PbP PFS Playday 2 - GM Helamans Pathfinder Society Scenario #2-21: The Dalsine Affair (Inactive)

Game Master Helaman

The other Sarenites make preparations to leave. Thier presence, given the infiltration of these creatures, is compromised in Taldor. They explain they will move to Qadira for a time but first have some gifts to bestow.

A potion of cure moderate wounds, a potion of lesser restoration and a beautifully illustrated and illuminated copy of Sarenraes most holy text, 'The Birth of Light and Truth' worth over 100 gold.

The bodies of Akkuret and his friends yield 2 potions of cure light wounds, a potion of cure serious wounds, 2 MW scimitars, a +1 scimitar, some +1 bracers of armour and 167gp.

Eris would have no issues making the needed rolls

So where do the Sarenites direct us? We're not going straight to Dalsine's, are we? Honestly don't remember. It's been a while since I ran it.

Takahiro is set on confronting what seems to be a corrupt agent, and attending The resident of the chief conspirator and having the argument there.

"These unfortunates need to make good their escape, and we can ensure that they do so...all the better to assist the lodge achieve its goals. Likewise it seems the grand master behind much of this treachery needs confronting"

It does seem that the only information you have at hand is the location of his estate...

If nothing posts to the contrary I'll move the scene to there tomorrow

Eris nods. "The fishy venture-captain told us to retrieve the packages that he was smuggling out of the country. If those fall into the government's hands, the Society is done for. I say we move as fast as we can to Chalfon's location."

Equipped with the location of Chalfon Dalsine’s home in the Senate’s Hill district, you have no difficulty navigating Oppara’s night-shrouded streets.

Dalsine Manor is a modern, two-story structure set back from the main road and surrounded by a twelve-foot brick wall. Its main gate is shut and guarded, but through it can be seen a well-kept garden surrounding the house. A carriage covered in gold filigree and inset with gems stands parked inside the gate, while another, constructed of modest wood with drawn shades, waits just outside the gate.

A group of armed Qadarians, in some sort of Livery that Rikas identifies as belonging to Venture Captain Pasha Muhlia Al-Jakri of the Qadarian faction, are in a heated argument with guards who no doubt belong to the Dalsine estate. The Qadarians are demanding access to the estates for their Mistress and the Taldan guards are steadfastly refusing all access as well throwing the odd jibe their way.

"Perhaps a side door while they argue?"

Nothing seems available... but there is nothing stopping you from walking around the corner of the wall and down a pace and scaling the wall... depending on who does the climbing of course.

Rikas surveys the scene. "I've got a rope that just about anyone can climb, but no way to fasten it to the top. Unless someone has a grappling hook or something?"

"Yar, climbin' this will be a challenge without the rope."

Eris looks with curiosity towards the people arguing at the front gate. "Perhaps we can talk our way through if we know what they are talking about. Let me go see."

Eris casts vanish and sneaks up close enough to the guards to hear what they are talking about. He knows the spell only lasts 30 seconds, so he will make sure he leaves enough time to creep back where they can't see him.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 20 = 40
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

No issues in understanding the bone of contention.

The Qadarians are demanding entrance on behalf of their mistress. The estate guards are telling them to piss off.

Classy.

Upon Eris' return, Rikas will coil the rope around himself before trying to scale the wall out of view and earshot.

Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Stealth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23 to negate the fall.

Assuming success, he drops down the other side before throwing one end of the rope over the wall. If there is a tree nearby, he will secure the rope to the tree. Otherwise he will try his best to hold onto it as someone else climbs it.
Knotted rope against a wall, should be DC 0. Don't know if there are other factors at work here.

While waiting for Rikas to complete his climb, Eris takes a swig from his flask and fishes a small, silver pearl out his pouch and presses it against his forehead, speaking a magical phrase. He replaces the pearl to his pouch and pulls out another wand, briefly touching it against his thigh. He takes a small dinosaur out of a satchel at his side and places it on the ground, patting its head before touching it with the wand as well. He looks around at the others, "Anyone else want an armor hit? I also have a wand that makes you bigger, if you're into that sort of thing."

Use my pearl of power to replace vanish spell; cast mage armor on myself and my familiar.

There are no issues with getting over the wall and not getting spotted.

Bear with me for a bit

Takahiro looks at the small dinosaur - "Just don't use your wand on that thing, the last thing we need is a giant lizard laying waste to the place"

Tak will use the rope ensemble to get over the wall.

Eris smiles at Takahiro as he climbs the wall. "No worries, sir. He likes being his normal size."

Eris and Joey (the dinosaur) will scale the wall using Rikas' ropes as well.

As he's holding the rope, Rikas will try to keep an eye out for things round the manor. The last thing we need is something coming at us making me drop the rope...

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Rikas and his heightened state of alertness allows you to spot a patrol of dogs or wolves until it moves to the other side of the compound and you make it to the manor house without incident.

The front porch of the manor sports a stylized compass inlaid in the masonry, and a similar symbol graces the lintel above the open double doors. Within, the sound of clashing blades echoes off the marble floor. Suddenly, the sound of combat ceases with a gruesome thud, and the sound of a laughing man replaces the metallic din. The furniture in the foyer has been thrown about, and a growing pool of blood escapes from a crumpled corpse at the foot of the wide, carpeted stairs.

Pasha Muhlia al-Jakri stands in a pool of blood over Baron Jacquo Dalsine’s beheaded corpse, twirling her twin kukris around her nimble fingers. Up above the grizzy scene a mustachioed man in nobles clothing laughs maniacally.

