Gameday 3: The Frostfur Captives (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

"Close the door," Ambrus Valsin murmurs as the team gathers in his office. "Let me start by saying, this mission is not for dissemination among other members of the Society." The chamberlain of the Grand Lodge gives everyone a serious look in turn before continuing. "This mission is not an investigation, just a simple, straightforward assignment, but that makes it no less important. I need you to book passage to the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, and cross over into Irrisen. You’re to head north and rendezvous with another team who have captured some — " Valsin pauses for a heartbeat before continuing. " — persons of interest. We have reason to believe that these individuals have information on the Shadow Lodge cells that are refusing to reconcile with the Society under Grandmaster Torch’s leadership." Valsin’s expression becomes particularly grim at that point. "If these rogue cells are outright refusing amnesty, then they represent a clear threat to all of us. I need you to take charge of these captives and get them out of Irrisen safely and quietly. Once you’re clear of Irrisen, a larger extraction team will take custody of them and bring them in for questioning. Of course, we will cover the expense of your travel in full, and provide maps to lead you to the meeting point in Irrisen. Because of the nature of the mission and Irrisen itself, you’ll be meeting the other team in the field, away from what passes for civilization up there. The team you’ll be getting the prisoners from will show you the best route out of Irrisen, and the castellan of Trollheim has agreed to grant you passage through his lands. You are responsible for avoiding unexpected trouble between the handoff and Trollheim." Valsin gestures for the team to depart, but pauses, staring at his fireplace for a moment before adding, "Wait. You need to know this. Your prisoners will be goblins. The Shadow Lodge separatists made extensive use of the sadistic creatures as soldiers and servants, and as much as you may want to throttle them, please remember that we need them alive. Do you have any questions?"

Tenerek goes over the details of the mission in his head and clears his throat "Chamberlain do we have a source of information on Goblins? How best to feed them, keep them captive, keep them quiet are just some of the questions I have. As keeping the beasts alive and quiet may well be a challenge unto itself."

Usawoti , enters the room and sits on the floor off to the side. He is a short aboriginal native of Valashmia. His clothing, gear and weapons seem to be made up almost entirely of wood, leather and horn. His most striking feature is his albino skin and red-dyed hair. He watches and listens carefully to the chamberlain, as he does he takes off one of his boots and starts to groom the toenails, at one point biting the tip off of one with a loud crunch. As the chamberlain finishes speaking, he nods his head, no; saying nothing, replacing his boot and standing up, waiting to depart with the team.

GM Baerlie, a quick question, Usawoti’s INT is 7, so does he get only one skill or one skill plus one for being human, totaling two, I wasn’t sure so I asked

"Irrisen, is it? I suppose I shall have to purchase warmer garments," the tall mustachioed man says in a fading Ustalavian accent, "Defected...goblins?!? A cowardly lot by all accounts."

Gustav reaches under his well-worn black cloak and fiddles briefly with what appears to be a small collection of animal skulls strung together into a necklace. The Tien armor beneath, and the Vudran blade at his hip hint at a man who has traveled quite far.

"Well, good sir Ambrus, we've met... but I don't believe I've had the pleasure. My name is Blackwood- Gustav Aleister Blackwood... of the Thrushmoor Blackwoods," he pauses as he looks about the room, seeming to believe his name should be easily recognized. "Harumph! From Ustalav?"

Usawoti stops chewing on his toes and looks up at the man

Usawoti... it mean Salt

he then returns to his pedicure, listening to the chamberlain

yes, what do we do if something happens to the other team?

Orophin is a somewhat tall and overly beautiful man. Tending towards the effeminate, he speaks with an elvish accent. However his history owes as much to a higher being as any elvish in him.

"All life is sacred chamberlain. On a practical note, it sounds like warm clothes for ourselves and our charges will be necessary. But ..." and here he hesitates for a moment. "does anyone speak goblin?"

Orophin wears a fine looking breastplate. At his side is a large morning star.

Ludwick looks like a mad scientist with an accent to match. His occupation is obviously alchemist.

Vell it vill be a new challenge. Not as directly helpful as my last mission, but all fieldwork is helpful. I am Ludvick von Rhohshtein by ze vay.

Tenerek is a bit over average height, average features, but with a very serious demeanor.

'Sorry all, for not introducing myself I am Tenerek Argentson, a pleasure to make your acquaintances.'

