And here we are, a Game play thread! Welcome to my 6 players! Take this chance to get know your companions, this'll be a perilous journey in the Worldwound! Best to know each other!
|
Spring has sprung in the City of the Centre of the World, where a young Calistrian priestess’ fancy turns to:
With her long auburn hair tied up in a ponytail and wearing a floral summer dress, Luisila *sighs* happily as she wanders back from collecting the ball gown she thought ruined at a formal banquet a few nights ago.
The laundress Lady Dyrianna of House Avenstar recommended did exceptional work, and when the half-elf mentioned she was an acquaintance of Lady D – the washer-woman fell over herself to reassure Luisila that her expensive dress would soon be, “Good az new, Milady. Auntie Baldwin won’t disappoint wunna Lady Avenstar’s chums, no Ma’am!”
Luisila smiles at the numerous couples (and triples!) walking arm-in-arm through the pop-up markets in the Grand Bazaar, not a stone's throw from where she grew up.
This filthy winter’s finally over, and with all the doors Grand Ambassador Salhar and Scion Lord Kerkis have opened for me, I’ll be rubbing shoulders with the crème of Absalom Society most evenings all summer long … all for the good of the Society of course! *giggle*
I almost feel sorry for the poor Pathfinders up to their necks in some frozen Irriseni dungeon or Calistria-forsaken warzone … Almost that is!
She grins as she enters the Grand Lodge’s grounds to see a group of her fellows preparing for a mission. Finally the Savored Sting is smiling on me!
|
A muscular red-haired figure from that self-same banquet of a few nights ago strides over to Luisila at a fast clip, beaming and showing off exceptionally white teeth. He hesitates but a moment, seeming torn between a hearty handshake, clap on the back, amorous hello... and instead goes for a big bear-hug of the Calistrian.
|
|
“Hello there, Conan.” Luisila gives the ginga ninja a faux suspicious look. “Are you stalking me?”
She returns the celebrity’s hug warmly, but *GASPS* at the strength of his embrace.
“Steady, Tiger.” She wheezes. “Have you been working out?”
Oh, greeeeaat …
She tries changing the subject. "Looks like you and your entourage are off on another mission, Conan. Let’s see, there’s … five of you."
"What a shame I’m going to a garden-party at the Chelish Embassy on Fireday afternoon, otherwise I’d volunteer to join you."
|
|
"My lady, I do not STALK. That would be UNBECOMING."
Conan beamingly lets go, making sure Luisila is correctly righted on her feet, much as one might steady a fine porcelain vase.
"Yes, there's this one about a-- eh? Oh! Yes! I don't know where we're going, but I'm sure it's EXCITING!"
The Most Exciting Comedy Routine in All Absalom (it is very exciting, for sure, as Conan likes to enact, on stage, many of his famous battles... with volunteer audience members to play the role of bad guys...) gives Luisila a somewhat disappointed look.
"You are not also COMING ALONG? Well, I suppose that more PARTIES are also useful to the CAUSE. I remember you were VERY CHARMING at our last PARTY so I am sure you will DO THE SOCIETY PROUD."
Conan pats the rubber chicken that is hooked at his belt, and which appears for all intents and purposes to be on fire. "THIS IS WORKING VERY WELL, BY THE WAY! I used it yesterday to beat a heckler UNCONSCIOUS."
|
|
“You are not also COMING ALONG?”
“Not that I know of.”
Luisila commiserates with her friend. “Though there’s always the chance of a mixup with the paperwork. You know how hopeless Valsin is with agent rosters.”
Heh. Not likely!
“Well, I suppose that more PARTIES are also useful to the CAUSE.”
She sighs theatrically. “It’s a tough gig, but someone’s gotta do it, Conan.”
Conan pats the rubber chicken that is hooked at his belt. “I used it yesterday to beat a heckler UNCONSCIOUS.”
Luisila puts a shocked hand to her open mouth.
“Your rubber chicken, I mean. Not the heckler.”
… gives Luisila a somewhat disappointed look.
The priestess mentally *rolls* her eyes. The things I do …
“Any chance I can hear some of your new material?”
She nudges the comedian with her elbow. “And keep it clean, O’Brien. There are ladies present.”
|
|
Marta hovers in the background, her proud face sporting a slight grimace as she observes the antics of the two partiers.
Always seems that parties spawn trouble. Never seen one that didn't. And this Luisila WANTs to go to one. It's bad enough that we are always in the thick of things without having to be dressed up for it. Ugh!
