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The Half-orc wanders his way through the icy streets of Kalsgard with his Pathfinders in tow. After a good thirty minutes in the biting cold, he ends his trek at the docks, where the wind from the river blows with an even rougher edged frigidity.
He points to a tall masted ship as they approach. "The Grinning Pixie, Captain Calisro Benarry's boat. She's a good ship captain and an even better Venture Captain. You'd best listen to what she has to say," he offers up without prompting.
He leads everybody up the gangplank and into a well appointed captain's cabin at the rear of the ship. There he leaves with a simple, "Wait here, I'll get the captain." before heading back onto the deck.
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"Just a minute. I need to buy an outfit and maybe a potion before we get on the boat. Unless there will be a chance to buy cold weather clothes when we get there." the you hafling lass says as she skips along behind the half-orc.
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Forcing her way back into the cold hadn't been the best thing in the world, but it wasn't the worst - and it was effectively her first step on her own adventure! Lenora noted that she'd want to keep track of everything both for the Society and also so she'd be able to tell Mattias about all that she'd experience.
It wasn't until the Halfling spoke up that she grimaced - she, too, needed clothing better suited to the cold. It hadn't mattered so much on her journey up, but if they were to get anything done, she couldn't be chattering her teeth as her fingers and toes froze over. "I'll be needing to go and find some of the appropriate gear myself," she noted. "Seeing as I just got into town." With a slightly apologetic shrug, she added, "I've never been anywhere so cold, so I figured I'd get my gear once I arrived - I figured pickin' up some furred cloak wasn't going to do me much good if it wasn't from someone or someplace with actual, real experience with the cold. Because really, this is a bit much! The cold and wind here are so strong they nearly cuts!
Upon arriving, she moves to join the others across the gangplank, looking around curiously. She'd been on ships before and she'd found that there was much to be learned from the people working aboard them - what kind of captain they had, for example. Seeing as the Half-orc had just disappeared with promises to bring said man up, she thought it only fair to be a bit curious, at least.
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Rose takes a few minutes to pop into a store and purchase Cold Weather Gear, and two potions of Endure Elements. She also puts a Wand of Cure Light Wounds on the pile of gear. She salutes the woman who entered the store with her. "Nice to meet you. I'm Rose Haddelton. Swashbuckler extraordinaire at your service." She bows with a flourish.
*stands near Amhranai.*
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Untir is a tanned Osiriani man. His long dark hair is tied back from his eyes with a ragged leather strip at his brow. Other than the breastplate he is wearing, a silvery large shield attached to his left arm, and a simple shortspear strapped to his back, he carries little else. He is dressed in thin and light clothing, suitable for desert dwellers of the Osirion. Which is clearly completely inappropriate for the climate here in Kalsgard.
Untir stands as far away from the side of the ship as he can, still looking somewhat green from the long sea journey over from Absalom. He had barely time to recover after reaching solid ground before he finds himself on deck again. Having spent much of his life in the Osirian deserts, the shock that there is so much water in the world still comes onto him each time he travels by ship, although it has been improving. He has also wrapped himself as tightly as he can with his cloak, but is still shivering badly from the cold. All in all, a rather miserable looking fellow.
He does, however, bring his hand from time to time into his pouch, absent-mindedly caressing Da'e. Stay in there where it is warm. And dry. Normal folks do seem to panic quite a bit when they see scorpions. Despite knowing that his familiar does not really understand him, he has taken to having conversations with it, it being his only connection back with the Running Scorpion tribe. Other than the countless ancestral spirits that reside in him, that is.
When he speaks, manner of speech rather polished, formal and perhaps unexpected of someone dressed rather roughly, although at times he has to force the words out through his chattering teeth. "I am pleased to ... to make your acquaintance as well. My name in Untir, Untir Jonrot. I had served as the apprentice shaman for my tribe, but for the last year, with the urging of my ancestors, have found myself with the Society." He pauses here briefly as a wave of shivering sweeps through him. When he finally brings it under control, he continues, "It seems I am completely unprepared for this assignment. I had barely returned from Taldor before being summoned for this. Forgive me for stating the obvious, but the weather here is very unlike that of the Osirion deserts."
