Baldwin the Merciful's: Razor Coast (Inactive)

Game Master baldwin the merciful

Major Roland is huddled with Captain Longplank at the bow of the ship. They are motioning towards the docks and a few of the other ships.

Astrianna raises a thin brow at the scroll. Boneduece? Sam? Hopefully an admirer, at any rate. "Thank you Captain, I'll see to this immediately."

She takes the document and moves into the officer's quarters of the ship from the main deck, assuming their new halfling hire will follow.

The bard greets the monk and his Pseudodragon companion as she enters. "Saegen, Tao, this is Dinetta. She's an expert on curses and will be assisting you."

Introductions complete, she pulls a chair up to the officers mess table, sitting down and kicking her boots up in an adaject seat. She slides a beautiful silver dagger from a wrist sheath, cutting the scroll's binding open and placing the roll down on the table.

The scroll is quickly unfurled and splayed out, Astrianna laying the dagger down on the upper portion of he parchment top to prevent it from rolling. She reaches into her haversack to produce a wand, tapping it to paper and casting Read Magic. The wand is set on the bottom portion of the scroll to keep it weighed down as she concentrates on the magical aura and reads.

And while Astrianna reads the scroll Totally forgot about Jenkie and them that got captured. Chell watches the halfling work. Maybe there was a way she could help or reproduce the effect.

Astrianna's lips immediately turn down in an unamused frown at the beginning of the letter, unseating her boots from the other chair and sitting upright. She reads the rest and sighs loudly, looking up and at the wall of the cabin with a flat-lined grimmace for a few moments. This is becoming more responsibility than I was anticipating. Well, at least Jenkie is coming to us.

She looks down at the attached pinkie finger in the scroll. Ouch... Hope they don't start calling him One Pinkie Jenkie after this. Though it's rather catchy, good song name.

Exhaling sharply through her pursed lips, she rolls up the scroll, finger included. "Well. Jenkie is being ransomed by his captors for the Jawbone. The one we don't have. No mention of Lester. Supposed to meet them at the "Wharons" at 6 bells. Which is in 2 hours."

She leans back in her chair, steepling her fingers. "We owe it to Donivan to try and rescue him, and this way we might be able to interrogate one of the hybrids into revealing where the Chosen will be tonight. Shouldn't be too difficult to buy a scrimshaw off of the crew and paint it up to look like the jawbone, or have them carve up a crude fake. Should be able to get Jenkie behind us before things inevitably turn uglier than a sun-dried flatfish. I mean, this is certainly a trap, they're going to try to kill us. They are literally skum."

Major Roland looks back and catches the eye of Sorrin. He motions to him to come on over.

The monk and Tao, his pseudodragon companion listen to Astri as she speaks. They are respectful not to interrupt. When she finishes he asks, "Wharons? Never heard of it." He suddenly clenches his lips and squeezes his eyes tightly as if a tremor was hitting him. "You have medicine." He speaks out loud to the room.

Dinetta looks at the monk with concern. When he asks about the medicine, she sucks in her breath.
I learned about this from a Tulita shaman. It is not a cure, but usually gives someone who has been afflicted with the curse a second chance to shake off the curse. I guess you could say that it gives your system a reset so that it can try to fight off the curse again.

With that she reaches into there haversack and pulls out a number of herbs and several extremely bitter roots which she mixes together in a small bowl.
This is not going to taste good, I mean really not taste good. But, when you get it down, it will hopefully free you from the curse of the one they call the Chosen.

With that, she tentatively hands the bowl with the shamanal remedy, crossing her fingers behind her back as she does so in the hope that it works.

The small pseudodragon flutters around and perches on Dinetta's shoulder as she mixes and stirs the concoction. It "tsks and hisses" a few times as it watches intensely then it leaps in the air and flies back over to Saergen landing on his head.

The monk reaches out takes the bowl and drinks the bitter liquid down.

Astrianna glances at the monk. "Well, obviously they mean the Warrens, which is... uh... hm." She realizes she doesn't actually know what the letter is referring to, and thinks for a moment.

