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Eltis and the Carnelian Signet discover various escape ladders and hatches cleverly disguised as buttresses on the building’s exterior that lead to a skylight and alternative entry points into the dojo. Perhaps the assassins used these for their own training or perhaps for secret ingress/egress routes between missions. Either way, you’re able to scout out the coming encounter as well as possibly splitting up in a pincer maneuver if you so choose.

The Dojo of Younglings

The main entrance is to the western edge of the room, but the alternative entry points would deposit you via trap doors in the northeast and southeast corners of the upper balcony overlooking the training floor. The upper level is 10 feet higher than the central floor and connected by stairs. A quick reconnoiter reveals 5 Dispatch Younglings currently engaged in combat training.

The upper level is the outer ring area that I labeled. You can place yourselves anywhere on the Eastern end of that balcony at or near the stairs that lead down to the main training floor. Or you can place yourselves in the Western entry corridor where I placed Adelmare’s token.

@Adelmare: You are not required to come in through the main corridor just because that’s where I placed your token, nor at that exact spot. I set it there as a reference for everyone else. That corridor is 10 feet wide, in spite of appearing to be slightly narrower.

This is an active Training Dojo, not a banquet room. There are NO tables or chairs. (They really could have easily picked a better map.) Going down the stairs is NOT Difficult Terrain.

”Uhh… Mickey sent you?” The two guards look at each other and then back to the Carnelian Signet and her friends. ”Well, sure, that makes sense. The two of us ain’t enough to move this guy through the streets, what with the Pathfinders all over the place,” says the one. ”And it is about time for shift change anyway,” the other adds as he begins packing up his gear.

”Here you go, good luck,” they say as they hand over the keys on their way past you in the narrow hall. You hear them discussing what tavern might still be open as they depart.

”DANG! You lot got some big brassy ones on ya! Well, in a manner of speaking, of course,” Chirper exclaims with a look between Adelmare and the Carnelian Signet as you release him from his cell. ”Thanks a ton for getting me out! They captured me when I might have accidentally mentioned something sensitive to a certain girl…. No, not about that kinda stuff!” he squeaks at Mrs. Crinkle’s look. ”No, I discovered proof that the false mantises (the Dispatch) started taking on assassination contracts, pretending to be the real Red Mantis. They grabbed me off the street, and they’ve been trying to ransom me back to my family for cash. Heh, but little do they know, my family is poor as dirt and wouldn’t have paid up anyway, so they would’ve just been giving me room and board forever. Heh!”

He then presents the one piece of (slightly moist) evidence he was able to hide on his person all this time (and no, don’t ask where) — a contract signed by a Chelaxian government official, requesting the Red Mantis Dispatch (pointedly not the Red Mantis) assassinate Zarta Dralneen of the Pathfinder Society. He also draws a map for you 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 (or at least a couple “bundles” worth of fortune), which he wants you to have as thanks for his rescue.

As you proceed back to the ship to get Chirper to safety, you spot Giovana leaning against the wall of a building, cleaning blood off the blade from one of her iconic sawtooth sabers. She pauses momentarily when she spots Chirper with you. They engage in a quick conversation about the aforementioned contract and Chirper’s payment for the delivery of it to her. She asks him to proceed to the ship and give it to Eando Kline “with her love,” and as he scampers off to do so, she turns her deadly serious attention back to you.

Indicating a passageway behind her with a thumb, she explains. ”Some of the poor Dispatch fools tried to tangle with me and paid the ultimate price. Their disciples—assassin trainees if you will, fled inside. Clearing them out is beneath me, so I want you to handle it.” She fixes a steely glare on the Pathfinders. “Don’t let a single one out alive.”

The Red Mantis vernai struts away without another word, leaving you at the entrance of a Dispatch training dojo.

I would take a DC 20 Perception check OR a DC 18 Engineering or Underworld Lore check from anyone that wants to scout around the building before entering.

While you take a break on the deck for some much needed refreshment and healing*, Eando Kline catches up to your 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,” he says pointing to a spot on a map of the city. I’ll leave it up to you on how best to proceed, though. Good hunting!”

As you reach the building that Eando indicated, the two mercenaries keeping watch over Chirper lock themselves in a narrow hallway just outside the goblin’s jail cell, commanding you to keep back while leveling their crossbows at you, creating an effective stalemate.

The authors left this one open-ended. There are guidelines for running this as an RP with dialog and no checks required, or for doing it like a skill challenge with suggested checks and DCs but even those are just suggestions. There’s also a combat option, but there may be consequences to that option. So take it however you like, but for PBP a blend of RP and whatever skill check you can make a case to use might be best. Except the Carnelian Signet; she has to use Deception :)

*You have a 10-minute rest to try to heal the Carnelian Signet of her last bit of remaining damage.

The Carnelian Signet sets a box on the floor and turns her back to walk away. Just as one can herd cats without them even knowing they’re being herded, several dolls come out of hiding and climb into the box as if it was their idea all along. Meanwhile, the Signet finds out she needs to do more squats at the gym. 2 Successes

Eltis, on the other hand, just needs to get to a gym once in a while. His attempts at herding dolls leave him out of breath and frustrated. No Successes

Adelmare gets a little bit of ‘tude going before turning his attentions to the dolls. Several more come out of hiding and wander up to the centaur as if hypnotized by his magics. 2 Successes

Shalosar neutralizes some of the poison in Tiziri who thanks him in a quiet voice. But the kineticist really should have known better than to copy Eltis’ techniques at herding cats dolls. 1 Success

Zenari tries to show Eltis and Shalosar how it’s done, but finally gives up in frustration at how fast the little buggers are. She then helps the Signet get a better lifting position on Tiziri, and they manage to get thon up. 1 Success

Mrs. Crinkle … well, what can be said … She poisons the poor guards’ fireplace with toxic chemicals, tricks the dolls into hurrying back to Tiziri before the team can leave, and then hoists Tiziri up like one of thon’s own dolls, making the two ladies already struggling to carry the crafter look redundant. 3 Successes

The Pathfinders collect all of Tiziri’s dolls and evacuate thon back to the ship for further medical treatment and eventually a reunion with thon’s family back in Nex. Hooray!

No need to spend a Hero Point. The baseline threshold is 6 Successes, and you got 9. Success Reported.

I tried assigning point values to the votes, and what I came up with was doing the missions in this order:

#1 Hospital Hustle = Skill Challenge Done

Tied:
#2 Monkeying Around = Roleplay/Skill Challenge
#4 Dispatching the Dispatch = Combat Encounter

#3 Gone but not Forgotten = Skill Challenge/Hazard

Not gonna Happen unless you mow through the others:
#5 Etched in Wood and Metal = Hazard

Monkeying Around shouldn't take long, then we'll do the combat.

