[PFS] GM Derek W's The Cyphermage Dilemma #4-15 (Inactive)

Game Master Derek Weil

In my post where I get on the boat, I mentioned readying an action to throw a dagger at an enemy if we got spotted. I will roll for that below. Just let me know if that is going to count as my first round action, or if I would have been able to do that before the pirates moved towards me. Cyrus, moving as quietly as possible, curses under his breath as he realizes he has been spotted. "you guys better get up here quick!" he says with a bit of urgency in his voice, then throws the dagger he had balanced in his fingertips at the nearest pirate. thrown dagger: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 for damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

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I'll stick with my climb action from earlier.

Right. So Cyrus readied his attack as his surprise round action. The baddies just readied themselves. Then in round 1 they move, which triggers your action, and it hits! Arion, I'll have to check but it may only take your move action to get aboard. It's certainly no more than a double move.

EDIT just a move action to climb aboard, standard if you want to take it.

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Would you place me on the boat? Not sure where that climb action ultimately places me.

Hearing the resulting commotion on board the Lionfish, Ibid moves quickly to scale the side of the vessel.

climb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

The old bard unceremoniously clammers over the railing, drawing his longbow and knocking an arrow.

Move Action: Climb aboard the Lionfish
Move Action: Draw longbow
Free action: knock an arrow

I updated my token on the map :)

Sun is going to be one of the last ones up the boat. As there will be limited space I am not sure if I will end up directly next to an opponent or I will be a space away for my sling. I will almost need to wait until Arion and Jacob get placed.

Sun hears the commotion up on the deck of the ship, but is waiting in line to climb up. Turn to clair he says "Looks like trouble above, be ready for anything!"

"I will be," Clair replies.

Somehow... Considering my scythe's tied to my backpack...

Jacob climbs to the top of the rope. Standing on the deck, he draws his mwk longsword.

Yeah, things are a bit crowded for the moment. I put Arion in a space that should be viable. I will let him decide if wants to take or ready an action, then we'll do the bad guys' turn.

Arion steps towards the nearest pirate if he can as part of the same Move Action, otherwise he readies an attack.

Swift action to retrieve sword from weapon cord

Temple Sword, attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Temple Sword, damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

I moved 5' as a retroactive part of my action to make getting everyone on board less confusing... hope that is ok! If not, slap my wrist and move me back, no worries :)

Not sure what else I can do to help move the story along... Its been a few days since we have had any posting in earnest...

Yes, sorry. Sorting things out earlier.

Cyrus' dagger hits a man squarely, causing him to let out a shout of pain. Arion is not so lucky, as his attack is just inches from landing!

The two warriors lash out with their cutlasses.

Attack v. Arion: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Attack v. Cyrus: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Both miss!

The frog-like grippli climbs the stairs to the quarterdeck and shouts to his men:

"Hold them back!"

The rearmost goons withdraw a bit but keep their swords ready. The grippli sends a crossbow bolt at Cyrus!

Mwk Crossbow, height, cover, melee: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 - 4 - 4 = 10

The bolt slams into the deck well short of its mark!

OK, back to you, Pathfinders!

Arion winks at the pirate in front of him, then jumps on to the ship's railing and backflips behind the pirate. With a nod at Ibid and Jacob, he swings his sword at the Pirate...
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Temple Sword, attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Temple Sword, damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

I moved NW, then SW. Probably provoked an attack of opportunity on the second move. Whoops! Anyway, if I'm still standing I think I set up flanking for you guys.

Cyrus growls at the bolt that was shot at him. Somebody shoot that frog-man back! He yells.

Seeing Arion duck and weave to get on the other side of one of the pirates, Cyrus literally jumps at the opportunity to press the attack.

Acrobatics to avoid AoO moving away: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Acrobatics to avoid AoO moving into flank: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Scowling at the goon in front of him he barks, You're better off just jumping overboard! and swings his sickle at an opening in his meager defenses.

Attack, flanking: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 = 19 for Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12

EDIT: hurray hindsight! Changing my actions...

Climbing as quickly as he can, Sun manages to pull himself up the rope and plop aboard. Looking around quickly, Sun stands tall and calls forth the ever present lightning, tossing some at the goon directly in front.

lightning arc attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Lightning arc damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

EDIT 2: The lightning arc attack is vs touch ac, should hit either way but just in case!.

With his longbow already drawn, the sudden attack of the pirates spurs the old bard into action. Exhaling slightly, Ibid looses an arrow at the pirate standing before his companion, Sun.

attack(longbow w/ archaeologist's luck): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
damage(+2 comp. longbow w/ point blank and archaeologist's luck): 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

I'm a bit confused on the order of things. Can I get on board this turn? Or do I have to wait a bit longer, because I'm the last to board the ship?

Also, in which squares can I enter the ship?

[ooc]You can still get aboard if there is an open space. You'd enter on the bow, where all the others are. The very end is the closest square to you. You can probably get 2-3 squares on board if necessary.

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Sorry for multi post. Map checked. Clair can get behind Cyrus or in front of Ibid with her move this turn.

