[LPF] Barrow of the Forgotten King

[GlassEye]

Qalabash Baram, human staff magus

[section]

Qalabash laughs.

"Give back the reward? Gentlemen, a finer pair of horse-traders I have never met! I commend you." He shakes his head. "No, we'll be keeping the reward we earned with our blood, and the bows, too."

Qalabash purses his lips and stares at the two town elders. He sighs, shakes his head and turns to Mystie. "Dear Miss Thissiledew, I very nearly find myself at a loss for words. Perhaps you can bring us back into the good graces of these... gentlemen while I find Mirra."

Qalabash, clearly exasperated with the situation, walks away to search for Mirra.

​

[/section]

[sblock=OOC/Actions]We've offered a method to open the door less expensively but been flat-out refused, we've suggested the villagers take the money from the reward they offered to pay for the magic and they've ignored it. Unless Mystie can persuade them where the rest of us could not, I say we bash it open. The only cost is the villagers' good will and we've already lost that.
[/sblock][sblock=Stats]Qalabash Baram Staff Magus 2
Initiative: +1 Perception: -1

AC: 14 (11 Touch, 13 Flat-footed) Current AC: 14
HP: 20 Current HP: 20
CMB: +4 / +6 Trip CMD: 15 / 17 vs. Trip Fort: +5 Ref: +3 Will: +2

In Hand: Quarterstaff
Conditions:
Spells Prepared:

• 0-level: Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation, +1 unprepared
• 1st level: Shield, Shield, +1 unprepared

Special:
Arcane Pool: 2/4 points remaining [Swift action: +1 enhancement bonus for 1 minute][/sblock]

 

[Systole]

Qalabash meets Mirra on her way back downstairs. She looks a bit sheepish. "In my haste I seem to have ... uh ... neglected to get a key," she explains. "But at this point, I'll sleep rough before I give these ... these jerks a copper piece, since that's all they seem to understand or care about. You know, I've half a mind to walk away and leave this horrible town to whatever comes up out of the crypt and decides to eat them. I almost feel like they'd deserve it. I know that's a horrible thought, but I can't stop thinking it."


[sblock=Mini Stats]Mirra Weathersmith

AC: 16 (13 flat-footed, 13 touch)
HP: 12/14
CMB: +2 CMD: 15
Fort: +3 Reflex: +6 Will: +1

Perception: +5
Initiative: +3

Bombs: 2/7
Cognatogen Prepared: Intelligence
1st Level: 0/3
Extracts Prepared: Enlarge Person, Shield, Detect Secret Doors


Current Weapon in Hand: Longspear (+2, x2, 1d8+1) and Bomb (+4, x2, 1d6+3)
Current Conditions in Effect: None

Used Items:
None
[/sblock]

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

[section]

Jonas smiles at the merchant and the Dwarf, and when he speaks it's in a friendly tone. "Calling us rude for taking offense that you first called us extortionists seems a little . . . off . . . to me. Calling us liars when we say we don't have the cash, after we've found your Sentinels, found the Yurling's and rescued the girl - offering to do so 'out of the goodness of our hearts' - is downright disrespectful. You've offered us 1000 pieces of gold to find out who or what has desecrated your mausoleum. When I hire someone to fix my leaking roof, I fully expect to pay them for both their labor and the supplies they'll be needing, or to purchase those supplies myself. We've been considerably more friendly than that, and offered you several alternatives - my friend even offered not to complain if you took the cost of the scrolls from our final "reward." You've been told that now that we know there is something beneath your crypt that is killing your good folk and bringing them back as foul undead, we'll be working to eliminate whatever it is from the world because that's the right thing to do. We'll be heading back to the mausoleum to remove a danger to you that you've fully admitted you cannot take care of yourselves. Feel free to help or not, as you will."

