[PBP GAMEDAY XIV] Hmm's 7-02 Shipyard Sabotage

Game Master Hmm

Ulvard waits patently for his question to be answered, and then asks it again. "Bláinn, Ulvard wonders if MushMelons are for sale here or in inn? That might be good peace offering to Lady Longboat."

Then, listening to the pirate he asks "Ulvard also wonders if Grand Dock could offer Pirates similar deal but with less devils involved..."

"Or the Pathfinder Society. We weren't hunting you, you were hunting us! The Society takes all kinds--trust me, I know. I... wouldn't trust that offer, not from them."

"There’s not many places where people like us fit in, you know? But Cheliax offered the Captain a letter of marque and a title with an estate and then told her she could bring all of us with her. We’d have a safe home with no one hunting us.”[/b]

"...Those vilains! They lied! They took a poor innoncent woman and manipulated the goodness of her heart with a false promise!"

Alas, the pirates haven't been in town long. They were too busy raiding to get a look at the markets, and have no idea where muskmelons are in this town.

The pirates listen to what you have to say about not trusting Cheliax. "Laddie, you're wondering why we're trusting Cheliax?" The pirate sniffs. “We don't, but no one else is making us offers like that. Isn't a safe home worth the chance?”

One of the goblins nods. "This Pathfinder Society offer you've made intrigues us, but we're gonna leave the decision to our Lady Longboat. Whatever happens, we want to be together."

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

After interrogating the prisoners, you can leave the tied-up prisoners secured in a dockside warehouse, guarded by some of the shipyard workers you saved.

In the aftermath of the fight, tools and lumber are scattered everywhere, and for a few minutes, the shipyard is quiet enough that the most prominent sound is the crash of waves against Augustana's rocky shore. Then in the distance, pirates can be heard shouting to one another. “Where's that shipwright? He's got to be worth a fat ransom!” a woman's voice calls. “And wasn't he with customers earlier? Let's collect them and pick them clean! Yarr!”

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Nairaba ducks down behind a dropped crate. “This spot's too open and hard to secure,” he says softly, lowering his voice to avoid attracting pirate attention.

Olad nods and turns to Nairaba and Kitsch with a determined look in his eye. “With all these pirates about, there's not a safer place in the city than the Arsenal District. With all the naval officers and bankers who've settled there, security is good. I've got a house large enough to put us all up, if you can get us there.”

“Sounds good to me,” Kitsch says as she pulls a clockwork bird out of her spacious pouch. She winds it up and sends the bird flying off with a handwritten note. “Now Brackett will know where to find us.”

Ready for a Chase Scene? Here we go!

Set Up Barricades!

As you start to run through Augustana's Shipyard district, a tall dromaar pirate points you all out. “Ha! There they be! Those bean-counters are worth a pirate's ransom!” As she yells, she draws the attention of a loud and raucous crowd of pirates that had been scattered throughout the extended dock area. The pirates roar, preparing to swarm the shipyard once again.

“We're in a shipyard!” Olad shouts. “There's ample lumber, sailcloth and rope. Help me build barriers to slow them down!”

The shipyard abounds not only in lumber, crates, sailcloth and rope but also with the tools that have been dropped by fleeing craftspeople and other shipyard workers.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

What can you do here?

Crafting or Thievery to set up simple traps, Athletics to push crates into place, or Intimidate others to do the hard labor for them, or use a Lore that you find appropriate.

Special: If you have Snares, feel free to place them!

“The whole secret lies in confusing the enemy, so that he cannot fathom our real intent.”

Hisaki gets to work combining some wood glue with some discarded rope, and assembles a quick "sticky rope trap"!

Crafting (T): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 (or +2 higher Warfare Lore)

Ulvard man handles a large crate into the path of pursuing pirates as he dashes down the street.

"Ulvard guesses we talk later?"

athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Clarence shoves more crates to block the way.

Athletics(E): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Bláinn orders Bob to be eldritch horror-y at the pursuers.

Intimidation: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Hector's Athletics (E): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17 ;+1 circonstance to grab,trip and shove

"Help is on the way!"

Working quickly, the Pathfinders set up barricades to slow down the pirates!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

They Went That-A-Way!

Further from the docks are the warehouses and small businesses that support the shipyard. The signs in this neighborhood proudly display the wares of coopers, rope makers and blacksmiths.

Still trailing bits of sailcloth, rope and sawdust from bypassing the barricades, a few lone pirate scouts are catching up to their quarry. The pirates pant and gawk at the surrounding area, blinking with a look of confusion as they try to orient themselves. Nairaba whispers, “They look a little lost. Maybe we can help them to be more so?”

A few out-of-breath pirate scouts catch up with you, but clever Pathfinders can disorient and misdirect them.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

What can you do here?

Deception, Diplomacy or Society to convince the pirates that you are merely helpful bystanders rather than the prey they're chasing.

