PFS PbP Online Gameday #2-21: The Dalsine Affair (Inactive)

Game Master Derek Weil

Malfeas is shocked by the sudden attack, Why would he say so much and then attack? Can we even believe anything that was just told to us? This will just further Walter's dislike and distrust of Sarenites, not that I blame him. His body moving in trained perfection, he takes a step away from the stalker as arrows leap from his bow with barely a thought.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 221d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Attack 1 PS: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 201d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Assuming AC 20 hits, 15 piercing damage.

To answer your question Mu, the other Sarenites move to a far corner, and are huddled together, looking rather fearful. It's clear this attack and the true nature of Akurret is a surprise to them.

Mal's arrows strike home, leaving deep wounds on Akurret's body. Shu's spear strikes his shoulder and while Walter looks his imposing best Johann's fiery bomb knocks the villain to the ground, where he loses consciousness and bleeds from his several wounds.

Combat is over!

"That was... easier than I expected."

Johann pulls out a wand and taps Eolowyn on the shoulder. CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
"Hmm, need to invent a better one of these... this Healerator seems to be underpowered." He taps her again.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Better!"

"Thank you Johann, I am sorry I yelled at you earlier. What was that creature? A faceless stalker you said?"

Walter moves--menacingly--over to the huddled group of Sarenites, his longspear held in front of him!

And what in the name of Abadar was that about?!

"Shu said that, but yes that's what it is... a strange, unnatural creature, almost like a man of living rubber. It is a natural shapeshifter -- that wasn't an illusion spell."

"Yes, yes, faceless stalker. Heard story about them somewhere." Shu, steps over to the shapeshifter. "Hmm. Should we bind wounds and perhaps try to talk to it or just let nature take course. Think it already tell us much so probably waste of time."

"I want some samples of its blood, but I don't care whether we kill it now or after we talk to it. I'm fairly sure the man it was impersonating is dead, however."

The Dawnflower Blossoms cultists are quite upset, and seeing Walter's imposing figure doesn't put them at ease either. They explain that this attack means their entire organization has been compromised. They thank you profusely for your help and inform you that they are no longer safe here and that they will hire a ship this evening and flee the city. They decline any further help, stating that you have already done more than enough.

"Hmmm... This thing didn't want us to go to the manor and make a scene right? Perhaps we should do just that and see what comes of it?" says Malfeas with a dark smile.

If no one objects, Johann will take samples of the creature's bodily fluids, and then stab it in the neck with his dagger to make sure it's dead.

”Smelry xipishi's...”, Mu shakes his head at the departing Long Haired Freaky People. He gathers his gear from the temple floor and readies to leave, "I say we go to the mansion.

Walter regards the departing "Vegetables" with disgust.

He returns his attention to their surroundings.

I believe that we are on to the mansion?

Shu picks through the faceless stalker's belongings, searching for anything useful before the group departs for some breaking and entering.

detect magic and search the body

"I am perfectly fine with going to the mansion."

There is nothing on Akurret's body, and only a faint aura of magic remains around him. Johann collects his sample. The grateful cultists present you with a potion of lesser restoration and an illuminated manuscript containing key passages from Sarenrae's holy text The Birth of Light and Truth. Before departing, one of the Sarenites provides you with directions to Dalsine Manor. You make your way there through Oppara's night-shrouded streets.

Dalsine Manor is a modern, two-story structure set back from the main road and surrounded by a twelve-foot tall brick wall. Its main gate is shut and guarded, but through it can be seen a well-kept garden surrounding the house. A carriage covered in gold filigree and inset with gems stands parked inside the gate, while another, constructed of modest wood with drawn shades, waits just outside the gate.

You see two sets of guards in a heated argument. One group are obviously the dalsine house guards, and the others wear the livery of Quadira, and stand near the carriage parked outside the gates. Tensions are clearly high, and many hands are inching towards weapons. You have not been spotted yet.

