Arcadia - Land of Opportunity (Inactive)

Game Master Nazard

Except with Eriniyes' evil eye hex, your 16 does actually hit the previous 18 AC boarder, and just as nicely, your 7 damage brings him down.

It looked for a moment like the boarder was going to manage his escape, but something gave him pause and he glanced uneasily over at Eriniyes. The brief hesitation was all the opening Rorse needed to take a chunk out of the man's side with a mighty swing. The boarder spun around from the force of the blow, slammed into the railing instead of over it, and dropped to the deck, his life blood oozing out onto the deck boards.

ROUND 10!!!!
The sailors have finished securing the sails, but Brycen and Gray are unable to use their magic until that last line is cut, and you see more boarders and grappling lines being prepared on both ships. The Chelish vessels are moving closer to you, looking like they are prepared to squeeze you between them and twenty warriors from each ship stand ready to leap the railings and unleash death upon the Lady Iona.

Round 10! Cut that rope! Rorse screams at the top of his lungs firing an arrow at a soldier with a tow cable across the way.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 251d6 ⇒ 3

crit confirm 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 72d6 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7<<<< wha wha whaaaaaaaa!(also Erineyes my coughing ac was just a suggestion, didn't mean to answer for you, its just we were missing him like we were blind folded.)

The soldier gasps in shock at the arrow in his gut and flops overboard, dragging his grappling line with him.

Lilo slashes with his claws at the rope frantically

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Damage1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4& 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Forgot the +2 from hickory last round too so that was 2 points

The rope falls away, shredded by Lilo's claws. HANG ON!!!! Captain Theodric yells out, echoed by his first mate and a bunch of others. You quickly grab onto something (anything!), like you practices and moments later the ship lurches forward like before. The port vessel's bow collides with the port stern and there is a nasty scraping sound. Several of the boarders on that ship attempt to jump aboard, but the Lady Iona is moving too fast and they plunge into the sea (and sink). Scorpion operators on both ships frantically fire their ammunition at anything, trying to stop the unnaturally moving ship, but only succeed in ripping giant holes in each others sails as the intermediate target that was there a moment ago is now long gone.

Brycen and Gray alternate speed burst spells for awhile, lurching the vessel a couple hundred feet ahead, and then switch to gentler wind spells while the sailors frantically unsecure the sails for normal operations.

Within minutes, you are passing underneath the actual stone Arch itself. Some look-outs up above you take a few pathetic bow shots at the ship, but can't accommodate its speed and their arrows splash harmlessly astern. Another few moments later, and you have nothing but empty ocean ahead of you. Ships off in the distance to either side of you are trying to intercept you, but it's clear to even the uninitiated in all things "sea" that they won't succeed. Avistan is behind you; nothing but Arcadia lies ahead.

well actually theres 4000 miles of ocean and the azlant isles first but who cares

Lilo turns to Hickory..his claws returning to hands..."and now Miss Coopersmith I think you and I need to have a little talk in private don't you?"

Why, do we Mr. Deepburrow? Do we indeed? And what about, pray tell?

If somebody with a better map than I could tell me where exactly these Azlanti Isles are (distance from Avistan, latitude, etc.) and if it's possible to avoid them (since I don't know where they are, I haven't yet written them into the upcoming narrative), it would be very much appreciated.

"Why about Magic and the way in which we can ..combine our talents to make them more effective..why..what else did you think I wanted to talk about."

"Or is it that your little deception over and you'll be going to join the other pathfinders in the stern cabins now"

Hobart rushes to Vero Rebuking death 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 is my fast heal active? not sure if we are still in combat or not?

Here is a link to the world Map ..fan created but sort off 'approved' by Paizo..as you can see the ruins of Azantlan stretch across the whole ocean.

Sorry, combat go bye-bye.

Vero has stabalized on his own, and regains consciousness at Hobart's touch.

Mr. Deepburrow, you do speak strangely, Hickory comments as she bends down to retrieve her knives, wiping them casually on Maxalis' pant leg.

"Why Miss Coopersmith, you don't mean that you'll be staying in the hold with us..plebians do you...now who is you are watching I wonder..

He lowers his voice to a whisper

You could at least have trusted us with knowledge of your..talents. Though I must confess after that little ditty on the first night out I had my suspicions.

