For dotting.
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Lynn sat within the main hall of the grand lodge next to the fire writing passages from her previous exploits several days previous. She furiously scratched out another verse it just didn't work well when translating into song, worried that she had most certainly hit a wall with this one she closed her journal and bit at her knuckle. The crackle of the lit fireplace was oddly soothing and she didn't pay much attention to much else beside the dancing flames.
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Soon a handsome young man with shoulder-length red hair enters the room. He looks towards Lynn with a smile and bows.
"Very nice to meet you, miss. My name is Felix Fawkes and I am new to the society." he slowly rises with a wide grin "It is rare to meet such a beautiful young woman as our venture captain. Will the others be arriving shortly?"
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Lynn would look up to see the young man bow at her after he spoke, "Oh, hello I'm Lynn, Lynn Kuro fairly new to the society as well." She gave a smile back while rising to give a curtsy, "I am sorry to displease but I am not the venture captain though it is a lovely complement. I have not heard from the others yet been a bit busy writing i'm afraid. Please have a seat perhaps we can chat a bit before they arrive and we are wisked off onto whatever journey may set foot."
Lynn offered the seat next to her and the fire as she sat in her chair again.
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Lynn would look up to see the young man bow at her after he spoke, "Oh, hello I'm Lynn, Lynn Kuro fairly new to the society as well." She gave a smile back while rising to give a curtsy, "I am sorry to displease but I am not the venture captain though it is a lovely complement. I have not heard from the others yet been a bit busy writing i'm afraid. Please have a seat perhaps we can chat a bit before they arrive and we are wisked off onto whatever journey may set foot."
Lynn offered the seat next to her and the fire as she sat in her chair again.
** spoiler omitted **
"Oh, well that is certainly not a displeasure if I have you as company." he gives a grin before sitting down at the nearest chair. He takes a moment to take in the room. "This is really exciting for me. My adoptive mother works for the society too so this is my first mission. Yours too?" despite appearing like a young man he's acting like an excited child.
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[dice=perception]1d20"Oh, well that is certainly not a displeasure if I have you as company." he gives a grin before sitting down at the nearest chair. He takes a moment to take in the room. "This is really exciting for me. My adoptive mother works for the society too so this is my first mission. Yours too?" despite appearing like a young man he's acting like an excited child.
"No no, this will be my second actually. It is interesting to hear that you have family working with the society already. I have no family here, most of them are simple villagers no sense of adventure mainly just trade. No hope for the grandeur, or the guts to get on a sea boat and sail to anywhere." She smiled, opening her small notebook and jotting a few things down.
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[dice=perception]1d20"Oh, well that is certainly not a displeasure if I have you as company." he gives a grin before sitting down at the nearest chair. He takes a moment to take in the room. "This is really exciting for me. My adoptive mother works for the society too so this is my first mission. Yours too?" despite appearing like a young man he's acting like an excited child.
"No no, this will be my second actually. It is interesting to hear that you have family working with the society already. I have no family here, most of them are simple villagers no sense of adventure mainly just trade. No hope for the grandeur, or the guts to get on a sea boat and sail to anywhere." She smiled, opening her small notebook and jotting a few things down.
Felix smiles and nods
"Sounds like a wonderful place. I was born in a similar place, but in a swampy area." he gives a soft shrug "Sometimes things are better that way...but evil will always find a way to shackle you. I joined the society to break those shackles."|
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A tall bald man, with a bronze tone tan, walks into the room. His muscular form presents an unusual image of someone obviously dedicated to the life of a scholar. The gold trim in his crimson robe highlights the golden tattoos that inhabit a fair portion of his face and neck. With a heavy pack slung over his broad shoulder, the tall fellow makes his way over to a comfortable chair and sits down.
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Lynn looked over at Felix at the mention of swamps, "Oh you lived in the swamps?" She flipped to a free page in her journal. "Would you mind telling me what it was like, the area, fauna, things like that?"
"I don't remember much. Just running and hiding in mossy areas as a child. I don't remember much before the boat." Felix shrugs as he looks down at his wrists for a moment.
