GM Aarvid PFS #3-09: The Quest for Perfection - CORE (Inactive)

Game Master GM Aarvid

"I'll let you guys be reasonable. We at least need that chain out of the river."

Ruth steps up to join Meredith. "How can we help you gentlemen?"

As you dock the Laughing Crow, the official and 3 of the guards with short bows stride out onto dock.

The official calls out...

"Ship captain, secure your ship to the dock. I am commissioner Sun Cheyeng. This Lingshen Kingdom checkpoint exists to stop cargo ships so we may assess the value of whatever goods they are carrying in order to properly tax them. Prepare to be officially boarded on the grounds any cargo you carry is subject to Lingshen’s tariffs. "

As Meredith guides the boat up to the dock, the official and three soldiers walk out onto the docks.

"Quickly, now. We do not have all day. The river is very busy. Secure your vessel to the dock and stand back so that we can take proper inventory of your cargo for the tariff."

Map has been updated

"That is better. Now, who is the captain of this vessel? I need to get a signature and seal for the cargo manifest."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14 Saldoc wonders if these are truly officials or merely bandits.

Huck nods for Meredith to take the lead. "We don't really have many supplies. We're not much interested in mercantile efforts, really. Just visitors and historians."

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

The official sneers at Friar Huck.

Are YOU the captain of this vessel? I said I need to speak to the captain, boy.

He looks back to Meredith to get a response.

Otherwise, I will order my men to start their search immediately.

Search for what? You looking for something in particular? We're not slave traders or anything. Saldoc looks to get to the truth.

"Yeah, yeah, hold your horses. I'm the captain." Meredith steps forward. "Hurry up with your inspection, I don't have all day."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

The official nods to Meredith and motions his 3 solders forward to check the hold of the ship. They seem to be taking special interest with the casks of incense you loaded back at the shrines.

"We found some expensive looking cargo down here, Sir. Looks like 5 casks of costly incense. Otherwise some food supplies and water."

Meanwhile, commissioner Sun Cheyeng stays on the docks talking to Meredith and seems to be scanning each of you, especially Saldoc.

"Yes, so you said something about being historians? What are historians doing this Far East? Are you making a delivery perhaps?"

Meredith you can also read Saldoc's spoiler

The three guards mill about the ship, making counts and moving crates and barrels as needed.

Meredith keeps her mouth shut as the inspector barks orders. She's never respected most authorities, and something about this man especially irritates her. He seems so insistent on searching the ship carefully. He found the incense but hasn't bothered to tax it. It's like he's looking specifically for the-

"You're a terrible liar and a terrible inspector. I'm giving you one chance to call your men off or I'll beat you senseless." Meredith shuffles her feet wide, ready to spring upon the inspector like a tiger.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Saldoc's eyes open wide with surprise as the "captain" challenges the men. I hope she knows what she's doing...

Ruth draws her sword to back up Meredith. "Remove your self from our ship or we will remove you!" An arcane spark runs up her large blade.

Intimidate: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (7) - 2 = 5

Well no help here but I tried.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Huck is surprised by this turn of tone but since Meredith is the 'captain', he decides to play along. "Liar? I don't much care for liars. Is this man lying to us?"

The official tries unsuccessfully to pretend he is not intimidated.

You...you cannot speak to me like that! I am Sun Cheyeng commissioned to arrest you! I...I demand your respect! Guards kill them!

He steps back, obviously not a warrior, the guards however, at the sign of trouble will also draw their blades.

Assuming surprise actions covered, the intimidate and drawing of weapons. Full round actions for both sides below

=== Round 1 ===
1. Huck(21), Saldoc(18) <=== GO!
2. 3 Guards(17)
3. Ruth(14)
4. Leader(10, cowed)
5. Meredith(9)

Huck and Saldoc react the quickest as blades are drawn and harsh words exchanged.

Saldoc holds his ground, though he wishes he could be in better position to fight from! At least he's flatfoot, right?

