[ACO] PF2e - Q21 Infernal Infiltration (P5)

Game Master UncleFroggy

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Your adventure begins as you are led into a somewhat damaged shop. Discarded papers and debris have mostly been cleaned up, but the location has clearly been burglarized. As you are taken into the backrooms, you find several chairs positioned around a table.

"Would you like coffee, tea or any other refreshing beverage? Immaculate-Weaving-Under-Moonlight Nairaba and Kitsch will be with you shortly."

Please introduce yourselves

rest, soldiers. You can sit down.

The steady blue skinned hobgoblin with bold head and beady eyes looks at his new troops hoping to have got good ones for the mission.

Well, my name's Horul.

Wearing a chain mail and carrying a breaching pike with a weapon siphon the alchemist answers the question.

I would take a cup of tea with a smoke of milk please.

A dwarf enters the room, his skin is tan, his eyes a bright brown, the hair circling the bald top of his head are a mix of golden brown and pale grey. He's shorter than most dwarves, but stockier. The most peculiar trait of his person is however the noticeable lack of any kind of facial hair.

"Good day" he says to everyone with a deep voice and calm tone, "I am Khufu, I am honored to work with you all."

He bows, then turns to the guest, "I would take the tea, thank you."

A curly-haired half-elf with fiery red locks grins as she looks around at the burglarized room. Her worn, clearly secondhand leather armor creaks as she leans back in her seat.

"Ach, they really worked ye over good, didn' they?" she quips, smiling at the host.

Sure, I'd go fer a cuppa tea as well, love. No milk fer me, though. The half-elf nods in thanks to the host, before taking a look at the others in the room.

Happy tae be workin with all o' ye. 'Names Harper. Harper Ruaridh. Fair warning: This'll be my firs' job, but I promise I won' be dead weight!

Though the young greenhorn is clearly doing her best to seem confident at ease, there's an obvious tenseness in her shoulders as she sits with the group, and her knee is bouncing rapidly as she pulls her shortbow off her back and begins to idly inspect it.

Magnus is a typically-built gnome, with wide eyes that take in much. He looks askance at the mess in the room, and spends a few moments sizing up the others assigned to this mission. A raven sits primly on the gnome's shoulder, and staff made of strange pink-orange wood is held in his small hand.

"I am Magnus, this is Nevermore. I find myself in the same unenviable position as our Aluvarin friend, Harper. It is also my first Pathfinder mission, but hopefully not my last." He breaks into a grin, a bit tickled at his own "humor", but then sees no one else seems to be laughing.

"What happenstance has caused this circumstance?" he asks the group, motioning to the evidence of burglary in the chamber.

I'll let Gemma retcon their intro

After a few minutes, a Mwangi man and an ysoki woman enter the room. The well-dressed man begins speaking immediately. "Hello Pathfinders! I’m Immaculate-Weaving- Under-Moonlight Nairaba, head of Procurement for the Society, and this is my counterpart, Kitsch, head of Supplies. We’re extremely sorry you’ve gotten pulled into this situation on short notice, but we have a bit of a problem, and we could use your help to resolve it. You see, while we were trying to set up trade with Ravounel, some extremely rude individuals calling themselves The Silver Devils decided to barge their way in here and wreck everything. They took some gold and a few valuables, but they’ve also stolen something whose true value they probably don’t know."

Her expression serious, Kitsch speaks up. "We suspect they stole it on accident, but what they got is a cipher that contains a lot of very important information. Society business partners, trade arrangements, shipping routes, and even all known entrances to the Maze of the Open Road. This could be extremely dangerous; if that cipher is decoded, especially by Chelaxian intelligence, the Pathfinder Society in the region could begin to suffer ‘setbacks’ and ‘accidents’ across the board. Obviously, we’d strongly prefer that this not happen. These Silver Devils clearly have ties to Cheliax."

