GM Jhaeman's PFS1 # 5-23: 'Cairn of Shadows' (CORE) (Subtier 8-9) (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Kavor Doan is also oblivious, being so focused on acting downcast.

However, at Two Blades' signal, he follows the rogue to the woman at the bar.

"Well then," he says evenly, "I will toast you if you tell me the reason."

Grog follows the dwarf to the bar and orders a drink.

"Dirty rum innkeeper!" and places a gold on the counter. He looks at the woman.

The woman looks over at Two Blades and Kavor. "A great deed was done this day! By me! Another filthy subversive captured. Dawn will see a sizable reward in my coin pouch. To Alya Renatus, the best bounty hunter ever there was! To me!" She holds up her mug waiting for a round of cheers or applause. The other locals sitting at the bar give a half-hearted response, looking as if they're present more out of fear than admiration.

Even Khellek can't but overhear the loud bosting. An uneasy feeling settles over his stomach.

He takes his wine and approaches the Alya.

"Oh, Ms Renatus is it?" he raises his glass to her.

"And who was this miscreant that you captured? he asks. "May we see him and throw mud in his face?"

Alya smiles but looks curiously--suspiciously?--at the group of heavily-armed strangers who have suddenly descended on the Broken Cup.

@Khellek: I should get a Bluff check from you before I respond.

Khellek doesn't bluff

bluff: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

But can can be quite persuasive at times.

"I mean, by the sounds of your celebration, this subversive must be quite the catch. Surely your success must be more than just finding another guttersnipe who said the wrong thing?"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

"That's funny," says Alya, raising an eyebrow. "You don't look like the mud-throwing type, old man. Where are you and your friends from?" Although she's still sitting on a stool, she's twisted her body so her kukris are within easy draw. The other patrons nearby slowly drift away.

Jair come closer and says while tapping at the grinning devil that buckles her belt. Hi! We just landed from Cheliax! First time here, and yes, we usually don't throw mud at people, we burn them. But some of my Hellknight friends like to do much more to the prisoners they take.
What yours have done?

Bluff (+1 if the woman could be sexually attracted to Jair): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (11) + 19 = 30

Kavor Doan does not Bluff, and watches quietly with some relief as Jair takes over.

Kaya shrugs as her friends descend upon the lady. She backs away to the other end of the bar and scans the crowd, looking to see if Alya is going to have any allies if this turns into a fight.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32 +4 mod instead if Sense Motive

"That is correct" Two Blades said in Infernal accented Common. "Just arrived from Cheliax"

Speaks Infernal
Bluff aid: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Alya relaxes a bit. "Cheliax? Well, you do have a reputation. But I bet even you'll be impressed by our advanced Nidalese techniques of pain augmentation and coercive obedience! As for my catch of the day, the little bastard is hogtied in his own room upstairs. Can't let you see him, though. The Umbral Court has protocols for Desnan prisoners."

"Kavor, I got to hit the head, you want to grab some drinks? Two Blades said as he motioned for the Dwarf to come with him.

Once away from Ayla and the others he motioned Kavor to come closer so he could whisper. "Keep her busy so I can make a social call upstairs. If she asks, the ship food is not sitting well." he said as they made their way to the barkeep. "Which way to the head?" he asked.

Unless otherwise specified, will be speaking in Infernal accented Common while in town.

Jair spits at the word Desnan Desnan follower are the worst! The Mighty Asmodeus would have crushed Her, if not for Rovagug!
Let me buy you drinks for such a catch and celebrate one less bug in this world!

Says Jair with enthusiasm.

Nevertheless, hearing that their contact could be caught, she makes a sign to her comrades to tales care of the prisoner while she distracts the bounty hunter.

bluff to pass a secret message: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31

As Kavor starts a devious plan, Jair tries to distract the bounty hunter.

The stairs to the rooms on the second floor are in sight of the bar. If Jair succeeds on a Bluff check to distract Alya, then Two Blades can attempt a Stealth check to sneak upstairs without her noticing.

Bluff (distract) +1 if Alya could be sexually attracted to Jair: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 37

Your kushit method seems quite interesting, could you tell me more? says Jair as she commands several drinks for Alya and her, in hope to distract the woman enough for her comrades to act.

Kaya stays out of this plan, knowing her skills are not useful to it. But it is a good plan. And she hasn’t had a nice glass of wine or mead in a while. She waves the bartender over to order and watches the show.

