Part 2: Payment Comes Due

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Jun 2, 2025 8:02 am
Once you secure the items, you exit Wormwood's lair and set up another meeting with Gideon by letting Molly Mayapple know at the Seven Apples. Gideon arrives within a few hours, excited to hear the news. He thanks you for a job well-done and, as promised, gives you the only copies of Fallenta’s change-of-identity paperwork for you to do with as you wish.

When you tell him that Lady Wormwood had an alliance with a gang affiliated with Norgorber, though, he pales visibly and backs away in shock from the crate of magic items as if they’d suddenly turned toxic.

"Norgorber! The church is powerful in Vyre, and if Lady Wormwood was indeed working with them, that means there’s a good chance that agents of the Gray Master will be looking for these items. They don’t suffer theft of their thefts. We’ve managed to survive and prosper in Vyre at the church’s whim. We pay our dues and obey the rules. I want nothing to do with these items. They’re marked. I’m grateful for your help, but you can keep all of these things. My advice? Leave them on a nearby pier with a note attached saying, ‘Sorry we took these; here they are!’ and then get out of there before anyone comes to collect!"
Jun 2, 2025 2:53 pm
"I will never understand criminals." Bekassine says shaking her head "So now what?"
Jun 2, 2025 8:00 pm
"I say we listen to Gideon. It makes no sense to rankle the church and it's agents. We have enough on our plates".

Still, she does see herself wearing the brooch in her mind's eye.
Jun 3, 2025 8:32 am
Ramank frowns at the talk of leaving the goods to the church. But he remains silent.

Yarth tries to cheer him up. "Don't worry. Was a lousy treasure anyway, there was nothing to eat in there."
Jun 3, 2025 10:29 am
Whatever you decide to do with the treasures, the next step is leaving Vyre and returning to Kintargo. Fallenta eagerly awaits your return and is overjoyed to have the only known copy of her change-of-identity papers in her possession. She clutches the pages tightly as she asks for a full recounting of the your adventures in Vyre. Once you are done, she nods. "Splendid. It is time for my funeral!"

She waits a beat, then laughs in delight, explaining that she’s talking about a funeral for her old life. She’s lived so long as Fallenta that it’s who she is now. She makes a show of burning the papers, the only remaining physical link to her previous life, then sighs in relief and dramatically wipes her hands.

"Now, as for the actual ‘funeral,’ I suppose it’s better to see it as more of an announcement. I want you to help me arrange a public gala, where I’ll reveal to Kintargo that I’m here in town and working, with you, to bring a brand new show to the Kintargo Opera House! Doesn’t that sound like a delight?"

Fallenta assumes responsibility in making arrangements for the announcement, set to take place in Aria Park, leaving you a few weeks to rest, relax, and recover from your adventures.
OOC:
The official invite list for the party is significant and includes all the NPCs who were present at the fete at the Kintargo Opera House, but unofficially, anyone in town is welcome to attend. Fallenta sees this party as a festival in the park, with her announcement of the as-yet-unnamed opera being the closing event.

Because of this, as the announcement festival draws near, Fallenta asks the PCs for help in providing entertainment. She leaves the exact details to each character, but if they look for suggestions, she mentions things like musical performances, mock battles, feats of strength or agility, providing souvenirs, drinks, or snacks, and demonstrations of magic.

Each PC who wishes to take part in the gala can do so by attempting a skill check of their choice—one that reflects the nature of their entertainment. A musical performance would use Performance, of course, while feats of strength or agility would use Acrobatics or Athletics. Magic demonstrations would use Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion as appropriate. Providing souvenirs, drinks, or snacks would be a Crafting check. A mock battle could be an actual combat the PCs play out against illusions or each other, but a simpler method would be to have all involved PCs attempt the skill check with a single Strike from a weapon to try to hit the skill check DC.

Regardless of the check attempted, the DC is 29. On a success, the PCs earn 1 Production Point, while on a critical success, the PCs earn 2 Production Points, to a maximum of 6 Production Points overall.
Jun 4, 2025 5:14 am
"I am not afraid of Norgorbor fanatics," Horace says, "and these things are far too curious and unique to simply leave for the minions of an evil god to do with as they please. We should put them to better use. Or I will, if you will not. They likely already have an idea who we are anyways, having heard of us from the group we let go."

