GM SpiderBeard's Second Darkness (Inactive)

Game Master Barvo Delancy

"Ah say we head back wit'yeh, an' get some sleep 'fore we try 'dis again tomorrow. Ah'm nearly out o'magic, 'n Ah think rollin' down 'dis tower has beat us all t'hell. Gettin' late, too."

Mutt easily climbs up the cliff. When Samaritha hugs him, Mutt's eyes dart left and right, wondering what he should do. He then slowly hugs her back. When Thaddeus suggests that they rest for the night, Mutt nods. "Right. I think we should do that. We could all use the rest." He looks at his bite wound, a little worried.

Fiona tenderly returns Samaritha's hug.

"Resting would be a good idea, but I'm not sure if there's going to be another ship coming here..."

With the pier only a few hours away, you make your way back, retracing your steps back over the assassin vine. The cyphermages are broken physically and emotionally, but Samaritha tries to be as cheerful as possible to keep her few remaining companions going.

Various abandoned buildings near the pier make for a good spot to rest, despite the various horrifyingly large centipedes, and you all settle down to get through the night, taking turns on watch - mostly for squashing giant centipedes.

It's well past midnight when Samaritha wakes up Mutt for his watch. The burly bloodrager settles in to occasionally smash centipedes and keep an eye out from the second-floor ruined building the group is camping in. The night passes quietly, until creaking sound alerts Mutt. Dimly visible, out at sea, is a ship. The details are impossible for him to make out this late at night.

Mutt spins around at the sound of the creaking, hand on his greataxe. He sees the shape of a ship. He turns to the others and shouts, "We got a ship coming in! Can't make out the details!"

A grumpy, disheveled, underwear-clad Fiona cracks an eye open and rises with a yawn. "...ship? Huh. I thought we wouldn't see one so late at night."

She starts slipping into her chainmail.

Were we able to recover spells & HP, GM?

Unless we have an hour to prepare before it arrives, we won't be able to recover spells, even assuming we've had 8 hours of sleep. Hit points would be nice, though, since Variel ended still banged up. ;-)

Variel wakes to Mutt's alarm and tries to get a look at the ship. "We shouldn't be seeing one at all. Ours isn't due back, and I didn't think anyone else was coming. This is almost certainly not good news, especially at night."

If possible, Take 10 for 15 Profession (sailor) to estimate the ship's course and try to determine when and where it will land.

No, you do not have your hp or spells back.

The ship slowly moves towards the pier, Variel's keen eyes peer through the dim light to get a good sense of the ship.

Tattered, triangular sails whip wildly above the deck of a formidable vessel, driving it on with fearsome intent. Its three masts proudly display the scars of storms and past battles, and its fearsome draconic masthead bucks upon the waves with ravenous hunger. A ragged black flag snaps above the mainmast, bearing the image of a scarred red skull.

Variel can clearly see that the ship is moving in to dock at the pier. He also knows a pirate ship when he sees one.

Any sense of how long we have before it arrives?

Like five minutes or more. It's not a quick process to come in and it's a pretty big ship.

Should be enough time for us to get our armour on and get ready for a possible fight.

Thaddeus wakes up groggily, his nightclothes mostly consisting of taking off his hat, jacket, and pants.

"Huh? Whazzits?"

Upon getting the briefing of a potential pirate ship, Thaddeus muses, "Maybe we'd be best jus' hidin' in th'woods 'fore dey get here."

"You may have a point, Thaddeus. I myself have little left until I have rested more and had my morning prayers. Discretion may be a better option. "

He looks toward Mutt. "Perhaps if it is not me suggesting it, it won't be assumed as cowardice this time."

Fiona looks a bit indignant at the suggestion of running away, but she just sighs and finishes putting her armour on. "I still have my battle songs, in case they decide to pursue us."

Samaritha crouches in the corner, eyeing the ship carefully.

"I... I think hiding would be best. We're completely out of spells unless you think a donkey would be particularly useful."

Mutt looks at Variel. "I'm not going to assume that it's cowardice. I'm trying to be better about that. Given how banged up we are and the fact that we're not at our best, it's the best idea."

Thaddeus, nodding at the discretion shown by his allies, quickly gathers his things, and shushes Old Horn. He quickly assists the other mages as well.

"'Right, best head out now, 'fore dey get a good look at th'beach."

To clarify, are you staying and hiding or taking off back into the forest?

We are backing off into the forest to observe.

That sounds like a good idea to me.

That was my intention.

Same here.

The group heads out into the forest to observe the ship as it comes to dock. With the dense underbrush, it's extremely easy to remain hidden. Variel's eyes alone are keen enough to peer out to the dock and understand what's going on.

The ship comes into dock and drops anchor before extending a plank to the pier. A group of around six leave the ship and start exploring the immediate area, checking in the buildings and a little ways down the path. The pirates are rough-and-tumble sorts and look to be in a foul mood.

You have a few options here. You can retreat into the forest to remove all chances of being detected, you can confront them in some way, or you can remain where you are an attempt to stay unnoticed. It is very dark.

