[PFS_CORE_Aerondor] 05-01: The Glass River Rescue PbP Gameday 4: (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

The pathfinders gather in an opulent parlor in the Druman capital of Kerse, part of hte manor home of Temel Passad, a prominent Kalistocrat. Served the finest Chelish wine and delicate sweetmeats while you awaiting your host, you have time to peruse a letter of venture captain Ambrus Valsin (see link above).

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Two silent servants open a pair of richly lacquered doors, and a human and two dwarves stride into the lavish parlor. The man, clad in immaculate robes of whitest silk, is short and round with a blond oiled beard, and his eyes are alert and amused. He takes a touch of snuff from a golden box and sneezes before saying,
“It is a pleasure to welcome Pathfinders to one of my estates once more. I am, as you may know, Temel Passad. Allow me to introduce—”

One of the two dwarves, a redheaded female in deep scarlet robes, curtly interrupts the man.
“We can introduce ourselves, Passad. I am Metella Raugar, representing the interests of several Highhelm mercantile consortia. My companion”
—she gestures to a dwarven man with leathery skin baked by the sun, his head swathed in a bright yellow scarf—“is Amauhak of Reth Bezel, a mystic of the sand dwarves of Osirion.”

Knowledge(religion) or history checks may be made if you are trained in them. Either can show the spoiler.

Knowledge(religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Tanariel, a tall, exceedingly slender elf whose dusky eyes and garb are starkly offset by his translucent alabaster skin and pale cream-colored hair, bows courteously. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Passad, Raugar, Amauhak. My name is Tanariel. You honor us with your hospitality."

Thinking for a moment, he adds, "Amauhak, I don't believe I've ever heard of Reth Bezel before. I can only assume the fault is mine; I can be painfully Avistani at times. I'm curious, what's your home like, and what brings you here, to Kerse?"

Knowledge(History): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Iago quickly finishes a sweetmeat, almost swallowing the entire thing whole. Quickly brushing his hands clean, he walks up to the dwarves with a dazzling smile on his face, stooping slightly and extending his hand for a strong handshake.

"Aye, good to meet all of ya! Iago Dalamitrin, exotic explorer, Pathfinder Society agent at your service." He gives the dwarven woman a roguish wink, before rising to greet the man in white, extending his hand once again. "You've had Pathfinders here before huh? I guess they must have left you with a good impression then milord."

Knowledge (History): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

A tall lanky man of unplaceable Avistani descent steps up and shakes the dwarve's and kalistocat's hands. "Ah, I'm glad that we can help each other in this trying time. May we find the missing dwarves post haste!"

Gratius is a tall half-elf, with a grim face and black hairs.
He wore a black banded mail, a pig backpack and a symbol with winged eye around his neck.
His weapon is a massive Glaive and at his side, a morningstar, a longsword and a dagger.

He bow to the man and the dwarfs.

I am Gratius Laelius. It's an honor to meet you Lord Temal Passad and you Lady Metella Raugar and your friend the Sage Amauhak.

"What brought us to Kerse? That'd be our friend here Pasard's boat, the Abacus."

Passard nods "And we'll be taking it from here up to Mendev as well."

Amauhak waves his hands in the air "But I'm thinking you're question is about more than transport. In the words of the Diamond Sage 'Does the wheel look at where it travels, or does it just turn on the axel?'"
Exactly what that is supposed to mean is unclear, but the dwarf seems to think it provides a full answer.

"Driven forth by circumstance and others' peril, indeed," Tanariel replies, with a bow. "The Diamond Sage is most wise, and your sense of duty is admirable, indeed. Come, let's hear about the party we are here to seek, who they are, and what they face."

The sorcerer thanks the Lord of the Manor for his hospitality. To the Lord and the Dwarves he states, I am Theodic of Taldor. I will do what I can to help locate the missing dwarves, if the cause be just.

"Who are you to rescue? Why three dwarves: Rakuska Imgardam, a well-known Five Kings diplomat and devotee of Torag; Holfist Sendstrom of
Taggoret; and Pechas Domri—like Amauhak, a Pahmet dwarf of Osirion. All are valued for their strategic and military acumen.” answers Amauhak.

"Well, wheels and all are great but ... Wait a minute. Did you say the Diamond Sage?" asks Iago, with a look of surprise upon his face which he quickly brushes aside, much like his irritation at being left hanging by both parties with his hand in mid-air.

