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Here's some Crescent Harbor info and rumors to get you all started. Not sure if any of your PCs can fail a DC 10 Knowledge (local) check, but feel free to take a peek at that stuff for some basics on life on the pirate island.
For rumors, make up to 3 skill checks.
PORT PERIL KNOWLEDGE (LOCAL) CHECKS
Crescent Harbor Taverns, Inns, and Hotspots
Taverns: The Mermaid’s Bucket (PF #57; largest on the island), The Thirsty Turtle, Chugg’s Place, The Frog & Grog, Barracuda Bill’s, Chumm’s Tavern, Bloodknuckles’ Pit (fighting)
Inns: The Captain’s Cabin (high class); The Gulls’ Nest, The Stormcellar Inn (comfortable/average); Crew’s Quarters, Hammocks & Hamhocks (basic necessities)
Theater: The Song & Dunce
Brothels: Lass Call (classiest and most expensive), Winsome’s Wenches, Seacat’s Den (notoriously wild)
Bathhouse: Becalmed Waters
Gambling Dens: The Shark’s Tooth, The Gold Monkey
Chapels: Crescent Harbor has small public shrines to Besmara, Gozreh, and Pharasma; the three brothels have a tiny shrine to Calistria in their foyers.
Port Peril’s laws are handed down by the Hurricane King. Basically corrupt, these edicts say that the Hurricane King, his fleet’s captains, and—to a lesser degree, their crews—can do as they please in town. Pirate Lords of the Pirate Council, likewise, have nearly free reign while in the city. Other Free Captains of the Shackles, up-and-coming pirate crews, and even daring merchant ships and their crews are welcome to make berth…after spending at least a week quarantined on Crescent Harbor isle, where their cargo and crew are examined before they are allowed into Point Peril proper.
Visitors must submit to a short interview with a docks official and is afterwards given signed papers that contain the person’s name, age, sex, race, port of origin, and other pertinent personal information. Each visitor must have his papers on his person at all times. Full-time residents of Crescent Harbor are issued identification papers that must be presented to cross the bay to mainland Port Peril. All sailing vessels, even down to makeshift rafts, are required to check the papers of all passengers. Anyone still in quarantine can expect to be turned away at the docks of Crescent Harbor or arrested if they somehow manage the crossing to the mainland city.
Small-scale brawling is generally ignored by the Crescent Guard (the island’s small watch force); assault with deadly weapons is more likely to catch their attention. Theft, pickpocketing, and robbery are illegal, but if the perpetrators aren’t caught in the act, the watch rarely provides additional investigation, unless the victim is important or has connections. These crimes are investigated and prosecuted with more vigor in the main city, however.
The ruler of Crescent Harbor is generally assumed to be Harbormaster Tjosmin Kreidoros, a dwarven wizard. He and his unknown number of custom agents and cargo inspectors (derisively called Hounds by the locals) have the authority to arrest anyone at any time for any reason (real or manufactured), and are much more feared and hated than the Crescent Guard. The island has two watch stations, imaginatively named North Jail and South Jail. The latter is larger and more secure, and is used for more dangerous criminals—those deemed deserving of a trip across the bay to either the Lockers of Dead Man’s Dancehall.
One other unusual law in Port Peril is that every known divine spellcaster capable of casting Create Water must do so each day “for no less than 1 minute and no more than 1 hour” in one or more of the city’s public cisterns.
Rumor 1: A nutjob lugging a large anchor around with him recently arrived on Crescent Harbor. He’s been getting into brawls regularly, acquitting himself quite well. The big fellow hasn’t been arrested yet because he hasn’t yet used the anchor as a weapon.
Rumor 2: A recently-arrived ship named the Reef Treader owned by Free Captain Duarnen Stonemaester was seized at the docks, purportedly under orders from the Hurricane King. This event is likely the culmination of a short feud between Capt. Stonemaester and one of the Hurricane King’s lesser fleet captains, the universally-despised Ludvar Barrows, captain of the Bonepicker. It’s rumored that crewmen from the Reef Treader who didn’t surrender immediately were slain by Barrows and his gang of cutthroats.
Rumor 3: The Gypsy Wanderer, a sailing ship out of Riddleport in Varisia, arrived in Crescent Harbor two days ago, bearing a travelling circus crew intent upon setting up shop in the mainland city for an extended engagement. Quarantined on the island for a week, the circus’s owner and ringmaster is seeking permission to put on limited performances at the northeast tip of Crescent Harbor for a few days until the troupe is allowed to proceed across the bay to Port Peril proper.
