GM Lamplighter: PFS #4-07 "Severing Ties" (Inactive)

Game Master Scott Young

"We can do this no problem"

Ranvar says finally talking after the last round about

"I wouldn't dream of screwing up my mission." Andrazi smiles and leads the group back to the "Seven Needles".

For now, I'll just stand there silently, waiting to hear what I've been waiting for for so long. After we leave, I'll shift back again to more of my real self, "Remember, it is said that the Society has an agent within the Cult. We art not to kill."

As we head that way, "Dost anyone else feeleth that the Society is not so much different than the Consortiam? At least the Consortiam is more straight-foreward and honest about thineselves, but is there truely any difference. Both shall resort to any means to achieve their wishes, which so often are the same, and both employ, less than honorable tactics and even darker means at such. . .", he says, less as a question as a statement, but open to discussion.

Esmerelda relays all the information she was able to gather to her companions when they are a safe distance from the cartage.

"Let us hope we are able to discern the agent. Do we have any information about them at all?"

As they walk back toward the exit, Leastrie mumurs to the others. Names, remember I must learn some of their names.

Can i hear Lesatrie?

"Eh, people are as honorable as they want to be. At least the Society gives you that choice. We could just knock out everyone, since we need live witnesses anyway."

"I am missing a properly wet blade blade if you know what i mean..." (stabby stab stab)

DC of hearing a whisper is 15, Perception
Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16

Esmerelda pulls her journal out of her backpack, along with a charcoal stick, and writes down all the names as well as their various ties and interactions. She fills the rest of the page with all the other information gleaned from the guards as the group wanders to their next destination. When she is done, she tears out the page, and hands it to Leastrie, whispering "Now you don't have to remember. Just don't lose the paper."

^gotcha

Perception:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

"Let us hope we are able to discern the agent. Do we have any information about them at all?"

"I did ask, but was not answered by our hostess, milady. I would like to knowest more, mineself, though I haveth faith that we shall be granted such wisdom when the time cometh for us to recieve it."

"Eh, people are as honorable as they want to be. At least the Society gives you that choice. . ."

"I am missing a properly wet blade blade if you know what i mean..." (stabby stab stab)

You here saying. . . :)

so much for that... lol

Leastrie accepts the paper, reads it and the folds and places it inside a pocket inside his vest. Sighing with relief, he smile at Esmerelda. Thank you, you save me from much disgrace. I owe you dearly.

You leave the yard of Barracuda cartage and head south along the waterfront. As you walk, the air becomes hazy, and the smell of the sea is overwhelmed by a sickly sweet smoke that seems to climb to your skni and clothes. To your left, a huge stone arena towers over the other buildings, and beyond, a series of large smokestacks belch plumes of black smoke into the sky. The smokestacks emanate from an immense structure or brick and iron, showing unmistakable signs of dwarven architecture.

Directly across the street from the smokestacks, you find your target: an alley leading to a ramshackle wooden building tucked between two flophouse tenements. The windows are broken and partially covered by rotting boards, and the entire side of the building facing the smokestacks is stained black with soot. A faded sign by the door is barely legible: "Seven Needles Tattoo Parlor".

Leastrie tells the others all he has discerned concerning tracks and what he knows of the arena. See spoilers He looks to the group. How shall we proceed? Right in the front or is stealth in order?

"Well since we gotta frame the Aspis, we need to be seen coming in. And the Lissalans are expecting us anyway, so we might as well go through the front door."

Whispering Esmerelda adds, "Yes, we should be seen entering. . . They have to know it was the Aspis." Then louder, "Seriously?? Sending Aspis' finest recruits to . . . what? Clean an abandoned building. Well if it is cleaning they want, cleaning they shall get. What a waste of time!"

"Nice touch, Esme." Andrazi whispers back as he looks around to see if anyone is watching before he leads everyone inside.

Leastire adjusts his Apsis badge to make sure it is visible. Ok, I will follow your lead.

Ranvar will follow behind pulling up his hood

I'll cast Light and then start focusing on Detect Magic around the room, seeing if anything turns up.

Can I follow the tracks anymore once they go into the room?

Esmeralda pulls a candle from her belt pouch, along with a flint and steel, and lights the candle. Once the candle is glowing brightly, she casts light on the candle, then blows it out.

^neat way of doing things

Does anyone need healing?

The tattoo parlor's location at the end of an alley makes it unlikely that any passersby will see you; however, as long as the Lissalans think you're Aspis, you should be able to accomplish your mission. A quick perusal of the abandoned tattoo parlor shows that the tracks lead to the back, where you find a barely-concealed trap door in the floor. The door is slightly ajar, perhaps left open carelessly by the last person to enter. Throw the crack you can see that the door leads down a set of stone stairs. The area down the stairs seems to be light by torches or something similar. From somewhere below you can hear a faint rhythmic sound that rises and falls; although very faint, it seems to be the sound of many voices chanting or singing a tuneless drone.

