DM PeteZero's PbP GameDay 2: PFS From Shore to Sea (Inactive)

Game Master Pete who?

Ships and sailors avoid Hellmouth Gulf for good reason. Sharp rocks jut from the waves all along its inhospitable coastline, like the gaping maw of some foul beast. A rough road runs the length of the coast, providing a safer choice for those averse to traveling across the sea.

Reporting for service is a tall Taldan man, resplendent in brightly polished plate. On his pauldrons are the symbols of Abadar and Aroden... and his tabard displays the family crest of an ancient Taldan line. The man takes a bow before the party, introducing himself:

I am Magnus Landros, Paladin of the Silver Crusade. The Master of the First Vault has taken this unworthy wretch under his wing, as my family has all but lost the grace of the god Aroden. While I do not believe The Last Azlanti has truly passed, for my sister has been touched by His blessing, I have had to follow another path.
My sword and my soul stand as a bastion against evil, and I shall not falter. I hope that we shall learn more of ancient Azlant, and perhaps learn more of the fate of the last of that race. Regardless, we shall do what we can for the people of Blackcove, and learn what plagues them!

A short halfling wearing resplendently fine clothing balances a shining mithral dagger on his finger as he walks along. "Well met, Magnus. My name is Barthomew, although my brothers so affectionately titled me "Black Bart" and I have come to prefer that moniker. I am, after all, the black sheep of the family-I suppose."

A low fog hangs along the shore, refusing to release its grip in the pervasive gloom of an overcast morning. The surf crashes against nearby cliffs, and the cold wind carries a spray of fine mist. But then a cry of distress rings out over the briny current! Shouts of pain echo as a fisherman in an old rowboat wields a single broken oar against an enormous crab. The man struggles to reach the rocks and the safety of a small inlet nearby.

"It seems there's some distress on the water. Let's make haste, everyone." Bart trots down to the water's edge-he quickly falls behind the others due to his short legs.

A tall man of Chelaxian heritage, but wearing Magnimarian style clothing walks in with a hint of a swagger. "Greetings! I am Flinders Offendurr."

'Water? Not my favorite place!'

Magnus Landros draws his magical cold iron falchion, and hurries to where the fisherman is struggling against the giant crab. If it is apparent that he cannot get to the crab on land or by wading, he will switch his crossbow (first putting the falchion away).

I am coming, good man! Be strong!

Magnus notes that Bartholomew (the halfling whose name is bigger than he is not actually falling behind him... due to his heavy armor.

Flinders looks up from his introduction as the others point out the floundering fisherman. "My word, let us come to this man's aid." Shouldering his pack, he chases after the group.

As you come to his rescue, the man and throws a rope toward shore.

I will attempt to grab the rope, to help haul him in. I assume this will be a CMB check, but alter the roll result if necessary.
grab rope: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

If I grab it, I will haul him in, heedless of any attacks by the crab. Damage I can always heal, by the grace of Abadar. Death to the poor fisherman does not heal so easily.

Magnus has to problems getting the rope, but the crabs start to go for the man, he looks like a tasty treat.

Initiatives

Initiative Giant Crabs: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

And strength checks to get the boat in

ooc: normally I'd roll group initiative, but as we are still waiting on two players you go ahead. Would speed things up, esp., to finish it in 3 months

initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
STR check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

"I have the rope! Get the crabs while I haul it in! If any of you are archers, let fly!

"And you damned crustaceans! Come at me! My valor should be a treat far beyond that of a common man! For Taldor and the Last of the Azlanti!"

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Bart helps pull on the rope:

Str: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Male Human Wizard [7] | AC 16 | HP 55/55 | Fort 8; ref 6; will 8: perception +1| init +2

Leaning on his cane, the white haired man shakes his head at the Paladin's bluster, but moves to get a good shot at the crab.

initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

A familar woman garbed in her order steps forward.
"Help in on the way. Stand valiant Old Man!!"

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Flinder begins casting a spell. "It is quite interesting, the morphology of giant crustaceans. What force drove them to grow so large? What are they preying on or being preyed upon by, that causes them to grow so large....."

Casting Sleep, targeting the the two westernmost crabs. DC 15

Magnus has no problems to pull the boat closer to shore. But the crabs seem to be attracted by their new foood source, which is now available to them and come onshore.
Somehow the sleep spell has no effect on them.

ooc: more strength checks

I assume that Black Bart is trying to aid another on my attempt to pull the boat in.

"Bartholomew! Do you have a bow that you could use? If not, perhaps you should grab my crossbow and start shooting the foul things!

Magnus has a Light Crossbow on his back.. with 10 cold iron bolts. It is medium sized, but even with a penalty, Bart's probably going to be able to hit more easily with it than Magnus.

"By the Gold-Fisted, you shall not fall!"
Strength: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Male Human Wizard [7] | AC 16 | HP 55/55 | Fort 8; ref 6; will 8: perception +1| init +2

"Well, lets see about that crab in the water then." Ezren raises his cane and points at the crab harassing the fisherman. As he quietly speaks the spell, four balls of light streak out and hit the crab.
magic missile: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3, 3, 3) + 4 = 15

Yeah, I was trying to aid but that's not likely to happen.

