[PbP Gameday][RD] PFS2 1-12: Burden of Envy (Inactive)

Game Master Andrew Harasty

Game to start 8 Sept 2020 after the Labor Day conventions

Dot and Delete as needed

You find yourself in the Lodge in the city of Magnimar.

Valais Durant begins. “I need your help for a task that requires both great risk and discretion.” The aasimar woman gestures to a green-eyed Varisian man, who flashes a sly grin framed by a thin mustache.

“This is Guaril Karela, a prominent figure among the Sczarni,” she continues. “The Sczarni maintain a smuggling ring, providing freedom to those chafing under the oppression of Belimarius, the Runelord of Envy and ruler of Edasseril. Demand for such services is high,” she pauses and casts a somewhat disdainful glare toward Guaril, “allowing the Sczarni to extract hefty sums from desperate patrons.

“I find the practice rather distasteful,” Valais sighs. “However, collaboration with his operations grants the Radiant Oath some measure of oversight in ensuring proper treatment of the refugees. Further, I have Guaril’s personal assurance that the Sczarni will not demand more in payment than their clients can afford.”

“Transportation’s expensive,” Guaril chimes in. “Not to mention paying off border guards and harbormasters. It’s dangerous work. Certainly, you wouldn’t expect my people to take such risk and not be properly compensated, would you? Or have you forgotten that Belimarius has placed a price on my head?”

“Not the first to do so, I’m sure.” Valais notes, before continuing, “Belimarius and her minions began to suspect Guaril’s intentions the last time he was in Edasseril. Now, they seek not only his head, but those of his known associates, including those among the Pathfinder Society. It is not presently safe for them or Guaril to venture within Edasseril’s borders.”

“I had a number of clients ready to go, before leaving Xin-Edasseril,” explains Guaril. “Most of the arrangements are already made. All you need to do is make contact with the clients. Give them the time and place for departure, then escort them out of the city—with their payment.” The Sczarni stresses. “You’ll get a hefty cut of the payment you secure as compensation for your hard work.”

“I prepared a client list,” Guaril says, handing over a sheet of scrawled paper. “Memorize it. Then, tear it up, burn it, chew it, swallow it—whatever you do, get rid of it! If Belimarius gets a hold of it, it’s a death sentence for anyone named on it.”

Galadir is a tall, regal-looking elf with blond hair that is tied back tightly behind his head, and solid gold-colored eyes. His straight-backed, easy posture notes someone who trained both martially, and socially, and his garb is both functional and formal at the same time. An elegantly curved elven blade sits ready on his hip.

"Extortion is still extortion, no matter the grace given," he responds in an even tone, looking at the smuggler with some distaste. "But the people still need to be saved, and as much as I hate to agree, he has a point. Expenses must be maintained."

He turns his attention directly at Guaril, "Where are we to find these clients? Are they all in one location, or must we track them down throughout the city?"

Magnus, last survivor of the Therdan regiment as Lastwall stood proud and tall - for a dwarf. The banner of Therdan lay furled on a telescoping rod normally attached to his pack. The warrior-turned-cleric looked at the Venture-Caption with a look that held both disapproval at the coyote's business, and compassion for those stuck under the Runelord's brutal reign.

"How many people are we talking about here? And do we get access top your network of bribable guards, officials, and the like? Also, where are the likely points of capture? Venture-Captain, this seems like a big risk, not only to ourselves and the people on this list, but also to any chance of peacably extracting more people in the future from under Belimarius' thumb."

Teja nods to the others questions. "And how likely is it that someone on the list has already been compromised?" she adds.

You are given the following LIST

Flitch—Wouldn’t need my help if he was a better thief. Still, he’s Frallino’s nephew, so we can’t just leave him hanging. If he’s smart, he’s laying low in his flat. Find it in Envy Row East, off the alley between Copper Street and Loyalty Way. If he questions you, tell him that his uncle’s been asking about his slippers.

