GM BPC's PFS of Awesomeness! (Inactive)

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

Sheriff is fine with me!

me too

Sure, let's have a nice little chat with the man.

Agreed.

Benson will use the evening to try to find someone to write a letter.

"Innkeep, if I must write my letter tonight, tell me whom I might find to write it for me before the night is out? Also, I plan to speak highly of this establishment, so what may I say is the name of its genial owner?"

@Benson: "That'd be me that owns this place!", the gnome answers. "Cyvis Cobblestone." The gnome then looks you up and down. "Although you look learned enough to write yourself; why ya need some other fella to do that for ya?"

Maybe he's got poor handwriting...

Officially starting Phase 3!

While Benson waits at the inn to try a different lead, Raevin, Mivvy, Kintampo, Marduk, and Wyeth look to introduce themselves to the mayor and sheriff of Dawnton, Tobias Luin.

Befitting as he is the mayor, Luin's residence is the largest house in Dawnton. A trio of men armed in studded leather armor and longspears guard the entrance. "You here to see -", asks one of the men before another elbows him in the side, prompting a more proper request. "Err, I mean, please state your business with mayor Luin."

"I'm afraid that if I do the writing, it will be unreadable. I write like a drunken sailor. Besides the fact that I am a sailor and that drinking contest this afternoon left me a little tossed, I grew up on a ship. Trying to write while the table tips from side to side makes it useless to try to put things on paper."

Benson fishes in his pack for piece of paper and a pen. "I'm also a lousy speller, and I want to get names spelled right." He writes the name of the Inn, not capitalizing the words and making them all pretty sloppy. Then he writes, "siviss cobleston." "Is that right?" he asks, showing Cyvvis the result. He also takes a long time to write these two words down.

I'm not sure if this is a bluff or not, but if legible script defaults to Linguistics, he'd be pretty good (+4). But if it's a default craft skill that would be at +0. At any rate, he's bluffing about needing to write the letter, so if needed, here's the roll.
Bluff: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Kintampo looks at Mivvy, knowing that if he speaks up he will only get them into trouble.

Knowing his own skills with diplomacy weren't the highest, Raevin defers to those with greater facility in dealing with others to explain our presence here at the mayor/sheriff's place.

If no one else speaks up after a long uncomfortable few moments of silence, Raevin stammers a bit and then says, "We are travelers, visitors here to your fine town and have come to pay a call on Mayor Luin. Our visit is of some importance, though private, so please let us in to see him."

diplo: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

@Benson: Shaking his head at your poor writing. "I can see now; Orug typically does any dictation there is to be done. I'm sure it's just so he gets more gossip, but his handwritin' is better than one'd think for a half-orc. An' the Express does pick-up and delivery to the shop, anyway, so it'll work out for ye."

@Raevin: "Uhhh, sure, think the Mayor's just tending to the pris'ners down in the basement, so you can wait in the common room."

With that, the three "guards" step aside, granting you easy access into the home.

The room is simply decorated, a large couch in front of an inviting fireplace seems to be the obvious place to sit. There are few paintings or decorations in the room; most everything seems to be styled for efficient comfortability more than anything else.

After a few minutes time, a barrel-chested halfling whose silver hair is pulled into a pony tail walks up the stairs carrying a tray with three plates, evidence of food scraps plainly visible.

"Ah, sorry, did I miss a meeting? Do bear with me for just a minute." The halfling then hustles to the kitchen, letting the dinnerware clamor in the sink before coming to you all, a wooden stein bouncing at his side as he reapproaches you all.

"Hmmm wait, I don't recognize you.", the halfling comments as he looks over the party. "Tobias Luin, mayor and sheriff of Dawnton. Who are you and what brings you folk to town?"

Raevin glances at the others, waiting for someone to speak, then chimes in with, "Hi, we're travelers and I just want to say how charming and welcoming Dawnton has been so far. We do have some trade contacts about the area, and they would be most interested what we have learned here, so we need to be as thorough as possible when we return home. The coming executions and your legal system here have been foremost in folks minds and speech while we've gotten to know some of your finer citizens. I suppose now, we need to finalize our little researches with what might be a final interview with your prisoners. We not only need to get their take on things, but learn about their treatment here, and so forth. Can we see them, please?"

diplo: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

omg I can't believe these dicerolls - thank you dicebot!!!

diplomacy aid another: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

I decide some flattery won't go amiss.

"Everyone seems to prefer trading in places with solid leadership and the people round here have been talking you up a storm as well, so I'm pretty keen to talk to you too."

