[Gameday XI] GM Zin's CORE 10-10 The Shattered Shield (Inactive)

Game Master Zin Z'arin

People seem to be stopping me from using UMD. I'd love to try, but I won't go against the wishes of the party.

"If I may..." Menudo takes the golden idol (?) and examines it, trying to coax any magic it may hold to the surface.

"Mekka-Lekka-Hai-Mekka-Hainy-Ho!"

umd: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Menudo holds the statue in his hand, concentrates on it, and nothing happens.

Sorry, didn't make the DC.

You arrive outside Azir before dusk on the sixth night of travel. The city’s sandstone curtain wall forces you to seek entrance at one of the massive gates, each of whose arches bears the brass symbol of Rahadoum: a set of open hands, palms out, over an ornamental shield inscribed with the
Laws of Man. Each gate has a staff of six guards as well as two Pure Legion soldiers dressed in blue steel armor over white garments, and they collectively question everyone entering Azir. By the time you arrive, there’s still a line of several trade convoys and several dozen travelers, many of whom are tired from spending several hours standing in the sun and quietly complain about how much time this recent measure is taking.

From the conversation around you, you hear that the Pure Legion is cracking down on some widespread religious disturbance in the city and so has been especially vigilant for more than a week.

"You did me a great service out there; here's where I can repay the favor. I'll take you into the city with me; we can bypass this line." She starts guiding you to the front of the line.

"That would be most welcome, friend Kazima," Milo says heartily. It's been plain even in the day or two since they met that the halfling dislikes desert travel, and is eager to reach the shelter and many comforts of a city again. His unfeigned relief at the end of their journey conveniently masks his growing concern about whether his smuggling skills are up to keeping certain contraband items hidden from both Kazima and her colleagues at the gate.

When he spots the other halfling, his trickster nature wrestles with his paranoia about what dangers the pouch's unknown contents might pose to his team if found on the paladin. Kazima didn't promise we wouldn't be interrogated at the gate, just that we could skip the line. Sighing inwardly, he takes a few steps closer to Menudo and the dark-robed stranger, and calls out in Halfling, "Hey, what's that you're trying to give my friend?"

I believe that Zim and Menudo have asked him to carry their holy symbols. His Sleight of Hand is +7, if and when that that comes up.

The halfling panics on being seen, dropping a small black pouch at Menudo's feet. His eyes quickly dart around and he tries to flee.

Everyone may take a standard action to attempt to grab the halfling or otherwise try to prevent him from fleeing.

Milo attempts to trip the halfling to slow him down and give his friends an opportunity to catch him. Or, the the very least, make a decent showing of it in front of the authorities.

CMB: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20

No Improved Trip, just flat CMB and bare hands--but heyo, nat 20! Calistria must approve. :)

Seeing Milo grabbing at a fleeing halfling is all Menudo needs to know, as Milo trips him, Menudo stomps on his back.

Untrained Unarmed Strike, not counting prone: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 for damage: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 non-lethal

The halfling goes down; he grunts as Menudo keeps him down with a boot in the back.

We can back away from any limit of actions now; he's effectively in your control.

The Reverend picks up the pack and peers inside, being sure the blade of his scythe is in the general vicinity of the halfling.

"What in the nine hells are you trying to pull? Explain yourself!" Iladora thunders at the halfling, who is already subdued by the time she notices what had transpired.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

The Reverend picks up the pack and peers inside, being sure the blade of his scythe is in the general vicinity of the halfling.

I'm assuming you mean the little black bag the halfling dropped?

The Red Reverend picks up the little bag. It's black, and embroidered in gold thread on one side is a key on whose handle appears a cityscape under the sun.

Inside the bag is a tiny golden idol shaped like a human heart pierced by a dagger.

"What in the nine hells are you trying to pull? Explain yourself!" Iladora thunders at the halfling, who is already subdued by the time she notices what had transpired.

"She made me do it; said it was the only way!"

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Hmm....

Milo glances at the pouch, but says nothing to indicate his recognition before kneeling beside the prone halfling. "Who made you do this?" he says, with some urgency, but with none of Iladora's fury and volume. "You'd better tell us everything you know, and then maybe we can ask the Pure Legion to show you some mercy."

