Diomedes nods at Sharaya's tea-totaling. "Of course. Though if a splash makes you apt to misjudgement, you're a cheap date indeed," he jokes.
"And to yours as well, Lorik. And to our chances of being chosen." He lovingly sips the wine, letting it stay in his mouth just a little bit before swallowing.
He turns to Varloo. "I'd say your Master has an excellent, if quirky, sense of fashion. A friend of mine once opined, 'Aside from keeping the sun off your head, hat's are for getting you noticed in a crowd.' And in this crowd, being memorable might make quite the difference."
Answering Saraya's question, "Wayfair. I'm afraid I'm even behind the S's. I'm not concerned. I feel like they have far too much of an interest in this expedition to let something like alphabetical order get in the way."
"Harul, join us. What can you, and Sharaya, tell us about those that were chosen the first time around? Or about the interview process in general? Well-informed is well-prepared."
Varloo looks askance at the group discussion, since it turned toward being selected.
"I'm not too worried about being left behind. I have a suspicion Grandmaster Torch wanted me to go...so this interview is most likely a waste of time for me, and to keep the other Pathfinder Masters happy."
With that, Varloo tilts his hat yet again, trying to find a more comfortable position for it.
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Bann sits off away still eating and drinking delicately. His eyes can't help wander every time that strange man(?) manipulted his hat. For whatever reason, the hat was driving Bann's curiosity.
Can't he just keep that blasted "hat" in one place!? It's being fidgeted about like there are ants under it.
His interest draws in and out as he continues listening to whatever words waft his way.
Lorik did not quite choke. Upon hearing that one word, though, it took much of his concentration not to cough up his drink. He settled for clearing his throat and muttering something about the liquid going down the tube.
Solistar. That can't be a coincidence. A descendant? I have to be cautious about this.
Lorik did his best to keep the conversation going, and distract himself from thinking about this new kernel of information too much.
"I wouldn't get too complacent there, Varloo. Grandmaster Torch still has some enemies in the Society, to be sure. May as well make a good impression on Master Kreighton, eh?"
Sharaya gives Diomedes whatever information that she has about the process from the first round.
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Absolom - the Grand Lodge
"Kreighton, good to see you. I'm here to sign up. I was at Almas and they denied me passage on the Liberty's Herald because I mentioned the Society. I don't intend to be denied again. Any idea why they would be Anti-Society?"
"Assumptions and nothing more. Perhaps they believe we will take items of value they wish to keep for themselves. Others have other theories but that is mine.
Good luck in the selection process".
"That really depends on how you look at it Master Shaine. From my perspective I would say both, granted I do not know which of us is more invested."
Shaine sighs, "Now you are starting to sound like Osprey as well... Does this mean you are placing your name on the rolls for possible selection to head to the Azlant? In that case I would say it is more for you but with the Seeker one never knows".
"I am not, Master Shaine. My name is Harul Safan, and I am seeking a place on the Expedition - as are many others, I am sure. My uncle, Colm, perished while exploring the Ravenous Sphinx, and I hope this expedition provides similar discoveries as he unearthed."
"Ah yes Colm, ugly business that. My sincerest condolences I knew Colm a bit and always liked him. Glad to see you are following in his footsteps".
"Bann Drarks, thankee. From Woodsedge Lodge".
"Noted, glad to see those from far and away arriving here to partake in this challenge. Good luck to you", replies the Master of Scrolls.
---
The companions at the table listen as Sharaya provides the only two interview questions she heard before she made the mistake of mentioning the Society:
First - What skills do you possess that would be an asset to a colony with no readily available resources?
Second - What experiences have you had surviving in tropical climates?
Harul chimes in with the third question which is where he made the mistake of mentioning the Society. Third - What experiences have you had in organizing expeditions if any?
---
As lunch begins to wind down, the Master of Scrolls enters the festhall and makes an announcement, as he does so the din of the room quiets down to the point of being able to hear a pin drop.
"I trust you all enjoyed the spread provided for you.
We shall begin interviews now in alphabetical order starting with first names as so many of you are known more for your personal rather than family names".
