GMTrex's PFS [Normal Mode] 5-07 Port Godless (Inactive)

Game Master Andrew Trexler

If Tarri or Nokazi have anything to declare or to hide (divine focuses, etc.), you can do it retroactively.

Kargen and Baal each declare a holy symbol, and while Kargen's sleeves remain unmolested, he does overhear the Asmodean up the line advised that uncovering his tattoo is a criminal act. Furthermore, you all breathe a sigh of relief when the Legionnaires look in your packs and, despite you suddenly remembering the various wands and potions of divine spells therein, the Rahadoumi don't bother to try to identify them.

As they shuffle you through the check-point, the Pure Legionnaires issue a stern warning to obey all the Laws of Man or face punishment and possible deportation.

Before you lies the capital city of Azir! Where to first, Pathfinders?

Though a devout worshiper of Shelyn, Tarri bears no actual holy symbols. Instead she carries an instrument and a glaive to show her devotion.

After they pass through the gates, the halfling speaks up, "I s'pose we oughtta search the markets for our 'copper merchant'."

Fools. Faith is reflected the least in symbols and holy books.

Nokazi drops a wooden holy symbol of Korada into the pile.

"Yes, let's use the sketch and track down the ex-Pathfinder."

He asks the nearest street urchin where the copper shop is located.

"Should we send someone to check any of the local taverns first?"

"Let's start with meeting up with the majordomo of the Riftwardens' leader Jahani. He is expecting us and he might be able to offer some intelligence concerning our assignment and the city." Tarquin suggests and asks someone nearby for the way there.

"We can search the markets and see where a copper seller might be."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Fenrik asks around...K-Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9... and does not get much info but maybe a few possible locations of taverns if ill repute...

"And I thought the Riftwardens would be the better place to start. I guess a fellow tiefling would be able to see things more clearly.", Oriandor thinks to himself as the party begins to look for copper merchants. "Very well, might as well help speed up the process."

Kn: Local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
"Good sir, would you mind directing us to your local copper peddlers? I'm curious to what your artisans have to offer."

@ Fenrik/Oriandor: That's more of a Diplomacy (Gather Info) check but I'll take your Knowledge rolls for now: Oriandor knows that the best place to look for a copper merchant would be in the Grand Sook of Azir, the city's sprawling central marketplace. However, in a city of this size, there might be dozens of merchants who sell minerals and metals such as copper.

The harbor market merchant that Oriandor poses this question to is a little nonplussed, finding it to be an odd request, but conveys what the tiefling already knows.

Nokazi shows a rag-covered child the sketch of Kline, but the girl simply shrugs and again suggest the Grand Sook. You get the sense that the sketch alone won't get you far. I need a Bluff (pass hidden message), Diplomacy (Gather Info), or Knowledge (Local) check from Nokazi to represent how discreet you are being.

Follow Tarquin's suggestion, or off to the bazaar?

Ahh, it'd be the same roll for me with Diplomacy: I'll knote that for the future.

"Hmmm... as unproductive as I thought. The Grand Sook would be the place to look, but there'll be many a merchant to look for. Perhaps the Riftwardens would be the next best place to look?"

Nokazi aids Oriandor with gathering information.

Aid, Oriandor: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (14) - 2 = 12

"Very well. Let's try it Oriandor's way. Let's see what this Jahani Jodinaj has to tell us. Perhaps then we know better the questions to ask of Kline."

Baal nods in agreement, and follows after Oriandor.

He should be smart enough to realize he's not the most charismatic of individuals :D (a.k.a. cha dump stat that hasn't hurt me too bad... yet. :D)

"Yes, glad to see you all see wisdom in following MY suggestion. If only you could come to the same conclusion as me sooner, we wouldn't have wasted precious time." Tarquin sighs and heads to the riftwardens location which he derived from a local just a moment before.

Jahani's home is an attractive home surrounded by a low wall. When the Pathfinders call at the state, a well-dressed woman with her hair in a tight bun answers the door. "Good day. How may I help you?"

Nokazi presents his jade wayfinder.

"We are Pathfinder agents sent by the Decemvirate on a secret mission. We would like to speak with Jahani Jodinaj. May we come in and speak in private?

Tarri looks askance at Tarquin, after his tactless outburst. "Tarqi, ya might need ta tone it back ah bit. Ain't no leader in this group, we talk 'n decide on stuff."

"Yes, I believe our mission would be of mutual benefit to both parties: a 'help us help you so we can help ourselves' ordeal.", Oriandor aiding his Tengu ally's entrance dialogue.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Turning to the little halfling, the fellow tiefling replies, "True, but in this case, I think the group's first attempt was quite wrong. Of course we currently are not in a dire position, yet."

"If you please, miss. May we continue this inside?" He looks around the street. "Perhaps we can wait inside to speak to Jodinaj."

Diplomacy, Aid: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

"Ah, you are expected, come in come in." She looks around the street warily after you've entered, and shuts the door.

