Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
"Thank you," Saul gives a hearty sigh - a new habit for him these last few days. "I'm glad I can still have folks I can depend on in this town."
The next day, before you'd go into work, you group up a block away from the docks. Approaching together, you see the Foamrunner already docked and two thugs unloading the crates onto a cart. A tall human with a great sword and wearing heavy armor - that upon closer inspection bears the Korvosan guard iconography - talking to a dwarf with a bristly black beard with a "clean" upper lip. The human hands the dwarf a purse of money as you hear the dwarf say: "Pleasure doing business with Zincher's boys, as usual."
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
The man nods. "Right, then. I'll catch you there then. First round will be on me. Name's Gisk, by the way, I usually work on the docks. Glad I slept in late today."
He looks around. "This is a new one, though. First the magnets, then the hail, and then the birds, now this? What is happening here in Riddleport?" He gives the Blot a dirty look. "Ever since that thing appeared everything's gone to pot."
A few hours later you will all reunite at the Gold Goblin. Saul is having a "wash-out" special to lighten the mood, with a "first bath in weeks" stew and the like. Business is as usual today, with patrons exchanging tall tales about the odd flooding and their own theories behind it.
As the night came to a close, Saul calls you all into his office. "So, I just got word that my shipment of four cases of Opparan wine as finally arrived and will be in port tomorrow morning on a brig called the Foamrunner. I had hoped that it would be here in time for the gala a couple of weeks ago, but the captain says it was delayed by storms. Listen, this stuff is expensive and rare outside of Taldan and Chelish noble courts. I need you to collect it when it arrives around midday, hopefully before anyone else hears of it. I wouldn't put it past any of my ex-peers - or even the Overlord, for that matter - to try and swipe it from me."
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Thyra, did you include flanking? Assuming you did not ...
Both strikes land on the shark, the hammer pinning the shark where it was as the morningstar once again crushed a skull. With combat over The other sounds of battle fade away from across the docks of Riddleport, and a few minutes later the water recedes.
Perception 25:
The Blot above had darkened for the duration of this "flood" and had returned to its hazy state before the water receded.
The civilian that had climbed up the building to escape the red shark crawled back down and thanked each of you profusely. "I didnae think I'd live through dat. Thank ye, fine folk! Let me buy ye drinks ... or someting to repay ye!"
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
No, Thyra, the red shark was already down there with the civilian, so you would not have. Yes, Hedran, you are flanking.
The yellow shark thrashes furiously before Hedran brings his morningstar down on its head. The surrounding waters turning crimson with the shark's blood as it float limply in the waters, lifeless. The red shark turns from the escaped civilian and is drawn to the smell of fresh blood in the water.
Red Bite:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 Red Damage:1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
The civilian between Hedran and the shark is slain almost instantly, the shark's jaws sinking deep into his torso and crushing the ribcage.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
The first round the sharks went first, attacking the NPCs as Thyra rushes in to strike the shark nearest her.
Her first strike is true, her warhammer bruising and tearing the scaly flesh of the shark. It roars and thrashes in the water, the bloody foam kicking into Thyra's eyes.
The second round commences, the yellow shark turning to attack Thyra as the other continues to tear into its current target.
That there is the join link for the Roll20 map. I am using your alias icons for your placement stuff. Hope ya'll don't mind. Also, sorry for delay, first week of training knocked me out.
Sarai, the casino is closed this early in the morning, and even so Saul and Bojask (a fellow employee) are maintaining the area currently.
Thyra is the first to respond to a local flooding and sees a few citizens being harassed by two large shark-like creatures swimming up the streets.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Fortunately for your first day, nothing exciting happens. Perhaps it is the new faces - or the determination on them, but no one tries anything that night during hours. It is the next morning, however, as you all get off of work, that another strange event rattles the people of Riddleport.
As you all make your way to your respective morning rituals an alarm bell rings from the southern docks. Any in that part of town are nearly swept away by the large tidal wave. There are some screams as some reefclaws and an odd shark got washed up into the streets and are causing some panic in the masses.
That would include Hedren and Thyra for sure, as the flats Bladi runs are right on the docks. If you went to talk to the female dwarf, you'd be on the first floor and thus up to your ankles in sea water for a solid ten minutes. Nessa, the House of the Silken Veil is in the northern part of town and on a bit of a rise, so the water does not reach there. Sarai, I don't know where you'd be staying - either the Gold Goblin with the free room offered by Saul or at the House as well, but unless otherwise stated by you you'd probably be clear of this.
Please post what you were doing [IC would be lovely] before this tidal surge and we can get some action in for you guys!