"Wise choice little lady. The worldwound is a dangerous place. If partying is your thing I don't think you would enjoy a trip to that barren wasteland. I just came back and they're sending me off again. You think they would have saved me a trip."
|
A tall oddly beautiful woman with lavender grey hair and sparkling full plate walks up to the front gates of the Grand Lodge.
The Grand Lodge sending me back to the WorldWound after just getting back, maybe this time I'll be able to clear out the demons yet again and eliminate this evil from out world.
"Good Afternoon fellow pathfinders. I don't believe that we have met before, I am Reyna The Silver," She bows and extends a hand towards the group. "I look forward to the battle ahead, have many of you been to the Worldwound before?"
|
The tiny gnome pokes her head around the door. She breaks into a grin as she sees Luisilia sitting in the room. "Hey Luisilia, nice to see you again. How goes your Society missions? I've had a bunch of interesting ones lately. Apparently, I've got a bit of natural talent at sailing a ship. Earned me the nickname "Stormtamer," she said with a small grin.
I'm Alie. Alie Saechell, nice to meet the rest of you. I've never adventured much around the Worldwound. I can only image what might lead us to that awful spot of the world."
|
|
"I look forward to the battle ahead, have many of you been to the Worldwound before?"
Marta smiles as the Gnome enters. "Looks like the ladies outnumber the gentlemen this time." Then answering Reyna's question, says "I must admit to having been called to serve in the Worldwound a couple of times. Unpleasant place."
She moves about the room restlessly, unarmored and with the studied grace one typically sees in monks. Her face is striking, though her severe features and silver skin color are too unworldly to be considered beautiful. And then there is her stare. Unnerving. Like the sound of two poorly oiled sword blades screeching against each other, or the sight of a swarm of stirges latched on to some poor unfortunate soul.
A long spear twice her height is strapped to her back, promising disaster as it swerves about in the well apportioned room, yet never delivering.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
“If partying is your thing …”
“Partying is something we could all use a little more of, Mistress.”
Luisila looks the aasimar up and down, an eyebrow raised. “Frankly if you don’t enjoy it, you’re not doing it right.”
"Hey Luisilia … I’ve earned the nickname ‘Stormtamer.’”
“Greetings, Ma Dame. Or should that be Ma Dame Tempête Tamer now ?” The half-elf grins at the gnome.
“I sense a most interesting story there, Alie. I’d love to hear it some time.” Luisila *snaps* her fingers. “Oh, Monsieur O’Brien and I ran into Lady Gloriana the other night, she sends you her compliments and respects.”
"Good Afternoon fellow pathfinders. I don't believe that we have met before, I am Reyna The Silver."
The Calistrian *bobs* to the Iomedaen. “‘The Silver?’ Surely you make game of us, My Lady! The standard you set is Gold! Nay, Platinum!”
“Oh, but where are my manners? Please call me Luisila, most humble and obedient servant of the Savored Sting – also at your service, My Lady.”
The half-elf’s features briefly turn serious. “I was a military advisor in Nerosyan for a time. My team did some Search-and-Rescue and Search-and-Destroy missions into the Wound.”
“Was it very bad at the front when you left? Did you feel like we were making a difference?”
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Conan bows deeply to each lady, with one hand flourishing in the air and his flame-red hair blowing majestically in the wind...
"Lady Stormtamer, a pleasure. I heard something of this mission and your PROWESS!"
The silver-tinted Reyna receives another bow. "My lady argent! At your service. My BLADE stands ready to ... stand between each of you and whatever foul DEMONS await!"
Conan looks thrilled to be going to the Worldwound. "Conan O'Brien, hero of the hapless, champion of the trampled, wit-for-hire and Comique Captaine! I shall keep our SPIRITS UP with entertaining JOKES.
"--as for my new material--"
Conan pulls out a rubber chicken from his belt (no that's not a euphemism, there's a literal rubber chicken there, though it does appear to be on fire) and holds it up, manipulating its fiery beak.
"Awwkk, did you all hear about the fire in the Varisian circus?" says 'the bird.' (Conan's not very good at ventriloquism yet.)
|
|
“If partying is your thing …”“Partying is something we could all use a little more of, Mistress.”
Luisila looks the aasimar up and down, an eyebrow raised. “Frankly if you don’t enjoy it, you’re not doing it right.”
Never had much time for partying. The only times I've... indulged have been at the Pathfinder Society's request and more closely resembled guard duty, diplomatic efforts, or information brokering than partying. The society seemed satisfied with the results, so in that respect I must have been doing something right. I like to think that some of the the support we've received here at the Worldwound is partially due to my... faulty partying. Still, I will grant that being an enjoyable companion seems to sway diplomats of a different type than I am able to sway.
