DM Maslen's Second Darkness PF Conversion (Inactive)

Game Master Pathfinder Maslen

Bah. Stupid one hour editing rule. I finished that post and now I have to retype it. That formatting error's gonna bug me all week now. :P

Iscarel turns on the ranger with the look of a snake rearing up. Instead of spitting venom, however, he turns away with a heavy sigh. "You discredit yourself, Marcus."

Ethaniel stands and takes a step towards their employer. "I'm with Saul. I haven't much of a life outside of the Goblin, and so here I'll stay, as long as I'm wanted." And am I? What do I do around here, other than succumb to sickness, and stare when I shouldn't? He clears his throat. "What I mean is, those who stand as my friend can count me as theirs. Those who think me an enemy can be sure I think of them as the same. Reasons aside, Clegg Zincher has made me his enemy, and Saul here has made me his friend."

"So too, have you." Ethaniel turns towards Marcus. "I won't pretend I wouldn't rather you stay, as I value both your company and your blade, but I respect your convictions. If they take you from us, so be it."

Ascaria has been quiet during the exchange, still a bit shaken from the earlier events. Now she steps up to Marcus and places her hand on his arm. "Don't be so angry with him, Marcus. I think Saul is right. He has told us about his past. And I am pretty sure had anyone asked the names of those that were involved in that past, Saul would have honestly mentioned Zincher." She pauses, searching for words. "Think of it as a painting. Saul has shown us the motive earlier, now he added a little color. The picture still remains the same."

Then she adds in voice that is barely more than a whisper. "And I wouldn't want you to go..."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere. Anybody that attacks cooks needs to be brought down hard," Tippy says with no trace of humor in his voice.

All the anger drains from Marcus's face. At least they were displaying some unity. And he'd felt alone ever since the incident. Here he had started to make friends again. Possibly more where Ascaria was concerned.He allows himself a smile.
Well, the cooks DO need to be avenged. And Ethaniel and I have plans I won't break

He offers a wink to Ascaria. Then looks at Saul, I won't stand for Clegg threatening my...friends. We'll need something on him to keep him at bay. At least until this place is strong enough that removing us is more trouble than he can afford. Clegg needs to feel vunlerable
We don't actually need to strike. He just needs to think we CAN.

The tension in Ethaniel's shoulders relaxes at Marcus's words; he does not hide well his relief at the ranger's decision to stay. "So, information is what we need. Yes...I agree. But where to seek it?"

"Patience." he says, dismissively. "He's beyond our reach, and if we ask anybody on his payroll..." Iscarel cuts off, drawing his hand across his throat in a cutting motion, his beetle black eyes bulging for effect.

He pulls out a small, well worn book from his pocket, embossed into the cover is an image that would make even Larur blush. "You've no doubt heard the saying "revenge is a dish best served cold". Or perhaps, as the goddess teaches, revenge is a dish best served cold, scraped from the plate, rained on for a decade, planted in a vinyard, aged for a century and made into a fine wine, laced with arsenic and... no? Nobody? Curious..."

He paces around the room, smiling softly to himself as all eyes fall on him. "What I mean to say is it is not yet the time to strike. Not unless you want to bleed out in an alley." he says, before stopping and reading aloud from the small book. "Savor the three stings of passion, guile and vengeance. No food you ever taste, no thing you ever build, will satisfy you as much as my gifts. The lonely that come into my home shall find a bed and one to warm it. The hidden shall find sanctuary. The slighted, counsel. Each not without payment in kind." he says, trailing off.

"We each have a blood debt with Saul. The temple will aid us, though not without a price. The cheyim Pamodae only trades in secrets." he says, turning to Saul. "I do hope you have something good."

Marcus listens to Iscarel's triade. He not only sounds informed. He sounds like he believes.

We should get back out there. Keep the customers thinking all's well. Saul, we'll leave Samson in the Kitchen in case there are any more snakes. Does Larur have any staff that can help with the food? We need to get through the shift.

Passing by Iscarel, They could probably do with a song to distract from the disturbance. Something about Debits repaid perhaps
Marcus won't apologise directly, the fact he's even talking to Iscarel should say enough.

"Yes, I believe I know a ballad of the sort..." the elf says, smiling. "We can discuss payment this evening, Saul." the elf says, with a sly look, as he makes his way to the door.

I'll make my way upstairs to fetch my lyre and roll another perform check to calm the crowd. I just didn't want to leave the room and miss any more banter. Apparently fascinate can only target two creatures at this level, so that's out.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"Marcus is right. We should get back to work. And this may well help us clear our heads. We should let the matter be for the moment."

Ascaria follows Iscarel out. She will first check if Venn and the other cook are still ok. Then she will resume her duty or - if there is nothing to do for her - hang around trying to spread a cheerful 'everything's alright' mood.

