PbP Gameday V #6-10 The Wounded Wisp (Inactive)

Game Master Aosrax

Posting for gameplay only

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Hello

Greetings

You have been stationed at the Grand Lodge in Absalom, awaiting assignment for a mission of utmost importance. Things finally seemed in motion when Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng
sent out a summons for available agents. Specialized in the history of Absalom, Dreng is known for putting off-duty agents to work on sundry tasks when he finds them resting within the
city’s limits.

Coming to the meeting place—an odd choice of venue, as it is a street corner far from the Grand Lodge—a lone beggar garbed in baggy robes approaches. The only figure visible in the
constant drizzle, the beggar sticks out his hands for currency. “Have you any coin to spare, fine folk?” The question hangs in the air for only a scant moment before the figure pulls back his hood to reveal the wizened face of Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng. He gives a crooked smile, soaked head to toe from his unprotected time in the rain. His clothes smell faintly of cabbage. “Sorry about that,” he says with a wink. “I always like to play a little joke on agents when I stumble across them during my jaunts into town. Now, why did I summon you fine folk here again…?” Dreng shakes his head from side to side, as though trying to knock water out of his ears, despite the constant downpour. “Ah yes, the Wounded Wisp! I’m undercover now and can’t stray far from the site I’m watching, but I need someone to retrieve a package for me from that fine establishment. It’s among Absalom’s most storied taverns, you see, and one that holds a special place of privilege in the Society’s lore as the place where the organization began. Well, I could drone on and on about it, but standing out in the rain is doing none of us any favors.” As if anticipating agreement, the bedraggled venture captain produces a small slip of folded paper from one of his many stitched pockets. Dreng quickly shows a glimpse of the page’s contents: a map detailing the location of the Wounded Wisp bar. “The bartender is a woman by the name of Heryn Gale, a fine lady who came to own the Wisp after the passing of her father from—oh, bah, it’s really getting too cold for me to give a proper history lesson! If you could just go to the Wisp, and tell Heryn you’re there to pick up my parcel, it would be most appreciated. I’ll be around here for several more hours at least.”

What questions do you have for Drandle Dreng?

A small wayang who'd been standing near the back of the group gently pushes forward so that he can get a good look at the piece of paper. Seeing that it merely shows the location of the bar, he hesitates for a moment.

"Is there a note we're to deliver, or will Ms. Gale be expecting your request?" he asks, a note of suspicion in his voice, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop.

A woman with cropped red hair, dressed in loose monk robes with a simple string of prayer beads around her neck chimes in. "Captain Dreng, what is this parcel? Is it dangerous?" she asks with a noticable Kaer Magan accent. Just peeking out from under her robes, a number of scars can be seen, the marks of the Temple of the Endless Step. The rain doesn't seem to faze her at all as she stands on the street with folded arms.

"Well this sounds like the beginning of a excellent tale to tell later. Wait what exactly is the parcel that you need so many of us to retrieve it?"

Aja's red hair seems to be moments away from bursting into flames as she goes over the venture captains request on more time trying to see if she missed anything.

"Anyone else have any questions for the venture captain?"

All his questions being asked, Thrugg crosses his arms and replies t the Venture Captain. "No questions for me sir."

Lusha, a blue-skinned young man, bobs up and down with excitement, seemingly oblivious to the rain. "Yeah! Yeah! Bars are my specialty. My specialty! We'll get that parcel for you, Captain. Don't you worry, we'll get it."

Lusha suddenly regains composure as if he had just heard Aja speak. "Uh... Questions? No questions for me, ma'am. No questions for me."

Dandle Dreng peers out from his wet soggy clothes. You notice that the smell of cabbage increases the more that he moves around. "Well this parcel is of most importance, most importance. It is nothing too dangerous, just something that is of most importance to me." Peering intently at Aklitas, he continues "Well, yes, of course Ms. Gale is expecting you! How else are you to retrieve the parcel. Just tell her that you're the young bunch of Pathfinders that I have sent. Now why are you standing here in the rain? Get moving!"

If you are ready to move forward, please give me a Knowledge local check for the location of the Wounded Wisp!

knowledge local untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
woo hoo. I got a 10

Not knowing too much, Thrugg hefts is tower shield up and slings it around his back and heads off.

