The Forgotten God (Table 1) (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

What are the shouting about can any of it be made out?

"Don't you know some people are trying to sleep!" Aer'Besethir couldn't help but comment as she made her way into the common room.

There was a saying among the elves, don't anger a priestess of Calistria, Beseth wasn't just a priestess though, she was the flesh and blood of The Savored Sting, and she did not like to be woken in such a hostile manner, by anyone.

"Would someone please explain what is going on here, before I have to hurt somebody?" She asks, looking at her comrades and the crowd gathered outside.

Shaking his head, Mak looks between the various folks trying to mob the inn. Flexing powerfully, a suit of stone wraps itself forms around the dwarf's skin, as he sits down on the stoop in front of the door. Glaring, he addresses the crowd, "Is there a problem?"

With so many people talking all at once, it's hard to understand them - a sad reminder of how far you'd fallen, because there was a time when listening to thousands of mortals all at the same time had been easier than blinking. Eventually, however, you're able to piece fragments of their yells together - they're trying to find out more about what happened the day before, and see whether or not absolutely every area had been checked.

These could only be the parents of other children who'd died when the school collapsed - and they were clearly desperate, hanging onto an impossibly small hope that more of the children were still alive.

"Greetings nobles of Absalom. We understand why you are here. We are saddened to tell you we only found the one survivor. We are going to meet Drandle Dreng this morning to turn over our findings. We are deeply sorry for the loss you have endured and for the spark of hope in us finding the girl. They will probably conduct a search now that we have mad the place safe. Please go home don't trouble yourself with painful memories of the past."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Hell of a time for a "1" We may have a riot on our hands. Face Palms

So.... Whats going on? I assume Rednal is waiting on you guys to post.

Sorry, I assumed your 1 would do something horrible, then again, 1 isn't auto fail on skills.

"The only reason the girl that we found was still alive was because of a special ring that we had been tasked to find, it's very unlikely that there are any other survivors, but upon the discovery that one child was alive, it seems that there may be a further investigaton at another time, by another party, so please bother the pathfinders, not us."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

I generally don't even check here until several posts have been made. If you want me to check things sooner, please post in the Discussion thread and ask me to do so. ^^ And indeed, 1's are not auto-failures on skills unless specifically noted otherwise.

The nobles didn't seem particularly impressed by the group's efforts at diplomacy. One of them, finally, managed to be a little louder than the others. "They're our children! We're not going to be turned away just because you don't want to talk!" they shouted - and from the noises the crowd was making, it seemed like most of the nobles agreed. Their guards and servants, on the other hand, looked faintly apologetic - they were unwilling to go against their employers, but clearly understood the unfairness of the situation you were in.

The Earthen Defender looks displeased with the commotion. "By all means, feel free to venture down into the ruins. I understand your concern for your own children, but we are not your personal servants," the dwarf states in his most assertive voice. "You are rich and powerful people. The fact that you have done nothing until now reflects on you, not us." The look on Makallun'abad's face shows that he is thoroughly disappointed with the assembled nobles, who sat and wrung their hands for ten whole years, and then come crying like spoiled children the moment someone else did what they would not.

Man, I can't wait until we start getting more of our deity-level powers back. Being able to make mini-earthquakes and stuff when people pull stuff like this would shut them up right quick."

"What would you have us talk about noble sir. We explained what we found. There is nothing else. I will sit and talk with you all you like, but we must meet our employer to go over what we found."

As you speak, it becomes clearer and clearer that the members of the mob aren't entirely rational. They're desperate, frightened, occasionally angry, and unwilling to accept 'no' for an answer... because, for them, that would be much the same as giving up on the lives of their children when hope was dangled in front of them. On the whole, they seem neither evil nor malicious - but it's just as clear that you'll have to use a bit more than words if you want them to clear off.

Options include making Diplomacy checks, displays of power, perhaps a performance explaining things in full... or something else you come up with! There are many solutions to most social issues you're presented with, and I encourage being creative while sticking to your theme. ^^

Guess everyone was busy this weekend. I will think on this a bit. I was not on much either.

