GM Tyranius (PF2) Sundered Waves (Inactive)

Game Master Tyranius

I don't think I'm gonna get free, guys. The dice just aren't rolling my way.

Jadren has no other choice but to try and free himself. He touches his chest once to fill himself with healing energy (18 hp healed) and then struggles against the gaff buried in his torso.

♦ Athletics vs Grab DC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
♦ Athletics vs Grab DC: 1d20 + 13 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 13 - 5 = 18
♦ Athletics vs Grab DC: 1d20 + 13 - 10 ⇒ (12) + 13 - 10 = 15

Welp. It was nice knowing y'all.

Kaako is getting seriously discouraged by what she's seeing. Watching Jadren flailing ineffectually to free himself was horrifying, mainly because she knew it was only a matter of time before it was her on the hook. Without Jadren in there swinging his sword and distracting the skeleton, there was no way they were going to take this big guy down. There had to be something she could do to free the man and put him in the fight.

Seeing no other choice, Kaako opens her left hand and drops the club; it was going to be useless in this fight.

Action 0 (◇): Release - Drops club in left hand

She then takes off and races toward the skeleton as fast as her bird-like feet can carry her.

Action 1 (◆): Stride (25 feet)

Without slowing, she screams, "Skraaaaaa!" as she slams her left shoulder into the skeleton and heaves with all the force her tengu body can generate. She hopes it is enough to shove the creature away from the hooked champion and thereby freeing the poor man from the gaff.

Action 2 (◆): Shove - vs Skeleton
Athletics (Shove): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 vs Skeleton Fortitude DC

Knowing that there is little more that she can do to help, Kaako once again retreats behind her pillar and takes cover.

Action 3 (◆): Stride (25 feet)

The description of the Grab ability of monsters states that "...the Grab ends for a grabbed creatures [sic] if the monster moves away from it." Assuming that the Shove worked (ie. please let the skeleton's Fortitude be < +20), then I have placed an arrow whose start point is the square in which Kaako was standing when she did the Shove. Ideally, Kaako would like to shove the skeleton back 5ft diagonally in the direction the arrow is pointing, but if that isn't allowed, then pushing it directly east (or through the center of the skeleton) should work too. Either way it should qualify as moving away from Jadren and removing his grabbed condition. Fingers crossed.

Elsir waves an illusion over Jadren as he makes hi vanish momentarily.

Claw 1 Concealment Check DC 5: 1d20 ⇒ 20
Claw 2 Concealment Check DC 5: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Kaako decides to make a move. Dropping her club she rushes near Jadren before digging her talons into the floor to stop. using the momentum Kaako leaps at the skeleton, putting everything she has into the blow. Her body smashes hard into the giant's knee as it pushes the skeleton back. Jadren is free as the gaff rips across his skin. He gasps in pain, clutching his side as he tries to catch his breath. Jadren is freed.[ooc]

Elsir keeps the giant from advancing further as he peppers it with magical missiles. Lavana fires her own ray of positive energy into the skeleton's chest. The white light hits the bones and spatters across it like flames.

Fort Save 21: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26

[ooc]@Jadren- Since you are freed you can redo your actions.

Round 3
Lavanna (61/61)
Jadren (18/73; Minor Sturdy Shield 62/64)
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Skeleton (-21)
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Round 2
Kaako (61/61)
Elsir (41/41)

Thanks! The shield is toast, btw, it's at 18 hp and broken, so Jadren dropped it.

Free of its grip--for now--Jadren weighs his options for a split second, then decides to draw his blade instead of the gaff. He's better with it and it's magical; he only hopes that's enough to bypass its unnatural defenses and hurt this damned thing. Blade raised, he whispers a prayer to the Inheritor to guide his arm and hurls himself at the fiend, banking left to (finally!) get a flank for Kaako.

♦ Draw +1 striking longsword.
♦♦ Unexpected Charge: Stride up to twice, then Strike.

Sword vs Pirate Skelly: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31
Slashing Dmg: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 8) + 4 = 19

Jadren's sword breaks off one of the smaller rib bones as he rushes back into the fray.