"I speak enough goblin to get us by I suppose, but I think perhaps I will need to go get some winter clothes. . . or something better! Potions are always better, especially when they are not potions at all but extracts!" small gnome answers as she saunters in. "Sorry I am a tad late, but I had some delicate chemicals in the crucible. I think I now know how to make some interesting items. Anyhow, I am ready after a short shopping trip. I need more myrrh and salt-petre."

Meeting back with the others, Eponine blushes a deep red, "I am now ready to go, minus a way to get to Irrisen, and my name is Eponine, but you can call me Nine, Ep, or Eppie."

"It is lovely meeting you Eponine." sings Orophin.

"Can you make healing potions as well?"

He also iniquires of the chamberlain "How long is the mission likely to take, and how many prisoners are we to escort?

"Sadly no, kinda, well, yes. I could learn, but I can not yet make anything anyone else can imbibe. I am working on that though."

"Hmmm. Perhaps I could call in a favor to get a wand that can fulfill any healing needs that may arise. I've not trained too greatly in their use, however. Possibly one of you could use it more reliably during our mission?"

Infusion: When the alchemist creates an extract, he can infuse it with an extra bit of his own magical power. The extract created now persists even after the alchemist sets it down. As long as the extract exists, it continues to occupy one of the alchemist's daily extract slots. An infused extract can be imbibed by a non-alchemist to gain its effects.

I can't let others use my extracts without the above Discovery. I do not get Discoveries yet. Sadly, I cannot yet hand out Extracts.

Also, there is no Discussion thread yet for OOC conversations.

"Oh, general healing I think I can handle. I can't bring you back from the dead, but given time I can handle most injuries. Life will always try to find a way."

says Orophin with just a touch of fervor about his voice.

"I was more thinking about the type of protections that may be needed for our group, and those we are escorting. Irrisen is somewhat cold is it not? I don't feel the cold much myself, but the rest of you, and our charges... "

His sentence trails off.

"My powers don't extend to holding the elements at hay - at least not yet." he grins.

as the team talks Usawoti remains seated, watching and listening, when he is done with his oral pedicure he uses the toenail he has bitten off as a toothpick. if anyone looks at him he says in a soft voice

me Usawoti... it mean salt

after a few times people may begin to wonder if these are the only words Usawoti knows in common.

"You know, I should have asked, do you have about tel feet of chain, a dozen pairs of manacles, and a bag of pickled dead gross things? It will probably help with the goblins. I suppose I would run into town again, or just pick them up on the way through though.. . ." Eponine asks before turning to the large man in the corner. "Salt, so they say, when thrown over the shoulder, can break bad luck. I am not sure I can throw you. If we get in a spot of trouble, I expect you to jump over my shoulder Mr. Usawoti. . . . that means salt."

Usawoti when spoken too, stops picking his teeth with his toenail. he listens to Eponine with a very confused look; until she says "spot of Trouble" he then picks up his Taiaha, slapping it in his hand like a ballplayer with his favorite bat, nodding his head vigorously he says

trouble...Jump...Salt...jump toward trouble

Smiling, showing his partially cleaned teeth, believing that was enough response; he puts his taiaha back beside him and returns to his dental hygiene.

"Chains and manacles may, indeed, be useful in our endeavor, lady Eponine. I've never heard a story about cooperative goblins!"

A great raven flies to Gustav's shoulder and croaks chains and manacles! The raven, if it could really be called one, is bedecked with dull black feathers, ruffled and poorly kept. It's most striking feature, however, is its exposed skull- it looks as though a false bird was built around a real raven's bleached cranium and it now moves about in mockery of the dead corvid.

As the great raven flies toward his new ally; Usawoti, spitting out his toenail, jumps back and begins rising grabbing for his atlat. When he sees the corpse inspired bird land on Gustav’s shoulder, causing no disturbance, he puts the atlat back in its basket returning to his seated position. Still twitching, he crawls forward and retrieves his toenail and continues his teeth cleaning; every now and then looking at the bird out of the corner of his eye.

Tenerek is seen to be keenly observing each of his team-mates in turn.

"Yes well I have the feeling i'm going to have a cold time of it in Irrisen and If i'm not mistaken our tactical capabilities show a diverse range of abilities, which sets us in good stead for being able to handle a diverse range of potential situations"

He pauses for a few seconds to see if anyone wishes to add their own commentary.