"Kinda curious what 'dey're up to, but not sure we'll learn more jus' watchin' 'em. Did we wanna fall back t'the woods more?"

"I would like to try to observe, but prudence may dictate just staying away. "

Update will be a little late, bear with! More people can chime in on plans as well in the interim.

Fiona grits her teeth and looks back into the dark, uninviting forest. "Well, I've somehow angered my ancestors already--what's another retreat going to do?"

...maybe I shouldn't have said that.

Mutt snorts. "I'm with Variel and Thaddeus on this one. I want to know what they're doing here."

You decide that discretion is the better part of valor and retreat into the woods. Tired and sore, you retreat from the comfort of the abandoned buildings and manage to find a tree which can bear Mutt's weight. The big man easily climbs up to keep an eye on the ship.

Now properly docked, the ship seems to just settle in for the night at the pier. The small group dedicated to exploring the immediate area at the pier return to the ship. Some torchlight shows a few figures moving about as they settle in to dock, which with Variel's jack-of-all-trades expertise indicates that they're not going anywhere for a little while. It's impossible to tell the size of the crew, but there are at least a dozen abovedeck.

You can now attempt to bed down in the forest, sneak back to the ruined buildings, or find a different location to camp. If you choose not to rest you will be subject to fatigue, and won't get spells back.

"Alright, looks like 'dey're jus' snoozin' fer th'night. Nothin' else t'see, so let's look fer a cozier place ourselves in th' woods."

Fiona grumbles and stows her bedroll away. "And I was set to finally get to sleep, too..."

Variel merely nods and collects his things, and helps find a place to get as much rest as possible.

Thaddeus has some Survival skill, if that would help find a decent campsite.

Mutt nods and packs up his own things. He moves with the group to find a place to camp in the woods.

Thaddeus' Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Thaddeus manages to find a decent campsite which is easily defensible if attacked. The group exhaustedly pull out tents and bed down. Thankfully, they are unmolested for the night and after a bad sleep, wake up ready to go. In the distance, the huge pirate ship remains right where it was.

Samaritha looks unhappily at the pier.

"Well, I doubt we're getting a ride from them. Perhaps we can return to Witchlight or try to hole up in one of the lighthouses. What is your plan?"

The unexplored areas of the island are the impact site, the smoke trails indicating a large camp, and the two light hosues on either end. There is also a huge pirate ship you can choose to encounter.

Variel wakes up in a foul mood from the interruption and the less than perfect camping conditions. He takes time to himself to stretch and to pray, and finally seems to be back to his usual self.
Sleeping recovers 4hp, so Variel is still at 19/24 when he wakes up. After praying, he will cast CLW: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12. He's feeling MUCH better now.

"I suggest we start on the western side of the island. The lighthouse there may be usable for shelter, and is relatively remote from the other signs of activity we saw."

Fiona isn't in much better a mood as she rises and dresses herself.

Thaddeus is a bit stiff in the morning, but otherwise seems to have not minded their less-than-stellar accomodations.

"Ahh, reminds me of goin' huntin' wit' mah uncle."

After gnawing on cold jerky and hardtack, Thaddeus heads away from the party to have a chat with Old Horn. A rather extended conversation, it seems.

After the typical morning preparations, Thaddeus glances around, contemplating where to go next.

"Well, we ain't leavin' yeh t'fend fer yerself 'till we find a safe place. An' unless Ah'm fergetttin' somethin', we're jus' suposed'ta look 'round th'island fer some coal-skinned elves, an' we don't know where 'dey are. Ah guess th'lighthouses might be fortified enough t'hide out in. Guess we should head to th'closest one, first."

"Oh, an' kin somebody wit' a bit o'knowledge on how t'fix a body look at Mutt's bite wound, dere? Ah'm guessin' he's alright, since he hasn't been complainin' of any pains 'r illnesses 'dis mornin', but best t'make sure."

...this may be the first time people actually see that he doesn't use spellbooks. Whether they care is up to you.

Neither do either Fiona or Variel. They probably won't even notice. ;-)

"Oh, an' kin somebody wit' a bit o'knowledge on how t'fix a body look at Mutt's bite wound, dere? Ah'm guessin' he's alright, since he hasn't been complainin' of any pains 'r illnesses 'dis mornin', but best t'make sure."

Variel goes over to Mutt and asks, "Do you mind if I check your wounds for infection? Or is it more heroic to let them fester?" Despite the barb, his smile seems sincere, and this appears to be an attempt at good-natured humor rather than an actual insult.

Heal check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 If he sees evidence of disease, he will spend 10 minutes treating it. GM can roll the check in secret. ;-)

Mutt wakes up, somewhat cranky because of the conditions. He packs up his gear. When it comes to a location, he simply says, "The lighthouses do seem fine. However, we do not want a repeat of yesterday. So we need to be careful." Mutt munches on some of his food when Variel approaches. As he examines the wound and makes his joke, Mutt gives him a small smile. "Hey. I'm not that stupid. Treat away." His tone seems to be friendly, replying to Variel with good-natured humor.

