Menagerie PFS: Murder's Mark (Inactive)

Game Master Blake's Tiger

*twitch*

Fuzzy isn't much of a conversationalist but thankfully Zu doesn't seem to mind doing all the talking in the relationship.

"Who knows what these people are dumb enough to believe, Zu? I mean they thought it was okay to tie a kid to a tree and beat him to death. And then their sheriff thought she could just waltz up and arrest a sphinx! When she knew the sphinx had nothing to do with any crimes! These people are crazy."

"How many dwarves, Hel?!"

Aurora brings up the rear.

As you move down the short hall, you can see there are three cells line the wall to the east, each containing a straw pallet and three buckets. The dwarf who waved you over is in the center cell. Another dwarf is in the northern cell and rises as he notices your approach. They are both thin--suggesting that they have been kept here for a significant time--and unkempt. Their beards and hair are matted and stuck with straw.

The first dwarf whispers loudly as you near, "Hey! Let us out, and I'll give you the valuable treasure in the guildmaster's office and tell you how to open its secret compartment!"

The second dwarf shushes you all softly. He whispers, "Careful! They have a freak down here that can blend into the walls. He could be in this very room, and you'd never know it!"

The locks are average quality.
The bars could also be bent with a DC 28 Strength check.

"Let them out! They know where the treasure is!" Helvetica pleads to Damiel, meeting anything less than immediate compliance to her request with a storm of pokes and prods.
________
Do we want to free these guys yet?

Satisfied that no one is creeping up on them - yet - Zu and Fuzzy move partway down the hall. He looks from one dwarf to the other and seems to think.

"I dunno...that one bean made himself look like you, Hel. What if they're the same? What if they're the baddies and this is all some sort of trick to get us to drop our guard??"

He gives the two the old hairy eyeball as he speaks...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

...because he's a stellar judge of character!

"I'm Barengar Gearwright, and that's my brother Pietros," the first dwarf whispers.

As you discuss unlocking the cell, Pietros whispers, "That freak they have guarding us has the key."

"Are you mad? Sending them after some invisible backstabber?" Barengar chastises his brother.

"You know the freak's name? We may have met him already. And if we catch him alone, he's finished."

"Ow ow ow alright Hel, alright. They're offering a fair deal, and if they're secretly shapechangers I'll set them on fire, okay?"

Damielbot looks for the dwarves reactions, and as long as they're suitably afraid of being set on fire, he sets to work on the locks.

disable device: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

"Ack, I can't work with you digging me in the ribs, Hel!"

Assume we could take 20 though, given time?

If you wish to commit to 2 minutes of work on the lock, yes.

"It's not real chatty," Barenger whispers.

Both of the dwarves look aghast when Damiel suggests setting them on fire. "We're no shapechangers. We're just craftsmen captured by pirates," Pietros pleads.

"Well that's alright then. I'm a craftsman too" Damielbot answers.

"You know where sneaky might be? Because it'll take me a couple of minutes to get each of you out and anyway I'd rather know he was out of the picture entirely." Damielbot glances nervously down the corridor, not wanting to experience another sudden stab in the bsck.

”That’s the thing. He just appears out of thin air,” Barengar answers.

"Wait, pirates? There're pirates in on this thing too??" Zu blinks. "Wow! This whole mess is deeper than a gopher hole! Probably a good thing we came into town when we did..."

While Damiel works on the lock Zu goes back to standing watch in the middle of the hallway.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"You're no fun, you know that?" Helvetica pouts, ceasing to annoy Damiel. "Hey, Dwarves, what are some fun insults in Dwarven? I'm talking like real zingers, like something that'll threaten a Dwarf's very Dwarfiness. Oh, oh, oh, and how do I order a drink?"

The partly starved dwarves stare at Helvetica blankly. While Zu keeps watch, Damiel takes his time to carefully finesse the locks on the cells and ultimately releases the dwarven craftsmen.

"Thank you!" Barengar whispers with emotion.

Pietro stumbles over and gives the elf a hug.

"The guild office is this way," Barengar says. He leads you back down the short hall and indicates the first door on the left heading south. "In there. We're in no shape to go in first if there's anyone in there, but we'll not leave you. Who knows when that ghosting creep will show up again."

