PFS CORE PbP - #2 Hydra's Fang Incident (GM Deussu) (Inactive)

Game Master Deussu

"Damn it! I hope the salt water doesn't ruin this jacket..."

Swim: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12.

With a sigh, Jarlaxle, treading water, takes a swing at the fish-man near him.

Longsword: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 - 2 = 17, for 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11*0.5 = 5 damage.

Jarlaxle's swim check is actually without a bonus, since ACP takes away the bonus granted by strength.

Jarlaxle lashes out can despite not being able to swim properly he manages to wound the sahuagin direly. It seems to be in a pretty bad condition now, but it keeps on fighting, screaming something unintelligible about avenging Myraxus.

As it tries to strike, however, Pau tries to land a punch.
Pau readied attack: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 2 = 20
Pau's unarmed damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 (3 damage)

Battered and bruised, the crazed sahuagin keeps on fighting.

1 Tog, 2 Jarlaxle, 3 Pau
1d3 ⇒ 3 Pau

Maybe angered by the punch, the sahuagin turns its claws against the off-balanced monk.

Claw attack (s&b): 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 - 2 = 14 HIT
Claw attack (s&b): 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 4 - 2 = 15 HIT
Bite attack (all): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 HIT

Damage (claw): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Halved, = 2
Damage (claw): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Halved, = 3
Damage (bite): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 A total of 9 damage to Pau

Fortunately the sturdy monk is able to keep his head above the waterline even after a devastating flurry of claws and bites.

ROUND 2

Something I did not explain before, but the boat functions as cover as well, so PCs on the boat receive cover against attacks from the Sahuagin while the Sahuagin receives improved cover from the underwater thing. Don't worry, just separate all your bonuses and penalties and I'll check them and modify accordingly if there's something amiss.

Evindal, Lantorth, Althera
----
Sahuagin 2 (6 damage)
----
Jarlaxle (in the water), Tog (submerged), Pau (9 damage, in the water)
----
Sahuagin 1 (14 damage)

Not wanting to get wet, Lantorth fires another missile at the creature trying to flip his boat.

MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Is Pau's boat still connected to part of the dock?

No. All of you are currently at open sea, but the dock's gates aren't far off, 100 feet or so. The scenario is vagua about the exact location.

Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Tog struggles as he sinks away from the sea devils on the surface

Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6

and continues to sink as he struggles for the surface.

20/24 breath remaining

Earlier I said I pulled my siangham, DM, I think that would change my attack and damage since it is piercing, if I'm not mistaken. If I'm wrong, please apply any penalties needed.

Pau tries to swim, and then mount an attack at the damned devil fish with his siangham.

Swim 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

You're right, I forgot you pulled out a siangham. However Pau failed his swim check (DC 10) and according to the underwater combat rules (blegh), he then receives the -2/half penalty to attacks with piercing damage. Horrible rules, I know.

Lantorth's tactic has proven to be effective and continues to be so! The arcane energies fly the short distance and rapture the sahuagin's soul.

Tog flails about and sinks just a bit again, though finally manages to keep himself from going deeper.

Pau, on the other hand, manages to keep himself afloat and this time uses his siangham to deliver a deadly thrust. The sahuagin gags, spurting out a cough of blood, and begins to sink deeper.

ROUND 2

The boat functions as cover, so PCs on the boat receive cover against attacks from the Sahuagin while the Sahuagin receives improved cover. Don't worry, just separate all your bonuses and penalties and I'll check them and modify accordingly if there's something amiss.

Evindal, Lantorth, Althera
----
Sahuagin 2 (9 damage)
----
Jarlaxle (in the water), Tog (submerged), Pau (9 damage, in the water)
----
Sahuagin 1 (23 damage, dying, sinking)

Swim: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15.

Jarlaxle manages to keep his head above water, moves over to the capsized boat, and tries to hold on.

Jarlaxle manages to hold onto the boat and is in no danger to slip away. He does see Tog desperately trying to get himself back to the boat, and the other sahuagin rampaging on the other other boat under a rain of magic missiles.

Automating Althera and Evindal.

Evindal shoots another arrow...
Ranged Piercing: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 2 = 16
...but despite a good shot the arrow plunges in to the water, losing its momentum.

Althera continues to use the reliable tactics, and shoots more magic missiles.
Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

The enraged sahuagin keeps rambling and tries to shake the boat and tip it over. This time, however, the scaly foe is successful and the trio drops off from the capsized boat.

