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1) I am based in Southeast Asia (UTC +8) so my posting hours may be unusual (especially for those in North America). I usually update at least one or twice per day. Just to keep the game moving, please post at least once every day and at least once during the weekend.
2) Please keep all posts and communication in all channels limited to a PG-13 level and be both positive and inclusive.
3) Please label all three of your actions. Even if you think what you are doing is obvious.
4) If I am unavailable for longer than 24 hours, I will let you know in the Discussion Tab. Out of respect for your fellow players and myself, I ask that you do the same. Real life happens, and real life will always take priority over the game, but out of fairness for your fellow players, please let us know if you will be unavailable for an extended period of time.
5) Please note that on the following days, my posting can get unpredictable:
Tuesday/Thursdays - all day, as they are the 2 busiest days of my work week
6) Please complete the Macros and the Slides linked at the top of the page.
7) Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.
8) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.
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A tanuki looks suspiciously at the teapot and the tea cup. After carefully examinng them, he carefully takes a sip of the tea. Then he laughs. He has a rich, deep belly laugh.
“Ah, my friend Tempest evidently isn’t here yet!”
Looking around at the others, he says “Hello, I’m Maru. I’m a merchant from Kodomi village in Minkai. It is a small village up in the mountains, so do not feel bad if you have never heard of it.”
The tanuki has brown fur with white accents around his snout and above his eyes. He is wearing a breastplate and has multiple trinkets at his belt. He does carry a star knife as a weapon.
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A pale dark-haired woman wearing a fur hat is currently engaged in a pitched battle with her chopsticks as she attempts to eat a dumpling. She pauses for a moment to introduce herself, her accent thick but understandable. "Hello Maru. I am Detective-Inspector Irina Valisnakova of the Whitethrone City Watch Special Division. Well, I am currently on sabbatical to learn the Pathfinder Society's tricks."
She scowls and admits defeat in her chopstick skirmish and uses her hands to eat her dumpling.
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A rather tall, marionette-like poppet arrives, wearing a tattered pale pink dress and a red cape. A peculiar long wooden nose protrudes from their somewhat decaying wooden face. Their large, polished black eyes reflect light, adding an eerie touch to their appearance. Strings dangle from their limbs, swaying slightly as they move, and a faint creaking sound accompanies each step, emphasizing their puppet-like nature.
"Gweetings. It is a pweasuwe to meet you aww. I am Guiseppino the Wong-Nosed." When they see the tea and dumplings being served, Long-Nosed takes their seat and sips the tea.
"Ah! What a wefweshing dwink! And dumpwings? I can stay hewe aww day!" They sound exaggerated, but they are indeed feeling elated.
They emit a faint scent of decaying wood, a subtle aroma that might not be to everyone’s liking.
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Tempest waits, stealthily, for Maru to sit down. Knowing his tendencies, she had arrived super early, found the sunniest space facing the window, and transformed herself into one of Amara Li's seating cushions. It was hard not to giggle as he spent time inspecting the teapot and the tea cup, but eventually he had relaxed and sat down. And that was when she started to make loud, squelching fart noises.
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Maru quickly stands and looks at his seating cushion. Then he laughs as he sees the design embroidered on the cushion.
“Tempest! How rude!” Although he says that, he can’t help laughing as he scolds the pillow. “Best show yourself, or I get to eat ALL the teacakes!”
He then reaches over the table and grabs one of the tea cakes.
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The cushion pops, and in its place is a friendly-looking female gnome in a kimono with a raccoon tail and raccoon ears. Still giggling, she turns to the others. "I couldn't see his face from my position. What did it look like?"
Then she takes a teacake, pops it into her mouth and smiles. "So good! I'm Tempest, by the way. Pleased to meet all of you. I'm a firework performer, also from Kodomi village. Maru and I didn't have far to travel to get here. We're practically locals."
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The laughter over the cushion prank is still fading when a woman in travel-worn leathers steps in. Her movements are deliberate — quiet, but sure, the kind of ease that comes from living more among trees than people.
She glances around the room, listening with quiet amusement to Maru’s laughter, and then offering a polite nod to the Venture-Captain and the gathered Pathfinders.
“Calla Tilly” she says, her voice low and even. “Here on Pathfinder business—and perhaps to learn a few tricks of my own. I hope there’s still some tea left for me” she says with a small, amused smile. Then turned to Irina, with a glint of humor in her eyes: “And I see you’ve mastered the oldest ranger tactic of all—when tools fail, use your hands.”