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Damnit, sorry Thyra!
Thyra:
As you all head out of the office to the main floor, Saul taps your side with his key hand. "About your request, Larur had a friend near the Gas Forges who ran a shrine to Torag. A lot of drwarves work at the Forges and so the faithful congregated there. Look for the squat flats just south of the Forges and ask around for a dwarven woman named Bladi Ironknuckles. She runs both the flats and the shrine and I imagine she would have what you need."
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
"Same as those who came before and same as Nessa's now. 25 silver an hour, eight hours a day, five days a week. Any extra work done outside the norm will be compensated."
Saul then retrieves four contracts of employment. They are simple affairs, covering payment, privileges, and position in the "company". "Sign these and we're partners. First payment will be at the end of the week once we close the morning after Fireday. Moonday through then you are required to work here. On Starday and Sunday you might get called in, depending."
"We'll make a show of strength this week, afterwards we'll start investigating leads for who is against us. Depending on how convincing we make it, they may make the first move and we'll catch them red-handed."
After you all sign, he smiles. "Now, let's make some money!" He'll lead the way to greet the afternoon rush.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Saul's smile through the banter never falters. "Ah, little Lavender still has a soft spot for Uncle Saul, eh? I should have seen the family resemblance, no offence. Well, sometime after the night of my retirement I found a new employer and set about building a more legit form of business. I still have bills to pay, after all."
"However, I still have enemies it seems. You learn quickly that you never can escape the game once you start playing. Thus, I have suffered thugs trying to either rob or murder me. Par for the course. However, now my partners are being targeted or going missing. I have lost Larur Feldin, an old friend, and Nessa's former coworkers. This is where we stand, currently, and what you are hired for."
Saul points to each of you with his key hand. "Nessa, I'd like you to share the spotlight with me as another pair of eyes to run this business and watch for rivals. Hedren, you are our bodyguard, keeping folks out of places they don't need to be in. Thyra, you are a warrior of justice and so I want to ensure no one breaks the rules and keep fights from breaking out, also keeping any weapons out of the floor. And Sarai, you are the eyes in the sky here, watching for any foul play and potential threats. Together, I hope the five of us can keep each other alive till we can discover who is out for my blood."
"Now, we're is about to open. Let's get to it!"
Does that work? Your characters can ask for more information.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Saul meets you at the door and smiles proudly. "Ah, Nessa, so good to see a familiar face. Please, come in and meet your new partners!" Sitting behind the desk, Saul looks past Nessa's back to the three he was talking to earlier.
"After sending out the others to locate Larur, they vanished as well. I am - for lack of a more courageous way of saying it - finding it easier to resume praying to the gods. Thankfully, I have found fitting replacements for those lost to me. Starting with you, Lady Nessa. I have no choice but to accept Larur as no longer with us. So, I need a left-hand man - or woman - to replace the invaluable partner and ally that Feldin was to me. I am offering you that position."
He then gestures to the three strangers: a half-orc male, a human woman, and a female tiefling. "These three are new hires. I'll not embarrass them by doing their introductions for them."
My new players, please post your characters' introductions and appearances now.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Thyra Osouf wrote:
@DM Gee-Em: Something I have been putting some thought into regarding the future; how do you feel about the Diving Fighting Technique feat? Not sure if I'd go for the advanced version, but I'm at least considering the primary feat (possibly as early as next level).
I'm sure you meant Divine Fighting, and after looking them over and seeing they are not third-party I see no problems with it.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Nessa's weekend comes to an end, and as she returns to the Gold Goblin for her side job she notices that Elek, Chalkou, and Khavakra are not in their usual places. Lixy, seeing the sorceress enter, waves her over.
"Afternoon, Nessie." She seems far more at ease since the last time you saw her almost two days ago, and even gives you a peck on the cheek in greeting. "Saul wanted to speak with you up in his office before you get started for today."
Should Nessa look up in that direction past the balcony, you'll see Saul speaking to three others just outside his suite.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Yep, a party of four level 2's. Feel free to read up on where the story is right now.
Nessa would be returning to work in a day, as the previous party members never returned. Saul is understandably worried, now, and has hired more muscle to both fill the vacancies in the Gold Goblin's staff and to serve as bodyguards. I'm going to throw out a few ideas for how your characters are introduced into the narrative, feel free to ignore or take them:
Thyra, you are a newcomer to Riddleport but missed the initial "Cheat the Devil" tournament. Regardless, you investigated the casino and saw the ad for new hires. Both to keep an eye on the place - that imp is still kept in a cage somewhere - and to pay for food and rent you got a job as the watcher of the weapons locker for patrons coming in.
