Session Notes

Weather: 3 days (26th – 1st)
Moderate, fair, fog
Light winds (x1)

Weather: 4 days (2nd – 6th)
Moderate, varies, clear
Light winds (x1)

Weather: 5 days (7th – 12th)
Warm, fair, warm
Light winds (x1)

Weather: 5 days (13th – 18th)
Moderate, fair, rain
Moderate winds (x2)

Secondmonth 25th, clear, set new course, (failed?)
Secondmonth 26th, foggy, DC 25, failed, 60 miles, 60 total
Secondmonth 27th, foggy, DC 27, success, 60 miles, 120 total
Secondmonth 28th, foggy, DC 25, success, 60 miles, 180 total
Thirdmonth 1st, foggy, DC 25, success, 60 miles, 240 total
Thirdmonth 2nd, clear, DC 17, success, 60 miles, 300 total
Thirdmonth 3rd, clear, DC 17, success, 60 miles, 360 total
Thirdmonth 4th, clear, DC 17, success, 60 miles, 420 total

Sigrid 28 spot, 17 listen
Soern 1 spot, 13 listen
Blank 17 spot, 22 listen
Mark 12 spot, 13 listen
Rellik 12 spot, 12 listen

Fought 4 anguillans

“We’re never going to see land ever again.” – Sigrid
“At least you’re not a champion of land.” – Captain Blank
(beat)
“Champion of PANTS!” – Captain Blank

Thirdmonth 5th, clear, DC 17, success, 60 miles, 480 total
Thirdmonth 6th, clear, DC 17, success, 60 miles, 540 total
Thirdmonth 7th, clear, DC 17, success, 60 miles, 600 total
Thirdmonth 8th, clear, DC 17, success, 60 miles, 660 total
Thirdmonth 9th, clear, DC 17, success, 60 miles, 720 total
Thirdmonth 10th, clear, DC 17, success, 60 miles, 780 total
Thirdmonth 11th, clear, DC 17, success, 60 miles, 840 total
Thirdmonth 12th, clear, DC 17, success, 60 miles, 900 total
Thirdmonth 13th, rain, DC 25, fail, 60 miles, 1020 total

Magic booze – heightened ability boost, charisma +4 800 gp

“Convinced Darquain to challenge Gen Zheraf to a duel.”

Saw the island, rising out of the mist

Fought “velociraptors,” Soern nearly died
One velociraptor escaped
Went back to the ship, to rest
Found that monkeys had invaded

Combat Notes

Mark

Created: March 18, 2007

Mark
Human Totem Warrior 5
Size/Type: Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 5d10
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft.
AC: 19 (+2 Dex, +2 natural, +5 armor), flat-footed 17, touch 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+9
Attack: Dire scimitar +12 melee (1d6+9, 18-20/x2)
Full Attack: Dire scimitar +12 melee (1d6+9, 18-20/x2)
Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 ft.
Special Attacks:
Special Qualities: Skin of the shark, totem animal companion, breathe water,
Saves: Fort +6, Will +3, Ref +4
Feats: Way with Animals, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Heavy), Iron Flesh, Weapon Focus (dire scimitar), Quick Draw,
Skills: Handle Animal +5, Knowledge (nature) +9, Knowledge (sailing and navigation) +9, Spot +9, Survival +9, Swim +12,

Str 18, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 5

Can apply Bluff, Diplomacy, and Gather Information skills to animals. (Not fish.)
Magical beasts also, with -4 penalty.

+1 dire scimitar 3015 gp
+1 leather coat 200 gp

4300 gp total

6th level feats – Weapon Specialization (dire scimitar), Infuse Weapon (Scimitar)

Twisted Fish

Created: March 9, 2007

Twisted Fish
Bartender
Faen, Female
Impostor: wants to keep secret the fact that she is a disguised rogue, doppelganger, or other entity posing as the real NPC

Notes

Created: March 9, 2007

Secondmonth 19th
At Knight of the Axe island
Discussed whether to go back to Ao-Manasa or continue on to Hora Quan
Everyone wanted to go to the Hora Quan, except Rellik
Then Sigrid decide she wanted to go back to Ao-Manasa

Discussed sword, price, appraisal

“I’m the quartermaster. I keep stuff places.” – Sigrid
“And I hide things other places.” – Blank

Weather: 3 days (until Secondmonth 22nd)
Moderate temperature
Light winds (x1)
West

60 miles per day

Secondmonth 20th
40 miles away from Ao-Manasa

Secondmonth 21st
Arrive without incident

Went to the Twisted Fish
New random victim – Faen, male, Yaerl Dawnskimmer (Edited post-session: I never actually told the players this)

