[PFS] GM Chadius's The Dalsine Affair 2-21 (Inactive)

Game Master chadius

Gameplay thread! Feel free to introduce yourselves.

An obvious kitsume sniffs the air as he enters the meeting room, answering his first Pathfinder summons. Unlike many kitsume, this one seems to embrace his heritage and does not assume human form often.

"Hello? Nice to meet you. My name's Corsac - but my friends call me Blaster. Not sure why..." he chuckles, as he plays with his rather worn musket.

An older man in a dark robe with a bow strapped over his shoulder stands in the back and nods in greeting. He is tall and wears a grey beard

Good day esteemed Agents. This one goes by the name of Turan

"Hello Corsac ... may I call you Blaster? I am called Roscoe and the kitty is called George"
states the halfling, pointing to an armored lion following at his heels...
"Pleased to meet you as well Turan."

"Roscoe? Nice to meet you. Sure, you can...um... call me...er... nice kitty?" Blaster keeps a respectable distance from the lion.

"Hello, Turan, nice to meet you too. Anyone know why we have been called together?"

Dot

Ok, ready to go!
A horned man of reddish skin and golden eyes is the next to come through the door, walking as he reads a book. Without even looking up, he pulls up a chair and finds a seat at the table. It's a few moments before he even looks up to acknowledge that there are other individuals in the room, quietly saying "Theadus, it's a pleasure." before disappearing behind the leather-bound tome once more.

Drangle drang open the door of the little fishing shop and go to the meeting room.

So everyone is there?

You have been summoned to the Grand Lodge in the middle of the night. There you find instructions to meet your teammates, travel to Taldor, and help a Venture-Captain there named Muesello. You are warned that Pathfinders aren't exactly welcome in Taldor, and you'll need to be careful there.

Feel free to buy equipment and memorize spells as needed. This is a scenario that will start as soon as you arrive at the lodge in Taldor.

A young human joins the group in Taldor. "Hello fellow Pathfinders, my name is Jacob."

A swift boat ride, a quick trip through Taldor’s gilded capital, and a coded knock at the front door lead to the unassuming, windowless Pathfinder Society lodge masquerading as a bait and tackle shop called Rods and Reels. The strong smell of old fish permeates the dwelling, which has somewhat of a ill cared-for, haphazard appearance. The light of a single, whale-oil lantern forms strange shadows on the floor among the nets and buckets that fill the lodge’s ground floor.

A middle aged-man runs the Taldor Pathfinder Lodge. Venture-Captain Muesello greets the party on the first floor.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice." He quickly locks the door behind you.

"You see, lately the Taldan government has been growing particularly protective of what it considers its national treasures. Grand Prince Stavian seems to have taken a personal interest in anything older than last week’s fish stew, imposing heavy tariffs on any antiquities being sent out of the country."

He lets out a deep sigh. "This is where my own idiocy comes in. I thought that I could save the Society a few pieces of gold by smuggling items out of the city, using my contacts in a secret cult of local Sarenites known as the Dawnflower Blossoms. They receive significant support from people in Qadira, and oversee regular shipments to and from Katheer."

He strokes his gray beard and slumps his shoulders. "Last night, though, everything went to hell. The local Militia conducted a violent raid on one of the cult's safe houses. A man named Chalfon Dalsine, a minor noble who was himself nearly a Pathfinder in his youth, led the attack. A few members were able to escape, but the rest were either slain or captured and dragged away for interrogation. If the government tracks those packages back to me, they might formally expel all Pathfinders from the country!"

Just as he is about to continue, a loud knock is heard on the shop's front door.

Breaking this wall of text up into multiple posts.

"Open this door! This is the Porthmos Militia. Open this door in the name of the Grand Prince! Don't make us break it down!" One of the members of the militia shouts from outside and directs her four men to the entrance.

Acting quickly, Musello motions everyone to be quiet. "Hold on, I've got to find the key. I'll be right there!" He quickly knocks over some hay along the wall, revealing a trap door underneath. He opens it to reveal a ladder that leads to the basement.

"I was able to rescue 10 of the Dawnflowers. They're upstairs. Get them down this hatch and pull the lever down there to block off the passage. Ask them to lead you to their last hiding spot."

"Oh, and track down this Chalfon Dalsine, and see if you can find my parcels: two beautiful sets of armor crafted by the fey of the Verduran Forest. Last I heard, the Porthmos Militia had taken them back to Dalsine’s home. I'll hold these guards off the best I can."

I placed you on the first floor, but feel free to place yourselves anywhere on there.

There are many ways to handle this situation. Sample ideas include bluffing the guards, helping the cultists escape, barricading the door, and fighting the guards. Without your help it will take about 12 rounds for the Dawnflowers to escape.

You hear the sounds of many people shuffling around upstairs.

Round 1

Sagart
Dawnflowers
Goupil
Blaster
Roscoe
Guards
Turan
Theadus
Jacob

Sagart, Goupil, Blaster and Roscoe may act first.

