Gameplay thread
Lilywhite
Your vessel the Blue Orchid, sails into the port while the sun is high in the sky. The sailors hustle about docking the large ship. As you disembark, you find yourselves in the friendly town of Lilywhite and discover there is a celebration in full swing. It is impossible to avoid the festivities and you find yourself drawn out onto the streets, either joining in the fun, or unable to get any piece because of it and resigning yourself to.
Serving as a refuge for followers of Cayden Cailean, the town is known for being a bit less cutthroat than most other settlements in the Shackles, and because of this it often attracts those just starting out in their buccaneering careers. Lilywhite has avoided being sacked by ruthless captains who might take the town for an easy mark thanks
to a well-known myth: any captain who pillages the town disappears, along with her ship and crew, never to be seen again.
The town curves along the shoreline of Motaku Isle, spreading across bridges to a few small islands sitting in the deep-blue bay. Small, well-made wooden buildings ring the harbor. Festive flower and palm-frond garlands hang from various buildings, bridges, and statues. Vessels of varying shapes and sizes jam nearly all the town’s long piers, and the great number of ocean-going ships lying at anchor render the outer harbor nearly impassible. Throngs of revelers, many wearing masks, carouse through the town while singing and drinking from frothing tankards.
Knowledge checks.
Knowledge Local
The story spread, and Cayden’s faithful began celebrating the anniversary of the escape a few years later. As the tradition grew, it came to be named for the power of the rum that had given the escapees their chance at freedom. The festival is still most common in the Shackles, though it has begun to slowly spread elsewhere in the Inner Sea.
Knowledge history, pirate lord lore will also apply.
K'Wai, only recently arrived in Lilywhite, happily wanders the streets full of revelers. He certainly stands out among the mostly human crowd, tall and lean and most strikingly with bright teal skin. He wears his darker blue hair tied back along his scalp, with freshly shorn sides and a clean shaven face. His clothes, a simple pair of linen pants and shirt, fit well on his slim frame. He carries a backpack with a crossbow strapped to it and a well worn and carved spear almost as a walking staff.
As he wanders the street, he samples as many of the street vendor's wares as he can, focusing on the frilled and fried bits of seafood and various distilleries' beverages. K'Wai particularly enjoys some grilled octopus tentacles, served on thin warmed flatbread, with a sweet and tangy dark sauce on top. Munching on his second helping, he wipes his mouth with the back.of his hand and rejoins the crowds with a smile on his face.
Zeex is no new-comer to Lilywhite (Lilycove?, whichever), having taken his leave of his last ship on friendly terms with the captain and crew, just looking for a change. He's been looking forward to the Festival for a few days now, having recalled much about it. He even procured for himself a grotesque goblin mask, having decided to play to his strengths, making the most of making a mockery of what he might have been had he not been raised by good folk.
He steps out the first day of the festival, mask over his own adorable green face. He walks about, drinking happily of the proffered rum punch. He makes a show of trying to be scary to children and adults alike, though his hearty laughter at their initial reactions eventually puts them more at ease and they relax... though not a few children run from him too. He pretends to give chase, but only a few steps before he stops and calls them back, handing out candy and copper coins to those who return... "Merry Rum Day to ye, ye lily-livered landlubbers" he'll call out to all who can hear him. "Drink hearty, for Rum is proof that the gods love us and wish us to be happy!"
When the game booths are set up, he'll take his turn, playing at all sorts of entertainments and games, gambling or not. He especially enjoys skewering the merchants, as swordplay is dear to his heart, moreso than throwing rings on bottles or tossing little balls into jars with fishes in them (especially as he doesn't really want to win a pet fish). He especially enjoys dunking the 'captain', as who wouldn't?!
Zeex will allow pretty ladies to festoon him with flowered leis and bead necklaces, returning the favor when his neck becomes too burdened, by sharing his bounty with a pretty maid or child who has none.
When he gets hungry, he'll stop by a food cart and buy some suspect lizard-on-a-stick, with a cone of sweet potato fries. Munching while he wanders the festive streets, he shares some of his food with the ever-present, ever-hungry gulls and pigeons.
