Skerdo Cabeza de Vaca's page

Mine looks good! Thanks again! :)

Skerdo looks rather disappointed to see that there's nothing more to the story of the "Prince of Augustana," but he watches Gandros return with a good will. "Well, it seems that we've done some good here. Even if there wasn't anything exciting to be found! Go in peace, friend."

He reports everything back to VC Wallace and, unless the venture captain has anything more for him to work on, prepares to return to Absalom.

Indeed! Thanks for running it. :)

Skerdo, seeing Tsafento use the wand but having to focus hard to do it, steps up with a smile. "I got it, friend."

Go ahead and use the charges you want, Hervey!

Skerdo lets out a sigh. "Well that was unpleasant. Quick, does anyone have healing magic? We need to help Hervey! I can use a wand if need be, I learned on the front lines."

"No quarter to the Abyss!" Skerdo cries, swinging both blades around in an arc, and feeling much more confident now that he's only facing one demon.

Battleax: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 2 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Machete: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 2 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

...well, huh.

Sorry to hear that, Jomal. You have my best wishes. :(

You're stable as long as you get a 10 or above, Hervey! You're good!

@Teloish: the dretches' position is correct, I just 5'-stepped out of the flank on my turn.

Skerdo growls, deflecting and twisting away from most of the blows. One bite lands on his shoulder, and he lets out a hiss of pain. "Got no way to get 'em out there!" he calls. "You're gonna have to come in here if you want 'em!" Keeping his guard up, he darts away to bestride Hervey's prone body. "Door's open!" He swings his blades at the one dretch he can still reach.

Ax (2WF, Fighting Defensively): 1d20 + 5 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 5 - 2 - 4 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Machete (2WF, Defensively): 1d20 + 5 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 2 - 4 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

AC continues at 17/14/15.

"Hervey's down!" Skerdo bellows. "We're just going to have to take them down however we can--if we leave him to them there's no way he'll make it!" Gritting his teeth, he raises both blades. I'm going to regret this, I can tell...this is exactly what I wanted to avoid! He steps quickly through the doorway and chops at the dretch standing over Hervey's body, taking hart from the damage that Jomal seems to be dishing out on the other.

5' step and full attack, fighting defensively.

Battleax: 1d20 + 5 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 5 - 2 - 4 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Machete: 1d20 + 5 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 2 - 4 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

His cautious blows don't connect, but at least the demon will be distracted (hopefully) from shredding Hervey.

AC is 17/14/15 this round!

It's hard to see, but there's a wall between the dretch and Teloish...you probably hit anyway, though!

"They've got thick hides!" Skerdo yells. "Gonna have to push through..." As he sees Hervey lunge past him and get surrounded by dretches, he lets out an oath. "That's why I said I'd hold the door!" With a snarl, he swings both blades as the demon in front of him.

Full-round attack to strike with both weapons at the creature due north of me. Gonna use my trait A Sure Thing to get a +2 bonus on the first attack roll (assuming they're evil--if not, it's wasted).

Battleaxe: 1d20 + 5 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 2 + 2 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Machete: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 2 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"Holy Iomedae! What are these?!" Skerdo exclaims. Hustling forward toward the doorway, he draws his machete as he moves. In the far room, he finds himself face-to-face with a dretch, and moves to block the doorway through which he can hear others. "In here! Come on! I'll hold the door." He swings his battleaxe at the nearest demon, keeping his guard up, and lands a solid blow!

Attack (fighting defensively): 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 4 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Crit?!: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 5 - 4 = 2

EDIT: since fighting defensively, AC/touch/flat-footed is 17/14/15 this round.

"Hmph. Fair enough, I suppose," Skerdo says. "C'mon, let's take a look...that crown may have something to do with our friend's delusions." He begins poring over the room, starting with the skeleton.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

"Hmmmm. Well, this inter--what the--!" Skerdo jumps as Tsafento blasts off a golden bolt of light over his shoulder at the unmoving corpse on the chair. He peers at it, and around the room, worriedly. I did think I heard something...

As Tsafento looks over the door, Skerdo peers at it as well, looking closely to see whether there's anything out of the ordinary.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Skerdo snorts. "I'd say so. Not exactly a tough bunch, those 'Wyverns.' Let's be off--I'd like to find out what our friend knew and then get out of these sewers!"

Skerdo nods. "I'm in agreement. I think we've solved your problem, Almsman."

Skerdo won't interfere if the others launch attacks (in a surprise round), but he barks out, "Steel Wyverns! You're going to want to stand down and leave this place be, or things are going to get really unpleasant for you!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

If the Wyverns appear to do anything other than drop their weapons and surrender, Skerdo immediately charges the one he has a route to!

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Charge: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Skerdo spends the time remaining close to his fellow Pathfinders, though he'll speak amicably with any of the Abadarites who approach him. When the Steel Wyverns are due, though, he positions himself so that he has a clear line in which to charge the first one inside, if necessary.

