The Devil's Gorge (and Beyond)!

Game Master Rynjin

"Well... That's all, then." Donovan stretches his arms. "I'm off to my bed. Good night."

Before leaving, Donovan drops 10 gold pieces on the table. "Dinner's on me."

I don't think these two will be of much use. Right now, my only plan is to follow Chirrup's pulls.

Chirrup is effusive in his thanks to the two Vanarans for trying to help save him by offering their ideas. He tries to bring the conversation back to the key.

Sorry about the very bland post, it was a long travel day.

I don't think these two will be of much use. Right now, my only plan is to follow Chirrup's pulls.

If it helps, here are things you currently know:

1.) There IS definitely a criminal Vanara in this city, and his "Silverback" alias fits Chirrup's previous master's description as a silver-haired Vanara.

2.) Someone has killed one noble so far, and this "Silverback" is targeting another.

3.) The Blackthrone is in charge of the criminal underworld here.

4.) There are several leads for who has motive to kill the first noble who was killed, as put here:

Narrowing this down to who has beef with the other target as well might lead you to the culprit.

Bypassing all this and following Chirrup IS an option, though not a foolproof one.

Approaches we could take:
1. Wait for Blackthrone to contact us, since Ugash ordered the pastry
2. Ask around about Baron Mistletoe's enemies, and look for similarities to Rosethorn's enemies
3. Follow Chirrup's leading

I would suggest we at least try one of the first two before going with three.

Has everyone else lost interest in the key for Chirrup conversation with the Vanaran students? I would still like to finish that, but if everyone else is bored and wants to move on, we can just work by GM fiat on what the negotiations decided.

Thetsu ponders for a moment before speaking.

"So how much would you require to make something tasteful? I was tossing around approximately one hundred pieces of gold personally, though one hundred and fifty would not be amiss. Additional fees for something truly spectacular can be discussed as well. I am not a bargaining man, but I appreciate good work done and a tip would not be amiss in this arrangement."

In character, Thetsu is surprised we haven't warned the Baron who might be targeted.

"I think 150 would probably cover it. I'm assuming you don't want anything really fancy? Gold plated or any such."

"I'm thinking that new shiny steel Kel came up with, and some copper and bronze trim."

"Do you need a partial payment before you start for purchasing materials?"

"Yes. We'll need at least half to purchase the raw materials."

Dorla gives the Vanarans 100gp as an advance payment. She makes clear that they can have access to Chirrup only when she is present.

At this point, I assume that at least Dorla, Chirrup, and the Vanaran guests talk for a little while about inconsequential things, and then the guests leave. They know that we may leave town for a few days, but will return to get the key.

Sounds good. What now?

I think Ugash and Thetsu already ordered the pastry, so I'm fine with following that now. Thanks for you patience, everyone, with the key/dinner plot line.

Is Ugash even still around? And by that I mean... Has anyone heard of Nicos in the past few days?

Donovan goes back to his room, still annoyed by the fact that the group's plan to find a known crime lord, possibly the very enemy we are after, is "have him contact us".

He sighs and goes to bed...

He hasn't posted in nearly a month.

Will we still be OK in combat without Ugash if Nicos stays missing?

Unsure. I can bot him for now.

As long as encounters are made with his absence in mind, it shouldn't be a problem.

They will be if you don't want me to bot him. Lemmy knows I largely just make up encounters on the fly anyway, beyond rough sketches of scenarios I see happening. I usually don't get any farther than "Attacked by ninjas" and then I stat up the ninjas if you ever hit whatever the trigger for that was.

So... Openly contacting The Kingpin of Crime seems like a really bad idea. Specially if we intend to investigate the murders. It's like planning to find/defeat/kill the District Attorney and then going on to meet and greet the Chief of Police and asking him about the D.A.. Can you see why I don't like it?

We are outsiders with no contacts or influence in the city. No one can attest for our good intentions or skills. At best, all we have is an scout who can attest for Donovan's taste for booze, so that's what I'm going to use. Here goes nothing!

Donovan wonders around town until he finds Scout Farendal.

"Hello, there!" says Donovan with a friendly tone. "So... Assuming one has a clue about a possible crime, one which could possibly earn a promotion to a honest peace-keeper... Whom should one notify?"