Gaff Hook vs Jadren AC 25: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (9) + 20 = 29
Damage (Piercing): 2d10 + 10 ⇒ (6, 2) + 10 = 18

The gaff swings around and clubs Jadren across the side of his head, knocking him unconscious in a hurry. With Jadren unconscious the skeleton descends the stairs, looking for a worthy prey. From the throne Cawlo "Aye, Aye...That's not good." as he shakes his beak back and forth.

Round 4
Lavanna (61/61)
Jadren (0/73; Dying 1)
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Skeleton (-35)
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Round 3
Kaako (61/61)
Elsir (41/41)

Elsir casts magic missile with two actions, making sure the skeleton sees him cast it.

"Hey, ugly - over here."

Force: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 1) + 2 = 7

Then Elsir steps behind the column, hiding his entire body - save for one finger.

Lavanna screams in horror as her dashing Jadren loses consciousness. As much as she wants to help take the beast down, she must try to revive our champion. She moves within range and casts a 2-action Heal.

Heal (3rd level): 3d10 + 24 ⇒ (7, 6, 9) + 24 = 46
Note: Healing Hands provides d10's instead of d8's.

She calls out to him, "Now get back in there. And for Gozreh's sake, do try to dodge occasionally."

Actions: Stride, 2-action Heal

Elsir continues to pelt the skeleton with magical missiles, trying to draw its attention to himself while Lavanna works on getting Jadren back on his feet.

Round 4
Lavanna (61/61)
Jadren 46/73; Wounded 1)
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Skeleton (-42)
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Round 3
Kaako (61/61)
Elsir (41/41)

Jadren staggers to his feet woozily, then rushes forward again to continue taking this thing on.

♦ Stand from prone.
♦♦ Unexpected Charge. Stride up to twice and Strike. (That should give me enough movement to reach it with the stairs being difficult terrain.)

+1 Striking Longsword vs Skelly: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21
Slash Dmg: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 8) + 4 = 19

Here's hoping I can survive at least one more hit.

Kaako's mood rises as she watches Jadren get free of the gaff and then hack a chunk off the skeleton; then it plummets as the skeleton smacks him unconscious; only to soar again like a phoenix when Lavanna heals him and he gets back into the fight.

Now that the big guy's attention was on their champion, it gave Kaako the opportunity to catch the boney bugger by surprise. Seeing her opening, Kaako quickly slides up behind the skeleton...

Action 1 (◆): Stride (25 feet)

... and emits such an ear-piercing shriek that even the dead would cringe from it in fear. "Krraaaaaawwwwwwwkk!! Time to die odokkkurrrrroooooo!"

Action 2 (◆): Demoralize - vs Skeleton
Intimidation (Demoralize): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 vs Skeleton Will DC

I suspect that much like most skeletons, this one is mindless, but Kaako doesn't know that, and she needs all the help she can get to make her next blow count. Plus, the possibility of a giant pirate skeleton cringing from a screeching bird-woman is too good to pass up.

With the adrenaline of her scream still beating in her ears, Kaako once again slams her rapier between the same two vertebrae she targeted previously, hoping to widen the cracks she'd created earlier.

Action 3 (◆): Strike (Rapier) vs Skeleton.

+1 Striking Rapier: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32 vs flat-footed Skeleton
+1 Striking Rapier Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 4 = 10 piercing damage

Target is finally flat-footed, so add Sneak Attack damage
Rogue Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9 precision piercing damage

Unless my math is off, that should be a crit with the -4 from flat-footed. If so, then double the above damage and add Deadly 1d8 damage
Rapier Deadly D8: 1d8 ⇒ 1 piercing damage

Note: If a crit, then Kaako's Weapon Tricks ability means that the critical specialization of the Rapier takes effect, making the target flat-footed to everyone until the start of Kaako's next turn.

Note: If a crit, then Kaako's Unbalancing Blow feat, makes the target flat-footed to Kaako's attacks until the end of Kaako's next turn.

@Jadren- You don't have enough actions to attack this round, but you do have enough to get into that flanking position. ◆ Stand up ◆ Pick up longsword ◆ Stride

The skeleton doesn't react to Kaako's screeching in the slightest Mindless Jadren and Kaako rush the skeleton from either side to try and drop it quickly. Kaako's precise strike finds a weak point in one of the joints as she drives it in further and further.

