GM Lorenzo's #4-11: The Disappeared (Subtier 4-5) (Inactive)

Game Master Lawrence Smith 2

This is the discussion thread.
For players new to play-by-post PFS, please check out some time-tested resources:
Painlord's Advanced PbP Play
Doomed Hero's Guide to PbP Gaming
GM Damo's user profile offers excellent additional guidance and tips.
This Tagline Template offers a basic setup for your own PC's PbP tagline, providing vital information at a glance. Modify/adapt it to your own PC's crucial needs.
Please ensure you have an updated stat block associated with your PC and any companions or familiars.
For those using Hero Lab, it's quite simple.
Under the "File" tab, select "Output Hero Statblock." In the pop-up menu, select the "BBCode" tab and click on the "Copy" button.
In your PC's Paizo profile, click on the "Edit My Profile" button. Then paste it into the "About [Your PC's Name]" block near the bottom of the page.
Got some questions? Post them here in this thread.
When you're ready, use this thread to introduce your PC to the GM and to the party. Please do so in-character.

Basic Rules of Engagement (ROE):
Miss Chance: I prefer to roll miss chances as the GM.
Conditions/Effects: Regarding penalties or bonuses/buffs/debuffs from conditions/effects, please, players, indicate any bonuses/penalties to attacks, damage, etc separately--to remind the GM and other players.
For example, [dice=Attack, Power Attack, Inspire Courage, Fatigued]d20-1+1-2; d8+2+1-2[/ dice].
OOC Text: When mistakes are made or clarifications are necessary, just let us know in the discussion thread. Let's keep the ooc text in the gameplay thread to a minimum.

"GM Lorrennzo, daahling, so good to see you again." <air kiss>

"Daahling, do you think zhat you could set zhe stage for us? Vhere are ve meeting? In a tavern, or a VC's office, or somevhere more ... intimate? Alzough I must say, being a Venture Captain certainly haz its perks, doezn't it? Zhey all have such nice big ... offices."

The older blue man looks the pale woman up and down, his eyes going wide. Wow. SHE would not have liked that outfit. Not at all. Paladins do love being covered up.. He snaps back to the moment. "Lorenzo! Ah! A good friend, Zadim, mentioned you might have a mission for me. Something about a missing Pathfinder? He said he would be investigating using... " He raises his wrinkled fingers and makes air quotes. " 'other methods' . "

I'm thinking of ruining Team Girl Squad and bringing this gentleman. A cooky old Samsaran illusionist wizard, I think he will fit in more with the playstyle we are looking for than a quiet Wayang Psychic. (Though, he is stuck in the same game Einn is. Should be done by April. Hopefully. Also, he'll be level four by game time. )

I'm hoping to be done as well.

Einn waves at Lady Vanessa. "Good to see you again. I have a new friend." She points to a pseudodragon flying next to her. "This is Quete. We need to go shopping before the mission starts."

I have a boon that gives me a pseudodragon familiar at level 5.

I don't mind delaying our start a bit. If you're in one of those scenarios where the GM just disappears for days on end, please let us know and we can try to get you some help. Can you ask your GM to estimate when he or she expects to wrap things up?

You've all been summoned to a meeting at the Grand Lodge with Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin. As you arrive, the pleasant and efficient redheaded half-orc receptionist, Ms. Coppercoin, invites you to make yourselves comfortable. She offers a polite smile, "If you must talk among yourselves, please keep your voices down. The Venture-Captain is extremely busy."

We'll deliver the scene-setter as soon as all the PCs have checked in. In the meantime, please take a moment and enter your information on Slides 1 and 2.

Amon walks into the Lodge with his simple desert garbs. His feet and head are bare, but more noticeable is his skin, sand-colored with deep cracks like dried earth. "Hello my friends! I am Amon Talat, and this somewhat chatty Raven on my shoulders is Kor. I look forward to our adventures together."

This is my first ever PbP, be gentle :)

Ms. Coppercoin reaches into the recycle bin beneath her desk and retrieves yesterday's edition of The Absalom Enquirer. She walks over and places it beneath the geokineticist and his crow.

She pulls a tissue-wrapped morsel from her modest, working-class black leather purse. "Kor wanna cracker?"

She snatches her fingers back, when the raven tries to take more than the saltine. Ms. Coppercoin forces a tight smile, turns on her heels, and returns to her desk, smoothing the various correspondence and other documents into already neat stacks.

A large smile cracks across Amon's stony face, "Now now Kor, please behave for our gracious hostess."

