[PbP Gameday IV] Siege of Serpents Tier 1-2 CORE (Inactive)

Game Master James Martin

Florin steps up.
"Experienced? They chose you because they trust you to have that experience. You're a pathfinder and the other pathinders fighting throughout the city is relying on you!"

Diplomacy 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 Facepalm

"Aye, someone with more experience'd sure be nice. But right now they're kinda busy, an' us recruits'll hafta do, so it's time ta step up! Now if yeh don' mind, I gotta get through that door." With a yell, Goldur charges headfirst into the House door.

Rage!
Strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

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"You! You look like you're actually doing something instead of standing around gawking! I'm Janniff Ivulxtin, Venture-Captain. We're trying to organize pathfinders, but we're overtaxed and I have need of skilled agents. First off, I want you to head to the Center House and get the agents there organized to defend the House. Then back here, I'll have more jobs for you. On your way, agents!"

Pertinent section Bolded for emphasis and reminder of mission.

Etune watches the group go kind of... crazy and completely forget what they were told to do. Are they being possessed by ghosts? No big deal, we get these people organized to defend the House, like we were told!

"MISTER Rhees! You've been given a VERY IMPORTANT JOB HERE! DEFEND THIS HOUSE! You can do it! You're a Pathfinder! We can count on you! Get these people lined up and ready, and await further orders!"

Diplomacy/Intimidate(Persuasion): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

And then Goldur goes at the door...

"..."

Well, Goldur's not the sharpest axe in the armory and tends to get a bit... carried away. :-)

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Lol Movie Reference: "Flee For your Lives! Abandon your Posts!" *THWOCK!* "Prepare for battle!"

Goldur's somewhat confusing behavior distracts the pathfinder agents for only a moment, but Etune's inspiring speech seems to galvanise them. Rhees takes a deep breath, then draws his sword and directs his comrades to take up defensive positions around the House!

Success!

You head back to find Venture-Captain Janniff standing near a group of Pathfinders and slightly scared looking civilians. He shakes his head and walks over to you. "I need you to get these apes to escort these VIPs to safety. Get it done." He moves off toward another group that is trying to get his attention, just as a phalanx of owl-headed invaders flies over.

A dwarf in chain mail holding a fancy hammer is trying to convince his fellows to leave and head off toward a nearby skirmish.

Goldur takes a quick look around, then turns. "There. Yer ghosts've all fled. Now stay this post!"

Leaving with the others to join Venture-Captain Janniff, Goldur raises an eyebrow. "Can't we just escort 'em ourselves? I'm good at protectin' folks, an' they can join the offensive!"

Janniff looks back. "No! You're actually reliable. I need reliable agents. Let those jackanapes escort the VIPs. I have more jobs for you, once you're done."

Nice work Etune on getting those other agents in line. Ruth was being her normal charming self. I also miss interpreted the mission and told Goldur to break the door down. Oops.

Ruth stands there stunned by the authority that the halfling just showed. ... why does no one ever listen to me like that? ...
"Looks like we found our leader." Ruth scoffs a little but is a little disappointed by her actions. "Nice work Etune."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Back at Venture-Captain Janniff Ruth stays quiet and focuses on what the Captain wants them to do. ... great another rally the troops task ... when do we get something important to do ...

Etune nods to Ruth after the house. "Who's in charge isn't as important as us all working together and getting through this in one piece. We all pull our weight, we can make amazing things happen, we're Pathfinders, after all."

At the mustering area the halfling then glances at Goldur.

"We'll get people who are better prepared if we buy them the time they need to get prepared. Adventuring One oh One, right? So get these folks organized for an escort mission. Got it."

The snow-haired tiny person heads on over to the dwarf who is attempting to rally the 'bodyguard detail' away from their charges.

"Hey, hey! We all wanna get into the thick of things, but we have to take care of the important stuff first. Get these people out of here safe and sound, I'm pretty sure there will be PLENTY to do after!"

Diplomacy/Intimidate(Persuasion): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

The dwarf seems to puff his chest out and set his feet. “I’m quite confident that Professor Nigel Aldain can find his own way to the front gate. What gives you the right to order us about? You’re no venture-captains!”

You have some options: you can lie (bluff) or you can dredge up times in Pathfinder history when agents gave other agents orders (knowledge history).