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Skødir dusts snow off his coat before leaning back into a corner, crossing his arms, and placing his hands in his armpits. A mane of graying hair and full beard wreath a gaunt, craggy face. His sunken eyes lazily scan the room before narrowing his eyebrows at Untir.
"Eight gold pieces or your life--your call."
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Purchases made and cold weather gear obtained, the party sits in the cold silence of the cabin. Only the occasional creak and groan of the Grinning Pixie in the freezing waters of Kalsgard can be heard.
Venture-Captain Calisro Benarry, the half-orc captain of the vessel, shivers as she strides in to her well-furnished cabin and out of the bitter winds. A Varki woman clad in leathers and a snow leopard fur coat follows. Bennary speaks, "Welcome to the Linnorm Kingdoms," says Venture-Captain Calisro Benarry.
She takes a long drag from a hip flask before continuing. "The North is no place for a free captain, but here we are. Oh, Kalsgard is fine—they’ve got stiff drink here—but you’ve got to head inland, where it’s even colder." She pulls her mammoth-fur coat tighter across her body as she continues. "Good to see you all weren’t planning to freeze to death and packed for the weather."
She continues, "You’ve all heard of Jormurdun? Well, that dwarven sky citadel contained an artifact called the Sky Key. King Gutheran broke it into five pieces and gave four of them to his heirs as they fled the invasion, keeping the fifth for himself. One of Gutheran’s heirs, Naldak, traveled into what is now southwestern Irrisen and established a small town called Naldak’s Point. That’s where the trail goes cold. Most likely, Baba Yaga wiped them out when she invaded. The piece of the Sky Key and the ruins of Naldak’s Point are probably buried under a millennium of ice and snow, just waiting for someone—you—to go dig them out."
"I’ve packed you ten blocks of blackfire clay to make the task more manageable," the venture-captain says, handing over a backpack stuffed with black bricks to Untir. "Don’t forget to take these with you."
She pauses, clearly not done with her briefing, but waiting for the mission to settle in before she continues.
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Rose sits at the edge of her seat wrapped in her cold weather gear. Her bright eyes shine from the hood. "The Sky Key? Do you know what the piece we are looking for looks like? How far away is the town? What are Blackfire clay? Can you tell us more about Naldak?" She takes a deep breath and waits for the answer to her questions.
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This pliant black clay is always pleasantly warm to the touch. Working blackfire clay in your hands for a full round causes the clay to grow much warmer, granting you a +4 alchemical bonus on saving throws made to resist cold weather. You can combine five blocks of clay over the course of a minute to produce a source of warmth equivalent to a small campfire, allowing you to heat a campsite and cook food.
Blackfire clay only produces heat, never light, smoke, or odor. The clay emits warmth for 1 hour before hardening into an unusable lump. A newly created brick of blackfire clay is composed of 10 blocks.
Venture-Captain Benarry takes another swig from her flask, and wipes her mouth before responding, "I don't really know much about the Sky Key except it is rumored to open the previously forgotten Sky Citadel Jormurdun in the Tusk Mountains. It does have something to do with time magic though, but anyone I speak to insists it's strictly theoretical until we can untie the whole thing. As for Naldak, he was son to the last dwarven king of Jormurdun; they called him Gutheran the Bold. Little is known about Naldak himself though. I found the name in an old book, and then I found the location this old Ulfen map that predates Irrisen. It's mostly a dwarven town, so it was probably underground."
Hearing the continued litany of questions Benarry holds up her hand, "To get there, you’re heading east, up the Rimeflow and Thundering Rivers, past the Grungir Forest, and into Irrisen. Desna smiles—the site is about half a day’s hike north of Dalun, a small trade city on the Irrisen border. I have a small river boat packed with supplies and a letter of trade ready for you. You'll make nice with the city officials, and see if you can get permission to travel inland. Then head to the site and find our missing Sky Key piece. You’ll know you’re on the right track if you recover signs that the royal family settled there."
She does a once over on the group of adventurer's, "Watch yourselves in Irrisen. Antagonizing the locals is like poking a sleeping ice bear in the eye, except it won’t kill you as quickly. The Society is not especially welcome in Irrisen, so try to keep what friends we have, and if you can, make new ones. With that it mind, I’ve hired a local to bring you safely to Dalun."
