GM Lorenzo's #4-11: The Disappeared (Subtier 4-5) (Inactive)

Game Master Lawrence Smith 2

"Oh, daahling, how touching," Lady Vanessa says with a sweet (but perhaps slightly predatory?) smile at Thysius. "But maybe ve just make sure it doesn't go anyvhere eizher."

She whispers arcane words to the shadows under the chair. Like a living thing, they begin to writhe and thrash at her command, climbing like rising smoke over its legs and arms.

Casting shadow trap Will DC = 17, using Misfortune on a Nat 20

"Ooh...this is a new one...um...oh!" Fran hems and haws for a moment before snapping her fingers. "Fuzzfoot, try throwing another bomb! Luck's on your side!" she calls out as she draws her longspear.
________

Fran draws her longspear and then uses her Fortune hex on Fuzzfoot.

Thysius breaks arcane wind and the chair's arms pass right through his vaporous and insubstantial form.

Employing the tricks of the magus trade, he strikes the chair again with spell and steel. Though the spell's corrosive acid runs off the animated object's hard surface, he chips away at it twice with his enchanted gladius.

Lady Vanessa mumbles an incantation and gesticulates with her long, shapely fingers. The very shadows reach up and ensnare the chair's legs.
Animated Object Will Save DC17: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (17) - 4 = 13

Fran decides bestowing good fortune on Fuzzfoot is better than relying on her own luck.

Map & Images
Round 2
Bold may act.
Einn
Fran
Thysius
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot (Fortune hex)
---
Animated Object (Chair) (-11; entangled)

Einn, Barbo, and Fuzzfoot, you're up!

Thanks for fortune, but I am throwing against Touch AC, so I will save it for a saving throw or check.

"Wow! This is one tough chair. My bomb didn't do much - let's see if acid does better."

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

That's fine too, just remember that it's only good for one round :)

Barbo takes a few steps back, as Fuzzfoot's acid splashes over the chair. He grabs one of the wands which are floating in mid-air and points it at the chair. "Ha! Gotcha! "

Force Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Fuzzfoot pitches another bomb at the chair, but the acid doesn't penetrate is glossy, arcane finish.

Barbo has better luck with his wand, blasting the animated object with a force missile.

Map & Images
Round 2
Bold may act.
Einn
Fran
Thysius (-4)
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot (Fortune hex)
---
Animated Object (Chair) (-16; entangled)

Einn, you're up!

Einn tries to fire another Scorching Ray at the chair. "This is tougher than most enemies."

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Damage Fire: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 6, 4) = 22

Einn sends another fiery blast at the animated object; it's powerful enough to damage the thing a bit.

The chair lurches toward its nearest target, the magus again. Its arm grazes his sleeve, barely missing him.
Slam vs Thysius, Entangled; Damage: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 2 = 171d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Map & Images
Round 3
Bold may act.
Einn
Fran
Thysius (-4)
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot (Fortune hex)
---
Animated Object (Chair) (-22; entangled)

Everybody, you're up!

Out of ideas, Fran moves up and attempts to stab at the rowdy chair with her longspear...

Attack vs. Chair (Longspear): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Swift Action- (Removing his Wand of Magic Missiles from his spring-loaded wrist-sheath, followed by a 5-foot step), "Great idea Barbo!

(Casting Magic Missile)

Force Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

How much more damage can this thing take?

Barbo bows a little. "Why thank you, Sir Thysius! " He twists his wrist and looses another cosmic bolt.

Magic Missile : 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

He sighs as the missile leaves the wand. "Pity to ruin such expensive furniture! "

Fuzzfoot, having little to stop this chair, turns to guard the door, wand of grease in one hand, and smokestick in the other.

While Fuzzfoot watches the door, Fran tries to spear the entangled chair, and Thysius and Barbo send two more magic missiles into the animated object.

It looks like the construct has taken quite a beating...

Map & Images
Round 3
Bold may act.
Einn
Fran
Thysius (-4)
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot (Fortune hex)
---
Animated Object (Chair) (-30; entangled)

Einn and Lady Vanessa, you're up! (Fuzzfoot still has actions, if he changes his mind.)

The frustration at how long this is taking is clear on Lady Vanessa's face. She snarls's out the arcane words as she fans out her fingers towards the chair. A cone of fire bursts forth and her elbow-length opera gloves disappear into ash.

[dice=Burning Hands]5d4+1[/dice]

Saltpeter for +1 Fire damage, Reflex DC 17 for half. Misfortune effect on a Nat 20.

Cone starting in the square immediately to Thysius' north. Extending 15' north (just shy of Fran) and 15' west.

She then retrieves a new pair of gloves from her handbag. Anyone caught staring at her horribly scared hands earns a withering glare.

