Hmm's Half-Elf Absalom Initiation Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Hmm

Everything went so fast-- that Sekhem is still trying to figure out what color the skirt is.

Janira claps and gives Lyric a hug! "Don't be nervous! You're going to be great. It's so wonderful having more storytellers in the society."

Gorm hands Lyric a beer. "Here's a half-pint o beer for the half pint! Pleasure to have ye aboard, Miss!"

Ooh, a crit success! Nice!

Tihun bows to both of the newcomers before offering her hand to shake.

"Greetings, my friends! I am Tihun, an entertainer and seeker of adventure. Always a pleasure to work with new people."

The new members of the party see a half-elven darkskinned woman dressed in bright whites and yellows. Her medium length black dreadlocks are pulled into a ponytail that bobs and sways with her extravagant movements.

Also if you're skipping the roll to impress people, can you tell me so, so that I am not waiting for your rolls?

Sekhem will be very happy to talk with her mistress of training about--
Religion, trained: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
--"Ma-- My Ma', my, well not mine, but everybody's Ma'at is the God. A God. Well... God?"
But she is way too flustered to say anything coherent.

Perspiring, she turns to Janira: "I am sorry, can you maybe help me, explain better to my teacher about the God I serve. Can you? Will you? I mean, not serve my God, but help me."
But she is now sweating.
Diplomacy, trained: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Lyric's ear's perk up as she hears what appears to be a familiar accent in Tihun's voice, "Are you from the Mwangi Expanse, Tihun?" She takes a sip of the Gorm gave her and smiles at him, "Good beer!" and proceeds to drain the mug.

I'll skip the roll to impress. Lyric got a nat 20 with Janira and I'd more than likely crit fail a Religion or Nature roll. And I don't have scribing lore.

Tihun smiles at the halfling before switching to her native tongue to continue the conversation.

Spoken in the Mwangi language. "Why yes I am. Am I correct in assuming you also hail from the Expanse? Only someone from my homeland could cut such a stylish figure as you do in that dress!"

So engrossed in meeting another from her home land that shared her love of storytelling, Tihun momentarily forgot about the two representatives her compatriots were speaking to.

I will also skip, as my social skills are lacking as well.

"I can't begin to try to match Lyric's performance.

Sorry, had I thought about it I would have done a nature roll instead... my bad.

Replying back in Mwangi "Yes, my clan lives deep within the Expanse. This is the first time I've actually left it. Are their structures always so angular and stark as these? And, is it always this cold? I feel as if I should find more layers for my dress.

Did you guys miss that Janira will take any skill? Also with the bigger group, I do need one more success if you can manage it!

If we can impress Janira multiple times, I'll try it.

Still in Mwangi "Yes, I'm afraid it rarely gets as warm as our homeland here. And some places, I hear, are even colder! " Tihun said with a laugh before finally noticing Janira standing near the group.

Back to Common "Hello Janira, thank you for introducing our new friends to us. And for this lovely party. It is truly an honor to have met so many talented members of this society."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

At Tihun's response, Lyric's eyes go wide,
Still in Mwangi. "Colder? How do people survive anything colder than this?"

She tried to regain her composure as best she can and demonstrates some rather basic nature techniques any child in the Song'O Clan would learn growing up. Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Serane is a tall, muscular half-elf with blonde hair and wearing poor but well maintained leather clothing tailored in the style of the far north. "Greetings both of you!""

Seeing a space in the rapid fire back and forth, the blonde half-elf lunges into it, "I journeyed here from the far north, my skill in arms that I use to defend those who cannot defend themselves is my vehicle to come here. When I was growing up I heard of this city, and I've wanted to come here for a long time to take in the art. In the north, art is often seen as unnecessary and wasting time on it takes away resources from surviving. I try to work art into the practical aspects of life. But I want to see the many masterpiece sculptures and paintings here."

