The Flaxseed Pathfinder Lodge: Explore, Report, Cooperate!

Game Master Redelia

You guys are going to almost make me miss Ajaline... :-)

Ajaline's face is full of joy as he spins and twirls in what seems to be a never ending dance. Celestial lights and music surround him in a blissful cacophony of celebration and happiness. One moment he sees the beautiful elf who ushered him into the afterlife lithely weaving between the other dancers across grass covered meadow and the next her warm body is in his arms. She smiles up to him, "You have to see this," she says and pulls him away from the dance. Ajaline follows willingly. She leads him through the forest to the edge of a small cliff. The heavenly night sky stretches out before him. There's a shimmer in the sky and a small portal opens. It takes a few seconds of recall but then Ajaline recognizes the view through the portal. It is a view of the Flaxseed Lodge. Voices drift through the portal and Ajaline hears the kind words from those mortals he once knew. He chuckles at Zuv's comments. The image fades away leaving just the starry sky.

Ajaline turns towards his companion. "Thanks for showing me that." She nods back, a huge smile filling her face. "Of course!" she replies. She gives Ajaline a moment to reflect. "But that season is over. Now you're here with me. And we will dance and play together for eternity." She pulls his hand and leads him easily back to the meadow. Ajaline's mortal memories fade once again and he embraces the rapturous afterlife.

Dotting for updates!

Green Beard takes off his black tricorn hat with a skull and crossbones on it, and puts it over his heart.

"May Pharasma have mercy on his soul."

After pausing for a few seconds, he puts his hat back on.

"So, uh... dibs on his boots."

"Pharasma? Scallywags like us follow Besmara to the high seas!" Dean scowls and draws black sword with a skull guard pointing it at green beards way! Clearly this one's had a little too much to drink.

got excited to see another pirate themed character!

"Well, Besmara's m' main goddess, but bein' a cleric, I know all 'bout Pharasma's role with th' dead."

There are actually quite a few pirate themed characters around.

Fandral steps forward and places his hand on Dean's shoulder.Now friend, everyone has a right to choose. And being to the boneyard myself, I can say that having Pharama on your side is not a bad thing.

"From what I hear, it's quite the place, though I would rather fly amongst the stars with Desna. Sorry to hear about another loss of an adventurer," pipes up a man dressed in brightly colored traveler's clothes. Walking towards the pirate with a black blade the portly man smiles. "Now, I know some like to drink and that's okay, but I believe that drawing one's sword and pointing it at a guest may be frowned upon. I'll grab another round if you put that away, my seafaring friend!"

"Did someone say 'pirate'?

It's a pirate's life for us! Yo-Ho, eh Kernuffle?"

A voluptuous half-orc female, with cloven hooves and mithril armour, raises a toast whilst lounging against a large ape-like creature (also cloven-hooved) who wears studded leather. The ape places a protective arm around his pirate mistress. Those knowledgable in such things recognise the symbol of Lamashtu hangs around the half-orc's neck.

Disrepute 20, Infamy 20

"Greetings everyone, you my refer to me as Nine By Nights. I am told that I should be going on my confirmation soon."

Nine By Nights is scrawny, even by Wayang standards. It is difficult to tell where his robe ends and the cling shadows begin. He bears a dagger and wheres a sprig of holly around his neck.

Do I smell future team ups? Would be interesting when the next sevenfingers tomb level opens. Unfortunately am no where are your tiers.

Dean puts his sword away, "Aye! I can drink to that! But it'll have to wait. M sposed to be in the land of ice huntin treasure!" He says before making a mad dash to the door.

Sorry its a little late but will the following please report Here for the tide of morning game

Dennis Muldoon
nejustmo
Andreww
supervillan
Will Huston

An oread with black marble skin, standing so still in the corner that an unobservant person could mistake him for a statue, steps towards Nine by Nights.

"I too will soon be performing my Confirmation. I am Alakhest Thundergem."

Alakhest extends his hand in greeting. He carries an ornate shield strapped to his back and an equally ornate longsword on his hip.

He does his best to shake hands with the much taller Oread.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. And good luck as well."

A messenger walks in, pulling back his cloak. "Is this where the pathfinders not on missions sit around? This must be the right place, because you lot look to have nothing better to do. I've been sent to collect pathfinders for two tasks. The first comes from Guaril Karela himself. He's looking for some local help to prove themselves here before shipping off for a mission in Varisia. He will give the details of what needs to be done, after you have finished the local tasks to his satisfaction."

