PFS Series 2 Quest Run #16~18 [PF2e] (Inactive)

Game Master Aeshuura

Your instructions were to head to Merab and assist Chief Archivist with some acquisitions.

You soon arrive on the Merabian docks via the barge, Powerful Hector, captained by Eduard Tabrin, who waves at you as you disembark via the gangplank. Merab's docks are busy and crowded with merchants, goods, and beasts of burden. You have barely had time to get settled on solid ground when an imp flies up and hand you a note then disappears in a puff of sulphureous smoke.

Darling Pathfinders,

I have some errands that I need you to run for me before you go off on your next assignment. Please find me in the Flowing Market, where I am in search of more reference materials. If you peruse the establishments that provide such materials, I am sure that you will be able to find me.

Your assistance is appreciated,
Chief Archivist Zarta Dralneen

You may introduce your characters...

Glinda, at first glance, looks to be descended directly from the Jadwega of Irrisen. But on closer look there is some extra planar attributes about her marking her as a sylph. She is accompanied by an air wisp.

She raises an eyebrow at the note. Darling Pathfinders? What's Zarta up to this time?

She heads off in search of the Flowing Market.

You see a halfling-sized scarecrow, dressed in worn, mismatched leathers. He has a Jack o’ lantern for a head. A crow looks around from his shoulder; at second glance, it appears to be made of blackened wicker.

He removes the top of his head, and tips it like a hat. ”Blackfeather Jack, at your service!”, he declares, before taking off after Glinda.

Glinda pauses to allow Blackfeather Jack to catch up.
Glinda Lovegood she says. Or as I like to hope, Glinda the Good. I'm a witch. from way up north.

A rather tall, marionette-like poppet joins the group, wearing a tattered pale pink dress and a red cape. A peculiar long nose protrudes from their somewhat decaying wooden face. Their large, polished black eyes reflect light, adding an eerie touch to their appearance. Strings dangle from their limbs, swaying slightly as they move, and a faint creaking sound accompanies each step, emphasizing their puppet-like nature.

"Gweetings. It is a pweasuwe to meet you all. I am Guiseppino The Wong-Nosed. It works wike Chief Awchivist Zawta Dwalneen has summoned us for an impowtant mission. Does anyone know where the Fwowing Mawket is?"

(Greetings. It is a pleasure to meet you all. I am Guiseppino The Long-Nosed. It looks like Chief Archivist Zarta Dralneen has summoned us for an important mission. Does anyone know where the Flowing Market is?)

A stuffed rabbit approaches the group. He has a rather large gun strapped to his back.

He recognizes the tall marionette and hops forward.

"Ah! Guitheppino! Nithe to thee you again!. Yeth, it appearth that Zarta needth uth for another tathk."

Seeing the other Pathfinders, he stands tall and bows.

"Well met Pathfinderth! I am Bun Helthing! It appearth we will be working together today."

He has an overbite that causes a rather obvious lisp...

An Amurren (sometimes called a Catfolk) dressed in loose-fitting clothing stumbles over. He sits down with a 'thump,' "Hi. I'm Hadrimos." He then takes a long draught from a wine jug, lays down, and promptly starts snoring.

Catfolk, two poppets, a leshy and me. It'll be interesting to see what Number Six is ... assuming there is a sixth

Sorry, somehow missed the gameplay thread and was just following discussion.

Bramblespine slowly unfurls and rights themselves, raising up from what initially appeared to be a thorny rose bush into a rather thorny humanoid who's hands open up like petals on a rose while closed roses encircle their neck.

With a strongly arboreal voice, Bramblespine speaks. "I am Bramblespine. Once a guardian of Feathereyes' Maze, after nearly 200 years of service I have decided to commit a life to exploring The Universe, with the help of the Society for whom I have served for so long."

Bramblespine is a Ghoran.

Jack stares at Bramblespine in amazement. ”I didn’t know we got that big!”, he declares.

I have to admit, I was wondering the same thing. Sir or Ma'am or ... whatever. Please pardon my curiosity but ... are you a rather large leshy? Or something else?