A runner comes up to your group, with a sheaf of papers, "Here sirs and ma'ams, you'll need these papers to get to Nerosyan, look for Venture Captain Thurl when you get there! He has the rest of your mission briefing!"
Once you guys are ready and have made any purchases you need to make, you begin the journey to Nerosyan, a city on the edge of the Worldwound.
|
|
Late to the party as always a large Ulfin man appraoches the group.. His scar's give you the feeling he's seen a many battle. He's tall for a human and built like a golem.. A long, wicked looking, curve blade resides across his back..
Alie recognizes a man she once ventured with, but thats been many moons ago.. A much more seasoned pathfinder stands before her now..
"Evening all.. Huscarl Roary Flambearer at your service. Nice to see you again Alie. Well met to the rest of you."
With your group seemingly prepared, you grab a Pathfinder Ship and are stuck on this boat for a while as it travels up the Sellen river, starting in Taldor and then progressing through the River Kingdoms, skirting the deadly Numerian Waste until arriving at Hells Doorstep, Nerosyan.
The heavily fortified capital of Nerosyan, seat of Queen Galfrey of Mendev and last defense against the Abyssal hordes of the Worldwound, rises ominously into the grim, overcast sky.
Venture-Captain Thurl, a burly, one-eyed dwarf covered nearly head to toe in jagged red tattoos and silver, spiked piercings, quietly leads the way into his dark research library. Strange demonic idols, flesh-bound tomes, and even a taxidermied vrock loom above the long, candlelit table. Thurl motions to the high-backed leather chairs around the table and then silently passes a scrap of paper.
“A novice doing busywork in one of the archive storerooms in the Grand Lodge came across this two days ago. I’d normally be the first to chastise new recruits for whispering and rumor mongering, but I’m glad the boy had heard of the current situation with the Shadow Lodge. I don’t know exactly what he heard, or how much of it was true, but he had heard enough to make a connection. He showed his instructor, who passed it all the way up to the Ten. They have instructed me to pass it to you, and to give you your next assignment.”
He hands your group the scrap of paper Player Handout 1
“What you have in your hands is a portion of a journal written by a Pathfinder in Sarkoris years ago. It seems a crazy old woman had been possessed by some power beyond our understanding, wrote a library full of that sort of gibberish, then keeled over dead. At the time, everyone thought it was nonsense, a false prophecy that defied the most trusted claims of history’s greatest seers. Had they only foreseen then that her predictions may be among the few viable prophecies of the current age, the world might be a very different place right now. What matters now is that we get our hands on as much of the original document as still exists, but that won’t be an easy task.”
Thurl points to a massive, weathered map hanging on the wall behind him.
“The Sarkorian Prophecy was last held in a Pathfinder safe house ten miles east of Storasta, in a nameless trading post once under the city’s control, in what is now the demon infested wasteland known as the Worldwound, not many days’ travel from here. We can’t teleport you past the wardstones set around the Worldwound’s perimeter to keep the Abyssal hordes contained, so you’ll have to walk across the border. Get to Storasta, get as much of the Sarkorian Prophecy as you can, and get the hell out of there. This is perhaps the most dangerous mission you’ve ever been on. The Decemvirate don’t trust you enough to think you’re going to survive the Worldwound, so you aren’t the only team they’re sending, but go in prepared for the worst. In fact, I’d make sure you’ve got all the food and water you can carry. Unless you’d like to eat what’s growing in there.”
|
|
"Where are we going to be able to get additional food and water? This might have been nice to know before we got on the ship. She looks up, way up to the huge Roary. [b]"You see how big he is? I'm afraid he will end up eating me before it is all said and done. And we are friends."
Alie didn't know enough about the mission to ask any relevant questions. "Get in, get the prophecy, and get out. Sounds simple enough," Alie muttered. Its never simple enough with the Society!
"Ah well, Nerosyan has a few general stores, maybe even a farmer's market, ya can pick up some rations or snacks there on your way out of town."
|
|
"Evening all.. Huscarl Roary Flambearer at your service."
“Huscarl.”
Luisila doesn’t look up from her ‘beloved’ Faction head’s note, in which he orders her to accompany the others to Mendev.
She *groans* inwardly. What did I do to Valsin to deserve this? Perhaps telling him, ‘the 80’s messaged and Agent T wants his hairdo back’ was going a bit far …
♗♗♗♗
After listening to the briefing, Luisila picks up the journal entry and reads it with disbelief.
She speaks frankly but respectfully to VC Thurl. “So the Ten are still afraid of losing their empire to the all-but dissolved Shadow Lodge?!? And are prepared to risk our lives to retrieve some crazy prophesy on the off-chance it might help them sleep better at night?”