"So, to get to the heart of the matter," Nairaba says, "we really need that cipher back. We’d like you to sneak into the enemy hideout, which we’ve discovered is in a cluster of buildings near the Salt Gate of Old Kintargo, and get it back."

Kitsch straightens up, lightly waving a hand to draw the attention back to herself. "I’d like to point something out. Based on our inquiries, the Silver Council is the best thing to happen to Kintargo since its founding, and these Silver Devils are a violent reactionary force looking to drag Ravounel back into the darkness of Chelaxian rule. While we wish for the cipher to be recovered successfully, please destroy it if you have no other choice. Our priority is that it not fall into the hands of Chelaxian spies, as Cheliax is likely to use it to cause problems not just for us, but for Kintargo and all Ravounel. We really don’t want to tip the Devils off and let them know that they’ve managed to get their hands on something valuable. Caution is our best bet—after all, if they learn we’re desperate to get it back, they might just go to ground with it."

"Insofar as we’ve been advised, the cipher was being updated with information regarding contacts in Kintargo who wish to do other business with the Procurement and Supplies Division, which as you might understand is very important. Operating within this area is still rife with a certain amount of danger due to Chelaxian interference, so we keep those records secret. It just happened to be here at the wrong time."

"We have a few contacts who might enable you to infiltrate the location, and we’d prefer if you kept force to a minimum. The more force we bring to bear, after all, the more important the information may be deemed. Besides, the thieves are likely to bolt while a battle is being fought. If this information goes to ground, we might be unable to find it again, or it could just be turned directly over to Chelaxian intelligence. As we’ve said, we’d really prefer to avoid that."

Kitsch speaks up, "Should be a sealed tube, like a scroll case made of metal. A locked latch holds it closed, and it has a tiny emerald embedded at the top to help us keep track of it in the event it gets mixed in with other scrolls."

Harper drums her fingers on her bow as she contemplates the situation.

Alrigh', so ye want us tae break into the Silver Devils' hideout an' get back a metal scroll box with a green emerald embedded intae it?

She nods in thought, her leg bouncing with nervous tension.

Migh' be good tae have ye put us intae contact with some of those contacts ye mentioned. Maybe somebody who can tell us abou' the layout 'round the Salt Gate?

Understood. So we have to find out clues to infiltrate the hideout and take the scroll box.

The hobgoblin looks at his troops to see if they have right understood as well.

Gemma I the last woman to arrive, typically unlike her. Still, her military training tells her to calmly walk in and not make a fuss, which she does, pulling up a chair. She quickly waves off a kindly soul who comes to offer her a drink, instead watching with rapt, curious eyes as the man and the ysoki speak.

She sits straight in her chair, brown eyes seeming to capture the whole room, taking in the layout. She's clearly looking for entrances and exits, any possible signs of danger. She keeps one relaxed hand near the short sword on her hip, a javelin strung across her shoulder.

As the two officers finish speaking, Gemma raises her hand. When it is her turn to speak, she stands briskly. In a soft, melodious voice, she offers "Gemma Victorious, first time agent. Do we know anything about the capabilities of the Silver Devils? How many they number, known members, strengths, weaknesses?"

She pauses. "The more we know about them, the more it may help us think like them, to steal this back."

Finished speaking, she sits back down.

"The task you set before us seems straightforward enough. What's the catch?"

Magnus, who has studied cartography almost as much as he has studied magic, understands where Kintargo is, but he tries to recall any more valuable tidbits to share with the others about the politics of that place and the tenuous situation in Ravounel. Perhaps he has heard of the Silver Devils before?

Recall Knowledge please. Society might be the most relevant and it is +7

Khufu, please change the macros -- you're still listed as Feiya :)

Gemma nods, a thought coming into her brain- and not one she likes. “I might assume that if the Silver Devils are working to restore Cheliaxian rule in Kintargo, that they may have a Chelaxian agent working with them. We should prepare for that eventuality.”.

She eyes some of the more experienced pathfinders. “If this is the case, what should we plan for?” she asks, hoping for some guidance for the more experienced.

