PFS: #4-11: The Disappeared (CORE) (Inactive)

Game Master R D

Imrana recognizes the animated object for what it is. It appears to be of lesser quality than she would otherwise expect (4-player adjustment). It has a hardness of 5.

If Jair must be near the chair, she will use her copycat ability to create a second self and protect her from the chair

The chair moves onto Jair.
(If this hits, I'll roll a d2. Odds, it hits the copycat. Evens it hits Jair.)
Slam: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19, Copycat: 1d2 ⇒ 1, Miss!

The party is up!

Jair go to full defense AC18, making a silent prayer to her god Father, make me invisible to the chair, before moving and provoking the chair, hoping to give Numair time to recover.

Where are you moving?

behind the bookcase (I'm on my phone right now, unable to move my character on the map)

OK. I moved you. Please let me know if you'd rather be behind the other book case.

Jair moves in such as way that she draws the Attack of Opportunity from the chair. AoO: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9, Miss!

Imrana, Numair, and Rendala are up.

As Jair attempts to move past the chair, Imrana subconciously holds her breath, exhaling when she sees the chair fail to strike her ally.

"Whew. I was worried for a moment there, Miss Jair!"

Imrana maintains her magic missile barrage.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Heehee. I did not intend to make a rhyme."

She pauses, remembering something important.

"Oh, that is an animate object, you know. It is not built so well, so it is easier to hurt, but it still resists most kinds of damage."

She smiles innocently.

"Except for force, of course."

She begins giggling to herself.

"Thank-you, Jair!"

With a sigh of relief, Numair stands up...

Morningstar: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 1 = 19, for 2d6 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (6, 6) + 7 + 1 = 20 damage.

...and delivers a massive wallop to the chair, before hurriedly stepping back.

ZAP! Imrana hits the chair again, setting up Numair for the big finish. CRASH! He turns it into kindling! Combat over!

Numair gives a sigh of relief.

"Well, I am glad *that* is over... The furniture around here really packs a wallop!"

He then returns to investigating the room (specifically, the easel).

In the wreckage of each animated chair is an exquisitely carved jade amulet worth 300 gp.

The records archive sports a map near the front desk that notes what subject each file cabinet pertains to. Of particular note are two cabinets:
(1) Internal Security: Receipts
(2) Internal Security: Evidence

Numair immediately begins to search the cabinet labelled Internal Security: Evidence.

Numair Perception Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Jair Perception Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

After three minutes of searching, the two pathfinders discover some things.

Thanks father prayed in silence Jair

Then she looked at the cabinet where Receipt were marked.

"Great. There's that code again. Does anyone have any idea what it is?"

Trying to give our friendly half-orc a crack at it before I sort it out ;-)

Crikey, I've no idea. I'm horrible with this sort of thing on good days. If it had come out Friday night I might have had the weekend to try to work it out. :-/ I'm sorry.

If Rendala isn't up for it, should we just roll int checks? I already know how to figure it out ooc, so rolling feels more fair to me.

I suppose we could do that; I just hate being penalised for something I spotted straight away the first time around ;-)

Looking over the notes from Zarta's office, and the recovered dossiers, Numair tries to puzzle-out the cipher that is being used.

Int: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18.

In case she's interested in decrypting the clues herself, I've posted the Chelish Security Cipher for Rendala. The rest of you already know what's up. :-)

Between them, the party very quickly deciphers the code. It seems that Zarta's arrest can be linked to Tancred Desimire! (In this season, he's an important functionary in House Thrune dealings--in a behind-the-scenes sort of way.)

"Rendala? Take a look at this - I think the cipher might be something to do with transposition; see if you can work it out..."

Just to provide some IC justification ;-)

Rendala Linguistics Check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

As she reviews the evidence, Rendala further notices other (not-cipher-related) discrepancies.

While the other tried to decipher the coded letters, Jair looked around, searching for knowledge.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

"Huh. Well, now we know that the evidence was faked. Is there any indication where she was sent, I wonder?"

Numair continues to look through the recovered documents for further clues.

"Huh. Well, now we know that the evidence was faked. Is there any indication where she was sent, I wonder?"

Yes. It's in the ciphered text. You all "know" it in character. Just waiting to see if Rendala wants to do it herself.

Destination: Fawihoc Kxiah
Citadel Vraid
Duration: Ashobasawo—xogaw es xojyodw
Indefinite - remit on request
Designation: Wxiawex. Okahosfo bacoh cefrox I23
Traitor. Evidence filed locker 123

Yep! You now know that Zarta is interred in Citadel Vraid--the mountainous Hellknight citadel in Varisia. (Which you enter in another scenario.)

You suspect that this evidence should be sufficient. You'll have to stow it somewhere and make your way back to the waiting room. Without getting caught!!!