Act 3 is scheduled to end on Oct 30, or whenever the House gets enough individual mission Successes to move us along. But I'm confident we can get through these first 3, and then try to fit in Gone but not Forgotten.

Zarta hands the Carnelian Signet a potion from her bag. ”Darling, you should really get that looked at by a, ahem, competent healer,” she says with a bit of side-eye at Eltis. She then points toward a multi-story building situated a bit away from the rest of the others on the island. “According to our information, that’s the local hospital. Not that I expect you’ll find any healers there, mind you. Rather, a hostage named Tiziri Blacklevy is supposedly being held there, while the Dispatch has been milking thons family for proof-of-life ransom demands for years. Let’s do a good deed and get thon out of there swiftly, shall we?”

When you arrive at the hospital, you find the ground floor set up as a regular infirmary. The upper floor is arranged for long-term patients and is guarded. The guards here flee immediately upon seeing a team of well-armed Pathfinders, but when they reach the street, they start calling for reinforcements! You have only so much time to complete this rescue without risking the safety of the hostage!

It’s easy to find the only “long-term care” patient. Tiziri Blacklevy tells you that thon has been held here for years and is paralyzed from the waist-down. When it’s apparent that thon is being rescued, thon informs you that the soulbound dolls thon crafted for company are hiding around the hospital. ”They only come out once the guards go to sleep to avoid being noticed. We can’t leave any of them behind. Please find them, and then I will go with you, thon states emphatically.

To get Tiziri and thons’ soulbound dolls collected and evacuated to a Pathfinder-controlled area of the island before Dispatch reinforcements arrive, you can a) work to help get Tiziri up and moving, OR b) you can try to corral the dolls.

Helping Tiziri can be done with a DC 16 Athletics or Medicine check to pick thon up or counteract the poison that is paralyzing thon, OR a DC 18 Crafting or Diplomacy check to encourage them or craft a mobility device, OR a DC 20 Nature or Thievery check to work on one of the previous strategies from a more obscure angle.

Collecting the dolls involves a DC 16 Arcana or Performance check to connect with the dolls, a DC 18 Acrobatics or Deception check to creatively herd them, or a DC 20 Intimidation or Stealth check to coerce or sneak up on them.

Each PC can attempt a maximum of two checks!

Zenari’s quick reflexes trigger, and she puts her trident straight through the ghoul’s belly. It collapses back to the floor without managing to do a thing.

The Carnelian Signet clears the bile from her lungs and turns her attention to the youngest of the two ghouls. She slices it in half for the gall it had to bite her on the first date. Crit!

The rest of the team do enough damage before the ghouls can flee to obliterate the undead foes.

The Carnelian Signet -19
Zenari -8

As noted, you have 1 hour to rest, AND you receive a fresh set of Pathfinder Provisions (linked). Please see the Discussion thread for mission options and vote there OOC or here In Character.

Well, sorry. They advanced the timeline when they got enough successes.

On the bright side, everyone gets the benefits of a 1-hour rest AND a fresh set of Pathfinder Provisions (linked).

Your choices of missions are:

#1 Hospital Hustle = Skill Challenge

#2 Monkeying Around = Roleplay/Skill Challenge

#3 Gone but not Forgotten = Skill Challenge/Hazard

#4 Dispatching the Dispatch = Combat Encounter

#5 Etched in Wood and Metal = Hazard

The Carnelian Signet chokes and gags on the fetid aura just before Adelmare blasts the offending ghould away. Though not soon enough for the Signet. Zenari has less trouble, maybe because she didn’t take a huge gulp of air like the Signet did.

Mrs. Crinkle hulks-out, lays out the nearest ghoul, lays into it with her teeth, then finally pumps out a gaseous cloud of her own. Thankfully her allies are immune, but her enemies are emotionally traumatized.

The one on the ground doesn’t want to be any closer to Mrs. Crinkle’s exhaust port than it has to be so it stands….

The jauniced Yellow ghoul draws its sword and swings around to the far side of Zenari

Bastard Sword: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Damage, P: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Blue and Green decide to team up on the Signet. They vie for the attention of the lady that blew them a kiss, each hoping to turn her into a ghoul.

Blue Jaws: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Damage, P: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Green Bastard Sword, OG: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
Damage, P: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Blue draws first blood, and Green nicks an artery only because the poor Signet is trying to keep her lunch down.

Round 1 & 2
The Downward Path
Conditions: Areas of the Map around the Statue with what appear to be rubble are Difficult Terrain.
EVERYONE May Act

Adelmare
The Carnelian Signet (-19, Sickened 1, Slowed 1 as long as Sickened)
Mrs. Crinkle (Immune to Stench)
Zenari (-8, Immune to Stench, Reactive Striking Black/Yellow/Neither?)

Black Ghoul Cadet (-16)
Yellow Ghoul Soldier (-4)
Green Ghoul Soldier (-2)
Blue Ghoul Cadet (-2)

Shalosar (Pending DC 15 Fort save vs Stench)
Eltis

With her weapon drawn, the Carnelian Signet marches into the room and blows a fiery kiss at the grouped up ghouls. How were they to know not to hang out in fireball formation? As she takes in that deep breath to blow the kiss, she belatedly remembers that earlier fight and the horrid stench that ghouls emit. Some of the ghouls duck a bit, but a couple of them look up just in time to take the kiss straight in their ugly kissers.

I need DC 15 Fortitude saves from Zenari and the Carnelian Signet now. And from anyone else that approaches within 10 feet of any of the ghouls.

Adelmare notices that some of these ghouls seem to be weaker than the others. As evidenced by how the one in the Red pants simply disintegrated under the assault of his needles. Then he remembers that they are more robust and nimble than they are strong of mind. Will save is weakest. Fortitude and Reflex are tied and higher.

Zenari jabs the one in the Black Pirate hat with her trident to good effect.

Round 1
The Downward Path
Conditions: Areas of the Map around the Statue with what appear to be rubble are Difficult Terrain.
BOLD May Act

Adelmare
The Carnelian Signet (Pending DC 15 Fortitude Save)
Mrs. Crinkle
Zenari (Pending DC 15 Fortitude Save)

Black Ghoul Cadet (-7)
Yellow Ghoul Soldier (-4)
Green Ghoul Soldier (-2)
Blue Ghoul Cadet (-2)

Shalosar
Eltis

Red Ghoul Cadet

Welp. That makes Block Initiative easier.

