GM Axolotl |
It is one of those hot, windless days in Absalom, the mighty City at the Center of the World, when the garbage truly reeks something awful, and you long for a cool breeze to waft from the Inner Sea...but none are forthcoming. You have sought some relief at the Crimson Coin, a two-story tavern that is usually bustling with gamblers and gladiators of all shapes and sizes, but with the Irorium just finishing up a week of battles, it's quieter than usual, although far from empty. You sit and count your dwindling coins. It's not easy to live in Absalom without regular work, and your quests for employment have not gone well of late.
A few patrons get to talking about the countless ruins of failed conquerors that litter the plains outside the city’s walls. You’ve heard rumors that one of the sealed siege castles has been laid open by a minor earthquake. Word on the street is that no one has yet entered the tower, which folks are calling the “Fallen Fortress.” A hulking half-orc gladiator, his best years behind him, and an older woman dressed in robes of red and white, say something about the Fortress that piques your interest...
GM Axolotl |
Feel free to describe yourself in a post as well, so that each player knows the image the other is presenting. I'll continue when everyone has posted. :)
Imendri Hears-the-Old-Ones |
Enjoying the warm weather not common in the far north, a huge beast of a Half-Elf lounges in the tavern, chair tipped and leaning against a wall by the door. Long matted plaits of black hair fall around his tanned face and shoulders, landing on his armor of cured hides and leathers.
In heavily accented common, he addresses the aged gladiator and the robed woman: "Yif it so eesee to get een, it has prahbaply been taken all de way by luuters. Onless... yuu haf som more informations?"
GM Axolotl |
When the hulking half-elf speaks. the half-orc grunts and starts to rise from his chair, reaching for some weapon under the table. "Hold, Guthruk," says the woman in a low, calm voice. Though she moves not an inch and has neither weapon nor armor in sight, her voice of authority is enough to make the gladiator sit back quietly, abashed. She eyes Imendri with a piercing glare. "No one said it was easy, good sir. It's not a job for common looters. Uncommon ones, perhaps. You, and you. And you. I see you circling like vultures." She addresses Vesilyx, Auric and Andrea with a sharp but weary air. "Sit. You're clearly sniffing about. I'll trade information and more if I can get some help from ruffians such as you."
She seems to be honest enough.
Imendri Hears-the-Old-Ones |
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Imendri smiles at the Orc and scoots his chair closer to the woman's table. He takes a cursory glance around the room to identify the people this lady had looked at.
None of them look any more familiar than perhaps in passing at this or that tavern. I could handle any one of them in a brawl. Maybe 2 of them at once. I hope they prefer beauty to barfights.
Vesilyx |
Perhaps a bit too cockily, the young man in the corner sweeps the black hair from his clear blue eyes and smiles at the half-orc as if to say, "easy, killer. I mean you no harm."
He swaggers over to the table, slowly. "My fair women," his eyes sparkle. "I'm no ruffian, but if you're offering adventure, I might be interested."
He pulls up a chair and takes a seat at the table, ready to listen.
Auric Angelesblood |
This is just the opportunity I need to replenish my dwindling coffers. This lot look like they could be useful...for now.
Auric pushes back his chair, gathering his crossbow and slinging it across his shoulder. He strides confidently towards the assembling group.
"Talk. The longer we wait, the sooner someone else takes advantage of this opportunity."
-Posted with Wayfinder
GM Axolotl |
The woman smiles in a keen way and gives Auric a piercing look. "Well said, Chelaxian. Well, have a seat, all of you. I am Vendra, and you have met Guthruk." The half-orc grunts and inclines his tusks.
"We happen to know that no one has entered the Fallen Fortress and come out. However, I have an association with the Pathfinder Society that affords me this knowledge: a particularly intrepid, or foolish, Pathfinder, has gone in. And not returned. Not for several days."
She looks around at the group. "You do know of the Society, yes? Bunch of grave robbers attempting to justify their moral position through various forms of posturing. They don't have the guts to to admit that they've gone in and lost an agent. If I can get someone in to retrieve him, quietly, I will have some leverage with them. My price is the agent--alive, if possible--and an item of my choosing from your...uncommon looting."
She pulls out a slightly worn looking wand from a satchel. "Whatever is in there will try to kill you. I can outfit you with rations, and this. A dozen healing charges remain. Use them wisely."
"So, ruffians, in or out?" She regards them with a glare.
Andrea Leftwood |
"Yeah, I might be agreeing with Grunty Muscles here. Is this a revenge thing or is he your long lost son or what? I mean, I say live and let live usually, but yeah, if you're going to turn him into stone or something, we're going to look pretty stupid."
