[PFS, CORE] #2-24: Shadow's Last Stand Part 2 (GM Andrew) (Inactive)

Game Master Yiroep

Malakiah goes to find more clues in the Theatre District.

Take '10 on knowledge local to a total of 20.

To me, it looks like most people want to continue to look for info, Malakiah specifically on the Theater, and the rest of the group on the Shop. Will need those Diplomacy checks from Jarlaxle, Rogar, and Finn then.

aid diplomacy: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (14) - 3 = 11

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14

-Posted with Wayfinder

Jarlaxle does his best to gather some additional information.

Diplomacy 'Take 10' + 2 assists = 22.

Time: 1d4 ⇒ 2

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Malakiah gathers information on the Theater.

He meets up with a man named Chulo Varotien dressed in a gaudy robe and carrying spellbooks. When asked about theaters and the Spider, he says, "This Spider character that’s been going around is a pretty sophisticated sort, I’d guess, because I hear he shows up incognito to every performance at this newly remodeled playhouse, some upscale house of burlesque called the Captive Audience. My coworkers always gossip about that place. It’s been putting on a new show every month for a couple of years now, and never gives repeat performances. Seems these artist types are flighty and don’t stick around town long."

"Not my type of place, although Randy at work always says that I should try it out sometime. And Sandy at work says that I could use a good play... oh, I'm rambling aren't I?"

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The rest of the crew inquires about the Shop.

They find a dwarf whose name is Rikka Helmsbrew. When asked about the theatre and the Spider, she responds, "Let’s just say I know someone in my gambling group who knows someone else who says that one of the Spider’s cronies does odd jobs in the Mercantile District most nights. Around two hours past midnight, I hear, this skinny feller’s either on foot or with a carriage, and he’s up to some shady business, hauling loads of cargo from his shop to the docks. Weirdest thing is, he goes to the docks with the carriage, but comes back without it."

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You feel like you've gathered what you can for now. *wink hint* It is now [5:00 PM], a couple of hours from evening here.

When is the next performance scheduled?

Evening: 7:00 PM lol. They really time things together here.

"Performance at 7:00, Docks at 2:00, then rest. Yes?"

"Performance at 7:00 and docks as soon as we finish at the Captive Audience", Malakiah nods.

After stands silently for awhile, Malakiah suggests:

"Or maybe we should go at the Captive Audience before the show to watch the essay."

Sound like Captive Audience it is.

The Theater District of Almas is filled with old architecture and buildings of a traditional style, save for one: a gaudy, tall structure painted several shades of bright green, everburning torches on either side of the face of the building illuminating the words "The Captive Audience," painted in overly elaborate, nearly unreadable letters.

The doors are open and no one is at the front doors. Assuming you head in...

The Captive Audience is currently stage rehearsal for tonight's performance. There are several actors on stage wearing various pieces of leather, chain, or breastplate armor and wielding a mix of longswords, daggers, rapiers, and maces. Off of the stage, a gnome wearing leather armor and bright blue hair directs the actors around with a longsword, using that sword to point to the various places he wishes them to go.

As the party enters, an actress on stage mentions. "Looks like we have people who want to watch rehearsal."

The gnome directing them all says "Oh, visitors? Well, I need a short break anyway. Go backstage and practice your lines."

The woman responds with a "Yes, sir" and the actors fall backstage

The gnome in charge comes to party with a smiling face. "Hello! My name is Yero, and who might you be? By the look of your arms and armor, might you be inspiring actors for this play? If so, hopefully you are worth your salt. I could use a break from working with these amateurs."

Malakiah spend a charge of his wand of mage armor, before pass through the front doors. If someone needs too (mage armor) just tell me, then I spend more charges. :)

Malakiah stands silently, waiting for his more diplomatic comrades deal with the gnome, while he take a look around.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Garn similarly stays silent for now. He pays attention, however, to the gnome, trying to determine if he might be hiding something from the party.

sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

" I'm not expecting trouble but it pays to be prepared. Please use my wand on me."

inside
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"We look like actors?"

"And please use mine on Snowball and myself."

"We look like actors?"

"Yes, you do! All with your weapons and armor, that's exactly what we need for this play!"

Need a little more interaction before the Sense Motives take effect. :p

"We are not actors. But we do want to learn about this place. Is this acting going to be hard to learn?"

"You are not actors? Then what is your business here? We are preparing for a show, busy busy busy!!!!"

Impatient, Malakiah decides not wait for his more talkative friends acts anymore.

"We followed some... Webs. And then we are here, looking for some informations about its owner."

"...Webs you say, huh? I'd love for you to tell me more..."

He takes his canteen out, and takes a sip. He gets visibly stronger from the effect. As he does so, he begins dancing around with his longsword, seemingly giving himself confidence.

"...but I'm afraid you know too much! En garde!"

THIS IS SLIDE 3

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Initiative Order - Bolded Character May Post Their Turn

Malakiah (-0)
Snowball (-0)
Finn (-0)
Rogar (-0)
Jarlaxle (-0)
Blue (-0)
Garn (-0)

Rogar frowns.
"Too much about acting? You need to calm down."

5ft step north and attempt to grab him.
improved grab: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Jarlaxle strides forward, and slashes at the man with his longsword.

MW Cold Iron Longsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23, for 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 damage.

"Stop that! What crime has this man committed that he deserves to die?"

Technically, Snowball won't act until given a command by Garn so he would delay until Garn's turn.

Finn draws a wand and casts a protective spell, in case other attackers appear.