I think it's reasonable that experienced Pathfinders that are part of an invading army and expecting to encounter trouble at any turn would have weapons drawn. Therefore, Zenari can take another action instead of using the action to draw her trident if she wishes.

The Black Key opens a solid black door into a courtyard at the center of the Inn. At one time, this cobblestone and marble courtyard must have been the pride of the inn, with a towering statue of a hero on a barded warhorse standing in the middle of a recessed stage. And though the weakening evening sun still finds its way into the open-air courtyard, its light only falls on the crumbling remains of the once great statue strewn over what was once a symbol of triumph.

Small steps lead down to a square plinth in the center of the courtyard. The statue that once stood on the plinth has broken and crumbled on the ground causing squares with bits of statue to be difficult terrain.

Five of Sotroz’s undead minions are in the recessed area at the far end of the courtyard tending to the broken statue in an attempt to rebuild the facade of the rider in Sotroz’ image for an eventual return of the statue to its centralized location.

An obvious illusion of Sotroz stands on the opposite side of the courtyard from your point of entrance. They make no move to fight, nor do they speak, as it’s clear from looking at them that they’re not actually present. It is clearly some sort of holographic scrying spell.

Round 1
The Downward Path
Conditions: Areas of the Map around the Statue with what appear to be rubble are Difficult Terrain.
BOLD May Act

Adelmare
The Carnelian Signet
Mrs. Crinkle
Zenari

Black Ghoul Cadet
Yellow Ghoul Soldier
Green Ghoul Soldier
Blue Ghoul Cadet

Shalosar
Eltis

Red Ghoul Cadet

The Carnelian Signet deceives the lock into believing that it’s been open the whole time!

Zenari peruses the dossiers. She notes the info on the targets of the contracts before turning her attention to the diary. Several later pages have been ripped out of the journal which is written in a code built upon both Mwangi and Elven. Earlier intact entries detail Rowan’s youth in Ilizmagorti and her early desire to join the Red Mantis Assassins. She studied with criminals, mercenaries, and assassins alike until she was skilled enough to gain the attention of a Red Mantis Assassin seeking to recruit her. But she decided that she would not give her devotion to some god’s rules and structure and murdered her would-be benefactor before escaping to the wilds of Mediogalti in search of a more profitable arrangement. At some point she met and joined forces with a ghoul named Sotroz.

Though it begins to tell how she never truly trusted the ghoul, any further information has been ripped from its pages, except for a note attached to a black key used as a bookmark: “Sotroz says this key can be used to enter their courtyard if need be.” The courtyard key is a cold, black key in the shape of two intertwined thorned roses. It radiates cold and is annoying, but not painful, to hold.

And it appears that I gave you the Dossier info inadvertently already. Give me a bit to set up the combat in the courtyard. I’ll have it up before I go to bed here USA Eastern Time.

Inside the chest are three folders with the names Mafika Ayuwari, Kassi Aziril, and Zarta Dralneen written on each respectively in a crisp, tight handwriting and a crude map of the settlement with names over several of the buildings in the same script: the Crafter, the Pathfinder, and the Thief. The dossiers inside provide skillfully painted images of each target with coded notes detailing the habits and regular travel routes along with known allies of each target.

Deciphering the coded dossiers requires a DC 18 Society check. If the reader is fluent in either Elven or Mwangi, the coding is far simpler to understand and only requires a DC 16 Society check.

The chest also holds a small diary.

Deciphering the diary requires another Society check at the same DC(s) as above.

This should be a quick check to get some more background info and an easy Success.

Ahem, well, that was quick. Thanks, Signet.

They've just announced that So That’s Sotroz is in effect. This announcement warns the Table GMs that there are only "about 10 minutes" remaining in Act 2, and we should "Quickly resolve your encounter and wait for the House GM to read the announcement that completes Act 2."

But Act 3 is not scheduled to start until 10 Oct. So after doing this one, I guess we could start the combat encounter. Up to you, but there is a chance we may not finish.

A fourth contract? Who was that for?”

She gets ready to swipe the three contracts she can see unless someone else does so.

”Some Absalom woman, Dhrami Blakros the name was. I don’t know anything about her, of course, but that contract should be here,” he concludes as Mrs. Crinkle leans in over the desk providing just enough of a distraction for the ancient bookkeeper to have plausible deniability as to how the contracts disappeared.

Edit: You never asked Nigel why he was here. He got wind of this contract and came to intercept it.

Suddenly, all hell breaks loose as Eando, Zarta, and Giovanna arrive at the Inn. ”Pathfinders, nice job,” Zarta acknowledges your team as Eando gives a tight nod and Giovanna decapitates another ghoul in the room.

As you turn back to where Hessil the bookkeeper was just sitting, he’s no longer there, gone in a puff of dust and leaving the records untouched. Zarta examines what you found and directs you to search the rest of the Inn for whatever else there may be of value.

Following her instructions, you move further in, and in the northeast corner of No Rest for the Wicked, a brightly lit room is covered in colorful carpets and pillows. On each wall, a pair of mirrors gaze into the room almost hiding the small chest hidden in the back.

The chest in the room is locked but not trapped.

A DC 16 thievery check to unlock it or a DC 18 strength Athletics check to Force Open the chest is requested, please and thank you.

”Hrrmm,” he murmurs as he looks up again from his work. ”You are a distraction, but not entirely unwelcome. Oathday is still a few days away, and I’ve no one to talk to between the paydays. Very well, have a seat my small friend,” he gestures for Eltis to join him at the table covered with what you quickly realize are the complete financial records for the Red Mantis Dispatch, as well as several open assassination contracts.

”Ah, I see you’ve noticed the contracts. As I’m sure you know, holding a physical contract can keep the target safe, but I would be remiss if I did not also inform you that without the related dossiers that the Whisperer keeps, even retrieving these contracts does not guarantee these targets’ safety.” He pauses as he shuffles through the papers as if searching for something. Finally, he stops, reorganizes all of his piles neatly, and explains that there was a fourth contract, but it and its related dossier have somehow disappeared.

The contracts that you can see are:

Zarta Dralneen: Zarta’s contract is on the top of the pile. It does not mention who the client is but is stamped with the mark of the House of Thrune.

Kassi Aziril: Kassi’s contract also has a Thrune mark on it but again has no client information.

Mafika Ayuwari: Mafika’s contract is from a jorogumo noble in Shenmen. An addition to the contract for the death, it includes raiding his office for multiple books and notes from recent experiments he’s been working on with the Plane of Wood.

