PFS 3-18 The God's Market Gamble, Group A (Inactive)

Game Master DrGabe

“I suspect your boss is only masquerading as a Greycloak, Branel. Captain Runewolf certainly doesn’t recognize her. Is it possible she is from Rahadoum? I believe organized religion is banned there.”

“Are you sure there’s nothing else you can tell us?”

Intimidate + Boon: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 = 24

“Maybe we make some enquiries on the street as to any disruptive recent arrivals from the Kingdom of Man, or where new immigrants from that country congregate, on our way to visiting Jarid Moltwin’s stall in the God’s Market.”

Untrained Knowledge (Local) + Boon; DC cap of 10: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Eadie taps her index finger rapidly across her lips. "AND, you never did say what was in your ruined pocket."

I promise ma'am I don't anything else. I've told you all that I know. To be honest, I am just a simple cut purse nothing more!

Eadie figures that the man is telling all that he knows and that right now he is exceptionally scared.

Pathfinder's! Hail! comes a voice in the distance. There is a courier waiving a letter in his hand. I have something for you

Drawing the Rose, 'Woody heads to intercept the courier...
"On a roof you find us? A quality courier indeed. Curious."

"You certAinly deserve a gratuity for your effort, courier."

Grim raises a bushy eyebrow .

"Indeed, very interestin' to find us here. I cannot wait to hear what it sez . ."

Lore steps forward and takes the message, opens it and reads it, allowing plenty of room for others to look over her very low shoulders... (assuming it's a written message and not verbal)

Just before reading the message though, she turns to the messenger, smiles and says, "Thank you for delivering the message. Do you mind telling me who sent you to us?" She offers him a silver piece as a tip as well.

"You certainly deserve a gratuity for your effort, courier."

"Oh good idea, Ru. A gratuity! That's like a tip isn't it?"

Eadie's eyes glaze over and her mouth opens as she remembers how Archbanker Darb Tuttle used to tip when she worked in the Bank of Abadar in Korvosa.

Eadie looks the courier in the eye. "Buy low. Sell high."

Grimdoc, not wanting to miss the fun.

"And remember lad...diversify your investments. Sometimes invest in ale, sometimes get stout or lager. Harrarrhhh."

The courier waits for Lore to descend the roof and hands her the note. Its a simple note from Grandmaster Torch wanting to meet him at the baths in the Pleasure Salon of Calistria.
The courier is happy to take a tip and states that he is only doing his job.
Moving forward.

Arriving at the Pleasure Salon, a burly half-orc guard stands near the entrance to the bathhouse. Grandmaster Torch reclines in one of the numerous small pools that make up the sauna, and steam fills the air. An attendant is rubbing a salve on Torch’s burn-ravaged face, but quickly gets up and leaves when Grandmaster Torch gives a silent gesture. I have news from the Decemvirate and perhaps some assistance for you, but first I would like to hear what your progress is.

I assume you fill him in on your progress...

Kreighton has discovered another relic, and he claims this could be the most important one yet. Supposedly, this keg was scavenged from the ashes of the original Cayden’s Hall and is the last keg Cayden Cailean drank from before he took the Test of the Starstone. After selling it to our relic dealer, the tavern keeper threw a huge celebration and bragged openly about how the Pathfinders were funding her retirement. By now, we can assume that we have piqued the interest of every would-be relic thief in Absalom. While I am loathe to put you in harm’s way, this does present a unique opportunity. Should you accept responsibility for moving the keg from the pick-up location to the Grand Lodge, you will undoubtedly be the target of the relic thief we’re looking for. If you properly prepare yourselves, you might be able to reverse the ambush and catch the bandit before he makes off with the relic, or follow the thief afterward to find out where he’s been hiding. Either way, you’ll want to make sure not to kill the suspect, since whoever is behind this won’t be much use to you dead. Tracking down the culprit’s main site of operations is the most important thing right now—after that, you should search for as much incriminating evidence as possible.
It’s a huge gamble—which somehow seems appropriate when a relic of Cayden Cailean is on the line. This isn’t the sort of thing I would normally ask a Pathfinder to do, but we’ve already lost one courier and another was badly injured. I’d like this ordeal to finally be over with, and with your help, we can make that happen.

Torch hands you a Scroll of Locate Object.

seriously, guard some ale?

We should drink it and hide inside barrel. I volunteer.

"This mission sounds perfect for this group...so long as we don't drink all the ale and steal the keg ourselves," the alchemist says with a long look at Grim.

Lore chuckles... "Now, now, we don't even know if there'll be anything IN the keg, but if there is, the drink is as much a relic as the keg itself, and therefore not for consumption." She looks pointedly at Grim and then Lhug.

She then turns to the Grandmaster and gives a little bow. "We'll do our best, Sir."

Grim puts on his most innocent look he has.

"Who? Us?."

He smiles and winks at Lhug-mor.

"Sounds like a plan. Let's do it.."

