DM Khel's Bronze House Reprisal (Inactive)

Game Master Khelreddin

Stymied by the complex lock, the party heads south. The secret door from Sloan’s sitting room leads to a meeting room (marked with a yellow dot). A plain table and chairs occupy the center of the room, while Sloan’s portrait overlooks all proceedings. Rayne’s sharp eyes notice a hidden panel behind the portrait, which would allow someone in the sitting room to spy on any meetings taking place in the meeting room.

Finding nothing else of interest, the Pathfinders try the other southern door, which leads to a richly-appointed office. An ornate fireplace heats the room, with carvings of mephits eagerly reaching for the flames. A polished darkwood desk rests in the center of the chamber. As the party considers where to search, or whether to head elsewhere in Bronze House, the sound of many, many feet can be heard outside – clearly, the Watch has arrived. An instant later, the other door to the office is thrown open!

A gaunt, fashionably dressed Taldan man quivers with outrage as he comes through the open door. His clothes are in disarray, but he moves with surety. The two followers accompanying him half draw their weapons but a gesture from the man stops them. “How dare you hooligans trespass here? Are you fools or simply new to Magnimar? I assure you, you’ll be coming to know the Hells quite well. Explain yourselves before I see your families arrested as conspirators in this vandalism as well.”

Now we’re on to a series of skill checks to attempt to unsettle Sloan, by showing him you’re here legitimately or divulging some of the evidence you’ve collected. We’ll start with a series of separate Sense Motive checks, which may give some clues as to how to affect him.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Hmm...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Rayne slips the writ to gnome. "Feel free to lay down the law."

You've now got two tactics you can use, let's make some rolls! Or take some ten!

Zirt narrows her eyes at Sloan in an intimidating fashion she learned from her schoolmaster's uncle. Clearing her throat, she gestures expansively at her surroundings as if to emphasize her coming points.

"Well hello there, Mister Sloan. How nice of you to join us. I'd offer you a seat, but considering that your lovely Bronze House is currently in the rather warm process of burning down around us, I think perhaps we'd better get straight to business."

The gnome pauses for a moment to let her words sink in. Then, reaching into her belt pouch, she closes one hand around the Writ, preparing to display it at just the right moment. "The Council of Ushers believes—quite correctly, I might add—that you are flaunting the laws of this city, Mister Sloan. Now, now, don't be too hasty to respond. You may want to read this first; you can read, can't you?"

Auto-succeed at the DC 5 Perception check.

Perform (oratory): 10 + 9 = 19

Sloan listens haughtily as Zirt speaks, though his eyes do show a flicker of concern as she describes the fire, which he likely has not had time to evaluate before confronting the intruders. His voice reveals that he is now slightly flustered, but he gets a grip on himself as he replies, “The Council sends rats to steal from me? You think your flimsy piece of paper will hold up in the courts?” He dismisses it with a gesture. “No, you vermin have become too bold.” He turns to leave, his attention turning to the fire still burning away nearby.

He is preparing to depart but you can try to pick at him for information on his involvement with the attack on the Grand Convocation (as noted in the Korholm Agenda handout), the artifact smuggling operation, whatever is going on with the alchemist’s fire in the Jeggare wine bottles, his plans against the Society, or anything else. You can confront him with evidence you’ve found or try to trick him into believing you know more than you do. Skill checks! Because of your success on the previous checks, you get +4 to any checks you make on this round.

"Even if it doesn't the ancient Thassilonian coins we found in the eastern warehouse will. So will the crown from the western warehouse. We'll make it go away if you tell us what we want to know. Like anything about the attack on the Grand Convocation or your general plans against the pathfinders."

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 4 = 32

1d20 ⇒ 4

Sloan's eyes narrow as he considers Rayne's words, then widen in alarm! "But how...?" he mutters to himself, his mind clearly racing as he analyzes the implications of what he's heard.

Some other checks are needed. Some things you can pursue: reveal you’ve shut down one of the Aspis smuggling operations, presenting evidence you’ve found at the dig site and at Bronze House (a Knowledge (history) check would come into play here also); show that you know he’s up to something with all that alchemist’s fire, even if you’re not sure what (Intimidate check); make clear to him that you know he didn’t plan the Convocation attack alone (using the Korholm Agenda letter you found, make a Diplomacy check).

I’m sorry that this is a bit railroady, but it’s how the scenario presents it. I’m trying to break it open a bit, but it’s an uphill battle.

"Enough b++&$&@$", Hrolf growls. "We know what you're planning with all that liquid flame and we'll see you hang for it. Come clean and we might put in a good word for leniency."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

You guys auto-succeed at one of the checks needed, so I’m going to add that in to the mix.

Sloan’s face pales when Hrolf makes his accusation. Then, when Zirt holds out the man’s own notes about the Korholm Agenda and the attack on the Grand Convocation, he collects himself somewhat and sneers in return, “Impossible…does it surprise you that one of your masked leaders dances to our tune? Did you truly think there was honor among thieves? You miscreants turn on each other so easily. When you feel an ally’s blade at your throat, remember I guided it there.”

A moment later the city guard arrives. Sloan demands they arrest the party, but Kasadei arrives with her own patrol loyal to the Council. Kasadei asks what evidence the Pathfinders have found within Bronze House. As her guards secure the evidence, she in turn demands Sloan’s arrest, but the Lord-Mayor’s guards block her. She pleads with them, but backs down to avoid bloodshed.

A haughty sneer still on his face, Sloan speaks cuttingly to the Pathfinders, ”A minor setback, but one I’ll remember. Can you not see the futility of your efforts? A hundred more wheels are in motion. Your only virtue until now was you were too insignificant to squash." He then turns away to deal with the fire still threatening Bronze House.

Heading back toward Heidmarch Manor to inform their venture-captain of the results of the mission, the party can’t help but notice flames springing up in various places around the city. As they reach the Manor itself, they see that it too is aflame! The Pathfinders meet Lady Heidmarch in her library, to find her soot-covered and burnt and Heidmarch Manor partially destroyed. The venture-captain tells the party of damage done to the Society’s allies and says the Pathfinders have rebuilding to do as well, all as a result of the Aspis sneaking alchemical fire into vulnerable places and somehow setting it alight. On the positive side, the party has proven the Consortium’s involvement in smuggling and recovered the evidence without being arrested for heinous crimes. ”I expect the lord mayor is likely to launch an investigation into Aspis activities and publicly fine Sloan himself,” she explains, savoring the thought as she looks at the destruction of her home. ”Aspis Consortium profits and influence in Magnimar should drop considerably, reducing Sloan’s stature in the Consortium.”

The Venture-Captain listens with interest to the secrets found around Bronze House, and the discovery of various maps causes her to share her suspicion that the Consortium has a highly-placed spy in the
grand Lodge. When Venture-Captain Heidmarch learns that the party uncovered Sloan’s notes about the Korholm Agenda, Venture-Captain Heidmarch looks particularly pleased. ”Excellent, excellent!” she exclaims. ”The informant who told the Society about Sloan’s involvement in the attack also mentioned a Korholm Agenda, but that many in the Society hesitated to believe that a larger organization was involved. Now, with proof of the existence of the Agenda, the Society can begin tracking down everyone involved in the plot against the Grand Lodge, and send them all the same message the you all just sent Sloan—no one gets away with theft and murder at the heart of the Pathfinder Society.”

And that’s it! Apologies for the clunky nature of the dialogue with Sloan. That aspect of the scenario was probably the lamest bit of scenario writing I’ve come across.