DM Barcas - First Steps (PFS) (Inactive)

Game Master Isaac Duplechain

Dasiji pulls an empty sack out of his backpack and starts placing everything inside, except for the mahogany box and its contents. "Let's get this all someplace safer. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm for leaving now, and not taking anything else. At least these things are you-know-who's property, more or less; but he can't give us permission for the rest."

He hands the sack and box to Astyannax. "Here, you're strong enough. You can carry these while we look for a cheap inn where they don't ask too many questions, I'll get us a room, and then we can talk about what to do with the stuff in the sack while I try and bandage that rat bite."

At least this stuff is you-know-who's property,"

Voldemort?

Heh. What can I say, all this subterfuge, burglary, and being watched is making Dasiji a little paranoid.

Astyannax looks at Dasij, confused.

"What to do with the stuff? Why not just give it all to whats-his-name and let him sort it out?"

Tornado watch. Back to the basement!

"He said we could keep everything else in his crate except the smaller container with books and papers. While I'd do this anyway to earn trust for bigger jobs, I'm not about to turn down payment offered freely. You think I'm using a sling because I want to? I've got my eye on a bow that costs 300 gold -- and there's a gorgeous one that costs double that." Dasiji drifts off briefly in wistful reverie, then sighs. "But enough, let's get gone before someone comes. The easiest explanation is the one you don't have to give."

Kehl grins at Dasiji as they exit swiftly.

"Could not have said it better myself. As I said before, our friend back there has his hand in so many things. Shipping information... not quite what I expected, but... noteworthy enough."

Quintus nods at Dasiji, "I agree as well. Best we be off before more rats show up. Give me a few seconds to see if anything here is more useful than it appears..." Quintus casts detect magic on the items to see if the more mundane goods are anything of worth.

Astyannax follows the other three back out of the ramshackle warehouse, blinking in the late afternoon sun.

One more task and this day is done.I'm hungry.

He grins. Was nice to swing a sword, though.

He's too oblivious to even bother with a Perception check.

Later, assuming we are able to find a cheap private room as alluded to earlier...

Heal check vs. DC 20 to treat deadly wounds: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 4 = 7

As they talk in the room he rented, Dasiji attempts to treat his ratbite with improvised salve and makeshift bandages. It doesn't really make a difference.

"It seems to me that a fair way to divide these things is to figure out how much we could sell them for, and divide by four. Then, if there's something you actually want to keep, its sale value would count toward your share. If more than one of us wants the same thing, we could decide who gets it using dice -- uh, non-loaded -- or really any means that we can agree on."

"For what it's worth, I would like the book of footprints; I'm a tracker, and I would find it handy. Also, I think that anyone who doesn't have any acid or alchemist's fire should claim some; I already have a flask or two of each myself, and still I count us lucky that we have not yet run into any swarms."

Kehl looks over the manifestos and inventories for a long, time, trying to get some measure of why this information is so important.

"The thieves' tools would be nice. I'll take the cards and the dice too," he mentions off-hand before returning to the documents.

Astyannax leans against a wall, watching the others root through the goods they took from the warehouse.

Looks like a bunch of junk to me.

"I don't want any of that stuff. I'll take my share in gold."

Sighs.

"I'd like to give the stuff to that thief. We haven't eaten more than bites from what was in our packs today. I'm hungry and tired of walking all over Absalom. Let's finish our last assignment.

Pauses. "I don't think I've ever met an Osirian."

"I'll take an alchemist's fire or two. Those should help me from being useless in the back."

We don't get to keep these after the scenario, right?

No, but you can use it for the remainder.

Dang, forgot that. Useless conversation; looking over the rules, I'm not sure that it's even possible to sell it during the scenario.

"Good point, Astyannax. Would you mind holding onto the rest until we finish our last assignment and get a chance to sell it? I doubt you'd even notice the weight."

After they gather all of the loot, Astyannax stuffs it into a couple of places in his backpack.

"Done."

"Back to the fence first or on to the last task?"