He turns to find Mirra and Qalabash heading back to the common room and overhears Mirra's last remark. "I agree, Mirra, and am quite used to sleeping rough myself. Let's find a place that's somewhat more inclined to politeness to rest this evening."​

[/section]

[sblock=Actions/Rolls]--[/sblock]

[sblock=OOC/The Way Jonas Sees It ]In point of fact, we were offered 50 GP apiece to find the Yurlings and the Sentinels. We turned that down, and went to find them without expectation of reward. The town paid us anyway, but even so, the total reward doesn't pay for the scrolls, so we'd be dipping into our own pockets for 100 GP to clean up their mess. The bows don't come into it - they're not part of the mausoleum, and were taken as spoils. They're not any part of what the villagers are paying, so selling them for cash to then use to buy the scrolls is just like taking that money out of our pockets as well. If I were fixing someone's roof for $200, and they told me I'd be needing to buy $300 worth of shingles and tarpaper out of my own pocket to do the job, I'd tell 'em to take a hike.

I'm with you, GE - they can pay for the scrolls or we can take down the door.[/sblock]

_______________
[sblock=Mini Stats]
Jonas Psalter

Initiative: +02
AC: 15 (09 Touch, 15 Flat-Footed)
HP: 19/19 (NL Damage: 04; Ability Damage: DEX 07)
Senses: DarkVision (60’) Perception: +09
CMB: +03 CMD: 12
Fort: +04 Reflex: -01 Will: +04
[/sblock]

 

[perrinmiller]

~ Day 4 16:37 - Kingsholm: Coronet & Cabbage Inn ~

Ian was more reasonable than Gran, but he gave a stern look at Jonas as he departed. He looked at Mystie, the lone adventurer standing before them.

“Lass, do you think we should loan you 300 gold coins because you cannot afford to pay Banjatha for her time and supplies? I don’t have 300 gold coins sitting around either since I am an innkeeper not a money lender.”

“We are not contracting or hiring you all for anything. We offered a reward, if you cannot succeed then, so be it. But you may not deface or destroy our mausoleum like vandals.”

Gran took it one step further and remarked, “Bah, I call it like I be seein’ it, Ian. Dis be a fookin’ shakedown. They juss donna wanna pay Banjatha. I be da moneylender, but they be a risky investment an’ dun pissed me off.”

“So they can get da hell outa o’ town if they donna wanna help. Den we can be sendin’ word ta Venza for sum real heroes instead.”

“I’m gonna go find Mia ta round up da Sentinels juss in case.” The dwarf stomped out of the inn mumbling about how he knew it was a bad idea to involve strangers in the first place.

Ian looked at the gnome lass to see if she had something nicer to say.

[sblock=Combat Information]
Party Stats:

Qalabash:   20/20 HP remaining; 
Mirra:      13/16 HP remaining; 
Mystie:     23/23 HP remaining; 
->Bubba:    16/16 HP remaining; 
Jonas:      15/19 HP remaining; (4 damage NL); Poisoned 3 dex dmg

Spells Cast: 
Abilities Used: 
  Qalabash: AP 2/4, Spells 1st 1/3
  Mirra:    Bombs 5/7, Extracts 1/3, Intel Mutagen 0/1
  Mystie:   Misfortune, Ch Energy 5/5, SLAs 0/3, Spells 1st 0/6, Bard Perf 3/8
  Jonas:    Jdgmt 0/1, Spells 1st 0/2
Conditions in effect:

[/sblock] [sblock=GM Note]Mowgli, your OOC analogy is wrong. In your terms, you are being asked to spend $300 on supplies for an expected $1000 return to fix their roof. Yet, after starting the project you feel it reasonable to ask the home owner paying you for a loan to buy the supplies (which the contractor should already have) while telling the homeowner you cannot afford it (when you can). Do you really think you can go ask the home owner for a loan of $300 after you started the job? You could certainly negotiate that into the contract, but that would require a Diplomacy Check (something you never tried).

The problem is that you did not make a reasonable request the way you presented it. Bottom line, it was a petty request when you clearly could afford the cost to pay for the materials of the scrolls.

They are not contracting you for services, but giving a reward only if you succeed. You are assuming financial risk, not them. If you fail or skip town, they pay nothing. You succeed, they have to go take up a collection to reward you. So you are demanding they pay Banjantha upfront based on the chance of your anticipated success. Pretty much extortion since you are threatening destruction of their property if they don't.

