As the city slips around the bend to the stern, the voyage to the Isle of Dread really begins. Lavinia has chosen the best time of the year to brace the Sea of Dread, and the weather as they begin their trip is pleasant.

As dusk falls at the end of the first day, the Blue Nixie hoists a flag to indicate that they want to send a message over by rowboat. The Sea Wyvern shortens its sails and the message arrives - Captain Aloha, the party and the other 'VIP's' on the ship are invited to dinner in Lavinia's wardroom!

The two ships are brought close and a line thrown across between them. A pulley is mounted on it and a net seat is hoisted to allow for safe crossing between the two ships.

Lavinia looks very fine when she meets them, dressed in a silk shirt, jewellery and a dress. She leads the guests into the galley; this is a bit bigger on the Blue Nixie than on the Sea Wyvern; and a spread that even Kora Whistlegap would be proud of is spread out across the table including grouse, peacock and elven wine.

OOC: Okay, this is in the module so there is a compulsory one roleplaying post minimum here. I don't like it anymore than you do, but the rules are the rules. The people at the dinner are:

Alohan and the party
Lavinia
Avner
Amella
Father Feres
Urol
Captain Rodrigo (of the Blue Nixie)

Celene took her seat and laid her hands daintily in her lap. She turned her attention to Lavinia. ”Lavinia; Urol has been teaching me quite a bit about alchemy. I am sure in one lesson he taught me an unguent that was particularly effective in removing barnacles and other hangers-on. We might be able to work something up for you if you have the need.” she said primly and without any hint of a smile. The sorcereress then plucked a piece of peacock with her fork and chewed quietly.

Logan is halfway through a glass of wine when Celene makes her comment, and barely manages to cover his laughter as a fit of coughing. Finally recovered, he bides his time sampling some of the food before clearing his throat. "Urol?. The rogue looks suspiciously at the red-eyed alchemist who is gazing in rapt wonder at the food, obviously enjoying the simple act of eating everything that crosses his plate. "He stopped smoking loco weed long enough to teach you something?

Logan selects another piece of meat and chews it slowly before addressing their host. "I certainly wasn't expecting eating like this. I also pictured sailors eating...I don't know, salted meat and stale bread. I'm glad you don't feel the need to fit in in that regard. Speaking of fitting in, how'd you manage to find those fighting clothes you were wearing?  I can't imagine your usual clothing suppliers stock those kinds of things."

Lavinia, blessedly free from Avner for a second while the nobleman argues with Lavnia's chef over the wine, raises an eyebrow and can't stop a small smirk forming on her face. She glances back at her fiance and makes sure he is occupied, then turns back to Celene.

"Yes, that is all well and good Celene, but what I am particularly interest in is the next step - PERMANENT DISPOSAL of the aforementioned parasite."

It is the first mate of the Sea Wyvern who answers. "Ya, matey. Salted meat and stale bread is exactly what you will be getting after tonight. On the first day out is it possible to make dinner a little special, but after that we are into the hard grind."

"Oh, well..." Lavinia blushes. "Actually, I was looking through my mother's old things to try and find some adventuring equipment is she had a lot of outfits like this. She seemed to think that just because you were slumming it in a dungeon, you didn't need to look unfashionable."

"I think... I thinks..." slurs Avner, obviously already quite drunk. "I thinks I gotta see what's under zere, er, there. More adventuring equipment?" The decadant nobleman reaches out and blatantly slips his hand into Lavinia's open cleavage."

"What the frac!" screams Lavinia, pulling back in surprise and outrage.

*CRACK!*

Avner's head snaps back as Alohan's fist connects with the bottom Young Master Meravanchi's jaw. The nobleman is flung back in his seat, which tips over, and the back of his head connects with the wall of the cabin. "Ahhh! Ggggg!" screams Avner, trying to clasp at the various different damaged places on his head and face.

"YOU NOT BE TREATING DIS WOMAN DIS WAY," roars the barbarian as his rises to his feet and flings back his own seat.

"What! You... you... miserable little COCONUT!" screams Avner, suddenly quite a bit more sober. "I will have you flogged at the post for this!"