Wiping his hands on his pants after licking his fingers clean first, he makes his way to the collection of booths and tents selling clothing, looking for the perfect hat... A jester hat in many colors catches his eye first, but moments later, he spots a black leather tricorne, edged in gold, with a skull and crossbones embossed and painted on it. He snatches it up and is thrilled that it fits. Though sized for humans, his head is large for such a tiny being, and his ears overly large... those two factors combine to give him the bulk to fill the hat, though it is still comically large for his frame. He doesn't see the problem though and spends the coin willingly, only haggling enough for show. His eagerness to buy it just too obvious to the merchant.
He stops further down and has a buxom young halfling lady, whose name he learns is Calliope, painstakingly tattoo a crashing wave around his upper arm, encircling it. By the time she's done, it is almost time for the parade. He does his best not to wince at the occasional pain of the process, but he's had far too much to drink to feel the worst of it anyway.
The little greenskin wends his way through the crowds to the parade route, and finds that waiting might have been a problem... all the longshanks are blocking his view and try as he might, he can't seem to wiggle his way to the front... finally, in frustration, he walks over to a half-orc who looks like he might be an easy mark, and tugs on his pants... When the fellow looks down on him, he holds up his arms silently, in the time honored 'pick me up, daddy' pose. The fellow frowns, but complies, and puts Zeex up to sit on his shoulders.
With a clear view of the parade route, Zeex settles in to watch.
Rikkivar yawns, he had spent the last week staying up late making alchemist's kindness. That finished out the debt from his trip and gave him a few coins. Not enough, but better than being broke.
His fur is clean, he's been suppressing the poison that flows out of him - it wouldn't be much of a celebration if people in the crowd started bleeding out in the street.
He passes up the lizard-on-a-stick, it never agrees with him. But the braided squid is wonderful. He drinks, but slowly. Others may be competing, but he likes to keep a clear head.
Morgana stands to the top of the gangplank absorbing the scene before her. She toyed with a piece of platinum hair absentmindedly before pushing it back under her maroon headdress. The golden trimming and embroidery had always made her hair stand out more, but she loved it too much to change it.
Even though she didn't drink, she knew that not participating in festival could bring unwanted attention, and not the good kind.
As such, she focused on the other activities available; games, food and performances, and on providing alcohol to the locals in friendly gestures.
She sampled many of the street foods, particularly if they had a ring of her homeland, Qadira, about them, or anything cold or frozen, like ice cream, as that was still a fascinating experience for her.
She also tried anything being sold by a Tengu. She had never sampled traditional Tengu food before, as they weren't very common among the regions she had visited.
They turned out to be a mish-mash of other food she had tried before, but she was still happy for the experience.
Navigating the crowded streets was difficult, which she thought was funny in a way. Morgana stayed on high alert though, however jovial those around her were, as she knew from experience these kinds of events were also a great time for thieves to find targets. She was more than likely to be a target thanks to not exactly looking like a local.
Her lilac loose sleeve shirt gathered at her elbow, a fitted mithral chain shirt glistening over it. She had decorated her belt with golden tassels, to match her headdress.
She assumed that it was her embellishment that was the reason why so many passing children were tugging at her clothes, once she ascertained that they weren't trying to steal from her. Her maroon pants were loose like her shirt, making the task much easier.
Going with the flow, Morgana allowed herself to be pulled from one stand to another; playing games, listening to music and stories, watching fights, and indicating she already had a drink whenever offered one.
One time as she was being dragged to another colourful stand, she saw the goblin from the ship chase some children in the opposite direction, wearing a goblin mask.
She looked back once at the stand, and saw him laughing and giving out candy to the children he was previously chasing.
Guess there are more traditions of this festival than I thought she grinned before getting run into by another happily drunk party goer.
Changing to these boots was definitely a good idea
Her new, black belted tall boots were going to look the part by the end of this celebration. Battered and worn.
Good' she humoured 'Wouldn't want to look like I'm trying too hard. Even if they were for practicality anyway.
