DM Fern's Skull & Shackles (Inactive)

Game Master Evriani

With a furrowed brow, "You mean, the spirit you got now doesn't belong to the ghoul? Because that's what I was thinking. I just thought it was the dead ghoul's spirit. I was thinking whatever dead person that was near or had been dead in that area, that was the spirit you'd get. Is that not right?"

"Yeah, I'm thinking so too. The remnant of the person who got turned into a ghoul. But he was the only one there. The only thing I can think of is that the other spirits avoided the area and just haven't returned yet - or maybe ever."

Nodding, "Okay... okay. I think I'm understanding it a little better now. That's interesting. Now I think I get you, little buddy. Things are definitely a lot clearer for sure." Something else just hits him out of the blue, "Hey! Now I get why you're such a bad healer! Boy, that's a relief. I was thinking you were never going to be a good one at the rate you were going. It all makes sense now! Whew! What a relief. Thanks, Lan the man! Thanks for clearing it up. Boy, I was really confused." He nods matter-of-factly.

"Good. I'm glad you all got that covered now." Mateo said from behind the group as they made their way across the shoreline. "Lanni has been a special friend since we set sail together. The process is simply fascinating; who knew that the dead could do so much for us." They bypass the ruined ship, Mateo looking at it longer than necessary but he would leave it behind and hope that whatever it held would not be necessary for their next task at hand.

Climbing up the cliffside towards the hole that would let them enter into the grindylow's chamber, he would tightly secure his gear and set down his backpack so it wouldn't get waterlogged and weigh him down. Tying and securing his rope after tying it into notes, he would connect it to whoever else was going to offer up their rope for the venture.

"Well, here goes nothing right?" He says with a grin, starting down the rope carefully towards the pool

With a take 10, that'll give me a Climb of 18. If I need to roll, let me know.

As they come upon the wrecked ship, Lanni takes a look at it. "I wonder if it could be repaired and sailed again."

:⁂:
"Oh, that was your ship? Well why didn't you repair it and sail off this island?"

:⁂:
"Flies?!?! Seriously? Why do you hate the flies so much?"

:⁂:
"Of course not. That would be too easy."

Hold on a second Mateo
Seadreamer shrugs off his pack and digs in it.
He then pulls a piton and hammer out.

Lets anchor our way out afore we go in

He finds a spot and drives the piton in then ties off the top of the rope before mateo goes down.

Sharkbait, would you lower anyone down that needs it before coming down yourself

He also leaves his pack just taking weapons and armour

No one should need it. iirc a knotted rope freestanding is dc 10, with wall is dc 5

"Yes, yes, of course. C'mon, let's go." Mateo says impatiently, slipping down the rope with ease thanks to the wall, knots, and fine securement that Seadreamer had made.

Terry shakes his head at Mateo's verbalized impatience, but quickly follows him down the rope.

Once down, he takes the bottom of the rope and pulls against it, reducing the movement and trying to make things easier for those following.

Climb: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (10) - 2 = 8 Hopefully, with the wall counts, lol

Atia struggles down the rope, slipping down at the last stretch with a yelp. When she lands, she stumbles a little bit away from the rope, leaving room for whoever follows. As she waits, she flaps her hands a little bit, hissing from the mild rope burn. "I hate ropes."

Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Forgot about the bonus the hat gave me. Not that it mattered with the nat 20, lol.

Today was the day. Whether she liked it or not, she was going to find out if Sandara and Tilly were alive in that cave. And she wasn't going to let anything get in her way.

The rope tied precariously to a rock? Child's play. She zip-lined her way down as if she had made a living climbing down crevices. Maybe it was the hat giving her luck? Whatever the case, she was on the floor in no time.

"Okay, could you guess how many of those things were guarding the cave?" she asked.

Lanni heads over to the rope for his turn to climb down it.

"I hate ropes."

"Same," He says as he makes his way slowly and carefully down.

Currently have a climb bonus of +1, so if take-10 works and the DC is 10 that should be fine.

Hold on a second Mateo

Seadreamer shrugs off his pack and digs in it.
He then pulls a piton and hammer out.

Lets anchor our way out afore we go in

He finds a spot and drives the piton in then ties off the top of the rope before Mateo goes down.

Sharkbait, would you lower anyone down that needs it before coming down yourself?

He also leaves his pack just taking weapons and armour

Nodding, "Yeah, sure." Watching Atia climb down and feeling a bit trepidatious about it, he's looking pretty hopeful with how well she's doing until there towards the end when she slips a little. Cringing, "By the gods, I knew I should've carried her down! Well... she seems okay." Yet, not even that puts the barbarian's mind at ease. I should've carried her. Dumb me. He shakes his head at his thoughtlessness.

After the last person goes, Joran follows after the others.

