Scorned (Inactive)

Game Master Jacob DeCourcey

"A stealth approach by the river would be best imo.."

Cireth nods at Vermathus.

Lets do it. When we get closer and can actually see the layout we will be better able to determine the actual plan.

To the orcs -

Get what disguises you can. We don't want to set off an alarm early.

We ready to head into town?

Sargana selects 3 warriors and they prepare some canoes to return to town. They are well disguised, but they still would not pass muster if a person got a decent look at them. They will have to keep a safe distance. Once you pack your things, you head down river towards Whiterush. You arrive in the late morning. Sargana and her friends pull the canoes ashore before the river meets with its much larger daughter, which is where the Quinn's barge will be. The River is too swift. We are much safer if we land here and walk the rest of the way.

It is only about a quarter mile to Whiterush from where you land, so you head out. As you approach Whiterush, you see the wedding boat docked in the river. It really is as big as Dario said, 3 stories high and as long as several buildings. On the back, the is a huge wheel with paddles, no doubt to propel the ship, although there is no readily visible source of power. The orcs hold up a hundred yards away from the edge of town. Go ahead. We will come to your aid at the first sign of danger. Please, try to reason with Brant. He must know the truth.

"Hmm.. Perhaps we can use the paddle wheel to get on board unnoticed.. Can all you swim and climb abit?"

I am able to vanish us for short periods of time which I should be able to use to get on board. Feats of strength are not my strong suit.

Each casting of vanish lasts 30 seconds. Can do up to 8 casts.

If we can get a window of opportunity, I'll make us each disappear and we can get on board the ship that way.

Alwrick looks almost sheepish as he admits, "I care barely swin at all. I can cast invisibility up to three times per day though, it will last 5 minutes per cast.

I think we have several options:

We could try to get to Brant before the ceremony and either break whatever enchantment he is under or convince him to change his mind.

We crash the ceremony and abduct him then do the same. This seems to me to be the highest risk plan but it may be our only option.

Alternatively we could hide and cast spells from the sidelines and hope he shrugs off whatever enchantment he's under himself and doesn't go through with it.

Of course we could do the third and then the second if it doesn't work.

Any other ideas? We can work out the details later but in terms of broad approach.

The only other thing I can think we could do it something to Quinns himself or his daughter. But I doubt that even if we capture him he'll confess.

Whatever we do we need a contigency plan to get out if everything goes wrong.

Maybe our best bet would be to try and get to Brant alone? He must get ready before the cermony. Could we get him alone and try to see if he's under some sort of spell?"

"The invisibility idea sounds good.. Say 3 of us stealh on board with it active and the other 2 join the orcs for a charge when/if all hell breaks loose.. That would ensue we get to him alone.. Now does anyone have a way to break enchantments.. Dispel magic perhaps?"

Alwrick has long(ish) invisibility while Cireth can do short term. Agna was preparing dispel magic and protection from evil I believe (Cireth also has Prot f. Evil as a scroll). Realise that none of that is guaranteed.

"I don't have any way to break enchantments. I have a potion of protection from evil though.

However it could be a cursed item of course. Like a ring or an amulet. That won't be dispelled. We need to try and detect what's causing it.

If the Quinns are Vampires and they have dominated him then break enchantment might not even work.

We really need more information."

Glancing at the Sargana "We may need to consider the possibility that that there is no magic involved. Sometime people just fall out of love..

...but I don't buy it. I think there's more to it.

It's early. How long do we have until the wedding? Must be a good few hours?"

Just as Cassius finishes speaking, a horn blast pierces the noontime air. A cheer comes up from the dock, and the great paddle begins to turn. Sargana cries out NOOO! They're getting away! I have to catch them! She turns and runs back to the canoes, with her soldiers in tow.

"Well crap.. Its appears they want an "At Sea" wedding.. Let's go!" With that he jumps back in the boat and hauls butt..

"A way to make the boat invisible we don't have, do we?"

Cireth gives a sigh, casting Vanish on himself (30 seconds invisibility) then runs to catch the boat.

Just so you know, Cireth, there's a fair amount of distance between you and the canoes, plus you'll have to hurry to catch the barge as well. If you want to wait to fire off Vanish, you can.

You and your orc allies quickly return to the boats. Each orc gets in a different canoe, as they have skills in boating. The orcs paddle the boats into the main current as quickly as possible, and the larger river sweeps up the small watercraft. The orcs' skill is apparent as they maneuver through swells and currents. The distance between the small fleet and the party barge closes as the barge turns down the left side of a fork in the river, and Sargana yells over the rushing water We can climb up the sides!

