Curse of the Crimson Throne for PF2e by DM Doctor Evil

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

As Billi suggest Zellara going with them, or taking her to a place of safety, the Varisian raises her bejeweled hands in protest. "You don't need to worry about poor Zellara, master dwarf. My Eran is dead, Lamm can do nothing else to harm me that has not already been done. If you succeed on your mission tonight, there will be nothing to protect me from. Besides, it is not my fate to fall this night, it has been foretold, yes?"

She does not respond to Perivolt's pledge but bites at her lip as if trying to keep silent but finally says. "Lamm did not grant my Eran mercy. His blade did not pause or ask questions. He does not deserve yours. I trust in the cards, not in the lies of that blackguard."

"My friends, do not fight among yourselves, for that only benefits Lamm and those like him. Your differences are not that great. I suggest you find a way to work together now, for the cards say it takes all of you to win this day. Please don't let Zellara's work be in vain, no?"

After all have spoken, she urges you to head to Westpier 17 and see what there is to see. "You can talk along the way, if you'd like, yes? The pier is not far, but Lamm may already know that I have found him. Move now, before he scuttles away like the rat he is."

Perivolt shakes his head sadly. “All you said is that you have lost all hope.”

He points a finger at Ioca. “Who’s selfish? You want to invoke a permanent result for those of us who still have hope. Satisfaction for you does what for the rest of us?”

Perivolt spreads his hands. “Why demand we only agree to the outcome you want? If Lamm’s death is the only thing which will meet your purpose here then as you said, you only need to wait for…what was it?” Perivolt attempts to imitate Inca’s cadence.

”Something will happen to Lamm, too, eventually.”

“Go on home. Be satisfied that one day your desires for Lamm will be satisfied by fate itself regardless of if I get what I want or not.”

No no no no no no no!

Grateful she hadn't yet returned to her seat, the elf takes in a long, full breath. Her hands balled into fists at her sides and her shoulders inching ever closer to her ears again, "Gentlemen!" She tries to use her trained soprano to pierce through the heated voices of the room, hoping to at least distract Perivolt and Ioca from their anger at one another long enough for her to attempt to make some peace between the two. "This is what he wants. This is what Lamm wants. He wants us to fight amongst ourselves, so paralyzed with anger that we can't act." A pause, to breathe, to gauge everyone's reactions. "No one here's a fool. If we were, we'd be dead too, victims of Lamm or worse. I haven't been here long, but it's clear fools don't count many summers here. Now," turning to Perivolt, taking a breath, "we know where he is. Our host has graciously shared that with us. I trust her. If she was working for him and wanted to get rid of us, she'd summon us one at a time instead of all at once. No one of us can stand against him. It's only together that we can hope to have any chance of getting what we want. It's clear we want different things. How about we figure out how to get those things first? Maybe he has forgotten people he's hurt. For all I know he just wanted to sell Lora's ring. I don't know. But finding him and trying to get answers is better than not, right? Right?" She sits down with a sigh, eyes glassy.

Perivolt regards Zellara. “Please do not mistake what I plan to offer Lamm to be mercy, my lady.”

The wizard’s smile is frightening.

Billi knows he is slower than most.
”We move!! Nothing is fated my lady. There is no place safer than behind a dwarf. We need you!”
Billi looks imploringly at Zellara and tries a plea:
”This group is falling apart—you are our our Shining Lantern Light—not a card, but a real guiding force.”
Choking back tears he holds out his hands to her in desperation” You are where I was before YOU gave me hope’”

Ioca looks shocked, but his response suggests it isn't by the interruption as much as the comments within the interruption. "Angry? I'm not angry. I'm frustrated by somebody who doesn't understand the world Lamm and I come from. People we care about are effectively invisible to most of the city. People like Lamm see these children as things, as animals to train and use up, not as people. The ones he does notice, that he does remember, will be ones he takes a more . . . personal interest in. I hope he doesn't remember my sister. She's too young for that sort of attention. Finding him has been handed to us. The demand put before us is that we have to then keep him alive once we know he doesn't have the answers we want. THAT's the frustration."

"The demand put before us is that we have to then keep him alive once we know he doesn't have the answers we want. THAT's the frustration."

