[PFS 00-03] Murder on the Silken Caravan - GM Red (Inactive)

Game Master GM Red

"It does seem quite suspicious, the timing of the goblin attack to split us up and now these harpies," Aki agrees with a deep frown. "Let's make sure there isn't anything else to learn in this area before we try pushing on - and we should probably try to make a marker or cairn for poor Atmar if we can too."

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Survival: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

"Have we seen any tracks that might indicate the others passed this way too? Hey Cake! I know it's hot but fly around a little up there, see if you see anything we can't see down here!"

Cake gives Aki a rather long-suffering look and then takes wing, flying as high as she dares in this heat and scanning the general vicinity for anything that seems strange.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

"Let us wrap Atmar and rouse Hokama," Raul says. "With this map, we should be able to make our way to Katheer."

The nest is filled with torn clothing and bones. A femur sits idly next to the nesting pit with its connective tissue hanging off the side. The smell of rotting flesh fills the lair. No other victims familiar to Kembe or Gery are present in the cave.

Cake takes to the skies, looking for anything beyond the monument. The path curves through the mountains and off into the distance, but all the determined owl sees is stretches of sand and lofty dunes for as far as her eyes will take her.

Aki puts her head down, looking at the ground as it curves around the side of the monument. It's a little difficult to see tracks in sand, but given that the sand surely seems more displaced to the northwest, she deduces there must have been a lot of movement through this area not long ago. Coincidentally, the map indicates the same path the tracks seem to follow.

"Oh.. Atmar. He was my finest slave," Hokama grumbles as he's awakened. "I paid top coin for him! And for this? Stupid kid." The water merchant scoffs, unceremoniously clambering back down the ledges and to ground level.

Another post coming in the next hour to advance us, but feel free to RP in between if you'd like.

Kembe does his best to bite his tongue as the man berates the dead child. "Perhaps you should have hired a more capable man instead of buying the life of a child." Says Kembe as he and Raul wrap the body and secure it safely to the camel he was originally riding.

"If you wanted a warrior or bodyguard you should've paid more coin...or hired someone instead of buying a slave," Aki remarks flatly. "Best as I can tell, there's been a lot of movement towards the northwest but I think that's where our path takes us anyway. I just hope that Jamila and the others are okay..."

Gery cannot help but shoot a glare at the water merchant, being reminded he owned a slave...who now had perished under his care.

"Yes, perhaps you should not be so miserly with your coin! Then you would not need to spend extra coin to replace him!"

"What's dead in gone in the desert," Raul says. "Let us focus on what is immediate: our own survival. The place to debate is within safe walls."

Okay, maybe not quite an hour :)

The smell of water in the air as you leave the mountain pass indicates that the Shat-al-Qadr River runs somewhere nearby. You have found your heading again. As you round a final talus slope, you discover something altogether unexpected.

The very caravan you have sought waits before you, the merchants and drovers kneeling with their arms bound behind their backs and the camels clustered nearby. Among these captives walk a dozen or so armed warriors wrapped in the dark robes and helms of the desert bandits you fought before.

Standing with his back to you, not ten feet away, is the armored form of the Taldan knight, Gaspar du Mer. He holds his wide-bladed sword in one hand and clutches the tied arms of the caravan mistress Jamila al-Shafah with the other as he shouts orders to the brigands.

Jamila notices your approach, and stops struggling against her bindings. With Gaspar's back turned to her, she spins a glass ring on her index finger, and a creature whose nearly twice as tall as a human, its lower torso trailing away into a vortex of mist and wind, suddenly appears with a poof. Jamila nods at the djinni, and it turns on the brigands looting the caravan.

Gaspar nearly falls over, startled. "What the hell is that?!" The knight releases Jamila from his grasp, unaware that it was her who summoned the genie. Jamila flees to a set of nearby rocks, while Gaspar notices your presence, turning to face Kembe. "I'm surprised you made it past the harpies. Well, most of you," he utters. "I intend to seal the Silken Way, offering the harpies what they need to keep any competing merchants from attempting to use it. And I don't plan on being stopped."

