To Live in Infamy - a Skull and Shackles AP

Game Master Nayr Trebrot

Jack, that is some funny horse s@%+. Your daddy a scholar or something?

Tap turns again to the great tree. ..but yes, no mercy. And we need a plan.

I could create a loud sound of some sort, and that might draw them out, or just warn them. I could perhaps conjur a sound that will mask our approach,and then burst in on them.

The sun will set soon. Let us find out now rather than later.

Tap scans around one more time, and begins to approach the tree while making use of what cover he can.
stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Fool!

Now don't freak out...... and don't stab at me, but I need your help

A disembodied voice sounds quietly very near to you, but about a foot and half above your head.

Are you with the boat I saw that just landed? Can we get the hell out of here and talk? Do you have friends with you? A pause follows. Do you have any food?

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Tap is startled..and more than a little disturbed. He takes a 5 foot step back and answers in a dry voice.

A great many are with us..and within earshot. Tap reaches down with his left hand and places it on the black signal horn hooked to his belt.

bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

KnowledgeHistory: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 What do I know about Slyphs?

Calm down now, little sir. I hope you're not lying about there being lots of you. This island is full of evil. Gryndilows, ghouls, insane pirates, and what ever in the 9 levels of Hell is in that tent. Please, I just was food and rest.

Rush holds up his hands in a harmless gesture for this entire exchange before remembering that he's invisible.

Here, I'll drop my weapon at your feet for you to carry. But let's get back amongst the trees before this wears off and I can be seen again.....that tent creeps me out.

And a short spear appears mid-drop and hits the ground at your feat.

Tacktack jumps onto Tap's shoulder, climbs his head, and sniffs. Apparently satisfied, Tacktack hops down to hang from Tap's packs.
Tap eyes the spear warily. beware gifts from invisible strangers

Yes, let's. Without picking up the dropped spear, Tap hurries back to Jack, Belliott, and Keruk.

Rush breathes a deep sigh of relief, picks up his spear, and "hurries" after the halfling man.

How many of you are there? DO you have any food with you? Have you fought the grindylows yet? What about Aaron Ivy? The ghouls? Why are you here anyway?.......About that food?

Rush stops himself when he realizes he's talking to fast and reminds himself that these people may not be trustworthy either. Just because they haven't tried to kill him yet doesn't mean that they won't.

Did slyph morph elf?

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
sensemotive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Quickly, Jack presses the point of his blade to the chest of the slelph.

Well, stranger, we've come upon each other at an opportune time. You are going to take a look inside that tent for us. Do not let yourself be seen. Now go! or die now by my hand.

intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Rush smirks as Jack points his blade in the wrong direction.
He drops his invisibility and says Nice try, friend. But I'm not interested in that tent. And the invisibility only works once. Now, you all seem wary, and I get that. But there is something very important to address first. DO YOU HAVE ANY FOOD?????

Rush is a tall (5'10"), bedraggled man. His hair is a light grey, but obviously not from age, and he is covered over with grime and dirt. His clothes and gear look like quality work, but are similarly dirty. His left leg is missing and replaced with a peg. Leather armor, a knife and spear, and ruck sack are all that he seems to have on him.

I would gladly trade my services, but my old man always said "Never work for free."

I suspect you need to make a roll on the intimidation bit.

Jack, I sent you a pm

Well Jack may well be right to approach you so. I look at that tent and I wonder, why would you go to it if you were not from it?

Taptap looks over to Jack and at a tent where we suspect ongoing canabalism. Your request for food turns the stomach. You must be hungry indeed to approach this tent in hope to find a bit of leg..still my Ma taught my brothers and I manners, and I am not all pirate yet. I am undecided of your fate.

Tap, without looking away, retrieves a chunk of dried fare, and hands the ration to Tacktack.

Tack, your stomach or his. You decide.

Tacktack's little hands grab the ration greedily before scampering back on top of Tap's back. From his perch, Tacktack peers at the man, sniffs, and raises the ration to his mouth——and breaks it in two. Tack flips off to the ground and holds up in a tiny hand a half portion.

Ho! Tacktack likes you! Share and share alike——he thinks we shall be comrades.

Tap looks at Jack and grins. Trust my monkey?

Rush gratefully takes any food offered to him, even going so far as to pat the monkey on the head.

Speaking around the food in his mouth, Let's be clear, I found the tent only moments before finding you lot. I was trying to get around it, saw some people landing from a rise about half a day back. Presume that was you all, but you've been pretty tight lipped....and kinda rude. He looks at Jack for that last bit.

You want to know what's in that tent? I'll tell you what's in there He stops, swallows his food and hastily drinks from his waterskin. Wipe his mouth with the back of his hand, he continues. My previous captain, the gods damn his soul, kept ghouls aboard the ship, used them as shock troops. During one attack, they got loose, we lost control of the ship, crashed into this place.

