PFS # 6-09: By Way of Bloodcove, with GM Pendrak (Inactive)

Game Master Pendrak

The clerk stares at Thaia at first, taken aback.

"Do you have an appointment?" says she.

But Thaia's intimidating glare seems to change her mind, and she stammers, "Uh, yes, follow me please, I'll take you to Novaria."

Have any of you played PFS #2-01: Before the Dawn, Part I: The Bloodcove Disguise? Because if you have, you've already met Novaria.

The assistant leads you down a hall and opens a door to an office.

"Ma'am," she says, "These three don't have an appointment, but they want to talk to a 'decision maker.' Can you help them?"

A Chelaxian woman looks up from her desk, "Fine, send them in."

She looks the Pathfinders over as they enter her office.

"Well met. I am Novaria, and I run House Cartahegn's business here in Bloodcove. What can we do for you?"

Never met her before in Thaia's life. Thaia waits to see what Woodthorne comes up with and stare the clerk into fining some tea for them all to drink. Thaia can say a lot with a stare.

Did Haska pick up the guards names or at least the name of the foreman? Did he get a feel for whether the foreman was friendly with the guards or not?
"Sorry friend Kahwen, but my formulas seem to have negative effects on others that drink them." "I will try to approach the guards and speak with them while disguised. Maybe as what's his name, the foreman." Hopefully that will allow you to sneak past them." "Good luck and be careful."
"Else I will be Herman the half elf looking for his runaway son after an argument."

“Gods be good, Woodthorne!" says Novaria. "The way things have been going, I didn’t think I’d ever see Pathfinders in Bloodcove again.”

She gives each of the three Pathfinders an appraising look before smiling in approval and saying, “Always a pleasure to work with your illustrious Society. The last time I dealt with your people, it led to a mutually beneficial arrangement that I have not forgotten. In fact, my current position at this trading house is a direct result of our last encounter. I sincerely hope that you come today with another such opportunity. What can House Cartahegn do for you?”

The ships are sailing ships, and do not have engine rooms of any kind.

The foreman’s name is Cato. He and the mercenaries that are guarding the expedition seemed to be cordial enough with each other, but the mercenaries were clearly not under his command. The mercenaries are led by a half-orc, whose name you didn't catch. The guards don't socialized with the workers.

"Oh, do you have a lady friend in town, Friend Nigel?" Kahwen asks. It's not something he would do, but he IS a sailor in his everyday life so he's well aware of the practice of having a lady friend in several different towns.

"If it will only take a minute for you to find her, she must be close."

He looks to the two of them with him. "I think we have a good plan. Friend Haska, you can make yourself look like the foreman and distract the guards. I will sneak aboard the ships and sabotage what I can. Friend Nigel and his lady friend will serve as lookouts and they can give us a signal if they see anything."

He waits for agreement or argument, though the way his toe is tapping and his fingers are flexing, it is clear that he is full of pent up energy and ready to get to work.

Being a sailor, he can think of a dozen ways to make a ship not work and he's eager to try them all.

Well, you have heard my eagle friend make it's squawk, so listen for that or watch for it to fly over. That will be the signal that danger is coming. I like this plan, and no, my friend is in a different plane but I can get her here in just a moment. And before you get any ideas, she is not that kind of lady friend. Nigel gets ready to summon Christina, hoping she can hide well enough to not attract attention. Anyone have any yellow clothe? Maybe I can make a quick little slave collar as a cover story. Nigel feels gross even considering that, I really need to invest in a want of a spell that disguise her...

"Boats have no engine? How do they move then if the wind stops? Oh, well then probably knock out the steering. That would do it. Right?
As Haska says this he pulls out a vial of reddish liquid and drinks it.
His features and frame shift to look different. "One Cato coming up. You all want to help tweak the affects? How do I look?" Aids please.
disguise check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

After any helpful adjustments, Haska heads for the guards at the boat entrance.

I'll post the conversation once Haska gets a feel for his reception by the guards.

