PFS #5-99: The Paths We Choose (Inactive)

Game Master Upaynao

Erevan frowns at the document. "I can't make anything of it. Maybe we could find an expert somewhere that could help us," he suggests.

I don't have either of those skills and can't make them untrained...made a nobility check in the off chance it would work, but that's not happening.

knowledge nobility: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"So, would there be more items in this vault, perhaps in the Abadarian Temple? And I cannot make head nor tail of this document," says Shungur, fairly puzzled. "Taldane isn't even my first language. What is 'ad argumento heretoforwith this shall be considered, the following contingencies notwithstanding...?'"

"Er, yeah...." Pree wishes she could just punch it. Then she remembers they are in a town, and towns (unlike most dungeons) have lawyers! "Let's just hire us a shyster! I know this guy who knows a guy, who knows where Ol' Eelskin Muckbelly's office is!"

I've got enough money for a competent+ lawyer.

Great out of the box thinking! I am going to say that it might be dicey to find anyone at Muckbelly's and associates at this time, as it is nighttime. However, it is sufficiently early in the evening that there is a chance of someone burning the midnight oil. I would say a 50/50 chance. And you'll probably need to assuage the person there, again because it is so late But I'm ready to run with this if that is your choice. That being said, your goal is to apprehend Halmont Warrith. Will this information contribute to that? And moreover, does this give him enough time to make like a tree and beat it out of Absalom? Let me know wheat you decide, and we'll go with it.

"Do we have any other clues to go by?" Aryn asks as she looks at the note, unable to make anything of it. "I'd rather not have Warrith escape while we find someone to translate the note..."

If no one else comes up with another plan Aryn goes along with Pree's awesomely clever idea and tries to help her locate the guy who knows a guy, in order to find the other guy.

Diplomacy, Gather Info: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Aryn, however, soon loses track of which guy she's actually asking around for.

"That's not a bad idea Pree. I for one can't even begin to fathom the meaning of all this drivel..." says Vanya handing the notes to the others.

I'm ok with spending some money to decypher those notes

Quinnik checks his money purse and decides to chip in for legal support if needed.

It isn't all that difficult to find your way to the Coins and to find the law firm Pree is acquainted with. Despite the late hour, there is light coming from the second floor. Without hesitation, the Pathfinders bang on the front door, which opens to reveal a woman in formal barrister clothing, looking rather disheveled. "Gods of Order, what is wrong with you people? Have you not seen the hour? What do you want from me?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"We have a text we're having trouble understanding with, and have come to ask your help. I know our timing's most unfortunate, but we have the gold to compensate for that."

Aryn gives the woman a warm smile. "May we come in?"

"We are in need of your expertise on... legal matters and we are willing to pay for them. Now if you are amenable we would like to further explain the situation. Otherwise I'm sure we can find someone else willing to help us..." says Vanya sounding mildly annoyed at the man's tone.

Aid another (Diplomacy) check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

"Hey, you're not Ol' 'Slippery' Eelskin. What gives?"

diplomacy (aid): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

We could leave the stuff and continue investigation.

The woman rolls her eyes. "No I'm not, I'm his daughter. It's late and everybody else went home. Anyway, come on in, it's not like talking out here is going to do us all any better." Inside you are brought into a receiving room, a rather mute affair, adequate, but a barrister could probably do better. "Unless you want some Qadiran date wine, I'm afraid you've caught us on a bad day. I'm guessing I'll be the one going to market. Again. So, what can I do for you?" she asks, sitting in a nearby recliner.

A daughter? With his nose and that huge hairy mole? Well, she dodged an arrow or two on that one.

"We got this legal stuff you see, that we need you to do law stuff too to see if it is legit. Catch me?"

"Alright, well you seem to be familiar with my father, so I'm going to guess you know his fee. Payable now of course" she sighs as she grabs the proffered papers from Pree's hands. "... Hmm..." She looks through the documents, sometimes raising an eyebrow but otherwise keeping to herself. "Well, this is all very interesting. I'm getting a hint of something not quite kosher going on between the owner of these papers and the people who wrote them, but otherwise nothing worth writing home about. Almost all of these make reference to arrangements made in Andoran, except for this receipt from the Bank of Abadar in the Ascendant Court."