ROUND 3

Evindal (in the water), Lantorth (in the water), Althera (in the water)
----
Sahuagin 2 (12 damage)
----
Jarlaxle (holding onto the boat), Tog (submerged 1), Pau (9 damage, in the water)
----
Sahuagin 1 (23 damage, dying, sinking)

With a sigh, Jarlaxle swims over to the other boat.

Swim: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11.

Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4
Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Tog sink.

18/24 breath remaining

Swim: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Lantorth swims back to his over turned boat, spitting water from his mouth and brushing the wet hair from his eyes. "I did not plan on getting wet this trip." He says as he fires another missle from his wand. "Anyone got any rope? We might need it to retrieve poor Tog."

MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Beaten up, Pau grabs onto his boat, trying to keep from drowning. If Tog wasn't able to surface next round, he was going to have to swim for him.

If Lantorth's missile would have hit its spot a little better, maybe the sahuagin would have lost its rampage and sunken to the depths. Alas, it keeps on rambling, its claws dangerously close to Lantorth's face.

ROUND 3

Evindal (in the water), Lantorth (in the water), Althera (in the water)
----
Sahuagin 2 (14 damage)
----
Jarlaxle (holding onto the boat), Tog (submerged 3), Pau (9 damage, holding onto the boat)
----
Sahuagin 1 (23 damage, dying, sinking)

Evindal tries to get Tog back to the surface.
Swim: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Swim: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Swim: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

I'm guessing Althera once again shoots magic missiles...

Magic Missile damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

And so the final sahuagin drowns after a swarm of magic missiles.

COMBAT OVER!

Tog swim!: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18
Tog swim!: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18
Tog swim!: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

Once the threat has been erased, Tog finally learns how to swim and gets topside with no help. Turning over the boats is no feat at all for the team of superstrong athletes, and they get to continue their journey after drying their clothes somewhat.

Pau might want to heal himself, maybe?

The two boats eventually get in the vicinity of the Hydra's Fang. It has a skeleton crew aboard, meaning a small team of sailors, a pair of brigands, and the captain, Darsielle Du Moire. It appears they have not yet deduced that the group of pathfinders are heading towards their ship.

Now's the time for good plans!

Yes, Pau will pull out his CLW wand and have someone use quite a few charges.

CLW 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

2 more charges from the wand.

Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Glad to have you roll some good swims for me GM, I think my dice were trying to drown me.

Glad to have you roll some good swims for me GM, I think my dice were trying to drown me.

What a way to go that would have been...

I actually killed a PC by drowning in this part last time I ran this.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10.

Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5.

Nope. Nothing to see here ;-)

Can't make either check.

"I have a rope and grappling hook to scale the side, but it is probably best if we all go up at once; has anyone else brought climbing gear?"

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Know nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

"Climb? Don't believe I partake in that activity enough to justify caring 'gear' for it. Though if any one has an extra rope I think I can tie it off at the top."

Pau offers his 50' of rope and grappling hook as well. "Maybe this will help."

"Tog have rope and hook of grappling."

"Excellent! Well then, let's get this party started; the faster we get up on the deck, the better off we will be..."

The pathfinders eventually come in terms with their plans and gets closer. Once within 100 feet or so the crew on board alerts the captain, Darseille Du Moire, about the arriving agents. The captain comes into view.

"And just who the hell are you?" he shouts.

Pau remains silent, rowing with all the energy he can muster. He trusts the more diplomatic members of the group to spin an appropriate yarn.

Tog scratches his head for a moment, thinking to himself.

Tog not want allies to get arrowed, but Tog not also liar...

Also Evindal remains silent and looks sheepish.

Looking around at his silent companions Lantorth fires a missle from his wand at the captain.

MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"What? It was a boring conversation anyway."

"You don't *KNOW*? Or are you some regiment of the silent, oh I don't know, dumbasses?!" Darseille Du Moire rants about on his ship, "who - are - you? And where's the rest of my crew? Answer me!"

Darseille Du Moire's antics clearly reveal he was born a spoilt brat, exploiting his heritage to do whatever he wants. Some might find hints of narcissism and sociopathic behavior.

EDIT: Oh, Lantorth initiates combat. Should've known! Egh, I'll update tomorrow, lots of rolls and such, too much for this evening. Others can react and scold Lantorth for his brashness. ;)

"Well, so much for sneaking on board using charm and wits..."

