[PFS/Shifty] Serpents Rise (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

...and then?

If you are going for the Statue, give us a stealth roll

If playing nice isn't working....

Joliryn scowls and with a hiss, begins whispering, "Names that will be on there whether you co-operate or not. But, If you would prefer to not have your name there, you will give me the report I'm asking for..." With that, she slips the potion of vanish that she was allotted into her hand.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

I was going to wait until Rataji could make a distraction

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

Marnarius strolls around the menagerie, but decides to settle on the mutated giraffe. He pauses in front of the cage, taking in the sight of this strange, yet magnificent creature.

"Whaddaya say, fella - wanna run free?" the slayer whispers to the creature. He takes a quick look around, trying to judge the right time to act when the other handlers seem to be most busys. "Maybe I shoulda tried to bring a couple other of the guys along to help as distraction, oh well," he thinks to himself.

Continuing with action. Even with those less-than-stellar rolls.

Zurnzal drops after all vicious weapon wielding pathfinders rush him and try to murder him. Assuming they stop hitting me when I'm down I'm at -8.

Statue of Dervin Gest
(The Experiment)

Knowing all you need is an accomplice to create a distraction, you bide your time in the shadows...

Holding that roll - Assuming Rataji (or someone else) gets involved in what is happening at the front of the statue in Turn 2 you are pretty much set.

***

The Menagerie
(The Vengeful)

The Vengeful makes his play, as he does he notes the caged sphinx eyeing him off - “A time comes when the shackled shall walk among men, voicing their grievances with a hundred horns. These children—who strain at false laws—know not that the time is not today, but no man can chide them, for he knows not their tongue. Their castle of chains shall fall away, and only a lion or sheep shall be their herald, calling out to let them know that their time in the sun has arrived.”

Over to you

***

Wall of Names:
(Artist)
"Fine!" - the Artists firm tone breaks the mans nerve and he hands over the satchel "I'm leaving" - he looks rattled and shaken and heads off towards the solitude of the Southgrove

***
Gather Info (Specific)
(Professional)

Turn complete

***

Gather Info (General)
The Leader

As he is wrapping up his eavesdropping, The Leader hears about some fracas - apparently someone pretending to be a Pathfinder was leaning on some of the junior agents, and when a larger group of more senior agents caught the fellow he tried to bully his way past... so he was roundly beaten 'as a lesson', the bandaged him up and ejected him unconscious out the gates onto the streets. They suspect the local Absalom Guards will probably find him soon enough.

Turn complete.

***

Gather Info (Specific)
The Ambitious

TBA...

Turn 1
The Ambitious - Complete
The Artist - Complete
The Experiment - Complete (Set for round 2!)
The Leader - Complete
The Professional - Complete
The Vengeful - In progress

The Professional will mingle among the crowd, trying to get as close to his target as possible. When the next storytelling session begins she will try to egg on one of the more affable people around her to challenge the halfling in storytelling. If that does not work then she will make the challenge herself in hopes of lifting the target item at the right moment.

For whenever Rataji is able to jump in and help 322

Playing on the rumors floating around of trouble with people pretending to be Pathfinders, Rataji will attempt to point out a "troublemaker" nearby, but in the opposite direction of the statue in hopes of causing some confusion.

Bluff: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

Then he will make use of message to communicate with 322 who he tried to stay in range of throughout.

If you are finished I believe one of our compatriots has been ejected from the premises and could use your help as well as mine.

He will then try and head out and find the roughed up "Pathfinder" that has been left for the guards.

If he sees a guard who may know where they threw him he'll try and ask for some more information.

I heard a pretend Pathfinder has been thrown out, I ran into a bit of trouble myself. Where might I find this person to see if they may be the same culprit? The Masters would like to be sure it was a single assailant and not some pattern of behaviors

Bluff: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17Same mod for Diplomacy if that is more appropriate

Marnarius pauses at the sphinx's words. "So... I should free a lion or a sheep first?" He looks around and mutters under his breath, "Sphinxes... always with the riddle-speak."

