Celene turned back to her allies her eyes wide "We need to get back to Sasserine. Lavinia and everyone at her manor are in danger." she gave the captain a dirty look as she turned away and began heading for the beach wanting to leave the memories of this accursed place behind her.

Harliss moves forward, her speed taking the party by surprise and the drawing of her blade so quick that Celene doesn't even see if happen. The young cleric does feel the end result though, as the last two inches of the pirate's rapier appear like magic across the front of her neck.

"You're not going anywhere little sweet," says the pirate captain softly. She draws her other blade and levels it at the rest of the party. "Vanthus is going to get his comeuppance, and no-one will stop that, I swear it!"

OOC: Okay, diplomacy check time - and a very important one at that. The party's best diplomat gets to argue the party's  case and needs DC15 for indifferent and DC25 for helpful. Less than DC15 is very bad. The other characters can help if they wish with DC10 assistance checks.

Angati has the best diplomacy score so Beni will be making the roll.

Urol stares from Celene to Captain Javell, his face a mask of worry and concern.  Then suddenly, then mask breaks, and the gnome breaks up a fit of laughter.  He regains his composure and looks very severely at his former captain.  "Captain, I know I don't know these people very well, but they've kept their word so far.  And you don't want to be angering the Sasserine...Sasserinites?  Sasserinians?"  For a moment, it looks as though Urol is about to lose his train of thought, but he pulls through.  "Anyway, yeah, I'd do what they say."

23:26, Today: Urol Forol rolled 20 using 1d20+8.  Diplomacy (Aid Another).

Angati was really off with the disease that was ravaging her, still as she started speaking "Oh.. Vanthus is going to get that and more much much MORE !... but you see, the reason why she is telling you to pull that off, is because what you will be doing is helping Vanthus if you attack his manor.... please don't do that"....  she saw an immediate future that did not look all that convincing, she blinked pulling back on the last 4 words and retiring the 'please' out of the sentence, instead saying

"So stop acting like a bitch and listen closely. Vanderboren manner is ran by Lavinia, Vanthus sister... now, it so happens that Lavinia found out all he is doing, and she is financing his demise. Paying us and others to end with Vanthus threat. There is nothing that Vanthus would like better than you ending up with his sister and doing the dirty work for him... only you would kill his only enemy right now.. but you would make him inherit all the family's fortune".

'That was infinitely better... now if the voices would stop pushing her to further insult that bitch... to gorge her with her own teeth'... Her eyes appeared a bit glazed looking at Harliss and a somewhat greenish bit of saliva dropped from the commissure of her mouth...

10:59, Today: Angati rolled 18 using 1d20+14.  Diplomacy roll.  (MF used on myself for reroll)
10:59, Today: Angati rolled 32 using 1d20+14.  Diplomacy Roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:10, Sat 02 July 2016.

Impressive roll Beni! I will still wait and see if the others can assist you since there is a bonus for passing DC40! Alohan, Celene and Kassius are still to roll and should feel free to use their daily MF.

Celene stiffened when the rapier ran across her neck. She sucked in a breath and didn't exhale until Angati had her say. "Insuring the manor's safety and telling us everything you can about who wanted that pearl will help see that Vanthus pays for what he has done. We'll bring you his head when he gets his in the end; you can bronze it and keep it in your quarters for all we care." she hoped the edges of the blade weren't as sharp as the point as he spoke.

15:33, Today: Celene rolled 16 using 1d20+8.  Diplomacy.

Kassius is a far less elegant speaker than his companions, something he is well aware of. He usually prefers staying quiet, or at best contributing a snarky comment to the discussion. Still, perhaps he could help somehow. Sometimes many voices were more convincing than just one, no matter how well-spoken.

"We fought our way through all of those monsters that had you pinned in here. Let us help you stop Vanthus without endangering the innocent."


21:38, Today: Kassius rolled 11 using 1d20-1. diplomacy.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:01, Sun 03 July 2016.

OOC: Well I didn't add the Sasserin +2 to diplomacy from the pin they gave us... thought that would not work on her, but maybe it does ? lol.

