DM SESSION LOG 141207 DM NOTES: Thank you for the kind words of encouragement during the relocation; Your patience in the temporary delay of our regularly scheduled game was certainly appreciated. I was just as excited to get the ball back up and rolling as you all were! Everything went without a hitch, the new post is working well, housing was secured (even though I was told that it was not possible to find anything in town), and I was able to meet some fine people who even provided me with free furnishings, utensils and food, which was totally unexpected, yet totally made my day! Honestly, depending upon the actions of the party and luck of the die (or lack thereof) during any session, often times can make a DM somewhat nervous knowing that there is a considerably higher chance that some players might lose their beloved character, and let me tell you that this portion of the module was definitely no exception. I seriously thought that even though having a sound plan, that things could go seriously wrong, but I was happy to see that that was not the case, so bravo to you all for a hard fought win that was well earned. Furthermore, for a nice segue, and for the record, it should be noted that the same amount of down time that we experienced (during this transition), matched perfectly with the exact amount of time specified in the module for when the mysterious boat would reappear....how apropos! QUICK READ RECAP : After weeks of planning (waiting for the mysterious off shore boat to arrive during the dark phase of the moon), the party puts into action their plan of attack to approach and board the vessel. All goes well until a brief stint of initial bad luck puts several characters into the ocean, and unplanned noise causes them to be spotted immediately upon boarding, after which a battle to the death ensues, yet the tides of war soon shift in the party's favor, and the brave adventurers ultimately rule the day! SESSION RANKING : Above Average (1), Average (2) or Below Average (3): PLAYER VOTE (THUS FAR): 1 ... "I really enjoyed the methodical start and tense fight. It was a lot of fun..." Svava performs a local history check to determine that the mystery boat is not heavily militarized, but is some sort of merchant vessel. (200 XP)* Silas assumes the boat lantern flashes are the first code sequence found on the parchment found previously. (100 XP)* Svava assumes they should return flashing with line two in the sequence coding...short, long, short, long. (100 XP)* confirmed by Adamat (100 XP)* Sylvar recommends approaching on port side of boat since hands on deck are facing the shore on the starboard side. (100 XP)* Sylvar proposes climbing up the anchor chain. (100 XP)* Party agrees. Svava recommends putting cloth between squeeky oarlocks to quiet the noise. (100 XP)* Party advances toward the boat from stern, around port side to the bow area. Karmadel casts bless on party. (100 XP)* Sylvar attempts to hide in shadows but fails. Sylvar attempts to move silently and succeeds feeling very stealthy. (200 XP)* Sylvar attempts to climb the boat wall but fails, hitting a damp area and plummeting into the ocean making a loud splash. Bjorn, still in the row boat below, quickly extends his weapon to Sylvar who successfully grabs a hold of it becomes safe and not drowning! (200 XP)* Alignment check pass! (100 XP)* Bjorn notices someone up in the boat crows nest that becomes somewhat vocal after the splash. Silas attempts hide in shadows at 35% and succeeds, (200 XP)* move silently 25% and fails making additional chain noise, climbing at 70% succeeds to top of fore deck. (200 XP)* Due to the increased noise made by the party, the smuggler on the fore deck spots Silas coming up and shouts "Intruder!" Svava casts audible glamor of multiple singing female voices creating "wonderous tones of peace and relaxation" for 6 rounds duration, influencing reactions every 1 per person every 6 rounds (save vs. paralyzation) with bard skill. (200 XP)* Smugglers do not disbelieve the illusion with a fail roll of 13. Karmadel fails his dex check and falls into the water making a big splash trying to climb the anchor chain! Adamat climbs the chain to the top of the bow deck. Bjorn extends weapon to Karmadel and grabs a hold of him keeping Karmadel from drowning. (200 XP)* Bjorn pulls Sylvar into the row boat. Karmadel successfully climbs up the boat anchor chain to the top of the bow fore deck. Silas casts sleep spell on smuggler. (100 XP)* Sylvar successfully climbs the anchor chain to the top of the boat's bow fore deck. Svava, while singing, successfully climbs the chain to the top of the fore deck. Adamat shoots bow and hits with one arrow for 5 hp of damage on smuggler on lower deck.