PFS PbP Online Gameday - 2-01 Before the Dawn pt I: Bloodcove Disguise (Inactive)

Game Master Aeshuura

"No, how will you know what does the trick, Holman? If any of us were any good as a healer we could take a look at the boy and guarantee he is safe before leaving for the payback." He strokes the head of the tiger in an fatherly gesture. He gets to the subject fast, before the thugs wake up. "The problem is what we do with these man. This is a freaking pirate city, and now we have three of them alive." He raises his eyebrows to Kuaizi. "We will interrogate them and then what?"

"My son, even if we get the cure, is still too weak for us to get far. I fear our days in Bloodcove are numbered. Ichon runs the Sanguine Pit, a den of drugs and an arena for animal fights. She has a few thugs in her employ, but no doubt a few are about, keeping eyes on others that she might have under her thumb."

"So, it seems we can help you in two ways. One, we 'convince' this woman to give you what you have paid for. But if we leave her alive she will come back, and you cannot stay here. And two, once your son is better we take you out of town, but you won't be able to supply the potions to the excavation, will you? So, killing the leader of the Sanguine Pit seems like our best option, is it right mister Senzer?"

The alchemist frowns a bit, "My opinion on this matter is colored to be sure. I wish nothing but death upon that lady. However, it may be in your best interest as well, as I believe she might be an Aspis agent. Regardless, I cannot stay here once my son is well enough. I will move on to the next settlement, and set up shop there. Until then, I can restart my potion production while my son recovers."

"Resuming, we HAVE to deal with her to fulfill our objectives here. Do you know where we can find her?"

Holman shrugs in response to Ralklain's response to his question. "Okay, fine. Just asking."

As the conversation carries on, however, he begins to look uncomfortable. "Look, I'm not particularly bloodthirsty or anything, but unless we're comfortable letting these guys loose, or can find a safe place to stash them for an indefinite amount of time, I think we have to finish them off out of necessity."

Provided that you produce your rough map, Senzer marks the location. Map has been updated.

If you come up with a creative solution that keeps Senzer from being further hassled, and/or becoming dead, you could possibly get away with not killing her, but as written, it is the only solution that they give. I, personally, hope you can come up with something... ^_^

Holman, while your plan is noble and your skills are up to the task, heaven forbid you get into a situation where help is not ready available. I am not going to put a fellow Pathfinder into any such situation.

In regards to the leach of a woman Ichon needs to be dealt with. Where I agree with Holman, I am not a man out for blood. These people, would not hesitate to spill our blood and let it flow free to save their own agendas. And, since we are in enemy territory, we may have no other option than to end their life else they escape to end ours.

My own viewpoint is that we need to all go to Ichon's, get the antidote for the son, then make sure she doesn't set up shop or harass us again. Once we start a fight, someone has to finish it. Unless anyone else has any ideas?

Assuming the thugs are still unconscious and/or out of hearing range.

Your words are sensible ones, Ryskovich. I don't think we have a choice but to kill her, and intimidate her successor into submission if necessary. You speak the truth when you say they wouldn't hesitate to slit our throat if the roles were reversed. Let's interrogate those thugs for more information, then kill them. They are a liability. So is Ichon. If she's Aspis, it's one more reason to deal with her. Or one less regret, depending on what your standpoint is.

Bottom line, if you need someone to do your dirty work, I'll be that man.

Turning to the thugs, the sorcerer lays out his interrogation room in the shop's backroom. He sits two of the thugs on chairs, their hands bound. He has the last one kneel on the ground, and is ready to wake them up and start his dirty business.

Any objections before we start?

"I do good for people who deserve it. Making a man work full time to pay for something and do not give what he has paid for is something terrible, specially if his son is ill. Do what you must Shandor, but please don't kill them. Severing the head you kill the beast. Depending on how we deal with their boss we won't need to put them down. Please learn if they are Aspis or not."

Ralklain will watch what Shandor do, saying nothing. Sorry people but this Silver Crusade member wants nothing less than to blow the whole drug factory and their employees to pieces! Putting the place on fire with everyone inside is a "very creative" solution in my opinion.

Two of the guys are conscious, but the last one is unconscious, and unless he is stabilized, has been bleeding out.

I can say a prayer for him if you let him die!

After stabilizing the third thug and binding his wrists and ankles, Kuaizi stands, slaping his taloned hands to indicate a job well done. He replies to the shopkeeper. "Kuaizi Wu, at your service, though some call me 'the Craw.' Senzer-san, we will of course make the saving of little Roald-chan our number one priority, as well as the survival of your entire family. Shameful, to bring such tragedy to one so young, and to make you suffer so."

Kuaizi shakes his head in dismay, then looks to the unconscious thugs, "We will get information about this Lura from them, no doubt. Fear not! We will see to it that Lura not find out about the fate of these dishonorable ones."

