GM Farmagnuðr PFS Online (Inactive)

Game Master Hayato Ken

"Gnomeblood, do you have sssomething to write with? May be better for communicating with the boy."

Zar glances up at the "gnomeblood" but nods.

Yes of course. I always have things to write with, never know when an idea for a different way to prepare something will come.

He fishes out a handful of parchment and an inkpen.

An expansive smithy is set up in the west end of the stable, one corner of it occupied by a small cot and a neat pile of clothing. To the east stretch a number of stalls for horses and other animals. Sheep and goats are perched together into two stalls and there are several horses too, but enough of the stalls are free to house the mounts of potential guests.
Kamu should fit into one just fine.
You see a boy in working clothes mucking out a stall. He doesn´t seem to have noticed you.

Map

Yugatta glances over the boy and the forge, looking for anything unusual.

Perception, boy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Perception, forge area: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Whispering quietly, Sritaro holds himself and Kamu back. "Make an introduction.", he nudges to Zarzuket.

After re-reading the dialogue with the innkeepers, I don't think we were sent out to the stables so much as they were just mentioned. It's kind of odd that we all immediately shuffled off en masse to the stables. But here we are, so let's roll with it.

That´s just fine. You´re allowed to roam freely in the Inn mostly and don´t forget you have a mission ;)

Yeah it was just a note that there was a stable to head to. But we gotta check the place out anyways.

Zar takes a moment to scan the surroundings looking for anything out of place or strange. Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Before stepping forward and trying to get the boys attention by first knocking on something Just to watch for a reaction, then moving to try and get into his line of sight.

Zar, the boy does not seem to see you. Perhaps you need to be more overt.

You don´t see anything unusual at the forge section.

As you knock on some planks, the boy turns around.
Seing you, he waves his hands smiling in welcome. He doesn´t say a word though and looks very amazed and a bit scared at Kamu and Sritaru.

Just as Zar turns his head for a second, he sees something made of iron blink in the straw near the entrance. Stooping down and fetching it up it turns out to be some kind of amulet, a symbol like a hammer.

Knowledge, Untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Yugatta knows that it is a holy symbol, and can identify the god's name, but no more than that.

Not completely sure I'm allowed to try untrained on this. Rules say Knowledge is "trained only", but also that you can't attempt untrained on a DC higher than 10, so I think I can. Not spoiling it until I get confirmation, and with that low roll that's probably all she knows about the subject anyway.

You're right Yugatta, that's how it works. Knowledge checks are a little weird like that, but that explains how even run of the mill folk can know something about goblins without the required Kn: Local ranks :)

"Gno- Ssszarzuket, ask the boy where Kamu would sssleep?", Sritaro requests his gnome ally to jot down.

Knowledge (untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 .... wow just wow. Guess I missed the pamphlet on common religions.

Zar nods to Sritaro and quick writes down on his parchment before showing it the boy.

"Where can our animal friend here sleep tonight?"

Map

The boy, Rosh, looks at the parchment and nods. He points to a free stable box between two other free boxes. Clearly he doesn´t want the dinosaur next to the horses, which already shy away in their boxes.
The horses are the black squares in the boxes.

After some minutes in the fresh stable air, all of you remember the conversation with Amauhak and Metella, their voices fresh in your memory:
Among them dwarves was one cleric of Torag
...

So, a holy symbol of Torag thrown or dropped in the hay of a stable. This is not something a priest will part with easily.

The boy seems innocent enough, but appearances can deceive even the wary.

This woman wishes to search the stables further, without our hosts knowledge. And is our hostess wearing a scarf of Dwarven craftmanship? This woman wonders where she got it.

Unless dissauded, Yugatta will go back to the stables on the pretense of looking for a lost necklace and search the area where we found the holy symbol.

"I agree, this is suspicious. Which means we're going to have to be extra careful from now on."

To true ladies, a dwarven style scarf and a holy symbol to a dwarven deity. This indeed needs further attention.

