DM NOTES: Regarding experience: XP can often times come in spurts, like life, there are peaks and valleys. Typically, searching an area won't yield as much XP as other ways. Sometimes, though, other benefits may come, like wealth acquisition (finding treasure), finding useful information pertaining to the adventure, etc. Bottom line: Exploring is an essential part of the game , and is necessary to move the adventure along, find clues, any other useful data, and most importantly, to give your characters some beneficial 'down time' to just catch their proverbial breath, rest, and mull over everything that has been accomplished up to that point. Enjoy it when it comes, and realize that it may only be for a brief period of time, because at some point after that, all hell will probably break loose....again! QUICK READ RECAP: The brave adventurers take a brief sigh of relief after the initial boarding battle, as they examine the boat main deck level fore and aft rooms, discovering large sums of money hidden in trapped chests, receipts and orders for goods signed with a lizardman forked tongue stamp, and then proceed to up anchor, sailing the boat back to Saltmarsh, only to suddenly run the ship aground sending a smuggler corpse overboard and bringing dazed and angered crewmen up from below deck to engage the party in battle, all while the boat violently heaves side to side in it's precarious position! DM SESSION LOG 141214 Party ensures that all members are at full health during the brief lull, immediately after the boarding battle. Discussion is made on boat handling duties regarding the larger vessel. Svava leans against mast for good vocal point for entire ship and continues singing about sailing the boat to Saltmarsh. Party works on getting Bjorn on board from the lower row boat. Karmadel eats rations while dropping rope ladder over side. Bjorn instructs the smuggler in the row boat to use the rope ladder and reboard the larger vessel, and then follows immediately thereafter. Leaxie searches and doesn't find any trap on the fore starboard door. Bjorn opens the door to reveal 3 hammocks in an area that distinctly smells of lizard man. Svava coerces group to continue toward Saltmarsh, and to turn their thoughts toward the meat and drink there waiting to meet them. The smugglers and the lizardmen make way toward the stern of the ship, singing as they go. Karmadel enters the lizardman room and lights overhead lantern. Bjorn opens chest near the front hammock. Tralann enters the room and looks for the hissing noise coming out from under the hammock closest to the door and sees nothing, and then puts his head down near the chest to see if the hissing sound is coming from the chest, and sees a nesting pseudo dragon behind the chest! Tralann announces this to the party. Leaxie checks for traps on door next to lizardman room and doesn't find any. Svava makes a successful ancient history check about the pseudo dragon in that it is magical, cat-like, dangeous with a bite and barbed tail, probably have a companion, and of course it can fly. (200 XP)* Svava sings about an adventurer who had a misdeed when running into a pseudo dragon. Karmadel tosses food to the pseudo dragon. The creature changes colors making it slightly more difficult to see with the naked eye. Bjorn opens bag found in chest and finds 100gp. Bjorn picks up shield by hammock and inspects but finds nothing. Tralaan moves out of the room toward Leaxie. Leaxie listens at door and hears nothing. Leaxie checks for traps on fore port door and finds none. Svava checks on lizardmen on aft deck as they prepare the boat for sailing and they are singing happily to the bard music. Karmadel makes a successful ancient history check regarding the pseudo dragon on how to become friends with it, realizing that it probably has a master companion. (200 XP)* Karmadel tosses more food, but it growls each time the hand comes down close to it and it changes color again, making it more difficult to see, blending into the woodwork of the ship. Bjorn puts shield over back and picks up the broadsword from the fore starboard hammock area. Tralann very carefully opens the door closest to lizardman room to reveal a flight of stairs going down below deck. Leaxie opens door next to stairs to reveal a ships galley. The boat has up