The Great (Pathfinder) Society...in Magnimar! (Inactive)

Game Master Eric Swanson

Ganer surveys the situation briefly, noting the positions of the lurking eels. Deciding he has no way to effectively reach them, he instead calls upon his oracular patron to assist his friends in the battle.

Ganer casts Bless on the party. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.

The creature lunges out from its sewer pipe lair, faster than the eidolon could have imagined. While Fancy is ready for such an attack, she is completely caught off guard by the jaws of the eel-like predator as it tears into the side of her, gouging her flesh terribly. Even as the eidolon returns the favor, it snaps back into the pipe like a giant rubber band. Fancy takes 16 points of damage, and may take her held action here.

Round 1: Horven, Fancy (readied action), Ganer, Enemies, Carmina, Gared, Yamyra.

Note: Do not forget the Bless spell here. Also, due to the nature of the attack, this did NOT trigger an AoO. Fancy is eligible for the attack only because of her reach. In other words, the monster extended its body out within 10 feet of Fancy, but its jaws extend even further to strike its prey.

Caught off guard by the creature's speed, Fancy's blow swings wide.

Slam attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 = 9...

Gared stepped forward to the edge of the walk way beside Fancy and began furiously launching arrows at the monstrous creature that had a gory piece of his companion splattered across it's jaws.
5ft step to the south east beside Fancy and full attack
Attack 1 and damage 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Attack 2 and damage 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Not really wanting to go close to the eel-monster after seeing what happened to Fancy, Carmina has no option but to resort to the weird sparkling-particle spell she had cast earlier, however lacking in fire and brimstone it might be.

Casting Glitterdust on the monster closer to the group. (Will DC16 or become blinded)

I'm kind of torn. Fancy is down to five HP. Not certain if healing her or enlarging her is the better course...

Eyes wide in shock at the massive trauma inflicted upon her friend with just one attack, Yamyra nevertheless rushes forward, quickly intoning now-familiar syllables of arcane power.

Going to go with Enlarge...
We'll see if it's the right course. If nothing else, it increases her reach by another 5', so she doesn't have to hold an action to attack...
5' step to AL 77
Cast Enlarge Person on Fancy.

The sight of the eidolon's blood does not hamper the reactions from the others, Carmina and Gared responding in tandem with both weapon and spell to kill the eel creature. Gared's arrow sinks deeply into it, while Carmina's spell covers the sewer outcropping, but it manages to duck back from being covered by the glittery dust.

Yamyra decides the best defense is a good offense and enlarges her companion so as to allow her to reach the eel creature without stepping off the bridge.

Ganer sees Fancy sorely wounded and mutters softly to himself. He steps forward, shielding Yamyra from the eel creature and utter another prayer to his patron, touching Fancy on her arm as healing energy flows into her. Fancy gains 6 HP back, currently at 11 HP.

Round 2: Horven, Fancy, Ganer, Eels, Carmina, Gared, Yamyra.

MAP

(Enlarge Person/other Mods: present AC: 17/present CMD: 18, present Reach: 15', present Slam damage: 2d6 + 6 Bludgeoning.)

Revitalized, Fancy lashes out. Her increased size readily allowing her to bring her fist into forceful contact with the creature's flesh.

Slam attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20, Slam damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 6 = 14 bludgeoning

Gared let out a whispered thanks to Erastil as he shot landed home, and called out to his hafling companion. "Aye, I'll be happy to teach ye how to make a good solid shot! I'll be teaching Yamyra how to use a longspear as well!!"

Horven reloads and fires. "I look forward to it."

Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 1 = 27; Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Horven's shot is much more accurate than his previous one, finding its mark. The eel creature twists in agony before Fancy's blow knocks its body out of the sewer pipe and into the sewer water below, bleeding and unmoving.

The other eel creature you can see has not left its own pipe but judging by its quivering form, you can tell it is most likely ready to strike should you get too close.

Round 2: Horven, Fancy, Ganer, Eel (readied action), Carmina, Gared, Yamyra.

