DM Dr Evil presents Serpent's Skull - Group A (Inactive)

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

Before everyone beds down for the night, Dragolan channels again to heal anyone who's still hurt.

Channel Energy to heal: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Untrained Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

The rotund oracle takes a moment to speak with Aerys. "Madame Mavato--are you well? Disease is something we must watch for diligently."

Sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

To Okhosa:
"So we have a potion of lesser restoration and one of remove disease? That is a hard call, the lesser restoration can help one of us but it can save the life of Gelik.
The more efficient option is to give Gelik the potion of cure disease. If it work it should be apparent in a very short time.
If it don't work the lesser restoration can keep him alive while his body fight the disease with Dragolan help.
What do you think?"

How much do Dragolan and Mikail know about Red Ache? (IE, if it's doing stat damage, which stat(s) is/are it damaging? Phrase it as how it kills--does it do you in directly, or do you starve/die of thirst because you can't eat or drink? Will supportive therapy keep you alive?)

Happily, there are four potions (not scrolls - derp) of lesser restoration :) Just one of remove disease though.

How much do Dragolan and Mikail know about Red Ache? (IE, if it's doing stat damage, which stat(s) is/are it damaging? Phrase it as how it kills--does it do you in directly, or do you starve/die of thirst because you can't eat or drink? Will supportive therapy keep you alive?)

I will rule that because Dragolan made the heal check to aid the others on their saves vs Red Ache, he knows a bit about the disease.

Tell me how you use the magical potions in your possession if at all. Who gets the Remove Disease benefit? Who is taking Lesser Restoration

On direct questioning, Aerys' face flushes and she looks down at the ground. "No, no. I am fine. Just scared. This place is terrible."

She rises and walks alone down to the water's edge throwing shells into the sea, her eyes boring holes through Varya as she stalks away.

Sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Okhosa will turn the potions over to Dragolan and Mikhail to distribute as they will.

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6
Varya worries over Jask and Gelik, not noticing Aerys' stare.

A+, Varya

So what is the plan for today? Yesterday you went exploring and didn't get very far. What is the food count after all of you eat today? And finally, what about the Remove Disease and Lesser Restorations?

How much characteristic damage we have recovered?

"Dragolan, seeing how the potions have been entrusted to us, I suggest we give the potion of Remove disease to Geldik, while Okhsa and I will both drink one Lesser restoration."

A disease that sap strength will not kill someone even if it bring the characteristic to 0. It will only immobilize him until he recover some strength, so we could spare and use our healing skills. But it seem callous to do that.

How does Red Ache compare to other diseases we might be exposed to out here? Dragolan is concerned about the likelihood of encountering something worse.

I think our plan, or at least what Varya will root for, is going in to the forest to search for food and a source of water.

Red Ache is among the most severe of the tropical disease that Dragolan has read about.

The day looks cloudy as the sun rises on Smuggler's Shiv. The heat is a little less perhaps, but the damp humidity makes the day a bit less bearable than yesterday.

How does Red Ache compare to other diseases we might be exposed to out here? Dragolan is concerned about the likelihood of encountering something worse.

Strength damage don't kill you directly. When your strength damage is equal to your strength you become paralyzed, so thirst and hunger kill you. With someone caring for you and a lesser restoration at hand to keep strength above 0 if needed it can be overcome.

I think our plan, or at least what Varya will root for, is going in to the forest to search for food and a source of water.

Seem reasonable.

Varya instinctively wipes her brow to wipe away sweat before realizing that it is just the air she is feeling.

"We need to find more food, we're running out quickly. And maybe one of you knows what kinds of herbs might be helpful? I don't know, we need to find something."

Food Tracker, Start of day 3 we have 15 left I think.

Again the check for scrounging food is a DC 12 Survival check and for to provide food and water for self for one day. This requires 4 hours of time per check. For every 2 the roll exceeds the DC, you can feed another person/day.

Let's settle the issue of potion use first, unless you are dosing no one, and then get on with the rest of the day's activities.

We have recovered 1 point of dexterity or not sleeping?

Yes, one point.

Who did you give the potions to, Dragolan and Mikail?

Dragolan Canario wrote:

How does Red Ache compare to other diseases we might be exposed to out here? Dragolan is concerned about the likelihood of encountering something worse.

Strength damage don't kill you directly. When your strength damage is equal to your strength you become paralyzed, so thirst and hunger kill you. With someone caring for you and a lesser restoration at hand to keep strength above 0 if needed it can be overcome.

As you may have noticed, I said something very like that a few posts up.

"I advise saving the potions for the moment, looking for food during the morning, then returning to camp and tending our invalids."

"I advise saving the potions for the moment, looking for food during the morning, then returning to camp and tending our invalids."

"I agree. We should bring 2 lesser restoration potions with us while scrounging for food as we could find some other poisonous critter, but it seem a good choice of actions."

The foraging party makes ready to leave, looking for food or hunting if any game presents itself.

Whoever is going may make Survival roll or aid checks as appropriate.