Local Tradition: Most sailors say a brief prayer to Besmara over a coin and drop it into the harbor before leaving Port Peril on a sea voyage. The amount of this offering varies from a single copper coin for common sailors and pirates to a gold or even platinum one for captains. Rumor has it that the Calistrian high priestess from the Siren’s Lash temple/brothel on the mainland city has a handful of aquatic elf allies who regularly collect this booty for the temple’s coffers.
Although there are dozens of smugglers, cutpurses, and other small-time criminals in Crescent Harbor, there is (of yet) no organized thieves’ guild on the island. One scoundrel who’s been gaining influence in recent weeks is Gruepert, a monaciello gremlin who likes to dress in flashy pirate clothing and runs his own small marpetplace in the shadows of Squallshield Hill near the heart of the island. It’s said that—given enough time—the gremlin merchant can pull just about anything out of the magical bag he’s always clutching. The little monster’s backed up by a ripped pech warrior and a female human arcane caster named Archimedae Staal (who has a small booth selling alchemical items and spell components in Gruepert’s Market), as well as a cadre of lesser gremlins, including several mite couriers and messengers.
Excited to be a part of the adventure. In the middle of a family party but i'll post more later.
Excellent! Aghon's background story had him occasionally patching up Culder in bar brawls, and running into Jon Banner (Jordan Bain) as well. So it would be good to start the roleplay with those three at least acquainted with one another.
Excellent! Aghon's background story had him occasionally patching up Culder in bar brawls, and running into Jon Banner (Jordan Bain) as well. So it would be good to start the roleplay with those three at least acquainted with one another.
Yep. It's also possible that Aghon and Moina (female human storm druid) would have met at one of the cisterns to cast their daily Create Water spells required for the general good of the populace of Crescent Harbor.
Of course, Moina may decide not to have reported that she's capable of casting that spell...but if any local official finds out later that she IS capable, she might get into a little hot water, so to speak.
Jarvis Crookrows (the halfling bard) has a bit of a background thing going on, but that might have him keeping a low profile. Aggghhh seems likely to introduce himself to your nostrils first, if you're downwind from him :)
*braap*
Sweet I'm in. I'll post properly when I'm home on my pc.
glad to be here! sorry i'm running late. Very glad to be part of a liesurely game :)
Dropping in to say hello! So happy to have been picked up. Chances are, I won't know anyone real well. Been on the seas for several years and just recently made renewed landfall in Port Peril. I look forward to the story with all of you!
Another day another gold piece... Aghon thought as he checked in with his matron at Besmara's small shrine. You'd think in a city so bustling, one could fall backwards into adventure. Seems all I can fall backward into is another cistern. Aghon mumbled under his breath.
What was that?
Nothing, nothing. Just excited about another day of filling cisterns and purifying rain barrels!
Yes, well, see that you do all that is required, and you'll keep earning the coin. Aghon's matron quirked her brow in a suspecting glare, but said no more.
Oh Aye! None's the worry there. I'll do what you need. With that Aghon exited the small shrine and meandered about the city. Everywhere he turned it seemed the city smelled of excitement and opportunity. Yet, all he could find were half-empty cisterns, and tangy rain barrels. Maybe ol' Culder'll get hisself in another brawl. At least that adds a little excitement to my day. Lost in thought, Aghon almost ran directly into a rather unattractive and frail looking young lady, who had the look of someone lost and or confused. He watched her pass him totally unawares and wander in to The Mermaid's Bucket. Well, if she's lost, that place'll help her figure it out. Aghon chuckled to himself, knowing The Mermaid's Bucket was full to the brim of all kinds of scoundrels, thugs, rogues, and wanderers. He tended to avoid the place, unless a brawl broke out, and some coin could be made from healing up the wounded.
"What's in front of your face, boy!" Aghon heard his father's voice again, pulling him out of his daydreams. Right, right. Cisterns, rain barrels. Aghon wandered off to do his work, trudging through salty puddles, and smelling the rank smell of dead fish.
Depending on how long she has been there since arriving she would have likely seen Aghon perhaps at the shrine or maybe a cistern. She would have just answered their questions without hiding anything when she first was interviewed as everything was all new and such a shock to her.
For no less than one minute? So that means 10 castings then right?
For no less than one minute? So that means 10 castings then right?
Yeah, although the official at each cistern would probably ask for more castings each day if you'd be willing.
As part of Jarvis' meandering about the Frog & Grog, he tries to glean some information about rumors running about the town.
Augh might be known as a handy-man and cook. Using a little magic to help cook. If one can just ignore his smell, he is ok to get along with.
