A River Into Darkness - GM Justaworm (Inactive)

Game Master justaworm

Now for those knowledge rolls
K(Arcana): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
K(Nature): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
I know nothing! Nothing!

Emboldened by the familiar feel of the harp's strings and seeing before her NOT an umbral dragon, Selena rushes forward within dart flinging distance, maintaining her musical piece. Dragon... nel? I wonder what the "nel" means... What the nel? she thinks to herself, mentally chuckling nervously.

To see how well she runs and plays for flavor again
Perform(strings): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Her fingers skittered across the strings, fumbling over a note or two, but her song strengthens once again as she stops out of the creature's reach.

Jaqu will full attack...
bite: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 15 (flank, inspire courage, power attack, haste)
damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10
bite: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 23 (hasted)
damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7
claw: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 20
damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11
claw: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 22
damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

Waseem will move and cast snowball (DC16 Fortitude saving throw or be staggered for 1 round)
ranged touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 3, 2) = 13

Stig steps to the side of the beast and begins pummeling it with his fists, hoping to draw attention away from the catlike creature on the other side.

Stig will 5 foot step to the opposite side of Jaqu to be flanking and use flurry of blows (w/ Power Attack).

Atk 1: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Dmg 1: 1d8 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Atk 2: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Dmg 2: 1d8 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Atk 3: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
Dmg 3: 1d8 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

What is this? Are we having a snowball fight with a dragon in a town in the jungle? :)

With a roar, Shakaro charges forward with his club.

GM: I think I have a charge line to my current spot by squeezing past Selena and the civilian. If I don't then it will just be a regular move & attack. Pretty sure I provoke either way.

Attack Bonuses: Haste +1, Charge +2, Flank +2 = +5 total.

Shillelagh Power Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 5 = 28
Shillelagh damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 2) + 10 = 16

** spoiler omitted **

Jaqu will full attack...
[dice=bite]d20+6+2+1-1+1 (flank, inspire courage, power attack, haste)
[dice=damage]d6+3+2
[dice=bite]d20+6+2+1-1+1 (hasted)
[dice=damage]d6+3+2
[dice=claw]d20+6+2+1-1+1
[dice=damage]d6+3+2
[dice=claw]d20+6+2+1-1+1
[dice=damage]d6+3+2

Waseem will move and cast snowball (DC16 Fortitude saving throw or be staggered for 1 round)
[dice=ranged touch]d20+6
[dice=damage]4d6

Whoops, I remembered to add the bonus from inspire courage to attack but forgot to add it to damage.

Me too, which means my damage should have been 17, not 16. Also FYI my AC is now 17. Also: if I take damage from an AoO I will use my lay on hands as a swift action.

Healer's Way (lay on hands): 2d6 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8

Selena maintains her bardic performance, inspiring courage to those around her.

Jaqu continues his assault on the dragonnel, biting and clawing at it with ferocity. (all attacks hit, 34+4dmg)

Waseem, taking advantage of Jaqu's assault hurls a magical Snowball of his own at the dragonnel, easily striking it. The creature violently shakes its head in response. (hits, 13 dmg, Fort 14=staggered)

(Stig)The big monk steps up, and seeing how near death the creture is, he grins with pleasure as he pummels it with kicks and strikes. (all hit, 48 dmg)

The creature begins to slump to the ground just as Shakaro charges up and strikes it with his magical club. The nagaji's blow ensuring the beast's fate as the special tomorrow night in the Salt Reaver tavern.

Combat Over
Shakaro, I didn't make the lay on hands take affect.

The last townperson grabbed by the dragonnel is clearly dead, and looking over the walkway railing you can see 3 others shapes floating in the waters below.

As you look the dragonnel over, there is an unmistakable red foam around its mouth; it is quite different from simple battle spittle mixed with blood.
Those with K(local), Heal, or Herbalism DC 10+ would know this is a local condition called Red Augue, a local jungle disease that causes even docile animals to erupt in rage.

I'm pretty sure that amount of damage will kill the thing :-)

If it is still up on his turn AND it is still visible to Shwarto then he will create a pit under it in an attempt to stop it escaping.

Create Pit, Reflex save DC 17 or fall in and take
damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

Selena ends her piece with a small flourish purely out of habit, a stunned look on her face. That happened so quickly... She looks down at the harp and another gray blossoming blush darkens her face. I would conjure a harp of all instruments in my fear and desperation. It did always seem to calm her...

