Lebraerio Hantwell |
"Interesting that it failed to protect him."
Nilthe's words seems to open a new world of hypothesis to the investigator, as Lebraerio spends nearly a minute silent, stroking his beard.
He takes the potion found earlier, sniffs it lightly, aware of the potential dangers, and then sniffs the plant gardian, lenghtly, slowly
Perception: 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (12) + 10 + (4) = 26
I might be wrong, but what if the guardian was the danger itself? This strange, one of a kind potion, could have been given to the topiary, either by mistake from the shop owner, or purposely by someone else. Maybe it could have triggered a violent attack on the owner, and make him flee.. I think that whoever managed to create that potion has deep knowledge and skills in the alchemic arts. I could use more clues, or even better evidence. We'll see how and if my theory resists the actual facts
GM Blue Moose |
As Juis steps over to the farther side of the room, he find it opens into the loading bay where the service entrance comes in. Within the room are two crates, one undamaged, but the other has been torn open, with bundles of Avistani roses scattered throughout, leaving rose petals and tangled, thorny bundles everywhere. (The squares with the green marks count as being spread with caltrops.) Looking in the damaged box, you find that it had a false bottom into an empty four inch deep impression.
Lebraerio Hantwell |
Driven by his near compulsory need to understand, Lebraerio goes back and forth between the rooms
"Antaios"...I wonder if...Could it be not the name of a plant, but the name of the vegetal jaguar?
Know Nature: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (15) + 7 + (3) = 25
He mumbles for himself
That would add to my theory that it was the shop owner who created the animated topiary. He loved his creation, put time and skill in it, and gave it a name,as a companion of sort…
Leb checks all the plants in the shop, looking if the pots have names (name of the plants), while trying to remember if Antaios is the name of a plant.
GM Blue Moose |
Moved you to where this'll be found...
PL: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
To your knowledge, there is no plant species named Antaios.
The primary show floor of this shop contains hundreds of colorful and exotic plants, positioned beneath several salt-clouded skylights. The most remarkable specimen, an intricately twisting four-foot tree bedecked with lavender-colored leaves, stands in an alcove on the room’s south side. A brass plate reveals it to be an amaranthine juniper. At the rear of the display floor on the southern wall is an open doorway with a twisting woody vine curled around the frame, fixed in place with loops of wire. Above this vine is a sign reading “Employees Only.”
However, what catches your eye is within the roots of the juniper: a small silver vial with a stylized spider on it.
GM Blue Moose |
you can just pluck it out. It's like someone dropped it. As for the plant, it's just a rare tree that has some medicial value.
Wilen Proudbrew |
Good find Lebraerio.
Wilen squats down and plucks the vial. He eyes it carefully, slowly turning it in his hand and holding it up to the light to inspect it.
craft (alchemy), identify vial contents: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
This shop is very fascinating... there must be some potent reagents amongst the plant matter here.
GM Blue Moose |
And yes, considering the raw variety of plants that this shop has, some of this could be great reagents for a variety of tinctures and tonics. Magnimar is very much a merchant's city; you could find a variety of odds and ends here, both legal and illegal.
Nylthe Shadowbound |
"A spider, eh? Not typical fair for the Aspis, but it's not as though all of us merely use the open road in our decoration and correspondence."
Knowledge (local) (Inside Knowledge): 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4 To see if that's a symbol of any known Aspis Agents
Wilen Proudbrew |
Wilen shakes the empty vial rapidly, demonstrating its weightlessness.
Nothing, I guess.
Lebraerio Hantwell |
"Spider", uh? Some spiders are poisonous, as are some plants. What if a criminal or gang using the Spider moniker tried to "persuade" the shop owner to put his skills to collect or create more poisons with his plants, and the owner refused?
Take 10 on Know Local on Spider gang or criminal for 10+7+Inspiration: 1d6 ⇒ 6 total 23
GM Blue Moose |
After a couple moments of conversation, two ideas come up. First of all, a couple years ago, the society exposed an agent of the Shadow Lodge(before the more formal addressing of grievances that bought most of the group back into the fold) in the Andoran's government by the name Dorianna Ouidda. The moniker that she used was the Spider, and she used her position on the People's Council, to cover the slavery and smuggling ring that she was running. After being exposed and arrested, she escaped from jail, and both the Andoran government and the Pathfinder Society has keen to find her, with little to no leads of note.
