GM Kobash's "The Disappeared" PFS (Inactive)

Game Master Kobash

Pai and Haris do a little more damage to the Chair as Barlor rejoins the fight. László strikes it, but fails to leave a mark. Beckett breaks free from its grasp and is healed by Peri's wand.

The Chair maintains its attack on Beckett, but cannot breach the man's defenses.

Chair Slam: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Round over. Everyone is up again.

Updated Map

Barlor draws his club and takes another swing at the abominable seating.
Club: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21, Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Round 9:

As the chair focuses its attention on Beckett, László winds up like a batter. His blow lands with a crack of breaking wood, and he smiles grimly at the sound. "Will you lie down and die, you misbegotten piece of <insert Varisian obscenity here>!"

Flanking attack on chair: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 1 + 2 = 18
Flanking damage to chair: 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (6) = 11

"You don't like the acid, do you, Chair," Pai yells at the object.

Ranged touch 1d20 + 3 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 1 - 4 = 19

Damage 1d3 ⇒ 3

I'l 5ft step to G9, reassume my stance and attack.

Attack1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 (Flanking, Power Attack)
Damage1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Pai's acid splashes across the Chair and Beckett's sword cuts loose one armrest. The stump wiggles at him for a second before László's mace takes it from the opposite side, splitting the wood and leaving the Chair a broken pile of smoking kindling. Haris continues to stab it like a Thieves' Guild snitch, but it moves no more.

As everyone stands around, breathing heavy and holding ready weapon and wand, a gleam of jade can be seen in the wreckage of the Chair. An exquisitly carved, and likely valuable, amulet is affixed to the back of the seat.

Combat is over. Well done.

Friggin' finally. Next time I'm prepping TWO shillelagh.

The Varisian collapses against a cabinet, breathing heavily. "That...was too close...my friends. If...another one of those...appears, we take our chances...with the door. Agreed?"

His attention is drawn by the gleam in the wreckage. "What have we here?"

Appraise check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Go me!

ETA: The things people lose in the seat cushions....

László discovers that the amulet was seemingly constructed into the back of the Chair. Prying it free, he examines it and determines its value at 300 gold.

"We should resume our search for the Paracountesses whereabouts."

"Think she might be hidin' in here?" Barlor says simply, not being famous for solving complicated mysteries.

"I do not think so, no. However, the chair did not attack us until Haris came to that cabinet with the so-interesting label. Internal security records, yes?"

László examines that cabinet for traps or alarms, but is still distracted after the fight.

Perception check, incl. trapfinding: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

"I didn't touch a thing." says with a straight faced lie as he examines the same.

Perc 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

I'll Detect Evil, focusing on the cabinet, and also do a quick search, looking for anything that might relate to Zarta, (taking a few minutes if need be).

Also, if anyone wants, I can use the wand without needing to roll to heal others up.

possibly relivant skills

Appraise or Perception:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15 (for Perception, I'll try to Aid Another with Harris)
Know Nobility:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Beckett detects no evil on the cabinet or in the area.

Haris and László open a few drawers in the cabinet labeled "Internal Security: Evidence" and quickly rifle through the contents. László spills some papers and gets distracted in the effort to put them back, but Haris soon strikes gold in the form of a file with Zarta's name on it in a drawer labeled "Evidence Locker #A23". Within the file are a series of letters written in a halting hand that resembles the paracountess’.

The letters are addressed to a prominent House Thrune enemy, and in them Zarta discusses selling privileged Chelish information supposedly meant to foment political insurrection. Zarta’s personal travel logs, are also included. While the first entry—a trip to Absalom’s Ivy District—does indeed match with the letters’ indication of Zarta’s supposed treasonous activities, the second entry proves the paracountess was away from Absalom during a time the letters claim she met with her conspirators in the Petal District.

Upon closer examination, Beckett and Peri point out that the hand writing of the treasonous letters differs significantly from that on the note found in Zarta’s study and within her personal travel logs.

You seem to have found proof that the Chelish were building a case against the paracountess, but you still do not know what became of her...

The rogue passes along the information to the Venture-Captain. "How much time do we have?"

