The Confirmation (Inactive)

Game Master Purple Dragon Knight

Please dot the thread and delete your post; thank you! Links for NPCs art and maps are at the top of the page. Let us begin!

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. In the center of the room, surrounded by inebriates sleeping off their revelries, a familiar elven man stands high upon top of a large round table.

“Welcome! Welcome, my students! Please, have a seat!” With that, Kreighton Shaine, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Scrolls, 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.

Please make a knowledge: geography AND a knowledge: history check.

Flavias strolls into the room, his noble Taldan bearing obvious, especially in the form of a very short well-kempt beard.

Flavias stands up to address Master Shaine, but instead sees the Master of Scrolls make a quick exit so he instead speaks to Janira

"It is an honor to meet you Ms. Gavix. I am Flavias Gulianus, 3rd son of the Mandator of Star Bay of Taldor and if all goes well, soon to be a Pathfinder Society Field Agent."

Flavias pauses for a moment before continuing.
"Although I suspect the Master of Spells would be disappointed that I need to ask this question, the Master of Scrolls would be disappointed if I did not... Who or what is a Gillman?"

Janira says, "The gillmen 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 not outright hostile. Most live in or near the water."

Please make a knowledge: geography AND a knowledge: history check.

Ella lounges across a chair through Kreighton's monologue, then asks Janira with a quirk of her lips, Is there ever a mission where we're not supposed to come back alive? Turning more serious, she continues, I don't know Kortos well, is there anything dangerous we should prepare for?

Ella will take 10 on the knowledges for a 13, but she's untrained.

Janira alternates between geeky snorts and laughs as she giggles at your joke, "Well said, Ella, well said! you don't mind if I call you Ella right? call me Janira, or Jan for short... same for you Flavius. I'm not big on formalities... anyhow, the Isle of Kortos, which is home to the City at the Center of the World, Absalom, where we stand now, has a bunch of mountains in the middle named, duh, the Kortos Mounts!" A few more snorts and chuckles follow. "I love your hat, by the way... may I?" She extends her small hand towards you in the hope of taking a good look at the fine plumed hat!

kn. history, untrain: 1d20 ⇒ 6

kn. history, untrain: 1d20 ⇒ 16

As long as the gillmen aren't like the troglodytes I encountered on my last mission. Smelly beasts. a large man of Taldan descent says from his spot in the corner of the room.

I am Patros, pleased to make your acquaintance, everyone....

"Ah, yes! I forget that for some of you, this is not the first mission! Splendid to meet you in the flesh, Mister Randallos. I look forward to hear tales of your last missions!"

Janira looks around the room at all of you and 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. Where are you from? why did you join the Pathfinder Society? what are your hopes and dreams, and whose ideals, be they divine or mortal, do you aspire to? After all, the most important factors that determine whether an expedition will be a success are cooperation and preparation! Mister Randallos, you go first!”

A diminutive furry lady with large teeth walks in with a big (well medium sized, but large to her) rat equipped with a saddle and saddlebags and tack... She walks up to the others, and pokes Patros "Hey there, Patros... what have you t-tt-t-t been up to since our last adventure? Good to see you again. What is our mission this t-t-t-t time? I guess I missed the mission briefing. Oh sorry, miss, I didn't realize I was interrupting..." she grows quiet and listens.

for when she learns more about the coming mission:

know history: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
know geography: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Imojin heard enough of the brief on her way in to know everything so far; the bouncer was giving her a hard time with the St.Bernard-sized rat, but finally gave up as an altercation between two drunks started on the porch outside.

Imojin (and whoever makes the skill DCs) knows the following: (I am only going to list the DCs made successfully; if anyone gets an even higher DC I will post those as appropriate; I will also assume that your PC shares this knowledge, therefore eliminating the need for posts to 'share' knowledge, which can slow down play and confuse everyone.)

