[PFS] GM Dennis - Treason's Chains (closed) (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Muldoon

Pinesong wanders over to Phlegos. "Hello there, sir! Nice to meet you, nice to meet you! I hear you're going to be the best Venture Captain. But that Wulessa... She wants in too, hey? What are you doing about it? Or are you guys going to share Katapesh?"

Lomo heads off towards Phlegos. "Hey, guy. I heard that you and whats-her-face really don't get along. Why is that?"

Pinesong and Lomo:

"What was that?" Pinesong and Lomo seem to stir Phlegos from distraction. "Oh, don't worry about it. Excuse me." He wanders off, clearly not interested in talking.

Lomo and Pinesong Sense Motive:

@Croak:

"Oh, it's awful!" Wulessa seems happy to find someone sympathetic, and is glad to talk with you about the situation. "I don't have any hard proof yet, but I'm sure he's behind it all, trying to drive me out of the city! My servants are attacked in the streets, and what contacts I had in the markets won't talk to me any more. The markets are everything in this town, so if I can't find some more contacts I'm going to end up cut off, which will really hamper my work as a Venture-Captain."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Lomo shrugs and goes back to his duties, observing Phlegos and the crowd from afar to learn what he can.

As she's keeping on eye on Phlego, she tries to figure out what's got him so distracted...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

She looks at Phlegos, looks at the bards, then looks back at Phlegos. Not quite understanding why a song would make him edgy she listens to the words.

She wanders over to Phlegos, "What's the matter, sir? Don't like the music?"

As she's keeping on eye on Phlego, she tries to figure out what's got him so distracted...

[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+1

She looks at Phlegos, looks at the bards, then looks back at Phlegos. Not quite understanding why a song would make him edgy she listens to the words.

She wanders over to Phlegos, "What's the matter, sir? Don't like the music?"

Phlegos glares at Sereia, then snorts and walks away.

"Oh, no! That's bad! Do you have a plan?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

After Phlegos walks away Pinesong pats his tummy. "Well, I know who I like better..."

Lomo wanders over to Sereia. In between chewing on a stir-stick from the bar, he asks her "What about the music?"

Sereia watches Phlegos walk away and sighs. She did not understand surfacers.

"Hmm?" She replies too Lomo. "Oh, yes. The music. It made him uncomfortable. It was the lyrics, I think. The bards are singing about emancipation."

After a moment of thinking she adds. "Slavery is legal here, in Katapesh. Perhaps he is nervous of how music such as this could affect his market contacts perceptions of him? Or perhaps he is involved in the slave trade himself. I do not know."

"Perhaps we can find out..."

As Sereia works she asks around, trying to determine is Phlegos is involved in the local slave trade, or if he only deals in poisons and potions.

Gather Information if I can: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6

"Oh, no! That's bad! Do you have a plan?"

"Well..." She looks around to make sure no one is listening, then leans in. "I know you and your friends are working as informants for Roderus tonight (I'm good at figuring these things out, and old habits die hard). Anyway, if you're willing to help me find some proof of Phlegos's schemes, I have an idea.

"Phlegos has a personal accountant who lives and works at his potion shop, which doubles as the Society's Kotargo Lodge. With Phlegos and his agents here right now, the place should be just about unguarded. You could slip in and have a look at the accounting books--maybe you'll find proof that he's been paying people to harass me and my agents."

Croak leans in a whispers to Wulessa, "I'll try my best!"

Then she licks her eyeball and wanders over to Roderus. She tells him about the plan and asks if she can go do it.

Pinesong looks confused. ”What’s slavery?”

Lomo chews on the stir stick. "Hmm... The music, hey?" He rolls the stir stick around in his mouth as he thinks. "I'll be right back."

Lomo wanders off to speak to the band. When there's a break in the music he asks Kaba, "Hey, what can you tell me about that last song?"

Lomo will also try to learn specifically if the song was requested by anyone, and who requested it.

