DM Immortal's Blood Red Roses: A Skull & Shackles Campaign

Game Master imimrtl

Seijiro, having taken a deep breath before submerging, swims down toward Valeros.

Feeling the effects of the multiple bite marks, Variel stays near the top of the water and tries to keep an eye out for an enemy. Ready attack on the the whale or the queen whichever one comes close.

Perception check 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Swift action to imbue dagger 1/4 left
Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 freebooters bane not included
damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 freebooters bane not included

Crit confirm 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 freebooters bane not included
damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 freebooters bane not included

AOO if needed 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 freebooters bane not included
damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 freebooters bane not included

Status:
HP: 2/23
AC: 21

Still in the throes of rage, Sko immediately dives underwater and looks for the nearest enemy (he's already used totemic transformation to give himself natural swim and underwater breathing; it lasts 2 minutes which I'm assuming will be long enough).

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Whatever the closest thing to him that is clearly a not-friend, he'll double-move to and get ready to attack (I'm assuming Fleet and Fast Movement don't kick in here even though, right now, Swim is a natural movement mode for me).

So what are we waiting on in round 3?

We've had Sko be on the move, hunting, Variel move, Flynn is on the move, Dhaavan is summoning and his dolphin attacked, Rain used Freebooter's adn cast Bless, Jiro gave Variel a potion and moved, so is it the baddies now?

HP: 17
AC: 12
Spells used: 4 (using 5th summon currently)

Dolphin
HP: 15
AC: 13

Just waiting on the Queen.

The Queen, horrified at her child being beaten so badly, feeds him a potion, bringing him back from the brink of death....of course the only one that knows this and can see it is the dolphin.

END Round 3 begin Round 4

You all's turn! Happy Hunting and sorry for the delay.

"Dammit, bastard got another one!" chaavan curses, as he completes his spell, calling another dolphin.
I'm waiting on placement till I know a little better what everyone wants to do.

"Dammit, bastard got another one!" chaavan curses, as he completes his spell, calling another dolphin.

I'm waiting on placement till I know a little better what everyone wants to do. ** spoiler omitted **

[Ooc]So just to be clear, Dolphin got bit, then grabbed. So Dolphin gets grappled, and if it is grappled, it will take bite damage and be swallowed, next turn. So it's still there for a moment and it can attack

So the newly summoned Dolphin swimp up to a flank with the grappled pod-mate, evading anny attack attempts, and bashes into the creature as it would a shark.

Dolphin 2 (new one)
acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Slam: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 = 27
For 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Grappled Dolphin 1
Slam: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 2 - 2 = 21
For1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

And the whale should be at a -2 AC due to the Dex penalty, and so forth.

The eagles continue to circle, readying actions to swoop down on any prey that surfaces, while Dhaavan waits a moment. Delaying his action to look at the party actions.

1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26
For 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Confirmed! What's my Crit-card affect?

Pitty I didn't land that nat 2o on an attack.

For future reference, Grab ability can you use the limb that's grappling to make an AoO? Cause if not, then there was no way for the whale to attack, and I wasted that roll. =P. Also, can you use acrobatics on a charge to charge and avoid an AoO?

Variel continues to watch for any signs of movement from friend or foe. Hopefully he catches some movement and can respond in time to help. Regardless, Variel keeps his dagger in hand and ready to attack the whale or the queen whichever one approaches.

Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17freebooters bane not included
damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 freebooters bane not included

Seijiro will continue to swim downward toward U44 or thereabouts, looking for Sandara, Ratline or Valeros, still probably unaware of the undead unless he encounters one of them at U44. His dagger is still between his teeth just in case of trouble.

Dhaavan: Blammo! Lights out b$&!*! lol nice shots with the dolphins! Not that it matters as that drops the Whale again but your card is (and I s%#& you not): PIMP SLAP: Double damage and your target is Dazed for 1d4 ⇒ 4 rds lol

LOL, love the name of that crit card! Actually had me laughing aloud here.

I'm ready to take my move, but I need to know the status of the perception roll I made earlier this round before I can fully move. When I know more, I'll be able to finish my action.

Meanwhile, Dhaavan, congrats on your move!

Having severely brained the Whale with its PIMP SLAM, does that attack put the Whale down allowing the grappled Dolphin 1 to turn its attask on the Queen as the whale's eyes roll back and it's teeth release it's meal in death? Or is it the dolphin 1 that puts it down?

My apologies for lack of posting. I got caught up in the election and especially wanted to see if a provision I voted for in Maryland passed.

