PFS PBP Gameday 4 The City of Strangers—Part I: The Shadow Gambit (Inactive)

Game Master Vahanian 89

"We should probably find and check out the place today so we are prepared for tomorrow. Make sure we don't walk into yet another unprovoked encounter. Hopefully this is just a heavy handed response to the false Pathfinder lodge and he can still be reasoned with. People of his status aren't to be taken lightly."

Is that what you do?

Sounds good to me, maybe just scout it out to see what we're dealing with.

Me too

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ditto

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Ok. You head in and it appears to be your average pub/temple with a troll twist. Strong ale is drank with abundance. Everything is rather normal until a troll in the corner slices open its own stomach and starts going through its entrails while a man looks on with concern. Then the troll says something and relief floods them mans face. With that the troll stuffs its insides back in and heals the wound.

Azuk swallows hard on his ale as he watches the spectacle, then sets his mug down and turns to his companions. "Check, please."

"yes. That was rather... okay. Lets go. I done here... trolls... really... well... uhm. Yes. Lets get going"

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That same troll, seeing your discomfort, walks over pulling a stool up next to you. "My arent you a handsome man. Care to have your future told? Or a question answered?" The troll says rubbing her stomach and batting her eyelashes.

"No offence to you, it is just seeing what you just did. Well. It ruins an apatite really quickly. So best we get going." he takes his hatt of and nods his head politely
"Good day"

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"Promise to keep your insides inside and we'll talk. And we don't need our future told so much as we need some local information, if you can help."

He looks up at Warden, standing right behind his chair, and asks, "Are you going to lose your nuts and bolts if I have another ale, you blunt automaton?"

"YOUR LEVEL OF INTOXICATION IS WITHIN ACCEPTABLE PARAMETERS ACCORDING TO YOUR PAROLE REQUIREMENTS."

The half-orc shakes his head and shrugs at the troll. "Dad says I can stay a while longer. So, what's your name?"

"I am Augur. And you?" She replies.

Also give me diplo checks if your trying to get info.

"Azuk. Good to meet you. We're looking for a local Pathfinder chapter lodge. You don't know anything about that, do you?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Searlas extends a hand.

"Searlas Savy. Hmm, I've heard of people using lizard entrails to read fortunes, but this is new. Makes sense actually since your kind can regenerate...

Searlas removes his glasses.

"I would be very interested to see your techniques in action."

I try to improve her attitude towards us and study her aura for deceit.

orator as diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Apparently I get nothing...

If we need more info and Ti-Jean needs to make a diplomacy check, I can cast a spell to grant a +5 bonus. If you want to use that, add it to your roll and let me know so I can mark it off.

"Hmmmm. Lodge huh? I heard there was a group sturring up trouble but i don't know if they were pathfinders. Also i dont know anything about a lodge." She says to Azuk. Then she turns to Searlas, "What is your question for the gods deary?"

Searlas takes a seat. His face reveals a mixture of queasiness in anticipation of the impending display of gore, and wonder in anticipation of the unique method of divination. "My question for you... er... for the gods, is what is the link between Besel Ardoc and the local group that is stirring up trouble as you so aptly put it." He flashes a glance at Azuk. "Sound good?"

He quickly consumes his beer, in an ill-conceived attempt to steel his nerves and stomach.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

"yes, we need to know.
"
I have some rôleplay ti-jean for now

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"Thats not really a question for the gods but i might know something if there was a way to refresh my memory." She says slyly.

Ti-Jean, did you include the +5 in your roll or is the 18 before the spell bonus?

"Yes, I can certainly understand that the sort of information we seek is outside of the capabilities of normal prognostication. Might there be any... favors we could do for you that might help give you the resources needed to divine this information? Or perhaps there is some information we could gather for you that may... remind you?"

before

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ok, so your total diplomacy was 23 then

"Well shinny things are the way to a womens heart." She says with a wink.

She wants gold

How she looks?

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"Hmm, unfortunately most of us haven't even collected our first payout, and my last occupation was that of a vagabond... lots of prized memories and experiences, not so many 'shiny things.' What is the going rate for your divination?"

Really hot for a troll. So hideous to you guys.

"Surely there's something else you'd accept. There's nothing you need done, no favor fulfilled? Perhaps a score settled? How about some rare components for your craft?"

Searlas turns and whispers to Azuk "You've seen the common components... I'm not sure we want to see the rare ones."

The half-orc hisses back at Searlas, "I don't see you ponying up any gold to get her to talk. Let's see what she wants, first. I'd rather open up some unwitting stranger's guts than my own purse for this nonsense."

seeing the quality of her outfit, I don't think that a gold peace would be enough.

