GM Abraham's Murder's Mark (Inactive)

Game Master Abraham Z.

Robbin watches the exchange and then moves on to look for other games to play.

Combat Round 1

Conditions:
Xeveos - dmg;
Blue - dmg;
Robbin - dmg;
Eltran - dmg;
Cortland - dmg;
Gorak - dmg;
Red - dmg;

As the pathfinders move out from Madame Masque's tent and resume their search for entertainment, suddenly shouts and screams ring out from the crowd, as townspeople begin to flee from the Midway. "A dragon, a dragon! Run for your lives!"

And indeed, some sort of 'dragon-like' creature is running amok amidst the tents. The beast scurries around the midway, hissing at the fleeing carnival-goers and snapping its jaws at anyone who gets too close.

A strange fellow with massive ears is running behind, pleading with the creature to calm down, but clearly not brave enough to actually attempt to subdue it. Spotting the pathfinders, he pleads with you: "Please, help me get it back in its cage! But it's very special - don't kill the baby dragon!"

Map is updated.

Pathfinders are up! The bold may act!

Knowledge Nature, Inspiration: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 8 + (2) = 11

Ok, the Dice Gods are just cruel

Cortland puts his arms out wide and moves up to the dragon.

Aiding someone with an attack or grapple roll to get it back in the cage

Aid Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Xeveos steps forward drawing his sling and loading a stone.

"I thought dragons were smart creatures. Is imprisoning them for entertainment really a good idea?"

Robbin "dances" forward and sets in a stance ready to make an unarmed attack when the creature is within striking range.

"Holy overgrown lizard, that's a baby! I hope it doesn't breath fire yet."

Gorak movers forward, and unhooks- but doesn't ready- his blade.

Untrained at Know Nature

"Best take it easy little guy, I would hate for something to happen to you"

Readied action, attack if it performs a hostile action against an ally

Combat Round 2

Conditions:
Xeveos - dmg;
Robbin - dmg;
Cortland - dmg;
Gorak - dmg;
Red - dmg; charged (-2 AC);
Blue - dmg;

Sorry for the delay everyone - busy week and also I somehow missed that Eltran was Noral's character and therefore no longer present, so I was waiting for her to act. Oops!

Cortland attempts to assist anyone who might try to capture the creature, but the long break from adventuring has clearly messed with his timing.

Xeveos prepares his sling shot.

Robbin readies to strike the creature if it comes within his range.

Gorak also readies to strike the creature if it attacks the group.

The "dragon" charges forward towards the nearest creature it spies: poor Cortland stands directly in its path!

bite, charge: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 2 = 14

... but the rampaging creature just misses the brave investigator.

Note: neither Robbin's nor Gorak's readied actions are triggered, due to they're being too far away.

The fellow with the enormous ears comes hurrying just behind and shrieks in dismay when the monster bites at Cortland. "Oh no, oh no! Whatever you do, don't hurt it! It's only a baby, just the sweetest little baby dragon!"

Start of Round 2

Pathfinders are up! The bold may act!

Cortland instincively grabs at the charging dragon. Without even thinking he tries to grab it.

Ill advised grapple: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Combat Round 2

Conditions:
Xeveos - dmg;
Robbin - dmg;
Cortland - dmg; grappled;
Gorak - dmg;
Red - dmg; charged (-2 AC); grappled;
Blue - dmg;

Bite AoO: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Cortland reaches out to grab the dragon, which snaps furiously at him but misses. The creature's mad flailing creates just the opening that Cortland needs as he now finds himself up close and personal, hugging a dragon!

The bold may act!

Robbin circles around the creature hoping to flank it with any ally.

Combat Round 2

Conditions:
Xeveos - dmg;
Robbin - dmg;
Cortland - dmg; grappled;
Gorak - dmg;
Red - 10 non-lethal dmg; charged (-2 AC); grappled;
Blue - dmg;

@Robbin, I assume you were doing non-lethal?

