Season 4: Blue Moose Edition (Inactive)

Game Master Blue Moose

Returning to Magnimar from Absalom is a rather uneventful voyage. However, A page from Heidmarch Manor is waiting when you all disembark from the ship. "Lady Heidmarch sends her regards and would like to let you rest. Something's happened in town, however, and she needs you on the job immediately. Her orders were to direct you all to The Dryad's Trosseau, here in Dockway. There was an attack on the flower shop, and someone's trying to frame the Society for it." Upon acknowledgement of the message, the young girl gives brief directions to the shop in question before she scampers off.

It’s a cold twilight in the Dockway, and the salt-sprayed streets still teem with activity. A young city guard stands outside an ornately decorated storefront, the window frame adorned with baroque carvings of wild vines and flowers. The guard speaks: “Oye, Pathfinders. Glad you all came so quick. Here’s the latest place robbed, this afternoon by a group dressed like your lot. The shopkeep is laid up in the flat upstairs—his landlady’s taking care of him. She thinks it was Pathfinders, too, but I talked her into speaking with you.”

The young man knocks on a narrow door to the right of the shop entrance. “Look, I know you Pathfinders are all right. Cap’n Heidmarch’s done good in this city, so I’m happy to help you start sortin’ out what’s behind these crimes. But public opinion is goin’ south. The sooner you figure out who the guilty parties are, the better. Good luck. Oh, almost forgot—I was ta give this to you.”

The guard hands over a leather pouch marked with the Heidmarch family seal, and departs just as a scowling elderly woman opens the door. “Right. You come to explain why your gang beat up poor Mr. Chert?”

"Actually, were here to explain that we did no such thing. We believe someone is trying to make the Pathfinder Society look bad and is framing us. We're here to find information that will exonerate us."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

We would have left him far too frightened to complain. No, we must play nice for now.

"We would be happy to do what we can to help Mr. Chert; do you know where he is?"

Dplomacy Aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

We only ask that you give us a chance. We will find those who did this and expose them for imposters. What can you tell us about those who robbed your shop? Any details you can recall would be helpfu.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

"My companions are right. We have been framed by some unknown party and only ask that you hold your judgement of us for a short time while we find the true culprits."

Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

"It's not my shop," she replies with a more measured tone in her voice, pointing across the street. "I live across the street. It was early this afternoon I heard a crashin’ come from the shop. At first I thought it was just some noisy delivery men, but I remembered they already come this mornin’. I looked outside and saw Mr. Chert slumped on the cobblestones, and three or four people in hooded cloaks runnin’ away! As for poor Elias, he's upstairs here in bed after the beating he got."

Declan nods his head in understanding. "So what made you think it was us? Did they say something or leave some clue behind?"

"I can't imagine they merely assaulted Mr. Chert at random. You saw them as they fled, did they have anything with them?"

"Well, everybody’s been talkin’ about how what’s been stolen a late’s been old statues and books and junk. What kinda folks would take that sort of stuff other than your lot? Besides, I found one a them ‘way-show-ers’ you Pathfinders is always carryin’, smashed on the ground right aside Mr. Chert,"the elderly lady responds. As Nylthe continues the questions, she adds, I didn't see anything in their hands, but I reckon they ran off with the cashbox. The shop carries rare and exotic plants, so maybe they wanted to steal some of those too."

As the elderly lady continues her train of thought of behavior damaging to the society he frowns.

That... does sound like the kind of stuff we like to discover and acquire. However... violence is a high cost for such simple items. It just doesn't make sense to do so much damage when the society is so well-funded. With respect, look at us here right now, spending all of this effort to convince you. To spend at least double effort to obtain books and antiques. We're not the Aspis Consortium after all! Hopefully before this is all over, we can restore your confidence that our methods are above-board.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"Yeah, that's a lot of stuff that does seem to point to us. I especially like the broken Wayfinder left for anybody and everybody to keep their eyes on us. You do realize that there are other organizations interested in esoterica and magic, right?" Declan says with smile. "You still have that wayfinder? Sometimes they are personalized and we might be able to figure out who it belonged to."

"If you think it will help you find the actual hooligans that did this, then by all means, take it." The elderly lady reaches into a pocket on her apron, and pulls out the wayfinder in question before offering it to Declan. After doing so, she backs up a little and adds, "I don't think seeing him will be much help, but Mr. Chert is upstairs here. He's still recovering from the attack."

Wilen accepts the wayfinder and quickly begins to look it over for any identifying marks.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

While Wilen examines the wayfinder, Nylthe heads upstairs to meet this Mr. Chert.

Juis follows Nylthe. "We should be gentle when questioning the victim. Don't want to tarnish our image even further."

The halfling absent-mindedly follows them, while turning the wayfinder over in his hands and not really watching where he's going. He simply follows Nylthe's feet.

