Mask of the Living God for Gameday (Inactive)

Game Master DoubleGold

"I will be satisfied if evil is destroyed. No matter how we achieve it."

I think you misunderstand when I say infiltrate. Not stealth into the building, put on masks and pretend to be them, I didn't think you were a party of Rogues. Watch one of their performances they do publicly outside the church and ask one of the priests if you can join. They will make you do some rituals and perform some tests before you can join, but they will let anyone join who is willing. Once you learn their secrets crash their party, but if you plan to just attack them, wait till morning instead of night, it will be easier, since you can blend in with crowds before or after causing havak.

At Hazulnet's questions. They have the city fooled, well most people anyway, the guard especially. And the answer is I don't know.

Hal shakes his head. "No, we understood. I think Edwin's point is that, as a Paladin of Iomedae, the idea of pretending to worship Razmir for a week is rather unpalatable. I suspect the Armedian guy here would find it difficult as well. And my point is that I wouldn't expect this group to be able to hold a con together long enough to make it through a security checkpoint, let alone a week of close scrutiny."

"Yes Hal, you got the point!"

Hal nods. After a moment's consideration, he says to Edwin, "Actually, while we're on the subject ... hypothetically, what is your position on stealthily breaking into an evil cult's base of operations? You aren't honorbound to notify the city guard or anything right? Just hypothetically speaking, of course." he chuckles, though somewhat awkwardly.

"You are very funny guy Hal!" says Edwin seriously.

Do you head to the inn for the night? Or do you attack at night? If you attack at night You would have to take out four cultists within a round, or a round plus surprise round if you don't want the town guard to come. The good news about attacking at night is you just draw your best weapons, no witnesses except for the cultists that survive and you make a run for it and find a place to hide at night if you don't kill all four in time. If you sleep for the night, you can attack in the morning when they give their speech in the crowds. You can attack with small weapons using sleight of hand without knowing it came from you, as you blend in with the crowd, like firing a hand crossbow (they do have soft cover cause of crowds), or being near a crowd and stabbing one with a dagger (assuming they don't survive the dagger attack). Attacking with a big weapon in the morning and there will be witnesses. Also, getting caught by the guard is
a 50 gold violation, each time you are caught, your chronicle will suffer.

"Oh no!" The Armenian Man corrects Hal. "Magdh wouldn't place me on this path if she didn't mean for The Armenian Man to play this part! It will be great joy!"

I'm definitely in favor of watching their presentation and then trying to join. The Armenian Man doesn't have good social skills, but he's eager for the attempt.

Is talking to the cobbler not an option?

"But I want to be clear here ... Is the guard fooled, or is the guard in league with them? Because it sounds like the guard did nothing while they beat a guy. That isn't them being fooled. So we find evidence of wrongdoing ... What then? Sounds like there is no honest person to turn it over to."

"Perhaps it would simply be best to strike them under cover of night. Fewer complications, and a bit more straightforward as well. Honorable combat, rather than feigning devotion and relying on deceit."

"Cover of night! I agree!"

talking to the cobbler won't do anything. The guard believes that had justification for it, like he rebelled or something.

You agree to attack at night. Actually there are six surrounding the temple. The temple takes up an entire block and the streets are busy, however, nobody is coming your way for quite some time, they are over on the next block. The six cultists see you, 4 wear white robes, 2 wear gray robes. That is close enough, you can see the temple from that distance. Which in your case is 30 feet. If you plan for a surprise round you can do so with a stealth check if you are 100 feet away, then make an attack roll. If you have a silent weapon, you can probably make several surprise rounds before being caught and starting round 1.

When did we agree to attack at night? We only have 2 people who have expressed direct attack as favorable. Two people who have said they support infiltration (Eroil & Armenian), and my vote is infiltration, I'm just trying to do some investigation beforehand. So at the moment I think the consensus is against an attack.

"Okay, so we find the evidence and present it to the guard, and you're thinking the guard will actually believe the evidence? Well, then I think the infiltrating their ranks makes sense. We can all use our friend's ability to become better at trickery, I suppose." He glances at the two members of the party supporting an assault. "Surely the Pathfinder Society didn't send us here to get thrown in the stockade for attacking a temple. All we have is rumors of their wrongdoing, so if we're captured, we can't even make a good argument as to why we're attacking these people."

I am feeling the chaotic axis of my alignment shifting as I make this argument. ;)

Halunzet tells them they want to join the cult. They let you inside the temple, still only six. Backtracking can be harder. Do you attack them now that you are inside, the guard can't come after you as you will have as many rounds as you like, or do you play along to join the cult?

Backtracking? We never agreed on a night raid. ... Can we at least say that we waited overnight so we all have Bluff as a class skill from the Medium ability?

