Aldred of Augustana's page

Thanks for running Aldred ithuriel, much appreciated.

I’m not exactly sure on the situation, but if Aldred can begin casting sleep on the woman without falling immediate prey to zombies, and without catching any of his companions in the burst, he will do so. Take a five foot step to a more safe position if possible / necessary. He will also maintain inspire courage as a free action.

Aldred eyes the situation warily as he continues to hum the Pharasmin dirge, looking for his best opening, the best way to save Alie without becoming zombie fodder himself. His mind works, trying to identify what the Taldan woman means by ‘Father Grim’.

Know, religion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"No harm done, but we were worried about you," Aldred says with a mock sigh.

Aldred's eyes widen behind his makeup at Magda's comment, then he bursts out laughing as he realises it is a joke. "Fog is a fine fellow, but far too hairy about the face for my tastes," he says, twirling his recently grown moustache.

When Alie is reported missing, he begins to grow concerned. "Where is she? She was getting ready, I passed her in the hall on her way back from the bath room. She was supposed to be helping you Magda..."

Aldred goes off to find the butler to ask if he's seen her.

Aldred dresses in a white silk shirt with great ruffles and frills at the collar, under a black vest with embroidered green silk patterns subtly interwoven with tiny semi-precious stones and pieces of jade, and with gold buttons. He wears black tights with a gem studded codpiece, and soft, dyed calfskin boots up to mid thigh. Over the whole ensemble he wears a long black coat embroidered with patterns of green dragons with tiny rubies for eyes, gold buttons and oversized cuffs and collar. He wears several gold rings, and a black silk and felt hat decorated long with green, white and red feathers. Under the hat he wears a white wig, dusted with flecks of real silver, the hair curled and teased just so, tending to hide his pointed ears. His already pale complexion is hidden behind almost white foundation, his cheekbones are highlighted in rouge, his lips in dark red, and his eyes highlighted with blue-green eyeshadow.

Take 10 on Knowledge, Local check for result of 17 regarding beards and swords: if it would be appropriate for an upper class visitor to this nation to wear a beard, Aldred spends the sea voyage growing a goatee and thin moustache (his elven mother’s blood doesn’t allow him much more than this), both of which he trims neatly, curls and oils for this occasion. If it would be appropriate for a gentleman to wear a longsword on a formal occasion – or at least not overly remarkable – he wears his masterwork longsword at his side in a scabbard decorated with jewelled silks. If not, he leaves the sword behind.

He wears a dagger in a sheath at his belt (generally hidden beneath his long coat). He wears his component and coin purses, and takes his scrolls and potions hidden away in various pockets within his vest and coat. He wears his ring of protection. Other equipment and his armourt he leaves behind.

Guys, just trying to find the time and energy to do a detailed post at this point, hopefully I will be able to do so sometime today / tonight.

Sorry Fog, I saw Ith's post in ooc, and was planning on making an in-character post by Aldred to warn you, but got distracted by life...

“Well, here we are; Oppara, Taldor.” Aldred looks up at the city and its marvels in wonder. While Taldor might represent almost everything that Andoran stands against, it is hard not to be awed by this grand and ancient city.

“A pleasure to meet you Magda, I am Aldred, of Augustana,” says Aldred, taking the woman’s hand and bowing in a courtly manner.

As Alie begins dragging Magda from the room for a shopping trip, Aldred murmurs to the gnome, “Don’t neglect a hair stylist and some good foundation and blush for our new friend ...”

Before departing for Oppara, Aldred will purchase a masterwork longsword (315 gp, he will sell his old longsword for 7.5gp if possible), a scroll of cure light wounds (25gp), a potion of cure light wounds (50gp), a masterwork courtier’s outfit (80gp), and 150gp worth of jewellery.

“You’ve had some experience treading the boards Wadi?” Aldred asks. “I’ve not acted myself, and while Taldan opera is far different from the sort we favour in Andoran, I have been involved in some minor productions in Augustana ... I can probably give some pointers too.” He grins and looks at Alie. “Oh yes, I think there is going to be a fun element to this mission!”

Aldred bows. “Thankyou Venture Captain. Just a question, will the Society be footing the bill for the opera tickets, or have any been pre-purchased for our use? If not, what order of costs should we be putting aside to purchase the tickets ourselves?”

"Ah, always the best time to offer to buy a round," grins Aldred.

Also, can we assume that we will have time to rest and shop before we officially launch into the action of the next scenario?

"Of course M'lord. Coming right up."

The bartender moves over to the row of kegs behind the bar, and fills a tankard with a rich, chestnut-brown ale, which he slides across the bar to Aldred.

"So, you've had some successes today? Any tales you would care to share?"

“Oh, all in a day’s work ... we did defeat some gnolls who were attempting to start an illegal slaving operation here in Absalom,” brags Aldred modestly.

GM, let me know how much for the round of drinks.

“I’ll have a bowl of soup thankyou my good man,” replies Aldred. “And a tankard of Caydenbrew for myself and whichever of my companions here wish to partake; On me,” he adds to the others. “I’m proud of us, we’ve done a good thing here today.”

