[PFS] 2-24: Shadow's Last Stand—Part II: Web of Corruption by GM Upaynao (Inactive)

Game Master Upaynao

Eureka! Krolmnite says as Constantin reveals the revelations of the documents.

I bet if I lay low in this office, I could fool the workers here into thinking I'm the stage director, if we need to buy more time. He floats the idea, secretly weary about being left alone, but ready to do so if the others deem it a good idea.

But were to next, what's are next play? He hopes someone knows, cause he sure doesn't.

Rogar heaves himself out of the crawlspace.

"Didn't Khana mention a brothel in the theater district? Professional curiosity, of course," he says with a smirk.

"Yes, Gabro told me about it. I don't think he'd never been, but he made it sound like a nice place! The building's been newly renovated, too, so it shouldn't be too hard to find."

"We have a slave trade and some forged documents. Once we search the brothel we should have enough evidence."

Well then sounds like I should go to the brothel for sure, you know safety in numbers. Perhaps we can hang a do not disturb sign on the door here, or maybe lock it when we leave. Krolmnite examines the door to see if it has a lock.

Or maybe just toss the doppelganger down the hole until we can come back with the authorities, I bet that would work.

Trix looks around and the sudden realization leaves a pit her stomach. She knocks on the door before entering to advise her companions. "Hey folks, there's no one here. At all. No actors, no stagehands. I don't like this..."

At Trixalana's alarm, Khāṇa sticks her head out the office door and carefully sniffs the air.

Again, Scent quality. Do I smell anything odd or interesting?

Concerning. Whether the crew are captives or cutthroats, caution is clearly correct.

"Well then!" Aquavius draws her trident. "No point in hiding. Let's get out there and trigger the ambush."

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"HEY! We know you're out there! Stop hiding so I can skewer you already!"

Sorry, things are REALLY busy here. Just another week or so of this I swear! I will update sometime on Thursday if I have the opportunity, on Friday most definitely.

Sometimes I really miss having a 9-5 job.

Back! Now where was I?

The pathfinders step out into the back hall with Aquavius shouting, but they do not seem to garner any attention apart from perhaps a curious glance from a stagehand poking his or her head through before going back to work on the other side, on-stage and beyond. But no backstage activity is elicited from the Undine's outburst.

Khana sniffs about but does not detect anything out of the ordinary.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Oh come on!

"Well, nobody's coming here. Let's move to the brothel."

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Noticing nothing, Right behind ya Aquavius

Trix cannot reach that DC, even with a natural 20, so no point in me rolling.

Trix looks around again. "Okay, but something still just doesn't seem right about this place..."

Khana pauses, recalling her conversation with Gabro. This "brothel"... It's this place! Perhaps there's more than meets the eye going on backstage...

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

"Wait just a minute...recently renovated? Operates under the table?"

Khāṇa darts in the way of the rest of the party as they start to leave, and addresses them in a hissing whisper.

"On second thought, bloods, let's not bother looking for that brothel...we're already here. From the sound of it, they're in business and busy, too. I think all those dressing rooms are actually for *undressing* - though, depending on what a given audience desires, there may still be costumes and props involved."

"Huh? Oh! Haha!" Aquavius can't help but laugh. "I guess that's why it's so empty. False Alarm." She nudges Khāṇa. "Don't sniff too hard, the perfume can kill a man at 80 paces."

"This is our last lead. We have the infiltrator, we have the initials of a name of the mastermind and we know they are taking actors as slaves. We don't know how, exactly." Aquavius stows her trident.

"Do we...wait until the performance is over, and then ask some of the workers here for info? Maybe they have seen the leader talking to a Spider or two?"

Khāṇa shrugs. "Or we join in. Maybe there's a special rate for that."

@DM: In all seriousness, what are we missing? Have we explored the whole building yet? Is there really nobody here except the one we killed and the people in the "dressing rooms?" Brothels need cleaning staff, security, and sometimes have in-house bars.

"Perhaps now isn't the time for a 'delicate touch'... I say we barge in, 'What's all this then?'-style."

A couple clarifications. When I said whispers, I wasn't trying to subtly describe moaning. I meant whispers; like a prayer or mantra in it's cadence. Yes, you are not seeing a whole lot of traffic here yes. I stand by that statement.
Also, I would consider the source of your information. Gabro has certainly never been here and might not care to know that this is actually a theater and not a brothel. Also, it's a rumor he heard. Rumors can be distorted truths.
No you have not gone through the entire building. Some of the unexplored rooms are right besides you.

