GM Lari's Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master Dhenn

"It don't take a Chelaxian prima donna for a Pathfinder to look like they're on the outs of family. I reckon you'll be rosy cheeked just fine Wyatt."

Oops, caught up playing Fallout 4... forgot to check if we'd had an update!

and more wizards!

Doubtful is his usual dour self on the trip to Goka... still waiting for the ship to sink, or the pirate attacks, like both are a near certainty.

He does not look upon the strange Tien city with any more enthusiasm.

"Anyone actually speak the local language?" He asks, dolefully. "They probably hate foreigners."

Can anyone speak Tien?

Whether anyone can or can not does not appear to appease his pessimism at all.

Upon arrival at the Lodge in Goka, he keeps one wary eye out, suspicious of the whole place... a mood made even worse as Amara Li reads them in on their next assignment.

"Am not any good at subterfuge." He warns with a scowl. "This sounds like a horrible idea."

"And we're supposed to trust the word of some traitorous Aspis bastard?" He seems incredulous at that.

"If all these Deepmarket folks are thieves and thugs... hiring one doesn't seem too smart." He adds. "Will just inform others for a few extra coins, and get paid by both sides."

He gives a fatalistic sigh.

"What are we smuggling, anyway? Nothing good, I'm sure."

"I speak almost a dozen tongues. The local isn't one of them. Perhaps you ink-fingers can handle a little hand waving translation?"

Welcome to our Team Wyatt ! Always happy to see some knowledgeable person in it.

Jair smiles at impersonating some smuggler I'm up to the task but as Doubtful rightfully said if we don't speak the local language our ruse will be less effective.
I'm not familiar with the local fauna but I could easily looks like a foreign smuggler, Venture-Captain.

Says with her melodious voice Jair

Imrana furiously scribbles down notes on the briefing.

"Tian-Xia...I am very pleased to have this opportunity. The Great Nex was never abel to explore its secrets as well as he wanted to. Perhaps the key to unlocking his--"

She starts and covers her mouth.

"I have said too much."

Maybe we could get some extra scrolls of Tongues and/or Comprehend Languages to help with the language barrier?

If people would have been happy to share spellbooks on the voyage over, I'd be mighty obliged, y'all hear? ;-)

Wyatt nods to Jair.

"Thanks. It's always nice to see new places, and meet new people..."

When the topic of speaking with the locals is tabled, Wyatt shrugs.

"I typically keep a spell prepared that enables me to understand what others are saying, but it won't be much help when it comes to the talking."

Thorn Local: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Dunkel Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Imrana Local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Wyatt Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Jair Local: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Wyatt Geog: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Imrana Geog: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Thorn Dung: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Dunkel Dung: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Wyatt, Jair, and Thorn are all familiar with the Undermarket. Almost anything can be found in the black markets under Goka, including drugs, poisons, gambling, slaves, and even firearms. They consist of a series of large caverns. Canals flowing to them reach all the way to the Embaral Ocean, allowing easy movement of goods away from prying eyes.

Though Guaril's operation in the region isn't nearly as developed as he might like, he did mention a promising lead, a silk shop named the Cresting Blossom. Those provide contraband to the proprietor can gain access to his secret tunnels.

Dunkel and Imrana have heard rumors that the Aspis have been renewing recruitment efforts over the past few months. They also know that there are many lost crypts, burial chambers, and ancient churches in the caverns. Most have been repurposed by new residents over the years.

Imrana has also heard tales that the miles of tunnels in the Deepmarket connect all the way down to the Darklands.

Amara Li gets up, and retrieves a number of objects from a nearby table. She lays two scrolls and a small wooden case out on the table before you. "While I am confident in your ability to handle things discreetly, if you wish to blend in, these may prove useful." Disguise Kit and two scrolls of disguise self.

She also places a larger wooden box, about one foot tall and wide, and two feet long. She opens it, identifying its contents. "We are providing you with a dose of blue whinnis poison, a pistol imported from Alkenstar, a set of oracular finger bones smuggled out of Po Li, and jade unholy symbols of three proscribed gods, Fumeiyoshi, Lady Nanbyo, and Lamashtu. Oh, and this..." She pauses for a moment, uncovering a small framed painting with a sigh. It depicts a nude Tian woman in a sensual pose. "This is one of Goka's more popular actresses."

As to Doubtful's concerns, she continues, "Goka is a very diverse and tolerant city, the gateway to Tian Xia for most foreigners. That said, things are different in the Undermarket. Outsiders are unlikely to know which places and people to avoid, but be careful whom you trust below the city. Unscrupulous individuals prey on travelers, picking their pockets or leading them into ambushes."