"X" marks the spot of the guild office.
You will find the door unlocked, at least.

"Hey, thanks for the tip," Zu whispers as the dwarves file out of the cells. "Do you guys need some weapons or something, just in case? I've got a spare dagger one of you could borrow."

He then moves away from the door so DamielBot can get a better look at it.

Though the door to the guild office is unlocked, DamielBot isn't quite ready to just head inside. He gives the door a good eyeballin' first...

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

...and doesn't spy anything suspicious.

"Looks clear to me," he shrugs before slowly easing the door open a crack.

"After you, Damiel" Aurora invites, crossbow at the ready.

"Sorry I don't have any spare weapons, dwarf friends. I'm sure you're smart enough to keep out of the way though. Like, at least thrity feet out of the way. You look too hungry already."

Pietro takes the offered dagger. "Thank you, little friend."

Nothing dramatic happens as Damiel opens the door. A desk sits to the south, covered in an alchemical equipment and supplies. A cot with an extra padded mattress rests against the far wall, a small chest at its foot.

"There. Inside the chest. The treasure's in there," Barengar informs you.

"Book's incriminating evidence, let's grab it. Hey Damiel, looks like you could set up shop here once we're done dealing with the present incumbents."

"Watcha got in the chest?"

Damielbot's eyes go wide. "I... I could make SO. MUCH. GEAR."

He only stops salivating when his attention is drawn to the chest. "Huh. Simple lock compared to the cells. Just a minute." The elf takes his tools and makes short work. Pass DC15 with a take 10.

"What the hells is this junk? A broken clockwork? Is this a joke, dwarf-guys?"

"No! That clock work is, was, will be again once it is repaired a wondrous creation," Barengar protests and begins to wax poetic on the construction and use of a clockwork spy.

"The pirates broke it when they captured our ship and ransacked the cabins," Pietro says. "But press here, here, and here."

The bottom of the clockwork spy pops open along a hidden hinge. Inside is a traveler's any-tool and two scrolls.

"Oh. OH! Okay, that's more impressive. I can think of a few uses for that. Can you repair it?" asks Damielbot.

"Well dang! They can do a lot with masheens these days can't they?" Zu whistles, impressed by the idea of the clockwork spy. "Never been able to wrap my gourd around all that stuff too well but I'm glad some of you bean-folk know how!"

When the scrolls are produced, Zu taps into a bit of his natural magic and quickly scans them. "Oh hey, those'd be useful, especially that healing scroll. Hope we won't actually need it, though..."

Helvetica shrugs. "Looks like a fancy box to me!" That'll teach them to ignore me! I could fake being impressed with their toy, if only they hadn't snubbed me first.
________
Same hallway we're all piled in, I say we look at the room to the north then the rooms to the south!

The door in the north end of the hallway opens into an interrogation chamber, you assume. A heavy metal chair with straps mounted on high, flat armrests sits against the center of the north wall. To one side is an unlit brazier, and to the other is a small table covered with metal instruments. Two more comfortable-looking chairs sit directly across from it. A thorough search reveals nothing of particular interest to anyone on this side of the moral spectrum.

The door to the south opens into someone's living quarters. A padded cot sits to the south, with a platter of chicken bones picked clean sitting on the floor next to it. To the north is a large, empty crate. The stale scent of body odor permeates the air.

Helvetica's nose wrinkles. "Yikes, whoever we mess up in a minute should be taught how to take a bath! Like, at least once a month, ew," she whines. There a window in here? GROSS.

"What is that, food?" Aurora licks her lips subconsciously. "I'm hungry. Stinks bad in there though. Is that human, or animal?"

Aurora steps inside.

"Maybe it's where that sneaky-sneak sleeps?" Zu suggests as he waves for Fuzzy and follows Aurora into the room. He looks around for a moment and then goes to peer into the empty crate.

"Wonder what they kept in here?"

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

As sharp as Zu's eyes have been, the skulks are nearly invisible in their camouflage. As soon as Aurora crosses the threshold, two blades are directed toward her vital spots. However, the first skulk slips on a splatter of grease near the door and drives her blade into the door jam. The second skulk, who you recognize from the warehouse, manages to strike the merfolk but only scuffs her breastplate.

