Dungeon Blaster´s Skulls and Shackles Campaign

Game Master Tim Bürgers

Owlbear backs away at Valens hard punch.

Crying like a small child, he holds his beaten face in pain and yells: Ouwyyyy! Not beat no more, pleeeez!

A few steps later, he stands before Plugg and his flunkies. With a Kick, Plugg propels Owlbear forward. Fight, you cowardly wretch! Stupid idiot of an ox ye are!

Another man, probably one of Pluggs trustees, spits at Owlbear: Go back and fight, stupid! Our gold is at stake!

With tears in the eyes and a running nose, his face full of desperation and anguish, Owlbear barely is able to hold his fists up.

You wanna give him the rest or do you accept his infantile surrender?

Valen puts down his fists and shakes his head.

"No more beat, Owlbear. I accept your surrender. A battle well fought. Now you..."

Valen steps forward in between Owlbear and the man who spit at him. "You leave my tall feathered friend here alone, or I'll challenge you next in the ring." He spits a mouthful of blood at the fellow's feet.

A moronic smile can sometimes be the most wonderful reward one gets. Owlbear wipes his tears, sweat and blood from his face and looks somewhat surprised but very happy at Valen.

Owlbear is now helpful (!) towards Valen.

With a crude gesture, he offers Valen a handful of live crabs he kept in his pocket. Yummy!

From Mr. Pluggs flunky, Valen only gets a look that would kill, if looking could do that.

Back to work! Mr. Plugg shouts, clearly not amused about the outcome of the fight.

Making sure to collect up the winnings Ondir steps up to Valen and Owlbear, "Good fight you two, and a very noble ending. It seems Mr Plugg's amusement has ended." Casts a cure light wounds spell on each of the combatants, now that the fight is over.

Healing Valen: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Healing Owlbear: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

He guestures over Kithranna, Riffelan, and Antal. "Best we split this winnings quickly and get back to work." He looks at Antal then looks over Riffelan. He comments, "I'm pretty sure I can get a healer's kit from Grok. It seems like we might need it to fight off the disease from the rats." He looks towards Riffelan and Kithranna as he mentions disease.

Heal check to see if Riffelan has filth fever: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Heal check to see if Kithranna has filth fever: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

120 gold for the win or did we manage to get the bet up a bit? 24 if we don't want to buy a healer's kit. 14 if we buy a kit from the winnings. With the kit I can pretty much guarantee a +4 bonus to fight off the disease (+9 for the heal check).

Owlbear is now helpful towards Ondir.

Hehe, belly is feeling better now! Thank you, scaly-man! You nice one! I like!

400 XP for Owlbear. @Valen: Decide yourself if you want to keep the points or want to share.

Despite wanting to be greedy, they saved my bacon from the club. I'll share the XP. And I am fine with whatever choice we make on the healer's kit. I am not affected so it has no bearing on my health but it does on others.

Valen puts on a smile with a sarcastic salute to Mister Plugg. "Aye aye, Sir..."

Running his tongue along his teeth, he winces as he finds the empty pot and the cracked tooth. He feels Ondir lay his hands on Valen and lets out a slight moan of relief as he feels his wounds start to heal.

"Oh, by Gozreh, that is better. Thank you. Everyone."

He turns to each party member, giving a nod of acknowledgement.

"But we best get back to work, or else things might get worse."

Valen gives Owlbear a few friendly slaps on the back. "Good fight, Owlbear. You almost had me. We'll talk later, my large friend." Giving a final nod, he heads off to do his daily duties, stretching his arms to try and reduce the soreness from the fight.

Task 1d6 ⇒ 2 Rat Catcher

Rat catching huh? Should be easy enough. At least they don't hit like Owlbear.

Dex check 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Despite his soreness and his aching jaw, Valn still manages to keep up his speed to rid the ship of some of its miniature stowaways.

You may choose your daytime actions now.

I believe Ondir was heading down to see Grok, maybe now with the money from the fight he could get that healer's kit and can start making some rolls for tomorrow's saves against the filth fever.

