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

Game Master Pete who?

Magnus wonders why they weren't on their way to the village elders. Wasn't he clear in his orders? Asmodeans? He forgot he was in Cheliax... why are they in the gods forsaken place?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Kn: Religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

"Where is this 'wedding rock'?

"and who are what are these skum you talk about? A sea witch you say? She must be evil?

Magnus is not used to so many questions going through his head. He much prefers the simpler, direct mission... one that their Venture-Captain has put them on. He can understand how to deal with a wight or a goblin... but an investigation? Almost as confusing as that investigation he helped out on in Nerosyn... traitors in the Society... what next?

Appraise: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

"Out at Blackcove," Adler responds. "Not really that far out. I really don't know, everything seems fuzzy in my head. They," he shakes his head, trying to remember, "I can't recall much."

"Then let's get to Blackcove. Kyra, can you see if something is ailing this poor man? Fuzzy in the head doesn't sound quite right. You are a healer, right?"

Magnus looks for signs of the town, so that he can start walking that way.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Kyra nods as she steps forward to check on the poor man.

Heal Check 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Valeros is confused by all this talking. The fighting was really more his thing. Still, he tries to follow along... It was just so hard to concentrate.

Then, touched by inspiration (perhaps from Cayden Cailean himself!) Valeros remembers his tankard. That would surely help him understand this fishman and his skum wife's predicament. He takes a healthy slug of grog and puts on a very serious expression. Soon, this would all make sense. Soon.

Ezren shakes his head, his expression sour. Sounds like a trap to me, still, village has a history of rebellion, might be a serious problem. Better go "Right then. Lets go see whats up." He starts heading toward the village.

"The village seems a good starting place. I agree, let's go check on the village and learn what we can."

Kyra follows the rest as they head towards the village.

Flinders begins to tell the party what he knows of the area, but stops when the wizard speaks up. I knew that.....

Yes, let's head to the village. He says sulkingly, turning to following the party.

Valeros shrugs, not sure how the village is going to help them find the fisherman's skum wife. He decides to trust the others for now though. There's probably some nuance he missed. Trying to look confident, he follows.

You make your way to town, and rain starts to drizzle.

Hidden from the coastal road by overhanging cliffs, the
battered homes and hovels of this ramshackle fishing village
cling precariously to the coastline, tightly nestled among the
rocky crags. The tall, worn, stone tower of a lighthouse perches
on a natural jetty that intrudes rudely into the surf, breaking
the waves at awkward angles. Old boats tug gently against
several rough wooden piers as hard rain pelts the coastline.

The croaking of a wounded pelican disturbs the quiet.

"Nice place. Not to my flavor but still decent enough. So where do we start?" Kyra begins.

"Alder, can you bring us to the mayor? That would seem the likely place to start."

Magnus is surprised that the little fishing village seems peaceful, in spite of everything he has heard already. It appears there are no devils running rampant, no fires burning away everything that doesn't comply with the Chelaxian standards. From this distance, not that different than a Taldan fishing village, really.

You find Nicolaius Gavendi, constable without problems (Alder left you and went north to his own villagr). An aging, ugly man with distorted features and a keen shipman’s axe tucked in his belt, he is the town’s
constable.

"Constable, it had come to our attention that you have been having some trouble with townsfolk being taken by skim, or other creatures, out in the bay? And that you might be having trouble with some sea witch?

"We are adventurers, Pathfinders actually, and would like to help. What can you tell us about these nefarious goings on?"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25 Any one going to aid Magnus?

He whistles with arched brows, as if
this is just another day at sea. “Bah! Poor catch again!
Something stirs the deeps, and the fish flee in fear! We
haven’t had catches this poor in years!”

Something doesn't seem right here,,,

sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 Trying to see if Magnus detects any hesitancy, or covering up, etc.. Why isn't this man concerned about the missing people?

