Gameday XIII - Pathfinder Society Scenario #2: The Hydra's Fang Incident

Game Master Shadow Dragon

Pip makes it down the rope!

I'm going to make this easier. Nails can knot the rope and hold it for everyone climbing down. The DC for a knotted rope is 5 and everyone can take 10 since the Pit Fiend absolutely nothing is waiting around the corner, not at the bottom of the rope.

lol...not saying i dont trust you..but...[]/ooc]

Andros waits and goes just before Nails comes down.

[ooc]could Nails tie the rope off on something so he can lower himself down? Like a door or something?

lol...not saying i dont trust you..but...[]/ooc]

Andros waits and goes just before Nails comes down.

[ooc]could Nails tie the rope off on something so he can lower himself down? Like a door or something?

Probably could, but that’s not what he’s going to do. :D

Nails ties knots in the rope and motions for the two remaining pathfinders to go down.

Pip can solo a pit fiend, he isn’t worried.

lol...not saying i dont trust you..but...[]/ooc]

Andros waits and goes just before Nails comes down.

[ooc]could Nails tie the rope off on something so he can lower himself down? Like a door or something?

He certainly can. There are plenty of places in the storeroom he can tie the rope too but it sounds like he's going to roll the dice, so to speak.

Avi grimaces as Nails jumps down.

Does someone else have rope? The rest of us... let's do it the easier way!

Avi grimaces as Nails jumps down.

Does someone else have rope? The rest of us... let's do it the easier way!

Nails is holding a knotted rope for Avi and Andros to Climb; it's a DC 5 and you can take 10. I assume Avi doesn't have a problem with making it and neither should Andros but I want to make sure.

climb: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 1 - 4 = 0oops...sorry firgot to roll

[dice=climb]1d20+1-4oops...sorry firgot to roll

Why roll when you can take 10? I didn't think you had a huge ACP and it's only -4 so Andros is good. Avi should be good too.

Doh sorry, focused on his jumping, not his knotting.

Avi carefully descends the rope to see whatever it is Nails sees down there.

Climb Take 10

derp! Forgot i could taje 10 and it's a 5dc...

Andros and Avi follow Pip down the rope ladder while Nails unties the rope, stows it in his backpack, and then executes a near-flawless He *only* rolled a 19 - not a 20! ;) tumble flip into an artistic pose, expertly balanced on the jagged rocks below.

As the group assembles and looks around you have entered into a gloomy, greenish twilight where scattered beams of light filter down between weathered dock planks, bouncing off seaweed covered stones that jut from the dark harbor waters. A forest of pylons suspends the docks above where the scurrying feet of merchants, sailors, and longshoremen hammer like a muffled thunderstorm. Between the pylons, you spot small stone bunkers, ruins of older siege forts now crumbling and weathered from centuries of angry waves. A narrow set of docks traverses the rocks, connecting various locations. Eventually, all lead out to the shallow bay at the mouth of the maze. Nearby, you notice a fresh trail of muck-limned, wet footprints.

The entire group can see where the tracks lead: a nearby dock and two rowboats. They also see two men keeping watch over the area and an unusual creature.

Pip informs the party that the creature is a sea cat cub!

What would Pip like to know about sea cat cubs? New map on Slide 2. No the PCs aren't floating in water; the map doesn't extend to where the PCs actually are so assume maybe 60' away from where Nails's token is currently placed. What would the group like to do?

DR and is it a good kitty?

DR and is it a good kitty?

Pip knows Sea Cats are N and this little one has no DR. It does have Darkvision, a Rend SA, and can hold its breath underwater for a very long time.

Pip waves his team forward and saunters on over to the two men. His eyes go wide as he gets close, "Oh look a kitty! Can I pet them? Well, hold on. They won't bite, right? Anyway, kitty aside, we did the job. You can see from my buddy here it didn't go clean, but don't worry, most of the blood is not his. You gonna row us out to Du Moire already?"

BLUFF HIS ASS OFF: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

My intent here is to basically convince them that we are the people sent to kill Lubor Staizkal and to escort us or direct us to Du Moire's ship. If that is a completely infeasible option, then goal #2 leads to setting up a surprise round by confusing the crap out of these dudes.

