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

Game Master Zin Z'arin

Zim will try to help distract the very upright captain to make sure the trinkets are out of the way.

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 Or maybe not

She is happy to try to treat disease for Theron and will heal up anyone who needs it. She will also cast cure light, when we are safe.

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 plus aids

Heal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 to aid Zim treating Theron in the morning

Damn, why couldn't those be the other way around?

[dice=bluff aid]1d20-2[/b]Thank, Captain...if you need a full report from us, we'll be at the inn...good night...]/b] Theron says, trying to distract Kazima long enough for the others to sneak a few valuables away.

at the apothecary

Hate to bother you at such an hour...but Inspector Kazima sent us over to get help. I have come in contact with a beast that infected me...got anything for it? the bladesman asks, still feeling the effects of the fights.

so +6 fort save for me...if I get a +4 from the Heal checks, I should be good..

Milo lugs the overstuffed hobo bundle right out the front gate with the aid of a couple Pathfinders putting themselves in line of sight or otherwise just behaving like it's just perfectly normal.

The apothecarist meets Theron at the door and listens to his tale. "Not that aurum death is it?" He takes a step back until Theron confirms it's not that. "Oh good for you; none of us been able to nothing about that, yet. Ain't got it figured out yet, nobody does."

All of the "Services" that can be bought come from non-CORE sources, so unless someone has something useful from a Chronicle sheet, there's not much to do here.

The Pathfinders hole up in a quiet, non-descript inn, and Torvad explains about the strange cleric that accosted he and Inusi while they were examining items for the auction. "Chained us together, made Inusi swallow the key, then left us with that dagger to make a choice or burn. Inusi got me in the scuffle, but it was me that went for the blade first... can't blame her for that at all."

Providing long-term care requires 8 hours of activity from the caregiver, i.e. no sleep. I'm assuming Zim wants to sleep, so we'll leave that off the table. Treat disease is 10 minutes; Zim succeeded at her check for that, so Torvad gets a +4 on his save vs the disease. Go ahead and made that check now and we'll move on from there.

If anyone wanted to use up any remaining daily spells/channels/other abilities towards healing (before resting and renewing spells), now is the time to do it. Also, if you have any question for Torvad before the auction, this is the time for it.

Status (hit points adjusted for 1 normal night of healing)
Iladora
Menudo (-3/28 hp)
Milo
Red
Theron (-22/40 hp; Fort DC 11 vs disease pending; +4 bonus from Treat Disease (Zim))
Zim

Necrotic Boils: save Fort DC 11; onset 1 day; frequency 1/day; effect 1d4 Con damage; cure 1 save

"Providing long-term care requires 8 hours of activity from the caregiver, i.e. no sleep. I'm assuming Zim wants to sleep, so we'll leave that off the table."

But Treat Deadly Wounds only requires an hour.

Zim will use up all her channels and convert any spells to healing to get everyone up to full. She will use her wand on Torvad, but not actual spells. Yes, Zim would like to sleep.

Aye..get some sleep...I should be able to shrug this off with some help from the medically inclined ones here...Theron says as he fights the rot.

fort: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 4 = 19

whew....

The Museum of Philosophy, Logic, and Natural History is one of the most prominent buildings within Azir’s Grand Souk. The construction of the building itself was ordered by the current Keeper of the First Law, Malduoni, as a way of preserving Rahadoum’s culture, history, and influence, as well as reinforcing the positive impact of forbidding religion on Rahadoum’s development as a nation. As a purely academic and historical institution, the museum focuses on exhibits and displays related to anatomy, arcane studies, archaeology, astronomy, debate, law (including an exhibit focusing solely on the history, development, and evolution of the Laws of Man), mathematics, philosophy, science, secular history, and zoology. Constructed of three stories of stacked sandstone blocks, a prolific archway over the main entrance, and white marble columns accented with silver trim, the structure itself is already becoming an icon of the city as much as the Pure Legion patrols that often pass by its front steps. Many of Azir’s residents spend time reflecting in the museum’s main courtyard, which features a magic pool of eternally clear water surrounding a colossal, white marble statue of Kalim Onaku, author of the Laws of Man.