Ti-jean slip 10 gold piece to her.

"You are like my third wife, a real bird with a taste in shiny things."

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Searlas takes a sideways glance at her, and looks back at Azuk. "I've got about 40 gold to my name aside from tools of the trade. I was hoping to fish for her asking price... and... um... is Ti-Jean flirting with her?"

She Blushes? at Ti's words. "Well aren't you a Gentleman. No Besel doesnt have anything to do with those ragamuffins. I hear they did kill a friend of his though. Poor Besel, he doesnt have many living friends. Just those machines of his."

"Yes, this is sad. Friendship... is magic."

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"Where can we find this Besel character, anyway?"

Searlas raises an eyebrow. "Such a heartbreaker that one... I think we owe him some gold and a beer."

He quickly flags down the bartender and grabs a pair of beers, handing one to Ti-Jean.

"Perhaps Besel could be an ally. He has power, influence, and most of all is an enemy to our enemies. We should make sure that when we see him that we don't give him a reason to smash first and ask questions later."

He quickly begins to down his 2nd beer.

"Oh, hes around. He should be here in the morning if you want to see him. I dont recomend starting trouble though. It wont end well for you." She laughs as she walks away.

Whats the plan?

Wait til morning and try to be friendly with him.

"I agree that we should wait till morning. Let me speak with him first... I think I can guarantee that once he hears me out he'll be a lot more friendly towards us and likely to help."

Searlas hands Ti-Jean 5gp to cover half of the bribe. "When we speak to Besel tomorrow, I have a few tricks that can make him more responsive to our needs, but I certainly don't have the silver tongue you do when it comes to asking favors."

I can use my linguistics in place of diplomacy when making someone friendlier towards us, however I have to use actual diplomacy to ask for favors afterwards. I also have a spell that can boost my linguistics, and another that can boost someone's diplomacy, so Ti-Jean and I can probably talk just about anyone down if given a chance.

How long do those spells last?

Burst of Insight is for me, and applies to a single skill check, Telempathic Projection gives a bonus on the next diplomacy check made on the target in the next minute. It's how I make up for my incompetence in combat.

Hania has nothing to contribute right now, but she is keeping near her party, looking out for trouble. Almost being a bodyguard to the 'squishy' party members.

Just keep in mind casting spells and stuff while trying to talk to someone doesnt usually end well.

You come back the next morning and sure enough there is a man drinking, surroundeed by 3 iron golems.

Searlas walks up to the bar, sits down, and orders a beer. He quietly takes off his glasses, focuses on a pair of small prismatic stones. He glances towards Ardoc as he nurses his beer for a few minutes (5 minutes to be precise).

Perception (Aura Reading, Emotion): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Aura Reading skill unlock, DC For aura reading is 20+HD of the target, if it succeeds, I know his mood (more or less) and get a +2 bonus to most skill checks to interact with him.

He then gets up to approach Besel Ardoc, hands outward to show he is unarmed.

"Mr. Ardoc, it's so great to see you. I do believe we are friends and we just don't know it yet."

Searlas is careful not to approach too close, making sure Ardoc is comfortably protected by his Golems.

"It seems that a mutual friend of ours has had tragedy befall him, and that both of our respective crews seek to repay those responsible."

Searlas maintains a tone of deference, hoping to make him more relaxed about speaking with us.

Using my 1/day Inspired trait to roll twice and take the better result.
Orator (Improve Attitude): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Orator (Improve Attitude): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
If the aura reading was successful, add an additional +2 to that

Looks as though the aura reading gives no bonus

"If you wouldn't mind, I would like to introduce you to my compatriots. Can I get you a drink?"

"Nice golems," Azuk quips. "How do you train them to shut the hell up?" he asks, pointing at Warden over his shoulder.

"YOUR PAROLE MANDATES ACCEPTABLE RANGES OF POLITE BEHAVIOR," it replies.

"See what I mean?" Azuk says, shrugging. "But on a more relevant note, what can you tell us about Horis Collgardie and who would want him dead?"

Diplomacy aid another for Searlas: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Its 8 am and he's at a troll bar drinking. Thats how he feels...

"Oh my. We'll friends are always nice to have. But you seem to have me at a disadvantage you know who i am but i dont know who you are." He replies to Searless. Turning to Azuk he says,"Easy. They dont have voice boxes."

"My name is Searlas Savy, and these are my friends Ti-Jean, Gedulan, Hania, Harison, and Warden. The pushy one is Warden's charge Azuk. Nice fellow when you get to know him. Anyhow, it sounds as though there have been some issues with a group of Pathfinders attempting to start a lodge down here. I'm starting to get the feeling there is a link between them and this nasty business."