Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
I see that I messed up in my last post. I can tell you though, my sense motive roll was a 1 when I previewed it. That's why I had Pau getting angry and not understanding.
Sense Motive 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
I've never seen a string of awful group rolls like this in a long, long time. Thank god we've not been in combat!
Female human Paladin of Shelyn 1 | hp 20/20 | AC 16, T 11, FF 15 | F/R/W +6/+3/+4 (+2 vs. charm, compulsion, fear) | Smite 1/1 | Lay on hands 3/3 | Perception -1, Diplom +7, Sense Motive +4
"Yes, the nature of the favors will matter to us, but we agree that we will do them if they are not against our ethics. And Miss Meredith there would probably think differently of Shelyn's definition of "unsavory"... we Shelynites might be more willing than others." She winks at him.
The servant chuckles. "No, my dear, no favors like that, I'm afraid..."
"Unless you want to make it four, and you have some time later ... No? Well, on to business then."
He seems to have expected some of the basic objections. "Nothing illegal, I assure you, but something the esteemed master does not have sufficient time for himself."
“I have said, there are three tasks. Because Palhuna Murqual is as generous as an oasis, you may decide what order you wish to accomplish them." He begins to count off tasks on his fingers. “First, there is some sensitive merchandise being delivered by problematic dealers. Second, another recent acquisition has some unpleasant protective magic that needs to be dealt with. Finally, you can be the master's agents to make a purchase of an item. Simple, yes?”
Female human Paladin of Shelyn 1 | hp 20/20 | AC 16, T 11, FF 15 | F/R/W +6/+3/+4 (+2 vs. charm, compulsion, fear) | Smite 1/1 | Lay on hands 3/3 | Perception -1, Diplom +7, Sense Motive +4
"Seems simple enough. Stop some merchandise, remove some magical protections, purchase an item. How about some more details? What type of merchandise, what kind of magical protections, and what kind of item are we purchasing?"
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
"Very well, let's begin. The sooner we get started, the sooner we complete our bargain, and finish our dealings. Purchasing an item sounds easy enough, I'm fine with starting there."
"Ah, I am glad this is settled," the servant says. "The good master has previously shared the details of these tasks with me, so it may be easiest if I explain them directly."
Shopping it is, then.
"The 'shopping' first, eh? Interesting. An acquaintance of mine owns a mirror I would like. She isn’t willing to deal in gold for it, and her desired coin is not one I am quite willing to pay."
"Madame Jelaris is an alchemist trying to develop an equivalent of the sun orchid elixir. I don’t know if that is possible, but she has a means to alchemically extract vitality. Essentially, she can make one older. She claims the ‘years’ of life extracted are invaluable in her research. And she requires twenty years from me before relinquishing the mirror.”
"So go get it, yes?"
You have the opportunity to ask questions, but I'm going to proceed to the next scene, as I've been slow enough already.
You follow the servant's directions to the shop, and find it easily.
Located in the shadow of Nethys’s temple, this higher end shop emanates scents of perfumes, medicines, and the dusky tang of alchemical experiments from behind a beaded doorway. The front of the store has shelves for the casual shopper, with scented oils and colognes in faceted bottles on delicate shelves. Further back, more solid looking containers under locked glass offer alchemical wares of the more adventurous and martial varieties. A marble counter blocks off the very back of the shop, where a bell sits beside an alembic bubbling away with a cerulean liquid. Behind the counter, another beaded curtain leads deeper.
A smiling, youthful girl is behind the counter checking the contents of small drawers and making marks on a piece of parchment. Perhaps she's focused on her work, as she doesn't seem to notice you enter.
Elf Ranger Lvl 4 (Core) HP 31/32 | AC 19 (FF 16 Touch 13) CMD 20| Init +5 | Saves (Fort +5, Reflex +7, Will +3)| Per +10, SenMot +1| Spd 30' Effects Active: None | Low-Light Vision | Favored Enemy: Humans | Spells Prep: Entangle | Favored Terrain: Urban
To the servant, Our years for a mirror? Strange business here in Ketapesh. Things were usually less complicate in Varasia. Luckily years are one thing most elves have plenty of. Still 20 seems like a lot, is this associate likely to allow haggling over that number?
