Elven Spear |
Rumors start circulating around the grand lodge of strange occurrences in and around Absolom. Rumors suggest that a single lone female warrior, an elf or possibly half-elf, is doing the society's work, fighting evil by moonlight. She is supposedly armed with a distinctive branch spear, featuring heart-shaped spearpoints, and fights for the more noble aspects of the Sovereign Court (such as rooting out corruption and ensuring that all citizenry are protected under fair laws.) Divination magics, for whatever reason, seem to fail on gathering any more information about this elusive 'warrior of justice:' Elven Spear.
Ootaka Hideko |
A beautifully dressed black-haired half-elf pushes aside the door to the room with Bloodspeaker Culpa. She is dressed in a fine robe, over the top is some cerimonial Taldane armor.
"Sh itsureshimasu" she says in Tien. "Kuripa-taicho, Oocha desu."
Without another word, she begins elegantly and quietly setting up tea for the venture-captain in practiced grace.
Take 10-perform Tea cerimony: 17
Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher |
It's been awhile since I have done this, but this sounds like fun. I'll have to refresh her PFS profile.
"I requested it," a feminine Taldan voice answers from the entryway.
The voice belongs to a red-haired Lady of the Empire, whose fair complexion and curved-rectangular eyeglasses do much to betray her identity as Lady Gabrielle D’Apcher, a Pathfinder of quite some repute who has personally penned many entries to the Chronicles.
In keeping with the season, her dress is of spring green, with a faint bamboo-leaf pattern repeated throughout the skirt. Her pinned curls are in a style found in Tian Xia.
"I have learned that such rituals do much to foster pleasant conversation," she continues as she approaches.
Ootaka Hideko |
Without missing a beat, the woman continues the cerimony, preparing another cup for the newcomer as such was always her plan. In response to Bloodspeaker Culpa's request to be called 'Mia,' she just responds with.
"Hai, kashkomarimashita, Kurupa Mi-ya-taicho"
She then finishes her preparations for the Taldan woman's tea before handing it to her.
"Dozo, Dappuchaa-ojousama."
Bloodspeaker Mea Culpa |
Mea waves at the newcomer. "Hi! I'm Mea. You wanna talk? Is this about the moon, or fighting evil?" Looking over Lady d'Apcher, Mea's eyes light up on her dress. The tiefling motions to her own dress, which has definitely seen some recent wear and hasn't been completely cleaned. Mea clearly values function over form, but the dresses do seem to bear a very faint resemblance in style. "I like your dress, I think we got it the same place!"
Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher |
The Lady gives Ootaka a gentle smile as she takes her teacup.
"The Empire's influence is apparent in the clothing of most of the civilized world," she comments before experiencing the tea's scent.
"I wish to speak with you about a measure of both the moon and fighting evil. In fact, due to the sudden outburst of vigilantism in the city, my attentions are free to be turned skyward."
"I would assume, Mea, that you are quite an expert on the moon's scar?" she asks, before tasting her tea.
Bloodspeaker Mea Culpa |
"Well, us Pathfinders are here to learn about the viggle Azlantism, and all the other Azlantis,so that should be fine."
Mea takes a sip of tea, trying unsuccessfully to sip as delicately as Lady d'Apcher. She stares into the cup a moment before shrugging and pulling some chocolate to gnaw on out of her haversack.
"I know a bit about the Moonscar though, yeah, and I'm learnin more. It's nice! Lots of big spiky trees and dragons and demons to fight. And I'm even more stronger there! I'm startin a lodge there, we just gotta enervate the buildings some first."
Ootaka Hideko |
With delicate poise, the black-haired woman speaks softly.
"My most humble pardon, venture captain Mea Culpa, but I do not believe Lady d'Apcher was referring to Azlanti, but rather 'vigalantes,' another name for the mysterious men and women in Absolom who help the downtrodden, such as that new girl people are talking about, 'Elven Spear."
With that she takes his teacup from him and fills it again with tea.
Bloodspeaker Mea Culpa |
"We did find a buncha treasures and a buncha people, and a big library to add to my hoard. Still goin through the books though. Why, lookin for something?
Mea takes the refilled cup and shoots it back, then offers some chocolate to the other two ladies.
"So these Azlantis are helping people then? Like Mister Torch's shadow lodge, but with more spears?"
Ootaka Hideko |
The Lady smiles at the mention of the vigilantes. "I have always found novels of romantic heroism to be quite enjoyable. The tale of Percy and Marguerite is one of my favorites. This 'Elven Spear,' which districts of the city does she tend to place under her protection?" she asks.
"From what I have heard, she favors the Foreign Quarter, d'Apcher-Ojousama" the Tien woman politely responds.
Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher |
"The Foreign Quarter could certainly benefit from the assistance," the Lady comments. "I do have concern for the Petal District, though. My neighbors have spoken of harassment by ever-bolder masked bandits. Some of them seem to think we are all villains, while others likely want to rob us. I would be grateful to anyone who would solve this growing threat."
"Mea, when do you intend to return to your Lodge? And what do you mean when you say the books do not 'work?' " she asks.
Bloodspeaker Mea Culpa |
"They're broke, the demons made them so you can't read them anymore. Some of them, anyway. I'll go back up soon, I'm just doing papers here for it now."
She seems to consider the talk about bandits in the Foreign Quarter and Petal District.
