(PFS 08-16) GM Dinketry and the House of Harmonious Wisdom (Inactive)

Game Master dinketry

Glastor giggles again, as he takes the three documents and shuffles them. He then deals them out in order.
1d3 ⇒ 3
1d2 ⇒ 2

"There... it is settled!" he says, as if it is, "First we do #3, then #2, and finally #1. Isn't this fun?!"

For a moment, L'Mont looks as though he wants to argue with the gnome. Then he takes a breath, mutters "Take a chance!" under his breath, and says in his usual whisper, "Sure. Works for me."

"I concur, a random order seems as suitable as any other." Ushi nods to the Desnan. "Let us see what favor may be asked of us."

Mongo seems to be counting on his fingers for a moment with a puzzled look on his face, then shrugs and looks up.

"Sure"

You travel to Lanming, the capital of the nation of Quain, with relative ease. Your caravan master, Chu Song, is terse with those of you who speak Tien, and non-conversant with any other languages; he quite obviously wishes for his daughter to have a faculty for language that he does not know.

You have arrived in the Caravan District of Quain, a trading hub in the city specifically set up for merchants from out of town. Getting off the wagon, the shouts of merchants hawking wares fill your ears. Students practicing meditative forms of martial arts are present as well, and the streets bustle with activity. Rows of old and run-down dwellings line the streets.

know local: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

know engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Bolty, clearly out of his element shrugs "Lots of interesting things to buy, surprised the houses are in bad shape though."

Know Local: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

"Hrm, how have I not heard of this city? I will have to attend to that deficiency." He turns a critical eye to the sales going on, appraising the value of the market.

Luwei approaches the group of students, "Excuse me. We are looking for Master Jiang Fei of the School of the Jade Ogre. Might you direct us to her?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Glastor brightens up again, after the long ride here. "Yes, we would LOVE to meet Master Jiang Fei! I hear she is wonderful, and that she has a favor she would like us to do! We are Pathfinders, you know. From a long, long way away! And we LOVE meeting new people, and doing stuff, you know!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

L'Mont looks stricken, and grabs Glastor by the sleeve.

"No," he hisses. "Talk less. Maybe Jiang Fei's favor is secret. Maybe these people hate Pathfinders."

Seeing the gnome's surprise, he softens. A little. "Not saying be silent. Just... ask more questions. Give fewer answers."

Both Luwei and Glastor's initial questions to the students are met with blank stares. Two of the students mutter to one another.

"who knows Tien and can translate?"

Luwei repeats her question in the common tongue, Tien.

Bolty politely waits for the responses to Feng's comments.

The students quiet as the sorcerer speaks their tongue. Their brows furrow in thought.

They excitedly gesture just across the square at a shabby tenement building. One of the small ground-floor apartments has been converted into a food stall, where a solid-appearing woman with dark hair leans across the countertop, chatting with a few customers. A sign in Tien is posted on an awning above the counter.

"This is the place, my friends." her puzzlement with the surroundings evident on her face, "The sign reads 'Jiang Fei’s Dumpling House and School of the Jade Ogre Style.'"

"I am not sure if I am saddened at the diffusion of a place of learning, or interested in the expansion of their business model."

"Ok, you ask about the business model. I'm gonna examine the dumpling situation."

Bolty thanks Feng for translating "Thanks, hopefully Jade Ogre style involves learning Taldane."

L'Mont realizes that nobody around here understands the common tongue - or what he thinks of as common - and stops worrying that one of his teammates might give away their mission.

"What's a dumpling?"

Bolty responds "I don't know if they are the same here but in my brief stint with the Chelish navy ole Chef Ironjaw used to stuff some fish scraps in dough balls, fry 'em up and call those dumplings."

As the party sits regarding the dumpling stand, a minor fracas ensues on the far side of the square.

A rough shout of Tien, followed by a scattering of laughter, wheezes, and guffaws echoes from a knot of 5-6 Tien youth in distinctive black gis. A student picks himself up off of the ground and shakes his fist as the pack of youth filter out of the square with a "Woop!"

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

L'Mont is so preoccupied by Bolty's description of these exotic "dumplings" that he does not even notice the altercation.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Remaining oblivious Bolty continues "Probably one of the tastier things she knew how to cook too."

Ushi tilts his head slightly, focused on the gang of thugs. "It appears there are some factions within this town. Perhaps the school is one of them?"

Mongo's face falls a little as the image in his head of familiar balls of biscuit dough simmering in chicken stew fades and is replaced by the image of fish scraps wrapped in raw dough.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

He fails to notice what's going on until Ushi points it out.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

"Hey! says, Glastor, as he hurries to see that the youth is ok. "Were those scorpion guys hurting you? Do you need healing?"

