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Hi all..
So are you new to PbP's? Read this: Painlord's Guide to PbP
We will begin posting once I have a player quorum. Hopefully Wed/Thursday.
All out of character discussions should be brought to the "Discussion" tab. Gameplay only here. :)
Questions? Let me know.
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Introduction
The summer days have finally arrived on the island. Not that it truly never left the land I have known for many years. It seems quite an amazement that after all this time, I am still invisible to many that at one point, hunted me down and wanted nothing more than my head. But I have been watching them. For many months now I have seen their movements and the many desires and thoughts. Their plans and their defenses. Soon it will be time to strike and bring forth the vengeance that I have so longed for.
At the same time, I long for my sister and my love. The world was different then. I was an established woman. A distinguished woman. The world I knew was perfect. Living in Westcrown with my beloved were some of the happiest days of my life. The rose gardens were always lush and full of life. My love and I would spend hours there, many days talking about the new adventures from the Chronicles, and many days just sitting in silence, taking in the great scenes of the world around us. Time just ebbed and flowed like the rivers and fountains that surrounded our home.
But in one instance, that all turned to dust. My sister, and then my love, on a routine mission was ambushed and murdered by villians. I made it a mission then, to seek out the ones who were responsible for their deaths. When I discovered, that it was by the hands of the same organizations that we had both come to love, the truth became almost unbearable for me. How could I go on after such a terrible thing had happened? Why did it happen?
So I took my vengeance on the man responsible for their deaths. His death was quick and violent. Fueling in me the final justice that I had longed for. Knowing that from that day forward, I would be shunned from the world I once knew. The roses for me, all turned to black that day, and there was no looking back. The roses, transformed into serpents that I chose to then follow. I discovered the truth the more and more I took the serpent’s paths. The ones we once read about in the Chronicles, were responsible for the deaths of my loved ones. And only the path of the serpents was going to bring the final resolution that I desired. The complete destruction of the Chronicles, and the rise of the Serpents.
So as I travel across the land, the sun beats on me like a whip on an indentured slave. It’s not surprising, but more or less unfortunate. Just a few days ago the cooler shores of Absalom were more fitting for my disposition, but now the sand and heat just remind me of the mission. I had to be ready, and prepared, for the needs of my path that was about to show itself to me. The path of retribution, of recognition, of justice.
Be with me my love, as I complete the mission you were once given.
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15th of Sarenith, 4715
It’s another summer day on the grounds of Skyreach, the home of the Pathfinder Society. As always, you are summoned to the office of Ambrus Valsin. His office lobby is a little cleaner than you are used to seeing in the past. The events surrounding the most recent convocation still fresh in many of the Pathfinders’ mind, you take your seat and you wait for him to arrive.
As a clock chimes noon, Ambrus Valsin opens the door to admit all of you, then resumes his seat next to a grey-eyed woman wearing the robes of an academic. “Please seat yourselves quickly so we can begin."
"This is Lady Darchana Madinani, archdean of Absalom’s premier school of the arcane, the Arcanamirium. She’s has come to the Pathfinder Society on delicate business.”
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As the Venture-Captain enters, he sees a small greyish figure sitting quietly in the corner, apparently playing a small flute carved from bone that emits no sound. He looks like a dark-skinned gnome, with strange spiral patterns of raised white dots on his face and arms and the unnatural tendency to disappear when a shadow crosses him. A good-sized pack sits by his chair, with a small bow and quiver of arrows leaned against it. The creature follows the Venture-Captain into the office wordlessly.
Inside the office:
The grey creature stands and nods to the Venture-Captain, his head barely clearing the piles of paper on Valsin's desk. He then turns and bows to the woman. "Greetings, Lady Madinani. This one is called Fensyriath Orochi... Fen, is sufficient. This one is honored to meet that one... you. To meet you." Fen sits again, seemingly embarrassed at his non-mastery of Taldane grammar.
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An Elf wearing a Tabard of the Open Road over a Mithral Chain Shirt enters the room, the slightest skip in his step. He bows flamboyantly and gazes at everyone in the room with an almost childlike sense of wonder.
