1. GM Edwin's Zeitgeist Campaign

Game Master Insnare

probably need someone to make it, my craft skills likely dont cover the items. That's why i was asking ACI for an expense account for the cost of the materials and labor for whoever we find.

Here are a few posts I dug up with questions Falko had asked: Underwater, if she's met Xambria before, trying to get her to study Xambria, trying to get them to talk to one another and reveal something, and asking her how to destroy those things.

Finally, two days before the hydra fight, he had tried to start conversations. The Hydra fight kind of threw everything up and about and we kind of forgot about her, though it makes sense that we would press our interrogation, or at least not let her free until we catch the thing.

For Sijhen and Gidim, I am going to need in addition to a Knowledge Check a linguistics check. For the Obscurati, I am going to need a mix of Knowledge Local, Knowledge History and such.

Asher goes to the address provided for Rock Rackus which is a hotel in the Bosum Strand district. You knock on the door and you are escorted inside.

Rock says, "Yo constable whatcha be needin'?"

Asher stands before Rackus and pulls out his little notepad. "Rock Rackus, as you know there was the incident at the exposition. While the specifics of that incident had more to do with contraband brought by another attendee to the exposition, some evidence has recently come to light that makes you a potential... Source of information in the overall matter."

Asher's eyes comb the words on his notepad for a moment before flicking up to Rackus face. He gives a tight-lipped smile that is by no means friendly. "Tell me, what do you know of a Caius Bergeron and the Jiese ziggurat?"

Rock says, "Hmm that all happened before I really started to get famous. My pappy was a docker and his pappy was one before him, goods have always needed to be moved from ships for others to use. Two or three years ago, I had decided to see a little bit of the world, I was too young for the war so, I signed up as a merchant sailor. We traveled from Flint to Shale and then up to Cherage in Danor, taking on and unloading containers in each port of call. Then one night, the captain was a bit tooo close to the coast, ya heard and I was sleeping and I heard a large crunch and we done hit a rock. It was dark and some beautiful lady picked my unconscious body off the beach the next morning and well, I found out I was in the Malice Lands..."

Asher makes a couple of notes in his notepad, and then gives a small gesture with his pecil hand for Rackus to continue.

Sense motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

I'm confused about your comment regarding the scrolls. They're still at HQ? Did we never stop there then? I would absolutely prefer to stop there first, use the scrolls, and then go about a dangerous investigation. IS this something that can easily happen or will I have to wait. Please be clear about what it will take for Angus and I to get to the scrolls and have these negative levels off of us.

For Sijhen and Gidim, I am going to need in addition to a Knowledge Check a linguistics check. For the Obscurati, I am going to need a mix of Knowledge Local, Knowledge History and such.

Falko smiles back at Johnathan's offer and replies: "It should prove all the more interesting! Let's go then. Good luck with the crafting Cretien!"

Finding their way to the university, they ask the librarian to kindly let them have a look at their collection, mentioning the safety of the state, and ask if the librarian could stay close and help them find resources.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Dusty tomes piled high in front of them, they spend the night straining their eyes and arguing the meaning of obscure references about other planes, lost languages, and secret societies...

"We need to find a way to defeat that thing!" he mumbles as he skims through the high shelves in search of answers.

I can take ten on any knowledge check, for 18 plus the library and Johnathan. At dawn, I can use Lore master once for a 28. Let me know if there is I need to roll because it's not high enough.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Wow...

Um, I know it's not a by-the-books use, but can Johnathan use skyseer ability to let Falko reroll that linguistics 1? lol

You haven't stopped back at HQ yet because Delft had a note for you at the harbor to meet him at the University. He didn't bring the scrolls with him because he was not sure what day your group would be back from your trip. This is why they are still at HQ. You would have to HQ, Angus would have to pass the DCs to decipher the scrolls and then negative levels are gone. I just did what you asked, you said you wanted to meet Rackus so I brought you there.

GM Rolls

John + Falko Gidim and Sijhen

John + Falko

Morgrym will try to look for some obscure and hungry artisans who have yet to make a name but have excellent skills to help out and try to save a coin or two...

gather info: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

That's fine GM, I just need to know all the specifics without hunting for them (It's difficult to keep stuff in order sometimes. I thought we were at the HQ for some reason).
Angus and Asher should probably have made plans to meet back up at the HQ after our independent investigations. If that's cool, let's plan on that. I know the player isn't able to post right now, so it's best to just assume we decided to go get the scrolls after I go question Rackus.