Themolin—This accountant’s got money—lots of it! Promised quite the haul for our services. Don’t let him leave without it! Works for the Ministry of Tithes, auditing taxes or some such. Seems he found some innocent error involving numbers and now lives in constant fear of being found out. His desperation is our gain. Don’t forget his payment.

Yuleg—Owns the Rockfish Inn. Nice guy. Just wants a better life for him and his daughter. Don’t accept fish for payment, though.

Daffrid—Teaches at Arcanium Abjurant, or what’s left of it. Wants out of the city along with her spouse and two kids. Longs to see what the world is like after five thousand years. World may have changed, but her gold hasn’t.

Garrla—Flitch brought me a note he found underneath an overturned flowerpot on his window sill, which read, “Ready to join. Emerald Guardhouse. Ask for Garrla. Remaining half paid upon departure.” Sound risky? Sure. But, the bag the note was tied to held a lot of coins.

They’re expecting to be dealing with Yours Truly, so they may need some assurances before closing the deal. Don’t go messing up my reputation, you got that?

“You’ll be entering Xin-Edasseril disguised as merchants,” explains Valais. “These papers will allow you passage in and out of the city for five days before they expire.”

“At dawn on the fourth day after your arrival in Xin-Edasseril, the ship Rolanna’s Prayer will arrive in a bay just outside the city: Shard Cove. The boat can accommodate five clients, providing an excellent opportunity to escape undetected. One of the clients, Flitch, knows a secret tunnel to Shard Cove.

“Once the clients are aboard ship, return to the city. Any remaining clients that you weren’t able to smuggle out by sea will have to be smuggled out of the city with you, which means you’ll have to get them past the guards at the docks. Your ship, the Merry Mayfly, must depart the docks once your papers have expired.”

“The clients are expecting to deal with me,” cautions Guaril. “But as that’s not possible, and as it’s now a few days past the window when I was to make contact, the clients might need some reassurance to go through with the job.”

Giving the Pathfinders a stern look, Guaril then warns, “While you’re in Belimarius’s back yard, be careful. You are foreigners in Xin-Edasseril, and Belimarius has eyes everywhere. Don’t do anything that would draw unnecessary attention to yourselves. The last thing you want to do is tangle with the authorities. The runelord’s forces are well trained and quite capable. Keep your wits about you at all times and your blades sheathed.”

“We cannot afford one of you being arrested or interrogated. Pay any bribe required to remain free. I don’t want to further expose any part of the operation,” says Valais. “Our goal here is to bring hope and freedom to as many souls as we are able. It is risky, but hope and freedom are worth the price.”

Taking it all in, committing the instructions to memory, Galadir grimaces despite himself. "Certainly no pressure on us at all," he says softly, but is probably still heard by the others. "Nothing to be done about it, then. As you said, it's worth the price. Let's just hope that someone doesn't decide to up the price."

Adjusting the sword at his belt, he asks, "No sense dallying about, then. Despite the fact that we are supposed to pose as merchants, do you think that anyone would find is suspicious if we are carrying weapons?"

Ever the Scarnzi,Katerina thinks as she steps forward, Always about the money, and little about the people. A Varisian lady with vivid red hair, and a more colorful dress, she looks over the list thoughly.

"Okay, I already see a problem here,"she says after perusing the list, "While we have only 5 names, I see it covers 9 people total: Yulag has a daughter, and Daffrid has a whole family involved. Our best bet along that lines would most likely be to slip Yulag's daughter out with him on the Prayer, and try to maneuver all of Daffrid's family with us on the boat. Is there any way we can get some forged documents for that family, say, with a Magnimar seal on it? And what's a proper bribe for the Edasseril constables?"

"I can play merchant easily enough. It's what I do in my off time in the markets anyway. Most days, proper merchants have bodyguards, even in big cities, so we can fake that if need be." She continues as she plots aloud with the Venture-Captains in the room. "What all is popular for sale in Xin-Edasseril nowadays? Maybe we can throw a veneer of truth to our facade."