After what had to have been a few hours, she is drawn to the crowd. She spots a familiar goblin head peering out above everyone, raised on the shoulders of an apparently begrudgingly compliant half-orc.
Shaking her head and laughing to herself, she turns her attention ahead of her.
"What am I about to see? Something pretty impressive if the crowd is anything to go by." she asks the half-elf next to her, leaning in in hopes to be heard over the din.
Cael finishes up his duty on the ship before disembarking. Thanking the Captain, he then gathers his stuff and tries to make his way to the nearest inn, hoping to find some room left. As he walks, he makes sure to stay alert. This might be a friendly place, but he's been lifting enough purses in Magnimar to know that this is the perfect time to do it. Walking the streets, the smell of food makes him stop at a few carts here and there, trying out some of it.
His style of clothes has been always to be comfortable and being able to melt into the crowd. Unfortunately, this is not the case today. His simple clothes seem to be just that, too simple. While everyone is colorful and wearing masks, he looks like what he is, a sailor that just got off work. Realizing this, Cael start picking colorful accessories from people he passes in the street. Using his instinct to find easy marks. Lastly, he grabs a mask that was left unattended and adjust it over his head. Looking more like he belongs there, Cael continues going around the inns.
There is a roar that is heard by all the festival as everyone begins pushing towards a certain tavern in Lilywhite. As you are all pushed along you hear murmurs of a drinking contest. You all try to resist the crowd but are slowly forced towards the clamour and soon all of you find yourselves watching a tall Mwangi man with close-cropped graying hair wearing a large orange mask that depicts a laughing man’s face. A cleric of Cayden Cailean who bellows in a cheerful and boisterous tone,
“Welcome to the town of Lilywhite, favored home of Cayden Cailean! You find us in the midst of our annual Rum Punch Festival — a truly blessed time for all! If there is any way that I can help you, please let me know! But more than that I challenge anyone new, which means you have not done it before Drune! I challenge anyone knew to show their metal, and where they stand in Cayden Cailean's favor by entering The Lucky Drunk's challenge! And the victor will receive this!”
The masked man raises a large silver tankard, which must be worth 250gp. And as he does so a beaming elderly woman, face creased with laughter lines, moves up beside him, carrying a tray full of, from the smell, clearly potent alcoholic drinks,
"And for those of you who don't know I am Duwella Morin, Cayden's chief squeeze in Lilywhite, and proprietress of the fine establishment you are all standing in front of! If anyone can go for eleven rounds without trading plunder for a chunder I'll offer up a golden stein - don't worry it isn't a relic, you can sell it, and if you don't get a 1000gp your are being robbed!"
The masked man whoops and cries, "So come on who will take the challenge, I will explain the rules in full to those who accept, but in essence it is a drinking contest. So if you have the belly and, or the heart for it step up and take The Lucky Drunk's Challenge!"
K'Wai, smiling widely and laughing, finds himself pushed towards the edge of the crowd. Seeing the man and woman offer such fancy items for merely drinking in a competition, he shrugs and steps up.
"I will take you up on this challenge! Let us tilt some cups in the name of the gods!"
The crowd cheers as you step forward, the masked man yells out, Our first challenger, step in and prepare yourself. Do we have any others who wish to take on the Lucky Drunk's Challenge.
"me! Drink for funs... drink for wins, yes! Me beats you, k'wai!" zeex cries out as he camber off the half orc's shoulders.
"Bring it on, Zeex! At the least we both get sauced, although it seems you may have a head start on me today!"
"Zeex? It that you? Well, if you're in then I'll join in."
"How amusing," remarks the man in the mask, "A Goblin, Undine, and Ratfolk walk into a tavern," he looks around at everyones puzzled face. "What, no one ever heard that one before, I promise it's a good one," realizing no one is laughing he promptly turns to the three volunteers. "I take it you three know one another as your friendly banter gives that impression."
"We do, indeed. Fellow travelers and all, you know? Its like, kismet, we meet here and get ready to party."
Morgana was about to leave, any way possible, until she heard the voices of the challengers.
Her curiosity got the better of her. She wondered how a Goblin and Ratfolk could stand up to an Undine.