@Lomo:

"Oh, did you like it?" Kaba asks with a smile. "Kora wrote the tune and Kitt wrote the words. It means a lot to us, since we were slaves ourselves!" You get the sense that it's one of their regular songs, rather than being a special request.

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@Croak:

"What, what? The Kotargo lodge?" Roderus says, when Croak approaches him. "I suppose that's not a bad idea, young lady. Take your friends with you, too. I'm sure Dougle can make do with just Zig and Vinius for a while." He gestures across the room where Zig carries a precarious stack of dirty plates that towers over him. As he walks by, a guest sets their empty glass on top of the stack, sending Zig running forward to keep hold of suddenly less-stable tower. Chuckling at the spectacle, Roderus turns back to Croak. "This is a good opportunity to get to the bottom of things, but--and I'm sure I don't have to tell you this--don't make too much of a mess of that Lodge, ok?"

"Don't make a mess! Okay! Got it! By the way. Where is the Lodge? I do not know where I'm going! Hahaha!"

Croak goes over to tell her friends that they're about to go explore somewhere! "Come on! Roderus says its okay."

Croak leads the way!

"Cool!" Pinesong says. "Come on, Cutie Pie. Let's go." He leaves his Croak and everyone else. And on the way he says to his friends, "That Phlegos guy is a big meanie! Was Wulessa nice, Croak? I hope she was."

Sereia follows along with the others.

Our internet wasn't working right last night, so Lomo and I didn't get a post in. But, Lomo's coming along too. He just won't have a chance to post until tonight.

Following directions from Roderus, you arrive at a large warehouse building. The street-side entrance stands beneath a sign advertising potions, which you know to be Phlegos Dulm’s potion shop. A small bell attached to the door rings as it opens to reveal shelves stuffed with potions, unguents, and bottles of various questionable substances. Behind the counter, a goblin woman busy tidying the shop looks up and says ”Hello! How Lobda help you?”

"Hi," Pinesong says. He goes over to the shelves in the shop and starts picks one up. "What is this?" After she answers he picks up another one. "And this one?"

"And this one?"

"And what about this one?"

He tries to pick potions that would make Lobda not look at the door to the back room (if there is one).

Croak smiles. ”Hello!” But then she can’t think of any good excuse to be here. She points at Sereia. ”She has something to say!”

Croak takes a few steps to the side, away from Sereia and Lobda.

Lomo gnaws on the stir stick and looks around, trying to spot the ledgers that Croak mentioned.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Put on the spot, Sereia's looks stunned for a moment.

"Uh.... Yes... I'm helping... him shop." She points to Pinesong. "Could you assist us?"

She tries to keep Lobda nice and distracted with helping Pinesong, so Croak and Lomo have a chance to look around.

"Lobda can help! Over here are the fire potions--they best postions. Over here are the potions for after the fire potions. Over here..." Lobda gladly shows off the shop's wares, giving Croak and Lomo plenty of time to look around. They find no sign of the ledgers in the storefront, however.

I've added a map for scale and reference.

Since she didn't find the ledgers Croak examines all the potions.

Roadkill helps her look around. He squeaks at the different potions.

”Fire? Water? Oh, yes, this sounds good. Very natural? Or not natural? What exactly is in these potions?” Pinesong asks.

Lomo sneaks through the door and deeper into the building while Lobda is distracted.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

"Well, these potions make things go fire," Lobda explains, oblivious for now to Lomo's prowling, "and these ones make you breathe fire, and these ones make you resist the fire, and these ones..." She goes on showing off the various magical potions and alchemical supplies available, taking special care to highlight those that have to do with fire.

Seeing Lomo has slipped into a back room, Croak waits until he's inside, then she wiggles her fingers and crawls after him...

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

"OOOOH! These are all nice! Can you tell me more about this fire causing sutff? What colour is the flames? How long does it burn?"

Lomo quietly closes the door, and ensures he and Croak are both in the shop. Then he goes up to Lobda.

