GM Bold Strider's PFS 01-52 The City of Strangers, Part II (Subtier 1-2) (Inactive)

Game Master rpblue

"Seems like you chose the latter. Now go away." the man bellows at you. He shuts the door in your face and you hear the lock click.

Evenstar frowns at the slammed door.

"Now what?" the barbarian asks.

"I have some experience opening locked doors," she says. "It's a good way to gather some kindling for a fire, too."

As Rangor sees the man becoming quite irate he calls upon a small portion of his power causing his memory to momentarily go back in time.

Cast Memory Lapse

We were sent by Master Dreng on behalf of the Society. We are all Pathfinders and we just have a few questions for Collgardie. I believe I have answered all of your questions good man.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

DC 15 Will save to negate Memory Lapse.

While Rangor is working his magic on the man, Aiden steps away, trying to circle the home and check behind it.

Assuming the magic works and we retcon to before the door closes.
What Rangor here said - Collgardie's friend Dreng sent us to help out. Just tell Horis that and I'm sure this can all be settled pleasantly.
Kiyanetikert smiles warmly at the big man.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Also, do I recognize the golden golem badge he's wearing?
Know(local)untrained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Apparently not.

Knowledge, Local on the badge too: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Evenstar looks askance at Ragnor as he attempts to use his powers.

What is he doing?

Will Save: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Rangor's Memory Lapse doesn't seem to work on this fellow as the failed spell causes him to eyeball the bold oracle with suspicion. "Are you sure you have? Try using magic on me again and I'll shove my blade through that hole on your face. I tried to be nice, but if you come back, you will have problems."

He definitively slams the door in your face now.

No one knows what the golden golem insignia stands for as no one is quite well-versed in politics in Kaer Maga.

Well the force powers were worth a try hehehe

I'm not very good at judging humans, so I may be wrong, but I don't think he's actually a friend of Horis Collgardie. Maybe we should see if there's a window or another way in? Can anyone get up to that balcony?

"I've got a feeling someone didn't like Collgardie asking for help." Kryssa eyes Kiyanetikert for a moment and asks, "Mind if I give you a lift up to the window?"

Aiden circles around the house looking for another door or a window that he can look inside.

Does look like Aiden has the best stealth score in the group

It is a standard building. There are windows about. No extra doors however.

Aiden moves carefully up to a window towards the rear of the building and takes a look inside.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Emmett continues to watch the front door, to make sure no one sneaks out this way.

Aiden sees the general trappings of a home, but doesn't see anyone for his vantage point. The curtains are mostly pulled shut but the small glance he can see makes it look like a normal home.

Aiden shifts down to another window to get another view.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

The impatient Evenstar paces back and forth at the front door.

"I have another way to get inside...it involves my foot on the door, and then on that guy's throat," she mutters.

Aiden checks another window but the man was a fan of heavy curtains. There doesn't seem to be any one inside or anything overly odd about the interior.

Aiden returns to the group. "I couldn't see anything through the windows. What are our options? We could break in, but I think that's going to draw some unwanted attention and we don't even have smallest shred of reason to do it. Perhaps we should just watch the house. It's unlikely they'll be in there forever." He pauses. "Perhaps Collgardie isn't even in there."

We were sent here to speak with the man. The sooner we find out what is going on the sooner I can fund my research and return home. Rangor nods his head at Evenstar. I am with the burly woman.

Kryssa readies her heavy flail and says, "Let's hope Collgardie doesn't make us pay for the door." She stands next to Evenstar.

Evenstar frowns at Rangor.

"Let me show you what happens if you call me 'burly' again."

She kicks at the front door with tremendous force, hoping to make kindling out of it.

str check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Rangor, I have no problem with the burly comment...just trying to have some RP fun! :)

"Well, that's likely to get things hopping"

Emmett, armed and ready, steps up to watch Evenstar's back.

"I was thinking maybe someone could try the lock. Or one of the windows. I guess we're not a very subtle bunch."

Kiyanetikert drinks a Shield extract, just in case.

Aid on strength check.

Strength Aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Hehe Same. I was just making it since you are a barbarian :)

Evenstar kicks in the door where they just talked to the man. The door jamb cracks with a resounding splintering of wood as the Pathfinders rush in.

Perception:
Kiyanetikert: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27 +8 with Mutagen
Evenstar: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Aiden: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Rangor: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Emmett: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Kryssa: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Initiative:
Kiyanetikert: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 +3 with Mutagen
Evenstar: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Aiden: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Rangor: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 Take Higher
Rangor: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 Take Higher
Emmett: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Kryssa: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Goons: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

As soon as the group bursts in, half the party frantically looks around and sees nothing; the other half sees four men leap out of the shadows and strike.

Three of the men rush into battle with metal-studded gloves while the other hefts a severed half-orc's head by the hair and flings it at the bounty hunter by the door. The man who talked to you at the door yells as he leaps from cover. "This is a gift from Ardoc for killing Coll..." He seems to think for a second, but decides to attack anyway.

Cestus @ Evenstar: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 = 7
Cestus @ Rangor: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 = 18
Cestus @ Kiyan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Stingchuck @ Aiden: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Rangor takes a savage cut to the side as the head explodes on contact with Aiden, covering him in vile rats that bite at him. The shattering of the skull splashes and hit Kryssa and Kiyan.

Damage @ Rangor: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Sneak Attack @ Rangor: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Damage @ Aiden: 1d4 ⇒ 1 Fortitude Save against Nausea.
Sneak Attack @ Aiden: 1d6 ⇒ 4

1 point of damage to Kryssa and Kiyan.

