GM Bruno Romero's City of Strangers (Inactive)

Game Master Bruno Romero

Part 1: The Shadow Gambit

This beautiful adventure begins in the docks of Absalom. During your previous adventures, you received a letter to meet Venture-Captain Drendle Dreng. He's a decrepit old man, but very well respected, if perhaps a bit pushy. As you all approach him, you see he awaits you right besides a ship.

You sigh heavily, half-expecting to be sent to the other side of the world in some crazy errand, as is customary of the old man's missions. As you prepare for your meeting, you notice other Pathfinders have come with you, and realize you're in front of your new team!

Feel free to give introductions for your characters! What they look like, and what they do to introduce themselves

Dana walks with slow steps and is not the most gracile or beautiful woman from Tian Xia.

"Greetings to you all." says the corpulant woman with a self-confident smile.

Her asymmetrically cut black hair with pink highlights looks strange and exotic. She is wearing a full plate armor that clearly encumbers her heavily and with which she walks slowly.

Her armor has gadgets and colored leather straps which are more fashion items than functional adventure gear. A small buckler is attached to her left arm. She also carries a backpack.

Resting on top of her chest, an amulet showing the holy symbol of Chaldira Zuzaristan is visible.

She does not really have a natural presence and unfortunately might come across as aloof or arrogant.

Facing you all she bows but more out of tradition than courtesy you believe.

Dragall comes closer to the rest of the party. He is tall half orc. He wears studded leather and holds greataxe made of cold iron.

"Greetings good people! My name is Dragall! Are you my new companions? I hope that we will work great together!"

A huge Shoanti man saunters over and slaps Dreng on the shoulder, "Ha! You look good, old man!"

He looks over his new companions, brow furrowed, grip flexing and shifting on the earthbreaker balanced over his broad shoulder. His scowl is so deep, his posture so defensive, that he almost seems ready to fight his fellow Pathfinders, "I am Crowe."

When Drendle speaks, he seems to calm and focus on the Venture Captain's words.

A lean looking Tengu finds his way into the room and perches himself on one of the chairs. He is dressed in the baggy robes of a scribe and his long talons are stained with ink.

"A man named Crowe? What a coincidence, because happen to be a crow named Man."

The Tengu cackles loudly at his joke, but quiets when he sees no one else laugh. "But in all seriousness of the issue at hand, my true and given name is Gratu. I'm an expert in all things grammatical, vocabular, and epistomological. I am also a repository of uplifting quotes, enlightening aphorisms and searing bon motes. Or to simplify things for the sake of any Ulfens we may have with us, you can say that I'm good with words."

A simple looking man walks up to the group gathering on the dock. The robes look freshly laundered, but heavily damaged. Numerous patches stick out as a lighter shade of grey from the faded original. He carries a backpack full of adventuring gear and waits for an opening in the conversation.

"Good day. I am Ignaru Li. I know I have been summoned, but for what I have no idea." He then bows in the direction of Dreng. "So, what is our task?"

Dana bows again.

”Dana is my name... “

As you all introduce yourselves, Venture Captain Drendle gives you a crooked smile, cackling like an old geezer. He endures Crowe's slap with a smile, and debriefs you on the mission laughing like an old grandpa.

He begins- “One of my good friends, a merchant in the Varisian outcast’s haven known as Kaer Maga, sent me a very strange letter, which I need you to investigate. The merchant—his name is Horis Collgardie—tells me that the residents of Kaer Maga are very upset about the Society’s plan to build a lodge in their city and even further upset that the agents we sent are making trouble, stirring up the delicate balance of power that exists in the so-called City of Strangers."-as he takes out a map of Varisia and points at a settlement near the arid lands of the Storval Plateau.

His smile turns into a suspicious serious expression, as he lowers his voice and whispers to you-" The trouble is, not the Decemvirate or any venture-captain I can find gave the okay to build a lodge there. We know it would be folly to do so—at least right now—and so this idea that Collgardie has that the Society is there and doing just that is worrisome." - his eyebrows going up and down as he returns to his normal off-putting smile.

With that said, he motions to the beautiful ship besides him, a merchant ship currently being loaded with clothes, silks and other textiles-"In a few weeks time, you’ll be in Korvosa. From there, book passage on a river ship for Harse, then travel overland to the road’s end at the cliffs below Kaer Maga—the so-called Twisted Door."

He approaches Dana and gives her the same map he's been using to explain the situation, and finally adds- "There you must pay the Duskwardens to escort you through the Halflight Path to reach Kaer Maga. Once inside the city, find Collgardie and find out what he’s talking about. If there are Pathfinders in the city founding a lodge, tell them I order them to stop at once. If this is some kind of ruse, get to the bottom of it and do what you can to keep our Society’s good name in Kaer Maga—we may not be completely welcome there, but neither are we unwelcome. Let’s keep it that way. Any questions?”

