GL's Shattered Star. (Inactive)

Game Master Grandlounge

"You can look at it. But don't touch it."

Von-Dai spellcraft and history.

Von-Dai approaches and examines the shard in her hands.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Mixed results, maybe?

Even at nearly your full capacity, this item is far beyond your understanding. You manage to determine a few details:

- One part of a larger object.
- The magic is that of a corrupted school of illusion magic

You think with some time in a library or with an expert you could figure out what the original object was.

"This artifact is powerful - very powerful. I can tell you that the magic on it is mainly illusion focused - albeit it appears to be corrupted in some way. This is also part of a larger object - you may not be able to fully unlock its powers without the rest of it. I am unsure of the historical context - perhaps my colleague Elendar could take a look?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

History check from Elendar or Darjiah, please.

Approaching carefully, his hands raised to show he is not dangerous, Elendar looks over the artifact.

Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Might as well make a Spellcraft roll myself, right?

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Yep! But you know less about the nature of the magic than Von-Dai. What you do know thanks to his spellcraft and your knowledge of history is that:

The corruption of the illusion school is that of dark Thassilonian magic that corrupts the school to that of sinful pride.

This is a piece of an artifact called the Starstone though you know little else about it. The insight that it is associated with pride suggests that there would be other pieces that represent the other schools of magic.

Elendar relates this information to the others with a bit of genuine excitement. "An artifact associated with the Thassilonian masters! This is an exquisite find you have made! Why, it is incredibly valuable. You are very fortunate," he adds with a slight hint of envy.

"I think I heard something about a tussle with one of those Thasselonians by the Society a couple years ago. My Uncle said they were bad news. " he says frowning.

"The society may know more of about this?" Natalya interest seems piqued.

"There's some very savvy people in the Society. I'd bet they'd have an expert. "

You guys have had great diplomacy check so far, so she likes and trusts you as much as she can.

"Ok, let's go to the Society I could use some information about this artifact."

Natalya goes to her team and speaks to them in hushed tones. They seem to disperse back into her base.

"Let's go, I have your word that I am under protection and you won't attack me?"

Darjiah let's her teammates analyze the pride stone, then why holds out her hand "you have my word my friend"

You escort your new companion to the Pathfinder Lodge. There is likely no one here better to handle this than Sheila Heidmarch. Her retinue escort you in, find you a comfortable room and bring you food a drink.

Shortly after Sheila Heidmarch arrives, "How can I...oh...Natalya glad to see you're safe. How can I help you all."

"She's got some piece of an artifact which seems to be Thassilonian. "

Darjiah looks at Natalya strangely "you're a Pathfinder?

"No she is not. But she was a contact for us, whom you have brough here with a strange artifact. This is not how I expected this mission to go. But, I am glad none the less to see she is safe."

Sheila goes into he desk pulls out blue stone. Walks across the room and hands it to Natalya without saying anything.

Sheila stands there silently.

Darjiah freaks out and says "Sheila she's being mind controlled, the stone is controlling her."

Natalya immediately replies, "So, what you bring me here to make wild accusations. I don't deserve this treatment. I'm leaving."

Sheila's face is overcome with disappointment as she stares daggers at Darjiah. A look that says, I expected too much of you.

Sheila shouts, "Guards grab her.".

Natalya reaches for her weapon, tears in her eyes, "I trusted you. How could you? You're a traitor." Finally, she spits at Darjiah and says, "You have ruined me, I will never forgive you."

Is there a window in here, and if so how far off the ground are at?

There is a window. You are on the second floor on a gated property full of pathfinders.

Sheila looks at the group, "I'm trying to help her. You screwed up my first plan. Don't screw up my second."

Elendar backs away into a corner of the room, away from the window or the door. He readies what looks like a counterspell, if he sees the signs that Natalya is casting something.

Ready magic missile to screw up Natalya's concentration if she tries to cast a spell or spell-like ability.

Following the Elendar's lead Erond will look to the guards blocking the door and get between Natalya and the window.

Marcus is capable of following orders so he just watches and waits for the more experienced Pathfinders to take care of the situation.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Von-Dai’s interest is piqued even further when he sees Sheila get out an ioun stone. He eagerly awaits to see what happens.

Darjiah’s outburst and the subsequent aftermath throws him off. He backs away from Natalya, and gets ready to intervene if things go violent.

Preparing to cast burning disarm if she draws a weapon.

Sheila speaking calmly, and slowly all while walking forward says, "I know you don't want to listen to me. Since you picked up the shard you have not wanted to listen to anybody, isn't that right?"

Natalya seems to understand what Shelia is saying but can't act on the information.

"Natalya you just need to calm down right now missy!"

intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

but his heart just really isn't in it.

"Mind your mouth you sheep."

Darjiah turns to Natalya and laughs "You've gone soft Nat, you didn't even realize I'm a cop. I wasn't coming to get you because I'm your friend, I was here to arrest you and question you about the tower girls." and she pulls out her badge Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (9) + (6) + 5 = 20

Elendar tries to think of other groups he has heard of who might be in competition with the Tower Girls, information he might use to distract Natalya.

