GM Ilmakis' #6-00: Salt of the Ocean [Gameday XIII]

Game Master Ilmakis

Yarr! Perr-ception me hearties: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Of Gnimish could treat Coracle's wounds in the last 10 minutes we have left, that would be appreciated!

Coracle tentatively licks some of the sharkhead blood from his hands, but then spits in disgust. He doesn't stop grumbling in Amurran until he's rinsed his fur thoroughly--and taken a swig of grog to wash the taste from his mouth.

When Calisro gives his team their next mission, he salutes her. The catfolk remains sharply alert as he boards the jollyboat and starts searching for Tessa's greedy crew.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Retcon

Gnimish heads over to Coracle and applies some healing ointment on his wounds.

Natural Healing on Coracle: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

Gnimish sniffs at the ointment. "No wonder that goblin sold it to me on the cheap! This stuff's expired!" he grumbles.

Clinging to the rigging, Chirrit’s eyes scan the water for the semi-rogue pirate craft.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"Understood, mutiny is the gravest enemy on the high seas."

Keri scans the horizon.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Also, if we need more healing between combats, Keri has Assurance-Medicine for an automatic 2d8 healing.

You quickly locate a jolly boat filled with rowdy and half-drunk pirates, a mixed group of gnomes, gripplis and a dromaar. As you arrive, they ostentatiously throw a blanket over the back area of the boat, and two of the gnomes sit on it.

"Ah, Pathfinders! What ye be doing here today? Fine weather for a sailing trip, no?" One of the gripplis says, innocently.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

To find items the pirates salvaged or get them to confess, each PC can attempt an Easy Thievery or Underworld Lore check, Average Perception or Intimidation check, or Hard Deception or Diplomacy check. Each PC can attempt a maximum of two checks to earn Plunder Points.

Because you located the pirates so quickly, you all have a +2 on these checks!

"Ah, so many pirates! So exciting." Jig tries to keep it together as he approaches the jolly boat.

"Um, ahoy there crew!" He begins. "Have you come across any...hmmm...'booty' I think you call it? Ye...scallywags?"

Underworld Lore: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

He looks for contraband in all the usual places.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 2 = 28

Grumbling irritably, Gnimish stomps up to one of the gripplis and grabs him by the front of his tunic. "Listen, you, I just discovered that the healing salve I put on my friend is expired. Not that it's your fault but I'm pretty irritated to not be able to heal my friend! So why don't you make it easy on yourself and just tell me what I want to know!"

For added effect, Gnimish causes electricity to travel across his fingers as if he's ready to discharge it.

Keri peers around for unnatural piles.

perception: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 2 = 14

Being an experienced pirate himself, Coracle knows likely hiding places on such a small boat. As he begins sniffing out the hidden plunder, he mutters, "'Lubbers," dismissively.

Thievery: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 2 = 27

Remember that you can do TWO checks!

Thanks for pointing that out! So, revising part of my last post here, and adding that second check.

As Coracle begins sniffing out the hidden plunder, he growls, "You 'lubbers aren't even good at thievin'," in disgust, occasionally glaring balefully at the other crew.

Intimidation: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 = 28

Whoa...I think my pirate is finally finding his sea legs!

Underworld Lore: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Jig (thanks to the +2 and a roleplay bonus for pirate lingo) scores a Plunder Point with the Pirates!

Gnimish has a Critical Success in Intimidating the little Grippli and earns TWO Plunder Points!

Keri looks anywhere but the blanket, and has not yet earned a Plunder Point!

Coracle Jibs, Pirate that he is, has made two Critical Successes for FOUR PLUNDER POINTS!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

The pirates break down crying under the pressure that you bear. "Arr... We weren't stealing yer booty. We were just... borrowing it for a while, aye?"

The pirates lift up the blanket and turn over their contraband. They also confess that they were looking for an artifact called the Forked Key.

The grippli admits, "A voice in me head told me about it and promised to pay me, er, I mean us, for it!"

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Calisro tells you, "Hold on to the looted items in case they turn out to be useful."

The items include a spyglass and an amulet with the eye of Aroden, the symbol of the god of humanity, who was still alive and well when the Whippoorwill sank. The amulet is a shining symbol.