"We've still got 100' to traverse! They have a long time to fire arrows at us now," Pau scolds as he keeps rowing.

"You really think they were not going to fire arrows at us?"

-Posted with Wayfinder

"OW! HOW DARE YOU?!" Darsielle shouts and order his men to aim and fire. He himself seems incapable of contributing to the ranged fight, but does order the skeleton crew to prepare for immediate departure. Again, the captain himself does no physical labor.

"Faster, you lousy peasants! Sails up, anchors up, let's get going then! What's taking so long?!"

ROUND 1

100 feet to the ship. Rowboat is a slow vehicle, meaning a speed of 15 feet per round. I'll allow a DC 15 Strength check to double the speed as a full-round action.

Jarlaxle
----
Thug 2
----
Pau, Althera
----
Darsielle Du Moire (3 damage)
----
Tog, Lantorth
----
Thug 1
----
Evindal

Lantorth! :-P

Jarlaxle sighs.

"Well, can any of you row faster than a sailing ship?"

Jarlaxle mentions rowing faster, then notices Pau's boat still carries along part of the pier with it as a testimony to the monk's incredible strength. (the pier constitutes as a +2 circumstance bonus to intimidate if you choose you use it...)

If your name is Obelix, you can :D

Evindal tries to help rowing the boat faster.
Strength: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Actually, everyone just post what your character is doing before getting to the ship. Otherwise we'll be posting back and forth for nothing. So, like this:

<Character> will shoot arrows, aiming at the thugs. Uses deadly aim always.

<Character> crouches into a fetal position, trying to evade all threats. Total defense.

I take it Evindal Míriel is just rowing the boat Obelix-style.

Lantorth will draw his long bow and fire at anyone getting the ship ready to sail.

Ranged: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"Heh, a bit rusty with this thing I guess."

Pau tries to row the boat as fast as humanly possible.

Strength check 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Tog will cover the partys approach with arrows.

Arrowed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Jarlaxle attempts to assist with rowing the boat.

Last time Althera posted was 4th of August, a week ago. Sending a PM.

ROUND 5

Boat #1: Jarlaxle, Tog, Pau
The first boat reaches the ship and is now by its side. There's only one thug aboard in addition to the rambling captain.

Boat #2: Evindal, Althera, Lantorth; 10 ft away from ship

Jarlaxle
----
Thug 2
----
Pau, Althera
----
Darsielle Du Moire (3 damage)
----
Tog, Lantorth, Evindal

Boarding the ship is difficult. A DC 13 Climb check proves sufficient to scale the anchor line (provided the individual can reach it [medium]) while it takes a DC 25 to scale the ship’s curved sides (using a rope and grappling hook reduces the Climb check to DC 5). It is easier to climb the transom (the flat rear end of the ship) than the side (DC 15 Climb check) to reach the deck.

Lantorth sends a grappeling hook with a rope attached up to the railing with his mage hand.

25 foot range and hook weighs 4 lbs. One less then the spells limit.

Grappling Hook: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 1 - 4 = 9 Vs DC 5.

Jarlaxle throws a grappling hook up onto the side of the ship...

Climb: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9.

...then shimmies up the line.

Tog will cover his allies ascent with his bow by shooting at the dastardly captain.

Arrow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Pau tries to climb the anchor line.

Climb 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Welcome to play a Season 0 scenario, one of the first ever, #2 Hydra's Fang Incident!

Before we begin, I'll collect vital information from all of you, so please fill in the following in the template below (copy & paste it). This information will be used in the chronicle sheet.

[b]Player name[/b]:
[b]Character name[/b]:
[b]PFS number[/b]:
[b]Day job[/b]: [dice]1d20[/dice]
[b]Brief character presentation[/b]:

In case you have something on your mind about the style of play, scenario, or anything regarding the gameplay don't hesitate to voice yourself either by PM or posting here on the Discussion tab.

To reiterate, this is a CORE CAMPAIGN game. I'll conduct a thorough audit on each character, so I hope they include all information I need without too much investigating. Please make sure your characters are in line with the Core Campaign rules. Especially check that your traits are allowed in the system (so don't take Adopted trait, because you gain no benefit from it).

I'll open up the Gameplay tab for both dotting and idle chatter. If everything goes smoothly, the game will begin on 1th of July.

