GM Fanguar's Savage Tide (Inactive)

Game Master Fanguar

As the ship closes, dark clouds begin to gather. Shouts call out for you to lower your sails and to prepare for inspection.As they near, you can read the ships name, Nightshark, and see the unsavory crew that man's her. The first lightning bolt slices through the approaching ships rigging and slams into the deck. At this distance the crack of thunder is deafening. It followed by another and another. The Nightshark's crew scatter and the ship turns away, in search of easier prey.

Coming round the peninsula, you eventually catch sight of the Blue Nixie and the pair continue on the voyage.

Nine days later, you approach your next destination, Fort Greenrock, a remote outpost of druids and monks. Lavinia's plan is to take on fresh provisions to replenish your diminishing stores, but as you enter the harbour, you notice that all is not well. The wooden palisade surrounding the fort has been torn apart,and the fort itself has burned to the ground. It appears that whatever grim fate visited the place occurred several months ago, for no sign o flife or activity can be seen.

"That was well done! We will have little to fear from Pirates when we have you on board. If there is anything I can do to thank you..." Bron says with a flirtatious wink at Krila.

Krila smiles. "Well, it is hard to sail when your sails are on fire, or masts shattered. I'm glad I was able to help." She smiles at Bronwenir. "As to things you can do to thank me... I'll be sure to let you know..." She gives a small bow.

Well done Krila Justified compliments. It might have been nice to eliminate a pirate and take their ship, but that is not our current mission and their strength was unknown.

Reacting to the destruction they see at Fort Greenrock Justified comments That is not good. So much for fresh supplies. We should investigate.

Moira listen listens to Bronwenir's flirtatious remark towards Krila and says "Oh please!" The half elf rolling her eyes.

To Krila, she offers her a two thumbs up "That's showing them who has the power here..... we women."

Moira stands next to Justified, looking out at distant speck which later become the fort. "Do you think it was wise to let that pirate ship go? They may come back with reinforcements. Probably come back with their own spell caster or diviner."

Graythan offers Krila an approving nod as he shoulders his crossbow in light of the Nightshark's retreat. The others have been around the stoic Tyrran long enough to recognize the gesture as one denoting respect regardless of the absence of accompanying words.

Later, at the fort
Graythan's lips draw into a tight frown as he surveys the damage. "Look at the damage to the palisades there. It looks like this place was attacked. Hard enough to breach the defensive walls and raze it to the ground." He shakes his head, agreeing with Justified. "This is not good."

As the others make for the longboats, Graythan gathers his gear and makes ready to disembark.

"This place was unexplored wilderness in my time... it appears something wants to keep civilization from encroaching..."

Whatever that something is it knows how to make fire. We are not dealing with a force of nature here. Lets go ashore and look for clues.

"Oh, I don't know. It could have been an angry salamander, or a red dragon..." She comments as she waits for the boats to be lowered.

Those are hardly natural Krila.

Krila holds up a finger. "They exist, they are alive, they are born, they grow old, they die, and they have offspring. That seems to me to be very definition of natural. Also fire elementals, which are also natural, could have done this. Again, they exist without supernatural or mortal intervention, and are by definition, natural."

"Semantics aside, we can all agree something did this and we should be ready for trouble."

Lavinia approves a brief investigation, but doesn't want to tarry too long. She let's you know that there is still one last stop to bring on provisions before you head out to the open sea on the last leg of the journey to the Isle of Dread. It's still 10 days away, but if you hurry and everyone tightens their belt, you still have enough provisions to make it.

Heading to shore, you find evidence of a great battle. Dried blood stains the timbers of collapsed buildings. Here and there, broken weapons lie in the sand, and hundred s of black-feathered arrows decorate the sides of the ruins that face the jungle. There are no dead about, nor signs of survivors.

Justified stops to examine the fletching of a black feathered arrow.

Know (Nature): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Nothing I have seen before. must have been a large force. he comments before making a circuit around the ruins looking for tracks.

Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Kn(Nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"Oh, I've seen those before... they still use those little blue birds for fletching. Lizardfolk..." She makes a face. "Anyone they killed was eaten for dinner. The ones who survived.. well, that would be breakfast and next day's dinner. We shouldn't tarry over long, it looks like there were enough lizardfolk to overwhelm us if they caught us. I doubt you'll find anything worth looting, it's probably already well looted."

I am more interested in clues to what happened and why than for loot. Justified explains. And which way that force might be from here.

Why would you assume I am looking for loot with Survival?

