Skull's & Shackles Solo

[Eonn]

Spoiler: OOC

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Perform: (1d20+8)[13]

The bard takes a few moments to think before beginning his story. Most of his stories had a happy ending, the nihilistic ones that Crimson would like were few and far between indeed. Eventually he does remember one he had heard from a traveling mortician, and he proceeds to deliver it with as much effort as he tells every story.

[Pyrophilios]

You begin to tell your story to the surprisingly regularly beating of the sack. As the story gets creepier and the little details begin to form the nagging suggestion of the underlying horror, the beat gets noticeably lower until Crimson is truly captivated by your story. The creaking of the ship underlines what you are telling. And as the conclusion finally reveals the real abyss you know you have him.

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Diplomacy check +2 to make him friendly

[Eonn]

Spoiler: OOC

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Diplomacy: (1d20+10)[24]

[Pyrophilios]

A long pause follows until Crimson nods and says: "Alright, keeping you alive for that story book might be a good idea after all.
Here's the deal:
You watch my back I watch yours."
Crimson nods again and leaves for his hammock

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400XP for turning Crimson into an ally

Start of Day 4

The night is coming to a close again, and you can expect a hard day's work the following morning.

By now a certain routine has set in on the ship and the next morning, after the bell has all called you on deck you are just about to descend the steps to the kitchen - mercifully, Fishguts is in working condition today - the boy, Jack Scrimshaw runs crying on deck.
His legs are covered in bites and he stinks - more than usual. It takes a few moments to get coherent words from his mouth, but finally he manages to say: "There's something in the bilges."

Mr. Plugg looks around and spots you: "You, you are always looking for stories to tell. Just the right job for you. Get down in the bilges and take care of whatever it is that's down there."

[Eonn]

"Sure thing!" Ryotsu says cheerfully. Before he goes down there, though, he takes a moment to speak with Jack. "So what was down there exactly?
I'd like to know what to expect."

[Pyrophilios]

"I... I don't know, I was taring the wood when suddenly something in the water bit me."
A look at his wounds tells you that there are bite marks that look suspiciously like those of large rodents

As you descent cautiously into the lowest level of the ship you are greeted with the stench of the bilge water. Down here water collects and stagnates into a foul pool. There is only very little light and a few toppled boxes. Ripples in the water indicate that something is swimming in there.
You have your weapon ready when suddenly three pairs of red glowing eyes appear in the darkness.
But as fast as they have appeared they vanish again.

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Perception check vs. 14 to pinpoint the location and what you are facing

Ini (1d20)[12]+3

[Eonn]

Spoiler: OOC

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Perception: (1d20+4)[19]
Initiative: (1d20+3)[11]

With sword and dagger drawn, Ryotsu peers into the darkness. He's hesitant to step into the foul water, and stays on the last dry step of the stairs for now.

[Pyrophilios]

There, a long, lashing rat tail appears. It's too large for a normal rat, but before you can think any more about it, three fat dire rats appear before you and try to bite your feet

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Ini (1d20)[10]+3

[Pyrophilios]

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Rats attack:
Attack (1d20)[18]+2 Damage (1d4)[2]
Attack (1d20)[17]+2 Damage (1d4)[4]
Attack (1d20)[15]+2 Damage (1d4)[2]

[Eonn]

Ryotsu leaps back up the stairs a few feet, hoping to get away from the rats and bottle neck the assault in the future.

Spoiler: OOC

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I'm using Dodging Panache to back up 5' and get +4 to my AC against the first attack. This is all done on the rat's turn.

The kitsune then stabs at the rodents with his rapier. "Why couldn't it be predatory fish or something easy like that?" He mutters.

Spoiler: OOC

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Attack: (1d20+4)[20] crit on 18-20 [roll]1d20+4[roll]
Damage: (1d6+1)[7] Crit bonus: (1d6+1)[7]

I'll also use the dodge again to move away and get the ac bonus against a first attack on the rat's turn.

[Pyrophilios]

With a long drawn 'squeak' the dire rat loses its life
Your quick retreat prevents the rats from flanking you, but they are small enough to find room on the stairs.
They seem to be very hungry as the death of their sibling doesn't deter them in the slightest.
As if that wasn't enough, three more rats are swimming towards you.

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1 Dire Rat dead
2 in direct combat

3 more incoming, 1 every round, beginning next round.

(1d20)[2]+2 Damage (1d4)[4]
(1d20)[5]+2 Damage (1d4)[4]

[Eonn]

"Aw, come on!" The bard cries as he sees more of the rats coming towards him. He lunges toward the nearest rodent before retreating further up the stairs.

Spoiler: OOC

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(1d20+4)[6] crit 18-20 (1d20+4)[11]
Damage: (1d6+1)[2] crit (1d6+1)[6]

Additionally, I'm going to take a 5 foot step back up the stairs, until I get to the room above.

I'm going to use Opportune Attack and Riposte against the first incoming attack. The attack needs to beat and AC of (1d20+4)[19] to hit. If it misses, I get to counter attack as an immediate action.((1d20+4)[19] crit 18-20 (1d20+4)[22]
Damage: (1d6+1)[4] crit (1d6+1)[6])

[Pyrophilios]

The initial swipe of your blade goes wide as the vile and wily creatures duck away. But they can't avoid getting skewered during their attack and another fat dire rat drops into the murky waters below.

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1 rat remaining, a second rat comes to support it

Rat 1 (1d20)[20]+2 damage (1d4)[1]
Rat 2 (1d20)[4]+2 damage (1d4)[2]

[Pyrophilios]

Spoiler

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possible critical hit confirmation:
(1d20)[4]+2 (1d4)[1]

[Eonn]

Ryotsu continues to attack and counterattack, relying on his light blade to strike at the vitals of the rodents.