Venture-Captain Benarry gestures toward the Varki woman. "This is Haltani, and she will guide you into and out of Irrisen alive."
The Varki woman springs to her feet gracefully and addresses the party. "It is always a pleasure to meet travelers from faraway lands. It is true that Irrisen is a harsher land than most. Keep your wits about you, and your journey should be profitable."
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Benarray chuckles at Skødir's question, "I suggest using exactly as much clay as you might need to melt your way through whatever's in your way. I'm not engineer, but I imagine that whatever you find is going to be buried under a veritable mountain of snow or ice. I suspect you'll need all of it - or enough chisels and picks to dig your way through. But if you're dying in the cold, I wouldn't slight you for using it for its original intended purpose of keeping warm."
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The Captain's opening comment on the temperament of this place made her instantly glad she'd opted to get something warmer to wear. The gods all knew that she was happy to serve in any condition, but she'd be happiest warm.
As the woman continues on, Lenora listens carefully, attempting to take in this new information. Dwarven sky citadel? An artifact called the Sky Key? It mostly sounded like some sort of fairy tale story you might find in books, or like one of those really silly adventure stories you could read in books - or exactly like the kind of adventure she was looking for. She was still processing when the halfling blurted out her questions, beating Lenora to the punch. Still, the information would be good, right? And really, what on earth was blackfire clay?
No matter how hard she tried to recall pertinent information, she couldn't think of anything. Ho hum - she must never have encountered that information.
As it was, she tried to absorb the directions, but she could barely keep up with the new locations and names. As it was, when the Venture-Captain said they'd have a guide, Lenora barely kept from letting out a huge sigh of relief - the last thing she wanted to do was get lost in the middle of winter-land.
"Well met!" she greeted the woman. "I've never been so I'll be relying on your guidance!" One of the first things they'd been taught was that you should always be polite to those around you. It was, well. Something children ought to have been taught, but some of the rowdier types at the temple... Well. They might've been all for the Dawnflower, but not all of them were quite, um. Quite so gentle as she, physically or mentally.
Lenora may or may not have been among their number, but if asked, she'd certainly try not to answer!
To the half-orc Venture Captain, she asks, "In that case, do you think ten blocks will be enough? She we attempt to procure more? Have you any more extras?"
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Glad to be out of the cold, the stoic Untir listens intently to the briefing, wrapping his newly purchased cold-weather clothes tightly around him. He seems unaware that Da'e, his scorpion, has crawled out from his pouch is is now resting on his knee.
Turning to Haltani, Untir breaks into a somewhat uncharacteristic warm smile. "It is a pleasure to have you as our guide. My name is Untir, Untir Jonrot. How would you recommend you deal with the locals we encounter? As the captain has alluded, making friends would often smoothen over challenges we might face."
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The Vakari nods at Lenora, "It is certainly a pleasure to meet you as well, I look forward to our travels." She seems naturally comfortable in the cold weather, but she responds to Lenora's question about the blackfire clay before the clearly shivering Benarray has a chance to respond, "Ten blocks is more than I have ever seen anyone other than the most under-prepared jungle dweller need, you should be fine."
After Untir introduces himself as well Haltani seems to loosen up a little more. She loosens up her cold weather gear and smiles with his question, "I suppose it depends on the local. In addition to your needs, this is a trading mission of sorts, so trading would not be a bad place to start. I'll be glad to help soften the edges whenever I can, but I would be wary around the Ulfen tribes though. They tend to ask questions only after they've beaten the answers out of you."
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Lenora nodded thoughtfully at Haltani's answer, feeling a bit more relieved. Ten was a great sum of blocks to have, then, was it? At least they'd have some measure with which they could dig. Perhaps she should go and get a shovel...? Well, shovels were common enough. Hopefully a local would have one she could rent or purchase so she didn't have to carry one all the way.
As the conversation evolved, she cringed at the idea of combat with the Ulfen tribes. Her geography wasn't the best and her knowledge of culture was certainly less than top notch. She couldn't be sure of what Haltani meant, but, well... She hoped the woman wasn't being literal.