"Ah! Yes, greetings! It is a pleasure to meet you all."
He continues to stand there in awkward silence, not having introduced himself yet. Upon noticing the pause, and tapping his chin in contemplation, he continues.
"Wonderful weather we're having, isn't it? Oh, any my name. I am Elay Silverhair," he bows absentmindedly, as if forgetting he'd just done the same motion a moment ago, "I am personal scribe to the esteemed Master of Scrolls, Kreighton Shaine, and one of his star pupils! You've probably seen me around the Lodge. Much scribing to be..."
Noticing the Wayang, he interrupts himself, "Oh! You there! Why, are you from the Tapestry? I was recently part of a group that liberated several of your kind. Well, either way, it is a pleasure to meet you! My name is Elay Silverhair."
The elf has obviously lost his mind.
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Fen regards the spritely newcomer with a single raised eyebrow. When it is clear the elf is done speaking, Fen nods. "This one welcomes you, Elaysil Verhair," he responds, butchering the sylibification of the elf's name. "This one is not from the Dark Tapestry, and is surprised why you would believe so. Does Elaysil Verhair know differences in betwen the Shadow Plane and the Dark Tapestry, this one wonders?"
Inner monologue:
Typical... He knows nothing of us. Stupid giants know no things about us at all.
Give it a chance. Elves are flighty. It is a Pathfinder, after all.
Yes, a Pathfinder, we will give him a chance.
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The elf tilts his chin and looks upward, as if looking for his thoughts on the ceiling.
"Hmm? No? The Tapestry isn't all that dark... I'd describe its colors as diverse as... a map!" He points to a nearby piece of wall art (not a map).
"And oh! The Shadow Plane! Rather drab place, actually. I've been there. Did you know? There's an entire "Shadow Absalom" all around us!" He spins in a couple circles, arms outstretched.
He then pauses. And looks at everyone with a childlike sense of wonder.
"Lady Madinani, will Jemina be serving tea again this morning? That was an absolutely splendid treat last time," and without skipping a beat, "Sorry that the Ratfolk ate your Koi."
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Lady Madinani looks at Elay with a look of humor but then seriously replies, "Unfortunately Master Silverhair, this time I will not be able to extend hospitality. Not because I wish to be rude, but more that time is of the essence as to what I am requesting."
“As Second Spell Lord of Absalom, I continually investigate magical attempts to attack our home. The Pathfinder Society recently aided one of my investigations by capturing a disguised Okeno slave ship used for several months to transport various unfortunates to Absalom for sale as slaves to the city’s noble families. Normally this would be legal, yet it seems someone has marked each of these slaves for use as divination foci. I can’t ignore the threat posed by such an insidious spy network. With the capture of that ship, we’re now in an excellent position to strike back at the hidden mastermind behind the slave-scrying.
She looks at the small assembled party before she continues. “Know that I do not come to the Pathfinder Society lightly. I am taking on a calculated political risk by asking you to handle this investigation for me. But my long friendship with your master of spells Aram Zey has given me confidence in the abilities—and discretion—of Pathfinder agents."
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A golden-haired gnome runs into the room, skidding to a halt as he sees the assemblage. He seems to be sprouting scrolls, pens, and other calligraphic instruments from every available pocket.
He bows to Lady Madinani. "Terribly sorry for my tardiness. Short legs sometimes get me behind the clock instead of ahead of it."
To Elay, in Elvish, "Have I missed anything, sir knight?" To Fensyriath, in Wayang, "Greetings to you, brother Pathfinder. Well met!"
"Pardon again, my manners seem to be trailing my arrival. I am Derizione, a humble scholar of the Dar...the archives." Derizione seats himself, and proceeds to absently doodle on a scrap of parchment.
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Derezone takes his seat as Lady Madinani waves her hand towards the door to close it. Ambrus on the other hand does not look very pleased with a latecomer, but stays stern as he looks at Lady Madinani. The lady stands as she continues her briefing:
“Using my own spells, I acquired an image of the slaver: a humanoid woman wearing a heavy veil and peering into a mirror. Her clothing is common in Kelish fashion, and I could sense her location was somewhere underground on Stonespine Island.
