The Seven Seasoned Pathfinders (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master caps

"I... see..." Ēoswulf slowly nods at the woman, his smile melting slightly. "How is the house lonely with so many children about?" He maintains eye contact with her.

Perception: 10 + 3 = 13

Heal, untrained: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Dunbar, with a front row seat to Auntie Baltwin as he receives his treatment, gives her all of his senses.
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Heal (untrained): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

To all of your trained eyes, Auntie Baltwin is definitely interested in your Brawny Friend.

What interests you all is this;
broken blood vessels in the eyes and nose,
shaky hands,
glassy eyes,
and a fine sheen of sweat on the woman

all indicate that the woman in front of you is an Alcoholic.

She invites you all into th sitting room, where you espy a nearly empty
bottle of whiskey.

"Say, Mistress Baltwin, how about a drink?"

"Oy! I'm with you Eoswulf! Nothing kills an infection like a little nip of mountain dew!"

"A Drink? Certainty." she brings you all to the kitchen where a a half bottle of whiskey sis in the kitchen. She brings you all tea though she splashes a few drops into her cup before doing the same for Dunbar, Ēoswulf and anybody else who requests the same.

"It's being tiring yet rewarding to be of help to these children. Have their thanks as well for bringing the much needed medical supplies."

"Children are a lot of work. What is the most rewarding part of rearing them?"

Dunbar will politely thank the lady, yet ever cautious, will wait until she drinks and he has the chance to observer her for a while before he takes a swig... letting Esowulf lead the questioning,

"You seem to have a lot of able bodied children here... would you be open to loaning me a few for a few days? I have some experi... er.. work to have done around the home. I could compensate you..."

"Ahhhh....The children are a reward in their own right." Auntie Baltwin says as she drains her cup in one swallow.

"What sort of work would you be looking at?" in a quick response to Geo.

Ēoswulf sips at the spiked tea. "You like it strong, just my style. I used to be able to put down quite a few mugs when returning to the lodge after a long hunt." Ēoswulf smiles and looks lost in memory. "Do you find it hard to get by without it?"

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Aunti Baltwin grins at Ēoswulf as she purs herself and him another helping of the tea, showcasing yellowed teeth.

"It's being hard but we do make by with donations from the Sliver Crusade."

As Auntie Baltwin speaks more with Ēoswulf. Maximos goes to find some kids to talk with, hoping that this time he doesn't scare them or likely bore them. Meanwhile Geo snoops around the house while Auntie Baltwin is elsewise preoccupied.

Geo's Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
What he finds is pretty interesting as he notes down his discoveries.
A Series of stashed curatives from three different charities. He notes them all down and makes sure to do it out of sight from Baltwin.

Maximos's Diplomacy 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14
Maximos's Diplomacy 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4
All he manages to gather is that the children love her cooking and she tells fun stories at bedtime.

After his one cup of Hard Tea, Dunbar will excuse himself and allow Geo and Eoswulf to continue their lines of questioning. With his cheerfulness dialed up from the 'tea' he joins Max and aids in the perception of the children.
Aid another - Max Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

"Thank you for your hospitality, dearie. We best be on our way."

Ēoswulf leans forward in his chair, "Milkin' the Crusade for booze money. That's right sneaky of you, Mistress Baltwin."

Hinkle was about to take a sip of tea before Eoswulf's accusation and nearly spits it across the room. Ha ha ha, I don't think Auntie Baltwin get's your ulfen sense of humor. No no he didn't mean nothing by it, we are just here to drop off the medicine that was promised and see if there was anything else you needed." Hinkle tries his best to play it off as a joke with his best trusting smile.

Bluff: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

If a table is hiding their feet Hinkle will give Eoswulf a soft warning kick.

"Wha-?" Auntie Baltwin appears hurt at the accusation.
"Why I-" she sputters but then as Hinkle speaks up, she calms down.

"I see....No the humor is appreciated though if you have had to take care of this many children by yourself, you'd understand why you need some fortification....." she trails off............and then continues.

"The supplies are much appreciated and if there's anything else I'd need, I'll be sure to inform the Silver Crusade."