I will give everyone a chance to apply a post-script, and then I will get things underway :-)

Luke, will you be starting a new thread for your game?

I'll probably take a few days to update my sheet and equipment if that is ok.

“I could be convinced to stop by,” replies Aldred with a smile and a wink. “Will you be there Venture Captain Moldreserva?”

“Indeed; no one deserves to live in such horrid conditions,” Aldred adds. “We are happy to have done our part, the Pathfinder Society as a whole deserves the thanks for instigating this rescue.”

Day job roll for this chronicle if needed: Perform, sing: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30.

Aldred pockets the log book.

Aldred begins helping slaves that Kayluss has freed up onto the deck, and telling them that if they have nowhere to go they might try to seek asylum with the Andoran embassy. Alternatively, he will point them in the direction of any sympathetic Andorans he knows living in the city who might be able to help get them out. He offers his water bottle and what little food he has on him to those who need it.

He keeps a careful eye out for anyone who might resemble a certain Chelish noblewoman.

Aldred moves next to the ladder on the upper deck and begins a stirring song about a band of Eagle Knights soundly defeating a group of slavers.

Aldred runs across the upper deck towards the other hatch.

Double move to the square north (left hand side) of the mast on the upper deck.

Is there a link to a map of the interior of the trireme?

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Aldred let’s Kayluss and Sek go down the ladder ahead of him.

"Suits me fine Wadi," says Aldred, heading for the ladder that Wadi indicated.

Aldred helps Sek search the bodies, particularly the gnoll, seeming to be looking for something in particular (but apparently not finding it).

"Definately the gnoll corpse stays here," Aldred says. "Gnolls are not allowed into Absalom by law, any repurcussions of our actions here should be mitigated when it is shown we are stopping illegal gnoll slavers."

Fog doesn't appear to have added the inspire courage bonuses.

Aldred begins singing an old comical Taldan nursery rhyme about a naughty, mangy dog being beaten, pointing at the gnoll, the obvious target of the joke.

Begin inspire courage as a standard action (keep those +1’s in mind folks). Stow sling and five foot step diagonally forward towards the action.

“Prepare to be boarded foul slavers!” Aldred calls, twirling his sling above his head and letting fly a stone at the nearest sailor.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

“Right,” nods Aldred, unlimbering his sling. “It was right there in front of us the whole time ...”

If Aldred had time he would have gotten back down to ground level – not sure?

Either way, init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Aldred attempts to climb the rope once Wadi has fixed it securely, bracing his feet against the wall.

With the rope in place, the Climb DC should be lower than 15. In that case, Aldred will take 10 on his climb checks.

“Alie’s spell should last a few minutes,” he tells Wadi. “If we move them gently we shouldn’t wake them; let’s tie them up before we wake them. Got any rope?”

If he can get up there, Aldred does just that. If Wadi has no rope, Aldred rips strips off the shirt of the spare artisan’s outfit in his pack to bind their hands behind their backs after disarming them and throwing their weapons to the ground below.

From this vantage point Aldred will also have a look along the docks for the ship they are looking for. Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Aldred looks for a way up to the rooftop where the archers are.

“Let’s try not to kill these haflings,” Aldred weaves the warning into the words of his song, well aware of the number of witnesses, as well as keeping in mind that the Puddlejumpers are supposedly freed slaves who presumably have a sense of misplaced loyalty towards Pildapush.

Will maintain inspire courage this round, but action might depend on the results of targets of Alie’s spell. Is there a way up to the roof where the archers are, without scaling the walls?

Sorry Ith, forgot about the difficult terrain.

Alie, are you casting at the ones up on the roof or on the ground?

Aldred will maintain his inspire courage as a free action.
Move action, he’ll move 25 feet (around Fog) to flank the ungreased halfling with Sek, avoiding AoOs.
Standard action, he’ll attack the halfling.
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Wadi, don't forget inspire courage bonuses.

The Puddlejumpers acted in the surprise round, have they taken their round 1 actions yet?

I'm sick so I might not be thinking right but If I step to the south (towards the building) I would provide Alie cover correct from the archers right?

There’s a barrel directly south of you, in theory this should provide Allie with some cover and concealment, but the archers’ height advantage might negate this. Kayluss should be taller than the barrel, so if he moves either into the square SE of his position or climbs on top of the barrel he might provide some cover? Maybe.

Aldred draws his sword. “The halflings work for Pildapush,” he says, before launching into a tune, a rollicking old sea shanty with the lyrics slightly altered ...

“Oh ... What do you do with a drunken halfling, what do you do with a drunken halfling,
What do you do with a drunken halfling, early in the evening?”

MA: draw sword. SA: begin inspire courage bardic performance: +1 to hit and damage for allies.

“Watch out – daggers!” calls Aldred. “Damn you Pildapush,” he mutters as he hastily casts a spell.