Climb: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

"No, there were a few but their total numbers are unknown." Mateo said quietly as he entered into the water, feeling it soak into his clothing. He carefully looked around, studying what dangers could still be waiting for them lurking in the dark waters.

climb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Seadreamer shimmies down the rope.
Well lets see which way to go

The sinkhole is filled with dark water at the bottom, the walls craggy and slippery, but with the knotted rope you all make it down safely, about 70 feet from the top of the cliff. Atia has a close call when her foothold breaks free, the rock skittering down the cliffside to splash into the pool below. The echo of the falling debris seems to bounce around the rock walls for a few moments.

Until you realize it's not echoes you're hearing.

Your presence has stirred up a nest. As you stand in three to four feet of water at the bottom of the cove, a large number of stirges, clicking and clacking their carapaces legs, pour forth from holes in the walls and quickly fly in your direction.

Blocks:
1: Mateo and Atia
2: Red enemies
3: Terry and Cass
4: Yellow enemies
5: Lanni, Joran, Dreamer, Des (to keep from having 7 blocks)
6: Blue enemies

The water gives you partial cover (+2AC) but is difficult terrain. Let me know if I need to adjust anyone's initiative sure to leveling. As of the start of the fight, none are quite in melee range yet, they are 20-30 feet up. See roll20 map. Also, if Atia and Mateo post tonight I'm fine with Terry and Cass sneaking a turn in too, I am going to bed shortly and can chronomancy the red ones' turn.

Lanni reaches the end of the rope and drops to the pool of water below ... and goes completely under, though only barely. He pushes off the bottom of the shallow pool and comes back to the surface sputtering and trying to push his hair out of his face.

Swim: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14 May not be necessary, but rolling anyway because it could be fun.

"Oh, crap!" Atia exclaims, darting behind Joran and slapping a little piece of leather on his back, muttering a quick incantation to cast mage armor on the barbarian.

+4 to Joran's AC for 3 hours.I can't move myself right now since I'm on my phone, but I intended Atia to move in the middle of Joran, Lanni, Mateo, and Cass.

"More blasted bugs!" Mateo mutters as he draws his blade, readying himself to attack should one of the bugs enter into his threat.

Mateo will ready an attack to strike at the stirge that comes closest to him. The attack roll is as follows...

Readied Attack (Combat Expertise, Power Attack): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 3 = 10

Vitals - 28/28 HP, AC: 21+2 for Partial Cover, 17 Tch, 14 Fl
Mateo now has Combat Reflexes, so he can make multiple parries. I will make three below as needed in case he is swarmed. His initiative is also +6 as long as he has 1 Panache.

With Stirges, attachments can be a problem, so I have a logical structure, here. If someone I can get to has a stirge attach, I will endeavor to help by trying to kill their parasite. If we get clear on that first pass, then Terry will ready to deal with any that come in range until his next turn.

Rapier: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Piercing: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

And if I get an AoO . . ..

Rapier: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Piercing: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Quick hang onto Lanni afore the bugs carry him off

Seadreamer lands with a splash and stands up up in water to his chest in time to see the first of the bugs fly out.

i cant adjust my stats on roll 20. tablet and roll 20 issues. stats Hp 25/28, didnt update from nights sleep.

:⁂:
"Well, they aren't really flies. But I guess its close enough."

"Why do you keep going on about the flies? Honestly you should have been more worried about the ghouls."

Stirges fly in towards Terry, Dreamer, and Mateo, barbed legs attempting to anchor on to their victims...

vs. Terry touch AC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

vs. Dreamer touch AC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

vs. Mateo touch AC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

The one coming for Terry just manages to latch on. Dreamer dodges aside easily, and Mateo skewers his like a kebab then flings it off his blade.

The giant insect on Terry, grappling his shoulder, stabs his proboscis into Terry's arm, drinking deeply. 1 con damage

Waiting to see if Cass posts tonight, more bugs go after her.

Cass shifts over and draws out a card throwing The Vision: 1d6 + 1d9 ⇒ (4) + (6) = 10 card at the blue Stirge on the right

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

as it hits it suddenly disappears shuffling back into her deck

Terry manages to skewer the stringe attached to him -- it's tricky, but the thing is too busy drinking his blood to bother dodging the attack. Its grip loosens, and he's able to shake it off, the needle-like mouth pulling free of his arm as the body hits the floor. Now that song can be stuck in your heads, too.

Cass's card shears through the air, slicing through one of the stirges, though not quite enough to finish it.

Two more fly in, again at Dreamer and Mateo, the creatures homing in on whoever was closest.

vs. Dreamer's touch AC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

vs. Mateo's touch AC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

This one manages to latch onto Dreamer, stabbing into the dwarf and beginning to drink of his blood. (1 con damage) Mateo sidesteps like a matador, then thrusts his blade through another stirge, somehow managing to look as though he's dancing while being plagued with yet another swarm of bugs on this horrible island.

