1. GM Edwin's Zeitgeist Campaign

Game Master Insnare

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

"I don't think she's messing with us. Damn, this place is the skeleton closet of Crisillyir! Makes me wonder what Risur's closet looks like... Anyway, we need to get out. Plus, we're dead to Jierre. But, we have new faces with us, and he doesn't know them, so that's a plus."

He turns to Ottavia: "What about you? Where will you go? What will you do? What do you wish for your husband?"

Ottavia says, "He is not my real husband but that was our cover. He does know your faces, however. I will just ask to go back to Cherage to collect my things and then maybe take a ship Ber. I like Luc but it seems this group he is caught up in is worse than I had thought. The demoness has very strong powers to hide you from him. Just so you know, if I were to have been unsuccessful, he will use his family's power to have you kept from the train by the Police in Sid Minos."

"Then I wish you good luck Ottavia, and hope our paths never cross again. I hope you understand..."

He turns to his colleagues: "So it seems we may continue on our mission after all, but with several changes. I suggest we move on to Vendricce, where the meeting is to take place, and take whatever time we have left to build a strategy to shadow Jierre and follow him to the meeting. As well, we should prepare ourselves for combat, as I doubt the Obscurati will just surrender. Finally, I don't wish to come back here, so we'll need an extraction plan to get back to Risur."

He thinks for a moment, then turns back again to Ottavia: "Do you love the man? Should we try to save him if we can? Bring him back to you someday?"

Just a reminder, your ship will be in Vendricce around noon tomorrow, so there is a ride back. Remember your mission is to figure out who is in the Obscurati and who the big wigs are.

Ottavia says, "I think he is an awkward man and I like him. There should be a great deal of people at the meet. Try not to kill him, he has not done anything bad."

Ok, so not to be rid of them who come to the meeting.

"Then I suggest we get to Vendricce right away and start working. Ashima-Shimtu, we are grateful for your wisdom and decision to let us go. Is there anything else you would wish us to do once we are out? We shall endeavour to respect your wish to the extent that we are able and it doesn't jeopardize our mission and work."

He looks to the others to check if they agree.

Femi nods in fierce agreement with Gauthier. "What I understand of it, it sounds an excellent plan." he grins.

"As to following Jierre, I can take on the guise of a small animal for a few minutes - a cat perhaps. I can also make one or more of us invisible. If there's time, and a little cash, I can buy and learn Invisibility Sphere as well - that will help the group even more." he stops himself.

"But we can discuss these matters later. Let's get out of this mad place!"

The demoness says, "The Mistress agrees with you."

The party agrees, and you name Vendricce and dive into the pool. Ashima-Shimtu’s blood magic carries you through the sea at a speed quadruple that of the fastest steamship, and you wash ashore near the harbor of Vendricce just before sunrise.

You check your train tickets, and realize the train departs Sid Minos at 7:30 am, and that it train arrives in Vendricce at 5:42 pm, this evening. You check your watches and it is 7 am.

An isthmus connects Crisillyir and Elfaivar, and the city of Vendricce has grown fat from taxing trade through its gates, including the Avery Coast Railroad that terminates here. A grand arched bridge that once spanned the channel between the two nations was destroyed during the Second Victory, but Danor is funding its repair, hoping to extend the railroad so it can feed through the city and into Elfaivar.

Please tell me, what you want to do during the day, procure equipment, scout the train station, remember you are magically hidden from the Ob.

i will be switching some inventions possibly, gotta look into it more when i get time

”Can someone loan me 300gp? I need it to obtain invisibility sphere for us, and I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”

Assuming someone can loan him the funds, Femi will see if he can find a scroll of Invisibility Sphere, or even better, a spellbook he can borrow to copy out of. A scroll would be 375gp.

If he’s able to acquire the loan, and the spell, he attempts to learn it and copy it into his own spell book (90gp)
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20 vs DC 18

Let me know if I find the spell.

Shopping and scribing will likely take the morning, so he’ll spend the afternoon around the train station to scout it out. No one knows him, so other than making sure he’s not a nuisance, he should be able to lounge around if it’s busy enough and not attract attention. Before he leaves, he asks Gauthier, ”Anything I should be looking for in particular?”