If it seeme likely we will be seen I will cast Silent Image and concentrate on maintaining it. The image will be of the river flowing angled so that we are masked. From above andthe bank it will just look like the water.

Alwrick seems somewhat ill at ease crammed into the canoe.

Digging through his bag he says"Cireth, I have a couple of scrolls of Spider Climb you can cast. I propose I cast invisibility on one of us and you cast spider climb. They can climb up and once the coast is clear they can drop down this rope. What do you think?

Perhaps Vermathus is the best candidate?

Whilst he speaks he brings out a scroll of spider climb, a silk rope and a small silver mirror and stows them safely on his person.

"Thats fine.. Ill go up and secure a line.." Vermathus awaits the spells and the boat to come along side..

If Cireth doesn't have time to make with the his magic he will try to climb up the side of the boat, hopefully there is a rope or something that he can grab onto.

I apologize for not posting much, been busy and this game fell off my radar...Will do my best to keep up from now on.

Garvin has some stealth(tho not as much as Vermathus), and volunteers to go up to help over him. I have no modifiers to my climb so I would be willing to try climbing up. Sadly he has no spider climb or anything to help break enchantment either.

I've got a +1 untrained Climb (+2 with guidance), so I'll only be attempting the climb if there's a rope. Speaking of which, I'm carrying fifty feet of rope if we need it, either to tie to the riverboat for easier climbing, or to tie to the climbers so we can recover them should they fall in.

Cireth is worse (-1 modifier). Still if it seems like it's the only option, he will climb.

It shouldn't be too tough. Its somewhere between 5 and 10 I guess?

Someone said tehy were casting invis and spider climb on Vermathus.. He was gonna then climb up and secure a rope for everyone..

It was implied that spells would take to long and we would miss the boat if we tried

Ah..

As they come along the boat Vermathus will make a jump for something stable looking and then climb up..

Perc to locate a good grab hold: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Acrobatics to make the jump: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Climb up the side: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Watch out, a ninja just came through

Thanks to Alwrick's clever use of magic, the party comes up upon the barge unseen. Gilt in gold paint and carnival colors, the gambling barge Chance’s Heart is over 140 feet long, and two stories high. A gaudy purple and gold pilothouse caps its fore end, and a giant red paddlewheel
juts from its aft. A long, black flag marked with the red Quinn “Q” streams from the observation deck atop the second story. Rosy-red and white nuptial streamers and floral bouquets stretch from the railings of the topmost observation deck down to the railings of the first floor.

With some quick climbing skills, Vermathus pokes his head up to look at the main deck. Eight Quinn henchmen patrol the deck on the lookout for anyone who might interfere with their lady's wedding. In addition, a dozen
or more guests mill about, drinking in the breath-taking view of the river
banks passing by. No one notices Vermathus as he hugs the edge of the boat.

I'll give you all guaranteed climb checks if you use a rope, but only one can get up at a time that way. Otherwise, a DC 10 check will get you up. It will take 1 move action to get up. Once you announce how you intend to board the ship, I'll start up the combat.

Map of the Ship.

You are on the starboard side, two-thirds the way back.

I'll be using a rope.

Vermathus will wait till the guards are out of sight and quickly come over the ledge to tie a rope and toss it back down..

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Take 10 Escape Artist to tie rope = 14

After he'll draw Curveblade and his resist energy wand and start laying protections on himself.. I figured 1 round to get the rope set and wand drawn.. So just let me know how many rounds i have to buff.. If given till the whole party makes it he'll have Resist 10 Acic, Cold, Fire, and Electircity for 10mins.

Agna throw up your rope too so we can get up faster. hisses Alwrick.

Is there no chance for us to get on board and below decks without being seen? If not then I guess we prepare to fight.

Who's first?

The boat (as written) doesn't actually have a below-deck...odd.

With ropes rigged up, there's all the time in the world to prepare, so buff away.

"Can we sneak into the wheel house, overpower some guards and steal their uniforms? I don't think we should just charge in. We should try and do it quietly if we can and get the young lord alone if possible.

I can cast silence on an item to help us stay undetected.

"We'll just have to get lucky to find him alone.. We need to find the living quarters.. Here let me have a look.."

He will look for a port hole to peek through and see Q2 and Q5..

