GMG's PbP: Shackles adventures (Inactive)

Game Master Magabeus

Scratcher throws the rope, hoping to lasso the sinister fey!

Lasso @ Fey touch AC: 1d20 + 7 - 8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 8 + 1 = 6
Lasso rules

Ranged: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Damage: 7d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 5, 1, 6, 3) = 25

The fey can barely control her laughter as Scratcher throws the lasso, which lands yards away. More of her wounds close and she sends another gush of water towards Xasay. This time her aim is true and the gulf washes over him, sapping almost all of the little Wayang's stamina.

"This is my domain!"

Initiative
Xasay 0 / 25 hp
Emmett
Grisaia
Tori
Scratcher, (divine favor + bull's strength)
- - -
Enemy (cover from the water): -33 hp
- - -

Channel Energy: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6) = 10
Swim Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Grisaia grasps her holy symbol, unleashing a wave of positive energy that parts to either side of the enemy fey. She tries to move forward into the deeper water, but fails.

Gasping as Xasay is nearly taken out by the enemy attack, Tori fires a barrage of arrows at the fey.

+1 Comp. Longbow w/Manyshot - Rapid Shot - Deadly Aim + PBS: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 14 - 2 - 2 + 1 = 20
Damage w/Manyshot: 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 1 + 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 4 + 1 + (8) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 32

Rapid shot attack: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 14 - 2 - 2 + 1 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 17

Iterative attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 1 - 4 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 15

This time, the mini-tsunami nearly brings Xasay to his knees, his backward-bending legs, long hooked nose, and exotic garb momentarily making him look like a dying bird-of-paradise. Shelyn's grace gets him back on his feet, though, and he heads back toward the shoreline - but not before that darned Celestial manta ray shows back up....

As before, DC 18 Will save to reduce it to 20% reality.

[dice=Improved Bull Rush straight toward shore]1d20+8[/dice]

Meanwhile, back on shore:

"*gasp* A nudibranch!"

Advantageous Distraction (trait): 1/day, Xasay may, as a swift action, become somehow distracted in a serendipitous manner, granting him a +2 dodge bonus to armor class for 1 round.

Emmett fires again, not sure that he is doing any good.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Impacted? <= 20: 1d100 ⇒ 41

Emmett and Tori's shots don't come close to hitting the fey. She does not even pay attention to the shadowy manta ray that Xasay conjures. Grisaia calls on Shelyn's healing and throws herself face first into the water.

Initiative
Scratcher, (divine favor + bull's strength + waterbreathing)
- - -
Enemy (cover from the water): -33 hp
- - -
Xasay 10 / 25 hp
Emmett
Grisaia (waterbreathing)
Tori

Scratcher, just pissed off now, swims towards the fey, wanting to bring the fight to her.

Swim: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 2 - 1 = 10
2nd Swim if needed: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 = 18

Wave: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Scratcher swims up to the fey as a full-round action you can swim up to half your speed.

"You wanna play?" she taunts as she paddles away and sends a wave to Scratcher. Again the wave misses.

Initiative
Scratcher, (divine favor + bull's strength + waterbreathing)
Xasay 10 / 25 hp
Emmett
Grisaia (waterbreathing)
Tori
- - -
Enemy (cover from the water): -23 hp
- - -

With her last group of arrows completely missing, Tori takes a deep breath to center herself and fires another round.

+1 Comp. Longbow w/Manyshot - Rapid Shot - Deadly Aim + PBS: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 14 - 2 - 2 + 1 = 17

Rapid shot attack: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 14 - 2 - 2 + 1 = 27
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 13

Iterative attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 1 - 4 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 15

Xasay's puppet continues harassing the wicked fey whether she cares or not...

tail slap, Power Attack, flank, Smite Evil: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

...while Xasay tries adding a bit of supporting fire, for whatever it's worth.

+1 Adaptive Composite Shortbow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Swim Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Burst of Radiance if Evil: 5d4 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 2, 2) = 13 Reflex Save vs Blinding/Dazzling Duration: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Finding no traction to move forward, Grisaia prays for aid. "Shelyn, blind the wicked for their evil!" Causing a burst of light around the fey.

Scratcher swims towards her hoping that a single move action will get me close enough to try and hit her, retorting between strokes, "Yeah, and me game a' choice is pokah'!"

Swim: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 - 1 = 17

Tekko-kagi PA @ mean water lady: 1d20 + 10 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 10 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 24
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 6 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 16

AC is still 25

@Scratcher: You've got a flank, too!

