Downtime in Katapesh
All of the downtime activities described here take 1 day unless otherwise noted.
Build Connections
Katapesh has many Keleshite inhabitants, and the Keleshite tradition of patronage influences this society. Proper connections speed up negotiations and secure opportunities to meet with important figures more easily
You dedicate a day to making friends in high places, typically by inviting yourself to parties, performing small favors to be repaid later, and generally projecting an aura of confidence and capability. Attempt a DC 36 Crafting, Diplomacy, Performance, or appropriate Lore check. The result determines the impact of your efforts. If you have the Connections skill feat and roll a success, you get a critical success instead.
Critical Success For 1 month, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to your skill checks to pursue the downtime activities listed here. You also earn a single favor that you can call in when you or an ally you’re working with attempts a skill check for one of these downtime actions. That creature can roll twice and use the better result, after which the favor is considered repaid; calling in the favor is a fortune effect.
Success For 1 week, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to your skill checks for the downtime activities listed here.
Critical Failure A faux pas embarrasses you, and rumors recount the incident widely. For 3 days, you take a –1 circumstance penalty to skill checks for the downtime activities listed here.
Host Event
Rather than negotiate with guilds gradually, a PC can Host a major Event to appeal to hundreds or even thousands of Katapesh’s residents. The PC can influence several organizations at once, which might grant the PCs a bonus to subsequent checks or make them the talk of the city—in exchange for a significant investment.
You dedicate a day to planning and hosting a special event, such as a feast, a small festival, or a public performance. Doing so requires an expenditure of 500 gp. Attempt a DC 36 Diplomacy, Performance, Society, or appropriate Lore check. The result determines the impact of your efforts. You gain a cumulative +1 circumstance bonus to this check (maximum +4) for each additional 250 gp you spend on the event.
Critical Success Each PC gains a +2 circumstance bonus to skill checks to perform downtime activities for the next 3 days. Also, reduce the Support Points of two different guilds of your choice by 1 (see Influence Guild below).
Success Each PC gains a +1 circumstance bonus to skill checks to perform downtime activities the following day. In addition, reduce the Support Points of one guild of your choice by 1 (see Influence Guild below).
Critical Failure The party is a disaster. Each PC takes a –2 circumstance penalty to skill checks to perform downtime activities the following day.
Influence Guild
To secure the approval of the various guilds within Katapesh, the PCs must woo these groups’ favor by using downtime activities, primarily Influence Guild. Success allows the PC to reduce that group’s Support Points—a representation of how much the guild supports the Scarlet Triad. Once a guild’s Support Points are reduced to 0, the organization no longer supports the Scarlet Triad.
SECRET
You dedicate a day to befriending members of a particular guild, assisting the organization, and convincing the guild members not to support the Scarlet Triad. Attempt a DC 34 skill check tied to one of the organization’s favored skills.
Critical Success Reduce that organization’s Support Points by 3.
Success Reduce that organization’s Support Points by 1.
Critical Failure Increase that organization’s Support Points by 1.
Investigate Guild
The guilds of Katapesh are proud and protective of their place within the city, and naturally wary of outsiders. In an effort to maintain their political power, guild members keep information regarding current policies and allegiances close. Determining a guild's willingness to support the Scarlet Triad, and what may be required to change their mind, requires a PC to investigate during downtime.
You dedicate a day to researching a guild's values and ongoing operations. Select a particular guild, and attempt a DC 36 Deception, Diplomacy, Intimidation, Society, Performance, or appropriate Lore check.
Critical Success You learn that organization’s starting and current Support points, as well as all their favored skills, and if that organization requires assistance with a specific task to win their support.
Success You learn that organization’s starting support points, as well as one of their favored skills.
Critical Failure Increase that organization’s Support Points by 1.
Gather Information (about the Scarlet Triad)
The Scarlet Triad’s influence in Katapesh is deep and potent. As a result, attempts to Gather Information about the Scarlet Triad take much longer than normal, requiring a full day of downtime per attempt. Uncovering information about the Scarlet Triad requires a successful DC 35 check—on a critical success, a PC learns two pieces of information. This information may help the PC uncover leads for tasks that are required to earn the support of a guild.
Seek Unusual Items
It’s said that everything is available in Katapesh. A PC can spend a day seeking out a specific uncommon or rare item. With a successful DC 35 Diplomacy, Society, or appropriate Lore check, a PC meets with someone selling a specific uncommon item or access to a specific spell; to find a specific rare item, a critical success is necessary. Some options may remain inaccessible, and as such a successful investigation confirms no such item is to be found in Katapesh.
Earn Income
Katapesh is rich in opportunities for enterprising PCs. Wealthy buyers and patrons are quite happy to employ he PCs’ skills, so there are consistently tasks of 13th level and lower available.