Then again, she was basing her judgement purely on size.
At least now she had a reason to wait around, leaving such a popular event might get her scorned by the public, or worse, the prominent religious figure in front of her.
I should really buy a mask she though to herself, even if not knowing why she was wearing one made her uncomfortable.
This would definitely be a sight worth remembering.
"Yay, Rikki... more fun!"
Hearing some voice he recognized, Cael tries to make his way through the crowd. Is small frame, however doesn't help much as people pretty much ignore his pleas to get by. In spite of this he still manages to get closer and he can almost see the head priest. If only he could get by that large man in front of him.
"Excuse me, Sir, could I get through?" After a few tries, the annoyed big man finally turns to Cael. "Oh! What's wrong little squirt, you want to try your luck, well, by all means!" Before Cael could move aside, the big man just grabs him and sent him flying toward the group of contestants. While the flight part wasn't voluntary, Cael is able to twist and turn his body gracefully in the air and nail a perfect landing right between the Priest and the rest of the group. Looking for the brute that manhandled him, Cael doesn't realises that he now looks like he just entered the contest.
With the dead silence of everyone looking at him, he finally realise where he is. Turning around, he looks up at the Priest. "Oh! Uh... Hi!"
"Well that was quite an entry," chuckles the man in the mask. As you four wait around many other people step up to take the Lucky Drunk Challenge. The cleric of Cayden pulls out small kegs and gestures for the contestants to take seats upon them, around a larger barrel that serves as a table. Duwella puts down a tray with eight drinks all far from normal fare,from brightly coloured liqors in small glasses, to tankards of a nutty smelling brew.
"Bottoms up Lords and Ladies, make Cayden proud! Round one drink!"
Duwella brings forth a new tray every five minutes or so, gradually slowing to ten minutes as the contestants begin to struggle.
Zeex makes the attempt to take a really low alcohol drink and downs it rather quickly for such a little fellow. He continues to pick the same drink for each round of the contest.
When he downs the sixth drink, he starts to get a little woozy...
Zeex becomes sickened when he takes his 6th drink...
Zeex, after his 7th drink... stands up ramrod straight and struts around like a proud rooster... actually what he's doing is trying to avoid throwing up... He even crows and puts his arms in his armpits and flaps his elbows like wings while he crows... "Cock-a-doodle-doo!!! Cock-doodle-doo!!" He manages to do this a few times, when the color drains from his face.. though no one actually sees that behind his mask... He stops strutting around and stands like he's in shock.... then he coughs and sputters a few time before he sprays the front of the crowd with a stomachful of liquor mixed with a little half-digested lizard-on-a-stick... and being a goblin that means stick and all, as goblins eat anything... After spewing the crowd he puts his hand over his mouth and giggles... Mid-giggle, the need to spew again hits him, but this time, he's ready for it and doubles over and vomits on the ground. Tears spring to his eyes, a mix of embarrassment and sadness that he's lost the contest... He wails, "Nooooo! not fair, me bestest drinker!!!" He rocks a little to appease his rebelling gut... then runs over to the nearest plant and vomits on it as well... "Ohhhh, me not feel so good. what you put in that drink?" After festooning the vegetation with the remains of his stomach contents, he curls up on the ground, and groans softly as he rocks slowly to comfort himself.
Cael looks at the drinks, not knowing what is what, he picks one at random. He takes a tankard with what look like regular ale. He downs it pretty easily and pass to the next one. The next one is a glass of some sort of green liquid. Smell a bit minty, drinking it leave a fresh taste in his mouth and he looks rather happy about his choice. Then come the third drink. It smells fruity and almost looks like regular juice. After drinking it, he realises it's a bit stronger than the others but now too bad. "Hey, let's try this again." For round four he takes the same drinks. Well, maybe I should go with the easy stuff, this is a competition.
The next one is coming in medium glass filled with some blue stuff. That look nice, maybe it will go down easy. For some reason, it tastes like orange... Blue Oranges? He is puzzled by the taste but moves on. Drink number six is the nutty smelling brew. Not bad, maybe I should learn the name of that one. For round seven, he grabs a small glass of a clear liquid. It burns the entire way down, but he is holding it there. Argh! What was that... Never again!