Skerdo chuckles. "Fine by me. I've got no particular love for Abadar, but I hate humans who act like orcs. Worst folk out there."

Diplomacy (Aid...Hervey?): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Skerdo just snorts. "Got nothing against this place. We're just looking for some info."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Skerdo chuckles. "Abadar. Wouldn't expect to find a priest of his down in this benighted and gold-free hole!"

Reflex DC 12: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Skerdo throws up his arm as the alchemist's fire explodes, singing him but not burning too badly. Lowering it, he catches his breath. "My guess' be something in the air...maybe that's why it felt so heavy," he says to Harvey. "Least the spiders are gone. Let's see about this tunnel now..."

He sets about working to unblock the tunnel.

Man, those were some crummy flasks of acid we picked up...I'm pretty much out of swarm-damaging options unless I take the time to dig out and light a torch!

Skerdo scowls as the swarm continues around. Iomedae blast it, that didn't work well at all! Digging the other flask of acid, he calls out, "Back up, Teloish!"

Again, draw the flask of acid and wait until Teloish is not in the same square as the swarm before throwing (even if he'll still take splash damage, I'll assume the priority is to down the swarm).

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 vs. touch
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2 acid damage, +1 splash to all adjacent...including Skerdo!

Skerdo grimaces and pulls one of the acid flasks they found earlier from his bag. "Teloish, get out of there! The rest of you, clear some room, too! Unless you've got anything like this that can take out the whole group..."

Move action to retrieve the acid, and standard action to ready: throw the acid at the swarm as soon as people aren't surrounding the swarm!

Readied Acid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 vs. touch
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1 acid damage (plus any bonus since it's a swarm), and 1 point of splash damage to every square around the target.

Skerdo sniffs. "Ugh. The air is heavy and foul here...even for a sewer. We should be careful. Maybe those spiders are fleeing poisonous gases or the like."

"Hmmmmm. Sewers aren't exactly my expertise, but let's see..."

Perception (looking for clues): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Survival (Tracking, if applicable): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19

Skerdo glances at the pile uneasily. "Well, that doesn't look good. But what do we think--is this 'almsman' like to be down that way, or on down this main passage?"

Skerdo sighs as the thugs fall, then crosses over to the others to see what they've found. If no one else wants them, he pockets the remaining alchemical items.

Which, for the record, look to be: 2 flasks of acid, 2 smokesticks, 1 tanglefoot bag, and 1 thunderstone.

Standing up, he heads over to the alchemist. "We may as well get moving," he says briskly. "But first..." He takes a few moments to do his best field dressing on the wounds of any of the fallen sewer denizens who aren't yet dead.

Heal (Boss): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Heal (Thug 1): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Heal (Thug 2): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

It's...not a great job. "Well, Iomedae knows I tried," he mutters sadly. "Let's go!" He leads the way once more as the group proceeds upstream.

Skerdo grunts as he sees the chain-wielding thugs approaching Hervey. "You're in the way, my friend," he calls as he approaches to stand back-to-back with the spiritualist. "If you need to, fall back behind me." He stows his machete as he speaks, taking a two-handed grip on his battleaxe.

Not much I can do in such tight quarters...

I assume that we're entering from the stairs?

Skerdo scowls as he warily appraises the "alchemist" and his companions. "I for one suggest that you not make complete asses of yourselves by trying to fight this out. There are five of us and three of you--personally, I like those odds." He shifts his stance slightly to make sure that they can see he has both ax and machete at the ready. "Beyond that, we've got the higher ground here." (I mean, I think we do relative to the chain gang at least. Not entirely clear on the map?) "So...you sure we can't all get along? We're just passing through. Looking for a man called the Almsman."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Skerdo grimly draws both of his blades before proceeding into the sewer.

We should probably determine a marching order--Skerdo is happy to go first if that works for everyone else (I seem to have the most hit points.

It seems to be happening to everyone, with hopefully a solution soon.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"Forgive Tsafento, Your Highness," Skerdo says, though he can't quite restrain a sigh. "He's not from Avistan and is unfamiliar with our ways. Where exactly is this otherworld you speak of? Could you take us to it? And do you have anything to prove your claim?"

"It's here," Skerdo mutters to Tsafento. "This very city. No wonder the Venture-Captain's upset." He frowns, not yet stepping forward to engage the man himself, and racks his brains for any useful info.

Knowledge (Nobility) (trained): 1d20 ⇒ 13

Skerdo chuckles. "Well-met, Tsafento, Hervey. I imagine it will be..." He follows the other two men into the room, but he too seems content to hang back and let Hervey do the talking. He leans against a bookshelf, half perusing the titles, but keeps a watchful eye on the old man as Hervey talks to him.

