The Horn of Aroden (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

Vrald also uses his contacts to help Gilfroy.
diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

You find out that The Second Chance is a one-room, run-down tavernturned-grit-den located dockside in Puddles, a district of Absalom. Parts of the Puddles sank below sea level during the big quake ten years ago. As a result only the poorest of the poor live there.

Vrald sighs.

"I'm afraid I'm none too subtle. I'll be there as a strong arm to help back you up though."

With a shrug of his armoured shoulders he heads out the door towards The Puddles.

Once you reach The Puddles and The Second Chance you look inside through one of the dirty windows. Dimly lit by cheap oil lamps sputtering on walls punctuated by painted-over windows, the Second Chance reeks of unwashed humanity and pungent ash. Threads of sickly sweet smoke drift like smog from tin hookahs. Ale kegs lurk in each corner, and cheap clay mugs hang from nails on the walls. A shield at the door says "No Weapons".

The Second Chance is in the midst of a frenzied, grit-induced brawl.

"Lovely! All we need is our contact to get gutted by one of the weapons these wondrous specimens of humanity weren't supposed to bring in there."

"I can stun large groups of them with my colour cones," he adds helpfully, "Or make an illusion of a couple Watchmen, if one of you can supply the authoritative voice."

"I can provide an authoritive presence" offers Vrald.

He barges through the door, shield and sword out.

"Stop right now!"

Gudrun chuckles.

"I did think the watch would give this event their attention at the best of times. Flashing lights sounds more practical."

Despite an almost natural instinct urging the dwarf to wade in, he manages to hold back at the back of the group.

"So much for the 'No Weapons'.""

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Once inside you see the owner of the den, a thick scowling Keleshite named Elo, next to the bar. He grips a bloody scimitar in one fist, blocking one of the den’s rear doors. At his feet lies a fresh corpse, blood slowly seeping into the floor boards from the dead man’s slashing wounds.

A skinny, one-eyed retch in tattered clothing, and perches atop a wobbling table at the center of the room, frantically kicking at several drugged-out thugs who try to pull him off.

The barkeeper looks at Vrald sword and shield, jams two fingers in his mouth and cuts loose a high-pitched whistle, summoning his mangy hound, Slobber. Then, with one or more thugs now armed with clubs, he wades into the melee, attacking anyone wielding a weapon.

Scattered about the room, too, are a variety of junkies in various states of hallucination, sprawled on the floor, or draped across their chairs. They seem completely unaware of the melee raging about them. The combatants below are the only ones who pay you any attention.

Round 1
Gudrun
Vrald
Slobber
Brawler blue
Elo
Gilfroy
Jaegar
Brawler red
Brawler green

Map is up

Vrald steps up to the red brawler and tries to knock him out using the flat of his blade.

attack: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 9 - 4 = 9
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
"Leave that man alone!"

Vrald tries to hit one of the brawlers with the flat side of his blade but hits the chair instead.

Round 1
Gudrun
Vrald
Slobber
Brawler blue
Elo
Gilfroy
Jaegar
Brawler red
Brawler green

Jaegar points menacingly at the blue brawler. He bares his fangs dripping with bloody saliva, and bellows a command:

"Stand down and back away!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

While still glaring at the blue brawler, he uses a stage whisper to Vrald, "You may want to stay your sword, and just use the gauntlets."

Gudrun hangs back, bracing to defend himself. While happy to barrel into a scrap, the dwarf remains unsure why they need to involve themselves in this specific fight.

Full defensive

Gudrun takes a full defensive position and waits what's going to happen. Slobber, the dog, approaches Vrald and tries to bite him but his teeth snap only air.
Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

The brawler with the blue shirt tries to hit the man on the table with his fists.
Fists: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19 Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Elo gets around his bar and tries to hit the brawler in fron of him with his scimitar.
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (1) = 3

Jaegar intimidates the brawler with the blue shirt. He puts down his fists.

Round 1
Gudrun
Vrald
Slobber
Brawler blue
Elo
Gilfroy
Jaegar
Brawler red
Brawler green -3HP

Fredrik -3 NL damage

Stepping onto the table just north of Brald, Gilfroy defensively casts a colour spray catching the dog and red brawler. His Serpentine bloodline means the spell affects animals.

