GM Silbeg's "Murder on the Throaty Mermaid" (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

"I just need to know what happened to my dad!"

A surge of annoyance again flairs within the old man, and without thinking he shouts through the driving sheets of rain as the darkly churning, thunderous cacophony seems to rip the heavens apart above them.

"You already know what happened!"Ibid wails, his knees about to give. "The mine collapsed and swallowed your father."

Ibid turns from Cyrus, hiding his face and looking over the dark lit horizon.

"Cyrus, leave it alone.... this won't make you whole," the old man sputters under his breath, the sound of his voice drowned out and consumed by crash of the raging sea and echoing clatter overhead.

bluff(lie to cyrus, hide the rest of the tale from the youth): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

Lightning splits the sky above them as the rain pours down, and the thunder sounds as if it is ripping the very fabric of the air around them. Cyrus' frustration boils over into anger at the old man's words, and he knows he finally has someone who can answer his questions. It is a fleeting opportunity he will not let go of.

"Ah-ha! You were there! I called it a tomb, but you knew it was a mine! I know it collapsed, I was there! Why are you hiding something from me? What was he doing in there? ... Why didn't he come back out?"

Cyrus nearly breaks down, his voice cracking as he asks the last question.

Stop getting your hopes up, just because he is hiding something, doesn't mean he even knows who pops is... This is going to be just like all the other times. All questions and no answers...

As the rain and saltwater peppers Ibid's face, the old man shakes his head in annoyance.

That little s&&! tricked me, he thinks to himself as a colossal breaking wave appears off the port bow and the ship immediately begins to list dangerously while rising up the water's sheer face.

There is an agonizing groan from within the bowels of the vessel as its timbers, keel, masts, and bulkheads scream in defiance of the stresses places upon them, sounding like a veritable death knell of the ship and her passengers. Ibid finds himself beginning to slide across the sodden planks, as the deck pitches and rolls while the vessel prepares to capsize. A second later a tremulous shiver propagates along the length of the ship, passing from stern to bow in the blink of an eye, as if the Throaty Mermaid will sever clean in half.

As Ibid prepares to once again be swallowed by the sea, drug below its wave haunted surface to the terrible crushing depths of utter and compete blackness where not even light or warmth can pass. Down and down, deeper beyond reckoning, to the abominable bottom, where the sea secrets her treasures away, letting none ever escape.

We may as well have chained ourselves to our tombstones, Ibid thinks looking at his tether tied around the mast and taken by the hopelessness of their plight.

"If we're to die, consumed by this carnivorous sea, then I'll tell you what I know!" Ibid calls through torrent of water rushing over the deck, caused by the ship-breaking wave towering over the vessel, poised to crash down upon them all and obliterate their last wretched moments. The old man's feet are braced against the mast, now laying almost horizontal to the invisible horizon.

"Your father went in the mine because he was paid to," Ibid calls out. "He worked the mine like all the others."

"We worked the mine, together!" his screaming voice is all but drowned out by the booming crackle of thunder sundering the heavens.

Cyrus shakes the water from his face and hair, spitting out what has washed into his mouth. His stomach is unsettled by the churning of the ship in the roiling sea, but his mind is not focused on the storm. Only instinct keeps him from falling down while so focused on the answers that are tantalizingly close.

"You were in the mine with him?" He asks rhetorically, his mind racing, desperation in his voice.

"How did it collapse?! What happened?!

Wait... How did he get out alive and my father didn't?

"Because we sabotaged it to collapse!" Ibid screams, his anger now clearly directed at himself. The secret he had hoped to keep buried forever now made him sick to hear it said aloud.

"Your father and I brought the mine down," the old man can barely stammer the words.

