GM BPC's PFS of Awesomeness! (Inactive)

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

Benson comes to with the soothing warmth of the first cure spell and hops to his feet as quickly as he's able, grabbing his sword as he does so. Seeing no one left to fight, he lets his guard down, looking disappointed.

After taking in the state of Lura and listening to the exchanges between the bartender and Raevin, Marduk, and Kerastes, Benson can think of nothing to add, so he starts to poke around the aquarium, trying to figure out what's in there.

He has no knowledge skills that are likely to help, unless it's something Profession (Sailor) might allow him to roll.

Wyeth woozily struggles to his feet and wobbles unsteadily.

"We need to wake her up and have a little talk with her, secure not only the cure but some assurance that she won't take any revenge on the shopkeeper, his family or his business."

"We'll need to secure more than that," he says, wincing as he rubs his head. "She needs to be completely restrained and controlled before we revive her. I'm not keen on going through that again," he says as he pulls out a wand to apply a little self-medication.

Cure Light Wounds=>Self: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Cure Light Wounds=>Self: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Feeling better and now more alert, he notices Benson looks a little ragged and pokes him as well.

Cure Light Wounds=>Benson: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"Anyone else before I put this away?" he asks, looking around at his companions.

"I have a small wound, but it's not worth wasting a charge on... if I get hit again though, I'll probably need your help... Just keep me in mind."

He goes about binding the woman and relieving her of any casting items (wands, scrolls, spell components), and making sure her hands and fingers are too well tied to allow casting. Then he gags her as well. "Can someone give me a hand here to make sure she's well bound? THanks."

cmd for rope use: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15 any aid accepted

Feeling better and now more alert, he notices Benson looks a little ragged and pokes him as well.

Seeing Wyeth about to use a charge from his own wand to heal him, Benson holds up a hand and fishes out his own wand of CLW to offer instead. "Can't use the damn thing myself, but might as well save your own magic and use mine."

Benson looks around the room. "Perhaps we should take this little discussion to a back room, in case word gets out and interested parties come to see. Barkeep, I think we'll be happy to see to it that Miss now-you-see-her-now-you-don't," he gives Lura's unconscious body a nudge with his foot for emphasis, "ran away after a bunch of angry customers lost bets and meant to take them out of her hide?" He gives him a wink. "Before we do, you know anything about a potion that can cure the disease of the potion master? We can make it worth your while." He shakes a (well secured) belt pouch that jingles with coins for emphasis.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

As the party recovers, their conversation with the barkeep continues. "Sounds like a fine plan as long as you make sure of it. I don't trust my longevity if she were to ever return.", smirks the man, taking you and motioning for you to take the unconscious Lura with you as you join him in the 'office', more of a ramshackle place with various coffers, open safes, and piles of loose paper.

The man looks through a few of the containers and shrugs. "If there is anything else of unique value, it would be on my hope-to-be-former employer there."

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"So much for not attracting the attention of the Consortium," Benson mutters so only those in the group nearby can hear as he points out the silver badge with the snake. "Won't be easy to avoid them once word gets out that she was bested in a fight. Can't deny it 'cause there was a room full of witnesses. Also doesn't look like the cure is here, although we should see if we can search a bit. This guy might not know what he's looking for."

"Wait, we don't know what's in that vial - that could be the cure you know."

Whoops, forgot a spoiler.

"Here," says Wyeth, "let me have a look at that." He takes the vial and studies it, holding it up to look through it to judge color and transparency, tilting it back and forth to estimate viscosity, shaking it to check for foaming and to gauge surface tension. Then he removes the stopper and waves his hand over the open top towards his nose, testing the aroma. Finally he tips the vial towards his pinky capped over the top, and cautiously touches the tip of his finger to his tongue.

Cr:Alchemy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

"Hmm. Do we know what ails the boy? This appears to be a cure for a disease found in the Mwangi expanse called 'Jungle Lung'." Debilitating for us, usually fatal for children. It causes massive phlegm production and coughing, but the thick stuff's hard to bring up, and children tend to drown in their own mucus."

He hands the vial back. "It's not pretty."

"We've got nothing else to show for our efforts here... it's worth at least finding out if that's what ails the child."

All of this is said softly with others nearby, far from the eavesdropping ears of the bartender, if possible.

Let's assume this is the cure she has been withholding. We can get it back to the alchemist and then seek out goods we came to purchase. But everything will be more complicated now. It would be expedient to kill her and let the chips fall where they may rather than let her carry out a vendetta against us. I'm not comfortable with murder however. Perhaps we can leave her with the bartender and let him decide if he wants to dump her in the fish tank or deep six her some other way. We can perhaps intimidate him into letting us get on with our business, since he knows what violence we are capable of.

