DM Bloodgargler's Heroes of the Shiv

Game Master BinkyBo

What their conditions? Are they awake?

Iolana whispers to Syndlara "They are two of our missing companions Syn."

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27Perception

Gatherine scanned the area suspiciously at the sight of their missing crew.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19The she dwarf slunk under the platform and started looking for a way to scale it in order to reach the bound captives.

Syndlara frowns, nodding. "They look like they could use some help," she says, watching Gatherine waddle closer to the captives.

Jask opens his eyes with a start. The platform underneath him as he inadvertently shifts his weight. This wakes Gelik.. the two of them do what little leaning they can to steady it again. They are both gagged, tied at the wrists in front of them, and tied around the waist and to the pole/stilt/balance point.

The lizard in the pit hisses at Gatherine as she approaches the platform. It tries repeatedly to scramble up the wall alternating its futile attempts among all around the pit.

Gatherine eyed the lizard trying its damnedest to scramble up the pit to chew her face off.

Syndlara or Iolana,any of youse know some kinda sleeping spell that'll knock this thing out so I can smash its head in without too much noise? And,you know,without it chewing me to ribbons while I climb this platform?

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18Acrobatics
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18Acrobatics
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18Acrobatics

Gatherine bounced onto the stilt and shimmied up it.She didn't make a sound and gracefully avoided its hissing guardian.

Iolana shakes her head.
"Sorry Gatherine, all my spells are meant to inflict direct melee damage, i can entangle the lizard in a web at the most.Or go down there and engage it in combat, but with lot of noise."

Gatherine jumps for the stilt - and grabs hold of it. The pole begins to lean, and the platform above Gatherine tilts on Jask's side.

1d20 ⇒ 12
1d20 ⇒ 12

The lizard wriggles over to the stilt, and tries to prop itself up enough to nip at Gatherine's heels.

Rest of Round 1
Syndlara
Iolana
Mugambi

>map<

....Round 2 actions.Would it be bad if I undid the bolt so the platform falls onto the lizard in an attempt to squash it AND reach the captives? Or would it be wiser if I used acrobatics to get on top of the platform,used my war razor to cut Jask and gelik bindings and then dropped the platform?

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26Acrobatics
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24Acrobatics
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5Initiative

Gatherine started to swing herself around the pole as she ascended it to keep it from leaning too far from her weight,attempting to hoist herself up and over the platform to join the bound captives.She flipped herself over and up the edge using her legs and onto the base,positioning herself between the bound men who goggled at her.

Oi,y'all! Here t' rescue y'all!she chirped.

The pole stops shifting. Gatherine opened her eyes and prepared herself for the seemingly impossible acrobatic stunt she pictured herself pulling off perfectly.

DOT?!

Syndlara uncoils her rope and looks for a place to tie it down and secure it. "Try not to fall. That lizard looks hungry," she says.

Can't y'all throw rocks at it or something?Gatherine queried,a sheen of sweat collecting upon her brow.

"You said you didn't want any noise"

Iolana teases Gatherine, while taking her bow off her shoulders and nocking an arrow

ranged attack (shortbow) on the croc 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
damage (piercing) 1d6 ⇒ 5

The arrow sinks into the lizard's back. It turns... relieving the pole of extra weight as it faces those east of the pit. It moves its head trying to determine which one of you gave it pain.
Syndlara appears to find a spot to tie the rope.
Mugambi asks how he can help.
The lizard tries to scramble up the side of the pit to reach Iolana and Mugambi, but fails.

"Try to save as many of your healing/buffing powers for when they'll really be needed Mugambi.For now let's just pay attention to what the lizard is doing, and to not being surprised by cannibals"

Iolana - d20 was a climb check without checking lizard's stats

"That damn lizard looks like she is a mommy, she was hiding some eggs. I wouldn't like having to kill it."

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21 Gatherine clung to the pole in a death grip,face set in an intense glower of strain.

She started to steadily climb up the pole to the captives above.

The platform tilts when Gatherine grabs hold. The bound captives do their best to level it by leaning. Somehow... Gatherine is able to rock and heave herself up. The momentum - as the platform rights itself, rolls Gatherine into Jask and Gelik as they stare wide-eyed at her.

... you got your DC21 I see...

Syndlara secures her end of the rope to an anchorpoint and tosses the other toward Gatherine. "Tie the other end to the pole!"

Lol.I know,right? I honestly expected to fall into the pit and get mauled by the pissed iguana.Lucky Gat!!

Gatherine caught the rope and set about tying a secure knot after pulling it taut.

Hi,y'all. Miss us?

Meanwhile Iolana keeps an eye on the surroundings
Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Did some miscalculations in current status, this is the right one

You hear a maniacal voice yelling from somewhere toward the center of camp. "Yes! Yeh-heh-heh-es!! Cull my weaklings and run away bleeding! More meat for the fire! More flesh for the feast!!" The sounds of yelling have faded to distant indiscernible sound... likely chasing down the Tol and Ishirou diversion.

