[PFS] GM Derek W's City of Strangers Parts I & II #01-51 & 52 (Inactive)

Game Master Derek Weil

Malfeas continues his barrage on the distant foe, doing everything he can to ensure his arrows strike home.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 161d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7
Attack 1 PS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 25
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 251d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10
Attack 2 PS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 24

17 more damage to AC 25

"I would say your performance is dismal, rather than dramatic !" Dimitra shouts.

She draws one of her daggers and continues singing

Holy crap Mal! Can you roll my attack dice from now on?

Malfeas send two more shafts directly into the man, and he immediately falls to the ground, unconscious and bleeding out of his massive wounds.

Lol. In a home game, my Zen archer got even sillier when a cleric gave him touch of luck, and "every D20" got to be rolled twice. I used Ki for an extra attack and all my perfect shots and for 5 attacks, I got to roll 20 dice. Needless to say, I hit a few times, lol.

Nicely done Malfeas! Although i would suspect Walter to be slightly miffed ...lol

Walter turns his head and nods to Malfeas.
He smiles knowly and he continues to the fallen idiot!

Well, I suppose that I am just here for my socialness and friendliness!

It's all good Walter you're an inspiration anyway! I just picked up the APG and decided to rebuild my lvl 1 paladin as a human Inquisitor of Abadar, wielding a longspear. As a CPA, I thought it was too funny when I read that the church of Abadar celebrates "Taxfest" each year.

I'm going to push things forward just a tad, following what you've shown to be typical for your group.

The team rushes to the fallen man, and ties him up. Naurin checks his wounds, stabilizing him.

Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 4

She then channels energy, bringing the captive back to consciousness.

As the party questions him, the man begins to speak.

"Perhaps you were right. so much for a dramatic showdown, wot? Rather a shame,I really must practice. Wymund Pratt's my name. Shadow Lodge, you say? Yes, I'm part of that organization. No, I simply can't tell more about it, because we are a very careful lot. No one knows the names of members outside their own team."

"Are there others of the Shadow Lodge about the city?" With that he laughs heartily. "Oh, yes."

"You better explain why you wanted me dead." Dimitra asks in her guise of Colgardie.

"Elementary, old bean. 'Twas that letter you sent to the Society. We couldn't be having any meddlesome Decemvirate lackeys poking about. Obviously we were too late. I really must find better help."

You can tell, even without a practiced examination, that he is being perfectly honest and forthright.

Johann pulls Walter aside, far enough away that the man can't overhear, and whispers to him. "Should we let him know that he did succeed in killing Colingarde, and is therefore a murderer, and we have no reason to keep him alive unless he provides us with more information? "

-Posted with Wayfinder

I am truely honored Derek!

Walter prays to Abadar for His guidance as he listens intently to Wymund Pratt's story.

sense motive: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 = 28

Walter grins thinking as Johann speaks.

Well, I am under the impression that he is telling us the truth.
You realize that just the admission to the exsistance of this Shadow Lodge is important to our mission.
We will need some sort of tangiable proof to bring back with us.

I am not sure if revealing the truth to him will make a difference in the information...

So, it this when the Shadow Lodge is introduced?

"Why start some "Shadow Lodge" here? Even as an alternate, it doesn't seem to be wanted by any of the locals, which is why the Society doesn't have its own lodge here."

Right. I'm not sure if they're hinted at in prior scenarios, but here is their first bonda-fide appearance.

"Well, truth be told it wasn't our only option. But Kaer Maga is out of the way, with no government to meddle in our affairs. And it's a long way from Absalom. But it appears the Society's reach extends a bit further than we planned, eh?"

"You said no one knows people outside their own team. Who else is on your team, I have a POINTment to make with them." remarks Malfeas coldly. Turning to the others, "I know you like saving people, but I think we should hand this cocky ass over to your friends Colligarde. They might like to get to know him better."

Colgardie grins "I think my friends would love to speak to him. It's also good to get rid of that favor I owe them.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"Although it might be that the Decimverate also has some questions for him, weren't you supposed to be in Arcadia Wymund?"

You know that he is entitled to a perception check vs my disguise check? The +10 from disguise self only lasts 10 minutes

Thanks! I completely forgot that.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 16

A slight change seems to come over Pratt, and he drops a large share of his bravado.

