PbP GameDay 3: GM Endless Forms' PFS 06-07 Valley of Veiled Flame (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Meg joins Dalton in surprise, covering her mouth with her hand as her eyes widen. "What?! Wait, the disappeared? Along with your friend Koriath? What could they have possibly done wrong? I know some Pathfinders are kind of . . . brash (I think that's the word that Ollysta used), but this seems a little much."

The elemental responds to Kaab:

The elemental returns to the castle.

---

"Tygora Cinderfury is an efreeti fleeing the City of Brass," the oread explains to the assembled Pathfinders, "she came to this land long ago-centuries ago, in fact-coincidentally when the oread settlement here was heavily damaged by the volcanoes’ eruptions. Knowing that repairs would take years and risk unwanted exposure to the geniekin’s Kelishite neighbors, the town’s council wished for a rebuilt settlement, seclusion, and safety from the outside world. On the one hand, Tygora honored the geniekin’s desires by veiling Crystalcrag and its surrounding lands with powerful illusion magic. On the other hand, she twisted their wish to rebuild the town to fit her own needs—with her as its absolute ruler. Under her dictatorial reign, Crystalcrag has grown in influence at the expense of the oreads’ freedom and happiness, yet most have come to accept their safety as a fair trade for their servitude."

The councilman continues in his slow methodical speech, "Recently even oreads have begun to give birth to ifrit children and Tygora's rule has become increasingly unbearable. I'm afraid your friends arrived on a bad day and were arrested immediately for no crime except that Cinderfury was in a bad mood after some public demonstrations from the oreads."

"We oreads are a peaceful race. Though Tygora’s rule is harsh, many of the people here have found it somewhat of a give-and-take. Tygora gives the people complete invisibility from the surrounding settlements in exchange for completing any demands she may have requested."

He thinks for a moment. "I wish I could help but my best advice is that if you plan to break your friends out of imprisonment, you'll need help. You are well advised to speak to others and weaken Tygora’s forces first. In that regards, I can think of three places for you to start:"

"The Fifth Facet is the largest tavern and a natural gathering place for oread workers; Valsog’s Smithy is a large smithy operated by a giant who crafts weapons for Tygora’s growing army; and the Everlasting Fire is an oread-owned alchemy shop that is one of many local businesses that Tygora has coerced to supply her ifrit soldiers. I wish I could offer you more...."

"You poor things!" Meg exclaims as Eurdan finishes his speech, taking his hand kindly. "I promise, nothing will stop us from rescuing our fellow Pathfinders. I'm sure my friends here will agree, we cannot suffer a whimsical tyrant to stay in charge here! Her palace may be skillfully made and well-guarded, but it is tainted by an inner ugliness. I swear by The Eternal Rose that we will attempt to restore the beauty of goodness and proper rule to Crystalcrag!"

"You have provided considerable help, Mr. Stonemantle! Your people's peacefulness is admirable, and hopefully we can resolve this with as little ugly violence as possible." Meg squeezes the oread's hand encouragingly and smiles brightly at him before turning to her companions. "I think we should head to the Fifth Facet first. We still have to find somewhere to stay before the curfew, and I'm sure the oreads there can give us some advice on how to get in to Ms. Cinderfury's palace to save our fellow Pathfinders."

"Oh! One more thing, Mr. Stonemantle," Meg says, turning to the stony man. "What's an e-freet-i?"

"This is indeed grievous news. I had thought I picked up a condescending tone from the guards as we entered the city." Dalton turns his furrowed brow to Megfarra. "Madame Rose, the ifriti are an elemental race - like the other woman in our company, Kaâb."

Dalton then turns and address Megfarra, Bizzle and Calistan. "Listen, I know that Kayluss had warned us against doing anything beyond our scope as Pathfinders. However, I cannot see my people under such circumstances and not want to do something. Also, this seems to be the only way to recover our fellow Pathfinders." He lets out a sigh and reaches his hand towards Eurdan, "Master Stonemantle, I thank you for your help. I do have one last inquiry, as Meg here has mentioned, we are in need of a place to stay. Do you have any recommendations of safe and reasonable lodging? Somewhere that wouldn't mistreat a band of outsiders such as ourselves?"

Go to the Fifth Facet Tavern then ? May be our friends will be have better result than us !
This is the second time we are asking to respect the curfew, this seems important so it will be better do secure our lodging and don't break the curfew if we want a meeting with Lady Cinderfury.

Kaâb took the lead and went to the tavern, asking other people for directions on her way.

