[PbP GameDay XIII] DM Carbide's CORE Assault on the Kingdom of the Impossible (Inactive)

Game Master John Woodford

BOT - Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26.

Well.

Zuheilen tries to reason with the bandits, who start out somewhat intimidated by the party's presence in the first place. Her entreaties succeed--the bandits put away their weapons, and one quietly calls something in Vudrani. In response another one of the tiger-masked monks emerges from a sleeping cell. She scratches herself unselfconsciously, belches, and follows the pair of bandits out past the party.

The four captives seem surprised by the development, and one asks in a voice of brittle calmness, "Can you free us? Please?"

Xuan nods, and moves to free them.

Disable Device - 'Take 10' = 21.

Xuan is unable to open the locks.

There's no penalty for failure and the DC is 25, so you can open the locks given time.

Sorry, post Sunday night was after I was off line and in bed, all the others occurred while I was at school teaching. Will be able to check in each night after 5 PM central.

"Ah I wish I had a stronger ax!"

I offer the guidance of Sarenrae to anyone who will attempt to open this lock.

"We are still no closer to finding Zamir and running our proposal by him."
Kimlo, who has no knowledge of mechanisms, lines up his axe. Then thinks better of it.
"Anyone see the key lying around?"
Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 5

"Do any of you folks know where we can find Zamir?" Kimlo asks the 4 captives.

Well, Disable Disable to open locks is literally one of the examples for 'Take 20', so I will do just that ;-)

With the patience of stone, Xuan sets about freeing the captives.

Xuan takes his time and opens the locks, freeing the prisoners. "Zamir stays through there," one tells you, pointing to the south. Thete's a large training hall in that direction, with a strange wooden statue standing in front of an alcove holding a large wooden door.

"Have you ever seen that wooden statue move?" Galandir asks the freed prisoner.

"No."

"You sure?"

"Well, we should probably take a look. I think sneaking won't work as we let half this room leave. Let's go attempt our pitch to the boss."
Kimlo starts moving towards the door. "We need to stay close and if thing go badly, we head back towards this door. Got it?"

Zuheilen can make the roll, but the points I think our group needs to make is that it won't be easy pickings from here out. The Society know his location now. If it is not us, other groups will come and stop the threat. His informant will not be helpful anymore. But if he links up with us, we will pay him for his smuggling ability and allow any freelance he wants to undertake against the Aspis Consortium. He keeps his operations intact.

The party advances on the door as the former captives prepare to depart. The statue--depicting a humanoid with three tiger faces on its head, each pointing in a different direction--seems to shift position as you go by, but it was only a trick of the light.

On the other side of the door is a nicely decorated and comfortably furnished chamber, unlike the rest of the complex. Cushioned chairs create a comfortable sitting area, and a large tapestry depicting a battle of dozens of dervishes in a bright yellow sandy desert adds color to the room. The air is scented with cinnamon and trophy heads and animal skins decorate the floor and remaining walls. However, your attention is drawn to the human in fine robes over leather armor, aiming the scepter of the arclords at the door as it opens. A tiger leans against one of his legs. "And why should I not destroy you where you stand for your temerity?"

"Because there is more profit to be gained by working with us. The Society has repeatedly triumphed over the Consortium in multiple conflicts. The Consortium is ill-managed and, most likely, is already stealing from you and shorting you of your promised share."

Diplomacy to Aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

The bandit chief doesn't immediately react with further hostility.

Xuan, meanwhile, once again does his best impression of a statue, patiently waiting in a corner...

Zuheilen's player is teaching history curently. I will have her say something and roll when she gets home.

"Nice place you have here, by the way." Kimlo looks around admiring the decor but also looking for enemies hiding.
perception: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Kimlo spots an exit behind one of the tapestries.

We are here at the behest of The Society and your choice to attack convoys has to stop. We need you to join us and use your skills to help The Society, not mess with it. If you chose to continue with the way things are, or even to kill us, The Society knows where you are and will be sure that your activities stop forever. We're here to offer you an opportunity to work with The Society instead of against it.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

He sneers. "I made this band from nothing, and I can do it again if I need to."

The good news is that you have two more chances to sway him to your side.

"Starting over is difficult. All this nice stuff you have will be lost. If you agree to work with the Society, you keep the spoils of your hard work and build upon it. You say you 'built this up from nothing' and 'I can do it again', Assuming you survive, you will lose people you have come to depend on, and it will take time. Do you have years to throw away that you could be enjoying yourself? The Aspis guys will just turn to the next best bandit king in line and maybe not turn on you right away."
diplomacy aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5
The dice roller hates us using words.

Can I aid diplomancy with intimidation???

