DM Eric's PFS - The Midnight Mirror (Gameday VII) (Inactive)

Game Master Eric Swanson

When Barley sees the cowering farmers, his blood begins to boil, searching the crowd to see if anyone would step forward to intervene or if they were in support of the lynching. He gnashes his teeth at the large man, and particularly being an agent of the Silver Crusade, he truly hated bullies. His jovial fatman countenance immediately turns dour. He begins stepping forward, when...

"Halt!" she shouts in a thundering voice.

Barley relaxes for a moment, though he suddenly feels an overwhelming flood of righteousness as Kit comes to stand next him.

Delay

The sudden appearance of the follower of Saranae immediately draws the crowd's attention to herself, not to mention the leader of the mob, who turns a glare upon her. Setare's words seem to have an effect upon the man who, Setare is quick to notice, appears to be inflicted with the tallowthroat disease.

He turns to glance at the rest of you, responding to Rilia and Hoprah's words, "I am Lucian Groy, Captain of the village watch here, and by the Hells who are you?" He glares down upon Setare, but does not wait for a reply, "My word is all the evidence we need. Besides, the first people to come down with tallowthroat were the ones who dealt most closely with the fetchlings recently fired from Boroi Manor. It’s clear to all of us that they’re the ones spreading this disease, likely kidnapping those who have stayed healthy to weaken our resolve even further against the plague!” He pauses to take a breath, trying to calm himself with some success. “Normally, we would bring this matter to the Baron sure, but he’s been absent since this whole thing started a few weeks ago. And I’m sure he’d agree with us about their guilt; he fired every fetchling in his employ after the disease first showed up. He’s got to know they’re behind the whole thing, right?”

Setare is really happy that her companions stepped in as well. Listening to the man, she feels his pain.

”I truly understand your pain and I would do anything in my power to find your daughter! I see that you are sick and I hope that you will recover and will find happiness in the embrace of your child!“ Setare says to Lucian.

”Please see for yourself that the these families that you want to hurt are also loving each other! Imagine you all would be in their place!“ Setare shouts towards the crowd.

”We have a meeting with the Baron today. Let us please resolve this situation peacefully now!“ she pleads with a fierce passion that makes clear that she will not let these families get hurt.

Kitoro chimes in, asking the Fetchlings a question.

"What do you know about why you were let go or the nature of this disease? Can you answer the man's accusations? These people have a right to know what is going on here."

Barley delays, doesn't want to reveal himself apart from the crowd just yet. Waiting to see what Setare developes.

Hoprah echoes Kitoro's line of questioning. "Let us allow the Fetchlings to speak for themselves. We understand your pain and your anger and you can be sure that we are here to help you. Perhaps they can provide some useful information that will help us track down the source of this malady."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Barley moves through the crowd towards the fetchling family, positioning himself to intervene if things turns violent.

@GM: Are there any other armed subordinates here?

Setares last words were maybe rather diplomacy than intimidate so she will assist.

Diplomacy aid : 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

I should have included a roll too.

diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

The poor fetchlings stare at Kitoro with a fearful look, yet the fetchling man speaks up quietly, "I...I know not how this disease is spread, nor why only the humans are getting sick. I swear we have had nothing to do with the disappearances either!"

There is an assenting murmur from a few of the townsfolk as Setare's words have an effect on them, yet they seem to fall on deaf ears when it comes to Lucian Groy.

Feel free to add some more Diplomacy checks here.

Diplomacy : 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Setare now looks into individual peoples’ eyes and tries to gain their trust.

Hoprah urges the crowd, and Lucian Groy, to settle down. "Let us not act rashly now and then perhaps regret it later. These fetchlings are not going anywhere - if they are truly guilty they will be punished in due course. For now, let our investigation continue."

Hoprah has already rolled Diplomacy so I assume no additional roll is called for

Etienne is not a smooth talker, unless sitting around a table doing a Harrow reading, so he let's his more persuasive comrades soothe Lucian.

"Besides, do you REALLY want to get blood all over the place?"

Especially mine.

"Please just give us an opportunity to talk to the Baron about this first. There may be a perfectly good explanation for his letting them go that may be related to this plague but does not involve them being the cause."

I already did my diplo roll. So do I get a change to aid again?

While some of you continue to convice other members of the mob to lay down their arms (figuratively), you are joined by Rilia, whose unique charms sway several more members to the cause of letting the fetchlings go. Still you estimate less than half the group is convinced by your words.

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Status:

Barley (43/43 hp)
Etienne (20/20 hp)
Hoprah (27/27 hp)
Kitoro (31/31 hp)
Rilia (25/25 hp)
Setare Katsu (32/32 hp)
_____________________

Current Effects: None.
_____________________

Okay the way the module is written you first try swaying the crowd to assist you in convincing Lucien to stand down. Only afterwards can you decide to focus your attentions on Lucien. You can use multiple Diplomacy checks in this case. You can always try Intimidation checks if Diplomacy checks are not working, or resort to violence.

