[PFS] PbP GameDay VII (session 2): School of Spirits by GM Lupulus (Inactive)

Game Master Lupulus

This is GM Lupulus's PFS #7-05 School of Spirits
It's part of PbP Gameday VII
This is a session 2 game, so it has a soft start date of October 1st.

You receive a letter instructing you to meet Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng outside the main gates of the Grand Lodge at noon in formal attire. Make your way there and introduce yourself to the others while you wait for the Venture-Captain.

The fall rains have come early this year, and a chill wind blows off the waters of Absalom’s harbor, bringing with it the smell of a storm somewhere far off at sea.

Introduce yourselves and I'll get rolling once we have everyone!

A tall human woman comes to the meeting place. She looks around eagerly, trying to see who will join her on her first official mission. Then she checks herself, and tries to hide her eagerness under a veneer of arrogance.

A willowy elven woman approaches Eminesa. She looks around for a moment, a gives the human a sly smile and a slight nod. Her cloak seems to wrap itself around her of its own accord to ward off the wind. "Good day to you," she says to the the young woman. "Please call me Nox. Are we the first to arrive?"
@GM:should we buy 'formal attire'?

Emineesa sees the lack of obvious armor and weaponry, and recongnizes a fellow practitioner of magic. "I am Eminesa, and this is Jumpy." She gestures to a little golden squirrel on her shoulder. He is not just a golden shade of yellow; he actually glints in the sunlight. "I do not see any other likely team members yet."

@Nox: Nah I don't think you need to buy special clothes for it.

A Garundi gentleman in his early 30s approaches the front gate. He wears a heavy cloak to protect himself from the rain, but it's noticeable that he has two sheathed swords hanging from his belt. His hair is a bit scruffy, but it seems like he made some attempt at making it presentable. His clothes are nice enough, but seem a bit unnatural on his body and he certainly doesn't look entirely comfortable "dressing nice".

"Ah, I assume you are also here at the request of Mr. Dreng? My name is Dahrani Al-Jaron, it is a pleasure to meet you all..."

As he finishes his sentence, he puts his fingers to his mouth and lets out a strong whistle. Moments later, an owl lands on the front gate nearby.

"...and that is my companion Kaepora. I look forward to working with you all."

Dahrani lets out one more whistle, though softer and shorter.

"Kaepora: friends."

The owl swoops down from the sky in response to the whistle. He seemingly first heads towards Dahrani, but then veers over to the gate to land on top and glare at the rest of the party. At Dahrani's second command, the owl let's a small 'caw' before relaxing its posture and huddling up in the cold wind.

The little golden squirrel on Eminesa's shoulder shifts uncomfortably when she sees the owl. Eminesa gives Dahrani a questioning look, clearly wondering if the owl knows not to attack Jumpy.

Dahrani notices Eminesa's glance and lets out a chuckle.

"I wouldn't be too concerned. Chances are when Kaepora is not around, he's hunting for food. I haven't had any problems with him going after teammates' companions before."

Jumpy evidently shares Eminesa's concern, because he first pokes her neck with his nose, and then stares pointedly at the huge bird when Eminesa offers him a nut. She smiles gently. "Jumpy thinks I should offer Kaepora one of his nuts. Would he eat one?

Nox also gives the owl a once over as a white rabbit pokes its head out of the pouch hanging at her side. "Relax, dear," she murmurs sympathetically. "Glad to meet you, Dahranni. And Jumpy and Kaepora as well. This is Kanina," she says, indicating the rabbit. "She's a tad nervous as well."

Jumpy again nuzzles at Eminesa in a meaningful way. She sighs and holds out another nut towards Nox and Kanina.

An undine woman approaches the group, she seems to be enjoying the scent of the sea. "Hello everyone. I am Amarsia. I just traveled here from Oppara to join you in this mission." She is not wearing any armor, but she is wearing explorers gear. The only weapon you see is a dagger sheathed at her side. Though some would seem gloomy on such a day, she seems uplifted by the weather.

Nox gratefully accepts the nut in the name of politeness. Who knows? Maybe Kanina will like it. "Greetings, Amarsia."
Privately, Nox wonders what kind of mission they're to be entrusted with, especially with so many spell casters.

Kaepora shuffles across the front gate towards Eminesa and takes the free treat.