Bookworms

Asher, Rackus continues "Well, I watn't sure where I was and the lady's old man wasn't too happy on the Rock being there so I left. While exploring the Malice Lands with their exotic Floora and Fauna and I took refuge in a burnt out building one night and behind a destroyed book case I found a large cache of scrolls. I have some afinity ya know and I made a maksehift ruck out of a canvas sack and stuffed as many scroll as I could in there. I read one and it whisked me away to Seobriga in Ber and from there I booked passage back to Flint. I got back and started selling the scrolls which are a might more lucrative than say, working the docks. It gave me an opportunity to work on my singing career. Shortly thereafter I was requested to meet the Tiefling Bergeron."

Morgrym wanders the Fare and eventually finds some workers that seem to be decent with wood work and then someone who has a decent supply of obsidian.

Morgrym will bring the workers to Cretien and make sure they get hooked up with one another so this thing can go off without too much hitch

Cretien is quiet pleased to have Morgrym aid him in this, as his interpersonal skills had atrophied from weeks abroad fighting monsters and months in the workshop before that.

We could say that after the meeting with ACI Angus has gone to HQ to get the scrolls, and everything ready along with the equipment everyone purchased / ordered if you want

Fine with me

Forgers

I will move it to the meeting with Saxby in the morning.

Asher gives the musician a strange look, as if doubting his story, but then gives the same inpatient gesture and continues taking notes.

Morgrym will show up at headquarters as the janitor, As always clocking in so the family of the janitor gets the much needed monies, and he goes and changes back to himself taking time to clean up and shine his boots before he arrives to the meeting on time

None of you are looking forward to the meeting. Even the your new member Morgrym is dragged in. When you arrive, Saxby has you wait outside her office for one and a half hours before letting you in. Saxby reads the audit report with a mixture of boredom and disdain; she pointedly brings up your dealings with crime lords (both Kell and the Family), and in particular some of the questionable acts dealing with the mayor. She archly comments on the loss of the suspect in the ancient black market goods ring in the subrail tunnel . Most importantly, the report clears the party of being in league with Crime Boss Lorcan Kell.

Lord Price-Hill comes in shortly after Saxby reads the report. The Lord Viscount commends you on your hard work but gently chastises you over dealing with unsavory characters. He encourages Asher especially, as a well-known veteran of Yerasol, to keep standards high. He also applauds you on your striving to keep the peace between the industrial and the fey sides of Flint society. However, contacts with Gale should be minimized.

Asher

Falko takes advantage of the long wait to catch some uncomfortable sleep. Ushaved and bleary, he takes in the report, noting to himself that things were not that bad after all.

He remains quiet, his mind entirely focussed on the upcoming collaboration with Finona and the trip to the university library.

Cretien is angry with the report, after all, he did the best he could in the circumstances. What were the RHC for, if not handling unsavory matters?

However, he keeps his mouth shut. No chance to win an argument here.

Morgrym simply takes the raer end chewing as if any other he has eber had noddingband saying yes sir when needed but deep down knowing there is no point to it at all.

Anything else before I push this forward?

I'm good.

Johnathan stays silent in the back.

good here

all good since I dont feel like rebellion today

Asher sits through the meeting, nodding along with the loss of the dealer in the tunnels, but remaining blank, disinterested with the parts he knows nothing about.

I'm fine with that.

Asher

Before the gala, what does everyone want to do? Angus, I will need rolls for the scrolls to restore you and Asher. Falko and John with Finona... Cretien and Morgrym, what do you guys want to do?

Caster Level Check DC 8: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 for myself

Caster Level Check DC 8: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 for Asher

There we are now both back to our full potentiel. By the way everyone i took the liberty of collecting some of our new gear for HQ. So here is it for you all

Cretien and Morgrym are trying to get some replicas made. Cretien is mostly there because it was his idea and Morgrym is the main effort with his social skills being better than Cretiens (as in, higher than -1 modifiers)

Falko and Johnathan meet up with Finona at the University library to do some research on Sijhen and Gidim. Cretien and Morgrym monitor the progress of the craftsmen.

Angus

Asher, did you want to do something else before I push to the Gala?

Falko nods to the librarian as they arrive, but the elder just rolls his eyes and walks away. Falko shrugs it off with an impish grin and explains: "I guess we burned him up yesterday night... I'm surprised he's here at all. He must have a bed behind one of those walls..."

As they set to work, he refrains from getting the same book, reminding himself that Finona is most likely the expert here, so he gives her free rein, to a point: "My main concern is figuring out how to get rid of this thing. Still, whatever information we can gather will likely be helpful... Somehow..."

"Well Master Rackus, we're looking into some incidents involving this particular archeology site. It seems as though one of the site coordinators, a Doctor Meredith, as been... Affected by her dig site. We are looking for her, and anyone else in the decision making of these digs, such as Caious Bergeron and Finona Duvall. We are under the impression that Bergeron himself had an employer. If there is any information you can share that would help our investigation, we would be grateful, Master Rackus."

