I think it was the Initiative roll that mattered the most. After all, going by his hit points and his attack and damage rolls/modifiers, he could have downed more than one of us if he had a better Initiative.
Another factor was, I believe, Doran's sneak attacks. Those hurt, as I have seen time and again.
That was the clue I was trying to give. Of course, they probably know something up because the watchtower is on fire - and they didn't do it.
Rommen had a amulet of might fists (shocking) (no +1) and a +1 chainmail. The rest of his gear is fairly mundane.
K-I-L-L-E-D-space-P-I-R-A-T-E-S - didn't notice it until my post was up, but this made me laugh. Space Pirates! Oh no!
Tantrey is called Merrill Pegsworthy in the book as written, where he has a peg leg. For obvious reasons, that is not the case in this story. He has both legs!
As I worked on my next post, I thought, Why is Vrunyar doing this? Why wouldn’t John or Doran heal the wounded halflings right after combat before the Bonadventure arrives? Honestly I can’t think of a compelling reason why they wouldn’t heal the injured halflings (I counted five on the map) with the CLW wand. The explanation that makes the most sense is that none of the wounds were serious enough. A bandage suffices. This is not at all how I wrote my post. Severed fingers, an abdominal wound, a slashed eye, etc. The spoiler contains what I’ve written so far if you want to read it. It’s not finished and contains some notes that help me with the scene. Here’s what I’m asking: Should we retcon that Doran or John healed the injured halflings with the wand? Or should I write a different post were the injuries weren’t nearly so severe?
....I'll also see about securing the body and any personal belongings. With as powerful as the bloody bastard was, I wouldn't be surprised if he had something useful on him.
”I hadn’t even thought about his possessions. HA!” He claps the man on the back and heads to the infirmary.
Vrunyar shakes his head and sighs as he returns to his workspace. He had hoped there would be some improvements: a new writing desk hinged to swing open from the wall, a new coat of paint, the blood stains sanded from the surgical table and floor, or a rigid frame hammock for the patients. With cries of pain. groans, and sobs, the injured patients began filling in behind him, Vrunyar notices the only significant change. The cabinet for medicine and supplies has a lock.
He mutters under his breath as he rattles it. Running his hand along the hinges, he thinks he might be able to use his axe to smash one set of hinges when a voice says, ”Begging your pardon, but I could pick the lock.”
Vrunyar turns and looks down. A halflling woman with blood smudged on her cheek is standing ready to act.
”You have lockpicks?” Vrunyar says moving to the side. He notices one halfling holding a bloody shirt to a companion’s face who is passed out, and another halfling with his hand squeezed under his opposite arm pit as blood drips. One female, supported by halflings on each side, is dripping blood from her foot. Another female is pale and holding her abdomen as blood seeps into her clothes. Finally a male has blood pouring from his scalp.
The halfling shakes her head. ”Just need some metal pins or nails,” she says.
”I’m Vrunyar,” the dwarf says opening up his medical kit. He takes out two straight needles used in suturing. ”Will these do?”
The halfling nods and within thirty seconds the lock is off and tossed into the corner. Vrunyar smiles in relief when he sees the supplies. Fresh medicines, bandages, bottles of catgut and hemp soaking in alcohol, a balance, mortar, pestle, and measuring spoons. He gathers a tin cup, a jar of brown powder, and a small spoon. ”Thanks for volunteering to be the lollyboy. Lollygirl? I’ll ask Doran about that. For now, take a spoonful of the powder and mix into this cup with water. Everyone injured gets a full cup. It will help with the pain. Tastes bitter. Make them drink it all. Except the woman with the abdomen wound. I need to examine her before she drinks anything.” He turns his attention to the two halflings holding one woman up. ”One of you, go find the elf and ask him for the healing extract. I don’t know if he used it or not. If not, bring it back of course.”
He bent down and cradled the unconscious halfling and brought him to the table. ”Moram got cut in the face,” his friend says as Vrunyar pulls back the blood-soaked shirt. A gash runs from the forehead to the cheek. Indeed. His eye is useless now, he thinks as he feels Moram’s pulse. Steady. ”Keep him warm with a blanket. He’s not so critical as those two,” he indicates the halfling with his hand tucked under his armpit and the woman with the abdomen wound. ”What’s your name?” he asks as he lifts the woman onto the table. He motions to the halfling with her. ”Thread that,” he says pointing to a needle and a bottle of catgut in alcohol.
”Yamyra,” she says weakly.
”I know you’re in pain,” he cuts away her shirt and wipes away the blood from the wound. He washes his hands then says, ”This will hurt more,” as he begins inspecting her wound, his fingers feeling inside her for arterial blood flow. A tear in her small intestines catches his attention. ”Is that needle threaded?”