Blocks:
1: Mateo and Atia
2: Red enemies
3: Terry and Cass
4: Yellow enemies
5: Lanni, Joran, Dreamer, Des You're up!
6: Blue enemies

Lanni bobs his way between Mateo and Destinie while drawing his rapier and stabs at the stirge there.

Rapier Attack (spirit bonus): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 = 13
Damage (seance boon, spirit bonus): 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

"Ha. Take that."
:⁂:
"Maybe later."
:⁂:
"Yeah, I know I'm not as good at this as Mateo. Not many people are."

Even in the shallower edge of the pool, Lanni is still in water up to his neck.

Move 10 feet with difficult terrain and draw weapon
Attack

"Cass's card shears through the air, slicing through one of the stirges, though not quite enough to finish it."
Does that damage include Seance Boon +2?

"Yuck. No thanks." Destinie trudged her way to Dreamer's side in order to land a hit of her own on the one attached to Dreamer.

Quarterstaff: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

She swings wildly... and manages to hit the stirge hard. "Sorry about that!" She winced at the dwarf.

Will have something up later today. Shopping with the significant other right now.

Damn the mosquitoes grow big here.

Seadreamer leans back into the quarterstaff hit to allow the bug to get swatted better as he draws two axes.

attack battleaxe yellow: 1d20 + 3 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 3 - 2 = 20
attack maulaxe yellow: 1d20 + 3 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 3 - 2 = 22
BAB, STR, 2 Wpn
battleaxe damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
maulaxe damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Shaking his head in annoyance, "Gods I'm so tired of all these bugs." Drawing his greatsword, he readies an attack if one nears.

Draw sword(move); Ready(standard)

Ready attack
Greatsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage: 2d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 + 2 = 12

Potential crit confirm
Greatsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Damage: 2d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 6) + 6 + 2 = 20

AC 18(+2 cover; +1 mage armor)/touch 13/FF 17; Hp's 34/35

Does that damage include Seance Boon +2?

Good call! Having her take out the slightly more northern blue one so Lanni's move doesn't need to be retconned.

Cass's card shears through the air, slicing through one of the stirges, totally enough to finish it.

Des smashed one off Dreamer's arm, the dwarf taking care of the other one trying to attach to him. A third flies at Dreamer -- dwarf blood must be a delicacy to them -- but Joran slices it clean in half.

The last remaining one tries to attached to Lanni, but with so little of him sticking out of the water it fails.

vs. touch AC: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 7 - 4 = 12

You're all up, only Lanni's remains.

"Get away from me you bloodsucker." Lanni stares belligerently at the stirge that he missed earlier. He then takes another stab at it.

Rapier Attack (spirit bonus): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 1 = 14
Damage (seance boon, spirit bonus): 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

:⁂:
"I know. But someone else will get it. I trust these guys."

If there is anything defensive that Lanni can do with a move action, let me know. Difficult terrain prevents 5-foot step, yes?

Lanni strikes at the stirge, leaving it wounded but not quite dead. With his rapier in hand, Mateo strikes at the creature with an accurate strike.

Attack (Combat Expertise): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 3 = 12
Critical Threat?: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28Total Damage: 6 + 12 + 3 = 21

Mateo skewers it completely, the bug twitching softly before its body is discarded into the water beside the two of them.

"Disgusting little creatures." Mateo muttered, shaking his head. "Everyone alright?"

That critical brings my panache back up to 4. Huzzah.

A little chewed on, but I agree, disgusting little creatures

He takes a moment and submerges in order to get the bug juices off his shoulder.

Well, I guess we should be looking at getting further into this warren of seaborne goblins, Terry can you take lead, I will take 2nd, Joran, can you take the back as you are the fastest and can get up front quickly if needed. As for the rest, try not to let Lanni drown.

He waits a moment for the Terry to lead, and then takes up a spot about 10' back and follows along.

"I am so tired of bugs," Atia groans, shivering with disgust.

"Maybe Joran can carry Lanni again until we're out of the water?" Atia suggests, glancing at their surroundings. "I'll stay somewhere in the middle..."

Mateo skewers it completely, the bug twitching softly before its body is discarded into the water beside the two of them.

"See, no worries."

"Everyone alright?"

"I'm fine."

:⁂:
"No. No one is turning into a ghoul. Joran got bit, but he seems fine more than a day later."

:⁂:
"I'm pretty sure..."

"Destinie, you know a lot about ghouls, don't you? Being bitten by one is the only way to become one yourself, right? My spirit friend keeps going on about everyone he knew turning into a ghoul without actually getting attacked by one."

