PFS #5-08 The Confirmation

Game Master Feth

Fancy gameplay thread. Dot away!

Founded over 400 years ago in 4307 AR, the Pathfinder Society originally consisted of adventurers based in Absalom who sought a way to combine their resources and recruit additional help for particularly dangerous ventures. Over time the group attracted new
members and continued to grow, and today its members and influence span across Golarion.

The Society comprises thousands of adventures coming from all walks of life, and it places no moral obligations upon its members. Each member of a Pathfinder Society adventuring party is expected to forgo all personal and theological differences and work together to achieve the Society’s goals.

The invitation delivered last night was remarkably simple, especially given the importance of the occasion: “Start where it all began. Meet us at the Pig’s Paunch one hour before dawn. ” The message is signed ‘Kreighton Shaine’. You’ve seen the Master of Scrolls many times during your training but this will be the first in an informal setting. A tavern would seem like a strange meeting place but the Dean of Academics is known to be a bit eccentric.

The Pig’s Paunch is a run-down building with a faded sign of a large pig standing on its hind legs, arms folded above a corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scents of sweat, stale tobacco, and leftover food. It’s relatively empty at this hour; most of the customers here are passed out in various corners. There are plenty of open tables.

A quick scan shows that Kreighton Shaine isn’t here yet. Not surprising considering you’re early and he’s notoriously late.

Nixie walks along, feeling odd in the strange clothing the society insists that she wear. She looks again at the writing on her hand. "Pig's Paunch," she repeats. She'd heard of pigs. They are fierce land animals that eat people for breakfast. Or was it that people eat them for breakfast? Land matters were confusing at times, but she's here to learn.

When she sees the sign, comprehension dawns. "It must eat people! That's why the belly must be so large!" She takes note of it for future reference. Maybe inside they can tell her more about such monsters, and whether they are best slain with cold iron or silver.

It doesn't bother her that the pub is run-down; so are most of the buildings in the Puddles district where she currently resides. It does bother her how dry everything is here, though. There's no place to float or swim here. How can land people possibly be comfortable in such a space?

Still all the scents are fascinating. She looks around at the passed out people, to see if there is anyone she knows, lying on the floor.

Rohini hovers near the front door of the Pig's Paunch in a convenient shadow, staring at the light pouring from its door and taking deep breaths. Her anxieties had been in full force since getting last night's message, and only the promise of her goal's fulfillment had given her the courage to go this far. She takes a final breath, her small, tattooed form shivering once, and prepares to step into the tavern, only to duck back into the shadows as a figure stops, looks at the sign, and says something about the pig eating people. Rohini shakes her head, steps into the light, and finds herself inside.

Thankfully, the tavern itself is quiet and the other seems interested in the passed-out patrons for some reason, so Rohini slips onto a bench and tries to make herself unremarkable while waiting. As the watery woman looks her way, she offers a quick wave before looking away, decidedly not making eye contact.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5

Nixie sees the wave, but fails to note the lack of eye contact.

"Rohini!" She bounds over to the Wayang, and pulls Rohini into a soggy hug. "Oh, it's great to see someone else from our class of initiates here! Did you see all the passed out people? Do you think they're under a spell? I was wondering if I should kiss any to see if they'd wake up, but then I smelled them, and decided that I better not."

Outside the rather run-down tavern, Nimerah pauses and gazes up at the sign, a slight frown on her face.

This is where it all began? The Society has come far indeed. Why they would choose this place now, I have no idea.

With a shrug, she opens the door and enters, pausing for a moment to scan the crowd. To those observing, the tall half-elven woman moves with both grace and purpose, as though every step were calculated. However, her demeanor seems cautious and as she begins to speak, it quickly becomes clear that she is yet another foreigner come to Absalom.

"Ah, excuse me? I received a note that said to meet at this place just before dawn. Am I the first to arrive?" she queries in a low voice, accent clearly placing her as Qadiran.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

As she speaks, her eyes spot two familiar figures over by one of the benches.

Is that...? The little purple gnome and the water woman from class...huh. It will be interesting to see who else received the message.

Rohini suffers and squirms through the hug, trying desperately to break away. When, after an eternity, she's freed, she looks at Nixie with some consternation. "I was...I was t-told in the invitation that K-K-Kreighton w-would be here..."

As the half-elf walks in, she thinks for a moment before giving her a quick wave. Maybe it'll get Nixie off me...

