The Moar Core Tour (Inactive)

Game Master BretI

Kleines watches the newly-awakened Galtan high-tail it after his friends, then turns and pushes the door the rest of the way open, stepping into the structure.

Inside!

"Well, I suppose we should find out."

Inside.

And yes, Nico has mage armor.

The charred husk of a structure the group now enters was probably once beautiful. Stone bas-reliefs depicting Aroden and Chelish military victories line the high reaches of the walls, though what little remains of a second floor is now sealed off by the collapsed roof. Despite the rest of the house's decrepit state, the floor is swept clean yet water-stained, and a stack of bedrolls and knapsacks are piled just beside the stairs.

A young woman in a fashionable sky-blue dress sits quietly on some rubble, hands tied in front of her. The rope tying her hands is held by a tall, olive-skinned young man in a long red coat, who stands across the room with sword drawn (but lowered). His eyes narrow as the group enters, and he grips the sword-hilt a bit more tightly.

"Who are you, and vy have you attacked us?" he demands in a thick Galtan accent.

Perception: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14
Perception: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (14) - 2 = 12

"We have come in search of the missing girl. Your men attacked us; we defended ourselves, true, but we also healed the man who was injured in the fight and allowed all of them to leave. We have no desire for further unnecessary violence, we wish only to speak to you."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

To show his peaceful intentions, Kleines stows his glaive.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Damiar lowers her bow and raises an eloquent eyebrow.
Diplomacy, aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

“Every word Kleines has said is true... By the way, shall we parley like civilized people? I’m Damiar, do you have a name that we may call you? Since you have treated Thalia well, I see no reason to mistreat you.”

She gracefully sits down, and pulls some apples out of her pack. ”Would you both like one? They’re good with cheese.”

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Seeing others lower their weapons, Iovo puts her sap away. Not like this fellow would consider me a threat anyways...

“Should be an interesting discussion for both sides!”

Aid Another, Diplo: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Garif does a quick scan of the room as he enters with him companions. His eye is caught by the cunningly carved stone, and as he considers how close to ground level the carvings extend, he notices something else, Hmm, that oaken door under the stairs, it's a bit charred. I wonder what happened here?

Turning his attention at last to the people in the room, Garif considers the kidnapped girl a moment. Well, Thalia looks to be in good spirits. And she seems quite well - nothing to suggest that she's been mistreated at all during her captivity.

He looks to the Galtan, and weighs in to support Kleines, "It's as my friend says. Thalia's family was worried about her, we came to find her, and your men attacked us as we arrived here. You can't really put that on us, and we did let them go - even after one of them nearly killed Nico."

Diplomacy, Aid Kleines: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

Semi-ninja'd due to connectivity issues, leaving the post as is and going to bed...

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"There seems to be misunderstanding going around. Please, could you just explain what's going on? Miss, are you all right?"

Diplomacy, to aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

The young man's eyes remain narrowed, but he nods and lowers his sword again, seeming somewhat impressed by the group's arguments. "Very well," he begins, glancing around as if half-expecting a ruse. "My name is Enderios. I am detaining zis fugitive from ze Red Revolución, as I have been instructed by my... employer. He vil remain... not involved in zis matter."

Thalia smiles at Phinellippa. "I'm fine... it's all just a misunderstanding. I'm glad you've come, though — maybe you can convince Enderios that I am who I say!"

Looking at Enderious, Iovo asks “Doesn’t anyone in Galt ask questions before taking a job?”

Shaking her head in dismay, she then says “This is Thalia Andares, heir to the Sauerton Red wine fortune and daughter of Consul Tercel Andares. The Andares family has lived in Andoran since before their revolution.”

“We were told she vanished during the Silverglazer Sunday celebration. Her father claims that there were kidnapping demands."

Glaring at Enderious, she asks “Did you and your men kidnap her during the festival? Are you the ones who left the kidnapping note?”

Enderios frowns, as if trying to parse the elf's speech. "No. Ve left no note — vy vud ve? Ve did take her from her false home; ve have... or perhaps had... very strong reason to believe zat zis woman iz truly from Galt."

The young man reaches up and rubs his chin thoughtfully. "You have dealt honorably viz my men; vill you give me your true word of honor zat zis woman is not ze one I seek?"

