Magnimar Special Investigations Unit One (Inactive)

Game Master Nazard

Do I hear Khismia disparaging Mrs. Brigglespan's discretion?

Perception check to hear the details of a conversation twenty feet away is only a 2. Personally, I don't allow Perception checks during melee as a free action (or give a hefty penalty) on the basis that people fighting for their lives aren't terribly concerned about what someone in the hallway is chatting about, but that's totally a house rule.

If you can make a DC 22 Perception check.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 Even with my favored enemy bonus I'd fail. Awgin doesn't care if you badmouth Heward, but don't mess with the good Mrs. Brigglespan.

Calatin is still doing his best to stay out of the way of the brawl... and probably still eating a pastry!

Initiative for a new page: Awgin, Laya, Heward, Phillip, Khismia (readying), Calatin, Turgo

Heward comes out of his paralysis, catching his balance from when Khismia nearly leveled him.

Turgo fly: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Turgo barely keeps aloft, and bites at Awgin again.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1 and another Fortitude save DC 12

Turgo chomps on Awgin's other shoulder, ripping his clothes and flesh.

Up next: Awgin, Laya, Heward

Fort 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
"Die already"
Flail: bless
to hit 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 1 = 24 damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Claw: bless
to hit 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 - 5 = 20 damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Awgin's flail slams into the side of once-Turgo's once-head, caving it in in gruesome fashion, and splattering Calatin and his pastry with gore. The creature drops to the floor.

Robal and Pip come out of their paralysis. Pip starts screaming in terror (normal screams, though), while Robal proceeds to vomit all over the place.

A few moments later, Mrs. Brigglespan dives out of the autopsy room, her crossbow coming up to aim at Khismia. "He's the new MSI recruit, Khismia. Drop your bow."

Laya keeps her hand held up, but turns to point at Mrs Brigglespan. "Please, let's not point weapons at each other," she says. "We were under attack. An unfamiliar person arrived with weapons. Khismia's actions are understandable. A simple confirmation of his identity from you would have sufficed Mrs Brigglespan."

She then lowers her hand and holds it out in greeting to the new arrival. "Laya," she says as way of introduction.

Khismia lowers her crossbow but doesn't drop it, as she pushes past the halfling to see what's going on in the room. Bringing her weapon to bear on the corner containing the two remaining tomb robbers, she urges Heward tersely, "Give the word to kill them now before they do the same thing."

Must be nice to have people introduce themselves to you. Khismia's in her second day of the silent treatment. No one but Heward has even spoken to her. :P

While it would be nice to role-play every minute of every day, I think we can assume that people have introduced themselves to Khismia off camera, just like we can assume that other details you insist never get mentioned, like personal details and things about each other also were presented. We don't need to rehash all that stuff in game because we can just read up on it in people's backgrounds, but I find it strange that you keep insisting that nobody in the entire building ever talks about themselves, or even to each other, if it doesn't happen in the game thread. Unless people explicitly state that they refuse to talk to Auriel or Khismia or anybody else, or ever tell them anything, why not just assume that friendly people are being friendly when we're not looking?

Mrs. Brigglespan lowers her own bow once Khismia lowers hers. As Khismia unilaterally declares that the two remaining robbers should be summarily executed, Mrs. Brigglespan gives Laya a bemused grin and asks, "Really?".

Mrs. Brigglespan turns back towards the front office, giving her bow a heft and Phillip a knowing smile, before leaving the group to their own devices. "Have fun," she whispers to him as she passes.

Phillip allows his hands to drop once it appears that he is to not be perforated with arrows after all, shaking out his arms and sleeves by way of loosening up. He watches as the firey and untrusting one re-enters the room where sounds of screaming were coming from. Colour blanching from his face slightly Phillip whispers to Mrs Brigglespan "I'll be back for my cards later, would you bless me with a game when I do... without a crossbow pointed at my gut?" said with a curl of a wry smile on his mouth.