Take 10 Knowledge: local 10 + 11 = 21

Don't know why but I have that prepared.

Chell looks over at the parchment, focusing on the magical words until they become something coherent. She continues to focus for a long moment until she realizes its not her but the words the are still almost illegible. How did you read that? How did they make it?" Someone not capable of writing shouldn't be able to craft a spell like this.

Then its meaning kicks in. "Oh no. Jenkie."

Sorrin sees Roland Lawrence and a long absent smile makes its way, albeit slowly across his olive stubbled face.

Roland! A sight for site eyes, Major. Before the bigger man can reply, Sorrin embraces his solidly with a quick hug, patting the older man's shoulder.

Jenkie? The Tulita?

Will save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

The monk squints his eyes and concentrates. Nothing. He does it again. Zip..nada. A broad smile crosses his thin lips. "Thank you."

Tao begins to do backflips and flutters around everyone's head. He's happy for his friend's smile. Then he eyes the think juicy worm on the table which he eagerly dive bombs. He stops his momentum at the last when he realize it's not a worm...but finger.

Astri sounds out the word..."warrens?" She never heard of place. She searches her memory and opens up her sketch book. No...of course not, no warrens. She flips a few pages. No, "Wharons" either. Perhaps Roland will know.

Dinetta watches anxiously as the monk quaffs the concoction. When the small dragon begins to do backflips, a smile creeps into her lips.

It worked? It really worked? I knew the shaman said it would, but I really was not sure.

She then looks over at Astri and Chell trying to figure out what they are speaking of.

Knowledge(local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 <-- if History, add +5

After considering, she realizes that she have never heard of this Warrens place, whatever, or wherever it may be.

Jenkie? The Tulita?

"Good to see you made it back alive. We've been on edge the last couple days...lots of sewer skum coming out at night.' He pauses and looks towards the officer's cabin. "I brought a scroll that a skum gave me...said to give it to the "songbird". I assumed that was Astri.' He pauses a few seconds then states, "They're holding Jenki and Capt Lester and some others for ransom." He rubs his chin. "I've gathered a few more hands to help out in the warehouse and on the ship. But people are scared they are nervous about the moon curse."

Good to be back alive, Roland. It's a streak I'm fond of maintaining. He notices the man's uniform.

When I'd sent you this uniform, Roland... The colors meant something. The gray, tan, white and black. They are the colors of the osprey, a coastal bird of prey.

Ospreys are particularly tenacious animals, undaunted by enemy or terrain. It's a trait I've dedicated my life to more than just emulating... but, acquiring.

"Are the warrens not just a section of the city, like the wharf?"

Astrianna is frustrated she doesn't know where the meeting place is. "Hphm...I must admit I don't know, Chell. To any of your questions. The intent of the message was clear enough. Well, hopefully Roland has an idea."

She gives Tao a look as it nearly dive-bombs Jenkie's finger, and laughs. "Jenkie will probably be wanting that, Tao." She stands up, smiling at Saegen. "This is fantastic! See? I told you we could help you. Or, as Dinetta said, you helped yourself." She folds her hands behind her back, approaching the monk. "We would be very grateful if you did us a... brief service... In exchange. We are short-handed on capable fighters, and we need your skills to fight against the hybrids and Dalang- The Chosen, who put that curse on you in the first place. You will be doing a service not just for all of Port Shaw, but the whole Razor."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (9) + 20 = 29

Once she has hopefully secured the monk's service, Astrianna takes to the deck. The afternoon sun begins to turn a fitting red in the sky, and the moon's outline is barely visible on the horizon. She sucks in a breath, addressing the crew. "Listen up Lads!" Her boisterous lungs have no problem booming over the deck. "Who aboard has the best fingers for scrimshaw? Report to the bow, there's paying work for you. If any of you can bring me a bone about the length and width of my arm this moment, there's coin in it."

