PFS 3-11 Quest for Perfection Part II: On Hostile Waters (Inactive)

Game Master Warped

Zephri fires, drops Bethany and draws the shortbow he picked up earlier.

Bullet: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

From his prone position?

Dagat fires another arrow, creating a steady threat should any of the guards leave their cover.

Same target, Border Guard 2.

Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 - 1 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Correct, not going to fire it from prone, not possible, but I am low on HP so it makes sense to stay down rather than stand without being able to do anything.

She certainly has the arrows to do it.

Good tip, thanks Kim. So I need a concentration check now, right? For being hit while spellcasting?

Concentration!: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Well, never mind. :)

You haven't started casting yet, or you just started casting this round, so you haven't taken any damage since you started casting. So there's no need for a concentration check yet. Also, your bonus should be higher than 1.

Gorn shambles down off of the boat, ensuring his shield is securely between himself and the archers to the best of his ability. Seeing his companions pause for but a moment, he waves his open, empty hand in the air.

"Lads, I know ye likely have families, wives & children. Ah'm not one fer slaughter. Toss yer bows and no more harm will come from us. Ah'm unarmed, showin' peaceful-like, Ah'd recommend that meself, or ah'm gonna let my ill-tempered friend have ye." He thinks a moment longer and adds " And Ah'll be forced to help 'im."

diplomacy, offering surrender, whether the others want to or not.: 1d20 ⇒ 16

I'm very anti-slaughter here. Finding bodies and an unmoored chain is likely going to bring hell on the river. Also, for the other PC's: Remember, Gorn goes last of our group, thus your actions don't matter for this action.

Well, technically I go before him, but I'd really like my actions to occur after Gorn. Since he's offering Diplomacy, I obviously don't want to shoot until we see the result of that. That said, considering they're hostile, I think the DC is well out of our ability to influence.

Moving along the boardwalk and protectively placing herself in front of Gorn, Hyeon-ae nods along with his words of peace, although her bow remains in her hands... she would certainly be happy to let these guards go with no more harm done to them.

The parties actions happen whenever you want them to within the order of the party. You can delay or act while others delay as you will. Generally, unless someone specifically states that they are waiting until someone else, such as Hyeon-ae's actions, I will just assume that the actions occur in the order of posting.

Zephri places Bethany to the side carefully while he pulls out a bow, but makes sure to do it out of sight of his beloved. Dagat looses another arrow at the guards, ensuring that they do not come out of cover. Noorzad starts to cast a spell without seeking cover (...).

Gorn shouts at the men, waving his shield about. They don't seem to understand him, however, as arrows continue to fly about.

The guards respond with shouts of their own, "Wǒmen bìng bù jùpà hé yāo! Wǒmen huì zàicì shàngshēng wèi lín sēn zhōng de zūnjìng jūnduì bīngmǎyǒng, wǒmen yīnggāi dǎo xià!" It sounds pretty threatening to Gorn.

Hyeon-ae sighs and looses another arrow, striking the man hiding behind the cover in the shoulder.

The northern most guards each see Noorzad casting a spell, and aim their arrows at him, while the southernmost guard aims at Hyeon-ae, reminded of the painful mark she gave him as he pulls back on the string.

Border Guard 1 attack on Noorzad: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Border Guard 2 attack on Noorzad: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Border Guard 3 attack on Hyeon-ae: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Both the northern guards each strike Noorzad, but the third arrow aimed for Hyeon-ae flies harmlessly off her armored thigh.

Border Guard 1 damage on Noorzad: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Border Guard 2 damage on Noorzad: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Only one of those would have hit if you had cover, at which point you would have needed to make a concentration check vs a DC of 10 + the damage taken + the level of the spell you're casting, or 10+6+1, 17. Your bonus to the d20 on concentration checks is your caster level + your charisma modifier, or 2+3(?), 5. So if you were behind cover, you'd still be conscious, but would need to roll d20+5 vs a DC of 17 to maintain casting the spell.

@anyone else - did I miss anything? I don't play casters often, so I might have missed something

The party is up again! The critters will act again on Sunday unless everyone posts their actions before then. The tide is slowly turning against you (metaphorically, not literally).

