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“Well done, bard.“she compliments Ramona. “I wonder how long this creature has been alone.“ she adds. “Let's keep searching while I keep an eye out for something unusual.“ the fungus leshy advises with her shield raised while guarding the door of the room they are searching. Let's not be complacent about what more is lurking in this abandoned ship. she tells herself.
Horul studies the coat of arms while his allies keep watch (or keep hidden), and realizing the lantern is in fact an everburning torch, also recognizes that, along with the Taldan insignia, that this ship was most probably involved during the Silent Tide invasion - the evidence Calisro Benarry was after!
Making their way back to the Society Soiree, they discover a new 'menace' has taken Urwal's place; Zarta Dralneen too now stands around Eando Kline, the two of them engaged in lively conversation!
Zarta Dralneen is distractible with the following skills / topics:
Arcana
Occultism
Academia Lore or Library Lore or similar
...
With the newcomer to the party, accessing Eando is now possible only through Zarta, as Urwal has moved along. Please replace the above entry for Eando with the previous one, to represent the changes to attendance in the multi-day party.
I am still recording your successes HERE.
If you have already rolled for an NPC, you cannot re-roll unless you would like to expend a Hero Point, as your first impression has already been cast.
"You made it back in one piece! You must all be brave..." bouncing genuinely to see the PCs' return, she can't help but ask "So, what did you find?" and after having the exploits explained to her "Ok: your next targets are the three remaining Faction Leaders!" she then walks over to greet Veiled Lady "Hello! I see you have situated yourself - let me know if you have any questions!"
PCs
Haohji @ Zarta Dralneen
Horul @ Kreighton
Merilin @ Aaqir al-Hakam
Ramona @ Aaqir al-Hakam, Zarta Dralneen
Veiled Lady @ none
NPCs
Eando Kline @ 3 Attention Points
Fola Barun @ 0 Attention Points
Gorm Greathammer @ 1 Attention Points
I am not sure that the alignment of the stars quite means what you think it does... of course, my expertise lies in the energies of the body and its ability to heal itself... Haohji interjects, playing off of Ramona's comment.
"Oh! I know plenty about the body's ability to rejuvenate itself, trust me..." she retorts to the fighter with a playful tease, and turning her attention to him fully now, incidentally freeing up Eando Kline to speak with the rest of the party!
"Nobody likes a whistleblower..." he introduces "...But, without such people in such circumstances - extreme ones perhaps - danger and injustice flourish in secrecy!..." he looks more stern now, having seemingly made "eyes" with someone, his attention suddenly drawn another direction, but not first without handing Ramona a small vial "...it was during a Charge of the Gorgon that a colleague of mine was petrified - but I suspect foul play, as this colleague blew the whistle on..." he trails off here, careful of his words "...No matter. I owe this colleague a favor. Here..." he also hands Ramona a slip of paper with a description of the person "Go find his statue on Statue Street, and free him if you can! I must..." and with that, he is swirled back into another strong current of the party, leaving the PCs swept aside.
Greater Salve of Antiparalysis
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Crowd Leaders
Socialite, Smith, Barrister, Herbalist
"Oh wow!" Janira gawks "I knew them to be good friends - he must really trust you to handle such delicate business!"
You learn that a crowd opposes the liberation of the whistleblower, and hearing that Eando had intended to send someone today (word travels fast!), have actually gathered at the site, led by a Socialite, a Smith, a Barrister, and an Herbalist!
Critical Success?
You can choose a single leader to gain "leverage" against in the form of a rumor that undermines their character in the upcoming skill challenge.
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With the work on the ship done, Merellin sidles carefully past the wretch on his way to the exit, making sure to leave as much room as possible between the two of them.
Merellin examines the lantern on the way back. "Interesting how this thing never lost its magic over all these years. Mind if I borrowed it for a while? I've got some items on me that don't mix well with torch fire." He laughs nervously, then moves on to a different subject.
"Should we let anyone know there's a creature in there? I am not sure if it's okay to leave it locked on that ship. Other people might go take a look and might be less fortunate than us."
---
Merellin gulps as he hears the fate of the people on Statue Street. "What a barbaric way to deal with prisoners. Though I guess it's more humane than the death penalty. But what if people forget about you, and you remain a statue forever?"
He makes an excuse for some fresh air and Merellin is gone for a bit. After two hours, he's back with his familiar spring in his step and says, "I asked around about Statue Street, but whenever I raised the subject, people just fell silent and walked away. I don't blame them, honestly."
