GM Tektite's PFS #04-23 Rivalry's End (Inactive)

Game Master Hawkwen Agricola

The Spider is not wearing a disguise. Helping things along...

As the party prepares to depart, Aod notices a piece of parchment that must have been knocked to the ground when he jumped on the desk. Examining it, he sees that it is a list titled “The Ten” containing several dozen names.

The party then successfully and unnoticed "escorts" the Spider out of the gambling hall and make their way to Torch's suite. Grandmaster Torch’s elegant suite in the Cypher Lodge appears just as it did earlier today, except that the Sczarni entrepreneur Guaril Karela is absent. Grandmaster Torch lounges in a chair, reading, while his half-orc bodyguards stand casually behind him. Walking in, Torch nods and smiles at your party. How did you fare? I see you have a guest!

Takahiro moves forward and bows his respects.

"We have carried out our instructions with dilligence and thoroughness, we have the woman we were sent for, and alive as instructed. The glory and praise belongs to my fellows."

Takahiro bows once more before stepping back and revealing the woman by removing her hood.

"Don't be modest Tak. You convinced her to take the nap." Aod munches on some nuts, possibly stolen from the gambling hall on the way out.

"She had a list. Bit more than ten names on it though. Where's Guaril? Was hopin he'd be here still."

Aod would have likely made an effort to remember names on the list. Was Guaril or Torch among them?

Pai sits silently, waiting to see how Torch would respond to the list of names Aod mentioned.

Torch and Guaril were not on the list, and unfortunately no names are listed, though there was a faction mission to memorize them with an INT check.

Torch takes the list and examines it with satisfaction. Well done, very well done indeed! You all have bright futures in the Society. Torch then steers Ouidda into a chair, where he prepares her for questioning, heals her as necessary with his wand of healing, and draws a slim dagger, whose hilt he uses to casually scratch an itch on his scarred face.

As soon as she is able, Ouidda whispers something to Grandmaster Torch that the party cannot hear. Torch nods agreeably to Ouidda and turns to the party, saying “My endless thanks to each of you, Pathfinders, for your loyal service." Without pausing he concludes, “But now I’ve finally got something to hold over the Decemvirate, so I’m striking out on my own.” As he says this, Grandmaster Torch drives his dagger into Ouidda’s throat, killing her.

Initiative:
Takahiro
Bodyguards
Aod
Pai
Haris
Torch

Takahiro is up!

MAP

"What the..."

Aod drops his nuts.

::blink:: ::blink::

Haris drops his sausage. (from the snack tray)

Dafuq just happened!?

Takahiro draws his sword.

"What is the meaning of this!?"

Hold action/attack if any enemy draw near.

Erm... yeah ok.

Not sure what is happening, Pai uses a spell hoping to incapacitate Torch and his bodyguard.

Wow, that was unexpected! Pai casts Glitterdust. DC 16 save to resist.

Takahiro draws his sword as the others gape in astonishment!

Torch's guards look at Takahiro, look at Torch, and move to attack!

Attack vs Takahiro: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Attack vs Takahiro: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Both half-orcs move in and stab the sword wielding Takahiro with their kukris.

Initiative:
Takahiro
Bodyguards
Aod
Pai
Haris
Torch

Party up! @Takahiro, I assume you had a readied?

MAP

As the party gets their wits about them, Pai quickly casts a spell, filling the room with sparkles!

@Pai: Glitterdust on the guards or Torch?

Torch, please. The others can cleave up the bodyguards for all I care!

Any man can turn traitor.

It was an old Sczarni saying, one that Aod had heard on occasion, but rarely considered until this moment. Torch's bodyguards were on Takahiro before he could even draw steel, but hadn't taken him down yet. He was tougher than he looked. Aod reached for his sword and let the rage take hold as well. Time for vengeance.

"Torch, you bastard! I'll kill you!"

Drawing his weapon, Aod lunges at one of the bodyguards, slamming a shoulder into him.

Activating Rage +4 strength
Rage Power Knockdown: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Not likely...

Statblock:
AC 19
HP 36
Rage 7 rnds/3 used

Haris reacts quickly and rolls past the nuts and sausages as he fills his hands with daggers. Springing up behind a guard, he drives for a soft spot.

Tumble: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

dagger,WF,flank: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 2 = 25
Sneak,Dirty,Bleed 2hp/rd: 1d4 + 1 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 + (3, 5) = 11

1d20 ⇒ 4

Pai's spell hit's Torch and he cries out, pawing at his eyes!

Aod tries to throw a shoulder into one of the bodyguards, but the half-orc dodges.

Haris tumbles past a guard and rewards him with a blade in the kidney!

Takahiro! Readied(?) action!

Tak flanks off Haris, but tries to knock the guard out.

Attack 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 2 - 4 = 22
Damage 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

"It must be a charm"

Takahiro makes use of flanking and opens a long cut on the half-orc!