anchored and is now under way. Svava leans on aft rail and beckons to smuggler mage to come over and sing to have a good time. The mage agrees. Svava sings some dwarven having a great time song. Karmadel opens fore door in lizard room to reveal a bow storage room of wood planking, sailcloth and tools. Bjorn gathers up the 3 javelins, broadsword and additional large shield by the other hammock, and notices a key firmly affixed to the inside of the shield. Karmadel surmises it goes to the chest by the pseudo dragon. (100 XP)* Tralann closes the stair door and moves into galley room with Leaxie. Leaxie checks for traps on galley fore door and finds none and opens it to reveal another storage area with food stores and announces this to party. Svava shifts to audience participation song with smugglers calling names in response hoping to find the name of the pseudo dragon, with one lizardman making refence to a "pet". Karmadel moves to stern of vessel and opens starboard door to reveal an untidy 'master' cabin, and enters to light the lantern hanging from the ceiling. Bjorn enters the fore galley and searches the cupboad to find plates, mugs and a metal dipper. Tralann moves out of the galley and joins Karmadel in the master's cabin and asks Leaxie to come over and check chest. Leaxie moves to master's cabin and checks left desk drawer for traps and finds none, but sees that it is locked. Svava changes the song about caring for pets if they nest and have offspring and produces his cat. The lizardman who mentioned something about a pet begins to drift toward the lower deck mumbling about his pet. Karmadel moves iron box out from under couch in the masters cabin, it accepts a key but it is unclear if it is locked or trapped. Bjorn moves to meat store room next to galley and inserts his dagger into one of the three sacks and finds dried beans. Leaxie successfully opens the left desk drawer and finds four small vials, two healing, one is labelled cure disease, the other neutralize poison, and four dirty glass tumblers, a half empty bottle of brandy and a key. Tralann moves to master's cabin, joining Leaxie and Karmadel. The smuggler mage and another smuggler make their save vs the bards influence, making them slightly more aggitated after the 6 rounds of singing. Svava makes song reference to drink directed to lizardman with the intent on receiving a beverage and providing peace of mind by allowing his pet to join in on the fun as well. (100 XP)* The lizard man cooperates by escorting the bard to the galley and then to his own cabin, retrieving his pseudodragon. Bjorn moves to Silas and relays the Bard message being conveyed in code Frost giant, that the smuggler mage and a smuggler are getting somewhat ansy, and then returns to the galley store room and opens a ceramic jar to find honey. Tralann examines handwritten paperwork on desk in master's cabin to find marine supply bills and receipts in an upper tray, and then examines the lower tray to find personal paperwork from three women as well as a bill for ironware 'per previous agreement' requesting further supplies, signed with a lizard forked tongue. Leaxie makes a successful find remove traps on the right desk drawer in the masters cabin, finding a rough map (see handout 4). (200 XP)* Leaxie doesn't appear to find any traps on the chest in the corner, sees that key found does not fit chest, and checks out cloak behind door. Tralann opens the chest as it is not locked, finding various clothing. Silas perfoms a find/remove traps on aft port central door and doesn't find any and opens the door revealing a flight of stairs descending below deck. Svava returns to aft deck and asks smuggler mage to inspect potion for distraction purposes. The smuggler mage agrees. (100 XP)* Karmadel returns to lizardman room with pseudo dragon gone, and moves the chest away from the nest. (100 XP)* Bjorn opens other ceramic jar to find olive oil. Leaxie perfoms a successful find/remove traps on the iron box and disables a scythe blade trap. (200 XP)* Silas joins Karmadel in lizardman room with chest and is not sure if it contains a trap. Svava uses his penny whistle successfully to create soothing melodies, while directing the row boat handlers to head to shore beforehand, to secure law enforcement. (100 XP)* Karmadel carries chest to Leaxie and asks for a find/remove trap skill check. Hands key back to Leaxie. Bjorn opens casks and finds flour and salt. Tralann notifies Bjorn that Karmadel is inspecting the lizardman pseudodragon chest. Bjorn offers Tralann the key and returns to the master's cabin handing it to Karmadel. Leaxie opens iron box to find 1000 EP and adds it to the party loot handout. (200 XP for role-playing correctly....alignment check pass).