"Honest" Rico Fink's page

If Kwinten stays a player, than our 1-5 options are reduced to either one of the multiparters, or #4-15: The Cyphermage Dilemma.

If Tineke becomes a player, and Kwinten the GM, then our options are (without multiparters): #1-49: Among the Dead, #2-13: Murder on the Throaty Mermaid, #4-15: The Cyphermage Dilemma, #6-18: From Under Ice, and 7-12: The Twisted Circle.

I guess I’m just as hard to blame as Kwinten, for removing me opens up 7 other scenarios (multiparters not included).

Also, Modules. I find them lasting a little too long for PbP, and rather do them F2F. I guess Gallows of Madness might be an exception, but I know that one is still fresh in the mind of 4 of us, so that might not be the best of options anyway.

I do not mind continuing with this group. It doesn't necessarily have to be Rico, I also have two lvl 2 melee units if we need a frontline. Although Rico is a lot of fun to play, I already heard that Christiaan will use his first level rebuild to remake Gorrec into a bard, don't know the plans of the other players.

So just to place it out there: if due to changes into characters we would be in need of a frontline, I have 2 other characters available to take that job. For all other potential teams, there is Rico.

Also, have a nice holiday, oh great voice from the sky!

I did have a lot of fun with the back and forths between Rico and the Blue Guard. Also amazingly fun that he kept making his save.

162908-10

Also, I'm glad it is over. I do not know how much longer we could manage to flounder around in this combat before we would have died... But having someone like Lord Avid talk highly about us means more business prospects for Rico, so it's all good.

And now, Faction Journal Card
But I'm going to try claiming Mister Sareth Markell's market share in this town. As if the Aspis is trying to get his business and betraying him.
Intimidate vs DC 17: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
But it seems he doesn't take kind to that...

In that case, I would like to recruit Mister Sareth Markell to the Exchange, seeing as this guy is more capable than I thought. We should use him to expand our network.
Diplomacy vs DC 17: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
But it seems he REALLY hate me now... Oh well...

Guess I'll have to find a different way to make money. Rico is going to lurk around to find a more profitable business prospect in the area, one that hasn't anything to do with Mister Markell.
Stealth vs DC 17: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Eureka! Rico has seen the future, and it is STILTS! He is going to buy several of them and distribute them accross Golarion!
That took forever...

Rico feels a lot better now, and he decides to make a special jingle with his kazoo to lure new people to his store.
Day Job, Perform (Wind): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16 --> 15=10gp
People do not appreciate a good Kazoo jingle...

No worries, a lot is going on. I'm just glad I'm lvl 2 and capable of taking a lot of aggro, as the situation is getting hairy.

No, I'm standing at 4 health at the moment (I think you forgot the healing I gave myself, which was CLW for 4 hp). If I retrace the posts, I got hit for 10 damage (longsword), then hit for 2 (channel), healed for 4 (wand), now got hit for 7 (longsword). So 19-10-2+4-7=4.

Still, very much ouch, and my next move will be healing myself (or something). Also, the will save ate one of the potential hits I would have gotten if that would have been an attack roll, that should count for something...

I saw it, and it is very nice. Opens up a lot of nasty stuff for this build.

I rather have them succeed on the Will Save, because that roll is then no longer used to hurt me... Badly...

Rico is a persistent man, but even he can lose his patience.
"Listen young man, I've went to a lot of trouble to create this drink for people like you, so the least you can do is have the courtesy to drink it! I'm not asking much here, it really is a simple gulp from this vial! Now shut up, take it, and DRINK IT!!!"

Yet again, Buyer Beware Performance on Guard Blue. DC 16 Will save or drop whatever necessary to take hold of the Iron Vial filled with water. On his own turn he will then drink it as a standard action which provokes. It might be redundant to keep writing what this does, cause by now I've used it a lot, but might be handy to keep doing.

The answer for Phantoms (and Eidolons) lie in Ione Stones. Hefty price, but do not compete for slots with the Master itself. Also weigh nothing and can be used by the Master as well.

It doesn't have Power Attack, it has Power from Despair (Despair Phantom ability), which grants +2 on to hit and damage on creatures with the shaken condition. I also think it has the Weapon Finesse feat, so the +7 is manageable (+1 Bab, +2 Dex, +2 Flank, +2 Power of Despair = +7 to hit).

But your right, a +7 is remarkable. But look to how many hoops he needs to jump to get that done, and only for a 1d6+1 (+3 if opponent is shaken).