Bart takes the advice in stride and pulls out his own shortbow and aims for a crab.

attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Flinders curses as his spell fails. Stupid, mindless vermin! Come Flin, think my boy!

Flinders takes a step back, casting once more. Throwing a lump of lard on the ground, he creates a grease slick in front of himself, Bart, and under the two crabs.

Grease, DC 15

A drunk mercenary wonders out on to the beach. Well, 'mercenary' would be the kind description. 'Armed vagrant' might also work. Taking in the scene before him he shouts something slurred that might contain the words 'boat' and 'crab' but might also have been in the tongue of the Mwangi peoples. It's a bit hard to tell.

Looking down, he realizes he already has a bow in one hand, and his tankard in the others. An internal struggle plays over his face for a good moment, until, at last, he settles the tankard down with minimal spillage and lays an arrow upon the string.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 171d6 ⇒ 4

is the boat close enough in for us to wade out to him yet? If so...

"Valeros! Get into the water and pull the fisherman in! You are less heavily armored than I, so you should be ok!

"Everyone else, focus fire on the one in the water. Once the man is safe, we can engage those on land! Let me take point... I can take a hit!"

Maybe by taking charge, Aroden will notice him. Otherwise, at least he is showing Abadar he is willing to risk all for others.

Kyra moves to aid Magus in pulling the boat.
Aid Another VS DC 10, Str Check 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Nope....
"I hear you and I'm ready"

Action for next round will be to follow Magnus's plan.

Magnus pulls the man further in, and as the solid missiles surge past him, with Valeros mighty swing, you take uot the first crab. Looks like you get something nice for dinner tonight. One tries to claw Valeros.
The two crabs fall, being mindless, they to stand - free strikes

Ref save crab3: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Ref save crab4: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

vs Valeros
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Trying to stand up
Ref save crab3: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Ref save crab4: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

And then try to claw Flinders
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

And as it hits, tries to hold onto him - grapple check:
CMB: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Group is up

Kyra moves up to assist her companion swinging her scimitar at the offending thing.
Scimitar slash 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 161d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Updated Map

Now with crabs on the beach nearby, Bart drops his bow and pulls a dagger as he moves around the crab.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

He then stabs at the crab between himself and Flinders.

+1 mithral dagger: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
damage with sneak: 1d3 + 2 + 2d8 ⇒ (1) + 2 + (3, 1) = 7

Flinders curses as his spell fails. Stupid, mindless vermin! Come Flin, think my boy!

Flinders takes a step back, casting once more. Throwing a lump of lard on the ground, he creates a grease slick in front of himself, Bart, and under the two crabs.

Grease, DC 15

Sorry, I should have posted an ooc description, but Flin should have taken a five foot backward and laid the grease in front of him, Bart and the crabs, so the crabs would have spent a move to stand up and a move to come forward.

ooc: amended and no attack on Flinders

Flinders draws his rapier and stabs at the crab in front of him.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

If the boat is still not at the shore (as appears in the Kyra's map), Magnus will still keep pulling on the rope, trying to get the beleaguered man to shore before it is too late.

pulling rope (STR): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

If he is 10' of the shore, Magnus will push out (single move with difficult terrain), and lay on hands on the poor fellow (won't even bother with a Heal check, since it wouldn't matter). I am going to assume that he is not sickened, so Greater Mercy will apply

Lay On Hands: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 2) = 11

"Are you all right, my good man?" Magnus yells at the fisherman? "Can you help?

Male Human Wizard [7] | AC 16 | HP 55/55 | Fort 8; ref 6; will 8: perception +1| init +2

Lets see, those two should be okay with the crab in front of them. They're wearing enough metal that I don't think I need to worry yet. so...
Staying right where he is, Ezren chants and gestures again. This time a pair of firey beams flies forth. One for each of the crabs in the grease.
attack v. touch ac crab 3: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 114d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 3, 4) = 13
attack v. touch ac crab 4: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 144d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 4, 5) = 18
-4 penalty for firing into melee is included.

Valeros shouts out some brave words, or, at the very least, loud words. 'Crabs' might have been one of them. But while his speech may be impaired it would seem his sword arm is not. He quickly rushes another crab and attacks.

attack with longsword: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 161d8 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

map?

Magnus has no problems getting the boat in. Ezren hiuts bothy crabs, and one of it is alreay boiled. Also Valeros hands a solid hit on the crab in front of him.
"Thank you, I am fine, just get these crabs off me."

crab - 0 damage
crab#2 - 13 damage
crab#3 - 13 damage

The crab tries again to chew on the man.
And one sees flinders as a meal, the other Valeros.

vs. Flinders
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

vs. Valeros
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

crit confirm
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

trying to grab Valeros
CMB: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

map link is on top of the page - that's where I will always put the up to date map

Flinders stabs once more at the crab in front of him.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Taking the man's word for it, Magnus drops the rope now that the boat is ashore. He draws his falchion, and attacks the crab that is adjacent to Valeros and himself.

power attacking crab: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 for damage: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (1, 2) + 10 = 13

When it drops, get to shore!