You can place your PC's icon in the standard march order formations on Slide 1. You can enter your PC's info on Slide 2, including your Perception and Initiative modifiers.
If your PC has a Day Job, please roll it now, here in the Discussion thread.
For example, Amon, you type:
[dice=Day Job Profession (stonemason)]d20+insert your skill modifier[ /dice]
(You'll need to delete the extra space between the "[" and the "/".)
When you click on "Submit Post," that rolls the digital dice.

PbP Tip: Use the "Preview" button to look at what you've typed before you hit submit, if you want to proofread your post first.

@Amon: You are going to love the format. Lots of time for RP and internal dialog that can't happen easily at an in person table. Some PC personalities work better in this format, and making the GM say keep it PG, for the love of Aroden keep it PC, is kind of fun. :)

We're ticking along on the scenario. I think we have to finish this fight and maybe one more. They are going fairly quickly.

I'll settle for PG13. Let old-fashioned tasteful innuendo (looking at you, Lady Vanessa) fill in the blanks in our collective imagination.
As for PC, let's avoid that pile of manure altogether. We agree to respect one another and have fun.
That said, if something offends you, please send me a PM right away, so we can deal with it immediately.

"My daahling GM, my tastes are impeccable. I'm hurt zhat you vould think ozherwize. But since you insist, I'll behave."

"If zhat's vhat you reeeeally vant," she adds with a wink.

Lady Vanessa enjoys breaking the 4th wall with this GM. Especially when he insults her shoes....

@Amon: Another tip for using Preview is to see and react to a dice roll. After building your dice for an attack roll, for instance, hit Preview. If the result is obvious (Nat 1, crit success, etc), then add some text below embellishing on how the attack went. Same can be done with saves, checks, etc. It'll save your last roll so you can't cheat and change it. (Not that you would, that's a generic 'you'.)

"Einn, my dear, it's been too long," our lady in black says as she takes Einn by the arm and gives her a peck on the cheek. "Your new little friend iz simply maahvelous," she gushes, reaching out to stroke Quette's chin.

"And, yes, ve do need to take you shopping, she continues, appraising her big blonde friend. "Zhat outfit iz so last season. I know an ehhxcellent modiste here in Absalom. Perhaps after our VC is done yelling at us," she finishes, glancing over at Ms. Coppercoin.

Turning her attention to Barbo, she gives him the same up-and-down appraisal that he gave her. "A pleasure to meet you, Barbo." She extends her black-gloved hand in greeting. "Ahh, you know Zadim. Yes, he vas very much the ... mmm ... strong and silent type." Lady Vanessa doesn't appear to be taken aback in the least by the odd blonde wig atop Barbo's head.

After Amon is done making the acquaintance of Ms. Coppercoin, the fantastically beautiful, impeccably attired, and perfectly coiffed Lady approaches him.

Bare feet and dusty robes. Hmmm. Zhis vun is going to take a bit ov vork. But I do zo love a challenge.

"Amon, I am ze Lady Vanessa Reisende," she begins, again extending her dainty hand to the gentleman. "Are you, perhaps, a monk or varrior ov some aesthetic desert order?"

Amon tries to wipe his dusty hands in vain against his robes before gently taking her hand, "M'Lady, a pleasure. I am but a humble builder who has been blessed by the great Abadar with communion to the earth, the foundation and bones of his great cities. With this power, I can build or destroy, to make anew, in his name. My...experience with Osirion" he stumbles, looking at Kor, who cocks his head and pokes him with his beak "allows me to help the Sages in their quests."
When reaches his hand out, the Abadar symbol of the key upon his buckler is his only adornment.

For my Dayjob roll, I'll take 10, for a 25. So, 50GP. I'll note that on the slides.

After taking the Lady's hand, Barbo steps back, adjusting his wig nervously. Did she notice? No, she didn't notice. But, if she had noticed... Perhaps she knows a high end wig shop. This one has been itchy ever since those sewers..." While she introduces herself to Amon, the older Samsaran peeks his head back out the door. "Babe! Stop eating the grass! Come here!" In waddles a pudgy little pig, who comes up and rubs herself on the man's robe. He reaches down and pets her, absentmindedly. "Good to meet you, Amon. I have dedicated my finds to the Sages as well. There seems to be fewer of us around these days. Glad to meet another true believer." He stares at the ground, lost in thought. Ooh... She wouldn't have liked that. Only one god to believe in, she always said. But who was it...

Day Job Profession (stonemason): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Amon, the link to the slides is at the top of each page within the Campaign. Just click on "Maps, Handouts, and More!"

During play, I usually include a link within my GM posts, which takes you to the exact slide depicting a map or other images.

"A pleasure all. I do need some new clothing Lady Vanessa. Normally I don't care about fashion, but with you. I just have to try to keep up a little." She'll shake Amon's hand. It's a strong handshake. "I used to be a fighter and then my magical abilities appeared."

