GM supervillan's 9-01 Low Cost of Enlightenment [PFS] (Inactive)

Game Master supervillan

Etna will spin around, obviously confused upon hearing the message. Still, she will figure it out eventually and hand over 20 GP's to Zeta.

"Here, get the booze if I can't figure this out."

With that she will go to join her foxy friend in the circle.

"I could use some wisdom myself! But how much psychical stuff to? I got a wolf to take care of. He is physical. A little more in depth explanation would be really appreciated."

"One cannot achieve enlightenment whilst attached to temporal objects. Only the spiritual realm is eternal, all else is transitory and illusory. To put it more bluntly, He who dies with the most toys, still dies. If you need a robe to protect you from the heat of the midday sun, wear a robe. But do not imagine that you are any the greater if your robe is embellished with gold trim and gemstones." Vashti al-Amiyyah gestures at the clientele of the Two Rivers, almost all of them dressed in the opulent style that she dismisses.

"A wolf cannot transcend its wolf-ness. But a halfling, or a kitsune, or a human, has the capacity for transcendence. Look to the fate of your souls."

Sayuki nods in understanding. "Of course. Although I must admit, I have heard a similar wisdom professed by men calling themselves 'Roidirans.' How might your view differ from theirs?" she asks, leaning in intently.

Etna, thanks!

*with a grim expression on her face*

-Bottle of damn Sharif'02 please!

*pulling on a friendly smile*

-Naadiya, your music is pure ambrosia to my ears! This elixir is for you as a sign of my admiration! Could you introduce me to the lady al-Amiyyah too?

Rebuffed by the bartender, Sulana turns bright red. Muttering unintelligible excuses, she retreats to where Aulurius is standing. From the corner of her eye, she sees that Etna and ...a Fox? Is that Sayuki? have managed to get al-Amayyih’s attention. At least some of us are actually good at this!

Keeping her voice low, she says, ”Aulurius, I’m really out of my depth here. Do you want to just wait outside until they’re done?”

"You’ve heard the rumors, no doubt, about how we White Feathers and the Roidirans are two sides of the same coin, yes? I am not sure how much I credit that. But the hearsay sticks to us all like tar." al-Amiyyah answers Sayuki.

Zeta brings Naadiya the bottle that she requested, and the sultry songstress saunters over towards al-Amiyyah's booth. Zeta follows along. "How's my favourite philosopher doing this fine evening?" purrs Naadiya. "My dear friend here is interested in you. Do me the smallest of favours and give her a few minutes of your time? Maybe she's another little lost lamb?" Naadiya winks at Zeta, and pours herself a glass of wine before mingling with her many admirers.

"You owe me a song, then, Naadiya!" calls al-Amiyyah.

"Even an ascetic can enjoy music." The White Feather continues. "The Roidirans ache for something meaningful, though they don’t know it. There is a fundamental contradiction at the heart of their faith. They embrace meaninglessness, yet that quest in and of itself is meaningful to them. I see the Roidirans as sister outsiders who understand our lot. That is why I weep for them. They are finding something in the jungle that is tearing them apart, making them unbalanced and enraged. They seem to be grieving, though for what, I do not know. What I do know is that some claim that Roidira’s secret lies out there in the Maharev Jungle."

"I'm with ye Sulana. Let's..." The druid forgoes words, instead catching Sulana's eyes with his fingers and pointing at the successful party members with the two notable people in the room. "Actually, I wonder if pink will draw more attention than red and white alone? Let's keep an eye out fer our friends, eh?"

He takes Sulana by the hand and, possibly louder than intended, says, "Come, m'lady, let's find somewhere a little more out of the way." Sulana willing, he leads her to a corner of the room where they could watch and hopefully hear what's going on with the group, as well as look out for anyone approaching with ill intent.

Would that be any kind of roll?

Bahram will sit at the bar and order a drink. "Tough crowd"

He too will keep an eye on his friends as well as the other patrons.

Sayuki smiles. ”I find that those who enjoy games of chance are not keen to accept the idea that both sides of the same coin are effectively the same,” she grins. ”So, though there is an obvious answer, I hate to leave such a question unasked: why frequent a place like this?”

Sulana goes along with Aulurius, though her blush deepens upon being called “m’lady.” I’m certainly not any kind of a lady! But he’s right, we should at least pay attention to what’s going on. Once they’re in a quieter (and less conspicuous), part of the room, she’s able to calm down and listen to the conversations around her.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Sulana and Aulurius find that most of the conversations in the club revolve around matters of trade. People are doing deals with one another - sometimes for gold, sometimes for favours. None of the discussions seems at all relevant to the problems with the Roidiran cult though. Both pathfinders are able to follow the exchange with al-Amiyyah though (as does Bahram).

