[PFS] Granta's Consortium Compact (Inactive)

Game Master Granta

Zev looks up at Everbloom and gives her an incredulous look.

"I don't even know who the target is yet." He whispers through gritted teeth. Hoping it's been long enough so as not to be suspicious he wanders over the bar to order a drink, seeing Kembe lean over to Sejiri, he pulls up a seat next to the halfling, hoping to get an update as well.

"How's it going gentlemen?" He says with a nod, pretending to be unfamiliar with them. "Don't suppose any of you are in need of a traveling entertainer are you? Just arrived here in Diobel and my partner and I are looking to earn some gold." He locks eyes with Sejiri and gives a hopeful smile.

Sejiri copies the move and leans closer. "That man over there, his armor is quite something. I think he is from one of the Consortia." In a more audible voice, he says, "I have always enjoyed bringing the audience in on such entertainment. Perhaps you could pull a trick, or a prank, on someone here? How about that person? I'll make it worth your while, his, too, should he be angry at the effects."

There are three phases to this encounter, each with a skill check requirement. You auto-succeed on the prep phase for having such a good idea. Now it is time to deal with an unexpected twist. Each of you can (and should) make one skill or CMB check of your choice, though it does have to make sense to me. And keep in mind, a CMB check is likely to cause combat.

As Sejiri leans over and whispers to Zevryn, Pal gives the two of you a long look. "You'll be needing to make it worth my while, first."

I'm not totally sure what I'm reacting to at the moment, thus what skills would be appropriate to try and use.

Everbloom watches the patrons for anyone who might seem suspicious of her or her companions.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Kembe is going to have to wait on those of a more chaotic nature to enact their plan here, causing a big scene and being disruptive is not something he'd be good at.

Kembe thanks the bartender for his second glass of water and gives curious glances to those seated around him "How much longer on that fish you think Pal?" He does his best to keep an eye out, especially on the man with the fancy armor and anyone he may speak with.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

"Oh, of course! The patron always gets a cut of the profits! How about twenty percent?" Zevryn says while he looks at Sejiri. "And how much might the fine gentleman here be paying me?"

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Plan should be enacted soon, once we get Pal's permission to play a prank I'll summon the Skunk and we'll be off.

Forvenniel quietly sips her drink, and then realises if there is a consortium agent, he may have magic on him...

She quietly casts detect magic and scans the room.

spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

"Oh Pal, think of the business opportunities! An act might just be what you need to bring in more customers. What do you say? I'd like to see it too!" he says, hoping a little business acumen and social pressure tips him over to the other side.
________

Let's wait an extra day to see if anybody else wants to help deal with Pal.

[ooc]Note from OOC post, Forvenniel makes a small piece of junk jewelry for him as part of the bribe.[/oo

Forvenniel takes out a semi precious stones, a pair of tweezers and a bit of bronze twine. Between drinks, she puts them together, weaving the twine around the blue stone until it looks like a small egg in a birds nest.

"Here, offer him this. It might go down well with his girl."

take ten on jewelry making: 10 + 8 = 18

Pal takes Forvenniel's jewelry and after a quick look, hands it to his dishwasher. "Give that to your wife tonight, Gregon, and maybe she'll let you sleep in the bed for a change!"

The bartender turns to Zevryn, "All of nothing is still nothing. Why don't you just enjoy your drinks, and holler when you need another round."

You have failed this attempt, but got close enough that a second try is allowed.

Forvenniel's fingers continue their work. This time rather than a birds nest she takes out a small sheet of copper, so fine it is almost like paper. Clever fingers bend and fold it, smoothing it out. A knife cuts the sheet in two and trims the edges. Each half is then folded and rounded. Finally a tiny hinge is added to the back, leaving a small bronze oyster, ready and waiting for a pearl to be put in it.

"Maybe something for your girl too?" she suggest to Pal.

Everbloom wanders over to the bar.

"Well, hello, handsome!" Everbloom says to the bartender. "What's going on here?"

"Mmmm, I love a good performance." Everbloom coos at Zevryn. Turning to the bartender she adds, "Come one, I'll make it worth your while..."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Zevryn stares at Sejiri a little incredulous as the halfling fails to offer up any money.

"Well, you gotta spend money to make money I guess. Consider this an investment, if you like what you see, hire me again, yeah?"