Art Lore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Both Janira and Sorrina look pleased with the group of you, and Gorm looks around, nodding thoughtfully. "Aye, I think ye might be ready for a training mission." He leans forward. "A scholar at the College of Mysteries has been working on potentially dangerous research." Gorm shrugs. "I'm not sure what the research is, but I know it's partially based on nameless scrolls from Nidal."

"Anything out o' Nidal is likely bad news. It's a dark place, aye?" The dwarf paces, grimacing. "Ten thousand years ago, when Earthfall cast the world into darkness, three ancient horselords of Nidal threw themselves on the mercy of Zon-Kuthon, the Midnight Lord. They pledged that if the god of shadow and pain interceded to protect them, they and all their descendants would be sworn to him eternally. Zon-Kuthon accepted their bargain, gifting the trio with cursed immortality as the Black Triune and sealing Nidal's fate ever after. All Nidalese since then have been born into Zon-Kuthon's faith, and from earliest childhood they are taught that pain is sacred, suffering is joy, and their holiest duty is to endlessly refine and sharpen those sensations into sacraments."

He leans forward. "I don't particularly care if the Pathfinder Society gets the original scrolls—they're probably on human skin anyway—but I would like ye to secure a copy for study. I want our experts to tell us if we have a problem."

He rummages in his robes. "I'm not sending ye out empty-handed, though. Take one of these scroll if ye think ye can use it."

He has scrolls of disrupting weapons, heal, and magic missile. Which would you like to choose?

"Human skin... I would think that it is illegal to write on human skin."

Gorm looks at Sekhem. "Tell that to the tattooed sorcerers of Varisia, aye? Writing on human skin is fine and commonplace. It's flaying people alive afterwards that's illegal, but that's Nidal for ye."

"Oh, yes, that is what I meant... flaying skin is illegal.
I do not have a legal mind like that lady Pip."

"Ach, who does? That gnome's obsessed! So which of these scrolls do ye want?" He holds out the scrolls. "Disrupting weapons? Heal? Magic Missile?"

"I can use the Heal scroll... but have two others already.
So I will let others choose if they want something else instead."

Lyric steps up, "I'll take Magic Missile if no one else wants it, Master Gorm."

Ravant nods. "If someone can use the Magic Missile scroll, that would be helpful. I'm a big fan of enemies not lasting long enough to close."

He pauses and fails to find a delicate way of asking the next question.

"This scholar at the College of Mysteries. Is he one of ours? How much persuading do you think it will take to get him to give us a copy? And... do you care if he is in any shape to continue his research when we have secured it?"

"Magic Missile it is," Gorm says, handing the scroll over. "As far our scholar, it's not a 'he' but a 'she'. I believe she's named Tavvar. I'd rather she survive and learn from her mistakes. Happy hunting!"

Helpful items from the Faction Heads summarized in the spoiler at the top of this campaign.

CALISRO'S MISSION: WESTGATE

Armed with Calisro's anti-paralysis salve, you head out to the district of Westgate in search of Calisro's petrified naga friend.

This sleepy, largely safe residential district is home to mid-tier merchants, common shopkeeps, and up-and-coming citizens who can't yet afford more expensive accommodation in the upscale neighborhoods of the Petal or Ivy Districts. Businesses mix with townhouses and flats where the district abuts the Foreign Quarter, but Westgate gets more residential as one approaches the city wall, with smaller homes giving way to modest manors and stately villas.

For several blocks, the quiet lanes of Westgate's residential neighborhoods feature small houses, low-key cafes and taverns, and the occasional specialty shop. The fragrant scent of tended flower gardens in the warm sunlight blends with the low hum of distant conversation over what would normally be a pleasant boulevard.

But it isn't pleasant. As you walk along, you keep seeing occasional evidence of Absalom's justice system: statues of ordinary looking people, mouths open mid-scream, hands flung up futilely in an effort to protect themselves. There are also a lot of grumpy pedestrians out, looking somewhat agitated. One woman mutters, "Disgraceful. I cannot believe even they would stoop so low. They have no respect for tradition!"

Roll Diplomacy if you would like the Gather Information in the crowd.