"You... you... miserable little FRAC!" says Lavinia with surprising calmness. "The only one going to be flogged is you!"

Avener stares at her, totally stunned by her words. "It's off! It's all off. Turn this pathetic little dingy around, my family calls in its investments. You are ruined Lavnia. Ruined! You'll end up selling your body in the Velvet Hatch. You end up..." His words are cut off short as he has to dance around the table to avoid Alohan.

OOC: Hmm, it wasn't my intention to go this direction so early in the voyage, but Logan's question sort of trigged it. Any comments?

Kassius stands up and glares coldly at the letch.
"Avner was it. You seem to be forgetting one key point. You're here, all alone on this ship, and there's a whole lot of us. I'd recommend you sit down, shut up, and stay out of everyone's way for the trip, and maybe, we won't throw you out with the rest of the bilge."
He grins at the end, half-orc fangs visible.

"You tried to rape my aunt, you piece of shit... if I see you so much as move against any of the ladies here.... you won't make it back" said Angati without much appetite left in her. She smiled at Alohan thanking him silently and picked up some wine to drink.

Avner stares up from his crumpled position on the floor as first the hunter and then the oracle dress him down.

"Aunt? What Aunt? What are you talking about you crazy b..." he looks around and doesn't see a single friendly face among those starting down at him, just like Kassius said, and swallows hard. He closes his mouth and and folds his arms across his chest, and returns the hard stares with a furious glower.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:52, Sun 29 Jan 2017.

Lavinia is one of those providing the hard looks. She shakes her head angrily and then barks, "Get him out of here," at one of the sailors in the room. Avner is hoisted up, and quickly manhandled out of the cabin.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no!" sobs Lavinia, once he is gone. "We can't go back. He will make good on his threat you know, and if the Meravanchis call in their debts I am done for. Not that I mind living without money," she says, looking at Alohan. "But everything my parents worked for. Their legacy. I have destroyed it all in a couple of months!"

Alohan puts his arm around her, but seems at a loss for what to say. She does have a point after all. Even if they just drop Avner off on the coast line and then continue sailing, once the young bachelor gets back to Sasserine the Meravanchis could launch their fleet of ships and track them down easily enough since they know the direction they are going.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:53, Sun 29 Jan 2017.

"Well... it all comes down to two things..." said Angati trying to think quickly. "First is, exactly... and I mean exactly, how did you word your agreement with them ?... depending on this we can probably work up a whole in the contract... Also... the second piece of information is how far are we willing to go on this ?. I do not want to kill the man but... there are different things that we need to consider".

She paused again "First... find out all about the people travelling with him. Who are they ? what can they do ?. Secondly find out all that he is carrying... does he have any magical objects or anything that allows him to communicate with his family ?. I'd surely take on this step, if he cannot communicate, then we have the upper hand, if he does... we may not. So, let's block this if we can... take him somewhere else, and we make a search of his luggage and things, and next time he comes I'll have a magic detection ready to see what he carries..."

"In any case Lavinia, there will be a price to pay, because to make this trip bearable, we will be touching him in his pride, and I think that even if his family might be able to forgive if we make them rich... he will not forgive our slights to him... so... just how much do you want to take on him ?"

"I don't know, I don't know!" sobs Lavinia. Alohan tightens his grasp on her a little.

"Der is no need to be figuring dis all out tonight. Come. I will take dis scoundrel back to de Sea Wyvern, and you take a good night's rest."

Lavinia agrees, and the party sets about returning to their own ship. Avner is thoroughly searched, with much protests from the young man, and then bound. None of his possessions look like magical communication device and he his no weapons other than a small knife.

They get to the rope basket that is riding on a pulley between the two vessels and Alohan indicates that he wants to go across first in order to set up a proper reception for their new prisoner.

"Lavinia. You not be worried about dis. I be sorting dis out. I give you de word." With that he launches himself out across the waves of the dark ocean, with only the silvery light of a waning crescent moon lighting the space between the boats.

About halfway across the rope snaps.

Lavinia screams in terror, but the barbarian resurfaces a second later, his face showing an expression more of anger than fear at the situation... until he sees the fin cutting through the water and bearing down on him. The native screams and lashes out with a fist, slamming it into the shark's eye socket and momentarily driving it off (shark rolled a nat 1).

