DM Stephens Serpents Skull Campaign - Chp1:The Smugglers Shiv (Inactive)

Game Master terok

It's a good thing you thought to bring that extra-long rope, Nora! Again. Again again. Anton shakes his head, mouth pursed and brow creased in a rueful, self-deprecating smile. And here I like to think of myself as a spelunker! If only I could carry it all, I'd definitely get some rope like that myself, once we got back to civilization. He nods admiringly.

Tragershen thanks Nora for the healing. I look forward to dining on it. Looking down the cliff, Tragershen grimaces. I'm not much of a climber. But if we want to go down, perhaps we can lower down those of us who are weaker climbers, or can't climb he adds with a nod at the wolf. If you lower me first, I have a spell I can use called Feather Fall in case of an accident. If someone falls, I can use it to before they hit ground. With another glace over the edge he'll say If we are going to take that route. But I can only use it once without taking time to prepare spells again.

You will be able to get down to the ledge by taking 10's on climb with a rope. The question is how to get out to the ship? it is about 200ft off the shore?

Anton bites his cheek and holds his chin, looking down pensively at the wreck. Okay, I probably should have considered this sooner. Maybe cut down some big, light pieces of wood and connect them with rope, so that we'll at least stay together and afloat?

Perhaps we should bypass this wreck for the moment. With our resources depleted... and not everyone being strong swimmers...

Nim stares at the vast stretch of water between the shoreline and the wreck. The greater threat may be what lies in wait beneath the waves...

Nim looks to the others. The risk seems to out weigh the reward at this point.

Is the tide in or out at this point? Will it make a difference as to the length and depth of water to traverse to the wreck?

Perhaps we can come back at low tide...

If we're going to wait until tomorrow, then I think we have time to build a proper raft. We can cut down and strip the logs up here, throw them down, tie off Nora's rope but leave it coiled, make camp, and eat lizard. If we get attacked by something that can't climb, then we can throw the rope down and escape easily; if not, we go down in the morning. Then, we strap the logs together into a raft, so that only one person needs to be in the water.

Anton looks at Nim, who has proven his strength several times over. Not to be morbid, but maybe we should trade water potions back, just in case something drags you under? I'd hate for you to drown -- and not just because then I'd be stranded on a raft, in a breastplate. Anton grins and winks. Seriously, please don't drown.

The surf is heavy and high low tide makes little difference on the edges of the island. You guess that on steep cliffs like these te water drops off very rapidly.

It would take a knowledge engineering check to create a raft sturdy enough to cross the strait as well as a profession sailing to get it over to the wreck. Swimming on some driftwood would be an easier option or magic.

Corbius looks at the crashing surf for a few moments then looks at Anton.

I agree with Nim on bypassing this wreck. There seems to be no shortage of wrecks on this island so surely there are some that are more accessible.

Turning back to looking at the ocean

Anyway, I am just not optimistic about our chances of getting a bunch of tied together logs surviving there and back when this place seems to be able to destroy perfectly good ships at will.

Anton ponders Corbius's words and sighs. "You're right, a raft isn't such a good idea. But if we just use driftwood for floats, then we'll be vulnerable to whatever lies beneath the waves. And we could use whatever resources we can get." He turns to Nim. "Maybe now would be a good time to use that potion of water walk? If it's too dangerous there, then you could just run back, and we'll know what to expect if we all go together; if not, then we'd get what we came for at a fraction of the time and risk."

If we had enough rope to get out there, it looks around two hundred feet or so, one of us with the water walk could tie a line on the wreck and the rest of us could pull ourselves across. Then when we are ready to leave the wreck, the last person could untie the line at that end and we can pull it back.

Nora spends some time extended her healing out into the group before looking out and considering the situation before them. She lets out a small huff "Well our healing resources are somewhat decreased, I'm willing to go along with what people think is the best decission in terms of doing this now or tommorow. We can camp up here on the cliff if needs be I suppose..."

As the party struggles down to discuss the situation she ventures a few opinions. "Well does anyone have any magic that can help us? I can get a spell after sunset that would give some-one a minute of air, which could be possibly useful... Tragershen? Nim?"

She waits to see what the others think on these things, though she does also offer "A raft might not be a bad idea, or some combination of magics as well perhaps?

Anton looks admiring at Tragershen's suggestion. "Oh nice! If it's too dangerous for one, then as long as the other end of the rope gets tied off at the reef, we could all go together -- excepting only our furry friend here." He gestures at Wicewakan. "But he could guard the beach end of the rope. And, there'd be no danger of getting off course like with a raft or float." Anton pauses, looking inward. "Even tying our ropes together, I'm not sure that we have enough without Nora's. For this plan to work, whoever goes down the cliff last would have to untie her rope, toss it out, and climb down without it. I have a kit that would help, but it would still be nice to have your feather fall handy, just in case." He nods at Tragershen.