Andrea glances around.
"Stupider."
GM Axolotl |
Vendra sighs. "I'm not in the kidnapping business. I will return this oaf to the Pathfinder Society, or may the Dawnflower burn me where I sit. You have my word that they owe me, but feel that I owe them. This will put things straight, or perhaps place things in my favor slightly. Is that fair, young heroes?"
She places a few more items on the table: a holy symbol of Sarenrae, and a wayfinder. "This is who I am. Or rather, this is who I was. Do I need to spell it out further?" She seems sadder and smaller all of a sudden, and the half-orc places a hand on her protectively.
Imendri Hears-the-Old-Ones |
Sorry about that, got distracted over the weekend, spent today playing video games and anticipating getting my tooth crowned.
Innocently and without recognition, Imendri eyes the objects on the table.
"Aa ya, det's gud to heer. De eens an owts off yuur societies ees somfing det's ofer me... but yuu seem like a wuman what can be trust." Imendri puts his fist to his chest, "I am Imendri Heers-de-Olt-Wuns, and by de grace of Desna, I haff strong legs and sharp eyes for to explore. All ways a new beauty to find where de sky meets de land."
Andrea Leftwood |
Yeah, sorry. I lost track for a sec.
Andrea, crossing her arms and standing near the table, eyes the wand obviously, reaching for it.
"It might be a good idea for me to hold onto that. Are names really important? You can call me The Arrow, if it is. I'd do this alone if I was more of a fool, but I'm not, so this group seems, at the least, confident, if not competent. We'll get your lost puppy."
Vesilyx |
Vesilyx hoists himself away from the table and swipes the wand from Andrea, twirling it in his hands before taking a moment to study it.
"They call me Vesilyx D'Atreyu," he says before setting the wand back on the table. He looks at the group around him, smiles and bows. "At your service."
GM Axolotl |
"A pleasure, all, I'm sure," says Vendra drily. "Angelsblood's scion, I am not a Pathfinder. Not now. Whether I choose to join their ranks again, and whether they choose to have me, well, now you see more of my intentions."
Guthruk stands and speaks for the first time. "If you need supplies, best get them now," he says in a clear and refined voice, at odds with his brutal appearance. "It is only two and some leagues to the Fortress. The Cairnlands are deadly, though, and not to be traversed at night." He drops a few coins on the table and nods.
Vesilyx |
Vesilyx snatches the coins and pauses a moment to consider whether stealing them and running would be in his best interest. He glances at the barbarian and the fighter, decides against it, and doles the coins out to the group.
"Merely joking!" he beams. "Here we are then."
GM Axolotl |
This is a handwave--you have enough money, oddly enough, for 3 days of rations each. How convenient! I think Imendri has some vittles as well.
Imendri Hears-the-Old-Ones |
Imendri tips his head in thanks and takes his share of operating capital.
"I wull wayt by de mar kett. Dere is no way I can buy one off dem Aks Beeks, ees mor money den I haff. I wull be wall-king de way to de fortress. Also yuu?" He waves his hand around to indicate the rest of the party.
"Eef sow, mayk shoor yuu haff a tent, or a way to stay warm in de night. Can get very cold out dere."
Auric Angelesblood |
Auric deliberately wraps his fingers around the grip of his longsword and smiles coldly.
"In Infernal Cheliax it's said that dandies have the pleasure of astonishing others, and the proud satisfaction of never being astonished by them.
If any of you clever apes care to outfit yourselves, I am procuring a bedroll and settling in for the evening. When dawn breaks, I am going."
Auric takes the Wayfinder from the table and pockets it, leaving the holy symbol.
Now which way to the shop around here?!
Imendri Hears-the-Old-Ones |
Imendri takes his share of the gold and walks out, dreamily. Looking up at the sky, he seems to lift in spirits, if not openly beam with the feeling of freedom.
...sitting in buildings is for lawmakers and wizards, liars and fear-driven people. This is where I belong, in the air, under the sky, hearing birds and bugs sing the song of nature. Everything will be better when we've gotten outside the city walls. I can show them the power of the Mammoth Lords, the wisdom of our navigators, and the stamina of our warriors. Maybe this group will be good for me too. I hope they try to understand me, as I do them. I also hope betrayal isn't in their designs. I miss the brotherhood of my tribe... so many people live in these cities, and each of them alone. I don't know how they live like this.