The door across the room opens, revealing a room full of crates and boxes, and out steps a leather clad rogue who advances upon Aurora.

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Blue Assassin
Damiel
Red Skulk
Blue Skulk
Aurora
Red Assassin
Helvetica
Zu

Damielbot advances to get a better look. "Holy crap, Aurora, haul your watery arse out of there!"

With no reasonable likelihood of landing a bomb attack that wouldn't burn Aurora fiercely too, Damielbot quaffs an extract and shrinks down to the size of a halfling. Consume extract of Reduce Person - will help his accuracy and AC.

Now that she is aware of them, they are denied the advantage of surprise, but the merfolk is also distracted by being pressed by all sides. The female skulk takes advantage and drives her sword under Aurora's breastplate. The male skulk has a harder time--perhaps remembering the earlier terror she induced in him--and his sword clangs off of her armor.

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Blue Assassin
Damiel
Red Skulk
Blue Skulk
Aurora (5/10 hp)
Red Assassin
Helvetica
Zu

Aurora retreats from the skulks' deathtrap.

"Ugh, there's two skulks either side of the door, and at least one human bean helping them. One of the cowards stabbed me! I can patch it up after we've dealt with them."

She gestures angrily towards the doorway.

Withdraw action. With cover from the doorway I think that should avoid any AoOs.

"Now we've got ourselves stuck in the doorway," grumbles an assassin as he charges forward to thrust his sword at Zu. The leshy manages to just barely parry the thrust with his spear. "What if they've got a wizard or something? Couldn't wait like a moment more, skulks?"

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Blue Assassin
Damiel
Red Skulk
Blue Skulk
Aurora (5/10 hp)
Red Assassin
Helvetica
Zu

"You all stink!" Helvetica taunts as she makes her way down the hallway. She makes faces at the assassin in the doorway.
________
Making the assumption that the Skulks will be attacking through cover on Zu, so she'll ready a DC 14 Warp Touch on the first foe to attack from the doorway or be Dazed! Increasingly happy to have our dirty channeler and AoE bomber ;)

"More like they're dumber'n hell," Zu remarks, privately agreeing that their foes could have planned their ambush better but also thankful that they didn't. "Guess I'm holding the line, then!"

The leshy pulls out his silver mace and takes a swing at the foe in front of him...

Attack vs. Red Assassin (Silver Mace): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Yeehaw!"
______________

Though if it works better for Zu to fall back a little, just say the word and he'll do it~

Well if you were to 5' step to one side Zu it would give Damiel a clear shot, but Blue might just step into the gap. maybe we see if Damiel can find a target when his turn comes up, otherwise we can try to rearrange ourselves more advantageously.

Zu manages to clock the male skulk in the ribs despite the cover provided by the doorway. The skulk lets out a satisfying, "Oof!"

The assassin in the back draws a dagger and flings it at the leshy. The dagger sticks in his gourd with a wet thunk.

Apologies. My dice are hot in here. As opposed to elsewhere...

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Blue Assassin
Damiel
Red Skulk
Blue Skulk (-4 hp)
Aurora (5/10 hp)
Red Assassin
Helvetica
Zu (5/9 hp)

Let's see if Damiel can help then.

Damielbot returns fire, lobbing a bomb into the back ranks of the enemies.

bomb vs blue assassin, small. pbs: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 21damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7
5 splash damage to the rest of the bad guys, Ref DC14 for half.

"Who needs wizards, eh?"

Damiel's bomb explodes right where he wanted it. Both the human who caught the bomb and the one in front of him take a powerful blast. The skulks, more used to dodging assaults, avoid the worst of the explosion.

The female skulk strikes through the doorway, managing to resist Helvetica's dazing assault, but failing to strike Zu anyways. She backs away from the door. The male skulk cannot hit the broad side of a barn today. He backs away, too.

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Blue Assassin (-7 hp)
Damiel
Red Skulk (-2 hp)
Blue Skulk (-6 hp)
Aurora (5/10 hp)
Red Assassin (-5 hp)
Helvetica
Zu (5/9 hp)

"Sounds like you got 'em, wizard!" Aurora grins through the pain of her wound.