Err....no Beni, she is NOT impressed by the shinny 'Spire of Sasserine' that you have pinned to your armour. :D

" yea!" Alohan added immediately after Kassius was done speaking. "And I be savin' ya life.... Well... I helped.." he grumbled shifting beside Angati. To punctuate his point, he crossed his arms and proceeded to flex his pectoral muscles.

---

09:35, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 10 using 1d20+3 ((7)). Diplo Check
we did!

Harliss listens to the persuasive arguments of each party member, and lowers her blade a little as each speaks, but it is the dancing pecs of Alohan that finally win her over.

OOC: Wow. Well done guys. I wonder how may of the many parties that have played through this module made it to the DC40? Very few I would wager and this will have a big effect on the campaign.

"Damn," she curses as she sheathes her rapier and short sword. "This is something that Captain Harliss Javell doesn't say often, 'sorry'. It looks like I have sent Drevoraz to the wrong spot, and he ain't a man to adjust orders just because things don't turn out the way he expected. I ordered him to get to the Vanderboren mansion, take down Vanthus, and cause havoc and he'll at least do two out 'a three. And just t' make matters worse, I told him to call in a favour with the local Bullywug tribe - they're be a horde of those critters there including their big high priest Bua Gorg."

Kassius maybe recognises that name - that was the bullywug high priest that he waved to in the distance when he was flinching that holly disc from the bullywug shrine. He is a legend in the area: both for his spellcasting ability and his corrupted perversion. Bua Gorg had his throat pouch ripped open in a battle when he was a young toad and it became horribly infected, now only his sadistic devotion to the gods of corruption keeps him alive.

OOC: And that's why this module is called 'The Bullywug Gambit'.

"I don't know what we can do though. Drevoraz has several hours head start and the bullywugs have an alliance with the ixitxachitls - those manta rays have some sort of sneaky water magic that lets them and their friends move around quick. They're probably half way to Sasserine already..."

"I'm not particularly interested in hearing you say sorry. I'm interested in hearing you talk about how you're going to make up for siccing havoc on an innocent woman, oh and the entire city of Sasserine. You're a captain, think you can pilot us back to the city fast enough to get there in time?"

It was settled. They needed to make haste back to Sasserine or else their patron could meet an untimely demise. He had liked Lavinia -although his chances with her were ultimately going nowhere- and didn't want to see anything unfortunate happen to her. Hell, her problems with her brother were the only reason he had a purpose. Without this, he'd be left to face his own problems and Alohan sure as hell didn't want that.

After Kassius finished Alohan stepped forward to add his questions. "Would ya be coming back ta Sasserine? Ya be havin' any reason to keep ya distance?" he asked. He paused to consider the bite behind Kassius's words not entirely knowing if this Captain Javell was of importance (positive or negative.) "While ya look capable enough ta be left here in dis cave, I be dinkin' getting back to civilization might be in ya favor... Not like dis mess be going anywhere soon" he added, gesturing to the caverns and her apparent hideout.

---

Both the player and the character have no clue if Javell can be trusted or if she is worth having on the same team. Until convinced otherwise, Alohan's unbiased opinion is she come with us- if she wants to.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:10, Fri 08 July 2016.

Harliss crosses her arms over her chest. "Her brother started this, so don't make out like yeh got the moral high ground or something, not that I would give a frak about that anyhow. Oh, and Harliss Javell be a captain, not a pilot yeh lilly levered land lubber..."

It seems that Kassius, it his usual brush manner, has failed to charm the beautiful pirate swashbuckler.



The pirate sighs, shakes her head and looks around the cavern with the petrifying corpses. The awful sulphurous retch of the 'Savage Tide' has faded somewhat, but who knows how many infected animals are out in the jungle? And where would she go? There were no ports nearby.

"I be thinking you got a point there bucko? A trade then, you give me a ride back to Sasserine and then I'll sort out this mess with my first mate. How did you get her anyways? Yeh can't have sailed into the harbour, only the Crimson Fleet knows the way through those shoals."



OOC: Yeah, the link though this early part of the AP feel a little weak if you ask me. But I guess Lavinia is your patron, and you have to do as she says (and pays).