He then nods to Shandor, but cautions him, "Perhaps if they are made aware of the consequences to this small boy, their hearts will turn out of compassion, and they will betray the evil ways of this Lura. For the seeds of compassion, when watered, are stronger than the seeds of fear! But if not, fear may motivate them still. But, I say, do not harm these others, for they must be mere pawns in Lura's game."

The monk addresses Holman and Ryskovich next, replying, "Perhaps it will come to that. But is not redemption the greater goal? I believe all sentient beings have potential for perfect Irori-nature within, therefore, even Lura may turn back to the light. It will not be easy for her, however..." the monk looks to Senzer, "not easy at all for one capable of such vile malice. So I am prepared to take her down, if it comes to that."

He then reiterates Ralklain's words, "I agree to not kill them. Though it is hard, it is best I think to give others the chance for redemption. Nonetheless, it is a most bitter pill to swallow what Lura has done to poor Senzer-san and his son, and coming back from that... it is unlikely. She must pay for her atrocious crimes, but I would prefer to take her into custody..." Kuaizi scratches his head, "if that is possible in this den of thieves?"

To Shandor, "Though they may be as you say, I think it best to do what is right. How we allow ourselves to act, or react, leads inexorably to our own enlightenment... or suffering. Best to make choices out of compassion, not out of fear."

Correction on previous Heal check: 21, not 24.

"She is an Aspis Consortium Agent. We should destroy every thing about them if we could. And as long as the Consortium operates, these three will have an evil home to return to, so it's a hard choice. Should we awake them already? Look, the color spray effect is fading!"

Oh yes it would not last more than a minute...

The two begin to stir...

Rousing the two thugs to cousciousness with repeated slaps, Shandor starts his "act" with a grave, matter-of-fact tone.

Wake up, you slugs! You have been beaten. You are in our mercy. There is nothing you can do. You will soon die...

Seemingly hesitant for a second, Shandor goes on.

... although how many of you will die remains to be known. There might be something you can do about it, in fact. You see, my companions here are merciful ones, they begged me to let you live. I, however, am not. I have no interest whatsoever in leaving you alive, or killing you, for that matter. Tell us what we want to know, and we'll set you free. Remain silent or try to deceive us, and you'll die miserably, in great pain.

As if to echo the Varisian's words, one of his tattoos on his back starts moving, and from the tattoo itself emerges a small snake-like dinosaur. His head pops first from behind Shandor's shoulder, then the rest of his tiny body follows. Despite its size the beast has sharp, pointy teeth protruding, and from them seem to ooze a greenish-looking fluid. As by magic, the tattoo whence it came disappeared.

Meet Waku-Waku. His bite is deadly, for it is ripe with a highly painful poison. He bites you once, you will suffer. He bites you twice, you die. But not before suffering for long hours.

Pausing a moment, Shandor tries to make them feel the gravity of the situation. Meanwhile, Waku-Waku climbs the kneeled thug's chest, his poisonous maw barely touching his neck.

It's all in your hands, really. You speak, you live. You remain silent or you lie, you die.

Seemingly revelling in the mental agony of the thugs at that precise moment, Shandor makes that moment last forever. He hasn't asked a single question yet.

First question. Tell us everything you know about Lura Ichon.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

The enforcer hesitates, despite the initial threats, but once Waku-waku moves up his chest, he begins talking, "P-please, Ichon is a brutal woman! Her bodyguard, Bella, is like her bigger, stronger twin. I-I swear, I have seen her rip men in half! L-look, we were just sent here to tune Mr. Senzer up a bit... Ichon thinks he needs to be reminded of his p-place. I'm sorry, Mr. Senzer, but we had to!"

I forgot, Morngrim, now that you have the time to check with your detects... they are not showing up, and they do not seem to be proficient at hiding themselves, so it is safe to assume that they are Neutral.

Holman sits in the corner of the room, playing with one of his many daggers. He hides it, flips it, and makes short stabbing motions with it. "Not all of us are merciful..." With that, he looks at the thugs and makes a cutting motion across his throat with the dagger and grins wickedly.

Intimidate (Aid Another): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Ralklain is sitted somewhere close, watching the scene:
"You really should start talking useful things, locations and doors and keys...Hush hush boy, I cannot stop Shandor if he thinks that you're not telling what you know..."
Intimidate to Aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Making side-long glances at Holman and Ralklain, while trying to pull back from Waku-waku, the thug stutters, "L-look, we are just muscle! She wouldn't trust us with her secrets! I can sketch out the Sanguine Pit, I can even tell you that she doesn't have many guards in the Pit! Even the ones she does, n-none of us even LIKE her! Take her out, and they'll never admit it, but all of-f us would be relieved! P-please, let us go, and you'll never see us again!"

