PbP GameDay 4: PFS #5-08 The Confirmation (Inactive)

Game Master Wilmannator

"Thanks for the drink Boris; I owe you one," Nella smiles as she takes a drink from her mug. She listens to the large Ulfen man speak briefly about his past with interest, although his accent occasionally makes him hard to understand.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Whatever happened to him and his clan...it really must weigh on his mind.

"That's right," she agrees with Lissa. "Not everyone lives in wagons, although there are plenty of families that travel the roads in caravans. I grew up in Magnimar, City of Monuments. This is actually my first time traveling away from home. And as she said, not everyone from Varisia is technically Varisian by blood. I'd call myself so because it's my home, but by blood? Nah. Family of mutts," she grins.

As they continue to watch and listen to the reading and its thought-provoking conclusion, she nods in understanding at Garr's words. "Exactly. There's beauty in creation, though I think it's something that you can't fully understand unless you're a craftsman of some kind. Whether weapons or armor...or in the case of me and my family, musical instruments."

Markus' bravado evaporates with Rin's words.

Am I enslaved by this drive to be a Pathfinder? The family's expectations push me onwards, and I have never thought of anything else.
I'm not sure what she means about holding truth and fiction in balance. Grandfather always said that walking the Open Road is a hunt for truths in a forest of falsehoods, so maybe she means that there are good falsehoods that serve to benefit or protect which I shouldn't necessarily banish or disprove.

Markus appears visibly shaken as Rin finishes her reading, but her final words seem to give him hope. He looks up at her, green eyes wet with tears.

"Thank you Rin. I didn't know what to expect, but I certainly didn't expect so many truths. It's given me a lot to think about. I'm most grateful that you would share this with me."

Markus looks around, noticing for the first time the gathering of onlookers. Startled by the sight of such an audience, he hops off the chair and excuses himself.

"Sorry chaps, I just need a minute to myself." He walks slowly outside, as dawn's light streams through the windows.

"Think he'll be alright? Should we give him time to think?" Jillia asks Rin. "Are these usually so emotional? Is that normal?"

Jillia's gaze moves from the cards on the table towards the door Markus just exited, her expression unsure.

"I'll just go make sure he's alright. That would be good, right?

Is that right?

Jillia hops off her stool and slinks towards the door, taking care to remain in the peripherals of Markus's vision.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Waiting for a perfect thing to say that could lighten the mood proves fruitless, and so Jillia waits in silence, looking on.

Semagoro is initially surprised by Markus' emotional moment; Our hearts' desires can be hidden for so long, to be reminded of them so suddenly... it can be painful, but spur us on to greater heights.

"Rin, I don't know how you did it, but you seem to have touched his soul there. That was a beautiful display of intuition and emotion, well done," he smiles, gesturing towards one of the ales on the table. "Feel free to drink with us, Boris' treat! I've got next round."

"Now, about your curiosities, Boris... well, I'm actually from around here. I was born in Absalom, as far as I can tell, and I most certainly grew up here. My parents are the ones who made the trek from Nagajor, but they never really spoke about it much. They were practical people, better to lay eyes on the road ahead than the road behind, you know? So yeah, I'm a city boy through and through," he chuckles.

Semagoro clasps his holy symbol of Shelyn, a long tailed songbird made of silver, and explains, "I've never been good at studying... never really went to school, as such, so I'm not sure how my vows differ from Shelyn's usual clergy. I, uh, don't actually know them in common tongue either, but here's my rendition:"

Semagoro takes the lute slung over his shoulder into his hands, and sings a slow melody for those who will listen.

Perform:Lute/Melody: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Semagoro's hands falter on the notes sometimes, and his voice is still untrained, but it's obvious he's putting his all into the performance.
When he's done, he turns back to Boris, "Basically, be excellent to one another. And yes, making great love is part of it, but that love has to live on even outside of the bed," Semagoro says confidently. "If you're looking to just have good sex, that's what the temples to Calistria are for," he jokes with a good-natured jab.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Markus finds a quiet spot outside to gather himself.

That was intense. So many memories I hadn't thought of in years, so many emotions I haven't had to deal with since I left home. I didn't think that I'd encounter anything like that out here.