Midafternoon
Went to Mevarin residence (to kill Mischa)

“We all got multiples of five.” – Andy
“But only one of them was a prime number.” – AJ

“My name is Sigrid Halstead. You killed your father. Prepare to die.” – Sigrid

Killed Mischa

Searched the house
Magic booze!
Jewelry
Sigrid made Soern put it back
Left one of the vials of poison on Mischa’s body, along with one of the flowers

“Rellik! I will not tolerate insubordination.” – Captain Blank
“(I said a fancy word.)” – Captain Blank

Went out the back

Went to the Black Angle

“Why would they try to kill us? We are as innocent as little baby birdlings.” Captain Blank
“Little baby birdlings who just murdered someone.” – Sigrid
“Baby birdlings can be very vicious.” – Captain Blank

Sigrid flirting with Gannen
Gannen arrested

“It’s like everything I know about justice has been turned on it’s head. The guards just came in and arrested a man who, while certainly not innocent, was not guilty of this crime.” – Sigrid

Soern went back to the ship
Rellik “urged the bartender to call the guards” and then went back to the ship

“But it’s a ritual. You can’t bother me.” – Sigrid
“Right. I’ll be on god dirty.” – Soern

Everyone goes back to Ocean’s Blade
Sigrid got all her ritual supplies

“I’ll always be there to get hammered with you.” – Captain Blank
“Yeah, that makes me feel much – wait, yeah, it does.” – Sigrid

Secondmonth 21st
Weather: 1 day (until Secondmonth 22nd)
Moderate temperature
Light winds (x1)
West

Weather: 2 days (22nd – 23rd)
Moderate temperature, storm, rain
Windstorm (gale) (x3)
East

Weather: 2 days (24th – 25th)
Cold, clear
Light winds (x1)
West

Weather: 3 days (26th – 29th)
Moderate, fair, fog
Light winds (x1)

Secondmonth 21st (60 miles)
Secondmonth 22nd, storm/rain, driven 120 miles straight west
Secondmonth 23rd, storm/rain, driven 120 miles straight west, past the tomb
Secondmonth 24th, clear, 60 miles to tomb, arrive at the tomb
Secondmonth 25th, clear, set new course, 200 miles off
Secondmonth 26th,

Initiative & Such

Created: March 9, 2007

Baern

Created: March 9, 2007
Baern
Human Oathsworn 6
Size/Type: Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 6d10+12 (42), dying/dead -2/-14
Initiative: +4
Speed: 40 feet
AC: 17 (+4 Dex, +3 oathsworn bonus), touch 17, flat-footed 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+8
Attack: Unarmed +10 melee (1d8+5), thrown object +9 ranged (1d8+5) (increment 10 ft.)
Full Attack: Unarmed +10/+6 (1d8+5), thrown object +9/+5 (1d8+5)
Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet
Special Attacks: Shattering blow, throw object, combat rites, objects as weapons
Special Qualities: Swear an oath, eschew food, evasion, fast movement, lesser adaptation, refuse fatigue, refuse fear,
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +9, Will +7
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 11
Skills: Balance +13, Climb +13, Jump +13, Sense Motive +11, Tumble +13
Feats: Resistance to Magic, Intuitive Sense, Weapon Focus (unarmed strike), Low Blow, Hands as Weapons

Touch of fear, touch of pain, and touch of disruption, each 1/day

Shattering Strike: Full round action, one attack ignores 6 points of damage reduction.

Low Blow: As a full-attack action, Baern can make a single attack roll that inflicts normal damage. If he damages his humanoid or monstrous humanoid opponent, the foe must attempt a Fortitude save (DC 15). Should he fail the save, he is dazed for 1 full round.

Objects as weapons: Can use any random object as a weapon, attack bonus and damage as unarmed strike.

Resistance to Magic: +1 saving throw bonus to all saves against spells, spell-like abilities, supernatural abilities, magic items, and so forth

Intuitive Sense: aware of all incoming attacks

Combat Rites: 3 1st rank

Equipment:
+1 enhancement on hands (2,000)
Wargloves (1,600)
1 Strength boost +2 potions (300)
1 Dexterity boost +2 potions (300)
1 Constitution boost +2 potions (300)
Sturdying Elixir (10 hp) (300)
2 potions of lesser battle healing (300 each)