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◆ Vibrant Thorns
Prepared Divine Spells (1st)
◆◆ Magic Weapon
◆◆ Bless
Prepared Divine Cantrips (1st)
◆◆ Chill Touch
◆◆ Daze
◆◆ Forbidding Ward
◆ Guidance
◆◆ Detect Magic
Cleric Font Heal
◆ to ◆◆◆ Heal
◆ to ◆◆◆ Heal
Shield and Trident
Exploration Activity: Defend
Minor healing potion for school consumable.
Krinolyn talks to anyone she might find helpful. She inquires them of a certain petrified statue in the place. She gets back to other when she find enough information to share to them.
"I think we might have a hard time freeing this whistleblower that the Vigilant Seal leader is talking about. A crowd of these opposers led by a Socialite, a Smith, a Barrister, and an Herbalist may have gotten wind of our mission." the Veiled Lady tells them.
For several blocks, the quiet lanes of Westgate's residential neighborhoods feature small houses, low-key cafes and taverns, and the occasional specialty shop. The fragrant scent of tended flower gardens in the warm sunlight blends with the low hum of distant conversation over what would normally be a pleasant boulevard. But the stone statues - at first only appearing only here and there, like odd decorations - now number several per block, and further into the heart of the district, the otherwise plain Townsquare ahead is outright cluttered with them!
They take countless forms, from humans to halfling to orcs, iruxi, ysoki, kholo, and yet even stranger, all frozen forever in acts of desperation, defiance, despair. Indeed, this quaint, statue-filled square is actually filled with petrified people - and what more - gathered into the center of the Townsquare, several dozens of townfolk shout and argue, their voices somehow out of place among the silent statues!
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Merellin shudders as they encounter more and more statues. "Brrr, I can't imagine living in a neighbourhood filled with petrified people. I don't mind that they're convicts, I just thought they'd be stored away somewhere safe."
He tries to hide his discomfort and plasters on a feigned smile as he hears the crowd. "Let's scare away the rabble-rousers, all right?"
Up ahead, the PCs observe a gathering protest led by four Leaders, riling up the townsfolk with their rhetoric and assertions. The tensions are running high, but as the party makes their presence known, attention is turned to them to speak - indeed, not yet a fully blown mob, there is a moment where the so-called "Path Finders" are allowed to make their case!
...
...
Absalom Lore or Fashion Lore (or similar)
Society
Diplomacy
Guild Lore or Mining Lore (or similar)
Crafting
Diplomacy
Legal Lore or Hell Lore (or similar)
Diplomacy
Deception
Herbalism Lore or Tea Lore (or similar)
Nature
Diplomacy
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Krinolyn lowers her shield seeing that the leaders are not here to attack them anyway. She approaches the Herbalist and talks to the person.
"As they say, and I affirm, we are not here to tell you how to run your town. We are here for our own mission to unpetrify a certain person among the statues you have here, and the Society takes full responsibility to handle the person of interest." Krinolyn tells their point of their appearance to them. "These statues are unsightly in your town, it does not match your place, can't you see?"
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Merellin scopes out the Smith as the strongest and most dangerous opponent, and joins Haohji in persuading him to stand down.
"Sir, what is the manner of this ruckus? If it is the dreadful way these statues are displayed, I agree completely with you. We're only here to remove one of these eyesores and we'll be on our way."
Ramona will move up near the "speakers". Ramona will get out Banjo the Clown, and will attempt to influence the crowd to aid everyone.
As Ramona approaches the crowd, she is immediately booed - in fact, someone throws a piece of garbage at Banjo Knocking the poor puppet to the ground!
Moving up to the Smith, Haohji attempts to influence them, By no means do we intend to tell you how to run your town, but can you tell me how you managed to get the flushing on these plinth? It is exquisite!
Disarmed by Haoji's compliment and knowledge, the Smith gets distracted, and begins showing him further how he would improve upon the structure if only he could get help writing a successful bid for the government contract...
Krinolyn lowers her shield seeing that the leaders are not here to attack them anyway. She approaches the Herbalist and talks to the person.
"As they say, and I affirm, we are not here to tell you how to run your town. We are here for our own mission to unpetrify a certain person among the statues you have here, and the Society takes full responsibility to handle the person of interest." Krinolyn tells their point of their appearance to them. "These statues are unsightly in your town, it does not match your place, can't you see?"
"Actually!" snaps the Herbalist "They serve as excellent structures upon which to hang herbs - can't you see?" her tone snarky in it's revenge-retort, she further elaborates "And yes, how we decide to weed out criminals is our business, and ours alone, free from the invasive species of your outside meddling!"
