Finding the Spark (Pathfinder 1E Quest)
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
- Fantasy
-
- Tags
- pathfinder
[ 
] try to bluff the wererats by informing them you can't be against werecreatures cause you're running with a wereguy (normal man during the day; turns into a guy at night)
] try to bluff the wererats by informing them you can't be against werecreatures cause you're running with a wereguy (normal man during the day; turns into a guy at night)
- Location
- St. Petersburg
Ah, this is peak PnP, playing as a cat.
I'd like to keep it that way, which unfortunately means he can't have any rats brought to him, dead or alive.
[x] Fetch Gorok, he's sure the iruxi can track rat and deal with him when he finds it
-[x] If the rat can be taken alive for interrogatio/threatening by Kori without Gavhaul knowing, that would be ideal.
A few exploits like this, and I won't be seeing any drawbacks. It's like they are asking us to be thorough.
I kinda like that he knows us for a problem solver for him, but has no idea where all the trouble is coming from.
I'd like to keep it that way, which unfortunately means he can't have any rats brought to him, dead or alive.
[x] Fetch Gorok, he's sure the iruxi can track rat and deal with him when he finds it
-[x] If the rat can be taken alive for interrogatio/threatening by Kori without Gavhaul knowing, that would be ideal.
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Vote closed.
Arc 8 Interlude 4: A Mouthful of Trouble
A Mouthful of Trouble
27th of Lamashan 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)
Gorok found no joy in the news that another foe was stalking them, and not just because of the fog still on his mind. Either this one was a servant of the dead-thing from the cave or it was not. If it was that meant the fight was not yet over and Gorok knew not the means to end it, but if it was not then this was a feud, flesh and bone against flesh and bone until the one would drink the blood of him or of the rat-kin. But he did not know of the ways of the rat-kin and how peace may be brokered. He did not wish for his clan to be in a ever-feud with the rat-kin unless they were servants of the dead thing.
"Come, we hunt!" he called out to his kin and was glad that the blades for hire paid no mind, thinking that he was seeking beasts, though the three knew better. Young as they were they knew he would never overstuff the larder.
His mind on his quarry he prayed to the spirit of the hunt to give him eyes like the hawk and a tongue like the serpent to taste the air. Without another word he scooped up Pepper-cat, that name still gave him a mental start of wanting to plug up his nostrils when he thought of it, convinced he'd never understand human name-lore, and headed off to saddle Warty.
The hills were alive with small hungry things, field mice and ground squirrels bold enough to know they could steal from humans by being small enough not to the worth hunting, especially in the dimming twilight, the perfect cover for a man who could take the shape of a rat
Three hours straight through the night following the scent that was not quite rat they strode until at last they came to the banks of the same slow placid river that gave water to Carpenden some miles downstream, plodding on among the reeds. It was aiming to loose their trail in the water. A common trick and one Gorok knew how to deal with...
"Archer, in the tree!" Pepper's shout sent Gorok flying off Warty, arrows buzzing in his wake like angry hornets to fall into the muck or glance off the slurk's thick armor as he slunk back to his feet, the iruxi could just barely make out the archer among the trees, hidden in the shadows. At his feet a pair of beasts scuttled, rats as big as wolves, though they didn't charge. Unused to their master missing his shots.
"Catch!" he shouted to the warriors, his new sword already in hand. Warty needed no encouragement. He could but hope that the slurk's slime would capture the rat-kin before the tusks impaled him.
Under the ragged hood the man's eyes gleamed red, the mark of a thinblood among beast-bloods, as he contorted himself under the blade. Luckily for Gorok he wasn't quite fast enough to avoid the back-swing that cracked him in the jaw.
"Die scream-weeping!" he spat through a mouthful of blood.
"Why?" Gorok asked, straightening out of the swing.
The other had clearly not expected that question for he stopped a moment, one hand on the head of the rat to his left. "You killed my father!"
"Your father was lead to his death by a Dead-One-Walking," Gorok corrected. "I was sworn to see to its undoing!"
For just a moment Gorok saw hesitation in the other's eyes, then he whistled and the rats were loose. One slid between his legs, mistiming its jump, but the other leapt onto his hand, forcing Gorok to slam his buckler into its mouth.
But the warrior was not alone, and his kin had taken out their nets just as he'd instructed and the moment the rats were distracted trapped them both and started to drag them away. Try as he might Gorok couldn't pin down the foe as he started to shrink and grow fur, just as a familiar long sticky tongue darted in to grab him.
Gorok Diplomacy (DC 24): 1d20 -3 -2 (Buckler of Eagle's Honor) = 13 (Failure)
Advanced Dire Rats Attack: 20, 7 (Failure, Failure)
Iruxi Net Attack: 22, 20 (Success; Success) -> Rats Entangled.
Gorok Attacks: 12; 13 (Failure; Failure)
Gorok AoO: 18 (Success) -> Nightskulk takes 10 Damage -> Now at 15/35
Warty Bite Attack: 1d20+7 = 20 (Success) -> Swallowed
Advanced Dire Rats Attack: 20, 7 (Failure, Failure)
Iruxi Net Attack: 22, 20 (Success; Success) -> Rats Entangled.
