GM Otha's Evergreen Trilogy I (Inactive)

Game Master Otha

Cerryl, need a Linguistics check to decipher the journal; you get a +4 bonus to the check since you have a rank in Craft (Alchemy)...as for the flasks, it's easy to determine they're acid flasks since at least one of you have used 'em before...

Here goes the Linguistics check. Hopefully the roll will be better.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 4 = 19

Cerryl's knowledge of alchemy, in addition to his skill with linguistics, allows him to decipher Laszo's journal:

You learn that whip is a drug of Laszo’s own design, and that he resents that the Aspis Consortium has already begun to mass produce the drug from his imperfect formula. He names several specific individuals within Diobel who he blames for allowing whip to spread before he could perfect it.

"There's a healing potion here--a powerful one. Some really nice studded leather armour, and a cloak that will bolster your defences. Does anyone want them?"

Lovissa doesn't consider this guy worthy of pilfering gear from, so she doesn't want the cloak or armour. She's got plenty of acid and cure potions. Someone else should take them.

"I-I don't need any of t-them," Todd said as he wiped his rapier clean. "B-but we should w-wait to be contacted, ri-right?"

Does anyone recognize any of these names.

Starts calling out the names that Laszo had in his journal.

Assuming the drug was just that and not an attempt at something else with a side effect that the Aspis saw an opportunity. Unless, my roll was too low to determine that.

Lovissa nods at Todd. "Yes. Where shall we wait? The ship?"

To Cerryl, Lovissa shrugs. "I'm more interested in the personages of the past than the present. I don't know any of them."

After a moment she looks around. "What say we smash this horrible place before we leave? I'll not leave this drug lab laying around for the Aspis to reclaim."

Lovissa stalks over to everything she can find that looks 'alchemical' and smashes it, throwing beakers and alembics against the stone walls, ripping up paperwork, and dumping liquids and powders into the sewage.

Cerryl, you recognize no names, they're outside the scope of your mission...

After dispatching Laszo and gathering the evidence, you head back to the ship and get a well-deserved good night's sleep...the ship's healer heals all wounds...

Around noon on Fireday, Captain Zendrani calls a meeting on the deck of the Sixwing Drake. “An urchin boy delivered this note just a few minutes ago. I tried to keep him here so we could talk to him, but he slipped away without a word and ran off into the city. I haven’t looked at the note—but it seems to be from Delroya.” The captain hands over the note.

You read the note:

Pathfinders,

Magali Delroya

Crap...No...No...No...Everyone out now including you Lovissa.

Saying this Cerryl starts to move towards the exit quickly hoping that none of the reagents are going to cause either toxic fumes or an explosion. While trying to also see if there is any way that either the Acid/Alchemist's fire/Alkali flask would complete the destruction from a safer distance.

Little late for the last post...and resetting my spells then since I am assuming we waited more than 8 hours.

Hmm...Not sure I like the rush into an unknown area with a "defecting" agent...Is there any way that we can scope out the warehouse before entering Todd?

Grey looks to Cerryl, looks to Todd and then shrugs; "If it's an ambush we can make an example of her."

"I-I can check it out, y-yes." Todd said with a determined nod.

You warily head to the warehouse...

A large warehouse looms into view at the end of Gull Street. Its main level sits at the edge of the street above a ten-foot drop to the harbor’s waters below. A door in the western wall of the warehouse opens, and a woman clad in simple leather armor steps out. Her features display a blend of Taldan and Mwangi heritages, and her crisp accent is difficult to place.

“I am Magali Delroya. You must come quickly, Pathfinders. We do not wish to be seen.” Delroya moves briskly, waving off protests or interruptions, and speaks with the rhythm of her steps.

“Questions later. Much is at stake. First you must listen.” Her outward display of authority does not entirely mask her fear. The small room through the warehouse’s western door features a round table and several chairs. “This room is for the guards. They are all too busy dealing with our disruptions, so no one is here for now. That door leads to the docks below,” she says, indicating a door in the southern wall. “Come this way. I will show you the warehouse.”