He calls out the first name and the interviews commence as the Aaron Tufano follows the Master of Scrolls to the first floor study in Skyreach.
"I wouldn't get too complacent there, Varloo. Grandmaster Torch still has some enemies in the Society, to be sure. May as well make a good impression on Master Kreighton, eh?"
Varloo tosses his hat up and catches it easily one handed.
"Agreed. If I pissed off the wrong man here, I could easily be left behind. That's why I'm bothering with this process...and plan on answering honestly. I know for sure I would hate to get refused and Grandmaster Torch find out that it was my own stupidity. He HATES stupidity."
Lorik glances over at Sharaya.
"See? I know the pain of waiting just like you now!"
You were correct, Lorik. What a boon for Diomedes, and an unexpected delay for Varloo.
As she looks at Varloo during that last comment, she notices Bann glaring at Varloo's hat.
... Varloo. That elf over there is looking at your hat like he wants to kill it. I think we should invite him over to observe it more closely, don't you?
Without waiting for agreement, she waves Bann over to the table.
Harul raises an eyebrow at Master Kreighton's announcement. "So much for last names. Perhaps they have done this in an attempt to catch us off-guard and see how react to the unexpected."
"Perhaps, though I'm uncertain that any that they trust as Pathfinders would be quite so easily ruffled. It suits me just fine, though. More time for cheese!"
Bann continues watching the hat, his left eyebrow raising at the most recent toss, now somewhat oblivious to his staring.
At the Chelexian Women's wave, he nearly coughs his drink up.
Ah, crap.
He waves back somewhat awkwardly and then quickly finishes the rest of his drink to give himself a moment to consider options. Seeing no other path forward but one, Bann sits his drink down before heading over to join the others. Well, if this gets dicey, I can always come back to retrieve my cup. He smiles outwardly as he approaches, glad to have an escape plan set.
"Hail and well met."
Hello, friend. I was just noticing that you were ... "admiring" Varloo's ridiculous hat. Why don't you join us? My name is Sharaya, and this is Varloo, Lorik, Diomedes, and Harul. We were just discussing the interview questions, and the alphabetical challenge some of us face.
Varloo frowns at the woman's description of his hat, and nearly spills his drink as he sits up to show it off.
"It is NOT ridiculous! Its 'noteworthy' and 'functional.' What else is there for a hat at sea or in the jungle? The seller added the feather as a bonus really...I didn't ask for it."
"Ha, first names it is. An excellent intuition, Harul!"
Diomedes raise his cup to Varloo's point and speaks with a bright gleam in his eye. "Exactly, functional and noteworthy. What more need a hat be?" He attempts to look serious, but his smile continues to break through the facade.
"Yes"
Is his simple reply as he places his name, bowing at the master before leaving unless called back.
Tosen shuffles along as the names start being called. He does not eat much, having been trained to eat only what he needs long ago. He hears snippets of conversation here and there, but nothing that really interest him. Unless said hat was a few hundred years old or involved some historic event he was unaware of. He returns to his tome, recording information on the individuals none the less, it never hurt to know of pathfinders.
"It is NOT ridiculous! Its 'noteworthy' and 'functional.' What else is there for a hat at sea or in the jungle? The seller added the feather as a bonus really...I didn't ask for it."
Perhaps "noteworthy" is the more polite synonym in this case, although might I suggest we compromise on "odd."
Guffawing a bit, Varloo then chuckles for a while and then speaks in a grand manner.
"Odd? Yes, that makes me and my hat quite a pair! Odd ducks we are: Together, my hat and I...will conquer the island! Forthwith! Or some such..."
After that, he quickly goes back to sipping his chilled ale and only chuckling under his breath as she spins his hat again and again. Seemingly as if contemplating the adventures they will soon have with each other.
Lorik gestured up at his own, magnificently plumed hat.
"I know a guy. I can set you up with one of these in a flash! We'd make quite the dashing duo, I think!"
Feeling his bald head and placing the hat back on carefully, Varloo grimaces.
"I appreciate the offer...Lorik is it? But I'll stick with this one for now. I'm not usually wanting to be lumped in with the 'dashing' types. Bad for business."
At that, Varloo smiles his big, almost unnaturally white-toothed smile.
