#5-06 You Have What You Hold (Inactive)

Game Master TriShadow

Sadaf is glad the threat is over!

"You are a great team! Thanks for saving me Torku! I would have been down there in the ocean I think." the dwarf says.

He looks over at the halfling and the other pirates.

"I believe you are aware now that we are a force to be reckoned with. You all are our prisoners now and your life can be a bargaining chip. This is no threat. A fact. If you comply then luck might be on your side. Maybe even business luck! So speak. Why did you attack us? Who ordered you to attack? Where are the rest of your companions?" he says in a calm but unnerving tone.

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Makras looks around, mildly frustrated that he didn't get to hit anything. Seeing Sadaf talking to the prisoners, he heads over and starts speaking to them, spittle dripping into his beard. "Me kin ain't threatening you, and neither am I. Under the gaze of the Skeleton Moon, we're all going to die! I just like speeding up the process if I get a chance."

Intimidate (w/ Enhanced Diplomacy): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Vulpina chuckles nervously as she feels a chill in her spine. ”The benefits continue to outweigh the discomfort,” she says, eyeing Makras as she sheathes her blade and works on reloading her pistol for the next fight.

”Torku, your form was excellent. I have not worn a rapier in some time myself, but I am well versed in these matters—that lunge upon the orange-garbed one? Absolutely by the book, in the best of ways.”

"Thanks?" Torku mumbles as he waits for the warding magic on his blade to fade before sheathing it. "Um, good job for your admirable restraint in not killing them all before we could turn the dwarves loose on them?"

Doran sets about binding the pirates' hands, should one feel foolish and try to make an attempt to flee.

It would behoove you to answer truthfully...trust me.. he says menacingly as he checks their gear for anything useful or informative.

perc: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Melea passes by each body that isn't obviously dead, looking to keep them on this side of the Boneyard with stabilize. She then watches the exchange, bow at the ready. Hopefully it yields as much information on the pirates as it has for her comrades.

Vulpina chuckles. ”Had I not known you were sparing those you came up against, I would have been more careful myself.”

In a weird way, she seems to be expressing... trust? Respect, even???

Now that they have been bested, it seems the pirates have little real malice toward the team. The only one who holds out is the halfling. Whether it's because of her loyalty or due to the fact that you killed her companion is unclear.

Each pirate knows the base’s location as well as the prearranged signal (waving a torch in a specific pattern) exchanged by the sailors and anyone on guard duty.

Doran is able to find a map of the group’s ambush locations along the river, all connected by dotted lines to a hidden river branch marked by a drawing of a skull. It seems to confirm what they admit to under interrogation.

The question is, what are you going to do with them??

Doran also finds:
potion of cure light wounds (x3)
tanglefoot bag (x3)
leather armor (x3)
master work shotel (x3)
cestus (x3)
composite longbow (+2 Str) (x3)
60 arrows
flint and steel(x3)
50-ft. hemp rope with grappling hook (x3)
jug of beer (x3)
torches (x3)

Sadaf looks at the pirates.

"I would just knock them all out and then we take them back to the city for questioning and judgement by whatever authority the VC believes."

”If you want to lug their sorry asses through this jungle, that’s between you and your dinosaur,” Torku answers flatly. ”They’ll only weigh us down, maybe even try to get us all killed as revenge. Tie them up on the ship and let whoever finds them downstream deal with them - we have work to do.”

”I agree with Torku. I am not sure that dragging them about with us would be a good use of our time,” says Vulpina. ”Either tie them to their boat or ruin their boat and let them float until they reach a shore; either method should suffice.”

Agreed...I'm not lugging them around. Don't trust them at all. Let them wander down the river..maybe someone else who dislikes bandits will find them... Doran says with little humour as he ties them to their boat.

"So, when a good influence is around, you may follow their example? Better than the alternative, I suppose."

Melea has to think about the many factors that might befall these pirates. "The law isn't merciful back in Tymon, or so Captain Smine said. They needn't be doomed to the arena after so sound a defeat. We can let them float for now. If we see them on the way back, time wouldn't be an issue. You could go ahead to report while I scared them straight."

"Ha, yes! A leaky boat and left to the terrible mercies of the river. A fitting fate, the likes of which come to us all. Sink or swim, they say, and we all sink in the end!"

