GM Chyro |
After much commotion, the guard in the yard comes to take a look inside, only to be baffled by the scene at hand.
"What....in the gods' names, is this?"
After a brief explanation from your side, and knowing the reputation of Taldan faction head's mastery of the blade, plus not having seen the Quadiran guards' mistress, convinces him of your story.
"I'll ehm....look, this is a mess. We'll call back the coach of Baron Dalsine and....ehm, get you a lift to your local headquarters."
He rubs his neck at the uncomfortable situation.
"You may..erm, want to wrap Chalfon's... i mean, mister Dalsine's body, in something. Carrying a nobleman around over the shoulder looks suspicious, wouldn't it."
He leaves the manor to head for the Baron's coach.
Jeskit Thersis |
Jeskit will respectfully wrap and carry Asterion's corpse and give preferential placement to him over Dalsine.
Asterion was exemplary in his execution of duty. He will be afforded the highest respect for his sacrifice.
Balbo Beethair |
Balbo bows his head over Asterion's body, praying to Erastil that the brave inquisitor find his way to whatever paradise awaits him in the afterlife before speaking a few words on behalf of the fallen. "He died bravely, and for a noble cause. Dalsine has much to answer for, and I pray that justice be swift and without mercy for the horrors he has wrought."
The halfling waits for the coach so that they can carry back both of the bodies, one of them an evil, traitorous criminal and the other a good man that died bravely in battle. He will ride Chompy back to headquarters, his mien quiet and thoughtful as they move through the streets.
GM Chyro |
Yes. The guard would have said 'dead body' otherwise. ;)
GM Chyro |
Also..
Before leaving the manor, you take a look around, discovering some interesting items..... the items the VC was looking for.
Once everything, and everyone, is secured, the coach stands ready at the gate. The Quadirans have seemingly left, and the guard is handing the coach driver some money, speaking with him in a serious manner, as he points down the street.
..bring them to the pathfinder headquarters. Head for your master's family at once. The situation is delicate.
The trio of guards turn to you with a look of mental burden on their faces.
[b]"Go. The coach will get you to your destination. We hope this will be sorted out properly, or there'll be repercussions for sure."
============================
Later, at the lodge...
============================
The door to the VC's place is closed. Upon inspection, you notice there is a man standing in the shadows, some 15ft away. He looks around, before approaching you.
Pulling back his hood, it is revealed to be the venture captain.
"Fortune be praised, you are we-.., his words cut off as he sees Asterion's body, turning his face moody for a few seconds.
"It saddens me to see one of you hasn't made it back safely. It is sadly a risk of our profession. I was taken by the militia, but saw a chance to escape during one of their less vigilant moments."
"Someone else should take over my duties here. Please, before we go to a safer place, tell me of what you've discovered."
Asterion Stargard |
Heya DM after perusal of the combat encounter i've found a mistake on your part.. Chalfon Dalsine cast corrosive touch yes? which does 4d4 damage assuming he was a 4th level caster? You rolled 4d6 for damage against Asterion which was incorrect.
GM Chyro |
Gah, ya, good call. Let's see what the dmg is, you might have survived.
Acid: 4d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 1) = 5 Asterion survived!!
[<<]
....(edit)
[>]
"Fortune be praised, you are well", his words filled with relief.
"I was taken by the militia, but saw a chance to escape during one of their less vigilant moments."
"Someone else should take over my duties here. Please, before we go to a safer place, tell me of what you've discovered."
Jeskit Thersis |
The gods be praised. A soldier is granted reprieve from death for fulfilling their duties. Welcome back to the land of the living, Asterion. Jeskit is relieved to see his compatriot revived.
Mosi the Wanderer |
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"Asterion!" Mosi exclaims in relief. I think I need to brush up on my first aid... How did I not notice he was still breathing?
"I am glad your journey is not over on this side of life." Mosi smiles before turning to the venture captain.
"Dalsine has tried to take advantage of the discord in our society. When he murdered many of the dawnflower cultists, he made sure that one of them was family to the Quadrian faction leader. He even had his own cousin do the deed. What was most foul was that it was all intended to raise the ire of the Quadrian's. Dalsine did it knowing his cousin would be murdered in retribution. We witnessed the murder as we opened the door to Dalsine's mansion." Mosi leans on his staff and sighs, his weariness beginning to catch up to him.
"Dalsine had a most effective spy within the dawnflower cultists. A faceless skulk in disguise. We nearly didn't survive that fight either. It meant to kill us to prevent us from meddling with the culmination of his machinations." Mosi raises and eyebrow, and realizes he might be rambling.