Bun can only gape and stare at the impressive creature.

Bramblespine shakes their head "Leshys, like you Jack are nature spirits in plant bodies. Us Ghorans are named after our creator, the druid Ghorus, ally to the archmage Nex. My memories do not stretch back that far but begin with Narven Feathereyes awakening me and tasking me to help guard his maze. After 10 lives, and 200 years I've decided I'm finally ready to explore the outside world. The Pathfinder Society has been more than welcoming. I suspect for my next life I'll return to my task but in the meantime I'm excited to learn more, and happy to share what I remember from decades in the Maze."

Bramblespine ponders for a moment "I do remember watching Pathfinder from Merab travel through the maze at least once. Perpahs details of their travels will be relevant for our travels today."

Related to this Bramblespine has Ancient Memories and will choose to become trained in Merab lore today.

"Ah! Guitheppino! Nithe to thee you again!. Yeth, it appearth that Zarta needth uth for another tathk."

Guiseppino give their fellow poppet who is rabbit-like in appearance a nod. "Bun Hewsing. It is nice to see you too. I bewieve the wast time we were in the same mission was working for the Bwakwos Museum."

(Bun Helsing. It is nice to see you too. I believe the last time we were in the same mission was working for the Blakros Museum.)

"Oh yeth, that'th right. It wath a different perthon latht time."

Just remembered it was 03-01 and not 04-01...

Learn something new every day. Glinda comments.

”The Elders”, Jack breathes in awe. ”I heard the rumors, but didn’t know if they were true. It’s an honor” He bows deeply. The crow looks unimpressed.

”And now, to the Market!”

Okay, first checks are finding the Flowing Market. You will find it eventually, but these checks will speed your search. The checks will break down like this:

DC 13 Deception to Lie, Diplomacy to Gather Info, or Intimidate to Coerce.

DC 10 Survival to Sense Direction.

DC 8 Thuvia-related (including Merab Lore) to Recall Knowledge.

These will all earn search points, but you also can gain some extra knowledge as detailed below.

Deception to lie: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Hadrimos tries to lie to someone about how he's interested in flower arrangement. Needless to say, his lies are easily seen through.

Bramblespine does their best to recall what he's overheard about the city.

Merab Lore DC 8: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Bramblespine notes "There's something odd going on here, it's not the right time or place, but something to do with the Sun Orchid..."

That Elixir of Immortality I've read about?

She tries asking passer-bys.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
How does one play a game with Basilisks. That sounds so ... petrifying

Haha, Basilisk is a ball game! The best sport this side of Thuvia! You should watch! Today is an important game for the standings! the passerby yells his response as he moves through the throng of people.

Bramblespine notes unhelpfully "I listened in to Qadirian Formula C racers ones. They really wanted to up their carpet game and make it to the big leagues in the City of Brass."

If I get a chance - maybe I will Glinda calls back.

She then turns to Btramblespine. Flying carpet racing? That sounds so cool. I'm still trying to figure out how to fly a broom. I'll have to ask Granny about that.

"Hewwo, human. I wouwd wike to know where is the Fwoing Mawket hewe. I have a fwiend that I need to meet thewe. I hope you can hewp me." Guiseppino calls the attention of a nearby lady, hoping she won't be bothered by their appearance.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Or she would.

(Hello, human. I would like to know where is the Flowing Market here. I have a friend that I need to meet there. I hope you can help me.)

They mean Flowing Market

Glinda has been around a lot of poppets recently Witch Queen's Dollhouse

The lady hustles past, a little frightened by the little doll seemingly acting on its own...

EDIT: Waiting on Bun and Jack.

Scary orchestral music starts playing. A fire ignites inside Jack’s head, lighting up his eyes and mouth. He leaps onto a nearby barrel, and harangues passers-by.

”WHERE’S THE FLOWING MARKET?
WHERE CAN IT BE FOUND?
IF YOU CANNOT TELL ME,
YOU WON’T BE AROUND!”

Cast musical accompaniment

Intimidation: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

People scatter at Jack's outburst, pointing the way!