Valerios is disturbed to see that the town is probably too poor to have much of a bar. What's worse, his tankard has run dry. With a sullen expression he listens to the constable. Either he is starting to sober up, or there is something off about this man and thoIs place. Probably both. Ugh.

"When has this started happening? Do you have any idea?" Kyra asks as she is puzzled to see that the village is calm. No one's in panic or screaming for help here.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

"Something's not right here. Does he know he's speaking in rhyme?"

Bart stays quiet until some more definite information is found out.

Ezren sits next to the old-timer. "poorest catch in years you say? Thats rough. What are the stories about what stirs in the deeps?

Magnus senses that something is not right.
Nicolais snorts and tells you: join me to go to the lighthouse assembly."
With that he starts to head towards the lighthouse.

Trying to be subtle, Magnus asks, "Do any of the spell casters have Message memorized? Might be useful if we be split up."
bluff: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 not very subtle! but what do you expect from a paladin?

"I am concerned about our friend the constable here. He may be under some sort of compulsion."

Regardless, Magnus will follow the man. Hopefully someone more skilled at magic and healing will be able to figure this out,

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Flinders shakes his head in confusion. "I don't know the spell. Maybe he's talking about us being a poor catch. Either way, let's head to the lighthouse."

"I can only remember a few magical tricks at a time."

"Yes, let's follow. Lead the way, Constable!"

As darkness descends on Blackcove, previously unseen
villagers scurry from wrecked cottages toward the
lighthouse, some slowly picking their way over the slippery
rocks and rising tide.
The dark clouds of the storm bring a premature
evening, and as the sun sets over the rising western
waters, nervous glances usher the last of the villagers into
the safety of the lighthouse, and all ascend the rusty iron
stairs to the haven above.
Tightly packed into the cramped quarters of the lighthouse
are all of the villagers who remain in Blackcove. Numbering
less than forty, the bedraggled assembly exudes anxiety and
dismay. Their kinship is obvious, and most display the same
waxy and weathered skin, thinning hair that recedes sharply to
either side of a pronounced widow’s peak, and disarmingly dark
purple eyes. Phlegmatic coughs echo throughout the damp,
crowded room and it seems as if the community members’
constitutions have grown weak because of degeneration
following too many years of isolation.

When you arrive, a hush falls over the room; the only sounds are a
wet, labored breathing, the increasingly hard rain, and
the pounding surf below. With a nervous laugh, a strangely hunched man with a lopsided gait, breaks the silence: “Well, it looks like Adler found help, and here’s hoping they’ll be our salvation. I suppose we
should tell them about our troubles.”

"We are here to help yes. Do tell us what plagues your town?" Kyra steps forward, her hands up in a gesture of peace.

"That would be a good place to start, yes."

Looking over the assembly, it's not hard to tell that this town is in bad shape. Valeros nods along with the others and tries not to think about whether these people are planning to sacrifice them all to monsters or something.

He makes sure the doors aren't locked. Just in case.

Magnus approaches the hunched man. [b]"Are you in charge here? I am Magnus Landros, Paladin of the Silver Crusade, and these are my team mates from the Pathfinder Society. We are here to offer your town assistance, but as the Lady Kyra asks, we will need some more information.

This group of townsfolk troubles Magnus. They are too similar... he just cannot place his finger on it, but something, somehow, just seems towrong to him. However, this does not reduce his obligation to help these people. Perhaps it proves that they need it all the more.

The villagers seem to be afraid -

diplomacy check

"People of Blackcove, we are all friends here! We are here to help. You are not the first village that I have been called upon to save. You have nothing to fear from us! Nay, it is your oppressors that have much to fear! The power of Abadar shall judge the beasts from the sea, and by my hand I shall deliver his judgement!"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Any assists?

Flinders nods at Magnus's speech. "Yes, we are here to aid you in whatever way we can. Please, tell what is happening. Do not leave out even the smallest detail."

Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Valeros adds a heartfelt "Yar!" to the general harrumphing. He tries to hide his misgivings about this town and these people.

Aid Other Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 20

It was a really heartfelt 'yar'.

