moment – there was another attack by these weird manta rays last night and TWO ships were holed out and sunk. So we are scrambling around trying to get the harbor mouth clear, that has to be out first priority.”

The party reforms at eleven o’clock at the gondola waystation and Kassius has something to report. “They finished loading the water and then most of them went below decks out of the sun. There seem to be two or three on top keeping guard – it’s tricky to see from this angle so I can’t be precise. I think Alohan is right, they just missed the last high tide – probably because the harbor mouth is blocked, did you hear about that? So they might sail with the evening tide which is about ten o’clock tonight.”

OOC: Sunrise is always 0700 and sunset is always 1900. Welcome to the equator.

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:46, Thu 11 June 2015.

Logan thanks Keltar profusely, wishes the man good health and heads back to his allies.

Once back at the dock, Logan nods at Kassius's report.

"Well, then we've got about three hours from sunset until they can leave.  That's probably when we should strike.  It should be easier to sneak up unopposed, and hopefully catch them by surprise.  We've got this writ from Keltar that should make the whole thing legal."

Logan brandishes the sealed document as he would a dagger, then sighs.

"We'd have the same problem using this openly as we would using official pressure.  If it worked, we could show up on the ship and they'd all surrender peacefully.  Somehow, I don't think that'd be Vark's reaction."

Angati thanked Amarilde and asked her if she knew of someone at the docks that might feel close to her familys interest, to help them reach the boat at least.

---

"I think we should at least give them a chance to do this peacefully even if it makes things a bit harder for us, dont you think?" she said to Logan and the rest once they were together.

Amarilde chews her bottom lip thoughtfully and considers the question thoughtfully. She leans forward, which has the effect of causing her dressing gown to fall open slightly. Auntie Angati is sure that it is intentional and for Alohan's benefit.

"Well, I don't know about 'close to the family', but I do know a boatman who could be useful. His name is Rodolfo and he is based in the Merchant's District. He is very *ahem* discrrete if you know what I mean, and doesn't mind a bit of risk if you throw a couple of extra gold coins at him. Could be useful if you need to get out to the Blue Nixie without being noticed - his gondola looks just like all the others in the city so it won't draw any interest."

Amarilde gives Angati the address of this boatman.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:54, Thu 11 June 2015.

Kassius casually rested against the side of the gondola waystation, idly slicing bits of wood into even-lengthed shafts. A man could go through arrows right quick in a pinch, and Kassius had no desire to run out. Continuously making replacements was a useful habit to get into, and it allowed him to keep his hands and eyes busy while still paying attention to the conversation. Things were much less awkward that way.




"Why not do both? Sneak onboard, put a knife to their throat and then offer them a chance to do things peacefully? Might be a bit more appreciative of the law's authority that way I reckon." Kassius puts in, ending with a chuckle glancing up only briefly before returning his focus to his work.

Meanwhile, Kibeti lounges on his belly at Kassius' side, the big cat's eyes fluttering closed before snapping open every now and then.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:59, Thu 11 June 2015.

Celene shifts back and forth on her feet, trying to weigh the options and drawbacks. Finally getting to her own conclusion, she speaks up. "I am with Kassius on this one - we don't have to be naíve in this. We know how they, or at least Vark works, from prior experience. We told you about that, Kassius, right? We have the harbour masters word that this is illegal, and that we are to bring back Vark in chains. We don't need to do it one way or the other - putting them in a bad position before asking for their surrender sounds far more effective. Sneak in, pacify as much as possible, then declare them under arrest sounds fine. But we're not aiming at hurting anybody - unless they resist of course....."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:28, Thu 11 June 2015.

Angati nodded looking at Celene raising her eyebrows with a bit of surprise and a smile on her face "Good to know you don't mind interpreting the law to our advantage, of course showing how rightfully lawful we are while holding a knife to the throat does give the legality of it all a certain extra weight.... ok, fine by me"... she turned to signal a little bit off towards the merchant district "Over there lives a certain Rodolfo, who won't mind taking us there, and might even give us a hint or two on seamanship so that we have a better chance of adding that extra weight to our lawful rights... oh! and he will keep it all quiet for the right amount of money."".

She made a swipe with her arm as a gentleman letting a woman pass at a door "Shall we then ?"

OOC: Why not continue this conversation at the gondolier’s house?

Since there is no action on the Blue Nixie, the party feels that it is safe enough to leave it unattended and walk a city block to the address of this ‘Rodolfo’ that Amarilde recommended. After asking for directions a couple of times, they enter a narrow alley off Stinkgutter Way. The small side street certainly lives up to the name of its parent street, with the walls on either side reeking of piss and for some unknown reason, old cabbage. All the houses are very narrow and three stories tall, meaning the lane is dark and damp. They find the right door, which is placed in the middle of a stucco coated townhouse wedged so tightly between its neighbors that its street-front consists of little more than the door and small side window. Shortly after Angati knocks on the door, it is answered by a man in his early twenties with a fine mane of dark hair slicked back against his scalp, and dressed in a white singlet drop.

“Ciao belladonna! What can-a I do for you-a?” The man has the strongest Thyatian accent that anybody in the party has ever come across – this is an accent that has become almost extinct in Sasserine since the Thyatians were thrown out ten years ago.

Kassius stood off to the side, his bow slung over his shoulder. Kibeti paced at his side, as inconspicuous as a blue-eyed albino mystical panther can be. Which is to say, not very. Kassius looks over the man dubiously. Between the neighborhood and the accent, Kassius is hardly impressed. Still, no need to take first impressions to far.

Kassius supposed he should let one of the others take the lead in the conversation. Angati and Celene both seemed to have a gab with words that Kassius knew he'd never emulate in a thousand years, even if he did want to, and Alohan was apparently somebody of some importance somewhere, from Kassius gathered.

Eh, fark it. When I let other people lead the conversation, it always seems to end up in hours of pointless drivel. He thinks with a shrug, before brusquely announcing. "We need a gondola trip to a boat in the middle of the harbor, tonight, after it's got dark. You need to be fast, discrete, and if they notice us, there's a not-so-slight chance we might be getting shot at. Hence the fast and discrete bit. If you think you can do that, there's a fat purse in it for you. You in?"

Logan smiled and reached out his hand.  "Rodolfo!  Nice to meet you."  He looked past the man into the townhouse.  "Could we speak privately inside?"

Assuming he lets them in...

"We have need of a..." Logan coughs, "discreet boatman who could be persuaded to accept a little risk.  You come highly recommended from Amarilde Vanderboren.  What would say to providing us all transporation out to the Blue Nixie, moored in the center of the channel?"  Logan cocks his head.  "I welcome any thoughts, but I was thinking going just after dark would be best, since we'd like to do it without being noticed.  Perhaps, though, going during the day, and blending in with the rest of the traffic would be best."

OOC: Looks like Kassius' and Logan's posts crossed in the either. Let's see if I can merge these together.



Rodolfo shakes the thief's hand and then pokes his nose out into the street, taking in the sight of the party. A scruffy looking half-elf, a half-naked native, an elderly lady, a young uptight looking novice, a half-orc dressed in a ranger's cloak plus his large cat. "Ahhh.... Frak-a it, why-a not-a?"

The man leads them inside the house - that doesn't take very long. The ground floor is just one room that serves as kitchen, dinning room and lounge, while a stairway up once side leads up to the next level and a window through a back door shows that the house ends on the canal.

"What-a is this all about? Work related I hope..." says the young man, sitting down on a wooden chair in one corner. It is a crush getting the entire team into the room, but they manage it.



"Hmmm... Where are you-a interested in going exactly? The harbour is a big-a place and some parts are better than others-a..."



The boatman shrugs. "O-kay-a, I am interested-a. But Rodolfo no do fighting! When the crossbow bolts-a start flying I am hitting the deck-a. You pay for any damage-a to my boat and ten gold crowns on top, o-kay-a? Although if the pretty girl sitta on my lap'a while we travel there, I make it five crowns, o-kay-a?" Rodolfo arches his eyebrows at Celene several times.

"As to when we go-a. I go-a when you say go-a."

OOC: Just to make things a little fair, I'll give you some info on how your character perceive the situation.

Obviously there is more water traffic during daylight hours, and the Blue Nixie is in the middle of the channel so there are plenty of excuses to get close by - well, reasonably close, when you get to a certain point the guys on-board are going to notice something is up.

Going at about an hour after sundown? About half as much water traffic, but then visibility will be much less - even if they do light lanterns. Maybe you could get closer, maybe not. Hard to tell, it would depend on the alertness of the guards and if they hard low light vision or not.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:52, Sat 13 June 2015.

"I'll sit on your lap as much as you want Rodolfo, but I don't think that will be comfortable for any of us..." said Angati with a grin, she wanted to make it obvious she was kidding in a good manner. "Anyway, Amarilde that has suggested your professional services, so I do hope they stay professional, and we leave the rest for later".

"Anyway, it is obvious we do not have much knowledge of the canals or seaman-fare on us... and even though we are going representing the law, to inform them that they have moved the boat when it should have been kept docked, we fear they might take it badly, thus the need for as much silence as needed. As you are much more knowledgable in this matters, what do you recon might give us the best odds to get on the boat without raising their alarm ?."

"Oh, thank you vecchia signora, but it wouldn't be the same-a" says Rodolfo glumly.


"Oh, I could pretend to be drunk-a? Oh maybe actually get drunk-a?" says Rodolfo hopefully.

OOC: Sigh. Typical NPC. Totally useless when it comes to ideas.

I'll ask the party caller to make a decision on the plan of attack early next week. Until then, perhaps it would help if the characters could identify any twists on the plan they might want to apply? E.g. Is Alohan going to swim the last stretch to the Blue Nixie? Is Logan going to use his secret power that he hasn't revealed yet? Is Angati going to... well, she will be MF'ing all over the place, but she needs line of sight to apply this, and she won't have that when she is at water level and they are up on deck.

Amarilde's bosoms were on Alohan's mind. Not in the sense that he would like to see them but more in the correlation between hers and Lavinia's. He wondered if all Vanderboren were as well endowed. 'Such fertile women, albeit reckless and foolish,' he thought to himself. He continued to think of the Vanderboren women while headed to Rodolfo, letting others talk and take point in such matters.

Alohan crinkled his nose at the stench of piss and cabbage, not quite used to the smells and sounds Sasserine never failed to produce. Even Rodolfo's cramped quarters had a particular smell about it. He was beginning to miss the dull volcaninc smell mixed with citrus and sea of his isles.

When his attention returned back to the problem at hand, Rodolfo had agreed to help. He felt uneasy waiting for sundown. For one, he wouldn't be able to see and he suspected most of his companions wouldn't be able either. Furthermore, the evening tide will make it easier for the Nixie to depart. By the time they decided to do this thing, the ship could be on its way out the harbor. Now he just needed to convince everyone else. "No need to be drinkin' Rodolfo. And I be sayin' we be going now. Now, when de tide is low and de harbor is blocked. Now when de harbor is busy."

He cleared his throat and tried to explain. "De Nixie be sailing dis evening -we be thinkin'- meaning de crew be resting. Preparations be done and de be no doubt catching de breath. We go now by boat and by sea. Get as close as we can and board de boat."

---

Idea: Alohan is adamant about leaving as soon as possible. 1, the harbor is both busy and blocked. We might not draw much attention as we would when activity dies down for the night. 2, I am getting the impression the ship will be leaving this evening. It would probably have been gone already if not for the obstruction. 3, I am thinking I could swim around the other side and board that way but I dont really know where I could depart from. I would have to dive off the gondola at some point and then swim around the ship. Doesnt seem like it would help if we are going for speed and force.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 11:53, Sun 14 June 2015.

Hearing her companions discussing the time to initiate the raid, Celene wasn't really set for one of the options. As the discussion rolled, she found herself swayed toward Alohans idea to go as soon as possible, feeling that if no other decisive arguments were presented, that was what she would cast her vote for.

Going over the coming ordeal in her mind, she visualised how she would be ready to use her magic on anyone who spotted them getting close to the ship - if they were within range, of course. Until then, laying under cover of some canvas or similar would probably be the best they could do to avoid raising anyone's interest. A gondola with a passenger or two would be inconspicious.

Picking up on a question Alohan asked earlier, she quipped in during the talks. "Alohan, you asked if we could aid you magically in your swimming. We can, but it is beyond the power I currently wield by myself. If you really need it, we could perhaps acquire the spell we need on an inscribed scroll, but it will both take time, and be expensive - I'm guessing close to 500 gold coins. Even if we could raise that kind of money, I think acquiring it would take more time than we dare spend before setting off. What do you think?"

OOC: at least that's what I think! I have a scroll of 'Monkey Fish', but that's only for the caster, and wouldn't even help Alohan, as he's already a proficient swimmer? Otherwise, Waterbreathing would be my next bet, a level 3 spell, costing 450 for the arcane version?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:09, Sun 14 June 2015.

Angati nodded "My vote goes for doing it now too... I also feel better about doing it in daylight, and if they are planning on leaving by the end of the day, we might get lucky and they might not be fully manned until then, also, I think maybe only Kassius here can handle the lack of light, the rest of us, are gonna be blind as bats.... or whatever is blind and doesnt see. I mean unless I am mistaken about any of you".".

