Motteditor's Savage Tide (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

Zstelian glares in frustration at the gnome.

"Have it your way. I'll be right back", Zstelian says as he gathers up the party and heads towards the unexplored southern room.

A yawning shaft descends into gloom here. The walls of the shaft are fitted with hundreds of niches, upon which lie the dusty bones of heroes, priests, kings, queens and warriors of a bygone age. Resting upon the topmost niche, cradled in the arms of a skeleton, is a glittering golden statuette of a bat.

Zstelian scanned the statue for magical auras.

Spellcraft if necessary: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Assuming nothing scary pops up:

He then scaled the wall and retrieved the statue from the niche.

"Think Urol will be interested in this?"

It radiates faint transmutation magic. You think it's some sort of key, though you don't know to what.

What's the worst thing that could happen? Whatever it is, I'm sure mighty Silvio can handle it. =P

Zstelian climbs up and nabs the statue.

Kyson brings the light closer to Zstelian as he works/climbs.

"Whatcha doin', Zstelian?"

"There's a fancy statue up here. It's magic and it looked like the kind of thing the gnome would want to get a look at", the old ranger explained as he climbed.

The statue is actually within arm's reach, in the top niche of the shaft that descends into the earth.

Ah, sounds good.

Zstelian turned the statue in his hands.

"Hmm... It looks like a key to something. I wonder where it goes?"

Anything nearby with a statue-shaped keyhole?

"A key you say? Well, then we have to find a door", Silvio says and starts to casually clear some of the niches with the sword. "Perhaps there was a keyhole or slot on the pyramid in the other room?", Silvio suggest. "Or perhaps Urol can identify the unfortunate soul that was set as this key's keeper. That might bring us a clue as to its purpose"

There doesn't appear to be.

Kyson tries to help figure out the statue thing.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16 Intelligence check

"Hey Zstelian? Did you say there was a shaft that went down up there? How big is it?"

You think it's a key, Kyson, but after searching the area, there doesn't seem to be anything that it opens.

Urol gives it a quick glance, but seems willing to study it later, since you can bring it with you, as he's loath to move away from the room where you fought the varrangoin.

After your extensive search for a keyhole proves fruitless, you almost have to finally physically drag the gnome away to get him to leave as you head back for the ships, an uneventful journey that comes as a relief after the dangers of Tamoachan.

And along the way, you can gain a level.

As you arrive back at the beach, you see Lavinia waiting for you, her face breaking into a smile at your approach. Liamae rushes forward, embracing Silvio.

"Did you find anything ... exciting?" she asks breathlessly.

"Something like that", the old ranger muttered as he brushed more ash off of his shoulder.

"I'll tell you all about it, maybe over some wine?"

Zstelian called Kayle down to his wrist as he boarded the ship.

Kyson speaks with Urol on the way back, trying to understand all that Urol learned from the trip. He hopes to someday copy a book of Urol's that describes the experience.

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 Know (Religion) Statue

"So, Urol, did we get what you wanted? Are we done here?"

* * *
Back at the ship, Kyson will smile nicely at Lavinia, but say little about what they encountered.

I don't really want to relive all of it. We're lucky to be alive. And I like being alive.

Kyson will board the ship and look forward to a full meal at dinner.

I'll level up tonight. w00t! I didn't think Kyson would live this long.

I think this group has been at the least risk of TPK so far of any of my PBPs. Hmmm, mental note: Must do better job GM'ing Savage Tide.

"Oh, we could stay a little longer, if you want. I could probably spend a year studying just this room. I mean, do you see these carvings over here? Fascinating, just fascinating. Oh, and that. It indicates it could date almost back to Azlanti times. I wonder if they could have been involved ... but, no, I don't think that's possible..."

At the ships:
Lavinia smiles. "That would be wonderful, and hopefully it won't be as eventful as the last time we had dinner."

I think this group has been at the least risk of TPK so far of any of my PBPs. Hmmm, mental note: Must do better job GM'ing Savage Tide.

No, you don't. I'm a coward and quite happy with being alive.