Perivolt arches a condescending eyebrow at Ioca. “The demand put before us is that we have to keep him alive until we know he doesn’t have the answers we want. YOUR insistence at only allowing Lamm’s death become the group’s sole purpose is the frustration.”

Regardless of her exposure to magic as a champion of Shelyn and a resident of Absalom, Talindra always finds arcane magic to be somehow surprising. Its workings are foreign to her, as if her brain just doesn't work that way. She shifts back in her seat, her eyes going a little wide. As she begins to regain composure, she deflates, her earlier excitement fading again. "I...--" a heavy, weary sigh. And a stifled yawn? The adrenaline from the panic attack is finally leaving her, and she shivers ever so slightly. "You're right. You're right." Turning to Lenrelle, "He's got a point. I hate to admit it, but he's got a point. Seems we're two of a kind, eh? Two of the faithful ready to dash off on a holy quest." A bit of a laugh. An honest one. It doesn't feel wrong, or forced, and she doesn't feel guilty about it. I missed that.

Lenrelle is of mixed feelings on this, "I would say that stopping Lamm from hurting others IS holy." Arcane magic is a mystery to her, but firm theological ground? That she understands. "And a worthy quest. That said, I am here to help the innocent as much if not more than I am to punish the guilty. And I understand his concerns and will help him find his brother."

"My friends, do not fight among yourselves, for that only benefits Lamm and those like him. Your differences are not that great. I suggest you find a way to work together now, for the cards say it takes all of you to win this day. Please don't let Zellara's work be in vain, no?"

A look at Zellara, then a nod. Unfortunately the argument seems to continue, "She's right. Let's work together, at least for now. Perivolt , please, binding everyone to your will is not going to happen. But asking might.. " She looks over at Ioca, " it won't hurt anything for us to try to find out what happened to his brother. Lamm might even have journals or records we can find if he doesn't talk. Who knows? But I do know squabbling is just going to fracture us further."

Lenrelle is of mixed feelings on this, "I would say that stopping Lamm from hurting others IS holy." Arcane magic is a mystery to her, but firm theological ground? That she understands. "And a worthy quest. That said, I am here to help the innocent as much if not more than I am to punish the guilty. And I understand his concerns and will help him find his brother."

"Don't take my laughter the wrong way--I was being entirely serious, but that doesn't mean I can't laugh at myself at the same time. I guess it didn't come across that way. I'm sorry." Her voice doesn't waver as she apologizes, she doesn't hesitate. Forgiveness is core to Talindra's being--not just giving, but requesting and receiving as well. She blinks her eyes to clear her vision, trying to make proper eye contact with her new companion.

A look to Talindra, Sable, and Billi, "Let's go to Lamm's now. That settles the issue, doesn't it ? these two men can decide if they want to come along or not. I don't believe in fate. I'm no Pharsman, but I do know this: Evil thrives when good people do nothing. Arguing , squabling among ourselves? It's leading to nothing. So I'm inviting anyone to follow me. I hope you all do. I have the feeling I'm going to need a rescue otherwise."

And she heads to the door hand on the door knob and ready go out.

By Shelyn, I am not going to lose another person. Talindra stands up again, gathers herself, and follows Lenrelle, crossing the distance to the threshold in a few quick strides. Hopefully, if enough of us go, everyone else's conscience will get the better of them. Not how I'd like this to work, but, well...

"Don't take my laughter the wrong way--I was being entirely serious, but that doesn't mean I can't laugh at myself at the same time. I guess it didn't come across that way. I'm sorry." Her voice doesn't waver as she apologizes, she doesn't hesitate. Forgiveness is core to Talindra's being--not just giving, but requesting and receiving as well. She blinks her eyes to clear her vision, trying to make proper eye contact with her new companion.

"Oh it didn't come across that way from you I.. no, I should apologize. It is good to hear your laughter again. It truly is." And she means it.

By Shelyn, I am not going to lose another person. Talindra stands up again, gathers herself, and follows Lenrelle, crossing the distance to the threshold in a few quick strides. Hopefully, if enough of us go, everyone else's conscience will get the better of them. Not how I'd like this to work, but, well...