He sniffs, wipes his eyes, and turns to go back into the tavern. Taken a bit aback by Jillia's presence, he smiles sheepishly at her.

"Hi. Sorry about that. The reading got a bit emotional, you know. Some of the things Rin said were really close to home, I wasn't prepared for it. I'm fine now though. Shall we get some drinks?"

"Ah, so where is Varisian living when not living in Varisian Land? And who else living in the Varisian? And speak of Magnimar, where is bridge used to take?" Boris asks the ladies again.

Turning back to Semagoro, he nods. Wish I could speak the Taldane better, or speak to the two in Celestial. "So what is the Nagajor? How is it you live? Boris remember man in market have snake to sell, and he feed it alive mouse. Boris thinking is must be different for you, because mouse very small. What is Callistria? Is Shelyn kinky sister?

"Some drinks sound perfect right about now. Its been quite the morning." Jillia's look of concern fades to her normal smile. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You looked a little shaken."

Jillia points to the remains of the training dummy.

"Besides, it's easier to face the unknown with friends at your side. We're Pathfinders now. Or soon. Maybe, whatever. But had any of us been alone, that would have probably caved all our faces in." Jillia frowns, thinking the she chose poor words. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that you don't have to walk your path alone. And if that path is back to those aforementioned drinks, you can lead the way!"

I hope this sounds as encouraging as I want it to be.

"Actually, before that drink,.."

Jillia trails off, half-running excitedly towards what used to be the training dummy. She rummages through the wreckage and grabs what used to be one of its 'arms,' swings it around in two hands a bit, and smashes it down into the pile of wooden wreckage, making a loud wood-on-wood crunching sound.

"Greatclub! This'll be perfect. Now lets get back there- -I think Nella and Semagoro are trying to explain the differences of Calistria and Shelyn to Boris," she giggles.

Markus smiles at Jillia's struggle to explain herself, but nods his head at her words.

"I'm fine thanks Jillia. I was pretty shaken, but I think I've dealt with it. I'm glad I'm not alone in this. Thanks for looking out for me."

Turning back towards the pub, Markus waits for Jillia to obtain her makeshift club.

"I hope you can use that the make the Aspis pay for the havoc their dummy caused. Let's go and watch Semagoro explain how his goddess isn't the goddess Boris thinks she is."

"Well,"Lissa begins slowly, "You have to take into account that Varisia is huge. Were it under a single king, they'd be ruling over an area almost as big as Cheliax. Just traveling in between settlements in Varisia take more time then you would think. Now, there are Varisians that live elsewhere in Avistan, but I never left Varisia growing up. Likewise, since Varisia is so big, other groups have came in to settle. I know that Magnimar has quite a few Chelish people living there, including the Lord-Mayor if I remember correctly. It's been a long time since I've seen that tub of lard. "

"As for the differences in Calistrean and Shelynite worship, I'll... leave that to the religious,"she finishes, adding a flourish to indicate Nella and Semagoro.

Semagoro can't keep a straight face after Boris' line of questioning.

"Ss-ha! Kinky ssisster, now that'ss good!"

He quickly chokes back the rest of his laughter, and says "Yeah, if you've never heard of Calisstria, that's probably the best way to describe it. She represents lust, base emotions, jealousy, mischief, that sort of thing. You can think of her as Shelyn's naughty sister, if that helps. In fact, Calistria might even approve of that. Again, I'm not well versed on scripture, Nella might be better informed."

Semagoro seems to get lost in thought for a moment, pondering something, then says "I actually don't know that much about Nagajor, apart from that it's my kind's native land, and it's probably somewhere in Tian Xia. I'm pretty sure that nagas rule the land, you know, proper magical snake people, usually without arms and such."

A wicked smile grows across Semagoro's face, saying "You're right about the mice, though. It is pretty different for nagaji; a lot harder to find mice my size."

"Anyway, what kind of gods do they have around your parts, Boris?"