"I could tippy toe up and give a listen." Shu offers. "See what problem is."

Walter peers around the outside of the wall, looking for any type of tower-type defenses.

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

He prays quietly for Abadar's guidance...

He moves--if needed--quietly for a man his size!

stealth: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27

"I would leave the guards to their discussion, lets use this distraction to get over the walls."

With that Eolowyn looks for a shadowed place, out of line of sight of the guards and carefully starts to climb. She carefully looks around, while being as stealthy as possible.

Climb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 (Add 2 vs humans)
Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

If she is not making progress she will ask for help.

Looking around and seeing the others scurrying through the shadows, Malfeas joins them in their skulking, hoping to climb over the wall in an unobserved area.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Eolowyn and Malfeas make their way around towards the back of the house. They move very quietly and are not detected by any of the guards.

Ever alert, they begin their climb. While the walls are fairly smooth, the agile pair of Pathfinders are both good climbers, and they put their skill to full use.

The two make their way to the top of the wall, helping each other when necessary.

They crouch down, and can see a door at the back of the mansion that looks unguarded, as well as the door at the front. They hear dogs barking a little on the far side of the house.

If you two want ot lower a rope, the climb DC for eveyone else will drop to a 5!

With a nod to Eolowyn, Malfeas dangles a rope down while adjusting his quivers to access his blunted arrows. Checking for wind direction, he maneuvers along the wall to be downwind from the dogs, hopefully limiting their ability to smell him.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Shu follows the others, then glares at the wall they so easily scaled. How do they expect me to climb that? Gnomes are not built for... The rope drops next to him. Hmm.

His monkey hopes over and scampers up easily and looks down with a wide monkey grin. Show-off.

Shu climbs with care.

Take 10?

Johann slings his crossbow on his back and braces his feet against the wall.

Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 5 He almost loses his grip a few times, but through his struggling, makes it to the top.

"Must invent a Climberator..." he mutters almost inaudibly to himself.

Any lights in any windows?

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

”Wats tha mattah with you?”, Mu swats the old gnome, not willing to wait ten minutes,”It just a fence.”

climbs with Shu hitching on his back: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

While Malfeas is helping the others up Eolowyn is trying to discern how many dogs are barking. She whispers

"I am afraid it is beyond me to try to calm these dogs, we either need to be fast or lure them here and disable them. I would not like to kill guard dogs, they do not know any better."

Walter follows up the rope.

taking a 10 on climb= 13

Taking ten is fine by me. You're not being harried at the moment.

As the group climbs the wall, Eolowyn listens intently to the dog's barks. She thinks she can make out 3 or 4 distinct "voices". They seem to be sporadic, perhaps playful at the moment. They definitely come from the far side of the estate.

"It seems as if there are 3 or 4 dogs at the other side of the estate and that they have not scented or heard us at the moment. I suggest we try to get to that back door, quickly but quitly"

With that Eolowyn lowers herself from the wall and carefully moves over to the back door.

Stealth take 10+8=18

Once everyone is up, Malfeas recoils his rope and slinks after Eolowyn heading toward the back door.

Take 10 stealth= 17

Walter follows as he prays for Abadar's guidance in this stealthy venture.

take 10 for 17 or...stealth: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 = 11

He scans for any potential trouble...

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

(Mu takes 10+2)

Shu follows carefully.

Stealth Take 10 = 21

The party sneaks up to the back door of the mansion, and the dogs do not seem to take notice right away. The group quickly slips inside the unlocked back door just as barking can be heard outside heading their way.

Within, the sound of clashing blades echoes off the marble floor. Suddenly, the sound of combat ceases with a gruesome thud, and the sound of a laughing man replaces the metallic din.

You enter on a mezzanine level. To your right you see a young man with flowing black hair laughing maniacally at the top of a grand staircase. On the main level, the furniture in the foyer has been thrown about, and a growing pool of blood escapes from a crumpled corpse at the foot of the wide, carpeted stairs.