Culder's been in and out of port a couple times. When he's out of coin he'll sign on with pretty much any crew that will take him, then he usually stays with that crew until they drop him for drunkeness, or mouthing off, or taking a swing at somebody. Once dropped he lives as long as he can off the coin he had earned, spending it on cheap rooms, cheap food, and cheap drinks. Once the coin dries up he starts the cycle over. He probably could have met anyone in his travels, if anyone else wants to make up the where's and why's of how we know each other?
Jordan is friendly enough (very critical when pretending to be somewhere else. The persona of Jon Banner is friendly if clumsy, and happy to see people. Jordan is still friendly, a little manipulative, likes a joke. not a lot of nautical experience, and more focused on revenge and finding lost family members, etc.
When will the gameplay tab open up?
When will the gameplay tab open up?
My current game plan is to open the Gameplay thread on Monday, January 4, 2016. That should (hopefully) give me enough time to make a few maps, learn the basics of Roll20, and decide on and finish off the first few encounters of the campaign. I might do some RPing in this thread to give you folks some campaign background and introduce a few NPCs. How many of the PCs know one another will almost certainly decide how I opt to begin the campaign.
Crescent Harbor Cistern
A female human—a few years either side of 30—with long, dark haired peppered with gray sticking out from beneath the black bandana she wears over her crown approaches you while you do your daily castings of create water at one of Crescent Harbor’s trio of public cisterns. The lady is decked in well-worn black leather armor and seems well-armed: A rapier hangs from her hip and the pommel of a dagger protrudes from the top of each of her black boots. She offers a crooked smile as she moves to the other side of the shallow well. A skull-and-crossbones holy symbol of Besmara dangles from a silver chain hung around her neck.
”Don’t it just warm the cockles o’ yer heart to slake the thirst o’ the fine folk o’ Port Peril every bloody day in the blazin’ sun or the pourin’ rain?” After casting a couple of create water spells of her own, the woman offers another smile and sticks out a rough hand with a slight accumulation of dirt beneath the nails.
”Name’s Betty—Black Betty, most folks call me,” the woman drawls. “Who’re you an’ what brings you to this lovely isle?”
Barely giving you time to reply, the woman adds, “Keep a weather eye out—many’s the disreputable crew on this isle what’d press-gang a water-maker or healer for their ship…even though it be illegal.”
The Rusty Drum Tavern
A grinning pirate with manky red hair and a scruffy beard sits at the bar, watching the big human with the anchor chained to one wrist pound another patron into violent unconsciousness.
”By Besmara’s bounteous booty!” the man calls out to Culder. ”You might even be a match for ol’ Barnacle Bill the Brawler! Never ‘eard o’ him, ya say? Banner—pour this fine lout a flagon o’ yer worst ale an’ I’ll tell yas the tale.”
”No one’s sure exactly who ‘ol Bill was in life,” the ginger pirate begins, ”but in undeath, he’s a skeletal battler covered with barnacles an’ seaweed what wades out o’ the bay every month or so, enters a tavern—usually Bloodknuckle’s Pit—an’ challenges anyone to a fistfight with him. No weapons allowed. No one’s beat him yet—I’m guessin’ it’s hard to put the hurt on something made o’ bone with just yer fists.”
”You could probably cave in ol Bill’s head with that anchor you lug around,” the pirate tells Culder, ”but don’t try it at Bloodknuckle's—Barnacle Bill’s somethin’ o’ a mascot there, an’ they got a priest there what actually heals up any damage the skeleton takes before Bill wanders back to the depths."
The Frog & Grog Tavern
A sandy-haired male halfling with darting eyes approaches one of his kin at the bar, just as a bald dwarf emerges from the kitchen with a skillet of something that at once smells delicious and disgusting. The approaching halfling looks at the cook with suspicion for an instant before apparently dismissing him as no threat.
”Word on the street is that any surviving crew from the Reef Treader are safe, Jarvis—Capt. Barrow and his men were only interested in the ship itself and getting her captain out of the picture for good.”
Casting a glance at a corner table occupied by three men wearing colorful bandanas atop their heads (yet seemingly too neatly-dressed to be pirates), the short fellow adds in a snarly whisper, ”They’re with that Varisian ship that just sailed into port. Circus performers? Bah—don’t trust ‘em! All Varisians are gypsies, cutpurses, con men, or thieves!”