"I'd rather we make our delivery next and finish this before moving on; I focus better without undone work nagging at my mind."

Astyannax shrugs indifferently. "Makes sense to me."

"You'll forgive me if I avoid returnign to the fence. I'll wait nearby and we can move on together afterward."

Astyannax looks sideways at Kehl after that comment.

Ah. There's a secret in that cowl. What's in his past?

I'm out of town this weekend. Sorry for my absence during the week as well. Overtime was calling. I had about three hours total all week where I wasn't asleep or working, and that time was spent with my baby boy. I'll get back on track. Hopefully I can post again over the weekend from my phone or something.

As I was recently told, real life is more important. Looking forward to moving forward, but no apologies necessary. :)

Returning back to the Varisian is a quick affair, done with minimal conversation borne of their distaste for the man. He takes the box filled with the shipping logs and manifests with a smile. "Information, y'know, it's the most valuable weapon there is. I trust that you will exercise discretion as to this information. I don't have to tell ya what happens to those who violate such a sacred trust." He looks around and sees that there are only three of them. "Tell Trembles that I'll be in touch with him. We got unfinished business."

The Pathfinders exit and make their way across Absolom to their fourth and final task. It is the late afternoon, with people beginning to return to their homes from work. Hundreds, if not thousands, crowd the streets on foot, horse, and carriage. They make their way up from the working class docks to the Wise Quarter to visit with Dremdhet Salhar at his estate. A number of street performers cause frequent stops during the trip as people slow to watch them.

The Pathfinders arrive at the rich estate of Grand Councilmember Dremdhet Salhar, and are greeted by a guard at its tall, wrought-iron gate. He bows in the traditional Osirion style before opening the door for them. They walk into the estate, and it is as if they stepped into Osirion itself. The architecture is as if they are in the Ruby Prince's own palace. A servant bows to them as they reach the mansion proper, his eyes downcast in reverence for their difference in station. "Esteemed guests, the Councilmember has been called away on important business and sends his greatest apologies. He has given his seal to his most trusted advisor, Amenopheus the Sapphire Sage, who he has granted the greatmost honor of speaking with his voice in any official matter. Please, follow me. I shall lead you to Amenopheus, most wise and trusted of all advisors."

Taking 10 on Perception as usual.

Disturbed by something he saw on the walk over, Dasiji is already feeling unhappy and quizzical before Dremdhet Salhar's servant informs them of his absence. "Of course." Dasiji sketches a short bow. "We are honored to meet with the Councilmember's representative." What is going on here?

Perception
1d20 ⇒ 4
He's going to drop down an open manhole at some point with these Perception rolls...

Astyannax looks around at the opulence of the Osirion estate. First the Chelaxian whore, now this. I hope Pathfindering pays a tenth as well.

He sighs and follows the servant down the hall.

Perception 1d20 ⇒ 13

Quintus's grin does little to hide his disgust at Karela, and he nods silently at the man before they leave the shop. When he sees Kehl he relays the message, "That man seemed to know you... even referred to you as Trembles. I'd expect to hear from him again, if I were you."

As they enter Salhar's estate, Quintus smiles in approval of the extravagant mansion. Ah... much better than that greasy Varisian's run-down shop. He barely acknowledges the servant as the man speaks and replies curtly, "Very well. Lead away, lest we keep this Amenopheus waiting for long."

Perception1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Kehl shakes his head at Quintus' news, then pulls his hood further over his face, seemingly trying to dissapear into himself. He remains silent throughout the trip to the estate, glancing around constantly, too distracted to notice anything, however.

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 Pathfinders into the study with one thin hand, while closing the tome with the other after finishing what he was reading. He wears a turban, common amongst his people. Once the Pathfinders are all inside the study, he addresses the group. “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.

Quintus follows the servant sans his usual smile and stands mostly expressionless as Amenopheus addresses the group. He reveals only the slightest smirk as the Osirioni rambles on about his ancient empire will return to power. This man lectures us on arrogance and greed? Such irony!

Quintus silently gives the man a shallow bow as he finishes his long-winded speech, then turns to follow the servant.