I have guests so I won't be able to post for two days and I have a MASSIVE expositional post coming up where I have to introduce a new party member, so it will take me a while to put that together. Therefore, things are going to be quiet for a couple of days.

The party explain to Harliss that Lavinia's vessel, The Blue Nixie, is moored a couple of hours up the coast and that they entered Kraken's Cove by walking through the jungle then coming down the cliffs. The pirate captains scoffs. "If you'd tried that on any normal day you'd have been cut to ribbons by the lookouts. You lot were lucky that we were otherwise engaged..." It is agreed that Harliss will accompany them back through the jungle to The Blue Nixie and then join them on the trip to Sasserine. The party therefore follow her out through the remains of the pirate base in Kraken's Cove, with a brief stop to pick up the remains of Logan.

When they get back out onto the beach the see two things. First of all, the fire has all but disappeared with only a few spluttering flames remaining on the impressive amount of wreckage that the waxing tide has pushed up on the beach. The bay seems very dark without the light of the fires.

Secondly, one of the ships has survived the blaze. A three masted caravel lies beached on the sandy shoreline, pretty much straight outside the cave entrance. Its sleek lines still obviously despite it wallowing in the shallows. It still flies the flag of the Crimson Fleet pirates - a skull and cross bones on a field of pure crimson - 'no quarter asked for or given'.



"Well by the dark shapes of the depths. If there was one ship that would manage to survive, I guess it makes sense that it would be The Sea Wyvern. That is Kilgante's own ship and she is a legend in these waters. There's no ship faster in the Sea of Dread." The name also makes sense. The figurehead on the brow of the vessel is a carved wyvern swooping in to pounce on its prey. Celene realises that this is the ship that tried to 'kill' her earlier during her swim to shore.


OOC: Say hello to your new party member - The Sea Wyvern.

"Look at this mess!" exclaims Harliss. "Almost a dozen Crimson Fleet laid waste by that villain Vanthus Vanderboren. You will pay you cowering cur, I swear it!"

The fact that a ship remains in Kraken's Cove changes the calculations considerably. Rather than walking back to the Blue Nixie, they may as well sail back. Admittedly the party plus Harliss only make up the bare minimum number of crewmembers needed, and getting out through the reefs to the open sea is a difficult route. But Captail Javell says she counts as at least two men, Alohan also has a good amount of sailing experience and Urol is a damn good navigator who has piloted vessels through the route many times before. So it seems like braving the shoals is a better idea than heading back out into a jungle filled with Savage Fever infected animals. And they can swing by the Blue Nixie and 'borrow' a few crew members from that vessel.

Harliss does through a small spanner into the works. She announces that the tide is two low to make it through the harbour mouth and that they'll need to wait a few hours for the water to rise. The silver lining on this is that the party gets a chance to partake in its favourite activity - looting finding valuables that would otherwise go to waste. Harliss Javell even helps them empty the cave complex - as long as she gets an equal share when they all get back to civilization.

Interrupted only by a small skirmish in the kitchens (three more savage pirates meet their end there), the party ransacks the dungeon and makes off with the entire contents, in addition to the items they had already found they also manage to get the three chests in the trophy room open - they use the key on Kigante's belt. The contents are a little disappointing: a very big sack of coins in the first that turns out to contain mostly silver pieces (1000 gp) and a small bag of semi-precious stones in the second (500 gp). The third contains a jumbled mess of small daggers, some of them actually worth a bit (1,500 gp total).

Kigante's quarters reveals some... interesting discoveries. In addition to a ring of swimming that the party didn't find on his body the first time around, forcing open his locked cupboard reveals a large collection of ladies dresses. "Err... No doubt for guests," says Harliss defensively.

The party also find a large perfume collection in his room with scents from all over the world; Alfheim, Alphatia, Glantri, Sind. These are worth a lot of money (1,000 gp in total). Additionally there is one vial from Ylaruam. This magical scent gives a +10 competence bonus on diplomacy checks for one hour after use.

"Yes, definitely for guests," mutters the pirate captain.