Evergreen arcs seem to go over well. I'd like to do a slightly different arc than what we normally see. Will be running Wounded Wisp + Consortium Compact + Murder's Mark, which will drop off new characters at 2.2 xp without burning any non-Evergreen scenarios.

The messenger duck back slightly as if anticipating a stampede of pathfinders. He takes cover on the opposite side of a table where he feels safer before continuing. "The second task I am to recruit for is in Isger. The pathfinders are looking to gain favor in a village up there, to get permission to build a lodge. To this end, we wish to send an envoy that way to do whatever needs doing, and to negotiate permission for the lodge to be constructed."

Second arc includes an evergreen, but will not be all evergreen. I will be running all 3 parts of Gallows of Madness. This arc will drop off brand new characters to level 4 or 5. I'll discuss efficient chronicle options with the selected players. This module is made up of 3 separate quests loosely tied together. Each is 3xp, and they can be played in any order. Each is an evergreen if played with a level 1, and they can be played once with either a level 2 or 3. There is a bonus chronicle with 3xp for anyone completing all 3 parts.

Signups for both

"It would seem that Hei Leng has guided me here in time. I will happily help to start the new lodge."

@Thrawn007: I've played The Festering Blot, but would be interested in either of the other two parts if anybody drops and you need a replacement.

"You can count me in!" a quiet voice from near the door - a newcomer, obviously, someone not yet comfortable with just talking to people - pipes in. "Seein' as I just got here and all, I didn't know if there'd be work for me, but if there is, I'd like to join in."

@Thrawn007: I've played The Festering Blot, but would be interested in either of the other two parts if anybody drops and you need a replacement.

"And he said 'but everyone knows the festering blot is the best part.'"

Following a successful mission exploring the Fallen Fortress and ridding the tower of its troglodyte master, Gitano Frallino only needed to render his report at the Grand Lodge.

Desna knows how I loathe the tedium of paperwork.

Entering the storied gates of Skyreach, he spied some of the young initiates sweating through some calisthenics. Master of Swords Marcos Farabellus, appropriately attired in striped red and white shorts and a tight tank top, was leading the motley crew. At his signal, the three bards ceased their uptempo accompaniment. Thick chest and back fur soaked, he leaned over and wiped one forearm across his terrycloth headband.

Farabellus shouted to the exhausted initiates, "Number one, like yourself. Number two, you have to eat healthy. And number three, you've got to squeeze your buns. That's my formula."
Richard Simmons

Gitano's discerning eye singled out a frazzled, studious looking young lady. She looked ready to collapse. Gitano waved her over to him. Pushing her glasses back up, she approached.

"Well met, Initiate. Your training is progressing nicely. I am field agent Gitano Frallino. Some have called me "the Luckiest Man Alive."

"You've earned yourself a new challenge, and I require your assistance. Follow me to the Grog Pit. I will recount a most amazing tale, and you will record it verbatim. When you return to the Grand Lodge, you will kindly file the document with the Chronicles Department. Then, await further instructions."

Gitano patted at his empty pockets and dismissed her with his most charming Sczarni smile. "You'd better pick up some vellum, pen and ink from the Supply Section before we meet.

With Lady Luck's blessing, this report will be filed in time for my next mission, 'The School of Spirits.' I can't wait to meet my new handler, the mysterious 'GM Red.'

A small gnome with bright red hair sits unnoticed in the corner of the room. She just managed to avoid the morning workout by explaining to Marcos that she was a master of the Ogre style of fighting, and certainly didn't need tighter buns.

She laughs as the swashbuckler manages to get someone to do his paperwork. "I should try that sometime. I'm usually looking for a drink or trying to get the undead stench out of my amour or Woflie's fur when I get back from a mission."

"I'm not even sure why I try to do that anymore, 'Bella," A hulking half-elf laughs, sitting down opposite the gnome. "Some alchemical fragrance, and the stink is gone. There always seem to be more walking corpses, though, wherever I go, bringing it back." He kicks back and quaffs some unidentifiable substance from a beaker on his belt. "That was one hell of a mission, though. Just when I think they'll welcome me back into Taldor again. And that crazy gnome, what'd you think of him? I honestly thought he was going to kill me in my sleep from time to time, but he seemed to take a shine to you."

"He wasn't so bad. Not many gnomes running around the Society, and it's nice to talk to someone at eye level instead of the er knees." She eyes the beakers on Orrin's belt. "Got any anything in the way of alcohol left over from our last mission? I'm all for new experiences, but I don't think I'm up for drinking whatever you concoct."

