[PFS] #7-10 The Consortium Compact (1–2) — GM Crucible, Table B (Inactive)

Game Master TomG

Aiden ducks behinds some crates that he doesn't believe anyone will disturb for several hours. He drops his backpack and removes his chain shirt, tucking it into the pack when he's done. He secures the pack in the shadows, so hopefully no one will notice it for the brief time he leaves it there.

The former slave tracker moves away from the ship enough to be out of the immediate area and then slips over the side into the water. He calmly works his way back towards the boat and to the far side, away from the dock.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Swim: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Lem is escorted on by his new old friend.

Aiden successfully swims around and climbs aboard. He's understandably wet, but oddly, none of the laborers seem to care.

One of the sailors is definitely attracted to Segray. He grabs her hand and practically runs to the ship, leading her down the stairs and to the forward hold (crew quarters).

That's three aboard! That's enough. At this point, anyone else who wants aboard succeeds.

Huckleberry doesn't learn much, other than the mate's name is something-or-other Bellarion. The crew just calls him "Bull."

Map updated. What now?

Rex Havoc meets up with Lem in the cargo hold. "We need to get into the captain's cabin. I suspect the captain might be in there. Any idea how to get him out so that we can slip in and steal the shipping documents?"

Rex ponders for a moment.

"I know, how about if we use that smokestick of yours down here in the hold, I'll go up top and yell 'Fire'? When everyone runs down here, you can slip in to the cabin and steal the papers we are looking for."

Noticing that most of his teammates have either disappeared or slipped on board, he'll attempt to make a show of going aboard as well.

He'll make no attempt to talk to the First Mate, but if the first mate stops him then he'll respond with, "Aye, I's sent here ta talk ta some Bull fella, I was told by a buddy he'd need some extra protection, figerr'd I'd sign up,"

Stealth to Avoid talking to him: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Bluff if I have to talk to him: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Some Steller rolls, right there, clearly the Dice Gods believe in my new character

Well, Huckleberry, *I* believe in your new character. Fortunately for you, the scenario says that if three get on board, everyone else can too. It's like magic. Useful, good GM magic. Some say it doesn't exist.

@Rex, so, are you saying let's implement that plan? Or is this still just talking about doing it...?

@ GM: If someone seconds my plan with no objection, then let's go with it.

"Welcome aboard, Buck! How'd you manage to get past the inspector?" Rex smiles and shakes hands with his new friend.

Thrandomir miraculously sneaks unobserved on board, not wanting to leave the rest of the party by themselves

I'm fine with that plan Rex..i'm even fine with starting an actual fire if it helps ;)

Aiden tries to find the Captain's room and waits as the others set the distraction.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Lem, his grin conspicuously absent in his slaves get up, winks his agreement and slips away from his escort.

sounds like we're all in agreement!

When everyone is in position, Rex cracks the smokestick in the cargo hold, drops it, and hustles up to top deck of the ship. He casts telempathic projection and shouts, "Fire! Fire below decks! Fire!"
Bluff, telempathic projection: 1d20 + 9 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 5 = 21

When no one is looking, he slips off the ship.
Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

I've done my bit. Let's hope the little guy does his.

Through the power of magic, Huckleberry will whistle on-by the inspector and first mate, joining his friends below deck.

"Woooeey, let's light dis here ship a fire!"

When he makes the connection that we aren't actually lighting the ship on fire, he is somewhat crest-fallen.

"Do w'all sneak inta tha captain's ship?"

Most of you are able to arrange yourselves in front of the (locked) door to the captain's quarters.

I'm still curious about how Segray will extricate herself from the situation she's got herself in to.

The call of "Fire" causes great commotion, and the smoke helps sell the bluff. Sailors and dock workers run about, some to the fire with damp blankets and water, others away from the fire.

There are several ways through the locked door. What ever you choose, give be three rolls in a row, as the first one might not be enough.

