5-04: The Stolen Heir (CORE) (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

"We went through the trouble of finding her. Wouldn't hurt to keep her close for a moment or two, ask more questions if need be." Chugat suggests.

"Besides, I hate the thought of more men eyeing her about. Whoever schemed this knew what they'd be involved with and must of expected some sort of interference. Wouldn't be surprising if there were more others than this Bertram."

Thalia puts away the book and stands up to have a look at the letter. "That's interesting. I know this writing. This is the hand writing of Koriana Verdothia. My father corresponds with her often. And guess what? She runs a shop in Sauerton, it's called Koriana's Exotic Tonics and Remedies."

Thalia looks a bit puzzled.

"I'll not go back to my father. I want to know who's behind all this. I won't go back until all this is solved." Thalia says.

”Then we shall enjoy the pleasure of your company while we solve this mystery. Having someone with a mind as sharp as yours will certainly be an asset; and someone with as much grace, dignity and dare I say beauty as you possess will certainly help to open doors that may otherwise be closed to us.”

Making the fair maiden blush: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

”While I would prefer for you to stay out of harm’s way should a skirmish ensue; I would be remiss if I did not offer you something to protect yourself with should the need arise.” Tal bows down low while offering Thalia his dagger. It’s almost as if he expects her to knight him.

Agon is insanely jealous of Tal's charm.

"Then let us visit your friend. Why would she write such a note?"

"A riddle, wrapped in a mystery," Dolgarth muses. "Only one way to figure it out; to Koriana's we go!"

Ironshanks nods with Dolgarth and Thalia "Best we visit this shop then. Maybe get you a hat and cloak or something Thalia? Besides the rain and wind we don't want anyone recognizing you out and about."

He looks over Enderios for a moment for a cloak and maybe a hat "How 'bout your cloak Enderios? And untie that damned rope, she ain't a goat." He then takes a look around the basement for anything that could provide a bit of a disguise to the woman. Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Argenta nudges Tal in the ribs, Hasn't the girl gone through enough already without you flirting with her she hisses.

Stepping up to Thalia she says, Yes, we will do all we can to try and find out what is happening here but Ironshanks is right, we should try and disguise your appearance. She sticks her tongue out and tilts her head to one side. Perhaps if we pile your hair up and maybe change the style of your clothes a bit?

Disguise if helpful: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

"Oh no, don't think about that! I won't five my last shirt to a rich girl! The clothes on my body is all I have left! And my expenses I had so far are not covered, since I don't get paid for this job." Enderios says angrily. "If she were a goat, I would have tied the rope around her neck." he whispers to himself.

While you adjust the clothes of Thalia a bit Enderios picks up his stuff and moves out of the building.

Ironshanks looks around, but he does not see anything useful to disguise the women. Instead he notices that part of the cellar’s north wall looks a bit different. The packed earth used to plug the wall does not quite match the surrounding stratigraphy. Hidden in this part of the wall is a lockbox.

"Anyone good with lockpicks?" Agon inquires. "If not, let's move on."

Ironshank's eyes glitter and a smile curls his mustache as he pulls out the box from the wall "Looky here!" He says, not much more than a whisper. You're not really sure if he was announcing it to the group or mostly to himself.

He looks around the group as Agon mentions lock picks hopefully, but if not, he starts to pull a crow bar out of his pack to try getting the work done himself.

The lockbox contains several silver and gold bars stamped with the insignia of a Chelish noble house. In addition, there are three carefully folded pieces of parchment: two scorlls and a brittle contract promising aid from House Morilla of Taldor to the Sauer family in return for future favors.

Spellcraft Scroll 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Spellcraft Scroll 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"There's magic in these scrolls! Let's see here." Tal furrows his brow as he looks at each in turn. "A scroll of blood biography and a scroll of seek thoughts!"

K: History: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

”If I’m not mistaken, this contract may still be valid. I’m a bit of a history buff, you know. I have no recollection of the Morilla family ever receiving such aid.”

Argenta peers over Tal's shoulder as he examines the scrolls. Oooh, they sound unusual, I have never heard of either of those spells!

"Well you know how wizards are. Always ready to expand, but never ready to share." Agon takes a look. "And a long lasting contract. Lovely."

He sheathes his weapons and shield. "Let's go visit your friend, Thalia."

You take the valuable things and the contract and head back to town.

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 "longforgotten delights from all across the Inner Sea".

You cross paths with an elderly farmer leading a cow into town. Suddenly a small pack of rabid dogs emerge from the fields to attack the farmer.

If you don't want to protect the elder man, please tell me ;)

Round 1
Argenta
Chugat
Talhaearn
-----
Dog blue
Dog yellow
-----
Agon
Ironshanks
Dolgarth
-----
Dog red
Dog green

currently setting up the map

Agon enjoys the country stroll. Sometimes it's good to be out of the city. Unless he's at a brothel, but that was mostly it. It's also nice to not be chased by the law, thanks to the Pathfinder Society. He owed them greatly.

