The Haunting of Brute Squad (Inactive)

Game Master ThorGN

Gameplay Dot.

Red October standing by!

Red 5 standing by!

Dot.

Erin is killing some downtime between missions at an upscale tavern in Absalom

"Now this is the stuff"

Erin exclaims as a bottle of fine Chelish red and an exotic dish is set in front of her.

One of our finest dishes, miss. The Hellspawn Merlot finely complements the meat juices and special seasoning. I must admit, we don’t get many customers here who have a taste for Barbequed Imp.

The stiff waiter eyes Erin again over his half-spectacles, not so slyly considering if she will be able to afford the dish he just served her. A finely dressed couple at the next table look down their long noses in disgust, and then pretend to ignore the not-so-finely dressed girl.

Tanrov sniffs the air and finds himself leaning over to sneak a piece of whatever's been presented to her.

Upon hearing what it is, the young barbarian's nose wrinkles and he backs down.

"My brother always told me that it's bad luck to eat things that can talk."

Guess it is time to get a new robe.
Erin ponders to herself, noticing a few small tears in the once exquisite Chelish garb.

She then shoots an irritated glance over at the couple.
"You know, there are those of us that actually have to go out and earn our keep."

She then takes a small bite of the dish, followed by a sip of wine, and daintily places the glass back onto the table.
"And after we make a big haul, well, its cause for celebration. I guess I cannot fault you two though. If all my money was handed to me on a platter I would celebrate every day too."

Erin responds to Tanrov's comment.
"I would not eat an imp that was talking to me either. I'm pretty sure this one will not be hurling any incantations at me anytime soon."

Ashur seems almost offended by the dish. "There's a reason for that. For one, it could be someone I know. Can I just have a steak, made from cattle? Well done, please."

Sense Motive 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Tanrov catches wind of the couple sending dirty looks at Erin and her muttering back at them.

With a couple swift movements he moves his chair so that he's blocking their view of her.

"Don't let them bother you", he says suddenly growing very somber.

"Some people are going to judge you, just because they haven't gone through what you have", he explains. "But it's the challenges we overcome and the battles we fight that really make us who we are."

Tanrov half-glances over his own shoulder behind him.

"Men and women like that are just shadows of real people; they should be jealous of you."

After lunch, you arrive at the Lantern Lodge in Absalom’s Petal District, and are ushered into an immaculately maintained garden where Venture-Captain Amara Li is found pruning a rose bush. She rises gracefully while handing the gardening shears to a servant and tugging off her gloves. Thank you for coming, she says, gesturing for the group to walk with her through the garden.

I am sending you to Minkai, on the other side of Golarion. The lands of Tian Xia are rich in mysteries unknown here in the Inner Sea. There is one legend in particular that has intrigued me for many years, and astute agents many find it an opportunity to see their investigations chronicled for their colleagues to read and admire. In the land of Minkai, a mansion sits atop a hill, where no one dares to venture for the locals believe it to be haunted. It is called Hinojai, and stories tell that it was the home of a wealthy and powerful woman before the fall of Imperial Lung Wa a century ago. It is a long trip, but I strongly suspect the manifestations are genuine and worth the trek. You see, there is but one thing more interesting than discovering a haunting - discovering how it came to be.

Your transportation is arranged, of course. Hinojai sits in a triangle between two villages and a small town named Nagura. Nagura is large enough to allow you to do any last minute provisioning you require, as well as any background investigation you may wish to do. Remember that the Pathfinder Society is not as well-known in Minkai as it is in the Inner Sea. Be mindful of local traditions and represent the Pathfinder Society in a positive light - do not upset the local people! Damaged relationships only hurt future agents who may be following up on your discoveries. Finally, remember your mission is to discover what happened at Hinojai, not burn it to the ground. Protect and defend yourself, by all means, but we seek the truth, we do not destroy it.

"Great, a haunted house on a hill. So to be clear, we're there to find out what happened to cause the haunted-ness? And no collateral damage."

Sense Motive on Amara

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

"A haunted house on the other side of the world. This should be quite the eye opening trip. Any other information on the woman that used to live there Amara?

Tanrov nods at Erin's assessment, "A world away."

"Is it true that they have dragons that fly without wings over there, and fox-people, and snake-people, and rat-people, and..."

Amara quirks her mouth at Tanrov’s naiveté.

The noblewoman who lived in Hinojai prior to its haunting has been linked to an organization called the Way of the Kirin, which the Pathfinder Society also has an interest in.

"...and ale you're supposed to drink warm, and whores that walk on their tiptoes all day, and raccoon-people, and cat-people, and..."