After shopping he'll put all but the cork, the cheap tankard, and the dagger away into his locker. During the rest of the day Ondir is going to use the dagger to slowly scrape and carve a round hole in the bottom of the mug, small enough to not be too noticeable. I'll take any help in disposing of the rum discretely. Not sure how long this will take but being able to spill the rum without tipping the tankard would help hide the lack of rum I'm getting.

@Ondir: Make an apropriate craft-check against a DC of 10. If you succeed, your idea will bring you a future +2 circumstance-bonus on any attempt to stealthily dispose of the rum.

Greedily snatching up his winnings Kithranna will make way to his post

How much did we get in the take.

Task 1d6 ⇒ 2 Rat Catcher

Excellent Now I have a chance to poke around.

Hardly working Survival 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 - 4 = 20

Perception to see if the officers cabins are empty 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

If I believe they are Stealth to move in quietly without being noticed. 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16.

Perception to look around figure out who's cabin and if there is anything interesting. 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

I still believe we are on the same day I was fatigued from swapping the decks and when I made friends with Maheem. With the listed roll for filth fever and Ondir’s bonus I still failed the save by one. Ready for night stuff.

Well, I haven't made my check yet. It would depend on which DC used. The Dire Rat entry has down DC 11 Fort while the glossary has DC 12 for filth fever. If I recall you rolled a 7, with +4 you'd just scrape by the Rat's DC but not the glossary's

Craft check to make the hole and not crack the tankard: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Crude, but I think this will work. Ondir goes back to work, taking his time until that day's bloody hour, dinner, and rum.

Ondir is ready for the night. Everyone understands we're on a 30 ft by 90 ft, 3 floor (plus bilges) ship, right? Our "bunks" are hammock strung in the lower deck. The Quartermaster's shop, galley and a bunk for those two are on mid deck. There's only a handful of "cabins". One we come up through leads out to the open deck. The other has stairs up as well and exits onto the main deck. That's the only completely unexplored Cabin area, though one would guess we wouldn't walk up through the captain's cabin. The total floor space is only about 810 sq ft shared by about three dozen people. And that's being generous about measuring the floor space.

You gain 128 gold pieces from your betting.

@Kithranna: During the last few days, I guess you may have learned where each officer sleeps. On which one do you want to spy? Everyone has a locker, though, even if they don't have cabins. So you maybe take a look there as will, although it has its risks...

Ship's description seems right to me.

Mr Plugg is my first choice.

The officers' quarters are on the main deck. ...labeled A4 on the map. The doors are always locked and all of the officers have keys.

Wanna give it a try?

The maps we have aren't labeled... A4 is the left-hand cabin. The one I've been assuming we all travel through. One question though, if the doors are always locked and one set of stairs from mid deck leads through the officer's quarters and the other set of stairs lead through the captain's quarters, how do we get to and from the mid deck to the upper deck for our duties and when we go visit the quartermaster's store? Or is there another way up? The only other thing listed are the hatches from the main deck to the mid deck, generally used to lower cargo. I just noticed one of the hatches for cargo opens up half over the middle hold and half over the room Grok and Ambrose share.

Anyways, should I assume we buy the healer's kit or not? 15 gold and 6 silver is the split if we do. 25 gold and 6 silver if we don't. The fight should net everyone 80 xp as well.

Having finished repairs in his section of the rigging Ondir will watch for landmarks and watch the people working on the main deck to see what they are doing.

absolutely pick up the healers kit

Ondir spys Riff scrubbing away, pausing she wipes sweat away with her sleeve. Shaking her head in frustration she has a ragged look about her. Though it could be just the work.

I think, the stairs that seem to end in the captains quarters realy end on deck. I think, the map is just a bit messed up.

Not being adept at the thievery skills he will just check and see if they are locked if so will check around the floor looking for interesting bits. Unique items cargo. (might say where they get their goods from or where they would go to sell them.)

Have I understood this right? You want to check if the doors to the officers' quarters are locked, right?