Menudo, motions to pass the idol. He looks at the halfling.

"What does this do? I really don't want to see you get in trouble, but it's not looking good. Maybe we can keep this little incident out of the eyes of the Pure Legion."

"We really don't want to hurt you. Who told you to do this? We want to bring them to justice."

Diplomacy, aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

For completeness's sake, here's an aid roll for Milo to go with that last post:
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Theron looks around, in case this was a setup...

We should go elsewhere...might be prying eyes...

"Good idea."

"I don’t deserve this—I only needed a little money, but got sick..." The halfling's eyes begin darting around, focusing in and out as he begins blubbering. Those of you questioning him closely see that the skin beneath his concealing clothing is golden and seems to be flaking away; a layer of golden dust clings to the inside and edges of all of his clothing. All of a sudden, he begins crying golden tears, convulsing, and choking on what looks like molten gold that bubbles up through his throat.

Zim is torn between helping and not wanting to come in contact with the "gold." She hesitates for a moment before kneeling beside the halfling, trying to help whatever is causing this issue. "Who caused this? Who do you owe the money to?!"

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

By the time Zim kneels down, the convulsions have stopped; the halfling is dead.

Kazima leans in and sighs. "Another one." She raises an alarm, starting a call that echoes up the line. When she sees that the Legionnaires at the gate have heard and are on their way to her, she returns her attention to the scene. "What happened? Can I see that bag?"

Milo quickly rises and takes a large step back when he sees the other halfling shedding gold and then convulsing. He has to clamp his mouth shut on a blasphemous curse, but regains enough composure while Kazima raises the alarm to answer her. "I spotted this unfortunate fellow trying to slip that pouch into Menudo's things, and when I called out to object, he dropped it and tried to bolt. I think you saw the rest? Anyway, he seems to have been put up to it by someone who had him thoroughly terrified." He looks around, scanning the crowd suspiciously. "Somebody was trying to get that into the city without anyone knowing."

We're being targeted....watch your backs. Kazima...you might want to let your colleagues know about this... Theron looks around for threats or prying eyes. He grabs the dead halfling by the belt and lifts him up.

The body might give us some clues...if the right tests were done...

"I don't need a test to know that people aren't supposed to breathe gold." He then takes the bag. "So what's in here that's such a big deal?" He waits a moment to see if anyone objects, then peeks inside.

Iladora's face is grim throughout the halfling's convulsions before he eventually lies still. "I'm sure it isn't a coincidence he's doing the same thing as that gavel statue. And be careful! Whatever is in that bag could be dangerous."

"Let me handle it, I'm more... rugged than many others."

He joins the Red Reverend in looking inside the sack and, unless someone stops him, he removes anything not obviously dangerous.

Kazima nods as Milo explains the scene, obvious agreeing as it's much the same as what she herself witnessed. She begins a follow up question, "Is there any reason you might have been a target?" then gasps when Theron picks the halfling up. "Put him down! Now!" She begins smacking Theron's arm if he doesn't immediately comply. "This is an investigation, and that body is dangerous! The Pure Legion will handle this!"

The Red Reverend sees a small golden statue inside the bag, a tiny golden idol shaped like a human heart pierced by a dagger. The inside of the bag is covered in exuded golden dust, just like Kazima's gavel, and the halfling himself.

Red has control of the bag at the moment; it's up to him whether he lets Menudo take the idol out of the bag.

Better him than me.

Menudo, having held the other idol with no consequence, removes it from the pouch. Kazima mutters "I wouldn't do that" with wide eyes, but again, nothing happens to Menudo.

You may attempt another Use Magic Device check on this new idol, if you would like.

Everyone can see the dagger-pierced heart shape of the small idol.

Right, he's a paladin, Milo thinks to himself, as he watches Menudo from a safe distance. Very convenient...and we'd better hope Kazima never figures it out.

Yes, ma'am...sorry... Theron says, a bit sheepish.

"Well, I know the odds are against us, but perhaps there is some way this can can undo the damage it has caused?"