Shield

-Posted with Wayfinder

Rogar grapples onto the gnome. Jarlaxle strolls forward and strikes him hard. Finn protects himself.

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Initiative Order - Bolded Character May Post Their Turn

Malakiah (-0)
Finn (-0)
Rogar (-0) - Grappled (Controller)
Jarlaxle (-0)
Blue (-10) - Grappled
Garn (-0)
Snowball (-0)

Will bot Malakiah tomorrow morning.

I'll just let Malakiah take two turns when he returns.

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Blue's Turn
"Gah! Stop grappling me! The play must go on!" He attacks Rogar with the longsword with lethal force. Surprisingly, the gnome is pretty darn strong.
Longsword Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
Longsword Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

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Initiative Order - Bolded Character May Post Their Turn

Malakiah (-0) - May take two turns
Finn (-0)
Rogar (-14) - Grappled (Controller)
Jarlaxle (-0)
Blue (-10) - Grappled
Garn (-0)
Snowball (-0)

Round 1

Malakiah steps forward and casts color spray in the gnome's direction. (Will DC 17 negates)

Casting Defensively (DC 17): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Round 2

If the color spray didn' worked, Malakiah waits to see if Rogar will control the brave gnome (delay).

Sorry for my vanish. Weekends are terrible for me to post, and my work is consuming me in this last few days of the year.

Will Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

The difference that made is that Rogar didn't take that damage and the gnome dropped the weapon, but the gnome has come to his senses again already.

You wouldn't have had to cast defensively, as you could have gotten him before everyone jumped him, so I counted it.

[dice=Will Save]1d20+8

The difference that made is that Rogar didn't take that damage and the gnome dropped the weapon, but the gnome has come to his senses again already.

You wouldn't have had to cast defensively, as you could have gotten him before everyone jumped him, so I counted it.

Great! Thank you for consider it in this way. :)

In this case, here is Malakiah's action on Round 2:

Malakiah bows down and takes the gnome's weapon, when he drop it, leaving him unarmed.

"Curse you! Gimme back that sword!" The gnome struggles against the bond.

FYI, the gnome was only stunned for 1 round from the Color Spray, so I removed that damage from Rogar, and the gnome is back at full capabilities (although would have still been stunned during Garn/Snowball's turn). And he is still grappled.

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Initiative Order - Bolded Character May Post Their Turn

Malakiah (-0)
Finn (-0)
Rogar (-0) - Grappled (Controller)
Jarlaxle (-0)
Blue (-10) - Grappled
Garn (-0)
Snowball (-0)

Pin: 1d20 + 12 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 12 + 5 = 21

"Just calm down. We didn't come here to fight, You pulled a weapon."

Not using to permanent injure the gnome, at least not yet, Garn pulls out his rope from his backpack, and gets ready to assist Rogar in pinning down the gnome.

aid another, grapple: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Taking out the rope is mostly fluff, so that Rogar can take it from him rather than draw out his own.

He signals to Snowball to hold his attacks for now.

Garn, that aid another turned a failure into success.

Futile Attempt of Escape: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Rogar ties up the gnome, as the gnome calms down a little, knowing he is defeated.

Out of Initiative!

Malakiah grins to his comrades, seems very satisfacted with the teamwork done there.

"Now tell us what do you know about The Spider?", he inquires the prisoner.

"I'll never talk! I'll never tell you anything!"

He refuses to talk. He doesn't listen to reason, threats, or anything else. He simply will not talk. However, you haven't searched through the playhouse.

Seeing that the captive refuses to answer them, Malakaih scans all the place, looking for any evidence that might be hidden there.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 and he finds everything he needed.

Searching around, you don't find much of interest around the main theater.

You see some armor that the actors aren't currently using hanging on a rack. There's 5 sets of studded leather and one set of masterwork breastplate.

You see there is are dressing rooms. All of the dressing rooms are open except for one, which is locked. It says "Senlokto Boraminder" on the outside.

After shoving over the door (With... a pretty easy Strength check), you find a note inside.

--> Handout on the Last Slide <--

Malakiah doesn't discover anything further. Will take Perceptions inside the room.

"Actors must be soft. I see nowhere to train in here."
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Garn leaves the interrogation to the teammates more glib of tongue, and assists Rogar in searching the room.

perception, aid: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 20

With the note in hands, Malakiah turns to others: "it seems that we have our first evidence, my friends. We must go to the docks and find the ship. What are we gonna do with Yeros and the note? Bring them to the authorities right now?"

Rogar and Finn detect a disturbance in the carpet. There is a trapped door hidden by the carpets. Going down, there is a crawl space. In there, you find a decomposed body in one corner, and in the other corner is a deed to the playhouse signed "Senlokto Boraminder." There's also some scattered papers of the recent renovations to the playhouse, some signed by Boraminder and some signed by Ouidda.

Upon examining these renovation papers...

Upon leaving the playhouse, the actors strangely are no longer here, although Yero is still tied up where you left him.

@GM Andrew Comprehend Languages can help in this case?

It does not. It's not a different language. It's to notice something peculiar about the papers.

It does not. It's not a different language. It's to notice something peculiar about the papers.

In this case, only Jarlaxle can help us, since he is the only one between us that is trained in linguistics. If he can take '10, he got a total of 17.

Jarlaxle carefully goes over the notes.

"Gentlemen... it would appear that the signature on the renovations has been forged. I think we should take a closer look at what, exactly, has been done to the building..."

He then goes to do exactly that.

The renovations seem to follow the papers to the letter, but it looks like Ouidda has been forging the signature instead of the actual owner of the establishment.

Anything unusual about the renovations?