Silvio returns Liamae's embrace with a passionate kiss. "Silvio found a number of worthy foes to defeat, but past that there was little of worth in those ruins, alas", Silvio states and strokes the sorceress hair. "Zstelian found a key of sorts but there was no door to open. Perhaps Urol can make some use of it."

Kyson glares sadly at Silvio and his beautiful (but mean) damsel on his arm, green with envy.

When am I going to get a damsel?

Stupid Silvio and his stupid rugged good looks, hairy chest, and big biceps. Kyson boards the ship in search of a non-Silvio place to not-see stupid Silvio.

"Well, no offence, mates, but that was a s**t bit of shore leave. Nothing to drink, just a load of ***king carvings and some sort of brass dildo and no-one to shag, neither, unless you'd settle for a dead basilisk. Even *I'd* draw the line at that", he adds, then goes belowdecks to get reacquainted with his crate of whisky.

"Anyone else want a quick livener?"

Please feel free to continue role-playing your actions upon your return to the ships. You've got four days to recover and relax.

The ships soon return to sea, the forested coast of Garund again passing by quickly as the weather continues to remain beautiful. Urol mostly secrets himself in his quarters, though every once in a while he emerges to ask you about something you may have seen or to make sure his notes and recollections of Tamoachan are accurate based on your memories.

On the fourth day, the Blue Nixie pulls up along the Sea Wyvern and Lavinia has a sailor shout across the way. She explains that the next several miles will be among the most dangerous of their journey, as they must thread the needle between the coast and an island used by a group of pirates calling themselves the Scarlet Brotherhood. You may remember the name, as that was the group whose depot was where you killed the savage pirates and eventually got the Sea Wyvern.

They patrol the area and may try to board the ships. Lavinia suggests they separate and go through the pass about a half hour apart to minimize the chance of the expedition being spotted.

Over the next several days, Kyson will spend a bit of time being grateful to be alive. It's hard to be super grateful, of course, (because he's stuck on a freaking ship with pirate-like people and, now, potentially attacked by pirates) but Kyson tries anyway.

Kyson spends a bit of time with Urol, but his single minded dedication to some other than complaining about their mutual shared doom is off putting to Kyson.

Kyson's anxiety increases when he learns about the nearness of certain pirates and is on deck as the boats prepare to 'sneak' across.

"Uhm...maybe we should go a different way?"

Profession (Sailor): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

Inbetween stowing things athwart the larboard gumbrils and so on, Sekathral makes his (ill-informed or not) opinion on the Scarlet Brotherhood clear.

"Bunch of bloody lubbers. You saw them back at the cove - skratters, the lot of them, and not a decent seaman amongst 'em. Seawoman's a different matter - Harlot or Harkiss or whatever her name was looked like a right skipper, but I'm looking forward to getting to grips with them scrotes again"

He clambers up to the crow's nest and peers out over the ocean, hoping for a glimpse of the enemy's vessels.

Kyson looks at Sekathral and, once again, wonders if the elf is even speaking common.

He says words that don't even make sense. Lubbers? Skratters? Harlot? Right Skipper? Scotes?

Kyson sighs and looks afraid of the answer to the questions he's about to ask.

"Sekathral, maybe we should avoid the pirates? And how do you know so much about them?"

Zstelian shakes his head.

"I don't like it. What's going to happen if your ship gets caught? How are we going to know you're in trouble?"

Silvio is sceptical at first and needs a bit of a reminder to recall the Scarlet Brotherhood. After being told who the scarlet brotherhood are the chelaxian still remains unimpressed. "So you are telling Silvio that this area is controlled by a gang of pirates that Silvio has already bested? Silvio fails to see the problem. The Jade Ravens with the most beautiful lady Liamae will be on the the Sea Wyrven and Silvio will be on the Blue Nixie. All pirate attacks will be futile", Silvio reasons.

"Sekathral, maybe we should avoid the pirates? And how do you know so much about them?"