As Serane walks with the others through Westgate, she'll ask, "So, I appreciate that the release of the naga was negotiated, but wasn't it kind of a back channel, in secret sort of deal? If the guards catch us doing this, how do we prove that we have permission to do what we are about to do?"

As the crowd is mumbling and she overhears the woman muttering, she'll politely ask in a whisper, "I couldn't help but overhear you, who would stoop so low as to do what?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Lyric walks up to a woman in the crowd and strikes up a conversation about the area and what has recently transpired. "Hello, friend! I'm not from this place but it would seem that things here seem to be out of place and that people seem to be upset, can you explain to me what has happened? I heard someone mention something about disrespecting tradition? Do you know what that is about?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

The lady, disarmed by Serane and Lyric's gentle demeanor, sighs. "Where have you been, children? Everyone's talking about it! One our councillors, the socialite Miranda Benikri, announced that she heard some Pathfinder has bribed our officials to release a monster on us! Benikri's gathered her lawyer and her Abadaran priest to talk up the crowd on Statue Street to keep those meddlers from defying our traditions and destroying our safety!" She nods with satisfaction. "It's good someone is doing something to protect us!"

"Wait." Your informant pauses, frowning as she considers things. "Are you saying that you didn't know about the Gorgon race at all? It's been going on for 700 years!"

As two members of her party continue their conversation with the angered woman, Tihun wracks her brain trying to remember anything she's heard about these Gorgon Races.

Bardic Lore: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Tihun remembers quite a bit. The eponymous statues of Statue Street are the remnants of a longstanding Absalomian tradition: to prevent overcrowding in the city's prisons, nonviolent offenders were allowed to compete for a pardon in a race to outrun an angry gorgon along these streets. Those who successfully outpaced the beast were allowed to go free; those less fortunate now line the streets as bizarre decor. The ethics of the practice are dubious at best, and it was recently outlawed.

Sekhem looks around for the Gorgon-- then decides to NOT look around for it.

"You'll have to forgive me, this is my first time to Absalom. In fact, I've never left my people before coming here; so, I'm a bit confused. A minute ago, this was about breaking with tradition and now it's about public safety.... Could you explain this to me because I seem to be missing something. And, what exactly does a race have to do with releasing a "monster" onto this street? I'm sorry, this just all seems very confusing." Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"Don't you understand? This was how we kept our people safe! The prisoners raced the Gorgon, and we all got to watch, and those that escaped only did so because the gods knew they were innocent. The rest of the criminals were preserved here, to serve a warning! And now some Pathfinder is trying to get a prisoner released, and not just any human prisoner, but a monster!"

The upset woman storms off in the direction of Statue Street, where you all are headed as well. As you follow her, the stone statues—at first appearing only here and there, like odd decorations—now number several per block, and the otherwise plain square ahead is outright cluttered with stone figures. They take countless forms, from humans and halflings to orcs, lizardfolk, and even stranger, all forever frozen in acts of desperation, defiance, or despair. The quaint, statue-filled square is also filled with people; several dozen townsfolk shout and argue, their voices somehow out of place among the silent statues.

The map of this street is on SLIDE ONE.

Describing this in text terms, the party of Pathfinders is coming in from the Northeast, or a 1 o’clock on the map.

Your party is currently arranged in this marching order, with Old Dog and Serane in front as you march to the south.

Lyric - Sekhem - Tihun
Old Dog - Serane

(I have not put Alaize on the map, because she has not checked in yet to Gameplay at all. Alaize, if you are coming, now is the time.)

In the center of the clock is the Town Square Fountain. The fountain is a large edifice, about 25 x 35 square feet (5x7 squares). Your party is about 45 feet from one of the fountain’s edges. On it, three leaders appear to be exhorting a crowd that is gathering to one side of the fountain at the west of the map, or 9 o’clock.

There are buildings and statues all around the periphery of our allusory clockface, but you all notice one prominent one of a large serpentlike creature looking defiant to the west, at about 10 o’clock, right next to the crowd.