I joined because a few of my uncles joined after their military service bac in Taldor. I too was in the army, but in a specialized unit thatmade use of my skillset. They extolled the virtues of the Society..so here I am. Imojin here was with me on that last mission. I am happy to fight at her side again. Her size belies her ferocity.

Ella removes her hat with a smirk and hands it over to the eager halfling.

I am Lady Eleanor Lebeda of Restov, but as Jan here has already done, I usually go by Ella. I was sick of listening to my peers whine about the king, and make their useless, go-nowhere plots, so I decided to get out into the world to find myself some better peers - and the Pathfinders seem to suit that just fine. As for what I bring to the table, I'm smart as a whip, and while you might still find some with a faster blade, you won't find many.
I intend to keep shortening that list by the by.

The halfling mage hands the hat across the table to her waiting hands, and inspects the workmanship as the Pathfinders introduce themselves. As she hears Ella announcing an open duel invitation to the world at large, she arches an eyebrow, "Oh my, Ella... quite the bold outlook on life... I feel both... safer and in danger, as a sudden... hee hee hee!"

"I like your t-t-t-t attitude... you're bold and self-confident! I do hope you're as skilled as you are well-spoken.. " she turns to Janira, "So when do we leave?"

Ella looks a bit perplexed, then explains, By getting better. I'm going to shorten the list by getting better. I don't just murder people who are better with a sword than me. That would be hard.
And wrong.

Sitting in the corner, there's a handsome man with shoulder-length brown flowing hair, noble features and a shinning smile. He's been silent all these time, enjoying this simple, yet colorful place they are in, so different from the ones he usually enjoy.

As if suddenly realizing how ridiculous he must be looking by just sitting there with a smile on his face, he stands up and greets everybody - "Good morning my fellow future Pathfinders! I am Lord Lorenzo Endimión Menas Morilla" - he pauses a moment, eyeing discreetly to his fellow Taldan, as if expecting them to recognize him - he just thinks too much of himself and he's just a minor noble from the thousands that there are in Taldor - .

"Not so long ago, an earthquake cracked open one of the fabled ruins just outside of Absalon. I couldn't ignore such an opportunity for adventure and, inside, I rescued a fine gentleman that introduce me to the Pathfinder Society."

Callus looks to be a fairly young human male of Taldan descent. He spends a lot of time fairly distracted and occasionally pulling out a small stoppered vial, opening it, sniffing it as if assessing some property, then sealing it up and putting it away again. He either seems uninterested in talking to others or deep in thought--it's difficult to say which.

After a moment, he speaks quite softly, "Document? Does anyone have any paper and ink, or shall I pick some up before we get going?"

"Hmmm... I don't write a lot, so I have nothing like that.. . picking some up t-t-t-t so we can write it all down would be a good thing."

"No need to write them down friends, all of our future glorious deeds will be recorded here" - Lorenzo says while bringing a finger to his head - "Then we can relate it to a well-written bard and he can make the world know of our gray adventures in prose, poem or song... maybe even the three of them!"

I read a lot, but rarely find occasion for writing anything down either. I suppose a stop for some sort of writing implements is in order,[/]b she eyes Lorenzo speculatively with a small grin, [b]no offense to your... head.

Flavius smiles and nods at Lorenzo, not recognizing the man, but recognizing the surname Morilla at least.

"Honored to have such civilized company." as he politely nods to Lorenzo.

Janira clarifies, "Once they have undergone Confirmation, Pathfinder agents are called upon to travel to the far corners of Golarion, delve into the deepest tombs, and solve the world’s oldest riddles. During these dangerous missions, Pathfinders are required to keep detailed journals, maps, and accounts of their exploits. After each adventure, agents send a copy of their records to the regional venture-captain for analysis; especially noteworthy reports are forwarded to Absalom for consideration to be included in the next edition of the Pathfinder Chronicles. The Society comprises thousands of adventurers coming from all walks of life, and it places no moral obligations upon its members. Each member of a Pathfinder Society adventuring party is expected to forgo all personal and theological differences and work together to achieve the Society’s goals." She pauses, and levitates Ella's hat back to her.
"It stands to reason that regardless of your personal preferences for the scribing arts, you will all have to get used to writing reports. A lot of reports... if you wish to be part of the Pathfinder Society. So this mission should be a good practice run for that!" She smiles, and passes out writing supplies and paper to anyone who doesn’t have it already.