"Why do they always make it sound so simple?" Dasiji mutters to the others as they follow the humble, unidentified domestic. "The chest is in the next room, yours for the taking -- if not for the invulnerable devil. The crate is in the warehouse, yours for the taking -- if not for the big rats and rotten floor. So now the map is in the vault, ours for the taking -- if not for what, I wonder? And is this the lesson that we're supposed to learn, that it's never as easy as it sounds?"

Astyannax listens intently to the Sage.

They sent us here to open a chest in the basement? That's something they couldn't do themselves? This is not going to go well.

He looks at his companions and sees that, judging by the expressions on their faces, they are less than thrilled as well.

Well, at least there's probably not a monster roaming loose in the vaults...No, with our luck, we'll run into a minotaur.

"Let's get the map and put this day to rest, boys.", he says with a combination of resignation and false bravado, following the train out of the room.

The servant who led them into Amenopheus' study leads the Pathfinders back through the spacious estate, leading them down sturdy stone steps into the cool basement. Down a hallway, after a few turns, the Pathfinders end up at a plain wooden door. The tan servant opens the door, bowing to them in a silent goodbye as he awaits their entry. Behind the door, a plain stone room contains three chests: a copper-banded chest of smooth, dark wood; a red lacquered chest; and what looks to be a cube of solid steel. Behind the chests sits a low table holding a clear glass jar half-full of liquid and a covered wicker basket.

Astyannax is first into the room, sword drawn.

Perception
1d20 ⇒ 2
He picks himself back up after stumbling over his own boots and falling flat...

He takes two steps into the room, eyes sweeping left to right.

Seeing the chests, the jar and the wicker basket, he rolls his eyes.

one of THOSE tests.

"Kehl, I think this is going to be your turn to shine."

He moves to the side, allowing the others to enter, keeping the sword in his hand.

Quintus blinks as he surveys the room. "Huh. Well this is different." He thinks for a moment before speaking again. "Allow me to take a quick look to see if any of these things have a magic aura about them."

Quoting (rather pretentiously) from the classic play The Wizard and the Wench, Quintus casts detect magic,

"Keep, you, aware; thine eyes be peeled,
Thus arcane secrets are revealed."

Perception: take 10 ⇒ 16

Dasiji follows Astyannax and Quintus into the room and looks around, suspicious of everything after their recent experiences. Saying nothing and touching nothing, he strains to see, hear, and smell what he can.

Perception: take 20 ⇒ 26

After a half-dozen seconds near the doorway, Dasiji breaks his silence. "Please give me a couple of minutes to look it all over before we touch anything. Remember the children's home? My time as a guard trained me in noticing details, and I am very good at it."

The servant closes the door behind the Pathfinders when they all enter, giving them a final bow and a cryptic, knowing smile. An audible click soon follows, the sound of the servant locking the door behind him. As they turn back to look, they see a message written on the back of the door. "Within these cases lies your quest and your way out." It seems that Amenopheus feels fit to test them, with the Venture-Captain's request as the prize.

The three chests sit in the plain room, offering no clue as to their purpose or as to which of them contains the map of the vaults that they seek. When Quintus examines them with his magical sight, the red lacquered chest glows with aura of transmutation, while the copper-banded chest glows with the faint aura of illusion. The steel chest bears no magic, nor do the containers behind it.

Examining the two containers gives some clue as to what to do next. The wicker basket is half-open with its lid resting gently atop its wide rim. Inside, a blue stone key rests atop a pile of crumpled linens. Inside the half-full glass jar, which looks capable of holding about a gallon of water, a jeweled brass key sits at the bottom. There is no real indication which key goes to which chest.

Give me a Perception check prior to interacting with any chest or container, along with a description of how you plan to interact with it.

Quintus thinks back to his arcane training, trying to remember if he recognizes the precise effects of either of the auras. "Go ahead, Dasiji... I'm just trying to discern any magical properties."

Knowledge (arcana) (red chest) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Knowledge (arcana) (wood chest) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
DC is 20 + spell level, so two failures even if it was possible.

