GM Zin's CORE 0-08 Slave Pits of Absalom (Inactive)

Game Master Zin Z'arin

Heal, untrained: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Knowledge (local), untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"You look a bit worse for wear," notes Vulf.

Heal, untrained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Knowledge (local) Untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Markus looks up from Fredrik, and to the other Pathfinders, Seen this before with Grit addicts, he's not got long before his body comes down and he'll stop breathing forever. Anyone know where this contact he said is? I'm content to wander around knocking out slavers and grit addicts until we get our answers if need be.

know local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

oh %&(*$...missed by one...can I get an aid?

If you have a week left, fool. I doubt anyone will shed any tears when you die except for your dealer... Theron says coldly.

I can work with that plan, Markus...

Seebonickk tries to remember about the area.

Knowledge Local aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

"Hey I can help"

That's right..the pits...nothing but slave traders and other assorted scum...should burn the lot of them... Theron says with a nod to the gnome for his help jogging his memory.

Frederik seems oblivious to the derision coming from the Pathfinders. Instead, he starts patting his pockets, looking for something as he continues to cough.

The barman interrupts. "You all done here? You've proven I can't throw you out, but buy a drink if you're staying, and maybe lend a hand with the cleanup, will ya?"

You get the sense he really doesn't want you to stay to help with anything.

Sylvester nods knowing of the pits.

"Sure everyone from around here has heard of them... well almost everyone has."

Anyone with an INT of 10 can take 10 and automatically succeed on a DC 10 knowledge check out of combat. It is common knowledge. :)

"Perhaps we should leave now. It seems like we have overstayed our welcome."

Aye...you would think he would thank us for making much needed improvements to his tavern. Very ungrateful... Theron snorts in derision at the barkeep.

Markus laughs at what Theron has to add to the barkeep, Come on let's go onto the pits? he glances down at the dying man, and shrugs, Hey barkeep, your friend here's about to die on your floor. and waves as he exits the bar, heading toward the pits...

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.

The easiest access is up the heavily guarded stairs placed every few hundred feet.

What do you all think? Try to talk our way past them? I don't see a way to sneak around it at all. Markus asks the others, knowing he's not going to be the one talking at all.

I think we find out who has her and..."negotiate" her release..

Sylvester grins as he is always ready to tell a well prepared fib or two.

"Well, we can simply pretend to be potential buyers for now. What do you people think?"

Clever, a ruse - better than knocking down the front door. Let's try it the dwarf suggests.

You approach one of the stairwells up to Misery Row, and immediately two halberds cross in front of your bath, blocking your access. "Whoa there," a guard calls. "This ain't no pleasure stroll. Good shopping to be found in the Grand Bazaar; it's that way," the other guard adds, pointing back the way you came.

Please include social rolls with your roleplay to get past the guards.

That works too... Theron says as he agrees to let the gnome try his way.

at the gate

My friend here is looking for something...exotic... the bladesman says, inwardly cringing at the words coming out of his mouth.

diplo aid, don't count on me for help: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15

Sylvester smiles and points to the pits.

"I think we are in the right place. I am looking for a new servant."

Bluff 20 on a take 10.

At the mention earlier of posing as slavers, Vulf quietly shakes his head. Unfortunately, while he finds the means distasteful, he cannot deny the plan is sound. More importantly, he finds he is unable to devise a more scheme he thinks likely to have any greater probability of success.

The Ulfen man lacks in social skills, but he has a decent eye for determining the value of things--even if it is people treated as property. He hopes that skill will be enough. Sliding his large metal holy symbol into his backpack, holds tight to his warhammer, and tries his best to look the part of hired help.

During discussions, he remains quiet, but when the guard begins to ask questions, Vulf tries to assess the value of a notable item the guard is carrying.
Appraise: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

He turns to whisper what he has learned into the gnomish ear of his "employer".

"Sorry; you didn't have the look of customers about you. Sometimes the tourists try to wander in, and nobody wants that. Go ahead." The guards remove their halberds from your path, and point the way up the stairs.