Logan shakes his head at Angati's comment.  "I can see in low-light better than the average person, thanks to my mother's elven blood.  But perhaps Alohan is right.  We can certainly get closer without attracting attention if there's other traffic in the harbor.  And this way, we'll all be able to see the ship.  Perhaps Rodolfo can row past, Alohan and I can discreetly slip over board and board the Nixie, then everyone else can join us when we've secured a rope."

Logan thinks a little more.  "I wonder if it might be possible to stage some sort of distraction?  Stage it so that Alohan's swim for the ship is treated as him falling overboard?  Assuming there's anyone on the Nixie to notice there's one or two less people aboard?  Or maybe Rodolfo can just cross her bow close enough that it'd be hard to see us abandon the gondola."

"Hmmm... if they are doing anything that might involve an accident on board while we pass by, I might be able to turn the odds a bit so that an accident occurs indeed... if they are simply scratching their asses though, I doubt I can do anything ... and I'll need to see them... hopefully someone climbing or loading unloading heavy goods..."

"So we're going in the day when they can see us, rather than at night when we couldn't see them. I suppose either works just as well. Or as poorly." Kassius says, with a slight grimace. "In any event, I don't see how talking about it any more is likely to get us much further."

The party makes the necessary preparations. A canvas is obtained to hide Kibeti under and the giant cat is told by his master to stay put. Something in the strange cat's expression makes it clear that he is not happy about this, but he follows the order. The two ladies attempt to disguise themselves by covering up their heads - as it is the hottest part of the day now so this won't look so out of place.

Rodolfo, Kassius and the cat then slowly make their way in the gondola, while the rest of the party assemble at pier five. When the gondola turns up, they just act like normal paying customers except that Logan and Alohan discretely slip into the water rather than boarding the boat. As they perform this little trick down the far end of the pier which is quiet, no-one notices. Rodolfo then steers them expertly into the waters of the main grand canal and heads towards Shadowshore on a path that will bring them close to the Blue Nixie. The boatman is kind enough to ensure that his path takes them upstream of the boat, so Alohan and Logan have the slow current helping them. The confiscated vessel his aligned itself with the current so that the prow is pointing due west.

The barbarian and the thief stay low in the water and on the side of the gondola furthest from the stolen vessel. With the bright sun so high in the sky there is very little other water traffic and the two passengers being dragged through the water are not noted. Fifty feet from the prow of the ship, the sweating Rodolfo says, "O-kay-a, now!". Both of them let go and submerge, and begin the underwater swim to the Blue Nixie.

OOC: OK, no swim checks actually needed because even if you fail you still move 15'. Since Logan needs to make 50' before 10 checks, Alohan before 14 checks, you both make it without any problems.

As soon as the amphibious invasion team have submerged, Roldolfo allows the current to bend their path to the east so they come a little bit closer to the boat. When they are about 30 feet away they can see there are two men standing onboard the vessel. One on the main deck and one on the quarterdeck (the raised deck at the stern of the ship).

The one on the main deck spots their gondola. "Hey, keep your distance," he says gruffly.

"You are anchored-a right-a in the middle of the channel-a!" says Rodolfo as he stops paddling and allows his boat to drift parallel to the boat (still 30' distant, on the starboard side).

"And you'll get a bolt right in the middle of the head in a second. Frac off!" is the response, and he waves a loaded crossbow in the direction of the boatman to emphasise the point.

At that moment, Alohan and Logan quietly surface on the port side of the Blue Nixie, close to where the forecastle ends. They secure a rope each.

OOC: DC10 climb check to get up on deck. If you fail, you fall into the water with a splash. Angati can't help with MF as she doesn't have LoS.

I'll provide a map this evening.

Celene cursed under her breath. "Damn it, guards! And they've spotted us too far from them. Angati, can you be an outraged noblewoman? Maybe even get them closer together? Rodolfo, can you edge us a little closer once she gets their attention? Then I'll take care of him." She did a quick visual scan of the ship, checking if any sailors were present but not obviously visible. Then she started casting behind cover of Angati, hoping to time the spell with Rodolfo getting them closer.

OOC: how close together are the two visible sailors? Are they known to us? Which one is closest to where Alohan and Logan climb up, and how close?

quote:

12:13, Today: Celene rolled 21 using 1d20+3. Perception for unnoticed sailors.

Or is that a roll you want to make, GM?

Celene then starts casting sleep behind Angatis back (sorry, no pun intended). If the two are too far apart (more than 20 feet) to both be affected, she will aim it close to the man on the Quarterdeck, assuming I understand correctly that he is furthest from A+L, and could spot them, as he's not neccesarily looking at the gondola. Obviously I was hoping to get the benefit of Angatis MF, but if not, Celene will just try it without.

EDIT: oh, looking at the map, and assuming one square to be 3 feet, they may actually be close together to affect both?? Well, depends on EXACT position...

---

Free : talk| Swft : | Move : | Stnd : | Full : cast sleep

---

HP: 7/7 |  AC: 11/10/11 | CMD: 9 | Saves: 0/0/+4

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells : (unlimited use - DC14)
              Detect poison
              Daze (enchantment +1 DC)
              Flame Burst (special - as Acid Splash but a fire orb instead)
              Mage Hand
              Detect Magic (1/1)
              Light (1/1)
              Prestidigitation (1/1)
  L1 Spells : (4/4 - DC15)
              Charm person (enchantment +1 DC)
              Sleep (enchantment +1 DC)
  Abilities : Flame lance (7/7)

This message was last edited by the player at 10:53, Wed 17 June 2015.

In the water, Logan easily kept pace with Roldolfo and his cruising gondola, making the last jaunt of the swim underwater.  Arriving at the side of the Blue Nixie, Logan took a moment to catch his breath.  Nodding at Alohan, the two men started their ascent simultaneously.  Within moments, Logan knew he was in trouble.  The swim, or perhaps the wedding last night, or the events at Aubreck's manor had left him with a lingering malaise.  Logan was panting hard after only a few feet up.  Suddenly, disaster struck.  A spot of slippery algae on the rope caught Logan by surprise, and he tumbled into the water with a splash.  The rogue quickly surfaced, hugging the side of the boat.

"Frak me," the rogue whispered.

---

Standard: Climb
08:34, Today: Logan rolled 3 using 1d20. Climb.

---

HP: 9/9 | AC: 17/14/13 | CMD: 14 | Saves: 0/6/2
Abilities: Invisibility: 6/6 Rounds

Angati looked at the two guards and pulled her hood back to let her white hair and age show, she was about to talk when Logan's splash was clearly heard, there was not much to be done about concealing the sound so only thing left was playing along with it.

Shepointed at the water right under the guards to this side of the boat "What is that shade ? Is that a manta ray ?"

Kassius groaned at the distinct splashing noise from the other end of the boat. Of course something went wrong. Still, the ladies' quick thinking seemed like the best way to deal with it. And if Angati was going to play the noble, Kassius could clearly only be her personal guard.

"Perhaps my lady. You two up there, have you seen any sign of predators in the waters around here?" He asks, sweeping his eyes around as if looking for underwater foes and drawing out his bow.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:13, Thu 18 June 2015.

Logan's plight was lost on Alohan -he was too busy scaling the Nixie's hull! One hand after the next and the Islander half-pulled, half-hurled himself up the rigging. When his hands felt the hard wood of the ship's rail, Alohan catapulted himself onto the deck, vaguely aware Logan wasn't beside him. The heat inside began to bubble -his inner pele. He had hoped the others were in position because things were about to become very violent.

---

Climbing: Look at the Native climb!
20:57, Wed 17 June 2015: Alohan Nuari rolled 22 using 1d20+4 ((18))
This message was last edited by the player at 01:04, Thu 18 June 2015.

The two thugs onboard the Blue Nixie turn at the sound of the splash...





Both the men turn their attention back to the port side of the boat. "Manta ray?!" cries the thug who had been cursing at Rodolfo. "Where?" he says, peering at the surface.

There is the sound of feet on the deck, and a third thug joins the men on the port side. "Don't beleave that old garbage. There ain't no manta rays in the harbour." The newly arrived beared thug looks up and makes eye contact with Angati. His lips soundlessly spell out the words "oh frac me" as a look of recognition enters both of their eyes. This thug is the one that got away from the dressmakers yesterday morning, after jumping out of the first floor window thanks to the oracle's fear spell.

"It's that witch that got me yesterday! Shoot her! Shoot her in the head!" Marek brings his crossbow down to point at Angati and the other two thugs follow.


Thug 3 - aka Marek. I always intended to recycle him on the Blue Nixie since he is one of Vark's posse



Alohan sees three thugs with their backs to him thanks to the rest of the party's distraction.

OOC: I think I flipped the positions of the gondola and swimmers in the map, but never mind. Also, Alohan is actually one square up and onboard the boat. THe newest thug is just 20' away.


<START OF PLAYERS TURN>

Celene begins casting her sleep spell.

So much for bluffing! Kassius thinks to himself, as weapons are drawn. Figuring he might as well do the same he turns and aims his own bow at the lead thug. "I'd be careful where you point that thing. Someone might get hurt." Kassius call back to the guards.

Then he continues, speaking more softly, "Kibeti, kufu."
, intending for the panther to come out from behind the cloth and aid in the intimidation.

Seeing one of the thugs getting ready to fire, Kassius turns and spins, shooting at the man. However, at the same moment, the gondola moves, and Kassius stumbles, his arrows flying high and wide.


09:46, Today: Kassius rolled 6,1 using 1d20+5,1d6. Readied Attack, damage.
And nat 1 on attack and damage roll. Nice first combat rolls for me...

---

Kassius
Standard Action: Ready action to fire bow at first person who thug who attacks
Move Action: none
Free/Swift Action: Change Kibeti's Animal Focus to Frog

---

HP: 9/9  AC 18, Saves+3/+7/+3
Spells Slots: 1st: 2/2
Other Abilities Remaining: Hunter's Focus (1 minute)

---

Kibeti
Standard Action:
Move Action:

---

HP: 14/14 AC 14, Saves+4/+6/+2
Current Animal Focus: Frog (+4 acrobatics to jump, swim)


EDITED To include readied action text and rolls.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:49, Thu 18 June 2015.

Staring up the side of the massive boat, Logan squinted but couldn't make out anyone except Alohan.  The rogue took one more moment to catch his breath, and then shimmied up the rope, this time using both his legs to brace against the side as well as his arms.  It took a little longer, but the rogue breathed a sigh of relief as he made his way slowly to the deck.

---

Standard: Climb
09:17, Today: Logan rolled 17 using 1d20. Climb.

---

HP: 9/9 | AC: 17/14/13 | CMD: 14 | Saves: 0/6/2
Abilities: Invisibility: 6/6 Rounds

Kassius, you'd better make the hit and damage roll now.. It looks like they will fire and your action will be triggered.

Logan climbs, Celene starts casting sleep, Kassius tries to shoot (and misses), Kibeti comes out from the tarpaulin and growls... Just Alohan and Angati left.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:34, Thu 18 June 2015.

Angati waits to cast any spells to see how things fare with the spell that Celene is casting, and tries to get a bit lower on the gondola to avoid the shots.

Taking a sling out, and placing a bullet in it, she rolls the thing and lets the bullet fly against Marek, but does not take into account the movement from the waves, and the bullet flies aimlessly.

---

Free : Duck a bit | Swft : | Move : Ready Sling | Stnd : Sling attack Marek
20:26, Today: Angati rolled 4,5 using 1d20+1,1d4+1. Attack Marek, Dmg Marek.

---

HP: 11 |  AC: 16 | CMD : 11 | Saves: 2/1/2

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells : 4/4
  L1 Spells : 3/3 Cure Light Wounds, Protect from evil, Fear
  Abilities : Misfortune, Temporal Celerity

This message was last edited by the player at 06:20, Fri 19 June 2015.

Alohan witnessed the sailor brandishing a crossbow, pointing at what he assumed to be his companions down upon the water. The sight was enough to infuriate him. Quick as he could, the Native sprinted across the deck of the shit, lowering his shoulder to the unsuspecting crossbowman. With everything he could muster, Alohan threw his shoulder into the man, hoping to pitch him over and into the water.

---

Bullrush: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamema...combat#TOC-Bull-Rush
I know this provokes an AoO but I believe the target only has a crossbow? As far as I know he is unable to make that AoO with a ranged weapon?
Rage: 5 | 6
Standard & Move: Charge and Bull Rush target #3/Marek | Melee vs CMD
16:07, Thu 18 June 2015: Alohan Nuari rolled 16 using 1d20+4 ((12)).
This message was last edited by the player at 20:10, Thu 18 June 2015.

OOC: Agreed, no AoO if he is using a missile weapon. Also, poor old Merak has his back to you anyway as he is lining up his crossbow on Angati's head.

Alohan shunts Merak over the side of the boat easily, and the man cries out in alarm as he sails into the water below.

Rodolfo has enough sense of mind to paddle his gondola up along side the Blue Nixie - Merak is forced to submerge beneath the surface to avoid being run down by the small boat.

OOC: Those of you in the boat can now make a full round climb action (DC10) to reach the main deck of the boat.