All added to the loot thread.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:03, Sun 10 July 2016.

So I will pause here and check - does anyone want to ask any questions or do anything on the ride back to Sasserine?

The Nuari way of life didn't have concepts such as material possessions and personal wealth. His people existed cooperatively, together, striving to overcome life's challenges on relatively unforgiving isles. His family was rich, but in a unique sense of the word. They commanded the entire islands and thus, any Nuari resources (both natural and man-made) were at their disposal. Never before had his people 'wanted' what others had. Never did they 'lust' after their neighbor's property. It wasn't the Nuari way.

Yet nothing existed in isolation for long. Foreign influence and foreign ideas were changing his people's way of life with alarming quickness. Moanalepo (or Seagrit to others) -where his father currently resided- is a hub of commerce. Foreign merchants exchanging goods with the Pearl Islanders and an alarming number of his people leaving the islands for the high seas. Even some of his people were succumbing to the greed of material wealth, finding themselves lusting after more and more personal property. If it wasn't addressed, the Pearl Islands might be in for a volatile future.

It must be hard for his people. Alohan recalled the culture shock he experienced upon arriving in Sasserine, discovering for the first time the concept of currency. He didn't fully understand it and Alohan could identify the problems it had created. At the same time, Alohan was intelligent enough to grasp the benefits of currency. It was something that brought a people together -created an identity- and at least in Sasserine, currency was power. Ironic as it was that while he didn't particularly care about coin and wealth he and his companions were quite rich in currency... in the traditional sense of the world.

Despite all his misgivings about material possessions, Alohan WANTED the Sea Wyvren... or at least, a boat like it. As he prepared to embark with his skeleton crew of companions Alohan felt at peace in the riggings. He remembered feeling at ease on The Blue Nixie but the Sea Wyvren was something entirely different. Something more.

He catapulted down from the main mast yard, landing on the deck with a thud (that ring of jumping is great!) Noticing Kassius and his fierce feline prepping the boat for sailing, the Islander approached his friend with a smile. "Dis be great boat! I be loving it!" he yelped with a smile. "What ya be dinkin? Shall we be sailin' de high seas? Trading goods and seeing exotic wome... places?! Maybe ye be coming back to de Isles wit me? Show ya how we Nuari have a good time?" He asked, crouching to give Kibeti a rough pet. He hesitated when the cat met his eye and -what Alohan thought- gave a shake of the head.

Angati sat down on what looked like a solid bar to her... she was nervous, this was the ship she had seen on her dreams and she was not happy about it. This ship would end up taking her to her death on a sea of sargasso...

She took hold of one of the pegs that held the ropes tight, and asked Harliss "So... I suppose first thing we need to do is get to Lavinia... try to protect her, but I wonder if someone could get a disease remedy, I fear it may be too late for us if we wait much longer".

Urol relaxed on the side of the Sea Wyvern, smoking a little more of his loco weed as he examined Angati with a critical eye.  "You're serious, then?  You don't feel as though you were helped at all by this?"  He tapped his hand-rolled cigarette, and took another deep breath, exhaling after a few seconds, and finally shaking his head.  He digs around in his pouch, and procures a vial of purple liquid.  "I don't think this would cure you, but it's a potion of Lesser Restoration.  If worst comes to worst, it might help to stave off some of the worst effects until we can find a healer in Sasserine."

Yes! This is exactly that boat.



Yes, it will cure 1d4 points of temporary ability point damage (pls roll for this yourself Beni). Since Urol gets two of these (he gets to rest on the way back to Sasserine) maybe the second one could be given to the NPC pirate who has suffered many more lost points than Angati?
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:23, Wed 13 July 2016.

As a point of clarification, Urol actually does have two potions of lesser restoration, but this is a non-renewable resource.  It's a potion he's carrying, but it's not an infusion.  Lesser restoration is on his formula list, but he doesn't know it.
This message was last updated by the player at 19:41, Wed 13 July 2016.

In reply to Logan (msg # 389):

Oh, well in that case please hand them out as you wish.