"I'll be beside you Dreamer; being up close and personal is my preferred state of things." Mateo says, rinsing off his blade in the salty water before drying it against his shirt. "Onwards before more creepy crawlies come out, yes?" Mateo said, wading through the water towards where the cave broadened out more.

Mateo Nikas wrote:

Mateo skewers it completely, the bug twitching softly before its body is discarded into the water beside the two of them.

"See, no worries."

:⁂:

Mateo Nikas wrote:

"Everyone alright?"

"I'm fine."

:⁂:
"No. No one is turning into a ghoul. Joran got bit, but he seems fine more than a day later."

:⁂:
"I'm pretty sure..."

"Destinie, you know a lot about ghouls, don't you? Being bitten by one is the only way to become one yourself, right? My spirit friend keeps going on about everyone he knew turning into a ghoul without actually getting attacked by one."

"Yeah... that's what got me confused," Destinie agreed. "When I saw that ghast on the wall, there was no signs that he was bitten. Any ghoul who saw him like that would have torn him apart, so I don't think it was any of them that did it. Let me think if there's another way ghoul fever can spread..."

As the oracle was in thought, her eyes glowed white again, only this time she was out of combat. It was as if she was in a trance once more.

Knowledge (religion), Focused Trance: 1d20 + 7 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 20 = 30

Des knows that ghoul fever is a disease, and like many such diseases, any sort of bite can transmit it . There sure are a lot of botflies and other insects on this island... If they feed off the ghouls, carry the disease, and then bite living hosts...

1d6 ⇒ 1

It was only one round later before her eyes returned to normal and her body felt woozy. "Ugh... that's new." She shook her head a bit... and realized just exactly how it could have happened.

"S!&@." She spoke to the ground in general. "Has anyone been getting stiff from the bug bites?"

Terry starts trying to lead the way, as requested, it seems there's only one way to go, after all.

He goes to move as quietly as he can, in water up past his knees.

Des' question slows him a second. "Stiff? No. Non-stop itching and constantly feeling disturbed? Yeah."

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

I numbered tunnels on the map for clarity.

The tunnel floors are uphill from the cove, and only about a foot of water and a great deal of seaweed trouble you as you proceed through them. Two of the tunnels dive deeper (2 and 3), the water coming up to nearly the ceiling and the view blocked by seaweed. The other two (1 and 4) wind away out of sight unless you explore further.

Which way would you like to go?

My vote is for 4. I know I would like to breathe air, and not water. :) After all, being 4'2 in water 3' high, makes it enough of a challenge. :)
Anyone else for thoughts ?

Well, the right-most is the closest to the cave opening, so, probably not the best start. Not real interested in swimming just yet, so it looks like I'll try this one . . ..

Proceed down #4, please.

As they continued down the tunnel, she continued. "I think the bugs are spreading ghoul fever through their bites. Which means anyone who's been bitten may have been infected already. I'll need to check on everyone to make sure no one is showing symptoms."

4 is good!

Atia follows along, keeping an eye on Lanni as she goes so as not to lose the gnome under the water. "Asmodeus has been taking care of the bugs around me...I've not been bitten as of yet." She casts a worried eye at the rest of them who had suffered bites so far, especially Joran. "Is there anything I can do to help, Des?"

4 is good!

Atia follows along, keeping an eye on Lanni as she goes so as not to lose the gnome under the water. "Asmodeus has been taking care of the bugs around me...I've not been bitten as of yet." She casts a worried eye at the rest of them who had suffered bites so far, especially Joran. "Is there anything I can do to help, Des?"

"Anything that can help them recover from their wounds may help," she replied. "I don't have any spells that can help, but I think I can help anyone affected to get through. It will probably take at least a day or two before whoever's infected will recover."

"And the most important thing being getting off this island so we stop getting bitten."

Lanni follows behind Seadreamer down the tunnel.

You proceed down the tunnel, which is decorated with the jawbones of numerous frightful-looking creatures, resembling the throat of some hideous aquatic creature. It smells of salt and fish, and it's chilly, after the heat outside. Your wet clothing sticks to you uncomfortably.

Terry peers ahead to see a branching intersection -- to your left, a large chamber, water about ten feet deep, with more than half a dozen grindylows swimming about. Several seem to be fighting over some prizes -- personal effects you recognize as belonging to Tilly and Sandara. The lower four or five feet of the pool are covered in dense seaweed.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Lanni looks around as they are going deeper into these caverns. He whispers to Joran next to him, "I can't see anything. It is rather dark and all you big people are in the way."

Turning to those behind him, Terry holds a finger to his lips, then points at the room with the grindylows before turning away from it and signaling for the others to follow.

Yes, he's hoping the group can sneak by.

I don't have much hope, but I would rather get them pulling into a chokepoint than move into their big open pool!