"Yes, I heard Kreighton would be here too. Maybe he'll tell us lore about pigs... I can't remember whether you slay them with cold iron or silver. Can you?"

As Rohini waves, Nixie turns. "Nimerah! You're here too? Oh, this'll be great! We'll have an all-girl team!" She runs and sweeps the tall half-elf into a damp hug.

She'd learned that land people often needed reassurance. For some reason, they were more prone to hesitation and doubt. So offering a hug right away was important to make them feel stronger and more confident.

Nixie was happy to provide this service for her fellow initiates, who were often too shy to ask for what they wanted.

She remembers my name? What was hers...Nixie, I think? Yes, and the small one is Rohini.

As the undine turns and makes a beeline for her, Nimerah offers a polite smile. "Nixie? Yes, I received the note to-" her eyes widen as she realizes that Nixie's arms are flung wide but before she can react further she finds herself on the receiving end of a rather damp hug. "Oof!" Unused to being embraced in such a manner, she instinctively stiffens but then relaxes slightly and manages to give the undine an awkward half-hug in return.

I must remember that some peoples are more...exuberant with their affections for others and mean nothing ill by it...

"Ahhh...it is good to see you too," she offers as she carefully maneuvers herself free. "Are we the only ones to receive a message or will there be others?"

The wind that hit Aislinns' face hinted at the sickly sweet alcoholic sweat drenched shack that laid ahead.'Pigs Paunch'....... Seemed as good a place as any to meet up. It wasn't the first time she and Faolan visited a place like this.

As we approached the entry Faolan aggressively bumped my leg in an attempt to push us back to the wilds. "Ooh don't even try. Yes I know you hate these places but they are a necessity, and I am sure it's the right one.... This time". Faolan huffed in disagreement. "Hey I'd double check, but I am not the one that choose to eat our invite". With a heavy thump Faolan cemented himself to the spot, clearly refusing to go further. "Don't worry pup, I'll brave the big bad pub" Faolan gave his softest fake scary wolf growl as I smirked by.

I gave his fur a quick ruffle as I passed into the overwhelming smells of the pub. Thankfully there were only a few people within... Including a couple of my class mates. It looked like Nimerah had fallen victim to one of Nixie's famous wet hugs.....

Leela approached the pub, noting the pig on the sign and immediately feeling the need for a pork chop. Food was Leela's greatest downfall, or would be if she didn't have a crazy fast metabolism. She entered, the tip of the massive bastard sword she had strapped to her back barely not grazing the floor as she walked in. There were a few people from her initiates class already here. She took immediate note of Nixie, who she'd always found to be annoyingly bubbly. (No pun intended) Leela tried to edge her way to the bar to order some mead and much desired meat without being noticed.

"Oh, there's bound to be others!" If there is one thing that Nixie has even more than boundless enthusiasm, it's an excellent memory. In the deep waters outside Absalom, bards were the memory of the undine people. Nixie concentrated a moment, quoting the Pathfinder Field Guide they'd all been given to read. "The Pathfinder Society believes in teamwork. To that end, for your first few years in the society, you will be sent on missions of four to seven people." She holds up three fingers. "If this is a mission briefing and not just another class, there has to be at least one more of us coming..." Turning, she looks across the bar and sees Aislinn and Leela. "See, Nimerah? There's two more already!"

"Aislinn! Leela!" Both girls look uncertain in these strange surroundings, so Nixie puls them both into a sodden group hug, then releases them when Faolan starts growling. "Oh! I didn't mean to forget you, Faolan! You're such a loyal... um... whatever you are!" She pulls the surprised animal* into a hug too, then pats it reassuringly on the head.

"Let's grab a table together, to save Kreighton Shaine time when he arrives. I've seen you all around classes, but I don't know that much about you. Maybe we each can talk about where we come from and what brings us to the Pathfinder Society while we wait for him?"

_______________________________
*Is Faolan a wolf? I don't know what he is!

Leela tries, unsuccessfully, to wipe the water off her fur and leather armor. She's never played well with others. Her whole life in her tribe was spent in competition. But but teamwork was a key component of the Pathfinder society, so she would have to change that. She took off her sword and leaned it against a support beam and sat at the long table next to it with the others.

Faolan gave a slight sake and looked slightly annoyed at Nixie. He'd never been the best with people that weren't pack.... But that's a wolf for you. "Be nice Faolan, and a table sounds good."