"Alright, then...let's get moving. Plenty of action to see here."

Aquavius moves to the room furthest back, giving a quick look over for trouble. Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Glenn hops on over to the next room while the rest of the group tries to decide whether these are moans or prayers or whatever.

Opening the door to the nearest actor's room, Aquavius sees said actor laying on a bed, eyes wide open as she mouths the lines of her role over and over again.

"Uhh....hey. You, there! We got some questions to ask."

Sense Motive (via Versatile Performance): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Aquavius has no idea what's going on with this woman. Is she in a trance? Really dedicated? Why is everything so quiet?

Khāṇa pokes her head in over Aquavius's, like a totem pole starter-set.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

"On second thought, Gabro wasn't the smartest Quick I've ever met. What if this is just a theater?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Constantin attempts to divine the strength of their prison. Detect Magic
Knowledge (Arcana to determine the school) after 3 rounds: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22 The strength of their auras (if any) are more important though

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

A amateurishly concealed look of disappointment spreads over Rogar's bearded face.

"Soooo... They are actual actors and not 'aspiring actors'?"

"Why couldn't they be both?"

Constantin pushes past the other agents and begins detecting for magic. After less than a minute, he comes to the conclusion that this woman is under the effects of an enchantment spell, most likely Charm Person. And with that, Khana reflects that perhaps Gabro wasn't completely wrong; this was prostitution of ... another sort.

The GM would call it rape. Just to put that out there. Sorry for the dark theme.

However there does not seem to be any indication of anything of the sort having happened here. At least not yet. Perhaps the pathfinder's appearance at the theater was fortuitous.

So... What now Pathfinders?

When they finally discovered the truth behind the existence of this place, Trix begins to fume and her hair changes from the bright autumn orange to a fiery red as she lets loose with a tirade of curses in Sylvan that would make a hardened sailor blush. When she is able to contain her outrage she approaches the ensorcelled woman. "We must break this enchantment somehow and rescue everyone from this place. Then I suggest we burn it to the ground! See how they like dealing with that!"

That spell should cease soon. The damage done, may.. dwell. We should furnish them with- They need help. Is there a temple of Sarenrae in Almas, or another place that can help them find peace once we are gone?

I personally could do with skipping the details here, but Constantin would certainly like to sit with them once the spell wears off, and try to find them help in the short term and long term.

Trix is a follower of Sarenrae, so she would prefer to see them taken to one of her temples if there is one nearby.

Suddenly realizing the gravity of the situation, Rogar gets wordlessly to work with getting the actors to safety.

Aquavius puts the pieces together and lets Trixalana do the cursing for her. "Lots of slavery. Let's get these people somewhere safe, eh?"

"We're not keeping this quiet. Looks like we have enough evidence to break up this slave trade, and a weak connection to D. O. I'm out of leads, though." Aquavius takes one look at the woman. That's why I skewered any crewmen who even thought about messin' with the prisoners. "I can't really think straight, anyway..."

It takes Krolmnite a little while to catch on to the fervor on display in the others, but once he understands what's going on, he gets very quiet and solemn for a few moments before adding, Oh, this isn't good. I think I heard a term for this in Absalom. What was it, 'humanoid trafficking', it's the worst form of slavery. I can't believe this is happening in Almas of all places!

He assists the others in getting the 'actors' to the house of the Dawnflower.

"I guess anybody who sets up a slave ring in the heart of Andoran isn't the sort who's going to do any of it halfway."

Khāṇa brings up the rear as they head for the temple, head bowed and hands in her pockets, apparently deep in contemplation.

"I almost wonder if there's somehow more to this than profit. They're taking an insane risk pulling this. Well, unless Andoran's commitment to 'liberty' is all just a hollow boast...now that would be one hell of a way to gather slaves...like flies to a spider, HA...!"

All twelve actors are promptly brought to the local temple of Sarenrae, who despite the very late hour do what they can to accommodate the victims. They all seem out of it, unable to break out of the enchantment they are under. The head abbot, a older gentleman with a bad back, does promise that he will pray to the Dawnflower to beg for her aid in removing whatever is ailing them.

