GMG's PbP: Shackles adventures (Inactive)

Game Master Magabeus

“You don’t make captain of any ship without making a few enemies. My husband told some friends about Captain Redclaw’s treasure before he met me. Now that he’s passed, his so-called friends, or whatever scum they’ve told about it, may well come to take what’s rightfully mine!

Not to mention that even though the Magpie Princess was already half mine, a few argued I shouldn’t take it upon my husband’s death. Some argued... strenuously. We’ve dealt with most of them, but there’s a featherbrain or two who still mean me harm.”

"That's terrible to hear about your husband. I don't suppose he perished looking for this exact same treasure, did he?" Tori asks conversationally, taking a moment beforehand to phrase the question properly.

"No, he did not perish looking for this same treasure or for any treasure."

"I will offer a prayer for his soul to Shelyn, then."

Tori nods her head in acknowledgement, "Okay, well I'm satisfied. We'll see you in the morning then."

Ready to move on when everyone else is.

The next morning you all appear at dawn at the appointed place at the docks. There you see Captain Lanterni, who is talking to a raven haired human woman and a good looking blonde human male. Another ten men and women are busy loading boxes and crates into two small boats that are both marked with a crow’s head with a delicate crown above it.

"Good, you are here." she says before pointing to the woman "this here is the quartermaster Iulia Antoninia. She will give you your tasks. Hinsin, we are going" she says to the male and they both depart.

The raven heared woman looks at you "Allright landlubbers, I got some tasks for you to completely bodge. No doubt you will be lashed for that, that is everything you filth deserve!"

She takes a small moneypouch from her pouch "The ship is being repaired and I need to get supplies in as soon as possible. That we won't sail for a couple of days is no reason for you to go drinking. In here I have two hundred and fifty gold. You are to take this sum and get me a new carved wooden masthead for the Princess. And don't you come running back to me if it ain't enough. When I say you need to manage, you WILL manage!"

She hands you the money and then offhandedly adds "Be on the lookout for anyone tailing you in Lillywhite, you especially a tengu."

Emmett laughs until he realizes maybe this isn't a joke. "Where in the world does someone get a masthead?"

So much for just being muscle.

Tori sighs to herself, then nods to Emmett's question, "Yeah, who supplies mastheads in town?"

"Why do you think I sent you runts to find one! I don't care, as long as you bring me one!" She turns around "No stupid! I want those beams in the other longboat! Can't you do anything right?!"

"Well, at least we have the freedom to choose." Grisaia muses with a grimace. "I hope we can find one that is tasteful. Perhaps we should go ask about the market?"

"I guess we'll need to ask around, unless one of you know the local area well enough already to have a place in mind."

Unless someone in the group does indeed know of a place to buy mastheads in town, Tori begins of the process of asking the locals.

Diplomacy (gather info): 1d20 ⇒ 6

"Whatcha worried 'bout some bird-brain?", Scratcher asks.

Knowledge, local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

1d100 ⇒ 88

"Whatcha worried 'bout some bird-brain?", Scratcher asks.

The Magpie Princess’s jinx eater, a tengu named Hyrix Snowfeather, led a mutiny against Captain Lanteri less than a week ago. The filthy bird got away and we expect him to turn up again someday. Now get me that masthead!

Emmett remembers that he saw a small square building. It has no sign advertising its name or type of business, but the door and support posts are heavily carved with images of gravestones, religious symbols, sea monsters, and sailing ships.

You go there and find a dwarf. She is busy making a fancy coffin from a very dark wood.

"Excuse me, miss. We are looking for a masthead for a ship. Would this be the right place?"

She lays down her tools and looks at you

"Yes, this would be the right place. It will cost you 250 gold and take about two weeks time. What should I carve? Payment half upfront and the other half at delivery. If you don't show within three weeks from now I have the right to sell the masthead to someone else and you won't get your money back."

"Anyway to speed that up to a couple of days? We can give you the full amount now if that helps. We're willing to negotiate whatever helps get us a masthead faster."

Diplomacy (aid another next person to try Diplomacy): 1d20 ⇒ 11

"Unless you have one complete laying around?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (19) - 2 = 17

"Well I have some rough humanoid mastheads that are already partially carved, requiring only the finishing details to make each one unique, and I could adapt one of these pieces to suit your needs. That could be done in a couple of days and would require me to delay all my other projects and put in long hours of extra work. I am not prepared to do that for any amount of money."