Know Local: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 ......

While Aja does get around town going to the various bars Aja has not yet been to this one yet and cant seem to recall anything she has heard about it.

"Sadly I cant recall anything about the place at the moment. That being said I am sure I will learn more about it once we arrive."

With that Aja catches up to Thrugg and heads to the tavern.

As the group leaves Drandle Dreng behind, Aklitas relaxes a bit. "Well, good to know that it's nothing dangerous. I'll face such things if I have to, but if I can earn the Venture-Captain's respect with a simple package delivery, so much the better."

"Besides," he adds after a moment, "I have important research that I'm eager to resume."

Lusha balances on the balls of his feet, shifting his weight back and forth. “I guess if no one knows where it is, we could go bar to bar until we find it. We'll strike out on our own! Blaze trails! Make maps! I guess we could always ask Captain Dreng but I get the feeling he wants us to make our own path.”

The ebony feathered bird man had been silent. He hadn't thought of any particular questions during the briefing. "Bukkah not know about bar. Usually go to a bar to ask questions, not ask questions to find bar," he squawked.

Volyana heads off towards the Wisp. "Even if we haven't been to the Wisp before, Dreng showed us a map. No need to rack our brains for a half-forgotten memory when we've been told where to go."

I've never understood why, but the adventure asks the players to make a Knowledge check to find the bar even though Venture-Captain Dreng provides a map. I guess it's a really bad map?

I think it's to give us a chance to avoid needing our hands held completely. "Do any of you know where the Wisp is? No, ok here's a map." Probably good scenario writing, that way knowledgable characters can show off but we aren't screwed if everyone fails the check.

Well, according to the author, the map is really bad, and technically the scenario ends with the PC's just wandering around if they don't make the check... And it's never been updated. It was bad scenario writing. I wanted to see what you would do. Oh, also, go ahead and make a Knowledge History check.

knowledge history: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

wait was that the bar that...

Huh, I don't remember seeing anything about the map quality. Always fun to see how someone else interprets the scenario.

Aja seems to jolt and her hair seems to glow ever so slightly brighter for split second and you can swear the rain sizzled into steam for a second as it hits Aja's form before she reaches back into her pouch before pulling her hand out clearly frustrated at not finding what she is looking for.

"Curses, the one time I forget my journal and when i can write down such a interesting fact, hmmm ill have to weave it into a story some other time."

Aja shakes her hair trying futilely to get the majority of the rain off before launching into her story of what she recalls about the wounded wisp.

perform Oratory: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

"Well the wounded wisp has a long history and I will try my best to give you a brief overview of the key points....

Aja will go into a enjoyable story relaying all the information in the gm post above, that while i can copy paste verbatim i cannot make into a fanciful story yet....sadly I am not that good, yet. Feel free to read the spoiler as that is what she will relay.

The group looks from one person to the other seeming realizing that their only resource is the hastily sketched map given to them by Drandel Dreng. Deciding to use it as a guideline, they make their way to the Foreign Quarter district of Absalam. Following the map however is no easy task. The map was soaked with rain, and the ink smeared. The group found themselves lost several times, and frustrated. Aja, was able to persuade the locals for directions after getting lost the fourth time, and the sound group of adventurers eventually find themselves outside of a tavern.

The smell of food, smoke, and spilled ale assails the senses in this wide-open area. Walls of dark-stained wood make up the sides of the Wounded Wisp, while well-used wooden tables
are spread throughout the space. A raised area in the back of the establishment houses several additional tables and eating areas for groups seeking more than just a good drink. An austere bar supported by kegs instead of wooden panels commands the northern end of the room. A stained-glass cabinet stands behind the bar, its dark panes cracked in several spots, yet not so opaque as to conceal the several dozen types of hard liquor within.

The noon-meal crowd has obviously started to gather, and you hear various snippets of conversations in the air.

"Have you heard? This Sir Reinhart of Kenabres, a Mendevian crusader who just arrived from the north, plans on attempting the Test of the Starstone today! Looks like the Shrine would need another alcove soon! Bwahahaha!"

