GMTrex's PFS [CORE] God's Market Gamble (Inactive)

Game Master Andrew Trexler

"The heck if I know!" Eveline yells, face scorching red, "we botched this! Damnit!"

She goes about the failure, walking away for a few steps, kicking random pebbles to kingdom come, when suddenly she is struck with a realization. "That scroll! The one Grandmaster Torch gave us!" she says with excitement.

Lionel grabs his spear and scrathes his head. "Didn' Nummer get tha scroll? I think we decided it 'cause he's the only one coulda used it." Staring at Numair, he yawns quietly. "Dam, that's a lastin' one.", he says, sitting on the edge of the cart.

Alright, I'll just call it then.

Numair is quick to point out that locate object has a limited range, so the group will have to get the rough area correct. If cast now, it might catch the keg still in transit -- but there's no telling where it could end up once the spell's duration is up.

"Too risky... how about we go to those warehouses Barnel or whatever talked about? Near that pub... what was it called, Pitview Pub?" Eveline ponders aloud.

Where is everybody?

The others agree that the Pitview Pub is their best bet and Numair casts from the scroll just outside its doors. Luckily, the spell is a success and leads to a warehouse not far away!

The exterior of this run-down warehouse is rotting, and the roof is clearly sagging in places. Any paint that once coated its walls has long since flaked off the parched-looking gray wood. The windows are boarded firmly shut, and both pairs of loading doors appear to be jammed closed.

Lionel shrugs, staring at the warehouse. "Huh. Guess we shoulda gotten to tha warehouse after all. Maybe we'd have gotten them buggers for good, before they try ta steal tha cask. And it does seem someone's keepin' secrets in there.", he gestures to the locked windows.

"Reedo! Wanna knock on tha door with them axes?", he says, walking to the door.

Reed, irritated that their assailant had escaped, nods at Lionel's suggestion, starting to chop furiously into the door unless someone stops him.

Will hack at the door until we can open it, or until attacked.

"HEY!" Eveline shouts, intent on stopping Reed acting rash, "we *never* just crash our way inside a seemingly abandoned warehouse! Get a grip!" She dashes in front of the axe-wielding man.

"Explore, remember? Check the surroundings of this warehouse first. Second, this place probably has more than just one stupid keg. Would you leave it unprotected?"

Eveline is making a stern look at Lionel. His idea was that Reed hacks down the door, not Reed's. Then again the solution does sound like one developed by men with brawn... she shakes her head disapprovingly.

"Well, Eve, we's just re-acquirin' Society proparty. An' any of us, esteemed Pathfinder folk would assure anyone, that Reed here's simply knockin' on the door.", Lionel crosses his arms. "Plus, if we's are here crashin' tha door, leaves you ta sneak in tha back an' see who's gonna escape or get behind 'em, while they're busy with us. Just like at that warehouse, when we was doin' tha thing for tha man, remember?" The man uncrosses his arms, and pings the tip of his spear, which begins to glow in yellow. "I gon keep an eye on tha windows. Could be fools with crossbows'n'all."

Numair shakes his head.

"I agree with Eve - we should be careful. If they are indeed using this building to warehouse their ill-gotten goods, I doubt that they would leave it unprotected, even if by some miracle there isn't a guard. Let's take our time, and proceed carefully."

Basically, unless we get attacked, 'Take 20' Perception.

Numair takes a careful look around and finds that pretty much everything is boarded up thoroughly. The loading doors to the north are the exception, but they have been removed from their rails. Putting them back into place is likely to be just as loud as smashing through the others.

Reed shrugs and takes his axe to it. After a short period of loud crunching and splintering, he's carved a hole large enough to pass through.

Inside are mountains of unassuming wooden crates. See map.

Numair motions for Reed to enter the building.

"Well, looks like there are no guards; still, we should be careful."

Happy for Reed to 'Take 20' on Perception :-)

The ranger has enough shame to turn red when Eve reproaches both him and Lionel about their preferred method of entry. He docilely follows instructions until other options have been exhausted.

Going back to square one, the young man takes his axe to the door. Reed huffs and puffs after the short workout, nodding to Numair before entering just within, taking a sharp look around.

Take 20 on Perception, if time allows.