AB SM 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

To recap,
- She has multiple packets of supplies from multiple agencies
- She is abusing alcohol, but apparently not the children (at least not physically)
- She is possibly "renting out" the children as laborers during the day
We may have enough to return to the temple of the Shining Star and make our report. Is there anything else?

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Ēoswulf asked if she found it hard to get by without alcohol and she said it's hard but the Silver Crusade helps her get by.

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You pretty much have the recap done with what your characters have gleaned. Whether you want to report with what you have and give your own conclusion is up to you. Don't want to stay too long in here either. For purpose of mission, what you did is enough.

Ēoswulf stands up. "It was a pleasure to meet you Mistress Baltwin. I believe we'll be going now."

"Thanks, m'Lady for the healin'. Good thing ye had what I be needin'. Till the next time, ta."
G'Boar palms her 2 silvers for her troubles, knowing that his companion's report to the Silver Crusade will likely cut into her tithings.

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Auntie Baltwin eagarly palms the coins and sees you out.

Heading back to the Temple of the Shining Star, the Ascendant Court’s massive temple to Sarenrae, to meet with Ollysta Zadrian finds her waiting in the courtyard instructing some of the more martial bent acoytes.............

"That woman has taught those poor children NO mathematics!", exclaims Maximos, oblivious to most of the other "issues".

HA! Maximos Humorous!

"Well, I am not too sure what you consider a deal breaker, but your suspicions are well founded. She seems to be a drunk, and possibly hiring out the children, but she does also seem to be providing some care and assistance. She is taking funds from multiple charities as well, however." Geo continues to describe their findings, unless others jump in as well.

Hinkle chuckles at Maximos comment on math class. As Geoclunicus shares their findings the gnome pulls out the list to see what is next.

After Lady Ollysta dismisses them he says, "looks like we are headed to the home of an Osirian nobleman next."

"I'm afraid that 'drunk' is putting it lightly. She is a raging alcoholic. The children like her food, but were too scared of us to say much more, unfortunately."

Ollysta receives your report with a grave expression and though she doesn't break her demeanour, she does reward you each with 63gp before she dismisses you.
"It seems that you'll make fine pathfinders indeed though perhaps that fortune did not favor you this day nevertheless what you have discovered gives me more room to investigate this further. Go with my thanks and Sarenae's Blessings."

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As Hinkle checks his list, as he rightly points out the next destination, visiting an Osirian nobleman named Dremdhet Salhar in the Wise Quarter.

Making your way down to the rich estate of Grand Councilmember Dremdhet Salhar, the party is greeted by a guard who seems to be expecting someone or some people as they reach the tall, wrought-iron gate.

"State your reason for your presence here."

"We are new Pathfinders sent to meet with Dremdhet Salhar." Ēoswulf says gravely.

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Ollysta receives your report with a grave demeanor "It seems that you'll make fine pathfinders indeed though perhaps that fortune did not favor you this day nevertheless what you have discovered gives me more room to investigate this further. Go with my thanks and Sarenae's Blessings."

I feel that we did something wrong based on this post... I guess we missed something?

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I wondered about that too...

Should have tortu... interrogated those kids ...

Nah no worries. You guys did what you need to do. Just a slight indication that you didn't uncover everything but am Rping it out.

The guard pulls on a hidden bell and a few minutes later, a servant arrives to usher you in.
Once inside he bades you to wait as he explains.
"My Master is currently away on an important council business however he has left instructions for any matters to be handled by his most trusted of advisors, Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage. Please this way." as he finishes beckoning you down well decorated hallways, past expansive rooms.

After a few minutes, the group arrives at a simple study near the end of a long hallway. Inside Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, a tan-skinned old man sits behind a desk flipping through pages in a large tome. Scraps of paper jut from the book marking over two dozen different places. As the group approaches the open door, the wise sage silently gestures the PCs into the study with one thin hand, while closing the tome with the other after finishing what he was reading.

“Good day to you, Pathfinders. I am Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, advisor to Master Salhar. I understand you were sent here to discuss archaeological permissions. Knowing this was coming, I spoke with Master Salhar at length on the subject and have this to say.

