DM Dr Evil's PFS 00-02 The Hydra Fang Incident (Inactive)

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

Aboard the Fang - Round 2 - continued

Elael stabs at the nearest sailor, but his blades do not connect.

Archibald, I don't think you can make a 15' cone that envelopes both bad guys and doesn't burn one of yoru allies as well (Elael usually) from your current position. Can you draw the template you think works?

I mean I can evasion reflex save for no damage... Although if I fail the save I'm just straight-up dead.

So you're right! I had thought the diagonal cone looked a little different. My mistake, I'll just roast a single thug. Preferably the upstart that dirtied my nice robe. Also I'm just now realising that I accidentally rolled d6's! Does it show that I don't play many casters? :P

Burning Hands (DC 16): 4d4 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 2) = 12

If it's d4's, I say force Elael to eat the reflex save and get 'em both. :-P

Are two different 15' cone templates, though not sure either works from his current position after Elael moved.
If he were 5 feet left or right he'd have it.
Well, that or he could cast defensively and do it from one square NE

Since Archi technically goes before Darvan, and the druid is intending to move forward and attack with his club... can Archibald just pause a moment direct Darvan as to his intentions, let Darvan move on the angle to the space in front of the wizard to make his swing, then Archi can 5' step left, and do the cone with the depicted template, getting both of them! ... (them being the bad guys)

Milo firmly approves of a scorched earth ship policy!

How did it not occur to me that I can 5-ft. step? I'll do what Milo suggested and delay.

Aboard the Fang - Round 2 - continued

Darvan figures out the tactics after a few gruff words from Archibald, and moves sideways striking out at the bandit sailors as he goes, but his attack misses. Then Archibald sidesteps into his position, a cone of flames jutting from his hands, covering the deck of the ship, and engulfing both pirates. The first pirate manages to duck behind the bulkhead and only is singed, but the second pirate, fully aflame, leaps overboard screaming to his death in the sea.

The smouldering sailor exhales, glad to be alive, but he doesn't see Jalias coming his way. The wizard smites the remaining pirate knocking him to the deck unconscious.

Pirate 1 DC 16 Reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Pirate 2 DC 16 Reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

End of Combat

On to the last scene or two. None of the other pirates offer any resistance, but Du Moire is not in sight.

Milo finishes climbing aboard, cussing all the way, just in time to see the fiery destruction unleashed by Archibald.

His eyes go wide with admiration, the travails of embarking the ship momentarily forgotten.

"See," he says, with nod. "Hot in the head, hot in the hands! The flames feed off emotion more'n any other magic."

He looks around at the remaining sailors with a scowl. "Any a you gits feel like continuin' this, I'm sure we can teach a few more lessons."

"Now where'd that bastard boss a yers get off to!"

GM: Is there a way off the ship we might have not seen, rowboat, et al? Do we have hatches going below or the like?

Noticing the door nearby he adds, "There maybe?"

Tobi again attempts to make his way up the rope.

Climb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Finally reaching the deck (with ease this time) and seeing that things are under control, he looks back town at Tug. "Darvan," he calls. "Let's get Sahba up here and then, if you wouldn't mind helping me, get Tug up too."

Elael retrieves his thrown dagger - it had gone all the way across the deck of the ship and landed on the deck, and sheathes it, straightening up. "DuMoire might be trying something...fishy...belowdecks. We might want to pursue quickly."

Archibald, grumbling, wrings out his hat and falls in line. But he cannot help but return Milo's grin with a few twitches of his whiskers that may have been a smile.

"Out of my way!" he barks at the remaining pirates, hobbling below deck.

Perhaps try the door up here first, before going below? At least there's one on the map! Captain's cabin maybe?

Darvan nods at Tobi and they proceed to pull both animals onto the deck, beginning with Sahba. Once she has arrived on deck, Darvan calms her briefly, then helps Tobi get Tug on deck.

The rest of the sailors collectively take a few steps back as the pyromaniac gnome address them. Clearly, there are none left in the crew who wish to take on the Pathfinders at this point.

Looking around, you see a hatch that must go below decks. There is also the blockhouse in the center of the boat which has a heavy wooden door. As you try it, the door appears to be locked from the inside.

While the others investigate, the druid and cavalier work to get their pets aboard the main ship, eventually getting them safely on the deck.

ARchibald opens the hatch leading down to the hold, and a wave of nauseating odor reaches him. Gagging a bit, Archibald finds it completely dark below decks, but the sliver of light from the open hatch revels that the hold below decks is fully of icky brown water, that looks to be thigh deep (on a human) at least.

Darvan pulls Elael aside. "See if you can't get that door open. I don't like the looks of the filth in the hold, so I'd rather not be forced to go down there."

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Can I unlock the blockhouse's door?

