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.

Jack takes the ship in a bottle outside and 'deals to it'. Once subdued, he puts in gently back on the shelf.

Yes. Canal.

Ryul smiles, ”Great work everyone, finally some documentation of what we are looking for. Let’s go check out our other lead.”

You make your way through the dimly-lit streets to the St. Lymirin Street Bridge. The streetlamps in the area aren't lit, so only the waxing moon illuminates the scene. Dim light, so Jack, Nal, and Paloma will need a light source or suffer a 20% miss chance on their attacks.

Where Saint Lymirin Street meets the main canal into Ridonport, a weathered stone bridge arches over the murky shipping lane. Fifteen feet below, in the bridge’s shadow, a long canal barge is tied up in the still water.

How do you want to approach the bridge?

How do you want to approach the bridge?

Ugh, I knew I missed posting somewhere! Is it any shorter to go down from the bank instead of the bridge?

Ryul whispers to the group, ”I can take two down softly, with featherfall. But the rest will have to climb or really be good at falling. Does anyone need the light spell cast, or wait until we get down?”

Cortina whispers back: ”I'm neither good with climbing nor at falling. But I can see in the dark.”

It's about a ten-foot drop to the barge.

Good, that gives anyone with ok acrobatics a decent way down. Can we see or hear the people on the boat or was that dependent upon how we approach?

Hearing them clearly depends on how you approach, yes. From a distance those of you with low-light vision or darkvision can see some movement on the barge.

Anyone read my spoiler and have thoughts? Anyone otherwise feel good enough about their stealth to sneak up to listen in?

"Well, asking questions or making demands while threatening... uh, I mean intimidating them works for me. Also, I see some movement on the barge."

Ryul suggests the start of a plan, ”Why don’t I try to sneak up and listen. You all stay near enough to rush up if I get caught and can’t talk my way out of it. Remember if we engage I can drop two of you down easily, the rest will have to jump or slowly climb.”

Ryul doesn't think he's being as quiet as he could be, but he gets within thirty feet or so of the barge without being noticed. He sees four figures offloading crates from the vessel. One murmurs to another, "We're taking a lot more from the Iron Gar now than he ever gave us while we were in the service, hey?"

Common Knowledge Local Capped at DC 10: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

The elf slips back to the group and reports what he heard and saw.

”One of them said ‘We're taking a lot more from the Iron Gar now than he ever gave us while we were in the service, hey?’ and the four are all wearing some components of the Taldan Imperial Navy sailor's uniform--one has the uniform jacket over civilian clothes, one is wearing civilian clothes but has the uniform hat, and the like. Maybe someone can intimidate or snap them to military attention and talk them into sharing what we want? Anyone have military experience?”

Ryul, I missed something in the spoiler and was able to update it in time. If you see this in the next 59 minutes, please update your post as well.

Jack shakes his head.

Cortina also shakes her head.

What now? The quartet doesn't seem to have noticed the party yet.

Ryul motions the group to follow him up after whispering, ”Ready to jump when I say… jump. Just two of you can go so I’ll assume Jack and probably Cortina? I’ll try to talk to them but… we will see.”

He strides up onto the bridge and casts light onto his armor, ”Evening gents. Usually four folks skulking on a barg in pitch dark under a bridge is a red flag. But maybe you all have a really good explanation?”