GM MattMorris Grotto of the Deluged God (Inactive)

Game Master ChesterCopperpot

"I'm not suggesting we attack them, in fact, I'd rather avoid violence if at all possible."

Matt, can I do a Knowledge Nature check to determine how much meat we'd need to distract them? If so,...

...Knowledge Nature on carnivorous crab swarms 1d20+8
->If I get any other questions, I'd like to know what kind of poison/disease they have as a rider on their damage

Just the swarm damage and distraction, no poison. It seems you could gather enough chunks of crab meat from the nearby pools to distract them long enough for you to pass by safely while they are eating.

While looking for hunks of crab meat, Elg finds three green tourmalines and a single sapphire. How lucky!

Auberon approves of this approach, and joins the search for crab meat to fling near the swarm.

Perception?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

looking down at what he has found in his hands,
"I have a good feeling about this"
he says with a smile.

"Ewwww, I would really rather not touch that"
Shalala pulls out an acid flask in case something goes south

You are able to successfully bypass the swarm of crabs by distracting with the bits of crab meet that litter the shallows. This allows you to safely approach the ship.

The ship is in reasonable condition, all things considered, except for the large hole gouged through its hull. A rope ladder hangs down from the deck, ending about three feet above the ground. It’s brittle, as if it’s been soaked and dried in the hot sun many times, but it is intact. Within the large hole, the hold appears dark and empty.

The water around the ship is shallow, allowing the you to reach the vessel without much trouble. The hole breached the side of the ship, not the front as one might expect if it had simply run aground on the reef. The location of the gash suggests that the Pride was swept sideways into the jutting coral. The ship is obviously too damaged to repair, even with spells such as mending or make whole. A visual inspection from the outside shows clearly that the ship has three levels, and it lists at a gentle grade, sloping down toward the great hole in the ship’s side.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

”Hmm It seems likely that survivors of the wreck unfurled the ladder and used it to escape. There are no lifeboats attached to the ship.

”Up the ladder or in the hole?”

"Given the questionable integrity of that ladder, I'd say we go in the hole."

With his bow back out, Elg is ready to follow his companions in.
Whatver our order was is cool with me.

"We'd be exposed to danger while climbing that ladder. Let's go in through the hole."

”Let the cleansing begin.”

You are able to enter the hole in the outside of the ship without a problem. The hold of the ship smells dank and briny, thick with algae and the bony remains of fish washed in by the tide. Ten small, sodden chests, each labeled, are in the aft of this small space. A short stairway leads upward.

I assume the horse is staying outside. Don't worry, crabs won't eat it.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Auberon begins looking through the chests.

Also, he'll use a ki point to give himself barkskin. Would have done that when we first got to the reef, so I assume 5-10 mins already expired.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Elg peers over Auberon’s shouder, but struggles to keep his mind off the gems that are already in his pocket

Pai will take ten for a 23 if that's OK

Pai will take ten for a 23 if that's OK

I'm always in favor of that. :)

do you tell us of the footsteps? Assuming yes.

Once notified of the 'company' above, Auberon moves to the stairs trying to do so quietly.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Elg follows suit

stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Pai moves to get a better view of the stairway, eschewing stealth after hearing El-G creaking the floorboards.

At the sound of your boots on the treads, the footsteps above you audibly pause. There is no movement on the stairway, and after a few heartbeats the quiet sounds of footsteps above you resumes.

El-G gives a silent nod to everyone clearly signaling that he is ready to head up the steps when everyone else is

Pai gestures for El G to lead the way

As you emerge onto the deck, your nose is assailed by the tell-tale stench of rotting flesh. Four figures, clad it rotting sailor's garb, shamble toward you.

