[PFS] The Fox #4-06: The Green Market (Inactive)

Game Master The Fox

Gameplay thread opened for dotting.

The sun rises behind you as the ship you are on leaves Absalom and the Isle of Kortos, bound for Korvosa, the largest city-state in the wilderness of Varisia.

Feel free to role play in this thread before we get started. :)

A Tall, waifish man enters the common room aboard the ship, he looks awkward without his gear adorning him however he tries to move comfortably enough, "Cook, give me some food, now" looking back at the cook as he sits down "Might as well bring some grog too"

While he wears a clothing that covers his face, the strip of skin that is visibly is pockmarked with scars and suitably the deep red of wine. The yellow eyes that glare out at the rest world are enough to betray this taciturn man, if you can call him that, as a tiefling.

Where the hell is the rest of my companions, must be nice to sleep in all day

Barely visible in a dark corner of the room sits another tiefling, notable for her prominent dark horns and long dark crimson tail curled around the chair legs, silently twitching. She takes a sip from her goblet, glancing across the room at the more conspicuous Vorel, tipping up her chin just enough for her crystal blue eyes and a wisp of her near white hair to catch the light from under her hood.

Hmm, another tiefling, interesting. Won't the boat crew be intrigued. At least I don't recognize him. I don't mind having to go back to Korvosa, as long as I don't run into any one from the family.

"Oh see, Omar! Other people are being sociable!" As Zahra walks into the common room, her outfit shifts from a light and frothy confection to something to better match the styles of her companions. She is accompanied by a tiger and and a much taller dark Keleshite man. Eyes sparkling, she smiles and offers her hand for Vorel to kiss. "I am Zahra, and this is Omar and our baby, Pumpkin. Ve are from Kat-a-pesh!"

At the mention of his name, the tiger comes forward and noses Vorel.

Zahra smiles indulgently. It's a dazzling smile. "Don't vorry. Pumpkin is very good boy! Ve are from Kat-a-Pesh!"

______________________________
@Ninya, no introduction since you're lurking in the shadows. If a rogue is trying to be stealthy, chances are that Zahra will never see it...

Running into the room, a small strong looking little person, with ashen gray skin and hair, is yelling about something, nearing belligerence. "Blasted crew and their dumb rules. Bunch of scaredy-cats afraid of my little Manuk!" She'll stomp over to the table joining the surly looking Tiefling sitting down to eat. "Can you believe it? Locked up just below us!"

A loud thump coming from the floor follows the small Wayang's tirade.

The loud thumping continues with a few more bangs until a Large gray beak with serrated teeth bursts through the floorboards of the ship, sending splinters flying through the galley. With a large colorful bird head, with a 2-foot long beak emerges and looks around for its master, "SQUUAAAAWWWWKK!"

"Vhat, they lock up your friend!?" Zahra turns, eyes flashing. She remembers that the crew had initially fussed about Pumpkin... until she batted her eyes at the Captain and he relented. "Is not right!"

She grabs the Wayang's hand, and says, "Come. Ve go see Captain. I show him Pumpkin very behaved, yes? And then Captain let Pumpkin stay! Ve do same for your friend, now!"

Then Zahra looks down at her outfit. "But first, I need change, yes?" She concentrates, and the outfit shifts back to the nearly transparent frothy confection that she had on when she arrived in the room. She smiles with satisfaction as she looks down at it. "Ah, that's better."

As the floorboards erupt, Zahra raises an eyebrow. "Or ve vait for your friend to come to us. Very enterprising."

Then she sighs, looking at the damage. "Is okay. Omar can make whole tomorrow. But ve still have to talk to Captain before crew does, yes? Ve go!" She turns to Tika. "By the vay, I am Zahra from Kat-a-pesh! Vere you from?"

Jumping up from the table to follows Zahra back to the Captain's quarters, Tika starts to clap her hands joyfully and babble in a sing-song way. "Gonna get Manuk back, gonna get Manuk back" She pats Manuk's head as she walks by.

Chattering with Zahra as they walk, "I'm from Goka but I picked up Manuk on a mission in Tian-Xia with the Society!"

One of the sailors turns to his companion and mutters under his breath, "Avast. This best be the last time the cap'n be takin' on passage from bloody Pathfinders."

Watching all the commotion happen around, Vorel will return to his still empty table and the lack there-of food in front of him. "You, Sailor, I won't ask again. Food. Grog. Now."