Following a butterfly, and then a dragonfly, the walk to the market takes a while, but he eventually lands himself at a stall selling traveling goods, including the sacks of dried fruit, nuts, and meat that adventurers know so well. After purchasing three, he looks down at his coinpurse and remembers that his last waterskin was lost while bathing in a river some days back.
It was likely a raccoon. Yet one more mark against them, Imendri thinks to himself, ...sneaking little thieves, they are.
I purchase 3 days of rations and a waterskin, using 1gp of my own money for the skin. That leaves me with 49g 4s left (with my gear I also have 1 CLW potion.)
GM Axolotl |
Why, Imendri has shown you the way to the nearest sprawling bazaar of Absalom. Get what you need and let me know when you are ready to brave the Cairnlands. :)
Auric Angelesblood |
Auric nods to the assembled group and leaves The Crimson Coin. He strides confidently through the crowd about 10 paces behind Imendri.
If mother and father could see the sort that I'm associating with they'd have a word or two to say about the matter, of that you can be sure. But this journey is not about them, or the comforts afforded me in my youth. If I'm to master my own fate, it's to be one step at a time in the rough hewn world beyond Cheliax.
That half-elf brute is right, though. The wilderness is no place for the unprepared. I shall find a warm blanket and...OOH! Is that ripe fruit?
Auric purchases a bedroll, a heavy blanket, flint and steel, 5 torches and three days rations. Then he rests wherever he'd been staying before the group met up.
Andrea Leftwood |
Andrea saunters out of the inn, flipping a coin, sneering at any eyeballs following its path. She heads down to the bazaar to argue with a vendor for a short while before heading back to the alley where she's been staying.
Andrea gets herself a new blanket and a couple torches, along with a new pack of rations.
Balls, I could use another drink.
Vesilyx |
Vesilyx slowly trails the group out of the tavern, watching them all split away down their own paths.
Am I making the right choice by joining this group? That old seer up North told me I'd find my parents' killer if I traveled down this route, but can I trust her? And will these adventurers lead me to the scoundrels I'm looking for or am I just blindly wandering? Calistria, be with me. I hope I'm making the right decision.
He palms the lucky gem he carries with him and heads to the bazaar to prepare before heading back to his lodgings to rest.
Vesilyx purchases 3 days of rations with the funds provided and a waterskin, bedroll, blanket with his own funds.
GM Axolotl |
equipping...Vesilyx, you are at Medium encumberance. I tried adding a Masterwork Backpack, but that doesn't solve the issue. Maybe a martial type can carry your foods?
Imendri Hears-the-Old-Ones |
Imendri is pretty perceptive. If the smooth talker seems to be struggling at all, I've got a bit of room in my medium encumbrance to hold or strap on another tent or something. An offer would be made.
Also, Imendri moves the same speed with medium encumbrance that the rest of you guys move at light load, dat barbarian fast movement doe!
GM Axolotl |
If y'all are ready, we can change scenes. Going once, going twice..
GM Axolotl |
and SCENE! use an ooc post marked "Flextime" if you want to make any changes in purchases or put things on a goat or something.
The journey through the Cairnlands, thankfully, is uneventful. You see marks of some skirmishes along the way; perhaps that is why you meet no other travelers on this path?
After a few short hours, still in early afternoon, you see the tower. The ruined siege castle now being called the Fallen Fortress rises out of the churned earth of the Cairnlands. No doors or windows mar the otherwise smooth expanse of the tower’s walls.
The tower is quatrefoil in plan; its eastern wing has largely collapsed, exposing the interior floors to the open air. Only the topmost level seems whole, though its eastern portion hangs precariously over the mountain of rubble left by the collapse. At ground level, the rubble frames a gaping hole in the side of the building that provides access to the tower’s darkened interior.
You stand before the debris field left by the eastern collapse, facing west, towards the darkened entrance.
Please refer to the map and place your icons to the right of the debris. If you have trouble with the Google Doc, lemme know.
GM Axolotl |
are you clicking the arrow button first? And it won't work on mobile devices (or WILL it?)
GM Axolotl |
Hmm...I can move ya just fine. I'm using Safari/Mac and I'm sure Chrome would be even more native to use. Other browsers, I dunno.
Imendri Hears-the-Old-Ones |
I also don't seem to be able to move my icon, or any icon for that matter (the squares as well). I believe it's in view only mode - or at least that's an unselectable option along the menu in the upper left of the doc. Unsure if there's something you can select to make it a shared doc/edit mode
GM Axolotl |
I had it set to View Only. -1000 InterGoogle points to me, and you each get Ioun Stones of The Vorpal Bunny.