Zero's Q18: Student Exchange (Inactive)

Game Master Super Zero

Thievery: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Dolan points out the traps to the group before settling in to pull them apart.

I don't know what's worse, a shop that damages itself or thieves with enough time to set this up on top of everything else they did.

"Our perpetrator is diminutive and a bit of a prankster, then. I do not want to say it is definitely Fey but that does not seem to be a terrible conclusion.

Survival or Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

”What else can you remember?” hopefully his memory will gain greater clarity as more time passes.

Diplomacy (Trained): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

crafting: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Variel will try to recall his crafting training but it doesn't seem to be coming to mind just now.

Suggested Diplomacy check is for Tokku, but Gathering Information from potential witnesses also works.

Teacher Ot beams as he observes the Pathfinders finding clues. "Excellent work. And I concur--tiny pranksters suggests fey. Excellent observation!"

With that information--particularly the small tracks Athena finds, the party is able to track down the Thieves' Hideout... although it's more of a tiny play fort made of crates.

As soon as the Pathfinders attempt to investigate the crates, the lead draxie, ill-gotten gains clutched in hand, bursts out the other side, flying as fast as he can. The crate fort explodes with both a flare and flair as fireworks erupt cacophonously outwards in all directions, tossing the thin sheet of wood used as a makeshift roof 15 feet away into the yard. This sudden outburst of noise and light is just a distraction for the group of various fey culprits to dash out in the chaos, jewelry trickling out of a bag behind them.

Images added to the Slides.

The fey depart quickly through the crowd who’s gathered to observe the fireworks display. While impressed by the scene, the townsfolk have unwittingly gotten in the way.

You can each make a check to Overcome the obstacle presented by the Crowd. DC 18 Acrobatics or Athletics to weave or push through; DC 16 Society to best navigate the crowd with the least disturbance.
Since the PCs managed to succeed in all the Community Service tasks, they are well rested from their relaxing meal, giving a +2 circumstance bonus on checks to overcome obstacles in the chase.

Variel will nimbly dodge and weave his way through the crowd.

Acrobatics DC 18: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24

Acrobatics, DC 18: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 2 = 24

Dolan ducks and weaves through the crowd in hot pursuit.

Katsumi curses the crowd and screams at those who don't let her go through: "And no one is nice enough to help a pregnant woman in a hurry! Where are your manners!!!!"

And Katsumi tries to navigate the crowd by being the biggest disturbance.

Society: 1d20 ⇒ 14 (or 18 if you consider my check has more to do with my Charisma than my Intelligence)

I don't know if it has an impact, but Katsumi moves at 20ft.

You didn't include your +2 bonus, so that's a success anyway.

Variel and Dolan evade the crowd while Katsumi forges her own path, leading the Pathfinders through.

You can each make a check to Overcome the obstacle presented by the Crowd. DC 18 Acrobatics or Athletics to weave or push through; DC 16 Society to best navigate the crowd with the least disturbance.
Since the PCs managed to succeed in all the Community Service tasks, they are well rested from their relaxing meal, giving a +2 circumstance bonus on checks to overcome obstacles in the chase.

Fey Shenanigans' Current Obstacle: Bridge and Canals (2 ahead)
Pathfinders' Current Obstacle: Crowds 3/4 Chase Points
Winter, Athena, and Mik-mek's turns.

If you earn one more Chase Point:

Winter gallops through, the wind at her hooves!

Athletics (Trained) w/ Well Rested (+2): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 2 = 25

Practiced Brawn

When the music breaks out, she shifts her gait with graceful elasticity, and dance moves across the street - scooping up 1d4 ⇒ 3 passerby’s onto her bareback saddle!

Performance (Trained) w/ Well Rested (+2): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 2 = 28

The others still get their turn this round--if getting to a new obstacle ended the round, it would be impossible for PCs to ever make progress in this subsystem!
I'll apply that roll for your turn next round, assuming the last two don't double-crit and finish the Chase immediately.

Winter clears a path through the crowd, helping the rest of the Pathfinders get through!

A group of musicians are performing for a gathered crowd, celebrating the evening as the fey dip through. Glances thrown back at the musicians suggest the fey wish they could play too.