"Thank you!" the little rat lady says as she takes the proffered writing materials. She tucks them into her pack.

Lorenzo eyes the writing material and pauses for a moment before politely accepting them- "I suppose it is a futile point to delay this task any further then" - he says while carefully and neatly stowing everything in his backpack.

"To us, future Pathfinders of renown" - the young noble adds while raising his cup - "May our prose be applauded in all corners of Golarion by the time we meet our ancestors!"

Callus quietly takes the offered writing materials, while quietly mumbling some thanks.

Patros tucks the writing supplies into a pouch on his belt. I reckon you never know when something needs to be written down. I am ready to step off...i have all i need I think...

Flavias nods as he accepts the writing gear.

After packing them carefully away he comments "Shall we be on our way? What sort of timing issues or deadlines might we need to worry about?"

A young Tian woman arrives in leather armor. Her long hair is a different shades than normal, it 8s purple. As she enters the battle ax at her side, with a polite tone, heavily accented she says I apologize for my tardiness to this illustrious gathering. I am ready to move out when necessary. My name is Kwan non

Janira smiles as she sees the eager Pathfinder novices. "Preparation is key to a successful expedition. Remember we are going far into the wilderness here; pack for several days at least, if not weeks. If you can't carry all that food perhaps you should all chip in for a mule. Ideally one of you should be good at hunting, finding water in the wild and also building a camp, just in case... A Confirmation can last for weeks or months—or could be completed in a few days. Your resolve combined with your ability to fulfill the three duties of a Pathfinder will determine your success.”

Anyone else than Imojin good at knowledge history?

nature and dungeon for me

You all notice that Janira was taking notes when Patros, Ella and Lorenzo introduced themselves and shared their reason for joining the Pathfinder Society. "Thanks for sharing, Patros, Ella and Lorenzo. It's a little light on details but we can add details while on the road and basically anytime before I file my report to the Venture-Captain. As for the others... I'm afraid I'll need more than that as to why you wish to join the Society. I'm not going into the wilderness with strangers before I can assess firsthand if they can be trusted. Also, how do each of you handle yourself in a fight? Except you, Ella... we know you're good with the rapier!"

Janira turns to the rest of you, pen in hand, waiting to hear about your reasons to join.

Beyond these questions, please also describe at this point, with ooc tags, what the characters look like. What type of clothes or armor are they wearing? Do they have any special tattoos or markings? What else makes their characters unique?

Patros points to his various weapons.
I am good with most weapons, but my sword is my favourite. I have a blunt weapon for special circumstances and my bow for when I can't reach my foe.

Patros is rough and rugged. About 6'2 and well built, but with some litheness as well. His armor shows signs of battle and his well crafted blade is razor sharp.

Days if not weeks? I'd best visit a market before we depart then.

Eleanor wears a good deal of powder and paint on both her face and hair, an affectation to conceal scars from both blade practice and childhood disease. Once she's been fighting it begins to lightly speckle the doublet of her impeccably fashionable outfit, which fits quite snugly to avoid hindering her graceful movements.

Flavias smiles as he mulls his answer for a moment before speaking.

Hmm, I probably shouldn't tell them as the 3rd son I'm not likely to inherit anything and that I wasn't really cut out to be clergy...

"With lady Gloriana Morilla's new found sense of exploration... and nobility, I've become convinced of her cause. That we could once again bring greatness to the Inner Sea through proper governance and the legacy of the Army of Exploration."

bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Flavias pauses a moment, his confidence growing "Erastil teaches us to lead by good deeds rather than flowery rhetoric, and I believe I can make more of a difference here than at home."

