mbauers' Slave Ships of Absalom PFS 6-05 (Inactive)

Game Master mbauers

Acel likes this Dwarf. Grumpy, pushy, wants others to do her work. Acel certainly doesn't mind rowing, although her smaller frame means there is less leverage. 12 strength, woo

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
"What a crappy prop job. They barely scribbled the extra letters onto the At Sea. Hmpf."

Acel will climb up with the others.

I was wanting something to say that we are to inspect this ship, and if we find anything amiss or any contraband, we are to signal and the rest of the boats will close and board the ship. Sort of an official instruction letter...

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
knowledge local: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Saarai points out the hastily-painted letters on the side of the ship, as well as the pirate sails.

"This is it, boys," she whispers. "Look at those yellow sails. Okeno pirates...be on your guard."

The tiefling takes a deep breath before climbing the rope. "Show time."

take 10 to climb the rope. I'll let other say whether they are coming up, though I would suggest there's not really a reason not to have all of us ascend.

bluff: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30

She smiles serenely as she addresses the half-orc and gnolls.

"Howdy, boys. Inspector Shae of the Port Inspector General. I'm going to be up-front with you this fine evening. We know all about your ship here...At Sea is it? We know about the slaves, the piracy, the bounty on your ship, and about fifty more crimes you probably don't even know about. So there's good news and bad news. The good news is, I'm corrupt to the core of my soul, and I'm not going to signal the boarding party that's waiting to apprehend everyone, take your ship, and shut you down permanently. The bad news is that it's going to cost you quite a bit, but once we get this sorted out, you'll have a permanent ally here who is going to grease the skids and ensure all your future shipments get through here without a problem. You might want to take a look at these papers," she says as she hands them over.

"But like I said...the silver lining is that I'm here. We'll make this work out better than it could have."

Take 10 on the climb up the ladder

Faellynn stands with her bow in hand besides the others trying to look as casual as possible.

Ma'Huuk heads up first (taking 10) then leans on his spear, trying to identify all the threats as Saarai does her thing.

Well, it's kinda like a threat. Acel nods at Saarai's words. She chips in with a "Yeah!"

Aid Bluff: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

and bolsters the lie.

The half-orc relaxes a bit and rips the letter out of your hand, sparing it a quick glance.

Ha, so just a shakedown, then? I thought this was a boarding party. I'll take your offer to the Captain, wait here.

He barks out a word or two in a strange language to the two gnolls.

After a couple of minutes the half-orc returns.

Well, you wanna inspect the cargo or gaze at the moon a bit? He motions for you to follow and for one of the gnolls to follow as well. One remains behind, staring down into the rowboat at the dwarven pilot.

The hold of the At Sea has been outfitted to allow for easy access from above and a mixture of live and boxed cargo. Iron rings attached to the inside of the hull on both sides provide anchor points for manacles. Along the port side bottom of map, iron cages have been bolted to the floorboards and hull. Barrels of potable water and crates filled with dried carnivore feed are packed into several sections of the hold.

There are two doors toward the stern. One leads to a combination storeroom and galley. The other is closed.

Three slaves are chained to the starboard top of map side’s iron rings. Two are Keleshite and one is Vudrani, all are humans. They cast their eyes downward and do not speak.

On the port side of the map is a strange creature in a cage, with a bored-looking half-elf standing next to the cage.

Standing near the slaves and in front of the closed door is a Keleshite woman dressed in studded leather, who wears two ornately decorated kukris at her waist. Her black hair is held out of her face by a faded yellow bandana. She has a dark mole on her left cheek just below her eye.

I'm Captain Wardak. So, what are your terms? she asks cooly, one hand straying near the hilt of one of her curved knives.

I will update the map to reflect this scene in case you (or the enemies) want to start some violence.

knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 What are the creature's weaknesses? Also, going to give others a chance to catch up here...

The creature, like it's name sake, has regenerative properties that are nullified by acid and fire.

Wow - 24 posts since this morning. Still catching up.
Omar will prepare to board with the others, trying to support the bluff.

im not seeing the map, just a link to the beast.

im not seeing the map, just a link to the beast.

There you go. If/when we get to fighting, feel free to move your characters but please don't move any of the shapes. The brown squares are just the ship, poorly matched colors by me. Not pit traps or anything ;-)

If anyone does any overt action to fight, I'll roll initiative for everyone. Otherwise, if you want to sneak something to start a surprise round or something, go ahead and roll Sleight of Hand on your own. And, of course, Captain Wardak awaits your reply.