PCs who have a disguise kit or a polymorph ability (like the kitsune Change Shape ability or a spell with the polymorph trait) can have a +2 on this check.

Deception is part of the Art of War, and making your enemies think one thing, while another is true is as important as skill with a blade. Well, that is what one of the old warriors, said. Notably one that had difficulty keeping a large blade in play for any length of time.

warefare lore?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 If not, then I'll do an untrained check in deception, which seems closest to what he is trying to do. So subtract 4.

Hisaki nods to Ulvard "All warfare is based on deception"

Ordering the ulfens and the skeletons to push heavy things around "We've got to keep our production high!" Hisaki 'oversees' the 'labor' of his squadmates.

Society (T): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Yeah, I'll allow Warfare Lore at a higher DC.

Both Hisaki and Ulvard manage to come up with tricks to deceive pirates. What are the rest of you doing?

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Also, I forgot to mention that grateful Shipyard Workers are following along and helping you with every aspect of this Chase Scene! I'm adding the bonus for their help already but feel free to conscript them into your schemes!

Warfare Lore: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Clarence knows a thing or two about diverting enemies. He rolls in the dirt a bit before staggering up to the pirates. "Dishonorable Pathfinders tricked me! They left a trail for me to follow but it led to a trap! Go that way! That's where they were going!"

"Oh hi! Are you looking for something? If you're looking for the shipyard, you've come too far. It's back the other way. You should be careful, though. There was a fire."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Even skeletons need to work, you know?

Deception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

The pirates thank you for your help, and some of them start running in the wrong direction!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

I Know a Shortcut!

Close to the sprawling central market of the Fleet neighborhood is a maze of twisting narrow alleys filled with lodging houses, pubs and other businesses that serve dockworkers and sailors alike.

“There's gotta be a better way to put some distance between us and these bozos,” Kitsch notes. “Anyone here know a shortcut?”

You need to start putting serious distance between yourselves and your pirate pursuers.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

What can you do here?

Acrobatics to squeeze into tight entrances, or Stealth to sneak past any pirate patrols. Otherwise, you can navigate with an appropriate Lore or a Survival or Society check.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

For a big man, Clarence manages to jam his large frame into the smallest passages... he's not terribly happy but he fits!

Artemios has been learning about wilderness survival in Pathfinder training, but really he's more at home in a city anyway.
Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"Follow me.... " says Ulvard. "I saw a route from the inn.."

survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Hisaki Disappears!

Stealth (T): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

It's easier to squeeze through tight spaces if you don't have any inconvenient flesh.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

And easier still if you don't get a rib caught on something.

Acrobatics, Hero Point, Promotional Vestments: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 = 27

The Pathfinders manage to find a shortcut (even if Hisaki is not quite as invisible as he thinks he is!)

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Take to the Roofs!

In the heart of Augustana, the crowded Fleet neighborhood has dozens of covered markets filled with wheeled carts and makeshift stalls. Shoppers throng here, looking for the best deals or the occasional find of exotic merchandise. As the pirates arrive, shoppers scream and start panicking, knocking over carts as they try to find cover.

Nairaba concentrates and shifts to his spider form. “To the roofs, Pathfinders! The pirates are searching for us, and we don't want them shooting through these crowds!”

The Fleet district of Augustana is a mass of crowded markets filled with now-panicking shoppers.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

What can you do here?

Acrobatics to balance on the roof tiles or an Athletics to climb.

Breaking invisibility, Hisaki mounts his steed.

"Steady Climb!"

Who, feeling his master's hand in his neck, and the sound of his voice, begins his ascent up the roof to follow the spider.

Athletics (T): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
☘️ Athletics (T): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Clarence attempts to scale a wall...

Athletics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

... and does it easily.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

The skeleton is his own ladder.

The Pathfinders manage to find a shortcut (even if Hisaki is not quite as invisible as he thinks he is!)

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Take to the Roofs!

In the heart of Augustana, the crowded Fleet neighborhood has dozens of covered markets filled with wheeled carts and makeshift stalls. Shoppers throng here, looking for the best deals or the occasional find of exotic merchandise. As the pirates arrive, shoppers scream and start panicking, knocking over carts as they try to find cover.

Nairaba concentrates and shifts to his spider form. “To the roofs, Pathfinders! The pirates are searching for us, and we don't want them shooting through these crowds!”

The Fleet district of Augustana is a mass of crowded markets filled with now-panicking shoppers.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

What can you do here?

Acrobatics to balance on the roof tiles or an Athletics to climb.

Hector, on the automatic mode, climb the wall.

atlethics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Ulvard stares at his brother, who seems to be half spider himself. Spiders, why does it always have to be spiders.

Suppressing a shudder he starts up the wall himself.
athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

But as Spider-Nairaba crosses his vision he pauses, suddenly unsure of himself.

"Hold on!" Nadia clings to the back of Artemios's armor as he bounds up onto a counter, then an awning, then a roof.

Athletics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

At least, that was the plan.