"We will search your ship to make sure you carry no contraband. You will stay on deck, but can appoint one person to accompany us while we investigate the ship. Is that clear?"
Halfling Paladin (Oath of Vengeance) 1 | AC: 18 (t 15, ff 14) | HP: 12/12 | Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +0 | CMB +0, CMD 14 | Init +4 | Perc +0
Belina was cautious, but she was also ready for the search.
The braid, obviously, will not be revealed.
"Let me show you around. I have not taken a wash in a long time, so I will trust your search to not take too long. Is my word as a paladin not sufficient? It has worked so well up to now."
Male Human Monk Percept 7, Sense Mot 3 //Init +2 // HP 10/10 // AC 15 ff 13 T 15 // F +4 R +4 W +5 (+2 v Illusion)
Mission:
“No time to rest, Pathfinders!” Venture-Captain Amara Li, exclaims late one night a few days after your return to Goka. She barges into the bedroom of the ramshackle tavern where you are staying “I’ve looked into the situation surrounding the relic you found, the Braid of a Hundred Masters. As you may have noticed, the artifact appears to have been dormant for many years now, and in this state it’s essentially worthless to us. Fortunately, it can be reactivated, but only by the descendant of the braid’s last master, who, as you may know, was the master of the Clouded Path Monastery many years ago, a man by the name of Li Yao. I’ve discovered the whereabouts of his final living descendant—a woman by the name of Je Tsuin—but she now resides in the nation of Shokuro to the east, far from where her ancestor taught in his monastery in the Wall of Heaven. In order to reactivate the sacred relic, you’ll need to travel to the village of Nesting Swallow in Shokuro and find Je Tsuin to perform the necessary ritual.
“Unfortunately,” she continues, “we’re not the only group interested in Iroran artifacts. Our operatives claim that Lingshen, the Successor State to the southeast, is after the relic as well. Since Lingshen’s armies have a stranglehold on the overland routes from here to Shokuro, you’ll have to travel by river. Riding the Tuunma is faster anyway, though you might run into some hostile Mutabi-qi or goblinoids along the way. The river empties into the Sea of Eels—cross it and you’re in Shokuro, and from there you can follow the map I’ve provided to reach Nesting Swallow. "
““Ah, before I forget, you’ll also need you to make a quick stop along the way. The ritual requires a large amount of rare incense—more than I could easily procure from any of my local suppliers—so I’ve contacted a nomadic tribe in Shaguang, the Jhemulit, and they have agreed to provide you with the prepared herbs. I’ve already paid their shaman, a man named Ogokai, and I’ve marked their approximate location on your map, so it’s simply a matter of picking up the incense on your way to Shokuro.”
"The Laughing Crow is waiting for you at the docks, get going! I have sent Hadid off, he has another assignment. A replacement will join you at the docks."
Timmon shrugs. Jinny and Belina seem to have this well in hand. He busies himself on the forecastle by splicing two lines of rope.
The noble walks through the ship and inspects the boxes with incense. After a few minutes he comes back and leaves the ship "Everything is in order, thank you for your time"
His soldiers open the boom and you are on your way again!
The terrain of the river in this region is much rougher and more difficult to predict, making mishaps more dangerous for boats
passing down the river. You are traveling through a canyon, which is 30 feet wide on average, while the river sinks to an average depth of 60 feet, and the current moves the ship forward 40 feet per round. The cliffs are 30 feet high on either side, and might be scaled thanks to the banyan roots that cover their faces. For the next four days nothing happens.
On the fifth day the sickening stench of death and decay wafts out of the narrow sandstone canyon. Half-eaten fish and bloody humanoid bones litter swaths of the shore, attracting clouds of buzzing black flies. Banyan trees grow along the top of the ridge, partially concealing with their thick, leathery roots the network of holes and tunnels that riddle the face of either cliff.
As you float through this canyon, a few dozen goblinoids emerge from the caverns on the northern cliff face and jabber insults in Goblin at the party.