Day 1: Appx. 4:35 PM

The parley seems to be going in the right direction, Barley remains quiet and let the ladies talk down the captain.

Diplomacy roll for Hoprah's earlier comments, posted above

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Diplomacy aid from previous dialog

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Time to fight dirty.

Taking a change in tactics, Kit brings out her finger puppets. A crowd of peasants on the left hand assault a poor finger puppet on the right hand. When the finger puppets on the right hand are finished the poor puppet on the left hand falls dead but they all have a terrible disease and fall dead too!

"And then there is the fact that if you kill these fetchlings you will most certainly contact the disease and die!!!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Intimidate: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

I already did my diplo roll. So do I get a chance to aid again?

Ditto...

Setare looks at the crown that has not been convinced yet and anger rises in her again.

"I see that some of you understand that this hunt of yours is over but obviously some of you are still waiting to see dead families hanging and I have had enough! Go to your homes! Now or taste my anger!" Setare shouts.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

As the persuasion stacks up like a huge canned spam floor display around her Rilia prays for guidance and resorts to some of that old ultra violence.

She cracks her whip.

intimidate (influence, guidance): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 = 28

Seeing how effective Rilia's whip cracking is, Hoprah murmurs to Lucien, "I don't think you want to see what she can do with that whip, believe you me..."

Intimidate, Aid: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"SIT BOYS!"

I am also in another game on-site where the average party Charisma score is about 8. There are three people with 7. I think 11 is the highest. My character here, might have the best (anti)social skills.

Feeling the crowd is not responding to honeyed words, the Pathfinders decide to reveal the steel underneath their velvet tones. For whatever reason the threatening words manage to sway the majority of the crowd here...but you can tell the words still fall on deaf ears, at least where Lucien is concerned.

____________

OKay, feel free to throw another round of either Diplomacy or Intimidate checks here to fully convince the crowd to help get Lucien to stand down.

Hoprah grows impatient with the unruly crowd, or at least their unruly leader. "I really think you had best let us handle this. If you know what's best for you..."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Hoprah's words ring in Setare's head and you can clearly see that she is now moving her hands to her scimitar.

"You will leave this place! You will leave these people alone! NOW!" Setare shouts.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

And... out come a new pair of finger puppets. Unbeknownst to her travelling companions, Kit has made little duplicates of each of the other party members (it was a long boat trip). Though they are not dressed exactly the same the resemblance is obvious.

The Setare finger puppet calls down the wrath of her god and the Lucian puppet gets flattened by a lighting bolt (a cheesy looking thing managed dextrously to look like it falls from the sky and hits Lucian), but it gets the point across. Then the Setare puppet waves its dangling arms around windmill fashion while shouting and, presto chango, Lucian is now hapless a toad hopping about. Kits voices are quite spot on too.

Intimidate using virt perf: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23

Etienne takes an involuntary step backwards, surprised by the ferocity of his usually sanguine companions.

Scary ladies - know a few.

The frightening apparitions of the lady Pathfinders have a dramatic effect upon the crowd and soon all of the villagers have been sufficiently cowed by the words (and threats) spoken. Still Lucien seems to be unswayed by the displays...undoubtedly due to the tallowthroat infection he labors under...

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Okay the crowd has been sufficiently swayed here, so now you can work on Lucien (either Diplomacy or Intimidate checks) in order to save the fetchling's lives.

"You know the quicker we resolve this issue, Lucien, the sooner we start to work on solving the problem. If this takes too long you might drop dead before we can get you a cure."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Barley looks at Etienne, shakes his head at the unheard question, Should we speak up?

Nope.

"Lucien, my dear, surely you realize that your own best hope of surviving this plague is to let us get to the bottom of it. Nothing helpful will come of killing the fetchlings. They may hold the key to a cure!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Setare sees the immanent threat disappear and now starts to calm down but also to retreat a little. Her forceful personality is slightly reduced now but when she continues speaking she is clearly meaning to help.

”I ... I am sorry for the ... the threats and ... and for your lost daughter! Sorry that you are ill. Let me assure you that I will do everything I can so that this sickness is not plaguing this community anymore! And if we find any clues which hint towards your daughters whereabouts then we will definitely try to find her and bring her back to you!“

Diplomacy : 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Etienne communes silently with Barley, and then draws his Harrow deck, absentmindedly, and starts shuffling.

Sensing time running out here you all feverishly work on the crowd once again to convince Lucien to let the fetchlings go. After a few tense moments Lucien, sensing the crowds mood has turned against him, throws up his hands in frustration and disgust.

"Very well, you may go home now!" He yells at the fetchling farmers, But, rest assured, I will be keeping my eyes on the lot of you!" He then gives the fetchlings a final warning glare before stomping away.

Seeing the ringleader depart the scene is more than enough for the rest of the crowd to disperse as well, leaving you alone with the grateful trio. As a gesture of appreciation they offer you food and lodging at their home in Shade Row where the shadowy half-breeds are forced to live separated from the rest of the townsfolk.

