GM TOP #0-14: The Many Fortunes of Grandmaster Torch (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

Jarlaxle remains oblivious outside the market, studiously guarding the party's weapons.

Iladora is here for the food stands near the others for backup but says nothing.

Diplo Aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 Shannon tries REALLY HARD to explain how dangerous the statue, or the three giant centipedes it could summon, is.

As Bobbie blurts out the honest truth, the merchant’s eyes narrow and he starts to motion to his guards…

…but Corba quickly smooths things over, explaining the urgency and rational reasons as to why the statue is dangerous. As well as to why the pathfinders should be responsible for a stolen item instead of this dude or the rightful government. She makes a solid case, at least.

He thinks for a moment and replies, ”Ok, maybe it is dangerous. But there won’t be any magic here, so that won’t be a concern. But it makes sense for me to get rid of it. Why should that be you?”

You have improved his attitude, congrats! However, now you need another Diplomacy check to convince him to turn over the statue. Good luck. Anyone there can attempt to Aid Corba.

diplomacy aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

Tusk if feeling real honest, just like Corba.

"Cause ifn' ya don't, we gonna thump ya real hard and take in anyways."

He is not trying to intimidate them, and his voice is matter of fact. More like a person presenting a reasonable argument, because we all know how reasonable Tusk is. I'm sure they can sense it too.

Diplo Aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

The bard quickly grabs her bullhorn and yells at the mouthy half-orc:

"TUSK! This is NOT how we talk with civilized people who are just having a nice conversation!"

Corba sighs and bows.

"I'm really sorry. He still has much to learn about diplomacy... where were we? Ah, yes. First of all, I want to thank you for believing us. As for your question: One, the item is really dangerous. Two, it's stolen property and we are here to retrieve it. If I were you I'd insist I get my money back from To- ...uh, the seller who knowingly made an illegal trade! Three, as a sign of good faith I offer you a reward of 10 gp for being civil and cooperating with us. So, what do you think?"

Perform: Oratory: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16 (add +1 trait bonus on Diplomacy and Sense Motive checks)

Using Versatile Performance to substitute for Diplomacy to convince the merchant to give the statue to us. @GM: Does this specific situation also grant the +2 circumstance bonus from the Bullhorn? If yes, please add it, too.

Oh, come on, dicebot! >:-( Sorry, guys, I already used my boardgame reroll... ;-( Has anyone a reroll left that you can give to someone else? (e.g. campaign coin)

With the two aids and the bullhorn bonus the result would be 23 (maybe we'll get a bonus for the bribe reward, too).

Also, I was going to pay the whole bribe out of Corba's pocket as I did not ask you if you want to offer it.

"How is selling stolen property less dangerous than handing it over to the proper authorities?" Bobbie raises an eyebrow.

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

Diplomacy (Aid Another): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15

"Why shouldn't it be us? We're here, now, and you'd need to spend no further effort getting rid of it."

Bobbie’s and Iladora’s arguments are enough to finally sway the merchant. He starts digging under his counter, ”Yeah I guess so. Honestly I think maybe it’s just better to cut my losses before more trouble arrives. Why I just heard a band of rabid murdering thugs just attacked a merchant in the market square. They summoned some giant insects and tied a guy up before dragging him off to who knows where.”

He pulls out an idol shaped linen wrapped package and trades it to Corba for her gold.

He says loudly, ”There you go Miss, thanks for your business. Remember me for all your spice needs!”

Where/What next?

That's the last one, right? If so, we could report back to the VC now?

That is the last one.

Bobbie’s and Iladora’s arguments are enough to finally sway the merchant. He starts digging under his counter, ”Yeah I guess so. Honestly I think maybe it’s just better to cut my losses before more trouble arrives. Why I just heard a band of rabid murdering thugs just attacked a merchant in the market square. They summoned some giant insects and tied a guy up before dragging him off to who knows where.”

He pulls out an idol shaped linen wrapped package and trades it to Corba for her gold.

He says loudly, ”There you go Miss, thanks for your business. Remember me for all your spice needs!”

Where/What next?

Bobbie manages to keep a straight face. "You can never be too careful," she nods.

Hopefully this will never reach the ears of Iomedaean church. She'd have to do penance for that. The prospect was not pleasant.

Tusk is not at all sure why the 'I'll beat the crap out of you if you don't give it to us' approach was such a bad idea, but the end result was the same so he shrugs.

"Thank you again for being reasonable. I'll remember you if I need any spices!"

Let's pick up Jarlaxle and our weapons and head back to the VC.

I agree.

The pathfinders collect the idol and head back quickly before anyone recognizes them in the market area from their other shenanigans. Making it safely into the city proper Corba casts detect magic on the idol and… they wisely carry it without casting any spells.