Rico 5ft steps out of the flank, and adjusts his hat that got thrown off balance by swords and daggers that swooched by. He gives an confused look at the blue guard.
"Whatever are you talking about, good sir? All I'm offering is one off the latest designer drinks, not even on the market yet! Be the first to try out this amazing liquor, that eases the mind and soothes the soul!"

Yet again, Buyer Beware Performance. DC 16 Will save or drop whatever necessary to take hold of the Iron Vial filled with water. On his own turn he will then drink it as a standard action which provokes.

If he fails his save, and thus drops his sword, Rico will grab hold of it with his remaining move action.

Point taken...

After this adventure, I'll start selling stilts instead. These fat reducers aren't worth their money.

Why do enemies always get smarter the longer the fight lasts? This way, I can only pawn 1 thing off per combat ;)

Rico steps out of the flank. Guard Red might now hold a dagger, but to Halflings, it is still as large as his head! With the flick of a wrist, Rico then launches an Iron Vial from out of his sleeve (second Spring Loaded Wrist Sheath, nothing else is going to come out of his sleeves...). He presents it to guard Blue, holding it out enticingly.

"A drink sir? Honest Fink Enterprises always carries the latest flavors, and we try our best to please! Free sample, good man? It's not like you don't have the time."

Yet again, Buyer Beware Performance. DC 16 Will save or drop whatever necessary to take hold of the Iron Vial filled with water. On his own turn he will then drink it as a standard action which provokes.

If he fails his save, and thus drops his sword, Rico will grab hold of it with his remaining move action.

May rolled for the dog already in an earlier post (it doesn't show the green text in the quote).

Activating spirit form is a standard action for May. I'm not sure how to guide the guard dog. If May can use her move action on a handle animal to give the attack command to attack the archer than she tries that: handle animal dc 10: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14.

If that requires a standard action than she just walks forward to the archer and threaten it with a Sickle.

She didn't do it for Nitoriu, though. She can only fail that one on a 1, but you can always be unlucky.

The Phantom can be affected by negative channeling. It is a living outsider, not an undead.

Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 Whelp, that looks like a failed save.

Rico 5ft steps out of the way, standing next to Araklifest. He whips out a wand from his Spring-Loaded Wrist sheath and taps himself with it. Wand of Cure Light: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Then he looks at the sword that the Red Guard dropped on the floor, and decides to pick it up. "Kinda dangerous to leave these things on the floor, someone might step on it!" Rico picks it up and immediately drops it behind him. "Gross! You vomited all over it! Now I need to disinfect my gloves!"

No AoO, because mister Red is still vomiting. Dropped the sword in the square behind me (as a free action). I marked the damn thing on the map with a black icon, and picking it up provokes. Also, where is the dog at the moment?

Rico will take the Attack of Opportunity (also, auch...)
AoO: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10 for 1d3 - 3 ⇒ (1) - 3 = -2

Rico gracefully misses, might have something to do with that longsword down his shoulder.

Two points of defence we missed...

Rico walks up to mister Red and holds out his Vomit Capsule.
"Good sir, I see you're of the athletic kind. Wonderful, wonderful, but do you take proper care of your body? Such activities might drain you of vital nutrients if you're not careful, and the acidity of your blood might raise to levels your kidneys cannot handle. But not to worry! Lucky Rico of Honest Fink Enterprises has the solution! Introducing the wonderful Vitamin Z! This baby is packed with all vital nutrients and lowers blood acidity with 200%! Every sportsman should have this lodged in their dietary habits! Free sample sir? Just today!"

Buyer Beware Performance. Will save 16 or drop whatever necessary to take the Vomit Capsule and consume it next turn (standard action which provokes). If consumed, mister Red will start vomiting until the start of his next turn, unable to do anything else.

Happy Birthday, Almighty Voice from the Sky!

"One trap well placed." Rico snickers.

"Now stay quiet everyone, it's unlikely he is the only one."

"I'll admit, stellar play Gorrec... Now help me with this spider jar. It must be placed on that cra... There is no crate yet..."

Rico helps setting up the crate and spider trap (mostly by pointing, as he is unable to drag the crates).

The he hides in the warehouse with the rest, Vomit Capsule in the hand.
Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

I placed myself in the room with you, Gorrec. As part of team face, it might be where I should be at the moment. I just can't reach the door port at the moment...

