Broken Golarion

Game Master Monkeygod

Mugmuff stares at the old woman's corpse a long moment... death was nothing new to him, he'd seen enough friends die, as well as enemies, many at his own hands, but this was something new to him... a hale young woman dying of old age in a matter of minutes, all for a Harrowing. "Dire things she say... darkness and death, tornado be bad...we be doomed, sez she... " He looks over at the others with a deep scowl. "But doomed to what fate, eh?

He looks back to her.. and watches for a long moment, as if expecting her to un-age and return to life... he reaches over and touches a desiccated hand, almost gently for a goblin, and for anyone who can see his face, a whole gamut of emotions seem to wash over him, and he makes no effort to mask the expressions that cross his features. He almost, you might think, is uncharacteristically touched and dismayed... but that's not very goblin-like and perhaps these expressions don't mean the same thing for a goblin...

After what seems like it might be a full five minutes of him staying at the Harrowing table, he finally climbs down and walks over to the others... "Lady be dead." he says flatly to them as he takes his seat. He orders a very large mug of ale and downs it in a moody silence after it arrives.

"that poor woman."

Karen once again bounds to her feet, goes to her, and checks her for signs of life.

Heal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Loc will blink for a few moments before he tosses the hand he had dealt himself behind his back to approach the scene. "Well Well Well. Seems like the crone had quite a bit of power huh? Who knows what she was talking about though. I've heard divination has been a bit touch and go ever since Aroden's death. Still I'll write it all down so we don't forget it. Never know when a hint of the future can come in handy." After writing it all down though he will approach the body as well. I don't know what sort of knowledge check would be appropriate to figure out what that was about but I will make one next post."How tragic. It appears the reading burned her out. At least she seems to avoid the doom that awaits us. Karen, would you mind assisting me in removing her from the establishment? Let us find a temple to have her buried. Not much she can do for me to be honest."

No roll needed Loc, that falls under the 'rule of cool' that I mentioned in discussion. Especially since you have an Int of 24, there's no way somebody that smart will forget what they just heard.

Penshi surprisingly does not seem bothered by the Harrower's passing. You're all starting to realize there is likely more to this tavern keep that there appears to be. He waves off Loc and Karen "I will take care of her body, please. I know who she worshiped, and I will pay for any costs for her burial."

In fact the ladies passing and her reading both produce an incredible and noteworthy lack of response from everyone in the tavern. People simply looked on and, when she finally passed, just went back to whatever it was they were doing before the event began.

"Does that happen lots here?" He's not terribly surprised at the lack of response. Goblins die pretty easily and deaths are treated rather casually as a rule... but these are longshanks and usually react a bit more strongly to deaths among them. "Mugmuff confor.. conflu... confoozed! Why no one care?"

A man at the next table over half laughs. He is obviously strong and has several vicious looking scars. Where have you been, Gobbo? I spent ten months on the front fighting demons. I've seen men turned inside out at a hundred paces. When it comes to wierd magical crap I've seen one woman living all her years at once doesn't even crack the top ten.

"Me been dead. Just woke up. What are top ten, then?" he asks curiously.

"Fate has no hold on you...?" Lian repeats in shock.

"Yes, she sed that... but what means that?"

The burly man laughs. If you want stories to give even a gobbo nightmares then I'm going to need a few drinks.

Aww let it be! says a woman sitting two tables over. We came here for a bit o' peace. If you want stories take it outside.

The man looks to you and shrugs.

Anastasia's face remains stony, though inside she seethes at the idea of just casually and flippantly ignoring a woman who has died like that.

You who gave knowledge freely, know that this servant of the god of knowledge thanks you and prays that her deity smiles upon you. whispers Karen in prayer over the woman's corpse as she closes her eyes.

That grizzly business finished, Karen looks up and asks aloud "How is it that all of you have become so jaded that you can't even pause to mourn the passing of another person? What is wrong with you all?"

She then storms out of the building.