"We're missing something. It's going to take days to go through this whole library. Haris continues as he searches the other table, then wonders, "Barlor, can your boar Ing track with these?" He pulls out the countess's red panties with a twirl.

Perc table1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"And yes, Beckett, if you'd please. I think I broke a rib", handing him the wand.

As Haris approaches the front desk he gets a closer look at the easel standing next to it. It houses a map that notes what subject each file cabinet in the room pertains to. Most of the cabinets contain mundane subject matters, but the four immediately adjacent to the table nook where the Chair battle took place are labeled “Internal Security: Receipts,” “Internal Security: Evidence,” “Imperial Security: Dossiers,” and “Imperial Security: Misc.”

Accepting the wand, "With pleasure friend. You faught well, and I am honored to have been at your side. Who would have thought that a simple piece of decorative furniture would have been such a fiendish threat." with a smile mostly hidden behind his masked helm. Looking around, "I mean that with sincerity, to all of you. I take honor in battling with you, and milady-mage, I shant forget the favor you did me as I nearly died."

Healing 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

" My pleasure Justicar, now let's take a looksie at those dossiers over there, preferably someone more observant than myself"

If Haris tells the others about the information he discovered...

Pai steps to Haris's side. "What does this mean?". She grabs the file entitled "evidence" and begins rifling through it.

Pai, for the sake of keeping things moving, I'm going to assume that information is shared as it is found (especially when the whole group is gathered and searching together like they are at the moment). I have already made some basic rolls to determine perception of the evidence found. If anyone wants to be the sneaky type that doesn't share information, let me know in a PM, but I should warn you that In Character your mission is under the gun, and OOC this delays advancing the game and can reduce an already slow PbP to a crawl.

I'll gather up the pieces of the chair, and kind of hide them in a corner real fast (out of immediate view), and grabbing all the paperwork we might need, shove it in someones pack. "Ok friends, back up through the vent. We need to get back, and if getting back to the waiting room is anything like the trip here, we need to hurry. Sow is smooth, smooth is fast."

The rogue skims over the dossiers to find anything with Zarta's name on it, and anything he finds he passes on to Beckett to pack up. "Friend Pai, look in the receipts, if you would. That leaves only the miscellaneous files, yes?"

"I'm on it, Laz. Hopefully we have what we need in this group of documents. Like the big guy said, time is of essence, and I'm afraid ours is just about up."

I'll return to the ducts, and help the others to climb back up, (and avoid looking up any skirts), like a gentleman, before exiting the room.

Not rushing anyone along, feel free to do anything you need before we go, I'm assuming we have already pocketed all the paperwork, and are heading out. We can rifle through it all after we make our appointment with the new dilomat.

Haris flips through the dossier looking for Scarzni interest.

Perc1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Beckett has climbs back into the vents, and seems ready to depart, but the others stay to be thorough in their investigation.

László, Haris and Peri scan through the dossiers for a few minutes about 3 if you're counting. No mention of Zarta is found within. It's either a lack of concentration, or the need to drag a chair over in order for the short gnome to reach the top shelves, but it is taking Pai a little longer to go through the receipts, and she is only a little over halfway through them by the time the others have completed their search through the dossiers.

Barlor? What are you doing?

Barlor remains behind to assist the others in getting up to the vent if needed.

Haris muses and moves on, leaps into the vents.

Sticky Fingers 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

highest perception score Peri has ever rolled.

Frustrated Peri breaks for her normally sing song voice and grunts.
"Surely there is a dockett or transfer receipt of some sort amongst all of this bureaucratic nonsense."

I feel sorry for the pig.

Well, if everyone else does decide to stay, I will begin to head back through the vents, as I will take the longest. Once out, I will first check to make sure the other room is still empty and locked, do another quick exam of her personal study and desk. Perception 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7, then begin to make my way back to the waiting room we started in, so that at least one of us is there in case the new embassader arrives, I can make something up. Before I leave, I ask for the satchel with the documents we are to deliver.

