GM Erich's Forged in Flame Series for PbP Gameday VII (Inactive)

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

After Carlin's explanation Malusha turns to his companions. "So what do you want to do? Want to set up a meeting? Should we try to take care of those other errands we want to do first?"

"While Mr Carlin is charming; I say we stick to the plan. Do our other jobs first and set up this meeting at a different time in the future," replies Filmore before turning back to Carlin and asking him, "You'll be fine here for another day or so right?"

Garmit is a bit worried about this guy. Yasmine Zamara had said to check back with her for guidance, 'especially if it meant avoiding criminal activity or minimising chaos'. This Carlin guys seems a shady character, to put it mildly, and to be honest, not really worthy of help.

The tengu then steps forward again, to try and find out about what this character was really up to.

"Ah...er, buddy? Just so we've got the full picture here, I was wondering if you'd tell us a bit about what you do for a living...um,besides the peddling, I mean? You mentioned 'other activities'. What are these, exactly? I've actually got contacts that are always looking for opportunities in new areas, if you know what I mean? Perhaps we may have some mutual interest here to explore? Just want to make sure that you're the right kind of guy, you know what I mean." The rogue gives tiefling a knowing wink.

Bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Carlin seems a slight bit disappointed that the inevitable won't be taken care of immediately, but shrugs.

"Eh, what's another few hours? I just hope no-one tailed ya 'ere."

Turning to Garmit he looks puzzled, as if he doesn't want to give too much away.

"I am nothin' if not a honorable rogue, birdie."

Let me know where to next, everyone

Garmit eyes the tiefling warily, not trusting him one little bit.

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

"Sure, let stick with the plan. Second is first, now that we've checked the first to know what to do last."

Once they group are out of earshot of Carlin he then adds. "I think that before we agree to help this guy we should check back with Yasmine for some advice, as she suggested. Helping him could be helping a known criminal do his dodgy stuff."

”That is great to hear, you are right. A few hours are a mere fraction of someone’s life. We have a plan to do another few things first so we’ll be back in touch shortly,” says Filmore to Carlin sincerely.

Filmore then turns his back on Carlin and follows the group out of the room and joins in in the discussion, “I agree with Garmit. We should get some advice and then continue onto task number two. I enjoy completing plans almost as much as I enjoy planning plans.”

Malusha walks with the group trying to figure out the plan. He seems to be mumbling to himself quietly and occasionally making gestures with his hands. He seems to be working something out mentally and finally a smile breaks across his face. "Ok. I think I've got it. We are going to the Eye of the Flame to get that imp back then we'll go talk to Yasmine about Carlin's problem. Right?"

Sickly stays quiet as the others discuss strategies and courses of action, not wanting to interrupt.

He will take a moment to read through the what the efreeti lady said was the contract for the water merchant. He was comfortable reading things, as it meant he could avoid interacting with folks!

Don't suppose its written in a language I can read?

Despite Malusha's inability to properly understand "gnome", the group heads back to Yasmine to fill her in on the exact nature of the tasks. Meeting you promptly in her study, she comments on Carlin Nestor first (much to Garmit's delight).

"Yes, I am very much familiar with Carlin, his trial over the death of Grunyar Cragfell was a rather public affair. Well more of a disgrace, really, as Carlin was found innocent on a pure technicality." She pauses thoughtfully before nodding her head.

"Carlin is nothing but guileful. He can probably provide you with enough details to allow you to convince his pursuer to leave him alone, if you would rather avoid destroying the inevitable. But if you can get Carlin to reveal incriminating information about himself, I can involve local law enforcement and ensure he faces justice for his crimes. Remember, as far as Qalkami’s concerned, you are only truly obligated to protect him from the inevitable that is after him, not other threats, especially those of his own... creation, shall we say."

Garmit nods at Yasmine's helpful words of advice. "Ok, well that gives us some options. Personally, I didn't like the shady guy one little bit. I'd rather try and deal with this problem without having to destroy the inevitable. It seems like it was just doin' its job. As for helping get Carlin arrested, sure I'd be up for that too." He looks across at the rest of the group for their input. "What do you guys think about it?"

Assuming that either way, the plan is still to head to the 2nd task next before dealing with the inevitable? I'm happy to go in any order.

While you are here, you can ask about the other tasks as well, or save those discussions for later.

Needing to move this forward, I'll let others chime in today, otherwise we need to move on to task 2: recovering Vassago.

"What was the technicality? I like the idea of following the letter of the law while avoiding letting a criminal avoid the law. Could he just admit his wrong doings to us or would we need more proof?" asks Filmore enthusiastically.

