| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Starting February 2nd.
Group to be 1/2 carryover and 1/2 picked from recruitment thread.
|
Amnur, finding a quiet moment at the table, leans in and waves Oriandor and Flori to do the same. "Say, we've actually got a job coming up. Shi, myself, Mylvwara, who should be along, and another. Would you two be keen to throw in with us and see it through?" The dwarfs breath is ripe with alcohol and his eyes are a little bloodshot, but he seems sincere.
|
Waving over the serving girl, Shi asks for something to eat.. again. She takes another sip of wine and pushes her hair back from her face. "Well, if you've seen the trouble Amnur gets us into, you'd probably wish he hadn't asked," she says with a grin, "but.. cat's out o' the bag now as they say."
She leans back as the server places a full plate in front of her. She thanks the girl and picks up one of the ribs from the plate and takes a bite. "Beleef meh," she begins, talking around a mouthful of food, "Amnoor is goot at gedding us in trouble."
She quickly strips the meat off the rib bone, giving the bone a very brief glance before flipping it playfully toward Amnur's helmet.
|
|
Amnur squints one eye at Flori and grimaces when his beard is flicked, "Hey now! That's sacred ground you're touchin!" and pulls it back protectively.
His attention on Flori, the bone creates a soft *bong* sound as it hits the side of his helmeted head. Amnur squints both eyes now, and turns the crusty look Shi's direction, "So's to be a food-fight eh? You sure that's a battle you're ready ta fight!?" and brandishes his mug of ale on high, much of the amber liquid sloshing over the side and down his arm.
(I can't believe that no one has mentioned the supreme awesomeness of our thread name yet ... -12 xp from all of you! )
|
|
Shilyn lets out a soft laugh and reaches for another rib. "Amnur, I can't believe you just sloshed your brew all over. Do you realize how wasteful that was? Why, you must have at least lost a swig or two."
Pushing her plate slightly forward, she offers the others some of her ribs. "Go ahead and help yourself. I simply had a case of the munchies as I've already eaten not long ago."
|
|
Shilyn continues to engage in small talk with the others for a time before bidding the others farewell. She takes a final sip of wine and sets the still half-full cup down and stands. "Well, I best go get my gear together if we are to head out soon," she says as she rises.
Her movements are still graceful and fluid in spite of the several cups of wine she's had as she makes her way to the door.
|
|
Amnur, blinking a few times to focus on the departing dwarf, gives a flopping bow of his helmeted head, and says in a thick slurred voice, "Hookay! You'll see me later then!" The dwarf looks from side to side slyly, and quickly grabs the half-filled cup of wine. He tilts his head back and tosses the entire cup into his throat, but then spits it right back out to the side of the table, liquid spraying everywhere. He turns an angry furrowed brow to the half-elfs departing back, but she's already gone.
It is now the next day and you are assembling (with varying frequencies of hangovers) into the common room to receive instructions.
You are met by a middle aged magic user, by dress. He introduces himself with a flourish to those that don't know him as Aram Zey, master of spells.
He asks if there are any questions, and if everyone has everything they need, because they are going "on a little trip" he says somewhat ominously.
(Aram Zey is the "master of spells" in the PFS, so he is someone to be trusted - as much as anyone in the pfs is)
|
|
Kicking back in an overstuffed chair, Shilyn casually drapes one of her legs over the arm and relaxes.
"Master Aram, I presume you've gathered us for a reason that you have not yet divulged," she says. "Perhaps you can enlighten us on the endeavor you wish us to undertake."
With practiced motions, she gathers her long hair into a loose pony tail and ties it back with a strip of rawhide while she awaits his response.
I am sure that you are aware that the common room of the Pathfinder Society is not exactly the *safest* place to divulge secrets and missions.
I *can* tell you it is of the utmost importance that we be secret, and that lives hang in the balance.
He is holding a piece of paper in his hand. Magic users might recognize it as a rolled up scroll.
"Hahaha! I think that you will be safe leaving those furs at home!" he says with a knowing glance.
