Panci's demeanor brightens - marginally -  at the chance of making a sale. "Well, why didn't you frakken say so," he mutters as he gets to his feet, and starts walking up the wharf.

"I have a wide selection of water borne vessels - but barges are my speciality. They are a good solution to the over-crowding in Shadowshore, just park one of these in Barge End and you are good to go. Take this fine specimen for example," Panci points to a rotting hulk with a deck that is barely above the waterline. "Sure, she ain't fast but you get a lot of deck space for minimum financial outlay."

Alohan doesn't think much of this vessel. The only good point might be that it will be easy for him to dip his testicles into the water.



Panci's attitude greatly improves when Alohan states that he needs something in better condition and a more ocean going state. "Why of course young Master! Come this way. This racing yacht could take you back to the Pearl Islands and even further if you want. Only one previous owner - a grandmother who only took it around the canals in the weekend."

Panci is pointing at a dingy with an obvious crack stretching down below the water line that looks like it has been patched up with tar. The mast is also broken.

"Such a fine vessel doesn't come cheap. But we are having a sale this week, so, shall we say... ten gold crowns?"



Panci freezes. "When you say a 'fruitful exchange', you don't mean that you are going to pay me in fruit, do you? Because I don't know how things work in the islands but here on the mainland we expect payment up front and in Sasserine gold crowns," he says, back to his sour demeanor.



"Yeah, I remember him. Came in with that dwarf Penkus a couple of days ago." The dwarf looks at Alohan carefully. "Yeah, I could tell you what they bought and which direction they went." He folds his arms across his chest. "But the boat costs fifteen crowns now. Take it or leave it."

OOC: Sure you can pick up a magic item, just let me know either in the OOC thread or via PM what you want. No, please do not role play that! But I will write a little about it so we can bring Angati into the loop.

No one else for items? Not even a potion of CLW?! I understand, you're all saving up for that +5 weapon...


Celene and Kassius head towards the Champion district, but on the way they stop at the main market so Celene can pick up a few items. They bump into Angati who has just finished her cryptic conversation with the street performer Diamondback, and agree to head over to the Toregson manner together to see if Amarilde can give any clues on how to track down Vanthus, and also to see how married life is treating her.

It is noon by the time that they reach her mansion, so it seems likely that even she would be up by that point, but there were surprised to see her at the lunch table looking happy and alert ie not hangover at all.

"Hello you guys! How is my favorite adventuring party? Still working for dear cousin Lavinia? Where is Alohan?"

She listens carefully as Celene and Angati explain Lavinia's mission for them, but shakes her head when asks if the scoundrel has contacted her recently or if she knows where his drinking holes are.

"No, I haven't been in contact with him recently, thank the goddess. I'm pretty sure that Soren would kick is ass if he ever turned up at the house... Actually, I am sure that Soren would and could kick his ass, he trains really hard you know. As for his favorite drinking establishments... <pft> I don't know, he goes everywhere, you'll have to look in every gambling den and flophouse in town to find him, although..." she chews her lip thoughtfully.

"I did hear that he has shacked up with some girl in the Azure district. What was her name? She's part of the Santos family and her first name is... <clicks fingers> Brissa Santos, that's it. I hear that she was a pretty notorious pick-pocket but now is working as an artist or something like that. You should check her out."

Alohan gave Logan a weary look. It wasn't about the money. He just couldn't bring himself to purchase such a horrible vessel, even if it was given to him for copper pieces. "Dirteen crowns." He said in his best authoritative tone. "Dat boat be no more den a dingy wit a broken mast. I can fix de ding but dat crack in the hull be more trouble den its worth."

"And Panci, when ya be lookin' ta sell dis place, I be lookin' ta buy. Give me a number."

OOC: Opps, looks like Angati won't have time to visit her sister today. We'll find time to do it after the next adventure segment (if the oracle is still alive at that point).

"Dirteen crowns? Oh, thirteen crowns. Aye, well," he rubs his nicotine stained beard thoughtfully. "At that price I'm not making a profit at all mind you, but... I'm in the mood to make a sale. Al right, deal!" The grotty dwarf slaps his hand into Alohan's and shakes vigorously.