Diplomacy and such things aren't really Mak's forte. If either of you guys want to try it, by all means do so. If we can't pull that off, then the blatant show of force route is something we can do.

Hadran starts by making obvious moves to cast a spell. He puts his fingers to his throat as he speaks with an amplified voice of 20 men.

"I explained the situation. I truly am sorry for your loss and pain. You have put those memories to rest. Do not dishonor the memories of you sons and daughters by your actions here to day. Go home. Grieve again if you must, but move on. The society will have any further information from here on out. Now please leave us in peace."

Diplomacy w/ Surge: 1d20 + 12 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 12 + (2) = 19 Wow, can you take 10 on diplomacy as if being careful and considerate of your words. I totally would do that here since I'm surging and the roller is kicking my but :(. I am totally taking the +20 to charisma thing since we get two mythic path powers a tier in this game.

Hadran, you could always use fascinate, your bardic archetypes don't seem to replace it.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

"We are all sorry for your loss and your pain, but there is nothing we could have done for your children. If they are still alive, then the society will return them to you, but please understand that it has been years, and most likely your children did not survive."

As Beseth finishes talking, she surges to cast a spell, touching herself and taking on the flickering visage of an Archon Touch of truthtelling.

"If you have any questions regarding the school, I will answer them to the best of my abilities." She adds once under the effects of her own spell. "However, I ask that you ask them one at a time."

Yeah I can fascinate one person of the mob :). It is only 1 person +1/per 3 levels.

@Hadran: Display of Charisma is indeed very helpful. XD

One of you was interested in answering questions - the other two, not so much. Without hesitation, the crowd focused its attention on Beseth, asking every question they could about literally everything that had happened down below. One by one, you could see the despair enter their eyes as they started to accept the truth - their children were gone, and were not going to come back - though most of them seemed more than a little confused about the unresponsive images down below.

Still, it was likely that all would be revealed in due time - and about two hours after they'd arrived, the crowds finally dispersed.

"Thank you Beseth. I was getting no where. We should head to see Drendle Dreng now."

Hadran now awake and things gathered heads to the Pathfinder society to give their report.

"Indeed we should." Beseth agrees, checking to make sure she still has the ring before departing to meet up with Drendle Dreng.

Drandle Drenge was waiting for the three of you where you'd met him before. "Your notes?" he asked, extending a hand and waiting patiently.

"You wished for a handwritten report? I see. If you have parchment and pen we will write up our findings for you."

Hadran smiled at the man why looking to his extended hand.

Beseth too was confused as to why the man wanted a written report, after all all he had asked for was the ring, the ring which Beseth was still wearing.

"I thought you wanted this ring, not a report on our findings." Beseth said, expressing her confusion aloud.

Drandle looked to the bartender, who was polishing a cup nearby. "Robert, what did I ask them yesterday?"

"'I want you to find a way into the necropolis, document your findings with professional detail, and recover artifacts of historical significance so they can be properly stored in museums. Our group is interested in one artifact in particular that we believe is down there — a two-finger ring topped with a ruby salamander.'" the bartender answered dutifully, doing surprisingly well at matching Drandle's tone from the day before.

"Thank you, Robert."

"Of course."

Drandle turned back to the three of you. "Company policy forbids notes taken after-the-fact." he explained. "Unless you're like Robert here, the memory can be unreliable, especially for smaller details, and precision is critical for historical records. There's a reason I asked you up-front to document things. I understand that events got a little interesting down there with the girl you found, but I can't offer the full reward for a job half-finished. I already find myself in the position of needing to explain to my superiors why the people I hired to complete a task on our behalf did not, in fact, complete all parts of that task."

"The events have been document and embedded into my memory. Next time you should be more clear on your expectations. Especially when dealing with outsiders to your organization. I understand if you can't provide full payment. It is your honor in question here not mine."

Makallun'abad rolls his eyes at their employer's words. "If that's how it'll be, so be it."

"So then what now? It would seem that we failed your mission, but yet we did return with this." Aer'Besethir says, taking off the ring and placing it in the palm of her hand. "If you don't want it, I'm certain we can find someone who does, besides we saved that girl's life, I think that has to count for something."