“But wait! There’s more! So confident in our skills and experience are they, that they've sent other groups on this fool’s errand, in case we get killed!’
Luisila calms herself before continuing. “I know you are not responsible for this, VC Thurl. So, can you tell us the size and make-up of the other Pathfinder party/s, please? It would be terrible to have a blue-on-blue incident out in the Wound.”
“How do we cross the river from Mendev into the Worldwound? Are there any bridges still standing or are we expected to fly across?”
“What of the Wound itself? Calistria has always answered my prayers there. Have there been any recent reports of magic malfunctioning or of being empowered?”
"Where are we going to be able to get additional food and water?"
She smiles at the gnome. “I can create fresh water, Alie. So at least that shouldn’t be a problem.”
After examining the map, Luisila frowns. “VC Thurl, if time is of the essence, why couldn’t you teleport us within Mendev, to edge of the southeastern bank of the river directly across from Storasta?”
“This mission is time critical and vital to the Decemvirate, isn’t it?”
"Well the ward stones stop all teleportation effects into or out of the Worldwound, otherwise we'd be overrun by demons. You could also enlist the aid of a ferry-man to take you across. Your magics should work just fine." stroking his chin and twirling his mustache, "I don't know much of the other team they sent, another Venture Captain was responsible for that group, or so I'm told. I am hedging my bets on your team though."
|
|
Marta slowly turns her head as the bubbly cleric gushes question after question.
Oh my. And they call me an inquisitor! Glad she came along. I always overlook all the right questions.
Then her gaze slowly shifts in the other direction as he waits for the response.
After the response, she adds "From what I they told me last time we did this a teleport is not that accurate unless you know the area pretty well. Most of the time any teleport is done to a known point that is not all that close to the border. Then they expect you to hoof it from there."
|
|
Reyna looks over the journal entry after her companions are finished and reads it while the cleric spouts any and all the questions that might have come to mind.
"I agree Venture Captain, we are a good looking group to place a beat on, I have yet to find a situation that Iomedae cant help to get us out of." she hands the journal entry back to the Venture Captain, "Is there is any other information we need regarding the Prophecy or the safe house before heading out? If there isn't I say let's get started since the Decemvirate wants this done quickly!"
|
|
Never had much time for partying.
“Oh, it’s something you totally need to make time for, Marta.”
Luisila pats the aasimar’s arm reassuringly. “Killing and plundering is all very well. And sure, it pays the bills. But it’s important to give yourself some time off for fun.”
“Like most things in life the goddess allows us, getting good at it is just practise. When we get back to civilization, let’s all go out and I’ll show you what I mean.”
Luisila gestures at Alie and Reyna. “If in doubt, just follow their lead. I imagine ‘wild’ wouldn’t begin to describe that pair out on the town!”
|
|
Roary listens to the briefing and shows no emotion afterwards..
"Don't worry about my food or water. My ioun stone sustains me in that aspect. As far as the mission concerns go every mission has a chance to kill yea or they'd send in the girlscouts.. This one is no different. Use your learned skills and we'll be fine."
|
|
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Awwkk, did you all hear about the fire in the Varisian circus?" says 'the bird.' (Conan's not very good at ventriloquism yet.)
Conan looks around hopefully, but as nobody hazards a guess the half-elf's face falls. Instead, everyone disperses after the runner gives the message, preparing themselves for the travel north. Conan stands there a moment, gazing at his chicken, then moves the rubber mouth to say: "It was in tents..."
***
In the briefing room, Conan gazes at the wall and the map and the prophecy scraps.
"If we travel on the south side of the river we might be able to avoid direct demonic activity," he says slowly... then grins, a little disturbingly. "SO WE SHOULD TRAVEL ON THE NORTH SIDE, AND CONFRONT EVIL WHERE IT LAIRS."
The red-haired man scratches at his jaw as he looks back to the others. "Horses would make it go QUICKER. Though they might get eaten by DEMONS. I could perhaps obtain a wand to make magical horses! Which we could ride! And then INNOCENT BEASTS would not be subject to the troubles of the WORLDWOUND. I do not wish the death of a regular horse upon my conscience.
"Alternately we could get a BOAT-- the river seems to run right there."
Conan makes a note to buy a lot of food, before they go.
|
|
Alie giggled despite herself at the half elf's joke. She was trying to stay serious, but that rubber chicken was going to make it quite difficult. In tents, indeed...
**********************
"I'd prefer a barge, depending on what the rest of you want. I had a great time the last time I Was on the water. But magical horses would be fine as well."
