Treasurefox's Rise of the Runelords (Inactive)

Game Master TreasureFox

Follow them to some bars if they go to them and try overhearing anything? Get some rounds for the house and loosen their tongues.

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the area. I couldn't tell you.

"Nor am I. You will have to take a look for yourselves. You're free to use disguises, plan stakes outs as long as it isn't on private property, at least without permission, and eavesdrop in public. Do note that hearing something concerning does grant you probable cause, but it doesn't stand up well in court. Also, if you use scrying magic to create a sensor, that does count as entering an establishment. If you have any other questions, or wish for me to come along, I'm available to help."

You can also use Local to figure out legalities in Magnimar. Since Janis was born and raised here, he gets a +2 to his checks.

No Know-Local here, Furnok has trouble crossing the street in Sandpoint it seems

Cleo is also local knowledge lacking. It is the small-town girl in her. The perpetual tourist, maybe?

Maybe there's a good reason you should keep the new character with your group. He might have some skills that you don't. It's kind of like he identified a role that's lacking in the party dynamics. Convenient.

Very much so, :)

Maybe Janis and Wabbit can go case the mill workers and the rest of us can rest up for the night?

Follow them to some bars if they go to them and try overhearing anything? Get some rounds for the house and loosen their tongues.

that sounds do-able Wabbit looks dubiously at Janis think we could stake out the bar without getting in a bar fight bar fights are great distractions when necessary ;) but bar fighting with evil cultists doesn't sound like fun

I'll guard Cleo and Brelin.

Janis strokes his chin. Best not to be caught, mill work is hard work so they'll likely not want to travel far. We might want to simply set up at the closest bar to the mill and wait to see if they show.

Janis suspects that the most likely places for the mill workers to go would be The Courtesan and the Unicorn (brothel and harrow parlor)

sounds like a plan.

It is currently noon. You have 8 hours before sundown. Has anyone cast spells so far today?

Wabbit and Janis head into Lowcleft to check out the Courtesan and the Unicorn. Though the brothel, and in fact, the entire district doesn't really come into its own until nightfall, the brothel is open. Through the open doors, it looks like there are a few patrons in there, along with some women dressed in see-through silks. Two Shoanti bouncers stand guard at the entrance. They look absolutely huge, and well disciplined.

In addition to being a good place to wait for mill workers, this would prove to be a great location for gathering information.

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Meanwhile, the rest of the party returns to the Naos district to get some rest. Ameiko is relieved to see them, as is Amaya. They're on their way to do a bit of shopping.

Before heading in Janis pulls Wabbit to the side. We must be on the same page in here. We'll at least be expected to be looking at the girls, trying to find one to entertain ourselves for the night. We can wile away the hours, but it would be best to have some dalliances while we're there.

let's play it by ear. Just remember the reason for our visit. Wabbits no stick in the mud... This isn't his first brothel visit

I know why we're there, don't worry about that. Doesn't mean we can't have fun while we wait. Janis gives a congenial smile and puts his hand on the halfling's shoulder, has their height been similar he'd have thrown his arm around the man's shoulders. Now let's go f+@@ some whores. Janis walks off towards the brothel.

To the shopping group, not the other one

"I'll go with you if you don't mind" Cleo asks, "I'm curious about the markets, food stalls especially."

Furnok and Bacon stick with Cleo

Janis and Wabbit pass through the Shoanti bouncers, who simply observe as they walk by. The inside is deliberately darker, though there are windows with wooden shutters that let some daylight in. Torches in sconces line the walls of the dark wooden room. To one side is a bar with two drinking patrons and a female bartender wearing a see-through purple silk dress. A sign on the bar reads "House tours are free".
On the other side are several tables designed for various gambling games. A single man plays at one of these tables with three prostitutes, what appears to be a game of strip poker. A dance floor covers the space between, where four girls dance while a team of Halflings play music. The girls dancing, as well as the girls playing poker, are wearing a wide array of loose clothing in titillating colours and designs far too numerous to describe. They wear jewelry made mostly of beads, seashells, and copper around their necks and wrists, but also tied into their clothing. Some of them are wearing extremely long scarves of silk. The halflings are singing in the Varisian tongue, which seems to be a light-hearted tune accompanied by drums, a tambourine, a flute, and a stringed instrument called a rebec.