Garif lays his hand on an ornate carving on the wall and says, "My hand on stone, I give my word she is just the person my friend says she is - Thalia Andares. Her family has asked us to return her to them."

Still puzzled, he asks, "Who told you she was a Galtan fugitive?" And turning to his companions, he adds, "And who sent the note saying she was kidnapped?"

The tanned young man stares at the dwarf for a few seconds, as if burning the rugged face into his memory. Finally he nods. "Very vell," he relents, pausing for another moment before coming to some inner decision and continuing. "Ze man who hired me... he looked Taldan... brown hair, fair skin, you know ze type. Said his name vaz Joornar Tanel. He gave to me written instructions, but to vat note do you refer? I sent no note to say zat she vas taken; vy vud I?"

“Her father told us he was instructed by the kidnappers not to try and find them or they would kill her. He was most insistent that we not interfere.” She doesn’t seem at all bothered that she ignored those instructions.

“Anything else you remember about this man? Was he taller or shorter than you? Rotund? Well dressed like a fop, or more workman’s clothing?”

The man frowns, shaking his head at Iovo's words. "I know nothing of zis threats," he replies. As the elf continues, Enderios reaches up to stroke his chin thoughtfully. "It is... a bit blurred, ze memory of zis man. Perhaps a bit taller, thin, I think. Ze clothing, it is not something I would notice."

"You say he gave you written instructions. Do you still have them?"

Nico curls up on the floor of the hallway, taking advantage of the fact that the Pathfinders are struggling to find a path forward at the moment. Garif scratches his bald head with thick fingers, trying to match the description the Galtan provides with anyone they've met.

DM - looking back through the thread, it doesn't appear we've met anyone matching the description given, is that correct? We met two Taldans, I believe: Tercio (who has black hair) and Sander (who wasn't described). Just want to confirm that.

Correct, this description doesn't match anyone you've met or heard of.

The man nods once at Kleines, glancing down at his sword-arm for a moment before sheathing the weapon and reaching into a knapsack at his feet. After a few seconds he produces a folded piece of parchment and hands it over to Kleines.

Stains in various colors dot the surface of the parchment, which contains instructions on how to slip into the Andares house unnoticed during the festivities, as well as where to hide Thalia "until further notice". The handwriting is a scrawled mess, as if the writer was in quite a hurry — it's worse than the worst acolyte's at the temple.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Verrix turns to Thalia. "Ma'am," he says with a small bow. "I am Verrix. Does your memory of events match what Enderios is telling us?"

To Enderios, he says, as a statement, not a question, "I am going to untie Thalia now. We will deal with you fairly, but under no circumstances will she remain a captive."

Verrix unties Thalia.

perception: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (15) - 2 = 13

Kleines spends a moment pondering over the scrawled parchment, then shrugs and offers it to his allies to examine if they wish.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Iovo barely glances at the paper before passing it on. Looks like a child scrawled it. We can take a closer look later.

You can make Craft checks untrained. If you already rolled and didn't remember that, feel free to change the skill you're using (you still only get one die roll, of course).

Garif glances casually at the paper, then pauses and looks at it again. ”Those are not ink stains,“ he observes, ”those marks were left by alchemical reagents, not something a common person would have on hand.“

Can make the Perception DC by taking 10.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

”Yes, Thalia, can you explain what’s happening? I am still perplexed.”

CoCo lands on Phinellippa’s shoulder, now that the tension is somewhat broken.

You can make Craft checks untrained. If you already rolled and didn't remember that, feel free to change the skill you're using (you still only get one die roll, of course).

That makes my craft check 15 - 2 = 13

"Where did you meet this person? Did they have an alchemical smell about them?"

These stains are odd, not the usual coffee or beer that stain my notes.

Thalia shrugs her shoulders at the gnome's question. "I haven't the faintest idea!" she replies. "Enderios and his men showed up, captured me, and said things about taking me 'back to Galt' to 'answer for my crimes'. And we've just been sitting here ever since."

The young man grimaces slightly, but shakes his head at Kleines' question. "Ve met in ze... Sauer-town, outside a tavern. Ze place meant nothing to me — I do not know zis town. Zer ver many smells in ze place, but I do not know if any of zem ver from ze person."