On the long table, a detailed map of the settlement marks not only the inn, but a dockside tavern, a nondescript building, and a hospital on the outskirts with the names Thidos, Chirper, and Blacklevy near each respectively.

It is clear that you can simply take the contracts, and he will not stop such a powerful - and polite - group.

Success has been reported, so you can go to the General Skill Challenge. I’ll let you RP out of this one, and move us to that one tomorrow (USA time.)

He gives the Signet some side eye with a raised lip, but nods to the more polite and erudite kobold. He seems nearly ready to talk more, when something on his desk catches his eye and he returns to his counting.

Sooo close. Can anyone give Eltis a retroactive Aid? I'd even accept a relevant Lore like Accounting, Merchant, or Legal with some decently RP'ed justification.

The old man glances momentarily at the Carnelian Signet and seems to see right through her. It sends a shiver down the vigilante’s spine, and she’s sure that although her bluff was totally believable, he seemed almost immune.

When Mrs. Crinkle speaks more Diplomatically*, his ancient face doesn’t actually smile, but it’s clear he’s receptive. ”Ah, my dear,” he says looking directly at Mrs. Crinkle, ”a pleasure. What can I do for you?”

*I took the comment that Mrs. Crinkle’s Diplo has the same bonus to mean that you’re okay with substituting that skill for Deception if the situation warranted. Yes, as a F2F table, I would have given you the fact that he seems immune to Deception.

You’ve “opened the door” but further checks could get you more. Clearly Diplomacy works, and Deception does not.

Nigel Aldain nods absently as the party of junior agents bids him farewell. He adjusts his snooty glasses and begins pulling a few select books off the shelves and packing up to depart this horrid island.

The Red Mantis headquarters is an old inn called No Rest for the Wicked. While it is mostly boarded up, it looks like it sometimes houses dock workers looking to get rid of a little steam while waiting to get paid for their labor, while also helping to alleviate the pain of carrying all of that pay. The doors to the inn are unlocked as befits such an establishment.

Next to the main taproom, a dusty dining chamber sits lit in candlelight from wall sconces and in small, melted columns on the three tables fit into three of the room’s corners. Each table is covered in layers of old plating, empty cups, and piles upon piles of notes, records books, coin purses, and empty crates. Over everything, a cloying layer of thick dust covers any exposed surface like dirty snowfall over a mountain range. Seated at a round table in the northeast corner of the room, an elderly man updates his record book and moves coins and papers from one pile to another, periodically stamping a document with a red and black inked stamp with a crude image of a pair of chitinous clawed appendages. As you step into the room, he doesn’t look up from his paperwork. “If you’re here to start a business, like that aiuvarin, we’re full up. Unless you fork over 200 gold pieces. Otherwise, get back to the docks. Payday isn’t until Oathday.”

@GM Nomadical: Is the "certain grey-haired lady" me? Just checking, since Mrs. Crinkle didn't sit down in my post, but context clues indicate he'd want a comfortable distance from her.

Yes, that was meant to refer to Mrs. Crinkle because I misread the post about “taking a seat.” No worries, but sorry about the confusion.

Sotroz’s elegant script describes mundane experiment notes to an assistant. But hidden in the notes is a tidbit about their ally, Rowan. It reads: “She passes through the mirror to best her opponents from every angle. But it is not perfect. This translocation weakens and disorients her for but a moment. That is the only opportunity to strike.”

“It seems, despite their alliance and business relationship, the Red Mantis Dispatch is mostly two individuals that do not trust each other at all. I imagine both have been seeking ways to undermine the other when their relationship inevitably sours, but I was only able to find this tidbit in a book hidden in a cloakroom while Hessil was getting us drinks. Lucky for us, he doesn’t have many people to talk to and craves companionship. Ultimately, if they aren’t brought down soon, I’m curious to see whether Sotroz or their dangerous business partner, Rowan the Whispering, comes out on top. Other than that, I don’t have any further verified information about either of them,” he finishes by way of answering Shalosar’s question.

At the appearance of the glowing message Glyph, Nigel Aldain smiles to the Carnelian Signet’s comment. ”Sounds like it’s time for you to get on your way. I look forward to speaking to you again in Absalom. Swing by the museum, and I’ll arrange free tickets to the newest exhibit if you can find a way to bring down the Red Mantis Dispatch.”

Your next location is indeed the No Rest for the Wicked Inn. You can do either a Social Challenge or a general Skill Challenge. Vote here in Character or in the Discussion thread.

Nigel looks askance at Zenari’s claim to being related to Calisro when she butchers the Captain’s name. LOL, sorry, had to. When Eltis produces a second wayfinder, he relaxes. He steps to a table with a couple of chairs (one of which a certain gray-haired lady is resting is) and sits down with a comfortable distance between himself and her.

”Yes, I was asking if you were here to deal with the Dispatch, but since the young lady asked about Khione and other prisoners first, let’s address that. I know of two specifically. One is the Nexian child you mentioned named Tiziri Blacklevy. I’ve dealt with thon’s* father in the past, a construct crafter of some talent. The other is Khione Thidos, and for those who do not know her personally, she is a powerful voice within the Pathfinder Society, and she can make or break a reputation with just a rumor. I could not leave until I found a way to free them both. I believe a third was brought in more recently, but I’ve no information on that one.” He withdraws a small notebook from his jacket’s inner pocket and passes it across the table to the woman who is clearly the “senior” agent (at least by age.) “This has my notes on where I think they are being kept. Make sure someone gets eyes on this.”

”As to the Red Mantis Dispatch itself, well, they’re basically a lie made truth. This is what happens when skilled individuals decide to take on a role they aren’t quite qualified for and do not own the rights to, but drive leads them to dive in regardless. The Red Mantis Dispatch may have begun as a small smuggling operation using the Red Mantis’s reputation to protect their goods from prying eyes, but from my understanding, they have stepped into picking up actual assassination contracts. The trouble is, they aren’t exactly incapable of fulfilling their contracts which leads to other parties conflating them with the real Mantises.

To complicate things further, there are two heads to this monster. A ghoul named Sotroz. They have become far more capable and powerful than any other ghoul I have encountered. The other is an aiuvarin woman named Rowan the Whispering. She is… formidable. Honestly, had she not teamed up with the ghoul, I’d have expected her to become an agent of the Red Mantis herself.”