Ezren stays in the background, near the entrance, and just raises one eyebrow at the overblown rhetoric. Paladins... oh well. He's probably right.

Kyra Casts guidance on the Paladin even as she adds her voice to the Paladin's query.
"We are here to help after all."
Diplomacy Aid 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Kyra Casts guidance on the Paladin even as she adds her voice to the Paladin's query.

if I am not mistaken we are at 28 (21 + 1 + 3*2

As you talk to the villagers, you gain the following from them:
The
attacks on the village seem to come from the nearby
island of Nal-Kashel. The attacks on the village began shortly
after a villager named Gerlach started exploring the island
of Nal-Kashel. He never said what he witnessed, but all
agree he should not have trespassed. Dangerous creatures
lurk in the ancient ruins there, and old secrets are better
left alone. Gerlach visited the island frequently. Some fear Gerlach has died, and others curse his name
for upsetting whatever dwells on the island.
No one has seen Gerlach since the
attacks started weeks ago, when he disappeared from
his cottage. Villagers report he blamed the wedding
rock on Nal-Kashel for a “sickness,” but they explain
that going to the rock is simply an old tradition for
newlyweds. Children conceived on this honeymoon
night are blessed by the sea, but they must eventually
return to the waves to repay the gift.
Gerlach is a gillman, born with the
sea’s gifts, and is a talented sorcerer and alchemist,
concocting brews to aid his fellow fishermen.
His discoveries on Nal-Kashel drove him mad, and he
claimed to be “setting things right with his people.” The
villagers claim the island ruins are an old Azlanti city
full of dark magic. The island of Nal-Kashel was once an
Azlanti outpost, and the villagers claim to be descended
from the island’s original inhabitants, blessed with
pure Azlanti heritage. Many villagers are gillmen like
Gerlach and live below the waves, but they were the first
to disappear when the attacks began, fleeing into deeper
waters. Several claim to have seen relatives watching
from the sea during the recent attacks and fear Gerlach
is manipulating his people. Desperate for the attacks to
end, the villagers quickly gather a pile of hidden wealth,
offering you 2,000 gp for their aid.

"Well, I guess we'll have to make our way to this island of Nal-Kashel. We'll need to borrow a boat, I guess."

Magnus calls the group together, and speaks in a hushed tone, "Do any of you know how to sail? Not something we learned on the Landros Estate. My family was always part of the Taldan Horse, not the navy.

"Also, do you think we should go tonight, or wait until the dawn. I mean, we haven't used too many spells, but travel at night is always riskier. However, if you all think it is safe to sail at night, I shall back you up."

Turns to the townsfolk, "Of course we will take your mission. We will do what we can to find, and if necessary, dispatch this evil that Gerlach disturbed. You have my word on this!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Perform Oratory: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Rain pounds the lighthouse as lightning flashes, illuminating the
murmuring villagers. A shocked cry rings out, and the assembly
gazes nervously toward the stairwell leading down. There,
seawater creeps steadily upward, approaching the stain that
marks the highest tides and flooding the entire lower story.
One of the villagers cries out, and the villagers panic, creating a crowd. As your gaze wanders to a window, you see a villager clinging to the rotten mast of his keelboat, screaming as a giant tentacle reaches
up from the waves and drags him under.

Initiatives!

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Shaking off his impending hangover, Valeros leaps into the fray.

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Kyra startles at the sight.
"Sarenae Preserves us!!!"
Initiative 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

"Aw bloody hell, as if this town wasn't bad enough.
initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

The water rises to 12 feet. The tentacled horror attacks the lighthouse itself: the whole structure sways and shakes
violently. DC 15 Reflex save or fall prone.

Initiatives:
Flinders
Valeros
Eyen
Tentacled horror
Kyra
Bartholomew
Magnus

I'm not sure I understand. The water is twelve feet high in the lighthouse? Is there a way out of the lighthouse other than the stairs?

You are one floor above - 1st floor - basically ground floor is under water.