GM Erich's The Many Fortunes of Grandmaster Torch - Outpost 2018 (Inactive)

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

Was Raynor's diplomacy check useless? Raynor did try to lay on the horn... if they are trying to thrown themselves in front of the car... I'm not sure how the car will react... :P

@Khouri, they look like they are just grabbing for the purpose of pulling you out of the factory, but yes, you could "attack of opportunity" them.

@Raynor and Smarmy, yes, your bluff and diplomacy did have some effects. Some of the workers are backing off.

Don't look at me, I didn't expect it to do anything too useful. Except maybe get them looking at Ray funny. Heh.
But 20' vs 40' movement, giving chase seemed pointless! So I went the fun route =)

GM, as this seems like a factory, any chance there's a little locker or the like, by the entrance, with the proper outfits for the workers (or visitors, et al)? (Hard hat, safety goggles, lab coats, etc. Whatever these guys wear for safety reasons.)

Raynor Fort Save, Antitoxin: 1d20 + 9 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 5 = 15 [nauseated]
Mozza Fort Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Raynor has a sneezing fit as the antitoxin reacts strangely with the spices in his nose, but he manages to spur Mozza to make him go higher on the wall so that the workers on the shop floor can no longer impede the riding gecko.

[Auto Ride, free action]

Mozza break grapple, standard action: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

If successful, I will reposition Mozza on the map with a 40-foot move action, going up on the wooden platforms towards the south then east on the long catwalk

Fort: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Flurry: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 231d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11 Miss (high good for me): 1d100 ⇒ 33
Flurry: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 211d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 = 15 Miss (high good for me): 1d100 ⇒ 18

Bo snaps off a couple of shots at the archer and moves to catch Buri.

@Bo, I'm a bit confused. Who are you targeting, and how are you moving after a flurry?

Shot at the Orange archer. Totally brain farted on the flurry and move. It would just be a 5' step. I will move him back. (That's what I get for posting in a hurry from work, lol)

Nergi thrashes around, yealling at the man holding her. "Let go of me, or I'll toss a flint against the wall!", she shouts, attempting to scare the worker into cooperation.

CMB: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

There are archers? Bo, you realize you're shooting to kill innocent civilians possibly? =)

Smarmy scowls, unsure if any of them bought his ruse. Still, their quarry seemed to still be running around unchecked, and now half the employees were jumping on the rest of them, trying to kick them out.

Was there any spare safety equipment near the entrance? To use to blend in?

Still, he takes a quick peak around the corner, and thinks he can spot Buri as the man scrambles through the spice dust. Doing his best to not let the man spot him in return, he quickly pulls out his crossbow, takes a couple of quick breaths, then leans out and takes a quick pot shot at the general area, hoping to get lucky.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22 (Won't get the sneak attack, but hopefully he'll still be flat footed!)

Ranged vs Buri: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18, for 1d8 ⇒ 2, 50% Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 98.

(2? bah)

Wow! I think I totally misread the post earlier. There are no armed bad guys? Okay. NO SHOOTING OF ANYONE ON MY PREVIOUS ROUND. I thought they were taking positions to fire on us.

@Bo That's fine. They are guards but they haven't joined in yet. Just observing the strangeness so far. I'll assume you instead moved to follow the cloud of dust. Fifty feet of meove could put you right next to him. Let me know if you want to attack with your standard or something else.

@Smarmy No extra safety equipment at the entrance. Not a whole lot of govt oversight here. What with the exploding dust and all.

@Raynor The dust is not a poison, so the antitoxin doesn't really help you here

Mozza is too wily to be held onto for too long and scrambles up the walkway. I think this is the way you wanted to go? Khouri and Nergi struggle to free themselves from the burly workers, to no avail. Bo Goh moves to intercept and Smarmy takes a quick shot but the bolt passes through the dust without stopping.

Just waiting on Bo Goh's standard, as that will determine what he does.

Round 2/3 - Full Round - Bo Goh may go
Raynor
Mozza
Khouri (grappled)
Nergi (grappled)
-------------------------------
Bo Goh
Smarmy
Buri Buri-Ban <Purple> -9 hp
Workers

Oh, thought high was good on the miss chance... not that 2 damage is going to scare anyone =)

@Smarmy Ah, you did hit, I had the range increment for crossbow wrong.

I will move up last round and take a single shot using my roll from the round (modified to be without flurry).

Bo Goh's point blank shot slams into the dust and Buri takes off past the group to escape outside. Khouri is able to slink out of his hold, but Nergi is held tight and dragged to the door.

To the Kelish shouts of "The crazy knight is going to jump the fire lizard into the vats and kill us all!" more workers try to grab the runaway lizard and its dodgy rider.

maintain grapple on Khouri: 1d20 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 5 = 8
maintain grapple on Nergi: 1d20 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 5 = 27
grapple on Raynor: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
grapple on Mozza: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
grapple on Bo: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Round 3/4 - Full Round - Bold may go
Raynor <Need Fort Save on your turn>
Mozza <Need Fort Save on your turn>
Khouri <Need Fort Save on your turn>
Nergi (grappled) <Need Fort Save on your turn>
-------------------------------
Bo Goh <5 foot step and flurry of arrows> <Still need Fort Save on your turn>
Smarmy
Buri Buri-Ban <Purple> -11 hp
Workers

Where'd Buri go, I don't see him on the map?