<ROUND ONE: END OF PLAYER'S TURN>
<ROUND ONE: START OF OPONENT'S TURN>

Thug two whrils around in alarm as he sees Merak hit the water. "We're under attack!" he screams out and then fires his crossbow at the islander, but Alohan is too quick and twists out of the way.

Thug one also cries out the alarm and shoots at Angati. The bolt thuds into the side of the gondola.

Cursing and shouts are head from both below deck and from the door to the rooms under the quarter deck. It looks like re-inforcements are coming.

10:19, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 15 using 1d20+1. Thug 2 attacks Alohan.
10:20, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 14 using 1d20+1. Thug 1 attacks Angati.

<ROUND ONE: END OF OPPONENTS' TURN>
<ROUND TWO: START OF PARTY'S TURN>
OOC: Map will be updated tonight, but feel free to post in the meantime.

Celene unleashes her sleep spell at the thug on the quarterdeck (thug 1). He drops his crossbow overboard and falls to the ground asleep.

OOC: Target communicated to me via PM

12:35, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 11 using 1d20-1. Thug one will save versus sleep.

That means that thug 2 is the only one left active.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:39, Fri 19 June 2015.

Unable to resist uttering a whishpered "yes!", as she saw the two thugs dropping, Celene rummaged around her backpack. While the gondola veered around to come along the ship railing, she found that precious cylinder. While unfolding the content, she hollered towards the ship "Cease and desist! We have a warrant from the harbourmaster to take custody of the ship by whatever means." Well, at least now they'd been officially warned.

Not waiting for nor expecting an affirmative response, she proceded to let her eyes run down the paper, her mouth quickly forming the syllables that would cost her a fortune but save her and perhaps Angati from a swim with Marek. She had complete confidence in the athletic hunter to manage himself. But stil...

Feeling the awkward transmutation of her hands and feet starting, she turned to the others. She saw their eyebrows raise at the sight of her still transforming hands. "If you want, I can help you get up there, once the transmutation has finished. Or can you manage yourself?"


OOC: Is the climb also a full round action if you have a 10 foot climb speed? And is aiding another (for +2 to skill check) also a full round action, or a simple move action?

In any case, she'll aid next round if anyone requires help, but unfortunately can't make it this round.

If I understand correctly, reading this scroll doesn't require a Caster Level check, right GM?

---

Free : holler | Swft :  | Move : retrieve scroll | Stnd : cast Monkey Fish (scroll) | Full :

---

HP: 7/7 |  AC: 11/10/11  | CMD : 9 | Saves: 0/0/+4

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells (DC14):
   - Unlim. : Detect poison, Daze (+1 DC), Flame Burst, Mage Hand,
   - Bonus  : 1/1 Detect Magic, 1/1 Light , 1/1 Prestidigitation
  L1 Spells (DC15):
   - 3/4    : Charm person (+1 DC), Sleep (+1 DC)
  Abilities :
   - 7/7    : Flame lance

Kassius almost laughs. The pretty little human priestess, offering him aid with climbing. He, who had spent his life wandering through the jungles, and had loved scurrying up trees even as a child? It was patently ridiculous, even considering the possibility of magical aid. "I'll be fine." He says with a chuckle, stowing his bow away.

With an instant thought his arms seem to stretch and elongate, becoming hairier and vaguely simian. He heads for the ropes, than looking at the remaining guard, realizes that they need a distraction. "Kibeti, Kuwu!" He calls out, pointing to the man as the intended target, and then easily begins climbing up the rope.

In response to the order, Kibeti jumps from the boat. Unused to the boat's rocking motion, the panther jumps fairly poorly. Still, it's magical enhancement brings it near the top of the boat, and Kibeti quickly climbs the rest of the way up, now facing the third thug and growling, getting ready to pounce.

---

Kassius
09:24, Today: Kassius rolled 21 using 1d20+9. climb check.
Standard Action: Stow Bow
Move Action: Begin Climbing (moves 1/4 of 30 ft, so about halfway up).
Free/Swift Action: Activate Hunter's Focus: Monkey on self (+4 to climb checks).

---

HP: 9/9  AC 13 (no dex bonus), Saves+3/+7/+3
Spells Slots: 1st: 2/2
Buffs Monkey Focus, 1 minute remaining

---

Kibeti
11:42, Today: Kibeti rolled 17 using 1d20+15. acrobatics.
Standard Action: Jump
Move Action: climb the rest of the way up onto the boat.

---

HP: 14/14 AC 14, Saves+4/+6/+2
Current Hunter's Focus: Frog (+4 acrobatics to jump, swim)

EDIT: Added Kibeti's action.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Fri 19 June 2015.

In reply to Kassius (msg # 46):

I would prefer if you controlled him to be honest.

And I will let you stow your bow as a swift action, so let's say you climb all the way up and arrive on the deck.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:44, Fri 19 June 2015.

Logan sprang onto the deck, moving to surround the last crew member with Alohan.  Placing one hand on his rapier, he smirks at the man and brandishes Keltar's document.  "We've got you surrounded and alone.  Best give yourself up before this turns ugly.  Besides, we're," Logan gestures with the document, "authorized agents of the harbormaster, and you're on a boat that has no business being here."

Angati was not easily shied away, and so, when the gondola approached the boat, she got hold of the line and started climbing with quite a sure foot.

OOC: Celene, I am not sure why you cast that scroll there, there was no further need to swim I think.

---

Free : | Swft : | Move : | Stnd : | Full: Climb to deck
17:48, Today: Angati rolled 15 using 1d20+1. Climb to Deck.

---

HP: 11 |  AC: 16 | CMD : 11 | Saves: 2/1/2

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells : 4/4
  L1 Spells : 3/3 Cure Light Wounds, Protect from evil, Fear
  Abilities : Misfortune, Temporal Celerity

OOC: Alohan still to move this round.

OOC: Where do you think we are? Europe? :P (3ft = 1m) Each square = 5ft which is the default scale for pathfinder.

Alohan whirled about the 'Nixie's' deck, looking for someone to pound. He spotted his companion, now on the deck, advancing to the thug with legal paper in hand. Logan's diplomatic approach to convince the second thug his actions were folly was not how Alohan would handle the situation, however, the Native was wise enough to recognize his companion's goals. With a deep breath, Alohan calmed his inner pele.

A wave of nausea washed over him, almost as if he had been drinking banana beer all morning. He was close to the ship's rail, gripping it to steady himself. Yet Logan needed him so Alohan stepped forward, hand on the hilt of his terbutje. He unhooped the weapon from the simple string on his hips but kept it down and away. He hadn't needed to use it and wanted to keep it that way.

"Listen to de man. I don't wanna be hurtin' you" he growled, feeling the air warm around him.

---

Intimidate: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/intimidate
Attempting to demoralize my opponent on a 10 |  08:53, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 10 using 1d20+5. Intimidate: Demoralize.
Fatigued: 2  |  2
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamema...ditions#TOC-Fatigued
Dropping Rage to suffer fatigue for two rounds.
Rage: 5 | 6
Move: move within 10ft of the man & draw terbutje
Standard: Attempt a demoralize

<ROUND TWO: END OF PLAYER'S TURN>
<ROUND TWO: START OF OPPONENT'S TURN>

The thug appeared to consider Logan's proclamation and Alohan's threat, and momentarily lowers his rapier, but then the noises from the other parts of the ship resolve into the forms of pirates climbing up from the hold or bursting out of the door under the quarterdeck. There are now six additional men facing the party - one of whom is Vark himself.

"Huh!" snorts the man as he raises his rapier again. "There is only one authorized person on this boat and it is Mister Vark!" The man strikes out at Alohan, but even in his sickened state the large islander waves off the attack with his terbutje almost dismissively.

11:18, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d20+2. Thug 2 attacks Alohan.

Vark stares at the party, still rubbing sleep out of his eyes but then recognition flashes across his face. "You! Kill them! Kill them fraccing all!" he screams. His men unsheathe their rapiers and move to attack.

<ROUND TWO: END OF OPPONENT'S TURN>
<ROUND THREE: START OF PLAYERS' TURN>

OOC: They used their turns to move onto the deck. The party gets the first action. You'd better make it count since you are now outnumbered.

Angati's half smile turned into a snarl as she advanced next to Logan and quickly cast a spell. A green tinge seemed to emanate from her, Marek would be well acquainted with it, as a chill ran through the back of most present, but she harnessed the magic forces and directed it with force towards Vark....

If they all saw their leader flee... it would be good for the fight. After casting the spell... she took a step back hoping others better prepared might take the thick of the fight.

---

Free : Step back| Swft : | Move : Advance next to logan (to his left)| Stnd :  Cause fear DC 15
She would use Misfortune to make sure he misses his roll if he passes it the first time.

---

HP: 11 |  AC: 16 | CMD : 11 | Saves: 2/1/2

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells : 4/4
  L1 Spells : 2/3 Cure Light Wounds, Protect from evil, Fear
  Abilities : Misfortune, Temporal Celerity

This message was last edited by the player at 11:54, Sun 21 June 2015.

OOC: The square directly to Logan's 'left' has the mast in it, so I'll put Angati in the next square down.

And this is 'cause fear' that we are talking about, not 'fear' like I used last time in the dress shop.


14:44, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 1 using 1d20-1. Vark saves versus 'cause fear'.
Ha! Poor guy.

A look of terror appears on the dark man's face and he drops his rapier as he scrambles to get away. Soller Vark sprints to the port side of the vessel and leaps over without hesitating. His men don't notice (yet) since he was at the back of the group.

"Looks like your boss decided a bath was more important than fighting us. I'd suggest a similar strategem." Kassius taunts the thugs, before drawing out his shortbow and firing at one of the thugs still in the back. This time, he is able to retain his proper footing, and the arrow flies with deadly accuracy, piercing deep into the man's vulnerable flesh.

At the same time, he gives a brisk command to Kibeti, gesturing at a different thug. "Kinyu" The panther grins and stalks off to attack the man from the back. Kibeti takes a half-hearted nip at the man, but seems for now content to fight defensively and wait for his allies to step forward and complete the flank.

---

Kassius
09:26, Today: Kassius rolled 26,4 using 1d20+6,1d6+1. shortbow attack, damage vs thug 6.
09:26, Today: Kassius rolled 25 using 1d20+6. crit confirm.
Move Action: Draw Bow
Standard Action: Fire at Thug 6 (crit, 12 damage total!)
Free/Swift Action: Change Kibeti's Animal Focus to tiger (+2 dex)

---

HP: 9/9  AC 18, Saves+3/+7/+3
Spells Slots: 1st: 2/2
Other Abilities Remaining: Hunter's Focus (9 rounds)

---

Kibeti
09:33, Today: Kibeti rolled 3,6 using 1d20+2,1d6+1. bite attack, damage on thug 5.
Move Action: Move around the far edge of the ship until he's directly NE of Thug 5
Standard Action: Attack Thug 5

---

HP: 14/14 AC 14(15), Saves+4/+6(+7)/+2
Current Hunter's Focus: tiger (+2 dex)

The man with the arrow in his back goes down - deep red blood spurting from the wound.

Logan blinks and vanishes from sight.  Moments later, he appears, weapons striking out to catch the thug unprepared.

---

Swift Action: Invisible
Move: Flank 2 with Alohan
Standard: Attack  Hit AC 16 for 6 damage.
13:52, Today: Logan rolled 14 using 1d20+8. Move Silently.
 (Oops, forget the flanking!)
13:53, Today: Logan rolled 810 using 1d20+2. Short Sword Attack.
13:53, Today: Logan rolled 1416 using 1d20+3. Rapier Attack.
13:56, Today: Logan rolled 6 using 2d6+1. Rapier Damage.

---

HP: 9/9 | AC: 17/14/13 | CMD: 14 | Saves: 0/6/2
Abilities: Invisibility: 5/6 Rounds

Celene blushes at Kassius' rebuking chuckle - of course he'd manage himself. He'd probably rather die than be helped climbing by a scrawny little girl. Angati, however, amazes her. That old woman has more to her than meets the eye. Smiling with surprise, she moves to go herself.

As Celene grabs a rope to ascend, Vark comes flying past with a scream of dread. "How strange", she says to herself and Rodolfo, but moves on. With her altered shape, climbing seems trivial, although it was never anything she did much as a child, and much less after coming to Sasserine. She is again confirmed in the absolute power of magic. Swinging over the railing as easily as she would normally walk down the road, she takes in the scene.

 She gasp in shock at the blood spurting from the wounds - she never really believed it would come to bloodshed, somehow remaining hopeful no-one would be truly hurt - or die! Well, she could only try to end this quickly...

She knew the limits of her spell casting range,  reducing the number of potential targets. Quickly casting a spell of charm to convince the last to stand down, she called and pointed an open palm at the thug. "my friend, lower your weapon, show your companions no further bloodshed is needed, now that Vark has run. We will work this out without further needless violence". Fully aware her own friends would not stop immideately, she at least hoped to save the thugs not yet in the fracas. However faint a hope - they were no match for her friends. She could not imagine any of them being hurt. Still, better end it quickly, one never knew what misfortune may happen.

Ooc: Will Angatis Misfortune work here, on his save?
What rolls (modifiers?) do i need to try, convincing him to back out? Charisma check as per the spell description?