The other idea that comes to mind is that since this is Magnimar, most of the lower level local crimes tends to be related to the Sczarni gangs. While you can't seem to think of one of them that has a spider symbolism, you did find a Satek, and while you all didn't recognize the markings on it, maybe someone else in town would?
GM Blue Moose |
DL: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Well, with the Satek in hand, it seems the answer to that question is around the Dockway, as the first ethnic Varisian you show it to takes a look at the fabric, and points to the pattern on it. "That's th' mark of the Twincandles. Not like them to attack folk though. They're more into the quieter set-up: y'know, con games, protection racket, that sorta things. Their turf is over in Ordella, 'round Two-Lights."
Juis Helfro |
"Lets head over to Ordella then. That seems to be where the evidence is leading."
Wilen Proudbrew |
Two-Lights, Twincandles.... cute.
Wilen observes as they stroll to Ordella.
Wilen Proudbrew |
Fair enough. Expectations to live up to, instead of down to. Never-the-less we're still dealing with a thieve's racket, so we shouldn't let it get our guard down.
GM Blue Moose |
IW: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
IL: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
IN: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
INa: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
IJ: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
ID: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
IR: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Note:After Wilen
Ordella is the easternmost district in Magnimar, across the Yondibakari River from the rest of the city. It's also the unoffical 'foriegn quarter' of the city, where most other nations have their embassy for Magnimar, and is easily the more diverse part of the town. This includes the ethnic Varisians, and as such, several camps are situated there. As you enter the Twincandles' territory, It's easy to notice the mark of gang in the windows of shops and such, furthering the idea that the band dips into protection rackets. You also notice blockades in some of the roads, with somewhat dubious signs attached, warning that that particular section of road is suspected of having been undermined and could collapse at any moment. However, as you begin to question these signs, a deep rumbling sound followed by a sharp cry echoes from a nearby alleyway: "Watch! Watch!"
Around the corner, in the narrow alley, a 10-foot-diameter section of street has collapsed into the earth, creating a churning cauldron of mud, loose cobblestones, and sewage. Laying prone beside the sinkhole is a young woman, her muscular arms plunged into the quagmire, straining under an unknown weight. She pleads with anyone who can hear her for aid. "Quick, quick! My mate got pulled under!"
Going to rounds for several reasons here. We're on Slide 2.
Round 1
Wilen
Aconite
Juis
Lebraerio
Declan
Nylthe
Round 2
Wilen
???
Aconite
Juis
Lebraerio
Declan
Nylthe
Wilen Proudbrew |
Whoa! Does this happen alot around here?
Wilen looks at the burlier members of the group and warns. Helping others is good, but take care that this isn't a trap.
He approaches the sink-hole cautiously knowing that his strength won't be the key factor here.
[double move] 30'
I'll save his round 2 to see what others day.
Nylthe Shadowbound |
Burly's not really our strong suit :-p
"Aconite, guard."
Nylthe heads forward, uncoiling her whip to use as an impromptu line, Aconite easily keeping pace beside her while he tests the wind for any surprises.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 Scent too
GM Blue Moose |
SML: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (11) + 7 + (3) = 21
SMW: 1d20 ⇒ 15
StR: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Approaching the young woman, It's obvious that she is struggling with a significant weight. Likewise, the raw panic in her eyes flat out say she isn't part of a set-up. "Recently, YES!"she blurts out as she continues struggling,
Unfortunately, helping to pull up her mate does require Strength checks.
Round 1
Wilen
Aconite
Juis
Lebraerio
Declan
Nylthe
Round 2
Wilen
???
Aconite
Juis
Lebraerio
Declan
Nylthe
Juis Helfro |
Juis rushes up with the others and finally seeing the situation, he frowns. "Strength isn't my strong point. I think the best bet would be for us to get the person being sucked down to grab onto the rope and the rest of us pull altogether."