“Although we could pursue conventional means of tracking down the slavers, I have taken measures to ensure our quarry does not see you coming, and I would appreciate a similar effort from you. I propose disguising yourselves either as slaves for sale or possibly the slavers selling them."
"If successful, you need only allow our enemy’s agents to escort you to their hidden stronghold. Once inside, it should be a modest challenge for you to escape and take their leader by surprise.”
Lady Darchana pauses for emphasis.
“Your goals are to capture the veiled spymaster and to bring the scrying mirror I observed back to Absalom for further study. If the spymaster dies before she is brought here, that would be regrettable but also understandable.”
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A tall man, clearly a Shoanti, walks into the room. "Apologies Chief Valsin" he says curtly as he finds his place to sit. he is a tower of a man bald and covered in the tattoos of his people. he carries a traditional shoanti earth breakers that seems to crackle with electricity as he holds it. he looks around at each of his companions in turn to size them up.
"My blood ignites for the dishonorable actions of this veiled harlot. my fellow Finders Of The Path, I am Wahkoowah Otaktay. you may call me Charging Bear in the common tongue. We may need my strength and my hammer for this mission but until then I will do my best to blend in with the filth that is slavers... I will rely on your judgement until that time" He continues to grip his earth breaker, holding it close at all time.
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Fen nods to each of the newcomers, repeating their name and introducing himself in turn.
To Elaysil Verhair: "Ah, that one speaks of a different Tapestry. This one forgives your insult, as it was not meant. Also, that one is an elf and cannot be expected to recognize feelings of these ones."
To Derizione, in Wayang: "Well met to you! I see you speak my language; how you learned it must be an interesting story. Did you have a teacher, or was it purely book research? Your accent is impeccable."
To Lady Madinani: "This one has spent enough time as a slave to know it is... undesirable. Is this the only way in? Might not stealth be a useful option?"
Fen tries to recall anything he knows about Stonespire island beyond its location on a map.
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With a matching grin, to Elay, "Ή ένα καλό αυτί."
To Fensyriath, in Wayang: "You're very kind to say. And a bit of both; I spent time among your people in my...youth, let's say. While my time there wasn't entirely my idea, I did take the time to learn as much of the language as I could. I kept up my studies after applying to the Pathfinders."
To Charging Bear: "Well met, brother Pathfinder. My apologies for not greeting you in your own language, but I fear my mastery of it is not complete. I would not insult you by butchering it. I look forward to practising it with you, however, on what is shaping up to be a quite interesting adventure."
Turning back to Valsin and Lady Madinani. "Fensyriath raises a valid point. If we mean to be effective we will need our equipment. As slavers I see that happening, as slaves it might prove..." Derizione eyes Charging Bear's earthbreaker, snapping with tiny electrical arcs. "Problematic? Between slaver and enslaved, stealth might be the better option."
Derizione also tries to recall anything he might have heard about Stonespire Island.
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The Shoanti man clearly did not understand what the elf said, but her furrows his brow and scowls at the mention of Thassilon. He then quickly looks to the wayang and says," you are the first of your kind I have met in my travels as a finder of the path. Where is this 'shadow plane' you speak of? Is it near the rolling the plains of varisia or the tall cliffs of the storval steps?"
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"Greetings, Wahkoowah Otaktay. 'May your spirit guide you'. The Plane of Shadows is all around these ones. Not in the spaces these ones can see, but between them. Shadow Absalom is like this place, but unlike. Darker, different... but here just the same. This one's ancestors came from there, long ago, escaping... wrongness." Fen settles into an uncomfortable silence.
You are talkative, today, aren't you, Fen? Why don't you tell them all the rest?
No.
Are you afraid to? Afraid of what they'll think, or of what they'll do?
Yes. Now be quiet.
