The Red Arm of Absalom - Ongoing Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master GM Red

Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
The woman's irises go black when Sirettis pulls her under her hex. "Ah, yes, Dymal Rinks. Short guy, kind of jittery. He checked in yesterday. You can find him right upstairs in room 14B."

"Ah, thank you my friend! Please keep this inquiry quiet. My friends and I will visit him now."

She leaves the concierge and returns to the rest of the Red Arm. "He's in room 14B. Let's hurry up there while I'm friends with the front desk."

Mr Peppers, a bit put off about being used as a common thug, follows the group wordlessly from the last meeting with Ms Heidmarch. He watches on as Issil/Sirettis greases the desk clerk. I don't believe this is the most valuable use of my skills here but I'll help as I can. Maybe this Halfling has some crazy tricks up his sleeves.

Mr Peppers follows the group up the stairs, detecting for magic as they go.

The concierge smiles. "Sure. Let me know if you need anything else. I hope Mr. Rinks enjoys his entertainment!"

You head upstairs and find the door to Room 14B, sans magic. It is quiet on the other side. What do you do?

Gallix raps gently on the door, ”Housekeeping.”

Bluff: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

And when Gallix opens the door, some unseen monster roars in his face, and Gallix says: "i'll come back later".

Cup messages the group, making sure that everyone is included, including Longjing. “He’s met me as Lady Calpurnia of House Al-Hadir. If we’re going to be housekeeping, I need to be out of sight, used as a backup. I’m going to be outside, and can fly up to the windows if you have trouble. Keep me in the message loop!”

Nice rolling right there!

At Gallix's knock, a nervous voice replies. "H-Housekeeping? I don't need it! But if you insist..." The door opens a crack and the halfling peeks through. "Five of you to clean one room? What kind of place is this!" He balks, narrowing the crack. "I'm not sure I buy it! You're those debt-collecting thugs, here to kill me, aren't you?!"

Mr Peppers gives the man a blank stare and casts a simple spell that starts to clean the doormat in front of his room. "See? Cleaners." Prestidigitation

Bluff Aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

"Fine!" Rinks throws the door open, then turns and retreats to the back of the room. "Go on, clean! And then leave!"

Sirettis finds a chair to sit down on.

"And that is how we would break your legs. We found this location so easily and walked right in. Basaale Minvandu has it out for you and he's already dispatched some 'encouragement' to find you and make your life hell."

She leans in a bit, certain she has gotten his attention. "You need to lie low. Very low. Out of town for a few days. Oh, and you need to avoid any major public events, like parties, charities and auctions. If you're on the list of any major events you know Lord Minvandu is looking there, right?"

Diplomacy, I guess? Bluff is +11 and Intimidate is +7 if those are more appropriate.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

"Seriously, man! For someone who's trying to hide out from a bunch of thugs, you let us in way too easily. You're lucky we're not here to do the job for Minvandu ourselves! So why don't you listen to my friend here and make yourself scarce for a few days?"

Diplomacy (aid): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

As Sirettis walks over and sets herself down in a chair, a line of thread snaps, causing a poison dart to fly from a crack in the window sill.

Dart: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 211d3 ⇒ 1
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Desna smiles upon Sirettis, and the green-tipped dart falls short, embedding itself into the felt cushion of the chair. Rinks' face falls as he watches the blunder. "Damn it, the stupid things are so finicky to setup, and fail half the time!" He groans in defeat, plopping himself down on the ground. "I never wanted that stupid key anyway, I'm just looking to pay off Minvandu and key seemed the best way to invest. I'm looking to get rich, you know!" He looks at his hands now. "I'm not sure how I'll pay him off, but his thugs will have to track me down first, and I can be more than a little evasive, sort of," he smiles, rolling his eyes in recognition of how easy it was for you to locate him. "I'll hang on to the deposit for now, so consider me out of auction. I'm going to find a better place to hide!"

Anything else with Rinks before you move on?

Mr Peppers quickly cleans the man's shirt before shaking his head silently and leaving. Another get rich quick scheme. At least he's not very good with traps.

There are some other options to maybe try to convince him to invest in our purchasing the key but that would blow our cover and I'm not sure how it'd work, so not going to bring it up.

Eh, I'm good.

"A wise decision. We will be on our way now." Sirettis smiles and stands up, preparing to leave.