"Here is the short version. Dalsine meant to cause a war between factions by pulling the strings to have one faction leader murder another. And he would have likely gotten away with it, if it wasn't for us meddling pathfinders."
GM Chyro |
He even had his own cousin do the deed.
Actually, Chalfon set his cousin up, the Taldan faction head had nothing to do with the cultists' deaths. Counting on the Quadiran woman to fight him, resulting in either's death. Said murderous militias were phonies.
GM Chyro |
Chalfon's scheming has worked its way into PC posts..... the guy is truly fiendish. ;)
Balbo Beethair |
"Zoinks!" Balbo exclaims as Asterion jerks upright suddenly, and though the halfling had been reaching for his bow, thinking that their companion had somehow become undead, the inquisitor to clad to see that the half-elf is truly alive after all.
He adds to Mosi's commentary. "The guards we spoke with seem to understand the situation, and they understand the situation between the Quadiran and Taldan factions are delicate at the moment, though there is hope that war might be averted, since Chalfon's betrayal has been noted. Also, the other Dawnflowers are still alive, or were when we last saw them. We can take you there, if you'd like. Lastly, we located those two artifacts you asked about."
GM Chyro |
The venture captain sighs in relief, hearing the friends he sent with you are safe.
Even more excited, he becomes when hearing of the artifacts' safe retrieval.
"Splendid, splendid. Thank you so much."
He motions you to follow him inside.
Once there, he stashes the items in a neutral chest, and takes out a bottle of wine.
"With these artifacts back, the society cannot be linked to the Dawnflower cultists and, even better, the diary you recovered retroactive, since you would have found that as well. , will absolve me of any suggested involvement, and i will be able to continue my work here. No need to find a new place."
Along with the wine, he takes some cups from a cabinet.
"A toast, if you would join me, to a good ending to a most dire situation."
Jeskit Thersis |
Jeskit takes the offered glass of wine with this bulking hands. Dire indeed. These enemies were formidable. I was at death's door more than once in the last few days.
Mosi the Wanderer |
Mosi raises a glass to nearly fallen companions, and others who have fallen in the past. He nods to Jeskit.
"T'will be a journey that any with true wanderlust should enjoy making." he smiles.
"I would just rather not make that journey just yet." he chuckles and tips the glass back, draining it.
Asterion Stargard |
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Agreeing with Jeskit "Yes, I had that experience myself, the Lady laid her hands on me and it seems that I heard the strangest thing.. the sound of dice rolling and then I away from here touch and back in the land of the living."
Balbo Beethair |
Balbo hesitates just a bit as he joins in the toast, realizing that they have already dealt with one shapeshifter, and the venture captain did intercept them before they even opened the door to the office. Unlikely perhaps, but the halfling is just cautious and suspicious enough to make sure that nothing seems untoward as he swishes the wine in the glass, judging Muesello's reaction and trying to determine if there is anything different about him that seems off...
Sense Motive Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
I'm sure I'm just being paranoid.
GM Chyro |
Balbo, still wary of the deception they had encountered, observes the venture captain. However, at 2nd glance, this feels to be the actual man.
Just a bit more cautious, given his own capture earlier on.
Balbo Beethair |
Satisfied that this is truly the venture captain, Balbo speaks his own toast. "Despite the deceptions we've weathered, the Pathfinders have once more defeated our enemies. Well done to all of us!" And drinks the wine.
GM Chyro |
Still in possession of an unconscious Chalfon Dalsine, the venture captain produces a firm rope and ties him, gagging him with a dirty cloth nearby.
"He'll wake up eventually, so i propose we leave him for the militia to find. It hardly seems sensible for me, or your nagaji friend, to walk up to their headquarters to report him."
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Epilogue:
==========================
The team delivered monsieur Dalsine, wrapped in a carpet, for the militia to find, a certain diary left on his person.
He is taken into custody and, over the course of the week, is tried and found guilty of orchestrating the death of nobility and intent of sowing public disorder. Given the murder victim is of very high standing within Taldan's social circle, Chalfon is sentenced to death by beheading.
While this is all unfolds along the week, the Grand Lodge discretely works on easing tensions.
Azora gets personally contacted.
Taldan turned into the Sovereign Court, i think?
"As you know, with the death of our leader, there will be a period to elect a new leader. Despite a lack of a current one, operations will proceed as usual until that time."