DM Feral's By Way of Bloodcove (Inactive)

Game Master Feral

Kel replies but with a much lower voice so as NOT to be overheard by those nearby... "Perhaps one of interest, but we have decided to discuss it later."

Vanya answers without changing her tone of voice but adding a somewhat sarcastic note:Mmmh... seems mightily wise of you! Of course everyone in here has certainly checked that board 1 or 2... hundred times, so everyone knows what's on it... which means that if there's an opportunity for mercenaries like us on it we need to seize it as quickly as possible! We need action not secretiveness... or need I remind you that's not our strong suit? Slow and steady will bring us nowhere here in Bloodcove!"

Bluff check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Vanya is basically acting the mercenary part. She assumes most of what the group will say inside the tavern will be heard, no matter what. So she decided to take the opposite road: in her opinion a boastful mercenary would be much less noticeable than one who goes around whispering and lurking into the shadows. If the group is a band of mercenaries in search of employment they certainly don't need to hide anything... don't they? :P

"Yea you tell em!"

Bluff to Aid: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 Are there any checks to help decipher the board posting/note?

Other folks can try that int check I mentioned. You could take 20 on it but that'd take some time.

Wayne will try to work out connections in the city. What do I need to roll for that? If it's something I can't do well, I'll go look for Novaria.

Looking for Novaria might be a good place to start if the rest of the party is stumped by the message and you don't want to take 20 on it.

INT Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

check it out

-Posted with Wayfinder

In addition to realizing what Wayne did, Kelsier also puzzles a few other things out.

The words “mixed up” in the listing are a strange addition, and thus significant.

The words “search every part of Bloodcove” could be suggesting that the answer is a location in the city.

Merchant-owned buildings in Warehouse Row and Free Trade Square are assigned numeric identifiers instead of names, as they change hands frequently. In Bloodcove, these tend to be two or three digits long.

Kelsier studies the note for a little while, then taps the job listing and makes to stand up. "I know where we should go next."

--

once in private

Kelsier shares his realizations and says "We need to go to warehouse 342."

"Yer real clever Kel. Let's go." To Warehouse 342

Pleased with their discovery, the party prepares to depart only to be interrupted by the inn's door slamming open.

The room goes quiet as a tall, slender Bonuwat man with long but neatly kept dreadlocks wearing long robes and a brightly colored necklace of beads enters. He's followed by two Bekyar thugs.

The man draws a rolled piece of parchment from his robe, opens it, and announces in a clear voice, “We have ten jobs available for today, working the warehouse at dock twenty-two. Any strong, able-bodied person is welcome to see me for assignment.” He then moves to a table near the door and sits down, and a line begins to form in front of him.

Just so it's clear, your goals in Bloodcove are:

*Locate the information left by Malika and learn about the Aspis expedition.

*Sabotage said expedition if possible.

*Work out connections in the city to make future travel for Pathfinders in Bloodcove easier.

*Gauge the attitudes of people throughout the city toward the Aspis.

GM, would you put this in the campaign description, please?

Done.

Hey I was close... just didn't know there was a Free Trade Square... so warehouse 342 at the Free Trade Square it is!

Vanya smiles warmly at the newcomers:"I'll be damned! I was getting worried we would never be able to find employment and then it found us instead! Good, good. So, my unnamed friend. Suppose we are interessed, and believe me we are, what does this job opportunity you so graciously delivered entail? Who's the employer? And most important of all... how much does it pay?"

Bluff check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

The man is annoyed at first by Vanya's interruption until he catches sight of her. He quickly becomes all smiles.

"Na’alu", he offers in grinning introduction. "The Consortium pays good coin for hard work. If you're interested, go to this address", he says while handing her a slip of paper. "You'll get all the details there."

Vanya snatches the paper and grins widely at the man, bowing her head:"Wonderful, Na'alu, my good friend! I'm Vanya and with these louts here we form the witchbane company! Mercenaries extraordinaire, at your service! A contract with the Aspis Consortium is exactly what we were looking for! Thank you, we'll make sure to check it out!" Vanya is all smiles and friendly words, but under the facade she studies the man carefully

Knowledge(local) check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Vanya tries to remember if she knows anything about Na'alu, and the bekyar racial customs

Vanya recalls a special handshake, unique among the Bekyar.

thanks, I'm down with this other work. Should give us another chance to mingle and get opinions.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Provided it's not something culturally offensive (or risky) Vanya shakes the man's hand the Bekyar way.

Once the man leaves the room Vanya whispers to the others:"Let's make sure no one is minding our business... then we shall discuss our oprions for future employment and solving riddles"

Perception check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Vanya wants to make sure no one is listening before speaking openly with her friends

Vanya doesn't see anyone that looks to be intentionally listening in on the party's conversation presently.