The White Feather monk returns Sayuki's smile. "An obvious question. To the members of this establishment, I am a conversation piece. Most see me as an object of curiosity they can keep around and ogle, for how could I be any more different from them? But there’s always one or two who really listen, and that is why I come back. The satrap himself has - an accord - with my fellows which prohibits us proselytising in public, but as this club is technically a private affair, it provides a convenient loophole for me to preach to a sizeable audience.

Do you wish to join the White Feather, friends? Was that your reason for seeking me out?"

Sayuki shakes her head. ”At present, no, although such wisdom will not be discarded, either. Regardless, you have been very helpful, and I appreciate the conversation... as well as a fellow loophole afficianado.”

She seems to have just thought of something, and couches her question in unfamiliar curiosity. ”You said the Roidorans found something in the jungle?” she asks. ”Should I avoid it in my travels?”

"I do not know what they found. If you wish to investigate, go with care. But try not to hurt them, for they are lost. This passphrase may prove useful: if you are asked ‘Where does brotherhood lie?’ answer, ‘At peace beneath her black wings.’"

Sayuki nods. "I have friends who would be intent on finding the answers to these questions of what they may have found. Is there any further wisdom you would have me pass on?" she asks.

I may need to use blunted arrows.

"There is much, for I think that you are close to understanding. Sadly, if you will not be returning here then there is too little time in which to convey it. I leave you with this maxim: It is surprising how contented one can be with nothing definite—only a sense of existence."*

That's about everything you can learn about the Roidirans here. Feel free to RP some more :) I'll move you on to the Flaming Scimitar later/tomorrow.

*: HD Thoreau to HGO Blake, December 1856

Sayuki offers a brief, contented bow. "We shall meet again, then, some day. I look forward to sharing wisdom with you again."

With that, she excuses herself and slips away. She avoids contacting her friends directly, instead excusing herself to the powder room.

"At peace beneath her black wings... Sulana, I think we should head out and meet e'r'one else outside ta keep from drawin' any more attention. Oh, and.. sorry about earlier. I was hoping to save us both more embarrassment, not cause it lass. Ready?" The dwarf nods at the human, ready to exit.

Bahram will finish his drink and head out as well, secretly ashamed that he was of no more use than he was.

"I need to improve my people skills it seems. I think that I need to start taking my studies more seriously as well... Starting with learning more about these religions."

"Yes, let's just get out of here." Sulana breathes a sigh of relief as soon as they're outside. Surely the Flaming Scimitar won't be as high-class a place. Maybe I'll even be able to get a drink without embarrassing myself!

Once they're safely a little distance away, Sayuki rejoins them.

"Happy to be of service. Here is what I learned..."

With that, she passes along the information the gleaned from al-Amiyyah.

The streets of Qarahid still throng with revellers celebrating the shortest night of the year, all under the watchful gaze of Sarenrae's paladins. It does not take long to find your way to the Flaming Scimitar. Two guards on the doors of the gambling hall look sceptically at you as you approach, but smile and part when they see your brass signet rings.

The Flaming Scimitar thrives at this hour. The clatter of dice and gems on tables threatens to drown out the surging conversation and clinking steins around the bar. It’s a rough place, where the smoke clings to the ceiling as if in respect of the strength and grit thronging beneath it. The smell of tobacco and incense is thick enough in the air to drink. It seems every dockworker, sailor, miner, and farmer in Qaharid is here, the men and women whose labour moves the city.

You may attempt Knowledge (local) OR Diplomacy (gather information) checks to find useful leads here.

Aulurius says a quick prayer to Golarion casting guidance and ponies up to a game of dice and begins chatting up a group of drunken gamblers, hoping to hear something interesting.

Diplomacy, guidance: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

He's not terribly good at this game, and it's taking a portion of his focus away from the gamblers' chatter.

By the way is anyone questioning Huntress while we're out on the town?

Never having come up with any wisdom to say in this pseudo-philosophical conversation with White Feathers, Zeta felt like a complete fool and was looking for a chance to fix it.

'...A peace beneath her black wings... hmmm... does it connected somehow with She on Ebon Wings? Or it's just my imagination and I shouldn't see omens everywhere?...'

- I think, everyone of us will feel here more easy... I'll try to ask some local whores here - believe me, most time they know everything around, only making a facade that they don't.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 13 I hope she may seem genuinely attractive to the priestesses of love. If not, she'll switch to muscular thugs. UPD: Not so important, I think;)

Also feeling as if he were completely useless at the upscale establishment, Bahram is determined to be of more help here. He also uses a bit of luck here for a +2 as he chats up the locals. He heads over to a group that look like archaeologists, or at least miners.

time to get my mojo back. This is what you do Bahram. You got this!