Fey Shenanigans' Current Obstacle: Bridge and Canals (1 ahead)
Pathfinders' Current Obstacle: Street Performance 0/4
Athena and Mik-mek's turns.
You can attempt a: DC 18 Stealth or Society to take advantage of the crowds to get ahead; DC 16 Acrobatics or Performance to dance with participants through the crowd.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 = 17

Athena mingles with the crowd, frequently turning at just the right moment to angle her way further in. Her success seems a bit odd at first, until the group notes her ability to turn her legs and torso in entirely different directions.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Mikmek easily wows the crowd with his acrobatics.

Athena and Mik-mek move easily through the crowd. The sprites hesitate as they watch longingly. Winter clears more of the crowd away, leading the Pathfinders through by following the rhythm of the people. The sprites clear the canal. The Pathfinders can see them on the other side. Giggling as they hover near a sewer grate.

Succeeding at the dance check earns an extra Chase Point, so that's 3/4. The sprites move ahead to the next obstacle at the top of the round, but we already know Winter finishes it.

Be it luck or knowledge, the band of fey is making use of the canals to quickly traverse the city, be it by water or foot. Keeping up with them on their home terrain may prove tricky.

DC 18 Athletics to bound the canal, using boats and the natural growth of Nantambu to climb–succeeding at this check gains a bonus Chase Point; DC 16 Perception to spot the fey as they are passing over a bridge and ensure you don’t lose sight of them.

Fey Shenanigans' Current Obstacle: Sewer Oozes Round Two (1 ahead)
Pathfinders' Current Obstacle: Bridge and Canals 0/2
Varial, Dolan, Katsumi, Athena, and Mik-mek's turns.

Athletics: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 2 = 32

Athena charges up to the edge of the canal, gears whirring and pistons pumping, and launches herself across the water. She lands with a teeth-rattling clang on the far side, in a perfect three-point hero stance, before slowly, dramatically, rising back to her feet.

"Give up, little ones," she calls to the fey. "This escapade is wearing you down more than us. And would you rather not rejoin those festivities?"

perception, well rested: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 2 = 30

Dolan moves a little slower than Athena, he uses the extra time to focus on the Fey. No sprite, pixie, or other can escape his watch.

Katsumi decides to... hail a ferrywoman to get to the other side.

I think we have twice more points than needed so I wait for the next check.

Athena leaps the canal. The fey, giggling, abandon their sewer grate and duck into a warehouse.

This warehouse is old, and when the Pathfinders enter they find it looks disused, with nothing stored here but old dust. They find the fey in a small side room, where they stand staring at the back exit. Which has been sealed up, against bugs or weather. After all, this room isn't currently used for anything and so nobody has a reason to go in or out.

Having cornered themselves in front of a nonexistent escape route, the sprites all drop their loot before slowly turning to face the group with their hands up. The group of fey all look frightened, eyes darting from one another to the party. It's obvious they're looking for an opportunity they can to get away without pursuit, but don't see an escape now.

"Ha-ha! You got us! What a fun prank, right friends?" The tiny, draconic prankster jokingly elbows their friends, who laugh nervously and inch closer and attempt to hide behind their leader. "I'm commodore Ru--wait, wait, Commodore Sticky Fingers! Yeah! And this was just a prank we wanted to pull 'cause folks take things too serious here."

Assuming you don't want to hurt the, Diplomacy checks might help convince him of that. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to any such Diplomacy checks (though you'll gain the same bonus to Initiative if that comes up).

Variel will step forward "Commodore Sticky Fingers, it was a great prank, and you led us a great chase, but the game is over now. We don't want to hurt you, but you need to make amends for the harm you have caused. A poor shopkeeper's livelihood has been destroyed. If you would return the stolen jewellery and apologise to Tokku we can leave things at that."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 = 14
Hero point!
diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22

”Folks remember, too”

Winter places her hand on her hip, but doesn’t otherwise make any threatening gestures ”Do you want to be those remembered for doing the right thing, or those that only did right by themselves?”

Diplomacy (Trained): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 = 19

Katsumi gets closer to the feys and starts combing through the jewels on the ground. She takes a ring, puts it on and looks at her hand with it. She then tries a necklace, draws a small mirror from her pocket and admires herself. While adding more and more jewels on her body, she speaks to the feys: "You know, people here are good people. They help the poor, do community service and such. And these good people like these shiny little pieces of metal so much they don't even give them to children. Also, good people do good things to those who take them, like putting them in jail. Because... you know, they are good people."