"Hm... nothing comes to mind. Two of the chests do have auras though," Quintus then relates what he learned.

Kehl lingers by the door, eyeing the room again and again. He moves to the red chest and takes a long moment to examine it.
perception on the red chest1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

"This is like something out of a story," he mutters to himself.

The red lacquered chest looks devious. The solid metal plate surrounding the gaping keyhole pulses with glowing amber runes. It does not appear to have any traps as best that Kehl can see. The keyhole looks like it is designed to accept the blue stone key that is in the wicker basket rather than the smaller jeweled brass key that sits in the glass jar.

Astyannax moves to the wall on his right, allowing him to keep an eye on the room without leaving his back to the locked door.

"Unless you want me to bash open one of those chests, I'm going to leave this one to you three."

"Though I'd be careful with that wicker one. I wouldn't be surprised to see a snake come out of it."

Being a Pathfinder means dealing with some weird stuff.

Someone needs to pick a container to start with, along with the Perception check and how you plan on interacting with it.

Kehl retrieves the blue key from the basket and returns to the red chest.

"Stand back. This could hurt."

Once everyone has moved to a safe distance, he winces and inserts the key.

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

As Kehl moves to stick his hand to retrieve the blue key, he takes a quick peek in. True enough to Astyannax's prediction, a small green snake writhes around underneath the crumpled linens inside the wicker basket. He quickly pulls his hand back, knowing that the viper's sharp fangs are a danger he does not necessarily want to risk.

If possible, retcon your previous post. Thanks.

Dasiji raises his eyebrows when Kehl flinches back from the wicker basket. "You mean there actually is a snake, just like in the stories? Good thing you didn't start with the jar; it's probably full of acid or something. Best knock it over instead of reaching in, when we get to it."

I was picturing the old Bob Hope/Bing Crosby movie, The Road to Bali. Didn't actually expect a snake.

Astyannax takes a deep breath and releases it through his mouth.

"Snakes in baskets. So much for being bored."

He looks at Dasiji. "Think you can stick it with your trident?"

Kehl steps away from the basket. And then takes two more steps away from it.

"I hope someone, somewhere finds this funny. Can someone kill the snake please? Preferably with a good amount of fire?" Kehl shudders.

"I don't know if killing someone's pet snake would make the best of impressions. We could just dump the basket out somewhere and try to trap the snake with it."

"Dump the snake into the jar. Easy way to find out if it's an acid." Kehl suggests, clearly in a tony meaning someone else should do it.

Maybe the mace would be better for squashing a snake.

Quintus' comment interrupts his thinking.

"You want to play with a possibly poisonous snake?"

He looks over at Dasiji. "You woodsmen are good with animals. Can't you make it your friend or something?"

Dasiji looks doubtful. "Just because I'm better at charming wild animals than people, doesn't mean I'm any good at it yet -- just a little less bad. But Quintus makes a point: we should respect our host's things, even though they be obstacles to us." He starts looking through his backpack for inspiration. "Hmm..."

Dasiji pauses with a length of string and two fishhooks, looks at his long lucerne hammer, then looks again at the stone key and shakes his head. He looks again at his weapons, to see if they could be tools. "Got it! I'll use my javelin to lift the key enough to hook it, and then to keep it steady while I lift it out."

Matching actions to words, Dasiji ties both fishhooks to the end of a length of string, and ties the other end to the business end of his trident. Then, he attempts to slip the spearpoint of his javelin under the key to lift it up, just enough to hook any available holes or protrusions. Taking 20 on whatever check that would be; if it doesn't work, then he tries sandwiching the key between the javelin and trident like improvised prongs.

I take it this is the key in the basket, not the one in the acid.

Astyannax moves to the opposite side of the wicker basket, not leaning in over it. He switches his sword for his mace while doing so.

"If the snake stays down there, fine. If it comes up out of that basket, I'm going to flatten it, host's property or not."

His eyes stay riveted on the basket.

If they think a snake can't crawl up that javelin, they may be surprised.