"Hey fellas. It looks like you guys have been digging up something good!"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

so sad

Sulana does feel less out of place at the Flaming Scimitar, but not any less uncomfortable. The smoke stings her eyes and the loud noise makes her want to cover her ears. The first thing she does is make a beeline for the bar. "Ale please. A strong one."

Drink in hand, she turns to the person next to her at the bar. Good a place to start as any. "Hey. I hear the Roidirans are causing trouble. Know anything about that?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

I've been letting how bad the diplomacy roll is determine what Sulana says and to whom. It's been great fun so far :)

that is hilarious, and I feel your pain

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
What would y'all do without Auntie Sayuki? ;)

Sayuki prepares herself a moment before slinking into the bar, tucking her hair out of the way and rolling up her cuffs; the outfit converts reasonably well into something not entirely out of place at a workers' tavern.

She flits between groups, taking in gossip, and when the subject arises regarding the recent violence, she asks a few questions about the Roidirans.

The citizens of Qaharid, and the many pilgrims who have flocked to the city for the Sunwrought Festival, seem to regard Huntress as some sort of performing animal - indeed, as you travel through the city such sights are quite commonplace; dancing bears, acrobatic apes, and brightly-plumed birds. She is not allowed into public buildings - but there are special corrals for exotic beasts.

Zeta flirts with a Calistrian devotee - whilst she does not know much about the Roidirans herself (they tend not to visit taverns, nor brothels), she directs Zeta to a solitary miner at the bar. "That one is smarter than she looks - try her." A further Diplomacy check please Zeta.

Aulurius gets involved in some games of chance, but the gamblers aren't interested in talk of strange cults.

"Turquoise." says a burly fellow to Bahram. "We've been digging up turquoise. Because we're turquoise miners."

"Roidirans?" says the miner drinking next to Sulana. "Those crazy cultists? I leave them to the paladins to deal with! So - what's a shy girl like you doin' in a dive like this anyway?' I do the same thing with diplomacy rolls :)

Sayuki finds a crowd gathered around a barrel-chested man with a long, coiled black beard and rosy cheeks that peak from his wide smile and generous laugh. The group are drinking heavily and playing dice. You can work your way into the group by joining their games: a Fortitude save (drinking games) or Profession (gambler) or Sleight of Hand (for dice).

"Turquoise huh? Pretty, but not very exciting. How about those Rodirans? I've heard that they have did up something interesting in the jungle?"

I'm getting nowhere. Maybe I should stick to my axe after all

diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Sayuki slips herself into a seat at one of the tables, grinning ear to ear. ”Happy to dice and drink wherever I can get both, if you’ll have me?” A giggle and a wink, and she reaches for the dice when it seems a likely time to break in.

This is my first Rogue, and I gotta say, being able to deal with so many skill checks competently is sooooo good. ...Usually Int is my dump stat.

Sayuki makes some friends.

"Welcome, lass! I've not seen you here before. I'm Adar. We're having a party - I just got promoted to foreman!" You get the impression that Adar and his friends don't need much excuse for a party.

PFS has a lot of skill challenges - it's always good to have a skill specialist in the party.

Sulana, being ignorant of standard pick-up lines, takes the miner's question seriously. "Looking for information on the Roidirans. Thanks for answering my question."

She moves a few miners down and tries again. "I hear the Roidiran cult has been causing a lot of trouble in this area. Have you had any run-ins with them?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

The dice clearly know what kind of a person Sulana is.

"So what brings you to my favourite drinking hole, lass?" asks Adur of Sayuki.

Sulana has no luck, her prospective informants being more interested in whiskey that weird cults.

Bahram does no better: "Oh, you don't like turquoise, huh, wise-guy? Whatcha doin' in Turquoise City then, huh? Huh?"

One opening skill check per pathfinder - when possible informants have been identified any of you can converse with them and attempt further skill checks if needed. Sayuki has already befriended Adur (so no further checks are needed with him), and Zeta has identified another target, a miner at the bar.

”Well, I doubt I’m the first to say it, but congratulations, Foreman Adar! Usually this sort of place doesn’t allow miners,” she says with a mischievous twinkle. ”Honestly. I looked in at a few places around town, and this place seemed to have the least presence from the, ah... oh, you know the ones, going on about how we all must surrender to nothingness and we’ll really all be a lot happier?”

She takes a sip, rolling her eyes. ”But it’s hard to gamble for quantities of nothing.”