Teja nods to Katerina.

"So the secret ship can take five, but my my calculation there are another four in terms of spouse and children... Any thoughts about how to get them past the dock guards? Just normal bribes?"

She eyes up the last name.

"And what more do you know about this Garria... sounds like a trap to me."

Guaril chimes in, "The city is only recently back in this plane. So any outside goods would be exotic and have a ready market. It is large enough place that someone will want what you decide to sell. As for carrying weapons, it is just like everywhere else. You will most likely he hassled just for being foreigners regardless of any obvious weapons. "

"Garria? Only that she wants out. She has paid and is definite the most cautious and secretive of my clients on this. Which I don't blame her. Information is power in my line of work and it seems she values that as well. If it is a trap for me then deal with it. This career is not without is risk. Hence its profit!"

Valais then speaks up. "The papers you have right now for yourselves are legit, I can not help you anymore with getting more. But you may be able to create more appropriate ones when you get there. You are right you will need to figure out other ways of smuggling out the rest since Rolanna’s Prayer can only make the one trip."

“Space aboard Rolanna’s Prayer is limited. And each voyage to the cove increases the likelihood of seized by the runelord’s forces. As it was, convincing Captain Remmith to enter the cove even once required considerable skills of persuasion.” Valais notes.

“And considerable coinage,” adds Guaril.

A few of you reacall Edasseril is the western kingdom of the nation of New Thassilon, which was founded by the two surviving runelords of ancient Thassilon. Edasseril is the domain of Belimarius, the Runelord of Envy. Xin-Edasseril, the nation’s capital, is located on Peridot Isle.

Also Belimarius became the tenth and final Runelord of Envy upon the murder of her predecessor. Over five thousand years ago, Belimarius ruled the Thassilonian realm of Edasseril, a nation of bitter rivalries, byzantine bureaucracy, and enslaved giants, until shortly before Earthfall. As the result of Belimarius’ efforts to avoid the catastrophe, the ancient city of Xin- Edasseril became trapped outside of time, allowing the runelord and her citizens to survive the worldwide calamity known as Earthfall.

"We will need to sort out the details of how to get the people out. Personally, I think we should be getting the children out as quickly as possible. But we can make that decision when the time comes. Our best strategy is to simply be wary of any treachery or surprises. We should away as soon as possible."

"Getting children out without their families is worse than pointless. You might as well cut their throats or rape them yourself. No, we'll figure out how to move the lot, and keep the families together. Between the six of us, we should be able to figure out something."

A dwarf with meticulously trimmed facial hair, and strange blue lines tattooed on his skin speaks up. He is an abjurer from Tar-Kazmukh. He reads over the list. "Have they already proven they have the payment? Which ones have already paid? We cannot break an agreement if money has changed hands. Our deeds will honor Dranngvit" His voice is even and steady. It calls to mind of bank statements.

"My friends call me Mooks. You may call me Mr. Saltspary"

"Getting children out without their families is worse than pointless. You might as well cut their throats or rape them yourself. No, we'll figure out how to move the lot, and keep the families together. Between the six of us, we should be able to figure out something."

"Apologies," Galadir replies. "I misspoke. I never assumed to separate the children from their families, but merely to give the families as much priorities as possible."

Teja nods to Galadir. "That was what I assumed you meant. Still, where there is uncertainty, there is the chance for mistakes. And to accomplish this mission... we cannot have mistakes."

You arrive at the city docks without incident. Upon disembarking, they are immediately met by two Emerald Guards demanding to examine their travel papers. Each guard is clearly well armed and well trained, with gleaming magical weapons, armor, and Equipment.

After a few minutes scrutinizing the documents, the guard sternly informs you that a curfew is in effect for outsiders, permitting them to be outside for an 8-hour period during the day; they must remain indoors at all other times. They remind you that your papers expire in five days, before warning you to keep their weapons stowed at all times while in the city.