Surprise Round:
1st: Goons
2nd: Kiyan; Aiden; Emmett One action only!

Initiative:
1st: Rangor; Kryssa
2nd: Goons (Red; Green; Blue; Yellow)
3rd: Kiyan; Evenstar; Aiden; Emmett

Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 I'll assume that passes.

Aiden tears away one of the rats biting him and steps forward to attack one of the men. "Where is Collgardie?!"

5 foot step, attack blue.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Extra Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

I'm pretty sure you can 5 foot step in a surprise round, but if not, Aiden will throw his net at the man instead.

Kiyanetikert steps back, quickly mixing a vial and tossing a bomb at the blue goon. "I knew they were up to no good. What did you do to Collgardie?"

bomb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2) + 3 = 7
Precise Bombs to exclude Aiden & Evenstar

@Aiden: You can 5' step in a surprise round.

Aiden lands a brutal stab on the goon as Kiyantikert finished him off with a bomb.

Did you guys even read what he said before he stumbled at seeing you guys again?

There is a clearly a dead body on the floor where the Red X is that resembles the bits of information on what Collgardie looks like.

Surprise Round:
1st: Goons
2nd: Kiyan; Aiden; Emmett One action only!

Initiative:
1st: Rangor; Kryssa
2nd: Goons (Red; Green; Yellow)
3rd: Kiyan; Evenstar; Aiden; Emmett

Yup, got it. Collgardie is dead.

As Emmett sees the situation unfold, he aims at the closest goon and pulls the trigger.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (7, 1, 7) + 3 = 18

Wow - 27 damage... first time that has worked!

Rangor shifts behind the group and begins a long summons. I will pull us some aid from the past

Start Summon Monster 1

Kryssa calls on her celestial heritage and the angelic blood lends her strength. She swings her massive flail as if it were nothing more than a rag doll.

Attack-PA+Rage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Damage+PA+Rage: 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

Please use the map at the top!

As Emmett tries to fire his gun, he leaves himself open to a counterattack, but he gets off lucky and dodges the attack as he blasts the man's brains out of his skull.

Cestus @ Emmett-16 AC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Kryssa smashes one of the men in the head with her flail, dropping him to the ground like a bag of turnips.

"You're the bastards that killed Collgardie. Back for more, eh?!" yells the man you saw at the front door from behind the table as he chucks another explosive head at Rangor.

Stingchuck @ Rangor-12 TAC: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Stingchuck @ Rangor-12 TAC: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The head slams into the man as the man retreats over Collgardie's body.

Damage @ Rangor: 1d4 ⇒ 3 Fortitude Save against Nausea.
1 damage to Aiden and Kiyan.
DC 14 Concentration check Rangor to keep the Summon Monster I spell.

Initiative:
1st: Rangor; Kryssa
2nd: Goons (Yellow)
3rd: Kiyan; Evenstar; Aiden; Emmett

Fort save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Concentration: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Rangor loses his concentration as the power leaves his body. His anger grows. What has happened to me for such a man to make me lose the simplest spell.

Not feeling well he takes a step back and begins to wretch.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"What do you mean? You killed Collgardie! We just got here looking for him!" Aiden yells as he runs up toward the man. He hurls a net at him, trying to capture him as he stands over the dead body.

"If you didn't kill him, then stand down and we can talk!"

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

"Is that dude really throwing exploding heads at us?"

Emmett, shocked at the explosive power of his own weapon, spends some time to reload his one-shoot pistol. Then he draws out his hammer in his other hand, prepared for anything.

Kiyanetikert also moves up, brandishing another vial, "Yeah, we came to help him, not kill him. Yield and we'll deal with it. Don't and we'll deal with you."

Intimidate:: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (19) - 3 = 16

It should be ridiculous, the little gnome waving a bottle and making vague threats, but somehow this time a scary wildness comes through.

"We didn't kill him, you morons! We're here to help him!" Evenstar yells.

The barbarian shows rare restraint as she awaits their reply, but readies to counterattack.

I'm going to move forward adjacent to the enemy, but then hold my attack. If he responds with hostility or moves, I'll use my attack.

MW Greatsword Power Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 for Greatsword damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 1) + 10 = 15

"Yeah, I'm sure the people breaking into his home didn't mean him harm! YOU STAND DOWN!" the man yells back at you.

Evenstar steps back a pace and lowers her greatsword, though she appears pained to do so.

"We are Pathfinders sent to assist Collgardie and investigate rumors of a new Pathfinder lodge here...we didn't kill him, but when we arrived here we found you here instead of him. That's our story! Yours better be just as good or I'm cutting you in half!"

intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

"Ok, everyone relax. Maybe this is just a huge misunderstanding." He looks at the man. "Start by telling us who you are and why you're here. Collgardie was supposed to have information for us."

Kryssa says with her heavy flail, "This is his house and you had already broken in. You're the ones who look like thugs to us."

Intimidate (use what ya got): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

"Perhaps, if this is potentially a misunderstanding, we could call a truce and check on the fallen? Then sort out the details."

"Besel hired us to take care of Collgardie's assassins. Figured we'd watch to see if they'd come back to the scene of the crime. He was under Ardoc protection and we were his revenge." Bis says to you.

"Since you didn't kill Collgardie, you might want to tell him that." Bis states as he sheathes a dagger he pulled without anyone noticing. He dusts off his jacket and begins to walk to the door. "Welp, since you ain't assassins, then I guess my job is done."

"Wait. Like I said, we're new in town. Who's Besel and what is Ardoc? And do you know what Collgardie was involved in? We ought to find his assassins and teach them a lesson. They could have found out his ties to the Pathfinders and killed him for it."