-----
Clears throat loudly, Greetings we are here about a mirror. If the girl is human the comment is made in a condescending tone.
Wooden Fist 5/6 | HP 32/33 | Spells -/2+1/2+0 | AC 18 T 15 F 16 | CMD 16 (+2 vs grapple) | Saves 7/3/9 (+2 vs fear) | Init 1 | Perception 9 | 4 Female Human(Vudrani) Druid | Longstrider | Barkskin | Bull's Strength |
Meredith keeps her mouth shut as they leave. "Youth is wasted on the young."
Moving into the shop, Meredith waits patiently. "Madame Jelaris. Palhuna Murqual is interested in your mirror. He mentioned something about extracting years, and sent us to retrieve it. What do you desire?"
Female human Paladin of Shelyn 1 | hp 20/20 | AC 16, T 11, FF 15 | F/R/W +6/+3/+4 (+2 vs. charm, compulsion, fear) | Smite 1/1 | Lay on hands 3/3 | Perception -1, Diplom +7, Sense Motive +4
"I guess I can give up a few years.. but we humans aren't as year-rich as you elves, my friend. I hope we don't have to give many..."
EDIT, as I missed this question, and it will help clarify quiet a bit:
Lannior Llarm wrote:
To the servant, Our years for a mirror? ... Still 20 seems like a lot, is this associate likely to allow haggling over that number?
Palhuna's servant smiles. “Make the purchase for the master, of course! Twenty years of my life (or, gods forbid, his!), all at once, is too dear, but twenty years divided among you lot? That’s little enough, I think! Plus I’ll let you in on a secret: Madame Jelaris is an inveterate gambler. If you wager the years, you might walk away paying nothing! Or paying twice as much. If you do that, a word of advice: don’t cheat. Or at least don’t get caught cheating.”
This will help, I hope...
———
The young woman looks startled to hear Meredith. "Oh! You're from Mister Murqual? I'll get Madame Jelaris right away." She blushes, slightly embarrassed for not seeing you, and hurries to the back.
As you wait, you have a moment to look around the shop.
+5 on the Perception roll if you have Profession(Gambler) or similar; +2 if you have ranks in Knowledge(arcana OR religion) or UMD.
Perception, DC 15:
As you look around the shop you see several items for sale purporting to increase the owner's luck. Horseshoe totems, rabbits' feet, four-leaf clovers, red feathers, and butterflies, as well as more local items like salt and licorice. Although these charms are of dubious value, they are plentiful in the shop. These often have gambling motifs (like dice) worked into the design, as if gamblers, not regular folk, are the target audience.
Madame Jelaris, a rather more middle-aged woman than the face you first met, is a stocky, handsome, and fashionable Chelish woman in her later years. She looks the you over with mild amusement. “Honestly, I set a high price for Palhuna because I didn’t especially want to sell and thought he’d never pay it, but if he’s found a way around that and you’re willing... well, who am I to refuse?”
She explains the basics of the alchemical process: “Oh, I insert a tube down your throat extracting an essence from your lungs. It doesn’t actually age you. It’s not as though time goes faster, but it does prematurely wear down your body by a few years. So, how did you want to split the twenty years between you?”
GM's warning ... if you take too many years, you may see the negative effects of aging, but without the years of experience necessary to earn the positive ones ...
+5 on the next roll if you succeeded on the previous Perception roll
Sense Motive DC 18:
Madame Jelaris wears a few gambling charms. She seems like the type of person willing to take chances, and take risks for great reward.
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
Pau notices all the gambling motifs in the shop. "Those with the gambling vice are the most common client at this shop," he whispers before the merchant notices the group.