"Ah, sorry, did I miss a meeting? Do bear with me for just a minute."

When Tobias returns, Wyeth lets others do the talking.

Marduk stands closer to Wyeth than the others.
"If Saitama were here it would go far less smoothly i think.
The 3 at the door to start with."

Wyeth chuckles quietly. "True enough. Though I do miss both his wit and his... 'muscletude-iness'."

"...you've got a point there. But who knows, we might run into him some other time."

"Huh, weren't expecting to hear that in my livin' room." The halfling takes out a pipe and lights it, taking a couple of puffs as he processes what's been asked.

"Well, your words are kind strangers. Though, you wouldn't be remiss if I was there when you talked to 'em?"

Benson leaves another silver on the counter-top, thanks Cyvvis and heads over to the general store to find Orug.

"Do you mind if I do your dishwashing while my companions talk to you and your prisoner? Or will a servant take care of that later?"

@Kintampo: "No need lad; just because my hair is gray doesn't mean I'm useless... the crusades can do terrible things to a man. Suppose I'm grateful this is the worst that happened to me...". Mayor Luin pauses for a second in quiet reflection before continuing. "Well, let me take you the prisoners."

With that, he heads towards the cellar stairs he arrived from previously and motions for you to take the lead.

@Benson: Orug's shop is a little quiet at this point as many of the townsfolk are either eating supper or at the fairgrounds enjoying the festivities. The half-orc lazily slumps on the counter, rapping his fingers against the wood until you enter.

"Welcome to Orug's! The proprietor is at your service! Here for a warm bath or looking for somethin'?", he chirps up, glad to have someone in the store.

Raevin heads down the stairs contemplating how they should approach the prisoners, get the information they need, AND let the accused know someone from the 'home office' is here to help - all without tipping their hand to Mayor Luin... He curses softly under his breath that he doesn't have a wayfinder he can slip them a brief sighting of without the Mayor seeing.

Kintampo's dark skin darkens a bit more in shame "My apologies, I never meant that you are useless because you have some years behind you!"

@Kintampo: "No worries; most of th' town tries to help out, too. Course, they could help out by not panickin' so bad, but they ain't that used to the horrors out there."

As the party makes their way down the stairs, they see the well-lit cellar is quite spacious. 3 sets of double bunk beds sit behind a cage of iron bars embedded into the ceiling and ground.

Two dwarves and a halfling rest on the beds, but look up at the sound of the noise. The halfling chirps up immediately, "Ya got more? That stew was quite good!" His face then turns to surprise to see someone other than the mayor heading down. Sheriff Luin then takes a nearby seat and relaxes before informing the prisoners about their guests. "Well, fellas and ma'am, you got some company. These folk wanna talk to you for a bit and I felt it best to oblige them.". Then turning to the party he nods. "Forum's yours."

The three captives look at each other with a look of confusion before the halfling remarks. "And I didn't get time to do my hair.", running his small hand through his curly red hair. The two dwarves could be twins, but enough differences would prevent you from saying as such. Both bear black hair in well braided designs and are twice... maybe three times as wide as their halfling companion. The female dwarf bears several scars along her right forearm.

"Good stew? And that from a halfling! You must be taking excellent care of your 'guests', good Mayor, for such a connoisseur to ask for seconds!"

Raevin turns his attentions to the pathfinders behind bars. When his back is to the Mayor, he gives them a broad wink and says, "Why hello there, I'm Raevin, and I'll bet even your little society couldn't treat you better if they were here to do it themselves, eh? Anyway, my friends and I are just simple travelers, and heard about the events here in Dawnton. We have asked a few questions about what happened around town, and are curious to hear your side of the story. Can you perhaps tell us what happened that led to this sorry state you are in?"

Making a bluff check to get across to them that we are Pathfinders too, and 'on the case' without cluing the Mayor to the same facts, and diplomacy to gain the trust of the prisoners. If this isn't necessary, oh well.

bluff: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
diplo: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

I am so stealing your dice later Raevin...

@Raevin: "Whelp... figure that if this is gonna be the last of their days, that they should at least eat well.", answers the Mayor. Both of the dwarves chuckle at the statement, albeit somewhat faintly, given their grim sentence. "Yeah, I've never seen a halfling with such skill using ale to cook.", retorts the male dwarf.

The male dwarf takes the first initiative greeting the party. "Torum Grunsch of the Mistress of the Boneyard." The halfling then interjects. "And I'm Corwin Burke.", bowing in the party's presence. He then stands up and points to the female dwarf. "She's Dakota Spire; she may look gruff, but she's actually a sweetheart and as honest as they come."