He then moves forward to Laya and takes a knee so that hands may be shaken without undue stretching "Charmed and well met, I am Phillip... and that was Khismia was it?" gesturing into the room where the crossbow wielder departed. Before continuing on "I was sent to see a Sergeant Wallas... is he within also?"

Phillip is affable enough, though you can easily tell that he's a little shaken by the aggression shown toward him recently.

Coming out of his paralysis, Heward draws his nightstick and pounds the flying head twice more to make sure it stays down. "Thanks, Awgin. Are you OK?" "Laya, can you check him?"

Then he turns to Robal and Pip. "You two are going into the cells now! I can't have more of those flying around."

Nazard, are the holding cell bars close enough together to keep the heads in?

Hearing his name from the hallway, he turns, "I'm Wallas. What do you need?"

Getting up from the knee he took before Laya, Phillip smooths his mustache and slicks back his mop of hair with his left hand while extending his right with a flourish...
Sleight of Hand: take 10 for 16
...a piece of paper appearing in it as though summoned from the ether. "I am Phillip Hargreaves... and I was sent." expecting that the words on the paper will be sufficient elaboration for the present. He gingerly glances around at the gore covering both the room and Heward's nightstick... though thinks better of making mention of it yet.

Frustrated that people are taking time out for casual conversation when two threats are still in the room, Khismia keeps her crossbow trained on the interlopers. "They could turn at any moment, as swiftly as did the first," she insists. Are you ordering Awgin to lock them up, Heward, or going to take one of them yourself? Calatin and Laya aren't qualified to manhandle anyone dangerous to the cells, and Khismia is neither authorized to imprison anyone or aware of where the cells are.

Laya returns to the room and checks over Awgin. I believe he took 4 hp damage total, so she'll save spells for now. If I'm wrong, however, and I missed some damage to him, just let me know and she'll use some magic to heal him.

Heal check to determine if he's suffering from any afflictions caused by the creature: Take 10 = 10 + 7 = 17.

Referring to the two remaining grave robbers, she says, "Those two should be isolated from any other prisoners, and in separate cells from each other, in case one is infected and the other isn't. We don't want an infected one infecting any others."

Getting up from the knee he took before Laya, Phillip smooths his mustache and slicks back his mop of hair with his left hand while extending his right with a flourish...

Sleight of Hand: take 10 for 16
...a piece of paper appearing in it as though summoned from the ether. "I am Phillip Hargreaves... and I was sent." expecting that the words on the paper will be sufficient elaboration for the present. He gingerly glances around at the gore covering both the room and Heward's nightstick... though thinks better of making mention of it yet.

Frustrated that people are taking time out for casual conversation when two threats are still in the room, Khismia keeps her crossbow trained on the interlopers. "They could turn at any moment, as swiftly as did the first," she insists.

Heward doesn't take his eyes off the two graverobbers. "Khismia's right, Hargreaves. We're a little busy right now. Just tell me what it is and I'll read about it later."

You're not wearing a watch tabard or badge, are you Mark?

I was going to see how the graverobbers reacted to going to the cells before deciding who and how. After what he just saw, Heward will be happy to help put them there. Hopefully we can get them there without blood shed. We still need to pry more information out of them.

Our cells ought to be empty so we don't have to worry about other prisoners. (Good thinking by Laya.)

Nazard how about the bar spacing; will it contain their heads?

Yes, the bars would contain the floating heads, and the cells are empty. You manage to get them there with no problems, other than an ear-splitting headache from Pip's screams of terror. His screams cut off as the cell door clicks shut, then changes to rages he rattles the door, screaming profanity at Robal for getting them arrested after all.

I'm wearing street clothes only, no observable signs of watch connection.

Phillip's benevolent countenance remains though his eyes tighten slightly at the brush-off "The note is for your eyes, not mine." placing it on the ground before him when he is ignored by Wallas "I will await your attention in the entry" before turning on his heels and walking back to reception.

I'm wearing street clothes only, no observable signs of watch connection.