Although Eveline disapproves the way created, she understands there were little other options to break into the warehouse, given the lack of a locksmith. The ruckus coming from the hacking makes Eve cringe a little, and she looks around to see if the streets here are crowded, and if they gather the attention of a potential watch patrol.

"Take your time," Eveline suggests, peering around the corners to other streets, "we can never be too sure. The foes have proven to be sneaky, this could be just another ambush."

She draws her bow, and places an arrow on the string. She's ready.

Given a room of this size, taking 20 on Perception for everything would take a very long time -- a few hours, at least. To narrow it down: are you taking 20 to look through (a particular pile of) boxes, or just taking in the room you can see from the doorway? Moving through the whole building to look for interesting places to search?

Nix it, I guess.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Reed looks about quickly, peering about for signs of any hiding enemies, before waving his companions inside. Once everyone is inside, the ranger starts slowly moving through the building, nodding at Eve to take the opposite side of the room. They're companions were very effective, but they didn't have the observational skills that could only be gained from practical experience.

Numair attempts to assist Reed in his search.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9.

Once the entrance is deemed clear, Eveline returns and moves with Reed on a lookout for trouble.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

"You see it?", says Lionel, studying the warehouse, looking for an ambush.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

"I'm guessin' someone'll be waitin' on us."

Doesn't matter, lol!

From the entryway, Reed can just barely make out an unusual crease in the floor ahead--there might be a pressure plate there! Trap highlighted on the map. He motions for the others to halt.

"Good job, Reed! I'm glad that we have you with us..."

Based on the positioning on the map, it looks like we can walk around it?

Assuming that the go is given for moving in.

"Hells. Lemme go first on this one, folks. If ya eye me snoozin' again, gimme tha same kick. But hopefully some o' you lads do it, tha lady pack a hella wallop." Stepping into the warehouse, Lionel's eyes gaze around, looking for enemies or barrels.

8 squares of movement would get me to the square just above the top right one of the trap.

Lionel's careful gaze spots yet more mountains of nondescript crates!

Go ahead and move through the building, just let me know how/where you're making checks of any kind.

Reed steps in, careful to avoid the pressure plate in the floor. He makes his way through slowly, careful to keep an eye out for more traps and surprises that could cause the party complications.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Unless anyone has any objection, start with the right-most paths, then move left.

Eveline follows the rest, but the lack of light makes her worry. "Any of you spellcasters provide some light for us?" she asks with a hushed tone. "I really wouldn't like a lit torch among wooden crates."

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Lionel's spear is currently lit up.

"Hah. Thanks for tha reminder. I'll refresh that." Lionel pings the tip of the spear, which covers itself in ethereal wasps, and continues walking around the warehouse, following Reed's suggestion. "Keep an eye out, though."

Oops -- the first time I ran this was tier 4-5, in which there are more traps. For 1-2, there's just the one!

The team carefully maneuvers their way through the building and eventually find their lost keg (restored to original size) in the northwest corner. Lionel does the hoisting and Numair scurries out the Calistrian's plodding path--where he notices some curious papers atop a worn footlocker. These papers include several letters from local collectors and aristocrats offering to buy the keg!

Reed gives the locker a thorough once-over and opens the lid. Inside is a great deal of incriminating evidence against one Parani Akar, a Greycloak. There's a client list, official papers identifying her as a member of the Pure Legion, documents outlining former blackmailing habits in Rahadoum, a Scarab of the Dawnflower, a golden statue of Iomadae as tall as Eveline, some masterwork armor, two potions, and even a Pure Legion uniform!

Lionel whistles as he pokes inside the contents of the locker. "Hells, that ain't bad. Might even keep the statue, looks mighty fine." Stopping as his eyes glaze over the potions, the big man squints his eyes. "Now, ya can all call me suspicious, but I'm thinkin' it's been hella easy so far. I don' believe those people would've left that container o' joy unattended, after all tha trouble they done caused. Smellin' a trap, folks?" He takes a step back and goes in the shadows, keeping an eye on the door. "Now, when ya's finished, gimme a shout and I'll grab them for ya."

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 4 = 4

Maybe I shouldn't have polished that armor so much..., thinks Lionel as he stands in the shadows next to the door.

