DystopianGM's The City of Strangers, Part II: The Twofold Demise (Inactive)

Game Master DystopianDream

When Kormiggon wakes, tied up and with an entire Pathfinder team around him, he only chuckles, softly, darkly, to himself.

He says, "It is well, then. It is well. There is nothing left to say."

Blend glowers down at him,, Really? I think there's an awful lot to say and you can tell us or we can drag you back to Magnimar, stick you on a boat to Absalom and you can tell Aram Zey who is a far less agreeable chap than we are. You can start by telling us all you know about the shadow lodge.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

Uh, huh. Dwarven diplomacy at play here.

"Or I could just feed you to the goblins, right here, right now! One piece at a time."

I guess Silgil hasn't figured out the nuances between diplomacy and intimidation.

Kormiggon laughs again. "You really don't know anything, do you? I was like you once. But you'll see. Soon everyone will see what you're fighting for, gathering power for. You'll see."

To any replies, he simply says, "You will see soon enough."

He doesn't seem willing to offer anything else. The only thing left to decide is whether to drag him back to Absalom, or give him to one of the powers in Kaer Maga.

-Posted with Wayfinder

*Sigh* That statement makes a lot more sense in Season 2 but doesn't really anymore now lol.

Chip sighs, seeing that he can't be turned. "You all say the same thing. Meet your fate." Chip knocks him out.

"Authorities or the Society? I vote for the Society personally. Enchantment magic can do wonders on those not willing to talk."

"This lodge thing extends beyond these city borders. We definitely need to bring him back to the society for questioning."

"On the other hand.." sighs Prisim.

"Do we really want to take him all the way back to Absalom. It's not, like, we have any, like, authority. All his crimes were done here. And the folk here are not likely to be lenient to anyone who challenges their authority."

"I think we must. This shadow lodge is bigger than we thought and threatens the very existence of the Pathfinder Society. If we leave him in the hands of a local, there's no telling what their motivations may be."

Blend sighs a little. Take him or not, I really don't have a view one way or the other. It doesn't seem like he was very high up but he might have some useful information. The commerce league will probably just kill him, they don't seem to be very accommodating to potential rivals and frankly he doesn't deserve better.

It is a long trip back to Absalom, but before you head out down the Halflight Path again, you see several familiar faces. Both the Commerce League and the Ardocs bid you farewell at different points in your trek out of the city. The familiar Commerce League thug that "facilitated" your meeting with Dakar simply nods at you and tells you, "The Pathfinders are still welcome here."

From the Ardocs, Besel Ardoc himself comes striding up to you, golems in a semicircle behind him. He says, "It has been well, you ridding us of this problem. Know that the City of Strangers is grateful to the Society for this." Ardoc leaves after that on other important business, his golems stomping down the street after him.

In the crowds, Blend spots Fasch watching him go, and also eyeing a fool from Highside Stacks' coin pouch, but refraining, keeping her hands firmly in her pockets, this time anyway.

Silgil and Prisim spot Sard in the window of a local tavern, still hitting the drink hard. He waves as the Pathfinders pass by.

Chip and Lod see Roold suiting up for her own caravan run. She gives a thumbs up and the briefest of smiles before her usual scowl comes down across her face again.

Miss Feathers towers amidst the crowds, dressed in revealing furs and wearing heavy rouge. She winks at Garrett one last time, fluttering a fan from Tian Xia.

-----

The trip is long back to Absalom, but finally you walk its streets once more. You deliver the traitor Kormiggon to the Grand Lodge, and soon are summoned by Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng to give your report. He listens intently to the tales, pausing only to ask a question or two, and when you are done, his face looks even more haggard. He says, "It's no longer a rumor then, this Shadow Lodge--it's a reality. We're going to have to deal with it. You should stay in Absalom awhile. You've done the Society a great service. A great service indeed. You should rest now, and prepare.

"I imagine missions against the Shadow Lodge will be very plentiful soon enough."

And so this tale ends. Great job everyone!

Many thanks for the run GM, much appreciated.

"The Shadow Lodge remind me too much of the Aspis. That's not a good thing."

Thanks much for running!