She opens a door in the northern wall, revealing a cavernous storage room. Haphazard stacks of barrels and crates almost reach the ceiling twenty feet above. Two large skylights in the ceiling provide ample light during the day, and a dozen unlit lanterns are spaced around the room. To the east, a wide opening in the southern wall looks out over the loading bay ten feet below. A freight elevator platform rigged to a complex set of pulleys and ropes and a staircase both lead down to the loading bay.

“As you can see, the Aspis Consortium maintains a sizable operation out of this warehouse, which they rent from the Kortos Consortium’s Locosta family in exchange for alchemical goods. After tonight, I hope that the relationship between Aspis and Kortos will be irreparably damaged."

“I can stay here briefly, if you have questions or need assistance.”

Warehouse Map (Slide 5)

Lovissa follows Magali into the warehouse.

Once inside she announces, "Hail and well met, Magali of the line of Delroya. I am Lovissa, of the line of Halenbane, daughter of Margerice and granddaughter of Abrenica and Ferdinand!" She offers Magali her hand.

"We will protect your warehouse until you are ready to progress. Although, a non-violent resolution seems unlikely."

No questions for her.

After Magali leaves Lovissa looks around the warehouse for useful gear.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Delroya nods curtly at Lovissa. "'Preciate it, but this is not my warehouse. This belongs to the Kortos Consortium. We have no wish to anger them as I'm reasonably sure they know not what they're storing for the Aspis...

The Kortos agents are likely to arrive first, if my intel is correct..."

Lovissa, will let you know the results of your Perception check after Magali leaves...

"I-if the Kortos are supposed to arrive fir-first, how do we send them away? C-can they be reasoned with o-or are we hiding from th-them til the Aspis get here?"

Todd follows after Lovissa when Magali leaves as well, looking for both gear and useful hiding spots.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Delroya shrugs. "The Kortos, in general, are more reasonable than the Aspis...and much more less shady. If they truly knew what the Aspis were doing, I can't imagine they'd be happy...

"If you fail, you may have to fight the Kortos, which is not ideal. So if things go ill from the start you may use this.."

She passes you a document.

Lord Avid's Writ

“By now you should know that the Aspis Consortium is breaking Diobel’s laws. What we’re doing here is not exactly legal, either, in the views of the Kortos Consortium. I am hoping that we can get through this without drawing their ire, but as a last resort, you can use this document. It should eliminate any questions as to the legality of your actions. If you can avoid having to use it, I would be grateful, but do not hesitate to present it if necessary.”

"Don't kill the Kortos, got it." Grey looks over into the nearby water. "At least if it goes sideways they won't find the bodies."

Lovissa glances at the document, then passes it to the others. Turning to Cerryl, she asks, "Was there enough proof in the alchemists journal for our purposes?"

I would think so but then again...I'm not the one that is going to find strangers in their warehouse attempting to convince them that their partners are distributing illegal drugs.

Looks at Delroya The whip is currently in the warehouse right...Wondering if we could show the Kortos agents the drugs as additional possible proof.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Will help the search for anything useful after Magali leaves.

Delroya asks, "Are there any more questions? I need to see to my contacts if not..."

No more questions from me.

Delroya nods, "Fare thee well...if all goes well, I'll see you afterwards..." and she leaves you...

As you search the warehouse, you find the following and can discern through Detect Magic/Knowledge (Arcana)/Craft (Alchemy) the following items:

A wand of cure moderate wounds (5 charges)
A potion of invisibility
3 doses of black adder poison

You also find 2 secret doors (marked by a white S on the map). You also note that the platform lift in the lower western portion of the warehouse does not work...

Warehouse Map (Slide 5)

You have about 3 hours before the first set of agents arrive so you may prepare how you want...you can move crates around; I won't require strength checks since you have so much time, unless you either move 10 or more or if you're moving 'em long distances...you can just move the crate icons to the right of the map to wherever you like. Let me know when y'all are ready for the next encounter...

Lovissa hands out the wand to Rykaar and the potion to Todd. Holding the poisons in her hands she hesitates, clearly trying to figure out what to do with them. "Are any of you good with poison?"

Lovissa points out the secret doors to the others when she finds them.