Everyone together? Huddle around. This might be a little uncomfortable.
With a flash of light and a stomach-churning shift, the cool, saline air of Absalom collapses into the stifling, wet heat of the Garundi coast. Within moments, sweat begins to ooze from your pores as the fetid stink of the local climate envelopes you like a damp blanket.
The scroll in Aram Zey’s hands crumbles into dust, its magic spent. The Pathfinder Society’s Master of Spells removes his hat and begins fanning himself. “All right Pathfinders, welcome to the blistering hole that is the Mwangi Expanse. Any of you who bother to keep up with your Chronicles know that the Society has an archaelogical expedition working in the Terwa Uplands, about 80 miles northwest of our position. Of course, I doubt if more than half of you read anything but silly poetry and love stories, so allow me to sum up: the Azlant Ridge site shouldn’t be there. There are no known Azlanti sights in the Mwangi Expanse, but here we are. It may be the best-preserved evidence that the Azlanti at least visited the Mwangi Expanse. A servant of Angazhan called Ruthazek the Silverback King claims the site, too. His troops have laid siege to it and our people are starving, dying from disease, and running low on ammunition and personnel, which is where you come in.”
He motions to you, and points north through the treeline, to where a ragtag city of boardwalks and wooden buildings straddles a swampy, red river delta. “Your first stop is Bloodcove.” He chokes out the word as if it insulted his mother. “The Azlant Ridge site needs supplies, and Bloodcove is the nearest trade port. They need 2 tons of food and clean water, five crates of arrows and crossbow bolts, and clean dressings for wounds. House Cartahegn is your best choice as the Society works with them occasionally.
We already arranged payment to a caravan leader named Raimondo Scevola several weeks ago. Make contact with him to carry everything north. Also, look for a man named Senzer somewhere in town. He was an alchemist funneling potions and information to our team in the Uplands, but he went silent a month ago. You need to find out why and get that stream of potions flowing again.
“Don’t think this will be a simple trip to the market. Bloodcove is a pit founded by pirates and run by criminals—scum with no sense of achievement or appreciation for arcane advancement. Even worse, it’s a stronghold of the Aspis Consortium, which loves nothing more than perverting and profiting from Pathfinder discoveries like Azlant Ridge. Keep your heads down and do nothing to attract suspicion; perhaps adopt a disguise.
Normally I don’t give a damn if you heroic types kick in doors, make asses of yourselves, and die, but more than your lives rests on your shoulders now. If you fail and the Azlant Ridge site receives no backup, it will surely fall.” And with that, Aram hands over a coin pouch. “As I said, we have arranged payment for your caravan some time ago. This should cover the cost of supplies. If you dip into your own resources and manage to survive, the Society will attempt to reimburse you.
“Once you deal with that business, head northwest.” He presents a sealed scrollcase and an ornate, golden key on a leather thong. “Guard these with your lives. The key’s exact purpose eludes me, but the symbol it bears is repeated on a doorway at Azlant Ridge. The scrollcase contains a map to the dig site. My magics secure the case, though, and it will explode violently if opened within five miles of Bloodcove.
“Ask your questions now. I want out of this dreadful place, and have every intention of returning to Absalom the moment I believe you capable of getting to Bloodcove.”
|
|
Amnur remained silent during the meeting in the office and now his mouth hangs open, tongue out and panting in the stifling heat. "Taint natural! this heat. He tries to gather himself enough to ask some questions, [b]"Whats 'ol Raimondo look like? How will we know him? I'm guessin we can find House Cartahegn in that collections of planks over there?" Amnur takes the items from Master Aram, handing the scrollcase to Flori or Oriandor, and putting the key around his neck, tucking it into his armor. "Yeah I got one more question Master, got anything to help me deal with this heat? I'm hotter than a smiths forge in this armor!"
The dwarf, loathe to remove his armor, looks out from his lifted visor to glare sullenly at Master Zey.
|
"Sounds like a good mission to make a name for yourself young Flori.", patting the half-orc on the back. "And what's wrong with a lil sweat, Amnur? Heard it puts hair on your beard!" chuckles Oriandor. "Though you may be onto something; bet you'll probably stick out like a sore thumb in all that heavy stuff."