Everyone that swam down catches a glimpse of Valeros struggling with some undead creatures trying to free Sandara and Ratline.

Dhaavan: Dolphin 1 can be freed and attack the Queen but since it no longer has flanking it does miss her.

Seijiro, seeing Valeros fighting undead, swims down to assist, either with getting Sandara and Ratline, or fighting the undead.

If he can get to either Sandara or Ratline, he'll move to cut the ropes holding the weights to their legs... otherwise, he'll move to flank the undead with Valeros if possible.

Okay, at this time I'm going to post several different possible actions for my character. Based on the information I have, I am still not sure what to do, but as I draw closer to my allies, I may end up changing course in the middle of my move to do something else when I see their condition. So I'm going to post what I would do in order of preference. Given the variables, please just have my character do the one that makes the most sense. Remember, too - I already had moved 10 feet closer when I rolled the perception check for 18 this round - so this is the rest of my move.

Please know that I am not formally trying to "roll perception" as the skill - but just trying to see if I can see my allies moving. They are either moving or aren't - if they aren't, they're likely dead and I'll ignore them. If they are struggling/alive, I will help them - I just don't know how close I need to be before I can see that clearly.

1. Having already moved to V:43, 20 feet below the surface, but clearly above the enemy's ability head/reach, I will tack course while continuing to swim below the surface, and descend behind both Ratline and Sandara who are both struggling. I believe Valeros can easily cut the bonds of what I presume is Sandara - so since Ratline is alive and struggling, I will cut his bonds and help him to freedom. I don't worry about the undead - they are trapped underwater, I am trying to get my friends to safety.

2. I can easily see that Ratline is no longer alive/struggling as I should be less then 20 feet from him when I made the perception check but it seems that he is clearly dead and floating limply in the water - which I can see when I got closer and with my earlier perception roll this round of 18 - so I will not attempt to help him at all, but just swim down to cut the rope for Sandara, and do what I can to help her; again ignoring the trapped undead.

3. As I paused to consider helping either Ratline and Sandara I was luckily able to see that neither of them is alive or kicking, just swaying limply in their bonds, having been attacked/drowned already under the water. Since they are not moving/kicking or trying to get out when help is near - I will not bother to move to help either of them and simply ignore the undead chained in the bottom of the cave and focus my attention on the enemy called "the queen" by continuing to swim beneath the water's surface and under the fog above it at an upward angle closer to "The Whale", but right beneath the surface.

As "The Whale" is dead, I don't suffer an AoO when I swim over him so I will swim past him and move to R:44 and attack the queen from under her at an upward angle with my sword. As I can move the additional 20 feet and was already at R:43, under both the water and the queen, though I her legs should be in the water.

The Whale is not dead - and makes his AoO against me as I move, which means I will instead attack him and avoid the Queen this round.

4. Even while moving 15 feet from allies, I cannot see if they are struggling/moving - so I will move another 5 feet, which should mean I am 10 feet from them (I think - again, I am not certain how far away we are, even with knowing the depth of the cave, as I don't actually know their depth from the cave floor. On the map with Valeros, I don't know if that is a "side shot" or an overhead view). At this time, I will be finishing any of the above actions posted. If that range is not close enough, I will move even closer - essentially close enough that I can see that they are not struggling - when I see that, I will simply tack course and head toward the enemy. As I am not sure how close I got before I saw my companions both dead (assuming that they are both/either dead) - I don't know how far I can move on the map north, but I should still have about 10 feet to move (if I had to get right up next to my allies, that is) - unless I double move - to the enemy, which I will do, if I can. I know I wont' be able to hit her at the end of a double move, but it does put me closer.

Please let me know what my character will do given the choices/variables, and if you need a roll. I will make that roll if necessary. Also if I could find out where I end up on the map after my character is moved, I would appreciate it.

Thank you for your patience on this matter.

even with the minus 2 to attack from the grappled condition negated as well? Cause there was the flank and the grapple penalty, and with both gone the roll is still the same, a 21 to hit

Dhaavan: Ah my mistake. It hits the queen then.

All of you can get to Sandara and Ratline, Horatio included, but will be suffering AoO's from the Lacedon's while you do.

Horatio et al. The Whale and the Queen are at the very bottom of the cauldron. As I said on the discussion page, 3D combats are a pain in the ass to keep track of.

Seijiro will cut the ropes holding weights to Sandara the first thing when he gets down, trying to keep himself between the undead and Sandara so they will take their attacks on him instead of her.

hoping she is still conscious and can swim to the surface now on her own so he can get to Ratline next. If she isn't, he'll grab her and swim her up to the surface himself, hoping that Horatio or Valeros will grab Ratline and do the same for him.