"The way things have been going, I didn’t think I’d ever see Pathfinders in Bloodcove again.”

"Oh? Why would you say that?" asks Velinov, feigning ignorance to probe further about Novaria's perspective.

Woodthorne is pleased that Novaria remembers him. "Well we do have plans to increase our presence within and around Bloodcove. However, we understand that we are outsiders, though, and are reaching out to you, our friends of House Cartahegen, to help us do so in a discrete fashion so as not to upset the delicate balance of the city."

While Haska gets himself ready, Nigel begins a longer summoning ritual. After a full minute, Christina gets pulled into this plane. From where we are, do we have a good vantage point of the guards and boat?

Out of the summoning circle, a serpentine woman slides out. She is a dark blue scaled Naga like creature. What really sets her out from a Naga is that she has arms. Her face is that of an Elven woman (if an Elven woman had scales). She taller than Nigel and Kahwen but is around the same size as Haska. She is wearing a simple blouse, mostly just because clothing makes her look more like a friend and less like a monster. She also has a bow and quiver strapped to her back.

She looks around for a momment,Ohhh I like thisss place Nigel. The heat is really nice on my scalsesss, you ssshould take me to placesss like thisss more often! She smiles, both because this weather is ideal for her and because she wasn't pulled here right into combat.

SSSo, what did you need from me bosssss? Ohh, sssorry, where are my mannersss. I am Christina, it is my pleasure to meet you lot.

The site ate this post once... lets hope it doesn't happen again. I do not want to type this a third time haha.

I think I may be able to help with the disguise, but not sure. Never tried before.

Disguise (Aid Another, Untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Kahwen's look of expectant pleasure turns to dismay as he finally gets to meet Nigel's Eidolon. His feathers fluff up, an old instinct to make him look bigger. Snakes and birds and all...

But he has met, and worked with stranger...at least she's not a ghoul and she is Friend Nigel's friend so she must be good and nice.

He bows to her.

"A pleasure to meet you, Friend Christina. This place is nice but full of our enemies. Please do not eat me," he says in a rush and a bit awkwardly.

He eyes Haska's disguise then and does what he can to help.

Disguise (Aid Another Untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 19

She smiles at Kahwen, assuming he is joking, No, you are much to big to eat. I am watching my figure. She gives Kahwen a wink. Don't worry, I am harmless. I hate violence and combat. But I love looking for things and finding things. It fun! I hope Nigel kept that in mind this time when he summoned... She shoots him a dirty look, because far too often he summons and it results in her needing to fight.

Novaria turns to Velinov and answers, “I know how poorly your two organizations get along... nine hells, everyone in the Inner Sea Region knows that. And this is their city. The Consortium has been exploiting the people and the lands of the expanse for too long. We at House Cartahegn oppose their continued expansion and seek to rein in their excesses. I think that makes us allies, though cautious ones.”

She then turns to Woodthorne. "Increasing your presence? How do you mean? The snakes have a stranglehold on this city. Is it to be war? Or something more discreet? I'd be happy to provide supplies if you need them, like last time, but anything else with require some negotiation."

By the way, asking Novaria about her opinion on the Apsis Consortium counts towards one of your goals:

"Finally, gather some intelligence of your own. Talk to the people of Bloodcove and see how complete the Aspis’s control over the populace is."

In answer to Velinov's question about #2-01, I would say it was pretty fun to GM, though I haven't played it. The second part, #2-02, is the most memorable PFS scenario I've run probably.

Just posted in the discussion thread with a hopefully more clear explanation of the sabotage side of things.

In answer to Velinov's question about #2-01, I would say it was pretty fun to GM, though I haven't played it. The second part, #2-02, is the most memorable PFS scenario I've run probably.

I'll have to keep my eye out for a game then. I never had any luck actually trying to play a series... since getting into a pbp game seems to be all about timing. I'm guessing old scenarios may be even harder to find with the push for 2.0 testing.

