Strength of Thousands (PF2 AP) by DM DoctorEvil

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

Updated List.

Group 0: Done effectively, though there may still be IC time left for this.

Group 1: 5 letters that need to be translated. After the translation attempt and GI attempts, three are legible. Currently delivered: 0/3, undeliverable 2.

Group 2: 4 unusual addresses. We have used GI and may still use Survival from the air. We have 1 of the four addresses confirmed and will need the air check for the other three. Delivered: 0/4.

Group 3: Done.

Group 4: Done.

This would give us 16/23 delivered. 2/2 undeliverable. We also have the task in the letter addressed to us.

If the translated ones can be delivered as easily as the ones that Ntuni is delivering, we could just do those, reconvene as a group, and then fly out of town for the three Survival checks and the one delivery as a group. If we did that, we'd be at 19/23 delivered and 2 that we can't, and after that we can finish up with the Diplomacy style task.

Thanks Iovia, for the breakdown. That sounds like a good plan, but also, we can do it all together. There wasn't exactly a time limit on this, and I'm afraid of impromptu combat.

I agree that we should do them together for the same reason.

Let me know what your plan is next?

Are we assuming that N'tuni gets back OK and that the rest of us deliver the now legible three in-town ones?

If so, we would be at 19/23 that we can deliver, 4 still to be delivered with Surivial checks, and the Diplomacy event from our letter. In case that is where we are at, I'll roll Aid checks for the Survival, and Ikto can roll the main check.

Aid one: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Aid two: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Aid three: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Aid four: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Once in the air, Iovia is clearly enjoying the flying. She tries to stay neat Ikto, doing her best to help the druid find the places that they are still looking for.

The group, still missing Ntuni, delivers the other nearby letters successfully. As Ignaci observed, the recipients are often happy to chat with the postal delivery teams, and you are able to learn interesting things about their lives (Ntuni observes this also).

A woman name Chinasa is excited for her niece's wedding and plans to sew the bride's gold embroidered dress. A woman named Ige tells you of her work rehabilitating injured jungle birds and releasing them back into the wild. Musubu introduces the initiates to his newest puppy, who he found stuck up in a tree. A man named Jatau offers Ntuni a jar of jam since he made too much. These and many other things you learn by serving the community, and that is some of the lesson of the Emerald Boughs.

Soon enough Ntuni returns to the school, her mission complete, and the local deliveries are done, the group reunites. Only the 4 of the descriptive address sites, and the customer complaint are yet to be resolved.

Za Minyahil watches and listens as they make their deliveries, more than a little surprised at how quickly the people of Nantambu just accept a flower-faced person, as if they were just another person. It felt different than Quantium; while if ghorans could be said to be common anywhere it was there, but there was still a distance, a sense that ghorans could only truly trust their own, and their "animal" neighbors would only seek their company if they wanted something from them. Here, even as the first and perhaps only ghoran, they treated Za Minyahil as one of their own, genuinely wanting to know who they were as themself...and their petals rustled as the uncomfortable thought crossed their mind that this was a question they hadn't given much consideration to themselves...

"Compared with the other days, this has been much more pleasant!" they comment happily.

Ikto is happy to take lead on finding locations and is even more grateful for the help. He laughs in agreement with Za Minyahil, "This has been wonderful. To join the sky, even for a time?" He looks for landmarks as directed, a birdseye view thanks to their mounts quite handy.
As this isn't a secret or anything I'll go ahead and roll for Survival as I worry I have accidentally slowed us down.

Survival roll one 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Survival Roll two 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Survival roll three 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Survival Roll four 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Once Ntuni returns, the initiates take to the air together, navigating around the city and trying their best to sort out landmark addressed letters. Surprisingly, Ikto does well with an aerial view of the region, and with Iovia's help, they sort out 3 of the 4 hard to determine address, delivering all but one.

After a time, the letters that CAN be delivered are all done, and the only remaining issue is to sort out the customer complaint. After a bit of research, it appears that a parcel was delivered to the correct street, but the wrong house. The house that received the package, which apparently is an incredibly beautiful Mauxi stained glass lamp, and the house that the package should've been delivered too, are easy enough to identify.

Your turn to choose what happens next.

M'baba suggests correcting the mistake. That is, going to the glass lamp house, retrieve the letter, then take it to the correct one.

It seems from what Doc said that the lamp was what was delivered, and that will be reflected in my post. Also, we are at 22 delivered and 3 undeliverable, and this is the last part of our task.

