GM Valen's The Burden of Envy (PbP)(June 2020)(15 Challenge Points) (Inactive)

Game Master Lysle

hero point reroll

diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

"We're here to see Themolin regarding an important matter." She turns and glares at the man then back to the woman, smiling again. "I'm sure we're somewhere in that book of yours Debboriah dear."

Zaza waves her hand over the book then turns back to the man annoyed again. "Are you still here? Go away and stop pestering this young woman."

"Pestering!?" Baralbus says indignantly. "I am the Assistant Sub-Director of Audits, I'll have you know!" Clearly upset, the man storms off into the sea of desks behind him, muttering a series of curses beneath his breath.

The receptionist, Debboriah, looks up and says, "Oh, yes. You were asking about an appointment with Themolin, I believe?" The woman flips through the appointment book. "I don't believe I see any reference to one for you in here. You can only meet with Themolin by appointment. Would you like me to schedule one for you?"

Assuming Zaza makes such a request:

The woman shrugs. "I am currently scheduling appointments out four days in advance. You may come back and see Themolin then."

Any other PCs may openly attempt Diplomacy to Make an Impression with Debboriah. Attempting a Diplomacy check to Make a Request is a separate and secret roll, as is any Intimidation check to Coerce or any Legal Lore or Accounting Lore check to Recall Knowledge. If you wish to try any of the secret rolls, please indicate such in your next post and include the relevant modifier.

Katrina just facepalms after Zaza manages to drive off Baralbus. She then attempts to salvage the situation using diplomacy and a piece of chocolate ((Diplomacy +7))

Zaza gives Katrina an innocent look and a shrug as if to say "What?"

I assume I botched my diplomacy to make a request despite driving off Baralbus. Can I still make an Accounting Lore? If so I have +5 to Accounting Lore. Since four days would put our appointment the day after we leave it obviously won't work. If nobody can manage to get a better appointment I'll end up casting Charm DC17. I'll wait to discuss it with the party however.

I assume I botched my diplomacy to make a request despite driving off Baralbus.

They are secret rolls, so I'm not sure I am aloud to tell you. ; P. Your assumption, however, seems rather reasonable.

Can I still make an Accounting Lore?

Yes, but it is a secret check as there is a chance for critical failure.

Katrina, Diplomacy to Make an Impression: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"Chocolate?" Debboriah replies as she takes the chocolate offered by Katrina. "My favorite. How may I help you?"

Making a Request for an expedited appointment is a secret check as there is a chance for critical failure.

Chocolate .... the universal language ..,.. I won my current girlfriend with chocolate. Don't worry, I'm not hitting on you ... not this time anyway .. and not like that man just now. His ... intentions were soooo blatent.

But yeah ... we're wanting a quick word with Themolin please. Should only take a few minutes.

((Yes she's making the attempt))

After getting her response and relaying it to the others, she turns back to Debboriah with a slightly seductive smile.

I'm also curious. If I wanted to entertain in this city ... do I need a license or a permit? And if so, where would I get one?

Guntram steps back and watches all of this unfold with a slightly amused look on his face.

Sneak is out of her depth here, so she just watches things unfold

I'm also curious. If I wanted to entertain in this city ... do I need a license or a permit? And if so, where would I get one?

"A license or permit is required for everything in this city." Debboriah laments. "You need to go to the Entertainment and Performance Authority."

With a slight wave good bye and her face slightly blushing, she adds, "I'll see you tomorrow."

Where to next? Two votes will get you there!

Outside of the Ministry...

"I would have thought that she would be more grateful for us getting rid of that ridiculous man. Still the chocolate seems to have worked well. Good job Katrina.

Shall we head to the sewers now and find Flitch?"

Well ... as I said, it certainly helped cement the relationship between me and my girlfriend so I thought it was worth giving it a go. Want some?

And yeah ... let's go see how bad it is down there.

Well done, ladies. Aye, suppose there's no more putting it off.

A well-oiled grate leads down into a twisting sewer system. Graffiti covers the walls at every intersection of the labyrinth.

Within a few minutes, it is evident that the city’s sewer grates lead to miles of underground tunnels. Portions of the sewers are clearly dislocated, some are collapsed, as the result of some cataclysmic event. However, there are signs among the architecture of some of the sewer tunnels suggesting that such an event took place rather recently, but the indicators within the bedrock and other, intersecting tunnels almost certainly date back many, many centuries, if not several millennia.

Go ahead and give me an Exploration Mode for each PC and the corresponding skill check, which may be made in the open.

Katrina goes into scout mode as well as checking for traps.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Zaza will detect magic for her Exploraton Activity.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

I'm not certain if I'm supposed to roll a perception with that activity or not but there it is just in case.

Guntram attempts to keep his eyes open as well.

Search: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Exploration Mode activities for the remainder of the party?

Zaza scowls and kicks a rat out of her way as she sloshes through the ancient sewers.

"Will someone remind me why we thought this was a good idea? It's cold and wet and the stench is intense"

Sneak, unsurprisingly, sneaks alongside Katrina, crossbow at the ready

stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Have we lost Evgeni? Been about a week from last post.

I am here, just have had limited access to forums and my life is a bit of a shambles right now, lol

Hope it gets better for you soon Evgeni

Katrina looks up to Zaza. She is also wearing a mask over her mouth and nose so you can't see her expression right now. Could be worse. We could be swimming in it. And you tall people have less reason tae complain. What's waist deep for you, is neck deep at least for me. My nose is closer tae the source. Why do you think you lot are behind me?

It is a good shambles. I have a new girlfriend, I am starting university (for the second time in my life and I am 40 now), I am a dad 50% of the time and I also work full time.