The deaf oracle zones out after trying to read the lips of the geniekin in front of him, but failing due to the foreign nature of their languages. He happily thinks of his villa on the outskirts of Katheer. I miss the sun on my face as I partake of figs on my terrace...

He snaps out of it as soon as he realizes that everyone is speaking Common. He tries to follow the Oread's words, but struggles at the slowness of the speaker.

At the mention of an ogre, Calistan nudges Bizzle and rapidly points at the councilman. He vigorously points between Bizzle and himself, then points at his eyes and throws his hands out wide.

Errr, ummm... what's that, now? Bizzle looks at the oracle with a confused expression. What are you getting at?

I missed a couple of days due to being awfully busy IRL, however I am missing where an ogre was mentioned.

Sorry. Meant giant. Ogre is stuck in my head from my Among the Living game.

Bazresh stays quiet and follows the others out. "We should meet up with the others, than find this tavern."

You're certainly right Bazresh ! May be they already are in the Fifth Facet Tavern waiting for us !

With as many games as I'm in I'm sure I do that all the time. Speaking of which, and considering that the last few days has been very busy for me, I still don't follow Calistan. Maybe I'll have to reread the thread to pick up on it later. :)

Kayluss will head back to the meeting place with the others. He'll ask Kaâb to repeat the conversation with the elemental a couple times and try and figure out what's going on. Something is starting to seem off here and is making the fighter nervous.

Nothing much realy my dear Kayluss. He just said to me that Lady Cinderfury is not taking visitors and even less foreigners visitor seeking their friends. Wich I don't understand why...
Then he said to me to try the Fifth Facet Tavern and again asked me to exit the premises of Lady Cinderfury Palace and to respect the curfew.
I hope our comrades are here, sound and safe, sipping a cold beer !

What time is it and how long until curfew?

@Bizzle:

"The Fifth Facet is the largest tavern and a natural gathering place for oread workers; Valsog’s Smithy is a large smithy operated by a giant who crafts weapons for Tygora’s growing army; and the Everlasting Fire is an oread-owned alchemy shop that is one of many local businesses that Tygora has coerced to supply her ifrit soldiers. I wish I could offer you more...."

I got that much, just didn't catch what his pantomime meant.

You wanna check out the smithy? Me and you? You want to see how big it really is?

Calistan nods his head vigorously.

Eurdan replies, "The Fifth Facet offers a few rooms but if they are booked you are welcome to stay here in the Council House. Also, let me clear that it is not just the blood of the jinn that runs in Tygora's blood as the earth runs through the blood of myself and Dalton here. She is a jinn in full, a powerful ifrit from the Plane of Fire itself...."

---

The curfew does not start until dark but it is now late afternoon and dark will soon fall upon the city. The Fifth Facet is a square, two-story, stone tavern that sits on the main roadway of Crystalcrag. The smell of charred timber and cooked food waft gently out of multiple windows hewn into the building’s facade.

As you enter, many of the oreads watch you surreptitiously while others do so with open curiosity. The barkeep, who introduces himself as Delgur, waves you over to have a drink on the house. Like many of the citizens here, he starts talking in Terran but switches to Common once he realizes that is more comfortable for the party as a whole. "We don't get many travelers around here any more; how go things in the outside world? From where do you all hail?"

Oh, here and there, out and about. You know how gnomes like to travel around and discover things. Like this place here. Fascinating! Haha! Bizzle enjoys his drink as he comments on the establishment. Got some rooms available? I heard you have the finest in the area! The gnome will continue to ham it up a bit so that he might be more easily questioned by some of the others, if they wish.

Diplo: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

Calistan happily imbibes his ale as he sits at the bar and looks around at everyone else... He tries to read the lips of the Oread, but can't understand what he is saying, so he gives up and looks elsewhere.

"Yes, we've got rooms enough for you all. Happy to host you!" the oread bartender says.

As the group enters the tavern, Dalton remarks, "I hope the others manage to meet us here - I wonder if they were able to meet with Tygora Cinderfury herself."

Dalton thanks the bartender. "Just water, if you don't mind. Alcohol doesn't agree with me. I appreciate the hospitality, friend. Delgur, I am Dalton Bodhi. My companions and I are Pathfinders. I'm not sure of the others, but I have spent many of my days in Katheer, Qadira... but, I want to thank you again for the rooms. As we understand it, the curfew here is quite strictly enforced, and we'd hate to make a misstep on our first night in Crystalcrag."