"Mate, I a-, er, was one. There ain't no honest livings to be made afloat, 'specially not if you're working out of Bloodcove. Everybody knows those scarlet w**kers - they're thicker than flies on a ***king dead dog in this weather, swanning about and snaffling all the gelt before yer honest corsair can get so much of a sniff of it. Dysentaries."

He spits noisily over the side.

"Anyway, how're you getting on, mate? You missing the autem tub?"

You're on the Sea Wyvern, Silvio.

"Going around just leaves us open to their raiders for longer -- going through is the best option," Lavinia says. "I think going separately is our best choice -- the Jade Ravens will be here should anything happen -- but if you really think we should try to slip through together, we can do that."

Kyson's face scrunches up as Sekathral talks.

Autem tub? AUTEM TUB? What the heck does that mean?
Is it an anagram?
Beam Tutu?
Tuba Mute?
A But Mute?
Am Be Tutu?
Ate But Um?
Butt a Emu?

Kyson just looks at Sekathral, agape.

The Jade Ravens weren't much good when the frog-men came to kill you...

"I think it would be safer if we stuck together."

Sekathral starts slightly at Kyson.

"Here, what's up? Have I said something wrong, or have I been slipping into Aquan again?"

He pauses to reflect for a moment.

"I'm not that drunk...."

He's probably drunk again.

"What does 'autem tub' mean?" Kyson answers Sekathral.

Happy to keep slow RPing, but also ready to move on. Kyson would vote to have the ships go together...it doesn't make sense to him to go separately.

You're on the Sea Wyvern, Silvio.

Damnit, why can't I ever get that right :/ I even checked the campaign tab and when the Blue Nixie was the only ship listed there I thought that was the one we where on :/

"The two ships together as a fleet or sailing seperatly matter little securitywise. The nixie's got the ravens and the wyrven is under Silvio's protection. But now that you speak of it sailing together has caught Silvio's interest. Being able to stand on the deck of the wyrven and catch sight of the lovely lady Liamae has Silvio's approval."

"You're an autem cove, mate"

Sekathral points at Kyson

"And an autem tub is where all you little sunbeams get together and do whatever you do to keep Herself happy. Mind you, *I* think we should go separately. Hammer and anvil. The Nixie goes first, we come after, then when the scumbags hit the Nixie..."

He slams his right fist into his left palm, his eyes glittering.

Link. Holy Piddlespot. He ain't lying.

"Oh!" Kyson says, finally understanding. "Did you mean the 'Church'? It's on the hill facing the sunrise? It's where we welcome the Sun with prayers and joy? Yeah, I like that place too." Kyson smiles with fond remembrance.

I can't wait to get back there. Someday. And maybe with a damsel on my arm.

Kyson looks overboard to see if there are any damsels in the waters that need rescuing.

"Is that what that means? I'm going to have to brush up on my Elven, I think." Not having a real opinion on the matter, Khazmia is alright with either plan.

Autem's a new one on me too... Learn something new all the time...

"Very well, we'll stay together if you think that's best."

The two ships hoist sails and begin racing through the channel ... but their hopes are dashed as lookouts suddenly cry out, "Ships to port, closing in on us."

Amella curses at the news and begins barking orders. "You lot, get ready in case we can't avoid them!"

Again, not sure what my posting will be like for the next day or two.

Zstelian looks around nervously and calls Kayle to his wrist.

"Can we lose them?"

Sekathral grabs his crossbow and races up the mast, trying to find an advantageous position to snipe from.

Khazmia grabs her wand and casts mage armor on herself. if there's enough time,she'll also cast expeditious retreat.

"Doesn't look like it," Amella growls tersely. "They've got an angle on us."

There'll be probably about 10 minutes before the ships close, so you can make whatever preparations you'd like.

Zstelian casts mage armor on Kayle and waits for the Brotherhood to close.

Kyson looks at the approaching ships with some initial fear.

"Are those pirates?! Real pirates?! Coming for us?!" Kyson asks, trying to keep a grip on his resolve...but then remembers that he's fought and defeated pirates before (repeatedly actually) and is quasi-sorta-friends with a known pirate (Sekathral) and instead girds for battle.