*Per the sidebar in the scenario: Tiziri Blacklevy uses thon/thons/thonself pronouns which are one of the first known examples of intentionally gender-neutral pronouns. Dating back to 1858 in our world, most lingual studies on the history of pronouns claim that thon was intended as a contraction of “that one.” For Tiziri, the pronouns fit thon’s understanding of thonself, and even the so-called agents of the Red Mantis Dispatch understand value in being respectful to thon’s wishes in the matter.

“Pathfinders…?” Nigel begins uncertainly as he tries to figure out who you are and why you’re here.

When Mrs. Crinkle suddenly takes his arm, he most surprisingly breathes a sigh of relief. ”Ah, the Society received my missives!” he exclaims. Seeing the blank stares in return, Nigel curses uncharacteristically under his breath. “Hells! That means my messages have been intercepted. The question is whether it is the family, the Alliance, or some other organization with eyes on my pursuits. No matter which one, it seems my time here on the island has come to an end. I suppose I’ll find my way back to Mediogalti, and then Absalom with haste.”

He shakes off the wolf-in-sheep's-clothing politely but firmly, nods to the Signet’s point about “being taken,” and moves to the front window. Making sure that no one else is outside, he puts out the “closed” sign and draws the curtains to.

”Now then. To business. You are Pathfinders, I presume. Have you some particular way of proving that? And either way, you say the Society is docked here searching for a missing agent. So it’s just your party of six against this entire island (not that I would be surprised if you say it is)? And is her rescue the extent of your mission? ”

Signet failed her Diplomacy check, but Mrs. Crinkle succeeded. Now I need another Diplomacy or Deception check to get him to answer further questions. If you choose Deception, be prepared for where that may lead based on your story…. Someone showing him one of those wayfinder thingees might help.

Yes, you would have gotten provisions. I believe I mentioned that in the first Discussion post. ;) Take it now if you didn't decide earlier. And yes, there were supplies in those crates in the other linked Gameplay post. Again, divvy them up or use a fair share's worth.

Refering back to the map that Luffy and Pops gave you, it leads to a small back-alley office with a hand-painted sign decorated with dark roses and gold writing that reads “Baccara Holdings” exactly as the stevedores had described. There is a soft light within that barely makes it through the grime-covered windows, but not shedding any light into the streets beyond the alleyway.

The interior of Baccara Holdings is as unremarkable as its entrance. The small office has a single dust-covered counter with an unswept floor littered with mud and footprints from the characteristically rubber- soled dock worker shoes. A small everburning torch lights the entrance and several melted candles offer their meager light to the counter and a heavy desk covered in books and letters far beyond. From a nose deep in a ledger on the desk, a tall, dark-haired aiuvarin man stands up wearily to approach the counter. “Welcome to Baccara Holdings. I am the Curator.” The Curator’s clipped accent doesn’t resemble that of the island’s other inhabitants. “Are you here for a loan or for other business needs?”

As the Curator approaches the counter, the candlelight brings his features into focus. Nigel Aldain. Curator of the Blakros Museum and former Pathfinder Society agent. “How can Baccara Holdings be of service this evening?”

We were on our way to a money-lending house to speak to the Curator, someone who opposes the Dispatch. Should we plan to continue there, or go check out this inn (if we have time)?

There are a lot of times in this scenario where missions are alluded to but not available. So for now, we’ll have to go to the money-lending house until the inn missions open.

Also, I keep forgetting the limitation on Treat Wounds. Can I try to heal the signet, or do I need to wait an hour?[/ooc]

You actually have 10 minutes between these two missions, so only 1 Treat Wounds on the Signet for now. This next encounter is a social with no set time, so if The Carnelian Signet has a pearly white aeon stone, we’ll call it good.

Give me a few minutes to prep up the post for “An Old Acquaintance.”

The Carnelian Signet’s first swing goes waaaay wide as she’s thinking about how useless her flames are this one time. But the second hit smashes bones. The oversized puppy in the too-tight red dress comes in and claims a femur before Shalosar finishes off the last one.

COMBAT OVER

Adelmare
Eltis
Mrs. Crinkle
The Carnelian Signet -21
Shalosar
Zenari -6

As Mrs. Crinkle munches on a bone, and the rest of you sweep the square to check on the foes, you notice that the ghoul in the Yellow jacket still clings to its unlife. She spits and sputters as her demise hastens just long enough for you to hear her plea. “They called us. They control us. We sustain them. Sotroz must be judged...” As she dies a final death, her hand opens to reveal a small map rolled into a scroll, hidden within her hand. The map is hastily drawn to show the directions to an inn closer to the center of town, far from the docks.

Standby. I’m checking to see what missions are available, or if we have to wait again. Feel free to heal and RP in the meantime, though.

Mrs. Crinkle goes in search of more snacks, and Adelmare swiftly follows her across the battlefield. He rears up and stomps on the skeleton’s rib cage! The bones look fragile and barely holding together after that. Missed the Crit by 1, but that reveals their AC to be 18.

But with a new opponent, the skeleton mindlessly just goes after the new meat.

Strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Strike, MAP: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (3) + 8 - 5 = 6
Damage, Forceful: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11

Strike, More MAP: 1d20 + 8 - 10 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 10 = 6
Damage, Forceful: 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10

It swings the scimitar back and forth as the big centaur does a bit of dressage to avoid each and every attack.

Round 2
The Dead Streets
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act

Adelmare (Nymph’s Grace aura)

Blue Skelly (-9, AC = 18, Resists Fire, bloodied)

Eltis
Mrs. Crinkle (Raging)
The Carnelian Signet (Raging, -21)
Shalosar
Zenari (-6, Raging)

Black Skelly (AC = 18, Resists Fire)

Zenari backs away and prepares to engage. Mrs. Crinkle on the other hand charges in as she shifts her form. She gets a big mouthful of stinky head-cheese as she crushes the ghoul’s skull in her teeth.

Crit on the first hit. Mrs. Crinkle has 1 action remaining, since the second Strike was unneeded.

The last one to act shambles around the tree and just makes it to the Carnelian Signet. It swings its scimitar and…

Strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Damage, 2H: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Cuts deeply into the flaming vigilante! Crit!

Round 2
The Dead Streets
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act

Adelmare (Nymph’s Grace aura)

Blue Skelly (AC <= 19, Resists Fire)
Yellow Ghoul

Eltis
Mrs. Crinkle (Raging, 1 Action to use)
The Carnelian Signet (Raging, -21)
Shalosar
Zenari (-6, Raging)

Black Skelly (AC <= 19, Resists Fire)

OOPS! I'm so sorry, Zenari. I didn't mark you bold, but obviously, you know you can act.