Trying to sort out what was said. Are "the shackled" the same as "these children"? I'm just trying to figure out which pronouns go with which antecedent.

"Well, now may not be the time, but how 'bout I just unlock the cages, and you all can choose whatever time you want to break out of your shackles and cages."

The vengeful slayer continues his work of trying to sneakily pick locks.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Disable Device, mwk. tools: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 = 33

The Shpinx looks at the Vengeful, then at the lock penning it in.

The Vengeful is sly and fast, the cage is unlocked. The manticore waits for you to move away and then begins bleating unintelligible noises. Animals throughout the cages seem to respond, doing their best to entertain the crowds and draw them closer...

***
Turn 2
The Ambitious - (resting/TBA)
The Artist -
The Experiment - Statue (planting)
The Leader - Statue (assisting)
The Professional - Statue (acting)
The Vengeful -

Joliryn looks at the satchel and smiles. She looks around the area around the Wall of Names for a place she can go through it quickly. After finishing that, her plan is to find Rataji and pass the choicest of the information on to him.

Marnarius is pleased with himself for his deft lock-picking, but his brow soon furrows. Was hoping for a chance to let a few creatures out. But not with the gatherin' crowds... He shrugs his shoulders, hopeful that the manticore will sow some chaos as time goes by.

"I wonder how the others are doing," he says to himself as he makes his way north towards the repository.

I'm guessing I'm out of range for Rataji's message to be in effect, right?

@The Veng - If you wanted to find and rendezvous with someone and brief/backbrief I am sure thats fine - but once Turn 2 begins I need to know where you are and what you are doing :)

The Artist is able to read up and note general guard movements and timings, and other basic cautionary information for use inside Skyreach.

At this point, Joliryn will pocket the info and the satchel, and go to listen for whatever rumors are floating around the compound.

Just going for general info at this point.

Turn 2
The Ambitious - (resting/TBA)
The Artist - Gather Info (Give us a Know:loc or diplo)
The Experiment - Statue (planting)
The Leader - Statue (assisting)
The Professional - Statue (acting)
The Vengeful - TBA

"Meh, I'm sure the others are doing fine," Marnarius whistles quietly as he makes his way through the crowds to the repository.

As he approaches the building, he keeps a keen eye out for guards. Once he spots where they are, Marnarius rushes towards them but stops about 30 feet away, heavily panting as if he is out of breath. Now that he's closer, he takes a moment to size up the closest guard and addresses him or her. (not sure if I can use Studied Target out of combat. If not, then subtract 2 from my buff roll)

"There's trouble at the Quadrangle! Some fool wizard's summoned a drake - guess he thought some fantastic creature flying in would be suitable for this occasion. Anyway, the bloke seems to have lost control of the thing and its tearing up windows and such. Please, go help!"

Bluff (+ studied target): 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 2 = 20

If Marnarius somehow manages to persuade the guard(s) to leave, he'll try to break in to the Repository.

Disable Device, mwk. tools: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 2 = 31

Diplomacy makes much more sense for me.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

(Rataji) Recap: The Ambitious is incapacitated, but can be easily retrieved at the gates/entrance in due course at -1hp and unconscious. His disguise has been removed

Statue:
(Experiement/Leader/Professional)

The towering statue of Gest is setting a great backdrop against which Janira has re-started telling her tales, a crowd of onlookers surrounds her and she looks like she is settling in to tell a series of ripping tales!

The Experiment awaits in the shadows for a suitable distraction so her play can be made.

Over to you

***

The Repository:
(Vengeful)

This is a featureless building of gray stone with no doors or windows.
Hearing of some mystery creature, one of the two guards patrolling around the building goes running off towards Skyreach "Thanks for letting us know"

The Vengeful then finds it easy enough to avoid the other guard and tries to figure out a way in, but after lengthy searching is completely at a loss as to how to get inside.

Over to you, you may visit two other locations just to recon, but you have no further time to implement any further actions

***

Gather Info (General)
(Artist)

The Artist manages to move in the crowds and strike up conversations, she learns the following tidbits -

The Grand Convocation is particularly crowded this year. In addition to agents from all over Golarion, several dignitaries from Absalom are in attendance.