The circumstances that led to their near execution are less clear, as they claim to be nothing more than a convenient target. They were herded here as they returned home from picking up farming supplies at the general store. Fearing that they may face further violence should they venture out of Shade Row again, the fetchling family do make a request of you: "Please check on our cousin Gavril, who is the only fetchling in town not living in the ghetto."

As you remember quite well Gavril is still employed at Boroi Manor and lives there.

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Status:

Barley (43/43 hp)
Etienne (20/20 hp)
Hoprah (27/27 hp)
Kitoro (31/31 hp)
Rilia (25/25 hp)
Setare Katsu (32/32 hp)
_____________________

Current Effects: None.
_____________________

Day 1: Appx. 4:45 PM

========

Just wanted to get this game back on track here, as we still have a ways to go :)

"Sure. Which house is his?"

"Although we have dinner plans, we would like to accompany you to Shade Row and talk with some residents . . .your introduction may go a long way."

assuming they agree

"Can you tell us, did the Baron fire the fetchlings in his service before or after Tallowthroat started to appear?"

Hoprah echoes Etienne's comments. "We saw your cousin Gavril only recently at the Manor House and he seems to be doing well there. But we will certainly check on him again when we return there. But for now, please help us to help you. Tell us anything you can about what has transpired here. No rumor is too strange or outlandish - we must know everything."

Barley finally comes out of the dispersing crowd, "And what about that bloodthirsty captain. I get the feeling that's not the last time we'll be dealing with him."

Setare looks at Barley and shakes her head.

"I ... I mean you ... shou ... should not forget wha ... what he is go ... going through. He ... he might die soon and he ... he might not see the fa ... face of his daughter again be ... before his last day has co ... come." Setare says with a deep sadness in her voice.

Kit listens with amusement as the suggestions, observations, and questions fly at the fetchlings. Sensing that they may be a bit overwhelmed at the moment, Kit forgoes adding her own comments and instead plays with her mongoose familiar while listening.

The play consists of practicing mock death scenes. Which is probably in bad taste now that I think of it, though Kit most certainly does not think of it.

While Kitoro amuses herself here the rest of you talk with the fetchling farmers as you escort them back to Shade Row. "We do believe the kayal, that who you call fetchlings," they reply to you, "are responsible for this disease, though none of us have been stricken by it. Only the humans have been so far. The first folks to catch it worked at the manor with our fellows. People here in town only started getting sick when the baron fired all the kayal working for him.”

Sergei, the father, nods sadly to Setare, "I cannot blame him for his violent emotions. The tallowthroat weakens a person's resolve here, making them irrational and impossible to reason with the worse the disease progresses! But we have nothing to do with these disappearances! Why would we seek harm upon our neighbors?"

Setare is slightly amused by Kit’s performance and smiles at her.

When Sergey speaks up Setare nods.

”Bu ... but do you have any idea wha .. what could have cau... caused the dis... disappeared persons?“

"We don't think you are deliberately causing the troubles. But we are also equally sure that this is all related. We just have to track down what they call the common denominator. So anything you can tell us about the when, where, whats, and hows would help. What can you tell us about why the baron fired the staff?"

Rilia mostly just listens. It is her vocation though usually it is something she is given an offering to do.

Setare looks at Barley and shakes her head.

"I ... I mean you ... shou ... should not forget wha ... what he is go ... going through. He ... he might die soon and he ... he might not see the fa ... face of his daughter again be ... before his last day has co ... come." Setare says with a deep sadness in her voice.

"Ahem Setare, perhaps you are forgetting but, I'm pretty sure you were the one that made him widdle himself first."

"Tell us more about your cousin Gavril. Why was he the only kayal whom the baron did not send packing? And has there been anything peculiar about his behavior of late? Or, for that matter, anything odd you've noticed about anyone else at the Manor?" Hoprah will give particular attention to any details that might indicate that the Gavril whom they met might not be the true Gavril.

"Also, what can you tell us about the unfortunate deaths of the Baron's father and brothers? Were any of the kayal present to witness what happened?"

Sergey responds to the ladies, "I cannot say why these disappearances are occuring, though I believe they did start after the appearance of the disease. As for Gavril not being let go, I believe you need to ask him this directly. He would be the one who knows best right?" He shakes his head sadly, "I do not know much of the circumstances of the deaths of the Baron's relatives, just what you have heard, I'm sure."

As the destination approaches, Kit suggests, "Well, I think it is time we revisit the Baron."

In other words, I don;t think we are getting anything else out of these folks and should move on the the encounter with the baron.

Setare is really sad now that on top of the disease also disappearances are plaguing this town.

" Sergey, do you know i .. if the disappearances we ... were in a spe ... specific part of town?"

Looking at her comrades she continues "Maybe, we ca ... can at lea ... least try to make so ... some perimeter searches of the are ... areas?"