Concordance of The Abyss (Pathfinder Chronicle) (Inactive)

Game Master Molech

Sounds and smells like my stepmother, no, not the one that was an Omox

bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
+2 wis

K'Tak'Ktah'Hal drops into an easy crouch beside the hatch, and pulls a set of thieves tools from his pack. He demonstrates a surprising proficiency with things mechanical (for an ignorant savage) as he sets to work on the lock...

As he works, he whispers to the others "Ready yourthelveth. Who wantth to be firtht?"

probably me
As Pärs blesses himself with divine favor
Casts divine favor, +4 to attack and damage because of fates favored

K'Tak easily opens the hatch to reveal a five-foot shaft and rope ladder down to the ground. The living area below, what you can see of it with your tunnel-vision, is small with a Small ceiling. A few scrawny pigs waddle on the ground and K'Tak can see poorly healed slashing marks on their bodies, as though they are bled from time to time. As small as the 'apartment' or ground-area is below the 5' shaft, people of 'normal' size will be in very tight quarters below. The stale air smells strongly of pig offal and dank mildew.

Outside The Soiled Sow, Lady Sabella Arvanxi has been keeping half an eye on a group of six cloaked figures heading toward the area from Bridgefront. As the boardwalks are limited in number and the individuals are not paying attention to The Soiled Sow, it has been mostly a non-issue. But now it looks as though this small group is heading straight for Breakwater Pier, and they don't look dressed for climbing into the Alika Narrows for oysters or clams. Indeed, one of them points out the blood stain ahead of them, whereupon The Lantern Man murdered Raif. Lady Sabella estimates in another six seconds, perhaps twelve, the group will reach Breakwater Pier and the scene of the crime you are also investigating, and within a moment of that, they will see the trail through Flotsam leading to The Soiled Sow.

"Alright, maybe 't was pig blood instead o' human blood," speculates the wizard as the bled pigs make their appearance. "Still gotta be better ways ta make ale than that!"

He seems ready to head down, but only after someone sturdier goes first!

[b]"I don't know someone may like Bacon Ale?"[/b[ Val says as she contemplates the exact nature of the blood flavored ale. It would be weird, both were but then again she had heard of people putting cabbage in a jar with a bit of water and burying it. She also heard of Venomous snakes put in a jar of alcohol to get it to mayhaps cause hallucinations.

"Sooe, Sooe, Sooe" having heard no warning (in 4 days of real time), K’Tak’Ktah’hal is proceeding with breaking and entering, by using his way with animals to convince the pigs to stay calm...

I am currently awaiting a description of the gangsters. Also, how long will it take for them to get from the pier to the Sow?

extended cats graceA moment of magic, and Artemisia drops down beside the hatch next to K’Tak’Ktah’hal her bow at the ready, her pose graceful and easy. She motions to her companions.

”It was pigs. Well, if the pigs decide to eat you, I will shoot. Go quickly and in pairs. The rest of us will follow. Val and I have the rear?”. She looks up at the group for a moment, then focuses on the pigs as K’Tak’Ktah’hal and Pärs enter the hatch, the rest ready to pile in behind.

Up the tension.

" Yes the rear guard. I shall be honored to watch everyone's backs!" She says with a look of shock and then acceptance.

Much less shapely then yours our rears might be.
Pär deadpans from the hatch as he proceeds, weapon drawn.

Dear Pär, did it occur to the Viking Murderhobo master strategist that he possesses no Dark Vision whatsorever?
I guess I will be playing it by ear then, is this when you try to tempt me with an infernal contract for the devils sight?
Indeed, enjoy the benefits of constant 120 foot dark vision, including through magic darkness, laugh at insipid fanglord furries who erraneously think only they get this an enjoy this sizeable advanadge!
While I appreciate slaying insipid fanglord furries, this is best done in the light so all can rejoice at the sight of the slain fanglord.
A surprisingly reasonable answer I must say
How is it from your perspective, if you client is in a situation with certain traits, you are prompted to propose X in order to damn his soul, with X being something that was prescribed by some comitee of beurocrats who have exceedingly little actual notion of how your job works?
You are either surprisingly insighfull for a Mortal or Lady Eiseth has a security breach somewhere

Pär giggles internally as he bumps his helmeted head on something.