Saul listens intently to the discussion and relaxes as everyone reaffirms their desire to stand with him and honor the partnership.

"Thank you each for placing your faith in our partnership. I wish nothing of Clegg but for him to appreciate the price I have already paid. For him to accept that and let me, us continue with our business. I will keep my mouth closed as best I can in future though as I feel I may have spurned this slightly by calling out Clegg's spies that night. I can promise you know more fanning the flame between Clegg and I. Now, I believe Larur has already gone to find a replacement for the poor cook. He said he had someone in mind. I'm not sure how we should deal with the dead cook however. Should I get the gendarmes? I don't believe he had family or a partner here in town. What say you each on the matter? Give me your council. I ask because if we indicate Clegg in any of this, then any move made against him may come directly back to us."

Ethaniel stiffens. "The gendarmes will either investigate Clegg Zincher's involvement in the matter, or they will side with him straightaway, as the man with the bigger scraps sways the will of dogs." He begins pacing. "They will complicate matters more than we can afford, I say. Leave the gendarmes out of it."

Saul "If we make the choice to keep this between us, then we will need to dispose of the body later this evening and he cannot be traced back to the Goblin. Just prepare yourself for that task if we are all in agreement."

"We have little to fear from the Gendarmes, unless we draw their ire. I see no need for secrecy, especially when it might draw more trouble down on us." Iscarel says, impatiently, an eyebrow raised and fingers curled around the daggers in his belt. He looks at the body as if for the first time, visibly uncomfortable, shifting on his feet. He looks as if to walk over to it, before gritting his teeth and pulling back.

He looks away, laughing a little too harshly. "Ha! I care not. Let me know what you do with him so I can pass it on to the new cook. I could use a good laugh."

With that, Iscarel will leave the room.

Iscarel takes to the stage and the strings of the lyre begin to sing masterfully once again.

Some orbs of light fly from the bar area and begin dancing around the bard as his fingers dance between the strings of the lyre. Again, every eye is caught up in the performance with a few gasps audible when the orbs began their happy dance around the minstrel.

Marcus, holding for Saul to speak before making his rounds, sacrastically suggests: Our friend.in the boneyard gets rid of bodies. Send a bouncer to drop him off.

Tippy gave the note to Ethaniel, though I don't think he ever acknowledged it.

I'm sorry that I didn't respond to it. I know he saw the note, I didn't know he now had possession of it. He likely would have taken it to read it, however, so that makes sense.

I apologise Tipster, completely missed the hand-off to Ethaniel. So Ethaniel, what are you doing with the note.

Ethaniel glances again at the note, realizing he made no mention of it to Saul. The man hardly needs proof that this was a threat. Perhaps I'll spare him... He stops to consider for a moment. Unless...unless the hand is telling.

"Saul." Ethaniel grumbles, holding up the piece of paper. "I did not speak of it before, because the matter seemed well understood, but this letter..." He hands it to Saul. "Might you recognize the ha-"

Ethaniel looks down awkwardly. "Err...I mean to say, pen. Do you recognize the pen in which it is written?"

Saul, "Come now Ethaniel, this (holding up his 'arm') is something I am well aware of. You may, if you need my permission, say the word 'hand' around me and I promise I shall not take it as a slight toward me."
He chuckles to himself as he unfolds the note. "Clegg would never pen anything such as this in his own hand. But, I shall hold onto this never-the-less. I may find a need for it yet."

He looks to Marcus, "I could send Andrezi I suppose to make payment for a pickup. I shall set about that now but he still may tell us to hide the body somewhere tonight."

In that case make sure he does not mention me at all and address the keeper with respect. The man will likely not return if he doesn't. My meeting with the Half orc did not go well. I'll spot him an extra 10gold to make sure he walks out alive.

Marcus hands over the gold.

"Yes...yes, of course." Ethaniel stammers. Some color comes to his usually pallid cheeks. "And in the matter of the body, if I can be of any help, I will. But as Marcus says, the caretaker at the Boneyard is none too fond of us. Any you send to seek his...services...should be cautious."

Saul, "Okay, done. Find something to wrap the body and take it down stairs till tonight when it's safer to be moved. Business as normal." He turns and heads out of the kitchen finally looking for Andrezi.

Does anyone have an interest in taking the body to it's dump site?

Tippy has no interest in returning to the Boneyard. He does, however, pipe up with one final thought on the matter.

"Since we know Clegg did this, why not make it his problem? I'm loathe to use our cook's corpse so cavalierly, but we could dump his body at one of Clegg's places. I'm not sure what it would accomplish, though."

It's appropriate, but I don't think we are in position for that yet. He would surely retaliate.