"Aye, and in relation to Penkus and that young bearded nobleman. They bought a dingy, and filled it up with all lanterns, lantern oil and all sorts of rope. Then they rowed off to the west. Ha! I hope that information was useful. Ha ha!" Panci obviously he doubts it is going to be useful at all.



OOC: What?! For real? What is Alohan going to do with a grotty wharf at the edge of Barge End with two dozen rotting ships in it? Well, OK...

"Huh? Sell out? Oh, I could never... I mean, I have spent my life building up this business to what it is now," he swings his arm out over the collection of rotting and leaking barges, dingies and wreaks. "And then here is the office as well," he looks back at the converted outhouse hanging out over the water. "I couldn't possibly sell out for less than...<takes a deep drag on his foul smelling pipe, holds breath and then exhales> five hundred gold crowns," he says, half choking on the number.

For his part, Logan merely kept his silence, trying not to ogle the sums of money being tossed around.  Granted, the rogue was accumulating his own stash of money by now, and had just managed to put his mother up in accommodations that took up his entire retainer from Lady Vanderboren, but that was for her.  Logan couldn't imagine spending 13 gold crowns on a piece of barely-floating wreckage.  And yet...the bribe seemed to work.  Logan would have preferred a more direct method involving threats or guile but this seemed to work as well.

After they had gotten the information, Logan thoughtfully choked his chin.  "Rowed off to the west with lantern oil and rope, huh?  It sounds like they're going exploring, someplace dark.  What's west of us?  There's the Champion's District and the Cudgel District, but you can just walk there.  The only thing you'd need a boat to get to is...."

Logan pauses in recognition.  "Parrot Island!  That's where the secret lair of the Lotus Dragons must be."

What does Logan know about Parrot Island?
This message was last edited by the player at 10:52, Fri 07 Aug 2015.

OOC: Logan doesn't know much about it - there isn't much TO know. It is a small uninhabited, marshy island - more of a sand bar than an island really - covered with dense troppical vegetation in the middle and home to thousands of parrots. It rises about 15' above sea level at its highest point.

Celene considered the new information and lead. "This Santos family, they are nobles I assume? Yet she was a pick pocket? What else can you tell of these Santos people? Do they support any other noble families we know? Do you have any contacts with them?"

Having acquired what knowledge might be gained, Celene looked around? "So, anything else we need to know? Or should the three of us head over there to see if we can find her? Or can we somehow get in touch with our last two friends?"

Alohan smiled at Logan's sudden realization. "We be in luck! I be just buying a boat!" the Native noticed Logan's worrisome look and laughed. "Shall we get ta oders? Take de boat to de Parrots?" he asked.

Turning his attention back on the dwarf, Alohan narrowed his eyes. He wouldn't spend 500 crowns on this lot, no matter how much he wanted to purchase real estate. "Nonsense Panci," Alohan growled, shaking his head at the unbelievable 'price tag.' "Ya be selling dis ta me for a lot cheaper. But not now, no. I be havin' something to take care of. Allow dis time ta help ya come with a more reasonable offer." Alohan fished out fourteen crowns from the purse on his hip, quickly giving them to Panchi. "Derteen for de boat, and one crown. Allow me ta moor my vessel here for de time being. If ya can, see about a replacement mast. I fear I be needin' the Punani sooner den later."

"Last we heard the others were goin' to Shadowshore. I don't like our chances of wandering through there hoping to find them." Kassius says. "Let's just follow up on this, and if it bears out, we'll actually have something to report tonight."

OOC: No check needed for that.

"No, they are not. They are barely one generation away from being pirates, and what little wealth they started with has dissipated quickly since they breed like rabbits. I know about them because they are so notorious for their bohemian lifestyle - most of them live in the one big house in the Azure district and even the adult kids tend to not move out."



OOC: Oh yeah, that is a good point! Stupid module. OK, I'll try and wriggle out of this one.

"Well, she isn't exactly the shinning star of the family and it is a pretty disreputable family to begin with."



"No I most certainly do not have any contact with them! Even in the middle of my worse drinking binges I stayed away from them - I have more sense than that. <sigh> Although, as it turns out Vanthus wasn't any better to hang out with."

09:02, Today: Amarilde Vanderboren rolled 18 using 1d20+6. Nobility knowledge +6.