With her Arcane Eye Lady Sabella can see that, while all six thugs have a similar looking Cloak, one of them has nicer items underneath those tatters than the other five. Indeed, Lady Sabella is surprised to note that the six Cloaks themselves, though they superficially look tattered, are almost certainly Enchanted -- good disguise job though. The five mooks each wield a sap, and under their Cloaks also wear enchanted short swords and chain-shirt armor. The 'leader' also wields a sap but under his Cloak he veritably sparkles with enchanted items, from Rings to a Headband, from an Amulet to Bracers -- and carries two Wands.

In her initial glance at this, Lady Sabella can instantly relay the pertinents to her fellow Pathfinders.

K'Tak wiggles his way down the five-foot shaft via the rope ladder to the grimy floor below. In only a few seconds he befriends the domesticated pigs, a dwarf-breed obviously, and better sees how they are indeed cut and bled -- very obviously to be turned into some pig-blood-beer for the proprietor. Sadly, the pigs seem comfortable in their little sty, despite probably never having seen grass or clean air.

More importantly, K'Tak also immediately sees yet another hatch, closed and locked, going down to some kind of lair or apartment or whatnot. Very likely, the place in which this hatch leads houses the proprietor of The Soiled Sow, and is under street-level of The Styes.

Finally, on the ground under a pig (noticeable when the pig moved to greet the Dineh) is a bloody amulet. The amulet is cheap and non-magical -- perhaps the property of Raif or The Lantern Man, perhaps the property of one of The Soiled Sow's customers (but it is covered in blood).

As Par attempts to go down the rope ladder behind K'Tak it quickly becomes apparent just how little room there is at the bottom of the five-foot shaft leading to the pigs. K'Tak can fit down there, squeezing in the area, and Par probably could though he'd be squishing pigs. And in that case K'Tak would not really be able to try and disable the lock on the second hatch (that leads below street level). It is pretty clear that Par can stay in the shaft, holding the rope ladder.

From Artemisia's vantage at the bar, she can shoot Par (in the shaft) and K'Tak's left leg from the knee down. Maybe a pig.

K'Tak my be surprised when a voice shouts out from under the hatch leading further down.

"You get out, trespassing vandals! I'll cast a Devil's Fireball at you!"

And it sounds as though the voice on the other end of the hatch is unlocking the hatch -- or maybe setting off some kind of trap or alarm.

Artemisia yells down at the idiot. ”You’ll cast it, I’ll counter it, then we’ll have claws on you and you’ll be out of room to bargain. Or you could come out, slowly, and talk. Choose as you will, but do choose quickly while you may. Pride or peripheral limbs, an easy choice mortal.”. She sounds utterly bored, the entire speech practiced and perfect after years of giving younger races enough rope to hang themselves.

Eh, I am from Sarkoris, one of my "adulthood trials" was "moon a Brimorak". I mooned it, and then I killed it, with my pants still down for extra glory! Like, unless you can also empower and maximize the fireball, I am essentially certain to survive it. So why not talk the a fair elfen Lady rather then fight with M''dineh tracker and a borderline insane Sarkorian Demon Slayer, who would both be in your face almost instantly? Oh, you know you cant empower and maximize the fireball at the same time, if you could, you would not be where you are.

Pärs speaks in a conversational tone, implying that being threatened by fireballs is not even tuesay for him.