"Fair enough, enhanced longevity with the side effects of peak physical and mental performance isn't for everybody," Orrin grins, fishing about in his massive backpack. He comes out with an oddly shaped decanter and several shot glasses. "Druman ale, made in 4655. I probably shouldn't have spirited it away from a Taldan nobleman, but by that vein they shouldn't have let zombies into their opera house."

Walking up behind the alchemist, giving him a friendly pat on the back, "Jest coz I says yer brother might wantin' ta be gettin' romantic with someone don't mean I wuz wishin' ya harm. Still, my stomach gets all topsy-turvy just thinkin' 'bout that brother o' yers. I was goin' ta make proper amends by offerin' ya a drink, but I see you've already got a fine distillation right and ready ta go." With a flourish and proper bow, the gnome takes Feybella's hand and offers a gentle peck. "Ah lass, I'm thinkin' ya stole somethin' from me when ya left as I have not seen me heart since last I saw yee. Ifin yer lookin' ta return it, well I would be quite thankful."

"I bet you say that to all the girls Spackle. Except for the grumpy ones of course." Fey helps herself to to Orrin's ale, and waves at Spackle to take a seat. "Zombies in an opera house. That must be a story."

Sitting in the offer seat, the bard prompts Orrin for details, "C'mon boyo, we suffered through some dark times tagether. Now's when we add a wee bit o' light to our lives. Do regale us o' yer time fightin' against both boredom an' the undead."

As was his early morning habit, Krieger stood in Skyreach’s Great Hall, cup of steaming jasmine tea in one hand and absently grasping his mother's zoic fetish in the other. He was leaning over the Atlas Tableaux, poring over its illusory map of the Inner Sea region as new Pathfinder reports came in.

Hmmm. This report from the River Kingdoms sounds interesting. A request for assistance from a half-orc scholar named Ulisha. A druidic relic of some kind. My mother would find that intriguing.

If I want to get myself assigned to this team, I'd better get moving. He flipped through the scant document and focused in on the administrative data on the report. The reports officer is listed as GMG Magabeus. I seem to recall that no-account whoreson Gitano Frallino was assigned to him recently.

Krieger glanced down at the object in his left hand. Hwang Fei had crafted the small charm out of twined braids of her own hair and a lump of black granite, an abstract representation of a dire bear, symbol of the Bearpelt following, the people of his Kellid father, the Mighty Kuldor. His Minkaian mother had told him the fetish was enchanted with powerful druidic magic.

Krieger was an impressive figure, 6'4" tall and weighing some 14 stone. His mixed heritage made it difficult for most to place his origins. His formal bearing hinted at military service. If fact, he had served in the army of Po La the Bureaucrat, the Tian leader of Icestair, the largest settlement in the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, wedged against the wall of ice that marks the edge of the Crown of the World.

Letting go of the fetish, Krieger scratched his chest through his noble's attire, a gift from Taldor's Princess Eutropia for services rendered. The signet ring on his forefinger, another gift from the princess, bore the sigil of his new, noble house, the clawed paw of a dire bear. The wicked scars on his body, a constant reminder of his initiation into the Bearpelt following, were concealed by the fine silk shirt and satin waistcoat.

"Woe unto the foe who sees these scars," he whispered, a grim determination furrowing his brow.

"Sure, but keep any talk of my 'brother' to a minimum, if you need to refer to it as that at all," Orrin says, buts smiles all the same and takes a long drink before starting.

Drenched to the bone, his clothes hanging on his slender frame making him look less like a half-elf and more like a drowned rat, Fade steps into the lodge and stands dripping on the hard floor. His scowl shows clearly through his stringy hair which is plastered to his head like a second skin.

Seeing Orrin, Faybella and Spackle, his head hangs low and shakes slowly...

"I..."<sigh>"really need some alcohol. You guys are buying."

"Looks like 'Fade' Dourcloud caught the worse end o' sumthin'. Pull up a chair boyo an' help us drain Orrin's offerin' ta Cayden."

"What you been up to Fade?" Fey raises a glass in his direction.

"Indeed, you look to be in need of some ale. Sorry, Eternal Rose...I think we all need some Cayden time right now."

From the door way of the lodge, a slightly shivering man in armor looks about nervously as a ghostly apparition detaches itself from him, and with smug self assurance bellows: "Alright, Arnold Perlstein, Fargrim Arikfind, Quentin Wintrish, Marcus Voralius, "Little" Frankie, and Falshin Korvaska, get your asses in gear, you're heading to Nerosyan!"