"I'm from ಮನೆ, near the waters by Escadar." Nixie smiles at the others. "So I've probably come the shortest distance to be here, but I hadn't met many land people other than fisherfolk before arriving in the city. I'm a ನೀರಿನ ಗಾಯಕ, a water-singer." The few words she spoke in Aquan sound like the burbling of a brook... the language itself seems liquid when it pours out of her mouth.

To explain what she means, she asks for an empty cup from the waiter, and fills it with water with a wave of her hand. Then she sings to the water, and a form of a liquid dancing girl arises out of the water, spins, and then falls back into the cup. "I am to be the memory of our people. It is my job to tell our stories to the waters, and to remind the water of its own greatness and endless possibility. But before I take my full place amongst my people, I need to learn and travel. That's why I'm here. To explore, cooperate and report, and then bring that learning back to my people and add to the wisdom of the sea."

Then she smiles and orders from the waiter. "I would like food, please. Any kind, if you think it good." Turning back to the group, she asks, "So tell me more about yourselves. What brings you to the society?"

Leela immediately regretted judging Nixie so flippantly without getting to know her. Of course she always judges people this way. She's hesitant about becoming even mildly close to people. But what Nixie said her duty was was a very noble duty. Leela's tribe had no written language. Storytelling was an honor reserved for the wisest elders. Nixie's native tongue was quite entrancing too. Leela spoke up. "I was born to a migratory tribe in the tundra. I didn't like the way they did things. Never recognized my competence in battle. So I left. Did mercenary work here and there. Then I found the Pathfinder society. They treated their female warriors as equal to their male peers. I liked that. They always had a job available, which meant I could always earn money. Liked that too." There were some pretty big parts of her story that she left out. How could they come to trust her if they knew?

As the group of women settle in at one of the tables to await the arrival of Kreighton Shaine or whoever else might be coming, Nimerah listens intently as first Nixie and then Leela share a little about themselves.

Nixie is more sensible than she first lets on...interesting.

"It is honorable to follow the traditions of your people," she nods at Nixie, "but there is also something to be said of one that knows what they want from life and is willing to follow their own path to achieve it," she adds, turning her gaze to Leela. Though she had not witnessed the tundra woman's battle prowess firsthand, she felt an immediate respect for her nonetheless, a shared connection as a fellow swordswoman.

She understands what it means to fight, to feel the weight of a blade in her hands.

"My reasons for being here are somewhat similar to Nixie's though the decision to travel here was my own, rather than a result of custom," she continues. "I come from my homeland of Qadira to learn of other peoples as well, to hone my skills in battle, and to teach others of the glory of the Dawnflower."

Aislinn began to shift nervously in her seat....the pub itself wasn't her favorite place to stay in, normally it was more an in and out scenario, but now they were expected to carry on conversations! Grrrrreat. Navigating the wilds, easy. Having intense long conversations with Faolan, natural as breathing. Talking to others.....never something she could get used to. Though Nixies water abilities did intrigue her.

Faolan's genital nudging nip brought Aislinn back to the conversation at hand and that she needed to interact. "We came from Codelon and joined the society to see different places that our Bounty hunter life could not take us. Our forest became......too small. " Conversations would become easier as time went on, but for now......this was good as it got for Aislinn and groups of people. Though the rest of her....life was never something Aislinn liked to talk about.

Turning to the waiter Aislinn quickly orders "Two plates of meat.....Bloodier the better" Faolan gave a happy grunt to that.

Leela cracked a smirk. "Likes her meat kicking." She patted Aislinn on the back."I think you and I are gonna get along."

Nixie pokes at the bloody meat, fascinated. "I've eaten lots of raw fish, but it looks nothing like this. Land food is very strange."

Then she turns to the little wayang. "What about you, Rohini? Where do you come from?"

Nimerah looks a little green in response to Aislinn's choice of sustenance, but makes no comment and instead turns her attention to the wolf sitting at the hunter's side. "His name is Faolan? How did you come to be paired with him?"

A little surprised, Aislinn gave a slight smile to Leela in response. Most people had Nimerah's response to her choice in meals. Leela and even Nixie, even more surprisingly, seemed like her kind of people.

While giving Faolan his share of the meal Aislinn answered Nimerah question, "Yes his name is Faolan. We've always been together. He's family." Faolan began to tear into his meal, but gave a heavy tail wag in response.