The student picks himself up and looks quizzically at the gnome. He replies.

"Tāmen shì gǒu, xiēzi. Yīgè rén bàn dàole wǒ wǒ hěn hǎo xièxiè."

He then walks away from the scene.

"He was only tripped, Glastor. But, the scorpion gang is one to stay away from."

One of the customers wanders away from the dumpling stand, leaving the shop-keeper and one other customer. The stand, as does everything else, ages slowly and imperceptibly as time ticks by without any action on the part of the adventurers.

The GM yawns. *wink*

Bolty waves forward "Well, either we'll get some lunch or learn about green giants, either way we should probably introduce ourselves."

Bolty heads towards/into the school.

The woman at the dumpling counter raises her head to look at the approaching figure.

"Zǎoshang hǎo. Xiānshēng, wǒ gāi zěnme bāng nǐ?"

Is there a front door to the building?

The dumpling stand looks as if it was built out of the porch/patio area of the ground floor residence. A sliding paper door at the back of the stand (behind the counter) appears to be an entrance into the apartment.

L'Mont approaches the woman behind the stand.

"Do you speak Taldane?" he hisses.

I'm just going to be the obnoxious Avistani from now on.

The woman looks a bit off-put, cocks an eyebrow, and replies:

"Nǐ shuō shénme, hēi'àn?"

Let me know if Ushi or Luwei decide to listen in

Bolty tries is slower and louder.

"DO.....YOU.....SPEAK.....TAL.....DANE?"

Glastor, tired of not understanding, casts comprehend languages. He then walks up to the old lady and holds up his index finder. "One, please, if you don't mind." He then adjusts his wayfinder (still prominently displayed).

The middle-aged woman looks between the wayang and the gnome and says:

She notices the wayfinder. And looks at the gnome closer.

The words "Mai Chun" ring clearly to those who don't speak Tien.

The nagaji places a gold coin on the counter and turns to the rest of the party. "We have certainly found the correct place. I have ordered dumplings for everyone while she explains what must be done."

Sorry, finals are coming up and the prep has been kicking my ass.

Glastor nods at the woman, wishing that he had actually learned Tien. He also looks on excitedly about the possibility of trying a new food!

I'll assume that Ushi is running a side commentary as an interpreter throughout the rest of this scene.

Jiang Fei introduces herself to each of you as she serves you a bowl with three dumplings each.

"Jiang Fei," she says with a curt nod as she hands you the bowl of steamed dumplings.

She then returns one silver piece to Ushi and allows you to slurp and chew. She is a middle-aged woman with bright eyes but no other features that would have been described as 'beautiful' apart from her long black hair that she wears in a tight bun pulled into a topknot and held in place with a jade comb. Her clothes appear to be those similar to the ones worn by most of the martial arts practitioners that you have seen throughout Lanming.

Here, she spins to face you and abruptly squats down on her right leg, with her left leg and left arm raised in perpendicular positions to the long axis of her body.

She stands up and grimaces with her tongue out, demonstrating another odd-looking pose with her left foot held straight out in front of her, and her right arm raised above her head.

She straightens into a simple standing pose, her movements fluid, her face an unbroken mask.

She sits abruptly, her face passively expecting a response.

Mongo pauses with his last bite of dumpling half-chewed, gawking at the odd motions of his host.

"Wow, lady, that was really somethin'"

Ugh, I wish I had more of an ear for languages. I'm never gonna know what's going on.

L'Mont eats his dumplings and looks around, while pretending to pay attention.

"Advertisement? I'm sure we can put on a show. And show up those bullies from the Scorpion School." With a glance around at her companions, Luwei continues in Tien.

Glastor gladly gives a translation of what Jiang Fei is saying. "Yeah, guys, we're gonna get to learn how to fight, I guess." He looks at his little gnomish arms, and remembers his oaths, "I just hope we can do it non-lethally. No one should have to die for advertisements."

Glastor gladly gives a translation of what Jiang Fei is saying.

I'm going to take that as a running translation (at least until the spell wears off), so that the rest of us can read the Tien spoilers.

L'Mont breaks out into a disconcerting grin.

"Ask her if we can use knives in this advertisement!"

He looks to Ushi, Luwei, and Glastor to translate his question.

"I've seen how ogre's fight. Seems simple enough, should be no problem!"

Bolty slowly finishes his last dumpling as the plan is translated...

"Well, we better get started learning I guess..." Bolty sighs as he gulps down the final dumpling,

Glastor looks to L'Mont, and stage whispers, "I cannot speak Tien, just can understand it for now!"