[PbP Gameday IV] GM Kashka's 5-01 The Glass River Rescue (Inactive)

Game Master Andrew Torgerud

A Pathfinder Society Scenario for characters of 1st to 5th level (Tier 1–5).

A Pathfinder leading a diplomatic envoy from the dwarven holds of the Five Kings Mountains has gone missing, and the balance of power in a time of war hangs on her rescue. The Pathfinder Society's divinations indicate the agent was waylaid in the theocratic nation of Razmiran, when one of her escorted diplomats failed to pay a requested tithe. Now it falls to the party to enter Razmiran, locate the missing Pathfinder and the dwarven diplomats, and escape with their lives.

Written by Mike Shel.

Entering the office where the briefing is to take place is a rat folk man, dressed in brightly colored silks, with a spbeautiful looking sword cane, a rather large hat, and a bright blue thrush upon his shoulder. "Greetings! I am Luscious Lucius Vizinna, purveyed of fine gosh, inheritor of the lost arts of ancient Thassalon! Who has the district pleasure of working with me on this missio ? I hear my usual bodyguard is currently unavailable?"

A severe, stern looking Tian woman enters the briefing room. She looks left, then right. Spotting the ostentatious ratman, she gives a short sharp exhalation through her nose.

"Rat! Where is your large annoying Ulfen? Too busy admiring his new flame? Unable to protect your hairy ass this time? Worried your mouth will write a debt your "magic" can't cover? I look forward to saving your greasy hide once again."

Echo walks over to an open chair and sits. Closing her eyes, A slow inhalation of a large breath brings a noticeable calmness to Echo.

Rat! Did you bathe in perfume today? Or is that simply the... womanly musk of some weak willed slattern you hoodwinked into a bad choice?

We will begin in earnest on Tuesday, but here is a morsel to get you going

You Pathfinders have been individually summoned by Venture Captain Ambrus Valsin. Each of your letters' summons were cryptic, and gave the simple instructions of "Travel with all haste to Druman in Kerse. Seek the home of Temel Passad. Your instructions will be waiting you."

After your various journeys, you arrive one by one to a large manor. The host is not available, but the butler sees you all into the parlor, where fine Chelish wine and assorted sweetmeats are spread before you while you wait.

On the table is an envelope with the seal of the open road. see slide one for its contents when opened

"Now, come on, baby! Why you gotta be like that? Luscious don't need to hoodwink no babe no how.

"Why, don't you remember me? We fetched that bottle for ol' Drandle Dreng a few months back. Now don't you worry none... Me and Sappho here will take care of you. "

'Oh, yeah, we'll take care of you.'

"Looks like you ain't had nuthin' twixt your nethers in far too long. Let Luscious set you up with a little sumfin, sumfin, if you know what I mean. I'll set you up real nice.... And at a discount, seein' as we're such good friends, right?"

Lucius grabs the note, and reads it before anyone else gets the chance. Sappho hops down from his shoulder, and looks like she is reading as well. "Well, it looks like we have an interesting mission. For those of you that are not quite bright enough to figure it out, we are on a rescue mission. Of course, were we to find some trade opportunities along the way that wouldn't be horrible, now would it, Sappho?"

"Ίσως μπορείτε να βρείτε ένα στολίδι για να εντυπωσιάσει το αφεντικό σας ; Είναι το μόνο πρόσωπο που έχουμε δει με ορέξεις ακόμα δεν μπορείτε να χορτάσετε ."

A dwarf is shown into the parlor. His beard has been bleached blond by many years of exposure to the harsh desert sun. Beads and trinkets of glass, metal and clay have been tied into its braids; some are obviously religious icons. A wayfinder is prominently displayed on his belt. Strapped to his back is an oversized waraxe… so large, in fact, that even a man of exceptional strength and stature would be hard-pressed to wield it. The dwarf bows slightly in the direction of the departing butler before turning his attentions to the room. His gaze glances over the wine, refreshments and young Tian woman before settling upon the foppish ratfolk.

The dwarf tilts his head in a nod of acknowledgment, moves his closed right fist to his chest, then gestures toward the ratfolk with the same hand, opening the fist and turning the open palm upward.

"Peace on you, gentle stranger," the dwarf says, in an accent as thick as the desert sand from whence it originates… so thick that his greeting could easily be mistaken for an insult if one failed to listen closely.

"This one has travelled here, as asked. This one was told instructions would be waiting. This one sees you waiting. You must have instructions for this one, yes?"