Mouth agape, Eadie’s head swivels from side to side as they enter the Pleasure Salon of Calistria.

“Gee, High Priestess Dyrianna of House Avenstar mustn’t pay her clergy very much. The poor things can’t even afford to buy proper clothes.”

Eadie remembers another clandestine meeting with Grandmaster Torch in a bath house in Qadira.

I wonder what he does to get so dirty all the time?

Eadie listens to the information-broker speak.

“OK, we’re the bait. Don’t kill any assailant. Catch or follow them back to their base of operation. No worries.”

Eadie blurts out “What’s the scroll of Locate Object for?”

This adventure is on hold for a few days. See the discussion tab

Back to active service!

The Grandmaster answers Eadie question with a smirk- My dear, just in case you end up loosing the relic, it will help you find it. Of course I know that you will not let this happen.

Leaving the Grandmaster, you quickly head to the Grand Lodge to pick up the relic. Cayden’s Last Keg is 3 feet in diameter and 4 feet tall, and weighs 75 pounds. The relic merchant has thoughtfully provided a small wagon pulled by a donkey to transport it. A character can carry the keg instead, but it is an awkward burden, requiring both arms to hold, and the character is flat-footed so long as he carries it. The keg has old char marks on it as if it had been in a fire, and it still sloshes with the remnants of hops and ale. The innkeeper kept it in active service (as Cayden would prefer), and it has been refilled innumerable times since it was first put into use.
He even offers you a mug of the brew!

Moving around with the keg on a wagon (or carrying it) is a slow process.

Any orders?

Grim can hardly believe his eyes as the innkeeper offers a mug of brew.

"Why I don't mind if I do....um do I?"

As Grim pauses and looks to the ladies for approval before accepting the mug with a smile.

"Not sure that we be goin' anywhere fast. All we need to do is return this. Should be a piece o' cake. How could anyone lose a keg?"

Hi there, all! Was there plenty of snow on the runs, DrGabe?

Grim pauses and looks to the ladies for approval ...

Eadie’s eyes look skyward. Yeah, right. As if he’s going to start seeking our approval now.

“So are you gonna carry the barrel, Grim? Maybe you could push it along the road like a holy roller.”

As they travel Eadie will keep alert for threats – especially fake greycloak archers with poisoned arrows.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Yes plenty of snow.. and warmer than here in St Louis. Go figure.

Are you taking the cart or is someone carrying the keg?

"Lets take the cart. I'm not lugging that thing around all day. And if someone comes to steal it, we need all of us defending it, not one of us trying to hold it. "

"Agreed. The cart will be helpful even if slow. I need two hands free...one fer me axe and one fer me mug. "

With a wistful expression on her face, Eadie nods.

“Just don’t drink and drive, boys. You might spill some ale.”

Lore chuckles and nods in agreement to the plan. "Yea, we should definitely bring the cart, but Grim - you promised you'd be satisfied with one drink from the keg... how about you finish up and then put your mug away and use both hands if we need to defend the relic, eh?"

"Ok, fair enough."

The portly dwarf wipes his beard on his sleeve and grabs hold of the cart handle(s).

"Lead the way m'lady. Harrhahrhh"

Having been distracted during the brief break, Lhug-mor stumbles in, his face and neck covered in smeared red lip prints and reeking of cheap incense and stale tobacco smoke. "What did I miss? Did you finish the keg already?"

Observing the interactions between his peers, 'Woody decides to mutter a prayer granting him the fortitude to endure this seemingly endless insanity...
"Milani help us all"

Lore looks at Woody and grins, nodding in response to his comment, tho her own thoughts are on Sarenrae, not Milani.

"Shall we go?" and having said that, she starts walking along on the most direct route to the Grand Lodge, hoping the others follow.

lol... you guys are too much

With the cart in hand, you head out through the city and pass the Ascendents Court. Turning a corner, you run into a small crowd of intoxicated revelers singing about the improbable accomplishments of a famed Taldan prostitute. As Lhug and Grim start to sing along with the familiar tune several of the revelers eye the Pathfinders. Upon spying the keg, one of them shouts, Ale! and the drunkards rush forward to claim their share.

Grim will stop the cart with keg and pull it back, away from the approaching mob.

"Not today lads! You have had a bit much already."

Lore tries to stop them with a simple loud command to "Halt! This is not for you! In the name of Sarenrae, stop and back off!" She creates a fireball in her hand and tosses it gently up and down without being overtly threatening, while still trying to be imposing.

should I roll something like diplomacy or intimidate?

Eadie draws her falchion and tries to pick out the largest of the revellers. She will try to place herself at the point of any attack.

“First rule of a street fight … drop the biggest one, and the rest will probably run. Tell me if I’m wrong, Lhug.”

Intimidate + Boon: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 = 16

I think I’ve been reading too many Lee Child (Jack Reacher) novels.

intimidate with crowd control boon: 1d20 ⇒ 18

"It helps to be the biggest one," he smirks as he Iajitsu draws his katana with blinding speed, pointing the tip at the oncoming crowd. "This ale is spoken for, lads."

