PFS PbP: Master of the Fallen Fortress & Murder's Mark (Inactive)

Game Master Hawkeye127

"I think that somebody is very, very angry..." Misforstått replies soberly.

Dolph nods at Misforstått, a sober frown on his face now. "We should take this information to the constabulary. She may be able to be telling us of the guild master."

You can almost hear the gears clunking and clanking in Arthrax's skull as he squints, his brow furrowing deeply. "Hey! Aren't the guys in charge of Alchemists called guild masters?" He looks to the tiefling inquisitively, feeling quite proud of his powers of deduction.

"You maybe right Arthax, but Misforstatt has a point, we must go to Lawkeeper Feldane, but we should find the temple on the way." Dar'ethan's knuckles hold tightly onto his holy symbol.

You can almost hear the gears clunking and clanking in Arthrax's skull as he squints, his brow furrowing deeply. "Hey! Aren't the guys in charge of Alchemists called guild masters?" He looks to the tiefling inquisitively, feeling quite proud of his powers of deduction.

Untrained Knowledge(local): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 Caps at 10.

"I wouldn't know, Gallant Sir Bellringer. I was never a part of any guild. But, you may be onto something!"

"The other alchemists in Absalom never let me join any of their groups. The Pathfinder Society was the first group ever to accept my application for admission without subsequently asking me to leave."

Arthrax nods to Misforstått, a neutral expression on his face. "Let's get back so we can inform everyone of what is going on."

Arthrax will start heading back, unless the others have more follow-up to perform.

Evenstar follows the rest, deep in thought.

** spoiler omitted **

:-) No worries.

"Gallant Sir Bellringer, Imposing Lady Evenstar, Knowledgeable Sir Dolph, Kind Sir Dar'erthan: I believe these wounds were caused by alchemical agents."

Remembering that Arthrax is getting suspicious of Alchemist Guilds, Misforstått add: "It wasn't me. I've been with you all for the last several days."

On the way over to the temple, Dar'erthan will mention if anyone wants any specific prayers (spells) they would want to buy in scroll form. ... prot evil, comprehend languages, obscuring mist etc....

"May the sun of the dawnflower light compliment the natural warmth of Ol' Dead Eye." says Dar'erthan touching his brow and bowing slightly. "In our travels, we have come across the slaughter of many creatures in a cavern not far from here. I do not have the wisdom and power to cleanse the evil from the massacre or the bodies. I would ask that to keep the natural balance of life and death, the temple send your holy men and women to cleanse the area. It is not for me that I ask, but the people of this town, for whom you tend as your flock."

Arthrax eyes the alchemist uneasily...but he's always doing that. He still remembers getting half blown up on their last outing. He nods at the tiefling's statement, then follows the others to the Temple of Erastil.

Evenstar looks at the tiefling.

"You don't need to say it wasn't you, Misforstatt. You aren't capable of this. You are capable of crying, screaming, projectile vomiting, amnesia, spine loss, embarrassing accidents, uncontrollable gas, and explosive diarrhea, but not this..."

"Thank you! I also create my own tanglefoot bags!" the tiefling positively beams with pride. The not-so-subtle flavor of Evenstar's words are completely lost on him. :-D

Evenstar laughs heartily.

"Indeed...you did half that stuff this morning!" she says as she claps the tiefling on the shoulder, perhaps a little too hard.

she claps the tiefling on the shoulder, perhaps a little too hard.

Unarmed Strike: 1d3 ⇒ 1

The priest lets out a heavy sigh as he says "So much death of late. First they brought us the body of Sir Walder this morning and now you tell me that an entire body of civilians have been massacred? Where is this cave you speak of?"

Arthrax curtly gives directions to the cave. "It was a bunch of skulks, if that makes any difference to you. A murderous, thieving bunch if I had my guess."

"Thank you brother, it was our investigations into Mr Walder's death that led us that way. If you would allow, we should look at Mr Walder's body? It would be useful in our investigations. We have a letter from Lawkeeper Feldane to seek the truth and find those who did the terrible deed." The cleric shows the document to the brother of ol' dead eye.