Disable Device: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Perhaps take a 10? We're not rushed at the moment I don't think.

I mean if I can take 10, I get 21. Is that allowed, GM?

"I don't like this one bit .. "

Don't have any spells or abilities that strike me as very useful in this situation. I could pop a Protection from Evil on someone?

Can we tell if there's anyone in the room in question? Are there any portholes or the like?

While Elael works on the door, Milo puts one ear up against it, to see if he can hear anything within.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

For what it's worth, it's possible to take 20 on a disable device, because there's no penalty for retrying. Takes more time in-game, but speeds things up considerably on the boards...

The elven rogue fiddles with the locked door for a few minutes as the wary heroes prepare. Darvan looks in the hold, and realizes the water is probably from the damage suffered by Hydra Fang on her many prior adventures, but the scent is more the smell of death or decay rather than seawater.

There are a few portholes in the blockhouse, and Milo can see it looks like small office or cabin. The furnishing are quite rich and sumptious, a large desk and chair stand in the middle covered with papers, and a fancy bed stands in one corner. He sees no one inside.

Finally, Elael is able to trip the lock mechanism, and the door springs open.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Darvan looks briefly in the cabin and leaves, then moves to look over each side of the boat, as well as to the fore and aft, for the missing captain.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

"Hrm." Elael says. "Nice bedroom."

Sorry to bot you here, but you made the roll, and then didn't share the info which is kind of important to the development of the plot.

Jalias hears the whimpering sounds coming from under the desk and points out the noise to the others. "Someone or something is under there," he says pointing at the knee-hole space under the large desk.

Looking under the desk, cautiously, the party finds the pirate captain, Darsielle DuMoire, the scourge of the Inner Sea on his hands and knees, quivering like a baby.

"Don't hurt me!" the captain, who is more youthful and soft than you would've imagined cries pathetically. "I'll give you money or jewels or whatever. My father has a large estate, he'll reward you for sparing me. Just don't hurt me, I didn't mean to hurt anyone! I was just having a little fun..."

He sobs into his well-manicured hands and cowers a little lower into the corner of the desk space.

"The Dread Pirate Wesley indeed..." Elael nudges the Captain with his foot and says, "We're lookin' for some fancy, old tablets. Could be important, and you stole 'em from some old wizard, yeah? We'll just take 'em, then."

As the door opens, the gnome peers in cautiously with the others.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Hearing the wimpering sounds, he quietly points the desk out to the others.

"Stop cowerin' like some shivering jemmy Du Moire. Yer done duckin'. Markers due. This's yer salt box now."

Oops! It updated while I was trying to figure out how to say what I wanted to say in Milo-speak. =)

"What? Those old stone tablets? I was hoping to sell them to pay for repairs to my ship, but they didn't look very valuable to me. I didn't figure Lubor would buy them they're just some weird symbols on a rock. He only wanted real coin, so they're still down there. I took prisoners from Whittleshins too, and locked them in the hold, hoping to sell them in Absalom as slaves, but now....but now...their all dead! I didn't know they'd all die, really! The seawater must've filled the hold when we were rammed by the Chelish warships. You want the tablets, go get them. They're yours! Just let me be. Look, take this too!"

He hands you a brass key, that looks to fit a large chest at the foot of the fancy bed. Opening the chest, you find gold ingots valued at 1600gp.

"Take them, just let me off here. I'll go back home. Put me in one of those rowboats, and I'll never bother you again, I promise!"

Darvan looks at the sniveling "pirate" and sniffs. "We need those boats to get back. We will take you with us when we leave, and not before. In the meantime..." He turns his head and calls Sahba to him, ordering her to guard the door, keeping the pirate in the small room.

Sahba stands in the doorway and stares at the young man with her unblinking eyes, then lets out a low, rumbling growl.

The half-elf weaves magic with a flourish of his hand and soft spoken words. His gaze concentrates on the chest for a moment.

Cast Detect Magic on the gold - no funny business here, right? Assuming it is just that, gold ..

"Let's get the tablets?"

Bah! He's trying to beg his way out of this? boo! I say we knife the sob!

"Wittlestone was fun?" Milo mutters, with a snort, then glances over at Tobold. "Be a few Andorans might beef you on that."

Check Du Moire out too with your detection spell Jalias.

The thought of going down into the murkey hold with the smell of death does not appeal to the small gnome... especially given that thigh-high to the others, is neck deep on him.

"Can we just toss that prig down," He says, indicating the cowering Du Moire. "Have him hoist it up. Maybe if he gets the swag, we might be more inclined."

I really aught to give Milo some intimidate ranks, he seems to have a tendency to be ornery...

Good one.

After checking the gold, Jalias diverts his attention to the captain and scans him for any magical aura's.

Elael growls, a low and feral growl akin to Sabha's. "Slaves. You were...going to sell people as slaves...and then you neglected them until they DROWNED TO DEATH??"

