GM Badblood's Scions of the Sky Key - Part III - The Golden Guardian (Inactive)

Game Master Lance K

Torn between self-preservation and compassion, Laafdahni hesitates to add her two coppers to the decision. On the one hand, the Apsis agent will definitely undermine her team in some awful, life-threatening way. On the other hand, she still feels guilty for basically feeding the other Apsis agent(s) to the raging dinosaur recently. Grimacing in discomfort, she finally chimes in. "Do it. Try it on her. But get ready with some rope to bind her, just in case. If it works, she'll be a ton of trouble. It'll also tell us that the creature that did this is still here, and probably close." If it doesn't work, it still could be.

Toral nods and grins.

"I am a business man but Chaldira teaches us to be kind and this woman can be called lucky that we are here!"

He applies a does of the blood on the woman.

"Callous is a manipulative word to put down those that are self-preserving. Besmara teaches us that we can't do anything if we are dead ourselves, one of the rules of the sea even if we are trying to help someone. Just remember this moment, if some of us get petrified during the rest of the mission..." Sinaryn shrugs, ultimately not going to protest the use of the vial but she surely grabs one for herself.

"If she is Aspis and she doesn't fall to her knees begging for forgiveness, I will handle it. Her hands are likely not free of their stain and we have obligations to the Society." she smiles but readies her weapon.

Bocke will also stand by with his bow ready.

"Aspis don't seem like the 'beg for forgiveness' sort. I'm not convinced this is going to bring about anything but a resigned butchering of an unrepentant Aspis agent, but I'll be happy to be wrong."

As Guy spreads the red goop from one of the jars on the stone statue of the woman, her flesh begins to warm. Little flecks of stone fall away from her skin and drift in the air like paper ashes. The woman's facial expression retains it look of terror as she comes to life and she steps backwards away from the party of Pathfinders.

"What? What? What?" she stammers in shock as she tries to move away from the group but finds herself surrounded. "What? What?"

“Hello miss. We had a discussion and decided to risk saving your life. Please do not cause us to regret or force us to undo this act of kindness.”

He pauses before adding, “Being Pathfinder Agents looking for a one of our own, I would like to know what the Aspis Consortium are doing here and what can you tell us about the basilisk?”

Although the words are nice enough, there is a slight growl under them that detracts from the message.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Toral nods.

“Yes, you were petrified and now can live again. I hope you choose wisely what you will do with your life now!“

diplomacy : 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

Bocke, lacking tact, blurts the quiet part out loud.

"And by 'your life' we mean that we wasted a de-petrification potion on you so you owe us."

Bask looks on ready to defend the group if necessary, but not drawing his scimitar just yet.

"You have been given a second chance at life. Use it wisely. We mean you no harm, do as my friend says and tell us what happened"

Diplomacy to aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

Diplomacy (Aid): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

"Not that you have any options here..." Sinaryn grunts and nods at her pistol.

“There was some disagreement as to if we should do this, but as Pathfinders we do cooperate with each other.”

I find it very appropriate that Sinaryn and Bocke ended up rolling nat 2/nat 1 on Diplomacy after opposing using the potion. They're salty after losing the vote so they can't even grind out a few pleasantries. Haha.

Bocke holds a press conference at Grand Lodge Total Landscaping to demand a recount.

:-D

As little as she is happy about this situation, Laafdahni realizes that this woman needs a bit of time to get her thoughts in order. It must be truly discombobulating to be on the receiving end of petrification and depetrification. With a low, calming voice, she addresses the group: "Guys. Give her a minute. This must be very bewildering for her." Though I don't trust her for a minute!

The woman recovers her senses and she begins to speak.

“I’m Vanei Thaskin. I was sent here to find out about any defenses. I got this far, but that... creature got me. I’ve had enough of this place and the Aspis Consortium!”

"I don't know anything about a basilisk. The last thing I remember was seeing some kind of dragon running the hallway after me and suddenly feeling like my legs were frozen."

Toral nods again.

"Good, you seem to be a friendly girl with some business sense. I like that. So listen, if you want to stick around then do that but I think it is better if you leave - for your own safety!" he says with a calm voice.

sense motive to get feel for her: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

diplomacy so she really likes us: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20

“That sounds like a basilisk. Lizard that turns things to stone.” Guy nods.

“So where did you first notice it? I assume this is where you felt your legs go to stone.”

After a slight pause, he adds “If it will put your mind at ease Vanei, you couldn’t have been petrified very long. I think the concoction we used only works if applied within an hour.”

Sense Motive via Versatile Performance: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
Do I think she is really fed up with Aspis?

[spoiler=GM Rolls[/spoiler]

"I'm just a mercenary and I don't have any intention of working with the Aspis again. They're crazy. I'm happy to leave this place and never return if you let me pass."

She points to the hallway going west from the great doors. "It came down that hallway. The thing was practically on me by the time I noticed it though."

Vanei seems indifferent to the party, neither friendly nor hostile. Her frustration with the Aspis Consortium seems authentic.

Looking to the rest of the group, he says "I'm fine with letting her go. Any objections?"

If there are none, Guy does wish her safe travels back to town as she leaves.

"Adventuring together is better than adventuring alone. Our strength is our teamwork. Would you consider joining our team?"

Worth a shot?

