GM Baerlie |
Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng’s pinched face is hard to see from behind the stack of books that divide the front of his office from the space behind his desk. A shockingly old man with white hair and slightly milky eyes, he is surprised by the appearance of outsiders in his office, and looks up, half startled and half relieved.
“Thank you for coming on such short notice. I’d been meaning to give this assignment to you at a later date, and with less pressing time constraints, but it seems that time has conspired against us.” Dreng mumbles to himself as he passes out a stack of notes and maps from behind the wall of books. “These notes are from a recent Chronicle—it contains some interesting finds, but one of them is now the utmost priority to the Society.” Dreng lightly taps a bony finger on a map, on which can be seen a section of Absalom with a small corner townhouse circled in deep red.
“This townhouse is a façade for an underground vault. The vault belonged to an old noble family of Absalom that was expelled a decade ago — the Decklands. The family was forced out when their Patriarch — a man known as Orias — was discovered to have written documents detailing the city’s defenses, documents he intended to hand over to hostile forces loyal to Cheliax. The Chronicle indicates that a copy of these documents exist within the vault. A Pathfinder looking into the Decklands and their Chronicle references in Cheliax was attacked and killed ten days ago. The thugs made off with a copy of his notes — fortunately, he’d already sent us another. We have reason to believe it was the work of the Decklands’ oldest child, a young woman named Celeena, and she’s the reason this assignment is now urgent. The fact that Celeena and her forces were willing to kill a Pathfinder for this information shows how desperate they are to retrieve the documents. If she were able to get these documents and return them to Cheliax, it would undermine the defenses of the whole city, as well as cause the Society undue headaches. Find Celeena, find the documents in her vault, and prevent this Situation from turning into one big mess for the Society.”
Luciano Greathouse |
Man, the site's been down for hooouurs.
A handsome, tanned young man stands against the wall. He wears a simple, loose linen shirt and brown pants. A well made rapier hangs off his belt. "What's the rush? Shouldn't be too hard to put guards at the house, or burn it down. Could even you it to trap the lady. Odd this fellow was murdered just after he finished compiling his notes. Someone musta' been following him for a while. Who else knew what he was doing? Luciano, by the way."
Any knowledges for this family?
Know History: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Know Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Adrastus Vorelian |
An unkempt-looking man peers through strands of stringy black hair at the outspread map on the desk. His contemplative green eyes play across its surface as a series of silent queries present themselves for his consideration.
Leaning forward in his chair, the worn leather of his jerkin and breeches creaking with the motion, he pronounces thoughtfully, "I am far more accustomed to the bowers of Fangwood than I am streets of Absalom...." Gesturing with a dirt-flecked finger, he continues, "I know that the Society is headquartered here - in the Foreign District - but in what Quarter of the city does this vault reside? I would know into what kind of neighborhood we venture."
Reclining back into the recesses of his seat, an idle hand runs along the dark stubble of his chin thoughtfully. "As to the matter of this daughter of the scion of the Decklands...do we even know where this Celeena is? Can the heiress of a such a disgraced line as hers reside in safe anonymity within the walls of the city? If so - " he allows a humorless smirk of chagrin to twist at the corner of his mouth, "it ill-bespeaks for the vigilance of the Starwatch - let alone the constabulary of the local districts. Does it not?"
He snaps out of his private reverie with a dismissive wave of his hand and sits up. "Then again, as I said, I am new and unused to how matters transpire or fare in a city such as Absalom. Perhaps there is something I am missing here."
Shoris |
A tall man stands towards the back of the group. He wears dark robes, and a cowl covers most of his face. After Adrastus speaks up, he says: "Correct me if I'm wrong, Venture-Captain, but I understood you to be saying that Celeena murdered the Pathfinder in Cheliax and is currently on her way here. The time pressure, then, would be that we have to obtain these documents from the vault before she arrives to claim them herself," he says in a low, gravely voice.