She tests her voice with a small, "Um..." and looks around at her new friends. "Uh-mm," she coughs, ever so eloquent. "W-well done, friends. It looks like you certainly took care of that dragon. I knew you were all strong individuals, but indeed you are mighty and it would be a great privilege to follow any of you, let alone all."

She shuffles, embarrassed, trying to minimize any perceived focus on the harp by tucking it surreptitiously under an arm.

... I do a lot of flavor rolls I'm noticing, haha
Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
I hope I'm wasting all these bad rolls, haha

"I hope someday I can be as fearsome and brave as each of you."

She turns and considers the dead beast.

K(local): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Heal: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

"It looks like this dragon suffered from Red Augue, that jungle disease. Maybe that is why it attacked, and also why we killed it so quickly." She looks at Stígandrr and says very seriously, "You should probably wash your hands thoroughly."

knowledge local: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

rejuvenate eidolon: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Well that was a couple of wonderful rolls. Better out if combat than in I suppose...

”Red Augue? This one has not heard of that disease. It is contagious?

Herbalism (not counting +2 from tools): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

"The Red Ague comes from a jungle plant. But it is disease, not poison. Was anyone bitten? It can give you the disease from a bite."

"Should we try to fish those people out of the water?"

Shakaro gets a rope ready to lower himself (or someone else) down to the water.

”Jaqu has been bitten. Is there a cure?.”

Would perception work for figuring out that those are claw marks and not bite?

Heal: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Welp, the dice don't lie, do they?

Would perception work for figuring out that those are claw marks and not bite?

[dice=Heal]1d20-1
[dice=Perception]1d20+3

Welp, the dice don't lie, do they?

Heal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Hopefully that is good enough

Stig goes over to Shakaro and offers his rope as well as his hand in retrieving the bodies.

"I could prepare a poultice if it becomes necessary. But let us attend to the people in the water."

"I agree. I have several coils of rope we can use. I could lower you down so that you could tie the ends of them around a body. Then I can pull them up" Stig offers before pulling out three coils of rope, each fifty feet long.

Shakaro already pulled out his 100' of rope, and a grapnel.

GM: Want me to make climb or swim checks? I can take 10 for a 15 climb and a 16 swim.

"I can go see if they are ok"

With that, twikli comes out of the pouch and transforms to what, for an owl, is a giant size (Medium creature size, which is pretty giant for an owl but not compared to a Giant Owl. Gotta love D&D terminology :-))

Shwarto gets onto Twikli and they fly down to the bodies in the water

As Shawrto rides Twikli down to investigate, and Shakaro climbs down his rope, it becomes easily clear that the 3 men are all dead. There is a lot of blood in the water and a large hammerhead has started to take swim-by bites on one of them. It probably isn't too long before more come.

If you want to recover the bodies, you will need to swim out to them first and then decide how to recover them. One option is to swim them to the nearest clump of roots that has access upwards (we'll say 100ft away). Another option is to bring them back to the rope and try and climb up 40ft while holding a body. If you have other ideas, go ahead and propose them. You could probably find a raft or rowboat somewhere too. They are not necessarily right at the surface, and so a flying person could still help but probably needs to still get somewhat in the water.

As you are all debating this, a small crowd seems to start gathering around. Many were patrons from the Salt Reaver and two of the surviving near-victims return and thank you profusely. There is a lot of approving nods and pats on the back to go around.

Before I forget, a DC 10 heal is enough to tell the difference between a claw and bite from the dragonnel.

Shortly after, the Salt Reaver proprietor pays a visit. Pfew, now that there's a monster," he says, whistling. "A must say at first I was pretty dog gone mad that you broke my netting up at tha winder there. But, this thing coulda easily brought down the whole dang building. Well, I can't 'ford to be too lax on income, but room and board's on me for the next ... oh ... we'll say three days," he nods to himself, probably thinking that sounded like a reasonable estimate.

Seeing a few of you trying to figure out what to do with the bodies and Shwarto climbing down, he adds "That mighty right of ye fer a bunch of visitors trying to save those men. Probably be shark food soon, but if they did have fam'lies, I bet they'd 'ppreciate it."

Selena watches Shakaro Jun and Stígandrr in slight confusion from her position kneeling near Jaqu after inspecting him from a respectful distance. Those who fell must surely be dead. "Are you certain it must be a bite, Shakaro?" she yells. "These are claw marks, not bite."

When Shwarto's hidden owl appears and then grows, Selena almost falls over in surprise but manages to catch herself and jump away. "Unholy Zon-Kuthon's-! ...tight leather pants," she blurts, slowing halfway through but seemingly unable to stop the words from trailing out. She stares in amazement as Shwarto jumps on and flies down to the water. He had an owl on him this entire time?!