"This has a very good chance to be troublesome." Iovia warns the group. "It should have been clear to the person who got the lamp that it was not meant for them, and it would have been very simple in the weeks since it was delivered for them to walk it down the street and give it to its proper recipient. But, they did not."

"While that could be simple greed, there might be underlying issues between the families that are involved in this mixup. Violence is clearly not a tool we can use here at all. Hopefully, negotiation will solve the problem, but I would not surprised if there was a large degree of stubbornness involved here. After all, effectively the lamp was stolen and yet it is being displayed openly. Let us be ready for difficult negotiations."

Shall we just land in front of the house that got the lamp and start chatting with the homeowners?

"Agreed violence is out." A nod "We should talk to both parties involved if we can."

"Indeed, perhaps there ARE people in Nantambu who are more like Nexians than I thought. I've spoken with a FEW wizards who'd openly display another wizard's ill-gotten property as a way of mocking their rival."

Za Minyahil shakes their head.

"I imagine we may want to split up and engage simultaneously. That way we cannot be accused of favoring one or the other, and prompting one party to refuse to speak to us after they've heard of us speaking to the other."

"I don't see the one with the lamp as a thief, but let's see how this goes."

"Ntuni has a point. Perhaps they have confused a mistake with good fortune or some such. We need the whole story before we use the term thief I think. Regardless, I am fine with Za Minyahil's plan of speaking to both."

How do you split up? Who goes to which party? And who does the speaking for each subgroup?

"Miss Anzaga, and Mister Banashee, if I received a gift from my family and someone mistakenly delivered it to you, and you chose rather than walk down to the hall to bring it to me, to instead keep my gift, and openly display it, how would you not be a thief? I do not see the logic there at all." Iovia asks.

"I also do not see the need to talk to both 'parties.' Students from our school made a mistake. There is no one to favor. The package was not properly delivered, and the lamp needs to be returned to the person it belongs to. Again, if something was supposed to go to one of you, and it came to me, and for whatever reason I kept it, how you would feel if you were interrogated about it as if it was your fault that something was taken from you."

"There is no ambiguity here. We have all the salient facts already. The whole story is that the lamp was not properly delivered, and we need to fix that error, even though it was not our error."

Iovia will go to the house where the lamp is. I'm willing to speak for the group that goes there, depending on who goes there.

M'baba goes with Iovia. He is silent, daydreaming about stealing the lamp and not talking to the inhabitants, but would never express such thoughts out loud.

Ikto listens to Iovia's reasoning, "I cannot dispute your logic, but not everyone lives by reason. And I don't want to burn a bridge before we cross it. I'll talk to the person it was intended to, if nothing else than to apologize on behalf of the school we represent." Ikto goes to the house that the lamp was meant to go to.

Ikto leads part of the group of initiates to the home where the package was originally intended. There they meet the lady of the house Ndidi, who is quite put out over the whole affair. "My grandmam sent me this lamp, and that crazy lady down the road thinks its hers now. I asked for it back and she say, 'If the Magaambya give to me, then it is meant to be mine. Those magic ones know more than they let on, and who I am to go against their wishes. They don't make mistakes no-how'. That's crazy, she just wants to steal my property...I am about a day away from going in there and taking it back by force!"

At the wrongly delivered house, Iovia leads the rest in discovering that lady of this house, one Jatia, does indeed feel that the lamp in question, which is indeed quite lovely, no belongs to her by rights. 'Maybe it was not meant to come to me, but come to me it did. The Magaambya are very wise and they don't make simple mistakes. They are just ensuring the lamp finds a happy home, not with that harpy down the street. They are so smart to send the lamp to my house!"

Ikto leads part of the group of initiates to the home where the package was originally intended. There they meet the lady of the house Ndidi, who is quite put out over the whole affair. "My grandmam sent me this lamp, and that crazy lady down the road thinks its hers now. I asked for it back and she say, 'If the Magaambya give to me, then it is meant to be mine. Those magic ones know more than they let on, and who I am to go against their wishes. They don't make mistakes no-how'. That's crazy, she just wants to steal my property...I am about a day away from going in there and taking it back by force!"

"First, let me apologize on behalf of the school. It is quite the mistake and we understand your grandmam and you have a right to be angry," Ikto is sincerely sympathetic "But please, let us not escalate this with violence. Tell me more of this neighbor of yours? You say she is crazy, but is there anything you know about her we can use to sway her without violence? "

Za Minyahil follows Iovia to visit Jatia and upon hearing her "reasoning" they pinch the bridge of their nose in annoyance.

