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Real fear pushes itself throughout Tawner's limbs. He regards the young woman with a narrowing of his eyes-if that's even possible.
Something Unholy...something wicked! The others were probably too distracted to notice.
Tawner backs up in to El Garrapata and calls out for Janira.
"Janira! Something foul attaches itself to the young lady! Look for yourself."
He places his hand over the ankh tied around his neck. He grips it firmly, and looks over at the others. His other hand is on his scimitar.
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Lydia looks at Tawner with folded arms and the facial-expression equivalent of a tired sigh.
"I suppose we'd have had to do this at some point. An introduction is in order...."
The muting of ambient hues that seems to follow Lydia everywhere she goes now intensifies and spreads, taking in nearly the whole room as she begins an occult incantation:
"Though I endanger myself roaming,
Still I walk among the gloaming,
Dark companion, I let out
Fomalhaut,
FOMALHAUT
"
The color and light return to the room...but now, standing next to Lydia, is a twisted, utterly-black wraith whose features continuously shift and writhe, the only constant a single, terrible eye.
"Finally!" The entity laughs in a hollow, yet rich voice, like the crunching of damp Autumn leaves. He stretches around the circle of would-be companions - stretching, never quite leaving Lydia's side - grabbing each hand and shaking it in turn. It's like shaking hands with melting ice.
"Please allow me to introduce myself: I am Fomalhaut, and I am sure you have many questions about me! Well, I attended Magaambya...I'm a graduate of the Cerebulim...I've traveled QUITE extensively...I lived through Earthfall, I remember the times fondly...I've read The Pnakotic Manuscripts well over a hundred times, and it keeps getting funnier EVERY time I read it...and did I mention I've a nice little villa in the Great Beyond? What say you?"
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Something reflective reaches towards Fomalhaut when the shadow grasps Sidi's hand. The Bas'o himself, however, grimaces when the shadow touches him. "I have no questions for a shade. I call you a liar, though. You would never make it through the doors of Magaambya." The giant of a man inflates his chest and stands taller. "No true ancient would permit itself to be bound by one so young, so go heel at your master's side unless you wish to know what one who actually read Jatembe's writings can do."
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Fomalhaut is silent for a second, then the Autumn-leaf chuckle returns, evolving after a few seconds into a mild howl, like a cold and windy night.
"Listen, Mr. Sunshine, when you're several thousand years old, please let me know if your memory remains as good as mine. Once you've drifted in the darkness for as long as I have, struggling with the heartless winds of Eternity for every scrap of your fragile existence, let me know if you're still *too good* to pass up an offer of friendship simply because it's from someone a little young. Long before all that, let me know if you're still as fair and vigorous as Lydia once you're HER age. As for what you can do...seems like somebody already did it to me! HAAA-HA-HA-HA-HA!"
Lydia stands behind the shade, biting her lip, her expression an odd mixture of sadness, fatigue, and relief.
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"Fascinating....truely fascinating" Says Hallimir to the wraith as he accepts his handshake with a look of wonder and awe on his face.
"I am Hallimir, of the Elven house Duskrin....please excuse my ignorance... but what exactly 'are' you?
I have read about shades and the art of manipulating shadows, but you....are something very different."
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While Hallimir queries the entity, Tawner takes a moment to study Airyn. Pale, like Lydia. And small perceptible currents of air eddy around him—almost like he's in a different place. Tawner breathes the stale air of the Flaxseed and knows what he's seeing. An outsider.
He sighs. By your wisdom, Sarenrae, guide me.
Feeling overwhelmed by his lack of experience in both adventure and of the peoples of Golarion, he heads out the door.
"Some of us have to get to the market."
"Right. Let's move out."
Janira leads the party through the twilight world of earlier-morning Absolam. The streets are alive with merchants, and delivery folk setting up for the day ahead. The sun is just reaching over the horizon, illuminating the tops of city's tallest structures, when the party makes the as-yet-uncrowded market square.
"So Gillwomen aren't really my specialty. I was in the area studying flora and fauna as part of my confirmation. I only tangentially noticed the gillwomen activity, but it was enough to pique my curiosity." Janira says. She moves over to a fruit seller and samples the strawberries.
"I do know that It is said during Earthfall the gillwomen’s Azlanti ancestors survived the cataclysm because they received the blessing of an aquatic entity that allowed them to breath underwater. They are known to be very secretive, but not overtly hostile. Mmm, these are good. I'll take some."
"Yes! It's great to see you all too." She smiles.
"Oh! do you have enough rope? And make sure someone has a grapnel. And what about light? Those caves could go on for miles you know."
