CHAPTER 10b: R&R at Hagalton III

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"I guess it depends on how much each one is willing to pay, as to how far we have to go"

[Zhym]

"True, true," agrees Kurot. "If we can estimate the distance to each destination and the distribution of potential profits and losses, I could easily model the most cost-effective alternative given our risk tolerances. All I need is the data."

[rossik]

"all i know is that i dont have a single coin"

[greyarea]

Denslow says, ”I too think treasure hunting to the north sounds good. Can we do Yar’s work and then head to the mountains? I know not how involved these will be.”

[Yrkoon]

Farmanus

Farmanus perks up at the uttering of the word 'treasure'.

"I like Mr. Yar and his boat. But that treasure sounds grand!"

He smiles broadly at Yar.

"Maybe we could dive into the crack first and hunt for treasure second."

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"Helping Yar first is a good idea"

[Norjax]

...

Hagalton, 320D/81

You spend the morning of day 320 discussing the various opportunities for coin and acquiring details on the missions:

• 1. Yar needs volunteers for a deep dive into the lower turbulent zone of the ‘Crack. He has a client who wants to purchase the beak of an Insectillian.
  
  a. 40 gp each to participate in the hunt; estimated 1 day.
  
  2. A scholar from Lantica is hiring a team to mount an expedition intent on finding a treasure vault in the Palakan Mountains to the north.
  
  a. 140 gp each for a 14-day excursion (all expenses paid).
  
  3. An artifact was stolen by merchants who departed into Lantica. The owner is offering a reward for its return.
  
  a. 300 gp for recovery of artifact. No leads on where in Lantica the thieves went.

Action Details:

Characters:

Monsters:

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Points]:

Denslow – 42/42 [16/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [7/14]
MacMak – 68/68 [7/17]
Bruce – 50/50 [3/12]
Kurot – 50/50 [5/15]
Farmanus – 87/87 [13/13]

...

[Zhym]

Kurot updates his projections based on new data. "I agree that we should help Yar. His daily rate is the best of our options and we should be able to do it and then embark on the treasure-finding expedition, if it will wait a day. We should ask, however, whether the treasure-hunting expedition would also pay in shares of treasure, or if the 140 gp each would be our sole compensation. If that would be our only pay, I admit that I would be less enthusiastic about that option."

[shaidar]

Silvestri

"Good points, I agree. Let's help Yar and see if we can get a cut of that treasure"

[Ardak2000]

Bruce indicates that helping Yar should be their first priority.

[Norjax]

...

Hagalton, 320D/81

Seeking out the Lantica scholar, Syrus Plak, you catch up with him at Obo Grittz’s place. The lanky man, dressed in the finest black duds, listens to your inquiry about shares of the Palakan treasure. He twirls an odd cane and flexes the fingers of a metal gauntlet over his right hand. He muses for a while and strokes his thin handlebar moustache. “I tell you what,” he finally replies. “I’ll produce a list of what I expect to find in the vault, and you can have anything not on the list.” Syrus then excuses himself and retires to Obo, exchanging several large coins. Concluding his business with the flying merchant, he returns to your group.

”Does that sound fair?” he asks.

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Points]:

Denslow – 42/42 [16/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [7/14]
MacMak – 68/68 [7/17]
Bruce – 50/50 [3/12]
Kurot – 50/50 [5/15]
Farmanus – 87/87 [13/13]

...

[greyarea]

Denslow thinks that sounds fair to him.

[shaidar]

Silvestri also agrees that it's fair.

[Zhym]

Kurot agrees that Syrus's terms seem fair, assuming that the list of expected treasure is reasonably specific and not overly long.

[Ardak2000]

Bruce also agrees to the arrangement.

[rossik]

MacMak agrees, with a nod

[Norjax]

...