Gorok Attacks: 12; 13 (Failure; Failure)
Gorok AoO: 18 (Success) -> Nightskulk takes 10 Damage -> Now at 15/35
Warty Bite Attack: 1d20+7 = 20 (Success) -> Swallowed
Gorok turned to his friend: "Spit!" A pause. "Warty, spit, that's no good!"
One very slimed rat ended up on the ground, right under the point of Gorok's sword. "Are you gonna make more trouble, or are you going to talk?"
Slowly, painfully the rat took on human form again. "Talk," he spat with enough hate to boil water.
As he stripped the prisoner and took him somewhere that wasn't camp so Gavhaul would not notice Gorok wondered what would become of the man, he could well imagine having to take another life.
"The belt he have, he doesn't want to let it go," Traluk hissed amused and maybe a little greedy for it, though in truth maybe he just didn't want to deal with these rats anymore. "Magic?"
"Maybe," Gorok shruged. In truth he'd give it away in a snap if it meant avoiding an ever-feud his tribe could ill afford. Hopefully his friends' cunning words would prove themselves.
Gorok gains 400 XP
Alchemical Goods:
Cure Moderate Wounds potions (2),
Alchemist's Fire,
Bloodroot Poison (2 doses),
Tanglefoot Bag
Mundane items:
Chain Shirt,
Thieves tools
Magic item:
Magic Belt?
Cure Moderate Wounds potions (2),
Alchemist's Fire,
Bloodroot Poison (2 doses),
Tanglefoot Bag
Mundane items:
Chain Shirt,
Thieves tools
Magic item:
Magic Belt?
Who approaches the prisoner and how?
[] Mina
-[] Diplomatically, explaining just what it was his father was trying to free
-[] Write in
[] Sirim
-[] Diplomatically/Threateningly, you do not wish for this feud but you will end it if it comes to it
-[] Write in
[] Akorian
-[] Deceptively, claim you saved his father's soul
[] Write in
OOC: And so Gorok finally gets to shine a bit after taking that tumble in the last fight. Hope you guys enjoy.
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- Location
- florida
Pffftttt HAHAHAHAHA
oh my fucking GOD.
Interesting?
They cannot possibly have the collective ratfolk's approval for this mission. Especially not if they did this alone. Their attack bonus is pretty hefty though... and...
Could it be? Ranger?
- Location
- being near locations is my passion.
Excellent!
I'm thinking Mina tries to engage in Diplomacy, and Kori is there as backup with the intimidation if needed - something like "we are willing to speak to your groups elders on this when we get back, but know that if you don't stop trying to kill us, we will start fighting back. And a great many more of those you love will die."
I'm thinking Mina tries to engage in Diplomacy, and Kori is there as backup with the intimidation if needed - something like "we are willing to speak to your groups elders on this when we get back, but know that if you don't stop trying to kill us, we will start fighting back. And a great many more of those you love will die."
Close Bandit Archetype Rogue. He tried to rapid fire sneak attack Gorok twice for 1d8+12 twice
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
Ha! Warty MVP!
Good to see we could capture all alive, since might mean we can end this with words, especially since seems like son doesn't know why his father died and is likely acting on own.
Yeah, it's a good thing our employer wasn't involved since not likely to have been gentle.
Mina good cop while Kori bad cop sounds most fitting.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Kori would have a higher Bluff than Sirim's Diplomacy, but this doesn't seem like the right situation for a Bluff. A lie at the right time can work, but whatever lie we tell now could end up being a short-term solution, and if the truth comes out we'll have to deal with this shit all over again. We've already seen how persistent this asshole is.
Sirim's Shadow Enchantment spell is cast at 8th level, so his Bestow Insight spell will give him a +4 bonus compared to Kori's +3. With Guidance and Heroism (if it's available), his Diplomacy bonus will be up to +20. That's pretty damned good. Judging from the rolls in this chapter, the Diplomacy DC should be 24, but it may be penalized by the Wererat's captive status. Or maybe not, since we haven't further harmed or threatened him, or killed his pets.
And while Sirim talks, Kori can rummage through the Wererat's thoughts as Mina keeps his saving throws debuffed to make it easier. Even if the Diplomacy route fails, this is a good opportunity to extract critical intel from the captive.
[X] Group Effort
-[X] Mina will cast Guidance on Sirim, and Heroism as well if enough time has passed for her to prepare new spells for the day. She will keep Evil Eye applied to the captive Wererat, continually debuffing his saving throws and skill checks.
-[X] Kori will remain out of the captive's sight, using Detect Thoughts to probe the captive's mind while Sirim works.
-[X] Sirim will use Shadow Enchantment to cast Bestow Insight on himself, increasing his Diplomacy bonus by +4.
--[X] He will act Diplomatically/Threateningly; We do not wish for this feud but we will end it if it comes to it
Sirim's Shadow Enchantment spell is cast at 8th level, so his Bestow Insight spell will give him a +4 bonus compared to Kori's +3. With Guidance and Heroism (if it's available), his Diplomacy bonus will be up to +20. That's pretty damned good. Judging from the rolls in this chapter, the Diplomacy DC should be 24, but it may be penalized by the Wererat's captive status. Or maybe not, since we haven't further harmed or threatened him, or killed his pets.
