[PFS2] GM Steinkrug's Grehunde's Gorget (Quest #3) (Inactive)

Game Master steinkrug

"They just capsize ships to build their homes? And no one does anything about this?! How unsavory. I mean, how would they like it if I went and jumbled their abode up to make my home there?!
Not that I would want to do anything like that."

Lusinel watches approvingly as Milady fastidiously cleans the mold away. When the danger is removed, she skips over to the wrecked ship. Seeing nothing of interest on the top deck, she'll peer down the openings to see what is below.

She sucks air through her teeth as Feldspar reveals there may be sea serpents about.

Barb follows Lusinel across, carefully looking around for anything of danger or interest.

Feldspar looks at the spears as if wondering why anyone would stick a blade on a perfectly functional staff, ties one of the crowbars to his backpack and makes his way carefully to the wrecked ship, looking toward the stern.

"We will have to talk up the pros of this watery grave if a serpent emerges," Kazikli mutters. "Duty aside, it could be too dangerous."

He continues his routine scan for magic, stopping to look for whatever effects he sees. If he can find a source, the half-orc asks for a moment to use Read Aura.

Milady clears away the mold and the group is able to safely board the Shoreseeker. There's nothing remarkable on deck so you proceed to the lower levels. You descend only part way before hitting water.

Wedged into a hole in the side of the Shoreseeker is the head of an enormous sea serpent. Clutched in its jaws is the body of an Ulfen man wearing an ornate gorget. An axe is firmly embedded in the side of the serpent’s head.

Reach the serpent's head will require swimming underwater. There's no check to Swim and you can reach it with one movement, but it will require 1 round of breath. You will need to Force Open the serpent's jaws which is an Athletics check and will require 2 rounds of breath. Without a crowbar or something similar, you'll take a -2 penalty to the Athletics check.

You can hold your breath for a number of rounds equal to 5 + your Constitution modifier. Drowning and Suffocation.

We'll go into Encounter Mode for the sake of tracking rounds, but everyone can act as there's no enemy at the moment. Since there's a chance that some PCs might not take an action, just let me know if that's the case.

Round 1

"This outcome could please his family, having died in impactful battle. Still, there's problems to fix." He turns to the strongest swimmer, likely Barb, and prepares to cast Air Bubble on whoever takes the plunge. "Go forth unburdened by water's weight."

Milady marvels at what she sees, and at the athletic prowess she is about to witness.
She looks around, to make sure no one surprises the group... she is ready to react and help.

Lusinel grins encouragingly at Barb and helps her get a crowbar out of her pack.

"Yeah, it looks cold, Shri. But that's no excuse."

Having assessed the situation, Barb readies a crowbar and herself, nods to Kazikli to indicate she is ready then as soon as the spell is in effect, carefully enters the water and heads to the body to retrieve the gorget. Before taking action, she looks around for any hazards or other dangers.

Pereception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"If you are really desperate I will swim down and help, but it isn't my strong suit by any stretch."

Feldspar keeps an eye out, but remains near the water ready to enter and help Barb should anything happen.

"I'm not the strongest, nor the strongest swimmer, but at least I don't have armor to drag me down."

In preparation, he will evict his familiar, Nugget, from his pack and untie the other crowbar in case it proves useful.

"I did not bring any towels... must bring towels and bathrobe next time.
So I cannot help."

Thanks very much for updating the map and adding the tokens. Much appreciated.

Thanks to Kazikli's spell (well done!), Barb is able to swim to the serpent's mouth without having to worry about drowning. Using the crowbar, she's able to pry open the serpent's jaws and retrieve the gorget. It's covered in moss, but otherwise looks fine.

Anything further you'd like to do on the Shoreseeker or will you head back to the Wandering Hearth?

Milady asks to be able to clean the gorget.
"Moss, moss, moss... moss everywhere! Cannot leave things dirty like this."

Milady has nothing else to do here, so will head back once all are ready to.

They all laughed when I took that spell! I may still retrain it, though, it has seen use.

Kazikli looks over the gorget for signs of magic out of idle curiosity. "We were asked to extricate Hlavard from whatever trouble befell him. But can it be done?" He turns to Barb. "It would be no small feat. How tight was the serpent's grip?"

Unless I'm misreading things and we have the man as well. And assuming he is Hlavard.

I believe we have the body as well.

Lusinel says, "Let's get this back to our ship."

"Agreed, lets go back."

"I never thought I would thing that this spartan ship without cabins would be something I would want to go back to, but... I agree."

If Barb saw nothing else of interest during her swim she is happy to return to the ship with the others.

"I wonder if there is any chance of a warm cup of something. Not my favourite swimming conditions but not the worst either."

She turns to Kazikli, "My thanks for your assistance. That is a valuable skill you possess. It made this task much easier."

"I am sure we can get you some tea!
You must be chilled, poor thing..."

You have the body as well. Sorry about the confusion.

The group crosses back to the Wandering Hearth with Hlavard's body and the gorget. Lusinel and Milady suddenly spot two creatures swimming toward the starboard side of the ship. They look like smaller version of the sea serpent whose jaw Barb just pried open. One shoots a waterspout at Barb, but it flies wide, and then it climbs aboard.