"My name is Akhina, and I am Lady Jahani's majordomo. If you are Pathfinders, then surely you have been appraised the Lady Jahani is missing, no? I am quite eager to have her return to the household, so I am happy to assist you with what information I can.

"Approximately two weeks ago, my mistress began withdrawing from public events for longer and longer periods of time. She was behaving, rather... secretively. I do not know why. She instructed me to be very careful about who I allowed in the gate. The only guest she entertained during this period was a Taldan copper merchant, named Maroc, whom she met several times in her study. Then, about a week ago, Lady Jahani disappeared. I have not heard from her or Maroc since." Akhina lets out a deep sigh, her prim posture slumping slightly. "All of this has been very exhausting. There are a number of arrangements regarding my mistress's business ventures that must be resolved, and soon, and I am not equipped to handle it on my own..."

"Maroc?" Kargen retrieves the sketch. "Was this Maroc? We knows he's a copper merchant." He looks at the others knowingly, then back to Akhina.

"Umm, let's see..." she says, taking the sketch. "Oh! Yes! This is man Lady Jahani met with."

"What is your relationship with Maroc? You seem anxious. Remember, we are here to help the situation and not assess blame."

He offers her a reassuring gesture of placing his hand on her shoulder.

"I had heard that the Pure Legion is also looking for him..." she says cautiously. "I am concerned that my mistress may have conspired to break the Laws of Man."

Kargen looks at her with a wary eye. "Why are you concerned about that? What were the two of them doing together?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

"Why am I concerned about that?!" Akhina takes on an expression of shock. "I am a faithful citizen of Rahadoum! Breaking the Laws of Man is a great offense, and I duly hope I do not serve one who would do so!"

She takes a moment to calm down. "I don't know what they were doing. They met privately, in Lady Jahani's study."

Is there something in particular you're looking for with that check, Kargen?

"That's not what I meant. I meant, why would you think she had broken the Laws of Man? You just said you didn't know what they were doing, but you're concerned she broke the Laws. What makes you think that?"

"They met in her study. Do you think they were doing religious acts there?"

Looking to see if she's lying about her concern/accusation. Is her concern truly for Jahani? Is she hiding something?

"Well, if the Pure Legion is looking for Maroc, and Maroc is meeting with my mistress... then I have to wonder." At Kergan second question, Akhina's becomes horrified. "In this study? In this very building? You... you don't think... I certainly hope not!"

"Mind if we take a look around there then? Might find a clue as to her whereabouts or her link to Maroc."

listening to the conversation Fenrik surmises they must not really be on a 'secret'mission if this person they just meet was told. Fenrik does not care, he just keeps looking to see if anyone is interested in his group speaking to the people in this establishment- peering outside every so often to ensure they are not being watched.

Walking over to Fenrik, Baal makes an observation to him, "I think we are reaching the end of usefulness from this servant. We need to convince her to keep her mouth quiet and find this 'Copper Merchant.' I do not think it will be safe for us to remain here much longer." Then Baal looks out the window to see if anybody is paying too much attention to them.

Perceiving what he can!: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

"Yes, I must agree with Baal. If Maroc is who we think he is, then we have a better lead this time around. And I think hiding our wayfinders from him, at least initially, would be useful." Turning to the woman, Oriandor bows, arm outswept. "And thank you for your time m'lady."

Once the party is ready, Oriandor asks some locals about the whereabouts of Maroc, using a few coins (20gp total) to help keep their silence.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

And I hope these rolls continue into combat.

"I want to have a look in her office first. There might be some information or clues there that we could need. Before we start running around in the streets again like a bunch of headless chickens." Tarquin complains and still waits for Akhina to give them permission.

Really playing that low charisma here :P

@ Fenrik, et al.: Obo did mention that he notified Akhina that you'd be coming, but your mission is otherwise pretty secret. She is one of very, very few people that know of Jahani's Riftwarden association.

@ Oriandor: Akhina accepts the coins and looks nervously around for other servants, but fortunately none are nearby. "Of course, of course, we should be discreet!"

@ Tarquin: "Hmm, umm, that would be, umm, unorthodox..." Akhina says, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of letting this group into the study. "But if it helps you find Jahani, I suppose I could stomach it." She leads you down the lavish carpet and into a well-decorated study. Thick silk curtains cover the stained-glass windows, letting a mottled light in to illuminate plush chairs, a sturdy wooden desk heaped high with papers, a brazier in one corner filled with long-dead ashes, and a basket of cushions by the window seat.

Searching for things is one of the things Tarri does best, so she gets about it in Jahani's study. She covers the room at a breakneck pace, but still manages to leave no decoration unmoved, no paper folded, and no container unchecked.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30 - +4 vs. humans, +2 vs. evil outsiders

@GM: The attempt was to be used after the party has left the Riftwarden location; I can roll again if that was too early. :)

Tarquin takes his time going through the paperwork, the desk, the basket of cushions, even so far as the ashes in the brazier if something remains that could clue them in. Navi likewise flies around commenting on this and that.

want to take 20 here if possible for a 33. Tarquin prefers to be thorough here.