"Stay back, we'll keep barragin' it and ye can strike it if comes out!" growled the dwar as he spun about and replanted his feet where he had a good shot at the thing. Two more arrows launched up towards the beast, following his words.

Attack 1, (two attack rolls using perfect strike) and damage
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Attack 2 and Damage 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"Alright, I'll... Uh... Keep out of your way while you do that."

Delaying until next round or until something comes close.

Still concerned for her friend, Yamyra steps forward once more, calling upon her planar link with Fancy to aid in her friend's recovery.

Cast lesser Rejuvenate Eidolon: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

While Yamyra heals her companion, Ganer puts an end to the threat with a couple of well-placed shots.

COMBAT OVER.

Shudderingly releasing her held breath as the second creture collapses, lifeless into the water, Yamyra quickly looks around the chamber to be certain nothing else is present to present a threat.

untrained Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

(Enlarge Person/other Mods: present AC: 17/present CMD: 18, present Reach: 15', present Slam damage: 2d6 + 6 Bludgeoning.)

Slogging through the water, Fancy hauls the corpses up onto the walkway, but out of the way of the passage to the sewers.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Gared paused, arrow at the ready, eyes and ears scanning for more danger. Taking 10 on perception for a total of 20

Nothing else accosts you as you take a closer look at the eel corpses. Gared can tell these were mutated versions of the more common moray eel, adapted to life out of water.

"Captain Brast said nothing of these..." Yamyra murmurs to herself before shaking herself back into certainty.
"We should definitely keep our guard up." She declares, nodding in emphasis.

(Enlarge Person/other Mods: present AC: 17/present CMD: 18, present Reach: 15', present Slam damage: 2d6 + 6 Bludgeoning.)

At her companion's words, Fancy moves cautiously down the Eastern passage.

Move to at least AP 92.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
untrained Stealth: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (5) - 3 = 2...
So lumbers would likely be the more accurate descriptor...

You do not spend much time lingering here but decide to head out of the Crow and back into the sewers, if Captain Brast can be believed.

With Fancy leading the way, you follow the eastern tunnel. The tunnel starts twisting and turning almost immediately as you guess you travel under Outcast Cove as it goes. The tunnel quickly gives way to a more natural cavern, where you see 2- to 3-foot-deep pools of cold water at various intervals, but otherwise nothing else.

Gared estimates the tunnel extends for about 2,400 feet, before ending at a hidden door. After checking it thoroughly for traps you exit the secret door and find that opens into one of the city sewers, complete with the stench therein. Fortunately you do manage to find your way out of there without too much trouble. It takes you a little time to figure out exactly where you are in Magnimar, but Yamyra determines you are somewhere near the border between the Dockway and Underbridge areas.

You realize it is early evening now, with a mostly clear sky leading to a pleasant evening awaiting you.

:: At the Secret Door ::

"Do you think you can open this again if we come back via this route?" Yamyra inquires of Horven.

:: Once we are once more on the streets of Magnimar ::

"Should we try to find the Widow Brast first, or make the attempt tomorrow?"

The Door:

"I should be able to manage getting this open," Horven answers Yamyra. "You might want to mark it discreetly so that we may find it again."

On the Streets:

"I say we find the woman, then call it a day," the halfling says, tiredly. "I'd rather not have this looming over our heads as we sleep. Brast's face is enough to make my night sleepless and I don't want to have a reason to think of him. Hmm, Brast gave us an area to start with..."

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Horven hoped the little he learned about Magnimar would be enough to guide the group to their destination.

:: At the Door ::

At Horven's recomendation of discretely marking the location, Fancy reaches up to the sewer ceiling and scrapes a distinct bare patch well above most entity's eye-line.

Gared watched over his companions while they talked and marked the door, and continued to do so even as they emerged onto the streets of Magnimar. "We can get started searching now at least." The dwarf muttered a prayer to Erastil before wracking his memory about the area, and used the information to know where to begin his search.
Knowledge (Local)1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Gather Information1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Seeing you still have some daylight left, you decide to track down the whereabouts of the widow Brast. Thanks to some well placed inquiries, you determine Liza Jane does indeed still live in Magnimar. She works as a laundress at Washer’s Row, which is located in Beacon's Point, a raucous home to traders, sailors, and hardworking, hard-living families of all sorts. Numerous warehouses, shipping concerns, and other businesses fill the area, as do numerous simple but boisterous brothels and taverns.