Raynor Fort Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Mozza Fort Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Man and beast trudge forward on the catwalk!

[Mozza: double move]
[Raynor: move action - sheathe lance; standard action - cast a spell]
Raynor cast Protection vs. Evil, Concentration vs. Vigorous Motion DC 11: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"Gentlemen, sorry for the intrusion. We are running after an invisible thief. Please let us pass."

Mozza's not grappled, according to the summary.

Yes, that's why you all moved up the ramp a bit.

@Smarmy, look to the west of Smarmy

post updated - sorry for the inattention! :P

@Smarmy, look to the west of Smarmy

Oh! The map was scrolled a notch to the right, didn't see him there at all!

Fort vs fumes: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Smarmy continues to frown, as the disturbed spice cloud, indicating their target, comes running right towards and past him. Not at all what he was expecting.

He's not sure what's going on with the others, none of them having much luck at all in stopping the man. With a curse, he tosses aside his crossbow, and hurries charges towards where the last vestiges of spices are falling away.

Edit: Ok, relooking at the map, maybe he's 25' away, not 20'... so I guess I'd have to charge. 8( I hate charging!

"We ain't after you, just what your carrying." He growls. "Drop the later, the former can go on its merry way. Rest of 'em won't be so generous once they're out here."

He takes a swipe at Buri's general area, to punctuate his point, knowing he won't get another opportunity, given how quickly the man moves!

melee vs Buri: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 = 30, for 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 damage. (50% miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 82)

oh... maybe?
confirm: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 2 = 18, for an additional 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (6, 4) + 8 = 18 damage.
Or not.

Glad to be free of the union workers, Khouri heads for the exit where the disturbed cloud of spice passed a few seconds before. He sees Smarmy locked up with the invisible man, and shouts encouragement to his dwarf companion.

DC 10 Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Double-move I guess. That guy is fast.

The halfling continues to thrash in the worker's grapple. "Hey! Hands off! If you want to play doctor touchy, you need to invite me to dinner first!"

Fort: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
CMD - break free: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

@Smarmy I couldn't get the drop weapon, draw and charge actions to work out for you, since you were moving more than your speed on the charge, so I changed your nat 20 back to another crossbow shot, it still confirmed.

Raynor upon Mozza continue their patrol of the upper reaches of the factory. Khouri trudges out into the daylight, a small band of workers following at a slight distance to indicate they had something to do with it. Through sheer determination and a powerful spin move, Nergi wrenches free from the worker grabbing her own collar and stumbles to the door on her own accord.

Bo Goh takes a pair of long distance shots on the rapidly moving target and one luckily connects. Smarmy gets a shot off as well and with decreasing speed the dusty footprints receding away from the factory grind to a halt and a large plume of dust suddenly rises, indicating exactly where Buri Buri-Ban now lies - motionless.

Smarmy perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Round 4 - Combat Over
Buri Buri-Ban <Purple> -36 hp

I can draw a weapon as part of the movement, yes? Or does that work different during a charge? (Hadn't originally intended to charge, so didn't think on it) Shrug, is all good... saves me getting my axe messy!

Smarmy sees the invisible man fall to the ground, and he immediately stows his crossbow, before too many folks see him holding it.

He then saunters over to where he fell, to search him, before someone trips over the body, trying to be nondescript about it.

Is there a out of the way place to drag the body to, before it becomes visible? If so, do that.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

You can draw as part of a charge if you move your speed or less, going more than your regular speed, you need quick draw feat.

The local populace is strangely uninterested in a dwarf dragging an unseen body across the town square. There is a Kelish saying that applies, "What's done is done, there are always more mouths to feed than eyes to see."

Huh. Never noticed that before! (the charge and draw a weapon thing)

And uh... what body? I see no body! He's doing uh... calisthenics!

The rule you mention above is only if you are restricted to a Standard Action in your your turn (certain conditions only allow Move or Standard actions, but not both, like surprise round for example. If he were eligible for Full Round Actions, that restriction does not apply.

See the rule in the paragraph above what you mention(emphasis mine):

I assume Smarmy was not restricted to Standard Action only (eg, surprise round, staggered etc), and that he has a BAB greater than +1. If so, he should've been able to draw a weapon while charging. Not that it really matters now.

Once Smarmy has dropped the runaway target, Khouri helps search him for the last statue and any other items of interest he may carry.

Nah, I think Erich's correct... if you read the first part of that sentence you bolded.

After some more forum rule research, I agree now. I don't think it makes a lot of common sense, but from an action economy standpoint, i get it. Never seen that rule in place before however, so will mark it down to learning something new every day.

That's why its called "RuleFinder" sometimes...so many to deal with

The rest of the group eventually exits the factory and meets up with Smarmy in the alley.

