[GM Computerpro82] 3-08: Foundation's Price and 3-12: Fury's Toll (Inactive)

Game Master Eric Parker 82

We will free him as the others. Now we have to explain this Iron Ring that it's over.

Argoni nods. "I think we all have bone to pick with slavers. Now, we were told you could help us get onto the boat. Can you do that? Do we need to hide ourselves to get on? Maybe we can surprise them!"

Zoha replies

As soon as you are ready, we can board my boat and I will move us to the Swift Huntress unseen. They are busy trying to keep the ship afloat and fix the damage, so they won't see us coming.

"Well at least this plan seems a bit more straightforward. So all we need to do is rescue the people, kill the crew, and burn the ship down. This can't possibly result in any unforeseen issues."

”Did you bring your fire starting supplies, Sola? Or do we need to stop by the shops?”

Sola produces a flint and steel and says,"Im a follower of Lubaiko. Im pretty sure not having the items to start fires handy at all times would anger her. "

He face scrunches up and she adds,"I guess if the ship is damaged we could just let it sink. She's also the goddess of metaphorical fires and change."

Argoni takes out an alchemist's fire from his satchel. "So it's ok if I use these on the ship? I mean, if we're just going to burn it anyway?"

As Rexon falls back to walk beside her, Itka nods in appreciation. "Hmp. Thanks. These bones are older than my years."

At Argoni's enthusiasm, Itka chuckles. "Hmp. We were instructed to burn the ship. Just make sure we get the captives free and clear first."

The ifrit shows the fiery leopard saying: I have always my little fire with me. So I think all together we should be able to set fire to this ship.

The halfling has a mischievous glint in his eye. "Kewl." He smirks at the bottle of alchemist's fire and then winks at the others. He puts the bomb back into his satchel and then rocks back and forth on his feet. "Ok, so let's go free some slaves."

"Starting fires isn't my expertise, but I'm more than ready to free the captives!" Zenith says eagerly as the group readies to depart. "And it seems more than a few of you are more than equipped for fire starting" they add as they look at the rest of the group.

Zoha summons a thin fog to protect your approach while letting his small vessel glide silently across the water to the port side (to the west) of the Swift Huntress.

Two large masts tower over the empty deck. The sails are furled, suggesting the ship is not planning to leave these waters anytime soon.

You can easily climb the rope ladder onto the deck of the ship. You hear a deep guttural voice barking orders from the lower decks. There are stairs leading up to the Quarterdeck to the aft of the ship and the Forecastle at the front. There are doors leading under the Quarterdeck and the Forecastle.

New slide added. Apologies for the stretching. Some of the maps don’t take well to being resized for the canvas.

"Hmp. Clear the upper decks first so they can't trap us below?"

Usually a good plan indeed.

Rexon readies his shield and moves toward the front of the ship, "Let's clear the forecastle first, then work our way aft. The captives are likely being held below."

Argoni pulls out a bottled lightning and then nods to the others. He moves after Kurgess, trying to stay out of sight.

Stealth +8

As you open the door to the Forecastle, you see a hallway with three doors. Feel free to array yourselves on the forecastle part of the map on the upper right.

Rexon moves into the Forecastle, and pauses at the door. "Left is right." he says as he opens the door to port.

The ifrit is ready to move inside with Catlyn.

Two hammocks—one big and one small—are draped in the corners of the room. Opposite the door, papers bearing the sigil of Sedeq’s port authority and a well-used abacus rest on a small table.
A thick tome lays open in the middle, its pages filled with dates and numbers written by a heavy hand.
A large chest rests under the table.

Drilwenwënas tries to read the writings in the open book.

Drilwenwënas looks at the book in the table, but is unable to make sense of it. I looks like the book is some sort of ledger, but Drilwenwënas can't understand the entries.

While Drilwenwënas examines the book, Argoni reaches up and takes the papers. He flips through them to see what kind of records this might be. "Might just be worth it to take everything. If the ship is going down, then no one will miss it."

You're right. Let's continue the exploration having packed these items.

I the player want to open the chest. Itka the character doesn't care about anything that doesn't help get the captives free.

"Hmp. Are there any keys? The captives are probably chained." Hmp. Probably down with the taskmaster. Itka glances around for keys anyway.

Perception + 7

"This chest might contain belongings seized from the captives." Rexon suggests. "Is it locked?"

Rexon is more focused on defense than investigating the room. Once everyone has had a chance to look around, he'll open the door across the hall.

"I suppose it might, let's take a quick look" Zenith replies softly, inspecting the chest for traps (+7 perception), and then trying to open the chest if it seems safe. "We shouldn't waste much time though..."

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apologies. Posting from tablet on travel

Rexon notices an alarm snare on the chest, but Zenith us able to disable the alarm before opening the chest (no hero point needed)

The chest contains a bird feather token and a chest feather token.

No keys found here.

The book appears to be a ledger with the prisoner list with recent and scheduled transactions. Let me know when you want more information, as there is more to know.

Opening the door across the hall.

Pungent spices and the smell of stew fill the sweltering air.

Perched on a three-legged stool, a goblin stirs an iron cauldron twice his size with a large wooden spoon.
As the you enter, he pulls a small vial from the bandolier draped across his chest and shatters it at the base of the cauldron, cackling as the flames grow and burn hotter.

Any info on the records Argoni swiped?

