!GM PDK'S HELL'S REBELS (CORE PFS Book 1)! (Inactive)

Game Master Purple Dragon Knight

"I am fine," says the dwarf. Will drink a potion if needed later, but he's still pretty good on HP considering that he'll usually have AC 24 in a fight.
"There are tunnels beneath the coffeehouse - the Wasp Nest, Laria calls it. Where we found the Tengu. Do these tunnels connect to the greater network of tunnels and sewers? I thought so because there is some sort of wooden structure going out into the water, like a pier." Area C2a "That could be how our saboteur got in. And, it could be a useful way for us to move around parts of the city unseen. If investigating that is not a priority, I could try to learn the spell of Alarm to ward the area against future intrusions."

"I could similarly read up on it. I may even have that spell in my book already..." Andracar suggests. His spellbook is in his backpack.

As you all discuss with each other at Laria's, a patrol of three dottari arrives to question Laria and make a search of the coffeehouse, displaying an unsigned letter written in tidy script suggesting “suspicious activity and unsavory practices” at the shop as the only warrant they require.

What do you do?!?

Andracar looks at the gentlemen. He at least presumes they are gentlemen, because his sexism dictates that all evil authority figures are male save for her royal whatever Queen Abrogail. "What seems to be the problem, good sirs?"

The small and extremely non-threatening gnome with the fun hair but otherwise drab garb tries to make small talk, and otherwise be an adorable, friendly nuisance.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

"I can assure you there is nothing suspicious or unsavory here. They don't let me cook!" He has a good laugh at his own joke, horrible though it be. "If you need to look around though, I'm sure Laria and I, dear friends that we are, would be happy to show you every inch of the coffee house. Do you need a beverage? I should think that you do. Hard working folk such as yourselves deserve a break now and again."

Can also call that bluff instead if it suits you.

The dottari trio is entirely composed of women, although one gives you serious pause based on the width of her shoulders. And yes, I would very much like you to make a bluff check at this point. :)

"Are you the owner of this place? the Duxotar is in receipt of information suggesting this place is a hive of suspicious activity. If you're NOT the owner, I strongly urge you to step aside and not impede our investigation."

If we have any sort of advance warning (like people seeing the dottari approaching), Kavor Doan will make sure any rebellion members in the building are downstairs in the Wasp Nest (C2-C4, past the secret door from C1). I assume that's where our base of operations is anyway. Kavor Doan will be in C1, making sure the secret door is closed and well hidden, and covering any tracks. He'll use Profession (Merchant) to play the role of a merchant (which he is), taking inventory of the supplies in C1 if anybody should come down. Wand of Disguise Self to appear as a short human.
My guess is that C1 (which connects to B3 through a trapdoor) is a storage cellar, and shouldn't be too suspicious.

Kranzer watches the women warily but manages to keep his mouth shut for the moment.

Wonder who tipped them off, eh?

I was meaning that the same roll would apply if it was bluff instead. I have no skill in either, so it's just charisma of +4.

Merisiel stays in her room, listening at the door.

Bluff 23 does it!

Addressing Andracar once more, the dottari squad leader says, "Based on your testimony Sir, we have no further questions at this time. Of course, we will need a signed written statement from you. Please have this ready in the next hour- I will have a court clerk pick that up before curfew. Have a good evening."

perception: 8 + 1d20 ⇒ 8 + (1) = 9 nope

Perception (listen): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Once the guards are gone, Merisiel will come down from her room join the others. When the coast is clear she will head down into the wasp's nest to check on things there.

Andracar happily signs off on this statement, basically attesting that there is no untoward activity occurring within the premises, using all manner of language to say nothing.

A while later you hear two city workers discuss something a bit... grim?