She takes a good look at your outfits and weapons.

"But I will give you the masthead in a few days for free if you take care of an ongoing problem I have. I buy my high-quality wood from Taryn’s Planks for specialty projects like figureheads. Recently I have not been able to get the quality of wood I want. Taryn, the lumberyard’s owner, says this is because his loggers have been attacked by small dragons in the jungle, making it impossible for them to cut the types of trees I prefer. If you deal with the lumberyard’s supply problem for me, I'll give you a masthead in 2 days, free of charge."

"That sounds well suited to our talents, ma'am." Grisaia nods in agreement. "Could you direct us to the lumberyard? We've only just arrived."

"Yup, sounds like a deal." Tori echoes with a nod, "Directions would be great, please."

You get directions to Taryn’s Planks. There you ask the owner about
hunting the drakes, he’s happy to have the help.

"In my experience any lumber group that travels deep into the forest is attacked. If you want I can send a group out so you can accompany them. Or do you want to search the forest on your own?"

"Well, I am not sure wandering around on our own would necessarily draw them, so let's serve as protection for a group."

"Yeah, we'll just go out with your group. That way we can keep them safe and they can give us some direction in find the drakes." Tori says, echoing Emmett's opinion.

"I don't want to endanger your people needlessly. But if you think our best chance is to travel with such a party, I will take responsibility for protecting them."

"I don't know what your best chance is to find these dragons. Only thing I know is that they attack after my people try to bring down a tree in the deeper forest"

He sends out a team and you follow them. After an hour walking the four men in the team decide on a tree and two start to climb it to remove the upper branches while the other two discuss the best way to bring it down

Any preparation you want to do? Buffs to cast at this moment?

Scratcher will cast Shield of Faith (+2 AC, 4 min)

-Posted with Wayfinder

No buffs for Emmett.

Nor Xasay.

Does it seems like endure elements would be useful? Grisaia is thinking no for now, in case someone needs healing.

Endure is not needed, Scratcher, your shield of faith has expired at the start of combat.
1d4 ⇒ 3

The woodsmen get on with their work and soon the first branches are falling down. After three hours you hear terrible shrieks coming from the south. The woodsmen scramble down from the tree and hurry past you "There they come! Good luck, we are returning to town!"

And indeed, just moments later Xasay sees three dragons flying towards you! With graceful wings and wide fins, these sleek dragons look equally well equipped to glide through sea and sky.

Initiative
Knowledge (Arcana) to identify
Xasay
- - -
Blue
- - -
Scratcher
Grisaia
- - -
Green
Red
- - -
Emmett
Tori
- - -

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Xasay: I like the diplomacy attempt, but alas... Given that diplomacy normally takes minutes it uses your standard action for the round

Xasay identifies the creatures as river drakes. One of them hisses

Initiative
Knowledge (Arcana) to identify
- - -
Xasay, move + 3 questions left
- - -
Blue
- - -
Scratcher
Grisaia
- - -
Green
Red
- - -
Emmett
Tori

Defenses, attacks, alignment.

Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2
Reflex DC14: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Initiative
Scratcher
Grisaia
- - -
Green
Red
- - -
Emmett
Tori -2 hp, entangled, 1d4 acid damage at start of turn
Xasay
- - -
Blue
- - -

On hearing Xasay's report, Grisaia brandishes the symbol of Shelyn at the drakes. "Forgive this violence, my lady, as we show these creatures your radiant bloom!" A burst of radiant petals explodes between the far away drakes, the shimmering flowers covering the heads of the two beasts. "Spread out to avoid their spittle!" she calls to her allies, moving to be ready for the next attack.

Damage on Red/Green, DC15 Reflex Negates Blindness: 4d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 3) = 8

@GM: How high up in the air are the drakes?

@GM: How high up in the air are the drakes?

See the comment below the map: 50 feet

Grisaia calls for the divine aid of Shelyn and flowers cover the heads of the two far-away drakes. It is hard to see but it seems as if they closed their eyes just before the flowers appeared.

Initiative
Scratcher
- - -
Green -8 hp
Red -8 hp
- - -
Emmett
Tori -2 hp, entangled, 1d4 acid damage at start of turn
Xasay
- - -
Blue
- - -
Grisaia

Scratcher is uncertain how to deal with the drakes and waits to see what they do Delay.

