Book 2 - Act 4: The Treasure of Mancatcher Cove

The shipping lanes of Golarion's seas and oceans are filled with fat merchant vessels laden with trade goods both mundane and exotic, as well as the pirates and freebooters who prey on them. Under the banner of their Hurricane King, these buccaneers sally forth from that archipelago of lawless pirate ports and anchorages known as the Shackles, plundering the shipping of countless countries and trade consortiums, then vanishing back into the maze of islands and reefs they call home. The nations of the Inner Sea would like nothing more than to end the pirate menace once and for all, but the eternal hurricane known as the Eye of Abendego has thus far shielded the Free Captains of the Shackles from the threat of retaliation.


In the Skull & Shackles Adventure Path, the PCs take on the role of pirates, but they must make a name for themselves in piracy, plunder, and disrepute to truly become infamous Free Captains of the Shackles.

A Paizo Adventure Path

Run by the Pirate King Vardaen
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Book 2 - Act 4: The Treasure of Mancatcher Cove

Post by Vardaen » Tue Jun 12, 2018 4:17 pm

Image We’d thought the island deserted—except for perhaps a few gaudily plumed birds—and so set into the marshy interior without fear, in search of the fresh water we so desperately needed. Damarco fell first, swept away in a rustle of undergrowth. Ignavari died where she stood, the tatters of her throat tracing the path of a claw that moved too swiftly to see. Their deaths sent the rest of us clambering for the safety of the beach—exactly where their hunters had intended. The seas have their fangs, which are not always content to stay below water.

—First Mate Balvpulo, Log of the Thirsty Dog


Its been a a fortnight since Isabella Inkskin attacked Tidewater Rock and nearly cracked it! If not for the crew of Besmara's Banshee she damn well would have. In the clean up of the mess a map was discovered on Isabella -- quite literally on her as it was tattooed on her skin. The map has given a course, and a riddle to the fabled treasure of Captain Cyrus Wolfe. Any good pirate worth his salt would have to go after the treasure. To sweeten the deal there is hope that Isabella's ship that escaped the siege might be there too and justice and vengeance for the former Captain Aya can be extracted from the hide of those left on boar The Thresher.

For the last three days you've been sailing north and west of the Rock, headed first for a port to sell some loot, and gather a few more crewmembers. So you are heading first for Lilywhite, a small pirate town you've been to before. You have a growing reputation there, and you hope to sell, hire, and maybe drink a bit there before turning west to seek the Mancatcher Cover.

The ship has just cleared the Dragon's Jaws, a collection of small isles that span an area around Taldas Isles. You've managed to sneak between them before, so you tried again and have succeeded. A day or two out from Lilywhite you look over the map, and riddle once more.
Lilywhite - Lilywhite is a small pirate town on the western coast of Motaku Isle in the Shackles that is home to a large number of worshipers of Cayden Cailean. It is the smallest of Motaku's settlements and was founded in 4682 AR by two pirates, Delemona Burie and Shaggard Halleck, devotees of Cayden Cailean. Alongside the foundation of the town, the pair funded the construction of a grand stone temple to the Drunken Hero. Halleck was killed in an alcohol-fueled duel in 4692 AR. Halleck's son, Little Shaggard, and Burie are the town's pirate lords.
Image

The woman's body is given a more detailed inspection.

The map tattooed on the Isabella Locke’s back depicts the outlines of several small islands. A stylized half sun sits to the right of the islands, while simple images of a monstrous eye and the face of an aged, bearded king are to the left. Beneath the map are five lines of crude verse:
From blue bight’s embrace
Spy the Grave Lady’s prize tooth
With the Dawnflower’s first kiss
Climb the Captain’s wayward orb
To claim old king’s hoard
Gragol and Rod lean over, looking at the map itself first, they debate possible locations, islands, and places in the Shackles that might match the images of the tattooed lands. Both seem to come to some conclusion, cross referencing on a map Agasta has. It seems to be an unnamed archipelago in the Shackles north of the Ushinawa Isles and west of Besmara’s Throne. Its about 110 miles northwest of Tidewater Rock, as the albatross flies, but will likely have to sail a bit farther through the numerous atolls and archipelagos of the southern Shackles if you were to go there.

Toruk is busy looking at the rest of the items on the map, "This monstrous eye could represent the Beast of Mancatcher Cove, and the sun could be a sunrise or a sunset I suppose."