* Silas opens the aft port door to reveal another 'masters' cabin which appears to be tidy and does not see anything under the bed. Svava offers a song game where everyone gets a chance to dance with her. Karmadel asks Leaxie to check for traps on chest. Ship suddenly runs aground! Everyone passes dex check to stay fast. Smuggler body at bow slides overboard! 3 smugglers come up on deck from the fore and port aft stairways exclaiming "Who's steering this boat!" Tralann casts 5HD of sleep spell on the stern of the life boat affecting three closest smugglers. (50 XP)* Leaxie attacks and misses smuggler in starboard masters cabin. Bosun freaks out with co-workers slumping to the deck asleep and attempts to wake the port aft smuggler closest to him. Smuggler attempts to awaken starboard side sleeping smuggler Bjorn. Silas moves behind table in tidy port side master's cabin, drops weapon, switching to short bow and fires two arrows at bosun on main deck for 5 hp of damage and then a critical hit for 14 hp for an incredible total amount of 19 hp of damage, killing him instantly! Bjorn says "Stop attempting to wake up your friend, throw down your weapons or suffer the consequences!". "Who are you?!?" is the response. "I am a legionnaire". "I'm a working man, leave me alone and go find your commander". The smuggler drops his weapon, stands to his feet and puts his fists up and says "Let's see what you got big boy!" Bjorn drops his halbard and says "Bring it!" Karmadel attacks the smuggler blocking the starboard master's cabin door and hits for 7 hp of damage, severely wounded but barely alive. Aft smuggler moves to sleeping smuggler Bjorn and attempts to wake him up. Svava continues to sing and jumps over the aft deck railing behind smuggler blocking starboard master's cabin door, attempting to strike the pommel of her weapon in a non-lethal manner directly on his head...missing! Exclaiming "Drop your weapons, you're surrounded", surprising the smuggler! The smuggler turns toward the bard. "Huh...!?!?" Tralann hits the smuggler for 1 hp of non-lethal damage knocking him unconscious. Silas moves to downed Bosun. Smuggler moves to attack Svava but misses. Smuggler fighting Bjorn draws dagger and attacks but misses. Bjorn attempts an unarmed attack and makes a critical failure! Leaxie leaves the starboard master's cabin and attacks the smuggler behind Svava and hits for 5 hp of non-lethal damage, making him bruised but still conscious. Karmadel attacks smuggler Bjorn for 8 hp of critical non-lethal damage in the back of the head. Svava swings and misses attempting to attack the smuggler behind her. Bjorn fails to attack the smuggler. Leaxie attacks with 10 hp of non-lethal damage, knocking the smuggler out. Smuggler Bjorn attempts to wake up the sleeping smuggler. Silas shoots his bow but misses the smuggler Bjorn. Smuggler fighting Bjorn attacks but misses. Karmadel attacks but misses. Tralann shoots his sling at the smuggler fighting Karmadel for 3 hp of damage. Smuggler fighting Bjorn makes a critical hit for 6 hp of damage. Leaxie attacks woken smuggler with a back stab for 10 hp of damage killing him instantly. Bjorn makes a successful attack for 4 hp of damage. Smuggler makes save vs. death and stays conscious! Karmadel makes a critical attack for 8 hp of damage knocking him unconscious. Svava stabilizes all the unconscious smugglers. Leaxie disables a poison needle trap on the chest taken from near the pseudo dragon nest. (200 XP)* Karmadel opens the chest and finds 1000 EP and adds it to the party loot handout. XP AWARDED Svava, Bard - 200, 100, 100, 100, 60, 50 = 610 Karmadel, Priest - 200, 100, 100, 60 = 460 Bjorn, Fighter - 60, 100 = 160 Tralann, Mage - 50, 60 = 110 Leaxie, Thief - 200, 200, 200, 60, 200 = 860 Silas, Mage/Thief - 60, 50 = 110 All other characters: 0 XP TOTAL SESSION XP AWARDED : 2310 TOTAL SESSION TIME : 7 Hours