They return to the VC’s location and do a quick debrief. As they get ready to wrap things up, a courier arrives with a note from Grandmaster Torch. The note courteously invites them to dine with him this evening. The VC shrugs, ”Go if you wish, don’t if you don’t want to. Your mission here is done.”

Tusk rather likes the practical and ruthless nature of the man.

"Yea, I'm gonna go."

Jarlaxle shrugs.

"Free food is free food."

He still casts Delay Poison before hand, just in case.

""Free food is free food indeed." Shannon joins Jarlaxle

"Maybe this is the way he wants to make amends? I'll go!"

Corba naively tries to see good in everyone.

"I don't see why we should." Bobbie is not at all eager to go.

Iladora shakes her head curtly. "If Torch is really behind all this, there's little to gain and much to lose by indulging him. I will decline."

Bobbie and Iladora choose to go out to a nice brew pub down the street.

The rest of the crew head to the dinner reservations. They are shown to a private room in the back of a very swanky restaurant. Grandmaster Torch is there (along with quite a few bodyguards). He bids you all welcome and to have a seat. In between plates of sumptuous food he carries on the conversation.

”I heard through the grapevine that there was some commotion in the markets today, how did your mission go? Was my information good?”

Jarlaxle nods.

"Your advice was certainly accurate... as one would expect, considering that several of them claimed you sold the statues to them. However, I consider that to be water under the bridge."

He gives a Cheshire grin, ”Oh really? I’m sure they would say anything to shift blame off themselves. Which ones said this?”

Jarlaxle smirks.

"As you have quite rightly noted earlier today, information is currency. I was willing to give a taste for free, but anything more concrete will attract a cost."

He then delicately returns to eating.

He gives a very genuine smile, ”Excellent! A man after my own heart. No matter, it’s worth it enough to just know what is being said. How is the roast shocker lizard? I think it has a nice tingle, though that may be in my head.”

"I can honestly say that it is not something that I have ever tried before. Raising them commercially must be quite the hassle."

Nonetheless, he makes a show of savoring it.

"Gotta say, I like your style. Good eatin's," he says as he shakes extra salt on it.

He nods appreciatively at Tusk and then offers to Jarlaxle, ”Sylph run compound out in the desert raises them, or so I am told. That could just be bull though. Probably just snake meat. But it’s a fun possibility.”

Now I want to make a Sylph Druid or Hunter with one…

Jarlaxle.

"Even if it is a total fabrication, as long as they sell the dream well enough, it makes for an entertaining possibility."

For once, Corba does listen to ghe conversation instead of blurting out what's in her head. She enjoys the free food and lets others do the talking.

What are Torch's motives to invite us? Does he want to know what we know? Of course, but besides that...?

Perform: Oratory: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16 (+1 on Diplomacy, and Sense Motive)

Versatile Performance: Sense Motive

Corba isn’t sure why GMT has them here, but then he blatantly tells the group, ”Anyway, I am glad you enjoyed the meal. And it’s been good getting to know you all a bit. I just want to make sure you all didn’t mention my name as the source of information for where and who had the idols.”

Jarlaxle carefully replies:

"I certainly have not done so."

"Does it matter? 'Twas a great plan, yaknow? Ya should be a proud of it an' not wanna hide it at all. Da folks as would cause problem's paid fer da stuff, but never got ta keep em, so ho harm done. An you made out like a prince. Only thing I don' like was dat I hadta pay myself for the info. Good experience and teachin' though."

You can almost hear the gears grinding in his brain as he pauses and says,

"Say, hows about you pay me to keep real quiet like 'bout all this ifn its so 'portant to ya?"

He smiles big, ”Oh I don’t think so. I think it is quite mutually beneficial that neither of us outs the other. There are a lot of people looking for the group responsible for the market chaos today.”

"Don't bother me none. I done be spoiling for 'nother fight."

Bobbie ends up drinking an ale at a local inn with Iladora. It tastes different from the one she's used to - she discovers that she is no great fan of dates -, but it does the job. "So. Any plans after this?" she takes another sip of heneqet, and winces. No, definitely not a great fan of dates.

Iladora shrugs. "Wait for the next summons, I suppose. One that hopefully is less... objectionable. In the meantime I have some training to do-- if I'm to keep up with you." She gives Bobbie what she hopes is a playful smile. "What about you?"

"Ah, stop pulling my leg," Bobbie retorts - though with a smile. "You can more than hold your ground."

"I'll settle an old debt," the fighter scrunches her face. "With a dragon, if you can believe it."

"I'm getting tired of owing money to people. Well, what passes for people."

He smiles big, ”Oh I don’t think so. I think it is quite mutually beneficial that neither of us outs the other. There are a lot of people looking for the group responsible for the market chaos today.”

”I had the very same thought. You're absolutely right, it is mutually beneficial that neither of us outs the other.”