Blood Under Absalom -- A Multitable PbP special (GM Hmm's table) (Inactive)

Game Master Hmm

It's not every day that the Grand Lodge sends a summons to Pathfinders from lodges all over Golarian. The crowd of varied pathfinders nudge each other with great excitement as more and more them pile into the Grand Lodge's courtyard. Only one thing is certain... Whatever they're going to announce will be big.

A few canny vendors march to and fro in the crowd, selling potions and wands to interested buyers. A little gnome, wielding a barrel of CLW wands bigger than he is, yells, "CLW wands! Can't go into imminent danger without your CLW wands!"

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Feel free to dot and delete, or introduce yourselves in character and gossip amongst yourselves. This game will start January 11th.

A young woman standing among the crowd of Pathfinders looks up in surprise as the little gnome wanders by, hawking his wands. "Imminent danger? You mean this isn't the annual Pathfinder Pastry Party?" she asks aloud, speaking to no one in particular. "Darn..." she sighs, looking rather disappointed. "I even skipped breakfast this morning so I'd have plenty of room!"

"Pastry party?" The gnome looks up at the pretty oracle and grins. "Naw, any time this many Pathfinders are gathered, imminent danger is sure to follow!" He mentions confidingly, "You've heard the old phrase right? Pathfinder Society every day will keep the bleaching away!"

"You think so, New Friend?" Corona asks. "Well...in that case I guess it's a good thing I brought all my gear with me anyway," she says cheerfully. "I mean, you never know what just what sort of pastries you'll find at a pastry party and so I thought I'd better be safe than sorry!"

As to just what sort of relationship armor, weapons, and a pack full of gear might have to pastries, she doesn't elaborate.

A disheveled young man with long blonde hair walks into the meeting area lugging a heavy pack of gear and assorted items. Shrugging the pack off his shoulders looking around him. "Did someone say breakfast? I'm starved! I could eat an entire horse!" Scanning the area for any signs of edibles which the pretty young woman suggested actually existed, he shakes his head in disgust.

"Looks like more rations once again!" He turns to the young woman and asks "Got any other food on ya?"

"Huh? Oh I'm sorry Other New Friend, rations are all I have too," Corona responds apologetically. "But I'll trade you the jerky from some of mine for the dried fruit in yours?"

As she begins to dig and rummage through her pack, she nods at the gnome standing nearby. "My New Friend here was saying that this gathering has something to do with imminent danger and not the Pathfinder Pastry Party like I thought. Do you...where IS it?...know what's happening, Other New Friend?"

Aye she is a looker all right...but she seems a bit daft. Wonder if she was dropped on her head when she was a toddler?

Yorad waves off the offer as he pulls out a bit of jerky and chews on it slowly. "Ehhh...Keep it. All rations taste the same once you've lived on them for weeks, if you know what I mean!" He responds to the pretty woman. As for the imminent danger, I think that is included with every job description the Pathfinders give you. Haven't run across one that was a walk in the park...though one was actually a walk in one of the parks around here if I remember right."

"Ugh, soOOoooo crowded!" A 2 foot tall green and brown spotted grippli walks next to a brown, warty desert toad as they move through the crowds. "Come on, Bebop. What's it take for a girl to get some warm cricket stew around here?!" The toad croaks as she shouts out indiscriminately, stopping as she hears two humans talking about breakfast.

"Jerky? Dried fruit? Yuuuuuuck. Say, would you happen to have some blowfly casserole? I'm starved!"

Sheela continues to comb her hair hastily, focusing on a Mage Hand that keeps her red hair somewhat controlled. Last night was a doozy, and she barely recovered from the hangover.

"Ugh. Why are so many Pathfinders here?" She rubs her eyes. "I haven't seen so many since that deal with the green bubble. Man, I picked the right day to travel."

"Blowfly casserole? No, I'm afraid I never learned the recipe for that one," Corona responds sadly as she turns towards the new voices. "But if you can walk me through it maybe I could try making one for you, New Little Friend?"

"And apparently we're all here for the imminent danger," she adds to the other woman. "But hopefully it won't be too dangerous!"