Oh thank Sarenrae. Pretty sure I'd die out there alone. She shoots her friend a grateful look and hope others follow along to the address they've been given

Perivolt looks at Lenrelle in amazement. He turns to the others in turn. “Binding everyone to my will? I was certain my request was that we each give the same priority to each other’s goals for this encounter with Lamm as we give our own and not let our passion cause another’s to remain unabated.”

He sighs and throws up his hands in resignation. “At this point, there’s little I can do to stop whatever you people choose to do. Despite my fears for some of your motivations and whether you will put my own hopes in jeopardy, I will still accompany you.”

Perivolt’s expression is pained and mournful. “If there’s even the smallest chance I have to ask Lamm for an answer before this one slits his throat,” a slight flick of his wrist in Ioca’s direction, “I have to try. Graykos deserves this chance however slight. I promised…I said I’d pro-…” Perivolt trails off clearly choked up.

Without another word, he lifts his pack and follows the two holy women out of the cottage.

Outside, Perivolt doesn’t look at either of the women as they wait to see who else will start off on this journey.

Sable does not get involved in the argument. She listens to everyone but doesn't add more fuel to the fire. However, she also doesn't hesitate to rise and head outside with the group. Even if she is choosing to keep her own counsel, she wants to help go after Lamm, and now is the time to do it.

Sable may notice a grateful look from the cloistered cleric as the bard makes her way to follow.

At Perivolt's confusion at Lenrelle's chosen terminology, Lenrelle is tempted to answer but then realizes little could be gained by it besides risking another delay.

Instead she sees him choke up, and sympathy fills her features. She hopes to look reassuring. And hopes Iaco and Billi join them too.

We're all so wounded from this, even though others have had it much worse that doesn't make our pain any less. So many here need closure. What form that closure will take? I don't claim to know for certain. I suppose I can't go around giving everyone a hug... though I have the strongest urge to.

Well, that's most of us. Hopefully it's enough. Talindra returns Lenrelle's relieved, grateful gaze and gives Sable a nod. Seeing the absolute state Perivolt is in, she gestures for him to follow and starts in the direction she thinks Lamm is hiding. If he follows, she keeps walking. If not, she walks up to him. "Hey. We're going to find your brother, okay? You and me and Lenrelle and Sable. And the other two if they decide to join us. You promised, and now I'm promising you, okay? I can wait for justice. You may not believe it, given how I've acted today, but Shelyn teaches patience as part of that whole forgiveness and redemption thing. Do I want"--looking around to make sure no one's around to overhear--"to make him pay? Bet your spellbook on it. But it can wait. I'm not even sure what 'justice' is going to look like. Figured I'd decide on the way there. But look"--here, her voice takes on a slightly more serious tone, as she addresses the group--"we all need to focus, or this isn't gonna work. We can do this. We can do this, otherwise our host wouldn't have summoned us. We will do this." And with that, she makes her way toward Westpier 17.

Billi follows the conversation as they leave.
"Lamm can reveal what he knows when the time comes. I think we want his past and future victims to be saved as much as we can, but we probably won't trade one for the other."

The young man follows the others out, and down the road. He stays away from Perivolt, falling back behind the rest of the group if he must. He briefly considers falling back far enough that anyone watching as they approach the pier will think he is tailing them instead of being with them, but he decides there would be too much risk of getting left behind when they breach the building.

The walk from Zellara's cottage to the docks is not long, and its about a half hour in total until you find the sign for Westpier 17. The place seems to be a ramshackle fishery which sits on a steep embankment with most of the building on pilings stretching out over the Jeggare River, which separates most of the city of Korvosa (which its on a peninsula) from the Varisian mainland. It is dark and quiet, the moon nearly full, reflecting off the murky waters and providing a little bit of illumination.

The fishery looks like a strong wind might collapse the whole thing, with parts of the tin roof rusted or coming loose in places. The wooden structure is somehow still sound it appears, but the wooden boards are all weathered, dilapidated, and in desperate need of paint. The building sits 15' or so above the murky river, but the side walls seems to reach all the way to the watery surface. Any visible exterior windows of the fishery are boarded shut.

The front door of the fishery faces the road (to the west), and here the reek of brine and the stink of week-dead fish hangs thickly in the air. The old double doors in the side of the weathered building are tightly closed, with a drooping signpost hanging above. The sign it once displayed is long gone, leaving behind only a single short length of rusty chain.