A short dwarf in glinting chain mail stumbles towards the gates, his green cloak bellowing in the wind. The large sword hanging from the dwarf's back has apparently ripped a hole in the cloak, and the dwarf grunts as he notices it.

"The weather of Absalom, once again forcing me to make better fashion choices. How characteristic."

He raises his eyes to look at his companions-to-be, a bit confused at first by the various animals flying and running about.

"My name is Balfour Granitehead, and this is my pet sword. She prefers to keep her name a secret. She won't take treats, she's on a bit of a diet."

Do you want me to repeat what I've just said?
Yes
> No

I've heard dwarves are notoriously dense, but I did not expect this!

Dahrani shifts a bit uncomfortably, seemingly perturbed by his own thoughts.

"Ah, yes. It is good to meet you, Balfour. My name is Dahrani. It appears we are the swordsmen here thus far."

Nox snickers at the dwarf's joke. "Greetings, Balfour."

OK and we're off! Slides are in my signature, right not you can double check I got your initiative and perception rolls right, and see a portrait of our first NPC.

Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng hurries down the street in a most unusual outfit for an aging Venture-Captain: some sort of blue military uniform complete with a green sash displaying a pair of ornate medals and a black umbrella.

“Ah, there you all are,” he half-mutters to himself. “Is everyone here?”

Without waiting for an answer, he turns on his heels and heads off at a brisk pace, occasionally turning around to make sure everyone is keeping up.

The Venture Captain has a very wordy explanation for you as you hustle to keep up.

"You’re probably wondering where I’m dragging you, eh? Seven years ago I sent young agents much like yourselves on a preliminary exploration of the necropolis below the Drownyard in the Precipice Quarter. The Drownyard is the name that was given to the old Tri-Towers School, once home to some of Absalom’s wealthiest progeny. It was destroyed in the great earthquake of 4698 AR, and we thought that all of the children, teachers, and staff had perished.”

"She wants us, or rather you, to escort her daughter back to the Drownyard. It seems that Junia’s become a bit obsessed with her alma mater, and since the Precipice Quarter is no place for pampered young noblewomen, she needs an escort. Think you can manage that?”

Without giving the PCs a chance to interrupt him, he quickly adds, “Oh, and don’t forget to call the Drownyard the Tri-Towers Yard while we’re at Dacilane Manor. No one who lost children in the earthquake likes to be reminded of that tragedy… even the ones who got their child back."

Nox is intrigued. She's always been interested in necropoli. If she needs to play baby-sitter to visit a site like this, it seems a small price to pay.

"So... the mission is to escort the girl Junia to the Drownyard. Then what? Do we leave her there to be, do we go on a sightseeing tour around the Necropolis..?"

A tall Ulfen woman walks past the group, then quickly backtracks and catches up. "I'm assigned to the group going to the Drownyard. Are you them?" A wooden holy symbol depicting a a sword crossed with a wing hangs around her neck, and a bow is comfortably slung across her back.

Eminesa smiles. "Giving that young woman peace about her ordeal is certainly a worthy goal. I will do what I can."

Ha, I just played Black Waters last month on my paladin!

As the group begins to move, Dahrani whistles to Kaepora. Immediately, the owl takes off into the sky and hovers about 60 ft. above the group, following as they make their way through Absalom.

Dahrani considers the Venture-Captain's mission while the group follows behind.

"I can't say I like the idea of bringing a young girl to such a place, but if it is deemed necessary, I will assist in keeping her protected. Mr. Dreng, do we know to what purpose the young girl wishes to go this site? Is there a task, or are we to just allow her to look around while we keep her protected?"

Dahrani sees the 6th member coming up to the group.

"Ah, welcome young lady. We seem to be on our way to the noble's estate now. It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Dahrani Al-Jahron. My friend in the sky is Kaepora."

"I will be more than happy to assist a survivor. I wonder why she wants to return if it's full of haunts and undead, or was at least. Either way, I am sure she will tell us what she is looking for when we get there. Maybe we will discover things along the way." Amarsia nod in agreement to assist on the mission.

About the Precipice Quarter, you may recall the following with a Knowledge History or Local check:

To the newcomer, the Venture-Captain responds "Aye you are in the right place; we're on our way now."