The half-elf saunters up to Sorrin and Roland, casting a glance at both of them. "Gentlemen. Sorrin, some low-lifes have Jenkie and are holding him for ransom. They want the Jawbone in exchange for his life. I'm sure you see the problem. We'll make a fake good enough to get them to hand over the kid, and once they realize they've been fooled we slice them into chum. Hopefully we can find Lester in all this mess too. They want us to meet at the "Wharrens" at 6 bells... " Her head turns to Roland. "Do you know where that is, Major?"

"Wharrens...Wharrens..." He shakes his head. "No place in town or even the nearby community is referred to as the Wharrens." He bites his lower lip. "Could it be Whartons? Whartons storage by chance? That's just a few blocks off the docks." He points in the direction.

The crew is scrambling around looking for bone and there seems to be some success there. A couple crew members step up. We've been carvin' fer a bit."

Sorrin is more brooding than usual, though he does accept the monk's recovery as bleeding.

I like the idea, but worry about the time... Would illusion magic suffice for our purposes?

Dinetta listens to the others.
I do not know whether it would be helpful, but I can try to decipher the note you have.

Dinetta's Scholar Ring is effectively a continuous Comprehend Languages. Would this allow her to read the note written in slang and understand what was actually intended?

Also, we may not have enough time, but Dinetta can cast Legend Lore 1x per week with the Scholar Ring. Would this allow her to learn more about the Chosen? The casting time is either 1d4x10 minutes or 1d10 days. Really depends on how much is known about the Chosen. (I don't know if being in some place important to the Chosen would reduce the time or anything of that sort.

Astrianna taps a finger to her lips at Roland. "Close enough. It's all we have. You would think they would communicate better, given they want us to find them."

She turns to the assembled crew, taking the bone for inspection. "It'll do. Get your tools." Glancing to Sorrin, the bard shakes her head. "I have no magic to make tangible objects, plus I have to concentrate on the spell to make it work."

Astrianna hands the bone to the sailors, and weaves an illusion using Silent Image. A perfect replica of the Jawbone appears floating in the air between Astrianna's hands. "Carve it to look like this. Get the style and the lines similar, it doesn't have to be perfect. You have one hour." She remains concentrating on the spell to give the artists a model to work from.

Dinetta listens to the others.

I do not know whether it would be helpful, but I can try to decipher the note you have.

It's not really necessary. It was simply a poorly crafted note with plenty of misspellings in it.

As far as the Chosen the group knows his identity and the overall plan for Port Shaw. I'll let Chell or Astri fill you in from their point of view.

"Aye...aye Ms. Astri." The two sailors lay out a couple different blades ad carving tools and get to work. They divide the task in to and get to work. One begins to whistle a catchy but off tune song that is quickly recognized by crew....The Legend of Thalios Dondrel.

Astrianna is quick to backseat carve, commenting on the different cuts and seemingly unable to just let the men work in peace. Clearly, standing in place concentrating on a single illusion is not her idea of fun.

When the work is done she hands the carvers two platinum pieces each, and another two for the sailor that supplied the bone. The half-elf holds the bone up to the sunlight and inspects it thoroughly, judging it should fool the skum for long enough.

She gathers her companions, and checks her gear. [B]"Dinetta, we only asked you cure Saegan and you delivered. I'm extending you the exclusive offer to join our crew, which includes officer privileges and a cut of the loot of course, if you continue to lend us your skills. I warn you, it's soon to get bloody."[B]

Dinetta watches with interest as the carvers fashion the bone into the likeness of what she supposes this jawbone is supposed to look like. She does not know what the true bone is supposed to be, but the end result is a good likeness.

She is suddenly shocked out of watching the carvers and examining their end result by Astrianna's inquiry.
Join your crew? What would you want with a librarian?

She pauses for a moment before continuing:
I tried the pirating way once. The captain turned coat on us, tried to shanghai the crew and then sought to give us to some strange alien creature that wished to slice open our heads so that it could incorporate our brains into its disgusting body.

She then looks over at Seagan, who is now stretching and talking to his dragon familiar.
However, you don't seem to be the type to be eating brains.

She pauses again:
And, if there are more who are afflicted as was Seagan, then I have no doubt that there will be a lot of blood shed.