Having a harder time focusing, he grabs the next one. The mix of alcohol plus the combination of different taste as the better of him. Quickly turning around, he empties his stomach behind the keg he uses as a stool. Wiping his mouth, he tries to sit back up only to fall off the keg. "Sor... Sooo... Sorry..." Sadly, that's all he can take on that game.
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K'Wai looks over the beverages offered, then takes what looks like ale or lager. Knowing full well he's guessing, he shrugs with a smile and downs the drink.
Happy with the choice, he keeps them coming.
After the third drink, K'Wai gets a little pale and woozy, putting a hand out to stable himself.
"Whoa, those really climb up on you, man."
Downing the fourth, he glances at the smaller competitors with a smirk.
#4: DC 15
As he puts the fourth one down, his face screws up and he turns away from the crowd and empties his guts explosively.
Premepting the bucket toss, K'Wai dumps the water across his face and tosses his hair back in an arc.
"Guess...I am outta practice...whew."
Rikkivar will look over the offerings with a practiced eye and nose. Alcohol was one of the classic bases for extracts.
He looks over the lower alcoholic ones and finally selects a crisp cider-based concoction.
The first seven drinks slide down pleasantly, and then the work begins.
After the eighth, he has a hiccup and he can taste the bile.
But the ninth is his undoing. He tries to keep it in his cheek pouches, but that only lets the vomit build up before he spews it broadly over the table.
The crowd cheers as one by one you stumble and spew all over the place. The cheering gets louder and louder as Rikkivar reaches for his tenth drink. A hush falls over the crowd as he downs it. The silence persists, his cheeks begin to fill up and as he spews his bile over the table the crowd goes crazy. Duwella and the masked Cleric of Cayden exchange amused glances, both the old woman claps her hands and lets out a piercing whistle to silence the crowd to a dull roar.
"Well I am sure that some of you are not in Cayden's favour today, Rikkivar you nearly made it to the record but you are the rightful victor of the silver tankard. Perhaps next year you will make it all the way.
The crowd jeer you all as you take the tankard, but its good natured, and mostly sympathetic. There are another couple of rounds, but nobody does much better than you and after half an hour the crowds begin moving chanting, "Mad Dash! Mad Dash! Mad Dash!"
"For those of you new to our fair Town, head over to the Lumberyard, where every bugger else is heading! And if you have the stomach for it you can even join in the race!" Duwella bellows above the clamour.
The crowd suddenly parts as several raggedly dressed men wearing broken chains, that do not seem to weigh much race through the centre. Grinning they perform flips, pratfalls, and even fire breathing, while occasionally casting dramatically worried looks over their shoulders.
Minutes later another group wearing stylized demonic masks and armor
and all carrying long whips parade through, the crowd booing and hissing as the villains wave manacles menacingly and generally make a pantomine of evil.
Rikkivar will hoist the tankard proudly. He'll pour in a concoction from a small vial and pass similar vials to Zeex and K'wai. With a big swig, his head clears.
Ratters aren't usually treated so well in town, but he'll enjoy it while it lasts. If that means taking a run, he'll join in. "Back to the pit with you!" he calls to the demons.
Running.
Now that sounded like something she could do.
"You all put on a good show. Congratulations on your victory. I look forward to seeing you at the race!"
Morgana smiles almost evily at them, her competitive nature revealing itself somewhat.
She puts a kind hand on Cael's back though, noticing his missed out on whatever miracle cure the Ratfolk had been handing out to the others from the Blue Orchid.
"You did well for someone so young. Try not to get too far gone, or you won't remember any of it!"
She whispers "Next time, maybe I'll help you out with picking the drinks.
She winks and with that she walks off towards where the race is being held.
A tall man wearing a goblinoid mask strolls up to Cael after Morgana leaves, What an admirable performance by one so young as yourself, most can't make it to their third drink much less their eight. Alas you were just short of that rat folk fellow, speaking of which you don't look so good. I would hate for you to run the race in this condition. He pulls out a small vial filled with a dark and murky liquid. My last vial of Alchemists Kindness, I would be willing to part ways with it for say eight gold pieces. It will clear you of all your current symptoms. He rattles the bottle enticingly waiting for your response.