Aiden listens at the door to see if he hears sound from anyone inside, especially if they're reacting to the calls of fire. If he doesn't hear anything, he simply shrugs and, using the sounds of the panicking crew as cover, tries to kick in the door.

Strength Check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Strength Check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Strength Check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Segray is led down in the ship and suddenly stops after a flight of stairs. She blushes and says to the docker "Oh, now, I'm not quite sure it was a good idea... Don't you think someone will find out what we're... doing?"

After wondering a few moments, she says eventually "Oh, I have an idea, I could a trick my father showed me to hide. Wait a little moment..."

And she begins to chant a few arcane words. As she almost finished, a booming voice shouts down the stairs "All mates on the deck for inspection! Ya lot better be there quick or y'all take my boot in your arse!"

Casting Ghost Sound, DC 15

Segray looks at the docker with a frightened face and gets ready to flee.

"Oh nooo! Not now! Please go, I don't want something to happen to you. I'll sneak out swimming, don't mind me! Go my strong sailor! We'll meet again at the Oyster tonight!" and kisses him lightly on the cheek before running away.

Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

<chuckle>

Segray's subterfuge is successful. She's able to join the rest of the group, just as Aiden tries (quite unsuccessfully) to kick down the door.

Unless something changes quickly, he's making quite a racket. Between the "surprise inspection" and the "fire" they're going to notice something is up very soon.

"Dun let me just shoot the lock, Sure it'd break then!"

Huckleberry will begin loading his musket.

Thrandomir seeing Aiden try to kick in a door decides to lend a hand...or rather a solid crowbar.

Strength check: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 = 19
Strength check: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 11
Strength check: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 = 18

Hoping that that 19 is enough..but it's not getting any better after that

Aiden looks to Segray and Lem. "If Thrandomir can't get in, we might need to use subterfuge again. Maybe you can ask for a tour of the Captain's quarters, or we could try to convince them that there's fire damage inside."

Thrandomir's deft use of the crowbar gets the door open.

Inside the Captain's cabin you see a a bed and desk, both more richly furnished than the rest of the ship has been.

A sailer running past saw you force open the door. He yelps slightly, and runs up the stairs.

As Huckleberry watches the sailor run by with shrewd eyes hidden under his hat, That pansay's gonna rat us out

Huckleberry finishes loadin' his rifle and moves into the room, sweeping it for targets, after he has cleared the room, he'll crouch beside the door, covering the entrance.

"We dun gut much time, gut the papers, gut out"

Are there any windows in the Captain's Cabin we could potentially jump out of just in case?

Can Rex try to cast charm person on the sailor?

If so, Rex needs to roll d% to see if he can remember the spell through Spell Recollection.

spell recollection: 1d100 ⇒ 95 success!

"Good friend, won't you please keep this just between us? Surely no one needs to know what's going on in here. In fact, wouldn't you like to take a look around?"

Will save DC 16 to negate.

Rex manages to charm the sailor before he gets too far away. You've made a racket, and someone will be along very (very) shortly.

The papers are in the captain's desk, and relatively easy to spot. Huckleberry grabs them.

There are "windows", but they're more like "port holes", one would need to be size Small with a very good Escape Artist check or smaller.

"Hey buddy, want to come with us? Let us buy you a drink!"

Charisma: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

@ GM: For your convenience: charm person

"Good work, Rex. Do you think he'll be willing to carry the documents off the ship? That way the rest of us can lead them on a merry chase if need be."

"If we get down to the middeck, we might be able to fit through the cannon ports and into the bay."

"Sounds like a plan. Bugger the ledgers. Give them to the sea or torch them. That should prove plenty delay for these slaver scumbags."

With the partys agreement I say throw the ledger out of the porthole and make our escape now, before we're discovered.

"The good Magali Delroya tasked us with stealing the ledgers. I assume that we need to return with them. But we should make haste. Let's get out of here!"