Also, Rico is known as Jared Dunkle of the Aspis Consortium by that good old Sareth Markell. We could drop his name to lend a certain weight to our claim, and use the halfling as walking proof of our "allegiance". That is, if Gorrec can't talk them away.

Although Beguiling Gift has many uses, I doubt the common thing to do with an Acid is to consume it, nor spreading it over your skin as an oil... Would be hilarious, but not in the spirit of the ability. I'll just pocket it somewhere, for when I decide that I need to do damage or something.

"Oh, and let's raise the platform, so that if they manage to get in from the dockside, they are still trapped down there!"

"Also, does anyone have caltrops? Or a lot of broken glass? We should defend the skylights as well, so let's make sure they do not have an easy landing."

At May: "Using the dog I can understand, but leave the spiders in their jar! I do not know if you realize, but such little critters don't care much for friend or foe, and we aren't exactly capable of dealing with something like that either! Go fetch your housecat beetle, that thing should be enough!"

At Gorrec: "Although it pains me, I must admit that is a good cover story. One of the Kortos Consortium guys already thinks I'm Jared Dunkle of the Aspis, so I could go with that."

To all: "Although I would like to block the Guard entrance as well, we could also do that after the Kortus guys have come along."
Suddenly, Rico has an idea. "May, I'm sorry I yelled at you, but the jar of spiders might come in handy after all! After the Kortos guys have left, we should block the Guard entrance, but only the door inside the warehouse. If we leave the outer door of the Guardhouse unlocked, we could have the jar tip over when they open it! The swarm will also be unable to move further into the warehouse, keeping us relatively save as well!"

I have placed some shapes on the map to illustrate the idea of the Guardhouse. I made them red, to indicate that they are only there after the Kortos have left. As for the Spider Jar trap, I envision a crate behind the door, with on top the jar and a late half on top. When the door opens (inwards I hope), the door pushes the plate over the crate, which in turn pushes the jar over the plate, which then falls on the floor and breaks.

"I'm for blocking most of the gatways as well, but please also include the guard entrance. It might be a problem if the Kortos Consortium just enters and finds squatters inside. Better to keep them out as well, before they try to get rid of their unwelcome guests. But your idea about the front door is nice, let's go with that."

Rico then tries to help move the crates (to no avail...), and helps searching for useful stuff (take 20): Perception: 20 + 5 = 25

Other than filling that one Iron Vial with some water (maybe seawater), I'm good to go. Still have 4 Vomit Capsules left, and my spells and Bardic performance are back to full again. So I do not feel the need to get some more stuff (also, more stuff equals encumbrance... I need Muleback Cords...)

EDIT: Maybe give the local watch the names of the drug dealers? That way we hurt the Aspis even more.

Rico seconds May's statement. "The fewer people know about Ms. "Friend", the better. This operation is based on secrecy and subtlety. So let's not introduce them to each other, since that puts him in the know as well."

Rico cast Prestidigitation on anyone who still wants it, while continuing to talk.: "All he knows now, is that his drug operations have put him in a lot of trouble. Let's make sure it stays simple and keep it that way."

I'd say Mr. Leper to the local authorities, and the addicts to the local temple (I assume they need clerics to help them get over their addiction).

Also, the notes might be important. So I'm willing to take the time to decipher them together with Araklifest.

I'm willing to spend an evening studying the book, if we can still make our appointment with Madame "Friend". Also, let's deliver mister Leper to his new home, and the victims to a cleric or something.

It's that I didn't have enough Intelligence to learn Gnome naturally...

Linguistics: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6

EDIT:"Wait a minute... This isn't an accountant book..."

"I can clean your... "sheilala"... I guess."

Another Presto!

"And we better turn him in. Killing him would only cover up the problem, and we want to solve it. And I haven't found any notes on him, so maybe he is the "I got it right here!"-kind-of-guy." with Rico pointing to his own head to get point across.

After tying him up, Rico loads his springloaded wristsheet with another iron vial filled with water.
Currently in the wristsheets: Wand of CLW and an Iron Vial with water.

"You can have the book just fine, but after I cleaned you. Don't want smudges on the book, you know."

Rico casts Prestidigitation on Araklifest, to get rid of all the grime. He then hands over the loot to Araklifest for magic detection. Although Rico is capable of casting Detect Magic just fine, he has absolutely no experience with identificaion of such items.

I can't believe I forgot to put a point in Spellcraft...