Ahh wasn't sure if taht worked since it was disbelieved, but if so, then, GM, add +2 to hit and I deal sneak attack damage for another 1d6

Sneak attack damage on hit: 1d6 ⇒ 2

I would say that the shadow creature has 20% chance to provide a flank, to be checked once each round. This is not exactly covered by the rules, but not providing a flank is lame and always providing a flank is also a bit weird to me
Flank on <= 20: 1d100 ⇒ 46
Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Emmett's Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 1 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Attack on Scratcher: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 2 = 18

Scratcher, Tori and Emmett manage to hurt the woman, while Grisaia finds out that her spell does not effect the water fey not evil. Xasay's arrow misses and his manta ray does not seem to bother the woman, who again swims away from Scratcher and launches another watery strike that misses.

Initiative
Scratcher, (divine favor + bull's strength + waterbreathing)
Xasay 10 / 25 hp
Emmett
Grisaia (waterbreathing)
Tori
- - -
Enemy (cover from the water): -42 hp
- - -

Xasay, your manta ray can take an AoO. Do you have augmented summoning? Your attack rolls seem to be too high, a manta ray normally has a +4 on attacks, with power attack this is a +3. I might have asked this before, sorry for that.

I'm just going to point out that the creature is still a creature, albeit a shadowy one with the illusion translucent over it. Would you allow us to move through an enemy shadow conjuration or stand in its square because we had disbelieved it?

Swim Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Out of offensive options, Grisaia focuses on moving in closer to put the fey at risk of her blades.

Full round to swim.

arrow retrievable? Low says yes: 1d100 ⇒ 92

I don't have Augmented Summoning. It was getting +2 from a flank with Scratcher.

manta puppet attack of opportunity, Power Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

The shadowy manta flails about before vanishing into nothingness...then a Celestial squid, appearing as if it was made of its own ink, jets up from the abyss!

As before, DC 18 Will save to 20%-ify it.

It squirts a cloud of ink so dark one could swear it emits the light of parallel realms (granting itself total concealment for up to 1 minute), then attacks the sea-b@~@* as viciously as it can.

bite, flank: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

tentacles, flank: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
[dice=grab]1d20+8[/dice]

YEEHAA, critical threat!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Critical damage?: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 + 5 = 10

Tori wades over five feet with a sigh, then fires another Cold Iron arrow at the fey.

+1 Comp. Longbow - Deadly Aim + PBS: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 14 - 2 + 1 = 31
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 17

Huffing an' puffing, Scratcher swims over to try and poke her again.

Swim!: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 2 - 1 = 16

Attack on success: 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 25 +2 if flank
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 6 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 16
Sneak Attack if allowed: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Fair point Grisaia, the shadow creature flanks

Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Xasay conjures another shadowy creature and this time the fey seems to think it is real! Even though the attacks of the creature hit they do not seem to overcome the fey's inherent resistance. Tori has no such issues with her arrow and neither does the Scratcher. Together they bring the woman down! She is floating facedown in the water...

Initiative
Emmett
- - -
Enemy (cover from the water): -77 hp
-
Scratcher, (divine favor + bull's strength + waterbreathing)
Xasay 10 / 25 hp
Grisaia (waterbreathing)
Tori

Emmett reloads, and holds his pistol ready. If the woman moves, he will fire at her. Readied action.

Emmett's Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Attack on Grisaia: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

The wounds of the woman close and she stirs, which is the signal for Emmett to shoot more cold iron into her. It is not enough... her cold, blue eyes open again and she attempts to hit Grisaia. The half-orc is more nimble than the fey expected and she only hits water.

Initiative
Scratcher, (divine favor + bull's strength + waterbreathing)
Xasay 10 / 25 hp
Emmett
Grisaia (waterbreathing)
Tori
- - -
Enemy (cover from the water): -73 hp
- - -

My squid may not have been able to damage her, but notice its grab check above? It hit, so it doesn't need to actually deal damage to still be able to do that. If the grapple check succeeded (and that was a pretty good check there), it would also have meant that she couldn't have moved, even 5 feet.

CMD>23, sorry

"Is the water keeping her alive? Maybe we should bring it to shore." Tori suggests as she keeps firing arrows into the fey, this time past Grisaia.

+1 Comp. Longbow w/Manyshot - Rapid Shot - Deadly Aim + PBS - Soft Cover: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 14 - 2 - 2 + 1 - 4 = 24
Damage: 2d8 + 12 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (5, 7) + 12 + 8 + 2 = 34

Rapid shot attack: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 14 - 2 - 2 + 1 - 4 = 10
Damage in case she's unconscious: 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 12

Iterative attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 1 - 4 - 4 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 17

Tori will make all three attacks regardless of whether she's conscious or appears dead.

Actually, don't combat maneuvers benefit from flank? That would mean that it actually got a '25' on its grab check.

Xasay, it does. CMD is 26...

