Melli Lillifeet's page

Hi guys.

I tend to get hyperfocused on one or two things in my life to the detriment of everything else. It's an issue that I'm aware of, but there's not much I've been able to do to break that pattern.

I'm starting up a new career path after leaving teaching in December, and also working through some mental health stuff. I've also been fortunate enough to reconnect with a few friends from years ago. Finally, I'm starting to write a novel, which is something I've always wanted to do but never tried before.

In short, PbP isn't something I'm focused on. Running a game or playing in one just isn't something I'm committed to, and it's showing in the quality and quantity of my posts, and on how well I'm following what's even going on in my games. I'm going to drop this game. Sorry. I really enjoyed playing in it while I could.

Melli jogs along, grabbing another arrow as she sloshes through the shallow water after the monster. She draws her bow back and looses again.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 6 - 4 = 20
Damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 1

The crowd of people in front of her makes her shot difficult, but also makes it a challenge to get to the giant devilfish. Melli hesitates a second too long thinking on her choice, then sends an arrow that misses entirely.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 4 = 7
Damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 2

"Nope, not going in there!" Melli tosses her sword to a dry-ish spot, grabs her shortbow, and snaps off a shot at Arakkan the devilfish.

Shortbow (Arrakan): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Swim: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Melli frowns at the discussion about letting the monster comes to them, but then remembers their last fight. She swims up and joins the others near the front, sword in hand. "I'll try to get inside its reach and help you all out, if it comes to that."

Sure, why not?

Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 2 = 29
Time: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

"If it's trapped, they don't want us inside, which means we want to be inside." Melli dives into the water, then digs around with her tools until she's found the tripline for the trap and made sure it won't be coming down on anyone. "Now we can go that way."

Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 = 28
Swim: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Time: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

"how to the grindylows move through all this?"

Melli continues to slash and stab at the hooks.

Damage?: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Damage?: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Damage?: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"I am absolutely positive there is nothing in this cavern except that shallow lake of hooks, which looks intent on slowing our passage." With a statement of utter confidence, Melli joins Tucci in hacking away at the hooks.

Damage?: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Damage?: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Damage?: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Melli shakes her head at Tucci. "No, I'll be alright. I just won't do anything quite that dumb. I didn't think there'd be that many of them."

I feel bad about using so many party resources. I knew there'd be an ambush, but I though it would be less.

Swim: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

After talking, Melli swims up into the narrow cave to the northeast. "It's almost dry up here. We should keep moving, though. It was definitely damp earlier!"

I propose we go northeast!

Swim: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

As Melli bobs back up to the surface, she notices there's a lot fewer grindylows trying to eat her. Also, thanks to MacLaren, she's feeling a lot more confident. She takes a stab at a violently-shaking grindylow, jamming her blade into it as best she can in the water.

Rapier (cornflower): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17
Damage?: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

Swim: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

"I think" Melli goes under for a moment and then pops her head back up, spitting water. "Pffft! I think I'll be okay. I'm a tough cut of meat!" She stays in her ball, trying to keep a low profile against the various bites sure to come her way.

I'll continue to total defense until there's a few less of them. No point in standing up yet, haha.

Melli blinks and pushes the hat up out of her eyes. "Ow, ow, ow!" She pushes her head above water and tries her best to slide into a defensive stance while staying down. "I don't think I can get up!"

Going total defense for +4 to AC.

Melli brandishes her rapier and swims through the water toward the purple grindylow, oversized hat flopping around as she paddles toward it.

Swim: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Edited because I couldn't get out there and attack while swimming.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 HAHA!

"I could take the hat. I've always wanted a dashing pirate's hat, but I'm not particularly faithful to Besmara, or anyone else!" Nevertheless, Melli sticks the somewhat oversized (for her) hat on her head and peers out from under the brim. "I think it's probably better if we save it for - hey, there's another grindylow over there!" She points off toward it with her rapier.