The leaders are exhorting the crowd. The red-haired socialite, Miranda Benikri, is calling out, “My friends, we are here to take a stand for TRADITION!”

The crowd, who seems to be wielding trash, cries out “TRADITION!”

“The Charge of the Gorgon kept us all SAFE! It prevented our prisons from becoming overcrowded!” The lawyer, dressed in green, says. “Though the law got overturned by small minded people listening to OUTSIDERS, we can work to ratify it again! We want the races back!”

“WE WANT THE RACES BACK!” the crowd shouts.

Benikri speaks again. “And they were profitable, right? I see friends here who ran taverns. Friends who sold race shirts and official gear. Friends who sold onion pies. You want to sell again, don’t you!”

“WE WANT TO SELL BEER AND PIES AND SHIRTS!”

Benikri looks to the priest of Abadar who’s looking a bit uncomfortable. “Acolyte Aram, tell them. Tell them that commerce and tradition are important.”

Acolyte Aram clears his throat after coughing a bit. “Er, commerce and tradition are important, Abadar agrees. But there is the matter of the law, you see the races are now illeg--”

The crowd, not listening to his last uncomfortable observation, shouts, “COMMERCE! TRADITION!”

The socialite Miranda Benikri is back. “No releasing monsters in backroom deals!”

“NO RELEASING MONSTERS IN BACKROOM DEALS!” the crowd shouts.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

You have 2 social rounds (in which each one of you can attempt a single skill check) before the crowd grows restless and begins throwing trash. The crowd is too riled up to listen to general appeals, but each of you can attempt a HARD skill check related to the leader's profession. The check is harder than in some other versions of this encounter, because the crowd is scared of the ‘monster’, aka the petrified naga.

You can also attempt an Intimidation check, though the presence of the crowd makes this more difficult than normal. Note that the Group Coercion and Quick Coercion skill feats can increase the number of attempts or targets a PC can affect in this encounter.

I will ABSOLUTELY reward roleplay of all kinds in this encounter. Even if you don't have any of these skills, speak up, and act our what you are doing.

SKILLS TO IMPRESS LEADERS

BARRISTER: Diplomacy or Legal Lore
SOCIALITE: Society or Absalom Lore
ACOLYTE: Religion or Any Lore pertaining to a specific deity.

Sekhem starts chanting: "Onion pies, we want onion pies..."
Before realizing this is not the best option.
She looks to her comrades to see how they will act--
Delaying

I want to make sure I understand the rules here before I act.... We don't have to actually *have*, for example, Barrister and, therefore, Legal Lore to try for a Diplomacy check, we just have to *act* in that manner? Or, are you saying that we have to have specific Hard Skill professions (i.e. need to be trained in x, y, z skill, profession, etc.)? I'm asking because the sentence structure isn't exactly clear.

And now that I look at what I've written, perhaps, I'm not clear...

What I'm asking is, can we give a speech that is akin to a civil rights movement type speech? There were, after all, plenty of civil rights activists that weren't attorneys, socialites or preachers. There only claim to fame is, actually, being a part of the movement.

Apologies if sentence structure was unclear.

The Barrister will take either Diplomacy or Legal Lore. Diplomacy can be used untrained. If your character has none of the six skills asked for, you could try to roleplay your actions and argument to aid your companion's rolls without rolling yourself.

EDIT: I just realized that all of you have at least one skill, since INTIMIDATE can be used on any leader, and Old Dog can use Intimidate.

Roleplay helps because I can give a roleplay bonus!

Since this may require teamwork, let's bring this to the discussion tab where you can discuss who has what skills.

Tihun watched the crowd as it began to rile itself in a angry mob. After waiting for a few moments for the chanting to die down somewhat, the Mwangi woman quickly moved to address the barrister.

"Hello, my friend! I couldn't help but overhear the protest. I must admit I'm confused by some of the concerns being discussed. Why would the Gorgon Races ending make you unable to sell your wares? You have the countenance of a successful business man, so I've no doubt to the quality of your merchandise. But if an event is needed to aid in your sales, why not celebrate the end of the Gorgon Races? Show how forward thinking Absalom has become by selling shirts that remind everyone that this particular chapter of history has closed for a and exciting chapter!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

I'm gonna spend one of my hero points to reroll.

