[Gameday XIV] PFS2 #6-99 Under the Eye of the Mantis (tier 5-6)

Game Master cmlobue

It has come to the attention of a member of the Vernai, the council that leads the Red Mantis assassins, that there is a small shipping business that seems to be impersonating their assassins. Amused at their audacity, the assassins call on old debts from the Pathfinder Society to assist with locating and shutting down the business, as it seems the Red Mantis Dispatch has taken on a number of contracts on Pathfinder agents, including Zarta Dralneen and Eando Kline. Sneaking around a private island off the coast of Mediogalti, the Pathfinders are able to find evidence of a criminal ring that involves assassination, kidnapping, and the worst crime of all, forgery!

"SMEEE!!!"

Outbursts a Taldan man of medium height, whose slight build finds itself cleverly buried beneath layers of "piratey" ruffles in a gauche display of avante-garde fashions of yesteryear. Carrying a rakishly thin rapier at his side, a modest pistol concealed in a breast pocket, he walks with the distinct air of overimportance, not unlike a petulant child whining in tempermental query:

"Are we There yet?"

Starting at the sound of his name called in a shrillish pitch, our halfling hero leaps up, and is at once at the side of his summoner.

"No, sir, still a few days, sir, until we arrive, I'm afraid"

Co-regulated sufficiently by the very haste with which his employee made to arrive promptly to answer his question, Master Donatellus Jurrious Orwellious relaxes a smidge.

"Well I wouldn't expect that we should" he wipes sweat from his forehead "Such menial labor to which I am subject. Would that it were that I could conjure the stamina..."

He looks ready to faint at any moment!

Dutifully, Dotty Smee, "First Mate", stands ready to catch his master at a moment's notice!

Jinglemane is racing from Prow to Stern. The purple poppet, the size of a small dog, is as excited as can be. "Kit, look at all these sailors! They're doing sailor stuff! Do you think they would allow me interview them for style tips?" Jinglemane shakes his rainbow-colored mane and pauses, still bouncing from paw to paw, to talk to his girl.

The young woman is standing at the railing, enjoying the breeze flowing past her. She has a tawny complexion, bright blue eyes and dark hair. She is wearing light, flowing robes. She has a healing kit and whip at her waist.

Looking to the poppet, she says “Best to avoid distracting the sailors on duty, Jinglemane. You don’t want to get any of them in trouble!”

Looking around, she points towards Don Jurri and says “I don’t think that one is part of the crew and he might like getting interviewed.”

Before you stands a lean elf, almost dainty with sharp features. There is no hair on his head. He speaks intentionally, almost "at you" making two-way communication the exception. His eye contact seems to be almost looking "through" you, as if conducting some deep assessment of your intentions instead of letting you explain them.

Duty?! I'm just looking out over the see in thoughtful reverie, and preparing spells from my book.

He scratches his chin and turns back to his forward gaze. Every minute or so he picks up his spellbook and flips through it before returning to lean on his staff.

A tengu steps towards the young woman at the rail. "Ahem. Excuse me, but I'm looking for Kit and Jinglemane? I would presume this little one is Jinglemane? I was told to meet with you. Roark! Roark Thunderbird is who I am!" he says grandly, bowing to the pair.

”I suppose I could be made to speak for the group here” Don Jurri belabors the “favor” this would provide those in attendance ”Cannot for the life of me recall when it was last I had conducted an Interview of Import” probably never - in any case, he stands himself proudly and pompously before the tiny doll ”What would you like to know about me?” batting his eyelashes like a child in an ice cream shoppe!

"Yes, I'm Jinglemane! I publish The Mane Event: Your Guide to Dares, Lairs and Hair Care(s)! It's everyone's favorite Pathfinder journal, especially since it started including a column from Venture-Gossip." Jinglemane puffs out his purple plushie lion chest in pride.

Jinglemane looks at the the two dashing swashbucklers before him and says, "May I interview you for your style tips? You two look like you know how to adventure in style!"

Smiling, Kit looks to the two who have come over and says “Hello, I am Qitarah al-Tabib of Sedeq.”

Looking to Roark, she says “I don’t think I’ve met either of you before. Tell me Roark, who told you to find us? Has Jinglemane’s paper made him famous?”

"Really, really famous?" Jinglemane asks, hopefully.