"Here goes nothing..."
Haska starts for the guards and as he gets close he says, "I need to discuss operations with you for a moment." "It seems we have a slight hiccup. I need to know who will be on guard duty tonight. I have to pass on some information about tonight. Or perhaps you could pass it on?"

"There's to be a special shipment. It will arrive late and has to be loaded immediately. I have lined up a few workers to do the labor, but I need to work out the details. You know, keep you all from mistaking them for trespassers."

He pauses for a moment to get a response.
bluff: 1d20 ⇒ 9

He continues..."I am heading the vessel next to clear it with the captain."

"Nothing so ambitious as war. Only improve our position so that later such a thing might be a more viable option." Woodthorne smiles and shrugs. [b]"

I’m doing this as one big post and I’m afraid the board is going to eat it so I’m writing it in a word doc then copying it over. That means I won’t be able to preview the actual rolls so if any of them go obviously wrong or you see any that I miss, let me know, GM and I’ll retcon.

Kahwen pulls out the tools he expects he’ll need to open the lock as the disguised Haska makes his way toward the guards. Once he has started talking and gotten their attention, he utters a soft prayer to the little known god of fate Dai Shrolla and begins creeping toward his target.

He keeps close to the buildings, ducking into the alleys between as much as possible as he moves along and sticking to the waterfront when he can.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

As he arrives at the door, he quietly releases a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Fortunately, he’d practiced on locks so much that his hands were steady and moved almost of their own accord to crack open the lock.

Disable Device + MW Thieves tools: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 2 = 21

Once inside, he moves quickly through the warehouse, heading for the boats. He doesn’t know a lot about messing up supplies, but he knows all kinds of way a boat can break.

When he’s aboard, he goes below decks and digs some of the caulk out from between two boards of the hull in a spot hidden behind some of the cargo. He picks a spot just at the waterline so that every time it dips below the surface, a little water will flow in. And as more and more water comes in, it will pull that spot down lower until it is submerged and a steady stream of water will come in. Depending on how they’ve packed their supplies, the water in the hold will ruin some of them and as time goes on, the ship will flounder and it will take a while before they’ll even notice the damage.

Disable Device + MW Thieves tools: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 2 = 20

Then, above decks, he goes to the windlass that secures the anchor. He loosens some of the screws and bolts of the mechanism so that, the next time it is lowered, they won’t be able to pull it back up and secure it.

Disable Device + MW Thieves tools: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 = 13

Finally, he kinks up the ropes so that when they run through the pulleys as the sails are manipulated and unfurled, the ropes will knot up and jam in the pulleys. The stronger the wind, the more stuck they will become and the harder they’ll be to pull loose.

Disable Device + MW Thieves tools: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 2 = 16

He dusts his hands with this work done then heads back the way he came. Locking the door behind him as he goes out.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

By the time he returns to Nigel and Christina’s side, he is giggling with joy at the mischief he has caused.

Whew…that was a lot of rolls. And a couple of 1's, though no 20's...curse you Dai Shrolla! Like I said, if any of them obviously fail or if any of them are unnecessary (the stealth rolls at the end or one or more of the disable device checks in the middle) or if more are necessary (like more disable device checks) let me know.

Since it seems like it might be more advantageous to have the eagle because it can fly around rather than Christina, I will dismiss her and summon an eagle to fly around keeping an eye out for danger. [/b]

Sorry Christina, it seems the plan doesn't call for your skill after all. I will invest in something that will make you better at hiding in the future but for now, I need a flier who can blend in. I will call you if I need anything. With that, Christina fades away. He then draws a quick circle in the air and mutters a few odd words and beautiful eagle comes flying out of the circle. [ooc]I can summon 1d3 of them now, but I feel like it would be a bit suspicious if a flock of eagles suddenly start patrolling the area. One might go unnoticed.

When his friends head out to do their tasks, Good luck friends. I will be here if needed and if we need to, we can rough up the guards. I just would prefer to avoid that.

scr-EECH

The eagle flies out, and starts patrolling the area. Before going, it makes a screech to let the allies know what it's signal will be.