"Danger? Oh, right..." Sheela pulls out her wand of Cure Light Wounds. "I actually got this wand a few weeks ago, in Cassomir. Nasty problem with rats, and the undead, and...we lost a friend." She frowns.

"But! I got this wand to make sure it wouldn't happen again. I have a few ideas on how it works, but clerics are much better at it." Sheela waves the wand a few times, practicing the physical motions. As she's not wearing armor, you're pretty certain she's an arcane caster of some sort.

"Oh, listen to me ramble on." Sheela puts her hand out to shake, then forgets and tries to hug the woman. "My name's Sheela. From the Kolphan family."

Tiffany beams a smile as she looks up at the human. "You'd make me one? Wow, in that case, you can call me Little Friend all you'd like!" She begins to explain the process of catching and killing the flies, mashing them up, and various other details unappreciated and downright disgusting to non-amphibians.

"... And then you set the deep dish atop a fire for about an hour! Pretty easy, right? Your new little friend here is Tiffany, all the way from the grand Mwangi Expanse. This here is my loyal companion, Bebop. He doesn't talk much." The tiny toad next to her croaks a few times. Its small size really makes her seem a lot bigger.

When the aasimar takes out her wand, Tiffany notices immediately and pulls out a much smaller version with leaves tied around it. "I've got one too! An expert in this type of wand, if I do say so myself," She stands tall with her eyes shut as she talks herself up.

Funny, so far none of us are full BaB ^^

As the group was chatting amongst themselves, a singing voice just behind a number of people came to a close.

"Thank you kindly.
Alas, my performance comes to a close for the day."

As the small crowd dispersed, a young woman with light colored scales, and yellow amber eyes, dressed in a pretty performance dress and carrying a backpack, comes walking by.

Contrary to her reptilian features, she has something akin to hair on her head, but it's not quite hair yet.

She taps 1d2 ⇒ 1 Corona on the shoulder.
"Excuse me, is this the gathering place for the big event?"

Corona listens intently as Tiffany explains the painstaking process of crafting the perfect blowfly casserole, with only the occasional nod or murmur of understanding. "Okay, that doesn't sound so bad - though I might need to get some waders first..."

When Sheela brings out her wand, the young woman's eyes light up. "Oh! I have one of those too, New Friends!" Corona says excitedly as she flicks her wrist, sending a similar-looking wand dropping into her hand. "I didn't have one for my first mission but a very nice, pale man that was part of my team let me borrow his to use. He suggested I get one right away once we got back to Absalom so I did," she smiles as she tucks the wand back into a small wrist sheath concealed under her sleeve. "Anyway, I-hmm?"

She turns to see who tapped her on the shoulder, eyes growing wide as she takes in yet another newcomer. "Wow! All sorts of people are out for Pathfinder Pas-er, the Pathfinder Imminent Danger Assembly!" she exclaims. "Yes, you're in the right place New Friend," she smiles. Then she blinks. "Oh, I forgot to tell you my name. I'm Corona Merrion - nice to meet you, New Friends."

"Corona. Nice name. I think we'll get along well." Sheela continues her hug. "And you're Tiffany. Good to see you, little one." Sheela drops to her knees to hug her and tries not to think about Fly Casserole.

Standing up she turns to the Nagaji singer. "That was really good singing! Grandmama told me that interval is very difficult to sing- I'll have to practice more!" She giggles. "I'm Sheela. Good to meet you!"

Yorad watches the display of affection shown by the Pathfinder women with a bemused look on his face.

I dunno whether to pinch myself here or run away screaming for my life. Sounds like these women are gonna be more dangerous than anything I'm gonna run into out there!...And what is up with those sticks and the way they show 'em off? You'd think they'd....Naaah better not go there...

Sheela notices Yorad keeping quiet to himself when she gives him a wink and grabs his hand. "Well well, no need to keep quiet!" She practically drags him, front and center.

"You mentioned something to Corona here, started chewing on-" her gaze drops "some jerky and then faded away. Introduce yourself, already." She giggles to no one in particular.

"I was hungry and there was no food provided to this shindig!" Yorad exclaims. "Anyway I am Yorad yer humble servant willing to do the dirty work for you all. I spend long hours workin' on the docks here lugging cargo to and from all the ships so I know all about gettin' my hands dirty. Hey someone's gotta do it!"