Rush looks at you pointedly. That's how they decorated their cage, that's what's in there. If you're missing friends are in there, they're either dead or turned......

He thinks for a minute. Your crew mates. They didn't happen to be a rather attractive human and a squat halfling, did they?

Could be. Jack grunts, non-committaly. Go on.

Rush steps a little away from Jack.

Y'all know what a grindylow is? Sea goblins, mama always called them. Like to pull people into the ocean and drown them slowly. Have all the sadism of their land bound cousins, and none of their love for fireworks. Saw a few of them escorting a pair from the rise I mentioned. What made me try to come and get help. If we can make it past this tent, and y'all promise me off this island....and food, more food, I'll take you to where I saw them.

Rush looks around at the group with an odd mix of suspicion and hope. Not really trusting them, he tries to sweeten the deal.

I'd be of good use on yer ship. I'm a weather wise, if you know what that is. If you don't, means I can predict the weather. And I'm good at it, too.

My home game will be starting in about an hour, so I'll be off until at least tomorrow

Well, he's like to follow us around no matter. Tap reasons with Jack. Yes, take us to where you think these two were taken. My name is Taptap.

Belliott has kept to himself throughout this all, deeply troubled by the workings of the ghouls.

I'm Belliott, and best I can say now is I hate this place. Oughta torch this island. Can you call lightning, weather-man? I'd give you a years rations for that. Don't think I could eat for a year anyhow

But if we're gonna be off to 'saving' and such, should we do that now?

If I recollect, we need to be back on the ship by tomorrow midday. The two captures shipmates are south of us, you say? Then we will need to move past this tent. Tap whispers.

Tap again looks at the tent. Ghouls eh? Nasty. I'd rather not mess with them. How do we get past?

Tap sits there thinking.

survival_ghouls: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

I've had to find my way around nasties before, I might know how

Ghouls? That's not good.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Kerruk has remained silent whilst the newcomer makes himself known. After much scrutiny, he finally breaks out his wide and rather uncanny smile and genuflects in the Sylph's direction.
Well met and timely, sir! I am Kerruk Gahar. If you can help us succour our friends, then I will gladly call you comrade.

And you will help us destroy Plugg and his lickspittles.

knowledge nature/arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 not sure if relevant areas

knowledge_nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 if this is relevant

Glad to meet you all. And no, I can't summon lightning..... yet. Rush looks thoughtful at this idea, and mumbles to himself But if I used this at the same time.....maybe I'd be able.....hmm, interesting thought....

Breaking out of his off track thoughts, he focuses on the group again. I am not a war wizard. so don,t expect things like that. most of my magics are geared towards making life on a ship easier; ant haul, mending, that sort of thing. I could summon some sort of distraction, but it wouldn't last for long, less than 30 seconds I'd say. Also, he points down to the peg leg on his left side, I am not fast

Looking at the setting sun and the ghastly bodies ripening on the tent, Tap had a worrisome thought.

If we manage to sneak by them now, what then? Watch our backs? It won't mean they don't find us while hunting for flesh later tonight, while our eyes are shut.

Tap looks over at the peg-legged man, So Rush. How many ghouls we are talking about? If it is just two or three and we set up right, they may be no problem.

Tap squints. A quick tally then. Which of us have ranged weapons? They are hard to see in this text's lighting.

Why don't we just light the tent on fire?

Captain only kept about 4, but that was when we wrecked here. Who knows how many of my former crew mates have been turned since then. I have a sling, but I'm not much for fighting with any of my weapons.

Nayr, you said the captain had "a pack", anything more specific?

Rush looks at Jack warily, and grudgingly responds. It's a good idea, I guess. Burn it down. Anyone who's in there who hasn't been turned yet is beyond our help by now.

I've one oil spell. This can help keep them from exiting the tent and encourage their burning. Also, I've two snag nets on me that might be of use. Oil for setting tent on fire. Tacktack could probably climb the tree and dump it on the tent for us.

Actually, you'd be pretty good up there with your missile weapon and spells.

much harder for me to get on top of that tree unnoticed than Tack.

look either we slip past and hope they don't hunt us down, or we kill them all now when we know where they are and have the initiative.

So we have a sling, my bow, any other spells or ranged devices to either keep them in the tent burning or shoot them before they reach us?

Hate to say it, but I actually agree with Jack. Let's settle this here and now, while surprise is on our side.

and let us hope that Rush is right and there are actually ghouls in that tent

I don't like the risk here, but I don't like ghouls at my back neither. I can stand with my ax by the entrance, but I don't want to get caught in the fire

Though you all have some knowledge of what ghouls are and how they hunt, little of it is of particular use in this situation. Their bites can cause the fever, which could kill you and turn you into one of their own. They typically hunt near graveyards for rotting or rotten flesh, but have great appetites for anything resembling meat.