Urol's offer stands; he's willing to give one to Angati.  He's not aware of the pirate's current troubles with the disease, though were made aware of another dire reason to his his other potion, he'd likely accede there.  He's not good-aligned, but he's got ties to these pirates.

"Bucko!" bellows the dark haired pirate captain. "First of this is a ship, not a boat. And you'll got a lot to learn if ya think ya are capable of taking it anywhere. Now keep you eyes peeled and let's get this baby through the reefs and out to the open water."

Harliss takes charge and the next hour is spend in the perilous series of manoeuvres required to pass through the shoals that guard the secret of Kraken Cover, with Captain Javell's swearing increasing in intensity and fluency as she becomes more and more exasperated with the party's amateur efforts to sail the ship. The fact that they are doing it only by moonlight makes it even more difficult for the inexperienced crew. So by the end of the passage, when Urol yells out the all clear, all of the 'crewmembers' are sweating heavily and happy to not be grounded on the dangerous rocks.

"That's it you miserable bunch of land crabs! Take up the main sails, let's go north and find this other ship of yours!"

The Blue Nixie is just where they left it, moored about 50 yards off the beach. Captain Rodrigo is obviously startled by the sight of a dark ship bearing down on him in the night - fortunately Alohan had enough foresight to pull down the Crimson Fleet's skull and crossbones otherwise he would have ordered his men to open fire. All is explained and eight able bodied and experienced crewmembers are transferred to help get the Sea Wyvern back to Sasserine.

Captain Rodrigo also reveals that he has seen two other vessels sailing close by that night. The first left Kraken's Cove just after the party set out on their jungle adventure and headed northwest - no doubt this was Vanthus making his escape. The second was a large dhow with purple sails - this ship sailed towards Kraken's Cove from the west, i.e. from the direction of Sasserine, but when it got close enough to see the flames from the inferno in the bay it turned and headed back the way it had come.

Captain Javell grunts. "That was no doubt the buyer from Sasserine, the one who was going to pick up that accursed Black Pearl. I was told that it would be picked up with a ship with purple sails." She pauses and wipes the sweat from her brown. "All hail the Prince of Savage Tides! Oh, what was I saying? Apparently they were a representative from of your noble families - the House of Porphyria."

Every schoolchild in Sasserine knows that there are 13 noble families in Sasserine who make up the inner ring of the Council of Dawn, the group that rules the city. There are two noble houses in each of the six main districts and then one semi-noble house from Shadowshore. Heck, even Alohan could probably name most of the noble houses since he has come into contact with many of them.

House Lidu are the major house in the Noble district, they are led by Worrin Lidu who is apparently Angati's nephew. House Meravanchi is grudgingly the second family in this district, with dreams of being much more. Alohan has punched the youngest son of that family in the face (Avner Meravanchi was causing some problems for Angati in the 'Mermaid's Secret'.

Alohan knows both of the houses in the Azure district as well. The role of major house is currently executed by the brand new noble family of Cadogan, the youngest son of that house is sailing on this very ship - young master Kassius! The minor house in Azure is led by Heldrath Kellani, Alohan knew her daughter...

The Vanderborens are the minor house in the merchant district, the Toregsons are the minor house in the Champion district, and so on...

One thing is for sure -  THERE IS NO NOBLE HOUSE OF PORPHYRIA! And before you ask, no, none of the noble houses are associated with the colour purple or even have any purple on their coat of arms.

As the party ponders this mystery, they make good time to the west and Sasserine. As the professional sailors have taken over they are able to get some well deserved rest and prepare themselves for the challenge ahead: Get to Vanderboren manner and stop this lunatic first mate Drevoraz from unjustly punishing Lavinia for Vanthus' crimes.

See you in the next thread - Carnevale!

"I prefer solid land under my feet over sailing. Can't very well aim at anything when you go sloshing from side to side every few seconds." Kassius says, his face grim.
"I'm pretty sure I know how you Nuari have a good time, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to see you while you're having you're "Good Time". Twas bad enough listening to you and Penny!"
Kassius says with a good natured chuckle, trying to indicate his lack of hard feelings over the issue.