"Dingo! Pata!"
Ninya rises swiftly and points a finger down at her side while her tail quickly swishes side to side.

The cook comes out of the galley carrying a slop bucket. He dips a greasy ladle into the thick contents of the bucket and drops a glob of some sort of stew into Vorel's bowl.

A cabin boy follows with a second bucket, full of grog, which the cook serves into Vorel's cup with the same greasy ladle.

"Anything else m'lord?" the cook asks with a sarcastic sneer, turning and walking out of the room before Vorel can answer.

"Woof! Woof!"
Dingo playfully leaps up from Ninya's side barking at Manuk in a playful bow.

Hearing Ninya's voice, he whimpers with tail wagging and quickly returns to her side.

While retaking her seat, Ninya remarks to Vorel, "నేను వైన్ తో కర్ర ఇష్టం".

The feathered thing is strange, but Pumpkin has worked with stranger creatures in the society. Pumpkin sniffs at the axe beak, and then tentatively touches nose to beak on Manuk.

At the sight of the Captain, Zahra waves. "Hello again, Captain!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

"My new friend and I have a little problem... Maybe you can fix?" Zahra looks up at the Captain, and flutters her eyelashes. "She and her bird, Manuk, got separated and then Manuk got scared and make a little hole in floor. Hardly noticeable. Or maybe little bit noticeable... But is okay! My husband fix it tomorrow! For now though, is better Manuk stay with..." Zahra pauses, stumped, because the wayang never gave her a name. "...my friend. It they stay together, is better, yes? No holes! Happy passengers! Happy ship!"

Vorel sneers at the ship cook and promptly digs into his soup and grog, eating with abandon as if this would be his last mean, looking about at hearing Infernal spoken and finally spotting Ninya in the corner, "హెల్ లో అన్ని డెవిల్స్, ఎంత మీరు అక్కడ ఉండి? ఆహార ఒక యుద్ధం చేస్తాను ముందు నాకు నింపుతుంది ఏ ఆహారం, ఉంది."

Watching his whirlwind of a wife charge off, Omar chuckles softly. As she is leaving, he says "I will stay here with Pumpkin, while you speak with the captain."

He watches the tiger approach the strange bird with interest, ready to call it to him should anything go wrong.

The captain nods, seeming to agree with Zahra's logic. "Very well."

He turns to his first mate, "Release the terror bird." The captain then whispers to his first mate, "and remind me to never again book passage from Pathfinders."

"Aye, Cap'n," the first mate responds before leaving with Tika to release Manuk the Doomchicken.

Zahra blows a kiss to the Captain. "Thank you!"

"See! Ve did it!" She smiles at the wayang, "You know my name, and I know name of your bird. But I think I missed your name. Can you give to me again?"

Knowledge Nature, Axebeaks: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 Good enough!

As the Doom Chicken is being released, Zahra looks on with great interest. "I never see bird like Manuk before. He is an axebeak, yes?"

Ninya smirks, without malice, "మీ కడుపు."

At least I have poison resistance, these humanoids clearly are not trustworthy.

She takes another sip of her wine and seems to blend into the shadows.

Emerging from his quarters Ranar has been quietly sequestering himself as he has been nailing down the specifics for his latest breakthrough. He is taller than seems proper for his frame, dark bags under his darting eyes indicate that lately sleep has been either unwelcome or unobtainable.

"Wings, yes I do believe wings would be possible." Ranar mutters to himself stroking his chin gingerly. Threading nimbly through the scattered chaos Ranar glances at the hole in the floor. "Most interesting." Ranar offers dryly.

Lords, why am I never sent on these...excursions with group of my peers? Always men and women strong of arm, but weak of intellect. Oh well, gathering further data regarding the effects of blistering flame on various objects and individuals would be most welcome and conflict is a surety with these types.

Ranar nods absentmindedly to his present traveling companions and impatiently motions to "the help" for a meal. He then removes a neatly packed kit fiddling with various small vials, containers, and implements beginning the process necessary to properly season what pass for a meal on this boat.

Ok. We are all here. The GM has read the scenario. Let's start. :)

The missive from Venture-Captain Amara Li was clear, and comes to mind as the skyline of Korvosa rises into view over the calm waters of Conqueror’s Bay in southern Varisia.

“Recently the Society acquired a new ally in Absalom named Sendeli Foxglove. Now she has made something of a personal request. Sendeli has a sister named Zeeva in Korvosa who owns a successful marketplace. A competing business interest is threatening Lady Foxglove, and her sister requests the Society investigate and intervene.

