[GAMEDAY XI] GM ECLIPSE'S RACE FOR THE RUNECARVED KEY (Inactive)

Game Master Agent Eclipse

If I get a chance, I'll do that. Unless someone gets there first.

Seeing their enemies falling fast, Lo advances and aims a blast at... well, whichever one is still conscious...
kinetic blast vs FF: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
E damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

He then stops to look at his fingers, wondering if he did too good a job with the Goblin disguise and it is throwing his aim off...

Grr... dicebot! :)

Gorrig takes another step forward, relentlessly pursuing the bandit who keeps trying to poke him full of holes.

Bloodrage! Round 4 of 6.
Mercy + bloodrage vs yellow: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 2 = 15
Damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Bite + bloodrage vs yellow: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 = 7
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

A white raven begins circling overhead. The bird is Sheila Heidmarch’s signal that you should wrap things up and head back to Heidmarch Manor with or without the Aspis Consortium’s gold.
______________

Table GMs, this is your 24 hour warning. Act Two concludes September 22nd!

If enemies are still up next round, Lo will gather the target and retreat. Not like he's hitting much anyway. :)

The teal robed caster quickly regrets his decisions but before he can protest, he is met with the sharp end of a rapier. He clutches a new whole through his stomach and collapses.

The flames from Aylanna overwhelm the yellow garbed merc as he passes out quickly from the heat.

Green sees the battle turn and drops his weapon.

"Boss is down and I don't get paid if I don't bring the gold...this job is over. Spare me." he pleads.

Combat Round Over?:

Lo Pei
Gorrig (-13)
Trix
Ella (-2)
Aylanna (-3)
Snorri (Petrified)

Mercenary (Green)

Ella recalls that utilizing the blood of the basilisk is capable of reversing the petrification, while fresh. She also recalls the rarity and value of the creature.

Triix runs over and starts smearing basilisk blood all over Snorri.

She's quite okay with letting Green live.

After taking away their component pouches and weapons, Ella stabilizes the still living guards with taps from her wand.

4 charges?

Aylanna is fine with green's surrender.

At the start of her turn she gets 5 more damage from Gorrig, and then pops a healing channel, including the injured guards that Ella wanted to heal.
Channel: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10, Aylanna gets +4 herself

So that tops off our healing for the encounter.
Ella you should be able to save your charges.

"We should definitely help Snorri out. But what else can we take off that basilisk for value?"

I usually just remove enemies from the map unless I know there are specific uses for their bodies. Technically, most would still be alive (albeit dying). Orange is the only one that would have definitely expired. Also the wagon drivers are still just laying down.

Survival or Nature Rolls could help discern more information about the Basilisk value. Or other ways the group may think of it.

"Ya letting me live? I am a lucky man indeed. Should have just joined you two on the ground at the start." he sighs and lays back, exhausted by the melee.

That brings Gorrig back to full!

Gorrig relaxes and wills his body to revert back to his normal self. The effort leaves him panting for breath. "What did... you say about... using it... as a cure? I've never... fought one before."

As he reverts to life, Snorri stumbles forward. He looks around, confused and frustrated.

I love the idea of this character, but his luck is awful.

Aylanna has no good Survival or Nature, but does have a very good Profession: Herbalist check. Sadly, a basilisk is not an herb.

"Snorri! Glad you're back to not being a rock!"

Triix was just smearing the blood on, even pouring a mugful on his head.

k nat: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Lo ignores the remaining guards and collects the package. As well as anything else of interest or value...

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 7 + (4) = 17

Missed the rolls request there...
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
"Oh wait, can't something in this beast be used as a poison.. not sure if I remember..."

The group secures the gold and discusses what to do with the basilisk. The scales, blood, and teeth are all desired items but the fight pits would value it whole for quite a price.

The next morning, two hours before the auction is slated to begin, Sheila Heidmarch calls everyone back to the theater for another emergency briefing. She appears greatly agitated and her tenor is one of immediacy.

”My friends, we have little time and much work to do, so I’m going to make this simple. While you were dealing with the Aspis Consortium, my informants in the city investigated the individuals you reported on from last night’s gala. It seems a number of them have sufficient funds to jeopardize our efforts. In what little time remains, I need you to prevent as many of them from participating in the auction as possible. My agents will provide each of your groups with a mission brief. Once you complete the task, return here to inform us of the results, and we shall quickly set you upon another mission. Again, we need you to complete as many missions as you can before the auction starts. But remember to keep your efforts clandestine and try not to kill anyone important. We’re still trying to win the auction somewhat legally.”
______________

Table GMs, begin Act Three. Act Three will conclude October 12th!

Feel free to make your final decision on the Basilisk. Then you get a night to rest. Will post Act Three initial post soon! Great work so far."

If it's still savable, Ella will help haul the basilisk back into its protective enclosure and then heal it

That you can do! It is a simple matter to lock the cage and bring it back.

Sheila Heidmarch briefly goes over a list of eight different tasks, "Are you lot looking for a suggestion or would you like to just start tackling them?" she asks politely but with urgency.

I can choose for you, roll for it, or you can decide from the name of the tasks:
-The Curse
-The Debtor
-The Scandal
-Underbridge Exports
-The Good Doctor
-Glow of the Rushlights
-Dead Woman’s Debts
-Hydra Bait

If you remember the individuals from the pre-auction gala you can likely surmise which belongs to each one, or I can provide more information. I will attempt to pick up pace for this so you can experience as much as you would like but you are all already fast so we should have no issue (don't feel rushed).

Aylanna's top two choices are to deal with "The Debtor" which she assumes is the halfling fellow who was so evasive, and then "The Good Doctor" because it matches her own healing type of background, but whatever the gorup wants works for me. Honestly, who doesn't want to be "Hydra Bait"???

