Alright, so if everyone is ok with it, then it will be 8-04 in a week and a half with Pekin, Amarthecthel, Rogar, Nadil, TOZ's PC, and Declyn. Does this sound correct?
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[ooc]So with Rogar out, we should get 1 more person. Anyone know of someone who would be a good fit? for a 7-11 aimed at high tier?[/oooc]
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Yes! I'll post gold amounts tomorrow.
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Gold amounts!
Out of tier (Amarthecthel, Lamare): 6155
Full amount: 7832
Slow track: 3916
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Killing me Amarthecthel :P. If you wish, you old use a replay, but I will understand if you don't want to.
And welcome back the Rogar!
Lamare: Not a terrible idea ;)
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Disguised as an adventurers’ boarding house, Tymon’s low-profile Pathfinder lodge rests directly above Smine’s Weaponworks, the city’s eminent smithy. The smell of burning coal and laborers’ sweat permeates the building, though a bowl of cloves and aromatic bark makes an earnest attempt to downplay the industrial ambiance. The door opens, letting in the echoes of hammers on metal while also revealing a soot-stained dwarf dressed in blacksmith’s garb: Venture-Captain Holgarin Smine. In one hand, he effortlessly carries a large basket, while the other holds a magnificent double-headed axe of lustrous adamantine. He sets both on the table before removing a cloth-wrapped bundle and a selection of bread, cheese, and cider from the basket.
"All right, Pathfinders. Got a task for you—dangerous lands, dangerous task." He speaks in his infamously staccato manner. "You come well recommended, especially after that fiasco in Thuvia.", he adds with an approving nod. "I know you're up to it."
The dwarf unwraps the bundle, revealing a sheaf of twinewrapped notes. "Ever heard of Gojan the Sharp? Early Pathfinder, renowned explorer, he wandered Numeria for a decade. Found all sorts of strange places outside Silver Mount he couldn’t explore in one lifetime; one of ‘em was Sulfur Gulch. Society’s known about lots of these places, but not that one. Long time ago, the gnome Eylysia hid away the findings." Smine exaggerates a scowl, adding, "Not good Pathfinding policy, that. Always report. You know that already." Patting the stack of notes, he continues. "Some others found the notes, so it’s good as new to us; you’d be the first to explore it. Trouble is that it’s Kellid territory—Ghost Wolves’ land. Lots of Kellids hate Numerian technology, but Ghost Wolves? They really hate it. The good news is Gojan did the Ghost Wolves a big favor and never collected. They owe us one, and that favor’s going to be not killing Pathfinders when they explore Sulfur Gulch." Smine picks up the axe reverently. "We’ve set up a meeting with Xol-Nomag, the current chieftain. Bring this as a gift. Get safe passage. Don’t get killed by Kellids. Then go to Sulfur Gulch, and find out what it’s about—what was it for, who lived there, how it all worked. If you smuggle anything out, be real careful. Wearing fur doesn’t make Ghost Wolves stupid. They have magic and wits to spare. And try to make a good impression. We might need them on our side someday. Or at least not killing us on sight."
The dwarf rubs his calloused hands together. "That’s it. Any questions?"
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Lamare listens to the venture-Captain with attention. When he hear the word, Numeria, he sighs.
Not again Robots! Last time, it was a failure! and that was not my fault. And and nobody is a pure fighter. oh my goodness. Luckly, Desna have giving access to spell against this "technology".
After the venture-captain ask for questions: The priest of Desna examines the axe.
This is a Smine isn't it? I heard you are a great Blacksmith. I saw one day a employe of a library wearing one of your creation. He said that you call it a Smine. May I try detect the magic if this marvelous object is also magical?
A smile appears on his face.
As for question about the mission, I have some. Before we depart, I followed a class by sending with a seeker. At 25 words by spell, I have just finish it yesterday.
What is Numeria? I heard it was tyranny so... how those ghost's wolves exist in the first place.
