Zero's Bounty #20: Burden in Bloodcove (Inactive)

Game Master Super Zero

Our adventure begins with our heroes already in Bloodcove. They have received an invitation to meet with Aayah Stronch from the Aspis Consortium regarding a potential job. This invitation includes few details but does not arouse suspicions, simply instructing them to meet her at sunrise in a tavern called The Pelican’s Kiss.

Aayah is a dark-skinned human woman sporting an elaborately braided updo and a pressed scarlet uniform. Her demeanor is polite yet forthright, and if asked for proof of her affiliation, she flashes a bronze badge bearing the organization’s emblem. As the adventurers approach, Aayah gestures for them to seat themselves across the table. She makes eye contact with the tavern keeper, who approaches to offer them coffee and biscuits.

But before we get to all of that, why don't you introduce yourselves?

A stocky Andoran man of six feet walks over to the table. He wears simple studded leather that looks to have seen much action. Poking out from his back, behind his head is the haft of a hand and a half sword. At each of his sides is a shortsword and his hands are wrapped with brawlers wraps.

He flips his dark brown, neck length hair out of the way and says with a genial smile, "An invitation..you make me feel so special."

A slender woman with dirty blond hair skips into the tavern. She appears childlike, but her eyes dart around the room, quickly sizing up the crowd. She sees the representative from the Aspis Consortium and skips over to the table.

"Shayla Quickfingers. I was told you have a job for us?"

Hancock is unkempt, slouching, and mumbling. Quick to anger and inpatient. When he sits too long a nervous twitch starts up in his leg and he starts drumming his foot on the ground. He is accompanied by a dapper cheerful companion who does all of the talking.

"My name is Bruce and this is my illustrious companion, Hancock. He has a little trouble enunciating so I do all the talking."

This earns a scowl from Hancock who mumbles something indecipherable, at least to you, though Bruce seems to understand well enough.

"Now, Hancock, no need to be so self defensive."

Which just makes him scowl more.

The dwarf wearing a breastplate and carrying a steel shield with shield boss in his back arrives at his turn. Hello, I am Dran'Thal from Dran'Thor's family and from the clan of Torgin. It seems you asked for 2 dwarfs at least. It should be a difficult job in view.

He hasn't hae any contact with the Aspis for now. And if they pay well...

Jom's smile grows right before he interjects, "But like, not as difficult as getting something off the top shelf, right? A kneecap level of difficulty, probably."

A somewhat frail looking man arrives. He is accessorized with a set of weapons and shield awkwardly stowed on him. Beside him walks his angel eidolon, with white magnificent wings, his toned-body exposed, glittering with gold dust under the sun. They bow together and introduces themselves. "Hello, I am Charlies and he is Estes."

Jom's smile grows right before he interjects, "But like, not as difficult as getting something off the top shelf, right? A kneecap level of difficulty, probably."

Hancock does not look amused but you definitely hear a chuckle from Bruce.

"Aw, come on Hancock, that was funny."

An individual shrouded in a bright green cloak saunters in, a simple back-pack strapped to their back. Their face is covered by a large intricate mask resembling a bird's head, the wood colorfully dyed, giving them a positively tropical appearance that contrasts strongly with the disembodied, skinless, elven head they are carrying like a prized possession, gently stroking it's black hair. Seemingly unaware of the oddity of their appearance, they will find an open seat and sit-down without a word.

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, the head will look around the party and, after clearing the throat it does not have, the head will speak up, it's golden eyes shining in their pupil-less sockets. "Well hello there! It is good to see so many...interesting new faces at this gathering. We are just giddy to be coming along with... Well, whatever this is... Not that anyone has told me anythin-"

The head's chat is cut short by the cloaked figure suddenly standing and throwing throwing him at the nearest wall, before calmly sitting back down as though this is nothing unusual.

The head itself will slowly roll back to the cloaked figure's feat, mumbling something along the way, but too quiet to be understood beyond some level of annoyance. Before the figure picks him back up and sets him in their lap as though nothing out of the ordinary has occurred.

