Yohoho and a bottle of Rep! (subSPUF Skull and Shackles)

Game Master Rynjin

"I guess you can say you are.....quivering with fear now~"

Ace remarks towards the bowman.

Lucy groans and retrieves her Falchion.

"This entire fight was... a trip."

Once Ixrul is done with whatever he's doing, Jrahk puts his Falchion against the bowman's neck.

"Now, tell us where town's wealth is kept."

[dice=Intimidate]d20+18

"...In the boats? Warehouses, maybe? I don't live here."

Ixrul looks around for one of the still-standing militiamen, and takes a lock of his hair, mumbling in draconic as he does so. "You look like you live here. Where should we be looking? And believe me, you don't want to lie to me."

He tells you the same thing. Cargo ships and warehouses.

In the confusion, it also appears Master Chen has gone missing.

I went back over the sheet and realized I forgot to factor in Haste into his AC. So Jrahk's attack (and subsequent Hurtful crit) never actually connected. But retconning the end of a fight is never fun, so let's say he took a dive. And maybe he'll be back some day. =)

Jrahk curses in Orcish.

"If Jrahk sees bald tripping man again, will cut off his head and carry it on belt. Use his shiny scalp to blind enemies."

He then sends some crew members to look for cargo ships, while he takes a group to look for the warehouses. If anyone tries to stop them, he will politely suggest that they stay away for their own safety.

The crew gathers everything of value and returns to the ship. Another 5 Plunder has been obtained, putting you at a net total of 10.

Though, in the fight(s) you lost 7 crew members. Some recruitment might be in order next time you're in port.

I thin Chen is very dead - his sense motive roll of 24 was used as his AC, and is unaffected by dodge bonuses. Haste doesn't boost sense motive checks.

Anyways, are we going for freecaptainhood?

No, I mean I didn't factor Haste into his AC in the first place, meaning the attack would have missed (meaning he would not have used Snake Style to attempt to MAKE it miss). Besides, he was only at -1 anyway.

Ah, OK. Plus, I just noticed snake style says "you CAN use the result", so that makes it better than I thought.

Snake Style is my favorite Style. It's so versatile, both defensively and offensively.

but pummeling charge

Pummeling Charge is nice, but it's strictly a one-trick pony. Damn good trick, but you've seen what Snake Style can do here. He was able to Disarm (thus halving, or more the damage output of the character), Trip (doing even more harm to the damage potential), and damage a character WHEN IT WASN'T EVEN HIS TURN. A more damage based character could have outright killed Lucy with those three AoOs, and then turned around and full attacked Jrahk on his own turn.

True... and soon Sledge will have both.

"I think it's high time we applied to become Free Captains."

Ixrul will recall everything he knows about the process of becoming a Free Captain. Take 10 for 21, should suffice - hits the know hidden organization, rulers, and locations.

I assume honor among thieves takes affect and we should not attack other pirate, and they should not attack us?

Aspiring Free Captains must go before the Pirate's Council to petition to join them. They must have a large amount of plunder at their disposal, as well as their own ship and crew to fulfill the primary criteria.

Once in Port Peril, you must arrange an audience with the Hurricane King, Kerdak Bonefist. To do so you must send a message to Fort Hazard (the Hurricane King's stronghold) and a bribe of four thousand gold, of the equivalent in Plundered goods.

Then, they must pass three tests. The tests vary depending on the King's mood, but they will always be tests of your skill as pirates. How well you can handle yourself in a fight, navigate a boat, or tests of your luck and skill in other ways.

Should you pass, you will receive a letter of marque recognizing you as "official" pirates of the Shackles. You are then protected from harm by the other Free Captains under pain of their death, and as are they protected from predation by you.

Jrahk grunts disapprovingly.

"'Free Captains' not sound free at all. Thought we were done with taking orders."

He looks at his mechanical leg, and thinks quietly for a moment.

"Though...many strong captains on Inner Sea. Perhaps stronger than Gortus. This maybe stop them from taking Jrahk's other limbs."

"It sounds fine, but I really can't believe that anyone named Hurricane King is anything but an a%~$%@+. As long as someone else deals with him, I'm okay with it."

Well, his TITLE is Hurricane King. His NAME is Kerdak Bonefist. Your call on whether that's any better.

Jrahk considers changing his last name to Demonclaw or something similarly cheesy.

Like "Lacertus"?

Obviously it's Lasertusk or Razortusk now for simplicity.

"Then we know where we're heading next."

I have a few spells I'd like to purchase, so if we can stop by a port on the way that'd be nice.