She suddenly turns to the party, with a large smile and half a pound of gold and silver on her: "Don't I look gorgeous? I'm so shiny I feel like the daughter of Sun and Moon."

She plays with the (imaginary) light before getting closer to Variel and with a charming smile she says: "You should write a song about me, honey, as you won't ever meet a woman even half as beautiful as I am."

She gets back to the fey and her voice is now strong and commanding: "You... you should leave my sight as fast as your legs can carry you. As I'm in no mood for pranks, ever!"

Diplomidation: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 = 29 (nat' 20!!!!!)

"Yes, ha ha! It was a good prank. But can we talk about being responsible for your actions now?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22

Variel looks on aghast at Katsumi's performance. maybe she has gone gold mad? he thinks to himself

In response to her taunt, Variel replies flatly "Oh I can see a song forming here but I doubt it would be one you would like"

He quickly turns his attention back to the fey to see how they react.

Katsumi raises an eyebrow: "Is it stage fright? Do I scare you, Variel? Don't worry, I'm a kind judge..."

She rubs her belly before finishing her sentence: "... like any mother."

While her faceplate lacks any eyes to roll, the sigh Athena lets out leaves no doubt what she is thinking.

Turning back to the leader of the tiny group, she menaces them slightly with her size before easing down to one knee and looking at them closer to eye level. "Ignore the loud one for the moment. You must make amends. Only if everything is returned and put right can the joke be considered funny. Otherwise, it is just petty theft."

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 17 Intimidation would be +5

Underworld Lore: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

You must be careful who you play such pranks upon. Have you heard the story of Nine Fingered Sam? There was a magical ring that was taken, then lost; found, then stolen; hidden, then given. Sam and his friends though it would be great fun to sneak into the home of the rings original owner while wearing the ring. The owner didn't think it was nearly so funny. He cut off the finger with the ring on it, kept the ring, and threw the finger in the fire. That is to say, make sure everyone involved thinks your prank is funny, eh?

"It isn't just for us. It's for our community! It's important that we rob from the rich and give to our pals."
"Like that one really cool duck."
"She'd be so much cooler with a bracelet."

The Pathfinders words seem to be needling at them, and they increasingly look less frightened and more guilty. When given the opportunity to abandon the loot and leave, they eagerly take.

"Okay, here you go!"
"We'll go back to the shop and say sorry!"

Leaving the bags of jewels behind, they leave with only nervous glances back to see if they are pursued.

"Thank-you Commodore Sticky-Fingers. I hope you find some less destructive pranks for the future - the fireworks were pretty amazing!"

but Variel really doesn't expect Tokku to get that apology

Variel will let them leave and then set to gathering up the abandoned loot. "Well at least we can set things right for Tokku."

Once it is all gathered he'll start back to the shop to help with cleanup there.

After the fey are handled, Teacher Ot arrives just as things are coming to their conclusion to see what’s happened. He wanted to see what the Pathfinders might do given the sudden excitement and took his time watching from a distance. He is impressed that the Pathfinders drove off the fey without bloodshed on either side.

Shortly after, Tokku is overjoyed to get his merchandise back, and gives a few choice pieces to the Pathfinders who recovered them.

Teacher Ot is impressed with the party's work over the day. Once Keighton Shane and the Magaambaya students rejoin the group, he compliments the Pathfinders on their skills, community service, investigation, and peaceful resolution with the jewelry thieves.

The students report that they had a bewildering lecture on magical theory that was as enlightening as it was inscrutable, though they feel they’ve gained a great deal of insight into the practice of arcane magic.
Somehow.

Katsumi continues to wear the jewels all the way to Toku's, obviously glowing with all these shiny baubles.

Shortly after, Tokku is overjoyed to get his merchandise back, and gives a few choice pieces to the Pathfinders who recovered them.

"I can keep the ring and the necklace? Hooo, Toku, you know how to spoil a lady!"

Katsumi seems nearly more interested by her new ring than by Ot's compliments: "We did what had to be done, that's what we do."

And with this final and uninspired words, she's ready to go back to Avistan.