"Yeah, it'll be here when we come back. Let's find our crew!" Melli points toward the other passage, rapier in hand! "I doubt the others are with that water ghoul thing. At least, I hope not."

"Left it is!" Melli brandishes her sword and starts moving down the pathway.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Just in case it's needed

With the fighting done, Melli looks southeast across the lake. "Anyone curious what's over there? I'm going to go check it out. Just gotta work our way through this passage and hope it all meets up..."

She starts wandering down the southwest passage, putting her bow away and switching to her rapier. As she goes, she pokes the ground below her, searching for anything that could resemble a trap.

I don't have trapfinding, the rogue ability, but I do have +5 Perception!

Perception (traps in the passage): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

This is a back-and-forth kind of fight, huh?

Melli pulls out another arrow and sends it zipping toward the grindylow currently fighting the giant rat/capybara. Her aim, though, is less true, and it zips over the grindylow's head and into the lake beyond.

Shortbow (orange): 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 - 4 = 6
Damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Melli draws an arrow back and sends a small arrow whipping through the people in front of her to slam into the (yellow) grindylow's back as it retreats.

Shortbow (yellow): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 = 26
Damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Melli curses, shuffling behind MacLare, sheathing her sword, and drawing her bow.

I think that's all I can do. Move to sheath my rapier, second move to move and draw my bow.

Sure, you can apply my attack to the sea of hooks.

Melli steps into the sea of hooks, weaving through the worst of it, and gets in range of the (blue) grindylow. But the hooks, while they don't catch her, do throw her aim off, and she missed her lunge.

Reflex (DC 10): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Rapier (blue): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9
Damage?: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Hi. I'm back, trying to get into a posting rhythm. I'm struggling pretty hard with some mental health stuff, but I'm back. Sorry.

Melli moves forward toward Veronica, following her lead, drawing her rapier, and readying an attack of her own. "Wait for 'em it is!"

Melli shrugs at the newest crew member's enthusiasm. "Less running around I have to do." She does casually take a look, but isn't wildly interested in the spyglass. Instead, her hand is on her sword-belt, and she's looking around. "Anything up there to fight? Undead ladies aren't that interesting to tussle with."

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

I'll update my tag soon.

Level up:
+8 HP
+1 BAB
+1 Ref
+1 to each save
Skills: Many skills, can't remember what I did earlier today.

Sorry I missed yesterday. With my job winding down, I'm putting in a lot of time to make sure the room is ready for my replacement. I may be spotty until next weekend.

"Let's press on, since it seems there's time. If we leave a couple hours, we can get back to the boat and from there, get a night's rest on the ship." She grins a playful grin at Tucci. "If not, what's one more night on the sand, right? Now, I think we should go to the fields, but if you disagree, Captain, I'll follow your lead."

Fort (fever): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Fort (paralysis): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Melli nods in thanks as Brother MacLaren heals her. "I'll take one of the alchemist's fire. We should probably put them somewhere secure when we're on the ship, though. A fire could be a pretty bad thing."

Melli continues to stab away at the ghoul in front of her.

Rapier (green): 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 10
Damage?: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6

Going to move to where I think I should be.

Melli draws her rapier as well, rushing to try to stab the green ghoul through the chest!

Rapier (green): 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 25
Damage?: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3
Crit?: 1d20 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 + 2 = 6
Crit Damage?: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"I agree. That's an older tent, and definitely a carnival and drinking one, not a sleeping and camping one." Melli nods in support of Tucci.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Melli puts her bow up and starts hopping as gracefully as a halfling can across the pilings. "Hey, this is kinda fun!"

Not sure how far a double move can get me. I've just moved two pilings, but that doesn't seem right.

Melli swears under her breath and switches to her shortbow, aims an arrow, and looses at the further frog! As she does, she curses the fact that she still doesn't really know how to swim and eyes the disgusting-looking watery sand.

Shortbow (blue): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 2

I can't wade! I'm only 2' 10"!