Numair shrugs.

"Well, they *had* left a trap here... and we have found some pretty incriminating stuff! All we have to do now is turn it over to the authorities, and this woman's career will be comprehensively over..."

The hair on the back of Reed's neck stands up at Lionel's words. The ranger and the Calistrian both thought the same thing, in this regard. The ranger reaches forth, gathering as much of the items and evidence as he can as quickly as he can. Once everything is gathered, his eyes narrow.

"Friends...I have no reason to suspect this, but Lionel's words struck a chord in me. This HAS been too easy. What if this woman has been framed?"

"You are right, Lionel. Guess this Parani Akar thought no one would ever come looking for her stuff. And why stuff all this next to the keg we were looking for? Overconfident," Eveline says, ending with a hushed mock.

"We really need to get this all to the watch, or Runewolf. He'd probably be overjoyed to find out one of his guard is the culprit. And right under his nose..." Eveline seems spiteful as she says that. Her sinister smile turns serious as Reed comes up with a theory.

"That, my friend, would come evident once we get the witnesses to identify her. If she was indeed in Rialla Barleyhusk's shop at the time of the murder, and hired those two thugs, and had employed Barnel to do dirty work for her... I doubt we have to second-guess."

Armed with a great deal of suspicion and at least half a plan, the party heads back out into the God's Market, heading for the Greycloak Headquarters.

Arrow @ Lionel: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33 CRIT THREAT Confirm: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30 oh man... CONFIRMED Damage: 3d8 + 12 ⇒ (4, 7, 6) + 12 = 29 Ouch.

Suddenly, an arrow comes flying out of nowhere! It clips Lionel in the shoulder, dropping him instantly as it partially severs his primary aorta. The poisoned arrow spreads its payload rapidly from the gushing wound. Lionel is down to -10 and unconscious. Make a stabilize check. Additionally, he needs to make a Fortitude save versus poison. Following the path of the arrow, the others spot a cloaked woman hiding within a nearby market tent. Civilians flee the scene with haste.

Surprise
Woman

Round I -- bold may act!
1. Numair
2. Woman
3. Lionel (-10/19 hp, unconscious, bleeding out), Eveline, Reed

"By the Gods!"

Numair hustles forward to attack the woman.

Morningstar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11, for 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 damage.

Numair's morningstar catches only tent fabric, but now he's cornered the woman! She drops her bow and draws a great-axe slung across her back, swinging it for the sorcerer!

Greataxe @ Numair: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 MISS

The blade sinks deep into a tent-pole instead!

Round I -- bold may act!
1. Numair
2. Woman
3. Lionel (-10/19 hp, unconscious, bleeding out), Eveline, Reed

Stabilization: 1d20 + 2 - 10 ⇒ (19) + 2 - 10 = 11 Ain't bleedin' out, yo!

Eveline's quick wits gather this woman to be none other than Parani Akar. Who else would attack the pathfinders wearing a cloak? With a bow and arrow, nonetheless.

The halfling woman quickly draws her bow while moving into a more suitable position. She raises her bow and aims at the woman's knee.

Mwk Longbow attack (+ PBS) vs. cover: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 1 = 27
Damage (piercing): 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6

"Surrender, pitiful culprit!"

Against the odds, Lionel's platelets go into overdrive and clot up the bleeding!

Eveline threads her arrow through the gap between the tent and Numair to strike the party's assailant!

Round I -- bold may act!
1. Numair
2. Woman (6 dmg)
3. Lionel (-10/19 hp, unconscious), Eveline, Reed

Numair steps to the side, and readies for a flank (assuming Reed moves in, of course).

Morningstar: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 = 19, for 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 damage.

Seeing Lionel go down to a well-placed missile, Reed snapped his head to the side in surprise to find their assailant swinging at Numair, attempting to drop another member of the party.

With a yell, the ranger charged at their enemy, his axe raised high before he chopped it down.

MWK Handaxe, Charge, flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 30
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Crit Confirm?: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 19
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 6 = 9

Unfortunately can't give you both the charge and the flank, so it's not a crit -- but with a flank Numair's hit goes through so I'll be a benevolent GM and assume that's your choice.