Misforstått will update the priest with any details from his examination of the bodies. While doing so, he will cry, wail, and hug the priest--unintentionally smearing mucus all over his vestments.

"And there's the Misforstatt we all know and love," Evenstar mutters.

"Yes, we should examine the corpse...perhaps there are other clues the sheriff has missed."

"Yes, let's look at the dead body. That's likely less awkward than this." He chuckles, rolling his eyes as he steps past the weepy alchemist into the Temple.

The priest takes you down a flight of stairs and into a cool, dark chamber. There on a slab of stone lays what's left of Archivin Walder."This is the hall of the dead, where we prepare the departed for the afterlife. Please treat this room with the respect it deserves." says the priest before stepping back out to attend to his other duties. With that, the party gets to work with the autopsy. After an extensive review (and using prior heal check rolls), you're not certain that the a sphinx, or any type of big cat for that matter, could have inflicted these wounds. They're much too deep for a cat's claws to inflict. Also, there are bite marks and the last time you checked, Sphinxes have human teeth.
Anything else you guys would likie to do here or would you like to report back to the sheriff/the circus with your findings?

"Hmmph, well, I think we can prove the sphinx didn't do it, which is what our charter was. Doesn't get us any closer to who's behind this, though." Arthrax scowls, ready to tell the sheriff of their findings.

Dolph nods. "We seem to have finding all we can for now. Perhaps we should talking to Serious-Lawmaker-Not-Lawnmaker-Woman and Tattooed-Circus-Leader-Woman?"

Misforstått lavishes a tearful, heartfelt (and thoroughly disgusting) farewell to the priest as they leave.

"Yes, I agree we should report back to the sheriff. Though we haven't found the true killer, at least we have cleared the sphinx," Evenstar says.

Looking at Misforstatt, she says "I'm glad you have been able to bond so much with the priest we have known for what...the last two minutes? You two seem very close..."

Misforstått looks at Evenstar with sad eyes. "Imposing Lady Evenstar, I grieve with him for the loss of so many. I would grieve with you, too, but you seem to prefer more... ah... physical expressions of your emotions." The tiefling rubs his shoulder, still sore from the Barbarian's previous punch.

"You are very perceptive, Misforstatt," Evenstar replies as they walk toward the sheriff's office to report their findings.

As the group leaves the temple of Erastil and heads back out into the streets, you note that people are running past from the direction of the circus parade grounds. When stopped and asked for details, one woman cries out "There's been another murder! All hell is about to break loose at the carnival, and everyone's sayin' that their purses have been cut while walking around the carniva!" Another of the crowd stops and shouts “The thievin’ Varisians are trying to bleed the town dry! It's time to run 'em off for good!”
Assuming you head that way.
When you arrive, the situation has escalated into a full-blown confrontation on the parade grounds between four Ilsurian men and two circus enforcers who are trying to drive them back toward town.
A DC 15 Diplomacy check or a DC 20 Intimidation check will break up the fight. Otherwise we're going off initiative.

Evenstar looks like a wild creature as she rushes into the fray, brandishing her greatsword like she plans to decapitate anyone who comes within a stone's throw of her.

"Everyone go home NOW!!!" she bellows, the sound carrying to anyone even remotely close.

intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Bwahahahahahaha! :-D

Misforstått looks crestfallen and starts shuffling towards the Grand Lodge like a scolded puppy...

"NOT you!!!" she yells even louder as she glares at the back of the tielfling's skull.

intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Dar'ethan takes out the sheriff's letter holding it aloft. "See here Lawkeeper Feldane's seal! Do as this lady says..." pointing to Evenstar "and you will not interfere with the Law's course. The law will prevail and justice done, none shall escape it's grasp or the wrath of the righteous." The cleric shouts with authority. he watches as Misforstatt starts to move away, and then reurn under Evenstar's command. He scratches his head, wondering what hold the mighty female fighter has over the tiefling vivisectionist.

Diplomacy 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

"Yes, Imposing Lady Evenstar."

