Gameday 4: Feast of Ravenmoor [PFS credit] (Inactive)

Game Master Chyrone

The man slowly shakes his head.
"No, it's alright, come in."

Inside is a typical farmer's house. It's practical, yet cozy looking.
A sheep's rug covers the center of the living room and the boy and 4 others are sitting at a dining table, playing.

Man: "My name is Viorec Korzha, and you've helped my boy Ornigaard out there, i'm told. From the bits i've heard you ask outside, you are looking for someone, are you not?"

"Yes good Sir, we are looking for a missing person. Someone who came through here some time back. A stranger to this place. We seek to know what happened to him."

Artoria hooks her sword and scabbard back on her belt.

"Thank you for inviting us into your home, Viorec Korzha. I am just glad we were able to help your son recover his...'Applesauce.'"

She takes a rigid and formal posture, placing her hand on her heart once more and inclining into a short bow.

"My name is Artoria Pendragon. My companion, Uthred Wartooth, has already mentioned our purpose here."

Perched on Artoria's shoulder, Archimedes glares at the annoying children, as though his gaze would be enough to quiet them.

Sarephta places her longspear against the wall and also bows to the man, then awaits his response.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Aryn gives the man a friendly nod. "My name's Aryn. Good day, sir."

To what the others have told Aryn adds, "The name of the man we're looking for is Elias Kyle. He's a tax collector."

Vioric nods.

"That is true, a man calling himself simply 'Elias', came to our town about a month ago. That was during our last month's Founders Festival. He kept to himself mostly, but spent most of his time that day talking with the mayor.
From what i've heard, he collected the taxes and left the next morning.
However...some say he took off with the taxes into another direction than where he was from, Riddleport instead of Magnimar."

"Hmmm... do you know if he left with anyone else? Did he only speak to the mayor while he was in town? Do you know if anyone was watching him? A tax collector by himself is an inviting target to some folks."

"No, he only talked to the mayor, and of course the innkeeper but only to rent a room, so we've heard."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Assuming Aryn doesn't sense anything of interest:
"Could you give us directions to the town hall? I presume the mayor's there. And to the inn, so we can talk to the innkeeper?"

Artoria frowns and raises an eyebrow.

"Why would he have gone to Riddleport instead of Magnimar? I must apologize once more, as I am unfamiliar with many of the cities of this world."

She takes a quick glance at everyone's expression for any hints that may give her an answer to her question.

Aryn doesn't sense anything at all.

Vioric: "It's the big mansion to the north, you can't miss it unless you're blind.
"

To Artoria: "Sorry, i am unfamiliar with the city's reputation, we don't leave the town."

"Thank you Vioric. We are in your debt." turning to the others Uthred asks "Mayor or Innkeeper?"

"Let's go to the mayor first. We can approach the innkeeper at pretty much any time during the day."

Aryn opens the door and waves at Vioric. "Thank you, sir!"

She waits for the others, then heads to the townhall.

Whoops, did i say north? I meant north-east.

You take a look around while walking north.
Villagers are looking out of the windows, or up from work, to see the strange folk passing by, but tend to their daily tasks afterward.

The road takes a bend to the north east, as it leads to a manor.Location J.

As you walk up the path onto the manor grounds, you notice a surly-looking young man, who abandons his yard work as you approach.

*Approaching footsteps*

"Who are you? What are you doing here?
You have no invitation to be here."

I will let the Paladin speak first lest my waraxe diplomacy hinders our progress due to his rudeness.

Huzzah for loyal employees..... ^^

Artoria pauses and hails the man. She stands firm, unimpressed by his unwelcoming attitude.

Archimedes is similarly unimpressed, landing on Artoria's shoulder and glaring at the young man. He leans forward and hoots once in the man's face. Artoria glances over at the owl, scowling, while she begins to speak.

"Greetings, young man. We apologize for coming unannounced. We were sent from Magnimar to inquire about a recent tax collector that passed through here, and we were told that we should speak to the mayor about this matter."

Artoria places her hand on her heart and bows slightly.

"My name is Artoria. What is yours?"

Diplomacy (guidance): 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 1 = 20
If he has nothing else to do, Archimedes basically just sits on Artoria's shoulder and casts Guidance on her

The guy's portrait is next to the town map.

Archimedis to Atoria:
How rude! No manners at all.
Let me give you a slight boost, now talk some sense into this brash young man, you hear?

Brash young man: "Leonard, my elder brother's very busy and can't receive visitors right now. It's best you move on.", he says in a gruffy tone.

