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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 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 human sweat, stale tobacco, and leftover food.
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A rotund half-orc walks along through the cool misty predawn air, looking perfectly content and at home in the conditions. His ample gut is in a constant battle with his skin tight chain shirt, and appears to be on the winning side. A pair of bandoleers crisscross his torso, lending a much needed hand with controlling the beer keg that appears to be hiding beneath his armor. A spear, with leaves sprouting out the haft is clutched in one meaty fist, makes a fine walking stick while two bone handled daggers are tucked beneath one of the bandoleers. Of all the curiosities that surround the man, the one that holds your gaze the longest is numerous strings of fruit hanging off him here and there. Apples, bananas, coconuts, as well as some more exotic looking things like mangoes and kiwis to name a few.
Luurg stops and looks up at the sign "Ooo dis place look gud! Time fer breakfust!" He heads inside hoping to smell the smells of pork bits cooking but is mostly disappointed with the stale air of a bar.
"Ummm hello? I supposed to meet here for work? Anyone serving some breakfust? Some ale? Someting?"
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"Hmm..."The Pig's Paunch" eh? Sounds like JUST the sort of place where I might find my Gally-Poo. Strange that I was summoned here on the day of my Confirmation, though." The young dwarf priestess talks aloud to herself as she strolls through the streets of Absalom on the way to the appointed meeting-place. She walks with a girlish bounce in her step, which causes the various beads and baubles adorning her pure-white gown to clink and tinkle melodiously. The prettiness of the garment does not offset the lack of beauty in the dwarfess herself. Still, she pauses in her ramblings as she passes each person she meets along the road to wish them a good morning and offer them Bolka's blessings for a long and happy love life.
When she finally arrives in front of the Pig's Paunch, she opens the door and greets the whole room, "Good morning, everyone! Bolka's love sustain you and the love that ties you together! I was summoned here by the Pathfinder Society. Could someone direct me to where we are to meet?"
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He does not know whether to smile or gag when he hears that familiar voice announce a 'good morning'. Bishop had made sure to get here even earlier than the appointed time. He sat in the corner of the room which stank of tobacco mixed with fermenting ale. The name of the establishment was well thought out because only a pig..or an orc could ever feel comfortable in here.
His eyes moved over to the orc who had just arrived before that noisy priestess. He wondered if maybe the priestess would be better suited to forgetting about this Gallix character – who Bishop had easily concluded was hiding out from her – and create ties with this orc. He tried to visualize the offspring of that pairing and almost fell out of his seat.
Well I don't take this as a coincidence so let me say hello to my friend and this orc
Standing up he calls out to Begrilda and the orc feigning a yawn "Goood morninnggg to you both. Got the summon as well. Come have a seat while we wait."
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Luurg waves at the two people having a rather heated discussion in the bar and heads in their direction. After choosing his seat wisely, he falls down into it with a thud.
"Howdy. I'm Luurg. Yous guys here cuz of da note? Or you just here for breakfust? I'm hoping for both." Luurg stands his spear up against his chair then rubs his belly as he eyes the two up. "Do I know you? Seems like I do's but I don't." He rubs his eyes with his grubby paws and looks again, then shrugs his shoulders and goes back to scanning the bar for someone to fetch him some breakfast.
"Fer sum reason I can't get bacon outta my 'ead. Mmmm bacon." A small tendril of drool drips down the side of his jaw that quickly gets reabsorbed with a large green tongue.
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A tall large boned blond Ulfen woman makes her way through the streets of Absolam. She's making her way to the Pig's Paunch at the appointed time. She walks with purpose scanning the area for anyone who looks like trouble. I don't like cities. It seems I've been assigned to them a lot for the Pathfinder Society. I wonder when I'll get out into the field. She is wearing simple hide armor, and carries a longsword and a shortsword on her hips.
When she arrives at the Pig's Paunch, she waits a moment across the street, and sees a a dwarf dressed in white enter the building. She continues to wait a few moments then crosses the street and enters.