During the day, Falko organizes the group so that they can trail Jierre to the meeting and spy on him and the other Obscurati, if possible listen to their conversations. They also makes sure to have a way to get back to their waiting ship quickly.

I can disguise pretty good. What about the others. Perhaps we can have two groups. One following Jierre without being seen, and one following those following Jierre. This second group doesn't need as much stealth...

I want to hear from Iva and Isaac about what they want to do during the day

Isaac gasps as the arrive outside the city. "I think we should start out by getting to know the layout of the train station well and make sure we know all of the ways out of there including finding out about any secret or obscured way out. We need to scout possible routes to the meeting and then our escape routes. We may have to break into groups to do this. What do you guys think?"

Iva loans Femi the gold he needs. "Here's 375 just in case." She goes on the hunt for a disguise kit. "That's one thing I didn't think to bring with me."

We know the location of the meeting right? Can we scout it out for ways to get a birds eye view of the meeting taking place?

Doing a tertiary recce, you are able to get a layout of the station, This is currently the end of the line, and so no other train has come from the other direction. The train leaving for Sid Minos left at 730 this morning. However, track is under construction heading east, with the intent of crossing the Strait of Sjögren into Elfaivar. The first quarter mile of bridge is complete, but beyond that just a skeleton of stone and steel rises from the sea. The track currently runs to the end of the completed bridge section, but a barricade waits at the edge of shore, surrounded by warning signs, to ensure no one accidentally drives a train off the end of the bridge and into the harbor.

To see the inside layout of the train station and depot, you would need to do some rolls.

"Thank you Iva, you're most generous, and I'll see to it you get it all back, with interest!" Femi says seriously.

As he has a bit of extra coin, and some skill, he too buys a disguise kit while he's shopping that morning.

GMEdwin, do I have the spell Invisibility Sphere?

Though he's unknown, he still puts on a minor disguise just to throw off the scent. He's still a gaunt man with a staff, but he wears a wig to cover his tattoo and a change of clothes and a few other minor tweaks here and there.
Disguise, take-10: 10 + 11 + 2 = 23

He makes his way into the train station, trying to look like just another traveller, rather than a hobo looking for a handout. Over time, he does his best to poke his nose into every nook and cranny he can (save the ladies room and unauthorized access areas for now).

Though he's thorough, he's better at disguise than observation, so he may miss details...
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

GM Rolls

Iva, you know the preliminary meeting will be at the station but not sure where it would go from there. There is an overpass that would allow to get a somewhat aerial view, which allows for people to change trains.

Femi is able to find a seller in town that sells him an invisibility sphere and considering this is Chrysillir, magic is more freely bought and sold with almost no oversight.

Femi

Chretien have you made up your mind? Does anyone want to go to the ship to talk to Captain Smith?

"Scouting the train station is a good idea. I can change my guise as often as I need, so I'll go do that with Femi and Iva. Cretien and Isaac, would you mind checking with the captain?" offers Falko as he disguises himself with his magic hat and sleeves into a middle class nobody.

With Femi, they make their way to the station to figure its layout.

Disguise: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Do we have enough time to rest, heal, and recuperate spell?

i havent, sorry, been preoccupied. I will tomorrow for sure. i had waaaaaay too much going on tonight

You can rent a hotel and get some sleep, if you wish

Femi, without pointing, leans over to Gauthier and says, "Look there, no, over there - to the left. There's a secondary train station in the depot area. We should check that out if we can, but perhaps I should do so invisibly?"

"If so, I'll check it out quickly and be right back. My invisibility only lasts a few minutes."

Assuming he agrees, Femi gets as close as he can, and still find a dark corner he can disappear into. He casts Invisibility and goes to investigate the other station. As he only has 6 minutes on this casting, he moves fast.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Do you really want to burn the invisibility sphere now? You could ask to speak to a train official to gain access.

No, I was going to use a personal invisibility. I assumed the other bit was roped off, silly me. I', making things harder then they need to be.

Femi looks for a way to simply walk to the other terminal, and if he doesn't find anything easily, he'll ask one of the staff clerks for assistance.

"Greetings! I was wondering, how do I get to the other terminal?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17 Not an auspicious start!

