GM Valen's PFS 1e The Devil We Know Parts III & IV: Crypt of Fools & Rules of the Swift (CORE)(Tier 3-4)

Game Master Lysle

Once again, you receive a summons from Venture-Captain Hestia Themis to meet with her at the Pathfinder lodge in Cassomir.

Nightkit reports in.

Ashtoret arrives next!

Merida shows up just a minute afterwards.

Menudo is in.

Are we headed back in to the sewers and the like again? If so...let me know ahead of time. That way I can at least buy some hip waders or a small boat... Theron says with a chuckle.

Or I dress more .... appropriately for being in water

"HI again all.."

Well, the gang's all here...

"Indeed, you are." Venture-Captain Hestia Themis, a petite, raven-haired, black-eyed Taldan beauty, notes. As she speaks, Hestia continues to pace around her office, as she has done since you first entered it here in the Pathfinder Lodge in Cassomir.

“I am perplexed." She continues, "A new kidnapping spree plagues my beloved city. It seems our citizens make easy prey to those who profit from such exploits. While this disturbs me, I am more troubled by reports that some of those kidnapped return to the city as undead monsters who accompany this Cult of Nature’s Cataclysm plague, a plague that I can’t seem to excise from my beloved city."

“This ends now!" Hestia declares. "For a third time we battle Groetus-worshiping dogs and there will not be a fourth!”

Taking several deep breaths, Hestia regains her composure. “I am sending you to Swift Prison to interrogate a cultist we captured who was trying to kidnap a local engineer. Meet my man Garver out front—he’ll take you in to see the Nature’s Cataclysm fool. Find out where the other cultists hide, where they’ve taken their recent victims, and how they’re turning them into skeletons. Free as many Cassomir citizens as you can—the good publicity never hurts. Any questions?"

As you think of questions for Hestia, feel free to peruse the old faction letters, which begin here. Please note that the faction letters entirely optional, no longer have any impact on how your PC obtains Prestige, and are included only for the sake of fun, nostaliga, and/or completeness.

While you are at it, please confirm that the marching order and requested modifiers are correct.

Finally, please make sure that you fill out the sheet for chronicle information and for Gameday reporting, which is found here.

Oh yeah. Undead is my specialty. I hope we will meet with them, and more than once. Ashtoret smiles with a happy, kind smile that does not fit with the topic of discussion at all.

Nightkit frowns at the news of yet another kidnapping spree, and even more at the news that they are being converted to undead.

I agree M'Lady she says in a very serious tone. This has to stop. How much ... erm ... persuasion are we allowed to use in this .... interrogation?

I can make the mutt talk...give me a little time and he'll sing like a songbird...if that's allowed, of course...

"With this type of scum, even I can stand a little strong-arming."

I agree M'Lady she says in a very serious tone. This has to stop. How much ... erm ... persuasion are we allowed to use in this .... interrogation?

I can make the mutt talk...give me a little time and he'll sing like a songbird...if that's allowed, of course...

"Are you two asking me whether you should rough up this cultist in Swift Prison to get information?" Hestia asks rhetorically. "Then, the answer is no."

“He’s a bit… unstable," she continues, "but when he’s lucid he provides good information about the cult and their plans. He could potentially provide us with future information and serves us better as an ally, alive and unharmed.”

"With this type of scum, even I can stand a little strong-arming."

"You shouldn't have to," Hestia nods. "You are entering a prison for Abadar's sake. Those who display violent or illegal behavior inside Swift Prison, such as threatening an inmate, will likely soon find themselves as inmates, locked away with the others."

Ashtoret, Theron Randallas, and Seebonickk, please sign into RPGChronicles for reporting and chronicles at the link here.

Any other questions for the Venture-Captain?

Fine. So I guess tickling is out too

Fine. So I guess tickling is out too

Hestia raises an eyebrow, but gives no other response.

Take 10 Knowledge: Local untrained: 10 + 2 = 12

"I heard a bit about Swift Prison - the prisoners there must pay fees for lodging and favorable treatment, and..."