Finding your destination is not hard; Pildapush Chattel is easy to identify by its bold sign: "Pildapush Chattel: Absalom’s Finest."

Pildapush’s strong wooden front door is locked and a "Closed" sign swings from the latch. The few visible windows to the front of Pildapush Chattel are barred from the inside.

Theron nods to the guards as they pass. He quickly looks both ways when they see the sign on the door. He knocks, hoping they don't have to break in.

Sylvester rides Shaggy to one of the windows to check what is going on inside. If the door to Pildapush Chattel is opened then Sylvester will rejoin the party to enter.

Theron gets no response to his knocking, and Sylvester finds that the bright light outside makes it difficult to see the dimly-lit interior through the windows.

Markus leans against the doorframe, and scans around for a spare key

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Seebonick, think you can get it open, or should Theron and I force it open? the dwarf asks.

When Markus suggests breaking down the door, you all instinctively glance up and down the 'street.' Misery Row is filled with shoppers, slavers, and slaves at all times of day and night. The guards seem to only be present at the stairways, but with those placed every few hundred feet, they're close enough to respond quickly if called.

As such, it seems like it would be fairly easy to conceal a single person attempting to pick the lock on Pildapush's door, but breaking the door down is another matter entirely, and would have to be completed quickly to avoid drawing attention.

Sylvester rides back and keeps his voice very low when addressing Markus.

"Yes, Seebonick is certainly the gnome for the job."

Seebonick you are up. :)

I swore i posted yesterday.....well, tuesday i mean....

I'll keep watch as he works...don't want to get caught by the guard...Theron offers as he checks down the streets.

sorry been swamped at work

Seebonickk tries to pick the lock.

"Let me try!"

Disable Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

lol don't know what the DC is?

He tries again and waves the pick.

dd: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

the die roller hates me...

Haha, maybe you should have waited for the bot!

Seebonickk seems to be having more trouble with the lock than he'd expected; it sure didn't look like that difficult of a lock.

You can continue to make DD checks, as at this point your activity doesn't seem to have been noticed.

A bead of sweat forms on the gnomes forehead.

Disable: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

darn lockpicks

He tries again.

DD: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

He whispers "I need a refund."

SEE seriously! The die roller does hate me. 4 was the highest roll. Can I take 10?

Seebonick turns to the others with a shrug; the lock appears to be beyond his skills.

The DC was 20, and if you miss the DC by 5 or more, no retries are allowed; that final check was the nail in that coffin, unfortunately.

Assuming you switch strategy to using force, please give me one round's worth of actions, and let me know if you're trying to break into the door or window. Unless you take special efforts (which I'm open to; feel free to describe how), I'd say it's reasonable that three PCs can work together to break in side-by-side.

"Perhaps, I can address the lock?" Vulf suggests.

Artificer's Touch (Sp): You can cast mending at will, using your cleric level as the caster level to repair damaged objects. In addition, you can cause damage to objects and construct creatures by striking them with a melee touch attack. Objects and constructs take 1d6 points of damage +1 for every two cleric levels you possess. This attack bypasses an amount of damage reduction and hardness equal to your cleric level. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier.

Touch attack v. lock: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Damage bypassing Hardness 3: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Because Vulf's special ability is so slight and targeted, I'll rule that it can be done in the round before the round I asked for without drawing additional notice. Unfortunately, the hardness of iron/steel is 10, so Artificer's Touch does no damage to the lock.

As such, I'm still looking for 1 round of actions towards the goal of breaking through the door or window. I'll note that the rules for breaking and entering offer two options: attacking the object's hit points via weapon attacks vs its hardness ("Smashing an Object"), or a Strength check vs the object's break DC ("Breaking Items"). If you choose the former, 3 PCs can attack the door with melee weapons (additional PCs can use ranged weapons); if you choose the latter, 2 PCs can aid another PC's Strength check vs the door's DC.

Assuming the window bars are also steel...

"It'll take brute force to get through the steel, I'm afraid," concludes Vulf. "But with Torag's blessing, we may yet have success."