If you are a first time PbP gamer, please check the hyperlinks under my profile name. Those two guides are a good read even for an experienced gamer. Pacewise I'll try to post once a day, but there are real life issues that might come in way. If you, for example, know you have a long weekend somewhere abroad without internet access, please tell me of this so I know not to wait for your response.

Player name: Gerald
Character name: Pau
PFS number: 12445-13
Day job: None
Brief character presentation: Regular "Flurry-punch you in the face" monk.

Player name: Kyshkumen
Character name: Lantorth
PFS number: 28641-18
Day job: None
Character:Future arcane trickster. Likes to play jokes using mage hand.

Good morning!

Player name: Pirate Rob
Character name: Tog
PFS number: 15001-30
Day job: None
Brief character presentation: Tog is big lovable cuddly half-orc who scratches head a lot and narrates his own actions out loud.

PM sent containing additional details.

Character name: Jarlaxle Baenre
Day job - Perform(Oratory): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Brief character presentation: Aristocratic Half-Elf, fond of wry humour, and hitting things with a longsword ;-)

Hopefully this time he will stay CORE ;-)

Player Name: Derek
Character Name: Althera
PFS #: 85794-13
Day Job: none
Brief character presentation: Althera is an attractive, yet practically dressed woman in her late twenties. She has a talent for magic.[/b]

I am currently completing a game. We're in the last encounter of Mists of Mwangi and the ape is down. That will bring me to 2nd level.

Audit time!

Althera

- From what I can tell she has skill ranks in the following skills: Diplomacy, Knowledge (Arcana), Perception, Sense Motive, and Spellcraft. Is this correct?
- Something almost everyone misses; clothing. Althera has none included in her inventory. Although a set of clothes is free when a character is created, it still does weigh. Only rogues tend to worry about this though.

Evindal Míriel

- Quick info says Level 2, sheet says 1. It hasn't been updated yet? I assume he/she/it should be level 1 for the sake of this audit.
- I really like this character sheet format. :)
- Something almost everyone misses; clothing. Althera has none included in her inventory. Although a set of clothes is free when a character is created, it still does weigh. Only rogues tend to worry about this though.

Jarlaxle Baenre

- Absolutely nothing wrong, though does he intend to use some of that gold to buy new equipment? I will allow retroactive purchases.

Lantorth the Sly

- Male or female? If this information has been left blank on purpose, I won't mind it at all.
- It doesn't matter now, but which class is Lantorth's favored class?
- Something almost everyone misses; clothing. Althera has none included in her inventory. Although a set of clothes is free when a character is created, it still does weigh. Only rogues tend to worry about this though.

Pau

- His Stunning Fist DC is listed as 15, when it should be 12 (10 + ½ HD + WIS modifier)

Tog Snaglakrugdumpgh

- Something almost everyone misses; clothing. Althera has none included in her inventory. Although a set of clothes is free when a character is created, it still does weigh. Only rogues tend to worry about this though.

----

All in all I found very little to comment about. Well done everybody!

Tog scratches his head.
"Tog appreciate checkup, Abadar tell Tog it's imporant to keep everything straight. Player told Tog since he have high strength and heavy armor, to not worry about encumbrance from weight, said that only for character who are weak or have 'lot of gear.' Tog told to read rule by self on page 169, but it use too many big words for Tog."

Thanks GM, I might have a little bit too much fun with Tog.

Never break character, they say. I wonder if there's a pit in the middle of Tog's head from all that scratching.

Lantorth looks over at Tog. "They poked and prodded some rather sensitive areas and asked uncomfortable questions about my gender."

Thanks for the check up. That info should be showing now, was skipped more out of laziness then role play. I will work on the clothes issue later, but I believe it should be fine as he does not wear armor.

Althera crosses her arms and looks indignant.

"Well, the one looking at *me* was obviously trying to undress me with his eyes, but as you can all plainly see, I wear very sensible clothes!"

Thanks Deussu! I have now leveled Althera to 2nd upon her earning chronicle #3. I dropped Toughness and took Spell Focus. You were correct about my skill ranks, I've added the number of ranks in each for ease of reference in the future.

I looked into the clothing and found that Hero Lab does not count the weight of the starting free clothing against encumbrance. Which I found interesting, but could find no rule to support this theory. So the clothing adds 4 pounds taking Lantorth to 15/34 lbs for light encumbrance. I also updated his gold (I use his chronicles to track this not Hero Lab) and added his spell book as it might be important later if he uses his arcane bond ability.

