Once you've headed off from the inquiry, Falcon sidles up to Alexis and whispers, [b]"I didn't want to mention anything about that ore sample where others can hear. Your father wanted the page removed because he feared others would try to follow the trail back to its source. The Duke had a certain fondness for the unspoiled wilderness we found here, and knew that if such a well-laid out trail existed to be followed, it would be followed and Arcadia would experience the same despoiling as the Verduran Forest. He spoke to me several times of regretting finding that mineral. I took it upon myself to honour what I believed to be his wishes and destroyed that evidence."
"Hmm... that would be the eventual outcome, wouldn't it?" Alexis frowns and looks at the hunk of metal currently lodged in the ioun stone slot of her Father's newly repaired wayfinder. "Why did you never mention that to me back at the academy in Absolom? Pursuit of transdimensional state metal was one of my chief reasons for coming to Arcadia. I'm certain I mentioned this to you back in Absolom when you were my student advisor..."
She shakes her head dismissively. "It will be another day or so before Biter and Elorin return with Kuras. I'll be interested to see if things went any better with him than they did with Imogene, Carylis, and Hogginside. I shall be frank with you. I have serious misgivings about the ability of those three to adapt to civil society. I'm just thankful that I don't need to worry over incorporating them into missions any more — the team members will be doubly relieved, I assure you."
"Just please be careful if you decide to hire any of them, Grey. I know that we are working with scare resources out here, but the fact of the matter is, they are unknown quantities with hidden pasts. Compound that with all the circumstances that were stacked to make you look the scapegoat and that leaves me feeling very ill-at-ease."
"Have a good night..."
With that, Alexis gives him a nod and heads back to the Rose of Cassomir with Ravarath.
When Rath whispers what Imogene murmured about Daciana, 'Dace's been playing nice, now, has she?' she sighs and looks up at him.
"Sounds like a delinquent child griping about a do-gooder to me. Do you think there's anything more to it?"
Rath shrugs. "Don't think Imogene would be dumb enough to harm her after all this... but pressure her? Try to make sure she stays a part of their 'crew'? Maybe."
"Well, I suppose Imogene did enjoy the feeling of a bit of power even if within a group of prisoners. Now that that limiting factor has been removed, that microcosm is essentially dissolved unless each individual chooses band together in a gang... Mind you, I rather doubt that gang-related behavior would go over too well with the Governor or anyone else on the council..."
Rath smiles at the small woman, "As always it is question of risk against reward. If person has strong enough desire for something, they will risk much for it. Before this hearing, some would had said 'Oh, Rajkumari would NEVER risk being quit Pathfinder.' Seems they would be wrong, yes?" He chuckles.
Alexis gives Rath a wry smile. "Well, let's just say that when you are raised to be a politician, you tend to look at situations in terms of alliances... In simple terms, which will benefit your goals in the present, which may be valuable in the future, and which are likely to be marginal or harmful. It also pays to know one's own worth as a potential ally and your perceived threat as an adversary."
"Most likely, Falcon was genuinely focused on his retirement goal of establishing a lodge and had little interest in being involved in The Game. The fact that he was dumbfounded by all the circumstance that had been arrayed against him would indicate as much. Sadly, once you reach a certain level of notoriety, you become a participant in The Game whether you like it or not..."
Rath thinks on this for a moment. "Well, can't say about me having notoriety but seems like I am now notorious. Hopefully, that works for you in this Game, Rajkumari. I would like to see official meritocracy here."
"Hildani support Tracant with your arrows and then melee if you must, I'll fight with Daciana
Round 1
Cast magic fang on Tracant and moves closer to help Daciana
Biter sighs upon putting one small green foot back onto new 'colonial' sand. I sure was hoping to se some action while on the hunt. he thinks as he scan the area for Falcon, Alexis, or Rath. He turns back to his small scouting party, "Biter is'ing to make report to Pathfinders. Biter is'ing to let Kuras know if there are any more scoutings coming up soon." Then he asks the first pink-skin who is available where to find his three targets.
His question answered, he chuckles inwardly at how these tall people are still somewhat unsure of how to deal with Biter… even after the time they've all spent together. Oh well.. they never really change, do they?
Once he finds Alexis and Falcon, he gives yet another straight-forward and detailed report on the scouting excursion, noting any specific landmarks or discoveries they made. He goes into great detail on both darkwood groves, pulling his samples out for them to inspect. "The big darkwood tree area was'ing to make Biter feel very, very peaceful." There is a significance to the way Biter says it, "Maybeing Abbas or Gregor shoulding to go have a look… something different there."
