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

Game Master Mike Tuholski

It seems as if the party might have been lost amidst the mirages and illusions of the deserts forever if it weren't for Dalton's expert knowledge of the land. Perhaps his oread heritage has leant him a special connection with these parts, at least for now....

The trail winds around and over several of the lower peaks, gradually taking you several dozen miles into the Zho Mountains and several thousand feet higher in altitude. Signs of the first groups’ progress vanish as you enter an alpine meadow filled with scrub brush and dry grasses that cling to the thin soil. This arid, mile-long mountain cove dead-ends suddenly and unexpectedly.

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

"Hm. Looks like we took a wrong turn. . . Where to now, everyone?"

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

This is but an illusion. The Valley continues down and there is a walled settlement with a massive bronze castle.

Will Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

"Kayluss speaks truly. See..." Dalton steps forward through the edge of the illusion to help those that may be fooled into realizing the trick for what it is.

Once certain he's helped Kayluss break the illusion for people, the oread chuckles, "Heh, a wicked castle for us to storm, is it? Come, we should not delay." Dalton cracks his knuckles and continues moving forward.

Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Baz blinks and rubs his eyes, not able to see through the mirage, at first.

Calistan smiles at the comment about being a Trade Prince and waves happily at Megfera.

Will DC23: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Uh ! That's strange, the tracks of the people we are looking for just disappeared ! Do you think they have teleporting themselves to another location or took a fly ?

I don't know if I can add +4 to my roll with Kayluss' warning

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Calistan is confused by the words and expressions of his compatriots. All he sees is desert.

Will: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 2 = 20 I make it with a +4

Yes, once you are 'aware' it is an illusion (someone telling you), you get a +4 to your save. And eventually you'll see through it.

As you approach the gate, two humanoids who have obvious ifrit heritage hail you in their elemental language.

Seeing an oread in your midst, they then switch to another elemental language.

Seeing other Ifrits Kaâb smiled brodly, bow to them, and said

Diplomacy (take 10): 10 + 22 = 32

When she spoke she seemed like touched by Sarenrae's light.

Dalton bows his head deferentially towards the guards and answers back, "Kveðjur, ég er Dalton Bodhi. Bandamenn mínir og ég erum Pathfinders. Við höfum verið send í leit að öðrum vantar bandamenn okkar. Við leitum ekki deila, aðeins misst vini okkar. Vilt þú vera svo góður að benda okkur að skrifstofu opinbers eða einhvern sem getur verið líklegur til að veita okkur með gagnlegum upplýsingum?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

Huh? What was that? What did they say? What did you say? There are too many languages in the world, aren't there? Haha! If it wasn't obvious earlier I will use the wands for Mage Armor for whoever needs them used, including myself.

Kaâb turned to Bizzle and said without thinking

Bizzle laughs! Umm, yes, sure! Whatever you say! Whatever that is, of course!

The ifrits nod their heads and responds to Kaab.

They also respond to Dalton.

The two ifrits chuckle and continue.

The two ifrit guards then reach to open the gate for you and tell you all in Common, "Welcome to Crystalcrag."

Kaâb smiled at the two Ifrit and asked

Then she turned to her comrades

These fine gentlemen invite us to enter Crystalcrag, but we need to secure our lodgings, respect the curfew and avoid causing trouble.

Sense Motive on those chuckles - is Dalton being mocked?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Dalton nods in gratitude and turns to the others. "Yes, they suggest we contact someone in the Council house - where there are apparently more oreads like myself. How serendipitous." Dalton smiles.

"Like Kaâb said, we best avoid causing trouble of any kind."

Well done you two, better to not cause any more trouble than needed. Kayluss says as they enter. As the passes the guards he meets their eyes and give a respectful nod, Kaâb, how do you say 'Thank you' in your native tongue? Dalton how about you?

"Kayluss, you can say Þakka þér."

So, are we entering from the left side of the map?

Þakka þér Kayluss practices saying to himself.

"Cause trouble? Us?" Meg gasps to Kaâb and Dalton. "That's not what Pathfinders do! Besides, we're just here to find our comrades; I don't know how I could cause trouble doing that!" she muses happily.

"Shall we go to the Council House to secure our lodgings and such like the nice guards suggested?" Meg asks, following the group in past the town gates while thanking the guards in Common.

Hey... they speak common! What's with all the secrecy? I'm no troublemaker! In fact, I bet this place could use a little cheering up. Bizzle will nod in agreement to Meg's idea.

