Keeks Krueger |
As you enter the small shack on the Grand Lodge's grounds, you spot a few tables, and behind a counter a short, child-like creature. She has her blonde hair done up in a top ponytail, brown, muddled skin that is strangely shiny and reflective, and a few rock-like protrusions jutting from various places on her body. She is adorned in a frilly, pink poofy dress.
"Welcome one and all! she shouts. "To The sherbet shack. The only confectionary where the owner, that's me, has been trained by the legendary Candy Monks of Chu Ye!"
Keeks Krueger |
I am here to freeze "stuff" accentuating stuff with finger quotes.
"Oh, I knew I'd run into this problem. I have sherbet not sherbert. I have the dry powdered candy, I don't serve frozen delicacies here."
She produces a powder from behind her counter.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherbet_(powder)#
Yoshimi |
Freeze Meister wrote:I am here to freeze "stuff" accentuating stuff with finger quotes."Oh, I knew I'd run into this problem. I have sherbet not sherbert. I have the dry powdered candy, I don't serve frozen delicacies here."
She produces a powder from behind her counter.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherbet_(powder)#
A young woman with a blend of Kellid and minkaian features pauses and frowns as she approaches the stand. "Ah, what if I was hoping for sherbet, the icy treat? No? Hmm..."
She pauses and considers the available wares. "Well, this should pack better, anyway. Two...units, please."
Keeks Krueger |
The small oread excitedly gets to work packing up some stock with colorful butcher paper, and tops them with a small ribbon.
"With pleasure! And keep in mind I have many more treats to choose from! Cake, cookies, hard candy. Unfortunately this is the, uh, 'normal, stuff. I've been researching the ways of the candymancers, they could enchant this stuff to make you float! Sadly, I haven't been able to get this to do that yet. But I'm working on it!"
She hands the two packages to the newcomer
"Thanks! Since you're my first customer, I threw in an extra few pieces of licorice for you! Thanks so much for stopping by!"
Keeks Krueger |
Freeze has a sad look.
The oread looks truly apologetic.
"Listen I'm sorry Mr. . . . I'ms sorry mister, but I haven't been trained properly in how to do frozen treats yet. Plus I don't have the equipment . . . listen, I'm doing a lot of research now in between society missions. If . . . If I learn how, I'll give you a call, okay? Please don't be sad."
Yoshimi |
Yoshimi pays for her candy and thanks Keeks before putting away one of the packets and opening up the other. She tries a bit, and her eyes light up. "Delicious! I'll have to share some of this around and recommend your store to my friends. And thank you so much for the extras! Heh...have you tried making rock candy?"
Keeks Krueger |
Yoshimi pays for her candy and thanks Keeks before putting away one of the packets and opening up the other. She tries a bit, and her eyes light up. "Delicious! I'll have to share some of this around and recommend your store to my friends. And thank you so much for the extras! Heh...have you tried making rock candy?"
Her eyes narrow and her face becomes serious for a second. "Is that a joke about my race? If so it is in poor taste.". Her face then brightens up immediately. "If not, then yes, I'm working on something right now. Can't quite get the recipe right. Check back in a week or so maybe. Also, I'm so happy you like the Sherbet."
The candy is the result of a DC 18 craft (confectionary) check
Keeks Krueger |
Keeks waves dismissively at Yoshimi.
"It's okay. It's all sugar-water under the candy bridge. Truthfully, I think the best is yet to come. I'm pretty sure I'm on the verge of creating actual magical candy, just like the candymancers of old. Just a few more tweaks, and I think I can make my coffee cake actuall make you see and think better! Oh, oh, and a chewing gum that changes flavor based on what magic item you are holding. Maybe, maybe if I add a dash of a kava pear. . . ". Her voice trails off as she starts to get lost in thought.
Marigold165908 |
1d20 + 22 ⇒ (3) + 22 = 25
A serene-featured Tian woman in the colourful robes of an Eastern magic-user, emblazoned with mystical-looking vertical lines of Tian characters, approaches the stand.
Her face breaks into a delighted smile, making her relative youth more visible. "How wonderful to taste the treats of my childhood again! And how enterprising of you to offer delicacies of distant lands here, where lore-seekers and explorers of every kind pass so steadily."
Marigold requests a fruity and sugary traditional Minkaian flavour.
Keeks Krueger |
d20+22
** spoiler omitted **
A serene-featured Tian woman in the colourful robes of an Eastern magic-user, emblazoned with mystical-looking vertical lines of Tian characters, approaches the stand.Her face breaks into a delighted smile, making her relative youth more visible. "How wonderful to taste the treats of my childhood again! And how enterprising of you to offer delicacies of distant lands here, where lore-seekers and explorers of every kind pass so steadily."
