He probably just described the big things that caught our eye
Got it,
thanks DM :)
GM, could I get a description of how the slave trade works here, more specifically? I want to be able to talk numbers with some of the slavers. I'm thinking of going under the ruse that I'm reluctant to tell Esther to buy slaves here because of the price, so I want to see their quality. While our lovely ladies can keep the slavers eyes low, I want to make our business here seem legitimate by asking tough questions they would expect from an unconvinced buyer.
I'm anticipating a knowledge check.
There's no number there, brah.
I meant under my profile lol. Sure thing.
Well the madam and i are supposed to be good at picking girls and some of the smaller finance while you being the big investor is supposed to know a whole about lots of things since you are very successful in "other " business.
The idea is that of a venture capital you with the ship and the casino and us of the "live" entertainment. Human Ressources...
Sorry, I save the witty banter for in character talks.
So our sisters will be in charge of 'human resources', scouting out potential slaves in this oh-so-perfect auction. I am a businessman in general, and one of my specialties is grand boats of every kind. So I'm here to learn more about a business I have never been a part of but want to get involved in. Erasmus is my bodyguard, so look tough and rawr and all that.
We are certainly not a socially inept group, you know that when the rogue is the muscle lol.
yup that is pretty much it :)
Have we all maxed out bluff? Oh this is going to be hilarious.
Me max out out bluff and diplo not at all not enough skill ranks i am missing 2 skill points in both.
Esther has Diplo and Bluff
Erianna has Dplo, bluff ans Sense Motive
Mortimer has Bluff
Erasmus has Bluff (he is the lowest with a +10) of the group.
And all of use but you have great Stealth also :)
Trust me, the points are better spent in escape artist. You have no idea how useless a wizard is when the BSF decides to grapple him. If I really need to stealth I'll just cast fly and invisibility. Detect that lol
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Nice roll.
Ok. This generally works best if I can get questions you want the answer to. Since you have some time before the elevator and the ride itself. I can answer everyone's questions, thus representing aided knowledge rolls and the party asking while Mortimer wracks his prodigious brain.
Fire away! When you're done, I'll keep posting.
Sorry, I just got out of work.
What are the price ranges for slaves? Everywhere from a cripple to a captured queen.
How fierce is the bidding? Is there often rivalries between slavers?
What's the range of slaves owned, from the lowliest slaver to the top of the notch?
How noble are the slavers here? Should I speak like I'm speaking in court or should I swear like a sailor?
Any big names I know? Doesn't have to be only slavers, just important people in general.
What are the customs like here? Are you supposed to twirl your hand upon meeting a superior? Are you supposed to leave food on your plate to show your host is feeding you enough? Politeness things.
Can you guys think of anything else?
I love nice detailed descriptions of things as well. I can often take advantage of small things.
This is supposed to be a top notch "slave" convention.
Are there invitations send?
Security detail etc...
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What are the price ranges for slaves? Everywhere from a cripple to a captured queen.
Raw Slave - 30-50gp
Common Slave - 75 gp
Hard Labor Slave - 100 gp
Household Slave - 50 gp
Specialized Slave - 500 gp
Trophy Slave - 500+gp (The highest price you can recall is for a pleasure slave. The rumor was 500,000gp)
Bulk pricing is common too, at a discounted rate.
How fierce is the bidding? Is there often rivalries between slavers?
The bidding can get fierce and often slavers will hold grudges when a particular prize is lost. Rivalries are common, but treachery is low due to the cadra agreements.
What's the range of slaves owned, from the lowliest slaver to the top of the notch?
I assume you mean 'in the present company'. Lowest are like scullery girls up to elite slave soldiers or concubines.
How noble are the slavers here? Should I speak like I'm speaking in court or should I swear like a sailor?
These are mostly vipers, but the fancy themselves princes. Decorum is paramount until tempers flare. Things tend to cool down just as quickly however.
Any big names I know? Doesn't have to be only slavers, just important people in general.
Targ the Twice Taken is a ruthless ex-slave. He is not to puffed up peacock most are.
Ascerbo, a slave of House Rudianos, is easily the largest purveyor of promising stock. The Erenes house is known the world over for training the finest specializerd slaves of almost every kind. Though, they do export more slave-soldiers and pleasure house slaves than anything else.
What are the customs like here? Are you supposed to twirl your hand upon meeting a superior? Are you supposed to leave food on your plate to show your host is feeding you enough? Politeness things.
Leave food on plates, deferential nod to superiors, slow blink to inferiors. (On this issue, use best judgment.)
Esther's Questions.
This is likely an invitation event. Security is present in personal guards, but many of these slavers are quite capable of defending themselves.
You also realize that entering from the servants' quarters, where the is no public entrance, is suspicious at best.
What are some of the dressing customs? How easy is it to tell a slave from a servant from a slaver?
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It is something of a code of honor among these thieves. You do not sabotage or steal from another slavery without the backing of at least 4 others of similar economic means.
I.E. Your reasons must be ratified by your peers or you can't make trouble.
________________________
It is very difficult to tell in some cases. Very easy in others. :/
Hate to spit at a superior or bow to a slave. The first one might be the larger problem, the second one will just get me laughed at.
