Goffred Giulianoff |
"Of course I will, Raseri," says Fredo in the same sotto voce tone. His eyebrows and jaw set themselves into a determined expression. Fredo wasn't sure how sincere she was about his caution – he'd just clambered down a rope suspended over an angry shark after all. But he was glad she trusted him. "Nothing is going to harm her. Not while I'm around." Seeing the worry in her face, Fredo tries to lighten the mood, cocking an eyebrow as he speaks, his voice still low but slightly more impish. "You shall receive all the credit, of course."
Despite his bravado, Fredo is more than a little worried himself. Alfsigr might be small, but she was Raseri's kin and trained in four years of physical labor. If the scene becomes too dangerous for her and she has to go, Fredo isn't sure he can make her. And based on his failures to get the other stolen children to listen to him, he is not sure he can persuade her either. A quick check of Fredo's prepared spells reveals one that might help, but the consequences of its being cast on a child are unpredictable at best. Not only might she run off the gangway, but anything that affects her mind in the now might affect her later development. No. Better to interpose his body between hers and Lamm's, and to help neutralize his threat before it can reach her again.
Fredo's reverie is interrupted by Alfsigr's giggling at her private joke with Raseri. He can think of half a dozen unpleasant stereotypes for magical scholars, many of which might seem comical. So he hesitates a second or two before deciding on one to portray for Alfsigr's benefit. "Ah, Alfsigr. We'll make a fine team. Gaedren won't know what hit him. Stick close to me, and we'll have him trussed up in no time." Fredo suddenly remembers he is talking to a ten-year-old. "Tied up. That rope your sister's got is good for more than climbing you know."
"As for your plan, Raseri, it is a good one. And we are ready, Durriken. Therefore let us begin." Fredo narrows his eyes and the latch that Durriken had uncovered clicks open Mage Hand. The debris around the doorframe is still more than obtrusive, however, and the door doesn't open. "Hmm," says Fredo. "I think it still needs a push."
Raseri Whitescale |
"Well, good thing I'm tough."
Raseri puts her shoulder to the door and pushes on it.
STR: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
"C'mon!"
STR: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
"Open, dammit!"
STR: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
"OPEN!"
STR: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
"RAARGH!"
STR: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 Burning a round of rage.
Raseri pants for several seconds after the last attempt. Her eyes are hard like granite and dark like storm clouds.
GM Zimmer |
With a final surge of effort, the door pops open with the sound of a cannon. The air inside puffs out in a cloud of mildew-smelling dust. The inside of the ship's hold is dark and dank. In the shadows where the decking meets the hull you see the shapes of rotting-through barrels and crates. In the center of the sagging deck, around a staircase leading up, to the main deck, has collected a pool of stagnant riverwater. It doesn't look as though any human has lived here in years.
From the crates, however, comes the sound of scratching and rustling. Durriken and Raseri see several sets of eight glowing, red eyes emerge from the piles, but can see little else in the darkness.
Durriken: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Goffred: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Monsters: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Raseri: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Theron: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Tristain: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Durriken*
Goffred
Raseri
Tristain
Theron
Alfsigr
Monsters
Raseri Whitescale |
Way to taunt Murphy, me... Oh, shouldn't I be in front of the secret door?
Durriken Garde |
Durriken bursts past Raseri into the dark hold, before noticing the absence of his target and the presence of...something else. "That sniveling, lying, wretched COWARD!" His rage getting the better of him, he allows his momentum to carry him towards the closest set of eyes, the dim light making it dificult to identify. His sword and axe clear scabbard and frog just as he reaches the creature, both weapons swinging at the eyes.
5 foot step to AB7 if allowable due to the door jamb, if not, to AA7.
sword attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
sword damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
axe attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
axe damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
HP: 7/11
AC: 17, tch: 13, ff: 14 (+3 dex, +4 armor)
CMD: 16
Fort: +3, Ref: +7, Will:+2
Goffred Giulianoff |
Well, something's gone wrong, thinks Fredo. He can hear Durriken's shouts and the whipping of his weapons through the air. Any other sounds fail to reach him through the hull of the ship, but Fredo can tell there's nothing else even vaguely human in there. Durriken might not even be able to see what it is, if Lamm and his lackeys have been smart enough to not put torches in the ship.
Fredo looks down at Alfsigr, then at his ring. He isn't going to be much help if he cannot move to the front and light the room. Then, he considers the persona he'd adopted for the child's benefit, and realizes there is something he can do. He slips the ring off his finger. "Watch this," he says to Alfsigr.
"Raseri, catch!" he calls, pitching the ring over the heads of the others.