In D&D 3.5th edition the starting clothes did not count towards encumbrance. There's just one line that went missing in Pathfinder. Jason Bulmahn said ages ago that it is an oversight and should be corrected in the next errata (or something like that). This has never happened.

And I know James Jacobs has said he would negate the weight in his own games. But since PFS is so strictly RAW, we abide the written rules and include the clothes' weight to encumbrance. Fortunately this doesn't create any problems to the current characters.

Rogues with low strength tend to go skinny dipping...

I'm going to be a little less responsive for the coming few days, because I need to focus on doing a Plan B in case I lose my job.

Ugh, hope things look better soon, DM. Take your time...we will be here.

I'm going to be at GenCon and largely out of contact from July 28th - August 3rd.

If you happen to be there and want to say hi I'll be the 6'4" Pirate trying to keep his sanity while mustering for the ACG in the morning/afternoon.

I'll also be at Scotty's on Wednesday and at the VC dinner. If you want to find some other time to say hi send me a PM or email and we'll figure something out.

I'm at the countryside this weekend and it appears my new operator's coverage over here is abysmal (only EDGE, no HSDPA+...) so I'm limited as to how I can update. Back on Sunday evening then.

I apologize for not posting sooner. I had an unexpected lack of internet for several days. Posting may still be spotty for a few days more, but I am here!

Gen con's happening, right? Not expecting much updates anyway.

I has returned from GenCon!

Posting this in all my games:

Due to a variety of circumstances and reasons, I am resigning my spot in all games effective immediately. I apologize for any inconvenience caused by this, and wish you all the best for continued gaming fun.

Aug 17-18 I'll be at a wedding and largely unavailable.

I do love some Tog head scratchings. Yum.

As a quick note I'm going to be traveling this Thursday - Monday.

I don't expect to be able to post on Thursday and Monday, but the days in-between should be fine, although likely a little slower than normal.

I should be finishing this and writing the chronicles when I find the time to do that.

It appears Evindal never submitted his PFS information. Would you please do so I can report the session?

Edit: Ha, noticed you had just been playing in another of my PbPs and promptly just copied the number and searched for Evindal (-12!) He doesn't appear to have any day job either.

Double edit: Pau had put his PFS number incorrectly; it should've been 12445-12, not -13.

Lol I blame fat fingers!

Chronicle time!

Evindal
Lantorth
Pau
Tog

Jarlaxle's chronicle has been sent as a PM (I'm guessing this is what he wishes?)

Also, FEEDBACK TIME! (I should make giving feedback mandatory)

This took a little longer than I expected, almost 8 weeks. I'm unsure what to blame other than myself for not pushing the game forwards, especially in the dock scene. I'm not keen on initiating combat outright in case the players/characters come up with some clever ploy to bypass the encounter without bloodshed.

But yeah, feedback is nice. I'll take every compliment and criticism to the heart and learn from it, so you mustn't fear I'd get offended by harsh words. Not at all.

Thanks for running GM Deussu, I can't think of anything I did not enjoy about this game. I think you did a fine job with speeding things up when you needed to, but also allowed us to role play our characters. Also letting Pau take off with half the dock was hilarious.

Thanks for running GM Deussu, I can't think of anything I did not enjoy about this game. I think you did a fine job with speeding things up when you needed to, but also allowed us to role play our characters. Also letting Pau take off with half the dock was hilarious.

Damn, I meant to mark that down as loot for him.

"Part of Diobel's underdock's pier (counts as a club)"

Well, I had a blast, DM. One of my favorite games in quite a bit. I have no complaints. And the dock scene ended up quite hilarious. I'll always remember towing a hunk of the pier behind me in my wake!

Thanks so much for running the game for us!

No complaints here - I thoroughly enjoyed the scenario :-)

Pau's chronicle has been updated.

Lol, thanks, DM!

Than you for GMing! Sheet received, had a blast.

Don't be afraid to cut and paste and redraw maps if necessary to increase awesomeness.

Don't be afraid to cut and paste and redraw maps if necessary to increase awesomeness.

You're right there. I should have probably disregarded the awful maps provided by the scenario and instead pick some sensible maps, like flipmats, and take the goot bits to use. That dock... I've never understood that. Also, if you have a keen eye, you see how botchy the photoshop work had been back in the day...

Duly noted. Replace maps if originals stink of donkey balls.