"Seems we need to talk to the local alchemist. Find out what they know."

Looking to Thalia, Iovo asks "Where would you feel safest? I'm not sure returning to your home is a good idea right now when we don't know who is responsible for this."

With a gesture towards the note, she points out "To give detailed instructions like that, they had to be familiar with both your home and your planned activities."

Thalia nods at Iovo's conclusion. "I agree... I probably shouldn't go directly home, at least not alone. If you're going to continue to look into this, I wouldn't mind coming along; after all, it's me these people captured for some unknown purpose, and I'd like to find out who and why. And I'd probably be safest with you, too; you've shown that you all know your way around weapons and combat."

With a shrug, Iovo says “I guess we go talk with the local Alchemist.”

She offers her hand to Enderios. “Thank you for being reasonable. Good luck!” ...and perhaps you will ask a few more questions of your employers in the future.

Turning, she then starts towards the egress.

"We'd love to have you accompany us, Thalia. And you can tell me all about your regional colloquialisms!" the gnome says, with a particular gleam in her eye that the party recognizes well.

The group heads back toward town, with the newly-freed Thalia in tow. The young woman walks beside Phinellippa, patiently enduring the gnome's questioning as she tries to satisfy that 'satiable curtiosity. "No, no, no, you have it backwards. When the common people say 'the heffalump is singing', it's completely different from when the so-called 'nobles' say it. It's almost the opposite meaning."

Diplomacy or Knowledge (Local)?.

What in the world is a 'heffalump'?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Kleines recalls Captain Demrick gesturing toward the edge of town at one point during the group's "tour", and mentioning that you can just see the alchemist's combination house and shop from that spot.

"That very confused captain told us that the Alchemist's place was over there" gesturing "on the edge of town. Let us go have a look."

"Well, then, let's have a look!"

The gnome's entire right arm is covered in ink from writing down all of Thalia's explanations.

Done at the burnt-out villa?

My character is.

Yep

Indeed.

Alrighty. If anyone wants to retroactively do something else here, we can bend time.

The group heads slightly out of town to an area they recognize (thanks to Captain Demrick) as Deadeye's Cross. Broad country roads lead in four directions away from a crossroad. To the north, the road to the Sauer Vineyard cuts among golden fields and lush vineyards. To the south, the road into Sauerton is flanked by sparse and apparently abandoned houses. To the west, the road to the Andares manor winds through a grove of apple trees whose leaves have begun to yellow. To the east, fields stretch among rolling hills as far as the eye can see, with long autumn wheat lolling in the wind.

On the southeast corner, an empty shop sits boarded up with broken windows. On the southwest corner, a sign advertises Koriana’s Exotic Tonics and Remedies and boasts of "long-forgotten delights from all across the Inner Sea."

A farmer is leading a cow along the road into town. As the group approaches, a pack of wild dogs emerges from the fields and heads straight toward the old man. "Help!" cries he, trying unsuccessfully to urge his cow to a quicker plod.

You're about 40' away from the group.

Iovo draws her bow and positions herself between the wild dogs and Thalia.

She calls out to the man “Over here, we will help you!”

I wonder why there are all these abandoned houses here? How odd. Garif muses to himself before he's interrupted. Wild dogs in such a lovely place!

"Nico! Defend!" Garif cries out, pointing at the farmer. The dwarf then draws his sling and hurries to help out.

Nico will move between the farmer and the dogs and attack if a dog comes within reach. Garif draws his sling and moves 20' closer to the action.

Nico bounds forward, eagerly anticipating a fight with his oldest foe. Double-moved him; let me know if you'd like to do something different. Also moved Garif.

Damiar and Verrix are up, and so is the map.

Could Garif instead move somewhere that doesn't block my charge lane? I guess it doesn't matter that much if the dogs are moving before me.

Could Garif instead move somewhere that doesn't block my charge lane?

Fixed.

Damiar moves in front of Garif and shoots one of the wild dogs. “Shooo!”

Longbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

I think Damiar’s hit and damage should be one higher for Point Blank Shot

Thanks for catching that.