The alchemist moves towards the socialite to explain to them that their action isn’t thought for the people itself. They need to let the pathfinder demonstrate that it is right to bring the statue back to life.
Obedient at such dominant rectification, the Socialite wilts before the force that is Horul's Will, and saving face, flips-flops with absolute liquidity "Perhaps we should rid ourselves of the statues, now that I think of it..."
Merellin scopes out the Smith as the strongest and most dangerous opponent, and joins Haohji in persuading him to stand down.
"Sir, what is the manner of this ruckus? If it is the dreadful way these statues are displayed, I agree completely with you. We're only here to remove one of these eyesores and we'll be on our way."
"Per city section 465 of the civic penal code, brandishments endorsed legally by the statute constitute punitive immunity as to their absolvment!" he explains further the mumbo-jumbo which you imagine to be true, and after some monologue, concludes in what approximates plain speech "Meaning: You do not have the right to remove the property of the municipality from it's square!"
And with that, half of the leaders standing down, the crowd too cools a few degrees, until someone shouts in the back "Path Finders are Out Siders!" and that seems to get folks renewed in their disdain for the Society presence here.
...
You observe a few goblins among the crowd with their hands holding explosives, trying to be sneaky and approaching you little by little...
You suspect there might be a "plant" in the audience, but who could it be?...
You suspect there might be a "plant" in the audience, but who could it be?...
You observe a few goblins among the crowd trying to be sneaky and approaching you little by little...
Please fill out the Macros link (in Campaign Dashboard) so I can roll secret checks for you!
Banjo, the whisperer of freaks, seems to trigger in the crowd some sense of mockery, and becomes the symbol of tyranny, agitating them further!
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Looking at the Barrister, Haohji asks, There must be some sort of procedure for appeals? You know, in light of new evidence or similar circumstances? I mean what if the convicted has important information that could help someone in need? There must be a concession made in such instances. The Pathfinder Society does not place themselves above the law, but justice should be paramount. Don't you agree?
You observe a few goblins among the crowd trying to be sneaky and approaching you little by little...
Initiative Agitators
"But the statues are not there to be hanged with plants." she tells the Herbalist. "They may be criminals, but they have their right to live and decide for their own if they want plants to be hanged on them."
Mayhaps to Velied Lady's surprise, the Herbalist agrees "Perhaps you are right? Bad ju ju..." and she walks over to a statue which had been decorated with herbs, and gingerly takes them down.
The Barrister steels himself to stand against the Pathfinders alone, biting his lip and digging his high-heeled boots into the ground!
That is indeed a critical failure - go ahead and re-roll!
I have already done so for everyone several posts back - go check it out!
”What you are trying to do is circumvent the law!”
The Barrister remains yet unconvinced...someone in the crowd yells ”Yeah!”
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No, if we were trying to circumvent the law, we would have snuck in here in the dead of night to free our colleague. Instead, we came here to see for ourselves, what the situation was... I will be honest, however, I know little about law and its workings. So, enlighten us, won't you? Haohji patiently stands, wincing slightly at Merellin's possible faux pas...
And with that, several things happen at once!
The Protesters start throwing trash at the Pathfinders!!
And the Barrister Leader makes moves to draw his dagger!!!
Furthermore, there is some additional movement within the crowd!!!!
Just before the Barrister draws his weapon to attack, and just before the crowd, now fully incited, look to throw some loose trash, some of the more seasoned Pathfinders react!
Round One
Terrain: Crowd is Difficult Terrain, Bushes can give Cover, Statues are Obstacles
Notes: Please spoiler any Recall Knowledge checks!
Effects: none
Ramona w/ shield @ 23
Horul w/ empty @ 19
Merillin w/ empty @ 17
Protesters w/ trash @ 15
Barrister w/ empty @ 11
Veiled Lady w/ shield @ 11
Haohji w/ empty @ 11
Goblins? @ ??
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The Protestors are effectively a Swarm, meaning they can be interacted with as if they were a single entity much in that same way you could interact with a single creature, except that you can also move through the crowd, treating each square as Difficult Terrain.
Goblin Turncoat (Green) @ 22
Goblin Turncoat (Purple) @ 21
Goblin Turncoat (Blue) @ 19
Goblin Pyro (Red) @ 13
Goblin Turncoat (Yellow) @ 3
The goblins you saw earlier cannot yet be targeted individually, except to Recall Knowledge (using Society), as they are effectively part of the crowd at this time... but, in the event the crowd disperses, you may Ready an action to target them per the normal rules!
...