DM Michael Cullen's Skull and Shackles

Game Master MichaelCullen

you were probably posting as I wrote the burning hands, can I take back my action? Considering these don't seem like bad pirates trying to threaten us with that last post.

perception: 10 + 2 = 12 taking 10
knowledge nature: 3 + 1d20 ⇒ 3 + (8) = 11
int: 1 + 1d20 ⇒ 1 + (13) = 14

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
knowledge nature: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
int: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Calah remembers seeing Scourge, but she can't recall talking or interacting with him in any way. She also tastes a faint hint of old almonds, but has no idea what that means.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Nature: 1d20 ⇒ 4 untrained

Int: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Yeah Jax, I am just a slow typer I guess. If you want to delete that post, it will work better that way, otherwise they were going to beat you up a bit. It was not a fight that could be (easily) won.

You may have missed this in my last post, it was kind of long but:
I will need a two climb checks, whomever has the highest total will make it to the top first. Getting less then a 5 on either check means falling off the mast and onto the deck and taking 1d6 damage.

climb: 1d20 ⇒ 11
climb: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Calah starts climbing up the rope but gets stuck somewhere halfway to the top. She yells downward in an effort to save face and win over the crowd.

"Dear mr. Plugg. As ye might be observin' my skill be not in climbin'. I be an excellent cook though! I once had a man eat his own testicle that I had cooked. He enjoyed it so much he ate the other one as well after being told what it was!"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Doreen walks up to the ropes and starts climbing, hoping to impress Plugg.

Climb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Climb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Aye Blue One, I have been lookin for a new cook's mate. You look a bit skinny for a good cook but, I will give you a shot. Go and report to the Galley and Report to Fishguts.

"Aye mr. Pluggs. I'm only so skinny because I left all the good food for the crew. They be a bunch o' fatty's they put pigs to shame!"

Thankful to be rid of this farce Calah jumps down limberly.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

She looks around the crowd, puts on a sweet smile and asks the prettiest looking female crewmember present (one that does not show a hateful glare): "Would ye be willing to show me to the Galley? I'd hate to get lost and upset Mr Plugg."

If Jax has to climb, he will take 10 for a 12.

Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Don't think you can take 10 since it is a race to the top. You'll have to roll

Craft (alchemy) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Arjun licks his teeth, a pensive look on his face as he considers the taste left in his mouth. He looks like he has realized something. But no time for that now...

Arjun gives a quick nod and begins to clamber up the mast, hoping to avoid losing his footing and falling.

Climb 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

But it appears that Doreen beats him to the top.

climb: 2 + 1d10 ⇒ 2 + (6) = 8
climb: 2 + 1d20 ⇒ 2 + (13) = 15

Don't forget you do not have your armors, so no armor check penalties on your climb and acrobatics checks ;)

Mr Plug looks at Doreen and Dimitrious, A decent showing you two, Either of you got any seafaring experience, know how to tie a knot or two do ye?

To everyone else but Calah, Looks like you lot will be sticking to the decks, don't worry there is plenty of work down here.

@Calah I will be sending you a PM in a minute with your next part of the story.

What follows is a harsh day of work but around sundown you are given a ration of rum and a chance to get some time off. What you do in your time off is up to you.
****Please PM with how you will spend your time off for the night.****
Some Possibilities:

Entertain the Crew, tonight's activities include arm wrestling and story telling, if you have something more entertaining or less mundane, they will be happy to see it.

Go Exploring: There are many places to check out aboard, not all of them you are allowed in, but will that stop you? Maybe just don't get caught. Places that you can explore include Captain's storage, Middle Hold, Quartermaster's and Cook's cabin, Galley, Quartermaster's store, lower hold and crew's berthing, Officer's Stateroom and Captain's Cabin. (Forewarning, if it seems like a bad idea, it might be.)

Gamble: You don't have much to gamble with yet but you may attempt some games of chance.

Thievery: Attempt to gather supplies or coin from those around you.

Go to bed: Just as it seems.

Something else: If you have a good idea, do it.

I apprenticed as a woodworker but alas it turned out my talents lied in a different field

Ok missed the climb but as long as no punishment that is fine (didn't want that job anyway) should I post Noro waking up? my last available online post was pre-story. otherwise just assume a litany of Tien cuss words and stern glares and an occasional almost right hook to someone.