Maggie chimes in reading parts of the verse, "And the “Grave Lady” is the goddess of death, Pharasma, also known as the Lady of Graves. Not to mention “Dawnflower’s first kiss” could refers to the goddess of the sun, Sarenrae, called the Dawnflower,"


Kroop gives a long whistle, "Well, Ibe damn, this 'ere be a map ta Cyrus Wolfe's fabled hidd'n treasure!"
Welcome to the next chapter! We will be introducing some new players in Lilywhite, including HungryXenomorph and Zorbeltuss. While we loose Eilandor and Trogdor for good here. Everyone should be at 6th level now, so go level up if you haven't!
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Book 2 - Act 4: The Treasure of Mancatcher Cove

Post by AdamDaBomb11 » Mon Jun 18, 2018 6:54 am

Gragol looks over the map in deep concentration. "Bah. I can't mak'ny sense'o'it. These two 'ere." The Dwarf points his meaty finger at the 2nd and 4th lines. "I don't 'ave a clue as t' what these're refer'n t'. Pharasma's Tooth? Climb th' Capt'n's wayward orb? Anyone 'ave any ideas? 'Cause I'm all ears."

Gragol has taken to captaincy nicely, but it still feels awkward to him.
What could the tooth mean? Maybe a dagger or something?
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Book 2 - Act 4: The Treasure of Mancatcher Cove

Post by Grimbold » Wed Jun 20, 2018 12:17 pm

"From blue bight’s embrace
Spy the Grave Lady’s prize tooth
With the Dawnflower’s first kiss
Climb the Captain’s wayward orb
To claim old king’s hoard"

Rod recites. "I think the orb might be some hill or mountain which we need to climb. ANd we need to climb it at a certain time - when the sun rises - First kiss - I guess."
The map tattooed on the Isabella Locke’s back depicts the outlines of several small islands. A stylized half sun sits to the right of the islands, while simple images of a monstrous eye and the face of an aged, bearded king are to the left. Beneath the map are five lines of crude verse:

From blue bight’s embrace
Spy the Grave Lady’s prize tooth
With the Dawnflower’s first kiss
Climb the Captain’s wayward orb
To claim old king’s hoard

Gragol and Rod lean over, looking at the map itself first, they debate possible locations, islands, and places in the Shackles that might match the images of the tattooed lands. Both seem to come to some conclusion, cross referencing on a map Agasta has. It seems to be an unnamed archipelago in the Shackles north of the Ushinawa Isles and west of Besmara’s Throne. Its about 110 miles northwest of Tidewater Rock, as the albatross flies, but will likely have to sail a bit farther through the numerous atolls and archipelagos of the southern Shackles if you were to go there.

Toruk is busy looking at the rest of the items on the map, "This monstrous eye could represent the Beast of Mancatcher Cove, and the sun could be a sunrise or a sunset I suppose."

Maggie chimes in reading parts of the verse, "And the “Grave Lady” is the goddess of death, Pharasma, also known as the Lady of Graves. Not to mention “Dawnflower’s first kiss” could refers to the goddess of the sun, Sarenrae, called the Dawnflower,"

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Book 2 - Act 4: Lilywhite

Post by Vardaen » Wed Jun 20, 2018 3:18 pm

The conversation on the riddle dominates the chatter on the ship. The ship sails along its course and in a few more days Lilywhite comes into view...

Besmara's Banshee sails into the small harbor of Lilywhite, it is a pirate town, you drop anchor in the bay at your own risk, and pay no fee. Leaving a garrison on the ship you row into the docks in a longboat with a few extra guards to keep impressions tough. The place is pretty much what you remember, you can sell your booty here, spin some yarns, and even find a few things to buy and sell on a personal level. The thing to really sets the place out from others is the grand stone temple to the Drunken Hero Cayden Cailean.
Notable Locations:
1. The Founders' Square in the town of Lilywhite is located on the southern point of a small island sitting in the deep-blue bay. Four bridges connect the Founders' Square to both the shore and one of the bay's other small islands. It is one of the common meeting places of Lilywhite, and often serves as an open market and site of town meetings. At the center of the square is a 15 feet tall wooden statue of the Cayden Cailean. To the east, a similar statue made of stone stands on an outcropping of rock in the bay.

2. The Temple of Cayden Cailean in the town of Lilywhite on Motaku Isle was founded in 4682 AR by the captains Shaggard Halleck and Delemona Burie. Shaggard and his friend were devotees of Cayden Cailean and they wanted to build a grand stone temple to the Drunken Hero. Shaggard was killed in an alcohol-fueled duel with a local fisherman in 4692 AR in that same temple.

The large building is the most prominent building in town and is clearly marked as both a temple of Cayden Cailen and a popular tavern. It is known as Cailean's Keg by the locals. Cailean's Keg is owned and operated by the high cleric of the Accidental God in Lilywhite, Duwella Morin.

3. The God's Revel Inn is one of the most popular drinking and entertainment establishments in the town of Lilywhite on Motaku Isle. It is a two-story building made of old but sturdy wood. Benches are scattered around tables and crates on the main floor. Its famous fighting pit is located at the center. It is a recessed circle of hard-packed earth, just two feet deeper than the wood floor and ringed by a series of heavy posts connected by a railing rope. A second-floor balcony overlooks the fighting pit and part of the main floor. Larkem Thene, is the owner of the inn. As he grows older, Thene has been spending much of his inn's profits on donations to the church.