OOC I know you're not looking for loot. IC, Justified is wandering around looking, which could be taken anyway. Remember, she doesn't really know Justified much, they've only known each other a few weeks.

"Cannibals?! So we are just to ignore this atrocity and pretend it never happened?"

Krila ticks off on her fingers. "Primus. Lizardfolk are not humans, or elves, or dwarves, or halflings, or any of the other species that lived here, so no, not cannibals. Not savory, but not cannibals. Although it's possible they may eat their own species as well, depending on the tribe." She sighs. "Secundus. While I am loathe to leave slaughter unanswered, there is no one left, and no prisoners would still live months after the attack. So there is no-one to rescue, and no-one left to give the peace of knowing their loved ones killers were killed. Tertius. We have no idea how large the tribe that attacked this place is. Which of us are you willing to sacrifice for vengance?" She looks at the group in turn. "Quartius. We have no idea why they were attacked, they could have attacked the lizardmen first, or taken their land. Would you slaughter those who slaughtered invaders? Quincius. What would you do to this tribe of Lizardfolk? Kill them all? How about the children? The infirm and aged? Would you kill them as well? Or leave them to starve or be predated upon with no protection?" She sighs. "Answering death with death is rarely worthwhile, and usually just ends up with someone else swearing a blood debt on you."

Bronwenir scratches his head thoughtfully. "Your points are well taken, though the elven language considers cannibalism to be the eating of other sapient creatures, whether the same race or not. That's only a definition, though."

-Posted with Wayfinder

@Justified: From what you can tell the raid happened weeks ago. The attackers came from the jungle and quickly overran the defenders. All signs point to this having been a slaughter.

@all: This is just a flavour encounter for the adventure to help indicate the passage of time on the voyage, so I will move us along. The sea voyage lasts a really long time and this is just to help mark the passage of time. You have been travelling for 49 days so far. That being said, if there is anything of interest you want you PC to be doing with all this down time let me know. ie Bron was hitting on Lirith quite heavily earlier on, if that is a relationship he wants to continue, you can consider the pair an item.

Four days out from the destruction of the fort, you reach your next point of interest. As with Havekihu River and Xatalati River before, the expedition stops at the mouth of Atikula River to refresh your supplies of fresh water. Unlike the previous two rivers, the point where the Atikula reaches the sea is marked by a magnificent 900-foot-wide waterfall that cascades two hundred feet over a clitf into the ocean below. With no beach nearby to speak of, it's easy enough for a ship to sail in fairly close and then send out a rowboat with barrels to fill. There's only room in the narrow harbor for one ship
at a time, and Lavinia graciously offers to let you go first.

2 row boats will be shuttling barrels between the ship and the waterfall. With the barrels, each boat needs 2 people to row and fill. Anyone want to get in on this, or leave it to NPCs?

"Which would put the odd awakened animal in the situation of being a cannibal to an elf, should they eat an awakened animal. Seems... messy. That's what happens when you let sentiment change the meaning of words. People do it all the time, usually to coopt strong feelings. Murderer for example, in my time, people were beginning to use it to refer to people not just who intentionally killed someone, but also people who caused a death through stupidity, such as a drunk riding someone down with a horse. But doing so robs the word of it's impact and meaning. Soon nobody really understands how heinous murder is."

She sighs, and follows back to the boat...

While on the boat ride, Krila will try to track down history to fill in her missing gaps. Books, stories, etc... Krila's not exactly a rowing champion, but she can help if they don't have anyone stronger. Otherwise, she'll instead put herself on healing duty to heal people who hurt themselves (splinters, skinned knuckles, etc).

Though Graythan doesn't join in on the continuing semantic discussion, he does off a shrug at Krila's words, admitting inwardly that she had a point. He nods back to the ship then, "Let's go. There's nothing for us here and nothing we can do about what happened."

Later, as the ships prepare to refresh their water supplies, Graythan watches the falls for a few long minutes in silence. As the rowboats prepare to launch, he opts to help and sheds his armor, though he's mindful to bring an elixir of swimming with him as he and three others pile into the dinghy.

@all: This is just a flavour encounter for the adventure to help indicate the passage of time on the voyage, so I will move us along. The sea voyage lasts a really long time and this is just to help mark the passage of time. You have been travelling for 49 days so far. That being said, if there is anything of interest you want you PC to be doing with all this down time let me know. ie Bron was hitting on Lirith quite heavily earlier on, if that is a relationship he wants to continue, you can consider the pair an item.