"What our knee-biter friend is trying to say is that we need you and you need us. Together we can be and have more. Your continued work alone is, and will continue to be, perceived as a threat to The Society leading many to have to eliminate this competition."
diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

I'll try

"it's better together"

aid: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (15) - 2 = 13

Does anyone else want to try to Aid Another?

Xuan does his best to look non-threatening...

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0.

..but realises that he should 'stay in his lane'.

Galandir looks annoyed. "Violence is so crude. Unfortunately far too common on our Society missions. It would be refreshing to complete our task with a minimum of bloodshed. Please, let us come to an agreement."

Diplomacy to Aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

This time Zamir makes no defiant reply. He lowers the scepter slightly, clearly considering the party's offer.

Last try! May the odds be ever in your favor!

"Perhaps you have started to see the signs ... Minions scheming behind your back, ever growing demands for more with less ... the consortium is relentless with plots and schemes. Best to get out while you are ahead." As he talks, Kimlo moves to position himself in Zamir's path to the noted door.
diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

On the map, Zamir is standing right next to to the tapestry that covers the exit--you're not going to get between him and it without pushing the tapestry aside and entering the presumed secret escape tunnel. Do you want to do that?

Once again, Xuan attempts to look non-threatening...

Diplomacy(Aid): 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (4) - 3 = 1.

...and Zuheilen does their best to convince the man to lay down his weapons... or at least, to wield his belligerence in a way that benefits both him and the Society.

Zuheilen - BOT: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17.

"I can make it worth your while," says Galandir. "The Society pays handsomely. Their missions are extraordinarily profitable."
He takes out 5 platinum coins to offer as a bribe.

Diplomacy to Aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18

Dwalin tries to aid.

"Yes it would be profitable"

aid: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 = 7

All right, let's wrap this up.

Diplomacy check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Zamir ponders a moment longer at your entreaties, then shakes his head. "No, I think I'll do better where I am."

Round 1:

Initiative order
Xuan
Galandir
Zuheilen
Kimlo
Zamir
Dwalin

Everyone but Dwalin can act!

Zamir: AC ? T ? FF ? HP taken: 0
Tiger: AC ? T ? FF ? HP taken: 0

With a sigh, Xuan strides into the room, and attempts to wrap Zamir up in a bear-hug.

"You need to calm down."

Grapple: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 2 = 11.

GM Star reroll: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 2 + 5 = 33.

If Xuan has successfully grappled Zamir, then Galandir will move up while drawing his sword and try to interfere with Zamir's efforts to break free.

He will use Fighting Defensively in case the tiger decides to attack him (making him AC 21), though he rather hopes one of the dwarves will get in the way.

Aid Another to improve Xuan's CMD: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 6 - 4 = 20

Zuheilen casts bless on the party.

"Why do bandits always have dangerous animals as pets?"[b] Kimlo moves into the room and readies to chop the tiger with this silvered axe.

"Why do bandits always have dangerous animals as pets?" Kimlo moves into the room and readies to chop the tiger with this silvered axe.

Zamir relaxes in the monk's grasp. "...on the other hand, you are most persuasive. I now perceive the wisdom in your offer, and I accept. If it's still open, of course."

Do you accept his surrender?

Of course!

Xuan nods.

"I am glad that you saw reason. I sincerely hope that we are able to have a mutually beneficial relationship, moving forward."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26.

Does he seem sincere?

Yes, he seems sincere.

Well, I am happy to accept the surrender, but will treat him as a future business partner, rather than a prisoner. Respect is important!

"Drop your weapons first, Please"

"Come now, Dwalin, he is our new friend. If we trust that he is acting in good faith, then we should allow him to keep his arms."

Just echoing Xuan's sentiment. If we treat him as a future business partner and show him respect, then I think he will be less likely to betray us than if we humiliate him. If we don't trust him, then we should just kill him. I'd rather trust him.

"All the same I think I will stand over here." Kimlo moves to stand in front of the hidd3n exit.
"Now what?" "I guess in good faith start talking, tell us all about this operation you got going. Who is who and how things work."

Xuan nods, and helps the man up.

"Agreed. I hope that we have a long a fruitful relationship."

Zamir reveals that he was stealing magic items, then having his captive wizards disassemble them so that they could be smuggled out of Jalmeray undetected.

The party is able to turn him over to the Venture-Captain, who congratulates you on a job well done.

And with that we are done...only a few days late, which I attribute to having to spend more time on the special than anticipated. Thank you all for playing, and I'll get the chronicle sheets up in the next day or so--RPGChronicles generated them just fine, but I have to cross out the road less traveled. As it were.

Thank-you for running!