GM Rednal's Jade Regent (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

Taka moves to the door as Shutai interrogates the woman. He awaits her response though, suspecting a possible trap or ambush behind the door.

Aleksson now took a moment to drink from his canteen, cooling the blush in his face.

The woman furiously shook her head - either denying both of the answers or, possibly, signaling that she just didn't know what the others were doing. (Going by the, uh, position she'd been in, it was fairly clear she was generally treated as second-class at best, and certainly not privy to all of their actions and opinions.)

"This has yielded nothing. If we drag her to the grounds a short distance from the building, we could remove her gag."

"I agree, Shutai should stay and disguise herself for if others decide it is their turn to have a go. Or we go along now and have Shutai attempt to lore others back and we subdue them until we can search this place for ourselves."

"Either is acceptable." Kneeling next to the young girl, she added, "When we're done, and you are free, I'd suggest you run. Magnimar is not too far from here to flee too. Look for those who worship Arshea, and tell them of...this." She looked at the two flawed men with obvious contempt, even with a mask. "Other Gods and Temples will help you get there, but they will help you. Or remain here, if you wish and this what you want. I cannot make you leave. I can only give the choice."

Concentrating, Shutai shifted her form with Alter Self to as close as the woman as she could get, including her clothing (what there was) and footwear. Then she slid the mask off her face. She studied the woman, and how timid she was, and tried to set her pose and body language to the same.

"Take them outside," she murmured softly. "I'll distract anyone who comes in, and once you've questioned people I can try the luring method. We'll have about forty minutes before this spell wears off, and I can cast it once more after."

Disguise: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

*Politely waits for you to head into the building however you wish to present yourself*

After venturing away a bit Taka ask the girl.

"Please do not shout. Those men are only unconscious. We are not here to hurt anyone. I am asking for your help."

He lets Aleksson know he is about to remove the gag and to be ready.

"What can you tell us of the men inside. We are looking for the Guide Uksahkka. We know he came here and has not returned. Please.?"

He pleads for her assistance.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31

Aleksson was prepared to re-gag the girl should she start to scream.

Shutai remained to distract people, as per the plan.

"Uk... sahkka?" the thrall woman asked, clearly confused. "You mean that woman who came here before? They pummeled her and threw her out."

Aleksson frowned. "We meant her partner. The man she came looking for. Ulf." In the confusion of their botched though successful attack, he hadn't even noticed that Shutai and Taka had mixed up the names.

In Taka's defense the guy running him is dumb and forgot :)

Shutai kept an eye out on the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

The party inside was still going on strong.

"Ulf? Asvig had him captured, but moved him away from the farm. I don't know exactly where he is, b-but Asvig did say he'd be joining Snorri Stone-Eye soon. T-that's part of why they're here, really - he passed away, and Asvig decided to hold a funeral feast for his ring-giver before they light the funeral ship tomorrow morning."

"By join you mean in death then? What do you think Aleksson? Should we return and await to see if Shutai can carry off the disguise?"

"Soon. Girl, where is this funeral ship?" Aleksson turned to Taka. "Ulf may be imprisoned within."

Shutai watched the door, eyes cautious.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

"I... maybe? They didn't tell me. I-it does sound like something Asvig would do, though. I don't know exactly where the funeral ship is, I swear, b-but it should be a fairly public event. He was w-well known around here, so plenty of people in town will k-know where it is."

He grunted with frustration. "Ulf is likely on that ship, but we waste time walking in circles if we track the vessel down and find he's not aboard. Shutai's disguise is ready now, but luring another carries great risk. Which path do we walk?"

"Let us make a two prong assault then. Shutai will go ahead and try and lure a few more away. I will go with her invisible and enter as she opens the door or they open to answer her call. I can go and get a lay of the place and the numbers inside. The two of you can handle the ones lured and if they were to raise an alarm... Wait a moment. We could catch the side building on fire. I could sneak in and have a look when they come out to deal with it. What do you think?"

The door was watched by Shutai.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

I think that's definitely a plan the party should agree on before it's implemented. XD Given the revenge they'd be out for if they survived and all.

Yes was asking for thoughts :)

I figured, though we stepped outside with the girl, so we'd need to head back to Shutai...

Aleksson let the girl free. "Do as the masked one said. Begone from here, find a better life."

After reconvening with Shutai within, Aleksson offered his thoughts on the matter. "If Ulf is within, we risk his life with a fire. These men won't think to save him simply so he may tomorrow. The risk is too great.

"I think Shutai tries to lure another here, and we question him. If the alarm is raised, we retreat and search this ship."

"I can try," Shutai nodded. "But I will need you nearby if things go wrong. And yes, let us avoid fire for now."

*Cheerfully waits for you to put your plan into action, including whatever abilities - if any - you'd like to put towards this*

"I agree, Aleksson you should take up position at range from cover. I will escort Shutai, but I will be invisible. We must be prepared for them to see through this and attack. If not I will stalk them back with her to this room and surprise one of them. Be ready for my attack and bring the other down. Agreed?"

Aleksson nodded, "I will move a cupboard or the like to hide behind." Then, another thought occurred, "For speed in an escape, what do you think if we lure a horse here, hidden out of sight?" Horses were large and often loud creatures, and having one nearby could blow their cover. Yet if they were discovered, they'd have little advantage in outpacing their pursuers.