A halfling comes by with a cart of pasties -- savory meat or potato-filled pies. "Pasties! Onion, Potato, Roast Ham or Blowfly!" He looks up at the cheerful group that's gathering. "Would any of you lovely ladies or gents like a hot pasty? They're fresh! I also have homemade halfling trail rations -- the best tasting trail rations you can get!"

Tiffany gladly accepts the hug from Sheela, ensuring first that none of her skin is still covered in poison from her trip to Absalom. "Nice to meet you both."

As the halfing approaches, she looks up at Yorad. "You said you were hungry, right? Looks like we're in luck!"

At the merchant's mention of blowfly, Tiffany's toad companion happily hops around. "Calm down, Bebop. There's plenty here for both of us!" She looks at the cart with her crimson eyes growing wide. "Oh my, these smell delicious! Give me one!" With manners never being her strong suit, it takes ever ounce in her tiny body for Tiffany to resist the urge to use her Sticky tongue and grab one of the blowfly pies.

Man I just may need to bring Luurg along... he'd fit in so well with you guys!

She turns to see who tapped her on the shoulder, eyes growing wide as she takes in yet another newcomer. "Wow! All sorts of people are out for Pathfinder Pas-er, the Pathfinder Imminent Danger Assembly!" she exclaims. "Yes, you're in the right place New Friend," she smiles. Then she blinks. "Oh, I forgot to tell you my name. I'm Corona Merrion - nice to meet you, New Friends."

"New Friend hmm? Why not.", Sophia smiles gently.

Her scales are a pale shade green, yet the center of her face is colored more like an average humanoid's, some irregular blood in her veins?

"Merrion eh? What, or -who-, exactly, are you Merry On?"
(Teasing smile)

Standing up she turns to the Nagaji singer. "That was really good singing! Grandmama told me that interval is very difficult to sing- I'll have to practice more!" She giggles. "I'm Sheela. Good to meet you!"

"Why thank you, i'm glad people like it. I've had plenty of time to practice. I found it a pleasant outlet since i was little. So you sing as well then, as a hobby, or public performances?"

"Yeah, they do smell good, don't they?" The halfling confides. "It's a new line for us, ever since grippli started coming into the society! I got more conventional fillings for other folk too. Pasties, anyone?"

"Why thank you, i'm glad people like it. I've had plenty of time to practice. I found it a pleasant outlet since i was little. So you sing as well then, as a hobby, or public performances?"

"Well, Sophia. My Grandmama sings in her garden constantly and encouraged everyone in the Kolphan family to pick up some kind of entertainment. Darius is an actor, while Sigurd...well, he's a lousy dancer." She giggles. "I decided to follow Grandmama's footsteps and sing. Other nobles find it quite entertaining- and it usually leads to more than a simple party." Sheela giggles some more.

"Yeah, they do smell good, don't they?" The halfling confides. "It's a new line for us, ever since grippli started coming into the society! I got more conventional fillings for other folk too. Pasties, anyone?"

"Ooh! Pastries! I prefer cake. Uh, the ones with flour, eggs and some kind of milk." Sheela glances at the blowfly pie TIffany is eyeing. "Strawberry's my favorite flavor."

She pulls out a gold piece. "Everyone can have some on the house. Go ahead, eat what you want."

"Don't mind if I do Sheela!" Yorad plucks the coin from Sheela's fingers rather dexterously and deposits it in the halfling's palm. "I think I'll take the Ham and Potato one! Oh? it is one of each? Well ya can't go wrong with ham right? Builds meat on your bones!"

Wolfing down the pastry with the speed of one who is accustomed to eating in a hurry, he wipes his hands on his cloak and plants a kiss on Sheela's palm. "Thank you for the filler! Just what a growing lad like myself needs!" He returns her wink from earlier with one of his own. "Now I owe you a sweet!"

"You guys are much more talkative than the last group of Pathfinders I spent much time with," Corona comments cheerily as she returns Sheela's hug and then eyes the pastie cart with a calculating eye. "You're sure it's okay, New Friend Sheela? Well...in that case I think I'll take one potato pastie, please."