A tall, thin woman with slightly-pointed ears comes hurrying through the doors of the Grand Lodge. She carries a yellow and white cat in her arms and sports a backpack on her shoulders, as well as a longspear and some other bits of weaponry.

"Oh kitty, I hope we aren't too late," she frets as she stops to look around the main lobby of the lodge. The woman stops when she spots the rather eclectic-looking bunch of agents sitting in the nearby reception area. "Hello! Are you here to meet with Venture-Captain Valsin too?"
________

Here I be, finally! My cleric might be a slightly more practical choice but I think Fran here will be a little more fun with this group. Also, I think I'm going to take the free chance to switch to the Concordance so I'll adjust that on her profile.

Ms. Coppercoin maintains a mask of friendly welcome as yet another Pathfinder with a pet enters her very neat office. "Oh dear, a crow, a pig, and a cat. The venture-captain might have to open a petting zoo."

She points to a small tray in the corner next to a potted palm tree, a burlap bag of ACME odorless kitty litter next to it. "I strive to be ready for most contingencies."

(Love the linked image of your PC.)

The cat looks at Ms. Coppercoin and then to Fran, before wriggling out of her arms and hopping down to the floor and padding over to the small litterbox. It sniffs at the box for a moment and then looks up at Fran.

"Maow."

The toilet here is nice Fran, but do you think she would be upset if I said that I liked the potted plant better?
________

Thanks! I don't have one for *every* PC but several of them have a link on their profile to a piece of art to represent them.

"Yes we're waiting. I'm Einn. This is Quete. It's very nice to meet you." She waves to a pseudodragon sitting on one of the lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

Ms. Coppercoin lowers her spectacles and follows everyone's gaze up to the rafters. "Oh my."

She searches through her desk drawers and retrieves a bright red candle and some potpourri. She lights the wick with a tindertwig, and the scent of cinnamon fills the room. She allows herself a satisfied smile. That should help mask the smell of the growing menagerie in my office.

Can I just say how much I'm loving the RP and we haven't even left the meeting room!

Yep. And as you noted, we're just getting started! This format is much more descriptive and colorful. 'Colorful' in a good way.

Lady Vanessa crosses the room to greet Fran with an air kiss to each side of her face. "Mwah, mwah. Daahling, vhat a pleazhure." As Mr. Sunshine hops down, she takes Fran by the elbow and guides her over to Einn. "Ve are all going shopping today," she says excitedly. "I'm sure Lyria vill hav some-sing perfect for both ov you," she finishes, name-dropping the famous maker of luxury magical goods, Lyria Veres, whose interlinked LV logo decorates Vanessa's handbag.

As she reaches down to scratch Mr. Sunshine under the chin, Lady Vanessa juts her lower lip out in a fake little pout. "Every-vun haz a little pet, except me. I feel left out."

She then smiles and winks at Amon before turning to the half-orc hostess.

"Miz Coppercoin, are ve expecting any ozhers to arrive? And do you hav any-sing to drink here? Tea, perhaps?"

"It's very nice to meet you both," Fran smiles at both Einn and Lady Vanessa, allowing the latter to lead her over to an empty seat near Einn. "And that's my kitty, Mr. Sunshine. He's my dearest friend in all the world," she explains.

As if looking around for the first time, Fran finally spots the various other creatures lounging in the office - Quete up in the rafters, the pig, and the raven perched upon one of the men's shoulders. "Oh! Kitty, you're not the only pet on the team this time," she laughs delightedly.

"And ah...shopping? Well...Mr. Sunshine and I did just get back from Tamran only an hour or two ago and we have plenty of money to spend thanks to our last assignment." Fran's expression brightens. "Oh! Maybe I can find a nice collar for you, kitty!"

Mr. Sunshine sniffs curiously at Lady Vanessa's hand for a moment but then allows her to proceed with the chin scratches, which he seems to enjoy as he purrs contentedly.

Her scent is strange to me, Fran. Not the perfume but underneath that...it's like 'people' scent with something else mixed in. But she seems nice enough.

Einn and I are free! I will update my profile, level up and be ready to go by Tuesday.

Yes. I'll be ready by Tuesday.

In case there was any confusion, we'll start play on Monday, April 9.

Please do take a moment and make sure you've entered your PC's modifiers in the Initiative and Perception blocks on Slide 2.

Have you heard from Pat? Is he still joining us?

I've spoken to him and he still plans to join us. I sent him another email this evening asking him to check in, so we can meet his PC and take care of any admin details before our game start date.

Hello Pathfinders (half-smile) Thysius here and I would say at your service, but we all know who the cat's meow is...

...we all know who the cat's meow is...

