Longroads Coffeehouse 2.0

Game Master chadius

Lokaloka starts the show by playing a merry tune on her pipes to set everyone at ease.

Performance, Wind Instruments(Virtuosic), Maestro's Instrument: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

Lokaloka scratches her head, everything the professor said going clear over her head. "What is keynote speaker? Why yous upset? Here, have pickle!"

She rummages in her pickle jar. She pulls one out, takes a bite, chews thoughtfully for a moment, nods and hands the dripping pickle to the distraught professor, brine dripping over his new robes (of course!).

Already despondent at not being the keynote speaker, the stuffed rabbit merely sighs in defeat as his fancy new robes are stained with pickle brine. He accepts the gift and takes a tiny bite. "Thank you."

PBB does get fancy new academic robes. (High Fashion Fine clothing for 55gp)

Lokaloka gives a good performance, getting the crowd to pay attention.

Success. Accumulated points 1

Lokaloka 1/4 rounds completed.

BEFORE

Clover lends a handkerchief towards the wailing poppet. "A true travesty... but all the more reason that we should razzle-dazzle them to show them the error of their ways."

Then she turns to the others. "Let's plan our approach. I think that we should open up with a Performance that wakes the audience up. I'll sing, Jiggo and Sal'era will dance, Professor Bun Bun will make important observations after each chorus, Lokaloka can play the pan pipes and Stitch can craft us up a demonstration."

She pauses, and adds, "And then we'll likely need some substance... But we can still keep entertaining as we do so. What do you all think?"

"That theemth like a lovely plan. I would be honored to help in clarifying everyone'th performanthe for the audienthe. I'm an ekthellent helper. "

So it sounds like we can both aid AND do a check of our own, is that correct? If I am incorrect then ignore the aid posted below.

The professor provides a running commentary on Clover's performance, providing both clarity and academic context.

performance, aid vs Clover: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 13 + 2 + 1 = 25

performance: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 13 + 1 = 21

PBB has helpful poppet
+1 for fancy robes

Seeing the despondent look on the Professor's face, Lokaloka mumbles a quick spell to clean his robes (Presitigitation). She walks to to the stuffed rabbit and whispers, "Is not so bad. Yous give talk in time with music!"

Seeing a member of another school heckle the downcast Professor, Lokaloka pauses her music to glare at the impudent uneducated rascal. "Professor smart rabbit! Not like yous!" she screeches.

Intimidation: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

"Okay, okay. I got this. Left foot, right foot, pivot. Left foot, right foot, pivot." Jiggo focuses on getting his feet in order and keeping up with Sal'era's rhythm.

"Jiggs, eyes up here." Sal'era's reminder causes him to look up at her face. He usually sees her vigilance, her paranoia. Always waiting for an assassin to try to silence her because she betrayed her family. Or an overzealous angel who decides once a demon, always a demon.

But dance lessons were innocent. Coveted. If a harpsichord were here Sal'era would play a few bars. Times she wasn't on duty and she didn't need to know the finer points of trickery. So he lets his dancing instincts take over and lets her lead.

Performance, Fine Clothing: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 1 = 30

They move as one, and Sal'era grips her hands on Jiggo's. It's enough to make her forget...

"Honey? Um, not to ruin things, but..." Jiggo's voice slips into her reverie. "The music stopped a minute ago."

"The music... stopped?" Sal'era mumbles before putting up her defenses. "I knew that. I figured we should wake up the crowd. I'm certain the previous lectures were boring them." She gives the audience a knowing look before turning towards the Dwarves.

Intimidation: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Clover enters the room, starting up a musical accompaniment spell as she sings.

Perform + Fancy Robes: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 1 = 28

♫ A bloody rain soaked the world
Gorum’s body split and hurled
Now in mourning, the shards fall alone
And discord across the globe is sown

He used to roll the dice
Felt the fear in his enemy’s eyes
And now the crowd has cawed
‘The old god is dead, let’s claim his bod!’ ♫

Clover holds up her wayfinder while Professor Bun Bun explains, then begins again.

