Skull and Shackles: Red Sky at Morning (Inactive)

Game Master DBH

Randall shakes his head as if waking from a dream. The last several months seem to be an ephemeral memory as if it was someone else in control of his body and all he could do was observe and rail at the universe from some corner of his mind.
Taking stock of the situation Randall sees Neela take the full brunt of the lightning bolt as he rushes to her side "Don't worry, Beautiful. I got you." he says as he casts a spell to ease her pain.
Casting Cure light wounds on Neela for 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 points

Randall's soothing touch has Neela feeling pretty good for someone who took a lightning bolt to the face

Init:Rhi
Neela
Herzag
Percy
Ash
Randall
Isabella.

Randall you should be able to control your Icon on the battlemap, if not let me know

Those in bold may act

lassoing anooying things take 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
lasssoing annoying things take 2 ala fortune hex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

He took the homemade lasso noose and with a quick whirl launched it hoping to catch a peice of the flying annoyance enough to drag her down.

Percy you do manage to lasso the annoying sorceress who still has 5 lightning bolts left and reel her in.

COMBAT OVER

YOU MAY ADVANCE YOURSELVES TO LEVEL 6

WOHOOOO!!! Well done Cap! :D

Somehow I missed a LOT of that combat round...but NOT the lightning bolt!

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Fortune!
Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Wow...that's three '1's in a row now...ouch!

"Tie that wench UP! Search her for weapons and valuables!"

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Ashlei will then spend a while searching the enemy dead retrieving her used daggers and maybe finding a few new daggers to replace the one she lost!

Let's see if I've got this straight. She's lassoed up but is still alive and kicking? If so...

With the pirate captain finally brought down Randall takes a moment to cast a spell on her.
Cast Hold Person on Isabelle, DC:17 Will save to resist.

Save your spell Randall, she has sea urchin poison in a false tooth that promptly dispatches her.

Ash: Isabella had a couple of MWK Daggers along with

Randall will use his Lore Master special ability to 'Take 10' on the Knowledge (local) check for a total of 20, then he will use the 1/day portion to 'Take 20' as a standard action on the Knowledge (geography) check for a total of 29. He doesn't have any ranks in Knowledge (religion) so someone else is going to have to take that one.

Randall looks at the now dead body "She killed herself rather than be captured. What kind of psycho does that?"

Ash: Isabella had a couple of MWK Daggers along with Isabella's Rapier...

I'll take both mw daggers unless Herzag wants to split them? That's a NICE rapier...but my abilities only run with daggers and starknives mostly. Anybody want the Rapier? Rhialla actually USES a Rapier right? Sounds like upgrade time unless she wants to avoid melee.

"I think you just answered your own question Randall." Rhialla says shaking her head as she bends to pick up the dead woman's sword.

"Nice...this'll make someone regret getting out of bed." she says, giving the blade a few fluid passes through the air.

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"So that rhyme...the Grave Lady is Pharasma....The Dawnflower's Kiss refers to Sarenrae....probably sunrise."

Not really the type of cleric to avoid melee. A little too in your face for that, so I can definitely make use of the rapier. The hilt looking like a sea monster is only fitting.

Randall looks the tattoo over "Those islands, I've seen them somewhere before..." he snaps his fingers as it comes to him "On one of our charts, they're about 100 or so miles northwest from here, about five to seven days sail."
"One of the islands is called Mancatcher's Cove and there's rumored to be some sort of monster that dwells there, so that must be what this eye means. Whatever's there must be pretty important to have the map to it tattooed on your back so it can't be lost."

"Bah... you dont tattoo a map on yourself, you tattoo it on someone else you have control of... who was controlling that peice of work i wonder. Sorry for the luck Herzag, I was going to gift her to you officers as a personal cabin boy if we caught her."

He glared at the sorceress for a moment before turning from her to check on the other fellow him he split like a melon when they first returned.

That knuckles charector have any cool loot? :P

As he was searching the man's body he called back to his lover Rhialla.

"Find someone with a steady hand... get a copy of that map on some parchment... and just in case someone remove it physically as well."

He rose and for a moment tried to look as imposing as possible.

"LISTEN UP BOYS AND GIRLS, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE A MAP TO SOME SORT OF TREASURE, WHICH AS SOON AS THINGS ARE WRAPPED UP HERE ON THIS ISLAND WE WILL REPAIR RESUPPLY AND HUNT DOWN,

He began. Then he turned his glare on Burnout and the weaponmaster.

"Next battle try to avoid and suicidal death from above attacks will you? Its not always easy to find good officers."

knowledge engineering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Is that a high enough engineering check to uh... invent parachutes for the next time we battle a ship. Someones heroics have me thinking of new ways of getting a boarding party on a boat.