Goupil will help to bluff the guard. "we are coming! Wait a second! We had a rough night! Hey! where is my jean? " bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

if it is possible, goupil will change for a form other than drangle drang.
-Posted with Wayfinder

Blaster runs upstairs to start motioning for the dawnflowers to move down to the basement as quickly as possible.

Turan would hate if it cames to a fight with the authority and thus he runs off with the fox looking to secure the save exit of the Dawnflowers.

Round 1
Roscoe nods to Goupil somewhat apologetically ...

"No good at bluffing; I'd best go with the others ..."
then helps Blaster lead the Dawnflowers down the rabbit hole ...

Muesello's Bluff Aid: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19
"Your jeans are...oh confound it! Did you leave the keys in there?" Muesello catches on and stomps loudly, as if he's searching around.

Your bluff is at 28 so far.

Roscoe, Turan and Blaster quickly run upstairs. The dawnflowers quickly grab their goods and head down the stairs.

Waiting for Sagart.

I haven't heard from Sagart. I'll have him delay for now.
Sagart stands by, waiting to help in anyway he can.

The guard captain hears Muesello and Goupil's excuses.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
And buys it.
"Hurry up, we don't have all day!"

The Dawnflowers thank Blaster, Turan and Roscoe as they head downstairs and crowd around the stairs. Moving much faster than the scenario indicated. Your gain!

Round

Sagart
Dawnflowers
Goupil
Blaster
Roscoe
Guards
Turan
Theadus
Jacob

Theadus and Jacob are up next.

Theadus lets out a heavy sigh as he stores his book for the moment. "Why do the heavy-armored ones always have to be so pushy?"
Hearing that the group is on it's way down, Theadus opens the trap door and climbs down, ready to help the others as they make the descent.

Seeing that most of everybody is helping everyone down, Jacob turns to the door and tries to find stuff to barricade it.

Jacob quickly find a barrel to block the door. Theadus runs downstairs to help the Dawnflowers escape, and they thank him profusely as they run down the stairs into the catacombs.

Five of the ten Dawnflowers manage to escape.

"What's going on there! Who is moving around so much!" The militia leader yells.

"I tripped over my supply candles! I think I ruined them all..." Muesello blurts.

Round 2

Dawnflowers
Goupil
Blaster
Roscoe
Guards (1 barricade)
Turan
Theadus
Jacob

Goupil, Blaster and Roscoe are up.

Goupil trys to buy time, impressive by the talent of the venture-captain.

" I think you had put on in the halfling we used to bait the shark! Or was it in the dream i had last night. I don't remember. It was a wild fishing day we had yesterday. I think we had fight the new aslantis king to take back the fish they stolen from us. Or it was still in my dream?"

Anyway I don't think they are in there"

aid another bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Roscoe continues to help the remaining Dawnflowers escape ...

Blaster continues to motion for the Dawnflowers to move quickly, yet quietly.

Round 2
Roscoe and Blaster run down to the basement to help the Dawnflowers leave.

Meanwhile, Muesello picks up on Goupil's bluff. "I told you, that was a fishery! The owner was mad at you calling him 'Lord of Atlantis' and he almost called the guards. That poor Gnome!...what were we doing, again?"

Bluff, Aided: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 2 = 22

The squad leader growls, clearly frustrated.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 2 = 24
"Y-you're just stalling for time! Men, break down that door! One! Two!"

You hear a loud BANG against the door as a strong force impacts against it.
Strength Check w/Portable Ram vs DC 24: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 = 22
The door barely resists.

"Damn, I should've said lord of the seas..." Muesello jokes to Goupil. "You bought us some time, lad, but I don't think they'll listen to us for much longer."

Round 2

Dawnflowers
Goupil
Blaster
Roscoe
Guards (1 barricade)
Turan
Theadus
Jacob

Turan, Theadus and Jacob are up next.

At the bottom of the ladder, Theadus continues to assist the Dawnflowers, practically pulling them off the ladder to make room for the next. "Hurry up," he hisses as loud as he dare. "We don't have all day! In fact, I'm not sure we even have the rest of this minute!"

Jacob continues barricading the door.

Turan continues to aid the dawnflowers down.

Theadus and Turan quickly aid the Dawnflowers into the catacombs underneath Meusello's home.

Jacob puts another chair behind the door.

Muesello wipes sweat off his brow. "I think they all got downstairs. I'll keep stalling them. Get down there, collapse the tunnel and help them get to safety."

Round 3

Dawnflowers
Goupil
Blaster
Roscoe
Guards (2 barricades)
Turan
Theadus
Jacob

Goupil, Blaster and Roscoe's turns are up.

goupil transform into Musello and say: you will be with them... in a way

And he go to the tunnel.

Round 3
Roscoe heads into the tunnel and will collapse the tunnel behind the group when everyone is clear (and he finds an area of the tunnel that he can collapse).

Turan waits till everybody is in the tunnel and then jumps in and seals the trapdoor behind him.

"We can't just leave Musello to his doom, can we?"

" what do you mean? I am here. And if they were willing to kill me. They wouldn't have wait for I open the door."