He doesn't see the second shark as it bite's down on his leg, and the barbarian is pulled beneath the waves for a second, taking in a gulp of water. A third shark nips at his side. OOC: 19 hp damage in total. It seems that these creatures are almost playing with him, enjoying his distress and helplessness.

OOC: The sharks and Alohan are in dim light and have concealment. 20% miss chance in combat, please roll for this yourself. Map is incoming.

I am so embarrassed to post this after seeing Ron's beautiful maps in Buried Contempt, but we will just have to survive. The Sea Wyvern is on the left, the Blue Nixie is on the right. I haven't bothered with grid reference for this combat, so just describe your movements in relative terms. I also haven't marked on the NPC's since most of them are unable to contribute in this combat.

N = Alohan Nuari (Barbarian/Monk)
A = Angati (Oracle)
M = Kinstal Minare (Fighter)
C = Celene (Sorceress)¨
L = Logan (Rogue)
K = Kassius (Hunter)
k = Kibeti (Animal Companion)
Red 1, 2 & 3 are the sharks

As the sharks are in the water, in addition to concealment (20% miss chance), they also have improved cover (+8 bonus to AC, +4 bonus on Reflex saves).
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:05, Mon 30 Jan 2017.

<END OF SHARKS' ROUND ONE>

HIT POINTS & MISFORTUNE
Kinstal AC:23/T14/F21 HP: 78/78 <MF NOT USED>
Angati  AC:22/T13/F20 HP: 56/56 <MF NOT USED>
Logan   AC:21/T16/F16 HP: 39/39 <MF NOT USED>
Celene  AC:10/T10/F10 HP: 29/29 <MF NOT USED>
Kassius AC:19/T15/F14 HP: 37/37 <MF NOT USED>
Kibeti  AC:21/T14/F17 HP: 42/42 <MF NOT USED>
Omi     AC:14/T14/F12 HP: 28/28 <MF NOT USED>

Alohan  AC:17/T16/F13 HP: 33/52 <MF NOT USED>

Shark #1 AC:18/T14/F17 <MF NOT USED>
Shark #2 AC:18/T14/F17 <MF NOT USED>
Shark #3 AC:18/T14/F17 <MF NOT USED>

(De-)Buffs
Whole Party
None
Alohan
None
Angati
None
Logan
None
Kassius
None
Kibeti
None
Celene
None
Omi
None

<START OF PLAYERS' ROUND ONE>
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:05, Tue 31 Jan 2017.

Celene moved to the edge of the boat keeping calm considering the situation. There wasn't a penis trying to scuttle the boats; so things could be worse. She called upon the burning fire within and she cast out a spell towards the surf. The water seems to slow down for a moment before crashing back to its normal speed.

---

Free :  | Swft :  | Move : To edge of boat | Stnd : Cast Slow | Full :

Casting slow to effect all sharks. DC 18 Will Save.

Slow:

Creatures affected by this spell are staggered and can take only a single move action or standard action each turn, but not both (nor may it take full-round actions). Additionally, it takes a –1 penalty on attack rolls, AC, and Reflex saves. A slowed creature moves at half its normal speed (round down to the next 5-foot increment), which affects the creature's jumping distance as normal for decreased speed.

Hopefully this allows Alohan to move to the boat and climb up without getting attacked.

---

HP: 29/29 |  AC: 10/10/10  | CMD : 12 | Saves: +4/+4/+9

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells :
   - Unlim. : Dancing Lights, Daze (DC15), Detect Poison, Drench, Flame Burst,
              Light, Mage Hand, Message,
   - 1/day  : Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation
  L1 Spells :
   - 10/10  : Burning Disarm (DC 16), Burning Hands (DC 16),
              Charm person (DC17), Enlarge Person, Grease (DC 18), Hydraulic Push,
              Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Summon Monster I, Vanish
  L2 Spells :
   - 6/6    : Create Pit (DC 19), Glitterdust (DC 19), Scorching Ray,
              Summon Monster II
  L3 Spells :
   - 3/4    : Slow (DC 18)

  Abilities : Flame lance (8/8), Wand of Magic Missile (41),
              Wand of Alter Self (25), Wand of Cure Light Wounds (50)

This message was last edited by the player at 14:23, Wed 01 Feb 2017.