If Flinders hasn't taken down the crab near him, Bart continues to stab it.

+1 mithral dagger: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 2 = 18
damage with sneak: 1d3 + 2 + 2d8 ⇒ (3) + 2 + (1, 6) = 12

Mid-round update: Flinders and Bartolomew take out the next crab, whereas Magnus misses.

Kyra moves along to render any healing if needed.
Map

Male Human Wizard [7] | AC 16 | HP 55/55 | Fort 8; ref 6; will 8: perception +1| init +2

Ezren sends his cane out to smite the crab farthest from shore.

Using hand of the apprentice 7 left for the day, -4 for fireing into melee included
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 181d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Ezren smites the crab successfully. This one still tries tyo chew on the man, the other, having grabbed Valeros, tries to hold on.

CMB: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8

crab - 5 damage
crab#2 - 13 damage

I'm guessing the party is up?

Flinders circles around Valeros and stabs at the crab.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Yes, sure, sorry forgot to add it to my post

If the party has no problems with it, I am happy to end a fight early - makes no sense to beat the crabs for another day.

you have no problems getting rid of the last crabs.

The man sighs in relief, as he is saved now, and introduces himself as Alder. The fisherman pulls at his wet, ruined clothes as he wipes seawater from his many lacerations and licks his cracked, sunburnt lips. “Can you help Blackcove? Something has riled up the creatures of the deep—unnatural, shambling things! They come out of the waves and take people in the night! Just like they stole my wife!”

"Your plea for help shall not go unanswered! We shall help you as the best to our ability. Won't we?" the last directed towards he companions as the fire in her eyes intensifies with determination.

"Verily, I pledge my blade and my blood to this cause! Goodman Alder, we shall do everything in our power to rescue your wife and the rest of the townspeople.

"How long ago was it when your wife was taken, and where was she taken from?"

Pete, just let us know if there was any need for healing... Magnus has plenty of Lay On Hands, and I am sure Kyra has a TON of Channel Energies if more than a couple of people are hurt.

"I am glad to see you are safe, Alder. Anything you can tell us to help us on this quest will see our success come all the quicker."

Knowledge Nobility: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 (trying to decide what proper protocol would be here)
Magnus thinks for a moment, deciding what the proper protocol for this action would be... failing to come up with the "proper" protocol, he bellows out...

"You must bring us to the mayor of Blackcove! We must talk with him, and declare that we are going to save this town. He undoubtedly will have further instructions for us.

"To the mayor's house!! On the double! We cannot dally!"

Such is how Magnus's mind works... always look to the proper authority.

Male Human Wizard [7] | AC 16 | HP 55/55 | Fort 8; ref 6; will 8: perception +1| init +2

Ezren resists the urge to shake his cane at the ocean and shout something about staying off his beach. Instead, he leans on his cane and listens, thinking about possible causes. Had something similar happened in the past? Are there spells that could cause this? What about natural events?

knowledge history: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28
knowledge nature: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

Ezren can recall quite a lot of details about the village:
The village of Blackcove is small and isolated, nestled among the cliffs and crags of the Hellmouth Gulf and protected, for the most part, from both outside intrusion and government interference. Due to its position far below the road, many travelers pass by without noticing the sheltered village below.
The village has not completely escaped official notice, however. The sunken spires off the coast are as dangerous as any hidden reef, and the Chelish government erected a lighthouse in 4303 ar to ward off ships. Later, in response to a mandate from the church of Asmodeus in 4653 ar, inquisitors and missionaries scoured Cheliax to convert temples displeasing to the diabolical faith and to convince local populations to pay tithes to the Prince of Darkness.
Blackcove was no exception, and locals have long resented the dededication to Asmodeus of the coral-built shrine that stands on the cliffs above the village. When fish stopped appearing in their nets after the consecration of the shrine, however, the villagers took steps to improve their catches.

“Actually I am not from Blackcove," he relates, "I am attempting to return to my home village up the coast to recruit help. I got married to Sara a week ago. She insisted we follow tradition and row to the wedding rock, but then,” and tears begin flowing from his eyes, “several skum arrived and snatched her from me. They must have been conjured by some “sea witch” on the island. So please help to protect the remaining villagers from similar mishappenings and that none them experiences the fate of my bride.”
He unwraps a wet cloth and offers you a golden comb in the shape of a manta ray in exchange for an agreement to aid the surviving villagers, saying, “The villagers gave me this—and promise more if only you’ll help! Sara was just a pretty fisherman’s daughter—she didn’t deserve this!”

Flinders listens carefully to the man's tale and examines the comb when given.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

The man, as far as Flinders can tell, tells the truth.
The comb is nice, maybe worth a lot but non-magical.

Appraise?