Nothing in the room detects as magical or is of any value.

"Time to do this. Be ready." Andrazi leads the others down the stone stairs.

"I suggest we proceed quietly"

stealth:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Im good on health :P

I was thinking more of a secret door or magical wall. :)

"And I am not, friend, though I might be able to serveth as a distraction for thee." I'll just head down, not trying at stealth, but rather like I'm suppossed to b there. If I'm able, Ill keep on Detecting Magic (Standard Action).

"I'll stick to the shadows, and im not going to save you when you get in trouble"

Esmeralda wanders around the house, looking here and there for anything of importance. in a particularly dusty corner, she 'accidentally drops' her Aspis badge face down in the dust, doing her best to leave a good impression before returning to the group and casting Detect Magic herself.

You open the trap door and proceed down the steps. The marching order based on your discussions is: Andrazi, Soth-Loren, Leastrie, Aliera, Esmerelda, and Ranvar (hanging back a bit and remaining stealthy).

You descend the staircase, which ends at a slightly-ajar door. The area beyond is lit by torches, and you can hear the faint but unmistaking sound of the chanting or singing from somewhere ahead.

Andrazi pushes the door open and strides into the hallway beyond. The door opens into a tunnel of worked stone with a cracked flagstone floor, ten feet wide and ten feet high. To your right (east) the tunnel extends only a few feet before ending in a brick wall of much more recent construction, and to you left (west)the tunnel extends perhaps thirty feet and ends in a similar obstruction. Across from you, another tunnel extends north at least twenty feet. There are empty sconces on the walls, but the tunnels are lit by a flickering greenish flame emanating from the stone of the ceiling itself. (OOC: light level is "normal" in all areas unless otherwise noted.)

Andrazi strides confidently into the hallway, followed by the rest of the group. Ranvar, the tunnel is too well-lit for you to remain hidden, so I will assume you are moving as silently as possible and hanging back a bit. The northern tunnel extends about sixty feet, and then turns right, but you can see a thick set of iron bars prevents passage through the right turn. There is another greenish flaming area on the stone ceiling, about halfway down the hallway.

It appears we are heading back under the arena. This is a cult, let us be wary of traps and such. Leastrie removes and readies his bow, fitting an arrow into it and begins peering around the tunnel.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Andrazi moves to the iron bars, nodding at Leastrie's comment before peering through them.
Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Looking around for anything "suspicious"

Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Esmerelda raises her hand, indicating a desire everyone stop. "Hold up, there is something magical over there. Three somethings to be slightly more precise. Give Soth and me a moment to focus on it. Could be a trap at best, and an ongoing effect at worst."

Esmerelda recasts Detect Magic as necessary, and tries to focus in on the auras she has noticed.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

"PFFFT! you got it"

Ranvar will drop back and draw his dagger

Leastrie freezes in mid-stride.

Andrazi pauses a moment so the threat could be identified.

I stop as well to investigate, but will try to Aid Another with Esmerelda.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Can we see what items are actually radiating magic at this point?

Perception checks:
Andrazi: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5
Leastrie: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Ranvar: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

As Esmerelda and Soth-Loren examine the passageway, the droning chant continues in the background, occasionally rising in volume as a large group of worshipers respond en masse to an unheard leader. The sickly greenish light of the flames on the ceiling cast eerie shadows which dance on the walls and floor of the tunnel.

Map link

Ranvar looks at the worshippers and attempts to fashion a disguise, to look like them.

This is an espionage rogue lol, not fit for combat against a mob. If i can get myself hidden, i can take them out individually over time. Maybe getting one or two in their sleep later. Or at least this is what ranvar is thinking.

Esmeralda explains what she has learned, including her lack of knowledge regarding the glyph, to the others as she removes herself t a more central location within the group.
My handy companion is not on the map :(

Ranvar, we don't see them yet. We just hear them. And I see our friendly dinosaur right behind you Esme.

Andrazi just nods his head for the group to move forward. He tries to keep his steps soft to not garner the worshipers' attention too soon.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Stop Andrazi. Leastirie hisses. He points to the floor, where the glyph is located. Its a trap, we need to figure out how to disable it or set it off harmlessly.

Guys, something is coming toward us, prepare yourselves. I hear something raspy. Leastrie points his bow in the direction of the sound.

Check my spoilers please

Esmerelda looks down the hallway in the direction indicated by Leastrie, and orders her animal companion to guard her. Handle Animal: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 4 = 21 (Skill + Link)

I'll just stand there in the middle of the hallway as the others hide. I have no talent for it and it may be wise to stand a distance behind me. Ill advance 5 squares, but still not drawing my weapon at the moment. I'll drop the Detect Magi and try to Read Magic on the Glyph if I'm close enough. If not, I'l just wait there.

Esmerelda will follow Soth-Loren, doing her best to remain hidden in the passage. Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21