Rohini starts, unused to being addressed so directly. So many questions! She thinks for a moment, staring at the menu with rapt fascination and determinedly not making eye contact. "From? Um, t-two years in this c-city. D-does that c-count?" When she sees it won't, she frowns at Nixie and continues speaking into her menu. "V-Vudra. N-near Radripal. I r-ran away to come h-here."

"You ran away?" Nixie's eyes widen, and she feels sadness, deep within her heart. First Leela, then Rohini. How unhappy their clans must be with their daughters lost to them.

She offers a hand to Rohini. "It must have been very scary to have been on your own so long. I'm glad that you found the Pathfinder Society."

Knowledge Geography, Radripal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Once again, Nixie's excellent memory kicked in.

"I've heard of Radripal... The City of Arches, right? It sounded pretty in the stories I heard, but I know that there is a difference between living in a place and hearing of it as an exotic, far off tale. Are you willing to tell us why you ran, or is that better saved as a story for another time?"

Leela watches the exchange, noting the wayang's stutter. The poor imp would never get anywhere in this job without confidence. She keeps these thoughts to herself. She may be judgmental, but she's not cruel.

"N-no...I mean, y-yes, but n-not like that. M-my people d-don't do anything. The s-stories about adventure and...and excitement are all j-just telling us n-not to do it. I'm b-bold." For half a second, she looks exactly that, and then she breaks eye contact and looks down again. She decidedly doesn't reach for Nixie's hand, flinching away from it instead.

"Vudra? You are bold, to have traveled so far," Nimerah says quietly, unaware of any offenses she might be causing by her reaction to Aislinn's choice of cuisine. "I expect we will all find excitement plenty among the Pathfinders, regardless of what else each of us may be seeking."

There's more to her than meets the eye, same as Nixie. This should make for a very interesting exercise, whatever it may be. Where *is* Kreighton Shaine anyway?

As if summoned by Nimerah’s thought the door swings open. Master Shaine strides into the building, a halfling woman following behind him. He waves wildly at the initiates

“Hello! Hello, my students! Please, have a seat!” He says, ignoring the fact that everyone else is already sitting. Master Shaine nimbly climbs on the table and sits in the middle. He looks about the tavern with a sense of reverent wonder. “Can you believe it? It all started here years ago—well, over four hundred of them at least. Under this very roof the Pathfinder Society was born. But today! Today you will begin your Confirmation! Master Farabellus, Master Zey, and I all agree you each have shown your worth and dedication to the Society, so there’s no better time to see if you can handle becoming full field operatives.”

Allow me to introduce you to Janira Gavix,” he says as he motions for the halfling woman to approach. She wears a large backpack and carries all manner of tools, pouches, and scroll cases around her waist. Shaine continues, saying, “Janira here will be going with you on your Confirmation. She was one of my brightest pupils and will no doubt be an invaluable resource on your journey, for she discovered the caves you are about to explore during her own Confirmation.”

Janira speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice, “Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, I witnessed a lone gillman entering a concealed cave. I thought little of it at the time, but I saw another one enter the cave again a month later as my Confirmation stretched on. A few days later, after I completed my assigned task, I entered the cave system, but was unable to find the gillmen.”

Master Shaine hops to his feet. “Initiates, for your Confirmation, you will travel to these caves to explore and document its many passages. Additionally, and most importantly, you are to learn what the gillmen are up to in there. Oh, and you need to come back alive as well.” With these parting words, the Master of Scrolls jumps off the table and strolls out of the building while whistling to himself. Janira watches him go, shrugs, then turns back to the party.

“Well, we have a long walk ahead of us today. I know you guys have questions but we should talk on the road. The good thing about walking all day is that we have a lot of time to talk!”

The party makes it way through the streets of Absalom. The city’s starting to wake up around them as people get ready for the new day. Janira is a big bundle of happiness; she greets everyone they pass with a big smile and a wave. There’s slight traffic on the road as the group passes the city gate.

“Ok initiates! Now, I’m sure you’ve got questions. Fire away!”

Maybe you remember something from class that could help?

Knowledge: Geography

Knowledge: History

"W...well..." Nimerah hesitates, her head still spinning from the whirlwind mission briefing and then being hustled out of the Pig's Paunch, along the streets and out of the city. But after a few moments she rallies, and her quiet self-assurance returns. "Caves, you said? I have had some past experience with spelunking and other such things, so I should be able to help guide us along once we reach them. But I'm afraid that I'm unfamiliar with what might be native to the area, what dangers we might face above ground."