"Well then, through the swamp it is. Let's see what we can find out there." Melli looks the skeletons over, this time a lot less nervous after the others mention how old both they and the village are. "I'm in it for the treasure, and there doesn't seem to be much here in the village."

Heal: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2 That'd be a nope

Melli stares at the skeletons with apprehension. "That's a weird burial ritual. Think the villagers did it to their own as they died?"

= = = = =

Melli shakes her head at the other halfling, appraising him. "Well, you're no Rosie, that's for sure, but you'll do. Not enough halflings on the crew, you know. Right now, though, the Man's Promise is heading nowhere 'till the crew fixes her up. I don't know about the rat, though. Do we want more oversized rats on board after the one we had to manage in the bilges?"

She hops out of the boat, grabbing one of the lines with one hand and drawing her sword with the other. "Well, much to do. Consider yourself pressganged, Tucci. That is, if the captain approves?" She looks at Veronica expectantly.

Grinning, Melli rounds up a couple of the laboring crew-members. "Onward, then! You two can lower the boat with us in it, and we'll row to shore and see what we can see. We'll be back by the time you're done fixing the Man's Promise with Sandara and Conchobhar in tow, and then we can get her squibbed and renamed."

Melli runs down to the hold and grabs her backpack, asks Kroop for a bit of dried food and hardtack, then hops in the boat.

Fully equipped with everything I should have. Would it be possible to take some trail rations from Kroop? I'm afraid I didn't really buy any at the beginning of this whole thing. I'm willing to pay as needed.

"You lot heard Tempest. The deck's less important than the hole. Get to work tearing it apart, but pretty, not a big rough hole in the floor. Use the planks to patch up our holed hull. " Melli gets the crew lined out on their job. "In the meantime, I need some volunteers - you're on bilges duty to buy time. If no one does it, I'll assign someone to do it."

Once the crew's getting to work, Melli nods at MacLaren. "We'll take a ship's boat to the island, then we can see what we can see once we're there. Treasure hunt, anyone? Maybe we'll even find our missing crew-mates."

Melli moves toward the last, unconscious grindylow, rapier in hand. "I'm gonna get you!"

Double Move. Yay.

Soaked from the storm and the waves that occasionally overran the side of the ship, Melli draws her sword and shouts, trying to be heard over the storm. "Keep the sails secure! Get that line under control! We'll take care of the sea-goblins!" She rushes the nearest grindylow, dropping into a lunge and getting ready to step out of its swing as needed.

Rapier (red): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage?: 1d4 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (1) = 6 Since they haven't acted, they're denied Dex to AC, so sneak attack is up.

If I get attacked, I'll use "Dodging Panache" to take a 5 foot step back toward the ship's wheel and gain +3 to AC vs. the attack, which would put me at 22 vs. that attack.

For her part, Melli doesn't say much of anything as Rosie's funeral happens. She does spit after the bodies of Scourge and Plugg, though. "Good riddance to rubbish."

= = = = =

Melli takes a position in the center of the action, by the middle mast. "If we're going to get this ship through another storm, we'll need everyone working. That means riggers, bilge-rats, everyone. Double rum sound like a good reward if we make it through without damage? That doable, Kroop? And pull your weight tomorrow, you lot, we've got a ways to go until squibbing! Anyone intentionally shirking gets the rope bash." She holds up a piece of rope she's tied a knot in, glaring dramatically.

Once her orders are given, Melli walks over to the edge of the boat. "I'll be here spotting coral, if any of you need help. Just yell."

"Good point. We don't want to be an easy target for Harrigan when he realizes what's happened." Melli thinks for a bit. "We could leave the Shackles. That'd get us away from him. But the plunder and booty is here. What are our options for not looking like a ship he's captured?"

"I never got to have my fight with Rosie... Melli looks at her feet.

