Black Tom's Serpent Skull

Game Master Black Tom

Apart from a single goat that skitters away at the sight of you, you manage to get back to camp unscathed. Ishirou is unusually happy at finding the treasure, and walks with a new spring in his step. He's content with an equal share. In return he offers to teach you some swordfighting tricks to those of you who are willing to spend a day training with him.

You also get 40 xp and a hero point each for completing the quest.

At camp the rest of the people want to hear all about your exploits. Life at camp is turning out relatively safe but dull.

Aerys bows to Isharou as she accepts his offer to take whatever training he is able to give her.

Aerys will train with Isharou for the next day.

Torch also plans to study with Ishirou.

That night at camp, Torch calls Jask over to one side of the camp for some privacy while they talk.

He also takes a moment to speak to Sasha.

Hrakar won't be interessed in Ishirou's lessons unless they can be applied to Hammers and the like. And he will heal everyone at camp, I trust we can do this without rolls? And we still need to split the tresaure: Hrakar claimed the scroll case and the raise the dead spell. Ralf took the +1 buckler, anyone wants the starknife or the ruined clothes? Otherwise here's what each one of us can claim (divided by 6 and including Ishirou):
-583 cp each
-333 sp each
-166 gp each
-8 pp each
-83 gp worth of gems each

Gelik smiles as he is healed. "THANKS, RALF!"

He sticks his tongue out at Hrakar.

Later, Gelik trains with Ishirou, using his dagger. He has a lot of fun, but it isn't clea if the lesson took.

Does the bonus count for a dagger, or must it be a sword?"

He happily takes his share of the loot, playing with the coins to hear them clank together.

In the evening, in front of the campfire, Gelik tells the story of the intrepid explorers, highlighting the fight with the creepy undead and failing to mention those occasions when he screamed like a little girl.

Shouldn't we talk about what to do next? Any particular zone we want to explore now? I suggest we start exploring the lower peninsula begining with M12 (if it's possible to pass that gulf with our means, otherwise we'll have to walk

I and Torch are both onboard with that plan.

Not sure of the co-ordinates of the current camp, but Aerys would suggest that they move the camp to a more central position for exploring, if the camp is still at F15 or thereabouts. Otherwise she is fine with the plan.

Don't know if you plan to swim across or if you want to build a raft or just stick to some more mundane exploring. Either could work.

Torch:

Later that day as you are gathered for dinner, Jask strides up to Surkoff and shoves a bunch of papers under his nose. "Read that, you buffoon!" he exclaims triumphantly. "I told you I was framed."

You all get 40 xp for proving Jask's innocence.

Once everyone is healed and he has checked on the other castaways Hrakar decides to speak his mind in his blunt fashion:"And what now people? We are running out of options... I suggest we start looking south and hope we can find a way out soon!"

Torch nods, pausing to finish chewing and swallow the jerky he's gnawing on before replying, "Believe it or not, I agree. Ieana and Kossack headed south; south is where the lighthouse is. But Aerys is right too. The further south we head, the less it makes sense to leave the camp here."

"Buffoon! That's rich!" Gelik laughs aloud as he commits the word to memory, resolving to use it as soon as possible.

Later, during the discussion of options, Gelik is in general agreement. "So south it is. How about we set up camp up on the treasure hill? With the undead re-dead, it's safe enough, and it's a good landmark if we get lost on our way home."

"Unless there are other dead-not-dead looking for their missing friends...", Hrakar cuckles to himself clearly amused by his own sense of humor

"Yes, a good choice to camp on the high ground, we can survey all around us from there. It should be easier to defend too. We must be careful as we set up, not to attract attention from anything unwelcome." with a skip she gathers her possessions in readiness for the trip ahead.

Ralf agrees with everyone, in between looking at the evening sky.

Sounds like we're all in agreement. To the hilltop!

The rest of the band are happy to move the camp, and to set up the new one. But where are you going after that?

I tought we settled that already: we want to go on the south eastern peninsula of the island, we wanted to check if it was possible to ford the sea between the small lagoon. You asked if we wanted to build a raft or try to swim across. We need to know which solution is more feasible"

I just looked at the map more closely. Crossing that inlet looks like it would require a raft of some kind, at lest for Gelik. He's not a strong swimmer. Gelik votes to stay on land. He'd prefer to head straight west (to L11 or so) and then follow the shoreline SW along the interior coast of the inlet. It looks like there's a stream in L11 that we'd have to ford.

That one is an option too, if we find the inlet to be impossible to ford without some major effort and risk on our part. Yet we have to chek that out before deciding not to go that route. So I think we should get there and then move by land in case it's too daunting a task

Building a raft is feasible although a major effort. You should be able to put one together in a day or so. What you might want to consider is that travelling along the paths is four times quicker than across the terrain.

Building a raft is feasible although a major effort. You should be able to put one together in a day or so. What you might want to consider is that travelling along the paths is four times quicker than across the terrain.

I'm all for building a raft, then (one of Hrakar's long lasting ideas for leaving the island). And about the paths... they seem pretty dangerous, last time we walked them Torch almost died...