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Made 4 checks, if you would like anymore, let me know!

I can summon 1d3 of them now, but I feel like it would be a bit suspicious if a flock of eagles suddenly start patrolling the area. One might go unnoticed.

You should summon a flock of seagulls for when we have to Run...Run so far away...

The half-orc looks at Haska, and laughs.

"No dice, Cato. You think I'm new to the Aspis Consortium? You don't have authorization. I don't see a bronze badge on your tunic, let alone a silver one. I don't know if this is some kinda test, or if you're just a damned thief trying to sneak into the boat, but I don't buy it. Come back later with your men."

The guards finger their weapons.

Kahwen is pretty much completely successful, and that definitely counts as one form of sabotage. He is busy sabotaging while this conversation is going south though.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile at House Cartahegn headquarters...

"You'll have to be more specific," says Novaria. "What exactly do you want from us?"

"I believe what Woodthorne is suggesting is that we would appreciate logistical support moving our supplies and personnel throughout the city discreetly so that we can grow our operations here."

One of you guys at House Cartahegn give me a Diplomacy, Bluff, or Profession (merchant) check. The other two can make the same check to aid another.

I'll go with diplomacy cause I have no bluff.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Thaia sighs. Once again she is called upon to seal the deal as it were.

"While we may be a lot of moving parts we can network ourselves together and by leveraging our individual core-competencies we should be able to reach out to our target consumer and come to an a mutual understanding that will allow us all to make use of key synergies. I don't expect everyone here to drink the healing potion without running it up the flag pole first, but by each of us employing our own best practices we should be able to give 110% and thereby move the needle on this project and thereby disrupt the Consortium's monopoly upon the city. The adventuring party model is after all a vertically scalable ecosystem with top down value to empower us toward a final beneficial price point with very little out of pocket buy-in on your part, M'Lady. Really, it all comes down to strong organizational values to reach our solution, and then it is just a matter of taking it to the next level."

She pulls out a few scrolls with pie charts and the top 15% of a few bar graphs to illustrate her points in more detail.

Profession (merchant): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

And now to the Power Point Presentation.

"Are you satisfied with these arrangements?"

"Okay, I am leaving...and I will come back with my men AND THE BOSS."

Haska/Cato moves away out of immediate melee range.
"Thieving, Ha! We need to put something on the ship; not take something off." "Anyway I guess you can explain the delay and risk. The shipment is 'sensitive'."

Haska/Cato turns and moves away saying over his shoulder, "Just trying to do my job."
bluff: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Hope that is enough to cover Kahwen's excursion. Else, Haska will attempt to get Nigel and Christina to quickly aid him in another try to convince the guards together that they have something that needs loading with the least exposure to the public as possible. Even now might work.

The guards seem satisfied that Haska/Cato has given up, and continue their normal patrol. Kahwen makes his way back, but as he passes through the warehouse on the way back he notices a large locked chest that piques his interest.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------

Novaria smiles. Between Woodthorne’s friendly overtures and Thaia’s detailed presentation she seems satisfied.

“I think we can come to an arrangement. But first, to seal the deal, I have a favor to ask,” she says.

“Recently, a local pirate crew led by a thug named Ungala has been intercepting our trade barges and wagons and stealing our cargo. It is the gods’ fortune that you came to see me today of all days, as we are preparing to move an exceptionally valuable shipment to Warehouse Row to be loaded onto a ship bound for the Inner Sea today. After our usual guards’ failure to protect the last two shipments from Ungala’s raiders, I’ve lost confidence in their abilities. But where they have failed, you might have a real chance. Up to this point, Ungala and her ruffians have always attacked while our supply carts were passing near Free Trade Square, where they can strike in the narrow streets and disappear into crowds quickly. I have no doubt that they’ll be planning such an attack for today’s shipment, and I want you to be there and ready to intercept them.”

“Do you think you can help us? The shipment isn’t set to leave until later this evening.”