By the time you finally track down the location of her address, the sun has set and it is well into evening. Knocking on her front door produces a response: A female voice, tired and wan from a long day of working replies, "Who is it? Who be knockin' on me door this late?"

"Excuse us, Ms. Brast, we're a group working for the Pathfinders here and well...we found news about your husband," Horven calls.

Once we are within Magnimar again, Yamyra will release Fancy back to the beyond.

Drat, not as quick as he is. I knew I should have spoken with the others before this.

Turning quickly to the others, particularly Carmina, Yamyra holds up her hand as if to imply they should allow Horven to do the talking with the Widow Brast.

Gared shook his head sadly and began a dwarvish litany to Erastil before laying a reasuring hand on his halfling friend and motioning for him to continue with a nod of his head. Casting Guidance on Horven and himself.

Just awaiting a response for the widow before running my mouth again, lol.

There is a period of silence before you hear the unlatching of the door. Then it opens and you see a middle-aged woman at the door. Her hair is a dark brown, with more than several streaks of gray showing. Her face is weathered and dried and you see the start of wrinkles appearing around her cheeks and lips. Crows feet around her eyes complete the ensemble. You all can see whatever beauty she had must have fled long ago as her eyes gaze dully at you.

She looks all of you over, her gaze lingering on the tiefling girl and her shadow hovering protectively behind her. Finally she looks down at Horven. It is another moment before she sighs in reply, "Yes, I be Missus Brast, though you can call me Liza."

She waves you inside her home, which is little more than a dilapidated shack. Glancing around, you see little signs of wealth in the common room, though a curtain leads to what must be a bedroom. She slowly walks to a rocking chair and takes a seat before taking a sip from her old teacup. "You say you have word of me husband? Lockerbie...I...I do miss him even after these many years." For the first time, you see hope light up in her eyes, "What news have you?"

"I...I am sorry to say that he is gone," Horven answers. "We found his ship near some ruins we were exploring. We found a locket there...and a body. We pieced together that it was Captain Brast from the wreckage."

A twist on the truth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Horven draws out the locket he received from Yamyra and hands it to Liza.

Liza takes the locket from Horven, her hand trembling. She looks it over, running her calloused fingers over it and her eyes brimming with tears.

She stands up, and nods in reply, her tears now flowing unchecked down her cheeks. "I...I cannot thank ye enough for returning this to me. All these years, I knew in my heart my Lockerbie had met his end beneath the waves he loved. He kept that locket with 'im always, and he told me he carried a piece o' me heart with him always."

She give the halfling a hug, stooping down to one knee. "I wish I had somethin' to give ye, a proper reward. But all I own here is what you see."

Horven embraces the woman back. "Think nothing of it. We are glad that we were able to bring you some closure. May Desna watch over you, Liza."

The halfling breaks away from the woman and heads back to the rest of the group. "Now we go see Captain Heidmarch."

Gared stepped forward and offered the woman a small pouch and a piece of parchment with instructions on how to seek him out at Heidmarch manor. "This ought to help ye with any material troubles that might come up. If ye need anything, material, spiritual o' otherwise, come find me. I want ye to be able to feel a part o' Old Deadeye's own clan." The dwarf's eyes and voice were as soft as feathers and steady as stone.

Diplomacy check to console/offer support. The pouch has 15 gold pieces1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Liza accepts the pouch almost unbelieving at the sound of the jingling gold, certainly more wages than she has earned in her lifetime (or at least close to it). "I don't think...I could thank you enough. all I have heard is the greed of those who call themselves Pathfinders. I am glad you are one in spirit!"

Gared bowed, half trying to hide the tears that were welling up in his eyes, before
before waving goodbye apologetically and head out of the house to rejoin his companions. "Shall we be off then?" Sniffed Gared, rather gruffly.

