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

Game Master Derek Weil

Cut to scene of Johann, Walter, Gunther, Naurin, Malfeas, and Dimitra silently eating shwarma.

Day job roll

While the party waits in the city for Dakar to contact them, Johann sets up a mini-lab and produces alchemical concoctions which he sells to locals.

Craft (alchemy) using Crafter's Fortune: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24

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Naurin looks at Walter and considers Malfeas' proposition. "I think that is about as likely as me doing the Varisian tango," she says as she taps her stiff, lame leg, "But both could use some loosening up."

I had to look up shwarma. In another game with Naurin, a character was often eating a spicy sandwich, being a less-worldly zen archer who misunderstood what some elaborately - if barely - dressed locals were referring to when they spoke of a "Varisian Sandwich."

Malfeas darts behind Walter, "bumping" into him to send him stumbling towards Naurin.

Walter--normally not the nicest fella--accepts the jibs and banter of his fellow companions with a smile and a bow to Naurin.

Alas, I may but be able to appreciate your flowers from afar.
Abadar has my life.
Although, I could imagine that dance being done by you!

A grating sound erupts from Walter that you may interupt as laughter!

You wander a Downmarket street a few days after the events at the theater, when suddenly the street is empty of residents, the choking mass of humanity and monsters suddenly remembering they had something better to do. Standing about you in a loose circle are six burly men carrying cudgels and a seventh man, skinny and bedecked in robes and jewels, his right hand in a pouch on his belt. All of the men stare intently at you.

A very familiar scene!

"Dakar says you owe him a favor," says the skinny man in
robes. "You’ll need to come with us."

"Hey, its Poucho and his his six friends. We've been waiting for this. It's why we've spent the past few days all clustered together instead of scattering to the corners of your fine city. Makes it easy for you guys to collect us! Well, lets get this over with." responds Malfeas cooly.

"Did you at least wash the hoods this time?"

"Ah come on! As a favor we gave Pratt to Dakar, so we are even at favors. As a courtesy we will come with you but don't think we owe you anything."

Bluff: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

"Let's go. I'm not in the mood to quibble with messengers, when I'll see the big boss soon enough and get the word straight from him," Gunther comments, resigning himself to this fate.

To Dimitra:

"Well, all I know is to do what Dakar tells me. I'm glad you're in a cooperative mood, though."

To the group:

"Alright, let's be off"

With that you are hooded and put into another cramped wagon. You find yourself in a familiar place, a richly frunished building of some kind.

A shape, decidedly vague in outline, can be seen behind a screen and a voice speaks:

"You owe me a favor, little Pathfinders, and it’s time to pay up. The two most influential organizations in the city, my own Commerce League and the Ardoc family, have decided the Shadow Lodge's presence within our walls is at an end. We think it would be a problem best solved by your Pathfinder Society. In fact, I thought it such a good idea I decided to make the proposition directly to you: track down the Shadow Lodge, find its headquarters, exterminate its members, and rid the city forever of that meddlesome organization."

"Do not get me started on the topic of favors Dakar, we turned in Pratt to you, so that score is settled."

Dimitra's tone lightens considerably "That Shadow Lodge is also a thorn in our side, so we will deal with them. That will be on our terms and might include extermination of its members, but does not have to. Is there any information you can share about the whereabouts of this so-called lodge?"

Dimitra studied her Lonely Planet Blue Book (Kear Maga) this morning, so she gets a +2 to bluff, diplomacy and knowledge local to gather information concerning the city. Feel free to roll any dice on her behalf

Walter--in his usual manner--goes along with this meeting.

This better be good!

intimidate: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Naurin is given pause: "... exterminate ...", he said. No point in arguing over words - or agreeing to that. I'll hold my tongue and find a way to agree to something less noxious... ... By Iomedae, Dimitra is bold!

"We've dealt with the Shadow Lodge before. We'll take care of them -- and by take care of I mean Explodinate!"

