Dead Reckoning

Game Master Kruelaid

"You think that black-hearted bastard is still alive?"

"Well, what does ole Turin know? Nothing about that, no."

He seems nervous. It may be the sword at his throat.

"Anybody got a clue to as where the hell we are?"

Ryor fires the question while dragging a body up the beach. Turin nods offshore.

"This here be the Plimspan shoals, though maybe more to the south. The dunes roll out into the sea and lie below the surface - it ain't good sailin'. Book had a mind to run The Intractable aground but it dint work out so."

He looks up at Pulisfer, digging with a plank and framed in the sunrise.

"Inland that there is Qadiran sand."

He rubs the stumps of two fingers on his right hand.

Anyone feel like looking in the chest Bohdan rode ashore on? Bohdan, Pulsifer, and Nerius, your stats have returned to normal now. Since Arctaris is AFK for a few days, I'll take the liberty of the following:

Nerius sits in the sand watching Pulsifer dig. The crow pecks in some grass and talks in the hoarse voice of its species using a language only Nerius understands.

"There are others over yonder rise and down the beach," Nerius announces.

Pulsifer

Ryor checks out the chest

Disable device 1d20+6=17, (Theft) 1d20+9=14,(theft) 1d20+9=25,Perception 1d20+5=24

The Chest

There don't seem to be any traps, but the lock is formidable and without your tools opening it is almost impossible. The chest itself is beautiful, built of beautifully wrought carvings of demons and conjurers no doubt of Chelish origin and fortified with etched brass pins and corner pieces. It floated ashore quite high in the water suggesting that it may be waterproof. It will be a shame to hack it open with swords, but that may be the only way to get inside.

"Ryor that thing is locked for a reason. Now is not the time to tamper with it."

"I thought maybe our stuff is in there, but hey your right could be boxed demon for all I know".

"Ok. Three Fingers, we'll let you live but you have to swear by all that you hold dear that you'd not betray us. I don't have to describe to you the consequences of treachery. You have the look of a smart fellow."

"Three-fingers any clue as to whats in this chest?"

"A Demon I swears it...."

He looks straight into Ryor's eyes for a moment, but can barely contain his black toothed smile.

"Hehe. It's full of weapons and armour he strips off the prisoners. Yer stuff be in there I reckons. Now and then the crew grabs a piece or two afore it goes in, but we all gots our own these days. Right amazed I be that it floated ashore here. That be Gozreh's curse on Book. Wicked hell. He took that box from the cabin of a Chelish merchant last fall. A beauty."

"An interesting choice to swear by. Now hold up your hands while my friend Ryor frisks you for weapons." The Deceiver watches Three Fingers' monvements, his rapier never far from Three Fingers' neck.

Turin puts his hands behind his head. Inside sheaths sewn into the lining of his wool jacket you find 6 Masterwork Ribbon Daggers.

Stats:

"Thats all I has fellers. Don't leaves me out here without nothing to fends off the animals there. You wouldn't do that to a feller, would ye? I been straight with ye, I has. Yer all armed and I ain't a fool to be throwin' these at ye. I'll cooperates well, I will, I will."

"Would you trust anyone who would swear by a demon?"

"Yev gots a sword to me throat, Cordoba. Can't a feller tells a little joke?"

Rackham finishes digging the graves. After rolling the four bodies into their respective interments, he marks them with stones. A silent prayer ends the solemnities.

The old man casts about for a piece of rope. Finding a suitable piece, he ties the piece of strange rope on either end of the plank, then hoists it onto his shoulder.

"That's why you'll open that chest when the time comes Turin".

"That's why you'll open that chest when the time comes Turin".

Syd looks around to check if everyone is alright. If so he lends Pulsifer a hand burying the dead.

Rackham finishes digging the graves. After rolling the four bodies into their respective interments, he marks them with stones. A silent prayer ends the solemnities.

The old man casts about for a piece of rope. Finding a suitable piece, he ties the piece of strange rope on either end of the plank, then hoists it onto his shoulder.

Four mounds overlook the sea at the peak of the beach.

Are you going to crucify yourself? By the way, the plank was odd, not the rope, not that it really matters at the moment - but it might later on.

As for the rest of you: you seriously don't want to open the chest? Have I struck you as being that evil?

Nerius strolls south to a rise in the beach to spy on the others that his raven spotted earlier.

"Yev gots a sword to me throat, Cordoba. Can't a feller tells a little joke?"

"I don't like jokes unless I get to deliver the punchline." The Deceiver's eyes glint mischievously. "Ryor, leave our comedic friend over here with one of his daggers. The rest we keep for the moment."

"I'll opens the trunk for ye, just gives me yer sword."

He winks.

"Alright I'll give you chance to earn your sword."

"What does that means? Yous gonna gives it over?"

Licks his lips.

"You gots any water?"

"Sure why not... but first the box. No funny business now. I am irritable and kill without provocation."

You find 2 amphoras of wine and have 2 drowned pigs, but no water.

Under the watchful eye of Ryor with his heavy repeating crossbow, Turin takes the sword and starts hacking at the edge of the trunk. The wood is hard and it takes about 10 minutes of strenuous chopping for him to get it open: inside you find all your equipment including weapons, armour, spellbooks, and spell components - but none of the money you were carrying when captured.