Do we have horses? Or are you assuming there are horse here?

Given we're an hour out from the town, yeah, it is my assumption that there is a small stable on the grounds.

They have a few farm animals, but they don't actually have horses here. *Checked the book to be sure* ...Probably because, much like the Northlands from Frog God Games, this is a pretty cold land that doesn't raise a whole lot of mounts. They're more the sail-to-their-destination type when they can, and walk on their own feet when they can't.

Fair enough. While I know we're in some-such Ulfen lands, I hadn't yet gotten a sense of HOW far north we are. My knowledge of Golarion geography is pretty much limited to Ustulav and the River Kingdoms, so good to know. :-)

Aleksson snuck back from spying the local domestic beasts. "No such luck. Faith in our legs it is." Unless Shutai took umbrage with the plan, he took position behind a dresser with an arrow knocked.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Taka awaits Shutai to be ready. When she is he cast his spell of invisibility and follows her.

Shutai was fine with this. Mentally assessing the duration left of her Alter Form ability (and recasting it if there wasn't at least five minutes left) Shutai moved into the main room, trying to move with posture and movements similar to the serving girl. Think small, think cautious. Try not to attract the eye. If anyone stops me, they'll do as a target. However, her main goal was the man who had thrown them out, and to see if any of them were...unusual, or a better target.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Assuming she was able to reach them, she knelt near her target. "Master, your men have prepared a special gift. If you will follow me..." Eyes down, don't meet his gaze. She didn't know how the girl was pretending to be played it, but she doubted the people here liked being challenged by the help, even so much as eye contact.

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Well, the geography's new to your characters, too. XD So we all get to explore, eh?

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

Shutai's lie hadn't been fantastic, but Asvig - a brawny man every inch the Ulfen ideal - didn't seem to have noticed. That didn't stop him from raising a hand to backhand her across the face without even turning to look, a rather impressive feat given the fact that he was most definitely drunk at the moment.

Nonlethal Damage: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"If they have something, they know to present it themselves. You know better than to enable laziness on their part. Go back to rutting for the guests and don't *hic* interrupt me again."

Yeah, I mean Aleksson's spent a little time in the land recently a la his backstory, but it IS a good point. Anyway, posting for posting's sake.

Shutai allowed herself to fall, and whimped as the blow struck. She couldn't afford to let this drunken cretin know she had the power to turn his mind inside and make what was left dance.

No, no...too angry. Calm. Fear. Remember fear. Remember the...the...

Shutai's mind stuttered, trying to remember...something from her past. Dark. Cold. Fear. She grabbed the fear. She could use the fear.

"I am sorry, lord," whimpered, trying to put a quaver in her voice and keeping her head down to hide the lack of tears. "They said it was not something they could bring in, my lord. Shall I tell them they are to wait with until a later time, my lord?"

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Taka enters along with Shutai, he uses the time to search and listen looking for any visible signs or other rooms or doors where they could be keeping someone or listening if they are talking about what may be going down tomorrow.

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38

"Tell them to handle it themselves. Now get out of my sight!" the man snapped. Meanwhile, those at the party mostly seemed to be focused on feasting and boasting of their exploits with the fallen... although it did sound like they were expecting more guests in a few hours, and were looking forward to the arrival of more friends.

So no other rooms or place for me to sneak off and explore?

.

"As you command." Bowing her head, Shutai rose and moved away. Well, if he wouldn't follow them...perhaps another would. She searched the room for another who sounded like they knew what they were speaking of. And who was not attached to another woman or man.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Once she found a likely target, she moved in. "Sir, do you have a moment? I have been asked to make some 'special' preparations."

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Not easily, no. It's not a very big building.

"The hell's up with you, wench?" Shutai's target answered, raising an eyebrow. The previous exchange hadn't exactly been unnoticed by the rest of the room, after all, and he was clearly getting suspicious.

Taka watches on taking notice as well that Shutai is deviating and talking too much for a almost slave girl.

She was simply supposed to ask who was next. She is speaking way too much.

He waits ready to call out to Aleksson if things go bad fast.

This is getting touchy... Thinking, Shutai bowed her head for a moment. "I am sorry, sir. I was asked to offer special gifts and services to each guest, in order of their importance. I was told you were to be next. Master Asvig does not wish such now. Therefore, it is yours."

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

If Aleksson can hear the change in commotion in the other room, he starts affixing his shield, and draws his wakizashi while holding the earth elemental gem in his other palm.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

The room was loud, but not so loud Aleksson couldn't hear what was going on, especially when he was specifically listening for the voices of his friends.

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

"Then bring it out already! Better be good, too - I didn't come here to miss the party." the Ulfen warrior muttered, taking another deep drink from his cup.

She may pull it off yet, he thought. Thinking better of it, he stowed the wakizashi in favor of the starknife, giving him viability in close quarters or at a range.

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Moving a little closer, Shutai flushed her cheeks and murmured, "Traditionally such gifts are opened without an audience, my lord. But if you would prefer to do such here, I am your willing servant." Hopefully he'd take the hint. Such public performances were rarely as enjoyable as some thought they would be.