I can't find who suggested it on here - about finding a shipwreck and reliving a pirate attack on it (apologies to whoever it was as my players have said it was the most amazing one off scenario they have ever played ...)
A quick background, on the Shiv, my group consisted of the following, they had just made level 3 (the Bladebound Magus hadn't recieved her Blackblade and I didn't want it found in a "bush" or something silly):
Earlier in the AP, they found the Treasure Pit, and when Aerys asked where Ishirou got the map, he said he won if from, "Black George", which sent her off cackling -- later, the players found out from Aerys that Black George "never" lost, and if he did, he would find the person who won it and "convince" them to give back what they had won ... this would normally end with them "swimming with the fishes".
This also allowed me to introduce Black George - the worst of all the pirates to ever sail the Inner Seas, with his Crimson Sailed ship, and his pirate's skull with a dagger through the right eye.
Arakar, 2 Fighter / 1 Rogue Male Human
Henda, 3 Ranger Male Human(pretty much Bow specced as compared to melee)
Raven, 3 Elven Female Magus (Bladebound)
Thoradin, 3 Paladin Male (main tank and group healer ...)
They had just recovered Sasha Nevah from being taken away by a Lacedon, who ran off with her, it was a very close fight (which gave them their level 3), when they exited the cave, they saw a shipwreck ... I've included my Adventure Log for that day's play, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed GM'ing it and they enjoyed playing it ...
Oh, one thing -- pretty much all the way through, on the Golden Bow, the players didn't know if it was real or not :) Awesome really :)
Sasha and Raven were on watch, but Raven was paralyzed before the Ghast took Sasha, so the Ghast had a head start on our heroes ...
ADVENTURE LOG
Raven comes out of her paralysis and yells for help, her joints loosening slower then her vocal chords, the whole camp races out in various states of dress to find Sasha gone, "A creature took Sasha," cries Raven feeling the ill effects of the stiffness.
Our heroes follow the Ghast the way it had left, with Henda’s tracking skills keeping them close to the Ghast's trail despite the pouring rain and through the jungle, it looks as though this creature stayed to a animal track.
The trail leads to a 100’ cliff and our friends find a hawser type rope leading down and evidence of frequent (and very recent)use. Raven drops her torch with “light” on it and it shows the rope goes all the way down to a small beach of some description.
They all climb down in the pouring rain with quite a few of them slipping and recovering, and Thoradin falling the last 10’ to land uncomfortably. Arakar looking around spots a ship against a rocky outcropping about 100 yards from shore and is thinking that is perhaps where the ghast may be when, looking down the beach he sees a darkness in the cliff line.
Our heroes decide to check that first and find a very narrow 2’ natural tunnel about 8’ high and follow it in. It ascends quite steeply before levelling off. Arakar is leading the group with Henda behind him, then Raven and finally Thoradin covers their rear, the plated paladin making a little more noise then his stealthy companions.
Unfortunately, our friends have alerted the ghast to their prescence and even the normally alert Arakar misses that the ghast is waiting in ambush for them. Arakar may have been surprised, but that did not alter his luck and the two claws miss him by a long way with the teeth just narrowly miss his neck.
Arakar is quick to react, stepping into the lair of this vile creature, but the smell it gives off is too much and he dry retches while trying to fight it. He does manage to slip in to allow Henda room, his battleaxe held in two hands though he too is overcome by the smell and his swing misses the undead creature.
When everyone moves in enough, the paladin’s protection from evil aura makes the ghast very uncomfortable.
The fight is a close one with two of our companions (Sasha being one of them) paralyzed and three of them sickened. The ghast makes an error when it turns to face Henda, Raven, coming out of her paralysis sticks her scimitar right through the side and out the front of the ghast, effectively holding it still, and seeing his opportunity, the still sickened ranger swings his axe and takes off the ghast’s head.
Arakar picks up Sasha, Raven, like her namesake, seeks some treasure from the lair of this ungodly creature finding a masterwork dagger and some coins.
When they arrive back at camp, much worse for wear after the fight with the ghast, Jask and Gelik heal them as much as they can (Gelik using the excuse to touch up Raven’s arse, then actually healing her.)
The pouring down rain continues until about 0600, but it is a long rest period for everyone after that busy night.
Our heroes, rested and healed (Raven does not need Gelik to touch up her arse this morning) head out to search the shipwreck they found last night, the Golden Bow. In the daylight it is revealed as either a rich merchant or a noble’s ship. 90’ long with a rear poop deck being about a third of it’s length, it would have been a truly beautiful ship in it’s day.
After swimming out to the ship, they climb onto the deck, with those needing to, removing and then donning their armour. There are around 16 skeletons on deck, all wearing faded blue and yellow uniforms. None of them have belts or boots on, and there is evidence that they died in a fight, not one of them is all in one piece; missing arms, beheaded, crushed rib cages are but some of the horrific injuries apparent. A search of the bow shows where a ballista would have been mounted, but there is no sign of it now.