"Aye, let's go, Gared," Horven answers. "That was a good thing you did. I'm proud to have you as a friend...nay, a brother. I haven't had one of those before."

As they all make their way back to the Heidmarch residence, Yamyra rests her hands on Gared & Horven's backs. "Sie haben ein gutes Herz, tun beide."

Gared's throat closed up, and he couldn't manage a response besides brief eye contact with an appreciative nod to both Horven and Yamyra before he had to look away.

Carmina raises an eyebrow at Gared's gruffiness and evading eye contact, but decides not to delve deeper onto the matter. After all, it's probably just an ancient Dwarvish late-evening-after-charity-ritual, or something like that.

At Carmina's perplexed expression, Yamyra attempts to explain, her voice halting as she expresses herself in the bastard tongue of the Abyss. "នេះគឺជាផ្នែកមួយនៃបញ្ហាដែលខ្ញុំបាននិយាយពីមុន។ អណ្តាតយើងនិយាយនេះមិនអាចន័យពីអ្វីដែលមនុស្សតឿនិងបុរសម្នាក់ពាក់កណ្តាលបានធ្វើ។ ជិតពាក្យមកគឺ 'សកម្មភាពចុះខ្សោយខ្លួនឯង, ធ្វើដូច្នេះយ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ'." Expression softening, she continues. "ខ្ញុំយល់ថាវាជាការលំបាកណាស់ក្នុងការគិតនៅក្នុងវិធីដែលមិនប្រើពាក្យទាំងនេះទេប៉ ុន្តែខ្ញុំបានឃើញអ្នកធ្វើដូច្នេះទេ។ ខ្ញុំនឹងនៅទីនេះ។."

Carmina listens to Yamyra, her expression sliding from perplexed to a slightly more serious one. Once the halfling has finished speaking, she continues in the same language, though her words come out in a more fluid and natural manner than her friend's.

"គឺថាដូច្នេះ? បានយ៉ាងល្អ ... ចូរយើងគ្រាន់តែសង្ឃឹមថាពួកគេមិនបានចុះខ្សោយដោយខ្លួនគេច្រើនពេក។ នេះខ្សោយអ្នកមានការលំបាកនិងគ្រោះថ្នាក់ជីវិតរបស់អ្នកកាន់តែច្រើនបានក្លាយទៅជា។"

Current Date: 11 Pharast (March) 4711 AR Evening.

Your trip to the Heidmarch Manor is uneventful and your arrival late in the evening draws a few eyebrows but little else. Apparently, the Pathfinder Lodges around Golarion are used to the odd hours kept by their Pathfinder agents.

After catching up on your rest in your soft warm beds, you awake the next morning refreshed. Consulting with each other about your finding, you decide to inform Sheila Heidmarch of what you have discovered. She accepts your report details stoically and as you get to the part about the secret passage from the Crow to Magnimar, her interest perks up.

"A fascinating discovery you have made! This may be the missing puzzle piece we are looking for! As youknow, people go missing in a big city like Magnimar all the time, but lately, they've been doing so more often. The majority of these folk who go missing do so from the waterfronts and under the Irespan — neighborhoods without a strong city watch presence. Despite the fact that the majority of missing people eventually turn up (although living as vagrants with no memories of their time spent away from Magnimar—if indeed they ever left), rumors are spreading that the city has no interest in solving the mystery and preventing future disappearances. Lord-Mayor Haldmeer Grobaras has approached us for help in solving this mystery. He has promised a sizeable reward if you discover finding out what's been happening to the missing people.."

Bolstered by the thought of further rewards, you tackle the rest of the day planning to embark on the final leg of your mission. Thoughts of departing immediately are put on hold as you receive a message from one of your companions, delivered by the resident scribe Andel.

The message is brief and cryptic, not unlike its author:

My dear companions,

My heart weighs upon me as I write these words. I pray our absense will not be a long one, yet I need to part for a brief time. There is a weight upon my soul which has been dragging me to a place where I have not been before. I need to discover what that means lest it grows to consume me, and yourselves as well.

