[PFC] Granta's Consortium Compact #1 (Inactive)

Game Master Granta

Pal pours something yellow and carbonated for most of the Pathfinders, then something flat that might be red for Pavo and Kane. He looks at Anastasia a moment, then pours another glass of the would be wine.

The bartender grins at Pavo and asks, "What did you want to order? We keep a large menu in stock." He scoops up the coins for everbody's drink, but doesn't put them away. Instead, he fidgets with them, creating a metallic clinking while Pavo talks.

"I heard that there are two men coming to meet about some business or another around noon, here," Pavo says, slipping a few gold coins out of his pouch into his hand. Occasionally, a coin rolls across his knuckles. "Would you know anything about who they might be? What they might look like?"

Kirrote elbows up to the bar along with the others. When the bartender offers a drink Kirrote takes the small tankard and holds it up to his nose. He sniffs at it and then wrinkles his nose. Despite that, he downs the contents in just a few swigs and puts the empty mug back on the board. He let's a small belch loose while Pavo tries to wrangle information from the man.

@Pavo: How big a bribe are you offering?

Pal pockets Pavo's coin before speaking, "While most of my clientele do send their servants ahead to reserve a table, no servants have come in today. How about you tell me who you're looking for? If they come in and I remember who they are, I might be able to point them out for you."

Zyrethian considers casting prestidigitation to make the ale he has been given palatable but decides against it and chooses to simply not drink it. As he sits at his table he tries to subtly survey the room, watching for anyone reacting to Pavo's conversation with the bartender, especially.

20 gp in total

Pavo starts laying out ten Korvosan gold coins. "These ten sails will chase that queen in your pocket if you can point out anyone from the Kortos Consortium and the Aspis Consortium. Supposedly, they'll be meeting around noon, today."

Anastasia downs her drink, not paying attention to what it actually was. "Not there, not here. Where? Noisy, eavesdropping. What if problem? That door, that window. No, there," she mumbles to herself, as she tries to decipher the situation beforehand.

"Aye! Rum and ale! A sailor's dream, wouldn't ye say?" Highshanks seems to be enjoying himself a little too much here. "I always love these huge human-sized glasses, arr."

Mechanically, there are three phases to this encounter, each requiring skill checks. Every PC should participate in every phase, and you may attempt any skill, so long as it makes sense. CMB checks are also allowed, but may lead to combat.

Currently you are in the preparation phase, so come up with actions which make sense for gathering information or setting up your later actions.

@Pavo: You get a +2 on on any Diplomacy or Bluff checks vs. Pal fr the rest of the encounter.

Kirrote slowly turns his face to look at the barkeep. He wrinkles his lip in a snarl and lets out a low growl making it clear that the barkeep had better find a way to be helpful.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Trying to soften up the guy with an intimidate. Make him do something useful.

Highshanks tries to rig a chair leg of one of the chairs to give-way when sat upon, causing the next person to sit in it fall over in the chair. He makes sure only one of the right people sit in it, though.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

trying to come up with a way to use Spellcraft or Linguistics for this but coming up empty...

Zyrethian observes the other patrons trying to see if there would be a way to start a brawl that the group would not get caught up in but would be enough to disrupt any meeting happening in the tavern, trying to tell if there are even enough people to bring about a brawl on that scale.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Kane studies the premises looking to determine which table people would choose to hold a clandestine meeting, for example which offers the most privacy.

Can I do that with Profession Merchant?

Prof Merchant: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

"Let's say you just tap this coin on the counter twice if you see someone from one of those consortia enter," Pavo asks, momentarily arching a brow at the half-orc's growl, "How's that?"

Zyrethian, I share your pain

Anastasia pulls her toad out of her pocket, and places it on the table on front of her. She bends down, close to the toad and very quietly discusses her plans with it, occasionally glancing at the barkeeper's reactions to her companions' actions.

"How make him help? What he wants? How to pressure? she whispers to the toad.

Trying to sense or see anything that could be used to influence the barkeeper.

The toad shrugs. "Ribbit".

Kirrote and Kane succeeded (see red outline). Pavo still needs to roll (remember your +2). The wizards didn't roll high enough, and The Shorty's explanation didn't seem relevant enough. For example, you don't even know who the agents are, or have a way of getting one into the rigged chair.