Bann waits patiently, his hands slowly messaging themselves, while the banters ensues,
"It is NOT ridiculous! Its 'noteworthy' and 'functional.' What else is there for a hat at sea or in the jungle? The seller added the feather as a bonus really...I didn't ask for it."Perhaps "noteworthy" is the more polite synonym in this case, although might I suggest we compromise on "odd."
A brief smile faintly plays across Bann's lips as his eyes flicker upon Varloo's hat just one more time.
Yes, 'noteworthy' seems appropriate to me."Then he steels himself away from all thoughts about hat-ware, head covers, feathers, and (strangely) squid-ware.
"Sorry... my name is Bann. I uh. Well, yes. I imagine it won't be long before I hear my name."
Bann gives one last sidelong glance to his empty cup and soon finds himself sitting, though somewhat rigidly as he surveys his newly acquired table companions.
Wow. Our alphabetic superior in all ways. You grace us with your presence. She grins.
Sharaya gives Bann a quick rundown of the 3 interview questions that we know about already, just in case he gets pulled away soon.
Harul sits back and says, "I prefer smaller hats, or the hood of a cloak, myself. I find that hats like those draw more attention to oneself than may be desired. Fools, mostly, who think themselves skilled duelists, but annoying nonetheless."
Varloo waves off the Harul's comment with his mug of ale.
"I'm no skilled duelist. Now...Don't get me wrong, I know how to swing a sword, I'm just no expert of dancing with one. Besides, I rather prefer the feel of my Falcata chopping limbs and heads off my opponents rather than just poking them repeatedly with pointy things."
At that last comment, Varloo's eyes get a little big and his upper lip twitches subtly as he stares off in the distance.
I rather prefer the feel of my Falcata chopping limbs and heads off my opponents
Sharaya realizes that she is sitting beside a bloodthirsty maniac, and doesn't really want to get stuck here while other people get up and leave and they end up the only two people at the table.
She gets up and says
Well, I'm going off to meet a few more people before the big interview. Good luck to you all.
She wanders around greeting people, and sees a man (Tosen) writing. Are you cramming for the interview? she asks.
Tosen looks up from his notes, it was one of the subjects he had been studying and documenting.
"Oh not at all, I have perfect recall. Thanks to the monks of Irori and their teachings. My friend told me I should physically catalog things, it's of little use to anyone inside my head. Not to mention it will save time when I finally do compile the lot."
He seems to catch himself, taking a small bow.
You notice when he bows that one of the pages has a very precise rendering of you. Along with detailed observational notes.
"Apologies, I did not introduce myself. I am Tosen Sonsho, a humble scholar. Who do I have the honor of addressing if I may ask?"
Perfect recall? That's impressive. And I take it that's something you can *learn,* given enough time and attention? I may have to look into that.
Oh, sorry. Nice to meet you Tosen. I am Sharaya Solistar, a sorceress of sorts, though I am still learning. So, you take notes on... what? The buildings, the people, the political situation... or all of the above?
Tosen shuffles his papers for a moment as he joints something down.
You notice when he writes that the page has a very precise rendering of you. Along with detailed observational notes, having just placed your name on it and sorcerous ability. The light making it slightly translucent while he adjust to get a solid surface.
His attention snaps back in moments.
"A pleasure Miss Sharaya. I was very young when they trained me in the disciplines of the mind. But I see no reason why it would be a requirement. As for my notes, knowledge. All knowledge is scared and of use, only perhaps the context debatable. While I try not to limit myself, it is best to focus on something less you learn nothing. History is my specialty, followed by nature, the arcane, and architecture. What of yourself?"
<--Ah, nicer. Perhaps she also realizes that he is baiting her.
She leans over and places her finger on the page. Hmm. You forgot "named after the famous Pathfinder" I have a lot to live up to, it seems... especially if you are taking such good notes. You said you were going to compile this? For publication, or just for a library?
As for specialties, I am also a historian of sorts, but also a diplomat, and of course, as you already wrote, dabble in the arcane. I certainly hope that they choose you for this mission. It would be good to have such a detailed recordkeeper with us.
Tosen smiles slightly.