Wilen Proudbrew |
Wilen looks at the group. Who has rope? I'll help it get tied up and passed to her friend. He begins looking around frantically and what is nearby him.
[move] receive rope from... whoever.
[standard] affix it to.... something, or prepare to pull on it with others
Perception, anything to affix rope to?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
GM Blue Moose |
RDL: 1d6 ⇒ 3
A nearby wall has a couple bars that Wilen can quickly attach a rope to. However, Another problem bubbles up from the sewers.
Lebraerio hears it first. At first, it's a faint squeaking from a nearby sewer grate. Then it swiftly grows louder, before the grate burst off it's mounting with hundreds of angry rats streaming out of the hole. The swarm swiftly get a bead on the closest moving thing in the area and move to assualt him.
Round 2
Wilen
??? Rats!
Aconite
Juis
Lebraerio (-5, Fortitude save DC 14 vs. Distraction, Fortitude save DC 14, 2 total)
Declan
Nylthe
Round 3
Wilen
Rats!
Aconite
Juis
Lebraerio
Declan
Nylthe
Aconite. |
Aconite dives into the pile of rats, slavering jaws snapping and crunching with savage glee!
CHOMP: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 1 = 8
B/P/S: 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 = 10
Wilen Proudbrew |
Assuming somebody nearby coughed up a rope, and Wilen used last round's action to affix it...
Uh oh... not an ambush but horribly timed circumstance. Stay with her and the rope, I'm going to go to try burn them of Leb...
The halfling jogs back the other way, composing reagents in his hands before stopping to lob a completed bomb at them.
[move] 15'
[standard] bomb attack vs. NW square of swarm, using precise bombs to eliminate the Eastern 3 squares of splash to avoid damaging Leb.
Bomb vs. touch AC, FIRE splash damage (Reflex DC16 half): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 186 = 6
If it misses it lands...: 1d8 ⇒ 2 => SW corner of swarm, still doing splash damage to the Western-most two sqaures of it but not leb.
Juis Helfro |
Juis grabs the rope and tries to help with it.
Strength: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
GM Blue Moose |
SR: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Ok, my apologies to Nylthe. I didn't catch that I didn't bold her name until after Aconite posted. You still have an action this turn.
While able to keep his wits about him while the rats are gnawing into him, Lebraerio notices a intense reddening on several of the bites (the second save wasn't for distraction, but for a disease. You also still have a full turn of actions.)
Aconite can get his jaw around a couple of the rats, but that does little to slow the swarm. And while Wilen's bomb scatters a larger percentage of the rats, having to toss around Lebraerio and Aconite fouls his aim enough to not get the full effectiveness of the explosive and subjects Lebraerio to the blast as well.
(Wilen, if I'm reading precise bombs correctly, It doesn't apply because you missed)
On the other hand, while trying to help, neither Declan or Juis can get enough purchase onto the rope to help with the sinkhole.
Round 2
Wilen
??? Rats! (-4)
Aconite
Juis
Lebraerio (-5, Diseased)(6 damage, DC 16 Reflex for half)
Declan
Nylthe
Round 3
Wilen
Rats!
Aconite
Juis
Lebraerio
Declan
Nylthe
Wilen Proudbrew |
(Wilen, if I'm reading precise bombs correctly, It doesn't apply because you missed)
Right you are, I missed that. Sorry Leb :/
Lebraerio Hantwell |
Ref save vs Bomb, DC 16: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Desperate times calls for desperate measures, my friend!
Lebreario moves out of the rat swarm, looking for a place offering some safety
Is there something he can climb on? Trying to get on a roof, for example
Nylthe Shadowbound |
Strength Check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Nylthe, trusting to Aconite to keep the rats from her, takes a moment to secure the ropes, giving herself the best leverage with which to free the sinking woman.
GM Blue Moose |
Hmmm....in a city, and while rundown, not that rundown. Climb DC would be 20, and since these are buildings with more than one story, You'd have to climb 20 feet before you reach a surface you can stand on.