Dunkel nearly facepalms when Amara Li begins listing off dangers ranging from ambushes or pickpocketing for Doubtful to fret over.

"Ach! Why'd ye 'ave t' go and tell us all that??"

Dunkel considers accepting any of the contraband but upon spotting his dirty hands, he tucks them away in his pockets.

"So ah' speak dwarven, gnome n' terran. Common, too. Would'nae be enough t' be a dwarven guard or smuggler down there?"

Jair says I'm good at blending in any place. Except for the language I could pass for a Tian women.

When seeing the scrolls she said

I have my own wand for disguising myself but these two scrolls could be of use for Dunkel and Wyatt or Imrana.

She smiles at the painting I hope to meet this actress during my stay in Goka...

Interesting objects Amara Li. I'm sure with these we will pass for true smugglers !

Wyatt nods.

"I can scribe it into my spellbook, and then cast it, for a slightly longer duration."

Doubtful immediately starts checking his pockets, sure that all his worldly possessions have already been fleeced the moment he stepped on the dock back in the port.

"We're probably all gonna get waylaid and sold into some duergar slave gang." He moans unhappily.

He digs in his pack for a moment, muttering about thieves, before producing a small wand.

"Can use this I guess," He says with a slight hesitation. "The guy in the shop said it could change my appearance for a bit." He scowls slightly. "Though I bet he was lying."

Doubtful has a wand of disguise self as well, though it does not have many charges.

"Probably doesn't even work" He adds, waving it suspiciously.

Of course, being a personal spell, he'd have to activate it himself... =) So the usual shenanigans of trying to roll a 18-20 before I roll a 1 ... heh

Thorn eyes the materials silently before looking up. Eventually he speaks, I didn't read the papers when it came to make over. I suppose I could try the kit, but it'd be three thumbs and a pinky. The wand is a bit wonky, but if I poke enough I can get it to sing I'm sure."

Feel free to disguise yourselves however you choose now if you're using mundane disguises (disguise self won't last very long).

The above-ground portion of Goka has pretty much anything you might want to buy if you need anything else. Several of you have a good lead for a way down below (the silk shop), for when you're ready to go.

Amara Li continues, "I am sure you'll all be quite convincing. Frankly the Undermarket is an area I know little about. The city authorities actively ignore the area, as they know that they would be forced to intervene, and they have neither the will nor the resources to pacify the caves."

"Sounds like my kind of opera." Thorn starts working on a bit of a disguise. He only changes some minor details about himself and uses the kit. (Taking 10+5+2+2 for a 19.)

He then looks back at Amara Li, "This good enough for the stage? Oh, and while I think on it, there's no expectation to get these goods back to you... right?"

Thorn is totally happy heading to the silk shop. Black markets are his thing, and if we're using other peoples stuff for bribes, he's all the happier.

Why do we need to disguise ourselves? Just out of curiosity? Its not like any of us have ever been here before =) Or are our racial appearances that distinctively out of place?

Looking like you belong there might attract less unwelcome attention. It's also possible that the Aspis might be familiar with your faces, considering you disrupted one of their major operations not long ago...

"What? Me? Couldn't be"

Dunkel rubs his hands together before standing and moving over to Thorn.

"Ahl'right Thorn, do yer best..."

The dwarf holds his hands out, closes his eyes and grits his teeth, waiting to be "disguised" as a smuggler by a smuggler.

Thorn gets to work on Dunkel, a little of this and a little of that. "You wouldn't cost more than three-bit outside of Kaer Maga, but it's better than a trollop sauce in the skivvy."

I'll take 10 on Dunkel for a 19 as well.

Wyatt nods in appreciation at Thorn's work.

"Looking good."

I am happy to have a 'Thorn makeover' as well ;-)

I'll do up the whole party if I'm the best option.

Imrana jots down a few last notes before stowing her journal away. She steps up to Thorn.

"I will take a disguise as well. The Great Nex did not teach us the techniques of mundane disguise as he vastly prefered magical efforts in all things, though I have always wished to see its techniques in practice, as a truly effective mundane disguise can bypass detection techniques a magical disguise cannot."

People also don't actually get perception checks to see through your disguise until you do something that brings attention to you, so at the very least, disguises should help getting around until we find what/who we are looking for

Once Thorn finishes the party he checks his handiwork, "Right, I ought to look for the shake and gold if this Pathfinding career doesn't work. You guys kib and proper to get on with it?"