There seems to be a wooden loading dock of some sort on the north side and a slippery looking boardwalk alley runs along the south side of the decrepit structure.

While it is too dark to see clearly, an old boat of some kind seems to be floating in the river just behind (to the east) the building. It seems to be moored tightly to the fishery itself perhaps.

It is late and dark, and the building is quiet with no activity outside at all. The only sounds are your own whispers, the lapping of the Jeggare River on the stones and pilings supporting the building, and sigh of the wind.

From your vantage along the road, the main double doors are the only visible means of egress, but there are possibly others that you cannot see from the front.

A map of showing the parts you can see of the fishery is linked at top margin. You may be able to reveal more with exploration (or not). Remember that several actions you may want to do here (Hide, Sneak, Recall Knowledge) are secret checks. If you wish to attempt one of those, just your applicable modifier(s).

.

Sable has been quiet on the walk, but as the group looks over the fishery she speaks. "Lamm is known for his ability to slip away and escape trouble. Maybe we should start with the boat. That seems to me to be his most likely avenue of escape." As she speaks, Sable keeps her eyes on the front of the building just in case there are guards.

Sable will use Seek. Her perception modifier is +5

Billi nods to Sable. "Smart." he whispers.
+7 perception to seek
His armor jingles as he moves to the boat. He offers any assistance to those investigating with him.

A nod to Sable and Billi, "I'm trying to remember what some of my fellow clerics have told me of this area."

Can I use Lore: Korvosa for a Recall Knowledge? If so...it's a +4 roll

"It's very dark. Anyone mind if I pray for light?"

"Escape shall not be an option for Lamm this time," Perivolt agrees with a nod. "We should do our best to ensure that he has no ability to run from justice this day."

Perivolt scans the area as well for anything beyond the more obvious escape of the boat using the knowledge he's gained over the last year regarding the unglamorous underbelly of Korvosa. He notices Billi's attention to certain details and manner of examining their surroundings and sees the value in it. Follow the Expert

Seek (Perception) +4 (possibly +7 if I understood the 'Follow the Expert' rule?)
Recall Knowledge (Lore: Underworld)] +7

"Light would help us, but it'd let others know we're here. A lesson from the theater: if you can see the audience, the audience can see you. We don't want Lamm to escape. Billi clearly has no problem in the dark." A moment. "Shh." She shuts her eyes and focuses her sharp ears while everyone else looks about.

Using my whisper elf heritage feat. So I'm doing Seek (Perception) but listening instead of looking. The +2 circumstance bonus puts me at +6.

Lenrelle nods quietly and does not invoke the light.

Billi nods to Sable. "Smart." he whispers.

+7 perception to seek
His armor jingles as he moves to the boat. He offers any assistance to those investigating with him.

Please explain the route you are taking to the boat. It is not accessible from the road except by means of: 1) Going into the fishery and finding a way. 2) Possibly using the loading dock on the north side. 3) Possibly using the narrow, slippery boardwalk on the south side. 4) Climbing down the steep embankment to the waters edge. Or perhaps you have another more creative solution?

"I appreciate the desire to cut off a potential escape route, but can that wait until I check for other entrances and exits? We can cut off that escape route on our way in, instead of having to go back and forth, right?"

I'm uncertain if Investigate or Scout is the better exploration action for my intent, here. The goal is to examine the FULL exterior of the building (or as close as I can get) and identify all the entrances/and exists I can find, and any other potential bolt hole preparations.

Edit: The word Scout is more suggestive of stealthy investigation, so maybe that's the more appropriate choice?

Perivolt's brows furrow for a moment as he regards their surroundings. After a moment, he gives a slight shake and whispers quietly to the group, "No one I've encountered in the Korvosan underworld has ever mentioned this place before, so sadly I don't have knowledge which will help. I suppose that should be no surprise given Gaedran Lamm's hideout has never been but the whisper of a rumor by anyone."

Perivolt gestures to Billi or Ioca, the latter begrudgingly.

"I assume one of you two may be best at guiding our stealthy entrance. I'll follow your lead."

Stealth +4, unless Follow the Expert applies then +7 (again, assuming I've understood the rule).