"Boris become man in Dwarven holds. Magrim, Torag, Angradd, Grundinar and Kols was part of daily life. Before that, well... Was Desna, but it kept hidden. "Ottajia sielujen" get very happy when find people who pray. Sometimes they eat people raw, sometimes is impalings, sometimes is feedings to other slaves. Is not very happy for us." he grows somber for an instant, before turning jovial again: "But we talk about Gods yes? I learn that Ulfen is Torag having, with god of battle all the time; what is name... Garbage! No. Gotug? Golick? Ah, Gorum! It to sound like "forum" but with "G"! And also with steel one of harvest and longbows. Is does not matter. So, what you eat? Do you unhinge jaw and swallow all? Boris having to masticate; you know what is?"

Turning his head back to the Varisians he continues, he continues "How it feel to live in land with many old ruins from time before Earthfall? You finding many old things?" he asks, focusing on Nella. "Many beautiful things? Also, why is no wearing armor? You need help putting it on?" To Lissa he asks "Is all Varisian able to form the water, or have you blessing of water spirits?

"Sounds like a plan. Hopefully that is a far more entertaining form of havoc."

Jillia heads back into the bar, calls for another coffee, and rejoins the party.

From what I remember about Calistria, its not all sunshine. Jealous goddess...

Garr perks up at Boris' mention of the Lord in Iron. "Now Gorum I know. He has granted help in my cause of freedom. I would pray to him while chained to the forge or the bellows. Help came in the form of a Pathfinder agent who helped to organize the slaves and prisoners to escape the giants. It was a glorious battle."

Teamwork ... I must remember how useful it is. And that some battles cannot be won without help ... even help from a mage.

"Pathfinders are best when part of a team. Is a good lesson to remember."

"That was beautiful, Sem," Nella smiles as the nagaji finishes his song. "To be honest, I never have had a lot of patience for studying either," she admits. "I've learned more about my own faith as well as the others that exist in this realm, but not a lot else. It's easier for me to learn by doing or some other sort of practical means - sitting and reading from tomes puts me to sleep."

Though I wish I could understand what everyone else is saying...

When the conversation turns to the differences between Calistria and Shelyn, she nearly chokes with laughter at the phrase 'kinky sister'. "Hah! I've not heard it put quite like that," she giggles. "But that sounds about right. As best as I can remember, they amuse each other but generally in a good way. Lady Shelyn isn't a prude; she's aware that there's a place for lust as well as love in a relationship."

She blinks with surprise when Boris references armor. "Oh...that's right, I keep forgetting that I'm a little odd in that regard. No, it's not that I need help putting armor on, it's that, well...I've chose not to wear any as a show of faith in Lady Shelyn. Her blessings will by my armor and shield. Those" she takes another drink of her ale, "and any companions or friends I might be with. And I'll do what I can to support them in return. Like a good teammate should," she nods at Garr.

"Or, as I heard it put by a courtesan here in Absolom, Shelyn sees the beauty in eroticism, and Calistria sees the eroticism in beauty, right?" Lissa takes a drink of a tea she ordered, and continues into Boris's other questions.

"Thassilonian ruins are dangerous. I mean, really, really dangerous. Magnimar's moniker 'City of Monuments' is well-founded: there are at least a dozen sizable monuments to events and people important to the city. One of those, on the Shore near the Irespan, is called the Eyes of the Hawk. It memorializes when an adventuring party saved the new city from a swarm of giant spider-like beasts that was found inside the Irespan itself. There are rumors that the bridge has housed those monsters since Earthfall itself, and they're still in there, or at least the city believes so. No one's allowed to harvest stone from the bridge or build near it,"She pauses a moment for another drink, then continues. "For Thassilonian ruins, that's normal. Messing with those ruins is a sure-fire way to get killed. "

"It's a rather rare gift too. I was one of the first they had heard of this in Magnimar, though similar tales have sprouted up around Varisia. I'm not sure which ones to believe though."

For reference, the parts about Magnimar are from the Magnimar, City of Monuments Campaign setting book.

Rin looks somewhat closely at Lissa, as if trying to understand something...

"So often, our most startling gifts come from within."

"Nu există nici o cale ca cea pe care o mers pe jos"

"All the same, we should count our blessings and our talents -- wherever they may come from."