"“Doghousing”, I said!"
"Heard you, fool... but what are you talking about?"
"Le sigh! le major sigh... pay attention dammit! When a prisoner is doghoused, he is put inside of a small wooden dog house, the walls of which have had dozens of nails driven through. The confines inside are incredibly cramped, making it difficult for the doghoused victim to move or shift position without being stabbed by a nail, and making it impossible to stand or lie down. Twice a day, at sunset and sunrise, the victim is allowed out of the doghouse to scavenge for scraps of food and water left by the dottari, but he must contend with two or more feral, ravenous dogs that have been chained in reach of the food—if the victim isn’t quick, the dogs eat the food, but if the victim goes for the food, he’ll likely be bitten at least a few times before he’s forced to seek shelter in the doghouse for another day. Got it?"
"Huh... ok... I guess... still... what does this mean for us? that stupid doghouse has been set up in the middle of southern Aria Park's lily pond- does that mean we don't have to tend that pond anymore?"

...aaand the conversation goes on, and on, as the men prattle about all kinds of uncertainties about their upcoming duties.

Is this days later, and Kavor Doan is all healed up?
"Let's go check this out," says Kavor Doan, "but see if we can do it quietly. I'll go without my armor so I can use a wider variety of spells if needed, and make less noise. We have two potions of Invisibility, let's make use of at least one of them." Those are among the Temporary Gear. "Or Andracar, if you want to borrow my wand of Disguise and try a clever Bluff, you are welcome to do so. Could be useful as a diversion at least if nothing else."
If we go, then when the party is approaching the lily pond, Kavor Doan will use a charge of the wand to disguise himself as a very old dwarf.

Yes you're healed up - several days went by, Forvian's boys rescued Street Performers, etc.

Laria says, "Kavor, it is a well attended park. Perhaps you guys should leave all your gear in your rooms here and just go for a walk in regular clothes to check the site, size up how many guards are stationed there, and so on. Then you can come back here to equip yourselves. The dottari is unlikely to stop people in plain clothes going about their business or visiting the town as tourists. Here. Take some bread to feed the ducks and pigeons there."

Crispy bread loaf acquired!

"That sounds like a great plan, Laria. I will leave my axe behind, even though my spellcasting is impaired without it."
Pathfinders walking around town like normal people, leaving their armor and most of their weapons behind? Incredible! Mark this one down in the Chronicles, it's a historic moment.
"The two pieces of gear I will bring (besides the loaf of bread) are a potion of Invisibility and my wand of Disguise Self. They are easily concealed, and if an opportunity for a stealthy rescue happens to presents itself on our scouting mission, we can take advantage of it."

Kranzer nods. "Aye, les go then. But I ain't gonna part with all my weapons! Gotta keep a dagger on hand at least!"

He places the dagger into the folds of his clothes and looks to the others.

"I will be bringing all my gear. Mostly because it's always on me. I don't have weapons or armor or... anything fancy such as that. Only my mind. And the fact that somewhere in my lineage one of my ancestors got freaky with a being of immense power." He nods, then continues speaking. Given that he isn't paying attention to what is said, I assume no one else is either and won't bother typing it here. Once the diatribe unfolds and is ended, he smiles and waits. "I rather like feeding ducks."

"Well done lads. It'll be a walk in the park, so to speak! it's two bells past highsun now. By the time you come back around 4 or 5 bells there'll be steaming hot shrimp bouillabaisse on the oven by the time you come back. Don't get close to the action: just walk around, feed birds, and count guards, then go back later in the evening when they feed the dogs and the poor man... with your gear this time."

Merisiel nods, agreeing to this plan to do some scouting. "Fine" she says. "I will even leave my daggers behind."

The forlorn elf changes into her traveling clothes and prepares to head out to the stables to get the horse and wagon. She brings a bundle out with her weapons and armor wrapped in blankets and stuffs it into a corner behind some barrels. "Why don't we bring some casks of ale to celebrate the nice weather?"

"Laria, do you know someone that can drive the cart for us and keep it nearby?"

Assuming there is time, we can pick up 5 or 6 casks of semi-decent ale and take it with us as cover in case we are stopped. It will not go to waste! If the group would prefer to play things out exactly as Laria proposes, we can do the wagon plan in the evening instead.

She carries her daggers, a few in her boots and a couple behind her back beneath her cloak, and one each in a wrist sheath beneath her sleeves.

