Gaeldrung moves toward the tiny ships and takes a swing at one but is unable to connect. Kegdrainer moves into the room.
The tiny ships fly back five more feet and send a barrage of ballista fire at Carax.
--
ROUND 3: THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Ships
Encara
Geirahöð
Richelle
Gaeldrung
Kegdrainer
Carax
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Notes: #BLESSED
If you have a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, you may draw a weapon as a free action combined with a regular move.
Encara heals Richelle, who promptly stands up and arms herself with her bow. Carax advances on the battered ship-in-a-bottle and attacks twice, missing with his sword but connecting with his shield, destroying the flying object.
--ROUND 3: THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Ships
Encara
Geirahöð
Richelle
Gaeldrung
Kegdrainer
Carax
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Notes: #BLESSED
Gaeldrung strikes the other ship with his greataxe, connecting but it doesn’t seem fully effective. Geirahöð tries to throw a blanket over the ship but misses and the blanket flops to the floor. Altavan gives the ship the Evil Eye but it does not appear to be phased.
The tiny ship flies across the room, ramming into Altavan, then continues flying a bit further.
--
ROUND 4: THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Ship
Encara
Geirahöð
Richelle
Gaeldrung
Kegdrainer
Carax
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Notes: #BLESSED
Encara draws a wand and uses it to cure Kegrainer’s wounds lightly. Gaeldrung takes a swing at the flying tiny ship and connects, doing a bit more damage. He then hustles after it. Richelle aims her bow and lets an arrow fly but misses. Geirahöð advances on the ship, shield in two hands, ready to bash, but can’t get close enough to strike .
--
ROUND 4: THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Ship
Encara
Geirahöð
Richelle
Gaeldrung
Kegdrainer
Carax
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Notes: #BLESSED
Carax closes on the tiny ship . Kegdrainer misses the ship as it flies by but gets a good whack at it afterward.
The ship in turn flies 5 feet back and unloads on Kegdrainer.
ROUND 5: THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Ship
Encara
Geirahöð
Richelle
Gaeldrung
Kegdrainer
Carax
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Notes: #BLESSED
Richelle’s perfectly-aimed arrow causes the remaining tiny ship to shatter and fall to the ground. And with that, all’s quiet again in the shop (except maybe muffled cries from the bound guard in the other room).
After looking around the back room You discover a removable wall panel behind a painting that depicts two Taldan ships at anchor as a landing party of armored soldiers pulls a boat onto a beach and an over-dressed Taldan nobleman plants a flag into the sand. A four-digit combination lock secures the safe that’s discovered behind the removable wall panel. Encara suggests the combination 3827 he recalls from earlier, and with that, the safe opens!
Within the safe are two important documents. The first is a ledger that records a long series of payments vaguely labeled as “gifts” to various naval officers, spanning the course of a year. The second is the deed to the chandlery, showing ownership officially transferred to Earl Vernisant over a year ago.
You recall being advised to speak with Magistrate Joleana Tantriano at work in Ridonport’s courthouse. The Pathfinders collect the evidence against the Earl, tidy the shop back up, unbind the guard, and head back to the museum to rest for the night . In the morning you head to the courthouse to speak with the Magistrate.
Joleana is in her late sixties, and she proudly wears the symbol of Iomedae as part of the half-cloak that denotes her judicial role.
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Assuming the the Magistrate is alone and out of earshot of various passers by, Richelle jumps right into things. ”We have evidence of the noble Vernisaunt conspiring to commit piracy and smuggling right here in our town. We have evidence in the form of journals, and we have one of the pirates in custody who will testify against him,” Rochelle says, handing over the evidence for review.
Diplomacy
The Magistrate looks over the evidence. ”Hm, this is definitely some damning evidence against the Earl... This is a lot to take in; Vernisant and his family have been a pillar of this community for hundreds of years, so it’s difficult to accept that he’s abused his position. I also have to take into account not just the letter of the law, but the effects of an investigation on Ridonport’s long-term stability.”
