Z..D.. Destiny of the Sands Core Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Z...D...

"I guess if this is your only way of communication with your employer. I can do away with the fee. Ok go ahead, enjoy your time in Eto" With that, Mahu waves the PC's caravan through.

The House of the White Uraeus is a two-story, whitewashed stone structure located in one of Eto’s more upscale districts. A large brass plaque above its door depicts a snake with two “necks” that split from its body, each with its own head. The servants that manage the inn wear immaculately clean clothing and maintain a quiet but cheerful facility.
Although Grandmaster Torch is nowhere to be seen, one of his half-orc bodyguards sits in the common area and constantly scans the room. He stands and approaches the PCs as they arrive, looks them over, and with a grunt waves for them to follow him further into the building to where Grandmaster Torch awaits.

Although its exterior is unassuming, the interior of the White Uraeus is richly decorated with panels of gold-veined marble and bubbling fountains in secluded courtyards. Cool breezes carry the scent of blooming desert flowers throughout the clean halls. Two half-orcs keep watch outside one set of closed doors. After a moment inspecting the visitors, they pull open the doors to reveal a tiled bathing chamber beyond.

“Welcome to Eto, Pathfinders,” rasps Grandmaster Torch as he lounges in a steaming tub. “I didn’t imagine we would meet again under such heart-warming circumstances, yet the White Uraeus certainly knows how to make a traveler comfortable. What can a humble secret monger such as I do for you?” he asks as he leans forward in the tub and flashes a knowing smile.

The sorcerer thanks Mahu for his services.

Great of you Mahu ! says Daeron when the officer accept to not make them pay the tax for Amenopheus' magical device.

So, this is the infamous Grandmaster Torch ? His bodyguard seems toughter than him... But Secret are the true weapon, and how many does he know ?

Daeron bows from respect to the secret dealer and says.

We are looking for informations about a certain Sage Jewel you seems to know and other jewel link to the ancient order of the Jewel Sage in a vicinity localisation.

"Hiya Mister Torch! I've heard some bad stuff about ya but ya like to surround yaself with Pretties which puts ya in my good books." Omrijka's hand sweeps round therichly decorated surroundings. " I am Omrika maker and protector of pretties. Here " she offers a pair of earings worth about 5gp as way of explanation. "Now Amenopheus says you like to trade in vavors So I should warn ya I am a Palaquin(Paladin) of Shelyn. I do not lie. I do not strike first. I do not cheat and I do not steal." With a pained look as if to a bad memory she holds the songbird that hangs from her neck and adds in a quieter tone "Not anymore anyways"

She then smiles at Torch and in her more normal cheery tone ask him "So what can we do fer ya?"

The sorcerer looks around and takes in the situation.

“Amenopheus may have overlooked the fact that he owed me several favors before I ever asked for his help, but I don’t mind extending a discount to repeat customers,” he remarks with a rasping chuckle as he snaps his fingers to summon one of his bodyguards, who arrives carrying a folded piece of paper. “Let’s see what’s on today’s schedule,” he murmurs as he examines the paper’s contents. “Yes, all of this will do. Consider this my price—all of these tasks completed to my satisfaction in return for what I know of the sages’ jewels. Do we have a deal?”

He hands the list out to PC's to review.

Destiny of Sands-Map
Please put in info on page two and the hand out is on page four

Apollyanna looks at the list apparently reluctant to have anything to do with Torch or any thing he's touched recently.

knowledge (religion) Khepri?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Exasperated she says: "But this will take forever!"

Daeron read carrefully the list of tasks and says.

Nothing out of my habilities. But may be four tasks is a lot to handle for less experienced Pahtfinder like us. May be could we agree on handling one or two less taks ?
He turns to his more goldtongued comrades and adds don't you think?

Grandmaster Torch adjust a bit and sneers at the pathfinders,"That is the price, nothing more, nothing less. Now begone with you."

Alright Master Torch. We will see you again once the mission over.

Meralda puts her hands on her hips and stamps her foot in disgust.
Busy work?! You want us to run errands to get information?! Ooooooo, Kel is going to pay for this! Gimme the list, I'm not going to be someone's errand slave for the whole day.

She snatched the list and points to the first thing.
We'll start at the top. Let's go.

Her annoyance is clear on her face, and she mounts her pony with a harrumph.
Come on, Princess Luna. We have busy work to do...

There is no dishonor in this. We may find out things of interest or at least get to see the city. says the sorcerer.

There is no dishonor in this. We may find out things of interest or at least get to see the city. says the sorcerer.

"But look at this first one, it is practically reverse stealing!"

