PFS PBP Gameday 4 The City of Strangers—Part 2: The Twofold Demise (Inactive)

Game Master Vahanian 89

Open for dotting.

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..

Azuk walks in ahead of Warden, as usual, who removes his shackles and introduces him by his crimes in order of severity.

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

"Yeah, as long as your boss remembers that we didn't say any favor, only a favor that we can complete in good conscience."

Hania willingly goes with Dakar's men, as long as they're being reasonably respectful. Even if it means putting up with the hoods again.

"Who?" Azuk asks, frowning.

"Ah, it's only been a few days. I'm quite relieved actually. I was expecting this one to be hung over my head for a lifetime or so."

Searlas lowers his head slightly. "Can I keep the bag this time? Those are really great for meditation. And probably great for throwing on a Wizard's head if they aren't paying attention."

"Ha, We can ask the boss." The man says.

Going to give it a day or 2 too see if anyone else joins.

"Oh man, I thought I got away from all this." A tiefling says with annoyance as he joins the others in meeting with Dakar's men, "The name's Reavis, I'm sure you're all charmed and all that."

"Greetings, friends. I am Dembar. I have traveled far to join your 'Pathfinder Society', as I have been told this is the group to join if I want to make my mark on the world."

A man with a squished nose and elongated ears bows deeply to you, sweeping his cape with both arms in a gesture that almost makes it look as if he has wings.

"I hope that we all become fast friends. May Korada grant us the wisdom and peace to succeed at our mission gracefully."

Searlas nods to the 2 newcomers with a smile. "Well met Reavis and Dembar. I am Searlas Savy. Good to see such diversity in the Society... makes me feel like I'm back at home."
Searlas begins emptying his pockets into a small beat up rucksack and profers it to Dekar's men. As he does so he continues speaking, almost rambling. "I see you've dealt with Dekar in the past Reavis, but how about you Dembar?"

"Unfortunately, I know nothing of this Dekar. I am new to your Society, but itching for a chance to prove my worth!"

"Wonderful your all here now.." The man says sounding irritated. "Now put on the bags the lot of you."

"You got one of those bags with holes in it for my horns? Otherwise, it's going to get some." Reavis quips with a snort as he complies with the thugs.

Hania gives the man who hands her a bag a look that makes it very clear that she will hunt him to the end of the earth if she is mishandled, and then places the bag over her head.

Dembar sighs and puts one of the bags over his head as well.

Seems like one of my posts got deleted. Let's try again.

Azuk looks like he's about to say something snide and derisive to the two new Pathfinders in the group, but before he can open his mouth, the gleaming robot behind him speaks up.

"COOPERATION WITH PATHFINDER TEAM COMPOSITION IS MANDATORY."

The half-orc wipes a hand down his face in exasperation and sighs. "I'm Azuk and that thing is Warden." Turning to the thugs, he miserably fails to conceal his impatience. "Can we get on with it already? I'll wear a damn mask, but good luck squeezing one on my friend here."

"At least for this part of the trip I don't need to watch my back... Honestly it will be nice to have a bit of rest."
Searlas quite happily puts the bag on and begins meditating.

You all put the bags over your heads and a sudden unnatural quite goes over you all. There is no sound. Not even the sound of your breathing. You ride in the cart for what feels like hours until you are guided out and the hoods are removed. You now stand in an open hall and on the other end a screen with a shape, decidedly vague in outline.

"“You owe me a favor, little Pathfinders, and it’s time to pay up." Dekar says, "My Commerce League and the golem-making Ardoc family, have decided the reign of the Shadow Lodge within our walls is at an end. Both the Ardocs and I see this problem easily solved by the Pathfinder Society: you must track down the Shadow Lodge, find its headquarters, exterminate its members, and rid the city forever of the meddlesome organization. Any questions?"

"Well, that certainly is a straightforward... if a bit barbaric... asssignment. We must exterminate them, you say? Might we not reason with them, convince at least some of them to understand their folly?"

"What you are now requesting is not in line with our agreement. We made it clear that we would not follow any requests that are not in line with righteousness. You are requesting us to kill, with no chance for redemption. This is not right. I will, however, if my companions agree, make sure that the shadow lodge will not bother your city again. Any members who choose the way of redemption will leave the city with us. Any who cling to their evil will die. If you cannot agree to this, I consider our agreement at an end because you violated it in requesting such a thing."

"Yeah, Azuk says. "After this one favor, we're done with you, right? I want to hear you say it."