The halfling hands it to him. Vrunyar holds it up and nods in satisfaction. He stitches her intestine closed then feels for more tears. He finds one more and repairs that. Finally he stitches her stomach closed. ”Wrap a bandage around her and then we’ll move her to a hammock. Lollyboy, she can drink now.”
The acting lollyboy finishes stirring the medicine into the water and helps Yamyra drink. ”Thanks Wyssa,” Yamyra says between little gulps of the medicine.
Vrunyar washes his hands again gauging the untreated halflings. ”Sit here,” he says to the male whose hand is wrapped in a bloody rag, probably the missing sleeve of a his shirt, and pointing at his chair. Tears are running down his face. After removing the make-shift bandage, Vrunyar sees that two of the halfling’s fingers have been severed totally, the middle finger partially, and part of the hand is gone too.
Notes: Moram eye injury.
Tribin hand injury
Cherra stabbed in the foot.
Yamyra gut wound.
Lem nearly scalped.
Wyssa helps him unlock the cabinet. Her brother is Lem.
After reading GM Barca’s last post I think I’ll whip up a short post where none of the injuries were severe. That way Vrunyar and the full compliment of halflings were on deck for the meeting with Captain Tantrey. Problem solved.
Sounds good to me.
Beginning on Saturday, I'll be on a two-week work trip. I will still be able to post most days, but my schedule, internet access and time zone will all be very different, so posting may be a bit erratic.
Have a great trip, and Happy Thanksgiving!
How's that for a parting gift?
It's a fine gift indeed! Does that mean the halflings won't be sailing with us? I was looking forward to having a few more nimble hands around (no offense to the tallfolk, of course).
Some might. Some may want to have a free life elsewhere.
I agree, let's go to Tidewater. Seems like a better place for us to be able to free slaves held in these waters. If we go to Andoran, we won't be freeing many slaves.
I've been meaning to post something to this effect, but my work trip has gotten a bit busy.
I agree with going to Tidewater Rock. It sounds like an interesting place.
Tidewater Rock sounds better. Harrigan isn't likely to think of us going there if he does somehow hear of us
Tidewater Rock it is then
Anyone want to agree in character?
Have been trying to throw a post up all day, will do so now.
I know I have been pretty silent lately, but I am currently in the middle of studying for my medical residency's board certification exam (I think those are the relevant terms in the United States), which has sapped both time and energy from me. I will unfortunately remain mostly absent from the boards for the next week or so, but I shall be back after that time. Please bear with me.
No problem. Good luck!
I waited for a while hoping for some posts about the course of action. You'll be in the sandbox soon. Once you get moving after picking up the others, we'll spend a week or two in-game getting to Tidewater Rock. If I can get some good transition posts from everyone - maybe taking a moment to breathe and explore more relaxed topics - in that period, we can level up to 5 when we arrive there.
Is this thing on? Anybody here?
Hello! I'm still here and should get an in-game post done today.
I was sort of waiting for others to post, because I had the last PC post. But on reflection, that's just silly.
Let's sail on to level 5, me hearties!
Speaking of leveling up, Doran's Sea Singer archetype grants him a monkey or parrot familiar at his next level. I'm trying to decide which I'd want. Quick info on each:
Parrot (treat as a raven): +3 to Appraise (not very useful), has a fly speed which could be useful in many ways, can speak one language which could be very useful
Monkey: +3 to Acrobatics (pretty useful, given how much Doran rolls around in combat), has a climb speed, which would be somewhat useful but less so than flight
I'm kind of inclined towards the parrot, as I'm already decent at Acrobatics and having a flying, talking buddy to deliver messages or touch spells could be quite useful, and it's pretty damn iconic. But I also like the image of Doran with a wee monkey on his shoulder.
Thoughts/experiences/things I've missed? I know very little about familiars.
Either way, we can have it be a stowaway.
Either way, we can have it be a stowaway.
Exactly what I was thinking.
Okay, Barcas, going with a parrot, and have a couple of points to raise:
1. The stats for a parrot are based on a raven, which grants +3 to Appraise. That makes sense for a raven, which have a tendency to collect shiny objects, but not so much for a parrot. Can we try a different skill bonus? Maybe Disable Device (they're very good at opening cages and such) or something?
2. For some reason, Hero Lab gives the parrot 4 ranks in Swim and zero ranks in Fly, so its got a +9 in Swim and and a +6 in Fly. Mind if I tweak that a bit?
(I know we haven't leveled yet, but it's fun to think about and I always take a long time to make my feat and spell decisions - and pets too, apparently.)
And the rest of y'all (excepting Vrunyar): Get some posts up so we can get to Tidewater Rock and level 5!
How about +3 to Linguistics?
Everything else is good to go.
My medical residency's board certification exam is over (I passed, in case you were wondering) so I will be returning to active duty soon enough. As soon as I have rested and cleared my head and also caught up with what has happened in the game so far. Thank you for your patience and understanding. :-)
Congratulations! Looking forward to your return to active duty.