I don't think any of my spells would be of particular use in this situation. I could help build a raft we could pull across if we happen to have the rope to pull ourselves across.

It would seem that our ranger friend here really wishes to explore that wreck... if this is what the group wishes to do, then tomorrow morning I can meditate on some patterns that will assist us in traversing the sea more easily. That is, of course, as long as one is comfortable being... altered... into a form more suitable for travel in the water... Nim returns Anton's wink.

And I will only be able to do this for two of us. I am loathe to use the elixirs on just a chance search of a wreck that may produce mere trinkets or even nothing of value at all. It doesn't seem like good value to trade the potions for a rusty ax and some moldy sail cloth.

Nim gestures to the wreck, It isn't like it is going anywhere, but in the morning I can cast my spell upon one of us and send that person to quickly explore the wreck. Fleeing at the first sign of trouble, keeping the potions and my other spell in reserve should rescue become necessary.

Nim checks the sky, noting the time of day. Perhaps in the meantime we explore a bit more of the jungle and return to camp. Something tells me we shouldn't be gone too long if we can help it. We can return here in the morning tomorrow.

6th of Lamashan

Anton nods at Nim's words. "That sounds good to me."

You decide to wait wait until tomorrow to explore the ship. You head back the way to came exploring a little more as you go.
Other than the jungle noises nothing else occurs for the day.

The other castaways are happy to see you back, they seem to be getting a little more confident that you won't just go off and die and never come back.

Sasha is doing a pretty good job of supplementing your supplies while you are gone and Ishirou and Aerys and now guarding and watching the camp. Jask seems content watching after the others and when seeing Tragershen still a little hurt heals him back up. Jelik is helping out a little but still not quite doing the job he could.

Any other RP you want to do with any of them?
Its the 7th of Lamashan when you awake...

You wake up the next morning new spells in hand and ready to meet the islands challenges.

When he gets a moment, Tragershen will pull Gelik aside and tell him about the outing the previous day. He'll give him as much detail as he can about the lizard attack. Just to inform you so that when we get back to civilization, you can compose the story of our stay and survival here. I expect you'll make a grand circuit with the eventual tale. In the meantime, just try to think of this he says gesturing at the campsite as your own personal tavern with a very, very captive audience.

Diplomacy 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

Tragershen, if you want you can use that as an aid another action? Remember all of you can try to help someone else in diplomacy...
Nim, where to next?
Also has someone kept track of the quests that were given to you so far by the castaways?

I have only kept track of the quest expressed directly to Nim. (Wasn't it spoilered?) I was assuming the others had likewise kept track of their own quests...

By the time the party returns to the camp, Nim is limping noticeably. After removing his boot, it is quite obvious that some sort of disease is affecting his foot. Nim frowns trying to recall if he has seen this kind of thing before. He looks up to Nora and the others for help in identifying the malady, Any idea what this might be?

Obviously frustrated at the turn of events, Nim spits, We are eating well, drinking purified water and tending to wounds immediately. What else can we do to ward off these infections? Better shelter? Nightly smudges?

Also has someone kept track of the quests that were given to you so far by the castaways?

Not yet, but I can do it tomorrow if the wi-fi is working where I'll be. Also some flextime RP with the castaways on the 6th.

By the time the party returns to the camp, Nim is limping noticeably. After removing his boot, it is quite obvious that some sort of disease is affecting his foot. Nim frowns trying to recall if he has seen this kind of thing before. He looks up to Nora and the others for help in identifying the malady, Any idea what this might be?

Obviously frustrated at the turn of events, Nim spits, We are eating well, drinking purified water and tending to wounds immediately. What else can we do to ward off these infections? Better shelter? Nightly smudges?

Untrained Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 14 Anton shrugs helplessly. "I don't know what we could do better. I lived with the Ijo in this same bay for a time, and I learned to be careful, but I don't remember it being this bad."

Still hoping someone diagnoses Nim's disease... and then the plan was to return to the wreck in the morning after memorizing touch of the sea...

I think we just need Nora to drop in to take a shot at the diagnoses.

DM, I'd love to make that an aid another roll on the Diplomacy check with Gelik.

I'll see if the disease is something Tragershen has read about...
Untrained heal check 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

I agree the plan was to try and check the wreck using touch of the sea.

Nora nods in agreement with the idea of exploring the wreck in the morning, when they are more specifically prepared to do so. "I think we should be careful at night... I mean more-so given a few of the things we've seen. But I think if we prepare a little better we should assault that wreck..." She looks at it wistfully as they turn back and than falls into her usual cheerful stride.

