Quest 1 (Inactive)

Game Master DoubleGold

Hornietelle looks to the sky and sighs, shakes her head slowly, her red and golden streaked hair catches the sun, wafting on the slight breeze. She looks disparagingly at the goblin as it she sings, Calistra, please not all the way through the desert. She walks steadily towards the shade of the building, "Let us travel at 4pm, we will have several hours to make our way, before night comes, meet here before then to gather our provisions". Her insistent voice clear and calm.

At the appointed hour Hornietelle is found looking at the map, and once all are present she continues "Now we can move forward, ready?" The elf looks at the assembled misfits before raising a hand and closing her eyes in a mild meditation, "To meet the challenges of the Unquenchable Fire of the sands, treasures reward the true follower." She loosens her armour and adds a white and black gown over the top, that is thick enough to keep her warm and to provide a blanket of cooler air around her body.

Pa shoots one last glance at the Venture Captain before turning to leave "Aww, I was mostly just talkin' in general. No worries. I think with Knab here we should be fine to scoot across these sands."

He meets up with the group at the time Hornietelle suggests, and is ready to go.

Sangel put away his deck of cards and with a sudden seriousness, concurred with the others. "Let us go then."

Loblin and Poblin follow Sangel along.

"Off we go, to cross the mighty sand dunes!"

Heroes head off to the area and get there before night. They see the place has already been excavated. And a black female human attractive woman standing there. Officer Elrekah. Um, if you have come here to excavate, I'm afraid to disappoint, but you are too late. If you want to check out an empty place, go ahead.
You see an open space and a stairway leading down.
Two other guards are also outside, napping.

"Hello! If we are too late, maybe we can just head back?"

How dreadful. That this place had already been raided by the time they had arrived! Sangel gave Elekrah a sorrowful glance. "It is such an awful thing to have happened here. Was anyone hurt?"

The elven woman looks angrily at the guard, "Officer Elrekah, you mean you didn't do your duty and stop the tomb being emptied. We have been given the right to explore this tomb by the authorities in Sothis, see here I have the papers!" She reaches inside her cloak, whipping out the parchment containing the authorisation and waves it under the officer's nose, in a majestic sweep. "What did you do? Tell me what happened here or I will ensure you superiors know about your dereliction of duty. Help us and we can ensure your endeavours are reported with commendation to the officers at Sothis. How long has it been since the tomb was emptied?"

Turning back and bending down to the group she hisses, "We came to get the treasures, and we shall. There is no turning back to Sothis, you hear that Crookedtoe. We find the treasures wherever they have been taken."

"Aye!"
Knab finds himself agreeing with the haughty elf.
He gives Lobin and her sister a wink as he nonchalantly digs his heels into the ground, pops his thumbs into the front of his trousers, and straightens his back with a backwards rock, causing his toes to point out, and allowing his dwarven belly to spill open a little, into a comfortable standing-resting pose: A show of obedience to Hornietelle. Not much of a "people person" (at least, not with strangers), he is eager to see how this interrogation plays out.

At least we now have the good fortune of not needing to excavate the ruins by hand!

With his good eye, he checks to make sure the other two guards are indeed sleeping, and not lying in wait!

Pa takes a step back from Hornietelle as she kicks into interrogation mode, and a bit of a step closer to Knab. When he sees Knab relax a bit, he untenses a bit, and takes a similar stance.

He leans over and quietly says "I like the cut of your gib, Knab. We'll just, uh, let the scary Elf Lady do the talkin', so long as she 'least don't get us in trouble with the guards 'round here. Sound good to you?"

Then he pauses a second to think, and says to Officer Elrekah, "Now wait hear a minute. If'n this here tomb is empty, why're y'all still out here guardin' it? That don't make a lick of sense."

Quietly to Pa before he goes to triple team that poor guard "Credit where it's due: That elf's ambition for treasure is something I can rally behind!"...

Loblin salutes: "Yes, mistress Hornietelle!"

"Hear that Poblin, we're gonna find treasures!"

She smiles at Knab, happy to see him resting his feet.