She looks back to Astri:
Which, I suppose, brings us back to the first question. While I am honored, what need would you have of a librarian on this ship? Do you plan on raiding old tombs full of ancient texts? Perhaps unearthing long lost tomes?

As the carvers employ their skill and try to incorporate the "suggestions" made by the backseat carver, Sorrin talks shop with Roland and the two Captains. A defensive plan for the ship is devised and Roland assures Sorrin that he'll gather the "new" recruits and get them organized on the docks.

He further introduces Dinetta to the officers and some of the crew. They also get the location of the warehouse: Whartons. It's not far from the docks.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 Motive not sensed.

While the men carve a new likeness of the Jawbone, Chell roots through her supplies in preparation. She takes 3 of the remove disease potions and leaves the rest for the men. Anyone bit tonight might turn immediately so a quick cure was necessary. She leaves the potions in the care of the captain. "I don't know how this night will go so use these in case of emergency. Try to subdue or drive off if attacked. Some of the changed you meet tonight might be normal people unable to control themselves."

After the carvers are done, Chell takes look over the shoulder of one of the sailors. It certainly looked like what she saw in her vision and in person. Might work. After Astrianna invites Dinetta to join, the preistess adds her own argument. "We're not pirates. Quiet the opposite actually. We stopped some pirates not too long ago. And right now, our only goal is preventing Dajobas from consuming this port. And we could use your help in that."

Dinetta looks about the group:
Certainly looks like a bunch of pirates. But they clearly have noble motives. Why not.

Dinetta turns toward the cleric.
My research would tend to agree with your sentiment. Dajobas and those who follow the Shark clearly are intent on creating a city of blood and shape changers. If we fail in stopping it, there will probably be no library for me to go back to tomorrow anyway.

She reaches out her hand:
Dinetta Cillara. I accept your offer. Sounds like you all lead interesting lives and the library was getting a little stale anyway.

Sense motive: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37

Astrianna listens to the diminutive librarian closely, a grin slowly spreading across her face. She folds her hands behind her back, slowly pacing the deck. "Ah, do you truly enjoy your job at the library, Dinetta? Don't you wish it was a bit more exciting? I saw how you moved earlier at the library- you are dangerous and skilled far beyond organizational abilities. In our line of work, which is privateering, as Chell said, you are extremely valuable."

The bard looks over the completed replica Jawbone one more time before slipping it into a nondescript burlap sack. "To answer your question... raiding old tombs full of ancient texts is certainly not out of the question; I of all people know the joy of a hobby or seven, but we need your blade most of all."

Edit: oops, beat me to it. Ah well, too lazy to delete my post.

She takes the extended hand, firmly shaking it- Astrianna's hands are well kept for her supposed lined of work. Her short-cropped nails have been recently lacquered an unscathed, shimmering silver. There appears to be callous in strategic places on her fingers and palms, however, as well as a few rough patches that suggest more recent work on the ship's ropes. "Excellent. Help us bring Jenkie home safely and you'll have already earned your keep."

Dinetta give Astri a questioning look.
My sword?

Dinetta draws her tiny rapier.
Hardly more than a potsticker. It barely breaks the skin most of the time. I suppose if you manage to find a vulnerable spot, it can hurt a little.

Despite her reference to it as a potsticker, the rapier is of shiny mithral and appears to be perfectly balanced, but with a strange swirling pattern appearing to run up and down the blade at times in a rather ghostly manner.

Usually I use it to open letters. It slices the seal almost perfectly.

Sorrin listens to the banter, not one for small talk.

His mind on the challenges ahead.

With your gear double checked you are ready to set off. The docks are uneasy as you head out. There are many eyes on you some look hopeful but others do not. The sense of imminent doom is everywhere. Eventually you get to the street where Wharton's is located. It's less busy than other areas of the city.

You are able to duck into a small alley and watch the front of the building from about 80 feet away. What are you going to do?

I need to develop a map.

Warehouse Map

Here is the opening map. What are you doing? You are currently in an alley looking towards the warehouse.