Makras feels he's having a beneficial effect on his allies' outlook towards life.

One of the friendlier pirates chuckles a bit. "You're not really thinking this through to well, are you? Look, as I said, you beat us fair and square. I got no problem with that. But I'd rather you just let me off on here. Hell, I'll even swim. Do that, and I'll tell ya what yer missin'. And of course, I'd tell ya first. I'll just trust you ta keep yer word. We got an accord?"

"You wanna swim? Okay." Makras kicks the man into the water.

Vulpina gives a distinctly unladylike snort and covers her mouth. ”I believe he was offering information, Mister Vekker!”

Melea gives Makras a look of utter confusion and some anger before slamming her bow to the deck. The aasimar then hurls herself over the side after the man.

With Bull Aspect so I'm less likely to drown.

Swim: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Hopefully she manages to save him (although she may have trouble returning to the boat). If so, she doesn't give him a moment's respite. "Elaborate. What exactly are we missing?"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

More withering glares might be reserved for some of her own team, especially if they object to the pirate's rescue.

Doran groans as the dwarf boots the man over the side. He drops his gear and is about to dive in when he sees Melea go after the man. He goes to the rail and prepares to dive in or hand her a rope, whichever is needed.

Melea dives in the water to save the man, nearly drowning as well for his efforts. After a bit of sputtering, the man eventually recovers enough to catch his breath. "Kicking a tied man overboard to find a watery grave? I guess you Pathfinders ain't so high and mighty after all. Good luck with yer attack. Hope you all croak." His disposition soured, the man no longer responds or interacts to any further questioning.

Looking over the map, Demeliah quickly determines the hidden tributary is about five miles away. "Two hours, maybe more given the current. We can be there this afternoon. Should have some daylight left as well."

How would you like to proceed?

sense motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

After what that knuckle head did, I don't blame you...he's a bit...different, if you know what I mean. Not all of us are crazy... Doran says as he fixes the dwarf with a withering stare.

"That's true," Melea admits. "But our Society does seem to employ a worrying amount of lunatics. Fortunately, my sentence has but a few more years left."

Sadaf just shakes his head.

“We are a formidable group indeed!“

:-D

*nudges a little C into Sadaf’s alignment*

Vulpina shakes her head. ”Very well, then. Let us be off, and leave these folk to their own means. We will take your weapons, of course, and then you may swim, as was your man’s suggestion. Untied first, this time,” she says with a glare at Kargar.

She proceeds to do so, unless stopped.

”Idiots. Both of you.” Torku, as usual, doesn’t bother hiding his opinions on Makras’s actions nor on the pirates’ decision to ambush their vessel. ”Don’t let him use the torch to pass the signal or he’ll finally meet the death he craves and take us all down with him.”

Makras manages to intuit that people are annoyed with him, but he can't quite figure out why. He also doesn't really care, and returns to his spot on the deck to snooze and idle away some hours until the apocalypse comes.

By late afternoon, Demeliah does indeed find the tributary and begins moving upstream. The river captain explains the West Sellen burst its banks several years ago and formed a bayou. Many land owners lacked the resources to drain the swampy land and so left behind many abandoned buildings. The excess water turned several streams and tributaries into more of a swamp.

According to the map, you are only a few turns away from the the pirate base of operations. She looks at you, "Am I letting you off in the bog, pulling straight up to their dock or do you have something else in mind?"

So, I will go with the Rule of 2 on this. What is the plan. I will go with the first two responses in agreement. In you next post, feel free to post any long term buffs.

Vulpina sighs. ”As convenient as it would be to have you drop us off straight upon their dock, I believe that would put you in more danger than you have bargained for,” she states.

”Especially since some of us would spoil the deception they can’t stop throwing people off boats.”

"From what I have heard from his lips, wading through a bog is not sufficient punishment for this one," Melea says with a sidelong glance at Makras. "But we'll endure. You have been unduly endangered enough."

I would avoid the dock...prying eyes might be around. We don't want you to suffer any retribution for what you've done for us. and thank you... Doran says as he snugs his pack on tightly and readies to trudge through the bog.

