[Table Fez] ScorchedOne's Insane 5-6 Run (Inactive)

Game Master Nathan Hartshorn

"Simple protection money. You'd be surprised how many bleeding hearts, especially Andoren people, regularly try to take away the lives of these men and women who deal in slavery. Despicable really, that they would ruin others livelihoods. But with the help of the Sanguine Beast merchants, like Madhi here, don't need to fear for their lives or business."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

"I don't really care that you're here shaking this guy down for protection money. What I do care about is that the noble we're currently helping needs us to talk to him, and you're in our way."

Aura will pause for effect, then rub her neck and draw out a knife hidden....somewhere.

"So, let us talk to him, and then you can go back to shaking him down. Or don't. I wouldn't chose the latter though."

sense motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

"My friend here is right, you let us talk to him then we leave and you get to get your money. I will not ask again."

Mezuk sizes you up, before grunting to his boys, "We'll wait outside." He gives your group a hard sidelong stare, "Don't go messing with the Sanguine Beast. The second you're gone we'll be back in here."

The humans accompanying him step outside, one out the door behind Mahdi's desk, the other following Mezuk out the front.

After they leave Mahjub Mahdi dusts himself off and looks nervously around, stroking back his long hair and pulling on his well-braided beard. He gulps noticeably and begins, "Special friends," emphasis and unsurety on the word. "How can I be of service to you today?"

"I would like to know more about the statue out there, ...oh yes and my friends here want to talk to you about a human you sold. She was apparently not all, or rather more than she seemed."

James watches them go and adds "Were they telling the truth? And what my friend here means is you sold a slave that was used as a spy and Lady Silviana would like her money back and we would like to know why you or someone was using her as a spy."

"I bet today when you woke up to sell sentient beings that you didn't expect to get roughed up by some goons and see a group of adventurers, did you?"

"He is probably like the rest of those who sell humans like lambs to the slaughter, no spine, just does it from behind his desk"

Mahdi swallows hard again, "Why all the hostility? I was just harassed by men who are clearly part of a racket and you not only stood there, you encouraged him to come back! Not something good folk would do. Luckily for you I am a merchant at heart, and I'm more than willing to help you out...for a fee." His face breaks out in a genuine smile, "I'll give you the information you're looking for, for 400 gold pieces, though I don't give refunds as a policy of mine, folk are supposed to check their own merchandise before purchase."

Diplomacy (or intimidate) to change or lower price, second diplomacy (only) to get Lady Silviana her refund back.

Happy to drop a Guidance or two and try to aid everyone else.

aid Diplo: 1d20 ⇒ 16
aid diplo: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Sorry, ^^^ that last post was me was me.

"I can see why you would want a bunch of money up front given the visitors outside, but that being said, I think 400 gold is pretty outrageous. I mean, we did get them out of your store, and I'm sure that you have a hidey hole or back exit you can slip into before we leave. So, I'd propose to offer you 25 gold."

I know I'm super lowballing, but that's how haggling works.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"I even get why you don't wanna give Lady Silviana her money back. I mean, when word gets out that you sell spies, I can't imagine another noble buying from you, and I'd hate for that to happen to a merchant such as yourself."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

I'm going to leave the aids to someone who's better at the facey face time than I am, I just wanted to throw something out there.

EDIT: Holy crap, dem dice rolls.

Mahdi considers Aura's words with great care, allowing realization to flash across his normally slick veneer. "You are correct of course fair lady. Here is what I know about Atlag: she came to me through an infrequent supplier, a ship captain named Waheeda Wardack. Her ship, the At Sea, sailed with the distinctive yellow sails used by the Okeno pirates the last several times it was in Absalom. I also," he coughs uncomfortably given the nature of previous discussion, "am expecting a shipment from her tomorrow.

"And uh," he tugs nervously on his beard and again runs his hands through his hair, "I have been told to expect an enslaved Pathfinder among the lot." He winces explaining this, but quickly turns to other matters, hoping to brush it off quickly. "I will also nullify Lady Silviana's purchase order and refund her money fully. As for the statue, I picked it up somewhere in the Coins district, an escaped monkey had it some 8 years ago."