Elysia, Gojan? Who were those persons? Does Gojan had a symbol or some unique methodology that it would help us marching his step?
How long do you think this mission will be?
What sort of danger are we up against?
After reading the note, Lamare turns to his coworker and says Well, that report is one the most helpful note I have ever seen. This man is a gift for Desna from the past. We know what to not do and what we could be up against. There poison in the place but we should not try to evacuate it. This place looks like a living plane.
Lamare shows his necklace with a blue medal on it.
[B]I am protected from such gasly danger. But are you? I am not enough close to Desna to be able too protect you from this danger. I can just delay the effect. But I heard that powerful wizards can learn this spell... Life bubble, I think it is.
It seem also we would be against this strange magic called "technnology". Does any of you have an experience with this?"
Numeria is known for its mysterious technology. Many of Numeria’s ruins contain deadly mechanical guardians called robots.
Due to its extreme age, both the technology itself and the ruins it comes from are plagued with malfunctions and glitches. Pristine technology is extremely rare and extremely valuable, yet even partly functional devices are worth quite a bit. The Technic League maintains a tight embargo on smuggling technological devices, which drives up the price further for those who can make it out of Numeria with any goods.
Experienced explorers associate Numeria’s “ruins” with the remains of an otherworldly vessel that fell from the sky millennia ago. Little is known about the vessels’ creators, all of whom likely perished in the cataclysmic crash. Even the rare humanoid facsimiles known as androids associated with Numerian technology struggle to understand their true origins.
The Sellen Hills are a harsh land, ill suited for human habitation. The only noteworthy settlement is Chesed, a city built where the Sellen
River meets the Lake of Mists and Veils. Beyond its walls, most of the population is nomadic and ethnically Kellid. Chesed serves as a capable base of operations for anyone risking the Numerian wilderness.
Like the rest of Numeria, technological ruins dot the Sellen Hills. Most of these remain unexplored due to the danger of the region, to say nothing of the danger the ruins themselves hold. Even so, some explorers dare the protective locals’ ire and mechanical threats in search of profit.
Sulfur Gulch juts from the side of a gully in an expanse even more barren than the surrounding region. The vapors that permeate the area have choked out nearly all plant life.
Most of Numeria’s population is Kellid. While many settled down in the region’s few cities, numerous tribes still wander the wilds. Their long history of clashing with neighbors for the land’s scarce resources gives these tribes a reputation for savagery, though many Kellids prove quite warm and hospitable under peaceful circumstances.
The Ghost Wolves are notorious for their open hatred of technology and their hit-and-run raids against the Technic League. Because they claim extensive stretches of the Sellen Hills, fewer sites there have fallen prey to scavenging opportunists.
Kellids have a largely deserved reputation for distrusting arcane magic. The same is not true for the Ghost Wolves, who celebrate and train promising spellcasters to help fend off the alien constructs that
sometimes emerge from the ruins. The Ghost Wolves are especially fond of invisibility, which protects against the constructs’ deadly light beams.
@Pelkin: Smine shakes his head. "Not much, which is why we're exploring it. Place gives off smoke, I hear. Nasty stuff, and poisonous, too. No signs of tech near the surface. If there were, the Ghost Wolves would've smashed it."
@Qilfobber: Smine pulls out some notes, handing them to the gnome. "These are Gojan's journals as annotated by Eylysia. Might get your answers, there."
@Lamare: "I wasn't fishing for compliments, but it always warms a dwarf's heart to hear praise of his skill. The thing isn't magical though; my skill is in my hands and mind, and not with the arcane or divine."
Upon the battery of questions from Lamare, Smine tries his best to answer, although the dwarf's brows furrow at some of the questions.
"You had to heard of Numeria, the land of barbarians and machines. There are enough barbarian tribes that while the Technic League could probably wipe a single one off the map, that would weaken their defenses elsewhere and leave them vulnerable to other Kellids."
"Both of those Pathfinders were before my time with the Society, although Gojan had a reputation for being a recluse."
