GM Erich's #2-13 A Gilded Test (1-4) for Gameday XIII

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

This is the Gameplay Thread. Feel free to dot and delete.

I have updated this listing for Gameday XIII. This is now the Gameplay thread for the game that begins September 8, 2024.

A tall man with an assortment of weapons gets off the boat onto the docks. Not finding any sign of other Pathfinders he was sent to meet, he wanders up to a food stand and samples a meat pie. Chewing thoughtfully, he compliments the stall vendor on the flavor and buys another.

Another tall man, with a smaller assortment of weapons joins Clarence.

"Howdy!" he says, offering a pathfinder handshake.

"ULVARD! Well met, again! Last I remember we made the crew of a pirate ship mad at us because we kept jumping in the water!"

Ulvard laughs and then looks over the side, obviously contemplating a repeat experience. "Ulvard wonders if water here is better."

"Your hair appears longer than before. We need to go to a salon somewhere... "

"Are we there's yet?" A groggy-looking goblin climbs up from the lower deck, his mouth wide open in a long yawn.

The goblin is small and scrawny, like many of his kin. Although this one wears clothing of all variety of colors, not entirely matching in any good taste. Some pieces he wears the wrong way around, either due dressing hastily or as a fashion statement.

Ulvard nods.

"But not in Galt. Galt is uncivilised place with no true understanding of Saloons. states the Other Big Man, firmly.

"Ulvard has learned his lesson."

A dark haired woman of above average height is sitting on the deck writing. "Feeling the wind in her hair, she stood on the deck, watching the city glimmer in the setting sun's light. 'What adventures awaits me there' she thought..., she says as she's writing, then shakes her head and crosses out the line she wrote. "Official style, remember. On the third day, the team arrived to the harbor." She notices the goblin coming up, and stops writing. She stands up, straightens a bit her white tunic she wears over her leather armor.

"Oh, good, you're up. We are supposed to work as a team, but I didn't introduce myself yet. Mia Efimerida, war and exploration correspondent. Well, actually, still on trial period but soon permanent." Her alto voice is strong and clear, even in the sea wind. She rolls up her writing, and puts it into her belt next to other similar paper rolls, and sticks her quill pen in her slightly curled hair behind her ear. "I can finish the report later, it's quite boring this far anyway." She picks up her pack, with a sword and bow attached to it for transport, and throws it easily on her shoulder.

"You've been to Galt, and traveled with pirates? That sounds interesting, I'd like to write down your stories if we have spare time. I'm so happy that I finally got to travel the physical way, I've only been spent through portals to strange places, and although impressive, you don't get the feel of traveling that way. Even sleeping on a ship gives you so much stronger feeling of being on a journey."

The chartered ship from Absalom sails up the River Porthmos until it circles north past an island stronghold. As it rounds the river’s final bend, the ship sails into a bustling harbour filled with people and vessels from all across the Inner Sea.

A gargantuan bridge spans the wide river, connecting the southern bank to the vast city of Oppara - the Gilded City. To the north rises an enormous, weatherworn dome on top of a hill otherwise covered with beautiful old buildings and manicured gardens.

Grandbridge is the largest district of Oppara, world-renowned for the international trade it facilitates through its import-export firms,
markets, factories, and warehouses. Even at this time of day it bustles with activity.

You carry with you a missive from Venture-Captain Muesello, instructing your group to meet him in the bait and tackle shop that acts as a front for Oppara’s Pathfinder lodge.

Once secured at the dock, the gangplank is lowered and you are free to disembark at your leisure. The captain waves from the top deck and nods to your further adventures.

Our game has begun. A bit of time for roleplay as we make sure the other players join us...

"Ahh!" sighs Ulvard, breathing in the dubious scent of civilisation.

"We could take in an Opera in Oppara! And Ulvard will once again make claim to his place in the Ulfen Guard!"

He glances at his companions. "Once pathfinder work is done. Of course."

Mia walks down the gangplank with long, strong steps. "Opera? Yes, modern art sounds very nice!", she agrees with Ulvard.

She looks around the busy port, trying to get an accurate impression of the city. "It is so dynamic here in the younger nations, you can feel the excitement and change, and the new architecture is impressive", she says, gesturing toward a thousand-year-old building.

"The letter was very vague, and even the meeting place is disguised, do you know why, should we be vary of our actions here?" she asks Ulvard.

A small, spry halfling skips merrily down the gangplank after the others. Her skin is tanned and weathered, and her thick brown hair is ferociously unkempt. A bow is slung over one shoulder, while a hatchet and light hammer dangle from her belt. On her left hand is a spiked gauntlet that looks as worn as her studded leather armor. She had introduced herself on the boat as Inka Sator.