Putting in a small dot as a place holder/Starting point. Will let me keep track of what's happening and easier to work Suny in. (^_^)

Noro, you can post about waking up but for now I need your activities from you time off after working the deck VIA PM.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

DM, sent ya the PM

I am going to go ahead and advance the narrative a bit, Night Actions from the first night can still go on via PM.

***Plot Advancing Post***
Before the crack of dawn you hear four strokes of the ships bell signaling 6 A.M. The rest of the crew gets up and rushes to get on deck. Once the crew get on deck it is clear that they are uneasy. Above you on the Foc'sle stands Captain Harrigan, Mr. Plugg, and Master Scourge. As well as one of the men press ganged the night you were. He is bound at the wrists and feet.

Mr. Plugg addresses the crew Jakes Magpie was caught last night sneaking into the Captains Cabin while holding a knife. It seems it was his intent to send the Captain into the afterlife. As a demonstration to the rest of the crew as to what this behavior brings he will be keelhauled thrice and then thrown to the sharks.

A line has already been passed under the keel so that one end of the line is tied to the railing on the port side and the other side on starboard.

Master Scourge ties one end of the line around the binding on Jakes wrist. The other end he wraps around a capstan and begins turning. As the capstan turns the line get wrapped around it and pulls Jakes under the hull of the ship. The hull is encrusted in barnacles and by the time Jakes is pulled up the other side he is dead.

Let this be a warning to all. Mr. Plugg says before the Captain returns to his cabin.

After the Captain has left Mr. Plugg instructs the crew, [b]There seems to be an infestation of rats aboard in the bilges, they are eating our food and spreading disease. Let's see how our new swabs fair in against this infestations.

Master Scourge leads you all down to the bilges.

A scuttle from the crew's berthing leads down to the bilges, they are dark cramped and filled with water up to the waist. Towards the aft of the ship you can see three rats the size of cats. The torch glow reflecting off their retinas. They swim about 20 feet in front of you.

You can use any weapons you have acquired or there are wooden boards that could be used as clubs, they do 1d6+str albeit with a -4 penalty to hit for being an improvised weapon.
Initiative
Rats: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Doreen: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Calah: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Dimitrious: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Noro: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Sunny: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Jax: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Arjun: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Kyranda: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Did Master Scourge return to the deck?

The rats are not as of yet interested in you. The Swim lazily 20 feet away.
Order: Bold indicate character has yet to go in the round.
rats
Doreen
Dimitrious
Jax
Sunny
Arjun
Noro
Calah
Kyranda

Master Scourge is watching from above through the scuttle. A grin on his face.

"If anyone needs a dagger, I have procured one from the kitchen. It is on my belt on my left side. Don't let them bite you, you might contract a disease."

Calah then grabs her sling and casts a spell. Three stones start to shine a little.

At work. Sorry I haven't had time to work on Sunny. :( To help out/Carry her weight in the fight/give people an idea as to her abilities. Her first level is in "Unarmed Fighter", so her Bab is at least 1. Very much cheers to all. (^_^)

By the way everyone had a lovely meal last night. It was absolutely fingerlickin' delicious. The crew were probably amazed by it as well.

Calah worked her miracle and rolled 27 on cooking.

@ Captives: Rewind to last night after Calah's awesome meal and before sleppytime.

I found 200' of hemp rope, a hammer and nails and a cutlass in the middle hold along with a Human that i thought was a prisoner but turns out is the ships enforcer a dimwitted fellow named Owlbear

Jax will cast magic missile on a rat damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Sorry about missing some post Fridays are extremely had for me to post on and so are the weekends, my main posting time is the weekdays minus friday
-----
skipping ahead to current time

Damn rats, I hate rats.. they make me feel ill all the time yucky

Dazing Touch (5/day)
can cause a living creature to become dazed for 1 round as a melee touch attack. Creatures with more Hit Dice than your cleric level are unaffected. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier.

Noro wades through the bilge water. rats, master skumface wants rats, let get him rats Noro's thoughts show her true feelings of the situation, but she does not make it known verbally.

She simply glares at Skumface as he peers down.

She then turns to the rats Noro attempts to grab a rat.

grapple attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Arjun takes a cue from Calah, "Don't mind me." and removes the dagger from the left side of her belt. He slashes at one of the rats.

Attack w/ dagger
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Critical confirmation
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Suny pulls some seeming slivers of wood from some where about her ragged clothes and gets ready to advance on the ratties.

Am workin' ona' character page as quick as I can be!

Rough HeroLab generated page behind tha' avatar.