When she walks through the door she hears the half-orc say something about a note. She walks up to the group. "Good Morning. Were you also given a note to meet here an hour before dawn? My name is Einn." She nods politely in greeting.
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A tall half-elf, enters the premises, he presents himself as a smart guy, short clean hair, a somewhat smart looking outfit in mostly green, and carries many vials (from what you can tell) on his persons. He pauses as he enters, and takes a look around the place finding for a suitable place to wait.
"Guess we're all here for the same reason.", his nonchalant way of attending to the crowd."Name's Damiel."
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Luurg looks up excitedly seeing someone else come to the table, but his excitement is quickly tempered as Einn introduces herself as someone other than waitstaff. "Oh, damn I thought you worked here, guess not. I'm Luurg, I just gut here and sat down. We all gut dat note, er at least I tink they gut it too. Man I'm hungry." With that he'll start and finish snacking on a bright yellow banana in one bite. And resume craning his neck looking for waitstaff.
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He turns his attention away from Begrilda and greets the two newcomers. "Please do have a seat. Yes it seems we are all received the same letter. Now to wait for our mysterious host or hostess. Call me Bishop, one of Desna's many children thrust into this world at the Great Redeemer's request. While we wait would any of you like to see what the fates have laid before us? Desna at times allows me to interpret the paths before people." Bishop's hand disappears into robes and then produces a small bag weighted with something at the bottom.
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Jerrid muttered to himself as he ran through the streets, dodging people and wagons along the way.
"Can't believe I overslept. I better not be late, it will look bad."
He finally sees the The Pig’s Paunch and sprints through the entrance before coming to a sudden stop inside. Breathing heavily he looks around and removes the hood of his cloak smiling embarrassing to those inside.
"Um... Good morning? Yeah morning..."
Standing at the entrance is a lean built young human male. He is wearing common traveler's clothing with a light crossbow strapped to bandolier across his back and a single dagger on display from his belt. He doesn't look like much and probably could remain unnoticed most of the time for his common looks.
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Inside the Pig's Paunch, the air is thick with the scents of human sweat, stale tobacco, and leftover food. In various corners of the room are inebriates sleeping off their revelries from last night. A serving boy who is practically sleep-walking is the only attendant in the shop. He looks up at some surprise at visitors at such an early hour, but is clearly too sleepy to care very much. He wanders over to take your orders. Before he completes, though, a tall, familiar-looking elven man enters the tavern, followed closely behind by a halfling woman. All of you recognise the elven made as the occasionally eccentric Kreighton Shane, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Scrolls, while some of you recognise the halfling as Janira Garvix. She waves and smiles at Luurg from behind Kreighton. The elf walks leaps onto a table in the centre of the room, while Janira stands beside him. She smirks to herself at his weird antics but does not comment.
“Welcome! Welcome, my students! Please, have a seat!” With that, Kreighton Shaine nimbly drops down to sit cross-legged on the table before looking 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 an excitable 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 humming to himself.
Janira grins at the departing back of Kreighton Shane, looking at you with a knowing smile. "So, do you have any questions before I get into the mission briefing proper?"
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"Ummm do we get to have breakfast first?" Luurg's stomach rumbles loudly to second that motion. "My brain and belly work as one, and right now da belly is on strike!" Luurg hollers over at the sleepy attendant to order. "I needs some breakfust so snap outta yer sleepies kid! Crispy taters wid unjins, crispy pork bellies, and 'tree eggs wid the middles still runnin'. Gut dat? Gud." He pulls out a gold piece to help speed up the process. "And 2 ales!" He hollers as the kid heads out.
Luurg then turns back to Janira. "Ello again Janira. I 'member you... from dat bar! Da wine bar! Selima didn't come wid us dis time, she seemed busy and wandered off to play wid Kiddy." Luurg rubs his groaning belly and looks back towards the kitchen in hopes of hearing some action. "Oh, what's a Gillman? And dees caves sound like fun. Dey wet and dark right? Prolly gut sum buggies in em!"