The head will stick it's tongue out at the cloaked figure before speaking to the party at large again, "Anyways... My compatriot here is called Maxamed Adisa Ihejirika... However a simple Maxamed will suffice. Not that they are all that talkative anywa-" The head will pause as Maxamed's grip tightens on his scalp again, and will quickly follow up with, "Annnd we are very glad to have been invited to this endeavor!"

Maxamed will nod slightly, and resume gently petting the head, who will elect to remain silent rather than get tossed across the room again.

Hancock looks toward the door after the bizarre display, only to be held in place, gently, by Bruce, who whispers a few words of encouragement in his ear.

Jom is taken by surprise by the display and seems to struggle to find words. When he does his face is that of curiosity, "Wait...I mean I have to ask. What is it that you do? I'm not looking for the headline, but what is the body of your work?" he ends with a smirk.

"Oh, good one, Jom, good one," exclaims Bruce.

The woman at the table observes all and nods.

“Thank you for answering my summons. My name is Aayah Stronch, and I represent the Aspis Consortium, which as you no doubt are aware oversees several trade operations throughout the Mwangi Expanse. This morning, the Consortium is scheduled to receive several shipments. We routinely hire adventurers such as yourselves to inspect incoming cargo for traps and potential hazards before they are sent to the warehouses, which is why I’ve summoned you here. You will, of course, be compensated for your work.”

She leans back. "I am aware that adventurers can have their... quirks. I am also aware some of you are members of the Pathfinder Society, and that there has been bad blood between our organizations. I don't care about either of those things.

"You can expect there to be five containers. You'll be paid for investigating all five and nullifying any threats."

She takes a long drink from her coffee. "Questions?"

"Weird, why would the cargoes have traps or hazards? Have you got enemies recently?" Charlies curiously asks the Aspis agents. Now his thoughts of just checking what is inside the cargo are now made complicated by the fact that they might have traps or hazards.

That is a good question indeed.

Though he doesn't say anything, Hancock certainly has thoughts about the whole thing.

"And why buy muscle if all she is worried about is traps. Betcha there is more to this than what she is saying, maybe even a good frame up."

Maxamed will not respond to Jom themself, but the Head will pipe up, "Maxamed likes to stay abreast of goings on. They specialize in many magical arts, and have a colorful way of ensuring things get done. I have the pleasure of chin-wagging for them, as they are usually the more silent type... Until something needs doing and can't get done ahead of time, then comes the mystical mysteries of Maxamed's multitudinous methods of maximal magic. I-"

Once again Maxamed gives a warning grip before the head talks too overly long, and he finishes with a simple. "Er-hem. You can call me Tok, and trust that Maxamed fully understands everything you say... Even if they may rely on me to answer for them, more often than not."

Maxamed and Tok then listen carefully to Aayah's statements and Charlies and Dran'Thul's response. Tok chipping in a helpful, "Yeah! Just staying ahead of the game here. But I doubt you'd be paying us 10 gold unless you expect trouble..." He then elaborates further with a conspiratorial whisper that carries just as far regardless, "And if you ARE expecting trouble... Don't suppose that's an extra ten gold for me, eh? After-all I'm a valuable par- HEY!" Maxamed once more throws Tok across the room, this time at a slightly farther wall so it takes him longer to roll back over and be picked up as soon as he shuts his trap.

Jom chuckles a little, "These are the Aspis, people. Imagine if you took the Pathfinder Society and corrupted them to be more malicious, greedy, and other nefarious traits. Well, more than they are now. Ya'know, the Aspis!" Jom pauses for a moment, turns to Aayah, and says simply, "I'm ready to go do some sketchy stuff!"

Maxamed tilts their head at Jom's statement, and Tok chuckles. "Maxamed would like to know, when you say 'take the Pathfinder Society and corrupted them to be more malicious, greedy, and other nefarious traits.' Are you including the 'Shadow Lodge' in that comparison... Whoever they were... Oh... some 'ancient history' apparently."

"Weird, why would the cargoes have traps or hazards? Have you got enemies recently?"