Rin puts her deck of cards away, her hand lingering over the liar for a long moment before she sweeps it up with the rest.

"Boris, you seem to know very many tongues for a man of your background. Are you learned, or just linguistically gifted?"

Boris nods good-naturedly, struggling to form the words in a cohesive sentence."Boris spend times on road helping dwarf father to buy and to sell. And sometimes get very boring, so Boris read the books with the languages. Is how I learned the language of heavens. Boris hear others from young age and have good memory. Is only learned the Taldane later in life, so is still sometimes not so so good. But is good enough for Boris, and is does not matter."

Eyeing the cards as they are put away, he asks "What is cards? How you used to tell future?"

"Som si toho vedomý,"Lissa responses quickly,"ale niekedy , najväčší názory sú mimo vyšliapanej cesty ."

As Boris begins to act suspicious of the Harrow, Lissa sighs. "It's sorta like my power. Not all magic is casting spells. Likewise, not all magic needs a spark of power to perform, just the proper ritual. The Harrow is a focus for anyone that learn to read the cards."

Garr looks down on Lissa with a confused look.
"You control water, but not via the arcane and not granted by a god? Perhaps there is a water elemental somewhere in your family tree? You say there are stories of others with similar abilities with mysterious sources? I would like to learn more if we have time."

"Exactly!" Nella nods at Lissa. "That's also a good way to put it. I should be writing these down for the next time someone has questions!"

"You said your power is rare...do all of the people with this sort of power command water like you do, or can they do other things with it? Garr could be right, it could be a case of there being a water being somewhere in your ancestry. No, wait..." she frowns. "I have a friend like that, except she's a being of air; pale skin, pale hairy, wispy build...she looks like she could just float away on the wind. But as far as I know, she doesn't have powers like yours. So maybe it's something different?"

"Well," Lissa starts by addressing Garr's questions,"If there's a spirit, elemental, or genie in my ancestry, It hasn't shown that heritage in any of the kin that I know of. And I have my Kapenia, so I can trace my family back a ways. So that's probably not it. One of the reasons I came here to the Grand Lodge was for knowledge about this, though I haven't found much."

"As for the stories that I've heard? Please remember that to my knowledge, that's what they are: stories and rumors. But, let's see, I heard about a Goblin near the Mushfens that could throw fire around without the normal pieces of junk that those nuisances use... A pair of Dwarven brothers that could call to the earth in Janderhoff... A lightning thrower in Korvosa... Maybe, I'm reading into this a bit too much, but answers are few and far bewteen for me."

Rin turns to Boris, as she finishes stacking the cards "We are surrounded by the spirits of the past, by the potentials of the future. Everything that can happen has and everything that will happen can be. The cards represent parts of our lives, our shared history and our communal future. They are the memories of all peoples. By quieting ourselves and listening, we can remember what has been, see our own lives from different perspectives and even learn of the future."

Rin pauses for a moment, looking as if she's about to start a sentence, but then chooses a different one.

"We move through life like a boat on a river. Just as water flows from a spring so too do our actions and choices flow from one another. Harrow is an art of reading the river of our experiences and seeing to those things that lie beneath the surface of our thoughts and memories, so that we can better prepare ourselves for shoals and rapids that we all must face."

She looks toward Boris, hoping her explanation made some small amount of sense...

She then interjects into the conversation between the other Varisian and Garr.

"I've heard of this lightning thrower -- she's a local myth in the shingles. I always assumed she must have been some rogue wizard from the academae, but they do seem to have more of a love for binding things."

I wonder, if such power can come from our blood, what does that mean for me? Is it really in my blood...Can I ever escape her? What's that saying that grandma used to mutter..."Veren puhelut verta"....

---------TABLES ANNOUNCED!--------

Please stop posting in the gameplay thread until I kick things off again (which I will do on Thursday morning - October 1st). Please only post in the discussion thread if you are on Table 1 and have already read the recruitment thread.

For now, please go to the recruiting thread if you haven't done so already and confirm that you are still happy to play. Any discussion until the game starts can happen on the recruiting or discussion thread.