"So, we are to run this Shadow Lodge out of the city. Fair enough," Gunther comments. "As long as it is gone you don't care, right?"

Walter nods as the others proclaim their choices.

Aye, this Shadow Lodge does need to be eliminated.
They are an affront to the Society. Their lawlessness angers Abadar!

Malfeas stays remarkably quiet as the others discuss the atrocies of the Shadow Lodge, having once been a member himself before their untimely disbanding. These false Lodge members would pay for disgracing the name.

The shaodwy figure shifts in his seat. He lets out a quiet, scratchy chuckle, then speaks:

"Well, you are correct. You may use whatever means you feel are necessary. We will not be upset if you use lethal force, but if you wish to drag these vermin off to Absalom, so be it. I'm not familiar with these 'Explodinators', but please try not to wreck too much of the city."

"My eyes and ears have not yet pinpointed the exact location of the Shadow Lodge's base of operations, but enterprising little Pathfinders such as yourselves should have no problem tracking them down. You might try Downmarket or the Meatgate - lots of eyes there may have seen something."

Walter turns to leave.

"Meatgate sounds ... promising?"

Naurin gives a little bow to the man behind the screen, and appears a bit apologetic, even, "It seems we are eager to begin our search and fulfill our mission. We bid you good day!" Drandle Dreng did tell us to mind our manners, so far as to be obsequious where ridiculed for it.

"Thank you!" says Johann, tipping an imaginary cap, and turning to follow Walter.

So we are of to ask people on the street again.

Dimitra follows her companions out

Once outside, Walter turns to the party.

We will need to be either quiet while inquiring about this Shadow Lodge...

He then smiles.

...or we can make a lot of noise and let them find us?

Gunther manages a sort of nod of respect as he leaves.

Back outside with the party, he listens to Walter.
"I wouldn't mind some 'finding', it would make things easier. But I suppose we should ask about for them and let them choose how they want to be found, eh?"

"We have the one lead from Pratt - "Vadoma", who fled the scene of the goblin attack."

Dakar dismisses you with formal politeness and you are returned to the streets where you were picked up. Inquiring about the location of Meatgate, a famous local market, does not take long.

As before, we'll use Knowledge Local and Diplomacy checks to see what you uncover.

Walter will attempt some not-so-subtle inquiries about the area.

After asking Abadar's guidance--of course!

diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18

Hey you there! Ever heard of the Shadow Lodge?!

lol

Knowledge: Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Walter and Gunther step intoa tavern and look around. Seeing a lone dwarf at a table, walter shouts his question. The dwarf, upset to have his drinking disturbed, responds:

"Shadow Lodge, eh? Seems I heard 'bout 'em. I heard they got into a fight with some Pathfinders at the Naderi Theater. The Shadow Lodge got the worst of that one, I hear. couldn't say I know anything else, 'cause I don't."

With that the dwarf returns to to beverage.

Malfeas stays with Naurin, trying to help her wrangle up some information. "Hottie with leapard print undergarments seeks information about a shadowy lodge to do business in!"

Aid another diplomacy: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (12) - 2 = 10

What? *feign innocence*

Walter grunts at the dwarf, returning out side.

We need to be a little more obvious, I think Gunther.

Diplomacy (Gather Information): 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 2 = 21
"Fortunately for me, Malfeas, you are no longer with the Shadow Lodge," replies Naurin ambiguously, as she puts out more discreet (non-leopard print) feelers.

Dimitra tries to use information from her blue book to steer conversations with locals to the Shadow Lodge

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 2 = 22

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

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Johann seeks out the gnome and halfling communities in Kaer Maga, hoping they might have heard or seen something that the larger folk have not.

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Walter turns to Gunther.

Perhaps we retrace our steps and take a long look around the last place we met up with them? ...
at the Naderi Theater.