The employee of the Avery Coast Railroad says, "That is the depot for the VIP customers and there shan't be any here until this evening. You may be able to rent out the space for banquets or what have you."

"A banquet, really? I've a cousin who's getting married. Passing phase I say, but she's convinced he's the 'one'. Time will tell who's right, you know?" he chuckles at the employee, trying to share the bad joke.

"Could I see the space? See if it's fit for my cousin? It really would save us a lot of time, seeing as I'm already here. If it's acceptable, I'll report back to her and suggest it. I guess her husband is just rolling in gold. Probably why she's marrying him, you know?" he adds crassly.

Bluff: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

If they hesitate he'll palm a coin and give it to the agent by way of a tip for their assistance. Just a gold, bright and shiny. (Is that an extravagant tip in these parts? I assume so, but don't really know... whatever is appropriate. - Take-10 knowledge local to know = 19)

Iva loosens her hair, and changes into to an actual dress. It makes her look years younger than she normally looks. She stops by and purchases some Cold Iron Arrows to replace the ones that were destroyed in the crypt.

Then she heads into the train station to take a look at the layout.

Disguise with Disguise Kit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Let's move this forward, you know that the train arrives a 5:42 pm. Where will you be at 5:42?

Femi will cast another Mage Armor to protect himself after 5pm (just in case - I’m sure nothing will go wrong). He’ll clean himself up with Prestidigitation and even add a little color to his clothes. Then, lightly disguised, (taking 10 for 23 total) he’ll try to get on the VIP platform with the party.

At least that's where I assume we're headed. Femi follows Gauthier's lead.

When the train arrives in the Vendricce rail enclave, the passengers all leave, then porters go through to make sure no one’s fallen asleep and that no luggage gets left behind. Luc, Bree, and Verzubak remain on board. Then the train does some maneuvers to detach most of the central section, leaving just the locomotive, the fuel car, Luc’s first class suite car, and the first class lounge (Cars 1, 2, 18, and 19). This small train pulls up beside a private depot building, stopping at 6:15 pm. Aboard the train are only engineer Steeg, Bree, Verzubak, and Luc.

TRAIN STATION

You see where the train has ended up and make your way around it to get a good view of the situation. In the bustle of family members saying hello to one another and the like you are able to position yourselves around the depot.

Place your tokens where you want them

Disguised as a low-level employee, Falko, when he sees the train arriving, casts an incantation to connect to his father's spirit. To Xambria, who resides perhaps only in his head, he gives a knowing smile.

He hangs around on the platform, seemingly taking a break from a long day of work and not looking forward to the work that just came his way.

Cast Heroism.

Femi will take up a position around the corner, but not far around, so he can keep an eye on Gauthier and the rest.

I placed everyone

You see Luc, Bree and Verzubak still in the train waiting for someone. Then Luc and Bree step off the train onto the platform. Falko and Femi can see the dwarf Verzubak remains on board, chatting with the engineer, Steeg. Luc carries his lantern covered with a dark sheet. As the sun sets, Falko and Chretien recognize the tiefling woman, Lya Jierre, who is dressed for a lavish ball but still has her sword at her hip, and she gives her brother a boisterous hug.

Luc says that he expected there would be a group here to greet him. Lya says they’re here, and she produces a small vial of lantern oil from within her dress. She asks if they were followed, and Bree explains the events of the trip.

GM Rolls

She then speaks with Falko and Femi and says "Excuse me, however this is going to be a private party."

She then goes into the station with her brother and Bree. The two of you make it look like you are going to move and she loses interest. You peer through the window to watch what happens next. She hands Luc the oil and directs him to light the lantern. The lantern glows with blue light, and their surroundings peel away, revealing another train depot, this one gloriously illuminated by candles and chandeliers within while somehow much more deeply dark outside. The lantern has shifted them into the Bleak Gate. Everything within 50-feet of the lantern exists in both planes at once.

North of the private depot lies the grand station, where dozens of spare train cars and locomotives park for service. A low hill separates this scenic depot from the sprawl of those rails. On a hill to the south, the enclave keeps a small barracks of about two hundred soldiers, present in case forces from Elfaivar attack. These facilities also exist in the Bleak Gate, but are empty and inaccessible in any case.

