GM Blood's Age of Worms in Golarion
Game Master David James Olsen

"Th-thank you for doing all this, Allustan. We'll probably sleep better than we would at the inn." The cleric looks around at the rest of the party, struck by a thought. "Do any of you know how to cook?"

"Didn't we also leave a room full of zombies at the observatory? I think we should go deal with that, too."

"Indeed, it's about time we finish that off."

I thought we destroyed them, but if not, I definitely agree we should go do that. Otherwise, off to the girl's father.

"I've learned to cook about in the field, but it will be pretty plain fare. Perhaps one of the rest of you would have more skill." says Kelkzar with a chuckle.

You did destroy the zombies already

"Then let's go see that girl!" Trevor's hair is neatly combed, an intriguing novelty.

Rowena, stunned into silence by the generous gift, is roused from her stupour by Trevor's. Still shaking her head, marveling at the house that was theirs, she forgets to whisper, "Like I said. Good thing he's easy to look at."

She shakes herself out of her reverie as the others prepare to depart for town.

"I'm not a skilled chef either, but between us I'm sure we can cook acceptable food."

Lessien does her usual morning preparations (dex mutagen, extracts of shield / CLW).

After breakfast, "Shall we head for Lazare's?"

Quintus took a bit longer than usual with his morning devotions, and seems quieter than usual after the division of treasure. "Yes, let's go."

So Lazare's is a gambling house, a very nice upscale one, and you'll have to wait until lunch to visit it. Assume the morning is consumed with selling existing equipment and looking for or purchasing new things. [ooc]Regular items and weapons in core rulebook are available now to purchase, each store may have a couple magic items. Otherwise any exotic weapons or items would have to be sent off to Magnimar.

You enter Lazare's after lunch and it is mostly empty at this time. After a moment worker brings you to Lazare's office where he is sitting behind a large mahogany desk. His daughter stands behind him, "Ah welcome! I am so glad you came! I am Lazare, and you have met my daughter Dannath. Please sit and lets talk. Can I get you any refreshments?"

He motions to six chairs in front of his desk. After you sit (or don't) and any refreshments are requested (or are not) he says

"I am sure you are busy folk with many things to do, so I'll skip all the pleasantries and get down to the point. I hear you had a run-in with Smenk's errand boy Kullen the other night. While talk is that not all three of his lackeys were there, the fact you took the fight to him and survived is quite impressive. I was wondering if you could expand on reason why you felt the need to go up against this town's most powerful mine manager, Balabar Smenk? You do realize the risk you are now in after that confrontation, despite the fact that Kullen and his group have left town for Magnimar?"

Quintus sits down, then looks around quickly at the rest of the party after Lazare has finished before turning his attention back to the casino owner. Only mumbling occasionally, he tells the tale. "Honestly, we weren't interested in Master Smenk. We had a, I suppose it's best described as a debt, to settle by burying the last of the Lands with his family at their farm. Kullen and his men had taken the rest of the bodies, so we couldn't settle the debt without the bodies, and we didn't think he'd tell us where they ended up if we just asked."

Lazare gets an intrigued look on his face, "Really? They took the bodies? Why did they take and them and where?"

"We're still trying to figure that out. How did you come to hear of our involvement with Kullen? We thought we had kept that fairly quiet."

How much money did we each end up getting today? I'd like to start looking at what I need to buy.

Kelkzar raises an eyebrow at Lessien, but waits for Lazare to answer.

Lazare smiles at Lessien's words, "Word gets around in this town, though few other than me and Smenk may know it at this time. When Kullen and his group left in a hurry that raised some eyebrows."

"Ok my last question for you is this: What about Smenk and his involvement in this? Someone gave the order for Kullen to do this...."

"You're enemies with Smenck, aren't you?" Rowena blurts out. "Opposing his interests and looking for any leverage you can find against him?"

Her questions are directed at him, but she half turns in her chair to include her companions.