Erin lets out a small laugh as Tanrov continues on, then finishes for him.

"...and Aasimar temples full of crazy cultists."

She then turns back to Amara with an apologetic look.
"Do we know anything of the Way of the Kirin? Or is that part of the assignment?"

Ashur keeps a straight face as Tanrov rants. However, he can't help but smile when Erin mentions the last mission they had together. "Pretty much."

It was an organization that existed before the fall of Imperial Lung Wa, with an extensive trading network and mercenary armies that they contracted only to clients who met certain criteria. Their outlook would not have been incompatible with that of the Pathfinder Society today.

Tanrov studies Amara Li carefully as she explains her knowledge of the Kirin.

Sense Motive 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Do I feel like that's enough for my faction mission?

"What do you mean?", the young barbarian asks. "Do you think they would work with us?"

Yes, that is sufficient.

Remember that you are traveling to a land where most everyone speaks Tian. You will want to acquire a way to communicate with them.

Standing at the back all this time, Arkwright speaks up.

"Lady Li, what form have the hauntings taken, over the years? Mere apparitions or possibly more dangerous manipulations of the physical plane? And if you would not mind my asking, what is it about these hauntings that make you think they are genuine, as opposed to say adolescent boys playing around in a deserted house?"

Sense Motive, also been listening to Li. 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (8) - 2 = 6

A gnome enters - a small figure following him.

"Welcome - I heard there is a lot of excitement to have in Minkai. They didn't wanted me on field work for a while - did flood nearly a whole party - but this is long ago.
Haunting sounds soooo interesting. May I introduce - Anya - my Eidolon. She goes whereever I go."

The towering Shoanti kneels down to shake the hand of the two newcomers, first Yandu and then Anya.

"Hello!"

Anya flutters up to the height of Tarnov to be eye-to-eye. She seems to float up like magic as you can't hear even the faintest sound of her wings.

Stealth 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 20 = 39

"Welcome - we will have a long journey and I'm sure we will have time to introduce each other. Good to have someone strong in this group.
Anya isn't good at fighting - but you have seldom seen a scout better as her."

Turning to Amara-Li

"Are the manifestations and haunts as you call them likely from undead origin or might they be strange occurences from a different plane?
I don't know much about the first - but I do have some experience in the latter and always like to know something new."

Arkwright gently nudges Erin and points to the rather amusing tableau of the enormous Tanrov bending down to below his knee to shake the hand of this new arrival, not quite able to hide his grin of amusement.

Erin takes a look to where Arkwright is gesturing, smiles, and makes her way over to the newcomers.
"Another scout you say? Guess you can never have too many eyes out for danger. What exactly is Anya?"
She says, as she gently pokes the figure.

Tanrov marvels at the magical flight, "Magic..."

If I knew the answers to those questions, then I wouldn't need to send you lot half way around the world to check it out, now would I? Here is information on your passage to Nagura. Go make whatever preparations you see fit.

Amara rapidly claps twice, and a servant appears to guide you out of the garden.

"Alright, alright. We'll go." Ashur follows the group out of the room, keeping an eye on the two newcomers. "I don't trust them. A gnome and what looks like some kind of fey."

Having found herself once again lost due to her inabilty to have a good sense of direction. Charlotte eventually finds her way to the Lantern Lodge. When she arrives, she sees a group of well prepared adventurers being briefed by Lady Li. Charlotte sighs knowing that once again she had missed another briefing. Her adventure in trying to get to the shop and pick up her special ordered bag took a lot longer than she had planned. Something about the wrong charm being cast on it, so they had to redo the spell. What a bother, cause not it's gotten her into a tardiness issue once again.

Get lost again Charlotte? A small gnome messenger says as she glances at her. It is Piper, one of messengers of Ollysta Zadrian.

Unfortunately. I know, I should have asked for directions.

Ollysta is not going to like that. You know how she and Amara are. Anyway, this is from her. Try not to get lost on your mission. Where you are going, it's not going to be a place to try and get lost in.

Thanks Piper. Charlotte takes the scroll and opens it and reads it. At the same time, Lady Li claps signifying a servant to take the party away. Charlotte puts her note away and straightens her cleric vestments up while walking towards the moving party.

Well met friends, my name is Charlotte, I was sent here to join you, but I got a little bit lost along the way. But what I lack in direction I sure can make up for in adventuring skills.

Yandu turns to Erin

"Anya is my companion. She is from a different plane and we have formed a special link. As far as scouting goes - sometimes she can get into places mere humans or elfs are unable to get to.
But don't be afraid - she won't take your place.
So what do you think we need ? Holy water seems useful. I surely will get some for Anya. "

Charlotte hears a nice Gnome man speaking about holy water..

