[PFS_CORE_Aerondor] 04-Special Race for the Runecarved Key (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

Seiran nods as he joins his companions. Things were looking up after all. No Raiding of caravans, just warehouses. Such beautiful Irony.........

Oh Shelyn! Such a trial this society is. Grant me strength!

Jayori ponders the warehouse thoughtfully for a moment, then nods.

"Let us see what this Mrs. Vaor has to say." He finally says, and heads in with the rest.

The door to the warehouse seems secured from the inside. When you try it a voice calls out "Go away. We are closed for the day."

Jayori frowns, then calls back. "We are not here to do business, but to speak with Kresch Vaor."

Foiled by a simple lock, once more =) A lesson folks... 1 single rank in disable device, even cross-class, will get you past many a lock.

"Kresch doesn't want to speak with you. Go away. Come back tomorrow. We is busy."

I can't fail that...

Spotting some high-up windows, Radagast nudges one of the more agile party members, and lets them know about them.

DC 15 climb, although this is a busy street, so you might want to try some sort of stealth check too

Do we have 'more agile' party members? =)

Definitely not Lasaraleen!

For multiple reasons I don't use my familiar actively. But to speed things along I will this time. Skippy the rat is Int 8 and can speak with Liminy. He also has a climb speed of 15.

Liminy takes a rat out of his pocket and sets it by the wall. It climbs up to the window (Take 10 on climb for a 20), peeks in, and climbs back down to report to Liminy.

Skippy's Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 including low-light & scent

Holy crap! This is a perfect time for a rat! Nice!

The rat scampers up a drainpipe and peeks through the window. After a moment or two it scampers back down again and squeaks back to Liminy.

"Eight people inside. It is unorganized and from the sound of it might be full of recently acquired stolen goods. Four of them may be ratfolk."

Skippy may have a better idea of them then you think.

Skippy's trained kn local on the friendlies: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Skippy recognises several of them as wererats.

*Skippy squeaks.*

"Really? Not ratfolk, Wererats."

kn Local on wererats: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28 (Weaknesses, Special Qualities)

Liminy, you can remember that Wererats have the ability to shapechange through several forms, are sneaky and good with traps, and can communicate with rats freely. You also know they have little for weaknesses except the classical aversion to silver all lycanthropes have.

"Entertain us our questions and we'll go away and leave you in peace. We have matters of import to speak of. It'll be quick I can tell you." Seiran calls out while taking in what the rat told his companion.

Diplomacy 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

There's a brief moment of silence, if you listen hard you can make out the sound of muffled words back and forth before the voice you heard before calls out. "Don't want to talk, you maybe guard or competitor! Very busy. Family business and on schedule that importanter! ... you make appointment, come back later? Kresch no talk now."

"But Kresch." Seiran begins.
"THE one we need to talk to is you and it is something very important and it involves business as well."

"Business how? Why important? We not open! Have orders to do. Things to export import! What you pay?"

I'm going to need another diplomacy roll if you want to keep this discussion rolling.

Gadget tries to add to the conversation without taking it over. "P... please. We could be a good prospect." Her words don't come out quite right.

Diplomacy (Aid Another): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

"Simple Issues, Krech! We want to talk to you about a certain bid about to happen tomorrow. Would you hear us out? The sooner you hear us out the sooner we both can go our seperate ways!"

Diplomacy 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

"Definitely we have business you will want to hear ."

Diplomacy : 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 assist

There are several awkward moments of you standing outside the door as you hear sounds of scuttling and a piece of furniture being dragged closer. Once the sound fades a slot snaps open at about shoulder level to reveal one beady eye staring out at you. It glances around trying to take everyone in at once. "You say simple. Doesn't sound simple if about bid. But listening. You ask. You pay. Maybe Kresch answer."

"Simple. My dubious employer wants you to withdraw from the bidding tomorrow." Seiran speaks truthfully, seeing no harm in revealing their purpose.
Diplomacy 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
"If you agree.....wel We have no reason to hang around here anymore."

The small slot slams shut and if you listen closely you can hear a several muffled voices going back and forth from beyond the door. Eventually the slot snaps back open and the same eye appears. "Kresch say you pay. 500 gold. You do and go away, we no bid?"

Lasaraleen taps Jayori (assuming he is willing to renegotiate) with a touch of glory and continues with the speaker after Seiran finishes.

Now, now. We both know that 500 gold coins is an excessive sum of money for so simple of a request.
Why, one might think you had something to hide if you are asking so much.
How about we come to a more reasonable amount?
Say, 50 gold? And what assurances do we have you will not bid, once we settle on the terms?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 assist

+6 on Jayori's roll, if it is possible to keep negotiating that is.

Sense Motive might be a more relevant check for someone to make!

Hmm... for some reason, I thought Lasaraleen's diplomacy was higher then mine.

"If you are willing to bow out for coin, then you obviously are not that interested in the auction to begin with." Jayori replies. "We could have the authorities here in a few moments, if you wish to play things that way. Getting tied up dealing with the the inspection that would follow would keep you from the auction, just as well, and cost us nothing."

This seems a more appropriate point for an Intimidate roll! Cue Seiran!

He motions to Seiran, who seems far better at delivering such a message.

Seiran nods as he takes over in order to give said message.
Initmidate 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 Facepalm

"It's really a simple matter. We can either do this the hard way or the simple way."