My, I'm looking forward to playing with this group!

"I may have heard of you, though I haven't been keeping up with the latest in hair care. After all, I have feathers... Buuuut... " Roark pauses, deep in thought, "I DO remember seeing some ad in the spa I was in while getting my feathers redone. You have NO idea what greasy smoke can do to your feathers!"

Bowing grandly to Jinglemane, Roark enthusiastically grants permission to be interviewed, "But I'm not so sure how I could help. As you can see, I have feathers!"

Roark pulls out a wrinkled missive and reads it. "Ah yes! A delightful little leshy called Jackpot told me that you and Jinglemane have the best adventures together! Since I'm technically still on vacation, I signed up for the mission you were both assigned to... and here I am!"

Flattery, like a hot iron pressing a freshly cleaned shirt, props the ego and attention of our chivalric hero right up - he beams with a self-absorbed star-struckedness which he somehow experiences vicariously through the reporter before him, who, he is convinced is already obsessed with his own imagined celebrity!

"Yes, well" feigning humilty beneath a thinly veiled humblebrag "I have Narrowly Survived many a Trial and Tribulation, yes" preening with an unconsciouss reflex, he whips his arms a little to "re-foof" the ruffles of his piratey shirt "Indeed" clearing his throat, and inhaling for an extended bluster "Modern Chivalry, of which I am at the Forefront of the Vanguard, is the Creed which hath delivered me to precisely This Moment. For you see, in 4725, what it means to be a 'Knight' has inexorably changed, and those that bear this title find themselves with a Code of Conduct that has become Obsolete. You might be wondering: What exactly is it that has changed? Why are the old ways to be abandoned? I say to you that although this is the clear question, the answer is of a more ephemeral nature. One need only apply their senses and sensibilites to the New World, and to boldly make a Step Forward. My answer is in my Action; you need only follow my lead, study my movements, and therein you will find the answer to the question. After all, Life is but a Dance!" he concludes his point, exhaling with some extended effort, and blinks, as if anticipating additional questions.

But the questions remains: Like what is he even talking about!?

Jinglemane writes down faithful notes on Don Jurri and Roark's style tips.

"...feathers, greasy smoke, spas... Trial, tribulation, 'Life is but a Dance!'" He looks up over his brand-new reporter glasses. "Ooh, this is good stuff!"

He gazes over at Vonn Kephyra. "I like that intense gaze you have cultivated. Do you have any style tips for my readers?"

Tucked into a pile of coiled lines on the deck (with one foot tucked neatly in and about the topmost section - for safety should the ship be suddenly tossed), the dwarf silently takes in this newest Pathfinder contingent.

Do these folks even know where we are heading? Despite all the assurances from headquarters, I'm not entirely sure we can trust our newest "allies", at least not enough to present ourselves at their home. Yet, they dance around on deck like we are heading to the latest Convocation...

He furrows his unkepmt brows in the harsh sun.

Ah, well, we are in this together... as always.

"My name is Dreggar." He announces bluntly.

As the dwarf rises out of the coiled ropes, Jinglemane wonders if this is one of the sailors Kit told him not to bother. But then again, he introduced himself. "Hello there, Dreggar! I'm Jinglemane! Are you one of the sailors, doing sailor things, or one of the Pathfinders like me? And if you're a Pathfinder, would you like to share your best..."

Jinglemane breaks off for a bit, trying to think of what the dwarf might be best at.

"...er, rope coiling tricks? You appear to have a stylish way with ropes."

Kit is surprised when a dwarf rises out of the pile of ropes.

“Perhaps braiding tips in Dreggar’s case, Jinglemane.”

Once Jinglemane has completed his initial interviews, Kit says “Has anyone been to this area before? It is quite far from my homeland of Qadira.”

He gazes over at Vonn Kephyra. "I like that intense gaze you have cultivated. Do you have any style tips for my readers?"

What?! I wasn't staring. I just... observe everything around me.

You sense a bit of a guilty tone as he attempts to deflect.

Style? Me? Well I think clean shaven is the way to go. The less hair the better.

He reflexively glances at Jinglemane and then quickly looks away to avoid any awkward moments.

...the less hair, the better..." Jinglemane writes Voron's tip down, while his own mane falls forward to cover his face. Jinglemane does an awesome hair flip to both clear his vision and look cool.