~+~Combat Round 1~+~
El-G
Pai
Orange
Blue
Shalala
Auberon
Yellow
Red

El-G swift action Divine Favors himself then rapid shots at orange with blunt arrows in case it's skeletons under the ratty uniforms, before moving five feet.

attack1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 111d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
attack2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 151d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Can I do any knowledge check? If so, I'm assuming it's religion

Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

The orange and blue are zombie sailors. (Like zombies, but no DR.)Your first attack misses, second hits. (-7 Orange)

Knowledge religion 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

”Those other two are draugr. Nasty creatures. DR5/B or S. Resist fire 10.”

Pai casts Bless from his wand after moving to the stairs (so as to get El-G and the others in the effect.)

The drowned sailors advance on the party and attack, largely ineffectively.
Orange
Slam (vs El-g): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 forBludgeoning: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Blue
Slam (vs Auberon): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 forBludgeoning: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

~+~Combat Round 1 (cont.)~+~
El-G
Pai
Orange (-7)
Blue
Shalala
Auberon
Yellow
Red

Shalala begins singing a song about preparing a boat for a seafaring ball to inspire courage in her companions (+1)
Not wanting to drag her dress on the dirty deck she will stay where she is and pull out a long spear
without sir Pericles she has a 5 ft move sped right now. She definitely would have made one of you carry her up here

Auberon is going to unleash a flurry of blows with his sansetsukon on the undead in front of him, after assuming Dragon Style.

attack w/ inspire courage: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 1 = 14
B damage: 1d10 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 = 18

attack w/ inspire courage: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 1 = 24
B damage: 1d10 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 1 = 11

If I take blue down with the first attack by any chance, I'll use Flying Kick to use 2nd attack vs. yellow draugr. In that case the dmg would be less (or ironically more):

B damage: 1d8 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 1 = 15

Auberon's blow takes down the nearest undead and he leaps across the deck to slam into the draugr.

The undead creature lashes out with its greatsword in retaliation.
greatsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 for slashing: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 = 9.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the deck, a creature advances on El-g and slashes at him.
greatsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 for slashing: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 6) + 4 = 15.

~+~Combat Round 2~+~
El-G
Pai
Orange (-7)
Blue
Shalala
Auberon
Yellow (-15)
Red

Battlefield Conditions: Inspired Courage +1

El-G steps back and rapid shots at orange with blunt arrows.

attack1 Rapid shot with deadly aim, DF, and Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 141d8 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

attack2 Rapid shot with deadly aim, DF, and Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 181d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

El-g's first shot takes down the orange zombie, and hit second tears into the looming draugr.

Hope that's okay. First shot would have killed orange.

~+~Combat Round 2 (cont)~+~
El-G
Pai
Orange
Blue
Shalala
Auberon
Yellow (-15)
Red (-13)

Auberon keeps up the punishing swings of his sansetsukon on the adjacent draugr.

attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 1 = 31
damage: 1d10 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 1 = 15

attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 1 = 17
damage: 1d10 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 = 14

First attack would have taken down that draugr. I'll assume that you would flying kick the other one? I'll keep that attack roll, which is a hit.

unarmed strike: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9

Which a series of whirling blows from Auberon, the undead sailors fall.

Out of initiative.

Now that you have a moment to look around, you notice gouges in the deck and masts show signs of a struggle, though no corpses linger here and the only scent not carried away by the fierce wind is the briny stench of low tide. From the deck, the currents swirl away from the reef, churning white spray toward the high cliffs that make up the shore of distant Tempest Cay. The door in the aft bulkhead is barred from the outside in a makeshift fashion, with a single board resting in a bracket on each side of the doorway.

In gathering the objects off the undead, Auberon says a prayer to Irori for his fellow Pathfinders who suffered. He distributes the potions among the party.

Take 10 on Perception for 21

"Hmm . . . interesting. Take a look through here. See that cave on the shore? Might be where we should head next, after we see what is behind this aft bulkhead."

Auberon will call out first, "Ahoy! Anyone in there. We're Pathfinders!" He will wait a few heartbeats, but if no reply, he'll proceed to remove the board and open the door."

