Kiyomi Foxsoul |
"I wouldn't say... friends. We are business partners currently, though. And we help you because you are children, and no child deserves to be roughed up by such men. Now, can you tell us what you know about the scarred man, and where we might be able to contact the Hundredfingers?"
Diplomacy AID SOMEONE WITH BETTER BONUS :-P: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
GM Baerlie |
"Well, we are called the Hundredfingers." the boy says with a smile. He seems to be about 15 or 16 years old. "The scarred man sends us food and money for some favors we do for him. Nothing special, just taking letters or packages from one place to the other or follow some guys through the city. I don't know much about him, but I got some information that could be interesting for him."
Haemish the Unlucky |
Haemish shakes his head. "In this business we are the Burned Man's eyes and ears. Whatever you have to say to him, you can say to us. Have we not proven ourselves for magically interceding on your behalf against these thugs?" Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Kiyomi Foxsoul |
"Thank you, young one. Would you like to see a trick?" She turns into her natural (fox) form, and barks at him playfully.
Haemish the Unlucky |
Lady jumps back when Kiyomi starts barking and looks to Haemish for permission to play. He nods briefly, and the armored wolf begins jumping around the much smaller creature, barking and wagging her tail. Haemish smiles to see his companion enjoying himself.
As Haemish watches the animal and the animal-like person play he nods to the others as if to say: "we have what we need", then thanks the children for their work and cooperation.
GM Baerlie |
The boy stares at Kiyomi. "That was amazing!" he says with a smile. You see younger children joining the fox and the wolf. They are running around laughing and playing with them.
"Thank you for your help, I hope to see you again one time." the older boy says while you are leaving.
Herman Halfshanks |
With a flourish and a bow, Herman wraps up his performance and frees the brutes who were intent on rousting the Hundredfingers base of operations. He quickly hustles over to join his fellows before the big apes figure out what exactly just happened to them.
"Did we get anything good?" he queries the group.
GM Baerlie |
After a short travel you reach the Dancing Dunes. A spectacularly groomed garden of colorful sand occupies most of this two-story cabaret’s ground floor. A narrow wooden bridge winds about a trio of decorative obelisks dotting the miniature desert. A lavish sitting area filled with Divans occupies the second-floor balcony granting a magnificent view of the garden below. Private curtained chambers encircle the garden, where lush rugs, soft mattresses, or piles of throw pillows serve to cushion the repose of clientele in each chamber. A door off the northern balcony opens to a staircase leading down to the street, while another set of stairs to the east leads down to the garden.
The garden covers an area 40 feet to a side, and the second story sits 15 feet above the ground floor.
A servant approaches you. "Welcome to the Dancing Dunes. Please come in and have a seat." he says.
Haemish the Unlucky |
Haemish is delighted that no one seems to mind that he has brought Lady along. "I've tried to pass her off as a service dog in other places, but then they always ask me why she is armored, and I have to explain that she is my charge-facilitating dog. That usually confused them enough that I can get past them and on with my business."
Before the servant leaves, the halfling inquires: "Is Madam Zelekhati by any chance available? I would be most interested to speak with her."
Herman Halfshanks |
Herman lets out a low whistle as he looks around at the well-appointed place. "Looks quite comfortable! A fellow could get used to a place like this!"
When Haemish asks the servant about Madam Zelekahati, Herman pulls his eyes away from the scenery and begins to pay attention. Trying to catch the servants reaction, he plays close attention, looking for body language cues.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Kiyomi Foxsoul |
Kiyomi inconspicuously trots around under patrons' feet, listening in to conversations until Zelekhati appears.
Stealth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30
Cressyk Shadowscar |
Cressyk nods and begins the process of binding his weapon. As he does so, he looks around, trying to see if there are any people paying particular interest to the customers.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Herman Halfshanks |
"Our business with the Madame is of a....discreet nature. I'm sure you understand." says Herman, as he peace ties his weapons. "As for food, we would take some right now, while we wait! Something cold and refreshing to drink as well, if you please."
GM Baerlie |
"I see. We have some fresh fruits and warm soup with freshly baked bread if you like. If you want something more meaty, we can offer potatoes stuffed with turkey ham or roasted moose with mashed potatoes and vegetables. We serve cold refreshing drinks like spring water from the Kortos Mounts with lemon juice, best dwarven ale and cider." the servant offers you.
After you ordered he says "Thank you, sirs. I will tell Madame Zelekhati that you are waiting. The show will start at 8pm. Be prepared for the best elven artists around the Inner Sea region!"
Kiyomi Foxsoul |
Kiyomi will disappear to a restroom for a moment and re-emerge in human form (with her weapons tied as instructed), then sip at some cider and nibble on a small bit of roasted moose and bread, watching for anything unusual in the crowd.
GM Baerlie |
While you are waiting you can see servants set up a small stage in the northwest sand garden where performers can sing, dance, and play instruments.
After about half an hour a woman approaches you. "Hello and welcome. My name is Madame Zelekhati. How can I help you?" she says. Madame Zelekhati is a tall elven woman with black hair and blue eyes. She wears white clothes and a golden necklace.
