There be lootin' to do - Skulls & Shackles

Game Master Spazmodeus

Edward casts pugwampi's grace on the thing.

DC 17 will to resist.

Jesal dives into the water, charging with his lightning bolt in front of him.

Charge to hit touch: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

As Edward's spell tries but fails to find purchase on the creature's slippery mind, Jesal dives into the water with his crackling trident and skewers your foe, which shrieks and twists in rage. Pateba shoves Abbie away from him. "Go! Get Rickety!"

ROUND FOUR!

With two heroes now in the water, it's Arhiel and Isaac's turns! Isaac, I'll need another Fort save from you (at the -2 penalty).

Tactical Map

Arhiel summons her dolphin and it slams into the foe (or tries to) from opposite Isaac.

to hit: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 2 = 24
dmg if hits: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

She immediately begins another spell...

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 - 2 = 10

I'm assuming that's bad.

Isaac feels unbelievable weak. He knows when to back out and to move away. He decides to swim for shore, hoping that he can get away from the creature's fangs and attacks.

Swim: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (10) + 19 = 29

Behold, new crew members! This is your Captain. A man with exceptional bad luck when it comes to Con damage. I hope that this thing can be taken out soon. This is just ridiculous.

ROUND FOUR (cont'd)

Isaac drags himself up onto the shore, nearly staggering, much weaker than he was before. Arhiel begins to cast another spell as her dolphin appears and lunges at the creature, but is just barely deflected by the shield. Although she's still being burned by the lingering acid, she grits her teeth and continues her work...

Meanwhile, in the water, the snake-creature has turned her attention to the dolphin and Jesal who surround her. Hissing in anger, she coils into herself and mutters something. Bright silver bolts of force shoot out of her mouth as she chants, two streaking into the dolphin, and two slamming into Jesal's chest with the force of hammer blows!

Isaac takes another 1 point of damage this round from the poison (so still only at a -2 penalty), while Arhiel takes 3 points of damage from the acid. The creature's missiles deal 7 points of force damage to Jesal and 8 to the dolphin, leaving the summoned creature with 7 hit points. Alabaster, Edward, and Jesal are up!

Tactical Map

Initiative
Arhiel, Isaac
Foe
Alabaster, Edward, and Jesal<----
Friendly NPCs

Edward yells some very bad words in aquan, and what they will do to it afterwards.
Involving a long metal harpoon, a bonfire and sushi.
Intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Third Fervor to cast Weapon of Awe as a Swift Action.

Alabaster grits his teeth, reloads, and fires again.
Cap'n! Ye alrigh'?!

Attack, Divine Favor, Magic Weapon, Weapon of Awe: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Thrashing in the water with a weapon forged of raw electricity, Jesal continues to assault the creature.

To hit Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

-Posted with Wayfinder

Edward's words in Aquan finally manage to catch your foe's attention, somewhat to everyone's surprise, as it turns toward the shore uncertainly. It's definitely distracted, though, when Isaac blasts it with his pistol, and its roars and hisses take on a sound suddenly more desperate than enraged. Only its shimmering shield of force saves it from Jesal's lightning trident that sizzles and evaporates the river water as he stabs at it. Pateba, recovered but seeing the situation as being bad, draws his only weapon--a dagger--and hurls it at the creature, but it splashes harmlessly into the water several feet wide of the thrashing coils.

ROUND FIVE

Isaac and Arhiel are up for the party; Isaac, you need another Fort save at -2.

Initiative
Arhiel, Isaac<----
Foe
Alabaster, Edward, Jesal
Friendly NPCs

Tactical Map

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 - 2 = 18

I'm assuming that's good. Also, I didn't know I had a pistol. :)

Isaac crawls onto the shore. When Alabaster calls to him, Isaac gasps out, "Been bit! Feelin' weak!" He then moves to the dock, hoping to put some distance and to attack soon.

Current hp: 10/21

Arhiel finishes her summons and an octopus appears next to the foe..

to hit, dolphin: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 2 = 25
dmg if hits: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Arhiel waits til after the octopus attacks, and if the creature is still alive, she takes a step forward and starts another summons.

to hit, octopus bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
dmg if hits: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Bite—injury; save Fort DC 15; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1 Str; cure 1 save.

to hit, octopus tentacle: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
grab attempt if tentacle hits, cmb vs foe cmd: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Shield prevents touch attacks? Isn't it just a shield bonus?

Jesal continues his attack

To hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

No, shield negates magic missiles and gives +4 shield AC, doesn't prevent touch.