She manages to collect herself and stand up from her surprised battle crouch in time for the crowd to swarm her. She accepts their thanks and approval numbly, slowly smiling. I see I have much to learn of this plane yet.

Assuming Shwarto flew next to the bodies

As the crowd gathers around the group, Stig does his best to brush them off politely as he moves. Stig quickly ties his ropes end to end and ties one end around a nearby root. "Hey Shwarto!" Stig waves to get his attention. "I am going to throw this end of the rope to you. If you can tie it around the bodies then we can pull them up." He mimes the actions in a very exaggerated manner as he speaks so as to clearly explain his idea.

There are 3 bodies that are not necessarily near each other in the water. The little blue arrow is where the rope is currently. There is a bit of a current as well.

For swim checks, if you choose that route, it will be DC 10 for just yourself and DC 15 to ferry a body back. This is to go 1/4 speed as an action.

The shark is not currently visible, but I've marked it near the body it was last seen. Remember that the sun is going down as well.

Map for visualization

Its 150 feet of rope. Could Shwarto possibly tie the nearest body using a loop in the rope and tie the other relatively nearby body with the end? If that is not possible I suppose one at a time works

It is certainly something that is possible to try. You'll have to work it out among yourselves what you think the most effective plan might be. Don't forget that you can ask for any skill checks that you feel relevant.

What I am looking for here is an overall plan and go from there. We aren't going to play this out in rounds unless it is necessary.

Waseem can help.

Would the following work? While Waseems dolphin distracts/kills the shark, Shwarto can cast Ant Haul from a scroll on Twikli. That should hopefully give Twikli enough strength (13) to grasp a body and move it to the bottom of the rope (he definitely can NOT lift a body, but grasping it and moving it seems reasonable to me). Hmm, Str 13 may be enough WITHOUT the Ant Haul

He can take 10 for a 26 on any fly checks required.

Selena walks to the edge of the bridge to watch her companions, recognizing she is not strong enough for the task at hand. As the sun starts to set, it occurs to her that while her eyes easily adjust to the dark, there are those who cannot and may be soon placing themselves in danger. She mutters something low and gestures subtly to the rope, casting Dancing Lights . The four lights appear as lanterns floating just above the water around the rope.

Dancing Lights lasts 1 minute but is a cantrip, so after a minute passes she would keep casting it until either it is no longer necessary or she becomes significantly fatigued.

Shakaro ties one end of his rope to a piling on the bridge, leaving the end with the grapnel loose.

Then he ties the end of Stigandrr's rope around his waist, and climbs down towards the water. He stops when he is about 5' above the water. Hanging on to the bridge piling with his legs, he throws the grapnel at one of the floating bodies, trying to hook it like a fish. When he gets one, he reels it in and then calls up to Stigandrr.

"Okay, hoist the rope up! Drop it back down once you've got the body!"

Seeing Shakaro reel in a body Stig readies himself to start lifting. Upon hearing the call he pulls as fast as he can. "Got it!" Once he gets the body up he unfastens the rope and tosses it back down, a foot or so to Shakaro's right so as not to hit him by accident.

Ok, I am going to take some liberties with the previous posts to form up a narrative here. Recovering all 3 will take more time than the first casting of celestial dolphins can provide, but I know Waseem has plenty of castings available.

Waseem unsummons Jaqu, as he doesn't want to hurt his eidolon's ego, and easily climbs down a rope to the water's edge. He then summons two celestial doplhin, which immediately take to harrying the nearby shark and any other larger predatory fish in the area.

While the predators are attacked and distracted, Shwarto offers to also help out using his magic. However, Shakaro and Stig think that there is a solution where the wizard doesn't need to utilize any of his spells, which sounds just fine to Shwarto as he can still jump in with magic if needed.

Shakaro climbs down a second rope while holding the hook-end of yet a third rope that Stig is holding from the walkway above. Selena notices that it is starting to get dim and casts Dancing Lights to aid in the recovery effort. While Selena and Shwarto stand by, ready to intercede as needed, Shakaro is able to grapple a body and pull it to himself. The nagaji is then able to secure the rope that Stig is holding to the body and calls for it to be hoisted up. The large human pulls the body up, and though it looks as though he could easily do it alone, others chip in out of sense of duty and perhaps respect for the dead.

This works again for a second victim, but alas saturation and current has drawn the third body away into the dark depths of the water and you can't seem to find it.

This effort takes about a half hour of hard, dedicated work and leaves the party somewhat drained. The group of onlookers cheers with each person recovered and gives somber nods all around at the failure to get the final body.

