Devil-spawn and Demon-taint: A Fiendish Take on Skull & Shackles (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

Obisyth - double move behind Plugg will get you down the stairs, so you can see the scene as laid out in Deader's spoiler. Not enough time to cast or the like - but applying your previous Sense Motive...

So you are saying there's only two of us and two of them left down here?

If you let Jape go by, then yes - there will be two on two.
If you stop Jape from getting to the ladder - then no.

Thanks

Cedricks moves aside to let Jape pass, but as he does so, the sly look he gives his companion is unmistakable.

Cedrick moves in "Suppose we'd best get to work then until that matter is sorted, whats that there you need a hand with?" Cedrick points and screws up his face as though something was REALLY amiss behind the two fellows...

Bluff 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Assuming the glance he gets back suggests Joneth is up for it, Cedrick is attempting to blindside this pair, sucker punching the nearest with his sap, seeking to get the jump on them.

Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

The remaining two swabs in the bilges take Cedrick's bluff hook line and sinker and turn to face the aft port corner where his accusatory digit lingered.

I've assumed that Cedrick strikes only if Joneth is up for it.
Then need to see Deader's forward plan before progressing things.

Correct, only if. Whatcha reckon Joneth, give them a makeover?

There is an almost imperceptible nod of agreement from Joneth in answer to Cedrick's look. Sure enough, as soon as the two pirates turn the other way, the rogue flicks his wrist and his bone-hilted dagger appears in his hand as he moves in to attack.

Melee attack (masterwork dagger) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage (piercing) 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Sneak attack 1d8 ⇒ 4

Far as I can tell, sneak attack applies, since the two seem unaware that they are about to be attacked. Also, not sure if Joneth's Shadow Stabber trait applies or not, but if it does, it means an additional 2 points of damage.

Yep sneak attack applies as does Shadow Stabber, both for first attack and the follow up.

Cedrick's sap strikes Maheem at the base of his neck staggering him before Joneth's blade slides effortlessly through his ribs. He goes down to rasping wet gasps and Syl is slow to react to his falling.

Action Tracker: Cedrick, Joneth, Syl

Just need Deader's response to the order to advance the main hold situation.

Cedrick pushes the attack...and moves to set up a flanker for Joneth

"Tickle his ribs Joneth"
Swift Action: Tactic - Precise Strike 1d6 Sneak Damage dice for party members. Joneth you'll score 1d6 extra sneak damage

Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

With one foe down, Joneth immediately turns to attack the other, his expression bereft of emotion. Reversing his grip on the dagger so that its blade faces down, the rogue attempts a slashing strike at Syl's throat as he takes advantage of the woman's slow reflexes and inaction.

Round 1

Melee attack (masterwork dagger) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Damage (slashing) 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Sneak attack 1d8 ⇒ 8
Precise Strike 1d6 ⇒ 2

Sneak attack 1d8

Ha we posted the same time, add your extra D6 sneak damage

Tactician is a standard action Cedrick, but no matter...

Cedrick's sap takes Syl in the kidney, causing her to spin and offering Joneth an open strike at her throat. It is laid bare from jowl to sternum and she drops like a stone. In six scant seconds you are alone once more, accompanied only by two bodies collapsed face down in the brackish water.

"They wont drown themselves for us Joneth, here, you get that one make sure they are dead."

Cedricks boot pushes Syls head into the murk as he lines up a final shot. Cedrick starts looking about for any cargo crates or the like.

Ahh it is too! Sorry was challenge that is immediate. How appropriate that the Demon Tiefling drowns someone on post 666

General plan: Without looking to make a mess (or more of one) Cedrick will try to make it look like some sort of accident, either a cargo pile fell down, they fell down a cargo hatch, or in a moment he will use Shatter to snap a beam and put a hole in the ship, sticking a shard of splintered wood into their cuts to look like they got hit by flying debris when the wood burst

It is definitely apropos that the demon uses 666 for a truly evil act.