Diplomacy, aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

"If you don't want us to enter right now, then tell us when he's available," Aryn replies to the man, managing to keep her annoyance with the man's gruffness at bay.

"We're not just random visitors. We're tasked with investigating the disappearance of said tax collector, who's last been sighted here in Ravenmoor. Your cooperation would be appreciated."

Leonard crosses his arms, holding a sickle in 1.
He slightly clenches it as he leans in an inch or two.

"I don't know when my brother's done, all i am told is to tend to the yard until he is no longer busy, and he wished not to be disturbed."

"Alright buddy, look we did not come to talk to you. Just tell your brother some visitors are here to speak to him and if he wants to talk to us fine, if not then fine we leave and ask people around town our questions. Don't push us buddy." Uthred says gripping his waraxe slightly and leaning in an inch or two.
Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

couldnt hurt

diplomacy aid, touch of glory: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 2 = 19

"Is everyone here this unfriendly?" Sarephta wonders aloud.

Leonard isn't impressed in the least.

"Move...on." <o\/o> Narrowed eyes

Just as the situation turns to the brink of conflict, the door to the manor opens and a well dressed man On the map, stands in graceful stance.

"Now now Leonard, i appreciate your care for my time, but it's alright for the time being."

Leonard: "They were trying to force my hand, i told them you didn't wish to be disturbed, like you said."

Man: "Yes, and usually rightfully so. I'll take it from here.
Come in, guests, come in."

.......
The man leads you into a modestly decorated room, with a carpet and the every day provisions of furniture and a few landscape paintings.

Artoria nods to the man, her eyes lingering on Leonard as she passes him. Archimedes gives one last "hoot!" as they pass.

She follows the new man into the room quietly, scanning it to get an idea of the identity of her host.

"The room is appointed well. You are the mayor, I presume? My name is Artoria Pendragon, and these are my companions. We were sent from Magnimar."

whispering to the others as they enter the abode Uthred says...I don't like that other man. I think he will be trouble...

Sarephta watches the brother carefully as she enters the room, still suspicious of the unfriendly folk but determined to change their attitudes.

"Are all visitors to your town treated thus? If so, why?" she asks the new man.

diplomacy, touch of glory: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12

Mayor: "Yes, i am mayor Andretti Kriegler, at your service.
No young lady, Leonard is usually a good man, although he tends to take his duties a bit too well sometimes. I apologize for his behavior."

To Artoria's question:
"You as well?"

The mayor extends his hand.
"Please, have a seat and tell me what it is i can do for you."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

"Good day, sir. Thank you for letting us in," Aryn says to the mayor while shaking his hand, after which she sits down in a chair.

"My name's Aryn, and my colleagues and I are Pathfinders. We have been sent to find Elias Kyle, a tax collector who was in Ravenmoor not too long ago. He never reached home, hasn't been in contact with family, and was last sighted in Ravenmoor. We were told that, during his stay in Ravenmoor, he's had contact with you. Maybe you could aid us in our search for mister Kyle?"

"Of course.
May i ask, would you accompany me to the festival grounds?
I was about to be on my way there for last minute preparations, before you arrived. I will tell what i can about meeting mister Kyle underway."

....
The mayor's mood darkened, lost in troubled thought.
"Mister Kyle came to collect taxes. Truthfully, Magnimar had decided to suddenly switch from the old custom of yearly tax collection, to monthly. I needed time to scrape together the funds, Ravenmoor's not the most flourishing village, but i've got to try to keep the villagers from depression."

More lost in thought.
"The monthly founders' festival is one such way. But back to mister Kyle. The man arrived and wasted no time making a fool of himself—ordering townsfolk around and making unreasonable demands when he
should have just come to me.
I had invited him to stay at my manor and enjoy the month’s festival,
but Kyle had little interest in what he called "backwoods
hootenannies. Disrespectful fellow. "

"He took me up on my offer though, he went to bed early and took the coffer with the taxes first thing in the morning, said he was headed back to Magnimar."
-----------------------------------

At Aryn's mention:
"Honestly, I’m not surprised to learn that. I’ve heard rumors
that he lit out for Riddleport, in which case I fear the taxes are as good as gone. But the fact apparently remains that we still owe a payment. You strike me as much more trustworthy agents, frankly, but I’m afraid we don’t have the full payment available to pay the taxes again.
I’ll extend to you the same offer I extended to Elias, though—enjoy the festival and tonight’s feast, stay in my home, and I’ll see what I can scrape together from what remains of the town’s funds to pay at least part of what we owe. Perhaps at a later date Magnimar might send you north to Riddleport to find out what became of that scoundrel."