Yugatta heads back to the stables, sneaking in when Rosh is not looking to the area where the holy symbol was found. She searches the area, digging in the hay looking for trap doors. If she finds nothing she will examines the north wall for secret doors into the thick wall beyond.

You search the area before the stable, but there is nothing.
Further search inside the stable and the hay also bring nothing.
However, you could not keep your behaviour hidden from Rosh, who watches you suspiciously. His frown clearly indicates he thinks you´re more than a bit odd. As you come near the north wall though, he suddenly begins to gesture. Pointing at the horse in the north-east box, the one standing there lonely, he shakes his head, covers it with both hands and then bytes his hand, all the while making a lot of excited noises.

Ngngngnnnnng, uhhhuuuuh ngnnnng.

You stop at Kamu´s box. What do you lot do?

Intelligence, DC 10: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Yugatta gets down on one knee to look the boy in the face.

What is wrong, young one? She knows he cannot hear her, but is concerned for him.

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

Roleplaying that crappy roll...

Yugatta gets up abruptly, thinking she's calmed the boy without really checking for sure, and moves cautiously to the stall just south of the northeast stall. Having no skill at handling animals, she peers over and through the stall divider, looking for anything unusual.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Int check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Yes, i'm quite content with that.

Mia takes in the boy's appearance and mannerism.
"Shall we take a further walk guys, there's something i need to show you."

When the others are taken aside she shares her impression.
"The boy isn't deaf...this boy displays signs of being a mute. But...he hears us just fine it seems. So be careful what we say around him, those old sisters would understand his sign language."

I had wondered about that, bu I'm still concerned on where we should look for our friends. If something has happened to them, they must be hidden here somewhere.

"How about a basement or cellar? Your ideal storage if you don't want it on ground floor."

Int: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

"I agree, that boy is more capable than the sssisters would give him credit."

"Perhaps the boy could be of ussse. He was willing to share us his sssecret."

"True, but he might also be sensitive to kindness, be that honest kindness or not. That said, he could tell two ways if asked for it, in -or against our favor."

"I am not good with... kidsss.", Sritaro looks down, admitting a weakness. "What do you think?", the nagaji asks the others.

Well it is possible that that he might have seen the dwarves, or possibly heard something from the sisters about them. We could try asking or go about our search.

As you focus your attention on the single horse in the back, all except Mia see that it actually is an illusion.
Rosh seems to believe in it though and clearly doesn´t want anyone to enter the stable box back there. As you remember the secret part of your mission, you think it might be best to not go there right now.
Also, Rosh is understanding everything you talk directly in front of him.

Yugatta looks disappointed as she leaves the stall.

(Sigh). This woman did not find her necklace. Perhaps it will be found in this woman's room.

She nods to Rosh as she leaves the stables.

When the others are taken aside she shares her impression.

I thought we were out of range of Rosh.

Rosh just shruggs at you going into corners and discussion things there at lenght. He seems contend that you left the wild horse alone and tries to feed some straw to the dinosaur.

This is a bit of a sandbox atm. There are several things you can do.
-Go back talk with the sisters.
-Explore more.
-Wait untill evening/night and research the phantom horse in secret.
If you want, i can give you more guidance. Else i´m waiting for your input. We don´t really have a timeframe here. Note i´ll be out of house without my Laptop untill monday for a Con.

Yugatta is very intrigued by the illusionary horse. As her social skills are lacking, she is in favor of investigating that area later tonight when everyone is asleep.

We might want to check around a little more. We can come back and check what's going on when night comes.

"Works for me."

Mia will try to take in as much detail as she can when/if the group would explore more.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 20

In Draconic, Sritaro speaks up.

So, on we go!

You go back into the main house, relaxing in the lounge there and enjoying the good food. Soon the sun sinks behind the horizon and after some tales trading with the sisters you all go to your rooms, pretending to be tired.