♫ The Society found the key
The links between parts plain to see
And the global treasure hunt began
Upon fallen shards wherever they land ♫

And then as the chorus swells, she makes subtle references to the other teams, while Jiggo and Sal’era dance and Lokaloka starts her pipes:

♫ I hear our symposium a-bringin'
Global scholars to the Kith a-singin’
God shards for a dwarven sword and shield
And Lastwall’s super soldiers revealed
For some reason, I can't explain
Once he'd gone, old Jatembe’s prize
Found by awakened animal eyes

I hear our symposium a-bringin'
Global scholars to the Kith a-singin’
God shards for a dwarven sword and shield
And Lastwall’s super soldiers revealed
For some reason, I can't explain
So many gods gone in bloody rain
Old Jatembe’s prize
Found by awakened animal eyes ♫

_____________
Source: Vida la Vida by Coldplay

"Uh, is that a waltz?" Jiggo gets Clover's beat stuck in his head.

"We'll dance in compound time. Come on, dance in 12 8." Sal'era speeds up to stay on beat.

Yes, I am saying you can roll for your own skill and Aid someone else using the same skill as you roll for the Aid in the same round.

The professor looks over Clover’s shoulder just before she is going up on stage and suggests a particularly good bit of word play to what is already a great song. +2 Circ to Clover

His own performance keeps the audience’s attention focused.

Success, Accumulated points 2

When someone starts to heckle the professor’s oratory, Lokaloka quickly shuts them down.

Success, Accumulated points 3
Shutting down the heckler seemed more difficult than performing.

Jiggo and Sal’era give a magnificent dance reinterpreting the efforts of the agents to acquire that first warshard at Three Gates Lodge based loosely on the reports they had. The choreography works just as Sal’era had hoped.

Critical Success, accumulated points 5

Sal’era’s quip manages to cause a few chuckles and cheers.

Success, accumulated points 6

Clover sings a masterful song explaining what has happened.

Critical success, accumulated points 8

Lokaloka 2/4 rounds completed.
Professor Bun Bun 1/4 rounds completed
Jiggo 2/4 rounds completed
Clover 1/4 rounds

You now know that Intimidation is more difficult to pull off than Perform

Lokaloka then resumes playing. She follows Clover's melody then begins improvising other melodies to make the tune more complex.

Performance, Wind Instruments(Virtuosic), Maestro's Instrument: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

She also pauses briefly, giving Professor Bun Bun some time to throw in an interesting factoid or two, before resuming her tune.

"Now then, a discussion about Gorum and godsrain. I doubt we'll ever see this happen again." Jiggo gets the audience's attention. "Now, if you pluck off my hair you get a piece of me. It's not fully me, but it is a part of me." Jiggo pats his orange hair.

"Imagine these shards are Gorum's hair. His nails, I guess. Do deities need to groom?" Jiggo is distracted by his own metaphor. "My point is, we're all dealing with pieces of War itself. We don't fully know what part of War we're utilizing, we don't know its full effects, and we may be dealing with dirty parts we should destroy and never use. We have to be careful."

Jiggo uses his Expert knowledge of Religious matters to talk about gods and Warshards.
Religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

He manages to stay on topic.

Perform + Fancy Robes (Aid for Professor Bun Bun): 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 1 = 14
Hero Point!: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 12 + 1 = 20 +1 to Bun Bun's roll

Since Professor Bun Bun had provided such good support for her, Clover returns the favor, accepting the applause, and then saying, "Let's hear it for Professor Bun Bun's excellent commentary!"

But the room is too silent, Clover tries again to warm up Professor Bun Bun's crowd with a bit of humor. "Ah, everyone is falling asleep, are they?" She claps her hands, and a bright and shining Mr. Potbelly comes out filled with hot coffee. "Don't worry... we're not asking you to attend our presentation without some caffeinated support!"

As the crowd gently laughs as Clover and the cauldron walk through the crowd, Clover says, "Let's try this again, now that we've recharged. Let's raise our cups and cheer for Professor Bun Bun!"