Four days out from the destruction of the fort, you reach your next point of interest. As with Havekihu River and Xatalati River before, the expedition stops at the mouth of Atikula River to refresh your supplies of fresh water. Unlike the previous two rivers, the point where the Atikula reaches the sea is marked by a magnificent 900-foot-wide waterfall that cascades two hundred feet over a clitf into the ocean below. With no beach nearby to speak of, it's easy enough for a ship to sail in fairly close and then send out a rowboat with barrels to fill. There's only room in the narrow harbor for one ship
at a time, and Lavinia graciously offers to let you go first.

2 row boats will be shuttling barrels between the ship and the waterfall. With the barrels, each boat needs 2 people to row and fill. Anyone want to get in on this, or leave it to NPCs?

Could we perhaps study a language in our down time like the retraining rules allow? perhaps Bronwenir could teach us elven or sylvan?

Justified agrees to help with the water retrieval. He is a good swimmer and has spent a lot of time trying to befriend the crew.

Bron spends plenty of time with Lirith, including in his or her cabin (if either has one).

When the call for rowers goes out, Bron suggests he stay on the ship with a crossbow ready to cover the rowers if something happens, as he's not extremely strong.

"I'd rather let the strong men handle the retrieving of water from the falls. I can stay on guard duty." Moira gets her bow and arrow.

@Justified: That seems reasonable to me. If anyone knows abyssal, that's eventually going to be hugely useful.

For the sake of not murdering all the NPC's, we'll say that Justified and Graythan are together in one boat.

After a couple of trips back and forth filling up empty water barrels and dropping them off at ship. Justified and Graythan are taking their turn at the waterfall, when something hits bottom of their boat, hard. As they try to maintain their footing in the rocking boat, a long, serpentine head rises from the water nearby. This is followed by another, then another and another, until 7 serpentine heads rear up.

Combat
18 Krila
18 Bronwenir
16 Graythan
12 Justified
12 Moira
10 Hydra

We'll try to hand wave the fight and go map free. Couple of important things, the hydra has reach (10 feet) and we'll say that it is not threatening the boat yet. Also, we'll say that the distance to the ship is in the medium range (~100 feet). Everyone is up.

Weather?

Krila casts 'Call Lightning' and sends a bolt crashing into the Hydra...

Will let GM respond about weather to know what damage. GM can roll first hit if it speeds up things

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Staiding in the small boat Justified considers his enemy and holds his glaive-guisarme Also 10' reach ready to attack if the creature close. He will use Combat Expertise to increase his armor class from the creature.

+1 glaive-guisarme: 1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 13 - 2 = 201d10 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 6 = 23

Current AC is 21

As the first head breaks the surface, Graythan shares a look with Justified. When the second breaks, the sickly pale dhampir turns and looks over his shoulder back to the boat: where his armor and every weapon save the dagger in his belt currently are. He looks back to Justified as the third and fourth heads snap clear of the water. "This is not good." When the last head finally breaks the surface and the lot bob back and forth hypnotically above them, Graythan deadpans, "Only seven? Great." He calls upon Tyr then to gird his defenses, though he remains at a loss how he might hurt this beast in the slightest.

Swift action: Judgment!
Standard action: Cast shield of faith!
Move action: Draw my dinky cold iron dagger!

@Krilla: Not stormy. The casting time is 1 round, so you can roll on your next turn.
@Bronwenir: It's an aquatic variant hydra, nothing fancy.

Moira: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 3d6 ⇒ (3) + (4, 1, 2) = 10

The hydra comes wading in, earning a arrow from Moira and a nasty cut from Justified. 1 head lashes out at both Justified and Graythan, while the rest target the rowboat:

Attack vs Justified: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Attack Vs Graythan: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 Miss and miss

Vs boat:
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Confirm?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 7) + 10 = 24

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Confirm?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 4) + 10 = 19

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Tearing out massive chunks of the boat (16/60hp) DC15 Acrobatics checks to not end up in the drink

Everyone is up again and Bron still has his first round action.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Posting from phone. Will post more later. Wanted to know if I was swimming or not. :)did Justify take out a head?

Krila should get two damage rolls. Immediately upon completion of the spell, and once per round thereafter, you may call down a 5-foot-wide, 30-foot-long, vertical bolt of lightning that deals 3d6 points of electricity damage.

Bolt 1: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 6) = 14
Bolt 2: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 1) = 12

Reflex DC 16 for half damage

Balancing precariously in the pitching boat Justified strikes out at the hydra.

