Chaosorbit's PFS #2-01 & 02: Before the Dawn—Part 1 & 2 (st 3-4) (Inactive)

Game Master Chaosorbit

Aye, Lass, it's a deal, I don't much like your last condition. But you convinced me.

Elanzo collects his gold and heads out of the Wandering Way, by the time Elanzo and his cronies leave, Raimondo is face down snoring loudly at the table.

"Let's get him out of here and sober him up. Is there a room we can rent for the evening here?"

I am also good with Corrella's plan.

One of the barmaids, a young mwangi women speaks up Raimondo is not always like this, he's been extra nervous about some job he's been hired to do. I guess he hasn't heard from his contact and he spent a good bit of his coin on his new horse team. He's been in his cups a lot more lately.

She shakes her head.

He has a room upstairs, if you care to help him up there.

"Alright, lets get him to his room and try to sober him up." Corrella will look to the more able bodied among the group for assistance with this task.

Mykel heads over to the server and leans against the bar.

Could you whip up a pot of something strong to help me stay awake tonight? Might have to help our lathered up friend tonight. Thanks a lot, my dear. Oh, and I didn't catch you name....is it Mwangi for "heavenly"?

Mykel leans a bit closer..Does our friend have any enemies? I need to know now if he does...a few coins are in it for you...

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Diplomacy as a Merchant: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
Oroz will ask around with the patrons if the had heard any more rumors regarding our new friend.
Diplomacy gather information: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

Hikari assists in bringing Raimondo up to his room. Once there, he takes the pulse and examines his eyes, determining how best to sober him up.

heal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Appraise roll for Saddah: 1d20 ⇒ 2 For finding Raimondo in the first place

Hikari and Corrella help the drunken caravan master upstairs to his room. Hikari checks him over and determines the man is just drunk, and likely not anything more nefarious; and that the best treatment is sleep and non-alcoholic fluids.

Meanwhile downstairs, the dashing Mykel makes an acquaintance of the barmaid. Sure She replies somewhat most bashfully than she normally would. It's Aella

Enemies, not really that I have heard. I guess he and that Captain are old rivals. When the Captain showed up late last night Raimondo has already had quite a few, and the Captain challenged him to a drinking contest, then they started in on the cards. When I show up this morning they had been at it all night long.

Oroz asks around to the other patrons and finds out. Raimondo Scevola is a regular here, in fact he lives upstairs. They say he was once an important trade captain for the Aspis Consortium, however, Scevola lost everything after his Aspis superiors betrayed him and grabbed his ventures in a hostile takeover. His fortune ruined and forever cut off by the Aspis Consortium, Scevola invested the last of his resources in a small trading caravan, a caravan performing poorly thanks to the Consortium’s constant under-bidding and selective tariffs. However, recently Scevola bragged about a new business venture and invested in new packhorses. But then he began to worry because his contact for the new venture had gone silent and he fear the business opportunity was lost.

Thank you my dear...here..for your trouble...Mykel grabs a few silvers from his pouch and hands it to Aella He grasps her hand between his and looks at her in the eyes. {b]Perhaps when our business is finished we can have a drink or two...? Until then..[/b] he says as he bows his head and lets go of her hand gently. He then proceeds upstairs. Once in the room, he checks the door.

Ok, he has no real enemies, but that idiot we dealt with earlier was his rival. we should be fine, but I am not certain. I will stay up for a bit to keep guard.He says as he holds up hit pot of coffee.

'Oh! Famous coffee of Mwangi. Perhaps, too, I'll make to myself a cup of this majestic drink. And Mykel, I'll relieve you at your post after 4 hours...' - he grimly looks at the drunk merchant - '...on the other hand, we really believe that someone can hurt this loser? Maybe let him sleep it off while we'll do something more useful? Tomorrow we'll move out the city, but we still have not learned what happened to our informant, that alchemist named Senzer.'

In fact it is an offer to go to gather information (who can do it better than Saddah), find the clue and to go in search ;)

Good point. We could go about trying to find out anything....what say the rest of you? Leave him here to sleep it off and go see if we can turn up anything about the missing person?

"Let's stay with him for now. I don't want to have to find another caravan, and this guys might not remember what happened if we aren't here to remind him."

Note you arrived early in the morning so it's around noon now if that effects your decision.

We should try to sort out the rest of our loose ends and let our friend sleep it off.

