PbP GameDay 2: PFS - Feral's - Pathfinder Module: Broken Chains (5-7) (Inactive)

Game Master Feral

Fizz will follow Han and Hawk around, adding in little quips about honor and renown and such.

Auto aid on Diplomacy

Time: 1d4 ⇒ 3

By spending a few hours mingling and moving about, the party learns a great deal about the Garden's workings.

The slaves kept in the Garden are surprisingly motivated to sell themselves, talking up their strength and skills to buyers that move about the wares. A few slaves mention the important of being sold - those that aren't sold during the day are tortured during the night. If a slave goes too many days without being sold, he's taken somewhere below the Garden and never heard from again.

The whole business is run by an enormous gnoll by the name Fat Aghurr. The monstrous gnoll is always escorted by at least two human thugs and is equally feared by employee and slave alike. The only time the brute seems to be happy is when a wealthy buyer approaches him and offers him a sizable and shameless bribe.

A skinny greasy man by the name Sayid runs the actual sale of the slaves. He works from atop a wooden stage, calling out bids and pointing out buyers but seems terrified of the crowd. If anyone ever gets too close to the stage, he gestures to his bodyguard (another brutish gnoll) who corrects the issue with a cruel fist.

After watching and listening for a couple of hours Quiven catches up to the gnome (which is easy enough to do since he is the likely the only one within a 50 mile radius spouting off about "honor" and "glory" and such). Hey, Fizzy! Nasty place isn't it? I mean, I know slavery is a legit business in places but this seems over the top.

Quiven points to the guy on top of the stage. He seems to be someone to talk to, if we could get close to him that is.

"Maybe we could convince him that one of you was a slave that we would like to have him auction off. That way, one of you can get in close and see about our comrade."

"Someway we must meet this Fat Aghurr person. If we can't bluff our way in, hopefully the remainder of what the Venture Captain gave us is enough for a bribe"

First person with a plan wins a gold star.

Hawkwren scans the crowds for the Fat man.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

He’s actually a gnoll.

Hawkwren easily spots Fat Aghurr barking commands at a pair of nervous thugs.

Hey! He's still a man, just not a hu-man. ;)

Hawk motions to the party. "Let's go try to talk to Fat Aghurr. The other fellow seems too nervous to get close to and Aghurr is the one who runs the show. We heard rumors he likes bribes. Might as well go to the top of the chain."

Quiven shrugs, agreeing to the plan. I haven't discovered anything new so why not? The direct approach might be the best approach.

Aghurr's bodyguards initially move to intervene, the sound of jingling coins causes the slovenly gnoll to gesture for his thugs to stand down. "Yes, the Garden sells only the finest of wares. What sort of specialty interests you that isn't already available for sale?"

As he speaks, he gestures for one of his goons to receive Hawkwren's donation.

Fizzbeard, being a paladin uncomfortable with bribery (it's not honorable after all!) stays quiet during the exchange.

"I think we should peruse your wares, good sir. See what there is to buy."

Diplomancy: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 37

Hawk tosses the goon a pouch containing 200 gp. "There's more where that came from. if we can come to terms. We're interested in something unique, not your run of the mill, average wares."

What's the going rate for a slave?

The goon takes the offered pouch, peeks inside, and then walks it back to the fat gnoll. He weighs it in hand and then offers a devilish grin.

"The best wares are below. Come back after nightfall and I'll give you a peek at the slaves too good for the common buyers."

Sense Motive on Fat Albert Aghurr: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Hawkwren flashes his most winning smile. "Perfect! I see we were not mistaken in seeking you out. This evening then." He says, then turn to walk away.

Once out of sight of the gnoll, Hawk turns to his party. "Should we trust him, or do you think this is some kind of setup?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25

Waiting on results of check. Is this a trap?

Both Hawk and Han believe Aghurr to be sincere. They also get the impression that this is business as usual.

[dice=Sense Motive on Fat Albert Aghurr]1d20+2

Hey, hey, hey!

Fizz, uncharacteristically quiet, nods to the man and follows his companions away. Just out of earshot, he returns to himself. "Excellent work, friends! What mastery of skills! Before long the Lady will be hugging and kissing me-errr, us-in thanks! It will be over before we know it and the stories of our courage will be heard throughout the city!"

"I have no doubt of that. I will speak the story of my, I mean our glory for missions yet to come."

Han will take the time to rumor-gather while the party waits for nightfall.