Agon nods at the farmer and his cow. Their days must be quite simple but content. See mother? Some people are content with unsolved arcane mysteries!

As the dogs leap from their hiding place, Agon instinctively reaches for his longsword- damn, it's stuck in the sheath!

"By the gods...that man needs our help!" Tal moves toward the fray and grabs his bow.

Argenta steps forward and draws a scroll from her pack.

Don't go running off too far Ironshanks, I plan to make you a hell of a lot bigger to deal with these critters.

She scans the page and begins to murmur the words scribed there. A dim light starts to glow as the incantation quickens.

Argenta 5' steps forward and draws a scroll as a move action, she is casting enlarge person which has a 1 round cast. She uses her standard action this turn and next turn to complete it.

"Make me bigger? You don't think I'm big 'nuff to handle a bunch of mangy dogs? I'll have you know back in my day we'd punch a stray dog in the teeth with our bare hands if they tried stealin' our lunch!" Ironshanks makes a show of bluster but he doesn't move away.

"The hell did they come from!?" Taken back, Chugat rushes with Talhaern to aid the elder.

"Best chant that quick!" he hollars back at Argenta.

Full-round Action: Run

Argenta begins to cast a spell to enlarge Ironshanks who patiently waits for the effect to happen. Talhaearn and Chugat rush forward to save the farmer.

The dogs continue to attack the farmer.

Round 1
Argenta
Chugat
Talhaearn
-----
Dog blue
Dog yellow
-----
Agon
Ironshanks (waiting to be enlarged)
Dolgarth
-----
Dog red
Dog green

Agon readies his shield and double moves up to the dogs.

AC is 17.

Ironshanks readies his shield and slowly starts moving towards the dogs as he draws his axe, eyes on Argenta so he doesn't move too far away. "Just nod er holler if I'm too fast!" He says with all seriousness.

Ready shield, draw axe, move 20'. That should still keep me in range.

Dolgarth draws his sword and shield, trundling slowly forward.

Double move.

Agon, Ironshanks and Dolgarth move forward towards the angry dogs and the farmer.

The dogs continue to bite the man.

Round 2
Argenta
Chugat
Talhaearn
-----
Dog blue
Dog yellow
-----
Agon
Ironshanks (waiting to be enlarged)
Dolgarth
-----
Dog red
Dog green

Tal fires an arrow a the closest dog.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18, Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Argenta completes her incantation and the words on the page burst into flame. Directing the unleashes magic at Magee she see's the stocky dwarf grow to prodigious size. As she drops the flaming scroll flapping her fingers to cool them she rushes forward, longspear at the ready, shouting at the dogs to try and distract them.

Standard action to complete activating the scroll, move action to move 30' while drawing a longspear

"Woah! Is this permanent? Lemme at them mongrels, outta my way people!" Ironshanks' axe just got a lot bigger.

Chugat whips out his bow and arrow, firing at the rabid dog harming the farmer.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 1 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Talhaearn's arrow hits the dog in the sided. Argenta finishes her spell and Ironshanks grows bigger. Chugat's arrow hits another dog in the neck and kills it.

The dog with yellow eyes which just got hit by Talhaearn's arrow turns around and dashes forward to bite the Bard.
yellow vs. Talhaearn: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Aoo for Agon against the injured dog

Round 2
Argenta
Chugat
Talhaearn
-----
Dog yellow -4HP
-----
Agon + Aoo
Ironshanks
Dolgarth
-----
Dog red
Dog green

Agon quickly takes advantage of the dog as it rushes past him...

Shield Bash: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
But he is too slow to act and the dog runs past him.

Readying his shield again, he draws his sword and charges the rabid dog with the Green collar.
Masterwork longsword, charge : 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Agon's AC is 15 due to charging.

"Down, boy."

Oversized Ironshanks takes a small, lumbering step forward to clear himself of Tal and then takes a downward cut at the small yapping mongrel. "Keep still Tal, I ain't be used to this yet..." As a giant axe slices down into the dog.

Large Waraxe vs Yellow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 202d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7

"What the deuce?" Tal exclaims as the plus-sized dwarf pulverizes the dog attacking him. "I daresay Master Ironshanks...you're the second biggest Dwarf I've ever seen!'

Dolgarth does not waste time looking, but assumes Ironshanks has turned his foe to paste, having experienced this transformation before. Instead he continues his slow trek towards the other dogs.

Double move.

Agon misses the dog rushing past him, but he lands a solid hit at another one. The dog drops to the ground and stops moving. With the bigger axe Ironshanks smashes the injured dog's head. While Dolgarth moves closer to the remaining dog, the animal suddenly turns around and tries to sink it's sharp teeth into Agon's leg.
Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
For save, please :)

Round 3
Argenta
Chugat
Talhaearn
Agon
Ironshanks
Dolgarth
-----
Dog red

"Damned yappy dogs, isn't there a leash law around here?" Ironshanks lifts his axe and comically steps his way towards the last dog, watching as it bites Agon in the shin.

"Careful up there, this little yippers have gone crazy!" He says as he steps over the top of Chugat, his long beard dragging over the top of the man's head.