---------END ANNOUNCEMENT--------

Okay, so this is just to keep you guys involved in the gameplay thread. It involves some plot, but nothing that can't be ignored until Friday if you have exams... or something. :-)

Gradually, the other Pathfinder initiates are all called away on this mission or that. Sometimes a venture captain comes in, other times a note arrives. Eventually, only six remain. As the sun finally crests the horizon, the door to the Wounded Wisp flies open and a familiar elven man strides in, Janira the halfling orator in tow. No-one can quite remember when Janira left. Without so much as ordering a drink, Kreighton Shaine, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Scrolls, climbs onto the first table he sees and stands stands upon it. He stands there until the noise and hubbub in the tavern dies down.

“Welcome! Welcome, my students! Please, have a seat!” With that, Kreighton Shaine nimbly drops down to sit cross-legged on the table before looking about the Wounded Wisp tavern with a sense of reverent wonder. “Can you believe it? It all started here years ago—well, over four hundred of them at least. Under this very roof the Pathfinder Society was born. Janira tells me you've had quite the adventure already. An obstacle course, a riddle contest - one of my favorite types of contest! - and some fight with an animated object. Not bad before breakfast, initiates, not bad at all!

“Well, time for the main event! Today you will begin your Confirmation! Master Farabellus, Master Zey, and I all agree you each have shown your worth and dedication to the Society, so there’s no better time to see if you can handle becoming full field operatives. But before we get your mission briefing out of the way, I want to see which of you were paying attention in class! What can you tell me about the Isle of Kortos, upon which we find ourselves, and the Kortos Mounts?"

For knowledge of the Isle of Kortos, I will allow player knowledge, sourcebook research, Googling, etc, provided your PC could reasonably know it. If you're stuck, make a knowledge (history) check and I'll spoiler you some info.

For the Kortos Mounts, make a knowledge (geography) roll and consult the spoilers below. Open all spoilers that you succeed the DC of (so open both if you get 15 or better). Note that you can only open the first spoiler if you aren't trained in knowledge (geography) - as per the core rules, you can't make an untrained knowledge check if the DC is greater than 10. Please do not use player knowledge or other research for the Mounts.

When you're ready, describe what your PC knows in character... and feel free to chat to Kreighton Shaine and Janira.

Seeing if Brobdingnagian slept through that part of his Bardic training, and realizing what all needs skill points next level...
Knowledge: Geography: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Knowledge: History: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Brobdingnagian covers his crushing lack of knowledge of the subject at hand by forking another piece of syrup drenched waffles into his mouth. I *knew* sitting next to that cute blonde for our semester of "Absalom and its Environs" class was going to bite me at some point...

Bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 Brobdingnagian tries to play off his initial shortcomings with pretty indifferent success.

"Uh, well... we're on the Isle of Kortos now, in Absalom, and slavery is legal here..." He takes another bite, looking to his companions.

Markus isn't really one of those knowledgeable Pathfinders, but he might have picked up something by accident.

Knowledge:Geography (untrained): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Markus blurts out what little he knows.

"The Isle of Kortos is an island in the Inner Sea with lots of ruins, and the Kortos Mounts are some pointy mountains in the middle."

He then looks around sheepishly, hoping that he hasn't accidentally said something stupid.

Kreighton Shaine nods, 'Quite right about the slavery... unfortunately... and about the 'pointy' mountains in the middle." He smiles and offers no new information. It is clear that he is waiting for others to contribute.

Not pushing things along very quickly at the moment. We'll go quicker post Thursday.

I remember something about Aroden and the Starstone in regards to the island. But not the details.

"Well, the island itself was... discovered, maybe... by Aroden. Did the Starstone lead him here?" Trying to connect what little information he does know, Varus desperately tries to come up with something plausible.

Knowledge (Geography), Untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

"As far as the mountains themselves, I do not know anything more than Markus."

Oh crap, I never thought sleeping during geography classes would come back to haunt me! That was so embarrassing.

"As far as Kortos goes, my boat arrived here from Andoran via Diobel- -the other city at the center of the world. It's on the opposite end of the island. We skirted the mountains, though, on our trek to Absalom."