"And for that matter, are there things they cannot normally get easily there that we could bring with us? If trading with the locals is a good way to ease their opinions of us, I'd be happy to try and pick up a few extra odds and ends, if I can afford them."
And again, her mind considered the Ulfen tribes and she paused to wonder aloud, "Are they always combative?" She turned to Skødir, seeing as he spoke in the first person when referring to them, and asked, "Is this part of a custom you have? Does it always start with, um, violence?"
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Haltani tilts her head approvingly at Rose's assessment, "Talking things over is always the preferred option, but be wary - the Ulfen I've met don't always give anybody a choice." She glowers slightly at Skødir as she speaks.
At this point Captain Benarray steps in and begins taking a handle of the briefing again. Placing herself firmly in the middle of the room she tries to address the lingering questions, "Lenora, you needn't worry about hauling trade goods."
She carefully pulls out a thick envelope and a folded map before handing them to the woman, "Here is a map of the area and trade vouchers. The former should hopefully help you get to Dalun, and the latter should get you to Naldak's Point, or at least secure permission for you to do so."
Almost as an afterthought she lifts her finger in recollection, "If though you are still worried about Blackifire Clay, or truly want to do your own trading while you are there, The Grinning Pixie's quartermaster is at your disposal. Speak to him for any supplies."
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Thinking of one of Mattias' stories, she recalls a few bits of useful information - at least, she hopes the information will be useful. If nothing else, it gives her a bit more insight into the Ulfen people. Seeing as they were going into a land where the typical hierarchy of creatures was... almost reversed? She wasn't sure if it was fair to say as much. Confused, then. Since the hierarchy is outside of the norm, it's not particularly easy to guess at what they might encounter.
Especially since Irrisen was run by the White Witches and Jadwiga. The Ulfen likely had a wretched time there - undoubtedly, any ferocity was the result of the need to survive.
Accepting the documents and map, she tucks them away carefully. She figures they can determine later if everyone ought to carry their own or if someone else would like to hold onto them.
"Should we be worried about the citizens of Irrisen? The ice trolls and the winter wolves? I'd hate to run afoul of them. Will we be able to avoid them altogether?"
Once her questions are answered, she'll nod in understanding before going to see what the quartermaster has. She doesn't have the funds to actually try for trade items, but... Well, she can at least pick up a few more things for the journey, right? Once she has what she needs, she'll go to meet with the others for the journey, showing them the documents she received from the Captain.
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"The frozen lands of the north do not foster the timid. We grow large...strong. Today, most Ulfen are farmers and labourers, but centuries ago, most Ulfen were raiders...though the spirit of the old ways is far from gone."
Skødir's expression turns sour at the mention of the winter witches.
"Baba Yaga is a curse on my people. She enslaved my people in Irrisen and divided them elsewhere--the witches are not to be trusted."
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Amhranai is starting to realize that she will be traveling with companions who will do more than enough talking without her input. She shudders at how "people-y" it's gonna be.
She takes a moment and quietly looks at Crann, then in turn points to each member of the party, then stares back at Crann.
She stands and quietly heads toward the door, ready to start get mission.
Crann shakes it's upper branches in apparent understanding, after looking at each member of the party.
Crann follows Amhranai to the door.
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Venture-Captain Benarry nods once business is completed, "Good then, I have a small sailing boat available for you to head upriver. Halani will take good care of you." With a smile she nods to the Vakari woman before ushering everyone to the promised boat.
You look over the quaint accommodations; more of a small craft than an actual boat there is barely enough room for everyone aboard. The pack mule looks curiously out-of-place shoved into the front with the supplies. It's clear that this vessel is meant only for traveling, and there may be some harsh nights on shore camping than sleeping aboard the boat.
Halani steps aboard with a clear understanding of how it functions, "Say then, does anybody here know how to use a boat? We have several days of worth of travel ahead of us!"
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Untir steps into the boat gingerly, terrified that a mis-step would flip the whole craft over, plunging the whole party to their death. He does his utmost, however, to not show it, but the whites of his eyes and his tightly clenched jaws give it away.