Knowledge(Arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Strengths, Abilities and uh...I guess how many HD it has.

"Huh. Trollhound. Maybe one day I'll ride one."
Not my kind of place, honestly. Hope this Saarai lady knows what she's doin'. Ma'Huuk isn't leaving until those three are free, that's for sure.

It's senses/reactions are good (Darkvision, scent, high initiative), it has a nasty bite that can affect you with a debilitating disease, and it has 4 HD (though this one has the "young" template so is weaker than normal ones).

I don't have access to even see the map. :)

Ma’Huuk follows the group down, pausing at the bottom of the climb into the hold. The three slaves get a lingering look, but the Bekyar man’s eyes quickly find their way to the captain and the dangerous-looking creature in the cage.

Ma'Huuk mouths 'trollhound' at Acel's revelation, but he says nothing otherwise.

He stops near Saarai, splitting his attention between the slaver and the room's other threats. Playing the part of the dutiful guard dog would do for now. He fixes the woman with his own hard stare, not having to feign his hatred one bit.

Sorry, technical difficulties--my computer is sucking today. Does it work now?

Saarai looks the captain over.

"A pleasure to meet you, Captain Wardak. Waheeda Wardak, is it? Like I told your man above, I'll just play straight with you here. To keep me from signaling the boarding party--though I should mention, if I'm not back in ten minutes they're coming anyway--I'll need two things."

The tiefling begins pacing back and forth with measured purpose.

"First, I'm taking all the slaves you have on board. This business has made me immensely wealthy, and at some point, when I'm very bored with all this, I'm going to retire. I have a new manor in Korvosa I'm trying to find some servants for. I understand one of them is a Pathfinder, and I've come for that one, too. The second thing, is that I understand you have some contacts with some scrying capabilities. With my retirement, I need to keep attentive and make sure no one is coming for me. I want to know who your contact is. I suppose that one doesn't hurt as much as the first."

Saarai stops and looks directly at the captain. "Now, lest you think there's nothing in this for you aside from not being apprehended now, having your ship and cargo seized anyway, and being shut down permanently, remember that you are also making a new ally. This is a one-time cost-of-entry thing, if you will. After that, you'll find no more trouble in port...and in fact, I can make even better things happen for you."

bluff: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

W-w-wait, is she really a noble? Acel seems lost for a moment, despite Saarai telling her all of this is a cover story.

Well played, Saarai! Let's see how it goes down.

And DM, so the trollhund is in a cage? Door shut?

Heh...thanks. I've been having an immensely enjoyable time in this scenario. It seems custom-made for Saarai's skills, which aren't always able to display in most scenarios. This has been great fun!

The captain's face hardens and her cheeks flush with color.

It's no wonder you're so wealthy--you demand all of my cargo and offer nothing but promises in return. But I can't pay my crew in promises. We took a big risk to come here with a bounty on our heads, and we're not leaving empty-handed. I want one thousand gold, for the slaves, the Pathfinder, and the name. Up front, now. Otherwise you won't leave this ship alive. Looks like I have ten minutes to set sail before we're taken, and I'll take my chances. Nobody comes onto MY ship and takes MY cargo. So, what do you say to my offer?

Saarai shrugs.

"You're down to two minutes now, darling. I have not become so wealthy by being careless. This ship certainly won't make it out of the harbor. And you're not calling the shots here. I am. But if you prefer to reject my offer, that's fine with me. There's always someone else who is willing to take it."

The tiefling prepares to leave.

"If you would like I can give the 'all-clear' signal above deck and we'll get back on our boat. That would give you a couple minutes head-start before I get back and tell them you were pirates threatening to kill us. Of course, even if you escaped you could never do business here again, but at least it would give you a minimal chance to get out of here. So, what do you say to my offer?"

bluff: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34

Ma'Huuk glares at her, but he makes sure to spread it around to all the pirate crew present, "This thing. It does not have to end painfully."

Intmiidate: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Acel starts laughing. Half because she finds all of this talking funny, half because she really wanted to ride that trollhound.

I would've bought that trollhound if I had the chance. Ah well.

Vazn Langar ,

the captain says, and the gnoll starts walking back upstairs. Wardak then points at Saarai.

You seem important. We'll keep you as a bargaining chip. The others, well, who we don't kill we have a place for you with them, she says, gesturing to the shackled slaves.