Although both Kreighton Shaine and Marcos Farabellus have made appearances, nobody has spotted he Master of Scrolls Aram Zey. It’s not especially surprising, given Zey’s dislike of crowds and dealing with the public.

Turn complete

Once the target is properly immersed in her tales, the Pro will try to obtain the target item by way of stealth and/or slight-of-hand.

Statue

GM hint - you guys are the ones that probably need to get her engrossed - who wants to try their hand at challenging her to a 'talk off'? The crowd is here to be entertained :)

I'm hoping the Leader has the skill for such a task so that I can slip away and do what I gotta do.

[oov]No pressure... :p[/ooc]

I'm hoping someone comes to find me so I can start playing again.

There was suggestion you will be collected at the end of the round :)

I'm hoping the Leader has the skill for such a task so that I can slip away and do what I gotta do.

The leader already took off to find the party member that got themself into trouble though.

He will then try and head out and find the roughed up "Pathfinder" that has been left for the guards.

Rataji will make his way to Zurnzal and surreptitiously feed him the potion of Cure Serious Wounds he's carrying, and help him off to re-disguise himself before going back into the Convocation.

CSW: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (6, 4, 6) + 5 = 21

Come now my friend on your feet, no time to be lazing about you lout. Things to do, big day this. The Convocation needs your attention. An alchemist kindness for your hangover. Now get let's get you in there and to work

Bluff (for anyone looking on): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Edit: Hah. Ninja'd by the ninja.

"Those buggers are tougher than I thought. They'll get my attention all right."

Thanks!

Zurnzal will try another disguise, this time being more careful about it.

Take 10: 10 + 13 = 23

Disregard then, I had your priority action as running distraction for the Pro :p

Front Gate
(Leader/Ambitious)

The Leader manages to pick his moment to recover his fallen agent and move away without drawing suspicions. They wait for the next wave of event attendees, then wander back in amongst the crowds.

You can heal up more etc. I have Z at 20hp after the potion, and in a fresh disguise

***

Statue:
(Experiement/Professional)

The pair of Aspis realise it if is to be, it is up to them to try it all on...
(Sorry Pro, looks like the limelight is firmly on you!)

Yea, I'll use my potion then.

CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (1, 6) + 3 = 10 I'm at 30 right now.

Disregard then, I had your priority action as running distraction for the Pro :p

it's quite possible I've lost track of where we are in actions to be honest. It's been a long week heading towards a long month

No worries, you have recovered Zurznal who is happy to be alive! :)

All good, let's see how much the Pro can take the stage and pull of a legendary steal!

So there is nobody distracting at the statue now? That's what I've been waiting on

Upset with himself for rushing into a dead end, Marnarius decides to check out nearby Arliss Hall before making his way over to the center house to check things over.

Dang, I was hoping I'd be able to raid whatever might be held in the repository.

Not sure I have enough time for a worthy post but I don't want to hold up the game, either.

The Professional decides that if she is to be in position she'll have to be close to the target, meaning she takes on the challenge herself. Not wanting to give anything personal away she tries to think of a story that could have happened in another place at another time...

Early in my career I was with a group tasked with retrieving a number of items, one of which was a scepter of some sort. The trail lead us to a cave in the mountains, where we enagaged what was initially identified by our scout as a silver dragon.

You may notice that I stand before you now. The fight was long and bloody but, with skill we did not know we had possessed, we were able to defeat the dragon and make off with as much of that hoard as we could carry! The moral of the story? If you offer breakfast to a dragon, don't try to stab it in the head while he eats!

When Shohiraj engages the crowd in her story, 322 takes the opportunity to make her move. She silently makes her way up the statue to place her device, looking like nothing more then a dark shadow cloaked in an even darker shadow. She attaches the small hexagonal pad onto the foot of Durvin.

The story is good, but what of the storyteller?

Perform (Oratory/Acting) or a Bluff check.
For the story I will give you a +2 situational modifier to your roll.