Usawoti stops chewing his toenails as Tenerek speaks. He is so enthralled by Tenerek's words that he forgets about the odd flying dead bird and rolling up on the balls of feet leaning forward onto his knuckles, listens intently. As Tenerek finishes with "potential situations" Usawoti starts to bounce on the balls of his feet slapping his overly large hands together in a clapping motion and pursing his lips together begins making a hooting noice.

who who who

as he looks around realizing that no one else is applauding, he stops, clapping, bounceing and hooting: setting back down looking at his boot laces and chewing his broken toenail, occasionally looking at the false bird, out of the corner of his eye.

sorry, I was going to leave it alone until you wrote "to see if anyone wishes to add their own commentary" :)

"Chains and manacles may, indeed, be useful in our endeavor, lady Eponine. I've never heard a story about cooperative goblins!"

A great raven flies to Gustav's shoulder and croaks chains and manacles! The raven, if it could really be called one, is bedecked with dull black feathers, ruffled and poorly kept. It's most striking feature, however, is its exposed skull- it looks as though a false bird was built around a real raven's bleached cranium and it now moves about in mockery of the dead corvid.

I have, but the one I heard of was a slave of bugbears, no wonder he was so cooperative and I meet the goblin too. A goblin that wasn't actually evil too and a rare sight. He wasn't too bright though.

"He would fit right in.." murmurs Orophin in a low voice.

"At least one of us can communicate, that is good."

He looks around the group. "We seem to have most of the martial options covered off. What about stealth. Is anyone good at the more.. ahh.. subtle challenges we may face?"

"I've found that the most effective way to remain unseen would be absence. I'm afraid I have little practice moving about unseen.

I have trained quite a bit in handling items, and it is not unheard of for some of the most interesting trinkets to find their way into the pockets of my cloak, even whilst under scrutiny."

"You will not have a problem if you treat the goblins well. Goblins are insane and sadistic. They have a strong hatred of dogs and a fear of horses, both rivaled only by their unnatural love of fire and destruction. So be careful when lighting a fire close to them. You have to travel by foot. In other circumstances you could use horses or dog sleds, but you can’t when traveling with goblins, as they won’t tolerate either beast to live. Also, the Iceflow River follows the border, and you want to avoid disputed territory until you’re ready to cross, as its western edge is strongly guarded and we don’t have permission to move through that territory uncontested as we do in the south, where Freyr Darkwine’s Blackravens patrol. Provisions for the journey goblins will be provided, but they’ll need supervision. Goblins have fast metabolisms and find hunger painful. If they’re not watched, they’ll eat their rations all at once. Tying the goblins up and forcing them to march will be problematic. They’ll continually complain, and will stumble and fall on purpose, slowing the rate of travel." Venture-Captain Valsin answers to Tenerek's questions.

"The extraction team is large and designed to keep the goblins from being killed by vigilant town guards or angry commoners with a grudge before they have a chance to talk, and a team that size would draw too much attention in Irrisen. It is not very likely that something happens to them. And the team responsible for capturing the goblins is very experienced in moving through Irrisen without being noticed, so we need them to remain in the field." Valsin answers to Mandower's question.

"If this is all you want to know, I ask you to get to Sverrir’s Camp as soon as possible."

mandower does not have any of the skill checks, but he hopes the journey will be quick and painless.

Tenerek nods his head in Usawoti's direction in acknowledgement.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

"Making the journey in 3-1/2 days doesn’t allow for much time for hunting, unless the party uses the extra day allowed by the extraction team. We should carry what food we can with us."

and finally to answer Orophins question
"I was taught some of the secrets and techniques for moving silently, but I am far from an expert"

okay thanks and mandower quickly runs to the town store to buy 4 trail rations.
five minutes later when he returns phew, I'm out of breath from running my heart out.

"Right! Food! I will just grab some on the way out of town, or when we get to Irrisen.

My biggest concern is that I vill not hafe time to prepare my mutagens on ze road.

"I suppose carrying field rations may be our best recourse."

"There should be ample time for simple preparations during our initial voyage. Any monetary transactions, however, will probably need to be complete prior to casting off."

"I agree I will get five, just in case. On the down side, one of my days probably won't feed one of you big folk for more than a meal, let alone a full day."

