Qstors #9-20: Fury of the Final Blade (FULL) (Inactive)

Game Master Qstor

Aye...but admittedly it isn't my strong suit..but barring anything else, I'll give it a try. Should it get physical I can knock them out... Rallas says with as he holds up his cestus.

got a +10...a thought...a cestus give a -2 penalty to precision tasks...like lock picks, which is two handed...would that apply to a one handed task like a snatch? if so, I can forgo the cestus if needed..just wanted to ask ahead of time.

Trokkus hits the down-and-out sections of the city near the prison and subtly mentions it to see if it sparks any gossip.

I'll Take 10 on a Diplomacy (Gather Information) check with a result of 18 to see if I can dig up anyone with memories of the layout or entrances to the prison.

if you're going to break in, I can post the map. There's one way in and out But an 18 at this tier doesn't get you anything.

Aye...but admittedly it isn't my strong suit..but barring anything else, I'll give it a try. Should it get physical I can knock them out... Rallas says with as he holds up his cestus.

got a +10...a thought...a cestus give a -2 penalty to precision tasks...like lock picks, which is two handed...would that apply to a one handed task like a snatch? if so, I can forgo the cestus if needed..just wanted to ask ahead of time.

yeah it would apply to a Sleight of Hand

Percy joins Trokkus putting an ear to the ground and hitting up the likely rumour mills...

Diplomacy 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35

Percy joins Trokkus putting an ear to the ground and hitting up the likely rumour mills...

Percy hears more rumors, that the prison is haunted and that a small cell of Pharasmin priests has recently taken an interest in it. And the name of a possible Gray Gardener, Estienne Jacquert You remember as did Natharanak here that rumors, have mentioned a Gray Gardener without a mask: a blond man with a diamond earring and a deep scar on his chin. Estienne is known as a Galtan traitor who was exiled to Andoran, though those the Lord speak with report

"We need to find this Gardener - Estienne, and we need to contact these Pharasmins" Percy notes to his companion Trokkus.

"I'll go to the Pharasmins" Granny offers.

"As for Estienne... someone should probably check on his family. Galt might have threatened them to get him back."

Now that they have a name, Granny quickly checks her scandal book to see if she'd noted anything about "Estienne Jacquert" or his family.
T10 Local: 10 + 12 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ 10 + 12 + 2 + (6) = 30
T10 Nobility: 10 + 11 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ 10 + 11 + 2 + (4) = 27

She then goes to find the Pharasmans, hoping their temple is open all night. Before walking in, she briefly taps herself with a wand.
W: Heightened Awareness before knocking, in case there's a Religion check involved.

"We need to find this Gardener - Estienne, and we need to contact these Pharasmins" Percy notes to his companion Trokkus.

You lean at the time at Estienne is working in the prison as a guard and works long shifts.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good step. So long as we ain't take all night wit' it, on account of heads'll be rollin' soon."

"I'll go to the Pharasmins" Granny offers.

"As for Estienne... someone should probably check on his family. Galt might have threatened them to get him back."

Now that they have a name, Granny quickly checks her scandal book to see if she'd noted anything about "Estienne Jacquert" or his family.
[dice="T10 Local"]10+12+2+1d6
[dice="T10 Nobility"]10+11+2+1d6

She then goes to find the Pharasmans, hoping their temple is open all night. Before walking in, she briefly taps herself with a wand.
W: Heightened Awareness before knocking, in case there's a Religion check involved.

ok Know Religion check please

A young human man answers the poor. "Greetings elder," he bows. "How might this servant of the Lady of the Graves assist you?"

"Blunt arrows knock em out too!!"

"Good evening, dear. My name is Granny. I'm sorry for the late hour, but I'm concerned about some rumors I've just heard."

She pulls out a well-thumbed collection of notes on the undead and comparative religions. Masterwork tool

"You see, I'm new in town and just recently heard about the foul tempers on the streets near the prison." She flips to a bookmarked page and shows the priest. "That kind of thing has been caused by spirits in the past. When I heard another rumor that the prison is haunted and that your church has taken an interest... well, I thought I should consult with you on the matter."