"Uh huh, I see...", Torum nodding in agreement.

Corwin is about to speak, but Torum holds out a hand to silently tell the halfling that he should represent their group first.

"We were sent here to verify that there were some old Sarkorian ruins here. The first day we arrived, we inspected was Otto's Farm just outside town. The next night, we asked around town to confirm if there was really anything and we were arrested in our beds later that evening."

"So you were suddenly surrounded by guards?"

"That's a rough awakening..."

"I'd ask about the ruins and what you discovered about them, as that sounds fascinating, but I digress from what we came to talk to you about. I'm curious about the legal system here... Were you presented with the charges against you? Given any information about the evidence they might have? Did you have a chance to refute the charges and explain the evidence? I suppose I should ask.. did you kill those people? And if you didn't, do you know who did?"... He gives Torum a broad wink to show the last questions were more facetious than anything else, something asked to appease the sheriff more than anything else.

He turns to his friends and fellow pathfinders to seek their questions as well... as they might think of something to ask that he hadn't.

Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 4

"Was your first visit to Otto's farm planned or was it just coincidence that that was the first building of this town you saw?"

I nudge the mayor and grin, "Raevin's a details person, although he does his best to hide it."

As the occupants of the cell look up, Wyeth gives them a single head nod accompanied by a confident smile.

He raises one eyebrow at Torum's remark, then turns to Tobias. "You cook with ale? We need to talk."

Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Apparently discomfited by being in a gaol and therefore oblivious to virtually everything, Wyeth nods sagely at what Mivvy said. Whatever it was.

@Marduk: "Yup, unnerving it was to say the least!", replies Corwin.

@Kintampo: Torum answers this question. "We were told that the site was just north of town; after we got a room, asking the locals gave us the info that Otto's farm is the largest up north and worth takin' a look at."

@Raevin: "Not much of a trial.", Dakota calls out, a bit of panicked anger in her voice. "Err, yeah...", Corwin glumly chimes in. "Can't deny that things snowballed fast.", speaks Torum, continuing with his assessment. "'Felt like half the town followed the sheriff with us in tow, wantin' the murders to end. Coulda fought our way out, but woulda hurt too many townsfolk. Ain't a fair way to do things and not how the Boneyard should operate.", the dwarf clutching his holy symbol around his neck. Corwin interjects once more. "Yeah, the mob was crying out for our heads, spearheaded by a blonde lady with a red cloak. Never met her, but damned if she didn't think the devil was inside of all of us! She'd be cute, too, if it weren't for calling for us to get hanged at all."

At this point, Sheriff Luin gets up from his seat. "Now, sorry fells, but all signs point to you in this case. I know we don't do things like they are in the big cities, but the people here ain't used to murders; 'specially the ones that were committed.". The mayor turns to the party. "So what we got is that the murders started when them lot arrivin' in town and ended after we arrested them. Also found a dagger belonging to that lady there with the body of the second victim, Miles Barclay.", Tobias pointing over at Dakota, who looks away at the accusation. "Also, the town knows that the Pathfinders went over to Otto's farm just before the first murder; Otto was considered a suspect, but since he never left his place the day after and then a second murder occurred, we ruled him out. Finally, Inquisitor Corum received a note from a citizen who wished to stay anonymous sayin' the Pathfinders were the murderers."

@Wyeth: "Heh, well if you're going to put in a good word 'bout Dawnton, suppose I could share a family secret or two.", the sheriff chuckles at your interest in his cooking.

"That strikes me as odd.
If the pathfinders were arrested and labeled for death so quickly, there would not be a reason to write the note as "anonymous". Unless said anonymous is either afraid of ghosts or paranoid of vengeance.
Paranoia is everywhere these days, from merchants about their contracts to the clergy in bigger cities like Aaramor and Kenebras, as an example only of course. Royalty have their weird days too....."

"When i grew up i went to the market daily and there was this man who sold bread. He was on odds with a rival merchant at all times. The day the rival didn't bother to be as sarcastic anymore the man got more and more suspicious. A woman, troublemaker as always, was rumoured to have gotten the 1st man's grain moldy. It didn't end pretty that day."

Are any dice needed for logical brainstorming?

Nope, brain storming outloud is fine :)

@Marduk: "Well, unfortunately don't know who it is to ask why they wanted to remain anonymous. Your deduction sounds fine ta me.". Tobias then stands up and goes to a locker in the corner. Various glints of metal and leather can be seen. The halfling pulls out a piece of parchment and hands it to Marduk. "Here's the note; you can ask miss Ekira 'bout it."