As she munches on the pastie Corona listens to the chatter of the others with great interest, pausing occasionally to comment or ask a question. "You sing! That's wonderful New Friend Sophia; I'm sure it makes lots of people very happy," she smiles. "It's always good to make other people happy, especially in these dark days. So I guess maybe that's what I'm Merry On about!" she finishes with a laugh.

Well, Sophia. My Grandmama sings in her garden constantly and encouraged everyone in the Kolphan family to pick up some kind of entertainment. Darius is an actor, while Sigurd...well, he's a lousy dancer." She giggles. "I decided to follow Grandmama's footsteps and sing. Other nobles find it quite entertaining- and it usually leads to more than a simple party

"Oh? That sounds fun."

"And who is the young man here?"

"And who is the young man here?"

"Yorad Cinderhunter, laborer extraordinaire, at yer service!"

Tiffany smiles and happily munches on the blowfly pasty, feeding the odd morsel to Bebop. "Mmmfthank you" She says to Sheela, her mouth full of the mixture inside the treat, certainly a sight no one would wish to see.

When she's finished she looks up at the curious human with the accent. "A laborer, hmm? You know, I could use some help moving my things up here from Kibwe. A strong man like you is just the sort of thing I need!" She doesn't realize what she may be implying. "Care for a trek through the jungle after we're done this dangerous mission?" She folds her arms together and shows him a wide smile with blowfly fragments and pieces of pasty still on her tongue.

Sophia hadn't yet noticed the small grippli, that was standing covered behind another.

"Jungle outskirts are too tranquil for my tastes. The only thing of taste, are the treats found within, the delicacies."

"What sort of delicacies?" Corona asks, looking curious. "I imagine they'd have to be good to be worth going all the way to the jungle to get!"

I was silently hoping someone would ask that. ;)

Sophia saw the grippli after having mentioned delicacies.
A twinkle was in her eyes, and then replied to Corona.

"Marinated frog legs, for one.
Now, no need for silly looks, they are quite tender."

"Aside from those, there are purple fruits, which are both refreshing, like a citrus fruit, and mildly sweet in taste. Excellent against thirst. The salad of jungle fruits is one of my favorites."

Tiffany looks up at Sophia with her eyes narrowed and her mouth agape. Bebop notices her revolt and croaks in Sophia's direction. "How unfortunate that I'd get paired up with someone who sees me as lunch!" She crosses her arms. "I can see how our mission will be dangerous after all. .. The danger's right in front of me!"

Your risk by picking a juicy frog :3.

"Aww, don't worry. You're too big for me to eat.
Besides, your kin aren't foreign to my home land."

"The toodle on your arms though...."

Sophia is deliberately teasing the amphibian girl, but doesn't push it.
"So where are you from, frog girl?"

"Hmph. My name is Tiffany, not frog girl." The grippli pouts as Sophia literally sizes her up. "Bebop will be keeping an eye on you." The toad leaps up onto Tiffany's shoulder.

"I'm from Kibwe, a city of mining and trade. The East Mwangi Mining Company has its main branch in Kibwe, and they mainly mine for diamonds." Her eyes grow wide as she mentions this. "Diamonds and gold!"

"What about you... serpent lady?" She smugly grins.

Is that distinguishable? :)

"The toodle's name is Bebop?
I briefly met a group of bounty hunters from a ship named Bebop once, energetic folk.
If this is a big event, 'Bebop' will likely need to focus on other things than a singer from Tian Xia."

Sophia dismisses the serpent remark with a playful chuckle.
"Those would be the gorgons, as far as i've heard of them. I come from exotic Nagajor, land of the naga and nagaji, in Tian Xia."

+1 for that reference!

Tiffany breaks her composure and can't help but smile at Sophia's remark about Bebop and her familiarity with the mentioned ship. "I've read about that ship! There was a pretty bounty hunter lady who was fabled to have been frozen for a while, and then came back to life. Some magic that must have been!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Sheela tries not to gag as Sophia describes eating frog legs, especially in front of Tiffany. But when she realizes it's a joke to mess with Tiffany, she laughs. I mean, coughs.