After listening to Yasmine's answer Filmore has a few more questions, "We have two more tasks to do, any information concerning them would be most helpful. We have an imp to recover and a contract to get signed. We are just on our way to meet the imp actually."

While Filmore always seems a little too enthusiastic to start with. The enthusiasm is contagious or at the very least endearing.

Malusha's head still spins nearly every time Filmore talks but he catches the general idea this time and nods his head in agreement. "Yes, we're going to the imp. Anything you could tell us about recovering one?"

Yasmine listens to the excited gnome.

"The technicality was that the only witness to the crime never reported on the day of Carlin's trial...the case was thrown out, despite significant circumstantial evidence. But yes, a simple confession of any other crimes from him would suffice for me to summon the authorities upon him."

After digesting the basics of the other tasks, she continues...

"So Malini has entered a pact with Qalkami? Well, that seems to be most out of character for her. There must be more to this than Qalkami is willing to tell you. I would urge you to speak with Malini about it, before spiriting her poor imp away. And if it does come down to taking the imp, I would suggest silver weapons and a strong sack, they tend to sting."

Regarding the third task...

"Hmm. A contract for the naga to sign. That's probably not good. Mind if I see it?"

"I'd let her see it," says Amarthecthel.

Sickly doesn't wait wait for someone to say otherwise. He hands the contract to Yasmine the moment she mentions it.

I already failed the roll =) So up to others to discern anything from it.

"Sure, let's have a look. I've had a bit to do with contracts in my line of work. So, the party of the first part shall hereby be known as the party of the first part and the party of the second...hmm, sure are a lot of parties in this town. We'll have to stick around a bit after we're done with all these shady missions!" Garmit happily lets Yasmine have a look too and peruses the terms with her.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 17 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 17 + 5 = 41

As Garmit and Yasmine peruse the long document, the tengu spots an interesting proviso. One that prohibits the naga from selling water to anyone else on the Plane of Fire, with massive fines (paid to Qalkami, of course) for each violation.

Yasmine smiles. "If you are interested in subverting this task I believe you can simply remove the loophole from the contract by crossing out the clause and having Soheila initial the change."

"Is it that simple?" Malusha asks Garmit since he seems to be an expert on contracts. "We can just cross this line out and get a signature? If so, let's do that. Qalkami only said that we should 'ensure the contract gets signed'"

Moving on to task number 2, but feel free to conclude any conversation with Yasmine if you wish.

-------------------------

Yasmine gives you concise directions to Malini's shop - The Eye of Magic. New map

When you arrive, you find a two-story rectangular building of gray stone that stands between a salamander scale-groom’s shop (specializing in the care and cosmetics of scaly creatures) and an ifrit’s copper wholesale office. Hanging above the Eye of Magic’s door is a beaten brass sign stamped with a fiery eye and the phrase “Magic Shop” in several languages.

Entering the storefront, the main room is particularly splendid for a simple merchant. A long lacquered wooden table featuring a variety of wares stands in the center of this room. Included are special inks, pens, and parchment; neatly laid rows of vials containing green and red liquids; as well as a variety of other knick-knacks. Tall shelves laden with bottled reagents stand along the walls and nearly scrape the twenty-foot ceiling. A set of stairs opposite the main entrance leads up to the floor above. Two constructs at opposite ends of the room keep silent watch.

Sitting cross-legged in the prime chair at the table is a quite striking fire mephit. She notes your entrance with a smile, even as she carefully finishes inscribing words upon a dense sheet of shiny "paper".

"Good day to you, fine persons, one and all. I am Malini and this is my shop, I do hope I can interest you in some of my wares. Wares particularly suited to the Plane of Fire but certainly usable across the entire multiverse! Is there something in particular you are looking for?"

"A please to meet you. I am Filmore and these are my companions," says Filmore while he sweeps his hand towards his party before continuing, "I'm sure they enjoyed meeting you too, I just talk more than they do. We're not looking for something in particular. We are looking for a someone in particular. I've been told you have an imp. I'd like to talk to him."

Diplomacy for when it is needed: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (3) + 21 = 24

The flames around Malini's head brighten as she carefully aligns her pen on the table. She seems initially taken aback by the gnome's forthright request but then gathers herself and cheerfully exclaims “Well, my husband is an imp, but I am afraid I can’t really help you as he is out on errands for me.”

Sickly just blinks at that information, doing his best to stifle a sudden cough.