He answers the party's questions with "I don't know all the details; we will find out everything we need to know at the Dacilane manor. As I understand though, this is a two way escort, so don't just dump the lass as soon as you're where she wants to be."

After about 10 more minutes of walking, you arrive at your destination. Dacilane Manor is an imposing four-story townhouse of heavy masonry with a parapet roof that is festooned with numerous leering, demonic gargoyles. After knocking on the door, a middle-aged halfling woman in a large apron answers it. “Please come in. My lady will join you momentarily in the drawing room.”

The interior of Dacilane Manor is just as imposing as the outside. A wide foyer with a grand staircase leads to the second floor, while open double-doors lead into the drawing room. Heavy black draperies cover all the windows, shrouding the manor in shadows. All of the furniture in the common areas is oversized, expensive, and gothic, made of dark-stained mahogany wood.

Lady Dacilane enters a few moments after the PCs and Dreng have gathered in the sitting room. She is a tall, stern-looking, yet attractive Chelaxian woman. A plainlooking silver pentagram necklace is her only jewelry. Dreng immediately jumps up to greet her, bowing and kissing her hand in a formal fashion. He then quickly introduces all of you before launching into a prepared speech about the importance of Lady Dacilane’s ongoing support of the Society’s activities.

Lady Dacilane listens politely before getting to the heart of the negotiation and addressing the party directly. “As I am sure Master Dreng has already informed you, I have a particular request of the Pathfinder Society this year. My daughter Junia has recently celebrated her eighteenth birthday, but she maintains a certain obsession with the traumatic events that befell her at the Tri-Towers Yard so many years ago. I have stopped her from sneaking out of the manor and visiting that place several times, and I feel that her past is keeping her from fully embracing her future. I would ask that you accompany her to the gods-forsaken Precipice Quarter and let her see her fill of the decay and misery. Perhaps those sights will cure her of her unnatural obsessions. Can I answer any questions before I summon the girl?”

"How much do we protect her from seeing things that might upset her? The more horrible the things she sees, the more likely they are to have the effect you want, but also the more likely to have other consequences."

"What do you mean by unnatural obsessions?"

"It sounds like the girl just needs a sense of closure," Nox says. "A traumatic experience like that is sure to leave a lingering sense of confusion. Or... it could also be survivor's guilt. I do hope it's the former, not the latter."

To Eminesa, the lady responds "Junia is an adult now, and we wish to get her over whatever she still feels about that place, upsetting as it may be, this is her desire. Take her wherever she wishes within reason in the Precipice Quarter. It is a dangerous place even during daylight hours, so use your best judgment. Let her stay as long as she wishes, but bring her back before nightfall tomorrow."

Lady Dacilane then addresses Amarsia's question about her daughter's motives. "Junia’s experiences during and after the earthquake were terrible, and they have left lasting mental scars. Despite my efforts and those of some of Absalom’s best healers, I have been unable to truly help her. Nevertheless, it is time for her to put her childhood experiences behind her and face her adult responsibilities."

Lady Dacilane's eyes light up a bit at Nox's comments. "Yes closure! That's exactly what we are hoping for."

She then calls for her daughter.

Lady Dacilane’s daughter comes bounding down the stairs and into the sitting room a few moments after he mother calls her. She has her mother’s height, black hair, and fine facial features, but that’s where the similarities end. Unlike her mother’s carefully coiffed hair, Junia’s is short and practical, and she carries herself with a confident and unladylike swagger. She wears an azure blue riding coat with tails with a golden eagle pin on the lapel. Beneath her coat, it is clear that she is wearing a mithral chain shirt. You can tell that Junia is attempting to look like a member of the Andoran Eagle Knights.

Upon arriving in the drawing room, Junia clicks her heels in a military manner and greets her mother with a mischievous grin. Lady Dacilane immediately turns bright red with embarrassment, reprimanding her daughter for appearing in such a “ridiculous outfit in front of our guests”, and then throws up her hands and storms out of the room without another word.

"Hi I'm 'J.' Like the letter. Pleasure to meet you all! You're Pathfinders, right? It was Pathfinders that saved me all those years ago, I'm glad you will be able to take me back there now."

J.'s portrait up in slides too! She sort of looks like that forum picture haha. And I literally just finished a SFS game featuring "Zo!". What gives with all the heavily punctuated names? Who does that?