He concludes his report with a short bit about how the team performed, including how Kuras did a fine job of both listening and learning. As well as how Elorin, as always did good work in the field.
Biter then turns to Alexis, "If'ing nothing else, Biter is'ing to go find Friend Rath."
By the time Biter and Elorin return, Alexis should be finished crafting the two new wayfinders she was working on. Given Rath's resignation and knowing that he and Biter are best friends, Alexis will hold off on gifting these to anyone until after Biter and Rath have had a chance to talk.
Depending on how Biter takes things, Alexis has an idea she's considering presenting to Falcon that might intrigue him.
Survival from Kuras:
Survival from Biter:
With help from Biter, Kuras' sharp eyes pick out some wood excellent for all Elorin's needs. Eyelets for the boots of springing and striding made from further darkwood would add 100gp worth of components for that item creation.
Biter agrees with Elorin's suggestion regarding a larger group investigation.
When Biter finds Rath, he specifically tells him about the grove they found, "Biter was'ign to know Friend Rath woulding want to know… all that "self-perfection" stuff mighting be easier there. Biter was'ing to definitely feel calmer there." He is clearly not interested in the merits of the grove, but knows RAth probably would be. (With only a little teasing thrown in about his search for perfection… obviously Biter considers himself a work of perfection already, right?)
It's two days later when Biter and Elorin return, so Alexis and Rath are probably on land at this point, helping with setting up stuff. Actually, Rath was probably draughted to help the lumberjacks cut down, strip, and haul logs. Lord Brycen is having a temporary pallisade erected around a beach head at the north corner of where the river reaches the ocean.
Early in the evening, Gregor wanders over Alexis's direction.
"Alexis, what in the Nine Hells was all the damned formality about on the ship? You and Rath in some sort of trouble?"
Pete stumbles slightly as his senses are still a little muddled, and he studies his fellow compatriots. His red rimmed eyes lose focus and he has little success reading the interplay of emotions of both Alexis and Rath.
"Well I knew that Brycen's voice carries, but I never knew you could hear it from all the way over here." Alexis gives a faint smile and winks. "Simply put, politics happened. Before I elaborate, perhaps we should sit down for our meal, and open a bottle. This is going to take a while..."
Once they have done so, Alexis points out the dissatisfaction nearly all of you have voiced thus far regarding your dealings with the prisoners. She also relates Elorin's attempt to unsettle her and how she saw an opportunity to take the joke and run with it in order to achieve a certain goal.
From there, the tale just seems to spin out into a dozen directions. Rath disciplining Imogene, Falcon feeling that his authority was being threatened and responding with threats of his own, Alexis placing Rath under protective arrest, an impromptu council meeting onboard the Lady Iona, zones of truth, suspicions of conspiracy, revelations that Falcon was being setup to look like a scapegoat...
"In short, it would appear that Grey is anxious to try and retain control over those people bearing the title of 'Pathfinder' and may perhaps be jealous that a 'girl' barely half his age is fortunate enough to have a team of such capable individuals with whom she can work."
"You may be happy to know that as a result of all this, there is now a 'peace bond' in place between our contingent and the now former prisoners. As a result, they will not be *ahem* 'working' with us any longer. Or at least not the ones with whom there exists a history of difficulty anyway."
"At present, it is apparent to the other members of the colonial council that Falcon is in a position of weakness. Whether or not we shall choose to aid him in saving face, or consolidate our position remains to be seen. At the very least, he is in charge of adventuring missions. If worst comes to worst and any of you find yourselves unwilling to work for him, then I can handle liaising with him. Likewise, if any of you are uncomfortable with our present agreement, I'm sure Falcon would welcome having some direct employees of his own. That is a matter that each of you can decide only for yourselves..."
Once asked, Rath dutifully recounts events. This being the third time, he has done so, his delivery is void of emotion, merely a factual retelling.
"You may be happy to know that as a result of all this, there is now a 'peace bond' in place between our contingent and the now former prisoners."
Rath smiles around his cup of tea at this. "That was spirit of Brycen's ruling. Of course, seems like some in authority very fond of letter not spirit of laws... letter of Brycen's ruling was 'Pathfinder contingent'. Some might debate if non-Pathfinders and former Pathfinders are part of 'Pathfinder contingent'." He laughs to indicate he is joking.