Torch paws at his eyes for a moment, the grabs the corner of his cloak. He pulls the cloak over his face and disappears in a puff of smoke!

Attack vs Haris: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Attack vs Haris: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d4 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 6 + (4) = 14

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Crit Damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

The half-orc guards step over to flank against Haris. One blade misses, but the other attacker slides his blade deep into Haris's side!

Party up!

MAP

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"Gorum damn it, Torch door'd out!" Aod calls out as he circles one of the bodyguards. Charging his sword with arcane magic he slashes at the half-orc's flank with a raging warcry.

"RHhaAaaAhH!"

Flanking, Power Attack, Rage: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Critical Confirmation: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29 Oh yeah!
Damage: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Critical Damage: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Statblock:
AC 19
HP 36
Rage 7 rnds/4 used
Arcane Pool +1 to weapon 10 rnds/1 used

17/35hp

Haris tries to double stick the rear guard.

dagger1,WF,TWF: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 5 - 4 = 2;1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
dagger2,WF,TWF: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 5 - 4 = 4;1d4 ⇒ 4

"Fine with me!", regarding Torch's exit, "-I didn't need to be infamous!! Let's get the Hades outta here!"

Pai listens to Aod and turns to run outside, hoping he might have reappeared close to the entrance, knowing her prior spell would still be handicapping him.

Aod steps up and plunges his blade into the half-orc guard. The man screams then falls to the ground in a heap.

Haris tries to attack the remaining guard, but misses!

Pai runs out of the suite to look for Torch, but sees no one in sight.

Takahiro!

MAP

Takahiro wades in on the half-orc.

Attack 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 7 - 4 = 21(non lethal)
Damage 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Convert? 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 4 = 22(non lethal)
Damage 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

"No one else needs to die here!"

"I can't see Torch! He's vanished!"

Takahiro lays a mighty blow on the half-orc with the flat of his blade.

Attack vs Takahiro: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

The half-orc returns the blow, leaving a cut on Takahiro's arm!

Party up!

Hawkson tries to sweep the legs.

CMB: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

-Posted with Wayfinder

Haris attempts to sweep the legs of the half-orc, but his opponent jumps over his leg easily!

Aod dashes around the second bodyguard and strikes again.

Power Attack, Rage: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Damage: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Statblock:
AC 19
HP 36
Rage 7 rnds/5 used
Arcane Pool +1 to weapon 10 rnds/2 used

With a quick strike, Aod cuts the bodyguard and the half-orc falls to the ground unconscious!

Out of Combat!

Heading out to dinner, will post a conclusion later this evening. Well done! Go ahead and roll Day Jobs if you have them.

Takahiro looks disappointed the man wouldn't accept a truce and has hit him with a wounding blow.

"To the death then"

Flank with Aod

Attack 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 = 18
Damage 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

No day job for Ms. Pai.

Moments after the fight ends, Guaril Karela rushes in. His shifty eyes quickly digesting what has transpired and realizes these events are likely to attract unwanted attention. He arranges the party's return to Magnimar.

Sheila Heidmarch meets the party in Magnimar along with Drandle Dreng and Ambrus Valsin, who have come from Absalom upon hearing of the gravity of Torch’s betrayal. The venture-captains debrief the party and express the Decemvirate’s concern over the information Torch now holds over their heads and that he fooled everyone for so long. They congratulate you on a job well done in spite of Torch's escape and accompany you back to Absalom for more interviews.

Thus concludes Rivalry's End. I'm glad the ending came as a surprise, since it was wholly possible to have known the outcome from word on the boards.

Here is the link to the next one.

Day of the Demon!

Complete surprise! Great running Tek!

I had heard rumors about Torch's betrayal, but had tried to avoid knowing too much about it, or which scenario it happened in. I started to suspect near the end, but the twist was still very well played. Thanks Tektite!

Yep, it was a complete shocker to me! Question though: was there a way we could have caugh Torch, or was he going to get away anyway?

There is a boon for if you caught Torch, but it is nearly impossible. He uses a Cape of the Mountebank to DDoor out and the Sense Motive is obscenely high to give you a surprise action. It's sorta of meant to be impossible. The scenario says if you catch him alive, he later escapes, so I think they want him free in order to have him pop up later.

Maybe a reappearance in Traitor's Lodge?

A fast monk with stunning fist, a good grappler, or a lucky spell could probably take him down. But I'm sure most people would prefer to deal with his bodyguards first.

If Traitor's Lodge is the followup to this I'm going to be begging you to run that at some point. :)

Yep...I'd like a chance for revenge on Torch!

That was an outrageous ending :) I got caught pants down on that - thought he must have been charmed or it was an impostor or something... Poor Takahiro - I worked out he'd be confused out of his mind about which path to take that maintained honour and loyalty etc.