"Oh, Pa is right?! Farmers are smart ones."

"Though guarding empty things is not as hard as guarding ones with stuff that might come out..."

She looks at you all. No robbers, it is just that some people authorized this excavation several days to weeks ago. It has been explore, the items that belong in museums are already there. And I ain't guarding the tomb, I'm just assuring the safe return of everyone who decided to go into this place. There is still one person in there that hasn't left yet. He must be taken his time. People have come and gone in this tomb. This man just recently went in there, so he must be enjoying his time here. I can't just leave the stranger to travel home in the desert by himself.

Map is up, Slide 7 don't worry about squares, that is only important when actual combat breaks out. Just place yourselves in there and roll perception or stealth depending upon your exploration of choice.

Society: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17
"Poblin, why am I thinking of beetles?"

Society: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Knab reports: "The Scarab Beetle marks tombs and places of death around these parts. We should proceed with caution."

GM, where is the outside relative to the entrance on the map?

To the right of the entrance is the outside. There was a small staircase leading down there, so it is lowlight in here. The minute you go into the hallways, it is dark, so you'll need light or darkvision to see.

I suppose we pick a cardinal direction? South?

South or North, wherever those might be, Loblin will follow the Knave!

With a shrug of her smooth shoulders, Hornitelle follows (positioned one from last), "It begins. As the darkness grows, who will hold the light of Calistra?"

We need some sort of marching order to proceed, I kinda ordered the token ready to go in the entrance, change it as you want. Who wants light cast on one of their objects, Pa's weapon might be a good choice?

"Oooh! The Light of Calistra! Sounds beautiful!"
Loblin is ready to follow--
--fine in 2nd or last row (probably not the best as front liner is all)

Pa and Knab probably take the lead, the "light" on Pa's weapon is a good choice (Knab has Darkvision), heading South.

I adjusted the pieces to represent this.

As described in his Profile Header, Knab is Scouting while also keeping a lookout for Traps. This is clearly not Knab's first grave-robbin'! Tombs are always full of traps!.

Loblin has her eyes peeled.
She went through tunnels and such when she a little kid, all those 2 years ago, escaping the Undead from Lastwall... so she is wary of trouble.

(I have the exploration mode in my header too)

As an instruction to Pa, Hornitelle speaks, "Your weapon, it requires the blessing of Calistra's light." She touches his weapon and light is spread around. "You will present your weapon once a minute to reinforce the blessing."

Casts light on Pa's weapon once every minute.

Sangel followed suit with the party, securing the blade at his hip, ensuring that is was in fact still there. A jog of his memory recalled that he have kept some torches in his satchel. Alas, his metropolitan wiles failed him as he had forgotten to secure any flint. "Would perhaps anyone have some flint?"

Heroes go south and it leads to a series of twists and turns that lead really nowhere but to another downstairs and an empty room. Heroes go back to room 1 finding nothing. Where to now, left or up?

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 Sangel
perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 Hornitielle
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 Knave

Alright, who wants to disable the pit trap?

I think you forgot Loblin, who was also Searching? And Pa as well, though I am unsure what the "Standard" exploration activity means...

Knab, who holds reserved a special and arbitrary hatred for going in circles, pulls out his trusty picks "Stand back now, and wait until I say so. Don't want anyone accidentally falling in. Clearly whoever is buried here wasn't very wealthy in life!" Daring to boast - at the expense of one presumed to be unable to defend their own honor - Knab cracks himself up a little before setting his hands to work Disabling the Trap.

Disable a Device: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Clink-clink, wrench... POP. "Ok kids. Safe now. So, West or North?"

Loblin watches Knab elegantly disable what seems to be a pit trap.

"Yes, I agree, West or North!"

Turning to her sister, Loblin points to Knave.
"See how smart he is! I hadn't thought that since we come from the East, and have gone South, the best is to now go North or West. But it clearly is."

So this dwarf does has his uses. Hornitelle mind mulls over the dexterity shown by Knab. As he goes about his trade, Hornietelle takes a piece of chalk from her pack and chalks an arrow pointing towards the entrance with a word or sign.