GM, what can the guys down below see about the condition of Ratline and Sandara?

Ratline looks like he might be dead but you aren't sure. You are going to need to get him out of the water first. Sandara just looks unconscious.

As it seems that Valeros and Jiro have Ratline and Sandara well in hand I am moving toward "the queen" with a calculated vector along the Y/Z axis via a double move. This should take me close enough to strike the Queen, though I'm not certain if I can reach her on this round, but it is my intention to move within striking distance and hit her next round. This should be putting me at an angle slightly above Dhaavan's Dolphin to be at a 45 angle to the queen (roughly 5 feet back, and 5 feet up, yet behind the dolphin for partial cover), or in other words "I'm in the pipe, 5x5".

Can you charge underwater if you have the swim movement type?

Also, I'm going to be in Seatle the next four days. Saturday is the only day I know I won't be able to post but I'm hoping the rest will be fine.

I'm going to move to a bit of narrative at this point as this battle has dragged on too long and the 3D nature of the combat is driving me insane.

Through a series of well timed hits, you are able to smash the lacedons at the bottom to pieces and return Ratline and Sandara to the surface. The Queen vanished into a small tunnel near where she was hiding at the bottom.

Ok so you have Ratline, who is now missing a leg and an arm, and Sandara who just looks beaten to a pulp up in the tunnel. What is your next move?

My first instinct is to help my comrades. Specifically - I want to take them to the area that we can properly heal them via the Heal Skill and (if necessary) and spells/potions. At the least a more proper "status report" must be taken.

However, I still have the "movement" spell on me for a little longer, I would like to use that to the best of my abilities, searching the remains of the cave for this "queen" and any other of her filth; but I don't know how much longer the spell would have lasted, as I don't know much time went by, especially via the elapsed combat.

If I feel that I have time to search the underwater part of the cave (specifically "The Cauldron" area) while my comrades are attended to by the others, I shall. If I feel that the spell has "run out" - I will turn things over to Valeros who can swim better than I can, and look after these folk myself.

Please let me know what is going on via the duration of the spell; I will give more details once I know more on that end. Thank you.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 eh, I don't know nothing...

Variel will watch over Sandara and Ratline if the others want to serach the cavern. Still feeling the effects of the near death experience, Variel will put himself on guard duty and move a bit further into the passageway.

If someone is gong back down there to look for stuff, would you mind grabbing my cutlass as well. I seem to have lost it in the fight with that behemoth. Much obliged to whomever grabs it. I will guard this area while you explore the depths. Who knows what items may be found that can help us get out of here in one piece.

If I am searching the water, I will volunteer to look for the cutlass and do what I can. If the spell is worn off, I will aid the wounded and leave diving to Valeros.

In any case, I will also say the following:

"How are the rest of you fairing? Does anyone else need aid or assistance? Remember, too - while we were ordered to this rock for a barrel or two of water; we came to find our friends. As of now we have both our friends and the water."

"I say it's time we leave this little hell hole and return to Plugg and offer him some recompense for our bleeding."

Seijiro takes a deep breath and submerges near where Variel was standing when he dropped his cutlass. While he's looking for the cutlass, he'll keep his eyes open for anything else of interest while he's down there.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

By the way - is Ratline dead at this time, or simply unconscious?

Heal check Ratline 1d20 ⇒ 18
Heal check Sandara 1d20 ⇒ 19

Wow untrained checks and Variel handles the guard/medic duty no problem

Ratline is alive...barely...and needs serious medical attention. Sandara is better off but has still taken a beating.

Ratline: -5 hp and lost leg and arm. Sandara: 2 hp with 10 subdual

With those heal checks does Variel know if they are stable? Or if originally unstable did he stabilize them?

I am an idiot, just realized I have a potion of cure mod still...

Since we are out of combat Variel will administer the potion to Sandara. Hopefully this will bring her up and able to move about herself.

Cure mod 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (2, 6) + 3 = 11 11 damage and 11 subdual cured. Nice.

Hate to ret-con this, but for the sake of resource conservation, before Valeros uses his potion, can we give Sandara her holy symbol and ask if she can channel in order to save healing? Or at least only use Dhaavan's light cure? Or Valeros can or we NPC Sko doing the heal if he can't post, per GM discression?

"Hold up Valeros!" Dhaavan tries to interupt, "se this lesser potion if Sandara needs it, save yours." although Sko and valeros should have a heal spell and we should conserve our potions so one of them would be best to interrupt and cast.

int check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 oh well.