* Smuggler with long bow knocks Adamat the druid unconscious with an arrow hit of 8 hp of maximum damage! Smuggler attempts to attack Silas but makes a critical fumble and drops his weapon! Svava, while continuing to sing, administers a cure light wounds potion to Adamat for 7 hp. of health, reviving and keeping him alive! (100 XP)* Smuggler mage casts web, Karmadel makes saving throw and is not stuck, Sylvar fails and is stuck, Svava the bard becomes stuck, Silas makes the saving throw and is not stuck, Adamat the druid fails the saving throw and he too becomes stuck in the web. Adamat manages to grab a smuggler close by and pull him into the web with a roll of 21. (100 XP)* Karmadel hits a smuggler for 5 hp of damage killing him! * -- Round 4 approaching...last round for bless. Smuggler moves to wake up sleeping smuggler. Silas roleplays against smuggler who dropped weapon. (100 XP)* Bjorn attempts to shoot the smuggler in the crows nest but misses. * Adamat attempts and succeeds for an unarmed attacked against the stuck smuggler for 3 hp damage. Svava sings battle chant. (200 XP)* Karmadel casts command of sleep to mage smuggler and succeeds. (100 XP)* Smuggler mage falls down nearby stairs after failing his dex check. Smuggler picks up dropped weapon. Stuck smuggler attempts to break free. Smuggler moves to fallen mage due to sleep command and wakes him. Smuggler 4 moves and begins to up anchor. Sylvar begins to break though webbing with his 17 strength. Smuggler begins cutting webbing from anchor chain. Svava continues war chant while stuck in webbing. A smuggler makes a successful dex check and jumps into the row boat below with the 2 NPC oar men and Bjorn the fighter! Svava stresses the need to not kill the smugglers (alignment check pass) (100 XP)* Karmadel casts darkness on crows nest. (100 XP)* Bjorn says to the smuggler now in his row boat "YOU THERE, HALT! put down your weapon and surrender yourself and you will not be harmed.", to be answered "Forget it!" by the smuggler. (100 XP)* Bjorn successfully grapples and pins smuggler. Mage smuggler casts sleep but it fails (due to race and successful saving throws) not affecting anyone! Sylvar attacks smuggler with a torso destroying piercing weapon move, for 12 hp of critical damage! * 3 smugglers turn wheel and up anchor. Mage smuggler shoots magic missile at Karmadel for 5 hp of damage and Bjorn in the rowboat for 2 hp of damage. 3 lizard men enter from a below deck door near the fore deck stairs and one exclaims "What is this noise?" in common. Silas frees Svava from the web. (100 XP)* Alignment check pass (100 XP)* Svava song affects all smugglers with 2 being extemely angry, and then proceeds to attack the smuggler mage for 7 hp of damage, saying "Surrender or die!". The smuggler mage seriously wounded at death's door responds "Parley!" Bjorn asks pinned smuggler "Your mage is asking for parley, do you surrender now?"...the smuggler stubbornly cries "Parley!" Enraged smuggler moves from crows nest attacks Svava but misses. Adamat hits the crows nest smuggler in front of the smuggler mage for 10 hp of damage killing him! Sylvar lowers himself to the lower deck in preparation to attack next round, and sees several doors both fore and aft. Karmadel casts cure light wounds on himself for 7 hp of health. (100 XP)* Smugglers restrain the angred lizard man. Svava stops the bleeding on the smuggler mage. (100 XP)* Smugglers and Lizardmen? What does this all mean?!?!? Stay tuned to the next exciting episode to find out! XP AWARDED (Battle: 900 XP) Sylvar, F/T (10XP/LVL/HD): 100, 100, 200, battle 150, 200 (encouraging others & focus), 440 XP Fighter Bonus = 1190 XP Silas M/T: 100, 200, 200, battle 150, 100, 100, 100, 100 = 1050 XP (mission bonus) Svava, Bard (5XP/HD): 200, 100, 100, 200, 100, 200, 100, battle 150, 100, 110 Bard HD Bonus = 1360 XP Karmadel, Priest: 100, battle 150, 100, 100, 100 = 550 XP Adamat Strider, Druid: 100, battle 150, 100, 200 (surviving session), 50 SR = 600 XP (mission bonus) Bjorn, Fighter (10XP/LVL/HD): 200, 100, 200, battle 150, 100, 440 XP Fighter Bonus = 1190 XP All other characters: 0 XP TOTAL XP EARNED BY PARTY (THIS SESSION) : 6940 TOTAL SESSION TIME : 7-1/2 Hours