"Since we still have daylight left lets allow our driver to sleep off his stupor while we accomplish our other business."

"We need to purchase the following. Two tons of food and clean water, five crates of arrows and crossbow bolts, and clean dressings for use at the site."

"We also need to locate Senzer and if he still remains alive to find out why he has abandoned his connection with us."

"So now the question is do we attempt to accomplish these tasks as a group or shall we split our efforts between the two tasks?"

Hikari bows slightly before replying. "Lady DeVille, I have not been with the Society for long, but a good advice I received during my confirmation, from the Mistress Gavis is ... Never split the party."

Lol!

Best to go as a group....in case we run into a situation where someone's particular skill is needed....and Bloodcove is not a safe place either...

"OK, then let's go secure some groceries."

Kind of looks like 50/50 on what to do next, care to throw a vote out there if you haven't.

"To the market we shall go."

The market sounds nice

To the market it is then!

Need another Diplomacy or Appraise from everyone for traveling/find House Cartahegn.

You make your way to House Cartahegn trading post, which is easy to find but clear on the other side of Bloodcove.

As you arrive, surrounding a sprawling, two-story trading post is a mass of citizens and merchants alike. Some wear worried expressions and wring their hands, while others shout angrily at a well-dressed young woman by the entrance.

As I said, shouts the Cartahegn spokesperson from atop a wooden crate, all Cartahegn resources are needed to deal with this emergency with our sugarpress, and our storefront is closed for the remainder of the day or until management resolves the situation. We apologize for the inconvenience, but for now please return to your homes and places of business.

As she climbs down, most of the grumbling mob begins to disperse.

Appraise: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

"Closed? What's the emergency? Perhaps we can help."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Can't hurt for us to have a look...

diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

We are very good at getting to the root of issues and then resolving them. diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Corrella slips in beside the young lady wringing her hands by the door. "What seems to be the issue ma'am? Perhaps my friends and I can get whatever the issue is resolved and get this place back in business before the crowd turns violent." Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Hikari makes a stately bow. "That would be most advantageous to all of us, it would seem. Our interests align here. You wish to resolve this crisis, and we wish to do business with you."
diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Appraise: 1d20 ⇒ 10

'I hope, this women will tell us something, that will give me the right to spill some blood in the name of Him, Who Walks in Blood.'

'Madam, if someone bothers to do business here - just tell us. I think we will be able to help.'

Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (19) - 2 = 17

...Suddenly, to everyone and even to himself, Saddah says these words very gallantly and convincingly.

Oh yes, says the well-dressed woman of barely twenty summers. She lowers here voice so that the whole town doesn't hear. This ant situation in the sugarpress is dire! We’re losing thousands of pounds of sugarloaf an hour, and frankly I doubt we’ll be able to turn these clicky beasts back. We expended all the available sword arms just chasing the monsters back into the basement. If more giant ants show, we’ll surely lose the entire mill. If that happens expect food prices around Bloodcove to triple overnight!

Looking over the group.

You look like a capable bunch. If so, I have an idea that came to me while I was standing out here telling people the bad news, you see—my housekeeper makes a sort of lotion that frightens bugs away, some jungle concoction and I bet if someone dumped a load of it in the ants’ tunnel, it would keep them away until we could brick it up! If you think you are up to the task of fighting off the menace and then spreading the lotion. I promise you quite a discount in exchange for your services once we’re open again.

She looks at excitedly at the prospect.

"Why, of course! We would be happy to help some 'fellow merchants'!"

Fuzzfoot checks the concoction, and once he is happy he understands how to deploy it, he looks to the others. "I will be happy to put it in there, if some of you larger folk don't mind running interference?"

Saddah's face became sour after this story.

"I prefer to kill humanoids, not insects..." - he says quietly and then adds so she will hear - "...but of course, we won't leave you in the lurch. By the way, what is the discount?"

Interference I can provide, Fuzzfoot. If you could just show us the way, madam and we can see what we can do for you. Mykel says with a bow and a wink.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Excellent! I'll have to talk to one of the merchant captains, but I'm thinking somewhere around 25%, depending on what you need. But first let me run a quick, yet important errand. She leads you inside House Cartahegn to a smartly furnished waiting room, it provides a break from the heat outside, but is still rather warm. You are offered some little refreshments. Wait here, I'll be back soon.

After about 30 minutes she returns hauling a large, stinking sack of goo. Here's the repellant. She beams as if she carried a sack of gold, then leads you too the basement.