T10 Religion: 10 + 16 + 2 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ 10 + 16 + 2 + 2 + (4) = 34
If this is "a Knowledge check related to the undead", Granny will also use a boon for +4; let me know if this gets used

Natharanak nods and tries to look wise, sketching a quick spiral in the air with one wing.
Natharanak Aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 Success

T10 Sense Motive: 10 + 12 = 22

Rallas nods at Jory's observation.

Only if things go wrong...you and Kahwen back me up. If I screw this up, I don't want to have you two exposed. He quickly doffs his cestus and loads his sap into a spring sheath on his wrist.

[b]My back up plan... he says with a smile. He then covers up his face as he ducks into the shadows approaching the Grey Gardener. He tries to lift the keys, hoping his little used skill is enough for the task

here goes...

stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28
sleight of hand: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 1 = 12

+`1 from my jade wayfinder...gonna take all the bonuses I can get...

lol...nope...fml..some rogue I am...

Rallas nods at Jory's observation.

Only if things go wrong...you and Kahwen back me up. If I screw this up, I don't want to have you two exposed. He quickly doffs his cestus and loads his sap into a spring sheath on his wrist.

[b]My back up plan... he says with a smile. He then covers up his face as he ducks into the shadows approaching the Grey Gardener. He tries to lift the keys, hoping his little used skill is enough for the task

+`1 from my jade wayfinder...gonna take all the bonuses I can get...

lol...nope...fml..some rogue I am...

I'm assuming the party is "split" sorry for delay was sick over the weekend

The luck is with the party!

Rallas grabs the keys from the guard.

"Good evening, dear. My name is Granny. I'm sorry for the late hour, but I'm concerned about some rumors I've just heard."

She pulls out a well-thumbed collection of notes on the undead and comparative religions. Masterwork tool

"You see, I'm new in town and just recently heard about the foul tempers on the streets near the prison." She flips to a bookmarked page and shows the priest. "That kind of thing has been caused by spirits in the past. When I heard another rumor that the prison is haunted and that your church has taken an interest... well, I thought I should consult with you on the matter."

The priest nods and smiles at Granny. "Yes elder, we have been observing the prison for some time for religious reason of course!" he moves his hand to his mouth. "Ahem, and we have noticed signs of hauntings and incorporeal undead—a side effects. We have assumeed from so many bloody deaths over the past decades. It is ashamed what this nation has become. We dare not interfere directly, for fear of violent repercussions from the Gray Gardeners, but the souls of the dead are trapped they say in the very rock of the prison!"

"Their existence is an outrage though, and something must be done. Even the most zealous revolutionary could understand that the realm of the undead, and their interference, has no place in the society of the living. These abominations must be purged"

wait...that worked? omg....I'm astounded...hope you're feeling better man...

Well, not my best technique..but luck is sometimes with the bold.. Rallas says softly to his colleagues when he makes it back to them.

What do you think...trail the other and see what we can do?

Jory smiles
"Good job. I feel guilty, so we may give them back later."

The priest nods and smiles at Granny. "Yes elder, we have been observing the prison for some time for religious reason of course!" he moves his hand to his mouth. "Ahem, and we have noticed signs of hauntings and incorporeal undead—a side effects. We have assumeed from so many bloody deaths over the past decades. It is ashamed what this nation has become. We dare not interfere directly, for fear of violent repercussions from the Gray Gardeners, but the souls of the dead are trapped they say in the very rock of the prison!"

"Oh, that's terrible. Do you know what form these trapped souls have taken? A haunt, or something more concrete?"

After getting turned around and a little lost in the streets of a foreign city, Trokkus lurks in an alleyway near the tavern where they met their contact.

I'm still here--I'm just not sure what to do, so I figure I'll stay out of trouble until needed :)

Kahwen's hand rests on the hilt of his sword as he sees Rallas' work. It's better than what he could have done, but he's seen people do it so well that he can only assume the mark is going to notice and they're going to have to deal with the repercussions.