"Touchy, she be. Death be normal. Sh*t happens." he says pragmatically, then shrugs.

There is little reaction in the tavern to Karen's outburst. Outside Karen sees the stable boy carrying large water pails back and forth from a nearby fountain. People are everywhere. Most of them ragged and looking hungry, exhausted, worried, or otherwise downtrodden. They seem to be from everywhere. Tian, Ulfen, Varisian, Chelaxian, Mwangi, Elf, Gnome, Dwarf and everything in between. Absolom was always a melting pot, but this seems different. More forced. The whole thing feels tight, like tensions are running high. So is the smell. It wasn't just the barn that you smelled when you first awoke.

Driven by her anger and despair at seeing the state of people around her, Karen subconsciously draws upon her newfound power to heal, sending a wave of soft white light throughout the courtyard. Bones mend, poisons and diseases are purged, and even weariness is lifted.

Karen seems as shocked as anyone by this development.

Spending Effort for the scene to activate Flesh Made True, which does things like regenerate limbs and fix poisons and diseases, but doesn't cure HP damage. Oddly enough, it will even fix birth defects.

"Dear Irori, what was that?" Karen mumbles to herself.

RAW, FMT is target, via sight. For this scene however, I'll rule that 1/rd, you'll 'look' at one person in view

As Karen wanders the area around the fountain, her healing energy washes over people, almost at will. The couple of dozen people she affects all stand up straighter, as the weight of the world is lifted from them. None realize it's the young lady who is in shocked awe as this power emanates from her.

Loc would lean back in his chair and nod. "Very true my little green friend. She has always been a little touchy about death though. Things are starting to be made clear. It appears that Absolom has turned more into a refuge camp. This implies that the tyrant not only has grown stronger but the demons of the world wound have as well. On the bright side those demons should give the Tyrant some trouble at the least. Maybe we will get lucky and they will destroy one another."

Loc, curious, but how do you know about the Worldwound? You died before it opened.

I believe it opened many years ago. They just would not have broken past the wardstones. While he was alive. Let me double check that though.
Edit. Yeah the first crusade against the demons was in 4622. Carrion crown happens around like 4705 or something. The wound would be open, just all the events of wrath of the righteous would not have happened before his death.

So, you wouldn't think that the demons would be a threat. As far as you know, they are bound tight behind the wardstones, and barely an issue.

Flipside, you're aware that the Adventure Paths that took place *before* Carrion Crown likely failed as well. We'll keep it a bit nebulous as to when they did, exactly, but since you're pretty positive Tar-Baphon has been released, that those prior to CC also did not go so well.

"This place is like a refugee camp... I know my lands were in trouble but things can't be that bad, can it...? Are the fey everywhere?" Lian says somewhat quietly, sensitive to the warning about getting news later.

"Who this tyrunt? And me know demons... me kill one... once! Very much badness... " He shakes his head slowly as he contemplates the idea that demons are even more prevalent than they were ...

Ludvic would look at Lian confused before turning back to Mugmuff. "Well the tyrant is a incredibly powerful necromancer who once waged a large war in the northern inner sea. He managed to kill a the demigod Arazni before he was eventually trapped in the prison Gallowspire... At least until Karen and I failed to foil his escape. He's the rotted corpse who killed me and a few other friends. Shame they didn't seem to get the same chance Karen and I did. As for the demons you would know how much operate from meeting one. They were trapped in what became known as the worldwound after they some how created a gate to our plane. My home country Ustalav shared a border with the blasted land. Lian what do you mean by Fey? I'm guessing those creatures led to your demise?"

An elderly gentleman leans against a doorway watching Karen as she wanders around the courtyard. His clothes appear to be as worn as everyone else in the courtyard. A tall walking stick leans against the wall next to him. His eyes though, they're different. They lack the hopelessness of everyone else that Karen has seen.

When she looks at him, he motions his hand towards a young mother with a toddler. She is leaning back against a small sack of possessions with her back to the wall of the building. The mother stares wearily at her child, unaware of the surroundings as the child futilely suckles.

