GM Erich's 5-18 The Stranger Within (Tier 5-9) (Inactive)

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

Nemesis looks at Abaal, her expression quite suddenly one of being genuinely flummoxed.

"You're joking, surely?"

Abaal turns to Jang's buzzing monstrosity with an expression that says 'I hope you are getting this because I sure am not.' He shakes his though and falls back upon his training as a bodyguard. Just don't ask. Someone might answer.

Along the way to the next lead, Janus introduces themselves to Nemesis.

"We are Janus Grey. We make endings."

"Abaal is a philosopher of some sort."

huh....thought i posted already...guess not...

Cheers, Ms. Feathers....thanks again... Patros says as she leaves.

We need to find out more...I'm going to try around here...might be someone sufficiently distracted enough to blather on... he says as he grabs a couple of mugs of ale and tries to loosen a few tongues.

diplomacy gather info: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

@Patros and others -- I think this got lost in the shuffle yesterday.

"Abaal is a philosopher of some sort."

Ph.D in Imposing.

Abaal stands behind his more talkative companions like a tall, stern, bodyguard with a huge black sword--in fact, exactly like that.

Janus tries to speak to the locals at Oriat.

"We seek a man named Shiyu. Where may we find him?"

Make whoever responds (if anyone) a Studied Target - for the skill bonuses

The meditating man in the pavilion rises to his feet. He motions a greeting and speaks the strange sounds of a Sweettalker.

see pic

yeah, i missed that in the earlier post...failed that Perception check...

sense motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

I an Patros. Might we bend your ear for a bit?

linguistics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Abaal stands impressively in the background.

yeah, i missed that in the earlier post...failed that Perception check...

I think everyone did. :)

The man clicks a few more sounds through the thread that binds his lips together.

Claudia continues to quietly hang back, shocked by the strangeness of this place.

Sense Motive : 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Jang listens and waits with Claudia.

sense motive, alertness, study: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 2 + 2 = 32

"We are Janus Grey" Janus nods at the sweettalker, but does not finish his usual greeting.

Patros is good with words.

The majority of you seem to have no trouble understanding him, which seems to please him.

Abaal steps forward.

"I am Abaal." Abaal says with a number of clapping/flapping hand gestures and tongue clicks. "I and my companions are looking for information regarding one Imelda Gael."

"Or, indeed, any other members of the Gael family that may be known to you" Janus adds.

Shiyu nods and continues to "speak" through his stitches.

“I’ve heard of the Gaels, because when they arrived in Kaer Maga, they came to the Freemen for help. They told a story about barely escaping a crime boss who tried to enslave them. People rarely claim that unless it’s true, so for a while the Gaels received help from the Freemen.”

If someone was desperate enough, they might claim a lot of things. You said for a while...did they break your trust or something of the sort?

Clearly enjoying the discussion, Shiyu continues...

“Nothing to me personally, as I am not a Freeman. I hear the Freemen gave the Gaels some gear, a few guards, and training at their fighting school. The Freemen also offered the Gaels a safe place to stay in the Bottoms district, but the Gaels didn’t take up the offer. I’m not sure what else happened, but the Freemen’s council at the Common House has been debating whether to withdraw support from the Gaels.”

Interesting...I wonder if the Freemen leadership would be open to a discussion regarding the Gaels? My friend, your words are like fresh honey from the comb. Perhaps when we are done with our excursion, we can chat some more.

Jang nods.

"Yes, the next path is to visit the Freeman! Thank you for trusting us."

He starts to prepare to visit the Common House.

Although you now have two locations to follow up on (House in Bis District and the Common House of the Freemen), do you wish to discover any other leads before that (with another diplomacy check to gather information)?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38

On the way to the Freeman Jang will open his heart to the sorrows of the souls in this dark city and try to learn more about the Pathfinders' targets!

"So 'Freemen'. I am guessing that they are some sort of coalition of local anti-slavers. We might need to present some hard evidence to them to convince them to withdraw support from the Gaels." muses Abaal aloud.

"That all makes sense, Abaal" agrees Janus.

"The Gaels have claimed Karela is a slaver - and we do not know for certain that there is no truth to that claim. We only know that they plot against Karela.

Perhaps we will find some evidence against the Gaels at the house in Bis?"

time spent: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Jangafzaar's efforts result in a few individuals pointing you toward the Augurs, a society of trolls blessed with the gift of prophecy and foresight. The particular Augur who might suit your situation the best is Vargun, a particularly worldly troll who you might find near the Augurs’ temple.

Let me know if you want to visit the troll Auger first or one of the other two locations you have learned of from the other two sources.

”I really doubt the Karela is a slaver!! This is the pathfinder society! We are a community! We should refrain from such vile actions!“ he says with deep sadness.

”Let us visit the trolls. They might help, right?“

"Trolls are not renowned for their helpfulness. But this is Kaer Maga. Why not see what this troll Vargun has to say?"

