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So, I have a character who tried to break into the ship's store, was caught, and subsequently keelhauled. His temple sword was taken from him and he wanted it back. When Grok told him it was 30 gold, he broke in and tried to knock her out. He was rendered unconscious and put in the bilge. He was scheduled to be keelhauled with Jake Magpie.
I offered him the chance to make good, but he was stubborn and backsassed Mr. Plugg. Problem is, he survived the keelhauling! At a loss for what else to do, I had the captain be impressed enough to let him live and put him back to work. Later that evening, Grok came to him, impressed with his tenacity and returned the sword to him.
Thoughts or suggestions? How would you have handled it?
I suppose that I could have put him to the lash first and then keelhauled him, but all he wanted was to get his sword returned and it didn't seem necessary to destroy the character in the first session over 30 gp.
I think pardoning a character who survives a keelhauling is perfectly fine. The concept of keelhauling is that there is a very small chance of survival (I'm talking real world here, in PF off course, a lvl. 2 character with a good con stands a fair chance of survival).
If you want to make a keelhauling more lethal, perhaps to kill off characters who have done REALLY stupid stuff, such as attacking the ships officers, give them a day in the sweatbox first. 24 hours means 24 Fort saves, with progresively higher DC's. Let's say he makes half of them (and that's requires some pretty impressive rolls), that's 12d4 non-lethal damage. With an average of 30 non-lethal, most characters would have taken quite a bit of lethal damage before the keelhauling starts... and even if not, they'll quickly go unconcious, meaning failed reflex saves, and a real risk of drowning.
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If he can survive a keelhauling I would say he deserved to live and would probably yes make an impression on Harrigan.
That's some serious strength (or at least determination) in not dying from a keelhauling. If I were a Captain, I'd want to keep a close eye on that sort of individual for awhile, if for no other reason than you're not supposed to survive (usually). Good for him, though.
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It at least warrants a new nickname.
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The sentence is a keelhauling, not death. If you survive, you've paid your debt to the ship and you get a second chance, at least from a legal standpoint.
I survived a keel-hauling for mouthing off when the "officers" of the Wormwood refused to respect me for my work ethic and talents as a longshoreman. After that, I knew there was little they could do to punish me, and it simply emboldened me and steeled my resolve to earn their respect and eventually make it back to the docks of Port Peril to earn an honest wage. Unfortunately, I died a few days later on a mysterious island, and never got the chance. But the keel-hauling? I survived that. And I made a wonderfully ear-worm-filled song that I sang in the sweatbox when they tried to "punish" me thereafter.
The sentence is a keelhauling, not death. If you survive, you've paid your debt to the ship and you get a second chance, at least from a legal standpoint.
Legality ? on a pirate ship ? A debt to the ship ? With a dictatorial captain serving a
Ok, that had me laughing. Looking at later parts of the AP, since when is Harrigan a by-the-books man and commander of his ship ? Ask Peppery or Habbly on his take about
But I'd also recommend a new nickname for sad monk, some infamy/disrepute among certain elements of the crew and some serious speculative consideration from the officers towards the unruly new crewmember. Who seems bent on breaking/surviving the rules as are.
I survived a keel-hauling for mouthing off when the "officers" of the Wormwood refused to respect me for my work ethic and talents as a longshoreman. After that, I knew there was little they could do to punish me, and it simply emboldened me and steeled my resolve to earn their respect and eventually make it back to the docks of Port Peril to earn an honest wage. Unfortunately, I died a few days later on a mysterious island, and never got the chance. But the keel-hauling? I survived that. And I made a wonderfully ear-worm-filled song that I sang in the sweatbox when they tried to "punish" me thereafter.
You need to post more in the campaign journal then boyo!
You need to post more in the campaign journal then boyo!
Can't. I'm dead. Maybe that Bonuwat seafarer that showed up in my place will start to do so. Rob has to eventually run the game for there to be any more updates, however.
Later that evening, Grok came to him, impressed with his tenacity and returned the sword to him.
This is the only bit that I wouldn't have done. You handled it fine, but I would have still forced the PC to work for the sword rather than getting it handed straight back.
Of course he would've got a healthy circumstance bonus if he tried to Intimidate Grok into giving up the blade for free thereafter as well.
Well between seeing a ship and dying on the island, none of that was documented.
One thing I don't get about the keelhaul is that a slow keelhaul deals 12d3 (12-36 hp, 12 x DC 20 Ref saves for 1/2 damage), and a fast keel haul deals 6d6 (6-36 hp, 6 x DC 20 Ref saves for 1/2 damage). The slow version is sold as trading off damage for more time holding breath but as I read it, that does not appear to be the case (Wormwood Mutiny p67). I might tinker with those rules should a PC face that fate.