I think he just meant you missed the AC Jesal, and if he hadn't had the shield spell up, then you would have hit.

If it's flavor text and I missed the overall touch AC, OK. But for a touch attack, shield doesn't make a difference. If he errantly added 4 to touch AC, I may have still hit

-Posted with Wayfinder

It's touch AC is 18 and its FF is 17.

Doesn't answer my question about erroneous shield inclusion

-Posted with Wayfinder

Gah, sorry about that--clearly some bad writing choices on my part. That was meant as flavor text only. The creature's natural touch AC is 18, the shield bonus is not being applied. I just felt silly writing "it writhes out of the way..." Sorry for the confusion, Jesal. :(

Also, damn my typos for giving Alabaster's glorious shot to Isaac. :P

ROUND FIVE (cont'd)

Isaac manages to clamber back on shore, though he's still feeling weak; Arhiel's spell completes as he does so, summoning an octopus next to the creature, and she begins another spell. Although the acid has eaten through patches of clothing and is burning into her bare flesh now, she continues chanting grimly. Her dolphin rears back and rams into the snake, chattering angrily as it bludgeons your foe. The octopus does its best, but can't quite land a blow...

For its part, the snake's eyes glow with an eerie light, and as it chants words in a strange tongue, you suddenly see a whole swarm of snakes surround your foe! They twist and writhe together as it swims toward the deeper part of the river, dodging between Arhiel's summoned dolphin and octopus. Jesal (moves, I'm assuming, then) stabs at the snake once more in vain. Your quarry is bleeding badly but still snarling and violent.

Alabaster and Edward are up for the party!

Initiative
Arhiel, Isaac
Foe
Alabaster, Edward, Jesal<---
Friendly NPCs

Tactical Map

If you have an AoE, now is the time to use it...

Seeing the snake suddenly sprout copies, Alabaster grimly stows his pistol in his belt and mutters
Aye, I be knowin' that one too, ye beast.

Then, he races down the dock to Isaac, and tries to heal the Captain.
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Edward interrupts his verse, letting one of the words become a sonic bullet.
This doesn't need an attack roll, amusingly enough.

Sonic dmg: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Devide by half vs creatures.

...Huh. Yeah, I guess I'll go with the "it works like a sonic magic missile" ruling since it doesn't need an attack roll and the 6th-level Soundstriker ability does, explicitly. Good choice!

ROUND SIX

Alabaster crouches down by Isaac to administer some much-needed divine attention, and Pateba just stands at the edge of the river, wringing his hands. Edward shapes one of his words into a sonic bullet that crashes over the creature, making it reel as it struggles through the water. It turns, desperate to swim away.

Arhiel and Isaac are up! Isaac, I do need another Fort save.

Initiative
Arhiel, Isaac<----
Foe
Alabaster, Edward, Jesal
Friendly NPCs

Tactical Map

Arhiel finishes her spell and steps into the water, hoping to wash away the acid and stop the damage... if it doesn't work, she swims out again and calls out to the others for aid. (I'm hoping she can do that much movement since falling prone is free and she does have a swim speed and finishing the spell is free, leaving her 2 move actions to complete all that)

Another octopus appears and all three summoned creatures swim after the foe, charging her (or one of her images)

dolphin to hit: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 = 19
dmg if hits: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

octopus to hit: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 = 19
dmg if hits: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 plus poison if hits

octopus to hit: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 2 = 25
dmg if hits: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 plus poison if hits

almost forgot these:

miss chance: 1d6 ⇒ 2 (not sure how many images she has, this is a guess, 1 hits her)

miss chance: 1d6 ⇒ 2 (not sure how many images she has, this is a guess, 1 hits her)

miss chance: 1d6 ⇒ 2 (not sure how many images she has, this is a guess, 1 hits her)

dammit, all so close

odds should change with each miss that hits an image, but I am assuming the 19's missed the ac with shield spell up, hence, didn't change the odds on those mirror image miss chances

Near misses ... within 5, count for taking out an image

Jesal will attack again using the flank.

To hit Touch: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

they do?

in that case:

miss chance: 1d5 ⇒ 4

miss chance: 1d4 ⇒ 1

if Jesal is right, AND the 19s are within 5 of hitting, then maybe the last hit actually hit? I don't know - up to you, Norv

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 - 2 = 13

Isaac takes a deep breath as Alabaster heals him. He looks to his First Mate. "Thank ye." He then looks at the creature and glares at it. He then runs at it, jumping off the dock. He lands in the water and swims to it. He uses Jesal to flank and swings his cutlass.