Miraculously the bow of the Throaty Mermaid begins to turn headlong into the towering wave. The strength and skill necessary to right an upending vessel, as far gone as the Throaty Mermaid, should be beyond the means of any mortal found on Golarion, yet the ship was turning all the same. Righting her course and heading directly up the sheer face of the wave. A moment later the bow of the vessel bursts through the heart of the gigantic wave, piercing the wall of water and cleaving it in two. Exploding from within and traversing down the more gently sloping, backside of the wave. As a flood of water sweeps across the deck, Ibid feels his tether pull tight and keep his feet on the deck, he knows the helmsman has saved everyone's life, from that one wave at least.

Ahead, the gathering storm only looks worse.

"Because we sabotaged it to collapse!"

The words hit Cyrus like a ton of bricks, harder than the wave they just burst through. His knees go weak and his hands go slack around the rope where they had been white knuckled only moments before.

He did it... on purpose?

His eyes glaze over as he stares off into the raging storm, the weather mirroring the tumult in his heart and mind.

Why? Why would he do that? Why didn't he make sure he could get out? What... I...

No words are spoken by the dumbstruck youth. The myriad of questions, so many more now than before, race around in his head, churning his thoughts like the waves churning the sea. His thoughts, like the rolling waves beneath them, seem to promise to swallow him whole.

very cool guys... gonne break in here for a bit...

Lort, seeing the wheel spinning, and Ulamon frantically trying to stop it, reaches for the wheel, hoping to lend his strength. "Kurgess's Balls! he screams, but no one hears. He grabs the wheel (1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11) but fails to grab hold.

Seeing the big half-orc straining, Miro, who doesn't think he's got a chance, being less than half the size of either Lort or the Shaman tries himself. (1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9). Though knocked over, even Finarin works to save the ship (1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4). But, alas, he is unable to help.

The Throaty Mermaid[i] continues to turn, out of control. Her timbers creak and scream, fighting against the waves. Were Cyrus not so focuses on his past, he would be wondering if taking the ship's good luck charm was really that good of an idea.

[i]Gust of wind: To add insult to injury, the wind picks up for a moment, raising the wind speed to severe strength for 1d3 ⇒ 1 rounds. While the wind is gusting, any Small creature must make a DC 10 Strength check to move on the deck or a DC 20 Fly check if in the air, and Tiny or smaller creatures risk being blown away, as detailed in Table 13–10: Wind Effects on page 439 of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook.

The Throaty Mermaid is threatening to put herself into a dangerous situation, as strong winds threaten to capsize her as she slowly turns broadside to the wind. Lort looses his footing, while he is straining to save the wheel.

L:acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
M:acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Can I stand up again? Acrobatics? Next round? Loving your work, Cyrus and Ibid, I'll read it all when I get a chance...

Miro grabs hold of the elf gratefully, only to have Finarin ripped from his grab as the ship swings violently to the side. As he tries to help the helmsman and Lort get things under control, he silently thanks the gods that he had to work hard for his singing ability. His early work had him dodging projectiles and angry customers, and that nimbleness was serving him well as he danced around the ship, keeping his footing with relative ease as others are knocked prone.

As things go from bad to worse, Miro will desperately try to help Ulamon regain control of the wheel and get the ship out of the direct blasts of the wind.

standard action to grab the wheel, move w/ acrobatics to stand up -- DC15

Can we aid another? If so I would like to aid Lort

Certainly! Roll it!

Strength Check: 1d20 ⇒ 3 Wimpy elf

I'll probably need aid another for acrobatics...

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Lort tries to struggle to his feet and then reaches up to grasp the wheel. Upon reaching it he tries with all his might to hold it steady.

Miro will attempt to give Lort the pitiful help he can provide in steadying the wheel.

Strength Check: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Lort grabs hold of the wheel, first letting it pull him up, and then, putting his back into it, he stops it from spinning.

The heavy sprawl calms slightly, and the crew tells you all to keep to your stations, as the storm is not over. The storm goes on for over an hour, but never gets quite as rough as it was at this time.

Killik comes up from below decks, as First Mate Marzack is checking on how Amaranti is doing.