Dalton takes a sip of his water. He lowers his voice a bit, "Might I ask how your clientele feel about Cinderfury's rule over Crystalcrag. In general, I mean."

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

"Mm, the food in here smells so good! It's good to be out of those mountains stuck with just trail rations!" Meg waves to the oreads in the tavern with a smile as they approach the barkeep. "I grew up in Taldor, but I've been all over!"

Meg notices Dalton lowering his voice, and does the same. "Yeah, this seems like a nice place. And Ms. Cinderfury seems...interesting."
Diplomacy Aid Another: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

KAyluss, stands in front of the building he pointed out as the meet up point. Tapping his foot he looks around, Where are they? I knew spiltting the party was a bad idea.

May be they disappeared too ! How awful it will be !

said a worried Kaâb

The bartender doesn't bother to look around or whisper too quietly and you notice several of the other oreads nearby nodding their head in agreement as he responds, "Well, there aren't too many except for the fire-born who are prospering under or enjoying her rule, as I'm sure you've deduced by now."

Another oread at the bar joins in, "That's an understatement. She's been forcing her demands on us for too long. Got the smithy and just about every other business in town supplying her own fortress without a care for the worker's profit or livelihood."

You notice that many of the oreads in the tavern are now openly watching the conversation, most of them nodding along or grumbling to themselves.

Calistan, on his third beer, stumbles outside. He is making various unknown hand gestures at everyone he passes by. He sees Kaab and Kayluss as he grabs a pillar for support. He waves at them in surprise!

Oh my god ! They have poisoned Calistan ! Look ! He can't even speak !

Said afraid Kaâb before realizing that Calistan couldn't spoke.

Uh, no, my mistake, he just tried to draw our attention !

Kaâb moved to enter in the etablishment

Greetings everybody !

Dalton looks up as Kayluss, Kaâb and Bazresh enter the tavern. He rushes over to them, heading straight to Kayluss, "Look, there have been some developments that block our way to retrieving those we've been sent to collect. The ifriti," Dalton gives a nervous glance at Kaâb, "that rules over Crystalcrag - Cinderfury - has taken the Pathinders prisoner. Isn't that who you tried to contact? How did it go?"

As Dalton looks around the room, he tries to preempt any action from the oread patrons at the bar at the sight of an ifrit among. He speaks to the bartender in Terran.

"Vinsamlegast, þetta hér er Pathfinder eins og mér. Þó hún deilir sama frumefni arfleifðar sem Cinderfury, hún er ókunnugt um neitt sem hefur kvisast. Sum okkar hafa verið til sameiginlegra hús þar Eurdan Stonemantle upplýst okkur um aðstæður Crystalcrag er. Við leitum losun annarra Pathfinders sem hafa verið tekin fangi af Cinderfury, og ég veit að við munum þurfa smá hjálp. Heldurðu að náungi oreads okkar mun vera fús til að vinna með hóp sem hefur ifrit á meðal okkar?"

While the bartender considers this, Dalton will ask Meg to fully catch the others up on what was learned at the Coommon House.

Bazresh shakes his head. "Cinderfury would not see us."

Unfortunately, we weren't able to meet with Lady Cinderfury. Her majodormo tell me she wasn't available at this moment for "strangers in search for their missing friends". He tell us to see in the Fifth Facet Tavern if our missing friends were all here and to respect the curfew by finding lodging.

Are you sure the ifrit here are mean to oreads ? They seemed so nice to me ! I'm sure it's all a misunderstanding !

Kaâb smile kindly to all the oread present.

Well, I guess we might have to take the initiative then. Perhaps a visit to the forge is a place to start? Bizzle looks to his apparently drunk and mute friend and says, At least I think he thought it to be a good place to start.

The bartender nods at Dalton. "I thought that was likely to be the reason you folks wandered into town. You seem awfully similar to that last group that got snatched up by Cinderfury before they knew what hit them. Damn injustice, it was." Most of the oreads in the place are now openly talking against Cinderfury's reign. "And I'll tell you this," the bartender says, his voice becoming louder to be heard over the din of the crowd, "it won't be easy, but if you mean to take Cinderfury on, you'll have the oreads here at your backs!" There is loud cheering and applauding as everyone raises their mugs, clearly getting caught up in the rebellious atmosphere.