Grog hangs back and drinks slowly with Kaya while waiting for the others.

"I wonder if they'll need our help?"

He takes another small sip of his drink.

Kavor Doan has no clever plan, and isn't good at Bluff.
He won't be any good at lying to cover for Two Blades, but fortunately Jair seems quite skilled in that regard.

He does not leave, as several leaving at once would be suspicious, but instead turns back to his ale.

Seeing Jair busy keeping Alya busy, Two Blades quickly and quietly made his way upstairs.

Fast Stealth: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30
Move 50" and spending a use of Agile Feet (3 remaining) to get up the stairs quickly.

Perhaps the celebratory drinks are getting to the bounty hunter, as she's easily distracted by Jair's flattering questions. Distracted enough, in fact, not to notice Two Blades in the Shadows living up to name and quickly scampering unseen up the stairs!

Jair's Bluff check succeeded easily, and Two Blades' Stealth check was just high enough!

Two Blades headed to the muffled sounds, making sure that there was no one in sight and doing a check for traps just to be on the safe side before approaching the door. Once there, he checked out the lock.

Perception(Trapfinding): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
Disable device: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34

Khellek orders another round of drinks, well, two anyway. A scholar has to be careful with his money.

He offers one to Alya and takes the second himself. "To your success Ms Renatus."

As Khellek orders more drinks at the bar, Two Blades successfully picks the lock to one of the rooms upstairs. There, hogtied and gagged, a fair-haired young man stares wide-eyed at the Shoanti!

Each mug of ale is 4 cp, and don't think I won't charge you for it--the Broken Cup needs to pay rent, ya know!

Two Blades took a quick look in the room to make sure that there was no one else there before approaching the tied up figure.

"Golbrier?" he quietly asked.

If yes

"Be ready for challenges and unexpected friends"The minor priest of Desna said as he cut the bonds.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

If he can keep Alya drinking, he is happy to spend the copper.

Khellek is more than happy to dig into his painfully thin purse to help the famous bounty hunter celebrate her win. He drinks slowly himself, being of an age in which strong drink can quickly go to his head.

That however doesn't stop him subtly flirting with her. "I'm surprised to see you here on your own. Surely you must have a bevy of admirers who would be willing to help celebrate your success."

Grog heads over to Khellek and continues drinking his drink.

I wonder if we'll get jumped in this place

He checks to see that his axe can be grabbed easily.

The man's face fills with gratitude as he's set free. "Yes, I'm Golbrier Frosh!" he whispers. "You must be the Pathfinder I was expecting! We've got to get out of here, fast! And not just out of the inn, but out of Nisroch altogether!"

Meanwhile, downstairs at the bar, the bounty hunter Alya seems quite open to Khellek's flattery. "Oh, I'll have admirers plenty once word spreads that I've captured a major player in the Whispered Song! The Umbral Court might even give me a permanent commission!"

"Are there backstairs to the place or a window?" Two Blades asked. "Alya is downstairs and can keep an eye on the stairway. I would like to get you out of here and lock the door so she will have no clue what happened. Two Blades said with a sly smile.

Golbrier nods. "The window! We just need a rope . . . wait, we can use what she tied me up with--a fitting twist!"

"Tie the rope to the bed then. I will go lock the door in case she comes back." Two Blades said.

Disable device: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24
The plan of action is to have Golbrier go down first and then remove the rope, toss it on the bed, close the window and then climb down, using acrobatics in case I fail

@TwoBlades If I may, You could let her go outside to wait for us remove the rope, toss it on the bed, close the window, close the door and then come back stealthily by the stairs in the main room with us, ready to tell us to go :)

Jair continues to make Golbrier talks, exchanging tips and tops about how to take care of prisoners.

@Jair, I had considered it, but why take the chance. Just got to see if I can slip in through the back door (hopefully that is the same door to the latrine)

Nodding at Two Blades, Golbrier clambers down the rope to the street outside and waits for him to follow.

Once reunited, and still whispering, he says "I'm forever in your debt! You're a brave agent to come into Nidal on your own. But quick, let's head towards the Leper's Gate--I know a drainage tunnel we can slip through to get outside the city walls."

@Two Blades: Yes, your Acrobatics modifier is high enough to automatically succeed on intentionally jumping down to negate the first 10' of falling damage, so we don't need to actually roll anything.