Benson is clearly not very confident of the situation and is mostly thinking out loud. He looks to the others for ideas.

Noted. The barkeep doesn't appear to be eavesdropping, perhaps not to get on your bad side or appear too suspicious.

Wyeth eyes Benson. "Expediency is no justification for murder," he says levelly.

The bartender patiently awaits an answer. "Don't tell me you blokes are having a change of heart? Not sure what business you're up to, but mercy doesn't get you far in this town."

Marduk makes a neutral gesture waving his hand.
"I have an idea, maybe in prospect of you running this establishment, you'd like to pitch in sir."

"Surely some large person fitting barrel is within the basement? Temporarily gag, bind and lock her away."

And now I feel stupid for forgetting about this game! D'oh.

"Only if you know of a spot where barrels meet untimely ends. Perhaps around Niobara Falls?", he smirks before retrieving an appropriate barrel of ale, emptied yet sticky from its previous contents. [b]"All thinks considered, this establishment will be a far better place with one less psychopath involved, even if her magics did make for some interesting gambling options.

Working together, Lura's unconscious form is easily put into the barrel, her small, stout frame almost a perfect fit, even after being bound and tied up.

So the plan now is to toss her inside a barrel and leave her there for a while. That'll work, although are you going to come by and finish her off or send her someplace else?

Well i was thinking more of sending her off to a faraway place where she doesn't speak the language. All in the name of "learning discipline & humility".

And the barkeep would have no problems about that.

"For other locations... I hear Irrisen is nice this time of year."

"Ah...the snowy northlands, wasn't it? I have heard they enforce laws quite strictly there."

"If it wasn't for the fact that I don't want be there myself, I'd take a wager on how long she would last. I say two days before she pisses off some random ice bitty.", he smirks.

Going to move ahead so we can progress

With a plan to send her off to some random desolate location, the bartender, Quebly, hands you a sack of coins to go along with the vial you found on Lura Ichon. The party makes quick work heading to Senzer. "So, did you get the medicine?", he nervously asks.

"Do you know what ails the boy? I am afraid I am not that familiar with diseases. I wouldn't want to give him an antidote for something he hasn't got."

Kerastes looks at his companions "Although I can assist any of you in making a diagnose, I am a capable helper"

Assist the first one to try, Heal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Kerastes gives +4 on his aid other

Earlier:

"You know," laments Wyeth as he assists with hammering the barrel hoop into place, "this is an insult to a barrel that used to be full of ale."

Now:

"I'm mostly studying alchemy and herbal remedies, but maybe I can help someone with a differential."

Aid Another (Heal): 1d20 ⇒ 7 Nope...

"My son has 'scum hack' as the locals call it, or jungle lung."

Aid other Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Also nope.

Senzer did say he analyzed the vials Lura was giving him before and noted that he identified a cure, so theoretically, handing him a vial so he could confirm it would make sense.

Benson goes along with all this. He has nothing much to add, so he just keeps an eye out for anyone tailing the group as they head for the alchemist's shop.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

@Benson: The streets are crowded, but you make little notice of anyone in particular trailing you.

"Wyeth, give that man the antidote so he can administer that to his son. After that I am sure that Master Senzer will get the supply to the dig site up and running in no time."

Kerastes looks intensely at Senzer "You will get the supply of potions and information back up, won't you?"

"I don't have it, I gave it back to Raevin." (Here.)

"Ok, Raevin, you give the antidote to the man! Don't tell me you 'merchants' have misplaced the goods!"

"Here it is! Raevin hands over the vial of cure, hoping it is the right stuff, since nothing else was found on the woman.

Senzer hurridly grabs the vial, barely getting out a "Wait a minute." ducking into his backroom. A shout of "EUREKA" is heard before Senzer excitedly exits. "You got it! You got it! He's saved!", hugging each of you as the first joyous smile you've seen upon the man beams across his face. "And I assume if you got this, Lura won't be bothering my family again?"

"I'd say that's a safe assumption." Raevin says with a mischievous grin.

Marduk chuckles.

A voyage on enlightenment, that's what she's going on.

Benson smiles at the happy result of the group's actions. "Just to be on the safe side, you might give the new owner of The Pit a useful potion to celebrate his promotion."

Once the alchemist has had time to settle down but before he rushes off to help his son, Benson says to Wyeth and Raevin, "Might be a good idea to see if Senzer here can give us a list of the merchants who are open to dealing with Pathfinders, or at least those to avoid because they're affiliated with the Consortium. We also need to locate this caravan owner."

With news that Lura will be no longer in his business. "Thank you... thank you all!", the man to tears as a huge burden has been lifted off of him. "I'll begin crafting more potions and remedies at once."