She then settles and waits to hear more of the mission.
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The other Pathfinder with you all has thus far defied description, the absolute shell of armor they are wearing conceals their features. They were short, less than 5 feet tall and stocky. They carried a small hammer and a shield even taller than they were. It was made of reinforced wood and probably could have been repurposed as a door.
Given their short legs and ponderous gear, you'd have assumed you would have had to slow your pace to keep up with him, but you did not. The speed at which he moved in his armor felt supernatural.
The armored figure set down their shield and removed their helm revealing a wrinkled and rough man's face ringed by dark hair and a beard that ware braided and bound with clasps of metal that were shaped into the outline of books.
"A fully belly keeps one focused on their duty. My name is Kordak."
The dwarf is not shy about digging into the offered fare.
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The Venture-Captain grimaces as the cushion lets out the sound of flatulence. She sighs, "Tanuki! I might have guessed! Can't you be serious for once? You remind me of a kobold who tried to make fun of his companion in another briefing I gave... "
Regaining control of her emotions, she continues.
"I need you to investigate something for me," Amara Li says as she pours golden buckwheat tea into simple yet elegant cups. "Despite the vast and somewhat dangerous wilderness that surrounds it, the Spirit Road is the lifeblood of trade between Hongal and Minkai, and now it has been inexplicably blocked." She pauses. "The Forest of Spirits is home to departed souls and kami, the spiritual guardians of the forest. Travelers through this region rarely dare to stray from the road for fear of offending either."
She passes the cups along the table, and then continues. "Some merchants that I hired to transport goods to Hongal reported that a thick and disorienting fog laid across their route. One woman told me that she heard howling ghosts when she tried to enter, and another was bitten by relentless tiny teeth. The merchants soon found themselves leaving the fog where they had entered. Shaken by this experience, they turned around and reported back here." Amara Li sighs. "There is another group of merchants who left from Hongal, and have not been seen since, and other merchants coming from Minkai have reported being unable to pass through. It is always hard to map a region as ever-changing as the Forest of Spirits," Amara continues, "but consider this as close an approximation as we can get." Amara unrolls a delicately painted map. "As you can see, the Spirit Road connects Minkai to Hongal along the peninsula’s southwestern coastline. The largest settlement on the Spirit Road is the village of Ohira, right at the delta of the Bunkatsu river. But crossing the Bunkatsu at this time of year is dangerous, so most merchant caravans take their heavy wagons to the crossing slightly north of the Spirit Road at the bridge that leads to the tiny village of Silvertree." Amara taps her finger on the dot representing the village.
"There seems something sinister to this strange and persistent fog. We think the source of the fog must be somewhere near one of these two villages and the Bunkatsu river. With so many of my experienced agents dealing with literal fallout of Godsrain, I’m hoping that you can investigate the phenomenon and tell us what we need to do to end it."
"Any questions?"
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Maru has the grace to pretend to be embarrassed at Amara Li’s scolding.
He nods at each of the others as they introduce themselves. He does not allow that to get in the way of stuffing his mouth with another tea cake.
When the Forest of Spirits is mentioned, he seems a bit more alert.
When Amara Li finally gets around to allowing questions, Maru immediately says “Do you think this is the work of another Kitsune?”
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"Acc...! You lot suwe wove to pway awound, don’t you?!" Guiseppino tries to suppress their squeal, almost jumping from their seat for being next to them. Nevertheless, they continues enjoying their food.
After that, they turn their attention to the venture-captain. "Something sinistew to this stwange and pewsistent fog, you say?" they think for a moment.
"Which viwwage wouwd you wike us to check? Ohiwa or Siwvertwee? Ow both? With not much infowmation about the pwobwem, it seems weasonabwe to go to both viwwages." they suggest.
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Tempest nods as she listens. "Kitsune are really tricky, but so are we. If there is something else causing this problem, we'll trick it too!" Then she pauses, considering. "Other than kitsune, what are the main problems of the Forest of Spirits? Are there other players or threats we should be looking for?"
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Tilly’s been quiet for most of the briefing, content to let the others speak. "A fog that won’t lift and turns travelers back on themselves…That’s not just weather. The forest itself might be warning us off—or something’s taken its voice" she murmurs.