Reroll Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Nice roleplay!

Lyric steps up next to the leaders who are inciting civil unrest, "People of Absalom, you do not know me for I am a stranger to your city, a stranger to your lands, in fact. My name is Lyric Earthsong of the Song'O Clan, I come from the Mwangi Forest and this is the first time I have ever left my beautiful homeland." She pauses a moment to allow them to hear her.

"When I first came into this city, I was in awe of it." She laughs. "I couldn't imagine how many people could be in one place, you see. Where I am from, if so many people lived together in one place... Why there would be conflict and chaos and such terror... And I thought, this must truly be a magical place where people live together in harmony and happiness. But now, I see... I see that it isn't magical." Lyric points to the statue of a woman prostrate on the ground. "Is this the criminal you fear? Or, this child here? And she steps down from where she was to walk over to a statue of a young man with his open hands raised, mouth open as if to speak. "Are these the beasts that plague your nightmares? Or, merely the objects that line your pockets with gold? If it is gold you seek, are you so feeble that you cannot earn it in an honest days work? This is what these two," she points to Miranda Benikri and the Barrister, "would contend; that you are all lazy and feeble and incapable of making an honest days work." Lyric gets back up onto the "stage" where the other two stand, "I am a stranger here from a strange land but I don't believe that. I believe all of you are proud, honest, hard working folk and proud, honest, hard working folk don't want or need to earn money off the backs of another's suffering."Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

The barrister is convinced!

"You're right! I'm out of here!" He shakes his head. "Why are we trying to bring back an illegal tradition?"

All that is left is the Socialite and the Acolyte!

Social Round 1

Bolded characters still needs to act!

The Barrister is gone. Who are you trying to influence?

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Lyric (acted - success!)
Old Dog
Sekhem
Serane
Tihun (acted - despite bad dice, her great roleplay aided Lyric's roll!)

Ravant steps slightly forward to face the Acolyte.

"You call yourself a devotee of Abadar? A priest? And you support this?" He waves his hand to take in the statues that Lyric pointed to.

"I am no priest, just an old dog following behind the Accidental God, but these... these are despicable. You hold innocents in bondage because they could not outrun a monster, and call that Justice?"

He takes one more step toward the acolyte. "And you, who call yourself a follower of Abadar, would break the law so these... merchants can sell trinkets? What will you say when you stand before your God to justify that?"

Ravant shifts his stance slightly to be sure his sword is ready to draw.

intimidation: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
... And I'm going to hero-point that.

intimidation: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Serane is aghast. She thought this city was sophisticated and now she finds out its justice system was more barbaric than what her land of "barbarians" practice.

"I come from the far North and my people are considered barbarians, however this Gorgon Race is one of the most depraved ways of dealing with convicts I've heard of." she begins speaking with the Acolyte.

"You fear prison overflow and that justify's your abhorrent actions? Does your god love money so much that he won't spend a small amount of money to build proper prisons? Or implement proper laws? Wanting to sell a few pies is more important than your soul?" spits the disgusted Northerner.

Trying to hold back her rage, she adds, "You changed the law for a good reason - to ban this disgusting custom. Are you willing to go back to your primitive practices for the sake of a few coins made by satisfying the most debased desires of your people? Are you concerned with improving the laws? Or do you wish to go back to a lawless way?"

Religion: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Seeing the barrister rush off, and the acolyte being flanked by a half-elf duo, Sekhem goes up to the socialite.