Waiting on Deader here, great work cleaning up the mess in the bilge, or is that making a mess? I suppose it is all in the point of view.

"I am sure they do not have long," Joneth comments, but he nevertheless moves to stand right next to Maheem and then kneels down to get closer. "But there is no need for you to suffer any further. I will make it quick," he says softly, not quite sure whether the bleeding man can hear him or not, and then drives his dagger through the back of his fallen foe's neck and up in one swift motion.

Coup de grace 2d4 + 4 + 1d8 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 + (6) = 14

"You are a Saint I believe Joneth, far kinder than what they'd have given us. Now let us conceal this deed and be away."

DMVoV, per above, any good concealment options? Or will it be 'bust a plank' time?

Cedrick sees enough crates to make a show that they collapsed atop the dead ones.

No cargo hatches to fall down.
Shatter could crack a beam, or blow a crate apart, but wouldn't have enough force to bust through the hull of the ship proper.

Lol - Warp Wood - ah, what a great level 2 spell.

Cedrick drags the body to the crates, signalling for Joneth to do the same. "Bury them up a bit, Ill explode a crate and we can stick a few bits of wood into the holes"

Thats how it is then, endstate is to have the bodies half buried under the crates, with one seeming to have exploded and impaled them onfalling shards

Taking a brief moment to clean his dagger of the blood and return it to its hidden sheath, Joneth proceeds to do as instructed, dragging Maheem's body closer to the crates and using them to cover him up, making it a point to be less than gentle while doing so. "A bruise or a broken bone here and there might help make it a little more convincing," he offers.

"I appreciate such attention to detail" Cedrick nods genuinely, letting a box drop hard on the fallen body.

Deader continues shrieking and flailing, careening off crates, tripping over a coil of rope and tumbling down the stairs into the lower deck leaving smears of burning oil behind him.

couldn't make it all the way to the bilge ladder this round. One more...

For clarity - the stairs from the main hold down to the Lower deck, which then has the ladder to the Bilges is near forward.
To get to them, Deader will need to run past both Scourge and Plugg... potentially giving them an opportunity to act against you.
Just want to make sure that's understood in your proposed actions.

Sure, why not.

Above and High:

No one has emerged from below, though you can hear muffled sounds of yelling voices. A few of the crew turn to the stairs leading below and start to head that way.

In the Main Deck:

Deader acts as a screaming flailing burning windmill as he rushes through the hold and attempts to move by Scourge and Plugg. Plugg lets fly with a knee kick as Deader passes...
AoO Trip: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
...stealing his momentum and bringing him to the ground. Thinking him lost to reason, the officers then lay in with blade, boot and whip to subdue the flaming danger...
Cutlass o' Plugg: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 4 = 16 for 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Cat o' Scourge: 1d20 + 6 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 4 - 1 = 26 for 1d4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 = 7 non-lethal
...Plugg's wellmade cutlass opening a deep gash on Deader's back before Scourge's cat o' nine sends Deader's skull bouncing off the decking and his head dully ringing with pain and encroaching blackness.

Jape ascends the stairs from below and Scourge bellows "Quick, a bucket from the bilges... put out the weird fecker." while Plugg shouts at Kroop and Grok "Put that bloody fire out before it takes root." he also notices Obisyth's attempt to hide herself, but as of yet does nothing to make a scene of it.

Actions from Deader and Obisyth please, Deader is currently prone and next to the two officers.

Blood and Muck in the Bilges:

Just as you drag the dead bodies over to in front of the stacked crates... you are interrupted by Jape reappearing in a rush and hurry to descend the ladder...
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
...though in his haste he hasn't yet noticed the fact his two companions are no longer standing... but lying face down in the muck.

How far into the cover are we? Enough for it to look convincing yet? Or are we going to have to make this a bloody threesome?

Even with her general lack of insight, Obisyth quickly decides that knocking over the bucket assuredly notified the two senior scum bags of her following them. Deciding that the best option would be to continue to pretend to care about the boat, she immediately raises her hands and calls on the powers of nature to help quell the fire of her burning friend.