"There wasn't any time to investigate the caves more thoroughly when I was there last, what with keeping clear of all the clans of minotaurs, and centaurs you find up near the Mounts, and it wasn't my mission regardless. It’s that exact question that you all are being asked to answer. The only known permanent surface settlement of the gillwomen is in Escadar. Why they’re venturing into the foothills of the Kortos Mounts is a complete mystery. Alas, time is short. After reviewing my mission reports personally," (she takes a moment to beam) "Master Shaine believes it is no coincidence that each time they entered the caves it was during a full moon, so it is also no coincidence that you have been called upon now, just a day before the moon is full again. Master Shaine and I both believe that tomorrow night is our best chance to find out why these caves are important and what exactly the gillwomen are doing in there."
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El Garrapata stares at the specter for a moment, then thrusts out his hand. "Pleased to meet you, Formal Hat. I am EL GARRAPATA, defender of JUSTICE!"
Fomalhaut cordially shakes El Garrapata's hand. "'Let Justice Be Done Though Heaven May Fall,' eh? Be sure to watch your head!" It looks back at Lydia. "May I have a hat?"
"Fascinating....truely fascinating" Says Hallimir to the wraith as he accepts his handshake with a look of wonder and awe on his face.
"I am Hallimir, of the Elven house Duskrin....please excuse my ignorance... but what exactly 'are' you?
I have read about shades and the art of manipulating shadows, but you....are something very different."
"You might say that I'm what you get when a powerful soul spends too long trapped in the eddies between the Shadow and Negative Energy planes." It shrugs. "I'm a survivor[i] - nay, a BON VIVANTE!"
"The nice thing about being Lydia's shadow is that, as an inversion of her, I'm the [i]LIFE [i]of the party!" Fomalhaut turns to Tawner, catching him in its frightful gaze. "So DON'T think of trying to blow me away with your sun magic, because, funny thing, it won't work on me...only HER. I don't think any of us wants that."
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“I have two sunrods.” He says to Janira, “I guess that will hold the night. But I’ve no rope or hook. Maybe the others…”
Tawner spots a nearby merchant selling parchment and quills. As he walks over, he sees a shadow where there should be none.
"So DON'T think of trying to blow me away..."
Before Fomalhaut finishes speaking to Tawner, he gives it the thumbs up and turns to keep walking. He almost walks in to Lydia who is handing him three scrolls. He accepts the cylindrical papers with only a fleeting glimpse in to her eyes.
Why is she attached to that thing?
“Um,” He unravels one of the rolls and momentarily studies it.
“I’ll have a look at it later.”
Great. I don’t know what she’s handed me. This day just gets better and better.
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"Yes. I have torches, provisions, rope and a grapple," Sidi answers the Pathfinder. "Rope enough for small climbs, at least. If we are delving into the Darklands, then it will likely not be enough."
He follows Janira through the city, using his large club as a walking stick. The rest of his arms and armor are stowed on his back with various ties. A coil of knotted silk rope hangs off of one side.
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Tawner buys an inkpen, ink, and a journal. He also buys 50 feet of hemp rope.
Before heading back to the group, he sees a set of pretty, mottled blue marbles and purchases them.
Maybe we can use these for a game to keep our spirits up.
He muses that the merchants have been fair and have only taken him for 19 gold and 2 silver. He finds Janira and nods his readiness.
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"You might say that I'm what you get when a powerful soul spends too long trapped in the eddies between the Shadow and Negative Energy planes." It shrugs. "I'm a survivor[i] - nay, a BON VIVANTE!""The nice thing about being Lydia's shadow is that, as an inversion of her, I'm the [i]LIFE [i]of the party!" Fomalhaut turns to Tawner, catching him in its frightful gaze. "So DON'T think of trying to blow me away with your sun magic, because, funny thing, it won't work on me...only HER. I don't think any of us wants that."
** spoiler omitted **
“A lost soul from the outer planes. You should consider yourself lucky…although I am a follower of the Lady of Graves, I am somewhat more reserved than some of the more devout. It is clearly not yet your time to be judged, for if Pharasma had deemed that it were your time, we would not be having this conversation.”
Hallimir stops at a local stationer and purchases about 10 sheets of bound paper, some ink and an inkpen. Turning back to the group; “I also have some rope, some basic climbing gear, provisions and a grapple that I can fire from my bow. As for light, I have no need for it…I can see quite well in the dark.”
After purchasing his supplies, Hallimir follows the group quietly humming to himself. His cloak is being held back by his arms and the hood resting on his shoulders showing two curved daggers on one side of his belt, a mace swinging loosely on the other and a bow drawn across his pack.
