Flip looks up to cute little ysoki in the sky. "Er... Boss? Can we start doing pre-game roleplay so that the whole team can meet one another?" He points at Guy. "I wanna know if this guy will shed all over my nice clothes!"
Yeah, I'm fine with that. Just keep it general to introductions and chatter among y'all. Essentially avoid using a specific setting so it can all integrate nicely once said setting is dropped.
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Flip adjusts his bright blue noble outfit, puts on his excellent supple frog boots, and looks in the mirror as he adds his hat with jaunty feather. The velvet is a rich teal that almost glows, and then dozens of eyes open on the velvet fabric -- signs of a visit to the first world. Flip sighs. "Guys, enough with the blinking!"
The blue eyes dart back and forth, nervously, and then close again, making it look like a normal velvet outfit once more. Flip sighs, shaking his head. "Crazy fairies and their crazy gifts..."
The eyes blink open again, looking distinctly offended.
"Alright, alright. Stay out if you want to! I'll just be the frog with all the eyes on his clothes! Nothing weird about that..." He pets his Roc, Blue Sky. The avian idly pecks at one of the open eyes, which blinks away in terror. Flip grins. "Got to say this about my journeys so far. Always entertaining, right girl?"
Big Sky calls, then lowers her neck for Flip to hop on.
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Flip takes off with Big Sky, and then sees the group of Pathfinders. "That's probably our team. There's a kitsune... Huh. Never saw one that actually looked like a kitsune. And there's some kind of dwarf and an elf..."
He calls out to the group, "I am Flip the Lucky! Favored Frog of Fortune! Beloved of Irez! Who might all of you be?"
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Gordy is a short, scrawny looking dwarf dressed in a ragged wide brimmed hat and a gray overcoat crusted at the edges with salt. His skin, hair and clothing are perpetually damp with salt water, as if he had recently taken a swim in the sea. His heavy boots leave wet tracks that quickly evaporate behind him.
"The name is Gordy Grimes, and I am pleased to meet you all," he says quietly. "I'm sorry about the water, but I promise I'll clean it up. I can't help it, you see. Perhaps you'd all like to meet the Captain? He be a wee little beast that lives in me head. "
Gordy grabs his beard and twists in both hands. A torrent of salt water splashes on the ground and forms into a long, black and blue sea snake. The creature climbs up Gordy's leg and wraps around his arm. It raises its head to look at the other party members, flicking its tongue at them in curiosity.
"'Is full name is Cap'n Klacken McKraken, but it's alright if ye just call 'im the Cap'n."
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A kitsune archer wanders up, He is dressed in simple clothing and wears a feathered cap. He has a quiver and pack on his back and appears to only carry a light mace and a dagger for melee weapons.
Other than appearing in his natural form, there is one thing somewhat strange about him. All the fur on his face is white, part of it looking almost like a beard.
He greets you all with a bow like an entertainer would give after a performance. “Greetings! I am Guido Falkes although you may all call me Guy if you wish.”
He carefully steps around the puddles left by Gordy, saying “I don’t mind getting a little damp. I’ve met others with a strong connection to the water. ”
“Tell me, do you love the water, does it love you, or is it mutual?”
He does give Big Sky a wary eye.
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After hearing the reply, he turns to Flip and asks “How ever did you get such a unique outfit? There must be quite the story there!”
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Dana walks with slow steps and is not the most gracile or beautiful woman from Tian Xia.
"Greetings to you all." says the corpulant woman with a self-confident smile.
Her asymmetrically cut black hair with pink highlights has an exotic appeal and she is wearing a full plate armor that clearly encumbers her heavily.
She carries a backpack and on her armor gadgets and coloured leather straps are visible which are more fashion items than functional adventure gear. A small buckler is attached to her left arm.
Resting on top of her chest, an amulet showing the holy symbol of Chaldira Zuzaristan is visible.
She does not really have a natural presence and unfortunately might come across as aloof or arrogant.
Facing you all she bows but more out of tradition than courtesy you believe.
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Dana raises an eyebrow when Guido greets her.
"Guy ... hmmm ... ok. Lots of my siblings are Kitsune but I rarely see them in this form. Looks different though ... they are usually white not red like you. Dana ... Dana Katsu is my name. Don't expect anything physical from me ... I won't expect anything mental from you ..." she says with a smirk.