Thanks to Thorn's assistance, most of you look like much shadier characters than you normally are. Others look just as shady as they've always been, but in a noticeably different way.

With that work done, you're able to find the Cresting Blossom with little trouble. Bells chime as you enter the shop. A middle-aged Tian man dusts a multicolored glass vase at the counter. The shop’s walls are lined with fine silk tapestries, and its shelves are stocked with fine glasswork. There are no other customers here.

The shopkeeper looks up and begins speaking in Tien. When it becomes clear that you don't understand, he switches to flawless Taldane. "Welcome to the Cresting Blossom, travelers! How might I help you?

Thorn isn't a talker, but he does read people, just in case the shopkeep gives off any hunches Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 and in case there's anything of note in the room Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 (+3 if there is a trap.)

Woah. I hope those rolls weren't wasted!

As you rightly guess, we are not that familiar of Goka. But, we know one thing or two about what's going on, under it.
May be you could be interested in one or two things we brought with us ? And if these things interest you, I'm sure you could give us safe passage under, isn't it ?

Says Jair.

Take 10 for bluff (20) or diplomacy (17) +1 if it could be sexually attracted to my character

Thorn can make out the outline of a door behind one of the colorful silk tapestries. He also realizes the man doesn't seem at all fazed about the arrival of a number of strange faces arriving at his door. As such, aggressive tactics probably won't be as successful as polite conversation.

The shopkeep looks you all over carefully, considering your offer. "I see...It would be wrong not to help visitors to our wonderful city. But the sun does not set without a price. What have you brought with you?

Thorn, acting on his read of the man adds (without his typical slang so he can understand) "Show him the lot, we're not the first to walk in this way I think. Take *a* pick sir, and we'll be on our way."

Dunkel's hand drifts to his pick as the old dwarf is certain he's the only one carrying such a diggin' instrument.

"Wha..? A pick?"

Dunkel glances around at the others, like a man accused of wrongdoing in a line-up.

"But..."

Dunkel blinks as the assorted goods are displayed instead.

"Ohh.... a pick. Right! Gotcha..."

Not sure who's carrying the goods, but if Dunk's been entrusted with some, he shows them while he keeps his pick safely stashed away.

Along the journey, Imrana takes some gleeful enjoyment at being disguised. She tries to mimic Thorn's movements and posture, much as though she was playing some game.

"Yes, we are visitors of a quite shady variety. We are quite the troublemakers. Definitely in the market for underground things, yes."

She can't help but give a delighted girlish giggle, though she tries to stifle it as quickly as possible.

Thorn's face is an awkward mix of annoyance and amusement at Imrana. The girlish charm is certainly a good play...

He then looks at Dunkel a bit. He's not used to confusion when he drops the slang.

Jair smiles at Dunkel's confusion and Imrana's giggle.

She says with a smooth voice Have you find something you like ?

Wyatt simply shrugs, giving every indication that he is bored with the conversation, but perfectly understanding that others may be better-skilled than he at the fine art of negotiation.

;-)

However, he *does* keep an eye out for anything unusual.

Perception 'Take 10' = 22.

Doubtful merely waits for it all to go pear-shaped... because he knows it will.

He looks at the goods currently for sale in the shop, while the others 'negotiate' their entry.

The shopkeeper examines the goods you've offered one by one, before he comes to the painting.

"Oh my! This will do quite nicely. Yes...I'll have to get in touch with my reproduction guy at once!"

He walks over to the shop window, looking around nervously, before returning to the counter, and pulling aside one of the silk tapestries. He unlocks the door hidden beneath, revealing a spiral staircase descending down into darkness.

"There you go. Knock five times on the door, like this." he raps on the counter in a rhythmic pattern. "to let the men downstairs know I sent you."

The staircase ends at a doorway. Assuming you do as he says you knock on the door, and a grim, solidly built man opens it, nodding silently.

The warming light from the sun has been replaced with a flickering orange glow that emanates from torches stationed throughout the entirety of this cavern. Buildings made of various types of wood and stone line the walls of this immense grotto, while other ramshackle shops snake their way through the causeway. A large canal in the middle of the cave moves ocean water deeper into the chamber.

Multiple slapdash docks with accompanying dinghies bob slowly on the canal. A large building stretches across the canal, its exterior caked in barnacles and algae. The smell of salt water lingers in the air.

How do you want to proceed from here? Gather information checks are the most likely option. Descriptions of how you want to handle them (what sort of people you're looking for, how explicit you're being, etc.) are appreciated.