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"I don't remember much. Just running and hiding in mossy areas as a child. I don't remember much before the boat." Felix shrugs as he looks down at his wrists for a moment.
Lynn couldn't garnish much from this she had written Felix's name and she could make a very good guess at why he paused knowing it probably wasn't that great. "I...I am sorry, I probably should not ask you about your past if it is something you would rather not talk about."
She instead started detailing Felix's features while she couldn't draw him she could describe him in word. Lynn had not noticed the other two enter the main hall since she was preoccupied talking with Felix.
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"I don't remember much. Just running and hiding in mossy areas as a child. I don't remember much before the boat." Felix shrugs as he looks down at his wrists for a moment.Lynn couldn't garnish much from this she had written Felix's name and she could make a very good guess at why he paused knowing it probably wasn't that great. "I...I am sorry, I probably should not ask you about your past if it is something you would rather not talk about."
She instead started detailing Felix's features while she couldn't draw him she could describe him in word. Lynn had not noticed the other two enter the main hall since she was preoccupied talking with Felix.
Felix just shrugs with a soft smile.
"Don't worry. Like I said, my adoptive mother was a member of the society. She rescued me and raised me as her own, unless she was on an assignment so her sister looked after me instead." Felix smiles with fond memories until he notices that there are others in the room and gets up to greet them with a bow. "Welcome, I'm Felix Fawkes. Are you also here as pathfinder or is one of you the venture captain?"|
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Lynn closed her journal and stood to approach the others placing her hand at her stomach and giving a bow as well, "Hello, Lynn I suppose we will be working together seeing as we are all pathfinders yes?"
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Boldren cast a warm smile and then nods as Lynn recovers from her bow. "Working together will remain to be determined by the days to come. For now it will suffice to say that it is my hopefully intent.”
Boldren adjust his chair to face the inquisitive young lady. “Boldren the Tarnished, milady.”
The scholar extends his hand in an attempt to embrace Lynn in a humble handshake. “From my observation, it would appear you are keeping some sort of journal on those you find worthy of recording. I find this to be enticing. Surly someone as uniquely gifted as myself, would be a wonderful addition to your collection.
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Lynn shook her head at Felix's question, "I'm afraid I have no idea where." She then looked to Boldren, "I suppose I could write some about you as well I tend to do that with those that I meet, for many reasons. It helps me remember those that I meet and if I ever need to ask for help it will be much easier to describe you when searching."
Lynn once again took out her journal and flipped to an empty page being sure to go past Felix's entry. "Would you like to describe something interesting about yourself, a place of residence, study, profession, anything will do really."
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“Hmm” Boldren puts his hand to his chin and begins rubbing it as he thinks carefully about his legacy.
“I’ll try and iterate my story as my uncle tells it.” Boldren looks off into the distance and begins indulging in what seems like and endless, self-focused, story.
Orphaned children, left on the steps of noble households, had become common in the city of Absalom. During the rainy season, when the gypsy caravans made their way through the city’s streets, one could almost guarantee a basket would show up somewhere within the city.
It was late when the knock came. The cleaning staff almost missed the knock due to the heavy rain. The Arcanamirium was generally busy with scholars and students moving about. During the witching hour, the school generally shut down to allow the students time to rest. After the students returned to their rooms, the instructors generally meet in an auditorium to discuss the day’s activities. During this time the cleaning staff made their rounds, cleaning undisturbed throughout the night. On one particular night, a heavy knock sounded out from the schools doors. The cleaning crew seemed hesitant to respond to the knock, but eventually made their way to the door.
The door slowly cracked open, allowing a number of the cleaning crew to peer out. Left on the schools steps, was a rain soaked wicker basket, which contained a new born baby wrapped in an old wool cloak. Normally a child left on the steps of any establishment would end up in one of the many orphanages throughout Absalom, but there was something different about this particular child. The cleaning crew turned the newborn over to First Spell Lord Gyr, and it didn't take long before he also noticed the child was different.
The infant had a light bronze tone to his skin and his eyes had a sharp amber color. Besides the child’s obvious unique appearance, Gyr noticed something else that interest him. Something he felt more than could see. Something that remained a secret only to him.