NEXT: Glow of the Rushlights (vs the Duchesses)

You stop back at Heidmarch Manor, where Sheila repeats what she knows about the Duchesses. "There were two women at the pre-auction who paid their deposit in Minkaian coins which, according to our sources, may have been stolen during a recent caravan raid. If such is the case, the duo no doubt have dubious intentions. The women call themselves the Duchesses and they likely have ties to one of Magnimar’s criminal organizations; I suspect the Rushlight Society. Still, it is their finances and not their intentions that most concern us. Some of our more reliable street contacts informed me that the two women were last seen entering the home of a local merchant named Windun Landers. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Landers has a wrought iron rushlight mounted on his door casing. Head to the man’s residence, and see if you can’t figure out how much money these "Duchesses” have. If all is as I suspect, they don’t have enough to bid competitively. I’m also near certain they’re using stolen funds, so leave whatever gold you find. I don’t want us bidding with illegally gotten coin—that’ll create more problems for us than it will solve. Lastly, whatever you happen to find, do not involve the authorities. I cannot risk the courts subpoenaing your testimony during the auction."

She provides you with the address to Windun Lander's residence, and you make your way there.

The residence is a large, two-story stone mansion with a neatly carved set of stairs leading up to the front door. Skylights decorate the upper floor's dining hall, while a chimney rises up from the west side of the steepled roof. A wrought iron rushlight sculpture hangs from door.

Are you knocking on the front door, attempting to sneak in, or blowing it up with accelerated sand blasts? What'll it be, team? :)

"Perhaps we enter from the second floor this time." Uesugi points to the side of the mansion away from prying eyes. He starts to unwind the rope at his side.

Gallix nods thoughtfully at Uesugi’s suggestion. ”Sounds like fun to me! And I can help out with getting everyone upstairs too!” He draws a wand from his pack and offers it to the spellcasters. ”Any of you familiar with the spell ‘Monkeyfish’?”

"Sir D. Er, Darth. Um." Sirettis isn't sure what to call him. She's never sure. Even when Isa reminds her, she forgets. "Perhaps you can scope the area?"

Sirettis takes the guise of a young woman, with the hood pulled overhead. "I have spoken to them before, so they may recognize me on sight."

As she speaks, Uesugi and Gallix have already thought of alternate plans. "I could simply fly up there, if this is easier for you."

He looks to Spirit "Have Isa look to see if there is anyone in one of the rooms and then fly up and search for an unlocked window. I am capable of climbing with no rope but the others might need it."

"Sir D. Er, Darth. Um." Sirettis isn't sure what to call him. She's never sure. Even when Isa reminds her, she forgets. "Perhaps you can scope the area?"

"For you guys, it's simply D.

(vanishes)

Take 10 for 32.

"I am happy to provide a distraction at the front door while you guys check out the back. I think that everyone deserves a singing telegram, don't you?" Cup asks with a smile.

"Oh hey! I swear, Sirettis sometimes forgets I'm here. She hasn't been feeding me enough!" A rather plump thrust scoots out of Sirettis's hood and flies around the building.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Isa's so excited she isn't paying careful attention. Sirettis does note her excitement, though.

Tall, dark, and out of his natural element takes the wand from Gallix "I can use this whenever you'd like, give give the word. But as far as breaking into a home of a criminal gang... I would suggest we be careful as far as traps and such. We almost had an issue at our last cleaning job if you remember." Mr Peppers tucks the wand into his belt as he takes out his own to summon in his trusty shirt of chainmail.

Is it safe to assume it hasn't been 7 hours since our Hydra incident? For false life duration.

Probably hasn't been 7 hours!

D walks around the perimeter of the home, and finds that its only inhabitant is a middle aged human with a handlebar moustache. He sits in a chair inside a study lined with shelves and fine mahogany furniture. Swooping along to check each window, Isa finds that the upper floor is similarly devoid of any visitors.

The man looks startled, but sets his book down and slowly stands, walking over to open the door when Cup knocks on it. "Oh? A telegram for me? Go on, then, let's hear it!"

Before Cup steps up to the door, Gallix takes a hit off his wand of monkey fish from Mr. Peppers. He then scurries around the side of the building and scrambles up the side of the building. As he makes it to the second level, he edges around to one of the windows and quickly checks inside before trying to open the window.

Gain a climb speed of 10 ft from the spell, so I should be able to get up pretty easily. Let me know if you still need me to make a check in case the sides of the building aren't easily climbable.

Uesugi follows the barbarian indicating that Mr. Peppers should come as well while Madame Poshkettle does her 'singing telegram' routine.

Tall, dark and apprehensive looks up the wall, then at Uesugi, then back up the wall. "If you insist. But if I fall and break my neck, I'm haunting the both of you!" He says as he taps himself with the wand, looking a bit disgusted as his hands and feet change shape. I'm glad this does not last long.

He then starts to climb with the others, taking his time as he goes.

"We will make sure that never happens then." As Mr. Peppers and the barbarian climb using the aid of the wand Uesugi starts to climb wall as if he was simply strolling along a street. His feet stick to the wall and he walks free of using his hands. Will use my slippers of spiderclimbing

"Good job Isa. Let us fly up there."