"I think we're ready!" Merisiel says. This will go well!

The group walks by Aria Park and notices the doghousing site is guarded by four militia members. The three men and one woman are assisted by two large mastiffs. The unfortunate captive is on his hands and knees inside a doghouse riddled with nails, his head poking out revealing several bleeding gashes on his forehead and temples, and no doubt several deep punctures at the back of his head and neck. Some of the more sadistic people in the city have shown up early for the spectacle that is to follow around six and a half bells.

You feed the ducks before returning to Laria for your gear. Returning to the area approximately half an hour before the 'show', you realize there's a few people there, but not so many have gathered yet. Those who did show up are still wandering the park looking at the flowers.

What do you do? Map is up

Before heading back in the evening, Kavor Doan gets an idea.
"What if we go back not only with many loaves of bread, but also with some really big steaks? Make a big show of walking to the park with bread for the poor, to draw a sympathetic crowd along with us. Give the steaks to the dogs to distract them and get them full; throw the bread to the crowd and also to the prisoner. Try to embarrass the militia by ruining their 'game' rather than massacre them.
If the militia comes after us, which I think they will, one of us goes invisible with a potion and frees the prisoner, the rest just run or evade. Or disarm them; I don't think these militia compare to us in martial skill, we can fight them holding back and still face no real risk. I am totally willing to be a target that just dodges and doesn't fight back; any of you can't do that should either stay behind or be on 'invisibly freeing the prisoner' duty."
Kavor Doan thinks for a minute.
"I'm open to other ideas.
I'd suggest a Bluff of some kind, but I don't think any of us are really skilled at that - Andracar's fortunate success with the dottari notwithstanding.
And I know we could easily slaughter the militia and free the prisoner, but that could backfire and hurt our cause more than help it.
Stealth is an option, but the militia block access to the platform, so even Invisible it would be hard to get past them. We would need a distraction. And winning hearts and minds is the way to go, I think."

"I have among my capabilities the ability to overwhelm the senses of the opponent without slaying them, to note. It tends to make it easier to evade or murder them, as you prefer." Andaracar adds, hopeful. "It would not be a guaranteed success, but such a boon would prevent at least a number of them from following us, and grant us a greater advantage. Also I have legs sized for my kind and do not run the fastest."

Merisiel listens to the plans from her party, and looks back toward the doghouse structure. "This is torture!" She gestures around. "Won't someone do something!"

"Long game, Merisiel. What's your plan?"

"Hey! you! over there in the bushes! get out of here!" yells one of the Chelish Citizen's Group thug. The man in the dog house turns his head towards your direction in his limited spiked prison, peering through his good eye, the other too swollen to crack open, hopeful for potential salvation...

If Kavor Doan was able to procure steaks and bread, he just goes ahead with his plan. Throwing the steaks to the dogs, and the bread to the man in the doghouse. Also offering good-hearted onlookers the opportunity to throw bread to the man.

Kavor Doan is wearing his armor but carrying no weapon.

"That poor man is hungry! And those poor dogs too! Good citizens of Kintargo, let is help!"

He'll make sure Merisiel has one of the Potions of Invisibility.

As Kavor Doan steps out of the bushes with bread and steaks, the thugs arm themselves, "We tooold ye ta get outta here, man... now we get to beat it in yer head with an ugly stick... he he he!!"

The man appears brutish, if not deficient in the mental stats department...

Round 1 [bold may go]
Merisiel
Kranzer
Andracar
CCG Thugs & Dogs
Shrec
Kavor

Kranzer says, "Hey, what's that sayin'? Looks are in the eyeballs of the beholders? Ain't that a tavern band or a monster or something? Anyway, let's go feed some dogs! Or a person."

He moves up while talking.

Andracar approaches along behind Kranzer, hands in his pockets and looking entirely unthreatening. He whistles a bawdy tune. I've got something in my front pocket for you...

Merisiel stays hidden for the moment, until she can ascertain what the thugs will do.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

The thugs and dogs all double move via the bridge.