Once Bun Bun has had his say before the crowd, Clover shines her Wayfinder, summing up his finer points with an entertaining quiz show for the audience. "Alright, scholars! You've had your song. You've had your coffee. Let's see who's been paying attention!" She brings up a score board, and scores the different team's answers.

Perform + Fancy Robes: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 1 = 30

Top Team: 1d6 ⇒ 6

"Unsurprisingly, our fine hosts at the Kith are in the lead for taking the best notes... But there's still time to catch up before our final quiz at the end of our Presentation!"

Seems my morning post got chomped..

Once the room is properly entertained and awake, Stitch goes into the details of joining wayfinders and shards... its pretty dry really. "No it'll work!"

Craft Expert: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

Lokaloka continues to weave their music into the presentation.

Success, accumulated points 9

Jiggo makes some very valid points about where the power for these shards are coming from and how that will affect what can be done with them.

Success, accumulated points 10

Clover tries to warm the crowd up to Professor Bun Bun’s lecture.

Success +1 circumstance to Professor Bun Bun’s next Perform check.

Then Clover refocuses the crowd, reminding them this is still a scholarly event.

Critical Success, accumulated points 12

This leads into Stitch’s demonstration of some of the crafting principles used in trying to use a shard in place of an aeon stone within the wayfinder. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like most of the crowd follows his explanation.

Failure, accumulated points 12

Lokaloka 3/4 rounds completed.
Professor Bun Bun 1/4 rounds completed, +1 circumstance on next Perform check
Jiggo 3/4 rounds completed
Clover 2/4 rounds
Stitch 1/4 rounds

Rejuvenated by coffee, Lokaloka's music increases in tempo and volume, as if building up the suspense towards Professor Bun Bun's presentation. Her beady red eyes focus on the earlier heckler as she glares at him while playing.

She has intimidating glare, so she doesn't need to say anything... :)

Performance: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21

Professor Bun Bun explains the mechanics of a wayfinder and how one would utilize the power of a warshard to enhance it. Aid to Stich's second check.

crafting vs Stich, aid: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 2 = 29

He then presents several scenarios un which one might utilize the enhancements in the field.

performance: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 1 + 1 = 33

Looks like PBB gets +1 aid and +1 item bonus on his lecture.

Lokaloka continues to keep the audience’s attention, going to a more rapid beat just to get them hyped.

Success, accumulated points 13

The audience is primed as Professor Bun Bun comes back to center stage. The presentation clears up some of what Stitch had said, making it more likely that they will understand the full details once Stitch gives his part of the lecture.

Critical Success on Aid, +2 to Stitch’s attempt.

He then gives a captivating performance describing just how this can be used in the field.

Critical Success, accumulated points 15

Lokaloka 4/4 rounds completed.
Professor Bun Bun 2/4 rounds completed
Jiggo 3/4 rounds completed
Clover 2/4 rounds
Stitch 1/4 rounds +2 circumstance to next Crafting check

"Now, the Pathfinder Society is known for getting into trouble. They stick their nose where they aren't invited. And yet, they also know how to work with their neighbors. Take Mister Maeleranti, here." Sal'era points to the man sitting and halfway through his drink as he looks up in surprise.

"He's saved villages, towns, cities all by himself, even before he joined the Society. He's visited Heaven and Hell and lived to tell the tale. He's honored to be in your presence, and after his lecture, I think you need to consider the Pathfinder's merits. He's proud to be part of the Society."

Deception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Sal'era's humble bragging is a bit too thick. Jiggo's humility is seen as weakness - no way did he do all of that!

The crowd only seemed to hear the part about Pathfinders being trouble makers.

Failure, accumulated points 15

Lokaloka 4/4 rounds completed.
Professor Bun Bun 2/4 rounds completed
Jiggo 4/4 rounds completed
Clover 2/4 rounds
Stitch 1/4 rounds +2 circumstance to next Crafting check

Expert in Crafting (INT): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Stitch starts to continue and is slightly distracted by the Professor. Regardless, he continues. In order to keep from bogging things down I'll just roll my next checks. Sorry to not contribute meaningfully to his phase of the scenario. Work has me burnt out currently.