My plan: if the sailor leaves with us, and we go get a drink for a half hour or so, then everyone will think he took the documents, and won't believe him when he blames it on the painter.

Scrolled back to briefing and it is not really stated if we must have the documents or not. We were meant to steal the shipping documents from the ship to cause a significant delay in their plans.

"That was quite impressive, my dear Rex! Should we put the documents at sea or take them with us? I say, let's take them with us for now. We will destroy them in case... of trouble. It may be an item to bargain against our freedom if we're caught." says the woman, wondering.

"Ha! Caught? What's the worst they could do to us?" Lem says, with an optimistic smile that's just tempting fate at this point.

I was under the impression that sabotaging the documents would be enough, and if that's not the case we should still have a shot at the alchemist down the track as a fallback plan. At the moment though it doesn't really effect our escape, so let's just play it by ear. :)

"Dun know how many there be, but boy they hotter than the blue blazes if they be findin' us!"

Huckleberry impatiently waits, he is visibly ready to truck on outta here.

Sorry for a bit of delay on my part. Bad cold.

The party hurries out of the captain's cabin, but don't quite make their escape before the mate comes down the stairs. Ahoy! You lot! Whatcha be doin' wif the captain's chambers? He reaches for the sap at his waist, but doesn't draw it yet.

Did we get a resolution on whether the ledgers went out the porthole, or whether you tasked the charmed sailor to help you? I'll assume he's still nearby.

I'm fine either way..if we are voting..I'll go for shifting blame to the sailor. We can always destroy the documents later..but we can't unsoak them from the water we threw them into

Agreed, let's give it to the sailor to smuggle out for now.

"We saw one of the sailors trying to steal booze out of the Captain's cabin during the fire! He disappeared down into the hold!" Aiden points down towards the hold, hoping they can make up up to the deck and off the ship in time.

Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

The mate stares at you briefly, then shakes his head, swearing (using language not even fit for sailors), and hurries off down the stairs. "Get off my damn ship!" he yells over his shoulder as he goes past.

You've clearly caused enough problems on the ship that he has other things to worry about.

You all manage to get clear with the ledger.

The crew is alive and scurrying frantically across the ship until the source of the smoke is discovered. Then the mate is furious. Even more so when he sees the state of the captain's door. He knows it was you (you can hear him yelling in the distance), but by now it's too late, and you're off the ship and around the corner.

What next? Proceed to the tavern? Interact with people here on the docks more?

Lem takes a cursory glance at the documents, shrugging. "It's all Varisian to me, I'm afraid."

"Let's head to the tavern."

"Indeed, let's go there!" says Segray with a smirk.

It's about an hour before noon when you make it to the "Overflowing Oyster".

The Overflowing Oyster is a dirty, broken-looking building that barely fits between the fishing tackle shop to its north and the junk shop to its south. Hanging over the door is a creaky sign that shows a painted oyster with pearls spilling from its gaping shell.
The interior of the Over owing Oyster displays a mix of rickety furniture and gaudy decorations, from strands of obviously fake pearls hanging over the kitchen’s entrance to wooden carvings of sultry mermaids and cheap paintings of ships at sea.

The dirty tavern is hardly crowded, even as it approaches meal time. Several local laborers hunch over cheap food and casual games of chance, cursing and muttering to the same old friends about the same old troubles.

You see a grubby barkeep spreading dirt around on several tables and another man sweeping ineffectually with an old broom.

"Ai'll join ya inside, just gotta take a leak out back first, empty ta ol' trouser snake before goin' thare,"

Huckleberry will proceed to go around back into an alley or just behind the building and take care of his business, he'll also look for a backdoor or open windows.

Aiden nods to Buck, relived that the man might not draw the wrong kind of attention in the Oyster. He enters and clicks his tongue as he appreciates the seediness of the place. Walking over to the bar, he motions to the barkeep. "What do you have that passes for food in here? Something to wash it down wouldn't be bad either."