As you enter, the figure standing over the corpse looks up at you and says in a female voice:

"Now that Khismia’s dead, I'm done with this whole ‘shadow war' for Absalom. You can keep scouring the world for useless treasures and risking their lives for delusional fame and worthless fortunes if you like."

She spits on Jacquo’s corpse, then taps her left toe to her right heel, and vanishes from scene of the crime.

Wait, who are these people? Have we met them before?

"Well I am thinking this not good." Shu mutters upon taking in the scene.

Is the man still on the stairs? I'll roll knowledge local to try and get a clue about this situation and also to see if any of these people are recognizable.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

I assume that the woman that spoke and disappeared is the Spider, and the man is Chalfon Dalsine and that we do not recognise them as we haven't met them.

Eolowyn quickly nocks an arrow and looks menacing, she is prepared to asssist anyone trying to stop the man.

Aid other intimidate: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

She definately needs to practice more on her menacing look

Walter stands by the entrance, preparing to keep anyone out.

He looks around for any documents that may be of use.

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Did we know who Jacquo was?

Initially Malfeas is surprised that the woman even sees their group, since he thought they were still trying to be stealthy. When she vanishes, he curses under his breath, wishing he knew if that was an invisibility spell or a “take me somewhere else” spell. There apparent cover blown, Malfeas calls out to the man, arrow nocked and pointed at him. ”What happened here, and why are you cackling over this man’s death”

While waiting for a reply, Malfeas’ eyes will scan the area looking for either the artifacts they are to recover or signs of an ambush.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

"Look! He still bleeding! Maybe he not dead dead. Someone have potion?"

The monkey on Shu's head chitters, bops him with a tiny fist, and shakes the little bag it wears.

"But that meant for... pshaw, ok, ok! Go Pu!"

The monkey hops down and scampers over to the bleeding man and attempts to save him.

Potion of cure light wounds.

You recall the information that Akurret shared with you before he attacked.

"Khismia happened to be the youngest sister of a Qadiran noblewoman named Pasha Muhlia Al-Jakri, the faction leader for the Qadiran loyalists within the Pathfinder Society."

"Chalfon knew very well who Pasha Al-Jakri was. Chalfon’s older cousin was none other than Baron Jacquo Dalsine, head of the rival Taldor faction, and Chalfon knew that the two of them hated each other. Not caring for his cousin any more than he did for the rest of his family, he devised a plan to pit the two faction heads against one another."

You deduce that the victor in the fight must have been Khismia's sister, Pasha Al-Jakri. The laughing man looks like he must be Chalfon.

Unfortunately for Baron Jacquo, Old Shu's efforts will not avail him, as his head and body were separated by Al-Jakri's blades.

The man simply continues laughing when Malfeas approaches him.

Please check the new map. If everyone's position looks accurate, we can proceed. Thanks!

I'm thinking perhaps I should have loaned Old Shu my wand of mage armor to buff the clothies before we went in... Unless Derek wants to say Malfeas is smarter than Mez and we can retcon that. Also, new security has been added to the work bandwidth, so I can't access and file sharing sites, so Google docs and Dropbox are now off limits :(

Walter steps closer to the maniac.

He faces him with a stern look on his face.

Hey! You Chalfon? Shut up!

intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Position on map is fine

Pu gets a few feet closer to the corpse then turns back to Shu with wide eyes and makes a "finger across the neck" motion.

"Oh..." Shu looks at the headless baron for a second. "Gonna need a bigger potion."

He then steps to the back door and attempts to lock it.

Mage armor now, while we don't see any apparent hostiles, might be a good idea.

I was under the impression there were imminent hostilities, hence the mapping. If not Derek, let me know and he'll definitely have Mage armored for ppl.

Mu Ping runs to front doors and secures them (lock or brace).

Let's say potential hostiles, at least from an in-character perspective. You haven't been threatened yet, so casting a spell like mage armor is fine.