"I can see why you like to be clean shaven. Not everyone is awesome enough to have a regal mane like mine, so it's good that you've found a look that works well for you."

Venture-Gossip, now in the Mane Event!

Hello Besties!

Who's here?* For the VIPs, we've spotted Zarta Dralneen with the ultimate librarian flair: upswept do, heavy tomes and and an intense gaze that misses nothing. We've also seen a windswept Eando Kline staring moodily towards the islands. This has all of his admirers asking... Is he brooding about something or SOMEONE?

That's all for now, but your favorite correspondent (now being hosted by the Mane Event in addition to the other outlets of our column) will be listening for all the best gossip and fashion tips. You know that I will keep you all posted as events unfold around Mediogalti!

Venture-Gossip

_____
* Source: Slides 3&4 of our Slideshow!

Smee finds a comfortable perch somewhere near the poop deck, and happening upon upon a magazine hand-written in tiny print, pulls out his spectacles, kicks up his feet, casts one more glance back for his master (just in case)...

...and buries himself in the literature "Hmm" and "Oho!" and "Well..."

"I wouldn't call the rope coilin' a talent, per se, Mister 'Mane. More of a workaround. Dwarves aren't quite accustomed to the high seas, and I'm just a tad apprehensive about that never ending storm off the port side. But I appreciates the interest. Oh, and yes I am a Pathfinder Agent, as well. A grumpy one at that, it seems, seeing as how no one has told us what exactly we are doing yet, or where we are heading." He looks around for a recognizable higher up among the masses.

Kit laughs at the comment about not being told anything, “I think the Venture Captains become so used to keeping secrets that they forget to tell people stuff when it isn’t a secret. I’ve learned to amuse myself by making it into a guessing game.”

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**

Eando Kline directs the Pathfinders to their berth aboard the Seekers’ Quest with little patience. “Hurry, everyone. The captain wants to set sail momentarily so we can catch a good headwind toward our destination.”

Nearby, Zarta Dralneen and Viore Ciobanu share a look as their other guest, an athletic woman in red and black leathers joins them on the forecastle.

As the last stragglers make their way up the gangplank, the bosun turns towards the ship’s captain near the rear deck. “Cap’n, we’s fully loaded from resupply. All ready to make sail for the Isle of Claimed Souls. Quick as you can!”

From somewhere on the pier near the rear deck, the dockmaster gives a high-pitched whistle as the mooring lines are pulled up and the Seekers’ Quest pulls away from its slip.

GMs, you may begin the Introduction!

Kit quietly asks the group “Any idea who the elf with the goggles and feather in their hair or the woman with the long pony tail in red and black armor is?”

"I've been keeping my eye on her, for sure." Dreggar mutters.

Pursuing a lead on the mysterious woman.

The Seekers’ Quest is a large ship of the line with two lower gun decks mounting seventy-four guns, three square-rigged masts, and a crew of nearly 500 sailors dedicated to the Pathfinder Society. In many ways, she is the equal of nearly any vessel in the Inner Sea, and many of the more vicious pirate ships plying local seas. Over her years in Pathfinder service, she’s been captained by four of the most prestigious sailors allied with the Pathfinder Society and today is no different.

Any mission that starts with joining such a prestigious crew promises glory and excitement, but alongside venture-captains like Eando Kline, Zarta Dralneen, and Viore Ciobanu and their mysterious, yet well-appointed guest, the benefits surely outweigh the risks. And, considering her shining sawtooth sabers, there surely will be risks.

Yet as the Seekers’ Quest pulls away from its moorings after resupplying in, of all places, Ilizmagorti, more questions arise than answers. Why is a Pathfinder vessel stopping at Mediogalti? Who is the woman dressed in Red Mantis leathers? And what does the mysterious destination, The Island of Claimed Souls, have in store for the Pathfinder Society?

Anyone who wants can make a Society, Mediogalti/ Ilizmagorti Lore, Red Mantis Lore, Sailing Lore, or Underworld Lore check. This is a secret check, so please post your preferred modifier and I will roll it for you and tell you the results.

In her time, Kit has treated a number of people who were involved in questionable pursuits. She has a reputation for being willing to treat people without questions of how and where they got injured. Although she doesn’t ask, some of those patients love to talk. She often hears of things that are not to be discussed in polite society.