Trees still grow out of the swampy ground around the manor, providing plenty of cover for your approach 'overland'; however, the entire area is thick with flora and heavy, grasping mud. In the nearly hour long trek, a boot or two are threatened to be ripped from a foot as it is held fast in the ankle-deep mire. Land leading up to the manor is difficult terrain, and the sound made by feet entering and being pulled out of the sticky mud imposes a –2 penalty on Stealth checks.

The narrow hidden branch of the West Sellen swells to a wide expanse, bordered on one side by a high, forested islet. The other side of the river has no bank, for the water seeps into the ground and creates a broad wetland out of what were once low-lying fields. Cattails and grasses push through the surface and continue off into the distance. Declaring where river ends and marsh begins would involve either lucky guesswork or a surveyor’s eye.

Straddling the border between river and swamp are the remains of a sumptuous house, yet despite the facade’s once elegant style and trim, the place has seen better days. The paint is faded and peeling, blending in so well with a growth of mold that the place may as well have been originally painted murky graygreen. Vines and creepers are less overgrowing the place than they seem to be holding it together. Other parts of the building have fared less well, and toppled beams jutting from the swamp hint at other wings that didn’t survive the river’s encroachment. Stilts and a narrow boardwalk support what little remains, and a makeshift dock extends into the river proper.

You estimate you stand about a hundred feet away from the structure. The sun is low in the sky, nearing the treeline.

If you go now, there will be normal light. If you wait and hour, it will be nighttime, applying penalties for characters without low-light or dark vision.

So, go now, or wait for nighttime. Once again, the 'Rule of Two' takes it.

I think most of us have low-light or better; Doran’s the only one that I’m pretty sure doesn’t. I’m good with waiting!

I'm ok with waiting...i have an ioun torch I can use...

Under the cover of night, the team stalks forward.

Assuming you are trying for a quite approach, can I get Stealth checks with the previously mentioned -2 for the sticky mud.

Oh shoot, I never bothered to invest in Stealth. Let’s see how this goes...

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 2 = 18

Not bad!

Vulpina stalks through the night as the last embers of the sun’s light fizzle from the sky. She is careful with how she sets her feet, and managed to lessen the boggy schlorp when she withdraws her boots from the muck.

She’ll still need a wizard to get the mud out from the buckles, though.

stealth, untrained, i walk like an elephant: 1d20 + 2 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 - 4 - 2 = 9

Makras grunts loudly with every step.

STealth: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (12) - 3 = 9

stealth : 1d20 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 2 - 1 = 15

stealth : 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 2 = 14

Stealth, Mud: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 - 2 = 19

Torku's thoughts are a steady stream of words that would make a devil flustered, but his feet are at least lighter than most of his companions'.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 - 2 - 2 = 15

Melea isn't incredibly stealthy, but she doesn't seem concerned by the awful muck.

The slog is slow going toward the structure is slow going. The thick mud clings to everything it touches.

"Eh? Percy, you be hearin' thet?"

"Yeah. Don't sound like no gator. Someone's out there. Looky there, see that floatin' fire? Ring the bell."

Percy then knocks an arrow and fires it toward the Pathfinders. It disappears into the mud between Vulpina's boots. Meanwhile, his counterpart races to reach the bell by the door.

Brawl on the Bayou Round 1 Bold may post.

Melea
Doran
RED & YELLOW
Sadaf
Vulpina
Torku
Makras

Follow this link to the updated map.

The 'land' in GREEN is difficult terrain. The 'dock' is at normal terrain at ground level. The house is on stilts five feet (5') above the surface of the water/bog. There is a ladder from the dock to the deck of the house that is difficult terrain to climb five feet (5').

Melea's bow is in hand as she sends Galilah at Percy's friend. Even the leopard's fearsome speed isn't enough to knock him down, thanks to the bog. But hopefully it gives him something to think about.

Activating Bull Aspect. Galilah has to double move.

+1 Adaptive Longbow, CS: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 - 4 = 20
Nonlethal Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5

Doran hope up on to the deck and prepares to fend off any attacks.

regular move to get on the deck...standard action to go total defense...AC is 25 this round

Brawl on the Bayou Round 1 Bold may post.

Melea
Doran
RED & YELLOW
[b]Sadaf
Vulpina
Torku
Makras

Follow this link to the updated map.

The 'land' in GREEN is difficult terrain. The 'dock' is at normal terrain at ground level. The house is on stilts five feet (5') above the surface of the water/bog. There is a ladder from the dock to the deck of the house that is difficult terrain to climb five feet (5').