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"Aye, married to the sea I am. The scent of salt in the air, the feel of the ocean spray in ye' beard. There ain't nothing like it." Gordy's voice trails off and his eyes get misty.
"I do go a special affinity for the water, ye' might say. I don't think most people got a sea snake friend made outta water. And ya' won't ever have t' be thirsty when I'm around, because I keep an endless supply a' fresh water in me beard. Besides that, I can be a fair hand in a fight. I don't carry much in the way of weapons 'cause I can make swords and cannon balls out of water when ever I want. And I can make people fall over and drop things outta their hands by makin' them real slippery, just like they was covered in ice."
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Flip does a bit of a spin, showing off the blinking eyes. "So you wish the story behind this garment, do you? As you may have already surmised, I am a gambling frog. I like to seek my fortune, and take high risks. So when we needed to make an offering to gain passage to fairy lands, I offered this fine garment that was made for me in Saringallow. I did not want to insult our hosts with a poor offering... But it came back a bit changed, as you can see! No matter where I go, all eyes are on me!" Flip scrunches up his mouth. "Or most of them, anyway."
"Anyone interested in a friendly game of cards?" Flip asks hopefully, pulling out his Harrow deck.
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Stomping boots announce the arrival of another dwarf, this one in heavy plate and carrying one of those phenomenally big dwarven axes. This one's been decorated with a knobby small bit of iron on top of it in the shape of a perching dove. The dwarf himself peers out from under a boulder helmet and he's carrying a big shield. The overall color scheme is dark gray and white.
"Right then. I've been sent to meet up with you and provide you with someone to stand between you and whatever is out there." He sounds morbidly cheerful, as if he grimly relishes the idea of taking some punishment.
“Fellow Pathfinders, I am Jorsal of Lauterbury, Venture-Captain of Nerosyan. I welcome you to the Starrise Spire and bid you to find a seat and speak with the other guests. Once everyone is comfortably seated, I will get to the point of this great gathering.”
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The dwarf nods to the others, not really caught up in the jovial mood. "I'm Torsten." When Jorsal calls out for people to be seated he waits for a moment to see if everyone's got one, and ends up standing between the door and everyone else, in a relaxed but ready stance.
A human male in ornately fashioned plate mail takes a seat at your table. ”Sir Osbert Deloray at your service. It appears the higher ups wanted some of the local crusaders to wander around and help introduce our wonderful slice of heaven we call Starrise Spire.” He waves up at the magnificence around them, ”it truly is a sight to behold, it is said that the celestial light from above will remain as long as there is one guard here to stand against the worldwound.”
Battle Tower: The northernmost point of the city is the most likely to weather an assault by land. Earthen revetments surround three layers of nested towers, making the tower the most heavily fortified site in Mendev.
Confluence Tower: Confluence Tower is geared towards defending Nerosyan from attacks across the two rivers that meet at its base. The tower has held its own through several riparian attacks from Dread Barges and other Abyssal craft that periodically swarm up from the Sarkora River. At its base is the Crusader’s Quay, a set of military wharves that offer shelter for the small crusader navy in ingenious covered slips.
Egelsee Tower: Located at the eastern point of the Nerosyan diamond, Egelsee tower serves a second purpose as a rapid-response staging area for Nerosyan’s cavalry, which can ride out at a moment’s notice through special large-scale sally ports built into its outer walls.
Woundward Tower: Almost completely surrounded by the West Sellen river, the Woundward Tower defends the city against aerial assaults. The tower bristles with spyglasses that scan the skies, as well as the most advanced siege engines and the best archers in Nerosyan. The city’s wardstone is housed in this tower, as close to the border as possible.
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A young looking, dark-haired, male elf quietly joins the party. "I'm Taniian. I'm afraid I can't add much to this conversation, scholarly ways have never been mine, though I have started to learn more about planar travel since a somewhat harrowing experience not long after I joined the Society."
Taniian is simply dressed in typical explorers clothing. Those close to him may notice the glint of a chain shirt beneath his outer layer. He has a scabbarded dagger on his belt though no other obvious weapons.
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Dana shares a chunk of knowledge, pointing out directions for things and everything!