"Depends on the crime." Faendal raises an eyebrow and looks at you expectantly. The implication being it better be good, or it's not worth him getting bothered over.

"I'm new to the city, but I'd imagine an attempt against the life of some bigwig would be a big deal here, like it's anywhere else..." Donovan's words are always calm and collected. "Let's say the one with the information would like to help in the capture f the would-be perpetrator... Who could he ask for help in convincing the authorities to let him and his (very skilled) friends help?"

Donovan smiles cunningly... "I suppose he could go to whoever leads the city guard, but they would probably ask him how he knows the details of the investigation, and answering that question might cause some problems for the guard who told him... So instead, this informed person would prefer to share his knowledge with that guard... On the agreement that in return, he's allowed to help, so that said guard get a chance for commendation, rather than a reprimand from his superiors." the elan waits a moment and adds... "A good deal, isn't it? But again... Whom should one notify?"

"A good deal indeed. I suppose I could take the bullet on this one." Faendal smiles.

"So what's up?"

Did Donovan invite any of us to go along for this conversation, or did he decide that the lone approach was better in this case?

"Do you give me your word that the informant and his friends will be allowed to participate? Or at very least, that you'll do all you can for that to be the case?" asks Donovan, politely but firmly, while extending his hand. "They are very skilled individuals, by the way, valuable allies and fearsome enemies. One of them is particularly good at reading people and none of them likes being lied to."

If necessary:

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 18
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 17

I assume it's possible to Take 10, though.

Did Donovan invite any of us to go along for this conversation, or did he decide that the lone approach was better in this case?

I didn't explicitly invite or dismiss anyone in my post (because I forgot to :P), but I suppose it could be assumed that Donovan informed the group of his plan to contact the scout. Feel free to have Dorla accompany him.

"Like I'd look into this case by myself? That's a good way to end up dead. Agreed." Faendal says, and shakes.

"Very well..." Donovan smiles.

"Okay, first things first... I'm the one with the information, and my friends are the group of skilled individuals I mentioned. Shocking, I know... I'm sure you didn't see that coming from a mile away..." he jokes. "So... Here's the deal: We know one of the victims said the murderer was 'silver'. There is a Vanara criminal known as "Silverback" in this city... Which matches the description of the Vanara a@&$~&% my friends and I are looking for... And here is where things get interesting..."

Donovan raises a finger, as if to point out this is a important piece of information: "Last night, we were able to intercept a message that simply said 'Baron Mistletoe. Get it done.', I assume you're familiar with the name. Admittedly, the message itself isn't a that compelling an evidence... What makes it interest is the means by which it was delivered and its safety measures: The message was on its way to be delivered via the hands of a very sneaky (though, apparently, mostly harmless) individual in the middle of the night, in a very dark pathway... Additionally, when inspected, the package proved to be protected by a very powerful psionic effect. Not something most people would know about, much less be able to use and alter."

"Whatever they are planning, is probably going to happen very soon. We want to capture this criminal... Even if he's not the one we're looking for, he's bound to have some useful information." Donovan's tone is serious, but then he nonchalantly adds "Also... To save lives and all that..."

Dorla (and Chirrup) have accompanied Donovan, but they let him lead in the conversation because he already has a connection with Faendal.

Dorla (and Chirrup) have accompanied Donovan, but they let him lead in the conversation because he already has a connection with Faendal.

Surely, also because they couldn't help but admire Donovan's handsomeness. It happens to everyone. XD

Yeah, right, keep up that attitude and you'll start to find saltpeter in your cure potions... :)

"Hm. This IS big. And troubling."

"We should warn the Baron, he can increase his guard."

Aha! More evidence that Dorla, like everyone else, can't help but love Donovan! After all, surely an alchemist that skilled knows that Potassium Nitrate (aka: saltpeter) not only does not cause impotency, but it's used in food preservation, toothpaste production and medicine against hypertension. So Dorla obviously wants Donovan to have fresh food, fresh breath and healthy blood pressure.

XD

"Yeah... I'm sure increased security will help... Just like it helped Lord Rosethorn, who certainly knew he was being targeted by unscrupulous individuals."

I wouldn't be so sure that saltpeter doesn't have the implied effect in a fantasy world. That is, after all, its mythology...