One Whippoorwill Success!

Remember, you got another 10 minutes between missions to heal and refocus!

WHIPPOORWILL MISSION 2: CAT O' NINE TALES

“Well, Pathfinders,” Eando says, pulling a spyglass away from his eye. “It wouldn't be a Society mission if something didn't go wrong. We spotted the ship's wheel caught between a couple of rocks near the surface. But when we sent a sailor to collect it, he came back white as a ghost. He said he—and I quote—‘saw the Seawraith.' Since we're still here, I'm going to assume it wasn't actually Besmara's ship, so it was probably something else. Which means we need you to investigate.”

" 'Sailors and Seawraiths' has quite a ring to it, though," Jig comments, making a note in his journal.

Seawraith? Chirrit says scratching his scales. Is that some sort of famous galleon around these parts?

(Apparently my post from a couple hours ago did not save. Sigh.)

Coracle is trained in Religion, but as a sailor, is more interested in the spyglass.

Coracle touches a couple fingers to his tricorn's brim in respect to Eando. "Show us where that wheel be, sir, and we'll fetch it for ye, and do our best to learn what that poor lad actually saw," he says confidently.

Alas the lad is too incoherent to make sense, but Coracle Jib's recognizes the Seawraith at the legendary ship of the pirate goddess Besmara.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

With the mission in mind, you sail out to seek the ship's wheel.

Sea foam billows out of the ship's wheel, quickly coalescing into the shape of a catfolk woman. Where not covered by her puffy-sleeved blouse and flapping cape, her striped fur appears drenched. Her mouth falls open, revealing a pair of long fangs, and it's not immediately clear if it's a smile or a threat. “I'm Venture-Captain Kimma Atyi,” she says. “I don't know why you've come looking for the Whippoorwill, but you would do well to sail away while you still can.”

You can attempt an Average Pathfinder Society Lore or Hard Diplomacy check to convince Kimma you too are Pathfinders.

Coracle explains to his companions what the Seawraith is, and touches the wooden butterfly attached to his belt as he murmurs a brief prayer in Amurran that he never sees that dread ship for himself.

*****

When Kimma Atyi manifests, Coracle doffs his hat, and makes as polite a bow as he can in a rocking jollyboat. "Ahoy, Venture-Captain! We are Pathfinders, like yourself. We've risked these waters to learn what happened to the Whippoorwill and her crew." He takes out and displays his wayfinder, the lid of which is engraved with his name and the Glyph of the Open Road, and activates its light spell. "My name is Coracle Jibbs. It is an honor to meet the captain of one of the Society's earliest sea ventures. Doubly so when she is an amurran like myself."

Pathfinder Society Lore: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Second Confirmation Wayfinder boon (Intro #1) and Engraved Wayfinder boon (#1-01).

Everyone can roll this, please. It does require a certain number of successes.

Keri confirms the Pathfinder link. "Yes, we have been sent by Calisro and Eando."

Pathfinder Society Lore: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

[b]I respect what you're trying to do - keep the low level agents out of harm's way - but it's as my colleagues said. We were sent over here by Eando himself. And just steering clear of danger isnt' exactly the Pathfinder way.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Could Chirrit also make a separate Sense Motive check on her? The prior group approached and saw something scary - Chirrit's a bit suspicious as to whether this is in fact the Venture Captain (though IC I don't think he's ever met this one before)

"Don't you recognize a group of fellow Pathfinders?" Jig asks. "Who else would put together such an interesting crew!"

PFS Lore: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Pathfinder Society: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"Venture-Captain, ye say? Sounds like Pathfinder Society rank to me!" Schek produces a Wayfinder to show his allegiance to the Society!

"I be at yer service, Venture-Captain!"

"Hey now, we're Pathfinders as well. We should be exploring, reporting and cooperating, right?"

Gnimish murmurs quietly to himself before turning on the charm.

Casting Guidance on himself

Diplomacy, Guidance: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 = 21
Might not work this time though

The group is able to convince Kimma that they are indeed real Pathfinder!