Ariana
you Bluff is +13 (via the versatile performance
Sense motive is +13 (via versatile performance)
Diplomacy is +13
That is rather good :)
I am at
Bluff +13
Diplomacy +13 (+3 if talking one on one)
Sense Motive +5 (+3 is talking one on one)
but i have way less knowledge local...
Actually... No. My versatile performance adds to Diplomacy and Sense Motive ;)
But honestly when I think about it, and about the sister dynamics, I think you should be the Diplomat one.
If GM DSP allows it, I'll switch my skills around, ending up with:
Bluff +13
and
Sense Motive +13
Next Versatile Performance would then add to Diplomacy and Intimidate, but that is further along down the road.
We would leave the Diplomacy to the older sibling for the time being - think it seems more appropriate that if there is a "face" for the sisters, the face is Esther, since Erianna is more about the harshness, at least for now ;)
What do you think?
This would mean Esther is the madam, and Erianna is the silent sister - I think it fits.
if you really wanted to but having the same person with good bluff / diplo and sense motive is rather nice...
esther has the first 2 but is so so with sense motive (i could raise it at the expend of stealth...
After that it is also a matter of the heavy social RP... if you want to leave it to me i'll do it if you don't want :)
(bard are an awesome class you can pretty much tailor it to exactly as you want it to do. taking on two or more party roles)
then up to you Sister :)
Thank you GM DSP :D
So... I have shuffled around my skills, and I think I am happy with the result:
- Took away UMD (don't know how much I will cry about this one later, but I guess between her own buffs, and he spells from her own spell list, Erianna will already have her hands full to cast in or immediately before combat, so maybe taking UMD away is not dramatic. We'll see...)
- Bluff is now at +12
- Diplomacy is now at +14
- Sense Motive is now at +14
What this does is it allows any of us to function as face, and when we are both available, we can Aid another on Bluff and Diplomacy for even better results. Sense Motive will probably be an asset, so I decided to keep it.
For the current situation, we can simply play the part exactly as agreed before - the "entrepeneur" sisters :D
Besides the aid another advantage, it will allow the game to run more smoothly - if one is unavailable or posting less frequently, the other can pick up the action, and the game keeps moving.
What do you think?
I'm always in favor of interchangeable parts.
or if we need to split up :)
and you can roll your own bluff and other social skills...
How quickly are slaves payed for at the auctions? If I make a bid, will I be expected to walk up there right then and there, at the end of the day, at the end of the entire auction?
I hope you have cash or valuables Mortimer :)
I have a few finely made magic items. Cloak, some rings, my cane. I'm used to dealing with nobles and whatnot
Dm quick question: where are the hot border military action in the last 2-3years with amerys ?Did amerys gain new territory?
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So far Amerys has launched a campaign in Thelkon. That was after trying to push north into the mountains, where the hope was to recover the lost lands of the Farenweni. However, the inhabitants of those mountains, and indeed, the mountains themselves proved too much.
Instead, the army was deposited by drop ship at Flahrim. Most current knowledge is that the campaign is halted, and the army is dug in at Horokan. Apparently the High King of Thelkon found a way to deal with the invaders and his population crisis with one stone, as it were.
Amerys has had better luck on the seas. No new territories per se, but succesfull chipping at the slave trade. Hurting the pocket book is a good way to begin :)
I'm sort of basing my ability to move faster than Voi on my On Guard trait, which allows me to draw a weapon during the surprise round as a free action. I assume if all he does is put his hand to his weapon then he's not really in combat yet? And therefore even if I'm not attacking him per se, this is close enough to treat it like a surprise round?
Nice work Mortimer :)
Had to belittle you all a bit, but I couldn't think of any other legitimate reason why you would move locations so many times.
Since it looked like i couldn't convince them, you did well.
It did feel like they both are .... How can i put it.... Not confortable with woman being in charge ;)
Good luck with the boss interview and your disintegrate spell ...
My reason what actualy two fold:
We could have started wil a small operation and tradedat each step for a better one and two i had to make up a reason for us having sold everything and seeking you out.
Hence the last one in contested land where it is harder for them to check or know about...
I don't think we plan on remaining incognito long. Especially since we'll be expected to buy lots of slaves and have no money to pay for it.
I'd give you every magic item I have if I can take out all the bosses with one sweep of my hand, or even one of them. Best case scenario is we get them all inside some wooden building, I burn it to the ground, and you three remain around picking off anybody that runs out.
I was thinking of something along those lines:
Arianna is a very good bard in the performing arts and while she is still learning to sing her other skills are really good (she can even add heroism spell on top)
If you could invite that boss and any other major slaver to attend an exotic show to your tent.... Then in the middle of the show you can set off the pyrotechnics with all the area effect spells you have. While we kill off the high value single target ;)
Ooh I love it, and it will all be under the pretense of "Here, a show of good faith!" but they'll all think it's "Here, let me advertise some more!" When people discover a hidden meaning in actions they often stop looking for others.
Making up the overall plan as best i can.
I do have to say its very cool to have a party where everyone is good in social skills, and since we are also good at stealth we will have more options...
GM DSP, I can access the google spreadsheet, but it is empty except for the pics of Mortimer and Erasmus - is that how it is supposed to be?