A quick search of Buri's pliant form uncovers the smallest statue yet, a 2 inch tall common house cat (in the seated position) that weighs about 8 ounces. He also has magical bracers and some nice sapphire rings on his meaty fingers.

As you are tidying up the scene, a young boy approaches and hands Nergi a note.

The monk ponders the invitation. "We should deliver the statues to Venture-Captain Yasmin Kal’al before meeting at the inn for dinner. I do not believe in celebrating before the task is complete."

"Agreed. This is most irregular."

The group reaches the Venture Captain and returns the statues, which she ceremoniously arranges on her desk. "Well, this is quite impressive, you handled this task with speed and aplomb. I will make a note of that in your Pathfinder Chronicle."

Looking around her study for a suitable container, she continues.

"I'll need you to return these to the Grand Lodge for further study. I will pack them up nice and secure tonight for the journey. I believe I can arrange passage for you on some merchant vessel or another heading west tomorrow. For now, enjoy your night in glorious Sedeq."

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

For those attending the Grandmaster's dinner that night, the wind just after sundown is markedly cooler as it passes through the lower level of his open-air inn. A lavish table is set out for you, filled with a sampling of local cuisine mixed with delicacies from around the Inner Sea. Torch looks strikingly different than the last time you saw him in the baths, his hair expertly combed and wearing a multi-hued coat of leather and strange furs. Even his guards (one noticeably different from the one with the hasty kukri earlier in the day) are dressed in impeccable style.

He greets you from the head of the table.

"Welcome to the Cockatrice, I do hope you find the meal to your liking. It was the least I could do for the Society and its newest batch of elite agents. From what I understand of the centipede attack, the statues were far more dangerous than most anticipated, it is good thing they off the streets and will soon be safely tucked away in the vaults under Absalom."

He smiles dramatically.

"I should hope that our interactions today are buried as deeply. There was no mention of my name to the various buyers you encountered today? I do have to maintain a certain amount of deniability to the locals, you understand."

Not recalling if that was part of the bargain, or if anyone actually spoke the name aloud, Bo offers, "I made no mention of who sent us."

Why do I get the feeling that being here for dinner means that Torch has people stealing the unguarded statues? Is my paranoia showing?

I don't think we spread the word about GMT - out of character I do not remember us doing so, but please correct me if I'm wrong...

"We appreciate the meal and the assistance, Grandmaster. A toast, to all Pathfinder Agents in the field? May their challenges meet their expectations, and may the rewards befit the challenges!"

"Oh yes - our interactions are buried deeply, alright. I'm sure we were invited here out of kindness of your heart.", the halfling snaps back at Torch. "Absolutely no ulterior motives, whatsoever. What do you want?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Assuming nothing else happens at the feast and it was just for flavor...

The next day Raynor declines the Venture-Captain's offer for passage on a merchant vessel, pointing out he will take the group to Absalom free of charge on his own vessel, making sure the statues are put in a heavy 3-inch thick steel sea chest, THEN placed in a large wood box and filled with sand.

While the crew brings the ship to readiness, he spends the morning at the Secure Market to petition for a licence, going through the proper channels. He also interviews the owners of every stall in the market, starting with the more destitute-looking ones, to inquire about potential sale of their license, and how much it would take for them to part with it. For those who hesitate, he asks if they would consider a 'reverse mortgage' (i.e. they keep the stall, but sign over the license to Raynor or sign a promise of sale to Raynor at a specified time in the future). If they consider that, Raynor asks Khouri to draft the contract and put his Abadaran seal on it (Khouri to state his fee to Raynor; GM to state the price of any NPC who would agree to sign the contract).

Torch turns in time to acknowledge each of the agents speaking, raising his mug emphatically high to Raynor's toast.

"Thank you Bo, a simple answer from such a quiet man. And thank you Raynor for the toast, always worth remembering the agents in the field. You must know that hits close to my heart."

"Ah, Nergi, it was simply a reassurance that I can expect minimal damage control with this particular episode. As you can see, I am not fond of fighting fires."

"As to what I want from the Society in the future? That remains to be seen. There are... things... in play all over this grand world of ours - and beyond, of course. To many more years of cooperation."

He lifts his mug once more.

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

Your venture captain stores the statues securely, even by Raynor's standards, and the ship sets sail the next day for Absalom and beyond.

The Secure Market proves a tough nut to crack. There's nothing in the scenario about purchase of a license (they really are uniquely valuable and rare), but if you wanted to purchase a vanity (such as caravan or a shop), you could probably flavor it as such.

With that we are complete...thank you all for playing. The success conditions were satisfied (recovering the statues for the society without activating them unnecessarily or causing additional damage to the town, so 1 XP and 2 Prestige for everyone.

Good call! would Underground Business (5 PP) or Property Broker (5 PP) also work, considering the nature of the task?

I think Property Broker makes more sense for a paladin. You can grease the wheels for Secure Market Lease transactions... get your name and picture on billboards.

Deal!