I meant to pick up a sap for non lethal. Can I do that?

Ruprecht remains silent, trying to look imposing as he pulls himself up as tall as he can appear. He inhales, trying to swell his chest up, looking larger than he actually is.

Aid Another Intimidate 1d20 ⇒ 6

I think the idea is to get it stolen and use the locate object to track it. The caster should become intimate with the keg or secretly place a unique and very familiar object in the keg.

Not to split hairs, but our instructions did not say don't drink it =)

If the crowd breaks, he begins the shanties again, shouting loudly and coaxing them back down the alley (joining them for a moment if necessary), "Down where the waving willows ’Neath the sunbeams smile, Shadow’d o’er the murm’ring waters Dwelt sweet Annie Lisle!"

Perform (Sing): 1d20 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 + 1 = 18

Eadie joins in with Lhug-mor, but the urban barbarian’s motion in managing the crowd pushes the young woman into one of the corners of the cart.

“Hey! Nobody puts Eadie in a corner!”

"This is thirsty work!" returning to the group having somehow aquired a quarter full pint glass. Draining its frothy contents quickly to make room, he makes for the tap on the god's keg with singleminded determination.

"Let's zig over one street," peering over his upturned glass. "Not that I don't trust those revelers, but I don't trust anyone. And we are expecting an ambush. I should walk fifty feet ahead of the cart and keep a lookout. Someone else watch the back and roof tops."

perception now: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

perception later: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

know local for better route: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Thinking about the poison arrow, he unlimbers the wooden shield you were sure was for decoration.

Ruprecht will fall back from the group, keeping an outlook, as Lhug suggested on the roof tops and behind them.

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Later Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

“Hey! Nobody puts Eadie in a corner!”

The Google is strong in this one, mmmmm?

"I might not be da best person ta guard this here ale if we are wanting it to be borrowed. Goes against me better nature!"

Grim will start the cart rolling along the route of the rest of the party again.

"In my opinion the ale is not what we are concerned with but its vessel. Give the crowd what they want and be done with it. I say trade ale for protection to our destination..."

The furry of the crowd disappears quickly once they see the Pathfinders stand their ground. Eadie and Lhug stand tall against the biggest of the party goers and he quickly slinks back into the crowd.
Someone in the crowd suddenly shouts that this is the wrong wagon, simply a case of mistaken identity! Within moments the crowd disperses and the way is clear.

Making their way through a series of twisting turns, the Pathfinders turn a corner and suddenly the way is blocked by an overturned crate of chickens. Two farmers come out from their stalls with quizzical looks on their faces.

Map is updated. The giant bird reflects two dozen chickens running around. The two "old men" are just farmers.

Oh man, a chicken swarm! And Grim forgot his bbq sauce and apron!

Grim continues forward, pulling/pushing the cart through the crowds and alleys.

"Glad we got that settled. Drunken sods have no business being out in that state. Now where were we again? Right...heading this way... Whoa, what 'ave we here?" He stops with the party waiting for the chickens to pass.

Funny stuff! Love the ‘chicken swarm’ token.

Eadie ponders the situation. Hmm … what about ...

Group 1
✔ Ru for anti-swarm
✔ Lore for Diplomacy
✔✔ Lhug and I as muscle in case this is an ambush

Group 2
✔ Grim for wrangling the cart ...

Eadie gives the dwarf a long look …

✔ … and Woody as designated driver.

Eadie sheathes her falchion and reaches into her backpack for a heap of bread and apples from her trail rations and offers the chicken feed to Ru, Lore and Lhug. “I’ve got an idea.”

“What say the four of us lead the chickens back to where the farmers want them with the feed, while Grim and Woody back up a bit and drive the cart around the block avoiding the obstacle. Then we can meet them once they’re past.”

She waits the response from the others before saying to the farmers. “Oh, have your chickens got out? Maybe we can help you rein them back in.”

Aid Another Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 + 1 = 4

Lore looks at the situation, and looks down the side alley (to the south on the map) with some worry, muttering "Looks like a perfect place and time for an ambush... separating might not be the best idea..." Still, she takes some bread and breaks off crumbs scattering a trail of them from the chickens to the farmers, trying to lead them back toward their cages...

"Hey Ru, can I tempt you?"

Eadie offers the alchemist an apple before taking a bite out of another one. She breaks up the rest of the fruit and scatters it towards the chicken crates.

She thinks as she chews. "Hmm ... that's a good point, Lore. I guess the cart could just wait while we sort out the chooks."

What do you guys mean, you've never heard the word 'chook' before?

Ruprecht was never going to object to sneaking a piece of fruit here or there. He takes the chunk of Apple, and reviews the group's options.

"Splitting the group might draw out the thief, making it easier to track him back to his headquarters," the elf nods, agreeing with Eadie's idea. He tries his best to help her wrangle in the fowl.