I recently witnessed part of this section of the scenario, and would like to leave the set-up and plan for this part of the adventure to those of us who haven't. Thanks.

Question do the secret doors open into or out of the warehouse. Either way I kinda feel like it maybe best to block them with some of the crates to keep anyone from entering behind us.

I have some caltrops still if we want to try to seed one of the doors with them though will probably need to block part of the bigger doors to give enough coverage. Also, have some shard gel, acid, and alchemist's fire though may have to be a little more careful with those to not damage the warehouse.

Set up my vote though want to see if anyone has a better idea, the C is to designate where I spread out my caltrops.

Like Lovissa, I'm familiar with this encounter. So I'm following your lead.

Grey considers the poison carefully before stashing it in his bag, not sure how to poison my claws... "Lots of entrances here. Where do you want me?"

Cerryl, the secret doors open in...

Lovissa nods at Cerryl. "Caltrops are a good plan." After looking around she nods. "A fine plan, Cerryl! We can move the crates to block some of the doors. Which should we block?"

"D-do you think the As-Aspis know about the secret entrances? I-I think it'd be good t-to not block them, but put crates to act as a choke p-point. Limit their movement. Ma-make them work for it. And i-if they don't know, we can still escape."

Fair enough I wasn't thinking about retreating but rather funnel all of them in through the front doors to the street or at least make it where they are delayed entering while we take care of them piecemeal. Kinda assuming we aren't looking to really surprise them. Todd do you think we could apply some of that poison to the caltrops to further disrupt anyone coming through that door.

Thinking aloud to himself after the last statement.

Are we supposed to just defend the warehouse or are we supposed to draw them into it before we disrupt their search?

Would change the layout considerably if we need to draw them in without giving away that someone isn't in the warehouse already.

When you were talking about the lift is the darker section a ramp that is walkable. Also how much lower is the section on the water?

"Escape?! What need have we of escape? We are LEGENDS!" After a moment, Lovissa nods at this plan. "Your plan is also acceptable, Todd!"

We're supposed to talk the Kortos into going away (because we hope to get the Aspis into a lot of trouble and it's better for the Kortos to cut ties). If they don't buy it we have the letter she gave us to give to them to force them to leave us be. And then we're supposed to fight the Aspis agents who arrive, and stop them from moving the whip and stuff. That way when Magali gets here she can disrupt their plans. Somehow.

If we are looking to funnel maybe do something a little more like that since the bay is low enough that they shouldn't be able to see us if we are crouching without coming up the steps and maybe rig the doors down there with something that would make some noise to let us know if they enter that way.

Was more thinking along the lines of if they come to the warehouse and their normal ingress areas are fortified then would they retreat and come back with more. Thus making it better for us to draw them in before fighting...also since the Kortos agents are supposed to come first maybe have Todd hiding somewhere to greet them unless someone has better diplomacy. Figure Todd could also use his old Aspis connection and maybe convince them to leave because they are already onsite.

Todd has decent Diplo for his level and either he or Lovissa can use DD on the door to make them squeaker.

I just realized I should heal myself before fighting some more. Haha

"Hey, Rykaar. Let me borrow that wand I gave you." Lovissa tries to use that wand we found on herself.

UMD: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 Success!
Healing: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (6, 2) + 3 = 11 Fully healing herself.

Then she hands the wand back to Rykaar. "Thanks."

Wand of cure moderate wounds has four more charges left.

Are y'all ready to proceed? Will probably wait till tomorrow morning to post since it's a holiday. Happy New Year, y'all...

Lovissa uses disable device on the front doors to make them squeaky.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Looks like the warehouse is ready.

Lovissa lurks in the area hiding past the crates we moved. Lovissa's not good at diplomacy, so she won't be much help speaking with the Kortos.

"The plan is good." Grey leans against a crate, relaxing as the time passes.

Looks like my post earlier in the morning got eaten...let me try again...

After a while, you here a couple of sets of doors opening...two men coming through the northern double doors...and then two more from the lower level annex. Upon seeing you, the men put their hands to their weapons, but do not draw...

"Who goes there? What are you doing in our warehouse? Speak quickly!"