@ Oriandor: gotcha -- now is fine. There's a mechanic humming in the background, which you have satisfied.

Tarri starts searching at the left side of the door and Tarquin starts on the right. The rest of the party watches in fascination as papers and cushions fly this way and that (somehow landing back where they started) as the pair does a circuit of the room. Tarri finds some scraps of paper left in the brazier, long past even magical reconstruction, and moves on. At the back of the room, near the wind, the two come closer and closer together, picking things up and setting them down with furious intensity. Just as they're about to bonk heads, both simultaneously lift up the basket of cushions and lay hand on an envelop marked 'From Maroc' with a cry of "Ah-ha!!!"

After a quick tussle between them that nearly rips the parcel, Tarquin reaches inside and pulls out a piece of paper with instructions on how to find a particular stall in the Grand Sook.

"Even if nothing is gained, it was a pleasure to watch your professionalism. Good work detectives! You each have a keen eye for details."

He nods approving at their found prize.

"Well, let's pay Maroc's stall a visit. See if he left anything behind there. I'd wager one thing though. If the Pure Legion is after him, he's deep in hiding or maybe even fled the city."

Once the group is ready to leave, Kargen tries to reassure Akhina. "We didn't find any sort of religious items or papers, Akhina. If the Pure Legion comes here, there's nothing implicating Jahani in any sort of activity. Your mistress seems to be in the clear. We'll do our best to find her though."

The Grand Sook is a vast marketplace constructed mostly of tents with the occasional brick structure for particularly well established merchants, creating a sea of canvas and commodities close to the waterfront. The envelope's instructions lead you to an empty stall along the southern edge of the Sook, though by all indications it seems that the space was occupied recently.

"Hey there! Ho! Hey! Come try Santiago's famous chocolate muffins!" calls one adjacent merchant, a baker. Another, in the opposite stall, shouts a counter: "Ho! Hey! Ishe has better pies than Santiago will ever taste! Rhubarb! Pumpkin! Yindleberry!"

Tarquin makes a mental note to talk business with Jahani after everything if done.

At the Sook Tarquin crouches at the space that was recently occupied to study the immediate area.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23

Thinking about his tastes, Oriandor walks over to Ishe with a wide smile. "I'd love to try one of your rhubarb pies.", pulling out the proper coin. While waiting to be served, he looks at the empty area between her stall and the next. "Strange the gap there; what happened to your former neighbor?"

Tarquin doesn't find much, though there are obvious signs that this stall was occupied very recently. Scraps of paper abandoned in the corners, a thin layer of dust showing where wares sat on various countertops, the still-lingering mud-prints of some light foot-traffic.

@ Oriandor: I'll take a Bluff (pass hidden message), Diplomacy (Gather Info), or Knowledge (Local) check!

"Oh, Maroc? Yeah, wasn't getting much business I think. He went off somewhere, didn't ask." Ishe is happy to gossip while wrapping up a pie.

"Hey hey!" cries Santiago. "I've got pies too, an' better than she's got! Strawberry rhubarb! Mincemeats! Best Rahadoumi citrus assortment pies! Trrrrrryyyyy Santiago's, and get the best gossip in town!"

Diplomacy (Gather Info): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Bah, using GM Reroll
Diplomacy (Gather Info) w/ GM Reroll: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 4 = 20

And still not as good as it should be :P

"Oh surely, you must have heard something, miss. Perhaps a favored hangout of your neighbor's?"

"Well, he's here managing the stall on most days, so he might be back. Except, well... nevermind. That fool who calls himself a baker over there--" she nods at Santiago "--knew him a little better than I did, I think." She puts a pretty little bow on the pie's box and hands it over. "Here you go! Enjoy!"

"I'll take a pumpkin pie and 2 yindleberry pies please," Tarri says to the nice lady. After getting the pies and paying, she meanders over to Santiago and says "A dozen muffins, please. Who does run this stall here anyway? That sort of information might make me even hungrier..."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Reroll + GM Stars: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

"Hey Tarri, I heard your pet once ate all the food at a lodge table before a mission and left nothing for the others on the mission...is that true?"

"Right away, right away!" says Ishe, collecting Tarri's handful of silvers.

After doing the same, Santiago cheerfully gossips away. "Oh his name is Maroc, he's a copper merchant. You looking for him? Went to the hound races a couple hours ago, he did. Said he'd had no good luck lately, and was off to find the dog that had it. One dozen muffins, here you are!"

"Really, just a couple of hours, eh? Well, we had a sale for him. Heard he might be interested." Kargen shrugs. [b]"Do you know what he meant about no luck? Is business bad or did something else happen to him?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19