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After watching the lightning arc, Jacob infuses some of his magical ability into his sword and advances on the closest thug then swipes at him.
Mwk longsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 161d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Clair climbs on board behind Ibid, then spends some time untying her scythe from her backpack.

All set!

Untying the scythe should be a move action as well, so that's my turn.

You can only provoke 1 attack of opportunity from movement ordinarily, so you guys only needed to roll acrobatics once each time. Unless you move so you leave a threatened square two different times in the same turn... anyway, you guys are OK.

The man with Cyrus' dagger still in him drops from the force of Sun's spell and Ibid's well-placed arrow!

Arion's slash can't connect, but Cyrus' does, and sends another man to the deck!

Jacob, since both nearby foes are down, do you want to try to move and hit one of the guys farther down the deck?

Since the others are too far away, Jacob will do something else other than try to hit them with the longsword this turn. Probably next turn. After the arc finished flowing through the thug, he dropped and Jacob completed moving across the deck. When he stops moving he sends off an orb of acid using his flask of acid as a focus.
Acid Splash: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 121d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Jacob's acid orb goes a hair off target. The two crewmen stand their ground for now, swords held ready. Mumbuckle reloads his crossbow and shoots at Jacob.

Light Xbow, high ground: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 = 28
Confirm?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Crit dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5

The arrow strikes Jacob full in the chest!

Sorry! At least its a crossbow, and he's small... The party is now up!

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Arion walks forward, offering advice and encouragement as he goes. We've got 'em now -- press the fight -- etc.

Move action to move forward. Standard action to begin offering advice. All allies who can perceive my advice get +1 competence bonus to attack and damage rolls, and +1 to saves against charm and fear.

After watching the first set of foes drop lifeless to the planks, the old bard steps quickly across the gently rocking deck. Ibid stops his motion across the deck from his comrade, Jacob, and takes aim at the enemy nearby to Arion. As Arion's words of encouragement float over the ship, mixing with the serene ocean air, the old man pulls back on the bowstring, using the inspirational advice to help guide his arrow to a deadly mark.

attack(longbow): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

critical confirmation roll
attack(longbow): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

damage(+2 comp. longbow w/ point blank, archaeologist's luck, and Arion's advice): 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

assuming that attack hits and is a critical, the damage = 24

@Ibid: If the crit damage is x3 it means you have to roll '1d8 + 5' twice more. The results of all your rolls are then added together, and that's the damage you deal with your attack :)

Clair moves closer to the enemies and raises her scythe. She then throws it at the closest enemy.

Scythe, Hand of the Acolyte, Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 1 = 19 Damage: 2d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3) + 3 + 1 = 8

After Clair's attack the scythe returns to her hands again.

quite right, sorry about that.

damage(roll2): 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
damage(roll2): 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

damage total = 6 + 7 + 13 = 26

I forgot the actual rule for a critical hit was to roll x number of times for a critical hit. Our home group seems to always use the damage total from the first roll, and then multiply that sum by the critical multiplier. Sorry about that everybody.

After quickly dispatching the goon in front of him, Cyrus darts towards the rear of the ship where the remaining pirates wait. He watches the archeologist take his shot as he moves up in front of him.

Cyrus forgets for a moment his slightly contrived rivalry with the old man, Wow! Nice shot! he says.

Save yourselves ye scurvy dogs, just jump overboard! He says with a laugh. Except for you frog man, I'm gonna have a frog legs BBQ tonight!

Move action to move in front of Ibid. Readied action to attack should someone get into Melee range with me, attack shown below just in case.

Attack, if above condition is met: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 for Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Good call on the crit damage guys! And thanks for keeping up the awesome RP, even in combat! This is a fun group.

Arion advises the team!

Ibid's arrow strikes a man in the eye, passing completely through his head, leaving him beyond the help of even the local clerics...

Clair's scythe cuts into the other man, but doesn't quite bring him down.

Cyrus gets ready for a counterattack.

Sun and Jacob to go, then the bad guys!

Stumbling back from that massive hit to his chest, Jacob then charges at the thug directly in front of him. However, his injury holds his swing back a little.
Mwk longsword w/advice, charge, and enhancement: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 121d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

@Ibid: Can happen :)

@GM: I agree, I really like this group!^^

A look of horror shows on Clair's face when Ibid's arrow pierces the man's eye.

"Do you have any idea how much work it is to fix the eyes of someone who's dead?!" she sneers. "Geez!"

"I'm... sorry..." Ibid's words stumble ungracefully from his lips. It is unclear if the old bard is addressing Clair or the man who's limp body is collapsing to the deck before Ibid's eyes. Ibid's cheeks puff slightly as his stomach turns at the sight of the carnage his arrow has wrought.

"I just closed my eyes, fired blindly, and hoped I don't hit one of our group," the old man stammers, now clearly attempting to speak to the cleric of Urgathoa. "Hopefully I've proven to be of more use alive than as one of your undead minions."

"Either way," Ibid starts, a crooked smile once again spreading across his lips. His composer now regained. "It wasn't like you were going to save him, Clair!"

Sorry, weekend delay. Always more difficult to do anything

Sun, trying to sway with the waves, moves up slowly and launches a rock with his sling at the frog-man in the back.