"Oh, you mean those crazy Roidirans? There’s a camp outside the city where these characters meet up with one another and spend the night before heading north towards the jungle. I don’t know where they go after that. But I got some work on the side on my day off escorting these folks to the camp, and they were just wrong. They were chanting or something, starting each new bit with ‘There is no meaning; there is the goddess,’ something like that. I asked the head guy what they meant. I’ll never forget what one of them said to me: ‘Only when your mind is empty will you hear the scream of a hundred mouths crying out the goddess’s word.’ You better believe I didn’t say two words to him after that.”

One of the Adur's friends chips in: “A whole troop of these Roidiran cultists passed by our mine while we were on break and they started preaching to us about going to ‘find enlightenment,’ that there was a sacred place for their faith in the jungle and asked if any of us wanted to go with. Said they were on ‘Roidira’s Road,’ the path to total knowledge. This idiot here, Rashid, was actually thinking of doing it! ‘What else have I got to live for?’ he said, like a damned moron. But then the Roidirans started talking about their ‘fallen comrades’ in the jungle and something about how the Place of Enlightenment wasn’t for the faint of heart. Rashid got cold feet—and good for him too.” The miner gives his friend Rashid a soft cuff round the ears, followed by a hug and a cup of strong spirits.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Etna to will slip off into the crowd to search for any information. She will keep her ear to the ground for any other people int he crowd who seem to have any experience with the cult. She will join in on games and share a couple of drinks in the attempt as well.

Sayuki nods. ”I’m in town for the festival, and I can’t help but think they bring a little fun out of it.”

She turns to Rashid and favors him with a reassuring, understanding smile. ”Not to sound too much like a proper Sarenraen, but you’ll find that even the darkest nights are followed by a sunrise.”

Let's say that Etna and Zeta home in on the same miner at the bar.

"Goddess' shade to you, sisters" says the tall, sinewy woman hunched over the bar, whose bare arms reveal the strong muscles that hold up the length of rope coiled over her shoulder. "Name's Samijda. A festival's always a good excuse for a whiskey or three, don't you agree?" she laughs a good-natured laugh. But at mention of the Roidiran cult Samijda screws up her face and knocks back her drink. “Let me tell you something friend. One of these days Maharev is going to turn into a giant sink hole because of all the earth we’ve dug up. You think the mines and pits we work at were the only ones? No, there’s plenty of old mines out there— and good riddance to ‘em, too. My last mine was spooky as Hell, and I was the happiest damn pickaxe-wielder in Qadira when we picked the last bit of turquoise from it. There was writing on the walls from those Roidiran fanatics, our medic said it looked like it was written in blood! Stuff about emptiness and how ‘death is knowledge.’”

Samijda leans into whisper, “It wasn’t right, I’m telling you. We almost went on strike until management finally promised us they wouldn’t send us down at night no more. But after dark there were these…things. Wish we had a paladin there. Ain’t some things you can just fix with an axe, you hear?”

Samijda gives a location for the mine, which is in the southern portion of the Maharev Jungle.

Sulana hears Etna making progress with someone at the bar. She starts to head over...

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

...and promptly trips over her own feet, dropping her ale right on top of the unfortunate woman. She immediately starts stammering apologies and offering to buy whatever drinks the woman wants as compensation. Why am I even here? I'm just ruining everything.

The dice know. I'd recommend pretending you have no idea who this crazy stranger is, so that you don't get tainted with Sulana's terrible luck.

After some wins and some losses, and ultimately breaking even, Aulurius politely excuses himself from the gambling tables and sets up watch in a corner to help keep his fellow agents safe, watching for anyone with ill-intent. He also keeps a close eye on Sulana, lest she become overwhelmed again... And promptly sees she is.

Aulurius definitely is not a social skill monkey, ha. But he'll for sure keep watch.

"There ye are lass! I told ye th' dwarven ale was nothin' to trifle with! Let me help ye." Aulurius offers Sulana a hand up and leads her over to the side. "Y'know, I'm startin' ta think you have worse luck than I, lass. And I've had my beard shaved off afore." Gruff as he is, Aulurius is trying to be soothing to the poor bundle of nerves. "If ye like, when we get out of here, I'll have Huntress follow ye for a spell."

"Well" Samijda glowers down at Sulana "I am partial to Kelesh Firewater." She points to the top shelf behind the bar. "The fifteen year aged" she adds. 20gp a shot, if you want ;)....

Whilst you could spend hours more in the Flaming Scimitar, gaming and drinking until Sarenrae's light returns, you soon realise that you've learned as much as you are going to about the Roidirans from the miners and labourers who carouse here.