No one answers from within the room; when you open the door, you notice that, unlike other sections of the ship, there are few signs of damage in this room other than those obviously caused by water. A waterlogged corpse floats in a large pool of water in the corner of the room, wearing a uniform of rotting finery, apparently dead from a stab wound in the side. The waves have washed most of the blood from the floorboards, leaving only a faded, rust-colored stain. A thick, weather-beaten journal is tucked into the corpse’s coat.

You also notice a fine book decorated with silver clasps in the drawer of the captain’s desk: Sailing Through the Eye: a Theoretical Study of the World’s Largest Storm. It looks to be worth some money to a collector.

”the cave looks like the right place to head to me.”
no knowledges for me

Pai takes 10 on Knowledge Nature for an 18
”Look at these logs and navigational charts. The captain seems to have concluded that there were unusual currents pushing him here to his ruin, and what’s more, that someone or something was manipulating the Eye of Abendego itself.”

"Interesting. Maybe that someone or something is in that cave."
El-G's eyes are drawn back to the cave as he speaks.

Assuming everyone if okay with continuing to the cave. Let me know if there was anything that you wanted to do on the ship before you left.

The ship thoroughly explored, you are able to return to the swan boat without incident. Once you are out of the shallows that surround the reef, the currents sweep the boat toward the sea cave in the cliffs of Tempest Cay. It takes about 20 minutes to travel from the coral reef to the cave. As you draw closer, what appears to be natural, slanted brown rock resolves into wreck upon wreck. The ships that somehow skirted the coral shallows have been smashed to bits against the rocky cliffs themselves. It appears that your ship is small enough that it will be swept right into the cave itself.

The cave mouth is about 30 feet across and about 60 feet high. As you are drawn inside, the current does not cease. If anything, they are rougher: the same powerful force now operating within a smaller space. As your boat passes into the cavern, it is jostled from below! The deck heaves under your feet, fins, and hooves.

Ironically, everyone except Shalala is dumped into the drink! Unless you have some method of re-rolling or improving your Reflex saves. The current makes swimming difficult (requiring DC 18 Swim checks).

Once in the water, you see a hippocampus is the likely culprit! He is swimming just beneath the boat.

We are in rounds (because of the dangerous water) but you can act in whatever order you would like. The hippocampus seems more confused and tired than hostile.

MAP

Auberon will use alter self to become a gillman and gain a swim speed. alt race SLA

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

"There is a rider caught in a stirrup on this thing. I'll try to free him, but Shalala, I could use your help! Auberon dives under the water and moves towards the hippocampus.

seeing that Auberon likely has this under control, El-G attempts to get back to the boat

not sure if that's more of a swim check or a climb check, but I'm assuming it starts with a swim check to at least tread water

SWIMMING!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

El-G, spluttering and thrashing after being disoriented from the upheaval, starts sinking.

Perception1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Pai draws his wand of Monkeyfish (assuming that's alright) and casts it on himself before he goes under.

oh wait, do I get to make a second swim check on a full round action? if so...

SWIMMING!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

those near by can hear El-G splutter,
"so close"
as he "treads water" underwater

Perception 1d20+13

Pai draws his wand of Monkeyfish (assuming that's alright) and casts it on himself before he goes under.

Totally fine.

The hippocampus's rider looks to be bleeding from several lacerations and head wounds, likely caused by being dashed against the walls of the cavern.

Swim check 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5
Shalala shakes her head after being distracted :P
She dives into the water after hearing Auberon's request
"Right, I'm on it"
Taking 10 to swim she gets a 19
She heads over to Auberon and tries to calm the hipocampus down
[occ]Forgot to write it, but she actually has a rank in handle animal for sir pericles [/occ]
Handle Animal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
"Um, calm down horsey...
Apparently she is too worried about messing up her hair

Sir Pericles desperately tries to stay afloat
Swim: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"Neigh"

Swim check 1d20+5

You can take 10, I think, since you have a swim speed now.