GM Rotation, The COREageous Crew

Game Master Pete H.

I just realized that I hadn't posted the map. I'll do that later today, and that might make things clearer.

I should tell you I've been asked to run this scenario online in the next few days and I'm currently prepping it.

No worries. I've got the map up, and you may observe that the building has a back door.

Ryul frowns, ”This isn’t ideal. We were told to avoid making a scene. And with the guard there… I don’t know if we have the expertise to avoid hurting him. Why don’t we just go check out that bridge?”

Any other suggestions?

Cashel sighs.

"Well, we need to check this place out eventually, anyway, so we might as well give it a shot."

Tapping himself on the shoulder for luck, he strides imperiously up to the door and raps on it sharply.

"Open up! We are here on behalf of Lord Tullian, and do not want to take up any more time than is necessary on this inspection and data collection mission!"

He then brandishes the writ that he received at the start of the mission to further reinforce his statement.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22.
Diplomacy, Bit of Luck: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16.

I guess I will take the 22, before showing off my writ :-P

The half-orc opens the door and is about to challenge Cashel, but wilts in the face of his determination (and writ, to be honest). Tugging his forelock in respect, he backs up and allows the party to enter. "You'll be wanting the usual, sir? In the back office?"

It appears that Neffery left his ledger out and open on the table where he'd been working when you spoke with him.

Cashel nods.

"Keep up the good work."

He then moves to take a look at the ledger, before moving into the office to take a look around.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25.

Marginal notes in the ledger are under Handout #2, in the slide deck. Note that the current year is 4717 AR.

The other information on that page appears to be financial in nature.

The elf follows and is impressed by Cashel’s bluster. He looks through the document.

Appraise: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

He whispers what he notices and copies down the details.

” The warship Zephyr Sign has had similar orders of supplies for the past five years, but the prices have increased markedly in the last ten months, starting shortly after Vernisant inherited his title. Furthermore, the origins of much of the purchased supplies becomes increasingly vague or completely absent, whereas before Vernisant inherited the title much of the commodities appear to have come from Count Zespire's lands and other holdings. A quick check of other pages shows similarly-timed price hikes and undocumented sources for most other vessels.

Like the public areas of the building, the back office is decorated with a nautical theme. A shelf along the south wall holds a collection of ships in bottles and other sailing collectables decorated in Taldor’s blue and green shades. A desk stands in the middle of the room, and on the wall behind it is a glass-fronted shadow box containing a replica of the shattered Shield of Aroden, the legendary shield that saved General Arnisant’s life.

Perc: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25.

Cashel readily identifies the 'hidden' safe.

"Not sure what the current combination is, but given that note he left..."

@GM: Cashel would like to try whatever year is 890 prior to the current 'in game' year as the combination.

If that doesn't work, there is always the option of the 'Adventurer's Lockpick' - i.e. the party Rogue ;-)

Unless I've completely borked the math, that would be 3827.

Setting the dial to 3827 triggers an audible click, and the safe opens.

Contents to come tomorrow, when I can access the scenario.

At the same time, however, one of the ships in bottles rises into the air and begins to move towards the party! Speckles of water flow about the deck like a crew, arming a miniature ballista on the deck.

Round 1:

Initiative order
Nal
Paloma
Jack
Cashel
Ship
Cortina
Ryul

Nal, Paloma, Jack, and Cashel are up!

Ship: AC ? T ? FF ? HP taken: 0

Jack looks for something to wrap the floating ship in a bottle in before grappling it.

cmb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Round 1 (ongoing):

Jack steps up and whisks his cloak around the bottle before grabbing it.

The ship in the bottle is grappled!

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Nal
Paloma
Jack-acted
Cashel
Ship
Cortina
Ryul

Nal, Paloma, and Cashel can still act!

Thinking Jack has come up with a good idea, Cashel pulls out a blanket, and attempts to wrap it around the bottle, hoping that that messes with its ability to 'see'.

CMB: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15.

Who knows? It might calm it down!

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Nal
Paloma
Jack-acted
Cashel-acted
Ship
Cortina
Ryul

Cashel blankets the bottle, blinding it!

This does not seem to calm it down.

Nal and Paloma to go!

OK. I got it. What do you want me to do with it?

Ryul seems frozen with fascination, "Oh wow that amazing! A magically animated ship to defend a location. Nice. Either this guy we are after is a powerful mage, or he has one on retainer, or he really has a love for this kind of trinket. That painting earlier was probably something similar."

Still not his turn, just filling in some chatter. Nal and Paloma haven't posted in a while also.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Having gained entry peaceably, Paloma is hesitant to undo their progress. Moving up beside Jack and his blanketed bundle, she draws her quarterstaff. "We could try to smash it... er, quietly." She offers, looking for some confirmation from her colleagues before acting on this idea.

Quarterstaff attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

I mostly just wasn't sure how to proceed so let the motivated parties lead the way. I did attempt a perception check to see what the guy who tipped us off to this location was hinting at but never saw any GM input on that subject.

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Nal
Paloma-acted
Jack-acted
Cashel-acted
Ship
Cortina
Ryul

Paloma steps up, winding up to strike, and hits the blanketed grappled bottled ship soundly. The bottle cracks under the impact, then bursts. Shattered glass penetrates the blanket with enough force to do damage.

Jack, Cortina, and Paloma take 4 points of piercing damage, with a DC 12 Reflex save for half damage. Because you've got it wrapped up, though, take +2 on your saves.

Botting Nal:

Unable to reach the enemy, Nal delays until Cortina can get out of the way.

The ship tries to fly free, but is unable to escape from Jack and the blanket.

Cortina and Ryul to go!

Ship: AC 15 T 14 FF 13 HP taken: 8

I was hoping to get this done without breaking anything Jack says quietly.

ref: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 2 = 21

ref: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 2 = 20

"Ouch! I think it’s too late for that..." Cortina answers.

I'll better get some distance...

The cleric 5-foot-steps back, draws her longspear and tries to hit the ship.

cold iron Longspear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Piercing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Does anyone want to bot Nal?

Ryul points out, ”The only damage we took was when we hit it. Perhaps we should just tie it up tight?”

I don’t actually know if this thing can be tied up, but Ryul otherwise can’t do that much. So he will Delay. Also, does anyone oppose to me botting Nal to try to Aid the next CMB check? I’ll add a damage roll in case you just want Nal to smash.

Re the botting action, is there any reason Nal wouldn't rage before hitting?

A couple reasons popped into my head. So I just did a default attack since I don’t know what usually triggers his rage. +2 hit and +3 damage to the above rolls would be his rage stats if the group thinks/prefers he raging attack instead.

I checked to see whether it would break free next round, and it won't. Let's call it here--you subdue or destroy the ship, and either way you're out of combat.

The safe contains the deed to the chandlery, showing ownership officially transferred to Earl Vernisant over a year ago. There's also a ledger that records a long series of payments vaguely labeled as "gifts" to various naval officers over the last year.

To the canal now?

"Interesting stuff, especially the bribes... uh, I mean 'gifts'. We should take it with us. Now, before we head to the canal: Cashel, shall I heal us up or do you wanna do it?"
Cortina can use channel energy only 1/day, so I think she better keeps it for an emergency...

To the canal now?

Yes, please.