This is an amazing Quick Reference Guide that some awesome person in the past put together for pfs1. It has the costs for scribing (as shown in the prior post) AND the cost for scribing from an NPC. I also suggest investing in spellcraft enough to be able to take 10 for scribing.
Cannoli smiles at the genius alchemist, ”I appreciate that nickname a lot more than ‘Cans’. Also, good to know about the bodies and the battlefield. I guess if they had any armor of any value they probably wouldn’t have lost. Let’s move on, anyone find more tracks?” She sniffs around for trail sign.
But the stench of death is too strong.
Cannoli joins Daegon in the middle of the night. She drinks way too much coffee and starts talking about what she has been doing with the local orchard. ”So we got all the deadfall pulled out and have marked the trees that obviously need cut down. But that step isn’t finished yet. Gotta talk to the blacksmith to get the right saw made. Most of the last two years of leaves are cleared out but are still wet and nasty. I was thinking some raised beds for a few gardens. Gotta grow herbs and seasonings for a few recipes. But that’s a ways away I think. Everything costs money or time, ya know? Anyway, next we need to see how the trees come back in the spring and plant to fill in gaps…” She keeps droning on for four hours.
”And you get some too, Miss climbing ivy. Wait, what do we have here? Tracks? Interesting. I wonder if I should tell my group. Yes I know Willow, they are ignoring me over at the caves. But it’s the right thing to do. And I do the right thing sometimes. No that one time doesn’t count, stop bringing it up.” “Hey! Over here! I found some tracks!” If Guardian comes over she sprays him down with water cause he is stinky.
Cannoli spends her time with the two possible suitors. Teaching them self defense skills. ”Ok, so hiding is good and all. But ya gotta be ready to strike too. Anything can be a weapon if you hold it right and swing it hard enough. Aim for the neck with anything sharp, otherwise just center mass. That means their chest. Sometimes it just takes a solid smack to make someone reconsider going after you. Gobbos are a bit different though, they won’t quit. Just keep hitting them till they stop twitching.”
1) Absolutely right. Either later seasons have those on the opposite sides and my brain failed to recognize it or I’ve been reading these things wrong all the time, which is quite more likely. I can pretty easily fix the chronicles and re-issue. You may also edit/manage the ones you have on your own if you don’t want to redownload. 2) You coulda gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for 3) I usually let players put in their own purchases and such. In PbP (and F2F honestly) it’s a ton of extra work/coordination and really only makes sense if a player is inexperienced at the purchasing process.
Cannoli is tired and dirty. She just dug a big hole, stripped all the goblins, dumped them in and covered them up and jammed a big stick in it. And then she dragged the big sac of loot while the party traipsed through the forest. And she did this all on her own. She pants, ”Someone else go talk to them, I am beat!”
The pathfinders collect the idol and head back quickly before anyone recognizes them in the market area from their other shenanigans. Making it safely into the city proper They return to the VC’s location and do a quick debrief. As they get ready to wrap things up, a courier arrives with a note from Grandmaster Torch. The note courteously invites them to dine with him this evening. The VC shrugs, ”Go if you wish, don’t if you don’t want to. Your mission here is done.”
Bobbie’s and Iladora’s arguments are enough to finally sway the merchant. He starts digging under his counter, ”Yeah I guess so. Honestly I think maybe it’s just better to cut my losses before more trouble arrives. Why I just heard a band of rabid murdering thugs just attacked a merchant in the market square. They summoned some giant insects and tied a guy up before dragging him off to who knows where.” He pulls out an idol shaped linen wrapped package and trades it to Corba for her gold. He says loudly, ”There you go Miss, thanks for your business. Remember me for all your spice needs!”
As Bobbie blurts out the honest truth, the merchant’s eyes narrow and he starts to motion to his guards… …but Corba quickly smooths things over, explaining the urgency and rational reasons as to why the statue is dangerous. As well as to why the pathfinders should be responsible for a stolen item instead of this dude or the rightful government. She makes a solid case, at least. He thinks for a moment and replies, ”Ok, maybe it is dangerous. But there won’t be any magic here, so that won’t be a concern. But it makes sense for me to get rid of it. Why should that be you?”