Lokaloka continues to play her pipes and glare at the audience at the same time

More for flavor and to support her fellow Pathfinders. Intimidating glare implies she doesn't need to say anything... but those beady red eyes boring into the would-be hecklers should be disconcerting! :)

Undeterred by Stitch's stumbling the professor continues to lecture about the mechanics of wayfinder modification and their uses.

Check 3
crafting, vs Stitch, aid: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 2 = 27

performance: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 1 = 17

check 4
crafting, vs Stitch, aid: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 2 = 18

performance: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 1 = 17

While he does explain Stitch's actions rather well his own lecture unfortunately suffers as he begins to wander off topic eventually ending on a humorous anecdote about the time a goat ate his wayfinder.

Lokaloka's music suddenly becomes erratic. Turning towards her you notice that she's playing while convulsing with laughter at the professor's anecdote.

Stitch is doing better but still doesn’t quite communicate his ideas to most of the crowd.

Failure, accumulated points 15

The professor continues to provide some help to Stitch, but it is clearly impacting his own presentation.

Two failures on performance, accumulated points 15

Finally Stitch manages to explain the implications of using the Warshards in a way that captures the audiences attention. He finishes strong, having clearly found a way to present it to this audience.

Success, accumulated points 16
Success, accumulated points 17

Lokaloka 4/4 rounds completed.
Professor Bun Bun 4/4 rounds completed
Jiggo 4/4 rounds completed
Clover 2/4 rounds
Stitch 4/4 rounds

Clover begins with her next part of the presentation with a bit more substance, which initially does not go over as well as the prior performances do, but she manages to get the audience to nod along with her on some good points eventually.

Nature E: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Hero Point: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Then she does the final quiz show, which goes off better.

Perform: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
Which Team?: 1d6 ⇒ 2

"And the Knights of Lastwall catch up, showing that strength and substance go hand in hand!"

Clover passes out more coffee, thanks everyone for listening, and then says, "And now it's time for us to make way for the Magaambyan scholars!"

She claps for the next group, and makes her way to the Pathfinder Seats.

Clover manages to correctly explain some of the principles of primal magics that were utilized to connect the Warshard to the wayfinder.

Success, accumulated points 18

She then does her part to summarize their findings and how it links into the larger presentation.

Success, accumulated points 19
Presntation is a success.

As Clover is transitioning to the next presenter, an attendant motions her towards the stage exit. Before she can exit everything is suddenly engulfed in darkness. What's worse, smoke fills the stage as well making it nearly impossible to see.

Shouts of confusion erupt and it seems some people aren't sure if this is still part of the presentation. There is a distinct sound of individuals jumping off the stage and footsteps sprinting toward the exits. Someone, likely beyond the darkness and smoke, shout that they see Pathfinders fleeing.

Once the smoke clears what has happened is laid bare, the research of all attending nations has been stolen and many are staring at the assembled Pathfinders.

The guards order everyone to stay in place to wait while the security forces can take stock of what happened.

Almost immediately recriminations begin to ring out, “The Pathfinders stole our research!” “They want the warshards for themselves” but are quickly silenced by Grand Princess Eutropia as guards are summoned to surround the Pathfinders, weapons undrawn, but very much at the ready.

The Grand Princess speaks from the balcony above “Let us all remain calm. We will ascertain the nature of this crime and retrieve the stolen research. And we will understand why such a crime was committed when we have extended our hand in friendship to the Pathfinder Society.”

All Pathfinders, including Kreighton and Lolly are gathered into a separate room, one used as a classroom. Guards stand outside the room, but you seem to have some time to speak amoung youselves.

Jiggo finishes drinking from his waterskin. This is a big presentation, and Jiggo isn't sure if he should even be here. I mean, that woman's dress costs more than his earnings for the year, he's sure of it.

Sal'era walks up and shrugs. "I guess they don't know you as well as I-" when she dives to shield him with her body. The lights went out and thick smoke is everywhere. She stays still and alert.