Feel free to add something in between that time, like furhter interaction with the sisters or the Inn, else i assume you will wait and go explore the illusionary house at night.

(whispers) This woman is not so good with words. Perhaps a more word-good person can ask about where one can get such a fine (Dwarven-made) scarf as we see on our host.

Was the scarf a dwarven style, or something orsirian? I know it was said that the scarf matched the one the osirian dwarf was wearing. I just want to make sure if it's more of a racial style or cultural style.

It was a very similar thing, definately out of the ordinary here and not something you would get on the next market.

Smiling and talking politely, Zar suddenly takes notice of the scarf around the one sister's neck.

Excuse me, my good hostess. But that scarf you have is very unique. It reminds me of the ones of my homeland in Osiria. Ah I haven't been there in so long. Where did you get one of those lovely items out here? We've traveled for a while now and I haven't seen much of my homeland.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Eugenia Grymble: The scarf? Oh, a guest gave it to me some time ago. He hoped for something more in return, but of course he didn´t get what he wanted. I´m no easy women! I do like the scarf quite a lot though. The yellow is really refreshing and so intense.
She looks at Zar smiling.
And you say you´re from Osirion? You came a long way then. Can you tell me how it is there? I never travelled far! The Inn must be seen after and keeps us so busy, you won´t believe how much work that is.

Everyone who didn´t make the sense motive:
It seems Zar caught Eugenia on the right foot and she is quite open to his charms. Zar might even have a very good feeling about her and feel flattered.

Moving you along a bit now.

After a while, Eugenia and Tarsi excuse themselves, going off into their private rooms. Only Addas stays with you untill you go off to your rooms too. It is already dark outside since two hours and it´s eleven o`clock. Shortly after the Inn falls all quiet and all you can hear so far is the wind rustling in the trees outside and probably some night active animals in the forest.

"Hot.", is all Sritaro can say, being as truthful and concise as possible.

Haha, i'm not even bothering, that's too high a DC.

Mia teases Zarzuket a bit.
"Well, you were chatting her up there my friend."..*chuckles*
"Ah..the sweet sounds of the night birds and crickets. But anyway, shouldn't we investigate the stables the big boy didn't want us to see?"

Allright! Please tell me and play out how you will proceed to investigate the stables exactly.

It is a clear night, stars and moon visible, which give you some light and make for dim lightconditions outside.

Yes, this woman is very interested in that stable stall. Who is going with us?

I have low light vision and some limited stealth abilities, so my vote is to go in quietly and without light sources.

I can have the cover story of feeding Kamu at night (don't want him to eat the 'horse' after all). I also have low-light vision, but stealth is a weak-spot. I can hope for high die rolls. Any other ideas?

This woman finds your cover story believable, man-lizard. With your kind permission, this woman will accompany you on pretext of not being able to sleep. We need only attempt stealth for reasons of politeness, yes? It would be common courtesy to not wake up the guests.

If this woman does not go too far, one might suggest not to wear armor nor large visible weapons, as it speaks against the stated purpose of the trip.

Yup there's no way for the that sense motive.

Zar smiles and almost blushes a little as he talks with Eugenia. Oh it is quiet the lovely and remarkable location. I haven't been there in a bit, been traveling around.

To Mia once the ladies have all left.

Yes, i guess I was. Guess I picked up a bit of a silver tongue from talking to all those adventurers when I was younger.

I'm good with heading out to try and get into the stable. Zar can try to do some stealth and with low-light should be able to see.

You gather outside your rooms and try to sneak to the stables.
You should do some stealth roles please. Aid another is ok.

Once you reach the stable, you find the door closed, but not locked.
Kamu slept, but smelling his "daddy" close he wakes up and bristles in the box, what wakes the horses which niegh nervously, but not too loud.
Inside the stables it is pitch dark.

Rolls to make:
-stealth
-willsave for illusion +4 who didn´t make it before
-perception 1
-perception 2

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Everyone except Mia knows about the illusionary horse. And we did discuss it with her present.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23