When they return to the camp she does her rounds, tending to anyone who is still sick. This is a bit of an odd request, but given how often we're having diseases and such, could we get a day to day situation report vis-a-vis healing, I'm having a hard time keeping track of who/what/how I should be dealing with things. Is all the temporary damage from before gone from people now? Is anyone still displaying symptoms? etc.

She looks over Nim's foot and purses her lips Heal check of 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

She will mention that "I have a few healing supplies still, but we should conserve them. Tending to wounds is a big deal, but I'm not sure what more we can do. Ultimately be careful in terms of what we come in contact with I suppose..."

She will also, of course, do the rounds, talking people up, making sure moral is high, joking a bit about who-ever gets the duty of cooking that lizard meat. Diplomacy check of 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

What did she learn? What does she know? :)

Good question. How many of us are suffering some malady? NPCs included.

What did she learn? What does she know? :)

Good question. How many of us are suffering some malady? NPCs included.

Anton and Nim are the only ones with active diseases. Anton should make another save each day as will Nim. Aerys was infected but is now back to full strength.

Nim appears to have boot soup. Anton currently has the same malady. You feel sluggish and can't move around normally. Dex damage 1d4 ⇒ 1.

You will heal that damage overnight but will need to save again tomorrow but get a +4 from Nora.

Perhaps we should have Nora and Jask conduct a check of everyone, PC and NPC, giving them an overall health check, whether they are aware of symptoms or not. That would give us a good summary of where we stand now in our war on the jungle.

The DM mentioned NPC quests. The only one I am aware of is Jask's. If others have been given out, would it be asking too much to know how has a quest from which NPC? I'm not necessarily asking the nature of the quest, just who has one from who so we can keep track.

Quests:
Ishirou - Corbrius
Sasha - Nim
Jask - Whole Party
Aerys - Nora.
Sorry was slammed at work all day and then game night (my tabletop Serpent's Skull game. Work has me buried so posting might slow down just a bit but hopefully not too much.

Nim appears to have boot soup. Anton currently has the same malady. You feel sluggish and can't move around normally. Dex damage 1d4.

Does Nora know of the simple "cure"? ;)

And no worries, life happens. :)

She can RP but for lack of that basically she tends it, puts some herbs and things on it and tells you to keep it clean and she will look at it every few hours.
Hence the +4 :)

She will also, of course, do the rounds, talking people up, making sure moral is high, joking a bit about who-ever gets the duty of cooking that lizard meat. Diplomacy check of 1d20+6

Anton plays along with Nora's joke, assuming the attitude of an indignant Taldane chef. "What do you mean, duty? I wouldn't let anyone else here anywhere near it! These are prime cuts, and what do any of you know about cooking monitor lizard? I halfway expect that I'd get anything from a thorough sterilization" -- gesturing at Nora -- "to a steak tartare!" gesturing at Nim with that last.

Untrained Perform Comedy/Aid a Nora with Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 19

While putting the meat on spits and affecting an outrageous accent, Anton proceeds to detail exactly how everyone else there would do it wrong. Then he simply props the lizard steaks over the campfire, and switches back to his regular way of speaking, turning back to look at everyone defensively -- mouth pursed, brow furrowed, looking side-to-side and shrugging slightly with elbows close and palms up -- "Well what were you expecting, haute cuisine? We're on a deserted island!"

She can RP but for lack of that basically she tends it, puts some herbs and things on it and tells you to keep it clean and she will look at it every few hours.

Hence the +4 :)

I'm not sure you caught my meaning. What knowledge or heal check would reveal the simple method of dispensing with boot soup? If you did catch my meaning, then I apologize.

Nim shakes his head at Anton's antics. I have had monitor lizard before... and you are doing it right. he adds with a smile. In a more serious tone he adds, And you know this island is not so deserted...

She can RP but for lack of that basically she tends it, puts some herbs and things on it and tells you to keep it clean and she will look at it every few hours.

Hence the +4 :)

Aw dang I would totally use the simple "cure", with a sufficient Will save for possible chickening.

Let's move things along. You treck across the jungle back to the wreck finally plotting out the best course there. You now know this section of the jungle pretty well now and know your trail in these parts it pretty good. You get to the tops of the cliffs and wait out the heat before making your make your way down.

As you prepare to make your way out onto the wreck...

Anton uses his Extraordinary Perception ability to examine the wreck, which he couldn't do last time because he used it to try and spot the monitor lizard before it attacked. It gives a +5 circumstance bonus, and Anton can already take 10 for 20, or take 20 for 30.

Anton spends a couple minutes examining the wreck closely as the group prepares for the excursion.

"So, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that the ship isn't just moored on the reef, it's totally wrecked. Hollowed out, bottom probably gone. I doubt that there's anything left, even in the cabins."

