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"..then I felled the minotaur with my formidable powers. Elado finishes his story with arms outstretched to receive the applause of the randoms in the lodge.
Elado has stark white hair that betrays his age that contrasts against his blue robes. Peeking out the bottom of the robes one might notice the tip of a scaly tail.
He walks back to the bar to fill his tankard trading smiles and waves as he approaches.
You are each approached by a Venture Captain in the Grand Lodge who you have worked with or been trained by in the past. He or she tells you that you show a lot of promise, and so have been selected for a team to go explore an ancient ruin that may contain interesting artifacts. You are to go to the town of Fort Inevitable in the River Kingdoms. The Society has no officers there, but retired adventurer and tavern proprietor Embra Morsk who runs the Red Shield Tavern will give you your instructions when you arrive, and is to be considered an honorary venture captain for your assignment.
You find yourself on a transport together with the rest of your team.
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Half-orcs aren't generally known for 'classically beautiful' features. Rough, square outlines combine with extra bulk to inflate the softer structure of the human form. Even so, the green flesh doesn't tend to be putrid as long as the individual bathes. Maybe this individual does, but the dark blotches on his exposed flesh must have some explanation.
"May the northern winds blow favorably..." The words rumble over cracked lips, raspy and wistful. Simple arms and armor adorn the solid frame, worn hide for protection, heavy wood of a shield at his feet. Morning star and dagger hang from leather belt, while his pack props up the shield. The edges of his cloak are tattered, tears and holes speaking to the age of the road traveled.
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Bored. Still bored. I hate long journeys. Are we evvvvver going to get there?
"Hey, Elado, tell us another story. Pleeeese. Anything to make this trip go faster."
The handsome young man with fire red skin hasn't sat still on the entire journey except to eat. And even then he seemed to consume his meals like a raging forest fire. Pleasant and outgoing, though not too bright and easily distracted, he alternated frequently between bored and excited.
The red flowing hair on his head often seems to sprout wisps of smoke, while tiny flames occasionally flit across the skin of his exposed arms. His chain shirt armor and the hilt of his greatsword are both embossed with the 3-gear symbol of his patron, Svarozic. Asked about him, Ahraq eagerly tells anyone who'll listen about this lesser deity of fire, innovation, and cooperation.
"Svarozic isn't big on the whole smiting evil thing," he tells you one evening while pacing circles around the campfire. "He prefers his paladins to inspire their comrades to greatness and to work together. I'll try to do that for us when we fight. If we evvvvver get to fight anything," he finishes a little peevishly.
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"A white dragon. Does it serve the snows? Do you hear the will speak to you?" The gaze of his eyes is intent, almost disturbingly so. "I knew a white dragon once, in time past. Tell us the story of this one, this one I know not, to entertain our friend. If they have need in the cold, there is no better contingent than this..."
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"Ah, stories stories. I will tell you of the time I came to know the White Dragon. I was a young man talking up a young thing at a tavern, as was my typical evening, when I found myself talking to the wrong sister of a miserable dog named Degget. Well Degget and his boys cornered me behind the tavern and paid me a beating like I've never had before. Now, I've had my share of tussles in my time but this was within an inch of my life. I felt myself slipping away as I took fist after boot. " Elado claps. "Then! I had a vision. The White Dragon came to me at the brink of death. He told me that I had a power inside me and I needed to survive to understand it. A chill ran through my body and everything turned to white. I woke up and my assailants were frozen stiff. A frost covered the alley and" He chuckles. " my hair turned this blanch white. Since then the power in my draconic blood has continued to present itself to me and I use it in service of the Pathfinders to eventually find my way back to the White Dragon."
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"After all that, you're not going to describe this 'young thing' of yours to us? Or the tavern, for that matter?" Entreats a frightful-looking half-orc woman sitting on the far side of the transport in a slightly hoarse, sibilant voice.