"And it's reasons like that, that "civilzation" doesn't work. Too damned many people have been put into positions that they have no business in. Something about Brycen and Gray I just don't trust."
Gregor adds with a smile.
"Not that I trust a lot of folks."
"Aye, Gregor, I kin agree wit' that. It be 'ard ta find people ye kin trust." He looks over to Alexis, then Rath, and finally back to Gregor. "I dinnae trust 'em either, I t'ink I mentioned this ta 'Lexis afer we arrived 'ere. Seems like me prediction came ta pass."
"Too damned many people have been put into positions that they have no business in."
Alexis smiles at Gregor's assessment, "I'll drink to that!"
"Trust..." she muses. "I still cannot believe that Gray never bothered telling me about my Father's wishes while I was still at the the academy in Absolom. What was he thinking in allowing me to be led along in such a way?"
"I have to admit," she says after a few minutes, "that my faith in the viability of this colony is waning."
When this admission raises a few eyebrows, she continues, "Perhaps I should clarify. I have little doubt that it would be possible to build a stable foothold in the new world. This colony may be just as likely to do so as any other."
"What I mean is... I am starting to doubt the viability of this colony to begin a society that starts anew and leaves the ways and prejudices of the old world behind. I am starting to think that its presence will only spread that same taint to this land... that perhaps the answer to society's ills is not to escape and hope to start a new society, but to remain and fight the good fight at its source."
"It is even possible that that was why my parents returned to Avistan and died in such an absurd and ironic manner. If by sending word reached others in power that they would report the expedition as a failure for the sake of preserving this place, I can see that being rather unpopular with certain factions. I could see that giving Falcon a reason to remain silent for his own safety..."
She shrugs and gazes into her glass contemplating the different paths destiny lays out before everyone.
"And it's reasons like that, that "civilzation" doesn't work. Too damned many people have been put into positions that they have no business in. Something about Brycen and Gray I just don't trust."
Gregor adds with a smile.
"Not that I trust a lot of folks."
Rath smiles and feigns shock. "Gregor you are talking about earning positions based on skill and merit! Shame on you. What I learn on Iona is this: Few showed interest in meritocracy. Most want to bring old Avistani ways here... since they are 'in power', no surprise. Gray said he believes meritocracy would require years to make happen with huge public education effort. Assume that means it would not be possible for a generation at least. I guess seeing a man's skills in the field as he works everyday is not enough to determine 'merit' and worth." Rath shrugs, clearly the idea makes no sense to him. "He also dismissed 'yuppie nobles'... so what does that leave?"
He thinks a moment, reflecting on the hearing. "Seems to me only Rajkumari here believes in meritocracy now, based on what people demonstrate as their actual skills. As for trust... I think it has to be earned, specially in small groups where survival depends on the man next to you. Who can you count on to guard your back as you guard his? The rest is hot air. Had enough of that in Avistan. Was hoping we would leave it behind."
A mischievious glint appears in the old man's eye.
"It still can be left behind you know...Nothing is written in stone that Brycen and Harrolayne have to stay "in power". I think they would find their Taldoran aristocracy system doesn't work real well should they lose the support of the people they intend to lord over."
Gregor loads his pipe, lights it, and takes a long drag off of the aromatic leaves inside.
"I did not leave Avistan to recreate it in an unspoiled land."
"Well the very notion that something can't work or exist because it does not already exist is just patently absurd. Every journey begins with a footstep, every poem its first verse, and every castle the first shovel of earth for its foundation. We cannot use magic to create everything from thin air..."
"I did not leave Avistan to recreate it in an unspoiled land."
"Nor did I..."
"Personally, I came for thousands of hot and loose-moraled Skraeling women." Rath says before bursting into a fit of laughter. "Appears my Advisor lied."
"Well the very notion that something can't work or exist because it does not already exist is just patently absurd. Every journey begins with a footstep, every poem its first verse, and every castle the first shovel of earth for its foundation. We cannot use magic to create everything from thin air..."
Pete grins at her, "Aye, that not be what ye told me when we started in this journey 'ere, he he. Ye was extollin' th' virtues of how magic be th' great equalizer afer yer meritocracy!" He uttersa loud guffaw, before getting a coughing spell. Once Gregor pounds on his back to clear his lungs, he mutters, "Mebbe me better lay off th' smokin' fer now."