”I know Kaer Maga. Nothing makes sense in the walled city. More tricks; more lies.”

Crowe’s brow furrows, ”Who can we trust in the City of Strangers?”

"We can expect any help when we get there"

Ignaru nods as he details are explained and waits for Dreng's answers.

Drendle scratches his beard and cheek, and replies-"Not that I know of, no. Most thugs won't even know about the Society, but big shots in the city are bound to respect representatives of our organization. Still, try to keep your head down and be smart. The balance of power in that city is fragile—upset it and you’re likely to die. Don’t go stomping about the place like it was a pharaoh’s tomb. Be cautious, be careful, and be courteous—even if the locals make fun of you for doing so. Oh, and the locals are likely not what you expect—you’ll see when you get there.” - he laughs as he gives Crowe a slap on the shoulder.

Crowe shakes his head at the old man, ”She was very nice about it after I apologised.”

Then he remembers that they are among company and tosses his head, ”Just don’t let anyone read your fortune.”

"Being from Kaer Maega myself, I am familiar with the Dusk Wardens, but for those of us that are not, could you please explain to us a little about who they are and why we need to pay them to get us into the city?" the Tengu inquires.

Drendle smirks at the Tengu and replies, nodding-"Yes, right. Once you get to the base of Kaer Maga, the gruesome task of climbing the cliffs is made easier by a series of tunnels and caves known as the Halflight Path. The Duskwardens are rangers that will escort you safely through it, for a fee of course. While my reports indicate none of you are capable of flight, I would advise against it, as flying visitors will immediately attract the attention of unwanted citizens" - Drendle says as he points to the map once more.

"OK, let's go!"

Ignaru still keeps silent, he smiles as he thinks about the eagerness of his half-orc companion.

As you wave goodbye to Venture-Captain Drendle Dreng, you prepare for the road ahead. It's a tiresome journey, as the merchants in your ship ask you continously to change your weary adventuring clothes for new ones, offering you custom-fittings and exotic fabrics.

Two weeks later, you arrive at the city of Korvosa, and address the not-so-easy task of finding passage to Harse, but eventually you get a good deal as hitchhikers for book merchants that are headed for Kaer Maga itself. Half of them chroniclers, you spend the next week just answering their various questions about your adventures.

Passing through Harse and traveling by land to the cliffs below the City of Strangers, you all get to know each other better. But at last, you arrive at your destination: The Duskwarden Outpost right besides the Halflight Path. The rangers greet you, their gruff attitude hidden as they hear the promise of coin. The leader of the book merchants, a half-elf by the name of Serro, pays them off and asks-"Would it be alright for us to cover the payment to the Duskwardens? It's the least we could do for the information you've provided along the journey, and the privilege of being escorted by trained warriors and sorcerers" -he says as he bows in respect.

"It would be rude to turn down such a splendorous display of generosity. Your donation will be greatly appreciated."

As the group begins to head to the Duskwarden Outpost, Gratu briefly disappears. When he reappears he has exchanged his baggy scholar robes for a brown leather trenchcoat and a wide brimmed hat. Over his face is a leather mask with round glass disks over the eye holes. He nods to the group before moving forward, now ready to face anything.

Ignaru shakes the half-elf's hand in thanks, "What bring you to the City?"

At Ignaru's inquiry, Serro replies- "I am the leader of this here group of historians and chroniclers of history. Not that far off from Pathfinders, if perhaps a bit on the safe side. We got a potential buyer of this binder - the complete schematics of Dwarven-made golems, dating back to the Age of Darkness. The Ardoc family in Kaer Maga runs a golemworks business, so we are headed there to sell it, and perhaps wrench some funding for another expedition. "

The idle chatter continues through the networks of caves and tunnels, as the Duskwardens notice markings from previous comrades, and notice which routes to avoid, claiming they've spotted bear tracks and steering clear of their direction.

During this journey, you may make Perception checks if you want to remain on guard

Ignaru listens and it peaks his interest for a moment until one of the Duskwarden's mention bear tracks.

sense motive the half elf: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Ignaur seems to preoccupied with the half-helf to notice anything.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Dragall listens conversation and looks around.

Crowe is uncomfortable in the tunnels and remains quiet and guarded.
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

During group your travels you realise that Dana is a reserved and sometimes arrogant woman hiding behind formal courtesy.

She does not speak often but when she does, she is usually trying to make clear how intellectually superior she is!

What you also realise is that she is forgetful ... not details but really forgetting people around her and only after a while realising that she knows them. Almost like amnesia.

Perception : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

”I would prefer not to speak about our profession in more detail! These people could either be competitors or spies who want to learn what we are doing here!“ she says openly.