Marigold requests a fruity and sugary traditional Minkaian flavour.
Keeks looks a bit worried and disappears behind her counter. She seems to rummage around for a bit before coming up with a few candies.
"Oh, um, so . . . the thing is the Okashi no Sou-ryo were rather . . . uhh, traditional in their teachings. Lots of 'this is the only way to make candy' type talk. Kinda the reason I left actually. Anyway, they weren't too big on diversity. I've been trying to expand my repitoire, but, well, still learning. Bottom line is I don't know what a 'traditional Minkaian flavor is.' I'm from the boarder of Chu Ye. But these candies-" she says, as she gestures to the assortment in front of her "-are fairly sweet and fruity. Again, apologies,"she concludes with a worried smile on her face.
Marigold165908 |
"But this is just as I remember! The esteemed .. Okashi no Sou-ryo tradition serves you well." Her hands turn smoothly in meditative poses.
take 10
Play along, talk soon
"My my! The harvest moon festival watermelon flavour!" She picks out two of appropriate colour.
Keeks Krueger |
Kruger's brow furrows for a moment.
"But I didn't think watermelon was native to-" she cuts herself off when she sees the hand sign.
"Oh, uh, yes. Glad it meets your approval. Only the finest. . .
Bluff check to make it look like everything is fine: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
She smiles at the newcomer in a way that might pass a cursory inspection.
Bloodspeaker Mea Culpa |
A robustly built Tiefling, pale-skinned where she isn't covered by shining black scales, rolls over from where she was laying and reading a book on a nearby rooftop. She lazily scratches at one of her six horns and calls out to the shopkeeper, "You got any chock-o-lit?". In doing so she reveals a mouth too full of needle-sharp crimson teeth.
Bloodspeaker Mea Culpa |
The tiefling spreads a pair of large draconic wings tattooed with glowing images of a variety of dragons and swoops down to stand in front of the shop. She studies the chocolates for a moment before grabbing one and popping it in her mouth. Her eyes light up as she chews, and with a mouthful of chocolate she spews "I'll take em!"
Keeks Krueger |
The tiefling spreads a pair of large draconic wings tattooed with glowing images of a variety of dragons and swoops down to stand in front of the shop. She studies the chocolates for a moment before grabbing one and popping it in her mouth. Her eyes light up as she chews, and with a mouthful of chocolate she spews "I'll take em!"
Keeks takes a step back as the massive creature descends upon her. She is obviously taken slightly aback by Mea, and more than a little scared.
"Oh, wow, you are . . . you are quite large. Yes, I, uh, I am glad you like my wares. How . . . how many of each?"
Bloodspeaker Mea Culpa |
"Uuuhh..."
You can almost hear the gears grinding in her head as Mea stares off into space, haphazardly attempting to count up on her fingers. After a few moments she gives up and doffs an incredibly well-worn haversack decorated with eastern dragon patterns. She opens up one of the side pouches towards Keeks, revealing an extradimensional space containing at least 10 pounds of fine Taldan chocolate in various chunks. Despite the large amount of chocolate, the space is only about half full.
"Fill it up, please!" she says with a grin.
Keeks Krueger |
"Uhhhhhh. . . "
The oread stares up at the venture captain for a moment, trying to process it all. She then starts counting candies as she places the. In his pack. After about half an hour, and most of her stock, she finally fills an acceptable amount into the bag.
That'll be, uh, 30 gold, ma'am" she says hesitantly.
Bloodspeaker Mea Culpa |
Mea gets back up and puts away the book she'd gotten out when she got bored with all the counting. Dumping out some of the contents of her coin purse, she asks "Why are you so scared of choc-o-lits? You make 'em real tasty. Here, this might be enough"
She pushes over a small heap of gold and silver pieces over with a few platinum sticking out. It probably totals about 75 gold.
Keeks Krueger |
Hesitantly, the oread responds.
"Uh, it's not the chocolate, it's you venture-captain. I mean, no offense, but, uh, it looks like you could snap me in half with no effort.".
She nervously counts out 30 gp and slides the remainder of the gold back to the venture captain.
"Uhh, I'm glad you enjoy my sweets."
Bloodspeaker Mea Culpa |
Hesitantly, the oread responds.
"Uh, it's not the chocolate, it's you venture-captain. I mean, no offense, but, uh, it looks like you could snap me in half with no effort.".She nervously counts out 30 gp and slides the remainder of the gold back to the venture captain.
"Uhh, I'm glad you enjoy my sweets."
Mea looks very confused at Keeks' reaction. "But you're a pathfinder. You're not a bad person. I don't hurt people if they aren't doing bad. Arm wrestle, maybe."
She scoops her coins back into their pouch, leaving a platinum on the table. "Cuz it's so good!"
