PFS: The Prince of Augustana (Inactive)

Game Master nightdeath

After a hurried summons to the Grand Lodge in Absalom, a quick conversation with Venture-Captain Alissa Moldreserva, and a wet, stormy trip across the Inner Sea to Andoran, the small, warm Pathfinder Lodge in Augustana is a welcome break from travel. “I can’t believe we are wasting our time on this matter,” says Caudron Wallace, the venture-captain of Augustana as he paces the main hall. “Frankly, I want as little to do with it as possible, so I’m passing it on to you.” Wallace nods toward a door at the back of the room. “The vagrant through there was found collapsed on our front steps gripping a wayfinder of all things. We still don’t know who he is. Talk to him, for the tale he tells is amazing if true, and then come back here.”

The room at the back of the main hall, you find a small sitting room with six comfortable chairs and a few bookshelves filled with the latest Pathfinder Chronicles. An old, withered man sits in one of the chairs, half-dozing when you enter. His skin is shockingly pale and his features are sharp with high cheekbones and a jutting chin.

Skerdo, a plain-looking young man with a weather-beaten and prematurely lined face, nods to the other Pathfinders as they meet in Venture-Captain Wallace's office. "Well, this sounds like an interesting task," he murmurs to the others. "My name's Skerdo. Originally from Lastwall...how about the rest of you?"

A gaunt human man nods tersely. He carries no weapon save a simple light crossbow yet his hollow eyes have the look of someone who has faced death up close on a regular basis. "Hervey. A pleasure."

When they enter the library, Hervey looks over the old vagrant before speaking to him.

knowledge (local): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
heal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

"Hello sir?" He firmly prods the old vagrant's shoulder.

A ruddy skinned prematurely bald young man walks in.
He carries light arms and wears no armour.
He looks the part of a a craftsman.
But seems a bit aloof or glum otherwise.

"I am Tsafento. Bronze-smith from Osirion."
"Hopefully, this is more profitable than making bronze wares."

He just sits down in the room Wallace indicated.
Content to see how the interview with the old wine-sack goes.

Skerdo chuckles. "Well-met, Tsafento, Hervey. I imagine it will be..." He follows the other two men into the room, but he too seems content to hang back and let Hervey do the talking. He leans against a bookshelf, half perusing the titles, but keeps a watchful eye on the old man as Hervey talks to him.

Peace be with you. - said the large Nagaji at the back of the room - I'm Jomal of Irori.

His voice sounded slow and balanced, and he had Eastern features covering his scaled body. Even though he was more like a humanoid serpent, something draconic seems to transpire from him. He was looking at Wallace and his companions with renewed curiosity.

A short, Jadwiga man dressed in robes of pastel blue and white joins you. His hair long and black, eyes glassy and blue. He bears no obvious weapons but his staff, and a jet black raven perches on his shoulder. A sliver spiral of the Lady of Graves hangs around his neck.

The raven stares intently at each of you in turn, peering with those same glassy blue eyes.

Caw!

Even in damp weather of Augustana, Vasilli seems to be perpetually sweating.

"Hush, Eduard!"

"Доброе утро, friends. I am Vasilli Grigorev of Irrisen."

« تاسو ټولو ته سلامونه » … "Greetings to you all" Tsafento responds to the newcomers.
Using Pashto arbitrarily from Google Translate

"We're just waiting for the old boy here to come around and tell us his tale."
Tsafento says, pointing to the besotted vagrant Hervey is trying to wake up.

Despite his incredibly filthy visage, matted white hair, and infirmity, when he awakes from all of your prodding, he regales you all with a look of absolute, confident superiority. For a moment he seemed different as if the touch of insanity has left but a slight mark on him.