They made a pretty big deal about going around the mountains.

Knowledge (Geography) Untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 6

"I really couldn't tell you why we didn't cut directly through, though. Trekking over beaches wasn't so great. Hugging the coastline meant sand between the toes; halfling, human, or horse, it really slows you down."

Jillia shrugs.

Rin thinks for a moment.

...Eccentric elf with long blonde hair... where have I...OH crap that's Kreighton Shaine, master of scrolls. Better not make a fool of myself...

Since we are local to absalom, can we use knowledge local to come up with current (ie. non-historical) information concerning Absalom?

Knowledge(Local): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Knowledge(History) untrained: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Knowledge(geography) untrained: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

"Absalom is the largest city in the Inner sea, and one of the largest trade hubs, second only to the markets of Katapesh. Absalom is famous for the cathedral of the starstone in the center of town as well as its prestigious schools such as the famous Arcanarium. It's ruled by a bunch of trade princes, or guild masters" I think that's what they are called..."And Absalom has never been invaded, though hundreds of armies and empires have tried."

Rin hopes that her misdirection to talk about what she does know goes relatively unnoticed...

Bluff (not including a +2 racial bonus against people who might find her attractive): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Bluffing Kreighton Shaine? Ha!

Kreighton Shaine Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 -- Wow.

Even though Kreighton Shaine didn't ask about Absalom, he becomes swept away in the conversation. "Yes, indeed, never taken over. There was a while back, when everyone in Absalom thought Aroden would always come back to save them in a time of need. The city was laid to siege once. It went on for years, as I remember," he talks as though he were actually alive back then... perhaps he was, "And Aroden never returned to Absalom. Some say it was to teach them independence. Seems to have worked! What a thriving metropolis we now find ourselves in..."

If someone doesn't interrupt him soon, he'll go on like this for an hour or more...

Oh, and knowledge local is fine... but since it wasn't originally the topic of conversation, feel free to insert your own stuff about Absalom here! Canon, obviously, but whatever you like. If you need some stuff from me, let me know.

Boris' grin falters, only to replaced with a look of obvious discomfort. Kreighton "Speaks-So-Much-He-Put-Golem-To-Sleep" Shane. Dranngvit have mercy. He clears his throat, not because he believes that Master Shane will notice and stop, but to let the others know of the gravity of the situation; Kreighton Shane is on a tangent and there are only so many hours in a day.

Knowledge Geography (untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Knowledge History (untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Hoping the others will have his back he rudely interrupts the Master of Scrolls, standing up from his seat, at attention, shouting "Island of Kortos raised by Aroden from bottom of Inner Sea before he become god! And island of Kortos has big mountain in middle!!" He remains bolt upright, as he gulps rather loudly. This isn't Aram Zey he's interrupted, but ...

Boris's shout breaks Jillia out of her Shaine-induced reverie.

"Yes, I remember that! We covered it in one of our lectures," Jillia agrees, eagerness perhaps betraying her honesty. "Aroden is kind of a big deal here, still."

I need to choose words well, else Shaine will be back on the first caravan to Tangentsburg.

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Brobdingnagian snaps his fingers. Oh, right, Aroden! That's right, Aroden brought up the entire island when he raised the Starstone out of the ocean, back before he was a god. I imagine that the Kortos Mounts were created, as well. Pausing a moment, gathering that noone knows much more about the subject at hand, he looks at the Master of Scrolls.

So, uh, anything about the Kortos Mounts or the Isle outself that would be good to know for our Confirmation? Just to make sure we weren't taught anything incorrectly? (The last question added a bit hastily, perhaps)

"That is interesting, Brobdingnagian! Were the mountains created then or were they there originally and simply brought up from the depths already formed?" the Master of Scrolls jumps up from his chair, brimming with excitement, before just as abruptly sitting down again, "That very topic is the subject of much debate, and something we always hope we will discover more about - like when Janira was... well, I'm getting ahead of myself - in any case, yes!"

