[PFS] GM - Mark Garringer's 06-05 - Slave Ships of Absalom Table 1 (Inactive)

Game Master Zizazat

Aria - her compliment was directed at you.

After a few tentative looks, she finally looks directly at you and smiles ever so slightly.

"I will answer to the best of my ability mistress, though I fear what I do not know is much greater than what I do know." she says in response to Lysassa.

Lucia - you cast detect magic and look for auras, however you find none beyond what your companions are generating by their own magical gear. There seems to be no trace of the scrying sensor.

"That's true for everyone, Atlag. Admission of ignorance is the actual beginning of wisdom. Are you hurt? I am a priest. From Andoran. I'm--we're here to help."

"No, I am not hurt. Far from it. Lady Silviana has treated me very well. Much better than the slave masters in Katapesh."

Aria winced slightly, the unquestioned obedience, the easily parroted comments, the flood of compliments...it all felt a little too close to home. Aria reminded herself that she had no way of knowing the slaves true feelings, she could genuinely like it here; although Aria remembered how trivial it was to put up a facade and hide your true feelings.

Pushing these thoughts aside, Aria attempts a light laugh "Treated well? I'm not quite sure, I always thought there would be better jobs to do than cleaning garden tools....like flower picking for instance," Aria gestures at the wide range of flower beds, picking one or two, and begins weaving them into her hair

"Oh yes, when Lady Silviana returns I will be able to create the most exqusite arrangements for her from these. Never anything like this in Sedeq, they are a treasure to behold."

"And yet, for such a loyal and diligent handmaiden, Lady Silviana didn't take you with her she she left? That seems awfully ungrateful - a terrible reward for outstanding service"

Ayra beckons Atlag closer, then picks a few more flowers and starts braiding Atlag's hair with them, casually continuing the conversation.

3 AM, I'll be back with this line of enquiry later in the morning

"Majordomo Milana seemed quite pleased with my work, but after we returned from Lady Darchana's dinner party I was assigned to work here and hardly anyone has spoken to me since." she says, becoming more melancholy again.

Lucia takes a step back and with message says: " i can´t detect anything on her"
I try to look around the garden the kind of herbs that are on it, if needed i have profession herbalist. And i search for the gardner.

"That's because someone else used you. Someone put a spell upon you, one used for spying. We know it wasn't you or your ...mistress. We want to find out who."

Tori nods to Lucia's message and just observes Atlag's behavior for anything unusual while the others do the talking.

Sense Motive on Atlag: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

While he suspects that this situation is going to turn out to be exactly what it looks like (handmaiden enspelled without her knowledge), Eryndir keeps his mouth shut and attempts to discern any falsehoods, unusual mood, or enchantment.

While the rest of the part converses with Atlag, finding her to be humble, honest and straightforward, Lucia wanders off in search of the gardener.

Lucia finds the gardener nearby tending to a series of rose bushes. He is an old, tanned Keleshite man. His rough, dirty hands tell a tale of a lifetime spent working the earth. Most of the herbs you see growing nearby are typically used in cooking, though some may have alchemical or religious uses. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary.

Lysassa tilts her head

"Can you tell us anything about Lady Darchana's dinner party that you accompanied Lady Silviana to? Did anything catch your attention while you were there or did something out of the ordinary happen? Do you know the reason you were picked to accompany Lady Silviana instead of anyone else?"

"I was to accompany m'lady as I was her handmaiden and attendant. At least until I became her new gardener. I can't really tell you much about the dinner party. Shortly after we arrive, before Lady Silviana could be announced to the other guests I was rushed into a side room. After a while Lady Silviana entered with another woman, Lady Darchana if I am not mistaken. Lady Darchana was very upset, she performed some magic and we returned here to Dimora manor not long after that."

***

In response to her earlier remark, Aria nods sympathetically, still weaving the flowers through Atlag's hair "That must have been awfully lonely for you"

***

"So as her personal handmaiden, you would be privy to all sorts of gossip relating to Lady Silviana or Lady Darchana right?"