"The good news is that I actually noticed it this time, so we can spare the effort and go do something else. Explore the jungle maybe, looking for flora, fauna, Azlanti ruins, and whatever Corbius's intuition thinks might be out there that can help us."

Excellent observation, Anton. Perhaps you can lead us on? Either further along the coast, or to a higher vantage point where we might be able to get an idea of anything valuable around us.

You look over at the wreck, having no clue how the little halfing can actually see that. But the fact that he is able to spot things that most of you can't convinces you of his observations.

Getting back to camp on your current course only take you 30 minutes per hex now so you could go along the coast some or back into the jungle?

Nim awakens early and meditates to focus his mystical energies. spell selection altered

After making their way to the wreck and climbing down to the shoreline, Nim listens as Anton relates his observations using his keen perception. Realizing they are no longer going to explore the wreck, Nim opens his mouth to say something, but clamps his mouth shut again. He reaches up and gives the rope a sharp tug, ensuring it is still secured well enough to climb, and then looks back at the others.

Nim, I think the group left it up to you to determine your next course. Coastline at the top of the cliffs or in-land searching?

Ok, let me update the island map and get back to you. :)

EDIT: Just go coastline for now...

Nora seems a tad disappinted they won't be exploring another wreck today, still any exploring is good exploring in her bet. She looks over both Nim and Anton, not very happy that there two wilderness guys are suffering foot maladies. "Hmm, not sure how good it is for you guys to be tramping through the jungle... try and keep your feet dry though, we shoudl stop to check on that pretty often and I'll re-apply polstices and such..."

Otherwise she agree's more or less with the coastline idea, though she will voice that "...I think we should probably make sure we know the area around the cmap really well, sort of push back at the jungle a bit... but whatever you guys think..."

I'm going to retcon in a bit more rp for how Anton explained what he saw. "It has to do with how much it bends with the waves, see. It's way too flexible for how it looks from here, so it has to be practically empty behind that shell. The signs are subtle, but I'm certain."

Anton listens to Nora's suggestion. "I agree, but we're already prepared for going out in the water, so I think we might as well make the best of it and see if we find any other wrecks. Then tomorrow we can mix things up and just explore the jungle for a change."

Here is the updated map... let me know if anything needs correcting/adding. I have also changed to colored dots to represent our exploration of each hex. Comments?

UPDATED map

Nim nods in agreement with the idea to keep to the coast and look for more wrecks. He gestures for Anton to take the lead as they head further east in their search. move to hex G 4 with the intent to move then to F 4.5 and E 5 etc

You head SE skirting the coastline. Strong winds buffet you from the raging ocean limiting your hearing. Without Anton's keen ears you certainly wouldn't have heard them before you ran right near them. Ahead about 50' on a craggy section of the coastline Anton hears the squawking of some creatures from a last pile of stick, branches, and leaves.
He stops you and you wait for a few seconds before you are rewarded with a head sticking out of an apparent nest of Dimorphodon's. Looks like they haven't seen you yet. You can pretty easily bypass them...let me know.

Nim looks at the nest and back to the others. Trager, do you think you could put these creatures to sleep? I promised Sasha I would bring her a juvenile to train if I had the chance.

A little startled at Nim's suggestion, Tragershen quickly recovers then nods. That would make sense; something for her to focus on... I believe I could. Before I do, however, we might want to have a clear path of retreat prepared in case any adults are nearby and spot us. Do you have some twine or such handy? They wouldn't stay asleep long, and certainly not long enough to get it back to camp! You may want to restrain their little claws and jaws until we could get one or more back to camp.

When everyone is ready, Tragershen will cast Sleep on the nest, giving Nim a nod to let him know when the spell is complete.

I have rope, fishing line or a net to use... we should sneak in as close as we can, your spell at the ready. At the first sign they have spotted us, cast your spell. Anton and I can run up and try and grab one of the young... if it all works out we retreat again as quickly as we can. If things go sideways... well... I'm sure we all know what to do.

Does it look like one nest, or a series of nests? If there are more than one, is one more vulnerable or further away from the others?

Anton nods at the plan. "I have twine, if that helps."

Your best guess is one large nest from its size and the amount of noise.

You don't have to move up very far before you are spotted. You are able to get your spell off as the creatures seems busy with something...

Willpower Save 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Willpower Save 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

It suddenly gets quiet. You move up quickly and arrive at the top of the nest. You see 4 eggs in the nest and two of the creatures. You can easily finish the two if you wish?

If not you can take an egg and be on your way just before they awaken...

As soon as Nim realizes Tragershen has cast his spell, Nim jumps up and runs to the nest as quickly as he can, intent on grabbing a young Dimorphodon for Sasha...

Edit: ninja'd by the DM. :)

...Nim grabs an egg and takes off back towards the others at top speed.