Lady Vanessa decides that what this tactical problem needs is the application of decisive firepower. She determines it's worth at least one pair of gloves.
Entangled Animated Chair Reflex Save DC17: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Map & Images
Round 3
Bold may act.
Einn
Fran
Thysius (-4)
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot (Fortune hex)
---
Animated Object (Chair) (-32; entangled)

Einn, you're up! (Fuzzfoot still has actions, if he changes his mind.)

Fuzzfoot continues to watch the door.

Einn fires another ray at the chair. "This thing is terrible. I guess it might hold people. Lady Vanessa do you want us to try to save the chair for your um home?"

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Damage Fire: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 5, 2) = 11

Einn continues to burn white-hot, scorching the entangled chair with another searing beam of fire, but it doesn't penetrate its hard surface.

The chair lurches, pivoting left at right, identifying two targets closest to the imperial security dossiers. It careens toward Lady Vanessa, slamming into her with one arm. It latches onto the dhampir, forcing her into the chair. The ruthless piece of furniture begins to squeeze, constricting the oracle.
(Einn 1, Lady Vanessa 2: 1d2 ⇒ 2)
Slam, Entangled; Damage: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 2 = 191d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Grab, Entangled; Damage: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 2 = 21
Constrict Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Map & Images
Round 4
Bold may act.
Einn
Fran
Thysius (-4)
Lady Vanessa (-13; grappled)
Barbo
Fuzzfoot
---
Animated Object (Chair) (-32; entangled; grappled)

Everybody, you're up!

"Are you now sitting in the comfy chair?"

Fuzzfoot looks back briefly, and considers the situation. Then he casts grease on Lady Vanessa to help in her escape. Of course, coming up last in initiative, it may not get to that...

Immediate Action
As the Chair grabs her, Lady Vanessa screams an arcane word, her tone filled with anger and frustration.

Empowered by the words, she tries to wriggle free of the chairs overly familiar grasp.

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 2 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 10 = 30

"Einn, if I ever see anozher chair of zhis style, I vill smash it, burn it, and scatter zhe ashes across zhe Shadow Plane," she growls. Then her tone flips 180 degrees. "But tsank you for offering, daahling."

Liberating Command on herself, dice roll above includes +2 for Dex, +10 for the competence bonus = 2x CL from the spell.

While I'm fairly confident she likely escaped on a 30, I'll hold off posting her Round actions until GM verifies.

This ain't the first time Lady Vanessa has found herself in the clutches of a foreign, em, object. She mutters something that sounds like a lady saying 'No means no,' and she shimmies out of the chair's embrace.

Map & Images
Round 4
Bold may act.
Einn
Fran
Thysius (-4)
Lady Vanessa (-5)
Barbo
Fuzzfoot (?)
---
Animated Object (Chair) (-32; entangled)

Einn, Fran, Thysius, Barbo, (and Fuzzfoot?), you're up!
Fuzzfoot, let us know if you still want to drop the grease spell or take other action(s).

Deciding that enough is enough, Fran carefully shuffles to the west and begins casting, conjuring a burst of flame that washes over the chair!

Burning Hands (DC 14 Reflex): 3d4 ⇒ (1, 4, 4) = 9

Barbo wanders along the shelf, feeling confident. He points the wand at the chair, in case it resists the fiery spell.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Fran gives the chair the finger. All ten of them. Flames wash over the chair to no effect.

Barbo, though, pulls the trigger on his wand, and the magic missile finally puts the piece of animated furniture down for good.

Victory!

Map & Images

The Wounded
Thysius (-4)
Lady Vanessa (-5)

The room looks and smells like napalm in the morning! Thank goodness nothing important was left out on the table and the cabinets were all closed!

Wondering when the janitors service the Records Archive, you can finally start your search.

I'll post again shortly to describe the mechanics of the search.

In the wreckage of the animated chair is an exquisitely carved jade amulet. It seems the amulet was built into the back of the chair to help the archive staff differentiate between the animate chair and the mundane ones.

The Records Archive map near the front desk notes what subject matter is contained in each file cabinet.

Please indicate which file cabinet you're searching and make a Perception check.

"What an awful surprise to leave for someone," Fran gasps as the chair finally collapses into a pile. "The Chelish don't play around, do they?"

"Um...but anyway, we should hurry and search what we can before someone comes along," she continues as she moves over to the 'Histories' section and begins looking through it.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Appraise: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Einn moves to the Internal Security Evidence and begins to look through the files. She gets distracted by some of the more interesting pieces of evidence.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Appraise: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

"Interesting gem on the back of the chair. We should take it, though I can't tell if it's cursed, or even valuable." The man seems thrown from the fight, as he tosses the wand to Jeeves for safe keeping. Meanwhile, he turns to the 'Internal Security Evidence' bookshelf and starts searching for information.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Fuzzfoot makes sure that the jade is secure in someone's pocket before leaving, preferably his own.