Now, there certainly are individuals whose fireballs I would take seriously
Perhaps you would wish to moon them as well?
Are you suggesting I should moon Shamira the ardent dream? Generally speaking, getting your pants down in front of a probably Succubus nascent Demon Lord is not the most cunningest idea ever.
Its cunning not cunningest! Eh, if the Demons were smart, they could wipe out your tribes adolescents by having Succubi disguise themselfs as Brimoraks.
Succubi typically detest assuming forms that are not physically attractive, it is one of their limitations.

diplomacy to assist: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

The brewer finishes unlocking the hatch and cracks it open an inch or two to see a big desert-snake-man veritably nose-to-nose with him. You are obviously not looters or vandals. And you are obviously not The Korvosan Guard. He is confused and quite scared. " I paid my protection money; tell Hamfist if he bullies me I'll go elsewhere for protection. No more free beer!"

He's a little man, squinty eyes and a sharp nose join with an almost squeaky voice to make a caricature of a comical, greedy little bartender.

K’Tak’Ktah’hal snags the amulet from the floor for a closer look, but pauses as the hatch cracks open. He replies to the bartender, "We are not with this Hamfitht. Go up and talk to the otherth little man. There wath a murder done and the trail led here." and then squeezes to the side to make room for him to climb up the ladder (assuming Par gets out of the way).

The little wormy man is relieved for a moment when you say you're not rough-necks from Hamfist, but the look on his face makes it clear he is not stepping out of the "safety" of his home (at least not without far more reassurance). He apparently figured out quite quickly that his bluff of being some kind of powerful sorcerer didn't work and he could yet be in danger.

Within just six seconds, though, it is becoming a bit more clear exactly what kind of personality it is you're dealing with:

He shouts in the direction of Par Joakimson, "'Brimerack,' what in the Name of Asmodeus is a 'Bremherak'? .... Hey up there, you better not break my rope ladder. ... And you better not hurt my pigs; I'll sue you. ... If you broke my lock upstairs you have to pay for it. It's a 250 gold piece lock! Where's my money?! ... Hey, that amulet is mine; don't touch it; put it back."

In fact, it seems as though the man would have kept acting like a petty little weasel had the bloody murderer not been mentioned. "What, that big oaf climbing up from Flotsam?! He was getting blood all over my customers and acting crazy. I sent him away -- I already asked that Captain woman from the Korvosan Guard: Cora or something. ... There, I answered your question. Leave now. And don't take my amulet; drop it. ... And pay for that lock up there you broke. It's 275 gp!"

K’Tak’Ktah’hal reaches out and catches the hatch. He replies to the weasel: "I'm the tracker," he gestures to Par with hand holding the amulet, "He'th the brute. You want money? Go talk to the thmart people upthtairth. You don't want to talk to them? Me and Par make you go talk to them... Do it the eathy way fool."

Pär, I am mildly concerned about your clear mental intention to summon a Brimorak in the Bartenders face.
While amusing, and while I could cast such a summoning spell from a scroll, it would alas be a clearly inept utilization of 2 narrow resources, my money and my time.
And your soul too my dear
A yes, certainly, I shall heed your utterly altruistic call to reduce my souls corruption by drunking frolicking with some Fae in the name of Cayden Caylean!
Last time you did that you woke up on another continent.
Turned out the "Irriseni teleportation juice" cocktail was more then just a cocktail, thankfully I had a full sixpack of them so after some trial and error I got back to Sarkoris!
Honestly though, can I handle this? Lawyering is clearly my specialty... Please Pär
Eh, go nuts

Pärs intonation changes considerably, assuming a somewhat clinical and highly precise tone, that would remind Lady Val of one of her schoolmistresses in some way that seems half an octave higher.

We shall indeed endeavor to jointly deposit an appropriate amount of compensation with the guard good Sir, do not hesitate to contact them, presenting them proof in the way of the broken lock should you opt to do so. You may then avail yourself of the guards good offices in an effort to accurate assess the items value, after which an appropriate compensation, taking into account fees incurred for the guards time, will certainly be paid. Allies of the guards are upstairs to register your both your complaints and your testimony, now, if you would kindly proceed alongside us?

