[PFS - PbP Game Day 3] 0-17: The Pirate Pact (Inactive)

Game Master GM Aarvid

As Nokazi advances ahead of the rest of the group on the dark path through the trees, he steps on a patch of moss that opens into a deep pit.

DC20 Reflex or fall 20' for dmg: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9

The pit is 10' wide, but as nobody was adjacent, Nokazi was the only person to step before the pit is exposed.

At the bottom of the pit, you spot a shape covered in gooey webbing. It appears to be the broken
corpse of one of the Black Marquis’s men lies at the bottom of the pit.

Once you are clear of the pit, either going around or over,
and venture deeper into the
maze, you spot a few more dead bodies hanging
upside-down in giant spider webs.

Rhuul looks edgy.

"It would appear that there are things that don't welcome more civilised explorers in these woods."

He approaches Nokazi, and grins. "Pity those wings of yours don't actually work." as he lays a gentle dwarven hand on the birdman who so enjoys his jokes.

cure light wounds: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Assuming Nokazi does drop into the trap ... Eadie pulls some rope out of her backpack, ties the free end around her middle, before tossing the weighted end into the pit.

“Here Mr Stoneclaw, catch!”

Take 10 Dex: 10 + 2 = 12

She then plants her feet, bracing herself to take the tengu’s weight.

“My Aunt Alix once said, ‘Sometimes you gotta fall a few times before you can fly.’”

Once you are clear of the pit, I need a survival check from the party to keep from getting lost in the woods.

You finally make it out of the cramped passageways
and into a clearing. The web-covered trees here are still
as ominous as they were in the labyrinth and dead leaves
cover the ground. A few hundred yards beyond, a low hill
bare of any vegetation rises from the sea of green. But
what catches your attention is a man in tattered
clothes laboriously crawling in your direction.

Survival (Assist): 1d20 ⇒ 16

Rhuul looks up at the sky, at the map, and then consults his wayfinder.

survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

"I think we go this way. he says pointing into the forest.

Survival + Wayfinder: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 = 13

Blech ... Maybe good for an assist.

Eadie gives her Wayfinder a shake. "Hmm ... The needle of my Wayfinder is pointing straight down. Maybe we have to start digging from the bottom of Mr Stoneclaw's pit?"

With the combined skill of the party, you avoid getting list or running in circles of the maze of webs and trees.

You reach the clearing described above with the man crawling towards you.

"Oi! Don't suppose you could tell us who you are? We've had quite enough of the beasties around here, and wouldn't be the least surprised if you were recently deceased, so how about you just start talking?"

Embarrassed and pride beaten, the sheepish tengu hangs his beak in shame.

"Thank you, Eadie. I've had better days." He firmly grabs her hand and climbs out of the pit. After dusting himself off, he helps the party to head in the correct direction.

Survival, Take 10: 1d10 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

"I see some moss on the tree here which means that direction is north."

He sees the man in tattered clothes and attempts to discern his reputation after introducing himself.

"I am Nokazi Stoneclaw and these are my companions. What is your name, sir?"

Local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Eadie ain’t buying this setup. Nope, not for one second!

Uh-uh. I can’t imagine one of the Marquis’ people getting away from spiders like those we saw on the Hanspur’s Luck. No, sir!

Hmm … an elaborate ambush like this does suggest something pretty smart … an awakened spider perhaps???

She counts on the fingers of her black gauntlet

Slayer, comic, sharper, magician and … who’s the fifth one? Oh yeah, that’d be me! That means – NO PALADIN! Yay!

Eadie ignores the crawling man and looks out for those she suspects of orchestrating an ambush.

Take 10 Perception: 10 + 11 = 21

“Oh, that poor man! Is he OK, Mr Stoneclaw?”

Eadie wears a look of compassion on her face as she says casually to her companions in a low voice …

“I think that corpse is dead. Don't look, but it’s held by strings running up into the branches above … there’s a shape in the shadow of a tree opposite our human bai … HOLMAN! I SAID DON’T LOOK!”

Holman looks. (grin)

Perception (Take 10): 10 + 9 = 19

Malus attempts to perceive the holder of the strings

Perception Take 10: 10 + 8 = 18

"Over here man. Come over here" calls Rhuul, also looking about.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

He looks to his right and left after Eadie's whisper.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

"Where are you puppeteer?"

All of you are able to make out a humanoid shape In the shadows opposite the man on the ground. It appears to be pulling strings at the same time the man crawls or twitches. The crawling man does not reply to your questions...in fact he has not made any sounds.

Rhuul unfurls his flag. The Rune of the Open Road flutters listlessly under the trees.

"Something is odd..." he says, looking around the nearby trees. Inparticular he looks directly up.