Nerosyan is divided into several districts, though the local crusaders often group smaller districts together. The four amalgamated districts include the Egelsee District to the southeast, Confluence District to the southwest, Woundward District to the northwest, and Battle District to the northeast.
Considered the heart of Nerosyan, the Cruciform Cathedral is the center of Iomedaean worship in the city. Acting as a tactical command center, the cathedral allows crusaders to quickly move about the city via the interior walls that section off the city.
Battle Tower: The northernmost point of the city is the most likely to weather an assault by land. Earthen revetments surround three layers of nested towers, making the tower the most heavily fortified site in Mendev.
Confluence Tower: Confluence Tower is geared towards defending Nerosyan from attacks across the two rivers that meet at its base. The tower has held its own through several riparian attacks from Dread Barges and other Abyssal craft that periodically swarm up from the Sarkora River. At its base is the Crusader’s Quay, a set of military wharves that offer shelter for the small crusader navy in ingenious covered slips.
Egelsee Tower: Located at the eastern point of the Nerosyan diamond, Egelsee tower serves a second purpose as a rapid-response staging area for Nerosyan’s cavalry, which can ride out at a moment’s notice through special large-scale sally ports built into its outer walls.
Woundward Tower: Almost completely surrounded by the West Sellen river, the Woundward Tower defends the city against aerial assaults. The tower bristles with spyglasses that scan the skies, as well as the most advanced siege engines and the best archers in Nerosyan. The city’s wardstone is housed in this tower, as close to the border as possible.
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She also fills in some Historical Details.
The Worldwound is an unnatural blight on the world. Believed to be a rift into the Abyss, this gateway from Golarion opened shortly after the death of Aroden.
The nation of Mendev came to prominence during the First Mendevian Crusade in 4622 AR. This crusade was built up from the weakened church of Aroden and followers of the goddess Iomedae. Since that time, Mendev has engaged in four crusades against the demonic threat.
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Guy jumps in, anxious to be loved for his knowledge of the local politics is second to none!
The Pathfinder Society maintains a strong working relationship with the crusaders of Mendev. An extensive treaty exists between the nation and the Society, giving the Society the right to operate in the region, but requiring Pathfinders to defend Mendevian cities and participate in crusades.
Pathfinder activities in Nerosyan operate out of the Starrise Spire, which is led by Venture-Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury. Jorsal is a pious man and a skilled combatant; he’s believed to have made no fewer than 50 missions into the Worldwound in search of artifacts for the Society.
While Jorsal officially oversees Pathfinder Society operations in the area, there is a second venture-captain in Nerosyan who’s in charge or a second lodge—a nononsense dwarf by the name of Thurl. Covered in tattoos and piercings, Thurl operates undercover as the leader of a mercenary company, and he handles far fewer noble missions for the Society than does his colleague.
There have been rumors among Pathfinders that Venture-Captain Thurl has not been entirely honest in his dealings with the Decemvirate. A group of Pathfinders who recently finished a mission in Numeria were then sent to review the work of the dwarf and his agents, but those Pathfinders have not been heard from in months.
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Flip starts chattering about demons, and when he falters, Taniian steps in with additional information.
The Worldwound is infested with demons. Evil and destructive creatures, demons are native to the Abyss, though they can be summoned by means of magic. Many of the demons within the Worldwound emerged from the rift at the center of the region.
The demonic hosts are kept somewhat in line by powerful overlords known as demon lords. The exact number of demon lords is unknown, but many such creatures are revered on Golarion. Each demon lord has a portfolio, similar to that of a deity; however, most demon lords lack many of the powers a true god possesses.
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Sir Osbert Deloray pulls out large scrollcase, snapping it open to reveal pages and pages of maps. Slapping one down he points out the various locations in Nerosyan. ”I’m happy to help if you have any questions or need to know things about this part of the world. I’ll share as much as I’m able.”
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"Greetings, Sir Osbert!" Flip hops over to Sir Osbert, striking a dramatic pose. The eyes on his outfit flash their eyelashes flirtatiously. "I am Flip the Lucky, beloved of Irez, fabled frog of fortune! I would love to exchange stories with you, or learn your history, and turn it into tales to share at the feast." Flip bows, low. As he does so, the eyes on his outfit roll a bit. "Hey!" Flip swats at them. "I'm working here!"