"Knowledge should be preserved, any loss diminishes the whole. As for it's use if any, does not overly concern me at the moment."
He nods slightly at her words, his eyes studying her.
"How diplomatically considerate your words. You would know before I, considering the order. Do you perhaps know anything of the ancient Azlanti. I spent some time in Verisia, studying their Thassilon culture and ruins."
Wow. Our alphabetic superior in all ways. You grace us with your presence. She grins.
Sharaya gives Bann a quick rundown of the 3 interview questions that we know about already, just in case he gets pulled away soon.
At some point before Sharaya leaves. "Thank you for the information." He nods politely in thanks.
Harul sits back and says, "I prefer smaller hats, or the hood of a cloak, myself. I find that hats like those draw more attention to oneself than may be desired. Fools, mostly, who think themselves skilled duelists, but annoying nonetheless."
Bann nods in approval at this sentiment before looking quizzically at Varloo. "You do that much? Chop people's limbs off I mean? This is before you kill them I presume"
Bann nods in approval at this sentiment before looking quizzically at Varloo. "You do that much? Chop people's limbs off I mean? This is before you kill them I presume"
Varloo easily comes out of his mild stupor at Bann's question.
"What Sir...Bann, is it? Ehhh...whatever happens first happens really...I'm not too picky in combat. Defeating my enemies quickly is usually my priority first. The rest is...as needed. You have to admit however, even by accidentally chopping off a limb or head, you can often demoralize other enemies much more quickly. The gruesomer the better I say. Really, I prefer to avoid combat altogether: Again...too often its bad for business."
Do you perhaps know anything of the ancient Azlanti. I spent some time in Verisia, studying their Thassilon culture and ruins.
I do know some, but I wish to know more. Do you have anything in that book of yours about Azlanti artifacts?
Tosen puts away his notes, giving her a stern yet amused look.
"Now now miss Sharaya, you don't just ask a scholar to show you his books like that. Not very proper and a touch to personal. Yet as a fellow historian I will share my last find with you in words. I came across a most curious thing, a revelation quill. Have you heard of it?"
I have not, please tell me about it... in words, of course. She smiles, and sits down to listen.
Diomedes knows that some of the Pathfinders can be pretty bloodthirsty. Many of them could also justly be called looters and grave-robbers; a lot depends on your point of view. Still he hoped that the good works and good intentions of many would outweigh some of the negatives. Dreng once asked him, "Would you rather have one of those killers working for you, or against you? Employing expedition 'bodyguards' often has the effect of channeling some people's baser tendencies toward the public good. Better to focus that aggression than to let it spill over." The old man had a point. Besides, who am I to judge? he pondered. Still, he wasn't comfortable with the idea of beheadings.
Lorik blinked.
"Well that escalated quickly."
Harul eyes Varloo slightly askance. "I'd be careful not to mention that in your interview with the Bountiful Venture Company, should you make it to that point. They may decide to reject your application on the grounds you're too bloodthirsty. They seem very focused on ensuring those chosen can support a community."
Varloo chuckles and replies sarcastically.
"Really? You think the Pathfinder Masters worry about bloodthirsty members? Then you haven't been reading the Chronicles very much, have you. When has ANY Pathfinder expedition not had blood spilled? I'm not worried...or blood-thirsty really. I'm just...we shall say 'odd' and leave it at that."
He strokes his bare chin for a moment thinking on how to start.
"I went to Varisia like so many before me to study it's many ruins. I wasn't interested in plundering anything, even empty ruins have much to offer a scholar. The Thassilon people like many cultures had a habit of leaving information behind in their stonework. The magic they instilled in their creations allowed them to endure even after so much time. That was what I sought. I came across the quill while study a most interesting ruin called the floating sphere of mauffrey. As the name implies it is a floating ruin that moves over and around the curchain hills. It was no easy task reaching it I assure you. Little was left, besides other rather hostile inhabitants, but enough to hold my interest and take notes for a few days. After a few days at the main ruins I searched for broken fragments and came across a hidden cache. That was where I found the quill."
He seems to catch himself.