Karen will nod at the man then move towards the mother and child and say "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

Anastasia casts Loc an incredulous look. "Sir, if I understand the implications of what you're saying... you're telling me the Whispering Tyrant has been freed from the Gallowspire!?"

Matsuoka sits by, in some shock and awe at the developments. It was certainly shaking to witness the Harrower's sudden demise, and the lack of reaction was worrying as well. He was about to comment when Karen burst out instead, and he nods. At least someone shows piety for the dead.

When the other woman steps outside, Matsuoka hesitates for a moment, and then follows her. He stretches his arms and glances up at the sky, knowing that it likely won't look like his native land's. It's only after a few moments that he notices the people around the courtyard starting to look a little more lively as they walk by. He steps toward Karen, curious, and hears her muttered question. Irori. There's a god I know.

Still, he doesn't say anything just yet. Instead he wonders about what's going on, and lets his gaze follow Karen as she looks to the old man and then the child. Maybe it will all make sense, soon.

Lian turns to Loc, "The northern end of River Kingdoms. A newly formed Kingdom was stolen into the First World by the Fey Queen Nyssa, and that left a place where they could cross over. Fey have ravaged the surrounding areas and numerous kingdoms have fallen. Including my Touvette," she says with sadness. "And with us gone, I'm sure Mivon and Gralton fell soon after. I gather some time has passed and maybe things continued to get worse..."

Loc will lean back in his chair as he listens to the story. Some things were starting to make a small chill go up his spine. "W-wait. I don't remember hearing anything like that happen. Granted I was busy with my own survival but still. DO we have any idea how much time has passed since our deaths? Once again,y apologies for your demise."

Loc will lean back in his chair as he listens to the story. Some things were starting to make a small chill go up his spine. "W-wait. I don't remember hearing anything like that happen. Granted I was busy with my own survival but still. DO we have any idea how much time has passed since our deaths? Once again,my apologies for your demise."

"Me thinks much happenz I not know about... other places, other times. Much to learn. We needs trade stories and find out what happen since each one, yes?" Mugmuff still looks a little confused, but less so than before. He has a plan and while it may be a bit simplistic, it's a start.. for him.

"No need for apologies, I seem to have gotten over it," she replies to Loc. "It'd be easy to find the date at least... and our host implied asking around stories may be unwelcome for now... we may have to wait on that aspect til tonight. Mugmuff, do you think you can find out the month and year from someone at the bar without letting them know why?" Lian offers a small challenge.

Karen will continue using her newfound power to heal the people in the courtyard, waiting to see when it runs out.

Not that it will, but she doesn't know that =D

Mugmuff shrugs, walks up to someone who looks like he or she's not totally drunk and out of it, and bluntly asks... "What be month and year?"

While Mugmuff gets the info- rather directly- Lian glances at Matsuoka.

"You're quiet."

The old man watches as Karen goes about the courtyard.

He smiles benignly when she approaches and spells the young mother and toddler.

Do you think you can save the world like this? Tomorrow will be no different than this morning.

"Except that these people will not be needlessly suffering, and that's not nothing. Tomorrow, I will help those I can, and the same with the day after that. Maybe it will matter, and maybe it's just shouting into the void; either way, I can't stand idly by while people suffer. It's just not in me to do so."

Having healed the child, Karen will pat it's head affectionately then move to the next person who needs help.

Matsuoka shrugs as he sees Karen merely continue about her healing, and he returns inside to catch the last of the conversation. When Lian speaks to him, he turns to her and gives a helpless look. "I think this is a stranger place for me than the rest of you," he says. "This is not my land, not my language. I come from the other side of the world, and now I am here... I don't know why."

He sighs and takes a seat on one of the barstools. "Some of you say you fought great evils. Challenged a tyrant. I served my lord, and died defending his gate. It was a good life, a good death, for a samurai... But it makes me wonder why I am here now. I died with honor. I should be with Shizuru. But instead..." He waves one hand to gesture at the room.