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Bishop tries to follow the garble that comes out of the orc's mouth as the Master of Scrolls leaves and his assistant takes over.
Back to Kortos? Oh $#/+*% that means back on the ship again Fighting the need to flee Bishop looks straight at the halfling, "What's the plan to get to Kortos? And are these gillman dangerous? When do we leave? And these caves anything you suggest bringing?" Bishop hears Luurg's stomach echo throughout the tavern and wonders just how much this orc can eat. I wonder if he eats dwarves?
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After the Master of Scrolls leaves, she says to the serving boy, "I'll have the same as my half-orc friend here, except the ale. Coffee if you have it."
At least caves sound like it's outside the city.
"I'm ready for the briefing. I'd like to know more about the gillmen, and what we might find in the caves."
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Stomach growling, he looked over at the serving boy. "Bring me some bread smothered in butter."
With his breakfast ordered, Jerrid casually looked at each member of the group before addressing Janira. "Never seen a gillman before. But if the tavern stories I have heard about them, this adventure will involve water. Good thing I'm a good swimmer."
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"Oh yes, yes, breakfast first. I'm starving, too. Master Shane tends to forgot things like eating." Janira giggles as she says this, and waves the serving boy over.
The serving boy scurries over to the table and takes everyone's orders. "Unjins?" he mutters sleepily under his breath. "Oh, onions." Without writing down your orders, the boy seems to remember you orders and he retreats back to the kitchen, continuing to mutter under his breath. "Now I have wake Jhon to cook. He's going to be all grouchy."
The first order of business taken care of, the party starts peppering Janira with questions. Rather than appear annoyed, she smiles, glad that you are all keen to learn. "Don't worry Damiel, let me share what I know."
"Alright, first the gillmen. They are a humanoid race much like humans save for the three piscine gills on both sides of their necks. They’re a little secretive but I don't think they would be dangerous. They are not known to be outright violent or hostile. Most live in or near the water. Hence, why they’re venturing into the foothills of the Kortos Mounts is a mystery, a mystery that we would uncover." She smiles here at the prospect.
"Unfortunately, I didn't manage to explore much of the caves. After my confirmation task was completed, I had to return to Absalom urgently ro report, and the cave system seemed quite extensive.”
Turning to Bishop, she continues, "Yes, you're thinking like a good Pathfinder. Not knowing what exactly we would face, we must always be prepared. Like when Lillian Margulis entered the ancient Azlanti dungeons, if not for her ball of yarn stashed at the bottom of her pack, she would have become irrevocably lost in the maze. For us, however, I think basic common adventuring gear would so, such as ropes, light sources, food, water and ways to make fire. Definitely make sure you are well-armed as we do not know what we would encounter. Both melee and ranged weapons, depending on the situation. If possible, also have a mix of blunt, slashing and stabbing weapons as some monsters are resistant to different types of weapons. And if possible, sources of healing, antitoxins and alchemist’s fire, in case of swarms, would be useful if you have the gold to spare. If you need additional gear, we can make last minute purchases on our way out of the city."
Janira then pulls out a large leather-bound journal and opens it on the table. “Before we set out, we should all get to know each other and review our plan. After all, the most important factors that determine whether an expedition will be a success are cooperation and preparation! I’ll go first!”
"My name is Janira Garvix, but I've said that already. I joined the Pathfinder Society nearly 4 years ago after coming of age, and as Kreighton shared, was confirmed a few months ago. I'm the oldest of seven children, and I missed being big sister to them. I grew up in Eastgate, where my father still works as a porter. He drives a a dog cart to transport purchased goods from ships and shops to the homes of customers. I enlisted with the Pathfinder Society initially to see the world. I think Desna must have infected me with a wandering bug. But once in, I quickly took to the Scrolls and its focus on learning and
preserving knowledge. I hope one day to publish one of my works in the Pathfinder Chronicles and be one of the esteemed Pathfinder Chronicler." She shares all this with great sincerity and earnestness.