Sarai, I figure Lavender Lil - your cousin - used her relationship with Nessa to help you get employed at the Goblin. You are familiar with the trouble Lavender has with Zincher over the Vancaskerkin affair and most likely came to Riddleport initially to help her out. A friend of Nessie's is a friend of Saul's, and so you got hired as one of the catwalk observers watching for cheats.
Hedran, you are intimidating to behold and Saul would feel safer with you between himself and whoever is after him. You are hired as both bouncer and personal bodyguard to Saul while he is at the Goblin casino. You shadow the boss and keep folks out of his office.
Again, take those or leave them, these are just ideas. We will RP this later once we iron out any last stat block and backstory details.
Yes, it was level 1 starting wealth plus 300. Revolvers/etc shall become available. Yeah, the original ratfolk character couldn't make it, so we carried on without him. Tomorrow midnight EST will be the deadline.
So, for hard clarity: That's a 1st level character with average starting wealth+300, right?
Actually plays nicely to simply upgrade my nobleman's primary weapon to MW. Probably better ways to spend the money, but it fits the noble theme.
And if you're not familiar with the archetype I've taken, all the trapfinding stuff a rogue gets is replaced with social skills and bonuses. Still a rogue, so no bardic performances or anything, but they are mechanically built for operating in court, not a dungeon.
Greetings, folks! So, I am in need of 3 or so players for my on-going Second Darkness campaign ... again.
Currently, we have one surviving character, a lovely tiefling sorceress. I am not really concerned about party composition, but please check the first post to see character building rules and such.
You would most likely be bringing in your characters as either current or hopeful employees at the Gold Goblin or something similar. Feel free to read up on the campaign so far for ideas.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Nessa:
Saul shook his head as he placed his key-hand on the small of Nessa's back, adding to the act. "Larur hating being in others' debt. His loan with Smeed was not his first option, believe me. I've been thinking about it, and I think he was targeted to get to me. That does not narrow the list, however, I have many enemies."
Lixy pursed her lips at Khavakra's question. "I could ask, but our priestess demands payment for that kind of service. It is never money, though, but things variant on the person asking."
Three figures approach as she speaks. Two are humans cloaked in dirty robes and flank a tall figure. Lixy stands to bow to the tall female form, whose features are hidden from view by a deep hood.
"It is a pleasure to see you, my child." The hooded woman whispers. "I see you brought guests to our feast."
"They have a request of you, Mother." Lixy turns to you three. "This is our Mother, I credit her for my invention of Ghoulette, the game I manage at the Gold Goblin."
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
There are no obvious guards at first, but Chalkou notices about six mercenaries watching the outside of this camp, keeping their eyes outwards. The gathering here carry no weapons, looking for all the world guests to a strange feast.
Lixy turns to you all. "This has nothing to do with Mister Feldin. I am here for comfort and to seek protection. If Larur is still missing, he is most likely dead. If one of the upper staff of the Gold Goblin is dead, then who is to say any one of us is next?"
She sits at one of the long tables, head in her hands. "I came today because I would be among others who shared my ... faith. I hope to entreat to our leader and ask for guidance and protection till Saul figures out his latest mess. Gods know that fat snake can't protect his own."
Nessa:
While at the Gold Goblin, Saul approaches Nessa as she earns overtime. "I did say you aren't a regular employee, my dear. A Calistrian never rests, do they?"
In a more hushed tone, he asks "Did you find anything about Larur yet?"
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Nessa, despite this not being her shift, works the crowd for her own profit. She makes 25 gold in tips and manages to keep things rather calm during the post-lunch action here at the Goblin.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
I would say so, Khavakra, as you came up to her looking for trouble or tells.
Lixy leads you east to the East Road towards the Boneyard then north towards the Burying Grounds, the semi-official cemetery of Riddleport. Approaching you see a small cluster of tents just inside the treeline southeast of the cemetery. Lixy marches resolutely to the tents, where she is confronted by two hooded and masked humans. The woman presents her necklace.
"Who is invited to the Pallid Feast?" One of the hooded men asks.
"She who hungers for eternal excess." Lixy replies.
The hooded ones nod and step aside, allowing Lixy and you to pass. Entering the cluster, you see two long tables being prepared for a glorious feast, one befitting a nobleman or crime lord. Wines, meats, hard-to-get fruits, and more are presented. Lixy allows her necklace to be exposed, revealing the skull-fly symbol to be presented for all to see. Other guests here bear the same symbol, and greet Lixy warmly.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
"What? Larur? No I ..." Lixy eyes widen as this isn't the first time she's seen Khavakra use this ability before, but it is still quite impressive to witness. Finally, she sighs. "Fine. You all want to know my business so badly? Follow me."