He slides ten gold across the counter toward Pal with a smile.

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Well, dicebot betrays us again.

"You know what? I really want to see this too, here are a couple of pieces from me too. Can't beat some good entertainment!" he claims, sliding over five more gold pieces.
________

Kembe looks a bit uncomfortable at the overall situation, his people skills and penchant for abiding laws tend to make him a bit of an 'old soul'. "I'm going to get a breath of fresh air, someone holler when the food arrives."

He heads outside and leans up against outside wall, watching the comings and goings for anything that seems out of place. Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

@Forvenniel: Did you forget to roll?

@Kembe: Your action will provide something useful, but won't help deal with Pal. Are you sure that's the action you want to take?

@Sejiri: Your companions could really use your help.

After seeing Pal notice and watching his allies try to bribe him, Sejiri has a slight internal debate. It is a long and grueling journey at the brisk speed of thought, culminating with, I needn't have a problem with it, we aren't asking anything illegal. Some are persuaded by the chance to do good, others with honeyed words, or coin.

He then takes a moment to speak aloud (albeit quietly) and produces ten more coins. "If that is what you want, so it will be," the halfling sighs. "This is the easiest and most profitable course of action for both of us." In his mind, he reels in slight surprise even as he speaks. Strange. This isn't how I think, in such narrow terms of how much one is being paid. I'm just...dreaming up what he wants to hear and giving it voice. But I did not think my mind worked this way. How am I doing it?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

@Forvenniel: Did you forget to roll?

@Kembe: Your action will provide something useful, but won't help deal with Pal. Are you sure that's the action you want to take?

@Sejiri: Your companions could really use your help.

Yes, Kembe thinks the others can sweet talk a bartender and he'd rather not be directly involved as it makes him uncomfortable, better the eyes and ears than being right there. Besides, maybe he'll get lucky and avoid being sprayed by a skunk out here...

Forvenniel will just take ten again for 18 on making the trinket jewelry

Pal takes a quick liking to the little knight--probably because he senses a good mark in the honest paladin. And once again, he accepts Forvenniel's gift on behalf of Gregon, but this time his lips stretch in a grin, "Doesn't matter much to me what you're buying, long as that wealth of yours keeps shifting to this side of my bar."

Same result as last time. You don't succeed, but don't utterly fail. Try again.

"You know what will keep things shifting to your side of the bar, Pal?" Everbloom asks with a toothy smile. "Staying open for business. And you know what will help that?"

She pauses only for a moment, before continuing, "Keeping me happy. I know all about your special pearls, and if you keep me happy, I might decide that I'd rather have you as my friend than the law. Doesn't that sound nice?" She smiles rather cruelly.

"Now, I would really like to see whatever this fellow's got up his sleeve. I'd also like a drink. On the house."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Note that I didn't include a bluff cause she's not lying. Everbloom's bored of trying to sway this man. If we don't skunk this place up soon she's thinking about flouncing off and calling the in the authorities.

Forvenniel, running short on trinkets to create from her pouch of oddments sighs, and makes a little tree with beaded leaves and brass branches.

"Provides a bit of colour to the place, wouldn't you say?" she says, placing it in the middle of the bar.

Take ten for 18, assuming I've been getting the feeling that he likes the trinkets.

Kembe heads back inside after seeing something outside that causes him alarm "How's that fish coming? Time here grows Short I'd really like to get moving... how about Now as you have another Customer coming inside and this place might get busy."

He makes sure to kick the foot of his brother's and Norril's stool to get their attention.

Picking up what Kembe's putting down, Norril tries harder to convince Pal that this little show is a good idea. "Special pearls? That would be a poor thing to let out. What do you say you keep the money we've given you, let this man put on a show, and we all go our separate ways. Thoughts to ourselves of course!" he says with a strained grin. We might just have to do it...
________

A bit alarmed at the proximity, Sejiri grows desperate and slightly snippy. "Another five coins, added on, then. We've played your game, now you can have the courtesy to play ours? We're certainly paying enough."

Diplomacy (Aid?): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Not sure if my last one was considered an Aid Another, if that was the case I guess this one is too. Unfortunate given those rolls....

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

"Look, Pal, we've payed you, as you asked. We've forked over more money than we've spent on drinks here, you're looking at a profit that, judging from this place, you haven't seen in a little while. I could take my business elsewhere, but you see the benefit in this, don't you?"