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Don't worry about me fellas." Muesello mumbles. "The militia won't kill me, but if they found out about the Dawnflowers it would be terrible for all of us. Make sure the Dawnflowers get to safety, they're depending on you."

"OK - good luck to you, sir!"

Blaster heads down the tunnel.

It's pretty safe to say you guys head down the tunnel and collapse it at this point.

As you head into the catacombs, you hear the front door burst open and guard shouts at Muesello. You hear them wonder who else has been here, and then they find the trap door to the basement. Roscoe pulls the lever at that point. The stairway collapses, and debris fills the entrance. The Dawnflowers are safe, for now. They take a moment to pray for Muesello's safety.

The leader of the Dawnflowers is a halfling woman named Piria. She thanks you all for your help, and spends her time trying to recall the directions to the Vault of Sarenae.

Feel free to ask her questions about the raid and the catacombs. You can also make Knowledge (Relgiion, History, or Dungeoneering) checks to ask about the worship of Sarenae in Taldor, or the underground network.

they know i am not the venture captain!goupil thinks.

knowledge: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

-Posted with Wayfinder

History4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (10) = 14
dungeonnering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

-Posted with Wayfinder

Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Knowledge Dungeoneering1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

"So, little lady, can you tell us what in the world is going on here?"

Goupil, still in the guise of Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng (surprisingly spry for an old man,) remembers a few things about Taldor's treatment of Sarenrae.

The worship of Sarenrae has been illegal in Taldor since the Great Purge of 4528 ar. The degree to which her followers are persecuted has waxed and waned over the last 200 years.

Turan remembers a few things about Oppara's vast catacombs.

The catacombs of Oppara are a mix of ancient sewer lines, natural caves, and old city streets and buildings buried centuries or even millennia ago. The ground beneath the city is literally honeycombed by countless tunnels and chambers. The catacombs have been used throughout Oppara’s history as a meeting place for secret organizations.

Oppara was supposedly founded over 6,000 years ago by the last descendants of ancient Azlant, and its catacombs are said to contain a few deep ruins dating back to this time.

The leader responds to Blaster's inquiry. "That murderous raid took us all by complete surprise. They burst in while we were in the middle of worship. We were in what we thought was a safe house in Oppara’s Westport neighborhood. A butcher of a man named Chalfon Dalsine—a nobleman of some sort judging by his dress—led the attack. There hasn’t been such a vicious attack on Sarenrae’s faithful in Oppara for decades. They came in and just started killing everyone. They didn’t even ask any questions." She shudders.

"We're going to the Vault of Sarenae. It’s an ancient temple dedicated to the Dawnflower we discovered here in the catacombs a few years back. Only a few of us know about it, so it’s probably the most secure location for us right now. Then again, after the attack, I’m not so sure it’s wise to trust anyone or anything."

The halfling woman Sophone and a human woman Xene are the only two who know where the vault is, and it's clearly been a while since they've gone. They occasionally stumble upon dead ends, travel in a circle, and double back a few times. "Oops, another dead end." Xene chuckles. "Guess we should double back."

I was sure I change for musello. It's ok. The legend of drangle Drang will grow.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Strange. there less vermin in the tunnel and more cobwebs, 1 gold piece there a giant spider in here."

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"Not taking that bet... cause there it is!"

Blaster points his musket at the giant spider hiding in one of the side tunnels. If it twitches, he shoots.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Perception (Roscoe): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Perception (George): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"I greatly dislike spiders ... I do."
Roscoe searches the shadows while preparing to charge with his lance if needed ...

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Unable to see the thing for himself, Theadus pulls a flail seemingly out of nowhere and begins lazily swinging the head in a circle as his other hand begins to crackle with energy.

Good shootin', Tex!

A six-foot-long spider leaps from one of the side tunnels, and is quickly blown away by Blaster's quick reflexes. The Dawnflowers are startled briefly, but calm down. "Thank Sarenae. We may have become spider chow if not for you guys." Xene thanks you all yet again.

After another hour, the party arrives at an underground temple. They notice seven worshippers surrounding a campfire, trying to stay warm. As the party approaches, they stand up and pull out simple wooden clubs. Piria yells "Well met by moonlight, sisters and brothers, but soon the dawn will come!"

After hearing the passphrase, the worshippers wipe the sweat off their brows, drop their clubs and welcome everyone to the temple. One in particular, a slim, redheaded human man with pinched features, steps up to the group.

"Welcome, Pathfinders. I am the leader of this group of Dawnflowers. They call me Akkuret. Please, stay. Eat, drink and be merry. I have heard much about this Chalfon Dalsine and I wish to share all that I know with you."

The worshippers are at the circle in the middle of the room. Feel free to rearrange yourselves. Also, here's a picture of the spider Blaster took out!

Seeing that the worshippers are having difficulty trying to stay warm, Theadus steps over and absently adds a little bit of magic to the fire in an attempt to strengthen it before sitting down. He continues not to speak and resumes reading from his book, using the increased firelight to do so.
Low CHA=poor peoples skills. I'll let my more diplomatic members of the party handle this one.