Ethaniel hesitates. I insisted we dump the body, I should see it through...and besides, I've done this before... "Saul." Ethaniel blurts. "The body...I'll do it. I'm sure the caretaker will remember me, but perhaps I can smooth things over with coin and an apology. The truth is, if he is spiteful enough to hold a grudge, he likely already knows who we are, and so too knows of our connections to you, and to Andrezi. To have him go there alone..."

Andrezi looks slightly concerned and takes a few minutes to disguise himself. Disguise 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11. He knows that he has to head right into Zincher's streets so best to take precautions. When ready, he sets out upon the task of organising the pickup for that evening. He heads across town into the Rotgut district, a place he knows well. He looks around before making his approach to get a sense of the scene and believing it to be fine, moves toward the 'sweeper'. The interaction goes cleanly and he leaves having given payment and learning the drop point.
He returns and looks for Saul but for now, Saul has gone home leaving the closing shift for Larur to manage alone. Larur doesn't care much for the details Andrezi returns with and redirects him to Ethaniel.

Andrezi seeks Ethaniel out and says, "Everything is set, who do want to make the drop?"

"I'll do it." Ethaniel replies. "Give me the details." And the body, I suppose. The half-elf unconsciously pats his purse, hoping he has enough gold to avert the caretaker's hostility.

Andrezi, "He said to put him in a crate and take him down to the area near the wharf masters office. He hands you a note with an 'X' designating the spot. Mark the crate with the depiction of a shovel head and it will get picked up tonight."

"Yes...of course." Ethaniel nods quickly. So I shan't cross paths with the caretaker of the Boneyard this night. Well enough. "I will see to it right away."

Ethaniel sets to the task of fitting the body into a large crate, and finding a cart with which to transport it (I'm hoping Saul has such things on hand?). As instructed, he draws a crude sketch of a shovel head on the lid after he has nailed it down. He pauses briefly over the man's "casket." I am sorry. You deserve more than this, friend. But I will give you what I can.

Ethaniel begins murmuring a prayer to Calistria.

Ethaniel stands, and rolls his neck in response to the tingling feeling in his shoulders. Why have I sworn vengeance for a man I did not know? He lifts the crate onto the cart, and heads for the wharf.

Ethaniel does the body dump and all seemingly goes to plan. The mess has been cleaned and the kitchen was up and running again before close of business.

** spoiler omitted **

Sweet

The following morning, Ethaniel may well be a little nervous about dumping the crate but having spotted the only person around near the wharf masters office, he was able to take care in making the 'delivery'.

Regardless of where you are during Fireday two hours after noon, everyone is witness to an unusual phenomenon. Without any warning whatsoever, the city becomes saturated with magnetic fields. All metal, including armor and weapons becomes slightly magnetized. Items that cling together under the force are separated with moderate ease. During the phenomenon, people begin to panic and speculate about it's cause and wonder if and when it will end. The effect persists for 2d6 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8 minutes and nothing else unusual occurs for the remainder of the day. It is the topic of every conversation and varying opinions about it errupt into the occassional brawl which is quickly broken up. Gendarmes roam the streets in squads doing what they can to ease the tensions.

Marcus will visit the Cypher lodge as soon as he can. He'll also use any downtime to drop Samson at Ascaria's friends house and Buy an Apollo.Mastive asap. Also 2 flasks of Acid and 1 of Alchemist Fire.
Total spent 100gp (including the ten for the body)

Apologies...I have been sidetracked from posting until now. Ethaniel will accompany Marcus to the Cypher lodge, as they discussed just previous to the events in the kitchen.

Ethaniel, not having entirely recovered from the suspense of his recent errand, says little. His eyes shift over at every movement, though he takes care not to look too hard at any gendarmes they pass.

@Marcus / Ethaniel

The only way across the river for most folk is the Velashu Ferry or paying a fisherman for a crossing. You get to the ferry and it is currently unattended. A large bell hangs near the ferry dock and a sign says, 'Ring before midday and you'll surely pay!!'.

Well, what do you think? I'm in no hurry, but is it usual for the ferry man to make customers wait till noon?

If this is going to take a bit maybe we can include Iscarel's trip. Marcus is having faith issues and would go along. Hopefully the rest wanna come

You can participate in Iscarel's trip to the House of Silken Veils but that occurs Oathday evening after Ethaniel does the dump.

A passer-by is friendly enough to make comment, seeing you read the sign and then turn about with a look of confusion. "He works the night shift boys, this is his down time. I'm sure he wont mind if you tip him justly though."

Gather Information on Clegg: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Bluff check to try to keep his questioning discrete so Clegg doesn't get word soneone's asking about him: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

So is anyone interested in accompanying Tippy to one of Clegg's gambling halls one of these nights, just to be seen, not cause trouble?