"Of course." Aryn gets up and follows the mayor to the festival grounds.

"That sounds like a reasonable proposition. Too bad about the lost tax. If we go after Kyle and are able to retrieve the money, we'll make sure to return it to you."

A smile grows on Aryn's face when she thinks about the festival. "I actually look forward to the festival, now I know that you'll have one! Are there preparations I can help with? Else I'll just be sitting around and doing nothing."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Uthred listens the exchange trying to discern if the man is lying or hiding information.

Artoria sighs, disappointed more at the thought of such a moral lapse on Kyle's part.

"This news is troubling. We appreciate your patience and cooperation, Mayor Kriegler."

Despite her outward appearance of resigned compliance, Artoria pays close attention to the mayor as he tells his story.

Sense Motive w/guidance on the Mayor: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 = 24

Artoria and Uthred get the sense he might be leaving out something, but is otherwise telling the general truth.

All you need to do is ask ;)

"You're welcome young lady."

To Aryn: "No need to help. It's just a few things to be done on my part, but the offer is appreciated."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"Okay then. Let me know if you change your mind."

"How much money did the tax collector take?" Sarephta asks the mayor.

"I wonder how the tax collector behaved in this town. Is there a possibility he got into an argument with a resident of the area over taxes collected and was followed out of town? Is there anyone in town who is capable of doing such a thing?" Uthred asks the mayor.

To Sarephta: "Everything, 500 gold pieces."

To Uthred: "None got into an argument with him, as far i'm aware of.
Sorry to say, this community has no real hunters, we trade in what we grow on the fields."

Artoria's brow furrows as she stares at the mayor. She folds her arms and steadies her stance, the movement causing her armor plates to clink against each other, a subtle reminder of their existence.

"There is something that you are withholding from us. Please, share whatever it is."

Archimedes flaps his wings and hoots in agreement.

The mayor sighs....

"Alright, talk might not have been as smooth.
Thing was, he struck me as an untrustworthy young man.
After last month's feast, i returned and found him raiding my liquor cabinet. I lost my temper, i took the coffer and sort of shoved it into his hands, ordering him to leave. Mutually, that was something we didn't mind."

"I see. After such a thing happened I can understand you asked him to leave."

Just 500 gold? that's about as much as I received for my very first Pathfinder mission, and I've moved up since then.

Have we arrived at the festival grounds already? I'd like to take a look around.

Yes.

Along with the mayor, you arrive at the festival grounds.
Location H.

Villagers are hauling benches and tables, others roll in barrels and carry food.

The grassy fenced field seems soon to be a busy thing.
There's a few hours before that actually happens, anything you want to do in the village?

Sense Motive w/guidance on the Mayor: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 = 21

If she suspects that he's still holding anything back, she will wait until she has an opportunity to do so discretely, then use Detect Evil on him. Otherwise, she will drop the subject.

Uthred will ask if the villagers need assistance in setting up.

Once they arrive at the festival grounds, Sarephta looks for anything out of the ordinary.

Perhaps there are others here that know what happened...

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

Artoria senses no deception in the mayor's claim of Kyle's raiding his liquor cabinet and the subsequent fit.

Uthred catches the attention of a woman who's rolling a heavy barrel, likely filled with country brew.
"Thank you kind sir, will you participate in our festival games?
It's always great fun."

Sarephta notices some of the villagers wearing a crude totem broche.
A butterfly, made of leaves.
Kn. Religion 10: Crude, but it's the symbol for Desna.

"What are these games M'Lady?"

I was kind of used to the dwarf for a half-elf. ;)

"We have 'Catch the pig', the Leap of Dreams, Falling Stars, a raven fight (similar to a rooster face-off), and a 3-legged race."

I wanted an Ulfen looking demi-human; i just noticed this one existed. thought it reflected the half elf better. Part Ulfen raised by dwarves.

"My my so many to choose from. What does each game entail?"

"Well sir, it's like this..."

Knowledge (Religion), untrained: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

Followers of Desna. Reminds me of that brief visit to Sandpoint, after they built that new cathedral.

Aryn listens to the explanations of the games and gets visibly more excited about participating later. "That sounds like a lot of fun! I can't wait for tonight!"

About a minute later Aryn figures the party may want to head back to town for now. "We may want to try to talk to the innkeeper before the festival starts."