[Gameday VIII - PFS CORE] GM nightdeath 10-18 Daughter's Due (CORE) (Inactive)

Game Master nightdeath

"Like many ancient artifacts." adds Khellek.

Turning to the staff member be adds "Who does know where it is now?
Or at least where it was ...left."

The staff member helpfully...Now. directs the group to where they could start their search.

One of the staff members named Finael.

Knowledge (local/History) auto passed for Khellek.

Khellek remembers reading a report by a fellow pathfinder. A pathfinder by the name of Chalos Visanda. Her reports tend to be well written and demonstrates a deep understanding of ancient artifacts and magical items. She was also known to be something of a loud-mouthed agent who always chafed at being assigned seemingly low-importance missions.
Sudden distruction of something like this headdress is likely the result of a freak accident it seems.

In a similar vein, the well versed Bard also remembers that the Cerulean Pharaoh was said to have access to powerful teleportation magic, which he made regular use of to travel around his lands.

Polanco just pokes around at all the artifacts trying not to get in the way.

I literally can't fail that Diplomacy check ;-)

Numair schmoozes with the staff, before coming back to the party with his findings.

"Apparently, the staff thought the Pathfinder concerned was a bit of a loudmouth. She was fiddling eith the headress, and then suddenly, she winked out of existence in a flash of light. Anyone have any idea what sort of magic that might represent?"

spellcraft take ten: 10 + 11 = 21
"Given the wearers history with teleportation, and lack of any recollection of dust or other debris... one would assume the headdress teleported her somewhere.."

”How in the world would we be able to track the teleportation effect? It could be anywhere in the world...or outside of the world even!”

With the mystery of the Headdress solved, the group turns their attention towards another on their list.
A certain Wax Golem.....

Museum staff directs the party to a cordoned off area that they simply refer to as “the waste pile,” a general mess of melted wax is all that is here.......

Perception - 'Take 10' = 32.

Numair frowns.

"There is not enough wax here to account for the remains of 4 golems - one is missing..."

He then goes and has a chat with the staff.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (7) + 21 = 28.

"Apparently, various staff members remember seeing the Fahrstad golem in different poses after periods of supposed inactivity. They found it unnerving, and they sometimes told each other scary stories about it in hushed tones. Some of them expressed relief that the golems have been destroyed..."

Know. Arcana 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Khellek takes out a book and quickly refers to it, then back to the situation.

"Interesting.. the artificer Xerix noted that there have been some cases in which wax golems have attained something approaching sentience. I do recall overhearing one of the cleaning staff complaining about wax appearing around the museum...especially the Linnorm Kings exhibit. Perhaps we should investigate that?"

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19

"Smart wax? That can't be good." Doubtful grumbles. He follows Khellek's suggestion anyway, turning towards the northern exhibits.

Numair nods.

"Sure!"

Perception - 'Take 10' = 32.

Numair finds flakes of wax scattered about the museum, though a distinct trail leads to a sealed vault. The vault has been magically sealed to open only for designated museum staff, museum guardians, and member of the Blakros family...

”Should we go get Nigel? It might take him to get it open for us....”

"That sounds like a wise plan. It is either that or lie in wait. And while I do have some marking to get on with, I would prefer to do it in the relative comfort of my own office, small though it may be." sighs Khellek.

"Or should we try and see what we can learn of this blade, and then talk to Nigel about all four at the same time?"

The wax trail led two different places... we should be able to check the Linnorm exhibit first.

Interesting question, Doodle. Tracking a teleport, if it was close could be a locate spell, or divination if further away. I cannot yet call aid to find the path

Changing focus to the question of the wax or next task.

Nigel may be able to help if we are in a hurry. Otherwise, checking for the blade rather than waiting around seems wise. The staff seem to have an abundance of fear of their employer's collections. Lasaraleen agrees with Khellek.

Polanco gets ready to talk about several clues but gets beaten to the punch each time. Typical Dwarf problems. Always just a bit too slow.

Aye the Blade it is

The museum staff guarding the sealed vault is clearly relieved when the group doesn't press them for anything else.

The attending staff lets you inspect archival sketches of the blade to get a sense of its appearance.

There is nothing left of any use for you to use or follow though, except for the sketches.

Yes I realized that the checks won't stop you or offer a challenge at all lol....

Heh. Well, once again, I literally can't fail that Diplomacy check ;-)

Numair schmoozes with the staff.

"The last person to look at the blade was an interested Pathfinder agent, about a year ago. She took the blade off its pedestal, looked at it for a while, and then returned it. The blade disappeared a few weeks later. This agent was a tall, golden-skinned woman with curly black hair, brown eyes, and a habit of humming to herself. Anyone know who she was?"