The halfling tucks himself behind the others and then over towards the corner of the room, trying to remain unseen though his mouth waters at the cooking smells.

Stealth +8

The ifrit looks for the names of the people they should set free in the book.
_ _ _ _

Once arriving in the kitchen, he stays quiet, not to be seen.

"Hello there, what's cooking?"

Itka is just turning to leave the first room when she hears Rexon's query. Growling under her breath, she hobbles as quickly as she can to the next room. Hmp! The fool! We don't want them to have time to raise an alarm!

I'm going to assume that she won't have time to get a spell off to "silence" the cook just yet, what with weaving her way through the bodies of her allies and all.

Sola just sighs out loud at Rexon's comments. Normally she wouldn't mind the comment but not when it involves the safety of people she's trying to rescue.

The Goblin responds:
Hi! I'm Nar. I'm making stew for a dwarf. Never made stew for a dwarf before. Dwarves like rocks, so they like their food really salty, right? Want a taste?

Drilwenwënas, it is a Society check to decipher the ledger. You see Gunther's name, but you don't have the context to interpret what is going on with him.

"Oh? Is the dwarf new? I don't know anything about how dwarves like their stew, but I'd be glad for a taste." Rexon pauses just a moment as the fleeting thought of whether to trust food offered by strange goblins passes through his head, then he enters the room and has a taste.

Rexon, the stew is almost inedible due to the saltiness.

I'm not sure what I expected...

Fortitude: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 not to flinch

Rexon manages to take a bite without spitting it out, "This reminds me of the stew a friend of mine used to make in the gladiator circuit. She was always quite concerned with replenishing her electrolytes after a workout." He very pointedly does not go for a second taste.

Diplomacy (Make an Impression?): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"You know we could take this to the dwarf for you. Where are they now?"

The ranger shows the others what she has found.

Well I read Gunther's name here but I can't decipher what's written around. Can you help?

Oh, You like it! Very good! Last I saw, they had the dwarf tied up in a room by the Captain's cabin, back under the Quarterdeck. They are keeping him there and not having him pump the bilges like the other prisoners down below. Vaggas the Bosun and a couple of the other Pirates are riding herd on the other prisoners while they operate the pumps.

The goblin definitely seems friendlier.

Nar the goblin takes another flask out of his bandolier and throws it into the fire below the cauldron. He laughs maniacally while the fire flares impressively.

The ifrit smiles as the fiery leopard growls as the goblin likes fire.

Argoni steps out of the corner. "Nar, what exactly are you throwing in there? That looks like fun! I would have thought the Bonus wouldn't like you making fire on the ship."

"Oh, and where did this dwarf come from for him to be so special?"

@GM Computerpro82: May we see the room on the map with the goblin?

Itka is astounded: the goblin didn't immediately raise an alarm. It almost would've been simpler that way. Now the group might feel bad about killing him, but leaving him behind alive would only compromise the rest of the mission. And besides, even being "just a cook", he's aiding slavers. Complicity is guilt. He might even know all this and simply be playing nice and clueless just to save his skin. She stands in the doorway, acutely aware of the group's visibility as this ridiculous conversation unfolds.

Perception +7: Does anyone else note our presence as we're chatting and loitering in the hallway?

Nar Responding to Argoni
Oh, this is a special mixture of my own. Makes fire burn faster and hotter. As long as I make the food and keep the fire under my pot, Captain Tadrun doesn't care. See the metal bowl under the pot where the fire sits? If my fire mixture got put elsewhere, he would probably have a big problem with me.

I don't know where the dwarf came from. I just sit in here and cook. Would you like to try my stew? Do Halflings like rocks like dwarves do?

Itka doesn't see anyone moving about who is not part of the party. The deck of the ship and this area seem deserted, except for the goblin cook.

Itka, I uncovered the room. The goblin is not shown, as the scenario explicitly states he is a non-combatant.

"Do you like your job? Do you think you are being treated fairly? Because you know we could help you find a better place. One that might appreciate your fire skills. Hell I could teach you a few things," Sola says while creating a ball of flame that surrounds her hands.

Nar responds to Sola
It's a job. I like cooking, but in the end, it's just a job. I could be convinced to move on, and maybe even provide you some of my fire mixture as a resignation letter?

”Hobgoblins aren’t known for treating their goblin kin very well.” Rexon observes.

"Nar, is there anyone else nearby in this part of the Forecastle? Or are they all below decks?"

"I would love to have some of your fire mixture! We could even name it after you!" The halfling rocks back and forth on his feet.

The Captain might be in his cabin back in the Forecastle? I'm not sure, but that is where he has been spending most of his time. Might be one or two of the crew in there with him, getting instructions to pass along. Unless they are getting something to eat, the rest of the crew stays in their quarters below when they aren't supervising the prisoners pumping the bilges.

Nar is currently Friendly, and will leave the ship right after this conversation if you like. Would someone like to make a DC 15 Diplomacy check to actually get his Fire enhancing mixture?

Diplomacy:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Can I get some of your mixture? I'm very interested in fire...

And he passes his hand on the fire without being hurt.

"Listen. I have experience working for people like them and I know how hard it can be. Here have 5 gold to help you start a new life," she says handing the goblin the gold.

Turning to the others she adds,"I used to work for the Aspis Consortium. Turns out they don't tell you every evil thing they do. Only found out because some eccentric Mwangi barged into my place of work and started talking about their crimes against humanity."