At this point, if you break down the mausoleum door, it would be vandalism and no different than if you looted the crypt, since you have revealed to them it is not necessary to break it. In that event you will not receive any reward at all and the entire town will be unfriendly to hostile as word spreads. Gran is the only one unfriendly at the moment, so you can definitely make it worse and lose access to purchase arcane supplies or divine healing from other townspeople.[/sblock]

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

[sblock=OOC]It was Mrs. Minwitten herself who suggested that the council pay for the supplies out of the funds for the reward.

Again, the group went after the missing Yurlings and Sentinels - at the pleading request of these very same people - with no expectation of reward. We found out what happened, and brought the very well liked, prominent in the community little girl back to them. When we politely asked for help paying for supplies, with not a harsh word, we were called liars, extortionists and shakedown artists to our faces. Even after we gave them the initial help they were begging for with no expectation of reward!

Beyond that, even after we brought the girl back and have started talking with Ian and Gran about the scrolls, it's been stated plain as day - right out in words - that we're not doing this for the money and that once the evil is taken care of we'll accept whatever reward the townsfolk see fit to bestow, even if it's nothing. And even after that was stated twice, we were still accused plain as day - right out in words - of trying to extort more money.

So, in spite of his friendly tone, Jonas is feeling more than a little unfriendly himself right now, and won't be doing any more "negotiating." (Mowgli's feeling fine, BTW, and is enjoying the RP. Sometimes that doesn't come through in print so I thought I should make it clear ).

And the townsfolk can look at it as looting all they want, but to Jonas that would be just another example of their wrong-headed thinking as he has no intention of taking anything from the mausoleum that belongs there, and never has. He intends to eliminate the threat to the community (and the surrounding area). He'll happily take anything that doesn't belong in the crypt, of course, to help pay for the expenses that the stingy, ungrateful townsfolk won't be paying for.[/sblock]

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

[sblock=OOC/BTW]I think Jonas levels on the 14th 19th with TXP. May I go ahead and take care of that? Since his rewrite hasn't been reviewed yet I can just make the changes and take care of both at once.[/sblock]

 

[Systole]

Mirra boggles at the dwarf's retreating back. "He's going to fetch the guards? Over a wall? Over a scroll? The same guards who were too terrified to do anything about five dead and missing citizens? What in the name of the gods can he possibly expect they're going to do?" she asks. "By all that is holy, what is wrong with this town?"


[sblock=Mini Stats]Mirra Weathersmith

AC: 16 (13 flat-footed, 13 touch)
HP: 12/14
CMB: +2 CMD: 15
Fort: +3 Reflex: +6 Will: +1

Perception: +5
Initiative: +3

Bombs: 2/7
Cognatogen Prepared: Intelligence
1st Level: 0/3
Extracts Prepared: Enlarge Person, Shield, Detect Secret Doors


Current Weapon in Hand: Longspear (+2, x2, 1d8+1) and Bomb (+4, x2, 1d6+3)
Current Conditions in Effect: None

Used Items:
None
[/sblock]

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

[section]

As Jonas is walking out with Mirra, he responds, "You know, something just may be wrong here . . . It's totally irrational to accuse us of trying to shake down the town for more money when we've three times offered to do as they've asked us without expecting any reward whatsoever. What if whatever is working from the crypt is manipulating the emotions of the townsfolk?" While he's trying to keep the volume fairly soft, his excitement and frustration are such that he's not very successful and he can surely be heard by everyone remaining in the room.​

[/section]

[sblock=Actions/Rolls]--[/sblock]
_______________
[sblock=Mini Stats]
Jonas Psalter

Initiative: +02
AC: 15 (09 Touch, 15 Flat-Footed)
HP: 19/19 (NL Damage: 04; Ability Damage: DEX 07)
Senses: DarkVision (60’) Perception: +09
CMB: +03 CMD: 12
Fort: +04 Reflex: -01 Will: +04
[/sblock]

 

[GlassEye]

Qalabash Baram, human staff magus

[section]

Qalabash shakes his head at Mirra's rhetorical question.

"Provincialism. I've seen it across the breadth of E'n. They get shaken up, scared, and they retreat into the safety of their staid beliefs and refuse to listen to the voice of reason. It is just as well that they are getting the guard. Captain Desarna seemed the only sensible one of the whole bunch, perhaps she'll recognize the threat that's already nearly wiped out one of their upstanding families."