Phillip's benevolent countenance remains though his eyes tighten slightly at the brush-off "The note is for your eyes, not mine." placing it on the ground before him when he is ignored by Wallas "I will await your attention in the entry" before turning on his heels and walking back to reception.

Imagining you're quick enough to do that before we get the pair o thieves into pokey....

"You do that then," annoyance tinges Heward's voice. He turns back to the two thieves, "All right then. To the cells we go. Come on, Awgin."

After stowing Robal and Pip ...

"Anyone have any idea what just happened here?" Heward looks at the party, but most hopefully at Calatin and Laya.

This powwow should be pretty short. Topics:

• What is the vargoiulle?
• Is Awgin infected?
• How long til the other two die?
• Can anything be done for them?
• Does Calatin think an immediate autopsy of Turgo would teach us anything?
• Any other thoughts on this and priority vis a vis mage attacks?

Yes we know or no we don't and send everyone packing on their tasks. Calatin(?), Awgin and Khismia? to the Stone to get answers to the mage attacks and the vargoiulle. Laya redirected to the temple to see what can be done for Robal and Pip. Heward planning on interviewing R&P further. Can Mrs. Brigglespan send someone to records to check on magical attacks in the last two weeks?

****
After concluding that mini-meeting and sending the teams on their way, Heward retrieves the note and returns to Phillip. (The mini-meeting should be pretty short, so he won't wait long. )

And what might the note say?

"Sorry to keep you waiting. We're working an important case and then those three just walked in on with a different reason, and one of them drops dead when his head pops off, sprouts wings and starts screaming and biting. Never saw anything like it. Good thing Awgin took it down."

Mrs. Brigglespan, crouched over the mess of cards in the process of retrieving them from the floor, looks up in surprise as Phillip returns. "Oh I do hope that boy hasn't sent you packing already." she says, handing him the deck.

She returns to hr place behind the counter. Her loaded crossbow still sits on it, ready at hand should she need it. A palpable chill emanates from the readied bolt.

Smiling as he thanks her for the cards "Not away... just to wait awhile." before holding the cards up invitingly "Can you be tempted?"

Mrs. Brigglespan gives him a coy smile. "Oh, I don't know, you seem like the type of man to whom a lady such as myself might lose her shirt at a game of cards."

She does consent to a game, though I suspect it'll be interrupted by the arrival of Heward.

Khismia's got nothing. Only Knowledge she has is Local. If she cared, I guess she might be able to ID the tomb in question if the village idiots were further questioned and she rolled high enough. Only she doesn't really care. Doesn't seem to have anything to do with the Bazaar or the attacks-by-mage.

The card game interruption was all part of the plan ;)

Phillip drags a chair up to the reception desk and gives Mrs Brigglespan a roguish wink "Never my dear... at least not this early in the day..." before dealing her into a game of five card draw...

"They were sent either to kill you or to distract you from the matter at hand," Khismia insists to Heward about the tomb robbers. "Either way, you have enemies working against you in the Pediment Building."

Mrs. Brigglespan laughs. "Oh, I can tell you are going to be a heap of trouble around here. You remind me so much of my dear late husband. He would have liked you a lot."

She returns the crossbow to its spot under the desk. Phillip can't help but imagine it pointing straight up his lap, and the thin wood of the facade of the desk would likely do little to stop its flight.

Awgin helps get the two in cells then he goes to get cleaned up before returning.

Phil smiles warmly and turns his attention to the cards... after discreetly crossing his legs.

Even Calatin blanches somewhat at the amount of gore, and regretfully disposes of the rest of his pastry as no longer edible. He wipes his pudgy fingers fastidiously on the sleeve of his gown.

"Drat. I need to change into a clean one... Right. These strange goings-on. Critter called a vargouille, spreads its taint would you believe by kissing its victim, who unless they are remarkably tough will transform over the ensuing day into another such creature. The process is protracted and nasty. Trewavas did an extensive study, documented all the changes... what we witnessed was the final few moments of the transformation when the rest of the victim dies, releasing a new vargouille into the world. Unless it kissed anyone during that brawl, we are safe - it could not pass on the taint before the transformation was complete. Vargouilles come from the fiendish outer planes somewhere, and are said to be relatively easy to summon... Now, have you any more questions or can I go and clean up?"