Spoiler: OOC

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Same thing as last time. Going to attack and use the Opportune Parry

Attack: (1d20+4)[15] Crit 18-20: (1d20+4)[17]
Damage: (1d6+1)[4] crit (1d6+1)[5]

Parry: (1d20+4)[20]

Counter Attack: (1d20+4)[15] Crit 18-20: (1d20+4)[16]
Damage: (1d6+1)[7] crit (1d6+1)[6]

[Pyrophilios]

Spoiler

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I'm not sure if natural 20ies can be parried and anyway the result of the rat would be greater than the parry result, so I'm assuming you parried rat nr. 2 and kill it

You take 1 damage and have to make a Fort save DC 11

Rat Nr. 1 is still alive
and is now joined by a replacement rat

Rat 1 (1d20)[15]+2 Damage (1d4)[4] (wounded)
Rat 5 (1d20)[3]+2 Damage (1d4)[1]

Relentless you attack the small yet fierce creatures, already you have halved their number but the smell of blood seems to have enraged the rodents of unusual size and you very much feel the single puncture wound that the last bite left in your calf.

[Eonn]

Despite getting bit again, Ryotsu has fallen into a rhythm and continues to fend of the squeaking assault.

Spoiler: OOC

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Fort save: (1d20+1)[8]

Attack: (1d20+4)[20] crit 18-20 (1d20+4)[18]
Damage: (1d6+1)[7] crit (1d6+1)[2]

Parry: (1d20+4)[13]

Counter: (1d20+4)[5] crit 18-20 (1d20+4)[23]
Damage: (1d6+1)[2] crit (1d6+1)[6]

[Pyrophilios]

Revenge against animals is futile, but you manage to still gain some satisfaction by slicing the rat in half that bit you.
The other rat can't pierce your shoe and a quick kick makes it stumble back, but now the last rat has joined the fray and you find yourself face to face in the final battle of man vs. nature - or at least it will be called something like that when you finally write your book

Spoiler

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Rat 5 (1d20)[3]+2 damage (1d4)[1]
Rat 6 (1d20)[2]+2 damage (1d4)[2]

[Eonn]

Quite happed that he sees no more incoming rats, Ryotsu redoubles his effort in slaying the ones still attacking.

Spoiler: OOC

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Same thing again. Stab & Counter

Attack: (1d20+4)[24] crit 18-20: (1d20+4)[12]
Damage: (1d6+1)[7] crit (1d6+1)[4]

Parry: (1d20+4)[15]

Counter Attack: (1d20+4)[8] crit 18-20: (1d20+4)[9]
Damage: (1d6+1)[4] crit (1d6+1)[4]

[Pyrophilios]

Only one more rat remains and you are confident you'll solve this little problem once and for all. With a very precise strike you kill one of the rats, but only manage to repel the last one.
The final rat strikes...

Spoiler

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(1d20)[14]+2 damage (1d4)[2]

[Eonn]

"Just die already!" Ryotsu shouts.

Spoiler: OOC

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attack: (1d20+4)[12] crit 18-20 (1d20+4)[17]
damage (1d6+1)[7] crit (1d6+1)[4]

Parry if needed: (1d20+4)[5]

counter attack: (1d20+4)[21] crit 18-20 (1d20+4)[13]
damage (1d6+1)[2] crit (1d6+1)[5]

[Pyrophilios]

As always, the last part is the hardest. And while the rat doesn't manage to hurt you it isn't standing still long enough for you to hit it. Once again the rat strikes at you with its sharp teeth.

Spoiler

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(1d20)[16]+2 damage (1d4)[3]

[Eonn]

Ryotsu, thoroughly bloodied from a number of bite wounds, takes a step back to preform some healing on himself.

Spoiler: OOC

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Taking a 5 foot step back and casting cure light wounds. (1d8+1)[5]

Parry: (1d20+4)[15]

Attack: (1d20+4)[6] crit 18-20 (1d20+4)[15]
Damage: (1d6+1)[5] crit (1d6+1)[3]

[Pyrophilios]

The taste of blood invigorates the rat for another attack

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(1d20)[14]+2 damage (1d4)[1]

[Eonn]

"And down you go." Ryotsu says, preparing to finish the fight.

Spoiler: OOC

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Just an attack this round, don't have enough panache for more parrys.

(1d20+4)[12] crit 18-20 (1d20+4)[9]
damage (1d6+1)[5] crit (1d6+1)[5]

[Pyrophilios]

A long time ago you heard a story about a land far to the east where black clad assassins are many and brave heroes have to fight for their lives on a daily basis. The funny thing is - the more of those black glad assassins there are to fight, the faster they die. But when only one of them remains the heroes are in mortal danger. The wise men of this place call this phenomenon the "Conservation of Ninjitsu" as there is only a certain amount of that stuff in any one place that empowers those assassins.

Just about now you are wondering if this rat hasn't trained somewhere in the far east to become such an annoying and persisting enemy, evading your attacks and still biting into your boots.

Spoiler

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(1d20)[6]+2 (1d4)[4]

You know the drill

[Eonn]

"Just die already!" The bard shouts.

Spoiler: OOC

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(1d20+4)[13]
(1d6+1)[5]

[Pyrophilios]

Spoiler

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(1d20)[12]+2 (1d4)[3]

You are doing that on purpose, right? Hitting the 14 AC can't be that hard

The rat seems to be deaf to that kind of language.

[Eonn]

Spoiler: OOC

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I was doing fine until this one!

(1d20+4)[5]
(1d6+1)[6]

[Pyrophilios]

Ninjas. That was the name of those assassins. Of course, now it all becomes clear: Ninjas and pirates are each other's nemesis and now you are a pirate. Ergo, this rat must be a ninja.

Spoiler

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(1d20)[15]+2 (1d4)[1]