She turns curtly and begins to walk towards the Rotgut District without waiting for your response, but slow enough that following her would not be an issue. As she turns away, she tucks the necklace beneath her tunic.
Perception DC 17:
The necklace sports a wooden carving of a fly with a skull painted onto the abdomen. A Religion check of 10 or more reveals this to be the symbol of Urgathoa, the goddess of disease, gluttony, and undeath.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Lixy avoids Chalkou's eyes, gripping her necklace tighter. "I ... no, thank you, though. This is a personal affair, and I'd rather not involve others."
She begins to back away, about ready to bolt once she is clear.
Catching her will require a CMB roll or a holding spell.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Lixy freezes as Khavakra calls out to her, the human woman giving a small grin as the shorter woman approaches her. "Ah, Miss Khavakra. Yes, normally you'd be right. But I ... I have a family matter to attend to. Mister Vancaskerkin has my shift covered."
Sense Motive DC 17:
She is nervous, keeping a necklace hanging from a string clasped in her off hand. She isn't lying, but she isn't telling the whole truth.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
As you return to the Gold Goblin, you see Lixy exiting the front doors, pulling a hood over her head and ducking into the shadows of early afternoon.
Entering, you'd see the weekend crowds have started to gather. It's weird that Lixy is leaving now, this is usually her shift. Several patrons and customers catcall and whistle at Nessa or start bugging Elek and Chalkou with requests and questions. Khavakra is given a wide berth out of respect, as many cheaters have had their asses handed to them by the stoic "dwarven" woman.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
Elek:
Due to being raised in Riddleport in the employ of one of the crime lords of the city - Pamodae - you have a few more ideas than most.
Of course the eight crime lords themselves would know about these things. Overlord Gaston Cromarcky might also know, depending on how informed the crime lords keep him. You know the crime lord Avery Slyeg handles the smuggling operations and would know about foreign tools of the trade. Crime lord Varnal "Split Face" Knocmar deals in information brokering. Boss Croat is the crime lord who organizes assassinations.
Gaston Cromarcky lives on Maskyr's Island, Avery Slyeg operates from the River Runner Inn, Split Face wanders the Rotgut District, Croat has a fortified manor at the end of Silk Street in northern Riddleport.
Chalkou:
When Nessa came out, she bore a distinct smell of sweat and tobacco smoke. The cloak - while disgusting from sitting in the refuse - did not smell like that at all. You smell scents familiar to the Gold Goblin, smells that came from the basement level.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
You sense he is being as honest with you as you were with him.
The little man draws deeply of his cigar before letting it out in a nasal sigh. "Larur Feldin was a proud, honest dwarf, too good for this rat's nest of a town. He wasted his life being Saul's partner, literally if he is dead in some gutter." He gives you a sidelong glance as you slip away. "Be careful you don't do the same."
As you leave, you hear him lock the door behind you. You regroup and inform the others of what you learned.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
GM Screen:
Sense Motive:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
"I should have known Saul'd be behind this." Smeed sighs and leans against the wall in the antichamber you two are standing in, wiping his brow. "I don't know who wouldn't be after my blood in this town, but I have had nothing to do with that dwarf. Sure he opened a loan with me, but he had just paid it off two nights ago. I haven't seen him since."
"I'm glad you seem to have a brain to match your beauty, missie. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted to get a glass for this fine red wine before me, but I've sworn off Pamodae and her ladies. Now, unless you desire a loan," he gestures to the door, "get out. We have nothing further to discuss."
He then relights his cigar as he waits for Nessa to leave.
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
"Really, now?" Smeed's eyebrow cocks as he closes the door, not locking it. "Well, I'd like you to try something difficult for you: honest."
He places a sweaty hand on the hilt of his short sword, curved and of Keleshite origins, but does not draw it. He is a full foot shorter than Nessa, but his eyes glare into hers. "I don't know what game you Veil girls are up to lately, but you should know better than to lie to someone in my line of work. I'd have told you to piss off, but I've learned the hard way not to piss off you Stingers. So, in interest of being diplomatic, I'm going to ask you one question. What happens next is reliant on your answer."
Male Voice Beyond the Folding Fourth Wall Game Master
GM Screen:
Sense Motive:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Smeed is silent for a moment, staring through Nessa as his thoughts churn. Finally, he lets out a quiet whine before slowly sliding the panel shut and Nessa hears the rapid unlocking of an elaborate lock. The thick door opens just enough for her to slide in.