The Venture Captain seems confused, "Torch isn't my informant or associated with the society at all. All I know is what I gave you at the briefing, it's your job to complete the mission. That's how our missions work. A briefing with all the KNOWN information presented and then you all have AGENCY to complete it from there. If you can't handle that freedom, fine. I hear the Absalom Guard like people that follow orders and don't know how to think." She growls, "Dismissed." __________________________ The pathfinders take the now well known path back to the markets and eventually find the entrance to the 'secure market'. Four guards are there, carefully watching anyone coming in and searching anyone that is suspicious. The group fits that bill 100%.
SoH Skill Blurb:
You can hide a small object (including a light weapon or an easily concealed ranged weapon, such as a dart, sling, or hand crossbow) on your body. Your Sleight of Hand check is opposed by the Perception check of anyone observing you or of anyone frisking you. In the latter case, the searcher gains a +4 bonus on the Perception check, since it’s generally easier to find such an object than to hide it. A dagger is easier to hide than most light weapons, and grants you a +2 bonus on your Sleight of Hand check to conceal it. An extraordinarily small object, such as a coin, shuriken, or ring, grants you a +4 bonus on your Sleight of Hand check to conceal it, and heavy or baggy clothing (such as a cloak) grants you a +2 bonus on the check. The guards call you all forward for your search (other than Jarlaxle who is staying outside), "Alright, single file line. No staffs bud, those are weapons. I don't care if your hip is bad, I've heard every excuse."
You did drop the second statue off. I narrated it as happening quickly to keep posts moving. As long as you don’t stretch things into several days, the time is fine.
Cannoli cheers as the dog collapses, ”Good work! Poor thing was sickly and rabid, it’s better to put them down quickly.” She doesn’t add that ALL dogs appear to her to be sickly and rabid, regardless of their health. The catfolk moves up to guard her ranged allies, readying to smack the goblin coming across. Readied attack if enemy comes in range: for
The group is aware that in combat one follows the person who seems to know what is going on. And in this case, Jarlaxle makes a really good argument for being followed. It doesn't hurt that the bird also flew in that direction. And as the group rushes towards the factory, they see a random passerby in front of it shoved to the ground by some invisible force. They are heading towards a factory that has a sign that reads Jenji Combine Sianti Refindery. It is a two story building with no windows that looks well but frugally made. A large warning sign by the entrance shows a large icon of a stylized flame with an "X" through it. Comprehend Kellish:
The writing next to the flame reads, NO OPEN FLAME _____________________________ As they look inside you see that the refinery is a large square space, one-hundred feet on a side and appears to be used for refining some sort of plant into a powdery spice. The room is full of spice vats, wooden stairways and catwalks; chains and rope hang from elaborate pulley systems and the lamps are continual flames completely enclosed in glass globes. The room is incredibly dusty as the spice floats through the air. However, this gives everyone an advantage as you all see footprints moving ahead of you on the dusty floor. There are also six workers moving among the vats who look up to see what is going on. There is an exit across on the back wall. Comprehend Kellish:
The writing next to each vat reads, NO OPEN FLAME
The footprints move across the floor halfway through the factory.
Bold are up!
The pathfinders wander back to where the venture captain is staying and wisely avoid talking to her again, simply dropping off the second statue with her assistant before heading to the cafe.
The adventuring awesome amazing pathfinders spot Buri Buri-Ban, as promised, at the Fetching Fan café on Sengali Square. Though he doesn’t seem to have yet noticed the group, the moment they see him he stands and retrieves a potion out of his waist-sash. As he drains the potion he begins running, package in hand. By the time he’s taken three steps across the square, he’s already invisible. DC 15 Perception:
You see puffs of dust being kicked up like someone is running. They are heading towards a factory that has a sign that reads Jenji Combine Sianti Refindery. It is a two story building with no windows.
