Gameplay thread
A week ago, you were seated in the main hall of the Grand Lodge of Absalom, waiting for the arrival of Absalom’s newest venturecaptain, a tall, dark-haired and olive-skinned Varisian woman named Eliza Petulengro. Renowned for her composure under pressure and the author of more than two dozen Pathfinder Chronicles entries, she appeared in the hall suddenly, a stack of chronicles in her arms, and looked you over before speaking.
My greatest pupil, Pathfinder Bodriggan Wuthers, has gone missing. He followed a cleric contact back to Wuthers’s home city of Oppara to work on a massive dig beneath the House of the Immortal Son, Oppara’s famed opera house and once temple to the dead god, Aroden. That was a year ago. He sent monthly reports, hoping to see their publication in a chronicle, before all contact dried up a few months back. I’m worried something has gone wrong, and the Society has a vested interest in the artifact he was researching and seeking. We want you to travel to Oppara and find Wuthers. We’d like to know exactly what he was seeking, too, since he neglected to inform us through his monthly correspondence. He hinted only that the cleric of Irori he was working with told him the object was the world’s greatest ‘living’ artifact—whatever that means.
I have a few tidbits of information to pass to you before you go: the House of the Immortal Son is nearly impossible to access. It took Wuthers months and countless bribes to get where he did. For you, I have a much simpler idea. Go to an opera, wait for an opportunity, and then exploit it to find Wuthers and his dig site.
Be sure to wear something festive—the Taldan nobility are arrogant on their best days and if you arrive at the opera dressed like that, she waves her hands at you, they’ll surely lose your tickets or regret to inform you that the opera house is oversold.
Go and report back to me directly upon your return to Absalom.
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An average-looking human steps forward, gives a brief bow, and says simply: "It will be done, Venture Captain."
As he bows, Narad thinks to himself: "Taldor, eh? Won't that pack of pompous nobles be 'absolutely delighted' to receive a group of 'lowly' Pathfinders at an opera."
The rogue purses his lips in thought as he recalls some details about Oppara:
"Captain, didn't Stavian I outlaw the worship of Sarenrae?" he says, gesturing to the holy symbol of the Dawnflower hanging around his neck. "While I am more facile with padlocks than faith, I do not wish to anger the Healing Flame by denying my allegiance to her."
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"An opera? Isn't that with all the screeching?" replies the rather ugly half orc in the room. Not getting an actual response.
"Dress up? You got a wardrobe in here somewhere? I think I'm well dressed. I got the rust off my armor and oiled it. "
once dismissed (and harangued for his impertinent questions) he will go out and purchase a sleeve of many garments.
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The attractive human male leaning against the back wall perks up at the mention of Oppara. "Finally, something that requires wit instead of brute force. I think I can be of assistance, Venture Captain Petulengro."
He nods to Narad and Phred. "Good to meet you, gentlemen. Once you've both arranged for the proper attire, I suggest we leave at the earliest convenience."
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The young and handsome half-elf dressed in red, green and gold with the holy symbol of Sheyln walks in with his glaive strapped to his back. With a nod of the head which has a beret on it, in the same colors, he winks and says, Greetings! I am Riceak Hawklight of the Church of Shelyn. he offers his hands which look like they have the remains of plaster on them. The opera sounds like a wonderful way to spend some time.
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Nearly bumping into the dandy swashbuckler on his way in, a white-haired elf walks into the room. He frowns as he takes in the assembled group and rhetorically asks, "This is the team?" He shrugs. "Well, I'm here. You may call me Kailun." He doesn't seem very interested in listening to anyone else's introduction and presses on with his unbroken train of thought.
"I haven't been to Taldor in decades, but if I remember correctly, their capital is mostly filled with snooty humans wasting away their brief lives trying to convince themselves that their family's inheritance isn't quickly dwindling with every unfortunate generation. If it's all the same to the rest of you, I'd rather get this assignment over sooner than later."
It's difficult to get a read on the elf. He's clearly some sort of spellcaster, as evident by the arcane accouterments on his person, but he's also not shy about showing off the longsword on his hip and the longbow strapped to his back. Also, while he's not quite as well-built as a warrior, he's certainly in better physical shape than most wizards. One thing's for sure, though: His demeanor immediately strikes you as stand-offish.
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A tall Half-Elf, dressed immaculately in a finely crafted noble's outfit, sniffs delicately, and breathes a sigh of relief.
"Finally! A mission that involves dealing with civilised society! Last time, the Society sent me slogging through the Andorani sewers to follow-up on the mad ravings of a beggar; thank the Gods this time it is different."
He then draws himself up and bows.
"But, where are my manners? Jeggare, Varian Jeggare, at your service."
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Kailun smirks at Phred. "Always a useful ally to have around, especially at the opera. I'm sure the actors will enjoy your literal interpretation of their sardonic colloquialism."