Turin complains some more and asks again for water.

Are you going to crucify yourself? By the way, the plank was odd, not the rope, not that it really matters at the moment - but it might later on.

The rope was to tie the plank to himself so his hands were free. He has the plank.

Now step back and see how funny that sounded. Arguing over a damn plank. "Oh, but it's a special plank..."

"I guess we better start moving inland for water, all that hackin Turin's done to that chest has made me thirsty!"

Bohdan has gathered the bedraggled prisoners around him to comfort them. He kneels down next to them in the sand and performs a short prayer to Iomedae, asking for her help in getting these people back to civilization safely and without harm. A calm seems to fall over the small group and a warm tingling sensation emanates from them to cover everyone moving around nearby.

After the small ceremony he gets up and starts helping the others with salvaging what's salvageable.

"This here be the Plimspan shoals, though maybe more to the south. The dunes roll out into the sea and lie below the surface - it ain't good sailin'. Book had a mind to run The Intractable aground but it dint work out so."

He looks up at Pulisfer, digging with a plank and framed in the sunrise.

"Inland that there is Qadiran sand."

"Anyone know where this is, given the names the pirate has divulged?"

Turn undead/healing burst: 1d6=3

"I guess we could walk the coastline, but lets see what our more gifted companions think".

On the Golarion map it's the far eastern side of the map about midway down

"I sees ye gots some paper and ink in that there trunk. I could makes ye a map. I can do some navigatin': ole' Turin's dead reckonin' be straight sweary, it is."

The quill, parchment and ink belong to Pulsifer.

I assume you can spare a small sheet.

Turin draws a simple map, tells you that the closest civilized city is Katheer. He warns you that Book has friends in Katheer, and that all of you were to be moved there.

Turin's map

Ryor searches the beach again, seeking waterskins or a barrel.
Search/perception 1d20=13+5=18

There is rubble strewn on the beach to the south for about 100 yards, about as far as you can see. Nerius is laying on a dune that blocks your view any further, obviously watching something beyond your field of view. Maybe there is water that way.

Or there might be water inland.

If you skin the pigs you can make water skins from their hides. On the other hand, the skin is the best part of a spit roasted pig.

Ryor stands looking about leaning on his trident like a walking staff. He gazes the skies to the south and east. "We about done here?" he says to all assembled around him.

Nerius comes back from his watch.

"Another 400 yards past that dune to the south I saw Book and his men: Righty, Zahn, Hagnoose, Kamada, Mannick, Yin, and one of the girls from Sandpoint. They’ve got the Jon and he’s been lashed to the ground spread eagle with 4 stakes."

Looks at Turin.

"Mannick keeps looking our way, he even walked halfway to where I was hidden, but then turned back. There were a few more bodies between here and there, too, they’re all piled around Jon now. Anyway, Righty and Kamada have been swimming out to part of the wreck I guess, they brought back some small boxes and some kind of ball, or sphere, plus there’s some jettisoned cargo along the beach they’ve been going through getting equipment together."

Hope you don't mind Arctaris. With you AFK it was easier than spoilering it for someone and waiting. With the bird you seem the natural scout.

Syd gathers his gear together, and checks it over, "I fink so, we gotta check if any of the lads or gels made it alive."

Turin still has the sword he hacked open the locker with.

"Can I keeps this. Needs some sharpenin' now, it does," he frowns.

After taking his gear, the Deceiver tells Turin, "A share of Book's stash is yours if you'll help us against Book."

While Nerius tells you what he saw over the dune the girls butcher the drowned pigs and wrap some food in cloth they’re salvaged from the detritus washed ashore. Anyone who can carry anything extra gathers up food and supplies in preparation for a trip.

Additional weapons stored in the trunk ensure that even the girls and young man are well armed.

The clattering of dislodged gravel to the north alerts everyone that something is coming and everyone needs to look twice to be sure that they’re not dreaming. Ants the size of grown men are combing the beach for food that may have been washed ashore by the storm. There are 6 of them all around 100 feet away from the group - they span the beach from the water up to the trees and scrub.

Roll initiative please. There will be no surprise round.

Turin hears a noise and looks behind him.

"What about them things?"

>>>>>MAP<<<<<

Can we assume that everyone has recovered and equipped themselves with their respective gear?

"Remember what I told you, Turin."

Everyone is fully recovered and armed.

Casters may use prepared spells as normal.

Base party INIT = 20 (posted by Rad, hey, where'd it go?)

27 - The Deceiver: Init +7 (DEX 16)
24 - Ryor: Init +4 (DEX 18)
22 - Syd: Init +2 (DEX 14)
22 - Turin: Init +2 (DEX 14)
21 - Pulsifer: Init +1 (DEX 13), Nerius: Init +1 (DEX 13)
20 - Bohdan: Init +0 (DEX 10)
16 - Kids
14 - Ants

Please don't worry about posting out of turn, I'll put everything together.

Ryor moves to (J18)the base of the rock, He sticks his longsword and trident in the sand and pulls out the crossbow and fires a bolt at the giant ant (J35).1d20+5=22 dmg 1d10=6

Btw love the Map O'Mapper

The Deceiver moves to F18.

"This way!"

Turin runs to P17 and hides.

Hide: (1d20 7=21)

"By the gods I shoulda stayed on me pappy's fishin' boat."