After she stows the pouch, she gingerly pulls something out of a pack at the small of her back and a mildly disgruntled quack ensues. Mea pulls out a somewhat disheveled duck. "Wanna pet my duck?"
Keeks Krueger |
Mea looks very confused at Keeks' reaction. "But you're a pathfinder. You're not a bad person. I don't hurt people if they aren't doing bad. Arm wrestle, maybe."
She scoops her coins back into their pouch, leaving a platinum on the table. "Cuz it's so good!"
After she stows the pouch, she gingerly pulls something out of a pack at the small of her back and a mildly disgruntled quack ensues. Mea pulls out a somewhat disheveled duck. "Wanna pet my duck?"
The oread's fears seem slightly assuaged, but not by much.
"Well. . . I thank you, but . . . I mean, it's just . . . you are very large, and seem to be very strong. If one of your wings clipped me by accident it might take me out.
I, uh, I . . . thank you for the offer about the duck, but, well, I've never been much of an animal person. Ehehehe."
Krueger laughs nervously.
Keeks Krueger |
Sometime later, Keeks stands alone in the center of her shop. She slowly turns over a yellowish, marble-sized candy in her hands, considering it for a moment.
"Well, Venture-Captain Mea did say that even a bug could become stronger if it wanted it bad enough. . . And this SHOULD work according to the ancient candymancer texts I found. . ."
With great trepidation, she places the candy in her teeth.
"Rumble-BALL" she shouts as she bites down, shattering the candy to pieces.
Instantly she doubles over and falls to her knees, clutching her stomach. Then she starts to grow. Her features become more sharp and defined, her outfit becomes tighter, her rocky characteristics, more pronounced. The largest change, though, is how her muscles seem to balloon in size.
After the transformation ceases, she slowly stands, now nearly a foot taller than before. She curiously looks down at her hands and legs.
"Whoa." she manages in a very deep, gravely voice.
Keeks Krueger |
A young Tian man wearing simple travelling clothes and carrying a staff approaches the booth.
"Good morning! May your travels bring you joy! Do you look different today? I wanted to try your candy. Will it transform me somehow?" He seems quite cheerful at the prospect.
The oread turns to her new customer, a bit unsteady in her new form."Oh, hello, I-" she stops herself upon hearing her deep, gravely voice. She pauses for a second, putting her hand to her throat with a look of curiosity and shock. "Is that how I sound now? Uh, n-no. My candy won't transform you. Not yet at least. The Candymancer magic is tricky, and I can't get it to work on other people, yet."
She reaches over to a glass container of candy and tries to pick it up, but ends up accidentally crushing it in her grip.
"Whoa, that's . . . that's new . . ."
Finder1659016 |
"Ah. My sympathies. Growth often comes with a period of adjustment. Do you think it will be permanent?"
"I could sit with you in the Great Hall to seek guidance from the presences of illustrious Pathfinders of the past, who have overcome many strange situations. But no doubt you have a business to run."
"If you agree, I can measure out some for myself? I wouldn't dream of trying to cheat you just now."
Keeks Krueger |
The Oread stares at the glass in her palm. "Weird, it didn't even hurt. It's like my skin is naturally armored or something.". She is jolted back to reality by her customer's comments.
"Huh? Oh, no, not permenant. How long it lasts depends on the skill of the maker. Can't remember how it exactly works. . . Hard to think. Anyway, rumors suggest true masters could keep it going for 2-3 hours, but I doubt mine will even last half an hour. Oh, sure you can get some yourself, scoops are in the drawer there.". She points to a utensil drawer then goes back to looking herself over.
She then immediately turns back. "Did you say spirits of the past? Can you talk to ghosts? I. . . Oh, but no. I think I am the first Candymancer to join the pathfinders. If you happen to talk to any candymancer ghosts though, I'd love to hear of their techniques. I am mostly getting by with fleeting glimpses of incomplete texts."
Finder1659016 |
"Why thank you."
The young man carefully scoops out his purchases into paper bags and counts out coins.
He pops a sweet in his mouth. Instantly white fur grows from his skin and his face lengthens into an animal muzzle full of sharp teeth!
"Whoops! Ha ha!"
Swiftly (or as a move, one might say) he returns to human form with a contrite look on his face.
"I beg your pardon. Sometimes my former nature gets the better of me. I hope I haven't behaved inappropriately. Needless to say, it had nothing to do with your delicious wares."
"I would be most interested to help if I can. Some of my contacts are a little like ghosts, yes .. Others more like legends or impressions of many minds. The spirits may grant me their knowledge, in a place where such knowledge was found, or sometimes just as usefully, their skill and cleverness to help solve a problem."
"Would you mind if I come by in the morning and sit by your 'Shack? I'll certainly stay out of your customers' way. I wonder if I can draw forth memories of this marvelous tradition that you may not be aware yourself that you carry with you."