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To Derizone: "Unalihelitseti unalii. My spirit will soar to be able to use my native tongue. I welcome your conversation. I too fear my size and appearance will be hard to disquise as a slave. Perhaps it would be wiser for me to pose as a slavers bodyguard."
to Fen: " My people have had to flee for the wrongness of others in the past as well. Perhaps we are not a different as we appear' He says as he tips his head in acknowledgement of Fens explanation of the shadow plane.
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“Before you get too concerned,” Ambrus adds quickly, “it isn’t the Society’s practice to sell our field agents into slavery. We’re sending you with a reliable cover story and a magical edge we can discuss in a moment. This isn’t just because it’s a dangerous assignment; we also found the name ‘Muhlia’ associated with the captured Okeno ship. It’s not a common name, but if haven’t kept up with recent history, I can understand why you may not remember her. Pasha Muhlia al’Jakri was an associate of ours who represented Qadira’s interests to the Pathfinder Society. Three years ago, she departed following very ugly circumstances in Taldor and hasn’t been seen since. If it’s true that she’s building a spy network in Absalom, we need to head off the threat she poses to the society before she can strike.”
We have considered other options,” Lady Madinani chimes in “but posing as slaves gives you the best chance of taking the spymaster we seek by surprise. Besides, if you fail, we have every reason to believe you’ll simply be shipped back to Absalom where it’s convenient to retrieve you.”
“We do have a detailed report from Rilla, a Pathfinder who spent some time as a prisoner of our enemies.”Ambrus chimes in again. “Rilla remembers being separated from the other Pathfinders while in Katapesh, taken to Okeno, then marched inland to a little fort with a lot of gnolls. The gnolls deferred to a humanoid woman who always wore a heavy veil that concealed her head and face. At least once, the veiled woman used surgical tools to take some of Rilla’s blood. Rilla vaguely recalls lessons on how to serve multi-course meals and help nobles into and out of fancy clothes. When the veiled woman was satisfied with Rilla’s progress, the gnolls marched her and several other slaves back to Okeno and put her on a ship bound for Absalom called the Kat Season.”
“The gnolls tend to nap or just relax during the day, trying to avoid being given chores. At night, they’re more active and alert, and usually several of them leave the fort to go hunting. Rilla wished she could help us more, but her memory of the last few months is hazy. We found and removed a curse placed on her to weaken her resistance to divination, which may also explain this memory issue.”
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Charging Bear glances up as it to try and remember something, "I have not encountered gnolls in my travels but have heard they are bestial men not accepted in what the Taldans have called 'acceptable society'. is this Okeno a dangerous place?" he places the question mostly to the venture captain but also glances at his companions to see if they know.
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Fen considers the news carefully.
"Gnolls are like man and hyena," he responds to the Shoanti. "Slavers, and lazy. It is unlikely those will follow a human female leader unless that leader is exceptionally strong."
"This one does not feel being a slave is a wise disguise," he continues. "While the Lady may be certain these ones will be 'shipped back to Absalom' in case of failure, this one is not so certain. Gnolls often eat captives, especially ones that fight back. This one still feels that stealth is our best option. Sail to this 'Okeno', and pose as slavers in order to find the inland fort. Then travel there, reconnoiter the place in stealth, and strike with surprise and stealth."
Apparently assuming the group accepts his wise course of action, Fen looks at the group. "Human ones will need magical means to see in the dark, and noisy ones will need magical aid for sneaking. And all of these will need a ship."
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As Charging Bear asks his question a knock comes at the door.
"Ah, well, that's where Ophelia comes in." As the door opens to reveal a human Qadiran noblewoman dressed in rich crimson cleric vestments, carrying an array of scrolls in her hands. Around her neck, is an ornate gold and ruby holy symbol of Sarenrae. Specializing in the southern regions history, religions and geography, as a whole, Ophelia is the foremost expert on much of the day to day life and history of the organization south of Absalom.
"Ophelia," Ambrus says quickly. "I believe you are aware of the situation".
"Of course, sir," she says as she pulls out a map of Stonespine Island.