Though not at imposing-looking as some half-orcs, there is nonetheless something both overtly and insidiously frightening about this one. It's actually a bit difficult to tell what she is at first glance, as if she were some avante-garde artist's conceptual composite of various things a typical Human might call to mind when they think of "monster" - a little bit of orc, undead, fiend, dark arts practitioner, axe-murderer, and evil genius all in one. She sports a strange tattoo running from her face all the way down to her lower leg, and is bedecked with a rather diverse assortment of weapons, including a common hunting bow, what looks like a weaponized trowel, a grisly bundle of rotten skulls at her side, and a formidable axe on her back the likes of which many a Galtan executioner would envy. Beneath all that, though, she's rather attractive in a feral way.
Her luggage, overstuffed with bags, bottles, flasks, dry goods, thin books, and gods-know-what else, sits at her feet; in her lap rests what appears to be a fancy engraved cigar box, and she fiddles an exquisitely-painted deck of cards made from bone.
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Having silently listened to the other discussion during the trip, Baku turns to the new speaker. Raising an eye, he keeps the strangeness to himself for now.
Breaking his silence, he nods to those gathered. "Seems we'll be on assignment together. I'm Tor...wait, that was last time." Pausing a moment, he raises a hand and twirls it about as if searching for something. "Ah, yes. Names Baku. My companion here is Herra."
The smiling, leather clad man seems to be...soft. Simply moving his pack from one side to the other takes an enormous effort on his part, though it's obviously not filled to capacity. "Svarozic you say? Not familiar with him. I did serve Asmodeus in a past life, but these days I concern myself more with keeping the order of the world. You'd be surprised what an impact our actions have on the ecology. Our avian friends need our help to protect their homes."
The long-legged feathery creature sitting next to Baku takes a break from preening and nods. "Caw Caw" It replies in response, before returning to its task.
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Not the sneakiest by any means, but definitely the quietest to boot, a modestly robust Tien woman speaks from the corner she's been haunting, her gear bearing modest marks interwoven of red and silver.
"It is good that one might learn and grow from the journey that one is upon. The winds of the Crown of the World carry snow upon them, and perhaps echoes of one's White Dragon. That they have not rendered one's self-awareness feeble is a pleasant surprise, as many who face the white sheets go mad."
There's a brief pause as she examines the ifrit's gear, and after getting a bit of description of the deity the smoking red-head follows nods, then shrugs.
"There also exist those who would seek destruction in the name of goodness, constrained by law and nobility to stay their hand in the most difficult of decisions but fully capable of engaging in the terrible act of vengeance should the need arise."
Another pause.
"My apologies. This one is Modesta Reynard. Humbly, this pilgrim seeks the wisdom of the world that we might all grow stronger in our varied quests. Let us hope and pray that we need not engage in the wrathful fires of vengeance."
She will bow respectfully but remain on the edge of the conversation, as if afraid to fully enter it for some reason or another.
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"What fortune! To meet another blessed by the snows!" At this, the half-orc lumbers forward, grasping Elados hand in his and raising it before them. "Know me as Yroh, Borne of the Snows. We shall bring its blessing to our adventures and overcome all who oppose us." The darkened spots of flesh feels cool against Elados skin, waxy and calloused.
You arrive at the small town of Fort Inevitable. It is run by Hellknights, and this is made clear by posted rules, as well as many Hellknights present in the town. Most of the people seem to be living their normal lives as best they can, and mostly succeeding.
A small boy gladly leads you there.He grins impishly at you just before he runs off.
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Casually, but not too casually, the Tien woman verifies that she's not been pick-pocketed by anyone en route to the Shield, and keeps a subtle eye on those who come close to the party, watching for mischief.
Modesta will go to the desk and inquire about the prospect of a private room, and rates for others to have a room as well.
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Arriving at the tavern, Ahraq immediately seeks out the server. "Hey, can me and my friends get some food? We're staaaarving." Then looking at his comrades, he corrects himself, "Well, I'm starving anyway; we've had a long trip. Oh and some ale too?"
He then goes to find a table, but keeps moving from one to another, not liking the size, or the position in the room, or the view. Finally settling on one big enough for everyone plus their host VC, he props his greatsword in the corner behind his seat and sits down to wait for his food and their host, albeit impatiently.