He's so surprised by the actual result that he's still got his hand on his sword when Rallas joins them and only then removes it.

"Perhaps we should not push our luck any further and should rejoin the others. I think we have likely learned what we can."

Agreed...

GM Qstor wrote:

The priest nods and smiles at Granny. "Yes elder, we have been observing the prison for some time for religious reason of course!" he moves his hand to his mouth. "Ahem, and we have noticed signs of hauntings and incorporeal undead—a side effects. We have assumeed from so many bloody deaths over the past decades. It is ashamed what this nation has become. We dare not interfere directly, for fear of violent repercussions from the Gray Gardeners, but the souls of the dead are trapped they say in the very rock of the prison!"

"Oh, that's terrible. Do you know what form these trapped souls have taken? A haunt, or something more concrete?"

"The souls are trapped with the final blades it is a cruel weapon but beyond our power to deal with. , as these guillotines imprison souls. The priest turns to Percy. "Thank you. Just a moment" he turns and hands Granny two things. "These might be of use"

he gives you a phylactery of positive channeling and three applications of ghost salt and a wand of death ward
with 17 charges remaining.

"The souls are trapped with the final blades it is a cruel weapon but beyond our power to deal with. , as these guillotines imprison souls. The priest turns to Percy. "Thank you. Just a moment" he turns and hands Granny two things. "These might be of use"

he gives you a phylactery of positive channeling and three applications of ghost salt and a wand of death ward
with 17 charges remaining.

Granny gratefully accepts the gifts, somewhat confused. "Thank you, and I was going to question you about the final blades. However, the souls I was asking about are the ones that are... well, actually HAUNTING the area. Isn't the purpose of the blades to keep the souls trapped inside the metal? I wouldn't have expected those inside to be able to cause these kinds of issues outside."

Asking about the "hauntings and incorporeal undead", which I would expect to be distinct from the victims of a Final Blade

GM Qstor wrote:

"The souls are trapped with the final blades it is a cruel weapon but beyond our power to deal with. , as these guillotines imprison souls. The priest turns to Percy. "Thank you. Just a moment" he turns and hands Granny two things. "These might be of use"

he gives you a phylactery of positive channeling and three applications of ghost salt and a wand of death ward
with 17 charges remaining.

Granny gratefully accepts the gifts, somewhat confused. "Thank you, and I was going to question you about the final blades. However, the souls I was asking about are the ones that are... well, actually HAUNTING the area. Isn't the purpose of the blades to keep the souls trapped inside the metal? I wouldn't have expected those inside to be able to cause these kinds of issues outside."

Asking about the "hauntings and incorporeal undead", which I would expect to be distinct from the victims of a Final Blade

"I don't know about any haunts inside...But they're horrible things the blades. It's said that the souls "leak: out of them or so I'm told. There are undead that go through walls it's said in the prison. Although I have to admit I haven't been there"

"I don't know about any haunts inside...But they're horrible things the blades. It's said that the souls "leak: out of them or so I'm told. There are undead that go through walls it's said in the prison. Although I have to admit I haven't been there"

"My, that does sound dangerous" Granny offers. "Do the rumors say what they do, or if they're mindless abominations?"

Most shops wouldn't be open at this time of night, but the Pharasmans might have some pre-scribed scrolls they'd be willing to sell. Intelligent undead tended to scoff at most of those, though, and the most common incorporeal undead were intelligent ghosts. Hmm...

"While I'm here, and on a completely separate subject... would you happen to have any scrolls of consecrate you would be willing to sell? If you don't, that's fine, it would just save a trip the next time I go shopping."

what do you guys think...go after the other gardener and see what we can find out or go back to the others/

Jory congratulates Rallas.

"Let's at least try to find this other guy. He may like sandwiches."

Kahwen simply nods at Jory's suggestion. Everyone likes sandwiches, after all.

We may as well get back together and see about the xtra gardener - that doesn't require stealth

Jory covers Rallas’ retreat and joins him returning.