In the meantime, Aquavius' words strike true; there are no more leads that the Pathfinders know of to be explored. But it is late; perhaps further investigation in the morning will yield more leads.

You have another day before the "trial" and it is about midnight by the time all is said and done. You might want to rest unless you want to make Fort saves every hour. Come morning you can try more diplomacy checks to gather more information.

Also, just as a reminder that this is a counter-investigation, and you'll need evidence to present at the trial. If you feel like there's something you forgot to pick up from either the theater or the galley that would qualify, you can go ahead and pick it up in character the following morning.

"Yeah, take care of them. There's a... lot of help they will need." Aquavius yawns. "Sorry, long day."

When they leave the temple, Aquavius talks to the party. "I don't know about you guys, but I need some sleep. The letter and the bodies of the doppleganger and the actual proprietor will be useful. We need to know who is actually enslaving the actors, and we need a stronger tie to D.O." She shrugs. "We got another day, so if you think of any good leads or clues in the morning I'm all ears." She stretches. "But for now? Bedtime."

"Yeah, let's hit the hay. There's sure to be more atrocities to uncover tomorrow..."

Evils to espy and end

Trix rubs her eyes and yawns. "Agreed, this day has been a long one."

Krolmnite produces the documents from the ship. I grabbed the letters from the boat! How are we going to carry those bodies around, they stink, can anyone put them in repose? The energetic gnome gives a big yawn right after Trixalana does. You ladies need to quit that yawning don't you know it's contagious. He's clearly ready for some much need shut eye.

After a night spent in the slowly recovering lodge, the pathfinders return to the streets of Almas, refreshed and ready to tangle with the the Spider! This newfound energy translates well into their efforts to find a link between Ouidda and her "Spider" persona; a lumberjack in-between jobs tells a story he heard from a friend to Constantin over a drink. " This old half-elf, goes by the name of Jarovar—a real stingy, nasty type" he says with a disapproving frown "well, he’s just set up his investment establishment in Almas, but he refuses to subscribe to any of the merchant guilds in the city and he only deals with a few clients who get small contributions from him. One of whom is said to be the Spider. Nothing good can come from a reputation like that, ya mark my words. But it ain't the strangest thing 'bout him. He makes odd ventures out of his shop in the dead of night, well after closing. Hmmf. Ain't nothin' reputable 'bout that fellah."

A dwarven youth, shirking his apprenticeship, provides a little more information on that topic to Trixalana barely half an hour later: "Let’s just say I know someone who knows someone who says that one of the Spider’s cronies does odd jobs in the Mercantile District most nights" he nonchalantly offers with a grin. "Around two hours past midnight, I hear, this skinny feller’s either on foot or with a carriage, and he’s up to some shady business, hauling loads of cargo from his shop to the docks. Weirdest thing is, he goes to the docks with the carriage, but comes back without it. I think it's pesh if you ask me. A whole cartful at a time."

By the time the sun reaches it's zenith and people begin taking a break for lunch, the pathfinders have a name to go along with the rumors. "Jarovar Investments."

"Sounds like we have a name. He probably offloads the goods onto the ships from the theater." Aquavius enjoys some morning ale. "So do you want to scope out the place in the day, or try to catch him in the act during the night? I'd rather nail him during the day- we don't have much time before the trial, right?"

"I'm not one to shy away from another night of violent revelry, but I agree, Aquavius; uncovering what we can before nightfall would be best. We can always stalk this Jarovar fellow through the streets under the cover of darkness if all else fails."

Krolmnite recalls that Constantin heard a similar a day or two ago.

Remember we heard that before we went to the docks, but I guess in all the excitement it was forgotten. I bet it's a solid lead. This Jarovar might be a damper like the others on the ship; if we could find him maybe we could surprise him during the day and catch him unaware.

Finding Jarovar Investments isn't hard, but at first glance one might wonder if they don't have the wrong address. Settled in a tiny storefront encrusted with grime and filth, one would say that Jarovar must not be all that great of an investor. There is no open or closed sign in sight.

"So... is this it? Look for any hidden entrances."

Taking 10 for a 16 Perception total. If that isn't enough, she will take 20 for a 26 total. If I can't take 10 or 20...

Sorry, long/rough night. There's a front door and a back entrance. Nothing hidden though.

"Any of you sneaky types want skulk closer and get a good look at the place? I promise me Ivar'll come running if you scream loud eneough."