The tiefling then turns his attention back to the perturbed Zay. "Any suggestions on how we disguise our holy dwarf friend here?"
[/b]
|
|
Shilyn looks around and siffs loudly. "Yup, just like an old friend would say, we really stepped in something this time," she says as she reaches up with her sleeved arm to wipe the sudden rush of sweat from her nose.
Looking at Aram she continues, "Ok, Enter the town, buy goods, avoid pirates, sneak past a sieging army, and deliver supplies, all while trying not to get killed.. or sold into slavery. Sound about right?"
"Oh, another day in our lives. Piece of cake," she adds somewhat sarcastically giving Zey a roll of the eyes before letting out a muttered string of Kelish.
Giving a quick glance to Amnur, she prods him with an elbow. "And Amnur, please put that pouch of coin somewhere besides on your belt."
|
Lauranna had remained uncharacteristically silent during the trip and initial instructions. She seemed more distracted by the wisps of blonde hair that seemed to be moving of their own volition, and trying to keep them from being tied in knots.
She looked uncomfortably hot in her armor, but her grip on the monster of a weapon she carried flagged not at all. Finally, she spoke. "This Senzer. What does he look like? And is his relationship with the Pathfinders openly known? I would hate to spend hours looking 'quietly' for a man that any street merchant would know. Also, does House Cartahegn have things ready for us now? Or will we needto wait around Bloodcove for them to collect the materials?"
|
|
Ooh, it's hot! I need to slip into something more comfortable.
Flori removes what clothing she can and still cover her naughty bits. She listens again, trying to keep all the details straight. She's never been teleported before, but dreams of the day she can cast such magic, excitement and a little trepidation giving her adrenaline.
|
|
Amnur, loathe to leave his armor under any circumstances, breathes heavily inside the armor, "I'm gonna need to get a few extra waterskins! It's a durned lake inside here!" He grabs a leafy frond, pulling it from the ground and waving it at his open visor. "Ahhh, that's a nice breeze." He continues the motion as they wait for Master Zey's answers.
When Flori starts changing her clothing, Amnur stares for a moment as the 'transformation' starts to take place, then catches himself and clangs his visor down forcefully, turning slightly away, muttering something in dwarvish.
As to the heat, a teleportation spell to get the hell out of here would be in order. If you can't do that, I suggest you go naked. He scans the group thoughtfully, and then gets to Amnur. "On second thought, maybe not."
Maybe put some veggies in your armor, and at the end of the night you might have a suitable stew?
He takes out a portrait book and shows you sketches of Raimondo, and Senzer. "Senzer has a shop somewhere along the Widow’s Walk. Share as little as possible with him; everyone in the town has some stinking agenda. But he already knows of our local operations and the location of the dig site.”
"The supplies have been ordered. But they were ordered to be gathered discreetly. This is Apsis territory, and it's your life if you get caught after all. So if they are ready? I don't know. You'll have to check once you arrive."
You can either use your knowlege local or diplomacy to "gather information".
Ori, if you have a higher local than diplo I'll let you reroll, as you didn't have prior knowledge of which one to choose.
Also, you are all welcome to roll KNOW:Geography if you wish (I'll accept untrained, since you are all there) to get an idea of your surroundings.
Also, you might want to discuss amongst yourselves how you want to proceed.
You are going into major Aspis infested territory, and need to have a plan of action. The Aspis Consortium runs EVERYTHING on a governmental level here. People are bought and paid for right down to the judge and jury. There is a *serious* potential of death if you cause to much of a commotion, especially if they find out you are here helping the PFS.
To give you an idea of the city layout: It is a *major* trading hub in the area. Think of Greece back in ancient times, but with more pirates, lol.
So you have pirates, merchants, vagabond tribes, traveling priests, tribesman, and spies aplenty. (You might actually see some fellow PFS agents, or are they double agents, or triple agents... anyways...)