The Madame of the house is the first to greet Janis and Wabbit. She's a Varisian woman wearing a dress and petticoat of red linen and black leather, trimmed with gold. Despite being the Madame, she looks fairly young, no more than mid thirties at the most. She flips her long black hair to the side, and says
"Welcome to the Courtesan and the Unicorn. Do you fine gentlemen have an appointment, or are you visiting?"

Wabbit has spent most of his adult life in Varisian culture, so he'll know a thing or two about the culture. Janis however might know the brothel itself far better.

It's my first time in the city. So just getting familiar with what the city has to offer. My new friend Janis here is showing me around. And no, no appointment

That said, if you have any openings we'd be willing to fill them. Janis looks at the madam earnestly before busting out in laughter after realizing what he just said.

Wabbit can't help it and bursts out laughing

After choking off his laughter into chuckles. Apologies, that wasn't intentional madam.

Intentional or not, it does seem appropriate given the locale

Wabbit eyes the poker game...It does seem a Chaldiran way to test his luck

The madame grins slyly as she looks at the two laughing. "Not a problem at all. Let's see who's openings you could fill."
She walks to a shelf on the wall that holds a small bowl made of metal, probably brass. She places a wooden phallus along the outside of the bowl, and strokes it round and round for the bowl to sing. "Girls! Lineup for these two handsome men, please!"

The dancing girls, along with a few from upstairs come to the front to present themselves. The group playing poker remain with their guest. Each girl says her name, and welcomes both Janis and Wabbit to the Courtesan and the Unicorn.

Janis looks over the women before settling on Ivona. Mmmm, I look forward to wiping that dismissive look from you face. He looks over to the madam. What are the rules here, and how long will we have our girls, I was thinking that game over there might be fun before we get to the main event/ He nods towards the strip poker players.

A slight grin escapes Ivona as she steps towards Janis and replies
"I'll give you a tour of the place, and then we can talk details. Each of us do things a bit differently. Do you have a name, sir?"

I think it's fair to assume that Janis has been to brothels in the past, though maybe not this one. (There are a ton of brothels in Magnimar.) The basics are that you're polite with the ladies and don't do anything to them unless it's already been agreed upon. The lady has the right to stop or refuse a service at any point in time. You have a tab with the brothel, which you pay before you leave. There are a lot of things you can ask from the ladies. Your experiences can even include leaving the brothel with the lady, and travelling around Varisia. Time spent is usually charged by the hour, and prices increase based on what activities she's performing. Activities that include extra energy, risk of harm, additional clothing or items, or a significant amount of trust usually cost extra. When you talk details with her, you'll get a chance both to appraise the cost, and negotiate the price.

Janis reaches around her and pulls her closer, his hand just above her butt. Janis. And I think I'd like a little extra company tonight. He looks over at the other girls. Come here Lilia, join us.

Lilia =tiny with an excited mischievous smile... Yup that's Wabbit all day

sorry Janis. We're either going to play cards for this one Wabbit says smiling looking at Lilia. or agree to let the lady decide

Wabbit's not the brothel conissuer that Janis is. He prefers the clear and honest intentions of a willing barmaid. That said... He'll cheerfully enjoy himself regardless of whether he avails himself of the full menu or not, as long as all the staff are working here of their own free will and in a safe environment.

He's been in some sinister places filled with slaves and false smiles that made his skin crawl... Bad memories from Cheliax

Janis smiles. Cards would be acceptable. Are her accompanying me vs me paying for your time with her acceptable stakes?

agreed. If this is acceptable to Lilia as well

I look over at the girl. Well?

I'm not entirely sure I understand what you would like to do. Are you planning to play poker, and the winner gets Lilia?

For the pleasure of her company yes. Obviously we're not trying to own her, just decides who she'll accompany for now.

if she's ambivalent then poker decides...if she has a preference then that's to be respected, no poker game necessary

Alright. Here's how we're going to simulate a quick game of poker, while still making it more than one skill check.

Janis pulls a pack of cards out and begins to shuffle before dealing them. So my new friend, tell me a bit about yourself.