Just past early Janira leads the band out of the city proper, and into the surrounding villages. By midday the villages have given way to small farms, and hamlets, and small ruined fortress's seemingly dropped at random about the plain. Some are little more than piles of rubble picked clean even of their easy to move stones, while others--towers mostly, rise skyward like menhirs more or less intact save the wearing of time.
By late afternoon the city is just a dark spot on the horizon. Ahead the forest grows denser, swallowing up the last bits of civilization to the south.
Soon darkness begins to fall, but Janira pushes on, almost to the point of it being too dark to easily make camp.
The forest is thicker here. Roads and civilization has been left far behind.
Janira asks one of the team to make a fire while others gather wood. Janira unroll her bedroll, and blanket. She sits on the edge of a log near the fire with a small cauldron, which she fills with some water she had taken from a stream the party passed. She put it over the fire and the pulls a smooth river stone out and tosses it into pot.
"We made such good time I thought we'd make my mother's famous stone stew for dinner." She sighs regretfully. "Unfortunately I only have the fixings for the broth, and a weak one at that. If only there was something we could add to it." She looks around the campfire as the water begins to steam inside of the cauldron.
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"I have read about many edible roots and berries. I shall see if I can find some in this area." Airyn drops his backpack near the fire and explores the area for a short time, looking for food.
After several minutes, he returns arms laden with a varied collection of nuts, berries, and leaves. He kneels next to Janira's boiling pot. "Will these do?"
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Tawner helps with the wood and stands next to the fire. To Janira he says, "You mean like game? Hallimir has a bow."
"Hey, Hallimir! Are you a hunter?" he calls out.
He waves off the man in blue, "You can probably keep those, Garrapata. Oh, and don't put that stick with the kindling, you're going to actually want to keep that one with you."
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"I do not have much to offer the stew," Sidi says, removing a bundle of dried meat and stale bread. He crumbles the bread and pours it into the stew pot. "Maybe that will thicken the stew."
He strips out of his robe, revealing old lash scars on his back and legs, poorly seen in the firelight. He takes one of two javelins from his pack and heads into the woods. "I will see if I can find something better to offer."
After a while, he returns, holding a small hare by its legs and the bloody javelin resting over his shoulder. "It will not fill all our bellies, but it will add flavor," he smiles heads downwind with a knife in order to skin and dress the rabbit.
The Bas'o returns with two handfuls of fresh rabbit meat. "Before I add this to the pot, is there anyone who refrains from eating meat?"
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"Hey, Hallimir! Are you a hunter?"
Hallimoir wanders over to the others after gathering some firewood, "Alas, I am not a Hunter. Unfortunately a life in a high born Elven house leaves your skills in the wild somewhat lacking." he says to Tawner.
Seeing Sidi prepare to go hunting, Hallimir retrieves his bow, "but if someone can point me to some game then I will try my best to bring it down."
With that Hallimir follows Sidi into the forrest.
Hallimir also returns with a small hare with only enough meat for roughly one person. He places it down besides the fire with the other ingredients.
Airyn, perhaps you wouldn't mind giving me some pointers. Next time, I will accompany you....and learn what I can."
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Lydia disappears into the forest, Fomalhaut in tow...
She finds a nice-looking mushroom!
"Don't eat that," Says a familiar voice behind her as she reaches for it. "You wouldn't want to risk another 'smiling-faced sun' dream...."
Then there is an unearthly howl, and suddenly, a moderate-sized deer runs frantically out of the darkness and into the campsite, knocking itself out cold as it bonks its head against Janira's cook-pot.
"Oops. Did I do that?"
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The Bas'o returns with two handfuls of fresh rabbit meat. "Before I add this to the pot, is there anyone who refrains from eating meat?"
Airyn raises his hand. "I am not accustomed to eating meat. I would appreciate it if you roasted your catch separately."
"Airyn, perhaps you wouldn't mind giving me some pointers. Next time, I will accompany you....and learn what I can."
Airyn nods to Hallimir, "I would be happy to share what I know with you. When we return, I can show you some books in the lodge that illustrate different plants quite beautifully."
El Garrapata nods eagerly. "Perhaps if we found more things to put in your stew? I have a wand! And many dried rations!" He holds out his wand of healing and a couple trail rations.
"Hmm? I'll take the dried goods." She says turning her eyes to the wand. "Hold on to that for later and we'll see if we have the makings for S'mores after dinner."