The djinni rushes most of the brigands, but five of them join Gaspar as he charges towards you...

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
Aki, Gery
Red, Green
Raul, Maudi
Pink, Gaspar (6 NL)
Kembe
Yellow, Blue

"Gaspar, you know what they say about the plans of tyrants and traitors!" He yells as he bravely advances upon the traitorous warrior.

Move 20'.
Attack Gaspar. cold iron rapier: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17; damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
AC is 19 vs. Gaspar/brigands.

Aki smiles grimly at this new development and begins to sing as she moves to fan out and provide Gery with some backup...

~Because I'm hyped up, outta control
If it's a fight I'm ready to go
I wouldn't put my money on the other guy
If you know what I already know

It's been a long time comin'
And the table's turned around
'Cause one of us is goin'
One of us is goin' down~

Sick Puppies - You're Going Down
______________

Aki winds up Inspire Courage and moves to her current map position!

Gaspar holds his shield up in time to block Gery's blade, even with Aki's inspirational words. "You'll have to do better than that, little halfling," he mocks.

Two of the hobgoblin brigands aim their shortbows at Gery and release arrows.
Shortbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 41d6 ⇒ 1
Shortbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 131d6 ⇒ 6
.. And Gery watches two arrows dig into the sand beside his feet.

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
Aki, Gery
Red, Green
Raul, Maudi
Pink, Gaspar (6 NL)
Kembe
Yellow, Blue

Raul calls upon the spirits of the wilderness to imbue his companion with greater destructive potential.

"I trust you know what to do, Maudi," the hunter says.

To reap the wicked and strike fear into the undecided!

Maudi lets loose a roar before charging across the sand toward the armored knight. He snaps at the Taldan's shield arm.

Maudi quickly moves across the dunes and catches Gaspar's arm in his acid-lined jaws. Gaspar stumbles back, grunting and shaking his arm wildly as the acid melts into his skin.

The pink-tuniced hobgoblin trundles ahead to join Gaspar, slashing at Gery with its scimitar. Gaspar spits as he lunges forward, slashing back at the lizard who coated his arm in acid...
Scimitar: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 121d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Bastard Sword: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 111d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Both foes miss.

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
Aki, Gery
Red, Green
Raul, Maudi
Pink, Gaspar (-11, -3 additional next round, 6 NL)
Kembe
Yellow, Blue

Kembe rushes forward, slow on his feet apparently, dumping a bit of stray sand from his sandals. "The traitor is revealed. Time for a brawl."

He moves past Aki, nodding in approval of her choice of song, swinging a solid fist at pink's nose.

Unarmed Strike, Power Attack, inspire: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 - 1 + 1 = 111d6 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 7

A sand flea tickles Kembe's big toe at the last moment, and he whiffs his punch. Two more hobgoblins join the melee, encircling the party from both sides.

Scimitar vs Kembe: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 111d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Scimitar vs Maudi: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 81d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
And both missing their attacks.

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
Aki, Gery
Red, Green
Raul, Maudi
Pink, Gaspar (-11, -3 additional next round, 6 NL)
Kembe
Yellow, Blue

Gery keeps his mouth closed as he continues to assault the brigand leader.

Attack Gaspar.
cold iron rapier, IC: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 = 23; damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3
AC is 19 vs. Gaspar/hobgoblins.

Still singing, Aki takes a step sideways and attempts to skewer Blue on her rapier!

Attack vs. Blue (Rapier; IC): 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7

Gery leans forward and slices open another fresh wound in Gaspar's thigh, while Aki single-handedly brings one of the hobgoblins to his knees as she skewers him through his chest with her rapier!

Red and green turn their focus on the bard who just took down one of their own, and fire their shortbows.
Shortbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 91d6 ⇒ 5
Shortbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 111d6 ⇒ 4
.. And Aki watches both arrows fly by her face and off into the desert.