I'm not afraid this time. Kyson thinks, trying to be brave inside.

When the boats are closer, Kyson will cast the following spells:

Bless: lasts for 6 minutes, should affect entire crew.
Magic Circle Protection from Evil: lasts 1 hour, centered on Kyson.
Shield of Faith on Silvio: +2 deflection to AC for 6 minutes.
Resist Energy Fire on himself: in case the boat burns down.

Craft (weaponsmithing): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Sekathral will attempt to make at least one of his alchemist's fire + thunderstone + caltrops infernal devices before battles is joined, then he'll clamber out along a spar and lurk amongst the shrouds, ready to drop one on the first group of adversaries to come within range.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

How many ships are there?

"There are does that never learn", Silvio shakes his head and moves towards the railing to get a closer view on the incoming ships. The chelaxian captain studies the ships through his looking glass.

If I can identify the captain on one of the incoming ships I would like to use the spyglass power to teleport him/her onto the deck of sea wyrven, when we're within range. If I can't see a captain I would like to take the coxswain instead.

"Doesn't look like it," Amella growls tersely. "They've got an angle on us."

There'll be probably about 10 minutes before the ships close, so you can make whatever preparations you'd like.

in that case, she'll wait until they are less tha a minute out for expeditious retreat.

Resist Energy Fire on himself: in case the boat burns down.

Oops. Cancel this. Kyson has Resist 10 fire 'naturally' (lvl 6 Fire domain). Duh.

As the two Scarlet Brotherhood ships approach, one toward the Blue Nyxie and one toward the Sea Wyvern, Silvio looks through his spyglass and suddenly a grizzled man, with long black hair and a bear split into a pair of braids, suddenly appears next to him on the deck of the Wyvern.

He looks stunned for a second, then a smile crosses his face as he reaches for a gun tucked into his belt. "Strike your colors, or be sent to the briny deep!"

You hear shouts from the far ship, which continues closing rapidly -- you have a minute, at most, before more of the Brotherhood begins boarding you.

Top of Round 1
The man steps back and aims his double-barred pistol at Silvio. With a loud pair of cracks -- sounding loud as thunder despite the blue skies -- plumes of smoke erupt from the end of the weapon and two metal balls agonizingly slam into Silvio's chest. 18 hp

Round 1

"What the-"

Zstelian draws a pair of javelins and tosses them before sending Kayle in to attack.

"What is that thing", the old ranger says while pointing at the very loud weapon in their attacker's hand.

Javelin /w PB and favored enemy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Javelin /w PB and favored enemy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Kayle Claw /w favored enemy and power attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Damage: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Round 1, initiative 17
ac 24, touch 15, fleet-footed 19
fort +7, ref +5, will +1
cmd 23, (27 vs disarm)
hp 34/52
effects: shield of faith, bless

Slightly stunned Silvio draws his blade and closes into the enemy captain in one smooth motion. ”You are standing infront of Silvio Callgari Pazzi, great sea captain and scourge of lowly sea scum like yourself. Surrender, or you shall recieve no mercy!”, Silvio announces as much to his foe as to his audience.

Move action to engage the captain
Intimidate check to shake the enemy captain: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18 vs 10+captain’s HD + captains wis modifier

There will probably be no posts from me this tuesday to wensday. DM-PC Silvio if my abscense is holding up the game. Silvio's next action would be to disarm the captain, then do abit of dazziling display if the enemy crew has boarded, otherwise beat up the enemy captain until I can get a good dazzling display going.

Round 1, Init 21

"Silvio! Watch out! You should warn people before you do that!"

Silvio...not sure your AC above includes the +3 deflection from the Shield of Faith, does it? I mean, your touch AC should be at least 17: 3 dex, 2 dodge, 3 deflection.

Kyson looks at the angry pirate then at the pirate boat approaching. Are there a bunch of bloodthristy pirates clustered about? Fireball is in the offing before they get too close.

Kyson will aid in taking down the gunslingerjerk, lighting the candle.

1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 = 15 touch to hit;
1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 fire damage.

Kyson will try to hide behind a sail or mast pole.