Boldren became a ward of the academy. He grew up within the confines of Arcanamirium and excelled in almost every subject. He grew to know First Spell Lord Gyr as a benefactor and even informally referred to him as his uncle. Academics became a way of life for Boldren, but something deep inside constantly pulled him to the fringes of the schools compound.
One night, during his 17 birthday, Boldren snuck out with a couple friends to explore Absalom. That night a festival was taking place, and the thought of all the girls participating in the event was more than he could bear. He and his friends snuck out and enjoyed the festivities. They drank until the world began to spin, and even the ugly girls became exciting and beautiful. Eventually they came across an old gypsy caravan that offered entertainment, fortune telling, animal shows, and a lot of nomadic hot girls. He and his friends drank more spirits during the entertainment. They drank even more while getting their fortune told, and even more during the animal act. Boldren couldn't remember the animal act, but he was told later that is was magnificent.
The following morning, Boldren woke next to a warm fire in his uncle’s study. His eyes were clouded and his head ached horribly. When he finally managed to bring his vision into focus, he could see his uncle setting at a desk, going over some papers. Once Gyr realized Boldren had awaken, he sat up and began talking in a low firm voice. "So it seems you have discovered a lot of new things last night. By the look of it, I’m assuming you and ale are not good friends right now. I have also come to the conclusion you have gotten overly friendly with the gypsy garbage that is currently passing through Absalom."
Boldren began to deny any involvement with the gypsy caravan, but was cut short by his uncle. "Before you say anything, I want you to look into the mirror hanging over my fire place." Boldren moved over to the mirror and realized instantly that his face had been tattooed with a yellowish gold ink. The tattoos ran across his forehead and all over his bald head. As Boldren stood staring into the mirror, his uncle began to chuckle. "So it would appear you've had quite a night. There is an interesting thing about your new tattoos. They seem to be slightly magical." Gyr began to smile at the thought of the boy's permanent reminder of overindulgence. "Well anyway, I will let you figure out the folly of that indiscretion yourself. For now, I want you to prepare yourself for a trip. I’m sending you to join the pathfinder society. I want you to get a better feel of the world and the people in it. Who knows maybe you might even like it. It’s time for you to grow up and become your own man."
After preparing, Boldren headed to the grand lodge and joined the society as his uncle instructed. Even though his introduction to the society was not necessarily his own choice, Boldren has become increasingly excited about the prospect.
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Felix thinks to himself for a moment and gives a nod.
"Well I don't remember the town of where I grew up as I was young when I was taken by slave-traders of Nidal. Luckily my adoptive mother saved me and freed me from my chains. She decided to look after me with her sister back in Andoran where I spent my time cleaning the Inn and training with the blade." he states as he looks to his Rapier. "She's a great pathfinder and has done many adventures for the society using her singing voice to destroy monsters and heal the wounded."
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A tall ifrit with reddish skin enters the room. He's dressed in a red robe and has two small horns sticking out over his brow. His orange hair is carefully combed. He has an orange goatee as well. He bows gently.
"Greetings all. I am Achmed Ibn Saud. I have traveled from the lands of Katapesh to serve in the Pathfinder Society. I have some innate arcane power."
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Boldren perks up when Achmed enters the room. " Oh-my, a Tiefling! what a wonderful addition to the group. I had a friend back in the academy who was a Tiefling. She use to tell wonderful stories about her childhood. She also had a uniquely undisciplined ability to tap into the arcane."
Boldren rolls his eyes and then turns his attention back to Felix and his story.
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Lynn took a few notes on Boldren's story though admittedly it was a lot to take in at once.
'Human mage, a wizard by trade Boldren was an orphan dropped on the steps of a school. Tanned man, bronzed skin inking across his bald head, make sure to ask about tattoo's if looking for this one again as he may grow hair again one day.'
She chuckled a little then nodded at Felix's story and the approaching 'tiefling' as Boldren called it. Lynn couldn't help herself when it came to this new person as she quickly moved to his side.
