GM Imperius' Skull & Shackles

Game Master bluedove

The Scorching Rays hurt, but Brother MacLaren does not have an immediate counter to that now, unlike the previous spells he faced.

So he attacks the nearest Wrecker.

Rapier vs Blue, IC, PA, Higher Ground: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 - 2 + 1 = 29
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + 4 = 13

Confirm?: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 2 - 2 + 1 = 28
Crit Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 + 4 = 18

He then flies and lands on the deck, hoping to tempt the half-orcs to come for him.

Kasin, following his last order, continues to fight defensively. He continues to press orange until he drops.
Kasin Bite: 1d20 + 8 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 0 = 14 (fang, focus, inspire, defensively)
damage (B/P/S): 1d6 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 4 = 11 (fang, focus, inspire)

I think that should hit and drop him.

Tucci stands, shouting his thanks for being alive to Eric as he gets his bearings. He casts further healing upon himself.
CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

He’ll then swiftly change Kasin’s animal focus from Bull to Bear (-2str/+2con).

Round 6

Round 7
Seeing her wreckers getting the worst of it Vakarla flies close, elevating, as she goes, enough (bringing her withing Mac's Invisibility Purge) to cast her spell "qaStaHvIS" hearing her casting, a blinding ray of sunlight bursts from her hand. "Blast!" Cursing as her ray goes off course. Meanwhile the Green Wrecker, continues chopping at the large rodent, but again misses. The badly wounded Blue Wrecker chops at Kasin one last time, also missing, then drops unconscious.

Seeing all but one of the wreckers fall and Vakarla miss her attack, the officer on the small, leaky lugger starts giving commands. The little boat begins to turn and move along the reef where it knows the larger ship cannot follow.

Round 7 Bold may go.
Mac - 19
Tucci - 53 HP
Kasin - 10 HP
Veronica Panicked 6/9 rds.
Eric - 4 HP

Brother MacLaren takes a step and attacks the remaining Wrecker, stabbing him with Brine's Sting and smacking him with Last Call.

Rapier, IC, PA, TWF: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 2 - 2 - 2 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 + 4 = 16

Tankard, IC, PA, TWF: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 2 - 2 - 2 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10

That is now 33 damage taken? Finish him!

Kasin 5’ steps into flank with green, happy to be commanded again. He continues to fight defensively just in case.
Kasin Bite: 1d20 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 3 = 17 (fang, inspire, defensively, flank)
damage (B/P/S): 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 3 = 12 (fang, inspire)

Tucci 5’ steps down the stairs and touches Kasin with a bit of healing as he picks up his pike off the deck. Assuming I can reach the pike in the square next to mine.
CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

"Go get the caster!" Tucci suggests, with bravado!

"On it!"

Keeping up his battle song, Eric swiftly shoots two arrows towards the now visible woman.

Attack (Rapid Shot, IC): 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 2 + 2 = 20
Damage (IC): 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 = 10
Attack (Rapid Shot, IC): 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 - 2 + 2 = 14
Damage (IC): 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 = 10

7/14 rounds left for IC

Round 7

Round 8
Seeing her wreckers fall, Vakarla screams "No!" Turning she uses her last seconds of haste to fly away at full speed towards the diamond shaped island.

The small, leaky lugger continues moving over the reef, cutting east between the Islands.

lets do at least one more round, in initiative. The 'Charm' is still stuck on the reef, it will take a Profession (sailor) DC 20 to sail the ship off of the reef. But it will not be able to follow the lugger (which is a flat bottom boat) between the Islands. It will need to go around, one Island or the other.
Round 8 Bold may go.
Mac - 19
Tucci - 20? HP
Kasin - 10 HP
Veronica Panicked 7/9 rds.
Eric - 4 HP

Kasin gnaws on the half-orcs angrily. He’s not been hurt this bad before and is giving his comeuppance on those still breathing. Tucci smiles and lets him enjoy himself.
Coupe de Grace: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (5, 3) + 8 = 16

Tucci will shore up his own health a bit as he looks around.
CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Auto succeed at perception check.
Reminded of the dangling rope, before he frees the ship he moves to the rope to investigate. Not sure where the rope is exactly, but Tucci moves 20’ in that direction.

