[PbP Gameday VII] GM Greenclaw's 6-05: Slave Ships of Absalom [1-5] (Inactive)

Game Master Greenclaw

Esper walks up to the kennel master, latches onto his mind with her own, and swings her quarterstaff, whacking him in the face while Corbett restrains him. Making him the target of her hypnotic stare as a swift action, then attacking.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
If she hits she also activates her painful stare as a free action and deals:
Painful Stare: Extra Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Apparently underhanded tactics don't bug her in the least.

"No time," she tells Corbett.

Zootloot stops playing and notices that the smoke smell is growing stronger. "Step back everyone, I'll open that door from here." When it looks like people are clear of the door Zootloot casts a spell against the door to open it.

casting open/close

Lotho is ready to attack with his longspear, his full attention on the door at Zootloot tries to open it.

Corbett easily restrains the stunned kennel master before Esper moves over and brutally strikes the helpless man with her staff. His eyes glaze over even more as he looks up in disbelief at her through the pain and the blood now streaming out of his broken nose, but he manages to barely hold onto consciousness for the moment.

Meanwhile, Zootloot opens the door from which the smoke seems to be seeping out from. While none of the group can see into the room from where they are currently standing, the little gnome, Rilla, gets a glimpse through the door and calls out to the rest of the group. "Yep, she's in there alright! Looks like she's throwing pieces of paper into a fire!"

Everyone can take another round of actions!

Leaving the kennel master to Corbett, Esper hurries into the smoky room. Spotting the woman in question across from her she casts her psychic tendrils over the woman's mind.

STOP.

Move action. Swift action to make the woman the target of Esper's hypnotic stare. Casting daze on her. Will DC 14 negates, she takes a -2 on her saving throw from Esper's stare. The kennel master is no longer under Esper's stare.

The Captain turns to face Esper. "Ha, you're too late. You'll ne..." She suddenly stops in mid-sentence, a dazed look coming over her face.

The fire in the brazier, bolted to the middle of the floor continues to rage, however. It is contained with the contraption for now, but left untended it looks likely to expand beyond its current container in time.

Ok, everyone can take two rounds worth of actions, except for Esper who'll have only one.

Lotho looks around for a bucket of water, usually readily at hand on a ship. If he finds one, he goes forward to put out the fire.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Zootloot moves quickly to the open doorway. Spotting the fire, he gestures upward and a downpour of water falls on the brazier, dowsing the fire.

Casting drench on the fire.

Dahrani whistles to Kaepora to follow him into the room.

Move action: Move into the room adjacent to woman.

Question before I finish the rest of my actions: Do I happen to see any key rings hanging from her belt?

Still standing over the kennel master, Corbett looks off to see everyone head toward the stern of the boat.

He looks down to the dazed man on the floorboards, and shrugs. "When you wake up from this, know there was no 'ard feelings. Just business." He stomps his foot down towards the man's head, looking to knock him out.

Unarmed attack, nonlethal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

... but he misses completely. Saving face, Corbett smiles at the man. "Uh... psyche?"

Lotho nods to Zootloot. "You have remarkably appropriate magical abilities, my friend." He steps into the room, longspear at the ready to prevent the woman from making any sort of foolish escape attempt.

Esper smirks. "What was that? I missed that last part..."

She check to see what can be salvaged of the sodden/burnt papers.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

As the Pathfinders burst into her room and douse her fire, the Captain turns to face them, drawing a pair of kukris in either hand and a defiant smirk on her face. A ring of keys are indeed also hanging from her belt. "Ha! You're too late. You'll find no evidence here nor get you're hands on me cargo, you lazy coppers! Kill me if you must, but you'll go home empty-handed!"

Whether the woman's words are true or not will take a more careful search after the fight, but for now it appears that she managed to burn all the letters and documents she was hoping to hide, only a few flickering sparks and ashes appear to be left in the once raging brazier, now well and truly doused by Zootloot's watery spell.

INIT
The Captain
Zootloot
Corbett
Savron
Lotho 11/12hp
Esper
Dahrani 8/20hp

Quick to get on the offensive, the Captain lashes out twice at Dahrani with her twin blades, one of the them sinking deep in between his ribs, perhaps piercing a lung!

Kukri 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Kukri 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Crit Confirm?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 Crit Damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 6 = 12

Everyone is up!

The kennel master was still in the fight, and I missed him with my non-lethal attack last turn - is he still considered an active combatant?

Does the bounty specify the captain is wanted alive?

@Lotho: Alive or Dead!
@Corbett: From what he's seen of what you guys are willing to do to an unconscious or stunned man lying helpless on the floor, safe to say he won't be stupid enough to try and take you on even if he should wake up again before you come back to get him. Consider him out of the fight unless you particularly want to have the glory of officially finishing him off once and for all.

Dissatisfied that none of her allies took advantage of the opening Esper had so generously provided, Esper rolls her eyes. She steps forward and swings her quarterstaff at the woman.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
If she hurts the woman she also deals: Painful stare damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

If Esper doesn't strike the woman she automatically activates her painful stare the first time one of her allies causes harm to the woman, which increases their damage dealt by +1

Zootloot jumps to a corner of the room and pulls his guitar around. "Hmm. What does this situation feel like?" After only a moment he starts with a long slide down the single string on his guitar then follows with a rowdy galloping cadence. The amount of music coming from the single string is amazing, almost magical.

Inspire courage +1

Lotho shakes his head. "You show no remorse. May you find mercy from whatever god you worship, slaver, for Erastil will give you none." He stabs toward her with the longspear, but despite his bold words, aims for a limb to incapacitate rather than kill.