“If you consider the matter pedestrian and more suited toward the local constabulary, I wouldn’t blame you. Even so, there are extenuating circumstances. First, the competing business interest is the Aspis Consortium. It makes little sense for them to harass a local greengrocer, so there must be a deeper layer to this. Maintaining close ties to Sendeli Foxglove is an agenda the Society feels is worth pursuing in and of itself, but if we can assist Zeeva while also hampering the Aspis Consortium’s efforts to gain influence in Korvosa, all the better.

“There is smoke here; now find the fire. Extricate Zeeva Foxglove from this feud with the Consortium. If she’s anything like her sister, she’ll want to be an active part of this team—but you are not to let her put herself in danger.” Amara Li stressed this last part. “We’ve made that clear to her, and you’re expected to abide by it and ensure she does as well. If this matter is simply crooked business, then just resolve it and continue on to Magnimar where Venture-Captain Heidmarch will surely have more in store for you.”

The link to the Map of Korvosa is in my header and at the top of this page. That is where I will put links to maps for this game.

You have already asked Amara Li any questions that might be relevant to the scenario. The above represents the total of the information she was able to provide.

You may still make any purchases you need to before heading to the Green Market.

The Pathfinders might be familiar with the Green Market or its proprietor. You may ask around (Diplomacy checks to gather information) or rely on what you already know (Knowledge [local] check). (Indicate in your dice roll which topic you are asking about.)

The Green Market
The Green Market is located in a populated area of South Shore. Locals who can provide information on its history are easily found throughout the neighborhood or even the market itself.

Zeeva Foxglove
Zeeva Foxglove has lived most of her life in Korvosa, and she is well known among locals.

Earlier - Thanking Zahra and the captain, Tika begins her introduction, "I'm Tikaketsu of Goku but I just go by Tika. You've already met Manuk and he has quite the reputation, but don't worry he is gentle!"

Tika will skip happily down the ship to find Manuk and release him from his cage.

Later during the briefing - Tika will rush up to the deck of the ship, watching the skyline unfold, "I've never been to Korvosa, it seems so plain compared to some of the cities I've been too!"

Kn: Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

"I don't know anything about this place!"

Tika remembers that Korvosa is a city-state in Varisia, the largest in fact. The other two, Magnimar and Riddleport, are to the north. She also remembers that it is ruled by a queen, but is unable to recall her name.

If anyone wants to roll Knowledge (local, geography, history, nobility, or religion), about Korvosa, feel free to do so. You can look up info on Korvosa here. Judge for yourself how much your character knows about the city based on your roll and which Knowledge skill you used. :)

Earlier:

Zahra offers her hand to Tika. "Is good to meet you, Tika! Don't vorry! I like my animals fierce but friendly! Is better for protection."

Later:

"Korvosa is pretty city. Smaller than Absalom, but more green space for the animals! Good fresh fish too. Omar and I have been here before... Ve make lots of friends!*" Zahra beams at the group. "Come, let's go! I introduce you, and ve find out more about the Green Market and its owner, yes?"

Zahra chats happily with the locals, showing off her very pretty tiger to the gathering crowds, occasionally spotting merchants she'd met the last time she was here, and kissing them on both cheeks. She does introduce others of the party if they wish to be introduced. As she chats, she gets quite a bit of information on both topics of interest.

Gather Information, take ten (Green Market): 10 + 16 = 26
Gather Information, take ten (Zeeva Foxglove): 10 + 16 = 26

"Interesting..." Zahra shares everything that she uncovered with the rest of the party.
(Feel free to read everything under the DC 25 spoilers.)

"Miss Zeeva run very profitable business. The Green Market is successful, though the first owner died from a mysterious disease, one that never spread... Maybe not disease at all? Then the market vacant for ten years despite being profitable? So maybe not disease at all?" She considers for a moment. "Is good thing that Miss Zeeva is vell-liked. Maybe ve can use that to protect her..."

Anyone want to help Zahra get to that 30 dc on the Green Market with an aid another?

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*After having met both Omar and Zahra, it is probably pretty clear to everyone just which of one of the pair made all those friends...

Zahra and Pumpkin spend 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 hours wandering the city, taking in the sights, meeting people, and learning what she can about The Green Market and its proprietor, Zeeva Foxglove.

That gives everyone else plenty of time to do what they want in the city as well.

People with the affable trait gather information in half the time...