He considers the announcement of the gala. "This sounds like a wonderful way to introduce your presence to the city, and that of the Opera. Now that we have the venue locked down, it is high time we begin to drum up excitement for the show!" Horace places a finger on his chin in thought. "I do have some experience with stage magic, and would be happy to offer my skills."
OOC:
Will attempt an Occultism check for a magic demonstration. As for the loot, unless someone is going to browbeat Horace, he's holding onto anything not otherwise claimed, but not necessarily for himself.

From the warehouse, he'll take the books - he will try and devote some time to learning the rituals.

He'll otherwise store: scroll of scrying, scroll of teleport (lvl 7), 2x panaceas, the wand of teleport, and the unique equipment: a crooner’s cravat, a herald’s ring, a mocker’s swazzle, a scene stealer’s tunic, a pair of spectacles of discernment, a stage magician’s cloak, and a tumbler’s belt.

He'll grab the painting as well, but with the intent to return it to Delmonia Crape.

There are a lot of other valuables left there - if the group wants to leave them, all good, but its likely they'll just end up back with Wormwood. *shrug*
Last edited June 4, 2025 5:37 am

Rolls

Occultism (Int) - (1d20+20)

(18) + 20 = 38

Jun 4, 2025 10:40 pm
Bekassine considers Horace's arguments. "Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a closer look at some of those items. . . "
"I suppose I could present some of the magic my patron has given me. And Fox will likely relish the chance to show off a bit." she adds with a smile as she scratches behind Fox' ears. "Although I'd like to look around town and see if there are some local artist and performers we could highlight. The sooner we introduce the next stars, the sooner I can get out of the spotlight myself."

Rolls

Society (Int) looking for local chefs, virtuosos, etc. - (1d20+20)

(12) + 20 = 32

Arcana (Int) Magic Demonstration - (1d20+24)

(14) + 24 = 38

Jun 5, 2025 8:49 am
Ramank tells an exaggerated tale of their exploits. Though stopping at a particularly critical moment, saying to find out what happened they have to visit the operah. He makes Yarth the hero of the tale, feeding the dragon's already large ego.

Rolls

Deception (Cha) - (1d20+24)

(5) + 24 = 29

Jun 5, 2025 7:06 pm
OOC:
You twisted my arm. Aurelia will take: gold-and-diamond broach depicting a peacock with human faces worth 2,600 gp sits in the pocket of a long lavender-and-yellow coat.
Also, a request for @crazybirdman: Would you mind too much if I asked you to change the color of your dialogue text? It's hard for me to see on a white background.
Full of confidence from past successes, Aurelia is only too happy to play one of her instruments. Donning the long coat after attaching the beautiful brooch, she withdraws the flute made from a goblin’s shin bone bearing fine gold and silver filigree work depicting drunk goblins, and proceeds to sway on the stage as she plays as if she too were a drunk goblin. Screwing up her face, making it as hideous as possible, she prances and feints, sways and twirls to a tune of deliberate discordant notes.

Rolls

Performance - (1d20+23)

(18) + 23 = 41

Jun 6, 2025 12:10 pm
The festival is a hit with the people of Kintargo, thanks largely in part to your efforts to provide the entertainment. At the conclusion of the celebration, Fallenta takes to the stage to the cheers of the crowd. "Yes, it is I, Fallenta Sumac d'Venenoux! And it is my distinct pleasure to announce that I am working on new opera about the heroic exploits of these legendary heroes who thwarted the schemes of Osoyo, the Blackfrost Whale! It will have its grand debut at the Kintargo Opera House, and I hope to see all of you in the crowd cheering us on!"

Those in attendance are delighted, excited, and jubilant at the news. Fallenta turns to you with a smile. "Now, let them the anticipation build! Come, my friends. We have much more work to do!"
OOC:
[ooc]You gain 5 Production Points. You now have a total of 17 points. This is the end of book 1 of 3 in the adventure path! Everybody is now level 14! Everybody gains a Hero Point!
Jun 7, 2025 6:03 am
Horace can't help but grin as the excitement in the crowd for their pending production becomes evident. "Of course. Much to do, and now we must rise to the expectations we have set. We will give them a show talked about for years to come!"
OOC:
Yay! congrats everyone!

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