"We have two places in the city to ask questions at. Let's ask a bit more, just to let them know we're looking for them. And who knows, mayhaps one of the others might find out something."

Mal's comments earn him and Naurin a number of curious stares, but no repsone.

Naurin asks more than a dozen people about the Shadow Lodge, but despite her discretion nor additional information is forthcoming.

Johann finds a small group of gnomes wandering the marketplace, and they tell him they've heard rumors about a "Shaodw Lodge" lurking around the Bottoms, similar to rumors you heard just a few days ago.

By late afternoon/early evening, you are gettign exhausted and fristrated with your inquiries. You wind your way back through the Meatgate.

Johann and Malfeas notice four figures detach themselves from the crowd. The see two humans, a half-orc and a gnome. The gnome has a bow, the half-orc has a scimitar in had. The two humans are robed, one carries a staff and the other a dagger.

Initiatives:
Gunther: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Walter: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Johann: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Dimitra: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Naurin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Malfeas: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Surprise Round:
Gnome bowman
Human w/ dagger
Human w/ staff
Johann
Malfeas
Half-orc.

Map coming. Right now all squares count as difficult terrain, as there is a crowd of people still trying to get away from an obvious fight.

"Perhaps, for the sake of efficiency, we could just send Malfeas and a couple of arrows to the Naderi Theater - that's all it took last time."

Walter smiles excitedly at Naurin.

Perhaps, later? We seem to have a slight diversion initiating!

Walter nods ahead.

Map is up! G = gnome, O = half-orc. W & C = humans, you guess the initials ;)

Can't call actions for surprise round until the bad guys take their actions.

Crap, you're right. And I couldn't get to my PC last night. Let me see... I don't want to cheapen things, but I hate when the bad guys are staggered.

The gnome and the two humans look on menacingly. One human begins casting a spell, but holds it in his hand. The gnome aims his bow, but does not shoot, and the woman nods over to the half-orc, as if signalling that her attack will be their cue to strike as one.

Mal and Johann may now act.

Sorry, Walter and I were ninja'ed by the GM. :-P

We could consider, though, Naurin to have established life links with Gunther, Malfeas and Walter, reestablishing them as needed (if anyone goes over 130' away at some point). There doesn't appear to be other time limits or such.

Bad GM!

oops...

"Trouble! " Johann thinks, and flexes his wrist, a wand ejecting from the sheath into his grasp. He activates the wand and a circle of nearly-transparent force appears in front of him. Shield for 1 minute, 49 of 50 charges remain.

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Walter looks menacingly at the other Half-Orc!

just role-playing some free actions...lol!

Malfeas sees the spellcaster hesitate in his casting and hopes to interrupt the man before he unleashes his spell at the closely packed group. Seeking out that calm that so often eludes him, Malfeas sends two arrows out in the span of a heartbeat. The first he puts a bit of focus on, hoping having already zoned in on his target will help the second shot.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 = 261d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5
Attack 1 PS: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13
Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 1 = 231d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

BAH! stupid D8's

Johann casts his spell, and Mal's arows both slam itno the spellcater. Even though they do not pierce a deeeply as they have before, the man sways unsteadily, then collapses to the gorund when he tries to turn and flee!

The half-orc advances straight at Walter, moving 10' due west (and is now 10' away, conventiently...)

With that, the gnome bowman looses his arrow at Gunther!

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

The arrow strikes, leaving a gash on Gunther's arm.

The human woman does nothing for now.

Round 1:

Gunther
Dimitra
Johann
Malfeas
Naurin
bad guys
Walter

After Dimitra and Naurin potentially buff him...

When the gnomes shot strikes his ally, Malfeas turns onto the Gnome, stepping forward as the rapidly fleeing crowd gives way 5’ step to north of Gunther. ”Let’s see who is the better archer pipsqueak!” he taunts, hoping to prevent their foes from focusing down Gunther.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 1 = 231d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5
Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 171d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 = 10