Karshaiga seems to think something as wrong, as...

Karshaiga seems to react to Marzack, getting ready to strike. Marzack's smile quickly leaves his face, as he yells, "Now!"

Killik nods, and touches Marzack, who then charges at Karshaiga. scimitar w/battle rage and sneak: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 crit confirm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 for: 2d6 + 2 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 6) + 2 + 2 + (3) = 14. The First Mate's attack slashes into the Eidolon, who falls to the ground in a shower of blood. The party is surprised by this. (ouch! At least it wasn't a PC that took this!)

karshaiga stabelize: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Combat tracker has Finarin taking Karshaiga's damage. Don't know if I can handle two PCs down at one time... leaves room to finish the bottle of Wild Turkey.

Combat tracker has Finarin taking Karshaiga's damage. Don't know if I can handle two PCs down at one time... leaves room to finish the bottle of Wild Turkey.

corrected

"I knew you were in on this you dirty no good excuse for a priest!" Cyrus yells, suppressing the confusion and questions he has struggled with over the last hour as the ship fought through the storm.

All of the "why" questions disappear in a flash of rage as he watches the scoundrels ambush the serpent. He has had enough with this ship, with the sea, and with this cursed crew. The questions fly away for the time being, replaced by a white hot rage at everything and nothing in particular.

These people are hurting my friends. I'm tired of watching people I care about get hurt, or worse.

"Somebody's gonna die!"

Would totally roll another intimidate check if it wasn't a full round action...

Can Lort move and attack this round or do I have to untie myself first? Would I need an acrobatics or climb check to get down the stairs in this storm?

any one tied up can move no more than the 10' from the mast you all were tied to. I bink I posted the rules above.

Kaisharga's flat-footed AC is 16, wouldn't the crit have failed to confirm? Eh, actually I had FF and Touch AC swapped in the Kaisharga's "Race"-line, so my bad...

Did Amaranti have time to stand up earlier? I'm assuming Marzack is standing next to him? The map shows him next to Killik

And sorry, relatives staying over, so I couldn't follow the posts...

Ok so we are all on the deck above? Amaranti - correct? So for us to get to Aramanti's level it is a standard to untie (as long as we don't roll a 1), then move 6 squares - are stairs considered difficult terrain i.e. double move? If I am correct we would be on the same level on Round 2. Assuming all these assumptions are correct:

Hearing the cries of the Eidolon, Finarin begins working furiously to untie the knot in the rope he had tethered to the mast. With the storm abating, he knew a new, more deadly storm was now on the horizon. After untying his rope, he heads straight for the stairs, drawing his rapier in a smooth motion, imbuing it with magical energies.

Game: Standard, untie, move travel down the stairs and draw weapon, swift Arcane Pool Point.

Untie my gordian knot: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Ooh, wait, I can make it to Killik while still only 10ft from the mast!

Lort will move down the stairs while drawing his greatsword. He snarls at Killik, "We know now, and I can't tell you how satisfied this will make me."

Lort lines up a mighty blow with his greatsword.

Greatsword, power attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage if successful: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 5) + 9 = 19

The raging storm keeps Amaranti hugging the deck, and he fails to see the two villains approaching. Only the silent alarm from his eidolon, makes the Garundi aware of danger. He gets up, takes a little distance between himself and his target, and strikes at the traitorous First Mate.

lance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
damage, AS: 1d8 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 = 9

All are standing, it has been some time. Finarin, that'll be your action when it comes up, after Killik, Ibid, and Marzack go

Enraged by the betrayal, but still recovering from the ordeal, the party's "heavy hitters" both take might swings at their opponents, but both fail to land. Perhaps it was the swaying of the ship, perhaps the ropes that bind them (both were particularly tight where they now are).