Rock says, "I have never met a Doctor Meredith before. Yeah that's right it was Finona not Firora, damned Danori names sound so strange to me. I don't know those names but I know he said it was important for some project or something he was working on. I wish I had more. You might want to talk to some folk at the gala in two days.Finona and I didn't get along at all she was too sciency... I don't know just not my style I guess."

"I intend to do just that." Asher says crisply, shutting his notepad after making his final notes. "Thank you for your time, Master Rackus."

Ready. Angus and I get our negative levels off, and then FF to the Gala?

GM rolls

Johnathan and Falko, if you want you can add some knowledge plane rolls, to help her out.

Sijhen DC 25 Knowledge Planes/History

Gidim DC 25 Knowledge Plane/History

If you get higher than 25, I will give you more informatioon

Autumn 31st 500 AOV

Cretien and Morgrym have picked up the two artifacts from their vendors and I will need a Spellcraft check from either Johnathan/Morgrym or Angus to give the illusion of magical properties plus a Knowledge Planes to get the tuned right

Hans Weber, the museum's curator and a Professor of Antiquities at the university, enters the underground, with your group, the Royal Safe, located under the Governor’s Villa – the super-safest place in the whole of the city. A dwarf, his eyes gleam from exhilaration. He’s been preparing for this moment for years.

‘Thank you so much for coming here today, it’s such a relief to know we have this level of back up. You wouldn’t believe the invite list! The museum will have its funding locked down for the next decade from the donations I get by the end of the night.’ The Royal Guard opens the lock and enters the safe, returning with the artifacts: the Ancient Sword, Staff and Amulet.

Max Weber examines the copies of the two artifacts that Cretien and Morgrym has secretly commissioned and nods, impressed. ‘These are more than adequate for the public display. I think they will fool most ignorant people. We will put them on display and keep them there for the next month.’

‘The real artifacts will remain in the safe for the duration of the exhibition. For tonight only, however, I must insist that we sneak them into the museum and put them in a secret back room to show our most esteemed guests only – those who have traveled all over the world from International Research Institutions specifically to see and study the artifacts today; and our other VIP Celebrity guests. At the end of the opening we’ll put the real artifacts back in here.’ He says this importantly, stuffing out his chest.

‘Would you like to accompany me back to the museum, and we can go over the security arrangements before the main event begins?’

Kn.Planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Know Plane: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Know Plane: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 Lore Master on this one.

Falko looks up from the book to Finona: "So if this is right, then Gidim is a race from Apet, no? And look at this part here, no here, see? I would say that they were the reason why the seals were built. Perhaps our target is a Gidim from Apet? Perhaps there is something about the seals that could help us? Is it gold you think? Would gold be harmful to them? Perhaps we should have golden weapons made?"

professor, would you be so kind as to assign me some function reserved for your dignitaries that you intend on showing the real artifacts so as I could ensure their safety?. Morgrym asks as nicely as possible

diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Cretien is not amused. "Oh, excellent, I was wondering how long it would be until I heard that my efforts were for nothing. You'll just display the real deal to special members of high society only... never mind that nearly every single person with whom we have had a problem as pertains to these artifacts has been a member of high society."

Cretien inhales once more before continuing, "No, professor, I am highly skeptical of your claim. This institution won't even BE here in ten years if you let them near those artifacts. These people appear to want to bring vile entities from every other plane to make our plane their feeding ground. Not only that, I doubt we are well equipped enough to deal with the threats that people in power can afford to bring to bear, which means I doubt too many people will be interested in donating tonight because they will be too busy trying to deal with whatever atrocious creatures are summoned forth to fight for these artifacts."

"But, what can I do? If you cannot see that the people who want this can afford to get an invitation to your special party, if you cannot see that the safety of our entire known existence is more important than the prestige you think you will get from this party, then there is nothing further I can legally do to persuade you. Do as you wish and damn us all to a painful death, our skulls peeled back like melons so that the fleshy insides are laid bare for their feasting."

The professor completely confused says, "Constable, I have no idea about which you speak. I have no inkling about your investigation other than I tried to assist with Professor Meredith. She is the one you are trying to get your hands on. That was what I thought anyway. It is all a bit dramatic. What would you suggest then?"

In response to Morgrym, "I don't see why not."

"Yes, the being inside her currently moved so from other people of influence. Anyway, I already made my suggestion, which was to create the substitutes and safely store the others away. Anyone insisting upon close scrutiny can look at the one real article, which I don't even think is safe necessarily but will help sell this exhibition. A simple insistence that it is not yet safe to inspect the other two should suffice, and make people all the more willing to attend additional functions at a hefty price-per-plate to inspect those more closely. It is much safer, and with a bit of wordplay is also a bit more profitable for you to allow only one at a time to be accessed. I mean, even one event transpiring on these grounds like what happened in the square with Nevard or an event such as what happened each and every time these artifacts have surfaced would suffice to close this university down for good and have everyone involved black-balled from academia. Seriously. You'd be responsible for the violent deaths of several high-profile individuals. Then, the RHC would probably have to investigate your culpability in the situation, and I can honestly say you've been well-informed of the consequences and chose your course of action anyway."