Wooden Fist 5/6 | HP 32/33 | Spells -/2+1/2+0 | AC 18 T 15 F 16 | CMD 16 (+2 vs grapple) | Saves 7/3/9 (+2 vs fear) | Init 1 | Perception 9 | 4 Female Human(Vudrani) Druid | Longstrider | Barkskin | Bull's Strength |
"Thank you." Meredith nods to the woman as she runs off to retrieve the mistress.
This woman is serious...hmpf. To lose time on such a foolish errand. Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
"Gambling. Lots of gambling items here for sale."
Sense Motive with +5 bonus:1d20 + 4 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 5 = 22
"I do have to admit, the price is rather high. My time is quite precious. Still, I wonder. Are you up for a game of chance? I'd like to wager to not lose time off my lifespan. Any way we could challenge over it?"
Madame Jelaris gets a gleam in her eye at Meredith's words, and accepts eagerly.
The scenario doesn't give the characters much information, unfortunately, but the those skilled in Knowledge(arcana), Profession(alchemy), or similar can deduce the following: a few of years each probably wouldn't be so bad, but more than a few might cause some permanent damage to one's physical well-being.
Madame Jelaris escorts those who wish to gamble to a comfortable parlor in the back of the store, inviting you to be seated around a table. She hands around a small box of ivory dice, inviting everyone to examine them and confirm they aren’t loaded.
You may substitute Profession(gambler) for Perception here. If you do so, add +5 to your roll.
Perception DC <10:
The dice do not appear to be loaded.
... DC 10:
The dice are finely crafted and do not appear to be loaded.
... DC 15:
The dice are finely crafted and do not appear to be loaded.
... DC 20:
The dice are finely crafted and do not appear to be loaded. The colors appear to have some natural variation, but seem well balanced.
... DC 25+:
The dice are finely crafted and do not appear to be loaded. The colors appear to have some natural variation, but seem perfectly balanced. You cannot find a chip, filled hole, or other mark that would indicate tampering. These are, by all indications, fair dice.
You may examine the dice, if you like. (The Perception roll, above.) After you do so, Madame Jelaris She then lays out the rules of the game you'll be playing: Twentybone.
You (collectively) receive 20 tokens that you may share as you like. She takes 20 tokens as "the house". You may buy a dice roll for 1 token. Every player may buy zero, one, or more dice rolls. Roll a d20 for each. When all bets are made and rolls determined, she rolls a single die as the house. For every player roll higher than the house, she pays out 2 tokens. For players, 1 always loses, 20 always wins.
"You see forty tokens in the game, yes? Twenty for each of us." Madame Jelaris explains. "At the end, you pay one year for each token I have. You decide when to stop. If one of us collects all of the tokens, it will be double and nothing."
If anyone wishes to try and cheat, please let me know.
Madame Jelaris: 20
Party: 20
——
Apollyanna: ?
Gailen: ?
Lannior: ?
Meredith: ?
Pau: ?
Prisim: ?
Place your bets (or bow out of the round).
Elf Ranger Lvl 4 (Core) HP 31/32 | AC 19 (FF 16 Touch 13) CMD 20| Init +5 | Saves (Fort +5, Reflex +7, Will +3)| Per +10, SenMot +1| Spd 30' Effects Active: None | Low-Light Vision | Favored Enemy: Humans | Spells Prep: Entangle | Favored Terrain: Urban
As they begin to be seated in the back, Lannior makes sure he can be seated next to Prisim; he then eyes the dice. As a follower of Desna he feels luck will surely be on his side and will definitely try the game out.
Commenting to the others.
Is everyone going to play? Shall we take 3 tokens a piece and leave 2 is reserve?
Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
With the way the dice roller is this could either go real good or real bad.
-----
Once the game starts Lannior causally tosses a token into the center, wanting to start small and get a feel for things.
He receives his die and gives it a roll.
Twentybone Round 1:1d20 ⇒ 20
Right from the start the elf feels Desna is with him!
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Pau was glad the dice seemed fair. He took the bones and made three rolls, betting one token each time.