Shalosar does indeed break some bones and after two smashing hits, the skeleton in the tattered Red pirate hat crumbles to the ground, robbing the Carnelian Signet of the chance to smash it herself. Instead, she blows a fiery kiss at the other skelly who seems not only uninterested in her advances but completely unaffected by the fire.

Green Fort Save DC 18: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Eltis attacks both ghouls with different means; his spell obliterating the injured ghoul and his crossbow glancing off the edge of the building but still just barely hitting the poor confused one.

Adelmare easily ignores the foul odors wafting from the ghouls.

Round 1
The Dead Streets
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act

Adelmare (Nymph’s Grace aura)

Blue Skelly (AC <= 19, Resists Fire)
Red Skelly (Crushed. AC <= 19)
Yellow Ghoul (-8, OG due Confused, 17 <= AC < 20)

Eltis
Mrs. Crinkle
The Carnelian Signet (Raging, -1)
Shalosar
Zenari (-6)

Green Ghoul (Dead.)
Black Skelly (AC <= 19, Resists Fire)

Anyone approaching within 10 feet of the remaining Ghoul needs to make a DC 15 Fortitude save or be Sickened 1. A Success on the save or Recovering makes you immune to all Stench auras for 1 minute. A Failure makes you Sickened 1. Crit Fail also makes you Stunned 1 as long as you are Sickened.

Adelmare moves into the breach, drawing the attention of the ghouls who seem intrigued by the grace with which the big centaur moves.

However, as he gets close, he notices that they too seem to radiate something - an awful stench!
Adelmare and anyone approaching within 10 feet of the Ghouls (the enemies to the south) needs to make a DC 15 Fortitude saves or be Sickened 1. A Success on the save or Recovering makes you immune to all Stench auras for 1 minute. A Failure makes you Sickened 1, and saving versus the second ghoul would have no further affect. Crit Fail also makes you Stunned 1 as long as you are Sickened.

Yellow Will DC 20: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

The Ghoul in the Yellow jacket seems to forget that Adelmare even exists and turns her attention to her companion. ”You ate that sailor I wanted yesterday! I’ll kill you for that!” she screams as she grips her bastard sword with two hands and lays into the other ghoul to near deadly effect!

Strike: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
Damage, 2H: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Strike, MAP: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 11 - 5 = 14
Damage, 2H: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Meanwhile, the skeletons to the north spot Zenari and the Carnelian Signet and lumber towards them, lashing out once each with their blades and drawing blood on both women

Strike, Blue vs Zenari: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Damage, 2H: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Strike, Red vs Signet: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Damage, 2H: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Round 1
The Dead Streets
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act

Adelmare (Nymph’s Grace aura, Pending Fort save)

Blue Skelly
Red Skelly
Yellow Ghoul (OG due Confused)

Eltis
Mrs. Crinkle
The Carnelian Signet (-7)
Shalosar
Zenari (-6)

Green Ghoul (-26, 14 < AC < 20, Near reDeath)
Black Skelly

The streets of this small settlement had some promise, with tall structures of brick, stone, wood, and plaster over flagstone streets. Most of the structures have become derelict over time, with only hints of habitation here and there. Yet the streets are eerily silent for a settlement that provides a home—even temporarily—for the teams of workers that load and unload cargo on the nearby docks.

The flagstones beneath your feet are flat and sturdy, as if laid with expert hands. The buildings lining the street are all at least two stories high and throw deep shadows, with no internal light bleeding out into the streets.

Adelmare is the first to spot the two patrols of undead coming from around the building.

Round 1
The Dead Streets
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act

Adelmare

Blue Skelly
Red Skelly
Yellow Ghoul

Eltis
Mrs. Crinkle
The Carnelian Signet
Shalosar
Zenari

Green Ghoul
Black Skelly

Hey folks, just to keep you in the loop, it doesn't look like Act 2 will start until the 22nd. Just FYI. Based on the current votes, we'll go straight into the combat mission as soon as I can get it posted.

Shalosar wrote:

”What kind of glasses are snooty-looking?”

"The kind that sit at the end of your nose, dearie. I knew a young 'un named Chuck Shoe-mer who wore his glasses like that, then he'd look over them like he was chiding everyone he saw. It sure was a silly look! --Thank you, dearie. That feels much better! Heehee!"

Mrs. Crinkle is back up to full HP.

I don't think we've ever played F2F together, have we Warah? Cause otherwise how did you know that's how I wear my readers? Calling the GM silly looking can't possibly have negative repercussions.... (jk!)

3 for Combat, 1 Social, 1 abstaining. 1 yet to vote, but it won't change the outcome.

I'll show you the picture of the "half-elf in the snooty glasses" from the Social encounter after the combat is over for your own edification.

That's all there is in Act 1. We're waiting on the House GM to move us to Act 2.

Between Acts 1 and 2, the PCs get the benefit of a 1-hour rest while their ship unloads. Feel free to heal up, Refocus, roleplay, etc.

The dockworkers have given you all the information they have, so no questioning them further.

Once the House opens Act 2, there will be an option to pick 1 of 2 initial encounters. Either Social or Combat.

Zenari pummels the younger worker into unconsiousness. Mrs. Crinkle looms over the (amended to adjust for conditions) last man standing. The old man puts up his hands just as she shoves him towards the water. {Splash!} ”Eh, don’t mind me. I got a bit of that there water-folk blood in me. But hey, Luffy. Tell ‘em about the Curator so’s maybe they’ll leave ya’ be, son,” he calls out as he swims towards the shoreline with surprisingly powerful strokes and excellent form.

Luffy turns towards you and stands. ”Well, you didn’t murder all of us, and Pops says to tell you. So here it is. First, there's a bounty out to protect the port against any ‘influx of armed groups’”. He looks at your group, shrugs and continues. ”This bounty is supposedly being paid by the Red Mantis Dispatch, and they’ve assigned some undead for protection and to pay it out.”

As you begin to ask him questions about the Dispatch and the undead, he sighs and shakes his head. ”Depp was our point man on that. Heh, maybe they’ll make him an undead. You know, now that he’s dead.” There’s a clear bitterness in his voice at Depp’s murder, and he eyes Eltis accusingly. After a moment, he turns his attention back to the rest of the team.

”Pops said to tell you about the Curator. He’s some kinda do-gooder, speaking out against the Red Mantis Dispatch. He’s an aiuvarin with snooty looking eye-glasses. The man offers gold for information about the Dispatch’s activities and safehouses and always pays his debts rather than forcing compliance through threats and intimidation, like the Dispatch would.”