Halani steps aboard with a clear understanding of how it functions, "Say then, does anybody here know how to use a boat? We have several days of worth of travel ahead of us!"
Wait, what? Doesn't she know? Untir's only response is a further widening of his eyes, if that is even possible, and he does not trust himself to reply.
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"I haven't the slightest clue!" Lenora responds easily. "Although, here's to hoping we figure it out so we don't capsize! We barely fit as is!" She gestured towards the poor mule. With that, she steps onto the boat without any consideration as to grace, finding a good spot for her and her kit, dropping her pack to get a feel of how the boat felt beneath her feet. Walking around on land was all well and good, but it was walking aboard a vessel on water that really made a person struggle.
The boat tilted to and fro beneath her and it took her a good few moments to adjust. She wasn't sure if she was the one who had caused the shift in equilibrium or if it had already been moving. Whatever the case, she was doing a bit better now. The ship itself was crowded so she suspected that their travels would be, um. Eventful. Maybe not from enemies, but possibly from the water itself! Maybe they'd even find some rapids or some sort of quick water that made them bounce about! She was definitely excited - Adventure, adventure, oh, sweet adventure~! she all but sang in her head. She thought back, trying to recall whether Mattias had ever gone into detail about sailing or watercraft.
"Haltani, do you know about how many days it'll take?" She'd picked up two more trail rations, but, well. She supposed she could try her hand at fishing or something? Not that... she had the supplies, but... Well! Mattias had told her about some guy that grabbed fish right out of the water with his hands once! Maybe she could try something like that?
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Haltani gives a small frown in reaction, "Well I was hoping for some capable sailors to help, but I suppose I can manage the sails myself. Untir, perhaps you could follow my lead on the ropes and Rose, you take the rudder? I'll tell you which direction to point it. The trip should only take a few days."
The small boat barely contains the crew, a walking tree, and the mule; supplies peeking out of every nook and cranny. It's a surprise the boat even floats at all. As the boat gets way, the first day's travel seems uneventful, though cold and breezy. About half way through the day Haltani seems happy with Untir's handling of the sails and she takes a break at the back of the boat near Rose.
She breaks the silence with a question to the Halfling, "You say you haven't spent much time on boats but your steering is suitable. I'm curious, I haven't met many of your people. Most of the shorter races are Goblins or far more irritable creatures. Where are you from? I'm afraid I don't get out of these lands much and I'd love to hear a tale of your homeland."
Later that evening, after camp is made along the icy shores she finds time to sit next to Lenora as well. "You seem uncomfortable in my homelands. Is it the people? Is it the weather? Or is it just riding in a boat?" She smiles a kind smile, "Please, I'd like to know something about you and Pathfinder Society. What do you do for them? I've heard only bits and pieces of your organization's role in this world. Perhaps you could tell me more?"
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Also that evening, Untir wakes finds voices in his head while beginning to fall asleep.
You recall earlier today while in a lull while boating, that Haltani removed a pale blue diamond necklace from under her furs earlier today and gazed longingly at it.
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Although he has no skill at sailing, Skødir is happy to do any rowing as well as helping load/unload supplies when we stop.
If we need to rotate watch positions, Skødir will volunteer for the evening watch. Thirty minutes into his watch something startles him and his eyes grow wide.
Ale. You forgot ale.
With a resigned grumble, Skødir settles into the rest of his watch.
Skødir gathers a few stones and assembles a small cairn before taking a small stone from his pack and placing it against the stones. From his spell component pouch, he takes a sprig of herbs and holds them in the embers of the fire until they begin smoking, which he then places at the foot of the cairn. Next, he lays his swords out horizontally in front of the cairn, and sits down criss-cross applesauce opposite the cairn. He rests his hands on his knees and sits quietly, his eyes patiently focused on the stone before him.
After a few minutes, the stone placed from his pack begins to emit a dull, golden glow. Barely visible, a humanoid form glows above Skødir. As the hour concludes, the spirit descends into Skødir's body, who then gathers his swords as well as the runestone.
"Few are more adherent to the old ways as the dead who died defending them."