Soon 322, soon! And you have to climb up, but thats easy enough :)

Bluff: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 2 = 19

Rataji will look over Zurnzal when his disguise is complete.

Well, my friend it looks like it's time to get back in there and see what kind of havoc can be caused. If you wish I can accompany you and possibly be of assistance, or I can head back off my own way as you prefer.

Statue:
(Experiement/Professional)

The Professional has succeeded in telling a good story and the crowd gives good applause. Janira rises to the challenge and launches into a stirring rendition of how Durvin Gest threw the Lens of Galundari into the Nemesis Well. She quickly becomes engrossed in the tale, jumsping up on the step, working the crowd, and gesticulating wildly - to the point of looking trapped by her jacket and trying to explode from it.

She is now quite distracted... but is she distracted enough?

You may attempt a lift, or devise some further strategy. There is not an option to take 10

With all the excitement, 322 finally makes a move, climbing up at the rear of the statue and placing the conduit - which takes about twenty seconds to adhere (3 rounds). Lucklily with Janira causing a distraction, 322 is able to stay very still and quiet and get the job done. Once installed, a sentence in Aklo appears on the cosmic conduit’s mirrored surface: “The Stars command you, Durvin Gest.”

Turn almost complete!

Not knowing exactly how much longer this will go on, The Professional makes her move.

Slight of Hand: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, The Professional catches her as she falls into the crowd, lost in her storytelling. The keyring is felt inside the jacket in a double pocket, but the Professional is quick and smooth - there is a moment where it all slows down, as though she is just about to twig, but the Professionals hand comes back with the keyring...

You got the exact number you required due to your setup - otherwise the DC was 30 and as high as 40 :p

The device is in place, the keys lifted.

***

Ushers begin informing everyone in attendance to gather on the north lawn for a speech by the Master of Swords.

Time to regroup and converse before entering Skyreach

Rataji will look over Zurnzal when his disguise is complete.

Well, my friend it looks like it's time to get back in there and see what kind of havoc can be caused. If you wish I can accompany you and possibly be of assistance, or I can head back off my own way as you prefer.

"No, I will stay with you and the rest of our comrades. Apparently I'm not good as a solo act."

Joliryn moves to the rendezvous point, eager to begin the real mission.

At least I picked up some decent information for the raid.

Great :) In short, the front of Skyreach is heavily guarded, but you suspect a few distractions might be about to change that.

To Zurnzal: Looks like it's time we find our companions and make our way into Skyreach.

Rataji will head to the meeting place keeping an eye out for his team, and avoiding any unnecessary trouble wherever possible.

After climbing down from the statue, 322 halts in her tracks and pauses as she notices the new addition to her gear. Yet she is unphased by now with Her little tricks she plays. Having completed the mission for Her, she joins up with the rest of the group. She stares unblinking at Zurnzal, tilting her head to the side.

"I see you had a.....rough time. If you still have wounds....I have ways to fix that." A small ball of tentacle like shadows begins to form in her hand.

322 has a wand and plenty of healing spells if you're still low, just let me know how much you need.

I'm down 35. A few wand charges should cover it.

"Yes, I underestimated these pathfinders. It won't happen again."

"This may feel....uncomfortable." She pulls out a wand and draws on its power before touching Zurnzal with the shadowy mass in her hand. Black tendrils quickly slither over his body, absorbing into his wounds and sewing them shut.

CMW X2: 4d8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 5, 7, 6) + 6 = 29

Zurnzal grits his teeth as the tendrils seal his wounds. He'd felt worse things but this was very odd. Thank you.

Marnarius gives his neck a quick crack as he ambles up to his mates. He listens to Zurnal's account. "Ugh, sorry I wasn't anywhere where I could help. Don't worry - we'll get these Society scum back." He looks around at all his Aspis comrades. "I think the guards are going to be a little distracted by a manticore that somehow broke loose from it's cage."

Joliryn slips up to the others, and offers the notes that she acquired to Rataji. "My contact came through, after a little persuading." she says with a wink. "More then one of us should know this information."

I assume that the notes are the handout 7 that's in the Map section, right?