Titus gives Rorse a big grin and a pat on the back. "Well done. Looks like your pooch will pull through alright as well. Let's see if these bastards have anything useful on 'em before we bury 'em at sea." The big man starts going through pockets for anything that looks even remotely useful or valuable, making a pile of it all to be gone through afterward. When a body's empty of valuables, he tosses it over the rail without ceremony.

Watching, Mr. Deepburrow? I declare I have no idea what you are talking about. I am truly sorry if I have somehow mislead you into thinking that I have been mis-representing myself. Unless some cabin in the stern has been vacated for some reason, I do not see my lodgings changing any time soon. As for my...talents, again, I have no idea what you are talking about. Perhaps you mean my magic; hardly a giant secret, but I have learned in my time in Absalom that people with magic in the rest of Avistan do not go about flagrantly showing it off like people do in Oppara. I have trained with some of Oppara's finest bardic masters; is that what you are referring to, or perhaps my...talent with knives? I am an initiate with the Pathfinder Society and attache to Falcon Gray, but I am also of Taldor and do not appreciate Chelish scum like this trying to block my path. She kicks the last boarder's corpse squarely between the legs while Titus loots the body. She grimaces fiercely for a flash, quickly resuming a look of supreme haughtiness. Now, if that is all, Mister Deepburrow, this man seems to have been wearing some sort of steel groin protection, and I have now hurt my toe.

Hickory, her nose as high in the air as possible, limps to the ladder and down to the main deck, brushing or shaking off any hands of assistance. She practically growls a few notes, and with a flick of her hand, her last stray dagger dislodges itself from a privateer corpse and flies across the deck to her waiting, outstretched hand. The dagger disappears up her sleeve and she limps to the main ladder and down below.

Titus and others find 11 sets of leather armour, sabres (same stats as rapiers in every regard, save that they do slashing instead of piercing), daggers, and bucklers, from the eleven standard boarders. The last boarder was wielding two masterwork sabres and wearing a masterwork chain shirt (and a steel cup!).

Maxalis and Thereva were each wearing masterwork studded leather armour and carried 1 masterwork dagger each. Thereva was clearly not pregnant; the remains of the stomach enhancer she was wearing indicate places to secrete two daggers and flasks of alchemists fire. The remains of two flasks had been driven into her abdomen by Titus' foot.

"Not a bad haul. I'll take one of these, so I'm not caught without a blade again." Titus takes one of the normal daggers. "The rest of you can split the remainder. I wouldn't know my elbow from my a~#+&!%$ about armor, so that's all yours."

There were times in the prison that Titus had killed men with his hands. It was always out of necessity. After it was done, he felt horrible. He would have shakes, lie awake at night, even weep when he was alone. This was different. It was almost like some kind of bard's tale. It was easier. Good versus evil, and Titus felt like he was finally part of the good.

Lilo stares after Hickory his expression alternating between dumbfoundment and irritability..

"That girl wasn't spanked enough as a child" he mutters to himself.Then follows her below.

He spends the rest of the day ignoring or, at least, pretending to ignore, her

I'll pass on any of the gear, unless no one else wants that chain shirt. Titus, perhaps you should take a couple of those daggers, in case you find yourself in circumstances where you need to throw one.

Rorse looks about happy as he ever has seeing that Vero is back up and licking Hobart. Thanks Hobart! are you ok Vero, I'll give you extra rations tonight!

You were great yourself pops, I need to teach you how to swing a sword. your insane punching people that are swing swords, but then again I suppose you're still standing and they aren't.

with a bit of a smile, Rorse watches the other halflings argue a bit. being sure that the hostility was a good sign.

Rorse sits his butt down right on the deck and catches his breath, he will help Titus loot and toss the bodies over side.

Great job everyone!

Sir Kheiron seems to share Rorse's assessment of their performance. He comes over once the ship is clear and you don't have to hang on for dear life anymore. He gathers the prisoners together along with the rest of you as Lilo and Hickory make their way down below.

Well, well...well done, friends. Well done, indeed. That was close there at the end, but it looks as if we're free and clear. I dare say our Chelish spies have been identified. Too bad they were able to signal the Chelish ships, but that was no doubt inevitable.

I see you have already begun the process of looting bodies, a time-honoured tradition of adventurers, I know. Just a thought, but a time-honoured tradition of seafarers is to give the captain first pick of the bounty, and offering Lord Brycen a choice selection would be a very wise move on your part as well. Like I said, just a thought. It was an honour to fight with you all, today.