She thinks back on some of those conversations, trying to see if there is anything she remembers that might apply here.

Lore Underworld +9 from her time as a back-alley doctor

Jinglemane puts on his reporter glasses at Kit's question. "The elf in black? Oh, that's Venture-Captain Ciobanu, and he's sporting a new goth look! I wonder what inspired the change?"

Then he looks over at the lady in the stylish red and black leathers with the sawtooth sabers at her side, and goes bounding over to talk to her. "Hello, I'm Jinglemane, the lead reporter and publisher of the Pathfinder Society's most prestigious fashion magazine, The Mane Event. Ma'am, I was admiring your delightful sabers... They have teeth just like my leiomano! I was wondering... Would you have any style tips you would like to share with our readers?"

Jinglemane would be delighted to recall knowledge. Diverse Lore +12

The mystery deepens...

Society +12 (with an additional +1 if it pertains to who the lady lead I am pursuing is - also if this pertains, I can share information with another character to give them the same +1 bonus via Clue In)

Revolution Lore (T) +8

Finding the most comfortable place to lounge around the ship, Master Donatellus Jurrious Orwellious shoos away any commoners or dirty sailors to take up as much space as might otherwise suit three men.

"Smee! Fetch me a dram from the bar" imagining there were one.

He ponders what he knows of global politics...

Roark actually doesn't have any of the listed skills so he keeps his beak closed

If you'll take Diplomacy, +12

Society +11

A person of the mantis cult... that can only mean trouble.

Voron knows well enough to not say it out loud.

Jinglemane is disappointed when the lady in Red and Black leathers turns away from his question to talk to Goth Ciobanu for a few minutes, but then he realizes that he has style information to share. He goes bounding back to the rest of the team with what he has discovered.

"Hey, I just realized what that cool outfit with the Red and Black leathers means, especially when combined with sawtooth sabers! She's got to be a Red Mantis assassin!" Jinglemane pauses, recalling what he knows of the Red Mantis. "The Red Mantis Assassins are an assassination guild devoted to Achaekek, the mantis god. They don't deal in espionage or information collecting. However, once they accept a contract, the target is exterminated and stays dead."

He looks around at the rest of the team as he shares this gossip. "Sooo... They have often been at odds with the Pathfinder Society and are commonly considered among the Society’s most formidable enemies. Ilizmagorti on Mediogalti Island is considered their stronghold, even if they have a relaxed hand on the reins on the often bloodthirsty and dangerous city."

"And yet... she is here! And unmasked, nonetheless! What do the rest of you think?"

Nodding, Kit gives a mischievous smile and says “So she must be trying to keep their style tips a trade secret!”

Jinglemane gives himself a dope slap. "Oh! A trade secret!" Then he whispers... "Do you think that they assassinate those who penetrate it? That's so hardcore!"

Kit keeps a straight face as she leans down to tell Jinglemane “No, I think they would do that to those who copy it.”

"That's why it's always best to be a trend-setting original," Jinglemane nods sagely, ignoring the fact that his newspaper revolves around helping others follow and copy fashionable trends.

Voron nods, concurring with Jinglemane's information, though his expression is grim.

Did everybody get that? Their targets. Stay. Dead. Tread carefully around her. I don't think that uniform is a "style" choice.

"Ugly"

Don Jurri declares his definitive judgement at mention of the silly mantis suit with authoritative presumption, being, according to him, the best dressed person on the ship, and hence, the obvious expert on the matter "Nobody would be caught dead in that reprehensible uniform. It's a wonder any of these 'assassins' make it to their victim's homes in those gauche rags without drawing attention to themselves" tripling down "I mean: Red? Really? Even if it weren't entirely unflattering, how do you hide anywhere but in a red room!"

Scoffing with upturnt nose!

Then, for backup "Wouldn't you agree, Smee" seeking validation once again to fully prop his extradordinary ego.

>>swallows<<

Casting a hesitant glance at the Red Mantis Assassin, Smee meekly supports "Ah, on fashion advice, sir, I find that you are infrequently wrong, sir"

Sufficing with vagueness, he keeps his eyes wearily in the direction of the subject of conversation...