GM Baerlie |
"This house must not be burned down. We know that the Decklands were collectors of rare and ancient items. We assume that it was ingeniously trapped when the Decklands fled Absalom. If you find something in the vault that could be of interest for The Society, please take it with you. Further we noticed, that somebody is already in the house above the vault. We know that Celeena is a sorceress and she hired mercenaries from the Devil's Claw Company, so it's not going to be an easy mission to get the documents. The Devil's Claw Company is a mercenary organisation of failed Hellknights. The vault is located in the Ivy District. Regarding the agent who got killed, we don't know if and who was following him. As far as we know only The Society knew about his mission. The Deckland family left Absalom when Celeena was a small child. We don't know how she's looking today, she could have already entered the city with faked papers." the Venture-Captain tries to answer all your questions.
I hope I answered all your questions, if not pleas tell me :)
Kavaki Gossamar |
A tian human walks into the room, surprisingly unequipped, as far as pathfinder partys go. His clothes are very nice looking and he wears a unique looking backback, but no weapons, or items dangling from a belt.
"I apologize for my tardiness. I was called abruptly when the venture captain decided he would like me to join this group. I had just returned from another mission and was not expecting to be called upon so quickly. My name is Kavaki Gossamar."
Kavaki comes to a quick upright stance, spins his arms around elaborately and brings his hands together. One hand clenched in a fist and the other placed flat, openhanded on the fist's knuckles. He then rigidly bows deeply
"I am a monk of Irori, my mind and body are yours. Pleased to make your aquaintance. I pray the hand of Irori guides and favors us!"
Kavaki gets himself cause up with the orders of the Venture captain.
Turning to address the party, "Is there any among you skilled in trap detection or disarmament?" Turning back to the venture captain, "Are there any supplies you feel would be particularly useful during our task?"
GM Baerlie |
"Glad you made it on time. I really have no idea what awaits you in the vault, but maybe a good or silver weapon is not a bad idea." Venture-Captain Dreng says while smiling at Kavaki. "Do you have more questions? If not I ask you to leave as soon as possible." the Venture-Captain continues while looking at all of you.
Luciano Greathouse |
"I agree with Mungo, but if you insist. Won't make any promises, though, if someone, possibly a wizard, is already skulking around there. Building might end up on fire anyways. I don't think I need anything. Are you fellows ready?"
Adrastus Vorelian |
Rubbing soot-grimed fingers across his stubbled jaw and weather-chapped lips, the forester shakes his head minutely. "No, my Good Weapon of Irori," he begins by addressing the newly-arrived monk. "Tis true that I have been named a rogue by many a body in the past - but I do not have the skills of one. Well...apart from knowing my way around the typical manner of snags and snares that Goblins tend to employ, that is. I'm afraid my fields of knowledge lie more at home under the eaves of trees than the wainscoting of playhouses and guild-halls."
He raises himself from out of his seat, his leathers creaking quietly as he stands. "Howsobeit though," he shrugs vaguely. "There lies enough woodland park in the Ivy District to form a small forest unto itself, from tales I've heard. I may yet serve this company in some small regard."
"I am as accoutered as I am able to be. If my sirrahs are suitably equipped, I am prepared to depart on this errand when they are."
Kavaki Gossamar |
"If noone else has any further questions... we shall take out leave of you and head to the townhouse and possibly the vault to recover these documents."
Kavaki once again performs a formal bow and starts to head to the door.
"Does anyone need to re-supply at a shop? If not, we best make haste, every minute wasted takes those plans closer to the demise of this magnificant city."
GM Baerlie |
Sitting on the corner of a quiet street, the red brick Deckland townhouse melds in with the middle class buildings in this portion of Absalom. A small, flickering candle can be seen through a barred window on the building’s west side and a single door can be seen on the building’s south face.
I created a Google drive map, you can find the link above in the campaign description.
Adrastus Vorelian |
Peering out from a patch of convenient shadow in a narrow alleyway opposite the small brick villa of the Decklands, Adrastus watches - with no small sense of chagrin - as the monosyllabic pyrokineticist shuffles over to stare at the dim tallow-flame flickering through the barred window.