Lawyer speak, more distant from common then Abyssal.
The alternative is to mend it perhaps? It would be within your power.
I think i picked up something about possible hostiles moving in? Lets check this first.

Is Pärs informed of hostiles? Also, is the lock in a mendable condition?

Drawing upon her fiendish heritage, Sabella summons forth an infernal wolf like creature to do her bidding. Speaking in it's native tongue she orders the Hellhound to stand guard at the entrance to the Sow, and to only attack the Cloaked gangsters.

She then heads inside to inform her companions of the likely trouble. "There's a group of six armed thugs poking about the crime scene at the Pier, who will likely be here momentarily. Five of them are armed with enchanted short swords, but the leader possesses multiple magic items, including a pair of wands. I've summoned a Hellhound to keep watch, and guard the door."

About the time the six cloaked figures reach Breakwater Pier and Lady Sabella finishes casting her spell, a few more of the drunks begin to awaken and, sensing the temperature of the situation, attempt to stagger away as quickly as their hungover minds allow them. Below, the proprietor of The Soiled Sow snaps at Par in futility: He doesn't have time to walk all the way up Garrison Hill to Fort Korvosa to collect the gold; you should just pay him here! Why should he have to leave his bar -- his home -- because you broke into his place. And now his beloved pigs are stressed; you should pay for their pain and suffering. And he was trying to sleep after a long night at work when you interrupted him; you owe him. He seems sincerely upset. Not unlike a roach complaining about having to flee when a lamp is turned on, illuminating a room.

About the same time, Lady Sabella finishes conjuring the infernal canine and the Hound immediately whips its nose up to the roof, short as it is, of The Soiled Sow, and bares its fiery fangs. But upon hearing the command to guard against the six in the distance, turns its muzzle away from the roof of The Soiled Sow.

Valeria looks at the hound and shakes her head. As she does she watches it and then speaks."I think the hound may have an issue with something above."

As she does he then looks at the door and speaks in Infernal to the Canine.

Pär with the Erinye still in charge, makes surprisingly like puppy eyes at the hell hound and lets out a Daaaaw, good Doggoe utterly ignoring the Barmans blathering.

Oh, you are a dog person?
Behold its sleek yet deadly form, its perfectly configured fangs, it undying loyalty, coupled with enough intelligence to understand instructions, frankly it is almost perfect!

Upon hearing the arrival of hostiles, he renews his casting of divine favor, which has almost certain run out in the meantime.

If our quarry is on the roof, I am not the quickest or most agile, but I believe I am well equipped to deal with the interlopers. The sounds of battle may well drive our quarry away.

”Come back up Pär, leave the noisemaker to his pigs.”

She stands easily and moves to have vision of her friends and also the rear of the building, keeping an eye out for further complications. [dice…perception if needed]1d20+12[/dice]

”If we are determined to be combative, we might want to seek higher ground.”

Sabella's warning changes K’Tak’Ktah’hal plans. Instead of pulling the hatch open, he warns the weasel: "Thtay here. You don't want to be involved, but thomebody will want to talk to you afterwardth.", and pushes the hatch closed.

(He keeps the amulet.)

He climbs out of the pig pen, after Par, and closes (but does not lock) that hatch behind him. Given the conversation ongoing between Lady Valeria and Par, he looks up to see if there is a egress from inside the shack to the roof...

What happens next depends on if he sees a roof hatch or somesuch; I don't expect too, I'd have expected GM Ray to mention it. He's either going out a window where he will be able to hide from the people approaching from the pier, or ???

How many turns of prep do we have?

Pärs moves towards the likely entry point, interposing himself between the thugs and any non plate armor clad party members, uses a wand to cast lead blades on his greatsword.

UMD: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 suceeds.

Climbing out of the shaft leading to The Soiled Sow's shouting proprietor -- squealing not unlike his pigs in fury about the bloody amulet you're 'stealing' -- K'Tak and Par make it back up to the tavern with Muziel Moreau and Artemisia Burningleaves, allowing the drunks to leave. (Through the windows is line of effect to Breakwater Pier.)