Update Headed home, more than halfway. Should be able to setup the next scene at the cafe tomorrow when I get home and settled. It was a good trip.
Cruising. Game on hold for 5-ish days. Go ahead and keep posting though so everyone can respond to the current deal and let me know what the next statue target is going to be.
Right after the secretary introduces the group Cannoli gives her a big smile and offers a fist bump, ”There we go, nice intro. You ever thought about being a bard? That kinda attitude would be useful in the field.” She moves inside the mayors office and makes quiet conversation throughout the entire briefing with her teammates. Things like ‘check out my new weapons’ and ‘the only good goblin is a hobgoblin’ and ‘don’t we even get time to rest?’ Cannoli pipes up, ”Did we ever get info from those afflicted by the demon bile about where they found it? That could be helpful.”
Boon: Additionally, Nolaria provides you with the following benefits during the other chapters of Gallows of Madness. If you play “What Lurks in the Woods” she gives you a map of the area around Saringallow that grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Survival checks during this adventure. She also warns you that she has seen fiendish goblins in the area, and provides you with information about these creatures as if you had rolled a 40 on your Knowledge check to identify them.
Bobbie manages to fight off the poison pretty quickly, only feeling a little sluggish.
The lawful good paladin stabs the unarmed merchant in the gut, painfully. He gurgles blood and starts crying, "BUT WHY? WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING ME?!? I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE STATUE WOULD DO THAT!!! I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM YOU MURDERING THIEVES!!!" She turns her back on his pure evilness and strikes at a centipede, missing. The chaotic good bard sentences Viraj to death for not knowing things he was never told. He tries and succeeds in securing the other arm behind the merchant's back. Tusk moves. All three centipedes attack as he provokes. for
GM Screen:
Tusk finds a nice centipede to hack at. He hits it and blood sprays across the ground. The creature is wounded but not down. Bobbie does the same harm to her target, just a bit angrier like.
Bold may go!
The incredibly heavily armored and surprisingly sneaky till now Bard rushes in and GRABS the definitely very innocent merchant, pulling him into a half nelson hold. He screams at the top of his lungs, ”THIEVES! THIEVES! GET OFF ME!!!” Everyone in the entire market square turns to watch.
Bold may go!
"Ouch! Grml... There was nothing written about them being an explosive, too! I will write a stern letter to the author of the book 'Unnatural Monsters And Where To Search For Them'! His name is 'Lewd Salamander'... or something like that..." The catfolk looks over towards the group, seeing some of them are at least still standing, "Y'all ok over there? I heard Vreeka complaining, anybody down?" "...Also, LEWD Salamander? Vee, what kinda book was this? Were the pictures maybe naughty? If so, I am interested enough to see what sorta smut ya into."
The eagle bolts across the plaza, disappearing into the bathhouse. The lumbering group of pathfinders jump into a sprint, pushing their way through the crowd until they get to the front. Bobbie easily arrives first and slips inside. She is met by a receptionist behind a large wooden desk, "Hello, do you have an appointment?" As Bobbie is trying to spit out some sort of convincing answer, the rest of the heavily armed and armored group slams through the door a moment later. The receptionist's eyes go wide and she ducks behind the desk, "Never mind, I don't want any part of this!" There is only one area to go after this, so the group heads past the reception area and into a large hallway. Several rooms branch off from the main hallway. Each one is quickly checked and most are discovered to be empty solo bath rooms. Two are group baths. A couple old dudes sit in one, chuckling as the group comes in, "Oh man, I remember those days. Chasing after some knucklehead into a bathhouse. He went down the hall. Good luck!" The other one has three women. Two cower behind a third who stands and shrieks, "GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" The next room the group is met by a wall of steam and... After chasing Chaim through what must have been half the rooms in the bathhouse, jumping pools and slipping across slick tile, the body of Chaim lies on the floor of a steamy room, a bloody gash where his adam’s apple used to be. An exasperated voice from further in the room exclaims, “’Think,’ I said, ‘before you stab.’” The steam separates, revealing two sweaty half-orcs in heavy armor, one looking abashed with a bloody kukri in his hand. A man sprawls luxuriantly in a small steaming pool in the center of the room. His visible skin is covered with horrible scars as if from badly healed burns. Behold Grandmaster Torch, a notorious information broker who has helped the Pathfinder Society in the past—but always for a steep price. Bobbie notices her eagle has perched on a nearby statue, starring at Chaim's dead body.