Then he goes back to searching the foreign ministry personnel files.
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

(Eyeing the halfling), "Let's get this done!"

Appraise: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 20

(Holding out his hand for the Jade Amulet), "Let me see that thing...very interesting."

Casting Detect Magic (CL 4), Knowledge(Arcana): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12, Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

OOC- at some point during this short break Thysius will use a swift action to burn a point from this Arcane Pool to Recall Corrosive Touch.

Lady Vanessa slips a slender black wand from her bag, mumbles a necromantic trigger word, and taps herself with it. It heals most of the wound from the Chair, but not the scars on her hands which she then covers with the spare gloves.

Inflict LW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"Sorry, Thysius, my dear, but I don't tsink you reeealy vant a hit from zhis vand."

"And If you do, ve can talk later...."

She heads back to the cabinet labeled Imperial Security Dossiers.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

You examine the exquisite jade amulet and estimate its value at 240-360gp. Thysius detects no magical auras and concludes the amulet merely identified which of the chairs was the guardian of the Records Archive.

Einn and Barbo both pore over the files labeled 'Internal Security Evidence.' (Time elapsed: 5 minutes.)

Fran looks over the 'Histories' files, and after a couple of minutes, she realizes there's nothing of interest in the cabinet. (Time elapsed: 3 minutes.)

Fuzzfoot get to work, in short order determining that the 'Foreign Ministry Personnel' files have no information of vital importance. (Time elapsed: 1 minute.)

Lady Vanessa opens the cabinet containing the 'Imperial Security Dossiers.' She quickly concludes there's nothing of interest in this cabinet. (Time elapsed: 1 minute.)

Fran, Fuzzfoot, and Lady Vanessa, you may attempt additional Perception checks, while Einn and Barbo are still busy with their cabinet. Which cabinet do each of you search next? Please roll another Perception check for the second cabinets.)

Which filing cabinet are you searching, Thysius, and which filing cabinet do you wish to search next? Please roll another Perception check for the second cabinet.

Records Archive map

As much as I'd like to gazher Intel for Kholas and zhe Umbral Court, ve're running out of time.

"Notsing here, my dears. Now vhere vould a lowly clerk file 'seal numbers,' I vunder?" she ponders aloud as she peruses the directory at the podium. She heads over to Internal Security Receipts, giving herself a bit of guidance along the way.

Perception, Guidance: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 = 22

Finding nothing in the first cabinet, Fuzzfoot looks around and decides to try the internal security lists files.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

Einn and Barbo continue to pore over the files labeled 'Internal Security Evidence.' (Time elapsed: 5 minutes.)

Fran continues to look over the 'Histories' files, and after a couple of minutes, she realizes there's nothing of interest in the cabinet. (Time elapsed: 3 minutes.)

Fuzzfoot has examined the 'Foreign Ministry Personnel' files and found nothing. Next, he searches the 'Internal Security Lists files and quickly determines there's nothing here pertaining to their mission. (Time elapsed: 2 minutes.)

Lady Vanessa found nothing useful in the 'Imperial Security Dossiers.' Then she starts searching the cabinet marked 'Internal Security Receipts.' (Time elapsed: 2 minutes.)

The dhampir's eyes light up, when she discovers a prisoner receipt with Zarta's name on it. Most of the document is enciphered.
(see Player Handout #3)

Fran, Fuzzfoot, and Lady Vanessa, you may attempt additional Perception checks, while Einn and Barbo are still busy with the 'Internal Security Evidence' cabinet. Which cabinet do each of you search next? Please roll another Perception check for the second cabinets.)

Which filing cabinet are you searching, Thysius, and which filing cabinet do you wish to search next? Please roll another Perception check for any additional cabinets you search.

Records Archive map

"Fuzzy, Barbo, look at zhis! It looks just like zhat puzzle you so cleverly solved back in poor dear Zarta's office."

Lady Vanessa excitedly takes the enciphered receipt over to the smarter members of her team. After conferring for a moment it's obvious the cipher is the same one used for the Seal Number list they found earlier.

Zhese Chelxians aren't very creative vith zheir security ciphers. I'll have to make a note of zhat in my report.

She then heads straight to the cabinet labeled Internal Security Evidence to see if she can find something labeled "I23." On the way, she again asks the blessing of Zon-Kuthon to aid her search.

Perception, Guidance: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

But her cruel god takes his joy in causing her a bit of frustration in her search.

"Here, let me help you find what you are looking for."

Fuzzy steps in to help look for the files Vanessa needs.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

"Drat...nothing here," Fran sighs, turning up nothing of use in the 'Histories' section. She quickly takes a mental count of which areas have been searched (or are already being searched) and then heads over to the 'Internal Security Sites' table and begins quickly rummaging through the information.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Einn continues to look in the Internal Security Evidence cabinet. "There just has to be something here."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

(Looking through FOREIGN MINISTRY WHITE PAPERS), "Well, we might as well check everywhere."

