Dungeon Master S's The Silent Tide: CORE (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

August breaks a twig! The guard shouts an alarm and immediately comes out to investigate. He has no idea about Hun, so Hun will get a surprise attack (which takes place after the shout.)

Meredith hears the commotion, and the dog simply looks at her for directions instead of barking.

out for a good chunk of the day. Enemy initiative is +2 if someone wants to roll the initiative for the fight.

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Piper: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Hunwald: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
August: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Meredith: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
BADDIES: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

So August gets a surprise round, followed by only Hun getting to act before the guard in regular initiative?

Hun gets surprise round followed by initiative (in which he goes first)

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Meredith has spent this time trying to loosen the dog's collar so she can set it free. Whether or not she can, she asks the dog to stay.

"Stay right here. I'll be back for you, I promise."

The dog looks compliant

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As the guard comes out the door, Hun will surprise him using the club provided by Meredith at the beginning of the campaign, and try to knock the man unconscious.

Non-lethal surprise club atk vs N. Guard: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 3 - 4 = 18
Damage ?: 1d6 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 3 + (5) = 13

"G'night!"

In necessary, he will give the ruffian another smack to his brain housing group.
Non-lethal surprise club atk vs N. Guard: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 4 = 14
Damage ?: 1d6 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (3) = 9

"I said, G'night!"

If a second hit (and clever repertoire) is not needed, Hun will quickly double move around to the third (East) guard shack door to flank any guard with Meredith and her new four legged friend, leaving the search of the North guard's quarters for August or Pipes.

No second swing needed! Hun takes off to the east guard.

Will post enemy soon

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The final guard, completely confused as to why the hells the dog isn't barking, opens the door and sees Hun. He drops the crossbow he was going to use, and tries to hit the rogue with a spiked gauntlet. Right uppercut: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7, but his surprise is still too much. The main door of the tower opens. Out comes a guard rushing towards Meredith. The other hangs back and takes aim with his crossbow at the druid ATK: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3. Clearly, Desna smiles on the Pathfinders this day!

Meredith
August
Piper

Dupine, hoping to make up for his mistake, runs the opposite direction from Hun. He's got that guard, I check the front.

He double moves to the corner, which should provide 100% cover/conceal from red, but clear shot at blue.

Meredith looks at the dog and points behind the rocks where she entered the compound. "Over there, boy! Momma's gotta teach these wimps a lesson about animal cruelty."

She then lunges for the guard. "Let's make this quick."
Grapples are so slow, lol

Improved Grapple: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
AC is 11 due to being in a Grapple and dropping my shield. Try to shoot me now, crossbow guy!

About f@#$%& time Desna smiled on us...

Piper hustles to catch up to the commotion.

Double move

Meredith grabs hold of the guard!

Round 2

Hun: Current
Baddies: TBD
Meredith: TBD
August: TBD
Piper: TBD

Hun will counter attack the yellow guard with the club he still has in his hand...
Club atk vs Yellow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Crit Conf: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Juuussst a bit outside!
Damage ?: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Hun donks the guard on the head, really solidly. The head wound is bleeding profusely. He turns around and tries to sock the rogue in the face iwth his spiked gauntlet ATK: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13, but the target is too fast.

Red decides to rush in with his gauntlet and beat Meredith about the head ATK: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6, but the war hounds can't seem to get their act together.

Finally Blue tries to bust out of the bear hug that the druid has him in: CMB: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11. Nothing is going their way.

"Imbeciles! What in Abadar's arse am I paying you for?!" shouts a voice from the tower. Out strides a man. His form is indistinct and blurry. You can still tell that he's far better armed than his thugs judging by the flail he's spinning and the shield on his left arm. He takes stock of the situation and heads towards Dupine with his flail overhead ATK: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 DMG: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Round 2

Hun: Donk
Baddies: Various
Meredith: Go
August: Go
Piper: Go

Meredith's hands burst into tiny thorns as she tries to rake her foe.

Grapple, Already in Control: 1d20 + 4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 5 = 11
Damage: 1d3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5
Probably missed, but 4 rounds left of Wooden Fist.

Piper steps around August and tries to give him an edge.

Blinding Ray: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 3 - 4 = 1 vs. touch
Blur Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 64 low=miss

He saw Dupine around the corner?

Dupine, surprised by the new assailant, tries desperately to put the man down.
Flurry 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Crit confirm?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Flurry 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Hun spins to avoid the gauntlet smash and uses his momentum to counter strike the yellow guard, but what would have been a breathtakingly perfect blow is wide of striking the target...

Dagger atk vs yellow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage ?: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

"Damn it Hun... Just like father used to say' "Never take your eyes off of the target!"

he saw from 2nd floor after alarm. That's why he didn't get here until now.

I'll update tonight.

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Miss: 1d100 ⇒ 18 Sorry Dupine, you still missed due to the Blur effect. Piper and Hun both miss.

Blue tries to break free: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20, and does. He backs up just a bit though, making sure to not drop his guard.

Red goes after Meredith again: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Yellow snarls at Hun and strikes back: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Finally, Nessian gives an evil laugh, dripping with hubris as he tries to feint Dupine! Feint: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Meredith: Go
August: Go
Piper: Go

Piper draws a wand, lines up her shot, then unleashes a gout of flame.

