DaWay's PFS Snows of Summer (Inactive)

Game Master DaWay

Baltazar waits emotionless.

Ah, another fast-on-the-uptake companion, thinks Kelvor to himself when Baltazar completely misses the attempt at faking the bandit into revealing information.

Boram moves to the door. "I'll have no part in this. Better to kill him and get it over with - I'd not have an enemy still breathing at my back." With that, he turns and quietly walks down the stairs...

Perhaps the grenadier -- no, realizes the Shoanti when he turns to see the other halfling leave the room. I guess he doesn't want a role-to-play in this discussion.

Kelvor remembers some of his first lessons from the Dark Oracles about outlanders: Don't expect them to see the same things you see. Don't expect them to understand the same things you understand. They must be given the benefit of the doubt.

The burned man sighs a little internal shrug. Perhaps they didn't see my wink to Lostariel or sense my need for assistance. I'm sure they don't want me to fail.

Intimidate: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1 Hey, look, it's a dice roll!

Given that play has moved on, I'll take that spectacularly bad roll as a sign to take a back seat in this discussion with Rokhar.

Baltazar smiles at the flurry of questions and adds his own:
"When?

Izoze and Teb Knotten they made me capture the Lady. She is tied up with that winter sprite. I will give her to you in exchange for my life. They had plans for her. I don't know what they were other than devious. They just didn't let me kill her, so I asked to ransom her and they refused that too. What kind of thing would you plan if you didn't want to ransom or kill someone. I can't tell you any more Izoze is on the bridge go ask her. Look I've told you everything I know. Can I go?

Ten Penny Tarcy will look at you and nod before exiting, if allowed.

awaiting party reactions...

Baltazar moves from his listening position, drawing a Short Sword with his left hand.
"Oh yes, you HAVE told us some things, including you are a cleric of Norgober, you work with undeads, you killed the lady's guards and turned them into undead, tried to kill lady Argentea and probably killed the rightfull owners of this house too so you could keep it, didn't you? Any last words?"

Baltazar moves toward the vile creature with sword at hand. He is clearly going to cut the man's throat if no one interferes.

Baltazar seems to have a clear grasp on the situation. Who would have thought one of the Small Ones would be so straight-to-the-heart, thinks Kelvor. Perhaps there is further information this wretch could tell us before Baltazar dispatches him.

"Bandit, who are these Izoze and Teb Knotten of whom you speak? And WHERE is Lady Argentea tied up? Is the winter sprite also tied up? Or in charge of the Lady's imprisonment?"

I wonder what he means by "winter sprite"? wonders the Shoanti warrior. As the shaman of the Shundar-Quah always said, Learn all you can. Knowledge will save the world. And you.

Kelvor, realizing the delay this is causing, begins searching the guards and Rokhar for any potions or wands that could help the team. He has already noted that Benevolence has disappeared from the area. She seemed discomfited recently and the strategically-minded Kelvor is busy thinking of the tactical and resource gaps her absence may create.

How's our healing potential, folks? Without Benevolence, we may be in some trouble.

No healing at all. I'm not sure how good you are at Sense Motive, but Baltazar IS moving for the kill, eyes narrowed and all. He probably won't have the time to answer your questions, if I get there.

Actually I head to edit that, and it showed in the gameplay so techincally he never said he was a cleric of Norgorber.

Norgorber...why no, I am not, I am a simple necromancer. And I just told you that the Lady is still alive. I wasn't allowed to kill her. She's in the basement. This place was mine to begin with.

If needed....bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
sleight of hand: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Izoze is a demon on the bridge. Teb Knotten is a vile creature in the heart of the winter.

No potions or anything other than mundane equipment.

Sense Motive vs. rokhar: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Kelvor ponders their tactical situation.

"Kor, Lostariel, how are you situated for healing?"

Well, I was fast enough to read that Norgober sentence (he never said he was a cleric tough), but if he never said it...

SM: 1d20 ⇒ 2
Baltazar comes to a halt and blinks twice, as if trying to put together what he just heard. There is something wrong here. I should kill him and be done with it. But maybe it is true...
"If what you say is true get us to her, and fast."