GM Blue Moose |
RS: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Getting the rope into the muck does start to help, as Nylthe's effort begins to allow the woman to start pulling her friend out of the rank quicksand. Lebraerio dives forward to get away from the rats, and look for a better vantage point to deal with them. However, the rats, denied a meal, surge forward, to try to envelop Aconite and Wilen.
Assistance rendered(1/?? successes needed)
Round 3
Wilen
Rats! (-4)(AoO from Aconite and Wilen, if possible)
Aconite(-4, DC 14 Fort save vs. Distraction, DC 14 Fort save vs. Disease)
Juis
Lebraerio (-11, Diseased)
Declan
Nylthe
Round 4
Wilen (-4, DC 14 Fort save vs. Distraction, DC 14 Fort save vs. Disease)
Rats!
Aconite
Juis
Lebraerio
Declan
Nylthe
Juis Helfro |
Juis once again pulls on the rope, trying to help his companions, this time with more success.
Strength: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Wilen Proudbrew |
No weapon drawn, so I'm pretty sure Wilen can't take an AoO
Fortitude, distraction DC14: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Fortitude, disease DC14: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Oh no you don't!
Wilen deftly dances out of the swarming rats past Aconite, again composing another batch of bomb reagents.
[move] 15' W
[standard] bomb attack vs. SE corner of swarm; eliminate NW corner (Aconite) with precise bombs
Bomb vs. touch AC, FIRE splash damage (Reflex DC16 half): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 206 = 6
If it misses it lands...: 1d8 ⇒ 8 => 2S of aconite, but that's impossible so is it through a building window, or adjusted to S of aconite?
Aconite. |
Bite: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 1 = 18
B/P/S: 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 = 9
Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 Nauseous
Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 But up on his shots?
Aconite tears at the rats swarming over him, but not quite fiercely enough to keep them from his shadowy frame!
Nylthe Shadowbound |
Nylthe's grip slips on the rope as she looks round to see what's happening with the wave of rodents.
Strength: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
"nngh. Can you help at all?!"
GM Blue Moose |
RR: 1d20 ⇒ 13
OT: 1d8 ⇒ 4
RA?,1A2L: 1d2 ⇒ 1
RS: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Wilen's aim is true this time, as the bomb explodes on target, with Aconite tearing no small number of the rats up, before they overwhelm him and force a withdrawal. Lebraerio's aim ends up cracking on the wall, splattering a minimal number of the rats, and barely missing Aconite. With a firmer grip on the rope, Juis and Declan's assistance is enough for the woman to pull up a muck-coated Tien man from the sinkhole, and the pair both breathe a sigh of relief. The rats, however, are still a problem as they continue swarm after Aconite and Wilen.
Assistance rendered(3/3 successes needed)
Round 4
Wilen
Rats! (-14) (AoO from Aconite)
Aconite(-9)(DC 14 Fort Save vs. Distraction), DC 14 Fort Save vs. Disease)
Juis
Lebraerio (-11, Diseased)
Declan
Nylthe
Round 5
Wilen (-9)(DC 14 Fort Save vs. Distraction), DC 14 Fort Save vs. Disease)
Rats!
Aconite
Juis
Lebraerio
Declan
Nylthe
Juis Helfro |
With the man pulled to safety, Juis looks back to see how the battle is going. Spotting the bite marks on Lebraerio, he reaches out and cures some of his wounds.
Cure Light Wounds on Lebraerio: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Wilen Proudbrew |
Fortitude, distraction DC14: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Fortitude, disease DC14: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
I guess nauseated from distraction fail, so just a move action.
Okay Aconite, it's time for us to split up so that they can't keep getting both of us!
Wilen scratches at his skin as he tries to dart away again.
[move] 20'
GM Blue Moose |
Juis heals part of Lebraerio's wounds, as Wilen and Aconite move to escape the swarm's attempt to devour them.
Round 4
Wilen
Rats! (-14)
Aconite(-9,Nauseated)
Juis
Lebraerio (-6,Diseased)
Declan
Nylthe
Round 5
Wilen (-9,Nauseated)
Rats!
Aconite
Juis
Lebraerio
Declan
Nylthe