Rush remembers that there were four whores and about half a dozen ghouls, but as he said, half of his former crew could have been turned for all he knew. The tent is big enough to hold at least six, if they're not piled upon each other.

Please let me know what each of you would like to do and include appropriate rolls for stealth as needed. If you're just hanging back and waiting to kill anything that comes out of the tent, no roll needed. If you're setting off the pyrotechnics, let me know how - may require an additional roll or two.

Presuming he's posting up by the entrance, I will cast magic weapon on Big Belliott's weapon. Then I'll take up a defensive stance a little behind him with my spear out so that I can quickly reach him to heal.

It is worth having second thoughts. Say 6 ghouls in that tent, and the 5 of us. What are our chances? Do we have a way to heal ourselves? Tap looks at Rush hopefully?

Let's vote.

I have no particular talents for confounding the Undead, nor do I have any magical healing, but I fear that these Ghouls are a threat that must be dealt with. I can certainly weaken one or two, all going well.

I say, we go an' kill that damnable captain of ours. But no, we attack these ghouls, I guess, or they'll sniff us out soon enough, we we're not looking.

Rush, how long have you been on this island? Where is there potable water? Would more food bolster your strength for this fight?

Not sure, Rush, are you under some kind of weakened condition at the moment for lack of food?

I can empathize with your hatred of a captain, and agree that the ghouls should be dealt with. I've suffered enough of them aboard the Infernus, I'll suffer no more now if, by Aroden, I can help it.
Rush reveals a much tarnished silver holy symbol of Aroden as he swears his commitment to the fight ahead.

I can heal, and Aroden willing, I'll keep you on your feet long enough for this fight to end, but my abilities are not that of a cleric, be warned. As to water, I make it myself. It is another indispensable way I make myself of value on any ship, producing an unlimited supply of clean drinking water.

I am not suffering from any conditions, that was all role play. And I have create water as a spell.

So be it. Let us arrange ourselves

Perhaps we can plan our approach on this map?

First and foremost, GM Nayr: Wt is your view on the flammability of grease from the grease spell?

I guess this is the plan we have:
1. Tacktack is going to climb above that tent and this flask of oil on it. 2. When ready. Tap will have wrapped a bit of his shirt cloth doused in oil around an arrow and he fire it (hopefully) onto the oil soaked tent. (anyway to cut the tent cloth so it falls?)
3. Tap will try to use the grease spell to keep ghouls prone in a burning tent.
4. The rest of us are going to bash ghouls as they come out, I guess.

Frankly its not a very good plan, and I'm not even sure that the fire will do any damage.

I will remain at a slight distance, the better to weaken the ghouls as they emerge. I don't want to be distracted. But I'll join you as soon I'm done. I can throw a spear, if need be.

If anyone is not ok with the arrangement on the map let me know.

Everyone being ready for their folly, Taptap nods at Tack who skampers away with vials of oil. He climbs the tree as nonchalantly as a monkey can be, and begins to pour it on the tent from high up in the tree. Tap has managed to bundle some soaked rag on an arrow, aims and fires it at the tent.
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Mind giving me a stealth roll for Tack?

shouldn't we be positioned closer to the tent first? otherwise i don't see how we get any initiative.

stealth for a monkey +8 size bonus +2 Dex +1 rank+3 class skill: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 3 = 24

how is being further away changing our initiative rolls. I assume that everyone has readied an action. Oh I see, because you failed to carry a ranged weapon, you want to be closer so you can get a surprise round / readied action on them?

I will probably want to be positioned closer for the same reason as jack. My suspicion is that I will want to be able to chop things up, and fast :)

As long as all works out, you'll get a surprise round - fire and grease, I'd assume. Then, everyone would ready their attacks, so would act immediately upon sight of a target. Your initiative would then set itself just before your target's.

Please discuss your potential character creation here. Use the following:

20 pt buy
2 traits (one campaign)
Core/base books, unless you really want something else - please just run it by me

Hi GM Nayr and everyone.

Thanks for the invite. I'm excited to play.

Just to be clear.
By base do you mean Adv Class, Adv Player, and Adv Race books?
I'm happy to do straight Core, being my first campaign.

I'm leaning toward a bard...but flexible on the class still if it doesn't work with the party...also I will need to read the players guide before settling in on anything.

Hey guys.
I haven't decided on a class yet, so I can just kinda go with the flow and make what we end up needing. If everyone else has the same attitude, then I'll just choose something so we can figure out our group make up.

Hi guys; welcome and thanks for the interest.

Yes, all Adv are fair game; I'd just rather steer clear of the 3rd party stuff that will make me learn all new rules.

A bard would be great for this! I'm sure the player's guide has some good direction for it; I have to go back in and refresh myself on the PG as well.

I think that our third may be making a monk. Our 4th isn't confirmed yet.

Hello!