In the basement, I would go quick, don't know what the demon has in store for her. While you are in the basement I am going to make myself scarce make a decision my life or her.

Just a reminder, Boram was headed down the stairs already from earlier, stealthed. If he doesn't find anything, he will wait at the bottom of the stairs for the others.

"I'm afraid healing is not my expertise,"

Boram feel free to give me a perception check/T10/T20

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

The bearskin rug has an odd clumping in it. You move it and find a padlocked trap door.

Boram walks back up the stairs hesitantly and peers inside the room. I guess Kelvor decided not to torture him after all. So what is he still doing alive? "I've found a trap door, downstairs under the bearskin rug. It's locked, though, so we'll need to figure that one out. Regardless, I suggest we go take a look."

"As for him," he juts his chin at Rokhar, "let's kill him or let him go, but be done with him either way. I'll not have him here, behind us, waiting to stab us in the back at the earliest opportunity." He walks over to where Rokhar is bound. "Personally? I don't have a preference whether you live or die, but if you tell me where the key to the trap door is, I might almost feel bad about killing you where you sit."

Intimidate: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

Boram will try to determine the validity of what Rokhar says, if anything.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Rokhar fumbles at some keys and hands them, albeit with a shaking hand to Boram. Here, just let me live!

Boram takes the keys and asks a string of questions. "What can we expect to find when we open the trap door, hmmm? Is the Lady there? Is she being guarded? If so, by whom?" He pauses, waiting for a response.

You're doing a great job Boram!

Baltazar just waits for the 'negotiation' to get finished, lowering his desire to kill the man.

"Could it be that this is their plan?" Lostariel whispers to Boram.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18

No, no, it's just her

He is telling the truth.

Assuming for the moment that Boram asked several questions, getting the same answers as before about Izoze on the bridge, Teb Knotten, and the winter sprite.

Boram nods. "Good. That's good." Far from satisfied, however, he launches into another short burst of questions. " Why is the winter sprite locked up with the Lady? Where is this "bridge" you're talking about?"

Assuming, too, that the bandit gives acceptable answers, and nobody else has any followup questions...

Boram checks Rokhar's bindings, then searches his body and grabs any weapons or valuables. "Look, we're all going to go downstairs. When we get there, we are going to let the Lady out of her imprisonment, and you will take her place for the time being. Then, we are going to make use of your house for the night. You will make no trouble for us, and in return we will let you live. Are those terms acceptable to you?"

No, no, no. The sprite is guarding the door outside where the lady is captured. As far as where the bridge is, turn around. He pauses to let you continue asking the questions. Yes, perfectly acceptable.

So what now?

Boram looks confused. "The sprite is guarding the trap door under the bearskin rug? Is it in the trap door as well, or watching from nearby? Regardless, it seems we have one more battle to win this night."

Anyone else have any questions?

"I have no more questions. Let us proceed" says Kelvor.

Baltazar nods and start moving toward the door to the basement.

How long was that? I think my mage armor is done now. I'm down to my 2 summon spells.

A half-dozen boxes and barrels take up the majority of this underground cellar. A rough blanket lies spread on the floor in the southeast corner next to a bowl of half-eaten food.

The bandits have converted this cellar into a dungeon for Lady Argentea Malassene and any future prisoners. A 10-foot-high wooden ladder provides access to the cellar.

Lady Argentea Malassene is the sole occupant of this cellar-turned-dungeon. Having suffered some injuries her spirits have not been broken.

What have your masters come to inflict upon me now?

Andoran's main gift: Freedom, my lady.

What have your masters come to inflict upon me now?

"No time for talk, Lady. Danger abounds. Let us go," says the big Shoanti. He watches the situation carefully, his eyes scanning at all times.

Rohkar said there was a sprite guarding the door. Where is it, I wonder? he thinks. The Shoanti warrior's grip on his earthbreaker tightens, ready for anything.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Kelvor readies an action: if the sprite appears, he will immediately attack it.

Andoran you say. You must be Pathfinders. Please release the shackles and pursue the evil that has claimed the wilderness. A threat much greater than that of some raiders in the Border Wood. Extremely dangerous winter creatures at the center with whom they allied themselves with. The leader was someone named Teb Knotten. You must go. Quickly.