Kahwen walks right buy that very interesting chest. Yep...mission is accomplished. There's no reason to even look at it. Just go on about your business. There's a time crunch, after all...

But maybe it's got something important to the Consortium that he could take to interfere with their plans like an ancient magical elven curve blade that he could takes and put to better use in the name of the Society in it!

He's not foolish, though. This is just the kind of thing to be trapped so he checks for those first.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Assuming he doesn't spot any, he goes to work on the lock.

Disable Device plus MW Thieves Tools: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 2 = 19

“Recently, a local pirate crew led by a thug named Ungala has been intercepting our trade barges and wagons and stealing our cargo. It is the gods’ fortune that you came to see me today of all days, as we are preparing to move an exceptionally valuable shipment to Warehouse Row to be loaded onto a ship bound for the Inner Sea today. After our usual guards’ failure to protect the last two shipments from Ungala’s raiders, I’ve lost confidence in their abilities. But where they have failed, you might have a real chance. Up to this point, Ungala and her ruffians have always attacked while our supply carts were passing near Free Trade Square, where they can strike in the narrow streets and disappear into crowds quickly. I have no doubt that they’ll be planning such an attack for today’s shipment, and I want you to be there and ready to intercept them.”

“Do you think you can help us? The shipment isn’t set to leave until later this evening.”

"I have no doubt we can help your organization actualize your preferred outcome. We are experts at providing client-centric solutions." She cocks her walking stick.

Assuming he doesn't spot any, he goes to work on the lock.

Just a little short. You can try again though. I'll have more later, but I do have to say that Thaia's little bit about "the adventuring party model" and such was one of the funniest things I've read in a while. I'm enjoying this game thouroughly, and I hope you are too. I'll have a more detailed update later as I'm currently pressed on time, but just wanted to say that.

Kahwen curses the mighty Dai Shrolla as...not for the first time... the fickle god betrays him.

The tengu glances at the door to make sure the guards have not returned then tries again.

Disable Device plus MW Thieves Tools: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 2 = 24

"Yes. I believe we'll be able to help. We'll be at the warehouse at the appointed hour."

Once Haska gets back to Nigel, "Where's Kahwen? Is he back yet? I fear they did not believe my ruse and sent me away. I didn't take them long either."
Haska checks his equipment and shrugs, "Should we see if we can help him?"
"He might have bit off more than he can chew."
Haska is maintain Cato disguise for the time being. Hoping Nigel might know how to help Kahwen, Haska listens to the gnome trusting his judgement.

Nigel gets a bit panicked when getting informed of the ruse not working. He hasn't come back yet. My eagle has not seen anything suspicious yet. I think we would be better to play it safe. Did you see him sneak? Right me either He makes a nervous chuckle at the joke...Chances are, we wouldn't be able to find him even if we went looking and we would just draw unwanted attention. Let us keep our eagle scout on the look out for Kahwen and the guards. Just be ready for a fight if it comes to it. Nigel takes a deep breath as he is trying to convince himself as much as Haska. I have grown close to these two... I just hope I am making the right call here...

This time Kahwen is able to unlock the chest. He finds 10 vials labeled "wolfsbane," and a small chest containing a potion and an elixir.

"Ha!" Kahwen exclaims as he pops the lock open.

"Ha!" he says again as he sees the contents. He figures wolfsbane will be useful, even if he doesn't know why and better for Pathfinders to have it than Apsis.

He puts everything in his backpack, closes and locks the chest then hurries to rejoin his companions.

Let me know if I need one or more stealth rolls, now, or if the previous ones stand.

The previous ones stand. You make it back to where the others are in the alleyway.

When Kahwen return Nigel lets out a sigh of relief. I am glad you are safe. Did you do the things? I am sorry I wasn't anymore help... but I am kind of glad I wasn't needed. You guys have some real skill. Lets get out of here before it all blows up on us.

Awesome job Kahwen. That was impressive.

"Nice to have you back safe even without much help from me." "They just weren't buying my secret loading story."