---

Free :  call out | Swft :  | Move :  climb (take 10) | Stnd :  charm person Thug 4 | Full :

---

HP: 7/7 |  AC: 11/10/11  | CMD : 9 | Saves: 0/0/+4

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells (DC14):
   - Unlim. : Detect poison, Daze (+1 DC), Flame Burst, Mage Hand,
   - Bonus  : 1/1 Detect Magic, 1/1 Light , 1/1 Prestidigitation
  L1 Spells (DC15):
   - 2/4    : Charm person (+1 DC), Sleep (+1 DC)
  Abilities :
   - 7/7    : Flame lance

Logan misses with his short sword by cuts into the man's side with his rapier. The thief is positively surprised by the sharpness of the blade - it is the weapon he 'appropriated' from the Aubrech mansion and it is definitely magical.

The thug gasps as he is hit, then drops his weapon to clutch at the wound. "Okay! I give up!" says the man, dropping to his knees and hunching up into the lee of the ship. He is intent on stopping the bleeding, and keeping out of the way.


OOC: The blade is a rapier +1. One minor think, Logan's little 'gift' can only be used once a day and can't be subdivide like a barbarian's rage. So whether he uses 1 round or all six, it is all consumed once he breaks invisibility by attacking.



OOC: Sure. MF works on any roll when Angati is with in 30', is conscious and has line of sight. One further restriction is that when the bad guys are rolling I only reroll crits and failed saving throw, but this is just to keep the game moving, not a limitation of the power as such.



First of all, he gets a +5 bonus to his save since he is within combat against the party - but since Celene's DC is so high and there is MF, that hardly matters. If you just want him to lower his weapons and stop fighting, then no Charisma check is needed. If you want him to turn on his former friends and help the party... then you need the charisma check.

21:23, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 11 using 1d20+4. Thug 4 save vs charm person. No MF needed!

The man looks puzzled for a second and then lowers his rapier. "Ehhhh... I don't know what happened there. Sorry, I guess you just surprised us. Gee.. I'm sorry. Hey! Stop attacking!" he yells to his comrades. "I know these guys, they're alright!" He stands there looking confused about what to do next.

Updated map. Thug 2 taken out by Logan, Thug 4 charmed by Celene. Alohan left to move.

Now with column and row references.

The nausea continued, as did the engagement. His companions made short work of their enemies and Alohan found himself being quickly outpaced. Still, Alohan recognized the need to keep up appearances so he quickly moved forward and took a lazy swipe at one of the thugs, not expecting to do any serious damage.

In his disoriented state, the native's slow swing had very little power behind it allowing the thug to intercept his weapon with so much force, it shattered in two. 'Typical' he thought to himself, starring at the hilt of what was once his weapon.

---

Fatigued: 1  |  2
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamema...ditions#TOC-Fatigued
Dropping Rage to suffer fatigue for one more round.
Rage: 5 | 6
Move: 5ft step to I2
Standard: Attack Thug 5 -Weapon is now Broken
07:46, Mon 22 June 2015: Alohan Nuari rolled 1 using 1d20 ((1))
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipm...#wpn-quality-fragile

This message was last edited by the player at 11:50, Mon 22 June 2015.

<ROUND THREE: END OF PC'S TURN>
<ROUND THREE: START OF ENEMY'S TURN>

The remaining three pirates continue the attack. One of the two men by the door (Thug 7 to F4) carefully skirts Kibeti until he has the cat flanked, and then springs forward to attack. The giant cat is forced to quickly twist back to defend itself, but the man is obviously intimidated by the supernatural albino panther and his blow falls well short. His comrade on the other side (Thug 5) shows no such weakness, and takes the opportunity to land a hit on the cat - but it is merely a flesh wound.

(Kibeti hit for 2hp damage)

Meanwhile, the thug facing Logan thrusts his sword at the thief, but the man barely knows how to hold the blade let along use it. The rogue parries the attack easily.

15:27, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 57 using 1d20+1. Thug 7 attacks Kibeti.
Forgot the flanking bonus.

15:27, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 22 using 1d20+3. Thug 5 attacks Kibeti (flanked).
15:28, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 4 using 1d20+3. Thug 5 confirm crit.

15:31, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d6+1. Thug 5 damage.
15:34, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d20+1. Thug 8 attacks Logan.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:53, Mon 22 June 2015.

The door under the quarterdeck opens and a young dark-haired girl runs out, pulling on a cloak over her underwear with one hand, while trying to hold a rapier in the other. She stops in her tracks as she sees the scene in front of her - Vark gone, two of the want-ta-be pirates down on the deck bleeding, one asleep and one moving about with a confused look on his face trying to stop the fighting. "Oh frak me," she whispers as she sees it is the same group as spoiled Vark's crime the day before.

Her face screws up in rage. "MERA!" she screams down through the hatch to the deck below. "IT'S ALL FRAKKED TO HELL. BURN IT. BURN IT ALL!"

Then she rushs in to attack Kibeti, apparently undaunted by the ferocity of the attack. She makes a good attempt, better than most of her comrades, but the cat is too quick for her. (Ketrana moves to F4)

15:41, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 10 using 1d20+1. Ketrana attacks Kibeti.

<ROUND THREE: END OF ENEMY'S TURN>
<ROUND FOUR: START OF PC'S TURN>
This message was last edited by the player at 13:53, Mon 22 June 2015.

HIT POINTS & MISFORTUNE

Angati  HP: 11/11   <MF NOT USED>
Alohan  HP: 15/15   <MF NOT USED>
Celene  HP:  7/ 7   <MF NOT USED>
Kassius HP:  8/ 8   <MF NOT USED>
Kibeti  HP:  9/11   <MF NOT USED>
Logan   HP:  9/ 9   <MF NOT USED>

Kibeti stares at the man that had injured him, as if puzzled by the man's audacity. Prey was supposed to run, not fight back, and Kibeti seemed quite sure that these men were prey, not predators. After a half-second pause, as the cat processes the situation, Kibeti apparently comes to a decision. In a sudden burst of feline anger, Kibeti pounces on the man, a screaming fury of bites, claws, and yowls.

Kassius meanwhile moves to the side, trying to gain a clearer shot. Moving to the other end of the boat, he calmly draws another arrow and fires it at the man. However, the fury of combat makes it difficulty to aim, and Kassius curses as another arrows flies past the man to land somewhere in the bay.

As for the new-comer, and whoever she seemed to be shouting at, Kassius groans. This doesn't sound good. Maybe some confusion might slow the woman down, and give someone time to get below-decks and interrupt this Mera person.
"Mera! I would sugggest not burning things! Fire and boats don't mix!" Kassius shouts in the general direction of the hatch.

---

Kassius
Forgot the firing into melee penalty, so even more of a miss than before.
10:08, Today: Kassius rolled 8(4),3 using 1d20+6,1d6+1. Bow Attack, Damage vs thug 7.
Move Action: Move to K5
Standard Action: Fire at Thug 7.
Free/Swift Action:  none

---

HP: 9/9  AC 18, Saves+3/+7/+3
Spells Slots: 1st: 2/2
Other Abilities Remaining: Animal Focus: Monkey (8 rounds left)

---

Kibeti
Note: Kibeti has a max of 14 HP, not 11 (I took toughness)
10:05, Today: Kibeti rolled 16,3,13,3,15,4 using 1d20+2,1d6+1,1d20+2,1d6+1,1d20+2,1d6+1. bite/claw/claw attack, damage vs thug 5.
Full Round Action: Full attack thug 5, bite/claw/claw

---

HP: 12/14 AC 15, Saves+4/+7/+2
Current Hunter's Focus: Tiger (+2 dex)

Calling out to her charmed pirate, Celene pleas: "Who is Mera? Can you stop her from making this into an inferno. We'll all be burned to cinders!"

She then moves around the grid above the animal pen, trying to spot anyone down there.

OOC: Around the pen, not just in it. If she sees a person down there, she'll cast another charm person (ready action, right?). Is it possible to also ready a sleep, in the odd case that Mera is not a person?
Does convincing the charmed pirate take a Charisma check?
Do I need to roll something to see if I spot someone (Mera)?

---

Free : call out | Swft :  | Move : going around the grid | Stnd : ready spell | Full :

---

HP: 7/7 |  AC: 11/10/11  | CMD : 9 | Saves: 0/0/+4

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells (DC14):
   - Unlim. : Detect poison, Daze (+1 DC), Flame Burst, Mage Hand,
   - Bonus  : 1/1 Detect Magic, 1/1 Light , 1/1 Prestidigitation
  L1 Spells (DC15):
   - 2/4    : Charm person (+1 DC), Sleep (+1 DC)
  Abilities :
   - 7/7    : Flame lance

Logan steps to the side, flanking another thug with Kibeti.  Taking advantage of the disctraction, Logan attacks him with both weapons.

5' Step to I2
Standard: Attack

11:18, Today: Logan rolled 3 using 2d6. Short Sword Damage.

HP: 9/9 | AC: 17/14/13 | CMD: 14 | Saves: 0/6/2
Abilities: Invisibility: 5/6 Rounds

The man is overwhelmed by the shear number of blows and topples over as Kibeti claws and bites at his head. With a sickening crunch the giant cat closes his jaw over the man's face and the fight is over.



There is no response from below the decks. It appears Mera is busy.



OK, got it.



OOC: Thug 5 is too busy having his face eaten off right now to be stabbed, so I will apply that roll to thug 8 who moved into G2 to strike at Logan. The thief hits even without the flanking. You do 3 points of damage against him.

The man gasps as Logan opens up a small gash on his thigh, and drops his sword to clutch at the wound. "Ahhh ah, that hurts!" he screams. "I give up," adds the 'pirate', and slumps against the railing.

OOC: Bah! These guys are such pussies!



The charmed thug chuckles. "Oh, that's Mera Veskat she was yelling at. Mera's a bit of a klutz so we keep here down in the hold to feed the... *ahem* cargo. She's no use on deck 'cause she get's all tangled up in the ropes and keeps droping things."

The man looks serious for a second. "Honestly, it is best if we just burn the whole thing. If the district watch finds out what we've got down there... well, let's just say I see us all spending a lot of time in the Hellfurnace Mines for the next couple of decades, you know what I mean!"



1) You can only ready one action at a time!
2) We'll see what you want to do after I describe what you see down there
3) Yes, if it is something he wouldn't normally do. If you want him to yell out to Mera to stop burning the place down, then I'd need a roll, but as it turns out this is not relevant.

Celene walks around the grate, trying to get a better angle on what is going on down in the hold. After she has walked around a quarter of it, she is able to see a young lady trying to use a tinder and flint to light a torch. The young lady is standing to one side of the animal pen which the grate forms the top of. The animal pen is made up of thick metal bars which criss-cross horizontally and vertically to form strong looking squares.

The girl continues her efforts, but try as she might, she is not able to get the flint to spark - it appears that ineptitude of this crew of wantabe pirates extends beyond fighting to fire lighting.

Celene prepares to cast a spell (probably charm person), but before she can start the girl's vigorous efforts cause her ass to bump against the door of the animal pen. The door can't have been fastened properly because it promptly unlatches and swings quietly open.

In a corner of the pen, squished up against the corner underneath Celene and therefore almost out of line of sight, a strange animal that looks like a furry dark brown beetle with brownish-yellow stripes - but a beetle about the size of a pony - slowly uncurls itself and climbs onto four pairs of legs. It has a fifth pair of limbs at the front of its body and these reach out towards the female thug.

Celene calls out a warning, but this only gives the girl time to turn and scream in horror as the creature plunges one of its forelegs towards the girl's head. The sorceress sees that the front legs end in discs studded with dozens of terrible hooked suckers, and several of these hook into the girl's cheek as the front claw strikes her. The pad on the other limb latches into her stomach and then the creature lifts Mera towards it as it rears up. Celene then sees that its head is horrifically oversized, and dominated by immense mandibles that now flex open widely. The creature brings the screaming girl to its mouth and then cuts her in half at the sternum with one clean bite. The blood flow is immense and actually spurts out of the grating.

The creature hears Celene's scream and looks up, its mandibles chattering with obvious hunger. It drops the girl and skitters off in the hold towards the hatch.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:48, Mon 22 June 2015.

The creature in the hold

Updated map
Creature in the hold not shown because you've lost track of it
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:52, Mon 22 June 2015.

The native let out an exasperated sigh, throwing the hilt of his broken sword down to the ship's deck. He knew better. He should have fought with his pa uma -his training may have been limited but Alohan was strong enough to overcome obstacles with sheer speed and strength. It was the Nuari way. He should have known taking his weapon in hand would only lead to folly. Hell, the only reason he had it was to keep up his savage appearance. Sasserine women enjoyed such cosmetics.

His nausea had subsided. His temper was now sated and Alohan was once more ready to tumble. Looking about, he saw no clear thug to pommel -clearly the Shadowshore boy and the panther had the situation under control. Not many options were open to him. With the lower deck below, Alohan jumped down, looking for Mera and her fire.

---

Rage: 5 | 6
Move: Jump down via I3
Standard: Be all defensive like cause Alohan wouldn't know what was down there and I'm not trying to be meta up in here.. please dont kill me...
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamema...at#TOC-Total-Defense

Nauseous, to the point of vomiting, Celene manages to quell both vomit and scream for a moment, stuttering while she points through the grate. "Bug thing, horrible, coming!". Just at that moment she sees Alohan drop through the opening. She manages one more scream "Noo! Help him!", before vomit comes gushing forth.