Sharks 1 and 3 instantly slow. Angati blinks and shark 2 suffers the same fate.

Logan's mood went from wary relief at the outcome of the "Avner Situation" to panic as the rope snapped and the hungry sharks attacked.  Having spent enough time in Shadowshore to see the kind of justice often dealt out to failing gang members at the hands of the hungry monsters of the sea, Logan had a healthy respect for the giant aquatic carnivores.  More than enough to jump in the water, at least.  He pulled out his bow and carefully aimed, letting an arrow fly.  Although he could see the sharks, he completely messed up the actual shot.

---

Standard: Attack Sharks
HP: 39/39  AC: 21/16/16 CMD:19  F2 R12 W4

Abilities: Invisibility, Resiliency, Smite Evil, Runner's Shirt

---

16:04, Today: Logan rolled 10 using 1d20+9.  Attack.
16:03, Today: Logan rolled 33 using 1d100.  1-20 Miss.

Sadly, I believe Shark 2 is more than 30 ft away from Angati, so she can't misfortune it.
Kassius is surprised to see shark's immediately go after the man. He's more of an expert on land animals, but even apex predators on land won't usually attack a human without cause.

17:55, Today: Kassius rolled 13 using 1d20+6. knowledge (nature): sharks!


Upon seeing a threat, Kassius instinctively reaches for his bow and quiver, but hesitates. The lighting is poor, and the bulk of the shark's body is protected by the crashing waves, something Logan's miss makes only to obvious. Celene's attempt at using magic to slow the foe down and give Alohan time to escape is clearly the correct one. Instead of fully drawing the quiver, Kassius turns the motion into the beginning of a spell, hoping to summon some creatures more suited to underwater combat.

---

Kassius

---

HP: 37/37  AC 19 (FF=14, Touch=15),
Full Round Action: Begin casting Summon Nature's Ally II
Saves+8/+11/+6
Spells Slots: 1st: 5/5; 2nd: 3/4;  Animal Focus Minutes Left: 6/6, Door Sight 6/6
Current Buffs: None!

---

Kibeti
Action: None

---

HP: 42/42AC 21 (FF=17,Touch=14), Saves+7/+9/+6
Current Animal Focus: bull(+2 str)
Current Buffs: None!

Hearing the very distinctive snap of a rope breaking, Kinstal rushes to the side of the ship to where the passengers were supposed to be crossing from the Blue Nixie.  There, halfway between the ships was a man in the water, surrounded by fins.

Man overboard!  Sharks in the water!

Searching for another rope, Kinstal prepares to throw another line to Angati.

Logan misses by miles.

@Kassius, yes, shark #2 is 45' away even when Angati is at the very edge of the Blue Nixie so you are right - shark #2 is therefore not slowed.

Kassius doesn't know that much about sharks, although just like Logan he has occasionally seen smaller specimens swimming in Sasserine's waterways, especially during his time spent dredging the canals. He has never seen sharks anywhere near this size before though.

He realizes that these musth be the great white sharks of the open ocean, the legendary apex carnivores that dominate the top of the food chain out here in the Isle of Dread.

Yes, it is strange that they would randomly attack a human. People don't look or act like the great white sharks normal food and these creatures therefore normally only attack men when they confuse them with prey fish or they are in a feeding frenzy.

It is Kibeti who spots the oily trail of blood and meat parts that lead away from the Sea Wyvern. The cat growls at the metal copper smell - a lot of raw meat has been thrown overboard and this must be what attracted these killers of the sea.

Kinstal sounds the alarm and searches for a rope to throw to Alohan. Skald, the pale faced bosun, and Lirith come charging up from below decks. They quickly take in the threshing white water and the mortal combat that Alohan is in.

"Swim, swim skipper, swim!" screams Skald.

"No! Play dead," screams Lirith. "They only eat live prey. They won't touch you if you just float there!"

Kinstal finds a rope and can throw it overboard next round.

OOC: Just Angati to go I think.