Holman looks to Shandor. "A map would be handy." Then, back to the thug, "Of course, you realize we can't really trust what you're saying, right? I mean, really - who, faced with certain death, wouldn't claim that they would lay low when released, with no thought of warning their master or revenge? What kinds of assurance could you possible give that you're telling the truth?"

After letting his "assistants" deal with the thugs for a moment, Shandor resumes, full of malice. Yet I feel you're not telling everything. I can smell it on you. You're very afraid to die, but can't help but hide something. Then Shandor turns to his companions. Maybe we should kill one of them, so that they know we mean business, what do you think?

If allowed to retry
Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Then to the thugs again : I must be sure that you're telling the whole truth, that the map is reliable and that neither we nor Senzer will ever see you again. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? he yells at them with insane furor.

There is something else I want, but I won't interrupt Shandor now. Just a note to remember a want to ask something before we finish this.

Exitium moves around slowly, sniffing the man one at a time. He comes closer to the one who's talking. He bares his teeth and in a fast move bites the air in front of the man's nose, dropping some saliva as he does it.
Intimidate again (to aid or not): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Ryskovich will sit back and let the events unfold, listening to the thugs words intently, trying to pick up on any untruths he may try to feed his other party member.

sense: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

assuming truthful

Seeing the fear installed by his, leads Ryskovich to takes the thugs words as true. Even though they may be true, he agrees silently with the others that there needs to be something 'more' on the thugs part before they can be let go or disposed of which ever the final case may be.

I forgot, Morngrim, now that you have the time to check with your detects... they are not showing up, and they do not seem to be proficient at hiding themselves, so it is safe to assume that they are Neutral.

There's another option - they don't have many hitdice, which is likely, seeing how quickly we took them down. Either way, they didn't have enough time to do much of anything, Evil, Chaotic, or otherwise, so Morgrim has no basis for wanting them dead.

Morgrim stands behind the interrogators, arms folded and eyes narrowed, watching for any sign that the thugs are lying or holding anything back.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Oh yeah, low level no aura. The man is broken down, you really aren't going to get anything from him. The folks that rolled Sense Motive seem to think that he is being as truthful as he can. From what you can tell, he is extremely low ranking, likely hired muscle. Nobody that would be trusted with any real information.

Anyway, I would like to try something, and maybe he will know it...
"So, my friend, it seems you do not know the specifics... But let's look at the big picture. What do we have here, are you all from the Aspis Consortium, or perhaps you serve something else?"

He attempts to shrug, but his bindings make it difficult, "I-I don't think so. We were never told as much. Ichon is a c-captain of the consortium of some note, b-but she seems to keep that business and her own business separate. I hold not loyalty to the c-consortium... in fact, aside from the f-fact that she would throw any one of us in the pits for failing, we don't hold much loyalty to her. If you t-take her out, you'd likely have little opposition to leaving the establishment, but as long as she lives, you'll likely h-have trouble."

Well, was good to know that. We had probably found our secret mission then.

"The sooner we move the lesser is the chance she knows we are coming."

Kuaizi shakes his head, saddened, as the tactics proceed. Nonetheless, he remains focused on Ichon's ex-minion's words, sensing if he seems sincere.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Recognizing the sincerity, he perks up and chimes in quickly after Ralklain speaks, "Caw! Yes, yes, we must move now. See, these men are mere pawns, as I suspected. They deserve to be brought to justice, yes, but death is not warranted! Let us leave them bound and gagged here for now," he looks to Senzer for approval, "then head immediately to find Ichon-chan and... deal with her, first if possible."

Kuaizi reiterates, "Once we take her down, perhaps the rest may be redeemable." He looks to Senzer, "Perhaps Senzer-san is not the only one whose child or family has been risked, or threatened, by Ichon-chan..."

Kuaizi then has a thought... 'What if when we return for the bound men, we find them dead by Senzer-san's hand? I cannot help that now, we must move out... I have spoken my peace and Senzer-san has heard my case.'

The sorcerer ponders for a moment, then nods. "Very well, we shall depart now and kill your mistress. If you lied, you will die a horrible death when we return. I might even feed your living bodies to Waku-waku. If you spoke the truth, then you'll be freed and asked never to trouble Senzer again."

Then he turns to his companions : "Let's leave now. There's blood to spill. "

Once the party is out of earshot of the thugs, Morgrim says, "We should probably interrogate Ichon before she dies, since we need that cure as much as we need her out of Senzer's way. She may be the only one who knows where it is kept."