However healing is done on sandara, as soon as she is concious, Dhaavan asks, "Sandara, you able to use your magic to help Ratline?" while handing her her Holy Symbol. So if she has spells left she should hopefully be able to heal with her spells.

[Ooc]so the Queen withdrew from combat as the dolphins all turned on her, so they assisted with taking out the Lacedon cause they couldn't pursue through the hole? What is a Lacedon, btw? Underwater ghoul?

We know it is undead - but no worries there. They are tied below water; easily destroyed by Rain who can use "Disrupt Undead" - an orison, until the are just finished off and they can't even escape their bindings - point is, they're toast.

While I wait for Sandara to give her verdict - if I still have the spell on me I'll assist Jiro in exploring the depths.

However, if it turns out the "freedom of movement" spell is worn off, I'll start going through our gear looking for some means of moving Ratline.

The terrain here was intolerable - taking a one-legged man overland will be difficult - to say the least; never mind how we can get him out of the churning sea up the 40 feet cliffs, as climbing without a leg or arm will be problematic.

Finally, if Sandara is unable to use magic to heal; I will offer a spell to anyone who needs it to heal them - assuming the potion was able to be ret-conned, that is.

Assuming you meant Variel instead of Valeros for the halt of the potion Dhaavan.

You make sense Dhaavan but if there is no other way to bring her back up the I will still use my potion.

Valeros lays a hand on Variel's shoulder halting him from pouring the potion. I sitll have some magic at my command, I can save our resources for a more opportune time. He then puts a hand on Sandara's shoulder and soft blue light radiates into her.

Moving after that to Ratline he lays a hand on the man's shoulder before standing up. ratline won't bleed out now at least and if needed I can help bring this man around although Sandara might be better suited than myself. As for his arm and leg, those are outside my power to fix, as you could probably tell. He waves his peg leg in the air for emphasis.

Casting CLW on Sandara. 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Should be enough to get her up to conscious. Then going to Ratline and casting Stabilize. Can use a CLW on him if needed but want to see what Sandara decides to do.

I'm ok with not expending the Cure Mod Potion.

Sandara becomes conscious after the healing and immediately starts crying at the state of Ratline. I tried to get them to stop but they just kept eating him! The Queen said she was going to have the Whale swallow us and let us digest within him, the acids slowly eating us alive. She sobs a few minutes more before finally pulling herself together.

Looking over at the group she says in a much calmer voice Gather around and I will attend to your wounds.

Channel Energy 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10

Channel Energy 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12

You see the wounds over his stumps close over and Ratline's breathing becomes calm and even though he does not wake.

You are able to make short work of the Lacedon's at the bottom of the cauldron and pick it clean of goods and gear.

You find the following (I am going to assume someone uses Detect Magic on the gear):
- Sandara's Tricorne Hat near the small tunnel that the Queen slipped through. Sandara insists one of you take it as recompense for saving her and Ratline. She won't take no for an answer. The hat is called a Besmara's Tricorne. This black leather tricorne hat is weather-beaten and saltstained. It grants its wearer a +2 competence bonus on Profession (sailor) and Swim checks. If Besmara is your patron, once per day you can speak a command word to transform the hat into a small ship’s boat such as a cutter, jolly boat, or longboat (see the Skull & Shackles Player’s Guide). The boat is 20 feet long, has two pairs of oars and a single mast with a square sail, and can carry up to 12 passengers and crew. Upon command, or after 8 hours, the boat returns to hat form, dumping out any occupants.

- 5 large silver buttons off of the tattered greatcoats of the lacedons (2 gp each)
- a small feather that radiates strong conjuration magic
- 120 gp
- pair of iron bracers that radiates faint transmutation magic
- driftwood wand that radiates faint illusion magic
- an ivory walrus tusk set with gold with a scrimshawed map of the Shackles

Wow what a haul, will update the spreadsheet and post it later today.

Appraise 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 succeed
Appraise 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 succeed
Appraise 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 succeed
Spellcraft Feather1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Spellcraft iron bracers 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Spellcraft driftwood wand 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Spellcraft whale skull 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Thanks Sandara for the healing. Now let's see about getting you and Ratline back to the surface before we stumble across anything else down here.

"I'm glad to see you're alright, Sandara. I'm sorry we didn't make it back to you sooner. Dhaavan says placing a hand on Sandara's shoulder as she weaps. "we'll take care of Ratline when we get off this damn rock"

spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 on the feather
spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 on the bracers
spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 on the wand
Read magic on the jaw to see what those spells are, sharing that information with the others.

Hopefully that idendify's the first two.