Angus

GM Rolls

Falko and John

Weber says, "I respect your opinion and I will leave those artifacts here, but if anyone gets whiff of those being fakes, I will offer them to see them in the royal vault under heavy guard if that pleases."

You secure the fake artifacts in the RHC carriage and the medallion and you follow Professor Weber in an armed convoy to the Pardwight University Museum of Natural History.

Max gives you a tour. The museum exhibit includes many Ancient items, the majority from Xambria’s dig: gobs of gold jewellery; primitive decorated pottery, weapons, and household tools; two large stone statues; and dozens of statuettes.

The gala is set to begin at 7 pm. The guests are primarily other academics and generous patrons of the arts. These include Benedict Permberton, the famous industrialist; Hewerd Sechim, alchemist and nephew of the last Skyseer(who you guys know); Thames Grimsley, the Docker leader; Coffee-shop proprietor Morgan Cippriano; Flint Governor Governor Roland Stanfield; and - most exciting of all for Weber and Cretien - Lya Jierre - the fiancé of the King and soon to be Queen, who is arriving directly from Danor. Much to Weber's chagrin, international celebrity Rock Rackus is making an appearance as he kicks of his 'Jailbreak Tour' at nine o'clock tonight in the Gala.

Max is nervously checking the champagne is chilled and the hors d'oeuvres are delicious (they are!), randomly shouting at terrified museum staff to clean invisible specks of dust. 'We have a couple of hours before it kicks off. Do you want to do a final sweep, or review anything else? Surely the monster won't strike tonight while the place is full of so many important and famous individuals!' He says. Seriously. Worried.

GALA MAP

1. Entrance. Bones of a gargantuan dragon, posed in the entrance,
are the pride of the museum.
2. Plaza. A common area for mingling. A curtain along the north
wall is stitched with “The Ancients—Magic of a Forgotten
Golden Age.” Behind the curtain is the door to the loading dock.
3. Gift Shop. Full of furniture and shelves.
4. Gala Hall. Spaces marked A, B, S (for amulet, blade, and staff)
are 15-ft. high glass cases displaying the most prominent relics.
5. Ancients Gallery. Four gold sarcophagi, and tables with jewelry
and stonework.
6. Cave Men Gallery. A diorama of wax figures depicting the
supposed appearance of typical Ancients, similar to the clothing
of the mummies in the ziggurat of Apet, except as humans instead
of orcs. (Yes, the museum is a little racist.)
7. Risur’s Founding Gallery. Another diorama, this is a permanent
exhibit of painted stone statues of King Kelland and his two
greatest companions, plus other relics.
8. Hall of Kings. As above, but depicting famous and obscure kings
over the seventeen centuries of Risur’s existence.
9. Offices. Desks and cubicles mostly used for paperwork.
10. Map Gallery. Various maps of Risur and the world, including a
framed canvas rubbing of the floor map from the ziggurat of Apet.
11. Loading Dock. Various materials needed for the museum.
12. Archives. Shelves of history books and scholarly papers.
13. Gem Gallery. Permanent exhibit of geodes, cut gems, and
jewelry.
14. Dragon Gallery. A popular permanent exhibit, with a wall
painting of the dragon tyrants of Ber, with a diorama of battling
dragons in front.
15. Beast Theater. Illusions here show various monsters. Candles
burn along the wall, and subtle incenses in the wax provide the
magical energy to keep the illusions active.
16. Titan Gallery. A centuries-old fresco depicts (inaccurately)
the fey titans She Who Writhes, Father of Thunder, Ash Wolf,
Granny Allswell, and the Voice of Rot.
17. God Gallery. Recovered frescoes from Crisillyir and Danor
showcase popular foreign gods.
18. Demon Gallery. A lightless room with paintings and a diorama
related to the now-defunct demonocracy. Guests have to bring
their own light sources.
19. Curator’s Office. Fancy couch, carpet, desk.
20. Employee Lounge.
21. Ancient Druidic Shrine. Recovered hengestones believed
related to proto-primalist religion.
22. Ancient Ships. Three reconstructions of Ancient sailboats,
based on ceramic paintings.
Each large room—Areas 2, 4, and 15—has large skylights. Elegant oil
lanterns along the walls provide light during the nighttime gala.

Falko is so taken by their find, words blunder out of him: "This- This is it! This is how we can fight the godsdamm Gidims!" and he grabs Finona's cheeks with both hands and smacks a loud kiss on her mouth, then rushes out, brandishing his notes and calling for Johnathan and Finona to hurry.