The Seven Seasoned Pathfinders (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master caps

Deenha excuses herself from her new team for a few minutes to try to ask some questions of passers-by.
dipl.: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

"The town of Dawnton has recently started to be fearful of strangers. If you remind them of demons in any way, they are particularly untrusting."

Knowledge (local) 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

The young ranger considers what she knows about the place before piping up.
"Well now I heard a few things...." she hesitates and then continues speaking.

"Seems like Dawnton is a small village at the crossroads of the local trade highway and the Setian River, a tributary of the Egelsee. It has a small permanent population, but swells to many times its size on festival days and during the harvest."

"I also heard that Dawnton has become distrustful of strangers since the fall of Kenabres. This distrust is especially virulent toward tieflings and others with demonic roots, influence, or appearance. For which I'm thankful I'm not."

"We should be looking for this Tobias Luin, who is both the village’s sheriff and mayor. Local opinion holds that he is fair to the point of being soft. It is unusual that he would hold an execution, but local law calls for a vote of the citizenry to decide the fate of those guilty of capital crimes."

Purchasing a Ring of Protection +1

Knowledge, local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

"Well, there are no demonic roots on me! I was happy to recently escape Cheliax."

Please feel free to open all the spoilers, as Geo is apparently quite knowledgeable.

"Geo!" an Overly Happy Fillia hugs her companion.
"You've being missed. We get to go rescue fellow pathfinders this time!"

"It is good to be reassigned back to you! Life got pretty hairy there, but I am happy to be back with friends."

"I also have a nice bag of tricks with me..." He opens his vest, revealing a number of wands pocketed inside of it.

@GM - I false started an AP with Geo, and geared up at the beginning of it. I don't think I need you to note anything, but if you would like to see the list and expenditures (for the chronicle), it is in my profile under the History section.

Between work and visiting family I have been swamped. I didn't have time to read the scenario ahead of time and I see now I'm going to need to read up quite a bit before I can get us truly started. Feel free to RP your 3 days of travel in the meantime.

I should have asked - what scenario are we doing? Also, I started to GM another, so Geo should be 9XP when we finish this one.

"Sometimes, I think, the local sheriff is just a scapegoat for the more viscous tendencies of their people. This may be as much of a crowd control mission as anything else."

On the trip out Meran takes some time to learn about her fellow pathfinders.

"Tell me about yourselves. What's your best skill? Mine is singing, and the bow. I'm also quite charming or so I've been told."

"Charming is not a word often used to describe me... I tend to stick to the shadows, escaping notice and liberating stuff that is clearly in the wrong hands."

I've never run a scenario organized like this one, so forgive me for any mistakes as we go along.

After three days of travel, the party arrives in Dawnton. As you approach the town, you encounter many other travelers going the same direction--all of them preparing to see the spectacle that is now just four days away.

So this is how this works.

• Every day you have morning, afternoon, and evening as three phases.
  
• For each phase, each PC will pick a location to go and gather evidence and/or rumors. This will involve one skill check based on the location and the PC's activity per PC, per phase.
  
• After each phase the PCs will have the opportunity to meet, share notes, and/or run quick errands before beginning the next phase.
  
• PCs can go to locations together or apart, and can go to the same location more than once.

Here is a Map of Dawnton which includes a legend.

Dawnton is a small farming town with a tent city on the outskirts that swells to life during the harvest. As you arrive in the morning you can tell that, even though it is NOT harvest season, the town is bursting at the seams with all the visitors to see the upcoming execution. It doesn't take long for the party to figure out that the main sites of activity seem to be Orug’s General Store (A), the Heath and Harvest Inn(B), the Tent City (D), and the Beer Garden (E).

By my next post hopefully everyone will have picked a location and I can describe it and give an idea of what kind of skill checks can be attempted.

I may have played this one before. What is it? It might not have been core, though...

"Looks like a lot of area to cover, and not much time. Shall we divide and conquer? Let's meet back her for lunch and compare notes? I will look through the tent city and see what I can discover."

On the trip out Meran takes some time to learn about her fellow pathfinders.

"Tell me about yourselves. What's your best skill? Mine is singing, and the bow. I'm also quite charming or so I've been told."

"Oh! I too am somewhat skilled with the bow though I'm more at home amongst the trees. I'm a somewhat decent scout and tracker though I tried to pick up skills in lock picking, I'm far inferior to Geo there." as she skips along and coos at the birds that gather when she throws her crumbs towards them.

Deenha goes to see what is in the General Store.

Earlier, she replied to Meran, "I also sing, trying to help my companions to be better. I also like magic, and can use sword and bow if absolutely required." Then she looks embarrassed at having talked so much about herself.

”I’m going to head to the Inn. Buy a pint and make some new friends.” she makes her way there and takes a seat.

She’ll make conversation, and offer to entertain this evening at the Inn if they would like. ”I sing. I’ve been told I have a very nice voice. Would you like to hear a sample?”

”What’s the latest news? Anything exciting going on beside what looks like a festival.”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Perform Sing: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

"I would love to hear a duet..."

NOTE: I actually made a mistake; you arrived on the evening of your third day of travel, so you get one evening phase before your first full day.