She nods at Aria's question, "Lady Silviana yes. I'd never met Lady Darchana before she did her magic on me. She old Lady Silviana she ... 'dispelled the sensor.'"

Aria smiles gently, fingers moving, finishing off the hairstyle "All done!, So it appears you and Lady Silviana have a happy relationship and that you have been treated well... where you interactions with a man called Mahjub Mahdi? equally pleasant?"

"That oafish camel?!" she spits, unable to hide her disgust. "Pleasant? No. Though he never hurt me, if that's what you mean m'lady."

"I guess you can count yourself lucky then, hes obviously not one of the best individuals...but nor is he one one of the worst" Aria mutters, before brightening slightly."Still, I think its worth paying this slave trader a visit, they always make for such awkward conversations!".

Aria takes a step back for a second, before her face lights up again, "Oh, when my friends are finished, can I beg your indulgence and as you for a personal favour?"

Aria blushes for a second [b]"You see, I know this guy, long term friend, and you obviously have such talent making exquisite arrangements, so I was wondering if you could walk with me and help me pick out a suitable selection?"[b]

I may or may not have ulterior motives

Once the conversation reaches a lull, Tori steps closer to Atlag and quietly asks, "When were you forced into slavery? Was it this Mahjub Mahdi? What can you tell us about him?"

"Thank you for answering our questions so far. Maybe my companions have more questions for you right now..or we might return at a later time to ask some more"

Lucia cast detect magic on him if can be used without been discovered,Spell failure: 1d20 ⇒ 14
I try to speak with Lyssasa using message Spell failure: 1d20 ⇒ 16 "It can be good if we ask the gardner. Someone could have provided the medium for the spell, and could have been another worker... if you could help me with her friend. And after that she walks near him and say: "Hello mister, are you good friends with Atlag?"
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Atlag tells Tori, "My family comes from Sedeq, in Qadira. Three years ago, I borrowed money from a lender to get my import/export business underway. However, there were many problems and eventually I was unable to cover my debts. I was sold into slavery and quickly sent off to Katapesh. A few months ago I was brought here to Absalom and sold again to Mahjub Mahdi. I wasn't with him very long before I was sold to Lady Silviana. As to Mahjub himself, he thinks very highly of himself and has a steady flow of clients coming through his shop."

Atlag walks with Aria asking a few questions about the kind of flowers she has in mind and eventually selecting a few in a small arrangement giving them to Aria.

Lucia speaks to the the gardner, "The girl? I wouldn't call her a friend. She was dumped here a few days ago may Miss Milana. She told me to keep her busy and keep her away from the Manor house." He shrugs.

As they walk (I'm assuming privately), Aria chatters incessantly about trivial things until she feels certain they are out of earshot.

"I apologise for asking this, but no-one bothered to do the same for me when I was in a similar position to where you stand, and I refuse to do the same for others", Aria pauses, thinking "I just want to know if you are happy here, truthfully, from your own mouth. If you are, then all well and good, and I can leave here in peace, but if you are not, I will endeavor to find a way to influence your current situation for the better"

Aria walks for a little bit, before finishing quietly "This is a one time offer, and I will, of course, abide by whatever decision you decide to make...like I said, I was in a similar position, so for my own personal peace of mind, I have to know"

"You have been very kind to me m'lady. I am as happy as I can be under the circumstance, but the heart always yearns for freedom doesn't it?"

"Thank you for being honest with me, I appreciate the difficulty of what I just asked of you...I'll see what I can do"

Aria returns to the party, happily flourishing the arrangement of flowers "What do you all think...its such a very pretty collection"

She waits for a moment before continuing "Friends, would anyone care to accompany me on my way to a certain slave trader...I feel that it might make for an amusing conversation"

Perplexed by Aria's unusual manner of speaking and behavior, Tori just stares at Aasimar and rapidly blinks for a few moments. "Yeah, I think we're done here for now."

Lysassa rolls her eyes a bit at Aria's questions about the flower arrangement

"Cooperate..explore...breath in, breath out, let the youth be youthful"

"I will accompany you, lead the way"

Lysassa's bones creak a bit as she start to move after have stood still for some time.