"Like any notable organization," says Aayah, "there are those who seek to undermine or harm the Aspis Consortium. The traps they set are often designed to activate in our warehouses and target our inventory

"Making enemies can’t be avoided. Now that you mention it, though, there was an incident a few days ago. A pirate named Jaw Lonnesen—an Ulfen man
known for his foul temper—had his junker of a ship stolen twice in the past year from Consortium harbors, and he blames us for it. He swore up a storm outside one of our offices, making declarations of revenge. I think he was
full of hot air, but it’s possible he plans to do more than scream at a building until his voice gives out."

Jom chuckles a little, "These are the Aspis, people. Imagine if you took the Pathfinder Society and corrupted them to be more malicious, greedy, and other nefarious traits. Well, more than they are now. Ya'know, the Aspis!" Jom pauses for a moment, turns to Aayah, and says simply, "I'm ready to go do some sketchy stuff!"

Aayah frowns, but makes not comment about disparaging her organization.

"Regardless of how you feel about my organization as a whole, there is nothing shady here. The job is straightforward: Inspect the cargo and neutralize any threats.

"Additional compensation is not on the table. You may have misheard. I said gold pieces, not silver pieces. We could hire any dockworker to perform this inspection, but we are paying more for skilled hands because the last thing we want is to see anyone harmed. You have skills, and we respect that, but we have considered the market rates, and our offer is fair."

Anyone who would like to Recall Knowledge to see if they know anything else useful, just post your Society or Mercantile Lore bonus.

Bruce tries to put on a brave face. After all it was he who set the job up for Hancock and it will be he that ears his ire if things go wrong.

"I'm sure it is. And all that gold is nothing to be sniffed at. Lead on and I am quite confident this talented group will be able to neutralize any threats."

Mercantile lore +8

Considering the offer the dwarf strikes his beard. It seems that they need to open crates and be careful with what will lurk inside. Let's see.

Jom shrugs at Aayah, "Maybe it'll be straightforward, maybe it won't. I don't really care. I agreed to the job and I am good for my word, regardless of other people." He adds at the end, "And hey, if all goes well, maybe I'll stick around for more. Good people are hard to find...particularly when I'm hiding." He gives her a wink.

Jom then turns to the silent elf and shrugs again, "I don't know. I never really heard of that lodge. Is it in Nidal?"

Society +9

Maxamed will nod at Aayah, agreeing and making it clear they have no more questions.

After Jom's statement, Maxamed will start to shake for a moment. At first it is unclear of whether from laughter or a seizure, possibly both. Very hard to tell under the cloak and full-face mask. But then Tok wil bark out in laughter. "Maxamed thinks you youngsters are funny... Apparently the Shadow Lodge wasn't one single lodge. But used to be one of the major influences. Light the Vigilant Seal of old before the seal became new. In fact the seal sounds like it was created to do what the Shadow Lodge claimed to do, but actually do it... Also something about a bathtub... Not sure I understood that bit." Amazingly, Yok manages ot to over-expound on a subject for once.

None of the above skills. Shayla stays quiet

Both Dran'Thal and Maxamed recall that all kinds of cargo move through Bloodcove—not just standard trade goods but rarer things like arcane reagents and live creatures. Therefore, inspecting the containers will require expertise in various skills.

Aayah tips the tavern keeper a gold piece and rises from her seat, hardly waiting for her new hires to follow her outside

She leads the way through the winding streets of Bloodcove, which bend and twist around the sprawling roots of the looming mangrove trees.
The sun, which bloomed over the horizon just minutes ago like an orange-red flower, rises in the morning sky. As she makes her way to the docks, long shadows stretch lazily beneath the orange rays and then recede
as the sky awakens into a vibrant, sapphire blue. Laborers and mariners unload crates and barrels onto the water-worn docks, unaffected by the crimson waters that gently lap against the timbers.