"Nevermind; tell me good sirs ... and you madam, what route will we be taking? Will it take us near Xer? Or even better, by the famous Grey Revelation Inn?"

Actually the post two up was said by Temel, not Amauhak.

Amauhak nods to Iago, while Temel continues.

"Yes, the Gray Revelation Inn... that's right. One of our stops will be there. We'll be sailing along the shore of Lake Encarthan, and then up the Glass river to the Gray Revelation. From there we continue up river either with or without the missing dwarves to deliver envoys to Mendev. So, yes, we'll be docking at Xer."

"I suppose that means we'll require papers, or bribes," Tanariel remarks matter-of-factly. "The Razmiri priests do not like to leave empty-handed. What's our plan for dealing with them?"

"Good Tanariel," Iago scoffs genially "I'm sure successful merchants like our hosts aren't going to let something as trivial as "paperwork" or "voluntary docking fees" get in the way of getting up to the Diamond City."

His expression falters upon realization that the docking issue could be left in their hands, and that he spent most of his remaining spare coin in a game of dice by dockside last night.

"Right?" he adds apprehensively.

Tomren smiles at Iago's apprehension. "I'm confident that we'll be able to handle any problems that will come are way. We are Pathfinders, are we not?"

I agree. With people as good as Temel Passad and Lady Mettela and the Sage Amauhak nothing could go wrong.
Even if it could, we are here to take care of it.

Temel nods at the words of the team. "You are wise. And yes, the Razimiri can be ...veracious in their pursuit of taxes. Personally I don't like them, and will leave you to do the interactions with their authorities."

He looks around.

"We'll sail on tonight's tide, if you have any last purchases you need to make before setting off, you have some time"

He gestures to the feast "Or stay and enjoy my hospitality. We sail at dusk. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether you would prefer to avoid docking at Xer or dock and pay the necessary fees."

Let me know any last minute purchases you want, and then your first real choice... heading into Xer or try to slip past.

A lithe elf dressed in leathers, and covered with an absurd number of daggers, as well as a rapier at her help, bounces into the room.

"Hello everyone! Sorry I'm late. The name's Merisiel. What did I miss?"

I have caught-up on the thread.

Tanariel's eyes glaze slightly as he cocks his head toward the other elf and responds, "You've arrived just in time for the party, Merisiel. We'll be leaving at dusk, so watch your merriment. The Kalistocracy does recommend moderation in all things, after all." The lilt in his voice sounds... slightly odd, in that elvish way.

Turning to Passad, he continues, inflection returning to normal, "As for myself, I suppose I could pose as Razmirian, myself. Would there be a mask and robe available in town? Otherwise, I'll relax a moment, have some tea, and if it's not too much of an inconvenience, a small room to change in. I shall be ready to travel."

Snatching a goblet of wine from behind him, Iago begins to drink, leaning back on one of the immaculate walls as he does so. "Praise be to holy Razmir then. Mmmh. Excellent wine by the way. I'm not adverse to combat, but I'm lazy by nature; not fighting?" He squints as shrugs, pantomiming weighing two things against each other. "Not fighting suits me plenty" he finishes, draining his cup and going for another. "I know next to nothing about Razmir, the customs of lake Encartan, ... The whole nine yards. But If I'm going to play the part of a foolish pilgrim, I'd like to hear from those with knowledge of the area about what our lie is going to be." He smiles mischievously, as he puts his left hand upon his breast dramatically. "I have to get into my role after all."

The sorcerer will say in passing I do so have a passion for being close to the sea and the creatures that live in and around it. This has grown and developed as I have gotten older. Having the opportunity to return to the water is something I am looking forward to doing.

Weighing the options, Tomren comes to a conclusion. "If Tanariel is to impersonate a Razmiri priest, it would probably be to or advantage to avoid the port of Xer. What with the lower chance of running into ant real Razmiri."

I agree. Going to Xer is too much a risk is something goes wrong. I prefer to deal with danger somewhere quite and the lake seems to be very quite.
I'm no follower of Razmir nor a connoisseur of this faith. But I'm a soldier and could pass for a guard protecting pilgrims.

adds Gratius to Tomren's conclusion.