Cast: Create Water <-- can create 4 gallons of water within 35'. In this case I create it directly over Deader to put out the fire on him.

Cedrick - basically with the bodies in position but the crate stack not yet collapsed.
You could try and shatter the crate right now and bluff your way into it just having happened as Jape came down the ladder.
Or you could wait and see if he notices the bodies at all - he hasn't yet.

Nachni leans out of the crow's nest, trying to catch a glimpse of what could be going on down below. What the feck is going on down there?
Perception to see, hear or smell anything other than the commotion 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

As the crate explodes, Cedrick calls out "LOOK OUT!", he backpedals towards Jape..."GODS WHAT WAS THAT THING!?"

Bluff 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Deader twitches limply, still shrieking but no longer trying to resist. As the cool water rushes over him he stops, blinks, and focuses on the people above him.

"Thanks chaps. Yer peaches. Uh... What happened?"

And then he passes out.

including the small damage from the fire, I'm pretty sure Deader's in negatives now.

Main Hold:

Plugg's eyes narrow as Obisyth puts out Deader's clothes, but offers a cursory nod as he moves to where the tarred ropes and other cargo are aflame. Kroop and Grok emerge from their hidey holes with water and heavy canvas each to assist in putting out the fire as Scourge moves up top.

Deader - you should have Resist Fire 5 no? - I count you at zero HP now

Bilges:

Jape jumps with a start and backs away from the collapsing stack of crates. Seeing the bodies underneath he cries out, but the fact they don't move stops him from further inquiry. "Feck... no time, we'll get them later... your crazy arse dead friend's set the hold afire. Grab a bucket and come quick."

Top Deck:

Scourge emerges from the stairs leading down to shout "Fire in the hold! Move it, quick n' quench it"

A pause to allow for any final actions in the confusion of the fire before I wrap this up and move to the denouement.
The fire will be put out, but it will take a little while to do so.

Not getting immediately reprimanded, Obisyth again raises her hands and asks the powers of nature to create water to put out the fire.

Cast: Create Water - 4 gallons at a time. Will continue to do this until told to stop or the fire is out. Will also do it to refill the buckets of Cedrick and Joneth when/if they come upstairs to help them.

You're right. Guess he only passed out for a moment.

"And a fire on board too!? What the Hells is going on? Are we being attacked? Do you have our weapons?"

Cedrick follows Jape, a quick nod to Joneth to suggest we might follow this one and let him live.

After a relatively short time the fire amidst the main hold is brought first under control and then dies away. The tarred ropes smolder for some time before the officers are comforted enough that the flame is truly spent. Although the hold is blackened, the fire wrought little damage beyond some ruined wax cloth and some cords of rigging that will no longer be fit for use... however this does not dissuage Scourge from dragging the semi-conscious form of Deader above to tie off to the mast.

Cedrick and Joneth manage to remove themselves from the grim work in the bilges... for at least a short time. It is not until after the fire is quenched and Deader is tied to the mast that Jape has a word with Scourge and he stalks off below to see for himself. He is below for only a few minutes before he returns above with a grim disposition and dragging the corpse of Maheem behind him. His voice rises above the din and hubbub of the crew speaking of the fire to bellow "Bootlick and your inbred bloody friend get your arses here NOW!"

His cat of nine tails is in hand and his countenance brooks no opposition. Plugg moves to overlook the developing scene from the foredeck.

At this point in time, all crew are above deck and getting a bit of relief from the smoke and heat that was present in the main hold whilst it was afire.

Deader's grin was locked to his face while he tapped his feet where they neary swung, so high had he been hoosted. He groggily sang that odd little song of his and seemed not to have a care in the world.

"...and patiently th' angels wait t' take the burning people to the shore. They throw themselves into the sea an' in that sort of misery ya wonder if they'd ever died before."

"Inbred?" The question is asked to noone in particular, the tone behind it more quizzical than insulted. As he moves beside Cedrick, he whispers softly to the other man, "This does not bode well."