As you continue through the Halflight Path, your eyes sharp and prepared for any sort of bear growls, you are surprised to hear something much more...thunderous. In the blink of an eye, you hear the cave's roof above you crack, and a truckload of rubble fall on you! You're only just able to escape the falling rocks, before you hear maniacal giggles.

Squeaky voices, laughing and chanting-"Goblin 'bush! Goblin 'bush! Haflight Goblins got you good!"-like some sort of crooked war song. Half a dozen of them pile on the Duskwardens, while another half a dozen pile on you! Half of them jump out from the hole in the roof, while the other half cut off your advance!

One of the goblins doesn't have a sword, instead carrying a rat's skeleton on a stick. He holds it up and says-"I, Rattlerat, shall defeat you, Pathfinders!"-but you have no idea how he recognizes you.

Map is up!
Initiative: Surprise Round (so only standard or move)
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Ghostwriter and Dana

Initiative: Round 1
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Goblin Warrior Yellow
Ghostwriter, Crowe, Dana
Goblin Warrior Blue
Andy
Goblin Warrior Red, Green, Weasel and Shaman
Ignaru, Dragall

Ghostwriter and Dana are up! (can only take a standard or move)

Dana Immediately casts bless!

+1 to hit, +1 to saves vs fear.

”Foul beast!! Eradicate them!“

Always cagey and alert, The Ghostwriter isn't surprised when goblins begin to emerge from the tunnel to attack.

"Gazads!" the costumed Tengu cries out as he lunges forward with incredible speed, slashing at the enlarged weasel with his claws.

Claw 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 111d3 + 2 + 2d4 ⇒ (1) + 2 + (1, 1) = 5

Adding in hidden strike damage with the assumption that the weasel is still flat footed. Probably not going to hit with a roll like that anyways.

I'd say the weasel would be flat-footed, not expecting anyone to make such a high Perception DC.

As Dana concentrates, all of you feel invigorated - your thoughts clearer and your mind focused, you all see the ghostwriter dash for the small weasel. The small animal, however, dodges to the right, avoiding the tengu's sharp claw.

Before you are able to catch up, however, one of the Goblins uses his small sword to slash at the ghostwriter's ankles, yelling-"Protect the long dog!"-but the tengu kicks him in the face before he is able to connect.

Initiative: Round 1
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Goblin Warrior Yellow
Ghostwriter, Crowe, Dana
Goblin Warrior Blue
Andy
Goblin Warrior Red, Green, Weasel and Shaman
Ignaru, Dragall

Ghostwriter, Crow and Dana are up!

The Ghost Writer delivers a cyclone of claw and bite attacks at the weasel, attempting to bring it down before it can act.

Claw 1: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12
S & B damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Claw 2: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19
S & B damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Bite: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17
P/S/B damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Dana starts casting a spontaneous toppling magic missile and hits the goblins in red and green.

Full round action, 5 ft step and toppling mm is a 1st lvl spell due to traits.

MM, Trip green : 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 31d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
MM, Trip red: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 41d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

attack P/B w. Bless: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 1 = 21
damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (4, 2) + 7 = 13

Crowe approaches the closest goblin, ”You are brave little goblins. Perhaps the storm rises in you also?”
Then he brings down his earthbreaker.

Map link is not working on my phone: please, would someone move Crowe?

Moved.

The ghostwriter takes down the weasel with a flurry of attacks, the small animal just barely able to dodge one of his claws before falling. Meanwhile, Dana conjures up 2 arcane missiles, which land right on both of the goblins on the left, they squeal in pain as the projectiles sweep their feet and make them hit their oversized heads.

As Crowe looks down upon the lone goblin, the small creature replies-"Storm? Whats storm?"-in confusion as the shoanti man brings down his earthbreaker, shattering most of its skull and shoulderblades. Still, the goblin stands, just barely, screaming in pain from the blow.

On the opposite front of the battle, one of the goblins dashes for Dragall, screaming-"Longshanks strong! We strong-er!"- as he slashes at the half-orc's feet, but his armor proves more than enough to block it.

Initiative: Round 1
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Goblin Warrior Yellow (-13)
Ghostwriter, Crowe, Dana
Goblin Warrior Blue
Andy
Goblin Warrior Red (-4), Green (-3), Shaman
Ignaru, Dragall

Ghostwriter, Crow and Dana are up!

Andy takes a 5' step, drawing his rapier as he does, and starts to sing..."My friends and I have come to fight, evil creatures we will smite. Your reign of terror soon will pass, once we have finished kicking your....butts."

Inspire Courage(Su): A 1st level bard can use his performance to inspire courage in his allies (including himself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the bard’s performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.

You feel your spirits bolstered by Andy's song, the hafling weaving magic into his very words. The goblins, on their part, retaliate: the two at the back stand up and aim their shortbows at Ignaru, but the man dodges the shots easily, his reflexes trained for years.