Back in the Naos district, Brelin heads back to the Kaijitsu house in order to rest up. Cleo, Furnok, Aggah, and Bacon all travel with Ameiko and Amaya to shop in the markets. The marketplace here looks almost nothing like back in Sandpoint. To start with, the place is quite clean. There's little in the way of horse or ox dung, the streets are made of cobblestone rather than dirt, and the air doesn't smell nearly as fishy. Meat markets sell beef, lamb, pheasant, and tuna in large quantities. There isn't nearly as much in the way of vegetables or tubers, and those that are there aren't nearly as fresh. Cleo can tell that this is likely due to the Sandpoint farmlands being eradicated.
There are also jewelry merchants, tailors specializing in courtier clothing, and alchemical stalls. Missionaries walk through the market asking for alms in return for blessings, while beggars hold out hats or pots for their own donations. A team of three city guards patrol the marketplace, but seem pretty relaxed.

Lilia and Ivona watch as the two men face off in a game of poker. The winner gets Lilia all to themselves. Both men draw cards without showing any emotion, and bet appropriately. As the first three cards are flipped, both maintain a poker face. In truth, Janis has a fantastic hand, while Wabbit has next to nothing. Janis bets modestly in order to appear cautious, but Wabbit takes the bait and raises him, which takes Janis off-guard. This style continues as each card gets flipped, until Wabbit goes Chaldiran All-In. Unfortunately, Wabbit ends the game with two pair, while Janis reveals his Ace high full house. Janis wins the game.

Lilia claps and bounces while congratulating Janis. Ivona however seems barely entertained.
Wabbit can choose a new girl. I'll be moving through the rest pretty quickly. Think ahead of time about what kinds of things you want to do here until sundown.

Ahh, sorry friend. Looks like the two lovely ladies are mine tonight.

I'm playing in day 2 of a poker tournament today. Hopefully my luck is better irl

oh well... Luck giveth and luck taketh away

well played Janis! Enjoy the luck the Lady had bestowed upon you.

Wabbit fetches a drink and settles in to enjoy the halfling musicians plying them with drink and tales of the road abroad between their sets. Hoping to glean some useful information.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

This place is huge! I reckon we can find things we couldn't at Sandpoint.

"Is there anything in particular that you are hoping to find?" Cleo asks the large man, as she looks, gawks, and frowns a bit.

She starts buying up dried or portable food here and there as she goes about, asking Furnok to help carry them if he is willing, and then goes about giving them to beggars along with a few coins, chatting with each of them if they will have it, a simple smile and good day if they won't.

If pressed why by anyone, she'll answer with a shrug and a simple "Erastil know anyone can fall once in a while, it's up to those that can to help out when it's needed."

just tell me how much that will cost. She'll also buy enough tuna for all of them to have a nice dinner.

Nothing right now. Saving my coppers for a special day.

Lilia and Ivona show Janis around the brothel. Lilia is quite excited, but even Ivona shows some passion for the place she works at. Apart from the gaming room and bar, there's also a little nook where Maria does harrow readings. There's a kitchen in the back where they serve breakfast for all the girls and guests. Upstairs are all the rooms. Each girl has her own room, which is decorated depending on her personal taste. There's also a room for a priestess of Calistria, who acts similar to a doctor and counsellor. She comes in a few days a week, and occasionally takes a client of her own. In all, there are no less than 20 bedrooms on the second and third floor.

Lilia's room is first, which has soft pink walls and a white carpet. Her bed is an absolutely enormous four-poster with several stuffed animals. She has a vanity table for her makeup and silver mirrors, and on the other side is a closet containing all sorts of costumes. In a side room is a hardwood floor with a large bathtub. There's a window letting in the sunlight, made of stained glass.

Ivona's room is much colder in appearance compared to Lilia's. The walls are a mix of purple and blue swirling around. Above is a dark purple ceiling, with pieces of coins, metals, and glass hanging from above. They reflect the light like little stars. Her bed is a fair bit smaller than Lilia's, but she also has a loveseat. Most of the walls have shelves with books on them, and one of the walls has a good sized map of Varisia. She has a table for makeup and mirrors, but she also has a bedside table where she shamelessly displays various adult toys, manacles, ropes, and more. On the final wall is a strange wooden board. It has all sorts of holes, hooks, and restraints stretching from the floor to the ceiling. Janis has seen these before. They're meant for tying people up in different positions against the wall. She also has a bathtub like Lilia's, and a stained glass window as well.