Heading through the Eastgate district, you approach the Coins and Misery Row.

Misery Row is an enormous, elevated platform that runs along the eastern edge of the Coins district, and serves as the main destination to buy and sell slaves in Absalom. The cages are set into the platform such that slavers and prospective buyers can walk over the pits to inspect the merchandise easily. The massive wooden platform is well worn by foot traffic, and is active all hours of the day and night. The Token Guard, the guards responsible for patrolling this part of the city, are notorious for intervening only in particularly egregious crimes or those they’re paid to investigate. As a result, petty criminals have numerous opportunities to ply their craft. Asking around for Mahdi's Chattel yields you many conflicting answers, and many offers for better prices, better quality chattel or both. Each merchant in Misery Row seems bent on undercutting their rivals and making new friends of the group of Pathfinders. Eventually you find yourselves in front of the shop you seek.

Mahdi’s Chattel is located along the platform, where his many-windowed storefront can catch the eye of discerning buyers. A hanging sign identifies the single-story building with large, full-length windows as “Mahdi’s Chattel— Absalom’s Finest.” Heavy curtains are drawn over all of the windows—one of which has been smashed—and a small painted sign that reads “Closed” hangs over the latch of the door.

Aria's face falls for a second, upon seeing the closed sign, momentarily foiled. She pauses for a moment, thinking, before her face lights up, and she quietly switches the sign around from "Closed", to "Open". "Much better", she exclaims, before boldly walking through the front door.

Sleeping now, back in a bit

Mahdi’s Chattel is pleasantly decorated. An Andoren rug lies over the polished wooden floor of the entryway, and a small decorative table holds a curious stone statue. The eastern half of the room is in slight disarray, apparently from light renovations that are nearly complete.

I went ahead and put up the map, with Aria inside the shop and everyone else standing outside for now. Please feel free to move in, move around and place yourself as appropriate. Maps for this game will show up in the Campaign info and under my name with - Table 1 in the name.

As the group makes it's way through Misery Row, Tori's face is locked in a perpetual scowl. To no one in particular she spits, "This part of the city makes me sick."

When the group arrives at the location, she takes a moment to note the outside damage and observes, "This is a slaver's shop that's been broken into, we don't need to knock. " She then strolls inside after Aria.

And he'll be lucky if I don't burn it down on the way out.

Once inside, she looks around for anything of interest to the current investigation, popping her head outside to ask the others, "Can someone detect magic stuff in here?"

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

At Tori's question Lysassa shuffles through the doorway glancing sideways at the "open" sign.

Inside she will cast detect magic and take a look around

The stone statue stands almost 2 feet tall, weighs 15 pounds, and has simian features, massive horns, and a long tail. The windows have been smashed, and broken glass lies on the floor and on the desk on the opposite side. The work table in the center of the display parlor conceals a heavy, polished stone with a 4-inch-diameter steel ring attached to the top, providing an anchor for manacle chains. Nothing appears magical beyond what the Pathfinders may be carrying themselves. Tori recognizes the rug by it's distinctive style and color as coming from Smithtown in Almas.

Aria eyes the statue with a look of distaste, but otherwise ignores it, striding forward into the next room, determined to find this trader if he is still within the building.

Aria opens the door and finds quite a scene playing itself out in the next room...

This large office doubles as a private parlor for Mahjub Mahdi to conduct his legal but objectionable business. The room’s furnishings consist of a round table with two comfortable chairs, a desk with a metal-banded strongbox beneath it, and a refreshment cart. Two paintings hanging on the north wall both depict the bustling harbor of Katheer.

A pair of human men are watching the door. They are armed with shortswords, an array of daggers and wear studded leather. Several smashed bottles of wine lie on the floor next to the refreshment cart, and the half-orc holds a bearded Keleshite man off the ground by his fine-spun tunic.

"Yer gonna pay the Sanguine Beast Mahdi, or Ima smash dis place ta bits!" the half-orc bellows into the Keleshite's face. A massive greatsword is slung over his back, and a heavy mace hangs at his hip. The half-orc wears scale mail under a torn tunic and cloak.

