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

Game Master Kobash

Unless someone objects, he'll take the time to take ten to open it.

Beckett objects. "I have personal business in the harlot's quarters myself. You will need another to hold you up. Barlor, If you would?" Setting László down the Justicar begins searching for something.

"Whada I look like, a shelf? We ought ta move the desk where he c'n stand on that!" Barlor objects.
Seeing everyone apparently too busy to care, he resigns himself to the task. "Fine, up ya go. Just don't be all day 'bout it."
He sets the articles he found on top of the desk, and on his way over adds "Some'n look through all that. Seems important."

Peri and Pai look over the papers, but fail to make much of them yet. Just a note: linguistics might give you clues to help solve the puzzles, but most of the work will be up to you as players.

On another note: I love all the roleplaying here everyone. It will take Haris a minute to open the vent, and everyone has that much time at least to do what they will in the rooms, so by all means continue.

Laz is in the vents. Without Barlor's club, we'd been screwed on the imps.

"The harlot's got a big crush on the big mustache", Haris says to Beckett and shows everyone the note. He suddenly remembered he was supposed to be on a look out for some smut on a Sczarni interest, and so digs a little more through the desk.

Perc 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

"Okay, Peri, I'm not too proud to admit that I'm stuck. Do you have any ideas? The rest of you, anyone good with puzzles?"

"We need more information I believe."

As László prepares to use the dwarf as a ladder, he pauses to pocket the list Barlor found. "I will need to examine this later; thank you very much, friend Barlor." Then he looks over at the papers Peri and Pai are perusing. "Ah! It is a simple substitution cipher, and this is a list of names. You see, the lines at the bottom are where she was starting to encipher her note. Use those to clarify the cipher...although some letters are missing, there should be enough to decipher most of the names. I would assist, but I have a vent to open, yes?" And the rogue climbs up onto Barlor's shoulders and goes back to work.

I actually worked that out last night, but skillfully left the file with the deciphered names at home.

Peri would have no interest in it if she could not figure it out quickly.

This is a foolish endeavor, let's find out who banished Zarta already.

Haris continues searching as long as Lazslo tries the vent.

With a wink Peri looks at Beckett
"Thank you Justicar, I'm sure your oath prevents me from fulfilling my promise"

Indeed dear lady, think bothing of it as it is my pleasure.

Well, Pai will wait until Laz gets us that list, because looking at it made my head hurt, lol...

Haris tosses the room but finds nothing further of interest.

László works open the covering and looks in into an old ventilation tunnel beyond. Just inside he discovers a small valise tucked in the narrow crawlspace containing 50 gp, a pouch of fine dust, a plain gray cloak, and official-looking documents establishing several different false identities for Zarta Dralneen.

Updated MAP

"This would appear to have been her way out. Perhaps we can also take it, and avoid any issues with being seen. Although that would leave the embassy staff with the mystery of what became of us."

"That just might work, Laz. Let's cover all of these quarters back here, though, to be sure we have everything we might need. There isn't time to make a second run at this..."

The Varisian hands down the valise and peers into the tunnel. "There seems to be another duct here, but I have no light." Unless there's light coming from elsewhere into the duct, of course....

In response to László, Peri pulls a gold piece from her bosom and casts light on it.

"Here you go darling, don't spend it all in one place."

László smiles and winks at Peri. "It is still warm...to be expected, from a woman such as you. My thanks." He uses the glowing coin to see into the tunnel before climbing in.

Short of hacking the desk to pieces, Haris looks for something else to jam his crowbar into. He heads back into the bedroom to find the hog on the bed languishing, well, like a pig in a blanket. "Should we spread out to the other room? We haven't all night to crawl around the place."

"Friend Haris, follow me up here. I may need help."

Here's the cipher stuff:

Key:
V=w
Q=h
I=a
W=t
G=m
S=n
A=i
M=j
Y=u
D=s
K=v
O=e
E=o
X=r
U=y
Z=p
H=d
F=c

Names (asterisks denote letters not in the ciphered text):
Noravia A**us 30052905
Imperia Ra*ian 52203491
Patronicus Drendane 10449520
Tancred Desimire 79402910
*urco Tana*ian 59200482
Pavanna A*a*ario 20955321
Aerodus A**us 76439201
*rachius Ratarion 40592281

Ing snorts and looks up as Haris enters the room. Something red and lacey dangles from one of his ears.

Haris, I was wondering if anyone would notice Ing making himself comfortable. Hehe.

László crawls into the ventilation tunnel...

This crammed vent leads to a series of old ventilation tunnels. The floor and some of the walls of the tunnels are plain stone or plaster, but in many places the walls and ceiling display pieces of crumbling mosaics, frescos, murals, and bas-relief sculptures. The tunnels are narrow with low ceilings, and tend to be about 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall and László must crawl along on hands and knees to move through them. Occasional vents punctuate the walls and provide dim light throughout the tunnels. A light source is not needed.

At the first junction, the wall to the left of the fork is adorned with the head of a lion, cut off from whatever mural sustained it in the room below, and the right side of the fork shows an ancient banner unfurling.

Updated MAP

I'm back, but will need to catch up before I start really posting much. I've tried to from my phone, but it seems to jump sometimes, so I'll read back tomorrow. As soon as reasonibly possible, I will try to head up the vent, informing Amara of our progress.