Yes check and see if they are all locked.

As Kithranna touches the door to the officers' cabin, he hears hissing sound and a sharp harpoon shoots from the door.

attack:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24 damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Please make a fortitude-save vs. poison if you are hurt by the harpoon.

OUCH

Fort save 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

Currently -8 hps and bleeding out.

At least, the poison didn't get you...

Everybody: Make a Perception-check please. Who rolls highest, will hear Kithranna. If everyone rolls very low, I'll have to find another rescue...

Ouch in deed

Perception 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 4 - 2 = 15

Ooh, ouch-town population: you!

Perception 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Perception check w/ Adaptable Luck 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 2 = 20

Ouch, a hair rigger on touch.

Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

While he's watching those on deck he notices Kithranna sneaking around. A while later his sharp ears catches a sound. That sounded like... I better go check. Ondir will head down to where the sound. When he gets close and sees Kithranna down he'll cast stabilize and then seek out either Riffelan or Sandara for someone who might be able to cast some healing magic.

Unfortunately I'm out of first level spells. But stabilize is a ranged spell, so that's nice.

Riff goes a little whiter when she hears Ondir's whispered tale.

She rushes over to her fallen friend,Is he a lover or a bottomless purse? using her lips to deliver the spell she kisses the bloody wound.

Cure Light wounds 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Healing Damage to Kithranna.

Have yet to cast any spells this day, it being the day after we fought the rats as far as I can tell.

Currently -5 hps. but stable

ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..............

"What do you think, just get him back to his bunk? Bring another person off work to cast some cure spells?" Ondir says quietly. After a brief pause he asks, "Or maybe we can play this a little safer for Kithranna and us. Maybe even by some time for Antal's recovery. What do you think about trying to play this up as due to the fever? Obviously Antal's got it but if the fever takes enough people out of commission then it's a problem, right? Maybe we should get to Habbly Quarne and plead the case to head this fever issue off before it becomes a big issue. If we can get the ship's surgeon on board with that idea maybe we can get it past the task masters Mr Plugg and Master Scourge." He looks to Riffelan, "My acting isn't great, but what do you think? We got a good chance with that plan?"

Ondir and Riff: Make a stealth-check. So far, nobody seems to have noticed Kithrannas try to enter the officer's cabin... What do you do with the bloodied harpoon and the blood on the floor?

Stealth Check 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Looking around The Lucky Sea B!&+% silently prays that her name sake holds true.

No, I don’t think that’s a plausible plan, unless you can reset the trap this fool set off. What we need here is two scapegoats.

Riff rolls the half elf over striking a few tiny cuts on the backs of his hands, shoulder and forearms. These light cuts do a bit of damage 1d4 ⇒ 2 and elven blood flows again! But she quickly staunches it with another (her last) cure light wounds spell. Pirate Queen protect us in our skullduggery. 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4.

She then takes out Kith’s blade and cuts her right forearm, doing 1 point of damage. Smashes her forehead with it’s pommel 1d4 ⇒ 2 damage, and finally slashes across her cut, ruining her clothes and doing 1d4 ⇒ 4 damage.

Now bleeding and ragged she puts Kith’s knife in his limp hand. The she turns to Ondir Ok, seamen now it’s your turn. Remember the story is that you found us fighting so you took us both low to sort out the details. I will say that he reneged on his payment for assorted favors and I was taking my payment in blood. Things got heated and we crashed into the door setting off the trap by accident. It’s as like to keep us alive as anything else. Assorted as this will become they will have to kill all three of us and I don’t think they can afford being so far out down three crew.

If they don’t believe me, and they simply put Kith and I to the sword mayhap you will earn there good graces. Now draw your steel and slap me with the pummel!

Waking up drenched in sweat, Antal stumbles out of his cot looking for his friends. Speaking to Valen, "Where is everyone? This fever is killing me."

Valen wipes the sweat from his eyes as he stops patrolling for rats, watching a particularly quick one escape out of sight. Grimacing slightly at Antal's pale face, he gives a small shrug as he keeps his voice low.