Makras trudges through the muck toward the dock, his boots squelching with every step.

Double move.

Squech-squech-squech-squech-squech-squech... Torku plods through the muck with supernatural speed, grateful for an excuse to get out of the mud sooner rather than later. His boots leave muddy footprints on the dock as he swiftly ascends the stairs to stand next to Percy with his rapier pointed threateningly at the man.

Swift action to use point of Focus to activate Sudden Speed, then double move (drawing weapon as part of movement).

A pair of Pathfinders move forward to join Doran and Galilah on the deck.

Brawl on the Bayou Round 1 Bold may post.

Melea
Doran
RED & YELLOW {Full hp | -5/?? hp}
Sadaf
Vulpina
Torku
Makras

Follow this link to the updated map.

The 'land' in GREEN is difficult terrain. The 'dock' is at normal terrain at ground level. The house is on stilts five feet (5') above the surface of the water/bog. There is a ladder from the dock to the deck of the house that is difficult terrain to climb five feet (5').

Sadaf moves forward and directs Danduun to attack the two men!

Double move.

Player Name:
Character Name:
PFS ID#:
Faction:
Progess (Standard or Slow):
Day Job Roll (if applicable):

Sounds fun, thanks for running! Makras is still Level 3 for the purposes of subtier calculations.

Player Name: Jhaeman
Character Name: Makras Vekker
PFS ID#: 238544-6
Faction: Grand Lodge
Progess (Standard or Slow): Standard
Day Job Roll (if applicable): Profession (Street Preacher): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Doran Therinor
125048-12
grand lodge
normal
no day job

Player Name: Hawthwile
Character Name: Torku
PFS ID#: 264524-18
Faction: Exchange
Progress (Standard or Slow): Standard
Day Job Roll (if applicable): Sleight of Hand, Boon: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 2 = 17

Thanks again!!

I just have a problem. Andor is actually already level 8 now that I checked the chronicle sheets so I can’t play him. Dana is now in another game because I thought I’ll play Andor. :-(

So I’ll have to bring another character. He’s a Dwarf Saurian Shaman. I have to level him up up 5. I’ll do that until Monday.

Player Name: noral
Character Name: Sadaf Kargar
PFS ID#: 314670-17
Faction: Exchange
Progess (Standard or Slow): Standard
Day Job Roll (if applicable): profession merchant take 10 for 25

Player Name: Crunch
Character Name: Melea Shemroe
PFS ID: 150618-40
Faction: Silver Crusade
Progess: Standard
Day Job Roll: Survival: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

Player Name: Vixie Moondew
Character Name: Lady Vulpina
PFS ID#: 222176-2
Faction: Sovereign Court
Progess (Standard or Slow): Standard
Day Job Roll (if applicable): Craft (alchemy): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Still need to level to 4th but can do so only on Wednesday. Sorry!

Not a problem. Not to spoil anything, but it does not look like we will start with a combat.

Very good! I’ll be there to Rpg!

Okay, so it looks like APL is 4.33, so we are playing down.

I have the link to the map, here. (Please let me know if it doesn't work).

If you could place icon/avatars and the relevant information, that would be awesome.

Y'know had I thought more about it, I'd have had Vulpina take Total Defense when the GM warned me she wasn't gonna have any luck with her readied action. Just in case some of 'em have longbows.

I'm sure it'll be fine.

I'm off to the coast for a mini-vacation--back in about three days. Please bot me by having Makras cast bane (DC 12) and then swinging his pick as needed (+5 attack, 1d6+4 damage). Thanks!

After a long period of shakiness, I'm pretty excited about where Vulpina's build is going! Next level, I get:

-Automatic reload via Shadowshooting
-An additional attack
-Expanded crit range with my wakizashi (15-20!!!)

Might grab Rapid Shot on my next level and bring me up to 4 attacks per turn, but haven't decided for sure yet :D

I've only ever had one other PC that was up in this level range before, and she's an illusion mage... getting to play with the damage numbers is fun!!

Just wondering how often you gun jams and/or gains the broken condition.

Thankfully, Quick Clear is a thing, but aside from that, Vulpina’s going to start going down the Mysterious Stranger route, which will allow her to ignore x misfires a day!