Longspear attack (Nonlethal, Power attack, Smite Evil, Inspire Courage): 1d20 + 4 - 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 - 4 + 2 + 1 = 16
Longspear damage (Power attack, Smite Evil, Inspire Courage): 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 10 nonlethal, +1 from Esper's painful stare if it applies

Corbett moves to the threshold of the captain's quarters, eyeing up the scrambled mess of a fight that's happening in there. He shouts over his shoulder to the chained slaves, reassuring them. "Fire's out for the most part, hold tight, we'll get you out of here!"

Move: 20'

The frustrations of the day spilling over, the group pile into the Captain's cabin and attack her. Esper swings her quarterstaff at the woman who manages to duck under the blow.

Zootloot whips up an impressive one-stringed ditty that perfectly fits the madcap mood of the scuffle.

Lotho is definitely inspired, moving into the room and spearing Captain Wardak in the leg, trying to avoid major arteries, whilst aiming to slow her down. His spear finds the mark and the Captain looks to be hobbling.

Savron moves to get a good view of the room, staring over his companions' shoulders to strike fear into the Captain.

Corbett readies a strike, should the Captain somehow make a move away from her corner desk.

Evil Eye (DC16) -2 Attack
WILL DC16: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Dahrani is up!

@ Lotho: It sure does!

Dahrani remains silent, but he's clearly enjoying punishing the slaver captain for her actions. With a whistle, he commands Kaepora to attack her as well.

Primary Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Primary Attack Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Off-Hand Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Off-Hand Attack Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Kaepora moves above Dahrani and lashes out at the captain.

Again, shrunk the token for visibility

Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Bite Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Talon 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Talon 1 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Talon 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Talon 2 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Dahrani may be enjoying fighting the slaver but he may not be enjoying the cramped quarters. He's unable to get a full swing and can't slice through the woman's studded leather armor.

Kaepora has better luck, however, although he'll likely claim it was skill. The owl bites into the Captain's head and then scratches a talon down the side of one cheek.

Captain Wardak then tries to finish the job she started on Dahrani only moments ago, lunging simultaneously at either side of his ribs with her twin kukri blades. She seems a little bit more hesitant this time, however, as Savron stares at her from outside the room.

Kukri 1: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 - 2 = 9
Kukri 2: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 - 2 = 11

The blood pouring down the side of her face, the bird pecking at her scalp and the spear sticking out of her thigh all prove too much of a distraction, however. Neither thrust finds its mark.

INIT
The Captain -6hp, -11hp non-lethal, -2 Attack
Zootloot
Corbett
Savron
Lotho 11/12hp
Esper
Dahrani 8/20hp

Inspire Courage: +1 to attacks

Everyone is up!

Esper swings at the Captain again, trying to smack her in the face with her quarterstaff.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 1 = 11
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
If that strikes she deals an extra: Painful Stare: 1d6 ⇒ 1

If she misses Esper's painful strike instead adds +1 damage to the next attack that harms the Captain.

Then she takes a (five foot) step back to make room for Corbett and draws a dart.

Growing increasingly more frustrated with the situation, Dahrani lets out a yell before going after the Captain again.

Primary Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Primary Attack Dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Off-Hand Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Off-Hand Attack Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Kaepora channels a bit of his master and caws at the Captain before going after her again.

Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Bite Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Talon 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Talon 1 Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Talon 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Talon 2 Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Lotho again tries to stab at the woman, pinning her so that she can be captured. "Just surrender already."

Longspear attack (nonlethal, power attack, smite evil, inspire courage): 1d20 + 4 - 4 - 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 4 - 1 + 2 + 1 = 4
Longspear damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 9

Clearly, his heart just isn't into impaling this pathetic cornered woman.

Corbett sees an opening, so he takes it. He wades into the sea of bodies in the tight quarters, then kicks with all his might.

Unarmed Strike, nonlethal, inspire courage: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 16
Damage (B): 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7

Move: 10' S
Standard: Attack, unarmed (nonlethal)

Captain Wardak doesn't stand a chance against the mob of attackers, suffering further wounds from Dahrani and his pesky owl before Corbett wades in and kicks her in the stomach, causing her to buckle over and collapse to the ground, completely unconscious.

With the threat of combat out of the way, the group search the room. There is very little of any sort of documents left, the fire taking care of that quite nicely, however the Pathfinders do find the mere corner of a letter signed "Muhlia".

With Captain Wardak captured and her ship, the At Sea, seized by the Pathfinder Society, the group have revealed Pasha Muhlia Al-Jakri’s involvement in attempts to infiltrate the highest levels of Absalom’s inner workings. The harbor pilot, Zigil, dutifully navigates the ship through the Ship Graveyard safely to the docks, where city officials take custody of the vessel.

They then return to Lady Darchana to bring her up to speed on everything that has happened. Pleased with their success but deeply troubled by the implications, Lady Darchana has the bounty payment on Captain Wardak and the At Sea authorized. She addresses the Pathfinders once more before dismissing them: “Pathfinders, you have done a great service to 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.”

Upon returning to the Grand Lodge, the freed Pathfinder slave, Rilla, recounts what she can to Venture-Captain Valsin and the Pathfinders 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. When Rilla 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,” is all he says on the matter.

Congratulations, guys! That successfully concludes the adventure. Feel free to act out any last RPings to wrap things up, but other than that, thanks for playing and I'll get to work on getting Chronicle Sheets up as soon as I can. Reporting is through the GameDay, so I'll submit that ASAP.

Awesome! Thanks for a great game, everyone!

This was a fun scenario and a fun group! Thanks GM. Thanks everyone. I look forward to playing with you all in future PbP games.

I definitely enjoyed the scenario, and you guys were all a blast!

Agreed! Great RP'ing, everyone!
This is three times now playing this scenario, and I've yet to see a fight happen in Mahdi's Chattel. I'm running it for Session 2 of GDVII, so here's hoping someone decides to go rogue. :P