K'Wai mutters his thanks for the alchemical potion around puffed out cheeks. Downing the concoction, he instantly feels much better and shakes his head. In a clearer tone, he gratefully thanks the rat folk alchemist.
"I dunno what that stuff was, man, but it sure did the trick. Let me know what it costs, and I'll buy you two to replace it."
"Oh, I make them myself." he says proudly. "You can buy me a drink... just not today. I don't think I can do more today."
"Like, no, man. I mean, I like a beer or some rum from time to time, but that was, like, intense, man. Some exercise will probably help now, and maybe some more of those octopus flatbread things."
At the thought of more booze, K'Wai looks at Rikkivar wide eyed, then shakes his head and limbs, ready to move.
"So, like, where do we run?"
He starts by talking to rikki, then gets distracted. "thankee for the feel better drink. Oh! race?!? Me bestest at race!" zeex proclaims with blustering self assurance. However, he is kinda short for a runner.
Still he joins the throngs heading there...and manages to at least keep up with all the longshanks... and somehow manages not to get trampled.
From his seat, Cael looks up at the man. "Thank you. Hopefully, I'll do better in the race." He exchanges some gold for the medicine with the man. He then drinks it and stand to follow the people he meet on the ship. Man that was awful. That medicine is helping though, feeling a bit better now. So what do we have here? He walks near the rest of the group, trying to understand the next event is about.
The parade takes nearly an hour and a half to wind its way through Lilywhite with various establishments having manufactured set piece shows that halt the entire affair; What seems to be a fabric store produces a giant octopus, made from carefully shaped orange fabric over a wicker frame and controlled by a dozen, not particularly well coordinated dancers which the "slaves" dodge past with their acrobatics, and then battle the "slavers" shooting forth gallons of black ink as the whips thrash at it; also of note are a group of illusionists who cover the center of the streer in surging illusionary sea from which swim forth a great silent serpent that swims back and forth winking at the crowd.
Those that care to pay attention can garner the history of the festival from the parade, once the more fanciful elements are removed.
The Rum Punch Festival is an annual religious tradition honoring Cayden Cailean that is celebrated primarily along the western coast of Garund. It commemorates a Sargavan slave escape that occurred in 4686 AR at the port of Crown’s End. The escape involved three large slaver ships crammed full of slaves captured from Sargavan docks and the Bandu Hills, bound for sale at the slave markets of Bloodcove. Prior to setting sail, the crews of the ships gathered for a celebratory drink, each consuming a few mugs of rum. Surprisingly, the crews of all three ships got roaringly drunk despite consuming
no more rum than usual. Many slavers fell unconscious in positions that left their key rings dangling within reach of the slaves in the ships’ holds. As the slaves freed themselves, five small seabirds flew past the ship. A few worshipers of the Lucky Drunk among the escapees took the amazing potency of the rum as a sign that Cayden Cailean had intervened to give them a chance to free themselves, and believed the five birds had been sent by his herald Thais. As a result, the escaped slaves followed the birds and eventually found a small beached ship that they managed to launch and sail to the Shackles. The story spread, and Cayden’s faithful began celebrating the anniversary of the escape a few years later. As the tradition grew, it came to be named for the power of the rum that had given the escapees their chance at freedom. The festival is still most common in the Shackles, though it has begun to slowly spread elsewhere in the Inner Sea.
By the time you reach the Parade's end the sun has begin to set and fireworks fill the skies bathing the scene in vivid multicoloured hues. The Lumberyard is abuzz with hundreds of workers, revelers, and actors, all gathered before a small wooden stage. Suddenly, a gunshot rings across the crowded square, and attention snaps to the sharp-dressed woman standing on the stage, holding a still-smoking pistol.