"Ooh, pardon me but you don't seem like a tiefling, I heard they had tails. Do all tieflings have tails, what's it like being of demonic ancestory, do you know how diluted it is in your bloodline, am I asking personal questions? Sorry..."
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Lynn shrunk back a little, "Well in my defense I did say you did not look like a tiefling as I have heard."
'Ifrit can be mistaken as tieflings certainly red ones with horns.'
She took a few steps back, "What is the City of Brass?" Lynn tried her best to see the annoyance in the man's face as being about their comments to him maybe being a tiefling.
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A rugged-looking elf comes through the door, his boots caked with mud. As he takes a moment to clean them off, an unnervingly calm wolf lopes into the room and begins sniffing near each of the other people inside. When he's sure his boots are clean, the elf sets his longbow and longsword down next to a chair and takes a seat, closing his eyes for what seems like the first time in weeks. Without opening his eyes, he speaks in a low, flat tone. "Otieno," he says, "good to meet all of you. I'll be ready to travel as soon as we have our instructions." The wolf curls up at his feet, its black eyes locking onto anyone who approaches.
Master of Swords Marcos Farabellus strides up to the large crowd and claps his hands together for attention. “Welcome Pathfinders, one and all! And welcome to our traveling venture-captains stationed abroad as well our honored guests! I am Marcos Farabellus, and on behalf of the Decemvirate, I welcome you to the Pathfinder Society’s annual Grand Convocation! I shall address all of the attendees later this afternoon to announce some of the Society’s greatest accomplishments over the past year and our plans for the future. In the meantime, I invite you to stroll about the campus, meet with your peers, and enjoy all the sites of the Grand Lodge. We have set up numerous challenges and contests so that you can show off your skills or sharpen them if need be. I’ll send around ushers when it’s time to assemble for the speeches on the north lawn. Enjoy!"
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Luna growls at Felix for no apparent reason, then licks an old scar on her haunch that looks like the kind of marking a dragon bite might leave behind.
"I think I might be in the wrong place," Otieno says, finally opening his eyes and sitting up. "I was instructed to report here for a Society assignment, but it seems more like a festival."
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Lynn strode over to her things picking them up and tucking her journal into her backpack.
"A festival can still be an assignment if you think about it." She pulled her backpack onto her shoulders, "You could be working as security, or ordered to relax. I can't wait to see what excitement awaits us Felix." Lynn laughed a bit at this.
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Luna growls at Felix for no apparent reason, then licks an old scar on her haunch that looks like the kind of marking a dragon bite might leave behind.
"I think I might be in the wrong place," Otieno says, finally opening his eyes and sitting up. "I was instructed to report here for a Society assignment, but it seems more like a festival."
Flex jumps back a little bit, but then shrugs
"Dogs don't like me much either." he states simply, keeping his distance from Luna.
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A man of medium build dressed in battered clothing approaches the group. He wears a wayfinder around his neck, and appears to be a bit twitchy.
"Oh, no, no, no! This is what passes for recruits these days? What is the Decemvirate thinking? Well, I better try to point them in the right direction. Don't need their blood on my hands." This was all half-muttered as he approached the table.
"Well, you must be the new recruits." He says this with a forced smile on his face."I'm Bevek. I've been asked to welcome you to the Grand Convocation. Although I'm not sure why we're wasting our time here. We should be out hunting down cultists. You ever heard of the god Zyphus? Of course you haven't. You know why? Cause he's the god of accidental death, and all his followers end up dying in freak accidents! But that doesn't stop them from trying to spread their sick philosophy! Vigilance!! That what we need..." He rambles on for a bit, talking about cultists and end times and some guy named Hustavan. Much of it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the Convocation. Eventually he runs out of steam and seems to remember why he is here.
"Oh, right, the Convocation. You should mingle, meet people. Let me know if you need directions to any of the activities."
- animal taming
- boasting/storytelling
- lore symposium
- obstacle course
- sleuthing
- trap mastery and
- weight lifting
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Lynn would try her hand at the storytelling and obstacle course contests.
"There once was a rogue of feline descent, raised by a gnome when family was rent.