Ndidi seems at her wits' end with the situation, but tries to remain calm. "Thank you for the apology, but I just want my property back. How it got lost isn't' the issue. Jatia had been a good neighbor till now, but she has this idea that the wizards at Magaambya wanted her to have this lamp, and she is sticking to it. Deranged and mule-headed is all you need to know."

Ndidi seems at her wits' end with the situation, but tries to remain calm. "Thank you for the apology, but I just want my property back. How it got lost isn't' the issue. Jatia had been a good neighbor till now, but she has this idea that the wizards at Magaambya wanted her to have this lamp, and she is sticking to it. Deranged and mule-headed is all you need to know."

"So she truly does NOT see it as theft? Amazing. The Magaaambya is a good school with many people of fine character, but not even our greatest professors never make a mistake. I will try to find a way around this. If she is stubborn as you say it may take a bit but I have peers working on this right now and I'll go to join them. Thank you."

Ikto makes his way towards the group with Jatia seeing they are already talking.

Za Minyahil regains their composure and speaks.

"Madam Jatia, the people from the Magaambya who delivered this to you were Initiates like us. New students who are only beginning to learn the ways of magic and nowhere near as wise as you believe. Indeed, making mistakes is one of the most important ways to learn, as we have learned from our recent trials since being accepted. This delivery was not a task handed down from High Sun-Mage Oyamba himself in a divination. It was a group of Initiates performing work for the community misreading an address."

Jatia seems unmoved. "But the masters must have known the initiates would make a mistake, therefore the results of that mistake (if that's what it indeed was) were intended by them. Either way, they sent me this fine lamp, and I intend to keep it." She does not seem upset or really troubled in any way, just matter of fact and secure in her logic and rightness.

If you want to try to change her mind, let me know the skill and modifier you wish to use and I will roll the secret check.

M'baba starts to grow impatient with the woman's reasoning. The group already claimed it's a mistake, but she won't believe it? He says "Madam, would it be possible to trade this lamp? Perhaps another of similar shape?"

"Tlehar teaches us that we are to cherish every gift given to us by a loved one. Miss Ndidi, who is your neighbor, was sent that by her grandmother. By keeping the lamp, you are denying Miss Ndidi the ability to cherish a gift made for her by a member of her family. Is that the sort of neighbor that you want to be, Miss Jatia?"

Iovia pauses for a moment. "I am Chelaxian. My people are not known to be good neighbors or be community-minded. The people of Nantambu and many people in the Expanse are the opposite of my own. Your people value your communities, and the friendships that are part of them. I endeavor to be more like your people, and it would sadden me if you were choosing to be more like mine."

"Even if you choose to not believe the truth that fellow students of ours made a simple mistake, returning the lamp is the right thing to do. Do the right thing, Miss Jatia, and show by your actions that you value your community."

Iovia curtsies to Jatia as she finishes her plea.

I'd like to use Society (and it's +5) for a role, to emphasize the community aspect of the city. Diplomacy is a zero if I can't use Society.

"Miss Anzaga, and Mister Banashee, if I received a gift from my family and someone mistakenly delivered it to you, and you chose rather than walk down to the hall to bring it to me, to instead keep my gift, and openly display it, how would you not be a thief? I do not see the logic there at all." Iovia asks.

"I also do not see the need to talk to both 'parties.' Students from our school made a mistake. There is no one to favor. The package was not properly delivered, and the lamp needs to be returned to the person it belongs to. Again, if something was supposed to go to one of you, and it came to me, and for whatever reason I kept it, how you would feel if you were interrogated about it as if it was your fault that something was taken from you."

"There is no ambiguity here. We have all the salient facts already. The whole story is that the lamp was not properly delivered, and we need to fix that error, even though it was not our error."

"If that happened, I would still not be a thief, just an ass, but anyway, we do not need to agree." She replies to Iovia, going to the other house.

---

By talking to Jatia, Ntuni realizes she is indeed an ass. "Considering the masters of the Maagambia are indeed wise and perfect in their foresaw, they now have sent us here to your house in order to retrieve the lamp and hand it over to your neighbor." She adds, using the woman's own logic. "Refusing our plea at this moment would be the same as refusing the wise mages who sent us."

Ikto looks back and forth not sure how he can help. I have been too indecisive of late. He glances to their bard, hoping she might also try to sway the stubborn woman.

Nyandra looks askance at the whole situation, a bit too abashed to try to intervene herself. When Ikto looks to her she bits her lip, shrugs and starts in with Jatia.

She tries to convince her to listen to good sense and to follow the logic that Ntuni shares about the masters new wishes. She pours on the charm and appeals the good nature of Nantambu citizens and every trick she can think of.