Just outside with a Conjured Hell Hound, Lady Sabella is aware of a potential 'something' on the roof that the Hellish creature is aware of.

And 70 or so feet away, on Breakwater Pier, six cloaked figures are just now starting to inspect the bloodstain left by The Lantern Man's murder of Raif.

Muziel snaps to alert as Sabella warns of a threat, then considers the new information about the roof, and Artemesia's suggestion of higher ground.

"Well, if higher ground's what we want, guess we all go up ta the roof? I know a bit o' magic ta make a group o' us just disappear, so long as we stick t'gether. Could let us scout from the roof w'out gettin' seen. Gather round!"

If folks do indeed gather around, Muziel will cast Invisibility Sphere on himself, hoping to make the whole party invisible.

K’Tak’Ktah’hal can move with shocking stealth for such a large fellow; he demonstrates both this, and his natural climbing skills by going out the back window and up the wall. He peeks both around the corner of the building to assess what Sabella's thugs are up to, and up onto the roof of the Soiled Sow to see what's what...

Valeria will draw her FLachion, its twisted black metal contrast to her gleaming mithril mail etched with gilded roses and songbirds. As she stood she formed a relaxed stance that only seasoned fighters could see how deadly it was. With the right strikes, she could sever a head in one strike, or shave an arm or leg. It was something she learned long ago and refined through hard years of fighting.

Artemisia steps closer to Muziel, her eyes still on the rear, trusting her friends to guard against these new approaching folk. She pauses to listen, trying to isolate the sounds and sights from each other.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

"I suppose we're going to be in for a bit of excitement, then." She fingers her rapier, but ultimately settles into an open stance, trusting her bow and cestus as needed. "Still, let's try to remain calm. No need for any undue slaughter."

I agree, nobody is paying me for random heads, and these thugs dont seems instant must kill territory for me, unless they go ahead and randomly flash symbols of the Billy goat or the disgusting bug in my face.

Pärs voices his assent with Artemisia, confident that they have superiority in terms of violence.

"Like before I shall lead with my words. I must offer the rose, should they turn it aside, then I must use the thorn" Valeria says posing as if some dancer. It was a deadly grace, one that seemed to accent her strength and speed despite her age and slime figure.

Inside The Soiled Sow Muziel Moreau casts an encompassing globe of illusion, making Invisible all within.

K'Tak, having climbed up to the short roof of The Soiled Sow, sees nothing on the roof at all, let alone the kind of threat a Hound of Hell may consider a threat. He allows himself a few seconds to look around to make sure, but the roof is empty.

From inside, now Invisible, neither Artemisia nor anyone else hears anything on the roof either.

Poking his head back down through a window into The Soiled Sow, K'Tak reveals a look of confusion to his invisible allies, indicating that nothing is on the Roof. From above him, though, K'Tak now thinks he just barely hears what may be tinkling crystals or soft, faerie-like whistling.

Meanwhile, down at Breakwater Pier, the six thugs have used their six or twelve seconds to look at the murder scene and have just noticed the trail through Flotsam that The Lantern Man made wading his way to The Soiled Sow. Because of your Invisibility, they do not see you. They look as though they are about to start walking your way.

Охотник, твой нос светится розовым цветом, а лицо сверкает искрящимися красками. Says Pär to K'Tak,

Venator, nasus tuus roseo rutilat, et facies micatulis coloribus micat.

Apparently assuming that the veteran hunter would speak either of these.

Par's babbling in strange languages draws a flat stare from K’Tak’Ktah’hal...

Having spent a few moments looking at the fresh blood stains on Breakwater Pier, the six begin heading toward The Soiled Sow.

From their vantage point, they only see Lady Sabella and, in front of her, a Hell Hound.

Their cloaks look shabby and threadbare from afar but Lady Sabella has informed you that it is a disguise job, that the Cloaks are enchanted.