Waterspout: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Initiative - Round One
Serpent (Red)
Kazikli
Lusinel
Milady
Serpent (Green)
Feldspar
Barb
Ortho

Kazikli, Lusinel and Milady may act. Lusinel may start hidden from the serpents.

Kazikli nods back to Barb. "Of course. If only it was all-concealing, though. A piece of the magic to improve on."

When a fight breaks out, the half-orc tears a scroll from a hidden recess of his robe and chants from it to sow doubt in the big fish.

Fear on Red, DC 16 basic Will.

Lusinel lurks in the shadows, biding her time.

Delay until after Feldspar.

Note for all: you now have +1 attack & damage rolls, & saves vs. fear
Barb: you have +1 striking on your greataxe (stacks w. above)
________________________

Milady sees the sea serpents arrive and frowns.
She immediately bolsters her comrades' resolve:
"Now, people, time to show some manners here!
Back straight, no slouching!
That'll bring some civilized manners to these foul eels."
@ALL: +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects

And Milady's voice is suddenly very loud and clear, and she puts some power behind her words, that gives people a little chill in their spine: you will not forget what she said right away!
1 Focus Point spent for Lingering Performance. Free action to extend Inspire Courage.
DC is GM's choice, usually standard diff' DC of highest level enemy.
Performance, trained: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Critical Success The composition lasts 4 rounds.
Success The composition lasts 3 rounds.

Then Milady, scowling, starts waving her hands around, fingers pointed, calling out some occult words: "@#$%!"
Magical energies surge, as she touches Barb's great-axe: "Slice the eel in nice regular pieces. We can smoke it!"
@Barb: Your axe is now a +1 striking weapon, gaining a +1 item bonus to attack rolls and increasing the number of weapon damage dice to two (stacking w. Inspire Courage) ; lasts 10 rounds

"Now, let's get this foolishness over, we have to go make some tea!"

Actions: Inspire Courage (1 Action) + Lingering Performance (Free, 1 Focus Point) + Casting Magic Weapon (2 Actions)

Usual DC of Lingering Performance is the standard DC of the highest-level target of your composition. Inspire Courage targets the party members, so highest level is 2, i.e. DC 16.

So that's 3 rounds for Lingering Composition. Thanks for the help on the Lusinel.

Kaziki's spell seems to cause the serpent on deck to appear shaken. Milady bolsters the party and the barbarian's axe. The other serpent repeats the action of the first, shooting a waterspout and then climbing aboard. This spout targets Feldspar, but it misses as well, badly.

Waterspout: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Initiative - Round One
Serpent (Red) (Frightened 1)
Kazikli
Milady
Serpent (Green)
Feldspar
Lusinel
Barb
Ortho

Everyone but Kazikli and Milady may act.

Ortho advances forwars while Red and Green are distracted by Kazikli and Milady. He lobs a flask at GREEN!
Flask Target Green: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Barb feels the surge of power in her weapon. She is cold and wet and cranky, unable to hold to the good manners the generous bard has dictated.

The half-orc barbarian surges forward to the nearest threat, raising her axe and booming, "You deny me my tea!" She is clearly enraged.

The now sparkling greataxe swings at the serpent, cleaving into it. (hopefully)
Greataxe attack, raging, IC, MW: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 22 potential slashing damage: 2d12 + 6 ⇒ (5, 11) + 6 = 22

Actions: Rage, Stride, Strike

Coming off delay.
Lusinel draws her rapier, leaps from the shadows and impales Green.

Rapier attack with Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 = 30
Rapier damage with sneak attack, Inspire Courage: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + (4) + 1 = 13 (piercing)
Add this additional damage to the above number (double damage plus deadly d8) as that's a crit: 1d8 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20 (piercing)

Draw, move, stab

"Don't worry, Barb," she says cheerfully. "This will all be over in a few seconds."

"Great posture!"
Milady claps her hands.

Feldspar targets both creatures with Electric Arc.

DC17 reflex
arc damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Just realised I forgot to add the +1 damage from Inspire Courage. So, total slashing damage actually 23.

@Ortho - curious what type of flask and what type of damage? Any splash damage?

Bomber Goblin. Fire Flask. 1 persistant Fire damage, 1 splash (target square only due to bomber ability.

Ortho and Lusinel finish off one serpent while Barb and Feldspar kill the other.

Captain Vriggdahl makes ready to sail back to Iceferry, thanking the group for dispatching the serpents.

Barb looks around at the team,"Nice work everyone. Now, for that cup of tea, and some dry clothes."

"Now, that was quick work! Very nice."

Milady will make some tea for all.

The Wandering Hearth returns to Iceferry without incident.

Venture-Captain Torrsen is delighted by the your return of Hlavard’s body and the gorget.

“This will greatly please the Grenskuldrs. Thank you. I’ll make sure that you’re all on the list for a very special event coming up soon.”

Torrsen says nothing more about what this special event might be, though he does open up a nearby cabinet and take down an armful of vials. He says, “Let’s just say vials of lesser winter wolf elixir might come in handy.”

Vials can be purchased on the Chronicle sheets.

Milady will explain and narrate in great detail what happened, in her report for the Grand Lodge.

Downtime w. Performance
Performance, trained: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26