Hopefully after having emptied her belly, she tried to see through the grate to follow what's happening, and where the beast has gone.

OOC: don't reckon she's more actions available now her ready action is obsolete, but hope a free one is ok?

Angati did not see Celene moving behind her towards the grate until she heard her screaming. She turned quickly and took a step towards the grate, looking down in horror and disbelief. "What in hell is that ?" she asked almost to herself.

There was not much she could do though other than trying to scare the thing so that it would not take on someone else like that. Concentrating again, a greenish soft light arched from her towards the creature.

---

Free : Step towards grate | Swft : | Move : | Stnd : Cause Fear DC 15

---

HP: 11 |  AC: 16 | CMD : 11 | Saves: 2/1/2

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells : 4/4
  L1 Spells : 1/3 Cure Light Wounds, Protect from evil, Fear
  Abilities : Misfortune, Temporal Celerity

Angati, I'm sorry, but you aren't able to get more than a glimpse of the creature because by the time Celene cries out, it has finished vivisecting Mera and is scuttling along the hold. So the first paragraph above applies but not the second. What I am going to do is use your 'cause fear' at the beginning of the next PC round where it will be almost as useful.



Well sure, there is always time to scream in terror!



OOC: Actually, there is a flight of stairs leading down, they are so steep that they are almost a ladder. I am going to say that he takes these rather than jumping down the 10' into the hold.

Alohan cautiously descends the stairs, keeping his eyes open for this 'Mera' and the fires she is meant to be lighting. He doesn't see the girl, but as soon as his head is below the level of the main deck he does she a pony sized arachnid charging towards him, front legs out stretched with terrible hooked pedipalps on the end of them. The crown prince gasps in horror and then...

...and then the round ends...

<ROUND FOUR: END OF PC'S TURN>

HIT POINTS & MISFORTUNE
Angati  HP: 11/11   <MF NOT USED>
Alohan  HP: 15/15   <MF NOT USED>
Celene  HP:  7/ 7   <MF NOT USED>
Kassius HP:  8/ 8   <MF NOT USED>
Kibeti  HP: 12/14   <MF NOT USED>
Logan   HP:  9/ 9   <MF NOT USED>


<ROUND FOUR: START OF ENEMY'S TURN>
...the crown prince gasps in horror and then tries to backpedal up the stairs. Brave or not, he knows that this is not a beast he wants to face alone and unarmed! He manages to get his ass over the edge of the hatch, but then the bug reaches up with an enormous front leg an slams the hooks of its suction cup into the native's leg. It does little damage (actually, no damage), but Alohan is well and truly stuck and would need to tear his flesh in order to escape. The islander leans back and manages to brace his other foot against the frame of the hatch to prevent himself being draged down into the hold and into the creature's gigantic mandibles. This gruesome tug of war continues for a few seconds until the creature starts to climbs the stairs and then rears up so that its top half is poking out of the hatch. Then it tries to slam its second pedipalp into Alohan's other leg - but the native is able to twist so at least that misses. But now he has no leverage and the beast is able to lift him clean up into the air and towards its ichor dripping mouth.

Squirm as Alohan might, this is no match of pa-uma and he is desperately outclassed in the grappling contest. The creature gets him close to its mouth and then lunges forward and lands a savage bite across Alohan's mid-drift (13 points of damage!) that cuts all the way into his stomach.

The last remaining active thug (thug 7) looks on in horror. "Oh frak this," he says. He drops his weapon and dives over the side of the boat.

Ketrana gasps. "You've let the frakken Rhagodessa out! You've killed us all, you frakking morons!" She runs through the door under the quarterdeck, rapier still in hand.

<ROUND FOUR: END OF ENEMY'S TURN>

HIT POINTS & MISFORTUNE
Angati  HP: 11/11   <MF NOT USED>
Alohan  HP:  2/15   <MF NOT USED>  <GRAPPLED>
Celene  HP:  7/ 7   <MF NOT USED>
Kassius HP:  8/ 8   <MF NOT USED>
Kibeti  HP: 12/14   <MF NOT USED>
Logan   HP:  9/ 9   <MF NOT USED>

<ROUND FIVE: START OF PC'S TURN>

Angati casts her spell again, and a green mist wraps itself around the bug. The creature jerks its head backwards and forwards, as though trying to detect the source of the terror.

OOC: Whew! Intense stuff. If the Rhagodessa hits with a pedipalp (and it hit with one, even though Alohan was on full defensive) then it gets to make an unopposed grapple (and it is a great grappler). If it succeeds with the grapple, then it gets to make bite attack with a bonus. It ended up hitting with one pedipalp, acing the grappling contest, then hitting with the big bite.

Fortunately it failed against the cause fear.

The bug is in I3, half in and half out of the hatch. Alohan is in H3. Angati is in K4 (she moved 5'). Thug 7 and Ketrana are gone.


10:38, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 24 using 1d20+7. Rhagodessa pedipalp 1 vs Alohan.
10:38, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Rhagodessa pedipalp 2 vs Alohan.
10:39, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 31 using 1d20+11. Rhagodessa grapple vs Alohan.
10:39, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 23 using 1d20+9. Rhagodessa bite vs Alohan.
10:40, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 13 using 1d8+6. Bite damage vs Alohan.
10:41, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d20+3. Rhagodessa will save versus cause fear.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:43, Tue 23 June 2015.

Kassius groans in surprise as the monstrous insect emerged, carrying the still struggling Alohan.


"We're not the ones stupid enough to have this frakking monster in the first place honey!" He shouts out at her fleeing figure. "Frakking fools." He mutters to himself.


Kassius makes a knowledge (nature) check to identify the Rhagodessa and any weaknesses/powers other than be terrifying.
Will post actual actions after getting the results.
Also, has the Rhagodessa emerged enough from the hold to be able to get a clear shot at it with my bow?
08:06, Today: Kassius rolled 18 using 1d20+3. knowledge (nature): Rhagodessa.

Kassius has heard of these 'Rhagodessa' although he hasn't encountered one himself before. They live in the jungle and hunt small to medium sized animals, and although they are non-venomous they have a nasty bite (he'd probably worked that out already for himself). They hunt their prey by latching on with the hooked pads on their front legs and then bringing the food into their mouths with a grapple. No weaknesses that he has ever heard of, although he has heard that their bodies are not as tough as they look and can be damaged pretty easily.

Yes, it is half out of the hatch so he can get a clean shot.

You will be firing into combat though as it is busy wrestling/eating Alohan until the end of the round.

The shock of seeing a rhagodessa so far from the jungles of his homeland was enough to give him pause. It would seem that pause was exactly what the creature needed to hoist him up like a child. He felt his life's blood pouring from his abdomen, running down his chest and over his inverted face. He could taste its salty, metallic flavor, see the dull red pour across his vision. It was rage inducing. His inner pele bubbled forth once more and Alohan tried to twist and contort off the creature's suction.

---

Rage: 4 | 6
Swift: Begin Rage
Standard: Attempt to Break Grapple 14 vs his CMD -09:56, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 14 using 1d20+4. Break Grapple.
Free: Know(nature) vs Rhagodessa -I want to more or less learn what Kassius learned. Maybe there is a small colony of Rhagodessa on the Nuari isles.
09:56, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 17 using 1d20. Know(nature) vs Rhagodessa.

"Kupu!" Kassius orders Kibeti, who looks at him reproachfully. Kassius can imagine the cat is asking "You want me attack that?" Kassius repeats the command forcefully, and imbues the cat with magical health to give it confidence. Kibeti yowls and attacks, viciously biting and clawing into it's foe.

Despite his harsh tone earlier, Kassius is completely relaxed as he sidesteps and draws another arrow. He's seen weird monsters before in the jungle. He nocks the arrow and feels the path to the target. He releases, watching the arrows zip past Alohan's nose and into the Rhagodessa.

---

Kassius
10:23, Today: Kassius rolled 16 using 1d20+7. handle animal.
Argh, forgot the firing into melee penalty again. Should still be a hit (I hope!)
10:31, Today: Kassius rolled 2521,6 using 1d20+6,1d6+1. Bow attack, damage vs Rhagodessa.
10:08, Today: Kassius rolled 8(4),3 using 1d20+6,1d6+1. Bow Attack, Damage vs thug 7.
Move Action: Push Kibeti into attacking
Standard Action: Fire at Rhagodessa
Free/Swift Action: Five-foot step to J5 (free), change Kibeti's animal focus to bear (swift)

---

HP: 9/9  AC 18, Saves+3/+7/+3
Spells Slots: 1st: 2/2
Other Abilities Remaining: Animal Focus: Monkey (7 rounds left)

---

Kibeti
10:29, Today: Kibeti rolled 22,4,6,3,16,6 using 1d20+2,1d6+1,1d20+2,1d6+1,1d20+2,1d6+1. bite/claw/claw attack, damage vs Rhagodessa.
10:29, Today: Kibeti rolled 17 using 1d20+2. bite confirm crit.
Free/Swift Action:  Five foot step to H4
Full Round Action: Full attack the Rhagodessa

---

HP: 14/16 AC 14, Saves+5/+6/+2
Current Hunter's Focus: bear (+2 con)

This message was last edited by the player at 19:17, Tue 23 June 2015.

Alohan struggles to free himself but the savage hooks through his leg refuse to give (oh, so close to escaping!). As the blood splurts out of his stomach wound he surprises himself by being able to recall a few facts about the rhagodessa on him home isle - but then again hunting topics were one of the few things he actually listened to when the royal tutors were talking. He manages to recall the same information as Kassius... and realises that if he doesn't get free he is in big trouble.

The cat is successful in dragging a claw across one of the rhagodessa's legs and biting another.

The hunter's first shot is wild, but the second whistles past Alohan's head so close that the fletching almost brushes his nose. The arrow thuds into the centre of the creature's abdomen and it rears up in agony.

16 points of damage. Impressive.

Logan stares in shock as the huge spider-thing erupts from the hold and savages Alohan.  "Frak me," he manages to mumble.  "This is why I stay in the city!""

Acting more on instinct that conscious thought, the rogue stumble forward and tries to finish the job that Kassius and Kibeti have started.

---

5' Step to I2
Standard: Full Attack

15:13, Today: Logan rolled 3 using 1d6. Short Sword Damage?
15:12, Today: Logan rolled 12 using 1d20+2. Short Sword Attack.
15:12, Today: Logan rolled 4 using 1d20+3. Rapier Attack.

---

HP: 9/9 | AC: 17/14/13 | CMD: 14 | Saves: 0/6/2
Abilities: Invisibility: 5/6 Rounds

Logan tries his best, but the dancing legs of the bug are impossible to hit. His sword strokes do not connect.

That just leaves Celene! :/

EDIT
OOC: Since the rhagodessa losses 2 AC from having the grappled condition, Logan DOES hit.

Logan manages to catch the bug with a glancing blow on the leg, but it is not enough to force the creature to let Alohan go.

OOC: 3 points of damage, that is 19 in total now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:32, Wed 24 June 2015.

Celene was terrified beyond comprehension. Even normal bugs back at the farm she disliked, but learned to accept. This one would entangle her and devour her.

Desperation thick in her voice, she calls out for the last thug to aid them, "Please - help him! Else it'll just eat us one by one!"

In some remote corner of her brain, her deductive minds tries to stay focused. What was that green emanation from Angati? It must've been something to keep the beast occupied somehow - it was distracted. How long would that give them?

She subconsciously move to the railing for her way out. This also allowed her a full view of the horrible creature. But more than that, she saw Alohan twisting in agony. The panic within her did not subside, but intensified to a point where something, some strings, inside her snapped. For the second time in just a few days, a newfound companion, a foreign but kind heart, was on the brink of death. Heat and wrath welled up in her. Never again! Fires ignited in her eyes, as she released her inner energy, flames gushing forth. She would stay with him, with them all, to the end. Whatever end.


Free: Spellcraft check - know what spell Angati cast, perhaps duration left?
Free: persuade charmed thug to aid in taking it down (Charisma check)
Move: to M1
Std: Flame lance (ranged touch attack)

00:22, Today: Celene rolled 9 using 1d20+7. Spellcraft. Frac - well not that important
00:21, Today: Celene rolled 7 using 1d20+4. Charisma roll to persuade charmed thug. Frak!
00:35, Today: Celene rolled 10 using 1d20-4. Ranged touch attack (touch AC), into combat. Oh FRAK!
00:36, Today: Celene rolled 7 using 1d6+1. damage flame lance. Yeah, figures..... :-(

Are there any size modifiers on the ranged touch attack? I'm not 100% sure I have made the correct modifiers/calc....

---

HP: 7/7 |  AC: 11/10/11  | CMD : 9 | Saves: 0/0/+4

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells (DC14):
   - Unlim. : Detect poison, Daze (+1 DC), Flame Burst, Mage Hand,
   - Bonus  : 1/1 Detect Magic, 1/1 Light , 1/1 Prestidigitation
  L1 Spells (DC15):
   - 2/4    : Charm person (+1 DC), Sleep (+1 DC)
  Abilities :
   - 6/7    : Flame lance

Celene has little knowledge of divine magic and doesn't recognize the spell at all.