Robbin delivers a devastating punch to the struggling baby dragon, seemingly enraging it even further!

The bold may act!

Can I make a free action to panic and pee my pants?

Deciding it had moved too quickly to make his sling effective, Xeveos drops the weapon as he closes in with the dragon, attempting to stop it with his fist.

Unarmed: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 2 = 14 Damage (nonlethal): 1d3 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

@GM Abraham Yes, sorry I missed that in my proof reading.

Combat Round 2

Conditions:
Xeveos - dmg;
Robbin - dmg;
Cortland - dmg; grappled;
Gorak - dmg;
Red - 11 non-lethal dmg; charged (-2 AC); grappled;
Blue - dmg;

Xeveos steps forward and punches the dragon in the nose. I wonder if this sentence has ever appeared in the annals of Pathfinder Society? :-)

Meanwhile, Cortland, having achieved what he set out to do, begins to soil his garments, as he considers the possible implications...

Gorak may act!

Gorak sees the dragon, and his companions attempts to subdue it. He looks over to his blade, back to the creature, and then the blade.

He runs over to the others, and attempts to throw his arms around the creature.

Move 20 ft. Attempt to Grapple. Provokes AoO

Grapple: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Combat Round 3

Conditions:
Xeveos - dmg;
Robbin - dmg;
Cortland - 16 dmg; grappled;
Gorak - dmg;
Red - 11 non-lethal dmg; grappled;
Blue - dmg;

Gorak also joins the fray, attempting to grapple the dragon, but failing. Gorak, note that Cortland had already grappled the creature and therefore it's unable to take an AoO against you.

The furious dragon now attempts to bite the brave hero who is hugging it...

bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
CRIT CONFIRM? bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
dmg including CRIT: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (5, 3) + 8 = 16
Cortland Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

... and delivers a savage blow to him, though fortunately our hero manages to fight off the ill effects of the poison dripping from the dragon's fangs. Nevertheless, the bad smell coming from Cortland's soiled garments appears to be getting worse.

The elephant-eared fellow screams with dismay. "No, no! Bad dragon! Very bad dragon! Sit! Sit, I say!"

Start of Round 3

The bold may act!

Cortland continues to hold on.

Maintain Grapple: 1d20 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 5 = 10

Robbin continues trying to subdue the baby dragon with non-leathally placed blows from both of his fists.

flurry of blows attk 1: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 11
flurry of blows dmg 1: 1d6 ⇒ 2
flurry of blows attk 2: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 2 = 24
flurry of blows dmg 2: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Combat Round 3

Conditions:
Xeveos - dmg;
Robbin - dmg;
Cortland - 16 dmg;
Gorak - dmg;
Red - 14 non-lethal dmg;
Blue - dmg;

Reeling from the savage bite of the dragon, Cortland is unable to maintain his grip on the creature, who snarls in fury.

Robbin punches twice at the creature, connecting with the second blow.

The bold may act! Xeveos and Gorak are up.

Blasted creature. Attacking my mate like that.

Gorak pulls out the blade, opting instead to go for a heavy blow.

Greatsword, Nonlethal: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 6 - 4 = 4 Nonleathal: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 6) + 6 = 14

The effort of using his heavy blade in a non-lethal manner is perhaps distracting to Gorak, who misses the dragon badly.

Xeveos is up!

Xeveos takes out his tonfa and clubs the beast with it.

Tonfa: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 2 = 17 Damage: 1d6 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4

Combat Round 4

Conditions:
Xeveos - dmg;
Robbin - dmg;
Cortland - 16 dmg;
Gorak - dmg;
Red - 14 non-lethal dmg; 4 dmg;
Blue - dmg;

Xeveos strikes the dragon, sending it even further into a frenzy.

The creature responds by trying to bite its latest assailant, Xeveos!
bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
... but it is clearly distracted by all the commotion.