"I guess that they have some connection to Keltar Islaran, and the Steveadores in general, as Brissa's two older brothers, Frank and Otus, serve as Keltar's default bully boys. Those guys are psychotic, stay away from them! Like I said, they have a big house in the Azure district, I've never been there and don't know where it is but I'm sure you could find it if you were crazy enough to try..."





OOC: There's no way to meet up with your friends, so you'll have to do this with just the three of you. I'll move you over to the Azure district with another post when I get the chance.

OOC: Yes, indeed that is the question. The Lady Lotus, a green dragon, the 'crucible' plus numerous Lotus Dragon thieves all wait you. Share the fun with the others? Or just go it alone with the two of you?



"Poo-and-ni? Oh, the boat. Yeah, sure young fella. For one gold crown I'll keep it here in the yard for a month for ya, but after that I'll feel free to sell this fine vessel to someone else!"

Logan smiles as Alohan finishes his dealings with the crooked dwarf and they leave the optimistically-named "boat" yard. "Some people wouldn't take this as a compliment, but you seem to fit in Shadowshore pretty well. I think we should gather all the others before we explore this Parrot Island, especially if it turns out to be the den of the Lotus Dragons.  Before that, how about a celebratory drink?  I know the perfect place, on of my favorite haunts: The Skinned Man. How about it?"

Kassius, Angati and Celene wind up their lunch meeting with Amarilde and head on over to the Azure district. It isn't difficult to get directions to the Santos house, the first person they stop in the district knows where it is and directs them to Whale Street in the outer harbour area.

Ten minutes later they are standing outside a large and dilapidated two storied white house with the faded words 'The Falls Hotel' still partially visible in flaking black paint on the second floor. The wooden building is in terrible condition and both the veranda that circles the entire ground floor and the balconies on the second floor all sag precariously. A hotchpotch of bohemian looking folk are loitering around the building, sitting in small groups on the veranda in rough wooden chairs or hanging out on the second floor balcony. A couple of guys are leaning against the door frame of the main entrance. From somewhere on the second floor, the sharp tones of someone learning the banjo can be heard.

OOC: There are about six guys and four ladies visible - none of them really paying attention or keeping watch, just hanging out. Two of the guys are in the front door way as mentioned. None of the guys are the two that Kassius interacted with the previous day.

Angati smiled at Diamond Back "Good to see all your windows are closed too dear. I am keeping myself in good health and it seems that time is forgiving for the time being...." she chuckled at the word play she had done unwantingly.

Angati thanked Diamond Back profusely and wished her well before moving on.

Meeting with Celene and Kassius was quite a surprise... she told them what little she had learned which was confirmed by Amarilde in greater detail.

Thanking Amarilde she said to the others, "I am staying in the same tavern as Logan, I think we could head that way, and meet with them, or at least with Logan, that is.... or if you have any better ideas...".  Angati thought that had Amarilde known any more information she would have shared already so it was pointless to continue the interrogation.

OOC: Sorry, but you have been 'teleported' to the Azure district to try and find Brissa, but you can head back to the tavern after that.

"Should we not just try and talk our way through? Simple say that we are looking for Brissas friend Vanthus on behalf of his sister, to find out if he is safe - that's true - and that there has been a development about their common inheritance. That aught to get their attention and cooperation..."

OOC: don't have more time before tomorrow, but orherwise happy to let Angati lead the talking, if that is how we go.

Alohan smiled at Logan's compliment, momentarily reflecting on his words. "Dese people I be understandin'" he begins, motioning to the downtrodden natives of Shadowshore. "Dey be missin' what others have. Like ma people, dey not be havin' much. Dey be living by their means" He stopped to look at Logan, hoping to gauge his reaction.

"But unlike ma people, dese peoples want and crave the crowns and silvers dat ya society says dey need. Dey measure deir happiness by how much dey possess. How big deir house be. How much stuff dey be having. We be talkin' about dis before," he said abruptly. "but ma people don't have monies. Neither do dese Shadowshore." Alohan was slowly coming to grips with Sasserine's culture. The more he learned of it, the more he was intimidated by it. He was thankful his people weren't greedy. At least, if they were greedy it wasn't amplified by the concept of material worth and money. Did money not make people greedy?

"But enough on dis," he said, motioning for Logan to lead the way."Take me to dese Skinned Man."