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Rex follow Aiden in.

Four exterior doors...open floor into the bay...open rail to the south overlooking the water...door to the kitchen—knives in there...stocky strong bartender...

What am I? Why do I notice those things?

He takes a seat a few places down, pretending to not know Aiden, and addresses him. "Hey buddy, what's good in this place?"
Bluff, take 10: 10 + 9 = 19

The supposed owner sidles over. "I be Paltus. Most 'ere callin' me 'Pal'. An' 'oo mightchoo be, if'n yous don' mind me askin'?"

'Pal' yells at his helper to fix some food for Aiden. The drink he's served is passable, but only just.

Huckleberry examines the exterior. The windows, those that aren't boarded, don't seem to open, but there are still many ways in and out. The map shows the exits.

This looks like a typical seedy bar.

Reminder, your initial letter gave you some information about this place. You could ask the patrons or people on the streets (in other words, Diplomacy(gather information) or Knowledge(local)), if you want more. Otherwise, the "guests" are scheduled to arrive in about an hour. Time to either come up with a plan or commit to playing it by ear...

Yeah, at the time I hadn't seen you post the map yet, so I was just going for theater of the mind, my bad. I moved my character so I'm just taking a whiz on those crates I guess.

After taking a whiz, Huckleberry'll look around and maybe talk to some folks wandering around nearby outside the bar if there are any.

"You's be knowin' anythin' 'bout this heres bar, here?"

Kn: Local: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Rex would have happily asked around on the street.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Never mind. ;)

Segray strides in, pretty self assured. She says out loud with a sorry look. "Innkeeper! I need to see your merchandise! Someone reported an odd thing about it and I'm sure it's all lies, for as long as I've seen it, these pearls match my skin tone!"

Diplomacy, enhanced: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 2 = 31

Knowing exactly what you mean, but choosing to pretend he doesn't, Paltus stammers a bit. "I has some nice ales an' a good wine, miss..." He makes as if to fetch a bottle for Segray.

"Are you saying you refuse to take your merchandise back?" yells Segray, a pitch higher.
"Those experts said your pearls were fake! I don't seem to remember "fake" written in the gold I paid you!"

Turning now towards the room, she yells, angry. "What are you looking at? This thief handed me fake, yes FAKE pearls! Don't bother even arguing!"

Aiden looks over to the shouting Segray. He moves over to another person in the bar. "What the hell is all this? He running some sort of scam?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Staying out of sight and entering the tavern a few minutes after the party, Lem had hoped to play the part of a disgruntled regular, but noting the tight-knit group of regulars and the suspicious glances they cast his way, he opts to join in Segray's ruse.

Aid Another: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Reaching to his ear and removing a pearl-studded ring, he flings it across the bar at the bartender. "Worthless! Couldn't buy my way to Absalom with this piece of junk." he barks, rounding on the beleaguered man from the other side.

We can opt to strike a deal with the barkeep or intimidate him into closing up early, although I don't see that happening without a bribe and we don't want to overplay our hand. I'll wait for the others to weigh in before doing anything drastic.

"But, I— ... Er—... Whelp, —" Paltus stammers, not quite knowing how to respond.

He recovers lamely. "Perhaps yous just got a bad batch, miss. The box got switched up 'n the back, sorta like. Mayhows we can be resolvin' this friendly-like?"

Some of the others in the room shift uneasily. The fakes are bad enough that surely some of them had to know about it. Yet, the patrons are either watching with interest, waiting for someone to get hit, or have taken a curious interest in their toes.

Rex addresses Segray, trying to not let on that they are working together, "That's a bold accusation, miss. We don't take kindly to such false accusations around here." He turns to the crowded room, "Am I right?"

Rex then looks back to Paltus, "Do you want me to go fetch the city guard for you? I'm sure they'd take care of her." He emphasizes the words 'city guard' ever so slightly.

Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28