Is there enough chaos for Joneth to remove his dagger and wrist sheath and stash it somewhere? Or perhaps slip it to someone else, like Nachni or one of the friendly crew members?

Obisyth goes to the deck with everyone else, prepared for the worse and fingering her club at her side.

Sense Motive 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 trying to work out how this is unfolding, and what is going on.

Cedrick walks straight over "Jape said to leave 'em down there Boss, figured the fire was more important, when those boxes came down...well Jape was there, you saw it all, you tell it Jape" Cedrick looks to Jape expectantly.

Seeing Scourge emerge from the smoking hold with Deader, Nachni looks all around the seas surrounding the ship to make sure no dangers present themselves and then makes her way down to the deck. "Sea's clear boss!" she calls out to Plugg. "Need me back up in the nest or do you need help here or belowdeck?" She looks around for Joneth and Cedrick.
Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Nachni's call from above is answered with a dismissive look and order to "Stay"

Joneth - you can indeed hand off the dagger if you're so inclined - I'd suggest to Obisyth as she's closest right now.

Jape starts to open his mouth before a raised hand and look from Scourge turn him quiescent. Throwing Maheem down in front of him between himself and the two of tainted blood Scourge questions "Not from him... you tell it to me Bootlick." his knuckles whitening as they grip his whip tightly. Maheem lies face down on the deck, unmoving as though a statue.

The crew and officers crowd around to see what comes, a mixture of curiosity, anger and concern on their faces. But a space is left open at the heart of the crowd for Scourge to stand opposite the two he has called out.

"Right boss!" Nachni reverses direction and shimmies back up the mast to the nest. Activate derring-do to give allies +2 competence bonus to Dex skill checks (and a few other things, but that is probably most relevant at the moment).

"We should have grabbed that pair from under the boxes first, you're right boss, but Jape said there was a fire and we needed to come straight away. Said we could come back for 'em. He was there, that's what you said isn't it Jape? Something must be in the air Boss, fires, calamity... those bilges aren't safe, rats and spiders and worse"

"Geez, he looks pretty crook" Cedrick looks at Maheem

Scourge raises his whip ominously but does not yet lean into the blow. Instead he brays loud enough for all the crew to hear pointing with his free hand at Maheem's head "Explain, Bootlick - how Maheem ended up with a blade thrust up and under his skull? and Syl's still lying below, her throat cut open afore being pushed into the muck"

The prostrate corpse of Maheem has fallen with his hair smeared up and away from the nape of his neck. Those close can clearly see a clean dagger thrust wound driving up from below and into his brain.

"We left when the boxes collapsed on them pair, Jape was there, he ordered us away and not fetch em out, why don't you ask him... was he searched for weapons? Mine were taken by your very self Sir. Still have 'em I believe, took Joneths too you did. Maybe had Jape not come for us we'd be two more in the bilge, or maybe he knows something we dont, and thats why we was called away." There is almost an air of accusation.

Scourge steps forward and allows his whip arm to fall with a brutal stroke at Cedrick...
Cat o' Nine: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 non-lethal
...catching the seaman across the upper arm. He then growls "Lie to me again Bootlick... or give me cause to go for my axe..." and waits to see if Cedrick wants to revise his statement.

OK now we are the pointy end I supose it's that time

"OWW! Weren't me who stabbed nobody boss! The crates went down, thats what happened, we left em under em like Jape told us to and came for the fire, you took our blades off of me and Joneth both... come on Jape, why won't you speak up, you were a witness, you were there - are you hiding something?!"

Bluff 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"Mr Plugg, Sir, this is a stitch-up! Please Boss! Joneth and I were sent down there unarmed Mr Scourge even has my weapons still!"

Diplomacy 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Obisyth simply watches, completely confused by what is going on. She watches Scourge for any indication of what is happening.

If Joneth gives her a blade, she will slip it into her belt and continue watching.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 <-- watching Scourge for any signs of his intentions

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18 <-- do I see anyone else doing anything suspicious