But alas, at the end of the monologue Jatia bows politely and says, "I appreciate all that you say -- you are very wise. But, this lamp is mine, and I don't wish to part with it. I am sure you understand."

Iovia's calling on her civic duty doesn't phase Jatia at all.

She tells M'baba, "Maybe Ndidi would like a similar lamp. I have this one after all, so why would I want another? She is the one looking for a new lamp, is she not?"

Ikto sees her stubbornness, and has an idea, so he mutters to M'Baba but loud enough for Jatia to hear "Well, we can't take the curse off it while it is in her possession. A pity. Seven whole generations."

Ikto is not good at deception, he is hoping M'Baba might be.

Deception untrained at +1 for Charisma to AID M'Baba's roll if goes along with it ;)

This is only said if Ikto's gambit fails.

"Well, as you will not see reason, we have no choice except to allow you to keep your stolen lamp. However, we have the obligation to let all of your neighbors know that you are a thief. As I understand it, in Nantambu, the community polices itself, so we will inform your neighbors of your action, and then let them decide what, if any, actions need to be taken."

If the lamp is not returned, Iovia will indeed inform the nearby homes of Jatia's actions, and then return to her bird for the flight back to campus.

I am loving the exercise in theoretical neighborhood. All in all, I think Ntuni's argument would be the best, however, it would be Diplomacy which is already rolled.

M'baba plays along in Ikto's gambit and whispers back "That's true, but if you remember the professor's words, this is exactly the situation when the curse is amplified. And we can't predict what's going to set it off..."

Let's go with a +4 Deception.

In case this fails, we go with Iovia, which smells like Intimidation.

After Iovia says her warning, M'baba rubs his temples and looks genuinely saddened before saying "Additionally, if they come to us for help, the next time we knock will not be so friendly."

Intim is also +4

M'baba plays along in Ikto's gambit and whispers back "That's true, but if you remember the professor's words, this is exactly the situation when the curse is amplified. And we can't predict what's going to set it off..."

"Only a matter of time, a veritable powderkeg." He tries to look concerned as he let's M'Baba take lead as the better actor

Ikto's Aid roll is critical fail which subtracts from the effort that M'Baba has. You are very close to a success on the Deception. Do you want to use a Hero Point here to reroll the check for Ikto?

Yes, please!

M'Baba and Ikto tag team to deceive the stubborn Jatia by telling her the lamp is cursed, and failing to give it up when asked only deepens the curse. Ikto almost bursts out laughing and ruining the whole ploy, but he is able to bite his tongue, and while he doesn't really help, he doesn't really hurt either.

M'baba can be charismatic (when Esi is not around) and is able to dupe the poor woman, who looks skeptically at first, but eventually agrees to give up the lamp that, despite her protests, doesn't' really belong to her.

The group of initiates is able to triumphantly deliver the lamp back to a very thankful Ndidi, who promises to bring fresh dates to the Magaambya every day in the fall when the harvest is ready as a means of thanks.

Is there anything else you want to do or say to these villagers before you head back to the school?

Ikto Reroll Aid Deception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

M'baba is thankful for a job well done and is ready to return to the school grounds.

Iovia waits until they are out of the area, to not give anything away, before giving Ikto and M'baba a smile! "Excellent job, both of you."

The group of initiates is able to triumphantly deliver the lamp back to a very thankful Ndidi, who promises to bring fresh dates to the Magaambya every day in the fall when the harvest is ready as a means of thanks.

"Most kind of you. Again, we are very sorry about the mistake. We will let the school know to be extra careful of deliveries here in the future given... Jatia's unusual beliefs." He tries to be nice about it, at least while still near Ndidi then makes his farewell with the others.

I think that's it
..........

Iovia waits until they are out of the area, to not give anything away, before giving Ikto and M'baba a smile! "Excellent job, both of you."

Now that they are away, Ikto laughs in his deep tones with embarrassment, "I think M'Baba deserves the praise. He was very controlled. I almost laughed and ruined the whole thing. I don't like that we had to lie, but at the moment it seemed almost fitting because the woman was lying to herself."

Za Minyahil watches the conversation unfold and excuses themselves from Jatia's house before their grimacing gives the game away. They breathe a sigh of relief when the lamp is recovered and they bow to Ndidi when it is safely returned.

"Thank you for your kindness Miss Ndidi. I'm glad we were able to resolve this for you quickly and smoothly. If Jatia asks about any curses, inform her that returning it to its rightful owner lifted it."