The elderly lady leads those that are interested up a narrow flight of stairs to the apartment above the shop, and into a small bedroom, where Mr. Chert, a broad-shouldered gentleman, is currently convalescing. From what you all can see, the only obvious signs of injury is bruising, and a bandaged cut on his arm. In spite of this, he still seems gravely ill. He's sweating profusely, and softly muttering, "Antaios, no..... Antaios... Antaios...."

"He's been like this since I found him," the elderly lady says, as she moves back to let you look over him. "I locked the door to his shop when I found, but if you think you can catch the hooligans that did this, I can offer you the key to the shop to look around, if you wish."

Wilen holds up one of the wayfinders. Lydia Hob. Who the society believes is missing. We might be finding out where she is, or what happened to her soon.

He holds up the other. And an "A.V."

He nods slightly shoving both into interior pockets of his cloak.

Answering the elderly lady, he add We're certainly interested in finding them. We're not happy with hooligans posing as society agents and, worse, attacking civilians.

Nylthe takes one of the wands from her belt and after a moment pokes Mr. Chert with it.

UMD: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
UMD: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

"That won't do much for his fever, but it should minimize his pain, and prevent his other wounds from turning.

"Do you know who this Antaios is?"

Hmm... maybe the "A" in "A.V."...

Wilen mutters as he listens to the conversation with the old man.

Looking him over, "He has been poisoned. The poison used on him attacks the victim's vitality and mental state. But it seems he has passed through the worst stage of the poison and should recover with time."

Sorry, Wilen. I guess my explanation wasn't clear. It's not 2 Wayfinders with 1 engraving each. It's a Wayfinder with 2 engravings.

While the curing wands cause the bruises to fade away, it does little to help with the feverish state that he's in. Meanwhile, the elderly lady offers Wilen a key. "This'll open the front door. I haven't been in there myself. His flowers give me horrible hives. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll do what I can for him." And which point, she shoos you all back downstairs, and back on to the street.

The door to the shop is a sturdy wooden door, next to a large display window that stretchs the length of the ship, filled with colorful, hardy bloom. A Sign in the window reads "The Dryad’s Trousseau, Exotic Flora. Proprietor, Elias Chert.” Also of note is the shop's delivery entrance, up a narrow alley to the east of the shop.

Upon entering the shop, the first thing you notice is an overturned planter the size of a washtub. Soil mixed with bits of broken pottery is spilled across the hardwood floor. To the north, an ornately decorated fifteen-foot-wide archway allows passage to the shop’s display floor. A sales counter fills the eastern side of the room, and behind it stand several bookshelves filled with horticultural tomes. A stoppered flask lies in plain sight in the middle of the floor.

For reference, We're on Slide 1

Nylthe beckons Aconite out of where he lurks in the shadows, giving him a quick tap of her protective wand. Mage Armor, she then casts her gaze across the shop, looking for any auras that might portend some sort of trap... Detect Magic

Juis carefully walks into the shop, trying to avoid stepping on any clues, as he looks around. He approaches the stoppered flask that is on the floor and picks it up to examine.

Examining the Vial using Detect Magic
Knowledge (Arcana) if applicable: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Spellcraft if applicable: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Sorry, Wilen. I guess my explanation wasn't clear. It's not 2 Wayfinders with 1 engraving each. It's a Wayfinder with 2 engravings.

No matter :) Most of the post(s) remain valid.

Wilen steps into the shop behind Juis.

He focuses on the area near the overturned planter for any identifying tracks.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

After focusing on the flask with the detect magic spell, Juis and Nylthe can determine that its liquid contents do have a faint transmutation aura. However, there's something odd about it, but you can't quite place your finger on what is actually in it.

As for the planter and the overturned soil, There aren't any notable tracks within the soil. However, Wilen will notice a glint of metal on the planter: A brass plaque attached to it, with Antaios engraved on it.

"Presumably the planter's inhabitant is what their target was. It's certainly what Mr. Chert was most concerned with."

With a puzzling look, "This liquid is magical. I would normally say it was some type of mundane potion but there is something not right about it. We should take this with us for further examination."

Yes, but where to...?

Wilen is still staring at the overturned planter.

We should check in back to see if anything else was disturbed.

He steps behind the counter and investigates that area before opening the door to the North.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Sorry, totally forgot to dot this! My bad!

Earlier, at Chert's house

It would be a shame if someone framed us for this. Yet I'm more concerned about the good health of Mister Chert than my own reputation. I won't have the time for creating a counterpoison myself, probably, but I can give you a recipe, some intructions, and some gold for the ingredients

Craft alchemy for counterpoison: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33

But perhaps it would be quicker to simply give you gold to buy a vial of antitoxins, I guess?

Don't know how much time I would need to create the antitoxin all by myself, bt probably too long, even with that roll

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Now

Lebraerio checks his brain for any relevant horticultural knowledge

Know Nature: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 7 + (4) = 14

Do you want me to try to identify this potion?
Craft alchemy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32

After a little study, Lebraerio is able figure out that the flask contains a potion of rage, albeit heavily diluted(which was why it was so hard to figure out.) In this form, all it would do is give the drinker a momentary flash of anger.