Calistan rides by the guards to Crystalcrag and gives em a big thumbs up! He is still a bit confused by the mouth movements of both the guards and his fellow Pathfinders. This certainly isn't Thornkeep...

Kaâb smile at Kayluss and said It's very easy to say, it's شکريا

Kaâb turned to the two Ifrit and added

شکريا Tries Kayluss, Ug, that's a tough one, شکريا

The ifrit respond to Kaab:

After waiving her hand to the two ifrits Kaâb turned to her comrades and said

Alef and Hasan are telling me that their leader is Tygora Cinderfury and she keeps residence in Hury's Hold. I think if our friends are missing Lady Cinderfury will know were we must look ! Isn't that great, seeing other friendly Ifrit !
I'm happy !

And, almost dancing, she enter in Crystalcrag smiling at the two guards.

Good try Kayluss ! If you have time after the mission I could teach you other words in Ignan !

Dalton's smile slowly fades as the attitude the guards are projecting finally registers. His countenance grows a little darker, but he keeps a stoic blankness to his expression.

He snorts a little at Kaâb's exclamation of the Ifrit guards as 'friendly'. Kaâb doesn't seem so bad - wonder why the bias against oreads here?

"C'mon, we shouldn't delay."

Bazresh listens to the exchange, staying quiet and waiting for the translations. At Dalton's reaction, he looks at the oread questionly, then back to the ifrits.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38

"Bazresh, thank you for your concern. It just seams that my kind are looked-down upon - considered lower class. It is not a sentiment I've faced before. Absalom had such a diverse population. I forget that things are different throughout the Inner Sea."

A smile touches at the corners of Dalton's mouth as he does his best to keep his mind on the task at hand.

"Now, if we can just find the Council House, I can inquire of my own kind. Perhaps we should split into two groups. Kaâb and some others would find better contacts elsewhere, while I and a couple of people could head to the Council House."

Uh?! Are you sure ? They seemed sooo nice to me !

Said Kaâb surprised by Dalton's comment.

I agree, let us split ! I'm so excited to see other ifrits ! and this Lady Cinderfury seems the women in charge, so nice, right !

Fury's Hold is a massive, fortified palace combining thick walls made of solid bronze juxtaposed with delicate, sweeping features that seem to defy gravity. When you approach the gates, a huge fire elemental emerges and speaks to you in Ignan.

Meanwhile, Dalton and the rest of the party are pointed to the nearby Oread Council House (marked on the map). An aging oread with hair-thin cracks spiderwebbing his skin approaches and introduces himself. "Greetings. I am Eurdan Stonemantle, the remaining councilor of Crystalcrag. Welcome to our city. I invite you inside to speak with me." He speaks in Common, although with a strong accent.

The nearby building bears the weathered inscription Council House in Terran.

Kaâb bow to the mighty elemental and said

Diplomacy (take 10): 10 + 22 = 32

Before going separate ways, Kayluss steps up and turns to the group. Alright, Kaâb, Baz, and I will head over to see Lady Cinderfury. Dalton, take Meg and Calistan to the council house. We'll meet back up in an hour in front of that building. the fighter points to a distinct looking building about halfway between the castle and the council house. Remember, he adds looking at Kaâb & Dalton, We are here to find out what happened to the pathfinders not work out social issues or look for lost family member. That can come after we make sure the other team is safe. Kayluss is authoritative but not bossy and waits while looking at each member of the party to make sure there are no objections to the plan.

Kaâb smiled at Kayluss and said

Of course my dear Kayluss ! Mission first, socialize second ! But as my mentor in Katheer said to me, tell something with a smile and a rose and the answer will not be blood and grimace

Then resume her trip to Fury's Hold

Dalton nods at Kayluss' instruction. "Of course, Kayluss - that is certain. Thank you for reminding me of my sworn duty to the Society."

Once in the council house, Dalton address Eurdan, "I am Dalton Bodhi, and these are Megfarra and Calistan. We represent the Pathfinder Society. Some time ago, the Society had sent a team of explorers to map out some unexplored areas of the Zho Mountains. However, their communications have ceased unexpectedly. Have you any knowledge of this team?"

Dalton bows slightly at the waist. "Any help or news you are able to share is greatly appreciated."

Calistan follows the vociferous speakers around smiling at all of the new people he is seeing. He thinks he sees Dalton mouth his name when speaking to someone new, so Calistan bows deeply.