She turns and looks to the rest of the group. "Perhaps one of you knows about such things?"

No ranks for Kn. Geography or History here, alas!

Nixie looks everywhere during the walk, absolutely enraptured by the sights of the Absalom city streets.

Knowledge Geography: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Knowledge History: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Knowledge Local, Gillmen: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

"I'm still learning about landfolk history and geography and such," Nixie burbles to Janira, "but I know a lot about the local gillmen! My tribe trades with theirs all the time!"

Has Nixie heard anything about local Gillmen interests in the area, or anything that she can tell the others about the local Gillmen culture?

"How did you come to be mapping the caves? Other than the Gillman, did you see anything interesting in there?"

Leela hangs back observing the group and how they interact. Shaine is eccentric, to say the least. She's been away from her tribe long enough to have seen many diverse races, but she has never seen people as different in personality as this group. She wonders how well they'll work together. Picking up the pace, she strides up next to to Master Shaine.
"I'm with Nimerah. What will we have to defend ourselves against up there"

Overly relieved to be out of the pub Faolan and Aislinn were enjoying the fresh air..... Mixed with town smells, and at least the open space. Aislinn want quite happy with a new bubbly personality added to the group, but her curiosity about the future mission pushed that to to the back of her mind. While Leela JH l headed to the front Aislinn stayed near the back with Faolan. It had just been her and Faolan so long, this would take some getting used to.
"Did you see signs of predators?"

Leela looks back at Aislinn. "I don't need to see. I know. What kind of test would it be if we didn't have to fight something?" She looks up at Shaine for confirmation. "At least I hope so"

Rohini thinks hard, but can't think of anything to say. "I-I don't th-think it's b-be t-too dangerous. H-how could they send us on s-something too dangerous? Right?" She looks from Nixie to Leela to Janira, nerves and a glimmer of hope drifting across her face. "Right?"

I have the wrong knowledge skills for the job, and I don't really have any briefing questions. Maybe follow-ups to what others have to say.

Nimerah glances down at Rohini. "I don't think they would intentionally send us to do anything they didn't think we could handle. But while we're outside the safety of city walls, there's always the chance of encountering people or creatures that wish us harm and we need to be prepared for that."

She's farther from her homeland than any of us. Be kind, Nimerah.

"Don't fear," she continues, offering a rare smile. "We are all here with you and Janira is an experienced Pathfinder. If we encounter anything, I am sure that we can handle it."

“Let’s see. There’s always the chance we may run into bandits along the way, and there are dozens of kinds of predators in that forest. Centaurs control the lowlands and surrounding wilderness of the Kortos Mounts. The areas farther up the Mounts are controlled by minotaurs, and the icy peaks are home to tribes of harpies. They’re always vying for territory, but with any luck, we should be able to avoid them and reach the caves without conflict.”

For the first time since you’ve met her Janira gives you a solemn look. “Being a member of the Pathfinder Society means you’ll see combat. We’re up front about that, but we’re a lot more than a fighting group. Remember that violence isn’t always the answer.”

She’s quiet for a few contemplative seconds before perking back up. “For my Confirmation I had to catalog flora and fauna in the area where the caves are. I kept logs on everything. After all, Report is one of the official Pathfinder duties! I thought the timing was interesting so I made a special note. Master Shaine believes it’s not a coincidence that each time I saw a gillman enter the cave it was during a full moon. That’s why we’re pushing on so quickly, we have to reach the cave for the full moon tomorrow.”

Janira suddenly gasps “Oh! I didn’t even tell you where we’re going, did I? The caves we’ll be travelling to lie under the base of the Kortos Mounts. We’ll cross over the Cairnlands, take the path to Diobel and then head through the wilderness to the caves. I have it on a map!”

She unrolls a scroll and shows it to the group. “I can’t believe I forgot! Preparation is one of the most important factors in a successful expedition!”

Ok there WILL be a map tomorrow. The one I nearly posted was spoiler-ific

"Minotaurs and harpies? Yes, let's hope they're too busy battling each other to notice our passage." She pauses for a moment, frowning. "I'll need to remember to study more on the geography and history of this land. My blade being sharpened doesn't preclude my mind from being sharpened as well."

"Personally, I hope we run into something up there." She pats the gigantic bastard sword strapped to her back "It's been too long since we've seen combat."

