GM Tyranius (PF2) Quest #8 Shadows of the Black Sovereign (Inactive)

Game Master Tyranius

Dot in here

boop

Dot, give me a minute to fix him up to match the Pregen.

Go ahead and finish stating up your pregens, I'll just post the opening intro.

You have been in the city of Hajoth Hakados in Numeria for the better part of a week now assisting Venture-Captain Dagur Hawksight with preparing the Pathfinder lodge to receive an important guest: Kevoth-Kul, Numeria’s ruler. Dagur has arranged for Hajoth Hakados’s leader, Lady Altouna to participate in the event. Preparations have been going well up until this point, and Kevoth-Kul is expected to arrive the following morning.

Vanis Mercuria, Hawksight’s assistant, comes to find you in the meeting room. Vanis gives you a brief nod before speaking. “We of the Hajoth Hakados Lodge thank you for your willingness to contribute in this politically sensitive endeavor. Our attentions cannot be diverted from other matters presently. I shall be brief. Our scribe, a gnome named Zatqualmish, has gone missing as of this morning, along with several necessary documents. We suspect foul play, potentially from an internal element, as the documents were magically hidden. A preliminary search has given us nothing conclusive, but you are welcome to investigate any areas or staff of the lodge you feel may help.”

They gather their sheaf of notes and hold out a silver compass. “Take this, should you need something to give you a bit of authority with the locals.”

Vanis holds out a wayfinder for you, "Speak with the support staff of the Lodge and see if they have noticed anything unusual."

Sir Reinhart listens carefully as he polishes his shield

"What do you mean by 'necessary documents'?" asks Sir Reinhart politely.

Magically hidden documents? Well, I guess we'll have to feel our way around for them instead of using our eyes. Or use detect magic, or see invisibility.

Ezren waves a finger in the air to get the assistant's attention.
Excuse me. Ah. Yes... I am also wondering. How were these documents "magically hidden"?

Every time you post I go oh no, I accidentally posted without using my character's profile. Then I remember what's going on, we'll see if I manage to get used to it.

"Any sign of a struggle? Hopefully the gnome has not come to a bad end."

Karando will accept the wayfinder and hang it from his belt.

haha, it threw me for a loop as well Pirate.

Magically hidden using magical means, not so much that they were turned invisible. They were just hidden using magical means and were taken from that spot.

"What do you mean by 'necessary documents'?"

"Documents that Dagur had prepared for her negotiations."

"Any sign of a struggle? Hopefully the gnome has not come to a bad end."

"Venture-Captain Dagur fears the worst: Zatqualmish must have slipped out of the lodge with the documents, most likely as part of some plan to sabotage the proceedings, though I am uncertain as to whether Zatqualmish was a willing participant or an unfortunate witness. Either way, Dagur needs someone to find Zatqualmish and the documents fast."

Where was the gnome's last known wherabouts? May we investigate his room?

"Does the lodge employ much other staff? We should interview them, as well." Karando purses his lips. "I'm sure that they would have reported it if they witnessed anything overt, but maybe would could pick up an unusual pattern of behavior."

Where was the gnome's last known wherabouts? May we investigate his room?

Zatqualmish rarely strayed from his room, which he also uses as his office, he spoke most with the lodge’s cook."

"Does the lodge employ much other staff?

"Mostly just the kitchen staff."

"Shall we split up to cover more ground, or stick together?"

Hehe. Sure, I'll volunteer to split the party during the briefing.

Sir Reinhart nods to Karando's suggestion "Do you want the kitchen or the office?"

Sounds good, decide on your own location on your next post.

I feel that since he spent most of his time in his bedroom, which is also his office, there might be more to be found there. No intentions to seem rude, of course. If you care to accompany me there, by all means please do.
Ezren turns and makes his way to the gnome's bedroom.

"I could use a snack, myself. What's good in Numemeria?"

Karando will head to the kitchen to chat with the cook and see if there are any jam tarts.

After some time searching the gnome's bedroom, Ezren returns to the group.
Hmm. Interesting. All of his writing implements and supplies have been hastily gathered and removed from the room. Contents of the wardrobe and chest of drawers remain untouched. There are also no signs of a struggle.

Sir Reinhart goes with Ezren to the study/bedroom

"Why do you think he abandoned his breakfast halfway through?"

Kidnapped, possibly. Ezren strokes his beard in thought.

Sir Reinhart looks to Ezren "Nothing interesting over here exceept cold eggs, anything out the window?"