"What strange bounty hunters, these must have been." Sheela ponders deeply. "A shame about the elder hunter's iron arm, though- he never did explain where that came from, did he?"

"Wait, one of them had an iron arm?" Corona gasps with all the amazement and delight of a small child. "Why haven't I heard about this group before? Heck, why haven't the Society tried recruiting them?"

I get it too, haha!

Sheela tries not to gag as Sophia describes eating frog legs, especially in front of Tiffany. But when she realizes it's a joke to mess with Tiffany, she laughs. I mean, coughs.

Or was i? ;)

"That might be because they were a group for hire.
One of them said they weren't willing to be bound to any organization.
Plus they'd see more if not tied to anyone or anything."

"Huh...I guess that makes sense," Corona responds thoughtfully. "I know in the Society you don't always get to pick where you're sent or who you work with. Maybe some people like the mystery of it all, but I can see how some wouldn't."

A tall, thick chested man, bearing an striking mane of white hair, makes his way into the lodge, his eyes scanning the crowd. A giant sword is strapped to his backpack along with an assortment of weapons hanging off his side. He wears a grey cloak over his weather worn studded leather with a silver chain disappearing behind his chest piece. He's an imposing presence and walks with confidence, at least until he sees Captain Valsin, then he does his best to duck behind a doorway to avoid eye contact.

Seeing the chatty group of ladies he heads on over to strike up a conversation, or perhaps just avoid Valsin. "Quite the gathering here today. Something big is going to be announced I've heard? Word around the cell blocks was some sort of event maybe? Never know what to believe down there really." He says as he absentmindedly rubs his wrists, which appear to be red and a bit raw.

He notices everyone chowing down on pasties "They've even got food vendors in here? Must be like a carnival. They have anything worth spending the coin on? I haven't had a good meal in weeks." He says over the rumblings of his stomach.

"It's supposed to be some sort of event full of peril, according to the little gnome selling wands," responds a young woman with dirty blonde hair and pale green eyes. She absently takes a bite of the pastie in her hand and adds, "The food is pretty good though, for it not being a pastry party like I'd hoped..."

Sure glad that guy showed up...looks like none of these women here know which end of a sword to point at the baddies...

Yorad smiles as he turns to greet the newcomer. "Yorad, and it is a pleasure to have you join us! Please help yourself!" He greets Mort while handing him an extra meat pastry. "Something big...yeah why I am here. Beats lugging another pile of wool from ship to dock...and repeat all day long!"

Sheela frowns as she didn't expect another member to share pastries with. Not her type, either. Still, she smiles and produces a cupcake. "Hello mister...well, you didn't say what your name was, but here. Have some pastries. My name is Sheela."

As if summoned by the growls of Mort's stomach, another vendor appears. He's a dwarf with a meticulously waxed beard and mustache, and a small portable grill that he's pushing. "Spiced dumplings and sausage? These'll put color in your cheeks, lad! If you don't mind me sayin' so, ye look a little pale!"

Another vendor, a shifty looking half-orc, sidles up to Sheela. "Used wayfinder, miss?" He pulls up a wayfinder that looks dented and scorched. It glows in his hand. "See?! Still works! Anyone can sell you a pristine wayfinder, but I'm the only one who can sell you a piece of history!"

The dumpling might be seasoned with strong alcohol as well, by the sound of it....

Sophia silently watches the big man come along.
Our meat shield has arrived.

Her attention is drawn rather by the shifty half-orc.
A swindler, eh?

"I'm Mort, nice to meet you all. I'm hoping to get in on whatever action is about to start, I could use the work.. and the pay." He says as he flags down the Dwarven vendor for a few pasties, which he does his best to eat semi politely.

"I'm assuming you all are here for the same reason?" He says after he finishes off the first meat pie.

"Yup, I overslept, missed some kind of event. Grandmama yelled at me, in her sweet, nonconfrontational way of course." Sheela offers another gold piece for the Dwarven vendor.

"That wayfinder...No, I'll have to pass. I write my own history." She waves the orc off.

Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Why would I ever buy that thing? Whomever dropped that obviously got into big trouble. I'll have none of it.