Perc.: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Cireth casts Mage Armor upon himself then Vanish just before it's his turn to climb.

Quietly to the people around him. Does anyone else feel like this might be one giant setup. He gives a sigh Oh well, if it is then nothing more to do then spring the trap.

Q2 is a grand saloon, full of liquor shelves and beautiful mahogany wood barstools. Six, lightly armed Quinn goons are in there, drinking like there's no tomorrow.

Q5 is the boat's glorious dining room. Several fine oak tables and plush padded chairs grace this porthole-studded room. Gathered guests devour rich sausages, roast venison, and exotic fruits shipped in specifically for this grandiose affaire. The wedding gifts are stacked in this room, including jewelry, chests, clothing, and some sort of giant crossbow/harpoon sort of thing.

Can anyone tell if the "giant crossbow/harpoon sort of thing" is currently assembled enough that it could be used by us or against us?

I assume its some sorta seige weapon..

Vermathus whispers.. "We're outside a drinking hall with 6 guards in is and the dinner room with a bunch of people eating.. It doesn't appear we are expected.. With the guards getting drunk and all.. Of coarse they could just be slamming colored water for all we know.." Thoughts?

Is that a set of stairs going up from Q2?

The harpoon thing is wrapped up with a big bow, and it seems fully assembled, but you can't tell much else about it. The stairs are behind a wall. The line is pretty thin on the map, but you can't see them from where you are.

Anyone else amused with a siege weapon as a gift - Here hun, I've got you what you always wanted, a ballista! - it's just a very funny thought to me

I don't think all the guards would be, but I think that a few tactically placed elite gaurds seems likely. Remember that the bat escaped and maybe they are feeling the pressure to finish this fast. I don't think the general guards and population would know about an enchantment.

Garvin Will Cast Mage Armor in himself then Climb aboard too (using Rope)

Wait! Before anyone else goes up there we need a plan.

Can we wait for the guards to pass by here and pull them down here? A silence spell could help with the noise.

Could we start a fire to distract everyone?

We don't even know if the Groom is here. Or what's affecting him.

Maybe we could capture the bride or Quinn himself if not here? Maybe if we grab one guard, take his uniform and then we can move around the ship more easily.

I can change my face with magic to look like the guard. That could work?

What we can't do it rush up there and start a bloodbath. Noone will forgive us then!

"Bah! I say he's upstairs.. Way i see it there's no way we're getting off the boat without a fight.. Might as well get it to.. Besides that bastard and his cronies tried to end us.. I think a bloodbath is in order.."
Vermathus pulls him curveblade and stalks upstairs, taking the lead..
"Someone else better be ready to do the talkin because i aint no good at it.."

Stealth upstairs etc: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Perc.: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

"The disguise idea I like. Quinn being a personal enemy, I have no quarrel with his guards. Them I will not kill unless I have to."

Cireth does his vanishing plan

cast vanish, climb rope, follow Vermathus.

It will only last a brief time, but it will be long enough to not be seen and he will have a better picture of what is going on when he gets on top.

Could I just check - the way I read the description very soon (like 30 seconds at most) after anyone steps on deck the guards who are patrolling are going to see us? Seems obvious to me but am I misenterpreting it?

Once Cireth reaches the top, he will look around - invisibly - and see what more, if anything he can spot.

There are guards patrolling the deck. You could board the ship invisibly, but there's no way you could get up the stairs without disturbing the guards and/or guests. Sorry, I will try to get everything sorted out. Keep asking questions if you need clarification.

No need to be sorry. :) It's hard enough face to face let alone in text. I think i get it. This is pretty complex let's ask some questions then come up with a pla eh?

Questions:

Any guests in deck yet or all at the wedding breakfast?

Do we assume they may already be married?! Based on local customs (knowledge check if necessary)

Are the guards going back and forwards patrol routes or around the whole.boat? Or are they standing still?

Does it seems feasible to grab one guard and knock him put without the others barring or does that look impossible?

If looping patrols could we pull them over the side and into the boat - with the help of a silence spell of course.

Anyone else want to ask anything?

The guests, about 2 dozen in all, are all milling about the deck and the interior room. They will definitely be a factor in your approach. The guards are obviously dressed as guards, and are generally standing around or leaning up against walls. It seems like they're just there for show. Because of how crowded the boat is, it would be difficult to pull any kind of subterfuge with guards or guests.

Cireth looks around, searching for any sign of the husband and wife to be.