Using my Flight Hex.

Gallix doesn't see anyone inside, so he pulls open the window and climbs in as gracefully as he can. He now stands on a laminate landing above the lower floor, with a set of double doors to the west, and three smaller doors to the east. It's a good thing Cup is still singing her heart out, or he might've been heard!

See Slide 1 for what this looks like. I suppose you'll case the upper floor door by door, as quietly as you can?

"We have little time. Spirit maybe we should let Isa be our eyes for when the man tires of Madame Poshkettle. If it looks like he is about to leave have her fly down and create a distraction hopefully he will try to chase her out of the house. Let us check the smaller doors first?"

Mr Peppers climbs in after the others, quickly casting detect magic to have a look around. He nods in the affirmative when he's ready to proceed. First I'm a hired cleaner, now I'm a hired burglar? Why can't I just be a well paid Master of the Arcane like I AM!

Detect magic and take 10 on perception and stealth. 24 and 13

Give me some Stealth rolls while you're at it, unless you plan on stomping through. :)

Uesugi will stay to the walls and avoid the floors. Doing his best to stay out of from the view of anyone below.

That will be hard to do when you're enlarged...

enlarged? that spell would be done or it would be like King Kong hiding while on the Empire State Building

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 - 6 ⇒ (16) + 3 - 6 = 13

Handlebar-stache is pleased with Cup's number, but finds that it's quickly growing tired. His smile drops after a few minutes, and he folds his arms together. "Miss, I appreciate the sentiment, but I was just at the best part of my favorite book, Beyond the Pool of Stars. Please, finish up."

Meanwhile, Uesugi, Gallix, and Mr. Peppers stealthily make their way to the first door that opens to a small, empty bedroom. Mr. Peppers flips through the room and, underneath the bed, finds a locked iron strongbox.

Shhh...I’m hunting bad guys!

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Wow! I have no idea what happened with that post above. Looks like a hash of some sort, or the ultimate GM screen.

Handlebar-stache stands attentively listening to Cup's song, but after a few minutes, his delighted smile falls, and he folds his arms across his chest with a huff of impatience. "Miss, I appreciate the sentiment, but I do so hope you can conclude soon. I was just reaching my favorite part of Beyond the Pool of Stars. Quite the adventure of a book, you know."

Meanwhile, upstairs, Uesugi dons his ninja slippers and walks sideways on the wall as if the manor's gravity was removed. Mr. Peppers and Gallix join him, slowly creeping along the hallway, and open the first door, leading to a small bedroom with a queen-sized bed and modest furnishings.

Searching the room with haste, Mr. Peppers finds a locked iron strongbox underneath the bed.

Cup returns (from battling Paizo Goblins) to deliver her Singing Telegam.

♫ I! Am!
Your-singing-telegram! ♫

But when Handlebar-stache talks about Beyond the Pool of Stars, Cup tries to remember what she knows about that story.

Profession Librarian: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

She remembers that the novel is indeed a rip-roaring tale.

♫ Let me take you Beyond the Pool of Stars...
With a book like this you can travel far
And when we travel what do we see?
Dozens of cultures — a va-ri-e-ty!
Starting off in Sargava’s shore
Lots of jungle to explore
Strange races
Friends in unexpected places! ♫

Bluff to distract him once again: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25
Perform Sing: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

When she finishes, she says honestly, “I loved that book! What was your favorite part? Mine was watching the heroine have to upend all of her expectations!”

When in doubt, get a book reader to talk about books... Impromptu book club to the rescue!

Madame Poshkettle you never fail to impress!

"If necessary I can disable the lock quickly but the rest of you clear the room in case it is trapped."

Bravo Cup.

Sirettis floats outside the room. "Mister Gallix knew a thing or two about disabling locked packages."

Mr Peppers scans the box for magic then tries to get an idea if it is indeed large enough to contain a sizeable amount of gold or platinum coins. Check it for traps, taking 10, DC24

He gives Gallix a nudge in the arm to work his lockpicks before taking a step back. He's going to poison himself, I just know it... its been far too long since he's been poisoned.

"I see you've read it too! I enjoyed the lizardfolk's character development over the story. What was once an untrusting, suspicious and violent warrior became something of a brother to the heroine in the end." The man says, now thoroughly intrigued by Cup's knowledge of the book. "That one scene when they've escaped the arena together brought tears to my eye. It is beautiful to know we may find unlikely allies in even the most.. savage of creatures."

Back upstairs, Mr. Peppers scans the box, and finds that it's free of both traps and magical auras. It looks large enough to hold a coin stash.

Gallix takes the nudge in stride and gets to work with his picks. Before he leans in too close, though, he confirms with Peppers that the box is not trapped. "If I never get poisoned again it'll be too soon," he says in a whisper.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26