Once Vanya is sure no one is listening she whispers to the others:"This job... I think we should take it. Gives us a way to spy on the serpents. And possibly to cause some mischief, even to sabotage the ir mission... exactly what we want, no?"

Kelsier whispers back "He didn't mention the Aspis..."

-Posted with Wayfinder

"The fella did mentioned the Consortium. I mean how many dang Consortiums are there in Bloodcove? "

Kelsier slaps his palm to his face. whoops. Player error there. I forgot he mentioned it after the initial offer

He puts his hand down and nods assent to the plan.

-Posted with Wayfinder

"In my book there's only one CONSORTIUM from here to Absalom and it's the Aspis Consortium. As I reckon here in Bloodcove they have trade houses and the Consortium controls most of what gets in and goes out of town. Very few dare oppose it. I also believe this was in the mission briefing, wasn't it?" answers Vanya.

Answer given based on my previous Knowledge(local) roll and the fact Vanya has actually already been in Bloodcove and knows a thing or two about how things work here. Besides that, all this need of secrecy is based on the idea the city is controlled by the Aspis Consortium, what other "Consortium" could this Na'lu mean?"

in Diobel there is the Kortos Consortium. Its a local merchant group that's kind of like a government. I don't remember if Kelsier would know that though. I don't think it is relevant here.

-Posted with Wayfinder

True, but in most instances, the Consortium refers to the Aspis I find.

"Yes Ma'am it was. Let's get a move on to that warehouse." We go!

4d20 ⇒ (20, 10, 20, 11) = 61

After a bit of searching, the party determines that there is no warehouse #342 in Free Trade Square but there is a trade stall #342.

Free Trade Square is the busiest part of Bloodcove. The streets swarm with merchants and wagons buying, selling, and transporting food, spices, and antiquities. Lot number 342 sits on the southeastern edge of the market, bordering the fringes of Warehouse Row. A run-down-looking stall dealing in lamps and oil occupies the space, though the poor quality of the lamps may be an indicator of why no customers are anywhere near the stall. The owner, a thoroughly bored middle aged Mwangi man, sits behind the counter making fishing lures.

Time of the day? Is it night already?

"Good morning my friend!" says Vanya approaching the vendor. "Can we take a look at your merchandise? You never know when lamp oil can come in handy these days..." She says starting to check around the stall without waiting for the man's answer.

Perception check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

It's approaching noon.

"Suit yourself", the stall's keeper says without taking much attention off his lures.

so wait, we're not going to go work for the Aspis at warehouse #22?

Apparently not, I wanted to but maybe the opportunity will be there tomorrow. Did Vanya's search have any results?

Sorry, it wasn't clear. I thought you guys wanted to visit the location on the secret message first.

What was Vanya looking for?

Kelsier's last in-character post was agreeing to the plan to go to the Aspis warehouse

You guys can always go there afterward.

No biggie, I suppose the Aspis Consortium will hire tomorrow too. As for Vanya, she's searching for anything unusual on sell between lamps and oil. Maybe what the party needs is hidden in plain sight

You got the sense from the recruiter that the work will be going on all day. You have some time.

Vanya doesn't spot anything out of the ordinary or hidden on the merchant's stall.

"Do you know Kreighton Shaine?" Kelsier asks.

-Posted with Wayfinder

The merchant's eyes grow wide then Kelsier speaks. He holds a finger up in a 'shushing' motion and flashes him an angry look before signaling for the party to go around to the back.

Kelsier nods and calmly goes around to the back.

Wayne follows Kelsier.

Kel scowls slightly and goes around to the back as indicated.

Once everyone is behind the stall, the merchant follows.

He appears with a small clay oil lamp in one hand. He checks the area to make sure no one else is watching before handing the lamp over to the party. “This will lead you to what you seek. Only one of your number can use it, but keep it protected and out of sight as much as you can. Good luck”, he explains.

With that he returns to front of his stall.

Kel takes the lamp and shrugs... "I wonder which one he meant... " He slips the lamp into a pouch for now so it is out of sight.

When Kel goes to pack the lamp away he notices there's something rattling within it.

Kel whispers, "Perhaps we should examine this more closely in a more private location?" If it's possible to look inside the lamp while it's hidden from public view, he'll do so, otherwise, he'll want to go somewhere more private.

Heading to the Aspis warehouse now?

can Kel peek inside the lamp to see what's inside it without attracting any attention? just asking... if not he'll wait

He can look but the opening is too small and dark to see what it is. You'll have to smash it open.