When you first arrive at the museum, guards are posted at each of the entrances, checking each prospective entrant’s bidder’s banner--the carefully woven scarves used as both entry tokens and bidding signals during the auction. You see the guards some without bidder's banners--likely just general public--that the museum has been closed for a private lecture. Yours is recognized and you are waved in, eventually being led into the Hall of Taxidermy.

This room features a horseshoe-shaped walkway featuring displays of various taxidermy animals, most either rare or of historic significance to Rahadoum. A small number of other bidders are assembled here; you can mingle with them, or sneak off and examine other parts of the museum.

Details on bidding and bidders to follow.

Items up for bid (starting bid)
1 - Bracers of divine range (2,500 gp)
2 - Clockwork statue of Brigh (1,000 gp)
3 - Phylactery of faithfulness (500 gp)
4 - Kelksiomedes’s grape trellis (2,500 gp)
5 - Staff of healing, minor (4,400 gp)
6 - Eldas’s platinum drafting tools (1,500 gp)
7 - Incense of meditation (1,650 gp)
8 - Golden statue of Ra (5,000 gp)
9 - Shard of the Shattered Shield of Arnisant (5,000 gp)

Bidders
Abeesa and Abbashin Borkalik - brother and sister from a local moneyed family
Famish Squinwhisban - gnomish collector
Madam Adenalar - amateur horticulturist
Pateba - former adventurer

There is 1 hour to mingle or perform other investigative work before the auction starts.

A phylactery of faithfulness took the form of a small box holding religious scripture.

Interesting selection, Red muses as he looks over the items. He will examine all the lots, trying not to give away that they want the fragment while trying to deduce if it's real.

1d20 ⇒ 4 plus whatever skill the GM thinks is relevant.

It definitely appears to be part of a shield.

Now why could I not have been sent on this mission with more gold in my pockets? Iladora wonders ruefully, looking at the lots on offer. Would've been nice to get my hands on some hard-to-find items. As she inspects the items, she also keeps an eye on the other bidders looking for clues.

Perception (does favored terrain count for this?): 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 2 = 18

Milo circulates through the crowd, showing some interest in the lots for auction, while surreptitiously studying the other bidders and trying to gauge their interest in the shard and other items.

What skills would be useful here? Milo has Bluff & Diplomacy +4, Perception +9, Sense Motive +7. (Also Spellcraft +5, if detect magic would be allowed.)

Edit: I have updated Milo's prepared spells on his stat block.

Zim mingles with the crowds, trying to determine which groups are interested in which items. She approaches Famish, as a fellow gnome, to start with.

"It's such an interesting group of items, don't you think?" is her opening gambit and she smiles winsomely at him.

Diplomacy, +1 if could be attracted to her: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

What skills would be useful here?

Unlike the Runecarved Key auction (which many of you likely just played!), this scenario doesn't present a formal structure or skill targets for influencing the other bidders. Each bidder had an item that could be recovered from the Mendalari estate that would influence them, but none of those were found.

Your best strategy is to just use social skills to engage with the other bidders and learn what their interests are, so that you can anticipate and possibly counter their bidding. You can also use this time to sneak around and explore the museum, if you want to.

Zim mingles with the crowds, trying to determine which groups are interested in which items. She approaches Famish, as a fellow gnome, to start with.

"It's such an interesting group of items, don't you think?" is her opening gambit and she smiles winsomely at him.

[dice=Diplomacy, +1 if could be attracted to her]d20+8

"Oh, indeed it is!" Famish responds excitedly, as he hovers near to the set of platinum drafting tools on display. "I would so love to have those as a part of my collection!"