The skeleton turns to Kaako and tries to brain her with the gaff as it swings downward where she stands.

Gaff Hook vs Kaako AC 22: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31
Damage: 2d10 + 10 ⇒ (7, 10) + 10 = 27

Gaff Hook vs Kaako AC 22: 1d20 + 20 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 20 - 5 = 35
Damage: 2d10 + 10 ⇒ (9, 10) + 10 = 29 Crit for 58 + Grab

The first strike crushes Kaako's wing as the second smacks hard into her face, cracking her beak and dropping her to the ground instantly.

Round 5
Lavanna (61/61)
Jadren 46/73; Wounded 1)
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Skeleton (-76)
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Round 4
Kaako (0/61; Dying 2; Prone; Unconscious)
Elsir (41/41)

Elsir is disappointed, but relieved, that the skeleton didn't come after him. He steps back and casts the biggest hydraulic push he can muster.

Hydraulic Push, 3rd: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21 vs FF
Bludgeoning: 3d6 + 2d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 6) + (3, 2) + (6, 3) = 25 plus 5' push

Argh ... I think I can Hero Point that after finding out whether it hits or not.

Actually if I have to pick up the longsword, then I don't have enough actions. It required a double move to get into melee with the skeleton because the stairs are difficult terrain. I'll leave the longsword behind and draw the gaff next turn.

Not sure it would do much damage, but if Jadren didn't have his sword, he could have attacked with his fists, right? Which wouldn't be subject to the slashing/piercing resistances. Every little bit helps!

Lavanna is tired of seeing her friends go down. Even though she knows her friend can't hear her, she says, "Forgive my delay, Kaako, but while you've provided a flatfoot opportunity, I must try to take advantage. I promise I'll get to you next turn." With that she gestures and casts Searing Light and hopes for the best.

Searing Light: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31 vs. flatfoot
Fire Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 3, 3, 2) = 16
Good Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 3, 2, 4) = 16
Nice! Crit should double the above numbers, and maybe Weakness to 'good'? One can only hope.

She then draws her Wand of Heal.

When Kaako's rapier hit home, she knew what was coming next. Having seen the skeleton toss Jadren about like he was nothing more than a tin soldier, she didn't have any illusions about being able to stand long against its wrath once it was directed at her.

She tried valiantly to dodge the first swing of the gaff, but the pirate was too fast for her and the strike brought her to her knees. She recovered just in time to see the dreaded hook come in once more and then everything went black.

"Kra! kraaaa?"

She was floating in nothingness for a while; all alone. It was so tranquil; her worries and concerns had disappeared. After a while she knew she was not alone anymore. There were others like her nearby though she could not see them; not yet.

Dying Recovery vs DC 12: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Ah, there they were; she could see them now all around; thousands of glowing lights just like her, slowly streaming like an endless silver river flowing inexorably into the void.

Welp, Kaako's luck apparently ran out. I guess that's Dying 3. Might have to use that Hero Point next round if something doesn't change.

Elsir- That is a miss if you wish to hero point it, though after Lavanna's roll there is no need to.

Lavanna sends forth a holy fire. The flames encase around the skeleton as it burns brighter and brighter causing the skeleton's bones to turn brittle and break apart. Lavanna doesn't let up on the flames until the skeleton completely breaks apart.

Kaako continues to bleed out as the threat seems to be over for the moment. Kaako is at Dying 3.

When the giant pirate skeleton is defeated, a secret door opens in the south side of the room, revealing a set of stairs that descend into darkness. As soon as this occurs, Cawlo swoops down into the room and circles once before soaring down into the newly revealed corridor.

Lavanna glares as the holy fire destroys the skeletal giant. As it's burning, the cleric cries out, "Stop. Hurting. My. Friends!"

With the skeleton subdued, she turns to the tengu and immediately casts Stabilize on her friend. Once Kaako is no longer in danger of bleeding out, she casts her final Heal spell as she promised.

Heal (3rd level): 3d10 + 24 ⇒ (8, 8, 5) + 24 = 45
To be clear, doing Stabilize first to remove the Dying condition before the 2-action Heal.

