GD VII [PBP][PFS] #5-22 Scars of the Third Crusade (Inactive)

Game Master Z...D...

”Lodging? The beer garden or tent city might be could places to look!”

Sorry for the none update yesterday. Had a family emergency come up, but it’s all good now.

"Hmmm...I have no need of libations but perhaps the beer garden will hold patrons with more information"

"Ain't that the truth!" Ayla exclaims. "Loose lips on a thirsty crowd! Where is that exactly?"

"Uh huh", Finger flatly nods at Olrug's story, and silently giving his companions the 'bull rush' look.

I'm assuming that the sheriff is the evening phase and nothing else can be done today? If false, let's do the tavern.

"Come on, let's go!" Ayla exclaims. She leads the way to the beer gardens.

[We head to the biergarten]

To the beer place!

Biergarten sounds lovely.

Each location takes one phase of the day even if you fail the checks. Now it will be afternoon phase and then evening after the beer garden.

Everyone give me a bluff disguise or stealth check.
The group moves on to the beer garden.

At the center of the tent city’s open area stands a broad beer garden with walls constructed of beer barrels and crates. This is the social hub for the country folk. It’s hard to find a place to stand and difficult to be heard over the noise. The tent is packed with town folk.

Ill give everyone a chance to interact and then I will give some hints.

Bluff: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Have you all heard the Bad News...?

Ayla slips in amongst the patrons...

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

...sort of.

Dicebot seems to think we're socially awkward weirdos so far. In my case, it's a fair cop.

Let's see if we can turn this peaceful information-gathering mission into a bar brawl, shall we?

Highroost tries to follow the gnome.

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Bluff: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

Finger tries to mix into the crowd. Getting a mug of ale into his hand and just standing around, looking at the interesting bail of straw, nodding to any rumors he overhears.

Bluff, diplomacy , perform are good skill checks to try. You could try a fortitude save to out drink others around you. Buying a round for the hpuse(10gp) might loosen up some lips to talk.

Highroost gets out 10 gold and walks up to the bartender.

"My friend a mug of beer for all these fine people" He smiles.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Yes, fine people! Who are not in danger of being destroyed by an unspeakable abomination from beyond the stars. Fine people! Cheers!

The Herald digs in his purse for 10gp for a round of drinks as well.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

+1, Herald would fit well into the Strange Aeons AP.

Ayla can help it no more! She bursts into conversation with the patrons, chattering non-stop and prying them for information!

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Unfortunately she forgets that part where you're supposed to let them answer your questions...

Just as the bartender starts handing out drinks a drunk patron leans over to Highroost and begins to talk.

”I heard two small children saw one of the Pathfinders mutilating the body of the second victim. They barely escaped when the Pathfinder chased them.” he says in a drunken voice and slurred speech.

Just then another patron leans over to Herald, ” When the Pathfinders were arrested, the accused halfling had blood all over his hands and clothes.”

At the same time a sober patron chimes in, ”Otto, a farmer who lives just outside Dawnton, found the body of the first victim the morning the accused Pathfinders arrived. He’s still going about his business as though nothing had happened.”

I believe that’s everyone’s check for this location. Where to next. It will be evening.

Highroost looks at the Herald and shakes his head.

Some people

tent city?

Herald looks back at Highroost.

I've seen the worst of them, and they always surprise me.

Tent city.

"Starting to think the murderers are impersonating Pathfinders or these bumpkins can't tell them apart from Aspis. And it doesn't help that this whole town is either drunk or retarded. Let's go see about the first victim."

Ayla nods and follows the others out to tent town -- chattering the entire time, of course.

"Wow, did you see the hair on that guy? it's longer than I was! Oh, boy, what a sight. You know I once met an orangutang who..."

Highroost walks next to Ayla.

"What is an orangutang?"

Herald's shield slowly displays a new bit of doggerel to the surface:

Or-ANG-u-tan: three extant species of great apes native to Indonesia and Malaysia. Orangutans are currently only found in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Classified in the genus Pongo, orangutans were originally considered to be one species. From 1996, they were divided into two species: the Bornean orangutan (P. pygmaeus, with three subspecies) and the Sumatran orangutan (P. abelii). In November 2017 it was reported that a third species had been identified, the Tapanuli orangutan (P. tapanuliensis).[7][8][9]

The Herald seems to be unaware of this new information, and would not understand most of it even if he was. It quickly fades from view, to be replaced by a diagram of a large circle orbited by 8 much smaller objects circling at various speeds.

"A big monkey! Like REAAAAAAALLY fat! With wispy orange hair and bald patches! And they're massive! Bigger than me, but well, not MASSIVE massive. Way smaller than a dire gorilla, of course! And smaller than a normal gorilla come to think of it. Most are. But, you know, I heard there was some orangutang that could grow as big as a house! Of course, that could all be bull-mucky! Those Zenj can get loopy licking the frog-backs if you catch my drift." She waggles her eyebrows at Highroost as if he totally knows what she's saying. "Man, it's been a while since I've been to Garund. One of Ada Mantine's first adventures took place in th Screaming Jungle, so I went there to do research! Yes, siree, you won't see ME slacking. Not this gnome! I'm all about the geographical accuracy! The more realistic you make the world the crazier you can make the tales, I tell you! Those are words to live by! You should write it down! So, as I was saying..." She points at the ground. "HEY LOOK! A tweetle beetle! Oh, nope. Just a normal beetle. LAME! Tweetle beetles are way cooler. Hey, have you ever seen a tweetle beetle battle? Talk about epic! Why you haven't seen a duel until you've seen a pair of tweetle beetles battle in a puddle with their paddles! OH! Tweetle beetle bottle puddle paddle battles are pretty great too... "

"HEY LOOK!" she exclaims. "Tent city! Come on, guys! Hurry up!"