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
Aki, Gery
Red, Green
Raul, Maudi
Pink, Gaspar (-14, -3 additional this round, 6 NL)
Kembe
Yellow

Raul steps forward and looses an arrow at the (yellow) hobgoblin threatening Muadi.

The spinosaur snorts at Gaspar's clumsy strike and then goes for the throat with his jaws. He rips at Gaspar's armpit with a one claw and then turns on the (yellow) hobgoblin behind him and slashes at its face.

Raul's arrow skims the side of the hobgoblin's neck, thick ribbons of blood spraying from the new wound. Gaspar ducks to avoid Maudi's jaws, but Maudi swipes him across the face with one claw, and takes down the injured hobgoblin with the other.

Gaspar and the pink-lipped hobgoblin continue their onslaught on Kembe and Gery...
Bastard sword vs Gery: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 271d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Scimitar vs Kembe: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 111d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Gery's shirt and flesh are torn open as the Taldan knight swings his sword cleanly across the halfling's chest. "This is how you use a sword, puny one!"

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
Aki, Gery (-12)
Red, Green
Raul, Maudi
Pink, Gaspar (-24, 6 NL)
Kembe

Kembe leans back and watches the scimitar flash in front of his chest "Too slow." He whips a kick around aimed at Gaspar's temple.

Nonlethal: Stunning Fish: Unarmed Strike, Inspire: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 1 = 261d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6
Stunning Attack Fort Save DC14

He follows that up with a punch to the gut on the man.
Nonlethal: Unarmed Strike, Inspire: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 1 = 171d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

Crit? Nonlethal: Stunning Fish: Unarmed Strike, Inspire: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 1 = 241d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9

"And that is how you swing a foot." Deadpans the man.

Gery gasps in pain and instinctively switches into a more defensive posture.

Take THAT you traitor!

Attack Gaspar. Fight Defensively.
cold iron rapier, IC: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 - 4 = 5; damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6
AC is 23 vs. Gaspar/hobgoblins.

Aki continues her singing, but anyone paying attention thinks that they catch a line in there somewhere about picking on people your own size. She steps forward and sets her sights on Pink...

Attack vs. Pink (Rapier; IC): 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

...but this time fails to strike her target.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Kembe's kick lands with such force that Gaspar is thrown past the hobgoblins and into a dune, leaving his sword behind. The Taldan knight falls with his face dug into the sands, and stops moving.

The hobgoblins look at each other, and nod together in agreement of a hasty retreat. They take off across the desert.

Out of Combat

Jamila dismisses her djinni after it picks up the last of the other hobgoblin raiders and splits it in half. She peeks up from behind the boulder, and then makes her way over. "What traitorous scum. Thank you for stopping Gaspar, and foiling his plot." Jamila looks at the ring on her finger. "I suppose I should also come clean. I'm a janni, and I've known Targos Min-Katheer for over 40 years. He served both as my ally and... lover." She sighs, sullenly glancing at Targos' wrapped body.

Hokama appears again - in perfect physical shape, having conveniently hidden himself during the fight. "Oh. That's what happened. My apologies, my dromedary was behind a touch stubborn, and I only caught up now."

Jamila pauses. "I will tell you more of Targos and I as we finish our travels, but we should bind Gaspar and ensure he's delivered to the authorities."

Gery peers up at the woman Jamila surprised to hear of her heritage, "A Janni? I must confess I have never heard of your kind before. Still, without your assistance we would not have won this day." Quickly moving to the fallen form of Gaspar, "Yes I agree. We have found enough evidence to convict him of his crimes." He looks up sheepishly, "Does anyone else have rope?"

"My condolences on your loss Miss Jamila. Your family heritage means nothing to me I'm afraid. These are not my native lands." He bows lightly then gets to work.