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 (Raseri, please make a reflex save).
"Don't lose that," he says. "I cannot cast unless I wear it. But if that's not Lamm, my spells won't be effective anyway."
Tristain the Chalker |
Round 1
Tristain frowns as it is made clear that neither Trina nor Lamm will be in the boat.
Liar.
Containing his anger in face of the spiders and wanting to support his teammates, he does the logical thing in his mind:
"Durriken, get out of there! We'll shut the door behind you!"
Ready an action to shut the door when Durriken exits. Not that I expect him to...but Tristain might.
Raseri Whitescale |
Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 Hope that catches it.
"All the powers of a damn witch and not a lick of sense." She looks at Durriken, "Both of these idiots."
Raseri reaches for something in her pack. She pulls out an iron rod with a golden tip and strikes it ward on the door jamb. She holds it up and tries to get a good look inside.
GM Zimmer |
Raseri catches the ring, and strikes her sunrod cleanly. The golden and green lights, the one stuck in the door jamb and the other in her hand mingle strangely, as though reluctant to blend into a new color. Still, she and Durriken can see their foes for what they are: spiders the size of polecats. They get the feeling they've been gorged far beyond their normal size.
The AP texts makes these spiders Tiny, while the conversion makes them Diminutive. I'm sticking with Tiny.
Goffred
Raseri
Tristain
Theron*
Alfsigr
Spiders
Raseri Whitescale |
"Big ones."
GM Zimmer |
Alfsigr cranes her neck out to see past Goffred, Theron, Tristain, and Raseri. Seemingly, however, she knows better than to try and squeeze past them to get to the hissing, clacking mass in the ship. As it is, the spiders cluster around Durriken - the only one so far to have entered their lair. Two of them invert their abdomens and point them at Durriken. He can see their spinnarettes working a few seconds before they eject thick, ropey strands of webbing at him. The other two move to attack him with their mandibles.
Fortunately, he manages to dodge the webs, but one of the spiders sinks its fangs into his leg, just above his boot.
AA5 Web: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
AB5 Web: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
AA6 Bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage: 1d3 - 4 ⇒ (2) - 4 = -2
AC7 Bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Damage: 1d3 - 4 ⇒ (1) - 4 = -3
Durriken, please take 1 damage and make one Fortitude save.
Goffred
Raseri
Tristain
Theron
Alfsigr
Spiders
Durriken Garde |
Fort Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 ugh
Hearing Tristain's shout and realizing the others aren't coming in to the hold, Durriken takes a parting swing at the spider that bit him before backing out the door.
Standard Attack
sword attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
sword damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Move: 5 foot step back out the door.
GM Zimmer |
Durriken feels the muscles in his leg begin to slacken, and the weakness of his body begins to spread up his side. Before it reaches his swordarm, he swings wildly at the nearest spider. In so doing, he severs the narrow connection between its head and abdomen. Pink ichor begins to ooze out of its body and into the stagnant water, forming milky clouds that reflect Raseri's lights. The spider's limbs twitch once or twice as its body realizes and reifies its death.
Durriken, please take 1 Strength damage, and make another Fortitude saving throw at the beginning of your next turn.
Goffred*
Raseri
Tristain
Theron
Alfsigr
Spiders
Map's the same, except that Durriken's back on AA8 and the spider on AA6 no longer exists. I'm on a public computer at the moment, and will upload the updated map when I'm back on mine.
Goffred Giulianoff |
Fredo chukles as Raseri lights her sunrod. "Well, I guess that wasn't much help after all," he says, taking a knee and slotting a bolt into his crossbow with a satisfying click. As he winds the mechanism he continues talking, more musing out loud rather than to himself.
"Even if Lamm's not aboard, we should still clear the ship if we can. It would be easier to get back on land that way than to have to grapple our way up."
Durriken
Goffred
Raseri*
Tristain
Theron
Alfsigr
Spiders
What I said of the map a post above remains true. Regardless, Goffred isn't moving.
Raseri Whitescale |
Raseri mutters a curse under her breath as she pockets pockets the ring and drops the sunrod. She draws her sword as she steps into the hold.
Move to AA6 Draw greatsword along the way.
Attack spider in AA5
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1) + 3 = 6
GM Zimmer |
GM Zimmer |
Alfsigr, seeing Raseri disappear into the ship, runs up the dock to the door to the fishery's basement so she can keep an eye on her sister. She ignores Fredo's surprised "Hey!" and she's fast enough to be where she wants to go by the time he reaches out to stop her.