"I haven't a clue. I saw Kith head down below earlier and I think I saw Riff and Ondir follow, but I can't be sure. My head is still swimming from that fight."

Stealth check 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Ondir jumps out of the way as Riffelan vigorously begins to execute her plan. He bumps into something, making a little bit of noise. Hopefully only starting to draw any attention to them. That doesn't seem like much of a plan, but she certainly just jumps in even before explaining her plan fully. So be it, I just hope this doesn't backfire on me. He steps back forward still just out of reach and draws his dagger.

He raises his voice, so as to make the scene appropriate, "Ye damn whore, you think about selling yourself and collecting your fee before the safety of this ship? Ye risk drawing the Pirate Queen's ire with your quarrel!" He pauses for only a bit before stepping forward to withing striking distance, "Can't ye see he's down! If ye keep at it, the captain might be down two sailors after they deal with ye!" With only a little warning he strikes Riffelan with the pommel of his dagger.

Strike with the pommel, non-lethal damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

I believe that puts Riffelan out. 7 points from your own hits, than 3 from mine, so that leaves you at 1 hp, with 3 non-lethal

Putting away his dagger he turns from his comrades, leaving things as is. He heads away from the scene, seeking out Master Scourge if he's not already alerted and coming towards them. They'll probably not like what I'm going to have to do, but the ship's man-at-arms is the one supposed to deal out punishment. "Master Scourge! There's some trouble here to be dealt with, sir."

Riffelan swoons, with her last thought.

F*ck, not in the mouth!

Scourge was already on his way to the scene. As he looks at this mess, he already starts an evil grin...

Well, well! What do my old eyes see here? Seems ye are in a lot'o troubles, Fishmaw...

Antal wanders down to find out what is going on with Kithranna. "Ondir, what in Besmara's undercoats is going on down here? I am sick for half a day and you guys start beating the tar out of each other.

Seeing the sprung trap, Antal starts piecing together what might have happened.

If Antal has time he will try to reset the trap.

Disable Device w/ last Adaptable Luck and Dex damage from fever
1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 2 = 21

In the quagmire that is unconsciousness Riff floats back to a screaming woman. Dark of skin, blind in one eye, and mean as a starved pig Aunty screamed when ever the soft hearted girl was bad. Sleeping in was the worst thing you could do in the morning. The little ivory skinned girl over slept, often.

Wake up you twit, lest I beat you again, Aunty yelled!

Riff jumped awake, stumbling and knocking over the end table near her bed. The cabinet teetered then fell, chipping a corner and denting the floor.

Aye, what’s that you clumsy little b*tch. Now the master will come down on us both. the old woman growled.

Riffelan flinched in anticipation of the blow, closing her eyes. Dodging her blows was easy enough, but it was worst than sleeping in.

My little knife is just under the pillow. She can’t beat anyone if her throat is cut. the child thought.

The blow came down with a hollow WHACK, straight across the collar bone, closed fist. Aunty hit the girl so hard that her head bounced off the floor.

When she awoke the girl found she did not know where she was. It took her several minutes to recognize that she was under her bed. Dry blood caked her lips, her shoulder and head throbbed to the beating of her little heart.

Aunty was years dead now. Who had killed the woman Riff thought as mother? Some little soft thing holding a tiny knife.

Is that pounding my heart or Aunty’s, mocking me from her black seat in Hell?

Scourge’s boots clomped down the last few steps.

"Trouble seems to find me, sir." Ondir turns slightly towards Antal and continues talking to Scourge, "At least I'm not in as much trouble as these two. I came across them starting to fight, I tried but I couldn't stop it before they really got into it. Apparently after Kithranna got a split from that bout with Owlbear then Riffelan came seeking her fee, for her services the last few nights. Apparently she takes more than gold as payment and the fight got heated. They crashed into everything." Ondir pauses momentarily as he's lost sight of the halfling. Where is that halfing now? I hope he's not doing anything that's going to mess up this story. It already seems like it's going to land me in too much trouble.

