[PFS PbP] GM zebeev's 6-05 - Slave Ships of Absalom (Tier 1-5) (Inactive)

Game Master zebeev

Kiaru go down stairs with his weapon ready to act
stealth check: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

She will fire at gnoll

Attack vs Touch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Damage: 1d12 ⇒ 5

Then free action to reload

Tata will continue to delay.

A deafening crack fills the air, and after the initial smoke cloud hazes away, the gnoll is left clutching a bloody wound. Alani deftly reloads her musket, and Kiaru pads down the stairs behind her.

In the aftermath of the gunshot, the keeper of the hound lets loose his chain, and the grotesque thing pounces towards Alani through the smoky haze.

Melee, bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 (plus disease and trip)
Alani, DC 12 Fort Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 - saved
Trip attempt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 - failed

It's powerful jaws snap around Alani's ankle, and it yanks it's powerful neck to the side, sending the gunslinger crashing down onto the bottom few steps. (Alani is prone)

The slaves, seeing the onset of combat, resist their bindings, but no avail. The ringing and clanging of iron chains on manacles and bars merely adds to the cacophony.

The keeper of the hound loses a step in the confusion and is left shaking out his reddened, sore hands from the hound's chain having been ripped out of them. (Delaying)

Round 3:
BATTLEMAP
(those bolded may act)

Kiaru
Pale Green Hound
Slaves (NPCs)
?CW
Tata (delayed)
Eredur
Kennel Master (delayed)
Gnoll (-6 DMG)
Hanzi
Naruhito
?RL
Alani (9 DMG, prone)

Tata will try and remove the grate closest to him and if successful try a careful drop down into the hold.

Tata removes the grate without issue, and gauges the potential drop.

(It's 10ft down, so it's a DC 10 Acrobatics or take 1d6 fall damage. We'll count the removal of the grate as an action, so you can either drop down this turn, or drop next turn and still have a standard action to do something once you're down there.)

Now with a second point of entry to the deck under him, Eredur glances down and can see some movement below.

With that said, Eredur's up!

Hearing the commotion downstairs (even with a lack of stairs) , Eredur takes a few seconds to ascertain potential friends from obvious foes

Then the dwarf uses his magical wand to send a tiny dart of energy on the gnoll, hoping to eliminate the big foe

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Eredur's wand glows with a brilliant light, and a force bolt flits from it, streaking down through the open hatch and directly into the back of the gnoll. Attacked from both sides, the gnoll panics. (Double move)

Kennel Master, Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

The kennel master creeps forward to the prone Alani, and cruelly stabs at the gunslinger with a narrow-bladed sword. "Yes, Glott! Good boy! Get the intruder!" (Move, attack)

Melee, rapier: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18 (vs. AC-4 due to prone)
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Already dealing with a vicious beast mauling her leg, Alani feels a sharp pain as blade pierces flesh.

Round 3:
BATTLEMAP
(those bolded may act)

Kiaru
Pale Green Hound
Slaves (NPCs)
?CW
Tata (delayed)
Eredur
Kennel Master
Gnoll (9 DMG)
Hanzi
Naruhito
?RL
Alani (15 dmg, prone)

It's now time for the Superhuman Samurai (not-Syber) Squad, Hanzi and Naruhito!

Naruhito jumps through the hole down.

acro.: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

If Naruhito can still move after a fall, he will move to the enemy and attack with katana.

to hit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

I'll try dropping down next turn.

Hanzi pushes his way down the stairs to get into melee with the monsters within This will almost certainly provoke two AoOs

Hanzi begins to hawk up a venomous bile in his throat as he moves and spits in the Pit Masters face Provoking again if he either has Combat Reflexes

Venomous Spit vs Touch DC Fort 16 or be blinded: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 4 = 19

Apologies guys, i won't be able to get to a proper keyboard until later tonight. Post incoming in ~7-8 hours.

Naruhito hops down to the lower deck, but lands with a thud.
10' falling damage, nonlethal: 1d6 ⇒ 4 (prone as a result of taking damage)

Hanzi barges down the stairs past his compatriots, and the kennel master seems surprised at the audacious bravado displayed. He uses the opportunity to take a cowardly stab at the samurai as he passes by.

Melee, rapier: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
20-or-nothing crit confirm: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Piercing damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

A cruel smile marks his face as he shouts with glee. "Glott! Another! Attack!"

The malformed hound releases any hold it may have had on Alani and goes for Hanzi.
Melee, bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 - miss

Jagged teeth clash against robust armor, and the beast fails to find purchase. After which, Hanzi spits at the kennel master's face with acrid venom.