After Morgrim's comment Ralklain makes a emotionless face, but it is clear he is angry:
"Since you're reaching that spot Morgrim, tell me, don't you think it is too much of a coincidence? You need someone too work for you, then suddenly their son get ill, and you're the only one to have the cure, easily blackmailing the person you needed to work for you. Am I wrong to assume she's the one who poisoned the boy in first place?"

Kuaizi considers the words of Ralklain and Morgrim. "We should interrogate, yes. Thought has occurred to me as well that she has caused the boy this sickness. Perhaps..." He ponders a moment, scratching his beak as his voice dwindles to a whisper so as not to allow Senzer to hear and make him feel guilty, "Perhaps this remedy she gives Senzer-san is the poison."

Kuaizi looks over the other Pathfinders, adding for the others to hear, "Anyone else skilled in healing arts? Perhaps you may assist, or even take the lead as I have but basic training in healing, in examining the boy?"

His hooded head turns back, and he approaches Senzer once more. "Senzer-san, may we have your permission to examine the boy? We may be able to specifically determine what has afflicted poor Roald-chan, based on symptoms. This way, we may better understand what he needs to improve, and make sure what Ichon-chan gives us is the right medicine. Also, do you have a leftover bottle of last dose of the remedy for us to examine as well?"

Checking Senzer's son, you find all of the symptoms of a jungle fever, or some other tropical disease.

You get directions to the Sanguine Pit and make your way with little difficulty. You get to the seedy bar close to sundown...

The clamour of cheers and shouted bets drowns out any intelligible sounds in this large, crowded bar. A massive aquarium, fifteen feet on a side, dominates the room as a dog-sized lobster creature and a dark green, man-sized fish with fanged jaws circle one another, occasionally trading blows. Heady, pungent smoke fills the air, and the floor is slick with spilled drinks and seawater.

Near the central tank stands a well-dressed and well-rounded woman with raven hair. Towering over her, at seven feet tall, stands her idealized, amazonian reflection. Both women bear a curious glowing rune on their foreheads. The bookies clearly defer to the smaller woman, and everyone keeps their distance from her glamorous bodyguard.

Ralklain casts Message before we enter.
Damn! We're gonna die with such a freaking amount of people!

Ralklain discreetly looks around, trying to identify if there are more guards aside from the glamorous one, and also looks to the rune, trying to make sure if she is indeed a summoner.
K Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Ralklain, you don't even need to roll. As a summoner, you immediately recognize her as a summoner, and her bodyguard as her eidolon.

Sanguine Pit Map

B is her bodyguard, and L is Lura Ichon. The square in the center is the aquarium.

The bar is full?
How protected is the Aquarium glass?
Can we use the crowd to cast spells hidden from the woman?

Ralklain greets his teeth, not sure about what to do in such a crowded place, and also worried about what he's going to tell his partners. In a whisper and hoping to be heard by his companions, Ralklain speaks through Message (Shandor and Morgrim as targets, since they are casters and may pass it further if they have the spell):
"Whatever we do, if we need to fight it, go for the woman, ignoring the Eidolon completely. If she falls, it also does."

Any more guards?
R Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6
E Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Ryskovich will look around the bar, trying to figure out who is muscle and who is a simple patron.

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Not being able to tell anything amongst all the chaos, he awaits for the eventual fight to commence.

Morgrim also keeps a lookout for sources of trouble.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Can Morgrim sweep the room with detects without being noticed?

He whispers back to Ralklain, "I know a magical litany that should buy us a few seconds to get past the bodyguard while its reactions are slowed."

Shandor also looks around, trying to spot any guards that might be foolish enough to defend her.

Perception : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

The rune is random rune, but before we come to Bloodcove you saw me and Exitium also have a matching rune on our foreheads, recognizing it as a Summoner and its Eidolon. Every summoner rune is unique, so hers would be different from mine. Also I called the thing by "Eidolon" in the message, so I guess you might know almost the same I do.

Aside from the bouncers outside the main doors, there don't seem to be any real guards, almost as if either greed led to Ichon eschew guards in favor of more customers or overconfidence led her to believe that she does not need them.

@Morngrim - the place is pretty packed, yet pretty loud. You have a decent chance to cast subtle magic without drawing notice, though unless you pull into a corner or back up to a wall, someone behind you will notice almost definitely.

I'll ready a magic missile on her if she casts a spell or attacks, is that already possible?

You may ready the action. She is not doing such a thing at the moment.

They seem to be scanning the crowd, looking over all of her customers.

Holman enters the room and disappears immediately into the crowd, slowly making his way towards Ichon. He keeps an eye on the others, as well as those around him, watching for danger and waiting for a nod to attack.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

You guys got a plan, or shall I move on? They don't seem to notice you as a threat as of yet.

Ryskovich will wander through the crowd, blending into the spectators, but trying to keep an eye on the others when things turn to a fight.

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14