EbonFist's Q25 The Greengold Dilemma (Inactive)

Game Master EbonFist

I don't understand why someone wouldn't like us. That's weird.

Scripio goes to check the bodies of the assassins, rifling through their pockets for anything that might tell them who they are. He looks down at one of them bodies. "You don't mind me seeing what shinys you have, do you?"

Bork quickly approaches one of the fallen assassins, crouching beside its body and gently poking at a dagger with his wrench, as though it might bite.

“Identification purposes only,” he mutters loudly to no one in particular, already patting down a pocket. “Not looting. Definitely not looting. Strictly forensic… and maybe educational.”

He glances over his shoulder toward Scripio. “You take the one with the fancy belt buckle. I’ll handle this one’s paperwork.”

Sir Good-Shanks stands stiffly behind him, helm tilting slightly. “Proceeding with lawful examination of suspicious corpses,” he intones, sounding as though reading from some internal rulebook.

“Purely professional curiosity,” Bork mumbles as he starts rifling through another pouch.

It can hardly be called "looting" when the subjects have no loot. As the two goblins go about their lawful search, one of them finds a carefully folded note in one of the fallen assassins' belt pouch.

Each character can make a DC18 Society check to decipher the coded message. If anyone succeeds, please remove the blue box on slide 9 and read the note.

No Society here

No Society neither

Scripio holds up the note and opens it to see weird letters. He turns the page sideways and then upside down before he agrees that's how it should be. He still can't read it.

None here either

Society: 1d20 ⇒ 8

"Looks like a shopping list for party favors?"

Society: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Bork stares at the note for a long moment, head tilted, tongue sticking out the corner of his mouth in the universally-recognized goblin expression for intense scholarly effort. Then suddenly he gasps, slapping the paper flat on the nearest table.

“AHA! This isn’t loot, this is IMPORTANT WORDS.”

He clears his throat, holds the note upside-down for a moment, then rotates it again with some degree of ceremony.

“It says… the Aspis Consortium tried to kill us. Again. Sir, I told you these weren’t normal assassins. Too tidy. Too few pockets.”

Sir Good-Longshanks Armor Pants leans over his shoulder, optics narrowing slightly at the decoded message.

“This explains the lack of coin purses,” the construct observes.

Bork nods. “Exactly! Only the Aspis would try to murder us with economically responsible assassins.”

He holds up the note for the others to see, shaking it dramatically.

“We gotta take this to Kreighton. Also, nobody burn this after reading. That is exactly what the bad guys want.”

Then, with great satisfaction:

“Case cracked. Mystery solved. Bork von Clankstein, Master Codebreaker, at your service.” as he flourishes a bow.

He pauses, squints at the note again.

“…Though if someone else wants to read it and make sure I didn’t mispronounce anything, that’d be great.”

The dwarf raises an eyebrow. But he has to trust the goblin.

Of course we go to see Kreighton as you say. All in all we don't have anything left here I think.

Rubbing his chin, Achurius cautions cynicism. "I just hope it isn't a fake. If we intend to use it as proof we will have to prove it came from them."

With a little more optimism he adds. ]b\But, yes, Kreighton needs to see this ASAP."[/b]

Shalelu Andosana and the Pathfinder Leadership burst into the Feasthall. The rest of the Greengold leadership is right behind them.

They are all plainly impressed not only with your success in dealing with your attackers, but also with your ability to translate the note.

Selwyn gulps and tugs at his collar nervously. "The Aspis Consortium? They sent these people?"

The Greengold leadership soon leaves and the Pathfinders regroup back at the Warmouth.

"You've done a fine job so far, agents. And not just in foiling that Aspis plot. Dalamian, Selwyn and Shalelu are all ready to support the Lodge. You just have to finish convincing Nalora. Do whatever it takes to close the deal," Kreighton Shaine says before sending them back on their way.

Welcome back, everyone! Time for another round of influencing!

The dwarf goes to meet Nalora and tries to impress her flirting at the same time.

Eh eh, Small flower of the islands, what do you think about this combination of acrobatics?

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Norbwald continues to share their liquor with Nalora as they try and make friends.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Fireflash joins Norbwald but instead of offering drink, asks if they'd like a nice quiet walk instead.

Deception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Achurius takes the straight forward approach and tries logic.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

"With the Aspice involved this city needs Pathfinder support more than ever. Remember what we have done for the city and what we can still do, including support of the arts which seems to be a passion of yours."

Scripio starts a whipping tune again with a very serious inquiry for Nalora. "Don't you wish you girlfriend was hot like me?"

Performance: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

With the Aspis Assassins accounted for and the other Greengold leaders convinced to allow the lodge, Nalora finds themself at the center of the Pathfinder agents' attention. They don't mind.

They are also quickly convinced by the agents' combined efforts. Meaning that the vote to allow the Pathfinder Lodge passes unanimously.

It is not long after that the Pathfinders are called before Kreighton Shaine. In a rare moment of good humor, he smiles and jokes that he should bring you along on all his administrative meetings.

Before you depart, Selwyn approaches you. "Congratulations on getting your lodge approved. I feel quite confident that the presence of the Pathfinder Society here in Greengold will be not only a stabilizing force, but also one that will improve and protect our community. I do hope that you all will be regular occupants of the lodge and perhaps will even consider making Kyonin your permanent home."

Achurius looks around fondly, enjoying the feeling of belonging from being in an elven city.

"Not a bad idea. But I have personal connections back in Absalom, so, unless matters change..." Schurius gets a wistful look in his eyes as he says that "I will be unavailable... for now."