"Yeah... I'm sure increased security will help... Just like it helped Lord Rosethorn, who certainly knew he was being targeted by unscrupulous individuals."

"But if some of those new guards were you and your friends...?"

I wouldn't be so sure that saltpeter doesn't have the implied effect in a fantasy world. That is, after all, its mythology...

That means things like "Remove Disease" and "Neutralize Poison" exists... But I'll cease to be an annoying asshat... For now... XD

"But if some of those new guards were you and your friends...?"

"Surely a group of highly skilled individuals would make a much greater difference than just a few extra sellswords..."

"My thoughts exactly. I'll see if I can arrange it. The Baron has had dealings with my father before, he may take my recommendation."

I meant that impotence (or at least decreased libido) is the mythology of saltpeter. And saltpeter has to at least exist in Golarion, because of Alkenstar.

I meant that impotence (or at least decreased libido) is the mythology of saltpeter. And saltpeter has to at least exist in Golarion, because of Alkenstar.

I know... I'm just fooling around. ;)

So am I. Dorla is naive and innocent enough that she wouldn't even know about the saltpeter if it was real. And she would consider messing with a potion like that a violation of her party's trust.

Unless Donovan either has wings and a breath weapon or an ability to cast level 9 spells that none of us know about, he doesn't have the chance of a proverbial snowball in a very warm place with Dorla. She fell in love with a storybook character at a very young age.

Unless Donovan either has wings and a breath weapon or an ability to cast level 9 spells that none of us know about, he doesn't have the chance of a proverbial snowball in a very warm place with Dorla. She fell in love with a storybook character at a very young age.

Aha! More evidence that Dorla (again, like LITERALLY everyone else) loves Donovan! For said snowball would have a 0% chance! So if Donovan doesn't have the same chance as that snowball, then he must have a different percentage of chance of success... Since the chance of success must be between 0 and 100%, Donovan's chance is therefore greater than 0%! XD

(Don't worry, Donovan has a policy of not dating his coworkers... Also, Thetsu would be jealous.... He wouldn't be able to bear seeing another PC dating Donovan XD).

Okay, I promise... That was my last quip...

For Now! *dramatic lightning in the background*

PS: While I think it's obvious I'm kidding, if one of my jokes makes you feel uncomfortable, please, do tell me. I'm not trying to flirt with other PbP players... Well... Maybe Nicos! XD

"My thoughts exactly. I'll see if I can arrange it. The Baron has had dealings with my father before, he may take my recommendation."

"Very well. Talk to him and meet me and my friends as soon as possible. I don't think it's wise to waste time. I'll spend the day in the inn where I'm staying."

Donovan provides the necessary information for Farendal to be able to contact the group.

If I were uncomfortable with the goofiness, I would certainly not be responding in kind.

Dorla discusses with Donovan (and the others if they are at the inn) if there are any extracts they would like her to have prepared before they go guard the baron.

Then Dorla decides she's tired of feeling like a grungy adventurer. She decides it's time for some self-care. What is available in this elven town in terms of a bath house or other place for luxury bathing/pampering of oneself?

There is a public hot spring on the outskirts of the city that provides a full deep cleaning experience. Best of all: it's free. Elves prefer their visitors and residents to be as clean as possible.

Dorla tells her companions where she will be, and then leaves. She begs Thetsu to take care of Chirrup while she is gone. She stops at an alchemy shop to buy some supplies, then goes to the hot spring. She stays there for about an hour, and comes back relaxed and happy. Then she plays with Chirrup.

It doesn't take long for Farendal to return, just a couple of hours.

"Baron Mistletoe agrees...on one condition. Each of you needs to consent to a mental probe to determine your trustworthiness. Mistletoe was concerned you guys might actually be the ones trying to assassinate him, but he was willing to trust my judgement at least this far."

"To be blunt, how can we be sure the one doing the mental probe is trustworthy?"

"To be equally blunt: You don't. You'll just have to trust the baron's men."

Thetsu plays simple games with Chirrup while Dorla is out like I Spy and Hide and Seek. He enjoys it a bit more than someone his age probably should.

"Mental Probe? No problem! Not much going on up here anyways."

Donovan is always the suspicious one. I'm interested to see what he says about this...