Zahra and Pumpkin spend 3.5 hours wandering the city, taking in the sights, meeting people, and learning what she can about The Green Market and its proprietor, Zeeva Foxglove.

Everyone else should get a move on if they want to do anything in the city.

;)

Zahra wishes you all well on your varied errands if you're not coming with her.

"I know a food cart with spicy shrimp and fresh oysters. Maybe ve can all meet for lunch there after your errands and then get the taste of ship food out of our mouths, yes?"

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Out of curiosity, does Zahra know anything else about Korvosa?

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Zahra knows a fair amount about Korvosa. You can look at the Pathfinder wiki and decide for yourself what Zahra knows.

Vorel will gather his gear and head topside to watch the ship cruise into port. Its not his first time to Korvosa, it won't be his last. "An unremarkable dung heap, that's all this place is," spitting into the ocean, crossing his arms and scowling.

Later - With no way to gather information and no desire to talk to the local riff-raff or scum, Vorel will simply play bodyguard for someone more inclined, be that Tika or Zahra or whoever. "This city smells of old whore and cheap fish, the sooner we handle this mission, the better, I've been in underground crypts that smelt better than this."

Tika and Manuk get off the ship and ride into the city, following Zahra and Pumpkin. As they ride through the city, Tika chats with local merchants as well as her companions, "Yes this city stinks of fish but Manuk likes fish! Let's get some food and then we can go find Miss Zeeva!"

Manuk barrels of the ship, his large talons leaving large gouges in the floorboards, "BAAAWWWWWK!"

Fish . . . I smeeeeellll FISH!

Meanwhile, back on the ship...

Two crusty old sea dogs are busy planing and sanding talon-marks out of the top deck. The captain, looking on, shakes his head and says to his first mate, "Smitty, remind me to never again take passage from Pathfinders."

"Aye aye, Cap'n!"

Just before landing...

Omar gathers his and his wife's equipment, checking that the bags on Pumpkin are properly packed and in place. He then grabs his glaive, made of a strange material that looks similar to silver.

Looking out at the port, he comments "Not as grand as Riddleport, with that massive arch they call the Cyphergate. Remember when we were sent there, darling?"

He arranges a meeting location with the rest of the group. "My wife always loves wandering around new places, meeting people. I suspect it will be a few hours before we rejoin you."

He then follows Zahra into the city and talk with various locals. Where Zahra quickly flits from person to person, Omar tends to keep the conversation going a little longer but doesn't talk to quite as many people.

Aid Another, Diplomacy to Gather Info: Green Market: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 Success, Zahra's check is now 28. Need one more person to aid.

Knowledge: Nobility: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Knowledge: History: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Take 10, Knowledge: Religon: 10 + 10 = 20

With her dog by her side, Ninya keeps a low profile while following a bit behind Zahra and Omar with Dingo at her side. Her quick eyes take in the city she once called home while she blends into the crowd (as much as a horned tiefling might).

Passing by Vorel, she remarks "నేను మీరు తేడా తెలియజేయవచ్చు ఆశ్చర్యపడ్డాడు రెడీ."

Ninya makes a few attempts at talking with locals. After getting some strange looks and a few harsh remarks, she drifts back into the crowded street.
Diplomacy: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2

Despite her limited skill at social niceties, Ninya is able to recall many things about her home city and has kept in contact with a few associates over the years who have kept her informed about new business opportunities including the Green Market.
Knowledge local: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Foxglove, Foxglove, that name sounds familiar. Reminds me of Sandpoint for some reason, hmm.
Knowledge local: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
That's right! Foxglove Manor outside of Sandpoint - I bet she's related somehow to that family. That reminds me, I should have put it on.
Ninya pats a satchel on her hip and slyly smiles to herself.

While musing to herself, she absentmindedly bumps into Omar and shares with him what she knows about the Green Market.

On soft and quiet paws, Pumpkin took deep breaths, smelling the sights and sounds of Korvosa and looking for anything that might threaten his people. The fish snacks that Zahra and the short bird woman bought were good, but he's still slightly hungry. He's a little leery of the big strange bird, and very respectful of its talons. Still, Zahra and Omar trust it, so for the moment, he does too.

He's happy to see the dog. He's worked with dogs before. They're steady and mostly predictable, but they tend to bounce around a bit too much and make more noise than Pumpkin prefers. Still, dogs are good people, and not everyone can be as awesome as tigers.

"Pff-fft!" Blowing air out his nose, he makes a happy chuffing sound, then bumps into Omar hopefully with the saddlebag that contains the tiger treats.