Now certain she has the attention of all present, she addresses the crowd. “I’m Captain Varossa Lanteri of the Magpie Princess and I have a business proposition. I’ve recently discovered the secret to finding the lost treasure of Captain Jemma Redclaw, and I’m looking for a few strong hands to help me secure it. The first to reach my bosun’s table on the second floor of the God’s Revel Inn down by the harbor will have the opportunity to receive an officer’s share of old Captain Redclaw’s gold. If you’ve been waiting for your chance at fame and fortune, it’s finally here!”She fires her pistol over the heads of the crowd a second time, and shouts,
“Now hop to!” A moment of shocked silence is followed by a riot of shouts as dozens of people rush out of the lumberyard.
Everyone begins on the Taryn’s Planks card. The PCs must try to overcome obstacles and advance through the cards by attempting various types of checks.
As a standard action, a PC can attempt to overcome one of the two obstacles on the card the character is currently on. If successful, the character exits the card and moves on to the next one. Failing a check to overcome an obstacle means
that a character stops moving for that round and must face the obstacles on the same card again on the next round.
As a full-round action, a PC can attempt both obstacles on his card. If the PC successfully overcomes both obstacles,
the character can exit to the next card and attempt one of its obstacles immediately (allowing the PC to potentially exit two cards in 1 round). If the PC fails either of the obstacles on the initial card, the character stops moving
for that round.
The town’s crowded streets keep the faster racers from being able to push their advantage too much, and characters with base speeds of 20 feet to 40 feet are all on even footing.
Taryn’s Planks
So many hopeful pirates begin running that a crowd immediately forms and blocks the route.
Bellow and Push Through: Intimidate DC 12
and/or
Duck through a Gap: Reflex DC 10
Choke Point
Narrow streets form a choke point in the race.
Notice a Shortcut: Perception DC 14
and/or
Make Your Own Shortcut: Strength DC 13
Bridges
The racers must choose to either push through the crowded main bridge or try to span the gap of a broken bridge.
Crowded Bridge
Scramble over the Railing: Climb DC 14
and/or
Everybody Move!: Bluff DC 14
Broken Bridge
Jump It!: Acrobatics DC 15
and/or
Swim It!: Swim DC 14
Founders’ Square
Brawlers try to eliminate the competition.
Sense an Ambush: Sense Motive DC 16
and/or
Knock Them into the Bay: Bull Rush CMD 16
Running along the Cliff
Competitors try to push each other into the harbor.
No, You First!: Trip CMD 14
and/or
Look behind You!: Bluff DC 13
Final Sprint to the Inn
The entrance to the God’s Revel Inn is a short ramp packed with drunken patrons.
Dodge the Drunks: Acrobatics DC 12
and/or
Scale the Ramp: Climb DC 14
Oh...I misunderstood...lemme fix that
Zeex tries to rush thru the crowds by bu)lling his way thru, then ducking thru a gap.
****
Then he notices a shortcut to continue.
So many times, being small is a problem. Ducking through people's legs is not one of them.
Hey, I can slip under the wagon blocking that Alley!
He'll call out to the crowd, "Bridges are for landlubbers!"
My whiskers are twitching. Let's go around this one.
"hah! Made you look!"
"Ow! That was my tail, you cretin!"
He squeezes in with a skinny elf. "I have arrived, the celebration can begin!"
While people are dodging to get out of her way, the mass of people bar her ability to duck through the gap she was aiming for.
"Just get out of the bloody way!"
Slightly disheartened she casts Guidance on herself while making her way to the next obstacle.
This is NOT what I signed up for!
Morgana finally powers through the choke hold, getting more that a bit frustrated. If she didn't make it in reasonable time, how would she be treated as crew? Would she even be accepted!?
Without missing a beat, Morgana runs and jumps over the broken bridge.
Sensing something is up, Morgana takes a quick detour, avoiding the main road and duckling through some side streets.
"Hey! Look out!" she cried, taking advantage of the sudden confusion to send a few other competitors into the harbor.
Almost there! Just a little more!
Dodging her way through the drunks, Morgana finally makes her way to the Captain's table, only just after the Ratfolk from the drinking competition earlier.
"I'm here!... Captain. she says through heavy breathing.