"I'llll...be.. right.. there.. Laz", Haris's curiosity peaked by something red and rude, walks over to Ing and takes it from his ear, hopefully it's not an ear worm. Being a real pro at horizontal events, Haris takes a quick dive in the sheets, rummaging for anything not too gross.

Perc 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Perc 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Haris plucks the small piece of cloth from Ing and discovers it to be a delicate pair of undergarments.

Unfortunately, he finds nothing else in the sheets.

He pockets the undies and heads back into the secret room. "All right, all right", he waves off the crowding, "Let the pro through". He leaps into the duct after Laz.

Interesting faction mission??

" I'm not much of a climber, I'll stay down here. Anybody else have any ideas?"

Dam, have we searched the entirety of the quarters? I want to be sure we have everything we might need before trying the vent.

Lost another post. László should have pocketed the SL operatives note for later disposition; right now, the important thing is the overall mission. One other thing--how dusty is the tunnel?

The Varisian turns right and makes his way to the T-junction, trying not to be too noisy.

Stealth check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"Beckett is still down there and he's not going to fit that full plate in this duct - have a looksy in that other room."

László murmurs back, "I do not know what we will find through here. Perhaps Pai should join us."

László turns right and almost immediately comes to a dead end.

The tunnel is just a little dusty, but not overly so. Also - Beckett will fit in the vent.

Oops, meant my right, not his.

As long as he's in the dead end, László takes a cursory look for secret doors before doubling back and going to the T-junction.

Perception check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Pai, the only room you haven't really looked into is the northern room that Haris closed during the fight with the imps. Looking that way, Pai sees Beckett in the room perusing a pornographic painting of some kind.

For László - Quick retcon... sorry, to YOUR right.

László turns east and comes to a T that goes north and south. At this junction the right side of the fork is adorned with the scales of
justice, while the left fork is plain wood. He searches about, but discovers nothing.

Update MAP

The rogue takes the side with the scales. It looks like there are a couple of vents on that side, so he'll listen before he moves to where he could be seen through them.

Okay guys, I am afraid we are leaving before the mission is done. Here is the quote of what we were supposed to be looking for..."I want to know where Zarta is, I want to know who took her, and I want to know why she was taken." I don't think we have that information yet, do we? The sheet with the code that Laz broke is one component. Do we have the rest or is it just me thinking that we don't?

I'm thinking the answer is somewhere else--that's why László is guessing that the scales will lead to something like a legal office. Incidentally, I got a couple of the other names on the list (by dint of looking in the Inner Sea World Guide entry on Chelaxians and looking for common Chelaxian names).

Pai is going to go search the porn room. No telling what might be in there.

"Move out of the way, Beckett. Ugh, what are you looking at? That's nasty!," she admonishes as she steps around him and heads into the room, looking for any other possible clues.

Pai looks around the northern room...

This room seems to be in pristine condition, with little evidence of renovations. The chamber is full of a variety of equipment suggestive of a dungeon or torture chamber. The walls appear to be thickly padded and sustain hooks holding a number of whips, bludgeons, and other instruments of pain. Spaced between large mirrors are several extremely obscene paintings.

Pai's Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Pai finds nothing else of interest in the room.

What are Peri and Barlor up to?

Barlor stares at the things scattered around the room, trying to make some sense of them. He furrows his brow, thinks very hard, then suddenly has a realization.

Heading after Pai, he pauses in front of Ing. "Aw, what're ya doin', filthy pig? Ain't no call for that!" He then throws up a hand in disgust and continues looking for Pai.

If it was possible for a pig to appear guilty, Ing does.

Barlor can see Pai and Beckett rummaging around in the northern room.

Barlor walks in, speaking. "Pai, I was wonderin'--" He pauses, noting Beckett. "Er, I see ya--" He stops, suddenly becoming aware of his surroundings. "What in the name ah-Sarenrae!" He turns away, flushed and flustered.
"Er, uh, just... Whenever the two uh yuhz is done!" Barlor stumbles over himself, rushing back out. He catches sight of Ing, staring curiously, and offers warning. "Nothin' worth seein' in there, Ing. Besta give those two some privacy, I'm thinkin'"

Peri waits while Pai, and the Justicar obtain their smut.

" what did you see in there Barlor?"

Pai was disappointed as she exited the "dirty" room. "is there any other room here we haven't checked? I'm afraid there is more information here than we have recovered. Time is flying by, and we won't get a second chance at recovering it."

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

I'll grab some of the tarnish and paint from the other room, and cover it for now, roll it up and throw it in my bag. Later I'll burn it.

Earlier, we found a coded cypher. Can I take a look at that.

"Huh, indeed. Yes, look here. The words "Vent", "Lion", "Scales", "King", and "Centaur" are capitalized. They must be clues. What did you say you saw up there, friend?"

While the others discuss, Barlor will approach Pai and whisper, "Did ya, y'know, put that thing on that other thing? While you wuz gone?"

On hearing Beckett's comment, László stops short of striking his forehead, confining his reaction to a muttered Kelish curse (something about lacking the brains of a camel tick). And I had seen that those words were stressed, too! Too focused on the cipher, I suppose. So King and Centaur to finish, then. He continues to crawl down the tunnel.

"Worry not, Barlor. Consider it taken care of. If we can finish finding the information needed here, we are good to go!"

Following the signs called into the vent by Beckett, László turns right at the scales, and soon comes another junction which has a crown on the wall of the right branch of the fork and a depiction of a spear thrust up through the floor of the wall of the left.

Is Haris still following? What about everyone else?