Knowledge (local) check: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

You realize based on the fact the she stole from the Tower Girls that the people following you could have been them, and not more of her crew, they may know most of what you have talked about. This is important information that may rattle her.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Von-Dai begins talking about everything he can think of about illusion magic.

Elendar conveys this information to Natalya. "While we were talking in your base, I think the other Tower Girls snuck up outside and were listening."

Hearing that the tower girls are on to her in the midsts of pangs of betrayal from her former friend turned cop and while battling the sheer confusion of corrupted illusion magic she loses he focus.

Sheila pounces grabbing the girls slim wrist and forcing her to place the ioun stone against shard with out ever touching the shard herself. With a flash of copper light, the ioun stone snaps into place.

Sheila looks relieved. Natalya looks weak. Not physically but emotionally weak. She begins to cry, softly as if she has no energy for anything more.

Darjiah rushes forward and hugs Natalya "That wasn't true Nat, I would never betray you. I was there Because I requested permission to help when I heard you were missing. You are still my friend and you man the world to me, I just said that to help you."

Elendar relaxes a bit as it seems the fight won't happen after all. He smiles cynically at the reunion and brushes his nails on the front of his clothes.

"Today is going in a very different direction than I was expecting." Sheila says through a long exhale.

"Let me get you up to speed. When I handed the ioun stone to Natalya I knew that if I told her what to do with the pride of the shard would not let her place it. But she is a naturally curious girl so I assume that she you figure out the placement and try it herself. However, that plan got intrupted."

She takes a brief pause to consider what to share next. "Now that she is free I can tell you what I know. This is part of an artifact that the society has know about for a long time but only through wispers and hint's in history books. The pieces are corrupting. They curse any who touch it with a particular sin. This single mindedness is exploitable by the quick witted. The power of each can be suppressed by a particular ioun stone which will allow it's safe use. This is as much as I can share currently. I will leave to to comfort your friend. Should she offer any useful information fine me and we will give you new orders."

"Today is going in a very different direction than I was expecting." Sheila says through a long exhale.

"Let me get you up to speed. When I handed the ioun stone to Natalya I knew that if I told her what to do with the pride of the shard would not let her place it. But she is a naturally curious girl so I assume that she you figure out the placement and try it herself. However, that plan got intrupted."

She takes a brief pause to consider what to share next. "Now that she is free I can tell you what I know. This is part of an artifact that the society has know about for a long time but only through wispers and hint's in history books. The pieces are corrupting. They curse any who touch it with a particular sin. This single mindedness is exploitable by the quick witted. The power of each can be suppressed by a particular ioun stone which will allow it's safe use. This is as much as I can share currently. I will leave to to comfort your friend. Should she offer any useful information find me and we will give you new orders."

With that Sheila leaves the room.

Darjiah continues to hug Natalya, and when Shiela leaves she comments to the rest of the party "I don't think I'll be considered for a pathfinder membership any time soon." I completely misread that situation, I thought somehow Shiela was being controlled and I panicked. Sorry guys, thankfully Shiela recovered control of the situation and she says to Natalya "I'll help protect you from the tower girls, they'll have to go through me to get to you, and hopefully these guys."

Not knowing the lady from Aroden, Marcus doesn't try to commiserate with her.

Von-Dai sighs. There were so many questions he wanted to ask Sheila about the artifact, but she left before he could ask. Sighing, he turned to Natalya and said, "Natalya, the society can protect you, but we need some information, first. Could you tell me where the Tower Girls found that shard?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Natalya mutter, despondent and distant. You can see in her eyes she want to help but that part of her has not yet reemerged.

Erond brings her to a chair a pours her a glass of water. "Take your time, this must be hard but people lives may depend on you."

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Erond will cast enhance diplomacy on Darjiah and Elendar.

Elendar bows to Natalya while she sits. "I believe you are safe now, lady. Be comforted. You are very fortunate that your friend came for you; be assured she has your best interests at heart." His stilted pleasantries are calming, if unpracticed.

Aid Darjiah Diplomacy: 1d20 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) - 2 + 2 = 20

Natalya says "I know the shard did weird things to your brain but we're going to be in the deep end of the crap pool if we don't know how to strike. I believe that we can make a difference in this town, put an end to the wrong that we both left but we need you to remember." Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

"I'm a failure. I found the shard on a skeleton inside a secret chamber in the Crow. The new hideout of the Tower Girls. Once I had it in my hands I knew I could not be a follower anymore. There was much more there than what I took."

After this labored statement she goes silent.

Darjiah holds her tightly "You're not a failure Nat, it was you versus an ancient artifact. All things considered, I think you did a better job then most would in the situation. Now can you lead us to the crow?"

"Get me paper I will draw a map.

She is able to provide you with a map to and a partial map of the crow.

Darjiah releases her grip and asks "I presume with your current state you will be staying with the society?"

She shrugs. She is to anhedonic to respond, but you can leave her under guard and ask Sheila to take care of her.