I think Dragolan will be the one making the main check, so:

Survival-aid another: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Current status Dex damage 5, hp 13/13

AC 13, touch 9, HP 13/13, Fort +2 Reflex +1 Will +2, Perc +4, Init -1, Atk Rapier +1, 1d6+1, Spells slots: 4/4 Bardic performance 7/7

HP +1 from resting, up to my maximum of 12.

Once again, Dragolan's keen eye for edibles (not to mention frequent use of the detect poison cantrip to resolve edge cases) comes through for the party.

Survival check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

"We haven't found enough to feed all of us. What we do? We could spend what is left of the day to find more food or we can explore the east side of the beach. I we have enough resources to last for a couple of days I would suggest to search for Morgrym. We can't abandon him."

Dragolan's skill allows them to find and kill some small game and find some edible and yummy plants. The food seems to be enough to feed most of the group.

Resting during the hottest part of the middle of the day, the group decides what do for the second half of the day.

Base survival roll is DC 10 to feed self. Add 1 person for every two by which the roll exceeds the DC. That gives you food for 8 from 4 hours of hunting and gathering. You already had some food as I recall...What next?

"I advise resting, while I tend to the ill. Is anyone still wounded?"

"If you cure us you could help Okhosa and me recover from the poison effect but it would mean abandoning Morgrym. Maybe he is wounded somewhere and we cans till save him. I could not forgive myself if we were to discover that he could have saved."

"We have wounded and sick here that we need to worry about."

At this point, no one has any injury, save the ability score damage to Mikail and Okhosa. And the disease afflicting Jask and Gelik. Waiting for a direction from you guys.

"I advise searching for Morgrym. If alive, he can take on some food-gathering duties while the rest of us explore, and the longer we wait the more difficult it will be to find his trail."

"You're right, we should look for him. Can anyone follow tracks?"

Survival (Tracking): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

"Both Mikail and I have some skill at tracking."

Survival check to track: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

"We should start near the camp. Thankfully his boots are different from ours so we shouldn't be too confused by our tracks."
Survival check to track: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

The tracks of Morgrym's boots seem to lead out of camp inland to the west. You are able to follow the general direction of the lost dwarf. Soon the trail comes to the ridgeline which runs along the length of the island. The climb is a cliff face about 100ft high, and its pretty easy to see the spots the dwarf chiseled out to make the ascent.

If you want to make the climb, it is a DC 15 check. If someone ascends and throws down a rope, it makes the DC 5.

"Ouch, what he had in his mind? Some of you can get to the top of the ridge? "

"Good question, what was he searching for that led him straight up a mountain?"

Varya inspects the cliffside, and replies "I could try, but I'm a much better swimmer than I am a climber."

I've got +2, so I could just go for it unless someone's actually trained in climbing.

It is a check at 15 to advance by 7.5 ft. 14 checks to complete the climb. If You fail by 5+ you fall. It don't seem a good idea.

"We should search for an area where it is easier to climb."

Ah right, I forgot about multiple checks.

"The west end of the island, perhaps. We were already exploring in that direction. It is also possible that one of the others is more skilled at climbing than we; I have some training in the skill, but lack the musculature to excel."

"Good idea, maybe we can follow these cliffs to the west, and see if there is an easier way up."

Varya takes the fine shortsword they had found in the wreckage from her belt, and frowning that she has to use such a well made weapon in this manner, cuts through the foliage and brush to forge a path.

After a last troubled look at the cliff, Mikail follow Varya.

Hack their way through the dense undergrowth, the party makes slow progress keeping their shoulder against the rocky escarpment that leads inland.

Eventually they find a place where a recent rockfall has made the climb easier.

It is DC 10 here without a rope. Taking 10 is allowed, so as long as you aren't negative on climbing you can make it. Those that are negative can go second using a rope and make it.

The climb goes without major incident and from the top of the escarpment you can see farther out to see. The outline of rocks and reefs along the seacoast confirms what has been said about the danger of sailing close to Smuggler's Shiv.

Turning inland, you begin a bit of exploration of the highland jungle which appears to be just as dense as the lower tier.

Snake in the Jungle - Surprise Round

24 Snake
22 Dragolan
21 Okhosa
15 Mikail
9 Varya

The snake drops down till it hangs several feet down from the branches above. The fangs reach for Mikail's exposed neck before the surprised explorer can react.

Snake fangs, vs flat-footed: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

If you made the perception check above you may act in the surprise round (remember move OR standard action but not both.) If not, you will have to wait until Round 1.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"Well, at least now we are away from the beach and those damned poisonous arthropods and ... Ugh!"

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

"Watch out!" Varya yells suddenly, pushing Mikail back as the snake drops down towards him.

I am guessing I already have my shortsword out because I was hacking leaves, so I will just use that. If I am not close enough, then just use surprise action to put myself next to it.

Varya swings at the black snake with her grass-and-leaf stained shortsword.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

The oracle peers intently at a low flower spike growing in a small patch of sunlight on the jungle floor. "What a fascinating bromeliad! Do you know, there are frogs that live in--what?"

Perception check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4