“My loyal subjects, welcome! I know that some of you might not recognize me in my current state, but it is truly me, Gandros, the long-lost Prince of Augustana. I have been in hiding since the untimely death of my father, the Emperor, preparing for my return to glory. Unfortunately, I bear ill news. The army I have been gathering in the otherworld has been infiltrated by agents of our enemies. When last I called my forces together for inspection, dark assassins attacked me and I barely escaped with my life.”rolling up his sleeve to reveal a series of recently inflicted claw and tooth marks on his right forearm. He then launches into a breathless retelling of how he came to be in the Lodge, without pause or acknowledgement of interruptions.

“I fled back through the magic portal to this realm. Grievously wounded, and with the assassins in close pursuit, I leapt into the dark river. I floated past the Almsman’s Sanctuary, but couldn’t climb out of the water. I did manage to grab one of the bridges, but a plank fell in with me. I held on for dear life and continued to drift downstream. I went over a waterfall and then emerged in the lake of ships and crawled to shore. Augustana has changed since I last walked my city’s bright streets, but I managed to find this house, bearing the symbol of my father’s empire.” He holds up the wayfinder hanging from a chain around his neck. “I knew I would find help here! If you remove the threat from my kingdom below and help restore me to my rightful place as Emperor of Andoran, I will grant you any boon within my power!”

"I am from Ipeq, in Osirion, so forgive me for asking, but where is Augustana?"
diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

"It's here," Skerdo mutters to Tsafento. "This very city. No wonder the Venture-Captain's upset." He frowns, not yet stepping forward to engage the man himself, and racks his brains for any useful info.

Knowledge (Nobility) (trained): 1d20 ⇒ 13

"Thanks, Skerdo. I should've known that."

"Hmph. Certainly doesn't look noble right now, this one!"

The man refuses to answer ether of you as he stares down (or tries to) imperiously at all of you.

"Address me by my rightful title or not at all."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"Forgive Tsafento, Your Highness," Skerdo says, though he can't quite restrain a sigh. "He's not from Avistan and is unfamiliar with our ways. Where exactly is this otherworld you speak of? Could you take us to it? And do you have anything to prove your claim?"

"Prove my claim? Why you Peon!" Gandros spits back, his eyes filled with disgust at being questioned thus.

"Were it not for the fact that the society is my ally, I would have you dragged forth and executed for such treason!" he snarls and then looks away.

"My domain is beneath this squalor you call a city. GO forth and defeat the hell beasts that siege it......if you're capable.." he adds in the last rather spitefully.

I'm sorry! I'm having difficulties with the site not showing updates.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Jomal tries to analyze how truthful the man is being. The Nagaji keeps his eyes sharp, but doesn't say a word. His eyes move with curiosity around the so-called stranded noble. Once he finishes speaking about the hell beasts on the city, the monk finally speaks.

The Society sent us to help you, Lord Gandros. - he paused briefly - How can we reach your... Kingdom, and what is this object?

He points to the thing looking like a wayfinder.

"Apologies, Prince Gandros. We were not expecting someone of your stature under such debilitated circumstances."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 … there's a wee bit of luck!

sense motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4 … oh well
"He seems sure of himself, but I think he's loopy", Tsafento thinks to himself.

"Greetings, Skerdo, I am Teloish, from Katapesh." the human said as he looked around, greeting the others.

Listening at the vagrant, Teloish was uncertain as to human being who he said he was.

"Forgive us your Highness, some of us are not from this area and do not know what had occurred to you or sadly your history. Why not sit down so someone can tend to your wounds that you got in glorious battle? Pray tell, what foul creature dared to lay hands upon your august personage?" he asked.

Spying the wayfinder, Teloish thought for a bit, "Venture-Captain Moldreserva, would you inquire as to the Wayfinder? It might have something inside it that might help us in the quest or identify who crafted such a noble item? It might even have a story of itself."

Thank you Tsafento fur putting a note in the discussion section, I was not seeing any notice that there was posts.

Looking to see if there is something that might help identify who he is with the wayfinder.

Gandros seems to be lost in his own world as you quietly exit the room.

Returning to the main hall, however Venture-Captain Wallace beats you to it as he beckons all of you to him before he begins speaking.
"I may have something to tell you to that effect." in response to Teloish.