Tanariel clicks his tongue. "Well, we aren't avoiding Xer whether we like it or not, so if we aren't going to bluff our way by, then I'd best not fake being a worshipper. No mask and robe, then. Simpler this way, regardless."

He looks over to one of the servants. "I'll go change, then, and prepare for the journey."

The pathfinders spend a pleasant afternoon being entertained. Come evening they are hurried down to the Abacus.

Besides the pathfinders and Temel and Amauhak there is a dwarven woman Metella. Temel and Metella don't seem to get along well, sniping at each other more or less constantly.

The Abacus has a small crew of five, so things sometimes get a little crowded. It is perhaps just as well that the trip is within major incident, and the team reaches the mouth of the Glass River and enters Razmiri waters.

Despite his earlier words, Temel seems keen on entering Xer. "I was hoping your law abiding nature would steer you toward doing the right thing here. If we are to avoid notice, we should respect the local custom and put in. And yes we might need to pay a small extra gratuity when we pay the toll. Better than a fight though!"

Mettela argues "But if we stop there, the authorities will have the chance to search our boat and discover us. It is better to avoid the city and just take our chances with the faith barges"

"Skinflint! " says Passard.

He pulls out a silk purse with a couple of platinum coins. "I'll pay the charges for everyone."

Did you decide to go into the city, or bypass it? It looks like there is a slight preference for avoiding, but the decision is yours

Tomren stands by his previous assesment. "I still think we should avoid any major settlements."

Merisiel nods.

"Agreed. Avoidance seems like the best option. If we encounter one of the barges, worst comes to worst, we can 'neutralise' it. If we were in a city, that would not really be a feasible option..."

Tanariel, now dressed in scale mail and black cloak, his sword at his side, counters, "And yet we are still traveling on supposition. Wouldn't it be appropriate to gather information in town? Ensure we have the correct destination?"

Turning to Metella, he adds, "What are the risks of your discovery? Why is knowledge of your existence here an issue? I don't wish to intrude, but what must we keep hidden, other than our purpose?"

Metella looks despairingly at Tanariel.

"The last envoys all ended up... vanished. If they find more envoys, don't you think we might vanish too?"

"We're no envoy," Tanariel remarks, cocking his head. His eyes pool blackness. "We are merely heading upriver."

His capriciousness softens. "But I understand your concern, my dear with hair like the molten steel of Torag's forge. We are entering a frightening situation. But that is why we Pathfinders are here with you. If you vanish, I promise to vanish with you, and we'll find the others vanished together."

Pulling the hood of his cloak up over his flaxen tresses, he finishes, "These men can't keep treasures like yourself or Rakuska hidden forever."

Perhaps being captured would help us to discern what is taking place? It is only a trap if we go in not knowing that we are in a trap. states the sorcerer.

Iago smiles uncertainly and tries to stride forward with his usual swagger; but his footing is unsteady in spite of the time spent aboard, and he nearly stumbles into the midst of his fellow agents. "You know I'd like to say I'm looking forward to being captured, but I'm not. Good Theodic, instead of letting them have the run of us, how about we go for the tested "pay them until the talk" method or the ever-so popular "beat them until they talk" method? And we're in luck because we are docking in an entire city of bribable or beatable fools. But that's if we decide to play it "safe" as our host, the honorable Temel Passad wishes it."

He pauses and looks at the two dwarves, biting down on his lower lip in thought. "Of course, the fair Metella makes a good point. I'm sorry wise Amauhak but you stick out like bundled-up virgin in a temple of Calistria. No offense meant. So I guess the question is, does one of us feel confident enough to sell both our story and how we don't want to have our hold searched?"

I'm no actor but I'm a soldier and could act like one.
My preference, as I said earlier, is to stay on the lake and take care of any Razmiran we can meet with steel and giving them water as their last home.

As I have it at the moment:
Avoid - Gratius, Tomlin and Jethryk
Visit - Tanariel
Undecided - Theodic, Iago.

Unless both Theodic and Iago opt for visiting today, I'll advance things by tying to avoid the town tonight.

Iago looks around at his other fellow agents in the silence following Gratius's declaration, expectantly. When noone else opines, he coughs and says with an enthusiasm he doesn't quite feel: "I see. Well then, let us avoid Xer, save good Passad a couple platinum, and hope that we don't find ourselves wet.". With that, he turns around and rolls his eyes in irritation. This is going to be an interesting journey.