Combat! You first four can feel free to act in any order. To keep things moving, even if you are not up in Initiative order you can post conditional instructions if you want to.

Next to act:
Omar, Towyn, Saarai,Faellyn
Trollhound, Curtzog (Half-Orc)
Ma'Huuk
Kinore (Half-Elf), Captain Wardak
Acel

Saarai shakes her head.

"Good luck with that!" she says as she lets a conjured snowball spell fly at the captain's face. "Just tell me when you surrender and we'll adjust the terms. I'm thinking I'll keep the ship now, too."

Hard-packed ice with maybe even a few rocks inside break on impact, leaving a trail of slush.

ranged touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 223d6 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 1, 4) + (5) + 1 = 15 DC 15 Fort save or she is staggered 1 round. Also, I added a sneak attack dice since she should still be flat-footed until she acts in initiative.

Sorry guys! I don't think this one was happening without some combat or parting with a large sum of gold!

Er... don't forget Omar!

When it's Acel's turn she laughs. "That trollhound regenerates, carries a nasty poison with its bites, and it regenerates unless you burn it with fire or acid - I got that part covered."

"You'll fight pirates, thieves, scum of the earth, but the big bad Captain is afraid of a bureaucrat? Haha!"

Intimidate, Blast you Size!: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 4 = 11
Using her Omen trait to Intimidate 1/day as a swift action.

The impact of the ice is devastating,and the captain cries out as it starts to cover her chest and arms.

Staggered 1 round

Good move!

Next up: Omar, Towyn, Faellyn

Faellynn narrows her vision; focusing all of her attention on the captain. Then drawing back her bow, she releases an arrow. "Die! Slaver scum!"

Move Action: Study Target. Std Action: Fire Bow at Captain.

LongbowAtk: 1d20 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 16 BAB, Dex, PBS, Study

Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 = 9 PBS, Study

Omar springs into action, calling a song as he draws his pole arm. Continuing the ruse.

"Oh good, I was hoping they would reject the offer. Now we just take the ship for ourselves and collect the reward."

Faellynn snipes the captain, the arrow sinking deeply just above the frozen area from Saarai's spell. She grunts in pain and surprise, but still she stands.

Omar sings a bloodthirsty battle tune and holds his weapon in front of him.

Towyn draws his own blade, ready to strike if the half-orc gets bold.

Longsword readied attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Longsword damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Curtzog bellows at the mage: That's not a sword, THAT'S a sword!

Intimidate to demoralize: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Shaken for 2 rounds

He snickers at Towyn's blade and draws a massive greatsword, stepping up and getting sliced across the belly despite Towyn's fear.

The caged beast desperately tries to crash through the cage to join the fight, but the cage holds.

Strength check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Curtzog: -9 HP
Captain Wardak: -24 HP

Next to act: Ma'Huuk

BTW the rage song effects are optional for Omar's allies. So you can accept them or decline.

BTW the rage song effects are optional for Omar's allies. So you can accept them or decline.

Yep, I had Towyn decline in case he wanted to cast a spell, and to keep his AC up. But as he has only burning hands, I decided he wouldn't use it on a wooden ship. Next round I might have Towyn-bot accept the rage, though.

Omar’s blood-pumping chanting speaks to the animal in Ma’Huuk, and he lets it rage forth. He screams wordlessly as he rushes the slaver-pirate, slamming his spear as deep into her heart as he can … which is to say he pins her to the back wall.

Accept the Raging thing, but use Ma’Huuk’s rage stats instead. >:D
Then power attack the captain.
spear: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 1 = 26
damage: 1d8 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 3 = 17
crit confirm: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 1 = 22
add’l damage: 2d8 + 18 + 6 ⇒ (6, 4) + 18 + 6 = 34

Yah, that'd be ...
total damage: 17 + 34 = 51

...I'd like to change my queued action. :)

The sound of frozen crystals crunching precedes the even more sickening sound of a spear punching through flesh and shattering ribs to explode the captain's heart. Her eyes go dark as she hangs there, impaled on Ma'Huuk's spear, before he flings her unceremoniously to the ground.

Yeah, -51 hp is enough to kill her, lol

The half-elf's eyes go wide with fear and, desperate, he opens the beast's cage before backing up toward the stairs.

Next up: Acel(I disregarded your previous instructions, per your request), Omar, Towyn, Saarai,Faellyn

"Ma'Huuk, that rocked her world. Defy us, will she! How about the rest of you sea dogs? Eh, still wanting to fight?"