Black Betty is it now? Name's Aghon, if you please. As to warming my heart, I'd say, yes, 't does, in a roundabout sort of way, if you catch my meaning. He pats the coin purse strapped to his belt, right next to his morningstar. As t'what brings me to the Isles? Well, that's a long story, and I'd gladly be sharing it with you, perhaps over a drink? He winks at the dark beauty, indicating, perhaps that she should be the one purchasing said beverages. Perhaps after you've slaked my thirst, and I've spun my yarn, ye can tell me a bit more about these disreputable crews I should look out for? He finishes another casting of create water then looks at the position of the sun in the sky. Tell me where to meet ye, and at what time, and I'd be glad to share a drink and a tale? He grips her extended hand in his own calloused paw, brings it ever so gingerly to his lips, and presses a warm kiss on it.
"Y'should watch what yer callin' the worst ale, mate, especially if'n yer comin' close t' runnin' a tab," Jordan joked back, pouring the drink.
He set it down a bit clumsily, ale slopping over the sides, which he quickly mopped up with a dirty rag he kept round his waist. "An' before y'go on telling yer new friend they should enter a fight, ye should tell'im why Barnacle Bil comes a wanderin' up here fer the fights!"
Sitting back, Jordan glanced around the room. Maybe this new stranger would have some information for him.
yes please! I'm GMing two PbPs and playing in 2 more (and do almost all of it from my phone), so being able to see this game in my campaign tab would be super helpful.
(also, now that we're playing the game it seems like we should probably be in gameplay...)
Agghh throws the halflign a glare back at the potential stink-eye. Got yer sausage, shrimp and rice! He wiggles his fingers as he scrapes it onto a plate and any stray bits of food shovethemselves back onto the center.[/b] Putting it onto the bar, for a serving wench to serve, he ehads back into the kitchen.
Culder reaches his bloodied hand up and tugs down one corner of his hat in a sort of drunken salute to the bartender as the fresh drink arrives. He takes one large swallow and sets the half empty mug back on the bar before speaking, "Fightin' a skel'ton with me bare hands?!? And fer no profit? I'm drunk, sure 'nough, but I ain't a frackin' fool!"
After another long gulp he sets the empty mug on the bar and finally turns for the first time to look at the stranger. Sizing him up, he asks, "What're yer even tellin' me this fer? You havin' a go at me?!? Out with it! What're yer upta!?!"
"Ah hi, I'm Moina." she says looking around, "I had to leave my village."
She studies Betty and then asks, "Perhaps you might help me. I'm wondering if there are any jobs around here. I don't have too much coin left after the boat here."
Something seemed off about the woman but it wasn't the first strange thing she had seen here. Everything was strange.
Done.
We'll just be RPing for now until I get a few maps ready.
Hey all -
It dawned on me that perhaps I should have put the three RPing scenarios under spoilers, to keep secret what's going on from those PCs who aren't present. As a lurker who reads several of the PbP game threads on these forums, though, I hate it when games turn into nothing but spoiler tags when the PC party splits up. Therefore, I'm planning on spoilering (spoilerizing? Bah--Paizo's spell-checker flags that, too!) only those things that a particular player discovers in-game that need to (or ought to) remain secret until that player chooses to share.
Your thought/suggestions?
@Aghon: Does your character openly wear a holy symbol of Hanspur? (It might make a difference in his interactions with Black Betty...if she has any clue about your god, that is.)
Nope; not a clue.
@Aghon: Does your character openly wear a holy symbol of Hanspur? (It might make a difference in his interactions with Black Betty...if she has any clue about your god, that is.)
** spoiler omitted **
Well, yes and no. He actually has a trident as a weapon, strapped to his back, which is the favored weapon of Hanspur. I would say otherwise the holy symbol is on a necklace that he wears under his garments. Obviously he would have had that necklace out while casting his create water though, right? Or is presentation of the holy symbol only necessary for channeling energy? I guess I'm not really clear on that.
Well, yes and no. He actually has a trident as a weapon, strapped to his back, which is the favored weapon of Hanspur. I would say otherwise the holy symbol is on a necklace that he wears under his garments. Obviously he would have had that necklace out while casting his create water though, right? Or is presentation of the holy symbol only necessary for channeling energy? I guess I'm not really clear on that.
As I understand it, you need a holy symbol for the divine focus element of some spells. It need only be presented when channeling energy.
Ah! Good to know, thank you.
Oh sure, you say that now, but just wait until there's a real snowstorm in my area and I don't post for a week or so! ;)
Seriously, though, I'm having fun too.
I've got some stuff ready for your date...err, meeting...with Black Betty, but I'm kind of waiting to hear from Moina regarding her meeting with the mysterious woman.