If any of you are unaccustomed to the unusual waters of Bloodcove, Aayah sees it on your face and gestures to the bloodred waters that
give the city its name, adding with a slight smile, “The water here flows from the Vanji River, made red from the iron-rich clay along its banks. Newcomers find it unsettling, but it’s the one thing that never fails to make me feel at home.”

Before leaving, Aayah adds, “Proceed at your discretion. I must address other matters, but I will return to receive your verbal report.” As she departs, passersby part and nod to her deferentially. A small crowd begins to gather and observe the inspection from nearby streets.

Before you are one massive crate, around 10 feet wide by 20 feet long, two smaller ones five by 10 feet, and at the end of the dock another smaller one that's approximately a five-foot cube.

Aayah's prediction that there would be five does not seem to be true--at least not yet.

Sorry, can't post the actual map right now. Later today!

Jom pulls out a crowbar from his pack and approaches the largest one.

"Get ready!" he shouts and then begins prying.

Athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

The dwarf raises his shield as you never know what might occurs when you open crates, and more when you was told that it could be dangerous.

Hancock calls out "lkt, pbymtr!" as he rushes forward to help.

Fortunately you have Bruce, who calls out on his tail, "Careful there. Probably a monster inside," though the sound grows softer and softer as he simultaneously backpaddles to get away just in case Hancock is right.

Shayla ducks behind Hancock, seeing that he's probably the best source of cover around.

The crate is sealed tight, the Jom is able to pry it open with his crowbar.

The inside of the container is reinforced with bars. At first, there appears to be nothing inside except ficus trees and wood substrate.

Then everyone notices the reptile, a massive lizard-like creature the size of a horse. It blends in with the foliage and the sides of the crate so well that the adventurers almost didn't notice.

And they definitely didn't notice the closer one until it attacked.

The creature bites Jom as he tosses the wooden panel aside, then its sticky tongue snaps out and adheres to him, then it uses that tongue to pull him just a bit closer and sings its deep into him painfully.

Hit for 11 bludgeoning damage, hit for a special grab (you can move, but not more than 15 feet away, and anyone can attack the tongue to severe it and end the grab, and then crit for another [b]28 piercing damage.

Initiative:
Maxamed
Jom -39
Charlies
Giant Chameleon (purple)
Shayla
Hancock
Dran'Thal
Giant Chameleon (Red)

I assume it is our turn?

Charlies hides behind the muscular Estes while the angel instinctively moves in front of him. "You might trigger some hazard there." he tells Jomanrhen. "Maybe we should inspect them... carefully." before he hides again so he can't see if ever the fighter gives him a disapproving look.

"And that's is what I am telling..." which is not, if he is being honest to himself. He expects the crate to contain something like bombs actually. He draws his steel shield while Estes moves close to the creatures inside the big crate. He then moves and quickly patches the wounds inflicted on the fighter.
DC 15 Medicine check to Battle Medicine: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

But the patch he is about to put falls to ground before it can get contact onto the fighter's wounds. "Ooppps! Sorry."

◆ Act Together (◆ Interact to draw shield of Charlies; ◆ Stride of Estes)
◆ Stride
◆ Battle Medicine

Jom prys the crate door open, quickly surveys the inside and then turns to the group of naysayers behind him. "See? Noth-"

Jom's words are cut short as a camouflaged maw latches on to his shoulder, engulfing an arm. A "Waah!" and a clatter follows the arm engulfing development as the creature pulls Jom up against the bars of the cage. It reajusts its grip and bites down even more of Jom's body with a sickening squelch and crunch.

"Ugh..." is all Jom can muster as a massive amount of his life just left him.

Flat DC 5 check for manipulate: 1d20 ⇒ 9

With the little bit of strength he has left, he squirms away from the creature in the cage. This reveals that a tongue is stuck to Jom's side. With labored effort, Jom draws his bastard sword from his back and hacks at the tongue.

Step, Draw weapon, Strike
2h BS: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
S: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

I was sure there was something lurking in this crate.

The dwarf already equipped from his shield rushes forward to slam the beast.