Inside the Bleak Gate version of the depot a detachment of elite guards who wear capes clasped by golden pins in the shape of an open book. The grounds outside are patrolled by additional guards.

Inside you see an old man,
Risuri Man DC 12 Knowledge

Lya has Luc place his lantern on one of the tables in the depot. The effect of the lantern extends out 50-feet from it. The party is in the real world, but the lantern lets them see and interact with creatures in the Bleak Gate who are in that radius, and vice versa. However, if any of the characters in the Bleak Gate leave the radius of the lantern’s effect, they fade out of view from the real world.

Just watch or do something.

When Lya confronts them, Femi bows his head in supplication, nods, and moves off - out of sight. He'll then return and peer through the windows.

Knowledge Local DC 12 - Risuri Man: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Knowledge Local DC 18 - A Danoran: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Knowledge Local DC 23 - Two Chryssiliri: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

He whispers to Gauthier/Falko, "That Danoran is an astronomer by the name of Dustin Huff. Dunno much about him though. That lantern is most impressive though! Wow that's powerful. Do you think they can move into the other space, or is it just an illusion of what is on the other side?"

He wonders about the magical implications of such a device, how one might craft it, etc. But it's beyond his current understanding, so he pays attention to the present. Unless Gauthier suggests some course of action, Femi is content to watch, but he does watch closely, as much as he can anyway.

EDIT Astronomer, got it!

Astronomer, sorry about that.

Falko likewise shrugs and just stretches, complains about his painful back, demanding bosses, and entitled nobles, then slowly walks away, only to shift disguise once out of sight and rejoin with Femi, this time dressed as a young nobleman.

"We're here to observe and identify who are the Obscurati and what they can do. Dustin Huff, ok."

Using Lore Master to take 10 on the first knowledge.

"Right, the Risuri I've seen before. He's an engineer. Name is... Guillory! Lester Guillory."

Knowledge local Risuri: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 2 = 26

"As for the twins, they have to be Emily and Anna Davis. They're Crisillyir. Government. Political liaisons..."

He remains out of sight, but keeps watching.

He whispers: "The lantern seems to bring the two planes together. Like some kind of translator, only they can interact physically. Isaac and Cretien would know more, but they're a bit back..."

Isaac watches the group move into the building. He waits at his post above the train for the dwarf to exit or for their enemy's reinforcements to show up.

Iva watches those entering and leaving the train station on the "real" side. She can't see what Femi and Falko see. She's keeping an eye out for anyone out of place.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Iva and Chretien and Isaac are able to see the In the Bleak Gate version, a small corral beside the depot currently holds four carriages and eight horses. There is armed guards on the Bleak Gate version of the depot.

Lya welcomes Luc and Bree into the private depot. She begins to explain the basics of their group while introducing him to the other guests. She explains that some things still have to remain secret for now, but his invention, when scaled up and reproduced as lighthouses and clocktowers, will help them change the world.

Luc stutters as he tries to ask how they’re changing things. He is willing to accept almost anything if it will get him respect and authority, but his conversations with his fake wife has him mention Ottavia and have him mindful of how people with power tend to abuse it.

Lya admits she was uncertain too at first, but when they get to the palace, she introduces the old man named, Nicodemus, and that he will have a chance to explain in more detail. She assures her brother that they’re doing this to make things better, and that they are aided by the wisdom of some of the wisest people of the past five centuries.

Nicodemus charmingly cuts her off there, chiding her for saying too much in mixed company. He turns the conversation to Luc and compliments the man’s intellect, and his bravery for having made the journey while being spied on by hostiles. He apologizes, and says that there are some logistical issues they have to handle before proper pleasantries can begin. Nicodemus produces three amulets, similar to the ones the Falko and Chretien saw Macbannin’s crew using in the witchoil laboratory. He explains that they’ll need to be wearing that when the lantern goes out, and it will bring them across the veil into the Bleak Gate, where the real party waits. Normally the trip between the two planes is a hugely involved process requiring multiple gates that slowly shift you stage by stage by stage. But with Luc’s lantern, the process will be so much more efficient. Luc, Lya, and Bree put on the amulets, and Nicodemus tells them to mingle. He’ll be back in a moment, but he needs to handle some last minute security first. The other Obscurati members come up to gush to Luc, while Nicodemus walks outside.

so nicodemus is in the real world now?