You hear another voice as Gatherine finishes securing Syndlara's rope. "Klorak! Malikadna's hut burns!"
The mad voice - now identified as Klorak "Yes! Ha! I can smell the rotting crow from here! May her decrepit soul find its way to a slithering leech where it belongs! Ha!"

lizard climb DC15: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Truk'tosh had awoken on shore to the "ssSCRAAWW" of a nearby waddling seabird. He was alone. The only signs of civilization were three old shipwrecks on the rocky horizon - spaced evenly miles apart along the shore.
He was there for some time... collecting what little supplies he could from the wrecks, and building temporary shelter. He learned what denizens of the jungle to run from, what required more energy to catch than provided by eating it. Truk'tosh eventually found a grotto which provided shelter, cover for campfire smoke among the seamist, and fish as the tide rolled out.

Then on one tempestuous dark night, he could see - in the bright flashes of the storm, a ship far to the north. Its mast had snapped, and it was being tossed in the waves... coming closer to the island with each lightning strike. It slammed into the reef with explosive force more than a mile from shore. The unnatural currents of the shallows along the eastern shore spread debris across miles. Only a few bodies washed up on shore. One was still breathing, and it was a man Truk'tosh knew.... Captain Cale sailing (and wrecking) in the same waters Truk'tosh had been tossed into... from Captain Cale's ship.
After Captain Cale regained his strength and swallowed a bit of pride for Truk'tosh ensuring his recovery, they set out along the shore to see what they would find.

After only a half-day's travel, they spotted a lighthouse further west. On approaching, Truk'tosh noticed movement in the foliage, and then turned to the sound of Captain Cale falling - a feathered needle in his neck. Three primitively dressed and armed slightly feral humans then burst from the bushes. Two poisoned needles and a club to the back of the skull later... all went dark.
The two came to in a bamboo cage at the center of a camp, next to an unlit bonfire with large charred spits. There was yelling, and the smell of fire in the air. Then, and armored dwarf with a lance came charging into the center of camp. He felled one native, and then was chased out by a dozen.
A wild-eyed ruddy and red-haired native walks up near their cage... yelling madly as the camp comes alive against other (- yet unseen) attackers.

Klorak squats down beside the cage "So... our invited guests are awake... Are these friends of yours coming to visit?"

I assume we're gearless and/or naked?

Truk pounds on the surprisingly sturdy cage when the lead cannibal comes over to taunt him.

"No friends of mine but I'm lookin' forward to see 'im tear you and your kin to bloody pieces", the brawny orc growls. "You just better hope he guts you before I get outta here because I won't make it nearly as quick..."

Truk casts Cale a glance. That bastard had better not be dead. If anyone kills him it's gunna be me.

Both groups' views... red-head is Klorak. Bald cannibal icons are clubs and terbutjes, the braided skinnier are short spears.

>map<

They took your weapons, and packs plus anything obviously threatening. You still have clothes, armbands and cloak. Captain Cale has his clothes and armored coat.

Truk doesn't wear much anyway.

"Let us outta here now and I might let you live", the big Orc threatens further from within his cage.

Not sure if you're waiting on us to take some sort of action.

Muffled voices outside and the sound of the louder voices right next to him are what roused Cale from his involuntary slumber. His head pounded as bad as it would after a night of shore leave. His clothes were still on, however, which was something vastly different than the morning after shore leave. Something was wrong... Cale could only assume that since he was not in a comfortable position either that he must've been captured and was being held prisoner. The other voice - the one not Truk'tosh - confirmed the captain's suspicion.

"The hell're you lot ranting about? I'm trying to sleep here." Cale adjusted his position and pulled his hat down in the front a little more to block the light from his eyes. "Wake me when we've been rescued, Truk'tosh."

Cale slowed is breathing enough to appear sleeping. It wasn't too difficult to manage given he was still groggy and there was little doubt that there was still be some poison in his system. If he hadn't been trying to stay awake and in control of his body, he very well could've fallen back unconscious. He did, however, keep his other senses keen to the events transpiring around him.

Truk's anger at being captured and robbed just barely edged out his anger at Cale for presuming to order him about.

He's no Captain of mine...

The big Orc settles for a general growl of anger.

Klorak smiles, and bangs against the cage with his carved wooden shield. "In time... In time we will let you out."
He smiles again - tonguing the gap behind his canine tooth, as Cale speaks. "You wait here... you get your rest. Ha!"

Everyone/anyone can go ahead... try to keep actions in posts to no more than around 6-10 second amounts of time until combat picks up again.

Further past the red-haired presumed leader, another cannibal is rooting through your gear. He is currently inspecting a pistol - completely mystified. (K,18)

Sure that the lizard for now won't reach her, Iolana focuses on the voices.

The varisian girl wispers to Syndlara:
"Syndlara, i think the other boss is just around this building, he seems to be talking with someone whose voice i don't recognize.Maybe there are other prisoners, so maybe more allies."

In case we are going to roll a new initiative
Initiative 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17Initiative

Gatherine set shoved a hand down her corset and retrieved the war razor,brandishing it gleefully as she snapped the oversized blade in place.She set out cutting through Task and Gelik's bindings.