She looks over the battered and bruised party. She holds up her Wand. "It's not much, but I have this stick and a one potion if any of you fall down those steps." She looks around and considers, "If we wanna take time to search, I could further patch up Kaako. And you too I suppose, Jadren." Addressing the fighter, "And if you can help with those magic hands of yours, the two of you will be good as new."

Do we wanna spend 20mins searching, healing (Treat Wounds and LoH), and refocusing?

Absolutely. Elsir has zero contribution to the healing, so he'll stand guard.

Jadren helps Kaako to her feet. "Give me a few minutes of prayer and I can help heal you up."

He retrieves his trusted longsword, sheathes it, and puts a hand gently on Lavanna's shoulder. "Hell of a shot at the end," he says with his most disarming grin. "Remind me never to get you angry."

He kneels next to her, eyes half-lidded, as he begins his mantra to the Inheritor, asking Her divine power to heal his friends once more.

Once he is finished, he holds out a hand to Kaako. "Take the Light of Iomedae. She was most impressed by your bravery here. And so was I. Well fought, Kaako." With his touch, he sends healing magic through the tengu to help stanch her wounds.

18 hp back to Kaako!

He then settles back into a meditative position to seek healing for himself.

10 more minutes of meditation to get LoH back. If Lavanna wants to do a Medicine check to heal me the rest of the way, we can save some time and have one more LoH in the pocket in case that was not the last enemy. Which is scary to think about--that thing was a beast! Not beastly enough to survive a 64 damage crit from Lavanna, but still. XD

When Jadren suggests to Lavanna to remind him never to get her angry, she smiles and says, "Oh don't you worry, dear friend. I'll add it to the growing list of things you need to be reminded of." She jabs him playfully. "Now, let me take a look at those wounds. Hold still."

Medicine-Treat Wounds: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Treat Wounds: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 7) = 8

She frowns, "Hmmm...not my best work. That gaff cut in deeply. I'm afraid you'll need magical healing for the rest of it." She looks around, "Now which of you is searching? Elsir? Kaako? Go on now."

Without a care in the world, Kaako slowly wends her way along the River of Souls in the company of many others like her. She can see them all around her but they cannot touch one another or communicate in any way; in their contentment, none of them feels the need to do so anyway. Up ahead she begins to see the vague outline of an unthinkably high spire to whose gleaming top the river is being drawn. "Prrreeeety. So shiiiny."

That is when she feels the first tug. Her progress slows. The souls that have been next to her on the long journey pass by her as the growing pull in the opposite direction slows her further. For an instant, she seems to be standing still, with the river flowing around her unabated. She frowns. "Kaw?"" She's confused. She sees the glinting spire in the distance but it is getting no closer.

Another tug and she starts moving again, but away from the spire this time. With increasing speed, she is being drawn backwards along the river. The other souls move aside to let her pass, some of them looking over in confusion, others in envy as she flies past them. Eventually she's moving so quickly that everything is a blur and then suddenly everything goes dark again. She is alone once more.

Kaako opens her eyes. It takes her a moment to realize where she is as the faces of her companions look down at her where she lies on the floor. "Kraaaa! Hey guys, what's up?"

While Lavanna takes care of Jadren, Kaako does a sweep of the room in case the skeleton left anything of value behind. She then goes over to the newly opened door for a better look. Once everyone is ready to go, she'll lead the way as usual.

The skeletal giant has little more in the room besides the half-plate armor and gaff it was wearing. You spend several more minutes making sure that Kaako and Jadren are alright and not going to slip further down the River of Souls.

Captain Renlock’s trusty clockwork parrot leads you down the stairs and deep underground and then down a long, meandering passage. After almost an hour of following Cawlo, you arrive in a dimly lit chamber. Thin shafts of light peek out from behind a curtain that hangs on the opposite wall. In the center of the chamber is a massive wooden chest, its lid open. Unfortunately, all that is inside is a handful of old, corroded copper coins and a few silver pieces.

Cawlo hops precariously across the lid of the nearly empty treasure chest as the voice of Captain Renlock echoes from its metal beak once more.