That's good to know! I'm reassured, but I can't give you all my secrets. I gave my word to not says anything expect another Venture-Captain and you are not one of them!

Now, you need to convince Venture-Captain Atyi to persuade her to give you her secrets.
You can explain just how much time has passed since her death and how much larger the Pathfinder Society is now and attempt a check with a skill that can be used to Recall Knowledge against an Average DC. Kimma’s not as interested in an emotional appeal, such as could be made with a Deception, Diplomacy, or Intimidation check, which are made against a Hard DC. Similarly, Kimma had complete confidence in her crew’s abilities, so shows of prowess with Acrobatics or Athletics are made against a Hard DC. Repeating a skill check you've already tried increases the DC of this check.

Coracle informs the Venture-Captain of the current year, which is centuries after the Society last heard from her ship. The Society has grown dramatically since then, with several hundred Pathfinders on this expedition alone.

Years are numbered in Absalom Reckoning, so... Absalom Lore: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"Not sure how to tell you this, but your ships has been lost for a very long time. I doubt anyone that you knew as a venture captain is still around," Jig explains as gently as he can. "The Society has changed quite a bit in the intervening years, but we still want to rescue you."

Hoping to explain some of the historical differences between now and the time the ship disappeared.
Society: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

"We've grown, you know. The Pathfinder Society is much much larger than it used to be since you died."

PFS Lore: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Well what if we were part of your crew then? Chireet offers. Then it’s not sharing secrets - it’s resets listing the mission’s goals.

To try and prove his point, the kobold makes a show of his own rigging skills.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Keri will try to impress the judge as well by balancing on the railing.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

To move us along I will roll for Schek Nek
Schek Nek Sailing Lore: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

The Patfhinders are able to persuade enough Venture-Captain Kimma to tell her story.

Before I died, I placed the Forked Key in a watertight chest to keep it safe. Please, it could be dangerous! Find it, finish bringing it back to Absalom! after a pause, she continues As for the Whippoorwill, my ship came under attack from a whale, too big and vicious for us to fight off. Our gunner, Singe, remained above to give us more time. I and my first mate, Averill Quint, went below to use potions of shared memories to make our final reports and then secure everything in the chest. I remember water rushing in, and then awakening like this. I don’t know what happened to anyone else...

Success! Which mission next?

One vote for Mission 1

Voting for Mission 1 too.

Works for me

Chirret nods respectfully to the passed-on Venture Captain.

Im sorry to hear that about you and your crew. But we’re finally here now, and we’re not alone. We’ll get the key, and bring back as many of you for a hero’s burial as you can. You did excellent Captain. You can rest now.

Gnimish follows the others

All right, Pathfinders, Calisro says. I’m sure everyone is eager to get onto the sea floor, but part of the ship is still on the surface. It looks like it was washed onto a small island that’s been mostly submerged by the storm surge, and who knows what information it’s holding onto. Take a jolly boat and see what you can find.

You quickly make it to the wreckage in the jolly boat, which is 20 feet long and 20 feet wide. You can drop an anchor to keep the craft in place while you explore.

Long strands of seaweed cling to the rocks here, undulating rhythmically with the waves. Shattered debris from the ship is visible just above the pounding surf, and the vessel’s name is barely legible in faded green paint on the broken stern: Whippoorwill. The mainmast appears to have partly sunk through the deck, but still reaches about 30 feet up before ending in a crow’s nest. The tattered remains of a green flag with an early version of the Glyph of the Open Road fly from the mast.

the PCs can decide where to leave their jolly boat to begin their exploration. The rocks rise 5 feet above the surface of the water; they’re uneven ground and require an Average Acrobatics check to Balance on them. Most of the wreckage of the Whippoorwill here is just one foot above the surface of the water, which is only 10 feet deep in the area. The forecastle in the front of the ship and quarterdeck at the rear of the ship rise an additional 10 feet. The crow’s nest is 30 feet above the broken main deck—reaching it requires a DC 15 Athletics checks to Climb or DC 20 Acrobatics checks to Maneuver in Flight. Should the PCs want, one can row the jolly boat. The pilot must have their hands free to row and can move the small craft up to 20 feet per action. Because of the wind and rain, PCs using Perception for their initiative take a –2 circumstance penalty to their roll.