So talk amongst yourselves in the discussion thread how you want to proceed. I don't expect you to RP it out, unless you are bored or would prefer to do it that way.
When I check back in later today/tonight hopefully we will have enough of an idea how you want to proceed in order to set up the events.
For the time being, are there any more questions for Zey (or any that I forgot to answer?)
|
|
Reaching into one of her belt pouches, Shilyn pulls out her PFS badge with the crossed swords of the Quidira faction. Bouncing it in her palm for a moment she looks at it intently then with a shrug of her shoulders, she tosses it as far as she can in the opposite direction of the town. "Well, if they're so hostile toward the society, I certainly don't want someone picking my pocket and finding that thing," she says mater-of-factly.
She then sits down on the hot sand and pulls out her rapier and dagger that she'd recently picked up from a master arms smith. "Well, if we're to pose as a mercenary group, shiny new weapons won't do," she mutters as she grabs a handful of the sand and begins rubbing it roughly over the weapons to take some of the shine off and give them a more used appearance.
Once she's done as best she can, she pulls off her pack and sets her weapons aside. "It was nice having clean clothes while it lasted," With a grin, she undoes her hair to let it fall loose, then lays ont he ground and rolls over several times, coating both herself and her hair with sand. Standing up, she gives herself a quick brush off, before redoing her loose pony tail. "Not much, but better than walking into town all nice and clean looking like we just came out of a bath house."
Shouldering her pack and cursing at the sand that is now chafing her skin beneath her shirt, she grabs her bow and looks at the others. "So first stop.. Senzer?"
|
|
Amnur shrugs, "My armor is like a second skin... it just smells better. If I could keep it on that'd be best. Mercenaries, or pirates! I've always wanted to be a pirate. We're walking into a pirate town aren't we?" He looks down at his heavy armor, "They wear armor on ships right?"
The dwarf makes an excited hoot sound, like an owl, "Oooh! What about a guard detail for a merchant? or sumthin?"
He watches Shi for a minute, looking down at himself and decides he's dirty enough, "Let's look for this Senzer, and does anyone know if I can drink the ocean?" He looks longingly out at the rolling blue water.
You have been sent here to do 2 additional tasks for the Grand Lodge
|
|
With a whiff of smoke and a swirl of air, I appear amongst the group, "Apologies, Master Zey, I had obligations to fulfill at the Absalom record." I give a short curtsey, "I have been informed of the mission by your apprentices."
After a moment, I feel the sweat beading on my brow and brush my hair from my eyes, "Apologies, friends, this is turning into a bad habit."
"Shilyn! What's happened to you!"
|
|
Amnur lifts his visor and gives Oriandor a significant look, glancing out the sides of his eyes to indicate the women surrounding them, Are you referring to the women or the cut-throat town full of pirates?.
But then Amnur smiles a big grin at Mylvwara, "Greetings and welcome Mylvwara, don't suppose you can do that trick to get us out of here now, can you?"
|
|
Smiling at Mylv's sudden appearance, Shilyn looks over at the Elven woman. "Well, you wouldn't believe me if I told you... There I was standing there minding my own business.. when poof I found myself here.." Pausing to take a deep breath as if to go on and relay the entire day, she stops with a wink. "Short version.. right," she says, "I figured since we need to blend in, clean clothes and shiny new weapons just wouldn't fit. So, I dirtied up a bit."
Hearing Orliador's comment, she turns to the tiefling and gives him a smirk. "Well, that gives you four chances to hear 'No' instead of one," she states. She turns to walk by then bumps his hip with hers and shoots a wink over her shoulder in passing as she begins to laugh.
Know Geo 23: You know that Bloodcove lies on the western edge of the Mwangi Expanse. The local culture blends Cheliax with The Shackles and native Mwangi traditions. Bloodcove sits on the headwaters of the Vanji River. Much of the wealth from the jungle interior flows through
it, making the dingy city surprisingly wealthy.
Gather Info: People look at you strangely and suspiciously and you don't really figure anything out.
One awareness point granted for Oriandor's 13 info gath.