(Sigh). I'm beginning to understand why the villagers keep pelting me with rotten fruit.

Ayla, that was EPIC. Well done!

Highroost nods as the gnome tells her story.

These gnomes certainly are most child-like.

"Yes we should hurry along to the tent city. Perhaps one day I will make it to Garund."

Technically they are apes and not not a monkey responds the druid.

"Apes? Where? What are you talking about? Those aren't apes, those are people! I mean, I know the folks here are lacking a bit in the hygiene department, but yeeeesh! No need to call names!" Ayla shakes her head at Amaron as if he should be ashamed. After a moment of examining the residents of tent city she cocks her head to the side. "Never mind. They do look a bit like apes. Sorry pal!" she claps Amaron on the shoulder and scampers off into the crowds.

"Hey, guys! What do you know about the recent murder spree? Craziness! Me? *I* think this evidence is all a little TOO CONVENIENT, you know? Like it's a frame up!" she nods. "True story! Take my word for it!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Feuerseele sniffs the air and shrugs.
"Well they smell like apes to me!"

"Alright, alright", Finger says as they head to the tents, "Aside from the fragrance of the locals - does anyone have an insight into these murders? A theory? I'm thinking Aspis agents impersonating our agents. If that's true, we've got to be very cautious."

If Anzu can get a scent she might be able to help us track them if they are in the vicinity he remarks as he pets the raptor on the head.

Okay, I think I am all caught up.

As the night approaches, the PC's head over to tent city. Dozens of tents of sundry sizes ring an open area where the visitors gather for games and talk. the residents huddle in their tents or in the central beer garden, watching the shadows closely.

The PC's go around and try to find rumor of what the town people knows.
Every needs to give me a diplomacy or knowledge(local)

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Finger walks around the tents, still in full armor, and looking very out of place and scaring off children. Better leave this to the others.

Highroost tries to talk to some of the townsfolk.

Diplomacy Aid the Herald: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Hmm...these villagers must have been put off somehow? But from what?...

Ayla gets talking about Ekira with some one out in front of a tent, "Everybody knows Ekira hated Pathfinders even before this series of murders. She was elated—almost disturbingly so—at the decision to execute the condemned prisoners."

Herald over hears some odd conversation between two people. "There’s going to be a jailbreak tomorrow night. The Pathfinder Society sent another gang of their adventurers to bust the first bunch out. Those thugs all have orders to kill the sheriff and anybody who gets in their way."

The next morning

Start of the new day, need everyone to make a disguise check to avoid a -2 penalty to charisma based checks

For the morning phase you can head back to the general store, go to Otto's farm, explore the fairgrounds or continue to comb the streets for clues. Once two people agree, we will move on. Also, if you were not aware, not everyone has to go to the same place at the same time. You could spread out and hit two or more sources at once.

Ayla rejoins her companions and scoffs aloud. "So you know the woman who received an--" Ayla stops to make finger quotes in the air: " 'anonymous letter' from a concerned but frightened citizen identifying the Pathfinders as the murderers? Ekira? Apparently she's always hated the Pathfinders. And she's all happy they're going to get killed! WEIRDO! She's totally the culprit! I can feel it! Now we just need to prove it!"

Ayla shows up the next morning with a fine, fake, black moustache on.

Disguise: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Which looks surprisingly natural. Disguise in place she chats with her fellow Pathfinders. "We need to dig up some dirt on this EKIRA liar. Someone should go talk to her. The rest of us should track down some evidence, or ask around town about her." After a moment she remarks, "I'll go check Otto's Farm for clues!" Ayla struts off to check out Otto's farm. As she leaves she gives her moustache a twirl and tells her compaions in a slightly-deeper-than-normal voice, "I shall investigate the scene of the crime. The game is afoot!"

As she walks away she mutters to herself. "Man, I wish I had a hat! That sentence deserved a hat. A real nice one! Like a top hat! Or a bowler hat! Or a fedora! OH! Or a deerstalker hat! YEAH! Now, that's a statement headpiece. No one wears those! Man, I've got to write this down..."

Disguise: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"Otto's farm sounds fine."

Highroost changes his cloak and cover's his body to hide himself.

Disguise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

The Herald takes a bath, washes his robe, and combs his hair. He is almost unrecognizable.

Disguise: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Otto's farm.

Disguise 1d20 ⇒ 19

how smurfy of him :)

The druid, through some prayer to the Green Faith or because of Anzu helping by picking out choice colorful items does a pretty good job at disguise, if he does say so himself.

He is pretty smurfy at this considering he has a 10 on CHA, LOL

Everyone who got less then 18 on the disuise check takes a -2 penalty to Charisma based checks.

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 PCs can recognize it by its distinctive yellow hexagonal sign.

A powerfully built man approaches the PC's as they get close to a house with a wrap around porch, he has a sling in hand and shouts, "You all are trespassing and need to leave now."

Peace to you, my good man. We wish only a moment of your time and the benefit of your wisdom.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Little help to push it over 20?