Kit looks at the uniform again then says “The color should hide blood stains somewhat. Also colors are harder to see in the dark. I don’t think it would stand out that much, would it?”

With a sigh, she says “I must admit that stealth considerations are not something I worry about when choosing clothing. Still, there are plenty of magics that can change the color of something. Maybe the suit uses something like that?”

Turning to the tengu, she asks “Roark, what do you think?”

"I think I've heard of them? Either that or I've been breathing Meat Wagon's fumes for too long..."

Roark is part of a GM Rotation with both Hmm and Bret. I need an extra game to keep up with the group's progress so here he is! :)

"I'll tell you what I think." Dreggar saunters forward and interrupts the circle of Pathfinders. "To those in the know, the Red Mantis are in a bit of disarray after Achaekek murdered Gorum. This all followed an attempted coup of their long-standing leadership under Blood Mistress Jakalyn, see."

"Which leads me to figure that Eando and Zarta’s esteemed guest is none other than Vernai-Appoint Giovana, one of the Red Mantis’ High Killer Assasins. What's more - as their identities are usually kept secret and faces masked - her plans and very identity are likely suspect in the eyes of the Mantis leaders."

"I'm very eager to see what she has to say for herself." He concludes, and self-consciously steps back out of the circle.

Jinglemane has his notebook out, hurriedly writing down Dreggar's comments. "Achaekek... Gorum's murder... coup... Blood Mistress Jakalyn.... Vernai-Appoint Giovana... Oh, this is good stuff! You know everyone's names!" Then he notices the dwarf starting to back out again. "Oh, please don't go! You're not only well-informed, you're also eager to interview Giovana and you have awesome hair! You're totally one of us!"

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**
With the voyage well underway, Zarta Dralneen calls all Pathfinder agents aboard to a meeting in the galley. As the field agents pile into the slightly too small room, “Quiet down, everyone. We’ll begin as soon as everyone is seated.”

Viore Ciobanu stands up as Zarta notes down everyone’s attendance. “You have questions. As some of our most trusted agents, we would expect no less. We’re enroute to a small island near Mediogalti called the Island of Claimed Souls. As we’ve discovered over the last few weeks, this island is likely the headquarters of an organization calling itself the Red Mantis Dispatch.”

Eando Kline takes his cue to rise and take over the conversation. “Make no mistake. This organization is not the same as the Red Mantis Assassins we all know and loathe.” He gives a cursory glance at the head table’s other remaining occupant. “They are imposters, trading in death with the Red Mantis name. But there’s more. Let me introduce you to our advisor on this mission, Vernai-Appoint Giovana of the Red Mantis.”

A hush falls over the assemblage as the mysterious woman rises to her feet. “Thank you, Eando for that glowing compliment. But yes, this Red Mantis Dispatch is a group of imposters taking contracts with no honor, no faith. They dare to deal with our name and sully it without our consent.” She lets the anger wash away before she begins again. “The Red Mantis perform a service, dark and sometimes vile, yes. But a necessary one. Instead, this Red Mantis Dispatch kills for the quickest coin. They target those that are protected. And they take prisoners,” she turns to the seated venture-captains. “This includes your own, Khione Thidos.”

The murmuring rises to an audible din as only Eando Kline’s forceful clearing of his throat draws the attention back to the head table. “Our mission is obvious. We are to investigate this island, find this Red Mantis Dispatch, and–”

“Kill them,” Giovana says much to the consternation of the assembled leadership.

“Put them out of business.” Zarta corrects with a stern voice. “Pathfinders, we’ll have some assignments for you back up on deck to make this mission run smoother. Find us up there and we’ll give you your orders.” And just as quickly as it had begun, with a bang of a gauntleted fist on the head table, the meeting ends.

Table GMs, please begin Act 1!

"A Revolution!"

Don Jurri stands immediately, instinctively, sudden vigor filling his legs, delivering him briefly from his otherwise genteel demeanor "Well, ladies and gentlemen, rise and take arms! Let not your indolence divide you unto the wrong side of history, for she takes interest in you, even if you don't take interest in her" using a female pronoun as an anthropomorphism for "history" itself.

He looks towards his halfling hireling, who did not immediately "rise" - indeed, who seems to be lost in his own thoughts on this or that, and "Smee! Look lively now! And fetch me my affects!"