Numair and Reed both land their attacks! The woman's cloak takes a few gashes. She again swings for Numair!

"Die, slave!" Greataxe @ Numair: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 MISS

Again her technique is clumsy!

Round II - bold may act!
1. Numair
2. Woman (24 dmg)
3. Lionel (-10/19 hp, unconscious), Eveline, Reed

Also, sorry Lionel, that's twice I've taken you out of the fight in the surprise round.

Numair gulps, seeing that this woman is definitely tough, and takes another swing.

Morningstar: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 2 = 26, for 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 damage.

Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15, for 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 *ADDITIONAL* damage.

These natural 20s, man...

Eveline sees her companions are very adept at melee combat, and figures she doesn't need to fire many more arrows to drop the enemy.

"Take her alive, guys! Don't get too excited!"

And with that she fires another arrow at the assailant before dashing over to Lionel. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall down," Eveline mutters as she kneels down and begins to take her healing wand.

Longbow (+ PBS): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22
Damage (piercing): 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Standard action: fire arrow, move action: move over to Lionel.

Numair and Eveline both mark their target, who falls from the weight of her wounds!

Out of initiative!

Numair breathes a sigh of relief when the woman goes down.

"Good job, everyone!"

He then tries to stabilise her...

Heal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2.
Heal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2.
Heal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9.
Heal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1.
Heal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (15) - 2 = 13.

...but apparently, not with much enthusiasm.

Someone else may want to try ;-)

Reed approaches the woman, and along with Numair, tries to assist her before she can pass on into Pharasma's fold.

Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Reed manages to keep her from reaching the Boneyard, just in time for a contingent of Greycloaks to arrive, led by Runewulf the Unbeliever himself. He and his guard take in the strange scene: a downed Greycloak tended by Reed and a downed Lionel, arrow shaft poking out of his chest, tended to by the halfling. "Heard you lot were making trouble in my District," Runewulf says slowly, "Came to see for myself. Explain yourselves."

Numair nods.

"Well, since you asked..."

Numair relates the following:

Barleyhusk - tall, dark woman, dressed as Greycloak - courier died from gut-wound, substantially faster than he should have.

Thugs - employed by woman in Grey cloak to 'rough us up' once we started asking around; one stated that he was blackmailed - the woman in question threatened to set the Pure Legion on his family back in Rahadoum.

Barnel - hired by 'god-hating' woman in Grey cloak to fence stuff; suggested she might have a warehouse near the Pitview Pub.

Cayden's last keg - set up a sting to track stolen merchandise, which led to a warehouse, where there was a lot of incriminating evidence against one Parani Akar, a Greycloak, including a client list for her stolen relics, official papers identifying her as a member of the Pure Legion, documents outlining former blackmailing habits in Rahadoum, a Scarab of the Dawnflower, a golden statue of Iomadae, and even a Pure Legion uniform.

Open heading away from the warehouse, the party was ambushed by this woman, who struck first, nearly killing Lionel, and was eventually subdued, but not without extreme risk.

Cure light wounds on Lionel: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Cure light wounds on Lionel: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Once Lionel gets his eyes open after a pair of whacks from a healing wand, Eveline sneers a bit, stands up and offers hand a gesture; not to actually lift the big man up. "Welcome back. You've taken a liking to take a nap always when a ruckus starts," she smirks and flashes a mocking smile.

Eveline nods approvingly to Numair's explanation. She figures she has little to add, since the incriminating evidence should be enough.

"Well, I can't be as good as ya at keepin' ma head down, can I?", retorts Lionel, grabbing the hand. "It's been a tirin' day's all."

Numair's tale is greatly backed up by the physical evidence immediately at hand, and the overwhelming evidence is enough to overcome Runewulf's skepticism. Barleyhusk is, fortunately, also able to identify the woman she saw as Parani.

Parani is arrested and eventually tried and convicted for her crimes. Word of the even-handed way that Pathfinder crew handled the situation spreads throughout Absalom and some of the tension between the society and local district guards eases for a while. Torch is pleased that Pathfinder lives have been saved and Shane is absolutely delighted to be able to continue his research unobstructed.

Success! And full marks, too. I will have chronicles out to you tomorrow. Congratulations and thanks for playing!