"How do you call a bribe in legal terms? Payment for discreetely rendered services?"

Vanya shakes her head and nods at the girl:"Well... I guess we have what we came for. Just to be sure, how much do we owe you. We'd like to pay and be on our way as soon as possible"

She hums and haws for a moment before replying: "Let's call it at one gold piece. We take coins from all mints!"

"A bargain," Erevan says as he takes out a coin. "You have been very helpful."

Aryn's already at the door. "To the Bank of Abadar, I guess?"

"Many thanks good sir." Quinnik says rather shyly as his is unused to speaking to learned folk and barristers... not thinking much of their profession to begin with. He then follows his companions outside

"Seems like a plan... let's go!" says Vanya while following Aryn

"That was a 'gentle lady', not a 'sir', Quinnik..." Shungur chuckles at his fellow 'savage', his purse one coin lighter.

Finding your way to the main Bank of Abadar in the Ascendant Court is an easy task, even at this time of night. Money never sleeps and neither do the clerics of a busy metropolis such as Absalom. Located near the Coins district, it is a hub of activity. Unfortunately for our Pathfinders, it is a hub of activity.

Back to you; how do you plan on finding Halmont Warrith?

By asking for him? We are potential investors after all...

Vanya moves swiftly towards the first clerk she sees and asks:"Good night, my dear man. We are adventurers in need of retirement with a substantial amount of “liberated resources” at our disposal, looking for a good way to turn them into “liquid assets”, if you get my meaning. We were told to contact a certain Halmont Warrith, who should be here somewhere... would you be so kind to help us find him? Of course, there could be a little prize for you too involved in the matter..."

Bluff check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Seeing where Vanya is going, Erevan joins in.

"We were told to meet him nearby, but our directions were poorly given. Trust me, he will want to meet with me."

bluff assist: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

The junior banker the Pathfinders stop blinks, confused. "Well, I do not know of any brother Warriths in our humble church. Are you certain that he is assigned too this Bank?"

Sorry for teh tardyness of my response guys, I was thinking of how to word this and then I got caught up in a few other activities. Halmont Warrith is an Andoren politician suspected by Major Colson Madris of improper, corrupt conduct. You were sent to his address to sneak on in, prevent him from running away and collect evidence of his wrongdoings. you have plenty of evidence of his wrongdoing, and you know where he has stashed the bulk of his money.
Normally I wouldn't want to remind you of all this, but I realized that with GM Baerlie's troubles and you being left in limbo you might not remember all this, nor would it be clear where to look. So here you have it; I really don't want to string you along on a wild goose chase, but Halmont is going to try his best to get out of Absalom with his money, so with this (hopefully taken with the smile I have currently) piece of advice, let's resume.

"I would be more than happy to find a Banker capable of handling your coin though. It might be a little tricky at this hour, but if you are willing to wait; we have some amenities and I am sure noone will mind at this hour if you are waiting longer than usual."

"I see... In that case we should search for this man before committing to someone else. We gave our word and we like to keep it" adds Vanya before quickly moving away.

Onc eshe's sure they are out of earshot she whispers:"We've better start searching for Warriths... I think he might be lurking here somewhere. His money should be here so he needs to collect them before fleeing Absalom" she reasons.

Erevan nods and begins looking around casually for anywhere someone might hide, including outside.

perception take 20: 20 + 10 = 30

"We have a receipt...can you track down the account from that? And thus the location of the deposited money? We can pay to expedite this," says Shungur.

Quinnik listens to the others and then asks Erevan "You see anything suspicious?"

"I could punch some one."

Deeming Erevan to be looking harder and not smarter, Pree looks around for something she can stand on to get a better view.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"There has to be a way to draw him to us. For all we know he might be in disguise."