Round 1 [bold may go]
Merisiel
Kranzer
Andracar
CCG Thugs & Dogs
Shrec
Kavor

Round 2 [bold may go]
Merisiel
Kranzer
Andracar
CCG Thugs & Dogs
Shrec
Kavor

Kavor Doan throws steaks to the dogs!
"Is this right? Is this the way we play the game? Good citizen volunteers, I only wish to help!"

Merisiel sidesteps from the bushes, seeing that the thugs are charging toward Andracar and Kranzer, and hustles up to the next set of shrubbery. She draws a sap as she moves.

"Careful guys, they look like they are going to attack us! Just non-lethal if you can but if they use real weapons we may have no choice!"

Merisiel draws her weapon while moving. She readies an attack with a sap for any enemy in melee range.

@Kavor: from your distance the steaks must be thrown to the 5th range increment (ranged touch attack with a -8 penalty) and they are like a splash weapon (do not require proficiency); further, I'm going to say you require to aim at a grid intersection (AC 5) in order to get them where you want. One steak at a time though. Go ahead and roll!

Ranged Touch vs AC 5, -8 range: 1d20 + 4 - 8 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 8 = 12
The dwarf throws a steak to the dog with great precision.
"Merisiel, ignore them, no need to fight, do what we came here for!"

Andracar raises his hands in alarm, stepping up just enough to be in range of his spell, but not in range of their claws or fangs. "Oh no, it's happening again, the possession!" And with that, colors shoot forth from his hands, a blinding and dazzling array meant to confuse the senses and enthrall the mind. DC 17 will saves from those in my cone or the spoilered happens.

Will CCG 1 through 4; dogs 1 & 2: 6d20 ⇒ (2, 5, 15, 20, 2, 17) = 61 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

The entire Chelish Citizens' Group force falls unconscious for 7 rounds, except for one female human guard and one dog... the female guard flees promptly, shocked by the overwhelming force. The dog falls in love with Kavor's steak and completely ignores you all. Aside from signs of starvation, both dogs are quite magnificent actually.

You can reasonably expect that the female guard will run to the nearest dottari station, but you are all in the clear for the next 7 rounds at the very least.

COMBAT OVER

What do you do?

Assuming there is a break in the action, Merisiel gauges the distance to the trapped victim in the doghouse, and will sprint up to the platform to set them free.

Finally! A lucky break! Now to set this one free.

"I sense time is short! Great work you two, that was a great plan!"

"Hey Shrec, want to make a friend? Call the doggie to follow us."
Rather than throwing the other steak, he will give it to Shrec (who has Handle Animal).
If the dog was mistreated and starved by the militia, why don't we take it in?
He throws the bread to onlookers. "Save some for the Chelish Citizens when they wake up - and tell them we're sorry for playing their game wrong!"
Then he will high-tail it out of there.

You rescue the man and head out promptly. A couple minutes into the streets, you realize it's Clenchjaw! his face was so swollen you hadn't noticed. He tells you they came in his bar unannounced and just grabbed him. He floored one, but at 5 to 1 the thugs got the best of him. Word of your daring rescue spreads out amidst the Milani worshippers hanging at Clenchjaw's...

Rebellion: slight bump to Notoriety +1d4 ⇒ 2 pts.

A few days go by uneventfully... Please state which projects or leads you want to look into! let me know if some of you gather info or help Rexus decoding the documents - requires diplomacy or linguistics check, respectively.

Nice doggie animal handling: 5 + 1d20 ⇒ 5 + (14) = 19

"I think he likes you, Shrec!"
Kavor Doan will go back to working on the documents.
Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Shrec befriends a dog. Luckily this one doesn't seem to be registered with a dottari tag, so Shrec has no problem bring the dog back home. Shrec even gets compliments by the guards on the bridge, "What a nice doggie!! can I give him a treat?" The guard pulls out a little piece of sausage and feeds it to the dog. Thankfully the smell of Kavor's second steak is enough to convince the dog to keep following you off that bridge...