She then turns to you. "How about you? Share with us a bit about yourself. And why did you join the Pathfinder Society? Have you had any field commissions so far?"
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Luurg looks around at the group at the table and after no one else speaks up he looks towards the kitchen, shrugs his shoulders, and begins "Umm, like I said bafore, I'm Luurg." He pronounces it with a very long drawn out uuuurrggg, in a very deep booming voice. "I been 'round dis island long as I can 'member. I like long walks on da beach, mostly to get coconuts and tasty crabs. I like boats, dey full of neat stuff, mostly when dey is sunk. Less people around to get mad when you visit a sunk boat at night den a floatin boat."
Luurg rubs his gut and glances again towards the kitchen expectantly and continues "Umm just gut back from da jungle huntin tiger and monkeys and esplorin old ruins. Luurg a big fan of jungles and huntin! Oh, and bossman here, er.. was just here... had me help get him sum wine a while back..." Luurg's nose starts sniffing towards the cooking food and his story trails off there.
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Jerrid scratched his chin, "I hate to admit this, but I know little about outside of the city even though I grew up here."
He then smiled at everyone before introducing himself, "I am Jerrid. I grew up here. My family owns a small tavern where I actually learned how to fight from the local street fighters. I've only recently joined the Pathfinder Society and this will be my first adventure. I must say, I'm really excited and hope we all get along."
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"Not a lot to say here I only graduated from the Society about two weeks ago or at least I thought I had since they threw me into an assignment with a bunch of veterans minus our loquacious priestess over there. Seems this is to be my Confirmation guess the Society likes to keep us on our toes at all times. But that says little about who I am.
As you might have overheard my name is Bishop. Others call me The Dark Augur. Odd name for a Garundi but I was born under the auspice of Desna, found clutching the bosom of my dying mother near the sands of Katapesh, by pilgrim who miracouosly heard my wails during the night.
I traveled with those pilgrims and was raised as one of Mother Moon's disciples since then. I have not traveled much more than Katapesh and Osirian but almost two years ago found myself sailing here after Desna herself spoke to me in a dream bidding to seek my true purpose here in Absalom. I did not know if the dream was true or if I had drunk sour camel milk. But again I was visited by Mother Moon two nights later with the same dream, so I left the people who had been my family and found myself in this magnificent city. It was only when I overheard some other travelers at the pier speaking of the Society that I inquired and was accepted as an initiate clearly by Desna's blessings." Bishop sits back and folds his hands together clearly done with his tale he waits to hear the others.
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Damiel hesitates to answer at first, but upon hearing everyone's comments, he releases his tension and in turn replies, "Guess you could call me Damiel, just came out of alchemy school, apparently I've got an attitude problem, so here I am, apparently this would make me a better person, this society. I'm just hoping I don't die."
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Janira interjects from time to time to comment on your sharing, but does not stop the flow.
"Oh, and bossman here, er.. was just here... had me help get him sum wine a while back..."
"Bossman? Oh, you must mean Captain Dreng! Oh yes, he loves sending new Pathfinders on miscellaneous collecting and delivering quests..."
"I must say, I'm really excited and hope we all get along."
"Of course! That's one of the tenent of the Society! Explore, Report, Cooperate!"
"Not a lot to say here I only graduated from the Society about two weeks ago or at least I thought I had since they threw me into an assignment with a bunch of veterans minus our loquacious priestess over there. Seems this is to be my Confirmation guess the Society likes to keep us on our toes at all times."
"Hmm, I see. Yes, for some Pathfinders, the entire initiation takes 3 years before they undergo Confirmation. For the more promising ones, though, they undergo field commissions to assess their readiness for Confirmation. One way or another, the Venture Captains must have found you ready and so, here you are!"