NPCs

Mischa Mevarin

Created: March 5, 2007

Mischa Mevarin
Human Akashic 6
Size/Type: Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 6d6+12 (24), dying/dead 0/-10
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 ft.
AC: 12 (+2 Dex), touch 12, flat-footed 10
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+6
Attack: Greatsword +6 melee (2d6+2, 19-20/x2), composite longbow +6 ranged (1d8,x3)
Full Attack: Greatsword +6 melee (2d6+2, 19-20/x2), composite longbow +6 ranged (1d8, x3)
Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet
Special Attacks: Sneak attack, minor battle memory,
Special Qualities: Skill memory (+2) 3/day, Perfect recall, Delve into collective memory, creature loresight 1/day,
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +3
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 17, Wis 7, Cha 15
Skills: Bluff +11, Climb +11, Diplomacy +11, Disable Device +11, Disguise +11, Escape Artist +11, Gather Information +11, Listen +7, Open Lock +11, Search +12, Sleight of Hand +11, Sneak +11,
Feats: Night Owl, Ritual Combat, First Strike, Point Blank Shot, Far Shot

Night Owl: +1 to attacks, saves, and checks at night
First Strike: +1d6 damage against flat-footed opponents

Uses Canny Strike when she can, +1d6 sneak attack, for a total of +3d6 against flat-footed enemies.

Has note, “To Gannen: I did it.”

Aur Xica History

Created: March 4, 2007

This blade was once called Aur Xica, sword of champions. Little now is known of it, its tale lost along with the empire it defended, Hora Quan.

It was forged at the beginning of the empire, and for centuries was wielded by each of the Emperor’s champions in turn, and helped to maintain its long peace, until that peace was ended by the dramojh war.

Tai Faren, the high priest, hid the sword from the dramojh—though no one has recorded where. He bound its power, and hid the secret to its unbinding at the heart of the empire, the Temple of the Hora Quan.

Session Notes

Created: March 2, 2007

“Didn’t you used to be all happy and whimsical? Hmm, maybe Rellik’s had a bad influence on him. Or maybe it was you.” – Sigrid
“I’m whimsical!” – Captain Blank
“You’re a pirate.” – Sigrid

Secondmonth 15th
Mid-afternoon

Ratham Norder
Thinks Soern is a pirate
First words “you look unwashed”
He thinks everyone is a pirate, especially if they deny it, because “pirates always lie”
Has a rat problem – the rats are dirty, and need cleaning

“You look . . . unwashed.” – Ratham

“Are you a pirate? I don’t like pirates.” – Ratham
“I’m not a pirate.” – Soern
“You must be a pirate. Pirate’s always lie.” – Ratham
“I’m a pirate.” – Captain Blank
“You’re not a pirate. You’re telling the truth. You can’t be a pirate.” – Ratham

Went to talk to Mischa
Dyeza Tazhiren
Read some documents, something about Dyeza Tazhiren and his instatement as champion

go back to the Black Angle
Tillienne
Cer-Athane
Gannen

Sigrid and Soern go over to the bar
Blank goes over and talks to Cer-Athane
Got his headband of feathery wisdom
Sigrid gets ale

“Where’d you get that sword?” – Gannen
“We found it.” – Sigrid
“In a gold mine.” – Soern

“We found it, it’s very old, we don’t much about it. Except that it has feelings.” – Sigrid
“It’s the ale.” – Captain Blank

Talked to Gannen about the sword, Hora Quan

“I’m supposed to stand for justice, and truth.” – Sigrid
“Then sit down.” – Captain Blank

Went back to ship, saw James being threatened by thugs on the way
On the docks: ship with black and red, ominous sails
It set sail, they followed it

Sailed threw fog, other ship disappeared
Ghost wolves

Set sail on Secondmonth 16th night

Weather: 5 days
Moderate temperature
Light winds (x1)
West

60 miles per day
Takes three and a half days
Arrived at Knight of the Axe island on the morning of Secondmonth 19th

Tethun
Kavikaran

“So, Rellik, what do you think about going to the temple?” – Sigrid
“Rrrr, cryptic, rrr, apathy, rrr, kill Mischa.” – Captain Blank

Scenes

Created: February 24, 2007

Scenes

Confrontation with Illiam’s crew
Goals: Spotlight Blank, establish that Illiam is a bad guy
Location: The Twisted Fish
Prep: Stats for basic crew member, personalities
Triggers: None (location only)

Interview with Mischa Mevarin
Goals: Shut down the “murder” subplot, hint at why the people who were murdered were, introduce background bad guy
Location: Mevarin House
Prep: Stats for Mischa, Mevarin house layout

