[PFS/DMK] 5-08 The confirmation (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

Hmm.. I find the second one that Miss Olga deciphered to be particularly interesting. I wonder if these are somehow connected to the behaviors of the Gillmen? Could they be using these caves as hiding for stolen treasure? I'll write these two sayings down, if someone else wants to take a quick rubbing of the carvings...

Her interest piqued, Kendra has another look around to see where they might head next.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

The soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west.

Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawn off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama, and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey.

Kneeling in the pool is a lone humanoid figure, with its back toward the party, silently occupied with something. Upon a closer look, his neck seems to be lines with fish-like gills.

Kendra blows out her lantern and quietly puts it away. Desiring peaceful answers via diplomacy first, she would like to speak to the gillman, but not scare it...

since the answer to "what do the gillmen speak" was a bit unclear, and I'm not sure what's appropriate, take whatever is needed here:

knowledge-nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

missed linquistics check
linquistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

You've already rolled for knowledge on gillmen at the start of the adventure, but for that 20 I'll grant you this: Gillmen speak gillman common.

"Gillman, stand and speak with us ...", says Natas, ready but not threatening.

credit for trying..something even if not sure what the heck the something should be...thanks :) and..yay! Map change :)

Kendra stands, watching and waiting..

"Is, is that one of the Gillmen?" Triblin asks as he starts walking towards the person. "Greetings good sir or madame! I hope we aren't intruding on you!"

The gnome seems to not even try to be quiet as he starts walking ahead of the group. There's only one person here aside from everyone else, why should he be afraid?

"Should I eh... tap him on the shoulder?"

Hikage studies the carvings with great interest, though he doesn't let out a single emotion.

"These are priceless to the Society. I wish we could find a way of drawing them to submit them to the Scrolls back in the Grand Lodge."

Turning to the presence in the second part of the cavern, the samurai gazes at the man intently, now knowing what to expect.
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 16

"These are priceless to the Society. I wish we could find a way of drawing them to submit them to the Scrolls back in the Grand Lodge."

Agreed, but it seems we have another matter to attend to... Kendra whispers as Nantas begins speaking first. Then...

oh good grief..so much for quiet diplomacy Kendra thinks as she follows Triblin's unabashed movement towards the focused, and potentially volatile, stranger. Kendra positions herself out of range, but with a clear path of view to the Gillman.

The adventurers approach the gillman. His back is still towards Nantas as she asks her question, but has turned around when Triblin asks hers. He stares, concentrated, at Triblin's face, but remains silent. He then look around the group, spending an especially long time looking at Olga.

sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 11

"What is your intent! Are you casting one of those new fangled mesmurist spells?! stand back he's probably trying to compel us to his will!", yells Natas, holding her glaive at the ready, standing now with bent knee, ready to spring.

"Wuh... why eh... why is he looking at me like that?"

Sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

"I think he likes you~" Triblin says as he nudges Olga in the side.

sense motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

"At least that's what I would like to believe. I think he's more interested in the cloak you have on your shoulders. Seems similar to the one by the water over there just by glancing," the gnome explains, pointing towards the folded material by the water.

Olga grumbles something in response to Triblin's remark.

"Well he can have it. I think it's broken anyway, I'm not feeling any warmer at all!"

And she tosses the cloak at the gillman's feet, before donning her old fur one once more.

Good observation Triblin Kendra responds to Triblin, as she stands back, observing the strangers moves to try to piece the picture together.

sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

aaanndd... she has no clue....

She takes a turn at communicating with the furtive and mysterious stranger.

We are not here to harm you.. Only to learn about your kind and if we may help you. What do you have there that you're working on?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

aaannndddd. it falls on deaf gillman ears...

"Well he can have it. I think it's broken anyway, I'm not feeling any warmer at all!"

Kendra's eyebrows furrow in frustration..

Detect Magic on the pool of water.

anyone have good number for intimidate? Maybe that will loosen his lips?

Nantas Raises he bardiche , and as intimidatingly as possible, "Our patience is wearing thin! We have companions in danger and you need to speak now before we decide our own narrative for your presence!"

intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

oooh.. good one!

"Hold! Let him speak."

PS I'm guessing that Janira is not in the party right now -- see map.

Shonne, are you preventing Nantas from making that intimidate attempt?

The gillman looks a bit shocked at Kendra plain-spoken words, and her speech indeed falls on deaf ear - literally, as the gillman is using lipreading to understand the adventurers. He frown, but the donation of the cloak keep him from becoming outright mad.