About this time, Pops returns from his workout swim and joins Luffy on the dock. (If none of the Pathfinders tends to the unconscious workers, he will.) He explains that he knows how to find the Curator, and with his instructions, Luffy draws you a map to the back-alley moneylending house, Baccara Holdings, that The Curator uses for business dealings. Battered and beaten, the workers and wanna-be pirates leave you and head for the nearest ale house to sooth their aching heads.

Combat Over

Mrs. Crinkle -25
Zenari -7
The Carnelian Signet -6

Shalosar
Adelmare
Eltis

The Carnelian Signet tries to trip and swat the old man. He’s definitely afraid of her, but he’s conflicted as to why he should be after she just kind of flailed about otherwise.

But it’s his feeling about the Signet and the situation in general that makes him an easier target for Eltis’ magical attack. It strikes him square in the face, nearly burning the skin of his face away! Another Crit! But alas for nearly minimum damage.

Round 3
Dockside Brouhaha
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act

Mrs. Crinkle (Raging, -25 NL)
Shalosar

Blue Luffy (surrendered)
Green Depp (DEAD)
Red-haired Woman (Unconscious)

Adelmare (Nymph aura 10 feet)
Eltis
Zenari (-7 NL)
The Carnelian Signet (-6, Raging)

Yellow Old Man (-8, F1)
Gray Dockworker (-6)

Eltis puts a crossbow bolt straight through Depp’s throat. It juts out the back of the man’s neck as he falls to the ground, clearly dead. Crit.

Zenari and the Signet gang up on poor Ms. McGee and knock her out.

Gray Reflex DC 18: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Gray Will DC 18: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Gray nods to the old man who draws his cutlass, shifts position into a flank on the Carnelian Signet, and swings.

Cutlass, OG: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Damage, S: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Gray takes the opportunity and swings for the fences three times at both nearby women.

Cutlass, OG vs Signet: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Damage, S: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Cutlass, Sweep, vs Zenari : 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 10 - 5 = 11
Damage, S, Forceful: 1d6 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7

Cutlass, OG vs Signet, Sweep: 1d20 + 10 - 10 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 10 + 1 = 18
Damage, S, forceful: 1d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 2 = 11

He’s clearly frustrated (maybe in more ways than one?) and can’t manage to hit either woman.

Round 3
Dockside Brouhaha
Conditions: None yet
EVERYONE May Act

Mrs. Crinkle (Raging, -25 NL)
Shalosar

Blue Luffy (surrendered)
Green Depp (DEAD)
Red-haired Woman (Unconscious)

Adelmare (Nymph aura 10 feet)
Eltis
Zenari (-7 NL)
The Carnelian Signet (-6, Raging)

Yellow Old Man
Gray Dockworker (-6)

Mrs. Crinkle bares her teeth at Depp and Ginger McGee both of whom are questioning their life decisions. Depp more so after she punches him in the nose.

Shalosar scratches Luffy on the cheek, but it’s enough to deter the “king of the pirates” (in this guy’s dreams) from further fighting. He begins sobbing and cuts across the dock, past Ginger McGee and sits down on the planks with his head in his hands. Unless Zenari really wants to Reactive Strike the obviously fleeing/surrendering enemy.

Depp nods to Ginger the same way he did to Luffy earlier. She looks back at him like he’s daft and shakes her head. No way is she stepping into a flank chain with the Big Bad Wolf and the Signet. He shrugs, draws his cutlass, steps to the side, and attacks the Wolf(wo)man.

Cutlass, F1: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 10 - 1 = 15
Damage, S: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

She does the same, but attacks twice instead of moving.

Cutlass, F1: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 10 - 1 = 10
Damage, S: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Cutlass, F1, MAP: 1d20 + 10 - 1 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 10 - 1 - 5 = 5
Damage, S, Forceful: 1d6 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 10

Not a one of their attacks hit Mrs. Crinkle as they shake in their boots and swing wildly. Double Nat 1’s!

Round 2
Dockside Brouhaha
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act

Mrs. Crinkle (Raging, -25 NL)
Shalosar

Blue Luffy (surrendered)
Green Depp (-11 NL)
Red-haired Woman

Adelmare (Nymph aura 10 feet)
Eltis
Zenari (-7 NL)
The Carnelian Signet (Raging)

Yellow Old Man
Gray Dockworker (-3)

The Carnelian Signet has no time for subtlety and slashes deeply into the dockhand in the Straw Hat. She does wonder for the briefest moment about using nonlethal force.

Zenari charges in and strikes Luffy, though as she does so she gets caught by a surprise swing of Luffy’s fist towards her face!

Fist, Reactive Strike: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Damage, Nonlethal, B: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Adelmare seems frustrated by the size of his surroundings and takes it out on any enemies that come near.

Eltis casts a spell,
DC 18 Fort save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
And Luffy looks like he’s ready to bolt but stays in it for now.

”They sure are,” the old man replies to his comrade. ”Well, we weren’t gonna go that way, but they drew first blood, so have at ‘em hearties!” he calls out as he steps a little closer, draws a filleting knife and tosses it at Mrs. Crinkle. But filleting knives aren’t really meant to be thrown, and it just misses the Wolf-Woman before {plonking} into the water.

Ranged Knife: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 2 = 20
Damage, P: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The grayscale dockworker appeals to Zenari. ”Just stan’ down, lass. We dinha wanna hur’ ya’, but now we sure an’ will.”
Intimidation vs Zenari: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Then he too draws a knife and throws it at the orc before drawing his scimitar.

Ranged Knife: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Damage, P: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Zenari is unimpressed (and unaffected) by either of his attempts.

Round 2
Dockside Brouhaha
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act

Mrs. Crinkle (Raging, -25 NL)
Shalosar

Blue Luffy (-27, in Adelmare’s aura)
Green Depp
Red-haired Woman

Adelmare (Nymph aura 10 feet)
Eltis
Zenari (-7 NL)
The Carnelian Signet (Raging)

Yellow Old Man
Gray Dockworker (-3)

Grandma turns in one Big Bad-ass Wolf while the Carnelian Signet bursts into flames. As Eltis notes, this isn’t something one sees everyday, and the dockworkers aren’t sure what to make of all this. The Granny-Wolf misses with her great big teeth, then Shalosar sends links of inky black chains flying towards the Dockworker in grayscale overalls. The second one hits, and the man yelps in surprise. ”Hey, I think they’re really trying to kill us!” he calls out.

Depp looks back over his shoulder to Luffy with a nod. Luffy nods back once and swings around into a flank on Mrs. Crinkle.

