[GDXIV] Zero's #6-99: Under the Eye of the Mantis

Game Master Super Zero

Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Hero Point re-roll

Arcana re-roll w/ Promotional Vestments bonus: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22

It's not, but it's also moot because your allies already have the three successes you need.

The Pathfinders find that it is impossible to speak to each other, as there is no sound.

They do, however, manage to pierce the veil of darkness with reflected light.

The oubliette’s inner layer traps sound inside of it, reflecting it back on itself so much that even the sound of a person taking a step reverberates into an ear-splitting cacophony. Technically, talking is now possible but perhaps inadvisable.The upside is that if the Pathfinders work together, enough reflected noise could create a sudden burst of sound that might breach the inner barrier.

Unfortunately, the difficulty of communicating makes coordination difficult.

To pierce the second layer, you may attempt an Acrobatics, Arcana, Athletics, Nature, Occultism, Religion, or a relevant Lore check at GM discretion. One PC must "lead" each check, but all of the other characters may attempt to Aid.

I suggest we let Peat do an Arcana check, as they seem to have the highest bonus, unless Zisiro has something higher. Agate will assist once a roll is made.

Zisiro turns to the others and pantomimes. The clearest gesture he makes is an exaggerated clapping motion of his hands and then pointing toward the wall of sound.

Athletics (E): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

The noise blasts the wall of altered sound, which for a moment seems to falter.

That's one success.

Clides pulls out a hammer and a crowbar and starts clanging them together with all of his might.

Athletics to Aid Zisiro's lead roll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Occultism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 +1 if my Investigation bonus applies

Occultism, trained, aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Agate helps Peat apply principles of Occultism to reach the goal.

jared silently follows, even though the silence is rather deafening.
Occultism to Aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Always love it when Aid checks beat the original roll. ;) Also, since Aid offers a circumstance bonus, I think I can only benefit from one Aid bonus to a given roll. Multiple Aids don't stack in 2E. So Agate's crit would bring me up to 23 or 24.

Under the Pathfinders' combined assault, the magical prison falls.

Inside, Khione is disheveled but alive, and grateful for being able to speak again.

“Wow thank you so much for saving me! I knew Zarta and the others would come for me. I told those fake Red Mantises that, but they kidnapped me anyway even though I warned them they’d be in for it if they took a Pathfinder hostage and wow are they like silent monks or something? They said their leaders invented two brand new spells just to keep me locked up because I was ‘annoying’ the other prisoners and their guards. What’s up with that? Also, their whole organization is tackier than the Cult of the Screaming Grub if you ask me, and...”

Khione continues like this for quite some time until someone (Zarta eventually, if nobody else does) informs her they’re in the middle of an armed siege of the Dispatch facilities. At this, she’ll straighten herself up and grab some parchment and a pen from seemingly out of nowhere, promising to follow the PCs around and chronicle their glorious deeds as thanks for saving her. Which she immediately starts doing, loudly narrating out loud to herself everything that's going on.

Aw, nobody got sucked into the prison with her. So sad.
Image added. Pathfinder success reported.

Eando Kline catches up to the group. “Pathfinders, our intel has revealed that the Dispatch is holding a monkey goblin thief named Chirper hostage who might have more information about their motives and tactics. We think he’s being held in a solitary cell in this general area. I’ll leave it up to you on how best to proceed, though. Good hunting!”

The Pathfinders soon find what seems to be the place. They can see two guards with crossbows through a window, guarding a room.

Peat looks around to see if there is another window or other means of egress that looks like it might lead into the room they are guarding.

Perception w/ Investigation bonus: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 = 13

"Okay, so hear me out ... Does anyone have a disguise kit? Because I bet I could make myself look like a monkey goblin, and make them think I'm him and chase me, and then you could get in and bust chirper out." He glances around. "Sound like a plan?"

Zisiro cocks his head to the side and peers at the leshy. He tilts his head to the other side and raises an eyebrow. "I do not have a disguise kit," he answers. "Some of us could sneak over to get into position."