Cast grease on the four squares immediately to the right of Kayluss and Sek. Should get two of the Halflings. Reflex save DC 14.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

"Time is wasting," agrees Aldred. He takes the ledger, then speaks softly to the two women. "You have your freedom," he says. "Stay with us until we pass the Token Guards then go where you will. If you have no one to turn to in this city, might I suggest you seek succor at the Andoran Embassy. Tell them what happened here, mention my name, Aldred of Augustana, they should be able to find a safe place for you."

Aldred quirks an eyebrow ... this was an unexpected turn. To potentially defend a slaver in order to free two slaves? But then, when he factored in the potential to fee Lady Salhar and any other slaves on the No Return, as well as completing their mission for the Pathfinders ... the truth was Pardu was a bit player in a city where slavery was entirely legal. Defending him would not overly harm the Andoran cause, though it might harm Aldred’s own reputation amongst his countrymen – without the right spin on it.

“Agreed,” says Aldred. “Although if I am going to defend your good reputation it would behove me to view that ledger in your desk. To convince a magistrate that a man of your standing and business reputation was duped, I must know how much of the truth I need to stretch, and whether or not that ledger holds admissible records of your transaction or just vague allusions.”

Is this ok with everyone in the group?

Ugh ... I've been trying for over 12 hours to complete that post ... I seem to have less time on holidays than when I'm at work!

Aldred steps forward and offers the slave trader a smooth bow, despite his feelings for the man and his business.

“You are clearly a shrewd business man Mister Pardu, and a man of intelligence. While I myself abhor the practice of putting a price on the life of another intelligent being, doing so is legal in this city, so I cannot hold you doing so against your good character. I can and will hold the particular price you ask against you though – as my associate says, it is far too high as such things are measured in this city.”

Aldred looks sidelong at his companions then continues, his tone taking on a singsong, lilting quality. “Since we are bargaining, I have a different proposal to the one that my associates are angling for. You say Mister Pardu, that this Renmil Emprey tricked you, but I cannot believe it – not in someone of your intelligence and shrewd business sense! No, you and I both know that you knew who Lady Salhar was when you purchased her, or deduced her identity soon afterwards – let us not pretend otherwise, you and I are above such games. You would have deduced too that someone would be on her trail, whether Pathfinders or others. You have an excellent Towers face Mister Pardu, but I too am partial to card games, and I saw the moment we walked in that you were not overly surprised by our intrusion. Now, while the slave trade is certainly legal here in Absalom as you well know, kidnapping important noble women is not, nor I dare say is profiting in any way from such a kidnapping … particularly when such an event threatens to envelope the city in an international incident and cut off the Osiriani antiquities trade.

“Whether or not you have documents here that prove Lady Salhar’s identity,” Aldred watches carefully for any sign that Pardu does have such documents – a glance in a particular direction, a widening of the eyes or such, “someone – be it a member of the Guard or one of the Grand Ambassador’s men – is going to trace this to you; we did after all. But of course, you’ve considered that, and being the shrewd operator that you are you will have made contingencies. So to for the fact that you have been dealing with gnolls, despite those creatures being banned from the city by old charter. So contingencies – information to pass on to those seeking Lady Salhar, so as to remove yourself from the firing line. Information such as the dock where the No Return lies, and the identity of Emprey’s patron.

“So here is my offer; we will use the information you provide us with to find the Lady Salhar quickly, and thus cause the Grand Ambassador to call off his thugs; thick as they are they will surely find you sooner or later otherwise, and I imagine they will be none too gentle. In addition we will not report your transactions involving the kidnapped noblewoman to the Ambassador, nor your rather illegal, if surely profitable dealings with gnolls to the authorities. Come dear Pardu, you know as well as I do that the Token Guard, and indeed the Primarch would be far more concerned about such things than of a band of Pathfinders entering a shop after hours – did you not comment yourself that you may have left the door unlocked?

“In return for our integrity on these matters, which I think a fine businessman like yourself must agree is worth far more than the price of one slave girl, I ask for the dock where we will find the No Return, the name of Emprey’s patron, and that you grant both these women their freedom and allow them to leave under our protection – or, if your fine mercantile ethics,” (Aldred tries very, very hard to keep any hint of sarcasm or bitterness from his voice here), “prevent you from simply letting them go, then sell them to us for a gold piece each.

“So, fine and wise Mister Pardu, what is your counter-offer to my proposal? Please do make it one that gentlemen of intelligence and import such as you and I can see eye to eye on, as it would benefit no one if our silence on your recent dealings came to naught, should the Lady have left the city and the Ambassador’s men finally track you down …”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Sense motive: 2+11 (versatile performance): 13
Appraise (untrained if allowed): 17+1: 18.

Aldred has something to add before we close negotiations or leave here but exactly what depends partly on results of above checks.

Aldred’s diplomatic words die on his lips at the sight of the caged women. With an effort he tries to keep visible signs of his anger in check by quietly humming a tune under his breath Bluff, using perform; sing: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22, remaining near the back of the group and trying to concentrate on the fat slaver’s words rather than the situation Sense Motive using perform, sing (versatile performance): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30.