+1 Shield boss, spellstrike:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

+1 Shield boss, spellstrike, hero point:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Damage, Shocking grasp:1d6 + 3 + 3d12 ⇒ (4) + 3 + (10, 3, 9) = 29

So 58 damage for the crit

Sit down, beast!

Dran'Thal will probably want to wait until his turn in Initiative before going in and doing all that, since the other Beast goes before him. Nice crit though!

Maxamed will suddenly start dancing and chanting in place... a tree sprouts out of the ground right behind Jom, it's branches leaning down to gently caress his head in the same way Maxamed has been caressing the top of Tok. Before straightening some and spreading it's branches out protectively around Jom, Charlies, Estes, Hancock and Dran'Thal if he is in his chosen square?

"Hey! Only I should get some treatment!" Tok will call out, sounding almost offended Jom is getting such friendly attention.

Maxemed then points at the other Chameleon on the far side of the boxes, and waggles his finger around in a disconcerting way.

◆◆ Casts a heightened to level 2 Protector Tree spell in the square behind Jom.

◆ Casts the Focus spell Stumbling Curse At the Chameleon in the back. DC 19 Reflex save. If it crit fails, Maxamed would force it to spend the first 5 movement feet of it's movement, moving away from the party. Thus keeping the other chameleon in the way for cover against any ranged attacks and forcing it to use 15 feet of it's speed to move any closer to the party.

One enemy at a time if possible. please and thank you. End turn

Oups, sorry.

Jom crits the tongue, which is almost too bad because it's definitely overkill. He is no longer grabbed, and it can't use its tongue attack again until it grows a new tongue (which will take rather longer than would be useful for it in this situation).
Purple succeeds on its save, taking the skill penalty.

Jom slices off the creature's tongue. It squeals in pain, and some blood trickles from its mouth. It certainly can't do that again, but also seems angrier and just as ready to fight.

Charlies isn't able to quickly treat Jom's wounds, but Maxamed's spells seem to have some effect (I highlighted the tree for you) as the chameleon that had failed to high seems to stumble.

Of course, it also doesn't have much of anywhere to go, surrounded by a ceiling, walls on three sides, and its fellow in front of it. It snaps its sticky tongue out at Jom, who now has the bloody end of one tongue stuck to him as well as another.

It then seems to fade from view as its colors shift better to match the crate behind it, and lowers itself more below the branches. Everyone can see the sticky tongue reaching back to it past the other one, and there aren't many places it could be--but it's really difficult to see precisely where its body is.

And then Dran'Thal charges forward and hits the other one square in the face with his shield as he magically electrifies it. Large as it is, it doesn't seem built to withstand that punishment and it reels as it nearly topples over.

(I determined targets randomly... and it's technically another critical hit, but this attack doesn't do anything extra on a crit. Jom is grabbed. Not immobilized, but can't move more than 15 feet from the purple chameleon. Tongue can be attacked separately from the rest of the creature and will be severed with a small amount of slashing damage).
It then Hides, succeeding against everyone. Of course, you do know exactly what space its in.

Shayla and Hancock turns.

Initiative:
Shayla
Hancock
Red Giant Chameleon (Severed tongue, -58, bloodied)
Maxamed
Jom (-39, grabbed)
Charlies
Purple Giant Chameleon (-2 status to Acrobatics and Athletics, Hidden, taking cover)
Dran'Thal

Shayla moves in closer and flings two knives at Red.

Throwing Knife vs Red: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Throwing Knife vs Red, MAP, Agile: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Piercing, Crit: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Doubled to 8
Piercing?: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

◆ Stride
◆ Strike (Quick Draw)
◆ Strike (Quick Draw)

The first knife buries itself in the animal's neck, and the second lands almost as deeply.

Hancock's turn.

Initiative:
Hancock
Red Giant Chameleon (Severed tongue, -71, bloodied)
Maxamed
Jom (-39, grabbed)
Charlies
Purple Giant Chameleon (-2 status to Acrobatics and Athletics, Hidden, taking cover)
Dran'Thal
Shayla

Hancock will rage and then try using non-lethal on the tongue and move to a location across from the Purple chameleon.