"Ummm, I will move quite a bit faster if someone would carry a couple small items, perhaps a tanglefoot bag and my varied and asunder alchemical items? Just a couple Alchemist's Fire and some acid and alkali. I can also leave it behind here at the Lodge, but I like to have some just in case."

Usawoti, looks up from staring at his feet and grunts

Salt carry good

smiling he stands up and takes off his pack, setting it on the ground and holding it open until Eponine has placed whatever she wants to inside it.

He then sits back down, watching between the chamberlain and the odd raven.

if you list the weight of the items I will add it to the total, shouldn't make any difference,

4 days rations, 1 lb, 1 tanglefoot bag (please use if you like) 4 lbs, 2 alchemist's fire, 1 alkali, 1 acid flask (1 lb each) That puts me down to 19.5 lbs, and adds 9 to you. That puts me at Light encumbrance. I can't wait until I can afford a Haversack!

"How many goblins are we taking?" he repeats clearly to the Venture-Captain.

"I'll go purchase some extra food and drink. And maybe a tent. It sounds like lighting a fire may be a bad idea though."

As well as the cold weather gear, Orophin will purchase a weeks food. Depending on the number of goblins he may get a bit more. If there are only a few, he'll pack at least an extra days food for each. If there are a dozen then that won't be practical

I'm as prepared as i'm going to be. I'd like to depart if we have nothing further that you can provide us Chamberlain?"

salt is wearing a travelers outfit

Usawoti looks at his travelers outfit, then looking at everyone else’s clothing, thinking for a moment for the right words to use he says
”This cloths all I have…” tapping first his chest, then thighs and then boots ”if too cold I have this many..” he holds up all ten of his sausage sized fingers ” silvery metal…aahh…coins" smiling as he remembers the foreign word. Breathing a sigh of relief that he had said so much he finishes with ”for furs”

He then looks to the chamberlain for help

I did not leave enough money to buy an extra set of cloths for Usawoti , should he borrow money from someone, or can he trade the traveler outfit for cold weather clothing, or something else?

"You will pick up four goblins, at least two of them have to survive." the Chamberlain answers to Orophin's question. "This is all I can provide, I'm sorry. But you are Pathfinders, your lessons left you well prepared for this trip, believe me."

You can borrow some money if you return it at the end of the scenario, this is ok I think. Which means, that you have to write the cold weather outfit on your chronicle when you receive it after the game.

Well Tenerek will do this as well as I also don't have enough money, I thought I was just stuck with it, well investigate Salt

Orophin looks at his pathfinder companions and offers
"Let me take you to some of the better fur dealers. At least you will end up looking a bit more civilised. I'll even pay for the clothes."

Actually PFS doesn't let me pay for your clothes but think of this as a in-game way of doing the loan.

"I'll also pick up some extra food for the goblins, food they don't know about. That way if we are delayed they won't try to eat us. Hopefully. Given I'm slowed down by this armour, the extra weight won't matter too much to me."

What also is allowed that Orophin buys the clothes and you return it after the game, unfortunately this means that Orophin ends up with furs for thee people after the game.

Tell me if you are ready to go.

As far as I know then Orophin will be able to sell them back though for the same price? A very generous gesture nonetheless

Tenerek bows to Orophin Thank you for your generosity, this will enhance our groups chance of success and is very nice gesture.

"Everyone has warm clothes and food, than? I suppose we should be off."

Gustav seems eager to leave Absolom.

"Let's retrieve these goblins!"

"I could try to make some salves and the like to help us out, but that might take days if not weeks, and I doubt we have the time. Lets get everyone some warm clothes, and we can settle up after we all get paid."

I have about 300 gp sitting around, so if I can loan it, feel free to get up to whatever you need.

Usawoti stands up stretching as he shoulders his backpack and taiaha, he goes and stands by the door, shifting from one foot to the other,

Salt buy …furs… as go?

As the team leaves Usawoti will hold the door open for them, and then follow being the last one out.

Tenerek goes out and takes Uswoti with him and buys the cold weather outfits for both. Showing Uswoti how to purchaze goods with money. Using the loaned money.

Then he goes and meets the others at the departure point.

he is ready to go.

Enfurred and laden down with food, Orophin rejoins the group.

"All ready."

As Orophin is now 2nd level, I can only sell the furs back for half value, I can stand the 8gp loss for the two of you. On the other hand if you wanted to keep them, you can probably pay for them with the money you get from the scenario.