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

Game Master Kobash

"Guys, I'm afraid we are being left here. Do we want to try to follow Laz into the vents? As long as he's been gone, I wonder if he is heading back in the direction of the holding room we were in..."

Not much for crawling through ducts, but I will do what is necessary.

I would like to point out that the distance indicated by the map I have provided doesn't really back up the time needed to traverse the vents. This means that László has spent a little over 3 minutes moving through them, even though he's only about 60 feet from the group. I'm not certain if the scenario meant for the vents to be longer than indicated, or if someone just decided that moving through them takes a long time because of the need to crawl. Either way, this is how it is.

Also, at this point, communication with László will have to be relayed by Haris, who is still at the first junction.

I'll follow him up, though I'll probably move slower than the others.

Haris backs out to let Beckett in first, then follows.

I can't help but think that half a dozen pathfinders crawling through a vent will be noticed by *someone*, but if that's the dance we're doing, I'm down for whatever.

Half a dozen pathfinders made it through the gala without getting busted. Also, note that I don't view this as a modern metal vent, but rather a wood and masonry crawlspace between set between rooms and floor levels of the building.

"Up the vent with us then Barlor."

If László has really been up in the duct for three minutes, that's plenty of time for Barlor, Peri, Beckett, and Pai to have taken twenty on their searches of the playroom, I think.

"Alright, up we all go. I'll help ya all get in, if someone c'n pull me up in there once yur done."

If László has really been up in the duct for three minutes, that's plenty of time for Barlor, Peri, Beckett, and Pai to have taken twenty on their searches of the playroom, I think.

Thats true. If we were waiting for three minutes, Pai, as concerned as she is about the mission would have checked the heck out of the "dirty" room when she went in.

Haris grumbles about crawling through the vents, "Come out to the gala, we'll get together, have a few laughs..."

There was a lot of talk, but not much action during the 3 minute time period, but since it only takes 2 minutes to take 20 on perception, sure.

After a thorough search, Pai and Beckett find nothing else of interest in the "dirty" room. Peri and Barlor search the secret room and find nothing there either. Ing takes a quick nap.

László is up.

The Varisian takes the right branch, the path marked with the crown.

"Alright, I guess there, is nothing here. Let's get Ing up first and follow the others down the vent.". Pai wasn't sure about that, but she couldn't think of anything else to do.

Following the crown, László comes to a dead end with a vent in it. The middle third of a centaur wielding a bow adorns a wall of the tunnel, its arrow pointing to the vent.

László peers cautiously through the vent.

Beyond the vent:

This room is large and square. The walls glow with a gentle blue light, and the air feels unnaturally cool and dry. Shelves line the walls and stand in ranks through the middle of the room, punctuated by a wooden table and ornate chairs. An imposing, unoccupied desk faces the main entrance to the room. On an easel in one of the aisles is a map of the room.

The vent is near the ceiling of this room, but climbing up and down would be made trivial because of a cabinet standing against the wall under the vent. Removing the vent appears to be about as tricky as opening the one from Zarta's private room.

Updated MAP

Does the room appear to be unoccupied, and roughly where is it in relation to Zarta's quarters?

Perception check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

If no one appears to be in earshot, László will start working on opening the vent while he waits for everyone else to catch up.

The room appears unoccupied.

The Varisian works slowly and carefully to open the vent. Taking 10 on his Disable Device check.

László has about 4 minutes before the rest of the group catches up. That is plenty of time to take 10 to open the vent. So he gets it open.

László eases the vent open, but the awkward angle, combined with the lack of hinges, makes keeping a good grasp on it difficult. As it comes loose, the vent slips from his fingers and drops into the room below, clanging and banging off the cabinet and onto the hard floor in a loud rackett.

Dexterity check 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Updated MAP

László freezes in place, waiting to see if anyone noticed the noise.

One minute passes without anything moving or anyone coming to investigate.

Around this time László can see Beckett and Haris come into sight as they round the last turn in the vents.

"Crown check, centaur next."

The Varisian waves them closer, holding a finger in front of his lips to indicate silence.

