Family Game - City of Strangers

Game Master Jessica Catalan

Enzo strokes his moustache. "Senton does have a point. But, we do owe you a favour. Did you have something in mind?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

"I do, indeed, little Pathfinders. Fear not. Your task is one you're well suited for...."

The voice falls silent for a moment. The silence is heavy.... Eventually Dakar speaks again.

"You believe you have put an end to the Shadow Lodge's presence here in Kaer Maga. You are wrong. Like rats there are more hiding in the shadows. I want you to find their headquarters, exterminate their members, and rid the city forever of the meddlesome organization. Do we have an accord?"

Bunny Paras looks happy to have the bag off of her head. She listens to Dakars orders and nods.

"A promise is a promise," Enzo replies. "We have an accord. Any idea where these other Shadow Lodge members are hiding?"

Dakar lets out a hissing laugh. "Oh, I'm sure resourceful Pathfinders, such as yourselves, can find them without my aid. Can't you?" After a few moments of silence, Dakar chuckles. "Very well, a clue for you. The Commerce League controls the markets. The Shadow Lodge is not welcome in my territory. But, even they must eat...The Meat Gate, in the Warrens, is the most likely place for scoundrels and the poor to get cheap food. Luckily for you, there are many eyes there... Eyes that would speak for a few coins, yes? Start your search there."

The light behind the screen goes out at the exact moment Dakar says, "Now be gone."

The guards approach with bags, clearly ready to take you back to the wagon.

Mr. Ice lets the bag be put back on his head and goes back to the wagon.

With the magical bags back on your head, the group is lead to the wagon, and driven around Kaer Maga once more. An hour later you reemerge and return the bags to find yourself at the edge of the Downmarket where it connects to The Warren.

Kaer Maga is a ring of unbroken stone, it's sides seemingly invulnerable to weather, siege, or time––except here. On the city’s northwestern side, some unknown calamity appears to have blown an enormous hole in the city’s ring, completely obliterating any stonework down to the bare earth and leaving only scattered chunks of broken rock, most of which have long since been scavenged by other districts for new construction. Within this breach, generations of Kaer Maga’s poorest residents have made their homes in the most literal sense, building shack on top of shanty in a hodgepodge of scaffolding and scrap lumber that now towers almost as high and wide as the rest of the ring, its interior a maze known only to its inhabitants. This is the Warren.

Right before you is a wide break through the center of the shantytown’s towering scaffolding that allows enough room for several carts and wagons to travel abreast. This road, known as The Gap, is entirely free of buildings and leads from the city's centre in Downmarket, all the way outside of Kaer Maga, to the Storval Plateau. The Gap is packed full of people, coming and going, with local guides and guards offering their services. The people here seem to be the most ethnically diverse you've seen in the whole city, with halflings and humans living alongside, wererats, orcs, vanara, and stranger creatures, in a mostly peaceful, boisterous, squalor.

After quickly consulting his guidebook, Enzo learns that pickpockets and gangs are common in The Warren, as this is the poorest district in the city. It's also the main entrance to Kaer Maga, so any gangs or thieves causing too much trouble, preventing people from entering the rest of the city, or hindering The Gap are immediately dealt with by the other gangs before the other powerful groups in Kaer Maga take care of it themselves.

Looking up Meatgate, Enzo learns that it is an open-air market at the entrance to Kaer Maga on The Gap. That should make it pretty easy to find. Apparently, any folks who find themselves in possession of a bit of food that they want to sell –– likely due to hunting and trapping outside the city –– comes to the Meatgate to sell their food for fair prices.

Following Enzo's directions, the Pathfinders find the Meatgate a riot of shouts, blood, and unwashed citizens bartering and arguing over food.

If there's something you want to do before or on the trip through The Warren, let me know. Also, when you get to Meatgate what do you want to do? Finally, if you want to look around or ask around for the Shadow Lodge, let me know what you say, and how you go about it.

Bunny Paras looks around at all the messy, dirty, poor people and leans over and says to her friends, "I don't like this place. I don't want to stay here."

She hurries warily down the Gap and to the Meatgate. When she gets there she keeps a tight grip on Paras, to keep her safe, and keeps a lookout for anyone who looks like they might be a Pathfinder or a Shadow Lodge member or a goblin.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Paras helps too.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"Hey! You! You ever heard of the Shadow Lodge? Tell me all you know!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Enzo and Mr. Ice, care to lend a hand?