Dinetta looks to the others:
I can scout this place out. Is there anything we are looking for in particular? I am sneaky, but if anyone has the ability to make me invisible, that always helps.

Willing to scout if needed. Always willing to listen to other ideas.

Astrianna clicks her tongue as she thinks. "Yes. We're looking for a young human male named Jenkie, and ideally a halfling male named Captain Lester. Hopefully we can get Jenkie and Lester and give them to fake, but..." Part of her just wants to kick the door down and be done with it, but she also wants to see what the new halfling can do.

The bard wiggles her fingers to cast Message, and again murmurs a spell before touching the diminutive librarian, causing her to disappear from sight. "I am certain this is an ambush, or will turn into one. If we could tell us what positions they have taken up in the warehouse it could save us some trouble. Also, if you can find a good point to ambush them, you should stay there to get the drop when it turns ugly. You can keep in contact with me magically."

She leans against the wall and watches the warehouse entrance. "Quell's speed." Floats into Dinetta's invisible ear, a whisper in Astrianna's voice.

Astrianna casts Message and Invisibility on Dinetta. Invisibility lasts 9 minutes

Dinetta smiles as she looks down and does not see her hand any longer.
Thank you. Lets see what is out there.

Dinetta will quickly scout around the outside of the warehouse. If she cannot see inside, she will find a door and attempt to enter, and then survey what is within.

Rolls if needed:
Stealth: 1d20 + 18 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 18 + 20 = 44

Perception(outside building): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

Perception(traps on door): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

Disable Device(traps on door): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

Disable Device(unlock door/open it quietly): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29

Stealth(inside building): 1d20 + 18 + 20 ⇒ (9) + 18 + 20 = 47

Perception(inside warehouse): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

She has the trapspotter ability with a range of 20' if she should come close to anything hazardous.

Nice rolls. 7 rolls, only 1 over a 9, and that is a 13.

Message on the rest of us?

I'll have a busy day at the office but I'll get a post up later this afternoon or evening.

Dinetta scuffles on off to scout the warehouse. As she moves towards the far side of the warehouse looking for entrance or a window, she sees movement from both her left (red haloed) and to the right (orange haloed) she stops. You observe hunchbacked, green-skinned humanoids has a wide, frog-like head but a mouth more akin to that of a toothy fish. Each carrying a trident. SKUM on guard.

Meanwhile: Astri, Chell, and Sorrin each see two dottari guards (pink haloed) rounding a corner. They are chatting and their voices are low, "...she was cheap...been scratchin' ....since."

The three of you can make a knowledge local check if you like.

Updated Map

Know Local, untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 2

He doesn't know what... he doesn't know.

Knowledge(everything but history): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 <-- what are the green skinned things
-->apparently she failed to read that book

Dinetta whispers back the the others:
Several green skinned creatures here. Not sure what they are.

Astrianna's brows furrow as she sees the Dottari rounding the corner. The bard stays put for now, leaned against the wall with arms crossed over her chest.

Take 10 knowledge: local 10+11 = 21

Whispering back to Dinetta, Astrianna says: "Can you get in the warehouse? Two humans are moving down the alley behind you."

I mistakenly called the dragoon guards dottari which were the police in another game that I ran.

Dinetta you have never seen anthing like these creatures before. The look aquatic perhaps an aquatic troll or strange merfolk.

Dinetta you didn't notice any windows or door on the warehouse front, but as you round the corner you do see two large doors leading into the warehouse. One of the strange creatures is standing near it actually. The building itself seems to extend over the water.

Haha, I was wondering why there were Dottari here!

Astrianna tilts her head to look past the dragoons. "Dragoons usually travel in packs of six... where are the others?" She murmurs to Chell and Sorrin. Well, if they get closer I can try to get them to leave. Hopefully they don't get caught up in this, it would be a shame to kill them.

Dinetta you can hear splashing coming form the water that surrounds warhouse. You can actually see water moving violently you figure it could be more of these greenish creatures or sharks.

Are you going to weave yourself closer to the door or the water?

Astri, Sorrin, and Chell can you make Stealth and perception check please.