Geo checks out the tent city:
Dozens of tents of sundry sizes ring an open area where the visitors gather for games and talk.
Evening is gathering so he gets a sense of of a country fair winding down. He sees empty food stalls, abandoned live music stands, and several different kinds of arenas and fields for sports. As he walks by one person closing up their shop, they shout to him to come back in the morning or afternoon tomorrow. Many of the residents seem to be headed back to their tents, but there still seems to be lively activity at the Beer Garden...
@Geoclunicus/PJP: This is 5-22: Scars of the Third Crusade.
What would you like to do here? Some possibilities include a bluff, diplomacy, or performance check; others include outdrinking someone to loosen their tongue, or buying a round for everyone to gain some popularity. That last is 10gp or 20gp, depending on what tier we're in; I haven't done the math yet and if we get a replacement for Deenha that could skew it.

Meran heads in to the Heath and Harvest. She finds it quite full but discovers, should she ask, that there are two rooms still available if the party would like to take them. The keeper informs Meran that rooms are 1gp a night and include meals. The pub is full of people getting food or drink and Meran has no problems making some new friends.
@Meran/CariMac: You only get one check per time-period, but that Diplomacy check works great. Unfortunately I can't actually resolve it until I at least know where the other PCs are, if not what they're doing.

@Maximos/RyanH: You still around?

@Fillia/nightdeath: Is Fillia going to go anywhere to gather information?

Fillia heads over to the beer garden. Looks like fun though she hopes she wouldn't be taking part in any drinking competitions.

Perception. 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
Her excited eyes takes in the sights and people once she arrives.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Geo tries to ask around to see what local discussion topics might be current, but apparently he comes off as creepy and no one opens up to him.

Meran hands over enough gold for two room for four nights. "We'll be here for a few days. I'm glad we found some rooms. I'm not the type of girl who likes to sleep in a tent or on the ground."

Maximus says he'll head on over to the general store as he's in need of replenishing some scrolls, once at the store, while looking through the merchandise he'll try to strike up conversation, "Oooh, I see there's going to be an execution, do you know what the scoundrel did to earn himself this fate... or maybe herself, themselves?"

diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 7
perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Fillia looks around wondering if she had spotted anyone........

Fillia doesn't spot anyone in particular. Most people seem to be drinking and chatting. She gets the sense that she'll need to engage with the other occupants of the beer garden if she wants to get any information here.

Fillia/nightdeath: see my note to Geoclunicus about some ideas of what to do here. You're welcome to come up with another approach as well.

Despite Geo's creepiness, he does hear a few tidbits...
However, I need to know the result of what Fillia's doing before I can sum up what the two of you find out.

Meran's friendly nature quickly gets some tongues to loosen up as she loiters at the inn. Someone at her table quietly tells her "That inquisitor, Ekira; she's really a demon that's just *posing* as an inquisitor. She's already used this trick to get ten other heroes murdered up and down the countryside. The trouble is, no one is brave enough speak up."

Maximos finds Orug's General Store easily enough. It occupies three of the large store fronts on the main road through town. The east-most room is not open to the public, while the west-most room is Orug's barber shop. The center room is the general store itself. Maximos strikes up a conversation with a half-elf woman introducing herself as Tessa Greenagh, Orug's partner in life and business. When he asks about the execution, she perks up, apparently excited to share some of what she's heard. "Murder, of course. Don't you know, Otto worships demons out there at his farm. That's why the murderers skinned the first victim out at Otto's property!" Orug, a half-orc, overhears the topic of conversation and pops over with a knowing look. "I found the second victim right here in my store! I heard a scream, and a loud bump. I came inside to find the killer. I fought 'im, but he kicked me in the you-know-what and escaped. A tall fella, but it was too dark to tell more than that." Tessa gives him an affectionate look, but you get the sense that he tends to embellish his stories.

So now we are just waiting on an action from Fillia. I haven't seen perception mentioned as a relevant skill on any of the areas I've read about so far. ;-)

Note for the curious: our APL is at 3 right now, so with 4 PCs in a Season 5 scenario we fall into Subtier 1-2.

Diplomacy 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
"I'm an elf Maid looking for what news this place has. Anyone to assist me?" Fillia approaches the biggest group and asks directly though her words and mannerisms makes her appear coy.

One person nods and chips in, "Yeah, I'll assist ya'. Stay away from the jailhouse tomorrow night... There’s gonna' be a jailbreak. The Pathfinder Society sent another gang o' their adventurers t' bust the first bunch out. Those thugs all have orders t' kill the sheriff and anybody who gets in their way." Another one nods. "Yeah, I wouldn't put it past 'em. When those first Pathfinders were arrested, the halfling one had blood all over his hands and clothes. Violent bunch, I take it."

This includes the results of Geo's and Fillia's checks.

At 1gp/room/night, it will cost Meran 2gp/night to put everyone up.

Also I forgot to mention this earlier, but all of you can attempt a bluff, disguise, or or stealth check to reduce the degree to which these jumpy townspeople get too suspicious about adventuring types like yourselves. You can do this 1/day going forward after the first phase of that day.