Kreighton Shaine listens to Brob's other question about the Isle, "Taught incorrectly? Well, maybe if Valsin took my lectures! Otherwise, the only incorrect knowledge you have will be a function of what lies between your ears and your long term memory. There's nothing really more to know about the Isle that will help for your Confirmation... if there was, I'm sure I'd remember to tell you. Yes, sure..." Kreighton Shaine trails off. The assembled Pathfinders have come to recognize this as a different tangent of his: the silent tangent.

Oh, and here is an image of Kreighton Shaine for those of you operating without a mental picture of the man... erm, elf.

"Well, then we must be ready, if there's nothing left to learn!"

Jillia excitedly cracks her knuckles. She begins pacing a bit.

"There's one thing that's bugging me. Doesn't really have much to do with Kortos...Why did you give us directions to a tavern that doesn't exist?"

Boris looks in Jillia's direction furtively, mouthing in what he thinks is a surreptitious manner "Not to ask, not to ask!" as he sits down, quietly. The chair however creaks in protest, a sound that makes Boris wince. He quickly tries to turn it into a full grin, before asking as he wallows in awkwardness: "Is many questions in world... But is very important to focus on important ones, like Confirmations, yes MasterofScrollsKreightonShaine?"

"Ah, the Pig's Paunch deception!" grins Kreighton Shaine, leaning back on his chair. As his seat forms a greater than 45 degree angle, he quickly catches himself with a well-placed foot under the table and just... hangs there for a while, "There were some veteran Pathfinders about two years back who wanted to buy this place. One had an unusual fascination with potted plants... anyway, for no apparent reason, they wanted to change the name of this place to the Pig's Paunch. Some even began referring to the Wounded Wisp entirely as the Pig's Paunch, even well after the sale fell through. It has become a bit of a ritual for us to refer to it as such for initiates going for their Confirmation."

FYI, the place where the Pathfinder Society was founded has always been called the 'Wounded Wisp', except for when the author of the Confirmation, Kyle Baird, suddenly decided he didn't need to read the source material: Note from John Compton. The mistake just happened to be published in the most widely played PFS scenario of all time. So, I thought I'd simultaneously correct it and give it a 'shout out'. Happy you asked more about it - and I would also have been happy to just have it there for those who were in the know.

Kreighton Shaine looks very happy with himself, but decides to continue grilling his initiates, "Why don't you tell me what you know of ancient Azlant and on an unrelated topic - or is it? - the gillmen!"

Make fresh knowledge (history) rolls if you like, or use your last result. As before, use player knowledge, source books or Google for stuff about ancient Azlant!

Knowledge History: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 Nope. Will have to go with Source Material...
Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 To see what I know about gillmen, unrelated to Azlant... And that will probably be just enough to know that Gillman are humanoids with gills and identify one on sight

Brobdingnagian thinks for a moment. Gillmen... Azlant... I know I read about them somewhere... wait! That's right! Durvin Gest's explorations! He looks around to the rest of the group to give a shot so he doesn't perpetuate the stereotype of bards being know-it-alls.

Azlant? Gillmen? Never heard of them. Must have slept through that bit! Just keep quiet and maybe no-one will notice.

Markus remains silent following Master Shaine's questioning, trying to look pensive yet unobtrusive so that he isn't questioned further.

"Azlant was around when Thassilon was, I think? So it's really old, now. All ruins."

I wonder if Shaine is as old as his subject matter. Jillia giggles to herself, and embarrassed, quickly adds, "Not sure what gillmen have to do with it, though...they sound like some sort of fishpeople. Is 'gillmen' just another name we give 'sahaguin?' Those things are filthy."

"Sahaugin?!" Kreighton Shaine cries out involuntarily, "Oh, good gracious no! Please, my dear, whatever you do pick up from this conversation know that the gillmen have nothing to do with that foul race. Though, oddly, we are looking into a link between the gillmen and the skum, but nothing has been proven as yet."

Kreighton Shaine looks at the others expectantly, waiting for someone to remember these particular snippets from one of his many lectures.