"'Course it could be too that the real murderer, IF these folks aren't guilty, would benefit a lot by stopping when these people were arrested, AND writing a note such as this."

Raevin tries to look at the note when Marduk opens it to read it.

"Is that the prisoner's gear there?" he asks of the glints of metal and leather? "Did you perhaps check it for massive amounts of fresh blood? I would think it would be impossible to commit such heinous crimes as were described without getting very messy."

After waiting for the Mayor's reply to the question, he turns to the Pathfinders behind bars. "Just out of curiosity, if you don't mind me asking," he addresses Dakota specifically. "How did your dagger come to be found at one of the crime scenes if you're not guilty?"

"Heh, well if you're going to put in a good word 'bout Dawnton, suppose I could share a family secret or two."

"So what we got is that the murders started when them lot arrivin' in town..."

"A few days ago as well if i recall our talk with our half-orc and half-elf friend."

"Rather... convenient timing, don't you think?" he whispers in response.

@Marduk/Wyeth: "Ekira? She's been here for a month. Everyone thought she was a little off her rocker at first, but when these murders happened, she was first to console the family's of the deceased then seek out their justice. Although the graphic nature of the first murder didn't leave much ta work with."

@Raevin: "Suppose so, if them fellas weren't the murderers. But I'm going to need more than just speculatation to convince the rest of town that you be right."

As you look at the note, it reads

The sheriff answers your first quesiton. "Yeah, though the first murder woulda been the bloodiest, but that'd give 'em a day to clean up. The second one the guy was just stabbed and throat slit, so I imagine if done right there wouldn't be much on there."

To the last question, Dakota shakes her head "Not sure. We wandered around town a bit, I may have been too relaxed and not watching my gear appropriately."

@Wyeth: "Well, when there's not much to do, drinkin' is a thing. More so, it helps to forget about the demons across the border, too."

...."Otto was considered a suspect, but since he never left his place the day after and then a second murder occurred, we ruled him out. "...

"Sir, why did you consider Otto to be a suspect? Was that just because of the location of the first murder or are there other motives?

Kintampo waits for the answer and then asks

"And do you know whether there was any relation between the victims or if there was bad blood between a victim and another citizen?"\

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Remind me never to whisper around the GM. :o/

Wyeth laughs. "Drinking's a... 'thing' when there is stuff to do as well!"

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Did he roll a perception 15+ in secret? :P.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
"May i see that note?"
Marduk goes over it.
"Hmm....bit of a weird angle of writing....any of you care to tell me why this feels a bit different?"
Damn...aid other perhaps?

linguistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Raevin examines the note and remarks, "Interesting, you're right about the odd angle of the letters. The note was obviously written by someone left-handed... How many folks around here are left-handed?" he asks Mayor Luin.

Whoops,sorry Wyeth! Missed the whispered line.

No worries. Obviously he was speaking more loudly than he thought.

Hey guys, sorry I've been quiet; preparing for a mini-con this weekend! We'll get back on track on Monday

Orug's shop is a little quiet at this point as many of the townsfolk are either eating supper or at the fairgrounds enjoying the festivities. The half-orc lazily slumps on the counter, rapping his fingers against the wood until you enter.

"Welcome to Orug's! The proprietor is at your service! Here for a warm bath or looking for somethin'?", he chirps up, glad to have someone in the store.

Benson says, "Thank you. I want to look around first."

Benson looks over the wares for sale, picks up a bar of soap and some twine, and some other incidentals a traveler might buy. When he brings these to the counter, he says, "Before I get these things, I need to dictate a letter in time to make the next mail run out of town. I was told you're the one to see."

@Kintampo: "Heh, that was the first bit; Otto usually keeps to himself and it's a pretty long ways to kill someone otherwise. But apparently that was the evening of his weekly trip into town for food, drink, and supplies. Ruled him out."

At the Shoanti's second question, he shakes his head. "Nope, no real relation other than livin' in town. Jules was a good man, hardworkin', though he did usually stay out too late drinkin. And Sullivan, the man found at the first scene, was over a decade his junior and visiting lookin' for work."

@Raevin/Marduk: "Beats me, a lil hard to check with everyone if they're left handed. Don't help much that it's hard to tell who can write to begin with!"

@Benson: "Ayup, that'd be me. Whatcha need to send out? Anythin' interestin'?, the half-orc pulling out some parchment, a quill, and some ink.