Quintus winces internally at Rowena's lack of tact and Lessien's lack of honesty. Thank you, Lady, for the idea of studying diplomacy. "I wouldn't have asked it that way, but it's a fair question and I'd still like to hear your answer."

Lazar smiles and with a little chuckle says, "Nice and direct, I like that. Let me tells you a story. It is about man man very skilled at Dragonchess. Have you played? There are a number of boards out there, Lazare's is well known for its Dragonchess matches.

Anyways this man was so good at Dragonchess that he was the champion of Magnimar 4 years running. He made more than enough money to keep his wife and daughter living well. But this man wanted to be more than just be a dragonchess player, he wanted something with a more stable and reliable income. So he learned about a great opportunity to purchase and own a mine here in Diamond Point.

This man was prepared to run the mine and make it prosperous, but he wasn't prepared for the corrupt politics of the town. For three years the mine had strange and unusual 'accidents'. The mayor at the time would use those accidents to fine the owner. The mayor would send the guard to arrest whole groups of workers at the time to investigate, then let them go at the end of the day, causing whole days of work stoppage at a time. There were whispers that a mine manager was behind it, but at his lowest a mine manager came to his defense, Smenk.

Smenk had a horrible reputation even then, but he took on the mayor, he loaned men to work the mines, he sent food so the family could eat even though all the troubles left them broke. But then the man's wife got sick and despite all the help Smenk gave the problems kept happening. So Smenk offered a deal to the man so he could focus on getting his wife better and not worry about the mine and the man took it.

The man's wife soon died after that. Only after did he find out the Smenk owned the mayor. Smenk also always wanted that mine but got scooped by the dragonchess player turned mine manager. Smenk also sent men over to sabotage the mine so the crisis would allow him to take it and add to his ever growing number of mines owned.

That is Smenk. And the only difference between him then and now is that he owns even more mines and has even more power in this town."

Lazare has a fierce look on his face that grew even fiercer as the story went on, while Dannath has tears coming down her face.

Untrained Sense Motive check (assuming Quintus has the circlet): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Quintus glances sidelong at Trevor, then back at Lazare and his daughter, compassion and anger warring on his face. "That's...monstrous. I'm so sorry. How can you stand to stay here, where you're reminded of it every day?"

"At first there was no choice, we didn't have enough money to go anywhere else. So I took a job here, a gambling den that wasn't doing well at all since it was in competition to the Emporium next door. But I suggested to cater to the more upscale, the treasure seekers, the wealthy. Soon the place took off and when the old owner died,he left it to me to run and I have turned it into quite the profitable business."

"I suppose it helps that someone else was responsible for your troubles. But Smenk isn't concerned about you any more? If he's that ruthless, I'd think he'd want you dead or gone in case you wanted revenge on him."

"Well no longer being a mine manager lowers my standing in town, at least to him, plus I have an allegiance that helps keep me safe. Would you like to meet them? I am sure they would like to meet you. If so, come back the day after tomorrow at 8PM."

"That sounds ominous, somehow, but yes. I think we would. But you reminded me of something. How is it that Smenk hasn't taken over the other mines yet? Does that have to do with why places like the Dourstone mine are built up like forts?"

"Smenk has in one way or another removed 4 mine managers from Diamond Point in the last 10 years leaving only himself and five others, with the other human managers weakened considerable over the last few years. Ellival Moonmeadow, an elven prince, has a tight grip on the silver mines and Ragnolin Dourstone, a dwarf, has been able to hold off Smenk as well, though lately his mines haven't been producing as they once have so that may be a sign of trouble for him. He doesn't really associate with any of the other min managers, so if he is in financial trouble no one has heard about it.

The other mine managers protect their mines from sabotage, yes. Dourstone mine is probably the most protected, that dwarf is paranoid, but with good reason."

Trevor follows the conversation as best he can, but is more focussed on the daughter Dannath. As Lazare speaks, he's filled with anger, yet he's learned to temper his swiftness and tries to read the expression on Dannath to see how she reacts to her father's tale.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

She hits on all emotions when she should and seems genuine.