Haemish the Unlucky |
Haemish knows that he is not the most eloquent member of the group, and therefore takes a back stage in any proceedings, chiming in occasionally with witty comments, which unfortunately fall completely flat; it turns out that elves do no much enjoy halfling humor. He silently thanks Shelyn that he was not put in charge of the negotiations! Diplomacy aid another (giving +4 bonus): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Ober |
Ober ties the peace bond on his weapon dutifully and takes a glass of spring water to drink. As the Elven Madame arrives, he rises and nods his head to her in a very aristocratic display.
"Madam Zelekhati," The war priest begins. "Thank you for meeting us on such short notice. We're in the market for information and we've heard that you're one of two such brokers in the city who might have the knowledge we need."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Kiyomi Foxsoul |
"Hello madame. Very nice to meet you. Please, show us to the gardens. I'm sure they're lovely."
Diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Herman Halfshanks |
Herman nods agreeably and tips a hat to the eloquent tongue of Ober. He chimes in when necessary to throw the conversation in their direction. He also keeps a close eye on the Lady to try to gauge the honesty of her repsonse to Ober's forthright questions.
Diplomacy, Aid another: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
GM Baerlie |
You follow Madame Zelekhati into her beautiful gardens, filled with colorful sand, palmtrees and beautiful flowers. "What do you mean with information broker? And why am I one of two? All I know is the rumors which cirulate in these walls. Tell me, what do you want to know."
Herman and Cressyk do not have the feeling that Madame Zelekhati wants to lure you into a trap. She speaks the truth. But they also note that Zelekhati has a nervous habit of twisting a large stone ring on her Hand.
Kiyomi Foxsoul |
"Let us get right to the point. We work for a man who spends much of his time learning secrets. He has acquired information that suggests that you have a way of discovering many secrets, and he would like to know how you do it. He would also like you to share what you know about the nobles here. For doing so, he promises not to interfere with your work. If you refuse, many of the noble families here may find out that you've been spying on them. That is the situation, take from it what you will."
Diplomacy Aid Another: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Cressyk Shadowscar |
Cressyk shrugs. "Actually, I have a feeling that that ring of hers is the "how". So, then, it seems that all that's left is the "whether". As in, whether she will wish to protect her secret by sharing the secrets of others."
Herman Halfshanks |
Herman nods along with the others, who seem to be making some headway. "I am sure our client would like to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with someone of your immense talents for seeking secrets, but as with all transactions, he just wants to establish your bona fides. Sharing your secret with us will only bring you more opportunities when i business with our client."
diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
GM Baerlie |
"Why should I share my secrets with you? I don't care about that client, it's none of your business what I'm doing within my property. Please keep in mind that you are guests in my house. If you try to blackmail me, you will be out of here as fast as you came in." she says, not smiling any more.
If you want to rattle her nerves in some way to convince her to reveal her secret, roll a DC24 Intimidate Check.
Kiyomi Foxsoul |
Intimidate AID amother: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
"I think that you'll find our client quite convincing, and will regret not doing as he wishes."
Haemish the Unlucky |
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Intimidate (aid another for +4 bonus): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
"You don't want to see a bunch of halflings and other little people go crazy in here, you really don't."
Ober |
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Ober raises his hand, trying to calm his companions.
"You have information we need, Torch has information we need, and we can't complete our mission without either. Torch would be willing to die, just to spite the Pathfinders, I'm sure you're not that thick headed. Now let us come to some sort of mutually beneficial agreement, instead of resorting to threats of violence."
Intimidate Aid Cressyk, Cause he's a boss :D: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 No aid.
Cressyk Shadowscar |
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Cressyk smiles at Ober's remark, then turns his gaze to Madame Zelekhati. "Ah, but if we don't get what we need, we won't have to resort to mere threats, will we? After all, what use is a threat you've no intention of carrying out? So, then, Madame - will you cooperate and give us what we require?"
Intimidate (Kiyomi Aid, Wit Aid, Haemish Aid): 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 2 + 2 + 4 = 32
Herman Halfshanks |
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
As the lady acts all indignant and then is put in her place by a well placed word by Cressyk, Herman's attention focuses to the designs in the sand, which seem to be shifting and moving of their own accord, especially a 5' section of the sand which seems to be moving about the surface, changing the patterns subtlety as it goes.
Is there some knowledge check to see what this invisible sand mover might be? An air elemental?
GM Baerlie |
Madame Zelekhati capitulates to your demands. "I never wanted to do anything hermful. I think you already spotted my ring. This is a ring of elemental command. Within these walls hides a sandman which listens to me. It is able to burrow below the surface and hide to listen to the people talking. During nighttime, after most of the guests left I converse quietly with it to give new orders or to ask what it observed during the evening." she says. "And I will remember the name Torch."
Kiyomi Foxsoul |
"There, that wasn't so hard, was it? If you could please write us a quick note with a few tidbits that you've learned through this method for us to deliver to our employer, we can be on our way."
Cressyk Shadowscar |
Cressyk nods at Madame Zelekhati. "We are pleased, of course, that you have listened to reason. Our employer will be in touch." As they leave, Cressyk turns to the others. "That didn't go at all as I thought it would, but I'm glad we were able to do what we needed to without unnecessary bloodshed." Gods, what would we have done if that ploy hadn't worked?
Herman Halfshanks |
Smiling devilishly as they head back to the Inn where Torch bathes, Herman asks the group. "Yes, we found out her secret, but what do we tell our dear Grandmaster? The real story, or some bardic fabrication, eh? He's been nothing but trouble for the Society since we met him. Maybe its time for a payback?"