Then, after Veronica's speech, she straightens up and takes Plugg's cat-o'-nine-tails from the pile of loot."I'll be the new boatswain on the Man's Promise, at least until we come up with a better name. I don't think we'll be doing bloody hour anymore, unless Captain Blackblade wants to keep the tradition going, but discipline's called for sometimes, I know from a dozen tavern brawls. We'll lock this up for now, somewhere it can't get overused. In the meantime, mourn and celebrate, as the captain says, because we're undercrewed and have to get this tub working tomorrow!"

"Well, then, my vote'll be for Veronica for the reputation, earned or not. Ellie or Tempest can actually steer the Man's Promise. And speaking of that name, can't we do better than that?"

"I'll take on the role of boatswain, then. Someone has to make sure the crew's pulling its weight."

"I always wanted to be captain of a ship." Melli stares off for a bit, then comes back to the conversation. "No, I won't be throwing my bandana in the ring today. I'd be happy to take the role of master at arms or boatswain. There's punishment, and then there's torture, and either of those jobs'd be better in my hands than Scourge and Plugg's. I'll hold my vote until I hear who the candidates for captain are, though."

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 PASS!

Melli feels the poison, but doesn't think it's too bad of a dose just yet. It stings, but it's not causing her any weakness. Still, something to be aware of for future fighting with Scourge. Still, it's not like there's any space to dodge his stabs.

Instead, she goes with stabbing the man, a rough motion in the crowded deck.

Rapier (Scourge): 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 10 Scourge is considered flanked as per Underfoot Assault, since I'm in his square.
Damage?: 1d4 + 1 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 + (1) = 4

As Scourge takes a swipe at her with his punching dagger, Melli takes the opportunity to move quickly from atop Plugg and jumps, landing under Scourge's feet.

Immediate action responding to the missed attack. I'll Underfoot Assault onto Scourge. He gets -4 to Attack and combat maneuver vs. anyone who's not me.

Once she's there, she turns and takes a thrust at the man she just jumped from, hoping to catch him off-guard.

Rapier (Plugg): 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 18 Plugg is Flanked
Damage?: 1d4 + 1 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 + (3) = 7

If Plugg goes down to McLaren's attacks, it'd be great if I could switch my attack onto the pirate between me and Veronica.

Melli leaps into action as the Color Spray fades, grabbing Plugg's jacket without waiting to see what the effect on the man will be. She swings on the length of it, using momentum to pop herself up and onto the man's shoulders. Once there, she hangs on with one arm around his neck while her sword hand keeps a firm grip on her rapier. "The view from up here is amazing! Is this what it's like to be tall?"

Climb (Plugg): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 vs. CMD

I'm using Limb Climber to get on top of Plugg. If I'm successful vs. his CMD, he gets -1 to attack rolls per Sneak Attack Die I have. It's not a grapple, it doesn't provoke AoOs, and neither of us are "grappled". We can both act freely.

Melli draws her weapon and points at the old crew. "So, you lot, what'll it be? Whippings and misery under Plugg and Scourge, or a chance to have some say in where the ship goes, and whose command it goes there under? Because this is your chance to decide!" She notes that Scourge looks like he'd be a good fight to have, and with the others at her back, the abuse they suffered on the Wormwood looks to be close to its end.

Str: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Con: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 You get an opposed Perception check from the Rahadoumi.
Intimidate (coerce the Rahadoumi): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Melli glares at the Rahadoumi man who's been assigned to the bilges with her. "Let's go."

Down in the bilges, Melli takes a moment to talk with the man. "You know, we knocked you lot out once. It's possible I kicked you in the head, in fact. Try anything and you'll find our patience with you isn't endless. As she talks, she slips her brass knuckles from her belt into her hand.

Melli's work in the bilges doesn't go smoothly, mostly because of the cursed brass knuckles she's palming. After a few minutes, she glares at the Rahadoumi man again. "Well, get to it. Plugg wants you to learn the job, and what better way than under my watchful eye?" She punches one hand with the other, driving home the point.