The drakes do not hesitate and move closer, spreading out. One of them targets Grisaia with it's acid while the other spits at Scratcher

Grisaia
Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7
Reflex DC14: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Scratcher
Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10
Reflex DC14: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Initiative
Scratcher -5hp
Emmett
Tori
Xasay
- - -
Blue
- - -
Grisaia -3 hp
- - -
Green
Red
- - -

Xasay holds his trusty eagle stencil up to the light, and from on high descends an eerie dark bird, zooming right into the one of the drakes's faces!

Conjuring a Celestial shadow eagle, Smiting Evil, DC 16 Will save to reduce to 20% reality. It appears 30 feet above me, then flies another 20 feet up/30 feet forward.

bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Acid Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Despite being entangled and burned by acid, Tori fights through the pain and fires two arrows at the reddish drake.

+1 Comp. Longbow A - Entangled - RS: 1d20 + 12 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 12 - 4 - 2 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
+1 Comp. Longbow B - Entangled - RS: 1d20 + 12 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 12 - 4 - 2 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Reflex to shake off entangled: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Emmett moves a little closer as he pulls out his trusty sidearm and shoots.

Ranged vs Touch Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Thank you Tori for remembering the entanglement and acid

Xasay's eagle appears, flies up and completely misses the drake! Tori fires two arrows at the nearest drake, the first one hits! The first arrow hits and the second one follows directly in its wake. The dragon was not stupid enough to remain at the exact same spot...

However it flies directly in the path of Emmett's bullet!

Initiative
Scratcher -5hp
- - -
Blue
- - -
Grisaia -3 hp
- - -
Green -8 hp
Red -21 hp
- - -
Emmett
Tori -4 hp, entangled, 1d4 acid damage at start of turn DC14 at end of her turn to get loose
Xasay

I have send a PM to Scratcher, giving him until my Monday morning (CET) to post

"Blimey! Get one of them louts down here so I can take care of it all proper-like!", Scratcher curses as he pulls out a disc and hurls it at the closest drake.

Chakram @ Red: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 4 = 11
Damage on hit: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Schratcher's chakram flies of into the distance without hitting anything

The blue drake charges Grisaia, slapping her with its tail and then quickly disengages again. It shows tremendous swiftness while doing so.

Grisaia, you get to make an attack of opportunity, assuming that you threaten.

Bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Damage: 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 3) + 5 = 11
Tail slap: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Confirm Tail slap: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Initiative
Grisaia -6 hp
- - -
Green -8 hp
Red -21 hp
- - -
Emmett
Tori -4 hp, entangled, 1d4 acid damage at start of turn DC14 at end of her turn to get loose
Xasay
Scratcher -5hp
- - -
Blue Breath 1, Swift 1
- - -

Always Be Threatening!

AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Slashing out in kind at the darting drake, Grisaia growls. "Should have brought a net..." Seeing the beasts flying high, she prepares for the next attack. "Shelyn, grant me the strength to overcome!"

Grisaia pays the drake back in kind and casts a spell on herself.

The blue drake hisses something [Draconic]Focus on the one I attacked first![/Draconic]

The green drake rips the puppet eagle apart while the red drake also dives down at Grisaia! Grisaia spins around and slashes down at the drake with her glaive, wounding the creature. Nevertheless it bites the half-orc and darts of again.

Initiative
Emmett
Tori -4 hp, entangled, 1d4 acid damage at start of turn DC14 at end of her turn to get loose
Xasay
Scratcher -5hp
- - -
Blue Breath 1, Swift 1 -6 hp
- - -
Grisaia AoO used -17 hp
- - -
Green Breath 1 -8 hp
Red Breath 1, Swift 1 -31 hp
- - -

Emmett takes a moment (move action) to focus on his aim (martial flex to add Deadly Aim). Then he takes a shot at the green one.

Ranged Touch Attack, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 - 1 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 = 8

Acid Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Continuing to ignore the painful acid burns she's receiving, Tori fires two more arrows at the red drake.

+1 Comp. Longbow A - Entangled - RS: 1d20 + 12 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 12 - 4 - 2 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
+1 Comp. Longbow B - Entangled - RS: 1d20 + 12 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 4 - 2 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Reflex to shake off entangled: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 2 = 13

Xasay flourishes his stencil again, and the dark phantasmal raptor again appears!

Conjuring another one that makes a full attack on blue, otherwise same as before.

bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3