The party gathers back at the inn to compare notes and then go to bed.

In the morning, after a meal at the inn, they notice that there's a lot of activity out at the tent city. Everything Geo saw the hints of the night before seems to be present. An impromptu marketplace has sprung up and all sorts of festival games and contests are taking place. Although most of the contestants seem to be more or less local, its clear to any observer that anyone who excels at one of the games makes friends pretty easily, regardless of their origin.

Meran has everyone gather in her room before heading out for the day. "Let's go over what we've learned. Ekira the Inquisitor is a "demon". There have been two murders. One at Otto's farm and one at the store. Oh and the murderous Pathfinders are going to do a jailbreak tomorrow night. Murdering anyone who gets in their way. Have I missed anything?"

"What should we look into today? Head to Otto's? Take a look at the festival? Try to speak with the Pathfinders who are in custody?"

"I say we check out this festival. Lot's of people will be carousing and chatting up a storm, so it may be the best time to get some information."

Geo will try to find some work setting up for the festival and try to gossip with the other workers.

"I'm going to head down to the festival. It might be fun and also easier t get some information. Also maybe the rumors are our pathfinders will break out tomorrow tonight?"

Stealth to avoid suspicion 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
What are the activities/ skill checks available?

"I'll spend the morning at the festival as well. Let's see what we can find out. This afternoon I may go to the jail and see if I can speak with the prisoners."

She heads out trying her best to look like a person trying to enjoy the day. She heads to the festival and finds a place to set up to entertain the masses while listening for interesting tidbits of information.

Bluff to hide my interest: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Yah, I forgot stealth check...
Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Investigating the fairgrounds you find a number of games; among other things there's a horse race, a climbing post, an obstacle course, and one of those games where you try to knock over a stack of cups with a ball.

Geo would certainly give a try to knocking cups over with a ball.

Filla is more then happy to try her hand at the various games.
Is there a limit to how many games you can take?

You will all get to make exactly one check for this phase. Since this is the first phase of this day, this is also the phase where you will make your stealth/bluff/disguise check.

Last Night's Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Today's Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Maximos will head out to Otto's... as a librarian and a scholar he's interested in knowing more about the demon worship.

Max let's other's know his plan in case the object.

Hiding her presence as much as she can, Fillia takes part in the Obstacle race, trusting in her natural agility to aid her.

Hide presence 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 Edit: Yikes!
Acrobatics through the course 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
"Heading over to take part in the course, who knows? Maybe someone will talk to me if I do well." she says to the others before heading off.

Was Maximos wearing a neon sign describing his intent?

He's kind of oblivious... face in a book... probably, "The Seven Habits of Successful Pathfinders"

Or the latest version of breaking people out of Jail for dummies.

Thanks again for inviting me to join. I will assume that Amiri arrived in the morning and that the VC sent her as backup for your party. It would be easiest if one of you would volunteer to create a connection between Amiri and your character so that they know each other and the group accepts her easily. ;-)

* * *

Amiri arrives in town early morning on horseback with dirt all over her clothing and leather armor. Her large bastard is resting on her back, she feels the tension in town when people look at her.

She never fit into the expected gender roles of her tribe, refusing to be the docile, domestic sort of woman - and people see that she is a seasoned warrior.

She is here to investigate a murder ... a strange task for her she has to admit but she probably is only here to cover the other Pathfinders' back.

Murder ... she thinks back to the circumstances that forced her to flee her homeland ... but some things are better left unsaid and the memory still hurts.

Amiri wanders through the town until she finds the other Pathfinders.

Sho-Ryu-Ken!!!!

Rather than wait to post until I have time to write up the fluff, I'll go ahead and give you the status update now, so you know what I need from you. Please retcon meeting Amiri in the morning as well, so that she can pick a location.

Stealth @ Otto’s : 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20

Otto's Farm
Otto’s farm covers 10 acres of land that are presently unplanted and a farmhouse at the center of the fields. A line of trees along the west side of the house forms a windbreak. The property is five miles down the main road from Dawnton, and you can recognize it by its distinctive yellow hexagonal sign.
Otto is a powerfully built, clean-shaven man in his late thirties. He calls out to you as you approach, accusing you of being trespassers and insisting that you leave. He even lobs a few warning shots with a sling if you move too slowly for his liking.
Give me a diplomacy check please...

Diplomacy 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
"I say!" Fillia dodges a stone.
"That isn't nice. We're not trespassers per say and if you could at least hear us out, we'll be on our way."

Fillia is at the fairgrounds for this phase ;). Check the status spoiler. I am not quite done writing up the fairgrounds bit and for that you all have my apologies.

Not the diplomacy bunch here!

"Hello good sir! We are just weary travelers and mean you no harm!"

dimplo: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Ranged Attack, PBR: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11

”Are you threatening us? We mean no harm but if you continue like this, then ... “ Amiri says and flexes her muscles.

Intimidate : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Otto frowns at the pair. "Well ye' ain't welcome here." He waits for you to leave.

I'll let y'all pick another location to spend the morning... Probably best for the two of you not to visit him again

I'll let Maximos and Amiri pick their new location(s)