"I'm just hoping I don't die."
Janira bursts out laughing in her musical voice. "Well, I certainly hope not, too! Well, that's my job, to keep all of you alive." She grins as she turns to Einn and Begrilda. "How about you?"
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"Oh it was love that brought me into the folds of the Pathfinder Society. A brave and might young warrior called Gallix stole my heart with his charm, and I gained his hand in betrothal by my charms."
She is not telling the whole truth, and you suspect that she was speaking very literally of her "charms." Probably referring to some kind of magic.
It's a funny thing, though, I haven't seen him since that night that we met and were engaged. I've been looking for him everywhere. Mr. 'Dark Augur' here was there when I traveled to Diobel with my dear Gallix's team of Pathfinders, the Red Arm of Absalom. You may have heard of them. They're kind of a big deal." She pauses in her story to wave to he serving boy and order a cup of tea, then launches back into her story. "Anyway, it would seem my love returned from his recent assignment in Jalmeray just when I was summoned here. That's just the way of it with love, though, isn't it? We must always wait for the time when the blessed maiden Bolka unites us in unending, blissful marriage. Oh! Did I mention? I'm an initiate in Bolka's Chapel. I provide rest for the weary and healing for those pained by battle, or far worse, those whose hearts are pierced by unrequited love."
Begrilda gives the waiter a cutesy "Thank you" as he brings her tea. She takes a delicate sip and looks around at the others. "I should also say, I don't know much about these gilly-men that Mr. Dreng mentioned, and I haven't really traveled far outside of the city. Aside from the occasional picnic of course! Miss Gavix, do you suppose there's some sort of danger down in those caves? Is that why we're following the gilly-men in there?"
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Bishop has spent enough time around Begrilda to know to tune out whenever she speaks about Gallix but when she retells her tale to the others there is something about it that does not sit well with him.
That little jackal! I bet she charmed him! he almost interrupts her but then decides that this information might be precious to use against the little jackal. He smiles and nods as she continues to talk about her past. Oh I have you now most righteous priestess.
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Luurg half listens to the group tell their stories around the table, but mostly he's distracted with the smells of food beginning to waft from the kitchen. Seeing others perking up to the smells he offers up some fresh fruit to everyone. "Anyone want some fruit? Gud stuff! Brought back from Jungle! Not find 'round here, super foods! Grow you big and strong."
Luurg especially pushes the jungle fruits on Bishop. "You must like deez right? From homeland? At least you have the look of the jungle people... dark skin." Either way, Luurg lays out a couple of bananas and some mangoes for anyone to try before he turns to the dwarven woman.
"So you gonna marry Gallix? If you gonna marry den why you not see him since you charmed him? Yer 'charms' look big nuff to me. You not nuff fun fer him in the moss and he change his mind? You must need more practice, men need lots of good fun time in da moss else just not worth finding all dat extra foods."
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"So you gonna marry Gallix? If you gonna marry den why you not see him since you charmed him? Yer 'charms' look big nuff to me. You not nuff fun fer him in the moss and he change his mind? You must need more practice, men need lots of good fun time in da moss else just not worth finding all dat extra foods."
Begrilda begins to reach for one of the strange, unfamiliar jungle fruits, but nearly falls out of her chair when Luurg asks her about why Gallix left. She fusses and straightens her gown for a moment and splutters out an indignant reply, "Wha...I...ah...that is..." She lets out a *huff* of embarrassed fury, her face turning a deep crimson, then carries on, "Why I never! I would never be... 'in the moss' with a man until we were officially wed! The shame of such talk. As for why I haven't seen him, I assure you I don't know. He is a great Pathfinder, so perhaps the Venture Captains have been relying on his services in their most important missions. Yes, that must be it. Otherwise he would surely come straight back to me and marry me right away." She gives one final *huff*, glares at the crass half-orc with his belt of bananas, and resumes sipping at her tea cup, which rattles in its saucer every time she sets it down as her hands tremble with nervous energy.