Shortsword: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 for Damage with Sneak: 1d6 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 2 + (3) = 10
Shortsword: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19 for Damage with Sneak: 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 1 + (5) = 12

@Saldoc, yes he is flat footed. I will assume you drew your blades in the surprise round, otherwise you could only make one attack here.

Saldoc stabs with his first blade and misses, but the second runs the guard through and he drops his short blade, and crumbles bleeding to the deck of your ship.

Lingshen...I serve.

Huck is on the clock...

Huck steps back and tries to grab one of the guards before he can get too far.

grapple: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Friar Huck easily catches the second guard off guard and manages to get him into a half-nelson.

Let go of me you little punk!

He tries to stab Huck with his free hand and short sword.

sword: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 - 2 = 8 for
dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

But he has to swing akwardly and cannot manage to reach the nimble halfling.

STOP! you cannot disobey us.

The other one on the forecastle, comes down to stab at Ruth with his own short blade.

sword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 for
dmg vs FF: 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 1 + (6) = 13

But he stumbles and Ruth's armor turns the blade aside.

stabilize: 1d20 ⇒ 18 for downed guard as he stops bleeding

=== Round 1 ===
1. Huck (grappled), Saldoc
2. GuardA(grappled), GuardB(prone, stable -1), GuardC()
3. Ruth() <=== GO!
4. Leader(cowed)
5. Meredith()

Ruth swing her greatsword around at the man next to her. "You should have left us alone when we gave you the chance!! Arrah!"

Melee Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5, 6) + 3 + 1 = 15

Ruth slashes out at the 3rd guard and drops him as well.

With that the leader's eyes go wide and his face goes pale. He takes off running (withdrawing as double move).

You...you will be sorry! You have not seen the last of me!

=== Round 2 ===
1. Meredith, Huck(grappling), Saldoc() <=== GO!
2. Guards (1 grappled, 1 stable, 1 bleeding)
3. Ruth()
4. Leader(fled)

Saldoc sees the man run away. Well, I guess we can subdue this one. Dropping a sword and drawing his sap, Saldoc will try to knock the grappled guard out.

Sap!: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14 for Non-Lethal: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Shortsword, non-lethal: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 1 - 4 = 6 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Meredith considers chasing him, but she'd rather be on her way.

She helps Saldoc KO the last guard.

Improved Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Nonlethal Damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

...or not.

maintain: 1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 5 = 12

Hmm... probably not.

Huck tries to hold on as the others hit the man, but his heart isn't in it now that they are surrendering. "Oh, let him go. Shelyn's blessings be upon them, they probably just wanted to feed their families."

Meredith falls back to help Huck with the struggling guard, but her punch goes wide.

Huck tries to restrain the larger man, but he wriggles free...just in time to avoid both of Saldoc's blows.

You dogs will be hunted down once our leader summons the rest of our detachment! he spits on the deck.

With renewed energy, he swings wildly over Huck's head.

sword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 for dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Meanwhile , the other fallen guard stops bleeding.

1d20 ⇒ 17

=== Round 2 ===
1. Meredith, Huck(), Saldoc()
2. Guards (1 fighting, 1 stable, 1 stable)
3. Ruth() <=== GO!
4. Leader(fled)

Ruth runs after the official. "Not so fast!!"

Seeing only Ruth giving chase, Cheyeng stops, pulls out a bag and hurls it at the woman.

So you think you can catch me? You presume too much. HAH!

range touch: 1d20 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 1 - 2 = 2

As the bag hits the ground near her, it explodes into a gooey mess.

Rats!

If he had a little umbrella, he would put it up over his head

Please! I surrender. I was only following orders. Spare me for my children's sake.

=== Round 3 ===
1. Meredith, Huck(), Saldoc() <== go
2. Guards (1 fighting, 1 stable, 1 stable)
3. Ruth()
4. Leader()

Tell your man to stand down or I'll club him!