Which would be the decision the GM is making. Tier 3-4 is the winner and we have six applicants so you all get in, congrats! Since it is lvl 3-4, any adjacent tier is allowed so a lvl 1-2 could play up or a lvl 6-7 could play down. And in this case I don’t see a massive difference between a lvl 6 melee bard and a lvl 4 monk so neither should wreck the game any more than any of the group could do so already. I say that because these early seasons are built for 4 characters and taking six will probably make the threat of death negligible. But it is what it is and I'll still do my best to kill you all! :P I will get slides up soon, a post in gameplay and directions as to what to do next.
The Many Fortunes of Grandmaster Torch it is! Now recruiting for this Core Scenario. Head over to the thread below for the deets.
Cannoli steps back from the bile and door and nods at the elf, "Swarm eh? I've got something for that." The catfolk drops her cold iron weapon to the floor with a thunk and reaches into her pack, fumbling around for as second before pulling out a flask. "No don't worry, I'm not going to drink it. See what it says here? 'DO NOT DRINK, USE IF THERE IS A SWARM. CHUCK IT AT IT. DON'T BE IN RANGE OF THE SPLASH'." She thinks for a moment, "You know, maybe the seller was a bit concerned about my competence. They seemed very cautious when writing that note. Anyway, bombs away!" Cannoli chucks the flask at the swarm. for
As the caustic substance burns through her fur she winces and adds, "Whelp, mayhaps they were right."
Cannoli pulls herself away from explaining that most biological beings have many many possible oil plugs, depending on how sharp your knife is, and tells Guardian to hold up a second. She turns to the group, ”I say we use the potion and get one conscious now. It may save enough time that we could use to find the other victims before they expire. And if the one we pick doesn’t know anything, we let our crazy witch doctor have a shot at it.”
Cannoli shrugs, ”Yeah basically. Their blood is bad, which I assume oil is your equivalent. So a full blood change would help. However magic, as usual, has a work around. And also we probably don’t have bunches of blood available to work with.” She leans in conspiratorially and whispers, ”But IF you did have a bunch of bags of blood somewhere, I wouldn’t judge. Everyone needs a hobby.”
Any feedback about this first time PFS mission will be appreciated, I feel I need to get better (and not only with the maps) Pace is super important in PbP. And not just posting rate, but also keeping the group moving in a positive direction. I know that is also partially the group’s responsibility, as we have to keep pushing the plot along. But it’s definitely important to have clear leads into the next task or location. Some scenarios are a lot better at this than others, so that can make things harder. I appreciate you running the scenario and you did well for the first time. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Cannoli barely chokes off the first heave as her sensitive nose takes the stench full blast! She very politely and calmly excuses herself outside… ”OH SHIT OH GOD I’M GONNA HURL CHUNKS OUTTA THE WAY!!!” Yeah, real polite and calm. Sure. Once the grass has been fertilized by food remnants, stomach acid and then bile, she stands there heaving. Finally finished, the crazy catfolk rinses the yard down with some fresh rain and then rinses her mouth out before returning inside. ”So. How are things back in here?”
Cannoli replies to the alchemist, ”Nope, just junk. Gotta be something worth ste… recovering here though, let’s check the other rooms.” She heads over to Guardian and yanks the door open for him to charge through, ”No fear here of doors, I got your back, Bro.” Then the eidolon enters, ignores everyone and runs up the stairs. The catfolk shrugs and turns to the summoner, ”Probably dead, Jack, (or Jake, depending on how Jakeric is pronounced) probably dead. Sometimes ‘friends’ aren’t actually good people. Ya know?”