She absently traces the rim of her teacup with one finger, watching the ripples on its surface before she finally spoke up. She nods toward Tempest, considering her question. “Good point. Are there any records or rumors of other dangers along the Spirit Road?”
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"That might be a good idea, Long-Nose, though I would check Silvertree first, since the merchant caravans go through there."
You notice that Amara Li appears to have no trouble in understanding Long-Nose's speech...
"Ah! Yes! I'm glad you asked. There are nature spirits we know as kami along the Spirit Road. Our sources do not list all of them and they are all different. I would advise you to treat them politely as an angered kami could make your lives miserable"
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Tempest considers a moment. "Maru and I were attacked by enraged kami when something upset the balance of the forest last time. So we just all have to work together and find whatever's causing it."
Then Tempest grins and claps her hands. "And we'll have such fun tricking them when we do!" Her tail wags happily.
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Amara Li stifles a groan but buries her face in her hands. "You may trick them if you must but please do not anger them"
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"If there are no further questions, you may get your provision from the quartermaster's office and meet me outside."
Venture-Captain Amara Li provides you with a horse, cart and provisions.
The journey from the Three Gates Lodge in Kayajima through the Osogen Grasslands is chilly but scenic, with brisk winds blowing through the swaying plants of the prairie and mountains soaring to either side of the plain. Along the way, friendly nomads and hearty herdsmen wave from a distance, and some locals approach on horseback to warn travelers with rumors that the Spirit Road has been blocked. Finally, the northern city of Hokkoshi comes into view. As the last stop for travelers venturing into the Forest of Spirits, Hokkoshi teems with Spirit Road guides and merchant caravans, all glumly stuck in town.
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Maru checks with the quartermaster and requests a minor healing potion.
As the group is traveling, Maru shares what he learned of potential dangers: bandits, oni, and wild animals. He also mentions there being rumors of smugglers dealing in rare flora and fauna.
When they get to the city, Maru tries to find out about the various merchants and their wares. He seems particularly interested in those trading in rare animals or plants. Being a merchant himself, he is always interested to find out what products are trading well.
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Tempest looks at the newly arrived human ranger in the party and selects a scroll of Runic Weapon from the Quartermaster. To the group she says, "I can also cast your scrolls of Heal should you want them as provisions."
Tempest enjoys the days of travel through the Osogen Grasslands. At night, when there is an endless sky, Tempest offers short firework shows to her team, experimenting with different colors and bangs - but only for a few minutes, so that everyone can sleep afterwards. Although tanukis crave excitement, they also love being quiet in nature, and Tempest revels in the birds and butterflies that appear from time to time as they walk through the grasslands.
Along the way, she enjoys chatting with her fellow party members. Tempest says, "Maru and I have been travelling mostly in Tian Xia so far, not that distant from our home of Kodomi village. He's been selling things and I've been giving firework shows!" Then she grins. "Our most recent adventure though was in an iruxi enclave in Cassomir, where we got into a prank war with some elemental scamps. It was glorious!"
She turns to each of her team members. "So... tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Where have you been? What was your most exciting adventure?"
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Tempest comes right up to the Spirit Guides, dressed in her nice kimono. She smiles up at them, and wags her raccoon tail. "Hello, I'm totally a gnome."
"Why so glum, chum?" She opens her eyes wide and guileless, hoping to hear a first hand account of the fog. "Can you tell us newcomers why you are all here?"
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Kordak obtains a scroll of heal.
"In the heat of battle my hands are to full to rely on a potion. One of you healers can take this and use it on whoever needs it."
On the road he keeps ready in case there are any bandits or wild animals to repel. When they meet the merchants, he looks at the wares with clear disinterest, but as he is saving his coin for later, he doesn't buy anything.
{ooc]Kordak is a man of few words.[/ooc]
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Long-Nosed leisurely strolls around, poking their head between merchants and their caravans. Some merchants might find them odd, but they pay it no mind. Guiseppino only hopes they keep to their own business, as they also doing their own, unless someone starts asking questions about the mission. For now, they focus on gathering whatever bits of information they can.
"What is the watest happening hewe, travewing mewchants? What is howding you up?" they ask each of them in random.
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As the group is traveling, Maru shares what he learned of potential dangers: bandits, oni, and wild animals. He also mentions there being rumors of smugglers dealing in rare flora and fauna.