Cast Defensively: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Unfortunately, the proximity of the large dog throws off his gestures, and his spell fizzles.

Jaegar attempts to intimidate the Red Brawler as well:

Intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

"You don't want any of what we've got. You can see we're still holding the dwarf at bay. It's not worth losing your life." Jaegar tips his head toward Gudrun while locking eyes with the Red Brawler, "Stand down and back away!"

Never the best at expressing himself, Gudrun snarls at the brawler.

Assist on the Intimidate.

Aid Another - Intimidate: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

-Posted with Wayfinder

GM?

-Posted with Wayfinder

GM has been tending sick family, hopefully will be back this week.

Cheers Vrald

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sorry for the delay, I will post more often now.

Gilfroy tries to cast a spell, but the smell of alcohol, sweat and wet dogs makes it hard to concentrate. The two other brawlers slam at Fredrik with their fists unarmed attack but both are too stoned to hit him.
Attack red: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11
Attack green: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13

Unarmed attacks provoke AoO for Vrald and Elo.
Elo's Skimitar: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 2 = 8

Gudrun and Jaegar try to intimidate the thug in a red shirt. The poor guy sees two tieflings and two dwarfs and stops to fight.

Round 2
Gudrun
Jaegar
Vrald + AoO
Slobber
Brawler blue intimidated
Elo
Gilfroy
Brawler red intimidated
Brawler green -11HP defeated

Fredrik -3 NL damage

Once again, using the flag of his sword, Vrald tries to put The Brawler in Red out of the fight.

AOO: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 4 = 6
But being nice doesn't help him hit the target. The dog however is a more dangerous target, and he doesn't hesitate to use his swords edge against it.
attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Although that doesn't seem a whole lot more effective.

"The air here is so thick you could cut it with a knife. someone open a window."

Jaegar turns to Elo and says, "Mind calling off your dog before someone gets hurt? We can help you clean up the place after the brawl, but we don't really need to kill your pet."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

He continues to prod Vrald, "If you don't put your sword away you will ruin our chances of meeting our contact. I've seen you take much worse than a nibble from a puppy. Sheathe your weapon and lock it up!"

Vrald misses the brawler in front of him and also the dog. Jaegar continues to talk to the bar keeper.

"Put away your weapons! I don't have a problem with a fist fight, but weapons are not allowed here. Tell your armored guy to put away his sword and I will call back Slobber!" Elo answers.

The dog shows his fangs, growls and bites again but the dog's teeth grab Vrald's armor.
Bite vs. Vrald: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

One of the brawlers tries to escape and get out of the bar through one of the back doors. blue

Elo waits what happens.

Round 2
Gudrun
Jaegar
Vrald
Slobber
Brawler blue intimidated
Elo delay
Gilfroy
Brawler red intimidated
Brawler green -11HP defeated

Fredrik -3 NL damage

Cast Defensively: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

From atop his table, Gilfroy whiffs another colour spray spell. The drugs must be getting to him.

Vrald will step back and put up his sword as it looks like the rest of the battle is more or less over.

"I have issues with three on one fights." he says calmly.

While Gilfroy unsuccessfully tries to cast another spell Vrald puts away his sword and finally Elo relaxes. He steps back and watches the fight from behind the bar. "Stupid addicts. The don't know when it's enough." he mumbles. You hear a whistle and Slobber follows his lord.

Round 3
Gudrun
Jaegar
Vrald
Brawler blue intimidated
Gilfroy
Brawler red intimidated

Fredrik -3 NL damage

Growing impatient with the brawl, Gudrun strides in and swings a dwarven fist at the nearest thug.

Unarmed Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 141d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Gudrun strikes at the thug in front of him. His fist hits the man's cheek and leaves a big red mark.

Round 3
Gudrun
Jaegar
Vrald
Brawler blue intimidated
Gilfroy
Brawler red -2NL intimidated

Jaegar moves around the back of the table, providing an escape route for the one-eyed man on the table, while sealing off the other brawlers from Gilfroy.

He locks his gaze on the brawler in front of him, in an attempt to demoralize his opponent. "My boys are very scary, and your boys are very battered. Quit now, and we'll leave you alone."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Finally got Gilfroy moved to his table. He'll just delay at this point, and look about trying to identify who their contact is.