Nails keeps his trap shut, he has no idea what is going on other than the fact he almost died once and then did an awesome little flip drop thingy. He stands with a muscular pose next to the diminutive fast talker.

Nice 20! The guards have 0 chance of beating that roll - congrats!

"Row? We're on guard duty. You want to go visit him you need to row yourselves. Come on in."

One of the guards stays on watch while the other leads the group into the bunker. There he gives Pip a wooden and brass coin. He tells Pip, "There's a Harbormaster's Pass; no one will hinder your trip. If you look at this map over here:"

Pointing to a map pinned on a wall reveals a literal maze you have to traverse to reach a location the guard points to - #14 with the initials "HF" by it.

"That's where he's moored. Good luck."

Pip shrugs, "Well, rowing is why we brought muscles here anyway, that works."

He takes the pass and sketches down a quick summary of the map, before leading the group to a rowboat and plopping down to navigate...

...at least until they get far enough away to let someone who may be better do the job do it.

The guard will point out where the oars are stored and allow the group to use one of the rowboats.

So who is rowing?

Muscles?!

Avi looks over himself and shrugs.

Looks like it's you and me, Nails... Andros says as he rolls up his sleeves.

Nails nods and grabs the other oar.

As the muscles of the group row, and Avi directs them to put their backs into it, there's suddenly a large thump on the bottom of the rowboat and then another even harder and the rowboat flips over and dumps everyone into the water!

New map on Slide 2. All of the PCs are in the water and the rowboat has been flipped over onto its top but is still floating in the water. For a quick refresher here's a link to the Underwater Combat rules: Underwater Combat.

Round 1 - Splish Splash!
Avi
Nails
Andros
Thugs in the Water!
Pip

Avi, Nails, and Andros are UP!

What the... Andros doesn't get to finish his thought as he hits the water. Realizing his predicament, he draws a dagger and lashes out, hoping to bring the fight to a close quickly.

swim: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 4 = -1
attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 211d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
crit?: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 71d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

”Woah,” exclaims the monk as he falls into the drink. He sputters to the surface, thrashing around for stability and drawing a pointy weapon.

Swim to tread water: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

And hopefully his thrashing settles things enough to stab the jerk foe right in front of him.

MW Cold Iron Siangham: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 for Piercing/Cold Iron: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Both creatures gasp as they are struck!

Although having struck one of the foes Andros has difficulty staying afloat. Nails looks a bit better at swimming and treads water.

Andros failed the DC (10) by more than 5 so he is now underwater. Here's the link to the Swim skill and the mechanics: Swim.

Blue is at -4, Red at -2.

Can a PC focus on holding onto the capsized boat and skip a swim check? If so, how many hands would that take and what sort of action would that be?

Can a PC focus on holding onto the capsized boat and skip a swim check? If so, how many hands would that take and what sort of action would that be?

That's reasonable so yes they could. It would replace the move action a Swim check requires and I would say it would take one arm. I just Googled it and the 'planks' inside the rowboat are called 'thwarts' so a PC can loop their arm over one of them.

Grabs onto a "thwart"... [move]

Calls down the fire...
[standard] Minute Meteors (Sp) in RED's square
Fire damage RED, DC16 reflex negates: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Grabs onto a "thwart"... [move]

Calls down the fire...
[standard] Minute Meteors (Sp) in RED's square
[dice=Fire damage RED, DC16 reflex negates]1d4+2

I apologize, I should've described the scene better. The Water Thugs are *under* the water and thus could not be the target of the meteors. Avi still has his standard action.

In that case he grabs on and [move] draws his crossbow

The creatures move to attack Andros and Nails!

Water Thug Red Claws: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 61d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Water Thug Red Claws: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 191d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Water Thug Red Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 231d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Water Thug Blue Claws: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 61d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Water Thug Blue Claws: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 201d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Water Thug Blue Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 101d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Andros is clawed once and bitten while Nails gets swiped once by claws!

Round 1 - Splish Splash!
Pip

Round 2 - Splish Splash!
Avi
Nails [-5]
Andros [-10]
Thugs in the Water! [Red at -2, Blue at -4]
Pip

The entire party is UP!

Pip grabs the boat and pants, ”Did you all hear the story about the gillman?”

Smiling at the confusion he adds, ”It was a real ‘fish outta water’ story!”