Also, is Mutt still packing hit point damage? Don't forget to heal your 4 hit point for a night's sleep.

Fixed it. I now have 35/41 hp.

Mutt's wounds thankfully appear to be clean of any larvae. The dive into salt water must have helped as well.

It's as you all begin wandering off that you notice something strange. Gunryn is nowhere to be seen. You're certain that he was with you when you all finally went to sleep. An investigation of the area reveals nothing - no footprints or sign of him. Mule, however, remains where he always has been, ornery as ever.

After a search of the area with no clue as to what may have happened to him, you decide to keep moving in order to avoid attracting attention from the pirates.

Giving the pirate ship a wide berth, you head back into the interior of the island, making westwards to a lighthouse in the hopes to find a safe place to shelter the group and the Cyphermages. Thankfully, you manage to avoid any dangers. The occasional lone akata is seen scampering through the woods in the distance, but does not come near.

You finally come to the mighty western lighthouse... which is rubble. Although it looked somewhat impressive from the ship, all you see is a south-facing shell and a pile of long-broken stone. It's been in this state for decades.

however, as you move closer to investigate, the rubble start to move before it explodes with giant centipedes! Five of the big bastards start scuttling towards you angrily while an enormous swarm of smaller centipedes moves along with them.

Everyone but Mutt can go!

Thaddeus feels a mix of personal failure and disbelief as he scours the area, trying to find where Grunyn disappeared to. Where the hell would he have gone? He was not a particularlay stealthy individual, how did he just vanish like that? Thaddeus tried and tried to locate any tracks using his limited hunting knowledge, feeling like if he was better, they wouldn't have lost Grunyn.

They give up, and head to the lighthouse, Thaddeus feeling guilt, and a newfound sense of paranoia. Bofur vanished into thin air, and now Grunyn did as well? Thaddeus mentally checks over the similarities, any noteworthy events, trying to find common threads. Is something stalking them? Picking them off one by one? Or are they just being hunted by some extraplanar dwarf-eating creature?

------

Thaddeus' self-recrimination is cut short as large segmented creatures (And a whole lot of smaller segmented creatures) bursts out of the rubble towards the group. He runs forward for a better vantage point.

MOVE: Move to the square NW of Mutt, if someone could move me, please.
STANDARD: Procure a bottle of Alchemist's Fire

"Don't charge at 'em! Let 'em come to us, so we can blast 'n pelt 'em 'fore 'dey get here!"

Grunyn's disappearance gives Fiona even more cause for alarm. It was bad enough that Bofur up and disappeared one day... now, Grunyn was out there, somewhere on the island. Perhaps one of those bizarre creatures found him and...

No. Move on. Don't think about that.
-------------
Round 1: Actions
Move Action: Pull out a scroll of grease
Standard Action: Move in front of Mutt

Fiona draws a scroll from her belt and steps up next to Thaddeus. "I have a couple of scrolls of grease left--think we can use them with some alchemist's fire?"

I'm pretty sure that the grease spell isn't flammable (it was in prior editions, but not in Pathfinder)

"I'm not sure if magical grease catches fire, and there is enough room for the creatures to just go around anyway."

Variel draws his sword as he steps around a tree, and waits for the creatures to approach.

Move and draw, ready to attack the first one to come into reach.

Variel gets ready to swipe at the first thing that comes near to him while Thaddeus and Fiona prepare for some magic. Samaritha and the mages quickly start chanting, casting mage armour upon themselves.

The centipedes swarm out of the lighthouse, making straight line for the group, splitting to attack Variel, and then Fiona. Variel swipes out as a centipede approaches. He slashes it brutally, but the centipede doesn't quite go down. Unfortunately for Variel, the swarm is on its tail, and he quickly finds himself enveloped with hundreds of horrifying large centipedes, biting and stinging!

Swarm: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8 Dex Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Variel takes 8 damage, and must make a DC 13 fortitude save or take 1 dex damage! Variel may also take his readied action to attack black or red centipede. Everyone is up!

Readied attack:
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Confirm crit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

I'm assuming I also need to save vs nausea for the swarm; if for some reason I don't, ignore the roll. ;-)
Fort Save vs Swarm poison: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Fort Save vs Swarm nausea: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

The token for the swarm is either an unusual size or is placed off center, is that intentional? I need to know which squares it actually occupies so I can figure out where to move to.

Mutt looks around for Grunyn. He calls out the dwarf's name several times. When Thaddeus goes off the look, Mutt tags along, searching around. At the end of it all, Mutt realizes that they can't spend a good deal of time looking. They need to move on.

-------

Mutt growls at the sight of the centipedes coming at them. He draws his greataxe and hacks at the one with the normal colored exoskeleton.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

He shouts, "Variel! If you can get out of the swarm, I can burn them alive!"

Round 2: Actions
Free Action: Drop Scroll
Move Action: Draw Earthbreaker
Standard Action: Smack Green Centipede!

Fiona heeds Variel's warning and ditches her scroll for her earthbreaker, holding it aloft before bringing it down on the nearest centipede's head.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10