"Oh, are you a builder of some sort? I am new to the area and don't know all the important people yet. Perhaps we could make a bargain to not interfere with each other?"

Perception to notice other stuff about the patrons: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

She also tries to suggest someone (probably Milo) sneak around and see if we can find out anything else about the auction.

Bluff to pass a message: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

"Oh yes, I'm an architect! I just love seeing and having new examples of different architectural techniques and devices. And these are so nicely crafted!" He lowers his voice to whisper. "This is really all I'm interested in, so if you'll stay away from this, I'll stay away from whatever you want. What are you bidding on?"

"That mythical shield bit. I don't know if I believe it, but I just can't pass it up."

Zim offers her hand to seal the bargain, then wanders off to find someone else to bother. (And let someone else chat. :) )

Red will try approaching the siblings.

"I have to say, I would not have expected an item like this -" he points at the phylactery "- in Rahadoum. At least, not anywhere that isn't a pyre or Pure Legion office."

The man sneers. "You do know that this is an illegal auction, right? Specifically for item you wouldn't expect to see in Rahadoum...." he trails off as he rolls his eyes at his companion. She shrugs her shoulders and gives Red an apologetic look. "Forgive him--or forgive my family for him--the inheritance went straight to his head," she finishes as she shakes her own head.

"What are you here to bid on?" she asks, trying to make up for her brother's brush-off.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Just trying to get an idea if it's a bad idea to be honest about the shield with them before answering.

Just trying to get an idea if it's a bad idea to be honest about the shield with them before answering.

You don't get the sense that she's fishing in order to block your own bidding; you think she's trying to keep a conversation going out of embarrassment over her brother's rough comments.

"Of course," the Reverend says, glaring briefly at the brother. "Not everyone understands the finer points of conversation.

"While golden statues have been on my mind recently, the shield shard is what brought me here. Quite an interesting bit of history, if it's genuine."

Theron mills about, keeping his ears and eyes open and his mouth shut, knowing his socializing skills have lead to more than a few of his scars.

perc: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Menudo tries to gather some information.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

We have to get through 9 items individually in PbP; the auction will necessarily run long in a game that's already way over. So I'm going to move us along.

After about an hour of mingling with the other bidders, the guards corral everyone into a lecture hall for the auction proper.

This long and narrow room features a podium at the far end. Two columns of oak chairs with satin pillows cushioning the seats line the northern and southern walls.

I've placed your tokens around the lecture hall for the auction; feel free to adjust your placement as you like.

A female human stands at the podium, dressed to impress. "Welcome to the Sacred Cobra Auction, everyone! I'm your host, Aya Ajiri, and I would like to start by thanking our gracious--if unknowing--hosts at the Museum for their hospitality! Let's get down to what you're all here for: the auction itself. Our first item is a set of bracers of divine range. I'm sure you've all seen bracers of archery in your day, these do the same but for divine spells! A very rare and unique item, we will start the bidding at 2,500 pieces of solid gold! Do I have a bidder?"

Immediately the brother of the pair that Red spoke with raises his banner "2,500 to the Borkaliks! Do I have another?"

The room is otherwise silent; you can bid or pass. Feel free to discuss your bidding strategy in the Discussion thread if you like.

Red rushes to try to convince the siblings to lay off the shard, possibly in exchange for giving up on something else, as people get herded into the room.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

They don't seem receptive to that, so he tries to signal them that he would really like the bracers, but is willing to let them go for future considerations.

Bluff to pass secret message: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

He then considers the possibility of just cutting everyone in half who gets in the Pathfinders' way. Or maybe burning the place down, since it reminds him of a certain museum...

Menudo bids the opening bid on the bracers, just to make the other buyers think he's competition.

To save time, we will pass on any item with a starting bid above 2,500.

Menudo bids the opening bid on the bracers, just to make the other buyers think he's competition.

To save time, we will pass on any item with a starting bid above 2,500.