After that, he reproduces the rope that he wanted to use on the Phantom.
"Better to tie Mister Leper up real good, I do not want him to escape. He has done enough damage already to this community."

"We should bring mister Leper to the authorities, after we secured more evidence, that is. Surely he has the paperwork on him, we should just strip him until we find it."

Rico loots the Alchemist

"We should also get these people some help as well. We can't let them waste away in the sewer like this. Better to take them up on the streets and towards a temple or something."

AoO Spiked Gauntlet: 1d20 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) - 1 + 2 = 12 for 1d3 - 3 ⇒ (1) - 3 = -2

"That's no good, you'll get dehydrated if this keeps up!"

Rico pops a iron vial of water from his sleeve (springloaded wristsheath, swift action) and offers it to mister leper.

"This should get your water balance back in tip-top shape! Did you know that this water comes all the way from the Wall of Heaven? You cannot get it any clearer than this! Have some, I insist!"

Yet again, Buyer Beware Performance. DC 16 Will save or take the vial. Then on his turn, drink the water as a Standard action which provokes. The one difference with last time is, that he is free to do whatever with his remaining actions.

Why not? AoO Spiked Gauntlet: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4 for 1d3 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0

I have time at the moment to post, so I'll post something in advance. I marked the position Rico had before I moved his picture. The position I wanna take might be occupied by May when she changes her action. If that would be the case, then Rico will try to squeeze with the Drug Addict, and still tumble past the beetle (if I even make that...)

Rico maintains his Bad Deal Performance (swift action), and looks ahead. It is getting rather crowded in here... And I do not want to swim in the poop... Better squirm my way through the crowd, I suppose, like a real merchant.

Rico braces himself, and rushes forward like a madman, over the beetle, jumping the drug addict, and sliding under the Leper I'm seriously hoping this is going to work.
Fast Tumble through opponent's squares: 1d20 + 8 - 10 ⇒ (17) + 8 - 10 = 15, the result is 5 higher against the medium sized mister leper, due to Underfoot Dodger.

If Rico makes the Tumble
"If there is anyone who is going to steal anything here, it is you, good sir! Prices that can't be beat, it is like you're robbing me blind! Introducing the cure against everything! Paracetamoxyfrusebendroneomycin!" Rico starts a silly dance, while holding the capsule in sight and sings: "Paracetamoxyfrusebendroneomycin! Paracetamoxyfrusebendroneomycin! It can cure the common cold and getting struck by lightning! Paracetamoxyfrusebendroneomycin! Fa lalalala fa la la, fa lalalala fa la la!" Constantly waving the capsule in his face.

Buyer Beware Performance, with underlying Bad Deal Slumber Hex. He needs to make a DC 16 Will save or drop wathever necessary to take the Vomit Capsule of my hands. Then he also immediately needs to make a DC 16 Will save against the Slumber Hex. If he fails both, he falls asleep without consuming the capsule. If he makes the second save, he will consume the capsule on his turn as a standard action that provokes, and immediately begins to vomit till his next turn (unable to do anything til that next turn). If he makes the first save, nothing happens. Both are Mind-affecting effects. Also Gorrec yelled at him (thank you Gorrec!)

Easy to domesticate... I should have taken the hint...

Rico hears that mister Leper has spotted someone from his party, and decides that he needs to spring into action. He holds on to the Vomit Capsule tightly, adding the same curse that took out the phantom (Bad Deal Performance). He then moves out from behind the statue, towards the whistleblower.

How about disguise? Rawlins might fit right in with the people down here, lying about, waiting for their substance (in your case, booze).

Rico will hide behind the Statue, holding on to a Vomit Capsule for sale.
Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Crouching Halfling, Hidden Merchant

It's like magic! But just to be safe Incorporeal 50% chance of effect (high is good): 1d20 ⇒ 16

"I do not have stuff with me to prepare an ambush. I usually stay in the spotlight to sell my stuff... But if you want to get corny, I can make a trail of Fortune Cookies to lure him in."

After handling the liquid while using the phantom's skills.
"It seems that I was right, you do distract your own mental manifestation. This is indeed a form of drugs. It is a new one though, haven't seem something like this before."

Rico then sees he needs to secure the vial, before it ends up in the hands of the weakened people. He keeps it up in the air for a while, trying to get it into his backpack.
"So this vial of drugs is an important piece of evidence, which we need to keep away from other people."