You may open the first spoiler.

k local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

I also heard that the wardens of the Swift are notorious for allowing unusual privileges in exchange for exorbitantly high sums. Prisoners who pay these extortions earn the right to reside in one of the Swift’s private apartments. Rich prisoners may also purchase the “Liberties of the Swift,” the right to walk the prison grounds and surrounding city streets freely. Wardens of the Swift are often replaced after being caught abusing their posts for personal gain.

"Chain tax...that sounds rough!"

Menudo's lip curls when he learns criminal scum can simply use their ill-gotten gains to buy leniency from the law...

Theron looks a bit surprised at what he learns about the prison.

I know some rich criminals get preferential treatment...but that's just foolish...

Hestia waits for the other Pathfinders to respond.

Ashtoret, Theron Randallas, and Seebonickk, please sign into RPGChronicles for reporting and chronicles at the link here.

"Huh. I didn't know that it goes this far! That's even more injust and foolish..."

Nighkit nods. I hate to think what happens to those who can't pay

wasnt getting notis for this..wiil fill out stuff now...sorry

Assembled and briefed, the party presumably sets out for the prison. However, Ashtoret appears to be lagging behind.

; P

@Ashtoret - If you would like a chronicle sheet for this adventure, please fill out the RPGChronicle information for Part III at this link.

Swift Prison’s formidable gates loom over those who pass beneath them. Out front, a gilded statue stares uncaringly at those who serve time beyond her sentry-like gaze. The wrinkled, dirty faces of Cassomir’s prisoners are briefly illuminated behind the bars of the ground floor begging cells. Their pathetic drone as they beg for coppers fills the courtyard in front of the prison.

Hestia’s man, Garver—a tall Taldan man with a slim physique and plain peasant’s clothing—approaches. “You made it. Good. Follow me.”

Garver turns and enters the prison, marching through myriad hallways that twist and turn and finally end at a plain but thick wooden door. Garver produces a key and says, “Our captured cultist enjoys visitors, and if you like his work, it’s all for sale.”

I will pause here in case you have any questions (and allow Ashtoret to catch up!)

Filled in the data at the same time as your post! I'm sorry, it's been a crazy couple of weeks - I postponed filling in the data in all the games until the weekend where I haven't done it yet.

What type of cultist's creativity are we talking about? As she curiously looks at the prisoners, the atmosphere of this place does not seem to put pressure on her.

Yeah ... what sort of work?

He's earning a wage as he serves his sentence? If the money goes to pay for his crimes, that's fine... Theron says, a bit dumbstruck by the information.

What type of cultist's creativity are we talking about? As she curiously looks at the prisoners, the atmosphere of this place does not seem to put pressure on her.

"What was the cultist up to before now? No good, I'm afraid. He was captured after the presumed destruction of Dalirio’s Cult of Nature’s Cataclysm a little while back." Garver replies happily. "Beyond that, I've no answers for you about his past. I'm sorry, truly. If I knew more, then I'd tell you." Garver replies happily.

Yeah ... what sort of work?

"Oh, his work now? Why, painting!" Garver exclaims.

"No one knows who the painter is-he hasn’t given his name and no one has discovered it yet, so the guards simply call him the “crazed painter,” a nickname he either doesn’t mind or isn’t coherent enough to understand."

He's earning a wage as he serves his sentence? If the money goes to pay for his crimes, that's fine... Theron says, a bit dumbstruck by the information.

"Indeed, payment goes directly to Swift Prison, all rightful garnishment, of course." Garver notes. "I can handle any transactions for you, if you'd like."

Garver then leads you through the door and down several stone steps into a dingy, shadowed room with three cells. Garver gives the two guards there some coins and they head back up the stairs, closing the door behind them.

In the center cell, covered in paint, a man dressed in torn beggar’s rags, his feet shackled to the floor by a 3-foot length of chain, throws color onto a dirty canvas. The man stops painting when the you arrive, looks through the bars, and exclaims with a toothless grin: “For you, my master, always for you!”