"Will you be able to go back home? Our mission is to rescue you, but we will do that if it is relevant, won't we?" He looks at the others.

"If she is willing to risk her own safety just so we can pursue this threat, that must mean it is urgent. We should go now."

Lostariel will help remove the shackles.

"Anything else we should worry about?"

Boram shakes his head. "Hold on, now. We have depleted our resources getting even this far. I have only one bomb remaining for the day, and Lostariel, I'd imagine you have few spells remaining as well? Our healer has left us, and we have yet to face our true enemy. Should we not rest and be better prepared?"

He turns to Rokhar. "And you - you said that there was a sprite guarding this woman. Where is it?"

"I understand your concern and I do believe that it will be of our best interest to take a better plan and most of all is to recuperate but," Lostariel turns to the woman, "Do we have the luxury of resting for tonight?" Lostariel asks the woman.

Rokhar looks at the group, I don't know where he went. He must have scampered off when the fighting broke out. Look the Lady is right it is urgent but ten knotted is no joke you should rest if you need to.

ThenLady says to rest but you must leave at first light.

Boram nods. "Very well." He chains Rokhar in the recently-vacated manacles, then urges everyone up the stairs.

Once the trap door is closed, locked, and covered by the bearskin rug, he begins talking once more. "Rokhar said there was a winter sprite guarding the woman, but we've seen no such creature. Either it is beneath us, hiding and locked behind the door, or it is up here, hiding, waiting to attack us or free Rokhar, or it has left to warn this Izoze or Teb Knotten. If it's beneath us, then we have nothing to worry about. If, however, it's not, we should search the house, top to bottom. If we find it, we kill it. If we don't, we assume it's gone for reinforcements and post a guard while we rest. We should clear each room in the house together, but then we should split up and search individually once more. Are we in agreement?"

Underneath the room where Rohkar was found Four beds, two large chests, and a single table with four chairs occupy this room. Three windows look out to the east, west, and south, providing a grand view of the snowy gorge outside the lodge. Four of Rohkar’s Raiders lie bedridden in this room, having contracted an illness.

Rokhr's room contains a small closet. Dozens of small boxes, bottles, and papers fill this musty storeroom. A small iron cage sits on the top shelf, emanating a flickering light like that of a candle. The captive, a winter-touched sprite named Vrixx, is locked inside the cage.Vrixx has grown increasingly despondent trapped in his tiny prison, his luminosity waxing and waning with his mood. Help me! You have to release me. I have been imprisoned by the treacherous Rokhar.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 12

"You've been winter-touched, like those that attacked us earlier. Why should we trust what you say?"

Lostariel awaits the answer,

Aid another (Sense Motive): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

Probably a deception, thinks Kelvor.

Aid another (Sense Motive): 1d20 ⇒ 15

Only because he locked me away and exposed me to the influence of the cold. I have been beaten and captured. Do I compare you to Rokhar? No, then you should not compare me to those you met earlier.

bluff mod. withheld.: 1d20 ⇒ 2 part of the story is untrue.

"I suggest you tell us the complete truth. If you insist on lying to us, we will have no choice but to leave you there to rot, or kill you outright."

Baltazar will leave the talking to the talking halfling, while he takes 20 in perception (for 27) and on disable device (for 30) to open the chests if they are locked, and check whatever is inside.

Fine. I am a cold fey, always have been but doesn't change the rest of the statement.

three scrolls of lesser animate dead (2 HD)
2 doses of greenblood oil
a small lockbox containing 25 pp, 150 gp, 180 sp, and a blue quartz “ice diamond” from Irrisen worth 100 gp.
three oils of magic weapon
10 flasks of alchemist’s fire

Baltazar destroys the three scrolls, before talking with the others. "I found some stuff, does anyone use any of this?"

"If none of you is an expert at throwing things, let me use it so I can aid you in combat when my spells run out."

Boram asks the sprite, "When, why, and by whom were you beaten and captured?"

To Baltazar, "I could use the alchemist's fire to good effect, though it would be better to rest and make more bomb materials."