Misforstått shuffles back to the group and tries to looks small behind Dar'erthan.

Noting the effectiveness of Evenstar's demand of the mob, Arthrax leaves his axe strapped to his back, for now, merely standing beside the imposing woman, glaring at whoever looks like they might balk at the suggestion to clear out.

Misforstått looks at Evenstar. Then at Arthrax. He tries to hide even more behind Dar'erthan.

"Oh! My associates are truly frightening!" the tielfling thinks quietly to himself while stifling a whimper. He cannot, however, stifle his trembling. "At least Kind Sir Dar'erthan is safe. I hope."

Dar'erthan casts a glance over his shoulder at Misforstatt, his lips curl down at the sides as he shakes his head from side to side, letting out a sigh.

Misforstått backs slowly away from Dar'erthan to hide behind Victor.

And we're back. Thanks for everyone's patience.
Evanstar's outburst is enough to scare off most of the angry townsfolk. Those who don't initially run off follow soon after as they realize that they're numbers aren't so impressive anymore. As the circus grounds begin to quite down once again, you see the carnival's owner, Almara Delisen, come running up to you. After a moment of catching her breath, she says "My thanks for the timely crowd control, but unfortunately we have more pressing issues at hand. There's been another murder, and this time it's in the sphinx's tent. Come, quickly!"
As you arrive inside the sphinx's tent, you notice that, while the giant cage and pillows are still in place, the sphinx herself is nowhere to be seen. Off to the side, an elderly woman in torn green & brown robes lays dead in the grass.
Investigation Time!

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Hurskadur, I see bugs.

Heal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

aid perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
aid survival: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Evenstar helpfully points out any additional clues, a perpetual frown on her face.

Gonna wait and see if Dar can make a spellcraft check , then we'll get moving.

Spells, how do they work ... spellcraft untrained, sorry guys....

Dar'erthan watches on as the group mill around the body, happy to hear what they find, but unable to add more to the discussion or investigation over the current knowledge.

Aid another survival 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 or not...

No spellcraft checks then? Ok, we'll work that out to say that you find the vials but don't know what's inside them.
As you begin putting the pieces together, a large commotion can be heard outside as you hear a woman yell "Like the hells I'm not permitted inside! Now get out of my way or I'll remove you from my way!" Shortly after, Sheriff Feldane comes storming in as two circus guards can be seen laid out at the entrance. Feldane marches right up to miss Delisen and begins shouting. "That's it, two murders in as many days!? I have half a mind to arrest you, kill that damned sphinx, and ban your entire outfit from the city for life! Speaking of which, where is that wretch of a creature!?"
Almara quickly tries to calm down the sheriff as she replies "Please, good sheriff, this isn't our fault! Lady Jherizhana couldn't have committed these atrocities as she's...lounging in her travel wagon at the moment. At any rate, the investigation is ongoing and I'm sure the adventurers have uncovered something that proves our innocence." At that moment, both women turn to look at the group, sheriff Feldane with a scowl and Almara Delisen with a silent plead.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't clap the whole lot of them in irons right now." growls the sheriff as she continues to look at the group.
Now would be a good time to present any clues you've uncovered and any theories that you might have about them. Also, feel free to ask any questions that you yourselves might have. I'll answer what I can.

Arthrax begins unsurely, not nearly the most social of the characters, but trying to allay the growing conflict. "Sheriff Feldane, we were able to figure out that it was skulks who performed the murder of the moneylender, as we caught one in the basement and sent it with your guard to be held for questioning. When we went to investigate the cave where the skulks lair, we discovered a small group of them, dead. They had apparently been blown apart through alchemical reactions. The skulk we had captured kept mentioning a guildmaster, as well. In addition, my comrades found these nearby." He indicates the three small glass vials. "There are no tracks that would indicate the sphinx, but there are some that lead there," he indicates a portion of the tent, "and the stakes have been pulled up to allow entry and exit."

Whoops! I have spellcraft! Sorry I didn't post yesterday. How many vials?