Drandle picked up the ring and eyed it closely - and a quick whisper under his breath was obvious as a basic cantrip to detect and analyze magic. "Aye, this is what we wanted most." he said, reaching down and setting three bags - two of identical size, one half as big as the others, on the table.

You've received 250 GP.

"Just between us, I'd have helped the girl first, too." he said, lowering his voice. "It's not just practical - it was the right thing to do, and I'm glad you did. Long-term, I think things will be fine down there. If you think you can pay a bit more attention to the smaller details of jobs, I'd be happy to write a letter of recommendation if you ever need one."

"Thank you. If there is nothing else?" Hadran waits to see if the man has any thing else for them. Another job or anything.

"We will have our leave then." He looks to the others.

"Well what now my friends?"

For now, at least, the man seemed to have no further requests for you. A much bigger concern was indeed what to do next - and, even more important, what you could do to find the parts of your selves that were still missing.

Beseth wasn't entirely certain why she might need a letter of recommendation, she was after all a goddess, well formerly at least, but she would keep the man in mind if she needed such paperwork.

"Thank you good sir." Beseth says addressing Drandle as she and her friends take the money. "If you would excuse us, we will be on our way now."

Once they have left the meeting place, Beseth comments, "Perhaps we should go check on our survivor, to see how her recovery is going." She suggests to the others.

Makallun'abad bids Drandle farewell, following suit after Hadran and Beseth. At the woman's suggestion to look in on Lady Dacilane's daughter, the dour look on the dwarf's face fades. "As a start, I have no problems with that. I'm sure she is being well-cared for, but there is no harm in stopping by."

"Yes let us do that then. We will then have to seek more information on artifacts or relics that are rumored or have been found."

Midfoviing's tail flicked around a few times as the three of you came back from your meeting with Drandle, and together your group was able to push through the city and, eventually, return to Lady Dacilane's estate - where you were met at the doors by a different pair of guards than you'd seen the night before. After a brief discussion, one of them rang for a servant to take a message inside, but it was almost ten minutes before someone finally came out. Lady Dacilane was there herself - as was Junia, who was awake and sitting in a chair that had wheels attached to the bottom. Junia still looked dangerously weak, but she smiled as she saw the three of you.

"I hope you'll... forgive me... if I don't get up and curtsy." she said, voice quiet but audible. "The doctor said I... need to take things... slowly... but thank you... for what you did." the young girl lowered her head an inch or so, apparently unable to do more just yet.

"And you do, you were down there for a long time, you don't want to exert yourself unnecessarily." Beseth understood the plight of nobles, especially when they could not act in a noble-like way even when expected to do so.

"We just wanted to check up on you and see how your recovery was going. I'm sure that others have many questions for you, they had many questions for us after all, but know that you have been through a traumatic event and you don't have to answer anyone's questions until you are ready, and anyone who says otherwise will have to answer to us." Beseth smiles at the girl, not wanting to see her come into any further harm.

Hadran is pleased to see the girl doing well. He looks to the mother.

"Very sorry Lady Dacilane for any trouble last night. We were seeking the best care for your daughter and quickly. We knew not of arrangements of your house. We were only acting in your daughters best interest. We hope it caused no trouble for you." He lowers his head giving the lady a bow.

"Taking her to our family church would have been best..." Lady Dacilane said - and Junia looked up at her. The woman clearly noticed. "But I suppose what you did was not unreasonable for people in a hurry, and they did provide adequate care." she added a moment later. "This is not the situation I had wished for, but I believe it is the best I could have gotten - and for that I am grateful."

"Alas, we had no way of knowing which was your family church, aside from stereotyping." Beseth explains, glad someone was satisfied with the job they had performed.

Having made sure that the Junia was recovering well, Beseth turns to her mother, Lady Dacilane. "We are pleased that your daughter is well, and if you or your daughter have any need of people of our skills, I trust you will remember what we have done for you. I apologize for cutting things short at this time, but if you have no further need of us at this time, I believe we have accomplished our goal in visiting today." She says, looking at her companions to see if they had any further business with Junia or Lady Dacilane.

"Yes we would best not keep you from your day or caring for your daughter."

Hadran looks to the girl.