Despite being charmed, the man looks at the giant bug without enthusiasm. "Gee, you're awfully pretty and all, but that thing looks really dangerous, let's just run away..." he says, but then looks into her 18 year old 18 charisma blue eyes and adds. "Okay, frak it, I'll do my best." He stands his ground and then swings at the rhagodessa but shows the same level of ineptitude as the rest of the crew and misses by miles.

08:23, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Thug attack rhagodessa.




Celene's flame attack is poorly aimed and ranges wide over the battlefield, showering most of the party with small gouts of flame, but she does eventually manage to focus it on the bug and hold it there until it scorches a small hole into its carapace.

The creature chitters and squeals, writhing to escape the flame but held in place by Alohan's weight on its front leg. It tries to retreat back into the hold but the sorceress keeps up the attack, and the creature slumps forwards, wedged into the hatch. It shudders and then it is still. Alohan is still attached to it via the hooked barbs in its front leg pad.

OOC: That is 26 points damage in all. That will do it!

Alohan collapsed in exhaustion feet dangling into the ship's hold with the rhagodessa still fixed to his thigh. He clutched his bleeding abdomen, laying back on the ship's deck in an attempt to fight the light headed nausea that accompanied exertion. Breathing came regularly, if not labored, and the sky spun unnaturally forcing Alohan to close his eyes or lose his lunch. "kanapapiki...," he whispered. How he wished he stayed in bed with Rowyn. He wouldn't be in the middle of Sasserine's harbor, severely cut open and suffering from blood loss. Well... maybe there would be some blood loss -the woman did use her nails.

When the world ceased its spin, Alohan sat up and looked down to his thigh. The creature's suction cup was lined with barbs, fixing it to his skin. If he pulled it off, no doubt it would rip and tear his already lacerated flesh. "Anyone be havin' a knife?" he asked, looking at his companions.

---

Rage: 4 | 6
Swift: Breaking Rage for 2 rounds of Fatigue

"Check on that damned girl, that she does not create any more trouble... I'll take care of Alohan..." said Angati as she ran towards Alohan. She then kneeled next to him, and holding the leg with care, she helped him move and pull out the barb trying not to cause any more damage.

Then, she started concentrating, trying to feel the pulse of time that she had always been able to find inside her. It seemed like time slowed to a halt and, just as she was releasing the energies on Alohan, the claw of the monster she had been holding twitched on the floor as if it would attack her.

Her scream could probably be heard for miles, as her heart thumped on her mouth. "DAMNED YOU ANANSI !!!  MY HEART ALMOST STOPED THIS TIME" she said looking at some indetermined point next to her and a bit lower... she seemed furious, and happy that it hadn't been for real.


12:55, Today: Angati rolled 5 using 1d8+1. CLW Alohan.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:56, Wed 24 June 2015.

Logan kneels next to Angati and Alohan.  "Maybe this can help?"  He uses the very tip of his rapier to help pry the barbed appendage of the giant spider-thing of Alohan while Angati tends to his wounds.

HIT POINTS & MISFORTUNE
Angati  HP: 11/11   <MF NOT USED>
Alohan  HP:  7/15   <MF NOT USED>
Celene  HP:  7/ 7   <MF NOT USED>
Kassius HP:  8/ 8   <MF NOT USED>
Kibeti  HP: 12/14   <MF NOT USED>
Logan   HP:  9/ 9   <MF NOT USED>


Between Logan and Angati the barbed pad is removed and Alohan's stomach wound sealed so it at least the bleeding stops. The party 'mop up' a bit on deck and check the two thugs that were made unconscious during the fight. The one that had his face almost ripped off by Kibeti will live, although obviously with some pretty horrific scars, but the one that Kassius shot through the back is very dead (how does the hunter feel about that?). Beside those two, the party also has their charmed friend, the one that Logan cut a little on the thigh, the one the Logan cut across the stomach and the one that is magically asleep on the forecastle. All in all not a bad prisoner haul - what a shame that they don't look richer.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:43, Wed 24 June 2015.

Logan surveyed the deck of the ship.  "I suppose we should tie up these men and turn them over to the harbormaster.  I'm not fully up-to-speed on maritime law, but Lavinia might not want us to report that thing," Logan gestures to the rhagodessa.  "They might seize the ship as evidence, right?  I'm sure Vark's men will keep quiet for the same reason, lest they want their crimes to be elevated to...whatever it is when you take a bunch of coin and don't do what you're supposed to do to smuggling dangerous, illegal animals into town."

Logan glances to Celene, wondering how she'll take the suggestion to ignore the law.  "Then we should search the ship, see if we can find any trace of that money.  Maybe one of the friendly thugs can point us in the right direction?"

The rogue gestures at Celene.  "Come on, just bat your eyes at him.  He was willing to face down a giant spider for you.  I'm sure he'll turn over some gold."

Kassius had been the one to amongst the fallen foe, using his nature magic to help the unconscious and dying (casting stabilize on everyone who is unconscious). He stopped briefly in front of the dead man, his eyes closed. He found himself remembering on old conversation with his Father.. "We never tried to kill. Gladiator's are too expensive to waste. But anytime you use a weapon of killing, do not be surprised if someone dies lad. It's the way of things, I guess." Kull had said.

Kassius had not wanted to kill the man, just stop him from fighting. But that was the way of things. Standing, he returned to his companions, hearing the tail end of their discussion. "I want to know how they got the monster in the first place. This lot didn't seem competent enough to have captured that beast."

Celene looked as if coming out of a deep sleep, all shaken and confused, after the events that in fact took less than a minute. The acute fear of being eaten gone, other urgent matters pressed on, and she cleared her head with a shake of it.

Angati's sudden outburst certainly jerked her back into consciousness. Who or what was that Anansi she called upon? Some deity she hadn't heard of? Very likely, but she'd have to ask Angati about it later.

Seeing Kassius care for the fallen and injured, she realised he was more effective than her simple healer's lessons would ever make her. Seeing all in capable hands she looked around.

Where'd Vark gone? "Has anyone seen any sign of where Vark went?" She did a scan of the waters around the ship for any sign of him, asking anyone interested to help out. What if he'd found what they came for, and took it along? Or if he hung in a rope just beneath the railing, ready to surprise one of them? Celene checked on Rodolfo too.

"Say my friend, do you know if Vark found what he came here looking for? Anything inside the cabins?"

And what about his little pet? "Logan, should you and I, and you too my friend, go inside after Ketrana, before she decides to burn it all where Mera failed? Or she elopes through a window? Angati and Kassius, can you then tie up those who'd make trouble or escape, once you've finished checking on everyone? Alohan, you could take a well earned rest, or perhaps be on guard for more surprises?"

While the friends got ready, Celene had a moment to consider the future plans and Logan's and Cassius' thoughts.
"Well, as long as we carry out her request to find what we came for first - and perhaps even some leftovers of the money, I really don't think she'd care if they actually held back the ship - it'll only be for a short investigation. But if you think she'd prefer not to, maybe we can just take it to Keltar, and see if we can persuade him to let it go?" She shrugged, apparently not much interested in the topic.

"But I think you're right, Kassius, these are not monster hunters - not much more than I, anyway. I'm more inclined to think it was already here from Lavanias parents' time. After all, the ship has always been rigged for transporting live cargo, as we saw in Lavinias original ship plans. Maybe that's something her parents worked in? But I'm sure they'd have paperwork authorizing them to carry this kind of thing, not smuggling it under the nose of the Azure Watch."

Rodolfo is still standing in his gondola, moored to one side of the Blue Nixie. The man chuckles when Celene asks how he is. "You put on a good show-a. Suddenly-a those thugs-a were just throwing themselves over board-a."



OOC: Who are these questions directed at? Your fellow PC's or Rodolfo?

</quote>

OOC: Well, I am going to take that as being the plan...

Alohan keeps an eye on the prisoners, while Logan and Celene check the rooms under the quarter deck and Kassius, Angati and Kibeti check the hold (splitting up the party! We only do that in cut scenes, okay...)

Thanks to the blue-prints that Lavinia supplied, Celene and Logan know the layout of the boat, but the mess that greets them when the open the first door is a surprise. This is the wardroom for the ship, but the nautical charts and equipment that should have been placed on the table have been thrown to the ground and there are several hands worth of playing cards spread over it – apparently the thugs had been enjoying a game when the party attacked.

There are two doors out of the room, and the pair first have a quick check of the door to the left and find the officers’ sleeping quarters with bedding and pillows all cut up – maybe they were searching for treasure – but otherwise nothing of note in it. This means that Ketrana is in the third and final room and Logan boots it open while holding a sword in each hand. Ketrana is ready for him, and tries to skewer the thief with her rapier as soon as the door is open, but the thief is too quick for her. He deflects the blow and then disarms her within a few seconds. The girl then looks defiant for an instant before falling back into a chair and dropping her head into her hands where upon she starts sobbing.

The captain’s quarters are a mess with items thrown all over the place and the drawers pulled out of the writing desk. Against the far end of the room, at the stern of the boat, there are a set of windows which have had several panes of glass smashed. Otherwise there is a small chest and a fancy looking bed made of a polished dark wood with a thick headboard.

The oracle, the hunter and the cat head into the hold VERY carefully. It is dim below the deck, with light only coming in from the single hatch and the metal grill of the animal pen. The hold is stacked with a wide variety of animals in cages that start screeching, squawking and squealing when they see the party. Kassius is amazed at the wide collection of jungle animals that have been stashed down there, and realizes they all have one thing in common – they are all illegal to possess in Sasserine for one reason or another. This is generally because they are venomous, or can be used to make poisonous or addictive substances. Whether it is the psychedelic colored hypnotoad or the chameleon-like brass mountain snake, he agrees with Celene’s assessment, there is no way those clowns on this boat could’ve manage to amass these animals themselves.

The three of them then search the rest of the hold including the crew quarters, brig and bilge access. There are no more thugs and nothing of obvious interest.

OOC: Anybody want to search the ship? Then make a perception roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:07, Thu 25 June 2015.

After disarming Ketrana, Logan dismisses the sobbing girl and proceeds to search the cabin by himself, pay attention to whatever the thieves haven't already destroyed, such as the chest.  He quickly sifts through the wreckage on the floor, then he looks for hidden drawers, and feels around the underside of the bed, knocking on the thick headboard for hidden alcoves.

After working for a few minutes, he turns back to the sobbing Ketrana.  "what exactly were you trying to find in here?  Is Lady Vanderboren's platinum still here?  What was your plan with the ship?  And where'd all the animals come from?"

08:55, Today: Logan rolled 10 using 1d20+8. Perception.

Rodolfo sees her scanning the lagoon. "If you're looking for any of those guys then you're too late-a. They all made it back to Shadowshore, barge-a end-a to be exact-a."

OCC: No, none of them are handing from lines or anything tricky like that. They all swam back to shore.

OOC: Well, that was a pretty crappy roll. But on the other hand you looked in exactly the places where the stuff was hidden, so I guess that is enough.

Logan notices that the headboard sounds hollow, and figures there is a secret compartment behind it. He talks to Ketrana while he looks for a hidden latch to open it.



Ketrana crosses her arms and sniffs. "You won't frakken find anything you know frak-head. We searched this whole frakken ship from top to bottom..."

Logan finds that the headboard is head in place by two small clips on the top left and right corners. It is a simple matter to twist them and then the headboard falls open revealing a small hidden compartment - inside is a heavy man's signet ring bearing the crest of an eight pointed star with a scrap of rolled-up parchment threaded through it.

"What the frak?!" exclaims Ketrana. "I can't believe we frakken slept right next to that. Fine, but, as for that frakken brat's platnium, it is long gone..."

Logan turns his attention to the underside of the bed. Before he can even check the bottom of the mattress he sees a small leather pouch on the ground - this also bears the Vanderboren family crest on it - and a large black felt sack right next to it. He drags them out and opens them. The leather pouch has about one hundred platinum coins in it. The large sack has a strange collection of things inside. Fancy silks, expensive looking thread, funny zig-zag scissors and quite a bit of gold at the bottom.

"Fraaaaaaaaaak! That's so frakken unfair!" growls Ketrana.



Ketrana turns away, arms folded. "Frak you and the horse you rode in on," is her only additional comment.

OOC: Taking a little liberty here.

The parchment doesn't look dangerous, certainly not like a scroll since it is just too small. Logan removes it from the ring, unrolls it and reads...

Chimera looks to sunrise
Cyclops looks to sunset
Medusa looks to sunrise
Umber Hulk looks to sunset
Basilisk looks to sunrise

Logan shakes his head, giving a dismissive look to Ketrana with each piece of treasure he finds in the cabin.  Finally, the rogue gives her a withering glance.  "The only thing worse than a thief is an incompetent thief, little girl.  You should be back playing with your dolls until you learn how to do anything.  You've had this boat for how many days, and didn't manage to do more than make a mess of it?"  Logan shakes his head sadly.

He shows the paper to Celene.  "What do you make of this?  This might be the ring to get into the vaults, but this scrap of paper has to be related."  Logan studies it again.  "Hmmm...all monsters.  Do you suppose there are guardians down there?  Maybe this is some way to get past them.  Like you have to sneak past them in some way once you're inside the vault?"