Human Female Paladin of Shelyn 5 | hp 47/48 | AC 21 T 11 FF 20 | CMD 19 | F +10 R +6 W +8 | Spd 30' | Init +1 | Diplo +10, HAnim +10, KnNob +5, KnPla +6, KnRel +5, Perc -2, Ride +6, SensM -2 | smite 1/2 | lay hands 3/6 | wand clw 24/50 |
"This wrong. Can't you see that you are beautiful just as you are? It's what is inside your heart that makes you beautiful and getting older is just part of that. I often imagine finding a man to spend the rest of my life with holding hands and growing old together watching our children and children's children from the covered porch of our beautiful colonial with attached stable." As she speaks she walks the room imaging her future life her voice full of conviction.
"I mean look at Pau and Meredith." She waves a hand at the two. "It's not that they want to be all leathery she gestures toward Meredith or bald, ;) the fact someone can look past all those gray hairs and blemishes to see and love the real person underneath makes that love the special gift that it is."
As she finishes she slips in behind the two, grabbing both their opposing shoulders and the trying to squeeze them together. Maybe they'll even hold hands. *Grin*
diplomacy:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Apollyanna then looks to see the beauty within the woman (detect evil).
To answer Prisim's questions:
1. House wins on a tie.
2. You have to pay the token to roll, so if you lose you simply get nothing.
Apollyanna's speech is quite impressive. Madam Jelaris smiles at the comments on her beauty. "Thank you, young paladin. Your words are kind. Now are you ready to roll?"
Human Female Paladin of Shelyn 5 | hp 47/48 | AC 21 T 11 FF 20 | CMD 19 | F +10 R +6 W +8 | Spd 30' | Init +1 | Diplo +10, HAnim +10, KnNob +5, KnPla +6, KnRel +5, Perc -2, Ride +6, SensM -2 | smite 1/2 | lay hands 3/6 | wand clw 24/50 |
GM Crucible wrote:
Apollyanna's speech is quite impressive. Madam Jelaris smiles at the comments on her beauty. "Thank you, young paladin. Your words are kind. Now are you ready to roll?"
"Absolutely not!" Apollyanna looks aghast as others do though. "I can't believe you are doing this!"
She can't. This game conflicts too much with her order's moral code to see the beauty within a person and not rely strickly upon outward appearances. This woman is just white-washing a rotted-out, wooden fence. Not exactly a sin, but nothing she can support either.
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
Pai wasn't sure what the paladin was going on about, but he had become skilled at tuning out when needed. He places two token out this round, and rolls the bones twice. "Just ignore her, Meredith. She goes wonky sometimes"
Female human Paladin of Shelyn 1 | hp 20/20 | AC 16, T 11, FF 15 | F/R/W +6/+3/+4 (+2 vs. charm, compulsion, fear) | Smite 1/1 | Lay on hands 3/3 | Perception -1, Diplom +7, Sense Motive +4
Gailen picks one of the dice and tries it out.
Twentybone round 1:1d20 ⇒ 7
GAMBLE! — ROUND TWO
Madame Jelaris: 21 + 10 = 31
Party: 19 - 1- = 9
——
Apollyanna: Nope, nope, nope!
Gailen: 7
Lannior: 5, 19
Meredith: 5, 15
Pau: 15, 18
Prisim: 2, 19, 15
Place your bets (or bow out of the round).
Madame Jelaris collects one token for each roll of the dice. Then she casts hers.
1d20 ⇒ 1
"Oh, dear. Well, that's the foulest of luck. Shall we go again?"
She distributed two tokens for each die you rolled. Your pile is now much larger than hers.
GAMBLE! — ROUND THREE
Madame Jelaris: 11
Party: 29
——
Apollyanna: ?
Gailen: ?
Lannior: ?
Meredith: ?
Pau: ?
Prisim: ?
Place your bets (or bow out of the round).