Agate doesn't have a disguise kit, but that does not discourage any self-respecting inventor. She sets about trying to fashion some disguise materials from available items.

Crafting, trained: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

"Clanky might also be disguised to look like the prisoner so that Peat can help with the rescue."

Note: Clanky has a small humanoid form with cat features rather than looking like a housecat as the token shows.

Clides nods and follows Zisiro.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Peat shrugs. "I mean ... I guess it looks kind of like a monkey goblin. Can it ... trick people, though?"

It looks like its Deception modifier is +0, so even reconfigured to look vaguely like a monkey goblin, I'm not sure it'll work to lure them away.

They consider some more and begin looking through supplies. "Does someone have a bedroll or blanket? I can make it look like a little cloak. Have Clanky stand out here, on the corner. I'll be the one who has to sell it ... Will go in and tell them I saw someone sneaking out, they'll see him through the window ... " Not knowing what Chirper looks like, they just doing what they can to make Clanky look vaguely like a monkey goblin from a distance.

Seeing Zisiro and Clides go into hiding, Peat directs the other Pathfinders to stand out of view of the window, at least.

Right as entering, they mix some of their berries together with chemicals in their alchemical kit, forming together a quick silvertongue mutagen. They are slightly disoriented, as their normally keen intellect seems to be failing but their smooth talking skills are enhanced.

Peat heads in and, frantic, says to the guards, "Hey, I just saw some monkey goblin climbing out of a window ... Looked like he was up to no good. He's right out there." They point to the window that has a view upon the disguised Clanky.

"Stay visible. I'll cover", Zuza says and finds a shadowy place a bit further back but with clear line of sight to the entrance.

I suppose there isn't any underbrush difficult terrain around for Zuza to automatically hide with Terrain Stalker? Just normal hide with +7 then. This would probably change the exploration and initiative to stealth, too?

The guards lock the door as they see Peat approach. They level their crossbows at him and warn him to stay back, creating an effective stalemate.

...except that when they hear what he has to say, they unlock the door again and rush out, cursing, taking off after Clanky in the distance. From what the Pathfinders hear them say, they seem to be under the impression that they're working for the real Red Mantises and afraid of the consequences of crossing or failing their employer.
Getting in and opening the cell door after that are trivial steps.

Image added.

For saving him, Chirper thanks the Pathfinders profusely, explaining that he discovered proof that the false mantises (the Dispatch) started taking on assassination contracts, pretending to be the real Red Mantis, and that’s when they kidnapped him and started trying to ransom him back to his family for gold. He presents the one piece of evidence he was able to hide on his person all this time—a contract signed by a Chelaxian government official, requesting the Red Mantis Dispatch assassinate Zarta Dralneen of the Pathfinder Society. He also draws a map to where he buried the rest of the evidence he gathered, along with a cache of ancient coins from the Ghol-Gan empire worth a small fortune, which he wants the party to have as thanks for his rescue.

[oooc]Reporting a Thief success.[/ooc]

Venture-Captain Viore is still aboard the ship, as if fearful to disembark for some reason. He looks over the assembled Pathfinders, then shakes free of whatever is distracting him. “Our Red Mantis ‘patron,’ Giovana, wants us to unravel how this Dispatch organization has avoided magical scrutiny for so long. My connection to Yuelral leads me to believe the answer may lie over there.” The elven man points in the direction of a dockside inn that looks abandoned.

Athletics or Thievery?

"Wow," Peat says, "that's one of the most generous goblins I've ever met."

I am slightly better at Thievery, but suspect the group may lean toward Athletics

I have Thievery +6, Athletics +0.

"Abandoned inns are not usually abandoned at all." Jared shares his opinion.

Agate is +5 at both skills. Clanky is +6 at athletics.

Zuza checks that her thieves' tools are in good condition and readily available.

"Sneak again?" she asks the team.

Zuza +7 thievery, +3 athletics

Athletics +7,Thievery +6

"No need to be noisy; some of you have the skills to pick the lock," Zisiro says.

I don't have thieves' toolkit. Go for it Zuza.