[PFS] #7-10: The Consortium Compact, Table B (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Kimmel

Finwë looks at the nonresponsive addicts sadly. He moves to stand by Guy and watches him work.

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Guy takes a close look at the people in the sewers. They don't seem to respond to any speech or movement, except when vial-shaped objects pass through their field of vision, such as any potions that might be on the belts of the Pathfinders. They reach out feebly for such items, but they are too weak and addled to actually grab on to anything.

He thinks it is likely that G'Boar is right, and these people are suffering from a severe addiction. Someone must be supplying the drug to them, for they're in no shape to take care of their needs themselves.

<sigh> "We'll have to come back later for these pour souls. For now let's continue on in the tunnel. The statue over there with the vials looks like a good place to start."

Guy will activate a Glorious Presence when they start walking towards the goal. Just to look cool and awesome.

Finwë, feeling a little nervous in the sewers, sewers draws his rapier and then follows behind Guy.

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G'Boar takes in his surroundings, using all of his senses to determine if there are any signs of malfeasance or trails leading to such.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

sorry been quiet, been sick (actually still am, but doing much better)

Ako activates her light source as a swirling bead of light starts to circle her head.

trying her best to stay out of the muck but failing miserably. why did I agree to this... ewwwwww, is that a leech?

ako's position is just fine

Creeped out by the horrible condition of these people, Cesare simply follows Finwë.

Other than a scuttling noise coming from somewhere inside the pipe, the group doesn't discover anything in particular down here. Clearly someone uses this place for alchemical experiments of some kind, but only the basic tools are kept here. Any ingredients must still be in possession of the alchemist, who doesn't appear to be present. Or perhaps they are not in plain view.

Feel free to describe specifically where and how you are searching for things, and what you might be looking for.

G'Boar investigates the "hole" where the addicts are, peering in and around looking for any signs of the chemist or any alchemical work areas.
Perception (take 10): 10 + 6 = 16

Ako will go toward the rat statue and check things out. maybe some clue as to what this drug involves.

take 20 to search if possible for a 21

I updated Guy and Finwë's positions to reflect their stated actions

Finwë takes some time to search the "hole" thorouhgly. perception: 20 + 9 = 29

Examining the alcove more closely, Finwë notices a small vial peaking out from under one of the "beds." It has a strange, thick, dark liquid inside. Taking a careful sniff, he determines it is likely an unrefined dose of the drug. The addicts stir slightly and reach out feebly for the vial before collapsing to the sewer floor again, moaning.

Finwë frowns and stashes the vial.

assuming this is the Alchemist's lab

Finwë starts doing everything he can to wreck the place and destroy any tools or equipment

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Do we have any idea what would help these people?

A week in a cell and some counseling. remove poisoning would probably also help, but that is beyond us.

Guy thinks that they could likely get the help they need at a local temple, but they certainly can't get there on their own.

Soon after Finwë starts smashing the furniture and tools, someone calls from up above, "what's going on down there? How dare you?!"

A strange-looking man climbs down the ladder into the sewers. He has open lesions and scaly patches of skin on his face and hands, and he scratches at one of the patches on his chin as he regards the Pathfinders. He carries many vials and a satchel. The four addicts slowly turn towards him, feebly reaching out in his general direction.

"Who are you and what do you want?!"

"I'd wager you're Laszo the Leper, by the looks of you..." To his companions, G'Boar plainly states, "Friends, this is the one we are looking for."

"So it is. Lazlo, we would prefer not to hurt you, but certain members of society with this drug dealing business to stop. Please cooperate peacefully."

Guy can barely keep a grin from his face at the audacity of his demands, and predicts that his answer will be either vitriolic or violent. Under the heady effects of the Glorious Presence he is feeling rather cocky.

Finwë pauses in the midst of his destruction to look at the newcomer, a still-intact plank held in his hands. After hearing the man (and G'boar) speak, he deliberately breaks the board in two, eyes locked on the leper all the while.

"We're not leaving here without you, leper, one way or another."

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Ako hears the approaching visitor, then the ensuing conversation.