Evengi, what is your exploration activity? Defend? Maybe Search?

I will defend. Champion and all

So that's: Evgeni-Defend
Zaza-Detect Magic
Katrina-Scout
Sneak-Avoid Notice
Guntram-Search

Hmm...Evgeni do you even have a shield to use for defend? I don't see one on your character info.

So that's: Evgeni-Defend

Zaza-Detect Magic
Katrina-Scout
Sneak-Avoid Notice
Guntram-Search

As the goal is to "find Flitch" and since a Perception check was rolled, I will assume that both Katrina and Guntram are searching.

Zaza detects no magical auras within the dank, smelly tunnels.

Katrina does, however, spot Flitch’s name hidden among the graffiti and markings on the wall, along with what may be a coded message.

A Society check to Decipher is necessary to decode any hidden message in the markings. As there is a chance for failure, this is a secret check.

She points the message out to the others before attempting to decode it Society +8

Sneak stays hidden, happy to be back in her element of stealth and having only crazy ideas for what the graffiti might mean

"This is just a bunch of inane scribblings. I don't see any..." Zaza pauses, then leans in carefully to examine Katrina's find. "Hmm...Maybe...

Like the markings in the house is it? What's is say, then? Seems like this fellow left a way to be found. Hope that means he'll be cooperative about getting out of here.

After spending ten minutes examining the markings, Katrina is unable to arrive at a conclusion as to their meaning. However, Zaza concludes that they confirm that Flitch is hiding somewhere within the sewers.

Back to Exploration Mode. Given that the party is attempting to find Flitch (and the attempts to decipher the writing did not yield any further clues), may I suggest that at least one of you attempt to Track Flitch? Search may also be useful.

"Ugh! We'll be down here forever at this rate. Can anyone track Flitch? Sneak? Guntram? KC?"

I can try Katrina grumbles - clearly annoyed that her attempt at decoding the markings failed - maybe he changed the cypher key.

She goes into Search mode. perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Sneak would greatly prefer to stay hidden, but if no one else is willing or able to track, she will step forward and do it.

the way the exploration activities don't let you be stealthy if you're doing anything else has always bothered me. For me non PFS games I will probably rule you can be stealthy and do something else by moving slower and using the "other" activity for initiative

survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Eh, well, guess we do this the old fashioned way, then. Lemme see if I can spot any signs of his passage.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Zaza continues to detect magic.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

It would appear I do not have a shield. Oversight on my behalf during creation. Will rectify after the game.

Well we are in a city. You could probably buy one here.

Sneak Runt and Guntram each pick up signs that the graffiti artist that included "Flitch" has dropped the sharp-edged stone used to carve the markings. A set of footprints nearby provides indications that a humanoid has recently been moving through this portion of the sewers, apparently dragging pieces of wood along with it.

As you travel along, Katrina's sharp eye spots a low-grade silver shield as well as 25 silver pieces in loose coins that have collected among the detritus in the sewer.
What luck! Evgeni can cancel that shopping trip!

Eventually, the trail becomes less pronounced in areas where the fetid water rises as it leads down an older tunnel and to a small sewer maintenance chamber where a humble campsite has been set up. Dying embers consume the last remnants of charred wood.

Siting at the campsite is a young man with a wholesome face, accented by dark hair. A single curl dangles over his forehead, which he brushes aside as he spies the party. "What the--!?" exclaims the young man in surprise, before asking cautiously. "Just who are you?"

A picture of the young man can be found on Slides.

We're friends of your uncle Katrina replied. He sent us to look for you because he was asking about his slippers. I'm KayCee

A picture of the young man can be found on Slides.

It's Superman

Zaza nods at the young man.

"I'm Zaza. We're told you know a secret tunnel to Shard Cove. We'll need you to show us if we're to get you out of here properly."

Assuming you're Flitch, of course, Guntram adds with a smirk.

We're friends of your uncle Katrina replied. He sent us to look for you because he was asking about his slippers. I'm KayCee

"Slippers?" repeats the youth quizzically. It is a few moments before a look of revelation overtakes the young man's face. "Slippers!" he cries out. "So, you're here to finish the job for Uncle Guaril? Yes! I knew he wouldn't leave me to hang here in Xin-Edasseril. I'm too valuable, you know."

Zaza nods at the young man.

"I'm Zaza. We're told you know a secret tunnel to Shard Cove. We'll need you to show us if we're to get you out of here properly."

"The plan's still on then? Good to know." the young man continues as he begins to forage through a pack of meager belongings, "When things got too hot in the city and Uncle Guaril left, I figured that the ship to Shard Cove wouldn't be coming. So, I've been busy trying to think of any other way out of this awful place. Got stuff for disguises and...there's more!" He continues to dig through the pack.

Assuming you're Flitch, of course, Guntram adds with a smirk.

The young man looks up and flashes a smile. He then stands upright and bows before holding out a hand in introduction. "Of course, I'm Flitch. Flitch Napovic. Master thief," he declares.

Returning to his rummaging through the pack, Flitch produces a disguise kit and a small flask, which he sets down neatly.

He next uncovers a repair kit, which he quickly tosses aside. "Guess, I won't be needing that now." he mutters to himself as he dives back into the pack.

Then, a few moments later, he produces a set of rolled up papers and declares himself, "And a forger without equal!"

Passing the papers to Guntram, he explains, "Those are forged travel papers. Made them myself. Fine work, don't you think?"

"I don't know. Let's take a look. Also, what's in the flask?"

Zaza looks over Guntram's shoulder at the forged papers.

Katrina picks up the repair kit - no sense in that going to waste.

Sneak nods approvingly from a dark corner as she sees Katrina pick up the repair kit