Khellek gives the sketch a quick look over.
take ten on appraise: 10 + 10 = 20 Fail

take 10, local: 10 + 16 = 26

Absently, while he appriases the drawing, Khellek listens in on what Numair has to say. "I think I recall her from one of my classes. She wasn't that attentive....". He pauses, wrestling with the memory. "Kaliba Damazi! That was her name. I remember trying to track her down to return an essay, but I heard she probably died during the Onyx alliance raid on the Grand Lodge in 4712 ar. I think she was officially declared dead. We could probably inspect the Wall to check for details, as I recall she made no provision for return from death."

Numair frowns.

"So... if she was declared dead 7 years ago, it couldn't have been her here last year, then? Someone was masquerading as her?"

Or is she really dead? Or still dead? People can be brought back by powerful priestesses too. Lasaraleen ponders.

"No body was ever found, but... so many died. " notes Khellek.

"Maybe she was captured? OR just took the opportunity to find a new life? I find it odd that anyone would choose to take the form of someone who died seven years ago though... what would be the point?"

Polanco doesnt even try to help this time and instead shares from his growler with the guards and museum staff.

Doodle was getting confused by the whole th8ng. Was the lady dead? Maybe there was a doppelgänger?!

If the party has no other decision...then perhaps a brief discussion on how you would present your findings..or attempt further investigations if any?

As the party ponder what seems to be a dead end, they realize that they have very few options. They could either attempt to ferret out any other secrets or present their findings to Hamaria Blakros.

Beyond waiting until tomorrow and attempting to Speak with Dead or a stronger Divination spell, I do not have any means to track down this woman today unfortunately. Lasaraleen is confident she could learn something, but had not requested such spells from Sarenrae this dawn.

"Maybe we should ask around the museum, and see if she has been seen in other places too." suggests Khellek.

"For example, the front desk staff, but we should not restrict our investigation to them alone, as if they are up to... no good, then they may have chosen a less forthright method of entry."

He works his way around the building, asking museum staff about people meeting the description of Kaliba.[/b]"

diplomacy(GI): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15 Happy to aid if Numair wants to take the lead on this.

We could still try to get through the vault door if Nigel is around, yes?

Khellek with Numair makes no further progress in their inquiries as no one else among the staff seemed to have seen her before.

Nigel has made himself scarce and can't be found atm, the sealed door is still an option though.

Moving on.

With all other possible avenues exhausted, the party is ready to present their findings.

They are ushered into the private office space where Hamaria Blakros awaits your presentation on what has being found.
She sits at her desk and waits, her fingers playing a silent rythem on its surface.
"Pathfinders. I trust your investigations have being fruitful. I shall wait for you to present your findings before I raise my questions."

GM Notes:
You'll have to in essence Dispute the findings in the report on Slides #3. With what you have uncovered so far.

Doubtful just snorts, at Hamaria's comment.

"None of it was destroyed." He growls. "'Least not by us."

"Your people took the painting, the waxwork walked off on its own, the fancy hat thing took the agent, not the other way around, and the sword... the last person to look at that died years before it went missing."

He shrugs, not bothering to explain things any further, leaving that to those less surly... though pretty sure Hamaria won't believe any of it.

Was waiting on Khellek to present the findings since he’s the diplomacy guy. If give him til the morning, and then I’ll try to piece together something.

Numair clears his throat, and nudges Doubtful out of the way.

"What my colleague is trying to explain, is that we have grave doubts about the official explanations in each case.

Finally, with regard to the blade, we dispute that it was a Pathfinder - although the last person to look at it a year ago did match the description of a former Pathfinder, the woman concerned was officially declared deceased following the Onyx Alliance raid on the Grand Lodge seven years ago."

Diplomacy - 'Take 10' = 31.

"That's what I just said." Doubtful mutters.

Lasaraleen nods in agreement with numair

Diplomacy aid : 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23

” So you see, this had not been pathfinders at all...“

Sorry, it has been a busy week.

"We have here copies of our notes, and the names of the people we interviewed. In short, while they are not where they should be, we don't think pathfinders were responsible, and in at least one case, we feel that the item...[/]b" he he pauses... "[b]Or perhaps 'being', in question, may still.. ahh. .reside.. in the museum."

dip aid: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Polanco gestures towards Khellek He made all the discoveries, I just got drunk with your staff Polanco comments.

That diplomacy roll smashed through the ceiling!

Hamaria Blakros listens true to her word without pause and leans back as she reads through the rather prodigious notes that Khellek has made along with the explanations provided for by Numair.

"I can see that Nigel's investigations were perhaps not as through as it should be...." she starts with a calm tone.
Somewhere Nigel feels a chill down his spine.