The guard looks like he is unlikely to relent....ever.

"What are reinforcements going to do? We'll be long gone by the time you get back? Accept defeat with grace, my friend, and let us pass."

Diplomacy I guess: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Just following orders... I've heard that before. After I toss this guard overhead, I'm coming for you." Meredith's fist bursts into spiky brambles as she swings at the guard.

Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Damage: 1d3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

With no response, Saldoc continues to try and knock the man out.

Sap: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9 for NL: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
SS, NL: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (9) - 3 = 6 for NL: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Keep him still!

Huck tries to convince the guard, but he is hearing none of it.

You are all going to burn for this! You hear me?

Meredith punches the guard in the gut and that takes some of the swagger out of him

Ooooffff.

Saldoc has no luck sapping him as he continues to dodge.

Sure...hit me when I wasn't looking, wench!

He tries to slash Meredith, drawing thin line of blood.

sword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 for dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Take that!

Ruth is up...

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 11 Trying to see if he is really giving up or wants me to drop my guard so he can attack me.

Ruth moves up to the official. "Move!!" She pushes him with her blade to the block the chain is anchored to. "Release the chain and let us pass!!" She said in a stern voice while holding her blade ready to strike.

Ruth gets the impression he is not happy or proud about surrendering. But at the same time is too cowardly to fight seasoned veterans without his guards and does not want to die.

"Alright. Just let me live and I will lower the chain. Agreed?"

"Agreed! Now move!" Ruth keeps her sword ready to strike. Use my readied attack from above

Ruth will walk slowly with the official over to the anchored chain and wait for him to release it.

The official will move towards the chain crank.

I am going...I am going.

=== Round 4 ===
1. Meredith, Huck(), Saldoc() <== go
2. Guards (1 fighting, 1 stable, 1 stable)
3. Ruth(moving towards crank)
4. Leader(moving towards crank)

Improved Grapple: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Meredith reaches for the last guard. "Oh, no one cares about your stupid loyalty."

Saldoc continues trying to subdue the man!

Sap: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14 for NL: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Shortsword: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (14) - 3 = 11 for NL: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Meredith is able to grab the man's arm and with that, Saldac is able to hit him once with the sap, further buffeting the guard, but not taking the fight from him.

You will pay for that, punk!

Huck helps Meredith keep the guard subdued.

aid grapple: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

The guard is re-grappled, but continues to struggle.

break grapple: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Not sure if that breaks loose of Meredith and Huck's hold on the guard. Assuming not.

You will have to kill me. I will not stop my service to Lingshen!

Party goes....

Ruth will walk slowly with the official over to the anchored chain and wait for him to release it.

The official moves to the crank, lets out a sigh and then starts working the crank to lower the chain while Ruth watches.

This will not take but a few moments. But what do you hope to achieve? Where will you go that you think you will not be found?

Saldoc would prefer not to kill the man so he continues as he has.

Sap: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15 for NL: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
SS: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (17) - 3 = 14 for NL: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Saldoc saps the guard twice more and his body goes limp in the arms of his grapplers/

* Out of combat *

"We do what we want. If anyone's stupid enough to follow us, well, you know it first hand." Meredith sneers. "Your guards are unconscious, but alive. Thank Mother Earth for the blessing she gave you and your men today." Meredith cracks her knuckles. "We have places to go to, people to see. We're dumping your men off the ship and back to the beach."

Meredith begins to carry the men onto shore (after disarming them.) "Why are you so interested in us, anyway?"

Huck dusts himself off and helps move the bodies off the ship. "We did warn you, lad. We didn't want trouble but some people just make it for themselves, I guess." Huck starts tidying up the boat and readies to move forward once the chain is lowered.

After the chain is lowered Ruth leads the man back to the dock near the boat and ties him up with his guards. "Next time you block our passage you will die." She turns away climbing back onto the ship. "Let's get out of here."