Two Blades frowned a bit. "I have some companions that are distracting Alya. Let me get back before I am missed and I will get them to finish up their drinks. If I am gone, she will put two and two together when you are no longer in the room, and I will be the one dancing on air. said the rogue.

"Any suggestions? My thought is for you to head to the drainage tunnel and hide there. Here is a piece of chalk. Make arrows pointing out the direction we need to go but have them point in the opposite direction." he suggested.

"There's more of you? Great! We'll need them in Barrowmoor.
Okay, good idea with the chalk. When you come back out, stick to the alleys and shadows, and don't stop for anything! A hero's luck runs out fast in Nisroch!" With that, Golbrier takes the chalk, makes a backwards arrow on a cobblestone, and heads off into the darkened city.

With one less thing to worry about, Two Blades headed back in, making it look like he was returning from the latrine. Making a quick stop to wash his hands before leaving, he wiped them on his cloak as he approached the group.

"Ugh, my stomach is not doing well. We need to get going. he said in Infernal.
Stealth: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

Jair looks at Two Blades, trying to see if he was able to free their contact

Bluff (pass secret message): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39

You've been sick since the boat, have you been able to free your stomach?

Two Blades nodded in agreement, looking like he could not wait to get out of there as he clutched his stomach. "And it might be the pickled herring I had last night from the other end if we do not get out of here. he said, again in Infernal.

With a sigh Khellek offers a last raise of his glass to the charming bounty hunter the scholar bids his farewell and joins the others, a slightly confused look on his face.

Once out in the alley he says "Well, she seems very nice."

Then very quietly adds after looking around "I do hope the person she caught was not our contact."

As you leave, Alya calls out. "Hey, if you Chels every need a dissident tracked down, don't forget the name Alya Renatus! I've never failed a commission yet!" Obviously extremely satisfied with herself, she goes back to drinking.

Once outside, the silent streets of Nisroch seem even darker and gloomier than before.

Well done on the bluffing and rescue!

Once away from the inn, Two Blades breathed a sigh of relief before breaking into a beaming smile. "Alya is going to have a rude surprise when they come to get him, only to find a locked and empty room." he said.

"Okay, our friend is on the way to a drainage tunnel near Leper's Gate that he says will get us out of town. I gave him some chalk to mark the way but the arrow is going to point opposite of the direction we need to travel. He said to stick to the alleys and shadows, and not stop for anything. Here is the first mark he left, so that direction." the rogue said, wiping off the chalk before leading the group in the opposite direction.

Now for a game of hunt the arrows.

For sure! Enjoy your win my friend. says Jair before departing.

Once outside she says to Two Blade Well done! I was sure our mission was doomed from the start but it seems will still have some chance of success...
Lets find our contact.

She joins Two Blade in his hunt for chalked arrows.

Somewhat bemused by his "students", Khellek joins the hunt through the dark alleyways looking for arrows.

However darkness and poor vision make him... well... not very useful in the hunt.

Kavor Doan is relieved to be (temporarily) done with the deception. It isn't his way.

He has the Upstanding faction trait for the Exchange, and tends to follow that approach whenever we can - but he doesn't mind if others do the necessary lying. As long as nobody asks him for a Bluff check, because he is pretty bad at it.

"I can see in the shadows easily enough."
The dwarf starts looking for the trail of arrows.
Darkvision and Perception +9.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Kaya sighs as her glass is half-full still and her team is leaving. She takes another quick sip, tosses a copper on the counter as a tip and climbs off the stool. Sliding her way through the tired patrons the young? gnome exits.

Her mood improves immensely when told they are getting out of the city.

"About gave Golbrier a heart attack before cutting his bonds." Two Blades said. "Let's hope that there are no serious repercussions for the patrons for freeing him. For Alya... could be her final mission for them." he added as he made a throat cutting motion.

Following Golbrief's chalk marks isn't difficult, and the streets of Nisroch seem mostly deserted as the evening hours stretch on. A cold, clammy fog settles over the city, providing you with additional cover as you move. The arrows take you past a strange assembly of pillars that have moaning, bleeding figures on top of them and point toward a drainage tunnel in the northeast corner of the city wall.

Kavor Doan stops and peers in the drainage tunnel with his darkvision.
He also listens with his keen Dwarven senses.
I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox...
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

"I'd be keeping that to yourself Mr Doan, lest the Nexian fleshcrafters hear of you and are keen to experiment on you." notes the scholar dryly.