Seeing the predicament that the party is in, with their ropes and all, Killick moves closer to Aramanti, to get within the length of the lance, and outside if the range of Lort's mighty blows. He then calls upon the power of Besmara to create a duplicate of himself (Copycat domain power - works as mirror image, move action to create.) He then swings at Aramanti with his rapier. rapier: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18 hitting for: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Ibid is up, then Marzack. For the record, Ibid, shooting down at either combatant on the deck will have cover, due to the rigging, etc., between you and them.

I will place Finarin once my turn is up - want to do that using my stra-tee-gereee

You know me all to well, GM Silbeg. I want to take a shot with my longbow, but will try to better line up my first shot by moving closer to the fight.

The old man is staggered by the betrayal and audacity of the murderous scoundrels, and quickly begins to untie his bonds, once free, rushing across the deck to help his companions.

Am I relieved Cyrus has stopped asking his questions, or was it a relief to set yourself free of the burden of your lies? the old man questions as he strides purposefully toward the conflict, drawing his longbow from its hanging postion across his shoulders. Pull it together, old man. It's time to prove that you're worth a damn, your friends need you...

Move action: untie tether/silk rope
Move action: Get closer to the fight, drawing longbow as Ibid moves.
Free action: Knock an arrow for next round.

Just in case...Ibid escaping: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Ibid easily sheds his rope, and then climbs down the ladder. Sorry if that wasn't obvious on the map... I've moved you back, and you have not drawn your bow, yet, due to the climb.
Ibid climb check on ladder: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Ibid easily hustles down the ladder, preparing to draw his bow.

Marzack, wily bastard, tumbles around Aramanti Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 (Note: Aramanti, you should get your CMD on your character sheet), but does not avoid the big Garundi's lance. AOO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 However, Aramanti is still evidently staggered by the storm, and what happened to Karshaiga, and misses badly. Marzack then finishes moving so that he has a flank with Killik, and strikes. sneak: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16 for: 1d6 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + (1) + 1 = 6 He manages to also hit Amaranti hard, though not as hard as he had hit the Eidolon. The Summoner is bleeding from several wounds, the color is starting to flow from his face.

Lort severs the rope with a swipe of his greatsword (or attempts to):

Attack, no power attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 6 = 8

Not sure what the rope's AC is, but I'm assuming it's easier to cut through it with my drawn greatsword than try to untie myself. From what I can find, 10 feet of rope would have AC 10, Hardness 0, HP 2.

Wow, Lort needs GM Damo to roll for him... still should succeed, but awful!

Lort then closes on Killik, smiling maniacally as he pulls his greatsword back in eager anticipation.

Miro is about to start swinging, but notes Marzack's string of successes against his party mates. Thinking to make himself more immediately useful, a spell pops into his mind and he casts it, coating the First Mate's weapon with a layer of greasy substance. Miro then unties himself from his post so he can start moving about the battlefield.

Cast Grease on Marzack's scimitar. Reflex DC 15 or it slips out!

Rolls haven't favoured the group(s) lately...

Wet from spraying saltwater and blood, Amaranti tries to keep his enemies at bay. Pain makes his vision blurry, but he grits his teeth and steps backwards, almost stumbling on his unconscious eidolon. From safe distance, the Garundi casts an incantation to shield himself from harm.

cast Shield, bringing AC to 19
CMD is on the "race" line, but I'll add it to bodytext as well

Ugh... So many move actions just to get into this fight, why did we tie ourselves off?

Cyrus strains at the rope he tied himself off with, frustrated at what now seems like a foolish decision, wild storm notwithstanding. He pulls his sickle from the loop on his belt and cuts through the rope with relative ease.

Just some info to let everyone know how easy it is to cut through a rope, objects have an AC of 10, but inanimate objects have a dex of 0, giving them a -5 to AC, and also have a -2 to AC for being inanimate. So the rope technically has an AC of 3, Hardness 0, and HP 2...