"Right. It looks like we have what we needed. Let's get out of here!"

It takes 5 minutes to climb back through the vent system. You've now been away from the waiting room for 30 full minutes!

You're all back in Zarta's secret study (room A17 on the embassy map). What's next?

"Let's retrace our steps. It worked the first time, so it should hopefully work just as well the second time."

Numair peers out the door, waiting for a natural gap in the flow of pedestrians that would allow the party to quickly duck across the hall.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11.

Imrana nods, her brightest smile yet on her face.

"Very good friends! This should be the easy part, I think."

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

You also have the disguises/potions to use, if you wish.

May be its time to use the scroll we were given ? said Jair who closed the doors behind her with the keys, hoping to left as few as possible clues of their passage.

I hope our absence will not be noticed.

Rendala will go without a disguise or potion, with a joke prepared to attempt to fascinate immediately if noticed.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 to try to make it through the natural gap suggested by Numair.

Will that work?

It does work. It takes you about 5 minutes to get a good opportinuty.

What/where to next? Are you going back to the food prep area? One of the unexplored areas?

"Let's head back the way we came. At this point, I think going into untrod territory is not worth the risk."

Back to the food-prep area, and across the 'back yard' seems like a good idea to me.

Imrana nods absent-mindedly as Numair speaks.

"I concur. I am feeling hungry again."

I agree, Knowledge is power said Jair.

Bluff or simply timing to get there? If bluff, please feel free to RP it out. At this point, even if it's something not normally covered in bluff, do it up. The sky is the limit! Be as creative/ridiculous/whatever as you like. :-D

"I will leave it to you more experienced infiltrators to lead the way."

Imrana can only really do perception, which is more boring. She would rather let someone bluff their way past anyways :D

Walking back through the area that the has all of the people meandering about, Rendala stands tall, and attempts to engage everyone in small talk, a brief mention of Oh, I love your dress, that color looks great on you. or a You look awesome, have you been working out?
Hopefully recognizing who it is safe to speak to and who it isn't.
Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Perception or Sense Motive=: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Jair took Imrana arm, walking with her along through the crowd or the empty corridors

You look amazing my Dear. This outfit looks great on you, and your next game will be joyful isn't it ? I'm glad having you, I'm sure the other will be jealous of my price !
Oh! and this red on your cheeks, priceless !

Talking to Imrana while smiling to those she meets.

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"That food was *delicious*! I am so glad that we took the opportunity to take a peek, and see where it was all being put together... snagging a few samples before they go to the hoi paloi is always exhilarating, as well!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28.

Numair breezes through the garden area as if he did not have a care in the world.

LOL! :-D You guys are rolling really well on your bluffs!

All of the people you encounter have absolutely no idea what any of you are talking about. But you all speak and smile and move so smoothly, that they mostly just nod and smile back.

You get drawn into a couple of brief conversations, but somehow manage to excuse yourselves without any social entanglement or ruffled feelings.

It takes another 5 minutes to get to the far end of the garden, when all of you receive a magical message from Amara Li.

"Pathfinders, the Ambassador has just left the party. He said that he has some 'business' to address. I presume he means you. I could delay him no further. You have a few moments before he comes to you!"

I've updated your positions on the map. I've also revealed the whole map. Basically, now, your challenge is to get to the waiting room (A2) before the ambassador does--without causing a stir.

While the distance to A2 is short--for both you and the ambassador--both parties will have to politely make their way around the other people present.

The hallway you're in now is very busy with embassy workers--mostly food service staff.

Again, please feel free to RP this to the Nth degree! Be as creative, fun, and 'out there' as you want to be. :-)

Right then! *mentally cracks knuckles* ;-)

"Sounds like we need to hurry..."

Numair grabs Jair, and whispers in her ear.

"Pretend to swoon!"

He then starts dragging her down the corridor.

"Excuse me, my colleague feels ill - perhaps a little too much of the spiced wine? We need to get her somewhere to lie down for a little while..."

Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15.
GM Star Re-roll - Bluff: 1d20 + 9 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 5 = 22 Eh. I'll take it.

LOL! I like it! :-) Circumstance bonus for sheer chutzpah! :-D

Everyone else?

Oh! I'm not well... at all !

Jair swoon in Numair's arms.

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
GM Star Shirt reroll Bluff: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 4 = 16

May I "go there"?

As Jair swoons, she show a respectable about of thigh. (Rated PG-13, not Rated R.) Anyone watching cares less about who you are than getting a glimpse of her body.

It takes you another few minutes, but you get back to the waiting room before the ambassador!

Would you like to do anything before the ambassador's imminent arrival?

We should probably make sure we are all healed and cleaned-up after our battles and trip through the vent system.