Tori shoots more arrows and the fey goes limp again. Xasay has his squid drag her towards the shore. Out of the water, the fey is a pitifull mess. The pathfinders stand around her, waiting to see if she shows any signs of life, but she does not...

Jenesara, the triton, emerges from the water "You did it! I will be in your debt forever. Let me get five hippocampi so you can go over that ship!"

And indeed, some time later she appears with five of the giant sea horses. She tells you to let them go if and when you don't need them anymore, they will make their way back to her. After making sure you got everything you mount the creatures and ride of into the setting sun, in pursuit of the Magpie Princess...

And that concludes part 2!

"Yee-ha! Never thought I'd be riding a water horse before! It is quite a ride!"

When you finally catch up with the Magpie Princess you see it is anchored near the largest beach on a small island. A small rowboat is visible on the beach, dragged up to the edge of the jungle where a small trail leads into the vegetation. On deck of the Princess the crew is pointing at you as you come closer on your hippocampi mounts.

Do you think they'll parley?" Grisaia calls over the waves. "Or do we need to subdue them?"

"The Captain left without us, but assuming she went to shore, we might take over the ship. Although.. perhaps we should just go to shore to try and beat her to the treasure, and then bribe the crew to turn allegiance?"

"Da teachin's ah Milani say I outta just stick to keepin you guys safe... but givin da lot of 'em a good ol one-two would be mighty satisfyin'", Scratcher comments.

"I don't want to make any more deals with the Captain, but if we can talk the crew down that would probably work best for everyone."

"Should we not, if possible, find out why they deserted us? We cannot even be truly certain yet who is responsible. There may already have been a mutiny...and having reached that point, why stop at one?" Xasay chuckles. "A pirate's life, indeed!"

The pathfinders are discussing their course of action while more and more crew gather on deck to watch them. You do not see any readying of weapons. Among the familiar faces you spot the first mate Horemheb and the navigator Belina but not captain Lanterni.

Xasay uses prestidigitation to conjure a small facsimile of an olive branch, then waves his shadow stencils about to bring a barely-visible whirlwind about the same size as he is a shadow Small Air Elemental, which sucks up the branch, speeds toward the ship, and promptly vanishes upon arrival, leaving the peace token clattering on deck.

The crew signal that you can board the ship. Their first question is how you got those sea-horses. After telling your tale they admit that the captain decided to sail away shortly after you left for the island. Horemheb admits that Lanteri has taken Vancid Creed and her steward Hinsin ashore on one of the ship’s launches. He also notes that Lanteri made Hinsin play three musical notes repeatedly on a strange horn composed of three distinct segments he carried before the landing party left for the beach.

"Notes? Sounds like they were practicing for somthing."

Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3 Yah, not helpful.

"Or a signal to something on the island."

Diplomacy to Gather Information: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

"Perhaps we should listen to Loudwing's performance and follow in the captain's footsteps?"

"Aight, so jus' dun try anythin' funny 'ere as we go check on da Cap'n. Fool us once, shame on us. Fool us twice, and you get da claws!", Scratcher venting the last of is anger with that statement.

"I guess someone grab the bird and let's get moving." Tori suggests with some enthusiasm, eager to finally deal with the backstabbing, husband-murdering Captain once and for all.

Emmett looks for a cage (unless the bird is already in one), and says "Sing me a song, little guy?"

Handle Animal: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

You enter the captain's quarters where Loudwing is singing the same three notes over and over. Once Emmett asks it to sing him a song it repeats "Sing me a song" and starts repeating that. The good news is that Loudwing is willing to follow you, providing you occasionally feed it with some nuts and fruit you got from the ship's cook. Apparently he is glad that the bird leaves ship.

You take another boat to the island, Loudwing proudly at the bow until a wave splashes some ocean spray over him. It quickly seeks cover behind Grisaia. On the island you follow the tracks of the captain and two other humanoids. After half an hour you come to a clearing. A twenty-foot-tall stone monument rises above the brush. The monolith bears rows of weathered inscriptions. About thirty feet to the southeast, at the far end of the clearing, a large waterfall pours down from the cliffs above into a clear pool of water.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

"Hey, check this out. Three sets of footprints, headed into that cave behind the waterfall."

"Good catch, Emmett. Let's go check it out."

Emmett and Tori immediately head for the waterfall.

What are the others doing? Note that the squares on the map for the remainder of this adventure are 10 foot square instead of 5 ft

Xasay does his best to keep up, excited at hearing of Emmett's find.

"Shelyn, grant me the toughness to endure this challenge." Grisaia prays, her skin thickening and coarsening against harm, before following after.

Barkskin up.

"Roja dat!", Scratcher punching his hands together in excitement. He follows Emmett to the cave, looking to make sure that nothing else looks hinky on the way.

Perception on surroundings: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13