Randall will cast a detect magic and go over any gear found on Isabella and Knuckles.

DMTFY wrote:

Ash: Isabella had a couple of MWK Daggers along with Isabella's Rapier...

I'll take both mw daggers unless Herzag wants to split them? That's a NICE rapier...but my abilities only run with daggers and starknives mostly. Anybody want the Rapier? Rhialla actually USES a Rapier right? Sounds like upgrade time unless she wants to avoid melee.

I'll have a better post later but yeah, I say we split the daggers ;)

Also yeah, Herzag has no qualms in 'removing' the map from Isabella - will post regarding that also when I have time :D

"Owwwwww....." Neela seems to have spent a lot of time recovering, having been lightning-bolted to near unconsciousness if not death. She had to admit that Randall's healing touch was making her feel a lot better though. Looking at the reinvigorated bard, it seemed like Randall had awakened new life into himself, as well as her.

"So, I don't suppose that flying girl had any spellbooks on her?" she inquires. She'll help Randall check for magic items, including on their other friend, Knuckles.

He began. Then he turned his glare on Burnout and the weaponmaster."Next battle try to avoid and suicidal death from above attacks will you? Its not always easy to find good officers."

Suddenly startled at the dressing down from the captain, it takes a moment for the captain's actual words to really dawn on her. With little brain to mouth filter, Ashlei's normally smiling face contorts into multiple different emotions in only a few seconds.

"But I...WAIT...you think...I'm a good officer?"

Again smiling radiantly, Ashlei gives a fast salute to 'Captain Percy' and quickly gets back to work

"Aye-Aye Captain!"

That knuckles character have any cool loot? :P

Thanks for reminding me, I forgot about about him as you all dispatched him pretty quickly.

Randall will cast a detect magic and go over any gear found on Isabella and Knuckles.

knowledge engineering: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Is that a high enough engineering check to uh... invent parachutes for the next time we battle a ship. Someones heroics have me thinking of new ways of getting a boarding party on a boat.

What specifically are you hoping to accomplish with these parachutes? Are you looking for a "feather fall" effect?

"So, I don't suppose that flying girl had any spellbooks on her?"

She was a sorceress, so no books

We can assume that you all heal up before you set sail. There is enough gold and gems to bring you up to WBL for 6th level, Sadly there is nowhere to spend it

Something like that... you know the ability to have a half dozen to a dozen pirates land on your deck after being shot off of something could be useful. Even if it was just reduced damage from the fall Percival would look into it. goodness knows we have the crazy crew for it it seems.

Some quick questions, How set up is the island my 'wife' keep is on for say settlers or town building? Are their any sizable ports loosely along the way torwards our destination? AND did Knuckles have two +1 spiked gauntlets?

With the loot all gathered he continued his earlier bellow over the ship but first Randall call the victorious crew to the decks and to attention.

"Listen up my lovely Scallywags You did well today, they sought to catch us unawares and yet they lie at the bottom of the deep and we stand here victorious. First chance we get, We will get the good rum, and every sailor can have one extra tot at night!"

He waited a moment then continued.

"For gallant actions on the deck in battle, Im awarding this spiked gauntlet to you Officer Ashlei "Burnout" Mamoud, and This one to you Officer Herzag. Let's give them a loud Huzzah!"

He added. After a moment he moved away dismissing the crew but he pulled aside Randall and Rhialla.

Rhialla gets a hold of one of the crew skilled with maps, assigning him the task of making a copy of the one on the dead sorceress' back. Turning to Herzag she asks, "As good as you are with a knife, think you can take the original off her intact once he's done with the copy?"

"Nice find" - Herzag winks at Ash as she gives him one of the masterwork Daggers, a very well crafted and sharp blade, its pommel wrapped in what seems to be a single band of leather with no visible seams - "Thanks lass"

----

"Bah... you dont tattoo a map on yourself, you tattoo it on someone else you have control of... who was controlling that piece of work i wonder. Sorry for the luck Herzag, I was going to gift her to you officers as a personal cabin boy if we caught her."

"Yeah Cap... I was looking forward to that... Stupid girl" - the half-orc shakes his head.

"Next battle try to avoid and suicidal death from above attacks will you? Its not always easy to find good officers."

"Got it Cap" - the harsher words made him snap to a more attentive, less relaxed stance, accompanied by a frown.

"But I...WAIT...you think...I'm a good officer?"

Again smiling radiantly, Ashlei gives a fast salute to 'Captain Percy' and quickly gets back to work

"Aye-Aye Captain!"

And eye rolling.