When the tour wraps up, Ivona says "So Janis, what do you want to do with the two of us? I'm guessing you won't be here long." She smirks while Lilia shows a surprised expression.

This is where the three of you will talk about what you want to do, how long you want be with them, and what kind of a budget you're working with. There isn't a lot of room for negotiation of prices, but adventurers usually have far more disposable income than the average labourer. Janis would know that it's courteous to accept a hot bath before getting busy.

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More coming in a bit for Wabbit, and Cleo+party. I require sustenance.

Wabbit has a good time chatting with the Halfling band. Most of them are family, while the other two are good friends. They tell Wabbit the story of their ancestors coming to Varisia. Their grandparents were once slaves in Cheliax, but when a flock of them were brought over to Korvosa with their masters and mistresses, the entire group of Halflings fled in the night. This was well before Magnimar was founded, and they ran night and day into the hinterlands. Nearly two score Halflings fled that night, but only half of them made it through the winter. They set up a little village a fair ways north, and managed to settle down. Since then, every descendant from that village has taken the name Stoutwinter.

This family is an offshoot from the Stoutwinters, but they still take the name. They settled in the farmlands of Magnimar, which are a lot safer now that slavery has been completely outlawed. They didn't really grow up with most of the songs they play, but Varisian music is pretty free flowing and easy to improvise. They enjoy their job, as do most of the girls. They feel like they're treated fairly, or at least as fairly as one could really expect. The madame, miss Czanji is the only real source of displeasure from the Stoutwinters. When she gets angry, everyone flees.

They don't know much about the labourers that come in. There are a lot of folk who come here after their work is done for the day. They say that the girls would likely know, since it's well known that sex is only a small portion of what the women offer. A lot of the men really just want to talk, which is kind of sad in it's own right.

Time: 1d4 ⇒ 1
The drinks are being added to your tab, but I'm giving you a bonus to your diplomacy checks as a result.

Cleo's generosity goes a long way. She gets to talk to a couple of the homeless beggars, who are very appreciative.

One of them became homeless after he was fired from his job as a logger. He was sawing a tree when it fell on his arm. He was stuck under there for hours before it could be removed, and by that point his arm had been crushed. It became infected as winter came about, and so he had it chopped off since there was no way he could pay for a Heal spell. The courts didn't give him any pay for what happened, and now he's having a hard time getting a job with only one hand. All his experience is in logging, and he's getting older.
His name is Attimo, and he's a human in his late thirties.

Another one is clearly addicted to some sort of drug. She's got constant twitches, and her body is covered with scratches and bruises. She says that she was a tumbler, and she'd take scour to loosen up and be a little loopy. Patrons paid more if you were funny, and a lot of them enjoyed her goofiness. She says she got into a fight with one of her co-performers, and made the mistake of quitting on the spot. Soon she couldn't afford her rent since she was hooked on scour, and now she's trying to go cold turkey and resisting the temptation to do unsavoury work.
Her name is Marta. She's a human who's probably 18 to 20 years old.

The last one admits that he was (and he's very adamant that he WAS) a burglar. He was a merchant by day, where he would go door to door to sell knife sets to wealthier folk. If he saw something in the house that he liked and wanted, well he might sneak in during his days off to pick it up. He was eventually caught, because the homeowners remembered how much he liked what he stole. He lost his right hand for it, and was fined for everything he had. Of course his reputation was tarnished, so he's unable to start up his own business again.
His name is Farnum. He's a fairly young-looking Dwarf.

Oddly enough, both Farnum and Attimo have heard of a weird pilgrim walking through Magnimar. He goes by Soot, but Attimo doesn't think he's really a poor man. He speaks like he's some sort of educated holy person. He's clearly learned, has fresh breath, looks old but healthy, and has very few friends. The ones that he does have never talk about him.