"I suppose that was all more then you wanted to know, more interested in the quill itself I suppose. The magic of the revelation quill preserved it, unsure if it was still functional I gave it a try. It works perfectly and that is the mystery. It is a item bound to the worship of the peacock spirit, an ancient religion of many unknowns even in it's heyday."
He stops there, hopefully he had not bored her. Not everyone was interested in history or it's possibilities like he was. He accepted it and begrudged no one for it.
What did it do? How is it bound to worship? How did you find that out?
Sharaya spills all of the questions out at once, obviously fascinated.
"I do not think the Pathfinder Masters worry about it. I was referring to the Bountiful Venture Company - who are going out of their way to keep the Society out of the expedition to Azlant."
"It answers a question posed to it of near future events in writing. I found out afterwards that it had a greater power to answer questions posed as well. But I did not test it myself on that account. As to how it is bound to worship, the answers come from the peacock spirit. If the god was dead then the magic should fade or at least be unresponsive without a source. As to how I found this all out, the same way any good scholar does. Research, theories based upon that research, testing, and a bit of luck."
He chuckles slightly.
"As I said I am no novice to the arcane ether. Not that I have experience in it's direct practice. Still I am aware of it's workings to an extent. Helps when you study ancient magical empires does it not."
"I wasn't thinking much of it, really. The way I see it, I one in the Pathfinder Society is normal. We leave the mundane stuff for others. That's not what our lives are about."
Oh, indeed it helps quite a bit.
You remind me of a Wizard I used to know... Hmm. Since you are such a knowledgeable scholar, here's an off the wall question that I have been curious about for quite a while. Some of the Thrunes (she says that word very distastefully) back in my homeland of Cheliax commission statues of themselves ... poor replicas I'm sure ... that they say have the ability to suffer *for* them in the afterlife. I don't know how such a thing is done, or whether it is actually possible, of course, but who actually thought of such an idea? Where did it come from? Did the ancient Thassalonians dream up such a practice?
Tosen thinks on the subject for a moment. His mind's eye whirling through countless bits of knowledge and memories.
"That doesn't sound right. I generally avoid infernal Cheliax, but what your describing does not fit their cultural history. Perhaps it was something they obtained from another, that would certainly fit. As to such practices of an object taking the place of a soul, it's more common then you think. Not in major cultures mind you, mostly the primitive or animal worship sort. Sometimes blood sacrifice of varying degree's is involved. Without details, I could only give you a vague guess sadly."
He grows a little more upbeat as he returns to more familiar ground mentally.
"Concerning the ancient Thassalonians, they were an advanced magical empire. As such the more common methods we know today of avoiding death were used with more regularity among them. Undeath, planar pacts, and pure arcane fueled immortality would be well with in their grasp. I dare say they would not bother with such a round about method considering their resources. From what you say, death is required for these statues to serve their purpose. They would simply seek to avoid it or overcome it. Not succumb to it."
"I do not think the Pathfinder Masters worry about it. I was referring to the Bountiful Venture Company - who are going out of their way to keep the Society out of the expedition to Azlant."
A vicious smile carves itself onto Varloo's face as he looks sidelong at Harul.
"As I've said: Grandmaster Torch WANTS me to go. No MUNDANE organization in the Inner Sea would dare refuse him a favor without severe consequences. If anything keeps me out of this venture, it will be my own stupidity...or the Pathfinder Masters themselves for their own ill-conceived reasons."
Hmm. You make a lot of sense, Tosen. It does seem a silly way to immortality. Of course, that isn't why they use it. They use it to get someone else to suffer for their sins in the afterlife. Not sure if that works though. She chuckles. In any case, good luck on your interview, and I hope we are both chosen. It would be interesting to talk with you further.
Sharaya gets up and mingles some more, trying to meet everyone and also get an idea of the competition.
Tosen bows as Sharaya leaves.
"Good luck to you as well, Miss Sharaya."
Before she is more then two dozen paces from him, he takes out his notes once more and starts writing documenting again.
"Pardon me a moment." Keeping an ear on the table, Diomedes gets up and wanders over to the buffet. The real reason is to investigate some of the other pathfinders. But... if he happens to grab a few more bites of cheese, it certainly wouldn't hurt.