Perception check to see what Antal is doing 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Not able to catch Antal in the corner of his eyes he quickly continues with the concocted story, "After a few cuts to both they crash into the door there. The harpoon hit Kithranna and brought him down. Riffelan was still intent on taking her fee in blood, so I had to knock her out. Fortunately it took only one hit with the pommel. I made sure Kithranna wouldn't die, but this day's been too eventful for me to do much more. Everything was over very quickly, then I knew my duty was to report this to you, sir." Ondir looks at the face of Scourge trying to gauge what his response will be. Hopefully her story will hold a bit, maybe I can get just a few rope bashes, or a lash or two with the whip.

Valen follows the commotion and hears the story spilling out, waiting to see what trouble the "fight" might bring. Although the story isn't entirely unbelievable, he holds a shread of hope it is just a ruse.

Perception 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

The perception roll is to see if I see Antal along with the harpoon. If he can't set the trap, I may have to use it as an improvised weapon.

I guess, that means a lovely day in tha hotbox for each of ye!

Scourge yells happily over deck: Mr. Plugg, sir, we have two wonderful lovers here who'd like ta do some hot lovin' in the sweatbox!

Then he turns back to Riff and Kithranna, who take notice of their punishment-to-come half-consciously:

See ye two tomorrow morning on deck, where ye will be cooked together... Oh happy day! This wh0re's tongue will be so dry that she won't suck anymore d1cks for days!

See if I can’t Sc…Scc

The next thing Riff knows is that she is in the dreaded sweat box! It’s already terribly hot.

I shouldn’t have healed that pointy eared half breed. Scourge isn’t the only one practiced with whips around here and when we get out, he is in for some pain! She smiles knowingly Little f*cker may like it.

Looking at her minor wounds she sees that the bleeding has stopped and promptly sneezes as the on coming cold reminds her that it’s on the horizon. The action of the sneezing seeds Ondir’s love tap to throbbing. Riff is glad he didn’t knock any teeth loose. Not feeling terribly lucky she lays down, trying to catch some sleep before the real heat sets in.

Least he is alive.

I know there is a bit of time lapse here, but it works. She would heal a bit just from sleeping. In that way Riff has 3 of 8. Riff would wake up well in advance of Kith. Nonlethal goes away much more quickly than real damage. And unfortunately I don’t think a sweat box is the right place for getting your spells back. It doesn’t seem like that would make sense.

Without some Magical intervention Kith will not wake up for two days.

Coma sounds about right. Until I wake.......

Ondir winces a bit, Well there are worse punishements on this ship, since they don't respect keeping the crew alive when they are really lost into giving out the whip or keelhauling. Looking back at Kithranna, I better talk to Sandara or see to Kithranna in the morning. I'm not sure if He'll do so well in the sweatbox being so beat up as he is. Though maybe that would be a blessing.

So, what's the result of all this? A day in the sweatbox with both Kith and Riffelan being locked in on the same day? Is Ondir being put to the box as well or was the story enough for him to escape serious punishment? Those who are put to the box are they being put in for just 8 hours or longer? Are we all ready to do bloody hour, heal checks for disease, then the morning fight against the disease?

Antal will try to sneak out when he hears the sentence handed down by Scourge. Hopefully I can sneak them some food and water while they are in the hot box...that is if I am not hallucinating again.

Ignoring any calls for rum rations and bloody hour, Antal heads for his hammock, climbs in and hopes for at least some relief from the sweats and chills that have been wracking his body.

I am ready for the next day.

@Antal: You know that rum rations are a must. If you go to bed without drinking the rum, maybe you get punished... Do you really wanna try to skip the rum that way?

Kithranna and Riffelan have to stay the whole next day in the sweatbox. Even only the thought of all that heat, sweat, urine and confined space sends a shudder across the back.

Nighttime-Actions anybody?

Yes, Antal is deliberately ignoring the mandatory call for rum rations.