Even Calatin blanches somewhat at the amount of gore, and regretfully disposes of the rest of his pastry as no longer edible. He wipes his pudgy fingers fastidiously on the sleeve of his gown.

"Drat. I need to change into a clean one... Right. These strange goings-on. Critter called a vargouille, spreads its taint would you believe by kissing its victim, who unless they are remarkably tough will transform over the ensuing day into another such creature. The process is protracted and nasty. Trewavas did an extensive study, documented all the changes... what we witnessed was the final few moments of the transformation when the rest of the victim dies, releasing a new vargouille into the world. Unless it kissed anyone during that brawl, we are safe - it could not pass on the taint before the transformation was complete. Vargouilles come from the fiendish outer planes somewhere, and are said to be relatively easy to summon... Now, have you any more questions or can I go and clean up?"

"So Awgin's safe? The bite is just a bite? And can anything be done to save these two?"

Given that Calatin, while very smart, doesn't have Knowledge - Planes, I'm going to have to put a kibosh on him knowning any more. Sorry, folks. Go read a book or something! :)

"I'm fine. How are you holding up wizard? Did that little scene want you to jus unleash death on some poor slob?"

"Awgin, that is exceedingly unfair," Laya snaps. "He hasn't been poisoned, so stop looking for fights. We're supposed to be the good guys here."

She returns to her place at the table and stands on the chair. "I suppose we should get back to what we were here for. Oh, but there's that new fellow with Mrs Brigglespan. And, oh!" She looks momentarily aghast and turns to face Khismia. "I'm terribly sorry. I just realized we haven't been properly introduced. I'm Laya." She holds out her hand.

Khismia eyes the halfling warily, but realizing that she was in the hallway with her when the creature was crushed and that her hand ought to be clean, she takes it gingerly. "Khismia," she says, rather pointlessly, since the halfling has just spoken of her by name. She is clearly still a little uncomfortable with the Avistani custom of shaking hands and can't keep her head from bobbing in an abbreviated Garundi bow of greeting.

Yeah, Calatin's not qualified to any of that information without a rank in Knowledge (planes).

You cannot make an untrained Knowledge check with a DC higher than 10. If you have access to an extensive library that covers a specific skill, this limit is removed. The time to make checks using a library, however, increases to 1d4 hours. Particularly complete libraries might even grant a bonus on Knowledge checks in the fields that they cover.

Vargouilles are rare enough they can't even be identified with a DC 10. Shall we pretend he comes back with that information from the library after 1d4 hours? Should be plenty of books on the planes at the Stone. Of course, since the gestation period for a vargouille is a matter of hours too, it's likely to be too late.

We can let it slide this once. Robal did mention that all the vargouille they released from the tomb did was kiss them (no attacking) and leave, it's safe to assume that Calatin can put two and two together to give Awgin a clean bill of health.

"Welcome to the maddening world that is MSI," Laya says to Khismia. "Once in a while, we're actually nice people." She pauses, then repeats back quietly to herself, "Maddening world of MSI. I like that. I must write it down."

She rummages through her pack to pull out some paper and chalk, and begins scribbling. "Maddening stalwart investigators?" she mutters. "Nah. Maddening supercilious investigators? No, too mean."

Khismia looks around her at the gore- and vomit-splattered room, the halfling inventing acronyms, and the half-orc caressing his weapon lovingly as he eyes his colleague. "I no longer wonder why the Princess was forced to take matters into her own hands to protect the Bazaar," she smirks at Heward. "You are in charge; give an order for something to done, before it is too late to accomplish anything."