Our heroes find a skeleton outside the doorway to a central corridor, flanked by a skeleton either side, the door swinging into the skeleton in the door has smashed it’s ribs, and our friends gently move what is a bag of bones out of the way.
There are four doors off the corridor and a large very decorative door at the end. The first door port would have been sumptious in it’s day and an examination shows a cupboard full of a human teenager or elven female’s noble clothes. Raven is very disappointed that the moist sea air, moths and general rot has made them virtually unwearable.
Opposite this door on the starboard side is an empty cabin, though it still, like the first has a sumptious four poster bed and what would have been beautiful bed coverings, pillows, cushions and the like.
The second door to starboard looks to be the ship’s captain’s cabin. A large map / writing desk is against the wall, large drawers underneath and the cupboard has a very naval captains jacket, the heroes are convinced this ship must have been a nobles ship, as normally the captain would have the cabin at the aft of the ship with windows and a "view".
The last door to port before they reach the end of the corridor is another sumptious room, this time with a human male’s clothes, once again noble and fancy, but worst for wear due to neglect, rot and sea air.
As each room is examined, Raven does a detect magic, with nothing revealing itself.
Our friends find themselves at the end of the corridor, they push the door open to find a skeleton in a beautiful green fancy dress and beautiful green shoes, though like the others, it is in a rotting state being held by another, judging by the clothes a man’s skelton, it’s arms wrapped protectively around the woman.
This skeleton, unlike the others has a ruby studded scimitar scabbard on a finely worked belt — though there is no sign of the weapon itself, though like the other objects on board appears to have not been affected by the sea air or rot. Our friends search the room, no magical aura’s are detected by Raven. The initial room is a large, very fancy dining and sitting room, a door leads into a magnificent bedroom (complete with a privy), two large cupboards reveal even more beautiful clothes, but of jewellery or the like, there is no sign.
Arakar suggests they go and search the hold, and on leaving Raven, once again like her namesake and unable to resist something shiny, reaches down to touch the ruby studded scabbard …
… our friends find themselves in the dining room, amazing smells come from a table with gold rimmed plates, crystal glasses, various forms of roasts and wine sitting on the table. A tall dark haired man, wearing very fine blue clothes with gold finishings and wearing a beautifully finished scimitar in a ruby studded scabbard sits with his back to the heroes. A stunningly beautful woman in an equally beautiful green gown and shoes says “Lady Raven, my lords, please sit.”
The tall man at the head of the table stands and smiles at them, “Lady Raven, my Lords Arakar, Henda, Thoradin, please, do sit or you will upset Olivia," he adds, smiling at the beautiful woman, a look of love returning his smile.
It is at this time that there is a knock at the door followed by what must be the captain, wearing the same jacket (though in a fine state of repair) as that in the cabin in the corridor, “My Lord Maudren, a moment if you please,” and he bows to the Lady Olivia and the young teenage girl, obviously the daughter of the beautiful Lady Olivia and this Lord Maudren.
Arakar, not fully understanding what is going on, knows the smell of well cooked food when he senses it, he grabs a leg from a chicken and goes to follow the Captain and the Lord when Lady Olivia says, “My Lord Arakar, such manners, please, use a plate …” and the young girl tries to hide a snicker at the Lord’s behaviour, “Jessica, manners my dear.” she says to her daughter who tries to hide her smile behind a napkin.
The other heroes take a seat and help themselves (with much better manners then Arakar) at the table. “It is an honour to have a knight of Ioamadae with us on this voyage,” she aims at Thoradin and there is much “polite” talking at the table between the remaining three and the Lady Olivia, a perfect host and so beautiful even Thoradin is almost speechless. Jessica and Raven enjoy each other's company immensely.
Meanwhile, Arakar, following the Lord and Captain up to the helm sees in the distance crimson sails and is handed a spyglass by the captain, “What do you make of her Lord Arakar?” he asks.
With a gulp, Arakar recognises the flag of Black George flying above the mast, “It’s Black George Captain, how long before she catches us?” he asks the seasoned Skipper.
“In this fine weather, about an hour. He wouldn’t dare come near us normally, but we lost our escort the Viceroy’s Pride in a storm two nights ago,” he adds.
Arakar goes below decks and entering the Lord and Ladies cabin (with out knocking) quietly whistles to his companions, getting a look of dismay at his lack of manners from the Lady and another smile not very well hidden by Jessica. His companions excuse themselves and follow Arakar back up onto the helm. The situation apparent when they too recognise it is Black George's ship, The Crow following them.
The men are sent below in shifts to get a “hot meal” into them as weapons are taken from their lockers, artilleryists are sent to the ballista and given harpoon type ammunition, soaked in oil wraps on them, a lantern to light them set in it’s sconce.