Skerdo, a plain-looking young man with a weather-beaten and prematurely lined face, nods to the other Pathfinders as they meet in Venture-Captain Wallace's office. "Well, this sounds like an interesting task," he murmurs to the others. "My name's Skerdo. Originally from Lastwall...how about the rest of you?"

Hey! Thanks for running this, nightdeath!

Player Name: The Norv
Character Name: Skerdo Cabeza de Vaca
Class and Levels: Ranger 2
PFS#: 138781-4
Faction: Silver Crusade
Day Jobs: Profession (Soldier): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Any Special Boons?: All are listed in alias, except for one unusual one: Festival of Starlight 2016 boon (will add soon).
Have you Angered or attracted anybody? (Chronicle Sheet Boon): Nope.
Any Funky Abilities that GM should know off?: Pretty standard TWF ranger.
Any tactics, in event of botting: Skerdo tries to stay engaged with any foes that he's already engaged with, and charges any if he's not and he has a clear line to do so. He prioritizes attacking evil targets and/or protecting innocent bystanders.

Signed up with the newly level 2 Skerdo here! He's got lots of experience helping out hapless nobles, so it seems like a good fit. :P

Seeing that a number of Pathfinders have signed their names, Skerdo finishes draining his mug and heads back to look at the sheet. "That should be fine--alright, will Varonwe of Riverspire, Amut Al'Noor, Roscoe Thorngage, and...wait, this just says 'The Thundering Spirit?' Who the heck is that?!" Glancing around, he shrugs and says, "Well, those four...if that actually is four...will you all go report to Venture-Captain Valsin, please!"

Check into Discussion here and Gameplay here! Thanks!

A rather average-looking young man strides in, rolling his shoulders effortlessly and working some knots out of his neck. "Well, that was fun. Nothing like observing a Confirmation..."

Glancing around the room, he pitches his voice slightly louder and says, "Attention, folks! Venture-Captain Valsin is looking for some Pathfinders to take on a mission of some minor diplomatic and strategic importance...though it sounds like things could get rough, as well. If you've nothing else to do, and would like to root out a possible spy who's targeting Absalom, you can sign up for the mission here!"

He tacks a notice to the bulletin board, and then heads over to the bar to relax.

Running 06-05: Slave Ships of Absalom in NORMAL (non-core) mode! This is a Tier 1-5 scenario. Open to anyone who wants in--I'll hold a lottery for five players tomorrow at noon, EST, if I have enough sign-ups.

Congrats on the 4 stars, Beckett!! :D

And thanks for the game, as well. It was a pleasure! I really enjoy your way of running combat (know I've said that before)--the roster with running effects and so on is something I really need to borrow for use in my own PBP GMing games. The one hurdle I felt reared its head in this game was perhaps more to do with the nature of the scenario itself...the first act especially is super role-play and exploration heavy, which it can be harder to keep straight/keep moving on PbP. I'm not sure if we ever met the culprits in this case...? But then, half of the responsibility in that area is on us as players to keep engaged and keep track of stuff that happens roleplaying-wise. And overall, I had a great time!

That said, I think I'm going to bow out of the opportunity to play another game immediately. I've gotten myself in over my head a bit in terms of PbP, so since this has arrived at a natural stopping point I'm going to have Skerdo take a step back and let you all continue without me. Thanks for the games, and hope to see you on the boards again soon!

Perception DC 20: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Ha, no.

"Damn fine work," Skerdo says with a small smile as Cetenna and her badger fall. "Looks like these documents are what we need to clear the Society's name...best to return 'em to Venture-Captain Tolal, I reckon." He's still limping slightly when the group exits the abandoned fort, but he can't help but smile as the group emerges into the sunshine. Damn fine work this time around...I reckon we'll be able to take in the Ritual of Stardust here in Tamran before we even need to head back out for Absalom. Think I might take a little break after this...let the leg heal...maybe head home and see Ulthun for a bit.

"AAAAAGH!" Skerdo screams as the badger savages his leg. Yep. Definitely leaving the crazy lady for the others. Shifting his position to surround the badger with Roderick, he lunges and brings his ax down on the badger again.

Sitting at 4/12.

Attack, TWF, flank: 1d20 + 4 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 - 2 + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Machete: 1d20 + 4 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 - 2 + 2 = 10
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Skerdo glances somewhat nervously at the shapeshifter. She's dangerous...best to let the more experienced Pathfinders take the front line on this one, I think. He focuses on the badger in front of him. His ax goes wide, but the machete (probably) bites into the badger's flesh.
Battleax Attack, TWF: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 - 2 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Machete, TWF: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 - 2 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"Damn, they're fast," Skerdo mutters. He hustles up next to Roderick to attack the one remaining weasel, drawing his machete as he goes so that he has a weapon in each hand.

Unless Thoril killed it, in which case he attacks the badger.

Battleax: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

"Sure does!" Skerdo calls back. "Come join us!"