If he must come with us then allow me. she says as she sway in a hypnotic pattern.

sleep spell on Lazlo, DC 18 Will negates

G'Boar recalls that they only need the chemist's notes and a sample of unrefined whip... Laszo is, well... expendable.

If Ako's charm doesn't work

"Now take us to your lab, and you live... refuse and you don't."

G'Boar attempts to see if he can discern if the lab is where the leper emerged from (up the ladder).

Perception take 10: 10 + 6 = 16

enemy initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 11
party initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 16
enemy Will save: 1d20 ⇒ 7

The man opens his mouth to speak... and collapses to the floor, sound asleep and covered in sewer sludge.

The Ranger searches the surrounding area (as well as the chemist, ensuring he avoids the "lepery" parts) looking for his notes, samples of whip, or anything else of intrest.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Meanwhile, Finwë ties him up.

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"Well that was easy," says Cesare, cheerfully, moving to stand guard while the others search.

The alchemist has a journal in his satchel, filled with tiny, cramped handwriting. His satchel contains a variety of alchemical ingredients. It also contains a magical potion, two vials of acid, and two vials of a mysterious substance similar to (but not the same as) the one that Finwë found in the alcove. You can make a Linguistics check to decipher the writing in the journal, with a +4 bonus if you have at least 1 rank in Craft (alchemy).

Guy has nothing to offer concerning the journal unless he breaks out a scroll of comprehend languages. Hopefully one of you will have linguistics.

linguistics: 20 + 5 = 25

Finwë takes his time to look over the letter and decipher it.

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G'Boar extends his search looking for any clues that lead to the Alchemist's lab; the Ranger wishes to destroy any ability for further production of the drug.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Survival (track): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Ako pust a hand on G'boar's shoulder, hold on there, don't want to draw unwanted attention. This so far looks like a simple robbery of a kook in the sewers that fell asleep.

we have more than we need, lets go while we can and get these things to where they are needed.

They both make sense. I hate to allow a drug ring to survive, but on the other hand the mission is done. I guess I'll wait and see how the others react.

If the GM has nothing for G'Boar's searches, then agreed

"Let's go," says Cesare, reluctantly.

"Mission first, I guess."

The supplies that G'boar finds here seem to mostly be generic vials and other alchemy implements. The actual ingredients for making the drug are not present, except for what the alchemist himself was carrying in his satchel for today's tests.

Finwë looks over the journal and determines that the drug "whip" is one of Laszo's own design, and that he resents that the Aspis Consortium has already begun to mass produce the drug from his (as yet) imperfect formula. He names several specific individuals within Diobel who he blames for allowing whip to spread before he could perfect it.

Having completed two of the tasks set out for them, the Pathfinders return to the Sixwing Drake to await further instruction. Around noon the next day, Captain Zendrani calls a meeting on the deck. "An urchin boy delivered this note just a few minutes ago. I tried to keep him here so we could talk to him, but he slipped away without a word and ran off into the city. I haven't looked at the note, but it seems to be from Delroya." The captain hands over the note.

The note reads:

Pathfinders, your tactics were certainly unusual, but everything turned out as expected. The shipment is delayed, and the Aspis Consortium is occupied with getting everything back in order. Soon, though, the consortium will get its act together and come to the warehouse to proceed with the operation. There is no time to lose. The warehouse is at the southern edge of the Bristles, where Gull Street meets the water. I will meet you there. - Magali Delroya

Will you do anything to prepare before setting out?

no preparations here

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Nothing special here.

"That has the whiff of ambush on it," says Cesare. "I think someone has learned that we are opposing the Consortium. Still, I haven't gotten to hit anything today, so I'm all for it. Maybe we can learn something from whoever it is."

Nope! No special preparations. Just keeping a weather eye out for trouble.

Ack! Stay well behind that one. Maybe just this once we can just be friends with the Consortium?

"Might I suggest a quick reconnaissance around the warehouse before we barge right in... maybe see if this is in fact a trap of some sort..."

If agreeed:

Perception take 10: 10 + 6 = 16

Survival take 10: 10 + 6 = 16

Finwë bites his lip. "Uh, sure. I'll help."

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

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"We'll wait back here."

Wherever 'here' is, it is out of sight of the warehouse.