Rattlerat, scared at the amount of force Crowe just put behind his weapon, recitates a few incantations in Goblin and makes an aura of sleepiness overcome the shoanti man. (Crowe, please make a DC 12 Will save. Failure means you fall asleep, and someone needs to spend a standard action waking you up.

As the goblins strike back, they match Andy's song with their own, singing in high-pitched and off-key unison-"Finders dumb and Finders tall! Halflight Goblins here to brawl!

Initiative: Round 1
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Goblin Warrior Yellow (-13)
Ghostwriter, Crowe, Dana
Goblin Warrior Blue
Andy
Goblin Warrior Red (-4), Green (-3), Shaman
Ignaru, Dragall

Ignaru and Dragall are up!

will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Crowe gives two long, lazy blinks and yawns loudly.
Then he slides to the floor and begins to snore.

"You are mine!"
Dragall swings his greataxe trying to hit blue goblin.

+1 cold iron greataxe: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Ignaru takes a five foot step towards red and attacks twice.

first strike will be a stunning fist. All damage done is non-lethal
unarmed strike: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 221d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 If it hits, the red goblin needs a dC 15 fort save or stunned for 1 round

unarmed strike: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 131d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

In the flash of an eye, Ignaru and Dragall react to the ambush - their swings swift and decisive, the goblins barely have time to react before one of them gets his head chopped off. The goblins blink twice, unsure of what happened - a chance Ignaru takes to kick another one in the face, two kicks connecting before he returns to his stance.

While Ignaru is sure that kick was meant to block his chi, the Goblin howls in anger, unaffected. Perhaps a goblins' chi is in a different place?
On the opposite side of the battle, the injured goblin laughs as Crowe falls down, and he slashes at Andy's chest while giggling. But the dumb goblin tries to bite at his rapier instead of trying to connect a good hit, and Andy easily sidesteps his attack.

Initiative: Round 2
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Goblin Warrior Yellow (-13)
Ghostwriter, Crowe (sleeping), Dana, Andy
Goblin Warrior Red (-14), Green (-3), Shaman
Ignaru, Dragall

Ghostwriter, Crowe, Dana and Andy are up!

Crowe snores, his dream is full of roiling black clouds.

Dana wakes Crowe!

”You’ll have to postpone your nap!“

Andy continues to sing, takes a 5' step back, and screams at one of the goblins...

Sonic damage(Fortitude DC=14) vs. Yellow: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11

Ear-Piercing Scream: Casting Time: 1 standard action
Component:s V,S Range: close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: one creature Duration: instantaneous(see text)
Saving Throw: Fortitude(partial; see text) Spell Resistance: yes
Description: You unleash a powerful scream, inaudible to all but a single target. The target is dazed for 1 round and takes 1d6 points of sonic damage per two caster levels (maximum 5d6). A successful save negates the daze effect and halves the damage.

Thank you, Dana, Crowe's next action depends on the resolution of Andy's so I will wait for the GM.

The Ghostwriter darts towards the goblin shaman, swiping at the spell caster with a razor sharp talon.

Claw 1, Bless, Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 161d3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

As the group holds their ground, Crowe wakes up just as quickly as he fell asleep, Dana's words ringing inside his head. From the cave's coarse floor, the shoanti man watches one of the goblins fall down to his eye level, holding his ears as he bleeds to death. Looking at the shaman, he sees the ghostwriter has caught up to him, and he sees a lightning-fast talon take out one of the goblin's ears!

Initiative: Round 2
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Ghostwriter, Dana, Andy
Crowe (prone)
Goblin Warrior Red (-14), Green (-3), Shaman (-6)
Ignaru, Dragall

Crowe is up!

Crowe grabs his weapon and jumps to his feet.

As Crowe gets up, the battlefield changes once more. The goblin warriors remaining drop their bows and pull out their swords, and move in to flank Ignaru. However, the monk repositions swiftly, depriving one goblin of a target, and taking the other goblin's blow head on! He stops the blade with his palms before it can connect with his chest, but bleeds a little. (1 point of damage to Ignaru! That Following Step is really fun! The Green Goblin couldn't get into range because of that!)

The Shaman at the far back, bothere with the ghostwriter's aggresion, yells-"Burn the crow! Burn the crow!"-as fire manifests from his very palms! The Ghostwriter needs to make a DC 12 Reflex save to halve 4 damage

Initiative: Round 2
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Ghostwriter, Dana, Andy
Crowe
Goblin Warrior Red (-14), Green (-3), Shaman (-6)
Ignaru, Dragall

Ignaru and Dragall are up!

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

The Ghostwriter shields his face with the sleeve of his thick leather great coat, protecting himself from the worst of the goblin's fire spell.

"Your feeble magicks won't stop me, villan!" he hisses as he brandishes his rough talons.