Well, um, come back tomorrow, you all look indecisive, but you will all become believers. Hey tomorrow we will give a performance, then you will be convinced to join. You exit the temple as they walk you out, all wearing masks.. I still don't want to backtrack what I did. The party is like split on what to do and I'm on a time limit, so I have to make something happen. The six cultists go around town feeding the poor

Let me know if you head to the inn or do something else. The inn costs 3.3 gold, gold for the stay, silver for the meal, will be noted on your chronicle. If you don't sleep at the inn, then let me know where you do sleep.

we have plenty from the pirate loot to cover that, right? I said earlier that I had acquired us a room.

"One thing to consider, we likely want to find a safe place for our valuables. I assume this cult loots their new recruits of anything of value. Living in poverty for purity of the soul and all that."

I believe Reginar said the recruiting at the Ranger's Lament is the following night. I am fine with jumping ahead to then, if others are.

My apologies to you my fellows. Sometimes I get lost in communing with the spirits of the past.

I am also ok with jumping ahead. I can help people with a bit of a boost to their bluff skill. If you have a lousy charisma, it still won't be good, so let the rest of us do the talking.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
"We shall accept this generous offer."

Later in the privacy of an inn or quiet street...

"They normally don't allow people the chance we are getting. They are trying to look good to us, or maybe to someone. Either way, we should remain careful."

So ... who are the more charisma-based characters? We should decide up front who is going to be handling the talking. With the trickster mod, my Bluff becomes +5, but I assume others are better.

The Armenian Man smiles. "See how Magdh twists fate for us! We are on a path and she will see that we stay on it!"

The Armenian Man is definitely not a Cha character. He has no ranks in Bluff; even with the Trickster bonus, his -2 only becomes a -1. He will still take the Champion ability for a bonus to non-spell damage.

Edwins Bluff is +2 and diplomacy is +8, but as I see Eroil has Bluff +4 and diplomacy +12

so is everyone heading towards the inn and watching their performance in the morning?

Well as an oracle I am Charisma based, but just bad at bluff. Well more like not very good!
Eroil quickly moves down towards the inn and curious about the performance.

As I understand the trickery benefit from medium, it gives you a rank in the skill and makes it a class skill. So anyone who did that would get an automatic +4 in Bluff, if they don't have any ranks in it now. It would take Armenian to +2, Edwin to +6, and Eroil to +8, I believe.

Hal stays the night at the inn and goes the next day to the Ranger's Lament to hear their sales pitch.

Is there an option to store some equipment at the inn? Perhaps they have a safe or something? If not ...

The night before, Hal removes his wayfinder and hides it with his trapping tools, under some spools of string and wire. He bundles his 45 pp in a bundle of furs. He places both of these at the bottom of his goat's saddlebags, placing mundane equipment on top of it. He secrets his masterwork thieves' tools on his person, along with a couple of healing potions. He puts the remaining 3 healing potions and his oil of magic weapon in his bags, along with a gold piece, so that anyone searching them will think they came upon his valuables easily accessible.

He also casts prestidigitation and soils his armor and crossbow, so it will not be obvious that they are magical and masterwork. Upon reflection, he casts it on his other equipment as well, including the masterwork backpack, his tools, etc., and restows everything. Even the potion bottles look grungy and caked with dirt. "Anyone else need something to look scuffed up?"

The soiled effect will persist beyond the hour duration of the spell.

I am not comfortable leaving my gear behind. If they plan to take our equipment, I would say that is a reason to "leave and think about my commitment for a while" before deciding.

"The Armenian Man will bring his gear, also. But likes the sound of magical dirt! Scuff it up!"

You will get your gear back from them either way after you spend one night with the initiation. They won't let you leave the block, they will let you outside and give you back your stuff, but not let you go to the inn alone. If you want to store something, befriend a random NPC, who will meet you outside during one of the performances, as you will take part in one of those performances. That person can slip you back small items. I just need a diplomacy check. As you will be wearing masks like them, so you have to give the NPC a way to identify you, like a secret jesture or something.

You soil your gear to make yourself look like homeless street fighters. You eat and sleep at the inn.
Does anyone have any holy symbols that is not the cultists god? You probably want to store those.

I assumed out-of-character that the writers would let us keep our stuff, but in-character I'm assuming there's a possibility our good stuff'll vanish to pawn shops before our heads hit the pillow on the first night.

After the party's resolve fails them and they return to the inn, Alarien blanches at the thought of leaving her namesake katana Alarien behind. She grudgingly divests herself of her other belongings, but clings to the blade all the same.

Heroes go to the performance, and they see cultists and priests their talking about how great their god. They are asking around for donations. One man says "Your god sucks." They immediately beat him up. The speech is long and the performance is good. "If anyone here worships a different god, I suggest you throw your holy symbols away, they shall not put other gods besides thy." "Who is ready to join our cult? I need some volunteers. And leave all false gods behind."