Flavius appears as a stereotypical Taldan noble. Broad shoulders and a pale olive tone to his skin are his most obvious signs of Azlanti herritage. His gear is all carefully tended, and his clothes well fitting, likely tailored recently. His hands do show significant callouses, unusual for for someone of his noble birth, more so than one would expect even given the bow strapped to his pack.

Kwannon's appearance is simple but well kept. Her leather armor is well taken care of, as is her battle ax.

A little put off by the questioning the Tian replies Remember, Mistress Janira, it was the Society that invited us.

As for my abilities, I will explain them the best that I can for gaijin. I blend both the power of the mind, with the power of the body. she simply states

"I'm Imojin and this here is Whiskers, my friend. He's not very bright, but he's fearless." She indicates the good sized rat. "I was born in the south, raised in the t-t-t-t sewers of Sothis. But I hated it there, it was too hot and the competition for food and water was intense. I moved here to Absalom with my family, and found it much more to my liking, though the sewers smell even worse than in Sothis, if that's even possible. I'm so glad to be a surface dweller now, though it's awfully bright. I'm getting used to it though. My first mission for the t-t-t-t Society, to search a ruined fortress with Patros here, was a great success... I'm looking forward to many more."

both Imojin (pronounced Im-o-jeen, like the name Imogene) and Whiskers are in scale armor (or barding in Whiskers' case). She is armed with a small lance (sized for her, so still pretty long compared to herself), a small longsword and stuck in her belt, a sling and a pouch of bullets).

Janira's Sense Motive on Flavias; the lie is believable: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Janira nods excitedly at the reasons given by Flavias and Imojin. She approaches the Rottweiler-sized rat to pet its luxurious fur. "May I? is he or she friendly?"

At Kwannon's elusive answers, she rolls her eyes, "Awww snicklesticks! you're gonna make me read the fine prints now? ok fine..." Janira opens her large leather-bound agent evaluation tome and reads in a bored, overly formal tone:
"Founded over 400 years ago in 4307 AR, the Pathfinder Society originally consisted of adventurers based in Absalom who sought a way to combine their resources and recruit additional help for particularly dangerous ventures. Over time the group attracted new members and continued to grow, and today its members and influence span across Golarion.
Today, the Pathfinder Society continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, and supply hardly keeps up with the demand for new agents. To meet the growing need, the Three Masters, who are responsible for the training of new initiates at the Grand Lodge, have made the difficult choice to advance the promotion of some of the Society’s most promising initiates. In addition, they have taken the unprecedented step of letting a small group of particularly impressive initiates attempt a Confirmation together, accompanied by an established field operative.
The Confirmation is the final test all Pathfinder initiates must pass in order to become Pathfinder field operatives. Every Confirmation is different, and ordinarily it would be tailored to the individual initiate; however, in this case, Kreighton Shaine has selected a task suitably engaging for an entire group. At all times, initiates are expected to fulfill the three duties of a Pathfinder agent: explore, report, and cooperate. Failure to adhere to these three tenets risks expulsion from the Society."

Janira pauses to relax her eyes. "My first job as an evaluator is to assess you all, and the reasons for joining, which are more like a formality, if you ask me, must be given. This is a private organization; we have no jurisdiction in the countries we operate and we answer to no King or Queen. Now, why do you wish to belong to the Pathfinder Society?" Her beady little halfling eyes squint at Kwannon... Sense Motive everyone

As for joining the society....I suppose it is due to my ability for battle and the drive to put it to good use. i might not be the smartest of men, or the smoothest talker....but i am strongwilled and have no desire to see things happen when i could prevent them....

sense: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 18

"I want no part of a life in the sewers... I want to learn to live in the light and be clean... I want to be of service, and help others weaker than myself."