“Wine and cheese!” Inka exclaims in a brisk, energetic voice. “It’s good to be in civilized lands. No offense to Nirmathas, of course, but trekking through the forest for weeks on end can quickly become tiresome.” She nods approvingly when Ulvard corrects himself about putting duty first before the opera, then casts a questioning gaze at Mia. “Younger nation? I thought Taldor’s one of the oldest ones on Golarion? Then again, I haven’t studied or traveled much—this is my very first mission for the Pathfinders.” She segues to add to the bard’s question. “Is it usual for Pathfinder lodges to be so disguised?”

A strange creature, about three feet tall dressed in furs, wearing the head of a stuffed bear, steps off the ship. It drags in its arms--which look made of bone, though not shaped like humanoid bones should be--what you presume to be the rest of the bear, nearly as tall as the creature itself (and you imagine slightly taller if the head were to be reattached).

"Ooh, the opera! I'll never say no to going to the theatre." The head doesn't move as they speak.

The headless bear slumps at Amanita's side.

Ulvard nods to Inka. "Ulvard has heard of older lands than Taldor. Ossirion, across the inner sea, for example. Ulvard knows that Taldor, however, is the Height of Civilization."

He turns to gaze at Amanita, and then steps back. Whether from the leshy or the headless bear is unclear. "Ulvard is wondering what you are." he states.

Clarence also turns and looks curiously at Amanita. "Yes, what are you?"

"Oh, yes, yes! Opera and theatre and musical! Oppara great place. Much inspiration!" Zug clearly takes an eager interest in the cultural opportunities of the Gilded City. The small head rotates around, big ears flapping as he tries to catch a glimpse of the famous sights.

"Maybe Pathfinder things not so hurry? We can do opera first? Meet Venture-Captain later?"

Maybe you're right and my view is skewed. Born in Iblydos and most of the other time spend in Osirion, gives you a certain view. It doesn't help that a lot of the training was about finding relics from Azlant or Thassilon", Mia admits her prejudice.

"It would be rude to leave the Venture-Captain waiting. And we might get lucky and the mission is at the opera! But do we look enough like we practice fishing?" She looks at the big swords on her, Ulvard and Clarence. "Maybe for really big fish? Or fishing might be a common pastime for mercenaries?"

"Ulvard and me can see who can make the biggest splash! Maybe you should judge us?" Clarence gestures to Ulvard to join him at the water's edge, "We should find someplace to jump off of."

Inka gently shakes her head at the goblin. “No, no, duty always comes first. You wouldn’t want to leave an unpaid debt now, would you?” Her eyes scan the impressive skyline and settle upon a market. “Though it wouldn’t hurt to grab a little snack along the way to our meeting place,” she murmurs hungrily, unconsciously licking her lips.

When the conversation turns to fishing, Inka softly interjects “I’m pretty sure people don’t fish with swords. Anyway, do we really need to hide who we are?”

"Why hide? We should let them all know that we are Pathfinders and not to be trifled with!"

Muesello’s missive does provide adequate directions to the "hidden" lodge, up into and through the bustling marketplaces that line the canal. Since you brought it up, do you hide your Pathfinder allegiances, or not?

"Ulvard is very skilled fisher!"

He joins Clarance at the edge of the dock, his sword unleashed as he looks down into the murky waters, obviously hoping to sight a fish he could leap atop of and pierce in a single splash.[/b]"

He does at least hand his pack to Inka to look after, having learned from previous splash attempts.

"Ulvard thinks a Big Fish is close!"

Ulvard also doesn't think it is necessary to hide. Ulvard looks like he might not be easy To hide.

"Proudly show who you are, I like that. We're not spies in a war, after all", Mia says, delighted at the men's attitude.

"Well, are you doing your competition, or do I have to show how it's done, to get us to our meeting?" she teases the men light-heartedly.

Ulvard Leaps, into the water, sword point down aiming to make a Big Splash.

athletics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

The splash is only medium sided, but does he get a fishy?

survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Ulvard proudly wades ashore (or climbs a ladder) with fish that was once likely 23 inches long.... although it is currently in two halves.

GM might lose his cool (or his coffee laughing)... Probably not a good idea to get Ulvard and Clarence together :)

Clarence takes a running start, leaps into the air and presses his knees to his chest. Before he hits the water he roars "CANNONBALL!". He hits the water and makes a big splash. Unfortunately, the water douses several workers on the dock, as well as several vendors, and some merchants inspecting the cargo, all of whom now stare daggers at Clarence...

"I think we better go find the Venture Captain"

"Ulvard is now Showered and fit to meet VC." announces the rather damp barbarian. "This is good!"