”Ah, so you’re the group who captured the river pirates. And I bet you didn’t even know there was a bounty.” She gives you each a letter of credit to a local bank.
”Well, you make very good points, all of you. I will begin drafting formal documentation against the Earl.”
Just then, in through a window flies what appears to be a raven made of solid silver. It lands on a table and speaks. ”Pathfinders, this is Cincia. Vernisant’s guards have arrived and started rearranging the museum’s main room for some kind of special event. You should get back to the museum right away.” The little bird then flies back the way it came.
The Magistrate looks at you and wonders aloud, ”Whatever could the Earl be up to at the museum? Let’s go see what this is all about.”
A small crowd has begun to trickle into the museum from the street. Anyone present can explain Vernisant will give a speech shortly to announce a new holiday called “Birthright Day.” You can spot the shipwright Rasvelg Coalbraid and Patrician Neffery Adimare. Each greets and chats with you briefly. Neither of them is entirely sure what this new holiday is about, though they speculate the earl’s likely to wax poetic about his heroic ancestor in the process. The crowd quickly grows denser as you update Rasvelg and Neffery on your recent findings.
When the speech is about to begin, four guards exit the building to flank the platform. As a quintet of winds and percussion plays an inspired fanfare, the guards pull on several bundles of cloth near the eaves, unfurling long banners of green, blue, and gold. As the banners finish opening, blue and green alchemical smoke pellets activate, releasing plumes of sparking smoke. Earl Calhadion Vernisant strides through the smoke and ascends to the speaking platform, resplendent in a finely cut outfit and basking in the applause.
“We stand here to today in recognition of greatness: of Taldor’s institutions, of Taldor’s people, and the greatness of Taldor itself! Yet our grand empire would not have shaped the world as we know it were it not for sacrifice—the selfless heroism that inspired our neighbors to unite against a common threat, when evil itself threatened to snuff out civilization as we know it. Yes, I speak of the great General Arnisant, my direct ancestor who faced evil head-on and gave his life so that we might live our own. Yes, in Taldor, we RESPECT tradition because it’s what made us strong and keeps us strong, and I stand before you today as a living testament that General Arnisant’s legacy of selfless and impeccable service lives on, for the glory of Ridonport,” the earl pauses as the crowd cheers wildly, “and of Taldor itself! This is our birthright, and today we celebrate our heritage proudly!”
The quintet plays a cheerful tune as the guards motion for applause and the crowd cheers. For effect, Vernisant frowns with pensive concern before motioning for silence and continuing. “Yet there are those who hate our traditions, who loathe what Taldor stands for, and who disparage Arnisant’s sacrifice that bought us our freedom.” The earl motions for patience as the crowd boos angrily. “Yes, I too was angry when I learned someone might despise Taldor with the same blasphemous hatred that the Whispering Tyrant leveled at our empire when he drew upon his foul magic and attempted to tear out General Arnisant’s heart—just as even now some in Taldor which to shred institutions as sacred as primogeniture that have made us strong!”
“And,” he notes, raising his hand before leveling it at the Pathfinders, “They infiltrate our ranks even today!”
“It was these villains who broke into the chandlery, stealing from the very businesses that sustain Ridonport, and assaulting the valiant citizen guarding the establishment!”
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”We love Taldor more than you ever have! We were called here to investigate your crimes, not only against the town but against Taldor itself! And we have evidence. And witnesses! All proving your conspiracy and guilt.” Richelle turned and addressed the group gathered around them.
”The chandlery you say? We didn’t break in. If Neffery would feel like speaking up, he let us in to conduct our investigation. We did put the guard to sleep, but he will have no lasting effects. We found evidence in your safe that you took control of it and used it to bribe the naval officers. What do you have to say about that?”
Diplomacy
So the way it works is: the Earl accuses you of stuff and you refudiate (no skill checks for each individual accusation). After all accusations are made and disputed, one of you makes a skill check, and anyone who helped during the RP portions can aid. Then there are lots of potential bonuses/penalties based on stuff (for me to figure out).