“My diviners say that there is some truth to his story. There has never been a Prince of Augustana, nor an Emperor in Andoran, but the old fellow has a surprising amount of knowledge of the pre-revolution noble families of the city. He may be the lost scion of some noble line. If so, he’s fallen far. From the filth and stink on him when we found him, we’re fairly certain he’s been living in or near a sewer. The wayfinder is also a mystery, but for now, it makes him one of ours. However, I’m more interested in his supposed gate to the otherworld. If it exists, I want to know about it. Implausible as it may seem, I’m certain that his injuries were caused by otherworldly beings. We must take the possibility of a portal seriously. I don’t want to dirty my hands with this, but you don’t have that choice. Retrace the old man’s path through the sewers. The Almsman, whom he repeatedly mentions, is rumored to be an eccentric priest who runs some sort of hidden beggar’s sanctuary in the sewers. He may know where our prince’s portal is, if you can find him. But be warned; a local gang calling themselves the Steel Wyverns claims the sewers near the Almsman’s Sanctuary as their own territory.”

Hervey nods grimly. "Sounds like we need to find this Almsman. How will we know him?"

"I could show you a possible entrance but in this case I'm more or less in the dark as are you. The entrane should be north like....about......here!" Venture-Captain Wallace shows the spot on the map of the likely sewer outlet from which Gandros came. It’s near the north end of the crowded Augustana harbor, near where the north harbor wall hits land.

Diplomacy to Gather Information or Knowledge(Local) if interested

diplomacy, to gather information: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
I really need to put points into that skill later.

Gather Information: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

knowledge local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
diplomacy AA: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Hervey is none too familiar with the area indicated.

Jomal's excellent information sources gets you to the entrance easily.

The maintenance entrance looks like a cellar door in an alley, but the stairs under it descend 20 feet into the settling pools.

The water in the channel is revoltingly filthy, and likely no one wants to be exposed to it. The effluvium is difficult terrain to move through, and the current is fairly swift.

"This had better be worthwhile!"
Says Tsafento, wrinkling his nose as they start trekking through the sewer.

Seeing how dark it was down there, Teloish pulled out a sunrod and stuck it in his belt in case it was needed. Taking a breath before heading into the sewer, he took up a position where his Glaive-Guisarme would be of use.

Not sure what the lighting is like but use the sunrod if needed.

Skerdo grimly draws both of his blades before proceeding into the sewer.

We should probably determine a marching order--Skerdo is happy to go first if that works for everyone else (I seem to have the most hit points.

I should probably be either in the middle or close to the end.
No armour and all that.

I will be behind Skerdo.

I will be towards the front as well.

Dark but Light has being provided I see.
Map is up.
Set yourselves on the map on the stairs going North.

The smell of waste and rot is strong in this large chamber where filthy water flows in a series of cascades between tiered stone tanks. A raised platform along the east wall is connected to the passage’s walkways by several thick wooden planks creating a makeshift bridge. On that platform is what looks to be a makeshift alchemy lab on a rough-hewn table—beakers, glass vials, dirty bottles, and moldy buckets cover the entire surface of the table.

Looking up, he snickers.
"Tough luck on you for what the tide has brought in. Leave your valuables and you can leave with your lives." his companions laugh as the swing their chains menancingly.

I assume that we're entering from the stairs?

Skerdo scowls as he warily appraises the "alchemist" and his companions. "I for one suggest that you not make complete asses of yourselves by trying to fight this out. There are five of us and three of you--personally, I like those odds." He shifts his stance slightly to make sure that they can see he has both ax and machete at the ready. "Beyond that, we've got the higher ground here." (I mean, I think we do relative to the chain gang at least. Not entirely clear on the map?) "So...you sure we can't all get along? We're just passing through. Looking for a man called the Almsman."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

I can be towards the middle or front :)

Moved my icon on the stairs not far from the bottom, if someone wants to get between Skerdo and Tsafento

Tsafento tries to hear what Skerdo is saying and who he's talking to
perception: 1d20 ⇒ 5
But he's too distracted by the wiffy smells.