...eventually.

One of those situations where I want to lie my tail off, but my initiative roll wasn’t good enough to speak first—too shocked by the arrow that so nearly ruined my already-filthy boots. Prestidigitation and mending?!?

Oh, this dude’s getting supermurdered.

No objections here!

I thought you might have an opinion about his 'suggestion'. Who knows, maybe he wants to play a card game, like Go Fish or something.

He can play with the other guy Vulpina gutted and dropped in the river! She brings people together, that one :D

Fine, you could be right, only one way to find out! We'll try that on him after we've relieved him of the use of his legs.

Me: Lemme at 'im, lemme at 'im!!!
GM: Will Save, please.
Me: ............................................................OUTTA MY WAY I'M GOIN' FROG-HUNTING SUDDENLY

LOL

Sign I've been doing too much Paizo PbP: I just typed I (in brackets) and /I (in brackets) to put something in italics--in an e-mail.

You're not the only one guilty of this. Feel no shame.

Ha ha!!

I have never felt more like an old-timey musketeer than I have waiting for these guys to reach the 20 foot line.

“DON’T FIRE ‘TIL YOU CAN SEE THE WHITES OF THEIR EYES!!” indeed

Gonna laugh if they never actually make it to 20 ft. XD

This is an INCREASINGLY REAL CONCERN

Hey, I didn't make the terrain difficult, lol. They're struggling just to get as far as they have.

I'm going to start working on the chronicles. Might be a good time to use any rerolls for day jobs if you are so inclined.

Hooray!

And as for distance: hey, they got to about 15 feet! Admittedly, Vulpina had to step forward to make that happen—dragon pistols, y’see—but it’s better than 20!

I have most of the chronicles done and the game has been reported. Just waiting to see if anyone wants to reroll their day job. I will give it a few hours then post the link.

Do we have a plan for what's next?

SHADOWSHOOTING DRAGON PISTOL SHADOWSHOOTING DRAGON PISTOL SHADOWSHOOTING DRAGON PISTOL

.......other than that, no plans. :D

no firm plans for Doran...im up for anything

No plans here. I need to see if this brings Melea to 7, which will take a fair bit of digging.

If we're still going, I'd rather not GM next. I signed up as a GM for the special, and while it doesn't look like I'll have a legal table, who knows if it'll stay like that.

No plans here. I need to see if this brings Melea to 7, which will take a fair bit of digging.

I had forgotten that this also puts Vulpina at level 6, so now she’ll have the aforementioned gun, plus an additional attack per round, plus Swash Weapon Training for significantly more frequent crits!

It’s been a good 2 levels for the Vulp, I tell ya hwat.

too bad you can only do the special once...Doran did it...

Torku will also be level 6 after this (and another table that's on its final encounter). Not sure I can handle another table right away though - I'll be running a table of the PFS special as well and another scenario on the side for GameDay.

If there's nobody else with bandwidth either to run a game, I could start something with the understanding that it would be a very slow table (maybe posting every other day) until Gameday wraps up in November. That being said, I know that a slow pace can mean death for a PbP game as folks lose interest and stop posting. However, our characters know each other better than most now and can play off each other even when the GM isn't pushing things along. Is that a risk we want to take?

I don’t mind a slow table.

I am GMing three games during gameday so I also have limited bandwidth to GM. :/

It is really a lot of fun with this group!! :-D

I generally don’t GM PFS PbP, and my bandwidth is pretty thoroughly hosed these days (my wife hurt her back painting minis, so I’m doubled up on chores).

(my wife hurt her back painting minis, so I’m doubled up on chores)

How big were the friggen "minis"?

Torku, are you currently 5th? Your statline says 4th. I just need to know for the chronicle sheet.

I relayed that to her and she laughed!!

Anyway, it was a regular Bones figurine for our Human Sailor Rogue Roomie (who is Neutral Good and not in any way a pirate?!? Weird) but it involved a lot of bending forward, and she’s a big lady, so...

Currently lvl 4 - some GM credits waiting for him to hit lvl 5 before they can be applied.

Alright ladies and gentlemen, please review your Chronicle sheets and let me know if there are any errors.

Access locked!

Try it again and see if that did the trick.

Got it, and it looks good. Thanks for the highly-entertaining game!