I'm not sure I fully understand DM. Do you just mean to keep our RP posts roughly one-round in length even though we're not in combat?

Mostly for the original group because they are about to be discovered, and a giant lizard is trying to climb up a pit to them, but they were not technically in combat. But assuming your posts don't affect their combat, go ahead and post freely

The croc-like lizard gets momentum, and scrambles up the side of the pit. It nips at Iolana's ankle with a crunch.

lizardclimb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

As Gatherine pulls down Jask's gag he says in a dry whisper "There are others... two others... caged in the center camp. Happy to see you, but you are fools for coming. There are over twenty of those monsters.." He pulls himself free from the sliced bonds, and steadies himself on the wobbling platform.

Not sure when this is going to be placed,but posting Iolana reaction.It is anyway instantaneous

Surprised by the sudden pain at her ankle, Iolana screams and drops the bow.
Enraged, the girl unsheathes the scimitar and slashes at the lizard

free action:drops bow
move action:readies scimitar
standard action:attacks lizard 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
slashing damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Let it go, damn."

”Get up Cale”, Truk grunts softly when the pair aren’t being directly watched. ”We need to get out of here. There’s no telling who that dwarf is with or if they’re any better than these damned cannibals.”

Truk grabs the bars and tests their strength.

He’s not necessarily trying to break out yet just seeing if it’s possible.

Wait..they're tied up AND in a cage on an unsteady platform? Talk about elaborate.Should I shoot it or should I make a balance check to go over and smash it without tipping th whole thing?

Gatherine gestured to the taut rope leading down to Syndlara as she took another moment to cut Gelik loose.What,an'leave y'all to be these degenerate people eaters supper? I certainly hoped you wouldn't have left us if things were the other way around.

She put away the war razor and pulled out Twinbellows,holding it like a bludgeon.She started to eye the chain uncertainly.....I'm not sure how Imma bust this chain without more noise than we're already making.I might have to shoot it so I don't send this entire thing down into the pit with the hungry lizard.Or you two will have to help me steady it so I can go over to that corner and smash it apart.

Then she cringed when Iolana let out a shriek when the lizard managed to scramble up the side of the pit and snap onto her foot.Then she heard the pirates daughter curse and start slashing away with a blade.

...nevermind.

Many of the cannibals continue out the northeast exit... chasing after the mounted dwarf. A few others turn back for commands.
Staying next to his prized captives, Klorak yells orders."You two... go help Ratcleft find who set that fire, and keep it from the camp. Ha! You! Bring flame back... we will light the fire for our feast from Malikadna's burning carcass. Ha! Varnis is dead too... weakling..."

The lizard hisses and recoils from the angry red slash. With no room to power past Iolana, it lets itself slide down the wall of the pit.

Grunting with satisfaction at how the wooden bars give, the big Orc puts a knee into the prone captain’s ribs.

”I think I can bust us out of here pretty easily. Our gear’s right over there. All we need is a good distraction…”

>map<

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27Attk
1d20 ⇒ 14confirm
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3Dmg to chain
Gatherine sucked her teeth,aimed, and snapped off a shot at the chain.Sparks flew as the shot struck the length of metal links,leaving it pitted and damaged but not yet broken.

Peeking out from underneath his tricorne, Cale looks to Truk'tosh as he tests the makeshift cage's durability. He glances at the ginger just outside the cage and nods his head towards the supposed leader, inquiring as to how the half-orc expected to get past the cannibal. Then the scream of agony came, followed by the resounding beauty of a gunshot.

Making his move, Castellus stood up and stepped next to Truk taking hold of the bars. "That seems as adequate a distraction as I expect we'll get." Waiting for Truk'tosh to assist with their cage, Cale readied himself for the soon-to-be violence that was sure to ensue. "Focus on this one," the captain told Truk.

Truk glares at Cale but follows his lead and with a roar, tears at the bars.

Rope secured, Syndlara cringes as Gatherine's gunshot rings out. "You there! Check out that noise!" she yells, mimicking Klorak's voice as best she is able. "It sounded like it came from the southeast!" She draws her scimitar and motions Gelik and Jask down the rope toward her, straining her hearing toward the sounds of the commotion to the north--anxious to see whether the ploy worked.

Bluff (with mummer's ruff): 1d20 + 9 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 10 = 27
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

The chain drops from the gate.

Klorak whips around to face the sound of the gunshot. A couple cannibals start to move southeast. Klorak does not refute the false order... he just moves to the door leading to the sound... growling and focused.

The bamboo bars bend, and the vines wrapping the joints loosen. The cannibal looks over at the sound, just as Truk'tosh snaps a bamboo bar loose to free himself. He drops the pistol onto the pile of gear, and looks nervously around to make sure he is not yet alone. He stammers... "He- he-"

Klorak bursts through the door... shedding light into the room connected to the platform cell.

Big Fight Round 1
roll initiative please
>map<

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Aaaaaaaaaiiiiiie! I'm not ready!