More than a dozen camels are tethered outside a large pavilion tent while a score of porters pack supplies for what looks to be a grand archeological expedition. Crates of tools, coils of rope, and sacks of dried food lie in piles waiting to divided up among the beasts of burden. Within the sumptuously appointed pavilion, stacks of scrolls and hand-drawn maps lie strewn across a canopied bed. A tall, dark haired northerner with a thick eastern accent and persistent scowl supervises the storm of activity while checking over an inventory scrawled in a well-worn ledger. “Where are those amphorae of water? This expedition won’t last a week in the Pillars of the Sun without water!”

you have not made your presence known at this time.

You can easily tell this man is highly flustered and seems to be unfriendly to everyone.

you can try multiple ways of getting the book in with his belongings. You can either convince him it is a gift or try to get him to buy the book. You can sneak it into his belongings. Or you can try to get on his good side by securing resources for his expedition and may help you sneak the book in. So discuss among yourselves the path you want to take.

Meralda peers into the hustle and bustle and then shrugs.
It looks busy in there. Should be easy to walk in and slip the guy the book.

Spellcraft 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Asking some questions please GM Z.D. How big is this book, and how big is an amphora? Is there an empty amphora laying around?

I agree with Meralda. It will be easier for us to sneak in.

At Bemmer, Lets say the Amphora is approximately 3 1/2 feet tall with a 1 foot base. The book itself, lets go with the size of a standard bible.

To sneak in will require a stealth or a disguise check to hide as a worker. Then the character placing the book needs to give me a sleight of hand check which will be challenged by a perception roll. You may aid in the disguise roll and I will also allow aiding in the stealth(maybe you cause a distraction) but not the sleight of hand check. And since coordinating over PBP is a hassle, I will take the highest roll, and everyone who succeeds over 10 will aide.

Could we create a distraction?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Never one for sneaking (unless it's more food after lights out at the Grand Lodge), Apollyanna approaches the chaos. "Are you going somewhere? This place is certainly a mess. You really should organize better if you're going to take a trip."

Right about the time Apollyanna walks up, Meralda urges Princess Luna forward.
I'll handle the distraction. You guys get the book where it needs to go.

She spurs Princess Luna into the middle of the chaos, and begins shouting.
Aaaaggghhhh! Help! I can't control this pony! Help! Help! The man said it was trained but he lied! Aaaaaggggghhhh!

Princess Luna spins in circles, bucks up into the air, and everytime someone comes near to help the Halfling down, she urges the pony away, and into more antics.
Handle Animal to Make the Pony Look Wild: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"Yes it is a mess and yes I am going some where. AND WHAT IS ALL THIS RACKET...SOMEONE GET THAT BEAST UNDER CONTROL.!!!"

You now figure he is really agitated and now nice and distracted.

Omrijka moves to help calm down the pony "Whoa dere horsey"

handle animal, untrained: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Yes i know a pony is not a horse but Omrijka is not trained in knowledge nature. Round these parts the ruling is you can make handle animal checks untrained the trained only bit refers to training and rearing animals and all of that is moot if Meralda has the exclusive trick. Omrijkas Paladin code prevents her from helping with the book placing but she will react and to princess luna and thus help with the distraction

"I'll get her, Meralda!" Apollyanna rushes in to help calm the pony. "Easy girl. Easy."

handle animal (actually has the skill): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

The sorcerer will attempt to calm the horse but really be trying to spook it to add to the ruse.

@GM can we try a sleight of hand check without rank in the skill ?

Using the distraction, Daeron sneak inside the tent to put the book after getting rid of his armor.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Stealth (coin reroll 5*): 1d20 + 4 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 5 = 16

Unfortunately no, it is a trained skill, unless you have something that says otherwise.

"You there" Ionacu shouts, pointing at Daeron, "What are you doing by my supplies."

@Dearon, you have been spotted, even after the penalty I gave Ionacu due to the distraction. So, how are you going to get out of this mess?Right now everyone else seems focused on the horse. Bemmer is the only one not doing anything at the moment.

Oh, are you the man in charge? I have a package for you.
It's a book I think.

Bluff: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 2 = 24

Bemmer is unsure if Torag would want him involved in deception. I have been trying to work out an action.

Bemmer approaches Ionacu Appologies for my friend here. He can be a bit vague at times. With that pony going crazy anyone could be forgiven for seeking a little shelter

Diplomacy to smooth over the failure?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Good cover up...it was a bit rough there at the beginning.

"I do not remember ordering another book. Maybe, I did order a lot of research material lately, this probably just got here late." He contemplates for a second then moves on, "Just lay it with the others. Now, if you do not mind, I do have a expedition to plan." He then waves his hand dismissively towards Daeron.