None of the above. Bun stays quiet

People scatter at Jack's outburst, pointing the way!

The fire goes out, and the music stops. ”Thank you kindly”, he says. As he tips the top of his head, a smoke ring pops out.

You quickly find your way to the Flowing Market, you begin your search for the Grand Archivist.

Okay, another skill test: DC 15 Athletics to shove through the crowd, DC 13 Diplomacy to Gather Information, DC 15 Performance to perform (to ask the crowd after), DC 10 Society to Recall Knowledge, or DC 8 Library or book-related Lore to Recall Knowledge.

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Athletics(T): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Bun begins trying to push his way through the crowd. However because of his small and stuffed stature, he only ends up getting kicked aside by the tall folk...

Glinda goes for a more polite approach.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

"Tho rude!" Bun complains, conveniently forgetting that he was the one who tried to push people aside to begin with!

Guiseppino just shrugs at the reaction of the lady and keeps moving once Jack finds the way to the market. At the market, they continue the same approach, asking an old man nearby, hoping this one won't be as frightened as the previous lady.

"Hewwo, owd man. I am wooking fow a woman with this height and hew haiw is wike this, and she is weawing something wike that fwom the wast time I see hew." Guiseppino tries to describe the archivist by pointing to nearby things that they can compare with their description.

(Hello, old man. I am looking for a woman with this height and her hair is like this, and she is wearing something like that from the last time I see her.)

"Ow maybe you know Gwand Awchivist Zawta Dwawneen."

(Or maybe you know Grand Archivist Zarta Dralneen.)

DC 13 Diplomacy to Gathe Information: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

After learning that the archivist is in a tea parlor and bookstore, they declare to his allies, "Fwiends, I know whewe she is. To the Weaves and Bindings!"

(Friends, I know where she is. To the Leaves and Bindings!)

Bramble and Jack can still roll, as this all takes place in the same 10 minutes. It could give you more search points, possibly making things easier later on.

Weaves and Binding - gotcha ... wait a moment ... don't you mean Leaves and Bindings?

"It's Weaves and Bindings, not Weaves and Bindings," Guiseppino clarifies to Glinda, who seems confused. One can infer that there is no difference at all between the two.

Society: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"Looking for Pallomar, beware of angry sports fans though."

Another musical number! This time, the tune is more sprightly and upbeat.

”We’re looking for a colleague
Of studious persuasion.
Could someone help us find her
On this sublime occasion?”

Performance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

In a little under an hour, you manage to catch up to the Grand Archivist at a small tea parlor and bookstore called the Leaves and Bindings. A small cart holding several crates sits outside the shop. Zarta is sitting at a table with a Dromaar dwarf, whom she introduces as Pallomar Gladhammer, a freelance correspondent for Golarion’s Finest books and travelogues.

Zarta gestures at Pallomar. Pallomar here is in a spot of bother, and he will be writing an article about his adventures with Pathfinders. Deliver him and the books back to the Powerful Hector safely and you will receive the normal remuneration. It’s not exploring old ruins or something equally exciting, but even dry history books can be a gateway to experiencing new and wonderful things.

Zarta smiles and drinks another sip of tea. Do you have any questions for me or Pallomar, or do you wish to get this simple errand over with?

I wouldn't mind a cup of tea first but - apart from that, sure. How hard can it be?

Famous last words

Although - I should ask - what sort of a spot of bother?

Pallomar frowns. I wrote a small article for Golarion’s Finest last year detailing my experiences in Merab. It seems that some of the local Merab Vultures fans objected to my article, saying that it brought bad luck to the team and made the Vultures lose the Avistan Basilisk League Championship.

”Oh my!”, Jack gasps. ”Not to worry, we’ll defend you from those hooligans!”

"Oh yeth! We can motht definitely defend you. But, tell me, ithn't a bathilithk a lizard with a petrifying gazthe? I don't underthtand what a bathilithk league ith."

Bun scratches his head, clearly confused.

Any more questions? If not, I will continue.

It is, but I was told it was a ball game - and apparently it is quite a drawcard.