Eriniyes would like one of the MW daggers if possible.

After the battle, Eriniyes runs over to Wat to make sure he is alright.

(also Erineyes my coughing ac was just a suggestion, didn't mean to answer for you, its just we were missing him like we were blind folded.)

No problem, I meant to specify AC anyhow. I think that will be the default for now.

of course Sir Kheiron, I would think he would know already. He's free to come take his pick, those fire balls kept them busy on the other ship quite well. to be honest we are mroe concerned about getting these scumbags off the ship.

Lord Brycen does come over while the looting progresses, as does Captain Theodric. They both decline any loot, although Theodric does suggest that his first mate would be very pleased to accept one of the masterwork sabres (if no PCs want it, Carylis would be happy to take the other masterwork sabre).

You all fought very well. We would have been swamped quickly but for your quick work dispatching boarders. I am glad that we had you aboard. He shakes hands with everybody, including the prisoners, who are soon relieved of their weapons and armour. In return for their service, they are granted free reign of the ship and can now eat with the rest of the colonists.

This night is given over to partying, even more jubilant than the previous night (and without any explosions). Kuras, Imogene, and the other prisoners are still surly and unpleasant, but slightly less so.

The Lady Iona sails on for the next two days before coming to a stop in, once again, the middle of nowhere. Word quickly arrives to you that you are waiting at a pre-determined rendez-vous point for the other two ships. At the moment, you are the only ship in sight and rumour soon spreads that the Lady Iona was supposed to be the last ship to arrive.

Titus will go back to keeping to himself, allowing himself to be a little more social with the celebrations going on that night. If all seems peaceful then it's just business as usual again. He'll help the sailors or anyone else that needs it to make repairs or sail.

Travelling two days to the rendez-vous site:

Fort save 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Fort save 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Okay... This is going to be a loooong voyage for Rommin. He'll alternate between trying to catch fish and feeding them....

Fortitude save to get my sea legs. Saved the previous day, so this could be it!

Fortitude (17th of Gozran):1d20 + 4 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 5 = 21

Yes! I have one dose of herbs if anyone needs it.

As Rommin is the only one off us who is still suffering, Lilo gives him the remaining three packets of herbs.

+5 to three saves Rommin

He continues his cool relationship with Hickory all the while wondering why he is so taken with a stuck up Taldane.

The 18th of Gozran passes with quickly increasing tensions and shortening tempers, as your two sister ships fail to arrive by nightfall. If any of you ask Brycen or Theodric of Kheiron the obvious question, you are met with a sharp and angry rebuke that, "no, this is not a ruse this time!"

Tempers get even worse on the 19th when the ships still fail to show. Brycen and Theodric have a big argument - this time, they take it into Brycen's cabin rather than put on a show for the crew like last time, but the words eventually become so loud and heated (and the ship's walls are paper-thin anyway) that those of you up on deck hear most of it. Brycen argues for staying put and waiting a few more days, while Theodric counters with arguments that staying puts them at risk of depleted food stores, Chelish pursuit, or even pirates. In the end, Theodric gives in and agrees to "one more day!".

The 20th of Gozreh dawns with a blood-red sky and breezes as still as death.

Feel free to retroactively insert and comments/conversations/actions from the skipped over days. Just indicated when and where.

Thanks Lilo!

Fort check (18th Gozran) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Fort check (19th Gozran) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Edit: Whoooo hoooo!!!! Really, thanks Lilo! Rommin's finally broken the streak, and he wouldn't have done it without those herbs!

Now it looks like Rommin has one dose and Eriniyes has one dose if anyone still needs them.

Rorse and vero have been all over the deck of the ship, they seem anxious and expecting a fight, something about sitting around after heading through the arch and that fighting has them expecting more. unlike thedoric or brycen though, rorse seems to want to wait to get another chance at fighting with more chelish scum. Yes he wants all the folks to get back here but he wants to kill the pirates and chels more. Vero seems to be in agreement.

Lilo pays attention to the goings on on board but the usually happy go lucky halfling seems a bit down to those who know him.He spends long times staring out to sea from the bows of the ship .

When it heaves to he makes himself useful.

20th Gozreh

Lilo wakens and goes up on deck glancing at the red skies. He asks the sailors what this might portend.