The spiders, meanwhile, try the same tack on Raseri that they did at Durriken. The one furthest away casts its webbing at her, while the others clack at her with their fangs. The lightly armored barbarian finds herself bound ankle, wrist and chest by the ropy strands, and as she struggles to get out feels the spiders bite deep into her side and shoulder. The spider's venom seems to work best in larger muscles, as it is from her flank and not her shoulder that Raseri feels the weakness begin to spread.
AA5 Web: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
AB5 Bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Damage: 1d3 - 4 ⇒ (2) - 4 = -2
AC7 Bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Damage: 1d3 - 4 ⇒ (3) - 4 = -1
Raseri's Fort Save 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Raseri's Fort Save 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Raseri, take 2 points of damage and 1d2 ⇒ 2 point(s) of Strength damage. Please make a Fortitude save at the beginning of your next turn. Please note, as well, that you are entangled.
Goffred
Raseri
Tristain
Theron
Alfsigr
Spiders
Raseri Whitescale |
"Uh-oh."
I have to check but that may put me into the medium encumbrance. Not exactly my best idea.
AC: 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13. . (+3 armor, +3 Dex)
CMD: 16, flat-footed: 13
Fort: +4, Ref: +3, Will: +0
Rage Rounds: 9/12
Arrows:
18 Regular
20 Blunt
Durriken Garde |
Fort Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 Hope that makes it...
Durriken moves back into the door to aid the entangled Barbarian, ignoring the spider to his right and moving directly to attack one of the ones against the back wall.
Move: move through AA7 to AB6 to avoid AOO.
Standard: Attack spider in AA5.
sword attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
sword damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Status: Poisoned, -1 Str (all strength-based checks are at -1)
HP: 6/11
AC: 17, tch: 13, ff: 14 (+3 dex, +4 armor)
CMD: 16
Fort: +3, Ref: +7, Will:+2
GM Zimmer |
Durriken bobs and weaves to keep himself out of the spiders' reach, and it pays off in more ways than one. Not only does he reach Raseri's side unmolested, but the burning of his muscles seems to drive out the poison. He is, however, sufficiently winded, distracted by the odor of rotting wood, and dizzy from his dodging that when he strikes out with his sword he misses the spider he targetted by a hair.
Durriken is no longer poisoned. Also, please note that these spiders are Tiny. They do not threaten their surrounding squares, and cannot make attacks of opportunity if you vacate their surrounding squares.
Goffred Giulianoff |
Fredo shakes his head and takes off after Alfsigr, clipping his crossbow - still loaded and with the mechanism primed to fire - to his belt. Irori, he thinks, the wood and metal weapon clattering against his leg and the oiled string straining against the bolt, please let this machine retain its potential, so that it does not, by squandering it, endanger my friends and comrades.
1d20 ⇒ 1
"You said you would stick near me," Fredo hisses to Alfsigr when he catches up to her, taking her by the arms and trying to pull her away from the door. "Raseri will be fine, and there is nothing anyone can do for her from here. Trust her."
CMB: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17
Goffred
Raseri* Please make a Fortitude save
Tristain
Theron
Alfsigr
Spiders
Raseri Whitescale |
STR Check: 1d20 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 - 1 = 4
FORT: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Move to AA7 (Provokes AoO)
Raseri strains against the bonds that are binding her arms and legs trying to break free. unable to do that, she takes her chances and moves away from the spider.
"Tristain! I need some help!"
GM Zimmer |
(Provokes AoO)
No it doesn't. See above.
As she struggles against her bonds, though she does not break them, Raseri feels a weight lift from her. Her body begins beating back the insidious venom.
Raseri is no longer poisoned.
Goffred
Raseri
Tristain*
Theron
Alfsigr
Spiders
GM Zimmer |
Alfsigr squirms in Fredo's grip, elbowing his strangely resilient stomach and stomping on his booted feet. His grip, however, doesn't weaken, and she is unable to rush to Raseri's aid.
Break Grapple: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3
Meanwhile, the spiders scuttle around the ship to reposition themselves. One, thinking Tristain might be planning to enter their territory, lashes out at him. Another sees the weakened Raseri as easy prey. The third, with perhaps a spark more intelligence than the rest, remembers Durriken as the killer of the fourth spider, and attacks in fear. Durriken's and Raseri's assailants find their marks, but their bodies are still flush with having defeated their venom just a few seconds ago, and the chemical finds no hold in their blood.
AB5 Bite @ Durriken: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Damage: 1d3 - 4 ⇒ (3) - 4 = -1
AA6 Bite @ Raseri: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Damage: 1d3 - 4 ⇒ (2) - 4 = -2
AB5 Bite @ Tristain: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Damage: 1d3 - 4 ⇒ (1) - 4 = -3
Durriken Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Raseri Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Durriken, Raseri, take one point of damage each. Neither of you are poisoned.