+1 glaive-guisarme: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 231d10 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 6 = 25

previous round: Bron loads his crossbow and enhances it with his pool of arcane energy. Granting it +1 flaming.

He sights down the crossbow, and shoots at the hydra, but misses.

shooting into melee, second range increment: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 6

Current round:

Cursing, Bron fires again.

1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 3

"Blast!"

Moira unleashes another arrow at the hydra.
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 Gm has better rolls than me. I should let Fanguar roll for Moira. ;-P

Acrobatics (DC 15): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Graythan keeps his footing easily despite the savagery of the hydra's attack, but it looks as though their boat was to be doomed in very short order.

Still utterly unsure how to take down an aquatic hydra with naught but a dagger in hand, Graythan prepares while he still has a boat beneath him and drinks his elixir of swimming.

move: draw potion
standard: drink potion

acrobatic (DC 15): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
Moira maintains her footing during the rocking of the boat. Even though the dexterous half elf can remain upright on her feet, the movement was enough to miss her shot on the hydra.

@Justifed: You need to sunder a head to remove it

Ref 1 DC16: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Ref 2 DC16: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Ah foiled by the failed saving throws and reach weapon....

Two massive lightning bolts slam into the beast and blue arcs radiate outwards, dancing along the water. Twitching, the beast barely notices as Justified rams his spear into the its black heart. Mortally wounded, the sea turns red with the hydra's life blood and it slowly sinks beneath the waves. Combat over

Graythan watches the hydra sink beneath the reddening waters with a flat expression. His gaze then drifts to the dagger in his hand, then back to the slowly fading bubbles in the water before turning to Justified. He shrugs with a nod to the man's weapon, "Nice."

Krila snorts as Graythan compliments Justified's weapon. "Yes, because obviously the shaft killed it, not the two lightning bolts up it's arse." She looks to the side, and raises a kinked eyebrow. "You really think I should?" She shrugs, and brings a bolt down about 10 feet from the boat, where the bloody water is, making it boil.

The other two hit the water in random locations between the boats and the shore, to scare off anything else that might be thinking of attacking...

Moira jumps up in the air, thrusting her bow to the sky saying, "Hell yeah. Way to go guys."

Your lightning was appreciated Krila. Lets just say the fight felt more real down here. Justified checks the boat and then goes about finishing the job at hand. While checking the boat he recommends. Sure hate to waste a potion Greythan. Do you suppose that thing had a lair nearby with some treasure? I am a pretty good swimmer without a potion and would go with you. Lets have a look.

If we need meat I suspect Hydra steaks are just fine too.

Are we going swimming?

Graythan considers Justified's suggestion before shrugging in acceptance. He sheaths the dagger and removes his boots before slipping into the waters and down into the depths.

Swim: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Weapon on his back Justified dives into the water and begins swimming down, following Graythan. He hopes they do not need a light source.

Swim: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Diving below the water, you find a grim scene spread out along the harbour bed, dozens of sunken ships of all sizes rot in the mud and seaweed. It seems that previous visitors to the waterfall were less equipped to deal with the hydra. Though the wrecks are quite decayed, some dedicated searching turns up two items of note that have survived the elements. These prove to a suit of mithral chainmail +1 and a bright green Cloak of the Manta Ray.

The hydra dealt with, the ships have little difficulty filling the remainder of the water barrels and putting back out to sea.

Six days out from the waterfall you put in at the village of Renkrue, a settlement consisting of a collection of straw huts and even a few wooden structures built years ago bya n ambitious priest of St. Cuthbert who had visions of converting the islanders to his religion. He died not long after seeing to the construction of the village's two buildings; these buildings now serve as the chieftain's hut and a communal hall.

The locals are friendly and chatty, though only a few speak any common. Lavinia negotiates the purchase of several tons of food, as this is the last time that you will be in sight of land before you reach the Isle of Dread. Lavinia suggests the expedition put in for a day of shore leave in preparation for the last leg of the voyage.

The locals decide to prepare a feast in honor of you visit and preparation begin while cargo is being moved on to the ship. Unfortunately, it doesn't take too long for things to go wrong, as the resupplying of the ships is brought to a halt by a loud argument. Anyone who goes to investigate finds Avner (the useless, egotistical aristocrat). trying to buy a young woman from what appear to be her parents. Several other villagers have gathered round and this situation is escalating, with Avner resorting to calling the villages 'stupid savages' and reaching for his sword.

"Hold on there Avner -- what makes you think we'd let you bring a slave on board the ship anyway? That's not how we do things."