Echo opens her eyes to take in the dwarf. She scans Baruch before speaking in Osirian.

"Greetings Pahmet. Perhaps you would be more comfortable using a native tongue?"

Echo casts a side eye glance at the Rat's bird when she finishes speaking.

Hi all, Just getting things set up..

The dwarf turns to face the Tien woman he had ignored just moments ago. He touches his forehead with the four fingers of his right hand, then points them toward her, palm up, as he speaks.

"A thousand pardons, gentle daughter. This one overheard you and the gentle ratfolk speak to one another in an intimate familiarity and... well... this one thought... again, gentle daughter... many pardons. It matters not what this one thought."

The dwarf is obviously embarrassed at some self-perceived social gaffe as a slight blush of color comes to his wind-weathered cheeks.

"This one is called 'Baruch'," he says, bringing the fingertips of his splayed hands together in front of his chest and bowing.

"في حين أرى أن اللسان كنت أتكلم ، أنا لا أتكلم بنفسي . بلدي قبيلة تحمل الطرق القديمة مقدسة و نحن نتكلم أن اللسان في أقرب شكله"

"آه ، اعتذاري . إذا كان Ratman هو الصحيح ، لدينا رحلة طويلة أمامنا. وأود كثيرا أن أتكلم معك عن طرق القديمة."

As Delzden enters the room, the previous sweet smell is gradually replaced by a thick stink of sweat. Delzden is a bear of a man; tall, robust, and has thick hair and a full beard that could make a dwarf feel envious. Behind this bushy wall of facial hair shines a toothy smile, innocent and sincere.

"I see the party has already started, he!" the man states loudly, promptly stomping over the parlor to a free seat and slumps down on it. "Pleasure to meet you all, I'm Delzden of Roudenbrash! And now excuse me my ignorance, but those languages you speak are foreign to me! Thassilonian and ancient osiriani, very exquisite! However, if they were otherworldly, I'd probably understand them, he!" Delzden lets out a hearty laugh and makes a nod towards each participant in the room.

He looks at the tray full of assorted goods, and despite being a little disappointed by the entrée lacking apples—Delzden's favorite—he makes no delay to pick up one sugary sweet and eat it. "Boy, they sure like to sugarcoat stuff here, right, he!"

Lucius turns to Echo, and says, "How'd you like me to sugarcoat you, baby?"

"You come near me I will cut you."

"Hey, hey, now baby! Why you gots to be like that? We're all friends here! Lucius didn't mean nuthin' by that!"

Two silent servants open a pair of richly lacquered doors, and a human and two dwarves stride into the lavish parlor. The man, clad in immaculate robes of whitest silk, is short and round with a blond oiled beard, and his eyes are alert and amused. He takes a touch of snuff from a golden box and sneezes before saying, “It is a pleasure to welcome Pathfinders to one of my estates once more. I am, as you may know, Temel Passad. Allow me to introduce—”

One of the two dwarves, a redheaded female in deep scarlet robes, curtly interrupts the man. “We can introduce ourselves, Passad. I am Metella Raugar, representing the interests of several Highhelm mercantile consortia. My companion”—she gestures to a dwarven man with leathery skin baked by the sun, his head swathed in a bright yellow scarf “is Amauhak of Reth Bezel, a mystic of the sand dwarves of Osirion.”

Following the introductions, Temel claps once and a servant brings a bowl of fresh bread and a bowl of fruit, and sets them within reach of Delzden. "If you require any refreshments more to your liking, please feel free to ask. Otherwise - when the rest of your team arrives the Abacus waits for you.

Baruch nods and gestures with the opening of his fist toward Temel Passad.

"Peace on you, gentle host. The sharing of your home is a great courtesy."

He repeats the greeting's movements for Metella.

"Peace on you, as well, gentle kin."

Turning toward Amauhak, Baruch crosses his hands over his chest, closes his eyes and bows deeply.

"Many blessings on this meeting, faithful cousin."

Turning back to Temel, he asks, "A thousand pardons. This one's understanding of Taldane is incomplete. Please explain '... the abacus waits for you...'. This one is unfamiliar with that expression. What does it mean?"

"Our mutual acquaintance had me arrange the ship, Abacus, to speed you on your journey. It will take us along the shores of Lake Encarthan to the Glass River. From there, to the Gray Revelation Inn. Following the completion of your mission, it will take us to Mendev."

"A ship. Yes. This one understands now. But this route the ship will travel... the lake... the river... ? These places are unknown to this one. What manner of dangers should this one anticipate?"