As Karen works her way around the courtyard she looks up and the old man is leaning against the wall in front of her, a quick glance back confirms he is no longer behind her.

You can spend your second life pruning each plant in front of you, and miss the forest in flames around you.

The old man pulls a small copper coin from his robes, he starts spinning it across his fingers. Tell me what you would do. You have before you an individual with a horrific dis... condition. If you begin to treat this individual, it will take you the entire day. Do you start treating them? You don't know that your treatment will save that life, its really a low chance. Do you still begin treatment?

The old man looks intently into Karen's eyes. If you don't start treatment that patient will surely die before the week is out. But! In the time you do treat that one person, you don't treat twenty others. Some of whom may die for delayed treatment.

Lian lightly touches his arm, "Maybe it is Shizuru who has use for you here. While you decide what to do, I hope I can at least be a friendly face and help you get your feet under you. I remember when I first arrived in lands like these too."

"You probably don't know this, but everyone who practices the healers arts and gives a damn about it has to make choices like that every day. It's all about finding the most wounded people, the people in direst need, and doing what you can."

Karen says flatly "I know I can't save everyone. Some days, you are lucky to save a person; I also know, however, that it's not just about me. Take yourself, for example; In the time you've followed me around berating me for helping other people, you could have easily helped one or two yourself. Why aren't you doing more to help?" Karen asks, only partially interested in the answer.

Courtyard

It may seem callous, but there are bigger issues that need resolving. You weren't sent here to help a single tree in the forest.

Validk tosses copper into the air where it flashes for a moment as the sun reflects off it. As your eyes adjust, you see everyone in the courtyard holding a copper in their hand. I know you Karen, daughter of Irori. Tell me, what did it feel like as the vampire sucked the last of your life's blood from your veins? Do you not wish vengeance?

He turned and started out of the courtyard. I own the soup kitchen down that way, and the tavern next door, the Drinking Dragon.

Inside the tavern

The barmaid shrugs and snarls at the goblin's request for the date.

Another pitcher of ale is dropped on the counter in front of Matsuoko, that'll be 5 silver. The voice sounded strained, the barmaid's attempt at a smile was painful to look at. What about you? she asks of the kitsune.

Matsuoka offers Lian a smile for her words and gesture, but it's a bit forced. "I will do as I am required. It is my way."

The Tian man pauses, but before he can say anything more, the barmaid sets a pitcher on the counter before him. He looks at it and then at the maid. "I don't think I ordered..." But he trails off and then shakes his head. "Hang on." He reaches for his purse, which he realizes is heavy, and pulls out a coin of platinum. He regards it in the light with surprise, as he rarely held such a fortune in his prior life, but then he presses it into the maid's hand. "For your trouble."

"Vengeance is a luxury I cannot afford. It's not my way of thinking to hold grudges."

Karen's voice gets quieter as she says "And dying hurt. Alot."

Almina, who is coming back out of the kitchen, is the one who answers Mugmuff "It's Fireday, the 20th, Desnus, year 4018" Friday, May 20th, 2018, for our calendar

Mugmuff is satisfied that he fulfilled the request made of him... he knows the date and didn't have to reveal why he wanted to know it... He gives Almina a toothy grin and a wink. "Me thought so... " he says, not even attempting to really give credence to the bluff....

He walks over to Lian and repeats what Almina told him... "Fireday, twenteenth desnis, forty-eighteen," though he prounounces all phonetically, and not entirely correctly, but close enough to hopefully be understood. "What mean all that?"

"Eighteen...." Lian repeats Mugmuff's words, "It means I've missed about... agh, three years? Four...?" she tries to think, [b]"I guess I wasn't focusing on the date when I died."

Unless I screwed up, 4018 is five years after the start of Wrath of the Righteous, fyi. That's where the game picks up, regardless of if I got the year right or not.