"You married him?" Amarthecthel seems delighted at this news. "So you haven't kept him against his will. Did you know he still serves another. He needs to return to work."

Garmit lets out a small sqwawking sound that could have been either a stifled laugh, a short cough or perhaps just a sneeze. "Ah...you've married the imp? OK, then! Well, let's be up front here. We've been asked by Qalkami Mishalq to come here and reclaim an imp by the name of Vassago. I presume that's the same little guy?" The tengu pauses a minute for this to be confirmed. "She says she loaned him to you in exchange for some certain...er, 'services'! She wants him back as she says the loan period has well and truly expired. Not that we really want to break up a marriage, but any ideas as to how we may be able to sort this situation out with Qalkami?"

As you talk, the mephit's features sharpen and her limbs begin to quiver. "Yes, it is true. He was but my familiar at the start, but then we fell... in love. If only you knew him!" She stands upon the chair, her wings thumping with desperation that almost sees her airborne.

Burying her head in her flaming hands, she cries "Help me find a way out of this. Surely, the obligation ended long ago. There must be a way!"

Then bitterly, she adds "Qalkami doesn’t care about my Vassago at all, she only intends to use him to perform her evils."

With pleading eyes, she searches each of your faces. "No, we cannot be apart! We are alloyed in life and essence!" an Ignan idiom for marriage

"Surely you have been in love. All I ask is for some compassion! Won't you help me?"

"Have I ever been in love? Well, there was this one young chick back in Absalom with feathers like polished onyx...but, ah, it's actually a lonely life out on the road as a Pathfinder!" Garmit responds. "Without speaking for the rest of my friends, I for one would hate to be one to break up two love birds like you and...er, your little impy! As for how to satisfy Qalkami, there's the rub! Tell us more about this agreement of yours. How long ago did it expire? What were the services that were supplied in return for the loan of Vassago? Was there anything agreed to in writing? What were the actual terms? Perhaps we can find a way to appease Qalkami without affecting your...what was it? Alloy?"

Garmit puts on his serious face, the one usually reserved for mercantile negotiations or even more often, serious games of dice at some back table in a seedy pub.

The fire mephit brightens again at the Tengu's offer. "If you promise not to harm him, he should be involved in this discussion. He knows the contract forwards and backwards, he has spent countless days trying to find a way out of it." She turns to the stairs behind her and calls out. "Vassie! Vassie! Come down sweetheart. I have some friends I'd like you to meet. They are here to help"

Before long a grizzled imp slinks down the stairs, hesitant to enter the room or acknowledge the mephit.

"It's ok, Vassie, I've told them... everything." She admits, beckoning his entrance with a wave of her hand.

He stumbles across the room, picking up pace until he falls into her arms. Turning to you, the imp takes a seat at the table. "You've come to help me? I don't understand your kindness, but I will accept it. I have some ideas..."

The mephit kisses him softly on the cheek and admires him as he speaks louder and with more conviction. "You must understand, the contract compels me to obey the commands of its owner to the letter, and while ownership of the contract can be transferred, this is possible only with the consent of the contract’s owner, Qalkami. There is only one way to do this, in my mind. We must destroy my current contract and make a fake to give to Qalkami instead. But neither of those tasks are trivial."

He pauses long enough to ensure you are still on board. "I refuse to return to her unless the real contract is destroyed. Only after you do that, will I "surrender" to her. If provided with a convincing enough fake, I could bide my time long enough for you to report back to her, having completed the job in good faith. In the meantime, I could sneak about the efreeti’s home and track down any duplicates of the contract, ensuring only the fake one survives."

"May I start by congratulating the two of you. You make a fantastic couple. I don't feel comfortable leaving you under the contract or destroying the contract. What right does she have to keep you under such a strict contract?" says Filmore rapidly swapping between excited and serious.

Vassago bristles slightly. "Indeed! Apparently, I was simply a "loan" to my beloved Malini, my birthright belongs solely to Qalkami's bloodline. I leave it to you to justify why I should belong to anyone at all."

"Except me, Vassie?" Malini interjects longingly.

"Except you, my love." He simply replies.

Malusha smiles at the two. "You do make a good couple. I would hate to break that up." Malusha turns melancholy for only a few moments while his memory drifts back to many weeks spent in northern Golarian with a special person. Maybe someday... He turns back to the couple in front of him.

"Is there a way to see the actual contract? Maybe there is a technicality that will allow you to fulfill the contract yet stay here. What were the conditions of the loan. I mean, who's to say it wasn't an indefinite loan. And what would have happened if you died while being loaned out? Not that anyone would have wanted that. There must be some sort of provision for recompense."