Don't know how non-lethal works in 2e, so here are my normal rolls:

Making a nonlethal attack with a lethal weapon (or vice versa) gives a -2 penalty. That's a miss.
And remember they are in a reinforced wooden crate. Only the one end is open right now.

The badly wounded reptile flails its head, trying to ram it into Jom and Estes. It manages to shove Jom back, but failing to push the angel away it bites at him instead--but with no more success.

Maxamed, Jom, and Charlies's turns.

Initiative:
Maxamed
Jom (-39, grabbed)
Charlies
Purple Giant Chameleon (-2 status to Acrobatics and Athletics, Hidden, taking cover)
Dran'Thal
Shayla
Hancok
Red Giant Chameleon (Severed tongue, -71, bloodied)

Jom musters a little more energy to chop another tongue from his body. BS: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
S: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

He then stumbles away from the cage to relative safety and collapses with a groan. "So..much...oww.."

Strike, Stride, drop prone

And remember they are in a reinforced wooden crate. Only the one end is open right now.

Hancock smacked at the tongue currently sticking out of the cage, though with that roll I'm sure it does not matter. That is why he moved, struck, and then moved. That way he could attack and then free up the space for someone else to attack. He also thought he might be able to lure the tongue if he was a closer target and it got detached. Hancock has more HP.

Oh, I left that out of my last description. Sorry. Yes, miss.

Hancock isn't able to land a solid hit against the slippery and stretchy tongue--and his weapon isn't particularly suited to slicing through it in any case.

Jom has more luck, easily severing it to another shrieking cry from the second lizard.

Maxamed and Charlies's turns.

Initiative:
Maxamed
Charlies
Purple Giant Chameleon (Severed tongue, -2 status to Acrobatics and Athletics, Hidden, taking cover)
Dran'Thal
Shayla
Hancok
Red Giant Chameleon (Severed tongue, -71, bloodied)
Jom (-39, prone)

Hancock scratches his head. Normally he would just pound the things into oblivion, but they are probably precious goods and that would not be appreciated. Then again, now that they no longer have tongues, they might settle down and even if they don't there are bars to keep them out of trouble.

Estes punches Red with his fist while Charlies heals Jomarhen with positive energy.
Fist Attack vs Red, Non-lethal: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Fist Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 bludgeoning damage

◆◆ Heal for Jomarhen: 2d8 + 16 ⇒ (5, 6) + 16 = 27 HP for Jomarhen

And another punch from Estes to Red to maybe just knock it down in its crate.
Fist Attack vs Red, MAP: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 10 - 5 = 23
Fist Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 bludgeoning damage

◆◆ Act Together (◆◆ Heal of Charlies; ◆ Strike of Estes)
◆ Strike (of Estes)

The beast ducks under Estes's fist the first time, but the second blow slams it against the side and rattle the crate. It slumps down into a pile.

That'll do it, Red's unconscious.

Maxamed's turn.

Initiative:
[b]Maxamed[b]
Purple Giant Chameleon (Severed tongue, -2 status to Acrobatics and Athletics, Hidden, taking cover)
Dran'Thal
Shayla
Hancock
Jom (-12, prone)
Charlies

Maxamed will attempt to Seek the remaining chameleon
perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

If that succeeds maxamed will target it with Ray of Frost.

ray attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26cold damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7

Otherwise they drops a Guidance on Dran and casts Shield on themself

crazy real life. Sorry for the wait all

The chameleon moves. While its color still blends in fairly well, the shifting movement and slight mismatch give away its position.

It stumbles over its fellow and reaches out to snap at the angel with jaws bloody from its severed tongue. The first bite is nasty, but Estes is far too quick for the second as the reptile overextends itself.

That's a critical hit for 26 piercing damage on the first attack, and a critical failure on the second.

All PCs' turns.

Initiative:
Dran'Thal (Guidance)
Shayla
Hancock
Jom (-12, prone)
Charlies (-26)
Maxamed (shield)
Purple Giant Chameleon (Severed tongue, -2 status to Acrobatics and Athletics)