thelordoftheonering runs "The Disappeared" (Inactive)

Game Master Luke_Parry

Janalun looks down the thin corridor.
"Seems to be more of a back way through the woodworks. If you want I could sneaky-scout it out a bit. Would much rather that than walk down a big open hallway for all to see."

Lila whispers, "Makes sense. But before we go forward, maybe we should do a quick scan to see if there's any evil or magic up ahead. Might be able to flag potential hot spots for you. Mella, care to join me?"

Lila quietly casts Detect Magic facing Northwest from just inside the hallway. If she detects anything, she'll focus long enough to try and get a bead on location, if it's moving, etc
60' cone, 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks it.

Mella moves up next to Lila, quietly calling on Iomedae to reveal the presence of evil.

Neither Lila nor Mella detect anything, although whether that is due to the absence of relevant auras, or because something is blocking them, is unknown...

Let me know what you plan to do next.

Anaduno gestures forward for Janalun to go first, listening at the hallway for anything coming from the other doors.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

How much time do you want to spend listening at each door?

Actually I had planned to just listen from back at the doorway into the hall. But if I have to go in to listen, I'd say not long, a round each at most - time is running short! :)

Quickly placing an ear against each door, Anaduno does not hear anything behind the side doors, but *does* hear intermittent muffled footsteps behind the door at the end of the corridor.

*hic* Well whad ar we waiting fo? *hic* If no one acts Bo'alo will open the closest door.

Lila holds up her hand to Bo'alo. "Wait a second, Bo. We should either listen for footsteps at door at the end of corridor and as soon as they fade go out, or try the last door on the left. We're looking for SE corner, so it should be one of those two doors."

Just for personal reference, I realize no PvP in PFS, but is casting a charm or sleep on another PC to stop them from screwing up the mission allowed? Just curious. :^)

Technically no, Lila, but if you have the *player's* permission, sure :-)

At Lila's direction bo leans heavily against a wall waiting for the rest of the group as he imbides whatever mixture is in his flask.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Anaduno holds for Janalun to go first.

Let me know which door you want to go through.

Lila quietly tries the door handle on the westernmost door of the southern wall to see if it's locked. If it's not, she'll gently open it.

Anaduno follows close behind Lila, ready to drop a dagger into his hand if needed.

Just checking in - hope you are all having a good weekend!

Lila quietly opens the door, revealing scattered servants’ outfits hanging over the edges of bedposts in what is undoubtedly the servants' quarters.

Two other doors obviously lead back out into the corridor that the party has just come in from, whilst a third door departs the room via the western wall.

Map updated. Let me know what you want to do now :-)

Anaduno will crack open the westernmost door of the three on the north side of the hall and peek inside.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Cracking open the door, Anaduno reveals another room that appears to be servants' quarters.

@Anaduno: Now, I need to know - you made a perception roll; are you intending to search the room, or was that just to see if you spotted any creatures in the room?

I'd give the room a quick once over for occupants as we continue down the hallway. Don't want anyone sneaking up behind us!

Very well.

Quickly glancing through the rooms, the party does not spot any current occupants.

A more detailed search would be required to 'search' the rooms, though.

Where to / what now?

Lila listens at the westernmost door of the southernmost servants' quarters (i.e. the one on the angled wall).

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

And she'll fire up the Detect Magic scan, aimed to the NW, to see if it works/can detect anything.

Lila hears occasional footsteps, and the distant murmur of conversation from beyond the door.

She does not, however, detect the presence of magic.

"We should be getting close. Do you think I should use a Disguise Self scroll and make myself look like Anstrella Trelax? I could pose as her and act like I'm leading you all on a tour, or something. Or I could go for a generic female Chelish guard disguise and do the same.

"As Anstrella, those that know her would get a bonus to see through the spell, on the other hand, as someone who's higher ranking and known to be pompous, it might be easier to bluff/cow anyone into letting us pass.

"The guard disguise wouldn't have the risk of actually running into Anstrella (though I imagine it'd be unlikely to run into her near the residential area while she's on duty during a major function), but wouldn't be recognized on sight and therefore might be met with more hostile attitude. Could just claim to be a new arrival, but there's risk there as well.

"I could see going either way, but I'd lean toward posing as Anstrella--not just because I'd look fabulous in the Imperial Dress uniform: it should be easier to explain having a whole group in tow as Anstrella. What say you: Anstrella or Guard? Or does someone have a better idea?"

Sorry life got a little hectic the past few days so I haven't been around. Should be better now though.

"I'm not too worried about running into the lady, but that could be a problem in itself for disguising as her. If people who know her know she shouldn't be wandering these halls, what happens then? Mayhaps instead of pretending it's all dandy that a small group of well equipped informants has found its way over here, we try to bring their attention elsewhere?"

No worries. Didn't get you in too deep...yet. Welcome back.

"Depends upon who's asking: servant-type gets a stern 'how dare you, get back to work.' Guard or the like gets 'the ambassador told me to give these VIPs the full tour. Perhaps you'd like to go interrupt the ambassador and ask if he's sure he wants his guests to be treated with the proper respect?'

"But I like the notion that's only a fallback if the distraction doesn't draw away everyone. What'd you have in mind? Shouldn't make it too big--don't want anyone from inside the party to come looking. Nor do we want it to be big enough to warrant more guards being put on patrol and/or being put on higher alert--we do need to get back out again.