As you approach, she bitterly declares that with Khismia’s death, she’s “done with this whole ‘shadow war for Absalom,’” and they can keep scouring the world for useless treasures and risking their lives for delusional fame and worthless fortunes if they like. She spits on Jacquo’s corpse, then, tapping her feet, vanishes from scene leaving the body.

Map updated

Is it sad that I only know what a lintel is because of "The World's End"?

"What the hell are you laughing about? You let your [brother?] get killed while you idly watched? Probably like you did with the Sarenites?"

The figure just laughs mockingly at you.

Takahiro triggers his Silver Wayfinder, protecting himself from Evil.

I was planning on casting Communal Protection from Energy on the group and Invisibility on myself before entering the house. Can I count these as cast?

Sure

Oops, I meant Communal Protection from Evil, not energy. Everybody (except for Takahiro who already has cast it) now has 70/4, hmm with time elapsed about 15 rounds of Protection from Evil.

In shock at the terrible scene but still invisible, Eris rushes over to the body of Jacquo Dalsine to see if there's anything that can be done. Heal check: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8 (He's not the most perceptive guy)

Eris must be rolling with a much better Heal skill than the book suggests if there's something he can do for a headless corpse - other than go through its pockets for loose change :p

Once Tak is done, he will begin scanning for evil - perhaps the laughing fool is another of the mutating creatures.

This keeps up much longer, Rikas will likely just charging the guy with an airborne dagger...

Evil detected in that direction

GM 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Azoth, having been uncharacterastically silent of late I am truly sorry, I started a second job and have no time these days... trying to find a balance, thanks for bearing with me, has had enough. "Me thinks the time for stealth has come to an end laddies." he says as his returning boomerang and shield appear in his hands.

Round 2.

He'll continue to laugh. Actions?

"To hell with this."

Striding forward towards the staircase, Rikas transfers every bit of momentum into a dagger. It twirls in the filtered sunlight as it hones in on its target.

Hurling Charge!: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 2 + 1 = 16 At least it's not a 1...
1d4 + 1 + 1 + 3d8 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 + (7, 8, 6) = 27

Takahiro casts Bless

Eris realizes that there is nothing to be done for the decapitated count (at least not without a rather powerful cleric) and realizes that the laughing Chalfon is the real target. Still invisible, he steps aside and begins casting his most powerful summoning spell he knows. 5' step and begin casting Summon Monster IV

Just waiting on Azoth

Azoth yells Don't make me cut yer head off you scurvy jackanapes.

Round 3. Actions? Guy continues to laugh at you and the body.

Round 3. Actions? Guy continues to laugh at you and the body.

Er wut? Didn't Rikas just toss a blade at the guy?

He did... it was a crappy roll. THAT SAID, I forgot about it and how it will interact. Lets do this to be fair...

Will saves DC18
Takahiro 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Eris 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Rikas 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Azoth 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Eris notices the thrown dagger flies threw the man, while the others seem to see it the dagger hit armour and slide off.

Well then, I just have to try harder. Again Rikas charges towards the stairs and lobs a dagger at the man.

Charge!: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 1 + 2 = 28
1d4 + 2 + 1 + 3d8 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 + (4, 1, 1) = 11
Will?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

At this point, making that action? you dont need a will save... standby

Standing by. Just note I was 2 squares away from the stairs before the action was made =)

So Chalfon goes first in round 3?

Not in this case... following the book here as I understand it from the reading. Lets see what happens with the rest of you for round 3 - do your actions. Rikas is on the stairs.

Still invisible, Eris completes his spell, as a dark-maned lion appears next to him. Eris turns to the summoned beast, drawing his wand of mage armor, and touches it briefly, releasing its magic. He calls out to his companions, "The laughing man is an illusion! He must still be around here somewhere to maintain concentration on the spell. Find him!" He then commands the beast to locate the hidden caster.

Summoned lion appears against the wall next to Eris. 5' step, draw wand from handy haversack as move action, and cast as a standard. He commands the lion to use its scent ability to find the caster as a move action: Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Takahiro is simply standing with sword now drawn wondering why a guy would laugh so oddly in the circumstances.

Base of the stairs, yes. That is where I am at.

Eris Perception 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
Rikas Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

vs Stealth 1d20 + 4 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 20 = 44

Lion Added

The lion roars - he's found something!

Round 4.

Dalsine (hasted seems to have nil effect) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Lion 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Eris the freakishly fast 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Rikas 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Takahiro 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Azoth the Absent 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Eris
Dalsine
Lion
Azoth (who may need to be botted)
Takahiro
Rikas

Eris hears nothing. You can hold your action or cast a spell etc.

Still invisible, Eris now knows that there is a spellcaster nearby and senses that things are about to go bad for the group (Hence the initiative check). He partially completes a spell, then waits for the inevitable other shoe to drop.

Eris readies a casting of dispel magic to counterspell anything the invisible caster may throw at them. GM, please let me know if you think in your interpretation of the counterspell rules that this does not work, and I will pick something different.

I think you have to be able to see and hear the spell to guess it and counterspell it... I can give you a perception roll if you still want or you can try something else

If he's in the room and casting a spell with a verbal component, I can hear it. Invisibility does not create silence, and in order to cast a spell, Chalfon needs to "speak in a strong voice."

Will post on the discussion forum but thank the Gods I've found someone who agrees with me on the strong voice thing! We'll go with the 'Yes' side of things.

And here we go.

The laughing man winks out of existance.

Not far from where you, Eris, stand you hear spell casting.

Perception for the lion 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 vs Stealth 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Not sure on AoO's for invisible creatures but given the lion has scent?

Attack of opportunity from the lion.

Bite 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Make a dispel check DC20. I think you are rolling D20 + 7.

The man appears in front of Eris about to complete a spell... a biggie.