miteke's The Shattered Shield (Outpost VIII) (Inactive)

Game Master miteke

Botting Omero again. Omero succeeds in putting another area out.
cmb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

You manage to keep the fire under control as a couple of you work furiously in the bedroom to help the victims.

Omero: Successfully puts out a fire
Eegru: Successfully puts out a fire
Navatsiyk: Helps gather valuables
Turel: Fails to put out a fire.
Snorri: removes the dagger and heals Torvid

Bold may take actions

Eegru:
Omero:
Navatsiyk:
Turel:
Snorri:

Frustrated with his absence of progress against the fire, Turel runs into the room to assist.

[move] 25ft

I can tell you're still coughing! Please come with me and we'll find you safety and fresher air to breath!

GM Does it take a move action to help him up, or does Turel simply move with him now at a reduced speed to guide him out?

Yes, let's say Torvid moves at half speed (30'/round) with Turel. Turel will need to open any doors though.

Okay, so 15ft per move action then.

I know the way out! This first room we pass through will be intense, but then it gets easier after that.

Turel helps him up and starts to lead him slowly, patiently.

Nava helps the woman to walk out.

Botting Omero again. Omero succeeds in putting another area out.

[dice=cmb]1d20+6

You manage to keep the fire under control as a couple of you work furiously in the bedroom to help the victims.

Bold may take actions

Eegru:
Omero:
Snorri:

Navatsiyk: Helps lead Torvid out
Turel: Helps lead Torvid out

Eegru will try to help the two out of the blazing fire as well, since the group hadn’t been able to contain it.

Can I use the roll from last round here and try to put out some fire? Shame to waste a nat 20.

Can I use the roll from last round here and try to put out some fire? Shame to waste a nat 20.

It was not wasted. That healing potion should not have worked.

Anyone thinking of beating back the fire? Anyone grabbing anything before fleeing the building?

Bold may take actions

Omero:
Snorri:

Navatsiyk: Helps lead Torvid out
Turel: Helps lead Torvid out
Eegru: Exiting stage left

Omero grabs the woman and shoves her towards the door. "Let's go! This fire is only going to get worse!" Omero coughs loudly after speaking due to the smoke.

You all abandon the manor to it's fate and hurry outside. As you exit, Torvid reveals in a hushed whisper that the Sacred Cobra auction house is currently being staged right under the Pure Legion’s noses, on the second floor of Azir’s Museum of Philosophy, Logic, and Natural History in the Grand Souk—and is scheduled to begin at approximately 10 a.m. in the morning; he also hands over his bidder’s banner to Snorri, who already holds the enchanted dagger of which Torvid remarks "I wish I had never seen that damned artifact."

At the same moment several members of the Pure Legion arrive on the scene, entering through the front gate, including Captain Kazima Rufah.

Inusi, who collected as many items as she could before the flames could trap her, pops her head out the door, spots the legion, and pops right back inside the manor with a muttered explicative.

You have a round or two to react to the Pure Legion's presence before they descend on you.

Omero wipes his face and hands clean as best he can. He smirks as he spots the Pure Legion members and gives a wave of greeting to Captain Rufah.

He whispers to his fellow Pathfinders. "Stay calm and speak the truth. There is no need to cause further issues."

But we should keep the dagger and bidder banner hidden. Anything else anybody wants hidden? he whispers.

I assume Snorri hands over the items? Did anyone save the valuable bust from the burning room?

Nava tries to remain calm trusting Omero handle talking with members of Pure legion.

Turrel takes charge and stuffs the items away where the legion is not likely to look. The Pure legion sets up a perimeter around the courtyard and Captain Kazima Rufah starts asking questions.

"What happened here? We saw the smoke and headed on over as fast as possible."

Almost as an afterthought she adds, "I don't suppose you've found any more of those infected statues?"

Eegru shows his empty hands, having only thought of self preservation during the groups’ scape from the flames. ”Was burning inside when we got here,” he croaked.

"Any idea what caused it?"

"We don't know what truly occurred here. We too spotted the smoke as we came near and acted to intervene and rescue anyone who might be trapped. We don't know who set the fire or murdered the people you will find lying about. Needless to say, this senseless act of violence and destruction needs looked into and justice brought upon whoever purpetrated such henious acts."

Inusi speaks up.

"Well, I know who did it. A lunatic named Zaashakar. He thought that I might know where the Sacred Cobra auction house might be and tried to force the information out of me. He may get it from someone else, but not me! When he failed, he chained us up and made me swallow the key. If it were not for this man here, we would both have died."

The captain grimaces. "I would give a lot to find that place myself. It is a thorn in the side of every law abiding citizen and encourages just this kind of pro-religious, anti-civic reaction. People like this Zaashakar are the reason we made our laws. Any idea where he might be?"

Inusi's response is to say "He seems pretty determined. My bet would be on his find out where the Sacred Cobra auction house is and being there. Good luck finding it though. Oh, and he seemed unnaturally fixated on betting and luck."

Since everybody else abandoned the fire, Snorri will stop putting it out and probably grab the bust on the way out.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (20) - 2 = 18

Turel listens silently, not wanting to betray that any of the testimony satisfies the guards, ideally sending them on their way soon.

DC18 Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

He eyes Inusi, but dare not press for more detail in front of the guards.

Sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 10

"I can confirm we found murdered people in the manor and when we investigated further we met these two people chained."

"Should we check that museum if the auction is really there?" she whispers to party members once the legion members are gone

Since everybody else abandoned the fire, Snorri will stop putting it out and probably grab the bust on the way out.

I double checked the thread and I don't think any of you noticed the bust.

After some more questioning, which is not antagonistic (probably because you have an 'in' with the captain), a Fire Brigade arrives and the civil servants are kept quite busy trying to save as much as they can.