Our heroes spread themselves out on the 40’ of deck, the captain dismisses the helmsman lashing down the wheel as ballista bolts are fired from The Crow as it closes distance. The captain and Lord Maudren joining them despite the captain requesting the Lord join his wife in their cabin. Three of the largest crewman on the Bow are sent to guard the corridor entrance, the cabin boy sent in to “guard” the ladies. As the Crow closes distance, the Golden Bow’s artilleryists start to return fire, though they are not as successful as the Longbow specialist that is Henda. The Ranger starts picking off pirates at a long distance. As they close, grappling hooks are thrown to pull in the Golden Bow and pirates prepare to swing across to the "Bow".
The first wave of pirates are mostly unsuccessful, Henda, Arakar, Thoradin and Raven all managing to take down six of the ten pirates. Of the four who make the Bow’s deck, all but one are taken down by her crew.
Another ten pirates swing over, this time our friends aren’t as lucky and seven land, with another ten now preparing to leap the gunwhales of the now joined together ships. Arakar sees Black George shouting commands to his crew and he points him out to Henda who manages to get his attention with a well placed arrow. Arakar runs the length of the ship to the ballista in the bow, picking up a bullet wound on the way. He dismisses the artilleryists and swings the ballista around to aim at Black George.
Meanwhile, the Crow’s half-orc bosun and two of his “thugs” close on Raven, she drops the bosun with a scimitar across his chest. Thoradin relieves a pirate of his head, propelling it back to the Crow with out it’s owner.
Black George yells at three musketeers, and they take aim at Arakar, Henda seeing this puts a longbow arrow through the ear of the nearest one, dropping him. A bullet penetrates Lord Maudren’s shoulder but he continues to fight. Quite a few of the Bow’s men are cut down by the ruthless and bloodthirsty pirates.
The two musketeers fire at Arakar, one with his eye on Henda fires wide and a moment later has an arrow sticking out of his neck, the other musketeer narrowly misses the rogue behind the ballista and hits the deck to escape the deadly ranger's aim.
Arakar, spending a long time aiming fires off the heavy armament taking Black George through the shoulder and sending him spinning over the helms railing and into the sea.
The news of Black George being sent to his watery grave spreads faster then the fighting, and the next 10 pirates ready to leap over to the "Bow" start releasing the ropes holding them to the Crow. Raven sends a shock of lightning through one of the Bosun’s mates and dispatches the other with her scimitar across his belly.
The pirates left on the Bow turn to flee, with only one making it across the gunwhales to be cut down by Henda. Arakar reloads the ballista and lights the rags, putting it through both of the sails of the Crow, but the pirates had wet down the sails and the ballista bolt ends in the sea.
Henda rapidly fires off four rounds as the Crow pulls away hard to starboard and takes out another three pirates. As the Crow’s stern becomes visible, a rope from the helm trailing in the water has a figure attached to it, three pirates on the helm start to pull it up and our heroes recognise Black George at the end of it. Before Henda can get off a shot, Black George opens a window at the rear of the Crow and climbs through it.
There are seven crwemen dead from the Bow and Lord Maudren pushes off anyone who tries to help him, “See to the men first, I am fine …” he adds, blood leaking from his bullet wound. From where Arakar is on the bow, he recognises the pattern on the deck of the fallen from the Bow. There an armless corpse, a crushed in chest there, a sailor missing his head …
The remaining men see to the wounded and throw the pirates overboard, Lady Olivia comes out of the corridor with Jessica and Matthew the cabin boy. She whispers thanks to each of the Heroes, kissing first Thoradin, then Henda and Arakar on the cheek. When she comes to Raven she hugs her, kisses her cheek and touches her hip …
… our friends find themselves in the cabin of the Bow again. It is in the state it was before they “came alive” in the cabin. The corpses of Lord Maudren and Lady Olivia are no longer on the floor and Raven has a ruby studded scimitar scabbard on her hip, the beautifully worked matching ruby encrusted hilt of Lord Maudren’s scimitar sticking out from it.
Raven draws the scimitar and it says to her in her mind, “I have been waiting for you Lady Raven, and at last we are together.” It is her black blade.
When our friends head out onto the deck, the skeletons of the Bow’s sailors have gone, replaced by those of pirates, a rather larger looking half-orc and two large humans either side of it.
Our friends search the hold, but there is nothing there which they can take, all the foodstuffs, grains and delicate silks rotted to the elements.
On reaching the shore, a noise of something rising out of the water turns our friends around. The Golden Bow rises out of the water, as clean and sleek as her launch day, and it sails off into the sunset.
Our heroes return to Kovak Cove, enlightened, troubled and happy, and feeling healthier then they have ever felt … the taste of chicken still fresh in Arakar’s mouth.
END OF ADVENTURE LOG
I cannot tell you how much the players enjoyed this "mini-adventure" ... I used opposing rolls for the Bow's crewman vs the Pirates, relaying how the fight was going, with each of the PC's being in charge of 10 crewman each.
They have of course now made an enemy of Black George and new allies in Lord Mauldren and Lady Olivia (and the young Lady Jessica has a crush on the rebellious Lord Arakar ...)
It will add another two factions for them to "play" with when they arrive in Eledar ... :)