Group 1
Noorzad [-4/12 HP]
Dagat [10/12 HP]
Zephri [4/12 HP]
Gorn
Hyeon-ae

Critters
Border Guard 1
Border Guard 2 [7/11 HP]
Border Guard 3

Group 2

I'm confused about turn order, I guess - I thought I hadn't started casting yet and we had the initiative. No worries.

Trusting that Gorn would soon be there to back her up - and that the rest of the party's enfilading fire would assist from a distance should the border guards swarm her - Hyeon-ae moves up with a determined (albeit sad) frown. To think the nation had brainwashed them so much to see themselves as nothing but pawns in Lingshen's machinations...

She reaches over her shoulder, selecting yet another arrow tipped with red fletching, and lets it fly with surprising accuracy into the chest of one of the border guards.

[dice=Attack vs. the "middle" one (PBS)]1d20+4+1[/dice]
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

Sighing, Gorn bears his shield as he advances, drawing his axe as he goes. actions: Move then Standard: Full defence +4 AC. Being tired unable to run stinks.

"May Torag have mercy on your souls." He says grimly as he advances.

Still Border Guard 2! Unless one of them moved out of cover for some strange reason.

Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 - 1 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Additionally, if I delay, please assume I'm shooting or have Dagat do whatever. I am without a stable internet connection at the moment.

Hyeon's arrow once again finds its target, and staggers the border guard. Gorn mutters grimly as he continues to advance with his shield raised, under the covering fire provided by Dagat.

Group 1
Noorzad [-4/12 HP] [Need a stabilization check]
Zephri [4/12 HP]

Critters
Border Guard 1
Border Guard 2 [0/11 HP]
Border Guard 3

Group 2
Gorn
Hyeon-ae
Dagat [10/12 HP]

Noorzad's Stabilization Check vs DC 14: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Noorzad continues to bleed out on the deck while Zephri waits for one of the border guards to be flushed out.

The northern-most archer moves further into the ruins, taking up another position and fires another arrow at Hyeon-ae. The middle border guard steps back further into cover, pulling a potion out as he does and drinking from it. The southern-most archer also fire at Hyeon-ae, the deadly archer almost in their ranks (Hyeon-ae has cover from this shot).

Border Guard 1 attack on Hyeon-ae: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Border Guard 2 attack on Hyeon-ae: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Damage to Hyeon-ae: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

The first arrow strikes, but the second arrow flies well past her shoulder and into the river beyond.

The party is up again! The critters will go again on Wednesday unless everyone posts their actions before then. Gorn, nothing about being fatigued says you can't take two move actions in a turn. You just can't make a run action (full-round action) or charge (also a full-round action). I'm not sure if you were slowly advancing because you believed you couldn't take two movement actions or not.

Group 1
Noorzad [-5/12 HP] [Need a stabilization check]
Zephri [4/12 HP]
Gorn
Hyeon-ae [2/9 HP]
Dagat [10/12 HP]

Critters
Border Guard 1
Border Guard 2 [5/11 HP]
Border Guard 3

Group 2

I hate your FACE, border guard #2. <-- Totally what Dagat is thinking.

Dagat stares at her target, determination in the tense muscles of her face as she lets another arrow fly.

Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 - 1 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Gorn, puffing angrily, walks to border guard #3, swinging his axe hard at the guard around the corner.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 2 - 4 = 15

damage, if hits: 1d10 ⇒ 3

"Stand down ye Gits!" He yells. "This is wasted slaughter!"

Dagat's arrow is enough to drop the persistent border guard, just as Gorn finally enters the fray, yelling strange threats in a foreign language. The dwarven warrior must surely be a worthy foe to have slowly walked up to them and then threatened them with what must surely be a watery, river devil doom. This is further emphasized when he swings an axe at him, but is saved by the partial cover he has from the furious dwarven spirit.

Dunno if it's being conveyed well, but they don't speak common. You guys killed the only one who did.

Group 1
Noorzad [-5/12 HP] [Need a stabilization check]
Hyeon-ae [2/9 HP]
Dagat [10/12 HP]

Critters
Border Guard 1
Border Guard 3

Group 2
Zephri [4/12 HP]
Gorn

Sorry, got sucked out of town for work - back now!

stabilization check for whenever: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Target is Border Guard #3. I stand up as a move action.