James gasps out "An enslaved Pathfinder?! That ain't good! We'll need to rescue him." He then turns to the others, "If we're done with him, I think it's time for hide and seek. We'll close our eyes and count to ten and then we'll let the men outside seek Mahdi and we can honestly say we don't know where he went."

did we have to cross a second room before we came in here? It can be that he "hides" once we leave, although Kelris really doesn't care what the other men do to him since he is enslaving people."

"While I personally don't think we should allow him to escape, he did just give us very interesting intel. This time you are allowed to Hide like a coward."

Kelris will move over to the door and lean on it.

Mahdi bows gratefully, "Thank you fine friends. It was a pleasure doing business with you"

With these words he lightly steps upstairs and soon all sounds of his movement cease.

sense motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Kelris just huffs at Mahdi

Sorry for the quiet, a migraine laid me out yesterday.
Saberts face darkens into a dire scowl at the mans words of a captured Pathfinder, but he holds his tongue in check, allowing others less volatile to interact with the man now that the thugs have left.
However, one last thought strikes him as the slave dealer tries to scurry off. "One last thing, Madhi.. Where does this ship usually moor at? If its a regular around here, they have their habits, I am sure. Tell us what you know about that please."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
K. Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Once the man spills the information, Sabert turns for the door and exits. Spying the men out front, he casually saunters over to them, trying to be discreet. "I know that your business was a bit more involved then what you say.. but know that he is on our list and being watched. Anything at all that you are willing to tell us? I assure you that anything we say will just be rumors on the wind.. nothing will leave my lips about my source. And just to show my sincerity, I will tell you that he is currently hiding from you upstairs."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

"Now that things are settled, we should head to the....where is Sabert going?"

Mahdi

"Not sure where the ship sits at anchor. Might still be in the harbor for all I know. Okeno pirates aren't really welcome around here, that's why they visit so infrequently."

Mezuk

"Whatever business you have with the man is your own. Once everyone leaves we'll head upstairs to continue to talk to the rat."

Let me know when everyone is ready to go see Lady Darchana

Sabert nods to the muscle in acknowledgment, and returns to his group. "Thought I would press for a bit more information, but struck out. Should we head for Lady Darchana now?"

"We should head for the harbor."

Kelris will follow Aura out the door, giving one last sneer towards the mans desk as he flees upstairs.

"Let the slaver rot, it is about all they are useful for"

"We were supposed to investigate the matter of the enspelled slave. Surely the Society has far better...equipped agents to liberate our captured brother? We should inform the Lodge about the situation and continue with our assigned task and speak with the Lady. Wait...where are you all going? We were having conversation. Oh Shades of Gray!"

Sabert thinks a moment before replying. "I think that may take too long, my friend. We are in a unique position to handle things here and now. We can send word to the Lodge, of course, but who knows how long it may take to put together a team? We have the Intel and are in the right place. We should strike tonight."

-Posted with Wayfinder

"I agree with Sabert. We should go and free those slaves. No one asks to be a slave, and we wouldn't exactly be cooperating if we let them take one of our members hostage, now would we? Furthermore, the ship might not still be here by the time that we do inform the society."

Aura stops walking and then adds "We will need to make sure that the pathfinder is not effected by whatever magic the slave girl was."

She then continues walking.

"I agree with Sabert and Aura, we need to rescue our fellow pathfinder and then move on, I feel the slave girl is not going anywhere."

James nods as he heads toward the harbor, "Save the Pathfinder then to the Lady."

"As you wish." Sabert says, leading the way to the docks. As they go, he raises a finger to the group indicating an idea before pulling out a scrap of parchment and a quill. He quickly jots down a note, then calls over the first street urchin he can find.

"Looking to make a few coppers, little one?" he asks.
"I need to get this note to the Pathfinder Lodge.. specifically to Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin. Can you do that for me? You will earn one copper now for doing me this favor, and I have asked the Venture captain to pay you two coppers if it arrives within the hour and unopened. How does that sound?"