"Smart girl, knowing when to cut loose but questionable decision to every join them. Bocke is right, you wouldn't be the first ex-Aspis in the Society...I don't like them but I value them. So how about it Vanei? As you can see we look after our own." Sinaryn says begrudingly but realizing the asset they could be.

Vanei considers Bocke's proposal but declines. "I'm not going to stick around if you are planning on going up against the guy leading us. Zaril's a monster and he's got plans for you people. I'd rather not be a part of them. If you survive, though, I wouldn't be opposed to working with you in the future."

Vanei seems eager to leave and keeps looking towards the huge double doors.

Any other questions for her?

"What was the Aspis Consortium doing here? We're here looking for a Pathfinder; does the Consortium think there's treasure here?"

Toral is curious.

“So your Aspis companions know that we are coming? How about some gratitude by sharing everything you know lady that can help us!!“

Meeting Vanei's eyes, Laafdahni can sense the urgency to escape within her. Relieved that the group's choice is very unlikely to harm them and that Vanei seems to be a good enough person, she interjects: "Finish your questions quickly. We don't want the Apsis agents to hear us and come attack our flank. I'll go keep watch. ... Good luck, Vanei." She turns and pads quietly back to the area with the crying statue to keep watch for any approaching foe.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

"I know the we're looking for some Pathfinder who's supposed to know about a powerful dwarven relic that would be of considerable value to the Aspis Consortium. There's also rumors that there's a giant gold statue in the ruins. If that's true, they're planning on melting it down."

"I don't know what I can tell you that would help you, except that you should run while you still can. Zaril is an evil, cruel man and he has over a dozen scouts and mercenaries at his command."

"We're not running. If we see you again, remember this moment, when we chose to stand up to evil and you decided to run from it."

Bask nods, satisfied.

"Thank you. I hope you find better allies in the future"

When she's gone, he says to the others.

"It sounds like we have many Aspis agents to face, and a Basilisk. Keep that sword handy Guy, we may need it."

He then moves to the next door, looks it over for traps and opens it.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

It looks like Bask is searching a room that has already been cleared. I put a line through all the rooms that have been searched.

I updated Bask's position.

"Stay alert Salim"

Salim detects furiously.

Before we leave the area, we should check out the room with the green rectangle. I think it's right by where Vanei was a statue.

Position updated. Agree we should do the green rectangle before we exit.

"Well, we need to finish looking through this place. She could very well bring more Aspis back with her. Getting stuck between two forces isn't my type of fun." Sinaryn says peeking around the corner to check the last room.

"I think she's all right; she wouldn't." Laafdahni weakly protests, but meekly follows.

I'll have you explore the room marked with green first, as the party was right next to it when talking with Vanei.

The door to this room is ajar, the heavy iron door standing about a third of the way open. Bask approaches the door carefully, watchful for any signs of danger before cautiously opening the door the rest of the way.

The reek of dung and sweat permeates this small room. Heaped in a corner, there is a pile of cement pellets, and in another corner lies a grotesque, stuffed leather bag with two oval patches sewn on it. The walls and floor are covered with grime and scratch marks.

Survival DC 12: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

"Phew! What kind of creature poops rocks, and how do they smell so strong!" Wrinkling her nose, Laafdahni inches closer to inspect the leather bag.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

"Ooo, no. I can't do it!" She bolts from the room before getting a clear look at it, the smell clearly being too much for her.

"Earth elementals, various creatures in the darklands. You would really need to be a little more specific, I'm afraid."

Kn: Nature: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

"This basiliks lurking around here would be the likely s+*%ter, right?" Sin says from over their shoulder, pinching her nose and sounding comical.

Toral goes in and takes the grotesque, stuffed leather bag with the two oval patches sewn on it.

He casts detect magic and looks at the bag and the room in general.

The leather bag is a hollow, lumpy sphere that's about a foot and a half in diameter. Its stained, slightly damp, and covered in what look like tooth or claw marks. It appears that the bag has been patched multiple times with scraps of animal hide.

Toral looks at the bag and shrugs.

"So what is this thing?!"

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

So close!

"I don't know Toral, perhaps they'd put it on its head to cover its eyes so it wouldn't petrify them?"

"Is it hollow? Is there something inside?"

Guy casts Timely Inspiration on Bask as he looks at the bag.
Retroactive +2 to skill check,

"It looks disgusting, I think I would prefer being petrified than putting that on my Bask. It looks like it didn't work either with those bite marks." Sinaryn muses as they all have trouble with the item.

With the aid of Guy's magic, Bask can tell that this leather bag is a ball that could be used to help teach an animal how to fetch objects.

"... Fetch? Somebody has been training a basilisk...to fetch. That sounds...either ridiculously cute or terrifyingly ominous." Laafdahni gives a shudder, before continuing in a rush. "Well, this exploring won't get done by itself! Let's continue, shall we?"

"Might want to keep the toy with us. Hopefully it will run to fetch the toy."

"Soooo definitely to not put that on your face, got it. We might just be able to get it to cooperate with us." SIn laughs as they start exploring further.

Bocke isn't sure what to make of the bag either. Is it meant to entertain/pacify the basilisk or to antagonize it?

Has Bocke been watching too many documentaries on dog fighting, or does this sound exactly like someone's training the basilisk for a cage match?