I let you tell me how you decide to explore the area HERE.

Coracle gives a low whistle when he sees wreck. "It be a miracle that any of her is still above water at all after so many years in the Eye." He pulls out the spyglass that his crew took from the looters, and surveys the site. The tattered green flag seems to capture his interest most. "We be needin' to reclaim what's left of them colors, even if we find naught else," he says with some determination and reverence in his voice. "The nest be a good place t' keep watch, too."

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 (if it matters)

(I'll take part of the discussion to Discussion.)

Makes sense. Chirrit nods. Row me up to the base of that aft section and I can get to climbing up the mast. What's left of it at least. He looks out. Maybe approach from its port-side: less random rocks to worry about and I can swim to the deck itself once we're close.

Percpetion as appraoching, but plan is basically stated above: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Schek takes position into a large protruding rock and scans the whole area above it.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Gnimish jumps into the jolly boat and offers to row... He seriously tries to see where he's going...

Option B is for Gnimish to stay on the boat but that would not be in the spirit of the Pathfinders (he has none of the skills listed except maybe Acrobatics) :)

Hey: someone's gotta stick with it to make sure it doesn't wash away! :)

Do you need us to physically point out the specific location on the map GM?

Yes, put the boat (the brown square on the map) where you want to be

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**

Calisro bows her head. “It’s confirmed. This was the Whippoorwill. After 400 years, we’ve found some of the very first agents the Pathfinder Society ever lost. Now it’s up to us to finish their mission.”

Table GMs, the Living History condition is in effect

“Well done, agents,” Eando exclaims. “Our investigations have revealed that the ship’s Venture-Captain, Kimma Atyi, placed an artifact they recovered in a watertight chest when they realized they were doomed. And now we think we’ve found the chest!”

Table GMs, X Marks the Spot!

“Be careful,” Eando continues. “We’ve encountered a couple of undead members of the crew and there could be more guarding the chest. Keep your eyes open!”

Table GMs, the Forewarned condition is in effect.

Forewarned The Pathfinders have learned undead crew guard the chest. Each PC gains a +2 circumstance bonus to their initiative roll in Encounter D.

As the Pathfinders start getting on the wreck or out of their boat, the ghost of a goblin pirate appears in what's left of the crow's nest!

1-J 2-SN 3-G 4-K 5-Ch 6-Co: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Long Gun vs AC: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Damages, force: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

You hear a "boom" and Chirrit is hit by a ghostly bullet!

In a ghostly voice the goblin says Captain, look! A huge whale! It’s coming toward us—fast!

Everyone in the haunt’s area must attempt a DC 20 Will save. On a success, the creature is unaffected; on a critical success, it also gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its next save vs. Lookout’s Warning.
failure The creature is fascinated for 1 round, looking for the whale;
critical failure it’s fascinated for 1 minute, and the condition doesn’t end if Singe makes a Strike on an ally or uses Lookout’s Warning.

Round 1 (bold can act)
Singe
Chirrit -9HP
Keriassa
Coracle
Gnomish
Jig
Schek Nek

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

The pain hurts, but Chirrit is more focused on the massive whale for the moment.

Moving onto the ship's deck, he calls up to the 'goblin' I think you're aim's a bit off! We're Pathfinders too! We should be aiming at the whale, yes? Where is it?

Could Chirrit attempt to use Diplomacy to talk down this ghost/likely haunt? Uncertain if that would have the 'concentrate' tag or not in this context.

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Coracle disembarks from the jolly boat, and the appearance of the goblin in the crow's nest simply redoubles his desire to reach and search that part of the ship. He heads to the base of the mast, concerned far more about the threat from the ghost pirate than any whale.

Is there a roll to learn more about the haunt and how to fight/disable it? Coracle has Religion and Sailing Lore, both at +5, if either apply. He should have at least one action left after moving for Recall Knowledge.

will save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Keri will disembark and begin to recite her oratory.

Courageous Anthem

Also attempt a knowledge check on what is going on. Religion +6