GM Black Powder Chocobo's PbP Case of Missing Persons (Inactive)

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

"Surely you can help me...er...us," Erevan says awkwardly.

diplomacy aid: 1d20 ⇒ 3

"Drifting Current? Haven't heard of it. What is this about?", the woman asks back.

"A group of nobles went missing"

"Perhaps you have heard anything about the missing nobles?" Erevan adds.

"Can't say I have. Nothing's been reported to us here at the Woodsedge Guardpost.", she replies. "But if I catch wind of anything, I'll let you know. Who are you guys, anyway? Strange group to be investigating missing nobles... especially here."

Erevan tries to determine whether the guard is being forthright, but can't make much of the response.

"We're just helping a friend track them down," Erevan responds. "Are there any records of when ships come in and out?" he asks.

sense motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

"We're friends of a red headed woman that mentioned your name" Zarzuket smiles.

"I'm not involved with anything from the docks; you'd have to check with someone there to confirm that."

You guys are a bit stuck right now with questioning... perhaps when you get some more clues, you can revisit discussion with her? Or perhaps you are asking the wrong questions...

I'm afraid it looks like we might have gotten some folks mixedup then. Would you have any information on how to get reach a Mr..... O what was his name.... Alois Loft something... He is another person that we were suggested to speak with and I'm told he is an officer of the law.

Erevan, having joined the group late, isn't sure what else he could ask. He waits to see if there's a positive response to Arkynn.

I did read the initial mission briefing but didn't go through the part between then and now. So I'm not sure what else you have figured out.

Huh, my posts have been having issues lately and it is still continuing. Did have a post yesterday...

So far, the only clue you have received is that the ship the prisoners arrived on, Drifting Current, was held from official entry by someone paying off several dockworkers: Alois Lofton. This information was recovered by dockmaster Larisa Stromwell.

"Lofton, you mean? He has an office near the center of town. He used to be kind of a big deal, but lately his antics have made him..., well, I shouldn't speak ill of him, at work. All just gossip anyway."

Anything else, or to a new person of interest?

"What recent antics do you speak of?"

Erevan considers their options. "Should we visit this office?" Erevan asks.

Antics? That's a little concerning. I can understand your position about not wanting to discuss matters that have basis in gossip but any help you can provide is greatly appreciated. Atleast is it anything we should be worried about? ...in a slightly conspiratorial tone

I will need a Diplomacy check to see if you can get Ottavia to speak further!

"Madame if you could assist us"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

"We need your help," Erevan agrees.

diplo aid: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Nijena looks at the woman with a smile and her blue eyes.
Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Ottavia hums and haws for a few seconds as the part makes their pleas. "Well if you are that interested in local scuttlebutt...", the guardwoman standing up and motioning the party to follow. She goes down a hallway, taking the first door to the right and opening it, allowing the party to enter.

"So, yeah, Lofton... it's sorta weird. He used to be a great lawyer, a well respected guy. Then, like 10 years ago, he seemed different. His courtroom tactics, one a thing of refined skill, became, well... a spectacle of comedy. Lots of random 'Objections!' and crazed bits of finger-waggling... and it worked sometimes, but the past several years, it has been really bad. He lost respectedand seems to barely get any work now, and don't blame folk. Guess he can't shout his way to victory any more."

I wish that GNOME would stop getting work and just let me go HOME

"I wonder if he was throwing the cases," Erevan says. "Or perhaps something was exercising mental control. Maybe he just lost his mind. Either way, that is bizarre behavior."

Thank you for the heads up. There could be any number of reasons for such odd behavior but it'll help us keep on the lookout for anything too out of the ordinary. Hopefully he won't object to us stopping by too loudly...

Yay for bad puns

Ready to head to his residence if everyone else is

At Eravan's first comment, Ottavia silently shrugs. "Wouldn't be surprised; lately he's been a favorite for a few prosecutors, probably for how ineffective he's been leading to easy convictions for the court. That's the scuttlebutt anyway."

See if there are any other votes, but then to Lofton's otherwise!

"What about this Almont? Did we check with him?"

Not yet; he is also a fresh face for you to contact.

"Would anyone in particular benefit if he threw the cases? How many prosecutors are there?" Erevan asks.

@GM everything ok?

Sorry, network issues the past couple of days. ISP is getting me a new router, but between the shoddy internet and bad weather, haven't had much chance to do this!

"Uhh... you guys really aren't from here. The People's Council loves and easy conviction to add more heads to the pile for anyone that they felt needed to be removed. In the interest of the people, of course."

"I see perhaps we should talk to Almont"

"Yes, let's go."