Inspire Courage up!

Pip grabs the boat and pants, ”Did you all hear the story about the gillman?”

Smiling at the confusion he adds, ”It was a real ‘fish outta water’ story!”

Inspire Courage up!

The blue water thug guffaws at Pip's joke.

The dwarf snorts, ”Haw! That’s a good un’. Mind if I tell it to my kids? The older ones’ll get it.”

He tries to repeat his prior successes.

Swim to tread water: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

MW Cold Iron Siangham + IC: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 = 14 for Piercing/Cold Iron + IC: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

Is treading water a move action, or could I flurry?

The dwarf snorts, ”Haw! That’s a good un’. Mind if I tell it to my kids? The older ones’ll get it.”

He tries to repeat his prior successes.

[dice=Swim to tread water]1d20+6

[dice=MW Cold Iron Siangham + IC]d20+5+1 for [dice=Piercing/Cold Iron + IC]d6+2+1

Is treading water a move action, or could I flurry?

It's still a move action every round.

Nails narrowly misses the aquatic thug who promptly snickers and bites his thumb at Nails...

Still clinging to the boat, Avi tries his hand at an underwater shot.

[move] reload crossbow
[standard] attack RED
light crossbow attack (underwater through 10ft), P damage: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 - 4 = 71d8 ⇒ 3

Unfortunately Avi misses his crossbow shot.

Andros is UP!

A little....help...here...please... Ander says as he tries to not sink and drown. He tries to grab on to the boat to stay above water.

swim: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 1 - 4 = 14 assuming that works...he'll move further down the boat...unsure how that would go with a swim roll...i'll leave the placement up to you...

A little....help...here...please... Ander says as he tries to not sink and drown. He tries to grab on to the boat to stay above water.

[dice=swim]1d20+1-4 assuming that works...he'll move further down the boat...unsure how that would go with a swim roll...i'll leave the placement up to you...

It's ugly. Because Andros does not have a Swim speed he moves at 1/4 his speed with a move action or 1/2 his speed with a full-round action. So Andros can move 5' as a move or 10' as a full round. I moved Andros (and Pip) 'under' the boat to reflect what Pip is already doing and what I suspect Andros wants to do.

that works...

that works...

So did you want to go with the move or the full-round? If you go with the move option Andros would have a standard left. Or is Andros going with a second move to grab onto a thwart?

Can we help him swim or pull him up on subsequent turns?

go with the second move to grab a board on the boat...my bad..did a crap job of explaining my action

Can we help him swim or pull him up on subsequent turns?

Yes to both. A PC can aid another's Swim check or help him hold onto a thwart if they'd like.

The red-tinged aquatic thug moves past Andros, giving him what Andros suspects is an armpit fart, on the way to attack both him and Avi!

Red provokes from Andros.

Water Thug Red Claws - Andros: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 141d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Water Thug Red Claws - Avi: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 121d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Water Thug Red Bite - Avi: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 91d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

But misses all three times! Perhaps he shouldn't have taunted Andros and it is feeling the wrath of Sarenrae?

Meanwhile the blue-tinged beast feels Nails needs a whoopin!

Water Thug Blue Claws: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 181d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Water Thug Blue Claws: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 121d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Water Thug Blue Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 121d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

While he manages to scratch Nails it wasn't the damage he was hoping to inflict.

Nails takes 3 HP damage. The entire party is UP!

Round 2 - Splish Splash!
Pip

Round 3 - Splish Splash!
Avi
Nails [-8]
Andros [-10]
Thugs in the Water! [Red at -2, Blue at -4]
Pip

aoo: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 41d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

[dice=aoo]1d20+1; 1d4+1

Don't forget Andros has his regular turn of actions also.

Looks like Andros is no longer sinking

Avi doesn't feel like he's doing well with his crossbow underwater, but he has little other choice for now.

[move] reload crossbow
[standard] attack RED
light crossbow attack (underwater through 10ft), P damage: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 4 = 161d8 ⇒ 7

argh...my edit didn't save...

Andros slashes at his foe.

attack: 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 - 2 = 31d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Pip quips, ”Up a creek without a paddle. Where are the paddles, anyway?”

Keep IC up (free), Move to hold on, Ready a Standard.

Dont forget Inspire Courage, please.