"Jomal, there is some pillars over the sewer that you might be able to leap over to get at the alchemist. There is a bridge but unless you are really light on your feet, I don't like it." Teloish muttered as he made his way around the stairs.

Hervey, sensing danger, manifests his ectoplasmic lash.

Full round action.

Vasilli raises a sleeve to cover his mouth and nose. "Vis smell, it iz... outrageous. What is it up ahead, what iz going on?".

Shaken as they are by Skerdo's confident words, their next action proves they aren't the brightest tool in the shed as with a yell at Hervey's fascinating lash, they attack!

Round 1
Tsafento
Hervey
Vasilli Grigorev
Boss Thug
Thug x 2
Skerdo Cabeza de Vaca
Jomal
Teloish the Sly
Bold is up

@Teloish: you mentioned the pillars, but couldn't I simply go for that bridge?

Hervey moves down the walkway and down the stairs, slapping the minion with his lash.

lash: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 +1 for higher ground?
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

confirm crit?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 +1 for higher ground?
extra damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

@ Jomal:You can head for the bridge but I have a feeling that someone my size (6'4", 210 lbs) with medium armor might have a problem.

Round 1
Tsafento moves to the bottom of the stairs, behind Teloish and chants quickly:
« રક્ષણ! » "Shield!", in ignan , casting a Shield spell on himself

Round 1
Tsafento - Calls on S.H.I.E.L.D!
Hervey Hits somebody really hard
Vasilli Grigorev
Boss Thug
Thug x 2 1/11, 11/11
Skerdo Cabeza de Vaca
Jomal
Teloish the Sly
Bold is up

Hervy certainty doesn't wast time as Tsafento calls upon the arcane words of magic to give himself a substantical defence! Meanwhile Hervy's strike nearly takes the head off the lead thug!

Vasilli moves down the stairs towards the far bridge.

"Vaht iz going on? Out of my way, please! I cannot help if I'm unable to cast my magicks."

Double move.

Round 1
Tsafento - Calls on S.H.I.E.L.D!
Hervey Hits somebody really hard
Vasilli Grigorev moves onward forward
Boss Thug
Thug x 2 1/11, 11/11
Skerdo Cabeza de Vaca
Jomal
Teloish the Sly
Bold is u

Seeing one coming closer, the leader takes careful aim and tosses a bag at Vasilli. The bag explodes!
Bag toss 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
The explosion of the bag reveals its sticky payload but fortunately for Vasilli, non of it catches him.

The thugs lashes out at their closest foe!
[ooc]Attack Hervy 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 122d4 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4
2nd Person attacks 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 52d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6
However it seems that fortune favors the bold as none of the attacks from their chains comes even close

Skerdo grunts as he sees the chain-wielding thugs approaching Hervey. "You're in the way, my friend," he calls as he approaches to stand back-to-back with the spiritualist. "If you need to, fall back behind me." He stows his machete as he speaks, taking a two-handed grip on his battleaxe.

Not much I can do in such tight quarters...

Jomal does a quick 5-foot-step diagonally, then tries to flurry his rope dart at the first bandit. He lets the sansetsukon hang by the weapon cord.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 2 - 2 = 0 No precise shot, cover

Attack 2: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 - 2 - 2 = 4 No precise shot, cover

He misses both attacks, and curses the tight spaces.

Teloish finding the path blocked, moved to jump to the pillar in order to engage the Boss.

Acrobatics: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (17) - 3 = 14
Power Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 211d10 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Please move me to the pillar next to the bridge. If I can, attack the boss.

Round 2
Tsafento moves out on the pathway, and when he can see the boss, he points at him and says: « બર્ન! » "burn!", in Ignan
… shooting a fire ray at him
fire ray: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 (vs. touch AC, point-blank shot)

There's a bit of luck!