Inka takes Ulvard’s hefty pack with surprising ease, evincing well-honed muscles within her short stature and lean physique. But the unnecessary delay causes the halfling some evident frustration. “Peas and carrots!” she exclaims in exasperation. “We have a task before us! Where’s a dwarf when you need one?” But the massive splash douses her irritation—or more likely, it is the half-orc’s proclaimed readiness to find their contact that puts a smile back upon her face. “Right then,” she beams, all sunshine and cheer, “off we go!” She doesn’t seem bothered in the slightest by her dripping wet clothes now that they’re off to see the wizard captain who might be a wizard.

Inka isn’t going to advertise her allegiance and sing “Hey ho, look at me; Pathfinder is what you’ll see!”, but if someone asks if she’s a Pathfinder, she won’t deny it. (My goblin PC, on the other hand …)

"That was great! Now we even have a reason for the shop! Mia congratulates Ulvard.

"Let's go hear our task. I hope the captain doesn't mind if some of us are still wet behind the ears", she agrees, checks the letter for the directions and heads toward the shop.

Mia doesn't yet have a wayfinder nor any other item that would mark her as a Pathfinder, so unless someone asks they have no way of knowing. She does prefer being open about it if asked.

"Oh poo, you's no fun!" Zug mopes. His ears droop from disappointment - this group seems to favor duty above funtimes. But the disappointment doesn't last long, and the goblin gathers himself.

"Come, come, hurry." he motions. "More fast we do job, more time for fun and opera."

Zug has no visible Pathfinder symbols - although he is one to sing “Hey ho, look at me; Pathfinder is what you’ll see!”

With the "contest" complete, the group makes their way through the circuitous market paths up along the canal. You initially attract the attention of a few peddlers who quickly return to looking for easier marks once the party signals any indifference.

Along the way, however, both Inka and Mia would swear that a few of the locals have been taking an interest in their movements. A series of rather non-descript individuals who have kept their distance but have generally been ducking in and out of alleys and shops that the group has passed by.

He turns to gaze at Amanita, and then steps back. Whether from the leshy or the headless bear is unclear. "Ulvard is wondering what you are." he states.

The leshy stares at the two for a moment before answering cheerfully. "Good question! That's what the people at the lodge have been trying to figure out about us."

"Oh poo, you's no fun!" Zug mopes. His ears droop from disappointment - this group seems to favor duty above funtimes. But the disappointment doesn't last long, and the goblin gathers himself.

"Come, come, hurry." he motions. "More fast we do job, more time for fun and opera."

"Exactly! Ooh, do you think they'll have puppets? We know the opera doesn't usually have them, but sometimes they'll have, like, a big dragon or something. Sometimes they'll just use magic for that though. Honestly, it kind of seems like cheating. Maybe if they magically animated something, sure, but usually they just use illusions, and they might look more realistic, but they never seem as alive to us."

They weren't planning on singing "Hey ho, look at me; Pathfinder is what you’ll see!” but if Zug is going to, they're definitely joining in.

Ulvard leans his head forward and carefully wipes it on Mia's shirt.

"Ha! Unvard is now Dry Behind the Ears!"

"At least you bathed before messing with my tunic", Mia comments to Ulvard.

"We may have gotten some attention. But what a couple of street ruffians could do to us?" Mia warns the team as she continues toward the shop.

Inka keeps a watchful eye on the stalkers, marking one of the more distinctive ones in particular (Hunt Prey), but otherwise seems unperturbed as they continue on their way. “They might simply be protective of their territory. It’s hard to say unless they do something more.”

Despite the attempts to track their movements, the group isn't quite able to reproduce the previous conditions of surveil. Perhaps the trackers realize they have been seen, perhaps they have seen enough...they do not continue to follow.

Continuing through the stalls and market squares, the team eventually reaches a cul-de-sac and a non-descript bait and tackle shop. Entering the shop to the friendly tinkle of the above-door bell, you all are greeted by an assistant at the front counter. Pausing a few beats, he motions you to follow him through the tackle storage hallway and into a back room cluttered with tools, documents, and disassembled wayfinders that lie in disarray on a large workbench.

An unassuming man in leather work-vest carefully puts his tools down, looks up, and smiles.

see pic in handout of the Venture-Captain.

"Welcome to Oppara, my friends, how was your trip from Absalom? Uneventful?"

Ulvard looks around. "Ulvard often attracts attention." he admits.
"Many women find Ulvard irresistible. " he confesses with what might pass for a blush. Maybe.

-=-=-=- at the shop -=-=-=-
Ulvard slaps the VC on the back.