The leader is not in front, but he recognizes the Infernal guardian for what it is -- though it is extremely unlikely he can be certain if it is briefly Summoned or has been Called for a long period of time.

"Ktak, You seem to have glitter and pink on your nose. Though I do appreciate the attempt it does not go with your regular fine-scale pattern." Valeria says as she looks over at Par.

Dang, I lack both those knowledges, lol. However, she's rather intelligent, plus spent time in Korvoso, so she likely finds the Infernal odd.

[spoiler=Infernal]

"Well met good sir! I have not seen the criminal you are searching for, though if I do, I will be sure to report him to the proper authorities, as he sounds dangerous!" She replies politely.

"It's most unusual that you speak Infernal, when many here speak Chelixian instead. "

1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25 Diplomacy

K’Tak’Ktah’hal does not let the revelation that his face is pink and glittery distract him from business. He sneaks around the backside of the Soiled Sow, taking a position where he can pop forth and ambush the six if they prove hostile... While he moves into position, his brain is whirring: "The lady says I have glitter and pink on my nose, and I heard a faint faerie chime..."

The obvious leader shrugs noncommittedly at Lady Sabella's mention of language choice. As they approach closer and everyone can see their Red Face symptoms it becomes clearer. He conforms to the Chelaxian tongue. "Well, I recognize my betters when they visit The Styes, 'Mi'Lady, --.' I just wanted to make sure I suggested proper deference, Mage to Mage." He pauses to encourage you to volunteer your name, to freely give him your identity without offering his own.

When asked (or not) he continues, "We're looking for this guy on behalf of our Boss, Hamfist. You sure you haven't seen him?" It's perhaps noteworthy that for a brief moment, as the mage mentioned his "Boss, Hamfist," he ever so slightly averted his eyes.

He and his men approach and enter The Soiled Sow, clearly looking around the place -- and are cramped with the Invisible Artemisia, Val, Par and Muziel Moreau, sharing spaces.

Have I/we hard about Hamfist before? It sounds familiar.

"My good sir, I promise you, I have not seen your criminal. Might I inquire who Hamfist is, and why he might be looking for this crazy blonde haired man? I confess, I have been away from Korvoso for some time, and the name of your boss does not ring a bell. Despite how colorful it is."

Lady Sabella reflects on on the arcane gangster's shifty eyes for a brief moment and, though she can't be certain, it is perfectly reasonable, maybe probably, that the yellowish, hazy smog and pollutants were irritating the Mage's eyes and that's why he gave a heavy blink when mentioning Hamfist.

An instant later, one of the other mooks happens to poke his head outside a window of The Soiled Sow and finds himself veritably nose-to-nose with the mighty K'Tak. "Woah! .... There's a big Tiefling snake-man out here, Baku. Uh, he has magic that makes him look like a clown." And the thug is visibly confused by this. With the remark, though, a tiny bit more tinkling, like soft, crystal windchimes, jingles from above the roof again.

At K'Tak's revelation, the mooks each tighten their grips on their Saps, though their lethal weapons are still sheathed.

Baku the Mage is more cool, even nonplussed.

And from below, from underneath The Soiled Sow where the squinty, sleezy proprietor lairs, his squeaky voice whines out. "Hamfist! Hamfist, help! Those bullies broke in my bar and did 500 gold coins of damage!
"

Of course, Baku the Mage doesn't see 'those bullies,' he sees Lady Sabella and is aware of what his unlearned colleagues think is a rattlesnake Tiefling.

I can work this clown thing to my advantage, I can... It makes me look friendly and non-threatening, right!

Upon being spotted, stealth is abandoned. Quick as a whip, K’Tak’Ktah’hal, is round the corner and closing up with the mage (Baku), reaching out for a handshake, with a big (toothy) grin on his face. "Hi, I'm with milady here. Ath we're all friendth here, and your palth are getting clothe and friendly with the lady, I figure I'll make thure to make clothe friendth with you..."