Attack Rope: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 for Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Now free from the rope that bound him to the mast, Cyrus leaps from the deck, rolling as he hits to soften the blow and moves toward the frenzied combat. Using acrobatics to not take damage from the first 10' of a deliberate 'fall'

Acrobatics, DC15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

I see it now, Amaranti... sorry.

marzack reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Miro cast his spell, trying to coat Marzack's scimitar with magical grease, but the First Mate avoids the spell. OMG, the party is really getting screwed by rolls!

Lort growls, and cuts his rope with his mighty sword, and closes on Killik. Cyrus also cuts his rope, and leaps off the fore deck, to close in to combat.

When you deliberately fall any distance, even as a result of a missed jump, a DC 15 Acrobatics skill check allows you to ignore the first 10 feet fallen, although you still end up prone if you take damage from a fall.

Cyrus, if you want to change your action, I will allow it.

Still waiting for Finarin.

I moved, or should have this morning. It is difficult to keep the game current but still make strategic positioning as a Magus is most effective with a 5-foot step.

Since I didn't take any damage, I don't fall prone, so I shouldn't need to change anything, right?

-Posted with Wayfinder

Since I didn't take any damage, I don't fall prone, so I shouldn't need to change anything, right?

-Posted with Wayfinder

Read the whole thing, GM! Yeah, you are right.

Whew... :)

At this time Ibid will be glad that he took the ladder.
Looking distinctly "not happy" about his situation, Killik reinstates his "copycat" brandishes his holy symbol. "Feel the wrath of the Pirate Queen! Channels negative energy. Marzack looks annoyed as well. He then steps closer to Amaranti.
Channel to Harm: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Ibid is up.

After descending the ladder, Ibid quickly turns toward the conflict and takes a few steps across the deck to line up a shot at Marzack. While moving, Ibid unslings his longbow and draws an arrow. As soon as the arrow is knocked, the old man exhales slightly and releases the bowstring.

attack(comp. longbow): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
damage(+2 Str., +1 for Point blank): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Hey Cyrus," yells Lort playfully as the battle continues, "Care to team up on this turbulent priest? Should be some serious fun to be had: your finesse, my lack of finesse..."

Ibid's shot flies true, impaling Marzack in this shoulder. He cries in pain, glares at Ibid, but steps forward to finish the Garundi.
sneak attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 2 = 23 for: 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 1 + (3) = 10 Amararanti falls over his eidolon, landing in such a way that it appears he is hugging his serpent. (no double entendre meant... really...)

Amaranti stabilize: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6Karshaiga stabilize: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
If someone heals Amaranti before Lort goes, his bleed will stop.

Assuming Cyrus moves up to help me flank... (his action happens the round previous, so Lort will wait... even though I cannot! ;-) If Cyrus doesn't move to flank, I guess I'll just attack anyway, but may move closer to Mallick instead (ie. up from Killik instead of to his left).

Lort moves up to Killik, grinning for all the world like this is the most fun he's had all day (it is). Delightedly, he lines up his enormous weapon and takes a massive swing.

Greatsword, power attack, flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 = 19
Damage if successful: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 5) + 9 = 20

Please don't let that hit a mirror image! I guess Cyrus goes first, technically, though...

Where is Lort on the map?

Where is Lort on the map?

10', SSE of you.

Cyrus rage is nearly blinding as he sees the wicked pirates cut his companion down.

"You'll pay tenfold for your treachery!" He shouts as he charges into the fray.

Attack, Flank, Charging: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 24 for Damage w/ Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + (2) + 1 = 5

My AC is now 16 until my next turn due to charging

Mirror image (Cyrus - 1 hits, 2 image): 1d2 ⇒ 2
Mirror image (Lort - 1 hits, 2 image): 1d2 ⇒ 1

Cyrus charges the cleric, and strike what he thinks is his target, only to be surprised by the image he has seen disappearing. This makes things easy for Lort, however, who wallops the Besmaran, who collapses under his mighty blow, bleeding heavily.

Finarin and Miro are still up.