And while Sirim talks, Kori can rummage through the Wererat's thoughts as Mina keeps his saving throws debuffed to make it easier. Even if the Diplomacy route fails, this is a good opportunity to extract critical intel from the captive.
[X] Group Effort
-[X] Mina will cast Guidance on Sirim, and Heroism as well if enough time has passed for her to prepare new spells for the day. She will keep Evil Eye applied to the captive Wererat, continually debuffing his saving throws and skill checks.
-[X] Kori will remain out of the captive's sight, using Detect Thoughts to probe the captive's mind while Sirim works.
-[X] Sirim will use Shadow Enchantment to cast Bestow Insight on himself, increasing his Diplomacy bonus by +4.
--[X] He will act Diplomatically/Threateningly; We do not wish for this feud but we will end it if it comes to it
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
I figured we would do that by default, like always.
- Location
- St. Petersburg
This mission, probably not. But whoever blew us up back in Augustana was not acting alone.
I don't mind either resolution, him calling off the feud (if the son calls off the vendetta, others would not pursue), or us killing him and upping the stakes of feuding with us once again.
Which... calls for Sirim/Kori Intimidating Diplomacy Duo, probably. Kori's Intimidate is nothing to sniff at.
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- Location
- being near locations is my passion.
I want a long term solution to this problem, so I'm concerned about stuff he might notice being used on him while talking.
@DragonParadox is Evil Eye noticeable by the target;
If they pass their save?
If they fail their save?
What about if they can't see the caster?
Then again if he does notice we could always just... be honest, and tell him that we were reading his mind/making it easier to read his mind.
Edit: While I do admit to a polite curiosity regarding his belt, I don't want to take any of his items/gear.
What I want here is to build the first steps towards peace with him and his group and... send him home. With enough cash for boat fares if he needs it/we have enough to spare.
@DragonParadox is Evil Eye noticeable by the target;
If they pass their save?
If they fail their save?
What about if they can't see the caster?
Then again if he does notice we could always just... be honest, and tell him that we were reading his mind/making it easier to read his mind.
Edit: While I do admit to a polite curiosity regarding his belt, I don't want to take any of his items/gear.
What I want here is to build the first steps towards peace with him and his group and... send him home. With enough cash for boat fares if he needs it/we have enough to spare.
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Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
Fair enough.
Glad that didn't hit or else Gorok would be in a much less diplomatic mood.
- Location
- florida
[X] Group Effort
-[X] Mina will cast Guidance on Sirim, and Heroism as well if enough time has passed for her to prepare new spells for the day. She will keep Evil Eye applied to the captive Wererat, continually debuffing his saving throws and skill checks.
-[X] Kori will remain out of the captive's sight, using Detect Thoughts to probe the captive's mind while Sirim works.
-[X] Sirim will use Shadow Enchantment to cast Bestow Insight on himself, increasing his Diplomacy bonus by +4.
--[X] He will act Diplomatically/Threateningly; We do not wish for this feud but we will end it if it comes to it
Hopefully he just leaves us alone after this?
Of all people I expect Sirim to be the least sympathetic to the wererat's... everything.
Especially given how transparently incompetent this wererats actions have been.
I wouldn't even be surprised if this person was told. "When you go on this mission, don't bother coming back."
-[X] Mina will cast Guidance on Sirim, and Heroism as well if enough time has passed for her to prepare new spells for the day. She will keep Evil Eye applied to the captive Wererat, continually debuffing his saving throws and skill checks.
-[X] Kori will remain out of the captive's sight, using Detect Thoughts to probe the captive's mind while Sirim works.
-[X] Sirim will use Shadow Enchantment to cast Bestow Insight on himself, increasing his Diplomacy bonus by +4.
--[X] He will act Diplomatically/Threateningly; We do not wish for this feud but we will end it if it comes to it
Hopefully he just leaves us alone after this?
Of all people I expect Sirim to be the least sympathetic to the wererat's... everything.
Especially given how transparently incompetent this wererats actions have been.
I wouldn't even be surprised if this person was told. "When you go on this mission, don't bother coming back."
If they can see the caster they always know what's happening, if they can't they just get a sudden sense of dream.
- Location
- being near locations is my passion.
I have the uniformed gut-vibe that him being here was a choice dropping his vendetta or exile. But like... He's a kid. And more than that, grieving.
Nobody died, and if he was exiled from his group it was probably along the lines of 'we tried, really tried. Your dad's killers are alive. We won't be dragged us into anything deeper on this, so if you pursue this then you are no longer part of us'. So chose vengeance.
Better (short-term-emotionally) to pursue that than face his loss without distraction.
And if so... well. If we can convince him to stop here then he might be able to go back and be allowed to rejoin.
[X] Group Effort
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- Location
- Germany
At least we solved this with anyone noticing.
Bringing more trouble to the caravan would have been hard to bluff our way out of.
Bringing more trouble to the caravan would have been hard to bluff our way out of.