Logan looks out at the door, thinking about the cargo below decks.  "Or you don't think this is some list of things they were trying to get?  Maybe with some kind of code for buyers or sellers?  Some of these, though...basilisks, chimera, well all of them, I think, though I'm not exactly sure what an umber hulk is, but they all sound dangerous.  We should warn the others..."

Logan trails off again as he stares at the sobbing Ketrana.  "But we need to do something with her, first.  Ketrana, how'd you like being tied up so that you don't cause any trouble while we investigate the ship."  Logan casts about the ruined cabin, looking for some way to hold the girl captive for later.

Celene was baffled by the effectiveness of the rogue - in short order he'd pacified the girl, found the ring and uncovered a fortune. She wondered about those sewing utinsils, but put that at the back of her mind.

Celene studied the paper for a moment. "Hmm, it's close to impossible to guess what it's related to until we suddenly stumble upon some recognisable feature, such as a statue or such of one of the creatures. Until then we can just keep on guessing, I think.

"But as to a hidden meaning in this, we may be more fortunate now. For the moment though, I just notice that most of these monsters are ancient mythical creatures, only the umber hulk I don't remember from any myths or legends. And most of them have something peculiar about their eyes or their gaze. medusae and basilisks are known to petrify with their gaze, and I think that umber hulks can cloud the mind of those they stare upon with their four eyes. Cyclops have only one eye, and some of those in stories have magical abilities with that eye. Only chimera I don't know to have any peculiar powers of their eyes, but they have three heads, meaning six eyes..."

"Well, let's take  all this, and the girl, to the other's outside. I know an interrogator who'd like to dig her nails into her fine little skin....", she concluded, more for the benefit of the girl than anyone else...

Meanwhile, Kassius looks through the underbelly of the ship, looking for anything out of the ordinary. He pays particular attention to the various exotic animals, checking on the cages to make sure there is no further excitement.

Kibeti walks besides him, his shackles up, glaring balefully at the cages. Every know and then, the cat looks at Kassius, his to-intelligent eyes seeming to say, "you'd better not be getting any ideas wise-guy."


15:41, Today: Kassius rolled 27 using 1d20+7. perception.

After Angati's delicate touch knitted his ebony flesh, Alohan took Celene's advice and rested. Now free to move, Alohan simply rolled out of the hatch and closed his eyes. Sleep took him quickly.

He found himself back on the Pearl Isles, looking out across the lagoon to the three peaks. He stood on black sand, naked, joined by several others 'contestants' and a horde of onlookers. Alohan remembered the memory fondly. It was the afternoon of his ho'a'o ana au kai. His trial by the sea. He was experiencing a night vision, a dream, and opened his mind voluntarily. He allowed the dream continue.

His mind involuntarily skipped ahead and he found himself alone on the beach. Everyone else had completed their trial -most failed- and he was the last of the day. He continued, once more slipping into the lagoon while everyone watched. He looked back to his mother and father, standing proud with nervous anticipation. "Could their son do it? Would he fail in front of the kingdom?' His mind framed their anxious expressions.

The dream flashed forward once more placing him on the far side of the three peaks, swimming hard in the open ocean. He remembered the exertion of the swim and the thrill of rounding the isles. The smell of the salt, -the burn of the sun. He knew he would succeed -he had before on countless occasions- but he allowed the memory of his exertion to flood through him. His mind once more gave him pangs of feelings he had felt during the trial. He once again submitted to its control -the exertion, the anger, the weariness.

It was then the dream shifted, taking an unexpected dark turn. He swam, hard in an ocean that begun to quickly recede, as if the tide went out and continued to drain. Like his control on the dream, Alohan lost himself in an ocean he couldn't fight against. Out he was sucked, swallowed up in swells unable to swim back to his isles. He fought, swam, released his inner pele but found himself devoured by the aggressive tide.

He woke with a start, lurching up on the deck of the Blue Nixie. He rubbed his head and itched his newly sealed wound, attempting to forget the horrible dream. After a breath, he stood, looking about the deck at their newly captured convicts.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:48, Thu 25 June 2015.

Angati, stayed around Alohan when she saw that he had fallen asleep. She didn't do much, helped the Rodolfo secure his boat throwing him a rope, and let him know that they would probably be getting out soon. "Would you happen to know how to move this boat back to the docks with a crew like us ?... or its better if we leave it here until someone with more knowledge comes to move it ?.".

The rest of the time, she spent in a hushed conversation with her sister, trying to keep out of the view of everyone.

Alohan woke with a start... "Feeling better ?" she asked as she started down to the others with the islander.

OOC: Wow, that is a good search roll.

Kassius ensues that all of the remaining animals are firmly locked in their cages and calms down some of the creatures, like the poisonous lattice monkeys, that were panicking after the rhagodessa had stormed through the hold.

He also tidies up the body of Mera Veskat so that Lavinia won't be faced with her dismembered corpse. As he is dragging her lower half over to her upper half, he notices the hilt of a dagger stuffed down one of her boots. He pulls the weapon out and sees that it is a silver dagger of fine quality - made by one of the master-smiths in the city no doubt. He wonders how this klutzy footpad came by this weapon, but there is no way of asking her now. He covers her body with a piece of tarpaulin he finds in the hold then joins the rest of the party on deck.

OOC: It is a masterwork alchemical silver dagger

Alohan wakes - troubled but feeling a little refreshed physically.

OOC: 1 hp healed for interesting role playing sequence. (Well, since I can't hand out XP, what else is there?

HIT POINTS & MISFORTUNE

Angati  HP: 11/11   <MF NOT USED>
Alohan  HP:  9/15   <MF NOT USED>
Celene  HP:  7/ 7   <MF NOT USED>
Kassius HP:  8/ 8   <MF NOT USED>
Kibeti  HP: 12/14   <MF NOT USED>
Logan   HP:  9/ 9   <MF NOT USED>






"I'm not-a leaving my boat-a," says Rodolfo firmly.

Fortunately, there is one other person on board with a little sailing experience (1 level in sailing). Alohan spend many hours on the double hulled catamarans of his people while growing up on his beautiful isle, and has also had a couple of days of sailing on one of the Sasserine merchant ships that sometimes travel between the various pearl isles to trade a little at each island. Although the Blue Nixie needs a bare minimum of seven sailors to safely crew it in normal conditions, they are only trying to move it 100 feet to the nearby pier, and he is able to direct the other four party members and the charmed thug enough that they get a single sail up and haul up the anchor. Using the sail tightly reefed back they make their way to the wharf (Alohan takes 10), and Rodolfo is there to receiving the mooring lines and tie them up.

One of the local boys standing around on the pier is given a silver piece and a message to pass onto Lady Lavinia 'The Blue Nixie is now back in your possession on pier five' - the urchin shoots off to deliver while the party make sure their prisoners on deck are very 'comfortable' (firmly tied up) and that Ketrana is now among them.

Lavinia arrives within half an hour with Kora Whistlegap at her side. "My goodness, how wonderful!" she says. "I give you a job to do in the morning and it is finished before dinner time, how absoletly wonderful." She stands on deck and looks around her ship and at the captives - she hasn't noticed the giant bug yet. "Was it difficult?" she asks.

OOC: Can someone present the days events to Lavinia and also recount what was found?

Angati was horrified as the big boat approached the pier with what appeared to be such a high speed for such a big boat, but somehow Alohan managed to put the prow to the wind, and it eased its approach on the last few minutes almost stopping the boat before it frapped against the pier.

Luckily her only job through all that had been to lower some leather sacks filled with air what that were used as stoppers to avoid the boat from damaging it's wood on Alohans call.

When Lavinia and Kora arrived, she had to refrain from chuckling at the mention of the timing. "Well, it had better be now... had it not been this morning, it would have been all too late.... come on board... it will be easier to explain, and less open to prying ears and eyes. Come..."

The tour around the boat was short and to the point, Angati explained that the robbers were planning on leaving that night, Vark had jumped our of the boat, but in the hurry, he had left the money, as well as the signet which he had not discovered. She explained about the cargo, and showed the cages left... which was actually the main problem that she wanted Lavinia taking a stance for... "So... I'd say there is a lot to discuss on what you would want us to do with the signet... if you want us to continue the investigation or what you would have us do... but right now, the most pressing matters are:

What you want to do with these people and what you want to do with the load... most of it illegal... I'd say both things are related. That is to say... you can hardly give this people to justice and not give the load to justice.... the load is probably worth a bit of money... but it would need some smuggling and contacts... still, it might be something you might want to consider".

Lavinia is overjoyed to receive her money back and as a bonus, also get her father's signet ring which somehow serves as the key to the family vault.

When Angati also shows her the black velvet sack, the noblewoman is a little confused. "Well this is something that doesn't belong to my family, that's for sure." She reaches into the sack and pulls out the funny zig-zag scissors. "My goodness, these are dress making scissors. Why on earth did Soller Vark have these?"



"Oh my goodness" says Lavinia. "We must hand the people and the entire cargo over to the authorities. I could never be involved in anything illegal. Kora, oh Kora." The old halfling lady scuttles over. "Please be a dear and go fetch the harbormaster or at least the district watch." The old lady gives a quick nod and then disappears off the boat. "But where did all these animals come from? And where were they going?"


OOC: Anybody going to show her the riddle?

OOC: as the risk of illegal involvement seems to have subsided, Celene comes over :-)

Lokking Down at the sewing utinsils, Celene wonders out loud: "Dressmaking? Hm, when we first made his acquantance, he had just robbed a dress making shop, to get away with your cousins wedding gown. Maybe this was something he took along? Maybe his girl friend was into sewing? Odd..."

As the discussion turns to the animals, she quips in, "I know next to nothing of all these strange animals, but perhaps Kassius knows? He's been handling them pretty well so far. Kassius, what's your oppinion on where these creatures could be coming from? It must be somewhere they can be transported here from, on a boat?"

"But speaking of creatures, this mysterious little note was found inside of the signet ring. Do you have any idea of its' significance?"

Logan watched the dialogue, frankly a little relieved that Lady Vanderboren didn't jump at the suggestion to smuggle the animals into the city.  The rogue thought he'd end up being the go-to person in that contingency, and while he saw no crime in taking an occasional gold piece (or a rapier) from an undeserving owner, smuggling dangerous animals into the city was beyond what he thought acceptable for a quick profit.  Simple thievery was just a transfer of a wealth between parties, and if someone didn't protect their wealth enough, well, it was Logan's job to steal it.  If he didn't, someone else would.  Like Vark, for instance.  And wasn't the money better of in Logan's hands than that low-life thug?  But earning money by causing harm to the city...Logan shook his head at the thought.  He'd never risk lives for a quick profit.  The thief smiled.  Beyond his own, of course.  Sasserine might be a sweltering, dirty, terrible place to live, but it was Logan's home.

Kassius had spent the ride back idly spinning the silver dagger between his fingers, trying to work through what had been going on in this boat. The group's discoveries just made things odder. Dangerous animals with no trained handlers, mysterious riddles, and now dress-cutting scissors? There was a riddle here, but it seemed beyond his ability's to make sense of it all.

He looks up at Celene's mention of his name. Well, that was one way he could attack the problem. Did the animals have some common origin? He wracked his mind, trying to remember what he knew of the native environs of the various animals he had seen in the hold.

10:01, Today: Kassius rolled 18 using 1d20+3. knowledge (nature): animals.

Lavinia appearance forced Alohan into silence like a youth too shy to speak. He finished securing the Nixie to pier 5, casting lines, and rolling up sails. He imagined the boat would be moored for awhile -seeing as Lavinia didn't seem to have any use for the ship- so Alohan did what he could to make sure the thing didn't fall into too much disrepair. With his limited knowledge the native didn't do much -but he sure did look the part.

Alohan itched his pink scar, groaning under the mid-afternoon sun. All of this fighting made him hungry. He jumped down to the pier and moved up to Angati. In a low voice -so as not to interrupt the others- he whispered. "Thank ya again Angati. I be feeling much better after ya magiks."

Angati nodded and smiled at Lavinia, she would have not minded an extra profit if the woman had been able to handle the smuggling on her own without involving them, but save that, this was the easiest option now, and she was quite happy with that.

She pondered as she saw Kora leave wether this had been an act of Lavinia not to show her true face... but... no, it just didn't seem to fit her, she was probably what she said she was, and... to be frank, that was much better and safer for them as a group.

She saw from the corner of her eye Anansi eyeing the scisors... of course, such a thing was nothing sort of a magnet to a kid and was about to say something when Alohan came by.

"I'll finish patching you up when it looks like the day is over... it's always best to keep something in case things turn for the worse, but I can probably leave you good as new by this evening". She hoped that the lecherous islander would not missunderstand her words... but in a way she almost hoped he would.

Lavinia reads the note carefully.

Chimera looks to sunrise
Cyclops looks to sunset
Medusa looks to sunrise
Umber Hulk looks to sunset
Basilisk looks to sunrise

"Perhaps my father was trying to leave a warning? Maybe there is a chimera that will attack us in the morning, then a Cyclops in the evening, and then a medusa the next morning... My goodness, we should warn the Dawn Council!"