When they get to the city, Maru tries to find out about the various merchants and their wares. He seems particularly interested in those trading in rare animals or plants. Being a merchant himself, he is always interested to find out what products are trading well.
"Rare animal and plant smuggling you say? I do not like the sound of that. Perhaps some detecting is in order."
Irina, mounted on her moose, accompanies Maru in wandering through Hokkoshi and the merchant caravans. Along the way she questions the pack animals in an attempt to discover more about the smugglers.
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As the group makes its way through Hokkoshi, Tilly keeps a careful distance, letting the group handle the talking while her eyes do their work. Tilly thinks for a moment, gaze distant as though she’s tracing old knowledge in her mind. She leans forward slightly, voice calm but thoughtful. “I’ve heard stories about the Forest of Spirits… not all of them kind. Maru is right, bandits sometimes prey on travelers there, and the woods shelter more dangerous things — oni, fey, and wild animals that don’t take kindly to company. If the balance of the forest’s been disturbed, even the kami themselves might lash out.”
When Hokkoshi finally comes into view, she pulls her hood up against the wind and surveys the crowd — the merchants, the pack animals, and the weary guards.
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"Oh, that's why we're all here!" Tempest states. "We're here to find out why this is happening, and get trade running again!"
"It might also be nice to grab a hot meal before we head in, though. Is there a worthy food stand near by?" She turns to the others. "What are you in the mood for? Noodles, dumplings or rice bowls?"
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Tilly’s expression softens a little at Tempest’s enthusiasm. “A hot meal sounds wise than charging straight into a ghost fog on an empty stomach,” she admits, allowing a faint smile to crease her otherwise serious face then adds “And maybe we can learn something while we eat. Merchants talk more freely when there’s a bowl in front of them”
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"So... Kordak, I've never met a dwarf before. What are the favorite pranks of your culture?"
"Pranks?! Bah! If you have time for pranks you have time to work. We would never!
You get a strong sense that he's the all work and no play type.
To the merchants he asks.
"What do you mean by stuck? Is the fog too thick to move through or do you walk and get no closer to the village?"
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Tilly’s expression softens a little at Tempest’s enthusiasm. “A hot meal sounds wise than charging straight into a ghost fog on an empty stomach,” she admits, allowing a faint smile to crease her otherwise serious face then adds “And maybe we can learn something while we eat. Merchants talk more freely when there’s a bowl in front of them”
"Great! Let's get some for the whole team!" Tempest loads up Tilly's arms with rice bowls, though she does carry the ones for her and Maru herself as they trek back to the others.
"So... Kordak, I've never met a dwarf before. What are the favorite pranks of your culture?""Pranks?! Bah! If you have time for pranks you have time to work. We would never!"
Tempest's jaw drops for a moment, and then she bursts with laughter. "Oh, you totally got me," she says, as she hands Kordak his bowl so that Tilly can regain the use of her arms. "For a moment there, I thought you were serious."
"It's good to know that dwarves have such a good sense of humor!" she confides in Maru and Tilly. "So... Tilly. Is this your first mission? Did you travel far to get here? And what made you join the Pathfinder Society?"
Tempest turns to the rest of the party. "That goes for the rest of you. What's been your favorite mission so far? Maru and I joined the Pathfinders so that we could travel, see the world, and bring back the best jokes to our people!"
She returns to eating her hot rice bowl while it is still hot, listening to her fellow party.
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Maru pauses eating from his rice bowl to answer Tempest. “Our most recent mission together was a lot of fun, Tempest. Getting to play a prank on those scamps!”
After a short pause, he adds “I also want to find things to trade that our village hasn’t seen and would like.”
He then resumes eating from his rice bowl, eager to hear other people’s answer.
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Tempest turns to the rest of the party. "That goes for the rest of you. What's been your favorite mission so far? Maru and I joined the Pathfinders so that we could travel, see the world, and bring back the best jokes to our people!"
Irina pats her moose on the shoulder. "Ha! I know Squirrel's favorite mission was in Augustana. With help from Captain Kortos she was able live her dream and climb like squirrel. Very funny to see moose climb like squirrel. Perhaps that is my favorite mission too."
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Tilly blinks in mild surprise as Tempest piles the rice bowls into her arms, managing a small laugh. “You’re efficient,” she says, shifting the bowls carefully so none spill. “Remind me to travel with you more often.”