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
Female human Paladin of Shelyn 1 | hp 20/20 | AC 16, T 11, FF 15 | F/R/W +6/+3/+4 (+2 vs. charm, compulsion, fear) | Smite 1/1 | Lay on hands 3/3 | Perception -1, Diplom +7, Sense Motive +4
Gailen looks at Apollyana with a confused look on her face. "I don't understand your extreme prejudice against the game. While Shelyn teaches to accept the good inside someone, she also appreciates beauty, and if this woman wishes to prolong her outward beauty for a few more years, who are we to judge her?"
Human Female Paladin of Shelyn 5 | hp 47/48 | AC 21 T 11 FF 20 | CMD 19 | F +10 R +6 W +8 | Spd 30' | Init +1 | Diplo +10, HAnim +10, KnNob +5, KnPla +6, KnRel +5, Perc -2, Ride +6, SensM -2 | smite 1/2 | lay hands 3/6 | wand clw 24/50 |
Gailen Windbreak wrote:
Gailen looks at Apollyana with a confused look on her face. "I don't understand your extreme prejudice against the game. While Shelyn teaches to accept the good inside someone, she also appreciates beauty, and if this woman wishes to prolong her outward beauty for a few more years, who are we to judge her?"
Um, the militarized wing of an extreme religious sect whose members often walk through town carrying glaives and detecting if people are evil or not--that's who. :)
Gailen Windbreak wrote:
Gailen grabs a die and rolls once more.
[dice=feeling lucky!]1d20 Nice.
Apollyanna picks up her jaw from the floor and screws her eyes back into her head and walks outside.
Elf Ranger Lvl 4 (Core) HP 31/32 | AC 19 (FF 16 Touch 13) CMD 20| Init +5 | Saves (Fort +5, Reflex +7, Will +3)| Per +10, SenMot +1| Spd 30' Effects Active: None | Low-Light Vision | Favored Enemy: Humans | Spells Prep: Entangle | Favored Terrain: Urban
Lannior feels like they probably got the best luck Desna will give them, and they probably should be satisfied with only 11 total years. Still the others are pushing chips forward so what could a couple more hurt.
You pay your tokens and Madame Jelaris rolls her die. "Aha! That's a wee bit better." Madame:1d20 ⇒ 16
She passes two tokens each back to Gailen and Pau.
GAMBLE! — ROUND FOUR
Madame Jelaris: 17-4 = 13
Party: 23 + 4 = 27
——
Apollyanna: ?
Gailen: ?
Lannior: ?
Meredith: ?
Pau: ?
Prisim: ?
Place your bets (or bow out of the round).
Prisim remembers that you have to pay first for each die rolled, so Madame Jelaris' pot is slightly bigger before rolling than it is at the start of the round. "You know," she says, winking at Prisim, "That's never been a problem before. But rest assured, I always cover my bets."
Female human Paladin of Shelyn 1 | hp 20/20 | AC 16, T 11, FF 15 | F/R/W +6/+3/+4 (+2 vs. charm, compulsion, fear) | Smite 1/1 | Lay on hands 3/3 | Perception -1, Diplom +7, Sense Motive +4
"Yes, I feel that we've done well enough. Let's pay what we owe and be thankful it isn't more."
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
If the others stop, Pau will end his gambling as well.
Madam Jelaris sighs to herself. "It seems you are losing excitement for this game, yes? That's too bad." She rolls her die.
1d20 ⇒ 3
She grimaces at her luck and pays Lannior two tokens, and puts her hands in her laps. "What now? Are you ready to pay me my years, or shall we go again?"
If you stop now, you'll owe her 12 years, between the 6 of you (much better than the 20 you started with). Or, you may continue to gamble.
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
Female human Paladin of Shelyn 1 | hp 20/20 | AC 16, T 11, FF 15 | F/R/W +6/+3/+4 (+2 vs. charm, compulsion, fear) | Smite 1/1 | Lay on hands 3/3 | Perception -1, Diplom +7, Sense Motive +4
"It's fine with me, and since my sister Apollyana seems so against this whole thing, I'll take her two years as well."