Dagat fires another arrow at the guard Gorn is threatening before quickly rising from her kneeling position.

Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 2 - 1 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Oops, that one's on me. Dagat already went this round, but I marked it as Zephri as having acted instead. So if you wish to change your target, I'll allow it! Though it'll hit whoever you're aiming at.

Zephri and Hyeon-ae are both overcome by this difficult battle and are indecisive on what to do next.

Meanwhile, both guards drop their bows as Gorn approaches and draw short swords. The northern-most guard runs behind and around to the back of Gorn, well out of cover now. Once in position, they both attack the heavily armored dwarf.

Guard 1 attack on Gorn: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Guard 3 attack on Gorn: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Both attacks do not even come close to the dwarf, however, as Desna continues to smile on him.

The party is up. The critters will act again on Friday unless everyone posts their actions before then.

Group 1
Noorzad [-6/12 HP] [Need a stabilization check]
Hyeon-ae [2/9 HP]
Dagat [10/12 HP]
Zephri [4/12 HP]
Gorn

Critters
Border Guard 1
Border Guard 3

Group 2

Gorn, now in HIS element steps forward, to remove the pesky cover.

attack: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 4 - 2 = 13
damage: 1d10 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 - 2 = 5

"Stand Down!"

Gorn pleads as he swings.

Ah! Alrighty, I'll stick with Border Guard 3 because Dagat hates his face too.

Gorn swings at the Border Guard, and misses, his axe clanging off the wall as his pleas go unheeded by the man who can't understand them. Dagat buries an arrow into the chest of the man after the axe misses, perhaps to drive the point home.

Group 1
Noorzad [-6/12 HP] [Need a stabilization check]
Hyeon-ae [2/9 HP]
Zephri [4/12 HP]

Critters
Border Guard 1
Border Guard 3 [3/11 HP]

Group 2
Gorn
Dagat [10/12 HP]

Horses Sleep In A Stable Ization Check: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Heh, okay, apparently I need to do horrible wordplay stuff to make the dice roller like me

Noorzad's wound finally stabilizes. Hyeon-ae steps back and fires and arrow into the guard before her as Zephri rises to a knee to fire an arrow at the same man.

Hyeon-ae's attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 = 17
Zephri's attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Hyeon-ae's bow damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

The guard who took Hyeon-ae's arrow draws out a flask and drinks from it before dropping it to the ground and stepping towards Gorn. The other guard steps back to flank and stabs at Gorn with his shortsword.

Guard 3's attack on Gorn: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 = 13

The attack doesn't come close to the dwarf, fortunately.

The party is up. The critters will act again on Sunday.

Group 1
Noorzad [-6/12 HP]
Hyeon-ae [2/9 HP]
Zephri [4/12 HP]
Gorn
Dagat [10/12 HP]

Critters
Border Guard 1 [2/11 HP]
Border Guard 3 [3/11 HP]

Group 2

Gorn, seeing the guard, keeps yelling "Stand Down!" as he truly does not wish for more bloodshed. He tries to blunt the damage as much as possible, trying to hit the guard who is obviously woosy from the arrows.
[ooc]Trying for Subdual Damage...[/dice]

attack: 1d20 + 4 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 2 - 4 = 16
damage: 1d10 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 - 2 = 3

Border Guard #3 again, unless he's out, in which case the only other remaining one.

Dagat takes another shot, taking a moment to wonder why Gorn is yelling something the guards cannot understand.

Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 - 1 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

In an attempt to comply with Gorn's desire for reduced violence, Noorzad twitches in a less aggressive manner.

Apologies again for my absence.

Longbow, PBS: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

I should get you to roll all my attacks Kim, I think you do a better job of it than I do...

Woozy from the pain of the arrow sticking in her side, Hyeon-ae fires a close-range arrow that goes completely off the mark. This is likely as a result of her pale-faced trembling...

Gorn smashes the back of his axe into the guard, staggering him, but he is dropped soon after by Dagat.

Zephri's bow attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Zephri's bow damage: 1d8 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7 He only has a strength of 8...

Hyeon-ae's arrow from point blank misses, but Zephri's from the ship hits the mark on the last standing border guard, dropping him to the ground as well. Breathing heavily, the Pathfinder's find themselves the last ones standing, albeit barely.