She follows alongside, listening as Tempest and Maru talk about travel and jokes. As the question directed her way, Tilly hesitates for a beat before answering. “Yes, this is my first mission,” she admits. “I’m still new to all this. I joined the Pathfinders because I wanted to see more than just the same trees and rivers.” She looks at everyone, a small, sincere smile crossing her face.
“I grew up walking the line between the wilds and the world of people — learning to read the land. Joining the Society felt like the next step as it offers a chance to wander farther and to see what’s beyond the maps.” Then, glancing at Maru and Tempest, she adds with humor “And maybe learn a joke or two along the way.”
She then settles down with her meal, listening as the others share their experiences.
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For a party who'd been on trail rations for days, the hot meal was a pleasant respite. Merchants and nomads you have spoken to all gave the same story. "We would enter the fog, walk for a bit, then exit right where we came in! We don't even remember turning around!"
Mystified by this, you decide to test it out for yourselves. Both Tempest and Maru even look excited at the prospect of entering a mysterious fog bank. Merchants and nomads wave at you, knowing they'll be seeing you again in a few minutes.
As you enter the fog, almost all traffic on the Spirit Road dies away, though the sounds of birdsong and skittering wildlife fill the void. Old growth trees enclose the path on both sides, with the occasional a break in the trees revealing a view of the azure seawater of the Sapphire Sound. Down below, waves crash against a rocky shore and the air tastes not just of pine but also of finely misted salt spray.
One by one, snowy squirrel-like creatures with the twitching long ears of rabbits arrive on the path. The squirrel-rabbits watch you with intelligent eyes, always following at a watchful distance. As you travel onward, more and more squirrel-rabbits arrive, skittering overhead from branch to branch or hopping along the sides of the path.
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"Owdinawy wabbits. Pwobabwy wiving hewe ow thewe." Guiseppino dismisses the presence of squirrels whom he misidentified as rabbits.
"Away, you cweatuwes! We are busy, and you awe no hewp hewe." They shoo them away.
"You aww bwocking awe way!" they said as they continue to gather around them.
"Sewiously? Why awe you all even hewe?"
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Tempest is very pleased that Tilly notices her efficiency. "You should see how fast I can make up a fireworks display!" She smiles up to Tilly. "I would love to travel with you again! We'll teach you all the jokes!"
Tempest notices nothing except that the creatures are really, really cute. "Ooh! Those are the mail carriers? They're adorable! Why doesn't Kodomi village have mail carriers like that?"
Tempest sings a song,
♪ Squirrel-rabbit, squirrel-rabbit,
Who lives in the tree,
Squirrel-rabbit, squirrel-rabbit,
Is there mail there for me?
I'll sing you my songs
And feed you nuts from a jar
I'll right all your wrongs
And put fire in the stars ♪
She dances and spins along the path, inviting the risucho to bounce along with her.
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Tempest dances with the risucho, which dance along with her. After about a minute one of them trots off... but looks back, as if waiting for you to follow it. It chitters something, which Irina interprets as them wanting you to follow.
The squirrel-rabbit skitters to a halt as an antlered figure arises out of the mist to the mixed scents of cherry blossoms, sea spray and cloying blood. As the mists clear, her form becomes fully visible. With bright green fur and cherry blossoms sprouting out of her antlers, her face is that of a furious macaque monkey. (ART)
"Well met, strangers, I am Sakura, the guardian kami of Silvertree." says she "Do you feel it? An unholy miasma resides in what was once a sacred wood. The village harbors it and it festers in my domain like a weeping sore."
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Maru follows the Risucho as they lead the group deeper into the forest.
When the Kami appears, Maru is as surprised as anyone. Sakura may recognize Maru and Tempest by name, but Maru doesn’t recognize them.
“Have we met before? Yes, we helped deal with a troublesome Kitsune not so long ago.”
“As for this miasma, I can’t feel it. Perhaps you could describe it in more detail?”
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Irina's eyes narrow at the sight of all of the squirrel-rabbits. She whispers to Bear and Squirrel. "Mooo mooo moo moooo moooo. Grrr grr grrrrrr grrr grr grrrr."
Irina smiles wryly and mutters under her breath. "Squirrel-rabbits and now a deer-monkey. This place is silly."