After meeting up with May and checking the beetle.
"I was correct, you do know this beetle, May. This is a Flash Beetle, easy to domesticate and can act as a nightlamp. For you see, it constantly sheds light from its abdomen. But it can aslo suddenly create a flash of light, which can make you see stars for a little while."

I just realized that I have a useful spell on my list...

"Well Gorrec, it seems that your mental manifestation is influenced by your overwhelming ego. Let's see if he really didn't know about this liquid, or that you are just distracting."

Rico casts Borrow Skill and touches the phantom. With a sudden flash in his eyes, he takes the liquid and inspects it once more.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 + 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 1 - 2 + 2 = 20

Then, when May comes back from her patrol, Rico approaches her.
"Dear lady, it might be that your knowledge of this beetle is impaired by the sheer smell of the sewer. Might I magically check your memory to see if have some information about the creature? It could be hiding itself, even from you."
If May allows Rico, then he will cast Borrow Skill and check the beetle. Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 1 + 0 = 20

Phantoms are technically outsiders, so Knowledge the planes is the correct one.

BTW, the phantom is awake again. It only lasts for 2 rounds.

"It did walk past you, and it didn't look like a friendly creature! You didn't even introduce him...her..."whatever-it-was" to us! You just summoned a mysterious stranger and let it sneak up on us!"

Rico calms down a bit, his adrenalin fading from his body again.
"But yeah... about that cursing stuff... It only stays cursed for as long as I hold it. The moment I let go, the curse activates. So either the person who took it from me gets cursed, or it becomes a dud if no one is holding it..."

Rico adjust his hat, which shifted in a crooked position after his hissy fit. "So in other words, I can't curse it and then leave it somewhere. Also, maintaing this curse is actually quite exhausting, so I can't activate it that often each day..."

Then Rico notices that Rawlins is moving away. "Where are you going Rawlins? The Oyster? No, no, no no no. You need to stay here with us! We're a team, remember? So stay here in ambush with us to get this mister Leper."

As the stranger falls asleep, Rico immediately produces a rope from his backpack. "Quickly, before he wakes up! Help me tie him up, so we can..." And then, the body disappears. "Where did he go?!?"

Then, as Gorrec asks his question, Rico states while scratching his head: "Well, I can enchant any item in my hands with a sleeping curse. It doesn't last long, but it can work sometimes."

Then, Rico realizes something. "Wait a minute, Gorrec! You were on stakeout! Why did you let that... that... "whatever-it-was" past you? We could have been severly injured, you know!"

Rico throws a fit, totally unaware of the nature of the mysterious stranger.

Rico has absolutely no knowledges, so he literally has no idea what is going on.

Seriously? No explanation at all? Just manifest something out of nowhere, outside the discussion circle, and make it walk towards them? You do realize that Rico (and the others) know Gorrec and that this is not part of his regular repetoire, right? Do not look strange at the reaction.

Or if our almighty voice in the sky finds this to be unwanted PVP, then Rico just hands the vial to this suspicious figure.

Rico turns around to see who whispers behind his back, and gulps at the sight of the cloaked individual. It seems to want the vial, but who is this? Maybe mister Leper, who snuck up on us? It is a rather bold request, but playing along could be beneficial.

Rico holds on to the vial tightly for a bit (Bad Deal bardic performance), and then offers the vial to the dark stranger.
"Wi..with pleasure, goo...goo...good sir"

Bad Deal performance, hexed the item with the Slumber Hex. The moment this stranger accepts the item, he immediately needs to make a DC16 Will save to not fall asleep for 2 rounds.

A perception on the bottle Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

"Maybe they could be! To mister Leper, they are like furniture. He knows that they are here, and most likely, how many of them there are. If we place them more in sight, then maybe he won't bother to check the alcove. If we hide in there, we might even get the drop on him!"

"Found a vial which isn't empty. You think this might be our sample?" Rico shows the vial with white liquid to the rest of the party.

"You know, with the lab here and stuff, we might have stumbled on it during mister Leper's break. Should we wait fo him here? Maybe hide in the alcove? It's all fun and games that we can now report this new drug and the location of its creation to the authorities. But that doesn't solve the problem, only delays it; we need mister Leper as well, preferably alive so he can be interrogated."

When Rico is done feeding the people, he will help May and Araklifest in searching around for clues and such stuff.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

If Rico doesn't find anything at first glance, he will start searching by sorting stuff left and right, aka taking 20.
Perception take 20: 20 + 5 = 25