Hal blinks at the abrupt and apparently uncommented-upon violence in the middle of the performance. Despite his newfound ability at bluffing, he cannot help but look around, startled, to see how any of the other audience members are behaving.

So ... did anything in their performance actually suggest anything about what Razmir is supposedly god of? Like, what is their in-character sales pitch? "Hey, come and be evil and beat people up?" Also, do they actually themselves call it a "cult"?

Still absolutely bewildered what enchantments these cultists are wielding that allows them to behave in this manner with impunity, Hal raises his hand. "Yeah, there, I've been lookin' for a new god. What are the duties and responsibilities? Does it pay? Will I have to give up drinking? You know, the important stuff."

Sentinel keeps his meager gear upon him while going with. He knows that his true power rellies not upon equipment of mortal means.
Going to help push this forward as well.
"I need a god who can was away all my wicked sins of my past! Let me join." Sentinel plays up the role a bit.

Edwin leaves all but his armor and sword at inn.

"Oh Iomedae, help me, I am doing this for you!"

"I will join!"says Edwin.

"They will regret this!"

Alarien silently raises her hand.

They look at Halzunet It will pay off for your soul. And you'll still get to do all the stuff you love

They are glad you are joining. Did we say cult? we meant religious organization.

After stepping up onto the stage, the figure in the black robes turns to the audience, his face hidden behind an iron mask. With a strong voice, he calls out, “You have come here to seek the power and glory of Razmir, and I am here to tell you that he has found you worthy!” At that, all of the other priests chant in one voice, “All praise the Living God!” “He is proud of you,” the black-robed figure continues, “for taking this, the first of 31 steps to enlightenment, the path of righteousness, the stairs to power and glory. Razmir is the one true god. What other god so richly rewards those who follow him? What other god lives among his people, guiding them with his wisdom and his might? What other god can lead you to true salvation? None of them! Only Razmir can offer you the power, the fortune, and the glory that you desire. Will you join him?” He folds his arms and waits for an answer.

They set up dinner for you and allow you to keep your equipment. Food, ale, water and wine all for you. Blesses oh Razmir for these I gifts for which we are about to from they one true god, through our efforts amen. Yes I changed the Christian prayer at the supper table. Let me know if you don't eat and drink. Or if your character doesn't drink alcohol or wine. Any spells you cast before, after or during dinner let me know. You can also cast them with sleight of hand to avoid detection if you worry about that.
When you eat the food, it all taste good. As does the ale and booze and water, though water has no taste.

Wanting to keep her wits about her, Alarien makes a show of eating and drinking--but never actually does touch the stuff.

Bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Hal watches carefully, to be sure the new recruits are being fed from the same sources as the priests. If so, he eats and drinks modestly, but goes back for frequent refills to make it look like he is having great merriment. If the new recruits are being fed separate food, he only pretends to eat.

Were we the only new recruits or did they dupe some.NPCs as well?

Edwin eats a little bit and drinks water.

Sentinel indulges in the food.

Wanting to keep her wits about her, Alarien makes a show of eating and drinking--but never actually does touch the stuff.

You can do that, but the food has to go somewhere. It would still be on the plate if you don't eat it. Unless you are like casting invisibility on the food, you have spell that destroys matter or you have a pet you are feeding it too when and they aren't watching. If the food is on the ground, they will note you didn't eat it.

At Halzunet, one person is suppose to join you for dinner, too tired right now to look at the book
You see a new recruit, "NPC" eat the same stuff as you, not part of the cult as he has no mask on and nothing bad happens to him as he eats.

Eroil carefully not drinks and eats.

Hal nods to the other new recruit. "Hello there. My name's Halunzet, but you can call me Hal. All hail Razmir! What brings you into the fold?"

Also, do we see any priests who appear to be less-than-human in stature?

Hal speaks to one of the priests. "So ... 31 steps to achieve in the church? Is there a way to tell which priest is on which step? Who's the high priest and all that?" He looks over their mask and robes for any indication of rank.

If the point of this evening isn't information gathering, feel free to give cursory answers and move us along to the next morning. I'm trying to move things along, not delay with pointless questions.

The cultists look at you. Color or robes signify rank, but we will discuss ranks and how they are obtained some other time, as we won't have time to go through that today. All are members of the church and all have completed 31 steps.

The other man looks at Halunzet Name is Evlar Thilisson. I left home from my father 2 weeks ago and have been living on the street. This religious organization seems like a great one, so I decided to join.

Nevendo What are you doing? Eating fast, eating slow

I'll just make something up as to how it could be done.
Alarien and Arrow fake eating by storing food in their mouths then going to the restroom several times to spit it up in the toilet making sure to get it all out. Luckily the toilet doesn't clog.
The cultists speak. You two with bladder issues, I hope everything is all right. I'll ask Razmir to heal you.

Hal seems confused by the priest's answer, but doesn't press the matter. He tries to make some pleasant conversation with Evlar.

Any small-sized cultists?