Did you mention holy water? I can definitely do something about that if needed. Charlotte says smiling.

The young barbarian follows the eidolon around, enamored with her magical flight.

"Can you teach me how to fly like Anya?"

"And on to the next hero to worship..." Ashur mutters offhandedly to no one in particular. "Well, can you make enough to douse the whole house just in case?" He asks Charlotte sarcastically.

Charlotte looks at the male tiefling character quite amused with his sarcasm.

No, but if you need that much holy water, then perhaps it is wiser to burn the house down instead. Something that I can definitely do. And do quite well.

She looks up and down at the male tiefling. From her adventures in the past, tieflings are a rarity, and a Pathfinder one is definitely out of the ordinary. Armed with his Glaive and other adventure attire, she quickly deduced that this one is some sort of fighter. Hopefully, he's better than most of the fighters she had to deal with in the past, even if he is rude.

Interesting choice to become a Pathfinder is it not? Charlotte says after ending her appraisal of the male tiefling. Especially since those of your kind like deep, dark, places. From the sounds of it, it looks like this mission is more up your alley than mine. She appraises him up and down again and then shrugs. But never mind that, shall we go? I think a quick trip to pick up a few scrolls may be in order.

Erin will be picking up a scroll of Tongues before she leaves the city.

Erin nods in comprehension towards Yandu and then turns to Tanrov.
"Anyone can fly if they have enough gold."
She states, as she produces a small vial containing a liquid that is labelled "Fly" long enough to show Tanrov, then replaces it.

Erin then makes her way over to Charlotte.
"Greetings, the name is Erin.
She then shoots a glare at Ashur.
"Do not mind Ashur, he is quite a pill. For all his grumbling though, he is actually someone you want on your side in a fight."

"You're smarter than I thought, Char." Ashur raises an eyebrow as he is seemingly evaluated by the woman. "Not that interesting. My kind seek purpose just as much as your kind. And really, unless this mission somehow involves moving a lot of heavy objects, I think you will be far more useful here. I don't think I can do much against ghosts."

Ashur feels a shiver up and down his spine as he gets the evil glare from Erin. "Hey, I was completely right about that temple we went to."

"I'm a pill? What does that even mean?"

Fast foreword a few weeks…

Nagura is a small but active town at the crossroads of three major roadways. It serves as a hub for transportation and the distribution of lumber, rice, and other foodstuffs between several smaller villages and two larger cities. Besides numerous residences, the town offers accommodation for merchants and travelers, a general store, and a number of cottage industries such as pottery and weaving. Smoke wafts in the sky from the chimney’s of active ceramic kilns, while the street is filled with the scents and sounds of vendors selling both raw and cooked food items from booths. To the west of town, a large residence for government officials) sits empty and waiting, reserved for the local samurai or the representative of the regency. To the east are a number of shrines to various gods, separated from the rest of town by a bright red torii gate.

As the group leaves the lodge to head out, Erin states to Ashur.

"I never said you were wrong about the temple. I actually shared your suspicions."

Erin

"I know, I just had to say it again." Ashur grins.

Nagura
Ashur immediately notices the smell of fresh food. He sniffs the air and follows it back to it's source. It is a booth selling what seems to be fish and vegetables that are deep fried and battered. The sign says "Tempura", whatever that means. "Rations are fine, but nothing beats fresh hot food." He says as he orders some for himself. He starts eating rather loudly. However, when the party gives him a collective glare, he orders some for everyone.

Yandu walks around with eyes wide open. Anya - who had been around with him all time disappeared late last night. Yandu gave her a big hug - but decided to play it save and not unsettle people in the town before he knew more.

Diplomacy / Gather information to check out anything about the temple

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

But without Anya - and eyeing all the wonders - he seems distracted and only partly listens to what the people are telling him.

"Do people really live in these?", Tanrov asks noting the delicate architecture. "These buildings don't seem very strong."

"What if there's a brawl? I imagine they'd all just fall over."

Yandu: Temple? What temple? Perhaps you mean the house you are going to? If so, please say in character what you are asking people. That goes for the rest of you too.

Also, if you want to speak with the locals please specify how you are doing so. Ie you know the language, are hiring an interpreter, are using magic, etc.

"We should get directions to that mansion."

"Does anybody speak tian-ese?"

"Only the bad words. Somehow I don't think that'll help." Ashurs says after he finishes his snack, oily crumbs still stuck to his face. He wipes them off using his hand and wipes his hands using his pants.