Since I missed this part, I will not vote. Don't wait for me.

Triix is rather keen to have another go at the museum curator - whichever mission that is

What are you going to do with a live basalisk - and I presume you intend to blindfold it. she asks Ella.

I have no real preference here, so Debtor and Good Doctor sound fine with me.

With 1 and a half votes for the Good Doctor we will start there. Then to the mission related to the Debtor,

"Taking advice from those with more knowledge is always a smart move..."
Fine with whatever the majority picks..

“I’m not sure yet how we can get Doctor Landis to back out of the auction, or if we fail, if we can outbid him; at least not until we know who is acting as his anonymous patron. I have a strange feeling about the whole thing. I doubt his patron has noble intentions and I suspect the good doctor is probably in a lot more trouble than he realizes. Go to the museum and see if you can get Doctor Landis to introduce you to his anonymous patron, or at least his patron’s contact. Once we know who it is, we can hopefully drive a wedge between the doctor and his benefactor.” Hedimarch says as the group is ushered off to the museum.

At the museum the group is greeted by Doctor Landis, "Oh you were at the Gala, what do I owe the pleasure?" he asks.

Aylanna tries to find out more about his benefactor, and maybe get him to start thinking about the patron's own incentives and intentions. "I think you had said you believed the key was Thassilonian? Does your partner have the same interests in Thassilonian history? It's very generous of them to support the museum so charitably. Have they helped to acquire other artifacts currently on display?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Ella gets straight to the point. "Things have started to get quite dangerous, Doctor Landis. Some of those bidding for the key have already resorted to violence and brigandry, and we want to make certain that you aren't being used as a shield in something nefarious.

"What can you tell us about your 'patron'?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Or I guess that's an aid since Aylanna has a better modifier?

Lo sits back a bit and watches the doctor's response.
sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Oh look, a pretty butterfly!

Snorri looks around at the museum, seeing if there is anything present that could give him a clue without directly speaking. He also listens in case something familiar pops up.

I gave Snorri a rank in each Knowledge to help him roll on anything he comes across. Some skills are low for him, but if there is anything he can roll, please let me know.

Triix is also looking around the museum, but not far enough away that she misses anything said. At the question of his patron, she gently attempts to probe his mind using her once a day Detect Thoughts ability to see what she can find out about this mysterious Patron.

Something under her hat causes it to move slightly

Sorry about that. This weekend came at me fast and have been driving for 12 hours before crashing.

"Well, to be honest I don't press my donors too hard when it comes to procuring new artifacts to display. In fact, this time there is an intermediary but she didn't seem to heavily interested." he says thoughtfully, at ease thanks to the words of Aylanna and Ella.

Yeah, I can take it as an Aid. I tend to use that method unless multiple checks are needed.

Triix picks up a few errant thoughts

She didn't seem dangerous but she also didn't seem quite scholarly. I hope I am not in trouble.

After a bit of conversation the doctor suggests a dinner with the contact, "Tonight I could have you all over for dinner to discuss the relic. We do have quite a kitchen and the food is delectable. Then you can ask your questions to them directly. I would hate to be in the company of someone so dangerous, alone."

"A capital idea, Doctor Landis. I'll bring a nice bottle of wine."

Aylanna agrees to meet this benefactor at dinner.

Is there anything else we should do in the meantime?

Triix says to the others as they leave. Think we can squeeze in another mission before dinner?

"Mmm, do they have duck eggs? They're my favorite."

Gorrig shakes his head when they leave. "I'm not sure it's a good idea to risk promising two things at once, especially when he says it could be dangerous. Let's wait for this dinner."

The day passes quickly and dinner arrives, the doctor offers to wax on about his artifacts till the time comes.

The guest arrives promptly, seemingly unarmed and dressed in the clothes of a wealthy noblewoman. She is seated at the table with the others but upon looking over the group a grimace crosses her face.

The group notices two small tattoos on the sides of her neck, barely visible behind her high collar and coifed shoulder-length hair. The more sharp eyed members can make them out to be small nails.

She takes her time sipping a glass of wine but otherwise is quiet.

"Well everyone. I hope we can all enjoy the meal and talk about the wonderful artifacts on display. I even got a special order of Varisian Blue-Billed Duck eggs for our friend." he says pushing a plate towards Gorrig.

know nobility: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Not quite sure what the tattoos mean, Lo tries to keep his usual quiet self.

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 8 + (5) = 18 Rust! What is that sign. It's on the tip of my tongue...

"Well, we have here fine company for a more-than-fine repast. Don't you agree Ms...?"

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

I have neither knowledge skill

Gorrig happily digs into the plate, momentarily forgetting they're here for a specific purpose and not simply to eat delicious food.

I don't have those Knowledge skills either.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Neither does Triix. She hasn't been on Gol ...... erm .... one place long enough to get those skills

Snorri notices the symbol and looks around at the others. Seeing that Ella and Gorrig seem engaged, he whispers to Aylanna.

"Hm, our hostess is a Hellknight. That tattoo marks her as the Order of the Nail."

As a player, I know a thing or two about the Order- but I think most of my encounters have been in Starfinder.

The woman takes another sip of wine before providing a curt response to Ella.

”Perhaps. A bit too much company for my tastes. “ and she sips again.

Doctor Landis Turns his attention back to the group.

”This should be a monumental occasion. Has everyone saved room for dessert? “

Taking a cue form Snorri, Aylanna asks pretty straight-forwardly (AND diplomatically) about what her interest in the key is.

"Dessert sounds lovely. And I am curious, my lady, about the interest that you have in this Key. Is it a personal project, or something for the Order of the Nail? Do you get something out of helping the good doctor procure such an expensive artifact?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24