DC 16 Fort Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The glob of venom splashes the eyes of the cruel half-elf kennel master, and his overconfident cackling turns to panicked screams. "My eyes! My gods, my eyes!"

In the starboard side of the ship, the bound gnome slave struggles to slip her gag.

Round 3:
BATTLEMAP
(those bolded may act)

Kiaru
Pale Green Hound
Slaves
?CW
Tata (delayed)
Eredur
Kennel Master (blinded)
Gnoll (9 dmg)
Hanzi (6 dmg)
Naruhito (4 nonlethal dmg, prone)
?RL
Alani (15 dmg, prone)
-- start of Round 4 --
Kiaru

Alani will stand as a move action, then move to the top of the stairs keeping the foes insight best she can Double move, and provokes if they have combat reflexes

Alani is able to get up and shuffle to the top of the stairs in the confusion of battle.

No further attacks of opportunity. Kiaru's up!

can i move around or stairs can let me?

@Kiaru: With a successful Acrobatics roll to move through a square occupied by an opponent, yes, you could move where your token is on the map. Choose which enemy you wish to attempt this maneuver.

The other option would be to back out of the stairs and drop down the newly created hole on the 1st floor of the ship like Naruhito does (also will require an Acrobatics check).

kiaru makes an acrobatic movement to gain back of man and attack with a powerful blow of his spear
acrobatics check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
elven branded longspear attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
damage: 1d8 + 7 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 7 + (1, 2) = 13

@Kiaru: While the check was a success, it only allows you to move at half speed, so 15' of movement puts you directly behind the kennel master, 5' to the east. The elven branched spear you're wielding cannot make the attack you wish to, and I don't see an alternate melee weapon in your truncated stat block (for future reference, I'd have at least a link to an off-site character sheet).

The attack roll you made certainly hits, so I think there's two fair options. The first would be to allow one of your arrows to be used as an improvised weapon (light, piercing = dagger/kunai = 1d4 P). The other is an unarmed attack (dealing only nonlethal damage). Either way, you're still flanking, so while you won't get your +DEX to damage, you'll still proc the precision damage from a sneak attack.

Kiaru deftly flips over the back of the blinded kennel master, (presumably) striking him in the confusion.

The grotesque hound, frustrated by Hanzi's protective armor, attempts to pierce it again with it's massive jaws.

Melee, bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

It's ochre-hued teeth crunch against the samurai's plate armour, and something resembling a low whimper erupts from the foul beast.

The slaves cheer the party on from the background, realising while they cannot escape from their bondage, perhaps this new band of adventurers might be their salvation.

Just then, a door smashes open with a kick from a knee-high boot. Smoke erupts from the room, the dark grey clouds trickling across the ceiling of the hold like an upside down stream of springwater. The smoke finds an escape route through the second wooden grate to the deck of the ship, but you can see licks of orange-red flame coming from the room.

Out steps a Keleshite woman, dressed in studded leather, with two ornately decorated angled daggers hung low on a belt around her hips. Her oily black hair is held out of her face by a faded yellow bandana, and her steely gaze is accented by a dark mole on her left cheek just below her eye. She has the look of someone who has seen the hard life of the open seas, and she does not look intent on letting anyone cease that life of infamy and outlaw freedom.

"Get off my f~*@ing boat, landborne scum!" she snarls with the desperation of a cornered jackal.

She strolls past the slaves without any haste in her step, deliberately unsheathing her two exotic knives, pointing one of them toward the slaves and causing them to cower as she passes. She stops, takes one look down at the prone Naruhito who is struggling to get up from his fall, and plunges one of the knives down into the samurai's back.

Attack, melee (kukri): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 (vs. AC-4)
Damage, piercing: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

As Naruhito grunts in pain, she looks up to the rest of intruders, and up to the open hole above where the wooden grate once was. "I'm coming for every single one of you curs!"

Round 4:
BATTLEMAP
(those bolded may act)

Kiaru
Pale Green Hound
Slaves
Captain Wardak
Tata
Eredur
Kennel Master (blinded)
Gnoll (9 dmg)
Hanzi (6 dmg)
Naruhito (6 dmg, 4 nonlethal dmg, prone)
?Gnome
Alani (15 dmg)

Magic missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

From above, another dart of energy strikes the gnoll.

Dwarves don't like gnolls.

If Tata can see the Keleshite woman from where he is, he will cast Bungle on her. (DC 15)
If not he will start heading down the stairs

@Eredur: The gnoll is not currently in your line-of-sight. While magic missile does hit unerringly, that just means it doesn't require an attack roll to hit. You still need to be able to target the creature.