What do you do now?

Sense motive 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Eegru looked around, happily oblivious to any goings on around him. No thoughts, just vibes..l

Snorri Thordenskjold wrote:

Since everybody else abandoned the fire, Snorri will stop putting it out and probably grab the bust on the way out.

I double checked the thread and I don't think any of you noticed the bust.

After some more questioning, which is not antagonistic (probably because you have an 'in' with the captain), a Fire Brigade arrives and the civil servants are kept quite busy trying to save as much as they can.

What do you do now?

** spoiler omitted **

Snorri did. Screen shots don't work on the forum, but it was a DC 12 Appraise or Perception check, requested on April 15. Snorri got a 13. (Listed as "Perception A" in the post.)

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

For brevity, let's just say Snorri shares the info from the Knowledge: Local.

DC15 Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Turel doesn't know of it, but he's happy that Snorri can fill in the team about the Museum of Philosophy, Logic, and Natural History.

Perhaps we should at least stop by the museum tonight to scope it out, so that we know where we're headed in the morning, he suggests.

You all visit the museum but discover that it is closed at this time. You do get a look at the exterior but there is a sign that says 'closed for renovations until 12 noon'.

The auction is at 10 AM and it is late at night right now. Also remember that the dagger is a bit of a mystery which you could take a look at.

While devising plan for the auction and passing time, Nava studies the dagger's magical properties.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

If Snorri has not directly touched the dagger, he will use a cloth to pick it up. Otherwise, he will just look at it. What skill should he roll?

@Snorri
To identify a magic item you use spellcraft along with a casting of detect magic, and the DR is 15 + item’s caster level. You can use knowledge (arcana) to determine the aura, which is what I'll assume Navatsiyk was doing.

@Navatsiyk
You determine that the weapon has a faint necromancy aura. Of course it also has an evocation school aura from the enhancement.

Do you wait for the opening of the Sacred Cobra Auction and show up, or will you be trying something else before then. That is not a GM hint, just allowing you all to do something not on the railroad.

Eegru couldn’t think of anything to occupy his time other than waiting for the auction.

Snorri has no plans for the night.

Editing for correction: Snorri does not have Spellcraft.

Though you never mentioned looking through the saddlebags Eegru grabbed, I will assume you do so at some point. Searching the saddlebags reveals that they are mostly empty, save for a missive from Inusi Mendalari to one Famish Squinwhisban, a gnome architect. The letter includes a set of blueprints explaining the positioning of the joists Inusi used in “the Pure Legion stables” that allowed her to create a more open and efficient floor space without sacrificing the structure’s integrity or security.

When the PCs first arrive at the museum, there are guards at each of the entrances. A pair ahead of you is informed that the museum has been closed for a private lecture while the renovations are being done. But when you present your entrant’s bidder’s banner, the carefully woven scarves used as both entry tokens and bidding signals during the auction, you are allowed inside. Once inside, you notice that the guards are closely watching the comings and goings of all auction guests and note any unexpected additions to the bidders, demanding to see the bidder’s banner or who their patron is. There are five other bidders attending the Sacred Cobra’s auction this day. The PCs and other bidders gradually filter into the museum, where they wait in the Hall of Taxidermy (area B4) while Aya Ajiri, the officiator of the auction, and the guards prepare the auction. The PCs can use this time (one hour) to interact with and influence the other bidders. You may try to get them to yield to you on the bidding for the shard or drop out of the auction, or somehow influence them to spend all their money on some other item. Whatever works!

See slide 7 for a map.

Snorri is most interested in talking to Pateba, wherever he is.

Eegru approaches Madam Adenalar and tries to discern more about her.

Sense motive 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Before talking to other bidders Nava sneaks somewhere she doesn't raise too much attention and summons her eidolon. She begins a conversation with Famish Squinwhisban trying to get a hunch.

Sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Turel approaches Pateba as well, figuring maybe they have the best chance of influencing a fellow adventurer.

Greetings. You look like you've done some work in the field, or that is the stage of the world. I'm scoping out the shard with some associates, as we have reason to doubt its authenticity. There is at least one more replica being auctioned soon in another nation. Who knows, maybe they're all fake and we're being strung along with no hope of obtaining a real one.

He grimaces with a tinge of hopelessness.

Did it work? Bluff: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

The goal here is to either collect extra cash or eliminate bidders to bolster your chances at getting the shard and any other goodies you might take away.

Item's and posted Starting Bids in the order the bidding will be done.
Bracers of divine range 2,500 gp
Clockwork statue of Brigh 1,000 gp
Phylactery of faithfulness 500 gp
Kelksiomedes’s grape trellis 2,500 gp
Staff of healing, minor 4,400 gp
Eldas’s platinum drafting tools 1,500 gp
Incense of meditation 1,650 gp
Golden statue of Ra 5,000 gp
Shard of the Shattered Shield of Arnisant 5,000 gp

DM

No need for spoilers, though it would be more in character. I know I used spoilers for you all, but I don't want to make you all use them for your posts. Happy if you do though!

Snorri smiles at Pateba. "If you are interested in statues, you may find this one interesting." If he still has the statue, he will discreetly show it to Pateba.

Was Turel's attempt invalid?

GM

I did not catch Turel's attempt as our posts crossed, but in the end the offer of the bust did the trick. See the Snorri spoiler.

Omero Tegus kicks back and enjoys the museum while the others work the crowd.

Anyone approach the Borkaliks?

Nava nods politely while listening Famish "Might you be interested in these blueprints for stables of Pure legion? I can't tell how did I find this, but if you seriously want it, I ask in exchange that you refrain bidding the Shard of the Shattered Shield."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16