"Guys, come here for one quick second. For some reason, it is taking me longer to go through these notes than it is taking all of you. That doesn't make sense. I wonder if there is some form of magical effect causing this," she asks as she performs a quick gesture and she searches through those same files, looking for magical auras.

"I thought it was your tiny fingers getting in the way."

"I leave that to your expertise, friend Pai. Barlor, good sir, let us boost your companion up, and I shall assist you thereafter. When we are done Haris and I are well able to climb up ourselves." Though from the look and manner of the man he would be much happier doing that in front of people who can admire his skill. Which, to be sure, is greater than mine. For now.

"Peri, shouldn't you be tossing more gold pieces from your bosom, while the rest of us search," the gnome adds absentmindedly, too focused on her strange inability to keep up with the others to enjoy sparring with the sorcerer.

Barlor pauses to look casually at his companions, briefly wondering what to do. Finally, he takes the advice László gives him, and begins hefting Ing back into the vents.
"Up ya go, smelly pig. Knew I shoulda got me a monkey."
Ing snorts in indignation.

Pai and Peri rustle through the receipts cabinet, frantically looking for any last clues. The banter between them continues as frustration mounts. The receipts are hard to sort, and many seem to be in code, slowing the process more. A minute passes as the others boost Ing up into the vents and begin to traverse them back to Zarta's quarters. Another passes after the last of them has entered. Time is running out.

Peri Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

Pai and Peri pull open the last drawer, sifting through file after file. U, V, W... Pai is certain they have wasted precious minutes in the search, X, Y, Z... then Peri pulls out one of the last documents in the cabinet. Under Z for Zarta. Either a clerk in the records archive should be fired, or given a raise, depending on your point of view.

Zarta's Prisoner Receipt

Haris receives Ing from the vents, and asks Barlor again, "So this little swine doesn't sniff panties?

My mistake, I was under the impression we just grabbed everything paperwork-wise and would search through it all later.

I think there was a lot of "everything" to grab, unfortunately.

"It is time we were going. Friend Pai, you first. I shall assist the lovely Dame Tilki next. Do not worry--" He smiles and winks. "--I shall take no liberties. There are better times and places for such things, yes?"

Once everyone else is up, László collects the fallen vent cover and passes it up before climbing up himself and trying to replace the vent cover. Climbing up may take a couple of tries; if so, he'll hurry everyone else along so no one is waiting on him.

Climb check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Disable Device check to replace cover: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Handing the letter to the Varisian on her way up.

"Decipher this receipt László you scallywag, and we might just talk of much better times and places when your work is completed."

No climb checks are needed to return to the vents (with the exception of Ing, who is simply shoved, squealing, up into the opening). The vent is easier to replace than remove.

Having waited for the women, László helps them up into the vents, follows and pulls the cover closed behind him. A few minutes later everyone has crawled back to Zarta's chambers and regrouped there. Beckett, having gone ahead earlier, has searched the rooms again, but found nothing new.

What is the plan for returning to the waiting room?

Venture-Captain, we have returned to Zarta's quarters. Is there any way that you can maneuver to see the entrance?

While waiting for a reply, the Varisian examines the door. Is the keyhole large enough to see through? (For that matter, is there a peephole? László suspects that there may have been times the Paracountess would not have wanted her comings and goings observed.)

There is no peephole or keyhole that can be seen through.

There is no immediate response from Amara. How long do you want to wait for one?

"We cannot wait any longer. We need to have an outside lookout; whether that is from an appropriate vent, through magic, or one of us bluffing past anyone outside does not matter, as long as it works. What say you, my friends?"

"I can be a beautiful liar when it suits me best."

"Have you used any of the items given to us at the start of the adventure? Perhaps one of the less stealthy could become invisible and take the paperwork, to be sure it arrives in case the rest of us are caught?"

I forget, did we get a potion if invisibility, some dust of disappearance or what?

I was just going to look for a round or two, just in case before heading back, so that at least one of us will be there for the meeting. Returning the same way I came.

Beckett cracks the door and peeks out. The activity in the hallways is about the same as before.

It takes a perception check to time crossing, or a good bluff to explain yourself.