The Borkaliks have already placed the opening bid; you would have to raise it. Should I take your 2500 gp cutoff to mean you want to pass on it and let them have it at the starting price?

Yes.

"Well, this isn't going to be much fun if we don't get some action going here. The Borkalik's win these unique bracers for the starting bid, and that's a bargain, folks!" Though she's chastising you all for it, Aya seems to be having a blast regardless, really embracing the role of auction barker.

"Next up we have this clockwork statue of Brigh, the god of inventors! Though not magical, it's a really innovative design that certainly celebrates its patron. We're starting the bidding for this one at 1000 gold. Do I have a bidder?" She eyes Pateba, whose banner was already being raised. "1000 gold as I expected! Do I hear more?"

In the brief moment between rounds, Menudo casts a glance at the Boralik brother.

"Good win sir. Your sister though, does not seem to be enjoying herself. Now that you've gotten a real bargain, why don't you take her home?"

Can I get any aid from anyone else?

Abbashin gives you a sneering grin. "You got your eyes on my prize?" He chuckles. "You can't rattle me so easy; we're just getting started here."

Accepting your bid from Discussion; consensus was that you could be the lead bidder, and there's been a lot of guidance posted.

Aya notes your bid with a smile. "Ahhh, the strangers from out of town have joined the party! One thousand, two hundred, and fifty gold! That's a nice sum, there, for a nice prize!" She turns to Pateba and calls him out by name. "Pateba, are you going to let it get away so easily?"

"No!" the man yells. "Fifteen hundred!" he barks with his banner in the air.

"Fifteen hundred it is!" Aya exclaims. She brings her palms up and out in a questioning gesture to the room and--getting no other reply--rests her gaze on Menudo with the wordless question writ on her face.

Menudo will bid 1,600 and, if outbid there go to 1,800. No higher.

Theron scans the crowd, looking for any signs of their bids rankling the others.

perc: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
sense motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Aya chuckles when Menudo counters with 1600. "Only one hundred gold more? You know this auction house is trying to turn a profit, right? Still, it's a legal bid. Sixteen hundred gold it is!"

Pateba waves his banner in the air. "Seventeen-fifty!"

"See, that's how you raise a bid!" Aya points out. "Seventeen-fifty; do I hear more?"

When Menudo offers 1800 she actually does start to look a little upset. "Eighteen hundred, then, from the misers from up north...."

Pateba doesn't seem to want this one to get away. "Two thousand!" he nearly screeches.

"Two thousand it is, and that's a proper bid!" She scans the room, and looks back at Menudo. "Going once? Twice? Sold to Pateba for the sum of two thousand gold!"

Throughout this, Theron has been studying the other bidders. Abbashin looks amused, as he doesn't seem to have an interest in this item. He's definitely enjoying himself; his sister Abeesa looks bored. Pateba--your rival for the statue of Brigh, has looked irritated every time Menudo raised the bid, but is full of glee now that he's won it. The other two bidders have been watching with interest, but aren't showing much; they seem to not have an interest in any of these first items, so the Pathfinders' bidding hasn't provoked a response in them yet.

Aya moves on to the next item. "Up next is this phylactery of faithfulness. Not so unusual an item if you're out in the greater world, but we're not. This is Rahadoum; we live under rule of the First Law, and that makes this a rare item here indeed. Bidding starts at 500 gold!"

Abbashin raises his banner without a word. "500 gold to the Borkaliks," Aya notes. Pateba sighs "I'm out," and stands, placing a stack of notes on Aya's podium and collecting his statue before leaving entirely.

"The bid is 500 gold; do I hear more?"

700 No higher

Iladora nods approvingly watching Pateba leave the auction. Well, there’s one fewer we need to worry about.

I don’t really have anything to contribute here.

That one might bear watching... Theron says to Iladora and the others, leaving Menudo to do his work uninterrupted. He nods to Pateba.