"I am pleased you are doing well little one. Grow and be strong. Your mother loves you very much." Thank you Lady Dacilane. We will take our leave now."

outside with the others.

"Shall we see what rumors or information spreads through the city before having lunch?"

Gather Information: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 Looking for rumors or tales of items of power.

Wow, so good at this game

Even gods can roll a 1. ...Though some of them take Display of Charisma first. XD

Well if the real god here would deem it so and instill me with more godly power I would :), Besides the God of Valor needed to survive his initial awakening :) I was hoping the others may post over the weekend. We have certainly dropped to a slow pace. I'm in 12 game on here so I'm posting lots.

Hadran meets back with the others after looking for rumors. He has ordered lunch and a drink.

"I was unable to find anything. People looked at me as if I had ill will toward them. Perhaps it is time to move to a new city. What do you think Midfoviing. Would you like to see more of the world?"

Gather Information: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 Not much better, but at least I beat DC 15...Looking for rumors relevant to Beseth, maybe something that seems to coveted by people in love or some object of supernatural protection.

For reference, my plan is to try and get you mythic tiers at Level 4 and every even level thereafter - this has, in fact, always been the plan for this game - and you're 2/3rds of the way to Level 4. So it will be soonish! Don't be afraid to start thinking about what you want*!

*Except for Tier 3, at which point you are expected to take Divine Source as one of your path abilities. That's the power that lets people pray to you and receive magic, and given the theme of this game, it's preeeeeeetty important. XD And also a key part of proving your divinity to skeptics.

"Nn... fun." Midfoviing said, smiling. "New places. New smells. New food." Her tail flicked harder at that last one.

Over the course of a few hours of roaming about, however, you did overhear one interesting rumor. A place called Fangwood Keep, on the border of Nirmathas and Molthune, seemed like it was at the heart of yet another conflict between the two eternally-skirmishing nations... but the focus seemed more intent, this time, as there were rumors that something very unusual - nobody seemed to know what - had been found deep within.

"Might I suggest Fangwood Keep? It would seem that there is something unusual there that is causing the place to be fought over, it might be worth looking into. If nothing else, it's a destination, though it may take awhile to get there." Beseth suggests, truth be told she wasn't particularly fond of Absalom, she already wanted to leave since the only lead she really had about returning to godhood, the test of the starstone, hadn't done anything for her.

Cool just poking and messing with you :)

"Nirmathas is a long ways from here. Probably take a couple weeks, but it seems to be in our current interest. Something of power that know one can identify. We should leave on a ship tomorrow. We will go to Almas, from there take the river north to Falcon's Hollow. From there we go northwest keeping the mountains to our right to Elidir. Then northeast to Kerse. Finally take a boat across Lake Enearthan to Tamran. That puts us in Nirmathas and we can find the keep from there. You two still in?"

Looking to Beseth and Mak

Hadran eyes roll back to show the whites as he trances for a few moments before mentally making their path.

Who needs GPS when you have Hadran!

Beseth blinks for a moment as Hadran goves over the route they would need to take to get to Fangwood Keep. "Yea...that sounds about right. If it gets me out of this place, I'm good to go."

I thought it would be cool for the god of knowledge to show off a bit. He can do more then fight, maybe not a lot more but some :)

"Good, I will take Mak's silence as he agree's. Let us go secure passage then."

Off to the docks to set sail for Almas

If there was one thing you could count on in Absalom, it was that every day had ships coming and leaving, headed in all directions. Almas was about 400 miles away by ship - at standard rates, that was a charge of 40 GP for each member of your party. Once you'd paid, the journey itself would be fairly swift and easy.

I added the 250gp to my sheet as Party Loot.

Hadran pays the man the 160gp for the four of them.

"Well that is done. Meet back here for departure. Don't miss the boat. Come Midfoviing lets enjoy the open market one last time and get some meat on the stick you like."

Hadran meets back to board the boat with the others to set sail when the boat is ready to leave.

Makallun'abad takes his time to prepare his belongings and ready himself for the journey. The sea was most certainly not a place that suited the Fire Under the Mountain, but he would make due. He is present, and looks only slightly uncomfortable, when the ship is prepared to set sail.