"Eric, could I get a Heroism spell? I'm going after the caster, and then to find the Captain."

Brother MacLaren sheaths his rapier and heals himself.
Suppress Charms and Compulsions to CMW: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (7, 8) + 7 = 22

"Sure. Please get V... The Captain back safely."

Eric moves near Mac and casts an extended Heroism on the cleric.

Tucci, could you verify yours and Kasins HP for me?
Round 8

Realizing their officers have defeated the 'Wreckers' the crew gives a shout of victory and moves back to their posts, getting ready to get the 'Charm' underway.

Round 9
Continuing on her way, Vakarla seems to slow down a little bit but she continues towards the southeastern corner of the Island.

The small, leaky lugger continues moving over the reef, cutting east between the Islands.

As requested we are staying in rounds.
Round 9 Bold may go.
Mac
Tucci - 15 ? HP
Kasin - 20 ? HP
Veronica Panicked 8/9 rds.
Eric - 4 HP

Kasin gnaws on the other half orc.
Coupe de Grace: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 1) + 8 = 13

Tucci grabs the rope with his pike, but does not yet climb within. Not while he and Eric are alone. He pulls on the rope though - if it comes free he keeps it and moves to the helm. If not, he waits.

Tucci is at 22/45hp, and also has a +7hp bump from con which goes away at the end of the fight. Kasin is at 25/45, and also has a +7hp con bump which does not go away.

Once again, Kasin mauls another dead humanoid, while Tucci hooks the magical rope on his pike. The rope drops free from where it hung onto the tip of his pike. Gathering the rope as he moves to the helm.

The rope is a rope of climbing.
Mac Vakarla had flown 200 ft in the two rounds, she is still about 30 ft above the deck, so 0 ft or so from the water. The Island, which she is just more than half ways to, (160 ft or so) gently slopes upwards, so her distance from the island floor will quickly be less, but shouldn't interfere with her flight.
Round 9 Bold may go.
Mac
Tucci - 15 HP
Kasin - 13 HP
Veronica Panicked 8/9 rds.
Eric - 4 HP

"Please tend to the crew - help any that fell overboard. I'll be back soon."

Brother MacLaren drinks Bull's Strength from his tankard and casts Dimension Door, placing himself on the island in Vakarla's path.

"Will do!" shouts Tucci as MacLaren disappears.

Eric nods at Mac's words before the cleric vanishes, and then grabs some extra rope and looks over the railing, looking for anyone that might have fell overboard, and tossing it to them.

Round 9
As Tucci get's to the wheel and Eric starts helping those overboard, good call I totally forgot about them. Mac drinks from his tankard and casts his spell landing on the Island near the crest of the hill.

Round 10
Looking over her shoulder, watching for the enlarged cleric to come after her Vakarla is taken by surprise as Mac appears in front of her, Cursing "Blast you Caydenite!" she attempts to climb out of his reach.

Mac AoO this round, full attack next round, but she will be 10 ft so no AoO if she chooses to withdraw. As requested we are staying in rounds.
Round 10 Bold may go.
Mac
Tucci - 15 HP
Kasin - 13 HP
Veronica Panicked 9/9 rds.
Eric - 4 HP

Veronica freezes for a slight moment as she hears the woman's voice cursing Mac, sending her mind back into a state of panic. With the door being her only way out and thus risking being seen by her pursuer, she decides to stay inside the hut, pressed against the outer wall besides the door, so as not to be seen if the woman gets near the hut.

Tankard AOO, Heroism, Bull's Strength: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 19

Brother MacLaren misses with Last Call as the caster tries to escape him.

Then he drops the tankard, shifts position, and grabs the half-orc with his giant hands, pinning one arm to her side.

Doing a Grapple from 10' away so that she cannot take an AOO. Will 5' step if needed.

