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Bog Mother gets peppered with enough arrows to make Tony Montana proud (2:20). She falls to her knees in exhaustion. With a tear in her eye, she lets out a few yips while reaching out to her beloved garden. Next to the large log, a patch of green-flowered thistles is being crushed under the gnome and elf's feet. Seizing the moment Astyannax takes a crescent arced swing, decapitating the kobold of the bog.
The poison frog winks out of existence. The heroes take a few deep breaths with weapons in hand, but the swamp provides no further challenges.
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Luisila makes an odd vertical cupping gesture at about eye level with her fingers spread and calls Ezrek, Omrax and anyone else who wants to participate over to her for a healing huddle.
“Does anyone like the Korvosan game, ‘Blood Pig’? It has a most unusual cant propagated by the Cerulean Society that the Unquenchable Fire reacts quite favorably to ...”
Kneeling in the middle of the huddle she chants ...
“Black Gold I sting Neb on Two - Break!” *Claps* and ... “Go, go!”
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Luisila takes the wand and loads it into her spring-loaded wrist sheath.
“Thank-you, Ezrek. I will try to use this item for the benefit of the whole party.”
She hesitates before adding ...
“Ezrek, you do know if you had gone down I would have been over to you within 6 seconds or so with a Cure Light Wounds or Stabilize .”
“I do try to monitor everyone’s health and location in combat – and I was worried about Omrax during the last battle as well. If I needed to Channel Energy, I wanted to make sure I didn’t heal any enemies.”
Cuts to the chase ... “Bottom line is if you’re not a front ranker; don’t be afraid to come to me. Front rankers I will generally go to you, as long as it is not reckless to do so. If you want some help, just yell ‘Medic’. However, the theory Valsin taught us about the highest priority being to finish the enemy and THEN heal, to be borne out in practice – at least so far.”
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Astyannax, asks Luisila, "So, what led a priestess of Calistra to the Society?"
Why did I join the Pathfinder Society? That’s a good question.
“Astyannax, I’d love to say it was because I see serving the society as a means for personal growth or to add to the body of knowledge about Golarion ... but that’s simply not true ...”
Luisila is still a bit wary of Astyannax.
There is no doubting his bravery. Double watch in the cold ... straight at the Bog Mother ...
She decides to take a chance.
“The truth is I didn’t think I was making much of a difference in my missionary work and I wasn’t getting along with my supervising Sister ... Temple politics turns my stomach ...” *Blech*
“I do love a challenge and a though, so the Pathfinder Society is a good fit in that respect.”
“The High Priestess once told me that my old role may not be a part of the Lady in the Room’s Grand Vision – which I took to be another put down ... but perhaps the Queen Ma’am is wiser than I give her credit for ...”
“What about you, why are you in service?”
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All have 1 save.
The party wakes up the next morning feeling a little bit better. The yellow sweat for Luisila & Omrax as resolved, but they are not feeling like their old selves, yet.
It takes half a day to travel out of the swamps and toward the shoreline. A cold wind comes off the coast, making the sight of Pier's End even a better beauty to behold.
Pier's End appears to be nothing more then a small fishing village with an inn for a warm meal and a harbor to anchor one's boat. There are currently a small number of them docked. Seagulls can be heard cawing in the distance with men tying up fishing next in preparation for tomorrows catch.
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"Ahh, good clean fresh air. I did not think I would ever get the dank smell of that bog from my lungs. "
(He looks at the others, particularly Rees and the mule, both looking ok? Hopefully our guide is not feeling too bad to cover his part of the mission. Omrax also wonders if he will have to sell old Eyore before we can board the ship or whatever the plan is.)
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As previously, Haraldir was awfully quiet during the journey. He was quite glad to see that they have cleared the swamp finally, and his mood improved a bit (not that he was showing that in any visible way).
Approaching the small fishing village, he is glad to see that there are several boats docked.