Omar considers what his wife and now Ninya have told him of the previous owner's death.

Noticing her alchemical equipment, he pauses to ask Ninya "How much do you know of Alchemy? Can you think of any sort of toxin that would do that?"

He absentmindedly reaches into Pumpkin's pack and gets out a treat. Looking down at the big cat, he says "Good boy! Keep close to us." as he allows the tiger to take the treat from his hand.

Never get between a tiger and tiger treats!

Zahra trained the tiger. Omar just learned to give the tiger treats and (later) how to ask it to perform the tricks it knew.

Craft alchemy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Knowledge nature: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
"That death does sound rather peculiar. Poison of some kind I'd guess, though the details we have aren't sufficient for much more than that - guessing."
poison is one of the more elegant assassination styles - hard to discern, near impossible to track

She remarks to Omar, "I'm sure that Ranar will have something to say about it."

Zahra contemplates how odd it is that she doesn't know any cheery tieflings. Surely there must be some in the society who don't scowl at everything they see? Perhaps these two just need a friendly face.

"I agree. Ve vill have to see if ve can get more details at the Green Market. Maybe Miss Zeena knows something?" Then she smiles at the others. "How did all of you come to join the society? Omar and I, ve joined to travel and see new places, spread the word of Shelyn, and get more capital for our tiger farm. Our farm is small, but ve breed the best tigers in Kat-a-pesh. Very bright, like Pumpkin."

"Who is this Ranar? Have I met him?" Then she pauses, light dawning. "Oh yes, I have! The quiet alchemist who mutters to himself and plays with his bottles!"

How embarrassing to briefly forget the name of one of your comrades... Still it proves that the tieflings don't have a monopoly on anti-social tendencies. It's a good thing they have me to cheer them all up!

Looking around, Omar replies "I don't see him at the moment. We will just have to ask him when we rejoin the others."

In an attempt to make light conversation, he asks Ninya "Have you worked with him or any of the others in the past?"

Sloppy of me, just realized I need to hide my wayfinder! Aspis likely has spies all over!

As he is talking to you, he tries to position himself so you are between him and any observers. He then takes his wayfinder from his belt pouch and puts it into his pack. Leaning close, he whispers "Warn the others, it may be advantageous to not display what organization we are with."

Vorel, walking along with the rest of the group, trying to find ways to help if he can, however none have really presented themselves just yet. "Yeah, I joined up a few years ago, all started with meeting this Grandmaster Torch in his bathtub, from there it was off to a dungeon! It pays well and I've only died once, society brought me back though so here I am,"

Realizing he has forgotten to do his daily spells, he'll draw out his pearl of power 1, cast Mage Armor on himself, and then recover the spell with his pearl "Would anyone like Darkvision for the rest of the day, things tend to go dark around me? Or False Life while I'm at it? I guess I could even put a mage armor on one of the pets"

Zahra eyes Vorel with surprise, and gives him a genuine and delighted smile. Maybe he just needs to warm up a little bit!

"Ve also met Grandmaster Torch in his bathtub! He must have spent a lot of time there!" Then she looks more serious. "Omar also died... to zombie in Opera House. It vas very bad time for us. Used up all our money at the beginning of our careers. If no one else take false life, maybe he can take? I have my own vand of Mage Armor. I'd be happy to use it on pets as vell if ve think ve may be heading to a fight.."

Omar has a heightened continual flame. I think that the darkvision should go on either the alchemist or Zahra. Both tend to be ranged. I'll also accept the mage armor if the pets don't want it. All day protection is better than constant wand shots, but I do need to use up more of this wand.

Omar looks at Vorel with a puzzled look. Gets dark around you? After a few moments, he seems to have figured something out.

"That may be a problem. On the ship, did I mention to you the service I was willing to perform for any with the proper materials?" He reaches into his pouch and brings out a painted spindle that appears to be aflame. He puts it away after you have seen it.

Good thing you mentioned that, could be embarrassing if our two characters interfered with each other's tactics.

Vorel eyes the Continual Flame Stone, "Aye, I've seen it, brighter than hot spit of metal after a dragon's fire had at it," he'll cast False Life and then walk over to touch Omar, his hand crackling with the energies of not-quite-life. "I died as well, a young white dragon caught me out in the open and well, that's the last I remember, it's Maw a cascade of white death" He shrugs at this.

False Life: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 That worked out pretty nicely, it lasts for 8 hours.