Grapple: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

That is +4 BAB, +1 Size, +6 Str, and +2 Morale. His CMD is +4 BAB, +1 Size, +6 Size, +2 Dex, +3 Deflection for a 26. She cannot attack me with her Falchion while Grappled, as it is a two-handed weapon.

The 'Charm' is still stuck on the reef, it will take a Profession (sailor) DC 20 to sail the ship off of the reef. But it will not be able to follow the lugger (which is a flat bottom boat) between the Islands. It will need to go around, one Island or the other.

If, and only if, the sailors who were flung overboard are back on board, Tucci will begin to ease the ship off the reef. If there are still sailors in the water, he’ll use his new found rope of climbing to help save them.

Profession sailor: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

Frustrated by how stuck they are, he takes his time and tries again (though if we're still in rounds, this likely happens later).
Profession sailor: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

Round 10
As Veronica hides, and Tucci struggles with getting the boat off of the reef, Mac drops his tankard and snatches the Wrecker out of the air, wrapping her up in his magically enhanced arms.

Round 11
Feeling herself being drawn in, Vakarla screams, "Aaaggghhhhhh" initially flailing, she composes herself she reaches for Mac's head, attempting to use a spell, "qaStaHvIS" As the spell fizzles, she scratches at Mac's eyes to no avail. "Damn your eyes Caydenite!"

As requested we are staying in rounds.
Round 11 Bold may go.
Mac
Tucci - 15 HP
Kasin - 13 HP
Veronica.
Eric - 4 HP

Brother MacLaren tightens his grip.

Grapple, Maintaining: 1d20 + 13 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 5 = 21

If that succeeds, he will take the Pin option. No more spells with Somatic components.

"Yield and I will grant you a swift and merciful death. Struggle and it will be slow. Feign surrender and I will hand you over to the Savored Sting."

Tucci shifts the ship and begins sailing around (see above roll).

Finally free from the damnable spell forcing her to run away in a panic, Veronica flies swiftly out of the hut, towards Mac and the enemy woman.

"Hold her steady Mac, I'll be joining you in moments. And then it's payback time for that fear spell!"

Double move, hopefully ending close enough to reach her in a move action next round.

As Tucci gets back to the helm, intent on getting the ship moving, Eric rehoins the rest of the crew and resumes his assigned tasks, glancing towards the island whenever possible, hoping to see Veronica and Mac returning.

Still in Round 11, talking is free :)

Hearing the Caydenite say 'hand you over to the Savored Sting' Vakarla realizes who sent her captors, struggling less she responds, "Kill me and you'll never find the Idol."

"Wrong.
But if you'd rather be delivered alive to them, it's your choice. I offered you mercy."

Round 11
As Mac wraps the wrecker up tight, she tries to bargain with him will Veronica approaches.

Round 12
"Aaaagggghhhh!" Screaming at Mac, she wiggles and squirms, "I will not surrender to a pirate no different than me! Free me and I'll tell you where our hoard is!" She squirms again and, concentrating, she uses her spell like ability, ""qaStaHvIS", a shimmering light glows from her very skin Blinding Mac.

As requested we are staying in rounds.
Round 12 Bold may go.
Mac blinded
Tucci - 15 HP
Kasin - 13 HP
Veronica.
Eric - 4 HP

Tucci continues to guide the ship around the island.

Brother MacLaren is struck by the blinding ray, but has a firm grip on his foe.

Grapple, Maintain: 1d20 + 13 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 13 + 5 = 33
Her CMD should get a +2 bonus as she is effectively invisible, but that is still enough to maintain the pin. As the action Mac will choose the "Damage" option.

He smashes his cestus into her side.

Cestus Damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

"We do this the slow way, then. At least until the Captain gets here."

"Didn't quite hear what terms Mac offered you, but you seem to want to do this the hard way. Which is perfect for me, really, as I owe you for that magically induced terror, and I fully intend to pay you back."

Veronica takes a brief moment to enchant her cutlass, and then moves swiftly towards the held woman and takes a brutal slash at her.

Swift Action: Arcane Pool for Frost and Keen. Standard action for Rime Frostbite, move and Spellstrike.