"By the stiffened Sword of Cayden, Rorse calm down..if the Chels are coming they are coming, if they aren't they aren't and you running around getting in peoples way isn't going to help"

Rommin will spend a great deal of time in the crow's nest, scanning the horizon in all directions. When he is down on deck or below decks, he wanders from group to group, catching snippets of conversation when and where he can.

When Rommin passes by, Congratulation's Rommin, seems you aren't green today! keep it up and you might be a sailor yet!

When Lilo comes around A smile pulls on the corners of Rorse's lips, but it looks more like a wolfish sneer than a smile.I've just been waiting here, I've been keeping out of the way for the most part, and if they are coming I'm just waiting here to greet them with an arrow or four. It's been some time since we've been in an honest battle, I mean sure a fights here or there but blade to blade and to the death, it has been quite some time. I suppose I am hungry to see our sister ships here and safe or slay the enemies that would have stopped them. Beyond that I find I'm getting tired of being below deck everyone is getting grumpynodding to Vero.and neither of us are known for our patience.

Rorse sighs and unnotches his readied arrow, the wolfish smile fades into a gentler kindness rarely worn by the wolfrider.

So, how goes it with the lady bard? it seems to me that a poem or song or some such would go over well with her, if you were trying to get in her good graces. you know treat her to her own muse and what not. if you need help I might be able to come up with some rhymes, or at the very least, help you work on it.

The 'Lady Bard' is concentrating more on being a Lady than a Bard at the moment. I'm not sure anything is going to make her less frosty and I'm not sure she would be interested in me anyway..I'm not Taldane..or rich..or, it would seem, enough of a gentleman for a fine 'Lady' like her.After all I'm just a Grain Merchant's son from Andoran, what do I know of nobility except that we don't respect it much. It's a person's deeds that count not the accident of their birth

He squints up at the sky..

I don't like the look off this..back home a sky like that would have the farmers worried about rain..out here it could mean anything

Eriniyes spends the first day of waiting down below deck with Wat and his friend, playing various games making the time go by.

After hearing Brycen and Theodric's argument, she spends most of her available time looking out for ships, either friendly or unfriendly.

Noticing Rommin doing much the same, she wonders if he has any insight. "I'm not much of a sailor, actually not any kind at all, but this doesn't seem like a good situation. What do you make of this?"

Hobart uses his magic to heal up those hurt in the fighting including Vero. He also is glad to see that the prisoners are being allowed real rations. he will speak with Sir Kheiron and make sure the water stores are up creating water as needed. He will try to keep the spirits of the victory up, hoping to minimize the growing worry over the missing ships. He will happily attempt to fish while they wait if he can. Jumping in on Lilo and Rorse's conversation. don't worry Lilo I bet she responses to action as well. All you gotta do is save her from some impending danger, and you will sweep her off her feet.

For some reason Hobart's comment seems to make Lilo even more depressed..

Aye..maybe..but she was a lot more use than I was back at the Arch and it's more likely going to be her saving me...and what woman could respect a man after that"

I think I am still on to something with her being one of those romantic types. What bard doesn't love a well spoken piece, as far as being a noble or not, nuts to where you were born friend, you are going to be one of the pioneers of Arcadia. A legendary name in the books. if she was coming out here on this ship, I can't think that she is searching for a halfling lord, besides bards are the type to appreciate the non mundane.

Yeah I guess you are right, all you did was cut ropes right? the ropes that tied us to another ship and held us there so a never ending flow of boarders could hop on the ship, yeah that was definitely no big deal right? we would have just been sieged by nine ships if we were tied down, but that's no big deal. getting a mischievous grin on his face. Just like all this lazy cleric did was run around tapping people keeping them alive. He says flicking the half-orcs leg as hard as he can with his finger.

When Rommin comes above deck, he is clearly startled at the morning sky. No, it can't be! He half sits, half slumps to the deck, eyes fixed on the red display. No, no, no. He murmurs, his face locked in concentration as if he's trying to see something, or remember something.

Hey I never said I was a cleric. Pharasma and me just have an understanding I am no priest. He smiles at Rorse and who are you calling lazy? If people didn't get nervous of Vero walking about by himself I doubt you would have moved from that spot all day.

Lilo grins the first genuine one the others have seen for days..

I guess I did at that..it's just that my..well you have to admit the magic I have isn't much use on a ship.I'm still not even sure how I'm able to do it you know though I did get some clues in Absolam.

He glances over towards the stunned looking Rommin..