As they approach the rather dilapidated building, Kassius slinks to the back, allowing either of the two ladies to take the lead here. The last few times he had tried human interaction, it had worked poorly, including with two of these people's family members. He rather doubted he'd be any better at getting the cousins or siblings to talk. Kassius was content to stay in the back with Kibeti, ready to provide some muscle in case all of the Santos' were as eager to fight as the two Kassius had met.

Angati sighed, they would need to get in, and possibly without getting into more trouble than they could handle... that meant social skills and anyone could botch this for they knew next to nothing about these guys and Brissa.

"Ok, guys... come here for a minute... I am going to cast a spell on you to help you make a better impression... it won't last for long, probably only our first interaction... but I hope this little cheat will be enough to get us through" she said as she pulled them back to a corner outside the looks of the others to cast a spell on each one including herself.

She closed her eyes for what seemed like a second.. Angati in truth could hardly meassure time when she casted, at times it seemed faster other times it seemed shorter... at any rate, she soon had the spell cast on the three of them.

OOC: Cast http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/...e/enhanced-diplomacy on each of us. +2 competence bonus on a single Diplomacy or Intimidate check. You have to decide to use it before the roll.

"Ok, I hope we are all set... let's go" she said as she advanced towards the guys at the entrance.

"Good day to you fellows... My name is Clarissa, and my master sends me to see if I can find something that will amuse him... he has gone through all the bards, singers, artists and rope walkers of the city, and still he is unsatisfied in his search for true talent.... and has set me to this search. Truth be told I am really tired and just want to show him someone new... good or bad... and I heard there is a member of your family that has recently got into the artist's business... now... this could be a one time opportunity for her, or a loss of my time like the guys I have sent to him before... but at least the guy pay's well, and its only an hour's worth of work for her... if nothing else she can get to know the right people for other jobs.... Brita or Bricha I am told her name is, do you happen to know where I may find her ?".

OOC:
13:03, Today: Angati rolled 31 using 1d20+11. Diplomacy Check.
Wow Natural 20 I hope that helps... normally diplomacy results shift for the better by each 5 difference with the DC.

OOC: Wow, that is an impressive number. You can only increase people by two steps in a single check, but you bump these guys up from unfriendly to friendly. Also, in reward for your super result, your get to neutralise the first failed check but anybody in your team.

The two young men in the doorway smirk as Angati approaches, but their demeanour quickly changes as she launches into her spiel. Maybe it is the hope of helping a family member, maybe it is Angati's posh accent or maybe just the bag of coins clinking at the oracle side - but they stop slouching and have an eager look in their eyes by the time she is finished.

"That's our little sister Brissa you're thinking about!" says the first young man. The second man butts into the conversation.

"Yeah, she is right talented! Paints pictures of the city and mountains and anything like that... so real it is like you can reach out and touch them."

"Come on," continues the first one. "She's upstairs in her room, I'll take ya up there and then you can see her stuff, alright?" The other young man looks put out that he didn't think of being the guide himself, but the other one - who is slightly bigger and maybe a bit older gives him a shove and then motions the trio to come in.

"Err, the big cat will have to stay outside, alright?" he says.

<MINI SKILLS CHALLENGE UPDATE>
Diplomacy DC10
Passed: 1/4
Failed: 0
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:04, Sun 09 Aug 2015.

"Oh, don't worry about Kibeti. He's really quite friendly, aren't you old buddy." Kassius says, rubbing Kibeti's head in an affectionate way. The albino panther allows for a half-second, than bares it's impressive teeth and playfully chomps on Kassius' hand. Kassiu' exclamation of "Ouch!" is hardly likely to assuage men of the cat's harmlessness.

Well, that didn't work so well. See, this is why I let other people interact with people.
15:01, Today: Kassius rolled 4 using 1d20+1. diplomacy (with bonus).
Angati, I think I just used up your boon for your good roll.
 

Celene feels the tingling from Angatis mystical energies, and notes how the oracle intones her spell and any telltale signs of the casting. As always, magic in any form intrigues Celene.

She decides to prepare for aiding in their endeavour herself, and draws upon her new powers of Wee Jas. A simple orison, and not useful in itself, but it will last long, allowing her to channel the divine power for other uses at will.