“My friends. You truly were the finest crew I ever had the pleasure of sailing with and I am sorry to say that the promised treasure was a ruse. I hope you will forgive me, but I turned it over to the Andoran captain in exchange for his promise to be lenient on all of you. That treasure bought your freedom and I can’t think of a finer purchase.”

The bird grows silent for a moment, before leaping off the chest to perch atop the moldering drapery on the far side of the chamber. The voice continues. “But fear not my friends, because an old pirate like me always has one more secret, and this one is for you.” With that, the parrot tugs at the curtain, which falls away to reveal a short passage that leads to a secret cove hidden on the far side of the island.

There, sitting above the waves in a dry dock, is a glorious sailing sloop in near-perfect condition! The parrot continues. “I had a few enchantments cast to make sure it was ready for you when the time was right. The ship is yours. Take it and see the world that I never did.”

Renlock left this boat to you hoping that they would adventure together, leaving piracy behind forever. Cawlo continues to serve you and even takes you to the maps in the captain’s quarters that might lead you to several exciting new locations to explore.

Missing only a few provisions, the ship remains in great condition to sail, preserved after all these years by a few simple enchantments. After unfastening a few moorings and gliding the boat down into the water, you can set sail for their next adventure.

But that is a tale for another time.

This is the end of the scenario. Please feel free to continue roleplaying out the ending as much as you want. I hope you all enjoyed the first one-shot.

Elsir shouts some discouraging words into the chest when he sees that it's empty, only to turn around and be giddy like a toddler when the ship is revealed.

He stands at the bow and holds his arms aloft, pretending he's flying.

Lavanna's eyes get teary as she hears Captain Renlock's sentiments. She wipes her eyes dry and softly says, "Best captain ever."

When she sees the beautiful new ship in the cove, Lavanna jumps in excitement. She runs and gives Jadren a big hug. "Oh isn't it wonderful???" As Elsir runs up to the ship, Lavanna releases Jadren from the extra-long embrace and finds Kaako. She offers Kaako her hand, and they walk hand-in-claw up to the ship together. "How are you feeling, dear? Was it frightening being that close to death?"

Later when the group is gathered on the ship, Lavanna looks to them proudly. "This was an amazing adventure. I didn't realize how much I missed it. You were all marvelous." Studying her tengu friend, she adds, "And you, Kaako, were brilliant in bravely rushing the skeleton to free Jadren. That single act may very well have turned the tide in our favor. I'm so proud of you." Lavanna gives her a hug.

Moving up to the helm, the undine halfling longingly looks over the endless sea. "So what do you all think? Shall we embark on another adventure?" Lavanna looks hopefully at her companions and then back to her true home, the sea.

Kaako looks out at the new ship that the captain left them and she's stunned at how beautiful and shiny it is. Recovering, she says, "Krriikkkeey! I wonder how much we can get for it?" and laughs at her little joke. "Ark! ark!"

She follows the rest of her friends onto the ship and checks it out from top to bottom. "Niiiice! I bags the top bunk." When Lavanna gives her a hug, Kaako is a little taken aback at first, but quickly returns the sentiment. "It waaas nothinggg. I'd be in the Boneyarrrd if it wasn't forrrr you, girlfrriend. We'll call it even stevens."

When Lavanna suggests another adventure, Kaako shrugs. "Ehhhh, why not. It's not like I've go anything better to do. <click><clack>"

Jadren is, at first, crestfallen to see the empty chest, despite his best efforts to remain stoic on the topic of lucre. But in the end, he laughs, because really, what else can he do? He has found his life's purpose, in no small part thanks to Renlock.

"Still don't get the skeleton, but Renlock always was an odd duck."

When he catches sight of the ship, he puts a hand on the elf's shoulder, staring in awe. "Now that, dear Elsir," he mutters in wonder, "is a damn fine prize."

As the party makes their way onto the ship, he stares up and down her length, taking in her profile. Small, sure, clever.

He glances at Lavanna as she chats with Kaako and thinks sheepishly, Just how I like them.

"So," he says as he steps onto the foredeck, "what's her name, then?"

Elsir cries a little - tears of joy.

Not at the ship, which is a beauty, but because Jadren finally remembered his name.

"The Renlock?"