Tata utters an incantation and directs an enchantment towards the Captain.
DC 15 Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 - fail

I'll hold back foe Kiaru and Eredur's revised turns before going ahead.

So who can I see if I move around the trapdoor?

ill attack on next turn

@Eredur: I've made a little 'ghost' Eredur on the B level matching your position on the 1F level to show where you are, relatively from the two floor maps.
Basically, any character 10 feet west of you, you'd see through the hole and have light-of-sight. Even though the kennel master and the green hound are 15 feet away, you'd still be able to see them partially, and partial cover/concealment is negated by magic missile.
So all three are valid targets in my eyes.

Eredur changes his target at last moment, and the dart hurts the Kennel master For 4 dmg

The bolt of force energy impacts the kennel master's side with a dull thud, and the sounds he makes tells you that he is certainly not used to the rigours of combat. For all the pain he enjoys dishing out, he is unaccustomed to being on the receiving end of it.

DC 10 Acrobatics to move full speed/avoid falling prone: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (12) - 2 = 10

The kennel master, in a panic, grabs for the guard railings on the steps, and furiously starts climbing. (triggering AoO's from both Hanzi and Kiaru)

Round 4:
BATTLEMAP
(those bolded may act)

Kiaru
Pale Green Hound
Slaves
Captain Wardak (-20 to next d20 roll)
Tata
Eredur
Kennel Master (4 dmg, blinded)
Gnoll (9 dmg)
Hanzi (6 dmg)
Naruhito (6 dmg, 4 nonlethal dmg, prone)
?Gnome
Alani (15 dmg)

Naruhito stands up and attacks.

to hit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Hanzi takes a quick bash at the kennel master with his klar-shield, katana still sheathed.

Klar: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 201d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

He then turns to the dog and gives it a point. He gathers his energy into his blade and focuses on its vital points.

Good Night

Swift Action to Challenge, Full Round to Iajutsu Strike

Katana Challenge, +2 to AC +2 to Hit: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 261d8 + 6 + 5 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 5 + (5, 5) = 23

Naruhito takes a knee, and rises from the ground. Captain Wardak is still standing over the samurai, and uses the moment to strike yet again with her lithe daggers.

Melee mwk kukri: 1d20 + 5 - 20 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 20 = -5 - miss

In a odd twist of fortune, she fumbles with one of her blades, almost dropping it in the process. Her moment to strike now closed, she grits her teeth, and stands off against the samurai.

Naruhito, now standing, looks to retaliate with a strike of his own, but the captain swiftly dodges his blade.

Near the back of the ship, Hanzi strikes the kennel master in the back of the head as he bumbles by, knocking the creep unconscious.

A moment later, the nagaji samurai strikes in a split-second, and the vile trollhound keels over in a heap of palid green fat and flesh.

Round 4:
BATTLEMAP
(those bolded may act)

Kiaru
Slaves
Captain Wardak
Tata
Eredur
Gnoll (9 dmg)
Hanzi (6 dmg)
Naruhito (6 dmg, 4 nonlethal dmg, prone)
?Gnome
Alani (15 dmg)
-- into Round 5 --
Kiaru

i delay action to wait for a good position to flank

Noted. Alani's up next, at the top of the stairs, bloodied and wanting to take it out on someone.

Alani will 5' down the stairs and fires at the captain

attack vs touch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 +1 if within Point blank

Damage: 1d12 ⇒ 8 +1 if within point blank

Alani clambers over the body of the kennel master, and trains her musket at the captain. Kiaru is between her and her target, so she does her best not to hit the elf rogue.

A crack of black powder erupts through the air, and when the smoke clears, the captain is no worse for wear - a miss. (Kiaru grants the captain soft cover, netting her +4 to her AC.)

The musketdmg ball not affecting her in the least, the vengeful Captain Wardak continues her plodding route to slaughter.

Full Attack vs. Naruhito, mwk kukri: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Full Attack vs. Naruhito, mwk kukri: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Her flurry of blades catches Naruhito on the defensive, but his superior range is enough to keep her at bay.

Round 5:
BATTLEMAP
(those bolded may act)

Slaves
Captain Wardak
Kiaru (delayed)
Tata
Eredur
Hanzi (6 dmg)
Naruhito (6 dmg, 4 nonlethal dmg, prone)
Gnoll (9 dmg)
?Gnome
Alani (15 dmg)

Naruhito attacks again.