"Why don't you just fight the bad guys, or call the guards?"
Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher |
"Might I join you when you return?" she asks. "There must be some gem in that horde of knowledge."
"As for the Petal District, I would imagine that if dealing with this sort of threat were as easy as calling for the town guard, vigilantes like Elven Spear would not have been needed in the first place."
Ootaka Hideko |
"As for the Petal District, I would imagine that if dealing with this sort of threat were as easy as calling for the town guard, vigilantes like Elven Spear would not have been needed in the first place."
"You are correct, of course, d'Apchur-Ojousama. Seeker Grundersnutt's latest paper on the subject posits that some criminals use red tape or bribes to place themselves in a world of criminals who operate above the law. In such cases, young loners on crusades to champion the cause of the innocent, helpless, or powerless are needed. At least, that is what his seminar proposed."
Bloodspeaker Mea Culpa |
"Sure, you can come!" Mea pauses to think for a moment. "We could hire a wizard to tellyport us or find a space dragon, but they aren't very nice. Or I could just fly us to the portal from the Acadamiry, that'd take about a day."
"It's good these kids are fighting the bad guys then. Why are they different from Pathfinders and adventures who already do that?"
Ootaka Hideko |
"It's good these kids are fighting the bad guys then. Why are they different from Pathfinders and adventures who already do that?"
The dark-haired Tien woman pauses and carefully thinks on the bloodspeaker's words for a moment, trying to formulate how to respond.
"I'm sure I am far less excperienced then an esteemed venture-captain in all areas, but from what rumors are circulating, the thing seperating these vigilantes from other heroes, is that it is difficult to gather any information about them. Most divination magics do nothing to reveal their true identities, if such identities exist at all. Simply put, it is very difficult to find out who these people are. I doubt anyone was born with the name 'Elven Spear."
Ootaka Hideko |
"True identies? Are they hiding? Why'd they wanna do that?"
Again, the woman takes a moment to respond, formulating her words carefully.
"I, of course, cannot speak for the motivations of all the vigilantes who have made themselves known, but Seeker Grundersnutt did address this in his seminar. He put forth that it is more difficult to target someone you don't know. You cannot kill someone, or their family, in their sleep if you don't know who they are or where they live.
Furthermore, there may be a psychological component. It is easier to fear the unknown, a madman in a mask, than a regular person. Lastly, there may be. . . magical forces at play.
But I assume d'Apchur-ojousama would know more than I. She is the one who has studied the subject through books."
Lady Gabrielle d'Apcher |
"Adopting a mysterious identity appeals to the imagination. The Red Raven, for example, is an immortal symbol, much more than what a person can achieve. And of course, theatrics are always appreciated," she explains, smiling as she speaks.
"The literature of the Empire is full of such romantic heroes. I wonder... What sort of material does this Seeker Grundersnutt draw upon for his seminars on vigilantism?" she asks, curious.
Ootaka Hideko |
"Adopting a mysterious identity appeals to the imagination. The Red Raven, for example, is an immortal symbol, much more than what a person can achieve. And of course, theatrics are always appreciated," she explains, smiling as she speaks.
"The literature of the Empire is full of such romantic heroes. I wonder... What sort of material does this Seeker Grundersnutt draw upon for his seminars on vigilantism?" she asks, curious.
The Tien half elf bows slightly to the lady and answers, this time being rather quick about it.
"I'm sure I don't know d'Apcher-ojousama. Most seemed to be conjecture based on pure logic and several reports about the current state of Absolom. I have to admit, his train of thought was very difficult to follow, he was much more intelligent than I. I . . . I don't recall him referencing Percy or Marguerite, though I do seem to recall him bringing up the Red Raven's exploits more than once."
Ootaka Hideko |
"Oh, like the Red Raven?! I get it then. Dressing up like that is really fun! And I guess I get having to hide who you really are, too. It took me a long time until I could be the dragon I always knew I was. If you have books though, I wanna read them. You could bring them when you visit my Lodge."
"I do believe Seeker Grundersnutt mentioned something about publishing a paper on the subject soon. He is, as I understand it, a well-known scholar. However, I hear that his publishing company is less-than-honest. I believe the cost is slated to be 50 gold coins."
"Grundersnutt's theories on recent uptake in vigilantism" is available for purchase as a standard pathfinder chronicle (offering a +2 bonus to knowledge local checks if you take 1d4 rounds to peruse it) for 50 GP. It is particularly dry and full of highly academic language, though it is quite accurate.
Lotus de'Bonaire |
Bloodspeaker Mea Culpa wrote:"Oh, like the Red Raven?! I get it then. Dressing up like that is really fun! And I guess I get having to hide who you really are, too. It took me a long time until I could be the dragon I always knew I was. If you have books though, I wanna read them. You could bring them when you visit my Lodge.""I do believe Seeker Grundersnutt mentioned something about publishing a paper on the subject soon. He is, as I understand it, a well-known scholar. However, I hear that his publishing company is less-than-honest. I believe the cost is slated to be 50 gold coins."
"Grundersnutt's theories on recent uptake in vigilantism" is available for purchase as a standard pathfinder chronicle (offering a +2 bonus to knowledge local checks if you take 1d4 rounds to peruse it) for 50 GP. It is particularly dry and full of highly academic language, though it is quite accurate.
I thought the trades were supposed to be cheaper than individual issues...