Venture-Captain Dreng prepares to leave. "I'm needed back at the Grand Lodge. But here, take this." He hands one of you a large iron key. "It opens the wrought iron gates to the Tri-Towers Yard. Although the necropolis below has been cleared of undead, there's still a dangerous haunt about in the partially restored surface structure. Try to stay away from there. We’ve tried to eliminate it several times, but it keeps coming back. If you do need to go in there, take a look in the supply closet, you may find it useful."

If no one has further questions for Dreng, he departs.

J. picks up a backpack from a stool in the corner and pulls out a kukri, which she sheathes at her hip. She then straps on the backpack and looks expectantly at the party.

"I’m ready when you are. Do you all have any other questions or shall we get going?"

"Hello, I'm Amarsia. Yes I am ready when you are." She looks at the party making sure they are ready to head out. Then she will follow along, taking in the last breaths of the sea and storm.

Nox doesn't see what Lady Dacilane is complaining about. J seems simply lovely. I imagine she might join the Pathfinders herself one day. She takes the key from Dreng as she seems to be standing next to him.

"A pleasure to meet you, J," she says inclining her head. "We should chat along the way. Perhaps you can fill us in on what you hope to find, my dear."

Sieglinde is also quite taken with J. "Ready when you are. J, would you be willing to stay in the middle of the party? We can't guarantee your safety, but it will be easier to protect you from that position."

She is less taken with the idea of a haunt. Perhaps the spirits still seek vengeance? she wonders. I know I would be reluctant to pass on if my work was left unfinished. Her hand unconsciously grasps her holy symbol.

Clearly uncomfortable in the more formal setting around the Lady of the house, Dahrani speaks up from his quiet presence from before.

"I believe I have everything I need. Does anyone need to stop for any additional equipment?"

J. smiles warmly at the party's friendly introductions. As you leave the manor she breathes a deep sigh of relief.

"Honestly, I don't get out very much. I don't even know the way to the Precipice Quarter, but once there I'm sure it will be easy to find the Drownyard. How do you want to proceed? And it's fine with me if we have to stop along the way to pick up new supplies!"

There are two main ways of reaching the Precipice Quarter from the Ivy District. The most direct route is through the mercantile Coins district and then along the edge of the Merchant’s Quarter. The second is through the Foreign Quarter and then through the Docks. Which way to go is up to the party.

Knowledge (local) - untrained: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

Sieglinde is new to Absalom, and the sheer size of the city still overwhelms her. Winter's breath, I have no idea where anything is here. Thank Desna I found my companions at least! she thinks to herself, and says nothing.

Since we are at the market, Amarsia will pick up one more vial of holy water just in case.

Eminesa nods to their charge. She tries to seem calm and distant, when she is really almost ready to jump up and down with excitement about her first real mission starting.

Nox is also not that familiar with the city and suggests they simply take the most direct route. As this seems to put them going through the market, she agrees that holy water would be a good safety measure and buys a couple of vials herself. She suggests to J that she avail herself of one or two as well.
"Tell me, are any of you familiar with dealing with haunts? I've not had the occasion to deal with any myself."

"I am not, they usually call upon me because they need raw magic. Sometimes I can be persuasive too." She smiles. "But I did hear that holy water is great when dealing with death."

"Hmm, I can't say I've ever had to deal with anything like a haunt before. Sounds like my swords may not be very effective..."

J. agrees that going through the Coins district sounds best if the party wants to pick up a few things. J. passes on the suggestion to get her own flasks of holy water, seeming a bit strangely uncomfortable. "Oh I'm sure you Pathfinders all know what you need, but I don't think I'd be able to make much use of holy water..."

She has an earnest interest in all of you though. She asks about your experiences as you walk toward and through the Coins District. "I bet you've all been to the most amazing places. Where is the most exciting place you've been? The most unusual thing you've seen?"

Sieglinde is puzzled at J's hesitation at using holy water. General knows I'd get some if I could afford it, she thinks as she studies the young woman and tries to get a sense of the reason behind her reluctance.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Sieflinde also studies J with detect evil, thinking perhaps a spirit is haunting her.

She laughs in response to J's inquiries. "Hah! This monster of a city is the most unusual thing I've ever seen. How people live here in such close quarters without getting at each other's throats is beyond me."

Eminesa grips tightly her wand of magic missile, ready for use against any undead creatures.