"You need to fall!"

to hit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

I guess where the barrels are is difficult terrain so I move 25 feet to flank with the samurai
elven brand attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
crit confirmation: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
damage: 3d8 + 21 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 2) + 21 + (2, 1) = 30

If Tata can still see the Captain he will cast Bungle on her again. DC 15 Will

Hanzi calmly proceeds to the side of the captain and takes a slash at her.

You simply made the wrong enemies. A fitting end for a pirate.

+1 Katana: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 281d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
+1 Katana Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 231d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Naruhito attacks once more, striking with his blade. Unfortunately, he is a step behind the dread Captain Wardak, who sidesteps his attack with ease.

She cackles with confidence, "You are too slow, easterner. I know y--"

She gasps. The words hiss from her throat, barely ausible. Almost as if the wind has been taken out of her proverbial sails...

Naru looks down, at Wardak's sternum, and notices a glint of an ornate spearhead with fresh crimson blood dripping from it. Just as quickly, the blade retracts.

The Okeno pirate captain falls in a heap to the ground, and she expires on the wooden floorboards. Kiaru is left standing over her.

A split second later, the slaves cry out. "The flames!"

With that, we're out of combat, but there's a bit of arson to content with. A DC 12 Survival check or the spell create water will suffice to extinguish the brazier that is burning wildly in the captain's quarters.

Hanzi moves fast trying to put out the flames

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Hanzi's quick thinking leads him to stab the nearby barrels of cargo. Dried oats bleed from the first, some pungent green fruit from the second, until finally he sees a stream of clear liquid trickle from the third. A quick sniff, and no odor leads him to discern it as water, so he smashes the top of the barrel in, dips a bilge bucket into it, and dumps it onto the blazing brazier.

Documents... letters and missives, correspondence... he notes.

In the pile of blackened char and white-grey ash, a still-smoldering corner of a piece of parchment lies relatively unmarred. Hanzi picks it up and flicks away the embers from it.

It is simply signed "Muhlia".

With the crew defeated, and the fire not getting out of control, that's pretty much it for the scenario!

Conclusion:

Looting the body of the captain, you find a key for the manacles that the slaves are chained to, and once ungagged, the gnome druid reveals herself to be a captured Pathfinder by the name of Rilla Lavon. She uses her powers to tend to the wounds of the captive slaves, and with the boat now properly secured, Zigil the dwarf harbor pilot dutifully navigates the ship through the Ship Graveyard safely to the docks, where city officials take custody of the vessel.

Returning to Lady Darchana's estate, you bring her up to speed on everything that has happened. "While I am most pleased with your success and the haste and discretion in which you executed your task, I am saddened to say that I am deeply troubled by the implication that this piece of evidence brings." She bows her head, then speaks in a softer tone. "This Muhlia is Pasha Muhlia Al-Jakri, former head of the Qadira faction of Absalom's war of shadows. An ever-looming threat to the fragile peace and security we currently enjoy. Pathfinders, you have done a great service not only to me, but to all of Absalom today. The full extent, understandably, may never be widely known or recognized by the sleeping masses, but know that the Pathfinder Society can count on me as a friend and ally, and I hope that I may call upon you again in the future should the need arise."

Lady Darchana has the bounty payment on Captain Wardak and the At Sea authorized, which will contribute to your earnings.

Upon returning to the Grand Lodge, Rilla recounts what she can to both you and Venture-Captain Valsin about her time spent in the Okeno slave markets on Stonespire Island, confirming several interactions with a heavily veiled humanoid woman who forcibly took blood
samples on two occasions.

Rilla then inquires as to the fate of the other Pathfinders she was on assignment with - Venture-Captain Valsin closes his eyes and slowly shakes his head. "No contact, I'm afraid..." is all he says on the matter.

That's all, folks! It'll take me a day or two to sort out the chronicles, but I'll PM them and post here once they're good to go. If anyone has any questions/complaints/etc, please let me know.

This wasn't a bad scenario, but I think perhaps it lost a bit of it's mojo from being PbP - I can see it running better IRL, but who knows.

Thank you guys for a great game!

Thanks for the fun

Thanks for the game

Thanks!

Apologies for the delay in getting the chronicles out - I should be able to get them finished up tomorrow on my lunch-hour.

Thank you for the game!

Hi guys, chronicles are finally filled, and can be found HERE.

PM me if there's any errors, and I'll fix them as soon as I'm able.

Maybe an error: for my day job, I got 20 GP, but I rolled a 24
Day job roll and gave 50 GP to the threatened dwarf in the adventure (-50 GP)

I used 2 Magic missile (now 47/50) and one Magic armor (now 48/50) from my wands

Thank you! All is ok!