My good friend, the Venture Captain Ilmaktar of the Hellknight order of the Nail, always said to me "Order is Justice, Rebellion is crime".
I'm sure that there is a possibility to find a way without violence to be able to make everyone happy !
I'm sure if we explain to Lady Cinderfury that her way of justice is not right she will listen and we could fine an arrangement to make your life easier !
Alef and Hasan seemed like two good Ifrits like you all and It's my hope that under the blessing of the Dawnflower you all could live together with respect to each other, right ?

One of the oreads shouts out, "Of course they seemed good to you! The ifrits get all the best treatment around here!"

Kaâb smile kindly to the oread and said

You, know, I'm living in a world where I am more than often the only Ifrit around. I've never known my parents and grew without the love of them. Hopefully, Sarenrae light and warm had greet me in Her kindness and I found a new home and a new family around her followers.
I understand what being an outsider is, or being juged by my look is or being treated differently bad or good.
But I always look at the bright side of Life and judge people, by their deads, not their look.
So yes, they were friendly to me, and to my friends. They could misjudge Dalton its true but I'm sure if they know him better they will like him as much as me.
Now, I don't say you are not right to want a better life. But I can't let you spoke of rebellion because as my dear friend Ilmaktar added rebellion mean often war and war lead to death and I don't want the burden of innocents' death on my heart.
I'm ready to stand up in front of Lady Cinderfury to ask her to change her bad behaviour if what you explained to my friends is true. But don't blame Ifrit because they just have been born ifrit. I'm sure they also have suffering from Lady Cinderfury's rules. May be less than you, I don't know and I can't judge it, but they don't deserve your condamnation, just-because-they-are-Ifrit.
If lady Cinderfury rules are unfair and hurtfull we need together, Ifrit, Oread and Pathfinders alike made our point to her.
Not Oread against Ifrit or Ifrit against Oread, but YOU Ifrit and Oread as Crystalcrag citizen !

Calistan stumbles back in, oblivious to the rousing speech of Kaab in the corner. He places his empty mug on the bar and fumbles with his coin pouch, spilling several gold pieces across the floor. He sways as he picks up a single coin and hands it to the barkeep.

Dalton steps forward and holds his hand up and puts his other around Kaâb's shoulders.

"My friend here has a point. Though I have lived in Absalom for a good portion of my life - where many of Golarion's races live together, I have not encountered an ifrit before just a few days ago when I first met Kaâb here. Now, while I do not doubt that there are some legitimate grievances to be had against Cinderfury, I do think that my friend has a point - we should try a diplomatic approach. It hurts me to see my fellow oread brothers and sisters under such rule. However, Cinderfury's rule does seem predicated upon a lawful agreement that was made."

He turns to Kaâb and lowers his voice a bit. "But you must understand that I did not imagine the attitude I read on the guards. I know what oppression looks like, and from what I've seen here - that's what we're dealing with."

Dalton signals for the other pathfinders to gather around. "Listen, let's go try and reach Cinderfury again. We'll identify ourselves as Pathfinders - hopefully that will get us an audience. The oreads say our missing friends are prisoners - and if that is indeed the case, then if we can't negotiate with Cinderfury, then I am hard-pressed for a route other than working with my oread brethren."

EDIT: I just went back and checked and it seems that Kaab did identify the party as Pathfinders.

"The ifrits have it bad too? Is that what you're saying?" one of the oreads responds to Kaab. "No, no! You're either naive or stupid! Cinderfury treats them like royalty, they don't have any hardships at all! Meanwhile, we oreads are expected to feed and clothe them and even arm them! When we bring our grievances to Lady Cinderfury, they bring out our own weapons against us!"

One of the other oreads in the tavern takes up the speech, "And it may have been a lawful agreement in the beginning and all was fine back then. But it's not so any more! The agreement is only worthwhile if she keeps her side of the deal and she hasn't been doing that for many long years!"

GM tip: negotiation with Cinderfury is pretty much off the table. Her elemental already said she won't speak with you and you're not likely to change its mind. And remember, Eurdan said it would take an army to assault her fortress....

For the moment Kayluss keeps his mouth shut, fearing he would upset his new friend Kaâb. The his mood does grow considerably darker and those who look into his eyes can see anger burning there.

I figured as much, GM. Dalton is lawful, so I was more role-playing his slight doubts at organizing a rebellion or coup-de-dat, or whatever this ends up being. :-)

Dalton listens to the patrons, then turns his head to his fellow pathfinders, eyebrows raised in a questioning look. "Well..?"

Calistan sees the crowd rousing and throws up his hands, mimicking the oreads, making unitelligble sounds. It has been a while since he has left Thornkeep and the alcohol is very potent to affect the rock people...