Sense Motive 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Lorenzo has very handsome features, and it appears to always have a smile on his face, showing his pearl-white teeth. A tall man of athletic build with skin of a natural bronze tone and flowing, shoulder-length, chestnut hair. Though he is young, the fact that he doesn't seem to be able to grow a beard makes him look even younger. He's eyes are a beautiful shade of amber, and his gaze never seem to be fixed on the same place for too long, as if he gets easily distracted, except when in the presence of beauty, in its many different forms.

He wears a good polished breastplate, two daggers on his right hip and a beautiful glaive that he seems to be cleaning every time he gets the chance. A silver intrincate symbol of a songbird with a long multicolored tail hangs from his neck.

"I've been trained since youth in all kind of weapons, though this beautiful glaive is my weapon of choice... I do see the wisdom of carrying some other kind of weapon" - he says while nodding at Patros - "and maybe I should buy something else before leaving town, along with some extra provisions, in case our quest takes long.

I have to admit that I don't have much experience on the wilderness, would it be a good idea to purchase a map of the area?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

Lorenzo is silent for a moment before adding something else -"Let me elaborate on my previous answer, Janira,"- the noble man looks the halfling in her eyes - after rescuing your fellow Pathfinder and being offered to join this remarkable organization, I saw an oportunity to help those in need, and I strongly believe that this is my duty"

@Kwannon: Janira is looking straight at you and waiting for an answer (you and you alone got a bonus to that check and made the Sense Motive DC: essentially, she seems pretty annoyed at you as she begins to doubt your motives for joining (or infiltrating?) the Society, and you think there will be severe consequences if you play games or avoid her questions)

Janira looks at Lorenzo, "I spent months in the area we're going to, and I've mapped everything right here." She taps her leatherbound Pathfinder Journal. "I'd get a bow or crossbow if I was you, in case you need to shoot a bird for a meal, should we run out of food out there"

Everyone: check your inventory and, the NEXT TIME YOU POST IN GAMEPLAY, post the amount of food and water you're carrying or intend to carry once we leave i.e. you may purchase things now, but once we leave, no retconning!

Janira's gaze float around the room briefly falling on each of you, before briefly halting on Kwannon - afterwards she looks to the ceiling, appearing lost in thoughts, before quoting an old passage she once read, "As Durvin Gest, exemplar of our Society, saw through the treachery of the fabled Lens of Galundari and chose to hurl the terrible lens down into the neverending Nemesis Well, so you, his noblest heirs, shall stand steadfast against deceit and error, surrendering nothing but your burdens, and falling nowhere but on our foes!"

Realizing she had rations but no water, Imojin buys 2 waterskins so she has plenty of water for herself AND Whiskers. And she picks up a couple of alchemist fires as well because swarms are nasty, and she barely avoided one in her first adventure. She doesn't want to see another.

rations 5 days self, 5 days Whiskers

water 1 waterskin self, 1 waterskin Whiskers

Please add a small line at the end of post:
Rations: ## days
Waterskins: x#

Before he heads out shopping to pick up a few last sundries, he asks the party, "Can any of you create fresh water or will we need to carry/forage for that as well?"

Will answer rations part once I get this last thing answered

I can RP all week, as I love that stuff! however, nudge nudge wink wink: I'm really just waiting for Kwannon and Callus at this point, as they have not provided a reason to join the Society... Also, remember that low STR PC may want to purchase a mule, or since we have a cavalier with a medium riding rat (quadruped) you may want to check if Whiskers has spare carrying capacity for the party...

Once we depart the Paunch, Ella will get a waterskin, a week of rations, and because You can't stab all your problems, two flasks of acid.

Rations: 7 days
Waterskin x1

Lorenzo goes on a quick visit to the market and buy some needed provisions and weapons

Rations: 10 days (originally had 5, bought 5 more
Waterskin: x2 (originally had 1, added 1 more
Longbow
20x arrows
Wetstone (will be using it everytime we camp or take rest longer that's 15 minutes on my glaive)