Going into the water was the last thing Billi wanted. And his fifty foot rope can make it almost to the end of the dock. Two groups of three, roughly even capabilities make tactical sense.

Billi whispers "We need to get a look at the back of that boat. I will guide us in the dark, but you two come with me. Let us stay at least ten feet apart and on different planks on this docks, as I have been on mine scaffolding before--let's not overload a plank."

Billi points to Ioca and Perivolt.
Billi retrieves his rope and hands the other end to Talindra. He motions that he will be going right and down the loading dock. He moves carefully to the end of the dock carefully looking for anything out of the ordinary and is concerned about the workmanship of this old dock built by human hands.

I assume the boys will head down the dock. Billi will be investigating, and his leadership may apply to hearing.

Billi will stop if he senses a sentry, but he is hoping darkvision and his warrior instincts are more important than stealth. He will also avoid the edge, so if the right side is not by the water, he would prefer that over the left side of the dock adjacent to the water. He advances on his rope tether.

As the boys go to scout, Sable shifts a little and keeps an eye on the street. After all, Lamm might have watchmen out, or there could be other troubles out and about at night.

Lennrelle tells the others softly "I think I've heard of this area....It is a place where desperate anglers can sell off their less fetching catches and where fishmongers dump their old sun-tainted wares that reek with decay just starting. The fishery turns that malodorous combination into a paste of foul-smelling slurry that can be used as bait, fertilizer, or becomes the main ingredient in "dock-dumplings" a local favorite among the poorer dock workers and others who can't afford fresh fish. It's.. revolting. Pardon."

Billi whispers:
"Slowly put your weight on a spot, and like climbing, follow the spots I step on that seem solid."

Billi gets out some chalk if he needs to mark a suspect spot.

If you are going to use an action like Seek, you may need to state what you are Seeking for. I assume in this case you are mainly Seeking for enemies or other undetected threats.

Ioca, I assume you are moving with Billi and others, but if you go a different way, you'll have to be clear where you are going off to explore. You can use either Exploration Action, but Scout is probably more for an area or surroundings(Perception based) while Investigate is about things (a pile of books for example). (Recall Knowledge based). A fine difference.

As the men move off to begin exploring the exterior of the fishery, perhaps with an eye towards getting to the boat moored behind, Sable keeps an eye out for guards, while Talindra keeps an ear out. Neither of the ladies hear or see anything unusual here -- the place seems to be shut down for the night and there is not activity on the road after hours either. Lenrelle quietly relates what she recalls of this dilapidated place.

The men move over to the loading dock on the north side of the rickety structure itself with Billi and Ioca leading, and Perivolt following with careful steps.

The 15' wide loading dock abuts the side of the building. A few carts sit nearby, partially loaded with large, tar-caked barrels marked with a fish-shaped splotch of red paint on the sides. Double doors to the immediate south of the loading dock's ramp provide access to the fisheries interior, while a rickety flight of stairs descends ten feet to a point just barely over the river's eddying surface, where a single door also presumably provides a secondary entrance.

None of you see any sign of movement or guards. You do note that while the stairs to the east descend towards the water, the wooden planking of the structure does not allow access to the boat behind the building.

Yes, looking at the map, it appears a walk down the adjacent pier on the South side of the building would be a better first look. Don't know that I have ever seen a map compass indicate what up is instead of which way is North, before.

Talindra opens her eyes, having not heard anything besides her breathing. It's so quiet... like the temple after all the laity have left. Turning to Lenrelle and Sable, she whispers a plan. "I'm going to go see where those stairs over on the right go. I'll make some noise if I see anything urgent. ... or if something terrible happens."

Thankfully not having to worry about keeping out of sight from the barred windows, Talindra moves slowly over to the east set of stairs (the one opposite where everyone else is going). She readies her glaive and tries to keep her breathing steady. She's trying to be quiet, but is skeptical of her success given her equipment. Can't hurt to try, regardless.

In game terms, I'm using the Sneak action. Should I move my token on the map, or will you take care of that for us? And to be fully clear, I'm not attempting to descend the stairs, I just want to see what's on the right side of the building where the stairs lead.

That's actually the Southern side of the building, where I was indicating I wanted to go look. Doesn't mean you can't join me, of course.