Heveel struggles with the rudder and the ship is jostled violently as it narrowly misses an obstacle. Everyone slides 10 feet toward port and only Timmon manages to keep his footing! Heveel stands up again, hoping to do better in the future.
I will keep my readied attack, thanks. It's likely to be a missile attack of some kind, and prone actually makes me harder to hit. Let it not be said that The Crimson Fox shot first.
Heveel: driving is a move action. I used your standard for standing up, you could have done anything other than that
Akvius is still resting belowdecks, it seems he can't be counted on to assist in this battle... Send him a PM a few days ago, no reaction
Belina fires a shot into the vines hanging from the canyon's walls. Two of the smaller goblinoids jump down on the ship! Jinny quickly fires an arrow from her prone position, but misses. The other goblinoids at the top of the canyon shout their approval at the actions of their comrades.
Initiative
Heveel 15/16 hp - driving check as move action to control ship
Timmon
Belina 10/12 hp
Jinhong 9/11 hp, prone
- - -
Team Red
Team Blue
Male Human Monk Percept 7, Sense Mot 3 //Init +2 // HP 10/10 // AC 15 ff 13 T 15 // F +4 R +4 W +5 (+2 v Illusion)
Timmon hears the pawl of the crossbow click into place, just as the goblins touch down. He steps away, levels the crossbow, and fires at the righthand goblin.
Timmon's right, so the 'port-most' goblin on the map.
Jinny stands up Move action and moves to the stairs, just out of Red's reach Standard action
My intent is to be able to 5 ft step next round if he stays put (not sure if that's possible on the stairs though), or to have higher ground advantage if he advances.
Jinny, the stairs are in the square next to the goblin. If you move there you are on the same level, but can 5ft step out of it. The space to your current right is higher ground, but you won't be able to 5ft step to the space I have put you in because of the stairs
Timmon misses the goblinoid while Jinny stands up and advances
Initiative
Belina 10/12 hp
- - -
Team Red
Team Blue
- - -
Heveel 15/16 hp - driving check as move action to control ship
Timmon
Jinhong 9/11 hp
Belina's shot hits the bluish goblinoid. It tries to stab her with its spear but misses. The reddish goblinoid decides to show how it is done and attacks (and hits) Timmon!
Initiative
Belina 10/12 hp
Heveel 15/16 hp - driving check as move action to control ship
Timmon 6/10 hp
Jinhong 9/11 hp
- - -
Team Red
Team Blue 6 damage
- - -
Heveel expertly steers the ship through the canyon while an eagle appears. It shreds one of the goblinoids to within an inch of it's life and Jinny then knocks him down! Belina's arrow goes wide.
Initiative
Timmon 6/10 hp
- - -
Team Blue 6 damage
- - -
Belina 10/12 hp
Heveel 15/16 hp - driving check as move action to control ship
Jinhong 9/11 hp
Male Human Monk Percept 7, Sense Mot 3 //Init +2 // HP 10/10 // AC 15 ff 13 T 15 // F +4 R +4 W +5 (+2 v Illusion)
Timmon drops his crossbow to the deck and draws the two forklike sai from his belt as he scampers along the ship's rail. At the ladder he spins and delivers a double thrusting attack.
Although Timmon's first attack misses, his second attack kills the last goblinoid! The ones at the top of the canyon scamper of when they see the ease with which the pathfinders handle the attack!
You sail further and the river exits into a sea; the Sea of Eels. You have to cross this sea and a contact will be waiting on the other side to see you on your way to the village of Nesting Swallow.
It is now the evening of the first day on the Sea of Eels and you gather on deck to have dinner, just before the sun will go down.
DC 15 Perception:
In the distance you notice the glint of yellow sails
Assuming that there are 4 watches before dawn; who will take what watch?
The night passes without incident and at dawn Timmon is on deck, alone.
The light of dawn reveals a ship some six hundred feet to port and fast approaching. Its banner bears the same single upthrust spear that you saw at the border post and its golden sails sparkle in the morning sun.
Timmon, what do you do?
Knowledge Nobility or Local DC 13:
This is a ship from Lingshen. You remember that that state is also looking for the braid