"So as all of you know, Stonespine Island is just off the coast of Katapesh. While it is technically under the legal rule of Katapesh, there are really only two groups that run the island: Pirates and Gnolls. The island many times has been used as a sheltered place for pirates to rest, get provisions, and hide from retribution from hostile nations. To this day, pirates needing to lay low for a while head inland on the island, its rocky foothills and jagged peaks providing countless hiding places. Before that, the island saw only brief action when Qadira the dervishes on the island before fighting their way across the ocean to invade Katapesh. It's main capital is Okeno, where what few laws exist, are upheld with iron fists."
"I advise you, use caution with the Gnolls just as much as you would the pirates of the land. Gnolls hyena-like in nature, but stand on two feet as normal humans would. They are cruel and tend to keep packs of hyenas as pets. Gnolls love hunting but try to make slaves do everything else for them. Gnolls are primarily nocturnal, typically worship Lamashtu, and are known to kill and eat sentient creatures. They’re known for using flail-like weapons called flindbars."
"It is the month of Sarenith, so it will be hot, humid, and unyielding. You will want to travel with as light as possible. If Master Valsin is correct, they will take you out into the plains away from Okeno. Out there, there is little water and little relief from the heat. But the nights out there will chill you to the bone."
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These were my Knowledge check results
Elay taps his chin in thought, still humming.
"I am neither terrible at skulking nor good at disguise, so either works equally splendidly for me. Gnomes are notoriously poor slaves, as are my kind. But Wayangs are rather sought after. Humans, as well. It really is a two way split. Much as two berries plucked from the same branch. Ah, and now I'm hungry..."
He resumes his humming.
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Ambrus nods at all the additional input from the members. "Ophelia."
“Sir." she nods and turns back to the party. "Muhlia is a resourceful negotiator and agent who was known for nursing grudges even before she disappeared. It is said, that she was the murderer of the Baron Jaqcuo Dalsine, a former member of the Pathfinder Society and then, a member of the Shadow Lodge. This in turn not only began the deep turn over of the Shadow Lodge, but the eventual turn of events that brought the death of both Algorn and Tancred Desmire."
"Over the past several years, her name has appeared documents recovered from Aspis Consortium operations. We believe she may have had a close connection to the Desimire brothers Aglorn and Tancred, both associated with the Consortium and were slain during conflicts with the Society. Muhlia favors deception and ambushes, so be on your guard. If the recent intelligence proves to be correct, then this is not a good turn of events for our society.”
The party begins to murmur more about plans for the trip, and what to do with their items. Noticing their personal distractions, Ophelia looks at Master Valsin. "Perhaps Master Valsin, it's time we share with the party what we're going to do to make their trip a little easier?"
Ambrus Valsin excitedly rubs his hands together as a proud grin cracks his businesslike expression. “Thought no one would ever ask!" He says with an almost eree pep in his step. "I’ve brought one of our experiments out of development for a field test,” he explains while planting a boot on an unremarkable red cedar chest.
"This is a magic chest warded in much the same way as our craftspeople sometimes enchant small pouches. From the outside, it’s nonmagical and holds whatever you put in it as expected. However if you speak the right command word before it’s opened, it instead accesses a secret, extradimensional space that can hold several hundred pounds of gear. It’s yours to use on this trip and should help smuggle most of your gear through Okeno. The forged paperwork we’re sending with you notes the chest is part of the shipment.”
"The Seekers of the Pathfinder Society, have been developing this chest for six months now." Ophelia interjects. "We expect this chest back and in working condition when returned to us.
Valsin demonstrates the chest’s use and command word. “Anything else you want to bring needs to be something you can hide on your person and keep hidden.”
Lady Darchana nods her approval and adds, “I can also shrink one essential tool or weapon for each of you. It should provide you enough of an edge in breaking out and recovering the rest of your gear. Choose wisely, as only one item can go in, and the rest must go into chest.”
"We will let you choose what you wish to be. Do you choose to be slavers or the slaves?" Master Valsin says as he rises from his desk.