Then she speaks clearly, "West Dwarf!"

"Yes ma'am, West it is!" Knab goes West.

Loblin follows along--

Sangel strolled along with the others. He observed anything of interest along the walls.

Akmajet made frequent prayers to Set in this elaborate shrine. The centerpiece of the shrine is a 10-foot-tall statue of the god himself, holding a brazier of lit coals.

religion: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Sangel scratched his head at the statue of Set. There was something eerie about the figure. Alas, the iconography was just a but too arcane for his understanding.

Religion 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"What good is that statue, some prince of times gone by. Let's continue to explore this darkened tomb. Despite the treasures being on their way." she spits the words out.

Pa accepts Hornietelle's blessing of light on his Scythe, and keeps presenting it every time the light runs out. "Always found it nifty when y'all magic-types can make my scythe's blade all glow-y like that. Makes me feel like it has some fancy magic runes on it or somethin'." Pa is happy to take to the front in the party.

Religion, untrained: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
"Shoot. That there is 'Set'. He's one of them-there Oh-see-ree-on-ee type gods. He's all about darkness, deserts, and murder. Not exactly what I'd call a happy god, but Master Shane had some fun stories to tell 'bout 'im! And I think some people actually still worship Set til this day, Miss Sting."

unless I'm mistaken, Light lasts until next day's preparations, Hornietelle. Also, Knab, don't ask how, but I missed Search in the Exploration modes section, and thought it got axed from the playtest version.

So the majority vote was constructs, so he is in here. And by he I mean Nefaram. If you trust him, your character is either dumb or neutral aligned at best. There is no right or wrong way to roleplay him or how to tip you off, but I'll do my best to tip you off in character.
Ah, welcome the name is Nefaram. I want to perform an experiment. I need your help, if you can help we will be rewarded, you'll get to keep these movable statues. and some coins. He appears to wear a Horizon Hunters symbol on his plate mail armor. He isn't moving much

You also know from the religion check that lighting the braziers which are not lit in here will keep the statues from being too fast if they do animate.

1) Perception vs DC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
2) Society vs DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
3) Perception vs DC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
4) Knab is not trained in Religion

Knab, realizing by at least 3 cues, recognizes this man as an imposter. "The jig is up, bub. Grave robbin' is a capital crime against the City of Sothis!" The Knave Interacts to Draw (◆) his clan dagger! "Time to come quietly now. We got you five and a half to one."

How about a bribe, I'll give you 100 gold. I promise you, I can control these things, and the only people the might get hurt is the guards outside, but I'm sure they'll survive the attack if they fake being passed out. I've got more gold at my house and he shows you the gold

Loblin looks at the man--
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
(the rest not being an option)
--and smiles:
"Well hello, Mister Nefaram, sir.
My sister and I are dutiful followers of the Envoy's Alliance, and happy to give a hand to all Pathfinders, surely!"

But then Knab pulls his dagger so Loblin steps back from aiding Mister Nefaram.
Though she does whisper: "Knab, now is not the time to be betting. Besides, he is offering money we do not need to gamble for..."

Loblin looks at the gold--
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
--"Well, that would be nice to bring back to the Venture-Captain, to reimburse for the cost of the expedition.
Right, Knab?"

She looks at Knab, waiting to see what he will do.

She glances back at Mistress too--

Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Society 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Religion 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

The elven cleric stares at the man, before slowly turning her head to look at the statues, then slowly and carefully smoothes her attire and opens up the top of her jacket, obviously and exposing a tantilizingly small amount of flesh. "Neferam, you may be an imposter, but I'm sure you'd like to get out of here alive and reap the rewards of living and sharing my fortune." her voice both sweet and seductive, as her finger slips down the exposed flesh. She addresses her companions, her voice once more commanding and authoritarian, "Stay, until I have finished."

She speaks soothing and melodious elven words and goes to the man extending a hand of friendship, "Feel the soft skin that awaits when we leave safely. My fortune" as she pulls his hand to her soft flesh.