Not wanting to make the Master of Scrolls question his training too thoroughly, Brobdingnagian chimes in. "The Gillmen are said to be the last remnant and descendants of the Azlanti people, saved from the destruction that befell the rest of the Azlant. It's rumored that they were altered by one of their Aboleth masters to be able to survive the Earthfall, though at the cost of being reliant on periodic submersion in water to survive..."

He looks around the table and adds, "Durvin Gest wrote about his dealings with them in the Chronicle..."

"Gillmen are NOT sahaguin, then. Scum, maybe, but not sahaguin." Jillia adds unhelpfully. "Sounds like the best way to combat them would be to get them on dry land, then?"

"Oh, no, no, no!" corrects Kreighton Shaine, "Well, yes. They do need to occasionally immerse themselves in water, but they can survive for long periods outside of it. But, they are not skum or sahuagin. They just might be linked in some way to skum. The possibilities are still being analyzed from that particular chronicle."

Don't want to spoil the module in question for anyone!

"Brobdingnagian has the right of it, though. Well, unless any of you have anything else to add... I may get this Confirmation started!"

Will move it along tomorrow morning. Hope your exams go well, Markus!

Boris nods, his best fake look of contemplative concern on his face. Which is to say, with his crossed eyes, the nodding which looks like a miniature squat and his right hand stroking his bush of a beard, that he looks more constipated than anything else. All the information... Is very interesting; Boris maybe you put some focus on that in future.

He looks at the others, pleading evident in his guileless eyes. "Please to make it stop and to talk about Confirmation" they beg.

Rin ruffles her skirts, and checks her small shoulder bag.

Ok, confirmation...no big deal... if they weren't going to make you a field agent they wouldn't have let you get this far...Right?

She visibly adjusts her bangs, and lays her hands nervously on the table.

Brobdingnagian glances around at the rest of the table. "Well, I know the Confirmation is a big deal and all, but I can't help but be struck by how many of my people have been gathered for this mission... whether by intention or just sheer halfling luck." He grins and continues. "I'm personally dying to hear more details about what the Confirmation entails. But before we leave here for it I'd like to take a moment to share a song that has been passed down through my family for generations, in order to celebrate this grand occasion!"

"I'm curious to see if any of you," he nods a the other halflings "may have heard it from your own families. As for you taller folk," he glances at the humans, "you can see what it means to have so many halflings on your side. We're not just good luck charms, great cooks, and amazing lovers, you know!" The last bit is delivered with a completely straight face.

"“Master Farabellus, Master Z... oh, we've already done that haven't we?" Kreighton Shaine puts away his prepared speech, "You remember Janira of course?" How could the assembled crowed forget the halfling woman with her mellifluous voice and excitable attitude. She retrieves her backpack from the corner of the Wisp where it sat all this time, and the tools, pouches and scroll cases jingle as she trots back over to the initiates.

"Janira, as she may have told some of you already, is going to accompany you on your Confirmation!" Shaine continues, "Janira was one of my brightest pupils, even if I did need to force her to stay behind and answer a riddle before she started paying attention," the Master of Scrolls smiles good-naturedly at Janira's slight flush of embarrassment, "and she should prove a valuable tutor and resource for you on this journey. You see, I asked you about the Kortos Mounts and other things for a very good reason. Janira has discovered some caves during her own Confirmation, and you are going to explore them for yours!"

Janira speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice, “Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, I witnessed a lone gillman entering a concealed cave. I thought little of it at the time, but I saw another one enter the cave again a month later as my Confirmation stretched on. A few days later, after I completed my assigned task, I entered the cave system, but was unable to find the gillman.”

Master Shaine hops to his feet. “Initiates, for your Confirmation, you will travel to these caves to explore and document its many passages. Additionally, and most importantly, you are to learn what the gillmen are up to in there. Oh, and you need to come back alive as well.” With these parting words, the Master of Scrolls strolls out of the building while humming to himself.

Only the latter part of that was the as-is pro-forma intro from the adventure; I hope it doesn't break Wolfspirit's mind to have a slightly different intro. ;-)

Janira smiles, shaking her head slightly. "Well, that was part of the briefing anyway," she notes, "But before we move on any further, you've shown quite a decent grasp of geography and the history of the gillmen, but do any of you have any further questions?"