Vassago bounds upstairs and soon returns with the slick vellum contract (similar to the paper Malini was writing on the table). "You may look at it, but trust me, I would have found a way out of it if there was one."

Observing the contract - it is short and brutal. There does not appear - to any of your reasoning I am assuming that you all take 20 on relevant skills - a way out of it. Slavery is indeed an efficient practice.

He grabs Malini's nervous hand as the sudden realization that you (with even a hint of reluctance to destroy the instrument of his servitude) might all turn on the two of them hits.

"Let me see that," says Amarthecthel, feeling fairly fed-up with the evil the Society is asking him to do.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36

Studying the contract, Amarthecthel will easily discern that an abjuration exists upon it that telepathically alarms Qalkami should the contract be destroyed or defaced.

It would take dispel magic or any effects that block divination to suppress it long enough to physically destroy it. Alternately, someone who could disarm magical traps could also try and suppress it.

"Tricky! Here, let me have a look at that thing. A little pinch here, and a tweak here might just make it safe to destroy..." Garmit steps forward and tries to disable the trap.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (2) + 24 = 26

Garmit spreads the contract out on the table and carefully arranges several lead sheets (found in the room) across the writing to diffuse the magical alarms.

You now have 1d4 ⇒ 1 round to destroy the document safely.
Assume you are in position to do so and your weapons are out.

Felicitas prepares to aid the one destroying the document with aid competence.
+3 to any roll!

Amarthecthel draws his scimitar, which crackles with electricity, and slashes at the parchment.

Do I need to roll to hit a stationary piece of parchment?

Is simply ripping it up into pieces not likely to be enough to destroy it? Or, anyone got a good ol' torch on hand? Garmit's got a flint and steel if that could be used quick enough to create a bit of a spark to set the paper alight?

Otherwise, Garmit can go full two weapon fighter on it with sneak attack. I presume a piece of parchment would be considered flat footed? :D

"I don't agree with doing it this way, we should have tried a different way first," says Filmore disheartedly a little too late to stop the assault on the contract. He walks out of the room without saying another thing.

@Garmit It is an inanimate object (with considerable hardness), immune to fire (Malini will tell you that), so damage or a strength check (to rip it in half) from any or all of you.

Sickly watches Garmit work on disabling the wards on the contract with some interest... though not enough to get him to step too close to it.

Sickly's not touching it! Its probably got some sort of infernal disease on it or something

Amarthecthel slashes down at the contract twice.

Spend 1 Arcane Point to give his scimitar the shock and frost qualities.

Power Attack.

Not rolling to hit.

Use Spellstrike to cast intensified shocking grasp.

+1 cold iron scimitar with Power Attack, Shock, Frost and Intensified Shocking Grasp: 1d6 + 5 + 4 + 1d6 + 1d6 + 9d6 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 4 + (6) + (2) + (3, 4, 4, 2, 1, 3, 2, 6, 2) = 48

+1 cold iron scimitar with Power Attack, Shock and Frost: 1d6 + 5 + 4 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 4 + (5) + (1) = 17

Garmit sneak attack: 1d6 + 7 + 5d6 ⇒ (2) + 7 + (3, 1, 3, 6, 2) = 24

Garmit and Amarthecthel make short work of the vulnerable document, much to the delight of Vassago and Malini.

"It is done! Now if you can just help make a reasonable copy to fool the efreet, I'll get my things packed from upstairs. I can't wait to see her face when I show up on her doorstep." Vassago squeals with a guttural laugh.

Now we just need a check from anyone interested from the following list...

"Ok, well that was strangely satisfying. Not quite like a good stab in the back but still somewhat therapeutic!' Garmit sheathes his sword as he gets ready for the tricky part, creating a replacement contract.

"Where did Filmore go, by the way? We might need his help with this, but oh well! Gnomes, they can do your head in sometimes!" Garmit just shakes his head and gets down to the business of creating the fake. "Bit of an artform this. Underrated, I'd say. Did you notice that unusual script on the original...oh, and some unusual wording in some of those clauses? Got to keep it authentic!"

Linguistics: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23

When it's apparent that the others have decided to destroy the contract, Malusha tries to step forward to urge caution but he is too slow. "Ok. I really hope that this is the right way." A look of dismay crosses his face followed by a look of resignation. "Since we're committed to this route, maybe I can help." He looks over Garmit's shoulder as he starts to forge a new contract.

Profession(poetry): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 Would skill in writing poetry help?