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"I have some skill in disguises if that is necessary, and I can pick up supplies before we go to aid in that. I'm also certain I can draw on my experience with some of the unsavoury people of my time in Cheliax, well enough to play a slaver." Derizione begins making a list of make-up and other supplies. "Slaver or slave, I can help the disguise either way. As for shrinking an object..." He thinks for a moment, then grins. "My voice stays with me, so I'm always 'armed' as it were. Perhaps I'll take this with me, however", he says, drawing out a slender wand, "It will give us a little extra "oomph""
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at the mention of such a short man being a slaver, "HA-HAHA if you were a slaver you would need someone like me to protect you" he chuckles.
he looks to Lady Darchana " I will not be shrinking my hammer but gratitude for the offer fair lady"
he looks back to Derizone, "would you have me as your...false guard?"
finally to Elay and Fen,"where does your spirit point you?"
it will be a test to keep my anger under control around these beast men we will be dealing with.
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Fen is ready to travel, and so has nothing pressing to do. He will aid others in their preparations if needed, or visit the Grand Lodge's libraries to learn more about Okeno and this "Pasha Muhlia al'Jakri". He also prepares his mount for the seaborne journey, transfering its gear if necessary into the magical chest.
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Derizione is prepared to help with anyone looking to use a mundane disguise to supplement their magical one, or in place of.
Otherwise, Derizione disappears into the Absalom markets for a few hours. When he returns, gone is the dishevelled looking gnome historian; instead, you see before you a dishevelled looking gnome explorer, with equipment so new it squeaks.
"Forgive me, it's been a while since I was last in the field, so long it feels like never ago. I'll make sure I break this stuff in before we reach the island."
"Does anyone need help with a disguise?", Derizione asks, looking around hopefully.
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Sharks casually feed on cast-off corpses that float like buoys marking the channel into Yellow Harbor. This close to Okeno, the rocky mountain range that gives Stonespine Island its name is a blur against the sky, hidden by the city’s haze of smoke and dust. Each pier is crowded with yellow-sailed slave galleys, pirate clippers, and the occasional, heavily armed merchant ship. Past a row of taverns, the slave markets are smelly and crowded, packed with auction blocks and pens.The sun beats down on the marketplace in which you are standing. The sounds of merchants selling wares, people moving around with either urgency or at the pace of fellowship.
As you move through the marketplace, the sounds increase as you begin to move around the sea of humanity that is Okeno. The sights of people who walking in chains, fine silks and linen travelers clothes as the entire world moves around you as despite your own appearance. At long last you are met by a man in a gold turban and hijab. As you come upon him, you realize that this man is your point of contact. He bows to all of you who stand before him.
" Hello all, I am grateful to have met your acquaintance. My name is Mahjub Mahdi and I am to take you to see the collection of slaves that await your purchase." He gestures to all of you: "Please, come and let us go."
You walk through more of the marketplaces and come to a quieter location. As you come before the door, you get a pungent smell of incense, tobacco and pesh. You walk into the location and find yourself in a realm that many Pathfinders do not always find themselves in. Surrounding the room are rugs and in the center are smoking pipes with multiple tubes where one can smoke the containments of the pipe from. You move further within the location, and eventually come to a table where there are two gnolls sitting at the table drinking from bowls.
"You the slavers looking for the new goods?" One of them says looking up at the party now surrounding the table.
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Fen is not disguising himself or his items in any way, but he has not brought his wayfinder with him on this trip.
To Mahjub: "Please, execute your duty efficiently; this one does not enjoy having his time wasted with inane pleasantries."
To the gnolls: "Indeed. This one already tires of the stench of this place, let us depart."
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I will also not be doing much do disguise my appearance as I already look fully capable of being hired muscle.
Charging Bear will not be speaking much common in this marketplace. The easier it is for him to hide his disdain the better. He Furls his nose in disgust along with Fen at the smell of the place and looks at the gnolls and says,"Tena piro kararehe. Titiro ahau atu ki te ra ka taea e ahuareka ki a koutou ahua te flash uira. te whatitiri e whai ka waiho te mea whakamutunga e rongo koe." He nods to gnolls as if to imply he does not speak the language.
Charging Bear will try to appear weak minded and an Intimidating brute perusing the market for anything of interest . He will assume no one on the entire island speaks Shanty.