Rhialla gets a hold of one of the crew skilled with maps, assigning him the task of making a copy of the one on the dead sorceress' back. Turning to Herzag she asks, "As good as you are with a knife, think you can take the original off her intact once he's done with the copy?"

"I can take care of that" - Herzag draws his dagger with a glint in his eyes, and crouches down next to the fallen woman, pondering - "And I am sure I can find someone below deck to clean and dry the skin" - he nods in approval.

This will be done out of sight and in private, once Herzag finds a suitable place for it.

----

"Listen up my lovely Scallywags You did well today, they sought to catch us unawares and yet they lie at the bottom of the deep and we stand here victorious. First chance we get, We will get the good rum, and every sailor can have one extra tot at night!"

He waited a moment then continued.

"For gallant actions on the deck in battle, Im awarding this spiked gauntlet to you Officer Ashlei "Burnout" Mamoud, and This one to you Officer Herzag. Let's give them a loud Huzzah!"

He was not expecting the recognition, but he welcomed it - "All in a day's work Cap" - he nodded at Percival after raising his fist at the HUZZAH! - "And you're not half bad either" - he bows shortly in complimenting Ash.

"And you're not half bad either" - he bows shortly in complimenting Ash.

Turning to the greenish half-orc, she nods and curtsies with an imaginary skirt and then smirks with a laughing twinkle in her eye.

"At least I didn't try to swim with her pet sharks."

We can assume that you all heal up before you set sail. There is enough gold and gems to bring you up to WBL for 6th level, Sadly there is nowhere to spend it

So we effectively each gain another 5500gp we can spend, but nowhere to spend it right now?

Herzag wrote:

"And you're not half bad either" - he bows shortly in complimenting Ash.

Turning to the greenish half-orc, she nods and curtsies with an imaginary skirt and then smirks with a laughing twinkle in her eye.

"At least I didn't try to swim with her pet sharks."

"I didn't try" - Herzag chuckles - "I actually did swim with them there for a second... Kind of..."

DMTFY wrote:

We can assume that you all heal up before you set sail. There is enough gold and gems to bring you up to WBL for 6th level, Sadly there is nowhere to spend it

So we effectively each gain another 5500gp we can spend, but nowhere to spend it right now?

Adding it to Herzag now :D

So we effectively each gain another 5500gp we can spend, but nowhere to spend it right now?

That is correct, though it seems you all are making a stop at the Unishawa islands before heading off to Mancatcher Cove

As Herzag goes below deck to begin his grisly work Randall will ask Rhialla to accompany him as he begins an inventory of the Thesher's cargo holds.

Falling in step alongside Randall, Rhialla boards the captive ship to inspect their well earned plunder. "Let's see what we've gotten ourselves shall we?"

Besides the cash and gems you recovered, there are 6 potions of water breathing. The thresher does have a catapult(standard) 6D6 damage

Herzag is methodic, initially shaking his head and mumbling something about what a waste it was to have such a beautiful woman kill herself, but quickly setting himself to the task ahead, cleaning the skin thoroughly before commencing, and slowly going step by step to make sure there are no mistakes in the task at hand, as he separates the skin from the back of its previous owner.

Not sure what I would need to roll DMTFY - some sort of Proffession? :D

In any case, Herzag is Taking 20 with this task.

Randall will set two details, one to move the catapult from the Thresher over to the Bounty and install it on the foredeck. The other detail will scour the island to gather stones big enough for the catapult.

Not sure what I would need to roll DMTFY - some sort of Proffession? In any case, Herzag is Taking 20 with this task.

@ Herzag: Usually skinning and curing anything is Survival. Making something out of it afterward is Craft(Leatherworking) normally. Although Profession (Leatherworking) is possible too I guess.

@Randall:I'm sure the castle would be happy to offer us catapult stones from their horde. They have tons of time sitting around waiting for peoiple to attack the castle to make/find more of them as needed. Also...we should get some grape-shot too. It does tons of damage to people and very little to the 'valuable' ships themselves!

@captain: That's one potion of Water Breathing for each of us if that is OK? Or would you prefer to just keep them stored on ship for various emergencies/needs?

I'm thinking having the potions distributed is more useful than stored on the ship since needing to breathe underwater isn't always planned.

While the other's prepare the ship, The captain would go ahead and head back to show quickly, to let his 'wife' know what his next move and plans were. After all if they were to be a business arrangement and partner she should be kept in the loop.

All that done he would head back to their ship, overseeing the other officers, talking amongst the crew and planning their next moves.

Incedently stopping by those nearby Unishawa islands and making diplomacy with them in a way slash shopping.