The smoke clears. Jiggo is still underneath, his water spilled but otherwise unharmed. Sal'era helps him stand up but keeps her eyes on the guards. Only when the Grand Princess speaks does she relax.

"Uh, don't worry Sal. I'm certain we'll get this cleared up in no time. Let's follow 'em." Jiggo taps her arm and she relaxes a bit.

Once in the room, Jiggo looks at his teammates. "Is everyone alright? Any injuries?" Once that's resolved, he sighs. "Looks like someone's trying to make the Pathfinder Society look bad."

Clover stays calm and attempts to peer through the smoke to see what is going on.

Clover catches sight of someone over to the side of the theater throwing away a sheet of paper and several people tossing smoke bombs and then rushing to grab the research materials. It is clear that this is a coordinated and well planned operation. The thieves trail their hands along the tables and other set pieces to guide themselves as they rush away. Evidently they can’t see through the darkness and smoke.

They are wearing cloaks to disguise their features, but that doesn’t disguise their height. They are all around the height of a human or elf. The lack of light means she is only seeing them in black and white.

As the pathfinders are being led away, Professor Bun Bun proclaims his innocence. "Uth? Thtealing? Prepothterouth! We've been framed! We mutht find the true culpritth immediately. Thith ith outrageouth. I'm a rethpected thcholar. It thayth tho on my card. Thee? It thayth tho right here..." He attempts to give one of the guards his card.

Professor Bun Bun continues to complain loudly for the entire trip to the makeshift jail cell.

If Professor Bun Bun's outrage wasn't enough, Lokaloka's is ever shriller.

"Paffinders no steal!! This outrage! Professor Rabbit speaking true!! Paffinders no steal! I's not join Paffinders if theys stealing!!"

She continues to shrill the same statements in various permutations on the way to the makeshift jail cell.

Assuming that I cannot change the plot set-piece even though I could see it happening.

Clover is about to shout, Hey, stop those thieves!, but all she got out was...

"Hey!"* Cough, cough! *

She can see through non-magical smoke just fine. Breathe it?! Not so much. When the smoke dissipates, she gets on a chair, shoots dancing phoenixes in the air, and starts up Musical Accompaniment once again. She puts her fingers to her lips until the room quiets down in curiosity.

Then she lets the music die down and lowers her voice from its previous shout. "Friend scholars, like my colleagues have stated, it was not us who stole your manuscripts. Let's look at the evidence, shall we?"

She counts off fingers.

◈ "ONE. The Society didn't need to steal. This is a symposium, and every scholar worth their salt was taking notes. We came with our own research, which by the way was also stolen."

◈ "TWO. We're still here. If we had stolen anything, would we be still here like a bunch of idiots? Nope."

◈ "THIRD. I saw what happened with my own eyes."

As the uproar starts, Clover holds up her hands. She had chosen this silver dress to reflect the fire in her hair. She lets that fire blaze forth. "I'm an emberkin nephilem. My ancestors were not fallen angels, they were ascended fiends who repented, and gave their lives generously and freely to save humans. For their efforts, they were reborn as phoenixes, flaming again and again. As part of their legacy, I can see through non-magical smoke, fog and fire."

"You can test this if you like. I am sure that someone has smoke sticks and a deck of cards. Or...." She looks to the audience and pauses to describe the cloaked figures. "We could stop wasting time with these baseless recriminations and catch the real criminals."

Perform: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

She then turns her back on the assembly, and says to the guards, "You may escort me now."

The guards herd Professor Bun Bun, Lokaloka and Clover off the stage with varying degrees of success. One of them now has pickle juice staining her uniform. There is a knowing comment “They all say that,” in response to the shouts about being framed.

In the back-stage room, Lolly and Kreighton are urging everyone to calm themselves. “Don’t be too concerned, although Taldor likes a spectacle they do believe in justice.”

"And what a spectacle." Sal'era muses. "Now, it's feeling like Home. Let's see if this justice thing actually happens."

She turns to Clover. "Ascended fiends, reborn in fire? A much better than I..."

The fact that the thieves couldn't see through the smoke gives Sal'era some relief. Sounded like they were mundane thieves.