"Oh, and Celene? An umber hulk is a large, bipedal, insect-like arthropod aberration with an ape-like build. If you look into all four of its eyes at once then it will confuse you." Lavinia looks proud. "My parents had an extensive library of texts on monsters and kept notes on those they encounters during their adventures. I've read everything in the library at least three times, I love that sort of stuff." She makes a sour face. "It is a shame that they didn't teach a class on it at the Thenalar Academy for Fine Young Ladies - I would have preferred that to yet another class on napkin folding."



Kassius is familiar with most of them - by name at least - as the contents of the hold are effectively a list of things to absolutely not touch, eat, get bitten or stung by in the Jungle Coast region. As to a particular location where they could all be found? Not really. They are all jungle critters and none of them would be found within three days ride of Sasserine, no, they would only be found out in the true wild jungle out beyond the plantations.



OOC: So should I take it as a standing order that Angati (and Kassius) will burn any remaining spells at the end of the day to use healing on wounded comrades?

So, any questions for the charmed thug, Ketrana or the other thugs before the authorities turn up?

"Hmm, I doubt it's any indication of an attack. Rather it's perhaps some direction clues - East when you see this, West when you see that or something like that? But you say your parents made notes on the monsters they've encountered? Maybe we should make a visit to your library, to see what they have on these five monsters?"

"But before we go, and the authorities show up, perhaps we should enquire how your Brother fits into all this? I'll see if this fine fellow knows anything first, but if not, Ketrana surely must know."

Celene goes to the charmed thug, who's fidgeting in a corner. "Okay, it seems we're all safe now. No more of the monsters below are loose, thank the Goddess, and you avioded getting harmed by the Rhagodessa. Do you know how it and all the other animals ended up down there?"

"Is Vanthus also part of that, or was he just interested in the thing hidden on this ship? Or how does he fit in?"

"Certainly, if you think that is worthwhile."



Lavinia wrings her hands. "My goodness, I know that my brother has been involved with some rough sorts around town, but I don't think he would have anything to do with this. If I said before, if he wanted to use the Blue Nixie, he could have just asked and I would've just given it to him! But ask them by all means."


This message was last edited by the player at 10:28, Wed 01 July 2015.

"Don't you say nothin' you big fool!" hisses Ketrana at the befuddled man.

"Oh, it's alright!" exclaimed the man. "I know this girl, she's al right, y' know?" Ketrana let out a blood-thursty curse but it didn't phase the thug, he just shrugged and addressed Celene. "Those animals been coming in every night, a few at a time, all crated up and ready to load. Some guys delivered them to us via gondola. I don't know who they were. Not local lads I judge - they had the look of rangers about them, all hoods up and dark cloaks."



"Huh? Vanthus? Who is that? I never heard of anybody called Vanthus. Soller Vark is in charge. We were all finished and were going to sail out with the morning tide towards some place called 'Kraken's Cove' to the east and then deliver this lot to the Crimson Fleet, and then - and this is the best bit - we were going to offer to join them! Ha! We'd all become pirates and make our fortunes. No more shadowshore for us."

Lavinia let's out a shocked gasp when she hears how close she'd come to loosing her vessel forever.

"The Crimson Fleet? I didn't know that, I thought you were part of the Lotus Dragons? Do they do business together, or are you bailing on the dragons?"

"Huh?" The man seems to be honestly surprised. "We're not in the Lotus Dragons, those guys are pyscos! Do you know what you have to do to get into their gang? But the Lotus Dragons are taking over this town so if you're in the thievery business it is either join up with them or get the frak out, if you will pardon the expression young miss. We've all chosen to get out - being a pirate is going to be much better - you've seen how we know our way around this boat, we'll fit right in."

"Oh, I'd just heard Vark was trying to get in, but perhaps it was that Vanthus guy. No, I haven't heard what their entry rituals are like. Do you know? Come on, tell me, it sounds really nasty!"

Do you know where they are based? Who are leading them - and how do one get in touch with them?"

The thug shakes his head. "I don't think that is right, Vark's a smart guy, he knows that these Lotus Dragon's are crazy. We all thought that we stood a better chance with the Crimson Fleet. It must have been that Vanthus guy."



"Don't you frakken answer that!" growls Ketrana. "The Lady Lotus will gut you like a fish in my market stall - while you're still alive! Frakken think about that."

This makes the thug pause for a second, but then he continues in a hushed voice. "You have to survive 'The Crucible' to get in. No-one knows what it is exactely, but I've heard it's some sort of big pit where you have to wrestle their green dragon while they fire arrows at you while the pit fills up with water. I mean, who can survive that?!"



The thug chakes his head. "Nope, don't know where they are based, although it sure ain't Shadowshore otherwise we'd have noticed by now. The Lady Lotus is their leader but I have know idea about how to get in touch with her, or any of her crew - and I don't want to know!"

Logan thinks this all over.  He nods.  "I suppose all that makes sense.  This whole ship, and its cargo, was a kind of bribe to the Crimson Fleet to let them join.  I wouldn't have credited Vark with that much foresight.  This whole plan still seems...too big for him.  And he was masterminding this while he was off stealing as well?  It still seems to me that Vark is taking orders from someone.  Maybe his crew doesn't know who."

Logan smiles.  "I wonder if his employer knew Vark's plans.  Maybe selling the ship and joining the Crimson Fleet was something Vark came up with by himself."

Kassius and Kibeti watch the conversation from the back, saying little. With each new revelation, the two would like at each other, and shrug, but were otherwise quiet. Only after Logan speaks does Kassius finally pipe up.
Maybe it is and maybe it ain't. Don't have enough information to figure it out, and don't really see how it matters to us either way. We did what we was paid to do, and reclaimed the lady's property.

Celene shruged. "Yes, you have a point, Kassius. Vark is not really supposed to be our problem, even though I'm guessing Logan would like to know what Vark is up to - so he's ahead of him, in case they have an encounter again in Shadowshore. But I am more than a little worried about my friend's claim that the Lotus Dragons are taking over the city. THAT pretty much corcerns all of us, doesn't it? We may not be able to do much about it, but we could at least alert someone of what we've learned. And gather what information we can first..."

Celene takes Logan and Kassius aside for a moment, say in a low voice, "I can use my magic to sway the girl to tell us what we ask her - she sounds like she knows more of the Lotus Lady, and Vark. Are you okay with trying that?"

"For it to work best, we need to make her a bit more at ease, so as not to be an immediate threat to her. I suggest we pretend to release her, with the intent to let her go, right when I cast the spell. So if you, Kassius, free her from the bonds, saying something along the lines of letting her off, while Logan stays alert in the background, to catch her if it fails, I'll cast the spell when she seems to think we're letting her go. Will that do?"

OOC: GM, I gather you get the idea of the above? Do you want us roleplaying the 'spell/maneuver' or not? It's up to you.

OOC: I get it, although she would only have the +5 bonus if she were in combat against you - being tied up doesn't effect the saving throw.

I should point out that very few low level humans can resist the Celene/Angati double team anyway!

21:18, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 7 using 1d20-1. Ketrana vs charm person.

Just on the verge of leaving the boat, Ketrana's eye glaze over and she stares back at Celene in rapture.

Logan moves to Ketrana.  "Why don't you tell your new friend what you know of the Lady Lotus?  And Vark, too.  What's he been up to?  Has he been taking orders from someone else?  Or is all this his idea?"

Ketrana smiles. "I don't know much more than what my crewmate has already told you - we aren't associated with the Lotus Dragons and don't want to be. The smuggling operation was originally Vanthus' idea. Vark and him met in some bar in Shadowshore a while back. That said, Vanthus claims to be in deep with the Lotus Dragons, so maybe there is a connection, but then again I don't know if Vanthus is for real or just full of hot frak. I can't image him making it through The Crucible - he looks too soft - so I don't think he is a member."

"Oh, and I don't know anything about the Lady Lotus except she has a pet green dragon living beneath the city, and that all who oppose her die terrible deaths. You should stay out of her way."

"As for the animal deliveries... I don't know who those guys were in the gondola, maybe Vark does. Vanthus organised us to make the shipment to the Crimson Fleet for a big payoff... But it was Vark's idea for us to stick with them and become pirates. I thought it was a great idea, but now it will never happen... Unless you let us go?" She add the last comment with a wistful look to Celene.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:02, Wed 01 July 2015.

OOC: Feel free to keep squeezing exposition out of the NPC's if there are questions you still want to ask. Then see you over in thread 1C.

While Angati was talking with Lavinia, she said... "Oh.. those scissors, belong to the dressmaker that made your cousins dress... he was robbed by Soler Vark under Vanthus instructions... if you give them to me I'll return them to him". In her head she had serious doubts about when she would find the time to drop by that asshole's shop to do him a favor that she didn't really feel like doing... but still, she knew she'd feel bad holding to those scissors so...

Angati was extremely careful when holding the scissors and held tight to them eyeing a space to the left of Lavinia, with a stern face that seemed to say "Don't you dare"

---

"Hmmm yes, I would very much like to see that library and see the distribution of the books there... it's probably just wishful thinking but... it sounds like it is related, they would have left a message that someone in the family would know where to look at, and the library was the first place that came to your mind when you thought about those monsters... so it sounds right".

---

"Mayhaps you could ask her where to find Soler so that they can all leave together ?."

OOC: DM yes, end of the day use left spells to heal :)

Lavinia nods. "Yes, certainly. But would it be acceptable if we visited my family's library tomorrow? I don't want to leave the ship, not until I have arranged for it to be guarded and I can't do that until after we have been to the vaults tomorrow morning..."

---

Ketrana hesistates before answering this question - this is obviously testing the limits of the charm spell versus her loyality to her boyfriend, but eventually the magic wins over. "Soller and I have a skift in barge end - he might be there - or then again, maybe not. If he thinks that he needs to lie low for a couple of days, then he could be hiding in one of many different spots in Shadowshore."

Seeing their trust in her about to be betrayed, almost breaks Celene's Heart - why this softness? But it just cannot be helped. Despite their newfound loyalty (albeit magically induced), their crimes are undoubtful and henious, and the law enforcement will be here soon. If only... For some strange reason, she suddenly blurts out "I am sorry, what you've done cannot be undone. Well, if only... do you have any information of value for Lady Vanderboren that you would part with, perhaps she would grant you her pardon. And as this is a crime against her property, she has the power to just let it all go. It all depends on her will, really."

Having shut her mouth again, Celene really can't fathom why she said that. She's not one to let Justice go unfulfilled! What's wrong with her - her mind seems all hazy and swirling...

"Oh my goodness," says Lavinia, clearly surprised about this new idea. "I don't know about that Celene. They did take my boat after all, and it sounds like they were planning to sail away with it forever. And then they tried to defend it with force. No, I think it is best that the law handles this, if I don't press charges it would be like I am doing the city a disservice."

Ketrana sighs. "Thanks for trying," she says to Celene. "...but I don't know anything else except that people like her," she nods in the direction of Lavinia Vanderboren. "...don't appreciate how good they have things. I mean she had a whole ship sitting down here ungaurded and not being used. Just how rich is she?"

Celene shrugs at Lavinias answer, which she of course finds logical and understandable. She also nods at Ketranas comment, though. "Yes, i see your point, but she has just recently been thrust into this after her parents' unexpected death. I am sure she will come to appreciate it all once she has had the chance to grieve and come to terms with it all. I believe she will actually do good for many peolpe from all this, in the future..."

Angati observed the exhange between Celene and Lavinia, raising an eyebrow and smiling at Celene, but otherwise, did not comment on her however... she did have something in stock for Lavinia. Even if she did not get what she wanted, at least she would learn how far Lavinia was willing to go to cover her brother.

"Oh well, I hope you do mention your brother's name in the report, you see, these guys are surely going to mention it to cover their asses and will probably be adding colourful notes about him that will surely aid their future, but not so your brother's who seems to be neck deep in even darker things... The way I see it, this guys could even argument that they were not even stealing... after all, they work for your brother who is as much a rightful owner of this ship as you are... anyway... it is still your call".

"Humph," says Lavinia. Angati's comments seem to have penetrated through the young noblewoman's normally cheerful (or at least inane) demeanour.

"First of all, I inherited 100% of my parents wealth while Vanthus was granted just 300 gold crowns a month, so it is not as though he is 'as much the rightful owner' of the Blue Nixie as I am. Secondly, I am sure that he is innocent of all wrong doing. I would certainly take the word of my brother over this bunch of ruffians any day."

Bronson is OVERJOYED that his gold has been returned to him and showers Angati with hugs and kisses all while sobbing gently. He insists upon making her a cup of tea which turns into a impromptu dress fitting session, and the old lady has a hard time getting away from him. He apologises for maybe not being entirely gratefully enough for her saving his life before, and promises all sorts of discounts and furthermore says that she can count on him anytime day or night if she needs some work done.

As she leaves, Bronson pushes a small bag into Angati's hand. "Bless you Madam Lidu, take this small appreciation for all your help." After she is down the street Angati opens it and finds 50 crowns inside.

OOC: Congrats, the party has received an NPC BOON! You can get clothes and disguises from Bronson at half price and he will open up his shop to help anybody accompanied by Angati any time to do some short notice clothes making (he can make anything, not just dresses.)