"Kassius, I have the feeling you're not much for sweet-talking these people, and I agree with your sentiment, but they are too many for a more ... physical course of action. But we're in it together, and both Angati and I, and my goddess, will be there to aid each other."

Feeling Kassius' reluctance to talking their way in, Celene prepares to bestow the boon of Wee Jas upon him, if she can manage it along the way.

OOC: GM, asked you by PM if Divine Vessel could work like that, you just let me know if it's possible. If it is, Celene would have aided prior to Kassius first interaction, giving a +2 sacred bonus, in vain unfortunately (but used one 'charge'). Celene casts Read Magic now to have divine power for it.

Letting Angati take the lead - she is quite creative in her deceptions -  Celene tries to follow her story, letting the ruse go on. Something, buried deep in her, seems to just slide along with the little lies and stories. As Kibeti unsettles the Santos bunch, Celene notices a girl jolting from her perch on the veranda fence, slinking off, perhaps to warn or fetch someone. Celene quickly smiles at the young girl, "My goodness, what a beautiful face, such perfect lines! You are simple adorable. Are you perhaps posing for any of the statues on Ancestor Island off noble district? No? You should be. Say, our master has already several artists employed, and both he and they would be thrilled to have you pose for some of their works of art. All perfectly proper, mind you! Would you be interested in a job like that?"

OOC: Celene first uses the +2 bonus from the short term Divine Vessel, if you agree that it's possible to use prior to Kassius' attempt. She then saves the +2 from Angati for the next roll if she has time (it lasts one minute, right)?

quote:

22:54, Today: Celene rolled 24 using 1d20+10. Diplomacy check with +2 from DV, saving the +2 from Enhanced Dipl. for next.

Oh wow, a success, who'd have guessed? :-)

"Er... yeah... the cat 'll have to stay outside," says the young man with a concerned look on his face. "And tie it up so it doesn't eat any of the wee ones."

<MINI SKILLS CHALLENGE UPDATE>
 Diplomacy DC10
 Passed: 1/4
 Failed: 0 (Boon used)
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:07, Mon 10 Aug 2015.

Well, since that is all resolved, let's say that she found a way to cast it on Kassius AFTER his social faux pas - eg after he went across the street to (pretend to) tie Kassius up.



OOC: Err, no, Celene can't 'save' the +2 enhanced diplomacy bonus, that is not how I imagine it works. Sorry, she blows it all on the first interaction... which yes, surprise surprise is a pass.

Don't worry, with Angati's MF trick backing you up, your guys have totally got this. Just don't forget to use it!

"Oh, what, me?!" exclaims the girl, totally forgetting that Pa Santos had firmly told her to come and get him if ANY strangers turned up at the front door. "Well Ma always said I had a nice chin! Sure... I wouldn't mind modelling," the young lady looks a bit concerned for a second. "...but gee, do you think I could keep my clothes on? Big sister Brissa always seems to need to take her clothes off when she is modelling for her artist friends and I don't think it is proper, ya' know?"

Celene says a few more words, reassuring the young lady that all the statues on Ancestor Island were fully clothed, and that she would give the girl the necessary information to get in touch with the 'studio' when they had finished their business with Brissa. With Kibeti now parked outside, their Santos guide leads them into the house.

The interior is musty but pleasantly cool compared to the outside, and it is also surprisingly clean. A large staircase leads up to the next floor and this is where the young man leads them towards. They had only just started on their way up the staircase when someone starts walking down from the floor above. Kassius instantly recognizes him - it is Otus, one of Keltar's two thugs who assaulted him yesterday!

"Oh, hi Otus!" says their guide.

The hunter has told Celene and Angati all about the events of the previous day and mentioned the names of 'Frank' and 'Otus', and additionally the way that the half-orc pulls up his hood and tries to face the wall makes it obviously that something is up. But it seems unlikely that Kassius won't be recognized unless some action is taken...

OOC: ...hopefully by Kassius himself, that would be most funny!

Oh yeah, Kassius needs to make another roll in this skills challenge so that we have a threat rating of at least two. Otherwise it is just boring :D


<MINI SKILLS CHALLENGE UPDATE>
 Diplomacy DC10
 Passed: 2/4
 Failed: 0 (Boon used)