(PFS 09-08) GM Dinketry and the Birthright Betrayed #2 (Inactive)

Game Master dinketry

Know(Engineering): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

"The lack of proper dredging has produces little beaches at the bridge's supports."

Kita looks around from up on horseback. From across the bridge, a figure steps forward, holding up a lantern.

"Ho there, might I ask what you're doing?"

Saint Lymirin Street Bridge

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

"Good evening, my good man. We were travelling along the road and decided to stop to look at the architecture of this bridge.

My friend here is quite knowledgeable about engineering and found some of its features to be quite interesting."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Oof... Somebody save me!

"Oh?" The guard asks of the mounted solider with interest. "And who's your friend?" The guard steps slightly closer along the bridge, but not much.

Mercutio takes the gendarme's measure. As the old families of Ustalav all know, you can read people by their necks. Carpe Jugulum....

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Perform (Sing)/Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

What's on his mind? Does he even have any reason, in his mind or ours, to give us grief?

Multiple ways I can handle this man, but it hinges on the answers too those.

Sense Motive doesn't let you read his mind. I think you may be confusing that with Detect Thoughts.

Sense Motive doesn't let you read his mind.

I didn't mean it literally.

"Good eeeeeevening, my good man!" Says Mercutio to the guard, stepping forward with a flourish. "I am pleased to see the local prefecture keeping an eye on this bridge, given its reputation. It means we can assist each other. My coterie and I represent a wide range of interests - from Ustalav to Po Li - who share your interest in addressing the local piracy question!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 +1 if this chap finds me 'Charming', +2 if he worships Sarenrae

F*~%. Anyone else handy with a Diplomacy roll? Alternatively, anyone think I should use my folio reroll - or better yet, can grant me a reroll?

I could also charm him...that's riskier, but not yet off the table.

Perhaps there is another way...

"Oh! You are one of the city guard? I had feared you were a citizen and did not want to cause you any danger.

Perhaps we can assist you in ascertaining if there is any current sign of pirate activity here?"

Mercutio, I'll need you to move your icon on the map if you do indeed step forward onto the bridge as you noted.

GM roll: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

The guard advances forward. "Well met! Quite a curious group you are. I am Rylan Herschel of the night watch. You caught my attention for that very reason, Master Kyuichi: this bridge has a bit of a reputation in these parts."

Here, he hazards a view of the aforementioned-beaches under the bridge by holding his lantern out to take a look. "You're right! It seems that the dredging of the canal is further behind than originally thought. I wonder if the town council or Earl Vernisant is aware of this. I'll have to make a report."

Rylan peers up at you, Kita, on your horse. "It must be easier to see from atop such a steed. He's quite a fine horse, isn't he?"

Using the 1/day spell-like ability, Detect Thoughts aiming the 60' cone straight up from me.

Uzziah taps into the psychic energy predesignated with a specific spell.

Segray joins the others in the conversation, stepping forward, displaying her grace.

"Bonsoir, Monsieur. My name is Segray of House Starnon. Is there a problem? We only need to pass the bridge to reach the ship’s chandlery to speak to its owner, Patrician Neffery Adimare."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

GM roll: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 71d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

The guard, previously looking on in admiration at Kita's horse, furrows his brow at Uzziah. "You there. Did you just use some magic spell? Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Is there a problem? We only need to pass the bridge to reach the ship’s chandlery to speak to its owner, Patrician Neffery Adimare."

Rylan replies to Segray. "There wasn't a problem, madame, but to be fair, you're headed in the wrong direction for the chandlery. Besides, it's closed this time of the night."

He stands in the middle of the bridge with a decided frown on his face.

"I think you all should be on your way now. A pleasant evening to you." He awaits your departure.

Rylan peers up at you, Kita, on your horse. "It must be easier to see from atop such a steed. He's quite a fine horse, isn't he?"

Okane shakes his head and snorts, appreciating the attention.

"I thank you, Officer. Apparently, Okane thanks you as well.

Would you care to ride with me under the bridge to see what I mean?"

Kita holds out a hand, ready to assist the officer up behind him.

There is no path down to the beaches under the bridge either from up on the bridge or from the road. You would have to climb down using a rope (or jump down into the canal 20 feet below.

”Your help would be appreciated if you were deputised, otherwise it’s not proper. I don’t have the authority to deputise you. Only a representative of the courts can do that. Thanks again. Now I must insist that you move along.” Rylan appears set in his expression.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20

"Of course, of course. We shall get on our way presently. Perhaps we will be able to locate the Patrician on our way back to town.