Vulf offers to cast bull's strength, presumably on Theron to give us the best chances?

Markus looks at Vulf and nods, Yes, Theron. Ready, we better go quick so we don't draw attention. On three, one, two, three. as the dwarf puts his shoulder into the door.

Strength: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

I thought you guys would never ask... he says with a sly grin. he spits on his hands to get a grip and cracks his knuckles before trying to wrench the door open.

strength: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

anyone have Knock?

is there a back door or 2nd floor?

anyone have Knock?

is there a back door or 2nd floor?

Misery row is an elevated platform with sunken slave pits. The businesses that line the row are similarly elevated; there is no back access to any of these establishments (except perhaps by climbing from the ground level to a back window, if one exists). While it's possible for businesses to have a 2nd floor--and thus, some do--Pildapush Chattel doesn't.

Botting Strength roll from Vulf

After granting Theron additional strength on behalf of Torag, Vulf joins Markus and Vulf in attempting to just push the door down.

Strength, aid DC 10: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

The trio aren't able to get the door open. While nobody is shouting for the guards yet, you've noticed a passerby or two give the Pathfinders a slight double-take before they continue on. It's going to be harder to keep doing this without drawing attention.

Let's try this again, one more round's worth of opening actions. Please include Stealth checks with your rolls from this point forward to avoid notice.

Okay, let's try again, quietly this time. Theron, on you... The dwarf uses his frame to assist Theron in opening the door.

Strength aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Vulf prays to Torag to guide Theron's actions.
Cast guidance . If he can aid too...

Strength: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

strength: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
stealth: 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 2 - 3 = 9

stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

The gnome tries to sneak. Leaving the heaving lifting to the others.

Sylvester knows that he will be of no use at all in breaking down the door. He rides Shaggy away from the door and begins to give him some water.

It makes little sense that we would have to break down the door here. You would think that they would want to invite their customers in.
Either there is a flaw in the scenario or we are going about it the wrong way.

It makes little sense that we would have to break down the door here. You would think that they would want to invite their customers in.

Either there is a flaw in the scenario or we are going about it the wrong way.

I can assure that there are story reasons for the door to be locked. And it's unfortunately railroady (Season 0, I guess), but the only way to advance the scenario is through this locked door. You are on the right path.

Theron puts his shoulder into it--with Vulf and Markus' help--and the door splinters near the lock as the lock tears through the wood, giving way to Theron's enhanced strenth. Even as the door swings into Pildapush's Chattel, you hear a cry from somewhere in the crowd. "THIEVES! CALL THE GUARDS!" and you see some activity that is likely someone rushing off to do just that.

Markus looks off to where the yelling happened, and shrugs, Well, I suppose we better hurry... he says, entering the building and looking around.

Sylvester rides in on Shaggy to the now open door of the Pildapush's Chattel.

"Indeed."

Yes... Theron says with a sigh as he heads in to see what he can find.

assuming there is a desk or something...checking there

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Seebonickk follows Theron and Shaggy.

"Yes indeed"

Grabbing his warhammer, Vulf proceeds through the remains of the door.

Pildapush's Chattel is tastefully appointed: colorful Katapeshi rugs adorn the stone floor, while water trickles gently from a decorative, mosaic fountain. Simple rosewood chairs surround a round table through which the shiny top of a hookah pokes, one braided and ebony-tipped smoking arm per chair. Beyond stands a large, ornate mahogany desk. Two man-sized oval cages, bolted to the stone floor, sit behind the desk, each occupied by a quiet slave who both watch you fearfully as you enter.

Of course, the most significant thing of note in the room is the large, middle-aged Vudrani man standing behind the desk, one hand splayed on the desk as the other shakes an angry fist at you to accompany the stream of vitriol currently spewing from his face. "Does CLOSED mean nothing to you? Is a man not allowed to take a lunch break?!? What kind of heathens break into a private business? Are you thieves! GUARDS!!!" Even more loud, rude, and vile insults follow.