Hello!
I'm looking forward to playing.

I was unclear with this AP. Do we start with any equipment?

Hey hammer, are you making a bard?

Yeah, I was thinking Sea Singer Bard variant. What do you think?

Yes and no; purchase equipment as you normally would. You just may not be able to keep it;)

So an unchained monk and a sea bard.
I've not decided on a bard build (archer,melee, ctrl focus). This will depend on the choices by our other players, maybe?

Still unsure about the unchained rules, but I'm digging into it. I'm still waiting for our 4th as well, so we'll see

I am happy to play a "standard" monk if you like Nayr?

I'll let you know; I think Im cool with it, just want to make sure we're all on an even keel...pun intended

Alright I'm gonna make a sorcerer I think.

Hi everyone...

so: Bard, Monk, Sorceror. That leaves me quite a few options, although I think I'll rule out Cleric for this one....

Animist Shaman, I think...

Hi MrApollinax! :)

Welcome MrA; sounds like a diverse group.

Actually, on reflection, a Garundi Shaman sans archetype, bonded to the Spirit of the Heavens, intoxicated by light and colour and all things sidereal and searching for ancient treasures...

Sweet, I like it! Though, I'm ashamed to admit that I had to look up sidereal. I'm thinking we get started this weekend or early next week; I'all start adding campaign info in a bit.

Yeah I'll have my sorc done soon. Most of it is done, just need to buy equipment I think. I'll finish it tonight hopefully and tomorrow I'll put everything on the alias.
He's a human/varisian sorcerer with fey bloodline and he's got a pretty good intimidate bonus.

I also hope to have everything finalised soon. Not much of a healbot, I'm afraid, more ivory tower mystic with a 'Do Not Disturb' sign hung above the door. Unwelcome visitors beware...

Is it OK if I have an Osprey as a Spirit Animal?

Durdrik: Fey bloodline=awesome. I was toying with that for the Carrion Crown AP.

It looked like one of the least confusing starting off, plus he can make people laugh so much they can't attack. That sounds fantastic.

Osprey works

Lol Durdrik; sounds good

I'm almost done with my fleetfooted (racial trait swap for normal movement) halfling sea singer ... archer build. I need to transfer it from my paper sheet into a profile.

At 2nd level sea singers get a familiar monkey...probably the same size as my char.

As far as equipment budget? Book rules or equal alottment?

Man, that'd be classic if you had a monkey

Max gold for your class please; that'll give you more equipment to lose

Is it okay to pick up an archetype for the unchained monk, or would you prefer if I took standard monk with an archetype?

Apologies Sara; I meant to respond about the unchained. Please feel free to use the unchained monk. I can't find anything in the rules that prohibit an unchained having an archetype, unless I'm missing it. So, I'm fine with that as well

Cool, thank you! :)

Of course, Sara:). Everyone please just post here when your characters are ready for me to review, and I'll give them a quick once over. I'm a bit busy this weekend - moving; but would still like to get this up and running by the beginning of the week.

My guy should be done.

Hiya Sork! A few things:
Please add spells - I think it's 4 0 level and 2 1st
Please add your bloodline power
Please add your perception bonus to skills, as we use that alot

Hi. I'm out camping and wireless has been spotty...and I'm typing everything with my phone.
Here is my Sea Bard TapTap.

Oops, let me change aliases.

OK. I'm still working on background. I just typed it out real quick on top of this hill where I get signal on my phone.

I need equipment (to lose), but I'm not sure I understand the procedure...just get whatever I can afford from any equipment list in the standard sets of manuals?

Is there a way to delete my campaign post so I don't show up ASA character in the campaign?

oh woops lol , I never wrote the spells in. I think I left perception off because it's a 0. I'm adding everything now.

ok it should be all there now. Laughing Touch from fey bloodline counts as a compulsion spell because it forces someones actions correct?

Hey Sork.
Profile doesn't seem to indicate race...did I miss it?

I can see why people play in person. I keep forgetting to write something from my actual character sheet to the alias

I believe that my Sea Bard is complete. Man..I wanted to play the Sea Singer bard, but the loss of Bardic Knowledge and Versatile Performance is gonna hurt skill-wise...Makes me think that a human sea singer might have mitigated this a bit. Ah well.

I took Cure Light Wounds..Would change if we have a better healer around.

I'm inexperienced at this game..will we do OK without a classic meathead fighter soaking up DMG?

Yeah; it'll be fine. A balanced party is best, but you guys have enough melee power to make it work.

Looking good Tap tap; I'll dig into it a bit more before we get started. This week got away from me

Sorry folks, I still have to buy equipment and write a background, although everything else is there. Should be done by tomorrow (NZ time)

I keep trying to make TapTap my default alias, but it keeps reverting to SubiculumHammer? Anyone know why?

nvr mind. Multiple logins (three computers) kept reverting the default I think.