I'll wait for a confirmation on whether you want to use that intimidate or not - remember, it may work to coerce on the short term, but you may not like the long-term consequences

Shonne, are you preventing Nantas from making that intimidate attempt?

Well I am certainly interupting her. I'm not sure that I am preventing her though.

Olga frustratetly smacks Nantas on the back of her head using a cooking pan, preventing her from threatening the gillman too much.

"Nantas!? Behave! This is his cave, remember! We're here to investigate, remember! Getting angry never helps, you see! My father taught me this, you see! How are you ever going to find a proper husband if you keep behaving like this, you see!?

Olga then clumsily tries to tell the gillman that they mean no harm in improvised sign language. She also offers it some leftover blueberry pie.

"Wu-eeh... Meh-een.... youhhh.... n'ohhh... haaaarrrmm. Pleeeasuh.... haaaav..... summm... Pieeeh."

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9
Profession(Cook): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

sorry if I was out of line about intimidating..I don't know if Nantas felt pressured because of me.. if so.. I'll take it back humbly!

no it's good, I felt no pressure. I like others here have played this scenario. I let the new folk call the shots in this scene. Everyone else is oddly timid and more friendly than your typical encounter goes ...

I have played this before, but Triblin is almost always try to start things peacefully, with a little banter. Other than that, I also let the newer players pick first, as to what actions our group may take.

I had a long answer, so took it took it to OOC discussion :)

Olga tries being friendly once more, but it only seems to grate on the gillman. Finally, Nantas' intimidating presence causes the gillman to become more cooperative. Please don't hurt me. Thes is a sacred cave to us, I'm just here to perform my worship.

This was once a cave dedicated to Aroden, but his magic seems to have faded along with the carvings. Nowadays dangerous creatures have invaded these caves, the gillman says as he points to the west and east exits.

"What sort of creatures?"

"Sorry, sorry, sorry! It seems that our friend here has a short temper!" Triblin hurriedly explained, while giving Nantas a slight punch on the leg. "Also, I agree, what kind of creatures have invaded?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

If you can tell us more about these creatures, we may be able to get rid of them for you...we are as interested in keeping these special caves safe as you are, but we may have a bit more power to do that.

The wayang treads forward and addresses a formal bow at the gillman. "I am sorry - we haven't been properly introduced yet. I am Hikage Kasai, Warden of the Pathfinder Society - at least of these new agents. I wish to apologize for our improper behavior. Please understand those words were born out of our lack of comprehension of gillmen customs, and fear to find someone threatening our mission. You are obviously not such a person, and thus deserve our sincerest apologies."

and yet it was the intimidation that finally got him to talk... go figure ;)

Creatures of the night. Some of my brothers perished. the gillman responds, still feeling threatened by Nantas

Nantas stands down, lowering her weapon, "I apologize ... your silence and seeming to ignore our inquiries was threatening. I have heard in the Pathfinder Chronicles of far less suspicious actions leading to battle. We do not mean to intrude ... "

Do your people have a name for these creatures of the night? Have you seen them yourself?

limites availability until tomorrow evening. Not as necessary. Natas will be really really nice from now in

I haven't seen, but heard their moan. Some of my friends went in there, and never came back...

Maybe it's time to move on. Do you want to do something else here, or move to a different location?

"A moan does not mean they are dead. Regardless, we should see what the threat is. Agreed?" Because of her accent it is hard to infer whether what Shonne says is a question, statement or command. She is holding a spear though.

"Regardless, we have to investigate this matter. Let's head east." says the Wayang, leading his companions while riding Yôru.

Kendra follows, taking hold of her bow and a bolt.

Olga follows as well.

"Kendra do you know anything about the plaform in the pool, by the way?"

It's nice puzzle. Let me just recap the description of this room.

The soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west.

Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawn off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama, and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey.

Kneeling in the pool is a lone humanoid figure, with its back toward the party, silently occupied with something. Upon a closer look, his neck seems to be lines with fish-like gills.

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Well poo on that nat 1!

It seems familiar, but I can't put my finger on it.... Kendra or anyone else have some sort of idea?

Triblin sits down and starts to rub his head while muttering to himself.

Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6

My dice are against me :P

Knowledge (any, untrained - max 10): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

"This is Absalom, of course. Notice the Starstone cathedral here?"

Knowledge (any of the above untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

"The trinkets are offerings, yes? But what do the frogs represent?"

So sorry...preoccupied over weekend.Will post first thing in morning

"Hah ... It's like they are whee little people in the whee little city!"