"I suspect you lot killed my team as it were. Those goblins in the Halflight Path. I had another associate nemd Vadoma, but it seems she's fled the scene. The Decemvirate might want me indeed. I'm sure I annoyed Besel Ardoc and that blasted Dakar as well. But do consider our cause. Please, can't you see? The Decemvirate asks us to risk our lives with no explanation. True, we get paid, but they've become reckless and decadent! We only want to restore the Society to its former goals and purposes. Why all the secrecy? Especially from our own agents? Do with me what you will. My life is now forfeit anyway, but please think on this."

The papers that you saw on the stage are supply lists and a list of code names and dates. There is also a list of cities on one sheet: Absalom, Sothis, Kaer Maga, Oppara, Whitethrone, and Almas. If asked about the names, dates, and cities, Pratt says, "We’ve been busy."

You are unable to get any further information from him.

Malfeas balks at the mention of secrecy from someone who has been hiding in the shadows. ”Well, if your life is forfeit. One inch death punch!” shouts Malfeas, as he strikes the man in the side of the head. Then, seeing the others react, motions them to calm down. ”I just knocked his ass out. It’ll be a nice surprise for him to wake up wherever we decide to dump him.”

Non-lethal damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"I don't think his complaint has merit, after all any of us could quit at any time and go home, we're here willingly. The Society is made of secrets -- we all know that. I mean, I've heard not even famous Venture-Captains like Count Jeggare have seen the faces of the Decimvirate. "

-Posted with Wayfinder

"They pay well, and I've learned more than I would on the deck of an Ulfen raiding ship," Gunther observes. "Though we might mention the goblin attack on the Halflight Path to the proper athorities, so they can get the path open sooner."

Well, I guess I can heal him up again if there are more questions, but Malfeas is definitely playing the role of 'bad watchman'.

"I've been able to more good than I would have been able to do without the Society, and I think the Society is out to do good at least as much as it is to do its stated missions of exploring and collecting lore. As for risk, things may have sometimes gotten too risky *cough* Beggar's Pearl *cough*, but we also have seen that the Society looks after its own: Think only as far back as our saving of Kalkamedes - and we saved a powerful angel and helped banish a powerful demon!"

"Besides, any Lodge members who would align themselves with the insane and sadistic goblins are probably not the wisest choices to create a new or reformed, more caring Pathfinder Society."

Hey, Derek said we'd get nothing more from him. That's GM speak for deal with the NPC so we can move on with the game ;)

Walter smiles as Malfeas "finishes" his conversation with the now unconscious traitor.

We could bring him back to face justice?

Dimitra shrugs "You obviously feel stronger about this than I do, but what do I know, this is my first assignment as a Pathfinder. "

Walter grins.

Abadar's law cannot be so recklessly violated!
I believe that he most at least be turned over to a proper authority if we can not take him with us.

"Taking him with us might be difficult since the authorities here, such as they are, may not let us take him. But, I'm sure that someone could get more information out of him if we could only get him to a proper Lodge. No doubt that he would fare better, as well, out of the reach of a city such as this and with the enemies he has made."

Walter looks at Naurin, shaking his head.

I have no clue as to where the closet Lodge may be.

"I'm not sure there IS a proper authority in Kaer Maga. Ardoc or Dakar would come close, but I wouldn't have any idea how to get back in touch with Dakar on short notice."

Naurin laughs. "Walter - you misunderstand me. I meant getting him back to a real Pathfinder Society lodge, like Heidmarch Manor in Magnimar. One spell to charm him and the information would flow, I would imagine."

"If we could get him past the city gates we might return with him aided by the Duskwardens - they would have an interest, I am sure, in seeing that whatever threat to their operation is dealt with, especially since it seems that one 'Vadoma' escaped. (Well, the threat may be over from the goblins since it was Pratt's team that we killed, and it seems we were their target anyway, but the Duskwardens don't need to know every detail.)"

Or are we meant to stay in the city for part II? Perhaps following up on Vadoma?

"We should follow up on Vadoma, and keep this fellow under wraps for a while."

Well, i suppose that we can just have Malfeas...stand by him and just knock him unconscious every few hours.

Walter looks to the others with a serious expression on his lips.

He nods to Malfeas with a hitting gesture.

I, myself, could cower him, but we would need to cart him along on any fellow-up venture.
Or we could attempt to take him to the Duskwardens to hold for us until we decide to return to a Lodge.

Walter looks over at Naurin. How far is this Heimarch Manor in Magnimar?