As soon as Janira shows them a map where the Caves of Kortos are, Nixie's eyes widen. "What the heck were gillmen doing up there?" She looks at the others. "I grew up near Escadar, and the gillmen there are a quiet lot. They're hard to get to know, and not very trustful of land folk. When they have business with the shore, they go into coastal cities like Escadar or Absalom, not miles inland! What's more, if they don't submerge themselves once every day, they die. Are there any major sources of water up there that these maps don't show?"

Kn. Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Nimerah frowns, her expression thoughtful. "I am not especially familiar with your mountains, but in the mountains of home it wasn't unheard of for there to be small underground lakes and springs within." She shrugs. "It is certainly plausible, but I can't say for certain. Perhaps Janira knows more?" she continues, giving the halfling a questioning look.

JANIRA’S MAP

Janira shakes her head “I didn’t get a good look inside the cave system. I only had enough time and supplies for a cursory search of the cave entrances.” She taps her chin thoughtfully and nods. “I think Nimerah has an excellent theory. An underground water source would explain a lot. Beyond that, there are rivers and ponds in the forest. I think a Gillman could use those to get to the caves.”

"I suppose we shall find out for certain once we reach the caves then!" A pause. "Though I still hope that we won't be troubled by anything on our trip there, it's likely that other things have taken up residence in the caves themselves - especially if there is a water source within or close by." She glances at Leela. "You may very well get your wish."

Though she could relate to Leela and Aislinn, to a lesser extent, as being women of the sword, Nimerah realized that she did not truly thirst for battle as the others might. Her training was a means to an end, the best route that she could see towards serving her goddess since she was not possessed of the wisdom to be a priest or the intellect to study the arcane. And though she did take pleasure from serving the Dawnflower in battle, battle was always the last recourse.

Nothing personal regarding any of the other players/PCs; this is just me discovering/developing Nimerah's personality and outlook a bit more :)

Having little to say and never having so much as seen a gillman before, Rohini listens to the conversation while digging through her bags, making sure her potions and explosive capsules are all within easy reach. It's not until Janira mentions the rivers and ponds that Rohini perks up. "D-do you mean r-rivers and ponds that c-connect to th-the underground? W-why would the gillmen b-bother getting out of the w-water if they had a s-safe path to the c-caves?"

"All the water sources I found were above ground. They might not have a safe path to the caves. Ah! Maybe there's something above ground that's important? Or maybe the gillmen I saw were just coming outside for fresh air? It seems unlikely but we need to keep open minds. As the famous scholar Leomis Eslen said 'When studying the unknown keep yourself open to every possibility, lest you miss something due to presumption or bias' "

I'm going to move us forward tomorrow but feel free to ask more questions

Faolan and Aislinn's ears perked up at the mention of what lied ahead. The thought of tracking down new pray sent their blood pumping. While Aislinn did really care one way or another about battles and fights, she always did love the hunt. "Good, it's been awhile since we've had a good hunt....tracking" She adds with a slight wicked hungry smile.

Nixie looks at Janira. "Can you tell us more about minotaurs and harpies and how to fight them? I know that harpies fly and that minotaurs are big with horns, but not much else!"

"Minotaurs and harpies are predatory, aren't they?" Leela asked Janira.

"Harpies are predatory. They might even be worse than pigs!"

Knowledge Nature, Harpies: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Knowledge Nature, Pigs: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 - PERFECT -

Nixie shudders at the thought of the scary-looking pig on the sign of the Pig's Paunch. "Janira, if we have to face a pig, is it better to use cold iron or silver? Our monster lore classes haven't covered them yet."

Knowledge Nature, Minotaurs: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

"I'm not sure about Minotaurs, though. I heard once that there was a Minotaur prince in Absalom who was okay. Maybe they're mixed, like other people?" Nixie looks at Janira curiously. "Janira, with all those scrolls, I can tell you're a serious scholar. Are you a wizard, like Master Shaine?"

Nimerah listens intently to the conversation as talk turns to weaknesses of things such as minotaurs and harpies. Uncertain of such things herself, she simply nods as Nixie and Leela converse...until the statement about pigs causes her to do a double-take.

"Wait, what?"

Rohini looks up as Nimerah does her double-take. "I-I don't think I've ever h-heard of either c-cold iron or s-silver being b-better...against pigs? W-why in the d-dissolution's name w-would you n-need to, w-what, b-battle a pig?" The moment her question leaves her lips, Rohini metaphorically smacks her forehead, followed up by literally doing so. Wonderful. More talking...