"Great. More boats." Doubtful grumbles halfheartedly at the sight of the underground canal.

Otherwise, he does not say much, keeping mostly silent as they proceed, keeping an eye out for suspicious characters taking too much interest in them, or the inevitable ambush or Aspis trickery.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Not sure what the best course of action is here, other than looking for a place to sell our goods, and hoping it leads to Tseka without mentioning her by name straight off?

Thorn eyes his party, "This is where I hold my citizenship, kennit? Giving it the ol'Shoanti try is likely the best way to score the snake-eyes. Let me compose a song. We could use a guide to help us cook up some dinner, but I'm going to go straight for the jugular. If you don't mind, let me use one of the symbols as an appetizer."
Diplomacy (Gather Information): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 Looking to make get information on, or a location for, Tseka.

Also my first of choice mister. You seems to have good taste in Art says Jair with a smile when the man picked the painting.

After a wink she follows her comrade down.

I will also ask myself, I will pass for a chelaxian smuggler trying to find someone from Avistan. I hope their is no leech here, I HATE leeches.

She uses another charge of her wand to take the disguise of an chelaxian pirate and begin asking question.

Hello boys, I'm looking for a girl. Name's Tseka. I've heard that she lives here and I have some "finding" I think she could like and... profit. Could you tell me where exactly I could find her ?

Diplomacy (Gather Information): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Sensing that Jair seems to have things well in hand, Wyatt does his best to aid her...

Diplomacy(Assist): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1.

...but turns out to be better at scaring the locals, than talking with them.

Could Imrana perhaps assist other peoples' gather information checks by coallating data we find and analyzing it, maybe using it to formulate questions and determine valuable lines of inquiry? If so, which skill roll would that be?

Dunkel follows around after Thorn, occasionally growling or hooting at a man that the rogue is shaking down, taking to his role as a "dwarven protector/guard".

"Rrrrr...."

Diplomacy (aid): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

Scouring around the Undermarket meets mixed results. Wyatt's technique of just speaking louder when people don't speak Common proves to be unproductive. Jair and Thorn prove more adept at navigating the market, eventually coming across a Tengu who speaks some Taldane. She seems distracted as she speaks to you, usually staring off into the distance rather than focusing on you.

"Used to sell to Tseka. Then buy from Tseka. Now nobody sells to Kuniko. Tseka sees everything. Always watching...yes. In the tunnels under the tunnels. But no one sees her. She stays in shadow. No! Wait. The traitor lantern person worked for the shadow something..."

DC15 Heal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

I see, If you need something to get better, I'm sure I could get you what you need. But you must tell us more about this Lantern traitor's and how to find Tseka now she's hiding in the shadows...

Bluff (take 10): 10 + 10 = 20

Wyatt glances over his shoulder, and stairs hard at the shadows in one of the alleys.

"Guys? I think that we are under surveillance..."

Heal: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6

Imrana tries to look over the tengu, puzzled by Jair's comment, but her inspection is interrupted by Wyatt's revelation. She turns to Wyatt with eyes wide, intrigued by this new possibility.

"We are under surveillance? Please, can you provide any additional information?"

She begins looking about through the air from every angle she can manage.

"Have you noticed a scrying sensor?"

She turns her gaze to eye-level, holding her head still for a moment to see if she can spot any movement, repeating this process several times.

"Does a strange wavy form move amongst us, such as an invisible creature?"

She then kneels down to the ground, trying to peer through the legs of everyone at the ground and the bottoms of the walls.

"Is there a small animal that appears to be acting strangely, as though it is a transformed druid?"

Wyatt raises an eyebrow.

"Can't you feel it? It's right there," he says, pointing into the dark alley.

He then addresses the dark.

"Are you friend, or foe, or simply curious?"

At Wyatt's revelation, Thorn bends his knees a bit and puts his hands on his blades.

-Posted with Wayfinder

A voice, female though definitely not human, responds to Wyatt.

"I might be, I hope not, and curiosity is never simple, in that order. You seem lost. Do you know where you're going?"

Meanwhile, the Tengu perks up at Jair's statement. "You have opium, yes? Aspis used to be quiet. Now they have checkpoints. Started after they attacked some building. The lantern traitor has helped them grow since then. Much of Deepmarket they control, but entrance is far from here."

"I despise opium." Thorn looks around for the voice, Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

"Lantern Traitor? Strange. Who, and can you lead us to Tseka?"