@Benson: Are you asking opening so Senzer can hear, or just privately to Wyeth and Raevin?

Benson made the suggestion to Wyeth and Raevin privately, so as not to upset the illusion of him being merely a bodyguard.

Gotcha

Well, you've completed this step. It's a matter of which direction you wish to go. You do have the meeting locale for your driver, and the suggested location of a non-Aspis supplier was already provided to you.

Kerastes falls back into his role as bodyguard and follows the others outside. There he tries to whisper "Let's find that driver first, we need to know where the supplies can be delivered before we secure them"

1 for the Driver, any other opinions? If not then we look for Raimondo Scevosa!

"Finding the driver sounds good to me,"

Benson agrees as we'll.

Benson made the suggestion to Wyeth and Raevin privately, so as not to upset the illusion of him being merely a bodyguard.

I thought that subterfuge was wasted on the alchemist, given his knowledge of our being Pathfinders and his earlier behavior? That's the reason Wyeth stopped acting all haughty-snotty around the man once it became obvious. Did I misinterpret?

And: Driver first sounds like a good plan.

I thought that subterfuge was wasted on the alchemist, given his knowledge of our being Pathfinders and his earlier behavior? That's the reason Wyeth stopped acting all haughty-snotty around the man once it became obvious. Did I misinterpret?

Just a precaution and keeping in character. The alchemist may know we're Pathfinders but he has no idea what our mission is and probably best to keep that as secret as possible.

Once again, I'll need your Diplomacy/Appraise check for merchants and Disguise/Intimidate check for bodyguards.

Senzer, who arranged the deal for the Society to meet with Raimondo Scevola, gives you the details on his local haunt: The Wandering Way. He does warn you that you should make sure he's just drunk enough to head out, noting he's had to make more than his fair share of alchemist's kindness for the man who has fallen on hard times since being betrayed by the Aspis Consortium when they took his ventures in a hostile takeover.

The humid stink of Bloodcove mingles with the reek of sweat and the sticky-sweet odor of tropical plants and exotic tobaccos. The foyer of the guild house looks more like a tavern than a place of business, with tables carved from dark jungle woods and overstuffed cushions. Older men and women mingle or brood over their drinks, while strapping young toughs claim the area around the cold hearth.

Across the room, a swarthy, mustachioed man bellows in anger. He sweeps an arm across the tabletop shared with a red-cheeked companion, spilling drinks and playing cards onto the carpet. "You bastage,", he drunkenly shrieks. "You scheating sunovabeech! Elanzsho, I need thoshe animash! I have a client whoshe paid fer may caravan!"

His companion wrings the remains of his drink out of his shirt. "No one cares, Scevola. Those were the stakes, and your horses will be chow for my men before set sail in the morning!"

"You shlipped shomethin in mah drink! Yer takin mah horshesh over mah dead body!"

Elanzo simply shrugs at this and snaps his fingers. "That can be arranged.", is all he says as the large brutes gathered by the hearth stand up and begin moving toward the pair.

While combat hasn't broken out yet, so Diplomacy or other methods are possible, although you must ask quickly.

New map added

Intimidate, look stern: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Not so much of a succes now.

Marduk sighs slightly.
"What lack of self discipline......Wyeth my friend, i think we'll have to see this sort of scene alot in our time here."

intimidate: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

He's going with the Clint Eastwood squinty stare, hand poised near his sword hilt as he walks.

As for the situation with Scevola, Benson's primed to step in and defend him, but he waits to see if the 'merchants' of the party want to try a diplomatic option.

appraise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Just because you asked for a diplo or appraise roll, sigh not very good, eh?

Raevin walks in to observe a very unpleasant scene. He scowls slightly as he listens and steps forward slightly and tries to intervene.

"Surely, whatever is the problem here, can be solved without bloodshed.. What actually occurred to lead to this, eh?"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

But sadly, his words, soft-spoken as they usually are, don't carry far in the noisy bar and those who DO hear them are unmoved, and perhaps even put off. *kicks the dicebot in the patoot*

@Marduk: After the brawl from before, you're still a little tired and what should be a vicious growl ends up as a pitiful grunt.

@Benson: Now more wary after your beatdown earlier, your glinting gaze causes most people to ignore you.

While the other men are aware of you, so far as you have not taken any threatening motions or moving too close to the situation, they are ignoring.

@Raevin: You manage to pull off enough mercantile terms from a few passerby street sellers that no one things it's too weird, other than your fair features in this rough town.

"The problem here is that this drunkard wants to welsh out on his bet, and that's as much of your business as I need from you lot!"

Poor indeed. Anyone else want to step in?