Goffred
Raseri
Tristain
Theron
Alfsigr
Spiders
Durriken Garde |
Durriken swings both weapons at the spiders, now trapped between the three remaining ones. His sword misses, but the spider's dodge takes it right into the path of the axe.
sword attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
sword damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
axe attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
axe damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
axe critical confirm: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
axe critical damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4) + 4 = 11
I've never been completely sure of this, cured means the strength damage is gone? if not, each attack/damage roll is at -1.)
HP: 5/11
AC: 17, tch: 13, ff: 14 (+3 dex, +4 armor)
CMD: 16
Fort: +3, Ref: +7, Will:+2
Durriken
Goffred *
Raseri
Tristain
Theron
Alfsigr
Spiders
Raseri Whitescale |
Raseri tries to break free again.
STR: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
AC: 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13. . (+3 armor, +3 Dex)
CMD: 16, flat-footed: 13
Fort: +4, Ref: +3, Will: +0
Rage Rounds: 9/12
Arrows:
18 Regular
20 Blunt
Tristain the Chalker |
Tristain begins to cut Raseri free
1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12 vs. web.
1d4 ⇒ 1 damage
"Search this ship? I can tell you right now that Lamm ain't here. You can search it all you want, but Lamm ain't here."
Tristain still cuts the web.
"Tell you what, we come outside and burn the ship to the waterline and *then* see if Lamm comes out?"
Goffred Giulianoff |
"And how do you suppose we get back up after he's dealt with, hmm?" grunts Fredo, hauling Alfsigr away from the door to the basement. "There's sharks and Gozreh knows what else in the water, and I wouldn't trust anything up in the Fishery to hold a grappling hook secure. Not to mention that Lamm wouldn't climb it; he'd have to be hauled up, and that's assuming we could get up there. No, this ship is our ticket back to dry land.
"As for you young lady, you should learn that what's best for us all is not always what you want to do. How would your sister feel if she lost you again? And how do you think I would feel if you got hurt while I was supposed to be watching you?" They reach the intersection and Fredo sets Alfsigr back on her feet. "I know how you feel. Like you should be able to help, but that you can't. Like I told your sister, I'm in the same situation. But there is one thing you can do for her that I cannot. As long as she knows you're safe, she can concentrate on squashing those bugs. Okay?"
CMB: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 11
GM Zimmer |
Theron and Tristain manage to cut Raseri free, and Alfsigr is pacified. "Okay," she says, a grim look in her eyes. Durriken manages to split open one of the spider's abdomens by a seam in its exoskeleton. It pops like a bubble of swamp gas in the Mushfens.
The remaining spiders, having seen him repeat this feat twice now, turn their attention to Durriken.
AA6 Bite @ Durriken: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage: 1d3 - 4 ⇒ (2) - 4 = -2
AB7 Bite @ Durriken: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Damage: 1d3 - 4 ⇒ (1) - 4 = -3
Durriken Fort Save 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Durriken Fort Save 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Durriken, please take 2 HP damage and 0 strength damage
Goffred
Raseri
Tristain
Theron
Alfsigr
Spiders
Durriken Garde |
Durriken growls and lashes out at the two remaining spiders, one stroke aimed at each.
sword attack (AA6): 1d20 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 - 1 = 8
sword damage (AA6): 1d8 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 - 1 = 2
axe attack (AB7): 1d20 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 - 1 = 18
axe damage (AB7): 1d6 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 - 1 = 3
Status: Poisoned, -1 Str (all strength-based checks are at -1)
HP: 3/11
AC: 17, tch: 13, ff: 14 (+3 dex, +4 armor)
CMD: 16
Fort: +3, Ref: +7, Will:+2
Durriken
Goffred*
Raseri
Tristain
Theron
Alfsigr
Spiders
Raseri Whitescale |
"Thanks."
Raseri takes her sword up and strikes out at one of the remaining spiders.
Atttack on AA 6
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Confirm: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 1) + 1 = 6
Durriken Garde |
Durriken takes a quick look around the now empty hold.
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
"Apparently Yargin was mistaken," Durriken notes with disdain. "Only one other place for him to be." He steps back out of the hold, and bends back down to massage his leg where the bite poisoned him.
Tristain the Chalker |
Tristain looks in the hold, unwilling to step in until he is sure the spiders are gone.
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 Perception
"Yeah, Lamm ain't here, is he?"
Tristain puts his knife away and prepares to enter the main building again.