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Yroh follows behind the man burning with excitement, each time seating himself just in time for Ahraq to move on. Lumbering up to his feet, they repeat this scene until there is finally a suitable table for the party. "Let us feed this flame that dances before we speak of our business." His parched lips twist into a smile that is both off-putting and amicable.
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Recognizing the white-haired man tien woman have their current needs in hand, Baku silently follows the group, keeping his eyes open for potential problems.
Grinning involuntarily as he watches the pious man lead Yroh around the room, the samsaran waits patiently until the pair agree on a table.
Turning towards the server, he gestures towards Herra. "I do hope you don't mind my friend. I give my solemn word she is well behaved and will be no problem."
Flittering through the streets beside Baku, the bird stays ready for trouble. The creature summersaults in the air into a landing and hobbles silently alongside it's master as they enter the establishment.
The waiter who you talk to settles you into a comfortable table in a back corner. He takes your drink orders, and brings you your drinks. He also brings out some food you did not order, murmering that the food is 'on the house.'
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These strange customs in this land. the pilgrim considers as she watches the food that was not ordered warily, and the exits. Well, perhaps our contact can put is in some sort of shelter. Do not relish the thought of staying out in the elements, nor with those 'Hellknights' parading around with their rules and regulations. What kind of foolish person would be proud to proclaim their allegiance to the Infernal?
Modesta does not order entertainment, and then nods in thanks to the waiter. "Thank you very much for the kind offering, a thousand blessings upon your home and lord."
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"Ever play 'Watchtowers of Geb?' You probably haven't. Properly played, it can take days - but that's the 'Dead' version. There's also the 'Quick' version, which only takes several hours...or I suppose we could do the 'Wastelander' version. Quicker than 'Quick.'"
Khāṇa starts dealing as she explains the rules at their simplest....
The waiter is just doing his job, sense motive doesn't turn up anything. The food is just ordinary tavern fare.
Khana wins, which surprises no one, but it's close, Elado surprises everyone by doing almost as well. As the game comes to an end, the proprietress comes and joins you at your table.
"So you are the Pathfinder Society agents who have been sent. Who are you, and what are your skills?"
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The pilgrim avoids comment or involvement in the games of cards, preferring instead to continue to watch the tavern.
"My name for this assignment is Modesta Reynard. I am a humble pilgrim seeking enlightenment into the mysteries of this area. Schooling has been provided to me on a variety of topics regarding faith and adventuring in places of mystery. In the event safeguards need to be disabled, I have been given a rough education on the handling of such. Not as much as a specialist, mind, but passably decent."
The Tian woman pauses for a few breaths. "In the event that there is a need for a party of the third part to participate in this exploration, I can arrange for a proper melee combatant to take my place as needed."
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Ahraq puts down the drink he'd used to wash the last of his food down.
"I'm Ahraq Fireheat," he announces. Gesturing to the greatsword propped in the corner behind him, he continues "I'm a holy warrior for Svarozic," he says proudly, smiling to his companions because he knows at least they know of Svarozic.
"Ummm, but I don't really have any skills, I mean, not like magic skills, or sneaky stuff, or book learning stuff.... Or really anything, I guess...." he trails off dejectedly.
But, unsurprisingly to those who've traveled with him for a few days, his mood flips about instantly, as he proclaims, "But I am good at hitting things with my sword!"
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Nodding to the flaming man, Baku advises "I've a fair skill in spotting things around and have trained in recognizing the beasts of this world and others. Admittedly, I'm more at home with the birds than civies but I try to be open-minded. "
"My companion here fights for and protects me." he adds. "As for my faith? Well, I did follow the gods in a past life and their grace has bled over... These days the true reverence of nature sustains me quite well. Let us leave our land in better shape than we find it."
"In a pinch, I am capable of holding my own. If we are forced into a fight though, you'll likely find me keeping my distance; letting nature take its course as it were."
"Greetings, Baku, Elado, and Ahraq. Welcome to my tavern. And you?" she says as she first looks at those who have introduced themselves, and then turns expectantly to the others.