"Come on!" says Cesare, grinning broadly. "It'll be fun. You're not really a proper Pathfinder 'til you've fought off an ambush!"

Cesare, G'Boar and Finwë go have a look. Sadly, the bard is neither stealthy nor overly observant. Happily, he'd always been lucky.

Stealth: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (20) - 2 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Ako looks at Guy, ahh, come on, it'll be fun. besides you don't want a poor little girl like me to get into trouble. she says biting her lower lip looking all not so innocent.

Ako tries to drag guy with her to follow along.

"Um, I guess."

Guy is easily persuaded by the pretty girl. Ako gets the impression she could wrap him around her finger if she so chose.

Some things in the world never change. Has he ever seen her in her Kitsune form?

Without any further ado, the Pathfinders set off. It doesn’t take long to find where they need to go once they reach the right street.

A large warehouse looms into view at the end of Gull Street. Its main level sits at the edge of the street above a ten-foot drop to the harbor’s waters below. A door in the western wall of the warehouse opens, and a woman clad in simple leather armor steps out. Her features display a blend of Taldan and Mwangi heritages, and her crisp accent is difficult to place.

“I am Magali Delroya. You must come quickly, Pathfinders. We do not wish to be seen.” Delroya moves briskly, waving off protests or interruptions, and speaks with the rhythm of her steps. “Questions later. Much is at stake. First you must listen.”

Her outward display of authority does not entirely mask her fear. The small room through the warehouse’s western door features a round table and several chairs. “This room is for the guards. They are all too busy dealing with our disruptions, so no one is here for now. That door leads to the docks below,” she says, indicating a door in the southern wall. “Come this way. I will show you the warehouse.”

She opens a door in the northern wall, revealing a cavernous storage room. Haphazard stacks of barrels and crates almost reach the ceiling twenty feet above. Two large skylights in the ceiling provide ample light during the day, and a dozen unlit lanterns are spaced around the room. To the east, a wide opening in the southern wall looks out over the loading bay ten feet below. A freight elevator platform rigged to a complex set of pulleys and ropes and a staircase both lead down to the loading bay.

“As you can see, the Aspis Consortium maintains a sizable operation out of this warehouse, which they rent from the Kortos Consortium’s Locosta family in exchange for alchemical goods. After tonight, I hope that the relationship between Aspis and Kortos will be irreparably damaged.

“We may have delayed the shipment, but my sources tell me that both the Kortos and Aspis consortia are likely to investigate the warehouse later tonight. I had hoped for more time, but I will not able to move the goods until after midnight. I need your help in holding off the agents until everything is in order. They are not likely to work together, so you should prepare for multiple groups of agents. While I have no qualms about fighting the Aspis agents, if possible we should avoid further antagonizing the Kortos Consortium. Their agents may be willing to look the other way.

“Because the agents are on high alert, you should stay at the warehouse until they arrive. We wouldn’t want anyone spotted or attacked out in the city before we’re ready. That gives you several hours to prepare. Most of the items in the warehouse are simple trade goods designed to make this outfit look legitimate. You may want to take some time to look around, though—you never know what the Aspis Consortium might have stowed away here.

“I can stay here briefly, if you have questions or need assistance.”

Getting the map up ASAP. Let's do this!

Do you need us to move our icons onto the map?

"Why not just let there agents come and go as they please until you are ready? Are you worried they are going to move the goods between now and then or something?"

"You mean, like, uh, loot the stuff?" Finwë asks timidly, clearly intimidated by the agent's authority.

He does help search the warehouse though.

perception: 10 + 9 = 19

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Magali nods to Guy and says, "You could certainly stay hidden from them somewhere besides the warehouse, but that would give them the opportunity to secure the goods themselves. We can't allow that to happen. You must prevent them from getting access to the shipment."

You can go ahead and copy your icons to the new map. It'll mostly be relevant once the agents start showing up, rather than in this "preparation" phase.

Well I never did have any like of those Aspis fellows, but I never really confronted them directly. This may be rather interesting.

Ako looks about the warehouse So how will we know who is who? I mean If we are to spare these Kortos guys.

I placed Ako's icon on the map where I intend to be situated should the fighting start