Pal slips farther away from Kirrote, "Right, um . . . Pal aims to please. Everybody always says, I never let a customer leave angry." And while the bartender is trying to keep the half-orc in sight without making eye contact, The Shorty saws through half of the nearest chair leg, though he is unsure how to take advantage of the little trap.

Zyrethian and Anastasia scan the room for any patrons who seem irritated with each other, but don't find any marks worth targeting. Kane has better luck though, as he is pretty sure the agents will want to sit in the curved alcove, where they can have a wall at their backs and see the entire establishment.

Oh. I thought my original roll counted toward this.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 = 21

I'm pretty sure the agents will want to sit in the curved alcove, where they can have a wall at their backs and see the entire establishment. Kane passes on to the others.

Now that we've figure that out let's quickly get a plan together. First off move that rigged chair over to one of those tables. He gives a smirk to Shorty, acknowledging his efforts.

"Aye aye!"

Highshanks does as instructed. He also limits the amount of chairs at the table to two. They can pull up more chairs if need be but one will be falling.

"I really not know. Maybe work, or not. My spells, not subtle. Maybe grease? After chair, soil, if still, grease and they slip? Cause disorder? I stay, and hide, Prince can scout, I feel", Anastasia chatters while helping Kane prepare the plan. She places the toad on a dark shelf facing the alcove.

"Ribbit?" the toad asks, wide-eyed, when Anastasia places it on the shelf.

Pavo strolls over to the others, sipping his watered wine. "I may be able to lull the first to arrive to sleep, if he's weak willed enough. Then we simply stash him in one of the rooms until the second gets tired of waiting."

Zyrethian looks up, "If we can hide him away you can use my scroll of disguise self to look like him and meet with the other one and speed up the process of them leaving."

"Anyone have any ideas for a backup plan for if the subject is more strong willed?"

"There's always Shorty's plan."

@Pavo: This roll is for something specific, which you didn't know you would be doing yet when you rolled the first time.

Pal half-listens to your conversation, mostly just making sure that you aren't going to cause any damage to his establishment. So far, it doesn't seem like he will interfere.

Let me know once your plans are finalized, and I'll move us forward.

Wisdom check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

duuh!

Pavo may have the best idea? Kane puzzles over the best course of action.

@Pavo is that part of a bardic performance?

Highshanks goes back to drinking his rum. "We each can d' somethin', me laddies. Th' more we do th' better! I'm sticking to me own plan."

I'm banking on the fact that Highshank's spell is an SLA, so no somatic or verbal components. Perhaps I can stealth and do it?

Wisdom: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Anastasia measures and pre-aims her spells from a convenient hiding place. Then, she comes back to rest of the team. "Actually, they see the spell cast and what target. May get angry, I would", she says to her companions.

Kirrote's upper lip curls slightly around his tusks in the imitation of a grin. "This plan, it sounds good." He looks over towards the alcove and spots a table near it. "I'll go sit there, then when the chair breaks I'll make more commotion. Probably blame them for spilling my drink." He glares at Pal. "You should make sure that those agents sit over there. Right?"

"Anastasia, I'll make sure they are distracted. They won't see where the spell comes from."

Wisdom: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Listens to Anastasia then looks to Pavo, "So, Pavo, will your attempt to put the target to sleep be obvious? He looks around the room again, "Perhaps there is a place here that we can set you up so that you won't be seen casting."

Kirrote settles into his chair at a table facing the alcove. Finally it dawns on him that the others are still talking about ways to cast a spell but there is no way that someone sitting in the alcove would not notice. He walks back to the group. "I was looking at the alcove from over there. If you cast a spell. They will know. And it will cause a fight. No way around it."

Good point Kirrote, I still like the idea of a simple 'Closed' sign on the door, maybe Pavo can convince Pal to close up for a couple hours in exchange for a few coins? Kane wonders.

"Yes, putting someone to sleep is quite noticable if they resist the magic or to spectators, but so is using a cantrip to soil pants," Pavo answers. "I can sing a song that will lull nearby people into a drowsy state, which makes them susceptible to the enchantment."

Pavo taps a finger on his chin as he considers Kane's idea. "I'm not certain I want to pay what he'd likely charge us to close down. May be better to do it without permission. Once the first arrives, place a sign on the door. More simple than kidnapping but a not terribly certain to work."