Double Move

Naturally I'd get hit during that charge.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Agon grunts as the dog's teeth digs into his shin.

Masterwork longsword : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Agon focuses on keeping his shield ready, and so his blade misses the remaining dog. He shifts a bit to the side. "Ah, Ironshanks. I'm just distracting him for a bit- if you want to finish this, be my guest!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

"I doubt I'll be the one to finish this either, but I just ran all the way over," Dolgarth grins as he notices a massive shadow loom behind him. He takes a quick stab at the remaining dog. "Let it not be said I didn't contribute!"

Masterwork Rapier vs. Red: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Agon resists disease and swings his longsword once more while Ironshanks moves towards the remaining dog. Dolgarth finally kills the remaining dog with his rapier.

combat over

"Thank you so much" the injured farmer sais. "That happens when politics is more important than safety of the people." and Thalia agrees.

A few seconds later a man steps out of Koriana's shop and tries to sell healing potions. The farmer declines.

"The shop gets more business when trouble’s nearby." the man says half-joking.

"He shouldn't have to pay," Dolgarth intones. Sheathing his sword and stowing his shield, the half-elf fishes a tankard from his belt, then raises it to the sky. A wave of light emanates from it and washes over his allies and the farmer.

Channel Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 4

"That should help, if not fully fix you up. Have a good day, now," he grins nicely at the farmer, more impishly to the other man.

Seeing the last dog go down with a sword point in its side, Ironshanks harrumphs a bit as the opportunity to swing his new giant axe subsides. "Well, that was fun while it lasted." He bellows, his voice even deeper than before.

He slides his axe back into its holding strap on his back then tosses the shield up there as well, before soon after shrinking back down to normal size. "That's it? Short term magic right there, but good none the less." He gives a 'thank you' nod at Argenta.

"Politics vs the people you say farmer? Shouldn't that Halfling and his merry men be taking out these stray dogs?" As the man steps from the shop Ironshanks gets a look of disgust "Waitin' fer us to do the heavy liftin man then swoopin in trying to make a few coins? PANSEY ASS KID! If I ever even thought about such a thing my Pop would have put his ironboot so far up my ass I'd be talkin' high n Elvish fer a year!" He takes a few steps towards the shop with an angry scowl on his face.

"Oh, pardon me Dolgrath. Feel free to share the wealth." Agon sheathes his shield and sword, then lends a hand to the man. "Charity triumphs profit, I say."

"Politics are never my strong suit, I like saving lives more." He nods to the farmer. "Have a good day, sir."

"Shopkeep, my new friend. Thank you for your attempt at assistance in this most unfortunate matter. I normally enjoy the company of dogs but when they go mad...oh but the hurt they can cause. Poor souls, though. May they find peace running free in the fields of where ever their heaven may be!"

Tal realizes his salutation has run a bit long and gets to the point. As best as he can, anyway. "My good sir, my companions and I have come to call upon Koriana. Might she be available to speak with us this fine day?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

"Sure, follow me. She's working in her laboratory." the shopkeeper says and enters the store. He knocks on the lab door and a middle-aged halfelf woman with platinum blonde hair, gray-green apothecary’s robes, and huge goggles opens.

"Welcome! What remedy or tonic they are you looking for?" Koriana asks.

Diplomacy : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

”Well met Koriana. The remedy we seek is for a mystery...although I doubt you have a tonic for such a thing!” Tal appears to wait for either laughter or applause before continuing. ”We have rescued Ms. Thalia Andares from her captors; and the evidence of the plot against her has led us to your shop.”

Well s&+& son, didn't expect you to just blurt it out.. but ok.

Ironshanks steps up next to Talhaearn and as reasonably close to the shopkeeper as possible without being overtly menacing. "Guess we'd like to hear how that connection came about if ya don't mind."

Apologies for my absence, life has been hectic but you all seem to have it well in hand :)

Argenta slips into the shop behind the others and looks around. I wonder if this woman really does have something to do with this, but if so why?

While the group talk to her Argenta browses around the storefront, for all the world looking like an idle shopper. She lifts up the odd item, turning them over in her hand and sighing occasionally.

Turning to the man she asks, Really, I am looking for something special for a dear friend of mine. I don't suppose you have anything to mend a broken heart?

Perception check to look for anything suspicious in the shop while the group quiz the woman

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Bluff check to try and conceal that she is actually poking around for anything suspicious

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"I’d rather not see this turn to uncivilized violence. Although you may think I enjoy profiting from healing injuries inflicted in this neighborhood, I consider it unprofessional for customers to get those injuries inside my own shop. Let’s talk." Koriana answers.

"We all have our goals. The elder Andares did not hire you to investigate, so what is the Pathfinder Society hoping to acquire here?" she asks.

Argenta has a look around, but does not spot anything suspicious.

"Of course we have." the man answers and picks a glass vial contining some red liquid from the shelf and opens it. "We use only the best ingredients." he says and smells at the bottle. "Mhm, strawberry and orange."