Meanwhile, There's not much of interest behind the counter. But when Wilen goes to try the door...

*Kachunk*

...He finds that it's locked.

"Potion of diluted rage, what would be the point except maybe to fool someone."

Moves toward the locked door, "It probably has nothing to do with our investigation but should we see what is beyond."

May I?

Lebraerio quickly (maybe too quickly?) check for traps, and works on the lock with his top quality tools

Perception for traps, Trapfinding: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 2 + (1) = 19
DD, Msw Tools: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 2 + (4) = 30

Sure!

Wilen re-stows his own tools and let's the investigator go to work on the door. He listens for trouble before it's opened, in case there is still an assailant hiding behind it.

Perception, listen: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

As Lebraerio fiddles with the door, Wilen hears some faint rustling beyond just before the investigator triggers the last tumbler and the door slowly swings open. Tools, soil, and pots are stored here, next to a deeply-scarred hardwood worktable. A strange plant, shaped like a jaguar made of thorny vines and covered in freshly blooming rose buds, sits crouched in the corner among torn sacks of potting earth. After a second of a making a rustling noise, it acts like it's going to pounce!

Initiative Order
Aconite
Declan
Lebraerio
Plant Jaguar
Wilen
Nylthe
Juis

@Nylthe - Since Aconite and Nylthe have different initiative scores, I rolled seperately for them. Do you have any issue with me blocking them together later?

It's a living plant, it should be susceptible to fire, or plant specific spells..Let's try this theory.

Lebraerio stands back, and gulps a vial quickly, before his mouth lets out a cone of fire

5 feet step back, Fire breath extract

First Fire breath, DC 15 Reflex save for half: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6, 1) = 18

I'm fine with however you want to deal with initiative

Aconite rushes forward to stand at Lebraerio's side, newly sprouted horns curling out from his brow as he stares down his feline opposite.

Delaying Declan, as per policy.

While it seems that Lebraerio's hypothesis is correct, the jungle brush cat is agile enough to avoid the worst of the flames. In response, it leaps at the source of the flames to sink thorny claws into him, only to come up short on the attack.

Initiative Order
Aconite
Lebraerio
Plant Jaguar(-18)
Declan
Wilen
Nylthe
Juis

Second Flame, DC 15 Ref: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

Dodging the incoming attack, Lebraerio manages to spew out another smaller cone of fire, hoping for the best

Juis moves up behind Wilen and taps him on the shoulder, giving him some guidance.

Cast Guidance on Wilen: +1 to a single d20 roll.

It looks like the topianther hasn't moved on the map, but it is adjacent to Lebraerio, correct? My attacks assume it went straight towards Leb and is in the space marked with a translucent one.

Nylthe rushes forward, menacing the jaguar with her cestus while Aconite circles 'round to flank it...

Taking advantage of the plant's distraction, Aconite rends and tears at its branches and vines!

Bite (Power Attack, Flank): 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 - 1 + 2 = 13
B/P/S: 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 = 9
Claw: 1d20 + 6 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 1 + 2 = 22
B/S: 1d4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 = 7
Claw: 1d20 + 6 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 1 + 2 = 22
B/S: 1d4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 = 8
Gore: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 1 + 2 = 23
Piercing: 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5

Yes, that's correct. Forgot to move that.

Well, I certainly can't use one of the splash-exploders now! You've all got it pretty well surrounded.

Wilen smirks as he takes out an extract of Targeted Bomb Admixture and consumes it.

[standard] consume extract, Targeted Bomb Admixture

Holding the guidance bonus until next round.

He moves over up against the counter to make more room for Juis.

[5' step] W

Targeted Bomb Admixture 4 rounds left.

With the sudden flurry of strikes from Aconite, the plant cat is unprepared to dodge the second fiery breath. It collapses in a heap just inside the doorway, barely 'breathing'.

Combat over

Looking over the topiary, a blood-streaked, colorful scrap of fabric is tangled about the thorns in one of it's forelimbs.

Juis walks into the room and looks down at the plant creature, "That was an unusual guardian. Question would be was it set by the shop owner or the perpetrators."

Juis investigates the rest of the room.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 13

That was fast, can I assume that it went down before I popped the extract?

Quite odd. Is there anything hidden within it's leafy body?

He walks over and picks over it to see what it's made of.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Lebraerio picks up the handkerchief , and shows it

A satek. Traditionnal among those of Varisian roots. I would say the guardian was put by the shop owner. There was love and skill into the creation of the topiary, that's not something you create in a few minutes, as there are for more simple traps to set. But that's only my educated guess, I might be wrong.I'm not sure what kind of spell could be used to create these kind of vegetal guardian. It's an interesting thought, one worth pondering...

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 7 + (2) = 17

"Interesting that it failed to protect him."