Attack (PA): 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 2 = 20
Damage (PA,2h,Frost): 1d6 + 9 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 6 + (2) = 23
Frostbite(cold, non-lethal): 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 +Fatigue+Entangled
Intimidate(Demoralise): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38 If check exceeds DC by 10 or more, Will Save DC 17 or be frightened for 1 round

Round 12
After Mac punches the restrained woman, Veronica lands and viciously attacks her. Frightened, Fatigued and entangled, Vakarla starts to bleed from several wounds.

Round 13
Frightened beyond her ability to cast a spell, Vakarla screams as she struggles to get loose from the Caydenite, but fails terribly.
As requested we are staying in rounds.
Round 13 Bold may go.
Mac/ooc]
[ooc]Tucci - 15 HP
Kasin - 13 HP
Veronica.
Eric - 4 HP

Tucci continues to navigate toward the others, hoping they are doing well and worried for them. He’ll hold off on healing for now, expecting MacLaren to have a thing or two to say about that before he needs to drain the last of his spells, or start on the wand.

Grapple, Maintain: 1d20 + 13 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 13 + 5 = 29
Brother MacLaren maintains the pin on Vakarla, wounding her further with his cestus.
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Should have been 1d6 before because Enlarged.

"Letting you go was never an option. If you choose to go down fighting, I will honor that."

Just some fluff.

As she squirms, frightened, bleeding and dying, Vakarla, spits blood, "Honor that? you filthy holier than thou Caydenite. Freedom and beer for everyone, but you hold me here letting this excuse for a captain kill me. I've done nothing you wouldn't!"

Brother MacLaren is entirely unmoved by the accusations and doesn't bother to respond.

"That's an interesting argument, considering we're also not doing anything you wouldn't. Poor choice of last words."

Veronica takes another slash at the wrecker captain, intent on bringing her down with it.

Attack (PA): 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 12 - 2 = 15
Damage (PA,2h,Frost): 1d6 + 9 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 6 + (3) = 24
Frostbite(cold, non-lethal): 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 +Fatigue+Entangled

Combat over
Cutting deeply into the Wrecker, Veronica injures Vakarla badly enough she falls unconscious.

Brother MacLaren thinks about leaving the decision to Veronica, as it was her Frostbite spell that created this dilemma, but he decides that he cannot abdicate his moral responsibility for the mere appearance of keeping his hands clean.

"I offered to deliver her alive to the Calistrians, and she chose to fight to the death. I must honor that."

As promised, he honors Vakarla's decision and snaps her neck.

CdG Damage: 2d6 + 12 ⇒ (3, 6) + 12 = 21

He releases the body and stands up.

"I'm going to head back to the ship and see if anyone else needs healing. We do need to find the idol, but the crew will want to see you back. Eric especially. I should tell you, he was valiant and held the line against the raiders."

"As opposed to his sister, who flew away at the start of the fight?" Veronica replies with a mocking smile, but then nods at the cleric with a more serious expression. "Thanks for looking after him with me gone. And sorry I left you all like that. I'll have to see what I can do to make sure that won't happen again."

"As for the idol, I found what I think is their camp a bit further into the island - with crates full of trade goods they probably got from their victims. Probably the best place to start our search for the idol. But let's go back to the ship first though. We'll want to load all that plunder as well anyway."

Shifting the dead body under his arm, Mac begins to fly towards the ship. Veronica quickly follows and passes him, being able to fly faster. As they return to the ship, they find that Tucci has been able to maneuver the 'Charm' off of the reef with little actual damage to the ship. Meanwhile Eric, with Conchobar's and Giffer's help has been busy aiding the sailors who were injured or fallen overboard.

As the officers land, Ambrose approaches holding a spyglass, pointing towards the east between the two island, where the leaky lugger and began to row past the dangerous reef. "The lugger be rowin' between the islands o'er the reef. Do we give chase? the winds favor sailin' around the southern island, but goin' aft the way we came would be shorter."