When the elephant-eared fellow sees Xeveos strike the dragon full-on he screeches with alarm. No, no! Bad adventurer! Don't hurt him. He's just a little baby dragon, no harm to anyone at all!"

Start of round 4

The bold may act!

Robbin flurries again hoping to finally knock the creature out.

attack1: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 2 = 26
damage1: 1d6 ⇒ 5
attack2: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15
damage2: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Yes, it was lethal damage.

Out of combat

Conditions:
Xeveos - dmg;
Robbin - dmg;
Cortland - 16 dmg;
Gorak - dmg;
Red - 23 non-lethal dmg; 4 dmg; unconscious
Blue - dmg;

Robbin crit confirm?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 confirms

With a quick succession of punches, Robbin finally manages to knock the baby "dragon" unconscious. Now that it is no longer moving, the pathfinders are able to look at it more carefully and ascertain that it seems to be some kind of large lizard.

The elephant-eared fellow spends a few moments hyperventilating, before beginning to thank the group profusely. "I'm Phardaen the Panotti. I don't know how this could have possibly happened?!? I hope I'm not responsible! I didn't think I was doing anything wrong..."

Then, Berthold Flavion, the circus’s Master of Beasts, arrives, winded and flushed. Some members of the crew carry the lizard back to its cage, and others help calm Phardaen down: "Come, Elephant-ears, time to get back to the sideshow."

Berthold turns to the group: "You handled this delicate situation very well and I'm grateful. It could have easily gotten very out of hand, with terrible implications. If you wouldn't mind keeping a bit quiet about this, I'd be most appreciative. As you can imagine, it wouldn't be too good for the circus if our little "baby dragon" had actually harmed anyone! Please, take this as a token of my appreciation." He gives the group a sack containing 50 gp.

Cortland lays on the grass, his chest heaving.

After the carnies leave the area Robbin states, I thought a baby dragon would have wings. Do the sprout wings when they are older? That looked like and overgrown garden lizard. That thing would feed my family for weeks!

Gorak reaches out and lays his hand on the creature.

"Its a creature, all right. Don't know much more about it. Nothing to see here, I think."

After a few moments, he turns towards the others.

Where to now, Mates? I was certainly hoping for some relics or bobbles to look out". The smile on his face seem rejuvenated, having left the area of gamesmanship and hawkers behind. "I remember when the fair used to come in- brought merchants from all over the world it did!"

The escape of the "dragon" seems to have put many of the carnies in a worried mood and the air around the carnival is considerably less festive than before. After some desultory games and half-hearted performances, the group decides to return to their lodgings for the night.

The next morning, the entire inn is abuzz with the news that there was a Murder! last night. Not long after hearing this, the pathfinders receive a message carried by one of the carnies. Mistress Delisen (the proprietor of the Carnival) requests the group return to the circus in order to discuss a potential job opportunity.

When you arrive at the circus, the carnival has not opened for the day’s business yet. Almara Delisen waits beside a large private wagon with an adjoining canopy, and chairs are arranged around a nearby campfire. She greets you kindly but with a businesslike air, and after a brief introduction gets to the reason for her invitation.

“I appreciate your efforts yesterday in the regrettable incident with our dragon. I fear I could also use your help with another matter. You may have heard there was a murder in town last night. The circumstances, I am told, implicate people from my circus—something I find very hard to accept. I’d like to contract you to represent the Umbra Carnival to determine who is really responsible and preserve our reputation.”

"Contract, aye? We are in town for other business mind you, and I aint to sure how the pathfinders might view some sub-contracting, as it were. But I would imagine that would be something me Mates and I might be interested in.."

Robbin whistles softly while he thinks. "I think we have plenty of time to finish the other business. Solving a murder could be . . . fun, NO!. . . intriguing."

She looks relieved. "Excellent, excellent. I have every confidence in you. Do you have any questions?"

May we see the victim and speak to any witnesses?