Harper shrugs as Gemma glances at her.

Don' look at me, hen. Have nae dealt with Cheliaxian's before.

She looks to Immaculate-Weaving-Under-Moonlight Nairaba.

Ye mentioned some contacts? Mind introducin' us? Or givin' us a name an' a place?

Oops. I thought I posted the follow-on. Stand by...

The urgency of getting the cipher back severely restricts the time available to prepare. You have until sunset, thereby limiting you to only a couple of preparation tasks apiece.

You may each attempt 2 activities. There is no penalty for more than one PC attempting the same activity; however, any individual PC cannot attempt the same activity twice. You may, of course, come up with your own creative way of gathering intel or preparing for this mission.

Harper stands, slinging her bow across her shoulders and stretching.

Righ', I think I'm goin' tae scout around the warehouse district fer a bit, see if I cannae find summat interestin'. Anyone wants tae join me they're more'n welcome! Come nighttime I'll hit the pubs 'round the Salt Gate, grab a pint or two an' see if there's a lad willin' tae spill about the Silver Devils.

Harper will do the "Scout the Warehouses" and "Gossip" activities.

"I will accompany you, young lady. I am not accustomed to being a liar, I will gather information and scout the buildings."

Khufu too will engage in the Gossip and Scout the Warehouse activities.

I'll go with you to the warehouse. I can let you go there alone. It's too dangerous.

Then he will try to infiltrate the gang.

Scout the warehouse and New recruits

Gemma nods. “I too, can see what information I can gather. However, rather than scour the clubs for any information, perhaps I’ll see if any of the local military academy students have heard anything. After all, as a recent graduate myself, I’ll blend in better with them than I would a bar.

After a moment, she asks “Perhaps involving the other gang could be helpful as well. As long as we ensure they think we are only after the Silver Devils for revenge, without giving away that anything valuable went missing.”

Gossip and Involve a Rival

Magnus will tag along with Gemma and work the same two tactics, Gossip and Involve a Rival.

"While Gemma works military contacts, I will peruse any magical schools, shops, or experts to see what can be gleaned. If there are gnomes inhabiting this place, all the better!"

"I will attend the meeting with the rival gang as well, Gemma. We don't want to tip our hand too far, or have anything untoward happen to us, so a team approach may be better."

Activities reposted with skill/DCs

Harper Ruaridh's Stealth (T): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Sneak around the area without being noticed to scout.

Harper Ruaridh's Diplomacy (U): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16 Asking around town for information.

Magnus tries to remember his briefings about the Silver Devils prior to the mission. Later, when he and Gemma get in front of the rival gang, the Burning Daggers, the gnome tries hard to convince them how it is in their best interest to move against the Silver Devils now. He slips a gold coin across the table to get his point across

DC13 Society to Recall Knowledge on Silver Devils: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 narrow success
DC17 Diplomacy to make an impression, bribe: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 16 barely failure

The hobgoblin goes to scout around the warehouse.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Then he tries to infiltrate the gang.

Athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Gossip:
Diplomacy (DC 15): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Scout the Warehouses:
Perception (DC 13): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Gossip: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Involve a Rival, Intimidation: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Harper learns of several structures in the gang’s territory that seem worth investigating.

You regroup back at the shop to compare notes. Night falls and you begin the infiltration.

* The Infiltration consists of a series of Obstacles that you need to overcome.
* Each PC can attempt a given Obstacle once.
* To pass group obstacles, anyone may roll the check. Success counts towards the number of group successes needed.
* For individtual obstacles, each player must succeed to pass the obstacles.
* Skill checks earn successes as follows: CS/S - +2/+1
* Awareness Points (AP) are accumulated as follows: F/CF - +1/+2
* Failures don't reduce the number of successes. They cause additional complications that the party would need to resolve.
* Edge Points may be used to convert a Fail/Crit Fail to a success

The Silver Devils’ main base is almost directly on the water, making entering over the river viable. The Pathfinders can hire a boat to cross the water.