Swim: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 37

Attack (flanking): 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 2 = 31
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Sneak Attack Damage due to flanking: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Oh my. I think I may have this!

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 2 = 15
Extra Damage if confirmed: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Extra Sneak Attack Damage if confirmed: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

Miss Chance (if this is still needed) (if there are still 4 images because the octopus hit the real one): 1d4 ⇒ 2

Current hp: 21/21

Sadly the 19's aren't QUITE near misses...this is down to the wire!

ROUND SIX (cont'd)

Arhiel's creatures lunge forward--but only one of the octopuses manages to land a blow on what turns out to be one of the creature's mirages. It vanishes in a puff, and Isaac, still feeling weak, lunges into the water again. His blade comes down in a brutal slash that, nonetheless, doesn't quite manage to connect with the creature, instead destroying another image. The creature, clearly desperate, swims weakly away from its assailants, provoking a panoply of blows that still only manage to reduce its number of magical images...it's just too fast!

Isaac takes another 1 CON damage (which means you lose 4 more hp and are at a -3 on checks), while the creature swims away...which provokes a ton of attacks that by great bad luck (and its high AC) only manage to take out mirror images. It has 2 remaining.

EDIT: Jesal, Alabaster, and Edward are up!

Initiative
Arhiel, Isaac
Foe
Alabaster, Edward, Jesal<----
Friendly NPCs

Tactical Map

Edward starts another round of inspire.

Sorry for the delay...wanted to give Alabaster and Jesal a chance to post, then got swept up in things yesterday. I'll bot for now. One decent roll finishes this...

Seeing the creature start to swim slowly away, Jesal leaps through the water, fish-like, and catches the creature on the prongs of his crackling lightning trident! It shrieks and writhes, then goes limp as it loses conscious and begins to float limply in the current, bleeding out.

COMBAT OVER!

As you all catch your breath, Allie comes running back up, with Rickety hobbling along behind. "What the hell's goin' on here?!" he yelps. Seeing the creature, he scowls. "Blast it t'Besmara's coffer. One o' them water nagas, if I don' miss me guess...you lot seem t'have made short work of it, though!"

"They saved me, boss," Pateba says, still breathing hard. "I'd've been snake-food were it not for them."

"That so?" Rickety turns to you with a smile, then looks serious as he sees your wounds and Isaac's weakened state. "An' it looks like it were a real fight, too. Well, no one can say Rickety Hake ain't a grateful sort. I'll be givin' yeh a discount on yer squibbin', that's fer sure. 500 gold of it is on me. A skilled craftsman like Pateba's worth twice that, o' course, but I gotta have some profit margin, eh?" The old man winks and cackles.

Huzzah for the defeat of a fierce foe! Just need to know whether you guys are going to try to stabilize it, or move on.

If the naga is a fish, we'll have smoked delicay tonight. :D

"I'm glad that's over with" she says as her summoned creatures start to wink out of existence, one at a time.

"Water naga? Dey not bein evil. Dis one thinks it can bein saved. Bein a good recruit iffun da Captain be talkin smooth."

-Posted with Wayfinder

"That was rather something else."

Edward look slightly surprised at Jesal's suggestion.

"If they're not evil, why attack out of nowhere?
I don't see us invading the underwater turf here."

Alabaster sheathes his pistol and takes a place by Isaac's side.
Cap'n, we need to be gettin' ye fixed up...

"Mebbe they aren't all evil, but this one sure seems to've gone rogue," Rickety mutters darkly. "I got me a pact wit' them--I don't stray inland from 'ere, an' they leave us alone. Their damned work was what drove out the Sargavan what built that pile," he jerks his head toward the Commons.

"I'm afraid we ain't got much in th'way o' healers here, but c'mon back to th'Commons an' we'll get some soup inta ya. C'mon, lad. Up!" He helps Alabaster support Isaac as you all begin to make your way back to shelter.

Unless I see someone say specifically that they're going to do anything else with the naga, I'll assume that we can move the day forward...

Jesal looks to his Captain for a moment and then shrugs, and binds the creature's wounds.

Alabaster sheathes his pistol and takes a place by Isaac's side.

"Cap'n, we need to be gettin' ye fixed up..."

Isaac gasps as he's pulled out of the water. He looks to Alabaster and smiles tiredly. "Thank ye, Alabaster. It be doin' an numb'r on me."

"Water naga? Dey not bein evil. Dis one thinks it can bein saved. Bein a good recruit iffun da Captain be talkin smooth."