You mean like Port Peril, the place you always stop at and are currently headed to to become Free Captains?

Depends. Does it carry third-level spells?

Yes.

Ixrul purchases Euphoric Cloud (20 GP), Cleromancy (45 GP), Scrying (80 GP), and Shadow Projection (80 GP).

EUPHORIA!

Serious question: what do you suggest we get to improve our defenses/tanking abilities?

I'll post some stuff in the discussion section in a sec.

Lesee:

Ace: Upgrade to a Mithral Chain Shirt, man. That's 2 free AC for 1100 gp. Make that +3 AC for another 1000. Jack up your cloak of resistance too. +2, even +3 at this level is reasonable. But for the most part? You're the best built character here as far as balancing offense and defense. If the dice didn't hate your guts (and you were a bit more aggressive in how you use your abilities) you'd probably be carrying this party. You could do with casting a few more defensive spells as well. Mirror Image is like...+50 AC. Or better.

Ixrul: Pass around a few more buffs, when you can. Prioritizing Lucy, then Jrahk, then Ace after yourself, probably.

Jrahk: ...Label your shit better. I've been treating your AC as 17 this whole time because your quickbar goes "AC: 21 (-4)". But I just noticed your character sheet says your AC is 21 AFTER the decrease from Size and Rage. Which should only be -3 AC, not -4. Though it'll drop by a further -2 next level. A Ring of Protection and an upgraded Cloak of Resistance wouldn't go bad either. Spells-wise, Shield would help, as would Mirror Image, and False Life (you've got some really good buff spells).

Lucy: Upgraded Cloak, Ring of Protection, Amulet of Natural Armor. Basic Big 6 stuff. That's +2 AC and +1 saves for fairly cheap.

Everyone: Upgrade your armor, think about grabbing a Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier (+1 Luck to AC and can negate a Crit once per day).

Use better tactics. I can't really help you with that one becaue it mostly comes with experience.

Mind you, the encounters straight from the AP won't be as difficult, but the ones I design myself certainly will be, and since half this AP is "I dunno, make it up", there'll be a few.

Let's try and keep all the defensive/gear/tactics upgrades to the discussion thread, as they tend to be pretty long. Plus, none of this is super possible right now because we can't sell any of our plunder until we do the entry exam.

Ixrul will also purchase Blur (20 GP).

Jrahk buys a Battle Mask (50 gp) and a Wand of Shield (750 gp).

We sell loot now.
He begins bringing all prospective investors up to speed on his organization's projected bottom line, vis-a-vis the hostile application of aggressive limb-relocating procedures.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38

You can't sell your Plunder yet.

You need to send 4 of it as a bribe to the Hurricane King. Just waiting on you guys to say you're ready to get on with that.

Can I save that roll at least? :[

Sure.

Yeah, just join the king's klub for kool kids and get it on.

Let's do this.

Ixrul sends the bribe off and makes the necessary arrangements.

The morning after you send the message, a half-orc meets you at the docks, with a large entourage of other pirates. He calls up to the deck of your ship.

"I am Tsadok Goldtooth, first mate of Kerdak Bonefist, the Hurricane King. I hear you think you're good enough to join the Free Captains?" at this last bit he smiles showing off two tusks which shimmer gold in the light. His cronies chuckle in response.

Jrahk grins back, showing off his own bloodstained tusks. He ponders the fact that this half-orc must not have tasted blood recently if his tusks are that clean.

"More than good enough."

"Well then, we're going to have you prove it. Truth be told, usually people get on with a sponsor, but as you have none, you have to take the Tests. That is, if you want to get your letter of marque."

"This is a grand opportunity for you! If you prove your worth you can say you truly EARNED a spot on the Council. Or, as is more likely, you'll lose and come crawling back to your ship with your tail between your legs like the little pretend pirates you are."

His cronies laugh again At least, some of them do. The others don't seem to fond of the loud mouthed half-orc.

This guy stinks of idiocy.

"We are ready."

Ace, prep utility spells, be ready for combat.

Ixrul casts False Life and Mage Armor when he gets up in the morning.

1d10 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

"So who's the captain then? The big fella with the greasy hair, or the scrawny pointy ear?"

"The pure-blood, of course."

Jrahk steps forward.

"I am Captain Jrahk Razortusk. Elf is Ixrul Morcrom, my...first mate." He shudders slightly as he says this.

"Ah. Obviously not a crew that operates on its brains then."

"So. You. Read-y. To. Get. Started?" he says, enunciating very slowly for Jrahk's benefit.