Dhaavan takes some time to look over the items, eyes glowing with arcane sight, studying their auras to determine their function, and is slightly taken aback at reading the spells on the jaw as a couple are actually quite powerful.

"Let's put this haul inta the bag an' pass out these magical items real quick like, then get movin afore the Grindylow come back. I dunno why they haven't already," Dhaavan says looking about.

we can pass out some items to whoever'd be able to use em right now, anf figure out values and stuff later?

My eyes are currently on the water level - checking to see that the tides are not rising.

If we bested their champion, this may have caused them to flee in panic - but then again - they be reorganizing for a trap.

"We should not tarry here longer, if we can help it. The gear there's shiny, that I'll grant you; but we can break it down and assess it once we get back to the ship."

"Remember; Plugg wanted to sail at 6:00 PM tonight - with or without us. He may be generous enough to wait - but then again - he may not."

Not sure about the current time, but I have a hunch we'll be cutting it close if we don't hustle.

When I hear Sandara explain about the magic hat, my eyes widen in surprise, and I let out a great sigh of relief.

"That's damn good news then; damn good news."

"If we haul this stuff out to the water and swim a little past those reefs, we can call up this magic boat and skirt the island around the reefs until we hit the north edge; then, take a moment to sail through the break in the reefs; grab the second boat and our gear from the village, and then push forward to the ship," I say, the touch of excitement at the plan dulled only by the stress of the battle.

I am not so worried about legging it overland myself; though I fear that would take all day, even without stopping to rest - instead; it's Ratline that concerns me. His missing limbs may slow us considerably.

Once we are on the water, we should be able to move relatively quickly.

Aye - but what if you're attacked on the water, while sailing outside the reefs... Those things are not all accounted for, they may yet do that.

I consider that possibility a moment, but I know no other way to move Ratline quick enough to arrive at Plugg's deadline. Also, even if we are attacked on a boat or ship... as annoying as that is, at least is not as hard to plan actions as it would be while say, for example, swimming.

"Of course, for now we still need to get out of these caves; no telling how easy that will be - but I guess we'll have to do what we can."

I glance at Sandara and Ratline.

"Can either of you fight? Do you need arms, er... weapons," I say wincing at the bad pun, and avoiding Ratline's gaze.

I consider him a moment, then add -

"Rat, even though you may be hard pressed to fight - if we are attacked and you have potions, perhaps you could use them on the wounded, rather than trying to wield a blade. Then you could still help us in a pinch. At least, if you're agreeable, that is," I add.

"Sandy - can you channel your patron's healing like that again? If so - I'd reckon it would be best to keep you in the middle or our little rag-tag group. That way, if we're surrounded you'll likely be able to heal all of us quick, if you don't mind.." I say, glancing at the rest of the party, curious to know what they have to say next on these plans and ideas.

"Well, what do you all have to say on that idea - does it sound good, or not? If not, what should we do instead? Hell, I'm up for anything that works. I just want to get out of here and back aboard."

Feather is an Anchor Feather Token.

Bracers are Lesser Bracers of Archery

I'm all for getting out of here as soon as possible. Back the way we came then. I'll take point again if someone helps Ratline. Glad to get to you two, but let's get out first before we start celebrating.

Plan is to traverse back using the outside tunnels till we get back to the chamber where we climbed down.

I'm totally for that, just wanted to know what the new marching order was. I figured we could keep it the same, but put Rat and Sandy in the middle. She can help carry/move him, assuming everyone is agreeable to that.

I had hoped that if our party got attacked again, and from both sides, having Sandara in the middle to channel energy in a burst to help both sides of our group (if we are ambushed from both sides) would be good. That's why I asked her if she could Channel Energy again, today.

Also, I'm up for giving Ratline weapons to fight with, but I don't know how easy it would be for him to do that with one hand and one leg, so I figured he could hold potions. Again, if we got attacked, he may not be much for fighting, but he could at least pour a potion down the mouth of someone who is unconscious.

However, at this time I have no idea what Ratline our Sandara's opinions or capabilities are. I asked them/The GM specifically, but did not get a response on those questions. So I don't know what will happen.

Ratline is still unconscious though he has been healed quite a bit you suspect that the shock of losing the limbs and blood loss and such is a bit too much for his system.

Sandara looks up from her weeping and says I'm not sure if I have the energy again. I will try if it comes to it though.

She can channel 1d4 ⇒ 3 more times today.

Horatio, as you check the water levels it is definitely rising. You suspect you have about 20 minutes after all of the searching before this place is under water again.

Anyone else want to try to identify the wand?