You can see him because he left the depot building the Bleak Gate and Normal worlds are blended at this point, because of Luc's lantern. I will draw a line of demarcation.

"I wish we could steal that damned lamp. I don't like where the Ob are willing to take these. From what I can tell, they want to have a network wide enough that our world and the Bleak Gate are one... Can't have that. Now, they're moving on soon, but to the Bleak Gate. Do we wish to follow them there? Wait?! Can those of our worlds simply move on to the Gate? I'm guessing not, so they'll need the lamp on the whole time. We just need to stay with them and we can hear more and learn more. But how?"

Falko looks around the scene to figure if he could manage to disguise himself as one of the Bleak guards.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 2 = 26

I know it was a wall of text, "Nicodemus produces three amulets, similar to the ones the Falko and Chretien saw Macbannin’s crew using in the witchoil laboratory. He explains that they’ll need to be wearing that when the lantern goes out, and it will bring them across the veil into the Bleak Gate, where the real party waits." Are you looking to steal the lantern? You already have one. Sent back to HQ. I just want to remind you guys quick that Lya Jierre is scheduled to marry King Aodhan soon and there is a huge peace summit, Chretien has been building in his spare time a chariot for the wedding. You can try and grab the lantern and give up the element of surprise, plus due to your work at the lighthouse, you know he had already given the schematics over to others.

When Femi sees Nicodemus walk outside, he steps toward Gauthier.

If Nicodemus walks around the building toward them, he'll quickly cast Invisibility Sphere to hide their presence. He'll then stand very, very still, hiding against the wall.

Iva watches Nicodemus out of the corner of her eye pretending not to see a thing. Who is he and what is he up to?

I don't want to give up the element of surprise. Our task was to find out who was at the meeting right? Then report back. If we have a lantern and you know what the amulets do. Maybe we can follow them in at a later date."

Read the post and waited before posting. Made me miss the part about the amulets... So there's no way to follow?

Falko whispers to Femi, his voice angry at being unable to know or do more: "We wait until they leave. We can't risk following them. I've no plans to move to the Bleak Gate..."

Iva watches Nicodemus out of the corner of her eye pretending not to see a thing. Who is he and what is he up to?

I don't want to give up the element of surprise. Our task was to find out who was at the meeting right? Then report back. If we have a lantern and you know what the amulets do. Maybe we can follow them in at a later date."

Agreed.

Femi hears footsteps coming around the building and casts his Invisibility sphere spell. Iva steps outside of the lantern's area and they do not see her.

Lya says, "We're a group operating in secret to make the world a better place, and various cells work on different projects, but with limited connections to protect them from discovery by those in power who would not like to see a new world order without them on top.

I'm tier three in my cell. You'll be tier four in yours. We will meet one of the tier ones. Everything is compartmentalized."

A few minutes later, the light from the lantern starts to dim, and the guards move to prepare the carriages. Nicodemus goes back inside, and as the door swings shut behind him the lantern goes dark. You can hear the sound of horses. The depot is suddenly empty, and the connection to the Bleak Gate is gone.

Falko moves over to where the others are: "Let's talk only once we're far from this place and certain we cannot be heard. Can anyone detect if an invisible spy is near?"

During their walk, Falko is silent. He pushes away the numerous thoughts assailing him to try and detect if someone is following them.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 14 + 2 = 24

Once he feels safer, he shares with the others what Femi and he have heard.

"We need to leave immediately. Let's get to the ship!" he adds.

Femi keeps up with Falko sharing the invisibility as long as possible., "I can see invisible things with a little preparation. Give me a moment." he breaks out his spell book and spends some time studying (full round action) as he burns off a little arcane power to relearn the spell for the day losing Rope Trick to do so.

When he's done, he casts See Invisibility and reports any findings to the group before they discuss further.

Femi

Your group make your way to the RSS Roscommon, where Captain Smith greets you with a smile and says, "Are you ready to shove off?"[b]

He says, [b]"By the way the High Elven girl would like to speak with you. She is below decks."

"We'll need to warn the king."