Only way to find out if the robbers can be saved is to spend 1d4 hours in the library. Might be too late for them, but we have a 4th tomb robber unaccounted for, plus the original vargouille. If they left the tomb open when they ran, that's 2 vargouilles to be tracked down before they start an epidemic in the streets. Magnimar's going to go all zombie-movie, only with vargouilles instead of zombies. Still have to deal with the mage-poisoner, too.

Knowing that Calatin's not got Knowledge: Planes, that was written from memory without opening a book or looking up a website... and was all that I could remember about varguilles. Trying to simulate what a well-educated wizard might remember from lectures on a topic that wasn't a particular area of interest :)

"Well, as far as I can recall, the infection or whatever you want to call it is passed by the kiss only, not a bite. Better ask the fellows you incarcerated if anyone's been kissing them lately! But if you want to know more, I shall have to consult with a specialist in planar knowledge. And I am feeling fine, just a bit splattered, thank you for asking, Awgin!"

"Awgin, that is exceedingly unfair," Laya snaps. "He hasn't been poisoned, so stop looking for fights. We're supposed to be the good guys here."

Awgin feigns innocence. "I'm just trying to protect the city in case one of its most potent mages" indicating Calatin, "goes berserk."

Heward looks from one team member to another and shakes his head.

"Calatin and Awgin, off to the Stone then. Magic attacks and research on these vargoiulles. Khismia, they're going to make more progress on the magic attacks than Laya or I will this morning. You'd probably learn the most with them and I would appreciate another set of eyes on Calatin." His focus broadens to the whole trio. "Remember your first priority is to protect Calatin without insult or injury to our fine citizens. Protecting them from him means you failed your main job."

"Laya, you and I will tackle the grave robbers. Can you see if the Pharasmin can do anything for them? I'll try to get more details from Robal while you're gone and we'll see where we go from there."

Hopefully that wraps up the meeting? Nazard what does Phil's note say?

Phillip's note is from Percival, saying that he's found you a replacement team member, asking Heward to incorporate him into the team as soon as possible.

So Calatin and Awgin to the Stone, Laya to the temple of Pharasma, and Heward to question the robbers. Khismia and Phillip to...?

Khismia with Calatin and Awgin. Phillip will be with Heward and Laya when she gets back. Hopefully she makes the trip quickly so P,L,&H can get to the graveyard.

Heward walks to the front desk, interrupting the game.

[b]"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hargreaves. We're working an important case and then those three just walked in with a different reason, and one of them drops dead when his head pops off, sprouts wings and starts screaming and biting. Never saw anything like it. Good thing Awgin took it down.

"I wish you had just told me that Captain Percival sent you. It would have made things easier; could have introduced you before sending everyone out for the morning.

"Come on. You can give me a hand with the body while we talk."

We'll dump the headless graverobber in Calatin's icy morgue.

"Mrs. Brigglespan, can you get someone to clean up the conference room? I was going to go down to Records, but can't now. Can you send someone to look up Zaul Datedy and Myelin Veers' addresses and next of kin? Also any reports of magical attacks for the last two weeks?."

Mrs. Brigglespan nods. "Certainly. You boys have fun."

She gathers her shawl around her shoulders, despite the summer heat, and heads out the door.

Phillip briefly considers playing out the hand as Wallas makes his appearance... though the thought is fleeting and he collects the cards. "Thank you my lady, perhaps I can tempt you again later..."

Weathering the words of the Sergeant without responding or questioning, Phillip gives a brief nod of assent and responds "As you wish" before rolling up his sleeves and moving to assist. Upon seeing the body... he immediately moves to grasp it by the legs, leaving the gooier end to his superior.

If Khismia's on bodyguard duty, she can't simultaneously be gathering information. Both require concentration for 1d4 hours. So instead of rolling 2 Diplomacy checks, she's taking 10 on Perception for 19.

Khismia looks sullenly at the fat wizard but nods reluctantly, checking that her dagger is correctly loaded in her wrist sheath.

So Calatin, Khismia, and Awgin pile into the MSI carriage and head to the Stone of Seers. It's about a fifteen to twenty minute carriage ride, with plenty of time to talk.