"Yes Sir Ezrek, we should definitely go in there and secure a boat to transport us further, towards Escadar" - he pauses for a few seconds before continuing, hesitation clearly showing in his voice - "I...I'm not very fond of the sea, but our task is clear and we should move forward. I would appreciate if one of you more...talkative people arrange for our transportation. Thank you"
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Omrax is more than happy to ask around for passage for the party and animals if possible.
"Sir Haraldir, you have done a masterful job of guiding us through the hazards of the wild. I am willing to try to negotiate passage oversea to the island if we do not already have a contact. Sir Rees, we made it this far. Do you have a contact we need to approach, or shall we make our own arrangements? "
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Rees and Eeyore are both still present and in good standing.
Rees takes a long look at the gems while holding them to the sun.
"Not too bad. They are probably worth about 20 gold pieces each."
Omrax spends about an hour getting to know the locals and is able to find everything there is to know about the tides, fishing locations and more importantly passages to Erran.
There are 3 people in the harbor that could be willing to sail the group across. Omrax is able to get some interest information on each of them during his interactions.
The first is Darice Sumore, a surly looking young woman. If her sea-weathered face were softened, she could be considered pretty. Darice never knew her father, and many villagers whisper that he was a member of the Pathfinder Society. She resents never knowing her father and some say she longingly caresses the trinket he left behind for her. It has been observed that Darice often lends a hand to the town’s elderly male residents, and some suggest that she longs for a father figure.
Next is Small Otti, a fat well-dressed halfling. Small Otti values his coin, for he has many mouths to feed—most importantly, his own. He has a weakness for fine food and drink, so any deal with him is made sweeter if food is involved. Be aware, Otti often asks for the moon in payment, but if he’s treated properly, he sometimes settles for much less.
Finally is Crazy Old Tanner, a fish-smelling, wild-eyed man who is fit to yell at the sea. He accusing it of being an unfaithful mistress and talking about how things were better when he was much younger. Tanner’s skill at sea is unmatched, but so is his lunacy; take a boat ride with him and you might ride straight into a squall. But, some whisper that Tanner is not actually crazy, but no one is brave enough to find out. Tanner enjoys his tobacco, though. Merchants often give him tobacco before they negotiate with him as it seems to relax the old man.
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Luisila is still feeling a bit out of sorts, but is glad to be out of the bog.
Over the past week I have spent each night in the company of five men, two horses, a wolf-lizard and a snake.
Just another week in the service of the Savored Sting.
Still, once the mission is over I need to burn these clothes, have a long, hot bath and
Honestly, I can’t believe I’ve managed to say pretty much nothing – for a whole week!
Oh, and what about the habits of my companions …
Ezrek snores. Yes, you do.
Astyannax drinks, chews and spits – WITH HIS VISOR DOWN !!!
Uthrad snaps at me if I say ‘Hi’ to Badger – Badger snaps at me if I say ‘Hi’ to Uthrad …
… if Omrax wakes me up talking in his sleep saying, ‘Inheritor take me – I’m all yours’ one more time, I WON’T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE!
And as for Rees ... that THING he does with his … oh, let’s not even go there.
All I can say is thank Calistria for Haraldir. Strong, reliable, unflappable Haraldir. Nothing seems to bother him; forest, cold, bog, combat and I’m sure this little sea voyage will be no different.
She looks over at the ranger. “Haraldir? Haraldir, are you feeling all right?”
“Omrax, I don’t think you could have done a better job finding us some candidates. I don’t mind in which order we interview them.”
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Astyannax had spent some time making arrangements for Achilles to be cared for while they were gone. He listened with interest to Omrax's report.
[b]"The old man sounds insane. I've already had enough craziness with that kobold. I prefer either of the other two.
I hate water travel. Armor does not float..
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"Lady Luisila, I was thinking Captain Sumore appeared the most aligned to our cause, and was going to suggest her first. Sir Astyannax, as to the armor and floating, I was going to see if this town at least has a suit of leather armor for the voyage aboard ship. If we find a shop, I could cover a set for you, or any of the others if needed. Traversing that swamp in this armor taught me a thing or two. I will see if I can find a new home for our mule."
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Darice appears to get quite hostile at your request for passage.