Very nice Kahwen!

"Should we ditch the rest of the work day and meet up with the others?"

Will we be missed if we skip the rest of the day? It might draw attention as to it being us who sabotage it if we don't come back for the second shift. I doubt there are many who don't finish the shift. I completely forgot there was more work to be done.

Kahwen bows to his friends, his right hand on his chest he left held parallel out to the side. He has an obvious air of pride about his person at his successful skullduggery.

"The things are done, friend Nigel. I couldn't have done it without both of you. I had a couple missteps and had Friend Haska not distracted those guards, they no doubt, would have spotted me. And I wouldn't have had the confidence to do so much if I hadn't been sure that Friend Nigel would warn me if someone was coming," Kahwen replies.

He looks back toward the warehouse thoughtfully but then opens up his backpack and shows them the contents. "I would say we should go back and pretend that nothing happened so that it will be less suspicious but I...appropriated some things. See! Wolfsbane! The Consortium must think they're going to be facing lycanthropes! We might, too so it's very useful. I also found these other things, but I don't know what they do. Can either of you tell?"

"Oh...right...back to the point...I would say we should go back to be less suspicious but they might notice this stuff gone and start searching people and I don't want to get caught with it. It would be hard to explain. I think we should head to Free Market Square," he finishes before sealing his backpack back up, though he'll hand the elixir and potion to either of them if they can identify them.

Will we be missed if we skip the rest of the day? It might draw attention as to it being us who sabotage it if we don't come back for the second shift. I doubt there are many who don't finish the shift. I completely forgot there was more work to be done.

You might be missed, but working that morning you would have heard that it was not uncommon for workers to quit before the end of the day. This is part of the deviousness of the Apsis's work schedule. They only pay workers, as agreed, if they work the entire day. Then they work people extremely hard in the heat, hoping they don't come back after lunch. So you can go meet back up with the rest of the group at this point, or go to Free Trade Square, or whatever.

Craft (alchemy): 1d20 ⇒ 1

Kahwen doesn't even know what he's trying to figure out...

Curse you Dai Shrolla! I'm expecting the laws of probability to even out when we face the bandits!

Craft alchemy (untrained): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

I have no clue what those are but nice snag. Let us get away quickly with the loot. That is probably worth more than they are paying anyway! As we start to move away, We should meet up with our other friends first. I am interested in what they did while we were gone... though we never really made a plan so who knows where they are now... maybe we should go to Free Trade Square and see if they picked up the dead drop yet or not. If not, then maybe wait for them there? or if they have, hopefully they left some clue of where to find them...

Haska takes a look.
Craft alchemy taking 10 would be a 19.

"Wolfsbane can also be used as a poison. With this much of it, that may have been the intended use." "We can know for sure, but they won't have it now when they need it. Good job, Kahwen."
Craft alchemy +11 not +9. I looked at the wrong row.

"Nigel, you are probably correct? I also say we ditch the work and get back to the others."

Haska dismisses the magic and sheds the disguise. "I just knew Cato was going to walk up behind me while I talked to the thug boss." "I certainly don't want to find out if he saw me at that little impersonation."

Kahwen scowls a bit as he realizes they planned poorly for the next phase by not setting up a meeting place and time with the other group. It is very unprofessional and not Pathfinder like.

"I think the place on Free Market is our best bet to link up with the others. And its where we're going to need to end up, anyway," he says with a nod.

He gapes as Haska explains the other use of Wolfsbane then grows obviously angry. "Those dirty Consortium finks! Who knows who they were going to poison!"

He takes a moment to tamp down his anger. "You could have always told him you were his long lost twin," he jests about Cato showing up while Haska was imitating them.

"Shall we meet on Free Market Square?" he asks, then, already looking for some dark and rarely trodden paths he can take to get there without being seen. Or bright ones. Roofs are as good as streets as far as he is concerned.

"Is this the place? What time have you got?" Thaia asks looking up at the sky for the relative position of the sun.

survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23