"Yes." Clover looks to Sal'era and sees the pain there. "Do you want to talk about it? It appears that we're trapped here for a bit."

Then she looks at Lolly and Kreighton Shane. "Are we waiting for them to put us on trial, or are we planning on escaping and capturing the miscreants ourselves?"

Kreighton says “We plan and wait. I assume none of you were involved in this in which case we should have an opportunity to prove it and find whomever framed us.”

Sal'era hesitates for a moment before Jiggo gives her The Look. "I hate when he looks at me like that."

"Mom's high up on the food chain back in the Abyss." Sal'era turns her head to the side. "I was supposed to replace Mom once she uh, retired." She shrugs. There's no easy word in Common tongue to explain what happens when a demon dies.

"Jiggo should have been a quick meal, but... oh just look at him, he's adorable." Sal'era swats her devil-may-care attitude. Jiggo is busy working on his his lettering as he writes on his scroll. "He's just so... attentive. I guess? I don't know. This love stuff is weird. But it's beautiful... I couldn't hurt him. Couldn't do it. I left him..."

"Then I gave birth to his daughter and... well, my husband-to-be couldn't deal with that. So he went on a rampage, Jiggo got the courage to fight him, but not the strength. He needed my help and I... uhh... died for it? I don't have a soul the way you do. It's hard to describe. My body didn't work anymore." She's slightly frustrated as she searches for words.

"There's a reason I'm called The Reformed. Jiggo vouched to the forces of Heaven that love had saved me and I was capable of doing some good. Also, they took my body and reformed it using heavenly... um... well, my body works now. Jiggs has the technical explanation. I always lose interest."

"Something about your family history reminded me of me."

"Thank you for telling me. Um... Your daughter... Is she at the Dacilane Academy?" Clover pauses. "Or should I not be asking?"

Then she turns to Kreighton again. "Alright, plans. I saw the miscreants, though they were masked and cloaked. They stealing things blind, because they couldn't see through the darkness and smoke like I can." She goes to Mr. Potbelly to pour herself a coffee.

"So... I know that we're not supposed to theorize ahead of data, but if you're going to be stealing research while blind, you better know the building that you're in. And aren't we housed right now in a school for bards and spies?"

Clover shakes her head. "Look at me, I'm accusing without evidence. Does anyone remember who shouted out that we were the thieves first at the conference? I'd love to take a closer look at them."

"Do we think we're headed to a trial? Or have any idea what they plan to do with us? Because if we're headed to a trial, I should start writing up our defense." Clover looks embarrassed. "I... um... passed my bar examinations recently. Though I haven't had much chance to do any court practice yet."

Jiggo stops scribing as Clover asks. He can't help but smile, full of pride. "Swayaah Maeleranti Detective Agency is in Absalom. If you're ever in the area and need some kind of investigative help, our daughter is available. Unless she's booked, haha!"

"Well, obviously we didn't steal anything. We'll ask around, I'm certain we'll get more information from the other groups. Their research was also stolen." Jiggo's pride turns to enthusiasm. "What I do hope is that we can find the thieves before they leave town."

As Jiggo is finishing his speach, one of the guards opens the door.

A young attendant to the Grand Princess arrives in the classroom with a single guard. After a moment she removes her hood revealing none other than the Grand Princess. “I never liked sitting in those balconies,” the Grand Princess says almost out of nowhere, “I tend to like sitting in the back and having what one might consider the commoner's experience of our intellectual debates.”

“I assume you have something to say for yourselves, as you have several very angry intellectuals who have very powerful friends across the inner sea who can make the lives of the Pathfinders within their borders very tough.”

She takes a deep breath, “I know for a fact that it was not any of the assembled Pathfinders who have committed this crime, but convincing the other delegates of this might be difficult, and we are unwilling to seem like we are ‘going easy' on the Pathfinders. I need a solution, and I need one now.”