After a few quiet minutes of exhaustion, a new face in the crowd speaks up with a sauve Shackles accent, "Benjamin. His name was Benjamin." As your gazes turn to him, the man continues. "He was a fine crewman. I suppose its only fitting for a water burial." The slender man with short, brown scruffy hair and a small handlebar moustache smiles. He wears a fine, but well worn leathers and long black coat clasped together with a brooch bearing the image of a snake upon a shield. He doesn't seem particularly upset or anything and is simply speaking matter of factly about his fallen crewman.

"Oh yes, my manners. Forgive me. I am Kelim Estaban, captain of the River Queen." He then motions to a powerful half-orc standing with crossed arms next to him that you somehow only really notice, "This here is Faruq, my first mate." The powerful half-orc merely grunts. "Yes ... ah well ... anyway I have a business proposition to offer the five of you. Please, if you will, get yourselves cleaned up and meet me at the Ten Shrouds Inn in a few hours and we can talk some more. Sound good?"

Captain Estaban matches the alias picture I have up.
I like how the GCP casts their NPCs. Think Lando Calrissian for Kelim.

"Yes, we are looking for an opportunity to go upriver and we would love to hear what you have to offer," Selena replies easily, then looks to the others uncertainly, realizing she had just spoken for them all. "Right?" she asks the group in a lower tone. "This could be our chance."

”Yes”

"The Ten Shrouds? Aye, cap'n. We'll be there."

He looks at the others.

"But fer now... we gots ourselves a dead dragon! We killed it, so it's ours, right?"

"The butcher might pay for dragon meat... I can clean the sickness out of the meat with magic. The leatherworker might pay for dragon hide... I heard it makes good armor. Maybe I can make a terbutje out of dragon teeth!"

"Yeah, that could be good. You kill something, you shouldn't waste the carcass. Always use everything you can."

"But fer now... we gots ourselves a dead dragon! We killed it, so it's ours, right?"

"The butcher might pay for dragon meat... I can clean the sickness out of the meat with magic. The leatherworker might pay for dragon hide... I heard it makes good armor. Maybe I can make a terbutje out of dragon teeth!"

"Yeah, that could be good. You kill something, you shouldn't waste the carcass. Always use everything you can."

knowledge local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"I'll definitely be there, captain"

"Be careful with that dragon. If it was diseased then you probably don't want to get cut by its teeth"

More than a little tired, he goes to clean up before the meeting.

"Very good. I have some other matters to attend to, but I look forward to our meeting shortly. As for the dragon, my nagaji friend, I believe it is certainly yours to do what you will with it. However, please be cleaned up and don't be late." And with that, Kelim and Faruq, turn and leave. Off in the distance, you see Kelim give the half-orc a pat on the shoulder and here, "You see Faruq, I told you our fortunes would change. Shame about Benji though."

A few moments later, the owner of the Salt Reaver approaches you. "It seems you are in time predicament. I'll through an extra 100 gold for the carcass if you can also get rid of the disease. It doesn't look very scaly to me; I think you may just get some leather and meat from the beast. Whata'ya say? Room and board for 3 days and 100 gold, not a bad offer eh? Jus r'member. It's gettin late and that thing looks like it weighs more than the inn."

The following progressive results are available with a single Knowledge (local) check (they concern the brooch Kelim wore).

knowledge local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

”By his bracelet, Captain Kelim is with the Aspis consortium. They are a powerful presence here and upriver. As for the dragon, the proprietors offer seems fair.”

Waseem will share what he knows of the Aspis consortium with anyone who’s intrested

Heal check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 To know about curing diseases?
"I don't know much about getting rid of the disease." Stig looks at the rest of the group. "Anyone got any ideas?"

If we have ideas then Stig would be happy to help. Otherwise, he will take a trophy, maybe a claw, and clean up.

"Once the creature is butchered, a simple charm can cleanse the meat."

Which is called purify food & drink.

Are the teeth anything like shark teeth?

"Can I keep the teeth?" he asks the owner of the Salt Reaver.

“As for the dragon, the proprietors offer seems fair.”

”Although, you know what will be on the menu for the next three days.”

K(local): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
"Aspis consortium? So we should be careful around him. He might be dangerous," Selena reflects aloud, watching the captain and the half-orc walk away. Just going by the general info given from the beginning, we are at least aware of the name

At Shakaro's request, Selena turns her head sharply in his direction. "I suppose we are also dangerous," she says with a smile. "Is it common to take a keepsake from a creature slain by your hand?" she asks, seeing Stíg also eying the carcass.