There are no signs of anyone climbing up or down the side of the house to the window, however, look at this. When Sir Reinhart approaches to look out the window, Ezren points to the treeline. See that? Just beyond the trees there seems to be a trail that leads into town. Let's gather the others and finish interviewing the staff. Then we should check out that trail.

Draco will be in the Kitchen, cause he's hungry.

Ezren heads downstairs to meet with the others. He tells them about the trail that leads into the woods seen from the bedroom window.
Have you found any useful information in the kitchen?

Sir Reinhart follows Ezren and nods along with his description.

Karando wanders in from the kitchen, still wiping sticky fingers on his armor-polishing cloth.

"The kitchen staff saw him packing a bag, and one of them thinks they saw him head off into the woods. The head chef is out in town buying supplies, so I didn't get to talk to him."

Interesting. Maybe he wasn't kidnapped after all. Just packed up his writing utensils and headed off into the woods. I am also considering the possibility that he might be under some form of mind control. Ezren pauses in thought for a moment.
Gentlemen, it appears the best course of action would be to follow that trail into the woods.

Heading over to investigate the trail into the woods further you find that find that it is a shortcut to a marketplace in the Homeshore District. The Homeshore District’s markets are buzzing with activity. Some peruse at their whims, pointing out odds and ends, while others move with focused purpose to exact stalls and prepare to haggle. While it seems impossible to find anyone here, an obvious path of disgruntled citizens winds its way around stalls and storefronts.

Just a half block away you find what can only be lodge chef Miro Loamgarden haggling with a merchant near the entrance for a very large quantity of tubers.

Sir Reinhart looks to his companions then waves to the chef "Good sir Loamgarden . Could we have a moment when you're done there?"

Miro looks a bit annoyed at being distracted from his haggling but seems willing enough to answer your questions. "I'll be back." He warns the merchant before stepping away from the stall. "What can I help you with?"

Ezren waits for Sir Reinhart to ask the cook questions before offering any of his own.

Sir Reinhart continues his conversation "Sorry to interrupt but it's rather important we track down what happened to Zatqualmish and you're one of the last members of the staff we haven't spoken with. Given the fact he disappeared without finishing his breakfast you may be one of the last people to interact with him."

Miro sighs. "What's there to say, Zatqualmish always orders a meal an hour after breakfast of fresh coffee and jam pastries, today, he didn’t place that order, which usually happens only when he plans to travel because “jam disagrees with a nervous belly” He waves his hand and the whole situation off as non-important. "He comes here to the Market all the time, there are a few people who may know where he is." Miro rattles off a list of names to check into.

Well, we did discover that all of his writing accessories were missing. Let's interview this Mister Blackfingers first, shall we?

You head off to Orin Blackfingers shop. You find a small gnome busy fussing over his stall of quills and inks, moving jars back and forth and making minute adjustments to his display to ensure all his products line up in neat right angles. "Welcome! Looking for a certain color of ink?"

Ezren looks over the wares feigning interest.
Exotic quills, actually. Similar to the type Zatqualmish uses. Hoping to catch Orin by surprise, he then glares at the gnome merchant. We're looking for our friend. The head cook. Have you seen him?

Give me a Diplomacy, Scribing, or Mercantile Lore check

Give me a Diplomacy, Scribing, or Mercantile Lore check or another applicable check.

"It would be a bit help if you told us. We are worried for him."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Crit for 2 successes

Orin shows a bit of surprise but seems happy enough to help. "I saw him running through the markets in an unheeding rush only a few hours ago, heading for the district of condemned alchemical and blacksmithing workshops known as the Crafters’ Quarters. Looked like he was heading towards an old building, Morgan’s, a long-since abandoned potion shop." He draws you a bit of a map to the location.

Sir Reinhart asks quizzically "You have a whole distract of condemned workshops?"

Rather than waiting for an actual answer he looks to his companions "Shall we?"

Ezren is very amused by Reinhart's statement. Haha. An entire district. There must have been many failed experiments that blew things up. Interesting. I am very much looking forward to seeing this district. Let's be on our way.

The miraculously attached sign creaking above the barred door reads “Morgan’s,” the only thing making this squat building distinguishable from the other warehouses crumbling around it. A firmly nailed placard states that the proprietor can now be found at the outskirts of town if needed. The few sooty windows near the ceiling are more for ventilation than passing perusal and are an unlikely point of entry.

New map is up.

Sir Reinhart draws his sword and shield "Given the nature of this... neighborhood we'd do best to be prepared for the worst."

Once his companions are ready Sir Reinhart nods to Karando hoping they can approach together.