Keeks Krueger |
Knowledge-Local on kitsune: 1d20 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (14) + (2) + 6 = 22
Knowlede-local on Mediums: 1d20 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + (1) + 6 = 10
Her eyes brighten for a second becofore scrunching up in thought again.
"Oh, you're a Kitsune! I haven't met one of your kind before, at least I don't think I have. It's nice to meet you. Feel free to take whichever form you find most comfortable in my establishment.
"As for talking to spirits like you describe. . . I feel like I've heard about that before. Ohh, it's so hard to think in this form. Anyway, yes, you may certainly, uh, commu. . . kamu. . . comun. . . meditate here. And if my shop attracts, uh, impressions of candymancers of old, then I would certainly count myself blessed "
She holds out her hand for a handshake but notices the broken glass still in it from the last time she grabbed something and gives an awkward, apologetic smile before simply bowing in tien fassion instead.
Hah! Missed the DC 11 knowledge local check to know the abilities of a CR 1 medium by 1, because of the two point penalty to Int from my mutagen! Excellent RP oppertunity!
Finder1659016 |
It might be just as well. It's questionable if the Archmage can do alchemy as written. Maybe the paths across the campus (or a certain other connection) are twisty and criss-crossing enough to channel the Trickster
"Thank you kindly. The kitsune form does very well for a great many people, I'm sure, but I am trying to grow out of it. Even the samsarans weren't sure if I would. Perhaps in a future lifetime."
Keeks Krueger |
It might be just as well. It's questionable if the Archmage can do alchemy as written. Maybe the paths across the campus (or a certain other connection) are twisty and criss-crossing enough to channel the Trickster
"Thank you kindly. The kitsune form does very well for a great many people, I'm sure, but I am trying to grow out of it. Even the samsarans weren't sure if I would. Perhaps in a future lifetime."
I think a candymancer shop counts as an 'area with unusual magic.' Also, the pathfinder lodge is a walled keep for the guardian, has some practice yards for the champion, and my shop might count as a 'tavern' for the trickster.
The Oread views the kitsune quizzically for a moment. "Grow out of. . . Your species? Well, I won't pry, and you do you. I've been working on a candy that will TEMPORARILY change a person's species, but I haven't perfected it yet. Candymancer magic is pretty tricky, and I haven't quite got it down. I have a feeling I'm close to it, as well as making it work for other people. But it probably would only work for a few minutes at most."
She moves back to a washbasin and cleans the glass from her hands, then moves to grab a broom to sweep up the mess she made only to snap that in half too.
"Dangit!"
Yillas |
A nearly 7 foot tall, probably half-orc, figure of indeterminate gender covered in armor, carrying a shield and several large weapons walks in the door.
"Keeks, Yillas and Yillas come to taste more yum yum. Yillas taste better when Yillas where Yillas at."
Yillas looks over Keeks and frowns slightly.
"You bigger than you were, you make Yillas big like Yillas was? Maybe even make Yillas and Yillas one again?"
Keeks Krueger |
Keeks walks over to the 1/2 orc(?) and embraces him (?) as an old friend.
"Yillas, so good to see you! Yes, of course you can buy some candy."
She is halfway to her counter when she hears the second question Yillas poses.
knowledge-arcana: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 7 + (4) = 17
Fails to know about spell giant form 1
"Ooh, oh sorry Yillas, no. This is a candymancer thing. Makes me a bit stronger and bigger, but it's set up for my biol-er, it's a magic that only works for me. I don't know of a way to make you whole again. I'm sorry." she says appoligetically. "You still want some candy?"
Yillas |
"That ok. No one else seems to know either. Glad you make you strong. Better protect self."
Yillas grins widely at the Oread, then starts looking over the variety of candies.
"Hmm, so many."
Yillas starts taking a wide selection of candies to sample. They take out a bag of coins and place it on the counter.
"Take what you need, I take these, thank you.
Keeks Krueger |
The Oread tries to flag down the strange creature.
"Hold on Yillas, I need to count how much of what you-ooh. Ooh, that feels-"
For a brief moment the Oread's body seems to ripple, then she quite suddenly shrinks a full foot in size. Her legs retract so quickly into her body that she actually falls a short distance to the floor. The rocky protrusions around her eyes retract somewhat and her general appearance becomes softer and rounder.
"Ooh, ooh that still feels weird" she says rubbing her temples; her voice a noticeably hire timbre than before. "So strange to suddenly be able to think more clearly.". She turns her attention back to her customer. "Sorry, yes, uh, I'll need to count out what you, whoa, I forgot how low to the ground I am normally, no, yes, Yillas, I need to count out what you want to buy to figure out how much you owe me."