He then lays the painting atop a small pile of recent works and sets up another blank canvas, madly attacking it with his brush.

What do you want to do, Pathfinders?

Huh .... well ... if he wants an artist's model, I can be accomodating - for the right fee of course.

Excuse me she says when she gets to the bars. May I see an example of your art?

Huh .... well ... if he wants an artist's model, I can be accomodating - for the right fee of course.

Excuse me she says when she gets to the bars. May I see an example of your art?

The crazed painter ignores the interaction from the Pathfinder—instead, he shouts, “For you, my master!” He returns to his painting, then strangely pauses after a few moments.

"For you, my master!" he shouts again and again, at odd intervals, as he continues to furiously paint.

The PCs may attempt to get through to the "crazed painter" with successful Diplomacy checks to change his attitude. Feel free to write out some or all of your PC's words as certain approaches through roleplaying have mechanical benefits.

Seebonickk tries to convince the man to help.

"Can you help us out? We'd really like to" He draws in the air with his finger. "Paint a picture of what's going on here?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

lol watch me roll bad in combat!

Nightkit tries pouring on the charm to see if that helps.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Yeah ... I'll even pose if that helps

Ummm...yeah...she would make a great muse... Theron says carefully, knowing sometimes when he talks too much, a fight is bound to break out. Not that he minds...just not when there are things to be done.

aid dipo, yeah right: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (10) - 2 = 8

Ummm...yeah...she would make a great muse...

Merida exclaims excitedly: "Oh, she definitively does!"

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6

Well, maybe that was a little too much excitement...

Sorry, got swamped. Don't worry too much about botting, if it comes to it. Remember, Menudo uses Detect Evil very liberally.

Menudo scans the man for evil intentions.

If the man is not evil, Menudo will try to reassure him.

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Beautiful paintings, the master will be pleased.

Auto-Aid for Diplomacy check

Nightkit grins and gives Merida a sideways hug with one arm.

Menudo does not detect any evil aura on the crazed painter. He and the others seem to soothe the painter and he seems to enter a semi-lucid state.

“Friends!" cries the crazed painter. "Did the Master send you? Yes, he must have. Praised be he who ends the days! Do you seek my secret? Soon enough—but in return I ask something from you. You must give it to me as I need it to complete my collection.”

He points to two paintings hung in a shadowy corner of his cell. A third canvas hangs next to them but is blank. “If you go outside this very prison you’ll find a statue covered in gold. You may have already seen her! Describe this statue to me in exquisite detail and I will tell you all I know.”

The PCs can freely exit and reenter Swift Prison. The crazed painter refuses to provide any information until he gains the description requested.

The statue sits just outside of the prison’s gates, its golden form shining brightly in the sun. It stands just over 7 feet tall and rests atop a 3-foot-tall stone base. The statue depicts a curvy Taldan female with short hair and wearing flowing robes open at the neck. She regards the party with a blank, uncaring expression. Faint moons decorate her flowing robes, and she crushes a set of scales beneath her left foot.

What do you wish to do, Pathfinders?

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Nightkit points out the sculptor's mark.

She then looks over to Ashtoret.
Don't suppose you can make someone look like this statue?

A curious thought, Nightkit. I think I can. By a happy coincidence, I have a free slot left. I can prepare the Silent Image spell there (I don't remember if it takes 15 minutes or 1 hour... however, we are not in a hurry) and with the help of this spell to show the statue. If no one is against it, we will do so.

"That's a great idea, Kit!"

Merida seems thoroughly impressed by Nightkit's idea.

I got .... rather friendly with a sorceress a while back ... and picked up a bit of arcane knowledge. Cute kid. I hope she's doing okay.

Menudo arches an eyebrow at Nightkit's admission, but says nothing.

Returning to the prison cell, you can provide the statue’s description to the painter as you wish...

Very creative idea! Let's see what happens!

Go ahead and post how you, including the "statue" wish to approach the crazed painter.

Ha! Theron barks out a laugh as Kit explains her idea.

Crazy as it sounds, it might just work. Sometimes crazy is needed...

"Yeah so true theron"