Just allow me to dismount so I can lead Okane across the bridge."

While dismounting, Kita observes the officer giving Uzziah a disapproving look.

Kita leans in to the officer to speak conspiratorially. "Don't mind the elf. He carries himself in a most unsettling way, and seems to be rather shy, but he is very resourceful and useful.

Why, he helped us to secure our meeting with Magistrate Tantriano earlier and then proved himself to be quite knowledgeable about engineering which has aided us greatly in our quest to find the evidence that the Magistrate sent us for."

That toes the line between truth and lie as close as I can get, I think. Will the impression that we have already been deputized take hold?

”Magistrate Tantriano would be able to deputise you, of course,” Rylan says in response to Kita’s words after ceasing his frown at Uzziah. ”Then you could show any peace-keepers your writ of deputisation without trouble. I’d recommend that, if you’re looking into piracy here in Ridonport. You don’t want to take the law onto yourself without having full authority to do so. The law can be quite tricky here in Taldor, my good man.”

Uzziah bows quietly while continuing to concentrate.

Segray nods.

"Then, we should come back with authority to act as Magistrate Tantriano's deputies. No need to linger here."

She turns her heels, waiting for her companions to follow.

Kita will bow his head to the officer, then turn to follow Segray.

Although he had assumed they would attempt to maintain appearances by crossing the bridge, it probably made more sense to find an inn for the night.

You find an inn for the night {1gp for room, board, and stable, all) - The Roseleaf - and regroup in the tavern at breakfast after a night of rest.

You are all seated around the breakfast table at The Roseleaf.

Where to?

Uzziah sit quietly pondering.

Remmy nibbles his bread.

We should get d-d-deputized.

Kita nods, thinking quietly.

"Do we have enough evidence of the piracy to go to the magistrate? Perhaps we should speak to the chandler first to get additional information."

Chelk nods. ”Deffo speak to the chandler chappie. Not sure about this deputy thing. Sounds a bit much like taking sides - getting officially involved. Maybe we should go back a bit later, when it’s dark, be a bit more hush-hush. Leave that old mare of your behind, perhaps?” he concludes, gesturing to Kita.

Remmy shakes his head.

W-we s-s-should get official p-p-permission. S-s-snooty face was r-r-right, if we just s-s-slaughter the p-p-pirates, it will l-l-look bad, and if we do it hush hush then w-w-where could we turn them over?

Remmy nibbles at his bread and frowns.

Their baker is an incompetent. He sighs deeply.

Where would you like to go?

"Chelk's objections notwithstanding, I don't think that there is much objection to getting deputized before going back to the pirates.

Remmy, you can agree that we need more information before going to the Magistrate, can't you?"

”Now look here,”[\b] blusters Chelk, his face reddening and his whiskers twitching, [b]”I’m not suggesting giving up on anything. It’s all very well seeing the world in black and white, but this is Taldor, and there are a million shades of grey. Politics here is a snakepit. We do something official, and we take sides - for somebody and against someone else. And it matters not that you didn’t mean to take sides, or even that you didn’t know there were sides. You’ve planted your flag one way or the other. So I’m saying keep it unofficial. We’re not here to fight pirates. We’re here to gather evidence, yes? Or have you forgotten that in your righteous zeal to rain fire on wrongdoers?”

"The mission is to protect the museum's valuables.

We will need protection, in that eventuality, or the sponsor will simply have us thrown in jail for being where we aren't supposed to be. He'll probanly claim that WE were the pirates the whole time."

Uzziah places his fingertips together and rests his chin on them ponderously.

Remmy pats away the crumbs, gets up and starts skittering out. He looks over his shoulder.

Bah. To much t-t-talking. Not enough d-doing. I hat-t-te t-t-talking. I'm going to the Magistrate to get p-p-permission to kill some p-p-pirates.

And with that, the rat man leaves.

When the rat man leaves, a broad grin appears on Uzziah's face, though his posture remains the same.

Sipping a cup of tea until then, Segray stands up and shouts as Remmy stands up to leave.

"Listen everyone. What happened to your vows as a pathfinder? 'Explore, Report, Cooperate'. Until now, we have done very well on cooperation. Let's continue to do so, as pathfinders do. We still have a contact to visit. Maybe there we'll find more evidence about these pirats."