"Ulvard has heard of bait-and-switch. And of bait-and-tackle. But this is his first time combining them!"

He points to the doorway. "Mia saw people following Ulvard. Ulvard suspects they were Admirers From Afar."

“May the Debt Minder mind you!” Inka greets the man with a beaming smile as she lightly touches her small amulet of two crossed picks. “The trip was both long and short, but thoroughly uneventful as you say, except for several instances of men overboard.” She refrains from looking at Clarence and Ulvard.

"Uneventful enough that we needed to make events of our own. Still, even a boring trip is a welcome change from being teleported around", Mia agrees with Inka.

"There were some who were trying to sneakily keep track of us, but surely it's nothing we cannot handle", she clarifies Ulvard's comment.

Clarence can only gape at Ulvard like a landed fish.

"Ulvard gets all the attention when I made the biggest splash! But anyway, what are we here for?"

I've kinda envisioned Clarence as a sort of Conan the Barbarian type :)

As several of you mention the suspicious tails, the Venture-Captain hints at a wry smile. "So you did spot your fellow Pathfinders. Hmm, I'm not sure if I should be prouder that you saw them from afar or that they evaded capture. Either way, a fine lesson for us all to be wary at all times..."

Muesello then brushes back his gray hair as he paces behind his desk. “A concerned friend brought a series of illegal street tournaments to my attention. They would like the Pathfinder Society to look into them, and as you have probably guessed, that is why you are here.” He gestures towards the city outside the balcony. “Many of those that compete in the tournaments have gone missing. I have arranged for you to go undercover and take part in the upcoming tournament. I need you to find out who is organizing them and, if possible, what their purpose is.”

He hands over a piece of paper. “Go to this street corner on the eastern edge of Grandbridge. The tournament contact will meet you there. Oh, and before I forget: would you kindly hand over your wayfinders? We should not advertise who we are during this mission. I want you to be as discreet as possible. The situation in Taldor is delicate, and we do not want to attract unwanted attention.”

Apart from any questions you might have, some of you may know more about the political situation in Taldor. If you would like to find out, give me your bonus for Society or a relevant lore for a secret check I'll make.

"Street tournaments? Well, then, this should be easy! You have the greatest warriors here in Ulvard and I!" Reluctantly, however, he hands over his wayfinder. "Why be discreet? We should let them know who they are up against!"

Ulvard nods, and slaps Clarance on the back. "Ulvard stands ready!"

Warfare lore +4 if it helps.

He offers a toothy grin. "But Ulvard made biggest splash! Truth! And found biggest fish!"

He then turns to Mia. "Mia agrees! Ulvard also wettest behind ears!"

"You'll have to back up those words soon enough, defeating a two-foot fish is nowhere near what an epic poem requires", Mia challenges the boasting men.

"Well, I don't have a wayfinder yet, so there's nothing to hand over. My sadly realistic disguise of a clueless newcomer should only encourage all kinds of shifty people to try to get my money", she answers the captain.

Warfare lore +3 here too. Society +0 untrained.

Inka reaches up and gives Mia a reassuring pat on the arm. “This is my first mission for the Society, so I don’t have a wayfinder either. But maybe that’s why you’re sending us instead of the other group of Pathfinders? Because we’re unknown? Or will they be infiltrating the tournament too?”

She pauses, musing over the information given. “Is there anything else you know about these tournaments? How long have they been taking place?”

Society +0 untrained for Inka

Muesello then brushes back his gray hair as he paces behind his desk. “A concerned friend brought a series of illegal street tournaments to my attention. They would like the Pathfinder Society to look into them, and as you have probably guessed, that is why you are here.” He gestures towards the city outside the balcony. “Many of those that compete in the tournaments have gone missing. I have arranged for you to go undercover and take part in the upcoming tournament. I need you to find out who is organizing them and, if possible, what their purpose is.”

While you can't quite see their eyes, you expect that if you could, they'd be lighting up. "Ah, a tournament! How exciting! A play performed with martial prowess in place of words! Action, excitement, drama, emotion! Oh, we can't wait!!"

Untrained society +0, and I'm assuming that Leshy Lore, Outer Rifts Lore, and Society Lore all wouldn't apply here.

"Why Pathfinders want spy other Pathfindes? Some kind game?" Zug asks, puzzled. Not that he saw anyone tailing them in the first place.

But that is soon forgotten when talk turns to the street tournaments. "Oooh..! Tournament! Much exciting. Illegal? Even mucher exciting! Me hope there is song battle. Me very good. Win all!" The goblin can barely restrain himself from hopping up and down from excitement.

+6 Society

Warfare lore +5 if that helps