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TRACKER
Round: n/a
Obstacle: WATERY ENTRANCE

Skills:
DC 12 Survival
DC 14 Diplomacy/Perception to hire a boat

Special: tipping the sculler 2gp gets a +2 bonus to your check

Successes: 0/2 (Group)
Awareness Points (Bad):
Edge Points: 6
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Horul
**Khufu
**Gemma Victorius
**Harper Ruaridh
**Magnus Whizzbang

As night falls, Harper makes her way along with several others in the party to the waterside, ready to look for a way across the water to more easily infiltrate the Silver Devils' main base.

Righ', I think I might be able tae find us a safe spot ta swim across, if we want? Horul, I ken ye managed tae get invited to their headquarters, did ye want tae try enterin' that way, otherwise? Wonder how they'd react if ye brough' friends with you... Probably poorly, I'd imagine.

Gemma smiles and nods along with Harper’s suggestion. “I’d be happy to swim across, but I’m not certain that’s the most stealthy option. Still, if you can find a good spot, I’d rather the attempt then try to bribe someone around here.”

"I may try to find a person who could lend us a vessel to traverse the waters" says the dwarf calmly, "but swimming should not pose a problem for me."

Well they want me to get involved in their organization. But each clue we got will help us to infiltrate their lair.

We have to roll I think

I'll see if I cannae spot a decent crossing fer us, then. Harper walks up and down the riverbank, occasionally testing the water to see if the current is slower or the depth lower in certain parts of the wide river.

Survival check for crossing river Harper Ruaridh's Survival (T): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Gemma doesn’t have Survival or Diplomacy, but dear dice gods, here we go

Gemma tries a different approach. She scouts the water nearby, knowing the gang is likely to have some sort of secret entrance in. She spends a few minutes carefully searching up and down to try and find a boat.

Which she does, after a moment. A shadowy dressed man, in a dingy boat, barely able to be seen in the gloom of the night. She slowly stalks towards him.

“Oh, thank goodness,” she tells the man, in mock distress. “My friends and I have been searching for hours. They tell me, come to the city, it’ll be fun. But no one tells you how hard it is to find a scenic boat ride.” She prattles on, playing a clueless, naive tourist. “Oh, but please, let me pay you for the ride,” she tells him, pressing two gold coins into his hand. I insist” She gives him a stern glare.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 2 = 15

That looks like 2 successes. Does Magnus still need to roll for this Obstacle?

Retcon

Gemma heads into the same bar that everyone else does. She finds the meanest-looking gang member she can find. She grabs him by the collar and slams him against the wall, demanding that they help her infiltrate the Silver Devils hideout. The man, known as a local enforcer for the Burning Daggers practically voids himself as Gemma gets in his face. He departs quickly, something about needing to 'make plans'... or was that because his mom was suddenly calling him.

End Retcon

Harper easily swims across and Gemma easily convinces a strapping young lad to row the party across.

Gemma - You just need to choose 1 skill to roll against

You make it to the the island. The Silver Devils have a guard post in front of their hideout where some members keep watch over their base, but they’re not very loyal and are fed up with being stuck on watch.

------------------
TRACKER
Round: n/a
Obstacle: GUARD POST

Skills:
DC 13 Diplomacy/Deception to convince them to look the other way
DC 15 Athletics/Stealth to climb over the wall

Special:
A bribe of 2 gp will give a +2 bonus to all PCs Diplomacy checks for this obstacle

Successes: 0/3 (Group)
Awareness Points (Bad):
Edge Points: 6
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Horul
**Khufu
**Gemma Victorius
**Harper Ruaridh
**Magnus Whizzbang

Magnus uses magical means to make noises that distract the Silver Devil guards. A slight popping (less than a whizzbang) should do the trick nicely. Once the noise does its work, he motions for the others to hurry along.