The note is basically a short update, that we found a hostage pathfinder and are moving to rescue him, the name of the boat and its details, as well as a promise to pay the VC back the two coppers.. I just needed an incentive for the kid to do what was needed.

The child nods mutely, scooping up the letter and copper before running off.

Heading straight from Madhi's Chattel in the Coins district to the Docks district does not take very much time all, roughly two minutes of walking. There are a stretch of docks to your left, going on for about 100 feet, and roughly 1100 feet of dock in the other direction, not including the Puddles district docking.

Aura and Sabert both remember where the harbormaster resides and are able to lead the way. There are several standout areas in this building, including the Inspection and Pilots' office, the dock assignation station, Harbor Patrol office, and customs tariff area run by priests of Abadar.

"We should head to the dock assignation station. They should know what slip they are in."

A dwarf woman greets you cordially, "What can I help you fine folk with today?"

"We have a package that is coming to port today, we are to pick it up and make sure that it gets home safe."

Not a lie at all

Sabert steps in with a clap to Kelris' back, hoping to charm the lady while giving a bit more for her to go on than his vociferous friend gave.
"Hello, mi lady! My chatty friend here is quite correct. We are looking for a ship by the name of At Sea, captained by a gentleman named Waheeda Wardack. He hasn't been assigned a slip yet, has he? There is some very important cargo that we are expecting!"

He flirts a bit, leaning over the counter in true rogueish style. However, it seems that he has chosen just the wrong tactic to approach the woman.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 +1 if she could be attracted to Sabert.

The woman checks over her files, then looks up something else before finally returning to you. "I'm sorry there is no ship here by that name, and nothing in the harbor bears that name."

sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

"I see, can we just take a stroll along the docks then? I have never visited one so large, Galt does not have something like this at all.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Aura just rolls her eyes and says "Okay, we should probably see if they have docked here under a different name for some reason."

Nonplussed at his strikeout, Sabert straightens and turns to his companions. "Well, that is just about our only option at this point. Shall we?" He beacons back towards the door with a grand sweep of his arm, then tosses a smile overr his shoulder at the the dwarf woman. "My thanks, Lady, and the thanks of my companions. There wouldn't happen to be a registry of inbound ships by chance, would there??"

The woman smiles kindly, "Feel free to walk the docks, just be wary of mercenaries guarding their ships, some are touchy about how close you get to their warf. And I do apologize, the only registry is with the harbormaster who is away on business."

Fethril follows the others out of the office. Muttering to himself, the cleric complains, "No, we can handle this Fethril, we don't need any help. No problem at all. We'll just go right down there and take care of it. We can talk to Lady Whats-her-face afterwards. Oh, All-Seeing Eye, what have I done to deserve this?"

Again, just playing the belowish charisma. We are totally doing the right thing. Don't forget that I can drop an Guidance before any social interactions for a free +1.

Never one to be discouraged, Sabert sets out for the docks with the rest of the group. He casually strolls along, appearing to be taking in all of the surroundings, but surreptitiously searching for the distinctive sails that were described.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

As the group progresses along the docks, Aura completely covers herself in her cloak, which obscures her movements.

You spend some time walking up and down the docks, but you see no distinctive yellow sails or any ship that may be the At Sea.

Kelris nudges Sabert, "As one of the dock hands that are about if they know anything."

Kelris hands Sabert some bribe money 3g to be exact

Sabert takes the gold, and jauntily walks over to a handy dockhand.
"Hello!" he hails. "We are looking for a ship that's due in, and you look like a person that knows what's going on! Could you tell us if you've had word of a ship named "At Sea"?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

If needed, Sabert will slide the gold over to the man as a way to help his memory. If it doesn't seem like it would help, Sabert will use the money to convince the man there is nothing to remember about this conversation.

The man looks you up and down before snorting and spitting on the cobbles nearby. "Haven't heard o' it before, and I know e'ery ship that berths here."

"Maybe we should be asking about the Captain and not the vessel?"

"What ships docked in the last couple of days that are still here?"

"Absolom's a big port miss, I suspect only the harbormaster knows precisely who's in and out. What're you looking for that ship for anyway?"