One of the men whistle sharply as Aria opens the door and the half-orac looks over his shoulder at the aasimar. "Place is closed sweetheart, get lost!" he cocks his head toward the door you just came in.

Upon the guard whistling

Aria walks in and blushes slightly, smiling at the guard, before seeing Mahjub and lowering her head in a deferential manner (something she has had good practise at). "Master...what is going on?"

At the Half Orcs comment

Aria forms a look of puzzlement on her face "Its..closed?". She frowns "Master said I was to return here at once...besides, the sign on the door said the place is open?

Hearing the conversation in the next room, Tori opts to listen how it plays out before entering herself.

Lucia try to cast charm person on the half orc, if i am too far i will get closer.
Spell failure: 1d20 ⇒ 5 with a 1 it will fail.

Lysassa will wait for now and see how this plays out.

Lucia try to cast charm person on the half orc, if i am too far i will get closer.

Err, not sure how I am going to explain away someone randomly walking in and casting a spell, when I don't want them going hostile yet...Maybe if negotiations break down?

Wait, maybe they won't know shes casting a spell - does Charm Person have any Verbal / Somatic Components? If they dont know shes casting a spell, it could work out ok

Yes, it has
Go to Charm Person. It reach 30 feet but, yes it could go bad... but last time i fight with a half orc it was a dificult fight.

Have a little faith my friend, I bet I can talk them out of it...there WAS a reason I'm currently pretending to be a slave

And if it all goes south, I'm give a fearless scream and run back into the party, before bravely fainting to lull them into a false sense of security. What could go wrong?

If you think so, i will wait, prepared, but i will not cast charm person.

The half-orc sneers at the aasimar, "Yer gonna get hurt girlie. On account of this scumbag?" He presses Mahjub into the wall, his meaty forearm over the man's throat. Mahjub gurgles a little, gasping for breath. "If slick here can keep some of his merchandise, he can pay more. It's 100 gold measures now." he turns to face Aria again, "Or pay me 50 and the girlie goes with us..."

Eryndir, distracted by the statue, raises a hand to warn Aria about the door, but is too late. As she proceeds with her ruse, he keeps out of sight and knocks an arrow.

Bluff should be +3 not +4. Didn't realise it was an unlikely lie so hmmmmmm, choices choices

Aria is outraged "I'm only worth 50 gold! Thats...thats as much as a Tanglefoot Bag! Here I am, the only slave in Absalom capable of doing the Twirl of the Seven Veils, and you confuse me with some common kitchen slave, how rude! Can your kitchen slave do this?

Aria begins to dance, Bardic Performance [Fascinate] on the Half Orc. Assuming it works, Aria casually gestures for the two guards to lock the shop door for some privacy (which should put them into the line of the party while keeping the leader fascinated).

Hopefully, even if the Performance fails, he sees it as just a bad dance, rather than an actual aggressive option. If he gets aggressive, I'll just hit him with a Charm Person (DC 14). Worth noting that hopefully the Fascinate effect would mean Mahjub could potentially escape if the two guards left the room. If this Half Orc gets REALLY nasty I'll draw my Scimitar, trigger Inspire Courage, call for aid and then attack him.

The half-orc stands, fascinated, as Aria performs her dance. The guards don't seem particularly inclined to follow your directions though.

Maybe a little tic of PbP but it seemed like as described your action didn't include the guards. Since you wanted them to move off and do something, which they have no real reason or obey per se.

Mahjub, free of the half-orc begins to straighten his tunic and runs his hands though his hair pulling loose hairs back into his greasy ponytail.

Lucia try to not make noise and move two square to the right.
And cast shield with the wand on herself.
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Aria clicks her fingers, pointing at the soldiers. "Why don't you rough up Mahjub into the next room - and change that sign around...me and your boss just want a little alone time...be patient, I'll make sure you all get yours when you get back"

My apologies Mark, I'm really trying to find a legitimate cause for them to leave and then come back since casting a spell or drawing a weapon breaks the fascinate effect. If the above line STILL doesn't get them out of the room, I'll have to think of something else.