The entry point is through there. Make sure to coat their hole as best you can, so we can get some masons down here ASAP. She points the way, then leaving you to your task.

After the humidity above, the stark dryness of the basement stands out as unsettling, almost as unsettling as the acrid smell and constant, methodical clicking emanating from the darkness. The remains of bags and crates lie scattered across the floor amid a sea of grayish dust.

map

"Are there lights down here? How do you normally see?"

Fuzzfoot looks for a lantern, and failing that (or someone offering a better approach), he pulls out a sunrod.

"Let's take a look..."

See anything?
perception: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Mykel gtrabs a couple of torches and lights them. Here Fuzzfoot..take one...i'll use this other one. Anyone else need one?

"Well, this feels rather unpleasant.". Corrella casts Light. "That is a bit better but now it looks unpleasant as well."

Various lanterns are available and can easily be lit, you also seem to have multiple lighting options among you. Once you shed some light on the place, this room seems to have been ransacked. Oroz deduces that the clicking seems to be coming from behind curtains straight ahead.

Fuzzfoot approaches the curtain cautiously and peeks behind it.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

Peeking behind the curtain dividing the rooms, Fuzzfoot sees a large chamber containing a maze of pipes and air ducts near the ceiling, but the floor remains clear aside from coal scattered from the chute along the far eastern wall. The ants broke through the flagstone floor in the northeast corner where a large tunnel now enters the room.

Three dwarf-sized giant black ants lurk in the room. The one furthest back (red) seems slightly bigger than the other two. The nearest (yellow) turns its head and antennae toward the curtains in Fuzzfoot's direction.

Fuzzfoot turns to the others and holds up 3 fingers, and does his best giant ant impression that is clearly impossible to tell what he is doing.

Then he reaches into his pack and retrieves a pellet grenade, and throws it into the room, targeting the fire pit since he doesn't think he ca quite get all three.

Ranged touch vs ac 5: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Rounds til detonation: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Damage (bludgeoning, piercing, fire): 1d6 + 1d6 + 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + (2) + (5) + 4 = 14

Reflex DC 15 for half

Corrella allows a momentary look of disgust to cross her face before readying herself for the inevitable.

As soon as Fuzzfoot signals the presence of the creatures in the next room, Hikari calls upon the divine favor of his goddess Shizuru to enhance his attacks. He then readies his bow for action.

Fuzzfoot signals and then tosses his pellet grenade even at quite a long toss he manages to get in the right spot, the vibrations attract the ant's attention.

Round 1
map
Mykel
Saddah
Oroz
Fuzzfoot
Ants
Hikari
Corrella

Mykel, Saddah, Oroz, Fuzzfoot are up. Pellet grenade will go off in Round 2 on Fuzzfoot's init count.

Mykel moves in and readies to fight the closest ant(yellow).

moving 5 squares straight ahead....i know there is a wall, but i have enough movement to get there...also setting up a parry/riposte if attacked

If Oroz can see a Beatle through the curtain he will shoot magic missles if not he will ready an action to do so.
MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 21d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Guess I should have said 'stand back until this explodes...' :)

Fuzzfoot steps back behind the wall, and drinks down an elixir (truestrike), in preparation for the next round. He also draws a dagger, in case the ant comes close, to help fend off attacks.

'Well. Forward.' - he rushes to the next room, on the move referring to the image of a praying mantis inside his heart...

Standing next to Mykel, Saddah draws two swords with a scary looking serrated blades.

Move, Swift - Shield of Faith, Ready Action - attack when any of this ants will be nearby.

Mykel advances blade ready, as does Sadadh. Oroz steps to the curtain and launches two magic missiles that hit one of the ants (blue)Meanwhile, Fuzzfoot gets ready for battle.

Sure enough the ants pour forward. One of the yellow ants moves up and tries to bite Mykel.

Yellow bite on Mykel: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

But he easily parries the bite and strikes back with a nasty riposte.

While another blue ant advances on Saddah, who catch's it with a glancing blow. The ant bites in retaliation.

Blue bite on Saddah: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

But can't connect.

The third ant also advances but can't attack.

Round 1
map
Mykel
Saddah
Oroz
Fuzzfoot
Ant, Yellow 13 damage
Ant, Red
Ant, Blue 5 damage
Hikari
Corrella

Round 2
Mykel
Saddah
Oroz
Fuzzfoot

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