Deception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

The alchemist climbs over the wall, or not.

Mmhh who has removed the caltrops of the wall. It was easier when I saw it during the scouting.

Horul, you want to hero point that natural 1?

Harper emerges from the river, water dripping from her sodden hair. Turning around, she spots the party approaching by boat and crosses her arms angrily, huffing.

"Someone could nae have told me we were plannin' tae hire a boat?"

After taking a moment to wring water out of her hair, Harper turns to look at the walled guard post in front of her.

"Hmph, should be able to sneak in easily enough. Unless someone's payin' a bribe 'ere as well?"

Nodding to the rest of the party, she ducks into the shadows and looks for a quick, easy way past the post.

Stealth check for climbing over the wall-Harper Ruaridh's Stealth (T): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Gemma frowns at Harper’s retort. “But you leapt right in before we discussed the plan,” she says, by way of explanation. “I assumed you just wanted a swim.”

“I shall accompany you over the wall, Harper my friend, so we do not misunderstand each other again.” She follows Harper over the wall, as stealthily as she can.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Not certain about Horul, but I will absolutely be using a Hero Point for that Nat 1

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

The dwarf will try to climb the wall.

Athletics (DC 15): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

I will use one Hero Point.

Athletics (DC 15): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"I do not like to cheat my way in with lies, I will climb the walls instead."

Oups, no I don't reroll

Harper tries to silently sneak into the compound but accidentally kicks a loose pebble that hits a metal pot that makes a CLANG. The guards look around, startled.

Magnus walks up to them and manages to convince them that he's just 'one of the boys' which work, since the guards appear to look bored.

Horul tries to climb the fence but puts his hand on a caltrop. He manages to not yell in pain but only just. Gemma learns from Harper's mistake and sneaks across. Khufu also learns from Horul's mistake and climbs the fence.

You realize that there's a fairly large gap between the guard post and the warehouses. The wooden boards of the dock are very loud if one doesn’t step carefully.

------------------
TRACKER
Round: n/a
Obstacle: OLD SQUEAKY FLOORS

Skills:
DC 13 Stealth
DC 15 Acrobatics

Successes: 0/3 (Group)
Awareness Points (Bad): 3
Edge Points: 6
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Horul
**Khufu
**Gemma Victorius
**Harper Ruaridh
**Magnus Whizzbang

Gemma carefully tests the wooden boards. “Come quick, my friends. Follow my steps carefully.”
She begins walking carefully, moving quickly across the boards, but stepping lightly, to avoid any creaks. Occasionally, she’ll pause before stepping, before changing course, to move to without noise.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Hopping on one foot as she meets up with the rest of the party after passing the guard post, Harper mutters quietly under her breath.

"By Norgorber's great big saggy- Godsdamned rock an' tha' godsdamned pot!"

She takes a moment to compose herself before nodding and following Gemma across the boards, stepping as quietly as she can.

Jus' need tae keep my eye ou' fer loose pebbles I s'pose.

Stealth Check DC13 -Harper Ruaridh's Stealth (T): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Gemma and Harper easily avoid the squeaky boards and cross the docks.

------------------
TRACKER
Round: n/a
Obstacle: OLD SQUEAKY FLOORS

Skills:
DC 13 Stealth
DC 15 Acrobatics

Successes: 2/3 (Group)
Awareness Points (Bad): 3
Edge Points: 6
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Horul
**Khufu
Gemma Victorius
Harper Ruaridh
**Magnus Whizzbang

Magnus is small and doesn't weigh much and just assumes that his low weight won't set off the squeaky boards, but it turns out he is wrong and the irritating noise sounds really loud in the quiet space.

Magnus Stealth DC13: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 fail

You can use Edge Points to convert the failures (or crit failures) to successes, btw

You can use Edge Points to convert the failures (or crit failures) to successes, btw

Is it one for one, so it takes 4 edge points to make this a success, or is it 1 Edge Point converts it regardless of the magnitude of difference?