This is how I picture Calistan at the moment.

Baz puts up his hands to try to diffuse the boiling convesation. "Let us not turns against each other. You must give us so leniency, we are new to this city and know very little of the current politics. We were merely sent to retrieve some associates. You can understand why my friends talk of a peaceful situation? Not one of us is looking for a fight."

Scannig the room, he takes in the crowd. "Now, if what you say is true, well, that is a grave injustice that should be remedied. What can you tell us and what are you proposing? I can not speaks for my companions, but if your grevience is true, and it appears that it is, perhaps our goals lay in the same direction..."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30

Bazx turns to his companions. "We may have few options at our disposal."

Turning to Kaâb and Baz, This Cinder Fury is a Tyrant! What else i there to know?! She understands only one thing, Power. She knows what she is doing to these people and doesn't care! Seething with anger Kayluss' voice continues to grow louder as he speaks. Cyderfury has captured a party of Pathfinder and refuses to speak to us or let us see them. With these actions she has Declared War on the Pathfinder Society! Its is time we show her just how big of a mistake that was!

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Sorry, Kayluss is a rabble-rouser.

Meg notices the stumbling Calistan, and goes over to support the mute man in case he falls over or hurts someone. She gives him a smile while putting an arm around him, in attempt to be chummy without being patronizing. "We were sent to find our fellow Pathfinders, and I don't want anyone to get hurt..." Meg says, biting her lip nervously. "Kaâb, I know this rebellion sounds dangerous, but Ms. Cinderfury is not a good ruler. She locked up the other Pathfinders because she felt like it, and that isn't justice--it's just mean! We'll do what we can to bring peace--I promise.

"Now, it sounds like our friends here want to help! Let's go to Valsog's Smithy. We'll see what Ms. Cinderfury needs all those weapons for, and if she's mostly using them against her own subjects, then we'll do something about it. Think we can get there and back before sunrise?"

Kaâb looked at Kayluss with worries and added

Don't mistake my good heart with blindness. What I want is lessen the casualty of an uprising. What I'm concern the most is the well being of Cristalcrag's citizen, oread or ifrit.

She then turned to the oreads

Yes may be the ifrit have the better way of life. May be they have the favors of Lady Cinderfury. But do they have the choice to choose by themselves ? May be some of them would want to forge, to work, to do what you do ? May be some of them want to go outside, travel, don't follow the curfew and so on...
They were educated to be different because tyrant want to divide to stabilize their power.
I'm sure I can convince some of the Ifrit to join us, to join you in our fight for taking back your lives. But Revolution don't mean destroying everything and killing those different from you. It means being better being greater. To forgive and to work with other to a better society.
Ifrit and Oread must have equal rights in the new Cristalcrag and a place thanks to their qualities and not how they were born. That what I want and I'm sure what you want

Bizzle lets the others plead their case. Meanwhile, the gnome will pick up the stray coins that his mute friend had dropped and use one of them to buy another beer for the oracle. You really seem to be enjoying yourself, buddy-ol-pal.

The oreads are about to respond to Baz but at Kayluss' outburst the place erupts into applause and cheering! "He gets it! This one knows what its like to live under tyranny!"

The bartender responds to Kaab, "Don't get us wrong, Miss, we understand what you're saying. Not all of the ifrits are bad; most of them are coerced into her service. And some of them are our own children; in the last few decades even the oreads have been giving birth to ifrits due to the radiance of her power over the region. But Cinderfury is a tyrant. She and her cronies need to go."

"Okay, then. We shall help bring this Cinderfury, and her regime, down. Now, as was mentioned, we were told that the smithy and an alchemist in town have been conscripted by Cinderfury to make supplies for her cronies. We need to speak with them. Is there time tonight before curfew? I'd rather we not attract any more attention than absolutely necessary before we're ready to act."

I agree she must go, and those who want to go with her, but not with bloodshed and not like in Galt. Kaâb turned to her companions and asked It's in Galt where revolution never end, right ?
Then turned again to the oread I don't say that because I'm an Ifrit, but I'm a follower of Sarenrae, goddess of redemption. And as her code said : "I will not abide evil, and will combat it with steel when
words are not enough. I do not flinch from my faith, and do not fear embarrassment. My soul cannot be bought for all the stars in the sky".
So First words, then steel.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (10) + 22 = 32

The bartender smiles at having finally won you over. "It's going to be dark soon; why don't you take up room here-on the house, of course-and head about on your business tomorrow?"