"Have I told you the tale of the fabled Yasmin bint Faroud, favoured of the Ten? She sacrificed her life distracting Zythrustianax, draconic scourge of the Society, so dozens of junior agents could survive. Her act of benevolence is the epitome of cooperation within the Society."

You see a middle-aged woman standing behind the bar, slightly frazzled, but with a commanding presence nonetheless. She coordinates her various wait staff as a conductor manages an orchestra, whilst preparing the drinks for the customers. She spots your group entering and firmly exclaims, "Welcome, travellers to the Wounded Wisp. You have the look of new Pathfinders, I see. Come, come, take a seat and rest your feet! First round on the house for new initiates!"

Just then, a female halfling who had been regaling a group of young adventurers with tales of past Pathfinders pauses and looks at the group. Around her table of what appears to be new Pathfinder initiates, listening intently to her stories.

As you look around, most of the patrons glances briefly your way, but shortly return to their business. A pair of half-orcs, male and female, sitting at the back of the main hall catch your attention, only because their boisterous laughter overwhelms everything else in the tavern. They appear to be playing the traditional half-orc game of drinking each other under the table, and it looks like they have only just started.

A bespectacled man with thinning hair dressed in scholarly robes is sitting at the corner on the raised platform studying a large tome opened in front of him. He looks up to take a break, and glances curiously at your party, before returning to his book.

A middle-aged Keleshite man in blue robes and head wrappings sits near the bar, drinking by himself. A holy symbol of the goddess Sarenrae hangs about his neck.

Please feel free to interact with anyone that you so choose

Thrugg will make his way over to the Halfling at the table. Believing he may know her.

GM'd the confirmation for this character

Volyana runs over to Janira and clasps the halfling's hand in hers "Glad to see you're still alright after our last mission. And take a look at this!" The monk holds out a wayfinder made of carved jade, with an intricate dragon motif decorating it.

Keeping one eye on his companions so as not to lose track of them (a real danger in a bar when you're less than 4 ft. tall), Aklitas approaches the scholar studying the large tome.

"A nice-enough place," he says, "but it hardly seems like an ideal research environment. Are you looking for assistance with something, or are you simply here for a good meal?"

Lusha enters the Wounded Wisp, his eyes in taking in everything. Bouncing to an inaudiable beat, he walks up to the Half-Orcs at the table and accosts them with a flurry of questions.

"This seat taken? Can I join you? Two whiskeys and a rumboozle over here, please! You two are Pathfinders, huh? I'm trying to do pathfinder stuff when I'm on shore leave. I figure there's got to be Pathfinders in every town, huh? Every town, I'll bet. You gotta have tons of stories, huh? Tons of stories, I'll bet! Who wants the rumboozle, by the way? You two just get done with a mission?"

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Bukkah moves his way through the bad as well. He too heads for Janira. Seeing the others showing off their wayfarers, he did the same. His was polished to a mirror shine. "Bukkah's wayfarer is shiny! Interesting to look at," he says, watching it sway back and forth from its chain. "How Janira halfling been?"

Bukkah to Janira

Aja looks a bit lost as she takes in the clear history of the place.

Finally Aja settles down at the bar itself and after grabbing her glass sits and watches her companions animated talk to those they know with a faint smile on her face her eyes glossed over in a clear memory of times long gone.

Lusha bobs his head as if in agreement with himself. "Man, I'll bet you guys have had even crazier things happen on a mission, right? Gotta be some crazy stuff that happens on a mission. You two look like you know how to stay on the right end of a blade, huh?"

Checking around for his companions, Aklitas spots Aja speaking to the woman behind the bar and moves to join her.

"Master Shane finally activated the Sky Key. The Harbingers then proved that they lack the Seven Virtues and paid the price for their inability to accept change or to influence it." Volyana signals for a drink and settles into a chair. "Sessegishoss was quite interesting though."

Why's everyone talking in spoilers all of a sudden?

I assumed it was because we were having private conversations away from each others earshot (and protecting the rest of the group from Lusha ramblings)

I was just following Aosrax's lead. I'm not sure if he put the responses in spoilers because he didn't want us to hear each other or just so we didn't have to read everything if we didn't want to.

To Janira:

There are two reasons for the spoilers. First, you are in different parts of the tavern, and second, because it condenses the posts.

Janira