Sorry, Holiday craziness here. I'm slow, and going to remain so for the next week and a half
I actually was trying to work a parrot into the game for you Doran. During the fight at Rikety’s
[Vrunyar] hears an indignant squawk and sees a vibrant, iridescent parrot flapping its wings but unable to achieve flight.
The idea was that it’s wings are clipped so it can’t fly away. I had another bit that I didn’t post as it squawked and panicked (saying such things as “Out o’ grog! Fire! Man o’erboard!” as the fight continued. It was going to bite Vrunyar when he tried to rescue it. The somewhat comedic relief didn’t really fit with that fight scene. Perhaps one of the halflings smuggled it aboard during the mad dash for the ship?
.....and Congratulations on passing the exam! That's wonderful.
Congratulations!
So here might be a good time to find the parrot. And a good time for everyone to take some time in reflection. Vrunyar, if you want to do that autopsy, I'll leave you to it. It might help get some insights to the next level.
The ball is entirely in yall's court right now. Let's get some quality posts up so we can get you to Tidewater Rock and the next level.
I'm still on my holiday road trip, finding it hard to put together longer posts. Should hit a quieter spot in a couple of days.
The ball is entirely in yall's court right now. Let's get some quality posts up so we can get you to Tidewater Rock and the next level.
Fair enough. The month of December has been very crazy for me, which may not excuse my lack of concentrated posting, but I hope explains it.
So I've finally up a post which I hope counts as quality, but I do worry it might be a bit presumptuous. As little was said about her save for a mention I made about her dancing with Ollivor and her working once with Vrunyar, I have appropriated Faiza Bensmoor as a romantic interest for Ollivor. At this stage, a lot is left vague if it's going to blossom into true love, or just them becoming 'friends with benefits'.
I'm portraying Faiza as definitely interested in arcane magic. She finds it intriguing, and it IS partially why she was intrigued by Ollivor in the first place (Though I'd like to think his high charisma helps). Unless she's one of the lucky (?) ones who has a latent sorcery gift, she may forever be on the outside of that barring getting a mentor that would take her in some other path. Of course, as she's an NPC, it's very likely that she'll stay as whatever NPC class she has and that'll be that.
But I DO hope her interest in the arcane fleshes her out a bit more, at least that was my intent.
It's my hope with an NPC to bounce Ollivor off now and then, I'll be able to make some longer posts like our GM prefers more often. However, as it is of a 'romantic nature' , I understand that some things are best left to being assumed off panel rather than shoved in the face of the other players who may not appreciate harlequin romance novel flash fiction suddenly popping up. Please let me know if I go overboard (no pun intended)
And DM Barcas, if I've over reached, or assumed too much, just let me know and we can assume that whole post I made never happened.
Great post, Ollivor! Brings a whole new tone to things, and very cleverly written.
I'm on a 400-mile drive day (Tucson to Joshua Tree, for those interested) so no posting today.
Going to need a Fortitude save vs. syphilis.
And suddenly great fortitude proves a wise feat selection.
Hope that was humor and that you're okay with the post :)
Guys, I need a bit of feedback on something.
Since we have the luxury of time and all that and we are not only supposed to, but encouraged to more or less take the reins for a wee bit ourselves, I thought this would be a good time to have Aaron talk to the group about his... ahem... condition. I know Thorn asked about the vials and I had Aaron not say much, but I thought we were reaching our destination and did not have the time for that bit of exposition. I seem to stand corrected.
So! I assume that would mean having us gather for the "talk". I guess Aaron should approach either John or Doran, since they are the captains, and ask them for a meeting between the PCs. Something like that? I am asking in OOC first because I suppose it would take a bit of time, i.e. number of posts, to get it done and I wanted to run it by both the players as well as the DM before putting up a post of our resident Chelaxian half-vampire getting down from the crow's nest and seeking out one of the two captains.
So, what say you?
Go for it, Aaron! I think the conversation itself will be interesting, and it'll give Doran more basis for a relationship with Aaron if he's not really part of the modern slaving nation of Cheliax. And it'll be good fuel for story as we move along.
I've been looking forward to it, and the more conversation about it is better. Let's dig deep into it. It'll help us get to Tidewater Rock.
A new post will come soon from me. A bit of knife sharpening, inventory taking, and an autopsy.
Now is as good a time as any for dhampir-revelations Aaron, a love-interest Ollivor, and...anything else going on?
Good stuff, good stuff, keep it coming!
Once I get a post of revelry from everyone (minus John, who has a broken hand), I will make a travel post - several days of sailing to Tidewater Rock. Once I get a post from everyone as to what they are doing over that period, I will arrive us at the Rock and you can level up! We could have this done in a day or two if we focus.
Alias is updated...what are the rest of you slackers doing? We may have to institute some discipline on this vessel! ;p