Putting this information together with what you learned from Vashit al-Amiyyah, you have more than enough to be able to find the site of the Roidirans' pilgrimage in the Maharev jungle. It will be about a day's trek across the desert. Perhaps now is a good time to call it a night, so that you can get sufficient rest for the journey ahead. Or not. Feel free to party the night away ;)

You may also stock up on last-minute supplies at the dawn markets. Not only has the egregious 'sales tax' disappeared, but also merchants who recognise your patron fall over themselves to offer you special 'one-time only!' discounts. Having gained the High Priestess's patronage you may make a single purchase during this scenario at a 10% discount on book price. If you don't make it now, you may do so when the scenario ends - the discounted purchase must be recorded on the chronicle sheet.

We may make that purchase when the scenario ends, after we get paid? :3c

Unless dragged out, Sayuki spends an other hour or two with Adar and friends, drinking and dicing-- although, given her state on the boat ride over, she does, to her credit, avoid drinking too much.

When the morning comes, she's up surprisingly bright and early, lamellar on and fastened, wrist sheath loaded with a kunai, bow strung and a quiver each at her shoulder and her hip.

"If we are all ready, shall we rouse the beasts and head on?"

We may make that purchase when the scenario ends, after we get paid? :3c

You may, it is expressly permitted by the chronicle sheet.

Sayuki the Duplicitous wrote:

We may make that purchase when the scenario ends, after we get paid? :3c

You may, it is expressly permitted by the chronicle sheet.

I actually just realized, 10% off 200 would be 180... and I have 181gp. Any objection to me grabbing these?

As long as you have the requisite Fame total (5), you're all set!

"My lady, my lady! Come, come, see what bargains I have for you today at Honest Abdul's High Class Haberdashers! Yes, these prices are correct, but my special sale ends today. Buy now to avoid disappointment!"

"I see you are a lady of discerning taste, with an eye for the highest quality! Why have one outfit when you can have ten for the same price, eh? And why stop at only ten? With Honest Abdul's Enchanted Ready-To-Wear-Wardrobe patent pending you'll never need to buy another dress again! Or trousers! Or smock, chemise, blouse, or apron! For Her Holiness's special friend, only 180gp! Last one in stock!"

At the bar.

Sulana does indeed purchase a shot of Kelesh Firewater for Samijda, giving it to her with more apologies. She then takes full advantage of Aulurius' distraction. "Thank you. I'm not sure what's up with me tonight; I either can't say anything at all or I say the wrong thing to the wrong person." She pinches the bridge of her nose to ward off a growing headache. "Etna and Sayuki seem to be doing fine, and I'm obviously doing more harm than good. I think I'll just head back to the inn for an early night. Huntress should stay with you; I'll be fine." At least I will be as long as I don't have to talk to anyone!

The next morning.

Sulana slips out early to see if she can make a few purchases without the 'foreigner tax' of the previous day. To her surprise, she's able to find some reasonably-priced clothing that should serve her better in the desert than her current clothes. She also picks up some extra supplies while she's there.

Purchases made, she meets up with the others. "Yes, we should get going. Let's find out what's going on."

I have 4!

Sayuki drums her fingers on the stall, mulling it over. It's certainly attractive... but she doesn't feel famous enough to spend 180gp yet.

"My dearest Abdul, would you be sweet enough to hold onto this for me? There is a little business in the wilderness I must attend to first, and I would hate to soil my entire new wardrobe so soon!"

Walking out of the tavern after failing to gather any information, but hearing Sayuki and Etna have some luck, he catches up with his companions.

"Way to go Sayuki and Etna! We were not getting anywhere, and then there you go getting the actual location! I'm going to return these robes, and then pick up some more water. Stay hydrated my friends, and I'll see you back at the inn."

He pats Alurius in the shoulder and gives Sulana, what he thinks it's a reassuring wink as he heads off.

Aulurius will follow the group to the inn, for the moment appearing disinterested at the vendors' wares. He will end the day casting goodberry on the berries he had been saving, knowing that they will now only be good for 24 hours.

goodberries: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2 Aw, come on. =(

After determining which ones are magical, he eats the nonmagical ones, disappointed in how few he was able to affect.

In the morning, the dwarf will prepare cure light wounds and goodberry

Etna will listen to the woman talk about the mine. "I've had my fair share of spooks let me tell you. Any ghost or ghoul you can walk away from will be a good story down the line. Especially over drinks."

With info in hand she will deliver it back to the group before joining them to shop about. She will pick up that warm weather gear as well for the long track.

-8 GP for the outfit.