Oops. Posted with Nokazi' twin brother Izoki. Sorry about that.

Nokazi whispers, "Be careful. I spotted another pit trap. I will attempt to disable it. Holman, will you assist me?

Disable Trap: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29

lol..I thought my memory was playing tricks on me with Izoki.

Holman bends down and attempts to disable the trap as well.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Malus activates his Jade Wayfinder on Holman. Grants Guidance, +1 to skill check

Nokazi and Holman move up to disable the pit trap, which they are able to spring, opening to a web-filled pit. As they work, thousands of small spiders come to investigate and swarm over the ground, out of the pit and surrounding brush.

Kn: Nature to avoid being surprised by spiders

Rhuul keeps his eyes on the surrounding forest.

knowledge(nature): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 <- able to use untrained.

Nature, untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Nature (untrained): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Eadie: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Holman: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Malus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Nokazi: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Rhuul: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

Spiders : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

=== surprise round ===

A crawling carpet of spiders swarms out of the pit and surrounding brush, enveloping both Holman and Nokazi. Both are covered in tiny bites.

==== round 1 ===

Holman 1d6 ⇒ 2 fort vs poison
Nokazi 1d6 ⇒ 6 fort vs poison

16-Spiders
15-malus and Rhuul
10-Nokazi and Holman
5-Eadie

Party up...

Wow, the spider swarm tokens are very impressive. They’ll look even better when they’re off Holman and Nokazi!

Eadie takes a 5’ step to the west, draws and hurls alchemist’s fire into the square south of the halfling rogue.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2 splash weapons do +50% to swarms, so 3 damage.

Also, Holman takes 1 point splash damage :(

Rhuul takes aim at the same spot as Eadie and lobs an alchemists fire in that direction.

ranged touch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1 +50% - not that it looks like that matters

He then steps back to avoid getting covered by spiders himself.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Malus takes a flask of Alchemist's Fire from his bandolier and holds steady.

"I am ready to throw it as soon as you clear yourselves of the spiders, Holman and Nokazi!"

Malus delays his standard action until the two party members clear themselves of the spiders.

Moves 30 feet away and retrieves a flask of oil.

"If only there was a perfume like spray to turn away such pests!"

Holman avoids the affects of poison. However,

Nokazi Fort : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 is not as fortunate and loses Str : 1d2 ⇒ 1

Rhuul and Eadie hurl flasks and burn many of the spiders.

Nevertheless, the rolling carpets of arachnids scurry forward after Nokazi.

Holman you still have an action and malus a delayed action

The uninjured mass of spiders swarm over to cover Eadie, Malus and Rhuul

Eadie bites: 1d6 ⇒ 3 and fort vs poison

Malus bites: 1d6 ⇒ 1 and fort vs poison

Rhuul bites: 1d6 ⇒ 2 and fort vs poison

The other swarm is waiting for Holman's and Malus' actions to see if it survives to attack. And anyone covered in spiders also needs a fort save to avoid distraction/nausea DC11.

HP 30/36

Fort, DC 11: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

He successfully moves away without being effected by the swarm except for several spider bites.

Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Obsessed with swiping swarming spiders from her armor, Eadie is unaware of the poison running through her system courtesy of the many tiny bites.

"GET THEM OFF ME!!"

Then she watches a number of spiders crawl in through the eye slits of her helm ... onto her face ...

"AIEEEEEEEEEEH!"

There should be an extra +2(+3 due to swarm) damage on the first swarm from the flagbearer effect (one for each of Eadie and Rhuul)

Rhuul had been backpeddling, but not fast enough.

fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"Bahh, stupid spiders. He crushes several underfoor even as he retreats still further.

"Fangs, but no Fangs, Rhuul won't be staying for dinner."

Okay, flag and inspire courage both up now, +2/+2- now is the time to use that fire

Forget it, no more waiting. Anyone I injure I will heal it, but I've been waiting for days for Holman to move...

Malus completes his throw on the far swarm indicated by a ranged attack against the square indicated by the far left 'explosion'

Ranged Touch vs West square: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Alchemists Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Malus follows his throw with a quick sidestep away from the swarm.

+2 to hit and damage for Malus from flagbearer and inspire courage!

You are able to get the spiders off and backpedal enough while throwing flasks to finish off the two swarms.

* End Combat *

The pit still blocks the way, but any sign of the shadowy figure have vanished into the darkness of the forest during the distraction. There is no additional movement of the human, except the twitching of a few of the smoldering spiders on the ground before you.

Once you recover from the swarm effects, you find the body is a dead crewman with spider silk treads attached to his limbs.