"H-Hi, I am Todd, son of..." He looked at Lovissa and decided now was not the time for lineages. Todd turned his gaze back to the Kortos men. "W-we came to warn you. The Aspis Consortium is ma-making fools of you. They're using y-your warehouse to s-store and distribute a drug called Whip. W-we took out an alchemist in the s-sewers that was making it, named Laszo."

Todd reached into his pack and pulled out Laszo's journal as well as the samples and the unrefined version. [b]"W-we came in good faith, t-to warn you that the A-Aspis are taking a-advantage of you. They're not good people. I-if you keep dealing with them, th-then things are going to b-be bad for everyone because of all of the illegality. I-I mean we're in here without w-warrent but t-they'll bring the law down on y-you, too, if they're found out. C-could you oust them?"

The Grippli calmly offers the book and vial to the one leading the Kortos.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Nicely done, Todd. With the bonuses you get for revealing the evidence found in Laszo's lab as well as the rep for nonviolently breaking up the meeting in the bar, you surpass the fairly high DC to convince the Kortos, without any further aid.

The Kortos agent who spoke makes a grimace, then relaxes his grip on his sword. "Never trusted the Aspis, always seemed a little too eager to please without revealing much information. We must report this to our superiors...however, we will allow you to remain here to deal with the Aspis as we were told they'd be dropping by. Please try not to damage our facilities or storage...as much as possible, at least...

"Thank you for the information and good luck with the Aspis..."

The four Kortos agents confer among themselves briefly and then depart...

Are you all currently placed where you wish to be while you await the Aspis arrival?

"That was smooth. This team is good." Grey nods at the others, draws a javelin and waits for the Aspis.

"Th-thank you," Todd said with a smile.

The Grippli moves into a position where he could easily get around the Aspis when they first come in, and flank them once the events start. With his rapier in one hand, and the potion of Invisibility in the other, he waits.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

A short while after the Kortos leave, you hear the sounds of doors opening...Lovissa and Grey and see the office door to the north opening and two men, one seemingly a fighter and the other a monk, emerge...

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

A smile emerges from the warrior's face and you surmise your appearance here is not too much of a surprise to them...

"We'll make short of these two..."

A nearly silent hiss rings out...

Longbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

...followed by a grunt from Cerryl. Unfortunately, no one was in position to see the secret door to the east was also opened...the first notion that anyone else entered was the arrow Cerryl felt slam into his right shoulder...he turns and sees a couple of other Aspis Agents, armed with bow and crossbow, taking cover behind some of the moved crates...

Combat Map (Slide 5)

COMBAT! The bold may post! Round 1

Todd, since you were not seen, you get a surprise round action as well that you can take in conjunction with your first round move...

Aspis Scout (Black)
Todd
Rykaar
Cerryl (-5)
Lovissa
Grey
Aspis Merc (Red)
Aspis Cleric (Yellow)
Aspis Monk (Blue)

Damn...got another two over here.

Casts Force Missile at the cleric as a standard action before moving out of sight to draw them forward hopefully.

Force Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Also probably would have placed different thought we were making the stack high enough to block LOS...Oh well will see how this plays out.

Grey moves closer to the two the entered through the office. "We have been waiting for you, везение." Calling on his god's favor in the murder of these mislead fools, he throws a javelin at the one that spoke.

to hit; javelin, divine favor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
damage; javelin, divine favor: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

swift action cast divine favor, move action 15ft forward, standard action throw javelin. Targeting the Merc (Red) to avoid cover.

"Well done, Todd!" Lovissa announces proudly. She claps him on the back.

---

"Ha!" Lovissa proclaims as the Aspis are discovered. She focuses her mind on her blade, envisioning it stronger, and larger. Although it doesn't noticeably grow, the blade is empowered by her pyschic thoughts. Climbing atop the crates, she brandishes her blade at the Aspis.

"Your skulking ends here! As do your lives! For I am Lovissa, of the line of Halenbane! We are LEGENDS and your tale ends HERE!"

Standard to cast lead blades on her longsword. Climbing on top of the crates for maximum awesomeness. (I also assumed they were tall enough to hide us, but since they're not, that means they're short enough to climb easily!)