"You should probably speak to the sheriff, Kyra Feldane. She'll know more than I do, which isn't much. I'll give you a note for her, confirming that you are investigating on my behalf." She takes out a quill and parchment and quickly writes a letter, signing it and sealing it with an embossed stamp, before handing it to Cortland.

She hesitates for a moment before continuing, "I don’t believe Sheriff Feldane is an unjust woman, but I think she’s under greater pressure to keep the peace than to find the guilty. After all, my people aren’t her first concern. My belief is a third-party investigation stands a better chance of clearing our good name than the local constabulary. Your performance yesterday handling our escaped dragon showed me that you’re capable people. And honestly, we don’t have many friends to choose from here. Understand: this isn’t just about lost revenue or personal reputation, or even protecting who they accused. This outfit relies on being able to buy provisions in the towns we visit. I can’t let allow our ability to perform and obtain supplies to become compromised. If you can find conclusive proof as to the identity of persons responsible, there's six hundred gold pieces payment waiting for you. Needless to say, it's my fervent hope and belief that no one from the Umbra Carnival had anything to do with it, and that you will help clear our reputation!"

Cortland takes the note in hand.

This looks like a job for... Mannbat

Xeveos will take some time to "gather his things," assuming his vigilante identity and changing shape. By default he'll take the Perception bonus.

So... anyone want to do/say/ask anything?

"Do you know Where the murder happen? Who is being implicated in the murder? Where can we find them after speaking with the sheriff?"

"Seems like the lot of us are in agreement then. How about you point us in the right direction, would ya ol' chap? And just let us know where we can find you- should we need any additional clarification."

Maybe I should be able to think of some other questions- but I don't have any off the top of my head right now

Cortland is an investigator. He is keen to get to the scene and look around.

"We should talk with the sheriff first so that she doesn't get the wrong idea when we are snooping around the crime scene."

Almara hesitates after Robbin's question. "Well, er, hmm, you see it just couldn't be but... well, people are saying that Jherizhana, our lovely sphinx, that she did it! But it's impossible! I'm certain that she could not have done this. I trust that you will help clear things up so that we - and she - can return to business as usual!"

With that, the noticeably distressed proprietor of the circus thanks you again for taking on the case and hurries off to attend to more mundane matters.

...

The pathfinders find Kyra Feldane, the local sheriff, at the town jail. She looks up at the group with an exasperated expression. "Yes? What now? Best not be any more trouble..."

(Picture added to the slides)

Robbin, showing just how young and green he is with the Pathfinder Society speaks up first. Pointing to Cortland when introducing him to the Sheriff.

Good morning Sheriff. We heard about the murder here in town and realize that with the circus here in town your staff may be stretched thin. We are Pathfinders and Cortland here is a trained investigator. We would like to assist you in finding the truth about who committed the murder and why.

Yes, we are a group of Pathfinders who happen to be in town and would like to offer our services. I am sure you have heard of the Pathfinder Society and our reputation for uncovering the truth.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

However he just comes across as an arrogant clown.

Diplo: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

"Right-o. My mates and I will put our best foot forward, we will. Figure it right out!"

The sheriff looks highly displeased. "What?!? Of all the arrogant nerve! If I wasn't so busy dealing with an *actual* crime, I'd arrest the lot of you for interfering with the law. Actually, maybe I should anyway, just on principle... Who sent you here anyway?"

"I can't say anyone sent us. We are here of our own accord. There was a murder and the townsfolk want to blame the carnies. There could be more bloodshed if this isn't taken care of soon. Your hands are going to be more than full in the days to come just trying to keep peace in this town. So a few impartial eyes trying to bring justice and order can't be a bad thing, can it?"

"So, you mean you just want to deputize yourselves? What are you, a bunch of vigilantes? I don't know where you are from, strangers, but this is not how we do things in law-abiding places like Ilsurian! I'm starting to wonder if I should consider you lot as suspects!" It does not appear that she is inclined to allow you to help with the investigation.

Hint: I think you are missing a basic detail from a bit earlier in the thread.