"Apologies. Thurismund is... Very... The anger. Yes. Very angry. Excuses" blurts the other in a hesitant, clipped tone before rushing back out.

The little fella slams back the last of his cocoa and wipes his mouth on his sleeve before saluting the two... individuals? "I'll be right there!"

dot

A chair scrapes back, and a mountain of tattooed muscle, and red-faced anger rises to its feet. The fury glares to the dot on his shoulder, and back at the man who put it there.

Now you're in trouble!

Anibal stops making notes and raises his eyes from his notebook. Setting his sights on the Ulfen, he quickly stands up and walks over.

"Now, now ... We're all friends here. Let's not cause a scene. How about a drink on me, my good man?"

Agirran looks around to see who the man might be talking about.

♬ Mood music ♬

The sound of honest laughter bubbles up like fresh water from a spring in one tastefully dim corner of the tavern.

"And she said: Well he was presenting 'alternate facts.'" The the speaker’s dry, masculine delivery provoked another round of laugher from people seated around him.

It was growing late though, and at last the greater bulk of people got up and said their goodbyes. Leaving the interesting man, and a young halfling woman sitting at the large table alone.

The halfling had her elbows on the table, small fists buttressing her chin. Her legs, dangling kicked idly at the air beneath her chair.

"What's wrong Janira?" Asked the man smiling. His eyes crinkled at the corners with genuine affection. He was paying for his departed friends’ drinks with coins seemingly pulled from thin air, and the serving girl's ears. The serving girl giggled.

"I've got to head out in a couple of days for the Kortos Mounts. I'm supposed to be taking a bunch of Society initiates with me, to check up on that—" Janira stops and gives a quick look around. "...that activity I noted in my report a couple of months back. The Master of Scrolls, Dean Shaine, wants to use the trip as their Confirmation. I guess the Lodge is sort of desperate to push initiates into the ranks after all that trouble with their rose garden time-travel contraption, the flair up at the World Wound, and all the recent tangles with the Consortium. I'm not sure I want to be responsible for a bunch of novice treasure hunters who've never set foot out of the Lodge, but the dean mentioned he had a list of top notch agents just waiting to go."

"And this troubles you?" The man says in a tone that suggests he is a bottomless well of compassion.

"Well, you kind of have to know Master Shaine." Says the halfling.

Involve yourself with these interesting people?

A runner bursts into the tavern, nails a notice to the wall and runs out of the tavern again.

The notice appears to be a call from Janira Gavix for Pathfinders who require a Confirmation.

Those looking to apply are directed to an office in town.

Running Confirmation after completing GM HMM's GM101. This is my first game out. Recruitment Thread

A quiet man is observing the lively tavern, with its crowd of Pathfinders, adventurers and fortune-seekers.

"Well, with that much people willing to define the pursuit of knowledge, wealth and fame as a life goal, the Society will certainly be entertaining!" he whispers behind his beard.

Placing the coin onto the bar Kallus nods his appreciation to the barkeep for his prompt service. Kallus turned to the closest person sitting at the bar. By the look of him, Kallus noticed that perhaps the patron may have spent too much time enjoying the same moderately passing ale Kallus himself had in hand...must be a special on ale tonight Kallus thought idly.
"So I was told this is the place to be for fine company and possibly respectably earned coin for those deficient in both....Kallus nudges the man occupying the seat hoping to get his attention. Deep in drink and seemingly oblivious to his precarious balance on said seat the patron tipped dangerously sideways before slumping forward onto the bar. So much for fine company....how about a way to make some coin?Kallus asked nobody in particular.

A tall crusader pushes his way into the lodge and raises a hand in the dim light, a latticework of scars across his palm and knuckles.

”Friends, Pathfinders. I have heard of an expedition to distant Tian Xia, and that the Society has missions to be accomplished there.”

He pins a signup sheet to the wall and walks back out.

Recruiting for 08-16: The House of Harmonious Wisdom, standard, tier 1-5 quests. Please sign up on the sheet and if there is more than six applicants a lottery will be rolled. Signup will close tomorrow night, 8 pm central time.

How would a level 1 fare in that scenario?

Is House of Harmonious Wisdom an Evergreen?

For level 1 only

Is that so? I was under the impression that quest are replayable, since it's tier 1-5, hence replayable for all tiers?

I've only GMed it once, and not played it.

Most replayables are only good for level 1 - that is there is a level 1 specific tier in it. Tomb of Righteous Repose being a noted exception!

Replayable for level 1 only Strait outta Compton (John)