Since Osirion was reopened to exploration a decade ago, adventurers, historians, and treasure-seekers flock to my country by the hundreds, perhaps thousands. While most families with ancestral burial vaults maintain guards and keep their sites out of the hands of casual thieves, not all families have the wealth or power to restrict everyone, and as we all know, not every defense is perfectly secure. Unscrupulous tomb robbers and maligned merchant organizations cause Osirion to bleed relics into the Inner Sea—something the descendents of Ancient Osirion cannot afford. We Osiriani have thousands of years of rich history coursing through our veins, and while that power has been out of focus in recent years, we are content to wait, knowing our enemies will wear themselves down. As they fall into arrogance, folly, or greed, we wait for our return to power, knowing we bear the riches of our ancestors at our feet.

Master Salhar remains impressed by the Pathfinder Society, orating in their favor a handful of times in front of Absalom’s Grand Council, in fact. Due to previous relationships between him and the Society, Master Salhar has agreed to grant permission to the Pathfinder Society to explore his family’s vaults below Sothis. The only thing he requires is that you retrieve the map of the vaults from his own vault here. The servant will lead you to the basement and show you the room.”

The Sapphire Sage’s eyes twinkle as he smirks knowingly, then he turns back to reading his book as though he had never been disturbed.

"And, is there some beasty or trap that we must best to retrieve said map?"

Ēoswulf slowly nods. "Retrieve it from. The vault... I see..." it's clear to observant viewers that he doesn't "see" at all.

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It is clear that you have being dismissed and the servant awaits passively to bring you to the vaults.

"Ahh, under the blanket of the Great Mother... Beneath the ground suits me well! Let's be off!"

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Ēoswulf turns and follows the Dwarf in being lead by the servant, a puzzled expression still on his face.

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Hinkle will follow the servant down to the vault. "Looks like they have a bit of a puzzle set up for us, could be fun."

After leaving Amenopheus’ study, the servant brings the group back through the spacious estate, leading them down sturdy stone steps into the cool basement. Down a hallway, after a couple turns, the party ends up at a plain wooden door. The servant opens the door, gesturing to the room with a bow, and waits silently for you to enter. He speaks not a word but waits impassively.

If asked, his reply is
"I know not what lies beyond this room but if you are indeed resourceful, you will find a way. Knock when done. And oh! You have half an hour to do so."

Perception, aid another: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Ēoswulf helps the others look over the chests. "I guess we need to open them?"

"I recommend that we look before we touch, I assume traps are at play and our wits must be sharp!"
Dunbar will spend 5 rounds looking, listening and smelling (not touching or tasting!) the objects in the room.
perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

As Dunbar examines the items, he doesn't notice anything much except that the wicker basket seems to have some sort of hissing coming from it.

There is also a jeweled key at the bottom of the jar.

All the chests seem to require a key of some sort.

"Oi, some'ins hissing' inside tha basket! An some'in seems too easy for one of ta keys to be glass jar half fill of a harmless substance, now done it?!!" Dunbar says in an oddly more dwarvish tone than previously... Maybe being below ground has somehow subconsciously effected his speech.

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Maximos detects magic on the items in the room.

"Perhaps we can smash the jar on the hissing."

Maximos finds that the red lacquered chest radiates a weak aura of magic.

Dunbar cautions Max, "Wait my friend... we should know wha' is in te jar, as well as wha' is inside tha' basket ba'fore we go a splishy-splashin' it abou' te chamber! Firs' te jar..."
With that, the fighter produces a piece of dried meat ration from his pocket and carefully dips one particularly meaty end into the liquid to see what happens.

Next he will suggest someone with a spear, longsword, or at a minimum an arrow (something with some reach) and try to lift the covering off of the basket to reveal its hissing contents.

Ēoswulf uses the tip of his blade to lift the lid, as the Dwarf suggests.

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Ēoswulf's action cause a writhing, angry green viper resting at the bottom
of the basket to strike out but when it bites into cold steel, it quickly loses interest and slithers off.

Hidden among the wadded cloth in the basket is a rune-etched key.