"Equalizer? Yes. Be all, end all? No. And yes, whatever that is that you are smoking is starting to make me dizzy! Hmmm... I wonder if the cook prepared any dessert..."
Round 1
Charge crab 2
Bite
damage
Electric damage [1dice]1d6[/dice]
The battle with the crabs (the crustacean kind, not Falcon and Imogene)...
Initiative order:
Daciana
Burnsten
Hildandi
Abbas
Crabs
Tracant
Burnsten casts magic fang on Tracant, then makes his way thirty feet towards the ocean and crabs, drawing a weapon as he does.
Hildandi advances as well to get within point blank range, then looses an arrow at the northernmost crab.
Attack:
Damage:
The arrow zips over Daciana's shoulder, and sinks into the crab's carapace, knocking it a bit off stride.
A glowing scimitar appears next to the southernmost crab (in square FL -23, not FL 24, though) and attacks, slashing and severing one of its legs. The crab continues its advance.
Crab 1 advances up to Daciana and attacks with a claw.
Attack: The crab gets a clawful of sand.
Crab 2 moves up to Burnsten and grabs at him.
Attack: , critical confirm:
Damage: The crab tries to latch onto Burnsten, but even with that nasty of a slash, the summoner is too large for the wolf-sized crab to handle.
The third crab advances and slashes at Burnsten also.
Attack: , critical confirm:
Damage: The second crab to get hold of Burnsten almost digs as deeply, but caught too much of his chain shirt.
Tracant charges a crab (had to switch it to crab 3, couldn't charge 2 after they moved) and sinks his teeth into its soft underbelly.
A jolt of electricity discharges from Tracant's bite into the crab. It's legs splay out in response to the jolt, and it looks very unsteady, ready to fall over any instant.
Daciana lashes out with her sword at the crab in front of her.
Attack:
Damage:
Up next: Burnsten, Hildandi, Abbas
Round 2
SW attack Damage
Abbas will move to FE 23 (assuming he doesn't move) and cast cure moderate wounds (trading 2nd SW) on burnstein
"That hurt!! I'll be sure to eat you for dinner..."
Round 2
Attack
Damage
Critical Confirm
Critical Damage
Burnsten's curve blade cuts a wicked swath across the uninjured crab's carapace, driving it to the sand (although it's quickly back up on its legs).
Hildandi looses an arrow at the same crab.
Attack:
Damage:
Abbas' spiriual weapon slashes at the staggered crab, but even in it's near-death state, it still avoids the blow. The priest himself steps forward and invokes Sarenrae's power to close many of Burnsten's mortal hurts.
Crab 1 attacks Daciana
Attack:
Attack: ; damage:
Crab 2 attacks Burnsten
Attack:
Attack:
Crab 3 attacks Tracant, and then collapses from the effort.
Attack:
Up next: Tracant, Daciana, Burnsten
Round 2
moves 5ft to attack crab
Bite
Bite dmg
Electric
Claw
Claw dmg
Electric
Tail
Tail dmg
Electric
When Biter finds Rath, he specifically tells him about the grove they found, "Biter was'ign to know Friend Rath woulding want to know... all that "self-perfection" stuff mighting be easier there. Biter was'ing to definitely feel calmer there."
Rath leads Biter to a private spot and shares a small smile with his small friend, "Few roads to self-perfection are easy, Biter, but would like to see grove anyways." The look on Rath's face tells Biter that something has happened and it isn't good. Biter c0cks his head to one side in a look that he has given to Rath several times and it always means Well? I'm waiting.
Knowing the volatility of his goblin camrade, Rath has spent considerable time trying to determine the best way to tell Biter of the events that occured during his absence. He realises no massaging of facts will deter Biter from seeing the key points of the incident... and Rath is fairly certain that they will not sit well with the diminuative warrior. He shrugs, "Had a little dust-up with Imogene... and Gray. They are uninjured and I have quit being a Pathfinder."
He lets the news sink in for a moment before continuing. He sighs heavily, hoping this will be the final time he has to recount the tale in full. Taldane is such a tedious language to speak. "Will give you whole story from beginning...." In his usual meticulous fashion, Rath lays the story out from the initial order to escort Gray and Imogene through the hearing's resolution. He tries his best to recall every word that was spoken, omitting only the snarky side comments between the expedition's leaders during the hearing which Rath felt was childish posturing.