As you rest at Laria's and help Rexus in the next few days, you all manage to help Rexus finalize his notes on the Silver Ravens documents:

• The Silver Ravens were established in 4606 ar in
the wake of the chaos that swept over Cheliax after
Aroden’s death to help protect the city of Kintargo
from oppression.
• The woman who founded the Silver Ravens was a
mysterious elf known only as “Jackdaw,” a figure who,
before the advent of the Age of Lost Omens, built
herself into a sort of Kintargan folk hero who fought
for the rights of the city’s downtrodden.
• Many of the Silver Ravens were adventurers or
worshipers of Milani. Jackdaw, a swashbuckler, was
the most powerful and influential of them all, but
others who rose to particular prominence among
the Silver Ravens were Amyreid (a female half-elf
cleric of Milani), Ba (a male halfling enchanter), Kyda
(a female human rogue/bard), and Brakisi (a male
human urban ranger).
The Silver Ravens defended Kintargo from being
conquered no fewer than a dozen times during the
Chelish Civil War: five times from power-hungry noble
families, four times from agents of Thrune, once from
an invasion of skum from the sea, once from a cabal
of Nidalese vampires, and once from a blue dragon
named Rivozair.
• The Silver Ravens maintained their main headquarters
in and below the Kintargo Opera House; unfortunately,
no information in the documents indicates any other
safe houses the group may have maintained.
• The Silver Ravens were said to be able to use something
called the “Song of Silver” to defend Kintargo when
it was attacked by enemies, but sadly, no additional
information as to what this mysterious song was can
be found in these notes. Rexus implores you all to
keep an eye out for further clues as to this intriguing
notation.
• The last section translated speaks of how the leaders
of the Silver Ravens had seen the proverbial writing
on the wall—they knew House Thrune was likely to
seize control, and had come to the difficult decision
to surrender should this event come to pass, hoping
to prevent Thrune from razing Kintargo. Indications
exist that the cache of treasure and documents hidden
in the Fair Fortune were intended to serve as a sort of
time capsule, should Kintargo forget the Silver Ravens
with the passage of time.

Development: Perhaps the most important resources
to be gained from translating the documents are
pages upon pages of information about tactics for
defending Kintargo. Once the translation is complete,
the information found within grants the rebellion a
permanent +2 bonus on all Organization checks (Loyalty,
Secrecy, and Security). Rebellion Sheet updated!!

Later on, Rexus and Laria start discussing the problems encountered by the tieflings of the Devil's Nursery. She motions to the group to join, and says, "Did you hear 'bout 'tis too? yes, someone’s killing tieflings down in the Devil’s Nursery. I’ve heard that whoever’s doing it is taking trophies, but I’m not sure what kind. What a horrible situation... do you feel up to righting more wrongs? this is all driving the tieflings of the slums into a panic... Left unhandled, these murders will eventually drive the tieflings to riot, giving Barzillai Thrune all the excuse he needs to raze the slums and further establish martial control over the city," says Laria, sipping some coffee and offering refills.
"I fear... that the killings might be acts of terrorism performed by agents of Asmodeus. If the murderers can be stopped and you can make it clear that the Silver Ravens have stepped up to defend some of Kintargo’s most downtrodden citizens, the rebellion’s support can only grow... What say you, friends?"

There are four likely avenues of investigation the PCs can take to unravel the mystery of the Devil’s Nursery Murders: 1) Interviewing Locals; 2) Investigating a Murder Site; 3) Examining a Body; or 4) Catching the Killer.

Kranzer rubs a stubby two fingers across his forehead. "I say we check out the murder site first. At least I could do that while you talkative types interview any witnesses. Whaddya thinks?"

"I'd like to go down to the site of the killings to take a look with my own eyes." Merisiel says to the group.

I vote for #2, but am open to the other options. Wouldn't number 4 be something we do after we learn more?

"That sounds like a good plan, Kranzer. I will try to learn what I can from the local citizens while you and Merisiel examine the site."
If it is a Diplomacy check to gather information:
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Investigating the killings gives us a break from constant fighting, even I need a rest