Just after her outburst, she sits down and blows lightly on her tea to cool its surface.

"Are you with me?" she asks, smiling.

With a wry smile Uzziah replies, "How could we not be with one of such..," he pauses, waving a hand as if to help him think of a word, "extraordinary beauty?"

With a wry smile Uzziah replies, "How could we not be with one of such..," he pauses, waving a hand as if to help him think of a word, "extraordinary beauty?"

Mercutio smiles magnanimously. "No need for assurances; it has long run in the family, after all."

"...In any case, perhaps we ought to listen to Mr. Chelk. The only thing worse than being a pawn is being a pawn in the hands of inept and artless players - which is nearly the entirety of the Taldan peerage for you."

Where to?

Chandlery

Chandlery.

^

Chandlery

You ask around and are directed to the chandlery, a business dedicated to resupplying nasal vessels. At this mid-morning hour, the main reception area is fairly quiet, with only a small group of older sailors and a middle-aged man with carefully-styled auburn whiskers sharing the first of what will likely be many cups of port of the day around a round table. The well-dressed gentleman stands as your group approaches the table, holding a small sketch book and a charcoal nib in one hand.

"Welcome to the Ridonport Chandlery. May I help you good lady and gentlemen?"

Uzziah steps forward and bows. Once he rights himself he gestures to Kita and says with a flourish, "This is the knight Kita Kyuichi. He hails from Po Li and answers directly to Lord Po himself. He has sone questions."

Segray opens her mouth but closes it then, waiting for the eastern knight to speak.

Kita is beginning to suspect that he is being made the butt of some joke. He is not pleased.

Just when I thought my experiences in this Society were going to improve, I get sent on a mission with this uzai yatsu. In my next report, I need to reemphasize that the goals of the Silver Crusade are misplaced.
We could do much more good without the constraints of a Society who's goals are often suspect at best.

Sending a withering gaze toward Uzziah, Kita has no choice but to step forward, even though he had every intention of letting others do the talking.

He bows to the gathered men.

"Champions of commerce, my companion misspeaks. I am no knight. My vows are to my Daimyo, and not to the church, though Abadar does provide extra meaning to my duties. Also, a Daimyo is not a Lord, at least not in the sense that you westerners use. He is a general first and serves the ruling council of Po Li in that regard.

We come seeking your knowledge and advice."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Flustered by the perceived public ridicule, Kita's entreaty is not as practiced as usual, but he hopes that the common nature of their needs will win through.

He steps back, hoping that others will take up the reins of the conversation.

The standing gentleman sniffs delicately and smiles. "How very delightful. Greetings to you not-Knight Kita Kyuichi. I am Neffery Adimare. Excuse me, gentlemen!" he calls playfully to the older men at the table who don't seem to acknowledge his departure.

He brings you to a different table and speaks in a quieter voice. "You are correct in that we of the chandlery champion honest commerce, so these rumours of piracy do haunt my soul, but alas, we are not the town watch, nor are we law-wielding officers, so might I suggest a constable or a magistrate with whom to bring these troubling reports? I would hate to see our fair town blighted by a spate of pirate raids."

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Segray sits eagerly. "How gentle of you to welcome us ! My name is Segray, of House Starnon in Cheliax. A pleasure to meet you, Patrician. Would you think good to see that kind of matter with Judge Tatriano?"

Chelk decides to try the "one minor noble military man to another" approach.

"Sir, my companions, as you may have gathered, are from out of town. They have their ways, as foreigners do, whether it is reporting directly to the great high poohbah, bearing his nosegay, or rubbing tomatoes on the hooves of his camels, may they forever dance gracefully in the moonlight."

He laughs at his own joke, trying to lighten the mood.

"May I introduce myself - Chelk of House Hurzon-Charanthis-Metholis. Not served as a naval officer myself, but did a stint with the Old Contemptables where we provided marine support aboard the Lion's Glory under Admiral Thyvesan. Bloody nice chap, and a fine man with a cutlass. Jolly impressed with you naval fellows, and an honour to make your acquaintance."

He makes an elaborate bow, and then lowers his voice.

"Er, perhaps we could retire to a quiet corner where we may discuss matters concerning, erm, local personages, shall we say?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Chelk gets a +1 diplomacy bonus when dealing with other nobles

Hmm, I'll invoke my GM * Reroll for this - it may be important

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Does that help?