"Yah, and I would like to keep it that way. This isn't pleasure cruise, bucko. I got a hold to haul and your weight will only slow me down. Plus, I really hate gnomes. They freak me out. I mean, look at the size of his head. No wonder you need to ride that thing. Otherwise you'd keep falling forward. Now get out of here before I'll be forced to insult you a second time."
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She looks over at the ranger. “Haraldir? Haraldir, are you feeling all right?”
"Why yes, little lady, thanks for asking. I'll be alright. It's just...well, you see...I do not like water too much. As long as there is some land near-by, I'll be OK, but if we are out in the open sea..." - Haraldir does not even finish the sentence.
A bit later, hearing Darice's stern refusal, he finds himself very confused. He has listened to Sir Omrax description of potential captains, and he was really hoping he would not have to go to the other two. Seeing Ezrek leaves, his face gets a stern, determined look, and once again, his mouth becomes faster than his brains.
"Lady Darice, if I may call you that. I appreciate and understand your concern for your cargo. However, we are on an important mission for Pathfinder Society here. I beleve you have heard of it, right? In fact, your own father was quite an accomplished Pathfinder itself. I would beesech thee, in the name of his memory to help us with our mission. I am sure that we can find a good agreement so we can compensate you for your loss in time"
Still looking her straight in the eyes, he adds in a firm voice: "So, what say you?"
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Darice draws her cutlass at Haraldir's remarks.
"Aye, my father was a Pathfinder, or so I'm told. Left me ma' and I for grand 'ventures. Hard to be a da' when ya' an't around. Only thing he taught me was that I was less important to him than people who had been dead for five hundred years in another country. I don't care 'bout the Finders and I don't care for your mission. Now, get away from my boat!"
She spits on the ground before Haraldir, locks eyes with him, then stomps off below deck. Against the rolling of sea, whimpers can be heard between the breaks.
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Omrax stands astonished. Not at all how he expected things to go.
"Sir Ezrek, if we cannot salvage this situation, then I agree with you and we can try the old man Mr. Tanner next. I am not familiar with tobacco favored by sea captains, so if someone wants to buy some, I am happy to see if he will have us."
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["Why yes, little lady, thanks for asking. I'll be alright. It's just...well, you see...I do not like water too much. As long as there is some land near-by, I'll be OK, but if we are out in the open sea..." - Haraldir does not even finish the sentence.
Luisila the ‘lubber tries to reassure the fearless master of the great outdoors.
“Haraldir, looking at the map, we’ll almost certainly be able to see land the whole time we’re afloat … unless, there’s a storm, hurricane, water spout, kraken or dragon turtle that either blows us out to sea or destroys the boat, leaving the survivors clinging to the wreckage until they die of thirst or starvation.”
“But I mean, really how often has THAT happened in the history of the Inner Sea?”
“Good Omrax, lead on. I for one cannot wait to hear about the … virtues … of our next possible hireling.”
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A brick of tobacco is one gold piece. (somebody can mark it down)
Finding Crazy Old Tanner isn't that hard. While most of the boats are painted drag greys & browns, Tanner's vessel is painted in festive colors of green, white and red. Sitting by the dock of the bay, watching the tide wash away, is a disheveled, fish-smelling, wild-eyed man. He appears to mumble out the side of his mouth while blowing thick gouts of grey smoke from an aromatic pipe.
As you approach, he stands to greet you with a toothy smile. "Aye, there what can I do for you folks? He then suddenly turns around to face the sea and yells, "SHUT UP YOU CLAM SUCKIN' WHORE! We have guests! Now go get us something to eat."
The old man, quietly turns back around to the party with a polite grin and nod. "Sorry about that, she always butts in at the wrong time. Where were we?"
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Upon hearing Old Man Tanner’s opening pitch, Luisila hands Omrax the tobacco, places her hand gently on his shoulder and says under her breath, “He’s all yours, Omrax. Good Luck.”
She lays Guidance on the paladin.
To her companions: “I will put up the 1gp for the tobacco. If anyone wants to give me 1sp, I will happily accept it.”
“I am still happy to go along with whichever captain the group decides.”