Past the glade, the gaping mouth of a tunnel opens into a bleak, cairn-like mound. Down the dark passageway into a cave.

"It's just like being back home!" syas Rhuul looking at the cave mouth.

"Just with more spiders and less dwarves.

He turns his head to listen into the cave.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

"Quieter too. Have you ever spent a day working in a forge? I'm surprised smiths can hear at all."

Towards the end of the combat, Eadie flings her feathered helm into the woods and madly brushes spiders from her face and hair.

Once her breathing has returned to normal, she moves into the undergrowth to re-tie her hair and recover her helm. As she rejoins her companions, she says

“Sorry about that. Who’s ready to cut some Muppet’s strings?”

At the cave mouth, Eadie looks around at her companions as she raises a second glass of antitoxin. “To you guys! Good health, happiness and long life!”

“Have you ever spent a day working in a forge? I'm surprised smiths can hear at all.”

After wiping her mouth with the back of her gauntlet, the young warrior activates her wayfinder and says to Rhuul,

“No. My first job was as a clerk at the Bank of Abadar. Frankly, with all the petty scheming, gossip and carry-on amongst the clergy and support staff, I wouldn’t have minded being deaf at times. At least forge-work is honest labor, albeit very hot and hard.”

"Nothing dishonest about gold, lass. Nothing at all. Now bankers - I never really picked you for a clerk. Why did you pick up swinging a sword rather than a pen?"

Sorry, retcon due to the move ahead

He thinks back to the dead crewman.

heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

"Anyone able to tell how he died? I suppose we should take him back with us..."

Rhuul also checked the body for any other evidence of what happened to him. After doing so he glanced down into the spider pit, hoping to avoid attracting any more swarms - but curious about what attracted them to the spot to begin with.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

“About the yellow metal itself? I am in full agreement with you, Mr Irontoe!”

She curtsies to the bard. “Gold is as innocuous as lead or wood and about half as useful!”

“Ah, but when it comes to the effect that same innocent star-stuff has on the souls of covetous men, women and sadly, I am reliably informed - even Dwarves, Mr Irontoe – there our accord must diverge.”

Eadie shakes her head sadly. “The Archbanker in my hometown of Korvosa was fond of lending umbrellas to all who desired them when it was fine. Oh, but when a storm hit in the form of an epidemic, he wanted them all back! Indeed, he sealed the Vault against the customers he was sworn to protect, all to preserve his precious gold!”

“I never really picked you for a clerk.”

“I believe I have complimented you on your eye before, Good Sir!” Eadie laughs.

“For in truth, as a clerk I make a fair swordswoman. I have no head for numbers, without first removing both my gauntlets. And so it was my incompetence that drove me to find a new creative outlet, with my childhood hero ‘Blackjack’ as my sole inspiration – well perhaps a persuasive young man also helped … And so I entered Orisini’s academy in the Old part of the fair city I called home.”

“To my surprise, I found I had a minor aptitude for swordplay, which was nurtured by the fencing master, Don Vencarlo himself! I believed I had found an occupation that met the conditions of the advice given to me by an idealist young priest of Abadar named Ishani Dhatri.”

“‘Eadie,’” he said. “‘Fall in love with what you do for a living – and you’ll never do a day’s work in your life.’”

Retcon Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Take 10 Retcon Perception (search): 10 + 11 = 21

The heal checks reveal the corpse is that of
a crewman from the Hanspur’s Luck and appears to have the discolored stinger wounds typical of large spider bits. Nothing else of value is found on the man nor in the pit.

Feel free to retcon prior to proceeding to the cave. I was trying to keep things moving after a few days of holiday lag.

"Those be wise words, surprising ones from a priest." agrees Rhuul.

He heads off towards the cave. "That be why I like to see the world and spread some good cheer rather than swing a hammer all day.

He peers into the cave.

"What gets bigger, the more you remove from it?"

Sorry for the lack of posting - I couldn't pull up the map before, and am trying to get back into the swing of things now.

Holman extinguishes the smoking strands of hair still alight after being splashed with alchemist's fire, then, once the swarm ceases moving, pulls a wand out of his belt pouch and hands it to Rhuul. "If you wouldn't mind..."

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Once that business is taken care of, he returns the wand to his pouch and proceeds, following the others to the cave.

All good! Bring it, GM Aarvid!

Eadie smiles. “A noble goal, Mr Irontoe. I would wager that you have met with some success in your new venture.”

I wonder if there is more to that story …

"What gets bigger, the more you remove from it?"

Eadie notices that Rhuul directs his eyes to the cave’s entrance after he asks his riddle.

Hmm … I think I’ve got it!

“Is it a mother’s heart? It seems the more love she gives her family, the larger her heart grows.”