And where shall I go? Bizzle looks up at Kayliss, obviously offended. I know I'm small but geez! He'll join the other half of the group without waiting for an answer, a smile on his face.

I didn't remember we had seven until just now.

Sorry Bizzle! Kayluss calls as the gnome joins Dalton's Group.

Baz listens to Kayluss, then nods. "Do you think it wise to go see this Lady without either Dalton or Kaab? What race is this Cinderfury?"

Kaâb is going to meet Cinderfury ;-)
She already ask the permission to enter to her steaward HERE

Kaâb, Baz, and I will head over to see Lady Cinderfury.

I even used an Oxford Comma :)

Yeah, I totally read that the wrong way.

What did you say to that elemental? Kayluss whispers to Kaâb as they wait for a response. You didn't call in a bad name or something and piss it off did you? Though said as a joke there is a little nervous tension in his voice.

Of course not ! I'm always courteous to new people I meet ! said Kaâb who seemed not to understand the humorous tone of Kayluss.

He ask us if we had official business and I tell him we do. We ask for an official meeting with Lady Cinderfury about our missing comrades

she added with a smile

The elemental responds to Kaab.

---

The oread smiles meekly and responds to Dalton, "Ah, yes. You were not the first foreigners to reach Crystalcrag, nor are you the first visitors to bear those strange compass badges I see."

Eurdan thinks for a moment, his next words slowly turning over in his mind before he speaks them. "They are currently the guests—almost certainly the prisoners—of Crystalcrag’s ruler, Tygora. To be honest, their arrival had been a minor rallying point for the oreads, but my fellow councilor Koriath disappeared without a trace soon after the visitors’ abduction; I suspect Tygora has all of them imprisoned."

He sighs and says, "Unfortunately the place is very well-guarded. I would fear for your safety if you were to assault the place on your own with anything less than an army at your back...."

"Wait, they're prisoners? Why would this Tygora want to keep Pathfinders as prisoners?" Dalton's brow furrows as he tries to reason out why or how the previous team could've gotten themselves in prison.

"Pardon my excitation, but I just find this news to be unsettling. The allies that we've been sent for, they were tasked with exploring, mapping and sending updates - I can't imagine how that could've resulted in imprisonment. But wait," Dalton taps his temple in thought, "couldn't we just speak with this Tygora? I'm sure that there has been some misunderstanding. If a fine needs to be paid, I'm sure the Society will compensate the local government."

Makes me nervous when an NPC, so early in a scenario, starts talking about gathering an army...

Oh ! said a disappointed Kaâb who continued her conversation with the powerful elemental
کیا شرم کی بات... لیڈی کانڈرفوری کو مجھے دیکھنے کے لئے اتفاق کریں گے ہو سکتا ہے؟ میرے والدین سے آئے... کہیں یہاں، مجھے یقین ہے اور آپ دیکھیں کہ بے شک نہیں ہوں اجنبی! میں آپ کو ملاقات کے لیے لیڈی کانڈرفوری کے لئے ایک باضابطہ درخواست فراہم کرسکتے ہیں؟
وہ کافی مصروف لیڈی لگتا ہے بھی تو وہ میرے لئے ذاتی وجہ دیکھنے کے لیے وقت مل سکا ہو سکتا ہے؟
بہر حال, شکریہ آپ کا وقت طاقتور بسیط اور پانچویں پہلو خرابات کے بارے میں معلومات کے لئے، ہم وہاں ہمارا دوست تلاش کرنے کی امید میں جائیں گے ۔
میں نے آپ کا نام ہو سکتا ہے؟ میں تم سے ملوں گا اگلی بار میں آپ اپنے نام کی بجائے صرف "میگوںی بسیط" کا مطالبہ کرنے کو ترجیح دیتے ہیں ۔ میرے پاس کرنے کے لئے، درست بات یہ نہیں ہے لگتا ہے؟

Diplomacy (take 10): 10 + 22 = 32

After talking to the Elemental she turned to her comrades and said

This gentleman tell me that we can go see in the Fifth Facet Tavern if our friends are here as Lady Cinderfury is not available to meet strangers.

Calistan sees Kaab say the word 'tavern' and becomes very excited as his friends from Thornkeep had just introduced him to ale aged in mead barrels. They said it was very common around the area, but he was sure that they were just peacocking. He seems very eager to try it.