I regret I am not able to join you on recovering the final Shard, but I believe in avoiding temptation, which recovering it would lead me to such.

Regards,

Ganer Jitesh.

With that unwelcome news weighing on your hearts, you realize the loss of his healing blessings puts your mission at risk. The search for a replacement was cut short fortunately by the arrival of Andel who is followed by an unassuming fellow, simple in appearance and quiet mannered. His hair is shaggy and shoulder length, and a ragged beard covers his chin and cheeks. On closer look, his weathered skin shows the mark of many years spent in the outdoor wilderness.

OK Carridan, you are on!

The departure of Ganer brought the memories of the courthouse and Ratcliff to the front of Horven's mind once more. Over the past few days, he had been able to put that behind him, but those recollections floated in his subconscious, awaiting a moment to strike again. The new arrival did little to calm Horven's thoughts.

Ganer's words were haunting as it brought to mind the conversation he had with Gared only a day or so ago. Could the tiefling have been listening? The halfling shakes his head as introductions are made. Horven then makes his way to Gared as soon as it becomes polite to do so.

"Gared? I need those parcels and money back...I need to take care of this once and for all," Horven whispers to the dwarf.

"Hello, uh, everyone. I hope I'm not intruding, but I bumped into an old friend of mine in the market today and he'd mentioned the Pathfinders had been tasked with looking into a spate of disappearances in the city? Sounded like terrible business and, well," he scratches his beard awkwardly as he sweeps his gaze across what, to him, seems like bit of a crowd, "I- I suppose I was wondering if I might help? I mean- I'd, I'd like to anyway. If I can." He scratches his beard again and his eyes suddenly light up in realization, "Oh! I didn't introduce myself did I? I'm Carridan. Carridan Horn."

"Nice to meet you, Mister...ah, Horn," Horven says. "I am Horven Graveltoes. This stout fellow is Gared Naught. The charming tiefling is Carmina Scarnetti. The statuesque lady is Fancy. Last, but not least, is Yamyra Anafa, our resident sage. Good to have you aboard. Hopefully you do not mind mucking about in sewers and other places of ill-repute that have nothing redeeming about them."

Horven falls into his cautious and proper manner of speech around Carridan. It would always be a force of habit.

Grr... I only managed to move the Campaign Journal up one Day! Okay, that is unacceptable. From now until I get the journal up-to-date, Yamyra is going to be rather distracted by things. She will be present & taking part, but obviously not as 'aware' of what is going on. Basically, I will just be posting actions rather than interactions. She/they will be there, but Yamyra's mind will obviously be elsewhere.

Expression a trifle bemused by the Venture Captain's repetition of what she had already told them when they all first went looking for Natalya Vancaskerkin, Yamyra contemplates how best to continue with the information they have. A contemplation interrupted by Ganer's revelation & the arrival of this new-comer.

"Ansel," she calls out sharply, "what do we have in the library regarding...
Derro?" She turns back to the others, as though confirming she had the name correct. "Also, would you please make certain these," she holds up her notes & sketches from your previous excursions below, "are kept somewhere I, the Venture Captain & Lord Heidmarch can readily find them?"
Befuddled, she looks up at Horven's comments & finally focuses on the new arrival. "Oh." Whispering aside to Ansel. "Hat er mit dem Venture Kapitän gesprochen?"
She also murmurs quietly to Horven. "Ik heb geld verdienen nog niet genoemd. Ik ben...
een beetje radeloos door Ganer is te verdwijnen."
Turning her attention once more to the new-comer, she smiles welcomingly, or at least attempts to. "Ahem, the space he's pointing to is usually occupied by Fancy, she's...
well, we aren't playing tricks on you, honestly. We're just a bit...
jumbled, at the moment."

"Welcome to the group, Carridan!" Carmina says and gives the newcomer a "gentle" pat on the back. "And don't worry about the sewer thing, they aren't that bad. We've been in far worse places, like... uh... Well, we actually haven't, but I'm sure that we will visit a far worse place sometime in the future. So don't worry at all!"

Horven looks at Yamyra for a moment, then looks for Fancy. "Oh...oh!"