Spellcraft Check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Spellcraft Check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Spellcraft Check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Whoops! I have spellcraft! Sorry I didn't post yesterday. How many vials?

[dice=Spellcraft Check]1d20+9
[dice=Spellcraft Check]1d20+9
[dice=Spellcraft Check]1d20+9

Lol, only one check is needed to identify all three and your first one is more than adequate. And don't worry about missing a post. The holiday season has severely restricted my posting as well, which can really suck in a role-playing mod like this one (and I thank everyone for their patience thus far). I'll try to up the number of times I post from just once a day.

Retrocactively: "Freinds: The vials lack enough of their original contents to identify what they contained, but I can determine that they contained alchemical materials (but not true potions)."

Currently: Misforstått methodically recaps all of the evidence found thus far, hoping to exonerate the Sphinx.

Discuss here.

Augh major wiff..

Hawkeye, I spent a good portion of my 150 GP of starting money on throwable alchemical weapons:
- 3 acid flasks (30 GP, 3 lbs)
- 1 alchemist fire (20 GP, 1 lb)
- 1 alkalai flask (15 GP, 1 lb)
- 1 holy water (25 GP, 1 lb)
- 1 liquid ice (40 GP, 1 lb)
- SUBTOTAL (120 GP, 7 lbs)

But, because we had a large, well prepared party when he played #5-08: The Confirmation, I never used them.

The rest of his money was spent on:
- Backpack (2 GP, 2 lbs)
- Chalk (10 pieces, 0.1 GP, - lb)
- Holy Symbol (1 GP, - lb)
- Parchment (5 sheets, 1 GP, - lb)
- Rations (4 rations, 2 GP, 4 lbs)
- Waterskin (1 GP, 4 lbs)
- SUBTOTAL (7.1 GP, 10 lbs)

Total equipment value, weight: 127.1 GP, 17 lbs

I haven't yet spent the 430 GP that I got from The Confirmation. Before the start of this adventure, would it have been OK for me to have picked up:
- 2 tanglefoot bags (100 GP, 8 lbs)
- Thieves' tools (30 GP, 1 lb)
- Wand of Cure Light Wounds (2 prestige points)

I'm cool either way you wish to rule this--I don't mind having them or not having them. :-)

It's fine with me. I gave you guys time to buy stuff before you left Absolam so you're good.

Thanks much! I'll add the purchases to this character's profile.

Oh, and also a quarterstaff and a dagger.

Edit: Done! :-)

You guys owe Aurora so much. I had initially given the spider a surprise round since nobody made the perception check, and that ended with the spider rolling a natural 20 and hitting Arthrax with a glob of webbing.

Nice dice roll! :-) Thank you, Aurora.

Woot! If anyone wants to give me a wand of cure light wounds I would love to be the heal bot while Groot beats things up.

Thank you, Aurora! :)

If anyone wants to give me a wand of cure light wounds I would love to be the heal bot while Groot beats things up.

Sure. You can use Misforstått's CLW wand.

As a chirurgeon, the alchemist has CLW prepped 3 times today. Between Aurora (wand), Misforstått (prepped CLWs), and Sarephta (cleric of Iomedae), that means we have lots of healing options/alternatives. :-)

Please just keep a running tally of charges and let me know how many to deduct from my Inventory Tracking Sheet at the end of the adventure. I don't mind liberally using charges to heal the party, so I'm explicitly giving you carte blanche with the wand. :-D

BTW: Groot! LOL! :-)

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know I'm going to be at a con until late Sunday evening, so I probably won't have much opportunity to post until Monday.

I suck at climb, but hopefully I can find a spot.

Also, is Kadur Ironhand still playing with us? He hasn't posted in over a week (since Aug 26).

Kadur has opted to bow out and will no longer be participating in this session. You will be playing as a party of 5 from here on out.

Bummer. Hope all's well with him.

Thanks for letting us know! :-)

Mis, you add your intelligence modifier to all thrown weapons, acid flask included

Thanks for the reminder. :-)

I might have limited posting this weekend. Need to travel a bit.