Round 1: Reflex
K'Wai nimbly swings through a small gap in the press of bodies, rolling and popping to his feet just as the crowd begins pressing forward.
Round 2: perception
As his feet clear the Planks, he scans the walls of the nearby buildings and spots a handy foot/hand/ledge hold he can use. Springing up, grappling the small overhang and running across the beam of a fence he opens his stride just a bit.
Round 3: acrobatics + take 10 Swim for 18
Smiling as he approaches the broken beidge, K'Wai dashes forward, turning a handspring into a rolling dive before knifing into the water. He uses the speed gained by the jump to arrow down and up, splashing out onto the Founder's Square.
Round 3 bonus attempt sense motive
Sensing the brawlers awaiting him, K'Wai puts on a burst of speed and dashes past their hiding spot before then can spring their ambush.
Round 4 CMB
A few grasping hands reach for the wet undine, but he squirms and twists away, sending his foes into the drink.
Round 5
Seeing the end is near, K'Wai takes a deep breath to center himself before springing at the ramp to the tavern. Just before he reaches the bottom, he plants his spear butt and launches himself over the group pressing into the finish area, rolling into a ball and hitting the doorway still moving. He completes the move with a flourish, standing and slamming his palm down on the table.
Here! "
When the woman fires her pistol, Cael starts running as fast as he can. He didn't want to be trampled over by the crowd. Finding a small opening in the crowd, he jumps pass a few people, managing to stay with the lead group.
Going through the street of the town create a funnel effect, Cael can't seem to find a way to avoid it. Losing time, got the get away from this. He keeps an eye on any side street he could use. He wastes a lot of time trying to get out of there, to the point that he gets discouraged. Eventually, though, he does manage to find a way and continue on with the race. But at this point he rather feels like what's the point.
Up ahead, he can see the bridge jamed pack with people. Got to be a easier way. A quick look around allows him to find a broken bridge. I should be able to make that. He changes direction and head over there. He easily jumps a good part of the gap. Turning his jump into a dive, he swims the rest of the way. Feeling good about that part, he walks straight into an ambush. They keep pushing him down again and again. Preventing him any progress and laughing at him the entire time, until he gets upset. Releasing some lightings, makes them quickly back away.
At this point, Cael isn't caring much. He finally gets into the harbor, but with all the people in front of him, there is no way he's going to be first. When someone shows up next to him, trying to push him in the water, he just turns and bend in a way to make the other guy fall in instead. "F$@¢ off!"
Finally, with the end in sight, Cael speeds up the pace. At least I won't be the last one there. Dodging here and there, he avoids the people blocking the way in. After a frustrating run, he manages to get to the second floor and like he though, he ain't the first one there.
Zeex continues on with the race
round 2... or 3? not sure
Zeex tries to bluff his way through the crowds
then jump the bridge
next round:
... and manages to knock some out of the way and into the drink.
next round:
He manages despite his small stature, to knock a few other racers into the water.
... and tricks them into looking back and losing ground and precious time.
On the final sprint to the inn, he manages to dodge all the drunken revelers nimbly
The God’s Revel Inn is a two-story building made of old but sturdy wood and the occasional bit of tarnished brass. The interior is brightly lit with oil lamps and smells strongly of unwashed bodies and smoky fires.
Benches are scattered around mismatched tables and crates.
In the center of the main room’s floor is a recessed circle of hardpacked earth, ringed by a series of heavy posts connected by fraying rope. A second-floor balcony overlooks the ring and part of the main floor. A wide stairway leads up to a small landing near the earthen ring, then continues up to the second floor.
K'wai and Zeex both burst through the door as the first racers to arrive with the next closest racers a good minute behind them as they struggle to make their way through a cloud of fog that rolled in after Morgana sprinted by. When they enter the Inn a huge muscular man covered in scars approaches flanked by two burly half orcs,
"I'm Huldren, the last challenge in Captain Lanteri’s race, and anyone who wants to go upstairs has to go through me and the boys here," the scarred man says, cracking his knuckles and giving K'wai and Zeex a threatening leer. The threes low self congratulatory chuckling lend his words the lie.