To the rest of the room, yet to no one in particular, he asks, "If I might be so blunt as to enunciate the query on everyone else's mind: How many more are we expecting for this assignment?"
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Lini become shy with the cleric words, "uh... Ahh.. Well... Maybe...", she really don't know what to answer, nobody ever asked her for something like that.
About the comment of the half-orc, Lini says "Droogami is a suspsicious cat, she put her hand affectionately on the leopard's head, so I'll be outside the opera with him and you, Phred, if you want, of course".
Please purchase whatever gear you wish. The Lini pregen can swap out spells if you so please, but you are pretty much stuck with the gear given. Give me a ready in the discussion tab when you are all ready to proceed with the game :)
Bodriggan Wuthers was an orphan of unknown ancestry, found 20 years ago on the doorstep of the Pathfinder Lodge of Taldor’s capital, Oppara. He was raised in an orphanage, but the Taldan Pathfinders made it a point to look in on him from time to time, encouraging the boy’s curiosity and pushing him toward the life of the vagabond scholar. They got what they desired. When Wuthers turned 16, he left the orphanage behind and traveled to Absalom to join the Pathfinder Society. After a few years of training and following Venture-Captain Eliza Petulengro, Wuthers settled easily into his routine, traveling Avistan and Garund seeking greater glory for himself and the Society through treasure hunting. He quickly made a name for himself, battling through a host of demon-possessed apes in the Screaming Jungle at age 18 to recover the Garls Harp, an Azlanti musical instrument thought lost to time and memory. His tale of that find saw his first of many reports appear in the Pathfinder Chronicles and his fame as a Pathfinder was sewn into the fabric of the Society.
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The rogue isn't bothered too much by the fact that he has "dressed down" for a Taldan opera. He doesn't make it a point of pride either--no need to be an anti-snob about it. This is just another mission for the Pathfinder field agent. His primary concern is to look for clues about the missing Bodriggan Wuthers.
As he finds his seat, Narad thinks: "Whew! Getting in here was easier than I thought. I hope the entertainment is a pleasant surprise too." He tries to take in his surroundings while being "nonchalant" about it--he doesn't want to "give away" the fact that he's trying to be alert.
Though he is not quite sure what to look for, he remains vigilant and ready.
The inside of the opera house is decked out to the most extreme opulence. Gold gilding, fine silks, everything as you would expect grandiose to be. Narad you get some looks of "ugh" and general snob reactions. The crowd in here is very, very well off. You don't sense any danger or uneasiness going on. People are conversing before the show.
As yet another twirling dancer in a brown costume festooned with bright pink, flowing silk scarves spins across the jungle set at the front of the stage, the orchestra reaches a screeching crescendo that crashes the entire opera to a halt. The dancers stand quietly for a moment, breathing heavily and listening to the scattered applause across the obviously bored Taldan audience. Suddenly, a sound like a thousand gongs shakes the entire building to its very foundation and the audience murmurs in a mixture of delight and fear. The actors and orchestra, however, flee the stage, disappearing behind the curtains.
Moments after the gong, all the doors that feeed into the room you are in burst open, and zombies rush in to attack the crowd. Some nobles to stunned to move are attacked. Then right behind you the door bursts open and 3 zombies seem intent on ripping the flesh from your bones.
Initiative
Initiative Tracker: round 1
Narad: go
Varian: go
Phred: go
Lini/Droogami: go
Kailun: go
Zombies:
Riceak:
Initiative Tracker: round 1
Narad: acid flask hit (precision not possible with acid/fire)
Varian: go
Phred: attack hit
Lini/Droogami: go
Kailun: go
Zombies 1: 10 damage
Zombie 2: 1 damage
Zombie 3: 2 damage
Riceak:
Phred, takes a mighty swing, and leaves a nasty gash in the zombie next to him. Meanwhile, Narad grabs a flask of acid and chucks it at the zombie near the back. Despite the zombie being behind a slew a people and the door frame, Narad hits his spot with near perfect aim. It explodes and singes the zombie as well as the zombies next to it.
Initiative Tracker: round 1
Narad: acid flask hit (precision not possible with acid/fire)
Varian: attack miss
Phred: attack hit
Lini/Droogami: GO
Kailun: attack miss
Zombies 1: 10 damage
Zombie 2: 1 damage
Zombie 3: 2 damage
Riceak:
Initiative Tracker: round 1-2
Riceak: go round 1
Narad: go round 2
Varian: go round 2
Phred: go round 2
Lini/Droogami: go round 2
Kailun: go round 2
Zombies 1: 13 damage
Zombie 2: 1 damage
Zombie 3: 2 damage
Lini commands her faithful fluffy companion to go get the zombie, which it does. It somehow leaps by Phred's head and sinks its jaws into the zombie that already has a slash through its abdomen. It still somehow stays on its feet. It retaliates against the fluffy beast. One attacks Phred while the other stands there too mindless to do anything.
Both attacks miss, they are too uncoordinated to hit anything.