Responding to Waseem's menu comment, Selena's face grimaces in anticipated distaste. "True, perhaps going through the effort of finding other buyers would be worth not eating this hunk of meat ourselves. Or we could always hope the Captain has pressing work for us that will see us away from such meals in quick order."

After 8 years of PFS it is going to be very strange to be actually working for the Aspis Consortium :-) :-).

Shwarto takes 10 on his Knowledge local check
"I very much hope that they want us to go at least as far as Nightfall station. That is deep into the jungle, about as deep as they're known to have gone"

"Yes, my scaly friend. You may keep the teeth ... and claws if you wish. I can't see much use for them except as trinkets maybe." he nods to Shakaro.

At Waseem's comment, he also chuckles, "Yes, this thing will certainly be the special and I am banking on a good crowd after word gets out. There's plenty of boar, deer, and fish coming in still, though."

"Oh, thank the gods," Selena mutters upon hearing the delicious boar would still be available.

You wrap things up with the Salt Reaver owner and head inside to bathe and clean up your things. After some time, the five of you meet back downstairs and head out to the Ten Shrouds Inn.

It is a cool evening (at least, it is what passes for a cool evening) in Bloodcove with a mild sea breeze blowing from offshore. Lamps are lit and passed out drunks are starting to accumulate outside the more seedy grog halls. You make your way through the crowded boardwalk and towards the Ten Shrouds Inn, which is near the massive main trunk of the mangrove. Moving inside the inn, you see Captain Esteban and Faruq seated at a table with five open seats and make your way over.

Esteban greats you politely again and exchanges a bit of small talk with you for a minute while everyone gets settled. He buys the table a round (of medium quality ale or wine), and once the drinks show up he begins, "Yes, now that our drinks are here, lets jump into more pressing matters."

"As you probably have figured out, I am employed by Aspis as a riverboat captain. My sternwheeler paddleboat, The River Queen, and I have made many exciting, and a maybe few boring, trips over the past 8 or so years ferrying cargo, passengers, mercenaries, at the like back and forth to Whitebridge, Nightfall, and Bloodcove," he takes a few sips of his red wine and continues, "a recent situation has developed at Nightfall Station, one of the Aspis' main trade hubs. Nightfall sits precariously deep into the dark jungles of Mwangi along the Vanji River. Nightfall is used by local tribes, trade companies, and explorers alike to bring goods for quick trade. Of course Aspis uses it as an interior hub as well for moving ivory, spice, kaveh, and whatever else."

"I've received word from another captain that Nightfall has recently become besieged by some savage cannibal tribe. They haven't attacked the well-defended trade depot outright, and leadership believes that and extra show of force will make that situation even less likely. They have, however, been completely effective in blocking out all land trade, and there is no telling how many may have been killed trying to reach Nightfall through the jungle. The commander at Nightfall doesn't want to risk an offensive against an unknown guerrilla force and believes the group will eventually grow bored and move on, as similar tribes have done in the past."

"I have been asked to secure high quality mercenary reinforcements for the station. More permanent Aspis forces are on ship from Magnimar and Absalom, but it may be over a month before they are brought to Nightfall. Your assignment would simply be to provide guard services to my boat and Nightfall station for the duration of the contract. The employment contract will be deemed fulfilled when the station guards, and yourselves, are relieved by the Aspis reinforcements. After such time, I will bring you back to Bloodcove, or even Nantambu city, or perhaps you may want to stay on at Nightfall or Whitebridge under a new contract. I will not, however, be traveling any further along the Vanji past Nightfall; it is simply too dangerous."

"The dragonnel incident has demonstrated that you are more than capable of handling yourselves against a rabble tribe of savages with spears."

He perceives your expectant stares as if he missed something. "Ahh ... Payment? Yes of course. Aspis will provide you with 25 gold coin each for the duration of the contract starting the moment you sign. Of course, the length of the contract is not set given the terms I outlined for fulfillment, but I can tell you that it is a 2 week trip to Nightfall. I can't imagine that the Aspis relief guards get to Bloodcove any earlier than 2 weeks as well, and so that is at least 4 weeks. That's ahh ..." he bobs his head about while doing the math, "that's at least 700 gold each. Plus I am authorized to give you each 250 gold bonus immediately available once you sign the contract. Finally, all spoils of battle are yours, provided you didn't receive significant assistance. If you did receive significant assistance, then the consortium expects you to share. Hey, that is only fair, right?"

"How does that sound? Any questions for me?" he says while pulling out official looking contracts and handing them over to you.