And that is what happens when the NPC fumbles the sense motive roll.

Alright!
Have a good day Sir.

Says Daeron who put the book right where Master Torch want it to be.

One done.

Omrijka tells Meralda "Ya need to keep better control of ya horsey. Good job Apollyanna was here" Omrika nods in appreciation to Apollyanna as she warily follows Princess Luna out of the area. Shortly after she asks "Are off to collect the shipment and then come back to Mister I own a cool ozar's later when things calmed down a bit?"

The sorcerer is glad that this one worked out.

Meralda hisses at Apollyanna and Omrijka.
You almost blew the distraction! I wanted Princess Luna to look out of control! This pony is a tame and docile as a house cat!

"Der distraction? Oh! Dat was very clever" Omrijka looks back towards the academics camp and then warily eyes Princess Luna again " Not right but very clever"

I propose to see Madame Zelekhati and the Hundredfinger gang first before going out to search for the artifacts.

Proposes Daeron

The sorcerer will nod at the ranger's suggestion.

Lead on. No matter the order they all must be accomplished.

"Ohh Good idea! Leave the pick stuff up job until last . Then not lugging it round as we do the other tasks. So who knows about Madame Zelekhati"

And with that Omrijka goes to ask people in Eto what they know
diplomacy/gather info: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Meralda hisses at Apollyanna and Omrijka.

You almost blew the distraction! I wanted Princess Luna to look out of control! This pony is a tame and docile as a house cat!

A huge bead of sweat collects on one corner of Apollyanna's brow, but after her initial shock it quickly sizzles to mist and evaporates as the paladin's face turns bright red, and she gets all up (down?) in Meralda's grill.

"Listen here, I was just trying to help your pony! Maybe next time, tell someone when you are about to endanger your friend in a lie! If I had a steed- I would never use them like that!" She clasps her hands and gets a faraway lovey-dovey look in her eyes. "-I'd ride him everywhere, and feed him apples, and comb his long, gorgeous mane."

She completely looses track of Meralda and what she was talking about, lost in her own thoughts. ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ***

If undisturbed, she might still be standing like that 1d4 hours later when Omrijka gets back from her fact finding mission, assuming she just doesn't know about Madame Zelekhati.

Meralda puts her hands on her tiny hips and glares up at Apollyanna.
I was going to, and then you ran off to talk to the guy! I took the chance for a distraction and ran with it! Don't chastise me for it almost getting ruined!

The Halfling sighs when she sees the paladin get lost in her thoughts, and mutters
Shelynites.... How do they survive in the wild...?

Lol! I have a core paladin of Shelyn that I play somewhat the same personality-wise!

Showing no interest in the squabble taking place between his associates Bemmer looks toward the horizon. Shall we find this Zalakhati and lighten the load of secrets that she bares?
He sets out walking assuming that the others will follow him.

@Omrijka, the local people tell you that she is a performance artist and invested her gold into a space called The Dancing Dunes. It serves as a teahouse by day, a cabaret in the evening, and a den of ill repute in the latest hours of the night.

A spectacularly groomed garden of colorful sand occupies most of this two-story cabaret’s ground floor. A narrow wooden bridge winds about a trio of decorative obelisks dotting the miniature desert. A lavish sitting area filled with divans occupies the second-floor balcony granting a magnificent view of the garden below. Private curtained chambers encircle the garden, where lush rugs, soft mattresses, or piles of throw pillows serve to cushion the repose of clientele in each chamber. A door off the northern balcony opens to a staircase leading down to the street, while another set of stairs to the east leads down to the garden.

As you make your way into the building off the street, by way of the stairs that lead you to the upstairs entrance, a tall garundi woman sits behind a desk and rises as the door opens...

"Welcome to the dancing dunes. My name is Marwina, what can we do for you today?"

Bemmer racks his brain trying to remember the task to be accomplished here. It comes to him in a flash. Convince this half-elf to share her secrets He turns to the party How do you think we best accomplish this task? Do we threaten or befriend?

Crickets

If some of us have a golden tongue, we could try to convince her to tell us how she get her info. By suggesting an association or a coercion. Or we can try to get it from her in the most violent way.
Some of us could also pass for rich merchants while the other watch out for them and study Madame Marwina...

Suggests in a whisper Daeron to Bemmer.

psst...Marwina is just the hostess...this is not the woman you are looking for...as the GM slightly waves his hand from left to right

Sorry! I was of course talking about madame Zelekhati!

We are here to see Madame Zekekhat, mistress. he replies politely.