P.S. - I'm trying to post a map of the island but Google Docs is being difficult. Will update you all if/when it's available.
Happy New Years, all!
Happy New Years, all!
Happy New Year!!!
Oh sure, you say that now, but just wait until there's a real snowstorm in my area and I don't post for a week or so! ;)
Well, we all signed up for a leisurely game, did we not? If things go for long stretches without posts, we all know that's what we signed up for. :) Absence makes the heart grow fonder. ;)
The new years fun has died down now so I will post soon. Sorry if people were waiting for me.
@aghon. I think you have the wrong impression of Moina. I've never heard that Charisma determines someone's looks. If i wrote a character description i would put her as attractive enough (but not exactly a knock out)
And hopefully you meant frail as in weak (she is indeed of slim build) and not as in unhealthy looking.
@aghon. I think you have the wrong impression of Moina. I've never heard that Charisma determines someone's looks. If i wrote a character description i would put her as attractive enough (but not exactly a knock out)
And hopefully you meant frail as in weak (she is indeed of slim build) and not as in unhealthy looking.
According to the Core Rulebook: "Charisma measures a character’s personality, personal magnetism, ability to lead, and appearance." So appearance/looks is a part of it, but not everything.
IMPORTANT UPDATE!
I've finally managed to post a map of Crescent Harbor island. You'll find the link in the game's Campaign Info tab.
A Word of Warning
Here (likely) comes one of those DM hiatuses I warned you players about. I didn't quite finish the encounter maps for the likely combats about to break out in-game. I've got a doctor's appointment tomorrow and a viewing of the new Star Wars movie scheduled after that, so I likely won't be able to post anything until Wednesday. And I've yet to learn what's involved with Roll 20, so even Wednesday might be an overly-optimistic guesstimate.
I should be online for another 3 hours today, though, so maybe I'll be able to at least post Initiatives for one or both of the groups (assuming the Frog & Grog group don't just look the other way).
A Word of Warning
Here (likely) comes one of those DM hiatuses I warned you players about. I didn't quite finish the encounter maps for the likely combats about to break out in-game. I've got a doctor's appointment tomorrow and a viewing of the new Star Wars movie scheduled after that, so I likely won't be able to post anything until Wednesday. And I've yet to learn what's involved with Roll 20, so even Wednesday might be an overly-optimistic guesstimate.
I should be online for another 3 hours today, though, so maybe I'll be able to at least post Initiatives for one or both of the groups (assuming the Frog & Grog group don't just look the other way).
Enjoy the movie, it is awesome! Again, don't worry about the number of days between posts. We all signed on knowing that the posting scenarios were going to be spread out, with possible frequent breaks. We'll still be here when you get back. :)
And push come to shove, Jarvis will just come up with new and exciting verses to whatever shanty he's singing at the moment.
Everyone up for a bit of abstract combat?
Honestly, I bit off more than I could chew and have no idea how to set up and present maps for the game (at least not yet). Throw in a couple of real-life issues today and I find myself unable to think straight enough to try to figure things out. So....
...how about we try abstract combat for these first encounters? I'll do my best to try to paint a picture of the encounter for you guys and you guys do your best to tell me your characters' movements and actions, OK?
I'm a few months into GMing a 1/day PbP at 11th level (when things are a bit crazier) and we've been doing all of our combat just by descriptions. Once in a while people have to ask for clarification but on the whole its been going pretty smoothly. I think we'll be fine.
Sometimes I actually prefer abstract combat. :) It sure beats the real thing. :P
OK...Let's give it a shot then.
First House Rule: Spell-Like Abilities
There seems to be some disagreement about how obvious it is when someone/thing uses a spell-like ability. SLA's do provoke attacks of opportunity, so obviously something happens when such a power is invoked...I like to think the creature creating the effect needs to concentrate pretty hard and look at his target or target area.
Then there's the doppelganger and its detect thoughts SLA. In my opinion, that should be a sneaky power, and not something that's obvious to everyone around it.
My House Rule: SLAs without an obvious visual effect can be used on the sly with two exceptions: when the creature/caster is in combat and when the creature is being watched closely. SLAs like Aghon's icicle domain power can be triggered AoO-free outside of combat (unless he's being closely watched) as a surprise round attack, but the icicle flying from his finger would likely be seen by anyone with line of sight to him.
Fair enough? Feel free to chime in with your opinions or rules quotes.
That makes sense to me. I always assumed (perhaps incorrectly) that you could tell when someone was using an SLA that had an obvious visual effect (a la icicle pew pew).