Claudia nods slowly, perhaps a little fearfully. This is such a strange place!

I'll make sure you're safe, Claudia. Let's go see what these trolls have to say...

Traveling to the Downmarket District, you pass by a crowd of children and adults betting on a fight between two large snakes.

Eventually, you discover the particularly worldly troll you are searching for shopping in the stalls of Winesop Alley in the shadow of the Augurs’ temple. new pic

Vargun wears a long, purple toga with a bloodstained, horizontal slit across her midsection and blissfully peruses the wares of an apothecary before noticing your approach.

"I just knew I would meet six tortured souls this day, and here you are. Care for a reading - in which We Learn the Nature of Things?" She smiles broadly, revealing her mismatched yellowed tusks.

Abaal does a quick mental head count Patros, Claudia, Nemesis, Janus, the other Janus, and Jangafzaar. I guess that he was not expecting the Daring Sword of Katapesh™! And the giant mosquito of course. We defy fate.

Jang nods.

“You look like a monster but talk like a lady. We would appreciate a reading. But the price must be fair! We’re honest merchants here!!“ the Dwarf says and his commercial nature suddenly shows.

Sounds good to me...what's the damage for a reading? the young Taldan says as he reaches for his coins.

"Delightful!" The troll woman grins again. "Follow me, then."

She leads you into the Augurs' Temple and quickly into one of the stone hollows off the main hallway. Closing the curtain behind you, she lowers herself onto a stone pedestal against the wall, stained with crimson and grey streaks.

She lifts her toga enough to reveal her enlarged belly and draws the ceremonial dagger from her sheath. "Now what is it you'd like to know?"

Janus looks at their fellows, and back at the troll. Fascinating. She will divine her own entrails.

Janus addresses Vargun. "The Gael family in Kaer Maga - who are their allies, who are their enemies, what are their strengths and their weaknesses?"

For a moment Claudia looks more comfortable, happy the team is talking to another of the Green Folk. Then she realizes what this troll is about to do...

I've heard of your sort of augurs before...never seen one in action. This is going to be eye opening. Patros says as Janus hit the nail on the head with the subject of the augury

"Very well then, the question has been asked." She closes her eyes and raises the knife dramatically above her head then down in a wide sweeping arc.

She proceeds to slice her belly open, examines her own entrails, and delivers the following information: “These Gaels have borrowed beyond their means, and their creditors grow restless. The coins that circuit the city are the coins that once padded the purse, but a dead debtor pays no bills,” she intones before providing a basic interpretation. “The ones you speak of have dealt with the Commerce League, and the Commerce League’s business is Dakar’s business. Be careful about dabbling in Dakar’s business without his blessing.” ...before reinserting her organs and allowing her regeneration to close the wound cleanly.

Vargun does little more than raise an eyebrow as she concludes her reading, but payment is due...

“This was unbelievably disturbing but still very informative! You didn’t even tell us the price lady!“ Jang says with a shocked facial expression.

"Eh, I didn't know what I'd be telling you or how useful it was for you. Why don't you pay me what you think it was worth." Vargun states, carefully wiping off her blade and placing it back in its sheath.

Jang takes out 50 gp and gives it to the troll.

“You earned this!!!“ he says with a slightly disgusted look on his face that he can’t really hide.

"Indeed." Vargun gleefully accepts the coin, before heading back to the market.

---------------------------

Where to Pathfinders?

Freemen!

Well, I think we should visit the Freemen first, then the Commerce League. These Gaels sure know how to not make friends...

"We have no evidence to present to the Freemen, only more names. We should search the house in Bis first."

Just my 2cp

Hmm...good point, Janus. That makes sense...which is why I used to get into trouble back home...

"We have no evidence to present to the Freemen, only more names. We should search the house in Bis first."

{Stern nod}

”I really doubt the Karela is a slaver!! This is the pathfinder society! We are a community! We should refrain from such vile actions!“ he says with deep sadness.

Nemesis tilts her head (in a manner that suggests she'd be tilting it even she weren't looking at a Dwarf) and gives Jangafzaar a look that combines reproach with incredulity. "You say that as if you believe those facts must be in conflict. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle - but ultimately, a great bonfire feeds on all else, for itself."

____

Nemesis frowns - pouts, really - as she watches the Augur work her gimmick. No, it's not the (literally!) visceral grotesquery that's getting to her; it's...something else.

As you walk away, she finally speaks up. "What's an augury without a sacrifice? I don't know; troll or not, it just seems like cheating. Arcane mages may be able to disregard divine law, but there's a reason wizardry has the strange limits it does - witchcraft comes closer, but even they must make sacrifices for their divinations. Can such a 'free' method even be trusted? If so, why are that lot only in Kaer Maga...?"

"Is not the pain the troll suffers enough of a sacrifice?"