With the clear majority in favor of avoiding Xer, Temel sighs.

"Two platinum to safeguard our voyage seems small change to me."

Metella just nods with satisfaction. "Wise choice. No sense in walking into a lions den. If it is hungry it will find us anyway, if not... no need to put ourselves in its path."

The captain skillfully avoids the city and blends with other shipping to avoid the faith barges. It seems all is well... until one of the other merchant ships hoists a Razmiri flag and steers a course to intercept the Abacus!

"Halt and and await inspection!" comes the cry from the other boat.

"The search occurs regardless," Tanariel mutters as he checks his crossbow and the glint of something under his cloak.

Iago waves cheerfully at the occupants of the faith barge, while saying to his fellow Pathfinders through his wide grin: "Alright! So new plan: let them board us, we send them swimming or to a watery grave then sink the other boat quickly? Anyone opposed?" He then approaches the bow, and yells "AHOY THERE!", attempting to look thrilled by the incoming inspection.

I agree with that

Gratius takes his glaive and wait for the Razmiran to board them.

Stepping away from the edge of the Abacus, Tanariel mutters to himself and cups his face in his hands. After a good ten seconds, he straightens back up and approaches the edge with Iago. He places a hand on his shoulder. "For whatever you need, friend," he states quietly, as he scans the approaching Razmiri vessel and its inhabitants.

Tanariel's eyes appear particularly dark now, nearly perfectly black.

The sorcerer will cast mage armor on himself as a preparation for the trouble that might take place.

The boats close, and a couple of sailors put gangplanks between them.

A trained baboon leaps between the ships while two more faith-guards cross, one per gang plank. Meanwhile the baboon starts to search and sniff around.

"You failed to put into Xer. There is a starting 100gp fine for that. Or if you would prefer, we can confiscate your ship. Meanwhile - may as well tell us what you are trying to hard. Lower fine that way."

Map updated

Tanariel looks across the gangplanks to the other boat. He grins and winks, then sits down in a non-threatening position behind the crates in front of him. "In trust is safety, in safety, succor..." he intones to himself as he looks back behind him one more time to the vessel.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Knowing what Tanariel casts Gratius is ready to lunch an attack on the guards.
He moves between the two, his Glaive in hands.

Merisiel grins, and winks at the guard.

"Why, of course! All me to declare this", she says, throwing a dagger at the guard.

Dagger: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23, for 1d4 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 2 + (3) = 6 damage.

Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13, for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 *ADDITIONAL* damage.

Is this a surprise round or a iniatative round?

Well, we were not actually in combat. Until the spell was cast anyway.

ARRGH 2, long post with lots of rolls. Not repeating them again but..

As Tanriel casts his spell Jethryn throws a dagger, catching a guard in the throat. The other guard lunges forward at him, but just misses. The baboon also joins the frey, biting Theodic painfully.

The buy with the crossbow looks confused. "What? Why are you all fighting?"

Status, bold may post.
Theodic - 5 damage.
Iago
Tomren
Tanariel
Gratius
Jethryk
My guys
x-bow(green) - charmed
baboon (pink)
guard (blue)

Tanariel reaches out to the guard. "No, no, I'm not looking to fight. See? I'm not drawing my weapon. I'm not the problem."

Dazing Touch: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

Successful touch Dazes guard for a round.

The elf then steps back to the southwest in a calm and conciliatory manner.

Iago moves up to the nearest faith-soldier, drawing his broad-bladed greataxe. "Hey buddy, does holy Razmir gift you with under-water breath?" he taunts as he swings the blade down to cleave his skull in two.

Five foot step towards the bad guy, move to draw my weapon, power attack.

Splitting hairs! P.A.: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Splitting hairs! P.A.: 1d12 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

The guard tries to hit Tanariel as he uses his dazing touch.
AOO: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
crit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

The guard is slightly too quick for the cleric, and dodges out of reach of his fingers. However Iago proves to be.. persuasive in his discussion, knocking the guard to the ground.

Status, bold may post.
Theodic - 5 damage.
Tomren
Gratius
Jethryk
My guys
x-bow(green) - charmed
baboon (pink)
Tanariel 7 damage
Iago

Tomren draws his wand of Magic Missile and levels it at the soldier with the crossbow.

Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3