"As for the blade, seven years is indeed a long time and one would think that the pathfinders are being framed for it as evident from the missing painting." she seems satisfied with the findings given thus far.

"A missing golem that somehow disappeared and a teleporting headdress. It seems that the Blakos reputation will take a blow due to our own's incompetence." at this you guess that someone will be receiving a stern talking to........

"You have my thanks for not opening that sealed vault.
A powerful artifact with ties to the Shadow Plane is stored within it, called the shadow obelisk. This particular artifact is dangerous for the power it holds. It is able to open a portal to the shadow planes and I have no doubt that should such a power is abused, a situation might arise needing severe solutions." she sets aside her copy of the notes and leans back into her seat.

---------------------------More text to be added....please hold...............

Hamaria looks at each of you in turn and speaks. Her tone and cadence slow and measured.

"Pathfinders I believe that something is amiss here and with your investigations lending credence to my suspicions. I would ask that that you perform a task for me." she pauses to let it sink in.

"I have reason to suspect that the items are missing and have likely ended up in the hands of the Onyx Alliance. Ever since the Blakos family ended the Penumbral Accords, I suspect that the Alliance has managed to introduce multiple agents within the Blakos and these items have being stolen. I would ask that you retrieve these items from the Onyx Alliance. You would have to travel to Shadow Absalom and confirm if my suspicions are correct." she hesitates and clearly steels herself to ask her next question.

"I would also like to hear from you Nigel's achievements and if he is, in your opinion, incompetent. I know Nigel’s duties are more about curation and upkeep of objects than about launching massive investigations into missing objects but I must know from an outsider's view if Nigel’s oversights and errors were honest mistakes, signs of incompetence, or even due to an ulterior motive." she waits for an answer from the party.

-------------Done-------------

"Didn't she just say the shadowy place was bad?" Doubtful mutters, sure that this is just a ploy by Hamaria to get rid of witnesses.

Numair nods thoughtfully.

"I, for one, would be happy to help - there is a long history of mutual support between the Society and the Blakros Family. That said, how would we get there, and how would we get back?"

He then frowns.

"As for Nigel, whilst I understand that he does have a chip on his shoulder regarding the Society, due to certain... events... in his past, I don't ascribe nefarious motives to him; I truly believe that he is good at his job, but that his prejudices make him all too ready to believe the worst when it comes to the Society."

”Oooo, I’m not a fan of that Nigel. He hates the Society and I think it blinds him to all the good we do, and all the help we’ve given the Museum over the years. I’ve read all about it in the chronicles. He’s probably not evil, but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if he wasn’t the boss here much longer.”

Doodle was all to quick to volunteer the squad for the new part of the mission. ”Of course, we will help. That’s what we do after all. And Nigel never seems to understand that.”

Khellek entwines his fingers as he thinks about his response.

"I do not think that Nigel is incompetent as such. Yes, he has some history with the society, but that was from long ago. I think that the museum has pushed Nigel well out of his areas of comfort. "

He ponders a little.

"The more I think about it, the more I think that actually the museum management is to blame rather than Nigel. He has been under-supported in his efforts. As a Blackros by marriage, he has been asked to undertake duties that are well outside what he has been trained for. Take this investigation for example. Nigel is a curator, not an investigator. He feels quite personally the success - and failures - of the museum. That to me seems to be his primary motivation."

He concludes with. "Nigel needs further support, not to be replaced."

”Yes I totally agree. We need to hunt down these items from the wrong hands and clear Nigel if he is innocent of the disappearances. That may help his opinion of the Society “

Hamaria considers each of your opinions and sighs.
"I'll take each of your words with equal consideration as there are some truths within them as well. I thank you for your honesty and your agreement to lend further aid."

She stands up and bids you follow her.............
"I have a way to transport you over to into the streets of Shadow Absalom on the Shadow Plane. You would have to follow me though, as I would be loath to unleash such forces inside this office."

"And..." asks Khellek, obviously somewhat interested in the idea of actually visiting another plane of existence.
"How is one to return from Shadow Absalom?"

"And..." asks Khellek, obviously somewhat interested in the idea of actually visiting another plane of existence.

"How is one to return from Shadow Absalom?"

"Returning is a simple matter. The light at the heart of the city which is known as the glare will instantly return you to the location you last left from. Which means in the safety of the museum." Hamaria replies.

Splendid! Seems like a plan! Everyone ready? Do we need to rest first? I am like totally ready to go now. Lasaleen beams with excitement.

"And the light... is it guarded? I seem to recall stories of captives being taken to the shadow plane, wouldn't those in Shadow Absalom put wards around this light?" queries the scholar.