"Well, we're not staying long," Enzo assures Bunny Paras. He eyes everyone around him suspiciously.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Brrrr! It's c-c-cold in here!" He asks around about the Shadow Lodge.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Bunny Paras and Enzo's suspicions pay off, as they notice a few strange looking people in the crowds... A halfling with an orange messy mop of hair and a bow in hand, a man in teal robes and greasy black hair that shrouds his face, a half-orc woman with a falchion that draws her blade, and a dark skinned woman with white tattoos in black and white robes. The woman with the tattoos raises her staff and chants something you can't write hear over the crowds. The other seem to be waiting for her to finish.

Enzo and Bunny Paras may take a either a move or a standard action.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

"I need your help, friend," Enzo says, as he holds the dog figurine in his hand. A dog leaps out of the figure and attacks the spellcaster!

Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
BPS Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Bunny Paras starts to cast a spell... Summon nature's ally, she's giving up barkskin to cast it.

Concentration if she gets hurt: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

The spellcaster scowls at the dog, but keeps her concentration, letting out a wave of warm light. Apparently a signal of some kind, the other three suspicious bystanders ready themselves to attack. Surprisingly, it's Mr. Ice that reacts the fastest!

COMBAT TRACKER - Round 1 - Bold may act!

Mr. Ice (damage taken: 0)
———
Bega Ethaldreda (damage taken: 0)
———
Bunny Paras (damage taken: 0)
Paras (damage taken: 0)
Amiri(damage taken: 0)
———
Muminah (damage taken: 0)
———
Enzo (damage taken: 0)
———
Todor Mozes (damage taken: 0)
Micky Ticklefeet (damage taken: 0)

ONGOING EFFECTS / ENVIRONMENT
Bless (enemies). 1 minute remaining.
Crowds - the crowds make the market difficult terrain and provide cover for anyone more than 5 feet away from you.

PENDING
Mr. Ice may go.

Mr. Ice pushes through the crowd to the halfling archer.

The half-orc charges at Amiri with a loud scream, shoving people aside to reach the barbarian. She swings her scimitar in a wide arc, unconcerned about hitting bystanders in the market. Her blade tears into Amiri, nearly taking the barbarian down in one strike.

COMBAT TRACKER - Round 1 - Bold may act!

Mr. Ice (damage taken: 0)
———
Bega Ethaldreda (damage taken: 0)
———
Bunny Paras (damage taken: 0)
Paras (damage taken: 0)
Amiri(damage taken: 15)
———
Muminah (damage taken: 0)
———
Enzo (damage taken: 0)
———
Todor Mozes (damage taken: 0)
Micky Ticklefeet (damage taken: 0)

ONGOING EFFECTS / ENVIRONMENT
Bless (enemies). 1 minute remaining.
Crowds - the crowds make the market difficult terrain and provide cover for anyone more than 5 feet away from you.

PENDING
Bunny Paras, Paras, and Amiri may go.

With a howl of pain and absolute rage, Amiri draw her blade and drives it into the half-orc.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 1 = 22
Slashing Damage: 2d8 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (8, 6) + 9 + 3 = 26

The half-orc falls to the ground, nearly chopped in half, a look of surprise on her face.

Bunny Paras and Paras can go!

.

Bunny Paras gasps in surprise! "Go get 'em, Paras!"

Then she loads and fires her sling at the sneaky sorcerer nearby!

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
B Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Paras races up to the bad guy and whips him with her tail!

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
S Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Paras slaps the mage with her tail. "Ouch!" he exclaims, grabbing his arm in pain.

Across the market, the tattooed woman tries to whack the dog with her quarterstaff. Whacking the dog for 1 damage. She curses at her weak attack and takes a step back.

COMBAT TRACKER - Round 1 - Bold may act!

Mr. Ice (damage taken: 0)
Bunny Paras (damage taken: 0)
Paras (damage taken: 0)
Amiri(damage taken: 15)
———
Muminah (damage taken: 0)
———
Enzo (damage taken: 0)
———
Todor Mozes (damage taken: 3)
Micky Ticklefeet (damage taken: 0)

ONGOING EFFECTS / ENVIRONMENT
Bless (enemies). 1 minute remaining.
Amiri: Rage
Dog: 1 damage
Crowds - the crowds make the market difficult terrain and provide cover for anyone more than 5 feet away from you.

PENDING
Enzo may go.

Dog steps forward and snaps at the tattooed woman!

Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
BPS Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Enzo strides forward confidently, draws his bow, and fires an arrow at the halfling near Mr. Ice.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Piercing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Dog bites the woman on the leg, but it's a glancing blow, and she staggers back with little more than a hiss of pain. Enzo's arrow flies off target, slamming into a nearby crate.

The spellcaster takes a step back and casts out his arms, sending a magical missile flying at Paras! 4 force damage to Paras! Across the battlefield, the halfling dashes backwards and fires an arrow at Mr. Ice, which strikes him right in the leg. "Back off, ya' weirdo!" 8 damage to Mr. Ice.

COMBAT TRACKER - Round 2 - Bold may act!

———
Mr. Ice (damage taken: 8)
Bunny Paras (damage taken: 0)
Paras (damage taken: 4)
Amiri(damage taken: 15)
———
Muminah (damage taken: 2)
Enzo (damage taken: 0)
Todor Mozes (damage taken: 0)
Micky Ticklefeet (damage taken: 0)

ONGOING EFFECTS / ENVIRONMENT
Bless (enemies). 1 minute remaining.
Amiri: Rage
Crowds - the crowds make the market difficult terrain and provide cover for anyone more than 5 feet away from you.

PENDING
Mr. Ice, Bunny Para, Paras and Amiri may go.

Amiri surges across the battlefield, ignoring her wounds, and swings her massive blade at the healer alongside Dog.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Slashing Damage: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (7, 7) + 9 = 23

Mr. Ice takes a step forward and stabs at the halfling with both his swords, grunting loudly.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

----

Confirming a Critical (Attack 1): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Paras keeps whipping her tail at the spellcaster.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
S Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Confirming a Critical (Attack): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
S Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Bunny Paras casts a spell and suddenly a thundercloud appears in her hands. It flies off at surrounds the spellcaster, then it shocks him with lightning!

Electricity Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 6) = 12 (DC 15 Reflex save for half damage. He's also concealed. It lasts 3 rounds)

Amiri utterly obliterates the healer, cutting her in half and showering herself and dog in gore. Heavily wounded and short of breath she looks around wild-eyed for another target.

Meanwhile, across the battlefield, Mr. Ice stabs the halfling with his short sword, though he fails to hit a major artery.

Paras, however, whips the spellcaster so hard he nearly topples over, and Bunny Paras' lightning storm finished him off, knocking him unconscious.

The halfling curses loudly and tumbles away from Mr. Ice, then takes aim and fires another arrow at him.

COMBAT TRACKER - Round 3 - Bold may act!

———
Mr. Ice (damage taken: 8)
Bunny Paras (damage taken: 0)
Paras (damage taken: 4)
Amiri(damage taken: 15)
Enzo (damage taken: 0)
———
Micky Ticklefeet (damage taken: 4)

ONGOING EFFECTS / ENVIRONMENT
Amiri: Rage

PENDING
Everyone may go.

Mr. Ice races after the halfling and stabs him!

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Confirming a Critical: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

...

I cast danceing lights to distract the enmeys Parus will attack.

Paras attacks the nearist bad guy.
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
attack: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Together, Mr. Ice, Bunny Paras, and Paras take down the last of their attackers, leaving the market a mess of blood and unconscious people. Within moments, locals return to the market, some going about their business, but many to eye the well-equipped bodies on the ground in an assessing fashion. They glance back up at you then back down at the bodies.

It seems, for the moment, your presence is preventing the locals from looting the bodies, but it won't last for long.

Are you searching the bodies of the people who attacked you for clues? Are you saying anything to the crowds? Healing? What's up?

Searching the bodies for loot and clues, then healing.

"Stay away we are professionals!"

mr ice Quickly goes to the crowd and says stay back we are prrofesinols

While the crowd seems to listen to you for a time, after a few minutes, they seem jealous of the goods and clearly consider pilfering their share from the bodies. Fortunately, they seem to decide you're more dangerous than the loot is valuable and don't approach.

You find the following goods your attackers.

potions of cure light wounds (4)
potion of invisibility
scrolls of magic missile (2)
scroll of doom
scroll of obscuring mist
chain shirt (2)
splint mail
tower shield
elixir of love
dagger
scimitar
short sword
quarterstaff
longbow
arrows (20)
silver holy symbol of Nethys
a key.

The key has a symbol of a kneeling human male with his arms raised to the sun on the bow.

2 potions 1 chain mail shirt short sword and the key is what I take.

I put the rest of the loot in the shared loot bag?

yes