"Well are yeh Pathfinders or aren't yeh?" Goldur says loudly to the other dwarf. "An' why is it we seem ta be th' only ones followin' orders around here? If yeh can't handle takin' these people ta safety, at least do somethin' more than stand here doin' nothin' an' I'll take 'em meself!"

Bluff: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Darn. Though in his defense, Goldur really would if he hadn't been told otherwise :-)

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"I don't know about *you* but when I was out on my Confirmation recently Janira gave us instructions and SAVED THE DAY doing so. Look, we're not trying to keep you from the fight! We're trying to make sure that our guests get to where they need to be safely FIRST, and you're the best people for it, according to Venture Captain Janniff."

Bluff(Etune doesn't necessarily believe that, she's doing what she's been told to do: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Knowledge History: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Jester acknowledges the foolish dwarf with a mocking grin. "While we may not be Venture-Captains, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures and there is precedent, such as when Durvin Gest himself was ordered by a fellow agent! Besides, you know who has a sure-fire way to make it into the history books? Those that abandon their orders to rush into fool skirmishes, getting themselves and the people they were supposed to be guarding killed.

Take the safe bet and end up on the right side of the history books on this one."

Ruth was just about to speak up but Jester steps up. ... that is a good point ... be smart about the fight you pick or you may be on the wrong end of it ... She stays in the back sharpening her sword.

Whetstone +1 damage on my first attack

Florin keeps her trap shut. Most of her lessons do not include being able to rally stubborn dwarves. Her last attempt did not go very well, she still felt those bruises. lol

Jester's words seem to hit the dwarf hard. He swallows and nods his head. "Aye, 'tis truth. Alright lads, let's see these fine folks to safety!"

Success!

You head back to find the Venture Captain glancing toward the gates. He nods when he sees you approaching. "I detailed a group of agents to stand at the gates and keep the City Guard out. However, it looks like their nerve is failing them. Remind them to buck up and stand up to the Guards or else it'll be plain chaos in here with outsiders rushing about." He looks like he's about to say more, but a call for him from a nearby agent takes his attention.

As you approach the gates, you can see a small band of agents, lead by a halfling woman. She's talking to her friends and you overhear her say “What if the guard won’t take no for an answer? Can I be arrested? Will someone post my bail? Maybe a venture-captain should be doing this?”

The pun, it slays me! Woe.

As you approach the gates, you can see a small band of agents, lead by a halfling woman.

She raises valid questions. But this is Absalom, right? A city where slavery, evil, good, and other all reside together? How DOES that work?

Etune is uncertain of how to approach this, as well. And not because she's smaller than humans, but because she has no idea of how to handle this.

Florin seeing one in similar straits as her steps up.
"What seems to be the problem here?"

Jester watches amused as Florin steps up to take charge. Trust the Paladin to have a spine. "Having some trouble with the guard? Did the Menagerie come running out into Absalom?" He idly spins an arrow between his fingers. "If you haven't noticed, there's a bit of a mess without having others rushing in."

Ruth poses next to Jester trying to look intimidating to the city guards trying to get in. She grips her sword in two hands and sends an arc of arcane power up and down the large blade.

Intimidate: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9

Ruth is so bad at acting tough.

The halfling pathfinder looks startled when she sees you. "Oh thank the gods. I'm Meesha Tenpenny, and I am happy to turn this over to you!" She gathers her things and starts to leave.

turning to the halfling Meesha Tenpenny. "Whoa, Whoa, Whoa!! Where do you think you are going?! We are not here to relive you of your post. We are here to reminded you what your duty is. Now grow a spine and keeps this gate closed!"

Intimidate: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9

once again stellar!! LOL

"Meesha thinksa yousa needsa to staysa!"

Bluff/Intimidate/Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

"Ahem. Where do you think *you're* going? Seriously, you're here, you're the authority. Right now you've got the power of the entire Decemvirate behind you, supporting you. Don't walk away from that, it's a once in a life-time sort of thing!"

Dear Gods I hope we can pull this one together...

You have a choice with her. You can inspire her with Diplomacy or you can use your knowledge of the methods of the local constabulary to tell her how to stall them effectively (knowledge Local).