"No idea; I am trusting your experience to properly conclude things while not harming our reputation in such dangerous territory."
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"Vell, Numeria, you say? Vhat a vundaful opportunity!" The Chelaxian features of the well-dressed man seated to the side lights up like a child told of their favorite festival starting soon. "I haf encountered zhis technology of the Silver Mount und found it fascinating. Ah, forgive me, introductions are in order. I am Professor Trey Hurtubize, scholar of science und zee inner workings of constructions." A fine walking stick is his only armament besides the number of alchemical vials and flasks around his waist. Under his tailored waistcoat the shine of mithral links can be seen as well. His hair is cropped close, vibrant red striking against his pale complexion. Even more noticeable are the tiny pinpoints of red glow visible in his pupils, hinting to anyone with knowledge of the outer planes that his stock is not entirely natural. "Und it is a pleasure to finally making the acquaintance of you, Venture Capatin Smine, as your reputation precedes you. It es also most pleasurable to be assigned as support for zhis team. My skills are focused in zee study and understandink of zee undead and construct creatures. I haf concocted explosives to target zee structural weaknesses of zuch creatures, as well as extracted the essence of zey opper planes in a form that vill damage zhose hailing und aligned vith the lowa planes. I have skill in managing the mechanisms of defensive structures as vell." One hand touches his chin thoughtfully. "I have some experience vith ze Technic League, who vatch over Numerian treasures, und can hopefully parley zhis shared hostility into a zuccessful alliance. I haf studied zee vays of logic und persuasion to zhis end as vell."
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We should stop at Chelsed before going to the wilderness. We should meet some of those wolfs here.
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The party loads up on a riverboat and heads up the Sellen River towards Chesed. It's a long journey that takes about three weeks as it winds through the River Kingdoms towards the scrublands of Numeria. A few more days, the captain points out a pile of rocks adorned with sun-beaten cloth streamers. "Aye, that be your marker that a tribe's expecting visitors.", he announces as he takes the boat closer to shore for the party to disembark.
An hour after the boat leaves, a group of barbarians arrive, rough leather cloaks covering silvery mail. The head of the group, a handsome warrior of impressive physique and confidence, announces his name. "I am Jala Spirit Eye, who are you lot?"
"Ah, you are the ones who seek Xol-Nomag's favor.", he smiles. You can see he relaxes a bit ater Qilfobber's announcement as Jala begins to size up the party. "A strange lot you are, but I can sense your strengths hidden amongst small size and sheathed weapons. And confident, too, to brazenly ask for a debt collection.", a stoic look coming on his face before he bellows out in a deep laugh. "Confident is good. Come, come along. We will take a meal together at our camp, and then you can present your case to our leader."
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"Ve haf gud reason to be having confidence, Jala Spirit Eye." Trey seems perfectly at home in the rough terrain, deftly placing his cane on hard ground as needed. Perceptive companions notice the tip of a dark tail escape from under the coattails of his waistcoat every now and then. "I am known as Trey Hurtubize, Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies. Za Pathfinder Society has tangled vith zee Technic League more zhan vounce, und I myself haf bested vun of its agents, disarming her off her longarm. I am understandink you haf clashed the same vith zhis organization, yah?"
At Qilfobber's reply, Jala nods. "A gift is good; Xol-Nomag is a proud leader, and a gift as a sign of respect will aid you in convincing her of your quest. This area, our territory, is one we have carved out through training and caution. It is unforgiving to those who are unprepared and lethal for the foolhardy."
Jala raises an eyebrow to the Professor's strange tongue, but nods after he processes the words. "Yes, the Technic League is one of the greatest threats to us, but luckily our distance from Starfall means that sending a sizeable force to deal with us is too risky. Still, we fight off small bands who try to unearth any technology that lies beneath."
As Pelkin buffs himself, Jala laughs before replying. "I understand your desire to understand our language and that is good, but we have learned your Taldane tongue so there is nothing to worry about. But why the other spells? Do you fear a betrayal so soon?"