The eye that has been peering at all of you suddenly flies out of view in a violent motion accompanied by a surprised squawk of a sound. Then a new, harder eye appears. "You're asking us to stop bidding on something worth considerably more than 500 gold, it's hardly excessive. You're spitting on us offer 50 gold. I'm interested enough that I'm not going to bow out for insulting deals."

"You're making some rather baseless accusation about my family for daring to listen to a deal you want to make. Go ahead and try to call the guard. What are you going to tell them? You came to a respectable business establishment, bothered the workers, and then threatened them when they wouldn't let you bully them out of the auction? You don't seem the lying type."

There's a small pause as the eye looks you all over. "350 gold."

Well, the RNG was not in our favor this time, it would seem.

And how much time do we have for all this anyway?

Given our mandate is to increase our currency footprint and/or reduce the other sides' ... giving them a considerable amount of money like this seems a fail on both counts!

Jayori frowns slightly, at the mysterious talker's unwillingness to see the wisdom in cooperating.

"As you say, we are people of our words." He responds. "So guards it is. It is probably for the best anyway."

"If our concerns prove unwarranted, I will be the first offer my sincerest apology for any inconvenience."

He then turns to go do just that.

Calling a bluff only works if they were bluffing =)

***OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT***

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Cathedral of Abadar will soon open its doors for the public auction! Anyone interested in participating must be within the cathedral in fifteen minutes. Once the auction starts, the doors will close. This is not an open door auction and no one will be admitted to the auction once the bidding starts"

"Oh no! We're cutting it close!" Gadget frowns.

"Aye, time to go it would seem."

Guess that answers the timing question =) Off to the auction!

You have about 48 hours left if you want to try and make another deal or decide to accept the deal on the table.

Lasaraleen is fine to leave immediately, ignoring any additional haggling with the rat folk.

Jayori! Wait up!

She chases after the departing.

Liminy is fine with either leaving or paying his share of the requested gold.

Seiran turns with some flair and moves off after Jayori without any further words. Using Prestidigitation to add some dramatic fluttering of his robes as he moves away.

I'm going to run this as a three stage chase. You have just under 24 hours to get it done.

You quickly think about where the nearest guard station might be, knowing you must get to auction house before much time passes...

Know(local) DC or profession(guard) DC please

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Feh, I think the RNG just doesn't want us doing this particular task =)

Once away from the warehouse, Jayori realizes, as his first time in Magnimar, he has no idea where the nearest guardhouse would be.

Can we just ask someone? =)

"That way!"

kn local: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

You head towards the nearest watch station. However the road is crowded with a show by street performers. You'll need to either force a path CMB or shoo them out of your way intimidate

Again, DC 20

"Excellent!" Jayori says, as Liminy apparently knows the way to go.

Of course, once they get near, they're progress is suddenly interrupted by the street performers.

The paladin, surprisingly, smiles at the sight. "Now this..." He says waving at the crowds and colorful displays. "... This reminds me of home!"

CMD: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

"Vudra is famous for many things, but crowds are common everywhere!" He starts pressing his way through the crowd with practiced ease.

"Stay close." He calls back.

"And watch your purses." He adds a moment later. "Those same Vudran crowds can be famous for their unexpected generosity as well."

Lasaraleen stepped forward as if about to tell off the ridiculous performers when Jayori says his piece and weaves a path through.

Very well. If we have time after the auction, I may come back to see if they are just a nuisance or actually have any true talent.

Jayori pushes his way through the crowd and the team make it to the watch station with still a few minutes to spare. There stands a bored looking sergeant, playing chess with one of his watchmen.

Diplomacy or Bluff (depending on how you play this) DC 24 to try to get him to head off to the warehouse and close it down...

Lasaraleen turns to Jayori and winks, applying a touch of glory

I got this one...

***

She strides up to the sergeant, with a worried smile and flip of her auburn hair.

Excuse me, sir? Are you an officer in the guard? Would you be able to help me?
I am not sure what I just saw, but I do believe there is some illicit activity happening in a warehouse a ways back.
I cannot tell what dreadful acts they were performing in there...ratfolk and all can be sneaky.
But do you think you could check on them?
I am sure just the sight of you and your highly trained
men will put them back on the straight and narrow!

diplomacy, glory: 1d20 + 12 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 6 = 31 as she provides the address.

The sergeant, in an obviously losing position sighs dramatically to his skilled subordinate. "You're lucky Jim, I was just about to beat you there. Sounds like there is work to be done."

He quickly folds up the chessboard, puts away the set and the two of them set off toward the warehouse.

Well done. To say we went off the train tracks on that one is a significant understatement, but I think it was a good outcome

goody-two-shoes types, am I right? =)

Jayori watches the guards head out to check on the warehouse, and glances over at Lasaraleen.

"I am not sure if that was exactly fair." He mutters, shaking his head with a rueful grin.

"But we have kept our promise to Miss Kresch, and perhaps put a few dampers and delays on their entrepreneurial enterprises." He chuckles.

"Now, we must get to the auction before the doors close." He turns, to make his way through the crowd once more, before stopping with an embarrassed look and glancing towards Liminy, realizing he's lost his bearings again.

So much Lol. I can't really answer much here.
"Run." Seiran begins as he begins singing.
"Tell everybody We're on our way...." :P

"I hope that problem is taken care of. Let's head to the auction!" Gadget smiles, not used to these kinds of missions.