Diplomancy: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21

Hawk follows Han's example, as well as trying to get an idea of the normal prices for slaves.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Well, I guess all we can really do now is wait... well, we can eat I suppose. Quiven isn't quite sure what else he could be doing so he'll go with Hawk and Han mostly out of boredom.

Aid Diplo: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Han and Quiven hear all about the city's lively underground community consisting of beggars, drug dealers, criminals, and more. He hears rumors that the most frightening denizens of the sewer tunnels are fearsome Lamashtu cultists who abduct woman to have them impregnated with monsters.

Hawkwren learns that slaves vary drastically in price from a handful of silver upwards of hundreds of gold depending on the age, health, and skills one's looking for.

Eventually nightfall rolls around.

Quiven shares the "news" that he had heard while running around with Hawk and the others. Can you believe that? Maybe that's where our girl is off to! Doesn't sound like fun, does it?

"That is a possibre. It is time to meet with the dog-man now."

Hawk nods at Han. "You seem better at speaking, than myself. I freely admit that I do not have the face to speak untruths. Perhaps it would better if you spoke once we meet with Aghurr?" Turnig to the party. "Shall we go?"

"I have a certain set of skillz. It aids me in my area of work. Yes, we go now."

Returning to the Garden, the party finds the place almost absent of activity now. The slaves can still be found in their pens but they no longer clamor to be bought and few even look up at the party when they arrive. Recognizing the group, guards bring the party to the Garden's floor through a stone trough that passes through a wide archway in the back wall of the Garden of Chains’ floor and disappears beneath the city streets. "This way", the thug grunts.

Han nods to his companions and follows the thug.

Quiven simply nods back. He wasn't sure what else to do.

Fizz has gone tight-lipped again. Quite literally, if you look at him close enough: he looks as if he is forcing his lips together with all his might to keep quiet about the necessary dodginess of his current assignment.

Hawk nods and follows as well.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28

Hawk spots signs (footprints and refuse) that people come this way often - a lot of people.

Moving roughly a hundred feet into the massive tunnel, a dozen men and women stand in irons. Compared to the slaves seen in the cells above, these specimens are leagues stronger and healthier and like their peers, they make a point to promote their worthiness.

"This is it, the cream of the crop", the thug explains. "You'll find nothing better in Katapesh."

It's clear the tunnel extends quite a ways, beyond the limits of darkvision.

"That is it? I am disappoint. I can get ones rike these anywhere. We want one of a kind specimens. I suppose we go home now. I heard you had the best. I think I was misinformed."

Bluff: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

The thug scowls at Han's insults. "Are you wasting our time? Fat Aghurr doesn't like it when fools waste his time."

"Of course not. I do not dream of wasting your time. You berieve the same in not wasting our time, do you not? We need someone with a certain set of skillzru. Do you have anyone rike that or do we rook somewhere else?"

The thug rolls his eyes. "What kind of skills? You need a cook? A whore? A laborer? We've got everything."

Han frowns as he may have to tip his hand a bit. "We've heard talk that you acquired a pathfinder. Is that true? We need a patsy to guide us through a dangerous tomb."

The lead thug shares a glance with another thug.

”I don’t think we can help you. We don’t have anything like that for sale.”

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

Suspicious thug is definitely suspicious.

Hawkwren spreads his arms, palms out. "Look, we are willing to pay top dollar...top dollar." He say meaningfully. "What do you think your boss would do to you if he finds out you let a very lucrative deal go by. Do you think you'll still have jobs....or maybe even your lives?"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

The thugs suddenly get nervous. "You've got to go. Now!"

A couple reach for clubs hanging from their hips.

"You do not want to do that. We are dangerous men. Stand down or erse. It would be bad for your health."

Diplomancy: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31

Shaken by Han's threat most of the thugs break and run deeper into the tunnel. The one focused on by the tien bard looks even more nervous at his sudden lack of backup.

"We had a Pathfinder months ago but I don't even know if she's alive. The boss had her sent below for special treatment and she hasn't been seen since."

"Where? Show us."

"Yes, we are interested in seeing the area...below. If the treatment was meant to break her will down a bit, all the better." Hawk motions for the gnolls to lead the way. "Show us the way."

"I don't know how to get where she is but I can get you started. If I do this, you'll let me disappear?"

Hawk nods. "Yeah, just show us what where to go."

Han nods to the thug.