The door to the chamber opens once again and a flaming red haired beauty wearing colorful garb fumbles into the room apologizing profusely to the servant that let her in. "I didn't mean to be late. Sorry, I didn't know that was the servant's door. Pardon me. So sorry, let me get that for you."

As she speaks it appears that her hand nears, but does not hit the serving tray in his hands. Still, the sweatmeats and sparkling wine go flying and crash into the face of a surprised servant in the hallway. "Um, those are still good, just...um here let me help you."

With this the servant closes the door and she turns around to face the rest of the Pathfinders. She looks startled as she takes stake of the room and the fact that she seems to have interrupted some kind of introductions. "Hi, I'm Ula. I don't think I've met any of you. Which of you are the Pathfinders? Oh, I think you're one!"

She points to the sturdy dwarf. "Did Valsin send you too?"

Baruch turns toward the gnome, smiling.

"He did, little daughter. And, yes, this one is a Pathfinder. This one is called 'Baruch'."

Ula stands up from her crouch with a wad of food in her hand and towers over the diminutive dwarf while returning the smile.

I'm Ula! But I already told you that didn't I? Did I miss the briefing already? I always forget to ask the tough questions, I'd hate to miss the chance again!"

Baruch laughs.

"Little Ula, you are just in time! The briefing has just started. This one has asked questions and received some answers. You should ask questions, too, and this one is certain you will have answers."

"Just what is our mission?" Delzden dares to ask, picking up and apple and taking a bite of it, "all we got was a short letter saying :Travel with all haste to Druman in Kerse. Seek the home of Temel Passad. Your instructions will be waiting you. The Society rarely offers us just some sight-seeing tours, he!"

Temel will turn to Lucious "I am told you were the first one to arrive. Did you not share the contents of Ambrus's letter?"

see the tactical map for your mission details

Missed the link to the tactical map; tried looking for it at the top of the page. I swear I didn't see the link under your name at the time of my first post.

"Ah, he only told us in brief, excluding details. We are on a rescue mission, so," Delzden promptly snatches the paper from Lucius' hands and reads it himself, "ah, so this is what it's all about. Figures."

First checking there are no eaves-droppers around, Delzden reads the message aloud to everyone.

After hearing Delzden read the not aloud, Echo turns to Temel.

"Passad. You are the proprietor of Ghennet Manor, are you not?"

Her eyes narrow. Her jaw sets.

"My apologies Master Passad. I had let them know about it, but it seems that my team mates haven't the brilliance of myself. I tried to inform them, but you know how it goes!"

"SQUAWK!" The beautiful blue bird on Lucius's shoulder makes her presence known. "Lucius , στέκονται εκεί. Τι έκανε ο μιλάμε για?"

"Είναι εντάξει , γλυκιά μου. Ποτέ δεν θα το καταλάβω !"

He turns the party. "I apologize that I did not take your capabilities into consideration when I was referring to the letter. Please, take a read, and see what you think."

Echo - and any character that participated in S3-03: did you save the guy and did you steal anything or lie about it?

"I once found a sky citadel myself while out for a walk with my childhood friend Ramon. I'm not sure where we left it, but it was up in the mountains somewhere way up above the cloud line. It could have been some old Dwarf house, but it didn't smell like a Dwarf house, and there were lots of orcs. It was certainly a sky citadel. Yup, absolutely. You Dwarf guys are going to love it when we find it again."

She nods curtly and without missing a beat continues.

"But you don't need to find one you need to find some guy? I just thought you should know I already had found one though, 'cuz you know, it seemed important. I once knew a Razmiri guy, cool mask and all. He was pretty swell actually and he often smelled like strawberry. I wonder if this town they're being held in smells like Strawberry. Can't wait to meet his friend, should be fun."

Ula fidgets at this point almost to the point those that need a little more calm in their world really need her to calm down.

"Your brilliance? I thought you were quite dark, he!" Delzden chuckles, unaffected by Lucius' arrogance. He turns to Temel Passad and the two dwarves with his ever-shining smile.

"Although you are Druman, you might know something about Razmir and this Grey Revelation Inn. And this Rakuska. Any extra information we get will come in handy in some point of the future. If nothing else, maybe in a pub quiz, he!"

No, I have not played 3-03 but figured the adventure is old enough that Echo would know about Passad's prior games with the society. If you don't think I would, then I can move on with blissful ignorance.