"Yes this will fulfill your deal with me. As to how you eliminate them that is up to you. I just want them out of my city. If they leave dead or simply bound I don't care. Just make sure they don't come back. And bring them to your leaders. I'm sure they would love to chat with them." Dekar says.

"Ah good, I was worried you would insist on death. You must realize that the Pathfinder Society embraces all ideals as long as members can cooperate. Why, I was just last week in attendance of a young man with some vampire in his heritage, who worships the deplorable goddess Urgathoa... but he is one of the most reasonable people I've ever met, and is a fine Pathfinder. We will remove this Shadow Lodge from your city, and hopefully sway a few to join the true Society."

"Done." Reavis agrees simply with Dekar's request, "You got any information on where to start?"

"I don't know where the headquarters is, however 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.” He says

"Well then, we'll be off. Can we leave without your bloody sacks, or will you force us to be blind once more?"

"Is there any particular recent event that led you to this decision? I understand that the Shadow Lodge has been a nuisance to you in the past, however in our past dealings with you there didn't seem to be any urgency in their removal. Not to pry into your enterprise's affairs, but any information should help expedite our search."

"The killing of one of my associates, training goblins and forcing us to close the easiest path until they are cleared. And just being a general pain in my side. So I can count on you pathfinders?" Dekar asks

"We'll get it done, sure."

Searlas nods. "You know you could have saved us some time and told us right off the bat..." he trails off and looks over at Dembar for a moment before continuing "That phrase isn't offensive to you is it? Anyhow, as I was saying you could have told us straight away at our last meeting and I think we would have happily come to that agreement. Although I do appreciate that decisions like this take some time to arrive at. On a lighter note, have you ever used one of those bags for meditation? They are quite nice and portable."

"As long as you are not requiring excessive slaughter, yes, we can take care of this."

"Yes yes, we'll avoid unnecessary slaughter. Although admittedly you and Warden are probably the best equipped to take our foes down by show of force, so if you show mercy we all do."

Searlas thinks for a moment, looks over at Warden, then back at Hania, and chuckles.

"Oath to Shelyn and frequent worshiper of Sarenrae if I recall correctly? And an Inevitable. So our show of force consists of the paladin of sunshine and rainbows and the statue of justice."

Searlas looks over at Dembar, thinks for a moment and continues.

"A pair of occult dabblers for battlefield control. Yes, I think we are very well equipped to hold the line and open up with negotiations first. I'll certainly our frontliners to know when to make their displays of force, and when that happens..."

Searlas looks back at Reavus and Azuk "You guys lay down the artillery and keep us from being overrun. Yeah... we should work great together."

Hania waits until after Dekar's goons return us before she discusses what to do next.

I'm glad you all accepted the nice dark naga's offer......

Dekar's men return to place the bags over your heads and return you to the city. Just before they do, "Good luck little pathfinders." you hear Dekar say before the world once again goes silent.

After another long and mostly uncomfortable ride you are let out at the same place you were picked up.

I will update the map later but for now where too?

Can you tell us whatever our characters would already know about Downgate and Meatmarket?

Downmarket is the main commercial area of the city and meatgate is the entrance to the warren the shanty town in the broken section of the ring

"I am unfamiliar with these places, as I've just moved to the city. I will defer to those with more knowledge of the area."

"Hmmm, meatgate sounds to me like a more likely place to get information. How about we go ask around there?"

By the way, after the rebuild, Hania has +7 to Diplomacy, so can easily aid another if needed.

Feel free to give me Know local or diplo checks to gather information.

Reavis attempts to remember some additional information about the Downgate and Meatmarket areas.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Hania walks around Meatmarket, seeing what she can find out.

diplomacy:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Hania, I think you left a +2 out of your check

Searlas will head to Downgate and see if there have been any recent arrivals.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Also, Searlas will see if he can recall anything the Meatmarket.

Knowledge (local) + Guidance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Just one or the other Searlas. I'll take the nat 20

From asking around you find out from someone that the Shadow Lodge has been mucking about in the Bottoms, but he can’t be sure that’s true. And from a caravan soldier that swears she saw a Shadow Lodge Pathfinder wandering around Meatgate the day before.

Oh, I thought they were seperate checks for each area, not one check for both.

I'd like to ask around a bit more and see if I can get a description of the 2 people, particularly the one wandering around Meatgate.

OK, Hania helps Searlas ask more about the two possible sightings.

What do we know about the Bottoms?