Kembe digs out a 50' length of fine silk rope, a grapple attached to one end. "Please do not cut my rope, random knots bother my sense of serenity." He helps Gery tie up the man, liberating him of all his possessions minus his clothing.

Take 20 on Perception on Gaspar: 20 + 8 = 28

Raul binds Maudi into his smaller form and moves over to where the others are stripping the armor off of Gaspar. "Ought to let him bake in his steel," the hunter says.

Kn. Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

"Maybe but hauling one body is plenty for now," Aki remarks as she sheathes her rapier. "A janni, huh? I'm afraid it doesn't really ring a bell to me either but like Kembe I'm a little far from home," she adds with a wink as her features ripple and change slightly to resemble a fox-like visage before returning to 'normal'.

"But for what it's worth, I'm sorry for your loss. Let's finish the job and bring him to his resting place; we can talk more on the way."

Kembe agrees with Aki "The more helpless he feels the better. No longer bold thanks to his sword and metal cage. That and walking will help him think about his choices." Once they've got him bound and stripped, he tries slapping him around a bit to wake him.

"Does anyone have smelling salts? I seem to have kicked him pretty hard." He says with a deep, rumbling laugh.

Kembe takes his time to relieve Gaspar of his half-plate, masterwork heavy steel shield, and bastard sword before binding his arms and throwing him over the side of a dromedary. Jamila orders the few drovers that survived to pack up, checks on Targos' body, and then the soon caravan departs
across the desert for the final leg of the journey.

"A janni is basically a human-like genie," Jamila explains. "As I was saying, Targos and I go a ways back. We had stumbled upon a plot by parties unknown to cripple Qadira’s economy by disrupting trade along the Silken Way. We had even narrowed it down to just a few local merchants, but as our search continued, Targos began feeling the effects of his advanced age after suffering from heart pains..." She looks off into the desert. "He decided he would be ineffective in completing the mission. We talked for weeks about it, and we both eventually agreed a faster death would give Targos peace. Rather than allowing Targos to slowly dwindle away from his ailments, I gave him a dose of venom from a desert scorpion."

"You see, the chances were great that the plotter would then use the Targos' death to launch his plot. And as we see here, that's exactly what happened. Targos paid the ultimate price for Qadira's economy."

The caravan continues to advance, with the rest of the trip uneventful. Soon enough, Glorious Golden Katheer's sprawling city is all around you.

In Katheer, Targos Min-Katheer is given a hero's funeral attended by many Pathfinders - including some of the Ten - as well as notables from the and a few geniekin from the deep desert.

Gaspar is thrown in jail pending a proper trial, and Jamila claims Gaspar’s caravan wares as compensation for the danger he placed her caravan under.

With Targos' body safely delivered to Katheer, and the threat to the Silken Way resolved, your adventure comes to a close...

The end!

"It sounds like he was a very noble man. And you strong souled to carry out his final wishes. I commend you for this." He produces a deep bow and continues along.

At the funeral Kembe cleans up the best he can, but lacks in a fine outfit. He keeps to himself and does his best to assist elders, women, and children in anything they require. "Do not fret, I will bring you a comfortable chair Miss." Always helpful and always watching.

Gery tries to hide the awe from his face as he replies to Jamila. "Well, I am glad to have made your acquaintance. Targos chose well. It is sad he had to die in order for this plot to unfold. I would have liked to have met him," he finished up solemnly.

At the funeral he fades into the background yet does talk with some Pathfinders after the services are over trying to determine where he would be sent to next...

This is a nice area and all, but I think it is too hot for my blood here!

"Wow, that's some dedication," Aki agrees, looking unusually somber for a change. "For what it's worth, I'm glad that we could do our part to help unravel this plot. And I'm sorry again for your loss. If you think it'll be okay, may I sing at the funeral?"
______________

And later on at the funeral, assuming permission is given, Aki sings one that's always been a personal favorite of hers...

~When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky

Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
That's where I'm gonna go when I die
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best~

Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum

People aren't ever really gone forever. It helps to remember that.