Sadly my translator page is not working, looks like everyone's using Pirate Speak for awhile. Where to? Do you go after the lugger? Do you drop the two ships boats and chase? Do you sail around one of the Islands to the other side of the reef ridden straight? Do you sail around to the Wreckers hideaway?

Brother MacLaren lays Vakarla on the deck for Veronica to investigate. He moves over to Tucci, Eric, and the rest of the crew.

"Gather round and I will call on the Lucky Drunk's healing."

The wind picks up an aroma of ale as healing power flows from the cleric.

Channel 2 of 4: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 5) = 12

"I think we should make for the hideaway that you spotted, Captain. But it is your call."

Tucci, much tired from his long journey (flights west from Europe are hard - I was awake over 24 hours!) around the island, is very pleased when MacLaren descends with healing.

"Thanks Mac! That feels great!”

He navigates the ship near the swag and keeps his eye out for trouble on the horizon.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21 with spyglass

He reveals anything he sees and awaits the captains orders.

"Don't think the lugger and its crew can pose much of a threat to us, so let's go straight to the hideaway. But keep alert - I don't want them sneaking up on us as we're taking their plunder."

Veronica goes over the wreckers' captain's possessions as they make their way for the hideaway, giving special attention to whatever items give off a magical aura.

As Veronica searches the dead wizards body she finds a potion of cure moderate wounds, scroll of invisibility, scroll of knock, scroll of wall of force, scroll of water breathing, wand of shield (20 charges) masterwork falchion, masterwork light crossbow with 10 bolts, bicorne hat, periscope, watertight engraved bronze scroll case (worth 75 gp), spell component pouch, spyglass. Her one magical item that survived the ABP was the rope of climbing Tucci found

As the 'Charm' sailed back the way they came, Veronica recognized several of the land markers she'd seen from the air. The small creek running from its gentle sloping hill towards the southeast to the beach into a narrow inlet. Dropping the anchor offshore, they launch the two ships boats sailing to the shoreline. finding a ramshackle series of different sized thatched huts surrounded by a flimsy wooden palisade.

Outside of the palisade are four long boats in different states of disrepair. Inside the palisade there are ten huts, eight about the same size, one slightly larger, and one slightly smaller. Near the Huts are crates and piles covered by tarps. The wreckers’ base contains cargo and supplies worth 6 points of plunder, primarily consisting of leather, spices, timber, and various ships’ equipment.

The Larger Hut seems to be a bar, using barrels and planks for a counter. Behind the bar is a crude alchemist’s laboratory where it seems they make their own rum.

The smaller hut seems to be private quarters. The only sleeping quarters without a hammock, but instead an actual rope bed with a feather mattress.

Brother MacLaren takes all of the bodies of the Wreckers, weights them down, and throws them overboard. "May Pharasma judge them as they deserve."

He then accompanies Veronica in the ships boats to the island, investigating the bar first. He samples the rum, hoping that it is at least better than the rotgut on the Wormwood.

Perception check on the smaller hut: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29"Captain! You may want to see this. Found a spellbook."

Perception check on the larger hut: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13Well, we can keep searching and even Take 20 if nobody else gets this one.

Finding nothing other than rum in the larger hut, he begins taking inventory of the crates.

"Nice find Mac! I'll go over it later tonight, see what I can use. Let me give a quick look over the rest of the stuff as well, se if anything pings as magic."

After carefully scanning the chests contents, Veronica holds up the flag.

"It's not just a stylish flag, it actually has some magic to it." She says with a grin. "Should both bolster our own crew AND scare any non pirate crew fighting us. Well, scare them a little bit more than what we usually already do."

As they move on to the larger hut and Mac carefully examines the rum, Veronica looks around for anything else of value.

Perception vs DC 25: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

As she looks inside on of the seemingly empty barrels, she spots an object wrapped in an oilcloth at the bottom and takes it out - which as luck would have it, seems to be the very idol they were looking for.

"I think this is it! Seems to fit the description, at least. Let's finish up loading up the rest of the loot, and we can be on our way back to Quent. Let's see what the Calistrians have to tell us. Hopefully we'll have time afterwards for a well deserved break."