With your papers in order, you are relatively free to travel within the city. Xin-Edasseril is bustling with activity yet operates under the weight of oppression. Runelord Belimarius employs both uniformed watch and hidden spies who act as secret police. Most residents avoid making direct eye contact with strangers and give wide berth to patrolling guards.

Exploring the City. City map

You have 8 hours a day to be outside and traveling around the city. Afterwards you will need to hold up somewhere over night. Traveling between and then interacting with locations takes 2 hours due to crowded streets and random checkpoints. Investigation, interacting with that location is included in that 2 hours as well. (Unless you take more than one 10 minute rest)

Exploring Xin Edasseril

Group conditions:

Day 1, 0/8 Hours

"Looks like we need to find out where to go first. I'd think we'd want to try the innkeeper at the end of the day, giving us a place to spend the night. Other than that, maybe the accountant first to make sure we have the coinage for any bribes or distractions?"

Stepping off the docks into the city proper, Galadir already feels the stifling oppression, making his decidedly uncomfortable. He shakes the feeling off, though, standing poised and ready to work.

"Where shall we start first? Shall we just make our way down the list? Or go to the furthest point and make our way back in?"

"Garrla both is owed our service since she has paid ahead of time, and since she is missing, I feel like she needs to be our first priority. The rest, we know where to find them."

"Garrla is also the riskiest one. Best to approach them before we have other innocents that may be at risk" notes Teja.

"I can agree with that," Galadir concedes, "but, as much as Guaril says otherwise, our priority should be lives, not money."

Can I assume that this conversation happened on the boat as we traveled to Xin-Edasseril? It would have taken us several days to reach the city from Magnimar, and it makes no sense to have this conversation somewhere that we can be overheard.

"I disagree,Katerina finally says. "Flitch should be our first priority. He's more of a known quantity, since he's our connection in town. He'll likely have information that we need, like most importantly the path to Prayer, and further ways to find the rest of the clients, and what the proper bribing amounts and methods are in town. Garrla feels like a bit of a risk to me. I'm tempted to give them somewhat minimal time, in case they are a trap, so they have less time to properly spring it."

You had plenty time to discuss options. So to make things easy I am seeing Garrla and Flitch as options. However I see three "votes" for Garrla right now. So to speed things up I am going to go with the first to three votes

Columns of this wide building are carved in the likeness of Runelord Belimarius. Its wide courtyard is filled with practice dummies and other evidence of martial training. Guards are beginning and ending their shifts. A short line has formed outside the door of a recruiting area, where a guard stands stationed.

You carefully ask around the persons present about “Garrla,” buy you are told that nobody by that name is known to have ever been at the guardhouse. At one point , one of them is bumped by one of the Emerald Guard traveling alone. The guardswoman states, “It is a good time for recruiting.” She then continues on to the recruiting area.

Magnus and Teja both spot a crumbled piece of paper on the ground that was not their previously, having been dropped by the Emerald Guard. The paper reads, “Ready to join.”

Exploring Xin Edasseril

Group conditions:

Day 1, 2/8 Hours

A6: The Emerald Guardhouse.

After seeing the note, Galadir gives the others a steady look. "Ready to join?" he says, just loud enough for the others to hear. "Could one of them have been this Garrla? Either way, it seems that the name is merely a pseudonym. The question is whether the person is sincere, or a plant. We must be on our guard."

If someone needs a Exploration activity, having a Scout would be a good idea right now.

"It is likely the woman that dropped the paper is our contact. Why don't we head to her recruiting office? Or at least one of us at any rate."

Teja nods to Magnus. "Maybe if we were to make some inquiries about the recruitment. I concur, a good idea."

She approaches the nearest guard and asks for the location of the nearest recruiting office. "You all have such nice looking equipment!" she gushes.