Paloma keeps spraying, the fire keeps dwindling as the group upstairs keeps cooking. Speaking of food… that lady smells pretty tasty as is. Like a delicious bloody steak. At least to El Cheepinator. The hungry kitty looks mournfully at her master.
Cannoli listens as intently as she can to the first part, but then perks up when Majara makes her plea. I totally agree with her concern, we DO look like a bunch of murderhobos after all. Especially Grizz. She is about to speak, but allows Vreeka the first shot before adding, "Well uh... my incredibly optimistic friend Vee here definitely represents what we 'hope' can happen. But I'm a bit more realistic. If Gellion forces us to use lethal force to stop him, I'm sure that would be understandable. Also, if he has been fully corrupted by the demonic essence, or has done horrible things to the other kids, I would expect it would be a lot better for everyone to not see him put on public trial and strung up on the gallows." The catfolk's ears twitch, "But maybe that's not the case? Maybe he is redeemable? We will keep our hopes high of such."
A flurry of words follows from Cannoli, ”Yeah it’s purple and gooey and we found it on the giant evil bugs in the graveyard and the orchard and it was hurting trees too and it’s probably also evil and cold iron makes it fizzle away but we need some more information and maybe where it would be found or at least a lead or something and discretion is really important here too thanks.” Maybe a catnap would have been beneficial.
Paloma thinks the doors are safe! GM Screen:
Paul also wanders close to the doors, but doesn't feel any of the normal sensations related to there being a trap. No tummy burbles, teeth tingles or hair raised on his neck. He steps to the side. Jack moves up and grabs one door, Cortina the other. And while Cortina wedges the crowbar in and expertly leverages the door open, Jack strains and strains but can't get his side to budge. It's probably completely rusted shut. Yeah, that's it. Either way, access to the inside is now open. A gust of very hot dry air blasts the dwarven cleric in her face. She glances inside and sees many rows of stout pillars, carved to resemble writhing flames, surround the center of the room where a spiral staircase, devoid of rails or walls, leads up to the minaret above. A large bonfire burns in the middle of the staircase, casting normal illumination throughout the room. The walls are covered with written words carved in gold filigree as well as stylized efreeti faces spaced every five feet. Massive obsidian benches line the walls, and a thick layer of desert sand covers the floor and stairs, especially near the entryway.
It’s all good, thanks! Enjoy the sessions everyone.
The chronicles are all complete and may be obtained at the link above.
Hamshanks sighs again, "Your opinion will be noted, thank you. Everyone complete your written reports and submit them within a week. Expect word back about the outcome of your mission in a month. Dismissed." _________________________ A month passes, still no word. The only thing you can get out of anyone is that 'the decemvirate are completing their review'. This isn't common for most missions, but it isn't that rare. Six weeks after your return, each pathfinder is couriered a sealed package. Inside is a pouch containing your payment for the mission in coins and semi-precious gems. There is also a letter that reads... Dear Pathfinder, Your mission to the Citadel of Flame has been reviewed. Each member will receive full monetary reward. An investigation was completed into the events reported. Witnesses were interviewed from the Citadel and along your path to and from the Citadel. All corroborate your accounts. No evidence was found at the Citadel regarding the golden idol. No evidence was found anywhere else regarding the golden idol. The society is currently concluding that the idol was destroyed and the cult's emergence was stopped. The latter is to the group's credit. The society also believes that some destructive actions taken by the group were excessive and encourages its agents to have more patience in the future. You may resume applications for missions and have been placed back on the emergency call list. If you wish to sever your association with the society, please notify your nearest lodge immediately. Thank you.
Everyone got their chronicles? Four of you have posted so that leaves two left. Bilos, you want to put a link to your game if you are going through with one? I can leave this thread up a little longer but haven't seen any chatter so...
”Hello sir, did you know they make hats in town? Really cool ones too. Every kind. How’s your day going? I bet it would be helped with a new hat!” She squints, ”Oh wait, sorry, Ma’am.” She squints further, ”Ooooh wait again. Sorry, that’s a tree. So uh… leafing much lately?”
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