"Oh my oh my, do you have BEAUTIFUL red hair, ma'am!
I am so happy you are asking for this tradition to return.
It will be so beautiful when all here are digesting their onion pies once again.
I am actually amazed that you do not fear this, and I call you the bravest lady of all!
Because, as a medical professional, let me tell you that in Osirion, our onions contain fructose, which the intestine breaks down during digestion - pardon my Taldan!
The breakdown of the sugar causes, well... gas to form.
And the gas from onions is also likely to cause, how may I put it... an odor.
So, yes, bringing this tradition back is likely to impair delicate noses.
I will not back you directly because of this, but am proud you love the rabble so much you look forward to inhaling such impure air!
Especially with red hair... because, well, red hair and gas..."
Society, trained: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Lyric turns toward the socialite now that the barrister is gone and her eyes grow cold. "You speak of tradition as if tradition were something to always be prized above all else. Lyric then looks out upon the crowd, "But let us not forget how many other things are done in the name of "TRADITION": Slavery, Rape... the list goes on and on. Some of you or your ancestors may have been subject to these so called "traditions" would you cheer and clamor to have these be brought back as well? They too brought about an economic boon. In fact, slavery is far more profitable than any Gorgon Race ever could be and, surely, it would clear out more prison cells than these races would and bring far more profit. Yet, I do not hear the Mistress Benikri clamoring for slavery to make an appearance here under the auspices of "tradition" -- which it surely has within these lands (as many former slaves within this city, I'm sure can attest). Now, why is that I wonder?"

Lyric turns back to Benikri, "If her intentions are truly to keep with traditions and get rid of overpopulation and allow for those within the city of Absalom to make a considerable profit then I would think she would be shouting from the rooftops requesting... NAY, DEMANDING that slavery be brought back as a matter of 'tradition' and for the sake of profit and to get rid of overcrowding... for slavery would do this FAR better than one silly race would. However, she doesn't; and why not? She clearly has no moral compass; even Acolyte Aram has admitted as much when he said that while the God Abadar believe that commerce and tradition are important, because this supposed tradition is now illegal, it is an anathema to the God's belief structure and anyone who worships Abadar is remiss in clamoring for this illegal activity for they are going against their God. But, maybe Mistress Benikri doesn't worship Abadar; perhaps, she worships another deity or none at all... Who is to say? What we know is that she comes here speaking half truths and giving false witness." Lyric turns back to the crowd.

"And I ask you, the good and just people of Absalom, to not tolerate anyone who bears false witness anymore than you would tolerate false prophets or false gods!"

She turns back to Benikri and shouts, "GET THEE GONE!"
Intimidation: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

The half-elves and one halfling double-team the remaining leaders! The acolyte withers under Old Dog and Serane's combination of intimidation and religion. He looks ashamed, and says, "You're right. There is commerce that uplifts the community, and commerce that can break it apart. The church should be about uplifting the community! This race was outlawed for a reason, and Abadar wants no part in bringing it back!"

The socialite looks like she's about to protest when Sekhem reminds her of the very unpleasant odor of onion pies, and how detrimental odor is to presenting one very's best impression, and then realizes that there is a feisty little halfling casting aspersions upon her in front of the crowd. She runs, and some of the crowd follow, throwing trash at her.

The rest of the crowd, bereft of their leaders, look morosely at their trash, and just drop it in the street, dispersing in much smaller groups of twos and threes.

"...always thought there was something wrong with that tradition..."

"...look at those statues, fear in their faces. They oughta release them all..."

"...tell you where I'd like to stuff an onion pie. It's a spot that don't see sunlight, no it don't."

The street is now deserted, with no sign of the mob save all the trash they left behind. What do you do?

Nicely done! I'm throwing bonus hero points to Old Dog and Lyric!

"Never waste onion pie..."

Thanks for the Hero Point.

Lyric looks at the others. "Shall we get about the business we were sent here to do?

At Lyric's suggestion, you do indeed get about the business you were sent here to do! You apply the salve to the defiant-looking naga statue, and the gray marble turns to beautiful emerald-green scales. The large naga looks down at you. "Have I been releasssssed? Tell, me what hassssss happened?"

When she is reassured that she is indeed free, she murmurs, "I will remember thissss, Pathfindersssss. Pleassssse accept this Pearl necklace with my gratitude." She bows, and leaves, a free creature once more.