I don't think his involvement behind the scenes is wide spread info, and the mission isn't that unique. So blissful ignorance if your character hasn't played it.
Anyone may roll KN:History or Religion

Temel will look at Delzden "While I have not been to the Revelation Inn, Razmir is a strictly theocratic government presided over by a vast priestly bureaucracy serving a being said to be a living god."

Palmetto will scoff at Ula "You babble like a gnome. You better improve your technique if you mean to keep your tongue in Razmir. "

Hey I have Knowledge Religion, what do I know?!

Kn: Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Ula puffs out her chest and looks at Palmetto, "That's because I am a gnome. And I wouldn't worry about my tongue, I'm an expert, and I have more tongues where this one came from! I've negotiated trade deals with everything from merfolk to giantkin! I once traded a princess in exchange for an army and a whole wad of gold coin too! I know what I'm doing, you should trust me."

Bluff: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

"A living god?" Delzden exclaims in surprise, "then again, aren't the other gods living as well, he? Aroden excluded, of course. I think I've heard of that country, but geography and all that, not my suite. Yet at least, he!"

Delzden gives an odd look at Ula, but then chuckles heartily. "Small folk tend to be talk a lot, I see. Wonder if a word is sharper than a sword, he!"

Ula walks up to Delzden and looks him square in the eye. With the sweetest smile she simply says, I saw somebody get their eye poked out with a word, so sometimes?"

Echo is snapped out of her meditation by the word gnome. Her head whips around to look at Ula.

"Did you say you were a gnome? Ula, you are a very tall human women. I am not one for frivolous games and jokes."

kn:history: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
kn:religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

"Hey, baby," Lucius says to Ula. "You are the finest, tallest gnome I ever did see. I always say, 'If they say they are a gnome, then who am I to contradict them?' So, you wanna get a little action on the side... I could bill you as the 'world's tallest gnome'. I am sure we could make a killing on that." He winks at Ula, toothy smile on his face.

Ula looks utterly confused at Echo's statement and starts to frown.

"Um miss whoever you are that I don't know, and you don't know me. I'm as much a gnome as you are an rude, loud-mouthed, meanie!" She starts to sob a little. "Why are people always so mean to me? My mom said, just because I had a growth spurt, it doesn't mean I'm any less a gnome as either of my parents! You can just be quiet Miss Meanie Pants, I know what I am and your words can't hurt me!"

She hears the rat man speak and turns her attention his direction cheering up a little.

"The smart rat-man knows. I'm guessing he's the brains of this group.

She then turns her attention to the two Dwarves immediately changing her demeanor once again and looking quite serious.

"So, were you told anything about what we're being asked to do?"

Echo grabs the Ratman by his shoulder, hard.

"And I will bill you as the first talking a+%~&#% when I shove your head into it. Not every woman appreciates your brand of recruiting."

To Echo, he says, "Come on, Baby! We were just talking! She didn't take no offense?" He considers saying, 'What's crawled up your ass and died?' but thinks better of it.

Once he gets free of Echo, he goes over to Ula, casting prestidigitation to to clean her up, and apply some appropriately "tasteful" cosmetics... just to "touch up" after the cry. "Here you go, gnome-i-kins! Have a shoulder to cry on. There you go..."

Sappho gives Lucius a rather dirty look, but an even dirtier look goes to Echo Miyamoto. Chatting to her self, in bird and Thassalonian, she plans some future dive bombing.

"N-now hold on, dearie!" Delzden says, alarmed, "nothing I said was to upset you. You accent was just so thick of your gnomish ancestry or sorts, so I presumed you got your patterns there. Guess I was right, though, he!"

"Oh, and you might've arrived after I introduced myself! I'm Delzden of Roudenbrash, apple farmer's son from Andoran, near the Verduran forest."

Delzden pats Ula on the back a bit before biting into the apple once more. Despite Echo's tendency to yell and be all aggressive, Delzden seems to totally ignore that and smile, smile away!

Ula thanks Lucious without a word for the coddling and turns to Delzden and wipes away the last of the tears smearing mascara across her nose.

"You didn't upset me Mr. Roudenbrash, that dreadful woman did." She points accusingly at Echo, wrinkles her nose, and sticks out her tongue while she does it.

"You didn't do anything except claim your sword is sharper than that street sign I saw poke out somebody's eye once. You seem nice enough. I like you. That meanie bo-beanie over there can go suck an egg though!" Ula crosses her arm, plops ass first intoin a chair with a 'hrumph' and looks attentively at the Dwarf for more information about why she's here.