4. The Sturdy Seawall is a hostel in the town of Lilywhite on Motaku Isle. It is near to the God's Revel Inn
We will park here. You guys should RP selling and buying, hiring our new Players!, spinning some tales to raise Infamy, etc. Feel free to get in a bar fight, be seduced by the ladies of the night, gamble away your fortune then win it all back in some risky venture! You guys have free reign here, go for it.

Here is the roll Assuming Maggie and Rod work together for a few days doing this.
Infamy Roll: (1 Day) DC 15 + twice the groups average party level (12) = 27

Spend a day doing this (you have 3 so you can try a few times up to winning 5 total points) no one wants to hear the same story over and over again.

Aid Another from Maggie (Yeah 3 Successes)
Day 1 Rod's Bluff 13+12+2 = 27 Success. (Not by +5) Gain 1 Infamy & Disrepute Point
Day 2 Rod's Bluff 9+12+2 = 23 Failure = No Points Gained
Day 3 Rod's Bluff 13+12+2 = 27 Success. (Not by +5) Gain 1 Infamy & Disrepute Point

Net Gain 2 Infamy and Disrepute: Both are now at 18, next threshold at 20.
You guys could buy Disgraceful Impositions (see the OOC thread)
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Book 2 - Act 4: Lilywhite

Post by Grimbold » Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:15 am

"We do need some more crew. Let's find a tavern and try to find some sturdy lads and lasses." Rod suggests, then adds. "And I need a drink."

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Book 2 - Act 4: Lilywhite

Post by Hungry Xenomorph » Fri Jun 22, 2018 7:34 pm

Xie awakes with the rising sun he opens his room's window and takes a deep breath of the salty air, that did always put a smile on his face. After freshening up he gathers a couple things and leaves his room, he steps onto the street and begins his morning routine of visiting shot owners and random citizens of the city, greeting them and offering them a sympathetic ear, if needed. Xie walks by the Port stopping to talk to the fish mongers and sailors, as he often did, Xie looked for new arrivals at port, excitingly today there was a new arrival, Besmara's Banshee, he noted.

As morning continues to trickle in, Xie stops by the God's Revel for some food, the tavern is full of lively wenches and spirited sailors enjoying food and drink, looking around the tables Xie spots the familiar face of his friend Vinni sitting in a booth, smiling Xie removes his hat and joins her. "Good moning".

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Book 2 - Act 4: Lilywhite

Post by Zorbeltuss » Sat Jun 23, 2018 11:17 am

Her name had been promtly shorted to Vinni within the first day of sailing because of her insistence on pronouncing it slowly with emphasis on each syllable, like some fat merchant with aspirations of joining the aristocracy of Taldor would, or the upper echelons of Oppara that he imitates, those too.

Flavinia is nursing a hangover, at least she is quite experienced at it, since the inn is the only place there's any fun to be had. Xie's presence solicits a grunt, also as usual in the morning, her breakfast consisted of eggs, oats and a coconut which she drinks from with a straw. It was so routine that she started to hate it, but it was a lesser evil that must be tolerated, landlubber life without booze wasn't much of a life at all.

Though she looks no worse for wear, aside from tired, red-eyed and grumpy. Despite those things, she had not skipped on her morning prestidigitation routine to clean out her hair, skin and clothes, making her appearance otherwise crisp and pristine. Her blouse is as starkly white as if it was brand new. "There is no such thing as good mornings" she declares, not unfriendly, she just hates mornings.

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Book 2 - Act 4: Lilywhite

Post by Grimbold » Mon Jun 25, 2018 9:00 am

Rod and Maggie enter the tavern, order some drinks and begin talking to the locals and other customers, telling stories about fishman attacks and daring fights against undead ships.
Roderick is tall and slender with light bronze skin and dark hair. He walks with eased grace and has a charming smile. He wears worn boots and a courtier's outfit, with some jewelry (his sense of fashion probably comes from his time in Taldor). On a wide belt, he wears his cutlass and some daggers. A large hat with a white feather complement his outfit. He smiles to the ladies and winks at Vinni, however, Maggie, the redhead with him, elbows him when she sees him do it.

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Book 2 - Act 4: Lilywhite

Post by Hungry Xenomorph » Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:24 pm

Xie simply smiles at Vinni's guttural response as he orders some ham and eggs, "Had a fun night i see". Xie scans the room and notices a couple of new faces come in, probably from the newly arrived boat he thinks.

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Book 2 - Act 4: Lilywhite

Post by Grimbold » Tue Jun 26, 2018 11:03 am

After telling his story and accepting a free drink, Rod walks around slowly to see who is around. He comes up to Xie's and Vinni's table, stops and tips his hat.

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