Zevryn taps his fingers on the bar impatiently.

@Kembe: Roll Bluff to deliver a secret message. NPCs have a chance to realize what you're really saying.

@Sejiri: You didn't say the last roll was an aid, so I didn't count it as one. This is just one of those mechanics where a certain number of PCs have to succeed.

@All: Exactly how much gold is being given to Pal, and by whom?

Pal laughs at Everbloom and Norril deep from his belly, "And it would make me happy if you jumped in the harbor. Your dandruff is making a mess of my bar, and you stink! And you, why don't you give my good customers a free performance. Entertainment always brings in bigger crowds."

"In case you haven't noticed," the bartender answers Forvenniel, "I don't like your silly trinkets, but they're good enough for my simpleton nephew, and I do have a soft spot for the fool."

His thoughts about Sejiri's gullibility confirmed, Pal holds out a palm to the paladin, "Coin is always accepted in the Overflowing Oyster."

"Perhaps you have a point, elfie. You may not be good customers yet, but you aren't bad ones either."

2 successes again. It all hinges on Kembe's Bluff check.

Bluff: 1d20 ⇒ 5 Kembe makes it pretty obvious in how he enunciates his words about the point he's trying to get across, perhaps a bit too obvious.

"This place was boring anyway." Everbloom laughs as she snatches one of her companion's drinks off the bar. As she backs up she 'bumps' into the fellow behind her, pouring the drink all over him.

Everbloom laughs. "Now it's getting interesting!"

We are cutting it close! Zevryn is going to have to go for it and we'll hope for the best. "What a waste..." he comments, shaking his head.

Norril downs the rest of his drink and heads towards an exit. Being closer to the door will make it easier to dip out of here depending on how this all shakes out...
________
Norril gave 5gp

Well, there goes all pretense we had of playing nice. Zev thinks angrily as Everbloom *accidentally* spills her drink.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
"Well, if you won't let me perform than I expect my gold back!" Zev says weakly. As he reaches across the bar for his coin the tattoo on his arm glows as Bevole takes the reins and appears on the floor, tail up, rear-end facing the man in blue and a quick spray of vile smelling liquid shoots out at the target.

Mid discussion Zev turns his head to look at his familiar, jaw slack.
"You scamp!" He says, trying to hide the smirk forming on his lips.

Ranged Touch: Spray: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Zev gave 10gp

"Not quite a pleasure doing business with you, but...we have done business," Sejiri mutters to Pal, as close as he can be to snide. "Once this all blows over, tomato juice is a good way to get the stench out. Or strong alcohol. I'm sure you have that in abundance." With that, the halfling sidles closer to a corner, not outside where the other man is but away from the action.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Sejiri gave 15 GP.

I do not consider sitting to be prone, so nobody needs to spend a move action getting away from their stools or chairs.

Maps

Round Surprise
Effects none
Terrain none

• Sejiri -
  
• Yellow -
  
• Blue - surprised
  
• Red -
  
• Forvenniel -
  
• Everbloom -
  
• Zevryn -
  
• Kembe -
  
• Norril -
  
• Bevole -

Unfortunately, the repeated arguments and general lack of spycraft make it rather easy for the trained spies to figure out something is going on, and you're unable to get much of a jump on them.

There's really nothing more to learn if you beat the knowledge checks.

Sejiri is up. Surprise action only.

Should I assume this all happens before Bevole sprays?

We were supposed to not kill them...I can try, but I doubt we'll be afforded the same mercy. Sejiri springs up and rushes the man in blue, waving his staff about and shouting, "Go away! Go away!"

Did I manage to dump my drink on him? lol

@Zevryn: Correct, Bevole making an attack roll is what takes us to initiative, and will be her first action. I had actually thought that you were going to spray the bar, not a person.

@Everbloom: You did, lol.

Maps

Round Surprise-1
Effects none
Terrain none

• Forvenniel -
  
• Everbloom -
  
• Zevryn -
  
• Kembe -
  
• Norril -
  
• Bevole -
  
• -----Round 1-----
  
• Sejiri -
  
• Yellow -
  
• Blue - surprised, sickened 0/1
  
• Red -

The man farther from Everbloom dashes around the table, drawing a a rapier on the bothersome kitsune, "That spill was no accident! Who are you?"