"Looks like we should have a talk with Smenk... Where can we usually find him? Does he come to town regularly? What's his route? Should we speak to the other owners first?"

"You can find Smenk at his mine office in town during the day most of the time. That holds true for the other mine managers. But you probablt won't get much from them as they won't want to be seen in a public place meeting with a group aligned against Smenk.

Trevor lights up: "We should have secret meetings!! Who could be our secret agent? Who could approach them discreetly?"

"I don't think we need to talk to Smenk right now. What would we have to say? I'm not going to apologize to him for Kullen, or anything else. We were doing the right thing." The cleric shakes his head. "Now, as for his deeds, redemption is always there for the truly repentant...." His voice trails off as he looks away from Lazare. "...yes, it is. Always. Always!" He turns back to the casino owner with a start. "I'm sorry, that reminded me of something. Nothing to do with you. Right now, the only thing we would have to say to him would be a warning to turn from his evil. He richly deserves to have a group aligned against him, but we're not that group unless he makes us into it. Between you and me, I would almost welcome him trying."

Trevor goes quiet as Quintus mentions redemption. He has a thought for Rafan. I hope you can see me my love. I'm so sorry!

Lessien nods, "Thank you for inviting us over for this discussion...so far it has been most illuminating."

He nods and says he will see you the night after tomorrow. As you are led out by Dannath you see there are a few patrons in Lazare's House now. Two in particular catch your eye, a pair of men with Pathfinder rings.

One is a large, strong man and quite good looking with a championship belt from the Magnimar arena around his waist. The other is a a wiry man with a look on his face akin to someone eating something extremely sour. The wiry man is arranging a dragonchess game while talking about a past game which the larger man is barely paying attention.

Not sure whether your interpretation of the inquisitor's detect alignment is that it is obvious. If Kelkzar can do it without being obvious, let's retcon detect evil and detect chaos. If he can't do it without being obvious, he won't do it on this visit. Garden variety Sense Motive either way 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Upon leaving Lazare, Kelkzar comments, Well, shall we see about meeting some of the Pathfinders?"

Trevor is brought back by his mentor's comment. He nods and follows him, doing his best to smile.

Quintus stands. "Until tomorrow night. Thank you for the invitation and the conversation."

"That sounds good to me, Kelkzar. Maybe we can earn some goodwill with the rings. Before we do, though, how much should we say about where we found them?"

"At this point, I think we have explored the Cairn. I'm not sure there is much reason to be coy about it."

"And Allustan has the lanterns, so he's the only one who can get in anywhere except where the floor gave out."

"I wonder if those two with the rings are actually pathfinders, or if they obtained the rings second-hand?"

"Either way, they might want to buy more."

Trevor smiles discreetly as he realizes he could pass for a Pathfinder. That would impress people!

The smile vanishes quickly as he realizes how wrong it would also be to disrepect thus his Goddess.

Is there a way Rauno would know if they are actually Pathfinders, or could test them? Knowledge Nobility? Or Knowledge Local? Something else?

You could probably use knowledge (local) in terms of thinking of questions you could ask as a non Pathfinder, of course they would get a chance to answer using the same. The best would be using Knowledge (local) about who won the Magnimar arena challenge last year and see if it matches up with this guy who is wearing the belt

The two men are still doing their thing over by the dragonchess game

Waiting for someone with Knowledge (Local) to sound off.

For Rauno

Knowledge (local) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Rauno remembers hearing a group of Pathfinders won the Arena Challenge last year and he thinks Auric was the group leader. The one with the belt is Auric, the other is Khellek.

Rauno remembers hearing a group of Pathfinders won the Arena Challenge last year and he thinks Auric was the group leader. The one with the belt is Auric, the other is Khellek.

Rauno relays to the others what he recalls. "So, who would like to approach them?"

In the silence that follows Rauno's question, Quintus shrugs his shoulders and says, "I will."

Suiting action to words, the cleric approaches the pair. "Master Auric? I'm called Quintus. May I have a few words with you?"