Simple his life was rugged yet cold, till one day he freed adventurers from mold.
Goblins in sewers and orcs abound, they set to escape out into the town.
A devilish construct had stood in there path, till they found the answer an acidic bath.
A being of stars and his path was set, later the gods would see where he went.
To save the world and all those it holds, he gave up his essence to make the world whole."
Otieno heads over to the sleuthing competition. This event is hosted in a lecture hall in one of the eastern outbuildings, where several agents have set up a fake crime scene. An audience watches as a blindfolded Pathfinder is led into the middle of the scene. He then can remove his
blindfold and has two minutes in which to examine the scene before replacing the blindfold. He then must describe from memory all of the clues and forensic evidence that he noticed to an audience and event organizer.
Otieno takes his turn examining the scene. Unfortunately, he seems distracted by everything going on, and does not perform very well in reciting the clues back to the judges.
As he's leaving the scene, he overhears a bit of conversation between two elves who have been watching the proceedings. "It's obvious a large number of venture-captains posted abroad have made a concerted effort to attend the Grand Convocation this year. Everyone must have heard that there are interesting plans for the year ahead and that they’re all jockeying for consideration from the Decemvirate."
Kardiv, Felix, and Lynn make their way as a group over to the obstacle course. An obstacle course designed to test agility is set up near the training grounds, where Pathfinders compete in a timed trial to be the quickest one through the course. A large chalkboard lists the best times and participants. A Vudran man named Colt seems to be the current leader.
Each one makes an attempt on the course, but they are all tripped up on a particular obstacle, and none posts a particularly impressive time.
As they are standing around waiting for their attempts, the group happens to overhear a tall, thin woman in dark robes talking to a gnome in a dusty fedora. "They've got me over in Arliss Hall, which is full to the brim with visiting venture-captains from abroad. I know about its tendency to mysteriously change its internal layout. But, it seems the increased comings and goings have prompted it to do so with even greater regularity. I even got lost myself, and I've stayed there before!"
After her dismal showing in the obstacle course, Lynn makes her way over to the storytelling area. Near the temporary structures west of the front gates, a large “talking circle” has been marked out on the grounds. There is limited seating but plenty of comfortable spots on the lawn. Pathfinders compete to tell the best story. Complete accuracy is optional if the tale is funny or entertaining enough. Experienced Pathfinders are expected to have grander tales. Music or dance is just as welcome if incorporated in the narrative.
Lynn follows a tall gaunt man named Lovec, who recited a story about a kobold infestation deep in the wilds of Varisia. The crowd listens attentively as Lynn sings her song, and breaks out in applause at the end of it.
Afterwards, a young halfling woman in bright red traveling clothes approaches you to discuss your song. The other thing she seems really excited about is the creature menagerie. Apparently, the budget to maintain the menagerie has been temporarily expanded for the Grand Convocation. It seems the Grand Lodge is capitalizing on the large number of visitors to present as many unusual specimens as possible.
Achmed makes his way over to the lore symposium. This forum is conducted in an outdoor lecture area in the Quadrangle. Agents do not literally compete in this event, but a meaningful contribution to the panel discussion garners attention and accolades from fellow scholars.
When he arrives, a blind elf who appears older than you would expect, is lecturing the group about how to dissipate a particular type of haunt.
After his run through the obstacle course, Kardiv makes his way over to the weight lifting competition. Pathfinders compete by seeing who can lift the heaviest weights. Gnomes, halflings, and other Small participants
may opt for a handicap, and experienced agents are expected to be mightier than the newer recruits.
Unfortunately, the obstacle course took more out of Kardiv than he anticipated, and he does not put up much of a showing in the event.
As he is leaving, he happens to overhear a conversation between a halfing with black eyes and a half-orc dressed in a gilded dress uniform of the Andoran navy. You learn that the principal discovery of the sky citadel of Jormurdun has been moved to a strange chamber with no corners along the exterior walls, floor, and ceiling. This is to help shield it from strange otherworldly entities. This year’s keynote address is allegedly about the artifact discovered in Jormurdun, the Sky Key.