As they return to the Magaambya, Za Minyahil frowns for a moment. "That was a farce to begin with, and we very nearly made it worse," they comment to the other initiates. "We were very, VERY lucky."

Za Minyahil watches the conversation unfold and excuses themselves from Jatia's house before their grimacing gives the game away. They breathe a sigh of relief when the lamp is recovered and they bow to Ndidi when it is safely returned.

"Thank you for your kindness Miss Ndidi. I'm glad we were able to resolve this for you quickly and smoothly. If Jatia asks about any curses, inform her that returning it to its rightful owner lifted it."

As they return to the Magaambya, Za Minyahil frowns for a moment. "That was a farce to begin with, and we very nearly made it worse," they comment to the other initiates. "We were very, VERY lucky."

"You don't approve of the lie?" Ikto asks Them. He respects Za Minyahil and wonders if he's lost their respect, "Was I wrong to suggest it?"

"No, it's not that," Za Minyahil replies. "I just...feel that it only worked because she very much wanted to believe her own lies about the Magaambya. If we're going to do that more often, then we'll want to get better at it, or it'll blow up in our faces."

At that, Ikto nods "Yes, Lucky, as you said. We were. But while we cannot rely on luck all the time, I am grateful when it works our way. I will work on such though I hope I never use it too selfishly."
They're right. Given who and what I am, I should learn deception's practices to some degree.

With the lamp returned and the last possible mail task complete, the group of initiates fly the elephant birds back the Magaambya, happy but cold and wet in the steady falling rain and quickly fading sunlight.

When you get back to the Spire Dormitory, Tzeniwe serves you hot ginger beer to help you shrug off the rain. Ignaci thanks you for your assistance and says, "Tomorrow morning, same time and place. There will be on more assignment, this one from the Uzunjati branch. Okoro and Noxolo will lead you then. You did well today in tough circumstances!"

You are then left on your own for the remains of the day, which is mostly dinner then resting time.

You earn 10xp for each descriptive and illegible address item delivered. I believe that totals 70. Then you also earn 30 xp for each deity missive and the lamp situation for an additional 120xp. The total then is 190. Cumulative totals are 940/1000 -- starting thinking about level 2!

You have the rest of the evening if you have any things to play out otherwise we will move on to the next day.

M'baba is too deep in thought to join in the conversation about the merits and pitfalls of the lie they just used. To him, the matter is settled, it's a means to an end. This makes him follow a string of thought about ends justifying the means or not. When he realizes where he is, they've already returned to the school grounds.

He bids the others goodbye and tries to find Esi.

We can spoiler this part to not clutter the game, if you like GM.

When you get back to the Spire Dormitory, Tzeniwe serves you hot ginger beer to help you shrug off the rain. Ignaci thanks you for your assistance and says, "Tomorrow morning, same time and place. There will be on more assignment, this one from the Uzunjati branch. Okoro and Noxolo will lead you then. You did well today in tough circumstances!"

"Thank you for the drink, Tzeniwe, and thank you for the praise, Ignaci," Ikto takes a drink and sips with soft delight, "The Emerald Boughs mission , with the exception of one woman, was pleasant enough. Flight on the birds was wonderful. I must tell you that any future deliveries near Jatia bear extra care. It would appear the woman thinks anything sent to her house, even by mistake, is MEANT to be hers. We had to play a ruse to get her to loosen her grip."

He doesn't want to have this happening again to some future set of initiates.

Only one Branch remains and then there will be a choosing. It should be ... interesting.

While he does not want to be a pest, he does see if Tzeniwe is available for a private talk before then. SO many questions.

Which can also be in spoilers if you like, GM

Iovia has no issues at all with how the mission was accomplished. "We told her the truth, and she did not believe us. In this case, deception was warranted to ensure the return of the lamp.". It might not be the greatest of shocks that a former revolutionary is fine with lying when needed.

Back at campus, she has the warm ginger beer, then goes to take a bath. After dinner, she spends the rest of the night in the common socializing with any student there.

Ignaci says, "The Emerald Boughs gather information, and here you have returned successfully from a difficult encounter, but you also learned something -- Jatia is strange about the mail -- and shared it for the good of the group. This is true Emerald Bough behavior. Well done!"

After being dismissed, M'Baba understands the Esi is studying in her room.

Tzeniwe is more than happy to spend a few moments speaking to Ikto, though her small, 8-legged offspring still cling to her in various ways.

Feel free to offer up spoilers for these private conversations. I am likely to move the clock forward at next post, but we can be a bit asynchronous with the spoilers if you'd like.