Billi leads the way down the dock to the back of the boat. He takes care to step on corners and test slowly put all his weight on his feet. The corners where you can put your weight on 3 or 4 planks are best.

While Billi and Perivolt look at the dock, Ioca actually starts the other way, leaving the fishery altogether to look at the neighboring pier that juts out into the Jeggare River. Navigating around some piles of crates and rubbish, the sneaky fellow is out at the end of the pier soon enough. In the dim light, he can't make out all the details, but he can see the ship moored behind the fishery. It appears that the wooden walkway on the southern side of the building eventually could lead one to the starboard side of ship but the going looks potentially unsafe.

As Talindra goes to explore the south side of the building more closely, she sees a slippery boardwalk (not stairs) that clings to the side of the fishery, held together by barnacle-encrusted pilings that have had half of their thickness worn away below the waterline twelve feet below. There is a single door about halfway along the boardwalk. Beyond that, the wooden walkway slopes downward towards the water. To Talindra's eye, this walkway seems pretty tricky, both because of the warped or missing boards that run along its length in spots, and the wet barnacles and salt residue that coat the path. It looks very slippery.

Billi leads the way down the dock to the back of the boat. He takes care to step on corners and test slowly put all his weight on his feet. The corners where you can put your weight on 3 or 4 planks are best.

You might want to read the post I just put up about the condition of that walkway, before you decide to go on ahead. Sorry to ninja you.

Talindra opens her eyes, having not heard anything besides her breathing. It's so quiet... like the temple after all the laity have left. Turning to Lenrelle and Sable, she whispers a plan. "I'm going to go see where those stairs over on the right go. I'll make some noise if I see anything urgent. ... or if something terrible happens."

Lenrelle blinks as the party starts to separate anyway, then whispers with Sable "I guess we wait here?"

Sable nods and then whispers back. "For now. We can be the cavalry if there's any trouble." Sable rests her hand on her sword hilt, just in case she needs it, but she keeps it sheathed.

Billi retreats from the rickety docks and suggests the door at the bottom of the stairs on the other side of the building.

”Let’s pick a door and go in together. I would like to limit the amount of alarm, and the more of us that go in, the better.”

Rejoining the others to discuss what they found . . ..

"Yes, obviously we are better off if we go in together than separate. The walkway on the Southern side looks dangerous, but leads to the boat and has a door from the building. I'm betting that's the primary bolt-hole. You say the Northern side has a second set of double doors and a single door low in the back? That may well be the best way in. Did you get close enough to see if it has a lock?"

After reconnaissance is done, the group gathers together, and (I think) agrees to follow Billi's recommendation to attempt entry to the fishery though the door in the stairs below the loading dock. As they gather on the dock and the stairs, the first attempt shows the lower door to be locked.

Again, Pick a Lock is a secret check (and you must be trained in Thievery), so just let me know your modifier if you attempt it.

Thievery +6, with tools at hand.

Ioca leans in to work on the lock. He might not admit it, but he did have some experience with such things that he'd rather not talk about right now. With the others huddled around, and the dim light, it wasn't perfect conditions. The water lapped at the wooden platform the young rogue stood on as the river was only just below them here. He fiddled and worked and bit his lower lip as he jimmied with deft precision.

Luckily for all the group, the lock was just as old and weathered as the rest of the fishery, after a few tense moments, the audible pop was heard by all, indicating the door was now unlocked.

You won't have to hold to it hard and fast, but what is the marching order for exploration like this? You will also need to think about what you might want to do for a light source if any once inside. I will give everyone a chance to post a prep action (maybe say what is in hands?) before proceeding.

Is this single file? If so, assuming agreement from him, Talindra will fall behind Billi and take advantage of him having a shield and her glaive's reach. Glaives are two-handed, so that's it for me.

Is this single file? If so, assuming agreement from him, Talindra will fall behind Billi and take advantage of him having a shield and her glaive's reach. Glaives are two-handed, so that's it for me.

Thanks! The stairs leading down to the door are single-file, as is the door itself. It may not always be so in other places, so you can arrange yourselves on the map in any case.

As soon as the door is opened, Billi will enter with axe and shield ready. First through the door ready to charge.