Isaac hears Jesal's suggestion and is taken aback by it. He then proceeds to think about it. He turns to the druid and nods. "Tak' it ou' o' th' wa'er. Heal it. We be doin' negotiations."

Edward look slightly surprised at Jesal's suggestion.

"If they're not evil, why attack out of nowhere?
I don't see us invading the underwater turf here."

Isaac shrugs. "Maybe it be its turf. Or it be distracted by th' activity on shor'. Th' only way to be knowin' is to ask it."

"Mebbe they aren't all evil, but this one sure seems to've gone rogue," Rickety mutters darkly. "I got me a pact wit' them--I don't stray inland from 'ere, an' they leave us alone. Their damned work was what drove out the Sargavan what built that pile," he jerks his head toward the Commons.

Isaac looks at Rickety in interest. "Now, tha' be interestin'. Ye hav' a pact wit' 'em? How did ye manag' th' negotiations?" He turns back to the naga. "Mayhaps, we can be helpin' it iffen it don't wan' to join us."

He waits until the naga is conscious. When it comes to, he says in a calm, diplomatic manner. He tries in both Common and Aquan. "Easy ther'. Th' figh' be o'er. We be meanin' ye no harm. We jus' wan' to talk. How did ye ge' here? Why did ye attac' us?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Start off with simple questions before we put the offer on the table.

Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Sorry fer tha shots... Jest tryin' ta protect me own, ye know?

"We were just defending the community here, we meant no animosity toward you personally. You did attack first. Can you tell us why you did so? It is my understanding that the town has an peaceful agreement with your kind. Wbat happened here seems a breach of that... An explanation would go a long way in your favor. We might be inclined to be agreeable to seeing such agreement restored, if it is warranted.. Please talk to us... "

diplomacy, not assisting but trying on her own to gain the creature's good side: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

(Assuming you provide it with healing) The creature comes to quickly, and rears back and hisses when Isaac and Alabaster speak to it. Arhiel, on the other hand, manages to get its attention when she speaks of the agreement, and the creature turns toward her. Its yellow, slit-pupiled eyes narrow, and it slithers toward her.

"It wassss not my intention to break any agreement with thisssss human here," the creature says, glancing toward Rickety. Although not exactly friendly, at least it's not trying to bite you any longer. "I wassssss...not thinking clearly when I came down the river. I had jussssst been...what would you ssssay?...invaded, and I ssssstruck at the first creature I ssssssaw." It glances at Pateba. "Although you sssssstopped me from doing sssssseriousssss harm, it would sssssssseem."

"Yes, luckily we were able to stop you from causing irreperable harm here. You say you were invaded? Someone or something attacked you magically? is that what you're saying? Is someone trying to break the agreement perhaps? Who or what might have done this to you?"

"As for the agreement with Rickety here... you will have to try to repair that by speaking with him directly, as it is his choice... But knowing that there was a third party that instigated your attack might be a deciding factor for him"

Content to let the others talk, Jesal sits back and smiles, thinking to himself.

An interesting turn of events. This group is very open and accepting to different perspectives. This bodes well for future success

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Not magically, not magically, no...or at least no more so than any among my kind usssse," the naga says, coiling about herself in clearly mounting fury. "A naga named Sssssselussssissss, my hated foe! The sssssummer hasss been ssssso hot, there isss lessss water to fill every sssssstream....and thussss our territoriesss sssshrink! And he, the worm, hassssss pusshed me out of mine! I will have hissss head!" She (for you're increasingly certain the naga is a she) lunges and snaps at the air a couple of times, eyes narrowed in fury.

I'm untrained in Knowledge (dungeoneering). So, I can't make that roll.

Isaac steps a bit closer, interested by the events. "So, this Selusis, aye? It be removin' ye from yer hom'? Wha' if we be helpin'? We can ge' rid o' him an' ge' yer stream back. An' iffen yer territory be too small by tha' poin', we can giv' ye anot'er of'er."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Bardic knowledge?: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Edward feels like something is prying at the back of his mind, but his inspiration isn't coming through.

The naga eyes Isaac warily. "I will kill Sssselusssisss ssssomeday myssself, that I ssssswear! ...But he would make ssshort work of you. What would you have in exchange? I know nothing in thissssss world isssss offered without pricccccce."

"Depends....., people could offer just for the sake of social satisfaction, companionship or decency."

Isaac nods. "I be agreein'. Iffen this naga be kickin' ye from yer hom', then we be helpin' ye ge' it back."