I will have limited posting this weekend. I am out on business/travel.

No worries, and thanks for the update!

So we probably have a week or so left in the module, but I was curious what the group's plans were after this. I'll be running another lvl. 1 replayable called Murder's Mark and I thought I'd give you guys first dibs at the sign-up sheet.

Sounds great! I'm having a ton of fun at this table, I'd be up for Murder's Mark. :-D

I'd be more than happy to join!

I have run Murder's Mark before, but I have never played it, so I'll have to be keeping quiet. If that's okay, then I would be happy to join.

I also might want to switch characters.

I agree, the steady posting is an excellent experience. I am up for Murder's Mark.

I've played Murder's Mark before. But it was in a hurried, noisy venue. I'm sure we missed a lot. Like Darcy, I'll keep quiet. Since it's one of the "evergreen" modules, I can still play it for credit. :-)

Mis, I'm not sure what your other capabilities are, to be quite honest. You've been so effective at blowing things up that we really haven't seen your other highlights! ;)

That being said, perhaps we could team up, with me and one person (Darcy, Sarephta, or Groot) working a flank on one enemy, and the other two working a flank on the other. You and Aurora can support as needed.

Anybody else have anything?

I have a tanglefoot bag remaining. I think entangling the enemy with it would be a good first action for me to take against the Troglodyte King.

I know I mentioned before, but I am definitely agreeable to Murder's Mark.

Here is Arthrax's Day Job check. Profession Soldier: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Blah, he is apparently an awful soldier.

I'm still up for it.

Would you be fine with a level 2 character going? I have a couple level 2 characters I could use.

Oh, crap! I forgot to ask for everybody's day job checks! Please send me one if you'd like. As for what characters you can play, a lvl. 2 is fine. Just know that you can never play the scenario again with another lvl. 2 character. And Sarephta, you're more than welcome to continue playing as another character.

I dont have a day job, so I'm easy :)

I'll figure out which character I'm taking and get their stats posted.

No day job check for me either. It doesn't seem to fit my character concept. :-)

My awful roll of 9 will have to be my day job check, unfortunately.

Ok guys, I'm just waiting for 1 more PFS number before I report this session and get the chronicle sheets out. Also, I'll be out of town this weekend on a camping trip, so hopefully we'll start Murder's Mark on Monday. See you all then.

Alrighty, then. Have fun!

Aurora, can you PM me your PFS #? You're the last one I need.

Alright ladies and gentlemen, we'll get starrted with Murder's mark later tonight. In the mean time, I'm curious to know who's changing characters and what they'll be playing as.

Woo hoo! I think I'll just stay good ole me.

I'm hoing to play this character, my hunter. I'll post his stats later when I get back from work.

I'd like in, though Sarephta has already started another scenario.

I have a Lvl 2 barbarian or a Lvl 2 wizard that could come, depending on need.

Argh, my printer/scanner isn't cooperating! I'll have to take a look at it and get you your chronicle sheets tomorrow night. Sorry about that.

Keeping this character

So here's an update on your chronicle sheets: I have them converted to PDF form but now google drive is refusing to convert them to drawings. Would you guys be willing to PM me your email addresses so I can just send you each your respective PDF file and cut out the middle man?

That's fine with me.

No problem here. PDF is fine by me. :-) I PM'd you with my email address.

PM sent...thanks!!!

Sarephta, go ahead and check in with the character you'll be playing as. I haven't heard from Aurora since Sept. 24 and I'm starting to think that she may not be coming. I'll give it another day and if she doesn't show up, I may have to open the recruitment to find another healer.

Sarephta here...yeah, my cleric would have been a better fit, I'm sure, but she was promised elsewhere.

I'll check in with my lvl 2 barbarian.

No worries. We'll find another healer easy if Aurora doesn't check in.

Hawkeye, I would like to make some purchases before we officially start, if that is ok.

I want to buy a MW Battleaxe and a suit of Banded Mail. Is that ok? Total of 530 gp spent, with me selling my scale mail and battle axe for half price.