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Untir is shocked by the sudden voice that suddenly arises in his head. His ancestral spirits within also start agitating by the intrusion, but as soon as Untir recognises the source, he settles them down. Immediately recalling the jewel that Haltani was fondling, he sends a message back quickly, uncertain if he would get a response. "Does it look like a pale blue diamond?"
As he is falling asleep, those of you still awake suddenly seeks Untir starts and sits up. He seems to concentrate briefly, then appears to be studying Haltani discreetly before he slowly returns back to bed.
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Next day, Untir finds a lull in the activities on the boat and with a calculating look in his eyes, hands the ropes to Rose, making his way over to Haltani. Placing his open palm on his chest, he gives her slight bow. With he warm smile, he says, "I would like thank you for guiding us on this journey." Gesticulating to the whole boat, he continues. "Clearly without you, we wouldn't even have been able to get started. And despite my fear of the open water, you have made me a somewhat adequate sailor! Having lived my entire life in the open Osirion deserts, the sight of such vast stretches of nothing but water ..." Untir shudders as he pauses here, but soldiers on. "Let's just say it can fill one's soul with terror. I can still remember my first journey across the sea to Absalom, the few days of abject terror clutching to the tossing cabin bunk. Not an experience I would like to live through again. But I thank you, for in these few days, you have done much to help me get over my fear."
Untir smiles as he cocks his head to one side. "I could not help but notice that beautiful necklace you have been wearing. The diamond on it, so crystal blue. It reminds me of the oasis when my tribe, the Running Scorpion, make our home." He stops here and sighs, as if reminiscing about home. "It must mean very much to it. Oh, I am sorry if I'm prying."
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After a few minutes, the stone placed from his pack begins to emit a dull, golden glow. Barely visible, a humanoid form glows above Skødir. As the hour concludes, the spirit descends into Skødir's body, who then gathers his swords as well as the runestone.
"Few are more adherent to the old ways as the dead who died defending them."
Untir whips his head over as he senses, then sees the spirit descending onto Skodir. He approaches him cautiously, and asks, "You... you commune with the spirits, too?" Saying that, he concentrates briefly and faintly, but surely, a maelstrom of indistinct humanoid shapes rise from him for a while, before he draws them back and they fade from view. "These are my tribe's ancestral spirits. The shamans of my tribe who have long passed, but stay on to guide the current shaman. Me. Indeed, we owe much to the dead."
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Rose smiles brightly happy to talk about her race. I'm a hafling. We're nothing like goblins or kobolds at all. We sometimes get confused with gnomes, but that really shouldn't happen. Our hair is normal colors most of the time, and we're much more sturdy than a gnome. We also don't blow things up nearly as often as gnomes do. We like our comforts. A comfy bed, a good meal, and a fine drink keep most haflings happy. If you can share it with friends that's even better." she inhales and then continues. "I'm from Taldor. My family was smuggled out of Cheliax a couple generations ago by the Bellflower Network. I was born a free hafling. Can you believe that some people keep my kind as slaves? That's just not right. I joined up with the Pathfinder society to see the world, and help free others if I can." She steers the boat as best she can. "Thank you so much for guiding us. Why did you decide to help?"
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That is no blessing.
"I commune with the spirits of champions cursed to remain, denied revelry in their glories in the afterlife..." He shoots a sideways glance at Untir before continuing, "...and I hope to guide them there."
Skødir then pulls out his whetstone and busies himself by sharpening his weapons. He also offers to sharpen anyone else's slashing or piercing weapons (even arrows)
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Rose pulls our her rapier and hands it hilt first to Skodir. "Would you sharpen my weapon please?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"I don't know about uncomfortable," Lenora admits. "It's all certainly new to me! I've been wanting to go on adventures for the longest time. Still, I've only just gotten to go on my first one!" She grins at Haltani. "I guess I'm just not sure what to expect. I hope I can help! I'm a bit worried I won't be good enough."
She considers the woman's question and then nods. "Yeah, I can tell you a bit!" Lenora then launched into a brief explanation of what she knew about the Pathfinder Society and its three branches as well as how she'd ended up with the organization, the stories that Mattias would tell her and whatever other odds and ends she could think of. Once she's exhausted her throat for the time being, she decides to pass the talking bit back over to Haltani and asks, "What will you do when we get there? The Captain said you were going to guide us there, but... Will you be around for us to visit with afterwards, too?"