Wonder what's up with our friend...HEY ROMMIN!! YOU ALRIGHT? YOU LOOK LIKE YOU JUST SAW A GHOST"

I thought it was just a dream, a bad dream. Maybe from all those herbs I've been taking. But this sky… He climbs to his feet and walks over to the railing. Leaning against it, he speaks on. Maybe it wasn’t just a dream. Maybe it was my elven blood speaking to me… Or something darker, like my Chelaxian blood, he adds silently to himself.

In the dream, I was on board the Lady Iona, up in the crow's nest. I was totally alone - there was nobody with me in the nest or down on the deck below. It was very peaceful and serene.

Suddenly, I felt a strong sense of danger, surrounding me, all around, and nothing was as it seemed. I opened my eyes to see the sky and water both the color of blood. Streaks of fire shot through the air and the feeling of danger was overwhelming.

I was no longer alone in the crow's nest; objects had appeared. A wooden carving of a wolf holding a sword in its teeth, a spiral fashioned out of mithral, a coiled snake carved out of ruby, a pair of dragon claws too small to ever belong to a real dragon, a pair of curved elven daggers, and an enormous human fist carved from marble. I felt compelled to pick up the objects. Once I picked up more than a couple, it becomes very difficult to hold them, but I soon found a way to hold all of them securely. With each item I picked up, the feeling of danger becomes less and less, finally becoming manageable.

A feeling of oppression appeared over my head and instinctively, I ducked down and backed away from it. I went over the side of the crow's nest and began to fall slowly. As I fell, the feelings of danger and oppression lessen until just before the point where I should surely strike the decking and be killed, when all momentum vanished and I found myself lying on the aft deck with the feelings of danger rushing over my head like the streaks of fire.

Titus is quiet, doing his best to not lose his mind with boredom. He busies himself counting small things, the number of barrels in the hold, the number of crates, the number of boards that make up the deck. When his former cellmates gather to shoot the breeze, he stays near, listening but not participating, grinning and laughing at the halflings having fun with Hobart. Arcadia would be nice if they ever got there. He would have friends, and land, and peace. Maybe he could find a decent woman. Or even better, an indecent woman. He did his best not to stare at the women that walked about the ship. It was just so long since he had been close to a female. He had forgotten all the joys of female companionship.

Rommin's outburst catches his attention. The man must be going mad. It happened to men in the box. Guess it could happen to men on a ship, too. He would have to keep an eye on him, make sure he didn't go homicidal. They would be on land soon, hopefully, and that would improve the man's mental state. He'd be able to roam a little more and be more at home in the woods.

"Sounds like a crazy dream, Rom. You should try to get some sleep in a hammock. You're too high-strung."

Hmmm, sounds like maybe a dream of premonition to me. Maybe we all should be a little extra alert today. Hobart scans the sky Better yo pay attention to dreams that may mean something then ignore them I think after all if nothing comes of it no loss, but if a warning is ignored.... Hobart gets a look of deep thought on his face as he begins to ponder the possible meanings of the dream. Of course it could be like Pops says and just be because of all the recent excitement, and maybe the herbs as well.

Lilo listens with interest..

"Sounds like a prophecy to me..but they aren't supposed to work anymore are they..I mean a wolf with a sword in his teeth..that could be you Rorse..and the fist could be Titus, couldn't it..and the small claws well that's..that's me"

"Eryines could be the daggers I suppose..and..and..and then it all sort of falls apart because I don't know if Hobart has any connection to a snake or a spiral and we lost Corvus"

From across the deck, Hickory Coopersmith snorts.

"That's all nonsense, Mr. Deepburrow. Prophecy works just fine; only people's abilities to interpret them have gone awry. The world had been relying on prophecy too much to do its thinking for it. Now, we have to rely on faith in the gods instead, as it was always intended to be, until Aroden returns."

"That being said, the gods do still send prophecy and premonitions to its followers. Are you perhaps a follower of Desna, Rommin?"

When Lilo questions sailors about the blood-red sky, they look up at the eastern horizon with a look of fear, spit on the deck and mutter, "'Tis a bad omen, young sir. There be an old saying in Taldor. 'Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky at morning, sailor's warning.' It may be a storm, pirates, battle, a sea monster. It never be a good day on the seas when the sun dawns red."

Eriniyes doesn't like this one bit. Dreams, prophecies, bad omens. She searches for Lord Brycen and asks to speak with him in private.