Qalabash tilts his head at Jonas' suggestion and obviously considers it. Slowly he begins to nod. "That would explain some things. I think we should talk with Captain Desarna and discover her position on door vs. danger then decide the course we should take."
​

[/section]

[sblock=OOC/Actions]--
[/sblock][sblock=Stats]Qalabash Baram Staff Magus 2
Initiative: +1 Perception: -1

AC: 14 (11 Touch, 13 Flat-footed) Current AC: 14
HP: 20 Current HP: 20
CMB: +4 / +6 Trip CMD: 15 / 17 vs. Trip Fort: +5 Ref: +3 Will: +2

In Hand: Quarterstaff
Conditions:
Spells Prepared:

• 0-level: Detect Magic, Light, Prestidigitation, +1 unprepared
• 1st level: Shield, Shield, +1 unprepared

Special:
Arcane Pool: 2/4 points remaining [Swift action: +1 enhancement bonus for 1 minute][/sblock]

 

[Satin Knights]

[section]

Answering Ian's question directly and succinctly, "Yes, I think you should pay for the scrolls. It is your people that are dying. It it is your honored place that you want to keep intact. In a couple hour's time, we rescued the only person that was still alive at the time you begged us to take the job. We have shown ourselves to be capable."

"But, let's see. Mia has been there. She has witnessed first hand the carnage inflicted on her sentinels. Let's see what she thinks should be done. It will do me or you no good to stand here all day and try to convince a stubborn dwarf of our position. That is the charm and curse of a dwarf, their stubbornness. So, we will see what the opinion is of someone he does trust is."

[sblock=actions]Bubba:
Mystie: Diplomacy for deferring to another learned expert in combat (1d20+11=19)
[/sblock][sblock=Mystie Thissiledew's Mini-stats]Mystie Thissiledew
HP 23/23, AC 13, 10 Touch, 13 FF; Init -1, Darkvision 60', Move 15'
Fort: +4, Reflex +1, Will +4, CMB -4, CMD 5
Perception +0, Sense Motive +0, Spellcraft +5, Linguistics +2, Stealth +0, Handle Animal +9

Dagger -2, d4-3
Lt Crossbow +0, d6, range 80' increment, 9 bolts
Thrown Dagger +0, d4-3, range 10' increment

.,,,.....,,,,,,..Orisons: Detect Magic, Create Water, Guidance, Stabilize, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation
.,,,.....,,,,,,.Cantrips: Read Magic, Message, Spark, Unwitting Ally (DC 14 Will)
.,,,,,,,,,Racial Spells: Dancing Lights (1/day), Flare (1/day), Produce Flame (1/day)
.,,.,,...Oracle 1st Lvl: 4/4 remaining; Cure Light Wounds, Bless, Protection from Evil
.,,.,,.,,..Bard 1st Lvl: 1/2 remaining; Share Language, Grease (DC 15)
.Bardic Performance: 3/8 remaining;
......,,.......Consumables: In right spring loaded wrist sheath, Qalabash's Wand of Cure Light Wounds (19/25 ch)
......,,.......Consumables: 1 Cure Light Wounds potion, Mystie's Wand of Cure Light Wounds (25/25 ch)
......,,.......Consumables: 3 Alchemists' Fires, 1 Antitoxin
....,,.........Consumables: 2/6 days trail rations, 2/6 days of dog food
....................... Scrolls: Endure Elements, Comp Languages, Diagnose Disease
....................Channels: 0 of 5 left, 1d6, DC 15
.........Immediate Action: Misfortune, force immediate reroll, once per creature per day
..................................If bad guy rolls 18-20, reroll
..................................If friend rolls 10 or less on an attack for the base die roll, reroll
..................................If friend rolls 12 or less on a dangerous save, reroll
..................................This consumes the swift action, Mystie and Jonas used
.................................
Bubba: Mastiff riding dog, Low light vision + scent; Perception +5, Understands Common
AC 13, Touch 12, FF 11
HP 16/16.... Fort +5, Reflex +5, Will +1; Move: 40'
..................CMB +3, CMD 15 (19 vs. Trip)
Melee: Bite +3, 1d6+3 plus trip
Tricks: Attack x2, Defend, Heel, Flank and Hunt

Effects:
In hand:
[/sblock]
​

[/section]