OCC- if nothing is found there, and time permitting I will check the LINGUISTIC DEPARTMENT TRANSLATIONS section.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Lady Vanessa deciphers most of the prisoner receipt document, using the clues to the Chelaxian code you'd worked on in Lady Zarta's former quarters in the Embassy. The dhampir asks for help figuring out the remaining letters.

Prisoner: Zarta Dralneen
Destination: CITADEL VRAID
Duration: INDE_INITE-REMIT ON RE_UEST
Designation: TRAITOR. EVIDENCE _ILED LOC_ER I23

With the clues from the partially decoded prisoner receipt, Fuzzfoot tries to help Einn and Barbo sort through the massive collection of 'Internal Security Evidence' files. In no more than a minute, the sharp-eyed halfling finds the file containing the 'evidence' you've been searching for.

The evidence that Tancred used to indict Zarta consists of a series of letters written in a halting hand that resembles the paracountess’s. Upon closer examination, however, the letters’ writing differs significantly from the note found in Zarta’s study. The forged 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, written in her natural hand, 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.

Thysius closes the 'Foreign Ministry White Papers' cabinet, after his companions find what they've been looking for.

Now that you've acquired the receipt and the evidence, you realize the only remaining tasks are to complete the deciphering of Zarta's prisoner receipt document and then to make your way back to the Embassy's waiting room before you're discovered.

Time Remaining: 26 minutes
(Crack that code!)

Barbo whispers to himself as he looks at the note. "So... their 'B' is our 'F'. Their 'J' is our 'Q'. Huh." He itches his head, shifting the wig an inch. "And finally, their 'R' is our... 'K'!" Barbo smiles wide and shows the group. "Which means the note says..."

'Prisoner: Zarta Dralneen
Destination: CITADEL VRAID
Duration: INDEFINITE-REMIT ON REQUEST
Designation: TRAITOR. EVIDENCE FILED LOCKER I23'

He frowns. "Fuzzfoot... those letters you found. Were they in locker I23?"

Einn quickly looks. "I think so. Shall we go?"

Barbo puzzles out the handful of missing letters, completing the decryption of Zarta Dralneen's prisoner receipt.

If you are to succeed in your mission, you know you need to get back to the waiting room before the hour is up, so that the ambassador doesn’t know you were sneaking around his embassy.

Climbing back through the tunnels takes you five minutes.

Now you need to figure out how to travel from Zarta’s study back to the waiting room without drawing more attention to yourselves.

Within a few seconds of crawling out of the ventilation system, you hear Venture-Captain Amara Li's deceptively calm, whispered voice, delivered in your ears via her message spell. "Pathfinders, can you hear me now? Where are you? Are you back in the waiting room already? Did you get what you came for?"

Time Remaining: 26 minutes

Map & Images

"Amara, daahling, yes, ve found vhat ve came for. In case ve don't make it out, Zarta's being held in Citadel Vraid. Ve're in her chambers now. Ta ta,"

Turning to her colleagues, Lady Vanessa asks Barbo (and Einn?) to use prestidigitaion to clean them all up first.

"Vell, I propose ve go back tsrough zhe ballroom. Zhose ov you dressed like servants should be able to maneuver across. Ve have Zarta's sneaking-cloak, and zhat invisibilty dust alzo. But zhat dust likely von't last long enough."

She makes a final check of her appearance in one of Zarta's many mirrors, tucking a stray strand of hair back into place and straightening a seam. "So, who's accompanying me as my entourage, and who's going to sneak across on zhier own?"

Einn starts to count, two servants (herself and Fuzzyfoot), Lady Vanessa. That leaves Barbo, Thysis, and Fran to make their way. "I'm dressed as a servant. I have three uses of a spell of invisibility that will last five minutes each. Who would like those?"

"I've still got this Elixir of Hiding, too," Fran reminds them as she pulls out the small vial. "Between that and the invisibility I could probably make it across the ballroom okay...I think."
________

So Einn and Fuzzfoot are going as Lady V's entourage, if I understand correctly?

Barbo cleans every up, removing the dust with a flick of his hand. "I also can make one of us invisible. That should cover everyone but Lady Vanessa and one devoted servant." He smiles devilishly. "If anyone asks where we went, just say we were sacrificed or something."

He thinks about the route for a moment. "Is the ballroom the best route to take? So many bodies to maneuver around. I would hate to bump into one while invisible." He frowns and shrugs his shoulders. That would be awkward. If we did want to go an alternate route, I could cast Silence to prevent any accidental noises."

"The role of servant, I shall play again. It seems like these Chelish snobs just assume I would be one anyway. Lead the way, Lady Vanessa."