Pal simply draws a small, sloshing bag and shouts a warning about damaging his property, while Gregon cowers out of the way.

Everybody is up. Full action for Sejiri, surprise action for everyone else.

@Bevole: The spray will hit the guy on your initiative.

Ray of Enfeeblement (Touch): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Zevryn fires a ray of draining energy at the man in blue once weapons start being drawn.

"Bit of an over reaction, eh?" He says as chaos seems to break out around them.

As the sound of steel rings out Kembe quickly rushes into the forefront to defend his brother and allies "Drawing swords over a spilled drink? A bit rash don't you think?"

I'll roll bodyguard aid AC's below if it is needed.

"I didn't damage anything!" Everbloom shouts back at Pal, then she turns her attention to the man who drew a blade on her for spilling a drink.

"I sauntered right by you both with this beautiful body, and he didn't even bat an eyelash! I'm insulted is what I am!" Everbloom exclaims. "Why, what are you? His babysitter? Or his boyfriend? Must be his lover to draw a blade on a woman for spilling a drink!" She gets right up in man with the rapier's face as she yells at him, then nips at him with her teeth.

Arguing as a free action and biting the yellow fellow as a standard for the surprise round.

Bite Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Knowing when a fight is about to break out has saved my beautiful face many a time! With a smile, Norril begins a little song as he moves a closer and snags a mug of beer. This is the life!

"There's a county map to go on the wall
A hurling stick and a shinty ball
The bric, the brac, the craic & all
Lets call it an Irish pub!"
________
Inspire Courage: +1 att/dmg, saves vs fear

Forvenniel screams, a very girly scream at that. "A skunk!" and starts to mutter under her breath as she eyes up windows to escape through.

And starts casting her summon tiny animals spell

Sejiri opts for his sap instead of the staff as he takes a few whacks at the man. "Leave!"

Sap, IC vs. Blue: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 = 26
Damage, IC: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

@Zevryn: Remember the -4 for firing into melee.

Maps

Round 1-2
Effects inspire courage +1
Terrain none

• Forvenniel - 1 round casting
  
• Everbloom -
  
• Zevryn -
  
• Kembe -
  
• Norril -
  
• Bevole -
  
• -----Round 2-----
  
• Sejiri - prone/no actions? (0/?)
  
• Yellow -
  
• Blue - 5 NL, sickened 1/1
  
• Red -

Forvenniel begins a prolonged spell, and more brat than lady, Everbloom tries to nibble on her assailant. Zevryn's spell attempts to weaken the other man before he has a chance to enter the fight, but the sorcerer's aim isn't even close. And as usual, Kembe does his best to keep Sejri safe.

Norril bursts into song, as Bevole somehow manages to spray her man, who begins coughing and retching. Sejiri finally lands a blow for the party, though it's more of a warning shot.

The man behind Everbloom steps back quickly and hits Sejiri with a spell, while the other pulls out a sap and tries to return the paladin's attentions, but can barely keep his eyes open through the stink covering his face.

Everybody is up.

@Sejiri: DC 14 Will save or fall prone and do nothing but laugh. If you fail, make a second save on your turn.

Everbloom laughs, "Yeah, you'd better run!" she taunts the men who step away from her. "Not that it will help!"

Everbloom raises her hands and thrusts them out at the man who threatened her (yellow). A burst of sharp looking leaves and flowers flies from her hands at the man, slicing across his flesh.

Kinetic blast at the yellow enemy.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 16
Slashing Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"At least you had the common decency to use a sap. I will award you that same respect." Kembe steps into the space the blue cloaked man just left, bringing his fists into action.. both of them.

He then looks up at 'foxy lady', his eyes going wide as he sees the vicious attack "What are you trying to kill the man over telling a joke?"

"I'm a sensitive woman." Everbloom remarks with a laugh, clearly enjoying herself.

My initiative was before any melee action was actually taken, so I didn't think the penalty applied.

"Alright, who wants it then? How about you Pal, for taking my money?" Zevryn growls, angry that the plan fell apart so quickly. He brandishes his wand and fires a magic missile at the bar owner.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"Bevole, some back to me!" He shouts and the skunk does as he's told, reverting to magic and reappearing on Zev as a tattoo.
Move action for Bevole to become a tattoo.