Depp Delay, Luffy Stride - Strike - Strike
Fist: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Damage, Nonlethal, B: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Fist, Agile: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 11 - 4 = 13
Damage, Nonlethal, B: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

The first one hits, but she easily dodges the second swing.

Depp takes advantage of the situation, but tries to scare the scary wolf first.

Intimidation: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Maybe he should be afraid of the big, bad wolf, cause she’s certainly not afraid of him. He follows up with two swings, and like Luffy only one hits.

Fist: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
Damage, Nonlethal, B: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Fist, Agile: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 11 - 4 = 9
Damage, Nonlethal, B: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Little Red-Riding Hood Haired Woman moves up next to Depp to cut off any of you from getting behind their front line then attacks the wolf also.

Fist: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Damage, Nonlethal, B: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Fist, Agile: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 4 = 26
Damage, Nonlethal, B: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

She uses some fancy jiu-jitsu moves that she picked up in Tian Xia and jabs Mrs. Crinkle twice.

Round 1
Dockside Brouhaha
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act

Mrs. Crinkle (Raging, -25 NL)
Shalosar

Blue Luffy
Green Depp
Red-haired Woman

Adelmare
Eltis
Zenari
The Carnelian Signet (Raging)

Yellow Old Man
Gray Dockworker (-3)

Thanks everyone for getting us ready for the fight. You are correct, phaeton, everyone should have 2 hero points, and I just hadn't updated my slide. Done.

Also, in case anyone happened to notice, it might appear that I didn't add the correct modifier to Zenari's Initiative roll. I had it in there, and the order reflects the correct result, but somehow it got deleted between previewing and updating for scouting.

Lastly, Mrs. Crinkle, your profile says you have Deny Advantage. How? I don't see that as a Barbarian feat or class feature. It didn't matter in this round so I won't have to retcon anything, but still curious.

The Signet’s words fall on deaf ears as tempers flare and combat erupts. Five dockworkers, several with the swagger of former pirates, advance down the pier in your direction. Strangely, though they all carry cutlasses and daggers, none have drawn them. Instead, they roll up their sleeves and crack their knuckles as if preparing for a fist fight. The pier sits only a couple feet above the water around it with small crates strewn about that don’t provide cover or block vision.

Round 1
Dockside Brouhaha
Conditions: None yet
BOLD May Act

Mrs. Crinkle
Shalosar

Blue Luffy
Green Depp
Red-haired Woman

Adelmare
Eltis
Zenari
The Carnelian Signet

Yellow Old Man
Gray Dockworker

The first few landing boats from the Seekers’ Quest pull into the slip inlet leading toward the docks adjacent to a small settlement. Teams of workers push through the midday heat to load crates marked with Red Mantis stamps onto small barges for the next pass of courier ships destined for parts unknown. But as the newcomers (that’d be you) arrive, a few of them take notice and call out, “Hey! You’re not supposed to be here!” As more Pathfinders come ashore at other parallel piers, the workers continue to yell at you with threats for getting in the way of their work and for your ship blocking the inlet from its anchoring. Five dockhands begin to close in on your team.

You can talk down the workers with a DC 20 Diplomacy, Deception, or Intimidation check. You get one chance at this. Or, I guess you could just charge in and go all 3xBarbarian Rage-Murder-Hobo on the workers.

@Zenari: Maybe you aren't seeing notifications for the Discussion Thread, but please fill out RPG Chronicles along with filling out Slide 2 and adding a token.

"And what of the Pathfinder captive, Khione Thidos? How he was captured, where and how he's being held, how he's been treated? Since you know so much this is should be trivial." The Carnelian Signet keeps her eyes on the woman's every move.

Giovana nods as you ask about the Pathfinder as she expected you would. “I know of two captives for certain, though there are likely more. You have already heard about the Pathfinder, Khione, though better gossips than I would have to explain why they took her,” she finishes with emphasis to correct the gender. ”I’m not sure yet where she’s being held, but I’m sure that will reveal itself once we go ashore. For what it’s worth, there is also an informant of mine that managed to get me one of their contracts before getting taken. I don’t believe he is dead because I would have found the body. I think there might be another—a child, or at least they were when they were taken. I heard rumors of a child in Nex that has been ransomed for years. I can’t be sure, but it fits this group’s methods.”

”What do you know about the "ill wind" that haunts the island and gives Sotroz his powers? The reports say undead roam the streets and only attack outsiders. What's the best way to disguise ourselves as locals?

Giovana frowns - an expression one would not like to be the cause of. ”I’ll be completely honest with you, but I know absolutely nothing about the undead presence or this Sotroz, though I’ve heard similar rumors. As to being on the streets, this is basically an invasion fleet and army. You’re not going to blend in; you’re just going to kill them all.”

She pauses and notes the disappointment on your faces before giving Mrs. Crinkle a wink. ”Since I couldn’t answer your last questions, I’ll give you the one you really wanted to ask instead. In truth, I’ve never met the hunk before. But just a few years ago a contract for one Eando Kline caught my attention. I knew of him, of course—it is always best to know your adversaries well. I laid out my charge for the contract, and made sure it was leagues beyond his coffers, as no one would take the contract once I had laid claim. But alas, the customer could not pay all the gold in Thuvia like I’d asked. So, I kept the contract for just such an opportunity to call in a favor. Like this,” she says as she spreads her hands to indicate the ship full of Pathfinders.

She closes the conversation with a bit of mirth. “I think that’s enough for now, Pathfinders. But please, do tell Eando to ask for himself, if he has any more questions of me. I’ll be right here, waiting.” She waggles her fingers playfully at you as you depart, a smile dancing on her lips.

Success reported. The House is 1 Success away from opening up the Combat mission, so stand by for that to happen today most likely.

Looks like there's a consensus, but who's asking? I don't want to just throw answers into the thread. (And you know, you could still ask about Her + Eando...)

Someone, presumably Eltis, stops Mrs. Crinkle from using up one of the questions on getting Giovana to spill the hot tea on her history with Eando Kline. "Ooo, but I bet it's juicy! Don't you want to know?" Mrs. Crinkle pouts a bit after that, but perks up quickly. "Oh, how silly of me! We can ask Kline! And I'll give him a push in the right direction for you, dearie!" She winks conspiratorially at Giovana.

"Are you suuure you don't want to ask about that, dearie? I'd be more than happy to share all the juicy history between us," Giovana says to Mrs. Crinkle with a return of the conspiratorial wink. "And you know most men won't use more than two words to talk about relationships, so where's the fun in asking that scrumptious boy anything?"