What is this 'barely' of which you speak?

Gorn shuffles quickly to the 'gate,' smashing it permanently open with his axe. "Everyone on the boat. Ah'm ready to leave."

Gorn will be very grumpy as the boat continues its journey, but he will take time to rest (hopefully) to get rid of his very tired, more cranky than usual, self.

Don't forget to loot! And, uhh, dispose of the evidence. Or bury them.

Dagat kneels by Noorzad and takes out her wand, activating it over his most serious injuries.

Wand of Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

I don't understand! Isn't it only people who have done horribly wrong things that dispose of the evidence!? :P

The next part takes place four days from now, so let me know when you're done healing up and destroying national security measurements and taxable revenue sources, please, and we can jump into it!

LOL. Gorn will not partake of anything from the guards. They were doing their jobs. Gorn is ready when the rest are ready.

All the cool kids hang out at 1hp!

Groggy, Noorzad stares into the middle distance and mutters "-- and then they banned me from the brothel for a month." After a few minutes, he blinks a bit and pulls out his own wand.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
and again: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Gorn grumbles as he helps Noorzad to his feet.

"Anyone else going to pick fights with people just doin' their jobs? These were guards, not warriors. We outmatched them them quite soundly."

Does anyone have the cure light wounds spell known (I think it's all spontaneous caster's in the group now)? If so, we can just skip wasting wand charges and have everyone fully healed by the next encounter. If not, everyone has four times their level back in HP for the next encounter. Meta away!

Four days after dispatching those troublesome Shaguang-Kaoling border guards, you come across an area of the Tuunma River that is much rougher and more difficult to predict, making mishaps more dangerous for boats passing down the river. Any roll of Snag on the Mishap Table counts instead as a Collision, dealing 8d6 points of damage to the ship. A Collision does not deal additional damage to the ship. You enter a canyon 30 feet wide on average, while the river charts say that the average depth is 60 feet. The boat proceeds along with the current at a quick clip (40 feet per round). The cliffs are 30 feeet high on either side, and are covered in banyan roots.

The sickening stench of death and decay wafts out of this 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.

If it's okay with everyone, I will just put Zephri on pilot mode and make the steering rolls myself since we haven't heard from him for two weeks now. Hyeon-ae will be on normal GM archer bot mode unless she posts something during the player's phase, in which case she overrules me. I hope to start the encounter before tomorrow afternoon so we can hopefully finish this scenario before the end of PbP Gameday, though it's going to be really, really close. It's a shame there's no four player conversions for this scenario! We are approaching the end, though, don't worry, and it's still possible to finish in time. And even if we don't, then only thing you're losing out on is the slim chance of getting a boon. Once I have "ready" posts from at least three players, I'll begin the encounter.

Affirmative, CLW is on my known list.

And ready :)

Gorn is ready! And rested again!

Red to the E!

Dagat stands by near Zephri in case something should arise that needs her to take over, and watches the fast-moving currents of the river in case there is something they approach that needs her to warn the pilot.

As another note, the rougher the waters get, the more uncomfortable the heavily armored dwarf gets. He loops some rope around the mast, and creates a harness of sorts to make sure he doesn't fall in, or, if he does, he can pull himself out again.

I've lost lots of dwarves to water.

Sorry for the delay!

As your ship floats through the canyon, a few dozen kijimunas emerge from the caverns on the northern cliff face and jabber in Goblin at the party. While the bulk of the hairy goblinoids remain in relative safety of their caves, a couple of the more daring kijimunas drop onto the deck of the boat, disregarding the fact that their nets are already filled with fish and instead using the tools as weapons against you. They shriek at you in Goblin before lunging in to attack!

Hyeon-ae moves back from the goblin before her, drawing her bow and firing an arrow at the disgusting creature as Zephri pilots the ship through the treacherous waters, focused on the task set before him.

Hyeon-ae's Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Zephri's Pilot Check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 So close!
Mishap Check: 1d20 ⇒ 7

The ship sails into a patch of especially choppy water. All creatures aboard take a –1 penalty on attack rolls made this turn.

The goblinoids before Hyeon-ae throws his net at her, while the one next to Noorzad jabs him with his spear.