"Oh, no! I almost forgot why we're here! Lobda! We came here with a message for you from Phlegos. He said to tell you that he needs to see you right away. He's at the party at the other Pathfinder Lodge! The retirement party! I'm not sure why, but he said to tell you not to worry, the other two guys would handle the shop. Not sure what two guys he meant, but yeah. That's what he said! Sounded real important! You should hurry!"

Bluff: 1d20 ⇒ 19

"That weird. Boss said not to leave until he get back." She seems to ponder for a few minutes, then shrugs and begins walking to the door. "Ok, I go see what boss-man need. Will be nice to see Lobda brother Zig there. You meet Zig at party?"

Sereia nods, smiling a little. "We did. He was very helpful."

Feeling a bit guilty, Sereia asks, "Hey, Lobda... Can I ask you a question? Zig seems sweet. Good. Are you? Good, I mean. Because I think your boss Phlegos is up to something. Something bad. Do you know anything about that?"

Lobda pauses for a moment, then looks around nervously. "Lobda...Lobda go say hi to Zig, now. Maybe forget to say hi to boss. You say hi to people inside. Tell them 'break through'." With that, she gives a faint smile then quickly exits the building.

Pinesong waves goodbye. Then he takes two alchemist's fire off the shelves, and puts the money that he needs to pay for the alchemist's fire on the counter. He looks around for a baggie or gift wrap or something and wraps the alchemist's fire up like it's a gift. Then he finds some paper and writes a note.

"To Lobda. Thanks! The money to pay for them is in this sack!"

Then he leaves the gift and note on the counter for her.

"Okay, now we can go see the guys in back. Who are they anyway?"

"Oh, yeah! I know Zig! He's really nice! He caught a drink and is going to come visit me at my home when he's in Pathfinder training! I love Zig! Nice to meet you too, Lobda! Bye!"

Croak helps Pinesong pay for the gift for Lobda. She likes her!

Then she turns to Lomo and points at the door. "You go first!"

"Squeak. Zigsqueak!"

Lomo tells Lobda, "Tell Zig we say hi. We like Zig." Lomo chews on the stir stick. After she leaves he says, "Let's go this."

Lomo opens the door and struts in like he belongs there. "Hey guys. Break through." He winks at them.

Pinesong and Croak leave a lovely gift for Lobda that is sure to make her happy when she returns (alchemist fires are 20 gp each).

Once Pinsong is done wrapping the gift, Lomo opens the door as the surprised guards wheel around to look. Neither of them wears what could properly be called a uniform, though both are dressed in a similar fashion. "Braced for--" the guard's hail is cut off by Lomo's quick response, and he looks quizzically at the ratfolk man before him. "If they have the password they have the password, Bob" chimes in the other guard from across the room. "Now get back to work, I don't want to be here all night." Turning to you, she says "That's Bob, I'm Edna. Are you here to help us clean up all the evidence?"

For those of you that hadn't looked into this room yet, your eyes are most drawn to the large cages--resembling prison cells--lining the Northern wall of this chamber, all of which currently stand empty. The line of cages is broken by a closed door.

Map uncovered.

Croak is a little nervous at the sight of the cages, so she goes last. She nods her head and twitches her fingers, hoping Lomo knows what to say and do.

"Sorry we're late," Sereia replies slowly. "What did we miss?"

"Just most of the hard word" the woman says, acidly. "Look around for anything that shows people were kept here recently. The boss wants it all gone an hour ago!"

Pinesong tries to stay calm. "Got it."

Pinesong look around for evidence and the ledger. He starts in the crowded looking corner.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Cutie Pie helps!

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Croak follows Pinesong and helps him look.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Lomo chews on his stir stick. "So where should I start?" He wanders over to the trunk in the corner and starts over there, keeping an eye out for incriminating evidence and the ledger.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Sereia moves to the nearest cages and looks around.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

She nods at the closed door nearby. "Are we checking in there, too?"

Searching the room as you pretend to clean up yields no evidence of the ledger.

@Sereia:
"In the office? I guess you could check in there if you want."