After several minutes, he returns arms laden with a varied collection of nuts, berries, and leaves. He kneels next to Janira's boiling pot. "Will these do?"
"Whoa!" Janira's eyes bug out at the sight of all the food.
Tawner helps with the wood and stands next to the fire. To Janira he says, "You mean like game? Hallimir has a bow."
"Whatever you've got. I once went camping with this one woman all she had was a big wheel of cheese. That was it. Never been so stopped up in all my life."
After a while, he returns, holding a small hare by its legs and the bloody javelin resting over his shoulder. "It will not fill all our bellies, but it will add flavor," he smiles heads downwind with a knife in order to skin and dress the rabbit.
The Bas'o returns with two handfuls of fresh rabbit meat. "Before I add this to the pot, is there anyone who refrains from eating meat?"
"That isn't anyone's familiar is it? I know lots of wizards who just keep them in their pockets. I always wonder about what the people who do their laundry think."
Then there is an unearthly howl, and suddenly, a moderate-sized deer runs frantically out of the darkness and into the campsite, knocking itself out cold as it bonks its head against Janira's cook-pot.
"Oops. Did I do that?"
Drenched and wearing the pot, Janira crosses her arms and stews.
"Now we'll need more water." She says her voice echoing oddly through the metal cauldron.
Seeing the deer emerge from the dark, Hallimir darts backwards out of the way just as the deer is about to trample him.
"Well I guess thats dinner. Janira, how far are we from the caves?" He enquires.
"Not far. If we set a good pace we should be there a little past midday." Comes her metallic reply.
Once everything is again settled Janira begins cooking--sorta.
"Yeah, I've never actually done this before by myself, but mom could make grass taste good. Besides the great Pathfinder Andrew Zimmern was always making it sound so easy in his journal entries."
"Thanks Airlyn!"
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Sidi shakes his head and clicks his tongue as the camp seems content to let the small doe suffer in its daze. "Please, allow me." The giant steps over the doe and snaps her neck with a swift twist. He then grabs his rope and drags the doe away to clean.
He returns briefly before going to find water to wash his blood arms.
"I will cut the meat to add after Airyn's soup is served." I do not understand those who refuse to eat meat but happily kill plants to eat, and, among Pathfinders, are otherwise willing to kill things in ruins and caves.
After dinner Janira pulls out an intricate silver compass emblazoned with the Pathfinder Society logo: the Glyph of the Open Road.
“It's a wayfinder. I received this when I successfully completed my Confirmation. Should we be successful on our journey, you'll each get your own.” She flips open the device and holds it in front of her; the initials J. L. are engraved into the inside of the device’s lid.
"So why are you trying to be Pathfinders? I mean there's any number of ways a person can get themselves killed in this world, why choose this one?"
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Tawner shrugs his answer as he starts to remove his scale mail. He'd already taken off his blue and gold mantle as well as his gauntlets, and placed them on top of his backpack. He realizes he doesn't own earthenware or utensils.
How am I supposed to eat this soup?.
"I was to meet one of our calling, and head in to Oparra in Taldor. To meet with people. Heal where we could. I was in that tavern. I just heard you folks talking. I know the Pathfinders, but it always seemed dangerous, maybe reckless." He pauses and lets his armor hit the sack.
"I'm not in dereliction of my duty. They aren't waiting on me specifically. I'll join them when I can. Besides, this should be good experience. I don't have an...a lot...of experience.
"Um. Does anyone have a wooden cup I could use tonight?"
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Hallimir opens his pack and pulls out his mess kit and fills a bowl with some soup. He finds a comfortable spot on the ground next to Tawner, passes him a mug and leans back against his pack.
“well, as I mentioned before, I grew up in a noble Elven home; but as you can see, I am only half-Elven. As such, I hold no claim to my family’s titles or lands. That honour” he says sarcastically, “falls to my older, full blooded, brother Ulanor."
"Ovee the years I grew tired of his popularity among the family and our subjects…of always living in his shadow, always knowing that I would never meet that mark”, he pauses slightly, his tone changing from sarcasm to one of relief, “And so I left….I am here to make my own way, to gain my own fame and my own title so that one day, even the Great Ulanor Duskrin will know of my deeds."
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Tawner thanks Hallimir for the mug. He tests the temperature of the stew. He then sloshes it around and stares at the fire.
"Sounds like you've got a chip on your shoulder that extends all the way back to the day of your birth. Heh, that's pretty sizable."
He's thoughtful for a moment and then stares into his cup.
"Be careful not to end up on the wrong side of your own resentment. I'm not saying you are resentful. It's just that I've known several people who were their own worst enemy."