"Almant?", Ottavia pipes in. "Yeah, you can find him at a halfway house in the center of town. It used to be a dressmaker's shop and still has the signage on the outside. Good luck with him; friendly enough guy, but he's been doing odd tasks for the Gardeners as of late, among other thing I imagine. He's a bit of a hired hand for about any task; hope he's been smarter on the jobs he's taken." Ottavia then nods to the party and returns back to her desk, leaving the party to find Almant.

With Ottavia's intel, it is impossible to miss the dress shop, a badly patched door slightly open and inviting the group entrance. Several men and women are grouped around various sections of the old shop, but one man stands out. A tall figure with an olive complexion and a long red woolen coat around his waist and a bastard sword strapped behind him, he easily looks apart from the rest of the crowd. As the group approaches, he puts a coffee pot over a small fire.

How do you approach and greet him?

friendly?

"Greetings sir Venture Captain Pelligrino said we might ask you about a Mr Lofton and some missing men"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

"My master did express himself..but could you please help"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

short fool

"Please, we need this information urgently. These missing man need to be rescued." Nijena says.
Diplo: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

"Just a few quick questions and we'll be on our way," Erevan adds.

diplo aid: 1d20 ⇒ 9

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Settle down there!", the man a bit startled by the sudden bit of attention. Others in the shop look at the party with some interest but otherwise leave you all alone to speak with coffee-drinking merc.

"Lofton? Missing men? I'm not sure...", Almant somewhat cautious until he catches Nijena's eye. "Well... what exactly are you talking about?"

Zarzuket scratches his head.

sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Zarzuket looks over Almant, figuring that he is honestly a bit surprised at the situation.

"The venture captain said you worked for her and might be able to help us?"

"We just need some information. If you know anything, help us out," Erevan adds.

"Oh, Eliza? Yeah, I do some stuff since the Pathfinders did me a solid before. Sure I guess, but what information? I haven't heard of any missing folk though.", Almant scratching his head before taking a sip of coffee.

Do you know anything about some of the new ships at the docks? We're trying to piece some stuff together that has us headed there soon.

Try to watch for a reaction...

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

I've read about Pathfinders having hand signals for discreet communication. Would I need a check of some kind to try some of those to see if he understands them?

Pip gets 20 gold pieces out of his master's purse.

"Would this help? What about Lofton? What do you know of him?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

@Arkynn: I will take a Sense Motive of perhaps a Linguistics check to see if he is aware of them

"Ships? Hmm, well, there was a strange incident a couple of days ago. I was speaking with one of the Gray Gardeners I know over at the Sellen River docks. His name is Citizen Blight and he’s their equivalent of an officer. They all have funny pseudonyms like ‘Blight’ or ‘Malice’ in order to hide who they really are. While talking to Blight, a big gray hearse pulls up next to a river sloop that had just docked. ‘Gray hearse’ is what we call the prisoner transport wagons the Gardeners use, mainly because of their charcoal gray color and because the people inside often end up with a ‘permanent haircut.’"

"Anyway, there were two men with heavy crossbows riding on the roof and another one on the back and a burly woman driving the team.
They pull up in front of the docked sloop and two Gardeners led five hooded and chained prisoners down the gangplank and into the hearse, followed by a third Gardener bringing up the rear. And here’s the strangest part: that last Gardener, I saw him donning a mask as he exited the sloop, which means that I, and everyone else nearby could see his face. Since you’re probably not from around here, let me tell you: that NEVER happens. The only thing the Gray Gardeners protect more closely than their final blades is their identity. In my entire life, I can’t remember ever seeing a Gardener’s unmasked face, and I’ve worked with them for years. He was a blond man with a rose-gold earring and a deep, crescent-shaped scar on his chin."

"So where was I before that? Oh yeah, the prisoners. I could tell that half of them were probably men, and the other half women. All of them looked human. Once all the prisoners had been loaded into the hearse, they took off. I’m not sure where they were headed, but it wasn’t toward the Woodsedge Jail, that’s for sure. “Oh, and the blond man said something loudly to one of the prisoners. He said, ‘Walk faster, Korkovin, you drunken scum. Let’s see your fortune save you now.’"

About Lofton, Enderious looks up at a angle thinking about it. "The barrister guy; I have heard of him. Does private practice stuff, used to be brilliant for his amazing turnabouts, but recently he's caved to the government in reecnt years and now is little more than a rubber stamp for the Gray Gardeners."

"He does work for the gardeners? Did you see where the hearse went?"

"Perhaps these prisoners are the missing persons we are looking for," Erevan observes.

"Lofton? Not directly; I mean the Gardeners will take the poor saps who have the bad luck to get him as their public defender. Anything beyond that is news to me."

"As to where it went; not sure. When it comes to the Gardeners, you learn not to ask too many questions."

"So uhhh, can I finish my breakfast? Nothing against you guys, but I don't have enough for everyone."

[Ooc]I rolled a sense notice did I get anything? It accidentally went in the discussion thread"[/b]