"I still think we should turn him over to Dakar, we owe him a favor and I do not like to be beholden to anyone if I can help it."

Dimitra is easing out of her disguise.

"I guess we could drag him out with use," Gunther speculates, pulling out his sap. "I can make sure he doesn't stay awake too long too, and can share the duty with Malfeas."

I thought the Magnimar Pathfinder house was new in the Shattered Star AP, so would it be open yet?

I don't know anything about the APs, but our characters met the founder when we received the Night March of Kalkamedes assignment, so perhaps? :)

Nicely played Naurin

Yes, I'm not sure where Sheila Hiedmarch fits into things. Let's just say the place exists for now. It may have less bearing on what happens than you think...mwahaha!

The group agrees to take Wymund Pratt to the nearest Society lodge. The teams gathers the docuemnts they discovered on the stage and escorts the man to the nearest gate. Before reaching it the crowd disperses. The Pathfinders see Besel Ardoc with his usual Golem retinue, some of the same thugs who "escorted" them to Dakar's and a hadful of Duskwardens. ardoc speaks:

"So, you got your man I see. The thing is, we'd really like to have a talk with him as well. I think it would be best for everyone if you just turned him over to us. Right now."

Malfeas lets out a low whistle at the collected might sent to acquire the man so that he can get a bit of Kaer Magan justice. Looking around the areas, he motions for the others to come over and examine some of the most exquisite vases he’s ever seen. Malfeas will try and keep the group distracted while the collectors spirit away their new toy.

Letting them have him without giving him over, so we can feign ignorance if there are rammifications.

Naurin, unwilling to hide her culpability in giving him over, speaks between gritted teeth, knowing that she speaks an unwelcome truth about the law: "Mr. Pratt, I am sorry, but it appears that here is where we part company, and crimes committed in Kaer Maga will be punished according to the laws and customs of Kaer Maga, such as they are."

Dimitra steps aside, hands hanging loose in a non-threatening way.

Malfeas tries to hide his eye roll as Nauron begins to discuss laws and customs of Kaer Maga, "Yeah, laws and customs." he mutters under his breath, "And I'm sure he'll get a fair trial..."

Walter narrows his stern gaze at those around them.

Justice by the Law of this Land is practical. We will submit to your laws.

"Will there be enough of him left over afterwards to take back?" Gunther asks. "I'm sure he has stuff of interest to both of us, so perhaps we can come to some kind of arrangement?"

Gunther is not going for weapons or threatening, he's just holding his hands open, gesturing as he talks, hoping one of the more diplomatic members will negotiate if it seems possible.

I believe that an unusual situation has developed here.
I understand your...concern for this man,
but We believe that the proper authorities should be the ones to...handle him. Yes?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"I know it is personal with you, Ardoc, and with the Duskwardens, and with Dakar, but it is also personal to the Pathfinders and to Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng, to whom Horis Collgardie chose to write the letter that resulted in us coming here to do our part in ending the unauthorized, 'shadow' lodge. Although he was a friend of yours, and you have a reason to see this threat ended, so do we. Shouldn't we give some consideration to the late Collgardie's wishes and judgement?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

While 'fate' will likely have it another way, since we are going to argue this in character, I'll just provide Naurin's 2 coppers in support of Gunther.

"I'm sure there are ways to have your revenge without rendering him incapable of answering questions. "

Aid another for Naurin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

-Posted with Wayfinder

Ardoc considers Naurin and Johann's comments a moment.

"Perhaps you are right. We'll be sure to keep him alive for now. I have a feeling Dakar will be "sending" for you before long. Please don't go running off just yet.'

With that, the posse departs with Pratt in tow. You are left standing in the street wondering what might come next...

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART II!

Walter frowns at the mention of being sent for by Dakar.

I have a feeling that we have only scraped the surface of this venture!

sound of dramatic music enters here!

"So, Malfeas, found some attractive vases there? Maybe we could pick out some flowers next?"

Sorry to step on the dramatic music, but I'm feeling snarky.

that's ok. it is like the restaurant scene after the credits in Avengers....

SHWARMA!!!

"Oh I don't know about flowers. I just thought with all your education on the ways of the street walker, you might like some place to put any earnings you might receive." responds Malfeas to Naurin's snarky banter. "If I wasn't a Monk of pristine virtue unquestionionable character, I might even pay for Walter to be your first customer." Tears begin to well up in the archers eyes as he tries not to burst out into laughter over this whole thought.