Kijimuna 1 Net Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 4 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 4 - 1 = 16
Kijimuna 2 Spear Attack: 1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 1 = 20

The net engulfs Hyeon-ae at the same time that the spear pierces Noorzad's leg.

Damage to Noorzad: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Kijimuna Strength check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

An entangled creature takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty on Dexterity, can move at only half speed, and cannot charge or run. If you control the trailing rope by succeeding on an opposed Strength check while holding it, the entangled creature can move only within the limits that the rope allows. If the entangled creature attempts to cast a spell, it must make a concentration check with a DC of 15 + the spell's level or be unable to cast the spell.

An entangled creature can escape with a DC 20 Escape Artist check (a full-round action). The net has 5 hit points and can be burst with a DC 25 Strength check (also a full-round action). A net is useful only against creatures within one size category of you.

The party is up! The critters will go on Sunday unless everyone posts their actions before then. Everyone has a -1 to hit for this round.

Group 1
Noorzad [5/12 HP]
Gorn
Dagat
Zephri
Hyeon-ae

Critters
Kijimuna 1
Kijimuna 2

Group 2

Aiming at the one on the other side, next to Hyeon-ae.

Dagat stands guard near Zephri, taking out her bow. She shoots at the goblinoid on the other end of the ship, but the sudden rough waters throw off her aim.

Longbow: 1d8 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 - 1 = 11
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

I'd ask if anyone spoke Goblin, but we've already established that we are not a diplomatic group.

Gorn, feeling relatively safe tied to the mast advances on the goblin nearest to him, drawing his axe as he steps nearer.

"Torag have ye!" Gorn yells at the Goblin.

attack: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 4 - 1 = 12
damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Hey! I tried diplomacy! :P

Noorzad, worried he'll get poked again if he attempts to disengage, draws his blade and attempts to support Gorn's assault on the nearer goblin.

attack: 1d20 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 - 1 = 15
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Hyeon-ae notches another arrow and releases it at the nearby goblin through the netting, and amazingly hits it. Noorzad is able to sink his blade into the goblin next to him, as well. Everyone else's attacks go astray due to Zephri's clumsy piloting of the boat, as their feet go sliding around the deck.

Hyeon-ae's attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 1 - 1 - 4 = 18
Bow damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9

Zephri again tries to maintain control of the ship.

Piloting check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Mishap check: 1d20 ⇒ 20

And slams into a submerged rock.

Everyone slides 20' towards the front of the ship. Anyone pushed past the bow falls overboard. Everyone takes 1d6 points of damage and must make a DC 20 Reflex save or be knocked prone. The ship also takes 8d6 points of damage

Dagat, Noorzad, and Zephri are all knocked prone. The goblin on the bow goes flying over the edge into the water with Hyeon-ae. The goblin in the water starts splashing around as he tries to swim back to the boat, but makes no progress.

Swim check for Goblin DC 15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

The second goblin, now surrounded by a pile of limbs and bodies, jabs his spear into the pile, hoping to hit something vital in there, as he takes a step up the stairs.

Who to target!? 1 for Noorzad, 2 for Dagat: 1d2 ⇒ 2
Spear attack against Dagat: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 4 = 22
Spear damage against Dagat: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

The party is back up! Critters will act again on Tuesday(ish) unless everyone posts their actions today. Sorry for the slow paced posting, but I realized there's no way we're going to make the deadline, especially since we lost our cleric after the first scenario, and Zephri halfway through this one after he started a huge unnecessary fight. Also one of our big damage dealers is having personal problems and is unable to post regularly, so a plethora of things have piled up against us finishing the second scenario on time. I do plan to still finish the trilogy, though!

Group 1
Noorzad [4/12 HP; prone]
Gorn [17/20 HP]
Dagat [5/12 HP; prone]
Zephri [9/12 HP; prone]
Hyeon-ae [3/9 HP; swimming]

Critters
Kijimuna 1 [3/13 HP; swimming]
Kijimuna 2 [7/13 HP]

Group 2

Gorn takes a 5' step to his left, and swings at the remaining goblin on deck.

I hope the rope holds... Zephri is a mad pilot.

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

"Torag guide my blade!" Gorn shouts as he swings at the Goblin.

Noorzad, still prone, smacks himself with his wand.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

You're next, Dagat!