Anybody who wanted to train with Ishorou may assume they have done so. Gain +1CMB and +1CMD whenever you are holding a sword of any kind.
Well now, everyone feeling better? Let's go check out some shipwrecks, shall we? We should hit the furthest one we can, and then backtrack - the tide might still be low enough to check one or more of the other wrecks on the way back.
Chi feeling much better for her enforced sleep, in fact she is more chirpy than normal, almost bursting into a croaky song every now and then as breakfast is made. "Morning Gwen, lovely day, the sky is particularly blue today. How you feeling? Are we off to the shipwrecks, I think we should go down there by the sea. Best watch out for those undead sailors again, they were particularly nasty last time."
Heading south to work south to north and then back to camp, a short walk for a mile south leads you to a sandy causeway leading onto the much smaller island the ship is situated on. You know from experience now that low tide tends to abate at about midday, so you have plenty of time.
Crossing over to the smaller island, you can see the ship fully ran ashore here onto the sands. It appears to be a merchant vessel, it seems to have suffered crippling damage from cannonfire many years ago. Despite the awful condition of the hull and the rotting frames and masts, the decks have mostly survived and are accessible through several large holes on the side of the ship at ground level. Small crabs can be seen skittering around the shipwreck, moving into the ocean at your approach.
The ship's name is visible on a plate by the nasty-looking figurehead, an image so hideous that whoever crafted it must have had his family slaughtered by Harpies. The ship is called The Bearded Harpy.
H?
F?
If Y, W?
T?
James claims the buckler from the stash, and takes to wearing it on his forearm, he stores the money in the group chest from the captain's cabin on the Jenivere and leaves it in Ishorou's care. He also warns Gwen they have but one dose of the viper nettle berries left, before spending the rest of the day training with the Tian man. He votes in favour of exploring the ship wrecks.
"Agreed, we've found many things on the rotting carcesses of these vessels."
”Well, let’s check out this wreck… See if there’s anything useful,” Ambroze says, gazing up at the side of the ruined ship. ”Gwen, can you cast that spell that tells you if any undead creatures are aboard?” he asks, turning to the oracle.
Chi quietly sidles up the side of the boat, her index finger pointing upwards in front of her lips, to the first hole. Through the cracks in the planking caused by the smashing though of the cannonball, she peeks into the interior of the ship.
Stealth
Perception
Chi takes a quick look inside on the lowest deck. She can see rotting hammocks and broken beds- and she can see corpses littering the deck- most long stripped of their flesh, but a few others that appeared far more recent- human military types left to rot in their uniforms. A stairway at the back of the room leads up to the next deck.
Tun'ada tries to quietly follow Chi, not wanting her to be caught alone by whatever may be lurking in the wreckage.
Stealth:
Perception:
Chi & Tunada take a quick look inside on the lowest deck. They can see rotting hammocks and broken beds- and they can see corpses littering the deck- most long stripped of their flesh, but a few others that appeared far more recent- human military types left to rot in their uniforms. A stairway at the back of the room leads up to the next deck.
Tun'ada waves the others over toward the wreckage.
"Lots of dead, some far more recent than others. I think we should investigate further."
Tun'ada then carefully enters the hull of the ship looking around for anything of note before proceeding to the stairway.
Gwen will indeed begin The Most Important Incantation In The History Of D&D™ at her earliest opportunity upon arriving on deck, and begin detecting in an arc around the party.
Gwenyth, on the first round you detect the presence of undead auras.
2nd & 3rd round- There are five auras, all on the uppermost deck (the outside where the mast usually is). All five of them are moderate auras (2-4HD) with one of them showing up as a stronger aura than the others (but still in the 2-4 range). You also see lingering auras of their passage on the middle decks.
Careful, friends - the restless dead are about above deck.
Gwen prepares her shield and morningstar for the coming confrontation.
"If they died recently they must have come from somewhere on the island..." James muses, drawing his sword.
The recently dead men were some of those who choose to strike out into the jungle from your shipwreck...
Proceeding up to the middle deck, the carnage strewn about the ship is evident- several more skeletal corpses and a handful of fresher dead, still dressed in their leather armour. You see no visible cuts on the fresher dead, but it appears they had been battered to death. You find yourself walking alongside shattered cannons and empty kegs of powder and shot, all too aware of an eerie silence. You find yourselves at the bottom of a set of stairs with a trapdoor left ajar overhead- that surely must lead up to the main deck?
Adorned on the inner walls in fresh blood are several crude sentences.
Piratez will nevver steel the Harpie!
This iz OUR vassel!
Cap'n Strashgarth nevar surrondoors!
Gwenyth, the undead above are moving. It appears they have moved a short distance away from the trapdoor exit in all directions. The strongest undead aura is hanging back some distance.
Tun'ada readies his shield and draws his terbutje.
The auras above have stopped moving, and are now motionless.
In a whisper Chi says, "My special skills are worthless against these creatures, I'll go out and climb around the back, maybe I can surprise one and cut them open where Ishorou taught me. If I can't do that, I can search the other areas for anything useful if you want?"
They've stepped back from the hatch. If I had to guess, I'd say they're waiting for us. It seems obvious to meg at kamp er uunngåelig, så ... guder, velsigne våre bestrebelser.
You make out a "voice" on the other side of the trapdoor- but it seems to be a rasping, malevolent sounding voice, as though the speaker lacks air to truly vocalise... It says-
Stand by to repel boarders; we can still win! Don't let those sea dogs take our cargo!
Perception:
"We would be wise to find another way up, they are waiting for us on the other side of the trapdoor."