"I'd figure something out quick, if that other group beats ya . .oh boy, I don't know even know if you'd get paid. You should note that even taking a barge wont put you in port, no barge worker will put into port in that ruined and demon-infested city, while Storasta may be the destination area, remember the Pathfinder Lodge is some ways out of Storasta at a waystation/inn. I'd skirt the city as much as possible. We aren't quite prepared to lay siege to a city."
Storasta is a river port located at the confluence of the Sarkora and West Sellen Rivers. The last city of old Sarkoris to fall after the eruption of the Worldwound, it is now a spectacular ruin. The formerly sacred grove is a heap of rubble and tainted foliage.
|
|
She's no expert, that's for sure. Now if it had been about monsters, that would have been different. Not enough however. I guess ignorance is bliss.
"Magical mounts? Love the idea! Nice joke by the way. Intellectually satisfying though I could have done without the chicken. North sounds good to me. Putting down evil is what I've been put on this earth for, after all."
Marta has an Inquisitor's Kit, which includes 5 days trail rations. How long will the trip take? She'll add another trail rations for each day of traveling.
|
|
"That is my understanding from my previous trips. It's just the passing through that is impossible. That is a weakness to our defenses as well as the enemies. Either may use magic to get to the border, slip though, and then teleport where they wish. Though teleportation is risky at best if you do not know the location you are porting to so either side is at a disadvantage once they pass through. Us, in that we do not know the area inside and them in that they do not know the area outside. In any case I do not see why we should let simple competitiveness cause us to take unnecessary risks. If they get there first it is all well and good with me."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Marta gives her an extremely doubtful stare.
The Calistrian *winks* "As Our Lady in the Room teaches - 'Don't knock it 'til you try it, hon.'"
✔️✔️✔️
"For what it's worth, I agree with Roary and Marta - whatever we do, we need to do t now."
She turns to Conan. "And if the offer of a magical mount s still available, My Lord of the Flaming Chicken, I would be delighted to accept."
"Teleporting sounds too hard. I am a big fan of the KISS principle - might be a Calistrian thing."
With that decided, your party elects to take a barge and then hoof it using magical mounts, trusting that conjured horses won't spook in the unforgiving land of the Worldwound.
The barge man are pretty hesitant to help you, but once you bandy about the Pathfinder's name they become even more reluctant! With some coercion you're able to convince one to drop you off on the Worldwound side of the river.
Traveling on the first day, about 16 miles in its already apparent that the Worldwound is a cruel, unforgiving area with sudden storms of sometimes violent natures striking without warning and passing just as suddenly.
What little shrub grass there is seems to creep Luisila out, as to her it sounds like the shrubs seem to be hissing at her whenever she walks by. Indeed they seem to almost reach for her, tilting toward her just slightly enough to be noticed by her.
As you guys are traveling, you notice a peculiar site up that seems to have snuck up on, it seems to be what looks like 6 large mounds. The terrain within the Worldwound shifts both subtly and drastically from moment to moment, resulting in strange, fleeting sights in one’s peripheral vision. What remains of an overland road passes through a circle of long-standing burial mounds. Most sport collapsed entrances, though the northernmost barrow remains intact, its door looming ominously. Air vents billow forth putrid steam in all directions, and the ground is soggy with filthy water.
Initiative Block
Round 0 -- Surprise Round for those that make the checks
Conan
Marta
Luisila
Mystery 1
Mystery 2
Myster 3
Alie
Roary
|
|
Conan hums as he rides along on his beautiful magical horse, which he has named Sparky. The horrible wasteland around him has done nothing to bring down his spirits.
"I know Luisila has heard this one, but our surroundings remind me of a JOKE. How do you make holy water?" he asks his companions, oblivious to whatever threat is there is for him to be oblivious about in the surrounding landscape.
|
|
Luisila hums a venerable ballad by Superbards Andoran to keep her spirits up.
♪♫ You see, I’ve been through the Worldwound on a horse with no name … ♪♫
“Whoa! Steady there, Anonymous!” The priestess whips her mount around in a circle and calls to her companions. “Conan, get ready! You’re on soon, big guy.”
“Many of the tops of these grave humps have been blown off, rather violently as if from within!”
She *casts* blessing of fervor and advances 5’.
|
|
Marta responds to Conan with a deadpan "With a spell silly"
Yet in spite of the distraction of the loud barbarian she is quite unable to fail to notice the same thing as Luisila.
She chooses Gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves from the Blessing of Fervor.
She immediately activates Judgement to give herself a +2 bonus to saving throws and +2 AC as a swift action, dismounts (and dismisses the horse), and then casts Divine Favor (+2/+2 luck bonus) on Reyna.