"Let's finish them off."

Aurora brandishes her holy symbol and invokes the power of the Divine Princess.

selective channel: 1d6 ⇒ 3 1 damage to the bad guys, and DC15 Will or be sickened till end of Aurora's turn on turn 3.

I think the only enemy not caught in the channel is red skulk, as he seems to be the only one with total cover against Aurora.

The sound of stomachs rumbling can be heard. The smell of left out chicken sickens the hungry stomachs of one of the assassin and one of the skulks. Despite looking a bit green around the gills, the assassin in front of Zu tries to remove his gourd from his vines. Fortunately, he wretches at precisely the wrong moment and the leshy can gently parry the blade into the door jamb.

Combat! Round 2. Bold may act.

Blue Assassin (-8 hp)
Damiel
Red Skulk (-2 hp)
Blue Skulk (-7 hp; sickened 3)
Aurora (5/10 hp)
Red Assassin (-6 hp; sickened)
Helvetica
Zu (5/9 hp)

Hoping to perhaps make things a little easier for Damiel Zu takes one last swing at the Red Assassin...

Attack vs. Red Assassin (Silver Mace): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

...and then steps to the side of the door.

Helvetica pouts as her own method of discomforting people fails. She opts for her tried and true pew-pew wand. "First one across the line gets it!" she warns, but doesn't wait even a moment before shooting a bolt at the assassin in the doorway.

"Oops! Let me try that again, don't move!"
________
Magic Missile (Wand) vs Red Assassin: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Zu swings wildly with his mace and steps back. Helvetica fires off her wand of long distance law enforcement, striking the assassin in the shoulder.

The assassin in the back draws a dagger from his belt and moves to throw it, but he accidently loses his grip and the blade flies backwards (Oh, sure. Now I'm rolling 1s).

Combat! Round 3. Bold may act.

Blue Assassin (-8 hp)
Damiel
Red Skulk (-2 hp)
Blue Skulk (-7 hp; sickened 3)
Aurora (5/10 hp)
Red Assassin (-8 hp; sickened)
Helvetica
Zu (5/9 hp)

Damielbot throws another bomb through the doorway.

Do splash weapons 'splash' around corners? Not sure if a bomb aimed at Red Assassin would splash Aurora and Zu or not. I think they'd at least have cover. Damiel's attack will be directed at Red Assassin if the splash won't affect Zu and Aurora, or at Blue Assassin in the back if it would.

bomb vs bad guy, small, pbs: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 19damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11 5 splash damage, DC14 Reflex for half.

"Boom, baby, boom!"

Reviewing splash weapon rules makes me appreciate some of the specificity in PF2. With them being at least 50% exposed, whichever way I slice it, it looks like they would be at risk (granted with a bonus to save).

Damile tosses a bomb into the back of the pack of rogues. It explodes with impressive force, although the assassin in the front and the skulk manage to twist away in time to shield their vital parts from the worst of it. The assassin in front turns back toward Zu and grin. Then his expression sours, and he looks down at his side. A large chunk of shrapnel is lodged where his liver resides. He looks up and then falls to the ground. Behind him, the charred corpse of the other assassin rests.

The two skulks throw down their blades. "We surrender!" they cry simultaneously.

Combat? Round 3/4. Bold may act.

Red Skulk (-4 hp)
Blue Skulk (-7 hp; sickened 3)
Aurora (5/10 hp)
Helvetica
Zu (5/9 hp)
--4--
Damiel

"I'm willing to accept your surrender, but you're going in the cells that you put the dwarves in until we're all done here. And you're going to tell us who's in charge and where we can find them. This guild is through!"

"Let's round them up in those cells first, wouldn't want any funny business," Helvetica says as menacingly as she can while pointing her wand at the two conscious Skulks. "Then we can safely question them while searching the place at the same time!"

"What the ladies said," Zu nods as he motions for the two skulks to step out of the room. "And empty your pockets, too! It'd be pretty dumb to stick you in those cells if you can just pick the locks open later or something."

"One of them has the keys. Turn them over, scaredy-mice!"

Meanwhile Aurora downs one of the probably-healing potions that she took from formerly-handsome man at the Braeton place.

clw?: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6