Once back with the others, Rallas shares what him and the others have learned, including the keys.

Wasn't my best effort..thankfully the Gardener was as blind as a bat...

what next?

After picking up a few scrolls from the Pharasmans and excusing herself, Granny meets back up with the others.

Buy S: Consecrate (200gp), S: Invisibility (150gp), and S: See Invisibility (150gp)

"I'm sure you tried hard, Rallas. It was likely better than I could have done."

"The Pharasmans think there are ghostly types of undead in the prison" she tells the others, handing over what the church gave her. "Probably actual undead rather than haunts, but they didn't sound very sure. The souls may be leaking from a Final Blade. They gave me these - three doses of ghost salt, something to help positive channelers, and a wand of death ward. Who can use the wand?"

Souls leaking from the blade? No, that's not ominous at all... Rallas says as he thinks about the prospect of loose spirits.

I can make use of the wand...and the ghost salt. Jory...you still have some of that, right?

We can track down the other guard too..see what we can find out from him...

what next?

The other guard it seems :)

"Eh, I think that other guard's working in the prison! Long shift, so gettin' in ta talk wit' him would be as hard as breakin' ta free the prisoners. Lest I'm misunnerstandin', which ain't exactly impossible."

"Well, we could check on Estienne's family" Granny offers. "That story about him coming back to Galt seemed a little suspicious. If they're being used as hostages to get his cooperation, and we help clear that up... we might have a new friend on the inside of the prison."

That would be ideal...an inside man and some rough idea of the layout could be crucial...

Kahwen perks up at the idea of saving hostages. "Yes, we should definitely save people, especially if it means that we'll have someone's gratitude if they can help us.

"Not that anyone has to help us if we help them!" he rushes to add.

"That's some smart thinkin'. Let's do it." Trokkus scratches his head. "Anyone know where they live?"

Granny just smiles and shakes her head. "Trokkus, dear, I don't even know if they're in the city. Or in trouble."

"I thought the story was suspicious, but I've been wrong before. Once or twice."

"Guess we better ask around to figger it out one way or another."

Trokkus once again hits the streets, hoping this time to learn whether Estinne's family is still in the city.

Diplomacy (Gather Information): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

With bonuses vs dwarves, fletchlings, Mendevian crusaders, and lycanthropes :)

"What did the prison look like when you were there?" Granny asks the others.

When Trokkus starts off, though, Granny checks her memory (and notes) to see if she'd heard any gossip about the family before. Natharanak croaks a few helpful phrases from her shoulder. If she had anything to go on, Trokkus might not need to knock on many doors at this hour of the night.

Natharanak Aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 Success
T10 Local with aid: 10 + 12 + 2 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ 10 + 12 + 2 + 2 + (5) = 31

the family is still in the city near the west part of the town. Did you want to go and talk to them? Sorry for the delay was sick over the weekend

@GM: I think the main thing we need resolved first is how we're doing in terms of in-game time. Do we have time to visit the family and return to the prison before the scheduled executions?

@GM: I think the main thing we need resolved first is how we're doing in terms of in-game time. Do we have time to visit the family and return to the prison before the scheduled executions?

sorry the "clock" is ticking. It's getting late in the date and the executions are scheduled tomorrow. You might have barely enough time before it goes too "late" I'll just say so as to not misdirect you. There's NO in game benefit from finding the family

Trokkus taps his broken tusk, in deep thought, before saying: "Ain't the way I like it, but I reckon we can't go tryin' ta find these folks. Too risky if sumpin' goes wrong 'n we don't make it back on time. Better make a plan for the prison and get too it!"

Granny cocks her head, as if listening to something. "The spirits agree" she finally says. "I must have spent more time with the Pharasmans than I thought... dawn is approaching. I hope my suspicions about them are wrong, but a war would cost so many more families."

She turns to Jory, Kahwen, and Rallas. "Now, why don't you three tell the rest of us what you saw?" She quickly amends "I'm sorry, Boffins, you four."

Rallas produces his rough sketches and tells the others what the scouting party saw.