The guard gives a side eye to Teja, and points at the line forming in the courtyard. The woman you bumped in to you is at the desk taking names and info of those in the line. After some time waiting you make you way to the front of the line, she glances up briefly and then back at her notebook. "If you like it and you have what it takes, it can be yours one day soon. Just tell me the time and the place"

Darn, should have thought this through.

She thinks quickly, trying to remember the name of a tavern near the docks.

"I'm not sure we're ready right now. Maybe in a handful of days? Do you think the spots will still be available then?"

"More people who don't think about the commitment much. This recruiting desk is open every morning. Should you figure yourselves out." She waves you on and starts dealing with the next people in line.

As the group pulls away from the Guardhouse, Katerina smiles at the others. "Shall we go try get a room at that inn, or should we try to find my cousin now? I'm sure he can tell us where's the best place to conduct business."

Teja looks at the sky, trying to judge the time. "If you think we have time, lets try your cousin." she declares. "But I really don't want to run into problems with curfew."

"Your cousin?" Galadir ask, a little confused."Did I miss something? I'm not sure that we have time to visit family. This is a business trip."

So that is sounding like going to Fitch or the Rockfish Inn(Yuleg). First to three votes

Fitch if it is still early in the day. The inn if we are coming up on curfew

Same vote here

Third.

Flitch is who I was referring to in the first place. He's Varisian, and so is Katerina. She's properly paranoid in this city, and is going to be a little cryptic if possible. If the 'pass secret message' concept from PF1e was still around, I'd be using that.

I had a feeling. Galadir is not entirely savvy with such methods. ;)

Wait, are we just giving up for Garla? This woman is clearly Garla, since she passed us a secret message after we asked for Garla. We just need to get her the time and date that the ship is leaving, right?

When we have it, we give it to her.

She is just waiting for you to have a plan. You can come by any morning, first half of a day, to give her the information you decide

You spend the next two hours making your way to Flitch's Flat (A1)

This rundown flat is typical of the residences of Envy Row East. A lock bars the front door. The windows are boarded over, and fragments of a flowerpot lie beneath one windowsill. No one seems to be at home when you knock.

You can Disable the lock or Force Open the window

"Cover me" whisphers the scholar.

"I've had to sneak into some record vaults before"

She tries to unlock the door.
thievery: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

As she does so, she prods at the flower pot fragments, hoping they might hide a key or a note or something of interest.

While Galadir has been forced to learn the skills to do break into the place, he is glad that he doesn't have to use them, at this point. Instead, he keeps watch while Teja goes to work.

The Poor lock yields to Teja's touch

A thin layer of dust covers the floors of this sparsely furnished wood-walled apartment. The northern wall bears crude etchings, graffiti, and other odd markings. Searching the flat, you spot Flitch’s name hidden in the graffiti and markings on the wall, along with a coded message.

Society to Decipher Writing must be trained

Galadir examines the message, dredging up any hidden meaning that he can muster.

Society: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"Shouldn't be surprised that he went to ground," Katerina mutters as she enters the flat. As Galadir goes to examine the markings, Katerina looks over his shoulder to so as well.

Society: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Stepping across the floor, Teja sighs. "I don't think Flitch has been here for a while."

She too looks at the writings.
society: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

The graffiti seems to be a cryptic message to Flitch the meet at a location in the sewers. Given the some of the details it is a different part of town. (A2)

Also you have gathered the information on the other key locations of your contacts

Exploring Xin Edasseril

Group conditions:

Day 1, 4/8 Hours

A1: Flitch’s Flat
A2: Flitch’s Sewer Hideout
A3: Ministry of Tithes
A4: Rockfish Inn
A5: Arcanium Abjurant
A6: The Emerald Guard House.

Crossing his arms in thought, Galadir examines the writing again for a moment, to make sure that their interpretation is correct. "Curious. Did he write this himself, or someone else? Perhaps we should find this meeting location and make sure that the contact is alright."

Currently voting for A2