Vrald moves up and punches the red brawler.
And gets an AOO for his trouble
attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
NL damage: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"Go Away. Now!"

Jaegar continues to shout away the remaining brawlers and Vrald hits one of them with his fist and knocks him out.

combat over, unless somebody wants to get after the blue one

Gilfroy thinks that the guy on the table looks exactly like your contact.

Vrald pulls up a chair and gestures for the victim to take a seat, he then sits down next to him.

"Another pair of ales please" he calls to Elo.

Fredrik attempts to run for the front door. He’s at the end of a grit high and falls flat on his face as he stumbles over a broken chair. Vrald is the first next to Fredrik, he takes Fredrik's arm, puts him on a chair and asks for drinks.

"On my way, Sir!" Elo answers and prepares some drinks for you. After a while the other guys in the room stop fighting, they are either exhausted, beaten unconscious or drunk.

"What you want!" Fredrik asks. "I don't know you, don't tell me I owe you money!"

"You don't owe me any money. But if you are short, I may be able to provide some for you."

Offers Vrald.

"My friends and I have exotic tastes. We're looking for a bit of fun with highborn ladies. Rumour has it you know of one that might be for sale."

Jaegar leans on the bar, opposite Vrald while keeping his eye on the door.

He winks at Vrald, "Nice work, contrasting chivalry and debauchery in subsequent statements..."

"I think I know what you look for." Fredrik says with a smile. "I was hired to kidnap a highborn lady. I fobbed her off on Pardu Pildapush at his office in the Pits. ’Nough gold for a whole week o’ grit!" he continues. After his speech, he hacks up a bloody cough, red phlegm foaming on his lips.

Gudrun chuckles at the addict.

"Better hope you've enough gold left to get to a physician."

Turning back to his allies, the dwarf continues.

"Go check on this new fella then?"

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Vrald looks without pity at the addict. Ordering him an ale he stands to leave and then drops a couple more coins on the table, fulfilling his word to the man.

"You might want to think about leaving down Fredrik. Absalom might not be a good place for you soon."

But I don't think he will.

Fredrik drops from the chair and looses consciousness.

Jaegar asks around about Pardu Pildapush enroute to the Pits. Hopefully the group can have an idea of what they are up against before walking in the door.

Diplomacy (Gather Information): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"Let's not go back to that place," Jaegar mutters to his companions.

Vrald helps asking around as well.

diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Jaegar and Vrald leave for the Pits and on their way they ask around where to find Pardu Pildapush and many people know where to find him.

Pardu Pildapush keeps an office on Misery Row, the only street in Absalom on which slaves are legally bought or sold. Misery Row is a massive elevated platform running the length of the Coins’ eastern edge. The platform’s base forms a wall between the Coins and Merchant districts. The slavers sunk cages inside the walls, accessible only from the top of the Row and filled with languishing slaves. These are the windows through which a prospective buyer sizes up future chattel. Between the cage pits and the slave trade, all of Absalom knows Misery Row as the Slave Pits of Absalom.

To find Pildapush, the PCs must first reach Misery Row. The easiest access is up the heavily guarded stairs placed every few hundred feet.

Vrald cannot help but shudder as he climbs the stairs to misery row

There, but for my family might I resider.

The knight asks around for the office of Pardu Pildapush.

"I don't imagine those guards will just let us through. Perhaps we should pose as merchants?"

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"Buyers must come here all the time.." offers the young knight-to-be.

"Why would they not less us through?"

"Just let me do the talking, if they do give us trouble. But, the best way to avoid trouble, is to just look like we belong there. Don't not and smile at them, don't completely ignore them. And don't look like you're waiting and dreading for them to challenge you."

"They offer no challenge to me." says the knight with utter confidence in his own ability.

"But I'll play the part of your guard happily."

"Not quite what I meant," Gilfroy mutters with a smirk and shake of his head.

Jaegar eyes the situation and attempts to anticipate the best approach.

He tries to remember any details he can about this place, while assessing the guards and the caged individuals.

Knowledge Local (place): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Knowledge Local (creatures): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

He supports Gilfroy's plan, but wants to be careful. He cycles through all of his inquisitor alignment detections:

Detect Evil
Detect Law
Detect Chaos
Detect Good

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

He quietly follows Gilfroy, attempting to be nonchalant while keeping his guard ready.

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16