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"And I say that none fail Taldor worse than those who would use its glorious history hide their own sins. You stand accused, Earl Calhadion Vernisant, of bribery, of corruption, of conspiracy! And worst of all, in hiding behind the name of your noble ancestor, certain that your fellow citizens would not find you out!"
Carax continues to shout. "We have the evidence! We can prove your malfeasance, your Grace!"
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"Indeed, if the Earl was not behind it, why did one of the smugglers mention that "...my second cousin in Oppara is training as a senatorial aide, and she swears the brave hero Earl Vernisant is behind the scheme." That is rather specific, wouldn't you agree?" Altavan said as he started describing the connections that linked the Earl to the plot.
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And I, Gaeldrung, Priest and Inquisitor of Our Lord in Iron: Gorum, do accuse you of cowardess and weakness in the face of your own base desires! I, with my fellow Pathfinders, drove smugglers before us in this very city in a place that could only have been found by someone of your station. And not only that, they were smuggling items of historical value from this city which were under your personal perview!
He provides details of the smuggling operations.
If you were a subject of my Lord of Battle and your noble ancestor were any less glorious or any less important to this city I would be well within my rights to cut you down and off of Taldor's glorious tree like the rotten branch you are!
Neffery speaks up. ”I’m afraid I did suggest they search the chandlery. I must say I’m quite disappointed by the evidence they found, but I can’t say I was surprised.”
The Earl addresses the crowd once again. ”I assure you all I have no knowledge of the chandlery’s operations, and I promise an official investigation into this outrageous false allegation of bribery. I...I purchased the club as a personal favor to Neffery and I am dismayed that Neffery would repay me by resorting to such underhanded tactics out of jealousy.”
Varnisant then quickly moves on to his next allegation against the Pathfinders. “Let us not forget that these scoundrels shed the blood of Taldor’s own navy, striking down our nation’s finest on their native soil!”
Rasvelg chimes in, ”None of the sailors I work with mentioned a fight, so if the Pathfinders did clash with someone, it certainly wasn’t with anyone who’s part of Taldor’s navy. I did hear that the infamous deserter Gayleigh Knar finally picked a fight that beast of hers from Osirion couldn’t get her out of.”
Joleana adds, ”Those pirates the Pathfinders captured who weren’t discharged from our fine navy for theft were deserters, and wanted criminals all. And apparently at least one of them knows some things about the details of their operation we’re all going to be very interested to hear.”
Vernisant declares, ”Why, it’s preposterous that pirates would be operating in Ridonport. I consider the mere suggestion a personal insult to my administration and the citizens’ upstanding moral fiber. These Pathfinders must certainly have intimidated their innocent captives into providing a false confession.”
He moves on as quickly as he can, “My people, let us not forget the lessons of Mendev’s third crusade, when invading demons infiltrated the heroes’ ranks to spread misery, misinformation, and misfortune. So to do these foreign menaces spy on us and turn us against one another, hoping that we might destroy each other. We must stand together to be strong!”
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”My little finger contains more loyalty to Taldor than your whole body! You’ve been pilfering artifacts from the museum...that’s the whole reason we were asked to come here in the first place. Everyone is beginning to learn your treasonous secrets! I’m happy we were the ones who have been able to shed the light on your darknessM”
Cincia speaks up now. ”The Pathfinders are scholars that I invited to Ridonport to help with the museum!” And Joleana adds, ”They were acting lawfully and were a big help to my ongoing investigations into the canals’ piracy.”
Vernisant, looking a bit anxious at this point, says, ”I’m disappointed that so many seem to have been taken in by the political conspiracy against me, but I am the only one who can lead Ridonport, and I am prepared to prove it!”
The crowd appears to be growing increasingly restless.
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Encara shakes his head "You are most assuredly not. There have been Earls before you and there will be Earls after after you. The people of Riddleport will not suffer corrupt fools such as yourself. Did you think you could deceive them for long? Did you really think we were this stupid? Your time as Earl here is done!"