"We do have this," James offers, retrieving the holy water the group found from his pack.
Perception
Gwen grins evilly, and motions to James.
"Here, you're a better shot than me." James says, passing the flask to Tun'ada.
The group stand, weapons drawn, below the closed trapdoor...
Shield drawn to protect his body, and holy water flask in hand, Tun'ada opens up the trapdoor.
Bursting out of the trapdoor behind Tun'ada, the group emerge onto the top deck of the derelict vessel. The trapdoor emerges out onto a lowered area, with stairs in front of the group leading up a few feet to the main level. Surrounding the trapdoor at about fifteen feet, four humanoid figures of rotting flesh surround the lowered area, each firing a light crossbow at Tun'ada as the lone figure rasps-
Fire!
Hit
Miss
Two of the bolts bounce off Tun'ada's shield and another sails overhead, but a single bolt slips by the warrior, striking him in the leg.
Die, ye pirate scum! The Bearded Harpy's crew has never been defeated! rasps the ships 'Captain'- a hunched over zombie in a fine sailing jacket which still bears the mark of the wound that killed him- a gaping hole through his chest where his heart should be. Strashgarth has fiery eyes with more than a hint of madness in them, and an ornate cutlass on his hip. In contrast to the other zombies, this one seems to have some degree of sentience and command over the remains of his 'crew'.
Initiative Rolls-
Chi-
Savarend-
Ambroze-
Tun'ada-
James-
Gwenyth-
Zombies-
Captain Strashgarth-
Round 1 Initiative-
Chi- 20
Captain Strashgarth- 19
Savarend- 18
Tun'ada- 12
Zombies- 8
James- 7
Gwenyth- 7
On a successful hit, the attack deals damage normally and you can choose to push your target 5 feet or attempt to knock them prone. If you decide to push the target, it is moved 5 feet directly away from you. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity, and the target must end this move in a safe space it can stand in.
Savarend scrambles onto the deck by climbing the railing, and round house kicks the hapless zombie. The zombie is sent reeling backwards from the force of the blow, falling through the rotten wooden railing and plumetting onto the sand and rocks below.
Fail
Fall damage
The zombie does not survive the impact, landing with a sickening crunch that not even its supernatural toughness can withstand.
Strashgarth Round 1-
The muscular looking Captain Strashgarth moves forward with surprising speed to block off the lower stairwell, fists at the ready to batter any who dare approach him.
Chi waits to see what the nearest zombie will do, or for that matter what Ambrose does. She waits for the zombie and Ambrose to engage in melee, before jumping over the and behind the zombie, attacking with her sickle. Now is the time to put Ishorou's training into practice and rushes behind the zombie, slashing at it with her sickle, aiming to strike into the kidneys and liver.
Tun'ada hurls the vial of holy water at the captain, and moves up the stairs to confront the unholy creature, pulling his terbutje as he moves.
Attack (vs. Touch AC):
Damage:
Sensing the unlife about her, Gwen raises her arms to the heavens and Channels Energy to afflict the party's enemies.
Tun'ada hurls the vial of holy water at the captain, and moves up the stairs to confront the unholy creature, pulling his terbutje as he moves.
Attack (vs. Touch AC):1d20 + 5
Damage:2d4
The captain sways aside, dodging the flask. It still lands close enough to splash the zombie as the beaker bursts open, searing the Undead somewhat. The captain's face contorts further into a twisted sneer. Filthy pirate should work on his aim! he hisses as Tun'ada approaches, raising a fist and slamming it towards Tun'ada with unnatural strength and striking past Tun'ada's shield before he raises it to defend himself. The flesh-fist slams into Tun'ada's face with shocking force, but although the ranger reels back from the blow he remains standing.
Hit
The other zombies move with the same surprising speed as their master, rather than the slow, lurching zombie that is commonplace. One of them leaps over the railing and attacks Ambroze with a snarl and a punch, completely missing the agile Gnome.
Miss vs Ambroze
One of the other zombies rushes at Savarend, recklessly charging the Dwarf. With no intelligence or knowledge of tactics, it places itself next to the railing in its charge, almost oblivious of the obvious danger it put itself into. Avenging its broken ally, the zombie slams a fist into Savarends gut, causing the monk to double over in pain.
Hit vs Savarend
The remaining zombie shifts closer to Tun'ada and launches a furious assault despite the railings being in the beast's way and providing Tun'ada with some cover. The fearsome nature of these zombies is revealed in the creature's frenzied and supernaturally quick strikes- it makes no less than three seperate attacks on Tun'ada in a matter of moments; a maelstrom of slams and snarls. Tun'ada's armour and shield deflect most of the assault, and one blow that seems sure to hit is obstructed by the railing.
Miss vs Tun'ada
Miss vs Tun'ada
Miss vs Tun'ada
Gwenyth channels positive energy to harm the Undead, and the remaining four all writhe in pain momentarily.
Just after Ambroze is attacked, Chi somersaults onto the upper level behind the zombie assailing him, and rams her sickle into the undead beast's chest, twisting the blade and tearing out organs as the creature contorts in pain and collapses.
His hair sharpening to point like needles, his teeth lengthening, and skin growing tough, James almost seems to begin to metamorphosise into a beast as he roars in fury and charges towards the Captain, sword held high.
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His hair sharpening to point like needles, his teeth lengthening, and skin growing tough, James almost seems to begin to metamorphosise into a beast as he roars in fury and charges towards the Captain, sword held high.
Gwen raises an eyebrow.