Aid another (perception) check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Vanya helps the others search for Warriths

Shungur, this sounds somewhat like a bribe. If you want to bribe the cleric of Abadar let me know how much you are offering with your choice of Diplomacy or Intimidate. If you are just trying to gain access to Warrith's stashed money without a bribe, give me a Bluff check. If you aren't trying to actually gain access to the money, but rather are attempting to get information about it (how much is in there, frequency of deposits, etc...), you will have to make a less difficult Bluff check, or a Diplomacy check of middling difficulty. You cannot take ten on this check.

Between Pree, Erevan and Vanya, the Pathfinders can be certain that Halmont isn't here at the moment. However, there are several spots in the lobby where they can attempt to "blend in" if they are inclined to wait for their target, assuming he hasn't left Absalom.

Yes, that would be a bribe, to go locate his money. Get the money/guard the money, and he'll show up.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

"In accordance with your bank's policy, of course," says Shungur with great courtesy.

Quinnik will attempt to blend in as a guard for one of the others in case anyone asks.

Between Pree, Erevan and Vanya, the Pathfinders can be certain that Halmont isn't here at the moment. However, there are several spots in the lobby where they can attempt to "blend in" if they are inclined to wait for their target, assuming he hasn't left Absalom.

"I don't know about all this hide-and-go-seek crap. I'm really more about punching people. Maybe if I start over there in that big cluster of people--you know, go in and just sort of start swinging. I might get lucky and clock the sucker. Or maybe I could just ask around and see if anyone fitting his description has left yet? I tell ya, it makes me so angry I could just hit something."

Erevan also loiters in the lobby, trying to look inconspicuous, though he also watches those that enter to see if anyone looks suspicious.

stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

The cleric pauses, seemingly at a loss for words. "I am unsure of what the customs are in your homelands" he steadily replies "but here, in this holy Bank, we do not engage in such practices. I would ask that you do not attempt this again. If you do not have the proper documentation, I cannot allow you access to the account. Now if you'll excuse me" he finishes coldly.

Erevan can see the Abadarian cleric march briskly away from Shungur, and from his gait, it is clear he isn't happy. The cleric quickly disappears into a room marked as "Private", leaving the rest of you to your own devices.

Quinnik, in order to blend in as a guard, you will need to give me either a disguise check or a bluff check, whichever is best; Bluff will correspond more to a change in attitude (passing yourself as a guard in diguise) and disguise will be more of an actual disguise check, using the late night and the shadows to obscure your lack of uniform. Disguise will be the more difficult check.

The rest of you, what would you like to do?
Edit: If the rest of you want to "quality check" Erevan's stealth, attempt a perception check against his stealth check. If you can beat it, you can inform him and let him try again. This applies to everyone's stealth check. Also, there would be bonuses to your check with regards to someone who has just arrived off the street (unfamiliar with the layout, adjusting their sight to the light, etc...)

since Quinn has none of those can he try a stealth check akin to Erevan?

Yes, by all means!

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Quinnik tries to stay unnoticed in the hallway close to Erevan while scanning the area.

Vanya tries to stay out of sight while discretely checking the crowd for signs of their target...

Stealth check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Perception check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Though she's not great at it Aryn also tries to be stealthy and hide somewhere.

Stealth: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

Perception vs Erevan: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Perception vs Quinnik: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Perception vs Vanya: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

"Erevan!" Aryn hisses. "That's such a lousy spot, go hide somewhere else!"

In case they also try to disguise themselves:
Perception vs Pree: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Perception vs Shungur: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Pree attempts to blend in via combination whistling and talking with a Puddles Cockney accent.

stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Oi gov! Supercalafragilistic sort 'o weather we got, aye wot? Chim-chimney chim-chim-cheroo...."

Those of you who plan on staying hidden, give me a sense of how long you plan on being hidden for.

I dunno... 1 hour?

until he sees Vanya leave...

Until someone else in the party figures we should no longer stay 'cause the guy's not coming.

Erevan scowls as his hiding spot doesn't work very well.

"I would prefer an up front fight! He has to come here to get his money, right? I guess we could just stay out of sight, except for whoever hides the best, and then wait for him to come," the half-elf suggests.

"I think that's probably a better plan..."

Aryn nods. "Let's do that."

Who is our best stealther? I'm only +4

Shungur opts to remain visible, as he cannot hide at all. Instead, he just waits.