Menudo concentrates on the body of the dead halfling and tries to see if the thingee will somehow bring him back to life.

UMD: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Booyha! Let's hope it doesn't kill me.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

"Not sure. But we can." Iladora's face is grim as she draws the two-handed sword slung over her shoulder. The sword is her prized possession; its blade, a meter-long razor of solid adamantine, glitters cruelly. "I recognize the gold effect now. This creature will rise as an undead in a few hours. We should prevent that from happening."

Knowledge (religion) + Favored Enemy: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 = 17
What do I know about the type of undead involved?

"This thing is very strange, it emanates a sense of a desperate, failed, gambler. Sadly, they still had the fever. What it means, I cannot say."

Zim's head pops up when Iladora says that. "What kind of creature? And how do we prevent it?"

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Not a clue, obviously.

Menudo turns to their Pure Legion "friend."

"Does any of this mean anything to you?" he asks.

Kazima again counsels restraint, this time at seeing Iladora's drawn sword. "I'll remind you again, this is a Pure Legion matter." As the two Pure Legion guards arrive, she tries to move you along. "Let's get you into the city. I can take you to the front of the line and save you a lengthy wait; these Legionnaires can handle the body and investigation from here." She motions for you to follow her to the gate.

Can everyone please aid on Diplomacy?

"Pardon our curiosity, but we just saw someone die. Someone who planted a deadly magic item on me. This may be a Pure Legion Matter, but we are involved now. If the conspiracy you are looking into targets us, wouldn't filling us in give us a chance to help you?"

"I have experience with undead. And I'm more than willing to take care of this myself."

Aid Another (Diplomacy): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (14) - 2 = 12

Undead? Aye..I can deal with them easily enough...

diplo aid, i have the charisma of a rabid badger: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (12) - 2 = 10

"I agree that this is a Pure Legion matter, but surely you can understand that we are already involved and would not like to meet the same fate." Zim smiles winningly at Kazima.

Diplomacy to aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Thinking to herself, I would like to get away from the Pure Legion before they start asking too many questions about us...Come on, guys. Let them deal with the scary undead stuff.

"My friends and I are not entirely without experience in dealing with bizarre mysteries," Milo adds. "It could be advantageous to work together. Discreetly, of course."

Diplomacy to aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Diplomacy, Aid: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"We want the same thing here, so let's skip the bickering about jurisdiction and figure out what's going on."

"There is little you can for the Pure Legion here, and I'm sure that you didn't come to Azir to investigate these mysterious deaths. The Pure Legion is well staffed; we have a process, and there's not much room for outsiders in it." She considers for a moment, then offers a compromise. "Go ahead and investigate the body here--as it lies!--if you desire, but do it quickly. Also, we've already collected more than one of these idols; why don't you keep the one this halfling had. If you're able to learn anything from it, anyone in the Pure Legion knows how to find me. If you learn nothing, just return it to me before you leave the city."

As a reminder, you still have to find Torvad, acquire his banner, and attend the Sacred Cobra auction. Travel took 6 days, so you only have tonight to do all that; the auction is scheduled for tomorrow morning. You arrived at the gate at dusk.

That's generous and fair as well. Thank you...

Iladora nods and sheaths her sword. I hope they do it quickly. "Your intuition is right. We have other business here. Your assistance getting us out of this line is appreciated."

Zim nods and takes a look at the body to see if there's anything we missed.

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

She gets to her feet, dusts off her clothing, and follows Kazima to the gates.

Zim learns nothing more from her additional investigation. When she stands, and nobody else moves to investigate the body, Kazima directs you forward, leading you to the front of the line as the Pure Legion begins their investigation.

She instructs the gate guards to process you next, then leaves you with them. "Thanks again for your help out there; you are the only reason I'm alive here today!"

The guards immediately begin questioning you. "Please state your names, and explain your business in Azir."

"My name is Menudo. I'm a little surprised you are bothering to ask us questions, given who just introduced us. I figured you'd be trying to score some brownie points."

All true.

"My friend Zim here is the one you should be talking to, she's the really informative one."

Aid Zim on Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27