He's morewthan a little angry...

With the bid only starting at 500, Menudo offers a proportional increase to 600. Abbashin counters with 700 and Menudo passes, letting it go for a steal. "700 it is; going once, twice, gone!" Abbashin gives himself a little private congrats on his win.

"Moving on, we have this delightful grape trellis. From far off Casmaron, Kelksiomedes is a deity known for both his compassion and the viticulture of his people. Even here in Rahadoum gardener's revere this Iblydan deity. Bidding starts at 2500 gold!"

Based on Discussion, I think I can safely move you through at least one of these.

Madam Adenalar opens the bidding, and after a short back-and-forth in small increments with Famish Squinwhisban, Madam Adenalar wins the bidding at 3000 gold.

"Up next is a minor staff of healing. Students of the divine arts know there's nothing minor about any staff, and this is a bargain at 4400 gold to open the bidding; do I have any bids?"

The room is silent, and Aya's gaze falls on you.

It's above the limits you've placed in Discussion, but since there appear to be no other bidders, I thought I'd let you confirm.

Pass.

"You do know that the Sacred Cobra is a for profit enterprise, right?" Aya asks the room with a laugh. "Very well; we'll move on: up next is this excellent set of platinum drafting tools..." Famish's bidder's banner is already in the air. "And Famish with start us off with the opening bid of fifteen hundred gold. Do I hear more?"

Nobody else speaks up, and Aya's gaze rests on you.

Following guidance from Discussion to keep this moving.

When you don't respond, Famish squeals with glee to get his tools so cheaply.

Aya continues with the auction. "Next is some incense of meditation. The bidding starts at sixteen hundred and fifty gold. Do I have an opening bid?"

I think we should try hard to get this one, since we don’t have anything else and can’t get the next statue.

Agree

1,750

"Our strangers from up north bid 1,650; do I hear more?" Aya nods at Menudo. "Well won, and for a steal!"

She motions to a golden statue of Ra. "This is an exquisite specimen, a finely detailed statue of the ancient god Ra! The bidding for this starts at 5,000 gold; do I have an opening bid?" Abbashin Borkelik waves his banner in the air. "5,000 it is; do I hear more?"

The Pathfinders pass, leaving Abbashin looking positively gleeful.

Aya points out the shard of The Shattered Shield of Arnisant on the podium. "And that brings us to the star of the show!" She makes an unusual thrust of her hand into the air, and glass rains down from above as a monstrous creature crashes through the skylights!

Everyone needs to make a Fortitude save, please!
If you fail the save, you take 1d8 damage and are blinded for 1 round; if you make the save, you take half that damage and are not blinded.

The other bidders scramble to get out of the room, rushing for the back exit. Aya uses the distraction to slip out the door beside her.

Round 1 (bold may act)
Aya (out of the room)
Zim
Menudo
Milo
Iladora
Theron
Red
Creature

Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Zim, bored by the auction, looks up just in time to get a face full of glass.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Blinded by the shards of glass, Milo curses, drops to the floor to use the seats as cover, and pulls out his wand. More concerned about his wounds than having anyone at this highly illegal auction witness his magic use, he murmurs the command word to heal himself.

CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Fortitude: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
½ damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6 = 3

Iladora stands and rips her two-handed sword from its sheath, assuming a defensive position. "What is the meaning of this?!" she demands.

Readied action (greatsword slice), if the creature comes within reach: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Damage: 2d6 + 12 ⇒ (2, 6) + 12 = 20

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

The Reverend does not let the broken glass keep him from grabbing his scythe and hacking at the creature who interrupted this truly fascinating exercise in not stabbing people.

+1 Scythe: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Slashing Damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 6 = 10
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 7

glass damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Zim blinks her watering eyes fiercely, pulls out her holy symbol, and calls upon the blessings of Abadar to heal everyone in the room.

healing: 1d6 ⇒ 1 (*sigh* of course)