He savagely steps forward and stabs his knife into the "pirate", hoping to end his miserable slaver life.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Sneak Attack: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Hmm... he was going to sell them in Absolom as slaves? What a nice tie in to the next scenario intend to run if this were a home compaign...

ps: elael has horrible random roller luck, just thought I'd mention that =)

The gold does not detect as magic, and appears to be nothing more than a bribe to spare the man. Apparently, the bribe is not particularly well played, as Elael stabs at him anyway, the dagger turned aside by the pirates chain shirt.

He does appear to have a few magical items on him.

As the rogue strikes at DuMoire, he recoils crying out in horror. "I yield, I yield! Don't murder me!". At the same time he pushes himself farther into the desk hole.

I thought the tie in to Absalom's slave markets was nicely done...He's not putting up a fight, so I won't go to rounds, I guess. If you want to murder him, attack at a -2 penalty due to cover, unless you're small size.

Elael continues stabbing at the man, furiously silent, until he dies or until one or more of his Pathfinder compadres pulls him away.

Attack Roll!: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 2 = 17
Damage!: 1d4 + 1 + 1d8 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (8) = 13

Attack Roll!: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 - 2 = 6
Damage!: 1d4 + 1 + 1d8 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (7) = 11

Attack Roll!: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 - 2 = 14
Damage!: 1d4 + 1 + 1d8 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (1) = 4

Attack Roll!: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 - 2 = 11
Damage!: 1d4 + 1 + 1d8 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (1) = 6

The dice roller really does not favor me. Maybe I should pay some favor to Desna.

Darvan calls out, "Elael, hold. We will bring him to justice for his crimes. For now, though, we have other tasks ahead of us." With that, he leaves Sahba at the door and looks for the best way to get into the hold. While doing so, he concentrates briefly and his face takes on a slightly scaly appearance, the pupils of his eyes changing to mimic Sahba's.

Darvan activates totem transformation, for senses - he gains low-light vision and scent.

Milo is perfectly ok with Elael knifing the entitled bastard!

Milo raises one eyebrow as Elael starts stabbing at the man, but otherwise doesn't interfere.

"That is justice." He says to Darvan with a shrug, before moving out onto the deck again.

He tosses a dancing lights down into the hold, filling the entire area with light, wrinkling his nose at the putrid smell.

What's down there to see?

Trip: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16 ... the dice, meanwhile seem disproportionately kind to Archibald, climb checks notwithstanding.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Archibald, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around him, stoops downward to examine the three vials that dropped to the floor. As he does so, the enraged elf's heel collides with Archibald's staff, and he goes toppling over the hunched old man, who bolts upright. "Eureka! Two curative potions and an oil of invisibility! Elael, my old, colleague, perhaps you would you like the... like the..."

"I say, where has that ebullient elf gotten to?"

As Milo lights up the hold, Archibald will detect poison in a cone for three rounds, followed by detect magic.

"Death is probably too good for him," Tobi says quietly. He then turns to help Darvan investigate the hold. "Come along, Tug."

If he can, Tobi will take 10 on a stealth check and scout below deck.

Elael eventually stabs the moaning pirate captain enough that he falls unconscious from his multiple wounds. So passes Darsielle DuMoire, Terror of the Inner Sea and nearly instigator of an international incident between Cheliax and Andoran.

Continuing their search for the missing tablets, the PC's descend the wooden stairs (so yes pets can come) into the dank, wet hold. Below decks, the dimly-lit hold has taken on a foot or more of brackish bilge water, and clammy air laps against your skin. The sole light emanates from a small whale-oil lamp mounted on the lower mast. The cavernous hollow contains dozens of water-damaged crates rope in neat stacks secured tightly to the sidewalls. The remaining portion of the hold is set up like a common room with hammocks, an open larder, and a small kitchen where food is prepared. The accommodations appear radically stripped own, presumably to make room for contraband or increased speed. Toward the bow, loud banging echoes from a wooden door, sodden and swelled shut and held fast with black iron chains.

Milo goes down below, with some reluctance, though only after Archibald declares it poison free.

"Not all toes up after all?" He says in response to the banging, sounding a little nervous despite himself.

GM: is there anywhere he (or Tobald) can actually stand down there, that's not neck deep? Or should I be casting that air bubble spell? =)

He renews the dancing lights spell to keep the room brightly lit.

"Give me a sign when you're about to open the door..", Jalias says. He readies a protective ward.

Protective Ward = +1 Deflection bonus to AC for 3 rounds for all of those within 10ft of me (you must be/remain within 10ft!).

What is it going to take to open the door, GM? Are the chains locked, somehow (requiring Elael to unlock them), or is opening the swollen door a Strength check? Some combination of the two? Neither?