Omar will continue his song and move to reach a gnoll to stab, if possible.

naginatam, rage : 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 1 = 14 for 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 = 11

Edit: Sorry - Google Map was not displaying for me - page cannot be displayed (at least at the time)...so redirect swing to trollhound

Can you view the map? The gnolls are above decks. There is an angry trollhound nearby, though.

"Don't let the half-elf escape up the stairs!" Faellynn shouts as she sees him open the trollhound's cage.

Yah, I'm really wishing that crit had gone towards the trollhund. Oh well ... How often does a raging, power attacker get to spear-crit?

Less than 5 percent of the time? ;-) It was pretty awesome, though.

Hmm, the trollhound or the Half-elf? Dilemna...

Acel moves ahead so she can see the Half-elf.

"She's the brains, we're the muscle. Surrender and we won't make mush out of you and your crew! Hahaha!" Acel starts laughing, barely controllably.

Intimidate, Size: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 6 - 4 = 18
Using her Omen trait to Intimidate 1/day as a swift action

She casts ill-omen on the trollhound. No Will Save, but SR applies.
Caster Level Check to beat SR: 1d20 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 3 = 11

Saarai's mouth remains open for a few seconds after Ma'Huuk impales the captain on his spear. Finally she turns to the remaining combatants.

"Don't be fools!" she calls out to them.

"Surrender and you will not suffer the same fate!"

Despite her entreaty to surrender, the vicious pet looks like an immediate threat. She sends a second snowball at the creature, hoping to slow it down before it does serious damage.

ranged touch attack, point blank shot, precise shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 223d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 2, 2) + 1 = 11 DC 15 fort save or be staggered 1 round

sneak attack: 1d6 ⇒ 6 Not sure if the trollhound is still flat-footed because it hasn't come up in initiative order yet. If it is still flat-footed, this is extra sneak attack damage.

It acted, it just unsuccessfully tried to bust out of the cage.

FS: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

FS: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Take the worse result due to Ill Omen

Staggered 1 round

Next up: Faellyn

Faellynn steps to her left to better see the half-elf. Then sizing him up, she releases an arrow.

5' Step left to get an angle on the half-elf.
Move Action: Study Target
Std Action: Ranged Atk

Longbow: 1d20 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 9 +1BAB +4Dex +1PBS +1Study
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5 +1PBS +1Study

The sound of the wild beast rattling the cage near her is distracting enough to break her concentration. Regaining her composure, she speaks to the half-elf, "That was a warning shot... surrender and you won't meet the same fate as the Captain."

The half-elf squeaks in fright as the arrow sails over his head.

Towyn, hard pressed, feels the rhythm of Omar's song as swings his sword two-handed at the First Mate, not as confident due to the half-orc's intimidating presence.

Longsword: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 3 - 2 = 14

Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Would've hit, if not for Towyn being so scared.

Curtzog responds by swinging his massive sword and cutting down the mage.

Towyn is at -3 HP and dying. Sucks that he would've missed if Towyn hadn't raged, but them's the breaks.

The Trollhound ducks under Omar's weapon and lunges at him as the ice on its skin starts turning to steam and evaporating. 5 ft step, Regeneration 3

The beast grabs a hold of his leg, ripping skin from his calf and flinging him to the ground. The filthy creature's saliva drips into the wound. Omar, you take 7 damage and are prone. Please make a DC 12 Fort Save

Curtzog: -9 HP
Trollhound: -8 HP

Next up: Ma'Huuk
Kinore (Half-Elf)
Rest of the PCs

"I'M COMING OMAR!" Ma'Huuk roars.

Yanking the spear from the wall, he closes the distance, jumping at the last minute to drive the spear down into the ugly beast with as much force as he can create.

Move to troll hound (map updated), power attack it.
spear: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 1 = 23
damage: 1d8 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 3 = 19

The strike is another sure kill shot as Ma'Huuk drives the spearpoint into the hideous creature's spine. It drops to the ground with a shudder and appears stone dead, but the wound on the corpse miraculously stitches together slowly.

In case I wasn't clear, it is unconscious and dying but it appears to still be healing

Is Kinore still up? Or is the group up again?

Can't update the map now, but...

The Half-Elf screams in terror and scrambles over the barrels to escape Ma'Huuk's wrath. Running away up the stairs toward the main deck.

Goes left of his current position and up by Curtzog, ascending the stairs. Barrel squares are difficult terrain