As he relates his story, Rath keeps a close eye on his friend to detect his mood and, if necessary, restrain him from running off to collect a few skulls.
"... so, conclusion is Brycen wants Pathfinders and um ersatz prisoners to stay away from each other. Also suggested forgiving and forgetting. Also Gray above Rajkumari in exploration matters." Rath looks at Biter to gauge his reaction to that news before finishing "Finally, Gray wants apology from me and to play by his rules and maybe he will let me un-quit." The sour and slightly amused look on Rath's face tells Biter all he needs to know about what Rath thinks of that particular option.
Tracant's bite earns him a mouthful of sand, but his first claw strikes home, and while the ripping of flesh is not enough to put down the crustacean, the electric jolt sends it flipping end over end several feet to land on its back, its legs tightly curled together and unmoving.
Daciana takes a mighty swing at the remaining crab.
Attack:
Damage:
With a loud crack, she splits the crab's carapace and buries her hand-and-a-half sword deep within its tender flesh. The crab slumps to the ground, twitching, then lying still.
A few tense moments of waiting do not reveal any further movement from the ocean waves.
Daciana pulls her sword blade out and mutters a curse. "I think I got sand inside the meat." Then she turns back to the others and spies Burnsten's still-grevious injuries. "You fight well for a wizard, but I think you have sand inside your meat as well." The first bit of humour you've seen from her enters her voice.
"Always more then welcome to help me get clean" as he walks towards the fire "Someone good with first aid?" mentally orders Tracant to bring the crabs closer to the camp fire.
"Someone good with first aid?"
"Of course, everyone gather near me." Abbas begins fishing in his pack for his copy of The birth of Light and Truth and begins a 1-2 minute sermon on how Sarenrae provides and thanking the Dawnflower for the gift of crab meat. At the beginning of the sermon and through out Abbas will channel positive energy until he can tell no one is injured.
The 'sermon' over, Hildandi spends a few minutes preparing the dead crabs for travel, cleaning them out a bit and lashing them together. They'll probably need a good dose of purify food and drink by the time you get them back to the colony (so will the clams, for that matter).
Then you settle back down for the remainder of your night. The wee hours of the morning are quiet and you are undisturbed.
Early the next morning, you feast on crabs (normal ones Hildandi fished out of the tide pools) and some berries he had collected the previous afternoon, and set out for home. Daciana slings the crabs onto her back, while the rest of you shoulder the sacks of clams.
You've barely traveled 50 feet up the beach, however, before Hildandi holds up a hand to halt you. "Hear that?" he whispers.
After a few tense moments of listening, the rest of you hear it too. A slow, steady, low-pitched, "Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!" somewhere to the southwest.
And it's getting louder.
As the whomp-ing sound gets louder and louder, Hildandi shouts out, "I think we should take some cover!"
No sooner do you press yourselves up against the side of the cliff, when an enormous, high-pitched screech fills the air, temporarily drowning out the whomps. A hawk, massive in all proportions with at least a twenty-foot wingspan flaps its colossal wings with a great 'whomp', powerful enough to disturb the air around you in a violent gust. It circles once over the ocean and dives at the water fifty feet off the shore. With a screech of victory, it rises up into the air, a pair of crabs at least thrice the size of those on Daciana's back squirming in its talons. The great bird wheels about and flies off over the cliffs to the southeasy.
As the whomp-ing sound gets louder and louder, Hildandi shouts out, "I think we should take some cover!"
No sooner do you press yourselves up against the side of the cliff, when an enormous, high-pitched screech fills the air, temporarily drowning out the whomps. A hawk, massive in all proportions with at least a twenty-foot wingspan flaps its colossal wings with a great 'whomp', powerful enough to disturb the air around you in a violent gust. It circles once over the ocean and dives at the water fifty feet off the shore. With a screech of victory, it rises up into the air, a pair of crabs at least thrice the size of those on Daciana's back squirming in its talons. The great bird wheels about and flies off over the cliffs to the southeasy.
"Interesting finding I will say, something to report back at base" as he thinks the usefulness of that giant eagle? "Thank you Hildani your skill is great and shall be noted, Abbas always glad to know more about other religions and customs, and Daciana I hope to learn a trick or two with the sword from you"
knowledge nature
Actually, it's not a roc (it's too big). It really looks like a normal hawk, except it's waaaaaaay too big.