Very much best wishes an' cheers ta' all! (^_^)

By the way everyone had a lovely meal last night. It was absolutely fingerlickin' delicious. The crew were probably amazed by it as well.

Calah worked her miracle and rolled 27 on cooking.

I was going to try to work that into the story but yes, the meal was by far better than what could be expected on a ship. When you get back topside most of the crew will probably be talking about it.

Jax sends a missile of force careening into the rat on the left. It looks stunned to be attack by some odd force.

Noro wades through the water and easily scoops up a rat.

Arjun slashes out with his blade. Eviscerating the rat before him.

The rat on the left has 3 damage.
The rat in the middle is grappled by Noro.
The rat on the right seems to be dead.

I am going to give Doreen a chance to post here before moving into round two.

"Are you going to eat it or kill it girl?" Calah asks Noro.
"I'm sure I can cook something better than rat tonight to fill your stomach." She jokingly adds.

We still don't know eachothers names ;) And by all means Michael, please do incorporate it. Calah will try her best to win over the crew into getting some more allies and its fun to rp it. Nice meals might help there.

The rat on the left stops swimming, and it turns feet up in the water.
@ Calah, Will do. ;)

I will unload on one of the rats with MM

1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

After Dimitrious's magic missile the only rat remaining is the one Noro is holding onto.

Noro simply snaps the rat's neck glaring toward Calah like she might be next.

damage: 1d3 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Looking back up at her observer she flings the dead rat at him

Now that the battle is over, he takes 10 on perception to search for treasure for a grand total of 12.

There is not too much readily apparent in the bilge besides stagnant water.

Well the rat does get an attack before Noro has a chance to apply that damage. Let's see how it does while grappled. bite attack: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 31d4 ⇒ 1Ahh yes hits AC 3

Seeing that the rats have been round up Master Scourge orders Back up on deck. As you head back up on deck he condescendingly says Looks like you can best... vermin.

The rest of the days work consists of:
Tending the sails for our riggers (profession sailor or dex check). DC10

Repairing the ship for our deck hands (profession sailor, woodworker or
something of the like, may be done untrained). DC 10

And cooking for our cook's mate (You may attempt to get a +4 on your Profession Chef check by succeeding at catching fresh fish with a successful DC 12 profession (fisherman) check which you may attempt untrained). You are looking for at least a DC10 Profession Chef check.

During the day you can see Calah climb down the sides of the ship with a large net and cast a spell. All of a sudden loads of fish come to the surface and just sit there waiting for something. Calah scoops them up with ease. "It seems fresh fish is on the menu tonight lads!"
She casts detect animal to see where nearby fish are so that she can easily pick them out with the net

profession fishinig: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

profession cooking: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Calah will ask Sandra to spread the truth about the increase in cooking standard.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Assumin' we still receive word of what happened the night before? Don't suppose I could have taken 10 on that cooking skill check, would have helped it get better ;). Not sure if there is pressure behind it or that I have enough time. A cook must taste and add spices as needed right?

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Taking 10 on Woodcrafting for 13

Noro moves back on deck, keeping an eye on scourge and any that seem to be associated with him, there is definitely something about him she does not trust.

Looks like you can best... vermin.

Noro replies, あなたは食物連鎖に1段低くなって、あまり問題になることはありません

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 15

the other crew conversation does not seem to interest Noro but she does nod in agreement.

Noro takes to the task set before her for the rest of the day.

[take 10 profession sailor] = 15

Climbing out of the bilges Suny sighs, even as she wrinkles her nose,

"Eeeeewwww...I be all stinky..." She looks down at the water dripping from herself and her ragged clothes, before simply removing them wiping the worst of the bilge scent from herself then going in search of more rags to affix to her person.

Perception:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

Hmmm... seems every one be attached to their rags. :P

She does her best to help out with chores around the ship. Though her lithe frame does not seem well suited to the heavier tasks at hand.

She offers to be an extra set of hands helping haul/clean fish.

So...even with 'Taking ten' Suny will still only be adding an 11. :/

profession sailor: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11
This is horrible, I hate being on a ship. This doesn't suit me, All though there are a lot of hansome looking people here, Hmm...

Arjun pockets the dagger from Calah following the fight with the rats. He looks up at Master Scourge through the grating and narrows his eyes for a moment.

Yes, we certainly can best vermin.

He joins the crew in hauling ropes and securing rigging, mostly keeping to himself. He is eager for night to come to allow him another opportunity to explore the ship.

Take 10 on Profession (sailor), total 14.