NPCs

Created: February 24, 2007

Ea-Shamar
Giant 2 / Warmain 3
Ao-Manasa
Interim captain of the guard (was second in command; won’t be official until there’s a funeral and a changing of command ceremony)
Believes in justice, wants to clean up the guard, take on the Nightwalkers
Needs to finish the Shu-Rin ceremonies—taking over the guard is going to delay that
Red hair, wears mostly red and white, even while off duty (Red and white/argent are the colors of Ao-Manasa and its guard)
High energy, dynamic, wants to know what the situation is
Mid-30s, 6’6”, 200 lbs (short . . . for a giant)

Mixastomere
Huge Dragon (Water)
On her island
Adult, about 150 years old
Blue and bronze, some green shimmering
Trades magical knowledge and Tenebrian evolution for “favors”
Broke off from the main delegation of the Squamous Horde; relations with them aren’t terribly friendly
Wanted Sa-Follen dead—sent Sorern to do it
Possibility: dealt with Sa-Follen as a favor to the Horde, to prevent open conflict
Possibility: dealt with Sa-Follen to see if she could blame the Horde

Taevin Brightfind
Quickling Faen (Expert, maybe)
Ao-Manasa
Captain Blank’s contact
Merchant, specializes in buying and selling exotic treasure, the kinds of things only adventurers can get
Able to work with rich collector types, willing to work with scruffy adventurer types
Somewhat like Badger, from Firefly, dismissive of the PCs
Late 80s (young adult, nearly middle age), 3’5”, 45 lbs

Gannen
Human Champion of Death
Ao-Manasa
Arena
Champions death in a personal way—uninterested in starting wars, because it’s the killing blow that matters to him (but don’t tell the characters this straight out)
Dark hair, dark eyes
Black and gold, the smell of metal

Lord Morek
Human (Warmain or Champion of Freedom)
Knight of the Axe (on their island)
The guy Sigrid talks to for KotA stuff

Word Construction Guidelines

Created: February 21, 2007

Word construction:

Vowels
Ai
Eh (e)
Uh (u) (a)
I
O

Starred can only be in their category

Start of words:
(Combines stops (t d k g) with unvoiced approximants (w l y))
Tw (tu)
Tl
Ty
Dw (du)
Dl
Dy
Kw (qu)
Kl
Ky
Gw (gu)
Gl
Gy

(Fricatives)
F*
V*
Th
S
Z
Sh*
Zh*
H*

Middle of Words:
Combinations defined above
R*
L*
S
Z

Ends:
Vowels
R
M*
N*
Ng*

Mazquar

Created: February 16, 2007

Mazquar
Verrik Mageblade
Size/Type: Medium Humanoid
Hit Dice: 6d8+6 (36), dying/dead -1/-12
Initiative: +6
Speed: 30 ft.
AC: 20 (22 w/ beastskin)
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+5
Attack: Longsword +9 melee (1d8+7), composite longbow +7 (1d8+2)
Full Attack: +9 melee (1d8+7), composite longbow +7 (1d8+2)
Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/5 feet
Special Attacks: Spells
Special Qualities: Athame, shimmering shield
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +3
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 8, Cha 15
Skills: Climb +5, Concentration +6, Jump +4, Knowledge (runes) +5
Feats: Natural Sworsdman, Bond with Item, Weapon Focus, Improved Initiative, Weapon Specialization

Ammo: 20 arrows, 20 bodkin Arrows
Potion of transfer lesser wounds, potion of glamour, potion of heightened lesser battle healing, potion of strength boost
Ring of Resistance +1

Spell Slots 4/3/3
Spells Readied 5/4/3

Bash
Detect Magic
Saving Grace
Seeker
Touch of Weakness

Animate Weapon
Mind Stab
Tears of Pain
Touch of Fear

Beastskin (Lesser)
Destructive Grip
Spell’s Edge (Lesser)

Initiative & Such

Created: February 16, 2007

Session Notes

Created: February 16, 2007

Hung out in a tavern – The Twisted Fish – for a while, had happy sharing story time. Blank and Sigrid explained their pasts, how they’d got here. Rellik refused to answer their questions.

“We’re a crew. We’ve got to have . . . cohesion.” – Captain Blank

“So what’s capitalist fascism, exactly? Do divulge. Enlighten me. Add to the cohesion.” – Captain Blank

“Ah. So this is where your . . . charming sense of Justice comes from.” – Captain Blank.

“But how well would the cohesion be, if you had humans rule humans, and . . .” – Captain Blank
“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” – Sigrid

Worked out a plan:
Rellik and Blank go investigate the arena
Sigrid talks to Ea-Shamar about investigating murders, wants to get a new shield

Sigrid left her armor (not her sword) on the boat

“We’ll go look for the underground. Rellik, start digging.” Captain Blank

Sigrid got a black cloak

“That’s how I found Captain Bonnet in the first place, he was in a tavern.” – James
“Then stay. Away. From taverns.” – Captain Blank

They found James standing outside the Black Angle. Had a conversation with him. That was funny.