Grimacing to himself, he makes a slight, curt motion with his hand, whispering out hoarsely, "Hist!... Mungo!... Get down!... Someone in there might see you!"
Quickly loosening his sword within its scabbard and ensuring that his bow is quick to the ready, the ranger mutters to himself ruefully, "I would give much for a tarp of Elvenkind right now...."
Luciano Greathouse |
"A candle in the window to call us home? That's not very stealthy. It could be an old woman, looking for someone to share tea with. Shoris, good man, would you activate this thing for me. Sometimes I try it and it works, sometimes I try it and it doesn't. You look much better versed in magic than I am." Luciano hands Shoris a thin metal baton. Blessing bestowed, he draws his buckler and quickly moves up to the door to examine it.
Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
I'm assuming Shoris is willing to comply. Anyone that wants Mage armor can take a charge, just let me know so I can keep track.
Shoris |
"Certainly. We all have our talents, and magic is one of mine." Shoris mutters a word, touches Luciano with the baton, and hands it back. Not a bad idea, Shoris thinks as Luciano heads for the door. Shoris waves his hands and begins incanting.
Casting mage armor. Thanks for the offer, Luciano, and I'll take you up on it if mine wears off.
Adrastus Vorelian |
The +4 from Mage Armor would do me 1 point better than my Studded Leather (+3 Armor Bonus), so if someone's willing to dole one out you can count me in, thankeeverymuchly :)
Positioning himself opposite a front corner of the small villa so as to keep an eye on both the area of the window and door, [c.f. the Google Map] Adrastus quietly unslings his bow and keeps it at the ready, silently nocking an arrow into the string.
[Rolls (in case anybody needs them) -
Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 (-3 for Encumbrance = 11)
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Adrastus Vorelian |
Nodding slightly to Luciano, he murmurs quietly, "Goblins sometimes employ a similar method of alarm."
Peering at the device from his patch of dim shadow, he notes, "It will take a practiced hand to silence that. If we do not possess such a hand among us, perhaps more profit might be gained from examining that window back yon," he gestures towards the side of the house. "It might offer a quieter way of entry."
I thought that Disable Device was a Trained-Skill use only. Or am I getting that wrong?
Kavaki Gossamar |
@Adrastus - you are correct. disable device is a trained only skill. GM may be determining this action doesn't NEED training in skill, but since it's the closest that applies to the action, provided the DC 11 diable device check. Much like, you may not know how to disable a bomb, but you can certainly cut a specific wire if told to.
This reason is exactly why I posted clarification that Kavaki is NOT trained, but is willing to attempt the skill DC if able. I figure the GM will let us know if: he'll allow it, not allow it, or take into account the effort of an untrained player in determining success (possibly adding modifiers to DC).
No matter what the decision of the GM, no one in our party shows on their character sheets as trained in disable device.
Adrastus Vorelian |
@Kavaki - Ah. I get your meaning. I was just thrown off a bit in the GM asking for Disable Device check as opposed to, say, just a Base Ability check like Strength or Dexterity.
Either way, Adrastus would be of little help. No training - as you said - in Disable Device, and a Dex Mod of +2 being penalized a -3 due to Encumbrance.
I may be able to spot `em...but taking them out is going to have to be someone else's job :P
Adrastus Vorelian |
Seeing the monk glide up to the door and deftly cut the string, thus silencing the bell, Adrastus shrugs to himself in grim satisfaction.
"Or...that way works as well," he remarks to himself with a subdued grin. "Front door it is then...."
Taking the arrow from his bow, he returns it to his quiver and re-slings the weapon. Padding up quietly to where Luciano stands framed in the doorway, he looses his longblade from its weathered scabbard and peers down the hallway over the swashbuckler's shoulder.
Just in case it's needed -
Take 10 on Stealth like Luciano for 14 (10 + 7 - 3 for Encumbrance)
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11