"I can use Open/Close to open or shut a door from 30' away. I also have Mage Hand, but not certain that's useful here. If someone has a spell that could cause a small ruckus in the staging room that could be cast from a distance in the south hall, i could then quickly close the door from a distance and have a nice lead in going out the western door of the servant's quarters (could be in the quarters in less than a round, door closed behind us). Do you have any illusions you could cast, Janalun (aren't all Gnomes good at that, lol)? Or maybe summon something to trash the staging room for a round or two? again, nothing too big or nasty. Just enough for grab attention from immediate vicinity."

GM hat off for a moment: Summoning something to cause a ruckus is the sort of thing that could get the guards summoned...

Opening the western door a crack reveals a broad corridor, with a door to the west, and another to the north, as well as the tell-tale sound of servants carrying trays.

I need a Perception check to time a gap sufficient to allow the party to make a run for it.

Let me know which door you want to head for.

Janalun peeks through the crack into the hallway

"I was more thinking using the disguise and your honeyed tongue to convince any guards to be guards elsewhere. But maybe we can just run past when no one is looking? In either case, in the event of future ruckus making. I am quite capable of bringing a nasty little beastie into being to smash the fine dinnerware or perhaps chew on some chairs."

Anaduno helps keep an eye out to get he party safely to the west door.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Lila shoves her arm through the "Fourth Wall" and smacks Jim upside the head. "You've been playing waaay too many dungeon crawls with Kevin, you paranoid fool. Just chill before you get us all caught." Ahem.

Do we see the dead end hall that heads all the way at the outer Western wall, or is that supposed to be a wall 20' in from the West? i.e. is the western hall a secret passage that was accidentally revealed, in which case the characters remain ignorant & head for West door, lead person with keyring in hand in case it's locked. If we see that long dead end hallway heading west, Lila's spidey senses are tingling and thinks it may be worth seeing if there is a secret door somewhere along the north wall of that stretch of hallway.

After Anaduno says the coast is clear, of course. OK, still paranoid... :^)

Anaduno feels Lila tug on his arm to hold him from crossing to the other door just yet, then turns his attention/senses further down the hall towards the dead end instead.

No worries! Good to not rush ahead, and hard to stop each other when not at a table.

The passageway goes all the way to the exterior Western wall.

Quickly glancing down the passageway to the West, it would appear that the passage dead-ends at the exterior wall; the cul-de-sac being using as an impromptu cloakroom for the gala's guests.

If you would like to search the cul-de-sac, feel free to give me a perception check and/or a 'take 20'. Please *specifically* tell me what, exactly, you are searching.

I will also need an Intimidate check to 'scare off' any servants that come down this section of the corridor whilst you are in it.

Anaduno says, "If you want me to, I can go check the north wall of that dead end for a hidden passage or some kind, but you'lll need to keep any servants in the hall off my back - we're going to be pretty conspicuous."

If agreed to, Anaduno will head down the dead end hallway and check the north wall for a secret passage. He'll devote no more than two minutes to this task. Sound good?

"If Mella & Janulan want to help me keep the servants busy," i.e. Aid Another on the intimidate check "maybe Bo could help with the search, checking the contents of the cloakroom for anything unusual/useful intel for the Society, while you check for secret passages. Or we could just go through the West door. I vote search, but happy to bow to rest of party's wishes."

Does it have to be intimidate? I can talk to them really, really nicely to make them go away instead :) Diplomacy +10, Intimidate +3

Unfortunately, yes; no-one who isn't a servant is supposed to be here, so you need to make the servants 'mind their own business'.

I figured, no problems.

Aid Another Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

"Move along! Move along!"

"I'll help try to scare them off sure. Shall we be moving then?"

Anaduno hops down the hall as Mella begins directing traffic, searching the wall as quickly as he can.

Only taking the number of checks necessary, just rolling a whole lot in case.

Will take a look in the cloak room
if T20 is allowed = 28

if not
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Just waiting for someone to make a 'primary' Intimidate :-)

Sorry. Day job needed my attention. Stupid day job.

"I'm telling you, if they don't find my cloak, somebody will pay. It was handwoven in Varisia. We'll search the whole embassy if we have to. I am not leaving without my cloak."

Intimate(hissyfit): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Base roll without adding any Aid.

<==Kisses Die

Wary of Lila's wrath, the servants give her a wide berth...

...Meanwhile, Anaduno and Bo'alo spend several fruitless minutes searching for a secret door in the dead-end tunnel, before reluctantly concluding that if there *is* a secret door here, it is beyond their ability to find it.

If there *is* such a door, or course... I will neither confirm nor deny its presence.

At about this time, the party receives another Message from Amara Li.

"The Ambassador is trying to leave the Gala; I think he is heading for where you are supposed to be. I am distracting him as long as I can by going over Chelish trade law, but for heavens sake, I hope that you are making headway!"

You still have time; think of this as the 'halfway warning bell'.

Where to next?

With the servants sufficiently cowed, Lila will take a peak behind the West door.

Make that "peek"--I doubt could carry a mountain, much less take it behind the door. lol

Anaduno slaps a hand against the wall in frustration at the wasted time, then heads over to help Lila look through the door.