I agree -- running into traps four times faster seems counterproductive!

It's also giving the captain and his lover 4 extra days to do whatever they were planning on doing... Aerys, would really like to move as quickly as possible after the treacherous little *********.

I'm not especially thrilled with the path-travel thing either. Apparently I need another level so I can take 10 to hit the DC 20 those damn traps are for spotting, and as my dice and your dice hate me, Tom, I'm not excited about having to roll instead...

Once you are accustomed to certain types of trap, it is possible to get a bonus on the perception roll.

You manage to move your camp and put a raft together. The next question is: where do you want to go with it? You can choose your landing spot pretty much where you like on the southern peninsula (which also contains the highest point of the island, so that may make for a good vantage point for scouting further). Of course the farther you go the greater the risk of misfortune striking...

Aerys walks gingerly onto the craft, using her skill as a seafarer to determine it's buoyancy and usefulness as a craft on the waters. "Much as I want to be at sea commanding a ship to conquer the waves, this isn't what I had in mind. I suggest we don't go too gfar from shore, until we can be certain this craft is indeed seaworthy." As she looks around its construction and the way it floats on the water.

Profession(Sailor) 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Hrakar looks at the raft quizzically for a long time: "I think I agree, lassie. This craft doesn't seem to sound to me..."

Torch shrugs off the concerns. "This isn't meant for anything more than getting us across a half mile of bay," he points out. "The thirty miles to the mainland's a different story, but I'm sure this is fine for now."

Once the group reaches the far shore, Torch climbs up the beach and points toward the hilltop. "Up there?" he asks. "If we had a spyglass, it'd be perfect... but even without, seems like we'd do better with a better view. What'd'ya say? Anyone up for a little hike?"

"Lead on, cap'n!" Ralf jokes as he gets ready to board the raft. "We'll steer by the pole star and keep an eye out for buccaneers!"

Couldn't access the site for a few days.

Gelik is against the idea of a raft and against the idea of building a raft and against the idea of manual labor in general. He shirks wood-cutting and log-lashing duties as thoroughly as possible, and continuously whines about a splinter in his thumb.

As for the route and landing site, "I vote for the shortest route." Then he puts his agrieved thumb back in his mouth.

Are we talking gradual slope to heights, or actual significant hill / mountain? i.e.-can we climb it fairly easily?

Also have been having trouble accessing the site.

You paddle your newly constructed raft across the bay at the shortest point (which would be approximately across the square N13 if I understand you correctly)

As you pull up the raft on the beach Torch spies a crablike creature perched high on a ledge above you. Roll for initiative.

"By gar, more crabs! I hope this one isn't stuffed full of surly birdmen."

1d20 - 6 ⇒ (2) - 6 = -4

Initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

The site was flaky yesterday

Initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Initiative roll:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Torch reacts a split-second before the beast and can act. It lies about 20 feet further up the beach and 20 feet up the cliffside.

Knowledge (nature or dungeoneering) 12:

initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Gelik quickly fires off one of his cantrips, then moves back ten feet.

ray of frost 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
damage1d3 ⇒ 2

Know nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"Say, that's not a crab -- that's a cavey fisher! Watch out for his sticky thread; he'll snag you and reel you up just like a juicy trout, he will!"

Torch grabs his bow and an arrow from the quiver on his hip, snapping off a quick shot. Shortbow attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19, damage 1d6 ⇒ 6

Hrakar sends a bolt of acid towards the crablike creature:

Ranged touch attack:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Damage roll (if hits):1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Just as Ralf says, a sticky gob lands next to him, attached to a shiny line. Almost absent-mindedly, he steps out of the way, and just as quickly, the line is drawn back.

Torch, Gelik and Hrakar all hit the monster. Aerys, Ralf and Torch are up, then the cavey fisher.

Not entirely sure if Sidestep secret applies when you are flat-footed, but it seems it does. Anyway, rule of cool applies for now.

Very nice!

Torch notes the cavey fisher's range as he grabs another arrow and takes his shot. Shortbow attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12, damage 1d6 ⇒ 5. As soon as the arrow is launched, Torch withdraws about twenty feet, hoping to stay clear of the "fishing line."

Sidestep Secret doesn't work if I'm flat-footed, according to the FAQ. I'm willing to accept your pity anyways, of course. :-)

http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fn#v5748eaic9o77

Ah, in that case... let's do this right.

Correction, the sticky gob attaches to Ralf and pulls him 10 feet up the beach, closer to the snapping claws of the monster. Torch's second arrow missed its target.

Ralf and Aerys still to go, then the monster.

In that case, I'd like to amend my action as well - Torch drops his bow and moves up to stand next to Ralf, drawing his scimitar as he goes.

That's fine.

Ralf mutters a charm and washes the cave fisher with a burst of pain.

cast Lengthy (boost) Wrack: DC 15 Fort save or be sickened for 4 rounds

The monster is wracked with pain, but it still manages to drag Ralf 10 feet along the beach.

You are up again.