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"Why I never! I would never be... 'in the moss' with a man until we were officially wed! The shame of such talk."
Luurg gets a quizzical look on his face at Begrilda getting upset. "You dwarfs odd. How you know you gonna take wife if you not tried her out yet? You buy spear before you pick it up, throw it sum? Buy mule dat you not know it carry nuff stuff? Buy armor dat no fit gud?" Sounds like he's going to go on and on but luckily the food arrives and he gets distracted.
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Jerrid took one of the mangoes to try while he looked at Luurg and Begrilda, but wisely decided to remain silent about their exchange.
He took a bite out of the mango and smiled with surprise, "This is good. I can see a market for this. Wonder if you could make a juice out of this. Wouldn't need to add anything to sweeten it. Should tell my sister, it would be good to add the tavern's menu."
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In the midst of all the chatter, the half elf clearly lost interest at some point as he starts dozing off."zzz....zzz..." He's chair starts leaning further and further back to a point where he loses balance and does a funny jig so he does not fall. Trying to recover himself, he stands up and does another funny jig, "Janira! Janira! Shall we move? We need to help our allies find the lost fruit."
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Janira raises her eyebrows on hearing Belgrida’s sharing, but wisely chooses to remain silent. Unfortunately, that does not seem the case for the rest of the party. Janira starts to stand up to mediate between Belgrida and Luurg, but just then the serving boy starts arriving with the food, distracting Luurg at least.
He took a bite out of the mango and smiled with surprise, "This is good. I can see a market for this. Wonder if you could make a juice out of this. Wouldn't need to add anything to sweeten it. Should tell my sister, it would be good to add the tavern's menu."
Janira winks at Jerrid, thanking him for changing the topic. Just then…
"Janira! Janira! Shall we move? We need to help our allies find the lost fruit."
”What? What fruit?” Janira exclaims in confusion, turning to Damiel. Quickly realising that he has been dozing off, she teases him, ”Damiel, haven’t you been listening?”
As the party digs into the greasy and overcooked food, Janira turns to Einn. ”Einn? Oh, when you’re ready.”
“Let me get on to the details of the mission at hand,” Janira says with an eager grin. “After reviewing my mission reports personally, Master Shaine believes it is no coincidence that each time they entered the caves it was during a full moon, so it is also no coincidence that you have been called here now, just a day before the moon is full again. We both believe that tomorrow night is our best chance to find out why these caves are important and what exactly the gillmen are doing in there.”
“The caves we’ll be travelling to lie under the base of the Kortos Mounts. We’ll need to spend every minute of daylight possible to reach the caves by foot, crossing over the Cairnlands, taking the paths to Diobel, and finally making our way through the wilderness. With any luck we won’t run into any of the local inhabitants. Once in the caves, we’ll need to work together to explore and determine whether any gillman are present or have been recently. Keep an eye out for any other clues that might hint at the caves’ significance, too.”
”We’ll pick up any final supplies that you need on our way out of the city. Do you have any questions before we set off? I mean, after breakfast, that is.”
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Begrilda looks gratefully at Janira as she finally sets their attentions back on the mission at hand. I really must watch my big mouth when I tell people about Gallix and I. They just don't understand how true our love is!
"I'm also ready to leave when we have finished here, Miss Gavix. I fear I may have lost my appetite, though." She shoots another glance at Luurg, who is munching and slurping loudly as he shovels fruits and other assorted treats into his mouth between gulps of ale.
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A loud belch echos through the establishment, waking any dozing patrons. "Dis good stuff right here. Crispy best way for pig belly and taters. Oh ya... the missions I'd done bafore someone writes down stuff on what we find, bossman tells me I no do that job, I'm not really sure why not but I don't mind anyone else do it?" He then wipes his hands on his filthy pants and begins picking the bacon bits out of his teeth with a flashy looking dagger.