Hagalton, 320D/81 (Afternoon)

You spend the day organizing for the hunt in the mysterious chasm known as the Crack in the Earth. After gathering in Yar’s workshop, the mechanic outlines the plan for the insectillian hunt. He begins by drawing a sketch of the target creature:



“They are forty feet from tip to tail,” he begins. ”Their segmented body is supported by four translucent insect wings spanning thirty feet. Four tentacles, tipped with toothed suckers and claws, sprout from its underside. The head, housing multiple eyes, is exposed bone sporting a beak filled with glass-like teeth that are sharp enough to sever limbs! Yar grabs a cup, turns it over, and continues. ”I can’t spear the creature with the deck gun until its vitality is drained, because it will pull the trawler to its doom. We must entice the monster to attack so we can kill or subdue it with wounds. Only then, do I feel safe to harpoon the beast and reel it in for capture.”

Yar then points at the cup and gestures to several spots. ”We must lash and anchor ourselves to the deck or railings. The beast has enough mass to knock one overboard when it strikes.” Using the cup as an analog for the trawler, the eccentric identifies the positions available.



” There is the roof, a forward position, a center deck and two rail locations on each side. I will be on the rear deck manning the spear gun, ready to snare the monstrosity!” Yar proclaims. ”Each position has advantages and disadvantages. I’ll let you determine who will occupy each location on the trawler.” With that comment, he opens the hinged lid of a cylindrical container, jabs a pointed rod inside and withdraws it. A putrid, orange worm is lanced to the tip. Yar slurps it off, chewing happily.



OOC:

(1) Roof position: feet lashing or waist strap.

• If you lash your feet, it will cost you a -1 to attack rolls. No risk of falling overboard.
  
  If using waist strap there is no penalty, but a CRIT by the creature knocks you off the roof (*) and you require 1 round to recover.

(1) Forward position: waist strap to railing.

• -2 to attack rolls. No risk of being thrown overboard.

(1) Center deck position: feet lashing or waist strap.

• If you lash your feet, it will cost you a -3 to attack rolls. No risk of falling overboard.
  
  If you choose a waist strap, -1 to attack rolls. A CRIT by the insectillian knocks you overboard (*) and you will dangle until someone on deck recovers you.

(4) Side positions: feet lashing or waist strap

• If you lash your feet, it will cost you a -2 to attack rolls. No risk of falling overboard.
  
  If you choose a waist strap, there isn’t any attack penalty but a CRIT by the insectillian knocks you overboard (*) and you will dangle until someone on deck recovers you.

* A Reflex save vs. DC 15 will prevent this.

Note: The attack penalties represent restrictive movement; inability to position and maneuver, blocked fields of fire, etc. This does NOT apply to Mutation rolls, Skill rolls or Saves.

Actions?

Hit Points [Luck Points]:

OOC: I gave MacMak, Bruce and Kurot a point of Luck recovery. I lost track of the staggered 7-day recovery schedule. It begins now, at day 320.

Denslow – 42/42 [16/16]
Silvestri – 60/60 [7/14]
MacMak – 68/68 [8/17]
Bruce – 50/50 [4/12]
Kurot – 50/50 [6/15]
Farmanus – 87/87 [13/13]

...

[greyarea]

Denslow says, I can take a rail position on one of the sides. I care not which one but starboard seems like a fine choice. I shall use a trunk strap: it's no good lashing my roots to the deck.

[Zhym]

Kurot runs a quick analysis of the positions. "I see no advantage to the center deck position aside from convenience in attacking all sides. The side positions are less obstructed (lower attack penalty) with no greater chance of being knocked overboard or consequences if one is. The roof would also be strictly better than the center. Likewise, the forward position is no better than a side position: each offers equal freedom of attack if one wants to avoid the chance of being knocked overboard; the side positions, however, offer the flexibility of choosing greater risk for greater attack effectiveness. The roof seems the best option for those who want to be secure from major attacks, with the added benefit of the consequences of being knocked off being less than for those on the sides."

"My speed minimizes the loss of attack effectiveness, which I am willing to accept in exchange for not risking being knocked overboard. I will take the forward position, or a side position with my feet lashed if someone else wants forward."

[rossik]

MacMak will take one of the sides, with the hip thing, trying to shoot his cross bow. He asks if there was any net so they can try to entangle the creature