Kreighton speaks up “I can personally vouch for the Pathfinders here, your highness. None of us would steal this research or otherwise disrupt this delightful symposium.” With a quick look around, he continues “I would be willing to offer up myself as Master of Scrolls while my team be given the chance to find the real thieves and bring them to justice.”

“Hold me in custody until they return with the research, and proof that the criminals have been dealt with, and we can put this ugly matter behind us and continue.”

The Grand Princess sighs, a soft smile appearing on her face. “I would never decline an evening or two of entertainment and intellectual discussion with you Kreighton, but your team better deliver, or I cannot promise your safety, nor can I speak to the potential consequences that might face the Pathfinder Society.”

With a small smile Kreighton replies “A risk we are willing to take in this instance, your highness. My research was stolen as well, and we both know I cannot abide that.”

He turns to address the group. “Your job now is to investigate the scene determine who might have stolen this information. I'm nearly certain none of the gathered academics nor would their delegations do this, so I believe it is an outside interloper. Gather the needed information and resolve this, and we can continue our very entertaining symposium.[/b]”

The Princess smiles and says “Yes, you have made it quite the performance. Continue like that and I may consider allowing some of you to perform in my court.” With a gesture, she says “The guards will accompany you to verify any findings you make.”

At this time you are allowed back into the main theater. It seems that tempers have cooled and the assembled delegations have been informed that the Pathfinders are looking into this situation. You receive several outright apologies from some of the researchers and dignitaries who do not believe you stole anything, but request for them to act with haste to retrieve the assembled research.

After a few moments, Grand Princess Eutropia appears in her balcony and requests that all researchers and their staff please calm down as the Pathfinders review this case. She assures the other delegations that the Master of Scrolls of the Pathfinder Society is being held in custody until this investigation is completed. She then leaves the balcony.

So it looks like Kreighton got a date with the princess while you get to investigate the crime.

The other researchers were impressed enough with your presentation that they are more willing to cooperate with you. This translates as a decrease in the DCs.

The most obvious place to start would be searching the scene. Several items were scattered about the stage in the confusion, and it even looks done deliberately in some cases. This is your chance to review the scene with a practiced eye, reviewing all of the details and properly collect whatever evidence is available.

Perception check is suggested. You are looking for number of successes. Critical Success gives 2, Success gives 1, and critical failure takes away 1.

Sal'era maintains a polite guise as she reenters the main hall. "Of course, no apology needed. We're all concerned about our missing research. We will find it, rest assured."

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

"Mmm. The Master of Scrolls has a way with words..." She grins. Jiggo realizes where her thoughts are going and flushes red with embarrassment.

Sal’era finds a piece of evidence pointing to the Pathfinder Society. It seems fake, but she isn’t sure.

1 success

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

"Oh! Look here!" Lokaloka calls.

Lokaloka finds a key piece of evidence pointing to the Pathfinder Society, but it's an obvious fake. It is scuffed in an attempt to make it look used, but obviously done with tools.

The guard verifies the find.

Critical Success, total 3 successes

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

hp reroll

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Professor Bun Bun looks around the stage, searching for clues. "Aha! I knew it!"

He reaches down and retrieves a small item. He indignantly presents it to his teammates.

"Look at thith! The fool guard jutht threw away my card. How dithrethpectful."

Professor Bun Bun gets distracted by someone having thoughtlessly dropping his card. Or was this another attempt to place blame?

Failure, total 3 successes

“I assume you have something to say for yourselves, as you have several very angry intellectuals who have very powerful friends across the inner sea who can make the lives of the Pathfinders within their borders very tough.”

"Did no one hear what I said earlier?" Clover writes up what she had said before, and hands it to the Grand Princess. "Your serene highness, please consider these points."

Then she joins the team on the investigation.

Perception E: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

“Yes, yes and a wonderful speach it was. It would be much more impactful with some evidence to back it up.”

——

Clover goes to where she saw the person discard some paper and finds what they discarded. She checks and it was a magic scroll — now used up. Inspecting it closely, she finds a watermark indicating the paper came from the ports of the Mwangi — most likely Bloodcove or Senghor.

With that, the guard is willing to accept the evidence.

Critical success, 5 successes