Seeing the Ulfen pull out a whetstone, she remembers that she has one of her own and begins to hone the blade of her scimitar and her crossbow bolts as she speaks with Haltani.
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Unfortunately there is no reply from the Scarab Sage to your question.
As Untir talks with Haltani, it is clear the woman likes his demeanor and methods. Whatever he is doing has her attention for the better. As he thanks her for her efforts she smiles in return, "You are most welcome for my assistance. My knowledge of sailing is immaterial really - just something that you need to know to survive here. You've picked it up quickly enough." She laughs heartily at his revaluation that he is not comfortable on the water, "I were you, I'd stick to the rivers. They're not terribly deep and the shore is close in case panic sets in. Though I have to admit that your description of sea travel is utterly terrifying; I've never been myself."
When he asks about the necklace she takes it off for him to examine, handing it over gently by its chain. "It is an ice diamond from the mines of Hope Lost, just east of Dalun. A gift from long ago. Some are white, and some are light blue much like this one. I rather prefer the unique color."
As Skødir and Untir discuss their background with spirits Haltani scoffs quietly at the mention of ancestors before responding, "I did not know it in the Ulfen to have any reverence for the dead, especially those that are denied any kind of trip to the Boneyard. Is this something they taught you in the Pathfinders?"
She perks up slightly at the mention of the Halfling race as it quickly becomes clear that she has not seen one before. "I am helping because Captain Benarry asked of course, and I was happy to oblige my services. We must all make a living somehow. But Goblins and Kobolds - how interesting, I've heard of both but only seen Goblins". She listens intently and laughs at the mention of gnomes, "Brightly colored haired people that blow things up often? These gnomes sound like an absolute nightmare. But it's nice to know the Pathfinders accept both." The conversation seems to take a bit of a sour note though as Rose tries to explain the Pathfinders and their goals as Haltani's attention quickly drifts elsewhere on the discussion of slaves and helping free others.
Lenora's attitude seems to brighten her day a bit more though after what seemed like a bit of a rough conversation with the Halfling. "Your second adventure? Well I admit I hope it is quite dull." She nods and gets quite involved in the conversation which lasts a good portion of the evening before turning in. Before the everyone turns in though she smiles and adds, "I may be around, it really depends on factors when we arrive. I have some other things to attend to. But I promise if I am available I will find you all."
The next day's sun rises and the boat sets sail again. Today she leaves Untir at the sail and Rose at the helm while she settles in next to Amhranai. She quietly begins a conversation, "An Elf. I've met a few of your kind. So far away from home I suppose? Tell me, Elves have been known for their longevity and often their breadth of experience. What is the furthest place from these lands you've gone?"
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"Lenora. You are a Paladin? Who is your god? How did you arrive at your calling? I'm a swordswoman myself. Daring deeds and all that." Rose asks while she concentrates hard to keep the rudder straight in the river. She's short and that dratted mule keeps shifting making it hard for her to see out the front of the boat.
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"I'm a hospitaler," Lenora clarifies. With a smile, she adds, "I'm a paladin, but of the sort that prefers to heal rather than hit things. Granted, I can still hit things, but, well. I'm better at helping people than hurting. It seemed to fit, seeing as I follow the Dawnflower."
She tilts her head to better answer Rose and explains, "My... I guess you could call him my mentor? Mattias was just a handful of years older than me, but he took care of me when the church found me. He told me stories about the tasks he was assigned and his adventures helping the society. I didn't realize how dangerous all of it was until he came back seriously injured." Lenora frowns at the memory and shakes her head a bit, sighing. "I started studying so I could maybe go with him the next time, you know, help look out for him." Her smile turned a bit wry and she looked at her hands. "Turns out I'm better at healing, so there's definitely some hang ups with my... what, ability, I guess? But that's the path I was placed on. I'd never been allowed to roam freely before, though, which is how I ended up in Kalsgard. Mattias hasn't been doing any jobs lately - healing and teaching, I think. I figure it's my turn to bring back some interesting stories, you know?"
"What's a favorite moment of yours, a good story from your life?" she asks Rose in return, curious.