“Is there a place where I could buy a deadly poison?” – Rellik
“He’s a collector.” – Blank

“Why don’t you go ask what’s-his-name about the stuff?” – Blank

“I’ll give you 600 gp.” – Rellik
“You’re giving him more money than he asked for?” – Sigrid
“It’s contact etiquette. You wouldn’t understand.” – Blank

“Kraken! *cough* *cough* Repressed memory! Need rum!” – Blank

Sassone leaf residue; Contact DC 16; 2d12 hp; 1d6 Con; 300 gp

“It’s all good clean fun until someone gets their sword polished with poison.” – Blank

“That’s generosity, not justice!” – Blank
“I’m just giving him a few coins! I’m a nice person.” – Sigrid
“You’re encouraging him!” – Blank
“Encouraging him not to freeze to death?” – GM

Blank bet 2,000 gp on Mazquar
Rellik bet 500 gp on Mazquar
Blank and Rellik bet Sorern’s 1250 gp on Mazquar

Total: 6,250 gp

“Wake up! We need to leave before the black market closes.” – Blank

Went back to the ship, slept.

Next day: voyage!

Sorern’s backstory: evil stepmother

Day 1:
Cold, Fair, Snowing (3 days)
Strong wind (x3 sailing speed)
Prevailing (west)
216 miles

Day 2:
Cold, Fair, Snowing (2 days)
Strong wind (x3 sailing speed)
Prevailing (west)
90 miles

Secondmonth 13th

Return Journey

Day 1:
Cold, Fair, Snowing (2 days)
Strong wind (x3 sailing speed)
Prevailing (west)
Starts at like 3 p.m.

Eh, forget it. Takes 2 days to get back.

Secondmonth 15th

Does Sigrid know about the poisoned sword?

Mischa Mevarin
Human
Ao-Manasa

She was drunk at the time. Knows they did something she was very angry about, but she doesn’t know what it was.

Letter, yay, got all paranoid.

Stone Bear

Created: February 9, 2007

Stone Bear
Large Construct
Hit Dice: (8d8) 36 hp
Initiative: +1
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), swim 30 ft.
Armor Class: 15 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +5 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+18
Attack: Claw +13 (1d8+8)
Full Attack: 2 claws +13 melee (1d8+8) and bite +8 melee (2d6+4)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent, DR 5/magic
Saves: Fort --, Ref +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 13, Con --, Int --, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Hide -2, Listen +5, Spot +7, Swim +16
Feats: Endurance, Run, Track
Environment: Any
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 4
Advancement: 9-12 (Large)
Level Adjustment: --

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a stone bear must hit with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.

The Disgraceful Mystery of the Lustful Death of the Damned Dreaming Madness of the Bloody Greed of the Golden Hell-born Eel of Atlantis

Created: February 16, 2007

The Disgraceful Mystery of the Lustful Death of the Damned Dreaming Madness of the Bloody Greed of the Golden Hell-born Eel of Atlantis

Everyone just calls it “The Disgraceful Mystery,” sometimes “The Disgraceful Mystery of Atlantis,” except the Captain, who always uses the full name. Always.

Caravel

Crew:
Stede Bonnet, Captain
Blank, First Mate
James, Annoying Cabin Boy
Hook, the Cook
Illiam
Mark
Tevern
Melle

Captain Blank

Created: February 13, 2006

Do you have any nicknames, street names, titles, or nom de plumes?

Blank, Captain Blank, Cap'n Blank.

What is your full birth name?

Lionel Isaac Assiri

What is your greatest strength?
my wit and tack

What is your greatest weakness?

unprepared combat

What is your most distinguishing feature?

facial hair, a mustache and goatee

What kind of clothing do you wear?

pirate garb, arrr.

Where did you grow up?

larger islands to the north

Why did you leave?

came to live with Uncle Grizby

Who is your closest friend?

Mark, a previous shipmate. I don't know if he still lives.

Who is your worst enemy?

Illiam, my rival on the previous ship, who was about ready to lead a mutiny.

What is your greatest dream?

being the most feared pirate in all the land.

What is your greatest fear?

having no one working for me on my ship

What would you die for?

honor or my ship.

What would you kill for?

Gold, a friend, my ship.



probably not terribly enlightening, I'll write up a bit more character history when I have time.