Cast Charming Touch if he lets his hand be taken freely, otherwise 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 against touch and DC 16 Will save against charm

Loblin looks at Poblin-- who looks back.
The two flat-chested green-wart-covered-skinned Goblins shake their heads... not as seductive.

To his goblin friend "Life, my dear Loblin, is at all of it's turns, indeed a gamble, and there is no such a thing as a free pot! Grinning tooth to tooth - if skipping a few rows - the dwarf imparts paternal wisdom, and letting it sink in a little, before adding "Steel yourself, you and your sister, for if this seductress's gambit goes sideways, we are all hooked on the line!"

Knab backs Hornietelle's play, ready to be her either her co-conspiritor or her life insurance policy.

Sangel stood back and observed. He wanted to see if this imposter brought any teeth with him.

Occult knowledge: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Perception vs DC 13 (Horizon Hunter): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Society vs DC 15: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Perception vs DC 13 (trained in heavy armor): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Religion DC 15, untrained: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Perception vs DC 20: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Pa takes in the information, and leans over to Loblin and Knab and shares "That armor ain't right. Tain't heavy enough and he's not moving right in it. That there Horizon Hunter symbol a'int right neither. And that gold, take a closer look. Totally fake. Real gold ain't quite that shiny, unless you polish it up real good. And there's no way he'd be down here polishin' up his gold if he's been doin' a tomb raidin'. If'n that pretty Miss don't get him all seductified, I vote we just jump him and give him a good knockin' out a'fore we turn him over to the guards upstairs."

Loblin looks around for something to write it down-- "Life is at all of it's urns, indeed a gamble, and there is no such a thing as a free pot! - Got it! You gamble urns because pots are not free!"

Hornietelle I'll give him a 33% chance he finds you attractive, low numbers win
chance: 1d100 ⇒ 54 He doesn't take your hand and he is confused about why you are touching his armor. Careful, this armor is expensive. chance: 1d100 ⇒ 98 You just poked a hole through his Styrofoam armor. See what you did, your magic spell ruined my armor.

He looks at you all. So, do we have a deal, I'm rich! You can all be too. He isn't going anywhere yet. He will run away, die or be sent to jail depending upon how you roleplay this out and other factors like percentage dice.

Feeling in command of the situation, Knab is struck by a temptation to, as it were, "play with his food", with the sadism of a feline apex predator - not unlike those hairless fiends that nearly took his mate's eye! - before letting nature take it's course. And he gives in with nary a fight!

Turning to Loblin with a look in his eye betraying his thoughts "Alright kiddo, what should we do with him!?"

Loblin looks at Knab-- We could gamble his urns to see what pot he goes in, she thinks, before saying:
"Well, Pa just had a very well thought out plan! For the crime of not polishing his gold, and not being seductified by Mistress Sting, let us jump him, give him a good knockin' out, and then turn him over to the guards upstairs!"

"Hmmm..." Considering the farmer and goblin's plan, Knab indulges the moment further, scratching his head "What do you think, Sangel?..." Suddenly a flash of inspiration! "You still got that deck on you?"

With a swift turn of her head, Hornietelle quickly about turns, a glint of annoyance flashes across her eyes and her lips curl, as her words cut through the air, "Knab, Pa, Sangel let the cards speak. This fool who thinks he has control in the tomb, he is truly a danger to himself." The rejection cutting into her psyche, turns back to address the man, "So cut the c**p, what in the names of the gods of the dead are you doing here? Nefaram, if it is your real name, how did you get down here past the guards and why did you come? If you want to get out alive and not be left in this tomb until your judgement, you had better speak truthfully. And explain your 'little experiment', I am interested in your plans." her voice gradually loosing it's edge and returning to the calm and controlled tones of authority.

She loosens the clip on her belt to take hold of 'Sting', it's tight wound braided yellow handle feeling comfortable against her palm. "Tombs are dangerous places for the ill prepared and many tomb robbers end up as bones and dust upon the floor. They are the lucky ones, for those unlucky ones spend eternity lost from their souls, never to find peace. So which are you? What is your fate?"