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Bishop feasts on the food especially the fruit that Luurg offers to the group. "Tasty and sweet. Where did you find these fruits. I would agree a juice of some sort would be great addition to any after meal" he looks at Begrilda who is picking at her food.
She had it coming. Calling me a thief well how does it feel now? At least I don't steal away a person's will. At least the orc has her ire now I should get a couple moments of peace.
"I'm ready any time everyone else is." he takes a couple more bites of the food in front of. Having been a galley slave for so many years he knew better than to let good food go to waste.
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Einn had been sitting quietly waiting for breakfast to arrive. She's lost in thought as the others are talking about their adventures Kortos Mounts, Kortos Mounts? What do I know about the Kortos Mounts? She starts suddenly and asks, "Is the way to the caves clear of the centaurs, harpies and minotaurs who fight for territory? Should we prepare for them in addition to spelunking?
I need to buy some things, rope, a lantern and a few other things. My first and only mission took me to Korvosa, and a very scary Harrow Reading not into caves or wilderness."
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"Wait... Did she just say full moon? Doesn't that mean... I mean, you know... werewolfs... fullmoon... lycantrophy. Maybe this mission isn't for me. I'm having second thoughts." Damiel says hysterically panicking, sweating profusely, while all this grabbing one of the magical fruit that Luurg brought it.
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Luurg nods at Jerrid "Real gud eh? If yer sister like em and want more... I know a guy."
Once the briefing seems to be wrapping up "So ummm where we gunna meet to go? How 'bout right outside city.. north gate ok? See you dare." With that Luurg hustles out of the Paunch.
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What's wrong with that half elf? He's been jittery ever since sat at the table. Probably drinking too much of his concoctions. Hope he doesn't turn out like that crazy Lazlo.
"Damiel you seem quite flustered. What of these were creatures? Never heard of the like before? Hmm maybe those stories of a child of jackals who looked like men. But anyhow why do you think that these creatures are going to be anywhere near us?"
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Begrilda sits bolt-upright as she sees Luurg motion towards her and as she notices the half-orc's lack of payment for his order. "Why that filthy..." She stands from the table and fishes around in her belt pouch for some silvers to throw on the table as payment. "It was nice meeting you all," she says, obviously in a fuss over her maltreatment by Luurg. "As our beastly companion suggested, I shall meet you all outside the north gate of the city. See you shortly." With that, she begins to walk briskly out of the tavern. As the door closes, you hear a shout from outside the window,
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"Is the way to the caves clear of the centaurs, harpies and minotaurs who fight for territory? Should we prepare for them in addition to spelunking?"
"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. We will travel light and travel fast, and with some of Desna's luck, we should be able to avoid them and reach the caves without conflict."""Wait... Did she just say full moon? Doesn't that mean... I mean, you know... werewolfs... fullmoon... lycantrophy. Maybe this mission isn't for me. I'm having second thoughts."
"Damiel you seem quite flustered. What of these were creatures? Never heard of the like before? Hmm maybe those stories of a child of jackals who looked like men. But anyhow why do you think that these creatures are going to be anywhere near us?"
Janira smiles reassuringly, and pats Damiel's shoulder to comfort him. "Don't worry Damiel. Yes, werewolves real and are associated with full moon. But they are unheard of on the isle of Kortos, and gillmen are also not known to be associated with lycanthropy. I know a first real mission can be scary, but learn Werlina Mori, who cast aside her fears to face down the threat of zombies in Diobel, saving countless lives in the process."
Just as the party cleans up their plates (or in Luurg's case, licks up), suddenly Luurg and Begrilda dashes out the door. "Wait!" Janira calls out. "We're going out by the West Gate!" By then, however, the two of them are out of earshot. "Sigh, come on guys. Let's go meet them at the North Gate." With that, Janira gathers up her things and motions for the rest of the party to follow.