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Flip straightens out his outfit. "Can you tell us a bit about the history of some of these districts, and how battles have gone in them?" He climbs up on Taniian's head so that he can better see. "Hope you don't mind, Taniian, but you're the highest viewpoint in this party," Flip says, balancing all 25 pounds of himself with one foot on the elf's shoulder, while another rests on top of the elf's head, toes finding purchase on the soft dark locks. The eyes on Flip's garment look down with an almost smug expression as Flip settles himself on his teammate.
"So I get that Woundward tower is a nice high view point tower. Are any of the other towers watching out for aerial assault, though? I'd hate for something to get missed because it was coming from the wrong section of sky. Do you know how far the view extends up there? Is there any way to register friendlies, like me and Big Sky? How often are the watchman changed? It's hard to keep awake while on watch. Do you allow gambling up there? Or provide coffee or other stimulants, like dramatic storytelling?" Flip blinks at Sir Osbert. "Is there anyone on the watch team who can see things that are invisible?"
Then Flip points to the Cathedral. "With regards to the interior walls, how big are they? Are they built to accomodate mounted warriors or flyers? What happens when traffic is going in more than one direction because of a need to move supplies and troops around?"
Flip leans forward, practically hanging overTaniian's forhead. "I notice all the towers are specialized against specific kinds of attack, which makes me nervious. Demons aren't exactly predictible. It would be just like those cheats to approach from an unexpected direction. How have your planners handled such assaults in the past?"
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Taniian's eyes roll upward as he tries to watch the antics of Flip. "I believe we are stronger when we work as a team, happy to assist. Do be careful though." He is amused by the eyes on Flip's cloak and slowly, carefully draws his dagger to release a stream of bubbles, trying to distract them. I wonder if I can get the bubbles close enough to make them close? he thinks to himself.
Taniian then returns his attention to Sir Osbert and the map. "As you can probably tell from my overly enthusiastic friend here, we are eager to learn all that you are willing to share."
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Sir Osbert smiles and nods at you odd fellows and eyes the eyes suspiciously, almost as though he suspects demonic influence. When they don't seem to do anything except look around he answers the questions as best he can.
"While Lady Katsu certainly knows quite a bit about this area, there is one more important fact. A series of specialized artifacts keeps the demons of the Worldwound at bay. Known as wardstones, these artifacts are layered in runes that ward away demons. Powered by regular acts of faith, wardstones dot the border between Mendev and the Worldwound, keeping the demons from crossing in great numbers. If not for these, we would likely have been overwhelmed a long while ago."
"I'm sorry Mr. Flip, most of your questions seemed to just blur together in one long blur of sound. See, I pretty much have a constant buzzing in my ears from years of loud battle. If you could slow down, I might be able to answer some of them. But... I'm not exactly privy to the insights of the commanders or the engineering details of this city, so you'll have to keep your questions to generalities."
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Dana looks at Sir Osbert with a sly smile.
"Well, of course I know quite a bit but did I tell you that I find a sharp intellect unbelievably amusing?! Good to have you with us! And Mr. Flip is truly a multi-faceted individual with a curious mind ... " she says staring at Flip as if he was asking questions that did not belong here.
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"It seems like we might have a bit in common, Taniian, being that we're both sailors and all. I see ya' only carry a dagger too. You wouldn't also happen to have special innate skills at controllin' elemental forces and all that, do ya'?"
After considering all the information coming in, Gordy lets everyone else know his ideas for strategy. "We got two ole' salty sailors and a little frog man in our group. My thought is that when we start to defending this city, we might be the most useful to that Venture Captain Jorsal chap if we were at the Confluence Tower, where we would be close to the water. Seems to me like we got some special skills in that area."
“Pathfinders, please get settled. I’d like to start in a few minutes.”
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Is it intentional? Way too many times I’ve found myself in groups that want to immediately take to the water.
Guy’s ears twitch at the mention of being close to the water.
“Bows don’t work too well under water.”
Looking again at the map, he does admit “With the towers there, perhaps that isn’t a problem. I could shoot at them as they come out of the water.”
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"Gordy, while I have some experience on boats, I am not really looking to dive into the water anytime soon. I will if needed, of course. I harness my psychic energy to manifest a weapon when needed. I am most partial to an Elven Thornblade at this time as I rely more on skill and speed rather than strength and will sneak some magic delivered through the blade when appropriate."