Mr. Sunshine looks up sharply and you could almost swear that he seems worried.

"Maow?"

Does he mean me, Fran? I'm flattered but I haven't really done anything that important...

Ms. Coppercoin rises from her desk and welcomes the sylph. "Ah, Thysius. What, no pets?" She raises an eyebrow, as she looks around the room at the other Pathfinders with their pseudodragon, pig, crow and kitten.

The half-orc personal assistant waves the magus to a comfortable chair in the reception area. "It looks like the team is finally assembled."

She pokes her head into the office of Ambrus Valsin, and whispers something. Then she nods and closes the door.

Ms. Coppercoin returns to her desk. "The venture-captain will be with you shortly. Please, everyone, make yourselves comfortable."

Thysius, there are tips on formatting posts and other PbP topics in the links in my first post at the top of the page.

Lady Vanessa chats with Einn and Fran about where they should go shopping later. She seems to know all the best boutiques, seamstresses, and bespoke shoe makers in Absalom. (It probably doesn't hurt that she's been shopping here for almost a hundred years - though she looks not a day over 30.)

When Thysius arrives, she excuses herself from the ladies and heads over to greet the new arrival. As she passes Barbo enroute, she pauses to whisper to him.

"Barbo, dear, you seem to scratching a lot at zhat vhig. I happen to know a faaabulous crafter of vhigs here, if you vant to replace it. Not zhat it doesn't look nice, daahling, but perhaps a new vun vould be more comfortable."

As Ms. Coppercoin shows Thysius to a seat, Lady Vanessa sizes the new guy up, catches his eye, and tucks a stray strand of hair back.

And here I thought I vouldn't have a little pet ov my own....

She sighs mentally.

But, zhen again, I did promise a certain Venture Captain zhat I vould behave. Ah vell....

She extends her hand to the magus. Her hands are covered by elbow-length black satin gloves, a bit strange for an adventurer, but they go perfectly with her black upper-class outfit.

"Thysius, my dear, velcome," she begins. "Vhat part of Avistan might you be from, dahling?" she concludes, fighting the impulse to flirt too heavily.

Left momentarily with Einn and the rest of the group, Fran looks around and then coughs a bit awkwardly. "So...um...how long have the rest of you been Pathfinders? Kitty and I haven't been at it very long, we've only been on a handful of missions so far," she asks of the others.

Einn gives Ms. Coppercoin a glance, and lowers her voice, and responds to Fran. "It seems like forever some days. I am sure that I'm one of the resident experts on the Cult of Razmir the Pathfinders have. For once I'd love a mission that didn't involve them."

"You too??? Kitty and I tangled with them when we went to Tamran," Fran remarks. "That was a very detailed assignment, though. Most of the assignments we've had have been shorter - we've been sent to find people twice, we helped to investigate a bunch of strange phenomena in Ustalav, and we underwent our confirmation mission."

"I haven't been to Ustalav yet. I got to go to a fancy party with Lady Vanessa. That was an experience. I'm from the north. Fancy dinner parties aren't our thing."

"Ustalav is...a dark place, but it's our home," Fran replies, quiet. "It's hard to not miss it just a little bit, even though we've been able to go to so many nicer places since Kitty and I joined the Society."

"And a fancy dinner party? Don't feel bad, I don't know how well Kitty and I would do at a party...but I guess we're about to find out," she adds. "Someone apparently thought we'd be a good fit for this assignment so we have to do our best and make them proud!"

"Ustalav! I haven't been there, yet! I spend far to much time in the Grand Lodge's libraries to venture far from Absalom. " Barbo smiles, curious about this mysterious land. "I hope that we can meet some unique characters at this party! The last time I went to a Pathfinder party, there were a lot of things that went wrong! " The old man itches under his wig and frowns. Perhaps I should take Vanessa up on her offer. This thing really is getting to me.

Hmmm... newcomer question. Was Zarta not in charge of the Dark Archives in Season 4? (Barbo recently made the swap from a certain retiring faction who shall not be named.)

Also, was she not a Paracountess?

Before the faction changes that began with the start of Season 5, Zarta was the liaison between Cheliax and the Pathfinder Society, to my understanding. Apparently this scenario, taking place in Season 4, is some sort of setup for her becoming the head of the Dark Archive faction when it was introduced in Season 5.

Einn, the headband of alluring charisma costs 4000gp. Does that alter your purchases?

Ooh, I need to be making purchases too...dangit, there's never enough time it seems but I'll try to get something before I go to bed tonight!

No. I just typed it up wrong. Hero Lab charged it correctly.

Folks, our kineticist, Amon Talat, has to withdraw. Anyone know a good PbP player we could invite to join us?