Should we leave the Thresher safely anchored here for now? It's a valuable sell item in itself, but only if we can sail it to a place to sell it. Unless you want to designate the Thresher as our second ship in your new 'fleet'...Commodore Percival? You would of course have to designate a captain and crew to run it for you under your flag. =)

I'm noting a new Potion of Water Breathing to my personal treasure list...unless somebody objects?

Not sure what I would need to roll DMTFY - some sort of Profession? :D

You know you could go all silence of the lambs on her and make a suit for yourself =)

Randall will set two details, one to move the catapult from the Thresher over to the Bounty and install it on the foredeck. The other detail will scour the island to gather stones big enough for the catapult.

Not a problem

While the other's prepare the ship, The captain would go ahead and head back to show quickly, to let his 'wife' know what his next move and plans were. After all if they were to be a business arrangement and partner she should be kept in the loop.

All that done he would head back to their ship, overseeing the other officers, talking amongst the crew and planning their next moves.
Incidently stopping by those nearby Unishawa islands and making diplomacy with them in a way slash shopping.

Just let me know when you are ready to set sail

I'd say anchor the Thresher here for now with the intention of making it the second in the fleet....unless we come across something better.

Herzag wrote:

Not sure what I would need to roll DMTFY - some sort of Profession? :D

You know you could go all silence of the lambs on her and make a suit for yourself =)

'She puts the lotion'

I'd say anchor the Thresher here for now with the intention of making it the second in the fleet....unless we come across something better.

Or put two ships out together? ;)

Ashlei, my thought was to keep the crew busy rather than sitting around waiting to see what sort of mischief they could get up to.

Spoil-sport! Besides...don't you think lugging catapult shot from the castle itself is hard and laborious enough? I'm just thinking about morale...which is important too!

I believe for now we can leave the thresher here, if only for a matter of manpower. im not sure exactly how many sailors or marines we have, but i dont think its enough for 2 crews....yet.
Once we rearm grab the catapult and do some light repairs its time to be off to those Unishiwa islands for a mini shopping spree, some recruiting, then off to mancatcher cove for some treasure hunting?

"Hoist the sails and set the course Mr. McNally! someone get ol'fishguts up and sober and tell him to make something fitting for a victorious crew!"

Let's move out!

"Move it swabs! You heard Captain No-Mercy-Percy! You want your cup of grog tonight? Then you better get a move on getting the Bounty ship-shape and heading out to open water as soon as possible!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Profession(Sailor): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Percy why don't you make 3 profession: sailor checks on our way to Genzai

Knowledge(Local): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

prof sailor 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
prof sailor 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
prof sailor 3: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Profession Sailor (aid: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20
Profession Sailor (aid: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35
Profession Sailor (aid: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

She just lets me play captain really, its good for my ego :P

Auto-pass on History.
Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20.

I'm repeating what's in the spoilers for everyone's reading pleasure.

Neela shares everything she knows about the Ushinawa Isles.

The Sublime Shogunate of Ushinawa was founded in the Ushinawa Isles by the samurai patriarch Tanagowu Useme nearly two centuries ago. Grown tired of the labyrinthine intrigues of Minkan politics, Useme led seven ships from Minkai to the Shackles on a journey halfway around the world. The fiercely independent samurai and his rowdy followers first set foot on what is now the largest of the Ushinawa Isles. The proud warriors fought the murderous kuru natives who populated the stony Ghol-Gani ruins that dotted the island. The bloody fighting lasted one month, and at the end every kuru was put to the sword.

The warriors and the Tian-Min sailors and servants who accompanied them established the new limestone town of Genzei, and within four years the nine other islands of the archipelago were similarly cleansed of their natives. The descendants of Useme have reigned these two centuries, though not without numerous challenges, as the arrogant and aggressive samurai offer their fealty only to the ruler who proves strongest.

The current Shogun is Tanagowu Heigo. All pirates who call Ushinawa Isles their home pay a hefty tribute to the Shogun, but otherwise the isles boast great independence.

Most inhabitants are descendants of the original Tian settlers but elves soured by the Witch-Queen Kaala of Kepre Dua have made a home in the Ushinawa Isles, appreciating the bold meritocracy of the shogunate. A large number of tengus retire from their seagoing life to live here, usually tending shops and taverns or working the docks. Ushinawa samurai scorn slavery and refuse to permit enslaved persons on the islands.

Though the islands have been cleansed of kuru and Ghol-Gani threats, adventurers still occasionally find entrances to deep dungeons. Most such sites are marked and sealed off immediately.

"So, we get to meet some Tian in the Shackles! Definitely not your ordinary island visit!"

"Sounds like a good time!" Rhialla says with a chuckle, "Always a pleasure to meet new people."

Leaning against the mast, Ashlei tosses a polished dagger in the air and easily catches it while speaking.

"Or steal from them! HA!"