I'll jut keep moving towards Lazlo. Along the way, are there any vents or ways to kind of peek through and see where we might be, or what is below us?

Pai follows along behind the others, hoping to be as silent as possible.

Can we assume László waits for the rest of the group to arrive behind him? If so, what now?

Laz dear, allow me to squeeze by you so I may have a looksie through the opening.

Peri will use detect magic look into the room when given an opportunity.

With a smile and a wave, László yields the right of way to the foxy lady.

Peri's spell detects some magic auras on the set of doors to the north, but nowhere else in the room.

"Friend Hawkson, let us climb down, so that we may assist the others in reaching the floor safely."

László suits action to words, starting by lowering himself to the top of the cabinet and then, if the cabinet bears his weight, dropping to the floor in front of it.

Climb check (if needed): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Acrobatics check (if needed): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

"Be wary of the northern doors darlings, they are not as mundane as you may suspect." Peri shifts and addresses the gnome " Pai sweetie, seeing as how you have to work so very hard to make magic work for you, would you happen to know anything about magic schools? "

If Haris can pass by Beckett, he'll climb out with Laszlo, preferably to perch on the shelves rather than the floor.

"It is much easier to perfect magic if you work at it, Peri. Sorry to say," she notes to the sorcerer. The gnome casts Detect Magic as well and starts to study the doors, once she reaches the end of the vent.

No climb check is needed to get down.

László descends into the room, and Haris squeezes by Beckett to perch on the cabinet.

The room remains still and quiet...

Pai's Spellcraft 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Pai can sense multiple auras around the doors, but cannot identify them.

Pai informs that others that the strange auras of the doors are beyond her. "Best leave them alone for the time being. Hopefully we won't have to fiddle with them."

DM, probably a strange question, but can we tell where we are located as related to the little holding room we were put in at the start? I'm trying to think of the best way back.

You've seen the same maps as I have, but I'll give you this: The only known route back to the holding room is back the way you came. The door from this room goes who-knows-where and seems protected. Also, looking out the few vents you've passed on the way (hallways and empty rooms mostly) seem to indicate that you are in a section of the Embassy not open to guests from the Gala.

"There must be a reason why the Paracountess had the directions to this room, my friends. If you can come down without my assistance, I will begin the search." The rogue starts checking cabinets for anything interesting.

Perception check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Pai, I think that if you leave this room and go north you'll end up on the other side of the door at A-2 in the original map.

Pai attempts to help Laz with his search, after she climbs down from the vent.

Perception Aid Another 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Haris leaps down and begins the poking around, starting with the table.

1d205 ⇒ 113

Assist Laz with Perception 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

While assisting Laz, Peri quips at Pai
"I'm very happy that your infinte intellect allowed you to simply reword the observations I already made. If you knew you weren't capable of the task you could have just said so"

Wizards

success?

Haris, you rolled a d205 and got a 113. You may want to fix that.

Pai gritted her teeth, embarrassed, knowing Peri was right--she had added nothing new. Stupid, unpredictable magic. I work at it. It should work better for me!

Haris Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Haris approaches the table in the middle of the room and finds it empty. Peeking underneath reveals nothing more. Tapping on it, he's pretty sure it's solid. Apparently, the table is just a table.

László begins looking through the nearest cabinet. The two ladies spend more time chatting then helping, but he manages to focus and scan the contents fairly quickly. Inside are records, but after about a minute he realizes they are mostly mundane in nature in the particular cabinet he's searching. It would seem this whole room is a records archive for the Chelish embassy.

Searching each cabinet will take a few minutes if you know what you are looking for. Probably a lot longer if you don't.

"It would seem to me that--as this is Cheliax we are dealing with--the Paracountess' 'disappearance' must have been a legal action. So we would be looking for some sort of court records, yes?"

The last notations on Handout 2, say something like "What a man? I just have to vent. Evey production me'd..." by my translation, using Laz's cypher. Does production have anything to do with the files? Anything involving famous actors, plays, locations, etc? I'm just sort of spitballing here.