Burning Hands, CL 3, on red and Nessian. Reflex 11 for half.

Fire damage: 3d4 ⇒ (4, 1, 4) = 9

"Hold on August. Piper's here to help you!"
Meredith tries to grab blue again.

Improved Grapple: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Probably not getting a good grip on him.

REF: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Piper's spell burns the thug badly. His cries of pain ring in your ears. He's still up, but his toying with the party is done. (Dupine needs to make an opposed Sense Motive check.) Unfortunately Blue weasels away from Meredith.

August to end the round (and after that burning hands maybe the fight!)

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Boy, that first guard was sweet success, and now cannot catch a break! Missing with a nat 20! Woe is me! :)

I was not sure if I should post an action or wait to see what the sense motive turns up...

Post an action, that was versus his feinting attempt, and you aren't fooled in the least.

Realizing this opponent may be too tough to stand toe to toe with, Dupine goes on the defensive, trying to buy enough time for the others to dispatch the guards.

Fight defensively will give +2 AC, so 16 now. Probably should go full defense, but hoping for a lucky hit!
Attack: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 - 4 = 3
Attack: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 - 4 = 3

Well, that wasn't it...but at least I retain possible AoO if it presents itself.

The attacks do fall short. Hun is up!

Hun continues to engage yellow with Meredith's sheleighleigh, hoping to end this combat so he can assist his friends.

Club atk vs Yellow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16  Damage ?: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

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Hun drops the thug with extreme prejudice. Take move action.

Bad guys after dinner

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Hun moves to flank Nessian with August, but doesn't quite make it...

Red goes for a solid hook punch to Meredith ATK: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 DMG: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Blue, set up for the flank does the same ATK: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 = 9 MISS

Nessian wanted a sneak attack on Dupine, but the rogue-monk is too clever for that. So the hopeful "crimelord" swings for power, 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 DMG: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

All good guys (except Hun) are up!

August Dupine stumbled backward, and falls to the ground.

At 0 hp, so out of the fight - looking to play dead long enough to get out a CLW wand and hope he can use it.

Despite his blurry form, he is dropping a lot of very much in focus blood...

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Meredith and Piper are up!

Shoot, wanted to set up flanking with the boss...

"Piper! Now!" Meredith takes a step back and takes a fully defensive position, hoping she'll burn the two thugs and Hun will get there in time.

Total Defense, AC is 19

Piper chooses to target the leader instead of his thugs, hoping they'll run when he falls. She lets out another blast from her wand, then draws a dagger in her other hand and steps closer.

Burning Hands: 3d4 ⇒ (1, 3, 3) = 7

Reflex DC 11

REF: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Piper's spell BURNS and the leader, Nessian drops to the ground a toasted crisp!

The other thugs throw their hands up in defeat. Surely if Nessian can't take you, they can't either.

Out of combat.

Dupine pulls out a wand as he sighs in relief.

Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

He shakes it, and tries again.

Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"Can anyone make this thing work? I am a bit whoosy..."

Piper draws her crossbow and keeps it leveled at the surrendered thugs.

"I'll cover them. Meredith, go play doctor."

Meredith drops her guard as the thugs surrender. "Good call." She nods to Piper as she helps August. "The trick to these wands is to believe in yourself. My connection to the land makes it much easier, I'll admit."

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"May I use this on myself?" If she can, she applies it to the bruise the thug left on her chin.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"Now that we've taken care of that...Where's the book?"
Intimidate: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Meredith tried to demand information from the thugs, but instead it seems like she asked politely.

They look beaten, Piper covers them easily.

A voice from the southwest startles everyone as it shouts (and cracks), "HURRY!"" Yargos comes huffing and puffing towards you. "if we do not shine the counter lights soon it'll be too late!"

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With the guards subdued, they were ready to give up the goods anyway (even without Meredith's polite sounding inquiry.) They direct you to the upper-level of the central siege tower which is littered with the various-sized colored lanterns that Nessian has procured to trigger the Silent Tide. The codebook is poorly hidden inside the workshop desk. Yargos practically snatches it out of your hands and signals the abort code.

You've done it!

Though few will be aware of your bravery, you have saved Absalom from a potentially devastating attack. Better still, you have stopped a rising figure in Absalom's seedy underworld. You have the thanks of Yargos and his friends, and they ensure that your reputation within the Puddle District is deservedly enhanced.

For going the extra mile with Grandmaster Torch, you've also increased your fame outright And earn a 2nd prestige point.

Well played everyone! Chronicles and reporting will be finished today!

"Thank you, Yargos." Meredith nods. "May the traitors remain at the bottom of the sea, where they belong."

She turns to Hunwald and takes her club back. "Glad you found it useful. It's a little crude, but it hits harder than my fists, usually."

Meredith pets the dog. "Let's find you a good home, Okay Miles? Awww, I love you too." She giggles as it licks her in appreciation.

The dog is definitely excited to be treated well.

Whew! That was brutal! I wasn't sure I was going to make it after blowing all my spells in the first fight. Wand of magic missile, here I come!

Fantastic game and pace, thank you Chris Marsh!
And to my fellow adventurers, thanks for posting regular and keeping it interesting!

The pleasure is all mine! I'm lying low until after Gen Con, but I'll be running things after, feel free to sign up. This is a good party, looking forward to any more.

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