Sling, +advice: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12

The rock flies wide and Sun grumbles under his breath, using a free hand to steady himself on the side rail of the boat.

"Curse being on the water. Never did like fishing. I wonder what dinner is tonight..."

The sailor near Jacob takes a swing as Sun's attack misses the frog-man.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Damage?: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The grippli then lobs a bomb at Arion!

Bomb v. Touch AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Fire Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

The party is up! To get to Mumbuckle you must mount the stairs, which counts a two spaces for moving.

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Jacob is just barely able to dodge the sailor's strike. "Missed me." Jacob sneers at him then returns the strike.
Mwk longsword w/advice and enhancement: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Another 12?

Ibid quickly moves across the deck, trying to line up a clear shot at the frog-man, finding the slightly rolling deck making aiming difficult. The old bard releases the bow string amidst the confusion and din of battle.

attack(longbow): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
damage(+2 comp. longbow w/ point blank, advice, archaeologist's luck): 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Cyrus ducks around the mainmast of the ship to get behind the last human thug on the deck. While nimbly running around and skipping over the mess the pirates have left on the deck, he shouts out, I'm coming for you next frog man!

With that, he takes a swing at the remaining thug, who is now beset on both sides.

Attack, w/Advice, Flank: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 14 for Damage w/Advice, Sneak Attack: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 2) + 1 = 7

Not if I get him first, Cyrus. Arion runs up the ladder and strikes at the frog man with his blade.

Temple Sword, attack, advice: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Clair takes a double move, moving up to Ibid. "Never mind," Clair tells him, sighing audibly.

"Just keep in mind undead also need to see. Sowing flesh back together isn't much of a problem, but I can't just sow an eye back together."

Sun looses a rock at the pirate in the party sandwich.

sling attack, +inspiration, -melee: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14
sling damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The old bard looks to Clair moments after releasing his bow string. With the longbow still raised and ready to fire, he speaks to the cleric of Urgathoa, "I fear there must have been a miscommunication between you and I."

"I was going to put out his other eye, as a favor to you, when this was all over," Ibid says with a laugh. "Because I thought you wanted a pet to follow you around blindly."

Cyrus chortles at the conversation between Clair and Ibid. With a broad smile, he says,

I thought the one-liners were my bag old man, looks like there might be one more thing I could get some pointers on!

He suddenly remembers the cleric's tendancy to have a short fuse. He coughs a couple of times, making as serious a face as he can.

Nice boots, Clair. um... Frog legs tonight! Get 'em Arion! And rushes towards his companion at the rear of the vessel.

The Pathfinders' luck sours for a moment, and none can land a hit.

The sailor sidesteps out of the flank and swings at Cyrus.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Damage?: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Mumbuckle drops back a step and tries to bomb Arion again.

Bomb v. Touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Fire Dmg?: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

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Ok, I can't adjust the map. Mumbuckle's bomb provokes from Arion. Can someone drop the green token back one square and the red one up one square? Thanks! And you''re all up again!

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Cyrus' snarky smile suddenly turns to a look of confusion as the pirate gashes him deep into his chest. He holds his hand, now deeply coated in blood, against his side before he slowly crumples to the ground.

What about the frog legs?

Desperately, albeit slowly, he rifles through his pouch, feeling for a flask stored within amongst the coins. His vision blurred, he does his best to contain a sudden urge to vomit and maintain his consciousness. Finally he wraps his fingers around the flask, pulls it out, pops the cork off and guzzles the entire contents just before his eyes go black.

Move action, pull potion of CLW out of my pack. Standard action to drink the potion. I was at zero, so the second action would normally cause me to go unconscious, but the potion keeps me up. Despite the effort at description, technically I am not prone, just in case that thug survives another round.

Potion of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Oh yeah, flanking...I forgot to add that to my rolls. But it wouldn't have helped anyway.
Seeing Cyrus get struck hard, Jacob slices at the sailor again, hoping to get revenge, Mwk longsword w/advice and enhancement: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 but ends up almost cutting his foot off.

The old bard cringes as Cyrus falls to the deck, and he feels his teeth grind painfully together as he watches his friend in danger. Even as Cyrus downs a potion, while still laying on the deck and no longer in immediate danger, Ibid cannot keep the anger and wrath from overflowing within himself.

Ibid takes a few steps toward the stern of the ship, in order to stay out of reach of the sailor, moving toward the stairs. With an abrupt stop, the old man turns his attention from the frog-man to the sailor who as attacked his friend. In an instant Ibid has an arrow knocked, and releases the bowstring with a shout of fury and hate.

As the arrow lunges from the bow, flying at the sailor who has drawn his ire by attack Cyrus. The old man thinks to himself, I hope this pins you to the mainmast.

attack(longbow): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
damage(+2 comp. longbow w/ point blank, advice, archaeologist's luck): 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Mini update!

Ibid's arrow does just what he hopes, sending the final sailor to Pharasma's embrace just after Cyrus downs his potion and Jacob slashes wildly.

Just one baddie left! Arion, Clair and Sun still to go.

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