Sheesh. If we had a bard, he/she would be MVP of this scenario for sure

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This is the most "Social Skills" encounter, although Diplomacy is almost always useful (and we're a bit short of it.) I'm personally letting other people make a stab at things first as I'm currently actively GMing and want to try and avoid meta-gaming if others can participate. So here I'm seeing if Florin can do the Diplomacy before pulling out the Knowledge Local :)

There's a pretty good mix of skill challenges in the Scenario, unless you have Profession: Underwater Basket Weaver.

One of these days my many ranks in Underwater Basket Weaving will be necessary for the success conditions of a scenario and I WILL BE VINDICATED!

::contemplates how to make Profession (Underwater Basket Weaver) useful::

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For when you have to trap a gillman child's pet eel without harming it. Said gillman's child is the son of the clan chief that the Pathfinders must appease in order to allow them to use a backdoor into Absalom that will avoid nosy tax collectors and Aspis plants.

Now I want this to be a scenario. Just for that one guy who puts ranks in this to have his day :-). And make it low-tier, so those 10th-level bards can't cheat.

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Willing to let others have a crack/go at it first before taking another shot at it.

I feel so much pressure lol.
Diplomacy 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

"Look. We're all in this together. You have a duty and so do the guards. They want something done, tell them to get it signed by someone with the proper authority. You have being given a sacred duty to do so. Be strong Meesha. The pathfinders always have each other back. They challenge you...they challenge all of us and in this situation, they'll be dumb to do so." Florin says with complete conviction, never mind that the guards may not work that way at all.

Now I want this to be a scenario. Just for that one guy who puts ranks in this to have his day :-). And make it low-tier, so those 10th-level bards can't cheat.

This almost sounds like a 'Kid's Track' sort of adventure. Also, Florin, Good work!

Backed up by Etune's words, Florin's speech seems to galvanize the halfling. She stands up straight, sets down her pack and nods to Florin. "Alright. I can handle this. I'll keep them back, hell or high water. You can count on me."

Success!

Janniff walks up to you as you leave the area near the gate in time to see the VIPs being hustled out. "Good work, agents. I'm off to Skyreach. Make yourselves useful around the grounds. I think we've seen the worst..." He breaks off as an IMMENSE shadow passes overhead. "Or not." He nods and turns toward Skyreach, breaking into a run.

Where to now?

West!
"Maybe that way?" Florin points in a fully random direction that happens to be west.

"Let's hope there's more ta do that way than moral support," Goldur agrees. "Talkin' isn't me strong suit, so much."

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Technically, there's "North West" or "more stuff that's West of us, but still in the 'South'". I'm good with finishing up things in the South or moving on, either way.

"Northwest it is. Let's purge this place of invaders."

You decide to head northwest and it takes about 10 minutes of trotting to arrive outside a huge stone mausoleum. This enormous, columned stone structure is both temple and fortress. Two wings flank an open courtyard. The imposing structure is adjacent to a thick copse of trees. In the courtyard lay the bodies of two men in worker's clothing. They're not moving and lying as if broken.

***********************
Overseer Announcement
***********************

Ruth draws her sword and moves toward the bodies. "This does not look good. The person or thing that did this might still be here."

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

How much time has pasted since the first battle? My mage armor only last an hour per level.

Ruth discovers both bodies are in fact alive, but close to death.

"Quick!! They are still alive. Heal them." Ruth waves to the others to come.

"Looks like this place is popular as the grave..." Jester produces his wand and uses a charge of Cure Light Wounds on both of the bodies. Assuming it's not a Heal check needed?

Goldur strokes his beard in reverence while Jester administers to their wounds. "Poor men. They're lucky, too, still breathin'. We kin only 'ope everyone walks out of 'ere." He turns enough that he can keep an eye on both the others and the surrounding chaos, his intention being that if whatever did this returns, he'll be ready.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

One of the men's eyes flutter open and he lets out a long groan. "Ugh. What happened? There were.. a group of agents, but then one of them... hit me with something and the world went black."

Etune will give Meesha a winning smile and then watch as the party zips off. "Maybe we can catch up after?" she offers politely then it's off to the races...

I can't see the Overseer Announcements when I click the link. Says I need a password?

Etune will catch up after a little bit. Halflings typically don't move as fast as the taller folks. When she finally does catch up she's panting a bit. *huff* Feels like a *pant, wheeze* race."

No, Etune did not dump-stat CON. But at 10 with all the running around a little bit of fluff there, as player was at work and could not post.