@Shorty: Almost any action can potentially be done stealthily. Though some might require obscene distance or cover, or take hideous penalties. I would treat casting a ranged spell like sniping with a ranged weapon.

@All: Let's make a decision one way or the other and start enacting the plan.

"Put sign, closed because pearl trade? Someone pretend city guard outside, prevent. But, inside, watch, if outside fail we use spells," Anastasia suggests.

It's time to make the place look closed. Everybody needs to make some sort of skill check, and should be creative--some things useful things could even be done from inside the bar, like keeping the patrons quiet. Anything is potentially relevant, as long as I think it makes sense. CMB checks are also allowed, but potentially initiate combat.

hopefully this idea works

Zyrethian sets about making a Closed By Order of City Guard sign making it look as official as possible.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Kane seeks a little divine guidance from Adabar, makes his way over to the bar and engages Pal in a business discussion, with the aim of distracting him from noticing the place has been closed. Kane offers some advised to enhance business both legitimate and less savory.

You know Pal, I know how you can up your profits in here.

Profession Merchant + Guidance : 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 = 15

Shamelessly copying Zyrethian's idea

As Zyrethian heads to make the sign, Anastasia pulls out a sheet of paper and an inkpen, and begins to craft a document resembling an official declaration of illicit actions.

"Show this if someone asks, see, signatures and all!" she says to her companions.

Pavo begins to circulate among the present patrons, periodically juggling faint balls of colored light or dancing them across his knuckles. Once he has their attention, he begins to tell an exaggerated tale of his Confirmation--replete with suspense, heroics, and romance. He keeps his voice low, forcing the patrons to lean in and remain quiet in order to listen.

Kirrote takes the paper from Anastasia. "Ok. I'll just wave this in someone's face if they try to get in.". He steps outside and leans against the building near the door. He watches Zyrethian hang the sign on the door. Then puts on the ugliest scowl he can.

Kirrote will tell anyone who shows up that the place is closed. He points to the sign. If anyone persists then he'll Intimidate them to get them to go away. Do you want me to preroll the Intimidate?

Could somebody please bot Shorty? And remember to move your tokens. You really don't want a GM deciding where to place you :-p

@Kirrote: yes.

Shorty gives advice on places to go inside the bar to make it seem like it is closed. "If ye head o'er thar, they won't see ye through th' window." He himself will go hide near the door.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Kirrote settles in for the waiting game with a heavy scowl on his face.

"If they agree, happy, content, chair not work, get me", Anastasia instructs the toad sitting on the shelf, then goes hiding out of sight.

"Ribbit..." the toad replies, subdued.

Anastasia will try to carefully listen the emphatic link if the meeting seems to go too good.

The wizards' notes don't fool anybody, but everyone else does their job well, thankfully. Kirrote's ire reminds several patrons that the bar across the street has less water in its beer, while Kane and Pavo keep the people inside distracted, and The Shorty waits in ambush to cover a second door.

Everything seems to be going great, when some actual city guard show up. Kirrote hastily balls up Zyrethian's forgery, then follows them into the bar. The off duty guardsmen walk up to Pal and order a round of drinks.

This is the third phase of the encounter: dealing with a setback. You must get the guards to leave quickly or in some other way prevent them from ruining your plan. Same rules as before for the skill checks.

Kirrote enters behind the guard. He casts puzzled looks towards his co-conspirators. He sits down at a table with Anastasia and speaks quietly to her. "What are we going to do now?"

Pavo pauses in his story and turns his head. He watches the guardsmen enter and seat themselves at the bar. "One moment, my fine fellow folk, if you please. I will be right back to continue the tale."

He heads over to the pack of guards with a smile. "Good evening, gentlemen," the rake says with a bow and a flourish. "I cannot tell you how safe I feel in Diobel thanks to your dutiful efforts. However, could I ask a favor of you?"

He pauses with a disarming expression upon his face but continues before they can answer. "I am trying to prepare a surprise for a colleague of mine, so I am trying to keep the bar quiet until he arrives, then everyone will shout, 'Congratulations!' I will be grand fun! Is there any chance I could get you to play along, keep your voices low, for just a wee bit until my friend comes? I know you certainly deserve to blow off steam, but it's just this one, little moment in time I ask."